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He swung his spear, and deadly red blood qi erupted, sweeping through his foes like a crimson storm. From the Records of the Scarlet Battlefield.
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Long Tianyu continued running down the winding mountain path, his legs pumping furiously, each step imbued with the new energy coursing through his body. The qi he had gathered earlier during cultivation still hummed within him, lending strength and speed beyond what he thought possible for a mortal boy. Dirt pushed up behind his feet, and the wildflowers startled from his sprint. A small yelp escaped him when his foot caught on a loose stone, but he managed to catch himself, springing forward again with renewed urgency.
His heart pounded with exhilaration. Every gust of wind seemed to cheer him onward. Long Tianyu's mind raced faster than his feet. "I can do this! I really can!" he shouted to no one in particular, voice echoing off the mountain side. The group behind him could still hear his shout fading into the valley.
Xiao Chi scoffed ''Humph, I'm sure he will trip and hit his head''. Wang Mei and Lin Yue laughed and agreed. They knew how clumsy he could be from previous runs in the forest.
At the edge of the mountain, the path narrowed, and Long Tianyu had to leap over a jagged stone, landing with a soft grunt. The sudden impact sent him skidding a short distance before he regained balance, laughing breathlessly at his own clumsiness. "Almost fell, but nothing can stop me!" he said, wiping the sweat from his brow and sprinting onward, only for his foot to snag on an exposed root, sending him tumbling through the grass and dirt. He got himself up and was quiet the rest of the run down.
The path finally opened into the village. Some villagers lounged outside, celebrating another day of mining and hard work. Long Tianyu zipped past a group of children playing catch, bowing quickly as he dodged their flying sticks. "Sorry!'' he called. A few of the older villagers raised their eyebrows in amusement.
"Good evening, Aunt Lan! Uncle Zhao!" Long Tianyu shouted as he darted past, bowing slightly in mid-run. The elderly couple smiled, shaking their heads at his boundless energy. "Always in a rush, Tianyu! Don't trip over yourself!" Aunt Lan called, but Long Tianyu had already vanished down the street, leaving only a swirl of dust in his wake.
Bursting through the front door of his modest home, he skidded to a halt, nearly colliding with the wooden frame. "Mother! Father!" he cried, throwing his arms wide, nearly knocking over a vase on the table. His mother, Long Meilin, and father, Long Shen, looked up, surprise quickly giving way to curiosity.
"What is it, Tianyu? Why are you yelling so late?" his mother asked, hands resting on her hips, ready to smack the back of his head if he didn't explain himself. He had already screamed his lungs out that morning; surely he couldn't get away with it twice in one day.
"I… I did it!" Long Tianyu panted, barely able to contain his excitement. "I… I cultivated! I felt the qi… it moved into my spiritual core… and I..." His words tumbled over each other as he described everything he had experienced: the sensations of the energy, the void filled with flickering lights, the warmth flowing through his body, and the small mote that had hovered just above his core.
Long Jian's eyes widened, and he exchanged a glance with Long Meilin, who quickly set down the basket of eggs she had been holding. "You… you actually did it?" his father asked, voice low but heavy with pride.
"Yes!" Long Tianyu exclaimed, bouncing on his heels. "I didn't just imagine it. I felt it! Teacher Song Ming showed us, and Hua Qingqing helped me!" His words spilled out faster than he could control, each one shining with the brilliance of his youthful wonder.
His mother's hand went to her mouth, and her eyes glimmered with unshed tears. "Tianyu… my son… you really did it?" she whispered, taking a tentative step forward. It was rare to see her so emotional.
Long Jian chuckled softly, clasping his hands behind his back. "This is extraordinary, Tianyu. You've taken your first step into cultivation. I… we are proud of you, son. Truly proud."
Long Tianyu grinned from ear to ear, hugging both parents in a rush of joy and relief. "Thank you! I wanted to make you proud! I really did it, I really.." He broke off, realizing he was still out of breath, and laughed.
After eating and a short rest, Long Tianyu left his home once more, full of energy and anticipation. His mind was already racing with thoughts of Hua Qingqing. They had agreed to meet near the hall at the edge of the village a quiet place where the moonlight often poured through the open windows, illuminating the polished wooden floor in soft silver.
