Chapter 2: Aunt and sister

Xiao Fan gazed up at Hong Dahai, a figure of unwavering respect in his eyes. For years, he had been the slowest among his peers in cultivation, yet Hong Dahai had never shown him anything but kindness, dedicating himself wholeheartedly to his training.

Years of rigorous practice had made Xiao Fan's meridians resilient, but his physique remained slender. In the realm of physical training, men forged their muscles while women nurtured their internal organs. Xiao Fan, however, lacked the strength that marked a true practitioner, landing him below even the fifth level in the eyes of others.

"I'm relieved to see you're okay. Hurry home; your aunt sister is waiting for you," Hong Dahai said, patting Xiao Fan's shoulder, concern etched on his face.

At those words, Xiao Fan's gaze shifted to the small house where he lived. There stood Shangguan Lanruo, clad in white, her eyes glistening with tears as she stared at the ground. She resembled a delicate snow lotus, breathtakingly beautiful with flawless features and an elegance that radiated warmth.

The sight of her tear-streaked face extinguished the anger that had burned within him moments before. The blood-red hue in his eyes faded as he looked at the damaged blood ganoderma in his hand, tears welling up.

He had stumbled upon this precious herb on a treacherous cliff, elated at his find. To retrieve it, he had risked everything, tying together vines to climb down and collect it, his palms bloodied in the process. He had fought through danger, all to nourish his beloved aunt sister Shangguan Lanruo, but now the medicinal power had slipped away with the damage.

As he beheld her gentle face, lined with unspoken fatigue, his heart felt as though it were being torn apart. Regret washed over him like a tidal wave—he despised his own inadequacy, the way he couldn't even safeguard a single blood ganoderma. He loathed the helplessness of watching her vitality wane while he could do nothing to help.

"Xiao Fan," she called softly, her voice like a soothing melody, yet heavy with heartache.

Wiping his tear-filled eyes, Xiao Fan mustered a smile, revealing a row of white teeth, and strode toward the cottage, pulling Shangguan Lanruo inside and shutting the door with a resolute thud.

"Aunt sister, this blood ganoderma can help you. I'll make you some soup!" His heart lifted whenever he was near her; from childhood to now, she had been his anchor, his greatest comfort.

"Xiao Fan," she said again, tears shimmering in her eyes.

"Aunt sister, please don't cry. Xiaofan doesn't want to see you sad." His voice trembled, and he reached out to wipe her tears, hesitating as he pulled back, hiding his wounded hands behind him. He couldn't bear to let her see his injuries, fearing it would only deepen her sorrow.

"Xiao Fan, your hand!" Shangguan Lanruo's sharp gaze caught him off guard.

She gently pulled his hand from behind his back, revealing the angry, bloody wounds the vines had inflicted. Each scar felt like a dagger to her heart, the sight of his pain unbearable.

"It's just a scratch," he insisted, trying to mask his discomfort. "It'll heal in no time."

But even as he spoke, the warmth of her concern enveloped him, and he knew in that moment that he would face any challenge for her sake.

Xiao Fan retracted his hand, forcing a grin as he took the blood ganoderma and headed to prepare the soup.

"Come back, your wound needs tending," Shangguan Lanruo called gently, pulling him into a small room where a large wooden barrel filled with steaming water awaited. Every evening, she boiled hot water for him to bathe, a ritual that had persisted since his earliest memories.

Xiao Fan scratched the back of his head, smiling. Almost fifteen and no longer a child, he felt no embarrassment in front of Shangguan Lanruo. Even in moments of vulnerability, he had grown accustomed to her presence, feeling safe and at ease.

Without hesitation, Shangguan Lanruo helped him out of his clothes and eased him into the warm water. Her hands moved carefully as she washed him, each gentle stroke soothing and nurturing.

"Xiao Fan, if one day your aunt sister is no longer by your side, you must be strong," she said quietly, her hands trembling slightly, betraying the turmoil beneath her calm facade.

A chill shot through Xiao Fan. He froze, his heart pounding as dread filled his eyes. The thought of a future without her was unbearable. "Aunt sister, why say such things? You won't leave me, right? You can't—just as I can't leave you."

