In the afternoon after returning home, Yuan Luoyi scurried to her own room and began preparing for time travel.
She changed into sportswear, put on sneakers, and hid a fruit knife in her pocket.
Big brother Yuan Ao's surroundings were very dangerous, and if someone kidnapped her this time, she could use this small knife to fight back and escape quickly.
She couldn't always be protected by her big brother.
Even with these small hands, she would do her utmost to protect him.
Sitting on the edge of the bed, Yuan Luoyi took a deep breath.
3
2
1
"Initiate time travel!"
As the words left her lips, a wave of dizziness washed over her, and Yuan Luoyi fell back onto the soft bedding, tumbling into that nightmarish former timeline...
"Thud!"
As she got up from the ground, Yuan Luoyi was still a little dizzy from the effects of time travel. After regaining her composure, she continued forward.
It was pitch black around her, and she couldn't see anything clearly. She carefully stretched out her hand and moved slowly ahead, feeling the cold wall until her fingertips touched the light switch.
"Click!"
The soft light illuminated the surroundings – a wood-colored table, white walls, a large floor-to-ceiling window, a soft bed, and countless fuzzy toys. Everything was so familiar.
Yuan Luoyi was surprised.
This was her room!
Time had allowed dust to accumulate in the corners, and cobwebs clung everywhere. The once-transparent glass was now covered in a hazy layer of gray.
She pushed open the door and stepped out into the hallway, looking around. The formerly luxurious wallpaper was now tattered and peeling in patches, and the carpet was so dirty that its original appearance was unrecognizable.
Dust particles floated silently in the moonlight.
Everything indicated that the once mighty Yuan family had fallen into decline.
Yuan Luoyi followed the stairs down, and from a distance, she saw a light. As she approached, she realized it was the grand hall, where a man was hanging mid-air, blood flowing from his face and dripping continuously onto the floor.
He was in agonizing pain, emitting intermittent moans from deep in his throat.
Another man was sitting in an armchair, his back turned to Yuan Luoyi. He hummed a nameless tune contentedly, his long legs casually crossed and propped up on the table, idly toying with a revolver in one hand.
"Click!"
With a flick of his finger, he opened the cylinder, revealing six empty chambers. Then, like a magician, a bullet suddenly appeared at his fingertips, and he lightly loaded it into the chamber.
"Click!"
The cylinder snapped shut.
With a push of his feet, the armchair swiveled around, revealing Yuan Fa's bloodthirsty grin, his sharp fangs exposed and his eyes hollow and lifeless. He extended his arm, aiming the gun at the man.
"Let's continue our game!"
"I will pull the trigger five times. If you survive, I'll let you go."
Yuan Luoyi tensed and took a step back. This was the broken Yuan Fa!
"Clunk!"
Yuan Luoyi bumped into something, making an extremely faint sound, but it was enough to catch Yuan Fa's attention.
Turning his head, Yuan Fa calmly watched Yuan Luoyi, acting as if he had expected her to appear, showing no surprise.
"Ah, my dear sister!"
"I was just wondering why you hadn't come yet. Your second brother has been waiting so anxiously every day..."
"But how wonderful, you've finally arrived!"
Yuan Fa stood up, gracefully spreading his arms, and strode towards Yuan Luoyi. Upon reaching her, he kept the hand holding the gun behind his back, slowly bending down, and extending his clean hand towards Yuan Luoyi in invitation.
"Come here, your second brother has a spectacular magic trick to show you. You'll love it! I've practiced it so many times!"
Yuan Luoyi looked up at Yuan Fa, who smiled happily but sent chills down her spine.
Because his eyes were dull and lifeless.
He had broken down.
Unlike big brother Yuan Ao, Yuan Fa's personality was extremely unstable, oscillating between lively affection and chilling terror.
Yuan Luoyi couldn't predict what kind of person Yuan Fa would be from one moment to the next, which made her anxious, her hands clenched tightly as her breathing quickened slightly. But she had to cherish this hard-won opportunity for time travel and gather as much information as possible.
She wanted to know what time period she had traveled back to. "Second brother, what time is it now?"
Yuan Fa tilted his head slightly, a few strands of hair falling over his eyes. He averted his gaze, contemplating in a daze for a moment before replying, "Who knows? My head has been killing me lately, and I've been busy with executions. I don't know how long it's been..."
"Where is big brother?"
"Do you want to see big brother?"
"Yes."
"Then I'll take you to see him after the magic trick!"
"Really?"
"Really. He must miss you too. I was going to head that way anyway, so it's just a detour, just a detour."
Yuan Fa muttered to himself, his eyes downcast, his smile fading, his expression growing increasingly grim, with a hint of murderous intent that frightened Yuan Luoyi, causing her to instinctively back away.
With a snort, Yuan Fa laughed, "Sorry, I forgot that you're still an adorable, normal 11-year-old girl who gets scared easily. Your second brother will be more mindful."
He extended his hand again, sincerely continuing his invitation, "My dear sister, come here."
Taking a deep breath, Yuan Luoyi mustered her courage and placed her small hand in Yuan Fa's large one, allowing him to lead her along.
"Second brother, will you hurt me?"
"No, I won't."
"Are you lucid now?"
Yuan Fa let out a mocking laugh, his shoulders shaking, "Maybe not very lucid... Yesterday, I nearly killed myself... But my marksmanship is still precise, and I can recognize people, so rest assured, your second brother will never harm you."
Arriving at the armchair, Yuan Fa placed his hands on Yuan Luoyi's shoulders, guiding her to sit down as he cheerfully said, "This is the best spot to watch from. Your generous second brother is willing to give it to you..."
He glanced around, placing a hand on his chest with a perplexed expression, "Oh, I don't have any snacks for you. You know me, I always eat too quickly, and I'm not like big brother who knows how to take care of children."
"Just bear with it for a bit. The performance will be over soon."
Yuan Fa approached the man, stepping onto an imaginary stage with an invisible spotlight shining on him. He was tall, elegant, and theatrical, holding the gun behind his back with one hand, smiling menacingly.
In a dance-like motion, he spun around and circled behind the man, leaning in intimately as if they were old friends with no secrets.
Yuan Fa spoke softly, "A long time ago, like all beautiful fairy tales, this man was blinded by lust, causing an innocent girl to fall into the abyss. Her brother wanted revenge, so he hung him here."
He suddenly grabbed the man's arm, causing the wound to rapidly tear open and bleed profusely.
"Aaaah!" the man screamed in agony.
Yuan Fa cackled madly, whispering into the man's ear, "Please tell my sister what your crime was."
"It's time for interrogation."
Witnessing the crazed Yuan Fa, Yuan Luoyi sank into the armchair, unable to control her trembling.
