Chapter 29: Chapter 29: Knowing Nothing (Second Update)_1
Up until now, most of her life had revolved between cultivation and war. She was the spiritual leader for the warriors of Sector One, the Xuan Nv in whom countless humans placed their hopes.
Every effort she made, every drop of blood she shed, was for the protection of her fellow clan members who lacked the ability to fight on the battlefield.
If only she suffered more, if only her powers grew stronger, then fewer comrades would die, and the ordinary humans she protected could feel more secure.
In her understanding thus far, whether cultivators or mortals, she believed that all humans of her kind should be cherished lives, unified in purpose. In her eyes, it was simply inconceivable for them to turn on each other and commit fratricide.
After hearing Fang Ren's words, she was bewildered.
It was normal for her not to understand; after all, standing at the peak of the world, one cannot see the darkness lurking at the mountain's base.
After hearing Mu Huanqing's words, Fang Ren felt even less able to comprehend, and said, "If humanity is united against the Void, then why would anyone hurt Sister Hui Qing to the point of her now being in such a state?"
Mu Huanqing's gaze suddenly dimmed, and after a few seconds of silence, she said, "…That's because I haven't done enough, if I were even stronger, many people would not have died."
"But what does that have to do with those people hurting you? Aren't these two separate issues?"
"No, if I were strong enough to give them sufficient security, none of these things would have happened," Mu Huanqing shook her head.
"It's others who harbored malicious intent to harm you; why are you blaming yourself?" Fang Ren could not understand her at all.
"But in the end, I am still alive. No one of my own kind has ever actually tried to take my life," said Mu Huanqing.
"You…"
Fang Ren's mind was in disarray. He held his forehead with one hand, speaking helplessly, "Sister Hui Qing, aren't you being too naive? Why would you think like this? Many humans are simply not as good as you think.
Many are greedy. Hurting you may not be out of their insecurity, but because they want to eliminate you to gain what they desire. And even if the chaos caused by insecurity inadvertently hurts you, what responsibility do you bear? It's their fault."
Fang Ren was unclear about her past, so his response was based on piecing together key points from what she had said.
"..."
Mu Huanqing's gaze grew more sorrowful, her expression weary.
She viewed everything as her responsibility, taking all burdens upon herself as if they were her duty. Having always held a position of authority, she had never witnessed the darker side of human nature, failing to understand many things.
Seeing her fall suddenly silent, Fang Ren knew that his words had likely hit close to the mark.
Sister Hui Qing… in some ways, she might be even more childlike than he had imagined.
Rising from the bed, Fang Ren gently embraced her, caressing her hair with one hand as he said, "I don't know what kind of environment Sister Hui Qing grew up in from childhood; it seems like you're completely unaware of humans harboring murderous intentions toward each other."
"Why would they kill each other… Aren't we supposed to resist the Void races together?" Mu Huanqing's expression became increasingly troubled as she lay in his arms.
The world she had sacrificed everything to protect… was it truly so different from what she had imagined?
"People standing in different positions see the world differently. For instance, warriors on the battlefield always see glory and blood, rallying against the world, with the eradication of Void creatures as their mission.
But for some others in this world, the invasion of the Void creatures is none of their concern; they leave it to those warriors to handle, while their desires are the complete opposite, seeking money, power, women, even stooping to any means for their personal gain," Fang Ren explained to her.
"Why is it like this…"
After hearing what he said, Mu Huanqing suddenly felt a profound sorrow.
As the Void races continue to invade, countless warriors give their blood and lives to protect their kin from being slaughtered by the Void. Why, then, when they are not being killed by other races, have they begun to slaughter each other?
Are the lives sacrificed by these warriors so worthless in their eyes?
"Because the world has been at peace for too long. Some people feel that this peace is their entitlement. There will even be those who regard the warriors sacrificing their lives for humanity on the battlefield as fools," Fang Ren said, feeling a swell of emotion within himself.
Although he was a mortal without cultivation ability, he too contributed to humanity silently. He would immediately share his alchemy creations on forums for other alchemists to study and replicate, and he would offer advice on posts with flaws.
Two hundred years ago, when humanity faced crisis, people were united. But after two hundred years of stability, many have forgotten the experience of being slaughtered by the Void, forgotten that their current peace was bought with the blood of countless warriors.
A phrase once spoken by some ancestors in the distant 21st century says it all—"What 'peaceful years' are there, if not for those who carry the burden for you."
But now, this sentiment has been crumpled by humanity and tossed aside with the fears of the past, into the trash.
