Nanda looked down at the daughter in his arms. She was fast asleep, her expression so peaceful and cute that even the weathered man couldn't help but smile.
"Not a waste! How could it be a waste? As long as Chi Chi can live a good life, nothing is wasted..."
"So... Uncle Nanda, what are you planning to do?" Satan opened his mouth but only managed to say this in the end.
"I don't have many skills," Nanda said, looking at baby Chi Chi in her swaddling clothes. "Aside from brute strength, I can only cook a couple of dishes... So I plan to head south with Chi Chi, find a modest little town, open a small restaurant, and raise her well." He lowered his voice. "In the countryside, there are fewer martial masters and fewer villains. With my strength, I can at least let Chi Chi grow up happy and safe."
Satan wanted to say something but stopped himself. In the end, he could only sigh, eyes slightly moist, and said with pursed lips, "Then... I wish you both the best, Uncle."
"Alright, little brother Satan, if fate allows, we'll meet again." Nanda smiled, though he was clearly reluctant. His eyes, as big as bronze bells, were turning red.
In the past, anyone who saw his massive and intimidating appearance would fear him, avoid him, or outright run from him. Only Satan—and his late wife—had treated him sincerely, not as some kind of monster. So even though Satan was just a little kid, Nanda had always considered him a true friend, and deeply cherished the bond.
"Goodbye, Uncle."
"Goodbye, Satan. I hope you get into the Martial Association."
"Mm! I definitely will!"
(Author's Note: Please don't assume Chi Chi and Satan will have any romantic entanglement just because of this scene. I was simply being lazy and decided to have Ox-King and Satan appear together for convenience... Chi Chi's future partner will be freely arranged. Just adding this note in case anyone overthinks it.)
---
"How about here?" Outside a luxury department store, Hathaway turned and asked Taro.
Taro had just watched the scrawny boy and burly man part ways across the street. He turned his eyes back, took Hathaway's hand, and led her through the mall's entrance. "Alright, your call."
The Phoenix had reverted back into a red dove and now perched on Taro's shoulder, drawing curious stares from the doormen. It lifted its head arrogantly and ignored them, leaving the staff baffled.
Though Hathaway now appeared youthful and stunning, the truth was she was nearly 150 years 150-year-old. Still, the passage of time didn't always follow normal patterns. The older she got, the more willful she seemed to become.
Take shopping, for instance—back in the day, before she and Taro had shared life forces, she would've walked into a store knowing exactly what she wanted, picked it out quickly, paid, and left. That was her usual style.
But now, just for a single warm sweater, she had Taro accompanying her from 8 a.m. until nearly 9 a.m. The sun was already high in the sky when they finally stepped out. The Phoenix, completely drained, had shopping bags hanging from its neck and was feebly flapping its wings, drawing attention from passersby.
Taro, on the other hand, was used to it. In a way, this change in Hathaway reflected how the two of them had become inseparable. Since making their vow to live and die together by the sea seventy years ago, the two had not only become physically connected but spiritually entwined as well.
"Let's go."
With a flick of his hand, Taro wrapped Hathaway in invisible energy, lifting her into the air. Ignoring the astonished stares from the people below, he flew into the sky with Hathaway. The Phoenix, wings weighed down by bags, followed close behind. The weight of the bags meant nothing to it—it just hated how uncomfortable they were hanging around its neck.
---
Northern Mountains.
The wind was sharp and cold, like blades.
"It's freezing here!" Hathaway, dressed in stylish and ultra-warm outerwear, floated mid-air in Taro's telekinetic field. The northern wind was mostly filtered out as it passed her. She laughed and said, "Only Fabeli could handle a place like this. His body's made for the cold. If it were me... I wouldn't suffer through this."
"I wouldn't dare let you suffer," Taro said with a smile.
"Exactly." Hathaway smiled back, giving him a sideways glance that was both charming and full of affection.
The Phoenix flew over to her, fluttering its big eyes at its mistress.
"Alright, alright. Look at you, all pitiful. Once we land, I'll find something for you to carry them in, happy now?"
Hathaway was helpless. This little red bird, after so many years with her husband, hadn't picked up any of his good traits. Instead, it had grown increasingly lazy, gluttonous, boozy, and proud. Still, she'd spoiled it herself—her own fault.
"Let's go."
Taro glanced over the rolling hills below. Using his ki perception, he locked onto the concealed research facility established here by the Virtual Earth Network Corporation—specifically, the place where Fabeli was studying his Divine Tree cell constitution.
When the couple and their bird arrived, Fabeli was already waiting.
Taro hadn't hidden his ki, so the energy detectors at the facility had sensed their approach in advance. Moreover, these upgraded detectors could analyze all kinds of energy patterns, allowing Fabeli to determine precisely that the incoming trio were Taro, Hathaway, and the Phoenix.
"I gotta say, the data you gave me last time was way too detailed! Barely took any effort to finish things..."
Fabeli wasn't pleased that Taro had handed him the full technical blueprint along with the concept. He enjoyed the thrill of exploring the unknown, not simply assembling things from a manual.
Taro ignored him. Scientists were always a bit eccentric.
Hathaway, having removed her winter coat, walked over with a smile and engaged Fabeli in a discussion filled with incomprehensible jargon. Taro listened on the side, frowning slightly. Hathaway noticed he didn't understand a word and couldn't help but laugh quietly. Taro shot her a playful glare.
"Alright, the shielding device you wanted—early prototypes are ready," Fabeli said. "The question is: do you want Jarvis to deploy them globally right away to block your energy signal, or wait until the tech is fully refined?"
Fabeli didn't know why Taro wanted to mask his own energy signal, hence the question.
"Start now. We'll improve it as we go," Taro decided.
"Got it. It'll be done tonight. Jarvis can handle the ongoing maintenance." Fabeli nodded, then looked up at the ceiling. "No problem, right, Jarvis?"