"Where am I?" Inside a dimly lit room filled with the faint scent of herbs, Chen Zoe's consciousness slowly returned. His vision was blurry at first, but gradually sharpened.
He scanned the room, but the poor lighting made it difficult to see clearly. Lying there on the bed, that familiar scent tugged at his memories- the moment he'd first arrived in this world.
Back then, he'd also woken on a bed like this, wrapped in bandages. Terrified by the strange feeling that something was terribly wrong, he rushed towards the mirror, only to see a ten-year-old boy's reflection in his stead.
"Just like the mirror back then…" Nostalgic, he spoke and froze the same moment. "Why is there a mirror here?" A strange sense of unease crept into his chest.
Slowly, he pushed himself up from the bed. The moment he raised his hands, he noticed something odd. They had become small and thin. Not only that—his entire body had changed.
Panic clawed at his chest. He rushed to the mirror and froze. What reflected back wasn't his adult self, instead his younger self.
The moment, felt like he was dragged back to the past- to the exact same day, he became Chen Zoe.
"How?" Zoe tries to recall the memories, the last thing he reminds was the day, where he sat beside his husband, Yuzhen, watching a beautiful sunset. "Did I die then?"
Tears welled up in his eyes. Even though he knew his ending was nearer and the death itself felt like a blessing, there was still a lingering regret--- Yuan… He couldn't see his son's face for one last time or able to spend some time with him.
"Did Yuzhen…" As he tried to figure out a logical explanation for what was happening, a doubt arose. Knowing Yuzhen's obsession and love for him, there was a chance… when Yuzhen already did such thing before.
But with Yuan remains in his life, Zoe couldn't come to a conclusion. He clearly knew, Yuzhen never endangers their child's future.
"Then… Could it be heaven's will? If it is…" Zoe finally concludes the puzzle and throw the burden into god's shoulders. "This time, I'll be the one to conquer your heart…"
"Whose heart?" A sudden voice from behind, startled Zoe. He quickly turned and see a familiar figure. "Rui…"
Seeing him, Zoe mutters. Just like before, in this time as well, the first person he met became the eight-year-old boy.
Seeing him again, Zoe couldn't hold back his emotions. He stepped forwards and pulled Rui into a hug.
"Senior…" Rui froze, he never expects such reaction from Zoe.
Even though Rui always want to befriend Zoe, the next heir of Chen Long sect, he couldn't get a chance. However, the awkward moment break after a loud growl appeared from Zoe's stomach. Heat flooded his cheeks as he stepped back embarrassed.
A gentle smile curved Rui's lip. "Senior… It's normal." He said softly. "You've been in coma for a week. I'll bring something to eat."
Not making any fun of him, Rui comfort him and went to the kitchen to bring some food.
…
Meanwhile, far away, deep within the Dark Forest…
"Aah—!"
A woman's painful cry echoed through the silent forest. Birds scattered into the sky, and animals fled in fear.
"Your Highness… push! The child is about to come out! Please try harder!" Beside the pregnant woman lying on a bed of hay, a young demon girl tried desperately to help.
After a long and agonizing labor, the woman finally gave birth to a baby boy. But the child didn't look entirely human.
Golden scales shimmered faintly across parts of his skin, and his pupils were the same golden color as his mother's.
The woman only managed to glance at her son for a brief moment before exhaustion overwhelmed her, and she lost consciousness.
Looking closely, both women were covered in injuries, it seemed they had escaped from a dangerous situation and currently hiding inside a dark cave.
After some time, the woman slowly regained consciousness.
The first thing she did was search for her child. Not seeing him beside her, panic immediately filled her heart.
Just then, the demon girl returned from outside, holding the baby in one arm while carrying three dead rabbits she had hunted.
As soon as the woman held her child again, relief washed over her face.
"Don't worry, Your Highness," the demon girl said confidently. "As long as Mia is here, nothing will happen to our Crown Prince."
Hearing those words, a faint smile appeared on the woman's face. Looking down at her child's small face, a will to live ignited within her heart for her child.
After eating and regaining a bit of strength, they made a decision to move towards their destination.
Staying here would only mean waiting for death when they clearly know the danger is approaching closely.
…
Back at Chen Long sect.
"What should I do?" Thinking about the events that happened in his past life, Zoe restlessly asked himself. With this small body, there was nothing much he can do. But he truly wished to stop the dragon hunt, which led to the death of Yuzhen's mother.
"How should I stop father?" As if his questions were answered, Chen Zeon, Zoe's uncle entered the room after hearing his nephew regain consciousness.
"How are you feeling now?" Concerned he asks.
"I'm fine." In a weak voice, Zoe said.
"That's good to hear." Gently patting Zoe's head, Zeon spoke.
"Uncle… Where is father? I want to see him…" Acting innocently Zoe asks, clearly knowing everything.
Zeon hesitated for a moment, he doesn't know how to say to a kid, his father went to participate in a dragon hunt, driven by hatred after losing his wife and younger child to a rampaging dragon, while leaving his injured elder child.
"Zoe… He isn't here right now."
"Then where is he?" Seeing Zeon hesitates, Zoe continued. "He also died… right?" Being emotional Zoe asks. He even shed fake tears to enhance his acting.
"What are you saying? Nothing happened to him. He's safe!" Zeon said, trying to comfort him.
"You are lying… Mother, father and Zyan… all left Zoe…" Zoe even couldn't understand, the fake emotions he expressed when it turn true, as he actually feeling sad over saying those words.
"It's not like that. Your father is safe." Zeon insisted.
"Then I want to see him right now." Demanding Zoe spoke. Maybe perhaps he had pushed his body limits, his vision darkened and his strength faded. Then collapsed to the bed.
"Zoe! Zoe!" Chen Zeon's panicked voice echoed the room, but Zoe doesn't respond at all even though he wants to. Slowly his consciousness drift away, feeling sad over thinking, he failed to change the future once again…