In the main bedroom, Ling Xiao was getting ready to head out. He was heading to the army base a few miles away to report in and attend the briefing for tomorrow's mission.
"Are you heading out now?" Emilia asked as she reclined on the door.
"Yes I'm expected to report in and attend the mission briefing" Ling Xiao replied
"Do you have to go for this mission?" she asked approaching him and fixing the crease on his military uniform
"Mhm, this mission is important." Ling Xiao replied.
"What's so important there anyway?" Emilia asked him
"The mission given to us is to take out a group of escaped criminals who stole some important government information but our actual mission is to escort Professor Li back into the country without being discovered by foreign nationals." Ling Xiao responded after a brief pause
"Professor Li.. why does that name sound so familiar...? Emilia mumbled to herself
Professor Li was the head researcher among the scientists that were researching the cure for the zombie virus. Though he hadn't succeeded in developing the cure by the time I died I believe he should have been close after all he did develop the S serum that was able to strengthen ordinary people's bodies against the virus, so it is vital for me to make sure he will make it back to the country safe and sound" Ling Xiao explained
"oh I guess he should be brought back safely then but knowing you, you wouldn't place so much importance on a chance. That professor hadn't developed the cure after so many years and who knows how many more years it will take him to finally develop it or if he even can develop it. I guess that you are after something else, something that can give you immediate benefits or will benefit you in the short term." Emilia responded her feet dangling from the bed
"Well someone seems to know me a little too well." Ling Xiao said as he stalked towards her. He placed his arms on both sides of her on the bed surrounding her in his arms.
"Of course, I'm your wife" Emilia exclaimed
"Hum" Ling Xiao smirked a bit and gave her a quick peck on the lips "well you are right, though the scientist is important there are quite a number of them that survived the first fall and might just be able to achieve what Professor Li achieved. What I'm after is the dew moonlight flower I once saw in that area"
"What" Emilia exclaimed in shock her eyes widening as she stared at him in shock
"Mhm in my past life while escorting professor Li my team was met with an ambush. While escaping we changed routes and advanced deep into the forest and on a cliff hidden away I discovered a small group of moonlight flowers, about five or six of them but at that time I only thought they were pretty looking flowers so I didn't pay much attention to them and left them behind. By the time I found out their use the apocalypse had already been in the middle of its second year and it was nearly impossible to travel there to get them. Not to mention the danger on the road with all the advanced zombies the flowers were deep in the forest one can imagine the number of mutated plants living there so I had to give it up."
"So you want to collect them in advance" Emilia rhetorically asked more. Emilia finally understood why Ling Xiao was so adamant about going on this trip, even she was tempted.
The moonlight flower was a kind of mutated flower that was able to nourish the ground by removing toxins and making it easier for plants to grow without being affected by all the toxins and viruses that run rampant during the apocalypse. No one knew how that flower came to be or how it mutated but it was one of the most sought out flowers during the apocalypse. The kind that is highly sought after but with no market.
Because of this flower's ability to neutralize the virus in the ground, it was one of the most wanted items during the end times even more wanted than high-level nuclei but unfortunately, the quantity was too small and it could only affect 10 meters of land when planted so it still couldn't relieve the pressure of hunger and food shortage. Scientists even wanted to see if they could use the plants to create a cure that could kill the virus but unfortunately, the quantity was too small for them to continue research on the moonflower so that plan was dropped mainly due to the huge opposition of the people. The people would rather purify a few meters of land so that they can get more food than waste all the moonflowers they had in experiments where they had no guarantee of success
"Are you saying that you saw more than 3 flowers?" Emilia asked him
"Yes, I believe it was about 10 flowers but even if they are less they are still really valuable." Ling Xiao responded
"Well in that case you really should go get them but you must remember to be careful and get back before the war ends. I don't wanna have to go searching for you when the apocalypse starts." Emilia said to him
"Mh I'll be back real fast." Ling Xiao responded.
"By the way, will you come back here after the briefing or will you just stay there and make preparations for your mission." Emilia suddenly asked Ling Xiao
"If all goes well I should be able to return but I'll most likely end up spending the night at the base and head out directly. It might just be better if we leave at midnight today." He responded making sure his bag was fully packed.
"Well in that case make sure you go talk to Ling Qin first before you leave and explain things clearly to him as well. You need to keep him informed just in case there are any accidents and you are unable to get back on time." Emilia said
"I'll make sure to be back on time!" Ling Xiao started but Emilia cut him off.
