ASFTB 29: Daddy Has Completely Lost It

Jian Chengxi hadn’t even reached the door yet. He turned his head to look upstairs, his whole body frozen in place.

He instinctively took a step back.

System:【Your life safety value is 15%, high-risk value, please be cautious!】

Li Lingfeng looked down at him from above. The man’s tall figure seemed to impose an endless sense of oppression, and his voice, slow and steady, carried an invisible pressure. “What are you doing standing at the door?”

An invisible warning sound rang loudly in his mind.

Jian Chengxi took another step back.

System:【Current safety value is 10%, warning: If the safety value falls below 0%, you may die.】

The door creaked under Jian Chengxi’s weight, silently opening a crack. As the door opened, Li Lingfeng’s eyes narrowed slightly.

It seemed like just one more step, and Jian Chengxi could escape this place.

System:【Current life value is 5%.】

！！！

Don’t lower it anymore!!

Jian Chengxi quickly turned around, pulled the door that had been left slightly ajar, and shut it. He quickly spoke, “I saw that the door wasn’t properly closed, so I came to shut it.”

There was a brief moment of silence in the room.

After a while—

Li Lingfeng curled his lips into a smile. “Is that so?”

Jian Chengxi crazily nodded and forced a smile. “That’s exactly it.”

System: 【The safety value is at 10%.】

Li Lingfeng’s aura seemed to relax a bit, and he said, “I’ve already arranged for soldiers to stand guard outside, so you don’t have to worry about safety.”

Jian Chengxi replied, “It’s just a habit.”

Li Lingfeng nodded, affirming him. “Hmm, having a sense of precaution is a good thing.”

System: 【Current safety value is 15%.】

Jian Chengxi really didn’t expect that this thing would have such fluctuations, almost like launching a rocket. He cursed the system a few times in his mind, then looked towards Li Lingfeng, who was standing on the stairs.

The tall and handsome man wore silver armor, exuding an air of cold authority.

He seemed completely out of place in this shabby treehouse.

Jian Chengxi curiously asked, “Why didn’t you go take a shower?”

Li Lingfeng replied, “I looked around the room but couldn’t find any spare clothes.”

Jian Chengxi then realized and quickly said, “Right, I’ll help you find some clean clothes.”

Li Lingfeng nodded lightly. “Thank you.”

As soon as his words fell, Jian Chengxi heard the system’s annoyingly smug voice:【Current safety value is 20%. Your environment is relatively safe, please keep up the good work.】

Jian Chengxi thought to himself that one day, he was definitely going to yank that system’s feathers out.

He took small steps up the stairs, passed Li Lingfeng, and entered the room. This was Jian Chengxi’s bedroom, which could also be said to have once been the wedding room of the original owner and Li Lingfeng. It contained the only two double stone beds and a simple wardrobe but now, this room looked different from its past shabby and dilapidated appearance.

Jian Chengxi lit the firefly lamp placed on the table. The tablecloth was one he had cut himself, covering the old, worn-out table. Placing a pretty little firefly lamp on it made the room look neat and elegant. Besides these, there was a small ledger recording the household’s daily expenses, and a few neatly stacked gift boxes were placed in an orderly fashion. He intended to use them for selling fruits.

There was also a clean floor, and the curtains, adorned with green leaves, were an artistic touch.

This suddenly reminded Li Lingfeng of many years ago when he lived in the treehouse. Back then, the treehouse had been empty and lifeless. His little wife, whom he had picked up, sighed and said, “Our home is so poor.”

Although he said that, it was clear to see that the things in the house were gradually increasing.

Jian Chengxi had excellent craftsmanship and could make many little trinkets.

He especially loved using green plants to decorate the house.

So every time he finished a bounty mission, he would bring back a bouquet of wild mountain flowers for his little wife who loved life so dearly.

Each time, Jian Chengxi would look at him with bright anticipation, smiling sweetly as he said, “Feng Ge, what kind of flowers did you bring me today?”

Every day, a glass vase sat on the windowsill, holding the flowers he brought him.

The house grew more alive, all because of Jian Chengxi. With him around, the treehouse was no longer just a place to rest, but a home—a home that Ling Feng had never even dared to imagine.

All of that changed after he gave birth.

He smashed the vase with his own hands, grinding the flowers beneath his feet, his words sharp and his temper strange. “We’re really dirt poor. What is this cheap garbage? How did I end up marrying a useless pauper like you? I even gave you a child, and now I have to spend the rest of my life rotting in this hellhole of an underground city!”

The elders often said that sometimes, after giving birth, a person could fall into postpartum depression and undergo a complete change in temperament.

