Why Did You Come to Like Hua?

A week has passed since the deaths of the Fifth Herrscher and the Judgment-class Honkai Beast Chi You.

Localized wars continued to occur, and the appearance and death of Herrscher did not seem to affect the frequent occurrence of Honkai events in other corners of the world.

The war between humanity and the Honkai never ends, and the warriors of the Moth to Fire rarely get a chance to catch their breath.

Endless missions, virtually no holidays, an absurdly high mortality rate, and a pitch-black future with no hope in sight.

These scattered, subtle forms of despair pieced together an immense pressure that was crushing their nerves. The monthly psychological tests conducted internally revealed that many people were gradually descending into a pathological state of being overwhelmed.

As for Fu Hua, her experience is not unusual in this era; it is quite common.

Compared to some soldiers of the same period, this experience was actually quite gentle.

The presence of the Void Sword Qi ensured her safety, giving Fu Hua more breathing room than others.

Even so, she would occasionally experience a lot of negative emotions.

Perhaps everyone is already sick.

Whether it's the gradual Honkai Infection, or the crumbling of hope and the mountain of despair within, both are slowly pushing the individual, who is called human, to their limits.

At the moment the building is about to collapse, the tragedy caused by the collapse of humanity itself will be no less devastating than the destructive force of the Honkai itself.

To prevent this future from happening, Mei's deification and Su Qing'an's achievements deserve further promotion and publicity.

Morale is very important.

The more adeptly the human leadership is at handling large-scale battles, the less likely their soldiers are to waver.

This is also the core reason why Mei chose to have Su Qing'an was clearly seriously injured, take action.

The death of the Fifth Herrscher was not so straightforward; on the contrary, it exposed the terrifying reality that humanity's top-tier weapons have limitations in the face of monsters like the Herrscher.

If it weren't for the awe-inspiring sight of Su Qing'an single-handedly slaying his opponent, which indirectly overshadowed the victory, even if humanity ultimately triumphed, morale would have been even lower.

At this critical juncture, the appearance of Chi You undoubtedly made the situation even worse. The best way to completely reverse the decline and turn this situation into morale improvement is to have Su Qing'an, who had just killed the Fifth Herrscher, take action again and kill Chi You.

In this way, the illusion of invincibility was initially established.

The public disclosure of top-tier combat power is enough to offset the panic caused by the Herrscher becoming increasingly powerful and the first appearance of Judgment-class Honkai Beast.

The authorities themselves did not like Su Qing'an to gain such great influence, but his attitude of choosing to kill Chi You despite being seriously injured inadvertently passed the test from the higher-ups.

After Mei provided the other party with the current physical report, the government weighed the pros and cons and then showed an attitude of encouraging the situation.

A Martial Immortal is nearing the end of his life but is still useful, even if it brings him some prestige, it's not a big deal; it's not an excessive price to pay.

If the Fusion Warrior Project is successfully implemented, Su Qing'an, who cannot become Fusion Warrior, will lose his original level of attention, and the remaining top combat forces will provide some balance to the situation where one side dominates.

At that point, the attention he receives from those above will plummet.

Soldiers' durability is ultimately a headache for the higher-ups.

Soldiers are not tools; expecting them to fight endlessly without complaint and maintain a consistently high level of professionalism is wishful thinking.

The combination of several improvements to the shift system and Mechanical Force, along with the continuous influx of new recruits, was what allowed the army to barely sustain itself for the next six months, preventing major objections.

Even so, it is still necessary to plan ahead.

The battle on the Mu Continent was nearing its end. Almost all the Honkai Beast had been forcibly annihilated by the armed forces. The defensive line that Dr. Mei had previously tested in Yakarta had been improved several times and had now been deployed in practice on the Mu Continent.

Other densely populated cities and countries are also gradually adopting a set of defenses. With these defenses now in place, most of the Moth to Fire soldiers' combat missions will gradually shift to border defense.

Fu Hua and her team's previous mission in Estonia was to maintain a garrison.

However, this transitional period of change still requires attention, and the captains of the Moth to Fire are all inspiring and mobilizing their soldiers in their own ways.

Among all the captains, Himeko is perhaps the one who cares most about the soldiers under his command.

This can actually be seen from the fact that in the most difficult early stages of the Great Honkai, Himeko gave those with sufficient Honkai Energy literacy the right to make their own choices.

The captains of the other squads would almost never let go of anyone who was qualified to become a fighting force; the normal practice would be to tell them the truth and recruit them into the army without any explanation.

Himeko is truly an outlier among them.

The government's plan to conceal the existence of the Honkai from the public at the time was a scheme, but with the military's power growing, this became meaningless, and there was no real need to follow it.

But from a woman's perspective, this doesn't mean she's particularly gentle.

She simply has her own principles.

Soldiers forced to confront the truth and compelled to enter the battlefield; soldiers who choose to confront the truth themselves and are still willing to fight for it after knowing everything.