When Long Tianyu arrived, he found Hua Qingqing seated gracefully in the center of the hall, her long hair cascading over her shoulders like a silken dark waterfall. Before her lay a zither, the delicate strings catching the pale moonlight. She raised her hands, and a mellow, flowing melody filled the air. The notes were gentle, yet carried a depth that made Long Tianyu's chest ache with awe. The melody seemed to float above the wooden floorboards, mixing with the whisper of the night wind through the open doors and windows.
Long Tianyu stood silently, watching her from a few paces away, captivated by her concentration and the serene aura she exuded. In the moonlight, she seemed almost ethereal, as if the hall had been transformed into a sanctuary where time itself paused. The soft glow of the lanterns cast shadows that danced across her robes, lending a quiet majesty to her presence.
Unable to contain himself, Long Tianyu finally whispered, "Qingqing… your zither… it's beautiful. Truly beautiful. The sound… it's like the river at dawn, or… the stars moving across the night sky."
Hua Qingqing's fingers paused briefly on the strings, a faint smile tugging at the corners of her lips. "Thank you," she said softly, her voice blending with the lingering resonance of the music. "It's an old piece… my mother taught me."
Long Tianyu felt a surge of admiration. "No… I mean you play it beautifully. I… I could listen to this forever." His voice cracked slightly, betraying his emotion. He sank to sit beside her on the wooden floor, leaning back slightly against the wall, eyes still fixed on the zither as her fingers resumed their graceful dance across the strings.
Minutes passed in comfortable silence, broken only by the notes and the occasional wind through the hall. Long Tianyu felt a peaceful warmth settle over him, a stark contrast to the exhilaration of the mountain and village earlier. He realized that, in this quiet moment, the world had narrowed to just the two of them and the music.
Eventually, the notes slowed, then stopped, leaving only the echo of the final vibration lingering in the hall. Long Tianyu turned toward her, face lit with admiration. "Qingqing… you're incredible. The melody… the feeling… it's like you reached into my chest and touched my heart with it. Thank you for playing."
Hua Qingqing's cheeks flushed slightly under the compliment. She tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear and offered a small nod. "I'm glad you enjoyed it," she murmured.
The moon had risen higher by now, its silver light spilling across the hall and the wooden floor. Long Tianyu stretched out on his back, staring up at the beams, still feeling the echoes of the music in his mind. "I think… I could stay here forever," he said quietly, more to himself than to her.
After a while, the two decided to leave the hall. They walked side by side toward the river that ran along the edge of the village. The night was alive with soft, natural sounds: frogs croaking from the reeds, the gentle rush of the current, and the whisper of wind through the willow trees lining the riverbank. Long Tianyu and Hua Qingqing settled on the grass, their shoulders brushing lightly as they watched the reflection of the moon dance across the rippling water.
The cool night air carried the scent of wet earth and fresh leaves. Long Tianyu let out a contented sigh, the events of the day, his first cultivation, the laughter of the village, the music, and the quiet companionship of Hua Qingqing—washing over him in a wave of warmth. "This… this is perfect," he whispered. "I don't think I've ever been happier."
Hua Qingqing glanced at him, a gentle smile on her face. "It's… peaceful here," she said softly. "The moonlight, the river… sometimes it feels like the world has stopped just for us."
Long Tianyu turned toward her, his expression earnest. "It feels like that. And… Qingqing… thank you. For everything. For helping me today, for the music, for… just being here."
She looked away, her gaze drifting to the moon's reflection on the water. "Mm, Tianyu," she said softly, the hint of a smile lingering.
He nodded, content, and leaned back onto the grass, the cool blades brushing against his hands. The gentle rustle of leaves above them and the quiet croaking of the frogs filled the space between them with serenity. Long Tianyu felt his eyelids grow heavy as the night pressed gently against him, the rhythm of the river and the soft wind lulling him toward sleep.
"Tomorrow," he thought as his vision blurred, "I'll cultivate even better. And… I'll see more of the world, with you."
His final thought before drifting off was of the moonlight on Hua Qingqing's face, her hair glimmering like silver, and the warmth of a day full of discovery and wonder. It was a warm evening, and as he surrendered to the comfort of the night, peace settled over the village like a blessing.
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End of chapter 6 - Moonlit Zither beneath the Willow Trees