His shoulder muscles and arms burn. He gritted his teeth as he tightened his hold on the bars. It had been years since the last time he walked without any support and regretted how he had taken it for granted.

  How many people out there didn't realize that it's a luxury to be able to walk? After his accident, the devil noticed that his ability to walk around wasn't the only thing he'd taken for granted.

  How many people had fallen victim to his subtle traps? He manipulated them, used them, and didn't care if they would have to pay a high price for the deal they struck with him.

  Looking back at his past self, Feng Tianyi realized how horrible a person he was. No wonder he earned the title 'The Devil', because he only thought of himself and had constantly tricked other people.

  "Thirty seconds left, Mr. Feng. You can do it." He heard his therapist tell him.

  The devil grunted. Why did thirty seconds feel so long? It wasn't easy for him to balance himself and keep himself from face planting on the floor.

  With a height of 188 centimeters, Feng Tianyi felt ridiculous at having to be trained to walk like a kid again. How humiliating and irritating at the same time!

  He needed to stay on his feet for three minutes. Yet for him, it felt like an eternity as every second passed too slowly for his liking. He clenched the muscles on his face, refusing to show weakness and pain, even though he was dying to sit back on his wheelchair as his legs started to hurt after holding his full weight for a couple of minutes.

  The therapist was staring at his watch and Feng Tianyi noticed how he was ready to catch him in case his arms gave up to keep him steady. The devil never thought that there would come a day when he would need to rely on someone's help, just to keep himself on his feet.

  "Uncle Ji! You can do it! A little more!" He heard Little Star cheer for him as Xiao Bao concentrated on counting down with the therapist.

  "Twenty seconds left, Uncle Ji!' Xiao Bao called out.

  Song Fengyan was sitting next to the little buns, taking a video of his session for Tang Moyu to review later, and for a proper documentation of his recovery.

  Tang Moyu's little buns had insisted on accompanying him for his rehabilitation therapy sessions with Song Fengyan. Feng Tianyi was somehow glad that they came with him, as they reminded him why he agreed to endure all this pain and humiliation. This was already his fourth session and he could barely see any improvements, though he wasn't really expecting to be able to walk too soon.

  "Aaaand…. We're done." He heard the therapist say, which sounded like a celebration in Feng Tianyi's ears. His arms and legs were sore and hurt like a bitch.

  He slumped back in his wheelchair with the help of his therapist before he was wheeled back to the therapy table for a leg muscle massage to alleviate the pain on it before they proceed with the routine exercises the doctor had specifically arranged for him to follow.

  By the end of his exercises, Feng Tianyi felt like he was hit by a truck as his whole body felt sore. He was tired and was sweating profusely. For fuck's sake, he only needed to stand still for a few minutes, but it was already enough for him to break into a sweat.

  It might be nothing for those normal people who could stand and walk around, but not for someone like him. Feng Tianyi forgot how bad his muscles burned when he used to workout to stay fit before his accident.

  Now as his body started to cool down, it only made his muscle sores feel more apparent than it already was. The therapist started to massage his aching muscles again to make sure it wouldn't be sore tomorrow, and Feng Tianyi really hoped it wouldn't.

  "Your muscles will get used to it. It takes time, but eventually, your leg's muscle strength will be back, just as long as you keep up with the program Dr. Huang specified for you."

  Feng Tianyi groaned again. He couldn't back out anyway, not when Tang Moyu had made sure he wouldn't skip any of his appointments. And with her children cheering him on, he was determined not to disappoint them.

  "I know," he said, but he couldn't help but wish that everything would happen faster. He simply couldn't wait to complete these sessions and earn his prize, a date with the empress.

  As a sudden pain shot through him, it was relieved just as quickly as the massages continued. The continuous motion of kneading was helping to remove the tension and pain in his muscles. He wondered how many more sessions it would take for his legs to get used to the exercises and regain its strength, because, at the moment, Feng Tianyi wasn't even sure if this program was working on him at all.

  When he arrived home at Peach Blossom Garden late in the afternoon with the little buns and Song Fengyan, he swore he was ready to sleep as soon as his head touched his pillow. Thankfully, he'd taken a shower before leaving the rehabilitation center and there's someone to look after the Tang twins while he dozed off.