192: Chapter 192 Returning Home to Heal Wounds, Feelings Arise

When Lin Fan arrived at the Lin Family Ancestral Land with Xia Qingyue and Zi Linger, the entire Family was in an uproar.

The Clan Leader personally came out to meet them, and seeing the two women covered in wounds, his expression changed drastically: "Quick! Summon the physicians!"

"No need," Lin Fan said. "I will do it."

He carried the two women into his courtyard and gently placed them on the bed.

Xia Qingyue's injuries were relatively light, though the wound on her left shoulder was deep enough to see the bone, and she had lost too much blood. Zi Linger was in much worse shape—she had at least seventeen wounds across her body, the most severe being on her abdomen, where she had been struck by a certain Demonic Lord's palm, causing heavy damage to her internal organs.

Lin Fan stood by the bed, his brow furrowed. He was not a physician, but the Eternal Annihilation Body had a natural perception of injuries. He could sense that Zi Linger's life force was slowly fading; if not treated in time, she would not last three hours.

"Lin Fan..." Zi Linger weakly opened her eyes, looking at him and forcing a smile, "I'm fine, don't frown... it looks deathly ugly."

Lin Fan did not speak, but simply raised his hand, a soft grey light emerging from his palm.

That light was different from the sharpness it held in battle; it was as gentle as a spring breeze, carrying the healing properties of the power of eternity.

He gently pressed the light against the wound on Zi Linger's abdomen.

Zi Linger's whole body trembled, and she immediately felt a warm power surging into her body, beginning to repair her damaged Meridians and organs. The sensation was strange—not painful, but rather somewhat comfortable.

"This is..." she said in surprise.

"The power of eternity," Lin Fan said. "It can heal injuries, but it consumes a great deal."

As he spoke, he funneled more power into Zi Linger's body.

Zi Linger looked at his focused profile, an indescribable emotion welling up in her heart.

This man had just been killing enemies like dogs in Luoxia Valley, as cold as a god of slaughter. Now, to save her, he did not hesitate to consume his own power of Origin...

"Lin Fan," she called out softly.

"Hmm?"

"Thank you."

Lin Fan did not look up, only saying indifferently: "It was I who implicated you both."

Zi Linger shook her head: "It wasn't implication. I chose to come myself."

She paused, her voice turning even softer: "I didn't want to watch you face all that alone."

Lin Fan's hand faltered slightly.

He said nothing, merely continuing to heal her.

Half an hour later, Zi Linger's injuries stabilized. Lin Fan then turned to Xia Qingyue, repairing the wound on her left shoulder.

Xia Qingyue remained very quiet, neither crying out in pain nor speaking. Only when Lin Fan's hand pressed against her shoulder did her eyelashes tremble slightly.

"Does it hurt?" Lin Fan asked.

"It doesn't hurt," Xia Qingyue said.

Lin Fan glanced at her, not exposing her bravado.

The power of eternity continued to surge in, and the wound deep enough to see the bone began to slowly heal.

Xia Qingyue looked at him and suddenly said: "Lin Fan, you've become stronger."

Lin Fan nodded.

"Stronger than before," Xia Qingyue continued, "but your enemies have also become stronger."

Lin Fan did not speak.

Xia Qingyue said: "I've heard about the matter regarding Xu."

Lin Fan's brow furrowed slightly.

Xia Qingyue looked at him: "What do you plan to do?"

Lin Fan was silent for a moment before saying: "Get stronger, then go back."

"Go back to your death?"

"Not necessarily."

Xia Qingyue looked at him, a complex emotion flashing in her eyes.

She suddenly reached out and grasped his hand.

Lin Fan was startled.

"Lin Fan," Xia Qingyue said softly, "I know you have many things to shoulder. But don't forget, you are not alone."

She paused: "At least, you still have us."

Lin Fan looked at her, silent for a long time.

Eventually, he gently withdrew his hand and stood up: "Rest well."

He turned and pushed the door open to leave.

Outside the door, Lin Pojun was waiting.

"Young Lord." He handed over a Jade Slip, "Messages have come from both the Great Xia Imperial City and the Ten Thousand Demon Celestial Domain, inquiring about the conditions of the two princesses."

Lin Fan took the Jade Slip and probed it with his Divine Thought.

The message from the Emperor of Great Xia, Xia Wujiang, was very brief: "Protect Yue'er well; Great Xia owes you a favor."

The message from the Domain Lord of the Ten Thousand Demon Celestial Domain was longer, essentially thanking Lin Fan for saving Zi Linger while also reminding him that although the Zhu Lin Alliance was destroyed, the Black Demon Abyss and Shadow Kill Tower would not let the matter rest, and to be careful.

Lin Fan put away the Jade Slip and looked into the distance.

In that direction lay the Black Demon Abyss.

And also the direction of the Shadow Kill Tower.

"Pass down the order," he said. "Strengthen the guard; everyone entering or leaving must be inspected."

Lin Pojun took the order and left.

Lin Fan stood in place, not moving for a long time.

He thought of that palm strike from Xu, and the words Xu had said: "When you can take ten of my palms, come again."

Ten palms. How many could he take now? He didn't know. But he knew he had to become stronger.

Strong enough to protect everyone he wanted to protect.

At nightfall, Lin Fan sat in the courtyard, gazing up at the starry sky.

Slight footsteps came from behind him.

He didn't turn around, only saying: "Why aren't you resting?"

Xia Qingyue walked to his side and sat down beside him.

"I can't sleep," she said.

Lin Fan did not speak.

The two sat side by side, looking at the starry sky.

After a long while, Xia Qingyue suddenly said: "Lin Fan, do you know? I grew up in the imperial palace and have seen countless people. There are those who are hypocritical, those who are sincere; those who are greedy, and those who are indifferent; those who are powerful, and those who are weak."

"But there has never been anyone like you."

Lin Fan turned to look at her.

Xia Qingyue also looked at him, her gaze as clear as water:

"When you kill, you are like an Asura. But when you save people, you are like a Bodhisattva."

"When you are cold, you keep people a thousand miles away. But when you are gentle, it is impossible to resist."

Lin Fan remained silent.

Xia Qingyue continued: "I don't know what plans you have for the future. But I want to tell you..."

She paused and said softly: "No matter what decision you make, I will stand by your side."

Lin Fan looked at her for a long time before nodding slightly: "Thank you."

Xia Qingyue smiled.

That smile, under the moonlight, was breathtakingly beautiful.

Just then, the door pushed open, and Zi Linger poked her head out.

Seeing the two sitting side by side, she blanked for a moment, then pouted: "Oh, so you two are having a secret date without calling me!"

Xia Qingyue's face turned slightly red.

Lin Fan said indifferently: "Are your injuries healed?"

Zi Linger patted her chest: "Healed! Your power of eternity is really amazing; I feel even more energetic now than before I was hurt!"

She squeezed in to sit between the two, looking left at Lin Fan and right at Xia Qingyue, then suddenly smiled: "This is nice. Three people are always better than one."

Lin Fan looked at her and did not speak.

But in his heart, a surge of warmth indeed arose.

These were all people he wanted to protect. He looked up toward the starry sky. There, the stars were brilliant. But beyond the stars, there was a pair of eyes watching him.

Xu. Just wait. I will come.