Chapter 319: Family

The uniquely shaped aircraft defied aerodynamics, yet it moved as fast as lightning and could even hover in midair, with no propulsion system visible on the outside.

"Dad, everything's ready," Ning Yao said, walking up to Ning Hai.

Ning Hai gave his daughter a once‑over, smiled and said, "Why wear a combat uniform? We're not going to fight."

Ning Yao replied, "Dad, your health is poor, I have to be careful. That family isn't a threat, but many Huaxia Guo combat battalions nearby are watching us."

"It's fine," Ning Hai waved his hand, "Our ride isn't a decoration, and Lu Xingfeng is with us as a bodyguard. Even if something goes wrong, you won't need to act. Go change into some everyday clothes."

"Alright, Dad," Ning Yao turned a few steps, then stopped and asked, "I still don't get why we have to meet the Ning Shan family. To them, ties were cut fifteen years ago; to us, it's been over a hundred years. What is there to see?"

Ning Hai gave no answer, merely urging his daughter to hurry.

Ning Yao could only obey.

Soon, beneath the pyramid‑shaped aircraft, a triangular craft no larger than a fighter jet emerged and slowly landed on the wide road in front of the restaurant.

The craft's hatch opened, and Ning Hai, masked and clad in a long robe, followed by Ning Yao in casual wear, stepped onto the ground, with Lu Xingfeng trailing behind them.

Ning Yao had intended to have Ning Hai sit in a hovering wheelchair, but he insisted on walking, supporting himself with a golden dragon‑head cane.

Inside the restaurant, Ning Jinli and her parents watched the three arrivals through the floor‑to‑ceiling windows.

"That old man wearing a golden mask—could he be the so‑called Descended Celestial Sovereign?" Ning Jinli asked.

Ning Shan furrowed his brows, "The woman beside him looks increasingly familiar. Ye Zhiqiu, Jinli, what do you think?"

Ye Zhiqiu observed and said, "She is very familiar, and the man behind… I find him familiar too…"

"That man?" Ning Shan shook his head, "I don't feel it's him."

Ning Jinli stared intently at the trio about to enter, "Aside from the age mismatch, the woman supporting the masked old man looks almost exactly like Ning Yao, and the short‑haired man in a combat uniform behind—mom… does he look a lot like Lu Xingfeng?"

Ye Zhiqiu was momentarily stunned.

By then, the three had entered the restaurant.

The moment their gazes met, Ning Yao's expression darkened, and Lu Xingfeng's pupils contracted sharply.

"Long time no see..." Ning Hai rasped in a hoarse, aged voice.

Ning Jinli stepped half a pace forward, calmly shielding her parents, and asked coldly, "You are the Descended Celestial Sovereign? Remove the mask so I can see what you really look like!"

"Hehe..." Ning Hai said with a smile, "Jinli, even if I take off the mask, you and your parents probably wouldn't recognize me, but haven't you recognized my daughter yet?"

Ning Shan and Ye Zhiqiu's faces stiffened; although they had felt a strong familiarity at first, the age discrepancy had held them back from confirming.

"You really are Ning Yao?" Ning Shan sprang to his feet, "Then you are... Ning Hai?!"

"Hmph!" Ning Yao let out a cold snort.

Ning Hai said, "Yes, big brother, my own brother, long time no see—things are different now."

"So the Descended Celestial Sovereign is you? How did you become so aged?" Ning Shan said, incredulous.

"It's a long story, but that's fine; I still have time to reminisce with you slowly," Ning Hai said, leaning on his cane as he walked closer.

"Don't come any closer!" Ning Jinli barked, "If you have something to say, say it from over there. What is your purpose in meeting us?!"

"We were once a family; after so many years apart, Jinli, you're my niece, you shouldn't hold such great hostility," Ning Hai said beneath the golden mask, his extremely aged eyes flashing a hint of heaviness, his voice sounding much lonelier.

Before Ning Jinli could speak, Ning Yao said coldly, "Dad, I already said there's no need to meet them; just kill them outright."

Hearing that, Ning Jinli, Ning Shan, and Ye Zhiqiu tensed, their gazes radiating murderous intent.

"Shut up!" Ning Hai snapped angrily, "Don't speak recklessly!"

Ning Yao was stunned, her face full of disbelief.

Because from childhood through the 115 years in the parallel world, her father had never spoken such weighty words to her.

What on earth is happening?

