Su Qing'an's Daughter

Although everyone was eagerly anticipating Udu-dust transforming into a cute little bird, the time it would take to hatch was beyond human control.

At least this period of time is much longer than Su Qing'an had initially imagined.

About a week had passed since those red threads gradually formed a cocoon, completely enveloping the tiny feather until it was no longer clearly visible.

Because Fu Hua's damaged Soul Essence has not yet fully recovered, and she is not used to it, she still experiences dizziness and lightheadedness from time to time. Therefore, she can only choose to temporarily leave the front line and wait for orders.

On the other Shiyu Qiluo's injuries had mostly healed, but Carole was still undergoing long-term nano-surgery and treatment. In between, Black Abyss White Flower had also secretly used it a few times, making the overall situation quite pleasing.

Su Qing'an not only gave special treatment to people he knew, but he also treated countless wounded soldiers every day, and Mei tacitly accepted this.

There's no need to conceal the healing abilities of the Black Abyss White Flower itself; the only thing that needs to be hidden right now is the complete removal of Honkai Energy infection when combined with the [Stigmata].

With Australia in dire straits, it's only natural to expose the Divine Key's abilities, which are of no consequence to them anyway, especially since this ability is enough to save many lives.

Although Kevin is currently the one with the most severe injuries among the wounded, he is recovering the fastest. He regained consciousness a week later and is no longer having any problems with taking care of himself.

The fundamental reason is that the cells of the Fusion Warrior possess a kind of peculiar muscle memory, which allows them to slowly recreate previously intact organs and tissues on their own.

This ability, which was supposed to shine brightly in the future, is still very immature. Its self-recovery rate is almost outrageously slow, but the power essence of the Black Abyss White Flower can promote this and help him recover quickly to his full potential.

Meanwhile, during the treatment, Su Qing'an also noticed a reality.

That is, the connection between the Fusion Warrior and Honkai Energy is almost more profound than that of the Herrscher. Although it is still a little less than the Honkai Beast formed from pure Honkai Energy, it has inherited and optimized the survival mode and updated the form of output and storage of Honkai Energy.

The drawback, which isn't really a flaw, is that without Honkai Energy, it can't maintain its own existence.

Honkai Energy to Fusion Warrior as water is to fish.

The concept of Fusion Warrior was originally Mei's idea to create the strongest individuals in the Honkai Energy environment for the purpose of survival of the fittest.

It was extreme, but effective.

However, this does not mean that Fusion Warrior can only exist in Honkai Energy environments. The cells and organs deep within their bodies can actually be regarded as semi-energy products.

This result allows these cells and organs not only to absorb and store large amounts of Honkai Energy, but also to generate Honkai Energy on their own to form an internal cycle. Even in an environment completely devoid of Honkai Energy, Fusion Warrior can maintain their lives for a long time or even forever.

In every sense, the real data Kevin brought proves that the existence of Fusion Warrior almost represents the embodiment of perfect beings.

However, Mei also understands that this is essentially due to Kevin's personal excellence.

From an experimental and scientific perspective, the finished products of the Fusion Warrior Project generally do not possess such combat power and exaggerated data.

Several more members of the Moth to Fire, selected through rigorous screening and acting voluntarily, are expected to undergo fusion experiments. If any of them succeed, comparing the data at that time will clarify whether some issues were correct or not.

During this period, Fu Hua's state of being affected by Udu-dust gradually faded, and the boy who had been working hard to see when the Little Feather would break free of its cocoon and running around outside belatedly realized this and felt regret.

If it were during a time when a young girl is easily embarrassed, deliberately teasing her would probably lead to many interesting things. But when I was pressed against her lower abdomen, listening to the breathing and wonderful wavelengths inside the cocoon, her adorable anxious reactions and her restraint in suppressing them were also quite amusing.

It's clear that Fu Hua herself had very mixed feelings about this matter, and even inquired about the other party's background for the first time.

Su Qing'an then revealed half the truth, stating that it was a part of the power of the Divine Key from another world, and that the reason it had become like this was probably because it had absorbed his own soul matter and some other unknown reasons.

The girl didn't believe the other person would lie intentionally, and she didn't think it mattered if they did.

In short, if Udu-dust is truly a part of the Divine Key from another world, then it is estimated that the so-called soul matter and other factors have undergone a strange chemical reaction with it, leading to the current result.

If the Little Feather could truly transform into a form closer to life, then perhaps the boy and I are currently creating an unprecedented miracle.

In this process, the Divine Key may not have played a significant role.

Firstly, the power contained in the Little Feather is less than one-thousandth of the true Divine Key; secondly, if the Divine Key is the main element, then the Black Abyss White Flower is obviously more likely to become sentient.

However, as it stands, this is merely a pure weapon that does not harbor any soul.

Aside from etching that deep wound into one's heart, its only remaining value is as a weapon.

Of course, if the Black Abyss White Flower could truly become a spirit, it would be a unique form of solace.

