Chapter 46: A Birthday of Laughter and Light
Sujin Village hadn't been this loud in years. The smell of roasted meat, sweet honey buns, and freshly baked flatbread floated through the air, tempting even the most disciplined of men. Today was a rare occasion—a moment of celebration, joy, and a special kind of permission.
"Today," Elder Shao had declared with a toothy grin that morning, "even the men are allowed to cheat on their diet!"
The men cheered weakly—because cheering too hard might burn calories—but the joy in their eyes was undeniable. After months of meditation, physical training, and spiritual stretching, today was freedom. Glorious, delicious freedom.
Yue stood in the middle of it all, a little overwhelmed and a lot embarrassed.
"Yue-yue! Don't run! We haven't finished your birthday braids!" Mei Qui shouted, chasing after her with sparkling ribbons and three different hairpins that looked like mini swords.
"Braids? Again? Didn't we just do that last year!?" Yue ducked, weaving through the crowd as Tao Lin and Riko joined the chase, each armed with a ribbon or shiny charm.
"You're turning fifteen now! You're basically an adult! This is a tradition!" Tao Lin grinned wickedly. "Also, your crush from the city might be coming!"
Yue nearly tripped over her own foot. "Tao Lin!! I don't have a crush—!"
"She's blushing!"
"Red as an apple!"
"It's cause of Kael~" Chika sang, skipping past with an armful of sparkly stones they planned to lay out in the garden later.
"I will smite you all," Yue muttered, cheeks glowing as she tried to flee.
But her friends were relentless. In a flash, she was captured by the entire gang, laughing and struggling as she was sat down on a low stool and turned into the most unwilling beauty queen in Sujin history. Ribbons were woven into her long sky-blue hair. Sparkles were dabbed on her cheeks. And someone (probably Jia) had slipped a small crown of pink flowers on her head.
"Now strike a pose!" Riko said, holding up a second-hand mirror. "Show the world how glorious our gang leader looks!"
Yue looked. Froze. And immediately tried to tear the crown off.
"Nope!" Shu Fen grabbed her hands. "Let the world bask in your glory. You look like a cute tyrant!"
"You mean a tyrant who's going to kill you all after the party."
"Same difference," Jia giggled.
Meanwhile, the men were taking full advantage of their temporary food freedom.
Under a nearby pavilion, Yue's father—glowing with charm and fluttering his long sky-blue lashes—was trying to convince Elder San to pass him a second honey stick. "Just one more," he whispered sweetly. "It's my child's birthday."
"You said that five sticks ago," San groaned.
"Don't deny me, old man," Yue's dad pouted, the effect powerful enough to make a passing auntie drop her chopsticks.
A group of younger boys were already bloated and lying like corpses on the grass. One of them groaned, "I can't move... tell my moms I love them…"
Even the stoic warriors of the village had loosened up. The sound of flutes played softly in the background while women sparred playfully with wooden swords near the training field—some letting their husbands 'support' them by holding towels or yelling dramatic battle advice.
One of the women winked at her husband, who was holding a fan dramatically. "Cheer harder!"
He raised the fan. "Slice her dreams, darling!"
Laughter broke through the village like waves.
Back at Yue's side, the teasing had finally calmed. She sat on a bench in the shade, picking at a plate of fruit, still glittery and mildly traumatized. The gang sat around her, chatting about who had grown taller, who might awaken first (still none of them), and how annoying it was that the younger kids were already showing powers.
Minna leaned back. "Li Wei literally made me float in my sleep last night. I thought I was dreaming until I hit the ceiling."
"Zhao Xun punched a boulder in half last week," Tao Lin said, deadpan. "And then giggled."
"They're four," Yue muttered, "Why are they built like bosses already?"
As if on cue, the magical toddlers in question ran past them, chased by a floating stick and a small whirlwind of leaves. A trail of sparkles followed them, and Li Wei shouted, "Zhao Xun, you're cheating! No lightning!"
"You can't catch me, stinky cloud boy!" she yelled back, zipping into the sky.
The gang stared.
Chika sighed. "I miss being the strongest."
Just then, the ground trembled slightly. A soft hum echoed through the air.
Yue looked up, frowning. "Did someone drop a cauldron?"
"No," Shu Fen whispered, standing. "Look at the sky."
Above them, the sun seemed to ripple—and then—
A radiant, golden light burst from the heavens, striking across the entirety of Sujin like a wave of divine magic.
People screamed. Dishes shattered. Birds flapped away in panic.
The light wasn't harsh, but powerful. Warm. Holy. The kind that struck your soul and made your instincts kneel.
Yue's vision went white.
The world slowed. She could hear her heartbeat in her ears.
And then—
---
System Activated: 20%... 30%... 45%... 60%...
System 60% Activated
^__^ Hello Host!
Semi-Quests are now available.
---
Yue blinked.
And blinked again.
The golden words hovered in the air, gently pulsing.
Her hands trembled. Something had changed. Something big.
Around her, the villagers were already murmuring, rising to their feet, stunned by the light and what it might mean. But Yue...
She stood still.
Only one word echoed in her mind: "System."