"Hey, what kind of talk is that?!..."

"That girl of ours, she's good in every way—works hard, and is filial. It's just her heart... you can't hold it back. She's always stirring up trouble. Hasn't she made this known throughout the entire Federation now?"

Old Yao smiled bitterly and continued.

"Sigh, I'm mostly to blame for this! I'm such a useless father. Otherwise, she wouldn't have ended up so extreme, listening to someone else's advice and trying to start a company...

"Yes, yes, exactly! It's not about her plans or dreams. She was simply fooled and pushed to be the scapegoat. How can we overcome this? We can't persuade her, we can't stop her...

"Oh, thank you, thank you very much! You're all too kind. This girl has me at my wit's end. I almost feel like jumping off a cliff... Okay, okay, I'll tell that girl later. She's really asking for trouble!..."

However, before much time had passed, with a THUD, Old Yao reluctantly hung up the phone.

Then, he hurriedly raised his trembling hand, intending to light a cigarette.

However, with a CLATTER, his lighter fell to the ground, leaving only his truly distraught face and vacant eyes.

Undoubtedly, the person on the other end had given their answer.

Even though Old Yao had been trying to humor him, mixing truths with falsehoods, that person had truly acted as if scolding a grandson, berating him without any courtesy.

On one hand, they seemed to offer earnest advice, speaking with apparent sincerity:

"Your daughter, she's hard to handle! She's stirred up such a big mess; why not prepare to have another one? Your wife, although a bit old, should still be supported by the Federation if you want to have more children in this day and age..."

On the other hand, they were full of derision and sarcasm.

To the point where Old Yao was almost on the verge of exploding with anger.

What kind of talk was that!

Is his daughter doomed to die with no salvation? Old Yao refused to believe it!

However, what truly devastated Old Yao wasn't just this sentence. It was the unforgettable and helpless truth hidden behind these words!

Public opinion had begun to shift.

Even though Yao Yao had once stood at a press conference, making a declaration to the entire Federation, and had firmly stated her intention to produce low-cost elixirs.

But now, it seemed everything was about to come to an abrupt halt before she could even get started.

Because those big guys had made their move.

Therefore, as a tiny ant, quietly awaiting the arrival of an endless flood, and then dying a spectacular death—that was Yao Yao's best Fate!

However, just as Old Yao was reeling from an unparalleled blow, CLICK.

A flicker of Fire Light ignited before him.

The woman who, whenever something happened, would weep and whine, unable to make a decision, only blaming her own husband.

At this moment, she was standing before him, teary-eyed, lighting a cigarette for him—something she hadn't done in all the years since their marriage.

Then, her face a mixture of pleading and encouragement, she tearfully said to the only man in the family, their pillar of support:

"Old Yao, we aren't Martial Artists, nor are we any important big shots. But, you absolutely cannot fall! You're the only man in this family. The only one our daughter can rely on is you!..."

Old Yao was stunned.

Then he quietly looked at the woman in front of him, her face full of years and fatigue.

Finally, after a long puff of smoke, Old Yao gently held Yao Yao's mother and whispered in her ear.

"Right, we aren't Martial Artists! Yao Yao has miraculously become a Martial Artist, and I hear she even has Martial King level strength. This is like smoke rising from our ancestral graves! I don't believe those bastards can just crush our girl like this! To hell with them!..."

All in all, Old Yao recovered his sense of responsibility.

Just like that, in front of his wife, he had only taken a single puff of the cigarette before he immediately took a deep breath.

He then composed himself and, without wasting a moment, dialed a second number, acting decisively.

His wife was right. He was the only pillar of this family!

Although his daughter was a Martial Artist, she was now trapped and unable to free herself.

So, the only one she could rely on was her strong father!

That being the case, how could he, Old Yao, fall now!

Immediately, the phone connected again.

Old Yao once again laughed heartily into the phone, responding.

"...Hahaha, it's been a long time! Yes, it's me... I'm doing well now; my capable daughter has settled me in Jing State!…

"Oh, I see. I was actually thinking of finding an opportunity to invite you all to Jing State for a visit. Well, maybe next time then? Hahaha, alright, let's leave it at that!"

