147 Mystery of the End Times Part 1
They strolled around the city and then returned to the Academy.
It was now past nine in the evening, and the sky had turned completely dark. Only a few buildings around the Academy were illuminated, while the rest of the city remained eerily quiet. Since the weather had warmed up, the attacks from mutated creatures on humans had become more frequent.
In this vast city of Beijing, people were losing their lives daily, and the majority had grown indifferent towards life. Looking ahead twenty years, even without considering other factors, humanity would gradually move towards extinction due to the extreme aging of the population and a significantly low birth rate. The methods employed by the Cambrian Consciousness to toy with human lives were far too numerous, and worrying had become redundant for them.
Once they entered the Academy's gate, Xiao Wang hurriedly ran towards them, followed by two individuals in security guard uniforms.
Condescending from Abu's back, Cong Xia asked, "Xiao Wang, what's going on?"
Breathing heavily, Xiao Wang said, "I was just... about to call you, but when I saw you coming back from afar, I realized it's urgent, and it's better to tell you directly than over the phone..."
Impatiently, Zhuang Yao interrupted, "Get to the point."
Xiao Wang took a deep breath and looked at Liu Fengyu. "Mr. Liu, we have news about your parents."
Liu Fengyu widened his eyes and rushed forward with a quick step, firmly grasping Xiao Wang's shoulder. "Where are they? Tell me!" Trembling all over, Liu Fengyu was extremely afraid of what Xiao Wang was about to say. He dreaded the possibility of hearing that his parents were no longer alive.
Others subconsciously held their breath, feeling equally nervous for Liu Fengyu.
Xiao Wang said, "Mr. Liu, calm down first. The good news is that both your parents are alive."
Liu Fengyu's pupils contracted violently, his expression a complex mix of excitement, gratitude, and disbelief. His eyes welled up with tears.
Tang Yanqiu spoke in a solemn tone, "Is there any bad news?"
Looking at Xiao Wang, Liu Fengyu urged, "Go on."
Xiao Wang continued, "The bad news is that your parents are currently in the hands of Zhou Fenglan."
Zhou Fenglan?
The expressions of everyone turned serious. The tense relationship between them and Zhou Fenglan was widely known in the city. Now that Zhou Fenglan had control over Liu Fengyu's parents, it was evident that his intentions were far from good. Bringing back Liu Fengyu's parents would depend on how much Zhou Fenglan was willing to cooperate.
Liu Fengyu clenched his fist. "Has Zhou Fenglan sent any message?"
"Not yet," replied Xiao Wang. "The team sent to find your parents traced their whereabouts near Tongzhou this afternoon. On their way back with your parents, they were intercepted by Zhou Fenglan's people."
Liu Fengyu exclaimed, "How could Zhou Fenglan's people manage to intercept them? Does the Academy have a mole?"
With a bitter smile, Xiao Wang lowered his voice. "It's inevitable. We have informants in District 2, and they have theirs within us. Everyone is well aware of this, and it's likely that when our field agents went to search for your parents, Zhou Fenglan's people were already keeping an eye on them. They had planned this in advance."
Zhuang Yao asked, "Does Professor Cong know about this?"
Nodding, Xiao Wang replied, "He just found out. He has already sent people to negotiate with Zhou Fenglan, but since Zhou Fenglan dared to directly kidnap people, it's probably because Dr. Zhuang and Commander Xu have given their tacit approval. Otherwise, Zhou Fenglan wouldn't dare to challenge District 3 head-on. Therefore, I'm afraid your parents won't be able to return for the time being."
"Damn it!" Liu Fengyu's voice was sharp, "If that bastard dares to harm my parents..."
Cong Xia patted his shoulder, "Liu Ge, don't be too anxious. Harming your parents won't benefit Zhou Fenglan's organization in any way. They aren't targeting you specifically; it's our team they're after. We killed their people in Luoyang and took their puppet jade. Then, we embarrassed Zhou Fenglan at the banquet. Considering his personality, he won't just let it go. Taking your parents is likely a way to make us pay a price. Despite his reckless behavior, as the leader of such a large gang, he's not a fool. Until he achieves his goals, he will handle your parents with care."
