C23 The Strong Loli

First and foremost, he needed to come clean to Urendir, owning up to his greed, akin to that of Su Kouye, yet clarifying he was neither confused nor foolish. He had long seen through Su Kouye's intentions, and his every action had been a strategic play to bring Su Kouye under control using the Heart of the King.

Next, he had to set aside the King's Heart and shift his entire focus to Urendir, to thoroughly explain that any pretense was solely a result of the King's Path, a path taken out of sheer necessity.

Two outcomes loomed on the horizon.

If Urendir could understand, she would surely forgive Jiang Feng. But if she couldn't, his dismal efforts would only deepen her disdain, hastening her departure.

Regardless of the outcome, Jiang Feng needed to know the answer without delay.

He believed he was ready, that he could accept whatever answer came his way.

However, when Urendir finally voiced her intention to leave, when the answer was laid bare before him, Jiang Feng's heart shattered, the pain so acute it was suffocating.

This agony was sharper than the sting of Su Kouye's talons.

All his previous assumptions were upended and redefined.

Jiang Feng realized he couldn't casually treat Urendir's departure as a mere option to be chosen; he saw his own folly.

In that moment, it became clear to him that he had long been in love with Urendir.

The truth was, he couldn't bear the thought of her leaving.

Yet, the option of her departure was now starkly before him, and whether or not Jiang Feng was ready to choose, the choice had already been made.

Tears were inadequate to convey the torment within.

If there was no chance of seeing her again, then let him speak the words he'd longed to say.

Words he had reserved for a time when he'd be strong enough.

But if not now, the opportunity would be lost forever.

"Urendir, if it's possible, I want to protect you too..."

Who could have foreseen that fate's wheels would reverse course in such a way?

Urendir wavered, unable to take the steps to leave Jiang Feng behind.

And as if by some preordained design, at that very moment, Jiang Wei knocked, ready to enter.

Jiang Feng painstakingly inched his way toward the door, each step a testament to his determination.

Jiang Wei, with a heart as untainted as a blank sheet of paper, clung to Jiang Feng in tears, while he embraced her just as tightly.

If all was done in the name of love, could his transgressions be worthy of forgiveness?

The tenacity of Jiang Feng and the pure-hearted kindness of Jiang Wei struck a chord in Urendir.

Urendir, who had always embraced simplicity, found herself entangled in complexity. She pondered moral dilemmas she had never considered before. Right or wrong? She questioned whether the criminals she had executed truly deserved their fate, or if there were extenuating circumstances that necessitated their actions.

What's past is beyond retrieval, but the present is ours to seize.

Urendir reached a conclusion within her soul: Jiang Feng, you embody greed, you're adept at scheming, acting, and deception. Yet, the path of a king is long and arduous. You must indulge in these vices for an extended period, exhaust yourself with endless deceit. But I must apologize, for I am incapable of such acts. My role is to grow stronger, to stand by your side, and to expand your realm.

Urendir's convictions remained unspoken, but her actions spoke volumes. She gently lifted the gravely wounded Jiang Feng onto the bed, offering him a reassuring smile as she aided him in bolstering his regal resolve.

In a world teeming with life, sharing in splendor and riches is seldom refused. Yet, how many can endure hardship together, and how many can truly vow to never part?

Urendir proved herself capable of both. She committed wholeheartedly to her promise of eternal guardianship over Jiang Feng.

After ushering Jiang Wei out of the room, Jiang Feng pulled the blanket over himself and closed his eyes.

Tears streamed down his cheeks. For once, Jiang Feng couldn't lie to himself; he had to confront his genuine emotions.

"Jiang Wei, I'm sorry."

With that, Jiang Feng succumbed to a deep, burdened slumber.

For three full days, Jiang Feng remained asleep while the world outside transformed dramatically.

In a time where each day held immeasurable value, Jiang Feng awoke with a start, exclaiming, "Wow, I've squandered three whole days. I must make up for lost time immediately."

"Don't overdo it. You've just recovered from serious injuries, and your strength has significantly increased, hasn't it?" Urendir responded from her post by the window.

