Chapter 264
Seeing Shen Gonglin, Anna smiled happily and ran over joyfully. Even while talking about this, the gentle smile on her face didn't diminish at all. She could understand her colleagues' feelings and those complicated looks. After all, in many of their eyes, she was the embodiment of the Herrscher, and there were also the members of her Snow Lotus Squad... Although she was saved by Shen Gonglin, she had indeed attacked them before, so this was the retribution she deserved.
Why won't you let her in?
Shen Gonglin frowned slightly. He could imagine Kiana's situation from the treatment Anna received. He turned to ask Alvit, but this "tool girl" did not treat Anna with the same respect and special treatment as the other Valkyrie. She smiled at Anna in a friendly manner, and the latter's reaction was one of being flattered. Alvit had actually expected Anna to be treated this way.
"Well, as you know, Shen Gonglin, because of what happened to Miss Anna, many Valkyrie are actually afraid of her. However, the situation for our Immortal Blade is much better now. Everyone knows that it was you, Shen Gonglin, who saved her, and everyone is willing to believe you... But the other Valkyrie units are a bit different. This is their reaction after they learned the whole story. It was only because Lady Durandal gave the order that they reluctantly allowed Miss Anna to stay in the camp... There's nothing we can do about it."
She said those words to Anna's face because only in this way could she let her know their attitude. To be honest, only Shen Gonglin could do that. If it were anyone else, I'm afraid the Immortal Blade wouldn't have let Anna stay in the camp.
"No, it's okay, I understand... Because of what happened before, it's understandable that everyone is so wary of me now... It's fine, no problem."
Fearing that she might cause trouble for Shen Gonglin, Anna quickly said this. She had been mentally prepared for this kind of treatment beforehand. Even when facing the members of the Snow Lotus Squad, their gazes towards her were so complicated, let alone the other Valkyrie. In fact, she had still gained some goodwill, like the Valkyrie following behind Shen Gonglin. She had even brought her water when she was waiting here.
"Well, other people's opinions don't matter. When your mind becomes as strong as mine, you'll be fearless. Where is Durandal? I need to ask her what she's thinking and what she should do with you in the future. Anna, do you want to continue being Valkyrie?"
Shen Gonglin couldn't say much about this situation. Could she say that the Valkyrie's reactions were wrong? They were all human, with their own beliefs. This was the kind of education they had always received as Herrscher, and she couldn't force them to conform just because of her own reasons. However, the question was what would become of Anna. Continuing to be Valkyrie in Schicksal seemed a bit difficult given her current situation...
"I'll do whatever you say."
The girl's smile was gentle yet mischievous. After confessing her feelings to Shen Gonglin, she seemed to relax and didn't care about Shen Gonglin's response. As long as he knew her feelings, that was enough. Now she wanted to hear Rin's opinion on what to do. She still wanted to fight the Honkai Shen Gonglin, but a different way of life would be nice. If she could, she would even like to sell milk tea.
After experiencing death, Anna discovers that there are still many things she wants to do but hasn't done yet: selling flowers, selling milk tea, and serving as Valkyrie to fight against the Honkai. These are all interesting things to do.
"Then I'd like you to help me stay up all night grinding for equipment... Let's go find Durandal first, I want to hear her opinion."
Shen Gonglin muttered to himself, thinking that if he really said that, Anna would probably agree, but that seemed a bit cruel, so Rin Jingu swallowed the thought. Durandal for Shen Gonglin, he had to ask her about this.
Chapter 126 Return
Upon arriving at Night Owl's tombstone, Shen Gonglin unexpectedly encountered Durandal and Mei, who had arrived earlier. The two girls seemed to be mourning the man who remained lost until his death. On the beach, a tombstone stood silently; it was likely that no one else would remember him except for them. Shen Gonglin decided to follow Durandal's advice and return to Schicksal Headquarters with her, not only for her own sake but also to ensure that they settled Anna properly.
For her own sake, Durandal decided to send Anna back to headquarters first. She assured Shen Gonglin that Anna would not be subjected to any unfair treatment or research. As the Valkyrie in Schicksal, Durandal was confident in saying such a thing, and Mei also felt that this was the best choice.
