Chapter 8 — Beyond the Milky Way: The Miner Who Became a God of War

That night, after curfew, Tinh Nhược led Lam Vũ to a hidden corner in the contestant resting area - an old equipment maintenance room that had been abandoned many seasons ago, where the surveillance camera system was broken and had not been repaired. The only light came from a small flashlight Tinh Nhược carried, illuminating two confiding faces.

"We're safe to talk now," she said, sitting down on a crate of old equipment. "What are you going to tell me?"

Lam Vũ took a deep breath, then began to recount everything Bốc Vấn Sơn had revealed - about Tà Huy Village, about the true War God blood flowing through the veins of the Chiet family, about the brutal massacre twenty years ago, about the Blood Seal artifact appropriated by the Holy See. Tinh Nhược listened in absolute silence, her face gradually changing from surprise to deep seriousness.

"Thôn Tà Huy," she repeated, her voice low. "I've heard this name before, in a secret file I happened to access many years ago, before... before everything happened to me."

"What do you know about it?" Lam Vũ asked, his voice tense.

Tinh Nhược was silent for a moment, as if considering how much to reveal. Finally, she sighed, deciding to let go of some of her cover. "Okay. It's time for me to be honest with you too. I'm not an ordinary resource-stealing prisoner."

"I know," Lam Vũ replied softly. “The way you fight, the way you observe, the way you talk — no one can learn those things just from the life of a commoner.”

"I used to be a pilot of the Freedom Fleet," Tinh Nhược said, her voice carrying the heaviness of a past that had been repressed for too long. "A remnant force of the resistance against the Holy See of Light, fighting for the self-determination of the mining colonies. I was one of the pilots considered a hero, until I was falsely accused of being a traitor, failing an important battle in the Belt of Cold Ash."

Lam Vũ looked at her, the disparate pieces in his head gradually fitting together into a more complete picture. "You're not a traitor, right?"

"No," Tinh Nhược replied, her voice tough. "That battle failed because there was an insider in our ranks who deliberately revealed the fleet's coordinates to the Holy See. But that person blamed all the blame on me before I could clear my name. I was sentenced to death in absentia, had to fake my death and remain anonymous to survive, and at the same time sought to collect evidence to prove my innocence."

"Why did you come to the Blackstone Mine?" Lam Vũ asked.

"Because I believe that the Black Stone Mine is related to my case," Tinh Nhược explained. "During the secret investigation, I discovered a number of suspicious transport records between the Black Stone Mine and the Holy See's power center, dating back to the same time as the Tà Huy Village massacre you just mentioned. I suspect there is some connection between that massacre, the Blood Seal artifact, and those who plotted to harm me."

The two looked at each other in silence, realizing that the paths they were on, despite coming from different motives, were gradually converging on the same hidden truth.

"So what do we do now?" Lam Vũ asked.

"We cooperate," Tinh Nhược replied without hesitation. "You need strength and protection to find out the truth about your family and save your mother. I need evidence to exonerate myself and expose the Holy See's plot. Our two goals, although different, lead to the same enemy."

"Kha Bạch Vân," Lam Vũ said, his voice full of indignation.

"That's right," Tinh Nhược nodded. "But we must be careful. Kha Bạch Vân is no ordinary man. He has ruled the entire galaxy for decades without anyone daring to challenge him. If we act hastily, we will die before we can overthrow anything." Lam Vũ nodded, feeling a sincere alliance forming between the two, far beyond the initial calculated relationship. "Thank you for trusting me enough to tell me everything."

"Thank you too," Tinh Nhược replied, a rare smile appeared on her lips, much gentler than her usual coldness. "It's been a long time since I had anyone to truly trust."

Those words made Lam Vũ feel a warmth spreading in his heart, a feeling of connection that he had never experienced with anyone other than his mother and Bốc Vấn Sơn. He looked at her in the dim flashlight light, recognized the resilient beauty hidden behind the cold shell, and a new emotion, hard to name, began to creep in his chest.

"Where should we start?" He asked, trying to focus on the task at hand instead of his rising emotions.

"From the shipping records I discovered," Tinh Nhược replied, taking out a small storage device from her shirt. "I was able to copy a portion of the data before being forced to leave the original location. But the data was encrypted with a system I haven't been able to completely decrypt. Perhaps Bốc Vấn Sơn, as a survivor from Tà Huy Village, can recognize some symbols or details that I missed."

"I will arrange for you to meet him," Lam Vũ promised.

The two continued to discuss plans until late at night, gradually building a strategy to both survive the remaining rounds of Đại Thí Luyện, while also quietly investigating the truth behind the Tà Huy Village massacre and the plot to slander Tinh Nhược. When they finally parted ways to return to their private cabins, the artificial sky above the Abyss Arena had turned light gray signaling the approach of dawn.

Before leaving the abandoned maintenance room, Tinh Nhược also gave more instructions about the upcoming rounds. "The third round of the Grand Trial usually takes place in the form of a team competition, randomly pairing the remaining contestants into small groups to face each other in an environment that simulates a real battlefield. It will be a good opportunity for you to show off your fighting ability without having to reveal the full power of the War God's Power, because in a crowded squad, the judges' attention will be scattered."

"But what if you're teamed up with someone who intentionally harms you?" Lam Vũ asked, remembering Địch Vũ Khang's malicious eyes.

"That's the risk you have to accept," Tinh Nhược replied frankly. "But I will try to find a way to closely monitor the match from the outside, although my ability to directly intervene is very limited because my status as a fake contestant does not allow me to enter the premium viewing area." Lam Vũ nodded, remembering every instruction. He realized that, even though their relationship had only been formed for such a short time, their trust and coordination had grown surprisingly quickly, perhaps because they both understood the value of a trustworthy ally in this extremely dangerous situation.

"There's one more thing," Tinh Nhược added, her voice becoming more serious. "I need you to promise me something, just like Bốc Vấn Sơn told you before."

"What?"

"If anything happens to me during this investigation, you must continue your mission to expose the Holy See, even if it is alone. Don't let the pain of loss make you give up midway."

Lam Vũ looked at her, an unnamed feeling of worry arose in his heart. "Why do you say such things? Nothing will happen to you, I will protect you."

Tinh Nhược smiled slightly, a smile that was both touching and a bit bitter. "In our world, no one can promise absolute safety to anyone, including themselves. I just want to make sure that, no matter what happens, the truth will eventually be revealed."

"I promise," Lam Vũ replied, his voice low and filled with determination. "But I also hope you promise me again, that you will always be careful, and will not take risks alone if not necessary."

Tinh Nhược looked at him for a long time, her eyes shining with a warmth that she rarely showed. "I promise."

Lam Vũ quietly walked along the dark hallway, the artificial dawn light gradually brightened at the end of the street, returning to his cabin, his heart heavy with thoughts but also full of a new hope that was hard to name. For the first time since entering the Abyss Arena, he felt like he was no longer alone in this life-and-death battle — he had a true ally, someone who understood their common enemy, and perhaps, someone whose heart was gradually holding a special place, different from everything he had ever known before.