Three years had passed since Ling Huan was born into this world. His life had been going well—his training with his father continued, and he was learning more about the world through the books in their home. But one day, joyful news arrived.
"Your mother is pregnant," his father said proudly.
Ling Huan, who had been practicing with his sword, was briefly surprised before breaking into a wide smile. He was going to have a younger sibling!
Deep down, he felt happy because he wouldn't be alone anymore. Since he was little, he had been accustomed to tough training and sometimes felt lonely. With a sibling on the way, he was sure life would become more exciting.
From that day on, his training spirit soared. He wanted to become a great older brother and show off his skills to his sibling. He trained harder, refined his techniques, and even started developing his own fighting style.
Nine months passed. One tense night, the cries of a baby finally echoed through their home. Ling Huan waited anxiously outside the room until his father came out with a wide smile.
"You have a little sister, Huan'er," he said with a laugh.
Ling Huan paused. A little sister? He had hoped for a younger brother to be his future training partner. But although he was a bit disappointed, he still felt happy. After all, he now had someone to love.
They named the baby girl Ling Yue. She had thick black hair and sharp eyes like their father, unlike Ling Huan, who resembled their mother. Still, he found his sister adorable.
From that day forward, Ling Huan became a very protective older brother. He always wanted to be near his sister, watch over her, and even helped take care of her. There were times when their mother fell ill from exhaustion, and Ling Huan quickly stepped in to take her place.
When Ling Yue cried, he was the first to comfort her. When she struggled to sleep, he gently rocked her bed and told her stories.
Time passed. Two years later, Ling Huan turned five, and Ling Yue was now two.
By this time, Ling Huan had become much stronger. Every day, he trained his body, honing the sword techniques his father taught him. Although he still couldn't defeat his father, he had become much quicker and more agile in combat.
On the other hand, Ling Yue was more interested in learning with their mother. She studied the power of their clan—the Fox Clan, and the divine powers worshipped by many people in this world.
Even though their interests differed, their bond remained close. But that didn't mean they never argued.
Ling Huan often teased his sister—sometimes scaring her, hiding her toys, or teasing her in other ways.
"Huan-ge, you're mean!" Ling Yue would often complain to their mother.
Yet, despite being annoyed, Ling Yue never truly hated her brother. On the contrary, they grew even closer over time. Ling Huan knew that as an older brother, his duty was not only to tease but also to protect.
At this age, both of them began to better understand the world around them. And without them realizing it, their peaceful lives were slowly heading toward greater challenges.
Their days were filled with laughter and the warmth of family. Between training and lessons, they often spent time playing together. One of their favorite places was a small garden at the edge of the village.
In the middle of the garden stood a beautiful large tree. Its leaves were thick and bright green, and when the sunlight filtered through them, the garden looked like a fairy tale. Beneath the tree hung a simple swing made of wood and rope—Ling Yue's favorite spot.
"Gege, push me higher!" Ling Yue shouted with laughter from the swing.
Ling Huan smiled and gave her a gentle push. They played tag, hide-and-seek, and sometimes just sat together talking about little things only children could understand.
One day, while they were playing as usual, two other children appeared from behind the trees. A boy with short hair and a lively spirit, and a slightly shy girl stood not far from them.
Ling Huan and Ling Yue were briefly silent. There was an awkward moment.
The boy finally spoke first. "Hi! I'm Tian, and this is my sister Mei. Can we play with you?"
After a few seconds, Ling Yue nodded slowly. "Okay!"
And from that day on, they began playing together. They used tree branches as toy swords, pretending to be great warriors saving the world. Laughter filled the garden that afternoon.
As the sun began to set behind the mountains, an orange hue covered the sky.
"We have to go home!" Ling Huan said in a panic. "If we don't, Father will be angry."
They said goodbye to Tian and Mei, promising to play together again the next day.
When they got home, Ling Yue excitedly told their parents, "Today my brother and I met two new friends! Their names are Tian and Mei!"
Their parents listened with warm smiles.
