All Realms and Worlds: The Lost Home

Inside the cave bedroom of the Earth Dragon Clan, the flickering candlelight cast a warm glow, yet it could not dispel the chill and bitterness in Jiang Chen's heart.

On the soft couch, Di Qiu was fast asleep, the fatigue of childbirth still lingering between her brows. Her once dark golden scales had lost their luster and were now pale, her long eyelashes drooping slightly, and her breathing was weak and even.

She had just escaped death and given birth to her cub with all her might. At this moment, all her original power was exhausted, and she could barely maintain her human form. Only a faint trace of dragon might surrounding her proved that she was the leader of the Earth Dragon Clan.

Jiang Chen sat on the edge of the couch, his gaze gently falling on Di Qiu's face. His fingertips lightly brushed across her pale cheeks, and a pang of pain shot through his heart.

He recalled the heart-wrenching pain of Di Qiu's childbirth, and how she had defied the oviparous instinct of the Earth Dragon Clan to bear children with him, almost paying the price with her life.

But this deep affection that transcended race was rewarded with a child who was regarded as a "disaster" by his own people.

Jiang Chen slowly turned his head, his gaze falling on the stone table beside him. There was a soft animal skin container on it, and the cub was lying quietly inside, breathing softly and occasionally letting out a soft moan. Its appearance was still strange—a sheep's body with a human face, eyes under its armpits, tiger teeth and human claws, exuding a coldness that was inconsistent with its age.

Upon seeing the cub's appearance, Jiang Chen felt as if an invisible hand was tightly gripping his heart, causing him unbearable pain.

He knew better than anyone the Earth Dragon Clan's fear of "calamity," and he also knew Di Qiu's expectations for this child.

Di Qiu loved only him throughout her life. For him, she was willing to break the racial barrier and defy the heavens. This child was the fruit of their love and something Di Qiu risked her life for.

But if Di Qiu wakes up and sees that the child she gave birth to with all her might is regarded as a disaster by her clan, and that her precious flesh and blood is rejected and feared by everyone, what kind of torment will she endure?

Jiang Chen dared not think about it, nor did he dare let Di Qiu face all of this.

Di Qiu had already endured too much—the pain of childbirth, the depletion of her vital essence. He couldn't let her suffer this heart-wrenching blow any longer, nor could he burden his wife, who had just returned from the brink of death, with this dilemma.

"Di Qiu, I'm sorry," Jiang Chen murmured softly, his voice hoarse, his eyes filled with guilt and pain. "Let me take the blame for this. I can't let you get hurt in the slightest."

He knew he had to make a choice, and he had to make a choice before Di Qiu woke up.

Either leave the cub behind, allowing the Earth Dragon Clan to descend into turmoil and Di Qiu to suffer endless torment, or the Earth Dragon Clan to face annihilation because of this "disaster" cub; or take the cub away from the Earth Dragon Clan, allowing Di Qiu to completely escape this pain and restoring peace to the Earth Dragon Clan.

There is no third option.

Jiang Chen was caught in a fierce internal struggle.

On one side is his beloved wife, and on the other is his own flesh and blood. No matter which side he chooses, he is destined to suffer endless pain and guilt.

Just then, the cub on the stone table seemed to sense the torment and pain in its father's heart, and suddenly let out a soft chirp.

The voice was soft and weak, unlike the eerie and cold one before. Instead, it carried a hint of grievance and dependence, as if it were comforting Jiang Chen or begging him not to abandon her.

Jiang Chen suddenly turned his head, his gaze falling on the cub.

The cub's dark eyes, hidden under its armpits, were quietly watching him. Gone was the previous evil and coldness; instead, they revealed a hint of bewilderment and innocence. Its small body was slightly curled up, making it look particularly pitiful.

At that moment, a strong sense of reluctance flashed in Jiang Chen's eyes.

This is his child, his and Di Qiu's flesh and blood. Even if it looks strange, even if it is regarded as a calamity, he cannot bear to abandon it or harm it.

But this reluctance lasted only a moment before he forcibly suppressed it.

Reason told him that he could not keep the cubs, could not let Di Qiu suffer, and could not let the Earth Dragon Clan fall into crisis.

A short, sharp pain is worse than a long, drawn-out one. Only by leaving with the cubs can he protect Di Qiu and the Earth Dragon Clan.

