Responsibility

"I entered the Limit Dojo when I was sixteen, became an advanced student at eighteen, and became an official Warrior at nineteen."

"After that, I joined a Warrior squad and spent four years hunting monsters."

"Over those four years, my comrades died one after another. In the end, I was the only one left."

"I realized that no matter how many Warriors like us there were, we could never outnumber the monsters. Unless you were a powerhouse like Hong or Thor, you couldn't protect everyone."

"But I wasn't a genius. I'd never reach that level, so I got tired and retired."

At that, Qin Lin looked at Xu Qing, her eyes turning gentle. "Afterward, I became a teacher at Jiangnan University. Four more years passed, and then I met you."

"When I found out you were a genius, Xiao Qing, I was both happy and afraid. I was happy that you had the potential to become powerful, but afraid that you wouldn't be able to stay by my side forever."

"I wanted to be selfish and keep you by my side, not letting anyone else know. But the part of me that's a Warrior told me I couldn't be that selfish. You're a genius, and you have to become Huaxia's guardian, protecting thousands upon thousands of families. That's the responsibility fate has given you."

Hearing this, Xu Qing's heart trembled.

It was the first time anyone had ever said something like that to him—that he should become Huaxia's guardian, and that this was the responsibility fate had given him.

The patriotic conviction and selfless affection in Qin Lin's words touched Xu Qing deeply.

"I'm sorry, Xiao Qing." Qin Lin's eyes were full of remorse. She had placed a heavy responsibility on him.

Even if Xu Qing was a genius, he could still choose to live according to his own wishes. He was free.

But Qin Lin's words restricted his freedom, forcing him to shoulder that responsibility.

Xu Qing was deeply shaken. The warmth in Qin Lin's heart made him tremble a little. For the first time, he experienced such selflessness—a warmth like the sun, shining equally on everyone.

She was his girlfriend, and Xu Qing couldn't help feeling proud of her.

"Linlin, you're silly. Why are you saying sorry? I understand. It's like that saying, what was it... 'With great power comes great responsibility,' right? Oh, well, I can't help it if my most, most, most beautiful girlfriend says so. I'll become powerful and protect lots and lots of people." Xu Qing grinned brightly.

Moved beyond words by his answer, Qin Lin said, "Thank you, Xiao Qing."

"Hehe, don't worry. Starting today, I'll train seriously and never slack off." Xu Qing held her and gently stroked her smooth hair.

At that moment, he understood that two women who meant everything to him had entered his life.

One was his older sister, Xu Xin.

Xu Xin doted on him like he was her own little brother and protected him. Even after learning that Xu Qing was a genius, she had always treated him as a little brother who needed protection. She never expected too much of him or pressured him to do anything.

Xu Xin had taught him to love himself and his family.

The other was Qin Lin, his girlfriend. She had taught him to love his country and other people, and to courageously shoulder the responsibilities that came with being a genius and a powerful person.

"I believe in you," Qin Lin said with a nod.

That afternoon, Qin Lin and Xu Qing both changed into workout clothes in the gym.

"Xiao Qing, I still don't know exactly how strong you are, so I'm going to give you a simple test." Qin Lin tied her long hair into a high ponytail, looking full of spirit.

"Sure, go ahead." Xu Qing crooked a finger at her, inviting her to give it her best shot.

The corner of Qin Lin's mouth lifted. She pushed off the ground and shot toward Xu Qing like lightning, reaching for his shoulder.

She was an Intermediate War General, so she was undoubtedly fast. Even without going all out, she could easily reach 100 meters per second.

That was the speed of a Junior War General.

But just when Qin Lin thought she could grab Xu Qing in one move, her hand closed on empty air.

"Hello, Linlin. You missed. I'm over here." Xu Qing had already appeared several meters away, waving at her with an easygoing air.

Qin Lin was a little surprised. "Your reactions are quick. How about this?"

The next second, Qin Lin attacked again, moving even faster. She was almost a blur, appearing in front of Xu Qing in the blink of an eye. An ordinary Junior War General wouldn't have reacted in time.

But Xu Qing was different.

He watched the hand reaching for his shoulder without the slightest trace of nervousness. Just as it was about to touch him, he slipped away, dodging by the tiniest margin—so close that he nearly brushed against it.

"Huh? He actually managed to react?" Qin Lin was startled, but her hand kept moving, turning to grab at him again.

Whoosh!

Xu Qing dodged every one of Qin Lin's attacks. He was like a slippery little fish, darting around her, always just out of reach.

"Hehe, you missed. I'm over here—over here." Xu Qing dodged with ease, still able to talk.

He looked completely relaxed.

Qin Lin, on the other hand, wasn't relaxed at all. She was using both hands now and had gotten serious. Her speed had reached its peak, more than half the speed of sound.

Even so, she still couldn't catch Xu Qing.

One minute... two minutes... five minutes...

Only two figures flashed rapidly around the gym, too fast for an ordinary person's eyes to follow.

"Almost... missed again... still just barely..."

Xu Qing's laughter rang through the spacious gym.

At last, Qin Lin grew tired and had to stop. She looked at Xu Qing, who still seemed completely at ease, if a little more flushed than before, and was utterly astonished.

From beginning to end, she hadn't touched Xu Qing even once.

That meant Xu Qing's speed and neural reaction speed both surpassed hers. If either one had been slower than hers, he couldn't have pulled off what he'd just done.

That was terrifying!

Xu Qing was only an eighteen-year-old college student. He was a Warrior too, of course, but his speed and neural reaction speed had already surpassed hers, even though she was an Intermediate War General.

Before this, Qin Lin would never have dreamed such a thing was possible.

"Linlin, have some water." Xu Qing walked over with a glass of water and handed it to her.

"Thanks, Xiao Qing." Qin Lin finished the water and stared at Xu Qing as if she wanted to see right through him.

She remembered what Xu Xin had told her: there were many things about Xu Qing that she didn't know.

If they were ordinary matters, Xu Xin wouldn't have mentioned it to her at all. That could only mean those things were important.

Perhaps this was exactly the sort of thing Xu Xin had meant.

"Hehe, were you shocked by how strong I am? I'm pretty amazing, you know." Xu Qing grinned like a little fox.

He was going to use his strength to amaze Qin Lin and make her admire him.