Chapter 659 - 628: Ying’Er’s Plight (2)

Chapter 659: Chapter 628: Ying’Er’s Plight (2)

In an instant, aside from Wan Xianlin, Wan Xian’Er, and Mu Chen, both Xiao Ying’er and Yalan were staring wide-eyed, their mouths agape with expressions of shock and envy.

"Such beautiful eyes! In all my life, I’ve never seen anyone with pupils like that. Miss, Miss, are those snowflakes?"

Snapping out of her shock, Yalan grabbed Wan Xian’Er’s arm and asked in amazement. But halfway through her question, she noticed a detail in Mu Chen’s eyes—they were still predominantly ice-blue.

’Ice-blue eyes, ice-blue hair... a strikingly similar smile, the same skin tone... He... He really is...’

"Yes. He is Ying’Er’s real father, Mu Chen," Wan Xian’Er said, introducing him to Yalan with a look of pride and bliss. However, she noticed Yalan’s expression shift from shock to fury, until she was glaring and gritting her teeth at the man who was laughing and chatting with Ying’Er.

How could Wan Xian’Er not know what Yalan was thinking? She ruffled Yalan’s hair and said, "Please, don’t be angry with him. What happened back then wasn’t his fault. He only found out my true identity the day before yesterday, after he met you. If he had known sooner, he definitely would have come looking for me. He is, after all, the man I chose."

Although Yalan’s expression softened upon hearing this, her gaze toward Mu Chen remained hostile. ’Regardless of whether it was his fault back then, he’s the one who made my lady suffer for three years. And so what if he’s a Fourth-Ring Martial Emperor? Does he think he’s all that just because he has nice eyes?’

Mu Chen, who was in the middle of talking with Xiao Ying’er, suddenly felt an angry gaze fixed on him. He instinctively followed the line of sight and found it belonged to none other than Yalan, whose face was ashen with rage.

’She was perfectly fine just a moment ago. For her to change so suddenly, there’s only one possibility: she knows my real identity. But since things have come to this, I have no intention of hiding it. I can understand her anger. I won’t ignore it; I’ll find a way to make it up to them. I will atone for the three years of pain I caused Ying’Er and Xian’Er.’

After playing for a while, Xiao Ying’er returned to Wan Xian’Er’s arms. She wrapped her small hands around Wan Xian’Er’s neck and said, "Mommy, Great-Grandpa said that if Ying’Er had slept here last night, I could have seen Daddy this morning. Can you take Ying’Er to find Daddy? Ying’Er wants to see Daddy."

Wan Xian’Er’s eyes softened at her words. She gently patted Xiao Ying’er’s back and chuckled. "Silly Ying’er, you already saw Daddy. Even before Mommy did."

"I did?" Xiao Ying’er glanced at everyone, the rims of her eyes turning red. "Mommy, you’re lying! Ying’Er hasn’t seen Daddy. Ying’Er wants to see Daddy!"

Mu Chen let out a soft sigh, feeling too awkward to speak, yet also too awkward to stay silent. He didn’t know how to tell Xiao Ying’er that he was her father—the father she hadn’t seen in three years.

Wan Xian’Er noticed Mu Chen’s predicament and said to Xiao Ying’er, "Actually, the ’Uncle’ you’ve been talking to is Mommy’s husband. He’s your daddy."

"Uncle... is Ying’Er’s daddy..." As if unable to believe it, Xiao Ying’er turned to look at Mu Chen and murmured, "Uncle... is that true?"

Mu Chen didn’t answer right away. He just carefully took Xiao Ying’er from Wan Xian’Er’s arms, looked at her earnestly, and said, "Mommy’s right. Uncle is your daddy. That’s why you have the same hair as Uncle, and the same color eyes as Uncle. Uncle... really is your daddy."

With every word Mu Chen spoke, Xiao Ying’er’s eyes grew redder. By the time he finished, her eyes were brimming with crystalline tears. Yet, she held them back, and in a soft, choked voice, she asked Mu Chen a question.

"Daddy... can Ying’Er cry? Can I cry out loud? Mommy said Ying’Er can only cry in Daddy’s arms. I’m in Daddy’s arms now. Can Ying’Er cry?"

But her tears couldn’t wait for Mu Chen’s answer. Xiao Ying’er hugged his neck tightly and began to wail. More than three years of fantasies, more than three years of hope and longing—this strong child, this strong little girl, finally unleashed all her pent-up yearning.

