Urban Divine Doctor Descends the Mountain

Chapter 2549: Chapter 2548: Shackles

On this day, the sky of the Illusionary World seemed to be soaked in ink, covered with dense clouds, and rumbling with thunder, foreshadowing the impending disaster.

Lin Dong and Luo Xue, under the guise of siblings, had spent thirteen springs and autumns on this illusory land.

That day, the flood descended like a nightmare, instantly shattering their peaceful life.

"Sister Luo Xue, run quickly, run!" Lin Dong’s voice pierced through the howling wind and the torrential rain, as he frantically waved his arms, trying to attract Luo Xue’s attention.

In the Illusionary Realm, they couldn’t wield the reality-shifting powers of the Heavenly Realm Martial Artists; at the moment, they were just two fragile and insignificant common people, helpless in the face of nature’s rage.

Luo Xue was stunned by the sudden change, but Lin Dong’s shout was like an invisible rope, pulling her back from her daze.

Her gaze fell on Lin Dong, the figure desperately trying to protect her, stirring an indescribable emotion in her heart.

At this moment, her thoughts seemed to transcend time and space, returning to the real world when she was eleven years old.

That year, she was still an innocent little girl, accompanied by an equally young but brave little boy who always protected her unconditionally.

Whenever danger came, the little boy would always stand in front of her first, saying the same words with his immature voice: "Sister Luo Xue, don’t be afraid, I’m here."

The scenes in her memory overlapped with the Lin Dong in front of her, making it hard for Luo Xue to distinguish between illusion and reality.

"Sister Luo Xue, what are you still standing there for, run!" Lin Dong’s urging resounded once more, anxious yet firmly resolute.

Realizing Luo Xue’s condition wasn’t right, he didn’t think much and decisively turned around, squatting down, signaling for Luo Xue to get on.

Luo Xue was stunned for a moment, then quickly understood Lin Dong’s intention.

She sighed softly, with complex emotions intertwining, and ultimately chose to trust this "brother" in the Illusionary Realm.

She leaned onto Lin Dong’s back, wrapping her hands tightly around his neck, feeling that long-lost sense of security and warmth.

Lin Dong carried Luo Xue, leaving a series of resolute footprints on the ground.

With the flood raging behind them, Lin Dong carried Luo Xue, running desperately towards higher ground.

Luo Xue lay on his back, her expression complex, her thoughts flying.

The rain intensified, thunder roared, yet between Lin Dong and Luo Xue, an invisible bridge seemed to form, connecting their reality and illusion.

In this flood of illusions, they were no longer powerful Heavenly Realm Martial Artists, but just two ordinary people leaning on each other, facing adversity together.

The rain poured down like a heavenly vault breaking, mercilessly drenching everything in chaos.

Lin Dong’s legs were deeply submerged in the cold water; each step was extremely difficult, but the Luo Xue on his back was his only warmth and perseverance at the moment.

Finally, they reached a rooftop at the highest point of this region, which was temporarily their safe haven, but also the starting point of fate’s test.

"Drip, drip..." The rain incessantly beat on the roof and on Luo Xue’s heart.

She watched Lin Dong’s trembling arms and the resolute face about to be submerged by the flood, her heart a mix of emotions.

Tears mingled with rain blurred her vision, and she choked up, asking that heavy question: "Why, why are you doing this? Put me down, you’ll die this way."

A gentle smile curled at the corner of Lin Dong’s mouth, carrying undisputable determination:

"Because you’re my sister. How can I let you die before me? In this world, nothing is more important than the safety of family."

His voice, though soft, exploded in Luo Xue’s heart like thunder, awakening the most tender memories deep in her heart.

Luo Xue’s body shuddered violently, as if struck by an invisible force, no longer able to hold back tears, rolling down like a string of pearls breaking.

She finally opened up to Lin Dong, with a trembling and choked voice, recounting that long-buried story:

"That year, I was just eleven. My brother and I encountered a storm at sea... He asked me to go first, but he... I have returned to that moment countless times in my dreams; if only it were me who died..."

She finally spoke of what happened when she was eleven, revealing that she and her brother faced danger that year.

Her brother protected her, letting her go first, eventually dying in that sea.

When her clan arrived, all they could see was her brother’s body floating on the sea surface.

She could never forget the looks from the elders in the clan and her parents, all feeling she was the reason her brother died, and she thought so herself, too.

That year, she was only eleven.

Since then, she dreamed of that situation countless times, really wishing back then, it was she who had died instead of her brother.

She lived all these years with a sense of guilt.

She told all this to Lin Dong, the ’brother’ in the Illusionary Realm, treating him as her real brother.

As she talked, tears drenched her cheeks!

Lin Dong listened quietly, a trace of heartache and understanding flashing in his eyes. He gently patted Luo Xue on the back, as if comforting an injured child:

"Sister, those are all past. Your brother’s choice was because he loved you, hoping you could live on and carry his hope forward. And you have always, in your own way, silently borne this pain and strived to live."

"Brother, let me protect you, this time." Luo Xue struggled to get off Lin Dong’s back; she had long treated Lin Dong as her real brother.

Then, over the past thirteen years, she always took care of Lin Dong meticulously, playing the role of a sister. But deep down, there was always a barrier, never truly seeing Lin Dong as her brother.

But now, she was no longer just playing the role of a sister. She truly saw herself as Lin Dong’s sister.

Lin Dong felt the same, treating Luo Xue as his real sister too.

Lin Dong held her even more firmly, even as water rose to his neck, leaving only his head above, he still wore a smile and said:

"Sister, for the past thirteen years, you have been my safe haven, the beacon in my heart. Now, it’s my turn to hold up the sky for you. I believe he, watching from above, would wish me to do the same."

"And sister, don’t feel guilty! Everyone’s life has its meaning and value; your existence is the best commemoration of him. You must live well, for him and for me, to see all the beauty of the world, feel every breeze, embrace every sunrise and sunset."

"Once, someone I loved most told me. Do not feel guilty or powerless because of a loved one’s passing. Instead, live well, to see this world, view the mountains and rivers, embrace the breeze within..."

At this moment, the speaking Lin Dong overlapped with Luo Xue’s real brother. Looking at Lin Dong in the Illusionary Realm, it felt like seeing her brother before he died when she was eleven.

"Sister, forgive yourself." He said slowly with a smile.

Luo Xue choked, "I understand now, I finally understand."

The cage that locked her heart for countless days and nights finally opened at this moment.

The black shackles in her heart were opened by another person’s warmth.

And at this moment, the whole world violently shook.