Spring came and winter went, and Snow and Red had already spent three months in Qingli City. They had also found a small house to live in. One day, while wandering through the bustling streets, Snow's eyes were suddenly drawn to a rabbit-shaped ring displayed in a shop window. The ring contained a formation capable of summoning five beginner rabbit demons to protect its wearer in moments of danger. Snow fell in love at first sight, holding the ring in her paws, unable to let it go. A few steps further, she spotted a set of lightweight spirit armor that could unfold wings when spiritual power was activated. Snow had always dreamed of flying, and her eyes shone with longing.
However, when she asked the price, the ring cost three thousand spirit stones, and the winged armor was an astonishing four thousand. They did not have that much money. Moreover, Red himself did not yet possess a suitable magical tool. After hesitating, Snow reluctantly put down the items, feeling a pang of disappointment in her heart.
From that day onward, Red left early every morning and returned only at night. He told Snow he was going to the mountains to train, but in reality, he secretly helped with construction work around the city walls, earning spirit stones through hard labor. His hands and feet blistered under the sun and wind, but he never mentioned it.
Three months passed, and Red had quietly saved three thousand spirit stones. Late one night, he bought the rabbit-shaped ring and buried it beneath an old tree outside their home.
The next morning, he casually suggested a walk. As they passed the tree, Red pretended to be distracted by a glint in the soil. He knelt down and carefully dug up the ring, brushing away the dirt. "Huh, look, there seems to be a ring here. Does it look like the one you liked the other day?"
Snow's eyes lit up immediately. She carefully took the ring, examining it closely, feeling that something was not quite right. "The texture, the pattern, even this tiny crack on the band, it is exactly like the one in the shop," she whispered.
She looked up at Red, scrutinizing his expression. Red's acting was flawless. Eyebrows raised, confusion, then thoughtful contemplation in a smooth sequence. The only problem was that he was far too convincing.
Snow stared at him for three seconds, then narrowed her eyes. "Did you do something?"
Red's heart skipped a beat, but he kept his calm exterior. "What, no, we are just taking a casual walk."
Snow placed the ring in his hand, holding it firmly. "This cost three thousand spirit stones. You have been gone every day recently, did you lie to me?"
Red knew he could not hide it any longer. He sighed and admitted, "I just wanted to make you happy."
Snow lowered her head, ears soft and drooping, uncertain whether to feel upset or touched. She gripped the ring tightly and whispered, "You do not even have a proper magical tool yourself."
Red smiled faintly. "I need to be strong enough to protect you first. Only then do I have the right to think about my own desires."
Snow's eyes instantly glistened with unshed tears. She did not speak, simply leaping forward to hug him tightly.
After a long moment, she lifted her head, eyes sparkling with excitement. "Then can I try it?"
Red took a step back. "Yes, activate your spiritual power."
Snow inhaled deeply and focused, activating the ring. "Buzz, buzz, buzz." Five streams of white light erupted around her.
Five tiny rabbit demons appeared, all fluffy and adorable. Two were combat type, one was a healer, one seemed to be support, and the last one was holding a carrot like a weapon, waving it around clumsily.
In unison, the rabbit demons shouted, "Greetings, Master!"
Red blinked. "And what is the last one supposed to do?"
Snow raised a paw. "Maybe it is in charge of being cute?"
The five rabbit demons immediately struck a variety of adorable poses. The last one even collapsed to the ground, pretending to play dead.
Red could not help but chuckle. "It is actually quite useful."
That night, Snow hugged the ring as she slept, clutching it like a treasured possession. What she did not know was that Red had secretly written down his next goal, the spirit stones needed to buy the winged armor, on a small slip of paper and tucked it under the pillow. His quiet determination shone even in his unspoken plans.
Over the following days, Red continued his work in the city, taking on odd jobs and quietly saving every spirit stone he could. Snow trained with the rabbit demons summoned by the ring, laughing and marveling at how obedient and playful they were. Sometimes the carrot-wielding rabbit would charge forward, only to trip and tumble, earning a gentle scolding from Snow, which made Red smile from a distance.
Despite the exhausting labor and long hours, Red never complained. He returned home each evening with a tired but satisfied expression, always making sure Snow had everything she needed before collapsing into bed. Snow slowly realized that this quiet, selfless determination was part of why she had fallen in love with him.
One evening, as the two sat on the roof of their little house, watching the sun dip behind Qingli City, Snow looked at the ring, then at Red, her voice soft. "You did all this just for me?"
Red nodded, tail brushing gently against hers. "For you. You are my priority, Snow. Everything else we will get in time."
Snow's ears twitched in happiness. "Then I will get stronger too, so I can help you."
Red smiled warmly. "That is the spirit. Together, we will face this cultivation world."
Snow hugged the rabbit-shaped ring tightly, her eyes shining with dreams of flight and adventure. The five rabbit demons nestled around her like little guardians, their white forms glowing softly in the evening light. The carrot-wielding one waved enthusiastically, as if cheering her on.
Red watched quietly, a sense of pride swelling in his chest. He had given her a gift, but more importantly, he had shown that dedication and love could move mountains or at least earn spirit stones for something truly worth treasuring.
That night, as the city's lights flickered on and the streets buzzed with life, Snow and Red dreamed of adventures yet to come. One had a magical ring that could summon loyal rabbit demons, and the other had the quiet strength to make impossible things happen. Together, they had begun a new chapter in their lives in Qingli City where dreams, hard work, and love intertwined to create possibilities as boundless as the sky above.