Chapter 990 - 16: Waterworld

Li Jiali was stunned for a moment, then immediately stood up, limping over to Kong Hou, squatting down to look at her at eye level.

Kong Hou froze, meeting Li Jiali’s gentle gaze, her heart seemingly halted at this moment.

"I’m sorry... Did I scare you?" The next moment, Li Jiali drew Kong Hou into her arms, gently patting her back and comforting her softly.

At this moment, the bitterness in Kong Hou’s heart seemed to break free like a flood, she held onto Li Jiali, unable to control herself, and burst into loud sobs. This foolish human! This silly human! Fool! Fool! Wah—! Big fool!

But her embrace is so warm, so very warm...

After a while, Kong Hou’s cries softened, eventually turning into quiet sobs, and then disappeared.

Li Jiali looked down and saw Kong Hou had cried herself to sleep.

Gently patting Kong Hou’s back, Li Jiali placed Kong Hou on the bed and covered her with a blanket. Lowering her head, she planted a gentle kiss on Kong Hou’s forehead.

Then Li Jiali looked at her heel, hissed a little, though it hurt, it wasn’t too serious, a bit of medicine should make it better by tomorrow morning.

...

At this moment on the street, chaos reigned.

Qu Ruiqing stood in a small alley, watching the turmoil outside, furrowing her brow. A protective shield was already activated around her, completely isolating the poisonous fumes. As she moved, it parted the thick mist, not affecting her movement whatsoever.

Screams and calls for help on the street were constant.

Qu Ruiqing wanted to help, but Bai Bao voiced a stop: "Master, please stay here. This is against the regulations. If people here discover your identity, you will be in danger."

Qu Ruiqing frowned, "Are we just going to watch those people die?"

"If people discover your identity, you will be in danger. Some people in the Swamp District resent the Empire." Bai Bao stated mechanically.

"Then why do they resent the Empire?" Qu Ruiqing asked.

Bai Bao was silent, without a reply. Or perhaps, had no answer.

"The Empire obviously has the technology to make protective shields, clearly can disperse these poisonous fumes, why doesn’t the Empire?" Qu Ruiqing asked again.

Again, Bai Bao remained silent.

"The Empire’s medical technology can also treat people affected by the poisonous fumes, why isn’t the Empire willing to share these technologies?" Qu Ruiqing asked once more.

Bai Bao continued in silence.

"Forget it, why am I saying this to you? You’re just a piece of software, only running according to human programming." Qu Ruiqing laughed at herself, "But you’re the only one I can speak my heart to, this robot. Am I strange? I live better than so, so many people, with fine clothes and food, all given by my father king, yet I want to overthrow his rule. My comfort is all built on oppression, blood, and others’ lives, and after discovering this truth, I cannot find peace in my enjoyment... My father treats me well, he loves me, and I love him too. But now I’m questioning his actions, questioning the actions of many standing behind me. Am I wrong? Am I wrong? Or is it the world that’s wrong? More often than not, I truly don’t understand why this world is divided into two? Why?"

"Because of human nature." Suddenly, Bai Bao spoke.

Qu Ruiqing was shocked, turning to look at Bai Bao.