Hua Xianle

Chapter 28:

As Hua Ying opened his eyes once more, his body was still heavy and wracked with chills. However, the pain in his chest was nowhere near as bad, and the haze over his mind that left him delirious had lessened.

“A-Ying?”

Or maybe not. He was so out of it that he could have sworn he’d just heard his Baba’s voice. At least, that’s what he thought until he felt warm hands helping him sit up, and saw his Baba smiling at him in relief.

“Baba?” he questioned. “Why are you here?”

“Don’t you remember, A-Ying?” Xie Lian asked as he brushed his fingers through his son’s hair. “Your A-Die and I came here when we heard about you drowning. How are you feeling?”

“I feel a lot better, Baba.” He shivered slightly as a chill ran through him. “Although… I feel heavy and cold… and my chest still feels a bit tight.”

Xie Lian just hummed, displeased at the fact that his baby was uncomfortable. Still, he knew it could have been worse, and that mollified him slightly. “We’re quite fortunate your father placed that barrier around your core. Your meridians were heavily infested with Yin Energy, but your core was left untouched and intact.”

Hua Ying just laid his hand on top of his baba’s hand and smiled softly. “Baba, I am fine. He-shushu saved me, and so did my Lan Zhan.”

“You shouldn’t have needed saving, Baobei. That boy shouldn’t have tried to throw you to the abyss to save his own skin, and…” Xie Lian’s fists clenched. “And that brat Jiang Wanyin… He just stood there smirking while my boy was drowning! He didn’t even pretend to help!!”

Hua Ying flinched at the anger in his father’s voice. His baba never got mad, not unless something bad happened to him or his A-Die. Seeing him flinch, Xie Lian forced himself to breathe, calming himself.

“Your father is dealing with those boys and I must content myself with that. However…” He picked up his son’s hands, giving them both a squeeze. “A-Ying, I want you to promise me that you will not hesitate to call for help if anything like this happens again. Call me, your A-Die, or any of your aunts or uncles. I don’t care who, so long as you are safe.”

“Baba…”

“I mean it, A-Ying.” The Heavenly Emperor looked close to tears. “I can cast aside my Godhood, my wealth, my fame… I would happily return to my life of downtrodden poverty if it meant that you and San Lang would be safe. You two are the only things in the world I cannot lose. If I failed you… I could never live with myself.”

Hua Ying sighed, nodding slightly before hugging his father. “I promise, Baba. If I’m in trouble, I’ll call. A-Ying swears it.”

Their moment was broken when they heard a knock on the door. Reluctantly parting, Xie Lian called for their visitors to enter. This turned out to be Yin Yu, along with a woman in white robes with the flames of the sun on the sleeves. Hua Ying immediately recognized the robes as those worn by the Qishan Wen clan, meaning that this woman was a Wen. 

Behind her, a boy who looked to be a year or two younger than Hua Ying had his head bowed down. Once he was standing just behind the woman, he lifted his head upwards and met eyes with the young Hua. Recognizing a kindred spirit who was shy but wanted to make friends, Hua Ying waved at him with a gentle, welcoming smile. The boy immediately smiled back, returning the wave in kind.

“Your Highness, I have brought Lady Wen to check on Xianle,” Yin Yu announced as he bowed deeply. “She has found Hua Chengzhu’s offer to be sufficient and agreed to come immediately to tend to Xianle along with her younger brother.”