With a loud bang, the treatment pod was split into two. The circuit boards shattered, cables snapped, and sparks crackled wildly.
Tang Ke's hand was cut, blood seeping out. His eyes looked like they would bleed too.
He wanted to kill him!
He wanted to kill her!
What he did was unforgivable! And she, she knew everything! She just sat there, playing with it, enjoying herself!
Tang Ke remembered how Xin Ya had looked pale the first time she heard Han Yanyan call him “little rabbit.” It turned out that from that moment, Han Yanyan... knew everything!
He recalled her gleeful laughter when she had spat out those vicious words in the study, her smile blooming like a flower. If a devil had a face, it would surely be Han Yanyan’s.
With such charm, she could both enchant and do harm.
Tang Ke remembered the last words Xin Ya had said to him that night. It was not an illusion; it truly was her last testament.
His mental power had reached S+ grade, and she had finally felt at ease, free of worries, and a sense of fatalism took root.
Tears streamed down his face.
I’m sorry, Mama…
I will never let anyone call me little rabbit again.
Tang Ke's heart was filled with hatred. He imagined countless ways to kill the head of the Han family, but in the end, he realized… it was extremely difficult.
Mental power was merely part of a warrior's strength; those with strong mental abilities had a significant advantage in maneuvering mechas. But when it came to hand-to-hand combat without any weapons, a person's fighting skills, combat experience, and physical stamina were all crucial factors that affected victory or defeat.
Han Jun had trained in martial arts for decades, taking countless lives on the battlefield; he was a real powerhouse.
Moreover, his identity rarely allowed for solo action. If Tang Ke could not land a fatal blow, he would suffer a backlash. Not to mention they were both strong—father and daughter!
Tang Ke contemplated the matter the entire night, coming to terms with the reality that he did not possess the ability to kill him yet. This realization sobered him. Once his mind settled down, he noticed the peculiarities within it.
Han Yanyan had the male servant notify him to go to the head of the family’s study. At that moment, he didn’t think much of it, but recalling it now, she could have simply summoned him directly on his brain device. Servants usually conveyed messages for guests or subordinates. While he wasn’t exactly her lover yet, their relationship should not be this detached.
What about the videos? Why did they exist, and why did they suddenly play after he arrived?
Who was pulling the strings behind all this? What was the purpose?
Whether it was to kill the Han family head or to seek answers, Tang Ke knew he had to return to the manor.
The first time he came to this manor, it was for its stunning grandeur, and to be in awe of the angelically beautiful young lady. Now, stepping into this place again, his state of mind was entirely different.
One day, he would bring it all crashing down.
One day, the Han family would pay the price.
Before he could return to his room, his brain device vibrated, and Han Yanyan called him: “Come to my study.”
Han Yanyan had her own study. Compared to the head of the Han family's study, hers was more feminine. And in comparison, Tang Ke was much more familiar with this place.
Han Yanyan sat behind her desk, not lifting her head, and said, “Where have you been? I didn’t see you all morning. My father and I are about to head out. Here’s a training plan I made for you. While I’m away, Han Jun will supervise you.” With that, she sent the training plan to Tang Ke’s brain device.
It was detailed and very strict.
Tang Ke thought back to all of her attitudes towards him since they met. She had treated him gently since childhood, then suddenly turned cold, leaving him in a panic, questioning himself. When she returned to her soft self, he felt heartwarming gratitude, and his loyalty increased once more…
This conditioning had been going on for a long time.
As enamored as he once was, now he loathed her just as deeply. Tang Ke's hands trembled, bloodlust rising, but he forced himself to suppress it.
Han Yanyan was about to leave; he had overheard their conversation yesterday and knew she and her father were going to kill her mother. And she might very well be the one to do it.
She was a woman who could kill her own biological mother without flinching and overpower her maternal family. If he couldn’t take her out in one strike, she would show him no mercy. He would have no way to take revenge.
Tang Ke had never hated himself for being weak so much!
“Hmm?” Han Yanyan suddenly looked up, frowning. “What was wrong just now?”
