BOOM BOOM BOOM
"Mom! I did it! I really did it!"
An angelic voice rang out, bursting with excitement as she hurried into the clearing, her flowing white hair dancing gracefully in the gentle breeze.
She had just defated a spirit warrior beast, Frostfang Wolf, while not particularly threatening to most cultivators, shouldn't be beaten by some 7-year-old kid.
Her violet eyes sparkled vividly with joy and triumph as she ran eagerly to her mother, who had been watching the entire encounter from a nearby cluster of trees. The setting sun cast a warm, golden glow upon her mother's frail figure, accentuating the pallor of her sickly appearance and hinting that something was gravely wrong.
As the girl drew closer, her mother's smile blossomed warmly. "I saw everything, little star," she said, her voice tender and soothing. Without hesitation, the girl threw herself into her mother's embrace, wrapping her small arms around her tightly, savoring every heartwarming second.
While they continued their hug, the mother felt her daughter's body tremble slightly, igniting a brief flicker of anxious worry in her eyes. But her concerns quickly melted away when her beloved daughter pulled back, eyes filled with unwavering determination, and declared boldly, "Mom! One day, I will be the strongest and protect you from everyone!"
Hearing her sudden burst of confidence coupled with her daughter's radiant smile, the mother's heart swelled with overwhelming joy. A gentle, happy tear slowly formed at the corner of her eyes.
She giggled softly, masking her emotional vulnerability. "Hehe... Don't underestimate me; even though I have my illness, I'm still way stronger than you—let alone when I recover," she said gently, her voice becoming like a mosquito in the last sentence, causing her daugther's pupil to tremble.
After all, despite her young age of seven, the little girl quietly absorbed her mother's subtle vulnerability once more. while her tiny heart silently promised to become stronger and help her mother.
She had always known that her mother was sick and vulnerable, yet only recently she figured out the harsh truth,
'Mother's condition is getting worse…'
Once again, she quickly embraced her mother, burying her face into the comforting warmth of her chest to hide the tears now threatening to spill from her eyes. She knew her mother always wanted her fine being so she chose to not talk about why she was hiding her condition. Thankfully, her mother didn't seem to notice—not because she lacked the senses but because she was completely lost in her own deep thoughts.
'It's already been eight years since I fled to this mortal plane to hide. With her in my belly. The fact that they haven't found us yet is nothing short of a miracle.' Her heart tightened painfully as she sighed inwardly. Although she skillfully concealed her emotions behind her always gentle smile, deep within, she feared that something would happen to her daughter more than anything, and she couldn't help but ask inwardly once again.
'Was this the right choice...'
****************************************
Four years passed in the blink of an eye. Within a modest wooden shelter hidden deep in the forest, a young woman sat peacefully, delicately cultivating. Her breathing was rhythmic, blending harmoniously with the soft whispers of the wind gently brushing through the open window. From a quiet corner, her mother watched lovingly.
In these past years, the little girl had blossomed into a dedicated cultivator. Her cultivation had continuously soared, rapidly breaking through again and again until she finally reached the pinnacle of the Spirit Warrior realm, becoming a 9th-level Spirit Warrior. Also, it had been a considerable time since her last breakthrough, and she now stood on the verge of reaching into the Spirit Master realm.
Then, while the gentle currents of Qi flowed steadily into her daughter's dantian, the mother's expression suddenly darkened. A sudden pain tightened her chest, forcing her to quickly and quietly slip out of the room.
Once safely away from her daughter's senses, she collapsed against the wall, violently coughing until blood splattered vividly onto her pale hand.
'It seems I truly don't have much time left,' she acknowledged bitterly, staring at the gold crimson drops that marked the cruel truth of her dwindling lifespan. She knew well enough that this mortal plane held no cure powerful enough to save her.
With trembling fingers, she reached for medicinal herbs lying scattered on a nearby table and swallowed them slowly. The bitter taste offered no relief, merely serving as a facade to reassure her daughter, to keep alive the fragile illusion of hope that she was healing. Deep inside, she knew the painful truth would eventually surface, yet she'd chosen to conceal it for now. It was a mother's instinct guiding her—a feeling she trusted implicitly, though she was sure her sharp daughter had already sensed something was off.
Her mind hesitated for a fleeting moment. 'Should I also tell her about—' Quickly shaking her head, she dismissed the thought. Revealing the entire truth about how she ended up in this dire condition was something she simply couldn't bear.
So, she had told her daughter a half-truth: she was chased by an evil group and had inflicted this injury upon her. Yet she knew deep down that the whole truth was something that could break her lovely daughter.
With a subtle shake of her head, she tried to gather herself, steadying her chaotic thoughts. 'It's not that I regret using that forbidden skill; if sacrificing myself meant creating hope for my entire race, I would do it again without hesitation. She is not just our last hope—she is the future we have desperately fought for.'
Taking a deep breath to steady her trembling heart, she returned quietly to the doorway, resuming her gentle observation of her daughter. Her eyes softened as they traced her daughter's youthful beauty and graceful figure, an aching nostalgia filling her chest.
Memories of her own carefree childhood surfaced painfully, carrying both sweetness and bitterness.
'Even though I don't fear death itself, I still carry many regrets… dreams I once cherished, left unfulfilled...'
It was difficult to comprehend the complex emotions swirling within her, yet the sight of her daughter's growing beauty, innocence, and strength stirred some sorrow. Her daughter was growing ever more beautiful, just like herself in the past...
A few hours later…
Qi surged powerfully, forming whirlwinds around the young woman as she sat cross-legged, her expression calm yet fiercely determined. Her breath steadied as the air around her vibrated intensely. With a sudden burst, her aura exploded outward, filling the room with spiritual energy.
Spirit Master!
Eyes snapping open, shining brilliantly with exhilaration, she immediately leaped to her feet. "MOM!!" she exclaimed joyfully, then without hesitation, she raced forward, wrapping her arms tightly around her mother in a fierce, celebratory embrace. While she embraced her mother tightly, a soft, fluffy white tail emerged out of nowhere, gently and playfully coiling itself around her mother's curvy figure, unintentionally creating an amusing yet mildly uncomfortable moment for her mother.
"...Little Star"
her mother began gently, a warm, affectionate smile playing across her lips as she deliberately ignored the ticklish sensation her daughter's newly emerged tail caused. Her eyes held a mixture of tenderness and seriousness as she softly added, "It's time for a little talk."
"Hmm?"