"When I was young, my family was very, very poor.
It was a slum.
There was a garbage dump in front of my house. I couldn't open the windows or I'd let in a horrible smell.
For many years, I felt like I smelled like that. "The Astral Phantom continued to stare out the window.
"Years later, I was still a germaphobe. Perhaps it was because of that.
Once, I asked my mother when I'd be full, holding a piece of coarse grain cake in my hand.
I remembered it clearly. My mother's tears gushed out and fell on my face. They were warm and wet.
At that time, I curiously asked my mother why she was crying.
She shook her head and wouldn't say anything. "
"My father was disabled. He couldn't walk.
He could only do the simplest of things.
My mother was beautiful and hardworking.
When she was with her father, he used to be a very outstanding mecha technician.
But in an accident, he lost his legs forever.
At that time, he was still too young and had no savings at all.
My father was an orphan. He had no family to help him. "
"My mother shouldered the burden of the family, but she didn't have any skills.
We can only live in the slums, living a poor life.
But in fact, I wasn't in pain at that time. In fact, I was quite happy.
I was content to be with my mother and father every day.
Poverty didn't take away our joy in life.
One day, my mother didn't come home even though it was late.
I ran out to look for her.
Suddenly, I heard crying.
It was my mother.
I followed the sound and found her in a pile of filthy garbage. Her clothes were tattered, her face red and swollen. There was blood at the corner of her mouth.
She didn't even have any clothes covering her lower body. "
"At that time, I was stunned. My mother suddenly rushed over and hugged me, crying loudly.
I didn't know what happened.
She cried for a long time.
I told my mother, 'Mom, I'm hungry. Can you come home and cook for me?'
I was only five. I was scared, but I was even hungrier.
My mother stopped crying and took me home. She didn't go see my father. Instead, she took a shower and changed her clothes.
She cooked for us.
Dad asked her with concern, but she just said that she was too busy with work and came back late. "
"I was full of crackers for that meal.
Although I was still a little scared, I was tired and went to bed.
When he woke up the next morning, his mother was missing.
When she was found, she was not far from the slums in a river.
The river was not deep, but she died there.
Because there was a big stone tied to her body.
The police said there were no signs of struggle, so it was most likely suicide. "
"After Mom left, Dad was so angry that he fell ill.
Later, I found out that it was a group of homeless people in the slums who bullied my mother.
All of this is because of poverty, because of poverty, we do not have the strength to protect ourselves.
Because of his poverty, his father couldn't even afford a pair of mechanical legs.
That was when my power awakened.
I killed those tramps.
At that time, I suddenly felt that I wasn't afraid at all. I swore that I would become stronger and become the richest person in this world. "
"Later, I became rich.
With power and great strength, he would not be able to do anything.
But I was actually very empty, because no matter how strong and beautiful I was, Mom and Dad couldn't come back.
They were gone from this world forever.
I lost interest in money.
But it was at that time that someone told me that if I could reach the Infinite level of magic power one day, I might be able to use my bloodline to search for the soul brand that had passed away.
And so I began to amass wealth.
I knew my own talent. If I wanted to improve, I needed more than hard work and luck. Wealth was important. It would bring me more resources.
I hated the unfairness of this world.
So I became an assassin, by hook or by crook.
With the resources he'd earned, he'd become a Paragon.
I didn't care what my target was. As long as I had the money, I would strike.
To me, nothing was more important than money. I was a greedy woman! "
"When you left your protogenia in my soul, I was afraid.
Because I suddenly felt there was something new in my pure soul.
But as the day passed, the fear in my heart disappeared.
Because I suddenly found that I could be at peace.
As I stared out at Skyfire Avenue, I realized there were many things I hadn't noticed before.
This world can be so beautiful.
I'm tired.
But I'm glad I didn't choose death.
Now that I think about it, I'm lucky to have fallen into your hands.
At least you're not like me. You're not a bad person. "
At this point, she paused and stood up. She combed her long hair with ease with both hands.
