001 Siblings: The Beginning of Everything

At dawn, when all things are newly born and radiant light bathes the world, a young boy stood outside the entrance of the People’s Hospital in Huaxia, his face dark and sullen as he gripped his phone.

“What do you mean, is work really that important? Do you even realize that Xiaoxi’s illness has relapsed? All she wants is for you to be by her side. Tell me, how many years has it been since you came back?”

“Yes, you’re working to earn money for her treatment—I won’t say anything about that—but you haven’t come home in three years. Is it really so difficult to visit even once?”

His furious shout shattered the hospital’s early morning silence, his face twisted with anger.

“Hmph... I don’t have a father like him, nor a mother like you. Each month you send us living expenses, but we never even see your shadow. What does that make you? What does it make us?”

Tears streaked down his exhausted cheeks.

“What’s the point of saying all this now? If you’d considered me, considered Xiaoxi, even once back then, things wouldn’t have come to this. If you were going to abandon us, you should never have brought us into this world.”

“Fine, do as you please! I remember every cent you sent over the years, and one day, I will return every penny. I hope you’re happy with your new families.”

With a scornful sneer, he slammed the phone down, then slumped onto the cold ground, sobbing.

When he was six, his parents divorced without a second thought. Neither wanted custody; apart from the monthly remittance, their only contact was by phone. Ironically, not long after the divorce, each parent started a new family. If not for the law, perhaps Xuan Ye and his sister would already have been orphans. In fact, perhaps they already were.

He had never forgotten the resentment he felt toward his parents. Earning money for his sister’s treatment—those were just excuses. Besides the set amount wired each month, they never showed their faces. What kind of parents were they?

If it hadn’t been for their grandfather, who raised them and left a small sum after his death, he and his sister might already be beggars.

Worse yet, his sister had been born with a congenital heart defect, her heart underdeveloped, making her far more frail than other children. Even walking was an effort, her pace always a few beats slower. Any excitement or breathlessness would bring on agonizing pain, sometimes even causing her to faint.

In truth, he and his sister had depended on each other from the very beginning. He cherished her down to his bones; since their grandfather’s passing, she was his only family.

Shaking his head to clear away those painful thoughts, Xuan Ye wiped his bloodshot eyes, composed his features into a forced smile, and entered the ward.

Inside, a small, white bed held a girl with a sickly pallor.

Her long, black hair tumbled to her waist, delicate brows arched gently, her elegant nose breathing softly, lips a rosy pink, her slim arms pale with a touch of crimson, fingers slender and graceful. She was beautiful, though her skin was tinged with sickness.

He sat quietly beside her, reaching out to stroke her sleeping face with infinite tenderness, a gentle smile spreading across his lips as the girl opened her eyes.

They were lively, brimming with spirit. She blinked, tilted her head, and greeted him with a serene smile: “Brother, you’re back.”

“Yes. What happened this time? Why did you suddenly faint?” He ruffled her hair, a hint of reproach in his voice.

“It’s nothing…” She grinned sheepishly, then pleaded, “Brother, I want to go home.”

“All right, I’ll take care of the paperwork and we’ll go home soon.” He tapped her nose affectionately, stood up, and left the ward.

A few minutes later, on the street—

A boy carried a girl on his back, the two of them a vibrant scene, adding a splash of color to the city street.

“Tang Xuanxi, you seem to have gotten heavier again!”

“No, I haven’t! Only a tiny bit,” she pouted, tapping him lightly on the head.

“It’s good—heavier means healthier.” He gripped her tightly, as if afraid she’d slip.

“Brother, they still won’t come back, will they?” After a moment’s silence, the girl rested her head forlornly on his back.

“Xiaoxi, they’re busy. Let’s go home. Tonight, I’ll cook something delicious for you.” His face stiffened, and in his dark, bright eyes, resentment lingered.

“Mm, I love your cooking the most.” She smiled brightly, full of life, though anyone could see she was forcing herself to be cheerful.

“Let’s go home…” He quickened his pace, hurrying toward their unique little home.

“Yes… let’s go home.” She called out sweetly.

Suddenly, she turned her head, surprise lighting her face. “Brother, wait, look, what are they selling over there!”

“Fruit,” he replied, glancing toward a nearby fruit stand.

