Xu Moli began her studies.

Despite her reluctance.

She was still sent by Xu Xi to the Heavenly Sword Sect's academy.

"How boring..."

Surrounded by peers.

Some playing, others roughhousing.

Yet the girl couldn’t muster any enthusiasm.

She slumped over the pearwood desk, frowning, her fingertip tracing invisible circles on its surface.

Turning her head, she gazed out the window at the fresh greenery and the azure sky.

Her mind preoccupied.

Counting the hours until she could see her elder brother again.

"Three hours feel so long..." Little Moli listlessly declined every invitation to join the others.

It wasn’t dislike.

Just that she saw no need for friendships.

She had Xu Xi. That was enough.

"Moli, this won’t do," Xu Xi sighed, shaking his head as he picked her up three hours later.

He firmly believed his sister deserved a perfect childhood.

With playmates.

With treats.

With memories.

But the girl thought otherwise.

Her small brow furrowed as she clung tightly to Xu Xi’s leg during their swordflight home:

"Moli only wants to be with Brother. She doesn’t need friends."

Nothing else mattered.

Nothing was necessary.

Her world was simple—as long as Xu Xi was by her side, she was content.

......

......

Time rushed by like a meteor skimming past her hair.

Like invisible water slipping through her fingers, leaving only a fleeting chill.

Xu Moli turned twelve.

This age was called the [Golden Hairpin Year].

By common tradition.

It marked a girl’s transition into maidenhood.

Those from wealthy families wore golden hairpins to signify growth and farewell to childhood.

The poorer ones made do with wooden ones.

"What will Brother give me..."

Little Moli lay sprawled across the stone table in their cave abode, idly toying with fruit as she waited for Xu Xi’s return.

Sunlight filtered through the cave’s protective formations.

Dappling the table.

Soft beams like hazy harp strings scattered across its surface.

The warmth lulled her into drowsiness.

Slowly.

Sleep crept over her.

"Mmm... can’t sleep... must wait... for Brother..."

Her eyelids battled exhaustion.

Finally, little Moli succumbed, sinking into deep slumber.

Her head pillowed on her arms, her arms on the table, her cheeks flushed from the pressure—sleeping soundly.

Gentle breaths in and out.

A breeze tenderly brushed aside stray locks from her forehead.

Revealing her peaceful, adorable face.

In the corner, potted plants she’d brought herself glowed under the light, their leaves curling lazily, radiating tranquility.

When Xu Xi returned.

The sight drew a smile to his lips.

"Couldn’t even make it to bed."

He lifted her gently, carrying her to the inner chamber’s bed and draping a thin quilt over her.

"Ah!!!"

Upon waking, she panicked, glancing at the window to find the sun already setting—half a day gone.

But.

She hadn’t missed her Golden Hairpin ceremony.

Because the one meant to bless her had stayed by her side all along.

"Moli, it’s time."

"Yes!"

Her face bloomed with joy.

A purity like unfolding petals.

She bowed her head slightly.

Letting her brother coil her hair, slide the gold-and-jade hairpin through, and seal her twelfth year with perfection.

"Brother!"

"What is it?"

"From today on, Moli isn’t a child anymore. She can help Brother more."

"Ha, then help me eat some meat."

Xu Xi’s gaze softened, but shadows lurked beneath—a hidden sorrow.

He knew.

Her drowsiness wasn’t natural. Her body was failing, withering inexplicably toward collapse.

......

......

Joy, delight, happiness, bliss.

The longer they lived in the Heavenly Sword Sect.

The more Xu Moli cherished it.

No financial struggles, no bullying—just her and Xu Xi, living happily ever after.

"Brother, focus on your cultivation. Leave the affairs of Forest Sword Peak to me."

The girl murmured plans.

Charting their future.

A trick learned from 108 Strategies to Capture a Man’s Heart.

Her brother worked so hard, always secluded in cultivation—she couldn’t let trivial matters distract him.

Yet.

Disaster outpaced preparation.

At fourteen, the Heavenly Calamity erupted fully. The once-lively girl, now a beautiful maiden, could no longer walk.

Bedridden indefinitely.

Eyes hollow, fixed on the cave’s ceiling.

Frail, pallid, helpless.

"Am I... burdening Brother?"

Her thoughts spiraled as she struggled to turn, only to tumble off the bed.

Pain, so much pain.

Tears spilled uncontrollably.

Unclear whether from the fall or her despair.

She yearned to cling to Xu Xi and weep like in childhood, yet feared her weakness would only exhaust him further.

Xu Moli knew.

To find a cure for her.

Xu Xi’s face grew gaunter by the day.

She couldn’t bear adding to his worries.

"Sorry, Brother... I’m so sorry..." She lay on the cold floor, tears pooling beneath her.

She tried to rise.

But couldn’t.

Every movement tore through her like shredded cloth, agony in silence.

In the end.

Only with the help of Xu Xi’s pre-left puppet.

Did Moli return to bed.

............

............

Extracting her own spirit root.

Rebuilding hope.

Departing alone.

Dying to demonic cultivators.

In the years that followed.

Xu Moli weathered storms of grief and joy.

"Brother is the greatest in the world! He can do anything!"

Her childhood words echoed.

And Xu Xi became exactly that—the omnipotent elder brother she’d proclaimed.

He conquered the Heavenly Calamity.

Gave her a normal life.

But the cost was too cruel for Xu Moli to accept.

For the rest of her days, she asked herself: "Why this obsession with reviving Brother? Why can’t I let go?"

She pondered long.

Under sun and moon, wind and rain, amid glittering stars.

Arriving at an answer she’d always known.

He was the hero who’d mattered most in her life—charging through scorching suns and thorny paths to save her.

Not a question of whether heroes should save.

But that her heart had no room left for anyone else.

"Brother, wait for me."

"Moli will undo it all. She’ll bring you back."

A wooden sword split the heavens.

Her dark hair whirled wildly.

The ascension gate to the immortal realm shattered under her fury.