After all, Schicksal's medical skills are unparalleled, so letting Shen Gonglin go back with Durandal is the best solution. With her there, Shen Gonglin should be fine.
"So you've decided to go to Schicksal first... Durandal, I hope you don't let anything unexpected happen to him. I'll trust you this time. Shen Gonglin, after the treatment is complete, return to the Hyperion as soon as possible. You've been out for so long, the headmistress and Kiana must be very worried about you."
Durandal Mei stood in front of Shen Gonglin. The girl sighed softly and tidied the hair on his forehead. It was hard to bear to part with Shen Gonglin again so soon, but there was nothing she could do. She couldn't take him to World Serpent. Who knew when they would meet again after this separation?
"Yeah, I'll go back after I finish my business... Tsk, I'm sure I'll be nagged for a long time. Those idiots definitely won't listen to my explanation, and I definitely won't get any good food when I go back... Mei, you don't know, Kiana makes me eat burnt toast and pizza all the time, it's almost making me stupid."
Shen Gonglin reluctantly bid farewell to her personal feeder. Since Mei left, she hadn't eaten anything good. Although the others on the Hyperion all had one or two decent dishes, and even Kiana could make pizza with toast, none of them could compare to the taste of Mei's cooking.
"Just bear with it. If you really can't stand it... then come find me secretly one night and I'll cook you something delicious."
Listening to Shen Gonglin's rambling, Mei finally showed a rare smile. She whispered something in Shen Gonglin's ear: he could leave spatial coordinates on her and then teleport to her side. If he got hungry, she could secretly make him something.
"Hey, hey, hey, do you guys think I'm dead? Mei, you can't do this. Letting Shen Gonglin come and go from World Serpent's headquarters at will drive Jackal and Gray Serpent crazy. And I don't think the Lord will turn a blind eye to this. You'd better be careful."
Miss Dodo, who was eavesdropping nearby... no, not eavesdropping, but just benefiting from the mercenary's ears, Raven her eyes speechlessly. After all, World Serpent is a powerful organization that threatens the entire world, and Mei just casually invited Shen Gonglin to dinner? Raven felt that she needed to speak up. This wouldn't do. If Shen Gonglin really went there so stupidly, she would definitely fall into a trap.
In Raven's eyes, although Shen Gonglin is very strong and powerful, he is obviously not smart enough. He could probably be captured by setting up a winnowing basket with a game console underneath. So it's best not to go to the World Serpent headquarters unless necessary.
It's strange, this guy is clearly a wanted criminal by Schicksal, but now he's being invited by Schicksal's top henchman to go and hunt down his headquarters. And the enemy World Serpent's executives are even inviting him to sneak over and cook for them at night... Plus, now that he's in Anti-Entropy, this guy is jumping back and forth between the three major organizations. It feels like he'll be fine no matter which organization wins in the future.
Mei looked up and glared at Raven, as if she was a little angry at Raven's interference. Then she sighed softly. Mei knew that Raven was right, but if she had to part ways with Shen Gonglin like this... there was no other way. This separation was for a better reunion in the future.
"Please give this to Kiana for me, and also... please tell her I'm sorry."
Mei gave Shen Gonglin a gentle hug, Mei face slightly flushed. Under the watchful eyes of so many people, the girl was still too shy to do anything more intimate. Then, Raven turned and left Raven a graceful air. Shen Gonglin, then, under Shen Gonglin's bewildered gaze, also turned and left. Now, only Durandal remained by Shen Gonglin's side. Anna stood a short distance away, kicking at the pebbles on the ground, seemingly bored. Although she had told him her feelings, now... well... she still couldn't help but feel a little uneasy.
Sorry? What did Mei do to offend Kiana? What a bad girl! She's nothing like me. I've never done anything to offend Kiana. It seems I'm the only perfect person in the world. She has no self-awareness at all. Shen Gonglin shook her head and watched Mei and Raven's figures disappear into the distance. This parting probably means we won't see each other again.
