Chapter 353

"I'll blow your head off then. This is such a headache. I still don't understand what Otto is trying to do... Durandal isn't here, Rita isn't here either. Should I go back? I still have the spatial coordinates for Elysia, but if I go there in my current state... I feel like I might not be able to beat those Flame-Chasers. I need to rest for at least a day. This is so annoying."

Shen Gonglin kept muttering to herself. Mei couldn't be left Mei in the Elysian Realm, and Otto was busy with some grand plan. Shen Gonglin felt she couldn't be in two places at once. If only she could create clones... Unfortunately, perhaps because Shen Gonglin disliked the idea of creating clones, none of her many powers possessed that ability. It seemed things had to be done one step at a time.

"Junior Uncle, it's very impolite to talk about other girls when you're with a girl. This kind of thing should still be the same whether it was 500 years ago or now. You should keep a close eye on me."

Li Sushang didn't quite understand the other things, but she understood when Shen Gonglin mentioned Durandal and Rita. Perhaps it was her girlish instincts kicking in, but the sword fairy girl grabbed Shen Gonglin by the collar and pulled him in front of her. The pretty girl glared at Shen Gonglin angrily. This little junior uncle seemed to have a strange ability to make people angry.

"Idiot, put me down right now! Is this how your mother taught you to respect your teachers? I'm your uncle-master!"

Being carried like this made Shen Gonglin feel like he had lost all his authority. He struggled to escape from Li Sushang's grasp. Did this girl want to fight him? He was her senior martial uncle, after all.

"My mother worked with the other senior uncles to deal with Ancestor Chiyuan, and then she was killed by Grandmaster Chiyuan. Do you think she taught me anything about respecting teachers and valuing the Way? All I learned from her was to be disrespectful to my master."

Having completely revealed her true colors, Li Sushang had no intention of letting go of Shen Gonglin. This junior uncle simply couldn't give her any sense of authority. She could let it go when they met before, but now, as time went by, Li Sushang felt more and more like she wanted to bully her.

"Then go after your master! I'm your martial uncle!"

"My master is a woman, so I can't... but my junior uncle can make do. Little junior uncle, be good, just let me pet you."

And so, outside the Heldam Research Institute, a certain rebellious sword fairy girl began to rub her uncle. Shen Gonglin resisted in every way, but he was indeed in poor condition, and he had already gotten used to the fact that every girl in the world was stronger than him. This treacherous girl, is there anyone going to do something about her?

"Old friend... old friend, stop for a moment, I have something to discuss with the shrine."

Just as the two were "playing around," an unexpected voice suddenly came from the side. Shen Gonglin and Li Sushang turned around and saw a blond man in a white tuxedo standing in front of them, like a gentleman preparing to attend a ball. Otto Apocalypse, how dare this guy show up in front of them!

"You die!"

A Spear of the Void materialized in her hand, and Shen Gonglin threw it without hesitation. However, the girl who had been holding it was even faster. She released Shen Gonglin and stepped in front of Otto. The girl drew her longsword and knocked the Spear of the Void away. She had said before that she had to repay a debt of gratitude. If Otto died in front of her, it would not be in line with the style of Li Sushang, a person of the martial arts world.

"Junior Uncle, don't be in such a hurry. Let him speak first. The Ottoman can talk."

Chapter Twenty-Five: Enemies Meet

Standing in front of Otto, as if afraid that Shen Gonglin might misunderstand, Li Sushang quickly explained, while also giving Otto a meaningful look. This guy is so eloquent, why don't he quickly explain things to his junior uncle? Li Sushang didn't know what conflict existed between them, but her junior uncle wanted to stab her in the back as soon as they met... This grudge probably wasn't light.

"Okay, okay... Shen Gonglin, how about you calm down? Speaking of which, this is our first formal meeting since the War of Schicksal. I apologize for what I did back then. Please calm down and listen to me."

Otto raised his hands to show he was harmless, and the man still had that faint smile on his face, as if to prove his sincerity. Speaking of his enmity with Shen Gonglin, he said the biggest reason was that he killed Fu Hua back then, but now she is still alive, and he has healed all the hidden injuries on her body, so the enmity between them should not be that deep.

"This isn't the first time. In the desert, and also here, when Little Herrscher of Consciousness crushed your dog's head, I was here too."

