Chapter 178: Chapter 178: Battlefield

After the meal, Lu Huan and Lu Yu volunteered to do the cleaning. Lu Xiao handed them aprons and stepped out of the kitchen. Once Lu Xiao was gone, Lu Huan asked Lu Yu, “So, what’s the deal with you?”

Although Lu Huan and Lu Yu kept in touch on occasion, it wasn’t very frequent. Lu Huan had been busy with midterms lately, so they hadn’t spoken in a while. And now, somehow, Lu Yu and Lu Xiao’s relationship had softened.

Lu Xiao was even inviting Lu Yu over for dinner. ’And here I had to take so many winding roads to get to this point.’ That’s why she was so surprised to see Lu Yu here.

Lu Yu didn’t hide anything and recounted the whole story, finishing with, “I’m learning Fighting Technique from Ares every week. Do you have any idea how incredible he is?”

Lu Huan had met Ares before, but she only knew his cooking skills were on par with Lu Xiao’s. She had no idea about his Fighting Technique, as she wasn’t obsessed with it like Lu Yu.

Still, she could hear Lu Yu’s approval of Ares, and she felt pleased. “You’ve finally grown up.”

Seeing that Lu Yu was no longer as headstrong as before, Lu Huan felt an inexplicable happiness at her sister’s transformation.

Lu Yu understood the meaning behind her words and grinned. “Lu Huan, I’m only now realizing that life can be this wonderful.”

“It’s not too late for you to find out,” Lu Huan replied with a smile. She felt that ever since she started looking up to Lu Xiao, her own life had become peaceful and fulfilling. The anxiety and unease were gone, and it felt as though her life was finally completely in her own hands.

’Before, I seemed powerful. As a female, I supposedly had absolute authority, but it was all like trying to grasp the moon’s reflection in the water—nothing felt real. But now, it’s different. I truly feel I have the power to change things.’

’This must be what I’ve learned from Lu Xiao.’

She believed Lu Yu would soon feel the same way.

While Lu Huan and Lu Yu were chatting, Lu Xiao gave Cecilia a tour of her home.

Meanwhile, Admiral Clan and Ares had gone to the study.

“The mutant beasts along the border have been restless lately. Has the Seventh Military District received any word?” Faced with Admiral Clan’s sudden question, Ares paused for a moment. “Not yet.”

Admiral Clan wasn’t surprised to hear this. The Seventh Military District belonged to the Empire’s reserve forces, unlike the First Military Region, which was permanently stationed on the frontiers. It was perfectly normal for them to receive news more slowly.

He was asking because he was passing information to Ares. “Vice Admiral Fred will be leading the First Army to the border. If you’re interested, I can have you transferred to the First Army to go with him.”

Admiral Clan didn’t explain his reasons for this arrangement, but Ares understood. The admiral was paving the way for him—creating a path for his promotion.

For a military man to get promoted quickly, he had to go to war. Only by earning military merit could he open the path to advancement.

That was how he had earned his rank of Major General. Ares understood this perfectly.

“I’ll go,” he replied firmly, without a trace of hesitation. “But I have to discuss this with Lu Xiao first.”

He couldn’t just rush off to the battlefield without discussing it with her.

“Of course. You don’t want her to worry.” Although she was bound to worry, it was far better than her not knowing where Ares had gone.

And just like that, the matter was settled. Meanwhile, Lu Xiao had just finished showing Cecilia around her property. As they wrapped up the tour, Cecilia held Lu Xiao’s hand. “Your home may be small, but it’s so cozy. It makes me not want to leave.”

“Then you should stay for a few days, Grandmother,” Lu Xiao invited warmly.

Cecilia just smiled. “Just hearing you say that is more than enough for me. I’ll be sure to visit often from now on. I’d never met Lu Huan and Lu Yu before, though I’d heard about them. Seeing them today, it’s clear you’ve taught them well.”

She knew, of course, that Lu Ge Wei was incapable of raising them so well.

That’s why the thought of crediting Lu Ge Wei never even crossed her mind.

“It’s mainly because they themselves were willing to change,” Lu Xiao said. “If they weren’t, if they were set in their ways, no one could have helped them.”

Cecilia was pleased to see her modesty. “Still, a large part of the credit belongs to you.”

When Admiral Clan and Ares came downstairs from their discussion, he and Cecilia departed together.

After seeing them off, Lu Xiao turned to Ares, who looked like he had something to say. “What did Admiral Clan talk to you about? You seem to have something on your mind.”

Ares never doubted Lu Xiao’s perceptiveness, and he hadn’t planned on hiding this from her anyway. “The mutant beasts on the front lines are getting restless. I plan to go with the First Army and do my part for the upcoming beast tide.”

Surprise flickered in Lu Xiao’s eyes. “Is this what my father told you in the study just now?”

’This couldn’t be some sudden idea of his. Someone must have told him… and that someone could only be my father.’

“Yes. Admiral Clan gave me the news. Xiao Xiao, I—”

“If you want to go, then go. I know what you want to do. Just be careful and come back safely. I’ll be here waiting for you.” Lu Xiao knew exactly why Ares wanted to go to the front. For a military man, earning merit on the battlefield was the fastest way to get promoted.

That was how Ares had earned his rank of Major General.

Although she didn’t care about his rank, she would never stand in the way of his ambition.

After hearing Lu Xiao’s words, the look in Ares’s eyes softened instantly. He reached out and pulled her into his embrace. “I’ll come back safely, I promise. But you have to be careful while you’re here at home, too.”

Clearly, the memory of Lu Xiao’s previous kidnapping still filled him with lingering fear.

“I will be. Besides, my father is here. And if I need to, I can just move in with Grandmother. I’ll definitely be safe then, right?”

She didn’t want him to be worried about her while he was on the battlefield.

Lu Huan and Lu Yu pushed the door open, coming out just in time to see the couple talking and embracing in the living room. Being the older sister, Lu Huan reacted first, quickly spinning around. “Oh! Just… continue. We didn’t see anything. We’ll just head back.”

Lu Xiao stepped out of Ares’s embrace, a little exasperated by their reaction. “What’s going through your heads? Are you all done cleaning up? When are you two heading home?”

Lu Huan blushed. Seeing how natural Lu Xiao and Ares looked, it was clear she had been the one overthinking things. “We’re getting ready to leave now.”

Lu Yu quickly chimed in, “Ares, I’ll master the techniques this week. You can check my progress next week.”

“I might not be home next week. I’ll let you know when I get back.” Ares wasn’t sure of his exact departure date, but he knew it wouldn’t be long.

Lu Yu was about to ask Ares where he was going when Lu Huan tugged her by the arm. “Let’s go. Didn’t Ares say he’ll let you know when he’s back? What’s there to worry about?”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep