Free Web NovelChapter 796: Chapter 705: Family Conversation (1)
Life Daylight headquarters, White Court.
The engine noise hovered in the night sky, a blinding light pierced through the dark clouds, shining above the ’Life Tree’; it was a gigantic building with a tree structure, enough to house millions of people within.
A black helicopter shaped like a dragonfly landed on the helipad, several people from the Life Consortium had been waiting here for some time.
A young man in a black suit jumped down, along with a shadowy figure; the shadow had over 95% of its body mechanically modified, with only a few human features left on the face. Underneath the black alloy armor seemed to be a bloodthirsty beast.
"’cyhnonr’ (Indeed, it’s nostalgic* Sagi language), I’m back."
The pink-haired girl frowned slightly upon seeing the young man’s face, and her folded arms clenched tighter.
Years passed, the girl’s innocence faded, looking much more mature, her once tender body grew up, and a white trench coat fluttered in the wind.
"My sister, have you been well?"
The young man opened his arms warmly, attempting to give the girl a hug, but the guard beside the girl stopped him.
"Li Mingqing..." Lai Qing glared, "Tonight the old man is here, you’d better behave."
Saying this, Lai Qing pushed the young man forcefully in the chest, making him stagger back a few steps.
"If you think that piece of iron behind you can really protect you, feel free to try stepping towards the princess half a step closer."
"Hey hey hey," Li Mingqing opened his arms, indicating he meant no harm.
He lowered his eyes and smiled gently, glancing at Lai Qing, then at Li Liujin, speaking leisurely:
"Don’t be so rough, don’t forget you’re nothing but a dog raised by my family. My sister, a dog raised at home should be tied with a good rope, lest it runs out and bites everywhere."
Upon hearing this, Lai Qing’s fists clenched slightly, and the shadow behind Li Mingqing cast a dangerous look, the air filled with tension.
"A dog is just a dog, being obedient, loyal, and useful is most important, don’t develop feelings for your pet."
Li Mingqing looked at the mechanical shadow with an ambiguous expression, the heat armor on its chest lifted, emitting scorching heat.
"Just in time, I’ve equipped ’Black Steel’ with the latest model of the prisoner series armaments."
"You should be familiar with him, right?" Li Mingqing smiled, "Or perhaps, if I call him ’Rock,’ is this name more familiar to you?"
Lai Qing’s pupils contracted slightly, biting his teeth before lowering his head.
"Reviving a dead man is the easiest for Life Daylight."
Li Mingqing walked past Lai Qing, Black Steel followed beside him, each step accompanied by a deep mechanical hum.
"But don’t forget."
"Life Daylight is more adept at silencing a living person."
After Li Mingqing left, it was a while before Li Liujin exhaled lightly, shaking her head.
The old man who had not been heard from for long suddenly summoned her, her brother, and her elder sister back to the White Court tonight; she had already heard the rumors from the main family beforehand.
Perhaps, what she most feared had happened.
A few people arrived at a courtyard, the waterfall screen projected a virtual forest scene, and the phantom of the artificial intelligence ’Hua’ appeared. Excluding them, a woman had been kneeling before the Shrine for a long time, seemingly meditating and praying.
The woman had no guards by her side but was accompanied by people from the Life Consortium, among them familiar faces to Li Liujin and Li Mingqing; including two major secretaries from the ’Southern Joint’ and ’EuroAsia Shared Life Route Company.’
"Xiaojin, Ming, you’re both back." The woman turned to speak.
"Elder sister, where’s ’Opal’?" Li Mingqing raised his eyebrows.
"I think, Father needs a quieter environment today." The woman stopped her prayers and stood up, looking at Li Liujin and Lai Qing.
"Lai Qing is here too."
"Father has been waiting in the room for a long time, let’s go in together."
Saying this, the woman walked past Li Liujin and Li Mingqing, reaching to push open the Chen Pu door at the end of the corridor.
"No need to put on airs, the old man’s eyes see brighter than ever now."
"Or do you really think, Li Yazi, that as a Chichu Celestial People-born side product, the old man will let you become Patriarch?"
Li Mingqing glanced at the consortium members behind Li Yazi, smiled disdainfully.
"You all should know well what choosing the wrong side means."
"Even if the old man loses his mind and lets her, an outsider, become Patriarch, see if the company Elder Council and those from the establishment faction would support her ascending the throne."
The Life Consortium members looked at each other in silence, the record officer kept quiet, and finally, without saying a word, followed Li Yazi into the room.
"Heh." Li Mingqing sneered, looking at Li Liujin.
"Go in, my most pure and kind sister?"
"Brother." Li Liujin suddenly said, "I won’t let you become Patriarch."
This surprised Li Mingqing a bit, but he only chuckled lightly, then followed the others into the room without any concern.
Inside the room, the elderly man had left the machine maintaining his life signs and was standing with his hands behind his back by the fireplace, his back seemed hunched and lonely, with grey temples, most of his white hair having fallen out.
"Li Mingqing..."
The old man spoke, his voice deep and authoritative.
This scene made Li Mingqing freeze, having long forgotten the last time his father did this many years ago.
Li Mingxiong restored the prince’s dignity, a mere glance made Li Mingqing’s pupils shrink, silently lowering his head.
"Yazi is not an outsider," Li Mingxiong said slowly, "She has taken care of me for many, many years."
"Cough cough." Li Mingxiong covered his mouth and coughed lightly, Li Yazi instinctively stepped forward to support the elderly man but was stopped by him.
"When you and Liujin were not around, she was the one continuously taking care of me."
"She is our family."
"How did I teach you? Among family, there should be mutual care and respect, seniority must be humble and orderly. Family is family, not enemies, they must have the appearance of family."
"Father’s teaching is correct," Li Mingqing said with his head lowered.
Even though he knows the elderly man is likely just reprising in the twilight, the thought of the other’s past iron-fisted methods makes it difficult to face his authority directly.
"Such a simple truth, all these years you haven’t understood it. You really disappoint me."
Li Mingxiong shook his head, suddenly turning to look at the Life Consortium members, including Lai Qing, and the two guards, Black Steel.
"Let them leave, what follows is family talk, irrelevant to them."
No one moved.
Li Mingxiong’s cane struck the ground: "I may not have a say in the company, but here, I am the head of the family. Is there any father’s words his children won’t listen to?"
It was Li Yazi who first responded, signaling with her eyes for everyone to leave.
"Lai Qing." Li Liujin gently reminded.
"Leave." Li Mingqing glared at Black Steel, softly scolding, "What are you waiting for, fool."
The crowd gradually left the room, leaving only four people inside, the warm fire illuminating Li Mingxiong’s long and worn face.
"What follows is a conversation between family."