Seeing Ying’Er’s tear-streaked cheeks, Mu Chen’s heart shattered. Wan Xian’Er and Yalan were also moved by the scene, covering their mouths to stifle their sobs. Even Wan Xianlin couldn’t help but turn away, wiping the old tears from the corners of his eyes with a flick of his sleeve. A family reunion should be a happy occasion, but seeing a child release such raw emotion could move anyone, no matter their age. A child is, after all, the tie that binds all emotion in this world.

"It hurts... Daddy... Ying’Er hurts so much..."

But just then, Xiao Ying’er, who was resting on Mu Chen’s shoulder, suddenly stopped crying. A pained groan reached Mu Chen’s ears. His heartstrings tightened instantly. His pupils constricted, and he quickly shifted Xiao Ying’er from his shoulder into his arms.

However, when Mu Chen saw Xiao Ying’er’s face, his mind was thrown into chaos.

"Ying’Er! What’s wrong? Ying’Er?"

"Ying’Er! Don’t scare Daddy, Ying’Er!!"

"Ying’Er!"

Mu Chen’s panicked cries jolted Wan Xianlin, Wan Xian’Er, and Yalan. Without any hesitation, Wan Xianlin appeared before Mu Chen with a SWISH. He took one look and his expression immediately darkened.

Xiao Ying’er’s face was now terrifyingly pale. Even her lips, which had been a healthy pink just moments ago, were completely colorless. Faintly, a wisp of dark energy seemed to be emerging from between her eyebrows.

"This is bad!"

Wan Xianlin cried out in alarm, his hand already on Xiao Ying’er’s wrist. Because Xiao Ying’er’s body was completely unable to withstand any Primordial Power, Wan Xianlin could only resort to the most ancient method of reading her pulse. But the longer he checked, the darker his expression became. Finally, he staggered back a few steps in defeat, his body swaying as he nearly fell.

A look of terror filled Mu Chen’s eyes. In a trembling voice, he asked, "Grand Elder, Ying’Er, she..."

The only answer he received was Wan Xianlin’s silence. After more than ten seconds, Wan Xianlin finally heaved a long sigh, tears streaming down his old face. "This child... she reached her end long ago. The only thing keeping her going was the conviction in her heart—the conviction to see you. Now... now that she has seen you, that conviction has completely dissipated. She’s... she’s at her limit..."

It was only at this moment that Mu Chen truly understood that when your own child is in mortal danger, even the calmest and most composed person can shatter in an instant.

"No!! This is impossible!!"

Mu Chen roared hysterically. His Ice Extreme Demon Pupils were instantly consumed by black, and his ice-blue hair turned pitch-black in a flash. A violent wave of Evil Qi erupted from his body, blasting Wan Xian’Er and Yalan backward. Only Wan Xianlin managed to react in time, releasing his own Primordial Power to block the ferocious Evil Qi unleashed by Mu Chen.

"No one will take Ying’Er from me! No one!!"

"AAAAAHHHH!!"

But just as Mu Chen was on the verge of losing his sanity, a white figure flashed past him with a WHOOSH. Without any hesitation, she slapped him across the face. The sharp CRACK echoed throughout the entire Immortal Rain Hall.

That single slap was what it took for Mu Chen’s black hair to revert to its ice-blue color. The darkness in his eyes gradually receded, and he stared blankly at the white figure before him.

"Xian...’Er... I... what happened to me?"

Wan Xian’Er, her face pale, panted for breath. Her right hand was still poised from the slap. Her eyes reddened as she cried out in pain, "Mu Chen, we’re about to lose Ying’Er."

"..." But Mu Chen could only remain silent.

’You idiot! What was that rampage all about? Were you trying to lose control again?’ an angry voice boomed inside Mu Chen’s mind.

’Master?’ Mu Chen froze, his mental voice laced with despair.

The Profound Old Ghost retorted irritably, ’Don’t call me Master. I don’t have an apprentice as stupid as you. Where’s your composure? Your stability?’

’I...’

The Profound Old Ghost sighed. ’I can understand how you feel, but can’t you calm down, you fool? Didn’t I tell you that Xiao Ying’er would be fine? Have you forgotten about the existence of the Extreme Spirit Chaos Technique?’

’The Extreme Spirit Chaos Technique?’

"That’s right!!" Mu Chen’s face lit up with joy, and he roared, "Grand Elder! Quick! Prepare a quiet room for me! Yalan, go get me some pills that can quickly restore Spiritual Power! If you don’t have any, Medicinal Herbs that restore Spiritual Power will do. Xian’Er, you will be my Guardian! Ying’Er won’t die! Trust me! I can save her!"