Qiuyue Meiyi kept a tight hold on Qiuyue Cheng and Fang Ru once they said goodbye to the two young masters of Gusu Lan. She couldn't believe that she had lost A-Cheng for so long. Even knowing that Qiuyue Cheng could defend himself perfectly fine against a variety of monsters, she was completely unsure how he would take care of himself within the world of humans. 

As they walked through Caiyi Town to meet up with the rest of their group, she noticed that A-Cheng's hands were dirty. 'He must have used the dirt to show his name to the Lan boys,' she mused. She would have to show A-Cheng how to trace characters onto other people's hands so he wouldn't have to get dirt under his nails to introduce himself to others. 

Once the rest of their group came into sight, Fang Ru took ahold of A-Cheng's hand and ran towards the others. They were sitting at a large table on the outdoor porch of a small restaurant. Qiuyue Meiyi sighed exasperatedly at the energy of the two children, one whom she had just spent  shichen looking for, and the other whom she had been searching around town with. She sped up her walking to keep the two kids in her line of sight, greeting the owner of the restaurant before joining Fang Li and the rest of the kids at the table.

Qiuyue Meiyi let out a sigh of relief as she sat in the last remaining chair, and Fang Li chuckled from next to her. 

"You sound like you've had a long day A-Mei," she snickered.

"Indeed I did," Qiuyue Meiyi replied softly, "A-Cheng decided to run off while I was paying for some jewellery that I bought. I spent a shichen looking for him with A-Ru. I was lucky that the two young masters of Gusu Lan happened to come upon him, and took him with them to explore Caiyi Town, instead of some creep taking him up and running off with him, since I doubt A-Cheng can tell the difference between good and bad people. He can only see their spiritual energy, which, for the most part, should look the same for all humans, no matter whether they are good or bad. Unless they are possessed by a malicious spirit or they are experiencing some other spiritual circumstance that causes a change in their spiritual energy."

Fang Li nodded in agreement.

"The world of people is a nasty place, and A-Cheng is even more vulnerable than the average person there. At least A-Cheng isn't part of any of the major cultivation clans," she sighed, "I can't imagine how they would treat him, or how he would even cope living a life with politics controlling his every breath. He'd probably be hidden away like something to be ashamed of."

They both turned to look at A-Cheng who was munching happily on some spicy tofu while Fang Ju loaded more side dishes into his bowl, and smiled silently. Fang Miyu and Fang Ru huddled together around Fang Ru's book, Fang Liu was napping again and the rest of the children were happily munching on their lunch. The two women couldn't help but smile at the sight of their little mishmash of a family. They would make sure that all of these children grew up happily, with bright futures ahead of them, regardless of what path they chose in life.

The journey back to their house was much shorter than the journey to Caiyi Town. Fang Lei, Fang Miyu and Fang Chi all looked about ready to drop into a dreamless sleep. Fang Lin, Fang Ru and Fang Ju were walking together while whispering to each other, softly, fully awake although filled with much less energy than they started off the day with. Fang Lei was once again asleep, although this time she lay comfortably in Qiuyue Meiyi's arms, while Qiuyue Cheng lay comfortably in Fang Li's arms, eyes drooping after filling his belly with food. 

Once they arrived back at the house, the two adults swiftly put all of the children to bed, coaxing then into bathing and changing their clothes before they truly fell into a deep slumber. Afterwards, they washed themselves off and tidied up around the house a bit. Qiuyue Meiyi collected all of the dirty clothes to washed the next morning, while Fang Li wiped down the kitchen and made some tea.

Once the tea was ready, they brought the teapot and two cups to their dining table and sat down. The two women sipped at their hot tea in comfortable silence for a while before Fang Li spoke up.

"A-Cheng has been progressing exponentially in his spiritual cultivation. He's already reached a point that most others wouldn't be able to reach until their adult years, and he's only seven years old."

Qiuyue Meiyi smiled at those words. Her baby was so strong, and she knew that he would only continue to grow stronger.

"I want to start training him with spiritual weapons, as well as start him on strengthening his golden core itself," Fang Li explained, Qiuyue Meiyi nodding along in understanding as she picked up her teacup to sip from it.

