Chapter 314 - 313: Hu Shishen: So Lively

Gu Ji’s voice trembled. "Don’t you dare spout any nonsense. When I tell you to apologize, you apologize. As for the rest, I’ll settle the score with you later!"

He roughly dragged Granny Ji over.

The moment they drew near, they saw Huo Shi lean down, his eyes crinkling in a smile as he called out, "Grand-aunt, I’ve finally found you."

The instant he spoke, the scene fell silent.

Everyone froze for a moment.

Ji Shiyin and Pei Yin stared at each other in utter shock.

’Did... did he get the wrong person?’

Gu Ji released Granny Ji. With his back to the sun, his face was cast in shadow, the light in his eyes flickering erratically.

’All I want now is to get out of this cleanly,’ he thought. ’I can’t let my sister drag me down with her.’

When Granny Ji heard him say "Grand-aunt," she froze as if struck by lightning.

’And seeing the look in her older brother’s eyes... what wasn’t there to understand?’

’"Finally found you?" That means she’s not a complete orphan.’

’Grand-aunt... doesn’t that mean she’s the sister of Huo Shi’s mother?’

’In the interstellar era, family ties are taken very seriously. Even a distant connection...’

’...let alone being a grand-aunt.’

’It’s over. It’s all over.’ Granny Ji wished she could just pass out right then and there.

The atmosphere grew frigid, plunging into a deathly silence.

Ignoring the dumbfounded crowd, Huo Shi extended a hand toward Jian Yu. He made a strange sequence of hand signs, then stopped, holding his hand out palm up.

The sequence of gestures... how to describe it? His fingers were long and slender, his movements methodical and graceful.

’This is my great-grandnephew.’ Jian Yu pursed her lips.

She lifted her head, her face growing a little warm. All the stares made her feel inexplicably self-conscious.

She didn’t let it show, however. Her small face remained taut, and with a cold, detached expression, she placed her right hand in Huo Shi’s palm.

Two wisps of light smoke gathered and took form.

One transformed into a glistening, swaying purple Jellyfish.

The other became a magnificent Fire Dragon, which nuzzled the Jellyfish’s tentacles as it spiraled into the sky.

Everyone’s eyes widened. "It evolved just like that?"

"Was it really that simple?"

’Should we all go find a grand-aunt and have our Soul Beasts embrace?’

Huo Shi drew out his words, his expression a mixture of dependence and reverence. "Thank you, Grand-aunt."

"Mm." Jian Yu was clearly enjoying this, unable to suppress a smile as she nodded.

She was pleased, but everyone else was about to lose their minds.

Especially Granny Ji.

’There must be something wrong with my eyes,’ she thought. ’I actually saw a glimmer of childlike adoration in Huo Shi’s eyes.’

’It was just like... just like the way Ji the Third and the others usually looked at her!’

’The world has gone mad.’

Ji the Third, Ji Heyan, couldn’t help but cut in loudly, "President Huo, you must have the wrong person. She’s still in college!"

People had seen young uncles and aunts with significant age gaps, but they had never seen a relative of such a senior generation who was so young.

Jian Yu blinked innocently and deferred to Huo Shi. "I’m an orphan, so I have no idea. I only recently reconnected with my family myself. This is the first time I’ve met him."

"Leader—" Huo Shi started, then cleared his throat. "My great-grandmother had a daughter late in life. My grand-aunt looks exactly like my great-grandmother, and even their Soul Beasts are identical. There is absolutely no way I’m mistaken."

Huo Shi’s expression was haughty, radiating an unconcealed arrogance. He looked like he’d been cast from the exact same mold as Shi Zhao.

"I am here to back up my grand-aunt. I have no obligation to explain anything to you people."

Ji Heyan instinctively shut his mouth, backing away and shrinking to the side.

The Ji Clan Leader came forward with a nervous laugh and exchanged a few pleasantries, quickly explaining the whole situation in a couple of sentences.

Huo Shi shot a dismissive glance at Gu Ji. "I see."

That one look made Gu Ji feel as though he’d been plunged into an icy cavern, a cold so deep his heart began to tremble.

Afraid of jeopardizing her brother’s career, Granny Ji suppressed her rage and held her tongue.

Huo Shi, with no intention of making small talk, pulled out a large handful of emblems and medals of honor.

He looked at Ji Shiyin. "Grand-uncle, pick a few to keep. If anything ever comes up, just have someone bring one of these to find me."

Granny Ji couldn’t take it anymore and muttered under her breath, "Who does he think he is, answering to that? ’Grand-uncle.’ He should be careful not to bite his tongue."

Gu Ji tugged on her sleeve, signaling for her to shut up.

Jian Yu unceremoniously scooped up six of the emblems and medals and stuffed them into Ji Shiyin’s hand.

She patted Ji Shiyin’s hand. "There, now. This is a token of respect from your great-grandnephew."