Another Spear of the Void materialized, Shen Gonglin pointed it at Otto with one hand, while Li Sushang stood in front of him. The girl's face was very conflicted. Although she didn't want to make her junior uncle angry, Otto had been kind to her, and she couldn't just watch him fight with her junior uncle... Really, junior uncle, couldn't you find a time when I wasn't around? That way, I wouldn't be in such a difficult position.

"... It's such an unpleasant memory. But Shen Gonglin, since you know about this, I've paid the price, and I'm willing to make amends. Could you please calm down first? After all, you're a guest here at Schicksal Headquarters, so I should at least show you the hospitality of a host."

Otto said that he knew Shen Gonglin was coming when Shen Gonglin broke through the Schicksal Barrier. After making arrangements, he came to see Shen Gonglin. With him here, his plan was more secure. Even if Theresa and the others knew it was a trap, they would still have to jump in.

One Herrscher of Domination's gem tokens might not be enough, but for Shen Gonglin, it's definitely not a problem.

"Compensation? Then give me your position as Bishop of Schicksal, and maybe I'll let you off the hook."

He twirled the Spear of the Void in his hand, his dashing figure catching Li Sushang's eye once again. Shen Gonglin casually remarked that this was impossible, and that Otto was right, offering compensation. Did she really need compensation from him?

"The Bishop of Schicksal, huh? Well, that's not impossible. But Shen Gonglin, your prestige isn't enough. The Operations Department might acknowledge you because of Durandal, but Schicksal is a very large organization. You alone can't handle it."

To everyone's surprise, Otto actually started to consider it seriously. The blond man rested his chin on his hand and thought it over carefully. The structure of Schicksal was quite ancient, and it would be difficult to convince the people if the successor to the position of bishop was not from the Apocalypse family. As for Shen Gonglin... It has to be said that his casual suggestion of compensation was similar to his own plan.

Okay, let's do it this way.

Wait a minute, is this guy really considering this? What on Shen Gonglin has no idea. Otto is such an unfathomable person.

"In that case... let's go, Shen Gonglin, to the newspaper department. Everything is ready there."

After thinking for a moment, Otto turned around and led the way. Li Sushang then ran to Shen Gonglin's side. Seeing that Shen Gonglin ignored her, the girl pouted a little aggrievedly. It was all Ottoman's fault. Why did he run out at this time? The atmosphere between her and her junior uncle was so good before. It was all because of his fault that it turned out like this.

Where did that guy go again...? I can't find him anywhere. He should really be chained to his waist. They're all like that. No wonder they're so close. Could Shen Gonglin be with Little Herrscher of Consciousness?

Meanwhile, at the Anti-Entropy Salt Lake Base, Fu Hua walked out of Shen Gonglin's room. Fu Hua was quite helpless after searching in vain. Since the memorial service for Himeko was over, Shen Gonglin had disappeared again. With the Herrscher Authority of the Void, he could go wherever he wanted. But shouldn't you at least tell yourself before you go out?

When he gets back, I'll definitely teach him a lesson this time. I really don't know who spoiled him like this... It certainly wasn't me.

"Good morning, Ms. Fu Hua. Still haven't found Shen Gonglin?"

As soon as Fu Hua stepped out of Shen Gonglin's room, she ran into Einstein. The blue-haired, curly-haired girl bowed her head politely to Fu Hua. They were old acquaintances, and for various reasons, she held Fu Hua in high esteem.

"Hmm, I didn't see him... Einstein, I didn't see him in the game room either."

Judging from the direction Einstein came from, she came from the game room. Einstein would never go to a place like that. The reason she came from there must be because of Shen Gonglin. It's not just her who is looking for Shen Gonglin; everyone else in this Shen Gonglin is also searching for her.

"Hmm, there's no sign of anyone going into the game room. He's probably off playing somewhere again... By the way, speaking of which, for some reason, the base is only serving Western-style breakfast today... Is it to your liking?"

Einstein even used honorifics, which Fu Hua found very uncomfortable. She had always been respectful to Einstein, but never like this. This feeling... Fu Hua inexplicably thought of a daughter-in-law trying to please her mother-in-law. Why did she feel this way? It must be because she was watching those long, drawn-out dramas with Shen Gonglin.

Shen Gonglin Fu Hua's hobby at all. Given her personality, how could she like watching such things? Although she herself became inexplicably fascinated while watching.

"Of course, I would say today's breakfast was delicious, especially the steak with foie gras and truffles. It melted in my mouth and was very fragrant. It was really delicious."

Although she had some minor complaints in her heart, Fu Hua did not show it on the surface. Einstein treated her with such respect, almost like a waiter who took meticulous care of her. How could she possibly be dissatisfied?

