A month passed; the cracks in the stone walls of the Top Floor had been repaired, but the silence in the forest where Thuong Sinh resided grew even more peculiar. The crazed, bloodthirsty state of a month ago had now almost completely settled, making way for a calm Thuong Sinh.
That afternoon, the golden sunlight filtered through the canopy. Thuong Sinh did not carry the Marsh-Blood Sword at his hip but held it in his hand like a friend who had endured many years of life-and-death storms with him. He and Lam Thanh Moc walked slowly along the stream bank.
This forest, to anyone else, was a nightmare full of fierce beasts and carnivorous plants. But as the footsteps of the two passed by, everything seemed to bow and make way. The brilliant, venomous mutated flowers suddenly closed their petals when Lam Thanh Moc passed, as if they recognized the breath of their "Queen." As for the beasts hiding in the shadows, the moment they sensed the killing intent radiating from Thuong Sinh, they all fell silent, not daring to breathe heavily.
"It has been a month already, since we came here..."
Lam Thanh Moc spoke softly, breaking the silence. She glanced at Thuong Sinh's profile, seeing that his face had regained some color, no longer possessing the gray pallor of death.
Thuong Sinh stopped by an ancient tree, his gaze fixed toward the heights of the cliff; he turned to look at her, his deep eyes becoming unusually gentle at this moment. He reached out his hand, gently tucking a lock of hair that the wind had blown messy across her forehead. The hand that once only knew how to hold a sword now carried a clumsy warmth.
"I suddenly realized, no matter how cruel this world is, if there is a place to return to, and a person to walk with like this..." "Then it is still worth protecting."
Lam Thanh Moc was slightly dazed by his confession. She said nothing, only quietly stepped closer, leaning her head on his shoulder. Both stood still, letting time pass in this silence.
Thuong Sinh sensed the warmth from Lam Thanh Moc's hair against his neck, a scent of natural herbs, entirely different from the smell of blood surrounding his body. He let out a sigh, but not of weariness; rather, it was the shedding of a burden weighing on his heart. His hand slowly lowered and wrapped around her shoulder, pulling her closer. Thuong Sinh buried his face in her neck, taking a deep breath, his deep voice echoing in her ear.
"Thanh Moc, thank you for not leaving me."
Lam Thanh Moc froze for a moment; until now, she had always been the one to take the initiative to approach him; now, for the first time, he actively narrowed the distance between them. She wrapped her arms around his back, squeezing gently, her face pressed against his chest, listening to Thuong Sinh's steady heartbeat—the heartbeat of a human, not a bloodthirsty demon.
"Don't say that..." "Being by your side is my choice..."
Thuong Sinh did not respond; he only tightened his embrace slightly, as if afraid that if he loosened his grip, this reality would vanish like a mirage. He savored this rare peace.
A week later, deep within the forest, it was as if a transformation had occurred. Strange flowers began to bloom under Lam Thanh Moc's hands. Her face grew more radiant, and smiles appeared more often.
As for Thuong Sinh, he seemed to have changed completely. If before he was a block of cold ice, now, whenever he wasn't practicing his skills, he was like glue clinging to her. If Lam Thanh Moc went to pick wild fruit, he would automatically carry the basket behind her; if she watered the flowers, he would stand beside her to provide shade. This clinginess made Lam Thanh Moc sometimes find it both funny and a bit embarrassing.
She turned her head, seeing him standing silently close behind her, then she pretended to be stern: "Don't you have anything to do?"
Thuong Sinh's face was expressionless, his face unmoving as he replied calmly: "I am standing here looking at you." "Didn't you say before that you wanted to see me safe?"
Lam Thanh Moc was choked up, not knowing what to say, her cheeks flushing red with embarrassment. She didn't expect a man like him, as taciturn as he was, to be able to utter such words once he became thick-skinned. She swung her fist intending to lightly hit his shoulder, but Thuong Sinh remained motionless as a statue, those deep eyes only rippling when looking at her.
Just then, from beside the wooden house—Tieu Viem's thatched hut—he began to walk out; he saw Thuong Sinh's back and, with eyes of determination, approached the two.
"Big Brother, Sister Thanh Moc... I have thought it through." "Now is the time for me to go and collect my debt."
Thuong Sinh turned around to face Tieu Viem. The wind blew through, making the clothes of the three flutter lightly. Silence enveloped the space, with only the sound of the stream flowing from afar. Lam Thanh Moc looked at Tieu Viem worriedly, then back at Thuong Sinh; she knew that although his mouth always criticized, Thuong Sinh truly considered Tieu Viem like a younger brother after Thuong Vu's death.
Tieu Viem clenched his hands, his gaze fiery: "I have trained without rest." "I know I cannot yet be as strong as Big Brother, but if I stay here, I will forever just be a protected child."
