The Su Family

On the other side, at Lake Island.

An old man dressed in an ancient-style robe sat upright in the seat of honor and ordered, "You can turn off the screen."

The president's speech had just ended. The screen went dark, and the entire main hall fell silent.

Not a single person spoke.

"Father—" A middle-aged man opened his mouth, about to say something.

Madam Su sat beside him.

It seemed they were Su Xue'er's parents.

"Don't speak yet."

The old man raised a hand to stop him and said, "Show me the battle from the beginning."

"Yes, I'll bring it up right away," someone replied.

Before long, the screen lit up again.

Gu Qingshan walked out of the bar, Spiritual Power surging around him. The old man's attention was immediately drawn to him.

"Special Five Elements, Wind-type Spiritual Power?" Interest showed on the old man's face.

When Gu Qingshan shot an arrow that blew up the police patrol Flying Shuttle, the old man remarked in surprise, "That kind of destructive power looks more like Metal-type Spiritual Power. How strange."

When Gu Qingshan unleashed a flurry of arrows and turned a Great Grandmaster into a pincushion, the old man fell into a long silence.

A Su Family retainer mused, "It doesn't seem to be Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, Earth, nor Wind, Thunder, Light, Darkness, Sound. It's none of the orthodox or reversed Five Elements either—perhaps he isn't a Transcendent, but someone with an unseen Heaven's Choice?"

When Martial Saint Zhang Zongyang appeared, everyone's expression turned grave.

"Gu Qingshan, the president wants to see you." Once the Martial Saint on the screen had said those words, the entire battle was over.

No one in the hall spoke. It was so quiet that even a needle dropping to the floor would have been heard.

The old man thought for a moment, then asked, "Whose idea was it to use the Bai and Nie families to get rid of him?"

Madam Su's face went pale, but her husband patted her shoulder and spoke first. "It was our idea."

The old man glanced at his son and took out a communicator.

A moment later, someone answered.

"Grandpa, what made you call me? Did you come out of seclusion?" Su Xue'er's delighted voice rang out.

"Mm, Grandpa has something to ask you."

"What is it?"

"That fellow named Gu Qingshan. What made you decide to befriend him?"

Su Xue'er immediately grew serious and asked softly, "What made you think to ask about that?"

"Mm, he's my granddaughter's friend, so of course I want to know about him too. If you don't tell me, I'll investigate myself."

"Oh, don't do that. I'll tell you, all right?"

Su Xue'er grew anxious.

Her grandfather was the head of the Su Family. Since he had asked her personally, she'd better answer honestly.

"He's—very hardworking, and very talented."

"For example?"

"With mecha research. During one of our practical classes, the mecha's weapons system malfunctioned and pointed its Electromagnetic Gun at us. Everyone screamed and ran, but he alone rushed forward and shouted at the mecha that its target was civilians."

"You know, ordinary security mechas like that are designed with safety as a top priority. As soon as he said 'civilians,' the mecha raised its muzzle. That electromagnetic shot went straight into the sky."

"That was when I started paying attention to him. Later, I found out that he'd started quite a few small research projects of his own, and I admired him even more."

After listening, the old man nodded. "Very good. I hope you get along well. Grandpa will call you again another day."

He put down the communicator and ordered, "Look into Gu Qingshan's mecha research. I recall you saying he worked for our Changning Steel Armor Research Department."

"He was fired," someone said quietly.

"Mm? Why?" The old man turned sharply, his voice rising.

His question carried such authority that the person trembled and looked toward Madam Su.

Madam Su lowered her head. "I fired him. I didn't want him using our Su Family company to climb the ladder and get closer to Xue'er."

"Climb the ladder?" The old man's brows knitted together as he savored the words.

Just then, the person in charge of the search gave a quiet, surprised exclamation and reported, "That's strange. My clearance isn't high enough to access his personal file."

"He's no longer with our company, so naturally you can't access it. Use my authority," the old man said.

He stepped forward and placed his palm on the Light Brain.

"Welcome to the Federation Personal Information Database, esteemed Su Xingchao."

"Requesting access to the personal research records of Gu Qingshan, a seventeen-year-old male under my jurisdiction in Changning Prefecture."

