Li Yao did not expect that so many things had happened to Helian Lie's daughter, and that these stories were even somehow related to the choices he had made in the past.
He remembered Ding Ling Dong's speech in the morning. Most of the content of the speech had been edited and polished by others, but there was one sentence that Ding Ling Dong insisted on keeping:
"No one is an isolated island that is self-sufficient. Everyone's fate … is linked together in some mysterious way."
Shen Wenyin's eyes were originally indifferent, but at this moment, they became gentle and warm, like the surface of a frozen lake that was wrinkled by the spring breeze. Her face was suffused with the glow of happiness, and she said softly, "When I first saw the sun shining on that hairy little head, I reconciled with my fate.
"I still hate Helian Lie, but I don't hate anyone else anymore. I don't hate myself, I hate my mother, and I hate you.
"When I was sixteen or seventeen, I used to imagine the day when I would meet you. At that time, I swore that I would spit on your face to show my disdain and resistance to 'Vulture Li Yao'. But now, I don't want to spit anymore, especially when I'm faced with such a Li Yao who is completely different from what I imagined.
"I have so many precious things to love, to enjoy, and to protect. Where do I find the time and energy to continue hating?"
Li Yao heard this and breathed a sigh of relief, as if a heavy stone had been lifted from his heart.
Shen Wenyin smiled and said, "President Li, is there anything else? If not, we still have to catch the last floating ship to go home. Thank you again for the notice. This is also good. We can finally put an end to the matter between Helian Lie and me!"
Li Yao thought of something and said, "The reason why Major Helian Lie sacrificed himself so heroically might be partly because he wanted to protect you. Won't your hatred for him lessen a little because of that?"
Shen Wenyin shook her head and said, "I know him. I can guarantee that at the last moment of his life, he would think of you, but he might not think of me and my mother.
"I hate him, and will always hate him, as his hatred of you is ineffable.
"However, I remember that when he was young, whenever he was close to mental derangement due to excessive training and roared crazily like an ignorant animal, he would always say that he would do something great one day that would make my mother and me think highly of him and make the entire federation proud of him.
"At that time, I hated the loser's crazy words to the extreme. I was so angry that I trembled and felt so disgusted that I wanted to vomit.
"I didn't expect him to succeed. He really fulfilled his promise. He really … reversed his fate.
"I still hate him, but I have to admit that I misjudged him. He was not a failure. At the very least, in the last moment of his life, he was a true hero. Today, I came here especially to apologize to him. Perhaps a long, long time ago, when no one believed in him, as his daughter, I should more or less believe in him a little, believe in him once."
After saying this, Shen Wenyin bowed deeply to Li Yao before turning around and walking towards her husband and son.
"Ms. Shen."
Li Yao thought for a moment and raised his voice. "This is my contact information. I'm told that your son is quite talented in training. If there's anything I can help you with, don't hesitate to contact me."
Shen Wenyin stopped, but she did not look back. She did not accept Li Yao's contact information, either. She simply waved her hands and said, "Thank you for your kindness, but I think I'll pass. Although my son and I are not surnamed 'Helian', the blood of the Helian family still flows in our veins. The people of the Helian family can live well even without the help of 'Vulture Li Yao'."
The family of three supported each other and walked further and further away, disappearing into the misty rain at the gate of the war museum.
…
That night, on a floating starship that was sailing across the continent, most of the passengers had fallen asleep.
Shen Wenyin was still touching a blurred 3D photo. In the photo, Helian Lie was wearing a neat uniform. Even his face had been carefully decorated. There were not many traces of wounds or madness on his face. Next to him were two women, one big and one small, who looked very similar. It was the beginning of their fate. The woman and the girl were both smiling brilliantly, as if they had been frozen in the moment of happiness forever.
Shen Wenyin stared at the photo in a daze. Tears gradually gathered in her eyes.
Right then, her son, who had not fallen asleep yet and was watching the video in secret, nudged her softly and said, "Mom, look. It's the uncle from the day!"
Shen Wenyin was slightly dazed. She discovered that her son's crystal processor was playing a late-night talk show that was very popular in the entire Federation. It was best known for its pungent style, outspokenness, real-time interaction, and the celebrity guests that were often invited. Not only were the leaders of the top five hundred sects in the Federation, even the Speaker of the Federation had appeared in the interview before, showing the other side of the highest leader to the audience.
At this moment, sitting opposite the host whose head was full of silver hair, who was both humorous and wise, was none other than Li Yao.
He wore an iron-gray robe. He didn't have a high and mighty aura, but he wasn't too casual either. Everyone felt very relaxed, as if he was just an ordinary member of the group.
When Shen Wenyin saw him, the host had already asked a question that she did not know. Li Yao leaned forward and spoke sincerely.
