Yun Changge was covered in blood, kneeling on the ground. His long black hair had turned white at some point, stained with blood and dirt. His clothes were equally filthy. With his head lowered, he stared tearfully at the person lying lifeless in his lap.

The dying man struggled to lift his hand, gently wiping away Yun Changge’s tears.
“Don’t cry… Changge… Live well.” With those final words, his life slipped away.

Rain poured heavily. Yun Changge knelt motionlessly, eyes empty, until he finally reacted. Trembling, he reached out to cradle the cold body in his arms.
“Qingyan, you’re so cold…” Yun Changge whispered, tears blurring his vision. “Qingyan, I’m sorry! I trusted the wrong person! I’m so sorry!” His cries of despair echoed as he wept bitterly.

But it was all too late. He had trusted the wrong person. His dearest friend was dead, and even the child he had raised was now missing, his fate unknown.

“Changge.”

A familiar voice echoed. Yun Changge raised his head, glaring with hatred at the speaker. Through gritted teeth, he spat, “Yun Changzhao! Your wolfish ambitions truly know no bounds! I should have strangled you at birth!”

Yun Changzhao clenched his fists but spoke calmly.
“This is my final offer. Hand over that demon, and His Majesty will spare you any further suffering.”

“A’Li is not a demon!”

Behind Yun Changzhao, a figure narrowed his eyes and subtly raised his hand.

In that instant, a volley of arrows rained down.

“No—!” Yun Changge’s desperate cry tore through the storm as he was forcibly restrained.

He closed his eyes, awaiting death, but instead, a deafening dragon’s roar echoed through the air. Yun Changge’s eyes snapped open to see a massive black dragon coiling protectively around him, shielding him from the storm of arrows.

“A’Li—!!”

His voice was raw with anguish as he watched A’Li collapse. The child’s head rested against his leg, but when he reached out in a panic, his hands grasped nothing. A’Li’s body dissolved into delicate feathers, drifting away with the wind.

Yun Changge knelt there, hands outstretched to catch the fading feathers—but there was nothing left. Nothing at all.

“AAAAHHH!! Yun Changzhao! If there is another life, I will make sure you die a miserable death!”

With those final words of hatred, Yun Changge seized a nearby blade and slit his own throat.

As he fell lifelessly to the ground, memories flashed through his fading consciousness. He had loved the wrong person. Trusted the wrong person. His folly had cost the lives of Qingyan and his precious A’Li.

“A’Li, Qingyan… Don’t leave me behind. Wait for me…”

A human life lasts barely a hundred years, but Yun Changge’s had been cut short before thirty—less than half a lifetime.

“Changge… Changge…”

A gentle voice called out to him.

“You are… A’Li’s mother?”

“I’m a man,” the voice responded helplessly.

“If you were still alive, why didn’t you come save A’Li?!”

“I couldn’t leave… Changge, I was trapped. But Changge, I can send you back.”

“Alright.”

Yun Changge felt his consciousness fade completely.

The next time he opened his eyes, he found himself staring at a painfully familiar room—the very room from his past.

“A’Li!”

Yun Changge threw off the covers and tumbled out of bed. However, the moment he tried to stand, he collapsed onto the floor. It was only then that he realized his legs were completely numb, devoid of any sensation. Beside him sat a wheelchair. His hair, once black, was now as white as snow. Yun Changge understood—this was the price for being reborn. Yet, the price A’Li’s mother had paid must have been even greater.

“Changge! Why didn’t you call me when you got up?” Qingyan rushed into the room, his face full of concern.

“Qingyan! Take me to the main hall! I want A’Li! I need A’Li!” Yun Changge clung to Qingyan’s sleeve, his voice trembling as if grasping his last hope.

“Alright, alright!” Qingyan wasted no time. He lifted Yun Changge into the wheelchair, grabbed a robe to cover him, and immediately wheeled him toward the main hall.

In the main hall, Yun Yi, the head of the Yun family, gazed down at the infant wrapped in swaddling clothes. This was the child his younger brother had risked his life to bring back. Yet the dark scales on the child’s face clearly marked him as something unnatural—a demon. Yun Yi’s fury surged, words failing him. He couldn’t believe his brother had risked so much for a monster.