Chapter Twenty-Six: Acknowledgment from Family Members

I was marveling at this morning's breakfast. It was a bit strange to have steak so early in the morning, but I have to say it was really delicious. Life is definitely different now than before. While fighting against the Honkai, people are also pursuing a better quality of life. No one says that fighting against the Honkai means you have to eat meager meals. It's a pity that Shen Gonglin didn't get to eat it. I hope that girl doesn't go hungry.

Probably not. Shen Gonglin is so smart, how could she possibly starve herself?

"I'm glad you like it. Things have been unexpectedly calm outside lately, and the Alliance Leader couldn't resist showing off his cooking skills in secret. Although I don't understand what he said about... that he can only cook now, as you can see, his cooking speed is no match for professionals. The consequence of giving the chef a break is that we can only reduce the variety of dishes, so we can only have steak."

Einstein shrugged. Welt's cooking skills were quite surprising. As the Anti-Entropy Leader, it was surprising that he would focus his energy on such things. If others knew this, wouldn't they think he was neglecting his duties?

"No, no, please don't say that. Breakfast was really delicious."

It turned out to be Walter's craftsmanship. Looking at Einstein's complaints, Fu Hua couldn't match it. The two of them respected each other very much. However, the consequence of this was that the relationship between them was a little too polite. This was not good. The atmosphere had to be made a little more relaxed. It was almost like social rhetoric.

"After all, he was given the best ingredients. As the saying goes, the most luxurious ingredients only need the simplest cooking methods... But it is also because of this that I ate steak first thing in the morning, which made me want to exercise, and that's how I met you here."

Fu Hua smiled slightly. Indeed, the Salt Lake Base was really big. If the technicians and combat personnel wanted to meet, they could almost only meet in the canteen. The blue-haired girl with natural curly hair in front of her seemed to really respect her, but Fu Hua was a little uncomfortable with this kind of respect.

I still feel a bit awkward. If Shen Gonglin were here, it would probably be much better. I've known Einstein for a long time, but why do I feel more relaxed when I'm with Shen Gonglin, whom I've known for "not that long"?

The relationship between people is indeed not something that can be measured by the length of time.

"By the way, Ms. Fu Hua, although more than sixty years have passed, I recently discovered this book while tidying up my old things. It must have belonged to you."

Einstein took out a yellowed hardcover book from his bag. When Fu Hua saw the book, she couldn't help but look surprised. She remembered this book.

[ThreeHundredTangPoems]

Looking at the title of the book, it was a collection of poems in both English and Chinese, originally titled "Three Hundred Tang Poems," a well-known book throughout Shenzhou. The printing date on this book was 1955, the year the original Schicksal branch broke away from Schicksal. After seeing this book, Fu Hua's memories surfaced. Now, she doesn't remember everything she sees, and some memories are sealed away where no one can see them. Only Fu Hua herself can occasionally recall them when touched by certain scenes.

"This is... a gift I gave to Joyce when I was in London..."

Looking at the book in front of her, Fu Hua recalled what she should have said to that person when she gave him this book back when the North American Branch broke away from Schicksal.

"Although you once warned him that it is better to forget each other in the vast world than to cling together in hardship... it is true that memory is the most precious thing a person has. That was true for me before. Professor Carl, Professor Emma, and that Joyce... the marks they left in the depths of my soul have almost determined how I exist today."

Einstein's fingers gently traced the pages of the book, he didn't know why he was talking to Fu Hua about these things today. Perhaps it was because she was also a witness to history, and she knew a great deal.

"Ha... did I say that back then? But now I don't even think so myself. If we can support each other through thick and thin, I feel that it's better to support each other through thick and thin... really, am I getting more and more backward as I get older? But, Doctor, it's really good that you think this way. Compared to the blurry memories at the end of life's journey, good friends by your side, even tumultuous relationships, are indeed a hundred times more radiant, even if they are fleeting. One should never reject the happiness of the present because of past pain and future disillusionment."

Is it because she has lived too long that she has seen through everything? Fu Hua said such a long thing, which is a rare occurrence for her. This is Fu Hua's current realization, and these days are the most precious days Fu Hua had in thousands of years.

As the saying goes, "Human affairs are subject to change, and the past and present are intertwined."

Fu Hua recalled for a moment and then recited the poem. As soon as she said it, Einstein immediately remembered it. She remembered it, and was she saying this to herself to encourage herself?

"This is... one of the poems you left us back then..."

