In the softly lit living room of Sun Lixia’s villa, Zhang Mei sat on the couch, cradling her swollen belly. Her hands instinctively moved over her stomach, as if to protect the life growing within her from the storm raging outside their world. She had been sitting there for hours, refusing to move, her mind fixed on one thought: *Li Chen will be with us soon.* Her lips moved in a constant murmur, barely audible, as she repeated the words over and over like a mantra, trying to will them into reality.

Sun Lixia watched her daughter-in-law closely, her heart aching at the sight. She walked over and placed a gentle hand on Zhang Mei’s shoulder. "Mei, you should go and rest," she said softly, her voice a mixture of concern and motherly tenderness. "We will let you know the moment there are any changes with Li Chen."

Zhang Mei shook her head without looking up. "No, I have to be here when he wakes up," she whispered, her eyes never leaving the doorway to the room where Li Chen lay unconscious.

Mu Lingling, standing nearby, stepped in to offer her support. "Master Chen said it might take a week for him to fully recover, Mei. You have to think about the babies. They need you to rest and take care of yourself." Her voice was calm, but there was an underlying plea, a mother desperate for her daughter’s well-being.

Zhang Mei hesitated, her eyes filled with exhaustion and fear. After a long pause, she finally nodded, the weight of her pregnancy and the emotional toll of the last few days evident in her movements. Reluctantly, she allowed Mu Lingling to help her stand, but before she left, she cast one last glance at the door. "Please wake up soon," she whispered, before slowly making her way out of the room.

As soon as Zhang Mei left, Sun Lixia exhaled deeply and turned toward Master Chen, her face tight with worry. "Do you really believe he’ll make it?" she asked, her voice barely steady. Her question was laced with the fear that had been gnawing at her since the moment they had brought Li Chen back.

Master Chen, who had been standing quietly by the window, turned to face her. His expression was calm, but there was a glimmer of determination in his eyes. "Don’t worry. Li Chen is a fighter," he said. "He’s been through more than most men could endure. He will survive this."

Just then, the front doors burst open with a sudden gust of wind, and Madam Tang and her brother Wang Ying entered the villa. The two of them looked drained, as if they had carried the weight of the world on their shoulders for too long. Madam Tang, her usually composed face lined with sorrow, hurried over to Sun Lixia and knelt beside her, her eyes filled with remorse.

"I’m so sorry," Madam Tang whispered, her voice trembling. "I wish I could have done more. I wish—" Her words were cut off by emotion, the guilt of the portal opening weighing heavily on her.

Sun Lixia immediately bent down and helped her to her feet, shaking her head. "It’s not your fault, Madam Tang. You did what you could," she said gently, though her own voice trembled with emotion.

Master Chen, who had been watching silently, suddenly stiffened. His eyes widened as he looked at Madam Tang. "You..." he said, his voice filled with recognition and disbelief. "You’re the portal guardian."

Madam Tang gave a solemn nod, her expression filled with regret. "Yes," she admitted quietly. "I am."

Sun Lixia, surprised, looked at Madam Tang with a mixture of confusion and concern. "Don’t worry, Madam Tang," she said softly. "Li Chen is not dead."

The words hung in the air for a moment, and Madam Tang and Wang Ying exchanged startled glances. Madam Tang’s eyes widened in disbelief. "He... he’s alive?" she whispered, her voice shaky with a mixture of shock and hope.

Sun Lixia nodded, tears brimming in her eyes. "Yes, he’s alive. He’s unconscious for now, but Master Chen brought him back. He’s going to make it."

Madam Tang’s knees almost buckled as she let out a breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding. She bowed deeply to Master Chen, her gratitude evident in every line of her face. "Thank you... thank you so much. I don’t know how I would have lived with myself if he had really been gone. I..." She struggled to find the words to express the depth of her relief.

Li Xiaojun, who had been standing quietly with his arms crossed, finally spoke. "It’s not your fault, Madam Tang," he said, his voice steady and calm. "We all know that Li Chen would have found his way to that portal to stop Zhang Yiming, even if you hadn’t been involved."

