Atop her silvery-white hair, a pair of tiny bat wings twitched slightly from side to side. Tongxi, like a pet begging for cuddles, ignored Xue Yu’s gentle protests and threw herself straight into his arms.

Xue Yu patted his face with a helpless sigh. “Tongxi, no. Go back to bed and sleep.”

Seeing him refuse again, Tongxi—wearing a light pink nightgown—sat up from under the covers, straightened her back, but kept her bottom firmly planted on Xue Yu’s lap. She lifted *The Fallen Angel*, the book always slung across her shoulder, flipped a few pages, and pointed to words she’d chosen.

“Don’t leave me. I want to stay with you… I’m scared!”

Xue Yu couldn’t understand. Her identity as a Blood Clan member had never surfaced in human society, and she was safely sheltered under his roof. *With me right here… why does she keep saying she’s afraid?*

“Tongxi, what are you really scared of? I’m right here. I’m just asking you to sleep in bed—not to leave me.” He stroked her head softly. “Go on. The floor mat isn’t as comfy as the big bed.”

Gently, he led her to bed, tucked her in. As he stepped away, Tongxi’s worried eyes never left him. Xue Yu saw it clearly in her gaze: fragility, a longing for protection, deep insecurity. But her amnesia sealed away the past. He could only guess—maybe the hardship of wandering human lands as a beggar, the bullying she endured. *Could that be the shadow haunting her?*

With that thought, Xue Yu drifted into sleep…

-----

A solid fist whistled past his cheek. Xue Yu slammed into the muddy puddle. Icy water splashed—but colder still were the bullies circling him.

“Boss, it’s him! Wouldn’t give up his spot in the food line!”

In the orphanage’s backyard pavilion, four boys—seven or eight years old—loomed over the smaller figure on the ground. Xue Yu looked barely five, frail and drenched.

“Oh? The new kid? Heard his parents are gone… and that uncle who cared for him died recently.”

“Heh, no wonder he doesn’t know the rules. Leave it to us, Boss—we’ll teach him!”

They clenched fists, eyes sharp. Xue Yu stared at his tear-streaked reflection in the puddle. These tears weren’t from weakness—they were grief. For the only person who’d protected him. For being alone.

Just as he tried to rise, a foot stomped his head back into the mud. It ground harder.

“You’re Xue Yu, right? This is our Boss. Everyone answers to him. Learn your place!” One thug jerked a thumb backward. “Cross us? You’ll regret it.”

Face pressed down, Xue Yu saw them with one eye. He clenched his fists… then let go. Too bruised. Too tired. All because he wouldn’t let them cut the line.

“Hear us, new kid?!” The foot pressed deeper.

Suddenly—shoves! A small figure stepped between them, arms spread wide. “You can’t bully people!”

The leader steadied his lackey, then smirked. “Oh? Miusa?”

“You bully again! Aren’t you scared the director will punish you?” she shot back.

“Hah! He’s not here today!”

“Yeah! Teach her a lesson!”

Arms crossed, the leader nodded. They charged.

“Bring it on!” Miusa met them head-on.

One against four. Fists flew. Bruises bloomed. She gasped, knees buckling before Xue Yu.

“She’s done. Get her!”

“STOP!” A gruff voice boomed.

The boys froze. Turned. Paled.

“Director… you’re back,” Miusa whispered weakly.

The tall man pointed, voice shaking with rage. “I leave *once*—and you bully again?! Go! Do exactly what you were punished for last time!” He jerked his chin. Dejected, they slunk away.

Miusa turned, helped Xue Yu up. “Are you okay?”

“Thank you,” he murmured.

“If anyone bullies you… tell big sister. I’ll protect everyone.” Her light blue ponytail swayed; golden eyes held warmth.

Years later, as she left the orphanage—adopted by nobility—Xue Yu ran after her.

“Big sister… thank you. For everything. From now on… let me protect you.”

“Mm! ‘Little brother’—promise me. Become the one who protects ‘big sister’!”

“I promise! What I vow to ‘big sister’… I *will* keep!” He flexed his tiny arm, grinning.

Then—*shatter*.

Glass-like, the scene fractured. Sky, ground, the waving “big sister”—all crumbling.

“What’s happening?!” Xue Yu cried.

A dreamy purple space bloomed. He sensed movement behind him—

—and a small figure pounced into his arms again.

-----

“Waah!” Xue Yu jolted awake. Lying on the floor mat, he stared into pitch black.

“Phew… scared me to death.”

A sweet dream twisted into nightmare. He clutched his chest, breath ragged. *Nothing worse than that.*

Darkness. A rustle. Then—icy cold pressed against his chest.

*Again.* He knew that chill.

He flicked the bedside lamp. Dim light revealed a trembling little girl curled against him. Tongxi sobbed—harder than ever before, tears and snot streaming.

“Hey… what’s wrong?”

Fragmented visions flashed behind her eyelids: flames devouring a hall; blurred figures of her own kind cleaved apart; blood spraying; a “devil” raising a longsword, stepping toward her—blade descending. Eyes open or shut, terror gripped her.

Xue Yu pulled her close, settling onto the bed. He stroked her hair, murmuring comfort.

*What happened to you, Tongxi?*

Blood Clan were formidable—even commoners commanded respect. So what horror could shatter a little girl so deeply?

That fear… that weeping…

It wasn’t just a dream.

It was a soul screaming from real, brutal truth.