(Liang Yu's POV)
The morning dawned softly, sunlight filtering through the mist like threads of pure silk, casting the mountain in shades of gold and silver. Dew clung to every leaf, making the whole forest shimmer with delicate light. I stood barefoot on the moss, breathing in the steady, calming pulse of my cyan mana as I practiced my Flowing Root Form. Each inhale drew life from the earth, each exhale sent gentle whispers of energy back into the wild.
The children, An'er and Weiwei, had already woken, giggling quietly and sneaking through the underbrush with mischief in their eyes. I couldn't suppress a soft smile — even here, amidst mana and ancient trees, their playful chaos warmed my heart.
"Yu Gege! Look!" Weiwei squealed, holding up a tiny mushroom that glowed with faint blue luminescence in the morning sunlight.
"Is this magic?" she asked, eyes wide with wonder.
I crouched down, fingers rippling with faint cyan, and touched the mushroom gently. "Not exactly magic," I said softly. "But it's a spiritual herb. Its energy is weak, good for beginners."
An'er peeked over my shoulder, curiosity glowing in his gaze. "Like me?"
I laughed softly, the sound mingling with the quiet hum of the forest. "Exactly like you."
Ahead, Feng Lian stepped out from the shadows of the trees, a bundle of herbs in one hand and a strand of hair pushed behind his ear with the other. His calm gaze settled on us, and I felt a flutter in my chest.
"You two causing trouble already?" Feng asked, voice low but gently amused.
"Not trouble!" An'er protested, hiding his grin behind his small hands, but his bright eyes betrayed his mischief.
Weiwei tugged at my sleeve, her tiny fingers clutching a sprig of herbs. "Yu is teaching us magic plants!"
I chuckled, the warmth of their innocent curiosity prickling my skin. The way they crowded close — eyes alight with pure joy — made this mountain feel more like a home than anything I'd known.
***
Later,
Feng Lian knelt beside a patch of faintly glowing moss, his voice soft and steady.
"These are Mooncap Ferns," he explained, gently plucking a leaf and holding it up to the light. "Low-grade, but good for beginners' refinement. Yu, feel the pulse."
I extended my hand, cyan mana swirling gently as I brushed against the fern's pulse. The leaves trembled faintly, radiating a soft greenish-blue glow, responding to me.
"Wow…" I breathed, warmth curling inside me. "It's like they… recognize me."
Feng's lips quirked in that quiet, amused way of his. "Don't get too sentimental. They're plants, not pets."
I shot him a playful glare, feeling a rush of affection. "Jealous because your mana isn't cyan and… more lively?"
He raised an eyebrow but didn't reply. Instead, he leaned close enough for me to feel the faint brush of his fingertips as he gently brushed a loose leaf from my hair. That small contact — just a fingertip— sent a tremor through me. I caught my breath, suddenly acutely aware of how close we'd become in these quiet mountain moments.
***
The children, of course, couldn't stay quiet. Weiwei attempted to climb onto my back, tripping over roots and tumbling into a heap. An'er tried to snatch a few herbs from Feng's bundle, giggling at his own daring. I hurried to steady them, cyan light flickering at my palms, vines from my Flowing Root Form instinctively reaching out to keep them from tumbling over.
"Yu Gege! You're like a tree!" Weiwei giggled, clutching her belly with delight.
"Exactly!" I said, hugging them both briefly, feeling the soft thrum of their laughter against my chest. "I grow roots to keep you safe!"
Feng shook his head with a smile, eyes warm beneath his steady gaze. "Tree, healer, cultivator… you wear many hats, don't you?"
My gaze met his, and for a heartbeat, the air between us seemed to pause — the leaves rustled more softly, the forest holding its breath. My cheeks burned, and I hurriedly looked away, trying to anchor myself in breath and calm.
"I… I just want to protect them," I whispered into the quiet.
Feng stepped closer, voice lowering to a whisper that still carried its gravity. "And you will. That's all that matters." His fingers brushed mine as he passed me a bundle of herbs, lingered a beat longer than necessary. The faint contact made my pulse pound louder, echoing in my ears.
Later, near a bubbling creek, I bent to examine a patch of faintly glowing blue leaves. Feng Lian slipped behind me, peering over my shoulder like a crow inspecting a rare treasure.
"You focus too much," he said softly, voice teasing. "Your cyan mana glows like a torch. Are you trying to light up the forest just for me?"
Heat rushed to my face. "I… I can't help it. The plants respond better when I concentrate."
He leaned closer, his voice dropping even lower. "Hmm… maybe I like your glow."
Before I could stammer out a response, he brushed a gentle kiss to my temple—faint, delicate, like a secret confessed under the cover of leaves.
"Careful, healer," he murmured, lips barely brushing my skin.
I froze, my heart pounding loudly enough I feared the forest might hear. Then, behind us, a burst of giggles — Weiwei was peeking out from behind a branch, waving gleefully. An'er tried to hush her, but her laughter escaped in a tinkling echo.
I blinked, my face burning, as Feng's lips curved into a mischievous smile.
"They say the forest is full of surprises." He tilted his head, eyes glinting. "And so are you."
---
Night fell, and the children slept like angels beside the fire, their breaths slow and peaceful. I carefully refined a batch of herbs, cyan light wrapping around each sprig as I merged their energy with my own.
Feng sat beside me, leaning into the tree's trunk, watching quietly. "You're talented," he said softly. "Your mana nurtures — you could heal, fight, refine pills, or even create wonders. The world will need you, Yu."
I paused from my work, the words wrapping around my heart. "Then I'll learn both — healing and cultivation. To protect those I love—that's enough."
He looked at me, his gaze tender and steady. "And you'll never be alone in that," he said quietly.
Our eyes met, that unspoken burst of understanding passing between us — the kind that's born in silence but stays longer than words. Cyan light flickered in my palm as his fingers brushed mine once more. Without thinking, I leaned in, pressing my lips gently to his — a whisper of warmth, of trust, of something more than I dared hope.
The sudden giggle of An'er behind the bushes broke the moment. He held up a tiny fern like a crown, eyes sparkling.
"We see everything!" he whispered loudly.
I jerked back, cheeks on fire, as Feng chuckled softly and ruffled his hair.
"Yes," he said with a soft smile. "And you'll be my little scout now."
I shook my head, embarrassed but warm despite myself.
"I… think the forest is conspiring to make me blush," I muttered.
He leaned closer again, brushing his lips lightly against my temple once more, sending a little shiver through me.
The night's laughter and whispers mingled with the rustling leaves, a quiet symphony of secret feelings and soft promises — moments that lingered beneath the whispering trees, just beginning to bloom.