29: Chapter 29 The Emperor Guards the Nation's Gate, All for the Lights of Thousands of Homes Behind Him

The wind stopped.

The originally swaying sea of flowers seemed to freeze for an instant because of that question.

The smile on Pei Fei's face seemed to be slowly erased by some invisible force.

A trace of imperceptible melancholy and heaviness flashed in those deep eyes.

The silence at this moment was more unsettling than a rejection.

Pei Duo keenly sensed the change in atmosphere. The smile on her face stiffened, and she nervously clutched the corner of her clothes: "If... if it's inconvenient, just forget it. I was just asking casually, don't..."

"It's not that I don't want to go back."

Pei Fei suddenly spoke.

He stretched out his hand, and a red spider lily swept up by the wind landed in his palm.

He looked at the petal, as scarlet as blood, and his voice was so low it seemed squeezed from his chest.

"Brother's past two years haven't been as carefree as you see."

"Those old guys in the West—Hades, Satan, Anubis... they have been coveting the East's soul resources for a long time. When the Thriller Game descended and the rules shattered, they took the opportunity to try and extend their reach into the Dragon Country's territory, wanting to turn this place into their private garden."

Pei Fei stood up.

At this moment, his back looked exceptionally thin, yet he also seemed like an insurmountable mountain.

"The reason you can attend university peacefully in Jiangcheng, the reason Mom and Dad can watch TV at home, is because Brother is here, closing the door."

Pei Duo was stunned.

"Look over there."

Pei Fei raised his hand, his sleeve sweeping out.

"Boom—!!"

The originally calm and peaceful sea of clouds ahead seemed to be violently torn open by a giant hand.

The scene that was previously obscured was completely revealed before Pei Duo.

That was the end of the world, the boundary between Yin and Yang.

There was no sea of flowers, no palace, only endless, surging black mist. Beyond that black mist was a semi-transparent barrier shimmering with golden light.

"Thump! Thump! Thump!"

The dull impact sounds, even across thousands of miles, still caused Pei Duo's heart to ache sharply.

Through that barrier, she saw countless ferocious, twisted phantom images of giant beasts.

Some had three drooling dog heads, some had twelve rotten black wings growing from their backs, and others were ten thousand feet tall, striking that thin barrier as if driven mad.

Every impact caused the barrier to tremble violently, sending out waves of heart-palpitating ripples.

That was a war of gods.

It was the most naked and bloodiest collision between two mythological systems.

"Do you see it?"

Pei Fei's voice was very calm, so calm it was heartbreaking, "That wall, that is me."

"If I leave, even for the time it takes to eat a meal, this door will be smashed open."

Pei Fei turned around, his back to the phantom images of gods and demons filling the sky, and looked at his sister who was already scared speechless. A faint, bitter smile curved his lips.

"At that time, let alone Jiangcheng, the entire Dragon Country would become a hell a hundred times more terrifying than that Midnight Mansion."

"Mom, Dad, you, and the myriad homes behind us, will all cease to exist."

One person, guarding one realm.

Dominating eternity was not for showing off, but because there was no retreat behind him.

Pei Duo stared blankly at the figure standing on the edge of the cliff.

In the s-rank instance, he was the all-powerful Underworld Son of Heaven; in the Imperial Kitchen, he was a gentle and considerate good brother.

Only at this moment did she truly understand how much weight the words "Great Emperor of Fengdu" carried.

It was guardianship exchanged for absolute freedom and solitude.

Tears burst from her eyes.

This time it wasn't because of fear, but because of heartache.

Pei Duo rushed forward fiercely and hugged Pei Fei tightly from behind.

She buried her face in her brother's cool service robe, crying like a wronged child, yet not daring to cry loudly, afraid of disturbing this solemnity.

"I won't ask anymore... I won't urge you to come home..."

Pei Duo's voice choked, intermittent, "Brother, don't go back... just stay here... I only want you to be safe..."

She finally understood why her brother, though alive, could not return home.

There is no such thing as peaceful years; it's just that someone is carrying the burden forward for you.

And the one carrying this burden was her dearest brother.

Feeling the warmth and moisture on his back, Pei Fei's originally tense body slowly relaxed.

The coldness in his eyes, which hadn't receded even when facing the myriad gods and demons, transformed into endless tenderness at this moment.

It was worth it.

Even if it meant being confined to this place, as long as he could protect this girl's tears and protect the peace of Mom and Dad, it was all worth it.

Pei Fei turned around, hugging his little sister who was crying into a tearful mess, and gently patted her back with his hand.

"Silly girl, why are you crying?"

Pei Fei chuckled lightly, his tone carrying a hint of boldness, "Brother is the Underworld Son of Heaven now. Who in this world can bully me except myself? Besides..."

He suddenly winked mysteriously and reached out to take the black jade pendant from Pei Duo's waist, shaking it in his hand.

"Although I can't go back in person, the message can still be delivered."

"I injected a wisp of a fragmented soul into this jade pendant. Not only can it ward off disaster, but it's also a 'Hell version 5G mobile phone.'"

Pei Fei re-tied the jade pendant around his sister's waist and said seriously, "Go back and tell Mom and Dad, if you miss me, just shout to the jade pendant. As long as I'm not busy beating those Western bastards, I can hear you and talk back."

"Really?"

Pei Duo, with tears still hanging, her eyes instantly lit up, "Video call?"

"Dream on, it's at best a voice message."

Pei Fei flicked her forehead, "But even if I'm at the ends of the earth, as long as this jade pendant lights up, Brother will definitely reply."

This was the limit he could achieve within the scope allowed by the rules.

Pei Duo forced a smile through her tears, clutching the jade pendant tightly, as if gripping the entire world.

"Alright, don't let your eyes swell up; you have guests to see tomorrow."

Pei Fei wiped away the tear streaks, the corner of his mouth slightly raised, "Get a good night's sleep tonight. Tomorrow I'll take you to see a real 'grand scene.'"

"Grand scene?"

Pei Duo sniffled.

"Mhm. Don't you want to know what the Underworld looks like?"

Pei Fei's lips curled up slightly.

The moon was high in the sky.

The sea of flowers rustled in the night wind, as if singing an unknown requiem.

Pei Fei personally escorted Pei Duo back to her sleeping quarters and sat by the bed for a long time. Only after watching her fall into a deep sleep, clutching the black jade pendant in her hand, her breathing becoming steady and long, did he rise to leave.

The moment he stepped out of the palace door.

The gentle elder brother from before vanished.

Outside the hall, Black and White Impermanence had long been waiting like statues, ready for orders.

Pei Fei stood with his hands behind his back, his gaze fixed on the surging dark boundary in the distance. The lines on his face had returned to being cold and iron-like, and imperial might permeated his entire being.

"Issue an order to the Five Directions Ghost Emperors."

Pei Fei's voice was icy, carrying a chilling killing intent.

"Strengthen the barrier patrols. If those Western curs dare to cause trouble for the Eldest Princess at this time..."

"Kill without mercy."

"Yes!"

Black and White Impermanence bowed to receive the order, their figures instantly vanishing into the night.

That night, Luofeng Mountain was impregnable.

And deep within the most terrifying and core forbidden ground of the entire Thriller World, Pei Duo slept soundly, wrapped in her quilt.