Take Your Surname

"Not bad for me," the man said with satisfaction, patting the slightly damp collar of his shirt. He looked at his reflection in the clear stream, which showed no trace of his earlier fall into the mud. Smiling, he slung his jacket over his shoulder and continued on his way.

Rakshasa.

After a brutal battle, their organization had defended Yu Province. The group from the Land of the Rising Sun had suffered heavy losses.

Yet, many black-clad figures still stood guard with solemn authority in front of the organization's headquarters.

A dashing man strolled over leisurely.

The crowd was stunned.

"Sir... is that you?" someone exclaimed in disbelief.

"Not sure, let me take a closer look!" another person rubbed their eyes.

The man before them, with a gentle smile and an air of casual elegance, was none other than Yuan Qinghe, the esteemed "Sir" of the Rakshasa organization and the husband of its leader.

He was "Sir," and he preferred to be addressed as such.

Yuan Qinghe raised a finger to his lips, his middle-aged yet robust face breaking into a smile, silencing the murmurs of the crowd.

"Sir, I think..."

Yuan Qinghe quickly shook his head, cutting the speaker off with a wave of his hand. He gestured earnestly, then, under the complex gazes of the crowd, pushed open the ornately carved wooden door.

He passed through the living room and several chambers before finally arriving at the study.

A woman in a kimono was painting with a brush.

This woman, whose swordsmanship and personality were as domineering as they came, now appeared as gentle and devoted as a wife waiting for her husband's return.

Yuan Qinghe, hiding behind the paper-filled wooden lattice screen, was taken aback.

"Hiding from me? Are you afraid I'll eat you?" Uesugi Akizuki looked up, her gaze tender as it rested on the screen.

Yuan Qinghe scratched his head and stepped out. "I wanted to surprise you."

Uesugi Akizuki was silent for a moment. "Did you fall?"

"How did you know!" Yuan Qinghe exclaimed in shock.

Uesugi Akizuki gave him a look of exasperation, her eyes lingering on the large patch of yellow mud on the back of his pants.

She walked over and gently pinched his cheek. "You've had it rough."

"Not at all!" Yuan Qinghe held her hand against his face. "Seeing you again makes it all worth it."

"I didn't expect them to actually rescue you," Uesugi Akizuki changed the subject.

"Indeed, Huaxia is truly formidable," Yuan Qinghe said with a hint of lingering fear.

He recalled the madman who alternated between laughter and tears, his pupils glowing with an eerie crimson. His movements were like a grim reaper wielding a scythe, leaving a trail of blood and chaos in his wake.

At that moment, Yuan Qinghe could feel the overwhelming force of the man's laws. Even the faintest release of his oppressive aura had made it hard to breathe.

He had no doubt that the young man, who was at the mid-stage of the Lamp Realm, could have killed him even if he were at his peak. After all, Yuan Qinghe was only at the early stage of the Rolling Flame Realm, with a mere fraction of the laws the young man possessed. Compared to him, Yuan Qinghe was like a firefly trying to outshine the moon.

"How are our daughters?" Yuan Qinghe asked, his voice tinged with worry. This had been his greatest concern during his journey.

After rescuing Uesugi Akizuki, he had sent Uesugi Chigenki and her younger sister fleeing while he stayed behind to hold off the pursuers.

Until now, he had no idea whether his daughters were alive or dead, or if they had made it to Huaxia.

"..." Uesugi Akizuki was silent for a moment. "Let's go see them together."

Yuan Qinghe's pupils contracted sharply. He could sense the bitterness in her voice.

He reached out to grab her hand but missed!

Her wide sleeve swayed as his fingers brushed against it. Uesugi Akizuki looked at her husband's stunned expression and gave a bitter smile.

...

Uesugi Chigenki carried a thermal lunchbox and pushed open the door to the hospital room.

"Akizuki, it's time to eat!"

She forced a smile as she looked at Uesugi Akizuki, who lay on the bed staring blankly at the ceiling.

