Evil Emperor Zun

Chapter 2036 Pillar
It was another night. After finishing her day's work, Uesugi Filica returned to her room to wash up and opened one of her favorite books, only to find that she couldn't concentrate on reading it at all that night.

She was in such good control that she didn't even realize that the events of the past few days had disturbed her thoughts.

In Tentan, the Unbounded Community was a warm and welcoming family. She thought that after escaping from the Sun Realm, settling down here would allow her to find some semblance of a home in this strange world. Although she wasn't with the Uesugi family, at least she was safe, loved, and didn't have to navigate the complexities of the Sun Realm like she did. But now, after wandering in a foreign land for so long, she deeply realized that no matter how warm it was, her roots weren't here.

—Her roots are in the Uesugi family, where there is the ancestral home with its courtyard filled with the fragrance of osmanthus, her grandmother's carefully prepared soups and sweet soups, the time her grandfather taught her to write and play chess, the joy of her brother taking her for a drive, the doting love of her uncle and aunt, her mother's silent companionship, and the company of Diana and Opal…

—Her roots lie in the magical world, where she receives the loving guidance and instruction of her Queen Mother, the quiet and cozy palace in the royal city, the moonlight brighter and gentler than that of the mortal realm, the peaceful and harmonious community, the lessons at the magic school and the teachings of the court ministers, and the exotic beasts unseen in the human world… She officiated at Xiaoyu and Chiye's wedding, helping them find the home in their hearts. But what about her home, her roots?

Uesugi Filica closed the book, picked up the precious family heirloom jade pendant, and felt that she needed to do something—not to continue thinking about those complicated trivial matters, but to do something that could calm her mind.

When she was little, living in the ancestral home, her grandfather would go to his study to write when he was troubled, and he also taught her calligraphy. After her parents divorced, during the years she lived in the ancestral home, her grandfather would have her practice calligraphy when she was troubled. Once she could write each stroke steadily, her mind would become calm.

At this moment, just like when she was a child, she walked to the table, spread out the Xuan paper, poured out fresh ink, picked up the brush, dipped it in the ink, and slowly and steadily wrote a few lines on the paper: "Establish oneself with virtue, and develop one's career with innovation. Unite knowledge and action, and shoulder responsibility. Pass on poetry and books to future generations, and spread wisdom throughout the world."

This is the family motto passed down through generations of the Uesugi family. From elementary school to adulthood, her grandfather wrote this motto for her and hung it in her room. It is one of her anchors, and also her roots. Each stroke, rising and falling, each character stands firmly on the paper, the dots, horizontals, left-falling strokes, the pauses and variations in the brushstrokes, forming its own unique style.

"Knock knock." A knock sounded at the door. It was Tang Xuan. He waited outside for a while without any response, and a little worried, he gently pushed open the door, carrying a glass of warm milk. Seeing that Felicia was still focused on writing calligraphy, he placed the milk on the bedside table without disturbing her. On the white paper next to her, he picked up a pen and drew a miniature cartoon figure—it was Felicia writing calligraphy. The lines were simple, but the spirit of the figure was captured perfectly.

After writing the family precepts and adding the date, Uesugi Felicia looked up. Her gaze fell on the cartoon character, and she smiled gently: "Dad Xuan, what brings you here?"

"Come see our little girl. She was so focused on her writing that she didn't even hear the knocking. Salan and Xuan Shuang went to keep Xiaoyu company, so you should have some peace and quiet and don't worry too much." Tang Xuan added a few strokes next to the cartoon figure—it depicted Tang Xuan looking helpless when no one answered the door, which made Felicia's eyes crinkle into crescents.

Meanwhile, Tang Xuan was also examining Felicia's handwriting. Unlike an outsider who merely watched for the spectacle, he was an expert at recognizing its beauty: "Beautiful handwriting, dignified, elegant, and composed. This isn't something that can be achieved in a year or two. Who taught her?"

“My grandfather,” Uesugi Filica said with delight, “He was a businessman, and used to be a lab technician. He built his business from scratch in the lab. This is our family motto, set by my grandmother, who teaches history at university. My am—oh, in our magical world, whether it’s a grandmother or a maternal grandmother, we’re all called am. My am said that my grandparents were very knowledgeable people, and I should learn from what they taught me.”

Tang Xuan pondered the family precepts written by Felicia: "Your family is extraordinary. Only a family with profound knowledge and experience could write such precepts. Could you tell me what they mean?"

