It was supposed to be a calm morning.
The sun was warm, the birds were singing sweet nothings, and Yueli had just braided a crown into her hair with vines that scented like wild peaches.
Her baby was gurgling peacefully in a floating cradle made of clouds, Di Yan was shirtless ( because why not),
sharpening his blade, and the spirit wolves were curled in the grass,
pretending not to judge the couple's flirty glances.
A perfect scene.
Until it wasn't.
A loud BOOM shattered the silence,
followed by a cry from the sky.
Yueli and Di Yan looked up— just in time to see a flaming carriage spiraling from the clouds.
" Did someone order drama for breakfast?" Yueli muttered.
Di Yan stood. "Let's go."
The flaming carriage crash- landed not far from their mountain camp, bursting into magical debris. From the smoke emerged bandits— at least ten of them— dressed in mismatched armor and carrying enchanted weapons.
One of them, a beefy man with a goatee and a very unfortunate haircut, pointed a staff at them.
" You! Hand over the child!" he roared.
" She holds power we need!"
Yueli titled her head. " You want my baby?"
The baby, sensing the threat, hiccupped — and the cloud cradled exploded into glittery confetti. She dropped into Di Yan's arms with a laugh and promptly bit his chin.
" She bit me," Di Yan said flatly.
" She's showing affection," Yueli replied.
" She drew blood!"
" She's a spicy little bean."
The bandits charged.
Di Yan handed the baby to a spirit wolf.
" Protect her."
" Grrr," the wolf agreed, glowing blue.
Yueli leapt into action, vines lashing from her wrists, wrapping around bandits and slamming them into trees like angry noodles.
Di Yan, with a sweep of his silver hair,
drew his blade. It shimmered with moonlight and heat. The nearest attacker swung a cursed axe at him— Di Yan parried and kicked the man into a mud puddle.
Yueli whipped around. " Did you just spin- kick that guy into next week?"
" Of course," Di Yan said. " I've been practicing."
Another bandit tried to sneak up behind Yueli, only to be head butted by the floating baby— who'd decided flying into skulls was her new favorite game.
" BOOM!" she yelled with glee.
" You taught her that?" Di Yan asked between slashes.
" I didn't teach her— she's gifted."
The last of the bandits regrouped in a panicked huddle. " Abort mission! This is a demon family!"
" Too late!" Yueli sang, leaping into the air and landing smack in the middle of them.
They went flying like confetti at a wedding.
Di Yan finished the last one with a spinning crescent slash, then calmly adjusted his robes like he hadn't just obliterated a platoon of magical thugs.
The baby giggled and clapped her hands— triggering a tiny earthquake.
" Okay, okay, no more clapping," Yueli said,
scooping her up. " Let's keep the mountain intact for at least one more day."
Suddenly, a scroll dropped from the sky,
spinning dramatically before landing in Di Yan's hand.
He opened it. His silver brows furrowed.
It's from the Celestial Palace."
" Oh no," Yueli groaned. " Do they want her to enroll in baby combat school or something?"
Di Yan handed her the scroll.
To the bearers of the Starborn Child,
The gates of the Immortal Arena shall
open in three days. You are formally invited.
Bring the child.
Your participation is… strongly encouraged.
Yueli sighed. " What is it with ancient powers and vague threats wrapped in calligraphy?"
Di Yan kissed her cheek, smirking.
" Looks like we're going on a trip."
She gave him a long look. " Are you excited, or do you just want an excuse to wear that dramatic armor again?"
" Yes," he said.
She rolled her eyes with a smirk, then turned to the sky, where clouds were already parting like curtains— revealing a golden streak of light pointing toward the distant mountains.
Their baby squealed and reached upward, the tiny star mark on her forehead glowing softly again.
Yueli and Di Yan exchanged a look— half thrill, half exasperation. Trouble was calling, as always.
And this time, it came dressed in divine silk, with rules they weren't planning to follow.
They had three days to prepare.
But something told them the real chaos had already begun.
Yueli's fingers tightened slightly around Di Yan's. " Whatever's waiting at that arena… they're not ready for us."
He squeezed her hand back. " Good. Let them tremble."
The sky darkened for just a second—
brief, almost unnoticeable. But the chill that ran down Yueli's spine wasn't imagined.
A presence lingered in the air. Watching. Waiting.
Their daughter let out a giggle, then pointed toward the clouds where faint shapes moved like shadows behind sunlight. Spirit wolves stirred uneasily.
There was more to this invitation than ceremonial combat or celestial politics.
This… was the beginning of something deeper. Older. A storm beneath the silk.
And by the time they arrived at the Immortal Arena, it would be too late to turn back.
The path ahead had already chosen them.