Chapter 26: The Country of Women

  Zhao Dan was still dazed when he returned to his seat, as if he had done something that even he himself didn't know about. Several audience members stood up and applauded him enthusiastically. Zhao Dan asked me in a bewildered tone: "Did I really win just now?"

  I shouted at him: "You didn't just win, you won in a freaky way - you beat your idol 21-5!"

  Zhao Dan returned to reality, scratching his head and saying with some embarrassment: "How did I do that?"

  Su Jingdao said: "You're lucky."

  Zhao Dan apparently misunderstood her meaning, and blushed: "I think so too." He still couldn't believe he had defeated Sun Ning, it seemed that this idol still held a high position in his heart.

  "What's your feeling when you play basketball? How did you think of playing like that?"

  Zhao Dan looked at Su Jing sincerely: "I have to thank Little Long's wife for this. She said that earlier, and when I went on stage, I didn't feel anything, but as soon as I touched the ball, I couldn't help but think of her words. And it was strange, no matter how I played, I had a feeling that the net cord in my eyes was magnified."

  I patted him on the shoulder and said: "If you really get into the national team, you must thank me."

  Zhao Dan didn't notice that I had secretly replaced Su Jing with myself, and said cheerfully: "Great, I'll invite you and Xiaolong's wife to have lunch in our cafeteria at noon."

  Su Jing didn't even bother to correct the "Little Dragon Sister" in his words, turned his head and said to me: "Let's go find the next one."

  "What's next?" Zhao Dan asked curiously.

  "I said, 'Nothing—oh right, what about Lin He Xiang?' I knew he and Lin He Xiang were good friends, and Lin He Xiang had also sat on that train with me, so logically speaking, he should be a suspect too."

  Zhao Dan said: "He has training today, otherwise I'll take you to find him?"

  I told Su Jingyi about it, and she naturally agreed.

  The national team's training session hadn't ended yet, and the provincial team members were sitting upright one by one. Zhao Dan found their coach and said he had something to leave early for. The fat coach pinched Zhao Dan's arm and said: "You little brat, did you hide a trick from me during normal training?" Although it was an interrogation, his tone was full of warmth. The fat coach is a bit of a yes-man, but I don't have a bad impression of him - everything he does is to help his students improve, not much talent, but a warm heart.

  Zhao Dan dodged and smiled: "How can I hide? Usually training is all under your nose?"

  The coach thought for a moment and instructed, "Before this afternoon's training, report to me first, go ahead." He also noticed that Zhao Dan was feeling constrained staying here, so he gave him a small break. If someone else had asked for leave at this critical juncture, they would probably have been scolded mercilessly. Today, however, the coach was unusually lenient with Zhao Dan, even looking at him with a gaze similar to how he would look at his own son-in-law. From ignoring him earlier to showing favoritism now, it was all the same - not managing him, but the difference was like heaven and earth.

  Zhao Dan led us to find Lin He Xiang, and we happened to meet halfway. Lin He Xiang was carrying running shoes, wearing sportswear, and sweating profusely. He also immediately remembered me and smiled at me as a greeting, then asked Zhao Dan: "Aren't you guys training with the national team? How did you have time to run out here? Hasn't it been your turn on the field yet?" He was very clear about Zhao Dan's abilities.

  Zhao Dan exaggerated: "I not only played but also won against Li Rui and Sun Ning!"

  Lin He Xiang smiled and said: "You must have dreamed it."

  "Really!" Zhao Dan said seriously, I quickly testified for him. When Lin He Xiang found out that this was not a joke, he exclaimed: "You're too awesome! If Roberts comes to our school, I won't say win him, just running even with him would be satisfying."

  I quietly asked Su Jing: "Can you feel my power on this body?"

  Su Jing shook her head.

  I regretfully told Lin He Xiang: "You're out of luck."

  ……

  Having achieved our goal, we found an excuse to bid farewell to Zhao Dan and Lin He Xiang.

  On the way out, I asked Su Jing: "What's the skill you were talking about?"

  Su Jingdao said, "Another attribute of power on the Sword God's body. As a Sword God, it's not enough to just have strong sword energy, you also need the skills to control them. If I'm not mistaken, Zhao Dan has this part of your power."

  "Why didn't you notice it from the beginning?"

  Su Jingdao said, "That's because this power only manifests at special moments. When he's not playing ball, he's just like an ordinary person." As Su Jing spoke, his face showed a worried expression. "This makes our task even more difficult. Zhao Dan's example shows that some powers may only appear in special environments. Even if I can find those people, it's hard for me to judge who has or doesn't have the power."

  I smiled and said: "So Lin He Xiang can't be ruled out as a suspect either?"

  "Yes." Su Jing looked at me and said: "You seem quite happy?"

  I said solemnly: "Being able to do something good for the people with one's own meager strength, I feel very gratified."

  Su Jing also said seriously: "Firstly, no matter who it is, if they take your power away, I will definitely help you get it back. Secondly, those powers are not only yours, but also belong to the Federal Continent."

  I said discontentedly: "You say that and I don't want to listen. Since it's my power, I'll give it to whoever I want."

  Su Jing didn't get angry and said: "I'm afraid not, don't forget that your power is what our continent went to great pains to find and give back to you, you have no right to make arbitrary decisions."

  "I said, 'That's not right either. To put it correctly, although you helped me recover my powers, those powers ultimately belong to me. That's the logical order of things. You helped me recover them not because you didn't want them, but because you couldn't have them. The me from the previous life and the me from this life may not be exactly the same, but they're close enough. Yes, I'm the second generation of the Sword Clan!' Besides being the Black Second Generation, I now have a new identity."