In order to bring him back to how he once was, to see Jian Chengxi’s smile again, and for the sake of their child, Li Lingfeng chose the path of a soldier, returning to this home after many years.

In his previous life, when he came back, this place had been an empty building, silent and lifeless.

But now—

The glow of the firefly lamp was a warm yellow, filling the room with a cozy light.

Jian Chengxi muttered on and on. “I’ll have to really look around. You’ve been gone so long, I don’t even know if I can find clothes that fit you anymore…”

The room was very quiet.

Puzzled, Jian Chengxi turned his head and saw Li Lingfeng standing by the table, staring in a daze at the paper flowers he had folded by hand.

“Ah!” Jian Chengxi, a little embarrassed, hurried over and gathered up the paper flowers, saying, “It’s just something I do to pass the time when I’m bored.”

Li Lingfeng glanced at him from the side, his voice low as he asked, “Why not use real flowers?”

Jian Chengxi froze for a moment, then smiled softly as he carefully set the paper flowers back onto the table. “With the environment and the land in such harsh conditions now, where could we possibly find real flowers?”

As he spoke, his head was lowered, his gentle gaze resting on the table. His slender fingers brushed over the folded paper petals and leaves.

The candlelight from the firefly lamp flickered against his profile, quiet and beautiful.

Li Lingfeng, with his always cold and lifeless heart, seemed to have been sparked with a hint of warmth by those small, flickering flames.

Just then—

Jian Chengxi suddenly remembered and quickly said, “Ah, I just remembered! you left a box here before.”

Li Lingfeng watched as Jian Chengxi hurriedly ran to the wardrobe, threw it open, and finally found the box. He opened the box and pulled out Li Lingfeng’s clothes, handing them to him as he asked, “Can you wear this?”

However, he was met with Li Lingfeng’s response.

Jian Chengxi raised his head in confusion, only to see Li Lingfeng walk up to the wardrobe. The man’s gaze swept over the clothes inside, and his voice, tinged with an unclear meaning, asked, “Whose clothes are these?”

Jian Chengxi blinked. “Huh?”

He turned around and saw that Li Lingfeng’s expression seemed a bit dark, staring at a few sets of adult men’s clothes in the wardrobe.

At the same time—

The system’s reminder echoed in his mind: 【Detected your safety…】

Jian Chengxi quickly spoke before it could finish. “Those are my own clothes!”

Li Lingfeng turned his head to look at him, seeming a bit surprised. Men who were used to the storms of the battlefield rarely got surprised, but this time, he furrowed his brow. “What happened to your old clothes?”

Jian Chengxi answered honestly, “I sold them, exchanged them for money. The money at home wasn’t enough. You have no idea how high the expenses in the underground city are. The price of the nutrient solution is ridiculously expensive.”

Li Lingfeng closed the wardrobe door. “Wasn’t the money I left for you enough?”

“……”

Wasn’t this just poking at a sensitive spot?

Jian Chengxi gave an awkward smile and quickly changed the subject. “Anyway, it doesn’t matter whether I wear those clothes or not. You, on the other hand, should go wash up. It’s getting late.”

Fortunately, Li Lingfeng didn’t seem like the type to dwell on such things. As long as it didn’t touch on his bottom line, the man seemed to avoid pressing the issue too much.

Li Lingfeng took the clothes and said, “You go wash up first.”

Jian Chengxi asked in confusion, “Why?”

Li Lingfeng succinctly replied, “I’m dirty.”

Jian Chengxi looked up at him and quickly understood the meaning behind his words. Li Lingfeng’s armor was covered in bloodstains and dust, most likely from putting out fires and capturing robbers. If he went to wash up, the room would likely become much messier but these “dirt” stains were all from saving people and putting out fires.

Jian Chengxi shook his head and said, “It’s fine, you go wash up first. I want to go check on the kids.”

Li Lingfeng wasn’t a man given to unnecessary formalities and didn’t refuse again.

Jian Chengxi walked into the children’s room. First, he checked on Grandma Li’s condition, then moved to the other side to check on the kids. Li Chen was still a little snow leopard curled up, sleeping inside Li Lingfeng’s cloak. Li Suisui, holding her soft older brother, was sleeping even more soundly. The little girl slept restlessly, her little legs were pressed against her brother, hugging him tightly.

Since childhood, the two children had been reliant on each other, and their bond was incredibly deep.

Since Li Chen had returned, Suisui had hardly left his side, and her worry for her brother was clearly written on her face.