After that phone call ended, Old Yao's face showed signs of fatigue, but then he quickly rubbed his face to stay awake.

However, even if Old Yao didn't say it, Yao Yao's mother noticed.

This call had ended even more quickly than the last!

This meant that some people who were once familiar or close were now keeping their distance, all because of their daughter!

This was enough to prove those people's attitudes.

They weren't willing to support Yao Yao, not even for the sake of the old couple's face.

Even though this matter would benefit everyone, since they were all poor.

But after this, the old couple understood. Though they were just insignificant individuals, who knew what kind of earth-shattering waves they might stir up if placed among the masses?

However, Old Yao hastily consoled Yao Yao's mother.

"Don't worry! This is just the beginning. I refuse to believe that after all these years, given our good character—always kind and never offending anyone—we could have provoked such heavenly wrath and human jealousy!..."

So, Old Yao was unwilling to stop.

Even after one call, two calls, three calls—even after dialing nearly seventy percent of the numbers in his entire phonebook!

Even when all he received were cold words and strange, mocking tones laced with sarcasm, he didn't stop!

Instead, he maintained a hearty laugh and responded with enthusiasm.

"Yes, yes, it's me, Old Yao!... Hey, who says it isn't? But as parents, what can we do? Besides, if this succeeds, it's good for everyone, right?..."

"...Ai, ai, ai, you're right, old brother! People really need to know their limits. I'm having a headache over this too; this girl doesn't give me a moment's peace..."

As a matter of fact, he desperately needed to find someone who would support Yao Yao's idea!

He, too, had initially thought his daughter shouldn't do this; after all, the world is full of ingrates!

But on second thought, Yao Yao's temperament and such a dream were a direct inheritance from their upbringing and her own personal experiences!

Since his daughter had managed to survive such inhumane experiments at the original organization, and could even stand before them alive again, even telling them that she had become a powerful Martial Artist!

Then why couldn't this world have miracles? Why couldn't miracles happen?

However, reality often likes to push people to a dead-end.

Because now, only one last number remained in his phonebook!

Old Yao's expression froze slightly; he felt somewhat numb.

No matter how much determination he had in his heart, it couldn't withstand the cruel reality. It seemed everything was truly set in stone!

Who knew, once this call was made, would it usher in the dawn of hope, or the brink of despair?

One should know that the person this number represented actually had no connection with them whatsoever!

Even so, Old Yao and Yao Yao's mother owed this person. It was only through this person's kindness that he and Yao Yao's mother had been able to find a livelihood collecting scraps, allowing them to raise their young daughter to adulthood...

At this moment, Yao Yao's mother was sobbing uncontrollably.

She seemed to foresee her daughter's doom, and the collapse of all kindness in the human world.

Otherwise, why could her daughter survive the original organization, yet not overcome this present trial?

At that moment, the photos of their daughter, which were frequently reported by major television stations, almost became the last memories the old couple could cherish!

Finally, Old Yao made up his mind.

Although he was sighing silently in his heart, feeling like he wanted to cry, and wanted to ask his daughter:

Daughter, oh daughter! Why did you have to do such a thankless thing!

Yet, in the next moment, he still resolutely dialed the number that could lead to either heaven or hell.

If this was destined by heaven, then let him and all his loved ones face their one and only Fate together!!

So, BEEP... BEEP... BEEP...

The ringing of the phone, waiting to be answered, at this very moment, became the most profound and enduring memory in Old Yao's mind...

「That day.」

The entire Federation was shaken by Yao Yao's situation, and it was escalating.

Yet the Federation officials, despite knowing how perilous the situation was and how easily it could provoke conflict, still offered no explanation.

One could imagine the various intricate, spiderweb-like chains of interest behind the scenes. They had essentially reached a point so severe that they had gagged the loudest and most powerful mouths in the entire Federation!!

So, Quan State waited.

Chu State waited.

Jing State waited.

The Federation also waited.

Even Wang Zhan's other closest woman—Qin Ying, who was clearly Yao Yao's nemesis—was also waiting.

Everyone was waiting for the Federation's development after this sudden storm, before choosing a suitable side to place their bets!

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