Visitors from Huanglong

On the Stormy Ocean, a Huanglong- style cruise ship is slowly heading towards Lahai-Roi.

"Why are you out on the deck all alone in the wind?" Yu Lan walked lightly forward and draped a thick cotton-padded coat over her husband. "The closer we get to the other side, the more careful we need to be to keep warm."

"Thank you for your thoughtfulness." Lu Yi tightened his collar. "The sea wind is strong, and you've always been frail. Don't catch a cold. Please go inside."

"Sigh... Is there something you can't say?" Yu Lan shook her head. She had long noticed that her husband had been depressed ever since he accepted that imperial edict. "You're about to see Guan'er and your future daughter-in-law, why are you keeping such a long face..."

"This matter... isn't entirely unspeakable," Lu Yi shook his head, "It's just a little difficult to bring up."

Yu Lan remained silent. The tacit understanding that had developed over many years of marriage made her consciously become a listener, waiting for her husband to continue.

"Do you still remember those elders of the clan?" Lu Yi sighed. "Those old fogies, so rigid and inflexible, have always had their complaints about Guan'er. This time, he's planning to bring home another Threnodian Resonator..."

"There's a lot of opposition within the tribe."

"Guan'er has been exceptionally talented since childhood, making him a target of envy and criticism. Now that he has achieved such great merit, even among his own clansmen, it's inevitable that some unscrupulous individuals will try to frame and slander him."

Before I set off, my second uncle had a talk with me...

"Second Uncle..." Yu Lan, somewhat puzzled, "But in my memory, Second Uncle isn't the kind of stubborn person..."

"That's true." Lu Yi nodded. "My second uncle has no prejudice against Guan'er. His coming to see me is another matter..."

"Do you remember when Guan'er was young, the old man made a marriage agreement with someone?" Lu Yi rubbed his temples, saying with some helplessness, "It started with a slip of the tongue while drunk, and then that kind of thing happened that caused the two families to break up. I thought they wouldn't bring it up again..."

"Seeing Guan'er's rising power, they're thinking of bringing up the old issue again, using a marriage contract to tie her to their side... Even if Guan'er doesn't acknowledge it, they can still use this to their advantage."

"The political landscape at court is treacherous; if this matter is further stirred up by those with ulterior motives... it could very well cause considerable turmoil..."

Yu Lan didn't understand the struggle in the court, but she understood her son's character and asked doubtfully, "With Guan'er's temperament... he will never recognize the marriage contract, so they are not afraid..."

"Fear? What is there to fear?" Lu Yi sneered. "The real treacherous ministers are never in the court. Even if the soldiers under my command are killed in battle, it won't affect those who sit back and fish in the shadows."

"In other words... some people's initial goal wasn't even to get Guan'er to accept the marriage contract..."

"Should I tell my brother-in-law? If he gets involved, maybe..."

"No need. Besides, you might not even be able to get him to come out," Lu Yi shook his head. "It's a delicate matter; if he gets involved because of this, the situation will become even more complicated..."

He stepped forward, gripping the railing with both hands, and looked towards the approaching icy continent. He sighed, "These are turbulent times... I should go see that brat back home and see what he has to say."

"Beep! You have a new FliChat notification!"

Lacerta: "How are your connections in Huanglong? Are they strong?"

Lu Guan's lips twitched as he replied.

Lu Guan: "It's still pretty hard, isn't it... What's wrong?"

"Lacerta" sent a picture.

Lacerta: "This is the person sent by Huanglong. Do you know him?"

Lu Guan at the photo of Lu Yi sent by Lacerta on the FliChat interface, and the corner of his mouth twitched suddenly.

Why did my elderly father come here?

Lu Guan: "Emoji pack_Subway, elderly, mobile phone. jpg"

Lacerta: "Don't just send emojis, I'm going to greet him later. If you know him, give the teacher a heads-up."

Lu Guan: "... Let's just call him my father for now."

Lacerta: "What does 'for the time being' mean?"

Lu Guan: "It's nothing special, Professor Lacerta. You'd better be alert then, don't embarrass yourself!"

After finishing his FliChat conversation with Lacerta, Lu Guan casually tossed the terminal aside, leaned back, and rested his head on Dania's lap.

"What's wrong... you look so troubled." Dania gently massaged his head. "Is something bothering you?"

