Re-birth: The Beginning after the End - Chapter 74

Chapter 74: PROMISED TREAT

When the siblings finally returned home, their parents were already waiting with dinner prepared.

“Perfect timing!” Her father smiled wide. “Did you bring back anything nice?”

The siblings shook their heads, pulling out the herbs they collected during the day onto the wooden dining table.

“Oh! Blue Azure flowers!” Her mother exclaimed as she came out of the kitchen with a few bowls of steaming rice. “This would be a nice addition to our garden.”

Li Hua smiled and nodded, “Yes, it’ll look beautiful with the spirit orchids you planted last season. The spiritual essence they release should complement each other.” She carefully arranged the delicate blue petals, trying to keep her hands from trembling as she remembered the events in the cave. The familiar comfort of her family’s courtyard helped steady her nerves, though her mind kept drifting back to honey-brown eyes and a predatory smile.

“You three look exhausted,” her father observed, his keen eyes noting how Li Wei kept stifling yawns and Li Hao was practically falling asleep at the table. “The forest must have been particularly challenging today.”

“Nothing we couldn’t handle,” Li Wei answered smoothly, shooting a quick glance at Li Hua. She appreciated how her brothers had kept their silence about the sealed cave. Some discoveries were better left unmentioned, especially with their parents’ protective nature.

Their mother set down a final dish of braised pork with mushrooms, the aroma filling the room with its homey scent. “Well, eat up then. You’ll need your strength. You all still want to go to the festival right?”

The siblings nodded, her brothers more enthusiastically. Li Hao’s eyes lit up at the mention of the festival, already talking about the local spirit candy maker who promised to bring special treats, while Li Wei wondered if Old Man Chen would bring out his trained spirit rabbits. Li Hua found herself offering a quieter nod, her thoughts drifting to whether she might encounter a certain pair of honey-brown eyes among the festival lanterns again.

“You’re unusually quiet, Hua’er,” her mother observed, passing her an extra portion of the braised pork. “Usually you’re the one giggling at your brother’s antics.”

“Just tired from training,” Li Hua replied with what she hoped was a convincing smile, though she could feel her father’s thoughtful gaze lingering on her face. She quickly took a bite of the pork to avoid further questioning, grateful when Li Hao launched into another excited description of the sweet rice balls he hoped Auntie Zhang would be making.

As the family finished their meal, her father gestured subtly for Li Hua to stay behind while her brothers rushed off to change for the festival. Once they were alone, he studied her face with gentle concern.

“Are you hurt, my little Poppy?” His weathered hands reached out as if to check for injuries, though he stopped short of actually touching her.

“No, Bàba.” Li Hua shook her head, letting a carefully measured amount of disappointment seep into her voice. “Just… we spent so much time exploring the mountain today, but didn’t find anything interesting.” The lie tasted bitter on her tongue, but she consoled herself that she was still trying to understand her emotions as well. Once she could put it into words they’d be the first to know.

Understanding softened his features. “Ah, my little adventurer.” He patted her shoulder gently. “How about I buy you a tanghulu at the festival? The ones with the extra sugar coating you like so much?”

Li Hua’s eyes widened with practiced excitement, though the childish enthusiasm wasn’t entirely feigned – she did love those candies. “Really?” She threw her arms around him in an enthusiastic hug, breathing in his familiar scent of earth and wheat. “Bàba, I love you,” she whispered into his chest, tightening her embrace slightly.

As she bounced off to tell her brothers about the promised treat, her father watched her go with knowing eyes. Something had changed in his daughter – not today…perhaps yesterday – he could sense it in the subtle tension in her shoulders, the way her smile didn’t quite reach her eyes. But if she chose not to share her burden, he wouldn’t push. His daughter was strong, and sometimes the greatest show of love was knowing when to step back. For now, it was enough that she had returned unharmed.

Once the family was dressed, they headed out to the festival. Li Hao quickly disappeared into the crowd, drawn by the enticing aroma of sweet candies, while Li Hua found herself trailing after Li Wei toward the lantern displays. The new designs today were particularly stunning—delicate paper crafted into the shapes of mythical beasts and blooming flowers, each one infused with gentle spiritual essence that made them glow from within.

But even as she nodded along to Li Wei’s enthusiastic commentary about the craftsmanship, her eyes kept scanning the crowd, searching for that particular shade of honey-brown. She caught herself and internally winced. Stop it, Li Hua, she chided herself. Is this what being infatuated feels like? The notion was altogether foreign and slightly terrifying.

In her past life, romance had never been a consideration. Her subordinates had been chosen purely for their abilities—their sharp minds, their combat prowess, their unwavering loyalty. She’d selected them like one might choose weapons: methodically, practically, without a hint of emotional attachment. Dating had seemed like an unnecessary complication in a world where trust meant survival and relationships were measured in tactical advantages.

Yet here she was, acting like a lovesick maiden, her heart skipping at the mere thought of those dangerous eyes and that predatory smile. The worst part was that she couldn’t even blame it on her younger body’s hormones—this pull felt deeper, more fundamental, as if something in her very core recognized something in his.

I miss Little Firefly, she thought. He was her voice of reason and his absence made her feel alone. Usually, his warm presence would help ground her thoughts, keep her focused on what truly mattered. Without his gentle guidance, she felt adrift in these unfamiliar emotions. I wonder how he’s doing? I’ll check in on him after the festival.

She reached for her inner space, seeking even a faint echo of Little Firefly’s warmth. The void where his consciousness usually resided felt especially empty now, though she could sense the steady pulse of power. It reminded her of a heartbeat, strong and reassuring, yet in deep slumber.

“Sister!” Li Wei’s voice pulled her from her thoughts. “Look at this one—the craftsman used three different types of spirit essence to create that effect.” He pointed to a particularly intricate lantern shaped like a phoenix in flight, its tail trailing streams of ethereal light.

The craftsmanship was exquisite, she had to admit. Each feather was delicately cut and infused with essence that shifted from gold to crimson to azure as the light caught it. Without hesitation, she pulled out fifteen copper coins from the small pouch her parents had given each of them for the festival. The old craftsman’s eyes crinkled with pleasure as she carefully cradled her purchase.

Li Hua forced herself to focus on the present moment, on her brother’s excitement and the festival’s simple pleasures. Still, deep down she hoped to see him again. The thought both thrilled and unsettled her—in her past life, such anticipation would have been seen as a dangerous weakness. Yet here she was, a former assassin, finding herself drawn to the very type of predator she used to be. Perhaps that was part of the attraction—he was the first person in either life who truly made her feel like prey.

She shook her head slightly, trying to clear away thoughts of honey-brown eyes and that predatory smile. The festival’s familiar sights and sounds should have been enough to ground her, to remind her of the simple life she’d been given. Instead, each shadow between the lanterns made her pulse quicken, wondering if he lurked there, watching.