"Establishing oneself with virtue means prioritizing moral conduct in one's life. Developing a business with innovation means not sticking to old ways but seeking new methods. Integrating knowledge and action, and shouldering responsibility means having a sense of duty. Passing down knowledge and wisdom to benefit the world means studying diligently, inheriting the excellent culture and wisdom of our ancestors, and walking the right path in the future. Even the most insignificant things should be turned into small sparks to illuminate the way forward. The Uesugi family bloodline is not a delicate flower in a greenhouse; it must become people who can stand alone in any field."

Tang Xuan nodded, finding every word reasonable. After listening to these words, he picked up a pen and wrote three characters on a piece of paper: Guangli City.

“Felica, I just wanted to discuss something with you. Our factionless group is now considered a fairly large faction, and I'd like to name it Radiant City.”

“Your name means ‘light,’ and ‘Li’ represents beauty. I hope to lead everyone here to build a world without killing or war, where everyone can live in peace and have a bright future like my Felicia. And of course, there’s Xiaolong’er. She is a precious gem, and you are the bright moonlight. Both of you deserve to live in such a world.”

Uesugi Felicia listened with tears in her eyes. This was exactly what the kingdom she would protect in the future looked like, and it was also the world she had lived in since childhood.

Traveling between the two realms, the human world is far more complex than the harmonious and blissful magical world. War, conflict, and plunder are commonplace. This is because some human nations hold drastically different beliefs from matriarchal societies—they believe resources are finite, and one must seize, compete, and suppress others; whoever is strongest has the final say. But the magical world, with its matriarchal society, is different. There, people believe resources can be shared, conflicts can be resolved, and the stronger one is, the more they must protect them. Everyone is in the same web, and no one can exist without the others.

She described that world to Tang Xuan, her eyes shining with hope. It will definitely be built, because everyone is here.

Tang Xuan pinned a violet in Felicia's hair; it was freshly picked from the flowerbed and matched the color of her eyes perfectly. "The family precepts must be very important to you. I'll get someone to help frame it and hang it in your room."

The person Tang Xuan had found was Ge Shuqing. He arrived quickly with tools and framing materials. However, despite coming to help, he wore an overly serious face, entered without uttering a word, and simply followed Tang Xuan's instructions. Uesugi Felicia, who was helping cut the paper, found his cold and aloof demeanor, which couldn't hide a hint of stiffness, secretly amusing.

Having always been decisive and ruthless, he wasn't particularly adept at this kind of literary work. However, it actually added a touch of warmth and made him seem less unapproachable. Moreover, he probably also has a thoughtful and considerate side; I heard from Xuan's father that this was something very important to him, so he was being very careful and didn't want anything to go wrong with it.

With her usual admiration for him and gratitude for his kindness, Uesugi Filica smiled slightly and took the initiative to start a conversation: "Brother Geshu, would you be interested in learning calligraphy later?"

Ge Shuqing turned his head and glanced at her, a clear look of confusion on his face. He was used to considering things from a practical perspective; learning martial arts was for survival, so what use was learning calligraphy?

“Since it’s Felicia’s suggestion, there’s no harm in learning from her. You just lack hobbies; you think about cultivation all day long. It would be good to cultivate those.” Tang Xuan chimed in, agreeing repeatedly.

Ge Shuqing remained silent for a moment. To be honest, Tang Xuan and Felicia were people he admired, which was why he had set aside his cultivation time to help them with these chores. Since they had both recommended it, he didn't want to spoil the mood, so he decided to give it a try.

After mounting the calligraphy, he took a look at the family precepts written by Felicia with a bit of curiosity. He didn't understand the intricacies of calligraphy, but he was attracted by the strength and elegance of the characters, thinking that they were very well written and made him want to look at them more.

Then, Uesugi Filica spread out two new sheets of rice paper, beckoned him over, and taught him to write a few strokes.

Ge Shuqing's studies did not go smoothly.

His demeanor and actions can be described as "very tense." This is partly due to his personality and partly due to the pressures of his environment. If an assassin isn't constantly vigilant, he won't even know how he died. Add to that his simple-minded younger brother, Ge Shuchong, and he, as the older brother, has to worry about two things at once.

This kind of style allowed him to stay ahead of his peers, but when it came to learning calligraphy, he couldn't even grasp the most basic way of holding the brush properly.