It was as if the girl had been reborn before my eyes in another way. Even though I knew it was an undeniable lie, I could still feel a sliver of relief.

Fu Hua had actually considered that Su Qing'an initially did not possess the qualifications and ability to control the Divine Key. Regardless of the so-called wavelength or adaptability, his poor Honkai resistance was a natural constraint.

Therefore, the owner of that Key of Consciousness must not be himself. However, the boy himself possesses a feather that carries a part of the Key of Consciousness. If the owner of the Key of Consciousness did not have a very good relationship with him, he would not have given such a gift that could trigger many miracles.

Both [Udu-dust • Critical Point] and this feather itself, which possesses a high degree of spirituality and is about to undergo a strange transformation, provide Su Qing'an with the spark that allows her to survive in this world.

If given the chance, the girl would like to thank the original owner of this Udu-dust.

Of course, it's best if the other person isn't a girl.

She secretly thought about it, but then felt that if others knew her thoughts, they would definitely laugh at her.

Fortunately, this emotion was very mild, at most only a few degrees stronger than when the boy stared at Xin Chan back then, but it was nothing serious.

Fu Hua truly cared about wasn't whether the owner of the Udu-dust was male or female, but rather the clear connection that extended from that feather to... that other world, the bond Su Qing'an possessed.

The girl realized for the first time that the person she knew so well did not originally belong to this world.

How much unwavering conviction and nostalgia did Su Qing'an reveal in those seemingly joking remarks?

She realized she was unlikely to find an answer.

But more than these things, the young girl cared about Su Qing'an's own feelings.

Perhaps in his original world, he had many bonds he was unaware of: family, friends, teachers, a familiar circle of relationships, things he wanted to protect and goals he fought for, a past worth looking back on and a future worth looking forward to.

But what has become of those things now?

Su Qing'an may have been caught up in an accident and drifted to this world, unable to find her way back.

But Fu Hua thought that although it was still something to be sad about, it was probably the gentlest ending.

Looking back at what I've known about Su Qing'an since we first met, and then at his emotional and mental state when we first met, the answer is only worse.

He possessed the tenacity and perseverance to cling desperately to any hope. How could someone like that, if not completely devoid of hope, reveal such a vulnerable side?

That world was most likely destroyed by the Honkai. The vast surface was eroded into large [Ashes], and endless corpses became the colors of the sky. The embers of life were extinguished in the Honkai Pure Land, and the relics of civilization fell into the deep sea and underground. Those who struggled to the end may have also been annihilated in the dust in the final battle, never to be heard again.

Of course, it's also possible that civilization triumphed, but at a heavy price, everything the boy possessed vanished, leaving him with nothing.

If there are still things in that world that Su Qing'an cherishes, then he wouldn't remain silent about his idea of returning to that world.

It is precisely because it is absolutely impossible to go back, and going back would be meaningless, that he has always tacitly acknowledged his past, but never talked about it.

Fu Hua thought, but for Su Qing'an, it was still not a taboo subject. Those unpleasant endings were scars etched into her soul, but the past still had enough to provide a little warmth at crucial moments.

She felt that the beautiful memories she had once cherished were not meaningless. Even if those past experiences came to an end at a painful cost and ended in a bleak gray, she would still not regret those years she had lived through.

Just like no matter what the future holds, I will never feel that the people and things I encounter now were a mistake.

What can I possibly do for him?

The little girl thought hard about this question.

She thought that Su Qing'an was actually a traveler. His past had turned to [Ashes], and he could no longer reach his former home. This world, which was being disturbed by Honkai, had nothing to do with him.

Since they have no one to rely on, they should also be free from all attachments.

But he himself had imposed new constraints on him, stripping away the only meaning that the traveler, a person who represented countless sorrows, possessed—freedom.

So at least...

The girl lay on the soft bed, gazing at the red cocoon in her Mind Lake, from which the faint sound of breathing could be heard, and murmured to herself:

I will give him a home.

But she soon realized, belatedly, that the combination of that sentence and gazing at the Little Feather created a rather subtle effect.

Fu Hua's face flushed slightly, and she muttered:

"Why did you have to build a cocoon in my Mind Lake? You should have just gone to Su Qing'an."

But as she recalled that it was she who had grabbed the boy's hand and created a connection with him, leading to the current situation, her sense of self-righteousness gradually turned into guilt.

This is a necessary sacrifice.

The little girl muttered these strange words to herself, buried her head in the pillow, and after breathing in the scent of lavender for a while, she poked half her head out. Her shyness had mostly faded, and her eyes, lowered, seemed to be gazing at Udu-dust, who was sleeping in the Mind Lake, revealing a smile and affection.

Consider it... a rehearsal.

The following day, Brisbane.

The former residence of the Moth to Fire, the old site of the Soul Steel Prison.

As the whole of Australia was engulfed in the Honkai Energy phenomenon, even though the summer season was not yet over, the silent winter still descended upon the earth, with dirty-colored snow falling from the sky like coarse lime, contrary to the seasonal phenomenon.

