Chapter 770 - 369: Learning of the Death (Part 1)

Gu Ningxuan had been drifting alone for more than five years in a place that was both familiar and strange, with a constant feeling of unease and insecurity in his heart. Yet in that moment, a simple phrase—"It’s good you’re back"—dispelled the panic he had felt for many years.

Gu Huaixi stood there in a daze, unable to believe that this man was really Gu Ningxuan, really the father he believed to have been "dead for more than five years." This man... came back when everyone thought he was dead...

Gu Molin watched through the virtual screen, looking somewhat greedily and dreamily at this great-grandson who was taller and stronger than in his memory.

He could see that the youthful innocence the other once had had long disappeared, leaving only the demeanor that a man of the Gu Family should possess... After many years apart, that slightly immature great-grandson had quietly transformed into a real man, becoming a father capable of taking on responsibility.

Gu Molin took a deep breath, not knowing where to start. Faced with a great-grandson regained after being lost, the former Marshal who had never been weak in his life had a moment of hesitation and withdrawal, wanting to ask questions but unable to voice them.

Gu Molin was like this, and how could Gu Ningxuan be any different? They both grew up under the unchanging traditional education of the Gu Family, where even if there was a lot of emotion in their hearts, it would be suppressed, buried deep inside, rarely showing outwardly.

Because of this frustrating trait, the two men did not know what words to use to break the silence at this moment.

It wasn’t until Gu Huaixi’s slightly hoarse adolescent voice, with a hint of complexity in his expression, broke this strange atmosphere, "Great-grandfather, although I know it’s not the time to disturb the reunion of you two, there are some things I still hope Father can explain, like... where have you been all these years? What have you been doing? Why are you only appearing here now?"

Gu Huaixi addressed Gu Ningxuan as "Father" purely as the traditional family’s highly formulaic honorific, not out of closeness, and certainly not from genuinely acknowledging the other’s identity from the bottom of his heart. Moreover, with Gu Molin present, he couldn’t directly call Gu Ningxuan "Uncle Gu," otherwise it would clearly show the estrangement between father and son, worrying the old man for them.

Great-grandfather already had more than enough official duties on his hands, so these minor issues could be left to settle privately between the father and son later!

Even though Gu Huaixi gave an appearance of formality, how could the old man, who had lived for hundreds of years and watched Huaixi grow up and personally raised him, not detect the peculiar discord?

But given Huaixi’s overly tumultuous upbringing and the lack of accomplishment Gu Ningxuan had in fulfilling the father role, the awkwardness between them was normal. However, he believed that this father and son would resolve their issues peacefully.

Thinking of this, Gu Molin pretended not to notice the awkwardness, lightly coughed, cleared his throat, and gently asked, "Xiao Xi is right, Ningxuan, could it be that back then, instead of boarding that warship, you went somewhere else?"

Just like in a melodramatic romance story, Gu Ningxuan had bought a ticket for the warship due to certain circumstances but ultimately did not board, instead receiving other news that led him to a secluded place, narrowly escaping disaster?

If not, when the Insect Race invaded furiously, if Gu Ningxuan knew this, how could he not return? Instead, why is he only appearing again after so many years? Gu Molin looked directly at Gu Ningxuan, eager to know the real answer. He had a vague premonition that a very twisted story was likely. And Gu Ningxuan did not disappoint his speculation; the result given was astonishing.

Gu Ningxuan was not one to lie, and facing his close kin, he would not purposely hide the truth. That story from back then was recounted by him slowly, "Great-grandfather, I did indeed buy a ticket for that civilian warship back then and experienced the cosmic turbulence of a black hole..."

"Entered the cosmic turbulence of a black hole?" Gu Molin looked at him in astonishment, his elderly voice raised a few decibels.

"Yes... however, fortunately, I became the only survivor inside the warship; all others perished." Gu Ningxuan paused slightly at this point because at that time, the civilian ship had more than a million passengers, yet in the end, only he survived, "In my haze of consciousness, I had a terribly frightening nightmare that still chills me to think of. Then, when I awakened, I found myself rescued by my father and two older brothers..."