By late April, the weather had gradually grown warmer.
Early in the morning,
Yun Manman practiced in the courtyard. Whether it was because she had practiced in her previous life or because of that fruit,
she had already mastered the first level of the Lotus Heart Art, improving her perception and mental power.
She had now reached the second level. In the past, mastering the first level alone had taken her half a year.
After practicing her lethal combat techniques for an hour, Yun Manman turned around to see her family seated in a neat row beside the stone table.
With envy, admiration, and shock in their eyes, they all propped their chins on their hands and watched her intently, without the slightest intention of disturbing her.
Yun Manman wiped the sweat from her face with a cloth and sat cross-legged on the ground.
"Dad, Mom, Zewu, Zeren, why don't you learn martial arts with me?"
Madam Zhou's eyes dimmed, and she looked a little ill at ease. "My health is poor. Can I still learn?"
"Mom, don't worry about your health. You only need to learn some self-defense techniques."
Yun Manman was now squeezing the juice from the Returning Lotus Fruit into the cooking pot. After a month of recuperation, her family's complexions had visibly improved.
"Dad, you can learn martial arts."
"Zewu, Zeren, you need to learn not only martial arts but also how to read and write. From now on, get up early to practice with me, and learn to read and write as well.
"Remember, at any time, only by being strong yourselves can you live the lives you want and protect the people you want to protect."
Yun Zewu's eyes instantly lit up, and he looked at Yun Manman excitedly.
"Sis, when will I be able to fly? I want to be a guard!"
Yun Zeren was delighted too. He had never imagined they could learn martial arts and literacy.
"Sis, once I can read, will I be able to work as a waiter?"
Yun Manman: ???
Why were their ambitions to become a guard and a waiter?
Looking into their wide eyes, brimming with excitement and anticipation, Yun Manman somewhat helplessly patted their heads.
"Haste makes waste. For now, all you need to do is study and remember what I teach you. We'll talk about the rest later. Be good."
Old Father Yun and Madam Zhou exchanged a glance, each seeing worry in the other's eyes.
"Manman, tell your dad the truth. Are you planning to do something dangerous?"
Seeing the worry they could not conceal, Yun Manman sat on the stone table and spoke earnestly.
"Don't worry. I won't do anything dangerous. It's just that our family's life will keep getting better, and people who mean us harm will appear too.
"If you can protect yourselves, I can rest easy."
Only then did Old Father Yun relax, finally settling the matter.
"All right. Since Manman says so, our whole family will start learning martial arts tomorrow morning!"
Seeing her family working together with one heart, Yun Manman's lips curved upward, and her spirits soared.
They never asked why she knew these things. As long as she said something, they believed her.
And she could feel that they truly treated her as their daughter, with all their hearts.
She loved this family atmosphere and was very willing to protect it so it would never fade.
She was even more willing to watch over these people she now held dear.
Madam Zhou poked her head out of the kitchen and called to everyone in the courtyard.
"Breakfast is ready. Come carry the bowls out. Manman, go wash up and come eat."
When Yun Manman came back out, she saw bowls on the table, all filled with thick, white flour porridge.
Her two younger brothers kept swallowing, their lips pressed together, yet neither picked up his chopsticks.
"Sis, come eat something delicious! This flour porridge smells so good. Slurp..."
"Exactly, Sis! Hurry and taste it. Isn't it delicious? The smell made me hungry ages ago."
Yun Manman knew her family had been waiting for her so they could eat together.
Even the two little ones were holding back despite craving it so badly. A place in her heart gradually softened.
"All right, let's eat together. Afterward, I'll take you to do something new and exciting that can earn us silver too."
The family savored their flour soup with Returning Lotus Fruit juice added to it, their faces filled with happy smiles once they had eaten and drunk their fill.
The two boys curiously examined the things in their hands. "Sis, what are these? What fun thing are we going to do?"
"We'll go to the mountain behind the house first today. I'll teach you how to catch scorpions and centipedes. Once we catch them, we can exchange them for silver at the pharmacy. They're worth quite a bit."
Hearing that catching things could earn money, Yun Zeren's face filled with shock and excitement.
"Sis, really? We can earn silver just by catching things on the mountain behind the house?"
Zewu rolled up his sleeves outright and stamped his feet, his trouser legs already tied snugly by Yun Manman.
"Sis, let's hurry and catch them now. I'm ready!"
Old Father Yun stopped sweeping the courtyard and spoke to Yun Manman.
"Manman, scorpions and centipedes are valuable medicinal ingredients. The mountain behind our house is nothing but rock. It doesn't have valuable things like those."
"Dad, I saw them there with my own eyes. Once I've finished catching them, I'll send these two home first. Supervise them as they run around the courtyard wearing sandbags. I'm planning to go deep into the mountains today."
Astonishment and regret mingled in Old Father Yun's eyes. That mountain had been right behind their courtyard all this time.
He had been sitting on a mountain of treasure while letting his family go hungry. It was simply...
Before he could finish regretting it, he heard that his daughter wanted to go deep into the mountains.
His expression changed slightly. He hurriedly caught Yun Manman's arm and spoke anxiously.
"Manman, you absolutely mustn't go deep into the mountains. There are wolf packs and plenty of fierce beasts there. Those hunters from the village who went before didn't even leave bones behind!"
Yun Manman reassuringly patted Old Father Yun's arm.
"Dad, I know about the villagers who went into the mountains before, but with my skills, handling wild beasts won't be a problem. Those beasts should be afraid when they see me instead."
"But Manman, you might be able to handle one or two beasts, but how would you deal with a wolf pack?
"Listen to me. Don't go deep into the mountains. Leave earning silver to your dad. I'll go out and look for work tomorrow."
Yun Manman held Old Father Yun's arm and looked toward the mountain behind the house. "Wolves? Perfect. I'll catch one and bring it back to guard our home."
Seeing Old Father Yun look even more worried, Yun Manman did not know how to coax him. She did not know how to act coy, either, so she could only make a solemn promise with a serious face.
"Dad, I have to go deep into the mountains. I can definitely protect myself. I still have to give our family a good life."
Looking into Yun Manman's determined eyes, Old Father Yun knew his daughter had her own ideas, and all he could do was avoid holding her back.
Suppressing his worry, he finally yielded a step.
"I know I can't stop you. But Manman, remember that your mom, your younger brothers, and I are all your family. All I want is for us to be together, with enough food and warm clothes. You must protect yourself."
Yun Manman stepped forward and linked her arm through Old Father Yun's, her voice growing gentler.
"Dad, eat and drink well at home, and don't worry about me. Just wait for your daughter to come back carrying meat and silver to show you both her filial devotion."
Old Father Yun wanted to smile but could not. This child's words always warmed his heart. He stroked Yun Man's head.
"Then when will you be home?"