Chu Lian and Li Mingxue talked for a long time. It was probably the longest conversation they had shared in recent days.
From this exchange, Li Mingxue came to understand Chu Lian's persistence and preferences regarding certain matters.
The girl, meanwhile, came to understand some of Li Mingxue's plans. She vaguely sensed that in this gradually changing world, the changes would intensify after a period of time. Then, at some specific moment, a drastic upheaval would occur.
Her mother and father were likely preparing for that upheaval, ensuring that when it arrived, they would not be powerless to resist and end up as sacrifices.
Or perhaps they had been preparing for it long ago. It was just that back then, she had not come to this world, and that former Chu Lian had not cared about such things, so she never noticed.
"Oh right, Mom, what exactly does Dad do? I don't believe he's just some executive at a publishing group." Only now did Chu Lian grow curious about her father Chu Xiao's identity. She felt as though she had overlooked something.
"You're only remembering your father now? If he finds out, he'll be heartbroken." In truth, Chu Xiao already knew. He and Li Mingxue each wore a jade bracelet that could receive information from the other. Before Li Mingxue formally began chatting with Chu Lian, she had activated it so Chu Xiao could hear their daughter's words.
Sitting in his chair, Chu Xiao held his forehead and sighed. "Once a daughter grows up, she's no longer her father's. We used to be so close. Then this past year she grew so distant. Fine. But now that things have finally improved, why can't she show a little concern for her old man? I'm your father, you know. This really hurts."
Usually a cold-faced general in front of his subordinates, Chu Xiao now acted like a complete clown after seeing his daughter's attitude. But that was simply his nature. He separated public and private matters clearly. Only by doing so could he focus wholeheartedly on whichever task lay before him.
"So she really does like girls, huh. Well, that's fine. I've never thought any brat out there was worthy of my Lian'er anyway. Someone like her isn't someone they could ever covet." Chu Xiao did not feel much about it. If anything, he was just surprised. This daughter of his always managed to exceed expectations.
"Even so, my heart still hurts. My good daughter, sweet daughter, I'm your father, not someone trying to pursue you, all right? Can't you show me just a little concern? Even just once. Like asking Mom where I am..."
"By the way, where is Dad?" Chu Lian suddenly wanted to know where her father had gone. He wasn't missing, was he?
"He? He's in the capital. It's quite far from here. But it's fine. Whether you see him or not doesn't really matter." Li Mingxue waved her hand, clearly unwilling to dwell on the subject.
"Hey, Mingxue, you can't do this. Our daughter finally shows some concern for me and you won't even let her come see me? I can't go back right now, so she'll just have to make the trip..." Chu Xiao felt his heart aching. Why did his wife have to wound him like this?
"Oh? Mom, you don't want me to go?" Chu Lian did not know what had happened between her parents. Why was her mother preventing her from visiting her father?
"It's better not to go for now. He's busy. You'd just disturb him." Of course, Li Mingxue would never admit that she simply did not want Chu Lian to leave her side again so soon after returning just to see her father. She would get jealous.
"No, no, I can spare a little time. Even just for a meal. If she comes, I'll be happy." Chu Xiao desperately wanted to speak up and tell Li Mingxue not to stop Chu Lian. Unfortunately, speaking required mutual consent. Otherwise, the person on the other end of the link could only listen, not talk.
"If he's that busy, does he not even have time to eat?" If that were true, her father must be handling some sort of state secret. Hmph. Another man who neglects his family. What's so good about men? They never care about home.
"I doubt it. The last few times I video-called him, he looked perfectly healthy. I'd say if you let him loose, he could probably punch a Tyrannosaurus to death with his bare hands." Li Mingxue shook her head, denying Chu Lian's guess.
"Forget a Tyrannosaurus. Your old man could probably smash a thousand-meter mountain with his fists if he tried. Believe it or not, my dear daughter. Though... I wonder what she'd think if she knew what I actually do?" Chu Xiao perked up when the topic touched on his strengths. For someone of his level, a Tyrannosaurus truly was nothing more than dinner. As for collapsing a mountain with one punch, that remained to be tested.
"All right. If he's that healthy, then I won't worry about his body. Can you tell me what his job actually is? I'm really curious." Chu Lian let go of her unnecessary concern for her father. Clearly, there wasn't a single normal person in the Chu family. By normal, she meant in terms of strength. Perhaps being descended from a tyrant truly made one extraordinary.
"His job? Roughly speaking, he manages all the officially enlisted individuals in Huaxia who possess special abilities. Though I don't really want to admit it, it sounds quite impressive. The trouble is, it involves far too many concerns. Once he gets busy, there's no telling when he'll have time again. At least for this particular matter, I know it won't be on track for another three or four years. So I'm not counting on him." Li Mingxue pressed a finger lightly against her lower lip, pondering before giving that peculiar description.