"I'm so happy to say these words.
They've been buried in my heart for fifty years.
What do you want me to do, little God of War?
You can do whatever you want.
Even if you want my body, you can do it.
I've never given myself to a man before. "She turned to Lan Qing and flashed him a charming smile.
But Lan Qing could see deep sorrow in the depths of her eyes.
Lan Qing had been quietly listening to her words the whole time. He did not interrupt and waited for her to finish.
His face was impassive. He walked slowly to the window and looked out.
From here, he could see Lan Jue's Zeus Jewelry Shop.
"You're lucky, actually," Lan Qing said quietly.
"Lucky?" The Astral Phantom looked at him in surprise.
"At least you know who your parents are," Lan Qing said quietly.
"At least you enjoyed their warmth and happiness when you were young."
"My brother and I were orphans. We didn't know who our parents were.
Before we met Teacher, it was hard enough to survive, let alone fill our stomachs.
We were born on our home planet. It was a run-down place, and the environment was harsh.
Only the lowest of the natives lived there.
We grew up eating the food of hundreds of families.
Being able to survive is the greatest fortune. "
The Astral Phantom's eyes flickered as he turned his head to look at Lan Qing. Lan Qing's face was handsome, but slightly thin.
His voice was calm, his eyes resolute. It was as if this tragic past wasn't his.
"I didn't think we'd end up in the same boat." The Astral Phantom sighed. There was something in her eyes.
Lan Qing turned to look at her, his dark eyes deep. "No, we're different.
The misfortune of my childhood made me stronger. It made me see further.
My ambition is to chase the light, to reach the stars.
But you've become a demon. "
The Astral Phantom's face stiffened.
Lan Qing's voice was cool. "You're beautiful, and your stories are powerful.
But none of that can hide the fact that you've become a demon. You've killed so many people. Have you ever thought about how their families feel?
How many families have you destroyed for your own selfish interests?
I didn't kill you, but that doesn't mean I accept you. I want to keep you alive to fight the aliens.
The only way to cleanse yourself of your sins was to save more people and atone for your sins.
You don't need to use your dirty tricks on me. Should I call you auntie?
Or should I call you grandma? "
The Astral Phantom gaped at him. She felt as if she'd been slapped in the face. "Auntie … you bastard!" She lifted her hand and slammed it toward Lan Qing.
Her movements were as fast as lightning, but just as she raised her hand, a sharp pain appeared in the depths of his soul. With a muffled groan, he directly fell to the ground.
Her soul had been branded with the Astral Phantom's mark. There was no way she could resist.
Lan Qing's voice was cold. "If you've chosen to live, then live as long as you can.
As for your tricks, don't use them on me. They won't work. "With that said, he turned to leave.
The Astral Phantom's childhood had been tragic. Everything she'd said had come from the bottom of her heart. She was telling the truth.
But no matter how bad a person's circumstances were, it wasn't a reason to harm others.
As the King of Assassins, she'd only cared about money. Who knew how many innocents she'd killed?
With Lan Qing's intelligence, how could he be so easily moved by a story?
It took a full five minutes for the Astral Phantom to regain her composure. She gritted her teeth as she glared at the door. She'd never hated someone as much as she did now. But this person was someone she couldn't resist.
She had thought that with her beauty, coupled with her tragic and sincere story, she would be able to move him.
Even if she couldn't gain her freedom, she'd at least be closer to him. Then she'd find a chance.
But Lan Qing's' auntie 'and' grandma 'were like a slap to her face. She'd been beaten black and blue.
As a Paragon, she'd never been humiliated like this.
What woman didn't care about her appearance?
Lan Qing hadn't restrained her, but she couldn't leave.
Thanks to the protogenia in her soul, Lan Qing could sense her every word and action. Even if they were separated by a planet, he could still control her.
It could be said that her life and death were in the hands of others, not to mention anything else.
… …