"Because of his proficiency in spiritual cultivation, as well as his high aptitude towards cultivation in general, I'd like to start him on the training methods that my master showed me in my young adult years."

At the mention of Fang Li's master, Qiuyue Meiyi froze, her cup of tea hovering just in front of her lips which were paused slightly ajar. 

"Your master? You don't mean- "

"Yes I do. He's ready A-Mei. He can't learn more high level techniques if his core is not resilient and strong."

Qiuyue Meiyi's face scrunched in worry.

"He can do it A-Mei," Fang Li reassured her, "I believe in him. And I know that you do as well. Just think of it as him experiencing a fated trial. He's going to need to be strong if he we want him to survive in the outside world with no assistance. There's been strange movement within the lands of Qishan Wen recently, and I need him to be prepared for anything that will inevitably try to harm him."

Despite her worries, Qiuyue Meiyi knew the reality of the words falling from her friend's mouth.

"I understand A-Li. But even with how strong I know he is right now, and with how strong I know he's going to become, A-Cheng is still my baby. I can't stand to imagine anything happening to him," She explained, "And he's still so young. I want to give him the chance to enjoy his childhood too."

Fang Li nodded, understanding the weight of Qiuyue Meiyi's words and a faint smile touched her lips. 

"He does enjoy it, in his own way. He loves the challenge, the way the spiritual energy flows through him when he practices. It's his way of connecting with the world."

"I understand A-Li. However, even with my worries, I will trust you on this, my friend. If you believe he's ready, then he's ready. But please, be careful A-Li. The both of you." 

Fang Li smiled warmly at the woman across from her.

"Of course."

***

The next morning, once all of the children were awake and finished eating breakfast, Qiuyue Meiyi took all of the Fang children outside to the back of the cottage, where an area had been cleared and paved for sword training, in order for them to practice some basic conditioning with for the younger ones, and to continue learning more sword forms with the older ones. 

Fang Li, on the other hand, took Qiuyue Cheng back to the clearing in the forest. For the next few months, she planned to teach A-Cheng how to perfect the most efficient technique to absorb surround spiritual energy, in order to directly strengthen his golden core. 

Ordinarily, cultivators absorbed spiritual energy from the surrounding environment by sitting still and using a specific type of breathing while meditating. Once an undisturbed stream of focus is created, while simultaneously maintaining a specific pattern of breathing, cultivators are able to willingly absorb surrounding qi through their meridians.

Despite this being the most standard and the most well known method of absorbing spiritual energy, it had a single, major flaw; The fact that it took an incredible amount of time to take effect. 

As the method specifically relied on the meridians for spiritual energy to be absorbed, only a thin amount of qi could be absorbed at any on time, since a person's meridians were only about the size of the a human's veins. Not only that, but because the meridians were only being used as a route to take spiritual energy to the golden core, they themselves were not being strengthened.

Fang Li had been using this method, in order to help A-Cheng build a good foundation and understanding of how spiritual energy connected to one's own body. Now that he had progressed so far, his deepening connection to spiritual energy evident simply by sensing how the environment reacted to him, Fang Li decided that it was time to show him a much more efficient way of absorbing surrounding qi.

This method had been shown to her by her master, who came from an ancient cultivation tribe that resided deep in the snowy mountains of the north. Aside from her and Qiuyue Meiyi, she was unsure if there were any other people out there who were aware of the existence of the ancient tribe's method. However, even if they did somehow know of it, the complexity and difficulty of the method ensured that they would not be able to perform it, or pass it on. If they even happened to survive, that is.

The method that her master used had been crafted by the people of the ancient Northern Tribe for the people of the ancient Northern Tribe. It had been created to complement their people's specific brand of cultivation, making the method near impossible to learn for anyone who did not grow up in the tribe. Even she and Qiuyue Meiyi, who were masters of spiritual cultivation and sword cultivation, could only afford to practice the method for short periods of time each day, despite it initially being created for constant use even while sleeping, lest they permanently damage their meridians, golden cores or even their bodies from the excessive strain that using the method brings.

