SWNOVELXO Chapter 6: Dinner Preparation
Her father carried her to the kitchen, a small, detached building just steps from the main house. Inside, her mother moved with practiced efficiency, readying the worn cooking vessels for their evening meal. He lifted her onto the smooth-worn counter with gentle hands, the stone surface cool beneath her legs, then turned to assist her mother with an easy familiarity born of countless shared evenings.
Li Hua observed the inside of the kitchen with the careful attention she'd once reserved for marking escape routes and identifying weapons. Here, though, her assassin's instincts transformed mundane objects into tokens of domestic comfort—worn wooden cabinets that spoke of years of use, bundles of dried herbs hanging from rough-hewn rafters, and the steady rhythm of her mother's knife against the cutting board.
Laughter drew her attention as she watched her brothers run into the kitchen, their faces rosy from their outdoor play. It was then that she noticed her family were very thin.
Laughter drew her attention as she watched her brothers run into the kitchen, their faces rosy from their outdoor play. It was then that she noticed her family were very thin. Her trained assassin's eye caught every detail she wished she hadn't—the way their clothes hung loose like empty sacks, the subtle hollowing beneath their cheekbones, the careful way her mother portioned their meals. Each observation felt like a blade twisting in her chest, sharper than any weapon she'd ever wielded in her past life.
Little Firefly's warmth pulsed against her consciousness, trying to soothe the storm of emotions rising within her. These people—her people now—deserved more than this quiet struggle for survival. In her previous life, Master Chen was the closest father figure to her but even then, he was cold and unfeeling. And Li Min... her sister. She used to be a soft tender and sweet girl. However, perhaps her love wasn't enough? Perhaps she was the one who loved wrongly? Li Hua shook her head and focused on the present moment, pushing away the shadows of her past.
The weight of those memories—of Master Chen's clinical distance and Li Min's bitter betrayal—felt heavier now as she witnessed the simple, unconditional love that surrounded her in this humble kitchen.
"Mommy! What will you be making with the pork?" Li Hao asked, his eyes following the movements of their mother's hands as she worked at the counter. Li Hua watched her mother's skilled fingers deftly slice the small portion of meat into cubes. The meager portion of meat would barely feed two people yet now she would need to stretch it to feed their entire family.
Li Hua's throat tightened as she watched her mother carefully separate the fat from the lean meat, ensuring nothing would go to waste.
"You ask to many questions! Go help your dad. You're getting bigger now and should learn to use your spiritual powers!" Her mother chided gently, though her eyes sparkled with affection.
Li Hua turned to see her father filling a separate pot with water, surprise flashed across her face as she noticed the faint blue glow emanating from his palms. The water seemed to flow upward against gravity, dancing in delicate streams between his fingers before settling gracefully into the pot.
"Master! Master! Your father seems to be really adept at water manipulation!" Little Firefly shouted in her mind.
Li Hua nodded silently, mesmerized by the display. Her father's control was indeed remarkable, each movement precise and purposeful. The water responded to his will as naturally as breathing, and Li Hua found herself unconsciously leaning forward, trying to understand the subtle fluctuations in his spiritual energy.
"Does my little poppy want to learn too?" Her father's voice carried the gentle warmth of summer rain, breaking through her intense focus. Li Hua's heart skipped—she hadn't realized how obviously she'd been studying his movements. The former assassin's calculated observation had transformed into a child's wonder, and she felt an unfamiliar heat creep across her cheeks, coloring them with the innocent blush of her new age.
"Yes." She responded softly, her eyes full of determination.
A low chuckle rumbled in his chest as he reached down to ruffle her hair affectionately.
"Yes, my little poppy is such an eager learner." His eyes sparkled with pride. "You'll join your brother's training after dinner, ok?"
Li Hua nodded seriously, her fingers unconsciously traced patterns in the air, mimicking her father's movements.
"Sister look at me! Look at me!" Li Hao bounced excitedly in front of her, his round face beaming with pure delight as he attempted to copy their father's water manipulation. His clumsy movements sent tiny droplets spraying in all directions like a summer rain shower, catching the evening light and creating miniature rainbows.
In her past life, such uncontrolled movements would have marked him as an easy target, but now Li Hua found herself captivated by his innocent enthusiasm. A genuine smile spread across her face—her first real one since awakening in this new life—as she watched her little brother's determined attempts. His joy was like a warm ray of sunshine melting the ice around her heart, teaching her that perhaps the greatest power wasn't in perfect control, but in the pure, unrestrained happiness of simply being.
"Hao'er! Stop! You're making a mess!" Li Wei shouted, covering his face with his thin arms as water droplets rained down around him. Though he tried to sound stern like their father, his voice quivered with barely contained giggles. Li Hua watched her oldest brother's failed attempt at being the responsible one, noting how his shoulders shook with suppressed laughter even as he tried to scold their enthusiastic little brother. In this moment, she saw what real siblings should be—not the careful dance of daggers she'd known with Li Min, but this honest, messy, joyful chaos of genuine affection.