The room fell into a moment of quiet, each person trying to absorb the gravity of the situation. Just then, the front doors opened again, and Tang Ziyi and Tang Junjie, Madam Tang’s two sons, walked in. Both of them immediately noticed the tears in their mother’s eyes and rushed over to her.

"Mom, what’s going on?" Tang Ziyi asked, his voice filled with concern. "Are you okay? What happened?"

Madam Tang wiped her eyes and nodded. "I’m fine now," she said, though her voice still wavered with emotion. "But there’s something I need to tell you—something I’ve kept from you for a long time."

Everyone in the room fell silent, their interest piqued as they gathered around. Madam Tang gestured for her sons to sit, and once everyone was settled, she took a deep breath, preparing herself to reveal the secret she had carried for so many years.

"I come from a village called Yunxie," she began, her voice steady now as she launched into her story. "And this is my brother, Wang Ying. You see... my family’s firstborn daughters have always been given the power to open and close the portal—the portal that imprisons the five greatest demons ever to walk the earth."

Tang Ziyi frowned, confusion clouding his features. "What portal?" he asked, his tone a mix of disbelief and curiosity.

Madam Tang sighed deeply, the weight of her family’s ancient responsibility pressing down on her. "The portal that holds the demons who once reigned terror over the earth. Centuries ago, these demons caused wars, bloodshed, and unimaginable horrors. Our ancestors fought long and hard to capture them and seal them away. They passed down the knowledge of how to control the portal to the firstborn daughters of the Wang family."

Master Chen, who had been listening intently, nodded in recognition. "I’ve heard legends about the Wang family of Yunxie," he said. "About the sacrifices your ancestors made to seal away the demons. It’s a tale passed down in martial circles."

"Yes," Madam Tang continued. "It’s true. The rule was that the Wang family’s first daughters could not marry outside the village. We were to remain in Yunxie, guarding the portal, ensuring that nothing ever happened to it. But then... one day, I met your father." She paused, looking at her sons with a mixture of love and regret. "I fell in love, and I left. I broke the Wang family’s most important rule, and I never looked back."

Tang Ziyi and Tang Junjie exchanged a glance, the enormity of what their mother was saying slowly sinking in. "So, what now?" Tang Ziyi asked, his voice quiet but urgent. "What happens now that the portal has been opened?"

Madam Tang closed her eyes for a moment, gathering her strength before speaking again. "Zhang Yiming has control over the demons now. He commands them, and they will do whatever he says. The world is facing an unimaginable doom."

Li Yanyan, who had been standing in the corner of the room, clenched her fists in frustration. "That old bastard," she muttered under her breath. "So what happens now?"

Master Chen sighed, the weight of the situation pressing heavily on him. "The demons now see Zhang Yiming as their master. They are bound to him, and whatever plans he has in mind, they will carry out."

Li Xiaojun nodded grimly. "We all know how evil Zhang Yiming is," he said. "I’m sure he already has some twisted plan in place, and it won’t be long before he makes his move."

Madam Tang looked around the room, her gaze settling on Sun Lixia. "This is where the Sun family comes in," she said quietly, her voice filled with a sense of urgency.

Sun Lixia blinked in surprise. "What do you mean?" she asked, her voice cautious.

Master Chen stepped forward, his expression serious. "The Sun family has been the guardians of the Seven Fists Manual for generations. That manual contained the map that led to the portal, and it could only be opened by someone of Sun descent. Li Chen was the chosen guardian of that map."

Sun Lixia’s heart raced as she realized the full weight of what Master Chen was saying. "But... with everything that’s happened... is there no one else?" she asked, her voice trembling.

Master Chen shook his head solemnly. "Unfortunately, there is no one else who can defeat Zhang Yiming and the demons he commands besides Li Chen."

The room fell silent once again, the gravity of the situation sinking in. They all knew what this meant. Despite everything, despite the battles he had already

fought and the price he had already paid, Li Chen would have to face Zhang Yiming—and the demons—alone.

And only he could save them.