The next morning, sunlight flooded the village, dispelling the shadows of the night, yet it could not erase the doubts lingering in the hearts of the villagers.
The Xuan family had officially settled in the village, and Xuan Yang lay in his cradle, curiously observing this unfamiliar world. His bright, round eyes darted around, and his little mouth opened and closed as if everything around him was a source of endless wonder.
Not far away, in the courtyard of the Qu family, Qu Si Yang was also babbling away, waving her tiny hands, filled with curiosity about the world. Her chubby little face was adorned with large, sparkling eyes that resembled two black jewels, making one unable to resist the urge to pinch her cheeks.
Time flew by like a fleeting shadow, and before long, ten years had passed.
Xuan Yang and Qu Si Yang had grown up to become the best of playmates in the village. One was clever and mischievous while the other was gentle and well-behaved; despite their contrasting personalities, they surprisingly complemented each other well.
They often ran together in the fields, played by the riverside, shared secrets, and built a deep friendship. In spring, they flew kites they had made themselves, watching them soar higher and higher as if carrying their dreams far away; in summer, they caught fish and shrimp in the clear river, splashing water that sparkled with rainbow colors under the sun;
In autumn, they collected golden leaves, piled them into small hills, and then jumped into them to enjoy the joy of falling leaves; in winter, they built snowmen with carrot noses and stone eyes, joyfully singing and dancing around their snowy creations.
“Xuan Yang, what do you think we will become in the future?” On a sunny afternoon, Qu Si Yang gazed up at the sky with eyes full of longing. Tilting her head slightly, her long eyelashes fluttered like butterfly wings, and her fair face shone beautifully under the sunlight.
Xuan Yang scratched his head lazily and replied, “I don’t know. Maybe I’ll become a wandering hero, traveling the world with my sword and helping those in need.” He lay back on the soft grass with his hands behind his head, a carefree expression on his face as he chewed on a blade of grass.
“I don’t believe it! You’re so lazy that you probably sleep until noon every day,” Qu Si Yang teased with a laugh. She playfully kicked Xuan Yang lightly, her tone laced with mockery.
“Hey! I’m actually very diligent; I just don’t like being tied down,” Xuan Yang retorted defensively. He sat up abruptly and glared at Qu Si Yang like a cat whose tail had been stepped on.
“Alright, alright! You’re the most diligent person ever,” Qu Si Yang said with a smile. “But what about me? What kind of person will I become?” She rested her chin on her hands and tilted her head expectantly.
Xuan Yang pondered seriously for a moment before saying, “You will definitely become an amazing person who protects our village and becomes everyone’s hero.” He looked at Qu Si Yang with earnest eyes that sparkled with sincerity.
“Really? Do you really think so?” Qu Si Yang’s eyes lit up with excitement, shining like two bright stars.
"Of course it's true, I really believe in you," Xuan Yang said with certainty, his tone filled with sincerity. He reached out and gently patted Qu Si Yang's head, as if encouraging her.
"Xuan Yang, look, this is the red bracelet my parents got for me. They say it can protect me and keep me healthy." Qu Si Yang extended her hand to show Xuan Yang the red bracelet. The delicate, fair wrist made the red string stand out even more.
Tied to the bracelet was a small jade stone that sparkled faintly under the sunlight. The jade was teardrop-shaped, entirely green, with wisps of cloud-like patterns visible within, giving it a mysterious and beautiful appearance.
"It's beautiful," Xuan Yang exclaimed, reaching out to touch the jade. A warm energy flowed from his fingertips, enveloping him in comfort, as if a gentle current was coursing through his body.
"This jade seems a bit special," Xuan Yang remarked thoughtfully. He had a vague feeling that this piece of jade contained some kind of mysterious power.
Just as they were enjoying themselves, a sudden commotion erupted outside the village, shattering the tranquility of the fields. The noise grew louder as it approached, sounding like a fight breaking out, mixed with the clashing of weapons and people's cries of alarm.
"What’s going on?" Xuan Yang and Qu Si Yang exchanged glances, their eyes filled with confusion. They could see unease reflected in each other's expressions.
"Let’s go take a look," Xuan Yang said, grabbing Qu Si Yang's hand and running toward the source of the noise. Though he was young, he possessed an innate courage and curiosity.
When they reached the village entrance, they saw a group of supernatural beings engaged in fierce combat. Energy waves surged violently, creating chaos all around. Colorful energy lights danced in the air like dazzling fireworks but carried a deadly danger.
A man dressed in black combat gear wielded a long knife that glimmered coldly; each swing generated a fierce blade wind that tore through the surrounding air. Another man in a Blue Robe manipulated water to form walls that blocked incoming attacks. When struck, these water walls splashed countless droplets that sparkled like jewels under the sunlight.
