Unanswerable Doubts

Su Qing'an did not respond to Fu Hua's words of comfort. The words that once seemed to possess magical power now only caused increasingly faint and fragmented ripples in her Mind Lake.

Now, it is completely impossible for him to sever the Honkai link without damaging his soul again.

Having lost the capacity to generate much emotion, if he intended to use the Soul Scale to exchange for bargaining chips, all he could offer were... past memories and feelings.

Unlike Su Qing'an, whose personality was intact when she first discovered her Soul Burn.

Now... once he's burned out of something, he can no longer use empathy to recapture his original emotions.

At that time, even the boy himself will not be able to predict how worn he will become.

But it's okay.

Su Qing'an had already given himself instructions, and that was...

Above that Soul Hall.

The boy left her embrace as if he had no desire to linger in its softness and warmth.

Su Qing'an looked away, his long eyelashes drooping, not wanting to look directly into the other person's eyes. He said softly:

"Your uncle probably wants you to see him one last time."

The embrace ended, but Fu Hua didn't mind the other person's avoidance. She said:

"My dad won't let me go back. He said he doesn't want me to see myself looking like this."

The girl's expression still held sorrow, but her deeper emotions were no longer outwardly expressed. Instead, they settled like snowflakes on the Mind Lake, covering it with layer upon layer of frost and giving it a profound chill.

She silently reached out her fingers to smooth the strands of Su Qing'an's hair that had fallen to the ground, and smiled faintly.

"I promised him, so let's wait until the mission is over."

Su Qing'an glanced outside and said softly:

"There aren't many Honkai Beasts in the nearby wilderness. I can kill them all myself, so it's okay not to push myself."

Fu Hua shook her head and said:

"This mission isn't just about killing the Honkai Beast; we're stationed here to guard against any unforeseen circumstances."

"Three kilometers from this watchtower, we will gradually approach the arsenal under construction. If the construction of this facility fails, it will be a huge blow to the survivors who remain here."

"This is in Indonesia, where 87% of the population used to be Muslim, and there are some extremist sectarian groups within it. If this initial construction project encounters setbacks, then it's quite normal for these people to take advantage of the city's heightened sensitivity to launch an attack."

"A few days ago, Qiluo, Carole, and I mediated a large and serious civil dispute, and it was clear that some of the people involved were mentally unstable."

Su Qing'an understood the current situation. He had only known that this was a routine deployment mission and had not thought carefully about its significance.

But now it seems that the meaning it represents and the things behind it are quite unusual.

He asked:

"Which aspect of your mental state is abnormal?"

Listening quietly to their conversation, both Shiyu Qiluo and Carole wore expressions of unease, clearly still vivid in their memories of that incident.

Fu Hua pursed her lips and said:

"Some of them seem to be experiencing mental breakdowns. The extremists in the various branches of Islam were already troublesome enough, but these people are even more abnormal."

"They... developed faith in the Honkai itself, and even fabricated a god to worship."

Su Qing'an wasn't particularly surprised. In fact, the existence of a continuous Honkai Cultist even in a relatively peaceful post-apocalyptic world was quite normal in the current pre -Previous Civilization era.

This is not a detail worth pondering.

Fu Hua's expression returned to calm, and she said earnestly:

"Therefore, this mission is very important. This arsenal is connected to the nerves of all the citizens of this country. In the past six months of continuous fighting against the Honkai, this nerve has gradually reached its limit. The higher-ups need to use feasible solutions to make everyone realize that the current situation can be improved, and even that we can reclaim our homeland."

"Only in this way can the increasingly chaotic situation be brought into clarity."

"The current situation is an unprecedented Honkai Cultist. Terrorists within Islam have even been driven to the point of neurosis, leading to the mingling of citizens from both groups, leaving the authorities completely helpless."

"Recently, a scientist proposed a plan that was accepted by all officials. In order to stabilize the situation, which was on the verge of local riots at any time, the higher-ups informed the public of the plan and encouraged everyone to participate, which led to a slight stabilization of the situation."

"The advantage of doing this is that, once the situation is stabilized and confirmed, it greatly reduces the possibility of ordinary people being incited. It also reduces the success rate of those lawbreakers taking advantage of the situation to their advantage, thus allowing us to gradually eradicate the root cause of the problem and completely stabilize public sentiment."

"The downside is... if anything goes wrong, the official credibility will further suffer, and those who have been lurking in the shadows waiting for their chance will all jump out at once, which could easily result in tens of thousands of casualties."

She finished explaining the entire situation and stated frankly:

"So, Master Su, I can't leave."

"Dad wouldn't want me to leave at this time either. That's always been the kind of person he is. If it weren't for that personality of his..."

The girl stopped talking abruptly, as if she understood that continuing the conversation wouldn't be pleasant.

Su Qing'an didn't delve into the details of Fu Hua's words, but he could understand the underlying meaning.