"… Perhaps it's because everyone has placed too many unrealistic fantasies and overly beautiful personalities on me, treating me as some kind of lofty, brilliant symbol, a hope that will never be destroyed.
"Just now, the host asked me how I felt when I saved the day at the most critical moment.
"But that was not the truth. I did not feel anything special because I was not the only one who saved the day at the most critical moment.
"If I have to say what I felt, it would be that I realized once again that a war cannot be won by one person, and a civilization cannot be established by one person, either.
"The 'dominator of three Sectors, Vulture Li Yao' that has become a stereotype in everyone's mind, does not exist. I am someone who is completely different from the propaganda.
"But the hope, belief, and strength that the 'dominator of three Sectors, Vulture Li Yao' represents is real. It is not just in me but also in all the Union Army and Cultivators. It is in all the people who are brave enough to face their fate for their home and family. It is in all of you and in the deepest part of your soul.
"That is why I am willing to go on the program today and show the formidability of such strength to you.
"Of course, the short half hour of a program is not enough. Therefore, in the next phase, the 'Glorious Sunlight Group' will publish a brand-new biography. I am willing to talk to you from the bottom of my heart about the real Li Yao and what the world is like in Li Yao's eyes. It is sort of an advertisement that I am making in advance.
"However, compared to my own story, I would like to tell you some other stories, the tales of the real heroes who fought against their own fate.
"I would like to tell you the story of the real Jin Tuyi, who was once a notorious war criminal.
"I would like to tell you the story of Boss Bai, who was the Pirate Potentate on Spider Den in the past.
"I would also like to tell you the stories of the thousands of soldiers of the Union Army like Major Helian Lie …
"Those stories might not be as soul-stirring and bizarre as the stories you heard before. There are also a lot of gray and even black parts that are hard to accept and will tarnish the glorious image of the Xing Yao Federation.
"But I still want to tell you everything about them, because they are all real.
"In my opinion, the real rise of a country or a civilization does not lie in how many battles it wins, how many fleets and experts it has, or how many worlds it has conquered, but in whether or not its government is confident and bold enough to disclose all the truth, and whether or not its people are brave enough and rational enough to accept it, right?
"Today, a hundred years later, the Xing Yao Federation has risen. I have no doubt about it!"
Shen Wenyin finally could not hold back her tears any longer and flowed out quietly.
But the boy immediately noticed her anomaly. He put down the crystal processor and shook her arm anxiously. "Mom, what's wrong? Dad! "
"It's nothing. Don't wake up your dad. He must be tired after a long day."
Shen Wenyin shushed him. Touching her son's hot head, she said softly, "Xiao Hui, do you want to know your grandfather's story?"
The boy was slightly dazed. Then, delight beamed out of his face. He nodded hard and said, "Of course, of course. I asked Mom in the war museum during the day, but Mom never told me anything. Of course I want to know!
"Right. Even such a great hero as' Vulture Li Yao 'came to Mom during the day. Did he come for Grandpa? Was he good friends with Grandpa?
"I understand it now. Grandpa must be his old comrade. The two of them fought side by side to slay evil and defend the Federation, didn't they?"
Shen Wenyin smiled. Leaning against the back of the chair, she closed her eyes softly and mumbled, "It's a story from a long, long, long time ago. But it doesn't matter. Mom has a lot of time to tell it to you slowly."
"Okay."
The dignified little man lay on his mother's legs. He first took a piece of tissue paper and wiped the corners of his mother's eyes. He said seriously, "Then don't cry, Mom. Although Grandpa is gone, you still have me and Dad. No matter what happens, Dad and I will definitely protect Mom!"
Shen Wenyin felt that her nose was sour. She couldn't help but open her eyes again, only to be attracted by the starry reflections outside the window. They were passing above a metropolis that was ablaze with lights.
"Ah!"
The boy bulged his eyes. "Are we home yet?"
"Not yet."
Hugging her son, Shen Wenyin smiled from the bottom of her heart. "But we're not far away. Home … is right ahead."
[End of Volume V, Rise]
Volume VI, Imperium, is about to arrive!
Preview of Volume II:
Boss Bai: "The Imperium is right ahead. The treasures are right ahead. The heritages are right ahead. The Big Bai Pirate Gang, attack!"
Li Yao: "I'm going to the Imperium. All the secrets are there!"
"The Imperium … How interesting."
Ding Ling Dong: "Li Yao, wait for me. I'm going to the Imperium and blow up the emperor's head, too!"
Wenwen and Xiaoming: "We're not scared of the rain or the snow. We're going to the Imperium to find Dad! “
The experts of the Federation, the experts of the Ancient Sages Sector, the Holy League, the extraterrestrial devils … "The Imperium! The Imperium! "
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