“Dead… don’t say things like that.”
Nurse An choked back tears as she spoke.
“You and I both know, I don’t have much time left.”
Kang Jie steadied Nurse An by the shoulder and smiled gently to comfort her.
“Who said that?!” Nurse An suddenly lifted her head. “Xinhua is strong now. As long as you don’t want to die, no one will be able to touch you!”
“Xiao An!”
Kang Jie placed both hands firmly on Nurse An’s shoulders, looking seriously into her eyes.
“From the moment I chose to ignite and launch that rocket, I never intended to survive.”
“…”
“I’m happy. People have seen Xinhua, seen another possible future. But those watching aren’t just the displaced, those yearning for stability.”
“There are others, with goals similar to Xinhua’s, but who refuse to let us succeed… like the Syndicate, and a bigger world whose name we don’t even know yet.”
“If the goals are the same, why can’t we work together?”
“The goals aren’t the same, just similar.”
Kang Jie sighed deeply, leaning back in his chair as he gazed up at the starry sky.
“Xiao An,” Kang Jie murmured, “have you ever thought about what the world will be like after Earth is rebuilt? Have you thought about why the Syndicate is expanding their power by any means necessary?”
“After reconstruction—freedom, wealth, novelty.”
“And?”
“New nations…”
“That’s right.”
Kang Jie nodded with satisfaction.
“But we haven’t even caught a glimpse of reconstruction yet,” Nurse An scoffed, “talking about it now is too far ahead, isn’t it?”
“At first, I didn’t understand either, but after enduring so many brutal blows over this time, I’ve come to realize something.” Kang Jie shrugged. “Most people in this world actually don’t care whether Earth gets rebuilt.”
“If the rebuilt Earth doesn’t belong to them, they’d rather blow it up themselves.”
“…”
“So they will definitely try to kill me. Since the Archetype Event, Xinhua’s appeal has grown so strong that anywhere in this world, no matter how remote, people see Xinhua as their White Moonlight.”
“They want to kill you, so does that mean you’ll definitely die? Don’t underestimate us…”
“I have never underestimated anyone. From beginning to end, Xinhua is what it is because of all of you. I believe in your abilities. I believe that even without Kang Jie, Xinhua will always be Xinhua.”
“Nonsense! You don’t even realize your own worth! If it weren’t for you, you idiot! If it weren’t for you, you idiot…”
Nurse An broke down, sobbing uncontrollably.
“Xiao An, you’re calling me an idiot too, just like Han Nuo and Ah Lei.”
Kang Jie laughed heartily.
The flickering candlelight illuminated his face.
“Because of the existence of Sequence, assassinating an unprepared target is child’s play. With my strength, it’s impossible to avoid the continuous assassination attempts.”
“But I won’t wait for them to come after me.”
A hint of scorn and cunning appeared at the corner of Kang Jie’s mouth.
“I want to make them understand that even if I, Kang Jie, die, Xinhua will not be extinguished—it will only burn hotter!
From now on, Xinhua will fear no hardship! No cold arrows from despicable scoundrels, no verbal attacks. No matter how strong the wind, no matter how fierce the storm, they won’t make Xinhua tremble even a bit!”
Xiao An! Remember!
Xinhua must ride on the Arche, with the monsoon filling its sails, to reach the other shore!
We were always fragile; surviving until today has never been because of that faint light
or warmth.
Only by making them all become Xinhua, only by making them all carry Xinhua, do we have a chance to see that day—the day we long for!
Only without Kang Jie will the Mangu District truly become strong, strong enough to make the whole world look up to it! Unbreakable, invincible!”
“…”
Nurse An remained speechless for a long time.
Finally, she could only say bitterly, “You really are good at speeches, and you’re seriously so childish.”
“Ha~ flattery~”
“How can you be so sure that after you die, Xinhua will become stronger… and not fall apart into a scattered mess? You are the soul of Xinhua. Without you, we’d have no soul or backbone.” Nurse An asked unwillingly.
“Think carefully. Are you really staying in the Mangu District because of me?”
“…”
Nurse An closed her eyes and pondered deeply.
The answer was depressing.
She was here for stability.
“Hey—once you’ve tasted sweetness, once you’ve felt order and security, there’s no going back~”
He sounded like a demon, proudly admitting to having spoiled everyone.
“In any case, Xiao An,” Kang Jie once again pressed his hands on Nurse An’s shoulders, “please, stay with me and keep playing this role. After this, Xinhua will be entrusted to you all. To you real talents, not someone like me, a half-hearted grassroots.”
“You’re not a half-hearted anything.”
Nurse An spoke sincerely and solemnly, “You have talents we don’t possess. You’re the manliest man I’ve ever seen. Everyone in Mangu District respects you, respects that you can uphold your beliefs.”
“Forget it, what beliefs.” Kang Jie waved his hand. “Actually, you’ve all misunderstood me…”
“We see what kind of person you really are.”
“Is that so?”
Kang Jie glanced at the envelope on the table and shook his head.
“You always say I’m an idealist, but I’ve never really had ideals… When Xiaomi returns, you all can look at that letter together.”
Mentioning that girl, a twinge of guilt surged in Kang Jie’s heart.
“Luckily, I sent her away.”
“How can you even say that,” Nurse An stared blankly at the letter, “when you die, she’ll be very sad. She’ll think that if she had stayed, she could have saved you. She’ll carry that guilt for a long time… and you won’t even tell her the truth.”
“There was no choice. If Xiaomi and Xiaozhi hadn’t left, they would never have let me put on this act.”
I’m sorry.
…
Using Spirit Hunting Instinct, while monitoring the surroundings, Wu Xiaomi also kept thinking.
Something about this mission felt off.
The world is so~ big.
Such a powerful scientist.
Yet, they’re only tens of kilometers away.
Isn’t that a little too coincidental?
When things are abnormal, there’s always something fishy. Wu Xiaomi never hesitated to consider the worst about Han Nuo—after all, she’d already seen his methods firsthand.
Thinking back on this mission, the identity of the scientist was confirmed by Han Nuo.
The communication and dealings with that scientist were also completed solely by Han Nuo.
Even if it were that coincidental…
That scientist, as an intellectual worker, how could they have survived in this chaotic world until now?
The only possibility is that they are under someone’s protection.
Then…
Who is protecting that scientist?
What power stands behind her?
If there’s a faction protecting her, then why is she contacting Xinhua and wanting to serve Xinhua?
Could it be that the faction behind her is willing to let go so easily?
Or perhaps they plan to join Xinhua together?
…
But what if the faction behind her does not want to let go?
Then it will be a bitter battle. But Han Nuo has never mentioned this matter.
Huff—
Determined, Wu Xiaomi tugged the reins, commanding the little alpaca to stop.
[Turn around, return.]
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