Of Blood and Atonement

“Wuwu~”

“Good daughter~”

Having such an understanding daughter left Aya Tone momentarily speechless; the words on the tip of his tongue were swallowed back.

Maybe…

He should wait a while to explain.

“Dad~ is there something you want to tell Xiao Jiu?”

“No, it’s just…” Aya Tone’s eyes flickered, then hardened. “Has Xiao Jiu ever thought about looking for… Mommy…”

“Dad, are you going to find a mommy for Xiao Jiu?” The little darling scrambled onto Aya Tone’s chest, her big eyes blinking as she met his gaze.

‘Has Dad finally wised up?’

‘Although I like Sister Fire Finch the most, Sister Li Jia is also pretty…’

‘Ah… it’s so hard to choose… if only they could both be Xiao Jiu’s mommies.’

In Xiao Aya Jiu’s heart, not only were both older sisters kind to her, but they were also prettier than the mothers of the other kindergarten kids.

As for Lin Ling and the other two?

Since Dad had finally seen the light, there was no need for a numbers strategy anymore.

Aya Tone probably never imagined that his five-year-old daughter already had the makings of a heartbreaker.

And most importantly, she even wanted to turn him, her father, into one as well.

“No, it’s Xiao Jiu’s biological mother.”

“Biological mother? What’s that?”

“The person who brought Xiao Jiu into this world,” Aya Tone explained gently.

Combined with what that mysterious woman had said, he himself did not belong to this world but came from the continent that had shattered and merged into this one.

So Xiao Jiu’s appearance back then might not have been an accident.

Her parents…

Perhaps he could take this opportunity to find them, and then…

Make them taste the winter of abandonment and despair!

“Dad~ you’re smiling scarily.”

Aya Tone touched his face, realizing that at some point a cruel smile had appeared on it.

“I’m sorry, did I scare you?” He reached out, pulled Xiao Jiu into his arms with a pang of guilt, buried his face in her soft black hair, and whispered an apology.

This morning’s actions had been too brutal, and he hadn’t yet adjusted mentally.

Thinking that he had shown such a side in front of his daughter, Aya Tone couldn’t help but feel self-reproach.

“Mmm, no,” Xiao Jiu obediently stayed in his arms, gently nuzzling her little head.

“Dad won’t do it again.”

In the living room, Big White’s mind jolted. Her gaze turned to the master bedroom. She had just sensed a murderous aura from her master.

The killing intent came and went in an instant, disappearing as if it had been an illusion.

If Big White were not of the same origin as Aya Tone, she might not have detected that deeply hidden bloodlust.

Who was it?

Who had managed to anger her master?

They must be unlucky. Her master was quite petty; why would they provoke her for no reason?

****

In the following days, everything seemed to calm down after Yan Mo’s arrest.

The identities of the multiple victims were gradually identified. Apart from a few copycats, the death characteristics of the rest were confirmed to be the work of the same person.

The murderer… was it her?

Aya Tone walked along the restored streets, muttering silently to himself.

When it came to the real culprit, he should not have been so troubled.

But!

What that woman had said made him extremely conflicted.

Yan Mo was not the murderer? The one who confessed was not the killer?

Perhaps it was time to unravel some mysteries.

In the interrogation room.

“Everyone out. I want to have a proper talk with her,” Aya Tone waved his hand, dismissing everyone, leaving only himself and Yan Mo.

Once the room was empty, Aya Tone raised his hand and set up several soundproofing spells. He didn’t want too many people to know what he was about to say. Not even Fire Finch.

“Milord!” Yan Mo’s pupils shrank at the sight of him.

Clearly, Aya Tone’s brutal torture methods had left an indelible shadow on her.

“I’m here.” Aya Tone looked at her agitated expression impassively, his heart calm.

Even though she hadn’t been convicted yet, almost everyone assumed the same.

She!

Was the murderer.

“Now I ask, you answer. Understood?”

“Please, go ahead, Milord,” Yan Mo said timidly, stealing a cautious glance at Aya Tone, which made him frown slightly.

“What is that projection device, and who is that woman?”

“Also, the Star Feather bloodline you mentioned—why do you say I have that bloodline?”

“…”

Aya Tone had many questions, all revolving around the shattered otherworld.

Yan Mo concealed nothing. In her view, her master had lost her memory and thus forgotten these things.

As a follower, it was her duty to enlighten her master.

After listening to Yan Mo’s explanation, Aya Tone placed his hands on the table, a faint, elusive smile on his lips.

What Yan Mo said was not too different from his own guesses.

What he hadn’t expected was that Yan Mo’s origin was not from the other world, as he had thought.

She was a native of Dragon Country!

When the world was about to shatter, the king at the time gathered a group of elites and used the nation’s power to send them to reincarnate.

Yan Mo was one of them.

Their memories gradually awakened after their superpowers awakened.

She had initially dismissed these vague memories as dreams, but as the dreams grew clearer, she gradually recognized the familiar environment, the familiar self.

And the unfamiliar self she had become.

As her memories merged with her current self, she accepted that her soul came from another world.

That projection device had been found in a dungeon.

Along with it, there was a hand seal for activating it.

As for the Star Feather bloodline, even Yan Mo could not explain it; that mysterious woman had told her about it.

“Then why did you rush to confess?” Aya Tone frowned; that was what he couldn’t understand.

By confessing, Yan Mo completely denied all her years of experience.

Yan Mo lowered her head. “Because… I…”

“The murderer is my… little brother!” After saying this, she closed her eyes in pain.

Aya Tone was momentarily taken aback, then quickly understood.

She was referring to her brother from her previous life.

According to the police, Yan Mo was an only child—she couldn’t have a brother.

There was only one answer!

“He also reincarnated into this world,” Aya Tone said slowly, his eyes sharpening.

Yan Mo nodded painfully. “He was cruel by nature. In his past life, he caused many troubles. I never thought that after reincarnating here, he still wouldn’t restrain himself and committed murder.

I know I share responsibility for his sins, so I wanted to confess and bear part of the punishment for him.”

Aya Tone was silent for a moment, then suddenly spoke: “I can give you a chance to atone for your crimes. Help me capture your brother. As long as he is brought to justice, I will let bygones be bygones.”

“Furthermore, I’ll allow you to follow me.”

Yan Mo’s head shot up, hope blazing in her eyes. “Really, Milord? I will do my utmost to bring him to justice!”

To follow in this lord’s footsteps was the highest honor.

Little brother?

Blood ties are severed; we are now strangers!