It was a beautiful morning in a village near Zhongyao City. Small birds sang and flew, as if in a chorus to welcome a blessed baby.
The windows of the house were wide open, letting in the cool morning breeze. Li Na smiled, a look of pure joy on her face as she nursed her tiny baby.
"Drink a lot, little Tian, so you can grow up fast," Li Na whispered softly. She was the village's most beautiful flower, known not just for her looks but for the warmth of her heart.
The front door opened, and Ji Yuan, the father, walked in. "Li Na, your husband is home… Where's my little Tian? Ahh, I'm so tired," he said, setting an empty basket in the corner.
He had just returned from the city after selling his harvest, and all his fatigue vanished the moment he saw his wife's smile.
"Take a rest, my husband. I've already prepared food on the table for you. Stop staring at me!" Li Na giggled softly. "Little Tian, don't be like your father; he's naughty." She gently pinched little Ji Tianwei's nose as he giggled gleefully.
Years passed like a gentle breeze through the village. Ji Tianwei, blessed with a loving home, grew into a lively and spirited boy.
...
Five years later, five-year-old Ji Tianwei was practicing cultivation with his father in the backyard. The cool morning air filled their lungs, and white clouds drifted lazily across the blue sky. In the distance, the gentle sound of a flowing river added to the harmonious atmosphere of the village.
"One, two, three… focus on the energy flowing inside you," Ji Yuan said, his voice tender as he guided his son's hand. "Your father was the strongest warrior in the village, so listen carefully, little Tian."
Ji Tianwei nodded, his eyes sparkling with enthusiasm. He earnestly imitated every one of his father's movements, holding the cultivation pose in the warmth of the morning sun.
Ji Tianwei felt the energy slowly enter his body. He had succeeded. Ji Yuan cheered excitedly and immediately lifted him onto his shoulders.
"That's my boy, hahaha! Let's celebrate your first cultivation!"
Creak!
The back door creaked open. Walking slowly and gracefully, Li Na appeared, softly illuminated by the morning light. She carried breakfast: a loaf of thick wheat bread from Zhongyao City.
"My love, little Tian is still a child. Don't be too hard on him with cultivation," she said gently, smiling. "But if he succeeds, I'm happy too, hihi. Come on, let's eat breakfast, little Tian."
A delighted Ji Tianwei replied, "Okay, Mom! I'm hungry, hehe." With an innocent, joyful smile, he climbed down from his father's shoulders and had breakfast with them.
...
Night fell. The melodious chirping of crickets sang them to sleep. In his room, little Tian was being told a bedtime story about hero cultivators vanquishing demonic cultivators.
He felt happy and asked with a naive tone, his eyes sparkling. "Mom, what are demonic cultivators like? Do they cultivate like us? Or are they bad?"
"My child, demonic cultivators are bad people," Li Na replied. "They like to bring disaster, and they only come out at night. So, don't wander around after dark, okay?"
"Really? I'm scared, Mom," he said, hugging Li Na. He then asked again, "When is Dad coming home? He said he was going to the city, but why isn't he back tonight? I'm scared he'll run into a demonic cultivator."
"My child, your father is strong. Don't underestimate him," Li Na replied, forcing a smile. "Just be patient, he'll come home tomorrow with a present. Go on, guess what it is, hihi."
Li Na stroked her son's sleeping hair, but her heart felt twisted. Little Tian's innocent words pierced her. Ji Yuan was supposed to be home this afternoon. A terrible premonition began to creep into her heart.
"Ji Yuan, please come home. I'm so worried," Li Na whispered to herself, looking at the full moon through her small window.
...
"Damn it! Why did I have to run into bandit cultivators?" Ji Yuan ran, his mind racing. "Li Na, just wait for me! I'll take care of them."
"Don't run, you coward! Hand over the money you have!" the bandit yelled from behind, shooting a fire technique from his hand.
Wushh!
Ji Yuan dodged the ball of fire and stopped. The beautiful night was now filled with tension. He was surrounded by the bandits.
Who hates me so much? To send five bandits to corner me? Shit! I've been running away from crowds since this afternoon, even into the forest to avoid them, but these bandits just keep appearing one by one. What should I do? If I were at the Golden Core stage, I would've been home by now.
