Although Sister Xue had suggested that he not train today, Tianyu still decided to continue his practice. His spirit was burning so fiercely that he trained to the point of near immobility. With the last of his strength, he forced himself to return home.
Upon arriving home, Tianyu ate breakfast alone. His mother and Na'er were still in the city shopping. After eating, he went straight to his room and—without realizing it—fell into a deep sleep from exhaustion.
The sun had begun to dip westward when the front door creaked open, signaling that someone had returned. Light footsteps entered the house, followed by the rustling of shopping bags being gently placed on the table.
"Tianyu? Where are you?" his mother's soft voice broke the quiet atmosphere of the house.
Na'er, who was carrying some items into the room they shared, saw her brother lying sound asleep on the bed. Carefully, she put her things down and approached Tianyu.
She observed his face closely. His breathing was steady, but his face was a little pale and his hair was still damp with sweat he hadn't had the chance to wipe away.
Long Ruyin entered the room, her eyes immediately falling on Tianyu's condition. "He must have pushed himself too hard again," she murmured with a sigh. Gently, she touched Tianyu's forehead to make sure he wasn't running a fever.
"Na'er, please get a towel and some warm water," her mother requested.
Na'er nodded quickly and hurried out. Meanwhile, Long Ruyin carefully wiped the sweat from her son's face. "This child… always overexerting himself," she whispered lovingly.
When Na'er returned, the two of them tended to Tianyu as he continued to sleep. Outside the window, the twilight sky turned a golden orange, casting a warm glow into the room.
In his sleep, Tianyu found himself in a magnificent room bathed in golden light. The space felt unfamiliar, yet oddly familiar, with dark hues outlining its edges.
Before him stood a mighty golden dragon. Its massive form made Tianyu feel as small as an ant. Every scale on its body emitted a soft, radiant light brimming with power, as if holding the secrets of the entire universe.
Tianyu swallowed hard, his heart pounding. The overwhelming energy radiating from the majestic creature made the air itself tremble, as though the space could barely contain the dragon's presence.
The dragon lifted its head, its gem-like eyes gazing straight into Tianyu's soul.
It seemed to be saying something, but the words were muffled in Tianyu's ears.
Suddenly, a gentle touch on his shoulder slowly brought him back to consciousness. Tianyu summoned all his strength to open his heavy eyelids.
"Awake now, dear?" Long Ruyin smiled gently, her hand still stroking Tianyu's hair. "You slept very soundly."
Na'er, standing beside their mother, added, "Brother, we've prepared a special dinner for you!"
Tianyu slowly sat up, his body—previously weighed down—had recovered during his sleep. His body was somewhat special, able to recover quickly no matter how intense the training.
Tianyu stretched his body, feeling his muscles fully recovered. "I'm fine now," he said with a smile to his mother and sister. "My body recovers quickly."
Long Ruyin looked at her son with a gaze full of concern. "Tianyu, you have to be more careful. Just because your body recovers fast doesn't mean you can keep pushing yourself."
Na'er nodded in agreement while folding the towel they had just used.
Tianyu let out a sigh. "I understand. I promise I'll pay more attention to my condition." His hand unconsciously reached for his chest, sensing an odd rhythm different from usual.
Once his mother and Na'er left the room, Tianyu quickly changed his clothes. As he unbuttoned his shirt, his eyes widened—several faintly glowing golden scales were visible on the skin of his chest!
"What is this...?" His heart pounded. He touched the scales with trembling fingers, but they didn't disappear. Instead, they glowed even warmer beneath his touch.
At the dinner table, the savory aroma of meat soup and fresh vegetables filled the room. Tianyu devoured his meal, feeling energy surging back through his body.
"Mom, your cooking is always the best," Tianyu praised as he sipped the rich broth.
Long Ruyin smiled warmly. "Eat plenty. You need nutrition after a whole day of training."
Tianyu's appetite was several times greater than that of the average adult. Seeing him eat like that, Na'er decided to try more as well.
Long Ruyin watched her two children eating heartily. A gentle smile bloomed on her face.
During dinner, the house was filled with warmth. Lighthearted jokes, the clinking of chopsticks and spoons against bowls, and the aroma of their mother's cooking created a peaceful atmosphere Tianyu would never forget.
After dinner, Na'er helped clean the table while Tianyu sat in the living room, gazing at the night sky through the open window. Stars began to appear one by one, as if watching the world from afar.
He was still thinking about the dream. That golden dragon... it felt far too real to be just a dream. The energy he sensed was so strong and alive, as if... something was awakening inside him.
'The golden dragon from my dream… could it be related to these scales?' Tianyu pondered as he gently touched the spot on his chest where the golden scales were.
Suddenly, Na'er sat on his lap. Tianyu was slightly surprised, but quickly smiled and gently patted her head. The little girl leaned in comfortably, her eyes gazing at the star-filled night sky.
They sat together in silence, leaning against each other until Long Ruyin told them it was time for bed.
Long Ruyin watched her children from the doorway. Her gaze was soft, but in her heart, a quiet worry lingered. She knew Tianyu wasn't an ordinary child. Since he was young, his body had shown signs of uniqueness—in strength, endurance, and a fierce determination far beyond his age.
She closed her eyes for a moment, recalling the long nights spent alone, nursing Tianyu through high fevers or sudden unconsciousness after training. Now, seeing him grow strong and full of spirit, she felt both proud and afraid. Afraid of the day when the outside world would take interest in Tianyu's uniqueness.
Slowly, Long Ruyin closed the door to their room, letting the moonlight streaming through the window be the only light that guided them through the night.
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