[You began organizing Forest Sword Peak. A female disciple from the alchemy hall was punished to tend the fire for three months because she entered the alchemy hall with her left foot first.]
[This frightened the other disciples so much that they all carefully stepped through the door with their right foot first.]
[You dedicated yourself to cultivation and celebrated your first New Year in the Heavenly Sword Sect by staying in the cave with your sister Xu Moli. You prepared a sumptuous meal for her.]
[The girl was overjoyed, eating bite after bite without stopping.]
Winter painted the world with desolation.
Leaves had fallen, flowers had withered, and the once-green forests were now bare. Only the skeletal branches remained, swaying in the cold wind as snowflakes accumulated, creating a pure white scene.
Xu Xi had never been fond of winter.
His dislike deepened after entering the simulated world. During the five years he had spent in Black Rock City, his income was barely enough to feed himself and his sister.
Buying charcoal for warmth had been a luxury they couldn’t afford.
He remembered those harsh winters vividly—the snowy winds biting his face, the frosty air seeping into his lungs.
And every day, without fail, a little figure would sit huddled at the wooden house’s door, shivering in the cold but waiting for his return.
When Xu Xi arrived home, she would clasp his freezing, purple cheeks with her small hands, trying to warm him. Her bright smile was a beacon, welcoming him back.
The cold wind had been relentless, but her warmth gave him the strength to continue.
Now, as a disciple of the Heavenly Sword Sect with the resources of Forest Sword Peak at his disposal, Xu Xi no longer had to worry about such hardships.
But still, whenever he watched the snow falling outside, memories of those difficult days would resurface.
“Brother!”
The girl’s lively voice interrupted his thoughts.
“I’m here. What is it?”
“If you don’t eat soon, the food will get cold,” she scolded playfully, wagging her finger.
Xu Moli, now six years old, tried to appear stern. “You have to eat while it’s hot, brother!”
Xu Xi smiled, momentarily stunned by her seriousness.
“Alright,” he said, picking up his chopsticks.
They ate in silence, their movements synchronized as though guided by a shared understanding.
Even in the bitter cold of winter, the warmth they shared made the days bearable. Together, they waited for spring.
[You and your sister spent a warm New Year together.]
[At the turn of the year, you took a deep breath and condensed the perfect Dao foundation Realm, setting a new record for the fastest foundation building in Heavenly Sword Sect. You became a foundation-building realm cultivator.]
[Your master, Li Wanshou, rewarded you with a top-grade flying sword and a matching defensive weapon.]
[Remembering your promise, you took your sister flying on the sword. She told you she was incredibly happy.]
[Winter passed, and spring arrived. Life began to flourish once more.]
[As a foundation-building realm cultivator, you took on greater responsibilities within the sect. To prevent your sister from feeling bored and to prepare her for the future, you sent Xu Moli to a school.]
[On her first day, she looked at you with tearful eyes, mistakenly believing you were abandoning her. Thankfully, the misunderstanding was resolved.]
[Over time, she excelled in her studies. Her natural intelligence and quick thinking delighted you, though you worried about her withdrawn nature and lack of friends her age.]
[You often wondered about her future happiness.]
“Brother, is life long?”
“It can be,” Xu Xi replied.
“Is life short?”
“It can be that too.”
“How can it be both?” she asked, frowning in confusion.
“That’s just how life is,” he explained gently.
Xu Moli thought for a long moment before giving her own answer. “Life sounds troublesome. I just want to stay with my brother forever. I don’t need friends.”
[The girl had her own standards, and you could only let her follow her heart.]
[As the years passed, your bond with your sister grew closer.]
[In the seventh year, at 13, you achieved another breakthrough in cultivation, while Xu Moli, now 7, completed all her school courses in one year.]
[In the eighth year, at 14, you reached the intermediate stage foundation building realm. Armed with a withered vine sword, you defeated a pseudo-core cultivator. People began calling you a future golden core master, though you remained indifferent.]
[At 8 years old, Xu Moli began helping with chores on Forest Sword Peak. Her adorable demeanor endeared her to the disciples.]
[By the ninth year, at 15, you had matured significantly, shedding the innocence of youth. Wherever you went, elders and juniors alike praised you as a rising star in the righteous path.]
[At 9 years old, Xu Moli decided to focus on helping you manage Forest Sword Peak, excelling in her role despite lacking cultivation talent.]
[By the tenth year, you were 16, and she was 10.]
Time moved steadily forward, and life continued to improve.
Xu Xi was content with this life.
Not only did he grow stronger and achieve higher evaluation scores in his simulation, but he also ensured Xu Moli lived a comfortable and happy life.
Even though he knew this world was a simulation, the emotions and experiences felt real.
Because of that, he wanted to give Xu Moli the best life possible.
“Time flies so quickly,” Xu Xi thought. “In the blink of an eye, it’s already the tenth year. Mo Li’s tenth birthday is here.”
He remembered the day he had rescued her and smiled. It felt like yesterday.
At 16 years old, Xu Xi looked up at the sky, feeling sentimental. He flew his sword back toward the cave, eager to celebrate his sister’s birthday with a special gift.
Everything seemed perfect, just as it should be.
“Brother…”
“Mo Li hurts so much…”
When Xu Xi entered the cave, the usual cheerful figure waiting to greet him was missing.
Walking further in, he found her lying on the ground, her face pale.
Blood trickled from the corners of her mouth, staining her lips a deep crimson.
The sight sent a chill down Xu Xi’s spine.
“Mo Li!” he cried, rushing to her side.
He frantically pulled out every healing item he had and did everything he could to save her.
Thankfully, his efforts paid off.
After half an hour, the ten-year-old girl slowly opened her eyes.
Seeing her brother, she gave a weak smile.
“Mo Li knew… Brother… Brother would save me…”
“So, Mo Li waited…”
“Finally, I waited…”