Zhuang Yao added, "Cong Xia is right. You have no personal grievances with Zhou Fenglan, so you don't need to worry about your parents' safety. Look at it optimistically; at least we finally found your parents. With District 3 and Commander Cao's involvement, Zhou Fenglan won't dare to do anything extreme. His actions likely have two objectives. First, we claimed credit for retrieving the puppet jade and killed some of his people. They'll definitely seek an explanation for that. Second, he wants to save face. If we handle this well, we might resolve the situation without resorting to violence."
Liu Fengyu's chest gradually calmed down a bit. Regardless of the situation, the most important thing was that he had news of his parents. After nearly two months of searching, he had almost lost hope. Life was about having something to look forward to. As long as his parents were alive, everything he had done had meaning.
Xiao Wang said, "You can wait in your rooms or go to the experimental area. Professor Cong is there, and I expect the people he sent will return soon."
Cong Xia suggested, "Let's go to the experimental area."
The group proceeded to the experimental area of District 3, where Cong Zhenzhong was busy working. When he saw them, he came out of the lab. He looked at Liu Fengyu and said, "You don't need to worry too much. Your parents won't be harmed. Once I have any updates from the team I dispatched, I will inform you immediately."
Liu Fengyu nodded and said, "Thank you, Professor Cong."
Cong Zhenzhong then turned to Zhuang Yao and said, "I have reviewed the report you submitted, made a few modifications, and signed it. It has been sent to Commander Cao for approval. Once he approves it, we can get the box and the incense sticks for you."
Zhuang Yao asked, "Is there any difficulty on Commander Cao's side?"
Cong Zhenzhong nodded, "Let me explain some common knowledge here. Samples, equipment, and other items in the Academy are theoretically supposed to be shared. However, due to the conflict between District 2 and District 3, the Academy is divided into two factions. Except for unique large equipment, our items are rarely shared, and each district conducts its own research. But, this doesn't mean that other districts cannot request samples from us. We don't have the right to refuse without proper reason as it goes against the scientific spirit of serving humanity's common progress.
This time, when you returned from Xi’an, the samples and other items you brought back were extremely valuable and piqued the interest of researchers from all six districts. In such a situation, even though the box and incense sticks are theoretically assigned to District 3, other districts can apply for sample research. Whether we lend them or not, we don't have the right to use the research materials for private purposes. Although Commander Cao has the authority to approve, as someone with significant power, every decision he makes must consider many factors. It's safe to say that if Commander Cao approves, he will be under significant pressure. Beijing is not a place where he alone has the final say."
Deng Xiao sighed, "If we had known earlier that those things were suitable for making bowstrings for Tang Ge, we shouldn't have turned them in."
Zhuang Yao replied, "Talking about what we should have done won't change anything now. We need to find a solution." He looked at Cheng Tianbi, "If it were for your use, Commander Cao might have approved directly. But now it's not for you. If you don't go and talk to him, I believe there's an 80% chance he won't approve. So, we need you to handle this."
Cheng Tianbi calmly responded, "I understand. I'll go see him tomorrow."
Cong Zhenzhong said, "That's great. I'm also looking forward to seeing how those incense sticks will perform as bowstrings."
Just then, Cong Zhenzhong's phone rang. He answered, "Hello? Hmm, you're on your way back? Alright, I got it."
Everyone looked at him. This call was most likely from the team that Cong Zhenzhong had sent to negotiate with Zhou Fenglan.
Cong Zhenzhong hung up the phone and said, "Zhou Fenglan requests to meet you in person."