Jiang Chen took a deep breath, suppressing the pain and reluctance in his heart, slowly stood up, walked to the stone table, and carefully picked up the soft animal skin vessel, his movements as gentle as if he were protecting a rare treasure.

He took one last look at the sleeping Di Qiu, his eyes filled with guilt and reluctance. His lips moved, but he ultimately didn't say a word. He turned around, gently pushed open the door, and walked out.

Outside the cave, the night was deep, and the wind from the world of evil gods carried a biting chill that made one's whole body go cold.

Several Earth Dragon Elders stood at the door, waiting solemnly. Their faces were full of fatigue and worry, and their eyes were fixed on the direction of the door. They had obviously been waiting here for a long time.

Seeing Jiang Chen come out, carrying the vessel containing the cub in his arms, several elders gathered around, their expressions complicated.

"Young Master Jiang, what... what are you going to do?" An elder spoke first, his tone full of doubt and worry. He could guess what Jiang Chen was thinking, but he was not sure.

Jiang Chen stopped and looked calmly at the elders. The pain and reluctance in his eyes had been completely hidden, leaving only a trace of determination.

"Elders," Jiang Chen's voice was deep and firm, "the cub is the child of Di Qiu and me. I know that the clan sees it as a calamity, and I also know that keeping it will bring crisis to the Earth Dragon Clan."

"Di Qiu has just given birth and is weak. I can't let her suffer this blow. I can't let her be criticized or ostracized by the clan because of this child."

He paused, then continued, "I have decided to take the cubs and leave, far away from the Earth Dragon Clan and this planet. From now on, I will never return and will never bring any more trouble to the Earth Dragon Clan or Di Qiu."

Upon hearing Jiang Chen's words, the elders were stunned, their faces filled with disbelief. Then, a hint of relief and a trace of guilt flashed in their eyes.

They knew that Jiang Chen was thinking of Di Qiu and the Earth Dragon Clan. He was willing to bear all the infamy and suffer the pain of separation from his own flesh and blood in order to protect Di Qiu and the Earth Dragon Clan.

"Young Master Jiang, you..." An elder opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but didn't know what to say. His heart was full of guilt. "This is not your fault. It is us... we are sorry to you, sorry to the clan leader."

Jiang Chen gently shook his head and said calmly, "It's none of your business. This is my own choice."

"I have only one request," Jiang Chen's gaze became incredibly firm, "Please, elders, help me keep this from Di Qiu. Don't tell her the truth. Just say... just say I've defected, that I've returned to my hometown with the child, that my purpose has always been to use her to obtain her unique Earth Dragon bloodline."

"Only in this way will Di Qiu finally give up completely, take good care of her health, and not fall into endless torment because of me and this child."

At this point, Jiang Chen's voice trembled slightly, and the guilt and pain in his eyes resurfaced.

He knew how cruel this lie was to Di Qiu, and he knew that Di Qiu would be in immense pain and anger after learning the "truth."

But he had no other way. Only in this way could Di Qiu be completely freed from this pain and could she live a good life.

Looking at Jiang Chen's resolute eyes, the elders were filled with guilt and admiration. They nodded and said in a heavy tone, "Young Master Jiang, rest assured, we will definitely help you keep it from the clan leader and will take good care of her, ensuring she suffers no harm whatsoever."

"Thank you, elders." Jiang Chen bowed deeply to the elders, his eyes filled with gratitude.

Then, he took out a pre-written letter from his pocket and handed it to one of the elders, saying in a heavy tone, "Give this letter to Di Qiu when she wakes up. Just say... just say that I wrote it to her before I left."

The elder took the letter, clutched it tightly in his hand, and nodded vigorously: "Young Master Jiang, rest assured, we will definitely do as instructed."

Jiang Chen glanced one last time in the direction of the cave, as if wanting to take one last look at the sleeping Di Qiu. His eyes were filled with reluctance and guilt. Then, holding the cub in his arms, he turned around and resolutely walked out of the deep forest.

In the darkness of night, his figure appeared exceptionally lonely, gradually disappearing into the depths of the dense forest, never to look back.

The elders stood there, looking in the direction where Jiang Chen had disappeared. They all sighed, their faces full of guilt and helplessness. They secretly vowed to take good care of Di Qiu and not let Jiang Chen down.