Upon returning to Yuzhou, Shen Feng brought good news. The Fengshen Palace erupted in celebration, and even the three children confined to their rooms were released, granted special permission to join the family dinner that evening.
Shen Yishi rushed to Shen Feng's side and clung to his neck. She had been confined to her room for a long time, unable to go out, spending her days reading and studying. Now that she was finally free, she was overjoyed.
Leaning into her father's embrace, Shen Yishi pleaded, "Daddy, can you please not confine me anymore? I promise I'll never cause trouble again. Can you let this slide this time?"
"You'll have to ask your mother; I don't have the final say. Besides, you're far too bold. I repeatedly forbade you from going out, but you disobeyed, leading to the deaths of three senior disciples. This month of confinement is your punishment," Shen Feng said, smiling as he held his precious daughter.
Du Fansheng then approached Shen Feng and declared, "Dad, I'm an ability user now. I want to go to the battlefield and fight!"
"You're talking nonsense. You're not even ten years old yet and you want to go to the battlefield? Don't be ridiculous! Come back when you're eighteen," Shen Feng replied gruffly.
Du Fansheng insisted, "Why do senior disciples leave Fengshen Palace after turning fourteen, but I have to wait until eighteen? It's unfair!"
"This world is inherently unfair. Nothing you say will change that. I'll find you a teacher to teach you how to use your abilities. Once you can protect yourself, I'll let you participate in battles, but not now," Shen Feng stated firmly.
The family then sat down for dinner. The other disciples were seated at a separate table. Just as they were about to begin eating, a visitor arrived from outside the Fengshen Palace – Shen Feng's elder sister, Shen Yu. Her expression was peculiar. Although she had come to see Shen Feng, there was no smile on her face.
"Sister, you've arrived too. Come and join us for dinner!" Shen Feng quickly invited his sister to sit down. It was a simple matter of adding an extra pair of chopsticks.
However, Shen Yu, with a pained expression, said to Shen Feng, "Sister has a request for you. Promise me first, then I'll tell you!"
"As siblings, what's there to ask or promise? Just say what you need to, and I'll help!" Shen Feng replied immediately.
Shen Feng and Shen Yu were full siblings. When they were young, Shen Feng was always teased by his sister, but it was just sibling banter, and their affection was unaffected. Now, hearing his sister solemnly ask for his help, Shen Feng sensed something was amiss.
"Sister wants an Evolution Crystal. Please give it to me," Shen Yu said, lowering her head.
Upon hearing this request, Shen Feng thought for a moment and immediately understood. He then asked his sister, "Did Xiao Sheng send you to find me? He wants this Evolution Crystal, doesn't he?"
"He did send me to find you. He feels like a complete cripple after becoming paralyzed and desperately wants to stand up again, but his body cannot recover. He realized that during evolution, the body can undergo powerful healing, but he has hit an evolutionary bottleneck and can only progress with an Evolution Crystal. Therefore, I can only come and beg you. I know you must be exhausted after just returning from the sea, but I have no other choice. I can only shamelessly ask you!" Shen Yu said with distress.
"It's alright, it's alright. I'll give you one right away. I have four or five Evolution Crystals on me anyway, so giving you one is no problem!" Seeing his sister's humbled demeanor, Shen Feng's heart ached. He quickly took out an Evolution Crystal from his person and handed it to his sister.
After receiving the red crystal, Shen Yu left immediately.
Shen Feng had wanted his sister to stay for dinner, but Shen Yu felt too ashamed to eat there. She took the Evolution Crystal and departed.
Shen Feng now felt a vast chasm had opened between him and his sister, a chasm that could not be bridged. They could no longer return to their previous sibling relationship.
Chang Jianyi whispered beside Shen Feng, "There are conflicts between Sister and Brother-in-law. They often argue. You're usually away, so you don't know, but I've heard about it several times. Sister always feels embarrassed when she sees me."
"This... I never expected they would have conflicts! Every family has its own troubles!" Shen Feng shook his head helplessly.
Shen Feng now understood his sister's state of mind. She was ashamed to face him because every visit involved seeking help. It was like a poor relative constantly approaching a wealthy relative. Although they were siblings, their family circumstances differed, creating a rift. Shen Yu also frequently argued with her husband, and anyone who knew about it would feel embarrassed. Coming to visit now, she naturally felt disgraced.
Xiao Sheng had indeed sent Shen Yu to beg Shen Feng. If he wanted to recover his legs, he needed an Evolution Crystal. However, Evolution Crystals were not something ordinary people could possess. Each one was extracted from the head of a sea beast, and killing sea beasts required immense strength.
Few people in the world could kill sea beasts, and Shen Feng was one of them. Furthermore, Shen Feng had just returned from the sea, so he was sure to have Evolution Crystals.
Thus, Xiao Sheng sent Shen Yu to beg Shen Feng, hoping to obtain an Evolution Crystal to heal his legs.
"Hurry and beg your brother to give me an Evolution Crystal. Once my legs are restored, I'll still be a formidable ability user, and I'll be able to kill more enemies!" Xiao Sheng said excitedly.
