Huang Hao had never imagined time would pass so quickly—or rather, he had no idea how much time had passed. Suddenly, it was time to go fight Bing Lü.
Huang Hao slowly calmed down. "What time is it now? How long until afternoon? And how long will it take to get there?"
Angela said, "About two or three hours, I think. It should take about an hour to get there."
After hearing that, Huang Hao immediately got moving. "Angela, thanks. You stay here and watch the house. I'll be right back."
Angela said coquettishly, "Father, I think I should come with you. Father will get lost shortly after leaving."
Huang Hao thought about it and realized that was probably true. He could only say helplessly, "Fine, An'er. But let me say this again: call me 'big brother' when we're outside, or I might get arrested."
Angela nodded, and the two of them set off together.
As they walked, Huang Hao chatted with Angela. "Angela, if we're going by human psychology, how old would you say you are?"
Angela said, "Father, I only know a little more than other people. Technically, I should be ten years old."
"Ten years old? I don't even have a girlfriend, yet I already have a daughter. This time, I'm being serious, Angela. You're human now, so you need to put your life first. Don't look down on life like you did before. Have more fun in the future. Actually, I've always wanted to treat you like a child."
Angela said, "Father, you're not that old, so why do you have so much to say? And what do you mean by 'before'? I don't have a before."
Huang Hao merely smiled without answering. "Speaking of which, I didn't expect things to turn out this way either. But now that I'm here, I want to do everything I can."
"For example, that girl who collapsed up ahead. I want to protect the people I'm familiar with. As for strangers, I'll try my best. So... wait? A girl?"
Only after coming back to himself did Huang Hao notice. "No, where did a person come from in the middle of nowhere?"
The girl seemed to be muttering something, then suddenly flew into the air.
"Wait. In the middle of nowhere, in the afternoon, Bing Lü, me... What are the odds?"
"Angela, hide first. It's dangerous. I consider you human, after all, and there's no backup of you."
Angela stared blankly at him, not understanding what Huang Hao was talking about.
Huang Hao grew anxious and was just about to say something when he felt a gust of cold wind blow over.
"Forget it!"
Huang Hao made a snap decision and immediately picked Angela up and ran.
"You're not my biological child, but you're still my child. You can't get hurt. Hurry back. I've found the person!"
Huang Hao ran while looking back at Bing Lü chasing after them, and spoke to Angela.
Angela felt somewhat regretful. "Did I hold Father back? I'm sorry..."
Seeing how dejected Angela was, Huang Hao remembered that she was still a child and comforted her. "It's fine. Just be more careful next time. With the Imaginary Tree's proxy, the one behind us can't catch up at all. No wonder this is the Herrscher that Qian Jie tore apart with his bare hands."
"By the way, do you know how to return to that space?"
Angela answered from Huang Hao's arms, "I do."
"Good. Go back first."
Angela shook her head. "Is Father going to deal with this monster alone?"
Huang Hao felt a little moved by her concern. "Don't worry, of course not. There'll be an uncle coming in a moment."
Bing Lü—So you're just pretending I don't exist?—released a burst of cold air and sent several ice spikes flying at them.
When Huang Hao saw the ice spikes coming, he immediately used fire to send Angela away and began facing the first Herrscher.
"All right, let me try out this power."
Huang Hao summoned black flames and imitated Bing Lü, throwing several fireballs. The two attacks collided, and for a moment, neither side had the upper hand.
Bing Lü began to lose her temper, and her attacks grew even more ferocious. Huang Hao gradually fell behind.
"Damn, we're already done with the first phase? I feel like I can't beat her."
Just as Huang Hao was considering whether to burn himself and escape, he saw Angela approaching from the distance, pulling someone along.
Huang Hao panicked. "Angela, didn't I tell you not to come over? And you brought some random passerby! Hurry back!"
The man immediately started cursing when he heard that. "Damn it, I came to help you! If not for her, I wouldn't have come over at all!"
Huang Hao was in the middle of fighting when that shout made him freeze for a moment. Bing Lü seized the opportunity and sent him flying with an ice spike.
"Father!" Angela hurried over and helped Huang Hao to his feet.
"No good. My power is still too weak. If I'd known, I would've trained more these past few days."
The man walked over. "Hey, move aside. I'm here to get revenge on him."
Huang Hao said, "Who are you? Why are you acting so arrogant? That's a Herrscher. If you're fine, hurry up and leave."
"I'm Qian Jie!" Qian Jie replied arrogantly. "She's this weak? Just watch me."
Huang Hao was furious enough to start cursing back. "Come on, then! Let's compare and see who can kill Bing Lü first."
"Then let's compare. Who's afraid of whom?"
No one knew whether Bing Lü had any humanity left. In any case, she watched the two men argue without putting her in their eyes, then angrily launched an attack.
"Hmph, I'm going in first." Qian Jie immediately charged forward.
"Why are you shouting so loudly? Hey, you! Wait for me!"
Angela: I brought someone over, and I don't even get a thank-you?
Angela had no choice but to watch the two men charge forward and shout, "Go, weird uncle! Go, Father!"
Qian Jie turned around and shouted, "Call me big brother! Wait, you bastard, are you his father?"
Huang Hao said, "...I'll explain after we finish the fight."
"I'll come back and arrest you later."
Before you continue