Cong Xia thought to himself, "As expected." There was no way Zhou Fenglan would miss the opportunity to make a huge demand. He knew they couldn't use force for this matter. If they wanted to resolve it, they would have to compensate for the losses incurred by the Fenglan Society and restore Zhou Fenglan's lost face in person.
Liu Fengyu gritted his teeth and said, "When? I'll go right now!" He turned to leave.
However, Tang Yanqiu grabbed his shoulder and said, "Calm down."
Liu Fengyu was never the type to stay calm, and in this situation, he found it even harder. He attempted to push away Tang Yanqiu's hand, but Tang Yanqiu was an archer capable of pulling a 200-jin bow, and the only one who could match him in arm strength was the transformed Deng Xiao. Liu Fengyu couldn't break free, and in frustration, he said, "Let go!"
Tang Yanqiu held him firmly and replied, "Stay calm. I'll accompany you tomorrow."
Zhuang Yao added, "We'll all go with you tomorrow. It's already late today, and Zhou Fenglan will undoubtedly show us out with a big show of force. Going now would be asking for trouble."
Liu Fengyu calmed down a bit, but his chest was still heaving heavily.
Cong Xia gently patted Liu Fengyu's back and said softly, "Liu Ge, tomorrow morning, we'll all go to the Fenglan Society with you. No matter what conditions they set, we'll spare no effort to bring your parents back."
Liu Fengyu gratefully glanced at him, and his eyes were slightly moist. The usually carefree Liu Fengyu was just an ordinary son when faced with the safety of his loved ones.
Cong Xia turned to Tang Yanqiu and said, "Yanqiu, stay with Liu Ge tonight."
Tang Yanqiu nodded in agreement.
Cong Zhenzhong said, "It seems like you have a lot to do tomorrow. You should go back and rest early. Once you settle these matters, you'll have to devote yourselves to training. Yao Qianjiang and Li Dao'ai have gone to Hunan and Hubei, respectively, to recover the two puppet jades we tracked. They're currently engaged in intense battles. The Dragonblood Clan and the Fenglan Society will also have new tasks, and soon you may face new challenges."
Cong Xia asked, "I want to know who our next enemy will be."
Cong Zhenzhong said, "We plan to send three natural force evolvers to the northeast to meet with the Devil Pine Tree."
Cong Xia took a sharp breath. So they were going to face the Devil Pine Tree so soon? It was much more terrifying than the bugs in the Big Wild Goose Pagoda. At least when they first entered the pagoda, they managed to come out safely. But once they entered the vast primeval forest of Xiao Xing'an Mountains, what were the chances of coming out unscathed? How were they supposed to defeat a tree that was six hundred meters tall? Moreover, that pine tree controlled a forest area larger than Hainan Island. Entering the depths of Xiao Xing'an Mountains would be like entering the belly of the Devil Pine Tree.
Zhuang Yao frowned, "It might be too early for us to challenge the Devil Pine Tree now."
Cong Zhenzhong replied, "I know, so there's a high chance of failure in this mission. Our primary objective is to retrieve more data. Sending three natural force evolvers is to ensure your safe return. The reconnaissance drones we sent couldn't get close to the Devil Pine Tree and we lost two of them. The avian atavists or avian mutants we dispatched, though capable of approaching the Devil Pine Tree, have no experience in fighting it. What we lack most is an understanding of the Devil Pine Tree's strength. Therefore, we hope you can bring back the experience of battling the Devil Pine Tree or the results of negotiation with it."
"Negotiation?"
Cong Zhenzhong said solemnly, "It can speak and has human-like intelligence. It should be capable of communication. If possible, it's best not to fight such an enemy."
The group fell into silence. The unmatched size of the Devil Pine Tree made it difficult for them to imagine how to defeat such an opponent. Besides nuclear weapons, what other force could uproot it?
Cong Zhenzhong continued, "It's too early to talk about this now. At least one or two months later. You should go back and rest."
One by one, the others returned to their lodgings.
Once inside, Cong Xia collapsed onto his bed and sighed, "I never expected so much to happen today."
