Apocalypse Circular

"Hello, everyone. I am Chief Judge Qi Lin. This matter is currently our family affair, so there's no need for everyone to gather and watch.

"Threatening a Believer of Light is a serious crime against both the Alliance and the Church.

"Threatening a council member's family is also one of the few capital offenses in the Inner Ring.

"Please, everyone, go back. I hope you will consider the consequences of your actions before you do anything."

Qi Lin's words sent murmurs through the crowd. Although he was the only council member without personal power or influential backing, his words were nonetheless persuasive.

The crowd gradually dispersed.

Qi Lin led the two of them through the thinning throng and onto a narrow path.

Only after they had left the congested crowd did Qi Xinzhu's mood begin to settle somewhat.

She wanted to say something to her father, but Qi Lin, walking ahead, showed no intention of speaking to them.

Qi Xinzhu didn't know what to do and looked to Lu Luo for help, only to find him just as clueless.

So Lu Luo is just a theorist who can't handle real-life situations, she thought.

What Qi Xinzhu didn't know was that Lu Luo felt the most reasonable choice at this moment was to keep his head down and remain silent.

My father-in-law is already in a very bad mood. Why provoke him further? If I keep upsetting him now and make him angry, things will be difficult to handle!

Qi Xinzhu is so nervous! Feels like she's going to mess it up.

"I know!" Lu Luo thought.

He gave Qi Xinzhu several meaningful glances, but she simply couldn't understand what he meant.

She felt deserted; her father was angry and ignoring her, and now even Lu Luo was neglecting her.

The two men who loved her most in the world were ignoring her. BOOHOO!

Qi Xinzhu tugged at Lu Luo, looking utterly pitiful.

Lu Luo was about to quietly explain the situation to her when Qi Xinzhu's father suddenly turned around.

He looked at the two, still acting affectionately in broad daylight.

Qi Lin clenched his fists, but after sizing up Lu Luo's height and robust physique, he relented.

He gave Lu Luo a long, deep look, then shook his head.

SIGH.

That one sigh spoke volumes of a parent's bittersweet sorrow. After raising a daughter for over twenty years, she suddenly belonged to someone else. Who could bear it?

Hearing his father-in-law's sigh, Lu Luo felt a sudden sense of foreboding.

"Qi Xinzhu, we need to stay calm right now. Showing PDA in front of your dad is pretty much like offering your head on a platter, isn't it?"

What Lu Luo said made sense, but unfortunately, Qi Xinzhu wasn't in any state to listen.

"I don't want to hear it! My dad is already ignoring me. If you don't want me now, nobody will!"

"I never said I didn't want you, did I?"

Lu Luo looked surprised, not quite understanding why Qi Xinzhu had suddenly become like this.

"If you still wanted me, why aren't you holding my hand? You always hold my hand."

Qi Lin saw the two of them being affectionate again, and this time, the father-in-law finally lost his patience.

"Are you two coming or not?"

"Coming, coming, right away," Lu Luo said quickly, pulling the still-petulant Qi Xinzhu along. After a few twists and turns, they arrived at a modest but pleasant little villa.

The Chief Judge's home was, indeed, quite comfortable.

"We're here. Come in and sit down."

"Alright."

Lu Luo nodded, leading Qi Xinzhu into the house.

The interior was quite cozy. The house didn't look large, but it had everything one might need.

After they entered, a woman, also nearly fifty but still retaining her charm, walked out from an inner room.

Her expression as she looked at Qi Xinzhu and Lu Luo shifted from astonishment to confusion, and then gradually to anger.

Clearly, this lady had to be Qi Xinzhu's mother, Fang Jing.

With a handsome father and a mother who must have been a great beauty in her youth, plus a good upbringing, it's no wonder they raised a daughter like Qi Xinzhu, Lu Luo mused.

"And you are?" Fang Jing stared at Lu Luo, her earlier warmth replaced by a stern air.

"Mom, his name is Lu Luo."

"Did I ask you?" Fang Jing glared.

"Oh!" Qi Xinzhu lowered her head, not daring to make a sound.

It was evident that although Qi Xinzhu was the only Transcendent in the family, her status was actually the lowest.

"Hello, Mom. I'm Lu Luo."

No gift for calling me Mom yet! the Observer noted.

Lu Luo's "Mom" caught Fang Jing completely off guard.

