At sixteen, Lin Ruoruo had grown tall and graceful, long past being an innocent child. She was practicing her fist techniques alone in the courtyard, her movements precise and crisp, her cultivation increasingly solid. She had now reached the mid Qi Refining Realm.
Su Qingwei sat beside the stone table, quietly laying out some clothes belonging to her son and daughter to dry, her expression gentle and serene.
The Golden Rat, Mao Mao, lay lazily on the stone table, basking in the sun. Every so often, he raised his head to look around and pricked up his ears to listen to the sounds nearby. All was peaceful as the years flowed by.
Chu Lingxi was the first to notice the disturbance.
Something stirred in her heart, and she abruptly raised her eyes toward the courtyard gate. When she saw that familiar figure in blue robes, a light instantly lit up her clear eyes. All her worries of the past few days vanished, leaving nothing but pure delight in her gaze.
She jumped down from the stone platform and came over to greet him, quiet and well-behaved.
Lin Ruoruo, who was practicing her punches, also turned at the sound. Seeing her brother return, a radiant smile instantly bloomed across her face. She immediately drew back her fists and jogged over. "Brother! You're back!"
Lin Fan raised a hand and, out of habit, gently tousled Chu Lingxi's soft hair.
The girl briefly went still. A faint blush instantly spread across her cheeks, and she lowered her eyes, her long lashes trembling softly.
Lin Fan turned his gaze to Lin Ruoruo and said with a warm smile, "It's only been a few days, and your fist techniques have improved quite a bit again."
"It's all thanks to practicing every day!" Lin Ruoruo's eyes