"Let's go. Take care of your business and Anna's. The Snow Lotus Squad will continue to be stationed. Other squads will be sent over to assist them. The Immortal Blade should return."
Ultimately, she was the one who remained victorious. With this inexplicable feeling welling up inside her, Durandal stood beside Shen Gonglin and watched the two figures depart together. Regardless of the process, this mission had finally come to a successful conclusion. Durandal looked at Anna over there. This young girl had fulfilled her duty and had not given up the fight even after becoming Herrscher. And the current outcome was the best it could be for her. With her protection, Anna would not be troubled even if she returned to headquarters.
"Well, let's go. By the way, there shouldn't be any danger at the Schicksal Headquarters, right? I don't really want to fight lately."
Shen Gonglin naturally extended her hand to Durandal, and the Valkyrie was flattered. Shen Gonglin had been holding a grudge against her and wanted to break off their friendship, but now she was taking the initiative to hold her hand... The Valkyrie, who had been calm just moments before, was now a little flustered. She quickly wiped her hands on her skirt and handed her her hand. Damn, this was worth it.
Chapter One: The Birth of the Hi Fu
"No problem, Schicksal Defense is the best in the world!"
After calming her excited heart, Durandal spoke with great confidence. She was confident in Schicksal's defenses, after all, it was the headquarters personally overseen by Otto. Apart from certain unforeseen circumstances, she really didn't think anything could threaten Schicksal Headquarters... not counting the War of Schicksal incident!
"Oh, okay then, Anna, did you hear that? Everything will be fine once we get back. Give me your hand, let's go back together."
He handed his other hand to Anna. Of course, Shen Gonglin understood what Anna had gone through in the Valkyrie camp. His action was a way of showing his attitude. The Valkyrie were right to treat Anna, and so was he. He wanted others to know that Anna was under his protection. If they wanted to bully her, they should bully Durandal next to him first.
To some extent, this can be considered a form of borrowing someone else's power.
"Captain, Shen Gonglin, and Miss Anna... As expected of you, should I help the vice-captain out so you can carry her? Life really does have to be a struggle."
They returned to the Valkyrie camp with Durandal and Anna. The Valkyrie passing by looked at them with surprise. The Valkyrie of Immortal Blade showed a strange smile called "auntie smile." Among them, Alvit's smile was even stranger. She had an expression of no regrets in this life. When she saw Shen Gonglin and the others coming, she fawned over Shen Gonglin and told her about it.
Well, how should I put it... why does Shen Gonglin feel that Alvit looks so much like a madam in a brothel promoting her young ladies?
"Why did you help her out? She's injured, let her rest."
Shen Gonglin was baffled, while Alvit waved her hand dismissively. If the vice-captain knew, she would crawl out of there. How could she not know her own vice-captain?
"No problem, my vice-captain is a good person. Even if something happens, she'll really step up. It's just a minor serious injury. You wait, I'll go call her right now... I'm sorry, Captain, I was too arrogant!"
Alvit joked with Shen Gonglin with a grin. She was one of the people in the Immortal Blade who got along best with Shen Gonglin besides Durandal and Rita, so she couldn't help but joke with him. However, at that moment, a piercing gaze from Shen Gonglin's left made Alvit freeze. She realized that she might have been a little too arrogant.
I can be as presumptuous as I want in front of Shen Gonglin, but the captain is still here.
Realizing the situation, Alvit decisively bowed her head and apologized. She couldn't afford to offend Durandal; she absolutely couldn't afford to offend her.
"... Alright, Alvit, notify the whole team, the Immortal Blade is preparing to return. We should go home."
Durandal gave her subordinate a slight glare. She didn't want to punish her in front of Shen Gonglin, otherwise she would definitely have made her dig up potatoes for the whole team. But for Shen Gonglin's sake, she would let this loose-tongued girl off this time. Durandal gave the order, and Alvit immediately stood up straight upon hearing it.
"Yes, let's go home!"