Ning Hai exhaled a cloud of foul breath, "Elder brother, sister‑in‑law, and Jinli, my niece, could you let me sit down and catch up with you? I'm old, standing for long is tiring... and you must be curious why I'm meeting you, right?"

The tone of those words carried a hint of pleading.

Ning Jinli exchanged a glance with her parents, then gave Ning Hai a slight nod.

Granted permission, Ning Hai set off, even quickening his pace, and sat down at the opposite side of the table.

"Yao Yao, come," Ning Hai gestured.

Ning Yao wore a stern face, walked over extremely unwillingly, and sat beside him.

Lu Xingfeng followed likewise, standing at the diagonal side of the seat, his eyes fixed unwaveringly on Ye Zhiqiu the whole time.

"May I have a cup of tea?" Ning Hai began, "Honestly, even in another world where I possess everything and can drink finer things, I still miss the tea of this world."

Ning Shan lifted the teapot, poured a cup, and placed it before Ning Hai, "I never expected the one who has crushed this world's technological level and seeks to rule it to be you."

"I never imagined it would become like this," Ning Hai lifted the cup, gently sniffed beneath the mask, "Brother, no force in this world can stop me. Soon I will become the absolute ruler, everyone will be my slaves, but... you can be an exception."

Hearing that, Ye Zhiqiu and Ning Jinli heightened their vigilance.

Ning Yao was even more incredulous; she was about to ask what it meant, but recalling her father's scolding, she swallowed the words.

As for Lu Xingfeng, his complexion darkened sharply.

"We can be an exception?" Ning Shan said calmly, "From what you say, you're granting special mercy to our three of us? I'm beginning to doubt whether you're really Ning Hai, since the Ning Hai I know sent assassins twenty‑five years ago to try to kill me and Ye Zhiqiu."

"Then I apologize," Ning Hai set down the cup, rose with some effort, and bowed to Ning Shan and Ye Zhiqiu.

That gesture left the others present stunned.

Ning Yao could hardly believe her own eyes.

What on earth is father doing?

"Apology?" Ye Zhiqiu shouted angrily, "Whether you're pretending or have ulterior motives, we cannot accept! Stop beating around the bush! Tell us, what is your purpose in meeting us?!"

Ning Hai sat down again, sighed, and said, "Alas... In the other world I've lived over a hundred years, which is why I'm so aged now. Perhaps I'm truly old, or perhaps because aside from Yao Yao, you three are the only blood relatives left. I hope the few of us Ning Family can reunite once more..."

At that moment, Ning Hai bore no resemblance to a world‑destroying ruler; he seemed merely a frail, solitary old man.

"Dad! So that's what you were thinking?!" Ning Yao could no longer hold back, shouting, "You're such a fool! Clinging to that blood tie means nothing! I don't want to reunite with them! Have you forgotten how badly they hurt me? Back then I became a pariah at home, and was bombarded with insults across the global internet!"

Even after more than a hundred years, recalling being forced abroad to seek her father still fills her with raging anger.

Ning Jinli said sternly, "Even now you still think that isn't your own fault? It seems your age has gone to the dogs."

"Ning Jinli! You're asking for death!" Ning Yao jumped to her feet, about to strike.

"Ning Yao! Sit down!" Ning Hai immediately shouted in a stern voice.

Ning Yao's body stiffened, her face turned ashen, she lowered her fists, turned away, and sat down.

"Cough... cough cough cough..." Ning Hai coughed a few times, then said in a gentle tone, "Elder brother, sister-in-law, Ning Jinli, I'm speaking sincerely. As long as you're willing, I will treat you well from now on, making up for all my past mistakes with my future actions. I truly, truly hope... hope to have a few more family members by my side..."

His attitude was almost pleading.

For over a hundred years, aside from his daughter, he had no relatives at all, not even someone he could casually chat with and occasionally share his feelings.

This sense of loneliness grew day by day; for him, it was even more frightening than the torment of his physical ailments.

Ning Shan pondered briefly, fixed his gaze on the pair of eyes revealed on Ning Hai's mask, and said solemnly, "If our family of three is willing to live together with you, satisfying your current longing for familial affection, then could you relinquish your rule over this world?"

"Impossible! That's a different matter!" Ning Hai said without hesitation, "Over the past hundred years, the most useful lesson I've learned is that everything only feels secure when it's under my own control. Moreover, I have the ability; I can do it. Everyone in this world deserves only to be my slaves, governed by me!"

"Then do we also deserve only to be your slaves?" Ning Shan asked abruptly.

