Chapter 547: 25. Flesh and Blood
“Wait, what did you say your father’s name was?”
With a somewhat surprised expression on Fisher’s face, Jasmine looked confused, unsure if he hadn’t heard clearly or if for some other reason. She could only repeat herself, “His name is Gouwen, is there a problem?”
“…”
This time, after confirming the previously received answer through the translation artifact and accurately pronouncing it a second time, Fisher was completely stunned.
Even he struggled to find the words to speak, his mind suddenly flooded with countless thoughts and ideas, entangled like a ball of yarn, and even so, he couldn’t express his shock in this moment.
The problem was that, in Fisher’s eyes, Gouwen had previously seemed to be on par with himself. He regarded him as a friend who had experienced life and death; although sometimes he would say and do strange things, overall, Fisher had a good impression of this “henpecked” Whale Folk. But now…
Wait, “strange things,” “henpecked”?
At this moment, with Jasmine’s words awakening him, Fisher reflected on past events and found that everything suddenly made sense.
He had once mentioned “Xu” in front of Gouwen, and given the Whale Folk’s penchant for childhood sweethearts, he and Xu must have fallen in love and married each other long ago. So back then, when Gouwen mentioned Xu after knowing that Fisher was from the future, he must have speculated that he had a connection with his daughter in the future.
His henpecked behavior already indicated that he had a very good relationship with Xu, so even in such a nebulous future, where ordinary people wouldn’t dare to make guarantees, he could be so certain that Jasmine was indeed his daughter. In reality, it was true.
In other words, from the very beginning, he had considered Fisher as his “potential son-in-law,” or rather, he was “assessing” him.
So, ever since entering the Holy Realm, he had been inexplicably interrupting Fisher’s communications with Hela, Asuka, and even other ladies, and often getting inexplicably angry about things Fisher couldn’t understand. Was this the reason?
However, it’s hard to say whether this was good or bad. If Gouwen regarded him as a friend or brother, how would he explain his relationship with Jasmine?
I see you as a brother, but you want to be my son-in-law?
In the future, will we each call our titles, I call you Dad and you call me Brother?
Even though Gouwen indeed should have existed for thousands of years or even tens of thousands of years, making him seem fitting to the current generational and lifespan calculations, Fisher had interacted with him when he was still young, so it all felt strange no matter how you looked at it.
This might just be the limitations of the zero rank perspective of a human, who only lives a short hundred years, even though Fisher had already entered a mythical rank.
“Fisher, why do you have such a strange expression? Could it be… have you heard or seen Dad before?”
“I haven’t seen him, I just thought this name sounded familiar,” Fisher replied.
“I see. After all, I’ve heard from Mom that Dad was a very famous doctor when he was young. Like her, he traveled to many places and made many friends. It’s possible you’ve come across his name in some ruins?”
Fisher thought to himself that one of the friends he once had was actually her father, but how could he tell her this?
“How can I say I used to be close with your father?”
At that moment, Fisher’s mind was overwhelmed and he couldn’t think of a response. He planned to find Gouwen later anyway, so he could discuss it later. He just had to change the subject for now.
“Maybe that’s it. Regardless, if we get the chance later, let’s look for him together.”
“Yeah! He’ll definitely like you, Fisher.”
“…”
Listening to this, Fisher began to sweat slightly.
It was one thing to feel guilty about what he had done; hearing Jasmine say that Gouwen would like him left him speechless.
Perhaps liking him was too much to hope for; it would be more reasonable to think he would want to chop him into pieces.
To repeat, Fisher was well aware of his own misdeeds, and when considering the consequences, this mindset could sometimes be quite useful.
That said, while Fisher felt a bit guilty, there was at least one thing that made him happy: Gouwen was still alive.
Previously, Fisher had traveled back to a very distant timeline, and sometimes when reflecting back to his present life, he found that the once glorious races and epic tales had all turned to ash, disappearing into the river of history, with no trace to be found.
Hela was still alive; she had transformed into the demon Baemon and was actively roaming the world. Gouwen was also still alive, at least according to Jasmine.
But what about the others?
Tang Zeming Asuka must still be alive, right?
Fisher sincerely hoped so. Just like the Fate Lord of the Creation Society, he fervently wished that that fragile girl from another world would still be alive after enduring the long years.
Whether in this world or back in her homeland, even if they never meet again, as long as she was alive, Fisher could find solace.
What about the others?
Mikhail, Gabriel, Michael, Neceria, where are they?
Fisher dared not think of their outcomes, pushing his thoughts temporarily to other concerns or questions.
First, if Gouwen is Jasmine’s father, is it possible that as a divine doctor, he has already solved the issue of the mythical rank being hard to produce offspring?
Jasmine was only over 160 years old, and by the time she was born, Xu had long entered the demigod rank; logically, one wouldn’t expect her to produce offspring normally. Fisher had learned this during the Holy Realm through Gabriel’s story.