"That's wonderful. Making friends is important," their mother said, stroking Ling Yue's head.
Dinner time arrived. On the table, classic Chinese dishes were served—roast duck with crispy skin, stir-fried mustard greens with garlic, egg drop soup, and a big bowl of warm rice. A delicious aroma filled the house.
Their father and Ling Huan ate heartily, the sound of clinking bowls and spoons filling the room. But unlike them, Ling Yue only ate the meat and set aside the vegetables.
"Why aren't you eating your vegetables?" her mother asked gently.
Ling Yue grimaced. "I don't like vegetables…"
Seeing this, Ling Huan leaned closer and whispered mysteriously, "If you don't eat your vegetables… the demon will come tonight and eat you!"
Ling Yue gasped, her eyes wide. "Really?"
Ling Huan held back his laughter and nodded seriously. With a frightened face, Ling Yue slowly began eating her vegetables.
Their parents chuckled at their children's antics.
Night fell. After dinner, Ling Huan decided to read a book in the living room. This time, Ling Yue sat beside him. They read picture books, then moved on to a light history book about their clan's ancestral legends.
Time passed quickly. After an hour, Ling Yue began to doze off and eventually fell asleep on her brother's shoulder.
Their mother came to tuck them in. But seeing her daughter sound asleep, she smiled softly and carried her.
Ling Huan followed behind, his eyes also growing heavy.
As usual, before bed, their mother sat by Ling Huan's bed and read a bedtime story. A tale about a sacred fox protecting the village from demon attacks slowly lulled him to sleep.
And the night ended in the warmth and peace of their little family.
The next morning, warm sunlight streamed into their humble home. Ling Huan was already awake and dressed in his training clothes. He tied his hair, grabbed his wooden sword, and headed outside, where his father was already waiting.
Ling Yue, who had just woken up, was still in her pajamas, clutching a small doll. She sat on a big rock nearby, watching her brother train.
"Good job, Huan. Your sword swings are getting steadier," praised his father while observing him.
Ling Huan smiled. He continued repeating the movements his father taught with great enthusiasm. Even though sweat soaked his forehead, he didn't show any sign of exhaustion.
After a while, they took a break. Their father sat on a wooden log and took a drink from a jug. Gazing at the sky, he suddenly smiled softly.
"When I was your age, I had already defeated many enemies from other clans. I used to be one of the strongest warriors of my generation," he said, beginning a story.
Ling Yue and Ling Huan sat close to their father, their eyes sparkling with curiosity.
"Before I met your mother, I once fought demon soldiers from the north. They were strong, fast, and cruel. But I held them off alone to protect the village."
"Waaah!" Ling Yue gasped in awe.
"You're amazing, Father…" Ling Huan muttered, gazing at his father with deep admiration.
Their father chuckled and patted both children on the head.
"I just hope that one day, you'll become a stronger warrior than me, Huan. And you, Yue… you can be like your mother—wise, strong, and full of love."
Both children nodded, though perhaps only Ling Huan truly understood the meaning behind his words.
After resting, they went inside for a quick breakfast. Then, as usual, Ling Huan and Ling Yue decided to go out and play.
With cheerful steps and holding hands, they walked toward the garden where they usually played. A gentle breeze carried their laughter along the path.
When they arrived, under the big tree, two familiar figures were already there. Tian was hanging on the swing, laughing, while Mei sat on the tree roots weaving flowers.
"Tian! Mei!" Ling Yue called, waving her hand.
Their two friends looked up and smiled brightly.
"Hey! You came too!" Tian replied, quickly hopping off the swing.
They joined together and began playing as usual. That day, they played sword-fighting, role-playing as heroes and evil monsters, and even built little "houses" out of twigs and leaves.
They laughed, ran, fell, and laughed again. Even though Ling Huan was much older in age, his face and body still looked like a child's, making their time together feel natural.
In that simple little garden, they created their own world—a world with no burdens, no curses, and no heavy fate waiting ahead.
Only laughter, togetherness, and memories that would forever be etched in their hearts.