01. Another normal day

In a small, impoverished village nestled amidst rolling hills and ancient forests, a young man named Li Wei bore the weight of the world upon his shoulders. The passing of his father had left him in deep debt, responsible for caring for his ailing mother and his younger sister, Mei Lin. The burden of responsibility weighed heavily upon him, shaping his every step and decision.

With his strong and lean physique, Li Wei possessed an air of determination. His dark, tousled hair long enough to cover his eyes framed a face etched with the lines of maturity beyond his years. Even years of hard work and labour have failed to hide the attractiveness of his face. His eyes, a deep shade of amber, reflected a mixture of sorrow and unwavering determination. He was a pillar of strength, a rock upon which his family depended.

Inside their humble home, worn and weathered by time, Li Wei tended to his mother, Li Mei, a woman whose once vibrant spirit had been subdued by illness. Her once-lustrous black hair had faded to silver, and her frail form spoke of the toll life had taken on her. Yet, her eyes still held a spark of warmth and wisdom that spoke volumes of her inner strength. Though looking at her one can observe that she must've been a timeless beauty as even with such an illness, she looks beautiful; like a fairy affected by a curse.

Li Wei's mother, Li Mei, suffers from a chronic condition known as "Silvershade Syndrome." It is an ailment that affects her vitality and overall well-being but is not life-threatening. To sustain her health and manage the symptoms, she requires a consistent supply of specialized medicinal herbs, potions, and tonics. However, the treatments can be costly, and finding a grade 7 alchemist skilled enough to create the necessary medicines is a challenge in itself. The diligent pursuit of these resources becomes crucial for Li Wei to ensure his mother's continued well-being.

Beside Li Mei sat Mei Lin, a blossoming young woman of rare beauty. With long, cascading ebony locks and eyes that mirrored the colour of the midnight sky, she possessed a grace that seemed untouched by the hardships that had befallen their family. Mei Lin, filled with youthful innocence and a curious spirit, was Li Wei's greatest source of solace in this world of struggle. He has tried his best to give Mei Lin a life unaffected by his hardships.

Li Wei stepped into the modest living room, the weight of their financial burdens etched into the lines on his forehead. His eyes darted between his mother, Li Mei, and his younger sister, Mei Lin, his mother seated noticed him coming while his sister was giving his mother medicines.

Entering he smiled and said "Good morning Mother, good morning sister. I brought in some meat I was able to trade for the herbs I had collected. It is around 2.5 pounds of meat, I had a great harvest today luckily."

His mother smilingly and replied, "Come in Wei, Xue Lin was just telling me about her day at the academy." Mei Lin immediately started speaking with excitement " Brother, do you know we are going to be tested for our potential for cultivation, if we pass, the academy will groom us and starting from the day after tomorrow they will be increasing the intensity of study and practice." Then continuing in almost a whisper she says " Tomorrow they will request additional fees of 80 copper taels, though I don't wish to burden you further".

Li Wei does not say anything to dampen her excitement but inwardly he is very alarmed at the sudden need for funds as he barely got a good harvest of herbs today and was lucky to find a Sun Blood flower which is in high demand by people to heal their wounds as it one of the necessary ingredients for Minor novice healing pill which helps in healing from wounds by increasing the body's healing rate by some per cent. Though not effective at higher levels, it is quite effective for people in the novice realm. He is someone without any real friends and thus he lacks information and in-depth knowledge about cultivation. He barely has enough for his mother's medicines at this point but nonetheless, he smiles and says " You are my sister, Lin. Your education is important, and I will do everything I can to provide for you. I hope you've registered because I have faith in you. I will pay the fees required tomorrow"

Mei Lin's face lit up with gratitude. "Thank you, Brother. I will work hard in my studies and help in any way I can." Then she stands up and prepares to leave the room and says, "Then I'll start cooking lunch and with so much meat we'll have enough for dinner as well. I'll call you when I'm done cooking."

After she leaves Li Mei looks at her son and says "I know how unjust I have been to you Wei, you had to drop out of the academy at such a young age to take care of us, I just hope you'll forgive me for being so useless." as she stops speaking, she starts sobbing with tears in her eyes, looking at which Li Wei hugs her and says "You are not useless Mother, You have already done enough, being the son of the family, it is my responsibility to take care of you two, and I have no complaints."

Then sit next to each other and Mei asks about her son's day and he happily shares it with her. They fail to notice how time passes and soon Linxi calls from the kitchen for lunch and they leave the room to have their lunch.

The table was set, and the mouthwatering aroma of freshly cooked food filled the air as Li Wei sat down with his family for a normal lunch. Mei Lin, his younger sister, beamed with pride, having taken charge of the cooking for the day.

Mei Lin: (excitedly) "Ta-da! Lunch is served! I've prepared all your favourites, Brother. Dig in!"

Li Wei: (gratefully) "Wow, Mei Lin, everything looks amazing! Thank you for preparing such a delicious meal."

Li Mei, their mother, smiled warmly as she served them their portions, her eyes reflecting a mother's love and concern.

Li Mei: (affectionately) "Enjoy your meal, my darlings. It's moments like these that make our bond stronger."

They began eating, savoring the flavors that Mei Lin had skillfully infused into the dishes. The atmosphere was filled with a sense of comfort and unity.

Li Mei: (concerned) "Li Wei, how are things going with our finances? I know it hasn't been easy since your father passed away."

Li Wei: (determined) "Mother, I've been thinking a lot about that. I've heard about a rare herb called the Tranquil Lotus that's highly sought after for its healing properties. If I can gather enough of these herbs, I believe we can earn a substantial amount of money."

Mei Lin: (enthusiastically) "That's a great idea, Brother! You're always so resourceful. I'm sure you'll find a way to get those herbs and help us out of this financial struggle."

Li Wei: (grateful) "Thank you, Mei Lin. Your faith in me means the world. I won't let you down."

Determined to bring relief to their family, Li Wei finished his meal and rose from the table, ready to embark on his mission to find the Tranquil Lotus herbs.

Li Mei: (concerned) "Li Wei, please be careful out there. I don't want you taking unnecessary risks."

Li Wei: (confidently) "Don't worry, Mother. I'll be cautious and prioritize my safety. I'll return with those herbs and bring us the prosperity we need."

With a final glance back at his family, Li Wei left the house, his determination burning within him. He knew the road ahead would be challenging, but the thought of providing for his loved ones fueled his every step. He would not falter in his quest to secure the Tranquil Lotus herbs and bring financial stability to their lives.