In the Qingyun Palace gardens, a sense of unease settled over the butterfly groves and koi ponds that lined the winding stone paths. Children had once played in the royal garden, their laughter echoing off the intricately carved walls. But that joy was short-lived.
A loud scream pierced the air, and two boys exchanged worried glances. They rushed toward the palace, their hearts racing. As they entered, they were met with a horrific sight — the lifeless bodies of maids and guards lay scattered throughout the halls, their faces frozen in fear.
"Shh, Felix, Jay, don't make a sound," whispered Lady Wu Suwei as she appeared suddenly and gently pulled them away from the carnage.
Felix struggled to speak, his voice shaking.
"M-Mom, what's going on? Why are the maids lying there?"
Jay's eyes were wide with tears.
"A-Aunty, why is my mommy sleeping like that?"
Wu Suwei hugged them tightly, trying to reassure them.
"Don't worry, everything will be okay. Let's get out of here, quickly."
She glanced around nervously, her eyes landing on something that made her blood run cold.
A man in a black coat stood before them, his eyes gleaming with malevolence. The dragon-printed knife in his hand dripped with fresh blood. Wu Suwei's grip on the boys tightened.
"Let's go, quickly!" she urged again, trying to pull them away.
But the man blocked their path, his voice thick with venom.
"Thought you could run, Wu Suwei? I can see you have kids here... too bad. I have to get rid of them too."
As he raised his hand, a wave of dark energy began to form. Felix's and Jay's fathers burst into the hall, attacking the man to distract him.
"Felix, Jay, run! Go with Wu Suwei!" Felix's father yelled.
Wu Suwei grabbed the boys and sprinted toward the outhouse, her heart pounding like thunder. Once inside, she opened a wide drawer and quickly hid them beneath a pile of robes and linens.
She glanced out the small window, eyes wide. From afar, she saw the man beheading her husband and brother-in-law. She bit her hand to stop herself from screaming.
She returned to the drawer, crouching beside it.
"Felix, Jay is still young... keep him safe no matter what. Even if Mommy and Daddy aren't here, okay?"
Felix nodded, trembling, eyes full of fear.
As Wu Suwei left to check on the men, Felix held Jay close, whispering soft words to calm him. But the sound of their parents' screams remained — haunting and unforgettable.
Wu Suwei returned to the outhouse, her steps cautious. As she approached the doorway, she saw a figure seated on the bed, beside the wardrobe.
It was him.
The man in the black coat — Lu Juwan. He hadn't noticed the children yet.
Juwan stood up slowly, a wicked smile curling across his lips.
"Wanted to run, didn't you, Wu Suwei?" he sneered.
He began to walk toward her, the dragon-printed blade still clutched tightly in his hand.
Wu Suwei tried to stand her ground. Her voice shook slightly.
"What do you want, Juwan?
"I wanted you," Juwan replied, his eyes locked on hers. "I wanted to give you the world, but you chose someone else," he shouted.
"You never loved me. You were just obsessed," Wu Suwei protested.
"Obsessed? No, I loved you!" His laughter was bitter, his voice rising in anger. "You broke my heart — and now I'll break yours!"
Felix managed to open the drawer slightly and watched in horror as Juwan stabbed Wu Suwei in the chest. Then he disappeared.
Felix crawled out of the drawer, tears streaming down his face.
"Mommy? No... please don't leave us," he whispered, crying.
Wu Suwei's eyes fluttered open, and she gazed at them.
"Felix... Jay... please love each other… protect each other… be there for each other."
Her voice was weak, and her blood soaked the floor.
Felix and Jay cried uncontrollably, clinging to Wu Suwei's body. After a long while, they composed themselves, guarding their parents' bodies and eventually burying them in the palace garden.
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✧ EPILOGUE TO CHAPTER 1 ✧
Years passed, and Felix grew cold and calculating. People whispered that he was evil — but Jay knew better.
Together, they roamed the land, defeating warriors, gods, and witches, claiming their powers. Felix became the most powerful being alive, earning the feared title of Demon Lord.
Jay, however, remained detached from the violence, his eyes always holding a quiet, deep sadness. Despite this, he stood by Felix, bound by their shared past and their vow to protect each other — no matter what.