However, after hearing her husband's words, Shen Yu showed a troubled expression. Previously, Shen Yu had never felt it was wrong to ask her brother for things. After all, they were blood relatives, and making requests was perfectly reasonable. But after living with her husband, Shen Yu began to notice something was amiss.
Shen Yu saw her husband's face every day, not the face of a relative. From this, she understood that she had her own family, and her brother had his own family. Since they both had families, they could no longer interact in the same way as they did when they were siblings.
Therefore, every time she asked for help, Shen Yu felt indebted to her brother. She was his elder sister, yet she couldn't help him in any way and only caused trouble.
"This... let's talk about it later. Shen Feng has just returned to Yuzhou!" Shen Yu quietly said to her husband.
But in Xiao Sheng's eyes, he had been paralyzed at home for nearly half a year. Now, the hope of recovering his legs was within reach. If he waited a while longer, Shen Feng's Evolution Crystals might all be allocated, and then it would be too late. He wasn't the only one eyeing the Evolution Crystals.
Xiao Sheng had had enough of the condescending glances from others. Their gazes were like they were looking at a cripple. Although he was indeed a cripple at the moment, he didn't want to remain so for his entire life. Spending the rest of his life in a wheelchair would be too tragic.
Therefore, Xiao Sheng sternly said to Shen Yu, "If you truly care about me, then go and beg your brother to give me an Evolution Crystal! This is a very simple matter for you!"
But Shen Yu was very reluctant. She replied, "We've already troubled Shen Feng many times. I don't want to trouble him anymore. When we were homeless, Shen Feng found us a place to live. When I didn't have a job, Shen Feng gave me one. During festivals, Shen Feng's family often sent us gifts. Moreover, Shun Feng has just returned from the sea; he must be exhausted. I can't bring myself to bother him at a time like this!"
"You are too selfish. You only consider your own pride and don't consider me at all. I've had to lie in a wheelchair for almost half a year. You don't know what this feels like. I dream of standing up every night. If you don't go, I won't get an Evolution Crystal!" Xiao Sheng said angrily.
At this moment, although Xiao Sheng was still in his wheelchair, his aura was formidable. Shen Yu could feel his anger.
However, even knowing Xiao Sheng was furious, Shen Yu had to express her opinion: "Then why don't you ask for it yourself? Why must you make me do it? Isn't that also selfish?"
The argument finally erupted. Shen Yu had once heard the saying "poverty and hardship bring strife between couples," and she had never understood its meaning. Now, she finally did. When a family is poor and struggling, quarrels between husband and wife naturally arise.
Shen Yu had once dreamed of a harmonious family and a strong, upright husband. But now she realized that what one dreams of doesn't always come true. The former Xiao Sheng was indeed an upright man, but he had changed.
Finally, Shen Yu was persuaded. She knew she had to consider her family, and her husband's ability to stand up was the most important thing. Perhaps once his legs recovered, he would become the considerate, family-oriented man he once was.
Therefore, when Shen Yu handed the requested Evolution Crystal to Xiao Sheng, he was overjoyed and said gratefully, "Today was difficult for you. Once my legs recover, I will treat you doubly well!"
After saying this, Xiao Sheng put the Evolution Crystal into his mouth, chewed it, and swallowed it. Not long after, he fell into a deep sleep.
Shen Yu then carried her husband to the bedroom. She had been taking care of Xiao Sheng during this time, working during the day and returning home at night to wash his body. It could be said that Shen Yu, who was not skilled in housework, had transformed into a virtuous wife and loving mother.
"If only your legs could recover!" Shen Yu murmured to herself, looking at her husband's sleeping face.
However, the next day, after Xiao Sheng became a seventh-tier ability user, his body had regained its strength, even more so than before.
He was eager to stand up, but when he reached the bedside and tried to stand, he involuntarily fell to the ground. It turned out that Xiao Sheng's legs still had no sensation.
"Why is this happening? I've become a seventh-tier ability user, so why am I still paralyzed? Didn't they say that during evolution, one gains incredible healing abilities? Why hasn't my body recovered?" Xiao Sheng muttered to himself, feeling his hope shattered once again.
Seeing that her husband couldn't stand up, Shen Yu immediately took him to the hospital. With her esteemed status, she managed to secure an appointment with a specialist. After inquiring about the situation and a thorough examination, the doctor gave his diagnosis: "The nerves in your lower limbs have already necrosed. Although you consumed the Evolution Crystal, the severed spinal nerves cannot be reconnected, and you will ultimately be unable to stand. While evolution does grant extraordinary recovery abilities, dead cells cannot be revived!"
Upon hearing the doctor's words, Xiao Sheng was completely disheartened. He hadn't expected his last hope to be dashed. It seemed he was destined to be a cripple for life.
"Let's go home quickly and continue our lives as before!" Shen Yu urged her husband.
But Xiao Sheng remained silent. Being unable to stand meant he could no longer fight. In the future, if danger arose, he wouldn't even be able to protect himself and his family. More importantly, Xiao Sheng couldn't give Shen Yu a child; he was useless and would only burden his wife, forcing her to live as a widow.