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Chapter 31 - Chapter 31 – “Don’t Leave Me, Brother”

The soft golden light of morning slipped through the windows of the mountain hall. Birds chirped gently. But inside the small room where Xiao Xue usually woke up smiling beside her brother, there was only silence.

She opened her tiny eyes, blinked a few times, and slowly sat up—only to see that Xuan Long wasn't there.

"Brother…?"

Her small voice echoed in the quiet room.

She rubbed her sleepy eyes and stood, clutching the corner of her robe. Step by step, she searched every room nearby—but he was nowhere to be found.

A full hour passed.

Panic overtook her small heart.

Tears welled up as she ran barefoot across the stone halls, her hair messy and cheeks red.

"Brother… where are you…" she whispered over and over.

She finally found Hei Mo and Mu Chen training in the courtyard.

"Brother Hei Mo! Brother Mu Chen! Where is my brother?! Where did he go?!"

Hei Mo turned, surprised.

"We haven't seen the Master since morning…"

She gasped and ran again, heart pounding, searching every garden, every chamber, every hidden path. Her little legs carried her as far as she could go—until, broken and breathless, she collapsed on the cold stone ground.

"Brother… you can't leave me…"

"You promised…"

"Sob… sob…"

Tears streamed down her cheeks. Her cries echoed through the base, a sound of pure heartbreak—of a child who had lost her only light.

Far above, at the very top of the mountain, Xuan Long sat alone, deep in thought. His eyes were calm, but his heart wrestled with the next steps. The world was shifting too fast—he had enemies everywhere, and power was growing daily.

Suddenly…

He heard it.

A faint cry.

Her cry.

His eyes snapped open, and in the next instant—he vanished.

He appeared in the courtyard like a shadow, and his heart twisted when he saw her collapsed on the floor, weeping.

"Xiao Xue!"

She looked up, gasping.

"B-Brother?!"

She ran into his arms, sobbing uncontrollably.

"Where were you?! I-I didn't see you anywhere… I thought… I thought you left me!"

Xuan Long immediately hugged her tightly, picking her up gently.

"Shhh… I'm here. I'm right here, little princess. I just went for a walk, I didn't go anywhere. You silly girl… don't cry."

She hugged him tighter.

"You can't leave me. Never… never ever!"

He smiled and brushed her hair aside. But when he looked down, he noticed her knees were scraped, probably from running all over barefoot.

"You hurt yourself…"

He picked her up and walked straight to the Medical Hall, where Lin Qian was carefully preparing pills.

When she saw them enter, she quickly stood and bowed.

"Master. This month, we've produced over 300 Qi Refining Pills, 50 Foundation Building Pills, and 5 Core Formation Pills. We've also started distributing Recovery Pills to Mu Chen and the demi-humans to support their breakthroughs."

Xuan Long nodded.

"Excellent. You've done very well. From now on, you may cultivate in the Spiritual Room. Use it to enhance your strength tenfold."

Lin Qian's eyes lit up.

"Thank you, Master!"

He then looked at Xiao Xue in his arms.

"Can you treat her injuries?"

Lin Qian's expression softened.

"Of course."

She kneeled and gently began to heal Xiao Xue's bruised knees with a spiritual salve.

A warm light surrounded her small legs, and in moments, the wounds were gone.

"Brother! Look!" Xiao Xue said excitedly. "It's like magic!"

Xuan Long laughed.

"Yes, that's cultivation. If you want, I can teach you."

"Yes! Please teach me! I wanna learn magic too!"

Lin Qian chuckled.

"So cute…"

Xiao Xue turned red and immediately buried her face in Xuan Long's chest.

"Don't look… I just want to stay with brother…"

Xuan Long smiled and ruffled her hair.

"You little princess… This sister is nice. She'll play with you and teach you magic."

"No! I only want to live with you!" she pouted—and then, out of nowhere, she grabbed his cheeks, leaned forward, and kissed his forehead.

Xuan Long blinked, stunned.

Then burst out laughing.

"You! You're too cute! What am I going to do with you?"

Meanwhile, in the courtyard, Mu Chen and Hei Mo faced each other.

"Let's spar," Mu Chen said.

"You've surpassed me now, haven't you?" Hei Mo smirked. "Let's see what Core Formation Level 5 looks like."

Mu Chen nodded, his confidence calm.

Hei Mo's power was still great—his Nine Lotus Bloom gave him strength ten times that of others. But Mu Chen had cultivated with the Spiritual River, refined deadly poison arts, and now stood even taller than before.

They clashed.

Hei Mo launched his Demonic Blood Chains, snaking through the air like serpents. Mu Chen dodged and struck with a brutal punch—Hei Mo twisted, avoiding the hit, then launched a counter.

Mu Chen activated his poison mist.

Hei Mo flinched, body slowing. His muscles locked for a moment, and Mu Chen landed a clean strike to his chest.

But Hei Mo didn't retreat—he struck back with equal force.

Boom!

Both fell to the ground—breathing heavily.

Moments later, Mu Chen stood first.

"You win," Hei Mo admitted, rising slowly. "But I didn't use my puppets."

Mu Chen smiled.

"This was just us. Strength to strength."

Xuan Long and Xiao Xue watched from the side.

She clung to his arm and looked up nervously.

"Brother… are they hurt? Will it hurt them?"

Xuan Long chuckled and patted her head.

"No, little one. That's what brothers do. They fight. And they grow stronger."

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