"I know you want to be back on time but you can't guarantee that. Accidents happen and plans change due to circumstances." She said moving towards him and gripping his shoulders gently. "Just make sure you sort out everything this side before you head off on your mission. You don't wanna regret anything right?"
"Mhm I'll talk to him," he said pulling her into a hug "and I promise you that if I really can't get back on time I'll make my way back to you guys"
"Good"
They silently hugged each other for a few minutes before Emilia separated from him
"By the way didn't we all come from different worlds. What if the moonlight flowers no longer exist in this world?" Emilia suddenly asked
"Mhm I have thought of that possibility as well, but I've been paying attention to the world activities and structure and everything seems the same. So I'm just going to take a gamble and hope I'm right." He responded
"Well taking a gamble is all we can do now." Emilia sighed. "Hai whatever, now go talk to Ling Qin" she nudged him
"Mhm," he said kissing her forehead before he walked towards Ling Qin's room
He knocked on the door and opened it once he heard Ling Qin from the other side. Once in the room, his eyes fixed on Ling Qin who was removing his headphones and turning away from the now paused game to face him.
"Yes, dad?" Ling Qin called
"Come sit here," Ling Xiao said pointing at the couch "I need to talk to you about something."
Ling Qin moved away from the computer and came to sit on the couch facing his father who sat on the opposite chair. " what's the matter?" he asked once seated
Ling Xiao was silent for a while before he began to speak. "I have to go for a while."
"Where are you going?" Ling Qin asked
"I have a mission that I need to complete so I might be gone for a week or two. I have to leave the country for this one."
"No you cant! You know that the apocalypse is starting in just three weeks, cant you not go. Your missions are always dangerous and may sometimes take you more than a month to complete. If you leave now and the apocalypse breaks out before you return doesn't that mean you'll be gone for good. Even if you can come back that would probably take you a year or two if you don't die that is." Ling Qin said quite panicked.
Ling Xiao moved over from his seat to come to sit next to Ling Qin.
"I know that leaving when danger is coming is not too ideal but I still have to go for this mission. If I don't go not only might my position in the military become unstable but I might miss the chance to collect some moonlight flowers. You know how rare and important those flowers are. plus I've done this mission before so there won't be any complications."
"Being reborn doesn't make us invincible dad! Accidents can happen. What if your enemies are reborn as well or the situation develops into one that is out of your control or what if the apocalypse starts ahead of time, what would you do then? What would we do then?" he said his voice cracking, "The future we face is due to the decisions we make in the past. We have already changed our past after we were reborn how can you be sure that the future does not deviate from its path just the same. Cant..cant you reconsider" he said now having tears streaming down his face
"huh," Ling Xiao breathed out heavily as he wrapped his arms around Ling Qin and brought him into his arms. "What crazy things are you thinking up in your head. You're right, I can't guarantee that nothing will go wrong and I cant promise you that the future will be the same, but what I can promise you is that I will try my hardest, no I will do my best to come back to your mother and you. I made a promise to keep you guys safe and happy this time around. To create an environment where you can grow happily, and to do that this mission is one I must do. You can't let fear keep you from moving forward, being brave doesn't mean you have no fear but you work hard to overcome the fear. True, the future is uncertain but that doesn't mean we don't move forward. the apocalypse was not something we were ready for in our past but that didn't stop us from growing and living then not to mention now that we are prepared. Sure that doesn't mean we are immortal but at least we won't be caught off guard. Hey look at me" he said taking Ling Qin's face into his hands.
"I'll be back sooner than you know, I won't let this family that has just reunited be destroyed by me. I know you fear that separation now might mean that your mom might die again or something bad will happen but it won't. Believe in yourself and her. Believe that everything you have been doing till now will not let you fall, alright. I'm not leaving you again I'll be back okay! And while I'm gone take care of your mother for me ok, she can be a little crazy if not kept an eye on" he said looking Ling Qin in the eyes as a smile now played along his lips.
"Alright." Ling Qin nodded his head through teary eyes.
"Good boy," Ling Xiao said placing a kiss on his forehead. "I love you," he said pulling Qin back into his arms. His large hand comfortingly rubbed him on his back.
Outside the room, Emilia stood with her back against the wall her eyes deep as she gazed in front of her deep in thought.