Shen Yue was trembling—not from fear, but from sheer rage. His breathing grew heavier, his eyes bloodshot, and his fists clenched tightly. He was on the verge of losing control, but just as the fury was about to break loose, Clone 1 stepped beside him, placed a hand on his shoulder, and softly spoke.
"Please… come to your senses."
Hearing those words, Shen Yue stood still. His fury momentarily paused. He didn't know how to respond. What he had just witnessed made his very soul tremble.
His mother—his gentle, strong mother—lay on the bed in a horrifying state. Her face was swollen and disfigured, wounds covered her frail body, and her aura was dangerously weak. Shen Yue's breath caught in his throat. He stood frozen, words stuck in his throat, unable to comprehend the reality before him.
He had only wanted to return home, become stronger, and live a peaceful life with his family. Yet fate—damned fate—seemed to always laugh cruelly at him, as if it delighted in tearing away the things he held dear.
Pushing aside the storm of thoughts in his mind, he swiftly rushed into his mother's room. The air was heavy with the scent of blood and medicine. His mother, though gravely injured, was still clinging to life. She was a cultivator too, though only at the Fifth Level of the Blood Qi Realm. Perhaps that was the only reason she hadn't died from such injuries. If he had come even a little later…
He didn't allow the thought to finish.
Without wasting another second, he knelt beside her and began healing her using his own blood qi. At the same time, Shen Yue's clone turned to Shen Ning, who had been trying to stay strong despite the pain in her own body. With a calm voice and a faint smile, Clone 1 gently lifted her like a feather.
Startled, she gasped.
"Ahh...! P-put me down!"
The clone replied gently, "Little sister, don't worry. I'm not your enemy."
Even though she tried to resist, her injuries left her powerless. She pouted and insisted, but the clone didn't argue. He simply carried her with ease and grace. Sitting down, he placed her carefully and then activated his own blood qi, flowing it through Shen Ning's battered body like a warm and gentle stream. On the other side of the room, Shen Yue continued focusing all his effort on healing his mother.
Two hours passed like this.
Their blood qi poured out, weaving together life and warmth, slowly mending broken skin, torn muscles, and internal damage. At last, Shen Yue reached into his spatial storage ring and retrieved two military-grade medicinal pills and a high-grade herbal cream. These were no ordinary items—supplies used by elite troops on the battlefield. He tossed one of the pills toward his clone.
"Feed her this. It'll stabilize her recovery. And use this cream for the external wounds."
Although Shen Ning pouted with dissatisfaction, unable to hide her embarrassment, she didn't resist this time. She obediently allowed the clone to help her. Clone 1 gently fed her the pill and carefully applied the herbal ointment, patting her head softly as he worked.
Though she didn't like the gesture, she remained quiet.
Soon, the potent medicine began to take effect. Her wounds started to heal at an astonishing rate, the inflammation faded, and her skin regained its softness. Within an hour, she had completely recovered.
Turning to face Clone 1, Shen Ning lowered her gaze, a faint blush painting her cheeks. Though her tone was shy, deep in her heart she was grateful—truly grateful. The unbearable pain she had endured for hours had finally disappeared.
Meanwhile, Shen Yue finished healing his mother. Though she remained unconscious, her wounds had vanished, and her breathing had stabilized. He finally let out a deep, exhausted sigh.
He turned to see his sister staring at him silently. Her eyes shimmered with a mix of emotions—relief, longing, and a lingering sadness. Shen Yue slowly rose and walked over to her, pulling her into a warm embrace.
He held her tightly, yet gently.
"I'm sorry… I'm so sorry, Ning'er. Please forgive your big brother… for not coming earlier."
His voice cracked.
"If I had been here, I would've never let anyone harm you or Mother. Never."
Hearing those words, Shen Ning's tears began to fall uncontrollably. She cried like a child—something she hadn't allowed herself to do in a long time. Shen Yue gently patted her head, whispering softly.
"My Ning'er… You don't have to worry about anything now. Your big brother is here."
They stayed like that for a few moments, letting the quiet of their reunion wrap around them. After she calmed down, Shen Yue stepped back and looked at her closely. She looked so adorable and fragile, like a five-year-old girl. But soon, fury began to boil again in his chest.
Clone 1, sensing the change in his aura, once again placed a hand on his shoulder.
This time, Shen Yue quickly regained his composure.
"Ning'er, go take a bath and change into clean clothes," he said softly.
She lowered her head shyly and whispered, "Brother… this is my last piece of clothing. I don't have anything else..."
Shen Yue's heart clenched. He turned to his clone and gave a sharp nod.
"Wolf, go to the market. Buy everything you think is necessary. Price doesn't matter. You know me better than anyone. Don't disappoint me. Here—take all the money."
The clone accepted it without hesitation.
"Brother, Shen Ning is my sister too. I would never treat her badly."
He vanished instantly, using Raging Wind Wolf Steps, leaving behind only a gust of wind.
Shen Ning blinked, confused. "Brother… who was that?"
"He's the one who saved your brother's life," Shen Yue said, patting her head gently. "And from today, he's also your brother. Don't disrespect him."
He Just made the random excuse.
Shen Ning nodded obediently. "I understand, Brother."
Shen Yue smiled, then looked around.
"It's winter. I'll warm some water for your bath."
"No, Brother! I can do it myself—"
"Just go sit by Mother and take care of her."
Without giving her time to argue, Shen Yue moved toward the kitchen. Using his hypersense, he quickly located all the utensils and supplies. The house was small—barely 100 square meters. It smelled of mold and poverty. Compared to their previous home, this place was like a storage shed.
Still, he got to work.
He lit the firewood in the kitchen, boiled water in a large iron pot, and filled a bathtub in the small bathroom, carefully mixing hot and cold water according to Ning'er's tolerance.
Ten minutes later, Clone 1 returned, arms full of goods—flower-scented soap, fluffy fox-fur clothing, soft hairbands, elegant dresses, warm shoes, and even a bottle of perfume.
Shen Yue nodded in approval. "Good."
The clone smiled. Shen Yue called out to his sister and handed her the items.
"Go now. Take your bath. Use these."
Ning'er stared at the gifts in shock. These items were luxuries. Even when their father had been alive, they couldn't afford such things. She looked at her brother, speechless, but then remembered his strength. She quietly accepted the things and headed to the bathroom.
Not long after, she emerged wearing a beautiful white dress, wrapped in a fox-fur jacket, with soft bunny shoes on her feet and a flowery scent trailing in the air.
Shen Yue's eyes softened. "Perfect. My Ning'er looks just right."
She blushed at his praise, then turned to Clone 1.
"Thank you, Brother Wolf."
The clone smiled warmly. "You're calling me brother and thanking me? There's no need. You're my sister too."
Ning'er gave a small nod.
But the peace didn't last.
Suddenly, from the main room, their mother coughed—hard. Blood sprayed from her mouth—black, toxic blood. Her body convulsed slightly, and her aura plummeted.
Her voice was faint and trembling.
"Ning'er… my Yue'er… I'm sorry… I can't stay with you anymore…"
Her soul was slipping.
Shen Yue and Shen Ning rushed to her side, shouting at once.
"Mother!"
Despair gripped Shen Yue's heart. Why… why was his fate always cursed? Just when he found his family, why did fate steal their happiness away again?
Why… why does this always happen?
To be continued…