Ji Shiyin and Pei Yin were speechless.

’Good heavens, is this newfound great-grandnephew’s affection for Jian Yu really this impressive?’

’We’re being completely outshone.’

Huo Shi smiled as he put away the remaining emblems.

’Grand-aunt is so adorable,’ Huo Shi thought. ’The Leader would be so happy if he could see this.’

Huo Shi checked the time, his expression turning serious. "Grand-aunt, I have to head back. If you need anything next time, contact me directly."

"Okay." Jian Yu raised a hand and gave a little wave, just like a lucky cat.

Gu Ji, his head lowered, started to follow.

Not wanting to waste his breath, Huo Shi said in a heavy tone, "Don’t follow me. Report to the Mecha test flight zone tomorrow."

Gu Ji looked up in disbelief. "President Huo, this has nothing to do with me! I..."

Huo Shi glanced at the onlooking members of the Ji Clan, then his gaze lingered for a moment on Jian Yu, who was contentedly cracking melon seeds.

Ji Shiyin was in the middle of sharing the seeds with Pei Yin. Sensing Huo Shi’s gaze, he looked up and gave a faint, tight-lipped smile.

A vein twitched on Huo Shi’s temple.

Gu Ji’s face turned ashen. "But I just performed a meritorious service."

Huo Shi nodded. "Exactly. Which is why you’ll be the chief test pilot."

A promotion in name, but a demotion in reality.

Gu Ji had only been promoted from the Mecha maintenance division six months ago.

Wasn’t it a bit much to transfer him again, in less than a year, to a dangerous post with no perks?

Gu Ji wanted to argue his case.

But Huo Shi averted his gaze and said imperiously, "You created problems for the Ji Group, accepted bribes, and obstructed our military’s Mecha research and development. These are acts of sabotage, and I have every right to punish you."

His expression was grim. "I recall your previous superior was the Director of Mecha Maintenance. Since he clearly doesn’t value his position, I’ll have him stripped of it when I return. You can go ahead and deliver the ’good news’ to him in advance."

Gu Ji opened his mouth, but in the end, could only mutter, "Yes... I... I’ll report for duty tomorrow."

Huo Shi glanced at Granny Ji.

Although the Ji Family had been blackmailed by Granny Ji, their high interstellar status made them her sanctuary.

However, officials protect their own, and political connections are also very important. Granny Ji only dared to throw her weight around in front of the Ji Family; away from them, she was left with nothing but the title of a "national treasure" protected by the Alliance.

Misinterpreting Huo Shi’s glance as a warning to him, Gu Ji hastily promised, "I won’t get involved in her affairs again. She carries the Ji Family name, so she was never really part of my Gu Family to begin with."

Huo Shi paused for a second, then mounted his Fire Dragon and flew back to the Starship.

The military vessel quickly vanished, returning the clear blue sky to the onlookers.

Granny Ji felt her head spin.

"You... you ungrateful bastard!"

She clutched her chest, her heart aching with a pain so intense it made her tremble.

Granny Ji could never have imagined that Gu Ji would publicly disown her, his own sister.

’Jian Yu is so young, yet Huo Shi still bit the bullet and acknowledged her as his grand-aunt. On what grounds could Gu Ji disown her?’

Granny Ji’s gaze swept over everyone’s faces. She felt like they were all laughing at her.

Her lifelong reputation, her years of authority—all gone in an instant.

Her chest heaved violently, her voice trembling with rage. "How could you say that? I’m your own sister! Years ago, when you were nearly beaten to death, I was the one who saved you with my Soul Beast, all by myself!"

"You brought this on yourself!" Gu Ji’s voice boomed back.

Relationships are maintained solely by mutual interest.

Once that interest is gone, what good is a little kinship or an insignificant life-debt?

Gu Ji had thrown off Granny Ji’s hand. "If it weren’t for your own short-sightedness, treating the position of Ji Family Head like a joke to be promised away, forcing Admiral Ji to be adopted out of the main family line—how else would you have provoked Huo Shi? How else would I have gotten transferred? And you have the audacity to blame me! Don’t ever come looking for me again. I have no sister like you."

With that, Gu Ji fled.

Jian Yu watched the drama unfold from the sidelines.

At the end of it all, Granny Ji devolved into a melodramatic soap opera character, covering her ears, frantically touching her face, and shaking her head.

Her fingertips first grazed her cheeks, then her fingers clutched at her hair, then slid down her neck, before she finally grabbed her head and began to shake it uncontrollably.

After calming down, Granny Ji feigned composure. "I still have my second brother! He’s a Saint-level Healer. If any of you want his help in the future, you’d best pretend today never happened. I will also stop interfering with the matter of the Family Head position and the clan’s..."

Before she could finish, Hu Shishen came flying over, leisurely seated on a Qilin Soul Beast. "My, what a lively gathering."