ASFTB 19: So Angry He’d Climb Out of Grave

The weather in the underground city was always unpredictable.

That morning, Jian Chengxi was jolted awake by a sudden clap of thunder. He walked to the window and looked up at the sky beyond the atmosphere. The entire world’s protective net had turned a dark red. Normally, the skies would be clear at this hour, but today, there was something strangely unsettling in the air.

Beep.

A crisp notification tone sounded.

Jian Chengxi opened the information terminal on his wrist and saw the message:【Dear residents of the underground city, greetings. Today, the city’s outskirts are under attack from the Zerg. Parts of the protective net have been breached. To prevent the Zerg from entering underground territory, all citizens are advised not to go outside. The underground city will be sending personnel to conduct door-to-door inspections.】

The atmosphere felt unusually tense.

Nervously closing the message, Jian Chengxi asked the system, “What are the Zerg? Are they very dangerous?”

The system replied:【The Zerg are a highly intelligent species. When they are first born, they resemble insects, but they evolve. The Zerg are extremely advanced creatures. They can replicate their opponent’s greatest strengths to defeat them, and can even take on the appearance and abilities of their enemies.】

Jian Chengxi’s eyes widened. “Doesn’t that mean they’re unbelievably powerful?”

The system fully agreed with that description:【For thousands of years, the Zerg have lived in black holes. Our planet was once under the protection of the Divine Tree, whose sacred power was the Zerg’s nemesis. Though our planet is rich and vast in resources, the Zerg did not dare invade. That is, until many years ago, when the Divine Tree suddenly withered. The Zerg invaded on a massive scale, and the polluted land and air have since tormented the orcs, battering their mental strength.】

Hearing this history, Jian Chengxi felt a pang of sadness. “The people of this planet have it so hard, isn’t there any way to deal with the Zerg?”

The system said:【There is.】

Jian Chengxi asked, “What?”

The system replied:【Either destroy the Zerg King’s nest completely and wipe him out for good.】

Jian Chengxi frowned. “Is there another way?”

【Revive the Divine Tree,】 the system said earnestly.【As long as the Divine Tree comes back to life, everything will be fine. The land and air will return to normal. The current environment is all due to the Zerg’s miasma pollution, and only the Divine Tree can purify it. But the chances are slim, because the tree has completely withered.】

Jian Chengxi sighed. “Both of those sound insanely difficult… only a peerless hero could pull them off.”

The system suddenly said:【Didn’t you say you were going to save the world when you first reincarnated?】

“I was just talking big,” Jian Chengxi said with a smile. “I’m not nearly that capable. Saving the world is way out of my league. If I can protect my two kids, that’s enough for me.”

The system fell silent.

After their conversation, Jian Chengxi headed to the next room where the two children were.

Li Sui­sui and Li Chen were already awake and getting dressed. They were very capable for their age and washing up and such almost never required Jian Chengxi’s help.

Jian Chengxi walked over and helped his daughter fasten the buttons on her clothes. “It’s dangerous outside today. The school sent word for everyone to stay home so there’s no classes.”

Li Chen asked, “Is it another Zerg attack?”

Jian Chengxi turned in surprise. “How do you know that?”

“Because every time the sky turns red, it means the Zerg are attacking,” Li Sui­sui’s young, clear voice chimed in. “And then people come to collect money.”

Jian Chengxi froze. “Huh?”

He was still puzzled over it when a knock came from outside.

Dong, dong, dong.

The sound was deep and heavy, like death demanding entry.

Jian Chengxi told the children to stay put. “Daddy will check. Don’t leave the room.”

Li Sui­sui and Li Chen nodded.

Jian Chengxi tiptoed downstairs and peeked through the crack in the door. “Who is it?”

“We’re soldiers from the Street Security Department, here on orders to check your household for possible Zerg infection. Open up!”

Jian Chengxi noticed that not far away, the soldiers were already inside Grandma Li’s place doing inspections. He thought for a moment, whether he opened the door or not, the flimsy planks of this treehouse wouldn’t withstand a few more knocks so he decided to open it.

The soldiers came in, one of them shooting him an impatient glare. “Took you long enough!”

Jian Chengxi explained, “I have young children at home, so please keep your voices down and don’t scare them.”

The inspectors ignored him. On the first floor, several jars he had neatly arranged were knocked over. They worked quickly, and after checking the entire house, one of them stood before him and said, “We’ve placed the Zerg repellent for you. That’ll be 20 coins. Pay up.”

Jian Chengxi froze for a moment.

So, in the underground city, even these ‘services’ came with a fee.

Though twenty coins wasn’t exactly a small sum, as a widowed father with two children, it wasn’t worth making enemies over it.

Jian Chengxi was about to hand over the money when one of the soldiers stepped up behind the leader and whispered something in his ear.

The leader glanced at Jian Chengxi. Dressed in simple coarse cloth, standing in the rather humble treehouse, his delicate features were still striking. Those dark, round eyes, the small and slender frame that stirred a natural urge to protect. Among the eight major races, elves were known for their beauty, and having a rare elf as one’s wife was considered a source of great pride.

“Forget it, your family doesn’t need to pay the twenty coins,” the inspector said with a smile. “You’re our boss Zhe-ge’s lover, we gotta show some respect for that.”

Jian Chengxi frowned. “What?”

The system reminded him:【Wang Zhe—the original body’s lover.】

Just hearing that name felt unlucky.

With a calm expression, Jian Chengxi stepped forward and handed the money to the inspector. “Here’s the payment. I have nothing to do with Wang Zhe anymore. We’ll pay what we owe.”

The others were a bit taken aback, but just chalked it up to the elf race being thin-skinned.

