Ling Tian lay on his bed, staring at the ceiling with a thoughtful expression. The dim light of his room cast long shadows, mirroring the deep thoughts that clouded his mind.
'What do these dreams mean to me? Why am I having these dreams? I can't even remember the details of the dream.'
He turned over, feeling the cool fabric of his sheets against his skin as he tried to piece together the fragments of his nocturnal visions.
'I have only gathered from all the dreams that I was named Yuan Ling Tian in those dreams, and I was the heir of the Yuan Clan in the Divine Realm. And a lot of other small stuff.'
His brows furrowed as he sifted through the hazy memories. F
aces, places, and events floated at the edge of his consciousness, so close yet frustratingly out of reach.
He could almost hear the voices, feel the power that coursed through his veins in those dreams.
But every time he tried to grasp at these memories, they slipped away like sand through his fingers.
He sighed deeply, rolling onto his back once more. 'Because of these dreams, I have a feeling that I will regret it if I start cultivating with the cultivation manuals of my family or else I will regret it forever. I haven't even tested my spiritual root or body constitution because of that yet.'
Ling Tian knew that testing his spiritual root and body constitution was crucial for any cultivator.
It would determine his path, his strengths, and how far he could go.
Most children his age would have already been tested and started their cultivation journey.
Yet, he hesitated, held back by an inexplicable sense of caution.
He recalled the conversations with his father, Yuan Wei, and the comforting reassurances he had received.
Yuan Wei was a wise man, a respected alchemist, and a loving father. His guidance had always been a beacon for Ling Tian.
Yet, even his father's wisdom couldn't dispel the nagging feeling that something important was hidden within those dreams.
'I need to understand these dreams. They're not just random visions. There's something more, something critical about my past life that's influencing my present. But how do I uncover the truth?'
While he was thinking about his cultivation and spiritual root, another thought crossed his mind, bringing a slight smile to his lips. 'I will soon be 10, and I think I should bring Xin'er out to play sometime. She has never left the house, and she will be 4 soon as well.'
The idea of exploring the world outside their home with his little sister filled him with a sense of anticipation and joy.
Xin'er had always been curious about the world beyond the garden walls, and Ling Tian wanted to be the one to show her the wonders and beauty that lay beyond.
He imagined the excitement in her eyes as they walked through the bustling markets of Huoyuan City, the vibrant colors, and the myriad of scents that would fill the air.
He envisioned taking her to the nearby park where they could play and laugh together, free from the worries of their family's expectations and the burdens of his mysterious dreams.
Just thinking about his dreams and cultivation made his mind grow heavier.
Ling Tian's thoughts were interrupted by the soft sound of the door creaking open. He looked up to see his little sister, Yuan Xinyi, standing in the doorway, her eyes sleepy but curious.
"Big brother, are you okay?" she asked, her voice small and concerned.
Ling Tian managed a smile, despite the heavy thoughts weighing on his mind. "I'm fine, Xin'er. Just thinking."
She padded over to his bed and climbed up beside him, snuggling close. "About your dreams?"
Ling Tian nodded. "Yes, about my dreams."
Xin'er looked at him with wide, trusting eyes. "Mommy and Daddy say you're special, that's why you have those dreams. Maybe you'll figure it out when you're older."
Her innocent words brought a strange sense of comfort to Ling Tian. He hugged his sister tightly, feeling her warmth and the simple love that radiated from her.
"Maybe you're right, Xin'er. Maybe I just need to be patient and wait for the right time."
They lay there in silence for a while, the only sounds were the gentle breathing of his sister and the soft rustling of the leaves outside. Ling Tian's mind calmed, and the weight of his thoughts seemed to lighten.
'I will be patient. I will wait for the right time. Until then, I'll keep training and preparing myself. And when the time comes, I'll be ready to uncover the truth of my past and forge my own path in this life.'
With that resolve, Ling Tian's eyelids grew heavy, and he drifted into a dreamless sleep, holding his sister close. For now, he would cherish these peaceful moments with his family and trust that the answers he sought would come in due time.
...
As time passed, a few months went by.
Ling Tian woke up early in the morning, as had become his routine for daily training. He washed up first before going to eat breakfast with his family.
'I wonder what would be for breakfast today,' he thought, heading towards the dining room.