Thuong Sinh looked into his eyes, seeing the determination of this brat before him; he had no intention of stopping him.
"Alright."
Thuong Sinh reached into the small pouch at his hip and took out an ancient book.
"Eight Extremes Collapse"
This was the manual he had purchased earlier from the system, specifically for this brat.
"This is the final gift I give you." "Big Brother... this gift is too great..." Tieu Viem choked up. "Take it."
Thuong Sinh's voice was ice-cold and decisive. To him, the weak have no right to survive, and if Tieu Viem chose to leave, he must take responsibility for his own life. Tieu Viem took the manual, his hands trembling with emotion. He understood Big Brother's temperament.
"Big Brother, Sister Thanh Moc... take care."
Tieu Viem kowtowed once with force, then stood up decisively; his figure flashed as he ran out of the forest through the path Lam Thanh Moc had already cleared of obstacles.
Thuong Sinh stood still for a moment, looking toward Tieu Viem's disappearing silhouette. When Tieu Viem's breath completely vanished from the range of his senses, only then did Thuong Sinh turn around. He looked toward the wooden house, where Lam Thanh Moc still stood quietly observing. His gaze returned to its usual profound look; he only nodded slightly to her as if to announce that everything was finished. He approached, took the medicine basket she had been working on, and silently stepped into the house.
Three months after Tieu Viem left, the forest at this time seemed completely separated from the chaos of the world outside. The lives of Thuong Sinh and Lam Thanh Moc passed in peace, repeating simple things: picking herbs, cultivating, and having meals together by the firelight.
That afternoon, in the small wooden house fragrant with the scent of medicinal herbs, Thuong Sinh brought out a bowl of sour fish soup, steam billowing. This was the type of fish he caught in the underground stream deep within the rock cave.
"Eat; you seem to have grown thinner lately." Thuong Sinh placed the sour soup before her, his voice deep but having lost some of its indifference.
Lam Thanh Moc smiled, picking up a spoon intending to taste it. However, the moment the smell of the sour fish soup touched her nose, her face instantly changed. A violent churning sensation rose from her stomach; she hurriedly dropped the spoon, covered her mouth, and ran to the door, vomiting uncontrollably.
Thuong Sinh stood up abruptly, the wooden chair behind him tossed back by his sudden force. His face, which was always calm before every enemy, now showed a rare look of panic. His footsteps glided as fast as the wind, appearing right beside Lam Thanh Moc.
"Thanh Moc, what is wrong? Are you poisoned?"
Thuong Sinh supported her shoulder with one hand, while the other immediately placed itself on Lam Thanh Moc's wrist. His toxic internal force was controlled at the lowest level, cautiously threading into her pulse to check. He feared that the venom of this forest, or the toxic remnants from his own body, had accidentally harmed her.
Thuong Sinh's brows knitted tightly; the killing intent within him unconsciously fluctuated, causing the surrounding leaves to quiver. He was seething with the intent that if any person or thing caused her pain, he would level this forest once again.
However, as the internal force entered Lam Thanh Moc's meridians, Thuong Sinh suddenly froze. His deep eyes widened, and his body—originally as hard as cold steel—suddenly trembled. Within Lam Thanh Moc's bloodline, beside the familiar herbal life force, he sensed a tiny, fragile yet vibrant surge of life beginning to form. A heartbeat, extremely light but incredibly distinct.
Thuong Sinh stood dazed like a stone statue, the hand checking her pulse frozen in mid-air. He looked at Lam Thanh Moc leaning weakly in his arms, then looked down at her womb, his voice trembling soundlessly:
"This... this is..."
Lam Thanh Moc, after the bout of vomiting, looked up and saw Thuong Sinh's expression and suddenly found it funny. She took his large hand, placed it on her belly, and said softly:
"What are you worried about? It is your child."
Thuong Sinh stood frozen for several heartbeats; the mind of one who was always sharp in battle was now completely blank. He immediately picked Lam Thanh Moc up, his movement so gentle as if he were lifting a fragile glass crystal ball.
"You... what are you doing? I can walk myself!" Lam Thanh Moc was surprised to see him carrying her.
"Lie down. Do not move." Thuong Sinh did not explain, placing her on the bamboo bed carefully then tucking her in thoroughly, regardless of the fact that the weather was not cold at all.
From that moment on, life in the house was completely overturned. Thuong Sinh became terrifying in his own unique way.
The next morning, when Lam Thanh Moc was about to take a watering can to the medicinal garden, a large hand gripped her wrist tightly. Thuong Sinh had stood right behind her at some unknown time, his face expressionless but his gaze so determined it was non-negotiable.
"I will do it." He briefly uttered those words, then snatched the watering can.
