Max Level Return—I'll Protect That Fragile One

”That’s fine then.”

After thinking for a moment, Huo Wen’an added, ”The old man lacks nothing, so just do what you think is best.”

”I know what’s appropriate.”

The next morning, before Huo Wen’an had even awoken, Xu Xingguang got up and went to the training grounds where Cheng Yue and the others were, joining them in their morning exercises.

After finishing the morning exercises, she took a shower, changed into a clean dress, and had just returned to the main hall when she heard sobbing coming from over in the lobby. Xu Xingguang tread softly and recognized it as Mrs. Huo’s voice.

Mrs. Huo was begging Huo Wen’an to plead for Huo Wenbei.

”Wen’an, even though Wenbei made mistakes, he never hurt you. Back then, things looked dire, and everyone thought you were...”

”The Old Helmsman is getting old, and you’re gravely ill. Someone needs to lead on this Divine Concealment Island. Wenbei is your younger brother; he has ambition and ability, and he’s an exceptionally talented child.”

”Can it be that you’re willing to see the position of Young Helmsman being snatched away by another family’s child?”

Seeing Huo Wen’an unmoved, Mrs. Huo grew not only angry but also resentful, looking at him with venomous eyes. ”Huo Wen’an, can you not hear me? Do you want me to kneel and beg you!”

Huo Wen’an held a dagger, polishing it.

Hearing her words, he paused his actions, thought seriously for a moment, and suddenly said, ”Then kneel and beg me.”

”What did you say?” Mrs. Huo’s expression changed drastically, and Uncle Xia, standing a few meters away, also had a change in expression.

But Uncle Xia didn’t dare to intervene.

He knew too well Huo Wen’an’s character; once he’d made up his mind, anyone who opposed him would face disaster.

It was the first time Xu Xingguang had seen Huo Wen’an look so fierce; she lingered outside the door, not going in.

”It seems mother’s hearing isn’t what it used to be.” Huo Wen’an handed the dagger to Zheng Lie by his side, crossing his hands and placing them slightly above his abdomen, sitting in his wheelchair, and looked up at Mrs. Huo with an imperial dignity.

He said, ”I said you could try kneeling and begging me.”

Mrs. Huo, enraged with humiliation, found her noble and graceful face suddenly filled with fury and anger. ”Huo Wen’an, I am your mother, and how can you let me kneel and beg you! Aren’t you afraid of being struck by lightning!”

Huo Wen’an: ”Do I look like someone who’s afraid of being struck by lightning?”

Mrs. Huo’s expression fluctuated unpredictably.

She’d said that to morally coerce Huo Wen’an, forcing him to agree to plead with Huo Canghai on behalf of Huo Wenbei.

Never did she expect this ingrate would really want her to kneel!

After all, she was Huo Wen’an’s biological mother!

”However, what mother says does make a little sense. You are my biological mother, and indeed, there hasn’t been a precedent for a biological mother to kneel to plead with her son.”

Thinking that Huo Wen’an was finally realizing his mistake, Mrs. Huo was about to show a smile, but then she heard Huo Wen’an say, ”However, on this Divine Concealment Island, the authority of the Pilot surpasses all. Mrs. Huo, kneeling to a son might be outrageous, but kneeling to the Pilot is only fitting, isn’t it?”

Mrs. Huo’s eyes widened. ”You...”

She looked at Huo Wen’an’s sickly face, recalling the past when Huo Canghai first brought him back to Divine Concealment Island. At that time, Huo Wen’an was full of hostility, as if he’d crawled out from Hell.

He recognized no family ties and handled all matters strictly according to the rules; anyone who violated the Huo Family rules would be dealt with accordingly.

During that time, the Central Cave detention rooms were nearly full, and countless people were expelled from Divine Concealment Island, sent to remote countries to suffer.

Under his iron-handed leadership, Divine Concealment Island was exceptionally harmonious.

No one dared to engage in inner conflict or violate family rules; they couldn’t avoid Huo Wen’an enough.

But soon after, Huo Wen’an fell ill.

The illness came as a mountain collapse, and after seeking treatment worldwide to no avail, Huo Wen’an resigned himself to despair.

He became a salted fish, with his ambitions gone, his fighting spirit lost. Initially, they worried that Huo Wen’an was using the pretense of illness to purge the island’s pests.

But as year after year passed, and they saw the once burly, formidable man growing thinner and thinner under the ravages of illness, coughing as if suffering from asthma, they believed that Huo Wen’an was truly sick.

Last winter, during a family banquet, Huo Wen’an suddenly vomited blood and fainted, requiring emergency medical aid, which shook Huo’s consortium to its core.

Once it was confirmed that Huo Wen’an’s death seemed inevitable, his siblings began to harbor thoughts of usurping his position.

In the past half-year, in their attempt to seize power, Huo Wenbei and the others had been secretly active. To ensure Huo Wenbei’s successful bid for power, Mrs. Huo decided to go to any length to win over Ying Family to create momentum for Huo Wenbei.