Chapter 194: Barrier

Hua Dalang: "Jiuniang, how do you know the Embroidered Uniform Guard? Are you very familiar with that Battalion Commander Pang?"

Hua Minghe: "Jiuniang, where have you been all this time? Your eldest brother went to the Medical Department and Feng'an Ward looking for you, but couldn't find you anywhere. You never say you'll come home and visit."

The father and son spoke one after another, their words carrying concern for Hua Changxi. Yet Hua Changxi once again felt an invisible barrier standing between them.

Twice she had descended to the Netherworld, each time teetering on the edge of death. Though she escaped both times safely, it still made Hua Changxi feel life's unpredictability and lack of control.

If she weren't lucky enough and actually died, what then?

The moment she saw her father and elder brother, this question popped into Hua Changxi's mind, and she suddenly realized that every time she faced a life-or-death crisis, she never seemed to think of her family.

Was it because her family couldn't support her, or had she never truly cared about them in her heart?

"Don't you have anyone you care about? If something you did would harm them, what would you do?" Tong Yao's question surfaced in Hua Changxi's mind.

What would she do?

If she really wanted to do something, she was certain she would put herself first and not be influenced by anyone.

Anyone, including her family.

Realizing the answer in her heart, Hua Changxi suddenly jolted awake—she... really didn't seem to care much about her family.

This answer was somewhat unacceptable to Hua Changxi, and she immediately found a reasonable excuse for herself.

She didn't care about her family because her family didn't care about her first. In the Hua family, she was the most criticized and suppressed among the grandchildren. Having never received understanding, tolerance, or support from her family, it was only too normal that she didn't care about them.

"Jiuniang, we're asking you a question, why aren't you saying anything?"

Seeing that Hua Changxi showed no response to his and his father's questions, and even had a look of scrutiny and judgment toward them in her eyes, Hua Dalang felt very displeased, thinking that Hua Changxi was increasingly disregarding her family.

Hua Changxi came back to her senses and looked at Hua Dalang, whose expression showed reproach. It only confirmed what she had been thinking—"the family didn't care about her first"—and that they showed her no tolerance at all. So she instinctively retorted, "Eldest Brother, just because you ask, I have to answer? You think way too much of yourself."

Seeing that the siblings were about to argue again, Hua Minghe quickly interjected, "Alright, if Jiuniang doesn't want to talk about it, then drop it. Both of you, say a few words less."

Hua Dalang felt aggrieved that Hua Minghe was taking Hua Changxi's side: "Father, you're too biased. Jiuniang hasn't been home for over a month. As her eldest brother, what's wrong with asking a few questions?" He turned to look at Hua Changxi.

"Jiuniang, what have you been doing outside that you can't even talk about? Do you still consider us family?"

Hua Changxi looked at him: "There's nothing I can't talk about, but you put on that sour face like I owe you something, and it makes me furious, so I won't tell you."

Hua Dalang exploded: "Hua Jiuniang... you... do you still treat me as your eldest brother?"

Hua Changxi wouldn't indulge him: "What else can you show besides using your status as elder brother to bully others? If you want people to respect you, lacking ability is fine, but you need virtue. Do you have any virtue?"

These words not only enraged Hua Dalang until his face turned red, but also angered Hua Minghe. Especially when he saw some colleagues looking their way and pointing, he quickly pulled one person in each hand and hurried away until they turned a street corner before stopping.

"What are you two doing, arguing right on the main street!"

Hua Minghe frowned at Hua Changxi: "Jiuniang, what you just said was too much. Apologize to your eldest brother."

Hua Changxi also felt she had been a bit too emotional earlier. She didn't know why, but every time she met her family, she couldn't say two sentences without arguing: "I was wrong, Eldest Brother."

Hua Dalang didn't respond until he received a look from Hua Minghe, then looked at Hua Changxi: "Jiuniang, am I really that terrible in your eyes?"

To this eldest brother, who had enjoyed the most cultivation resources in the Hua family and was dedicated to making every family member willing to sacrifice and contribute, Hua Changxi really didn't want to say anything insincere: "...What kind of person Eldest Brother is isn't for me to decide. My opinion doesn't matter."

This answer made Hua Dalang's face go completely cold: "So this is how much you look down on me. No wonder you've never given me a good face. Hua Jiuniang, I overestimated myself. I won't meddle in your affairs anymore."

With that, he stormed off in large strides.

Watching his eldest son leave, Hua Minghe was very troubled. He looked at his daughter and said helplessly, "Jiuniang, your words are too harsh now. Your eldest brother was just concerned about you."

Hua Changxi lowered her head, looking at the ground, kicking a pebble with her foot: "I didn't feel it." She looked up at Hua Minghe. "Eldest Brother came looking for me, definitely not because he wanted to care about how I was doing, but because he needed something from me, right?"

"Let me guess—I handed over full responsibility for the Fire Spirit Mine to Sixth Brother, and I also allowed the Hua family to participate. Did something happen at the Fire Spirit Mine?"

The four elders, You and the others, were seasoned veterans and had been involved in the management of the Fire Spirit Mine even before the Hua family. They dared to deceive even me; they would only treat the Hua family worse. Over time, conflicts between the Hua family and You and his group were bound to erupt.

"If it's not the Fire Spirit Mine, then it's about Body Tempering. Is it that the medicinal bath herbs for Body Tempering are insufficient, or is someone asking for the next stage of cultivation techniques?"

Hua Changxi looked at Hua Minghe: "Father, which of these matters is really about caring for me? Aren't they all for your own benefit?"

Hua Minghe's brows knitted together: "Jiuniang, between family members, do you have to calculate everything so clearly?"

Hua Changxi laughed: "Father, you said Eldest Brother was concerned about me first. I'm just giving an example to refute that. I provided evidence, and now you say I'm calculating too clearly." She withdrew her smile. "Who's really calculating too clearly?"

At that moment, she finally understood what that membrane was that stood between her and the Hua family.

The so-called family had never truly cared about or understood her, never seen her needs or emotions. They only thought of themselves. Even if they occasionally showed a hint of concern, it was merely superficial comfort.

"Father, do you know what I just went through? I nearly died in the Nine Abyss. I almost couldn't make it back."

"When you see me, all you do is either try to pry information out of me or demand that I come home."

"Why don't I like coming home?"

"Because I know that once I'm back, I'll have to face your endless, entitled demands. Everything I have, I earned with my life—it didn't fall from the sky."

Hua Minghe listened to his daughter's complaints, feeling both pained and irritated: "Jiu Niang, ever since you entered the Medical Bureau, you've never told the family who you've been associating with or what you've been doing. If you don't tell us, how are we supposed to know or help you?"

Hua Changxi didn't want to continue the conversation any longer: "Father, I'll walk my own path in life. You don't need to help me. Just have fewer expectations and demands of me, okay? I'm tired and want to go back to rest. You should hurry off to your duties as well."

Then, she also told him about Pang Shaoyu's warning, advising him to be careful.

Hua Minghe hadn't expected this meeting to be so unpleasant, so he could only say dryly: "Your mother is hoping you'll go see her."

Hearing this, Hua Changxi twitched the corner of her mouth. He completely wasn't listening to her. If they truly cared, couldn't her mother just come to see her in Feng'an Ward instead?

After watching Hua Minghe return to the ranks of the Six Doors, Hua Changxi left the city without hesitation.

When she first realized she was someone who didn't care about her family, her heart was heavy. But after talking with her father and brother, her mood became much lighter.

She didn't care about her family, but had they ever truly cared about her?

It was tit for tat!