Just as the Immortal Blade returned, in the most secluded and peaceful Schicksal Headquarters, where the boundaries between the research labs and medical rooms were indistinguishable, a consciousness was slowly awakening. In the boundless darkness, the immortal who had already died suddenly regained consciousness...
[Hey, you idiot, wake up! You've been sleeping too long. If you don't wake up soon, Shen Gonglin's kids will be calling you auntie.]
A lively voice suddenly rang out in the boundless darkness. The immortal, who had been dead for a long time, felt a little sluggish. It wasn't the kind of sluggishness that comes from brain damage, but rather a slight stagnation caused by being unconscious for too long. As consciousness returned, the immortal's mind became clearer and clearer.
"Who am I...?" The immortal instinctively asked this question, but the lively voice continued to speak without any mercy.
[Hey? Don't give me that! Things are different now. Your brain isn't damaged at all; it's as smooth as a freshly cooked bowl of tofu pudding. Quickly, rummage through your memory bank and figure out who you really are. We still have a lot to do.]
[Who are you?]
The immortal noticed the lively voice in his consciousness. Who was she? This familiar feeling, this communication of consciousness... The memories slowly returned to his brain, like recovering from low blood pressure after a long sleep. It seemed like he remembered some things.
[I am your "true self," okay? The most original and authentic you. And there's another one too, let her talk to you!]
Her voice was lively and bright, reminding one of the rising sun, and as her voice faded, a calm and ethereal voice followed.
I am the "superego," don't worry, you are not schizophrenic or insane, we are you, and you are the ego...
This ethereal voice sounds like an autumn breeze. Compared to the vibrancy of the "id," this "superego" gives people a sense of tranquility and gentleness, as if it has been refined over time. But what is the ego...?
[You haven't been born yet, because you don't even know who you are. Go and remember, girl! Without any one of these qualities, you wouldn't be who you are. If you don't wake up soon, Shen Gonglin really will have a child with another girl. As her teacher, of course, we should have to give birth to our own first child.]
... Just what kind of clueless being is this guy called "Id"? Upon hearing this, even the ethereal voice seemed speechless. However, the name "Shen Gonglin" suddenly appeared, shattering all her hesitation. This name was important. Who was she?
The moment this question appeared in my mind, a series of memories surged through my consciousness like a tidal wave. Memories from thousands of years ago flooded into my consciousness, like a tide that had been lying dormant, waiting for my command. Suddenly, I saw many images, and these were all of myself.
A girl standing alone in the cold wind, a warrior clad in armor and wielding a golden sword, a cold-blooded killer, a hermit immortal... these are all myself!
Chapter Two: Old Friends
They are all you.
They were once you.
[They are a part of you, understand? There's no time to waste. Once your brain signals are transmitted, he'll find out very quickly. Although we're no longer scary, if he gets in our way, the chances of us becoming aunties will be even higher.]
The lively voice in my mind kept chattering away, the id... the original self, what does this have to do with being an aunt? And who is this "he" she's talking about...?
[Otto Apocalypse, hurry up and finish reading the memories. He's far down the story, a piece of trash who needs to be ground to dust.]
He is the Bishop of Schicksal, your old friend, the only one who knows you are still alive...
A conman, a murderer...
Let's talk about this later. Look where you are now!
As he searched his memories, Otto appeared in the immortal's mind. Hatred filled the immortal's entire body. Just thinking about this person made this chilling emotion surge involuntarily. However, this emotion came and went quickly. Yes, that's right, let's see where I am first.
The immortal's eyes widened. He seemed to be in a life support pod, surrounded by cold, slippery liquid. Several bubbles rose, leaping past his sight and flying towards the top of this body of water. This thing... seemed to be the NX-189, the most advanced medical pod of Schicksal Technology. Even by the standards of the previous era, it was the most advanced.
This device is keeping you alive; it seems to have healed all your injuries, including that one.
A faint, ethereal voice echoed in the immortal's mind. Compared to his lively self, this voice was more composed. Upon hearing these words, the immortal blushed involuntarily, including that... This really made one's mind wander.