"Sigh... it's really not a big deal..."

"Hmm~"

"My dad's here..."

"Oh, I see... Wait, your dad???" Dania stopped what she was doing. "Your dad came to Lahai-Roi? Really?"

Lu Guan pointed to the terminal he had just left behind. "See for yourself."

"Wow, he really came to Lahai-Roi!" Dania asked nervously. "Will he come to the academy to see you?"

"What's wrong?" Lu Guan looked up at Dania and said with a smile, "Shouldn't I be the one who's nervous? Why are you acting more nervous than me?"

Dania said with a hint of reproach, "It's my first time meeting your family... It's perfectly normal to be nervous, okay..."

"Don't be nervous... On the contrary, when I first met your family, I gave her a whole package of Cursed Speech as a gift!"

The girl's blush spoke louder than any sweet words. Dania lightly punched Lu Guan's shoulder. "Why bring that up! What should I be careful about when I meet your father... Tell me quickly."

"... Just be yourself." Lu Guan rubbed his cheek against Dania's smooth thigh, looking at the mole on her left leg, and added, "My dad was an official for so many years... he sees through people's hearts more clearly than most."

"Your little tricks won't fool him. You'd better be open and honest. That way, you'll seem more sincere and won't make him overthink things."

"Honesty... I know."

Lu Guan had imagined many times what it would be like to see his elderly father. Perhaps his father would pat him on the shoulder and say that he had grown up, or perhaps he would frown and observe his words and actions before giving a passable evaluation...

But what I never expected was...

"Don't you have classes?" Lu Yi asked, frowning. "What does the principal accompanying me on an inspection tour of the college have to do with you, an ordinary student?"

Seeing this, Lu Guan could only sigh and assume a fighting stance.

"Burubu, from... uh... uh..."

It's confirmed. It's not the president impersonating him. No matter how hard the president tries to imitate, he can't replicate the extraordinary conditioned reflexes formed through the co-evolution of his father and himself.

Since it wasn't the president impersonating someone...

"Father, why do you say such hurtful things?" Lu Guan shrugged, his face filled with grief and indignation. "As a student of the academy, I volunteered to be a guide. Is that wrong?"

"Ahem... Lu Guan is indeed a very enthusiastic student in the academy, and he often provides assistance to other students and teachers in any way he can..."

"Since Principal Lacerta has said so..." Lu Yi glanced at Lu Guan, "Then you'll lead the way. But when you're working, remember to use your official title, or you'll become a laughingstock!"

"Okay, Daddy."

Lu Yi's lips twitched, and he was about to lecture her when his wife's glare silenced him. He could only smile helplessly and say, "Whatever..."

Bronchitis is a family trait passed down in the Lu Family.

Lu Yi's main purpose in coming here was to investigate the soil environment of the ice field region. After all, in the eyes of the Huanglong people, the value of a territory largely depends on what can be grown there...

"The Tacetite Core... is constantly exposed to sunlight... not bad..."

"I can't believe there are plants like this... Interesting..."

"However, the Tunnel Cluster that's constantly shifting around is still a problem... I'll have the diplomatic corps send some people over to negotiate with the natives..."

"The latest research findings from the academy... tsk... what does that smell like..."

Lu Yi took a bite of the latest nutritional supplement and his expression immediately contorted. But in the end, in order not to waste food, he forced himself to finish it all.

When he learned that this was already the most normal food in the academy cafeteria, his gaze towards Lu Guan began to reveal a hint of paternal love that he hadn't shown much of in many years...

However, he still offered his evaluation of the academy's food with a high level of professional expertise. "It's convenient to eat, highly nutritious, and with some improvements to the taste, it could be promoted to other regions and even the military."

The purpose of this trip was simply to investigate the ecological environment, so with Lacerta accompanying them, there was no talent show segment such as the "Thunder Dance"...

After the inspection, Lu Yi and his wife went to find Lu Guan.

"Guan'er, shall we chat?"

"No... uh... uh..."

Lu Guan, with a strained expression, pushed away Lu Yi's hand covering his mouth. "What I was trying to say was... why don't we find a place to sit down and talk again!"

"Hahaha..." Lu Yi chuckled awkwardly, scratching the back of his head, "It's a conditioned reflex, a conditioned reflex..."