Days flowed gently within Spirit Hall's marble embrace, each one a canvas for Yoriichi's burgeoning aspirations.
At five, he trained alone in a secluded grove near the castle, where ancient willows swayed under a soft breeze. His wooden sword rested nearby as he practiced stances inspired by his past life's Sun Breathing, movements sharp but restrained.
My body can't yet handle the sun's essence, he thought, recalling the searing trials of his Demon Slayer youth. Crafting Sun Breathing had been a crucible of endurance, each form born from syncing breath with the sun's radiant power.
He remembered how peers forged Thunder, Water, or Wind Breathing, drawing nature's essence to meld with their blades, unleashing elemental fury. Sun Breathing burned demons to ash, he mused, but this world has no demons.
Yoriichi pondered adapting his technique, envisioning slashes that radiated heat like a solar flare, trapping foes in an inescapable blaze.
I'll refine it to make enemies falter, their senses overwhelmed, he planned, his maroon eyes glinting with resolve.
A bolder idea emerged: a new breathing technique, weaving defense and offense into a seamless dance. It could balance agility with power, a shield that strikes, he thought, imagining forms that deflected while cutting, tailored to this world's soul-powered foes.
I'll start slowly, testing it when my martial soul awakens. The grove's tranquility fueled his focus, its whispering leaves a reminder of nature's lessons.
Returning to their chamber, Yoriichi and Renxue found Bibi Dong meditating, her aura a steady hum of soul power. They exchanged a glance, choosing silence to honor her focus, and slipped out to refresh.
In the dining hall, maids served a fragrant meal of lotus-wrapped rice and spiced fish, the twins savoring the warmth. "This tastes like the flowers outside," Renxue said, her purple eyes bright. Yoriichi nodded, his mind drifting to his new technique.
After lunch, they wandered Spirit Hall's perimeter, pausing at a crystal fountain where water danced in prismatic arcs. Renxue tossed a pebble, giggling as ripples spread, while Yoriichi watched, noting the guards' subtle soul auras. Their strength varies—some rival elders, he observed, his curiosity sharpening.
Bibi Dong, sensing their quiet departure, smiled inwardly. Their thoughtfulness is a gift, she thought, resuming her meditation, her level 89 soul power pulsing steadily. Her mind turned to Dugu Bo, awaiting his call to cure his son's poison.
High-grade soul bones isn't easy to find and takes time, she reasoned, her patience honed by strategy. She recalled the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well's vibrant flora—scarlet blossoms and frost-kissed vines—that could unlock new cultivation paths.
Yue Guan's tome holds the key, she mused, knowing the Chrysanthemum Douluo's heirloom book detailed rare herbs. She planned to spark the twins' interest in botany, encouraging them to approach Yue Guan with questions.
If they're curious, he'll trust them with the book, she thought, respecting their freedom. If not, she'd leverage her bond with Yue Guan and Gui Mei, the Ghost Douluo, to borrow it discreetly.
To nurture their curiosity, Bibi Dong had introduced a storytelling game, weaving tales of mythical plants with hidden powers.
Yesterday, she'd gifted them a small botanical journal, its pages blank for their sketches and notes. "Write what you see in the gardens," she'd said, sparking Renxue's excitement and Yoriichi's quiet interest.
Their engagement could open Yue Guan's door, she hoped, her plan subtle to avoid pressuring them. In three days, she'd venture to a coastal auction, chasing a rumored relic—a Tidal Pearl said to harmonize soul power, ideal for stabilizing Dugu Bo's cure.
Less than five months remained until the twins' sixth birthday, when their martial souls would awaken. Their potential will dazzle, but if there's any issue with their martial soul, I'll find treasures to ensure their strength, she vowed, her maternal fire burning bright.
Afternoon brought a visit to Spirit Hall's vault, where Bibi Dong retrieved a relic—a silver amulet etched with floral runes, said to enhance herb affinity.
This could aid the twins' botanical pursuits, she thought, tucking it away for a future gift. She joined Yoriichi and Renxue in the garden, where they played their storytelling game, inventing tales of a magical tree that whispered secrets.
"It could heal anyone!" Renxue exclaimed, her hands waving. Yoriichi added, "Or make you strong like a beast." Bibi Dong laughed, weaving their ideas into a story of a tree that guarded ancient wisdom, her voice captivating them.
At dinner, Qian Xunji joined, his presence a calculated intrusion. Bibi Dong greeted him with a practiced nod. "Master, how go the trade alliances?" she asked, her tone smooth. He boasted of new pacts, engaging Renxue with a tale of a merchant's gem hoard. "Will you get me one?" she asked, eyes sparkling. Yoriichi listened quietly, his calm gaze masking keen observation.
His pride blinds him, Bibi Dong thought, her plot to unravel Qian Xunji in the Secret Chamber growing sharper. Each smile she offered deepened his trust, a step toward his downfall.
Night fell, and Bibi Dong shared a new story—a tale of a star-born vine that granted visions of the future. "Did it show happy things?" Renxue asked, yawning. "Sometimes," Bibi Dong replied, "if the heart was true." Yoriichi's eyes lingered, pondering its meaning.
Tucking them in, she whispered, "Dream boldly, my sun and angel." The twins nestled close, their breaths a soft rhythm, the chamber glowing with warmth.
In her study, Bibi Dong reviewed coastal maps, plotting her auction journey. The Tidal Pearl could perfect the cure, she thought, her fingers tracing routes.
Yue Guan's tome loomed in her mind, its herb knowledge a bridge to the Yin Yang Well's secrets.
The twins' curiosity or my allies' trust will unlock it, she planned, her strategy weaving seamlessly. The twins' awakening loomed, her excitement a quiet fire. Their souls will carve their paths, and I'll pave the way.
Qian Xunji, in his quarters, reflected on Bibi Dong's warmth. Her smiles grow real, he thought, envisioning her as his true ally. Time will bind her to me. Blind to her schemes, he slept, his dreams of power a fragile illusion.
Bibi Dong joined the twins in bed, her arms a sanctuary. The night cradled them, their dreams alight with vines, stars, and unseen destinies, as her plans unfolded in the shadows.
AMV
Yoriichi: The grove's peace sharpens my forms, a new technique brewing. Renxue's spark lights my path—we'll unravel this world's secrets together.
Bibi Dong: My twins' quiet respect fuels my focus. Dugu Bo's cure and Yue Guan's tome align my plans. Their awakening will blaze a new era.
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