Transcending Cultivation: Path of Absolute!22.97%

Destination

They all ate and chatted during breakfast.

After eating their fill, everyone went their separate ways.

Yuan Wei left to attend to his alchemy work, while Yuan Mei took Xin'er to teach her various lessons. Before leaving, Xin'er called out to Ling Tian.

"Big brother, please come to play with me after finishing your training."

Ling Tian smiled and nodded. "Of course, Xin'er. I'll come find you once I'm done."

Xin'er beamed and ran off to her mother, who smiled warmly at the siblings' interaction before taking her daughter away for their lessons.

Ling Tian watched them leave, feeling a surge of affection for his little sister.

He then headed off to train his body, as was his routine. His training regimen was intense: 100 pushups, 100 sit-ups, 100 squats, and a 10-kilometer run in sets.

He had been following this routine for over four years, pushing himself to the limits of his young body.

As he trained, thoughts of his upcoming birthday occupied his mind.

He thought about how he hadn't spent enough time with Xin'er lately and felt a pang of guilt. He resolved to make it up to her.

'I will take her out to play on my birthday. My parents will be busy with the celebration, so they won't notice us slipping away. We can sneak out and have an adventure together all day long,' he mused, a smile tugging at his lips.

He continued training, pushing through the physical exertion with thoughts of the fun day he was planning for his sister.

Once he finished his rigorous workout, he went to freshen up. After washing off the sweat and grime, he felt rejuvenated and ready to set his plan into motion.

Ling Tian left the house and wandered through Huoyuan City, scouting for interesting places to take his sister on his birthday.

The bustling streets were filled with vendors selling a variety of goods, from colorful fabrics to delicious street food.

He noted the locations of several interesting stalls and shops that he thought Xin'er would enjoy.

He found a charming park with a beautiful garden, perfect for a leisurely walk and play.

The park had a small pond with ducks, which he knew Xin'er would love.

There was also a playground with swings and slides, ideal for her to burn off some energy.

Next, he discovered a quaint little tea shop that served sweet treats.

The shop owner, a kindly old woman, welcomed him warmly and showed him an array of pastries and candies.

Ling Tian made a mental note to bring Xin'er here for a special treat.

As he continued exploring, he stumbled upon a small bookstore.

The shop was filled with an impressive collection of children's books, fairy tales, and adventure stories.

Xin'er loved being read to, and Ling Tian knew this place would be a hit with her.

After wandering around for a while, Ling Tian decided on a few places but found everything in Huoyuan City to be mundane.

He wanted an adventure, something more exciting and memorable. His mind wandered to the Northern Wildlands, a forest on the city's north side.

The outer periphery of the forest was known to be safe, with no dangerous beasts, making it an ideal spot for a little adventure.

Having made his decision, Ling Tian turned around and headed back home, feeling a surge of excitement at the prospect of exploring the forest with his sister.

Upon arriving home, he immediately went to see Xin'er, as he usually did.

She had already finished her studies for the day and was sitting in the center of the garden, enjoying the pleasant weather.

She had been waiting for Ling Tian for so long that as soon as she heard a sound from behind her, she turned around, and her eyes widened in joy as she ran up to Ling Tian.

"Big Brother!! Where have you been for so long? I looked for you everywhere, but I couldn't find you."

Her excitement quickly turned to sadness as she continued, her voice trembling.

"I thought you didn't want to play with Xin'er anymore. Sniff Sniff."

Ling Tian felt a pang of guilt looking at his little sister crying. He hurriedly picked her up and hugged her, patting her back gently.

"Forgive me, my dear sister. I went out for some work, that's why I'm late. I didn't forget to play with you. See, aren't I here right now? So, stop crying, and let's play."

Xin'er sniffled a few more times but stopped crying, looking up at her brother with big, teary eyes.

"Are you really telling the truth, big brother? You didn't forget about me, right?"

Ling Tian smiled warmly at her, his heart aching at the sight of her tears. He wiped her cheeks gently and replied, "Yes, I'm really telling the truth. I could never forget about you. So, let's play now, shall we?"

Xin'er's face brightened up immediately, and she hugged her brother tightly. "Okay! What shall we play?"

They continued to play there like before.

...

Time continued to pass, and the celebration day of Ling Tian's birthday arrived.

The entire household was bustling with activity, from the maids and butlers preparing for the festivities to his mother and father finalizing the arrangements.

Only Ling Tian and Xin'er were free to do as they wished.

Ling Tian decided to find his sister and talk about going out to enjoy the rest of the day.

Knowing she often played in the garden, he made his way there.

As he entered the garden, he spotted his little sister at the center, absorbed in arranging flowers.

With a mischievous glint in his eye, Ling Tian tiptoed behind her, preparing to give her a playful scare.

When he was close enough, he suddenly shouted, "BOO!"

"Ahhhh!" Xin'er screamed in surprise, her first instinct being to run forward.

But before she could take more than a step, strong arms scooped her up. Ling Tian laughed as he hugged her, patting her back gently.

"How is my little fairy doing in the garden?" he asked, his voice warm and playful.

Ling Tian spoke with an evil smirk on his face while holding his sister.

Xin'er, noticing his mischievous expression, got angry and bit down hard on his shoulder in retaliation.

Ling Tian screamed, caught off guard by her unexpected attack.

"Ahh wait, wait! What are you doing?? Stop it, or you might bite off a piece of my skin!" he shouted, trying to shake her off.

When she showed no sign of letting go, he quickly apologized, "Sorry, sorry! I won't do it again, okay? Just let go now."

Xin'er finally released him, stepping back with a triumphant smile.

Her eyes sparkled with a mix of satisfaction and a touch of glee at having bested her big brother.

Ling Tian rubbed his shoulder, wincing at the sting but unable to suppress a smile.

"You've got quite the bite, you know that?" he remarked, shaking his head in disbelief.

Xin'er giggled, the sound light and infectious. "That's what you get for scaring me, Big Brother!"

Shaking his head in mock defeat, Ling Tian laughed. "Alright, truce. How about we go out and enjoy the rest of the day together? No more scares, I promise."

Xin'er's face lit up with excitement, but then she hesitated, her expression turning concerned. "But what about Mommy and Daddy? Will they allow us to go out and play? Today is your birthday, after all."

Ling Tian smiled mischievously, watching his sister fidget with anticipation. "They're so busy with the preparations that they won't even notice we're gone. Besides, we'll be back before anyone realizes. What do you say?"

Xin'er hesitated for a moment, glancing towards the house where their parents were undoubtedly caught up in the hustle and bustle of party preparations. Then, her excitement got the better of her, and she nodded eagerly. "Okay, let's do it!"

Ling Tian took her hand, and together they made their way to the gate, their steps light with the thrill of adventure.

The sun shone brightly, casting a golden glow over Huoyuan City as they wandered through the bustling streets.

The market was alive with vibrant colors and tantalizing scents, drawing Xin'er's wide-eyed attention.

"Look at all these stalls, Big Brother! Can we get some sweets?" Xin'er asked, her voice filled with wonder.

Ling Tian chuckled. "Of course, we can. Let's get some for later."

Ling Tian found a charming park with a beautiful garden, perfect for a leisurely walk and play.