Cheng Tianbi said, "We will handle it all."
Cong Xia looked at him and asked, "Tianbi, are you uncomfortable with the idea of going to see Commander Cao tomorrow?"
Cheng Tianbi replied, "Not really. The bowstring is more important." The improvement in Tang Yanqiu's strength meant an increase in the team's attack power and safety. Although he didn't want to see his father, he could clearly distinguish between priorities.
Cong Xia sat up and looked at Cheng Tianbi. "Tianbi, I want to hear about it."
"About what?"
"About you and Commander Cao. You mentioned it before, and I want to know. If you're willing to tell me."
Cheng Tianbi took off his coat and sat on the edge of the bed, "Yes, I did mention it."
Cong Xia gently stroked his back, giving him strength.
Cheng Tianbi said calmly, "There's nothing special, I'm his illegitimate son."
Cong Xia had already guessed as much, given Cheng Tianbi's surname was different from Commander Cao's.
Cheng Tianbi continued, "He met my mother after he got married, but his wife's family had a lot of influence. When my mother gave birth to me, he didn't acknowledge me. Later, his wife had a child, but it was a daughter. Since he couldn't have a second child, he remembered me. My mother died early, and before I joined the military, I had no idea who my father was. In my mind, I never had a father, and I didn't need one either."
Cong Xia gently ruffled his hair, "Tianbi, you must have had a tough time when you were young."
Cheng Tianbi shook his head, "I had no worries about food and clothing, there was nothing tough about it."
Though he said that, Cong Xia still felt a bit heartbroken. If Cheng Tianbi really was as he described, indifferent and uncaring, then how did his cold and aloof personality come about? Even Zhuang Yao, who was exceptionally intelligent, had sought familial love at a young age. Cheng Tianbi wouldn't have been born with this demeanor. The desire for love and care is innate to human beings, but when a person doesn't experience it during their childhood, they may become completely numb to it in the future.
147 Mystery of the End Times Part 1
They strolled around the city and then returned to the Academy.
It was now past nine in the evening, and the sky had turned completely dark. Only a few buildings around the Academy were illuminated, while the rest of the city remained eerily quiet. Since the weather had warmed up, the attacks from mutated creatures on humans had become more frequent.
In this vast city of Beijing, people were losing their lives daily, and the majority had grown indifferent towards life. Looking ahead twenty years, even without considering other factors, humanity would gradually move towards extinction due to the extreme aging of the population and a significantly low birth rate. The methods employed by the Cambrian Consciousness to toy with human lives were far too numerous, and worrying had become redundant for them.
Once they entered the Academy's gate, Xiao Wang hurriedly ran towards them, followed by two individuals in security guard uniforms.
Condescending from Abu's back, Cong Xia asked, "Xiao Wang, what's going on?"
Breathing heavily, Xiao Wang said, "I was just... about to call you, but when I saw you coming back from afar, I realized it's urgent, and it's better to tell you directly than over the phone..."
Impatiently, Zhuang Yao interrupted, "Get to the point."
Xiao Wang took a deep breath and looked at Liu Fengyu. "Mr. Liu, we have news about your parents."
Liu Fengyu widened his eyes and rushed forward with a quick step, firmly grasping Xiao Wang's shoulder. "Where are they? Tell me!" Trembling all over, Liu Fengyu was extremely afraid of what Xiao Wang was about to say. He dreaded the possibility of hearing that his parents were no longer alive.
Others subconsciously held their breath, feeling equally nervous for Liu Fengyu.
Xiao Wang said, "Mr. Liu, calm down first. The good news is that both your parents are alive."
Liu Fengyu's pupils contracted violently, his expression a complex mix of excitement, gratitude, and disbelief. His eyes welled up with tears.
Tang Yanqiu spoke in a solemn tone, "Is there any bad news?"
Looking at Xiao Wang, Liu Fengyu urged, "Go on."
