Merlot Heavenly Court, "Secret Garden."
The hot spring mist remained dense, but the previous killing intent and decisiveness had dispersed, replaced by an indescribable tranquility—a blend of gratification, relief, and a faint warmth.
Hexi leaned against the edge of the pool. Her exquisite face appeared somewhat hazy in the misty vapor, but her silver eyes shone with a startling brightness, and a long-lasting, heartfelt, gentle smile played at the corners of her mouth. A small light screen floated before her, frozen on the image of Artoria in the Angel International Building's reception room, calmly and clearly stating her views on "representation rights," especially the line: "I... am also closely related to the Angels, so it can be understood as... an extension or witness of the Angels' stance."
Keisha remained leaning on the other side as if resting her eyes. Her long golden hair cascaded into the water like a waterfall, her expression showing a rare state of relaxation and peace. But upon closer inspection, her lips, which seemed eternally pursed, now appeared to curve upward in a nearly imperceptible, soft arc.
"Did you hear that?" Hexi didn't turn around, her voice carrying an irrepressible smile and a hint of relief. "The little one... finally said it."
"Mm." Keisha slowly opened her eyes. Her golden pupils reflected the light of the water and the stars, calm and profound. "She has accepted it. Not out of coercion or perfunctoriness, but a heartfelt recognition after careful thought. She sees herself... as a part of us."
"Indeed..." Hexi sighed softly, a sigh filled with contentment. "Before, although she accepted 'star dome' and our protection and teaching, there was always a line in her heart. She positioned herself as a 'guest,' a beneficiary, a student, an outsider who needed to repay a debt of gratitude. She was cautious, unwilling to trouble us, always thinking of independence and repaying everything on her own... It was heartbreaking, but there was always a barrier."
Her gaze fell upon the frozen image again, looking at Artoria's clear and determined eyes. "But now, she says she 'can represent an extension of the Angels' stance.' She has begun to think from the Angels' perspective and view the conflicts of the Universe through the lens of 'us.' This means that the line in her heart... has blurred, or is disappearing. She is no longer just a guest needing protection; she has begun to see herself as... a member of this big family. Even if she isn't an Angel and has no wings, she is willing to carry the weight of 'star dome' and stand with us."
Keisha nodded slightly, her calm voice flowing through the mist of the hot spring. "If she could never integrate, then so be it. The Angels are not stingy about protecting a kind friend or a respected student. Treating her with courtesy, teaching her everything we know, ensuring her safety, and fulfilling the friendship—there would be nothing wrong with that. That is the decorum for a 'guest.'"
"But she chose to step inside." Keisha's gaze seemed to pierce through space, falling upon the figure of the young girl on distant Earth. "Recognizing this bond, accepting this responsibility, and being willing to identify as 'family'... from now on, she is 'family.' She is a star that the Merlot Heavenly Court needs to guard, an indispensable part of the Angel Civilization. This weight has nothing to do with bloodline or race; it is connected only to the 'heart.'"
"The weight of family..." Hexi repeated in a low voice, a gentle ripple spreading through her eyes. "It is truly... a weight that brings joy and peace of mind."
The two kings looked at each other and smiled. In that smile was the tacit understanding accumulated from tens of thousands of years of fighting side-by-side to protect their civilization, as well as a newly added, pure joy for the growth of a junior. Artoria's recognition and self-positioning were far more gratifying and satisfying to them than any technical breakthrough or treasure she could offer. It meant that the effort and protection they had poured out had received the most precious response—a sincere heart willing to draw close.
The warm silence lasted for a moment before the smile on Hexi's face gradually faded. A complex, difficult-to-describe emotion flashed in her eyes—a mixture of distant memories, faint regret, and a coldness born of a final decision.
"Since she has begun to think as 'family' and is preparing to embark on her own path..." Hexi spoke slowly, her voice returning to its usual coolness. "Then, perhaps some old debts belonging to the 'family' should be handed over to her to settle personally. It will be both the tempering of actual combat and... help her more quickly recognize certain true faces of this Universe."
Keisha looked at her, a flash of understanding in her golden eyes. "Suma Li."
"Mm." Hexi nodded, her tone flat as if speaking an insignificant name. However, the last nearly imperceptible ripple deep in her eyes betrayed that the past represented by this name was not truly as light as clouds and wind.
"During the War of the Raging Sea, I had a momentary lapse of heart, mindful of old feelings, and... perhaps I still held one last unrealistic fantasy about so-called 'beauty,' so I let him go." Hexi's voice was very soft, tinged with self-deprecation. "I thought exile and silence would be enough for atonement and to completely bury that mistaken past. I thought time could dilute everything, whether it be hatred or... foolish attachment."
She paused, her fingertips unconsciously stroking the warm spring water. "But looking at it now, I was wrong. The baseness and greed in some people's bones will not change with time; they only ferment through dormancy. He exploited the ridiculous compassion I had left back then, used my silence regarding that past dysfunctional 'relationship,' and lurked in the shadows of the Known Universe like a venomous snake, licking his wounds and gathering strength. He might even... be colluding with something even darker."