Tang Ke controlled his emotions, trying to relax as he asked, “You called me here yesterday, but you’re not here now. Why?”
She had clearly instructed him to go to the head’s study. The boy was testing her, and Han Yanyan thought this over, putting on an expression of ignorance, frowning, “Yesterday? I didn’t call for you. I was very busy yesterday.”
It wasn’t Han Yanyan who called after all—someone else was pulling the strings? Who?
Tang Ke said, “A male servant came to summon me.”
Han Yanyan asked, “What time?”
Tang Ke told her, and she recalled, “I was in the big study at that time, not here.”
She shrugged nonchalantly and smiled, “Looks like someone toyed with you. Is it Han Jin? He’s still causing trouble.”
Definitely not Han Jin. Han Jin had long since learned not to provoke him, and Tang Ke also didn’t believe he had the ability to pull these stunts under Han Yanyan and the head of the family’s noses.
He said, “It could be him. He was bad-mouthing me that day, so I taught him a lesson.”
Han Yanyan rubbed her temples, “You should be gentler next time. His mother came to me crying, it's so annoying.”
Tang Ke returned to his room filled with doubts, only to see something he hadn’t seen in a long time—a delicate, colored envelope with floral edges lying quietly on his desk.
Once, the little fairy had been a warmth, a drop of joy in his monotonous life.
Later, after suffering the pain of losing his mother, he poured his soul into Han Yanyan, obsessively enamored with her. Every dream he had was about her.
The little fairy’s simple pastoral charm, however, no longer interested him. He didn’t reply to her, and gradually, she faded from his life.
Tang Ke had thought this letter would be filled with sentimental thoughts, but as he pulled out the letter, its elegant handwriting triggered a sudden tightening of his heart!
“Have you uncovered the truth? Do you see reality clearly?”
It turned out to be her! How could it be her! Who on earth was she?
Below that line was a string of numbers—her contact number. Tang Ke immediately entered it into his device and dialed.
The other side declined his call but quickly sent a text message back.
“You know what you need to know.” She said.
Tang Ke asked, “Who are you? How did you know those things?”
The little fairy replied, “I found out by accident.”
“Why let me know?” Tang Ke asked.
The little fairy was silent for a moment before responding, “I don't want to see you become her dog.”
Tang Ke gritted his teeth, knowing she was right; he was originally destined to become the most loyal dog of this woman, Han Yanyan.
“You, who exactly are you?” he pressed.
The little fairy replied, “You won't know who I am until the day of death.”
She refused to reveal her identity, and Tang Ke stopped pressing. He stared at the screen, anxiously awaiting her next message.
“Now that you know the truth, what do you plan to do?” she asked.
“I want to kill him and her.” Tang Ke replied.
The little fairy responded almost immediately: “You can’t do it.”
Tang Ke clenched his teeth, biting so hard his mouth bled. He couldn’t help but ask, “What should I do?”
“School and family training will only turn you into a better dog. True strong ones are forged on the battlefield,” she said. “If you have the will, I can help you. Little star, I stand by your side, forever.”
What kind of girl was she?
Once, she had brought warmth to him. But now, growing up, compared to Han Yanyan’s noble coldness, her pastoral charms only felt awkward to him.
What little fairy, little star, it felt like part of his dark history. He had intentionally grown distant from her.
But now, he understood… In this world, aside from his mother, perhaps this mysterious girl was the only one who genuinely cared for him.
Tang Ke took a deep breath and replied, “Please help me.”
...
The battle between the Han family and the Yin family ended in a resounding victory.
Yin Wei was killed by her own daughter, and the Yin family's transportation routes and mining star fell into Han family's hands, forever changing their surname to Han. The current head was still young, while the future head had begun to show distinct prowess; the father-daughter pair together inspired fear.
However, this was only the outsider's view; within the family, everything was thriving, and unity reigned.
