Ninja World:The Heavenly Emperor Returns

Shen Man felt like she was dreaming.

In the dream, her Brother Lian, who had disappeared for sixty years, walked toward her step by step with a gentle smile.

"Brother Lian, are you here to pick me up?"

Shen Man looked at Shen Lian, who approached her with a smile that hadn't changed in decades.

The Brother Lian in front of her still looked like the teenager from her memories, wearing a spotless white shirt and carrying the same gentle and clear smile.

Time and years didn't seem to have left any marks on him.

She knew she was leaving.

It's said that when people are close to death, they often see deceased loved ones coming to guide them away.

"Xiao Man, you're old."

Shen Lian reached out and gently stroked the white strands of hair near Shen Man's forehead.

As children, their parents were busy with work. Every morning, Shen Lian combed Shen Man's hair and walked her to school.

Shen Man felt Shen Lian's warm, familiar palm brushing lightly against her face.

Her nose suddenly tingled with emotion.

"Yeah, I'm old. It's not fair that you haven't changed at all."

She gave Shen Lian a reproachful glance and said with soft dissatisfaction,

"Brother, you should've picked me up a long time ago. You don't know how painful it's been since you just left so easily. Maybe it was free and easy for you, but for me, being left behind in this world was lonely and exhausting.

You know, ever since you disappeared, our parents couldn't sleep at night, always thinking about you.

Mother cried herself to sleep almost every day, holding my hand and talking about you all night.

Dad didn't cry or speak. He just sat silently in the alley smoking cigarette after cigarette until the sun came up.

Brother, I've never really scolded you, even as a child, but this time I really must. You were so heartless."

Shen Man's voice carried the kind of stubbornness and willfulness only a girl could have.

Ever since Shen Lian and her parents left, she'd never let that side of her show to anyone else.

"This time, it really was my fault."

Shen Lian smiled.

"Forget it. I'm about to die anyway. Let's not talk about it. Everything will be over soon."

Shen Man smiled and raised her hand. "Brother, come take me with you. As long as you're by my side, I'm not afraid."

Shen Lian stretched out his finger, gently tapped her nose, and gave a soft smile.

"Go? Where do you want to go?"

Shen Man was stunned.

"Brother, didn't you come to take me away after death?"

"I never said that."

Shen Lian smiled and spread his fingers, making a light gesture in the air.

"Take a good look. Where do you think you are right now?"

In an instant, time resumed its natural flow.

The stillness shattered.

The dust began to fall once more.

Everything returned to normal.

Shen Man didn't know where the strength came from, but she suddenly sat up from the hospital bed.

She stared blankly at her surroundings.

She… was still in her bedroom.

Her son, daughter-in-law, and granddaughter were all there!

Boom.

Her mind went blank as if struck by thunder.

"Mother! Are you alright?"

Shen Pangui's voice rang out not far away.

That cry snapped Shen Man back into reality.

"I… I'm not dead?"

She muttered and suddenly remembered something. She quickly looked up.

There he was.

Shen Lian stood there, smiling.

"Lian… Brother Lian?"

Shen Man looked at him in disbelief, her body trembling.

Then, as if she had to confirm it, she reached out with a trembling hand to touch his.

His hand was warm and firm.

A familiar, reassuring warmth.

She drew her hand back as if she'd been shocked by electricity.

Her face turned pale with disbelief.

Time passed.

"Is it really you? I… I'm not dreaming?"

She stammered.

"Of course it's me. What? You don't even recognize your brother now?"

Shen Lian reached out and flicked her forehead.

Shen Man rubbed her forehead in pain, and all doubts vanished.

When she was young, Shen Lian always flicked her forehead gently whenever she misbehaved.

That little habit was something no outsider could possibly know.

This detail shattered her defenses.

Tears instantly flooded her eyes.

"Brother Lian!"

With her gray hair cascading down, she threw herself into Shen Lian's arms like she used to as a child, sobbing uncontrollably.

"Brother Lian! Why are you only here now?"

"Do you know how long I've been searching for you?"

"You wanted to leave, but why didn't you say goodbye? How could you bear to leave me behind?"

In this moment, Shen Man was no longer the composed elder.

She was like a lost child again, weeping like the floodgates had burst, unable to stop.

"All these years… you've worked hard, Xiao Man."

Shen Lian sighed softly, his hand gently caressing her head.

On the side, Shen Pangui and Shen Qingqing stood frozen in disbelief, watching the scene unfold before them.

"This… is this real?"

Shen Pangui trembled, staring at Shen Lian, who looked young enough to be his own son, and stammered,

"This person… is that really my uncle?"

Shen Qingqing opened her mouth and dropped the egg she was holding.

Holy crap.

Isn't this too unreal?

Could this person really be my uncle and grandfather?