"My dear wife, I'm the Director of the Huaxia Security Bureau. One of the highest-ranking officials. I oversee all cultivators in Huaxia. Could you at least explain it clearly? What if she misunderstands?" Chu Xiao very much wanted Li Mingxue to constantly praise him in front of Chu Lian. That would be the greatest motivation while he sat here working.
"Let me think... managing all officially enlisted people with special abilities in Huaxia? That sounds strange. Then he probably can't control other cultivators, right? That doesn't sound like much authority. Why would he be so busy? What a letdown. Father is an idiot." After thinking it through, this was the only explanation Chu Lian could come up with.
"That doesn't sound quite right. Oh, I misspoke just now. He should be the director of some bureau that commands all those officially appointed special-ability users, using them to manage other cultivators." Li Mingxue tilted her head as if she could not quite remember. From the look of it, Chu Lian understood. Her mother was deliberately acting cute.
Their conversation was light and easy, but to Chu Xiao, it was a crushing blow.
"Called an idiot by my favorite daughter... idiot... idiot..." The word echoed endlessly in his mind, in full three-dimensional surround sound.
"And also, my dearest, most beloved wife, could you please stop acting cute? Do you realize that if you keep this up, you'll completely ruin my image? The tall, glorious, righteous image I've built up since childhood—if that collapses, won't her idol shatter too?" Even now, he was still deceiving himself, believing he was the idol in Chu Lian's heart.
Unfortunately, for this father who barely had any presence, Chu Lian admired her once-formidable mother far more. As for Father... well, he did serve some purpose. Wait. Let me think. What was it again?
"Master is being improper in his old age again." The white-clad youth leaning against the doorway, waiting to see if there were any work instructions, lowered his head, unable to bear watching any longer. Whenever family matters were involved, his master became a completely different person.
Especially when that girl was present—or even when she was merely mentioned—his attitude became no different from that of a star-struck fan chasing an idol.
Though he did not understand why his master was like this, Xu Zhijun could clearly see how important family was in his master's eyes.
I am considered family in his eyes. But even now, I find it difficult to distinguish what that feeling truly is. Tell me... what should I do?
Well then. It seemed his image had not only collapsed in Chu Lian's heart, but in Xu Zhijun's as well.
Could I perhaps have back the master who is utterly serious and responsible at work, who has never once made a mistake? This "adorable" version of him is completely out of character. I really can't accept it.
"All right, I understand now. The reason those men in black changed their attitude so quickly last time—why they shifted from faint hostility and surveillance to protection, even willing to sacrifice themselves so everyone else could live—it was Father's order." If Chu Lian still could not piece together the connections at this point, that would be truly foolish.
"He meant well but nearly caused disaster. With that bit of equipment, if it hadn't been for your sudden outburst, they wouldn't have lasted that long at all. He misjudged how strong those enemies were. The whole team almost got wiped out. That would not have ended well." It was clear Li Mingxue was still brooding over what had happened last time.
"It was Father's first time encountering those monsters too. A miscalculation is normal. Being able to mobilize and arrive within an hour to support us was already impressive. Don't you think the fact that they held out for four hours is something truly remarkable?" Chu Lian deliberately set aside her own contribution in this matter, giving all the credit to them. It was what they deserved—and it was time to shape them into heroes of unwavering resolve.
"That was because of you." She might brush it aside, but Li Mingxue would not forget. Those simple words left Chu Lian at a loss, unable to respond.
"Compared to other soldiers, they're already quite formidable. At least it was the first time I've seen soldiers that brave and resilient." This time, Inori spoke up. After all, she had grown up in the Funeral Parlor, spending nearly every waking moment since opening her eyes alongside Gai Tsutsugami in war. It was only natural she had her own judgment.
"If they didn't take drugs that doubled their physical strength, weren't cultivators, and didn't carry the latest energy weapons, then let them try. Their cultivation and training are still insufficient."
"Back then, one of my squads—though stronger than them—faced enemies even more powerful. Yet what we accomplished was far more glorious. And you should know, every single one of them was a girl." When Li Mingxue spoke of this, her face was filled with pride. Unfortunately, after she married, that squad gradually disbanded. Now, she had no idea where they had all gone.
"By the way, Mom, is it because all countries are developing energy weapons that the overall performance of our civilian equipment has improved so much?" Chu Lian suddenly thought of something. Could it be that this world's technology tree had gone astray for precisely that reason?
"Yes. Since energy weapons are a new technology, more powerful than conventional firearms, nearly every nation has invested enormous funds into researching them. Many previous technological restrictions were lifted as well. That's why our technology has advanced so quickly." Although Li Mingxue did not know what Chu Lian was thinking, she still answered.
As expected... this really is a world where the technology tree has been skewed... she complained silently in her heart...