"Why are you crying again?" Uesugi Chigenki noticed the faint red tear streaks on her sister's face and hurriedly put down the lunchbox to rush over.

She wiped away the traces of blood from Uesugi Akizuki's face and opened the lunchbox.

The fragrant meat porridge shimmered with a translucent glow.

But Uesugi Akizuki didn't even glance at it. Her eyes were dull, lifeless.

Uesugi Akizuki hadn't eaten in two days. Uesugi Chigenki had tried everything to prepare meals that might tempt her sister, but nothing worked.

Given Uesugi Akizuki's current state, porridge was the best option. So, Uesugi Chigenki had sought out Meng Xingyao, who was skilled at making porridge, to prepare a variety of dishes for her sister.

"Please eat something," Uesugi Chigenki said tenderly, stroking her sister's pale hand.

Uesugi Akizuki showed no reaction, only blinking as a single tear mixed with a drop of blood rolled down her cheek.

Uesugi Chigenki's heart ached as she pulled her sister into a tight embrace.

Suddenly, Uesugi Chigenki's phone rang. It was Meng Xingyao calling.

"Su Ze is out of critical condition. You can tell her now."

"Really?" Uesugi Chigenki's face lit up with joy.

Su Ze hadn't died, but he had been teetering on the edge of death. They hadn't dared to tell Uesugi Akizuki.

After all, if Uesugi Akizuki knew Su Ze was alive but still in danger, and then had to watch him lying in a hospital bed, only to potentially die in front of her...

Such a second blow would have been too much for her to bear.

Uesugi Chigenki looked at her sister's vacant expression, unsure how to break the news.

After a moment of hesitation, she said, "Su Ze... is still alive."

In an instant, Uesugi Akizuki's body trembled. She turned her head and grabbed Uesugi Chigenki's hand!

Her eyes, once lifeless, now flickered with a spark of life. Her lips parted slightly as if she wanted to speak, but no words came out—her throat was too dry.

...

"His self-healing ability is more effective than any medication," the nurse said as she removed the needle from Su Ze's arm.

Su Ze lay in the hospital bed, an oxygen mask covering his face. The monitor beside him beeped steadily, recording his vital signs.

"I thought I was going to lose a son at such a young age," Shen Qingsheng said, relieved as he looked at Su Ze, who was now out of danger.

"Honk honk honk..." Meng Xingyao, who was peeling an apple nearby, burst into laughter that sounded like a goose's honk.

Her sense of humor was so low that just seeing Shen Qingsheng made her laugh.

Shen Qingsheng seemed to naturally exude a comedic aura, making it easy for people to lose themselves in laughter around him.

The two of them had survived a natural disaster, suffering severe injuries but recovering quickly. As for Su Ze, he had overused his laws and had a blade fragment lodged in his skull, which hadn't been removed.

He had been in critical condition for days, barely clinging to life. If they had been any later, he would have been gone.

"Ahhh—" Shen Qingsheng opened his mouth wide, leaning toward Meng Xingyao.

Meng Xingyao chuckled and shoved the entire peeled apple into his mouth.

"Ugh ugh ugh—" Shen Qingsheng choked, quickly pulling the apple out and gagging. "You're not very nurturing," he complained.

"Why should I be nurturing to you?" Meng Xingyao laughed. "I'm only nurturing to people I like."

"Really? I'm this handsome and I still can't win you over?" Shen Qingsheng preened, smoothing his hair in the reflection of the window.

"If you changed your gender, I might like you," Meng Xingyao teased.

"Changed my last name to yours?"

"Yes, changed to mine," Meng Xingyao said, unable to suppress her laughter.

"There's a double meaning there!" Shen Qingsheng finally caught on. Now he understood why Uesugi Chigenki often ignored Meng Xingyao.

She was just as mischievous as he was.

If it were Uesugi Chigenki, she probably would have burst into tears on the spot.

*Click!*

The door swung open, and a figure in red rushed in!

Uesugi Akizuki, who had been charging in recklessly, slowed her steps as soon as she saw Su Ze lying in the bed...