Despite Felicia's repeated reminders to relax, he instinctively gripped the object tightly in his hand. The pen tip failed to trace a smooth arc on the paper, and the sharp strokes he unleashed merely resulted in a few blots of ink spreading outwards. These hands, accustomed to wielding weapons, seemed utterly unresponsive when it came to writing. Looking at his own crooked, scribbles, and then at Felicia's handwriting, even a layman could see the vast difference. A sudden surge of anxiety welled up in Geshuqing's heart, and his expression became noticeably somber and uneasy.

He was an exceptionally talented and proud man. Back in Broken Soul Ridge, whether in daily training or on missions, he always excelled. His mentors praised him, and his peers revered him. He thrived in the assassin world, and at a young age, he and his brother earned the infamous title of "Shura Brothers," striking fear into the hearts of all.

An excellent person should excel at everything they do. Ge Shuqing couldn't accept his failure. Losing face was tantamount to death for him. Especially when he stumbled on something he previously looked down upon, allowing someone he admired to see his incompetence. His expression was truly grim.

Uesugi Felicia was good at reading people's expressions, but she didn't rush to offer words of comfort. Instead, she picked up her pen and smiled as she added some lines around the few blobs of ink that had spread, turning it into a cute drawing. This was not surprising, since she had a quirky person like Kuroba Ryoichi by her side, it was not surprising that she had learned a few tricks.

Ge Shuqing was somewhat surprised, never expecting the usually composed Felicia to have this side to her. But perhaps because the scene was so adorable, he didn't say anything. His mistake could be transformed into these cute little things, making the mistake itself seem less shameful.

“Brother Geshu, you don’t need to grip the pen so tightly. Be calm, slow, and steady. Would you like me to help you get the feel for it?” Uesugi Felicia finally spoke up. She turned to look at Geshu Qing, her purple eyes filled with her usual gentle warmth. After getting his permission, she took his hand, just like her grandfather had taught her when she was a child, and helped him find the feel for it little by little.

Ge Shuqing had just started learning calligraphy. Although he was clumsy, Felicia's aura and tone instinctively made him feel at ease. Learning calligraphy couldn't be rushed; one had to ponder and comprehend it little by little. After a while, he finally found some feeling. Although his strokes were still very immature, they were already taking shape. It was the first time he had experienced this kind of tranquil flow.

"Little Feifei!" Kuroba Ryouichi's shout abruptly broke the silence. He had heard about the failed plan to go to the mysterious space and wanted to comfort Feifei, so he rushed in carrying a box to show her. As soon as he opened it, a clown-like doll popped out, its expression comical. "How are you? Cheer up now? Don't worry, there's definitely a way to solve this."

Uesugi Felicia coughed and turned to punch Kuroba Ryoichi on the head. "Kuroba Ryoichi, you're causing trouble again!" She chased after Kuroba Ryoichi, "beating" him mercilessly, showing no sign of stopping.

"Help! Little Feifei, spare me, you're using the wrong force!"

"Stop being so cheeky!" Uesugi Felicia pretended to scold the mischievous Kuroba Ryoichi. It looked like a beating, but she used just the right amount of force so as not to actually hurt him or make him feel any pain.

Kuroba Ryoichi pretended to howl on the side, and finally raised a pen in surrender, looking like he was about to cry: "Little Feifei, I was wrong, do whatever you want with me!"

Uesugi Felicia snorted, "snatched" the pen from his hand, drew a cat and a rabbit on his face, added a mustache, and couldn't help but laugh. Kuroba Ryo scratched his head, seeing that she had finally released all the pressure she had accumulated over the past few days, and started making faces, only to be tapped on the head by Felicia again, and then "painfully" "crying" out, "Little Felicia..."

"Serves you right! Who told you to call me that in front of others!" Uesugi Felicia "hit" him again, finally bursting into laughter. The gloom that had been building up in her heart because of searching for Qin Jia was also somewhat dispelled.

She knew the future was uncertain, but her companions had been doing their best to help her, so how could she not stay calm? Ling Yi was her source of joy—the only one who could allow her to let down her guard and be a normal girl for a while. Although this wasn't home, she still had her companions from her hometown, a connection that allowed her to feel at home in this foreign land.

Ge Shuqing watched their playful antics with a strange expression. On one hand, he really disliked Hei Yulingyi, that loud and boisterous kid. Every time he was alone with Felicia to discuss something, this kid would suddenly appear from some unknown corner, drawing all of Felicia's attention to him. His peaceful moments alone were always interrupted by this uninvited guest. He was simply annoyed just seeing this kid.