With all of that in mind, Fang Li sat in front of the Sakura tree that was in the middle of the clearing, Qiuyue Cheng following her and sitting a few feet in front of her, immediately settling into the Lotus position. Looking at the young boy in front of her, Fang Li couldn't help but smile tenderly. It was always inspiring to see the way A-Cheng learned, formed habits and interacted with the world around him, in spite of his disabilities. 

Fang Li then settled herself into Lotus position as well, before taking a deep breath to prepare herself, before beginning to demonstrate the new qi absorption method to A-Cheng.

It required intense amounts of concentration, as instead of absorbing the spiritual energy directly through the meridians, it required the practitioner to phase the surrounding qi through their skin and into their bloodstream, before directing it through the body using the circulatory system, which would allow the practitioner to willingly use the energy they were absorbing to strengthen their inner organs. After this part of the method was completed, the spiritual energy would be collected and absorbed directly into the golden core, before being pushed outwards into the meridians in order to strengthen them as well.

This complete process would take much longer to complete and maintain than other more regular processes. With it's complexity, came major risk. One wrong push of the spiritual energy into the wrong direction, or even one millisecond of a loss of focus could cause the user to rupture an organ, stop their blood from flowing through their bodies, or even cause a major qi deviation, effectively killing the practitioner from the inside out.

The benefits would certainly outweigh the risks however, if one were to successfully master the method, as it not only strengthens the golden core in a short period of time, but it also hardens and reinforces the body to a high degree, making it impossible for even metal swords to pierce your bare flesh. 

Unfortunately, Fang Li could not explain all of this to Qiuyue Cheng, so she could only demonstrate it to him and hope that he understood.

Instead of immediately copying what she was showing him, as he usually would, A-Cheng paused and took a good few minutes to seemingly observe how she was using the spiritual energy around her to reinforce her body and golden core. After a while, she began to hear him inhale deeply, when suddenly, her vision violently shifted. Fang Li immediately lost her focus and abruptly stopped absorbing the surround qi.

It was so sudden that it left her deeply disoriented, her vision obscure as she felt the spiritual energy around her move in enormous waves towards the boy in front of her, as if being pulled by an imaginary force. With a hand on her head, Fang Li willed her vision to clear so that she could observe Qiuyue Cheng as he attempted the new method. When she was finally able to see him clearly and fully sense the path of his spiritual energy, Fang Li couldn't help but drop her jaw in shock.

She could feel the spiritual energy phase through his skin. She could feel him manipulate the spiritual energy to surround and strengthen his organs, with such ease that you would think he was slicing tofu. She could feel him pull it this way and that, to reinforce his meridians and core, as if were no harder than simply breathing.

'Amazing' she couldn't help but think.

Unlike her on her first try, Qiuyue Cheng did not struggle to concentrate, he did not become distracted by the sound of moving animals in the background and he did not collapse from becoming too mentally enraptured by depth of the spiritual energy running through her veins.

Qiuyue Cheng continued practicing the method even though she herself had stopped demonstrating it, as if entranced by the flow of spiritual energy both around him and within himself. Watching the little boy in front of her, she couldn't help but remember her master's words.

"Remember A-Li. Only someone who is truly one with spiritual energy, will be able to fully embrace this technique and all it beholds."

***

Time passed as the sun rose high in the sky before beginning to dip below the clouds, resting just above the horizon. Long shadows were cast across the courtyard where the Fang children practiced their sword forms. The golden light filtered through the trees, dappling the ground with a warm glow. Qiuyue Meiyi stood nearby, her eyes watching each child's movements with a critical yet gentle gaze. She was particularly focused on Fang Ju, who was practicing with a wooden sword. His form was precise, and his movements fluid, but his brow furrowed in concentration as he tried to match the rhythm of his peers who had yet to reach his level.

As Qiuyue Meiyi continued to observe them, a soft rustling noise momentarily distracted her. She looked to the side, slowly reaching her hand towards the sword on her waist, only to see Fang Li returning with her son beside her. 

"A-Li you've returned," she greeted the other woman, before bending down to pick up A-Cheng.

