Clouds Part and Mist Clears, Cai'er's Lullaby

The White-Robed Assassin looked at Long Xuanye's pair of crimson eyes and finally chose to compromise.

He slowly raised both hands, palms facing forward, signaling he had no hostile intent.

"Long Xuanye, don't make any rash moves."

The White-Robed Assassin's tone softened.

"This power is not something you can control right now. Forcing it will only harm yourself."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over Saint Cai'er, who stood alertly to the side, Sacred Sword in hand.

"Cai'er. I swear to you, as an Eighth Tier Emperor Assassin, I will never forcibly separate you two."

"You stand still obediently, and I will help you dissolve the blades you've created. You should understand that even if you use forceful control moves against me, you won't be able to harm me."

Long Xuanye's body remained tense.

He hesitated.

After all, Cai'er was too important to the Assassin's Sanctuary.

Long Xuanye dared not gamble that the White-robed figure would truly keep his promise.

There was a high probability that the other party only wished to take Cai'er away while ensuring their own safety and Cai'er's...

Just as he was about to activate the Chaos Spirit Furnace again, a soft Small Hand gently tugged at his Sleeve.

Long Xuanye lowered his gaze and met Saint Cai'er's eyes for a moment.

The girl looked at the White-robed figure and recalled his covert protection during these past days.

A flicker of Trust flashed in her beautiful silver eyes. She looked at Long Xuanye and nodded gently.

Long Xuanye fell silent.

He trusted Cai'er.

She was his sister.

And she had been with the White-robed figure for a long time.

The tension in his shoulders finally eased.

A smile bloomed on Saint Cai'er's lips.

It's good that Xuanye still listens to Mama.

The tense atmosphere finally began to dissipate.

The White-Robed Assassin secretly breathed a sigh of relief and stepped forward.

He finally didn't have to face that lunatic who fought with his life anymore.

A wisp of pale purple Spiritual Power condensed at his fingertips, gentle and without any aggression.

Then, he flicked his finger, lightly tapping towards Long Xuanye's glabella.

But the moment his fingertip touched, the White-Robed Assassin's expression changed drastically!

He felt an extremely strange power surge back along his fingertip!

It was precisely the Shadow Blades that had been swallowed and transformed by Long Xuanye's domain earlier!

They hadn't dissipated; instead, like tamed beasts, they carried a wild will, attempting to invade his Meridians!

"This kid... what method did he use?"

A storm raged in the White-robed figure's heart, and fine beads of cold sweat gradually appeared on his forehead.

He dared not use force.

Long Xuanye's Meridians were already fragile from forcefully activating his power, and any slight mistake could cause them to completely collapse.

Moreover, Saint Cai'er stood by his side.

Any stray fluctuation of Spiritual Power could affect her.

He could only use his own pure Spiritual Power bit by bit to sort and guide, like dismantling a Spiritual Power bomb that could detonate at any moment, exercising extreme caution.

Long Xuanye remained silent, letting him act.

He knew, of course, that this was the power of the Chaos Spirit Furnace.

Devouring all things, transforming all things.

It was even so overbearing that it allowed him, at Third Tier strength, to influence the energy casually released by an Eighth Tier Emperor Assassin...

But this couldn't be explained.

He couldn't possibly tell the other party that it was a God-Tier Spirit Furnace rewarded by the system.

After a full Half an Incense Stick's time.

The White-robed figure finally withdrew his finger, his back already soaked with sweat.

The rampaging power within Long Xuanye had finally calmed down.

What followed was a strong sense of exhaustion.

Long Xuanye's figure flickered, and he knelt on one knee.

"Xuanye!"

Saint Cai'er cried out in alarm and, without a second thought, lunged forward, opening her arms to shield him.

Her beautiful silver eyes stared intently at the white-robed figure, like a female beast protecting her young, filled with vigilance.

Seeing this, the white-robed figure was both angry and amused.

"You two... do you really see me as an utterly wicked person?"

He shook his head, his tone carrying a hint of helplessness.

"According to the rules, I must take the Saintess back to the Sanctuary. But since I've made a vow, I won't go back on my word."

"I'll leave. That should be acceptable, right?"

Before he finished speaking, he flipped his wrist, and a short blade at his waist was suddenly unsheathed.

A faint purple energy swept across Long Xuanye's shoulder.

However, the energy did not harm him in the slightest. Instead, it transformed into an extremely thin layer of gauze, clinging to him and emitting a subtle, deterrent aura.

"This 'Hidden Edge' can help you block attacks below the Seventh Tier, and if you encounter a horde of Devil Beasts, it can also help you carve out a path."

The white-robed figure sheathed his blade.

"I will return to the Assassin's Sanctuary to report. That is my duty."

The implication was that even though he was leaving, the Assassin's Sanctuary would send someone else.

With that, the white-robed figure lingered no longer. His form flickered, and he vanished from the cave entrance.

Only when his aura had completely dissipated into the night did Long Xuanye and Saint Cai'er, as if all their strength had been drained, collapse onto the haystack behind them.

Saint Cai'er immediately leaned closer, gently hugging his arm and resting her small face on his shoulder.

Her voice was still trembling slightly.

"That's great..."

"He's gone, and Xuanye is safe."

Long Xuanye turned his head, looking at the girl nestled closely beside him.

Saint Cai'er's hair was a little messy, with a few strands sticking to the sweat on her temples. Her usually expressionless face was now lit up with a clean, pure smile, her silver eyes shining like stars in the night sky.

The relief of surviving the ordeal had brought her entire being to life.

Long Xuanye's heart softened, and he couldn't help but raise the hand that still had some strength, gently stroking her hair.

His voice was a little hoarse, but more relaxed than ever before.

"Mhm, we... are safe for now... we are safe."

As his words fell, Saint Cai'er hugged him even tighter.

Long Xuanye also embraced her slender back in response.

An irresistible wave of exhaustion surged from his limbs, instantly overwhelming his entire consciousness.

So tired.

Really so tired.

No matter how high the specifications of the Chaos Spirit Furnace were, it was still his Third Tier body trying to pry open and influence the power of an Eighth Tier Emperor Assassin.

Even though the White-robed figure had gone easy on him the entire time, and that shadow ball had no killing intent, the mere act of resisting an existence of that caliber had completely drained Long Xuanye's essence, energy, and spirit.

He had wanted to say a few more comforting words, but his eyelids felt as heavy as a thousand pounds, and even opening his mouth felt like a struggle.

Just then, he suddenly sensed the small body in his arms move slightly.

The unique, faintly milky scent of the girl wafted to his nose.

A soft small hand gently caressed the back of his head.

Once, and then again.

Patting him softly.

Immediately after, a tender singing voice with a strange, soothing power sounded in his ear.

"Sleep, sleep, my baby..."

It was a lullaby.

The singing was very young, and the tune was simple, yet it was like a warm light, shining into the depths of Long Xuanye's exhausted soul.

The fear born from the fight for survival, the worries about the future, the vigilance towards the Assassin's Sanctuary, and the hatred for Long Xingyu... all these chaotic thoughts vanished at this moment.