Chapter 210: Chapter 209: Su·Idol·Ang (×), Su·Puppet·Ang (√)
While Qian Qi was busy making potions on one side.
Walking out from the A-level instance, the silver-haired young man leaned tiredly against the hovercar. The severe headache caused by the excessive consumption of spiritual power left him agitated, yet the waiting reporters had already swarmed in, aiming countless spotlights and cameras at him, and the voices began to surge with interviews.
"Commander Su, your time in conquering the A-level instance has once again set a record. Are you planning to venture into the S-level instance soon?"
"Many S-Class commanders have disappeared around the age of 35. Did they all perish in the S-level instance?"
"It’s been heard that fluctuations in some S-level instance cracks are abnormal right now. Will the S-Class Magical Beasts once again ravage the city?"
"Commander Su, do you know anything about the inside story?"
Su Ang’s fingertips moved slightly, and as he looked up, he had already removed the fatigue from his face, seemingly accustomed to it, and spoke in a calm and indifferent tone, "No need to worry, everyone. With Awakeners protecting this world, the instances will eventually be cleared, and humans will no longer suffer attacks from magical beasts."
"Commander Su, how long do you think it will take to restore peace to the pre-turbulent times?"
"As far as we know, most Awakeners are still conquering E-level instances and D-level instances. Do we humans really have a future?"
"Has this world already abandoned us? Will we end up extinct like ancient dinosaurs hit by a meteor?"
"Do you truly believe that Awakeners can save humanity?"
Hearing the last question, Su Ang’s gaze flickered slightly, he opened his lips, and finally said, "Yes, please believe in the Awakeners."
Believe in the Awakeners? No, even he didn’t believe it.
How much longer must he continue to lie?
How much longer must he be a puppet like this?
After sending off the reporters, the weariness he had just concealed instantly surged forward, Su Ang leaned lightly against the hovercar, seeing that his father, Su Xingchen, had also finished his interview and was walking toward him.
Meeting Su Xingchen’s gaze, Su Ang pressed his lips together and whispered, "Father, I... am tired."
"Go back and rest for a few days." Su Xingchen removed his black leather gloves, looking down at his son with an indifferent expression, "After which we need to go deep..."
"Father." Su Ang interrupted him, "You know what I want to say, I no longer want to conquer instances, and I no longer want to tell those lies!"
Humans will be extinct eventually, what they are doing now is simply futile!
"Su Ang, shut up!" At these words, Su Xingchen’s face immediately turned cold, reprimanding him, "Anyone else can say this, but not you!"
He turned his head to glance around, making sure no one was paying attention here, then pressed Su Ang’s shoulder, warning him in a low voice, "You are the best candidate to cover the truth, you know that. If the incapable humans learn the truth, they will only cause chaos first. Dealing with magical beasts is already exhausting, we cannot face internal chaos again."
"After I die like Mother, who do you intend to choose as your puppet?" Su Ang raised his eyes, deeply gazing at Su Xingchen. Even though he understood his father well, he still wanted to know whether he truly valued those humans more than his son?
Why is it that Sikong Wang’s father would rather have his son be a useless person rather than let him exhaust his spiritual power in dangerous instances, yet he does not hesitate to push his son in front of the public, even at the cost of him becoming a madman controlled by Spiritual Power Disorder?
However, knowing a son well, Su Xingchen looked at Su Ang, who longed for answers, and after a moment of silence said, "Su Ang, go back and rest."
Su Ang clenched his fists, a wave of indescribable bitterness surging up in his heart. He lightly hummed in response, turning unassumingly to the hovercar, "Father, take care to rest as well."
Once the hovercar lifted into the sky, Su Ang leaned heavily onto the back seat, covering his eyes with a weak arm, revealing the deep exhaustion.
So tired.
He was tired of the day-by-day battles in the instances, tired of being a puppet idol full of lies in front of the media, even more tired of... the silent answers in his father’s eyes.
He will find the next puppet.
But can he truly find a perfect puppet next? After he dies, who else will be capable of silencing the public and making them believe that the Awakeners can indeed save them?
Suddenly, an unbidden thought of Qian Qi flashed in Su Ang’s mind.
If it were her, maybe it really could work. She first invented the Blood Stopping Magic Potion, then discovered the Defense Fruit, and even developed a treatment potion for Spiritual Power Disorder. Humans could easily believe they still have hope of survival because of her.
Qian Qi...
The silver-haired young man silently mouthed the name, recalling their first meeting when the girl recklessly sliced the principal’s arm to test the potion’s effect, a smile involuntarily tugged at his lips.
She was outstanding, and it was only a matter of time before his father noticed her, but she wouldn’t be as easy to control as his own child.
If she encountered his father, who would come out on top?
For some reason, Su Ang felt that Qian Qi might really triumph, perhaps even turning the tables on his father...
The more he thought about it, the stronger his desire to see Qian Qi grew. Lowering his arm, Su Ang sat up and instructed the driver, "Not back to the Su Family, head to the Bright Orphanage... no, go to the Gu Yun Mountain Dungeon."
——
When Su Ang arrived at the Bright Orphanage, the children were in class, and Wen Yun was in the yard tidying blankets. Seeing Su Ang, she was slightly surprised, "Su, what brings you here?"
"Director, I came to find Qian Qi."
"Oh, that child is in her room." Wen Yun pointed upstairs, "409, you can find her directly."
Su Ang nodded, handed the gift he had brought to Wen Yun, then turned and entered the teaching building.
The so-called teaching building was actually a shared structure for classes and dormitories. This was Su Ang’s first time on the fourth floor and he only then discovered that it was where the orphans rested and slept.
409... Su Ang found Qian Qi’s room by looking at the room number, noticing that the door was slightly ajar without a lock.
He knocked, but there was no response from inside. After waiting for a while and knocking again, there was still no reply from Qian Qi.
Is she asleep or not inside?
Su Ang pushed the door open; first facing him was a private bathroom, rounding a corner to see the bedroom. A simple room with a bed, a desk, and a stool, where Qian Qi lay sprawled out on the bed, sleeping as soundly as a dead pig.
The sharp-tongued little mouth was wide open at that moment, clear and steady breathing could be heard. Her hair seemed freshly washed and dried, fluffy with a hint of static, sticking to the iron bars of the bedhead, looking like an exploded turnip that made one stifle a laugh.
Her usual sleeveless T-shirt was pulled halfway up, revealing a soft, white belly, in stark contrast to her suntanned arms. Whether by coincidence or knowing that one’s belly should not catch a chill during sleep, Qian Qi’s finger pad happened to press against her navel, preventing the cool air from the window from entering her stomach.
Su Ang glanced once before quickly averting his gaze, seeing that she was sleeping, he turned to wait for her outside.
But after taking two steps, he stopped again.
After a slight hesitation, the silver-haired young man turned back to close the wind-blowing window, turned his head to avoid any impropriety, and quickly pulled a small blanket from the bed to cover the girl’s waist, then swiftly left the room.
Soon after, Qian Qi awoke, feeling too warm.