Jian Chengxi smiled lightly and walked over quietly. He gently adjusted the blanket around Li Suisui, making sure it was tucked in more securely. As he looked at the two children sleeping peacefully, a wave of tenderness filled his heart. He whispered softly, “Good night.”

…

After leaving the room, Jian Chengxi noticed the armor outside the bathroom.

What stood out the most was the bloodstains on the shoulder, which reminded him that Li Lingfeng was still injured. Throughout the night, this man had been helping others, yet his own wounds had not been tended to.

To be fair, he was really afraid of him, but he couldn’t deny that he greatly admired such a man with strong resolve.

Just as he was thinking this—

The bathroom door opened, and someone walked out.

Jian Chengxi turned around and saw, amidst the mist, the tall and handsome man dressed in his old clothes. The black shirt outlined the man’s incredibly firm chest. Because the shirt was likely a bit small, the well-defined muscles underneath were faintly visible. At this moment, he had shed his cold armor, and his long legs were dressed in loose shorts. The still-damp water droplets clung to his clothes, and his whole being exuded an overwhelming masculine aura.

“……”

His physique was just too good.

Jian Chengxi was a little dazed as he stared.

Li Lingfeng’s low voice broke the silence. “Are you going to take a shower?”

Jian Chengxi blinked. “Huh?”

“I said, you. Are you going to take a shower?” Li Lingfeng’s face remained expressionless, his voice deep and magnetic. “Aren’t you going to sleep soon?”

Although the situation was somewhat unusual, the way those words were spoken in his low and husky voice made it sound so normal. Jian Chengxi, who already had a naturally thin skin, nearly bit his tongue as he responded, “Ah, I’ll… I’ll sleep later.”

Li Lingfeng asked, “What’s wrong?”

Jian Chengxi quickly said, “Aren’t you injured? Let me apply some medicine for you.”

Li Lingfeng thought it was something serious, but upon hearing this, he spoke indifferently. “It’s fine, no need.”

When Jian Chengxi saw the blood on the armor, he insisted, “No, this isn’t like being on the battlefield with no conditions. There’s so much blood on your armor, this isn’t just a small injury. If you’re hurt, you need to treat it properly.”

Li Lingfeng glanced at him, his dark and calm eyes making Jian Chengxi’s heart skip a beat, as though he were facing an emotionless beast.

Jian Chengxi felt a brief moment of panic, just about to be afraid.

Li Lingfeng spoke slowly, “It’s not my blood.”

Jian Chengxi blinked. “Huh?”

Translate GPT (Chinese to English Translation) said:

“Most of it is someone else’s,” Li Lingfeng said as he walked to the side, putting his armor away in the storage space. His voice carried a hint of the arrogance of a strong man, “They’re not capable of injuring me.”

“……”

Jian Chengxi recalled everything that had happened tonight, feeling so scared that he almost wanted to shrink back.

Thinking about it, it seemed that the only injury he had sustained was from a shard while protecting himself, and even the robbers hadn’t managed to harm him at all.

This man was terrifyingly strong.

He had the arrogance, power, and capability to back it up.

Li Lingfeng turned back to him and said, “Beastmen have strong self-healing abilities. I’ll be fine by tomorrow morning. Go to sleep.”

Jian Chengxi’s greatest strength was his ability to listen, so he nodded lightly and said, “Okay.”

Just as he was troubled about how to sleep next to such a dangerous person, Li Lingfeng took out his old black windbreaker from the box. The coat was quite large, but on his tall frame, it gave off an inexplicable air of authority and presence. The man put on his shoes and rolled up his sleeves.

Jian Chengxi, puzzled, asked, “Aren’t you going to sleep?”

Li Lingfeng turned back to look at him and said, “The cleanup work in the underground city isn’t finished yet. I need to go there.”

So he wasn’t going to sleep at home.

Jian Chengxi inexplicably let out a sigh of relief, but still quickly asked, “When will you be back?”

Li Lingfeng answered, “Tomorrow morning. Don’t worry, I’ll leave soldiers here to protect your safety.”

Jian Chengxi hesitated and asked, “So you won’t sleep?”

Does this person not need rest?

“In the territory of the insect race, there’s no distinction between day and night. It’s common to go ten days or half a month without rest,” Li Lingfeng answered calmly, glancing at him as he lifted his eyelid. “Besides, with me here, you probably won’t sleep well anyway.”

Jian Chengxi froze, feeling a sudden wave of embarrassment as if he had been seen through.

But, instinctively, without even thinking, he wanted to refute that statement. He blurted out, “I’m not…”

The moment the words left his mouth, he froze himself.

Li Lingfeng raised an eyebrow, “It’s nothing.”

