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墨書 Inktalez
A few days ago, there had been some light rain, but now the sky was completely clear, finally allowing one to distinguish between morning and dusk. The hazy orb of light was half-hidden behind the clouds. When An Xiaotian looked up in the morning, it still stood tall behind the main office building of the Song Group. But when he relaxed and gazed at the clear sky again, he realized that the originally blue-gray sky had been muddied by an orange-red glow. As his perspective shifted, the halo around his eyes moved from large to small until it was blocked by a villa, and only then did An Xiaotian fully open his slightly squinted eyes.
During dinner that evening, Lu Sha was the first to notice something off about the stir-fried pork with Hangzhou peppers. "Why is it made with chili peppers?" Lu Sha waved his chopsticks near his mouth. "Miss Ming knows I can't handle spicy food."
The group from the Alliance, along with the research team providing technological support, members of the Song Family, their household servants, and Ming Juan's family—totaling around eighty people—had gathered at a table that felt too large. It was only then that they noticed Ming Juan was absent from dinner. When Liang Muqi approached Ming Juan's father and grandfather to inquire about her, he learned that Ming Juan hadn't opened her door all day. However, as a young lady of good family, she usually wouldn't be disturbed.
Everyone felt a bit uneasy and set down their chopsticks to follow Ming Juan's father to her door. Unexpectedly, they ran into Miss Ming, who had just finished getting ready. Seeing such a large gathering, Ming Juan was momentarily stunned, thinking everyone had come to question her about why she hadn’t come out until now. She quickly bowed in apology, her emerald pendant hanging prominently in front of her short white dress.
"We could never think that way; you worry too much, Miss." An Xiaotian stepped forward quickly and helped Ming Juan straighten up. "We were just concerned about you. We heard you hadn't left your room all day and thought you might be unwell."
"I'm sorry; I stayed up late last night and slept in," Ming Juan explained. "I'll make lamb soup for everyone tomorrow; how does that sound, Captain?"
"As long as you're okay, we love whatever you cook!" Lu Sha exclaimed.
This time, Jiao An didn't scold Lu Sha for his recklessness; instead, she pulled him into her embrace. Watching her younger sister lean against her side in a playful manner, Jiao An's gaze mirrored the pity and affection seen in those around them. Yet her heart felt heavier than ever.
Ming Juan conveyed the latest news brought by Miao Chengmin to The Celestial Warriors Alliance. Even though it would be the last batch of reinforcements from the Divine Realm, their arrival significantly boosted everyone's sense of security. Now all the technical support staff were most curious about what new technologies this new character would bring. After dinner, only plates of bones arranged in circular rings remained on the table. Those who had just finished work still lingered on, chatting about the latest news and their families. Although none had returned home for a long time and were not allowed to communicate with outsiders, their longing for family never faded.
"And you?" Liu Xuan patted An Xiaotian beside him. "Why don't you share something about your family?"
"What can I say? It's been ages since I've seen them." After a long silence, An Xiaotian coughed lightly before responding. "I have some things to attend to; you all carry on."
"This guy is becoming more mysterious by the day." Qin Weishan shook his head as he watched An Xiaotian's somewhat disheveled figure leave. "I really miss when we used to beat him up until he couldn't find his teeth; things have changed."
"You probably couldn't beat him now," Jiao An said as she set down her glass. "I actually wish he would share more of his thoughts with us. Ever since Yang Meng's incident, he hasn't expressed any of his needs; it's as if he's just going along with us... He doesn't want to disrupt our rare moments of rest time by burdening us with his struggles. We should pay more attention to him when we can. Since Xiaotian put on Fierce Eagle gear, he's destined to bear the ultimate mission of a soldier and embody the spirit of our alliance. We've all endured hardships and complained about fate, but let's not forget those who guide us toward light. Before reaching the exit, his vision will always be shrouded in darkness; only his unwavering faith can illuminate his path."
Aside from An Xiaotian, only Sister Jiao An could speak so openly in front of everyone like this. Everyone at the table paused their activities and watched as An Xiaotian turned around a corner toward the restaurant exit. Liu Xuan silently lowered his head; he had witnessed how An Xiaotian transformed from an impassioned seventeen-year-old into someone who now appeared weary and aged.
But he was only twenty-four.
The southernmost villa was where An Xiaotian lived. As he walked along the path lined with darkened villas belonging to his comrades—only illuminated by streetlights—he returned to his room without turning on any lights first. Instead, he picked up a photo frame next to his computer. For a long while afterward, there was silence in the room as he merged with solitude and shadows. In the darkness, he couldn't clearly see Yang Meng's face in the frame; yet how could he forget this photo that had been viewed countless times? It captured a moment from summer 2055 before entering barracks when he took Yang Meng to Tibet—the lush green mountains stretching endlessly under an ever-present blazing sun and flocks of sheep grazing nearby. She loved wandering through nearly knee-high grasslands where every step startled clusters of brown grasshoppers into flight.