The Fu Xiuran initially contracted the Honkai Sickness was essentially because he was injured while protecting pedestrians from harm and fighting off Zombie.

The reasons that led him to naturally choose to fight and refuse to turn back are self-evident.

If it were his uncle, it would be perfectly normal for him to allow Hua to stay here and continue his mission.

However, Su Qing'an never considered applying the thoughts of the deceased to the present situation, since their souls had already dissipated.

Sending Fu Hua back to attend the scheduled funeral was simply a way for her to console herself and to show respect for the deceased.

The former is undoubtedly more important to Su Qing'an, but given Fu Hua's current attitude, he is really unwilling to force the issue.

But is this task truly irreplaceable?

At least Su Qing'an herself could take Fu Hua's place, allowing her to finally relax and return to Australia to attend the funeral.

He didn't want Fu Hua to leave any regrets.

"I can..."

But Su Qing'an's words were interrupted by the girl, who looked at her with sorrow and said softly:

"Perhaps Master Su can accept it now, but I can't."

The reason is simple: the key to Su Qing'an's predicament lies with the upper echelons.

Fu Hua's current mission is a result of the Moth to Fire being sent to guard the area on orders from above.

In this situation, even if Fu Hua knew that Su Qing'an had chosen to join the Moth to Fire, taking over the mission wouldn't be a big deal.

But emotionally, she... couldn't bear to see the young man suffer this injustice.

On what grounds?

Why should he have survived the official Honkai Fission Bomb during his battle with the Herrscher?

Why should he have to spend half a year living a half-dead existence in a medical ward, hiding in the dark underground?

Why should he, having exhausted all his emotions and completely indifferent to his own experiences, still have to do things for the authorities because of his own reasons?

She understands, she comprehends, she knows.

There are many illogical relationships and arguments here, many emotions that shouldn't exist in this situation, and immature and irrational ideas.

But I cannot accept it.

Su Qing'an is now in a state where she doesn't care about anything that concerns her own well-being.

And he had always been alone, far more lonely than himself; perhaps no one in the world would care whether he was alive or dead.

Let her care.

She would care about the grievances that Su Qing'an could no longer perceive, she would care about the sorrow that Su Qing'an could no longer understand, and she would care about Su Qing'an's life and death, which was the last one in the Sequence Number.

Therefore, Fu Hua did not want Su Qing'an to take her place, even if doing so would allow her to return to Australia to say her final goodbye to her father.

She really wanted to go back, even though the man said it didn't matter if she didn't go back. She didn't want to be seen looking like a proper martial artist...

But Fu Xiuran always like this. He will say that it's okay, that he doesn't need to come to visit him, that he should go out and have fun with his friends, and that he'll be fine on his own.

But if he really doesn't go, he'll still inevitably feel lonely.

This time will definitely be the same.

So... Fu Hua really wants to go back.

But if it comes at this cost, she'd rather go back a little later.

This regret might make Fu Hua feel sad at some point when she looks back on the past, but it will never make her feel remorse.

Making Su Qing'an do things she shouldn't in order to satisfy her own desires is undoubtedly not right in the eyes of the young girl.

This is her stubbornness, her foolishness, her arbitrary decision-making.

But perhaps, it's also a kind of lovely place.

Su Qing'an watched silently as Fu Hua combed her long hair. She took out a spare Black Rope from her pocket, tied it up, and whispered:

"That will make things easier."

After nodding to indicate that he understood, he asked in a low voice:

"What if we simply stay here?"

The girl's fingertips, still nestled in her hair, lingered for a moment before she pursed her lips.

"If we don't make a move, that's fine."

"Okay," he said.

Fu Hua stood up, glanced at the now-over battlefield, and said to the group:

"The reason for the consistent amount of harassment over the past few days remains unclear, and the target behind it is also crucial. To be on the safe side, I will gradually expand the current investigation scope on my own."

"Don't worry about my safety. We share data from our Honkai Energy detectors, and I'll be back in two hours."

After she finished speaking, she said nothing more and went straight to the watchtower, got on her black motorcycle, and rode off into the distance.

In the quiet atmosphere, the group silently watched her figure disappear from sight.

No one chose to stop it; everyone knew that this was just an excuse.

Su Qing'an's arrival shattered the girl's outward composure and calmness, breaking down her efforts to suppress her emotions and revealing further information.

These things had already overwhelmed her, but she maintained her normal demeanor and tone.

But this is an even more dangerous sign.

Fu Hua needs to be alone to calm down completely.

And no one can take away this qualification.

Therefore, silence is the only option.

At the same time, Su Qing'an had no reason to stop it.

Upon seeing her, he realized that Fu Hua had Clear Mirror Realm, even though he didn't know her exact combat strength.

However, based on the advantages of the genuine Void Sword Qi and the excellent Honkai Energy aptitude.

Unless their numbers accumulate to the point of filling the wilderness, basic Honkai Beast pose no threat to her as she can infinitely utilize external Honkai Energy with almost no physical or mental exertion.

