"LiAi... Go... Release that bird," XianLian urged, her voice strained but firm. Qian LiAi hesitated, tears welling in his eyes as he refused to move. HaoJian attempted to wrench the sword free from XianLian's body, but at the sight of Qian LiAi's shock, she pinched him hard, snapping him out of his daze.

  "Mom..." he whispered, his voice trembling.

  "Now!" XianLian shouted, her tone desperate. Instantly, Qian LiAi sprinted toward the door, releasing an orange bird into the night air. HaoJian yanked the sword free with brutal force, causing XianLian to groan in agony as blood poured from her wound. She focused on her aura, trying to slow the bleeding, before turning to face him with what little strength she had left.

  "Xian... I..." HaoJian began, but she cut him off with her unwavering declaration.

  "You're an uninvited guest in my home. I will never leave with you, not until my eyes close in peace," XianLian said coldly, her voice filled with resolve. She would not be taken alive. HaoJian's jaw clenched, frustration building inside him—both at her defiance and his own helplessness. He wanted her—not just a part of her, but everything she was. Only when she was whole and untouched could his heart feel at rest.

  Qian LiAi stood by the door, his gaze fixed on his mother. Despite the blood soaking her body, she still fought to protect them, her strength unwavering. In that moment, his longing for his father's return intensified, as if his presence could undo this nightmare.

  HaoJian's eyes flicked to Qian LiAi, who stood frozen in fear, and a surge of irrational jealousy gripped him. His love for XianLian twisted into something darker, more possessive—even toward her child.

  With a roar, HaoJian lunged toward Qian LiAi, but XianLian intercepted him, her sword clashing against his with a loud crack. She was relentless in her defense, forcing HaoJian to shift his focus entirely to her. The air was thick with tension as their blades met again and again, the struggle stretching long into the night. XianLian fought with all her might, but each movement grew weaker, her blood seeping from her wound, staining the ground beneath her.

  HaoJian's sword flashed dangerously in the dim light, and XianLian barely managed to deflect it, the blade grazing her skin. Then, in a split second, HaoJian released his grip on the sword, sending it flying toward Qian LiAi. XianLian saw it too late. With a burst of energy, she kicked HaoJian away and used the momentum to throw herself at the sword, catching it just before it could strike her son.

  Qian LiAi stared at the blade, paralyzed with terror, as XianLian's hand, now slick with blood, gripped the sharp edge to protect him.

  "XianLian!" HaoJian's voice cracked with raw emotion as he watched her sacrifice herself without hesitation. He felt an unfamiliar knot tighten in his chest as she hurled his sword aside, her wound now flowing freely.

  "Mom," Qian LiAi whispered, the tremor in his voice breaking the silence. XianLian offered him a faint, pained smile, her eyes softening as she tried to comfort him in his anguish.

  "LiAi... I'm... I'm okay," she whispered, her voice faltering. But even as she spoke, her strength failed her, and she collapsed to the ground.

  "Mom!" Qian LiAi screamed, his heart shattering as he cradled her head in his lap. HaoJian rushed forward, but before he could reach her, a gust of wind, laden with leaves, slammed into him, forcing him back.

  A figure emerged from the shadows, moving with swift grace. In a blur of motion, they swooped down, catching XianLian’s fragile body in their arms. XianLian's eyes fluttered open, and a faint smile curved her lips as she looked up.

  "Fu jun..." she whispered, her voice barely audible.

  ZhiYong froze, shock spreading across his face as he searched her for injuries, desperately hoping this was all some cruel nightmare.

  "XianXian... I came too late..." His voice trembled with fear and regret, his heart sinking as he saw the blood staining her clothes. Despite her pain, XianLian reached up, her trembling hand caressing his cheek in a silent gesture of love and comfort.

  "My dear... you must protect them... at all costs," she murmured, her voice fragile but firm. "They need guidance... I won't be here to give it. Don’t concern yourself with my past. My mother is gone... and nothing remains in this world. The answers... they'll be lost, beyond reach. Our children... they need you."

  Tears filled ZhiYong's eyes as he absorbed her words, his heart breaking with the weight of her sacrifice. He had failed to protect her—failed to protect them all—and now it was too late.

  With what little strength she had left, XianLian pulled from her dress the ornament her mother had given her. She held it out to ZhiYong, her hand shaking with the effort.