Einstein felt a sudden surge of inspiration. As expected of Fu Hua, her ability to answer questions and resolve doubts was second to none. But why did Shen Gonglin say that Fu Hua couldn't speak at all? If she knew a little bit how to coax people, she wouldn't have gotten her relationship with Little Herrscher of Consciousness into this mess. Could it be... that she deliberately didn't coax the Herrscher of Consciousness?

I can't figure it out.

"Well, now that I think about it, the reason why the poet Meng had tears in his eyes back then was precisely because he felt the radiant life light of his friends around him. Although that flame is destined to be extinguished suddenly or gradually lose its warmth, just like everyone else over millions of years, life never means the past or the future. In the language of this place, I think it means that it is always in the present tense."

Fu Hua said casually, and Einstein realized it too. It was confirmed. Fu Hua was encouraging him, always being in the present tense. Wasn't that exactly what Shen Gonglin was talking about? Had he already gained Fu Hua's approval? Sure enough, starting with Fu Hua was the right thing to do. She had already admitted it!

Einstein was so excited that she pumped her fist. To her, this meant she had gained the approval of Shen Gonglin's family!

Chapter Twenty-Seven

"Thank you, I will take good care of him."

Einstein appeared extremely serious and bowed deeply to Fu Hua. This behavior puzzled the fairy, who wondered what was going on. Had she just said something about Einstein to take care of someone? Why didn't she understand at all?

Some things don't need to be said too explicitly. I'm not stupid, so I understand what I'm talking about. Fu Hua's words just now were an admission of my existence, and she also said that she wouldn't interfere with my relationship with Shen Gonglin. That's right, isn't it? That must be right!

"Thank you, thank you for being willing to reminisce with me about the past like this. And it's so good to see you living so easily now. It's made those memories from decades ago a little more comforting... I think the days to come will be even more unforgettable, and we'll definitely treat you well then... Sorry, I seem to be rambling a bit. Perhaps I should start physical training right now. Goodbye, Grandma... Ugh! Ms. Fu Hua... Let's talk again sometime."

Einstein almost mistook Fu Hua for Shen Gonglin's mother. Although Fu Hua had always been Shen Gonglin's guardian, it was still too much to ask Einstein to call a girl who looked about the same age as him "grandmother." It was really too embarrassing. Einstein turned and left as if he were running away, while Fu Hua tilted her head, full of question marks.

Why is this woman acting so strangely? What is she talking about...? However, this period of peace is really important, for everyone. Although the Herrscher of Domination incident did not end perfectly, and the key Herrscher Core is still missing, and although everyone knows that even more difficult challenges are far from coming.

But that doesn't stop everyone from enjoying their peaceful life together. Einstein ran away. Although no one knows why she ran away, she probably wanted to go to the toilet. Fu Hua shook her head and decided to ignore her. She should go take a shower first. Shen Gonglin might come back after she showers.

Moreover, given his personality, he might just appear in your bathroom while you're taking a shower.

Sure enough, I'm still worried about her since we've lost all contact. I wonder what her situation is now. I was too impulsive back then. We finally managed to ease the tension, but it's turned out like this now... This is probably what they call "helplessness" in the martial arts world.

After taking a shower, Fu Hua strolled on the Hyperion's deck. The Hyperion was currently parked on the exclusive helipad specially set up for it at the Anti-Entropy Hyperion Salt Lake Base. Looking at the clear sky, Fu Hua couldn't help but worry about the fate of the Herrscher of Consciousness. Since the Herrscher of Domination incident ended, she had disappeared. After her powers were restored, she left behind those words that sounded like she was throwing a tantrum and then disappeared without a trace.

To be honest, it was really my fault, the telecom fraud and all that... I guess I became so bad because of Shen Gonglin's influence.

I don't want to hear even a single word of apology from those old fogies, because those cheesy phrases will only become a burden on my journey!

After leaving those words, Little Herrscher of Consciousness severed all connections to the Herrscher Authority of Knowledge. Now Fu Hua has no way to find her. Shen Gonglin is gone, and Little Herrscher of Consciousness is gone too... Wait a minute, could they be together?

Probably not.

Shaking her head to dismiss the unreliable idea, Fu Hua, who was taking a aimless stroll, suddenly saw Theresa patrolling ahead. Come to think of it, it had been a long time since she had a proper conversation with Theresa. Fu Hua reached out and greeted Theresa.

"Good morning, Headmaster. Are you conducting a Hyperion's routine maintenance?"

Although Theresa may appear to be just a clueless little girl, she is actually a very responsible person, which is why Fu Hua respects her so much. The deck looks shiny and bright, which shows that everyone takes the daily maintenance of the Hyperion very seriously.

"Spot checks... sort of? Or you can just think of it as someone who's just too busy. That area was supposed to be Shen Gonglin's responsibility, but she's nowhere to be found right now, so it had to be given to someone else... She's definitely a bit too free. Although the Herrscher of Domination's core is missing, there have only been three Honkai -related incidents worldwide in the past two months. We've certainly made a fortune off the Herrscher, but this inexplicable peace is actually making things more unsettling."

Theresa sighed. She just couldn't stay still. Things had been too peaceful lately, so peaceful that Theresa was getting anxious. So this little girl had to find something to do. How to put it? It always gave people a feeling that a storm was brewing.

And the crucial point is that Shen Gonglin isn't here right now. Where did that guy go? Even Theresa considers him her pillar of support, although he seems to be more of a mascot.

" In the Previous Era, this subtle sense of unease appeared before the birth of the Eleventh Herrscher, and what happened afterward... No, I'm sorry, I shouldn't have made that analogy. We, today, will not repeat the mistakes of that time."

Realizing she had misspoke, Fu Hua immediately denied her statement. Things were different now; the tragedy of that time would never happen again, Fu Hua was confident of that.

"That's right. After all, Kiana and the others, as well as Mr. Welt, are all very gentle, mature, and rational people... Sigh, speaking of which, Fu Hua, I have a question."

While comforting Fu Hua, Theresa herself became somewhat melancholic again. This problem had actually been weighing on her mind for quite some time.

"Hmm? Headmaster, please speak."

Theresa's expression was one of utter confusion, an expression that seemed particularly out of place on Theresa youthful face. Fu Hua, upon seeing it, also found it very jarring and strange.

"Fu Hua, what kind of person do you think I am? I've been thinking about something lately. You know, my grandfather was the Bishop of Schicksal for over five hundred years. During that time, he wasn't always doing evil. When he was young, he did many good deeds and acts of righteousness, such as adopting orphans, speaking up for the people, and overthrowing the tyrannical former bishop. Thinking about this, I feel that many of my decisions may have been influenced by him without me even realizing it."

Chapter Twenty-Eight: News Broadcast

As she spoke, Theresa sighed. Thinking about it carefully, she really felt a sense of powerlessness. Whether it was establishing St. Freya or rebelling against the Schicksal Headquarters, these were all things her grandfather had done. In the end, these were still his "ideas".

Is it because people will eventually become the people they hate the most? But this can't go on forever. She has to take a different path and get rid of his shadow. But that's probably not an easy thing. The shadow that Otto left in Theresa's heart is probably much more than Theresa herself imagined.

Theresa shook her head, wondering how she could have such thoughts. She realized that she was immature and hoped that Fu Hua wouldn't take her complaints to heart.

"... You really don't need to put so much pressure on yourself, Headmistress. You've already done very well. You should give yourself some time to breathe. Because, just like what Bronya was in before, it's definitely not an easy thing for someone to truly break free from the influence of their family."

Seeing the little girl's confusion, Fu Hua pondered for a moment and then gently patted Theresa's shoulder to comfort her, saying that she had already done very well.

"In this process, we may doubt ourselves, become cynical, or feel lost, but I think that as long as a person keeps moving forward at their own pace, one day she will reconcile with the world and achieve a state of doing whatever she wants without overstepping the bounds."

Shen Gonglin always said that she didn't know how to communicate with others. Fu Hua didn't say anything about it on the surface, but she actually kept it in mind. She really wanted to show Shen Gonglin how much she had improved. She realized that the bad relationship between her and Little Herrscher of Consciousness was not solely her fault. Look at her now, how eloquent she was!

"Thank you, Fu Hua. However, I am, after all, the headmaster of the academy and the head of the Far East Branch. When necessary, I must make decisions for everyone."

The little girl raised her head and perked up again. She was the cutest... cough cough, the cutest headmistress in the world. She couldn't stay lost forever. For now, she shouldn't worry about her grandfather's influence on her. She should do what she thought she should do, just like she always had.

"That's right. Anti-Entropy has arrested Cocolia and made a decision; and one day, we will also have a final showdown with Otto. I think this is not just the headmaster's responsibility, but something that we all need to face together."

"Hmm, I understand... Hmm? Emergency contact? What's going on?"