Xiao Wang continued, "The bad news is that your parents are currently in the hands of Zhou Fenglan."
Zhou Fenglan?
The expressions of everyone turned serious. The tense relationship between them and Zhou Fenglan was widely known in the city. Now that Zhou Fenglan had control over Liu Fengyu's parents, it was evident that his intentions were far from good. Bringing back Liu Fengyu's parents would depend on how much Zhou Fenglan was willing to cooperate.
Liu Fengyu clenched his fist. "Has Zhou Fenglan sent any message?"
"Not yet," replied Xiao Wang. "The team sent to find your parents traced their whereabouts near Tongzhou this afternoon. On their way back with your parents, they were intercepted by Zhou Fenglan's people."
Liu Fengyu exclaimed, "How could Zhou Fenglan's people manage to intercept them? Does the Academy have a mole?"
With a bitter smile, Xiao Wang lowered his voice. "It's inevitable. We have informants in District 2, and they have theirs within us. Everyone is well aware of this, and it's likely that when our field agents went to search for your parents, Zhou Fenglan's people were already keeping an eye on them. They had planned this in advance."
Zhuang Yao asked, "Does Professor Cong know about this?"
Nodding, Xiao Wang replied, "He just found out. He has already sent people to negotiate with Zhou Fenglan, but since Zhou Fenglan dared to directly kidnap people, it's probably because Dr. Zhuang and Commander Xu have given their tacit approval. Otherwise, Zhou Fenglan wouldn't dare to challenge District 3 head-on. Therefore, I'm afraid your parents won't be able to return for the time being."
"Damn it!" Liu Fengyu's voice was sharp, "If that bastard dares to harm my parents..."
Cong Xia patted his shoulder, "Liu Ge, don't be too anxious. Harming your parents won't benefit Zhou Fenglan's organization in any way. They aren't targeting you specifically; it's our team they're after. We killed their people in Luoyang and took their puppet jade. Then, we embarrassed Zhou Fenglan at the banquet. Considering his personality, he won't just let it go. Taking your parents is likely a way to make us pay a price. Despite his reckless behavior, as the leader of such a large gang, he's not a fool. Until he achieves his goals, he will handle your parents with care."
Zhuang Yao added, "Cong Xia is right. You have no personal grievances with Zhou Fenglan, so you don't need to worry about your parents' safety. Look at it optimistically; at least we finally found your parents. With District 3 and Commander Cao's involvement, Zhou Fenglan won't dare to do anything extreme. His actions likely have two objectives. First, we claimed credit for retrieving the puppet jade and killed some of his people. They'll definitely seek an explanation for that. Second, he wants to save face. If we handle this well, we might resolve the situation without resorting to violence."
Liu Fengyu's chest gradually calmed down a bit. Regardless of the situation, the most important thing was that he had news of his parents. After nearly two months of searching, he had almost lost hope. Life was about having something to look forward to. As long as his parents were alive, everything he had done had meaning.
Xiao Wang said, "You can wait in your rooms or go to the experimental area. Professor Cong is there, and I expect the people he sent will return soon."
Cong Xia suggested, "Let's go to the experimental area."
The group proceeded to the experimental area of District 3, where Cong Zhenzhong was busy working. When he saw them, he came out of the lab. He looked at Liu Fengyu and said, "You don't need to worry too much. Your parents won't be harmed. Once I have any updates from the team I dispatched, I will inform you immediately."
Liu Fengyu nodded and said, "Thank you, Professor Cong."
Cong Zhenzhong then turned to Zhuang Yao and said, "I have reviewed the report you submitted, made a few modifications, and signed it. It has been sent to Commander Cao for approval. Once he approves it, we can get the box and the incense sticks for you."
Zhuang Yao asked, "Is there any difficulty on Commander Cao's side?"
