bookpower Chapter 121 LI HUA'S THOUGHTS
Chapter 121 LI HUA'S THOUGHTS
Grandmaster Yu had advised to spend a year in the sixth realm and Li Hua was hoping this time around they would all make it there together. The training in her sanctuary had prepared them well, though she wasn't yet certain what challenges awaited them.
"Sister!" Li Hao's voice broke through her thoughts.
Li Hua turned, finding her brother flexing dramatically. "What's wrong?"
"Measure my biceps!" He grinned, striking another pose.
Li Hua rolled her eyes, though she couldn't quite hide her fond smile. "We measured it yesterday. It's not going to grow in a day."
Her second brother didn't stop posing, the only physical difference from their first day of training being the muscles they'd built. The changes had forced Li Hua to alter their training clothes several times over the months. While their waists stayed lean from the rigorous training, their chests and arms developed until the original clothes could no longer contain their new muscular frames.
"Go take a bath, we're leaving the inner space," Li Hua chuckled.
Her brothers quickly nodded and raced to the house, their competitive nature turning even this simple task into a contest of who could reach the bath first.
Li Hua settled herself in the grass beside the sleeping Lei Lei and Dian Dian, their copper fur crackling with gentle static even in rest. Bai Ying watched from her frost-touched patch of grass while Feng Yi rode the wind currents above.
"We're all leaving," she said softly to the spirit beasts. The thunder bunnies stirred at her voice, their whiskers twitching with concern.
Lei Lei looked up and Li Hua petted its head. "You need to stay with eldest brother and keep him safe," she said, knowing these faithful companions would guard Li Wei with their lives. Through their years of training, the bond between her brother and his spirit beasts had grown remarkably strong, each creature responding to his will as if they were extensions of his own essence.
Between them, the folded New Year robes rested in their hands, their intricate stitching catching the light. These robes weren't just garments—they were a symbol of their parents' unwavering care and protection. Their mother's nurturing essence was woven into the hems, while their father's defensive formations, strong enough to repel any blow, imbued them with strength. Holding these fragments of their past, the brothers exchanged a look, a silent understanding passing between them—gratitude too deep for words.
Before she could say anything, Li Wei crossed the room in a few quick steps and pulled her into a firm embrace. She froze momentarily, startled by his sudden gesture, but then his warmth enveloped her like the tide.
"You've always done so much for us," he murmured, his voice low but steady. "Thank you."
Before she could respond, Li Hao joined them, wrapping his arms around both of them. His grip was tighter, almost desperate, as though he was trying to hold onto something slipping through his fingers. "We're lucky to have you," he said simply, his words carrying a weight that struck her heart.
She patted their backs softly, feeling the warmth of their closeness. The moment was quiet, yet heavy with unspoken emotions. "We're lucky to have each other," she finally murmured, her voice steady but soft.
They pulled apart slightly, just enough to look at one another. Li Wei nodded, a small, reassuring smile curling his lips, while Li Hao gave her hand a gentle squeeze.
"One more thing," Li Hua said, her expression growing serious. "Remember, we need to use our current ages now. We can't pretend to be teenagers anymore—our appearances have changed too much." She glanced between her brothers, noting how their faces had matured, leaving behind the last traces of youth. "Although only three months passed outside, we don't look like we're seventeen, fifteen, and thirteen anymore. We're now twenty-three, twenty-one, and nineteen."
"It's because we entered the inner space with our physical forms," she continued thoughtfully. "If we had entered with just our consciousness, perhaps we would still look like our younger selves, but..." She paused, considering. "That would have slowed our progress. The connection between body and spirit needed to be complete for the level of cultivation we achieved."
Li Wei touched his jaw thoughtfully, while Li Hao flexed his newly muscled arm with a grin. "At least we grew up handsome," he quipped, earning an eye roll from his siblings.
"Ready?" Li Hua asked, her voice barely above a whisper, yet steady. The weight of the moment settled around them. The world outside awaited—the chaos, the uncertainty—but in that fleeting moment, surrounded by warmth and connection, everything felt possible.
"Ready," they said in unison.