"Wei Yu, my child. Let Mama feed you," a voice called out, soft as velvet, soothing like a lullaby. Her tone was warm and inviting, a sound that made the heart feel at ease. She stood before him, dressed in radiant yellow robes, the fabric flowing around her like sunlight itself. Her face was like a masterpiece, glowing with an ethereal beauty that made one think of queens and goddesses. Her lashes fluttered as she gazed down at him, and her smile was tender yet regal.
In her hands, she held a bowl of food, the aroma sweet and inviting.
Wei Yu looked up at her, his small brow furrowed in defiance. "No! I want to play. I want to be strong like Dad!" His voice was sharp with impatience, his lips twisted into a pout.
Her expression shifted, a soft, concerned smile curving her lips. "A'Yu," she said gently, kneeling down to his level, "How can you grow strong if you don't eat? You need your strength for when you're older, for when you have to protect those you love." Her voice carried the weight of wisdom, yet there was no anger, only the kind of love that could melt stone.
Wei Yu crossed his arms, pouting even harder. "I don't care about that. I want to be powerful now!"
Her eyes glistened with tenderness, and she chuckled softly, the sound like the tinkling of bells. "You're so impatient, A'Yu." She held out the bowl once more, her voice coaxing but never forceful. "Eat now, and you'll grow into someone strong. You'll make me proud, I know it."
For a moment, the world felt warm again, full of light and laughter, the two of them locked in this simple, timeless moment of mother and child. The palace surrounding them glowed with golden radiance, as though the whole world shared in their joy.
But then, in the blink of an eye, everything shifted.
Wei Yu's breath caught in his throat. The warmth, the golden light, vanished in an instant, swallowed up by an oppressive, suffocating darkness. He looked around in confusion, his heart racing. The sunlight had been replaced by a sky black as pitch, the warmth of his mother's presence gone.
"Mom! Where are you?!" he cried out, panic rising in his chest.
He turned and ran, down endless corridors that stretched out like a labyrinth. No matter which way he went, the walls seemed to stretch farther, the doors multiplying, leading him nowhere.
Then, the scene shifted again. The palace was gone, and he found himself standing in a blood-soaked forest. The trees twisted and writhed like living things, their branches reaching out like claws. The river that cut through the forest was no longer a peaceful stream, but a dark, crimson tide, swirling with the scent of iron and death.
Wei Yu staggered backward, horrified, as the screams of the dying echoed around him, each one like a dagger to his heart.
"Pathetic," a voice echoed, cold and mocking.
Wei Yu froze, his breath hitching in his chest. He knew that voice. He would recognize it anywhere.
A woman stepped forward from the shadows, her form tall and imposing. Her face was hidden behind a mask, but even so, Wei Yu could feel the malice in her gaze. She looked down at him with disdain, as though he were nothing more than an insect beneath her heel.
"Is this… the esteemed demon lord's child?" she asked, her voice a low, venomous hiss.
Wei Yu's heart clenched in fear, but he refused to show it. His eyes narrowed as he took in the woman's every movement. He stood his ground, despite his trembling hands.
She smirked beneath her mask, taking a step closer, her presence suffocating. "It would have been better if I had killed you back then," she spat, her voice steady, devoid of emotion.
Wei Yu's blood ran cold, but he said nothing. His body felt frozen, his legs refusing to move. The woman reached out, her hand a dark shadow as a burst of energy rippled through the air, seizing him in an unbreakable grip.
Before he could react, the ground beneath his feet vanished. He was falling, falling into an endless abyss, his body weightless and powerless. He tried to scream, but his voice was lost to the vast emptiness. Time seemed to stretch on forever, until, with a sickening thud, his body finally slammed against the ground.
Silence.
"A'Yu!" a familiar voice screamed, the sound cutting through the stillness like a knife.
Wei Yu's heart lurched. He scrambled to his feet, his eyes frantically searching. There, in the distance, he saw her—his mother. Her hand stretched out toward him, desperate.
"Save me, A'Yu!" she cried, her voice full of anguish. Her face contorted in pain, her eyes wide with terror.
"Mom! No!" Wei Yu screamed, reaching for her, but his body refused to move. His legs were locked in place, his limbs too heavy, too numb.
He could do nothing.
The ground beneath him cracked open, and a dark force surged toward his mother. Her body shuddered, her eyes locking with his in one final, heartbreaking moment of recognition.
Then, her body exploded. Blood splattered in every direction, painting the world red.
"No!" Wei Yu cried, his voice cracking with horror. Tears blurred his vision as he fell to his knees, his heart splintering.
He wanted to help, to stop it, to do anything—but all he could do was watch as his mother died in front of him. He had failed her. Failed himself.
"I… I wasn't strong enough…" His voice was barely a whisper, choked with grief. "I couldn't save you…"
Tears streamed down his face, his body shaking with the weight of his helplessness. The pain, the guilt—it consumed him.
From somewhere far off, a slow, mocking applause echoed through the air, cold and detached.
Clap. Clap. Clap.
"A beautiful mother-and-son moment indeed," came the voice, soft and silky, but with an undeniable heaviness that made Wei Yu's blood run cold.
He turned, his body shaking, to face the source of the voice.
A man stood before him—tall, clad in dark robes that seemed to swallow the light around him. His face was sharp, his eyes gleaming with a mix of curiosity and amusement.
"Who are you?" Wei Yu asked, his voice trembling with a mix of fear and defiance.
The man chuckled, as though amused by the question. "Ah, how rude of me. My name is Mo Yin. I am the Lord of Nightmares."
Wei Yu's heart sank. The name hit him like a stone.
"You," Wei Yu spat. "You were the one whispering in my ear that night. The one who sent me those cursed messages."
Mo Yin's smile widened. "Oh, I'm so glad you remembered." His voice was a soft, dangerous lullaby. "Yes, it was me. I had to let you know the truth, little one. You're a curse to your sect. You'd be better off with us… the demons."
He took a step forward, his eyes gleaming. "You want power, don't you? I can give you that. All I ask for in return is that you become my successor."
Wei Yu's eyes narrowed, his chest tightening with disgust. "No," he said, his voice unwavering.
Mo Yin's expression faltered for a moment, surprise flashing across his face. It was rare for anyone to refuse his offer—especially someone with such potential. He recovered quickly, though, his smile returning, though now tinged with something darker. "I see. You're still loyal to that pathetic human, Yu Chen. But don't be naive. Power calls to you. You won't be able to resist forever."
"I don't care," Wei Yu shot back. "I want Yu Chen to be my shizun. Only him."
Mo Yin's smirk widened into something predatory. "We'll see about that."
He turned on his heel, his form dissolving into the shadows, his voice lingering in the air. "I have all the time in the world, Wei Yu. If you change your mind… I'll be waiting."