Before Xuan Long could continue speaking, Su Qinglan suddenly shifted closer and wrapped her arms around his waist.
The unexpected movement caught him completely off guard.
His body stiffened for a brief moment as she rested her head against his chest, listening to the steady rhythm of his heartbeat. The coldness that had been lingering in his emerald eyes instantly melted away, replaced by warmth and tenderness.
Almost instinctively, his arms closed around her.
The room became quiet.
Even An Mo, who had been watching from the side, wisely chose not to interrupt.
For several moments, Su Qinglan remained silent, leaning comfortably against Xuan Long as though drawing strength from his presence. Only after listening to the steady beat of his heart did she finally speak.
"Am I not doing this for our daughter?"
Her voice was soft, but the determination hidden within those simple words was impossible to miss.
Slowly, Su Qinglan buried her face against Xuan Long’s chest once more, her arms remaining firmly wrapped around his waist. The room was quiet except for the steady rhythm of Xuan Long’s heartbeat beneath her ear.
Then, in a soft voice, she finally spoke.
"Xuan Long, you have to become stronger."
The words were gentle, yet they immediately caused him to pause. His hand, which had been slowly stroking her back, stopped briefly before continuing. Lowering his head, he looked at the woman in his arms, sensing that there was far more hidden behind those simple words.
Su Qinglan remained nestled against his chest as she continued speaking. "You have to become strong enough to protect our entire family. Strong enough that nobody will ever dare threaten us again. Strong enough that nobody can force us to make choices we don’t want to make."
Her voice never rose, nor did she sound angry. Yet every word carried an undeniable weight that settled heavily within Xuan Long’s heart.
At the same time, Su Qinglan also vowed in her heart. She would become stronger as well.
Strong enough that nobody would ever be able to harm the people she loved. Strong enough that even those powerful God Clans of the Upper Domain would have to think carefully before standing against her.
One day, if circumstances demanded it, she would personally eliminate every threat surrounding her family with her own hands.
Across the room, An Mo suddenly felt a strange chill run down his spine. He had no idea why, but for a brief moment, it felt as though something terrifying had quietly awakened.
The feeling disappeared almost as quickly as it came, leaving him wondering whether he had simply imagined it.
Meanwhile, Xuan Long continued to hold Su Qinglan close. His hand moved gently across her back, but the warmth that had filled his emerald eyes slowly faded. In its place appeared a coldness far more frightening than before.
"Lanlan."
His voice was low and steady, carrying a seriousness that seemed to make the entire room heavier.
Su Qinglan lifted her head slightly and looked at him.
Xuan Long’s gaze remained fixed ahead as he continued speaking.
"Nothing like that will happen again."
There was no hesitation in his voice.
Then he quietly admitted, "It was my fault. I allowed danger to approach our family. I allowed the Teng Serpent Clan to believe they still had the right to interfere in my life."
As he spoke, his hand slowly tightened around her waist. A dangerous glint flashed through his eyes, carrying an icy killing intent that even An Mo could clearly sense.
"I won’t make the same mistake twice."
The moment those words left his mouth, Su Qinglan immediately shook her head.
"No."
Reaching up, she gently touched his cheek.
"It wasn’t your fault."
Her voice was firm enough to stop him from arguing.

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