In such an atmosphere, a discordant note emerged. The distant relative, Tang Ke, who had been supported by the Han family, took advantage of the head and young head of the family being away to sneak into the study and hack the system, stealing the latest mecha and weapon data developed by the Han family before disappearing.
People found it hard to comprehend.
This boy had received support from the Han family since childhood, enjoying the best treatment due to his excellent talent. Furthermore, he was close to the young head, with a significant chance of becoming her husband. His actions were genuinely inexplicable.
Thus, the scandalous affairs surrounding Xin Ya and the head of the family, along with the young boy and young head, spread like wildfire.
Han Jin and his ilk particularly relished spreading rumors.
The head of the Han family personally reprimanded him and forbade him from using the treatment pod, allowing only for external medicine. He quieted down, and the rumors and scandals subsided.
The head of the Han family investigated for a while, but all traces were wiped clean by Han Yanyan, eventually leading to nothing.
Two years later, the Han family fought against a mercenary group in the R457Z5 star domain. At that time, the records were validated by the family technicians; they determined that the mechas used by the mercenary group shared many characteristics with the models that Tang Ke had stolen. Tang Ke's whereabouts were more or less resolved.
No matter what had happened in between, leading Tang Ke to make such life choices, he had chosen his own path. Even the head of the Han family somewhat appreciated this path of his.
“Though it’s not what I expected, he’s more like a man now,” he mumbled.
As for the “little fairy” Han Yanyan, she had maintained contact with Tang Ke over the years, reaching out two to three times a year.
The so-called “mercenaries” were called mercenaries when taking jobs, but called thieves when not. They mostly gathered in politically free zones, living life on the edge.
On the deck, the humanoid mecha descended and opened like a gutted beast. Tang Ke jumped down, landing firmly. If Han Yanyan were present, she would realize he had grown significantly taller than her.
The intense battles left his mecha suit drenched with sweat; he raised his hand, removed it, and tossed it to his subordinate. “Wash this for me.”
“Yes, boss.” The subordinate caught it.
Tang Ke casually put on an outer garment, leaving the deck with his chest exposed.
The spaceship was dim and gloomy, with oddly dressed people. There were no elegant manners or refined living here; only iron, blood, gunpowder, and the indulgence of life. He led a life completely opposite of his youth.
Yet everyone who saw him made way for him, bowing their heads in respect.
“Boss.”
“The big guy is back.”
“The commander is amazing; they were wiped out!”
After eleven years, Tang Ke had climbed from being just a small soldier to take over the mercenary group, building it up with his own hands. He had become a powerful force, capable of confronting many prominent families head-on.
The battlefield had honed him into an SS-class powerhouse, and the name Tang Ke had become known far and wide. His ruthlessness and mercilessness struck fear into the hearts of many.
Tang Ke returned to his room, stripped off his clothes, and stepped into the bathroom. Hot, steamy water washed over his strong body, wide shoulders, narrow waist, and well-defined muscles. The once slender boy was now nowhere to be seen.
After washing up, he returned to his bedroom and noticed unread messages displayed on his brain device. Upon opening them, the little fairy had sent him a message: “Happy Birthday.”
This day was not actually Tang Ke’s birthday; it marked the day he left the Han family. On this day, Tang Ke felt as if he were reborn.
Tang Ke put on pants and replied, “I’m twenty-five now.”
When he initially entered the Han family, there weren’t any girls younger than him living in the manor. He texted, “You’re at least twenty-five by now; are you married?”
The little fairy replied, “Not married; are you waiting to marry me?”
Tang Ke laughed, “On the day I return to the Han family, if you aren’t married, I will marry you.”
But the little fairy said, “By then, you may find that I’ve already died by your hands.”
Tang Ke fell silent for a moment; he knew he had killed several people with the surname Han. He didn’t know which one was her family member. In reality, they all were.
He asked, “Do you hate me?”
The little fairy laughed dismissively: “What’s there to hate? They died because they were too weak.”
“You possess the heart of a strong one,” Tang Ke said, “but you won’t die by my hands.”
He continued, “For you, I won’t kill any women from the Han family.”
“Except for one.”