[I wasn't talking about that... I've never been injured before, so what treatment could I expect? Having just woken up, it's best not to think about things that get your blood pumping.]
Yes, I agree this time! Let's think about it again when we're free tonight. It's better for us to get out now. Calling it atonement is more like imprisonment.
It was all himself. When the immortal thought of something that couldn't be said, his id, ego, and superego all sensed it at the same time. The immortal's face became even redder. That's right, that's right. It's more important to rush out now.
The immortal gazed intently out the glass. Bright lights, enormous instruments, crisscrossing cables, and several life support pods filled the room. The giant instruments displayed daily curves on their screens, with flashing red lights. It was clearly a mysterious research lab. These life support pods usually required various commands to open.
The immortal raised his hand and pressed it against the glass in front of him. It was ultra-high-grade bulletproof glass; even large-caliber bullets couldn't penetrate it.
Haha, this is no problem against your fists. Come on, come on, this is the easiest way.
That's right. Using the method called "The True Self," the immortal clenched his fist, and his ten fingers and hand bones sent him a reassuring greeting. At this moment, the immortal felt as if he possessed infinite power. His body was in such good condition that he felt he could kill several cows with one punch. He could only remember when he was last this healthy.
Five hundred years ago? Perhaps, but that's too long, far too long.
[This is the real you! With this body, you could easily have a litter of babies with Shen Gonglin. Give birth in the morning, and we can be enjoying the "Springtime Elixir" this afternoon. Let's get started!]
I find it hard to accept having one litter; I personally feel that having three is about right.
... What is this guy chattering about? Shen Gonglin... she seems to keep mentioning Shen Gonglin. That name seems to be further back in my memories than Otto's, like it exists in less than one ten-thousandth of my memory. But why, when I think of that name, do I...?
He reached out and pressed his hand against the glass, easily shattering the tempered glass with a casual force. The sound of shattering stopped the immortal from thinking for a moment. The liquid enveloping him eagerly withdrew, taking away all the pressure and leaving him only with ease and comfort. The immortal stepped out of the life support pod, and his wet clothes were dried in an instant.
It's just a little trick, not worth mentioning.
"My old friend, you've finally woken up."
Before the immortal could even assess her surroundings, a familiar voice rang out. She turned and looked towards the doorway, where a blond man was smiling at her.
He is Otto Apocalypse.
Your relationship with him is rather complicated.
He claimed to be your friend, but he lied to you.
The moment the man was seen, such a voice rang out in this reborn body. However, judging from all the reactions, this person was no good.
"Aren't you going to say hello? Okay, it's alright. After all, you've just woken up and still need continued observation and treatment... Although the test results show that you've recovered, you haven't regained consciousness yet. I'm always worried that something might have gone wrong. You won't blame me, will you, old friend? Are you... alright? Do you still recognize me?"
It was like meeting an old friend. I could see the joy on the man's face, but for some reason, I didn't feel the joy that one should feel when reuniting with an old friend. My whole body seemed to be urging me to do something. What was going on?
"Even if he were ashes, I'd still recognize him. Just tell him that."
Let's first see what his intentions are; we can't attack someone who's unarmed.
[Huh? But this person can conjure weapons anytime!]
Let's ask him why he's here.
A cacophony of thoughts raced through her mind, until finally she chose a rather conventional question to ask: Why am I here?
Why are you here? Because... I don't want you to die.
The man in front of me, named Otto Apocalypse, chuckled self-deprecatingly, "We've known each other for a long time, old friend. I know you won't die from your brain injury, but I don't want to waste twenty years waiting for you to recover naturally. In the end, you don't owe me anything, but I shot you. So I brought you back to heal your wounds."
Chapter Three: The Safe Schicksal Headquarters
How adept this person is at whitewashing their evil!
He is a venomous snake, but...
[There are no buts! He killed you, he triggered the Honkai, he harmed everyone in St. Freya, and he shows no remorse! While you were dead, who knew that Shen Gonglin had several children with other men!]
The voices in my mind rose and fell, but gradually, as my consciousness returned, all the voices slowly reached a consensus, because those voices were all my own.