Seeing the eager faces of so many children, Yulian Qin Jingwen felt a deep warmth in her heart. With a gentle smile, she announced,

  "Our first lesson will begin tomorrow at the Hour of Radiant Birth (9 o’clock in the morning) in our courtyard. Be sure to arrive early!"

  Wuji and Mei nodded eagerly, their bright eyes shining with excitement. After lunch, the children scattered to their daily tasks, their steps lighter with anticipation.

  Life in Celestial Harmony Village continued beneath the golden sun. Farmers tilled the fields, blacksmiths hammered molten iron, and weavers worked their looms with practiced hands. Herbalists crushed fragrant leaves into potent remedies, while hunters ventured into the forests, ensuring the village remained safe and well-fed. As the sun arched across the sky, painting the land in warm hues, the village gradually slowed. Twilight arrived, bringing with it a time of rest—families and friends gathered to share stories, their laughter mingling with the evening breeze.

  At the Hour of Budding Dawn (7 o’clock in the morning), Wuji stirred from his slumber. Rubbing his eyes, he began his daily routine—relieving himself, brushing his teeth, and bathing with the herbal-infused powdered soap prepared by the caretakers.

  Afterward, he donned his grey robe. Though its fabric was rough and its color fading—purchased during the New Year festivities—he had long since adapted to its discomfort.

  By the time he finished, breakfast was about to be served. As he entered the dining area, he spotted a few children already waiting. Moments later, Mei arrived, practically skipping toward him.

  "Brother Wuji, are you excited for our first lesson?" she asked, her face glowing with anticipation.

  "Yes, I am," Wuji replied with a small smile. "What about you, Mei?"

  Mei giggled. "Hehe, Brother Wuji, I was so excited I could barely sleep last night!"

  Wuji sighed, preparing to scold her, "You know, it's important to—"

  Before he could finish, Mei suddenly grabbed his hand and tugged him toward the counter. "Brother Wuji, let’s go! The breakfast is ready!" she chirped, clearly dodging the impending lecture.

  Wuji chuckled at the little girl’s slyness. In his past life, he had never known the joy of having a younger sister or daughter. Now, he found himself unconsciously doting on Mei as if she were his own.

  Lining up behind Mei, he waited for his turn to receive his share—a fragrant bowl of broth and freshly baked bread, prepared by Liu Hua. Once everyone had their portions, they took their seats at the long wooden tables.

  Zhang Fei, one of the caretakers, sat with Wuji’s group. He was a large, broad-shouldered man in his twenties, his rugged face giving him a fierce appearance. Yet, despite his intimidating looks, he was a gentle and kind-hearted soul.

  As the meal was served, the children clasped their hands together, bowing their heads in unison. Their voices rose in soft reverence, reciting the traditional prayer before their meal:

  "Heaven above and earth below, we give thanks for this humble meal. May the harvest be plentiful, our labor steady, and our days peaceful. As we nourish our bodies, may we find strength to face tomorrow."

  With that, the quiet murmur of gratitude faded, replaced by the comforting sounds of children eating and chatting, marking the start of another day in Celestial Harmony Village.

  Half an hour after breakfast, it was time for their first lesson with Yulian. As instructed by Mother, Wuji and Mei, along with four other children—Jinwei, Zhen, Yuan, and Li—made their way to the courtyard.

  The morning sun cast a warm glow over the village, its golden rays filtering through the leaves of an ancient tree at the heart of the courtyard. Beneath its shade stood Qin Jingwen—whom the children fondly called Mother—her serene presence commanding quiet respect. Beside her was a large blackboard, its dark surface contrasting against the sunlit surroundings.

  As they approached, Qin Jingwen gestured toward six neatly arranged straw mats beneath the tree. Her voice, gentle yet firm, carried a soothing authority.

  "Come, take your seats on the mats. Our lesson will begin shortly."

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  The children obediently settled onto the straw mats, sitting cross-legged in a single line, their curious eyes fixed on their teacher.

  Once they were seated, Qin Jingwen swept her gaze over them, a soft smile playing on her lips.

  "Today, for our first lesson in Yulian, we will delve into its history—how it came to be and the legacy it carries."

  Her words sparked excitement among the children, their anticipation palpable in the crisp morning air. Wuji straightened his back slightly, intrigued by what he was about to learn.

  Qin Jingwen clapped her hands lightly to get the children’s attention. She smiled and said in a gentle voice,

  "Before we learn about the Yulian language, we need to understand where we live. After all, words come from the places and people around us!"

  Qin Jingwen picked up a piece of chalk and began drawing a rough map on the blackboard.