After talking with her, Fang Ren felt much more at peace with the restlessness he had felt that night. Holding her a while longer and speaking some words of comfort, he soon heard the front door rattle—Uncle Han had returned.
"Come down for dinner; I bought something ready-made today, won't be cooking."
They had yet to come downstairs when they heard Shang Han calling out loudly from below.
Mu Huanqing, as if having heard nothing, continued to nestle in Fang Ren's embrace, unwilling to move.
"Go have some food, don't be upset," he said, looking at her.
Seeing her like this, Fang Ren suddenly regretted telling her all this. Perhaps his words had struck deep-rooted beliefs in her mind, causing a significant impact.
Although he was unsure of Sister Hui Qing's past identity, Fang Ren was certain that in some ways, she was as innocent as a child, likely having had little exposure to the darker side of human nature.
Mu Huanqing still made no move, so Fang Ren cupped her cheeks with his hands, squeezing her smiling face into a pout, and laughed, "Sister Hui Qing is as pure as a blank sheet of paper."
"How is that possible?" Mu Huanqing's speech was altered by being squished and she involuntarily furrowed her brows.
With her brows lightly furrowed and her face squished together, she looked as if she was pouting pitifully, which was incredibly adorable.
"You were very pure, but you changed after meeting me," Fang Ren smiled.
"How so?"
"Because I'll make Sister Hui Qing dirty."
"Rascal..."
"Alright, don't be upset." Fang Ren chuckled, "Look, today Sister Hui Qing is able to walk by herself; isn't that something to be happy about?"
Mu Huanqing nodded vigorously, her cheeks still adorably pressed together.
"Such a good girl."
After a half-minute of affection, Fang Ren wheeled over the wheelchair from inside the room: "Come on, sit down."
"My legs are already healed; why should I sit in it?" Mu Huanqing was startled.
"To give Uncle Han a surprise."
Fang Ren did not wait for Mu Huanqing to move on her own and instead picked her up and placed her in the wheelchair, then happily wheeled her out.
Shang Han was setting up the dishes on the table downstairs, and there was also a bottle of baijiu on the table.
"Uncle Han, why have you decided to drink today?"
Fang Ren had just pushed Mu Huanqing downstairs when he saw Shang Han opening the baijiu and asked, somewhat puzzled, as he had hardly ever seen Uncle Han drinking before.
"Just felt like having some," Shang Han sighed lightly, but his face showed a slight smile as he arranged the tableware.
Fang Ren pushed Mu Huanqing over to the table to sit down, and while looking at Uncle Han, he couldn't help feeling that there was a trace of bitterness and helplessness mixed within Uncle Han's smile; there must be something upsetting him.
"Uncle Han, I've got a surprise for you," Fang Ren said with a smile.
"What kind of surprise can you give me, kid?" Shang Han said disdainfully.
During the conversation, he did not forget to turn on the TV and started watching the news.
"I'm telling you something serious." Fang Ren said, "Guess what, it's definitely a surprise."
"Huh?" Shang Han was taken aback, his eyes shifting to Mu Huanqing opposite of him, and then he slapped the table in an epiphany, "Is Hui Qing pregnant?!"
"Pff!"
Fang Ren almost spit out the mouthful of soup he was about to drink: "Can't you think of something nice, you old coot?"
"What's nicer than that?"
"Nice indeed," said Fang Ren with a speechless expression and walked over to Mu Huanqing, pulling her to her feet, and said, "Can't you see?"
Shang Han furrowed his brows and examined Mu Huanqing's belly, "Are you dumb, kid? It's only been two days; even if she was pregnant, it wouldn't show."
Fang Ren was about to explode in anger and smash the entire table in his face then and there.
Shang Han laughed, "Alright, alright, I'll stop joking with you. I'm really glad you cared enough to get Hui Qing a leg brace."
"Nonsense!"
Fang Ren pulled Mu Huanqing away from the table, knelt down, and patted her snow-white calves, looking helplessly at Shang Han: "Brace my foot! Look carefully!"
Finally, Shang Han's face turned serious as he looked at Mu Huanqing's calves in shock: "Is this...?"
"It's healed," Fang Ren said.
"Healed?"
Shang Han still couldn't believe his eyes; it was a condition that even a Grandmaster-level alchemist in the district couldn't cure. How could it have suddenly healed?
"It really has healed," said Mu Huanqing, looking at Shang Han with a dazed expression, "Ah Ran gave me a pill, and after that, it just suddenly got better."