As his own residence, the boy had deliberately absorbed all the Honkai Energy entangled in the vicinity, so this scene did not occur here.

As part of Australia's overall environment, similar harsh conditions will inevitably emerge here sooner or later.

Mei and Su Qing'an were powerless to help Australia in the face of the disaster. Humanity still seemed so insignificant in the face of nature. The only thing they could do was to completely expel the calamities that had befallen the cities along the route of the Holy Gate Project, and then reinforce the original route to the level required for such an environment, in order to give the remaining survivors some space to live.

As for Australia's future, given the limited and half-hearted assistance provided by the government, even if a larger-scale purification plan is proposed, it will only be feasible to allocate the necessary resources and time to implement it after a true victory in the war between humanity and the Honkai. Therefore, there is probably no hope of restoring the former glory in the short term.

The Sydney Opera House and aquarium, which the boy had once visited with Seele, were destroyed in the ocean currents stirred up by the Honkai Energy ocean. To him, it seemed that all the colors of this world were slowly fading away.

Su Qing'an withdrew his gaze from the distant snow and looked at the little girl watering the potted plants. The loneliness and solitude he couldn't suppress slowly melted away like ice and snow. Even now, he was still very afraid of being alone.

Acceptability and liking or fearing are two completely different things.

Fu Hua's fingertips brushed over the pruning marks on the branches and leaves and the petals slightly damp under the water droplets, and she asked for no apparent reason:

"If it could talk, what do you think it would call us?"

Su Qing'an thought about it for a while, only to realize that this was the first time she had considered this question.

From the past to the present, aside from the effects of the Udu-dust itself, he has always treated the Little Feather as a mascot.

So naturally he wouldn't deliberately think about this kind of thing, but even when Fu Hua specifically asked him, he didn't have much of a desire or feeling about it.

Su Qing'an himself didn't really care what people called him. For example, Bronya used to call him Little Su. Although it was essentially due to Kiana's misunderstanding of Shenzhou culture, he still didn't care much about it.

Of course, this is probably related to the fact that Bronya is a child and very cute.

If Kiana deliberately addresses Su Qing'an in that way, she'll likely be pranked and teased by him in some strange place.

He replied:

"I'm not sure, but it would be more convenient to just call them by their first name."

Fu Hua put down the watering can, carefully wiping the frame of the three-person photo, pursed her lips, and smiled as she replied:

"It's convenient, but names are more than just labels."

Su Qing'an followed her gaze and lingered on the photograph, which was bathed in the light of the arc, showing a blurred face with downcast eyes. The Abyss Flower in the Soul Hall swayed in the wind, and the two butterflies that rose and fell with the scales remained as lifeless as ever.

There are always some things that you'll never forget in your entire life.

The large house is filled with memories that are hard to leave behind yet also cause sadness. Only by facing all of this together can the two of them avoid being swallowed up by the abyss of their hearts.

Su Qing'an didn't delve any further into the topic. He simply opened the refrigerator, looked at the ingredients inside, and asked softly:

"Hmm, what would you like for dinner?"

The girl opened the bottom of the closet, where she found a dinosaur pajama set, a cell phone that had once been directly connected to Prometheus, a sun hat, a summer outfit, and many other odds and ends—things she couldn't bear to throw away but also didn't want to see often.

Su Qing'an glanced at it; dust rose and fell in the sunlight, casting an indescribable hue over the events that sealed away the past.

Sometimes, the most painful part of losing someone is not the initial stage.

Rather, it's the memories and laughter that suddenly surface in some corner of the past, reminding you time and time again that you've truly lost the opportunity and ability to continue creating a future with that person. And the more beautiful and special the past was, the more unforgettable and painful it becomes.

He thought he would achieve the best possible outcome.

Not to obey punishment, but only for... what I desire in my heart.

She placed the photo frame next to these things, silently closed the cabinet, tightened the latch again, smiled, and replied:

"Osmanthus-flavored braised pork".

Su Qing'an paused for a moment, then nodded in agreement.

This is the first dish I made for Fu Hua in this timeline.

While the two were cooking together, the red cocoon in the Mind Lake silently cracked open, and the Little Feather curled up inside gradually regained consciousness, truly gaining a sense of self at that moment.

Then, it slipped away from the Mind Lake.

About half an hour later, the boy carrying the dishes out of the kitchen and Fu Hua, who followed him out, stared at the bizarre scene before them and fell into an eerie silence.

She was a girl as delicate as a doll, exquisitely sculpted like jade. She was only a little over ten years old, extremely childish, but compared to her young age, her face also had a naturally indifferent expression and aloof temperament, which was cute in contrast.

At this moment, under the blank gazes of the two, "Little Feather's " long black hair, which cascaded down most of the sofa, was as smooth as silk and as black as ink. Her eyes, which were the same color as her hair, were staring intently and innocently at the screen on the television. Combined with her upright posture, it was quite amusing.