Honkai Impact Chapter 17

Ryoma smiled slightly and said, "But Mei, you have to take things one step at a time. Don't rush. And I've told you many times, you don't need to try so hard. Many things are just a matter of time!"

"Yes, Dad!"

Mei didn't argue and obediently agreed. But whether she would actually listen was another matter entirely!

Ryoma knew his daughter wouldn't listen, but he still had to say what he needed to say. He asked, "Is your body okay recently?"

"I'm alright!"

Mei nodded gently, not choosing to hide anything from her father. She said, "But during my first mission, I had to remove my restrictions. However, my consciousness recovered quickly. I should be able to..."

"No, you cannot!"

Ryoma interrupted Mei. "The Honkai isn't as simple to deal with as you think. I've told you many times, don't try to use this power that humans cannot control. If one day you truly become a Herrscher, it will be too late. Do you want me to not have a daughter when I get out?"

"Sorry, Dad..."

Mei sincerely admitted her mistake...

Ryoma didn't know what else to say. He didn't want to blame Mei either. Sometimes, it wasn't good for a daughter to be too sensible. As for Ling Feng, he had been observing the entire time...

Ryoma and Mei continued to chat, making small talk, but they didn't have many topics to discuss...

"Mei!"

Suddenly, Ryoma smiled. "Could you step out for a moment? I'd like to have a private chat with your assistant!"

"Huh?"

Mei was taken aback but nodded without hesitation and stood up. "Okay, I'll wait outside. Ling Feng, please have a seat!"

After giving up her seat to Ling Feng, Mei decisively walked out the door...

Ling Feng "..."

"Uh... Dad... Uncle, what do you want to talk to me about?"

Ling Feng almost blurted out what he was thinking, but he had always been steady and managed to cover it up!

"Of course, I want to get to know you. This is the first time Mei has brought a male friend to see me in years..."

Ryoma just smiled and then asked, "So, I'd like to ask, since you can be her assistant, you must also be a Valkyrie. Are you D-rank or C-rank?"

"Eh..."

Ling Feng hesitated and asked back, "Should I tell the truth or lie?"

"The truth!"

Ryoma found this guy quite interesting...

"The truth..."

Ling Feng thought for a moment and smiled. "Then I'm actually an S-rank Valkyrie, but due to certain reasons, my current combat power is probably only D-rank or even lower!"

He was telling the truth, and whether Ryoma believed him was not his concern!

"Oh? I really can't tell that..."

A hint of surprise flashed in Ryoma's eyes. "I've never heard of a male S-rank Valkyrie other than Sigfried. Did you become one recently?"

"Aren't you suspicious that I'm lying?" Ling Feng asked curiously!

"If you wanted to impress me, saying you're a B-rank Valkyrie would have been enough. There's no need to lie so outrageously. As for being an S-rank Valkyrie, I doubt even one in ten thousand would believe you!"

Ryoma continued to smile calmly!

Ling Feng "..." Is this the famous forum theory? Because a photoshopped image is too fake, this image must be real, right?

"Never mind, I don't want to ask too much!"

Ryoma blinked gently, signaling to Ling Feng that there were other people around, so he shouldn't say too much. He smiled and said, "However, since you say you are an S-rank Valkyrie, I'll take your word for it. And since you're someone my daughter brought, I'd like to ask you for a favor!"

"Please tell me, as long as it's within my capabilities!"

Ling Feng wouldn't refuse. According to the usual tropes, this situation usually involved entrusting his daughter to him, so it was definitely a win-win. Only an idiot would refuse!

"Mei... is my only daughter..."

Ryoma slowly began to speak...

As expected, he's going to entrust his daughter to me? Ling Feng appeared calm as a log, but he was excited inside. From today onwards, he was the officially recognized sole candidate!

"But..."

Ryoma continued, "Mei will definitely become a Herrscher in the future, there's no doubt about it!"

"Huh?"

So it wasn't about entrusting his daughter. However, Ling Feng agreed with Ryoma's words and nodded. "That's right. The consciousness of the Honkai will only grow stronger. Even though Mei's will is firm now, the Honkai cannot be resisted by willpower alone!"

"I see you understand, that makes things easier!"

Seeing that Ling Feng understood his thoughts, Ryoma felt much more at ease. It seemed he hadn't chosen the wrong person. He smiled and said, "From what I can see, I probably won't be able to get out by the time Mei becomes a Herrscher. So, I'd like to ask you for a favor. When Mei becomes a Herrscher in the future, please help me capture her. It would be troublesome if she fell into the hands of Schicksal or Anti-Entropy!"

"Um, brother... I mean, Uncle!"

Ling Feng coughed dryly and said, "You should know the power of a Herrscher better than I do, right? It's not something you can just capture if you want to!"

"I've been ready for this for a long time!"

Ryoma smiled calmly and said, "When you and Mei have time, go on a trip. I've left a gift for you at Mei's favorite place from when she was little. Given the current situation, I won't be able to attend even if you get married in the future, so consider this gift a souvenir from me!"

Because there were always other people around, Ryoma didn't directly reveal the answer. Instead, he played a guessing game, and since it was a guessing game related to Mei, Mei should have known!

"Yes, I'll consider going with Mei when I have time!"

Ling Feng nodded, understanding Ryoma's intentions perfectly. However... marriage? Was this officially recognized, or just a lie to deceive the prison guards?

Whatever it means, the gift is the main thing!

And even if it was officially recognized, getting married wouldn't be easy. Don't forget, Mei is a Herrscher, a true Herrscher. If anything went wrong, domestic violence would be the least of their worries. The sight of Mei vaporizing a Honkai Beast with lightning that day, even though he didn't see it firsthand, he could imagine how terrifying the voltage must have been!

