East Yuan Prefecture, Prefecture Lord’s Palace, Lin Yun’s Bedchamber.
Lin Yun remained lying on the bed, with Yu Ying and Lin Ke Xin keeping vigil by his side.
“Ke Xin, let the maids take you to rest,” Yu Ying said, noticing her daughter’s weary state.
“No! I want to stay here until Daddy wakes up. If he wakes and doesn’t see me first, he’ll be sad,” young Lin Ke Xin said stubbornly.
“Aaah!”
Suddenly, Lin Yun shot up from the bed, his face contorted, letting out a loud roar.
“Where am I…”
“Hiss, it hurts!”
Lin Yun clutched his temples, his face pale.
He remembered being struck by the celestial demon Di Jiang’s soul-severing needle, poisoned by the soul-severing toxin. Then Emperor Fire Cloud arrived, and under excruciating torment, Lin Yun lost consciousness.
After that, he entered a dream.
In the dream, countless demons attacked, trying to kill him. Lin Yun could only fight desperately, but without internal energy, he was powerless against them.
Under their relentless assault, he was soon battered and on the verge of death, collapsing to the ground!
Then, he heard his daughter and Yu Ying calling him. In the dream, he looked around but couldn’t see them, though their voices were clear.
Their calls ignited a fierce desire to survive in the dying Lin Yun. He stood up, fighting the demons again.
In the dream, he was knocked down repeatedly, battered and bruised, yet rose each time, becoming seemingly invincible, unbreakable by the demons!
“Daddy’s awake! Daddy’s awake!”
Lin Ke Xin, at the bedside, jumped with excitement seeing Lin Yun stir.
“Brother Yun!”
Yu Ying froze, then covered her mouth, tears streaming down her face—tears of joy!
No words could describe her emotions in that moment!
“Ke Xin, Ying’er, is it really you? I’m… not dreaming, am I?” Lin Yun stared at his daughter and Yu Ying, unable to believe his eyes.
“Brother Yun, it’s not a dream. You… you’re really alive…”
Yu Ying threw herself into Lin Yun’s arms, crying like a child.
“Daddy!” Lin Ke Xin also dove into his embrace.
For the past four days, Yu Ying and Lin Ke Xin had stayed by Lin Yun’s bedside without rest, whispering to him, calling his name.
Their hearts had been in constant anguish, fearing he might stop breathing at any moment!
Yet they also hoped every second that he would open his eyes and wake up!
Now that he had, how could they not be overwhelmed?
“I… I’m really alive? Ying’er, how did I get here?” Lin Yun looked around, recognizing his bedchamber in East Yuan Prefecture.
He remembered fainting in Beimen Prefecture before Emperor Fire Cloud, then entering the dream, unaware of what followed.
“Emperor Fire Cloud brought you back. He said though you weren’t dead, you could stop breathing at any moment. The soul-severing poison you were struck with… even he was powerless against it,” Yu Ying said.
“I’ve finally woken up,” Lin Yun said, a faint smile on his pale face.
“Oh, Emperor Fire Cloud said to notify him immediately if you woke.”
As she spoke, Yu Ying crushed a jade slip.
…
Divine Capital, Imperial Palace.
“Hm?”
“Could Lin Yun have woken?” A trace of joy crossed Emperor Fire Cloud’s face.
He quickly sent a message to Vice Palace Master Yao via the Heavenly God Palace’s communication bracelet.
After sending it, he vanished in a flash.
…
East Yuan Prefecture, Prefecture Lord’s Palace, Bedchamber.
“Daddy, Ke Xin was so scared. Don’t leave me, please!” Ke Xin clung to Lin Yun, tears streaming, looking heartbreakingly pitiful.
“Ke Xin, thank you for giving Daddy strength. Of course, I won’t leave you,” Lin Yun said, smiling as he kissed her chubby cheek.
His survival owed much to his daughter, whose voice had been his mental anchor, fueling his will to live!
“Brother Yun, how are you feeling?” Yu Ying asked with concern.
Lin Yun checked his body’s condition.
The toxin still lingered, permeating every cell with terrifying intensity!
The only relief was that his brain had minimal toxin invasion, so his consciousness remained clear, the poison not having broken his will.
“The toxin’s still in my body. It’s going to be troublesome,” Lin Yun said gravely.
He didn’t yet realize the situation was far worse than he imagined…
Then, he tried circulating his internal energy.
“Aaaah!”
The moment he did, Lin Yun let out a piercing scream.
A horrific torment erupted within him, as if bursting from every cell!
His body trembled uncontrollably.
“Daddy! Waa, Daddy, what’s wrong!” Lin Ke Xin clung to him, crying.
“Brother Yun!”
Yu Ying gripped his hand tightly, knowing the poison must have flared up. Emperor Fire Cloud had said it remained in his body, unremovable.
“I’m… fine!” Lin Yun forced a smile, not wanting to worry them.
But the excruciating pain only intensified!
His face grew deathly pale, sweat beading on his forehead, his body shaking.
Lin Yun was resilient, able to endure great pain, but even he couldn’t withstand the soul-severing poison’s torment!
All the pain he’d endured before paled in comparison to this!
“Daddy! Ke Xin will listen to Mommy and train hard, no slacking!”
Seeing Lin Yun in such agony, young Lin Ke Xin’s tears flowed, thinking her words could ease his pain.
“Brother Yun…”
Yu Ying held his hand tightly, her eyes red, tears falling uncontrollably.