There is a stark difference between the two.

The Fifth Squad, however, only needs the latter.

Therefore, it might be more appropriate to interpret this approach as a rigorous pursuit of excellence rather than gentleness.

But it's undeniable that Himeko was indeed very good to his soldiers.

A month ago, she began organizing and arranging for team members to take turns on their shifts in advance to free up time and grant them extra leave within the rules, intending to use this opportunity to organize a large-scale dance party.

Even though she couldn't free up the time of everyone in the Fifth Squad, she could still invite quite a few people, so it would be a lively scene when they arrived.

Fu Hua and her team, who had just finished their mission in Estonia, naturally received the news shortly afterward.

At first, Fu Hua couldn't quite understand it.

From a purely warrior's perspective, she believed that the ball was unnecessary; a little leisure time during a simple vacation was enough to relax one.

But there was no reason to participate in the ball. The tragedy in Barcelona not long ago was still fresh in our minds, and the aftershocks of the world mourning and grieving in their own ways had not yet subsided. In a world where people die every moment, how could we expect people to sing and dance with abandon?

Not long after the mission ended, Fu Hua learned that while she was away, the boy who should have been at home was protecting the world from the storm.

He extinguished the flame of the Fifth Herrscher's life in the snowdrifts of Madeira Islands, and on the same day, he extinguished the apocalypse that would devour continental plates in front of the church in Watson Bay, his every move as effortless as that of an immortal untouched by the world.

Outsiders can only see the boy's victorious posture, but they know nothing of the price he paid.

To boost morale, the authorities made some changes to the video. Whether it was his exhausted appearance lying in the snow or the scene of the boy coughing up blood alone by the outside of the church that night, it was all buried in the dust of history and few people will know about it.

Aside from the audience at the time, no one knew that on that day, the 18-year-old Martial Immortal had exhausted the life-sustaining ties within his body, leaving him with only two years to live.

Fu Hua didn't know.

She will never know.

If Seele hadn't established contact with Mei beforehand, this would have been the information she would have known.

In Su Qing'an's view, there was no need to talk about this kind of information that would only cause trouble.

That person is always like that.

The messages he sent every day were trivial and scattered. There were photos of dishes at home, words about whether or not to get a cat to keep Seele, screenshots of his game stats and rankings, colorful paintings he drew, and many more rambling and irrelevant topics.

He kept his mouth shut about important matters, treating things like calling Herrscher at noon and a trial at night as casually as going downstairs to the convenience store to buy two bottles of Coke.

It wasn't until the girl learned about the appearance of the Fifth Herrscher and the existence of the Judgment-class Honkai Beast, and looked back at those chat records filled with ordinary warmth, that Fu Hua suddenly understood that Su Qing'an was indeed that kind of person.

If you don't take the initiative to ask, to understand, or to try to get closer, the distance between you and him will be like parallel lines that never intersect.

Fu Hua felt special to Master Su, just as Master Xiao Su meant to her. The time she spent living in her hometown had subconsciously convinced her of this.

It was something indescribable, similar to intuition yet seemingly supported by solid evidence; but if taken as real, it would only reveal an illusion whose traces could not be traced.

However, because of this unwavering conviction that had once existed, Fu Hua subconsciously believed that the distance between herself and the boy was not far.

That's at most a short distance, just a hand's breadth away...

But perhaps that's not the case; it's just that I'm used to the certainty that arose at a certain moment in the past, which is why I've overlooked many things.

--I overlooked the fact that I didn't understand him nearly as well as I thought.

Irritability, anxiety, sadness.

Even if that person didn't say anything, Fu Hua understood that he must have paid a price.

The girl, caught up in complex emotions, was indirectly dragged into the emptiness that had previously lingered within her.

Her father's death made her consciously or unconsciously restrain herself in everything, as if even the slightest joy after that was a sin. But Su Qing'an's actions shattered the shackles of her self.

Fu Hua realized she could no longer ignore it. If dwelling on the loss of her loved ones led to the loss of someone important to her, it would be putting the cart before the horse.

Himeko's invitation came at this crucial moment, and the distraught girl naturally found it difficult to immediately grasp the other party's intentions as she usually would.

However, the reactions of Shiyu Qiluo and Carole made Fu Hua reflect on her actions.

Carole, who had been complaining about not visiting the historical sites in Tartu, suddenly fell silent. She looked at the red-haired woman in the video, her expression instantly becoming devout and serene. For a moment, she mistook this woman for a Christian saint who had suddenly appeared out of nowhere, gazing at the statues in the church.

In contrast Shiyu Qiluo did not react in such an exaggerated way, but judging from the sparkling look in her eyes, she was also looking forward to it.

Fu Hua thus came to realize a reality she had previously overlooked.

That is, even if one might feel it's unnecessary or uninteresting, it might not be the case for others.

Himeko's actions were based on her own considerations.

