Re-birth: The Beginning after the End

Chapter 57 PUNISHMENT

Familiar footsteps approached from the fields, and Li Hao's shoulders tensed. "Speaking of Father..." he whispered, shooting a meaningful look at his siblings. Li Hua instinctively moved closer to Bai Ying, whose crystalline whiskers twitched with curiosity at the approaching presence. Even the wind fox, usually so bold, slunk behind one of Mother's prized spirit-flowers, leaving only its luminescent tail visible among the petals.

"Bàba." The siblings greeted their father in unison. Their father was already looking at them, his smile deepening as the corners of his eyes crinkled.

Their father was never a stern man—he was hilarious, kind and gentle—but that didn't mean the siblings hadn't experienced their fair share of his lectures.

They hated disappointing their father, and his lectures were infamous for their length. Whether kneeling or standing in the courtyard, punishment time seemed to stretch forever, the position depending on the severity of their mischief.

"My warriors," their father greeted back. "What mischief have you caused to make your mother angry again?"

"Can't you smell it?" their mother said from her position, now wiping the table in preparation for their meal.

"Of course I can," their father replied, amusement dancing in his eyes. "But I would like to hear it from them." He settled himself comfortably, clearly anticipating a good story. "Go on, someone explain."

Li Wei began to explain, while Li Hao and Li Hua occasionally jumped in—each sibling adding their own version of how exactly a frost tiger had become their newest family member.

By the time they finished their tangled explanation, their father's deep laughter filled the courtyard, causing even Bai Ying's crystalline whiskers to twitch with amusement. "So," he managed between chuckles, "not only did you disobey our rules about hunting alone, but my eldest son has brought home yet another spiritual beast?" He turned to the frost tiger with a warm smile. "Welcome to our chaotic family, Bai Ying. Try not to freeze too many of our vegetables."

The siblings began to relax at their father's apparent good humor—until his eyes took on that familiar glint that meant punishment was imminent.

"However," he continued, his voice still carrying traces of laughter even as it grew firm, "since you three have so much energy for morning hunts, I'm sure you won't mind practicing your qigong in the back courtyard until sunset." His smile widened at their collective groan. "The old pine posts could use some attention, and your mother has been saying your lightweight technique needs improvement."

The siblings followed suit, picking up meat and vegetables to fill their mother's plate before taking their own portions.

After lunch, the siblings helped clean up before heading to their punishment.

Their home had grown considerably since receiving the village leaders' approval for expansion. The once-small courtyard house had doubled in size, though the kitchen remained at its heart—the center of their family gatherings. Behind the main courtyard lay their training ground, where three tall, slender posts stood like silent sentinels against the afternoon sky. The bathhouses had been relocated further back, with two additional ones built to accommodate their growing needs. Their parents' quarters occupied the right wing, while the siblings each had their own rooms in the left wing, a luxury that still sometimes surprised them.

Using their spiritual essence and qigong, the siblings gently but swiftly jumped onto their posts, getting into their positions, one foot on the post and the other extended outward, slightly bent. Years of practice had made these movements second nature, though the addition of qi circulation had transformed their training entirely.

Their father had waited until after their second year of physical conditioning before introducing qi direction. "The body must be strong before guiding spiritual essence," he had explained, "or your meridians will crack like poorly made vessels." Now, years later, each movement they made was accompanied by careful qi circulation, turning simple balancing acts into comprehensive cultivation exercises.

As part of their punishment, they began reciting the ancient cultivation scriptures their father had assigned—each verse carefully chosen to remind them of proper conduct and cultivation principles. Their voices rose and fell in practiced rhythm, the familiar words carrying deeper meaning with each passing year.

"The Path of True Cultivation lies in balance," Li Wei started, his voice steady despite standing on one leg atop the narrow post. His water essence flowed smoothly through his meridians, supporting his balance.

"Like morning dew on a leaf," Li Hao continued, his unique fire-water qi creating perfect harmony within his spiritual pathways as he maintained his stance.

"Strength without wisdom leads to ruin," Li Hua added her part, directing her spiritual essence with practiced precision through the circulation patterns she had mastered over the years.

For the next five hours, they continued their recitations, moving through the ancient texts their father had drilled into them since childhood. The sun crawled across the sky as they balanced, shifted, and maintained their spiritual circulation. Their muscles burned, but none dared complain—this was, after all, a punishment. Sweat gleamed on their foreheads despite the cooling afternoon breeze, their qi working overtime to maintain both balance and proper circulation.

As the sun began its descent behind the Great White Mountain, painting the sky in shades of amber and rose, familiar footsteps approached the training ground. Their father's voice carried across the courtyard, gentle but firm. "Enough for today."