He was getting a bit too old for her to be carrying him, but she can't help but crave the feeling of his small body in her arms, and close to her chest where she can protect him from any danger that may befall him. 

Fang Li stood a few paces away, observing her children with a mix of pride and elation. 

"A-Mei," she called softly, drawing Qiuyue Meiyi's attention, "A-Ju is improving quickly isn't he?"

Qiuyue Meiyi smiled and nodded in response. 

"He's shoulders above the others, not just because he's older, but also because of his speed in learning and his effort. The effort he puts in by training every day really shows his discipline and maturity, for someone so young."

Fang Li hummed in agreement as Qiuyue Meiyi continued.

"Not many of the other children are interested in cultivation, but I still want them to be able to use something to defend themselves, so I will continue to teach them basic conditioning, in order to strengthen their muscles, before moving onto teaching them martial arts. I know a few different styles, and a few people who can teach them if they want to learn a style that I'm not familiar with."

Fang Li hummed once again, a hand on her chin as she thought about something.

"How was A-Cheng?" Qiuyue Meiyi enquired. The other woman's smile grew at that question.

"He's truly one of a kind A-Mei. He figured out how to utilize the method to its full extent on his first go, and kept it up for two hours straight! I think he realized that the method is meant to be used constantly, as if it is another basic bodily function like breathing, because after taking a break to eat he started using again and hasn't stopped since."

Qiuyue Meiyi's heart burst with pride. 

She had felt something different about her son's spiritual energy, but now that she had confirmed what it was, she couldn't help but once again be filled with awe.

Her son was truly astonishing, wasn't he?

As the Fang children finished their final form, she allowed them to end their training for the day. They immediately rushed over to Qiuyue Cheng, and Qiuyue Meiyi put him down so he could play with the others. 

Fang Lei, the second youngest of the Fang children, bounded over to Qiuyue Cheng from the side of the courtyard with a wide grin. He was holding a small, colorful kite. 

"A-Cheng, look what I made!" he exclaimed, even though he knew the other boy couldn't hear him. Qiuyue Meiyi smiled warmly at the sight, tracing a quick "play" on Qiuyue Cheng's palm before guiding his hand to the kite string.

She wanted to begin incorporating the tracing of characters on her son's palm as a form of communication, so he would no longer have to look for dirt to trace in if he wanted to communicate with someone else. 

Qiuyue Cheng's face lit up with a rare smile as he recognised the character  traced on his palm, and felt the string in his hand. Fang Lei beamed and took his other hand, leading him to the open area where the wind caught the kite and sent it soaring into the sky. The other children joined in, their laughter echoing through the courtyard. Even Fang Ru, usually quiet and reserved, was running alongside them, his serious expression replaced with one of joy.

Fang Li and Qiuyue Meiyi watched from the sidelines, their hearts warmed by the sight of the children playing together. For a moment, the weight of the world seemed to lift, replaced by the simple happiness of a family at peace.

***

The following months were peaceful, but interspersed with rigorous training sessions. Qiuyue Meiyi dedicated time to improving Qiuyue Cheng's ability to communicate.

She had noticed, once they were indoors, how he often sat silently while the other children talked, and though they made every effort to include him, there was always a barrier between them. It wasn't a lack of affection, they adored him, but rather the absence of a common language.

So, she took Qiuyue Cheng aside, sitting with him in the warmth of their home while the snowflakes drifted lazily outside. She took his hand and gently traced the character for "flower" on his palm. Qiuyue Cheng furrowed his brow in confusion, unsure of what she meant. With a patient smile, Qiuyue Meiyi repeated the action, then guided his hand to hers. Slowly, she traced a simple character, "home," on his palm. Qiuyue Cheng's eyes widened in understanding.

They practiced for hours, Qiuyue Meiyi patiently guiding him through the strokes of each character. Qiuyue Cheng took to it quickly, his natural affinity for learning evident in how swiftly he grasped the concept. Soon, he was able to communicate simple ideas, tracing words on Qiuyue Meiyi's hand with a newfound eagerness.

When the children discovered this new method, they were thrilled. Fang Chi immediately bombarded Qiuyue Cheng with short, one to five word questions, holding out his hand for him to trace his answers. Fang Lei, though quieter, was equally enthusiastic, often sitting with him in the evenings to "talk" about their day.

