Perched lightly on the mountain rocks, Xiao Xuner fluttered like a regal violet butterfly. Her alluring figure drew graceful arcs as she danced effortlessly to the summit. Tilting her head ever so slightly, her gaze fell upon the youth at the cliff edge. Taking one sight of him, she gave a small pause—for although it had been merely half a day, she felt something had changed in him.
When their eyes met amid the whispering wind, Xiao Xuner finally discovered the change in his aura—it was confidence. It had finally reawakened within this youth—the most shining halo he once owned three years ago—returning once more. Delighted by that enigmatic smile flickering about his lips that lingered even in absence, Xiao Xuner revealed a pair of cute little dimples and murmured mirthfully, “The grown-up look on you, elder brother Xiao Yan, seems to indicate I won’t need to cheer you today?”
“A person will surely mature after experiencing setbacks, won’t he?” Xiao Yan lifted his shoulder and replied with an amused smile.
“She’ll regret it for sure,” Xuner puckered her lips, whispering firmly—her determination like divine condemnation.
Smiling at her, Xiao Yan lightly adjusted his garments, closing the distance between them. Facing Xiao Xuner, who now neared his height, his eyes swept over her delicate childish face. For a moment, he felt wistful—he remembered the days of that snot-nosed little girl trailing after him bare-bottomed in clumsy mischief. And now, her metamorphosis had become truly charming indeed.
Chuckling faintly, he cast eyes with tender affection as his hand without delay seized the girl’s soft cheeks amid her surprise gaze.
“Now, you’re finally growing up, Little Xuner,” he mused, continuing lightheartedly, “Still haven’t forgotten your elder brother tumbling in bruises from falling everywhere just to get you berries though, right?”
He stood in stunned silence, gazing with those pure, crystalline eyes upon the boy’s sincere onyx pupils, feeling laughter unfurl in her heart. Before, he used to delight in pinching her baby face. Yet, he had sealed away parts of himself like building walls in his mind ever since those happenings three years ago. He kept even her distant behind a veil of cold civility—no matter how hard she would try to draw closer…
“Oh, is he really back… Still sees me as the childhood tag-along? What a wooden blockhead,” She pouted faintly but then scolded herself for her own greediness.
“Hey, Xun-er. These past three tough years… Sorry…” Xiao Yan awkwardly scratched his head under the warmth in his heart, a touch apologetic. “Back when I didn’t know the meaning of my own existence, still, you’ve been always bein’ there at my side…”
With a heartmelt grin, years’ worth of pent-up said dissolved with these uncoordinated little words from Xiao Yan.
“Erm—you know what, Xiao Xuner… How much money are you sitting on now?” Finally releasing his playful hold over her tender cheek, Xiao Yan grinned sheepishly, asking with noticeable strain.
Outside Father himself from the Family, only she had maintained closeness; after embarrassing him in the gathering that morning, there simply wasn’t a way to approach Dad and demand finances again now. So he shifted plans and focused on her.
” Money? You need it, elder brother？” Xiao Xuner blinked her glittering big eyes in astonishment.
“Ah—well—a couple things needed… just short on some…”
A faint heat crept through Xiao Yan’s face—an odd new situation to seek such funds from girls in previous and present lives alike. Witnessing the unaccustomed awkwardness blooming across XiaoYan’s expression, the girl felt like this was a fresh treat—bringing up her delicate hand playfully to cover laughter. “A little over one-thousand gold. Enough?”
And as if in a magic spectacle, a dainty finger behind her back snapped and revealed forthwith between two slender fingers a gilded card—embossed with five dazzling wavelike glimmers.
“Five-wavelength purple glyph, Golden Debit Card—requires not lesser than Dou Ling status in Wulian Continent to be eligible for… unless of-course you have powerful backing.”
“Oh yes,” nodding eagerly, Xiao Yan almost reached greedily to pinch the girl’s soft cheeks again when common-sense intervened.
“Just take easy. I’m returning all the debts to you.” Xiao Yan patted his chest in firm commitment.
“Pfah! Who cares anyway～” She pursed her lips cutely while stashing behind her the shimmering Zi Jin Card again quickly.