Qi Lin, standing nearby, almost chuckled; his reaction had been quite similar when Lu Luo first called him "Dad."

"What did you call me?" Fang Jing asked, somewhat bewildered.

"Mom. Is something wrong?"

Seeing Lu Luo act as if it were the most natural thing in the world, Fang Jing found herself unable to utter the words, "I'm not your mom."

Qi Xinzhu suddenly had an epiphany! Lu Luo was so clever; just by calling them "Dad" and "Mom," he had managed to stun her parents!

The atmosphere remained frozen for a good while. Finally, Qi Lin emerged after changing his clothes.

Only then did Fang Jing give Lu Luo a complicated look before shooting a few meaningful glances at Qi Lin.

"You two talk. I'll go make dinner."

"Mom, I'll help you!"

"You know how to cook?" Fang Jing looked somewhat surprised.

"Yes. After all, we've been living together for so long. We can't always eat out. It's unhealthy, and sometimes it doesn't suit our tastes."

Fang Jing was stunned again. What does he mean, living together for so long? You've only been in the Fourth Ring for a little over a year. How long can that be? If it were two years, would you be bringing home a grandchild for me?

Fang Jing was furious, but she felt that as a highly educated woman, she shouldn't display such anger at this moment. It wasn't proper, nor was it dignified.

But why am I still so angry? Maybe it was better not to ask.

"Alright, come help then," Fang Jing said with a sigh.

Qi Xinzhu and Fang Jing went into the kitchen. After they left, Qi Lin finally beckoned Lu Luo over.

"Lu Luo, is it?"

"Yes!"

"Come with me."

"Okay!"

Lu Luo followed Qi Lin into the Inner Ring Chief Judge's study.

It was a very simple and unadorned room. Aside from a large collection of books, the Observer hadn't detected even a single valuable luxury item.

In truth, given Qi Lin's current status and position, acquiring wealth would have been exceedingly easy. The absence of luxury items was likely not because he couldn't obtain them, but rather to demonstrate his integrity.

"Sit."

"Thank you."

"Would you like something to drink?"

"No need, Dad!"

If the previous "Dad" had caught Qi Lin off guard, this time he was mentally prepared.

"Let's not rush the 'Dad' part. Tell me, how far have things progressed between you and Qi Xinzhu?"

"We're already married. Everything that should have happened, has happened."

Qi Lin's hand, which was pouring tea, paused abruptly, and tea splashed out of the cup.

However, he quickly recovered his composure.

He looked at Lu Luo, suppressing the urge to punch him, and said calmly, "That's quite rapid progress."

Your father-in-law is itching to pummel you!

I know.

"It is quite fast," Lu Luo replied truthfully.

Qi Lin was silent for a moment.

"The Alliance advocates for freedom in love. Even I have no reason to interfere with my adult daughter's choices. However, as a father, I still want to ask you a few things."

Lu Luo's gaze sharpened slightly. He knew his father-in-law's real test was about to begin.

"Please ask, Dad. I will hide nothing."

Lu Luo was serious this time. Qi Xinzhu's parents were a crucial hurdle, and they were far more than just ordinary parents. Their status in the Inner Ring was exceptionally special. If he could gain their approval, the hostility and obstacles he faced in the Inner Ring would be significantly lessened. Lu Luo did not wish to one day find himself an enemy of the entire Inner Ring, let alone the Wasteland Alliance, or even Qi Xinzhu's parents.

Thus, his attitude towards Qi Xinzhu's parents was entirely sincere.

Qi Lin seemed to sense Lu Luo's earnestness and nodded slowly.

"Qi Xinzhu hasn't told us about you. So, please give us a brief introduction."

"My name is Lu Luo. I'm an orphan from an Inner Ring welfare institution."

"An orphan?"

"Yes, an orphan."

"Hmm, continue."

"I previously studied in the Biology Department at East Ring University. However, due to the recent significant changes in the Fourth Ring, the university has suspended classes. During my studies, I started a workshop. After some development, Circular is now a company of initial scale..."

Lu Luo briefly described his company's development history and current scale to Qi Lin.

Qi Lin was quite appreciative of the strength and growth of Lu Luo's company.

"It's quite impressive that in just over a year, you've developed a company to this stage, starting from nothing. You are indeed very capable."

