At this point, Luo’er suddenly stopped speaking, bringing the story to a halt. Tangmo looked at him tenderly and said, "Luo’er, let’s leave it at that. We don’t want to know what happened next."
"I..." As Luo’er was about to speak, a sudden discomfort overcame his throat, an inexplicable impulse surged, making him want to break into tears.
Seeing his distress, Cheng Ziang sighed softly, then spoke, "Keep on telling it, I want to know what happened next!"
"Ziang!" Tangmo turned her head and glared at him disapprovingly.
Cheng Ziang rested his chin in his hand, looking at her indifferently, "Some things need to be shared to feel better. This story has been bottled up in his mind for decades, talking about it might bring some relief!"
"Thank you!" Luo’er bowed his head, expressing his sincere gratitude.
Hu Daoke ripped off the bandage from his mouth with a tear, the sound of the tape ripping from skin made everyone shudder involuntarily. Clutching his mouth, not caring about the pain, he blurted out, "Boss, no matter what happened before, we’re here with you now!"
Tangmo glanced at Hu Daoke, then at Luo’er. Finally, she reached a decision and gently nudged his arm, asking softly, "So, Luo’er, what happened next?"
Luo’er closed his eyes, recalling the events from decades ago. Even though he was still very young at that time, he’d already started to remember things.
"Mother fired a shot into the sky and it attracted an airboat, a High-peak people’s airboat. They sent a small vessel to investigate, and Mother guided them into our house, fervently imploring these dwarves to save her husband. After they saw Father’s appearance, we were all taken onboard the airboat, leaving behind the valley that had witnessed their love."
"By that time, the High-peak people were already cooperating with the General Staff Headquarters, right?" Cheng Ziang couldn’t help asking.
"Yes!" Luo’er nodded.
Onboard the airboat, the Luo’er family was assigned to a single cabin. Luo’er, who had never seen outsiders before, found these strangers frightening, he was shivering in Nina’s arms. Luo Chuan was still lying in bed. Earlier, some things were brought by the High-peak people that revived his strength, improving his complexion significantly.
Footsteps could be heard outside the door. A big-bearded High-peak man led by two deputies entered the room. Upon seeing Luo Chuan, he began to babble on, seeming to be talking about something. Nina then turned herself and the baby around to converse with him.
"What is he saying?" Luo Chuan struggled to sit up and asked Nina. Nina was conversing with the High-peak man in Tasta language, while Luo Chuan could only understand Elvish.
Nina turned back to sit by the bed and told him, "He’s asking if you’re a Shani."
"Shani?" Luo Chuan was puzzled.
"Black-haired, black-eyed Shani!" Nina continued to explain.
"Black hair and black eyes are characteristic of the East Asian Race on Earth. He might be referring to people from our country." Luo Chuan pondered.
Then the big-bearded man continued excitedly in his babbling speech. After listening to his words, Nina turned back to him and translated, "He said that they have a cooperation agreement with the General Staff Headquarters, and they will safely send you back to Earth."
"Headquarters?" Luo Chuan was taken aback, then lowered his head in deep thought. Suddenly, he had a revelation and blurted out a term. "The General Staff Headquarters for Otherworld Combat Operations, that’s the command institution of our military forces!"
"How does he know about the General Staff Headquarters?" A surprised Luo Chuan looked at Nina, who then turned back to continue asking the big-bearded man.
After an exchange, Luo Chuan finally understood—after the end of the Otherworld War, the General Staff Headquarters established a cooperation agreement with Ronisca, the country of High-peak dwarves.
"Finally, I can return to Earth." After the big-bearded man left, Luo Chuan sighed with relief as he laid on his bed.
Nina, holding a sleeping Luo’er, was silently watching him with a gaze filled with reluctance and sorrow. Seeing her , Luo Chuan struggled to sit up, clasped her hand, and reassured her, "Don’t worry, once I’ve recovered, I’ll come back to reunite with you!"
"It’s okay, I can wait." Although Nina was speaking, she couldn’t help but tear up. She turned away, sniffling and then said to him, "Also, there’s something I want to ask of you."
"What is it?" Asked Luo Chuan.
"Take Luo’er...back to Earth." Nina said through gritted teeth.
"Why?" Luo Chuan was puzzled by his wife’s request.
"Luo Chuan, Luo’er is a half-elf. The Elven Kingdom will never accept him, and the Human Race will also look down on him." Nina looked at Luo Chuan and said seriously, "There is simply no place in this world for Luo’er. Please take him back to Earth. Your civilization is more advanced than ours, you wouldn’t harm this child, would you?"
"But you..." Luo Chuan looked at Nina worryingly, from her face, he could tell how unwilling she was to part with this child.
