Seeing Clearly

Meanwhile, in the northern suburbs of Rongcheng, in a vast Chinese-style courtyard.

An elderly man with gray hair, a thin face, but sharp eyes sat on a mahogany sofa, holding a cup of tea in his hand. He wore a dark gray Chinese-style jacket with a front opening. He looked gentle, but when his eyes swept across the news on the screen, they revealed a calm and scrutinizing air of someone who had long held a high position.

Beside him sat an elderly woman with her hair meticulously combed, a jade hairpin adorning her silver-gray bun, and a dark red brocade coat, exuding an air of elegance.

The old woman was flipping through a paper photo album when she suddenly asked, "Old man, what did Qingxue say on the phone just now?"

The old man put down his teacup, a faint smile playing on his lips, "Buy a card from me. One Grade A Golden Lion Beast."

"Golden Lion Beast?" The old woman looked up, somewhat surprised. "What's she doing buying beast cards in the Ice and Snow World?"

"He said he bought it for a friend," the old man said.

The old woman stopped what she was doing and glanced at him.

"Boy?"

"Yes. She said it herself." The old man leaned back on the sofa, his tone playful. "She also gave a long explanation. She said that the boy took her through hellish dungeons and helped her level up from twelve to sixteen."

The old woman listened without replying, but simply lowered her head and continued flipping through the photo album, a slight smile playing on her lips.

"What are you laughing at?" the old man asked.

"I'm laughing at you, the grandfather, for not understanding things as well as I do."

The old woman turned a page in the photo album and said slowly, "In the past, Qingxue always said what she needed directly. Whether it was a card she wanted or a permission she needed, she was always straightforward. This time, she beat around the bush for a long time, saying she was 'buying it for a friend,' and then she explained how amazing that guy was, how much he had helped her, and how many favors she owed him. Think about it, when has she ever explained so much to anyone?"

The old man paused for a moment, then smiled, "Doesn't this just prove that she has a clear conscience? Only a clear conscience can explain things."

The old woman rolled her eyes at him. "Honest and open? Does an honest and open person need to explain themselves? Have you ever seen her explain herself to anyone? She came in second place before, and when you asked her why she did so well, she said, 'Because it was easy.' Not a word more. Now, she's been explaining herself to you for almost several minutes about a boy. Isn't that showing concern?"

The old man thought for a moment, then fell silent.

But she still said, "Not necessarily. Maybe they're just ordinary friends."

"Fine." The old woman closed the photo album, her tone indifferent. "Then you shouldn't investigate them."

The old man coughed, looking somewhat embarrassed.

The old woman looked at him with a half-smile, "What, did I hit the nail on the head? Have you already sent someone to investigate?"

The old man picked up his teacup and took an awkward sip. "... I just wanted to get some general information. After all, a guy who can carry Qingxue through Hell difficulty dungeons has suddenly appeared by her side. As her grandfather, I need to know who he is."

What did they find out?

The old man put down his teacup and smiled, "It's just that I haven't had time yet."

The old man immediately put down his teacup, his expression becoming more serious. "I haven't had time to investigate yet. But now that you mention it, I do think we really shouldn't investigate."

The old woman raised an eyebrow.

The old man continued, "Qingxue has never had many friends since she was little. She has high standards and a cold personality; she looks down on all her peers at school. It's rare to find someone she'd willingly help or explain things to. If I were to investigate her background right away, it might get out and put her in a difficult position."

The old woman nodded, but still asked, "Aren't you afraid that someone with ulterior motives is deliberately getting close to her?"

The old man smiled, a meaningful smile, "If someone with ulterior motives could clear the Land of Buried Bones Hell difficulty at level 15, I'd accept that. Besides, we should trust Qingxue's judgment."

The old woman looked at him, then suddenly snorted, "Don't just talk the talk while secretly having people investigate."

The old man picked up his teacup, took an awkward sip, and gave an embarrassed smile.

The old woman didn't expose him further, but instead steered the conversation back to the main topic. "However, to be honest, clearing Hell difficulty at level 15 is indeed rare. I know about the Land of Buried Bones; the later bosses are intelligent, they coordinate, and they split their forces. Even a normal level 20 five-person team might not come out unscathed. He was level 15, and he even brought Qingxue with him, and he managed to clear it; that's impressive."

The old man nodded, his expression turning serious. "Although Qingxue has an SSS-level Snow Queen and some trump cards, her Snow Queen simply can't withstand the later waves of Hell difficulty. That boy was able to clear the dungeon under those circumstances, which means he has at least one trump card far exceeding his current level. And more than one."

The two exchanged a glance, both seeing a hint of seriousness in each other's eyes.

They were all people who had lived through that era. Taiqing what the phrase "passing a level above one's level" meant. Talent, resources, luck, and intelligence were all indispensable. And for an Awakener with an F-level core card to reach this point, the effort required was more than twice as much as that of those with SSS-level talent.

"So," the old woman said slowly, "It's not very meaningful to investigate the background of someone like him. He himself is a rising new force. As for his character, you won't find anything out anyway. What's written in the file is just the surface; you have to get to know his true nature. That's something Qingxue can judge for herself."

The old man was silent for a moment, then finally nodded. "You're right. Then... we won't investigate for now."

The old woman glanced at him, a half-smile playing on her lips, "'First'?"

The old man coughed, brought the teacup to his lips, and pretended not to hear.

The old woman didn't press further; she simply lowered her head and flipped through the photo album again, a knowing smile playing on her lips.