Cong Zhenzhong nodded, "Let me explain some common knowledge here. Samples, equipment, and other items in the Academy are theoretically supposed to be shared. However, due to the conflict between District 2 and District 3, the Academy is divided into two factions. Except for unique large equipment, our items are rarely shared, and each district conducts its own research. But, this doesn't mean that other districts cannot request samples from us. We don't have the right to refuse without proper reason as it goes against the scientific spirit of serving humanity's common progress.
This time, when you returned from Xi’an, the samples and other items you brought back were extremely valuable and piqued the interest of researchers from all six districts. In such a situation, even though the box and incense sticks are theoretically assigned to District 3, other districts can apply for sample research. Whether we lend them or not, we don't have the right to use the research materials for private purposes. Although Commander Cao has the authority to approve, as someone with significant power, every decision he makes must consider many factors. It's safe to say that if Commander Cao approves, he will be under significant pressure. Beijing is not a place where he alone has the final say."
Deng Xiao sighed, "If we had known earlier that those things were suitable for making bowstrings for Tang Ge, we shouldn't have turned them in."
Zhuang Yao replied, "Talking about what we should have done won't change anything now. We need to find a solution." He looked at Cheng Tianbi, "If it were for your use, Commander Cao might have approved directly. But now it's not for you. If you don't go and talk to him, I believe there's an 80% chance he won't approve. So, we need you to handle this."
Cheng Tianbi calmly responded, "I understand. I'll go see him tomorrow."
Cong Zhenzhong said, "That's great. I'm also looking forward to seeing how those incense sticks will perform as bowstrings."
Just then, Cong Zhenzhong's phone rang. He answered, "Hello? Hmm, you're on your way back? Alright, I got it."
Everyone looked at him. This call was most likely from the team that Cong Zhenzhong had sent to negotiate with Zhou Fenglan.
Cong Zhenzhong hung up the phone and said, "Zhou Fenglan requests to meet you in person."
Cong Xia thought to himself, "As expected." There was no way Zhou Fenglan would miss the opportunity to make a huge demand. He knew they couldn't use force for this matter. If they wanted to resolve it, they would have to compensate for the losses incurred by the Fenglan Society and restore Zhou Fenglan's lost face in person.
Liu Fengyu gritted his teeth and said, "When? I'll go right now!" He turned to leave.
However, Tang Yanqiu grabbed his shoulder and said, "Calm down."
Liu Fengyu was never the type to stay calm, and in this situation, he found it even harder. He attempted to push away Tang Yanqiu's hand, but Tang Yanqiu was an archer capable of pulling a 200-jin bow, and the only one who could match him in arm strength was the transformed Deng Xiao. Liu Fengyu couldn't break free, and in frustration, he said, "Let go!"
Tang Yanqiu held him firmly and replied, "Stay calm. I'll accompany you tomorrow."
Zhuang Yao added, "We'll all go with you tomorrow. It's already late today, and Zhou Fenglan will undoubtedly show us out with a big show of force. Going now would be asking for trouble."
Liu Fengyu calmed down a bit, but his chest was still heaving heavily.
Cong Xia gently patted Liu Fengyu's back and said softly, "Liu Ge, tomorrow morning, we'll all go to the Fenglan Society with you. No matter what conditions they set, we'll spare no effort to bring your parents back."
Liu Fengyu gratefully glanced at him, and his eyes were slightly moist. The usually carefree Liu Fengyu was just an ordinary son when faced with the safety of his loved ones.
Cong Xia turned to Tang Yanqiu and said, "Yanqiu, stay with Liu Ge tonight."
Tang Yanqiu nodded in agreement.
Cong Zhenzhong said, "It seems like you have a lot to do tomorrow. You should go back and rest early. Once you settle these matters, you'll have to devote yourselves to training. Yao Qianjiang and Li Dao'ai have gone to Hunan and Hubei, respectively, to recover the two puppet jades we tracked. They're currently engaged in intense battles. The Dragonblood Clan and the Fenglan Society will also have new tasks, and soon you may face new challenges."
