Life, perhaps, is a bitter song.
Much has happened in the past six months.
Ye Longlin, at Shenglong Lake, fought Wu Ji, pushing aside the Zheng family with one hand, leaving no survivors.
Ye Longlin held the position of Commander of the Three Armies, his campaigns striking fear into the enemy, causing them to flee at the mere mention of his name.
Ye Longlin swept through the Martial Association, invincible below the Saint Realm.
Finally, it was Ye Longlin who, at the second elder's funeral, threatened to replace the sixth elder.
Each of these feats alone was enough to awe countless people. Though the outcomes may have dissatisfied some, they ultimately became part of Ye Longlin's legend.
This era belonged to Ye Longlin.
Yet, after he left the capital, this legend seemed to fade into obscurity, with no news of him.
September, the sun blazed high.
In the sweltering summer, fewer people were on the streets; no one wanted to venture out in the heat.
Summers in recent years grew hotter each year, with reports of surface temperatures exceeding forty degrees Celsius in some domestic locations.
The most common news in the latter half of the year came from the Environmental Protection Agency's green initiatives. Abroad, a considerable number of people had reportedly died from the heat.
"Ever since he left half a year ago, there's been no news, and still no news now. Sometimes I wonder, if Old Li were still here, would he at least know his whereabouts?"
The Boss, Lin Langsheng, and Qin Hanlie sat in a small courtyard, drinking tea.
In the past six months, the First Elder had also aged visibly.
The position of the Second Elder remained vacant, as no one could replace him, nor did anyone understand the workings of the military better than he did.
He was gone, and Ye Longlin was also gone. The heavy responsibility of the military fell upon the remaining nine King Generals, as well as Qin Hanlie and Lin Langsheng.
The two had now become senior figures in the military, having served in their positions for many years.
"You shouldn't worry about him, Elder. Hurry up and let your grandson meet my daughter. It's not good for them to be alone. I'm practically dying of worry. This girl is now focused solely on her career and doesn't care about anything else. As a father, how can I not be anxious?"
Lin Langsheng's relationship with Lin Tian'ai had also eased. He had learned about some past events and finally understood him. Now, he was only concerned about his daughter's marriage.
He couldn't help but worry. She was nearing thirty, already twenty-six this year.
The First Elder rolled his eyes and chuckled vaguely, "It has nothing to do with me. My boy already has someone he likes."
Qin Hanlie's mindset was different. His daughter was in Jinling, and although she was now protected, he knew she also wished for him to return.
He had returned four or five times in the past half-year, and each time, he had visited the Murong family to inquire about the young couple, but without success.
"The country is so vast, it's hard to find them," Qin Hanlie sighed helplessly.
In the past six months, they had tried to find Ye Longlin's whereabouts, but there was no news, as if he had vanished into the vast ocean, evaporated into thin air.
Meanwhile, the retirement applications of Yuan Gang, Xuan Niao, and Xuan Wu were ultimately not approved. Even Azure Dragon, who had already left, was rehired.
For them, it was more about staying by Ye Longlin's side without having to worry about these matters. But now that he was truly gone, Yuan Gang had no choice but to consider these things.
After his departure, the only change in the capital was perhaps the tranquility. It was too tranquil, making many feel that something was missing.
"Big Brother said that in the future, he wants a daughter. If it's truly a daughter, she'll be the little princess of our Dragon Pavilion. If it's a boy, he'll be sent directly to the military camp," Yuan Gang murmured, standing on the top floor of the Dragon Pavilion, gazing into the distance.
Xuan Niao rolled her eyes and said indifferently, "You're so biased? I never saw this side of you before."
Yuan Gang glanced at Xuan Niao and said speechlessly, "Aren't you the same? At the farewell dinner that day, you said... hiss, damn it, Xuan Niao, you actually made a move? I won't say it anymore, I won't say it, alright?"
Later, Ye Longlin did have a daughter.
Like Mu Hanqi, she was intelligent, lively, and adorable.
One day, the Dragon Pavilion sounded a special-level emergency alert. When the Dark Hall began a ruthless hunt for overseas Dragon Pavilion members, that man returned, leading countless soldiers of the Dragon Pavilion.
On that very day, Ye Churan disappeared and fell into the hands of the Glory Hall.
Also on that day, hundreds of thousands of troops could not stop Ye Longlin, who, in a fit of rage for his daughter, slaughtered them.
It was only then that everyone realized Ye Longlin had returned. After destroying the Glory Hall, he returned in glory.
That day, the overseas world trembled, and countless people were terrified.
The existence within the Dragon Pavilion, upon descending upon the overseas territories once more, directly annihilated the Dark Hall!
...
"Did the check-up report come out?"
At the Obstetrics and Gynecology department of Jiangnan First People's Hospital.
Mu Hanqi held the pregnancy test report, her small face flushed with excitement.
Even as a married woman, she remained incredibly cute.
"There are no problems with the baby. The doctor said I should walk around more, which is good for the fetus."
Mu Hanqi leaned against Ye Longlin, her eyes brimming with happiness.
Three months ago, after experiencing morning sickness and coming to the hospital for a check-up, they discovered Mu Hanqi was pregnant. Since then, Ye Longlin's care for Mu Hanqi had been exceptionally attentive.
"Do you prefer a boy or a girl?" Mu Hanqi asked curiously, blinking her watery eyes.
"Either is fine with me."
Whether it was a boy or a girl, they would both be his children. As a first-time father, even this man who had weathered countless storms could not help but feel excited.
Becoming a father for the first time, it was false to say he wasn't thrilled.
Before, he had no attachments, feared nothing, and could even face death directly. But now, he had many things to cherish, many hopes for the future, and now, he began to fear death.
However, as a father, he was not a qualified one.
"No, you have to choose one. You can only pick one, no cheating." Mu Hanqi pouted, putting her hands on her hips in a mock display of dominance, which made Ye Longlin chuckle helplessly. She wasn't convincing at all.
"Then, a girl?"
Mu Hanqi finally nodded in satisfaction, then clenched her fist and placed it near Ye Longlin's mouth, playfully asking, "Then, tell me, Father, why don't you like sons?"
Ye Longlin replied with a serious expression, "Because a daughter can be like her mother, cute, lively, well-behaved, and more importantly, I've already thought of a name."
"Then... what's the daughter's name?"
"Ye Churan."