Chapter 347: She wants to go?!

Zhao Gang's voice was hoarse.

But it was steady, very earnest.

Jiangzhou's affairs, including the base, channels, maintaining connections, etc., you can just put them on my shoulders.

Whether white or black, any dirty or tiring work that can be done, I won't shirk any of it.

Leave logistics to me without worry; I'll secure the rear base for you.

He paused there.

His Adam's apple rolled up and down twice.

But Xing He...

Since she was born, she's never had a few peaceful days.

During that time, I took turns with her mother guarding the ICU door day and night.

Watching that little tot with tubes all over her body.

Bruised all over, thin as a kitten.

Beside him, Zhao Gang's wife turned her face away sharply, her shoulders trembling.

Memories hurt.

With great difficulty...

Zhao Gang took a breath, pressing on as he spoke.

With great difficulty she survived.

She eats heartily, can run and jump.

This so-called Altar Era... to me, it's an opportunity from heaven for Xing He!

Without these things, even if you, Mr. Su, are here, it would be hard for a miracle to happen on Xing He.

So, I truly have no objection to these current changes!

He lifted his head, staring fixedly at Su Ming.

Mr. Su, my life, Zhao Gang's, is yours!

But my daughter...

The last few words grew softer and softer as he spoke.

So soft it was as if he feared waking the little sleeping figure.

We just want her to stay by our side.

To be able to see her.

To be able to touch her.

Su Ming didn't speak.

He looked at Zhao Gang's eyes.

In them there was no weighing, no exchange.

Only a father's most primal, clumsy, unreasonable plea.

I understand.

Su Ming nodded, crisp and decisive.

Then we'll proceed with the second clause.

Later I'll gather the resources that should be kept, and also have someone add another layer nearby...

He spoke halfway—

Big brother.

A soft, tender utterance.

Several adults froze at once.

Zhao Xinghe didn't know when she woke up.

But her gaze was clear, not like someone just waking.

I just had a dream.

She looked at Su Ming, very earnest.

In the dream there was a sister who looked very much like me.

She said—

The little girl paused.

As if trying to recall the dream's scene.

She wants to go.

I... uh...

I also want to follow big brother!

The air in the living room seemed to be clenched in a fist.

Su Ming's pupils constricted slightly.

He saw it.

A slender dark-red phantom stood silently beside Zhao Xinghe.

No bared fangs or claws.

No aggressive posture whatsoever.

He merely lifted his hand slightly, swaying it toward Su Ming.

Like a child greeting.

"Xing He…"

Beside them, Zhao Gang's wife couldn't hold back, her voice trembling.

Zhao Gang said nothing.

But his whole body felt as if nailed to the ground.

These past days, he shouldered the rear, took on the dirty and arduous work beneath Jiangzhou, and never frowned at any situation.

But his own daughter's one sentence—

—knocked him completely dumb.

She wants to go?!

Su Ming didn't urge.

He also said nothing.

He shifted his gaze away from that dark red silhouette and waited quietly.

Some decisions cannot be made by others.

The quartz clock on the living‑room wall ticked its second hand round after round.

Tick.

Tick.

Tick.

A full three minutes.

Zhao Gang moved.

He crouched down.

His knee hit the floor with a dull thud.

Two rough, large hands gently rested on Zhao Xinghe's shoulder.

The pressure was careful and tentative.

As if cradling a mass of foam that could shatter at any moment.

"Xing He."

"Hm?"

"Dad has a question for you."

"Answer seriously."

Zhao Xinghe obediently nodded.

"Are you scared?"

The little girl tilted her head.

"What are you scared of?"

Zhao Gang opened his mouth slightly.

He wanted to say he was afraid of pain.

Afraid of the dark.

Afraid of the things that TV dares not broadcast.

He wanted to say you're still young.

Even crossing the street you still need to hold dad's hand.

He wanted to say you've just recovered from a serious illness.

Dad and Mom want to stay by your side every day, never wanting to be apart.