"True, without practice, your speed and reaction times would dull," Jiang Feng remarked, turning to see Urendir at the window, sniper rifle in hand, aiming outside. Puzzled, he inquired, "Hey, what are you up to?"

Without turning, Urendir kept her eyes trained on her target, replying, "I'm providing cover for your darling daughter. Come take a look at the action. She's tearing through that zombie horde."

"What did you say?" Jiang Feng exclaimed, startled. He sprang up and dashed to the window, only to be greeted by a blazing inferno. Fire serpents danced across the sky, and the air was filled with the relentless wails of zombies.

Amidst the flames, a small figure darted about—it was Jiang Wei. Fireballs launched from her hands only to be replaced by new ones in an instant, the flames flowing endlessly like breath.

Suddenly, a hulking zombie leaped out, fast and ferocious, lunging at Jiang Wei. Spotting the threat, she hurled a fireball directly at it. The fireball struck with precision, halting the zombie momentarily, yet causing no real damage.

The zombie, flames extinguished, lunged at Jiang Wei again. Strangely, she stood her ground, calm and composed.

Jiang Feng was about to shout a warning when a muffled gunshot rang out. The muscular zombie charging at Jiang Wei fell instantly, a gaping bloody hole in its head.

Urendir then lowered her sniper rifle and called out to Jiang Wei below, "Jiang Wei, that's enough. Come on up, your dad's awake."

Jiang Wei looked up to see Jiang Feng by the window and joyfully waved her hands in greeting.

Still confused, Jiang Feng stared back blankly. "What in the world is happening?"

"Let me grab you something to eat. We can ask Jiang Wei for the details once she's up here," Urendir said, heading off to prepare some food.

When Jiang Wei climbed up, she didn't hesitate to leap into Jiang Feng's arms, sending him stumbling back several steps from the force of her embrace.

Urendir prepared five bowls of instant noodles and handed them to Jiang Feng. "I saved these packets especially for you. Go ahead and eat up, then we can take our time with the questions."

Jiang Feng eyed the steaming noodles and dove in, devouring them without a word. In a world turned upside down, instant noodles had become a delicacy. Lacking in nutrition, perhaps, but as a snack to fill the belly and tantalize the taste buds, they were unbeatable.

With his hunger sated, Jiang Feng patted his stomach and let out a contented belch before asking, "How did Jiang Wei get so strong? What have you guys been up to these last three days?"

At that moment, Urendir presented a thick glass bottle to Jiang Feng. Inside shimmered a golden ant, prompting Jiang Feng to exclaim in astonishment, "Is that a Golden Ant?"

The guidebook stated that out of a million mutated ants, only one might evolve into a golden one. Consuming it could significantly boost one's strength. A rare and valuable delicacy indeed, hence the name "Golden Ant."

"You've got it," Urendir confirmed. "Over the past three days, I discovered an ant colony in the garden below. They were small but numerous. Taking a chance, I had Jiang Wei use fire to fend them off, and sure enough, we found two Golden Ants. I captured them—giving one to Jiang Wei and saving the other for you."

"If my memory serves, the guide says that eating a Golden Ant, when compared to the strength of an average adult, can increase your strength by five units. It's an incredibly precious asset in the early days."

"That's correct. It's been over half a month since the end of the world. You've been striving hard, and your strength has only reached that of 25 people. Eat this Golden Ant now, and you'll see an immediate boost." Urendir offered the bottle to Jiang Feng.

"Hold on, there's no hurry," Jiang Feng said, pushing the bottle aside with a puzzled look. "Urendir, how do you know I'm at the strength of 25 people? I don't even know that myself."

Jiang Feng's skepticism was justified; the strategy guide had indicated that the method to quantify human strength into exact figures wasn't discovered until several months into the apocalypse.

There were two methods available: one involved using a combat power detector, and the other relied on sensory perception. Since the combat power detector hadn't been invented yet, if Urendir was correct, she must possess sensory perception abilities.

But mastering perception wasn't easy. Unlike dolphins and bats, which can innately detect ultrasonic waves, this type of perception demanded learning and practice. It's fair to say that in the first couple of years following the apocalypse, the majority of bioengineered humans couldn't master it. Even super soldiers struggled to grasp it despite rigorous training, as it required a special kind of talent.

