Huo Rou held Shen Feng and walked back. An An rested his head by the car window, watching her approach with a look of confusion in his eyes.
"Mom, what's wrong with Shen Feng?"
Huo Rou's heart tightened. She opened her mouth, unsure of what to say.
An An had been with Shen Feng since he was little, and now...
The journey back was filled with An An's cries. He blamed himself, "If I hadn't taken Shen Feng out, we wouldn't have met the bad guys, and Shen Feng wouldn't have died. It's all An An's fault!"
Pei Feng, sitting in the front, heard this and turned to look at An An, his eyes filled with an unprecedented seriousness. "Shen Feng caught the bad guys. It's a hero."
Huo Rou gently stroked An An's head. She looked at Shen Feng in her arms. Yes, Shen Feng was a hero. It was brave on the battlefield; this was its true domain. After four years of quiet companionship with her, this was the time she and Shen Feng had earned.
Huo Rou, who had been silent since getting into the car, faintly recited, "A hero's deed, wrapped in horse hide; though death may come, their spirit will last."
"Hmm?" An An looked up, his tear-streaked face turned towards Huo Rou. "What does that mean, Mom?"
"Shen Feng did something incredibly great. Although it can no longer be with us, everyone will remember it." Qin Ningyi pulled An An closer, wiping his little face, "To not be forgotten is to live forever."
An An's sobs gradually subsided. Qin Ningyi looked at Huo Rou with some concern.
"I'm fine." Huo Rou had completely regained her composure. She looked towards the horizon, where the sunset painted the sky with vibrant hues, the clouds edged with gold, resembling Shen Feng's form. As dusk deepened, a day had passed unnoticed, and a new one would soon dawn.
"There are still many things I need to do," Huo Rou lowered her gaze. "The sooner I finish them, the sooner I can bring Shen Feng home."
Shen Feng was placed in an ice coffin. That evening, Qin Nishui came with a mysterious person, leaving a bouquet of flowers.
"Shen Feng... Where is its master?" the person in black asked in a business-like tone, a hint of solicitude creeping into the question. "Is she alright?"
Qin Nishui sighed softly. "Xiao Rou, after she settled Shen Feng, she went into the laboratory."
He had wanted to persuade her to rest, as Huo Rou didn't seem well, and it wouldn't do for the young lady to collapse from exhaustion. However, Huo Rou had put on a white coat, thanked him for his concern, and entered the laboratory.
She had said, "In the adult world, there isn't much time for grief. Moreover, Yizhou awaits the medicine."
When He Zhongwu woke up and learned of this, he even saluted outside the laboratory door.
Huo Rou did as she promised. She went with them to find An An, and upon her return, she would continue her research, ensuring the people of Yizhou wouldn't have to wait any longer.
He had been too narrow-minded.
Hearing Qin Nishui's words, the mysterious person shook their head. "Thank you, Commander Qin. I have urgent matters to attend to, so I'll take my leave now."
If Huo Rou was working so hard, there was no reason for them to slack off.
"Was it sent to the laboratory?" He Zhongwu asked from the side.
This item would be most useful in the hands of the laboratory.
"It was sent." Pei Feng's grip on the document tightened. Shen Wuyou must have been the first to obtain this document. He had connections with them...
Qin Nishui rubbed his temples. With these matters being resolved one by one, Yizhou seemed on the cusp of a new beginning.
However...
Qin Ningyi seemed to have been busy with something lately; he hadn't been seen around.
"Commander Qin!" someone rushed in from outside the door. "Good news—"