Chapter 121: The Heart's Defense
The Liu Clan family hall hummed with a tense, unspoken energy,
a modest space adorned with polished wooden beams and scrolls of family triumphs,
the air thickening with the earthy scent of sandalwood incense, the faint bitterness of cooling tea, and the weight of unresolved emotions,
golden rays fading into the soft glow of evening, casting long shadows across the gathered family.
Lin Xuan sat at the center, his cultivation steady at the 6th Layer Profound Heavenly Realm,
his black eyes faintly glowing with white pupils, the Celestial Unity Crest pulsing subtly on his back,
his posture rigid with determination, the weight of the Black Tomb tower lingering in his mind,
Anika beside him, her raven hair framing her face, her presence a quiet challenge to the room's turmoil.
He continued, his voice firm yet laced with uncertainty,
"She's tied to Ren somehow, but I don't accept her claim.
The tower in my sea of consciousness brought her forth, and she speaks of bonds I can't recall."
Luo Shuang, her silver hair cascading like a silken waterfall, leaned forward,
tears glistening in her beautiful eyes, her hands trembling as she clutched a teacup,
her voice breaking with a mother's pain as she asked,
"Xuan'er, is this true? Is Ren… is he still out there, tied to this?"
He nodded slowly, his gaze steady but heavy,
"Yes, Mother. The tower pulses with his essence, and she knows him.
But I need to uncover the truth myself—I won't be swayed by claims alone."
Anika turned to Luo Shuang, her expression softening, her voice gentle yet resolute,
"Mother, you are Ren's wife, aren't you? Please don't hate him for leaving.
He had responsibilities, burdens he carried to protect us. He may be an idiot at times, but he's kind—always shielding those he loves."
The room pulsed with a storm of emotions—love, doubt, and the lingering shadow of Ren,
Liu Yue clung to Lin Xuan, her raven hair tied with a crimson ribbon, her 7th Layer Profound Heavenly Realm aura trembling,
her voice a whisper of confusion as she pressed against him,
"Brother, what does this mean? Father… is he alive? What's happening to us?"
Liu Yang, at the 3rd Layer Profound Heavenly Realm, gripped the Blood Forged Glaive, its red hue pulsing faintly,
his youthful face frowning with wariness, his voice a low mutter,
"She's strange, Brother. Her words feel… off. Be careful."
Lin Xuan held Luo Shuang's hand, his grip firm yet comforting,
his voice a vow as he met her tearful gaze,
"I'll find the truth, Mother. I'll bring clarity to Ren's fate—whatever it takes."
The hall fell silent, the air heavy with the scent of incense and the strain of their bond,
Anika watched, her steady gaze a mix of hope and patience,
Luo Shuang squeezed his hand, her tears falling silently, a mother's pain etched in every line of her face,
Liu Yue's hold tightened, her trust in her Senior brother a fragile lifeline,
Liu Yang's frown eased slightly, his glaive lowering as he nodded in reluctant support.
Later, they moved to the evening garden,
the air cooling with the scent of blooming jasmine and the rustle of leaves under a twilight sky,
Lin Xuan walked with Luo Shuang, their steps slow, the Celestial Unity Crest warming as he focused inward,
testing a new art from the Human Emperor Records—Jade Aegis, its Jade Body variant hardening his skin with a rugged, jade-green glow,
the faint earthy pulse repelling a stray leaf with a soft whoosh, a sign of his growing power.
He spoke softly, his voice carrying the weight of resolve,
"Mother, I've begun to unlock new strengths—arts that might help me face this mystery.
But your pain… it drives me more than any technique."
Luo Shuang smiled through her tears, her hand on his shoulder,
"You're my son, Xuan'er. Your loyalty honors us. Find Ren, but don't lose yourself."
The garden grew quiet, the family's tension a bridge to understanding,
the air lightening with the scent of night blooms and a fragile hope,
Lin Xuan's loyalty a beacon, the Martial Mother's pain a guiding star,
their bond a shield against the unseen storm ahead.