On the other hand, Felicia in front of Kuroba Ryoichi was indeed different from how she was with everyone else. She became somewhat "childish," a stark contrast to her usual gentle, dignified, and composed demeanor. But this rare contrast was quite endearing. Although, upon closer inspection, she was actually younger than many of the people here, this vibrant appearance was more in line with her true age.

Frankly, if Felicia had been like this from the beginning, he wouldn't have thought much of her. He doesn't like overly talkative girls. But now that she's earned his respect, he actually hopes she can show her more childlike side in front of him. Because that would show she truly considers him one of her own.

As for why he wanted to be one of her own, he hadn't thought about it deeply. He was just even more annoyed with the boy she'd accepted so early on!
……

"Mommy Yu'er, don't worry." Meanwhile, in Shiyu's room, Xuan Shuang was showing her a stack of photos. They were all photo booth pictures that Qin Jia had taken with him before. He hoped that Qin Jia's sweet smile in the photos could heal all his anxieties. Who would bear to hurt such a beautiful girl?
Just yesterday, he pulled off a major feat on the interstellar network, outmaneuvering so many prominent figures from across the universe, who were now lining up to offer him money. The powerful New God faction was left speechless and frustrated. He felt like the most powerful and influential kid in the world.

At this moment, he was brimming with pride, like a balloon filled with air, ready to lift off the ground and float lightly all the way to the clouds. Every time he spoke, his barely suppressed joy made every syllable rise in pitch, giving off a truly inspiring power.

"Qin Jia is so smart, she'll definitely be fine." I'm protecting her secretly, after all. I'm the kind of person who can get a bunch of big shots to back me up. "Trust me, I'm a man too, I'll take responsibility for finding Qin Jia! Yu'er's mom also needs to get some rest, otherwise Qin Jia will blame me for not taking good care of you when she gets back. Don't worry too much about things in the camp, I'll help Fei Fei's mom. I can do anything, I'm very reliable!"

Shigure looked at the child before her, so young yet able to come and comfort her when she was worried. He didn't have much ability yet, but he appeared by her side out of a desire to be kind to his sister who cared about him. When she was anxious because of her long separation from Qin Jia and Chi Ye, Xuan Shuang became her support at just the right moment.

She knelt down and gently hugged Xuan Shuang, her nose tingling and tears streaming down her face uncontrollably. "Thank you, Xuan Shuang. My Qin Jia will be alright, maybe she won't..."

These words were meant to comfort herself and also to respond to Xuan Shuang, but a deeper worry lingered in her heart—she knew about her sister's precognitive abilities, an ability that every goddess in the magical world would awaken as a future ruler. She wanted to find Qin Jia immediately, but that was impossible; she could only place her hopes on everyone else and do her best to help.

Saran, who came with him, would occasionally glance at Xuan Shuang, his brows furrowing slightly involuntarily.

This child has always cared deeply for Qin Jia. He had secretly come to see her and Tang Mu several times before, asking if they could send him to the mysterious space to see Qin Jia, but she had always turned him away. This time, with Felicia and Elodie's teleportation plan failing, she was prepared to throw a tantrum at Xuan Shuang. Unexpectedly, the child's reaction was far calmer than she had anticipated; in fact, he seemed... quite happy?
This joy carried a hint of smugness, a slyness tinged with mischief. She'd seen boys at school who thought they'd pulled off some amazing pranks, and they all had similar expressions on their faces. At the same time, knowing they'd done something wrong, they worried about punishment from teachers and family, so during this period, they'd act extra obsequiously towards elders, hoping to gain favor in advance and exchange it for forgiveness when the incident was exposed.

Saran didn't know what Xuan Shuang had done. Since he didn't want to talk about it, and the responsibility of disciplining him wasn't hers, she had no intention of digging deeper. She had come to see Shi Yu on important business.

"Xiaoyu, take a look at this." She handed Shiyu a stack of documents, which she had recently compiled. While helping to search for Qin Jia's whereabouts, she encountered some mysteries about energy, and Shiyu needed to use her abilities as a purifier to find a breakthrough.

Shigure Kamui took the documents. She didn't know if she could be of any help, or if doing so would even lead to Qin Jia. But whichever path she chose, if it was worth trying, she was willing to give it a shot.

Saran picked up a pen and carefully explained the data and experimental results to Shigure Kamui, informing her of the tasks she needed to complete. Gensou sat on Shigure's lap, not disturbing her, as they were discussing something very important. Only in such discussions could Shigure Kamui's anxiety be slightly relieved, and she felt that she was genuinely doing something for Ike and Kotomi.

(End of this chapter)