Hidden By Moonlight

Lin Yuan woke up early, as usual.

The morning air was crisp. After a short bath, he gently washed Xiao Hu in warm water, drying the little black tiger's fur with a soft towel. With Qingxue still snoring in bed, he slipped out and returned from the market carrying twenty bottles of spiritual milk and a heavy sack of dried fruits—over a hundred kilograms.

He patiently sliced the fruit into small pieces, arranging them into neat piles for Qingxue.

Xiao Hu yawned. "Brother, I want a horse."

From the bed, Qingxue immediately added, "I want one too!"

Lin Yuan chuckled and pulled out his sect token. A soft glow, and not long after, Lady Yuexian arrived holding a basket of fried chicken.

"I brought you something warm," she said, placing it down.

Lin Yuan began tearing the chicken into smaller strips so his beast siblings could eat in their true forms. Afterward, Lady Yuexian pulled out a few mysterious boxes.

Qingxue wrinkled her nose. "I don't like them."

Yuexian didn't comment. Instead, she turned to Lin Yuan and gestured. "Come. Time for cultivation."

They walked together to **Moonmist Hall**. As always, she instructed him to bathe first. When Lin Yuan ask why she doesn't get a bath,she smiled. "I'm always clean."

After the cleansing, she helped him into the sacred spiritual pool. "You don't even flinch," she murmured, circulating her Qi through his body. "Aren't you in pain?"

"I'm used to pain," Lin Yuan said. "I've had great healing powers since childhood. I could eat high-grade healing pills even back then."

"Why?" Her tone softened.

"My stepmother trained me to endure." He looked away. "So I wouldn't break easily."

Lady Yuexian's expression darkened. *What kind of mother does that to a child…?*

"You know," she added, trying to sound light, "Most girls your age can take ten mid-grade pills a day. Yesterday, you took 160. And now you're fine."

That day alone, Lin Yuan consumed another 156 pills. He didn't flinch once.

Eight hours passed in stillness and Qi flow. When it ended, Lin Yuan stood, stretched, and smiled. "Let's buy horses."

Yuexian nodded. "Of course."

---

At the beast market, Lin Yuan followed Lady Mingyan's voice in his soul:

**"Buy horses numbered 21, 33, and 47. They're rare spiritual breeds."**

He obeyed, spending three high-grade spirit stones. Xiao Hu and Qingxue both fell in love with the same white horse.

"I want that one!" they shouted in unison.

Lin Yuan grinned. "We'll get another."

Qingxue folded her arms. "Don't need one. I'm faster than all of you anyway."

Xiao Hu raised his nose proudly. "My horse will become a unicorn! Faster than wings!"

They laughed and returned to camp, eating grilled steaks as the horses grazed nearby.

Later that evening, Xiao Hu whispered, "I miss my mother."

Qingxue gently placed her hand on his shoulder. "You have to grow up. Most beast cubs live alone by now."

"You're not older than me!" he snapped.

"I am!"

"No, you're not!"

Lin Yuan stepped in, smiling. "Even the horses aren't siblings, but they're peaceful. So should we be."

That night, the three of them lay under the stars. Lin Yuan woke up later, trying to lift Qingxue—only to find she weighed more than she looked. "How does she even fly?" he mumbled.

Instead, he whispered, "Let's eat a little fruit," and the trio had a quiet midnight snack before going back to sleep.

---

Days passed like drifting clouds.

Each morning, Lady Yuexian trained Lin Yuan in painful body cultivation. He consumed hundreds of pills. She guided his Qi gently, always watching, always present.

Ten days later, she handed him a pouch. "10,000 spirit stones. Your body can circulate Qi on its own now. You've awakened a **Spiritual Body**."

She smiled proudly. "Most disciples remain at the Spiritual Body stage. You've to surpassed them."

From then on, Lin Yuan cultivated alone—until **Lady yinluo** emerged from his pocket dimension.

"I'll help," she said calmly. "I know Taiyin techniques too.Don't worry, I'll hide when others approach."

And so, more days passed. Painful cultivation in the morning. Warm meals and sibling games in the evening. Bedtime stories at night.

---

Then, one morning, Lady yinluo told him, "Xiao Hu and Qingxue are ready to take human form.I think you can trust sect leader. "

The next day, Lady Yuexian arrived to find three children playing in the dirt.

"Who are they?"

Lin Yuan replied without hesitation. "Xiao Hu and Qingxue.I thought we don't need to hide this from you. "

Lady Yuexian raised an eyebrow. "Does that mean you trust me?"

Lin Yuan met her eyes. "Not completely."

She laughed. "Good. I like honest children."

She gifted Qingxue a little princess dress. "So cute!"

Xiao Hu pouted. "Where's my gift?"

"Want a princess dress too?"

"No! I want a sword!"

She gave him a flying sword and a magical amulet. "This will protect you. I'll also shield this place with a spell."

---

Seven more peaceful days passed.

The sect leader herself cooked meals, washed clothes, and even cleaned up after the kids. But one morning, she warned Lin Yuan:

"Be cautious in Moonmist Hall. An ancestor may appear. No more swimming. Speak less."

But that very day, while training alone, a woman appeared beside the spiritual pool.

"Why are you in **my** pool?"

Lin Yuan moved aside silently.

The woman studied him, tested his Qi tolerance—and was shocked. 237 pills. Seven hours. No sign of collapse.

Eventually, she vanished.

Later, she confronted him again.

"Who's your father?" she asked.

"He's dead."

"I know your mother."

Lin Yuan froze. *Which one? *He thought in his mind,Mingyan? Baihua? Yinluo? Fengyuan?

She grinned. "Qingxuan."

Lin Yuan exhaled. "She's my master."

She didn't believe him. She help him cultivate.The pain trials resumed—until he activated his sect token.

Lady Yuexian arrived instantly and bowed deeply.

"Ancestor," she greeted.

"Why is she here?" the woman snapped.

"She will not return."

---

Back home, Lin Yuan rested. Yuexian brought Xiao Hu and Qingxue. She cooked porridge, read poems aloud, and tucked them into bed.

The next morning, she brought him to a new location—**Moonlight Hall**.

"It draws true moonlight. You'll feel scorched, but this is where your **Treasure Body** will awaken."

She handed him fasting pills. "Don't leave. Just focus."

Once alone, Lady An emerged again. "This is a good place," she said. "I'll help."

The days became intense. No rest. No food. Just spiritual water, healing pills, and Taiyin Qi.

Ten days later, Yuexian returned, proud.

"You've come far. But now, you must enter the **sect competition**."

Lin Yuan blinked. "Do I have to fight?"

She smiled. "No. Games."

"…Games?"

"Yes. Jump rope. Long jump. Flower arranging. Candy picking. Painting. Making clothes. Smashing pots. Cooking."

"…I've never made a flower in my life."