I walk sideways in the game world

Chapter 170 Phoenix Nirvana, Rebirth

The bedroom was filled with a faint medicinal aroma, but it couldn't mask the solemnity in the air. Ren Xiaoyao had been in a coma for days, his face pale and his breath weak. Beside his bed, Xia Lin remained vigil, constantly cleaning his body and warming his meridians with her spiritual energy. Her eyes were sunken, exhausted, yet she refused to close them, afraid to miss a single movement from Ren Xiaoyao.

The emperor visited daily, and seeing his beloved general, who had made such great contributions to the empire, now frail, filled him with guilt and worry. "If Xiaoyao doesn't wake up, how can I explain this to the people of the world..." He sighed, his tone filled with powerlessness.

Eunuch Qian carefully comforted him, "Your Majesty, don't worry. With Miss Xia Lin here, the general will be blessed by heaven and will definitely get better."

Xia Lin's eyes flickered upon hearing this, but she remained silent. She had exhausted every possible method, precious medicinal elixirs draining away like water, yet Ren Xiaoyao still showed no signs of waking up. Was there really no other way?

"Xiaoyao, wake up..." Xia Lin held Ren Xiaoyao's hand, her voice choked with sobs, "You promised me that you would take me to see the prosperity of the world. You can't break your promise..."

However, the only response she received was Ren Xiaoyao's increasingly weak breathing.

In the dead of night, Xia Lin took Ren Xiaoyao's pulse again, her brow furrowed. Suddenly, as if she realized something, she raised her head and looked at Ren Xiaoyao's face.

"Xiaoyao, you..." A glimmer of hope flashed in Xia Lin's eyes, but it quickly dimmed. "No, it's impossible..."

Inside the bedroom, a ray of morning light filtered through the window lattice, bringing a hint of light to the dim room. Xia Lin remained by the bedside, her slender fingers gently caressing Ren Xiaoyao's cheek, her eyes filled with worry and fatigue. Suddenly, she felt the skin beneath her palm move slightly, and then, Ren Xiaoyao's fingers also trembled slightly.

Xia Lin's heart skipped a beat. She held her breath and looked at Ren Xiaoyao in disbelief. His tightly closed eyes trembled slightly, and his long eyelashes fluttered like butterfly wings before finally opening slowly.

"Xiaoyao! You're awake?!" Xia Lin was so surprised and excited that she could hardly speak.

Ren Xiaoyao's eyes were still a little confused. He felt sore all over, as if he had just experienced a long nightmare. He tried hard to recall what happened before he lost consciousness, but his mind was only a mess.

"Where... where am I?" Ren Xiaoyao's voice was hoarse and weak, as if it came from the distant horizon.

"You've been in a coma for half a month," Xia Lin said, her eyes slightly red as she held his hand. "You were seriously injured while protecting His Majesty..."

"Your Majesty...what's going on with the enemy?" Ren Xiaoyao struggled to get up, but was gently held down by Xia Lin.

"Don't worry, the enemy has been repelled, and the Left Prime Minister has been brought to justice," Xia Lin consoled her. "Everything is over now. Just focus on recovering from your injuries."

Upon hearing this news, Ren Xiaoyao's frayed nerves finally relaxed. He breathed a sigh of relief and slowly lay back down. His last memory before passing out was the blade piercing the emperor and his own struggle to block it. He had thought himself doomed, but miraculously, he had survived.

"Thank you for your hard work during the time I was unconscious..." Ren Xiaoyao looked at Xia Lin, his eyes filled with gratitude. He knew that if it weren't for Xia Lin's tireless care day and night, he would have died long ago.

Charlene shook her head and said softly, "You have made great contributions to the empire. This is what I should do..." She suddenly paused, as if she wanted to say something but stopped.

"What's wrong?" Ren Xiaoyao keenly noticed something strange about Xia Lin.

Xia Lin took a deep breath and said slowly, "Xiaoyao, you... you don't know that during the time you were unconscious, your heroic deeds have spread throughout the empire. The people say that you are a god descended from heaven, the patron saint of the empire..."

Ren Xiaoyao was stunned when he heard this. He had never expected so many things to happen in the outside world while he was unconscious. He struggled to get up, but Xia Lin gently held him down.