Jian Chengxi pressed his lips together. He didn’t know why he had felt the need to argue, but in the end, he still said softly, “It’s chaotic outside, so be careful.”

Li Lingfeng seemed to have already anticipated this response, and there was no reproach in his tone. It seemed that being feared and disliked by his own wife had already become an established fact for him.

“Take care of the kids,” he said in a low voice, pausing for a moment before adding, “Lock the doors and windows. If anything happens, send me a message.”

Jian Chengxi quickly nodded.

After Li Lingfeng left, the entire room seemed to fall into an even deeper silence. Jian Chengxi stood still, but it felt as though a storm, one that only he could experience, was brewing deep within him, both mentally and physically exhausted.

The system spoke:【Host, the man has returned. You should be happy, your good life is about to begin.】

Jian Chengxi cursed at it. “I’d rather live a peaceful life, quietly getting by, just letting my life pass by like a salted fish. What’s wrong with that?! And why is my life value tied to Li Lingfeng?!”

The system responded:【Every world has a ‘Child of Destiny.’ To put it simply, the ‘Child of Destiny’ is the protagonist. The protagonist’s life is closely tied to the world, and if the protagonist’s fate diverges, the world is at risk of falling into ruin. That’s why everyone’s life value is linked to the protagonist.】

Jian Chengxi was a bit confused. “So, you mean, Li Lingfeng is the protagonist of this world?”

Tch!

When he first transmigrated, he thought he was the protagonist but now, well, turns out he was the protagonist—just not in the way he expected. He was the protagonist’s wife! What kind of development is this?!

The system, sensing his emotions, continued:【You can understand it that way. The deeper the bond with the protagonist, the more important the people around him become to him. Naturally, this will affect the protagonist, and in turn, influence the fate of the world. In other words, host, by saving Li Lingfeng, you’re also saving the world.】

Jian Chengxi couldn’t believe it. “Am I really someone important to him?”

After thinking about it, a wife is an important person.

However, if it were for love, maybe he would feel a bit happier about it.

But a cheating husband who also abused the kids…

Wouldn’t that make him the perfect disposable cannon fodder, just waiting to be tossed aside at any moment!

Jian Chengxi slumped back onto the bed, feeling defeated. “Let the world’s fate be destroyed, I just want to be a salted fish. I don’t have the ability to save the protagonist.”

The system replied: 【Maybe you’ll change your mind.】

Jian Chengxi, lying on the bed like a salted fish, firmly responded. “I won’t!”

As he chatted with the system, a wave of drowsiness crept over him. He couldn’t control it and soon fell asleep on the pillow, his consciousness slowly fading. Gradually, he entered a dream—someone who rarely dreamt found himself having a dream for the first time in a long while.

It was a vivid, haunting dream.

In the ruins of the underground city, there were two emaciated and dirty children. A triumphant general sorrowfully held them in his arms.

Because of a trap set by the royal family and some villains, combined with chronic poison, the beastmen’s mental powers went berserk. Li Lingfeng slaughtered the royal palace, and the brutal snow leopard fell amidst heavy artillery fire.

A helpless crying girl and a boy sitting in a wheelchair became a frozen and heartbreaking image.

The seed of hatred was planted at such a young age.

The death of the world’s protagonist brought the entire world to the brink of collapse.

“Li Suisui, that wicked black witch, she deserves to die a horrible death!”

“Kill her…”

“Everyone, unite!”

“How can there be such terrifying mechas?!”

“Li Chen, it’s Li Chen!”

“He’s nothing but a devil!”

The shattered palace was crushed, the emperor and his ministers drowned in a sea of flames. The boy sitting in the mecha had eyes as cold and indifferent as his Father’s.

As the world teetered on the edge of collapse, a new protagonist emerged—two righteous children, uniting everyone to punish the demon. They were brave and kind, bright and fearless. In the end, with the support and help of everyone, they managed to subdue the siblings who nearly tore the world apart.

As the protagonist gave a victory speech, a smile on their face, they said, “It’s not our credit, it’s the people’s credit. Actually, when we first confronted these two monsters, and activated the Demon Sealing Array, they were just too powerful. At the moment when we almost allowed them to escape, their Father appeared and helped us channel the power of the magic stones to fight against them. Perhaps he understood that evil cannot overcome righteousness, and sure enough, the two monsters immediately gave up their futile resistance.”

Everyone gathered in celebration, rejoicing in the victory.

Jian Chengxi watched from the dream’s sky as the protagonist, having defeated the monsters, was surrounded by the adoration of everyone and crowned as the new emperor. The world seemed full of light and hope.