  "But if you don't go back, our mainland will be in great danger."

  I said, "That's a different story. For example, your continent is like a company, and I used to be one of the major shareholders. Now I don't want to continue investing, so I'm withdrawing my funds - that's my freedom. Besides, even if I continued to hold shares, it's not certain that you would be able to weather the financial storm." As I said this, I suddenly thought of a very serious problem:

  "If I go back, will it be dangerous?"

  Su Jing said frankly: "Yes, and it's very dangerous. Although the Black Geese Empire doesn't have a Sword God, there are at least 10 Saint-level experts."

  "I hastily asked: 'How many Sword Saints can a single Sword God defeat?'"

  Su Jing smiled and said: "Sword Saint, Sword God, are legendary figures who are revered as the highest honor in people's eyes, but in your mouth, they seem like a group of ruffians fighting."

  "How many can you actually hit?"

  Su Jing could only say: "A truly sacred war has never occurred on the mainland, but I also came from the Sword Saint level. In my opinion, the difference between a Sword God and a Sword Saint is like the difference between a tiger and a wolf."

  I shrank my neck: on this side a tiger, on the other ten wolves, it's a losing battle! I said: "Isn't sending me back in such danger like sending me to my death?"

  Su Jingdao said: "I know you're afraid, I suspect that the part of your strength with courage has also been lost. Don't worry, I'll help you get it back."

  I said: "Even if I found it back, I don't want to go!"

  Su Jing sighed and said: "I really don't understand where that Sword God who used to make declarations of righteousness and save people from danger went?"

  I said: "There must be a part of me that is dead-hearted, and it's better if I lose it."

  Su Jingdao said: "You're talking about conscience? I'll get it back for you."

  "Hey, why are you scolding people?"

  ……

  Since seeing Zhao Dan, Su Jing has been a bit worried. After getting on the car, she told me: "Is there a quiet place here? I need to think about what to do next."

  I drove my car and merged into the traffic, aimlessly scanning both sides of the road, when suddenly I saw a bright spot in front: it was just People's Park.

  I asked her: "Is Huayuanzi okay?"

  Su Jing's mind was elsewhere as she replied, "Whatever."

  People's Park is the first park in our city, said to be a private garden of a wealthy family before liberation. After revision and partial reconstruction, it was opened to the outside world. In the past, there were large animals such as lions, dogs, and bears, which were a combination of zoos and botanical gardens. After being free and open later, these animals were relocated, leaving only Monkey Mountain.

  I walked side by side with Su Jing on the shaded path in the park and asked her: "How is it here?"

  "It's not great, let alone the imperial garden, even some people's backyard can't compare to it, the taste is quite coarse."

  I curled my lip and said, "There aren't many things in this world that can catch her eye. Have you ever been to the Imperial Garden?"

  "Yes, I'll go in and play when I'm free."

  I was shocked and asked: "You're not the emperor's concubine, are you?"

  Su Jingdao said: "Even if it is, it must be a man, how can I be a concubine?"

  "What?!" I was shocked: "Male concubine, your emperor is a woman?"

  Su Jing said casually: "So-called Women's Country, the emperor is naturally a woman."

  I was shocked, I always thought that Nü Guo (Female Country) was just a strange country name, but it turns out they actually have a female emperor in power.

  "Wait a minute, you said the male concubine... So that means your country still has men?" It seems that this daughter's country is not necessarily her mother's country. Even if Tang Monk went there, he may not necessarily win the favor of the queen.

  Su Jingdao said: "Nonsense, without men where would children come from?"

  "...Are all your children born by men? I mean, did men carry pregnancies for ten months?"

  "Nonsense again, pregnancy is naturally a woman's affair."

  "Why should women be in charge then?"

  Su Jing glanced at me sideways: "Why can't women be in power? The Women's Country has been ruled by women since ancient times, and Her Majesty the Queen is now strong, wise, brave and admired by all."

  "I see." I said somewhat inexplicably depressed: "You are a country that respects women, men have no status at all."

  Su Jingdao said: "Status is also something that one has to fight for, in the previous dynasty there was a family of loyal martyrs, all the women in this family died in battle, and the men inherited their wives' will and continued to serve the country. The old master of the house, at the age of 80, took command and led his sons into battle, it's also a legendary tale."

  I'm pulling my hair out: What's this thing called "inheriting a wife's will" anyway...

  I suddenly raised my head and asked her: "You said you are Su Chongwei's daughter, then who is Su Chongwei..."

  "My mother."

  "What's your dad's name?"

  Su Jingyan said with a frown: "How can you casually ask for a man's name? I can only tell you that my father is Su Wangshi, and his given name is not to be revealed."

  ……

  Division line

  Firstly, today's update has a lot to say. Firstly, Xiaohua wishes everyone a happy new year, which is the most important thing! Additionally, these few days will inevitably be spent visiting elders and having dinner with friends, so there are many trivial matters to attend to. These few days can only guarantee one update per day, but if there's time, I'll try for two updates (if I have the speaking skills). Secondly, many readers have added Xiaohua as a friend on QQ, everyone has something to discuss in the group and can leave messages directly, it's not that I'm arrogant, it's just that Xiaohua's QQ friends list is already full, mostly with readers, sometimes editors add one or two and then have to temporarily delete one, it's heartbreaking! Thirdly, spoiler alert: Liu Lao Liu has appeared near the park, please be careful.