Yuan Xinyi

Just like that, time continued to pass and after nearly a year Ling Tian welcomed his little sister into their home.

Ling Tian was now seven years old; it had been around a year since his little sister, Yuan Xinyi, was born.

Yuan Xinyi had inherited the striking features of her brother, with black hair as dark as midnight and eyes as blue as the clearest sky.

Her delicate form and angelic appearance made her look like a living doll, enchanting everyone who laid eyes on her.

She often slept peacefully in her mother's arms, her tiny chest rising and falling with each gentle breath.

One afternoon, Yuan Xinyi was sleeping in her mother's arms in her room when Ling Tian came running in, his face alight with excitement.

Yuan Mei smiled at her son's eagerness to see his little sister.

Xinyi had already captured her brother's heart despite being only a year old.

Ling Tian adored her and spent as much time as he could playing with her, even though she was too young to fully engage with him.

Yuan Mei was relieved to see that Ling Tian truly cared for his little sister, unlike other young masters who often saw their siblings as rivals or burdens.

She watched him with a soft smile, pride swelling in her chest. After sorting out her thoughts, Yuan Mei asked Ling Tian, "Isn't our Xin'er cute, Tian'er?"

She called her daughter Xin'er lovingly while she asked with a proud look on her face.

Ling Tian responded with an innocent laugh, his eyes sparkling with affection. "She is super cute, Mom. I want to play more with her, but she can't play with me yet."

His voice had a hint of sadness, but it quickly washed away when his mother said, "She is still young, but she will be able to play with you before you even know it. So please don't be too sad about it. You can go and play with your friends for now."

Ling Tian nodded, though a bit reluctantly. "Alright, Mom. I will go and play outside, but you take care of yourself and Xin'er."

He gave her a quick hug before running outside to play.

Yuan Mei watched him go, her heart filled with warmth.

She looked down at her sleeping daughter, gently stroking her soft hair. "Your brother loves you very much, Xin'er," she whispered, planting a kiss on her tiny forehead.

Outside, Ling Tian joined his friends in the garden.

They played games of tag and hide-and-seek, their laughter echoing through the manor grounds.

Despite his youth, Ling Tian showed remarkable leadership among his peers, guiding them through their play with a natural authority.

As the sun began to set, the children were called in for dinner.

Ling Tian returned to his mother's side, his cheeks flushed from the afternoon's activities. He found Yuan Mei still holding Xinyi, who was now awake and cooing softly.

"Did you have fun, Tian'er?" Yuan Mei asked, smiling at her son.

"Yes, Mom! We played a lot," he replied enthusiastically. Then he turned to his sister, his eyes full of gentle affection. "Hi, Xin'er! Did you miss me?"

Xinyi reached out a tiny hand towards her brother, gurgling happily.

Ling Tian took her hand in his, feeling a rush of love and protectiveness.

He knew that one day, he would be able to share his adventures with her and teach her everything he knew.

As the family sat down for dinner, the atmosphere was filled with warmth and happiness.

Ling Tian chatted animatedly about his day, while Yuan Mei and Yuan Wei listened with smiles, occasionally glancing at Xinyi, who was nestled in her mother's arms.

Time continued to pass as the seasons changed, and Ling Tian became nine years old while his little sister Yuan Xinyi turned three.

Ling Tian enjoyed playing with his sister during his free time when he wasn't training.

Despite not starting his formal cultivation, his physique was at the peak of what a nine-year-old could achieve.

Ling Tian hadn't begun cultivating yet because he felt that the family's cultivation manuals were inadequate.

Every time he looked at them, he felt a strong sense that they were inferior and would hinder his future progress. This concern led him to seek advice from his father.

"Father, why do I always feel that the cultivation manuals of our family are not good enough for me like they will hinder my future path and I will regret it if I start cultivating with them?"

Yuan Wei, who had been reviewing some documents in his study, looked up thoughtfully at his son.

He could see the worry etched on Ling Tian's young face. With a gentle smile, he set the documents aside and beckoned Ling Tian to sit beside him.

"You don't have to start cultivating yet; you are still too young. Most children start cultivating at the age of 10 when their bones and muscle structure are powerful enough to handle the tempering of qi. You still have time to decide what to do for your cultivation. It might be related to your dreams."

Yuan Wei's explanation provided some comfort, but it was his father's gentle demeanor that truly eased Ling Tian's mind.

Yuan Wei continued, "Your instincts are sharp, Tian'er. If you feel that these manuals are not right for you, then it's wise to trust that feeling. Your dreams might be guiding you towards something greater, something more suited to your unique path."

Ling Tian nodded, feeling a sense of relief. "Thank you, Father. I'll continue to train my body and wait until I find the right manual."