But Jasmine was still born and was a Whale Folk flowing with the bloodlines of both Xu and Gouwen; aside from having more curses than ordinary Whale Folk, everything else seemed normal.
However, Fisher had no evidence and didn’t know the specific circumstances, so this point remained in doubt for now.
Another question was, if Gouwen was still alive, and had personally interacted with Fisher, knowing Fisher’s nature and that he might harm his daughter, why hadn’t he appeared to stop Jasmine and Fisher’s relationship these years?
Honestly, from Fisher’s perspective, if he were Gouwen, he would have come and beaten him up the moment they hadn’t met yet, then taken his daughter far away…
Well, upon analysis, the reason might be that Gouwen was unaware of the current situation or knew but couldn’t intervene.
According to Jasmine, he had to relay messages through Xu, indicating that he was likely not in reality.
If he were not in the material world, he could be in a crevice or the spirit realm, perhaps unable to return for some reason.
But as long as he was alive, Fisher now had a goal and a general direction for his search.
Most importantly, if he found him, being an eyewitness to that segment of the journey in the Holy Realm, he would also know Tang Zeming Asuka and the other Trans individuals and have a good relationship with them. Fisher didn’t believe that they would have no intersection in the years to come, especially since Gouwen was such a kind-hearted Whale Folk.
At the same time, he had experienced the entire history; he would likely know the whereabouts or fate of Tang Zeming Asuka, and finding him would bring many questions to light.
So… as long as he doesn’t stab me when we meet, I can learn the corresponding answers.
This makes sense.
Although he had prepared himself emotionally once again, at this moment, Fisher still lost interest in that aspect.
Perhaps it was due to Jasmine’s identity as Gouwen’s daughter, or perhaps it was because his secret meetings with Raphael while she was diligently working made Fisher hesitate.
In any case, Fisher planned to pause for now.
“By the way, Jasmine, Ingrid told me earlier that those two demon attendants who sent her over are still alive. I wonder where they ran off to? Although those two demons aren’t strong, letting them roam in the Dragon Court will surely cause trouble.”
Jasmine opened her mouth and then said, “Ingrid? Ah, that human reporter… but, if that’s the case…”
Jasmine certainly knew she couldn’t go with Fisher to deal with those demons. Not only was she a high priestess unable to wander around freely, but just the fact that Raphael would find out about her sneaking around to find Fisher would be a huge problem.
But she had hardly spent any time with Fisher, not even half an hour, and she couldn’t bear to let him go, so she looked somewhat hesitant, not wanting to let him leave.
Seeing her conflicted expression, Fisher smiled slightly and added, “You forgot, it’s very close to your room from here.”
Jasmine bit her lip, looking at him. Upon hearing this, her eyes brightened a bit, her expression appearing both eager and restrained.
After a moment’s hesitation, she decided to prioritize the greater importance and business, temporarily letting Fisher go.
But before that, Jasmine still quietly added, “Moreover, walking down this corridor, usually no one can see us. Raphael typically wouldn’t walk this way… and my room is also quite soundproof.”
“…”
Fisher couldn’t shake the feeling that Jasmine seemed to be going against Raphael, clearly not letting him say it, but she always brought it up first.
“Then, Fisher, I’ll be heading out now?”
“Alright.”
After receiving Fisher’s reply, Jasmine kissed him softly once again. This seemed to be the boldest move she could make at that moment.
Then she stood up, adjusted the high priestess robe on her body, and walked over to the door of the room. She first listened carefully to the sounds outside, confirming it was very quiet before she took hold of the doorknob and gently pushed the door open a crack. After that, she peered through the small opening and, once she was sure no one was around, she turned back to look at Fisher one last time.
She smiled slightly, then silently pushed the door open, stepped outside, and closed the door behind her.
“Click.”
Fisher was stunned by this skillful maneuver, wondering where she had learned such a way.
In any case, it wasn’t until her soft, sweet scent gradually dissipated that Fisher returned to his senses.
He glanced at his hands, then shook his head helplessly and lay back on the soft bed behind him.
Why did it feel like every day and night were so thrilling since returning to the Dragon Court?
Of course, for Fisher, this kind of “thrill” carried a derogatory meaning.
He shook his head, intending to take out the Soul Supplement Handbook from his possession to read, but when he reached for it, he instead pulled out the Supplement Handbook for Sub-Humans, the handbook that had accompanied him all along.
At this moment, Fisher suddenly narrowed his eyes, carefully examining the exterior of the handbook as if it were an old acquaintance.
The inner golden lettering was all a condensation of his thoughts, so there was no need to scrutinize that. He simply looked at the title page recording the Apocalypse Prophecy, raising his hand to touch the square writing beneath.
“What exactly do you want me to do, Subhuman Girl Enthusiast?”