"Alright, kid, you can go. Let my daughter in..."

Ryoma had said all he needed to say to Ling Feng. For the remaining time, he wanted to continue talking with Mei!

Chapter 34: Marriage Comes After the Gift; If You Can't Flirt, Don't Try!

After waiting outside for about five minutes, Mei came out again, and then the two of them left the prison together...

"Ling Feng, has your opinion of me changed at all?"

Mei turned to look at Ling Feng and smiled, "After all, I'm the daughter of a criminal!"

"Come on, let's not talk about that. Tell me about the framing first!"

Ling Feng clearly remembered the conversation between Mei and Ryoma earlier, especially when Mei mentioned looking for clues about being framed. Hearing this, Ling Feng realized that things weren't simple, because that's how the plot usually went!

"It was Cocolia!"

The smile on Mei's face disappeared, replaced by seriousness. "I don't know the specific details or circumstances. All I know is that my father would never embezzle or harm the company's interests, but he was framed by Cocolia and exposed for a scandal involving economic fraud. Because he was suspected of forging financial documents, he was not only removed from his position as president by the board of directors but also imprisoned!"

"And all of this was done by Cocolia. Furthermore, my body was also modified by her to become a Herrscher!"

Ling Feng: "..." Cocolia again? Who exactly is this person? Put her on the death list first!

"Therefore, I must become an excellent Valkyrie!"

Speaking of which, Mei's eyes became firm again. "Although the money I earn will likely be far from enough to cover my father's debts, if I become an S-rank Valkyrie, I'll have higher authority and it will be easier to investigate the case. Even if all the evidence has been destroyed, I'm sure I can find some clues. Even if none of that works, as an S-rank Valkyrie, I can still bail my dad out, even if it means risking becoming a Herrscher..."

Ling Feng finally understood Ryoma's concerns and Mei's reasons for working so hard. It seemed true, every family has its own troubles. He never expected that the gentle and understanding Mei would have such a strong heart!

"By the way, Ling Feng!"

Mei turned to look at Ling Feng again, asking curiously, "What did Dad say to you when I was outside? Can you tell me?"

"This..."

Ling Feng smiled, "Your dad said you're not young anymore and it's time to find someone to marry. So, he entrusted you to me and asked me to marry you as soon as possible so he could have grandchildren early!"

"Is that so..."

Mei nodded thoughtfully, then smiled, "Well, I believe you. How about we get married the day after tomorrow?"

"Huh?"

Ling Feng: "..."

Now it was Ling Feng's turn to be flustered. No way, could she really be fooled by that? Mei wouldn't be that naive...

"Hehe, sorry, sorry, I was just kidding!"

Ling Feng chuckled awkwardly, worried that Mei might get angry if he continued, so he quickly apologized and said he was just joking!

"Mhm, I know!"

Mei also smiled, then raised her right index finger and said calmly, "Because I was kidding too. And I guess what Dad told you was probably about me and the Herrscher, right?"

Ling Feng: "..." He really couldn't understand this girl...

"Indeed!"

Ling Feng nodded gently and smiled, "However, your father did mention the matter of you marrying me. I'm definitely not lying about that!"

"Huh?"

Mei froze for a moment, then looked at Ling Feng. She felt... he didn't seem to be lying... Her face suddenly flushed a little, and she suddenly felt a bit confused about her father's intentions...

"Ahem, don't get excited, that's not the point..."

Ling Feng quickly changed the subject, "Your father's intention was for me to find a gift for you, but he didn't tell me where the gift was. He just said..."

Ling Feng hesitated, then made a gesture for Mei to lean closer. Mei then leaned her head over...

Whispering into Mei's ear, Ling Feng said softly, "The gift is placed where you loved to go the most when you were little!"

"Where I loved to go the most..."

Mei instantly understood her father's meaning and her face lit up with a smile. "Okay, I got it. Thank you, Ling Feng!"

"You're welcome!"

Ling Feng gently shook his head, then put his right arm around the back of Mei's head and leaned in close, smiling, "However, since the marriage needs to happen after we find the gift, we should go get the gift as soon as possible. After all, it's a request from your father-in-law..."

"Eh... I..."

Mei suddenly blushed and quickly pushed against Ling Feng's chest with both hands, trying to push him away, but she didn't put much force into it, just a symbolic push. Then she looked up at Ling Feng with a wronged expression, "I... I haven't agreed yet. Let's talk about it after we find the gift!"

Ling Feng: "???" Is this... actually possible?

Although Mei hadn't agreed, Ling Feng could tell this was Mei's true reaction. Her calm acceptance earlier was definitely a joke. But...

This time Mei didn't refuse, which meant there really was a chance?

He had only intended to tease Mei a little, to lighten her mood, but it had inexplicably turned into this...

What should he do now? Should he seize the opportunity to push things further, or let Mei go and pretend nothing happened? Waiting online, it's urgent...

Mei, seeing Ling Feng make no further move, stood frozen in awkwardness, not daring to meet his gaze...

Ling Feng: "..." I've gone too far...

Mei: "..." If you don't know how to flirt, don't just do it randomly...

"Mei..."

Ling Feng called out softly...

"Mhm!"

Mei replied softly as well...

"Let's go back!"

Ling Feng ultimately decided against pushing things further. The pace was just too fast, and he was afraid Mei might misunderstand him...

"Okay!"

Mei nodded gently, a smile returning to her face. "If we don't go back soon, Kiana and the others will definitely complain about us!"

Ling Feng moved Mei's hand from his chest, but he didn't let go. Instead, he continued to hold her hand as they walked back...

However, compared to when they arrived, the atmosphere on the way back was much more subdued. There was no helping it. While their outward relationship hadn't changed compared to before, their actual relationship had subtly shifted, making them both feel a bit reserved!