An Xiaotian gradually grew fond of darkness because it allowed him to gaze at her photo without seeing clearly—to catch glimpses of Yang Meng’s shadow amidst uncertainty—or perhaps because he didn't want to remember and plunge himself into sadness; yet how could one think of her without recalling memories?
He shook his mouse to wake up his computer screen only for General Jiang's face to appear.
"You're here," An Xiaotian said hastily as he wiped away tears from his cheeks. "Why didn't you say anything? I thought you were going to hang up."
"No worries; you went off to eat while I stayed here reading," General Jiang replied as he raised a book for An Xiaotian to see its cover titled "How to Bridge Generational Gaps—Psychological Analysis of Today's Youth."
"Is this for middle-aged people?" An Xiaotian leaned closer and chuckled upon reading those words. "Is your grandson hitting puberty and avoiding conversations with you?"
"That might be part of it," General Jiang said with a kind smile as he sat up straight. "But what I'm truly worried about is you."
General Jiang pointed at An Xiaotian's forehead through the screen, causing him to pause—because Yang Meng used to tease him like this often.
"A young man bearing the mission of saving our country amidst an undercurrent storm must lead a team while managing everything—all built upon losing someone dear." General Jiang spoke with an elderly warmth filled with care. "Please accept my respect as an old soldier, Xiaotian. If I were your age, I would have given up on myself by now."
"That's about right."
"Mm?"
"I've pretty much given up on myself."
"What do you mean by that?"
An Xiaotian set down the picture frame and confided in General Jiang, "Liang Muqi returned with someone we don't know. It’s clear that aside from the three of us who formed the Superhero Alliance, everyone else isn't particularly opposed to his arrival. Although they all chose to trust him, I can't help but worry."
"Worried that he might point a gun at Liu Xuan again, like three years ago?"
Seeing An Xiaotian's incredulous expression, General Jiang chuckled, "The books I've read are all useful. Xiaotian, you don't need to worry so much. Liang Muqi is very intelligent, but that exceptional intelligence also brings him a significant flaw—he tends to be extreme and extremely stubborn. He believes that since he knows how things should be, no one can interfere with his judgment. And after all these years, think about it objectively: if you were the only one who knew what would happen in the future, and those events would affect your entire home, and there was no time left, what would you do?"
"At least I wouldn't shoot my own brother."
"No, not with your character, plus the setting I mentioned earlier."
An Xiaotian fell silent as General Jiang continued to explain, "Child, accept more and adapt more. Understand him with your sincerity; it will lead everything in the direction you hope for. Let the past sink slowly with time; being entangled will only drain yourself."
"I understand, General. But that's just part of it. I also want to talk about Lu Sha; this could lead to external issues." An Xiaotian said, "Lu Sha was originally modified by Viper. Now among all the plans, Lu Sha's body pressure enhancement experiment is the first that can be realized. I'm just afraid... this will bring more shadows to Lu Sha. She grew up in an orphanage and has a bad temper; she's currently my biggest concern."
"Still the same thing, child." General Jiang clasped his hands together. "Understand and care for them."
"Does it really work?"
"You've been doing it all along; you just never realized it." General Jiang said earnestly, "In Liu Xuan's world, you are the light."
"Xuan..." An Xiaotian looked at the picture frame again. Although he still couldn't see anything clearly, his mind had already filled the frame with images. They grew up together; An Xiaotian had never given up on him and would always stand in front of him. The once shy and insecure Liu Xuan had grown under his light.
"Since you are already light, why not try to illuminate others? Just like how you treat Liu Xuan—shine on them."
"What about the people? How do we handle external matters?" An Xiaotian pressed on. "I can't bring hope to the whole world with just my own strength."
General Jiang smiled, "You and your teammates have never been a solitary group fighting alone."
"Haven't we always been fighting alone? That’s what Lu Sha said; she’s my biggest concern."
"Not anymore." General Jiang replied firmly. "Xiaotian, since you can't resolve your final knot in your heart, then the day after tomorrow, return to Military Base in City S."
"City S?" An Xiaotian felt puzzled. "Isn't that still under reconstruction?"
"I'll take you there along with your most worried teammate Lu Sha. You will understand that this is a war for all humanity and not limited to your own efforts," General Jiang said. "This is an order."
"Yes!" An Xiaotian saluted and watched as General Jiang ended the video call.
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