Nian Shutong, adopting an elder’s deanor, nodded to the two brothers, preparing to go inside.
He Xinchun and He Xinnian had no choice but to cooperate and follow behind, matching her pace on one side while guiding Nian Shutong on the other.
"Grandma i has already gone inside."
Nian Shutong nodded in understanding, indicating that she knew.
She walked into the He Family’s gate. The courtyard was very spacious, with not many flowers, plants, or trees. The architectural style was rugged and grand, sowhat resembling northern styles.
Following the brothers, Nian Shutong walked for almost five minutes before reaching a backyard. Before entering, she saw the people standing at the door: an elderly man, beside whom was the He Family Patriarch she had t a few tis before.
"According to age, you should call him brother."
The old man stood in front, pointing to the He Family Patriarch beside him.
"Hello, big brother."
Nian Shutong called out without any burden. She had been here once before, but that ti she had t with only the He Family Patriarch, not in such a grand manner with the entire He Family. Last ti, the two brothers at the back did not know they had suddenly gained an aunt.
The old man nodded and said to Nian Shutong, "Co inside and eat first."
"Alright."
Nian Shutong showed no sign of awkwardness or anxiety. She stepped forward a few paces and walked alongside the old man towards the house.
Upon entering, she saw Aunt i sitting on a chair waiting. She first called out "Aunt," to which Aunt i nodded and motioned for Nian Shutong to sit beside her.
Nian Shutong obediently walked over and sat next to Aunt i. Other mbers of the He Family also took their seats.
This room of the He Family didn’t have sofas, but those old wooden chairs. The old man sat directly opposite the doorway, with seats on either side. Nian Shutong sat at the old man’s side, very close, with the He Family Patriarch directly across from her.
After everyone was seated, with a gesture from the old man, the door at the entrance was closed.
"Everyone here today is a direct descendant of the He Family. They should all be aware of this matter, so I have called them all back."
"Nian Shutong, my purpose today is to tell you that as long as you don’t betray humanity, the He Family will always support you."
After speaking, the He Family Ancestor introduced Nian Shutong’s identity formally.
"Nian Shutong is the daughter of He Rongcheng, a forr commander of the He Family. You don’t need to know the details, but her identity is absolutely true."
"She is the child of Nian Lan and He Rongcheng."
In fact, the He Family Ancestor had already briefed everyone once before. Following this formal introduction, many began to salute Nian Shutong.
In an instant, Nian Shutong gained seniority on the spot.
Aunt, grand-aunt, great-grand-aunt; all of a sudden, she felt a sense of having many descendants.
"Alright, everyone please rise."
Nian Shutong called everyone to rise, and they all began to take their seats.
For a mont, the entire room was sowhat quiet, as if there was no common topic to discuss.
The He Family Patriarch opened his mouth several tis but couldn’t find a suitable topic, and finally simply said, "Let’s eat."
"Alright."
"Yes, let’s eat."
Everyone began to move and headed to the He Family dining room, where there was a huge round table. After everyone was seated, they began to eat.
The al was a bit quiet and sowhat awkward.
When the al was finished, the He Family Ancestor called the He Family Patriarch and Nian Shutong to follow him, indicating there was sothing to discuss.
Nian Shutong and the He Family Patriarch followed the He Family Ancestor into a room that sowhat resembled a ditation room, as it contained nothing but tatami mats—no bed, no chairs, and oddly, no Buddha statue either.
"Sit."
Nian Shutong wasn’t particularly curious; she sat cross-legged on the tatami, and the well-acquainted He Family Patriarch did the sa.
The He Family Ancestor also sat on his designated tatami, his gaze landing on Nian Shutong.
"You resemble your father a lot, but your personality is much like your mother’s."
Nian Shutong just smiled faintly without speaking. What could she say?
She was not the original owner, or even if she were, could soone truly love parents who appeared suddenly after going through a series of events?
Nian Shutong felt she could not.
The He Family Ancestor didn’t say much; he wasn’t a stubborn person.
"eting you today, there are two things I want to discuss. First, the He Family wants to announce our relationship with you to the interstellar, letting them know you are Nian Lan and He Rongcheng’s child, which might be beneficial for you."
Nian Shutong looked at the He Family Ancestor who had stopped speaking and asked, "Do you think interstellar people would view differently because of these two people’s sacrifices?"
"Yes."
"Wouldn’t they also scrutinize because I am their child?" Nian Shutong shook her head in refusal, "I don’t want any public announcent. I am just , and I don’t need the additional identities of the two."
"If the He Family doesn’t support due to this, please don’t feel burdened. I never expected the He Family’s support."
Nian Shutong’s words first made the Ancestor frown, but eventually, he laughed.
"You are great, even better than your parents."
The He Family Ancestor seed to recall sothing and said to Nian Shutong, "Your father was a fool—always sacrificing for humanity, never thinking of himself. Your mother, though a bit short-tempered, was just like him, always sacrificing for others."
"It’s not a bad thing, but it’s too cruel for the people around them."
Nian Shutong made no comnt, but said, "I am not that great, but there is always a line in people’s hearts. If soone touches my line, maybe I’ll risk everything, but the range enclosed by the line in my heart is just not as wide as theirs."
The He Family Ancestor nodded, sighed softly, and said, "Yes, we all have our weaknesses."
"Alright, let’s consider the first matter done. Now let’s talk about the second matter."
The He Family Ancestor extended a hand, and the He Family Patriarch stood, retrieving a small black box from a hidden compartnt.
"This box was left to you by your father."
"In fact, your father didn’t agree with the plan to cryonize you, but he anticipated your mother would proceed, so he left sothing for you that only you can open."
Nian Shutong accepted the small box, feeling nothing from it, yet it was sowhat heavy.
"I’ll keep it."
The He Family Ancestor nodded, finally asking, "What about the Wu Family?"
"They deserve to die."
Those simple words prompted the He Family Patriarch to look at Nian Shutong, but he said nothing. The He Family Ancestor looked at Nian Shutong and gave her an address.
"Go have a look; maybe there you’ll find sothing you need."
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