"You're still very weak, don't move around," Charlene said softly. "I'll tell you slowly when you recover."

Ren Xiaoyao nodded. He knew that Xia Lin was doing this for his own good, so he stopped forcing her.

At this moment, the door of the bedroom was gently pushed open, and General Sun and Eunuch Qian walked in.

"General Ren, you are finally awake!" General Sun was so excited that tears filled his eyes when he saw Ren Xiaoyao wake up.

"I, your old servant, pay my respects to General Ren!" Eunuch Qian also quickly knelt on the ground and saluted Ren Xiaoyao.

"General Sun, Eunuch Qian, please get up quickly." Ren Xiaoyao wanted to get up, but was held down by General Sun and Eunuch Qian.

"General Ren, you are seriously injured. You must not act rashly," General Sun said. "Rest assured, recover. Leave the affairs of the empire to us."

"Yes, General Ren, you have sacrificed so much for the empire," Eunuch Qian said. "Now, it's time for us to repay your kindness."

Ren Xiaoyao looked at the two loyal ministers in front of him, and his heart was filled with emotion. He knew that if it were not for them, he would not have been able to return alive.

"General Sun, Eunuch Qian, you..." Ren Xiaoyao wanted to say something, but didn't know how to express his feelings at the moment.

"General Ren, you don't need to say anything. We all understand," said General Sun. "You are a hero of the empire. We are all your followers. No matter when or where, we will follow you to the death!"

Eunuch Qian also nodded and said, "Yes, General Ren, don't worry, we will do our best to assist Your Majesty and protect the peace of the empire."

Ren Xiaoyao looked at the two resolute faces before him, and a surge of ambition suddenly surged in his heart. He took a deep breath and said slowly, "Okay! If that's the case, then let's go together..."

"Okay! In that case, let's continue to fight together for the future of the empire and the peace of the people!" Although Ren Xiaoyao's voice was still a little weak, it was full of strength, and there was a firm light in his eyes.

General Sun and Eunuch Qian exchanged glances, each seeing excitement and admiration in the other's eyes. They knew that, despite being gravely wounded, Ren Xiaoyao's will remained unbreakable. This young general was the true guardian of the empire!

"General Ren, don't worry and recover from your injuries. The whole empire is looking forward to your speedy recovery!" General Sun said solemnly, his tone full of concern and expectation.

Eunuch Qian also hurriedly said, "His Majesty has already issued an order to hold a grand celebration banquet for the general. When the time comes, the people of the whole city will cheer for the general!"

Ren Xiaoyao smiled faintly. He knew this was the Emperor's recognition and commendation, the highest honor the Empire could bestow upon a hero. "Please convey my gratitude to His Majesty. When I am fully recovered, I will report back personally."

A few days later, the emperor personally issued an edict, announcing that Ren Xiaoyao would be the empire's national defense general, commanding the entire country's troops. A grand celebration ceremony would be held for him in a month to commend his great contribution during this crisis.

When the news spread, the whole country was in jubilation. People spontaneously took to the streets, singing and dancing, celebrating the victory of the empire and the triumphant return of their hero, General Ren Xiaoyao.

Xia Lin stayed by Ren Xiaoyao's side the entire time, taking good care of him and recuperating from his injuries.

"Xiaoyao, how do you feel?" Xia Lin asked softly while making the bed for Ren Xiaoyao.

Ren Xiaoyao felt his body gradually regain strength, and a smile appeared on the corner of his mouth: "I am much better now. I should be able to fully recover in a while."

A hint of relief flashed across Xia Lin's eyes, but then she said with some worry, "Xiaoyao, you've been seriously injured this time. You can't fight so hard in the future."

Ren Xiaoyao held Xia Lin's hand and said with a firm look in his eyes, "I promise you, I will be more careful in the future. However, for the sake of the empire and the people, there are some things I must do."

Xia Lin looked at Ren Xiaoyao's determined eyes and knew that she could not change his decision. She could only pray silently, hoping that he would return safely.

A month passed in the blink of an eye, and Ren Xiaoyao's injuries had fully recovered. He put on a brand new battle robe and wore the sword bestowed by the emperor at his waist. He looked heroic and energetic.

The moment he walked out of the room, the bright sunshine shone on him, as if coating him with a layer of golden light...