Re-birth: The Beginning after the End

Chapter 110 TAKING A LOOK

She moved toward the courtyard house, the spirit beasts following at a respectful distance. Inside her bedroom, Little Firefly remained where she'd left him, nestled on her silk pillow.

Gently, she stroked his cocoon of light, feeling the steady pulse of his essence even in this dormant state. She settled beside him, crossing her legs in the familiar meditation pose. Her father's lessons echoed in her mind—as a cultivator's realm increased, their reliance on mortal needs like sleep and food diminished. The spiritual essence that suffused their bodies could sustain them, especially in places rich with natural energy.

She had already noticed this change in herself. The more her cultivation advanced, the less fatigue seemed to affect her. Though yesterday's events—the battle, the rescue, the realm crossing—had left her both spiritually and physically drained. Even healing her brothers today had taken more out of her than usual, her reserves still not fully recovered from the previous day's ordeals.

Following her father's teachings, cultivation would be more effective than mere rest for recovering both types of exhaustion. She set her digital timer for three hours. Closing her eyes, she began gathering the abundant spiritual essence of her space.

The timer's beeping pulled her from her meditative state, startling her slightly. What had felt like mere moments—perhaps thirty seconds of gathering essence—had actually been the full three hours. Is the timer broken? she wondered, but when she stood, she felt more energized, her fatigue still present but noticeably diminished.

She exited her space, returning to her room in the sanctuary. The afternoon sun had shifted, confirming the passage of time. She moved quietly to the hallway, pausing outside her brothers' doors to listen. Their steady breathing told her they were still asleep—good, they needed the rest to heal properly.

She walked out of their courtyard home and decided to explore their new surroundings. The late afternoon sun cast long shadows across the hidden valley, illuminating details she hadn't noticed during their arrival. Every tree and stone seemed carefully positioned, revealing their father's meticulous design of this sanctuary. The air here in the Ascending Plateau Realm felt thicker with spiritual essence, making it easier to breathe and cultivate than in the Mystic Veil Realm.

Protective arrays shimmered faintly in the sunlight, their formations subtly woven into the landscape itself. Each step revealed another layer of their parents' meticulous planning—from the positioning of spirit herbs in the garden to the way the mountain peaks surrounding them created a natural barrier against prying eyes. This wasn't just a hiding place; it was a fortress disguised as paradise.

The valley seemed to exist in its own pocket of space, neither too vast nor too confined. A clear stream wound through its heart, feeding into a small lake behind the courtyard house, its waters shimmering with spiritual essence.

"In three days," Li Hua promised with a small smile, setting out their portions. "Once you've both recovered properly." She knew her brothers well—if she revealed her space now, they would be too eager to begin training, pushing themselves before their bodies were ready.

The promise of future answers seemed to satisfy them for the moment, their hunger winning out over curiosity. They ate quickly, both asking for second bowls which she happily provided. It was good to see their appetites returning—another sign of healing.

After the meal, they returned to their rooms to continue resting, though not before Li Wei cast one last thoughtful look at the kitchen, clearly adding this mystery to his mental list of questions about their little sister.

Li Hua laughed and quickly cleaned up, then walked out to sit on the stone stool in the courtyard. The evening breeze carried the lingering warmth of the day, and as she looked out at the distant mountains, her thoughts unconsciously drifted to Mo Xing.

She wondered where he was, if he was truly resting as Li Hao had said he needed to. A small smile tugged at her lips as she imagined his reaction to her worrying about him. He'd probably give her that infuriating smirk of his, honey-brown eyes dancing with mischief as he teased her for caring.

She shook her head, what was she doing? Caring for Mo Xing? Is that how she truly feels? In both her lives, she had never once thought about a man this way.

Yet, there was something about him—something familiar. The way he could see through her defenses with those knowing eyes, how he matched her step for step in both combat and wit, the gentle way he'd taught her the Thousand Veils technique despite his usual teasing nature. He was dangerous, yes, but not in the way that set off her instincts. Instead, he was dangerous in how easily he could make her forget to be cautious, how naturally he fit into the spaces between her guards.

In her past eight years, she had surprised herself by how easily she'd accepted and embraced her new family, something she'd thought would be impossible after her past life. Then again, with parents who cherished each moment with their children, and brothers who filled her days with warmth and laughter, how could she not? They had made it impossible to maintain her walls, to keep her distance.

But this—these feelings—would she be able to let someone else in? To trust someone beyond the bounds of family?