Vice Palace Master Yao patted Emperor Fire Cloud’s shoulder, consoling him, “Fire Cloud, I know you cherish this disciple, but things have come to this. You must accept it. Our feud with the demon clan is irreconcilable. They’ll stop at nothing, not just sacrificing a genius. In the war tens of thousands of years ago, how many lives did our human race lose? How many immortals fell, including our loved ones and friends? It’s unavoidable.”
Despite his rage, Emperor Fire Cloud could only nod slowly.
“Fire Cloud, I’ll leave now. If he wakes, notify me immediately. If he doesn’t, let me know as well.”
With that, Vice Palace Master Yao stepped forward and vanished instantly.
Emperor Fire Cloud rose slowly, turning to the Beimen Prefecture Lord.
“Your Highness…”
The Prefecture Lord trembled, his face pale, sweat rolling down his forehead, terrified that Emperor Fire Cloud would take his anger out on him.
“At all costs, purge every demon beast in Beimen Prefecture. You will personally lead the charge to atone for your failure. Remember, at all costs! I’ll deploy a million elite troops to support you. If my disciple doesn’t wake, you’ll die on the battlefield!” Emperor Fire Cloud’s tone was cold as steel.
Beimen Prefecture, located in the heart of the Fire Cloud Empire, didn’t border the demon beast mountains. Normally, a celestial demon from the mountains couldn’t reach here directly.
The only explanation was a demon clan teleportation array hidden in Beimen Prefecture, linked to the demon beast mountains.
This was why Emperor Fire Cloud was furious at the Prefecture Lord’s incompetence.
When Lin Yun launched a major purge against the demon clan in East Yuan Prefecture and succeeded, Emperor Fire Cloud ordered other prefectures to follow suit, but most, including Beimen, failed to achieve results.
“Yes, yes, I obey,” the Prefecture Lord nodded repeatedly.
Emperor Fire Cloud said no more, taking Lin Yun and leaving.
…
East Yuan Prefecture, Prefecture Lord’s Palace.
Yu Ying was teaching Lin Ke Xin cultivation.
“Mother, cultivation is so hard. Brother Mu and the others are playing. Can Ke Xin take a break?”
Young Lin Ke Xin pouted. At her age, children naturally loved to play, especially without life’s pressures forcing her to train.
“Ke Xin, cultivation is tough, but only by enduring hardship can you rise above others,” Yu Ying instructed.
“But Daddy is the Prefecture Lord, the highest in East Yuan Prefecture. We don’t need to suffer,” Lin Ke Xin said, her innocent face full of confusion.
“Your father endured countless hardships and climbed to where he is through effort. If he knew you were slacking in cultivation, he’d be upset and might not like you anymore. Ke Xin, you don’t want to disappoint him, do you?” Yu Ying said.
“Ke Xin… doesn’t want that…” Lin Ke Xin replied weakly.
At that moment, the old butler rushed in.
“Madam! Madam!” he shouted while running.
“What’s wrong?” Yu Ying stood up quickly.
“Madam, the Prefecture Lord is in trouble!” the butler said urgently.
“What?”
Hearing this, the teacup in Yu Ying’s hand fell, shattering on the floor.
“What happened to Brother Yun? Where is he now?” Yu Ying asked anxiously, her face turning pale.
Her greatest fear was something happening to Lin Yun outside.
And now, the dreaded news had come!
“His Highness Emperor Fire Cloud personally brought the Prefecture Lord back. He’s… in the bedchamber now!” the butler said urgently.
…
Prefecture Lord’s Palace, Bedchamber.
Emperor Fire Cloud had placed Lin Yun on the bed.
“Disciple, whether you survive depends on your own fate…” Emperor Fire Cloud gazed at Lin Yun, his eyes dim.
He knew that while Lin Yun was still alive, he could perish at any moment.
Emperor Fire Cloud brought him back so his family and child could be with him.
At that moment, Yu Ying rushed in with Lin Ke Xin.
When Yu Ying reached the bed and saw Lin Yun lying motionless, her vision darkened, and she stumbled.
“Madam!” The butler quickly supported her, preventing her from falling.
In that moment, Yu Ying felt her world collapse…
“Daddy!”
Lin Ke Xin rushed to the bedside, standing on tiptoes.
“Daddy, what’s wrong? Wake up!” Lin Ke Xin grabbed Lin Yun’s hand, calling out repeatedly.
When Lin Yun didn’t respond, she burst into tears.
“Wah, Daddy! Open your eyes and look at Ke Xin, please!”
“Ke Xin will listen to Daddy from now on. I’ll work hard and cultivate. Daddy, wake up and see Ke Xin.”
Lin Ke Xin sobbed, shaking Lin Yun’s hand.
Yu Ying’s eyes reddened, tears streaming down despite her efforts to hold them back.
“Your Highness, what… what happened to my husband?” Yu Ying asked, her voice trembling.
“The demon clan. He’s been poisoned with a deadly toxin,” Emperor Fire Cloud said.
Yu Ying dropped to her knees. “Your Highness, please save him! You’re a top powerhouse of the human race. You must have a way, you must be able to save him!”
Emperor Fire Cloud closed his eyes, shaking his head helplessly. “He’s been struck with the demon clan’s most potent poison. Even I am powerless. It’s up to him now. He could stop breathing at any moment.”
Yu Ying’s heart sank, tears flowing uncontrollably. Even Emperor Fire Cloud was powerless? He could die at any moment?
Each word pierced her heart!
Only then did Yu Ying grasp the gravity of the situation!
She rushed to the bedside.
“Brother Yun! Can you hear me? You must hold on!” Yu Ying gripped Lin Yun’s hand tightly.
Hearing Emperor Fire Cloud’s words, Lin Ke Xin cried even harder.
“Daddy’s going to die? No!”
“Daddy, wake up! Don’t leave Ke Xin!” Lin Ke Xin wailed, her voice hoarse.
At that moment, Lin Yun’s subordinates—Liang Yuan, Huo Zhen, Wei Qi, and Yang Wan—rushed in.
So did Lin Yun’s master, the Wanderer, and Du Yuanzi.
“Big Brother!”
“Lin Yun!”
They didn’t even have time to salute Emperor Fire Cloud, rushing to Lin Yun’s bedside in a frenzy.