He looked at his enemies. Their leader had a Golden Core Stage, level 1 aura, while the rest were at his level, Qi Refining Stage, level 5. This is going to be tough.
"Ji Yuan, stop running! I don't want your money anymore," the bandit leader bellowed.
Ji Yuan stopped, out of breath. "Who sent you? Why do you seem to hate me? What have I done to you?" He tried to stall for time.
"Don't be a fool and don't ask any more questions. Your death is close. ATTACK!" The leader's cry echoed.
All five of them attacked with fire techniques aimed at Ji Yuan. Although Ji Yuan parried them with a wind technique, the leader's attack was much stronger due to the difference in their cultivation stages.
They fought for ten minutes. Ji Yuan was beaten, his clothes in tatters. Heavy breaths, "Huff! Huff!" escaped his mouth, exhaustion setting in.
"Ji Yuan, now die!" The leader approached. "Ah, I remember. You have a beautiful wife, don't you? Hehe." A wicked smile twisted his face. "What do you think?" he asked, glancing at his underlings.
Hearing that, Ji Yuan's eyes widened. Rage surged through him and he roared, "If you dare to touch, even a single strand of her hair, I will not let you live!" He gritted his teeth.
Ji Yuan attacked with a wind slash, "HYAAA! WOSSHH!" The slash struck one of the bandits, and blood splattered from his chest.
"Leader! Help me, uhugh! uhugh!" The bandit begged, now dying.
Seeing this, the leader became furious. He attacked back with a black fire slash, "BRRUARRR!" The sound of the fire slash roared towards Ji Yuan.
Ji Yuan saw the attack and lost his sanity for a moment. He said to himself, "Li Na, forgive me if I can't protect you. Is this the end of my happiness? I hope, if I get a second chance, I can meet you again." A single, powerful thought bloomed in his mind: I will protect you. He closed his eyes, accepting his fate.
Crasshh!
Why don't I feel anything? Ji Yuan thought, then he opened his eyes.
It was true. He had been saved by someone. A cultivator in a white robe, like a saintly figure, stood in front of him. His face was covered by a mask.
"You villains, you only prey on those weaker than you. Is this fair?" the mysterious figure said. Ji Yuan, who was lying on the ground behind him, saw a glimmer of hope.
The bandit leader raised an eyebrow. "What's wrong with it? What's wrong with preying on the weak? I'm just following orders. If you dare get in my way, I'll kill you too. ATTACK!"
The bandits took their positions and used a fire formation. Anyone trapped inside would be burned alive.
The mysterious figure simply smiled. "Is this all the power a Golden Core Stage, level 1 bandit leader has?" he yelled, and the formation instantly shattered. The bandits were terrified.
"What?!" the bandit leader gasped. "Who are you?" He thought, Why can't I see his cultivation? Who is he, really?
The bandits scattered and ran. The leader knelt and said, "Forgive me, Sir! I was blind, I did not see a figure as majestic as you."
The figure walked closer and said with a pitying gaze, "Go. Don't let me see you again."
Those words struck the bandit leader. He immediately fled using a flying sword. Before he was out of sight, he managed to say, "Thank you very much, Sir." But after he was far enough away, he smiled slyly.
The figure turned and walked towards Ji Yuan. Ji Yuan thought, He is so strong, but why did he save me? I have to thank him.
Ji Yuan sobbed and bowed. "Thank you, Sir, for saving me. I am very grateful."
The night that had been so tense now became emotional. Ji Yuan's sobs filled the silence of the night.
"Sir, if I may ask, what is your name? If you don't mind, would you like to visit my home for a moment? My wife would surely cook a delicious meal as thanks for your kindness."
The figure smiled and replied, "Don't be so dramatic. I accept your offer, I am a little hungry." He gave a shy smile and continued. "I am Su Changqing. It's a pleasure to meet you."
Ji Yuan's heart was filled with hope and gratitude. "Ah, I apologize. My name is Ji Yuan," he said.
Su Changqing used a flying sword and took Ji Yuan with him, heading towards his home where his beloved wife was waiting. Ji Yuan's heart was overflowing with gratitude that he could finally go home.