  "Give this to Yuyu... for her birthday..." Her smile flickered before fading, but her gaze softened as she entrusted him with the final act of her love for their daughter.

  Her hand slowly dropped, lifeless, as her face paled, the light fading from her eyes. ZhiYong's heart stopped with the realization that she was gone. Her final breath was but a whisper in the wind.

  "Who dares harm my wife and child?" ZhiYong's voice broke the stillness, full of fury as he glared at HaoJian, his body rigid with rage. "Who dares trespass in my home?"

  Qian LiAi sobbed uncontrollably beside them, his cries racking his small frame as he clutched ZhiYong’s arm.

  "Baba... please don't go," Qian LiAi pleaded, the guilt, shame, and fear heavy in his words. ZhiYong turned, his heart breaking at the sight of his son’s anguish. He paused, torn between the need to protect his children and the sorrow that consumed him. Slowly, he laid XianLian’s body on the ground, his hands shaking as he pulled his son into a tight embrace.

  HaoJian stood frozen, his mind racing, the magnitude of XianLian's death crashing over him. His chest tightened as he reached out toward her lifeless body, but the moment his foot moved, ZhiYong’s piercing glare stopped him cold.

  With a coldness he hadn't known he was capable of, ZhiYong raised his sword, his resolve hardening.

  "Leave before I kill you," ZhiYong spat, his voice icy with hatred. "I will not let my child suffer further at the hands of someone who has no right to my family."

  The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

  HaoJian hesitated, the fear of death flooding through him. He realized in that instant that his battle was lost, and with one final look at XianLian’s body, he turned and fled into the night, leaving them behind.

  ZhiYong, his mind set on vengeance, moved with purpose toward the stables. He threw open the door and froze when he saw TianKe embracing Yun Yuhua tightly.

  "Baba..." TianKe cried, rushing to him.

  ZhiYong lowered Qian LiAi gently to the ground before wrapping his arms around Yun Yuhua. Her innocent laughter filled the air, and in that moment, the contrast of her pure joy against the pain that had just unfolded broke him. Tears streamed down his face as he held her close, grateful for her innocence amid the wreckage of their lives.

  TianKe, realizing the truth of their mother’s death, collapsed beside Qian LiAi. The two siblings wept together, their grief overwhelming.

  The following evening, ZhiYong buried XianLian in silence. He knelt before her tombstone, unable to find solace, tears falling freely as he mourned the love of his life.

  TianKe approached quietly, his heart heavy with sorrow. Leaving Qian LiAi and Yun Yuhua behind, he walked slowly toward his father, guilt weighing on him for not being there for XianLian when she needed him most. He reached out and gently grasped ZhiYong’s hand.

  "Baba..." TianKe whispered.

  ZhiYong turned, his face softening in response to the pain reflected in TianKe's eyes. He pulled his son into his arms, offering what little comfort he could, though his own heart remained fractured with guilt and grief.

  "I’ll be here for you all. Don't worry," ZhiYong reassured, his voice steady despite the storm inside. TianKe nodded slowly, his eyes reflecting quiet acceptance, though the weight of the loss still lingered in the air.

  "I want to become stronger..." TianKe mumbled, anxiety lacing his voice.

  ZhiYong paused and turned to look at him. TianKe’s brow furrowed, his gaze distant.

  "I feel... weak for not helping Mom," he admitted, guilt weighing heavily on his heart.

  ZhiYong saw the trauma in his children's eyes, but also the flicker of resolve to protect each other. He wiped away his own tears and gently patted TianKe’s head, offering a reassuring smile.

  "Once LiAi is better, we’ll start training again," ZhiYong said with quiet determination. TianKe nodded, his resolve hardening.

  The next day, ZhiYong spoke to RuQi about his decision to spend more time with his children, on behalf of XianLian, who had passed away. RuQi, her face etched with sorrow, assured him she would support their family, even without a mother, if they ever decided to return. ZhiYong, accompanied by his children, set out in search of a new home, as the one he had shared with XianLian now haunted him with the painful memory of her death.

  Throughout the day, ZhiYong focused on teaching his sons, guiding them to channel their aura through their swords. Yun Yuhua, now growing into a young girl, excelled in precision with ranged weapons. Impressed by her skill, ZhiYong devoted his attention to perfecting her use of the bow and throwing daggers. The years of training were grueling, but the bond of love and the shared desire to protect one another gave the children the strength to endure.

