Chapter 1081 - 387: If We Can’t Hold the Line, Then We Won’t

This short sentence made Hong Qitian’s old face freeze slightly.

Not holding out until New Year... What does that mean?

It means that the very frontline defended by Hong Qitian against the invading powers of the Other Space Gods is about to collapse.

It means that the door isolating the true apocalyptic disaster might soon be pushed open.

The consequence will be a catastrophic disaster sweeping across the whole world.

Hong Qitian’s aged body trembled almost imperceptibly, but he quickly steadied himself.

He fixed his gaze on his son’s exhausted, almost depleted appearance.

His stiff expression suddenly melted away like snow and ice dissolving.

He actually shook his head and let out a low chuckle, deep and raspy.

There was no blame or disappointment in it.

Only a trace of heartache.

And a kind of settled relief.

Hong Qitian laughed and walked slowly over to the side of the sofa.

Looking at Hong Qitian’s almost collapsed figure there, he rarely extended a calloused and scarred rough palm.

And gently placed it on Hong Qitian’s shoulder.

"If we can’t hold it, we won’t hold it. Our Hong Family has done enough."

The weight and warmth of that palm.

Made Hong Qitian’s extremely fatigued body tremble suddenly.

Since childhood, Hong Qitian had always been harsh to him to the point of near cruelty.

Back then, Hong Qitian was the number one in the Human World.

A hero trudging forward with the entirety of humanity under the watchful eyes of alien races.

From an early age, Hong Qitian was instilled with a sense of responsibility and sacrifice.

He understood, and he accepted, no matter how hard the training nor how perilous the battles, he never uttered a single complaint or shed a tear in front of his father.

Later, he took over the title of number one in the Human World.

And also took over the heavy shackles named the future of humanity from his father’s shoulders.

He did very well, even more desperately and cautiously than his father in those years.

Kept the line of defense as solid as a rock.

Never let his father down.

Yet at this moment, Hong Qitian’s unexpected and comforting relaxed attitude.

Instead made Hong Qitian feel a strong sense of unfamiliarity and disorientation.

He looked at the near benevolent, serene smile on his father’s aged face.

A sense of absurdity and a trace of ominous premonition surged in his heart.

"Dad..."

Hong Qitian hesitated, his voice filled with probing and disbelief.

"Are you... are you about to kick the bucket and want to give up?"

As soon as the words fell—

"Pop!"

A crisp flick, familiar in force and angle.

Instantly fell on Hong Qitian’s back of the head.

Making a loud sound.

Only to see that the face which had a trace of benevolent smile moments ago on Hong Qitian suddenly turned dark.

His mouth twitching uncontrollably.

That look seemed eager to hang up this brat and beat him again.

"Nonsense! I’m in great shape! Living another ten years is no problem! You little bastard, cursing me?!"

Hong Qitian scolded him grumpily.

Full of vitality, nowhere resembling an elder on death’s door.

However, after receiving this smack, the string in Hong Qitian’s heart stretched to the extreme instead loosened with a snap.

Having the strength to hit people, that means the old man’s body is fine.

It’s not a last hurrah, nor is it giving up.

Watching his son clutch his head, yet showing a hint of relief and even a silly smile, Hong Qitian’s anger mostly dissipated, leaving only a warm mixture of helplessness and amusement.

He snorted, retracted his hand, and put it behind his back, pacing to the window.

Looking at the eternal lead clouds outside.

"Previously, I told you to keep guarding, risking your life if necessary..."

Hong Qitian’s voice lowered, "Because there weren’t many decent seedlings among humanity, let alone anyone able to truly take on the mantle, see the hope. If our Hong Family didn’t step up, who else could?"

Then paused for a moment, turned around.

"But now, it’s different."

Hong Qitian’s mouth slowly curved into a smile, "So..."

"If you can hold, keep holding, do your best, hold one more day to buy that kid a bit more time to grow. If you truly can’t hold, then let them in."

There was no fear in Hong Qitian’s eyes.

Only a strange kind of anticipation.

"Anyway, a month or two doesn’t make much difference."

"What’s meant to come will come. Coming sooner might even let that kid strengthen faster."

Listening to his father’s words, Hong Qitian first froze.

Then, a name flashed through his mind like lightning.

Someone his father values so much, able to rise in such a short time.

Being regarded as humanity’s future hope...

In today’s Arctic, in today’s Human World, besides him, who else could it be?

"You mean..." Hong Qitian probed with a confirming tone, "Fang Qingyu?!"

"Pop!"

Yet another familiar flick, precisely landing on the same spot.

"Aiyo!"

Hong Qitian couldn’t help but cry out in pain, this time genuinely stunned.

Hong Qitian glared at him with a dark face: "Didn’t you know? Why are you pretending to be confused! Do you have to get beaten to feel comfortable?"

Hong Qitian rubbed his aching back of the head.

But his face showed a hint of smile, chuckling.

Being hit by the old man, it’s been a routine since childhood.

But this time being hit.

Made him feel an unprecedented sense of ease and a lightness of unloading part of the burden.

"Hehehe, got it, got it!"

Hong Qitian stood up from the sofa, although his face was still pale, his spirit seemed somewhat restored.

"With your words, I feel reassured. I’ll head off now, there are still a mess of things up front."

He stretched his muscles.