Yuan Wei smiled warmly, "That's a good plan. Keep building your strength and honing your skills. When the time is right, the right path will reveal itself to you. Remember, cultivation is not just about following a manual; it's about understanding yourself and your potential."

Ling Tian felt a renewed sense of determination.

He knew his father was right; rushing into cultivation with the wrong manual could limit his future potential.

For now, he would focus on his physical training and wait for the right opportunity to begin his cultivation journey.

"Now go and play with your little sister. You have been training your body since early morning; she must be missing you."

Ling Tian's eyes lit up upon hearing of his sister and he jumped away from his father's side, running while yelling, "Then, I will be playing with Xin'er."

Yuan Wei had a gentle smile on his face while watching his son dash away with enthusiasm.

Ling Tian ran all the way to the garden where his sister was playing.

Yuan Xinyi was engrossed in her dolls, sitting on the grass with a look of concentration.

Yuan Mei was nearby, keeping an eye on her daughter while reading a book.

Upon seeing Ling Tian, Yuan Mei smiled softly and waved him over.

Ling Tian approached and stood in front of her, grinning widely. Yuan Mei ruffled his hair and spoke warmly.

"Did you finally have time to play with Xin'er now?"

Ling Tian replied with a bright smile, "I've finished my daily training, so I thought I'd have some fun with my sister before calling it a day, hehe."

He laughed embarrassingly, looking at his mother.

Yuan Mei just laughed at her son's response and sat back down, saying, "Alright, go and play with your sister. She has been missing you all day as well."

She continued to gaze at her daughter while reading her book.

Ling Tian looked at his sister, who was still unaware of his presence due to the distance.

He decided to sneak up behind her, moving silently on the grass. When he was right behind her, he roared,

"BOOO!"

"Ahh!!" Xin'er's soul nearly flew out of her body when she heard the sudden sound.

She ran away, then turned around just to see her brother looking at her and laughing.

As soon as she saw Ling Tian, she forgot about the prank and ran up to him, her small feet pattering against the ground.

"Big Brother, Big Brother!!"

Ling Tian picked her up and hugged her tightly, asking with a playful tone, "Did I scare you, Xin'er?"

Xin'er puffed up her cheeks and buried her head in Ling Tian's shoulder, mumbling, "Brother, you meanie, you scared me."

Ling Tian chuckled, patting her head gently. "Hehe, I was missing my adorable little sister all day long. So, how could I not prank you a little after finally meeting you?"

"Hmph, you always do this to me. After finishing your training, you come here to bully me," Xin'er said, turning her face away in a playful huff.

Ling Tian put her down, grabbed her cheeks, and turned her face back towards him. "Hehe, my dear little sister is so cute that I can't help myself. Will my cute and adorable little sister forgive this big bad brother?"

Xin'er couldn't resist his puppy eyes and said, "Okay, big brother, I will forgive you, but on one condition."

Ling Tian nodded enthusiastically. "As long as my Xin'er can forgive me, your big brother will agree to any condition."

Xin'er looked at him suspiciously. "Really? Any condition?"

Ling Tian nodded. Xin'er thought for a moment before speaking firmly, "Then you have to play with me for the rest of the day, and you won't run off in the middle of our game."

Ling Tian laughed softly. "Then I will do as you wish and play with my little princess all day long."

He picked her up again and gave her a soft peck on the cheek.

Xin'er hugged him back and laughed. After messing around for a while, Ling Tian asked, "So, what should I play with my little princess?"

Xin'er's eyes sparkled with excitement. "Let's play pretend! You can be the brave knight, and I'll be the princess you save from the evil dragon!"

Ling Tian nodded, his heart warmed by her enthusiasm. "Alright, Princess Xin'er. Your knight is ready to save you."

They spent the entire day immersed in their imaginative world, playing pretend and creating adventures in the garden.

Ling Tian, with his boundless energy and creativity, made every game exciting and memorable for his little sister.

Yuan Mei watched them from a distance, her heart filled with joy at the sight of her children's bond.

As the sun began to set, Yuan Mei called them inside for dinner.

Ling Tian carried his tired but happy sister back into the house.

After a hearty meal with their parents, Ling Tian helped Xin'er get ready for bed.

"Goodnight, Xin'er," Ling Tian whispered, tucking her in.

"Goodnight, big brother," Xin'er replied with a sleepy smile.

Ling Tian went to take a shower to clean himself off from the day's activities.

The warm water washed away the dirt and sweat, leaving him feeling refreshed. As he dried off, he reflected on the day's events.

His heart was full, knowing he had made his little sister happy.

After getting dressed, Ling Tian walked to his room, ready to rest.

As he lay in bed, he thought about his future and his cultivation journey.

He knew he had time, and until then, he would cherish these moments with his family.