“No, look—doesn’t it look like a Devil Fruit? Let’s go check it out!” She wriggled impatiently on his back.

“All right.”

“It really does look like a Devil Fruit,” he said, gazing at the bizarre, intricately patterned fruit before them, marveling at the lengths to which people would go with their produce these days.

“Brother, let’s buy one!” she pleaded.

“It’s not real, and who knows if it’s even safe. What if it’s some kind of chemical creation?”

“Hey there! This isn’t some chemical concoction—it’s government approved, just an ordinary fruit, put together in a special way. It’s actually an apple,” the vendor explained.

“Fine, we’ll buy one.”

Night fell, the sky thick with stars.

A shooting star streaked across the heavens.

“Xiaoxi, come down for dinner,” called her brother from the dining room, setting out a simple meal of three dishes and a soup.

“Coming!” Her clear voice rang from upstairs.

Thump, thump—her hurried footsteps sounded on the stairs as she bounded down, breathless and jubilant in her oversized pajamas, eyes full of anticipation.

“How many times have I told you—don’t rush, don’t run. You’re already out of breath after just one flight of stairs.” He sighed, grabbing a towel to gently wipe the sweat from her brow.

“It smells so good! You’re amazing, brother.” She ignored him, grabbing her chopsticks and digging in.

“Slow down, no one’s going to steal it.” He smiled, watching her devour the food with indulgent affection.

“Brother, after we eat, will you watch TV with me?” she asked, cheeks puffed, mouth still full.

“Tonight? But I have to go to work later,” he hesitated, remembering his vow to pay back the money.

“You never spend time with me anymore,” she pouted, disappointed.

“Silly girl,” he said, brushing a grain of rice from the corner of her mouth, surrendering. “All right, tonight I’ll stay with our little princess.”

“Thank you, brother!” She grinned like a crescent moon and returned to her meal with gusto.

A little while later, in a room filled with cartoon posters and plush toys, brother and sister sat engrossed in the television.

“They’ve updated the episodes?”

“Yes. Ace is dead, that villain Akainu…” she fumed, gesturing angrily at the scene where Akainu pierced Ace’s chest.

“It’s a pity. Ace was a good character—I didn’t expect him to die.” Xuan Ye stroked his chin, less outraged than his sister, for him, anime was just anime.

“Poor Luffy, he’s completely broken. If I could go into their world, I’d beat Akainu and his gang to a pulp,” she said, shaking a tiny fist.

“Heh… you silly thing,” he said, ruffling her hair.

“I can barely remember these episodes anymore. Time flies. This anime was our whole childhood, but I still prefer Naruto.”

“No way, One Piece is better.”

“All right, all right, One Piece is better.”

“Hmph,” she said, tossing her head in triumph.

“Oh, right! Didn’t we buy a Devil Fruit? Let’s try it!”

“You actually believe it? The vendor said it’s just an apple.” Xuan Ye rolled his eyes.

“Brother…” She wheedled, pitiful as ever.

“Fine…” He never could refuse her.

He fetched the “Devil Fruit” from the kitchen, and the two settled by the TV.

“I’ll try first…” She reached for the fruit, eager for the first bite, but his hand gently knocked hers away, leaving her teary-eyed and confused.

“I’ll eat first—if it’s safe, then you can have some.” He glared at her, worried there might be something wrong with the fruit.

“You’re making a fuss over nothing.” She huffed, but didn’t protest—she knew her brother’s concern was unshakable.

Xuan Ye took the fruit and bit into it. The moment it touched his tongue, an overwhelming stench filled his mouth, and the taste was so vile he nearly fainted.

It was unbearable—worse than anything he could imagine. He wanted to bash his head against the wall.

“How is it? Is it good?” she asked eagerly, eyes wide with curiosity.

He dropped the fruit and retched violently, his stomach twisting with regret, cold sweat beading his brow.

“Brother, look!” she cried suddenly. Xuan Ye, still gagging, saw her pointing in astonishment at the fruit, which was dissolving into shimmering motes of light.

He froze in disbelief.

At that moment, the One Piece episode on television suddenly emitted a terrifying pull, a black vortex as tall as a person expanding rapidly, swallowing everything in its path.

…