Then Xiao Yan waved and hopped excited down the mountainside.
“Come along, it’ll be a city tour tomorrow in Wutan～we ought to sleep early~！”
He disappeared around the hill leaving a grinning Xuner behind still fixed to her ground and watching that long-gone flamboyant boy reviving from years of silence in front her again with renewed energy, quietly muttering with a sweet smile:
“Nalan Yanran… shall I hate…thank ya?”
…
Morning Sun pierced gently through her window across from the bed where a certain boy trained in stillness, pouring warmth like gentle blessing.
“Huu—” A great exhalation escaped his silent repose, followed by a visible breath—whiter like mist—coursing rhythmically up nose and mouth, nourishing the weary bones once dormant before…
Sudden opened eyes—gleamed in ghostly whiteness. Xiao Yan stretched, arch smiling in pure enjoyment:
“Feelin’ it at last—The Strength Rising～! 3 long painful years, finally… It returned at long last!”
Wriggling tiredly off the bed, loosening body, clothing changing—he turned as Xuners’ melodious chirp sounded beyond his door—
“Still snoozing, elder brother Yan？”
“What a punctual early riser indeed—” Shaking head slightly at such liveliness so early, he approached cupboards rumbling inside for a few moments before emerging with tiny treasure box in arms. Opening with carefulness as brilliant golden glow sprang out making him close the eyes in slight dazzled delight —
“My entire fortune rests in here…” He embraced the small case with a helpless chuff of amusement.
Door slid open. And the vision that stood before was her.
His admiration was hard to ignore today. For she wore a simple but perfect emerald dress complimenting every soft-curving line; long trousers snugly wrapped alluringly her slender perfect legs into supple silken curves as the sun danced off them gently.
Fruitfully developed figure: graceful thighs, perky firm butt, modest burgeoning chest all coherently sculpted youth’s radiant exuberance into a lively alluring package. Added the distinct serene allure unique to her—was something Xiao Yan had absolutely never perceived within any other girl ever around.
“Tad late you were.” Holding the black-issuer card, she giggled, handing.
A basic Gold Debit—one that never reached past five thousand.
Catching up on the gesture smoothly, he teased:
“Prettying up all fancy huh? Or is some lucky date on the list？”
“Aww… Yesie!” She answered coyly. ”First-ever invite you made over 3yrs…Xuner must be extra pretty! Of course！”
Her cheeks rounded in soft crescent laughter while eyes melted with tender cheer.
Laughingly, in return, XiaoYan fired a banter while strutting alongside. Conversing with glee outside their Clan domain, they met Clan folks who gawked weirdly to the intimate interaction between a girl so aloof. The Clan’s finest pearl.
No stranger to the whispers of Clan folks following the pair, Xiao Yan simply led Xuners out with nonchalance. Winding slowly through sun-blazing yet heavily populated streets of Wutan—no ordinary town it lay beneath the banner of Great Gama Empire.
The air buzzed with life all over. Mid-mornings’ blaze hadn‘t dissuaded bustling crowds; now and now an odd non-human species too.
With XiaoYan beside to support, XiaoXuners transformed livelier than usual: dragging the helpless boy across hodgepodge market carts filled with curious trinkets; sweet silvery tones of her girlish delight fluttering amidst sun-stung heat making cool relief breeze.
At last, play weariness caught her, he took her towards nearby apothecary to spend near-a-thousand-coin treasure.
Purchase completed: three 20yrs-old Violet Folium Orchids and two 5-years Matured Bone-Purified Flowers: both common, obtainable with money. However, better ones required venturing oneself through forests, or resorting to auctions/floating bazaars for.
Watching his hoard shrink rapidly as coins slipped into trade, XiaoYan shook his head smilingly at his foolishness:
“Truly, one cannot underestimate the value of coins in this Wulian Continent…!”
The medicinal herbs were settled now, yet one ingredient lagged:
A Level-One Wood-element Monster Core.
Tai Sui Yellow Amulet Paper FuLu Taoist Love Talisman Traditional Chinese Spiritual Charm Attracting Love Protecting Marriage