Otherworld Advance Team
Chapter 1215 - 1208: Content with the Open Path

Chapter 1215: Chapter 1208: Content with the Open Path

"Enough, enough, I don’t want to cause any more trouble," Luo’er waved his hand and said with a flushed face.

"Then what do you want?" Xia Yue asked, tilting her head as she looked at him.

"I just want to ask, if I encounter any danger, can I summon Tana to help me?" Luo’er asked.

"Hehe," upon hearing his words, Xia Yue couldn’t help but let out a cold laugh, then she shook her head and said, "You usually ignore Tana, but when you find yourself in danger, you think of seeking her help. She’s a deity that maintains the order of the world, not your personal guardian deity."

"Since she is the maintainer of the world’s order, then responding to a single person’s call, doesn’t that seem a bit like not distinguishing between public and private matters?" Luo’er inquired.

"Well, you could say that, but you should see it this way, advanced artificial intelligence is, in essence, human, a human who maintains certain rules. Being human means having emotions; I am no exception, Tana is no exception either, or rather, I should say her emotions are even richer."

As she spoke, Xia Yue couldn’t help but sigh deeply, then she looked up at a forty-five-degree angle and said sorrowfully, "To think back then how many brothers and sisters we had, and to not expect that the only ones left in the end would be her and me. Do you think I don’t miss the past? I just prefer not to mention it."

It seemed Xia Yue was still immersed in the fond vision of the Ancestor Era to this day. To a certain extent, Xia Yue and Tana were the descendants of the Ancestors, while Elves and Dwarves were more like some kind of biological tools.

"Regarding the East Continent, can you reveal anything?" Luo’er asked tentatively.

"No comment," Xia Yue said indifferently.

"Alright, then I’ll take my leave now," Luo’er nodded and turned to leave.

"Although it might just be superfluous," at that moment, he heard Xia Yue’s voice from behind him, "still, be careful."

"Thank you for your concern, Lord Xia Yue," Luo’er turned around, saying with a touch of emotion.

"Someday next year, I will still be here waiting for your return," Xia Yue said.

"Yes, I will come back to see you," Luo’er nodded and replied.

"Then, take care!" Xia Yue raised her hand, waving goodbye to him with a smile.

"Take care!" Luo’er raised his hand as well to bid farewell.

After leaving Xia Yue, Luo’er arrived at the Welfare Institution, which had now moved to the mountain and expanded to double its size. His visit coincided with class time, and he could hear the voices of the children reciting their lessons.

The Welfare Institution also served as a primary school and a kindergarten, where the children would complete six years of obligatory education before going to Earth’s Shenghua Academy. They would then continue their educational exchange between Sheng Hua and Lipei until they completed twelve years of mandatory education.

Besides local children, Lipei was planning to build an academy for those interested in learning Earth’s culture, imparting them advanced cultural knowledge. This was undoubtedly good news for Otherworld inhabitants without Lipei residency.

The academy, other than enrolling local children, also admitted kids from other Otherworld nations. The only difference was that while local children enjoyed twelve years of compulsory education, children from other Otherworld nations had to pay tuition fees to attend school from primary level on.

The Lipei district government originally intended to develop the education industry as one of the pillars of Lipei, but clearly this went against the principles of the Mingming Plan and faced strong opposition from the headquarters, as the Mingming Plan dictated unconditional imparting of knowledge, to transform Otherworld inhabitants into their influencers in the Otherworld.

Under national mediation, both sides made concessions. Headquarters abandoned the unconditional requirements, and the Lipei district government also could not charge exorbitant tuition fees. The tuition fees for Otherworld inhabitants were regulated by the state, maintaining a range according to local prices.

He was here mainly to see his adopted daughter Yaning. Luo’er had always harbored guilt towards Yaning, for if it weren’t for him, perhaps her parents wouldn’t have been killed by a shell.

This incident had a great impact on Luo’er, and although he remained decisive in his later actions, when compared to how he was when he first arrived in the Otherworld, one could still sense a hint of hesitance.

After going through complicated registration procedures, Luo’er finally awaited Yaning, who came running out after class. Compared to three years ago, Yaning had grown a lot taller, what used to reach his thigh now allowed her to embrace his waist.

After years of treatment, Yaning’s condition had greatly improved, and although she still could not regain normal intelligence, she was now able to participate in preschool education. This was undoubtedly tremendous good news for Luo’er.

"Daddy!" Yaning had always been very attached to Luo’er, rushing to embrace him as soon as he arrived.

Luo’er knelt on the ground, feeling her embrace, and did not deny her address to him, but instead took a deep breath and said to her, "Yaning, I’m about to go on a business trip, so we might not be able to see each other for a long time. You have to listen to your teacher and go talk to them immediately if you feel wronged when you’re at school by yourself, okay?"

"Daddy, where are you going?" Yaning’s voice trembled as she heard what Luo’er said.

After treatment and guidance, Yaning was now capable of basic logical conversations, so she clearly showed a fearful expression.

"I’m just going out for a bit, nothing will happen," Luo’er said with a slight smile.

"Can I come?" Yaning asked.

"No, you need to go to school," Luo’er firmly denied her request.

Yaning tilted her head, showing a sad expression, as if contemplating Luo’er’s words, and finally, with a choked voice, she said, "Before, you didn’t pay attention to me either, always going out, out, and not coming back until much later..."

"I promise you, this is the last time. After that, we won’t be apart anymore," Luo’er sighed deeply, then embraced Yaning of his own accord.

"Liar, liar!" Yaning said with a trembling voice.

"I’m not lying to you..." Luo’er defended.

Without waiting for him to explain, she suddenly pushed him away hard and then, while wiping away tears, quickly walked towards the dormitory.

"Yaning..." Luo’er called out from behind.

"That child is actually very sensitive; she understands what it means..." At that moment, Luo’er heard a woman’s voice and, looking in the direction of the voice, he saw a female teacher with glasses.

"You must be Yaning’s teacher, hello," Luo’er nodded and said respectfully.

"You’re the ’daddy’ Yaning keeps talking about?" the female teacher asked with narrowed eyes.

"Yes, I’m her guardian," Luo’er nodded, noticing her skeptical gaze and hastily explained, "She’s not my biological daughter, I picked her up from a battlefield."

Upon hearing Luo’er’s explanation, the female teacher smiled, her expression ambivalent, and then she sighed while looking at Yaning’s retreating figure, "Although Yaning’s brain was injured, she can sense these emotions, so she’s angry with you because she feels you’ve lied to her over and over again; she’s very disappointed in you."

"I’m sorry, there are some things I’m powerless to do," Luo’er was momentarily at a loss for words.

"You’re from the headquarters. I can’t control your affairs, nor am I qualified to. But if you have time, please come to see Yaning more often, and don’t treat her as a burden. As her guardian, you should be responsible for her until the end," the female teacher said indifferently.

"Please tell Yaning that I don’t see her as a burden, and I’ll come back to see her after I finish the task," Luo’er said, then left the Welfare Institution with a bitter expression.

As he walked down the cement path through the woods, Luo’er felt melancholic. How eager he once was to go on missions, unwilling to live a static life.

But in the three years of preparation, he had slowly become accustomed to this slow-paced life, doing the same things day after day, living an ordinary life. Such a life not only didn’t bore him; it made him feel quite contented.

The Luo’er of today no longer possessed the initiative of his younger years, with his calls for adventure ending up as nothing more than slogans. Now, he would rather stay in Lipei, working and living out his days in simplicity, and just like that, lead a peaceful life.