Upon entering, he looked around. Maids were busy working, and his mother and father were already sitting at the dining table.
"Father, Mother, where is Xin'er? Is she still sleeping?" Ling Tian asked after not finding his little sister at the table. His mother smiled softly and replied, "Yes, she is still sleeping. You should go and wake her up."
Ling Tian looked at his mother, not surprised since he had to wake Xin'er most mornings. He sighed dramatically and said, "Can't you wake her up sometimes in the morning? You're always leaving it to me. Sigh."
His mother chuckled at his playful complaint and responded, "Oh, Tian'er, you know she listens to you the best. Besides, it's good practice for when you have to wake her up for school in the future."
Ling Tian rolled his eyes good-naturedly and headed towards Xin'er's room.
Yuan Mei and Yuan Wei simply smiled at Ling Tian, enjoying the sight of their children playing together and maintaining a close bond.
Ling Tian enjoyed these small moments of responsibility, even if he pretended otherwise.
Ling Tian left the dining hall and went to his little sister's room to wake her up. Upon reaching her door, he knocked twice.
'Knock Knock'
Receiving no response, he gently swung the door open.
A warm smile spread across his face as he saw his little sister sprawled across her bed in an awkward posture, occupying most of the space on the large bed.
He approached her and patted her head.
"Wake up, my princess. It's morning already. Mother and Father are waiting for us in the dining hall."
Xin'er mumbled groggily, "Ughh, just five more minutes, big brother. I'll wake up soon."
Ling Tian stopped patting her and playfully pinched her cheeks. "Now wake up, it's already late. We have to eat breakfast, or else I'll have to toss you into the water."
Her eyes widened in mock horror, and she quickly tried to cover herself with the blanket, her small hands clutching it tightly. "No, no, brother! I'm awake, I'm awake! Please, don't toss me into the water."
Ling Tian chuckled, enjoying the playful moment. "Well, if you're awake, then prove it," he said, crossing his arms and tapping his foot in an exaggerated manner.
Xin'er sat up, her hair a tangled mess, and rubbed her sleepy eyes. She gave Ling Tian a pouty look, her cheeks puffing out. "You're so mean, big brother. Always scaring me like that."
Ling Tian laughed and ruffled her hair. "I can't help it. My little sister is just too cute when she's scared."
Xin'er sighed dramatically, but a small smile tugged at her lips. "Alright, alright. I'm up now. Happy?"
Ling Tian nodded, his eyes twinkling with mischief. "Very happy. Now, go wash your face and get ready. I'll wait here for you."
Xin'er hopped out of bed, her small feet padding across the floor as she headed to the washroom. Ling Tian sat on the bed, waiting patiently.
He could hear the sound of water running and Xin'er humming a tune to herself. It brought a sense of warmth and contentment to his heart.
A few moments later, Xin'er returned, looking fresh and bright, her hair neatly brushed. She twirled around in her little dress, showing off her morning transformation. "How do I look, big brother?"
Ling Tian smiled, his heart swelling with affection. "You look adorable, Xin'er. Now, let's go eat breakfast before it gets cold."
Xin'er beamed at the compliment and ran up to hug him. Ling Tian picked her up and patted her head. "Let's go and eat something now. Otherwise, Mother and Father will be angry."
Xin'er giggled and nodded. Ling Tian carried her out of the room and back to the dining hall. As they entered, Yuan Wei and Yuan Mei looked up, smiling warmly at their children.
"Good morning, Xin'er," Yuan Mei greeted her daughter.
"Morning, Mother! Morning, Father!" Xin'er chirped happily.
They all sat down together, enjoying their breakfast as a family. Despite the underlying worries and mysterious dreams, these moments of togetherness brought a sense of peace and happiness to Ling Tian's heart. He knew that whatever challenges lay ahead, he could face them with the support and love of his family.
After eating their fill, everyone went their separate ways. Yuan Wei left to attend to his alchemy work, while Yuan Mei took Xin'er to teach her various lessons. Before leaving, Xin'er called out to Ling Tian.
"Big brother, please come to play with me after finishing your training."
Ling Tian smiled and nodded. "Of course, Xin'er. I'll come find you once I'm done."
Xin'er beamed and ran off to her mother, who smiled warmly at the siblings' interaction before taking her daughter away for their lessons.
Ask in the comments if you find something confusing or if I should improve on it.