Just as Qing (Qīng，青) was feeling puzzled and helpless, a sudden commotion came from outside the carriage. Out of nowhere, an exotic beast (Yìshòu，异兽) appeared, racing up from behind at incredible speed, seemingly intent on attacking the carriage. This beast was small in size, but its eyes were strikingly similar to those of the earlier Giant Monster (Jùguài，巨怪) — the same faintly unnatural light gleamed within them.

  Sensing the disturbance outside, Qing immediately prepared to rise, but saw her master (Shīfu，师父) still as steady as Mount Tai, calm and composed. At that moment, a familiar voice rang out from outside — Yi (Yì，毅).

  Unlike the deputy (Fùjiàng，副将), Yi had been alert to his surroundings from the start. Moments earlier, he had spotted the situation in the carriage’s rearview mirror and immediately ordered the first group of bodyguards to intercept. But this little exotic beast was no easy opponent — it deftly evaded their attacks, showing no interest in lingering to fight, and slipped cleanly through their defensive line.

  Yi then ordered the second group into action, and he himself rose, summoning his personal weapon from the treasured gear he carried — a bow crafted from purple sandalwood, [length and distinctive features TBD], and an arrow tipped with titanium alloy, [length and distinctive features TBD], its head gleaming with a golden light.

  “Hey! Avoid the vital points…”

  By now, Qing had leaned out to see what was happening outside, intending to warn Yi to spare the small exotic beast that was still tangling with the bodyguards. But before she could finish, the man before her had already loosed a stylish shot — with a smooth turn, he nocked the arrow, drew, and whoosh! — struck the target’s vital point with unerring precision.

  The little exotic beast collapsed instantly, the strange light in its eyes fading back to normal. Though unwilling, it could only gaze longingly at the carriage before slowly dissipating from the battlefield.

  “Brotherinlaw (dàjiěfū，大姐夫), your ‘piercing a willow leaf at a hundred paces’ is truly no empty boast!”

  Yi reached out and called the arrow back — it flew to his hand automatically. The deputy, sitting nearby, grinned foolishly and clapped in applause.

  “Yeah! Not bad at all—”

  Seeing him bask in the praise, Qing could only shake her head in exasperation. She sat back down, but couldn’t resist another glance outside, then let out a cold snort: “If it weren’t for our superior weaponforging technology, and the quality of the weapon itself… with your skills — and this being a custommade piece — never mind hitting at a hundred paces, I doubt you’d win even at arm’s length!”

  The Main City (Zhǔchéng，主城) was the most skilled in smelting and forging among the Five Counties (Wǔ Jùn，五郡), its techniques unmatched. Nearly all weapons of the Guardian Alliance (Shǒuhùzhě Liánméng，守护者联盟) came from here. In the eastern district of the Main City, master craftsmen gathered — some focused on R&D, some built platforms for exchange, others ran shops — the place was truly bustling.

  The elder glanced at Qing and at Yi, who was leaning on the window, and with eyes full of warmth, gestured and said seriously, “Don’t worry — you two can do it!”

  “We…?”

  Hearing this unexpected remark, Qing wasn’t sure what she meant. She pointed between herself and Yi in question, then, catching sight of Yi’s smug face, felt a little embarrassed. She yanked the shutter down and quickly clarified, “It’s not what you think — we’re still young!”

  “Ah — right, we’ll be fine! Master, you can rest assured — ow… I’ll take care of this child with Qing, think of it as early practice…”

  Caught off guard by a sudden bump, Yi yelped as he was pinched, but still cheerfully made his promise. Qing, however, was momentarily speechless. She shot him a sideways glance, kicked the shutter, and demanded, “So you heard my conversation with Master just now…?”

  “Sure did…” Yi’s eye and half his mouth appeared in the crack of the window as he answered with glee.

  “That… was confidential! How could you eavesdrop—” Qing’s cheeks flushed as she scolded him angrily.

  “Come on, we’re all family — no need to be so formal—” Yi slid the shutter open a little more, showing half his face with a grin.

  “Who’s family with you — and… where’s the deputy?”

  “Relax, look…”

  Yi quietly opened the shutter wider, revealing the deputy driving with earphones in, grinning to himself as he listened to music.

  “Oh, right — Master, what’s with these exotic beasts? They don’t seem like enemies… but why are they acting so strangely? And that Giant Monster… oh, and… that little exotic beast just now?”

  With her mood lightened, Qing forgot to restrain herself, and the questions tumbled out.

  “No matter — they’re just exotic beasts from within the barrier, here for this child!”

  The elder, long accustomed to her disciple’s curiosity, patiently explained, “—As for the rest… perhaps the work of someone with ill intent. You must be on guard in the future — the burden of protecting this place will grow heavier. You’ll have to work hard…”

  “Mm, you can rest assured, Master (Shīfu，师父) — oh, right, what’s this child’s name?”

