Seven more days passed since Mu Chen slew Tian Helong and the three brothers of the Zhou Family. Throughout this time, an oppressive atmosphere settled over the entire Imperial Capital of the Xuanling Empire. Even the once-bustling streets now seemed desolate and quiet, almost entirely deserted.

Hovering in the air, Xuan Yin gazed down at the once-bustling market streets and gave a wry smile. "It’s suddenly so much less lively. It’s a bit hard to get used to. By the way, Elder Wu, how is the evacuation from the other towns proceeding?"

Standing to the side with his hands clasped behind his back, Wu Changqing wore a solemn expression. "The Xuanling Empire may be a small nation, but its population is quite large. Relocating so many people to the Secret Realm deep within the Demon Beast Forest has naturally been troublesome, and many have been uncooperative. Fortunately, Elder Yin, Elder Sun, and Elder Li have been handling things separately. As of now, eighty percent of the Xuanling Empire’s populace has been successfully relocated."

Xuan Yin nodded. "You have all worked hard. For the sake of the Xuanling Empire, you’ve been held back all these years. If I were more capable, perhaps you wouldn’t have been buried in this small place."

Wu Changqing’s brows furrowed. "Your Majesty, what are you saying? Do you think I, Wu Changqing, am some glory-hound? You must always remember that we were all born in the Xuanling Empire. The blood of the Xuanling Empire flows through our veins. Since an enemy dares to invade our Empire, as its children, how could we possibly cling to life and fear death? Do not say such things again. I’ll consider it an insult to us all."

Xuan Yin paused, then a gratified smile spread across his face. "I was wrong. I take those words back. Let us face the coming disaster together."

Wu Changqing laughed heartily. "Right, how’s that boy Mu Chen doing?"

Xuan Yin shook his head. "Fourteen days have passed. There still isn’t a trace of Primordial Power in his body, nor any sign of him waking up. It seems the side effects from that Demonization were far too severe."

Elder Wu nodded. "I suppose that’s to be expected. To single-handedly slay three Emperor Realm Martial Artists as a demonized Five-Ring Martial Spirit—one of them a Ninth-Ring Martial Emperor, no less—one can only imagine the immense power he must have unleashed."

Xuan Yin sighed. "I hope he wakes up soon. No matter what, he is the Xuanling Empire’s only hope."

...

「Imperial Academy, High-Level Dormitory」

Mu Bingling worriedly wiped Mu Chen’s forehead with a towel. For some unknown reason, he had been breaking out in a cold sweat all morning. From his tightly furrowed brows, it was clear his consciousness had returned. Yet, while still asleep, he seemed to be experiencing something incredibly painful. He kept struggling and crying out. Though the sounds were faint, the violence of his resistance was obvious.

In his subconscious, the image of Mo Qing taking that blow for him replayed itself again and again, like an endless loop. The twisted face of the Eldest of the Zhou Family and the sight of a blood-soaked Mo Qing tormented his mind.

"Mo Qing!!!"

At the vision of a blood-drenched Mo Qing in his memory, Mu Chen shouted and bolted awake. Mu Bingling, who had been sitting beside him, shot to her feet. "Chen’Er! You’re awake!" Her voice was filled with delight.

Mu Chen looked dazed. He didn’t come to his senses until Mu Bingling was standing right in front of him. He glanced around, realized he was lying in his own dormitory, and asked in confusion, "Bing’Er... what happened to me?"

Mu Chen was finally awake, and the weight on Mu Bingling’s heart at last lifted. Hearing his question, she gave a small smile. "You’ve been in a coma for half a month, ever since the ambush."

"Ambush?" Mu Chen froze. The memory of Mo Qing taking that fatal blow for him suddenly resurfaced. A pang of pain shot through his heart, and he asked dazedly, "Does that mean... Mo Qing is really..."

Mu Bingling shook her head. "When Emperor Xuan Yin came to see you, he told us that Mo Qing is still alive. Her heart is on the right side of her body, so the attacker didn’t manage to deal a fatal blow. She was later rescued by a powerful expert, which is why we haven’t seen her. What you need to do now is recover as quickly as possible. You killed the Crown Prince and three Elders from the Celestial Eagle Empire. They will certainly not let you off the hook, and they won’t spare the Xuanling Empire either."

Mu Chen stared at Mu Bingling, stunned. "I killed He Long and three Elders from the Celestial Eagle Empire?" he asked in disbelief. "How... how is that possible?"

Seeing that he had lost his memory of the events after his Demonization, Mu Bingling briefly recounted what had happened. "It’s very likely your body is suffering from extreme side effects, which is why you don’t have even a shred of Primordial Power right now," she continued. "Because no one understands your condition, not even Emperor Xuan Yin or Elder Wu have been able to find a solution."