Clearly, Jiang Feng was beginning to sense that Urendir might just have that rare gift.

Confronted with Jiang Feng's skepticism, Urendir responded decisively, "Whenever I had a moment, I'd study this perception ability. Initially, it was just to get a feel for it, but unexpectedly, the more I practiced, the more it clicked. In just three days, I managed to learn it."

Jiang Feng was so astounded he felt his teeth might drop out of his mouth.

The survival guide for the post-apocalyptic world suggested that perception training should wait until one's physical condition was sufficiently robust. Without a certain level of physical and mental strength, it was nearly impossible to learn.

Yet, here was Urendir, having achieved it in a mere three days.

Urendir, who usually approached tasks with straightforward thinking, seemed to transform into a genius when it came to combat.

Gazing at the Golden Ant before him, Jiang Feng felt a surge of emotion, "Urendir, you could have consumed it yourself to boost your combat power."

Urendir didn't reply right away but offered a genuine smile instead.

"Jiang Feng, you don't need to ask. You know that's not my way."

Seeing Urendir like this filled Jiang Feng with optimism for the future. Simultaneously, he felt a profound sense of gratitude and affection stirring within him.

"Urendir, I'm at a loss for words. Just... thank you," Jiang Feng said, his eyes burning with intensity as he looked at her.

"Alright, go on and eat," she urged.

"Okay," he agreed.

Jiang Feng promptly opened the lid of the glass bottle, tipping the Golden Ant into his mouth and chewing thoughtfully.

"To my surprise, it's quite tasty," Jiang Feng remarked with a smile.

"Dad, what nonsense are you spouting? I tried one once, and it was anything but tasty."

"How could that be? It really tastes great," Jiang Feng responded immediately.

Jiang Wei caught Jiang Feng staring at Urendir and suddenly pinched his face with her tiny hand.

"Daddy, why are you looking at sister while you eat the ant?"

"No, nothing," Jiang Feng quickly snapped back to reality.

After the meal, Jiang Feng didn't notice any dramatic changes in his body, just a distinct sense of clarity and refreshment washing over him. He clenched his fist, sensing a slight improvement in his punching power.

"Urendir, what about your and Jiang Wei's strength levels?" Jiang Feng was keen to know their combat capabilities.

Urendir turned to Jiang Wei, her gaze intense as if she was channeling her Perception Qi.

"Jiang Wei possesses the strength of eight people, but her actual power far exceeds that because of her paranormal abilities. Her fire-based powers make her true combat strength incalculable."

"So, am I considered strong or not?" Jiang Wei inquired.

To everyone's surprise, Urendir gently patted Jiang Wei's head and said with a smile, "You're definitely strong. Your strength can't be quantified by mere numbers."

"And what about you, Urendir?" Jiang Feng was more interested in Urendir's power level.

"I'm not much stronger than you are right now, roughly the strength of thirty people, similar to yours."

"Really?"

"Yes, really."

Jiang Feng chuckled, "Urendir, you're not just sparing my feelings, are you?"

"Nothing of the sort."

Jiang Feng suddenly took Urendir's hand, his eyes brimming with a treasured fondness akin to rediscovering a lost gem.

"Urendir, I've already faced the consequences for my so-called pride. Just having you by my side now fills me with contentment; I can't afford to wish for more. So please, be frank with me. You don't need to spare my feelings—I'm being serious."

This time, Urendir didn't release his hand right away but hesitated before finally letting go.

"Okay, Jiang Feng, let's not dwell on this. Take off the bandage. I've prepared some clean clothes for you. Get dressed quickly; we need to move on to the next phase."

Jiang Feng realized Urendir was deliberately sidestepping the conversation and decided not to press further.

Watching Urendir's retreating figure as she organized the clothes, Jiang Feng felt an overwhelming sense of warmth and an even greater debt of gratitude towards her.

There's nothing more fulfilling in life than having the chance to make amends through actions while the person you want to make it up to is still there beside you.

Jiang Feng felt grateful, knowing he still had ample time and numerous opportunities to show kindness to the person before him.