Cong Xia asked, "I want to know who our next enemy will be."
Cong Zhenzhong said, "We plan to send three natural force evolvers to the northeast to meet with the Devil Pine Tree."
Cong Xia took a sharp breath. So they were going to face the Devil Pine Tree so soon? It was much more terrifying than the bugs in the Big Wild Goose Pagoda. At least when they first entered the pagoda, they managed to come out safely. But once they entered the vast primeval forest of Xiao Xing'an Mountains, what were the chances of coming out unscathed? How were they supposed to defeat a tree that was six hundred meters tall? Moreover, that pine tree controlled a forest area larger than Hainan Island. Entering the depths of Xiao Xing'an Mountains would be like entering the belly of the Devil Pine Tree.
Zhuang Yao frowned, "It might be too early for us to challenge the Devil Pine Tree now."
Cong Zhenzhong replied, "I know, so there's a high chance of failure in this mission. Our primary objective is to retrieve more data. Sending three natural force evolvers is to ensure your safe return. The reconnaissance drones we sent couldn't get close to the Devil Pine Tree and we lost two of them. The avian atavists or avian mutants we dispatched, though capable of approaching the Devil Pine Tree, have no experience in fighting it. What we lack most is an understanding of the Devil Pine Tree's strength. Therefore, we hope you can bring back the experience of battling the Devil Pine Tree or the results of negotiation with it."
"Negotiation?"
Cong Zhenzhong said solemnly, "It can speak and has human-like intelligence. It should be capable of communication. If possible, it's best not to fight such an enemy."
The group fell into silence. The unmatched size of the Devil Pine Tree made it difficult for them to imagine how to defeat such an opponent. Besides nuclear weapons, what other force could uproot it?
Cong Zhenzhong continued, "It's too early to talk about this now. At least one or two months later. You should go back and rest."
One by one, the others returned to their lodgings.
Once inside, Cong Xia collapsed onto his bed and sighed, "I never expected so much to happen today."
Cheng Tianbi said, "We will handle it all."
Cong Xia looked at him and asked, "Tianbi, are you uncomfortable with the idea of going to see Commander Cao tomorrow?"
Cheng Tianbi replied, "Not really. The bowstring is more important." The improvement in Tang Yanqiu's strength meant an increase in the team's attack power and safety. Although he didn't want to see his father, he could clearly distinguish between priorities.
Cong Xia sat up and looked at Cheng Tianbi. "Tianbi, I want to hear about it."
"About what?"
"About you and Commander Cao. You mentioned it before, and I want to know. If you're willing to tell me."
Cheng Tianbi took off his coat and sat on the edge of the bed, "Yes, I did mention it."
Cong Xia gently stroked his back, giving him strength.
Cheng Tianbi said calmly, "There's nothing special, I'm his illegitimate son."
Cong Xia had already guessed as much, given Cheng Tianbi's surname was different from Commander Cao's.
Cheng Tianbi continued, "He met my mother after he got married, but his wife's family had a lot of influence. When my mother gave birth to me, he didn't acknowledge me. Later, his wife had a child, but it was a daughter. Since he couldn't have a second child, he remembered me. My mother died early, and before I joined the military, I had no idea who my father was. In my mind, I never had a father, and I didn't need one either."
Cong Xia gently ruffled his hair, "Tianbi, you must have had a tough time when you were young."
Cheng Tianbi shook his head, "I had no worries about food and clothing, there was nothing tough about it."
Though he said that, Cong Xia still felt a bit heartbroken. If Cheng Tianbi really was as he described, indifferent and uncaring, then how did his cold and aloof personality come about? Even Zhuang Yao, who was exceptionally intelligent, had sought familial love at a young age. Cheng Tianbi wouldn't have been born with this demeanor. The desire for love and care is innate to human beings, but when a person doesn't experience it during their childhood, they may become completely numb to it in the future.