Overcome with anger, Yun Yi suddenly raised the infant high, preparing to smash him to the ground without hesitation.

“No!” Yun Changge’s voice rang out in desperation.

Before the infant could be harmed, Qingyan had already dashed forward, catching A’Li just in time and retreating swiftly to Yun Changge’s side.

Yun Changge, forgetting his disabled legs, tried to stand and collapsed once again. Qingyan quickly caught him with one arm while carefully placing A’Li back into his arms.

Yun Changge clutched the fragile infant close, his face pale. A’Li, so newly born, had visible dragon scales, horns, and crimson slit pupils—features that couldn’t be hidden, explaining why everyone had labeled him a demon.

“Xiao Ge! What are you doing?! Look at the state you’re in, all because of this creature! Is it still not enough?!” Yun Yi shouted, his frustration evident.

“Ge… I promised a dear friend that I would protect A’Li in this life, no matter what! I won’t go back on my word! Please, I beg you! I’ll raise A’Li properly—I won’t let him become a heartless monster!” Yun Changge pleaded bitterly.

Yun Yi cared deeply for his younger brother, but A’Li was undeniably a demon. If the truth were ever revealed, Yun Changge would face endless torment. How could he bear to see that happen?

“I know your concerns, Ge,” Yun Changge continued softly. “And I know about the Beiming Emperor’s forced marriage proposal to the Yun family.”

Yun Yi stiffened in shock. “Who told you that? Don’t listen to those rumors!” he snapped.

But the truth was, even if there was a marriage alliance, Yun Changge shouldn’t be the one to suffer. After all, the emperor’s proposal wasn’t even for his own son—it was for the imperial advisor of Beiming.

“Ge…” Yun Changge’s voice softened.

“Fine, fine. Take him back. Just don’t let anyone else see him,” Yun Yi finally relented, waving them away.

“Thank you, Ge.”

Qingyan gently helped Yun Changge back into the wheelchair, pushing him toward his private courtyard. After settling him in, Qingyan left to prepare food. Only then did Yun Changge finally relax, gazing down at A’Li, who stared back with wide, innocent eyes. His tears fell, landing softly on A’Li’s cheek.

Brushing his fingers gently across the child’s face, Yun Changge rested his forehead against A’Li’s.

“It will be alright now. Everything will be fine.” He whispered with a shaky smile.

—

The next day, with nothing to do, Qingyan had to leave for some errands. He left Yun Changge at a teahouse, promising to return soon. Yun Changge sat quietly, amusing A’Li with a rattle drum. The child curiously reached out, trying to grab the toy.

A rare smile curled on Yun Changge’s lips. His beauty was delicate yet striking—less of a typical masculine handsomeness and more enchanting. His smile was captivating, truly breathtaking.

“Young master, may I sit here?” A clear, pleasant voice interrupted.

Yun Changge looked up. A young man he didn’t recognize stood before him, appearing around his own age—and quite handsome too. Yun Changge nodded slightly in agreement.

“Thank you, young master.” The young man beamed and eagerly took a seat. Yun Changge returned to playing with A’Li, though the young man seemed increasingly curious about the child.

“Such a beautiful baby! Is he your younger brother?” the young man asked.

Yun Changge hesitated, considering his relationship with A’Li. He was practically the child’s father now.

“Something like that,” he replied softly.

The young man’s face twisted in confusion, prompting Yun Changge to smile faintly.

“You’ll understand in time.”

The young man suddenly grabbed Yun Changge’s hand with excitement.

“Young master, your smile is stunning! Are you already married?”

Yun Changge blinked, momentarily taken aback before realizing this boy must be playing matchmaker for someone else. With a light chuckle, he gently withdrew his hand.

“I’m crippled. I wouldn’t want to burden anyone.”

At that moment, Qingyan returned. Yun Changge bid the young man farewell, saying, “I must take my leave. Perhaps we’ll meet again.”

As Qingyan wheeled him away, the young man watched their retreating figures, his expression shifting into something far more mature than his youthful face suggested.

“What a fine beauty. A perfect match for that rascal. Don’t you think so?” he murmured.

The black-clad guards behind him nodded in silent agreement.

Unbeknownst to Yun Changge, he had already caught the attention of someone he shouldn’t have.