Chapter 123: Whispers of Kinship
The Liu Clan house stirred with the soft hum of a new morning,
the air carrying the faint scent of freshly baked bread and the earthy aroma of brewing tea,
golden sunlight filtering through the wooden shutters, casting warm patches across the polished floors,
a modest hall adorned with scrolls of family triumphs, their faded ink telling tales of resilience and honor.
Lin Xuan awoke to the sound of laughter drifting from the kitchen,
his body still adjusting to the 6th Layer Profound Heavenly Realm,
his black eyes faintly glowing with white pupils, the Celestial Unity Crest on his back pulsing gently with each breath,
a reminder of the tower's lingering presence in his sea of consciousness.
He rose, stretching his frame, and followed the sound,
finding Anika and Liu Yue at work—Anika deftly flipping flatbreads over a clay stove,
her raven hair tied back, a playful smile lighting her face,
Liu Yue beside her, chopping herbs with a giggle, her crimson ribbon swaying as she worked.
The kitchen was a small haven, its walls lined with jars of spices and dried roots,
the clatter of wooden spoons against bowls mingling with their chatter,
a warmth that felt foreign yet inviting to Lin Xuan.
He leaned against the doorway, clearing his throat, and Anika turned, her eyes sparkling as she teased,
"Good morning, my clumsy husband. Care to try your hand at this, or shall we spare the bread your wrath?"
Liu Yue burst into laughter, her voice light, "Brother, remember that time you burned the stew during the forest camp? Anika, you should've seen it—smoke everywhere!"
Lin Xuan chuckled, a rare sound, rubbing the back of his neck as he stepped closer,
"I'll leave the cooking to you two experts. But I'll take a piece of that bread if it's safe."
Anika handed him a warm flatbread, her fingers brushing his, a tentative warmth sparking between them.
He bit into it, the savory taste grounding him, and watched as Liu Yue and Anika shared another story—
this time of his stubborn refusal to abandon a wounded boar during a trial, his determination earning a grudging respect from the beast.
Luo Shuang stood silently in the doorway, her silver hair cascading like a silken waterfall,
her 2nd Layer Profound Heavenly Realm aura a gentle hum,
her beautiful features softened as she observed Anika's care,
a mother's heart thawing at the sight of her children laughing with this mysterious woman who claimed to be Lin Xuan's wife.
After breakfast, Lin Xuan lingered, his wariness still a shadow in his mind,
and asked Anika, his voice cautious, "You've settled in so easily… where did you come from? What family do you speak of?"
Anika paused, her smile fading slightly as she stirred a pot, her tone gentle yet evasive,
"I had a family once, lost to time and trials. They were… different, bound by bonds stronger than blood. That's all I'll say for now—it's a story for another day, You'll know soon."
Her words sparked a flicker of curiosity in Lin Xuan,
but he nodded, letting the moment pass as Liu Yue tugged his sleeve, eager to train.
That evening, the courtyard glowed under a starlit sky,
the air cool with the scent of jasmine and the rustle of leaves,
a vast expanse framed by the Liu Clan's sturdy walls, the perfect stage for their practice.
Lin Xuan and Liu Yue faced each other, her 7th Layer Profound Heavenly Realm aura steady,
his movements fluid as he taught her Celestial Glide, a footwork art from his trials,
their steps syncing with a graceful rhythm, his voice guiding her,
"Feel the ground, Yue'er—let it push you forward, not hold you back. Like this."
He demonstrated, his body gliding with a soft whoosh, evading an imaginary strike,
Liu Yue mimicked him, her form improving with each try, her laughter mingling with his praise.
Anika joined them, her presence a quiet challenge to the night's stillness,
her raven hair framing her face as she approached Liu Yue,
"Try this with me," she said, her voice lilting as she activated Eternal Soul Ember's Soul Spark Revival.
A faint obsidian-violet spark ignited in her palm, its warmth mending a small cut on Liu Yue's hand from a misstep,
the glow casting a gentle light as Liu Yue gasped, her eyes wide with wonder,
"Sister Anika, what is this? It feels… alive!"
Anika smiled, her tone patient, "It's a piece of my power, a revival spark. It can heal, but it takes time to master. Let's practice together."
Lin Xuan watched, his internal conflict warring within—doubt clashing with the trust budding in his chest,
the family's acceptance of Anika beginning as Luo Shuang and Liu Yang observed from the sidelines,
Luo Shuang's voice soft, "She's good for them, Xuan'er. Perhaps there's truth in her words."
Liu Yang nodded, his 3rd Layer Profound Heavenly Realm aura steady, the Blood Forged Glaive resting at his side,
"She fights like she belongs. Maybe she does."
The courtyard grew quiet, the air lightening with the scent of night blooms and a fragile hope,
Lin Xuan's mentorship a bridge, Anika's warmth a promise,
their bond a foundation trembling on the edge of acceptance, yet shadowed by his lingering questions.