As we rounded the final corner toward the old, weathered clock tower, the silence of our walk was shattered by a familiar, boisterous voice.
"I'm telling you, Xinxia! Once I awaken, I'm going to be a Fire Mage. I'll be so powerful that even the Mu family will have to invite me over for dinner!"
I chuckled. There was only one person with that level of shameless confidence.
Sitting at the base of the tower was Mo Fan, gesturing wildly with a half-eaten steamed bun in his hand. Beside him, tucked into her wheelchair, was Ye Xinxia. She was smiling softly, her calm presence acting as the perfect anchor to Mo Fan's chaotic energy.
"And I'm telling you, brother Mo Fan, you should probably finish your breakfast before you try to conquer the world," Xinxia replied, her voice like a gentle bell.
"Hey! We're here," I called out, waving.
Mo Fan's head whipped around. His face lit up, though he immediately tried to play it cool, stuffing the rest of the bun into his mouth and wiping his hands on his pants. "About time! I thought maybe Ningxue's dad had finally locked you both in a dungeon."
"Not today," I said, glancing at Ningxue. "Though it was a close call. He had her studying 'family prestige' again."
Mo Fan rolled his eyes, standing up and dusting himself off. "Prestige. Boring. Who needs prestige when you've got the streets? Right, Xinxia?"
Xinxia didn't answer him; instead, she looked toward Ningxue with a warm, sisterly gaze. "I'm glad you could come, Ningxue. You look like you needed the break."
Ningxue nodded, her shoulders dropping even further as she stepped closer to Xinxia. "I did. Thank you, Xinxia."
The contrast between them was striking: the "Princess" of the Mu family, the girl in the wheelchair with the heart of gold, the loud-mouthed dreamer, and me—the one holding enough Sacred-Grade treasures in my ring to flip this city upside down.
"Alright, enough standing around," Mo Fan declared, punching my shoulder lightly. "I'm starving, and I know a place that has the best spicy skewers in the district. My treat! Well... your treat, actually, since you're the rich one today."
I laughed, feeling the tension of the upcoming hunt and the System's demands fade into the background. "Fine, fine. Lead the way, Mo Fan."
As we moved through the bustling market district, the smells of sizzling oil and sweet glaze filled the air. Mo Fan was busy trying to convince a vendor that he deserved a "future hero" discount, which gave me the perfect window to slip away for a moment.
I had a bit of money saved up—nothing compared to the treasures in my ring, but enough to buy something meaningful for the two girls who had to deal with Mo Fan and me every day.
_________
I stopped at a small, high-end artisan stall that sold hand-crafted accessories. Unlike the mass-produced trinkets at the front of the market, these were made with genuine care.
I picked out two items:
For Xinxia: A delicate, silver hair clip shaped like a jasmine flower. It was simple and elegant, matching her gentle temperament perfectly.
For Ningxue: A small, sapphire pendant on a thin silver chain. The stone was a deep, clear blue—not cold like the Mu family, but bright and steady.
I caught up with the group just as Mo Fan was finally giving up on his discount.
"Here," I said, stepping between them and handing the small boxes to the girls. "Consider these 'good luck' charms. Since I'm heading out in three days, I won't be around to make sure Mo Fan doesn't drive you both crazy."
Xinxia opened hers first. Her eyes widened, and a soft blush crept onto her cheeks. "It's beautiful... Thank you. I'll wear it every day."
Ningxue looked at her sapphire pendant for a long time. She didn't say anything at first, but she ran her thumb over the smooth surface of the stone. For a girl who was usually given "prestige" and "status" by her father, a gift given simply because I wanted her to have it clearly hit differently.
"Thank you," she whispered, her voice barely audible over the crowd, but her eyes were brighter than I'd seen them all morning.
"Hey! Where's mine?" Mo Fan barked, crossing his arms and pouting like a toddler. "I'm the one who's going to be your right-hand man during the hunt!"
"Your gift is the skewers I'm about to pay for," I laughed, hooking an arm around his neck. "Now eat up before I change my mind."
________
We spent the rest of the afternoon as four normal kids. No magic, no systems, and no "forbidden curse" destinies hanging over our heads. We ate until Mo Fan actually looked like he might regret it, and we wandered the parks of Bo City until the sun began to dip below the horizon, painting the sky in shades of orange and violet.
As I walked Ningxue back to the gates of the Mu Manor, the reality of my departure started to set in. Six months is a long time in a world where things can change in an instant.
"I'll be back before the winter sets in," I told her as we reached the gates. "Stay safe. And don't let your father push you too hard while I'm gone."
She paused at the entrance, the sapphire pendant catching the evening light. "I'll wait for you. Just... make sure you actually come back."
With a final wave, she disappeared inside the manor. Now, the weight of the Sacred-Grade Cultivation Tools in my ring felt heavier. I had people to protect, and that meant I couldn't afford to be weak.
_________
Back at the Mu Manor, Ningxue sat by her window, the moonlight turning her silver hair into a soft halo. She held the sapphire pendant up, watching the blue depths shimmer. In a world where every gift she received was a calculated bribe for her future talent, this felt different. It was warm. It was him. She pressed the stone to her lips, a small, rare smile softening her face. "You better come back," she whispered to the empty room, "because I'm not letting anyone else give me something like this." The cold walls of the manor suddenly felt a little less lonely.
__________
Across the city, Xinxia sat in the quiet of her room, carefully touching the silver jasmine clip in her hair. She could still feel the lingering warmth of Yuzi's hand when he gave it to her. To others, it was just jewelry, but to her, it was a promise. She closed her eyes, imagining the steady, confident beat of his heart. "He's always looking ahead," she thought, a gentle blush deepening on her cheeks as she realized she wanted to be the one he looked back for. She tucked her head down, a budding, sweet ache blooming in her chest—a silent, hopeful prayer that he would return to see her wearing it again.
__________
Both girls, miles apart, held onto their treasures like anchors. It wasn't just about the beauty of the gifts; it was the realization that while the world saw them as a "Prodigy" or a "Cripple," Yuzi saw only them. And that was a feeling they weren't ready to let go of.
To Be Continue.....
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