The method wasn't perfect, there were still many things that were difficult to convey through simple characters, but it was a start. It gave Qiuyue Cheng a way to improve how he connected with the people he cared about, to share in their lives in a way that hadn't been possible before.

Qiuyue Meiyi had also begun teaching Qiuyue Cheng how to wield different spiritual weapons other than the sword, starting with the spear. The long, slender weapon required a different set of skills compared to the sword. Fang Li demonstrated the basic stances and movements, then guided Qiuyue Cheng's hands along the spear to help him understand its weight and balance. Qiuyue Cheng quickly adapted, his movements becoming more confident with each practice session. 

When Fang Li introduced the spiritual fan, a weapon that required both physical and spiritual dexterity, Qiuyue Cheng took to it as if it were second nature. The fan, when wielded correctly, could manipulate the flow of spiritual energy, creating barriers or directing powerful gusts of wind. Qiuyue Cheng, despite his young age, learned to control these effects with remarkable precision. 

As his training progressed, so did his relationship with the Fang children. They looked up to him, not just because of his abilities, but because of his quiet strength. Fang Ju, in particular, was always by his side, ready to assist him or playfully challenge him to a game. Fang Lin and Fang Ru often sat with him during breaks, their calm presence a soothing balm to his otherwise intense focus. Fang Chi and Fang Miyu loved to spend time flying kites or doing chores with him. Even the babies of the family, Fang Lei and Fang Liu, cuddled together with him whenever they went to bed. 

But as Qiuyue Cheng's skills grew, so did the challenges he faced.

It was a crisp autumn day when Qiuyue Cheng wandered into the forest behind their home after a spear training session. He had been following the familiar flow of qi that flowed from the woodland animals around their home as they moved through the underbrush and trees. The forest had always been a place of comfort for him, the spiritual energy thick in the air, vibrant and alive.

But today, the forest felt different. The energy was restless, disturbed. Qiuyue Cheng paused, sensing the shift. He reached out with his spiritual awareness, feeling the pulse of life around him. Suddenly, the comforting energy of the forest was overshadowed by something darker, something malevolent.

He tried to turn back, but the ground beneath him seemed to shift, disorienting him. Trying to regain his focus, Qiuyue Cheng focused on his training. He remembered Fang Li's teachings, the way she had shown him to manipulate spiritual energy to sense his surroundings. He extended his awareness, letting the energy flow through him like a river, mapping the terrain in his mind.

That's when he felt it. A sharp, cold presence slithering through the undergrowth. A pile of dark grey shadows squirmed a small distance from him. The shape of the shadows reminded him of an animal his mama had showed him called a snake. But these were not like the friendly snakes he sometimes saw in the forest. A dark, sinister energy rolled off of them, just like that strange four legged creature with giant claws from a long time ago. On top of that, he sensed not one, but an entire nest of them.

The first snake struck without warning, its fangs glinting in the dim light as it lunged at Qiuyue Cheng. He moved instinctively, the spear in his hand whipping around to block the attack. The snake recoiled, hissing in fury. But more were coming, their scales rustling like dry leaves as they surrounded the young boy.

Qiuyue Cheng stood his ground, pulling the spiritual fan from his qiankun pouch and holding it in his left hand. He could feel the energy surging around him, the fear and the adrenaline sharpening his focus. He channeled his spiritual energy into the fan, creating a barrier that deflected the next attack. But the snakes were relentless, their dark energy pressing against his defenses.

With a deep breath, Qiuyue Cheng remembered the new technique Fang Li had shown him, the one that allowed him to draw in spiritual energy from his surroundings. He focused, pulling the energy into his body, feeling it strengthen his core. The fan in his hand glowed with a soft, ethereal light as he directed the energy outward, creating a gust of wind that sent the nearest snakes tumbling backward.

But they quickly recovered, regrouping for another attack. Qiuyue Cheng knew he couldn't keep them at bay forever. With a fierce determination, he switched tactics. Instead of defending, he went on the offensive. He moved with the fluidity of a stream, the spear and fan working in tandem as he struck at the snakes. His blows were precise, each one guided by his spiritual awareness rather than his eyes or ears. The first snake fell, then the second, then the others until only the largest one remained.

