“—Sister!!!”
A heartbreaking scream burst through his throat, carrying a sweet, bloody taste. Chu Wanran suddenly shot upright from the bed.
In an instant, the accumulated trauma and pain of more than twenty years within his body erupted like a dormant volcano.
Scalding despair, mixed with bone-piercing hatred, forcibly broke through the chaotic power hidden deep within his meridians—
That power, like a ferocious beast breaking free of its shackles, surged out wildly!
Black chaotic energy poured out from every pore of his body,
wrapping around his sweat-damp hair and disordered clothing,
twisting and rolling like something alive, carrying a hellish coldness and brutality.
The air in the room suddenly became thick and oppressive, as if crushed by an invisible boulder.
The candle flame trembled violently, crackling in distress, the wick flickering repeatedly between light and darkness, on the verge of extinguishing.
He was drenched in cold sweat, his soaked inner robe clinging tightly to his back, outlining his trembling spine. His chest rose and fell violently, as if he had just broken free from drowning suffocation, every breath carrying tearing pain.
His eyes were filled with blood vessels; those originally calm and deep eyes now contained only chaos and pain intertwined with madness.
In the depths of his pupils churned ink-like darkness—
there was destruction-level despair,
there was uncontrollable brutality,
there was loneliness no one could understand.
“Elder sister… don’t… don’t leave…” he murmured unconsciously.
His voice was hoarse and shattered, like it had been ground by sandpaper, every word carrying the pain of a torn throat.
Tears poured uncontrollably from his eyes, rolling down his pale cheeks.
They fell onto the bedding, where they merged with the spreading chaotic energy, staining it into a dark mark—
as if even the tears had been tainted by darkness.
The power of chaos rampaged wildly through his meridians, every inch of bone and sinew feeling as if it were being burned by fire and pierced by ice.
The pain made his whole body convulse.
His fingers curled into claws, nails digging deeply into his palms, drawing blood—but he felt nothing.
He was on the verge of losing all reason, his mind filled only with his sister’s death and the thought of destroying everything.
Li Xuan, who had been resting at the bedside, was awakened by the sudden movement and eerie aura.
The moment he opened his eyes, he saw Chu Wanran surrounded by black qi, completely frenzied—
the man who was usually decisive and steady now looked like a broken puppet,
left only with shattered pain and loss of control.
Li Xuan’s heart tightened. Without caring about the cold erosion of the chaotic energy, he rushed forward almost instinctively.
He grabbed Chu Wanran’s face with both hands—
the icy palms pressed against his burning skin like a sudden splash of cold water, yet it failed to calm the surging madness.
“Wanran! Look at me!”
Li Xuan’s voice trembled with urgency.
But Chu Wanran’s gaze was already unfocused, swallowed by endless darkness.
In desperation, Li Xuan lowered his head and kissed him.
The moment their lips touched, a faint scent of clean grass and wood from Li Xuan spread out like nourishing rain falling on scorched earth.
Li Xuan carefully guided his tongue in, forcing open his clenched teeth, and slowly fed pure calming energy into him along the contact.
That breath carried a faint floral sweetness, spreading through his throat, trying to dispel the coldness and chaos within him.
Chu Wanran seemed to grab onto the only driftwood in endless darkness, suddenly regaining awareness.
He wrapped both arms tightly around Li Xuan’s waist, gripping with such force it seemed he wanted to fuse their bones together.
He desperately sucked in the energy from Li Xuan’s lips, his movements clumsy yet urgent,
like someone gasping for oxygen,
and like someone releasing years of accumulated pain and dependence.
The kiss carried tears, blood, and chaotic coldness,
yet it was gradually wrapped and melted by Li Xuan’s warmth.
“Sister… sister…”
He cried out incoherently, his voice breaking and hoarse, each word forced out from deep in his throat.
All the fear, pain, and despair of more than twenty years collapsed at this moment.
He buried his face in Li Xuan’s neck, his shoulders shaking violently as he sobbed uncontrollably.
The chaotic energy became even more violent, black currents swirling and roaring around them like wild beasts, even corroding Li Xuan’s clothes.
But Li Xuan did not retreat.
Instead, he tightened his embrace.
One hand gently combed through Chu Wanran’s damp hair again and again,
fingertips brushing his pale face, wiping away tears,
like soothing a frightened beast;
the other hand patted his trembling back repeatedly with steady force.
At the same time, he continuously poured pure calming energy into him without reservation.
Cold, clear energy flowed like winter sunlight and mountain springs,
passing through their touching lips and skin,
slowly moving through Chu Wanran’s chaotic meridians.
Black and golden energies collided violently within him, intertwining like two dragons.
The candlelight flickered between brightness and darkness.
Sweat formed on Li Xuan’s forehead, his face growing increasingly pale.
Yet he did not stop.
“I will be your anchor,” he thought. “Even if I exhaust everything.”
Chu Wanran clung to him, trembling, gradually calming as the chaotic energy receded like a tide.
After a long time, his breathing finally steadied.
He still held Li Xuan tightly, refusing to let go.
Li Xuan kissed his hair, forehead, and eyes gently, one after another.
“Hungry? I’ll bring you some porridge.”
Chu Wanran shook his head, burying himself deeper.
“Don’t go… don’t leave me…”
“I won’t go,” Li Xuan replied softly, holding him tighter.
Outside, the night remained deep.
Moonlight spilled through the window, covering them like a thin veil.
Within the room, warmth slowly returned.
Chu Wanran finally relaxed completely, sinking into sleep within Li Xuan’s embrace.
A faint thought lingered in his fading consciousness:
“As long as you are here, I will never fear falling into the abyss again.”