  "This is our Duskwind Plains. It is so vast that even if you walked every day for your entire life, you still wouldn’t reach the end!"

  The children’s eyes widened in amazement.

  "Within these plains, there are many kingdoms and empires, big and small—like different families living in the same village. Our home is the Golden Lotus Empire. This is where we were born, where we play, and where we learn!"

  She turned back to the children, her eyes twinkling.

  "Now that we know where we live, let’s travel back in time and discover how the Yulian language came to be!"

  The children leaned forward, eager for the next part of the lesson.

  Qin Jingwen smiled at their curiosity and continued, her voice warm and inviting.

  "A long, long time ago, before there were great empires or even cities, the Duskwind Plains were home to many different tribes. Each tribe had its own language, and because they couldn’t understand each other, they often fought over land, food, and water."

  Mei raised her hand eagerly. “Teacher, why didn’t they just learn each other’s words?”

  Qin Jingwen chuckled, pleased by the thoughtful question. "That’s a clever thought, Mei! And some did try. But think about it—if you and your friends all spoke different languages, how would you even begin to teach each other?"

  Mei tilted her head, frowning. “Hmm… maybe we could point at things and make sounds?”

  Qin Jingwen nodded. "Exactly! And that’s what people did at first. But tribes were spread far apart, and learning a new language takes time. Some groups didn’t trust each other enough to sit and learn. Others were too busy surviving—hunting, farming, or defending their land."

  Li, scratching his head, asked, “But, Mother, how did they stop fighting?”

  Qin Jingwen’s eyes twinkled as she continued.

  "One day, something incredible happened—a great star, burning bright like the sun, fell from the sky. It crashed into the land with a loud boom! And from its light, a mystical lake appeared. At the center of the lake... grew a tree unlike any other—the Yulian Tree, with silver leaves that shimmered like the stars."

  The children gasped, captivated by the tale.

  "Then, from the lake, a woman appeared. She had silver eyes and robes that flowed like moonlight. Her name was Yu Lian, the Celestial Sage. She saw how lost and divided the people were, so she gave them a gift—a way to speak and understand each other."

  Jinwei’s eyes sparkled. “Did she use magic?”

  "Not quite," Qin Jingwen said with a soft smile. "She listened to the world—the way rivers flowed, the way mountains stood tall, the way stars moved across the sky. And from all these things, she created a new language: Yulian. She taught them to write, using symbols inspired by nature itself. With this, the tribes could finally understand one another."

  Mei raised her hand. “But, Teacher, why didn’t they just learn each other’s words? Wouldn’t that have been easier?”

  Qin Jingwen chuckled. “That’s a smart question, Mei! Some people did try, but it wasn’t that simple.”

  She glanced around the room, then pointed at three children. “Let’s say Jinwei speaks the language of the River Tribe, Li speaks the language of the Mountain Tribe, and Mei, you speak the language of the Forest Tribe. Now, Jinwei wants to trade fish for some wood, but he can’t understand Li’s words. So what should he do?”

  Mei tilted her head. “Maybe Li can learn Jinwei’s words?”

  Qin Jingwen nodded. “He could try! But what about you, Mei? If you meet both of them, would you learn two different languages? What if there were ten tribes? Twenty?”

  Mei’s eyes widened. “That would take forever!”

  "Exactly," Qin Jingwen said. "Each tribe had their own way of speaking, and even within tribes, words changed over time. Learning just one other language was already difficult, and most people didn’t have the time. Imagine trying to learn ten or more!"

  Li scratched his head. "So the Celestial Sage made a new language so that everyone could talk to each other instead of learning dozens of different ones?"

  "That’s right," Qin Jingwen said. "She created Yulian as a shared language so people could communicate easily—whether they lived by the river, in the mountains, or deep in the forests. With this, the tribes stopped fighting and started working together. They built homes, villages, and, over time, entire kingdoms. This was the beginning of the Yulian Accord, the first great alliance of the mortal world."

  She paused, letting the children take it all in before lowering her voice, as if sharing a secret.

  "And even today, some say that if you find the Celestial Lake and sit beneath the Yulian Tree... you might hear the whispers of the Celestial Sage herself, telling forgotten stories from long ago."

  The children sat in awed silence, their minds filled with images of silver trees, celestial sages, and ancient wisdom.

  Mei finally broke the silence, tugging on Wuji’s sleeve. “Brother Wuji, do you think we can find the Yulian Tree one day?”

  Wuji, who had been quietly listening, gave a small smile. “Maybe.”

  And with that, their first lesson came to a magical end.

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