He kept his back turned, afraid to face her. His body trembled, a physical manifestation of the panic welling inside him.

"Xiao Fan!" Shangguan Lanruo suddenly pulled him close, hugging his head tightly as tears streamed down her face, mingling with his hair.

He shook with silent sobs, his own tears spilling over. Deep down, he understood her words were not mere flights of fancy; she was speaking a truth that frightened him. Over the years, he had sensed there was something extraordinary about her, something that set her apart from others.

How could such a radiant, ethereal woman exist in their secluded mountain village? There was an aura about her that was both mysterious and captivating.

"Xiao Fan, I'm so sorry," she murmured, her voice thick with emotion. "You've faced bullying from your peers, and I didn't let you fight back. I allowed you to suffer."

"Aunt sister, I don't blame you. I know you had your reasons for keeping me from fighting back. I will always listen to you," he replied, turning to embrace her tightly. He wanted to imprint the warmth of her presence in his heart forever.

"It's time for you to know me a little better," she said softly, almost to herself. With a graceful motion, she extended her hand, revealing a pulsating sphere of true energy that danced like a vibrant green flame, radiating life force.

"This...?" Xiao Fan's eyes widened in astonishment. He had sensed there was a secret about Shangguan Lanruo, but he never imagined she could manipulate her true energy into such a tangible form.

"My aunt is a martial artist," she explained. "I refused to let my family use your marriage as a bargaining chip, so I escaped. On my journey, I met your mother, and I promised to take care of you."

Xiao Fan felt a rush of confusion and shock. He had long wondered about his origins, but Shangguan Lanruo had always skirted the topic. Now, she was opening a door to the past he had never known.

"Your mother entrusted you to me, she must have encountered a disaster." Her eyes were firm, yet full of grief, "But don't worry, your parents are not in danger, they are still alive, so you have to live well. When you become strong in the future, you will find the Xiao family of Tiansheng Peak, and then you will understand your life experience, so remember not to act rashly."

"Where is the Xiao family of Tiansheng Peak?" he asked, his voice trembling with urgency.

"When the time is right, you will know. There's no point in telling you now," she replied with a heavy sigh. "I wanted you to be patient in facing the bullying, to strengthen your heart. It's vital for your future."

Though Xiao Fan didn't fully grasp her reasoning, he trusted her. He wanted to understand how resilience connected to his destiny.

"Originally, your parents wished for you to grow up as an ordinary person, to live a simple, happy life. That's why they named you Xiao Fan. But I want you to be strong—one of the greatest martial artists. Do it for me."

"I will, aunt sister! I'll do anything for you!" he vowed, his voice soft yet resolute. For Shangguan Lanruo, he would traverse any obstacle.

She smiled, though a deep sadness lingered in her eyes. The thought of their impending separation weighed heavily on both of them, raising questions about their future.

Using the vital energy in her true energy, she began healing his wounds. In moments, they closed and began to form scars. Then she handed him a notebook, placing it gently in his hands.

"This contains details about the cultivation realms in our world. Study it carefully. I need to go prepare dinner."

As she left, Xiao Fan felt a mix of excitement and apprehension. He dressed and opened the notebook, captivated by the descriptions of the cultivation paths.

It detailed six major realms: Body Refining, Warrior, Acquired, Innate, Grandmaster, and the Three Flowers realm. Each realm contained nine sub-levels.

For the first time, Xiao Fan realized how many stages existed beyond the Warrior realm, his interest piqued and anticipation building.

At the ninth level of the Body Refining realm, one could awaken their innate martial spirit. Successfully doing so would transition them into the Warrior realm, where the Dantian would create its own space, absorbing the essence of the heavens and earth to cultivate true qi.

The path continued into the Xiantian realm, where martial artists could purify their bodies, fortifying their meridians, bones, and internal organs, and expanding their Dantian several times over. Once their true qi connected through the Ren and Du meridians, they would enter the Grandmaster realm. Finally, achieving the Three Flowers Gathering at the Top of the Head would signify their place as the strongest on the continent.

Xiao Fan yearned for that realm, each word igniting a fire within him. There were also descriptions of various martial spirits in the notebook, but he didn't delve into those just yet—too much to take in all at once. He planned to explore them thoroughly in the future.