Location: Qin Family Training Courtyard – Three Years Later
The courtyard rang with the sound of wooden swords clashing.
Children of the Qin family were undergoing their daily martial training under the guidance of Instructor Qin Wei, a grizzled warrior in his 40s, known for his sharp tongue and harsher discipline. His deep voice echoed through the open field as dozens of young cultivators-in-training followed his drills.
Among them stood a girl with short, choppy hair and eyes like burning amber—Qin Xiaoxiao.
At just nine years old, she was already matching the strength and speed of teenage outer disciples. Her movements were fluid, like water through silk, but her attacks struck with the power of thunder.
"Again!" she barked, forcing her sparring partner—a boy two years older—to back away, panting.
Qin Wei stroked his beard, nodding. "Xiaoxiao's talent grows each day."
Indeed, Xiaoxiao had long been recognized as one of the few natural talents in the Qin family. Found as a young orphan in a ruined village two years before Huaian's arrival, she had been taken in out of mercy—but had earned her place through sheer grit and effort.
Unlike the others, she never mocked Huaian.
That morning, in a quieter corner of the estate, five-year-old Qin Huaian sat under a plum blossom tree, attempting to balance a small orb of spiritual energy between his palms.
It was useless. No matter how many breathing techniques he practiced, no matter how long he sat cross-legged copying the cultivation drills of others, the result was the same: nothing. His meridians, once divine, were broken and scarred. His body had no way to circulate qi.
Still, he tried.
Still, he believed.
"Trying again?" came a familiar voice.
Xiaoxiao walked over, panting from training but still smiling. She carried a small pouch of chilled spirit-fruit and dropped down beside him.
"I'm gonna beat that brat Qin Heng tomorrow," she grinned. "He called you trash again."
Huaian lowered his head. "It's not his fault… I really am useless."
Xiaoxiao reached over and flicked his forehead. "Don't say that. If you're useless, then what am I training for?"
Huaian looked up, puzzled.
She leaned back on the tree, hands behind her head. "Someday you'll stand tall too. So I'll train hard now—to protect you until that day comes."
In that moment, as wind carried fallen petals across their feet, a silent promise was made between them.
One would fight the world.
The other would survive long enough to surpass it.