Chapter 18 Truth

She was nearly out of the forest when a bunch of people came into her vision.

After what felt like an eternity, they were nearly out of the forest when she saw a group of people approaching.

Her vision was blurred, but she recognized the familiar figures- her father and the guards from their family.

She felt relieved knowing that her father had come to their rescue, overwhelming her senses.

She managed a faint smile before everything went black, and she lost consciousness, collapsing just as they reached her.

As Yuan Xinyi fell unconscious, her father rushed forward, his heart seizing with fear at the sight of his children in such a state.

He scooped both Ling Tian and Yuan Xinyi into his arms, his hands trembling with a mixture of relief and worry.

He looked at the trail of blood leading deeper into the forest, his worry deepening with every glance. Turning to two of the six guards, he gave a firm order.

"Both of you, go and check what happened in there and see what you can find."

Then, addressing the remaining guards, he commanded,

"And the rest of you, make haste. I need to bring my children home for treatment immediately."

The guards nodded, understanding the urgency.

The two designated guards cautiously ventured into the forest, following the blood trail, while the others gathered around their lord and his children.

With great care, they hurried out of the forest, their pace quickening as they neared the edge.

Once they finally emerged from the shadows of the trees, they made their way towards the carriages they had arrived in.

"Quickly, to the manor,"

 Yuan Wei urged, his voice tinged with desperation.

The carriages set off swiftly, racing back home.

As they sped through the familiar roads, Yuan Xinyi's father held his children close, silently praying for their swift recovery.

Upon reaching the manor, the healers were already prepared. They have already been alerted of the situation. 

As he watched the healers tend to his children, he vowed to uncover the truth of what had transpired in the forest and to protect his family from any future threats.

As Yuan Wei sat by his children's bedside, preparing to administer his alchemical remedies, he noticed something astonishing.

Ling Tian's body, battered and bruised from the fierce battle, was beginning to heal on its own.

He leaned in closer, his experienced eyes scanning Ling Tian's wounds.

Cuts and bruises were gradually fading, and the deep gashes were knitting together with remarkable speed.

Yuan Wei's heart raced with a mix of shock and awe. As an alchemist, he had seen many extraordinary things, but this was unprecedented.

Gathering his composure, he gently placed his hands on Ling Tian's body, feeling the subtle warmth and energy radiating from him.

It was as if some hidden force within his son was accelerating his healing process.

He turned to the healer, who had been assisting him. 

"Do you see this?" 

he asked his voice a hushed whisper filled with wonder.

The healer, equally astonished, nodded, "Yes, my lord. I've never witnessed such rapid natural healing. It's almost as if his body is... regenerating."

Yuan Xinyi, who had been resting, stirred slightly, and her father quickly checked her condition.

While she wasn't healing as rapidly as Ling Tian, she seemed to be recovering steadily, her small body showing signs of resilience.

Ling Tian's father sat back, pondering the implications, "Could this be linked to what happened in the forest?" 

he wondered aloud. The memory of the demonic wolf and the mysterious presence that the guards mentioned weighed heavily on his mind.

Could it have awakened some dormant power within Ling Tian?

Determined to find answers, he decided to keep a close watch on his son's recovery.

For now, he focused on ensuring both of his children received the care they needed.

He administered the alchemical treatments he had prepared, supplementing their natural healing processes with his expertise.

As the hours passed, Ling Tian's recovery continued to astound everyone.

By the time morning light filtered into the room, he was already showing signs of strength, his breathing steady and his complexion improved. 

Yuan Xinyi also seemed more at peace, her small frame relaxing as the worst of the ordeal faded.

Ling Tian's father remained vigilant, his mind racing with questions and theories.

The healing abilities his son displayed were beyond extraordinary, and he knew he had to understand the source of this power. 

But for now, he was simply grateful. He was grateful that his children were alive, safe, and on the path to recovery.

As he watched over them, he silently vowed to protect them and uncover the secrets that lay hidden within their blood. 

The mysteries of the forest, the demonic wolf, and the newfound power within Ling Tian would be unraveled, but first, he would ensure that his beloved children fully recovered from their harrowing ordeal.

After ensuring they were both comfortable, Yuan Wei left them alone in the room to rest.

A day passed, and the household maintained a hushed vigilance as the siblings slept. 

Ling Tian lay still, his body bathed in the early morning light filtering through the window.

As his memories settled, the childish innocence of his ten-year-old self was replaced by the hard-earned wisdom of a man who had experienced life and death, loyalty and betrayal, love and loss.

Each recollection brought with it a sharp clarity, cutting through the fog of his youthful mind.

"So, I have been reincarnated again after being betrayed by the one I called brother," he murmured, his voice heavy with the weight of past pain.

The betrayal stung as fresh as it did in the last moments of his previous life.

The memories played out vividly in his mind—the trust he had placed in his sworn brother, the knife of treachery that had cut him down.

Ling Tian's thoughts then turned to the Jin clan, their treachery a festering wound in his soul.

Their faces flashed before his eyes, each one a reminder of the injustices they had inflicted upon him and his family. The sorrow of loss mingled with a burning rage.

"And those Jin clan bastards," Ling Tian's voice reverberated with a steely resolve. "I will not forget them either. They will pay for their crimes against me and my family. I will have my revenge, sooner or later, and I will not rest until their entire clan is annihilated."

The words hung in the air, a vow etched into the very fabric of his being.

This time, he would not be a pawn in the hands of fate. He would carve his own destiny, and it would be a path of retribution and justice.

Ling Tian's gaze shifted to the side, where his sister, Yuan Xinyi, lay peacefully.

Her small, delicate frame was a stark contrast to the fierce determination that now coursed through him.

He reached out, gently brushing a strand of hair from her face. A soft smile touched his lips, a rare moment of tenderness amidst his dark thoughts.

"I never had a little sister in both of my previous lives," he reflected, a sense of gratitude warming his heart. Xin'er was a precious gift, one he had nearly lost due to his own weakness. "And I nearly lost her because of my weakness."

The memory of the demonic wolf's attack resurfaced, sending a shiver down his spine.

He recalled the fear, the desperation, and the surge of power that had awakened within him at the moment of his greatest need. "I swore that I would do everything in my power to protect her from any harm," he reaffirmed to himself, determination burning brighter in his eyes.

As Ling Tian delved deeper into the mystery of his recurring memories, a profound sense of introspection washed over him.

He had always been driven by a sense of duty and survival, shaped by the traumas and trials of his past lives.

But now, faced with the enigma of his own existence, he realized that there was more to his story than mere survival.

"How did I even manage to retrieve the memories of my past lives again and again?" Ling Tian pondered, his mind grappling with the intricacies of his consciousness. The question lingered like a persistent echo, demanding answers that seemed just out of reach.

Throughout his existence, Ling Tian had been consumed by the pursuit of usefulness to others, neglecting his own desires and identity in the process.

It was a pattern that had defined his very being, a cycle of selflessness and sacrifice that left little room for personal fulfillment.

"I never really lived my past life for myself," he admitted, a pang of regret coloring his thoughts. The realization weighed heavily on him, a testament to the depths of his selflessness and the toll it had taken on his soul.