"Haha, so that's how it was."
In the living room, the square-jawed Father Hua, hearing his daughter's explanation, finally understood what had happened.
So it turned out his daughter had been sparring with someone, was outmatched, and got beaten to the ground.
This made him glare fiercely at his daughter.
But he opened his mouth, the words he'd meant to say stuck in his throat, and in the end he couldn't bring himself to say them.
Instead, he reached out with a broad, thick palm and patted his daughter's head.
Fu Hua shrank her neck; she'd gotten into a private fight, and once there was no one around later, Father would surely lecture her.
Seeing the father and daughter's little gestures, Otto narrowed his eyes.
He had to admit—the illusionary world created by the Herrscher of Corruption was fully capable of passing for reality.
No wonder that in the future, after Higokumaru had turned over a new leaf, Yae Sakura would refuse Higokumaru's offer to resurrect her, preferring to live in the illusion alongside Higokumaru, the false Kallen, and her sister.
But to Otto, everything here was false.
"I'm terribly sorry, Mr. Otto. I wasn't home just now, and this daughter of mine just came back from her graduation ceremony, so she's a bit lacking in manners."
Patting Fu Hua's head, Father Hua said with a smile.
Otto waved his hand dismissively, unbothered.
"It's nothing. Your daughter is truly... enthusiastic."
"She introduced your dojo to me, and honestly, I'd like to come here to learn a thing or two."
Otto said with a smile. His plan was to stay by Fu Hua's side and help her break out of this illusionary world.
Otherwise, this old friend of his would be socially dead for good in the future.
He was, however, a little puzzled: how could the Herrscher of Corruption suppress Fu Hua's memories so thoroughly? Fu Hua was now behaving exactly like an ordinary middle school student.
Knowing Fu Hua as he did, even if the Celestial tried to act young, she couldn't possibly fake this feeling.
Could it be... that he'd given her too much of his Honkai energy?
Or was it that, in the instant the Herrscher of Corruption struck, Fu Hua had actually resisted, transferring her consciousness into the Fenghuang Down?
Otto pondered inwardly, while Fu Hua broke into a smile and said to her father excitedly:
"If Brother Otto joins our dojo, our dojo can definitely revive itself!"
Even her father had been subdued by Otto—someone this powerful would surely attract many people to come learn at the dojo.
Their family dojo had been in decline for a long time; Fu Hua had finally glimpsed hope of reviving it.
Hearing Fu Hua's words, Father Hua glanced at his daughter, then looked around at the old, yellowed walls.
Finally, his gaze settled on Otto.
"You want to join our dojo?"
Father Hua asked in a low voice.
Otto nodded.
"I only know a few unorthodox tricks. I'm very interested in formal martial arts training."
Hearing Otto's words, Father Hua furrowed his brow—not out of narrow-mindedness, not because Otto had beaten him and he refused to accept him for it.
He was simply thinking about his daughter's future.
After a long while, he let out a sigh.
"I'm very sorry, Mr. Otto, but I can't let you join."
He said. And before Otto could react, Fu Hua cried out:
"Father, why?!"
She couldn't accept it. Their family dojo already had so few people, and now her father was turning someone away.
Had Father's fall just now knocked him stupid?
Father Hua turned to look at his daughter, placing his hand on her shoulder.
"Little Hua, it's because I want to close this dojo down."
He said, his voice tinged with bitterness, but after speaking, a look of relief spread across his face.
"Why?!" Fu Hua heard her father's words and couldn't believe it—this dojo where she had lived for over a decade was going to be shut down?
"Father, are you feeling unwell? If you're not feeling well, you can rest for a while—I'm still here."
"Now that I've graduated middle school, I can inherit this dojo. Once Father's health improves someday..."
Otto was seeing Fu Hua speak this much for the first time, but Father Hua raised his hand, stopping her from continuing.
"My health is fine."
"Then..." Fu Hua opened her mouth.
"The students have been getting fewer and fewer lately..." Father Hua said.
"It's just that there are no students right now—it'll get better in the future!" Fu Hua said excitedly. "I will definitely revive this dojo!"
But her father slowly shook his head.
"Little Hua, the times have changed. This era is no longer suited to learning martial arts. When I'm outside, I don't even dare tell people I run a dojo."
"But none of that is the reason I want to close this dojo."
Though Fu Hua's father had a rugged appearance, as he looked at his daughter, his gaze was as gentle as water, overflowing with tenderness.
"I hope you can walk the path you yourself want to walk—like becoming a writer, or an entrepreneur, anything's fine! Go find what you want to do, instead of being shackled by this dojo of ours."
"So, I want you to go study in neighboring Sapphire, to learn things there. It'll be better for your future."
"When you go over there, take good care of yourself. Your dad isn't much, but providing for your schooling is no problem. You don't need to worry about anything—just focus on your studies."
"When the time comes, don't practice martial arts anymore. Making a few friends is more important. Don't let your friends think you're a weirdo—I'm truly worried about whether you'll be able to make friends."
Listening to Father Hua's words, Otto looked at him and committed this face to memory.
He was a good father.
It was just that he'd heard a somewhat familiar word.
Sapphire.
This was a place-name from the Previous Era civilization.
And this was where Fu Hua's self-isolation began.
In the original history, Fu Hua would go to study in Sapphire, make friends there, live a JK life, and everything would seem calm and peaceful.
Then the Third Honkai Eruption of the Previous Era would break out.
And the result would be...
Her friends dying suddenly, her entire family wiped out with no survivors.
Overnight, she became an orphan.
She failed to save anyone.
So it seems the Herrscher of Corruption wants to make her relive this feeling.
"But I just want to inherit the dojo! I don't want to go to some Sapphire!"
Fu Hua's cry pulled Otto's attention back, while her father shook his head.
"Little Hua, be good."
"Going to study is far more promising than becoming some lady dojo master."
"I've already enrolled you in a school over there and paid three years of tuition in one go. Once the holidays are over, when the term starts, you'll go to Sapphire to attend high school."
"But..." Fu Hua still wanted to say something, but looking into her father's eyes, she pressed her lips together.
She lowered her head, then stood up.
"Father, I'm going for a run."
With that, Fu Hua left the room, her hands clenched into fists.
Watching his daughter's departing back, Father Hua sighed. He rubbed his face with his rough hands—truthfully, he also didn't want to part with his daughter as she went to another city.
But this was better for her.
"Mr. Otto, sorry to have made you watch this embarrassing scene..."
Only after finishing talking with his daughter did he remember that Otto was still there. How could he have left a guest hanging like this? If the neighbors found out, they'd say he had no manners.
He was about to continue attending to Otto.
Then, he froze.
Otto's seat had long been empty—there was no sign of him.