Lam Thanh Moc looked at the man who only knew how to hold a sword to kill, now clumsily holding a watering can to water every medicinal root and flower pot, and couldn't help but find it both pathetic and hilarious. He watered the plants with his body as tense as if he were facing an army, his sharp eyes scanning every spot around her to ensure not a single fly dared to approach.
Inside the house during cooking, he forbade her from touching the stove for fear the smoke would make her uncomfortable. Although the food he cooked was a bit bland, or the grilled meat was a bit charred, he still made sure she had enough meals. Just as she stood up intending to get water, he appeared before her holding a glass of water before she even knew it.
Thuong Sinh officially stopped his violent cultivation entirely; he spent the whole day just sitting beside her bed, his powerful toxic internal force now circulated in the gentlest manner.
"Thuong Sinh, I am not a sick person," Lam Thanh Moc complained with a mix of laughter and tears when she saw him meticulously wiping every stone slab on the floor to prevent her from slipping.
Thuong Sinh stopped his hand, looked up at her, those deep eyes now containing a crazed persistence: "I have lost all my kin. I do not want to let any oversight happen to you and the little one." "Not even a bit."
Lam Thanh Moc fell silent. She saw that in those eyes was not just protection but also fear; she sighed, stepped forward, and hugged his neck from behind, gently soothing his tense shoulders. Thuong Sinh sat motionless, letting her warmth spread. He closed his eyes, sensing her heartbeat pressed against his back, a heartbeat full of life and gentleness.
"You worry for me, I know." Lam Thanh Moc lightly rested her chin on his shoulder, her voice gentle. "But you need to breathe too."
Thuong Sinh turned around; his rough hand gently placed itself on the hands hugging his neck. He pulled her to the front, letting her sit on his lap, his gaze looking deep into her face.
"I will try."
He slowly placed his hand on Lam Thanh Moc's belly. Although the pregnancy was not yet truly visible, through the sharpness of a cultivator, he could sense the tiny, pure spiritual energy within. At that moment, the killing intent in his eyes completely vanished, replaced by wonder.
In the days following, the forest passed in peace. Thuong Sinh built a small swing beneath the ancient tree next to the house, lining it with the softest animal skins so she could sit and bathe in the afternoon sun. However, his overprotectiveness remained at an extreme level. If a large mutated bird just flew past and chirped a bit too loud, Thuong Sinh would immediately look up with a sharp gaze, causing the poor creature to fly away in terror, not daring to look back.
Time passed, and Lam Thanh Moc's belly grew larger. Until one late afternoon, when the moon began to appear. Lam Thanh Moc was sitting at the wooden table when she suddenly frowned, clutching her belly, her face turning pale. A violent surge of pain arrived, making her unable to restrain a groan of pain:
"Thuong Sinh... I... it seems..."
Clack—!
The wooden cup in Thuong Sinh's hand fell to the floor. He appeared beside her in an instant, his face which had settled into peace once again showing extreme panic.
"Thanh Moc! Is it time?"
He carried her to the bed, the sweat on his forehead flowing even more than hers. The one who had faced many things out there, fighting without blinking, now had limbs that trembled when facing this moment.
"Thanh Moc... trust me."
Thuong Sinh sat down, his trembling hands lightly pressing against her belly. He did not dare use his violent toxic internal force, but began to circulate his technique in a reverse manner, purifying all impurities to create a warm and harmonious surge of internal force.
At the same time, from outside the wooden house, the entire surrounding forest seemed to sense the birth of a special life. There was no brilliant radiance or lightning, only a surge of brilliant green spiritual energy from the surroundings pouring toward the house. The thorny, rough mutated flowers suddenly became soft; they bloomed simultaneously, emitting a mist of gentle fragrance. The vines wrapped around the wooden house automatically intertwined tightly, forming a green shield.
Inside, Thuong Sinh was drenched in sweat; he concentrated so intensely that his black hair seemed touched by a layer of frost. He used his internal force as a bridge, harmonizing the energy of Lam Thanh Moc and the little one, helping the birthing process proceed more smoothly.
"Wah... wah... wah..."
The cry of birth rang out, shattering the suffocatingly tense atmosphere. The brilliant green spiritual energy around the valley suddenly flared up one last time then settled, dissolving into the space. Thuong Sinh looked at the tiny, raw red baby lying nestled in clean cloth; his heart felt as if squeezed by an invisible hand—not from pain, but from emotion.
He tremblingly received the child, his deep eyes now brimming with a thin layer of tears. He looked at his child, then at Lam Thanh Moc, weary but smiling happily on the bed.
"It is a son..." Thuong Sinh said hoarsely; he gently placed the baby beside its mother.
At this moment, Thuong Sinh realized that the sword in his hand from now on would not be just for revenge, but to protect this tiny sprout of life. The child had no ability, no radiance; it was just a normal child, but it was a normal life that his brother did not have.
"Our child's name will be Thuong An."