Hexi looked up, the last ripple in her eyes completely gone, leaving only the pure coldness and rationality belonging to the Heavenly Base King. "Through some special channels and combined with the latest intelligence analysis, I have seen a certain 'possibility' for his future. In that branch of possibility, he will still use his past with me to try and stir up trouble, and may even pose a threat to the new generation of Angels and the stability of the Angel Civilization. He is like a long-buried tumor that wasn't cleanly excised back then. Now, it is time to remove it completely."
She looked at Keisha, her gaze firm. "I want to give this mission to Artoria."
"Reason." Keisha was concise.
"First, a test of actual combat. Suma Li is not weak; he is experienced, sinister, and cunning, but he is not invincible. He is an excellent 'whetstone' to test little Artoria's growth during this period, her 'one-person army' tactical thinking, and... her character. If she succeeds, her confidence will soar, and she will truly step across the threshold of the strong. If she fails, we will be watching from the shadows, so there will be no danger to her life, and she can learn a lesson." Hexi's analysis was clear and logical.
"Second, clearing hidden dangers. Having Artoria take action can maximize the distance from any 'old feelings' and avoid unnecessary rumors and interpretations. This is the new generation's liquidation of the remnants of the old era—clean and decisive."
"Third..." Hexi's voice lowered slightly, carrying a subtle, complex expectation of a teacher for her student. "Let her personally sever this dishonorable past related to the Angels. Let her understand that protecting a 'home' sometimes requires more than just construction and creation; it also requires decisively swinging a sword to clear out internal rot and thorns. This lesson is more important than any knowledge."
Keisha listened quietly. After a moment, she slowly nodded. "Approved. You inform her of the specific details. How to act will be decided by her. We... will only provide the final safeguard."
A sharp light flashed in Keisha's eyes, but then, as if she had thought of something, her lips suddenly hooked into a subtle arc that was quite different from her usual teasing—it carried a hint of coldness.
She sent a message through her private encrypted channel. The content of the message was a more detailed and... "artistically processed" version of how Suma Li had exploited Hexi's trust and emotional vulnerabilities in her youth to deceive, manipulate, and even betray her at critical moments. It emphasized Suma Li's hypocrisy, his baseness in using feelings to achieve his goals, and the emotional damage and shadow of distrust he had caused Hexi for tens of thousands of years.
After sending the message, Keisha looked at Hexi, their gazes meeting silently in the air.
A flash of nearly imperceptible understanding and a faint, almost indulgent helplessness crossed Hexi's eyes. She understood Keisha's meaning—since they were going to temper her and have her sever the past, they might as well make the fire burn brighter. Making little Artoria feel enough disgust and killing intent toward the target would ensure her determination in executing the mission and... could be considered settling a grievance that had been stifled for tens of thousands of years on Hexi's behalf. Even if the method was a bit... well, petty.
But between family members, don't you sometimes need a bit of this "pettiness" and "favoritism"?
Hexi did not object; she simply closed her eyes again, signifying her tacit consent.
"This scoundrel once hurt your teacher deeply. Old grudges can be cleared, and his heart deserves death. Act as you see fit; there is no need for restraint."
Having finished all this, the two kings once again immersed themselves in the tranquility of the hot spring, as if they had just decided on a trivial matter.
In distant Juxia City, Artoria had just finished her conversation with Yan and Lena. She was standing with Minerva on the top floor of the Angel International Building, overlooking the city's night view and thinking about her next move, when she suddenly felt a slight mental stir. A stream of information quietly flowed into her consciousness.
She "saw" some detailed information about a male Angel (or Heavenly Scum) named "Suma Li," including his active era, ability characteristics, possible hiding places... and an extremely uncomfortable past full of details about how he had deceived, exploited, and hurt a young Heavenly Base King Hexi.
In the images (whether they were real memories or some kind of information reconstruction), she saw how the trust shining in the young Hexi's eyes was coldly exploited, how that initially pure emotion was trampled upon, and Suma Li's remorseless, even smug face afterward...
Artoria's brow furrowed tightly. An indescribable anger and heartache intertwined, rising from her heart. She thought of Teacher Hexi's usual tenderness beneath her lazy and cunning exterior, her unreserved teaching and care, and the occasional glimpses of loneliness and burdens hidden deep in her heart...
Teacher... was once hurt so badly by such a piece of scum?
And when she saw Queen Keisha's final line, "This scoundrel once hurt your teacher deeply. Old grudges can be cleared, and his heart deserves death. Act as you see fit; there is no need for restraint," the last bit of hesitation in her heart vanished.
This wasn't a simple mission; this was... seeking justice for family, a cleaning of the house.
She gently took Minerva's hand beside her. Minerva immediately squeezed back, asking a silent question.
"Xiao Xiao," Artoria's voice was very soft, yet it carried an unprecedented coldness and determination. "We... might have a 'small goal' that needs to be completed."
She looked up at the deep night sky, a cold light flashing in her eyes.
"A piece of... scum that should have been swept into the trash heap of history long ago."
Someone must eventually brush away the dust of history. And this time, the hand holding the duster will be a firm pair of hands from the new generation, tightly grasping the 'star dome.'
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