The inspector chuckled. “Doesn’t matter whether you admit it or not. Pay if you want and either way, we’re just following orders.”

After collecting the money, the group left. In the underground city, their status and influence were so great that they could practically swagger anywhere without consequence.

The house grew quiet again.

Upstairs, the two children appeared at the landing. Jian Chengxi hurried over and stopped in front of them. “Were you scared?”

Li Sui­sui and Li Chen shook their heads.

“It’s fine, they’re gone now,” Jian Chengxi said, ruffling their hair. “Nothing’s going to happen. Don’t be afraid.”

Li Sui­sui and Li Chen noticed the pale look on their father’s face. They weren’t afraid at all but Daddy looked terrified, his face white as a sheet. He was clearly the most frightened one. Just as they were talking, a sudden commotion sounded outside—

Jian Chengxi glanced toward the noise. “What’s going on?”

The family moved to the window and saw the inspectors arguing with Grandma Li. The old woman looked troubled, standing in her yard unsure what to do.

Jian Chengxi frowned. Grandma Li had helped him many times.

The argument outside continued. Jian Chengxi said, “Daddy’s going to check it out. You two stay inside.”

The children nodded.

Jian Chengxi strode out quickly. As he got closer, he understood. Grandma Li was short ten coins on her payment, and the inspectors were refusing to let it go. The elderly woman had no real income, barely any money to her name. Her stooped figure swayed as if a gust of wind might knock her down. In chaotic times like these, courtesy and filial piety had long since vanished.

One of the inspectors barked, “Don’t bother pretending, we know you’ve got it!”

Grandma Li’s voice trembled. “I really don’t… I really don’t have any more…”

The inspector was about to speak again when Jian Chengxi stepped forward, pulling coins from his pocket. “I’ll cover what she owes.”

Everyone looked at him in surprise.

Even Grandma Li seemed taken aback.

Jian Chengxi kept his expression calm as he looked at the inspector. “Anything else?”

The man took the money and smirked. “You’re something else—your own family’s already dirt poor, and you still have the mood to help others. I guess, with our boss supporting you, you’ll never be short on cash.”

Jian Chengxi frowned. “I don’t think that has anything to do with you. Besides, I’ve already explained that I have nothing to do with Wang Zhe anymore. I’d appreciate it if you stopped linking me to him.”

An angry beauty was the most striking sight of all. His features vivid and alive, his voice soft and pleasant, brushing over people like the flick of a kitten’s paw. It was impossible to stay mad.

The inspector chuckled. “Sister-in-law’s got a temper. We’ll be on our way.”

“…”

Jian Chengxi felt sick to his stomach.

Once they were gone, Grandma Li grasped his hand. “Thank you, Xiao Xi.”

Looking at the white-haired old woman, Jian Chengxi thought of his own grandmother. As a child, he’d been an orphan, and it was his grandmother who had raised him. After coming to this world, he had no one, and Grandma Li had been the first stranger to lend him a hand. How could he turn a blind eye when she was in trouble? “There’s no need to thank me, it’s just ten coins, nothing much. It’s dangerous out here, so you should get back inside.”

Grandma Li nodded, but then she tugged at him anxiously. “Still, how could you talk to them like that? In our underground city, the inspectors are not people you can afford to offend.”

Jian Chengxi replied, “Grandma, it’s not me looking for trouble, they keep twisting things. I have nothing to do with that Wang Zhe anymore, but they just keep bringing it up again and again.”

As he spoke, he turned his head and saw his two children standing at the doorway. The cold wind made their small, fragile figures look as though they might be blown away at any moment. It was bitterly cold, yet they still stood there, watching him with worried eyes. For no reason at all, warmth stirred in his chest.

Grandma Li held onto him and sighed. “You really broke up with that Wang Zhe?”

Jian Chengxi nodded seriously. “I did.”

He thought Grandma Li would praise him for making the right choice.

Instead—

“That’s not necessarily a good thing,” she said with deep concern. “Our underground city may look fine on the surface, but it’s actually a mess. You may be a flawed elf, but you’re still far too beautiful. Elves are rare and precious as it is. Before, when you were with Wang Zhe, people respected him and didn’t dare touch you. But now, if you’ve truly separated from him, and with you having no ability to protect yourself… life might get very hard. Especially since you’ve got two children to care for.”

Jian Chengxi had never considered any of this before, and for a moment he was stunned. He said to Grandma Li, “I understand what you mean, but my husband’s body is barely cold. Right now, I just want to raise my two children. I’m not thinking about anything else.”

“I understand your situation,” Grandma Li said. “But without someone to protect you in the underground city, you’re bound to be harassed eventually. That inspector’s officer didn’t look at you kindly either. Wang Zhe would have been a decent choice, but his family is a powerful one—they would never accept your two children…”

“I will never abandon my children,” Jian Chengxi said firmly.

Grandma Li understood him well. After thinking for a moment, the old woman said, “Then have you thought about finding yourself an honest man? You’ve got the looks and a good temperament so there’s no way you would have trouble finding one!”

Jian Chengxi was stunned and quickly said, “No, no, that’s impossible. I’m still married to my husband.”

“Aiya, what’s so difficult about that? Since he’s already died on the battlefield, why bother worrying over such things?” Grandma Li suggested. “When the time comes, just take a photo with your new husband and send it to him. That’ll count as letting him know.”

Jian Chengxi blinked. “That works?”

“Of course,” Grandma Li nodded. “I believe that in the afterlife, your husband would be happy to see you living well.”

Jian Chengxi: “…”

Really?

You sure he wouldn’t be so angry he’d climb out of the grave?