  “This child… will take our family name — a single given name… Jun (Jùn，俊)!”

  “Jun… AhJun… little AhJun…”

  With her doubts eased, Qing (Qīng，青) relaxed, murmuring the name as she looked at the child. Gradually, she found herself accepting the little one from the bottom of her heart, even feeling a touch of excitement. Though his smile wasn’t exactly joyful, it was warm with sunlight, and his small eyes shone with innocence. On his tiny forehead, the silver mark began to gleam again.

  Earlier, standing at a distance, Qing hadn’t noticed the details — but now, seeing the mark up close, she felt not surprise so much as a strange curiosity.

  If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

  “Master, look — this child’s forehead mark is unusual… I don’t think I’ve ever seen such a sheen!”

  “No… aren’t you the same?”

  The elder (Zhǎngzhě，长者) paused after speaking, looking expectantly at her older “child.”

  Qing touched her own forehead, then the child’s, and gave an embarrassed laugh. “Well… I suppose so — but most of our people have at least a trace of another color. Mine is rare, but still within normal range. This child, though — pure silver, to the extreme…”

  In Baihu County (Báihǔ Jùn，白虎郡), most Guardians (Shǒuhùzhě，守护者) possessed only the lightningtype Metal element, so their forehead marks were silverbased, mixed with blue or yellow as secondary tones, with varying purity. Generally, the higher the purity, the greater the gift — and in this regard, none could surpass the Zhuge clan (Zhūgě yīzú，诸葛一族).

  Qing, as a member of that clan, was an exception — her mark was silver mixed with green. In theory, she was a “weaker” type, poor in academics and unable to use special skills (juéjì，绝技), yet in practice her combat power was still toptier.

  But this child before her shattered all their understanding — his attribute was maxed out. Even the alreadyexceptional “Big Sister” Qing was astonished.

  “Of course it’s possible! You should read more…”

  The elder remained calm, her eyes filled with a light of hope, and continued explaining — this was one of the two elemental attributes once wielded by an ancient divine beast.

  Legend had it that the ancient beast, the Purple Moon Suānní (Zǐyuè Suānní，紫月狻猊), possessed the rare gift of dual attributes within the same element — purple thunder and silver lightning — mastering the ultimate lightning in both purple and silver forms. Even a single attribute’s power was comparable to that of a Divine Executor (Shénzhí，神执).

  But in a great war of antiquity, the beast was gravely wounded while saving the world. With no choice, it split its power in two — one half reincarnated as the PurpleGold Suānní (Zǐjīn Suānní，紫金狻猊), while the silver lightning vanished, lost for a thousand years.

  Later, the founder of the Zhuge clan, founder of the Main City (Zhǔchéng，主城), first Divine Executor of Baihu County, the Silver Moon Guardian (Yínyuè Shǒuhùzhě，银月守护者), Lord Wolong (Wòlóng Dàrén，卧龙大人), by chance obtained this power…

  “—Master, now that you say it, I remember… his mark is like that too, isn’t it?”

  “Ahem! You…”

  The elder gave her a mockstern look, though inwardly pleased, then asked again with expectation, “Now… do you understand?”

  “Understand? What…” Qing’s reply was still so offpoint that even she found it exasperating.

  The elder said nothing, simply watching and waiting… until at last Qing’s eyes lit with realization. She turned to the child. “—Oh, I get it now. No wonder you’re so certain — this power is that power… So this little one really could be the one from the legend…”

  Cough!!

  Just as Qing grasped the truth, the elder, whose condition had seemed stable, suddenly coughed violently, her hands trembling. Qing hurried to her side, but the elder smoothly passed the bundle into her arms. Halfunderstanding the situation, Qing quickly took it — her posture a bit awkward, but her hold careful.

  After a while, once the elder had recovered, Qing studied the child closely. The small forehead mark was pure silver without blemish, like moonlight — even the purest silver paled in comparison. Hm? That old man’s… not quite like this. Tch! Still, not bad… Wait, what am I thinking—

  “Hmm? Master, this… how could such a small child’s mark shine so brightly?”

  The forehead mark was one of a Guardian’s defining traits, much like the decorative huādiàn once painted on the foreheads of ancient women. Because its shape resembled the balsam flower, the Guardian Alliance named it the Fèngxiān Diàn (凤仙钿).

  Normally, the Fèngxiān Diàn was a hidden mark, invisible unless activated — for its appearance signified the qualification to wield various arts. For a Guardian, that required years of rigorous study and training from childhood to achieve.

  —So how could a mere infant have a visible mark?

  The elder gave no answer, continuing her meditation — perhaps even she did not know, for this was an exceedingly rare existence.

  “—Remember… you must take good care of this child, especially guiding his thoughts and values from a young age.”

