Once, a Heart Set on Protecting Children!

"Mom, where are they taking us?"

"Qianxue, we're going to a holy land!"

"A holy land? What's that?"

"A holy land is a place all immortal cultivators long to go!"

"Wow! A place all immortal cultivators want to go? I want to go too!"

"Oh, you! Haha, soon, soon. We're almost there."

Mother and daughter chatted happily as they gradually approached the holy land.

The scene shifted to the inside of the holy land.

"Mom, what's wrong? Why do you look so worried?"

"It's all right, Qianxue. I'm just a little tired from cultivating and want to rest."

The woman stroked the girl's head and reassured her.

The scene shifted again.

"Holy Maiden, what should we do now?"

"Holy Maiden, the Holy Lord has fallen. What should we do with that thing?"

"I warned the Holy Lord long ago that the thing was unpredictable, but he insisted on going his own way."

The woman's face was full of worry. With the Holy Lord's death, the Corpse King had also gone out of control.

"The Holy Maiden's Poison Control Technique has yet to reach major accomplishment, and her cultivation hasn't reached the Half-Immortal realm. Even with the Myriad Poison Immortal Physique, this will be difficult!"

Everyone looked worried.

The image shattered and formed a new scene. Fire spread relentlessly through the holy land, and countless people died horrible deaths within it.

"Second Elder, I never imagined you could be so despicable."

The woman lay on the ground, coughing up blood.

"Holy Maiden, I didn't want to do this either, but the Corpse King offered me too much!"

A middle-aged man spoke excitedly. The Corpse King had promised that he would be the master of the Western Continent in the future.

"You killed everyone in the holy land!"

"I had no choice. Who told them to stand in the way of my ambitions?"

The woman got to her feet and fled the holy land with the girl on her back.

"So what if I let you run? Once Lord Corpse King and I have set this holy land in order, I'll come find you. Jie jie jie jie!"

The Second Elder's laughter rang throughout the holy land.

"Mom, what do we do?" the girl asked worriedly.

"It's all right, Qianxue! Let's find somewhere safe first."

The woman spoke reassuringly.

At the border of the Western Continent,

"Qianxue, stay down here and be good. Mommy will be back in a little while. Don't wander off. Here! This is a protective talisman from me!"

The woman handed the girl the talisman and comforted her. Then, as if she had made up her mind, she flew back to the holy land.

"Mom, don't go!"

The girl waved, but she could never call her mother back.

After that, the girl knew nothing more.

She only knew of the rumors: the Corpse King raised by the Holy Maiden of the Poison Control Holy Land had gone out of control, and poisonous gas had erupted. Everyone in the Poison Control Holy Land had used the last of their cultivation to form a barrier, containing the poisonous gas within the Western Continent and keeping it from spreading.

"Mom, don't go, don't go! Mom!"

The Poison Fairy jolted upright in bed.

"You're awake, Miss Poison Fairy."

Long Han was sitting by the table. Seeing the Poison Fairy wake, he came out of his meditation.

"How long was I asleep?"

"Just yesterday and today. The young master said it was a minor symptom of absorbing the Hundred Poison Fruit, nothing serious."

Long Han faithfully repeated what he had heard from Ye Zichen.

"I see... Thank you."

The Poison Fairy hurriedly thanked him, but her thoughts were still on that childhood memory.

"Mom..."

Night had just fallen over the city. Plenty of vendors remained on the streets, and the bustling market was still lively.

The Poison Fairy strolled alone along the street, quietly watching the people coming and going.

"Huh? Isn't that the Poison Fairy?"

The pedestrians on the street noticed the Poison Fairy. Suddenly, a child came charging out and ran into her.

"Ow!"

The child fell to the ground in pain, and the Poison Fairy stepped forward to help him up.

"Be careful where you're going, little brother."

Brushing the dirt from the child's clothes, the Poison Fairy spoke gently.

"Sorry, Sister Poison Fairy."

"Sister Poison Fairy, are you out walking too? They're releasing sky lanterns up ahead! They're really pretty!"

"My friends and I were just going there! We're going to release some too!"

Pointing at the three children running over behind him, the little boy spoke happily.

Watching this heartwarming scene, the Poison Fairy asked,

"The monsters are coming. Aren't you afraid? You're still playing outside."

"I'm not afraid! When they come, I'll knock one down with every punch!"

"I'm not afraid either! Besides, my dad's an immortal cultivator. He'll protect me!"

"S-sister, with you here, I... I'm not afraid either!"

The last child, a little girl, tiptoed over and tugged at the hem of the Poison Fairy's clothes, speaking softly.

Looking at the four innocent children, the Poison Fairy felt their warmth, and tears of emotion welled up in her eyes.

"All right! With me here, you can go play without worrying!"

The Poison Fairy put on a serious face and spoke with complete confidence.

"Yay! Goodbye, Sister!"

"G-goodbye, Sister~"

The four children said goodbye to the Poison Fairy and headed for the center of the bustling market.

"What's wrong? Are you afraid?"

After the children disappeared from sight, Ye Zichen slowly appeared and spoke teasingly.

"How come you didn't make any footsteps when you appeared?"

The Poison Fairy spoke with feigned surprise.

"Do you think you can protect them?"

Ye Zichen ignored her and continued.

"I..."

"I'll definitely liberate the Western Continent and let the children see the world outside!"

After a moment of silence, the Poison Fairy took a deep breath and spoke with unshakable resolve.

"Very good. I look forward to seeing your performance."

Seeing this, Ye Zichen stopped teasing her and left.

In the sky, the lanterns bearing the people's wishes rose one by one, lighting up the space above the city. The Poison Fairy looked up at the beautiful sight and smiled happily.

"Are you going out of the city today, Miss Poison Fairy?"

Long Han asked as he walked behind her.

Having just woken up yesterday, the Poison Fairy planned to leave the city today. She would first dispel the poisonous gas around Poison Control City and establish a new barrier, expanding the area around the city where people could move about.

"Mm. It wouldn't be good to delay any longer. Are you coming?"

The Poison Fairy followed up with a question.

"The young master instructed that I may accompany you. I'll follow your orders."

Long Han explained.

"All right, put this on, and let's go together."

She gave Long Han a veil, and the two left the city.

Outside the city,

The Poison Fairy looked around and said, "With my current strength, I can dispel the poisonous gas within a hundred li of the city and then set up an outer city barrier."

The Poison Fairy reflected that, with her current strength, if the poisonous gas did not change and nothing unexpected happened, the barrier she set up could protect the city for a hundred years for the time being.

She needed to break through and defeat the Corpse King within a hundred years, and thereby liberate the Western Continent. The Poison Fairy felt a great deal of pressure.

"Then I'll stand guard for you, Miss Poison Fairy. Go ahead and begin without worry!"

Long Han followed the Poison Fairy, and the two began preparing to dispel the poisonous gas.

"Mm, all right!" The Poison Fairy nodded, agreeing to divide the work this way.