Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
Annie returned to her room. She reclaimed the videotape she had watched earlier and sent it via a special communicator.
At the same time, in the same office, a middle-aged man opened the videotape. After watching it, he closed his eyes and reclined in his seat. It seemed as if he was resting, but then he opened his eyes and looked at the video once more.
"One mind controlling two things; is this really the heir of Han Jing? Is Han Jingâs prediction going to turn out correct?" The middle-aged man furrowed his eyebrows as he spoke to himself.
The communicator on his table rang again. He looked at the number and smiled. He picked up the call and saw the image of a beautiful woman fill the screen.
"Yanran, where did you find the time to talk with your old man today? Shouldnât you be spending your free time with your boyfriend?" the middle-aged man joked.
Ji Yanran blushed and said, "Dad, what are you talking about? You know I always care about you."
"I know my daughter cares about me, worry not. But recently, you have been spending less and less time communicating with me. If you do have the time, try and talk to your mother once in a while, as well. I know she can be mean, but she loves you and misses you dearly," the middle-aged man said.
"I know, father. I was just talking to Mom, and yes, she kept complaining about me," Ji Yanran said.
"Right, wait until Han Sen has finished serving in the army before introducing him to your mother. You two arenât young anymore, and if there arenât any issues prohibiting it, you both should get married sometime. I am still waiting for my grandkids."
"Dad, you really want me to get married that much?" Ji Yanranâs face was red, but she was happy to know how accepting her father was.
"Are you saying that kid named Han isnât good enough for you? Fine, Iâll get Annie to throw him into the Black-Plague Star and get him chained up in some mine somewhere. He can dig there for the rest of his days while you go and find someone you like," the old man jested, with a cold face.
Daughters always knew what their fathers thought, and Ji Yanran knew exactly what this middle-aged man was thinking, too. She laughed and said, "Fine, quit your kidding about. When heâs done serving the army, Iâll bring him around so he can meet you and mother. If you arenât satisfied, Iâll throw him into the Black-Plague Star myself!"
"You seem quite confident. It looks like my daughter really has been attracted by someone. To think that the daughter I have had for 20 years will be taken away..."
"Dad, can we quit pretending? Letâs talk like normal!"
After the call ended, the middle-aged manâs smile soon faded away. He carefully perused the information Annie had sent him, along with the videotape. His fingers tapped the table as he read, and he didnât say a word until he was done.
"Han Jing Zhi, you cause much unrest even in death." After a break of silence, the old man sighed. He closed the information tab.
Battling Annie must have cost Han Sen a lot of willpower. After their encounter, Han Sen retired for the day and did not continue training his Dual sword skill. He returned to his bedroom and laid down on his bed, reading news on Skynet.
Many media stations in the Alliance were covering the coming election for a new leader. This was a massive event for the Alliance. Nominees from every system were selling themselves, scrambling for every vote they could claim.
On the list of nominees, Han Sen spotted a strange name that evoked a sense of familiarity.
"If Ji Ruo Zhen became leader..." Han Sen read it once and then sighed. A puzzled expression spread across his face.
Then, he decided to read about other topics, including one that pertained to shelters. Apparently, some genius kid managed to evolve before he was 20 years old. A surpasser killed a certain sacred-blood creature. Some demigod used a punch to break a shura battleship, etcetera, etcetera... These news topics, however, were enough to bore someone to tears.
"If I donât become a demigod, itâll be far more difficult for me to ascend and become better than everyone else." Han Senâs eyes were shining, confident in his ability to one day become a demigod. But first, heâd have to become flawless with all the basics. If he didnât, he could very well die.
So far, no human had been able to enter the Fifth Sanctuary. And that was why nobody knew what it looked like on the inside.
Han Sen did not want to rule the world, he just wanted to be free. He didnât want to be governed by the whims of others, restricted and restrained from doing what he wanted.
The death of Han Senâs father was a mystery, as well. If he did not have the power he sought, he might never uncover the truth about his death.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om
While Han Sen was lost deep in thought, the communicator rang. It was Yang Manli. Han Sen knew Yang Manli would not seek him out if it wasnât something important, and as he answered the call, her entire body filled the screen.
"I am afraid you have a problem." Yang Manli wore a grave expression.
"And what problem would that be?" Han Sen casually asked. Problems followed him wherever he went, so what was one more to the equation?
"The special security group has given us a mission. It is to protect a person who has just levelled up and reached the Second Shelter," Yang Manli promptly explained.
"Is he from our Goddess Shelter?" Han Sen asked.
"No, heâs from the ice fields. Heâs over in Starwheel Shelter, right now," Yang Manli said.
"Is this person special in any capacity?" Han Sen didnât think Yang Manli would refer to this person as a problem if he were any ordinary person.
"Itâs the son, Dong Sen," Yang Manli said, heavily.
Han Sen was quite shocked, and so he said, "That is quite the coincidence!"
"It is. That is why I said you are in trouble. That man wouldnât idly sit back and watch you claim the Blackgod Shelter, and your men are the ones who are listening to Dong Li. With his son there, itâll be difficult to maintain our hold on the Blackgod Shelter," Yang Manli said.
"I canât believe they have made us become his guardian. That Dong Li got me good, and itâs not like I can reject this responsibility," Han Sen said and smiled.
"You can smile at a time like this?" Yang Manli rolled her eyes. If she were in Han Senâs position, she doubted she could eat. But there Han Sen was, smiling.
Again, Han Sen smiled. Then he said, "Why shouldnât I smile and laugh? No matter how much he has planned, control of the shelter resides firmly on the feeble shoulders of his son. He might not have what it takes. And besides, there is protocol to follow. There is no way Dong Li will be able to kick us out."
"Maybe you are right, but if those people donât listen to you and follow the sonâs command instead, what will you do?" Yang Manli thought Han Sen was being too naive.
"Thatâs fine by me. But for as long as I am around, the Blackgod Shelter will be too. If I am gone, then the shelter will be destroyed. Itâs as simple as that," Han Sen said, with a streak of cold in his tone. Still, he did sound calm.
When Yang Manli heard what he said, she felt a frightful chill race down her spine. Beneath Han Senâs calm voice, Yang Manli could feel the slither of something sinister. It was something she had never felt from Han Sen before today.
Yang Manli took a deep breath. "He wants to see you."
"Sort it out tomorrow; itâs too late right now." Han Sen was exhausted and could not muster the motivation to travel to the shelter again today. He talked with Yang Manli for a while longer and then hung up.