Meanwhile, in the spacious piano hall.

Chichu Hong's fingertips gently plucked at the grand piano, playing a familiar tune, and she glanced at the blonde girl beside her:

"Like this, am I right?"

Xu Xiaoyou's hands rested on the black and white keys, moonlight flowing calmly in her eyes. Noticing Chichu Hong's call, she snapped out of her thoughts with a slight smile:

"No problem at all, Miss Hong."

Chichu Hong suddenly realized this person trying to get her to talk wasn't so annoying after all. In some ways, she was rather nice. Her conversation was gentle and courteous, humorous and witty, and she was a good listener, better versed in social etiquette than those in the family.

"By the way, did Miss Hong used to practice before?"

Dressed in sleepwear, Chichu Hong seemed to recall something, a faintly confused emotion flashing across the young girl's face.

She had always admired her mother's mastery of piano, chess, calligraphy, and painting, winning applause at every party's end. Perhaps it was that artistic charm that attracted her, or maybe being immersed in the music provided infinite longing for her as a young child.

Whenever she had free time, she would sneak into the woman's study, sit on her lap, listen to her gentle words, watch her practicing a melody, her delicate, slender fingers plucking at the keys, humming along. Every time, she would be captivated, her mind emptied, feeling unburdened from exhaustion.

She often thought if only she could be like the other girls her age, able to enroll in a piano class, hold her mother's hand, ride on her father's shoulders, wear pretty dresses, occasionally throw a tantrum, be a little willful.

But everyone around her would repeatedly emphasize the heavy responsibilities she bore, to complete certain tasks, not merely attempt them, because of the talents she had shown from an early age. Everyone in the Chichu Family placed their hopes on her, especially the man in her memories always with a stern face, leaving his back to her.

Her father was strict with her; any small mistake during training would elicit loud scolding, and more defiance would bring corporal punishment.

The Chichu Family's rules were consistently strict, so she grew up in a rather oppressive environment.

Time spent by her mother's side was a rare moment of relaxation in her life.

Thoughts gradually returned, and Chichu Hong shook her head:

"Just remembered from watching my mother play frequently in the past."

"About Chichu Heaven, does Miss Xu know?"

Xu Xiaoyou nodded thoughtfully:

"I heard most of Cosmic Heavy Industries' military facilities are located there; it's the military stronghold of Cosmic Heavy Industries."

"Due to the Eight-Spider Nest Mother and deteriorating relations with Gao Tianyun, Chichu Heaven is perpetually in a state of military tension, leading to strict family rules in the Chichu Family."

"I exhibited personal talent at a very young age and, being a Battle Banner Master, my family valued me, cultivating me as the family's blade, eager to send me to the battlefield early."

Chichu Hong chose not to elaborate further,

Her body was far more resilient than average, having undergone twenty-three modifications, from life-sustaining organs to skin and the nervous system. By the age of eight, all modifications were completed; the Chichu Family and Cosmic Heavy Industries desired to transform her into the ultimate humanoid weapon.

Even in extreme cold of minus forty to fifty degrees, without any warmth measures, her skin could maintain stable internal temperature. Daily maintenance of youthful skin and good physique was merely for family sociability needs. With a mere thought, her skin could instantly form thick, scale-like cocoons, different bones across her body would interlock, forming an airtight bone armor, enhancing resistance to punching, her physique then approaching a beast's form.

Her will was hardened through poison insect tempering, and with the amygdala altered, she felt no fear, always charging to the forefront of battle and paranormal events, acclaimed by the association as the Battlefield Rose charging at dawn's first light.

"I often thought back then, could I be willful for once, loudly saying no to everyone, sitting defiantly in my mother's usual chair, engrossed in what I love, even if my back was beaten until bloody?"

Chichu Hong seemed to lament her past childishness.

Every child had, at some point, the thought of hurting themselves to appear pitiful, hoping those around would notice their grievances.

"Not pondering those things anymore, just a bit of sentiment."

"Now grown up, no one dares to constrain me or force me into anything."

"If not for today's invitation from Miss Xu, I'd have almost forgotten about that stubborn little girl who longed for all this."

Chichu Hong stood, her fingertips reluctantly brushing over the black and white keys before finally resting on the maple wood body of the piano, half-jokingly saying:

"I must leave; perhaps the monster has appeared and my companions are eagerly seeking me."

"Not going to try learning a bit?" Xu Xiaoyou suddenly asked.

Chichu Hong paused for a few seconds, was about to refuse, but Xu Xiaoyou's voice continued.

"Less regret from the past helps when moving forward."

"Consider it a farewell clap with your past self."

"With a foundation, learning a piano piece is quick."

Chichu Hong said nothing, silently sitting down after a moment, expressing her inner thoughts through action.

"I have a good memory, teach me once and I can remember; play once, and my hands will form muscle memory."

Xu Xiaoyou nodded as Chichu Hong sat beside her, the two girls making no extra movements but seeming like two strangers meeting occasionally in a desert, sharing heartfelt words under a nighttime campfire, quietly gazing at the flickering flames, allowing the stars above to shift.

Xu Xiaoyou's gaze was as calm as water, slowly playing the melody familiar to both from the past. Chichu Hong sat beside her, silently watching and remembering, and when her fingers touched the keys again, it seemed like a clap with a pair of young, small hands.

...

In the opera house, the battle had lasted nearly half an hour.

The interlaced blades parted again, like two duelists in a swordsmanship duel, neither relaxing their vigilance after separation, gripping their weapons tightly, observing each other's every move to strategize.

For Xu Xiaoyou, simultaneously diverting focus to control the Substitute was no small burden. Moreover, with the Spiritual Gaze continuously active, her vision began to blur, and piercing pain and whispers in her mind disrupted judgment.

The benefit was, the distant commotion had ceased; it seemed Anya had successfully escaped and concealed herself back somewhere on the ship, marking the end of this unsettled night.

Bai Zhou from afar no longer intended to prolong the fight; the more he fought with this opponent, the more astonished he became by their bizarre and unpredictable methods.

It's hard to imagine what kind of combat profession they held, or how they had grown to this point, able to master long-range attacks, melee, elements, and enhancements simultaneously.

It was like a monster; apart from the director, he'd never referred to other people as monsters.

He decided to unleash his Divine Gift, "Blood Armor of Tyranny," to end this farce with decisive measures!

"Hah." Bai Zhou exhaled deeply. "Let me see the source of my pain."

With a sudden stomp, the ground within tens of meters of Bai Zhou sank with a thunderous crash, solid rock barriers rose high around, encasing him completely. Entering a state of extreme relaxation, his mind delved deep within. In just one second, he could achieve self-liberation, manifest the Divine Gift, and determine the future course of battle.

In that blink of an eye, Xu Xiaoyou tens of meters away had foreseen this, slicing a rift with her long whip, her hand piercing the space barrier heading straight for his head!

Bai Zhou's eyes widened in shock, instinctively reacting but already too late. The young girl's hand penetrated his head, Bai Zhou's entire body stunned as if struck by lightning, then began to convulse violently, consciousness rapidly drained. Before losing consciousness, he saw a multicolored lump extracted from his brain.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.