This final snake was different. Its energy was more potent, more dangerous. It circled him, waiting for the perfect moment to strike. Qiuyue Cheng didn't wait. He channeled all of his remaining energy into a single, powerful strike, driving the spear forward with all his might.

There was a sharp, piercing sound as the spear found its mark. The snake thrashed violently before collapsing to the ground, its dark energy dissipating into the air. 

Breathing heavily, Qiuyue Cheng stood still for a moment, regaining his composure as he allowed his body to relax and continue absorbing spiritual energy. He could sense the forest calming, the malevolent presence fading away. But he was still lost, far from the safety of his home.

He closed his eyes, not that it made a difference, and focused on the spiritual energy around him. He reached out, feeling for the familiar presence of him mama or Fang Li. But the energy was faint, distant.

Then he remembered something he had learnt recently. How to use spiritual energy to navigate. He extended his awareness, feeling the subtle currents of energy in the air, the way they flowed towards the source of life and warmth. It was like following an invisible thread through the maze of the forest. 

Slowly, carefully, Qiuyue Cheng began to move, following the path laid out by the spiritual energy. It was a long and arduous journey, but eventually, he emerged from the forest, tired but unharmed.

Qiuyue Meiyi was the first to spot him, her relief palpable as she rushed to his side. She hugged him tightly, her heart pounding in her chest. Fang Li joined them moments later, her worried expression softening as she took in the sight of the boy, safe and sound.

"Where were you?" Qiuyue Meiyi traced on his palm, her hand trembling slightly.

Qiuyue Cheng hesitated, then traced the word "forest" in return. Fang Li and Qiuyue Meiyi exchanged a glance, understanding the danger he must have faced. 

Fang Li knelt down beside him, her hand resting on his shoulder. 

"You did well," Fang Li traced gently on his palm. She didn't need to ask more. She could feel the remnants of the battle still clinging to his aura, the faint echo of offensive spiritual energy lingering on his skin. 

Qiuyue Cheng nodded in response, his expression calm. As they made their way back to the house, Qiuyue Cheng noticed the subtle shift in the energy around him. It was as if the forest was alive, guiding him, the spiritual energy vibrating in harmony with his own. He traced his fingers across the palm of his hand, reliving the sensation of using the energy to navigate. It was like tracing a map, each pulse of energy marking a path that only he could follow. 

That night, after Qiuyue Cheng had washed away the grime of the battle, he sat with Fang Lin and Fang Ru on the back porch overlooking the training area. The two siblings, still buzzing with the energy of the day, chattered softly to each other. Qiuyue Cheng, though silent, felt the vibrations of their voices through the earth beneath him. He smiled faintly, enjoying the peace after the intensity of the day. 

Fang Lin, always eager to engage, reached over and took Qiuyue Cheng's hand. "A-Cheng," she began, her voice a soft hum against his skin as she guided his hand to her palm. Carefully, she traced the characters for "brave" and "strong." Qiuyue Cheng felt warmth bloom in his chest at the words. He nodded, squeezing her hand gently in response. 

Fang Ru, usually more reserved, hesitated before he too reached out, tracing "proud" on his other hand. Qiuyue Cheng's smile widened, the quiet support of his friends filling him with warm satisfaction. Even without words, they understood him. More than anyone else ever could. 

The following days were filled with a renewed intensity in his training. Fang Li began incorporating new techniques into their sessions, sensing that Qiuyue Cheng was ready to take on more challenges. She taught him how to fine-tune his spiritual awareness, to feel even the slightest shifts in energy around him. This training was vital for him, as his spiritual energy continued to grow exponentially.

Fang Li also introduced him to a new exercise, which was using his spiritual energy to manipulate small objects that don't usually have much qi flowing through them. For example, rocks. She would place a stone in front of him, guiding his hands to feel its shape and weight before stepping back. He would then focus, channeling his energy into the stone, trying to lift it without physically touching it. With ease, Qiuyue Cheng began to feel the energy around the stone, sensing its resistance, and then, with little concentrated effort, he would make it hover a few feet above the ground.

