The warm aroma of herbs, wild vegetables, and the faint scent of wood smoke filled the air inside the modest wooden house.
Mo Xing stood over the kitchen counter, meticulously slicing thin cuts of fresh meat she had purchased from the market that morning.
The meat wasn't extravagant, just enough to nourish, but for her, it was something special.
After all, her daughter, Mo Xie, had become a Spirit Master just a year ago. She had worked so hard, and as her mother, it was only right to support her in every way she could.
Mo Xing smiled softly to herself, thinking of how far her daughter had come.
"Some tender meat stew with wild ginseng," she mumbled under her breath, brushing a few stray strands of hair behind her ear.
"That'll be good for her spirit energy recovery."
But as she continued cleaning the meat, a soft knock came from the front door.
Knock. Knock.
The sudden sound caused her hand to pause mid-slice.
Her brows furrowed slightly.
"Who could that be at this hour?" she whispered, glancing toward the narrow hallway leading to the door.
Visitors weren't common.
Then her heart skipped.
A darker thought surfaced. 'Could it be him? That bastard?.'
It had been over a year since he last showed his face... drunken, filthy, and asking for coins she didn't have.
Her hands trembled slightly at the memory.
But the knock had been gentle... almost polite. Not the kind of pounding her ex husband does.
Still wary, Mo Xing quickly rinsed her hands in the water basin and wiped them with a cloth.
"I'm coming!" she called out, trying to mask her anxiety.
She walked to the door cautiously.
Her fingers hovered over the wooden latch before she finally turned it and pulled the door open.
What she saw made her breath catch in her throat.
A young boy, no older than ten, stood there in the soft afternoon light.
His hair, pure white gleamed with a pearlescent sheen, flowing gently around his shoulders.
And his golden eyes held an odd depth for someone so young.
His delicate features, the slight curve of his lips… he was beautiful in a way that seemed unreal.
Mo Xing found herself frozen, blinking rapidly. Is he even real?
She felt her cheeks flush slightly from the just looking at him. Such a handsome child… who is he?
Before she could speak, the boy offered a smile and spoke "Excuse me. Is Xie home?"
Mo Xing blinked again "X-Xie'er? My daughter?"
He nodded, "Yes. I'm her friend from the Academy. May I see her?"
His manners and respectful tone disarmed her completely.
"A-Ah, yes! Please, come inside," she said hastily, stepping aside.
He entered the modest wooden house,.
Mo Xing watched him glance around the house and was a bit embarassed 'He looked like a child from a rich family... in my small house.'
She thought he would look at the house in disdain, but the boy just smiled and looked around.
Seeing that he is not disdained, she smiled and gestured toward the old sofa in the center of the room. "Please, sit here. I'll go get Xie'er."
He nodded and sat down on the sofa.
Seeing that he had made himself comfortable, Mo Xing rushed to her daughter's room.
...
Inside her room, Mo Xie sat cross-legged on her bed, holding a blue flower between her fingers.
The faint yellow glow of her spirit ring shimmered around her, casting soft reflections along her walls.
The spirit ring reminded her of a certain boy who accompanied her into the deeper regions of the Star Dou Forest one year ago. Even now, she couldn't forget him.
She absentmindedly smiled.
"One whole year… I wonder how Brother Yan is doing."
After she obtained her first spirit ring in the Star Dou Forest, rumors spread through the Academy that the Pope's personal disciple had ascended to the position of Holy Son.
After that day, after he escorted her back, he disappeared from the Academy entirely.
No news. No letters. Nothing.
She toyed with the blue petals again "What is he doing now…?"
BANG!
Her thoughts were abruptly cut off as the door burst open and her mother rushed in, slightly out of breath and inexplicably flustered "X-Xie'er!"
Mo Xie jerked upright and dismissed her martial spirit. "Mom? What happened?"
Mo Xing leaned forward and spoke "Someone has came to see you. he is in the living room now."
Huh? Upon hearing this, Mo Xie was confused 'Someone to see me? Did... someone trick my mother into entering the house? My mom is so gullible after all.'
Shaking her head, she asked "Mom, who is that? Why are you letting strangers in the house?"
Mo Xing blinked and replied "He is a boy... with white hair and golden eye-"
WHAT? Mo Xie sprang to her feet "White hair? WHAT?"
Her heart raced. White hair in excitement. Golden eyes. She didn't need the rest of the sentence. Her mind had already drawn the answer.
She grabbed her mother's shoulders. "Mom, really?"
Mo Xing blinked in surprise and nodded. "Yes. He's right on the sofa."
That was all Mo Xie needed. Happiness burst inside her like fireworks, and she ran out of her room without another word, leaving her stunned mother behind.
Reaching the hall, she slowed down... but stopped in place the instant she saw him.
A young boy is gracefully on the sofa, sunlight spilling over his face.
His long white hair now had faint golden streaks shimmering through it, and his golden eyes carried a soft silver hue.
Mo Xie stared at him in awe and confusion 'How did he change so much?'
He noticed her and smiled warmly "Xie. How have you been?"
Just hearing his voice broke her heart skip a beat "B-Brother Yan… I-I'm fine…"
He gently tapped the seat beside him "Come sit."
Nodding shyly, she sat next to him, trying her best not to look too flustered.
Mo Xing returned then and they all sat with Mo Xie beside him, Mo Xing on the chair across.
"So," Mo Xing began, eyeing her daughter, "why don't you introduce your friend properly?"
Mo Xie nodded quickly "Mom, this is Brother Yan. Brother Yan, this is my mom, Mo Xing."
Xuan Yan inclined his head "Aunty, I'm Xuan Yan. My apologies, I forgot to introduce myself earlier."
Mo Xing waved both hands shyly. "No need, no need. It's perfectly fine."
She paused a moment, then glanced at her daughter. "So you two met at the academy?"
Mo Xie shook her head "No… actually we met earlier. During my spirit awakening. He was the one who talked to me that day. Later I saw him again in the Academy."
Mo Xing blinked. "Ah? So he's the one you told me about back then?"
Then her eyes narrowed a little at Xuan Yan. "But… didn't you say he was your age? How is he... I mean, he now looks like a ten-year-old?"
Mo Xie also turned to him and asked uriously "Yes, Brother Yan, you look completely different."
Xuan Yan smiled dryly "Well some stuff happened. My appearance changed."
He didn't explain further, and neither of them asked. His presence alone felt overwhelming for a normal civilian household.
They continued chatting about the academy, the awakening ceremony, trainings, and Mo Xie's progress.
Suddenly, they heard a loud bang on the front door.
"Bitch open the door!"
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