While the Emperor-class above them might be difficult to deal with, escaping wouldn't be a problem.

Perhaps under normal circumstances, Su Qing'an would have some thoughts on such rapid progress.

But now there is none at all.

The boy's weak and indifferent emotions even unconsciously affected his decision-making.

In the past, even if Su Qing'an rationally understood that Fu Hua needed to be alone and that doing so would not be dangerous, he would still likely find peace of mind by indirectly accompanying her through [hiding].

Now that he understands the possibility of an accident is extremely low, and even if it does occur, it will be within the scope of his own abilities and sword heart, he simply lets the other party leave.

At present, the lack of emotion may only affect some details, but it is unknown what kind of consequences these deficiencies will lead to in the future.

Su Qing'an gradually came to understand the current state of her personality by analyzing the subtle changes in her Mind Lake and all the data on her emotional fluctuations.

The boy understands that the area where he processes his emotions isn't completely broken, but rather in a state of numbness.

This does not mean that Su Qing'an's willpower is not strong enough.

Even the strongest willpower has its limits. Controlling emotions may fall into this category, but the reverse is another matter entirely.

The primary reason for the death of Satou Yunona was its immense impact, but her repeated attempts to reopen old wounds and her constant exchange of tokens within the Soul Hall were also contributing factors.

Since the latter are not fundamental issues that are being burned, the problems of the soul will eventually be gradually erased with the passage of time and the accumulation of daily experiences.

The former problem will naturally be resolved to some extent once the problem of the soul is resolved.

Theoretically speaking, as time goes by and the uncertainty persists, Su Qing'an will gradually return to normal.

However, the extent to which it can return to normal remains unknown.

Even if this problem is resolved, whether it can withstand future trials is another matter entirely.

"Teacher Su, aren't you curious about Hua's life these past six months?"

Shiyu Qiluo and Carole exchanged a glance, then opened up to Su Qing'an, recounting the trivial matters that had occurred over the past six months.

You shouldn't bring your emotions onto others, and you shouldn't make them worry.

We absolutely cannot... impose the remaining burdens on Su Qing'an now.

The biting wind whistled and clattered against the helmet on the face as the motorcycle sped at high speed, and despite being surrounded and squeezed by Honkai Energy, the Moth to Fire motorcycle still demonstrated the toughness of its superior materials.

Over the course of six months, Fu Hua gradually figured out, using the basic principles of [Thousand Stars], how to cleverly load Honkai Energy onto vehicles to provide a corresponding speed boost in the virtual battlefield.

The inspiration and methods naturally came directly from Su Qing'an, but since Fu Hua didn't have time to learn the specific methods from him, she figured out how to use them herself after researching and figuring it out.

This motorcycle is a special vehicle specially manufactured by the Equipment Department to adapt to the amplification of Honkai Energy. Not only is the entire body made of nano-mechanical ore with a certain degree of repair ability and weak Honkai Energy resistance, but its structure has also undergone layers of design.

There are even multiple Honkai Energy reactors and skill formulas.

The internal Honkai Energy reactor can not only perform basic acceleration and Honkai Energy, but also dock with Fu Hua's armor in emergency situations, creating a charging-like effect.

The existence of nanobot ore seems to be a revolutionary application of Honkai by that scientist, but the one used on this vehicle is already a product several generations behind the current technology.

Meanwhile, the military supplies of the Moth to Fire have already entered mass production using similar materials. At the same time, a quantum computer specifically designed for the existence of nanorobot minerals will be piloted in Australia in an effort to develop superior materials in the shortest possible time.

Clearly, Mei has achieved numerous accomplishments in the past six months.

This also indirectly means that the amplification of Honkai Energy on its vehicles no longer requires much sophisticated skill.

Otherwise, Fu Hua, in her current state, wouldn't have deliberately used this method.

The pitch-black motorcycle, like a blade cleaving through the wind, swiftly traversed the heart of the wilderness.

Scattered Honkai Beasts of the Charge-class and Chariot-class Honkai Beast wandered aimlessly in the vast area, while the girl used her will to manipulate the Honkai Energy in the world, transforming it into a rough sword shape that crashed down.

Emptiness, confusion, and an anger with nowhere to go whispered in Fu Hua's ear like a demon, driving her to repeat this numb killing spree endlessly.

In this process that required almost no conscious thought, the girl suddenly realized that the Honkai Beast she once feared were like straw waiting to be harvested in a rice field—powerless and weak.

Yes, she has indeed become stronger.

He became so strong that he no longer hesitated to wield his sword, and gradually lost his fear of battle itself.

He was strong enough to be out of danger, and overcame numerous difficulties and despair time and time again in the past six months.

But what is the significance?

She kept asking herself this question.

But what is the significance?

Have no idea.

She silently embarked on her return journey as the appointed time approached.

Perhaps.

Throughout Fu Hua's life after the age of 15, countless questions like these, destined to remain unanswered, will continue to arise.