Their mother's stern expression cracked first, a tear sliding down her cheek even as she maintained her battle stance. "My precious children," she whispered, her voice thick with emotion. The sight of her three children—no longer the small, helpless babes she'd once cradled—standing together with such determination made her heart ache with both pride and fear.
Their father's hands clenched and unclenched, years of protective instincts warring with the pride shining in his eyes. He looked at each of them in turn: Li Wei, nearly a man now, standing tall and protective; Li Hao, caught between childhood and maturity, his usual mischief replaced by fierce determination; and Li Hua, their youngest yet somehow seeming the most prepared for what was coming. "You're all as stubborn as your mother," he said finally, his gruff tone barely masking his own emotional turmoil. "None of you will go, will you?"