Just like with the leaves.

Each success brought a new surge of confidence. Fang Li watched these exercises with a mix of awe and concern. 

"A-Mei," she said one evening after Qiuyue Cheng had retired for the night, "His power is growing so quickly. He's learning things that took us years to master."

Qiuyue Meiyi nodded, her expression thoughtful. "He's special, A-Li. The energy around him... it's like it's alive, responding to him. But we must be careful. With great power comes great danger. We have to ensure he understands that."

Fang Li agreed, and the two women spent long hours discussing how to best guide Qiuyue Cheng in his journey. They knew that the world outside their home was fraught with dangers. Dangers that would only grow as Qiuyue Cheng's power became more apparent. 

As the seasons changed, so did Qiuyue Cheng. He was growing taller, his once-round face slowly beginning to lose some of its fat. Not much though considering he was not yet a teenager. His training continued, and with it, his mastery of spiritual energy. The Fang children continued to be his companions, their bond deepening with each passing day. Fang Ju, Fang Chi and Fang Lei with their boundless energy, often dragged him into new adventures, while Fang Ru, Fang Lin and Fang Miyu became his quiet confidantes, always by his side during the more challenging moments. 

On the eve of the New Year, the family gathered around the large table, the air thick with the aroma of traditional dishes. Qiuyue Meiyi, always the pragmatic one, ensured that everything was in order, while Fang Li focused on making the evening special for the children. They shared stories, laughter ringing out into the night as they feasted.

When the time came for the fireworks, Fang Ru grabbed Qiuyue Cheng's hand, pulling him outside into the cold night air. The others followed, bundling up in thick coats as they made their way to the open courtyard. The sky was clear, the stars bright against the inky blackness.

Qiuyue Cheng couldn't see the fireworks, nor could he hear the loud cracks and booms that filled the air, but he could feel them, their energy vibrating through the air. As the first burst of light exploded in the sky, he felt a surge of joy from the others, their emotions mingling with his own. 

Fang Miyu, unable to contain her excitement, traced "beautiful" on his palm, her hand trembling with delight. Fang Ru, standing quietly beside him, traced "together" on his other hand, his touch gentle and reassuring. Qiuyue Cheng smiled, peace overtaking him.

***

The arrival of spring marked a new year in Qiuyue Cheng's life. Soon spring bloomed into summer, which melted into autumn, which then gave way to winter. With the shimmering, ivory snow and the cool, chilling winds of winter came Qiuyue Cheng's birthday.

His ninth birthday was a quiet affair, celebrated with just the family. Fang Lin and Fang Ju had spent days crafting a special gift for him. A set of spiritual beads, each one carefully infused with their own spiritual energy. Fang Li had helped them, ensuring that the beads were balanced and strong, a symbol of the bond they all shared. 

When they presented the gift to Qiuyue Cheng, he held the beads in his hands, feeling the warmth of their energy. It was a connection to his family, a reminder that he was never alone. 

Qiuyue Meiyi and Fang Li also had a gift for him. A new weapon, a spiritual sword that could be used in conjunction with his spear and fan. It was a beautiful weapon, the blade shimmering with a faint, otherworldly light. Qiuyue Cheng could feel the power within it, the way it resonated with his own energy.

Lastly, the rest of the siblings gifted him a musical instrument. A pipa, similar to the one Qiuyue Meiyi owned. They wanted him to be able to have a connection with music, even if he wouldn't be able to hear it. 

As he accepted the gifts, Qiuyue Cheng traced "thank you" on each of their palms, the other's hearts swelling as they felt the gratitude in his actions. 

That evening, they all gathered outside to watch the stars, the night air filled with the sweet scent of blooming flowers. Fang Ru and Fang Lin sat on either side of Qiuyue Cheng, their heads resting on his shoulders. Fang Li and Qiuyue Meiyi sat nearby, their hands intertwined as they watched the children. 

There was a sense of peace in the air, a calm before the inevitable storm. But for now, they were content, surrounded by the love and warmth of their family.