Chapter 23 — Champion Bodyguard of the Female President

Two weeks after Bach Nguyen officially descended the mountain, Mo Thanh Hac kept his promise, arranging a rare trip to leave Van Son Mon after many years of barely setting foot in the city. This was an important event for both the sect and the Kieu family, when the respected sect leader personally appeared in the midst of urban prosperity.

Tue Lam carefully prepared for this visit, personally accompanying his father - whose health has now recovered significantly and can walk independently with a cane - to the airport to welcome him. When he saw Mr. Kieu Thanh Nghia walking up with a cane, Mo Thanh Hac could not hide his emotions. The two men who only knew each other through Bach Nguyen's story now had the opportunity to meet face to face for the first time in nearly twenty years.

Mr. Nghia bowed low to the sect leader, his voice still a bit weak but full of sincerity. "Senior, I would like to represent the Kieu family and express my deepest gratitude to you and the Van Son sect, not only for raising Bach Nguyen, who saved my daughter's life and mine, but also for the kindness from eighteen years ago that my family has never had the opportunity to fully repay."

Mo Thanh Hac helped him up, his voice calm but warm. "Mr. Nghia does not need to be so polite. Bach Nguyen's parents sacrificed themselves for their own responsibility and loyalty. It is a noble choice that we should cherish, not a debt that needs to be paid. Today I came here simply to witness with my own eyes the new life that my disciple has chosen."

That evening, the Kieu family held an intimate party to welcome Mo Thanh Hac, with the participation of those closest to her - Do Thuy Linh, Chu Nha Ky, lawyer Tran Huu Khang, and several senior members of the Board of Directors who had stood by Tue Lam during the past difficult period. Dinh Phong Vu was also invited to attend, specially flying down from Van Son Mon to witness his junior brother's important moment.

In the middle of a cozy party, when everyone had almost finished dinner, Mr. Kieu Thanh Nghia stood up and lightly tapped the wine glass to attract everyone's attention. "Before ending this evening, I would like to take advantage of everyone here to announce something that perhaps many of us have realized a long time ago."

He turned to look at Tue Lam and Bach Nguyen, sitting next to each other. Both could not hide their confusion under the questioning eyes of everyone around them. "Tue Lam, Bach Nguyen, is there anything you two want to share with everyone here?"

Tue Lam blushed and glanced at Bach Nguyen, who was also looking at her with affectionate, questioning eyes. After a short moment of silence, Bach Nguyen was the first to speak, standing up, his voice rang out clearly and confidently in front of all those present. "Dear everyone, I want to officially announce that Tue Lam and I have decided to build a long-term future together. I love her, not only because of the childhood promise, but because of the person she has become today — strong, resilient, and full of kindness."

Applause and congratulations echoed throughout the room. Chu Nha Ky, unable to hide her emotions, stood up and hugged her best friend. "Finally, you're going public. I've been waiting for this moment for a long time!"

Mr. Kieu Thanh Nghia, although still weak, also stood up, walked over, grabbed both of their hands, and placed them together as a sacred gesture of giving. "I have seen you two grow up together since childhood, and have gone through many ups and downs together to get to where you are today. I can't wish for anything more than to see you two happy together."

Mo Thanh Hac, sitting in the most solemn position at the banquet table, also nodded in agreement, his eyes shining with pride when looking at his disciple. "I have followed Bach Nguyen since he was a nine-year-old boy suffering among the ashes. Today, seeing him find such complete happiness, I believe that this is the most meaningful gift that life can give to a person who has experienced so much loss since he was so young."

After the party, when the guests had left one by one, Bach Nguyen took Tue Lam to the balcony, where the moonlight that night shone brightly on the whole city. He took her hand, knelt down on one knee to her surprise, and took out a small box from his pocket.

"Tue Lam." His voice trembled with sincere emotion. "Eighteen years ago, I promised to always come back to protect you. Today, I want to promise one more thing — I will stay with you, protect you, love you, for the rest of my life. Do you agree to be my wife?"

Tears of happiness flowed endlessly down Tue Lam's face when she saw the sparkling ring in the box, delicately carved in the shape of a small cloud - exactly like the pattern on the silver bracelet he gave her when he was eight years old. "I agree," she replied, her voice choked with bursts of happiness. "I agree, Bach Nguyen."

He stood up, put the ring on her finger, then hugged her tightly in his arms. They both looked at the bright moonlight in the distance, like a sacred testimony to the promise that had just been given, completely closing the journey of eighteen years of separation to open a completely new chapter, full of hope and love for both of them.

Inside the living room, the remaining guests witnessed the entire moment through the large glass window. Everyone applauded and congratulated everyone when they saw Bach Nguyen wearing a ring for Tue Lam. Chu Nha Ky clapped her hands and quickly wiped away her emotional tears, while Do Thuy Linh stood next to her and kept smiling, whispering to lawyer Khang that she had predicted this would happen a long time ago.

Dinh Phong Vu, standing next to Mo Thanh Hac, turned slightly to his master, his voice full of emotion. "Master, I never thought that one day I would see my brother so happy. Looking at the way he knelt down to propose, I saw that all the hard work of training over the past eighteen years was worth it."

"That's right," Mo Thanh Hac nodded, his eyes gently looking towards the young couple on the balcony. "A heart that has suffered so much hurt has now found a place to heal completely. This is the deepest meaning of all cultivation - not to become invincible, but to have the courage to love and be loved fully."

Before leaving the city to return to the mountains the next morning, Mo Thanh Hac spent time walking around the Kieu Phat Tower campus with Bach Nguyen and Tue Lam, admiring the bustling city scene from the top floor of the building. "This place is so different from the Van Son mountains and forests," he commented, his eyes full of contemplation. "But I believe, you will find your own peace in this prosperous place, the same way you once found it in the quiet mountains and forests."

Bach Nguyen bowed his head, his voice full of gratitude. "I will never forget what my master taught. No matter where I am, I will carry the spirit of Van Son Mon in every action I take."

Tue Lam stood next to him, holding Bach Nguyen's hand, turning to Mo Thanh Hac with sincere respectful eyes. "Senior, I promise to take good care of Bach Nguyen, as well as always remember and cherish the roots from which he grew up. Van Son Mon will forever be an important part of our small family in the future."

Mo Thanh Hac smiled and nodded with satisfaction at those words. His eyes shone with absolute peace of mind before a future daughter-in-law who was both intelligent and sincere. "I believe in you, Tue Lam. Please take good care of my disciple, the way he has taken care of and protected you all this time." He looked far toward the horizon, where white clouds were drifting lazily across the city sky. His eyes carried the deep satisfaction of a teacher who had completely completed his mission of guiding his students to the shore of happiness.

The next morning's farewell at the airport was filled with affection but also full of hope, when everyone knew that this was not a permanent separation, but just the beginning of new reunions, when the door between the Van Son mountains and the life of the city was now wide open, connecting the two seemingly separate worlds with a strong emotional bond that nothing could separate anymore, a bond that had been tight for eighteen years and would now last until the end. lifetime.