  “Mm, I understand, Master… like the Three Character Classic — ‘At the beginning of man, nature is good…’”

  “Mm? Continue reciting!”

  “Uh… ah, that… ‘Their natures are similar, but habits set them apart. If not taught, their nature will deteriorate. The way of teaching…’”

  Faced with this “forced performance,” Qing (Qīng，青) suddenly felt a little at a loss — she had only meant to show off a little, but now it felt like she was reciting from a book. What was she supposed to do?

  Fortunately, a quiet prompt came from outside, helping her muddle through — it was Yi (Yì，毅). He began earnestly reporting the situation to the elder (Zhǎngzhě，长者), intending to lend a hand, but…

  “—So, Master (Shīfu，师父), Qing’s been diligent lately. Last time she was reciting and asking questions at the same time… uh, what was it — ah, I remember, something about…”

  “What? I never asked you anything — shut up!”

  “Oh? You… only know half the story.”

  The elder looked at the two big “children” still bickering and could only smile and shake her head. After a moment, she grew serious again: “This child may never have a normal childhood. Loneliness and hardship will always surround him, along with that person’s influence…”

  “—Ah, don’t worry, Master! I’ll do my best!”

  “Mm? Wait — we’ll do our best!”

  “You?”

  —Bang!

  On the bustling streets of the small town, the Zhuge family’s (Zhūgě jiā，诸葛家) carriage rolled slowly toward home — and in the carriage, a tiny hand still clung tightly to Qing’s finger.

  “Master… the little one looks so pitiful, so small… he doesn’t understand anything.” Qing murmured with pity as she played with the child.

  “Doesn’t understand? Don’t underestimate him — you don’t know, but in that situation I was able to maintain focus thanks to this child… and in that battle just now as well. Ah! Pitiful, to be the Child of Destiny (Mìngyùn zhī Zǐ，命运之子) — first the bitterness, then the sweetness. And this is only the beginning… as the saying goes, ‘When Heaven is about to place a great responsibility upon a person…’”

  “—That one I know! From Confucius’ Admonitions to His Son: ‘…it must first distress his mind, strain his sinews and bones…’”

  “Mm… it seems you really have been studying more lately!”

  “Thank you, Master!”

  “Hee hee…”

  Receiving her master’s praise, Qing couldn’t help but smile, her heart light. In her arms, the child smiled too.

  Looking down at him, Qing’s gaze grew more resolute and gentle. The doubts and misunderstandings in her heart had melted away. After a while, the child yawned, his little eyes blinking open and shut — his eyelids grew heavier and soon he was asleep…

  He slept soundly, snoring softly, perhaps storing up energy for the trials ahead. Meanwhile, the mark at the center of his forehead slowly faded… until only a trace of multicolored light remained in Qing’s eyes.

  “Aiya, little brother, congratulations! Finally drinking your wedding wine…”

  “Yes, congrats, congrats — I’ve been waiting forever…”

  “Heh heh, come on in!”

  “Hey! Where’s the bride?”

  “Oh… she’s feeding the baby.”

  “What, a baby? What, you’ve been gone a year and already had one before marriage…?”

  “Uh, no — ah, yes… no, wait!”

  “What? Her second uncle, how…?”

  “Hey! Don’t get excited, I know — the kid’s already over six months old, when they brought him…”

  “—Shut up!”

  “Well now! You brat, daring to bully my niece, huh!”

  “Aiya, no, Auntie, let me explain — ow, that hurts… I’m innocent!”

  “What’s this… old lady, how could that be? It’s always Brother Yi getting bullied…”

  “What? I look old to you? You brat, get over here — bringing people to rile me up — I’ll… make you dodge!”

  “Ah, ow — hey, Auntie, who are you? Why are you hitting me… here to freeload a meal?”

  “—Aiya, Da Qiang (Dà Qiáng，大强), just say less!”

  @#￥%…&*

  “Aiya, hurry up! Where are the diapers?”

  “Coming!”

  “Is the formula ready? Aiya, why so slow!”

  “Coming… coming, careful, it’s hot!”

  “Ah! Too hot — how can you give that to the baby? Master… look at him!”

  “Oh! He can walk now!”

  “Yes, special training paid off — Xiao Jun (Xiǎo Jùn，小俊) worked hard for a long time, and today he finally mastered it. He insisted on coming to find you—”

  “Oh, come… big sister’s hug. You’re amazing — hm? Don’t you have a mission today… where’s the strategist (cānmóu，参谋)?”

  “Jiě… jie!”

  “Oh? Wow, Xiao Jun can talk now?”

  “Mm, after so long teaching him, it finally worked — he’s grown so much. It’s not easy — this is his first word, and for now it’s the only one he can say…”

  “Yes, truly not easy — and Master… still in seclusion?”