  Eight years had passed since XianLian’s death, and ZhiYong continued to care for their children as they roamed the forest. They settled near XianLian’s hometown, where her mother had been murdered, and her father had disappeared. Though ZhiYong honored XianLian’s final wish to focus on their children, he couldn’t shake the nagging suspicion that her parents’ deaths were connected to the attack that had injured Master Gin.

  While exploring XianLian’s abandoned home, ZhiYong stumbled upon the safe her mother had crafted. The sight of it brought a rush of memories, and he couldn’t hold back his tears. As he examined the safe, something strange caught his eye—a smaller safe hidden within. With a swift motion, he opened it and discovered an envelope stuffed with letters. Inside were four detailed letters written in Ming, each filled with intricate thoughts. Alongside them were two letters written in Joseon, addressed to different recipients. The contents were a mystery he could no longer ignore.

  ZhiYong read the letters carefully and quickly understood that XianLian’s mother had suspected one of their attackers might have been from Joseon. The revelation weighed heavily on him. Without a word, he stormed back to his children, his mind racing. Standing before them, torn between the need to investigate and the pain of leaving them again, he found himself speechless.

  "Baba?" Fifteen-year-old TianKe’s voice broke the silence, cutting through the tension. ZhiYong turned to him, uncertain of how to explain what churned inside him.

  "TianKe..." ZhiYong began, his voice faltering, unsure whether to speak of their late mother. The thought of her death and the secrets surrounding it made his words catch in his throat.

  "Baba. Are you okay?" TianKe asked, concern softening his words as he looked at his father.

  ZhiYong managed a faint smile, keeping his thoughts to himself for the moment.

  "TianKe, let’s prepare for dinner," ZhiYong said, gently patting TianKe’s shoulder. TianKe smiled and nodded, following his father without another word.

  After dinner, Qian LiAi and Yun Yuhua drifted off to sleep in their respective rooms. TianKe stayed awake, sensing his father’s troubled mind. ZhiYong sat at the table, lost in thought, unsure of what to do next.

  Seeing his father's unrest, TianKe quietly sat down across from him, watching him closely.

  "TianKe..." ZhiYong spoke, his voice soft yet heavy with unspoken burdens.

  "Baba, if there's something bothering you, do you mind sharing it with me?" TianKe asked, genuine concern in his eyes.

  "I found more clues about your grandparents... They were involved in my master's death... somehow," ZhiYong finally revealed, his voice thick with the weight of the truth he had kept hidden for so long.

  TianKe nodded, his anxiety clear. "I see..." he murmured, trying to process the revelation.

  "But it also has to do with Joseon. I just don’t understand why... I know your mother’s mother was from Joseon, but why would they want to harm Ming people?" ZhiYong muttered, his brow furrowed in confusion. TianKe could see the weight of his father’s worry, and though the situation was grim, he offered a small smile, trying to ease his father’s troubled mind.

  "Baba... If you must seek answers, I am old enough now to care for LiAi and Yuyu. You don’t have to worry about us," TianKe assured ZhiYong, his voice steady and confident.

  ZhiYong looked at his son, pride swelling in his chest. The maturity in TianKe's words gave him a sense of peace, knowing his children were capable of standing strong, even in his absence. He smiled warmly, patting TianKe's cheek.

  "My son... You've grown into a man. I’m proud," ZhiYong said, his voice filled with warmth and admiration. TianKe blushed softly, a hint of embarrassment coloring his face at the compliment, but a gentle smile tugged at his lips.

  The next morning, as the family gathered for breakfast, ZhiYong broke the silence with an unexpected announcement.

  "My children... I must embark on a long journey," he said, his voice firm yet laced with emotion. "I do not know how long I will be gone. But I have asked my elder to look after you. She is like a mother to both me and your mother."

  Qian LiAi and Yun Yuhua exchanged uncertain glances, unsure of what was happening.

  "Why?" Qian LiAi asked, his curiosity evident.

  ZhiYong smiled and ruffled his son’s hair. "I must investigate something tied to your late grandmother," he explained softly.

  Qian LiAi nodded slowly, understanding the connection to his mother’s last wish.

  As the day drew to a close, ZhiYong said his final goodbyes to his three children. TianKe stood beside them as they waved farewell to their father. ZhiYong mounted his horse, looking back at them one last time before riding off into the distance.

  "XianXian... I will find the answers for you, no matter what," he whispered to the wind, his vow drifting into the night.