Yet, his two children were forever sealed in a cold, desolate place, out of sight and unreachable.

The plaza was filled with deafening cheers.

A wave of joy and excitement surged one after another.

Jian Chengxi gazed at the ruins and the great formation, his heart aching, and tears fell from his eyes. “No…!”

“…No!”

Suddenly, Jian Chengxi sat up in bed, jolted awake from the nightmare. Sunlight filtered in through the window, and his chest rose and fell violently with each breath. He hadn’t even been able to finish the dream before the overwhelming sadness pulled him out of it.

He wiped his face, tears still streaming down.

The system spoke:【Host, you had a nightmare.】

“Was it really just a dream?” Jian Chengxi’s heart was racing, and he muttered to himself, “Was it really just a dream?”

The system replied:【Dreams can be true, and truth can be false. The future may be foreseen, but host, you must understand that all futures can be changed.】

Jian Chengxi was lost in thought, murmuring, “Change…”

Suddenly, the person on the bed rolled over and jumped out, so abruptly that he nearly stumbled and fell to the ground. But he couldn’t care less, rushing straight toward the children’s room.

The door was pushed open.

Li Suisui and Li Chen, who had just gotten out of bed and put on their clothes, looked at the frantic person running toward them with confusion.

Jian Chengxi immediately pulled Li Suisui into his arms. “Suisui!”

Li Suisui only felt a force that almost choked her. Her father was holding her so tightly she could barely breathe. Her soft, childish voice was tinged with annoyance. “Daddy?”

Jian Chengxi finally let go of her, then looked at the quiet Li Chen beside them. His emotions overwhelmed him, and he quickly pulled him into his embrace as well. “Li Chen!”

Suddenly, Li Chen, with his dark, unreadable expression: “……”

It was just so unexpected.

Jian Chengxi, his eyes reddened, pulled both children into his arms. “I’m so glad you’re both okay. I was really scared.”

Li Chen and his sister exchanged a glance.

What’s Daddy doing today?

…

Jian Chengxi finally recovered from the nightmare. He took a deep breath, then looked up and asked, “Suisui, Li Chen, tell me, what are your dreams?”

Li Suisui looked at her strange Daddy with some confusion.

Jian Chengxi no longer treated this as a child’s playful talk. With a serious tone, he asked, “Can you tell Daddy again?”

Li Suisui, with her two little braids and her soft, fair face, looked incredibly cute. She nodded, a little proud, and said, “Suisui’s dream is to be a strong woman, like a queen who makes poisonous apples and combs…”

“No, no!” Jian Chengxi immediately recalled the fate of the little witch in his dream and spoke seriously and sternly, “Our family needs to change our dreams starting today.”

Li Suisui looked at him in confusion. “Why? I like this one.”

Jian Chengxi smiled gently. “Suisui, be a good girl. Daddy will give you a better and more powerful dream.”

Li Suisui asked, “What dream?”

Jian Chengxi cleared his throat and said seriously, “Starting today, your dream will be to be kind and helpful, studying to create apples and combs that benefit humanity.”

Li Suisui: ???

Jian Chengxi turned to look at his son, took a deep breath, and asked, “What about you, Li Chen? What’s your dream?”

Li Chen spoke calmly, “My dream is to research powerful mechas, to sweep through and crush…”

“No, no, we’re changing that too.” Jian Chengxi immediately interrupted, putting on a serious expression as he placed his hands on his hips. “Starting today, Li Chen’s dream is to research powerful mechas, and to rebuild the underground city into a beautiful home!”

Li Chen: “……?”

After a long period of silence, Li Suisui finally spoke up, asking, “Daddy, since you said the whole family is changing, what about Father?”

Jian Chengxi froze. He thought of Li Lingfeng’s ruthless and wild nature. Even when his mental power went berserk, he could kill so many people in the royal palace, causing chaos throughout the city. It was terrifying beyond words but since they would all be one family from now on, there could be no more tragedy.

He took a deep breath, trying to steady his thoughts. “For your Father, well…”

Although the nightmare was cruel, at least everything had not yet happened, and there was still a chance to change things.

He really was a salted fish, and even if it was only a false dream, he didn’t want to gamble with the lives of his family.

“As for your Father…” Jian Chengxi made up his mind. “Let the adults handle adult matters. But from now on, I’ll hire a moral and ethics teacher for the whole family, so we can all work together to build a bright future!”

The more Jian Chengxi thought about it, the more energized he became. After delivering his grand vision, he ended up grinning foolishly to himself.

…

The two children exchanged a calm look, silently coming to a conclusion—

It’s over.

Daddy has completely lost it this time.