Perhaps, just as I thought not long ago that we shouldn't ignore the thoughts of those around us because of the deceased, it's precisely because everyone is immersed in the pain of the present that we need such a lively dance party all the more.

If it can lighten the atmosphere and ease some of the burdens on our hearts, then it's not a bad thing.

These positive changes do not mean betraying the painful past; rather, it is precisely to prevent such a past from repeating itself that we must acquire more motivation to move forward.

Fu Hua was momentarily stunned but then understood some of the other person's thoughts. However, she herself still had no interest in participating in the ball, so after considering it for a while, she decided to decline.

Just as she was about to politely decline, Himeko seemingly unintentionally said:

"This ball was originally organized to boost morale and bring joy to everyone, and for that purpose I specially invited the great contributors to the victory in the previous war."

The red-haired woman's lips curved slightly as she gazed in the other directions and murmured:

"Speaking of which, it seems like a lot of girls in our Fifth Squad are quite interested in him lately."

Almost simultaneously, a message popped up on the communicator.

Is Hua going to the dance?

In that instant, her mind, which had gradually been refined into Clear Mirror, Still Water, stirred up a mental storm within her consciousness.

It was almost impossible to discern what message Su Qing'an had sent. Fu Hua could only catch the key word "ball" in a fleeting moment. Himeko's comment that someone was interested in Su Qing'an became the spark that ignited the fuse, causing the girl to swallow back the word "rejection."

A strong sense of displeasure overcame her inner turmoil. She glanced at her enthusiastic teammate beside her, pursed her lips, and replied:

"Captain, we'll go."

Himeko smiled and said:

"I look forward to your arrival."

The communication was immediately disconnected.

Fu Hua ignored their enthusiastic discussion about the ball and typed a reply:

"I will go."

Meanwhile, Su Qing'an, having received Fu Hua's reply, also accepted Himeko's invitation.

The boy, dressed in a loose and casual black suit, leaned against a corner of the floor-to-ceiling window, looking down at the outside world. Nearby were staff members setting up the scene and Himeko, who was in charge of directing.

She wore an exquisitely tailored gown, and her long, loose red hair was carefully styled into an updo, revealing her neck and well-defined back. Her fair and delicate skin shone brightly under the lights, showcasing her charm.

Himeko looked at the guest who had arrived early.

Compared to the impression he had given himself before, Su Qing'an had undergone many changes. The strange feeling of being an empty shell seemed to have gradually filled himself and dissipated. However, due to the battle not long ago, his handsome face appeared sickly pale.

She greeted him by saying:

"Haven't seen you for a long time."

Su Qing'an responded softly:

"Long time no see, Himeko."

Himeko leaned against the round table next to her, opened a bottle of champagne, poured half a glass, and then started a conversation:

Your injury should be healed by now.

Excluding psychological injuries, with the most advanced medical equipment available today, two weeks is enough to bring a near-death person back to full health.

The boy sensed the weak, lifeless Little Feather floating in the Mind Lake. The price he paid for killing Chi You had not yet exceeded his limit, which was why he could still stay here and attend the ball.

Within two weeks, the Soul Essence had fully recovered, but using [Udu-dust • Critical] twice in one day still caused some trouble.

For example, even now, it still doesn't have much energy, and even stroking it doesn't elicit any reaction from its Little Feather.

But what truly threatened his life was the few days after the [Stigmata] was overdrawn again, in order to prevent the [Stigmata] from going offline.

Before the [Stigmata] truly stabilized, Su Qing'an spent all his time immersed in the Honkai Energy Inhibitor, waiting for the Honkai erosion that would occur when the connection was severed. During this period, the Anti-Honkai Potion, which had already begun to take shape, provided great help.

The [Stigmata] only truly disconnected three times, each time fluctuating for less than a minute. However, now that the Artificial Stigmata has disappeared, it is still extremely difficult for Su Qing'an to survive.

Even Mei couldn't have foreseen that the continuous high-intensity battles would be so dangerous for Su Qing'an; it was even more terrifying than slow suicide.

If it weren't for the advance research into Anti-Honkai Potion and the fact that the laboratory happened to have a large reserve, even Mei probably wouldn't have been able to turn the tide in that crisis.

But the boy, who had only recently emerged from purgatory, responded so casually:

"Okay, but there are still some aftereffects."

Himeko sensed that the other person didn't want to dwell on the topic, and since she herself had no intention of pursuing it further, she took a sip of her drink, looked up, and asked:

"Can I ask you a question? Something I've been curious about for a long time."

Su Qing'an didn't dislike talking to Himeko. Whether it was the help she gave him or Murata Himeko's past life identity, the boy naturally had a high level of affection for her.

So he hesitated for only a moment before nodding to indicate that the other person could ask.

Himeko swirled the clear wine in her glass, gazing into the distance. She was very, very high up, able to see the sea and the adjacent city.

She parted her lips and asked with a smile:

"I'm curious, why do you like Hua?"