The screen suddenly froze. Then a line of bright red text appeared:

"TOP-LEVEL CLASSIFIED."

A mechanical voice sounded at the same time. "Sorry, your clearance is insufficient. In view of your esteemed status, we recommend that you submit your inquiry directly to Gu Qingshan."

"My clearance is insufficient?"

The Su Family head, Su Xingchao, suddenly opened his eyes wide. A sharp glint flashed within them.

"Father, there must be some kind of error. Your clearance is lower only than the president's and the three military commanders'. How could you be unable to access some poor kid's file?" Madam Su said.

"No. The Goddess of Justice doesn't make such basic mistakes." Su Xingchao picked up the communicator and dialed a number.

"Su Lao, hello," a steady voice came from the other end.

"Martial Saint Zhang, I'd like to trouble you with something."

"You're too kind. Please, go ahead. I'll do what I can."

"Gu Qingshan—"

"I'm sorry, Su Lao, but I can't tell you anything about him. The matter is too serious. I truly apologize."

Su Xingchao put down the communicator and fell silent for a moment. Then he suddenly said, "That crafty old fellow must know something."

Staring at the words "TOP-LEVEL CLASSIFIED," Su Xingchao found them unbearably glaring.

He suddenly slapped the table and said, "Transfer one hundred million Credit Points to the Federation Research Department immediately, and have them donate it to Gu Qingshan. We'll also get people ready to follow up on this."

The person in charge of the transaction said, "Understood. Please authorize it."

"I authorize it."

"Connecting to the Research Department—huh? The connection was interrupted."

"What's going on?"

After one problem after another, Su Xingchao couldn't help walking over to stare at the screen.

A line of text appeared on it: "Starting this year, Gu Qingshan's personal research funding will be provided entirely by the Goddess of Justice. No donations in any form are necessary."

Su Xingchao's pupils contracted. He mused, "Then donate directly to him, to help him complete his studies."

The person in charge wiped away his sweat and tapped rapidly with both hands.

"The system rejected it!" he cried out.

How could a donation be rejected? That had never happened before.

Every senior figure present craned their necks, trying to see what was happening on the screen.

Another line of text appeared.

"Starting this year, all of citizen Gu Qingshan's personal expenses will be covered entirely by the Goddess of Justice and the Federation president. No one may interfere."

Su Xingchao was speechless for a long time.

Everyone held their breath, silently awaiting the family head's instructions.

"What a pity. What a waste. Research classified at the highest level—and someone like him was fired by our own Su Family." Su Xingchao shook his head.

Madam Su didn't know what to say, and could only defend herself feebly. "You know Xue'er's fate."

"Bastard!"

Su Xingchao erupted with a thunderous roar and slapped Madam Su, sending her flying.

He could no longer contain himself and shouted, "Use your head! How many years has it been since the Federation last had research classified at the highest level? When was the last time? What level of research was it? Did you even look it up?"

"I'll tell you. It was the Interstellar Warp Technology that changed the world thirty years ago!"

"Xue'er's fate? Ha!" Su Xingchao's anger still hadn't subsided. He sneered, "The president has to step in to protect him, the Martial Saint doesn't dare reveal a single word, and the Goddess of Justice? She's using taxpayers' money to support him!"

He looked at the horrified Madam Su and said emphatically, "You're worried someone like him will seduce your daughter? You're worried he'll cling to our family? Ridiculous! Open your eyes and look. Even I can't get close to him now!"

"Dad, Xiao Ling only acted out of love for her daughter. She didn't think it through," Madam Su's husband said, stepping forward to placate him.

Some of Su Xingchao's anger faded, but disappointment showed in his eyes. "Love for her daughter? Hmph. Did loving her daughter require murder? She's good at killing, but doesn't know how to win people over! She doesn't understand that killing only wears away your blessings. The hearts of the people are what keep a family going!"

He shook his head. "Put that way, your daughter is ten thousand times better than you two in that regard."

Su Xingchao rubbed his temples wearily and ordered, "From now on, no one is to interfere in Xue'er's affairs, much less stir things up. That would only make it seem deliberate and put people off."

"Also, put the engagement with the Bai Family on hold for now. Don't respond."

"Yes."

"Make the arrangements. I'm going to the capital myself to visit my granddaughter."

"...Yes."