Xiao sighed as he finally opened his eyes. He was still in the same room, which meant that this was real and not a dream. He slowly tried to stand up from the bed but ended up stumbling and falling to the ground. It seemed that he was still not used to his child like body.
It took him a few minutes to adjust. Having already lived as a child twice, it only took a short while for him to get ready. Xiao straightened himself and walked towards the huge mirror in his room. Looking at his reflection, he saw a three-year-old child with black hair, black eyes, and cute chubby cheeks.
"Huh, looks like I'm back," Xiao spoke to himself as he gazed at his reflection. Just then, the door to the room opened, and a servant ran in, panting. She looked at Xiao with confusion in her eyes, momentarily taken aback by the sight of the three-year-old boy. Sensing her confusion, Xiao sighed and played the role of a curious child, his eyes shining with curiosity.
"What happened?" he asked anxiously, looking at the servant.
The servant, still catching her breath, hurriedly replied, "Young Master, the First Miss is giving birth!"
"Mother is?" Xiao was puzzled. Suddenly, an image flashed in his mind—a woman with silver hair, light blue eyes, and a captivating beauty. However, there was a coldness and indifference in her gaze as she looked at him. The image disappeared as quickly as it came, leaving Xiao in a daze. The servant called out to him, snapping him back to reality.
"Young master?"
Shaking off his thoughts, Xiao returned to himself and looked at the servant with a happy and sparkling gaze. He exclaimed, "Really!? My sibling is going to be born?"
Observing the child's sparkling eyes and happy expression, the servant was tempted to pinch his cheeks, but she restrained herself. She nodded and led the way, and he followed knowing that Xiao had to maintain his childlike act for the time being. If he didn't, the powerful members of his family might subject him to research tests.
Following the servant, Xiao walked for a few minutes until they reached a spacious courtyard belonging to his mother. The thought of seeing his mother again brought a smile to his face. During his previous life, she was the one who had always supported him.
After a short walk, they arrived at a room where the sound of a woman's screams could be heard. Xiao easily recognized the voice. Outside the room, several female servants stood, their heads bowed in respect as Xiao approached. Ignoring their gestures, Xiao stood outside the door, waiting. After a few moments, he turned to a nearby servant and asked, "Where's Father?"
Upon hearing the child's question, some of the servants wore pained expressions. Eventually, one of them mustered the courage to answer, "Young master, after being informed, the First Lord said he was busy with cultivation and would visit the child when he was free."
Hearing this, Xiao's expression faltered for a moment, displaying a hint of disappointment. "I see..." he replied, then shifted his gaze back to the door. Xiao wasn't truly disappointed, as he knew the kind of person his so-called father was. He calmly waited in front of the door, listening to his mother's pained cries. The sight of a young child with such a "disappointed" look made some of the servants feel uneasy, but they remained silent, understanding the situation within the Yun family.
Minutes passed, and the cries from the room diminished, replaced by the sound of a baby's cry. Simultaneously, a cold wind swept through the room, spreading across the entire manor, surprising everyone who felt it. Xiao felt a shiver run down his spine in response to the chilling breeze.
Then, several powerful figures appeared in the courtyard, including Xiao's reclusive grandfather. Xiao concealed his true emotions behind a smile as he watched their arrival. He knew what was about to happen and the disappointment that awaited them.
Taking a deep breath, Xiao acknowledged the annoyance of acting as a child, but he knew he couldn't change his appearance so quickly. With the happiest smile he could muster, he ran towards his father, who had appeared beside his grandfather. Alongside them were several others emanating powerful auras.
"Father!" Xiao exclaimed with a childish voice, running toward his father. His father, Yun Qing, had a strong build and a handsome face. He was the second child of Xiao's grandfather and one of the candidates for the next head of the family. Qing put on a neutral smile as he took Xiao into his arms.
"Are you okay, Xiao?" he asked.
"I'm fine, Father!" Xiao replied cheerfully, playing with his father's beard innocently. Observing his father's lips twitching, Xiao couldn't help but feel a sense of satisfaction. In truth, he didn't hold any positive feelings toward his father. The memories of past events were still fresh in his mind.
As Xiao continued to annoy his father, the door to his mother's room opened, and the midwife came out. Xiao's grandfather swiftly entered the room. Xiao's eyes remained fixed on his grandfather, watching as he lifted the baby from the midwife and scanned her with his aura. Initially, a look of shock and happiness crossed his grandfather's face, only to be replaced by disappointment. He handed the child back to the midwife and addressed the people gathered in the courtyard with a disappointed expression.
"It's a pity. She possesses terrifying talent in cultivation, but her meridians are blocked by Supreme Yin ice. Not only will she be unable to cultivate, but she will also endure extreme cold for the rest of her life."
As silence fell upon the courtyard, some wore happy expressions, while others expressed pity or remained emotionless. Soon, those who had gathered began to disperse, including Xiao's father, Qing, who put Xiao back on the ground and left without saying a word.
Now, only the servants remained in the courtyard, along with Xiao, who pretended to be confused by the situation unfolding before him. During this silence, a calm and smooth voice broke through the air.
"Give her to me."
Upon hearing the voice, all the servants looked toward the bedroom where the lady sat. Xiao, recognizing the familiar voice, moved toward the room. There, he saw a beautiful woman sitting on the bed—his mother. With black hair and eyes, she had a calm and weary expression.
Despite her gentle and harmless appearance, Xiao knew the truth. His mother was a demon who wouldn't hesitate to wipe out an entire family if it benefited her. He had firsthand experience of her cunning and manipulative nature. Yet, he held no fear because she was his mother—the one who protected him when the world wanted him dead. As his thoughts raced, his eyes briefly flickered red before returning to normal.