Re-birth: The Beginning after the End - Chapter 118

Chapter 118: THE REAL TRAINING BEGINS PART 1

It felt like they had been cultivating for mere minutes when her alarm shattered the serene atmosphere. The siblings jolted from their focus, dragged back to reality like a tether snapping taut.

Li Hua stretched before catching her brothers’ wary glances at the timer. She’d expected this reaction to last at least the first month, given how frequently they would be using the device in their training. With practiced ease, she hooked the timer to the side of her fitted workout tights, their suspicious looks at the modern device making her heart ache with fond amusement. Like her athletic wear, the timer was just another piece of this world they would need to adapt to.

“Come,” she said, rising with fluid grace. “Let’s have breakfast before we begin the real training.”

In the kitchen, light filtered through gossamer curtains, painting everything in gentle gold. Li Wei settled onto his stool with precision, his eyes questioning whenever they fell on the modern appliances. Li Hao, despite attempts at composure, practically bounced in his seat as Li Hua cooked.

They ate in comfortable silence. Li Wei’s reserve melted slightly with each bite, while Li Hao’s boundless energy made even eating look like preparation for battle.

“Today,” Li Hua began, her voice carrying echoes of both lives – assassin’s precision and sister’s love intertwining, “we begin something different.” She met each brother’s gaze, seeing the determination that had carried them through loss and separation. “No more gentle practice. From this moment forward, we train as if our lives depend on it – because they do.”

Her brothers straightened, something primal awakening in their shared glance. The morning light highlighted their expressions, testament to horrors survived and bonds unbroken. They weren’t just siblings – they were warriors forged in fire, bound by blood and choice.

“Together then,” Li Wei said softly, his demeanor giving way to steel.

“Always together,” Li Hao echoed, his usual playfulness replaced by quiet intensity.

Li Hua nodded and rose with grace. “Then let’s begin.”

After cleaning the kitchen, Li Hua led them to the side of the courtyard house where stones rested in varying sizes. With a gesture that betrayed both power and precision, she molded them into vests that would fit their forms.

“Our goal for this run is six miles,” she announced, settling her own vest across her shoulders. The weight felt familiar – a tangible reminder of her duty as both protector and guide.

When she looked up, she found her brothers frozen in matching expressions of disbelief – Li Wei’s scholarly composure cracking while Li Hao’s vibrancy dimmed with shock.

“What’s wrong?” she asked, lips curved knowingly.

“Sister,” Li Wei managed, his voice reserved for moments when his ordered world tilted, “you must be joking.” Yet his hands moved toward the vest, curiosity warring with pride.

“You want us to run in this?” Li Hao gestured at the remaining vests. “Like what we did before but with…” His voice trailed off as understanding dawned – this wasn’t like their childhood training with their parents, where they had time to gradually build their strength, where each new technique was introduced with patience and careful consideration.

This was preparation for war.

They could feel the approaching storm on the horizon – not in her inner space but in the physical world.

Li Hua chuckled. “Afraid you can’t keep up with your younger sister?” As she spoke, her essence rippled subtly around the stone vest, adjusting its weight distribution with a precision that spoke of countless hours of secret practice.

The taunt sliced through the tension. Li Hao’s competitive streak flared bright as his fire essence. He grasped the vest with newfound purpose, determination lighting his features.

“Keep up?” he shot back. “Little sister, have you forgotten who always left you trailing on these mountain paths?”

Li Wei raised a brow, his chuckle conveying both disapproval and affection. “You mean the paths where I had to wait for you to catch your breath?” Yet beneath the banter, his movements were deliberate, each adjustment marked by resolve.

Li Hao laughed, bouncing on his toes despite the weight. “Whoever falters first must wears these training robes to the sect.”

“Training robes?” Li Hua’s laugh held a hint of challenge. “Brother, if you’re going to make wagers, at least make them interesting. How about, the last one standing chooses the loser’s punishment?” Her eyes glinted with mischief. “Unless you’re both afraid?”

Li Hao’s confident grin faltered for just a moment as he studied her stance—the way she wore the weighted vest as naturally as summer wore heat. His sharp eyes caught what he’d missed before: her vest was noticeably thicker than theirs, the stone layers speaking of a weight that should have been crushing. His competitive spirit warred visibly with newfound caution. “Sister, there’s something different about you today…”

Even Li Wei’s scholarly shook slightly as he watched her adjust her vest with practiced ease. The brothers exchanged a quick glance, years of shared experience letting them read the same warning in each other’s eyes.

In that moment, eight years of careful performance fell away. How many times had she played the role that matched this body’s thirteen years? The youngest sister who held back during their trainings, who smiled and played her part while keeping her true strength carefully concealed. Even her brothers, who knew her better than anyone, had never glimpsed the full depths of power she’d hidden beneath that carefully crafted facade of youth.

Until that battle. Until her trust was betrayed. Until now. She was tired of restraint, tired of pretending to be less than she was. The time for holding back had passed. From this moment forward, she would give everything she had—every technique, every secret, every drop of power she’d hidden away. Her brothers deserved nothing less than her absolute best, and she would no longer dishonor their trust with half-measures and careful restraint.

Li Wei’s stance widened as the vest settled. “Sister,” he said, curiosity mixing with pride, “exactly how long have you been training with these?”

“Does it matter?” Li Hua asked, eyes twinkling with mischief that made her seem truly her age for once. “What matters is that you both trust me.” The words carried layers of meaning – trust earned through countless shared moments, through battles fought side by side, through the unshakeable bond that had carried them through their darkest hours.

Her brothers shared a look carrying their recent trials. When they turned back, precision and passion united in determination.

“Always,” they answered in unison.

Li Hua’s heart swelled with fierce love as she watched understanding dawn in their eyes. These brothers of hers – one tempered by knowledge, the other forged in passion – had survived horrors that would have broken lesser cultivators. Now they stood before her, accepting her guidance despite the mysteries she still held close, trusting her despite the years of necessary deception.

“Then follow my lead,” she said, turning toward the path. She glanced back with a playful smile that did nothing to hide the steel beneath. “And brothers? Try to maintain your breathing. I don’t need you passing out, ok?”

Without another word, they burst into motion, their footfalls echoing through the space – three siblings moving as one, their bond unbreakable.