Chapter 936: Chapter 940: Confusion, Fantasy

    “Has she been there the whole time?”

    “Not the whole time. It seems she went there in the morning. I heard she was very weak at the time. I don’t know how she is now. Aunt Guo is also there. You should go and check on her.”

    Xia Liu didn’t fully understand Guo Man’s condition.

    He had always been entangled by the younger generation in the clan, and with Guo Fanghua taking care of Guo Man, his presence or absence didn’t make much of a difference.

    The only person who could help Guo Man fully recover was Xia Liu.

    “Understood. I’ll head there now.”

    Xia Liu’s mood grew heavy.

    From what Guo Po had told him, Guo Man had almost passed out on the cliffside.

    Her current situation was likely very dire.

    Not staying idle, Xia Liu hurried toward the secluded courtyard.

    As he reached the courtyard gate, Xia Liu extended his Divine Sense, immediately surveying everything inside.

    Guo Man was lying in a room on the second floor.

    Guo Fanghua sat quietly by the bedside, keeping watch.

    Worry for her daughter’s safety had visibly drained Guo Fanghua. She looked as if she had aged ten years overnight.

    “Madam Guo, don’t be alarmed. It’s Xia Liu. I’m at the courtyard gate. Could you step out for a moment?”

    After some contemplation, Xia Liu spoke through Divine Consciousness Sound Transmission.

    Inside the room, Guo Fanghua’s body shuddered. She dared not make any noise for fear of disturbing her daughter.

    She glanced around the room before letting out a helpless, bitter smile a minute later. “Have I started hearing things now? Xia Liu, you shameless wretch!”

    …

    Hearing Guo Fanghua’s muttering, Xia Liu’s face twisted with bitterness.

    Guo Fanghua’s hatred toward him was not undeserved. After all, he had caused harm to Guo Man.

    Her current wretched state was entirely of his own doing.

    “Madam Guo, I’m really at the gate. Please come out,” Xia Liu repeated, his voice carried once again by Divine Sense.

    “Could it really be true?”

    This time, the sound of Xia Liu’s voice made Guo Fanghua’s body tremble uncontrollably.

    She cast a glance at her daughter lying on the bed, then silently left the room and rushed to the gate.

    The moment she saw Xia Liu, Guo Fanghua stood speechless, her mouth agape, unable to utter a word for a long time.

    “My apologies for worrying you.”

    “You’re really alive?!”

    Guo Fanghua’s heart began racing. She had seen him herself plummeting into the Secluded Valley along with the Flame Sea Dragon.

    For over hundreds of years, countless prodigies of the Guo Family had fallen into that abyss, none ever to return alive.

    What’s more, the Xia Liu who had fallen was already drained of Energy and strength.

    How could he have survived?

    “No, I’m not dead. I can’t afford to die. There are still too many responsibilities weighing on me.”

    “If you’re alive, then we have unresolved matters concerning Little Man. Because of your carelessness, she has already—”

    “Please rest assured, Madam Guo. I will ensure Little Man recovers.”

    Seeing Guo Fanghua on the verge of breaking down, Xia Liu understood what he had to do.

    He would atone for every mistake he had made.

    “You have three days. If Little Man doesn’t recover, I will stop at nothing to make you pay!”

    Guo Fanghua was not joking.

    Her daughter’s current state couldn’t persist for long before becoming life-threatening.

    If anything happened to her daughter, Guo Fanghua would risk it all against Xia Liu!

    “I understand.”

    Xia Liu nodded earnestly.

    Three days would be enough. Over time, Guo Man seemed to have calmed down significantly.

    Her behavior on the cliff indicated that her hatred toward him had subsided—or perhaps disappeared entirely.

    “You may leave now. I’ll await your news.”

    Guo Fanghua didn’t want to say much more. No matter what Xia Liu promised, she only cared about the results.

    “Wait, Madam Guo. During my trip to the Forbidden Land, I obtained something. I’d like to give it to you…”

    Just as Guo Fanghua was about to leave, Xia Liu released his Divine Sense and pulled out an Age-Halting Fruit.

    “Is this the Age-Halting Fruit recorded in the compendium of rare treasures?”

    At the faint fragrance and the distinct shape and color of the fruit, Guo Fanghua was utterly stunned.

    “Yes, it should be the Age-Halting Fruit.” Sёarch* The N??eFire.ηet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Seeing her reaction, Xia Liu didn’t elaborate. Guo Fanghua likely knew far more about this Spirit Fruit than he did.

    “Such a rare and precious fruit, and you’re giving it to me?”

    It took a long time for Guo Fanghua to calm herself enough to ask in a soft voice.

    “Yes, I collected several Age-Halting Fruits. I hope Madam Guo won’t mind.”

    “Mind? Of course not. I entrust my daughter to you. But if she doesn’t recover, then you’ll be staying with the Guo Family forever.”

    Guo Fanghua’s demeanor shifted instantly.

    Yet the coldness in her tone remained, sending chills down Xia Liu’s spine. He couldn’t guess what she might be planning.

    After Guo Fanghua left, Xia Liu entered the courtyard, secured the gates, and headed upstairs with a heavy heart.

    In the room, Guo Man lay silently on the bed, her face deathly pale, like someone in their final moments, bereft of any remaining hope.

    “Little Man, I’m sorry. I will bring you back to health. At that time, you can scold me as much as you wish…”

    Taking Guo Man’s hand, Xia Liu channeled Wooden Spirit Energy from his body, letting it flow through her wrist and into her weakened form.

    Since she was not a Martial Artist, Xia Liu dared only to cautiously infuse small amounts of Energy.

    After several hours, some color returned to Guo Man’s complexion.

    In truth, her physical organs weren’t critically damaged. Her primary issues were a sickness of the heart and an exhaustion that had left her body too weak to endure.

    That night, Xia Liu heated some water and gently wiped Guo Man’s face and neck with a towel.

    In the deep hours of the night, he continued to channel Spiritual Energy into her.

    The crashing waves outside brought no ripples to Xia Liu’s heart.

    Guo Man was gradually recovering and would awaken soon.

    At that time, who knew what would unfold…

    “Water…”

    As the skies began to lighten, a faint voice rang out from within the room.

    Xia Liu’s body tensed, and he immediately rushed into the room.

    Grabbing the teacup on the table, he poured a cup of warm water and brought it to the bedside.

    He gently propped Guo Man up.

    Her eyes were still closed.

    Perhaps she feared waking from a dream, only to forever lose sight of the man who lingered in her memories.

    And yet, leaning against Xia Liu, she immediately felt discomfort.

    This felt nothing like her mother. He wasn’t her mother!

    And he was, in fact, a man!

    Guo Man’s eyes opened instantly.

    The moment her vision clarified, she froze in disbelief.

    “Xia Liu, what’s happened to me?”

    In her dreams, in the Illusory Realm, Guo Man hadn’t wanted to awaken.

    She looked at Xia Liu, her eyes brimming with joy.

    This felt so real. She had finally connected with Xia Liu through her dreams.

    “Your body is very weak, but with a few days of rest, you’ll be fine.”

    Xia Liu could see from Guo Man’s dazed expression that she still doubted his presence was real.

    “Little Man, I’m sorry. All of this happened because of me…”

    “Don’t say that. When you fell off the cliff, I already forgave you.”

    Guo Man extended her arms and embraced Xia Liu.

    Dreams often dissolve when explanations arise.

    She didn’t want to wake up. She wanted to cling to Xia Liu, even if only within a dream, an Illusory Realm. She wanted to stay with him forever.