The world was quiet when Lin Yuan drifted into sleep, his head resting on Lady Mingyan's lap. Her fingers moved gently through his hair, glowing faintly with soul power. Her voice, soft as a whispering breeze, hummed the lullaby just for him:
> "Sleep now, my Yuan'er, let burdens go,
> You've carried too much, and the winds still blow…"
As the words wrapped around his heart like a warm blanket, the pain in his chest faded—and the world began to shift.
Lin Yuan opened his eyes to the scent of wildflowers and warm bread. He stood in a small wooden cottage nestled in the heart of a forest, sunlight streaming through the open windows. Birds chirped. Bees buzzed. There was laughter outside.
He stepped out barefoot and gasped.
**His four mothers** were in the yard. Lady An was tying ribbons in Tearlume's hair while Lady Baihua arranged flower baskets with Xiaoluan. Lady Fengyuan was drawing on the dirt with spirit chalk, drawing runes in the shape of rabbits.
Lady Mingyan stood at the edge of a shimmering pond, waving him over.
"Come, Yuan'er! Let's train, or your arms will grow soft!"
He laughed and ran barefoot across the grass. She didn't scold him. She smiled. Her staff gently clashed against his in a playful spar. She let him win—then claimed she didn't.
Later, they swam in the pond—cool, deep, and glowing with moonlotus petals. Lin Yuan floated on his back while the younger children splashed nearby. Lady Fengyuan made the clouds above them dance into shapes: dragons, butterflies, spirit beasts.
No one asked him to lead.
No one demanded he fix anything.
They just… loved him.
As the sky dimmed, Lin Yuan sat with **Lady An**, learning how to control his breath to make spirit petals bloom in his palm. She praised him, calling him "clever as ever." For the first time in years, he blushed like a child.
A silver crane descended from the sky—**Sect Leader Yuexian** riding on its back, smiling gently.
"You're still not as good at flying as me," she teased.
"Yet," he said back, smirking.
She pulled him up beside her, and they flew across a golden sky. His robes trailed behind him like a banner. Below them, **flowers bloomed wherever they passed.**
> "One day," she said, "the world won't ask you to carry it.
> And on that day, you'll finally run free."
They landed on a hill as the stars began to shine
That night, Lin Yuan lay under a spirit tree surrounded by his siblings. Tearlume snuggled against his chest, Xiaoluan clutched his hand. A quilt of glowing silk covered them.
Lady Mingyan sat above them, brushing his bangs aside.
Then she began to sing—softly, gently:
> "Sleep now, my Yuan'er, don't be strong,
> It's okay to cry—you've held it too long…"
Lin Yuan smiled.
For once… he didn't wake in tears or terror.
He didn't dream of blood or betrayal.
He simply **slept**—a child in a world that loved him.
And in that world, he was not a cursed living simple life.
---
The first thing Lin Yuan noticed when he opened his eyes… was the warmth.
Soft moonlight streamed through the curtains. The faint scent of spirit herbs and sweet tea lingered in the air. Around him, nestled in cushions and charm-etched pillows, sat all four of his mothers—Lady Mingyan, Lady An, Lady Baihua, and Lady Fengyuan.
Lady Mingyan was running her fingers through his hair, humming softly.
He blinked, then smiled. "I… had a good dream."
Lady Baihua leaned in with a curious twinkle. "Did it involve a certain jealous senior sister chasing you with a stick?"
He chuckled. "No. For once… no shadows tried to kill me. I was flying with you, training with Xiaoluan and Tearlume, and… Lady An taught me how to sing. Everyone was happy."
His voice grew quiet.
"No one was afraid of me. And I wasn't afraid of myself."
Lady An placed a warm palm on his chest. "That's because your soul is finally healing."
Lady Mingyan nodded. "It's night outside. You'll stay here. I'll give you another soul massage before you sleep."
He leaned back into the cushion. "What about… Rena? I hurt her. I want to apologize."
Lady Mingyan's tone turned practical. "No need. She's not your best friend. She's your follower."
Lin Yuan blinked. "That sounds harsh—"
"It's not," she said gently. "But if you make her feel too important too quickly, she might confuse loyalty with love. And I…" —her eyes narrowed teasingly— "want you to fall in love only when you're ready to become a father."
Lady Baihua snorted. "He still screams when he sees blood. He's not ready to change diapers."
Lin Yuan flushed red. "What should I do, then?"
Lady Fengyuan sipped tea and suggested calmly, "Give her a proper battle dress. Something to make her feel recognized, not romanticized."
"I only have 56 left…" Lin Yuan mumbled.
Lady Baihua raised a brow. "Only? And you call us hoarders?"
"Fine. I'll craft her something better," Lin Yuan muttered. "Maybe a time-bending bow… something that gives her time to aim, and lets arrows shift through delay."
Lady Mingyan smiled. "Smart idea. Craft it. Then go on a hunting mission. Get fresh air."
"I'm starving, actually," Lin Yuan groaned, sitting up.
"I'll go catch some mice!" Lady Baihua said cheerfully, grabbing her gourd.
He gave her a horrified look.
"Don't look at me like that," she smirked. "I'm not going to eat them. I'll sell them to the pet shop. Those rat-infested rice fields are perfect. Easy to hunt, and cheap to buy."
Lin Yuan sighed with a smile. "Alright. I'll go buy a rat-infested field, then go outside hunting."
He yawned.
Lady Mingyan placed a warm hand over his forehead.
"You're sleepy again because your soul feels safe. This kind of massage… you won't get in the Flower House."
Morning Light
When Lin Yuan opened his eyes again, he was in his usual bed—but it felt softer.
The sun had already risen. Light poured through his carved window blinds.
He stretched, groggy. "How did I get here…?"
The door creaked open.
Sect Leader Yuexian stepped in with a cup of warm milk tea.
"We moved you from the hall after you fell asleep again. Tearlume drooled on your robe."
Lin Yuan sat up, blushing slightly. "Thanks. I think my soul-formation is still intact."
Yuexian raised a brow. "Your formation is garbage."
"…Huh?!"
"Your mother hid a directional soul array inside your formation plate," she explained flatly. "It auto-adjusts your defense whenever you sleep. That's why it didn't collapse."
Lin Yuan groaned. "She treats me like I'm still seven."
Yuexian smiled faintly. "You did scream in your sleep three nights ago."
He sighed again, standing up and stretching.
"I shouldn't stay in bed. You said it's morning?"
"Morning?" Yuexian sipped her tea. "It's already been a full day and two nights. Go check on Tearlume. I don't know what happened to her.She might not pie till when you was in qi condensing formation."Lin Yuan's expression turned serious.
He grabbed his robes and walked toward the door.
"Time to face everything. I've slept enough."