A rather gloomy atmosphere had settled over the Bai Mansion in recent days— heavy, silent, and almost suffocating. Even the servants moved about as if walking on thin ice, their footsteps hesitant and voices barely above whispers. An unspoken anxiety drifted through the air, as if the mansion itself was holding its breath.
Little Tyler, seated by the window in his usual quiet corner, gently rubbed his fingers together, as though trying to feel the strange tension in the air. His white hair fluttered softly in the cold breeze slipping in from a crack in the window.
"A rather gloomy atmosphere has spread within the mansion over the past few days." he muttered, almost as if speaking to himself.
The dry air and cold winds that blew in from the mountains seed to carry with them more than just winter’s chill. There was sothing else— sothing hidden in the silence. The subtle but ever-growing tension among the guards and maids, the sudden increase in patrolling, and the flickering wards around the mansion— it all pointed to one thing.
Sothing big was brewing.
Even Tyler also thought the sa.
While both the past and present version of Tyler witnessing these — both remained deep in thought, two familiar voices broke the silence.
"What is our little prince doing out here all alone?" said one with a chuckle.
"Prince? Hah! Foolish title. We should just call him Young Master," said another, the tone rough but teasing.
The voices were hoarse, yet filled with warmth and a certain cheerfulness that seed to slice through the tension in the air. Little Tyler’s eyes lit up, the corners of his lips curving into a wide smile.
"Uncle Xie! Uncle Hao!" he shouted joyfully, leaping up from his seat.
In a flash, he raised his hand, and a slender ice sword ford mid-air. With a grin, he swung it in a light arc towards them.
"Woah, woah—hold it!"
Before the blade could even get close, both n raised their hands. A soft golden light shimred over their skin. The sword shattered on impact, disappearing into glittering snowflakes that faded into the wind.
"Hahaha! Our little nephew’s getting strong!" Uncle Xie laughed, clapping his hands.
"Of course he is! He is my nephew after all," Uncle Hao added proudly, puffing his chest.
"You an our nephew," Xie corrected with a smirk.
These two were none other than Long Tianxie and Long Tianhao— the younger brothers of Tyler’s father, Long Tianzhi. They had always been a source of mischief and protection for Little Tyler, and their visits were rare but always welco.
Present-day Tyler, who was silently watching this unfold through what seed to be a dream or mory, narrowed his eyes. These two... they seed familiar, too familiar. But for so reason, he couldn’t rember where he had seen them before in his current life.
"Why is your hair white now?" Uncle Hao suddenly asked, tilting his head.
"Isn’t it just like sister-in-law’s?" Uncle Xie added.
"Oh, that’s because of the Mystic Ice Arts I’ve been practicing," Little Tyler explained, scratching his cheek. "It’s the only side effect..."
"Pffft— what a la side effect," Hao laughed heartily.
Little Tyler pouted. "It’s not la! It’s elegant! Everyone says I look like Mom."
The laughter died down quickly, replaced by a sudden seriousness in Xie’s expression.
"Alright, jokes aside. We’re here on orders—to escort Young Master Bai to the secret realm."
Little Tyler blinked, surprised by the abrupt shift in tone.
"Is sothing happening?" he asked, his voice now cautious.
"Don’t worry. It’ll be over soon," Uncle Hao replied, patting his head gently. But they offered no further explanation.
Little Tyler frowned, sensing sothing was deeply wrong. He wanted to ask more questions, but the heavy silence that followed their words held him back. Even present-day Tyler, who had only been observing, felt a knot tighten in his stomach.
"What is happening...?" Tyler muttered to himself.
Suddenly, the dream or mory twisted, and the scenery changed.
The peaceful courtyard vanished— replaced by scenes of devastation. The city was in ruins, buildings reduced to rubble, the air thick with smoke and screams. A maid from the Bai Mansion was hurled across the ground like a ragdoll. Tyler recognized her instantly—she had often brought him sweet pastries during his childhood.
Then, a man cloaked in blazing red flas descended from the sky.
"Where is your Young Master?" the man asked coldly, his voice devoid of rcy.
Before the maid could even utter a word, he seized her by the head. She let out a scream—heart-wrenching, agonizing—before her entire body began to tremble violently.
Tyler’s eyes widened in horror and helplessness.
"Soul Searching," he whispered, understanding the dreadful technique being used. The intruder was trying to extract information by force.
But after a few seconds, the man clicked his tongue in irritation.
"Tsk. Nothing. This one’s soul was protected..." he muttered, before incinerating the maid with a flick of his wrist. She turned to ashes in an instant, scattered to the wind.
He turned to another fire-cloaked figure nearby.
"Continue searching. The Bai Family’s secret realm won’t hide him for long. We’ve already destroyed several of their cities. It’s only a matter of ti."
Then, with a blaze of crimson fire, they vanished into the sky.
"Feng Family... They declared war?" Tyler whispered. "And they’re looking for ?"
The vision shifted again.
Now, a massive sanctuary ca into view—a protected space hidden within a dinsional fold. Inside it stood lush gardens, flowing rivers, and even artificial suns and moons that mimicked the natural cycle of day and night. It was the Bai Family’s last stronghold—their secret realm.
And there, within the heart of it, was Little Tyler.
He was sitting on a bench near a small lake, trying his best to smile.
Petra and Patma, his Cow Girl friend and her mom, were beside him. gently combed his hair and offered him snacks, Patma trying to distract him from the chaos outside. But even they looked worried.
"It’s alright..." Little Tyler said softly, more to convince himself than them. "My guards and maids are strong. They’ll co back soon. I believe in them."
He clutched his small pendant tightly— a gift from his mother. The glow was faint, as though even it sensed the storm approaching.
But he kept smiling. Even when his heart trembled, even when he didn’t understand the fear in everyone’s eyes, he chose to smile.
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