Stepping on the Demoness to become the strongest

Yan Yu expressed understanding for Li Minghu's troubles.

After all, even the market now has services for renting boyfriends/girlfriends specifically for dealing with parents' interrogations and rushes during the New Year and holiday periods, which shows just how stressful some elders can be.

Moreover, this situation was ultimately caused by herself in the Three Isles Treasure Ship Secret Realm when she provided warmth with her embrace to the drenched Li Minghu, so it made sense for her to help deal with the aftermath.

"Alright," Yan Yu agreed quickly, "When should we go?"

"How about, right now?" Li Minghu tentatively asked.

"Ah?"
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"We're going to deal with an interrogation, not to be guests at my home," Li Minghu said with a smile, "A surprise attack is more appropriate. If we tell them in advance that you're coming, they'll start preparing early."

I see you've come fully prepared, bringing up the request and immediately luring me to your place, such a smooth combo...

Well, whatever. She is the Valkyrie, after all.

"Of course, if you don't feel comfortable, we can formally visit my home another time," Li Minghu continued observing his expression, "and since we just returned from the battlefield today, we can also say we have to report in the evening, so my family won't insist on you staying overnight, at most we'll have dinner."

"Okay," Yan Yu didn't have any other plans, and right now, he and Li Minghu were just friends, so he wasn't worried about her parents interrogating him.

The two of them rode their swords away, leaving the mountain area and entering the city, finally landing at the entrance of the local military manor courtyard.

The military manor courtyard is a traditional aspect of Lu Country, mainly to protect the family members of the stationed military officers, so in case enemies infiltrate and threaten the officers by holding their families hostage, there will be the risk of leaking confidential information.

The military manor in the King's mansion area from the outside looks like an ordinary six-story residential complex, surrounded by grocery stores and small restaurants, clearly a local native residential area.

Yan Yu looked at the security guards at the entrance of the complex with his divine sense, discovered they were military cultivators, and knew that the security was lax on the outside but strict on the inside, with all the precautions fully in place.

Entering the complex and taking the elevator to the fourth floor, Li Minghu approached her front door and knocked, calling out:

"Mom, I'm back."

Li's mother quickly came to open the door, and upon seeing Yan Yu next to Li Minghu, her expression was momentarily stunned, and then she instantly smiled, saying:

"You must be Yan Yu, the Longcheng Flying General Yan Yu! Come in... You don't need shoe covers! Wear these slippers."

Yan Yu greeted her and thought to himself that Li's mother, being a middle school teacher, indeed spoke very standard Mandarin without a hint of an accent.

In contrast, Chen's mother would still sound like a wealthy Jiang Hai wife even if she were reading from a script.

Li's mother looked like a thin middle-aged woman with glasses, which reminded Yan Yu of his elementary school homeroom teacher, but her demeanor was far more amiable than his teacher's. She first invited him to sit on the sofa, then brewed him some tea — not using loose-leaf tea, but eight-treasure tea made with tea bags.

"Have some too, daughter," she also made a cup for Li Minghu, "The Southern Border is quite humid, and drinking eight-treasure tea can dispel dampness, and it's very effective."

Li Minghu lifted her tea cup, giving Yan Yu a reassuring look, and then began to drink.

No sooner had Yan Yu taken a sip than Li's mother came out with a fruit plate, saying eagerly:

"Come, have some fruit!"

Li's mother was just too enthusiastic, and though she didn't say it outright, her behavior was entirely that of someone treating her son-in-law, leaving Yan Yu somewhat overwhelmed.

Li Minghu quickly interrupted her mother's actions:

"By the way, where's dad?"

"Your dad was called to a meeting by the school," Li's mother immediately pulled out her phone, ready to dial, "I'll call him to come back right now."

This is getting more and more exaggerated... Yan Yu also hurriedly said:

"No need, we're just popping back for a bit, we still have to go back to our units for a debriefing."

You ask quickly, then I answer promptly. Once the misunderstanding is clarified, that's the end of it. What's the use of saying so much? It's a waste of time, really.

"Oh, you have to debrief..." Li's mother was obviously a bit surprised, but after all, she is a teacher and she knows that you can't escape this sort of thing at work, so she sat down and said, "Alright, you'll come back after the debriefing, won't you?"

Although she was looking at Li Minghu as she asked, her gaze kept darting over to Yan Yu, with the subtext probably being "keep your boyfriend here too."

Li Minghu was also speechless and said:

"I don't think we'll be able to come back."

Li's mother was silent for a moment, her expression a complex mixture of resignation and pride— it was that look of 'my child is too successful, there's nothing I can do.' On one hand, she felt proud and fulfilled, but on the other, she wished they would visit home more often. Yet reason told her that you can't have it all.

She calmed her emotions and decided to take this opportunity to make things clear with Yan Yu, saying:

"Yan Yu, this is the first time Auntie is meeting you, and I normally wouldn't be so straightforward. But both you and my daughter are busy with your careers, and you can't come home often, I understand that... So I'm taking this chance to tell you, my daughter actually doesn't have the best health. She has always been strong-willed since she was little.

Even when her body can't take it anymore, she won't admit it or show it. When you're by her side, please take care of her..."

"Mom!" Li Minghu couldn't take it anymore and blurted out honestly, "I've told you many times, Yan Yu and I are just ordinary friends. He serves in the Zhendong Army, I serve in the Annan Army, and we hardly see each other unless it's for military arrangements."

Li's mother suddenly looked a little taken aback as she turned to Yan Yu.

"Mhm." Yan Yu immediately confirmed as well, after all, he came specifically to say this, "Auntie, your daughter and I are currently just friends."

Li's mother finally let out an "Oh" and gave a smile of complete understanding, nodding and saying:

"I see, I understand now. Yan Yu, help yourself to some fruit... Come here a moment."

That last "Come here a moment," was directed at Li Minghu.

Li Minghu stood up and followed her mother into the bedroom.

The moment they entered, Li's mother immediately showed the authoritative demeanor characteristic of a headteacher and sternly asked:

"What's going on with you? Why is he saying he's still just a friend?"

"I've already told you..." Li Minghu was somewhat at a loss for words and tried to explain further, but Li's mother interrupted her:

"What friends? Ordinary friends don't hug each other like that on TV. Did you forget what your mother does? I've disciplined more students for early love in school than you've ever seen in your life! I can tell whether there's something going on between people at a glance... Besides, you've been strong-willed since you were little and always keep your thoughts to yourself.

If you weren't interested in him, why would you allow him to hold you like that?"

Li Minghu was left speechless and after a long while finally said:

"I do have some feelings for him, but it's only just that... just feelings."

Li's mother immediately dropped her serious expression and smiled, saying:

"Having feelings is enough. He was on TV during the October celebration, the Longcheng Flying General, and he was personally awarded by 'you know who,' how prestigious. Your father's school leadership also said that this man is bound to have a limitless future. It's great if you're interested in him, you should hurry and establish a romantic relationship, so you don't lose him to someone else later.

Good men these days are harder to find than good schools..."

"Mom!" Li Minghu couldn't stand it anymore, "Can you please stop meddling in my affairs?"

"I'm not meddling!" Li's mother quickly denied, saying, "I'm just giving you advice because I'm afraid you won't understand about dating for the first time..."

"I'm not in the mood for a relationship right now." Li Minghu played her trump card.

"Then you can pretend to be interested in him and secure the relationship first, then date him when you're ready to," Li's mother said persuasively and earnestly. "Secure the spot as his girlfriend!"