"It’s alright, I will return to the Elven Kingdom and wait for you guys to come back," Nina said chokingly, tears falling without restraint, "You know, it’s really hard for me to part with Luo’er, our child. But, I’m afraid I can’t raise him properly in this world. I’m afraid I can’t fulfill the duties of being a mother, I’m afraid our child will face hardships here. So, Luo Chuan, I beg you, please take our child with you!"
Nina did not want to part with her husband, nor did she want to part with their child. If Luo Chuan was upset about having to separate from his wife, then the pain Nina was feeling was twice as much.
"Nina..." Luo Chuan could not help but hold her tightly, whispering in her ear, "Don’t worry, once I recover from my illness, I’ll come back to reunite with you. I’ll bring Luo’er, our child, and we’ll be together again and never be apart."
"You promised, you must keep your word!" Nina closed her eyes, tears falling unstoppably down her cheeks.
"I will, you must wait for me to return, Luo’er can’t lose his mother!" Luo Chuan said with deep emotion.
"Once we reach Yazhi City, we’ll have to say goodbye. I will return to the Elven Kingdom and wait for your return. Promise me, you must come to find me!" Nina sobbed.
"I will, I certainly will, Luo’er will too!" Luo Chuan kept assuring her.
"Mommy and Daddy, why are you crying?" The young Luo’er, woken up by their conversation, rubbed his eyes and stared at them, asking them in confusion.
"Luo’er," Nina took him in her arms, sobbing, "Mommy will have to be away from you and Daddy for a while. I’ll be waiting for you both in the Elven Kingdom."
"Mommy, where are you going?" Luo’er asked in his childlike voice.
"Mommy will be in the Elven Kingdom, waiting for you and Daddy!" Nina said.
"And what about Daddy?" Luo’er continued.
"Daddy will take you home to Earth, which will be your new home. But," Nina’s voice choked, "you mustn’t forget Mommy, you must come back to find me!"
"I don’t want to be apart from Mommy!" On hearing this, Luo’er began to whimper.
"I’m sorry, I’m sorry," Nina cried, "Mommy isn’t capable enough to look after you, to keep you from being harmed. I’m so sorry, Luo’er, I’m sorry!"
"Daddy, I want Mommy!" Luo’er turned his head, his face wet with tears.
"When Daddy recovers, we’ll come back for Mommy, alright?" Luo Chuan, unable to meet his gaze, lowered his head and said.
"I don’t want to, I don’t want to, I want Mommy!" Luo’er burst into tears. Nina quickly hugged her son, and couldn’t help but cry herself.
"Take this, Nina!" Luo Chuan said, taking off a metal dog tag from around his neck and placing it in Nina’s hand.
"What is this?" Nina asked in confusion.
"It’s a dog tag. If I can’t come to the Otherworld in the future, let Luo’er find you with it. It’s a token, do not lose it." Luo Chuan said.
"Luo Chuan..." Nina stroked the dog tag, warmed by Luo Chuan’s touch. She easily recognized the name engraved on it: Luo Chuan!
"If you can’t come to the Otherworld, then I’ll come to Earth to find you. I have a long lifespan, and I’m not afraid of getting hurt. I just want to be with you." Nina said, clutching the dog tag tightly.
"Enough nonsense, keep living, we still have Luo’er!" Luo Chuan gently brushed her soft face, wiping away the tears.
Their last moments together were painfully short. The airboat took only a few hours to reach the air port of Yazhi City. Luo’er, worn out from crying, had fallen asleep and was carried off the airboat by a senior officer. Luo Chuan, with the help of a burly man, also descended from the airboat.
Nina borrowed a coarse linen cloak from the senior officer and draped it over herself before disembarking from the airboat. She watched as the father and son, helped by the dwarves, slowly disappeared into the distance. Biting her lips, Nina’s face showed an irrepressible sadness.
She forced herself to turn around, but suddenly felt dizzy and couldn’t help but retch, leaning against the wall.
"What is this feeling..." Nina held onto the wall, recalling the time when they were still at the bottom of the valley when she had felt the same way. Back then, it was because...
"Luo Chuan!" Nina turned and shouted but the figures of the father and son had long been swallowed up by the crowd. She raised her hand in vain, then clenched her fist and lowered it, murmuring to herself, "You have to come back, Luo Chuan...you’re going to be a father again, you... you have to come back..."
The High-peak people helped the father and son to their lodgings. On disembarking, the burly man had instructed his subordinates to notify the General Staff Headquarters.
They assisted the father and son into a room, asking Luo Chuan to sit on the couch to rest, while Luo’er laid down beside him.
As Luo Chuan stroked Luo’er’s soft long hair, he felt something was not right. Yazhi City was completely different from when he first arrived, with many Earth-style reinforced concrete buildings, which made him feel as if he had somehow returned to Earth.
Suddenly, abrupt and hurried footsteps came from the corridor, making Luo Chuan instantly tense. He stared hard at the door, wondering who the visitor could be.