But he said nothing.

Because he saw his daughter's eyes.

So clean they contained not a speck of impurity.

That kind of purity isn't due to ignorance.

It truly means she isn't scared.

It truly means she wants to go.

In a child's world, there aren't so many twists and turns.

Wanting is just wanting.

"You really want to go?"

Zhao Gang's voice was hoarse.

"Even if it's very dangerous?"

"Even if it might be a very, very long time without seeing dad and mom?"

"Want."

One word.

Resolute.

Zhao Gang closed his eyes.

When he opened them again, his eyes were red.

But no tears fell.

He stood up.

He turned and faced Su Ming.

The two men stared at each other.

No extra words.

"Mr. Su."

Zhao Gang's waist bent down.

"Please take good care of her!"

……

1:00 a. m.

Jiangzhou's night wind carried the chill of early autumn, making the sycamore leaves by the roadside rustle.

Su Ming returned to his old neighborhood.

Early tomorrow morning, he'll take Zhao Xinghe and head straight to Chang'an in a special car.

But now……

He still wanted to come back and take a look.

Su Ming deliberately lowered his presence, stepping soundlessly to his own door.

The key went into the lock, and he turned it gently.

He pushed the door open.

Inside, everything was exactly as it had been when he left.

Nothing had been disturbed.

This time it's actually quiet……

Su Ming looked around, muttering to himself.

His gaze swept the corner, and he seemed to think of something.

His consciousness entered the Dimensional Reduction Warehouse.

The next moment——

Hum.

He directly pulled out the Crimson Throne.

The huge black stone statue thudded onto the living room floor.

The large blood-red heart at the top beat steadily—thump, thump.

Dark red light shone on the ceiling, casting the whole room in a basement-like gloom.

The netherworld vibe was maxed out.

Su Ming pulled up a chair and sat down opposite, legs spread.

"Come."

"Buddy, let's chat."

It stayed quiet for a few seconds.

The heart's beat frequency remained unchanged.

"Speak."

Huochai Ge's tone was as usual, carrying an innate arrogance that couldn't be brushed off.

Su Ming wasn't in a hurry.

He has one advantage——

The higher the rank of the person he's speaking with, the less rushed he feels.

"We've worked together this long—it's not exactly short, right?"

"You've helped me a lot, and I've been trying to satisfy your appetite."

"Whatever you want to eat, I'll get it for you."

"Whatever you want to see, I'll make it happen."

"What is this called?"

Su Ming raised a finger.

"A community of interest."

"……"

Silence.

The heart kept beating as usual.

Su Ming noticed——

The beat was a little stronger than before.

"If you don't want to speak up, fine."

Su Ming leaned forward, propping his elbows on his knees.

"Then I'll ask, you answer."

"Back in Jingcheng, Chen had them say those things—you should have heard them loud and clear in the warehouse."

"Right?"

"……"

Still silence.

Su Ming wasn't annoyed either.

"Today I came back to this house; when I took the wooden box from the coffee table, I didn't avoid you."

"Inside was the bronze fragment—you saw it."

"You also read that letter."

Su Ming's speech slowed down.

Word by word, like dropping stones onto water.

"Any ideas?"

"Go on, say it."

The words landed.

The living room grew quiet, leaving only one sound.

Thud.

Thud.

Thud-thud.

Thud-thud-thud.

Su Ming's gaze fixed on that heart, unmoving.

He was counting.

The heart's previous beat frequency was steady, like a Swiss watch.

One minute, sixty beats.

Neither more nor less.

But now—

From when he mentioned the 【wooden box】 and 【that letter】.

The frequency changed.

Not dramatically.

If you don't pay attention, you wouldn't notice.

But he was watching intently!

One minute.

Ninety beats.

It sped up by a full half!

The light in Su Ming's eyes sank.

What does this indicate?

It shows that this old demon, who has lived for who knows how many ages…

…is nervous.

Or rather…

…on alert?!