Qi Lin wasn't like many in the Inner Ring who belittled the industrial achievements of the Fourth Ring or looked down on its people. As one of the thirteen council members, Qi Lin understood very well the societal pressures that individuals from the Fourth Ring had to endure to succeed. It could be said that, under equivalent conditions, rising in the Fourth Ring was far more arduous than in the Inner Ring. For Lu Luo to start from scratch and achieve success in the Fourth Ring was truly commendable.

However, commendation aside, necessary questions still had to be asked.

"Having built such a significant enterprise, do you still have the energy to cultivate your personal abilities? As the leader of a faction, strength should be necessary, especially in the early stages of development, shouldn't it? Without strength, it's difficult to command respect when a faction is just starting out. I may not be a Transcendent, but Xinzhu is. If you two are truly together, do you believe you have the ability to protect her?"

Facing Qi Lin's questions, Lu Luo humbly bowed his head.

"Dad, you're absolutely right. Strength is very important, so I've always been dedicated to my cultivation.

"I'm also very aware of Qi Xinzhu's special status; she is a Believer of Light. Many people believe that Believers of Light cannot marry, so our relationship will face great obstacles.

"But that's alright; my personal capabilities are very strong. Currently, I have reached the peak of Fourth Tier, and I will step into Fifth Tier in the next few days.

"Moreover, my combat power is extremely formidable. I should have no problem taking on 7-8 people of the same level simultaneously. Even against Fourth Tier Believers of Light with special Sequences like Qi Xinzhu, I can take on 2-3 at the same time and be confident of victory."

Although Lu Luo had tried to be as modest as possible, his description of his combat power still made Qi Lin feel a sense of disbelief.

After a long silence, Qi Lin finally managed to say, "Young man, it's better to be honest when you speak."

It was a subtle hint.

But this hint startled Lu Luo.

Had he really underestimated the insight and bearing of an Inner Ring Chief Judge? He truly shouldn't have hidden his actual strength from his father-in-law.

"I'm sorry, Dad. I shouldn't have lied to you," Lu Luo admitted.

"It's alright. A man tells 80,000 lies in his lifetime. Lying isn't the issue; recognizing your mistake is what matters."

"Yes, I should be truthful in front of Dad. Actually, it was wrong to say that I could take on 7-8 Transcendents of the same tier."

At this, Qi Lin nodded. Reaching Fourth Tier at such a young age was already remarkable; there was no need for such far-fetched boasts.

Just as he was about to praise Lu Luo for his sincerity, Lu Luo lowered his head and said earnestly, "Actually, if I were to go all out now, taking down 40-50 ordinary Fourth Tier individuals wouldn't be a problem. With the aid of equipment and favorable terrain, that number could even be pushed higher. Doubling it wouldn't be a major issue."

PFFT!!!

Qi Lin sprayed out all the tea he had just swallowed.

He looked at Lu Luo furiously, wanting to properly scold this senseless young man.

But when his gaze met the sincerity in Lu Luo's eyes, he hesitated.

Lu Luo's eyes were exceptionally bright. After so many years as a judge, Qi Lin recognized that look: it was confidence! Absolute confidence in his own strength!

"Lu Luo, what you said... is it true?" Qi Lin asked.

Lu Luo paused for a moment, then immediately raised three fingers.

"I, Lu Luo, swear by the light that everything I've said this time is true. Taking on 40-50 opponents of the same tier simultaneously is already my limit. Really, I can't handle any more," he insisted.

"Really can't handle any more…" Qi Lin's expression was complex. Was Lu Luo saying he lied because he understated his abilities?

But how could that be possible? Fourth Tier Transcendents weren't a dime a dozen. Not even a Fifth Tier would dare claim they could confidently defeat so many Fourth Tiers, even ordinary ones. On what basis did Lu Luo dare make such a claim?

"Lu Luo, let's not discuss the veracity of your words for now. Do you realize that there can be enormous differences even among Transcendents of the same tier?"

Lu Luo nodded again. His father-in-law-to-be did have some understanding of Transcendents.

"I'm aware. That's why I specifically mentioned unique Transcendents like Qi Xinzhu separately. What I said earlier referred to ordinary Inner Ring Transcendents, like those in the Inner Ring Investigation Team. I could probably handle about 40-50 of them simultaneously. A Believer of Light like Qi Xinzhu is, of course, more formidable. I could probably fight about ten of them at the same time. Really, I can't handle any more than that."