Mu Chen now had a faint, blurry impression of it, but his head began to throb the moment he tried to think. Lacking the support of his Primordial Power and having been bedridden for so long, he was extremely weak.

’So these are the side effects. They’re really something, huh.’ A faint smile touched Mu Chen’s pale face, but it was one of self-mockery. ’I’m just too weak. Even if I seem strong to others now, that’s only in their eyes. When I was faced with that situation two weeks ago, I didn’t have a shred of strength to protect myself. In the end, I had to have a woman protect me.’

"Bing’Er," Mu Chen asked from the bed, his voice trembling slightly, "if Mo Qing hadn’t been there that day, would you have been the one to stand in front of me?"

Mu Bingling, who had her head lowered, snapped her head up and answered without the slightest hesitation, "If Mo Qing hadn’t been there to block it, the one standing in front of you would have absolutely been me!"

"And which side is your heart on, Bing’Er?"

To Mu Bingling’s utter astonishment, Mu Chen had unexpectedly asked such a question.

"My heart..."

Mu Bingling placed a fair, delicate hand on her chest, feeling the rhythmic melody of life within. She suddenly fell silent. "...It’s on the left."

"Heh..." Mu Chen let out a self-deprecating laugh as two tears slowly traced paths from the corners of his eyes. He covered his face with his arm, only his mocking smile visible. "If it had been you in front of me, Bing’Er, would that mean I’d have lost you forever?"

"..." Mu Bingling was speechless. She could only lower her head in silence, staring blankly at her own knuckles.

With some effort, Mu Chen suddenly turned over. "Bing’Er, I’m a little tired," he said softly. "You’ve worked so hard taking care of me. Go get some rest. I need to be alone for a while."

Mu Bingling slowly raised her head, only to be met with the sight of his lonely back. She knew he was in a bad place, but she couldn’t bring herself to leave him alone. To do so would trap him in a cycle of self-blame, a state in which it was easy to be driven to extremes.

He heard a rustling sound from behind him but paid it no mind. In the next instant, however, he felt the covers being gently lifted. A soft body pressed against his back, and an arm wrapped naturally around his waist.

Mu Chen stiffened, his mouth falling slightly open as his entire body tensed. Mu Bingling’s exquisitely beautiful face appeared from behind, and she gently rested her pointed chin on the top of his head. "Don’t be nervous," she whispered. "Weren’t we always like this? Whenever Chen’Er was sad, or dejected, or in pain, he would always calm down in Bing’Er’s arms. Three years have passed. Bing’Er hasn’t changed. But... has Chen’Er?"

Staring at the wall, Mu Chen’s pupils contracted violently. Tears he could no longer hold back streamed from his eyes. "Have I changed?" he murmured.

With that, Mu Chen flipped over and buried his face deep in Mu Bingling’s embrace, letting his tears soak the front of his shirt. "Of course I haven’t changed!" he cried out. "I’m still the same Chen’Er who can only rely on his sister! But I don’t want to rely on you forever! I can’t imagine what would become of me if you ever left! I can’t let my selfishness, my weakness, be the death of the most important person in my life! Do you understand? I want to protect you! I want to protect you!"

"I’m stronger now, yes, but in the eyes of those who are even stronger, I’m still just a weakling! I still need protecting! I hate it! If things go on like this, you’ll leave me one day, Sister! You’ll fall right in front of me! I have to change that! I have to be the one standing in front of you!"

Mu Chen practically roared every word. As she listened to him vent, listened to the words pouring from the bottom of his heart, Mu Bingling’s expression grew ever softer. Her slender, jade-like fingers gently stroked his hair. She simply listened in silence, savoring the feeling of being this close to him for the first time in three years. It was so warm, so blissful...

Perhaps exhausted from his outburst, the already-weak Mu Chen fell into a deep sleep in Mu Bingling’s arms, his breathing becoming even and steady. Mu Bingling looked at the tear stains on the young man’s face and chuckled softly. "You’re taller than I am, but you still cry like a child. However..." She suddenly leaned in, her lips close to his ear, and whispered, "I’m not your sister anymore. I’m your wife. I always will be... Don’t call me that again, understood?"

As if he had heard her in his sleep, Mu Chen murmured, "Wife... Bing’Er..." He then nuzzled deeper into her embrace, shifting to find a more comfortable position before settling back into a peaceful sleep.

Some people, no matter how mature or independent, will always have one person who brings out their innocent, unguarded side. That person is, more often than not, the most important one in their life.