"It's people from the Shadow!" one villager exclaimed in terror. His face was pale and his body trembled slightly, clearly shaken by fear.
"What do they want?" another villager asked anxiously, gripping his hoe tightly. The veins on his hands bulged, revealing his inner tension.
"I don't know, but they definitely mean no good," an older villager replied gravely, his expression serious and eyes filled with vigilance. Having experienced countless dangers in his life, he felt an unprecedented pressure at this moment.
Xuan Yang and Qu Si Yang were stunned by the scene before them; they had never witnessed such an intense battle, and their hearts were filled with fear and unease. The two huddled closely together, their bodies trembling slightly, like two frightened little rabbits.
At that moment, an energy ball shot toward them at incredible speed, carrying with it a devastating force. The energy ball arced through the air, emitting a piercing whistle, as if it were the scythe of death, ready to reap their lives.
“Watch out!” Xuan Yang shouted as he pushed Qu Si Yang aside, but he himself could not evade in time. He felt a powerful force rushing toward him, immobilizing him as he could only watch helplessly as the energy ball approached.
In a critical moment, the bracelet on Qu Si Yang's wrist suddenly broke, and the jade fell to the ground, emitting a dazzling light. The brilliance was blinding, like the sun itself.
A transparent energy shield formed instantly, protecting both Xuan Yang and Qu Si Yang within it. The energy ball collided with the shield with a thunderous sound but could not shake it even slightly. Ripples spread across the shield like water waves, dissipating the energy ball's power into nothingness.
“Holy crap! Is this… a defensive ability?” one villager exclaimed in astonishment. His eyes widened and his mouth dropped open in disbelief.
“Damn it, I can’t believe a kid has awakened an ability!” another villager said, envy filling his eyes. He slammed his fist against his thigh in frustration, regretting his own lack of such luck.
The other children in the village were drawn to this sudden turn of events and gathered around curiously to observe Qu Si Yang and Xuan Yang. They chattered excitedly, their eyes brimming with enthusiasm and curiosity.
“Sister Si Yang is so amazing!” a little girl with pigtails exclaimed, her eyes filled with admiration.
“Yeah! She actually awakened a defensive ability; that’s so cool!” another boy chimed in, excitedly pumping his fist as if he too possessed an ability.
Old Village Chief Lu Zhiyuan also rushed over upon hearing the news. He parted the crowd and quickly approached Qu Si Yang and Xuan Yang. Looking at Qu Si Yang, his eyes were filled with pride. Though his hair was white and his face lined with wrinkles, his dual eyes sparkled with vitality as if they could see through everything.
“Child, you have finally awakened,” Old Village Chief said kindly as he bent down to pick up the jade from the ground and examined it closely. He gently caressed the jade, complex emotions flickering in his eyes as if recalling past memories.
“This jade is a treasured heirloom of the Qu family; it contains powerful defensive energy that can only be activated by someone with a defensive ability,” Old Village Chief explained. His voice was aged yet full of strength, instilling confidence in those who heard it.
"Now I understand," Xuan Yang said, realization dawning on him as he looked at Qu Si Yang, admiration shining in his eyes. "So this jade is so powerful!"
"Si Yang, you are truly amazing!" Xuan Yang exclaimed sincerely. He gazed at Qu Si Yang, excitement flickering in his eyes; he never expected that his companion possessed such formidable abilities.
"This... this was all a fluke..." Qu Si Yang replied, a hint of embarrassment in her voice. She still felt shaken from the recent crisis, her heart racing. Lowering her head, she fidgeted with her hands, a faint blush creeping onto her cheeks.
"My child, your awakening of special abilities is a good thing for the village," the Old Village Chief said earnestly. "I hope you can make good use of your powers to protect the village and safeguard everyone." His eyes were filled with hope, as if the future of the entire village rested on Qu Si Yang's shoulders.
Qu Si Yang nodded solemnly, determination filling her gaze. She clenched her fists tightly, her knuckles turning white from the pressure.
She understood that she bore an important mission. She would strive to become a powerful wielder of abilities and protect her home. From that moment on, she was no longer just an ordinary village girl but a bearer of responsibility and purpose.
In the shadows, an observer witnessed everything unfold, a glint of malice flashing in his eyes. He blended seamlessly into the darkness around him, making it difficult to detect his presence.
"A defensive ability... interesting... It seems I need to revise my plans," he murmured to himself, his tone laced with calculation. A sinister smile crept across his lips, sending chills down the spine of anyone who might have seen it.
He turned and vanished into the darkness, leaving behind an unsettling silhouette. His figure slipped away like a ghost, silently disappearing into the night.
Qu Si Yang's awakening had changed the village's prejudice against her family.
The bonds between them had grown stronger due to this incident... and this was just the beginning... A greater crisis loomed in the shadows, brewing silently.
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