Max Level Return—I'll Protect That Fragile One

The Mortal World will soon undergo changes. What does this mean?

Xiahou Shang was still pondering the deep meaning behind these words when Zhang Zhiyi suddenly held his hand gently and said, "Brother Shang, you’ve been working all day and daydreaming, you must be tired, right?"

Xiahou Shang was about to say he wasn’t tired, but suddenly his mind became confused.

The image of Zhang Zhiyi before him started to blur.

Xiahou Shang realized something and connected it to the headaches he’d been having lately, aware that there was something wrong with his body. "What have you done to me?"

Xiahou Shang asked as he staggered and collapsed onto the ground.

Zhang Zhiyi caught Xiahou Shang and said, "I know you could never stand by me, and I know your heartache. Brother Shang, just sleep for a while. When you wake up, everything will be settled. At that time, you will forget everything now, fall in love with me again, and start a new life with me and the child."

"Zhang Zhiyi, you..." Xiahou Shang’s body started convulsing violently and he lost consciousness.

Zhang Zhiyi gently placed him on the ground, found her phone, and called the Xiahou Family at Tuo Ling Peak.

"Mom," Zhang Zhiyi said with a crying tone, "What should I do? Brother Shang suddenly fainted. I just shared the news of my pregnancy with him, and he got so excited that he fainted!"

Zhang Yuyao was also shocked. She told Zhang Zhiyi, "Zhiyi, calm down and call the emergency services now. Your father and I are on our way to the hospital. Also, don’t get too emotional; remember to take care of the baby in your belly. Ah Shang might have fainted from excitement, but he will soon wake up."

At the same time, hearing two shocking pieces of news in a row, Zhang Yuyao felt like the blood in her head was rushing backward, as if she was about to have a cerebral hemorrhage.

She quickly sat down, leaned against the back of the sofa, and told the servants, "Quickly bring your master back, and call the second young master too; the eldest son is unconscious and admitted to the hospital!"

*

The next morning, at dawn.

Xu Xingguang and Huo Wen’an got up early together, dressed in sportswear, intending to go for a morning run at the foot of Cangshan.

Huo Wen’an opened the door and came face-to-face with Xiahou Huai Gui, who was standing against the wall.

As the two renowned sickly individuals of Xia Country, both Huo Wen’an and Xiahou Huai Gui had heard of each other’s names among the ill; it was like they were competing to see who would die first.

They periodically inquired about each other’s condition; whenever someone heard the other was doing better, they would strive to live a few more days.

The one who dies first is considered the loser.

Last time at the Ying Family, Huo Wen’an toasted Xiahou Huai Gui from across a window, meaning that the two had yet to truly meet face-to-face.

Xiahou Huai Gui took a step back and bowed to Huo Wen’an, "Good morning, Captain Huo."

The Huo Family, being the leader among the hundred great noble families and having led the Four Continents Alliance to resist enemies, held an unparalleled position in the heart of the Xia Country Alliance Government.

Even the President of the Alliance Government must respectfully address him as Captain Huo when he sees him.

"Clan Leader Xiahou." Huo Wen’an casually fiddled with the Luo Fei Ring on his middle finger, waiting for Xiahou Huai Gui to notice the ring before asking, "Sir, did you come here so early to find me or Xingguang?"

Xiahou Huai Gui’s gaze was fixed on the dark blue glowing ring on Huo Wen’an’s finger.

What material is this ring made of?

This is the engagement ring Xu Xingguang gave him?

At a glance, it looks... extremely precious.

Xiahou Huai Gui’s heart felt a sour heaviness; even though he knew Huo Wen’an deliberately touched the ring to attract his attention, his purpose had been achieved. Xiahou Huai Gui was indeed jealous.

"I’m looking for Miss Xu." Seeing Xu Xingguang wearing a wrist brace as she walked down the steps at the entrance, Xiahou Huai Gui quickly suppressed the sour feeling in his heart and called out toward the yard, "Good morning, Miss Xu."

"Young master." Xu Xingguang adjusted her wrist brace and stood beside Huo Wen’an.

Standing shoulder to shoulder, their posture exuded a sense of intimacy. "Young master, it’s not yet fully daylight, why have you come?"

"Ah Shang encountered some trouble."

"Xiahou Shang?" Xu Xingguang exchanged a surprised glance with Huo Wen’an.

Did Zhang Zhiyi make a move on Xiahou Shang?

"What happened to him?"

Xiahou Huai Gui replied, "Ah Shang usually has high blood pressure issues. Last night, he unexpectedly learned about Zhiyi’s pregnancy and fainted from excitement. We thought it was just a normal faint, but he hadn’t woken up until four this morning. After a check-up, the doctor said there was blood overflow in his head, suspected to be a cerebral hemorrhage."

"The worse news is that his brain function is disordered, and he cannot regain consciousness. The hospital is helpless in this matter, and I thought perhaps Miss Xu might have insights on this, having seen many complex cases."

"Miss Xu, we are friends, and Zhiyi is like sisters with you; she’s pregnant now and can’t bear any stress. I implore you to come with me to the hospital to see him."

"Heh." Xu Xingguang let out a meaningful chuckle and called out to the small building next door: "Ye Mingluo, wake up, let’s go check on the patient!"

Ye Mingluo got out of bed with bleary eyes and followed Xu Xingguang and the others to the Xiahou Family’s private hospital.

