4380

Chapter 4380: 5.0132 Self-Blame

"So this time, you went to great lengths to trick her into returning, not because Clan Leader Long was on her deathbed, eager to see her granddaughter."

"But because you wanted this Mermaid Pearl."

Mo Lian's breathing was ragged, as he desperately suppressed the surging anger within him. His voice, when it emerged, was tinged with sorrow and fury, a heart-wrenching depth. "The Forgotten River Long family is truly disgusting."

Peony Immortal, Ginkgo Immortal, and the others glared fiercely at the Long family members, then quickly followed.

Long Qian coughed heavily, her gaze unwavering as she stared in the direction they had left.

"Grandmother, Grandmother," Long Hui called twice, then couldn't help but sigh deeply. "Grandmother, why did you do this?"

Young Master Ding, beside them, suddenly chuckled. He turned, waved his hand, and left with a loud laugh, "The Forgotten River Long family is indeed disgusting! Hahahahaha!"

Long Qian glared angrily at his retreating figure, clutching her aching chest. "Let's go back first."

Mo Lian moved swiftly, carrying Qiao Mu back to Yun Yuan in a flash and placing her on the bed.

At this moment, Qiaoqiao was unconscious. Her Dantian Divine Void Realm and Spiritual Consciousness were both in a sealed state, naturally preventing her from contacting Little Tree Ball.

"Water's here, water's here."

"Give it to me." Mo Lian reached out and took the damp cloth handed to him by Ginkgo Immortal. He carefully wiped the bloodstains from the little stoic's lips, his fingers trembling slightly.

"Everyone, disperse for now," Feng Chen turned to look at Feng Changqing and the others. "Don't crowd around here. Go back and prepare. Once Qiaoqiao wakes up, we'll leave this place."

Mo Lian lifted her small hand, wiping away the bloodstains clinging to her fingers.

The blood on her hands was rarely from others; it was mostly her own, spurted out, glaringly vivid, and deeply distressing to see.

With this injury, Qiaoqiao's small face looked much more fragile. Beneath her jade-like, transparent skin, one could even see thread-like blood vessels.

Mo Lian threw the cloth into the basin, then reached out with trembling hands, gently lifted her, and held her tightly in his embrace, his head lowered, his breath soft, resting against her neck.

If Qiao Mu were awake, she would surely feel his trembling breath and the slow, steady tears that fell onto her collarbone.

Peach Blossom Immortal Venerable looked through the window, his gaze profound.

He reached out and stopped Mu Xingchen, who was about to enter, and whispered, "Let them be for a while. Mo Lian is deeply pained and blames himself greatly right now."

"Give him time to recover slowly on his own. Whatever anyone else says is useless."

Mu Xingchen glanced at them again uneasily, then sighed lightly and nodded.

Mo Lian continued to care for Qiaoqiao, without even loosening his clothes, until the night was deep and quiet.

He stayed by her side, occasionally replacing the clean, damp cloth on her forehead.

He held her small hand tightly, listening to her murmur "Lian," and answering her "Qiaoqiao" at any moment.

However, at this moment, Qiao Mu had long since drifted into unconsciousness.

She felt heavy, as if drifting aimlessly on a small boat, floating without a destination.

She didn't know where she was, but she knew where her heart wanted to go.

Mo Lian, Mo Lian, where are you? she desperately cried out in her heart.

She only heard a slow, low voice, as if drifting from a distant sky, intermittently speaking: "Qiaoqiao, don't be afraid. I'm always by your side, always, always."

She felt his warm lips press against her hand, a sweet, comforting warmth.