Ning Hai's gaze darkened, "No, you are my family; you don't need to be slaves like others. You just need to stay by my side—that's enough. You don't need to do anything else. I can even let your family of three live a better life. In fact, share the fruits of my rule."

"Ha!" Ning Shan laughed, "It sounds quite wonderful, alas, I cannot afford it. Ye Zhiqiu, Ning Jinli, can you afford it?"

Ye Zhiqiu and Ning Jinli said in unison, "Of course we cannot afford it either."

Ning Hai's gaze grew even darker, "So, you family clearly know I can crush this world, yet you choose to be my enemy?"

"It's not that we are your enemies," Ning Jinli said, "it's that you are opposing our world. We could never go along with you; it's utterly impossible."

Ning Hai said lightly, "In the past hundred-odd years in another world, I've also encountered many who tried to stop a chariot with their arms—like mantises trying to halt a chariot—but no matter how strong the mantis, the end is always death."

"Do you think we fear death?" Ning Jinli replied coldly.

"Hehe..." Ning Hai chuckled, "It's fine; even if you're unwilling, I can still have you stay by my side. Over time, you'll become compliant. Since kind words don't work, I can only force you. Lu Xingfeng, seize these three family members of mine and bring them back to treat them well."

"Xingfeng... you... you couldn't really be Lu Xingfeng, could you?!" Ye Zhiqiu blurted out.

At that moment, Lu Xingfeng likewise confirmed that the Ye Zhiqiu before him was indeed the woman he had been obsessing over.

"Junior sister, oh no... Sect Leader," Lu Xingfeng raised his head, looking down, and said, "Long time no see."

Upon hearing that, Ning Hai and Ning Yao were both stunned.

Before the father and daughter could even ask, Lu Xingfeng cracked his knuckles, gritted his teeth, and said, "Brother Hai, after you bring the people back, could you hand over this woman to me?"

"No," Ning Hai firmly refused, "if she were someone else, I wouldn't care, but she is my elder brother's wife and my niece's mother."

Lu Xingfeng's eyes flashed with hatred, "To obtain her, to have her kneel at my feet and submit to me, is a wish I have never abandoned over the past hundred years. I have done so much for you, braving fire and water, achieving many merits, yet you refuse even this small request?"

"Lu Xingfeng, you..." Ning Yao stared wide-eyed, her inner anger surging.

This man had once solemnly promised her that he had already forgotten the woman he was obsessed with.

She never expected that woman to actually be her aunt, and she never expected that Lu Xingfeng's claim of forgetting was actually a lie to her!

How could Lu Xingfeng's reaction and these words look like forgetting at all?!

Ning Hai failed to notice Ning Yao's odd demeanor, and directly told Lu Xingfeng, "I don't care what grudges you have with my elder brother's wife, but my family—you'd better not lay a finger on them."

"You..." Lu Xingfeng's face turned grim.

Ning Hai barked, "Hurry up and seize them! I tell you, you may only restrain them, not harm them!"

"Wait!" Ning Jinli suddenly exclaimed, "What's become of the world you went to?!"

Ning Jinli only knew that Lu Xingfeng was from the First Parallel World, and didn't know that Lu Xingfeng had later also crossed over to this side, and furthermore crossed over to another parallel world together with Ning Hai.

Therefore, she assumed Ning Hai had gone to the First Parallel World, and eagerly wanted to know how that world was faring.

Ning Hai said nonchalantly, "It's already become a ruined planet, no longer habitable, all its resources drained by me. Otherwise, how do you think I could have developed the military technology to crush this world? Otherwise... how could I have returned through the crossing?"

Ning Jinli's heart clenched, "And what of the people there? The ruler of ancient Xuan Guo in Huaxia, Xiao Qidi—what about him?"

Ning Shan and Ye Zhiqiu also felt their nerves tense at that moment.

Ning Hai said with a smile, "Over there, everyone in the world—whether Huaxia or other foreign peoples—has become my slaves, exhausted completely. As for Xiao Qidi... I'm not sure. A hundred years ago, I sent Lu Xingfeng to conquer Asia; you might as well ask him."

Lu Xingfeng snapped irritably, "I killed Xiao Qidi—he didn't even get to say half a sentence before I lopped off his head with a single blow!"

Ning Jinli was struck as if by lightning.

Ning Shan and Ye Zhiqiu also instantly went blank in their minds.

At that very moment, Ning Yao suddenly drew a pistol from her waist, instantly aimed at Ning Jinli's brow, and pulled the trigger without hesitation.

Bang—