At first, he thought this Apocalypse Prophecy was directed at humanity, concerning the sins committed by humanity. He wanted to protect his race and escape from the Holy Nali where Elizabeth was, which is why he embarked on this journey.
But being swept along all the way, this prophecy, which even Xu, a demigod, wanted to evade, had now popped from Jasmine’s mouth again.
What does it mean? Is it a curse or a blessing?
“First of all, I am not a Subhuman Girl Enthusiast.”
Fisher examined the cold golden square lettering for a long while, of course unable to obtain any answers from a book, so he could only take a deep breath, slapping it shut with one hand, and then sat up, turning his gaze toward the narrow window outside where the afternoon sunlight shone.
He still needed to find those two hiding demon attendants. He decided to return to read the Soul Supplement Handbook at night.
“What did you two talk about in the room?”
Outside the Blessing Tower, Fisher put on the red work robe of the Blessing Tower again. The thick robe effectively concealed his appearance and reduced his mobility costs. After informing Mill of his plans to search for the demons, he left again with Emhart, one taking the books and walking along the noisy streets of the Dragon Court in the afternoon.
Emhart curled up in Fisher’s embrace, staring blankly ahead with dead fish eyes when he suddenly asked, “How do you know we just chatted?”
“Come on, I don’t know you. What can be done in that little time?”
Emhart shifted his bookish body, adjusting to a comfortable position as he said this. Fisher didn’t even know what position would be comfortable for a book.
He just smiled slightly, not arguing, and continued to ask, “Aren’t you angry?”
“Why would I be angry? First, I’m used to it. Who told me I’m the great Sir Book and your friend? Second, seeing you caught between that Dragon Queen and Jasmine, I’m thrilled, so there’s no need for anger.”
“I see.”
“What about you? Are you angry that I didn’t tell you Jasmine was here earlier?”
“Why would I be angry? Even if you had told me in advance, I would have already followed Raphael to the entrance of the Dragon Court. I can’t avoid it. The things done will one day come back to haunt you. I’m well aware of this and I must accept it too. Not to mention, this is just the beginning; I don’t know how many such situations I’ll have to deal with afterward.”
“Who told you to keep doing this? You see, every time you part ways with a lady you have a close relationship with and meet a new lady, it’s as if the previous one didn’t exist, and you jump into a new relationship like a careless jerk who uses and abandons women. Moreover, if you were truly irresponsible, it would actually lessen the entanglements. But you look back and refuse to let anyone go, just asking for trouble.”
Fisher smiled slightly, perhaps already having an answer in mind, but just as he was about to speak, his soul suddenly sharply sensed something out of place. The sensation sent his flesh and blood stirring, as if it had sensed something exciting.
Chaos.
His expression grew slightly serious, and then he restrained Emhart in his arms, turning his gaze toward a direction in the bustling market.
“I have a clue.”
“A clue? Those two demons, ah ah ah!”
Before Emhart could finish, Fisher’s entire figure had already vanished from the spot, silently heading toward the direction he sensed the smell.
The sun in the sky was gradually obscured by floating clouds, bringing the rare afternoon coolness, casting large shadows over the buildings of the Dragon Court.
Fisher soon stepped into a deep alley hidden in the shadows, unsure of its purpose.
As soon as he entered, he caught a hint of a faint fishy smell. If it weren’t for Fisher’s high rank, he might not have noticed such a smell at all.
Raising an eyebrow, he and Emhart looked deeper into the alley.
They discovered a cool shelter at the alley’s entrance, where numerous male and female subhumans were passionately copulating, as if in an outdoor party.
“This…”
Emhart couldn’t bear to see any longer, while Fisher apathetically surveyed everything before him, noting the identities of all the participants.
From the scattered clothes nearby, they appeared to be ordinary residents of the Dragon Court.
He raised a hand to cover Emhart’s single eye and then slowly stepped into the lively atmosphere of the alley, surveying everything around him.
It seemed that they were indeed too lost in the moment, as not a single person acknowledged Fisher’s presence, fully immersed in their ecstasy.
“You filthy demons! Hurry and catch them and wipe them out! They’re just like those rude elves.”
Even with his eyes covered, Emhart let out a stream of curses.
“No, they’re not here.”
But Fisher only glanced around without sensing the presence of the two demons.
Under the cool shelter, on the ground of the party, clusters of writhing flesh trembled among the partiers. From that flesh, tentacle-like tails emerged, constantly surveying the surroundings, waiting to extract the fallen nature from the bodies overwhelmed in ecstasy.
Watching that writhing flesh, Fisher furrowed his brow, momentarily setting aside the issues regarding the two demons.
The reason? Because as someone who had directly opposed the Life Lord, he naturally understood the means and power of his opponents.
During the earlier ritual of summoning the demons, he hadn’t felt much, but now he suddenly experienced the exact feeling Jasmine had before.
Why does it feel like this power is strangely similar to what Erwind used earlier?
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Thank you immensely for the support!
(End of chapter)