Although Luo Xiangyue didn’t come to the hospital due to her poor health, old man Xiahou Xiong arrived at the hospital late at night. Seeing Xu Xingguang, Xiahou Xiong felt as if he was seeing a deity, hurriedly approaching with a serious expression and said, "Miss Xu, Captain Huo, it’s great that you came."

Upon discovering that the tall and thin man standing beside Xu Xingguang was the Huo Family Leader, Xiahou Jin couldn’t help but sneak a peek at him.

"Where’s my senior sister?" Miss Xu asked.

Xiahou Xiong pointed to the room, sighing, "That child hasn’t slept all night, feeling both guilty and uneasy."

"You all stay outside and watch." Miss Xu turned back to instruct Huo Wen’an, "You and Ye Mingluo wait outside too."

"Alright."

Seeing Miss Xu commanding the Pilot Huo, everyone was incredibly surprised.

After all, he is the Living Yama of Divine Concealment Island, when did he become so obedient?

Zhang Zhiyi stayed up all night, accompanying Xiahou Shang in the room, looking extremely haggard. When she saw Miss Xu, Zhang Zhiyi smiled and said, "Thank you for making the trip."

The look in her eyes when she saw Miss Xu was unprecedentedly strange.

"You’re not pretending anymore?" Miss Xu hooked a stool with her foot, sitting next to Zhang Zhiyi, and said, "Grasshoppers in autumn still jump a few times; I thought you’d keep acting."

"Ah Shang noticed the doubts about my identity so quickly; it was you pushing things behind the scenes, wasn’t it?" Zhang Zhiyi picked up a blood orange and peeled it, saying, "Did you go to the Kunze Mountain Range, to find Ying Tu?"

Miss Xu could guess that the Ying Tu she mentioned was her grandfather.

"Yes, we did."

"Did you see him?" Zhang Zhiyi asked with interest, "Is he still alive?"

"Yes."

Zhang Zhiyi sighed, "I went into the mountains to find him before but couldn’t. He must have been hiding. Considering the time, he probably won’t last much longer."

Zhang Zhiyi turned the blood orange, continuing to peel, calmly asking, "What did he transform into?"

Miss Xu’s eyes were filled with hostility, she remained silent.

Zhang Zhiyi asked, "A black panther? Or a black tiger?"

Miss Xu asked her, "Was it you who injected him with the drug?"

"Yes." Zhang Zhiyi said, "Clearly, he and I belonged to the same world, yet he foolishly wanted to save the Mortal World. He’s a traitor, transforming into a beast is the ending I crafted for him."

Miss Xu remained silent.

After seeing Zhang Zhiyi’s true nature, Miss Xu also guessed that Zhang Zhiyi was the mastermind behind the scenes. Therefore, hearing her openly reveal these things, while angry, Miss Xu wasn’t overwhelmed.

She had lived for so many years and had seen people like Zhang Zhiyi before.

Zhang Zhiyi, surprised that Miss Xu remained calm after knowing her actions toward Ying Tu, said, "Xingguang." Zhang Zhiyi divided the peeled blood orange in half, offering one half to Miss Xu.

Miss Xu stared at the orange, not reaching out to take it.

Zhang Zhiyi chuckled, "Why, afraid I poisoned it?"

"No." Shaking her head, Miss Xu said, "It just feels dirty."

Zhang Zhiyi’s smile faltered.

"You child, you really have a sharp tongue." Zhang Zhiyi, feeling bored, discarded the blood orange and drew a soft tissue to wipe her fingers meticulously. As she wiped, she asked, "During those three years of unconsciousness, did you encounter some opportunity?"

Before falling into a coma, Xu Xingguang was just an innocent girl. Yet, after awakening, she was shrouded in a dark mist, making Zhang Zhiyi unable to discern her.

Miss Xu stated expressionlessly, "You are a Divine from the Divine Martial Realm, with sky-high abilities, why don’t you guess?"

Zhang Zhiyi seriously guessed, "Were you possessed?" She said, "When you just awoke, you could not remember many things. Xu Xingguang, perhaps you aren’t the real Xu Xingguang?"

Zhang Zhiyi squinted her almond eyes, contemplatively stating, "Are you a transmigrator?"

"Perhaps." Miss Xu was unwilling to speak more.

Looking at Xiahou Shang on the bed, Miss Xu questioned Zhang Zhiyi, "Did you deliberately knock him unconscious, wanting him to sleep until everything was settled?"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Zhiyi’s gaze deepened, she said, "Seems like you are similar to me."

"Don’t confuse us." Miss Xu’s eyes showed disdain, "With my beauty, how could something so ugly as you be worth comparing?"

Zhang Zhiyi felt choked by her insult.

Suddenly Miss Xu asked, "Getting close to my mother as Zhang Zhiyi was because you wanted to win Ying Ziyao’s trust through her, aiming to find what my grandfather left behind. Then marrying Xiahou Shang, what was that for?"

Zhang Zhiyi smiled, saying, "Xiahou Shang is the eldest son of the Xiahou Family, marrying him is beneficial for me to reach the power pinnacle, naturally part of my plan."

"Oh? Is it?" Miss Xu chuckled, "If that’s the case, why didn’t you marry Xiahou Huai Gui directly?"

"You can also cure Xiahou Huai Gui’s illness. Marrying Xiahou Huai Gui, the most favored by Xiahou Xiong and his wife, and helping him recover, your career path would be smoother."

Miss Xu sarcastically questioned Zhang Zhiyi, "Why didn’t you do that?"