Blood opened his eyes, the weight of yesterday still lingering in his chest. The morning light forced him to shut them again, the breeze carrying with it the dense Heaven and Earth energy that poured through the wide window.
This same energy was the reason the Marble clan had been reduced to a single family. Cultivators craved regions with dense Heaven and Earth energy, since it was the fastest way to ascend higher realms. With purer energy, one could move from lower to higher realms swiftly, unless hindered by some limitation.
The Marble Manor was such a place. Its energy density was unmatched in the entire city—greater even than the mayor's territory. But fortune like this was dangerous. Without a powerful backer, doom awaited anyone who owned what others coveted. That was why the Marble clan had fallen, leaving only Blood's family to guard what remained...
He yawned, stretching his weary limbs. Yesterday had been troubling.
Blood soon realized his little sister was already out of bed—it was still early; the morning light barely settled across the manor.
He left the sickroom quietly, exchanging brief greetings with the Head Healer on his way out. His steps carried him upstairs, toward Ivory's room.
When he opened the door, he found her tossing and turning on the bed. His smile broadened as he closed the distance between them. Ivory's thoughts were disturbed, as the sound of the door drew her attention. She turned, watching her brother approach without saying a word.
She was only ten.
Blood sat gently on the bed, his smile softening as he tapped Ivory's cheek. "Hey, how are you feeling?" he asked.
Ivory turned her head, her voice light but steady. "Hmm, I'm fine. Thankfully enough, I wasn't hit on the head." Her words made Blood's smile broaden.
He chuckled, and in a teasing tone, "It would've been okay if you took the hit on the head, so long as it wasn't pierced and left no mark behind." Ivory smacked his chest in protest, her eyes narrowing with mischief.
"It was all thanks to you in the end." she said, her teasing smile hinting at the trouble he had brought home with that headstrong beast.
Blood grinned. "Yeah, it's all thanks to me. I'll surely make another huge contribution next time—so long as you keep loving beast cubs."
Ivory laughed, shaking her head. "You better direct your target another way."
"Don't worry," Blood replied, his tone light. "Its direction is always fixed. It'll make some impact—a nicer one for sure."
Ivory laughed even harder, her joy filling the room.
How easygoing they were. They could go on like this for days.
Salza sat in the dining hall, his frown deepening as the sound of laughter echoed from upstairs. "The kids are at it again. There seems to be no end to their talk every time," he muttered.
It had been so long since he himself had spoken lightly, not since the clan's setback. The weight of responsibility—and the Chief's constant pressure—was always on his back.
From the kitchen, Maria's voice floated out, soft but teasing. "Feeling jealous and apprehensive?" She carried a dish on a serving platter, her smile hidden.
"Humph, what's there to be jealous of, when I can enjoy my talk with you always." Salza defended quickly, not ready for her jokes.
"Hehe! I won't pursue the matter. Call the kids downstairs, you've got hard and tiring work ahead of you." she said, setting the platter down before disappearing back into the kitchen.
Salza bellowed, his voice carrying through the manor, "Heyy! Get down here, both of you, if you don't want your asses smacked!"
Maria shook her head, continuing her work.
Upstairs, Ivory raised her brows mischievously. "Hehe! He's definitely jealous again. Doesn't he have a mate?" she teased. Blood burst into laughter at her words.
"I heard youu!" Salza's voice thundered back.
Blood tilted his head toward his sister, whispering with a grin, "Aren't you in trouble?"
"I didn't say anything. You clearly said that." Ivory shrugged, tutting as she darted for the door.
"Hey, you can't do that," Blood called, chasing after her, though his pace was slower.
Ivory's laughter echoed from all sides, filling the manor with warmth.
___
Blood sat patiently on the chair, waiting for his mother's arrival. Only Maria could soften the cold glare of his father. It seemed Ivory's conviction had worked out.
Maria entered moments later, placing the dish neatly on the table. "Kiddo, your lessons are with me after breakfast. Your father has some work to do." she said. Her words instantly erased Blood's worries.
He knew he'd be safe as long as his mother was by his side—no spankings today.
Salza huffed but remained silent.
"Yes, mum. I'm very happy to study and learn from you," Blood replied enthusiastically, his voice bright. But before he could bask in relief, a cold snort cut through the air.
"What do you know," Salza muttered.
Blood didn't mind. So long as his mother was there with him, he was untouchable. He had to make amends though.
Blood delightedly served the food, making his father's dish concentrated and everyone started eating.
It seemed it really worked as there was a slight smile on Salza's stern face.
"When is the next break at the Central Academy?" Ivory asked. She missed her elder brothers.
Blood immediately changed the topic without letting the matter standardize.
"What happened to the wolf? Was it captured?" He hadn't heard anything about it and was still quite interested.
Maria frowned at her son's behavior before she said, "You mean the one you let escape?"
"huuh!" Blood was taken aback.
What the…
Maria's gentle voice shifted the conversation back to Ivory. "Your brothers will be back in three weeks." she said, her gaze softening as Ivory smiled brightly.
Ivory darted her eyes toward Blood, who turned his head away, feigning indifference.
But Blood's curiosity hadn't faded. He asked again, "What happened to the wolf?"
Salza's cold gaze turned to his son. "What are you going to do with it? Punish an apprehended wolf or…" His words seemed to test Blood's intent.
Blood's eyes lit up in realization. "So… the wolf was apprehended, that's good." His smile broadened, his thoughts already racing toward the possibilities.
How would a Rebound wolf perform?
Blood's grin faded instantly at Maria's words.
"What's the grinning all about? The wolf did escape yesterday," she said in a firm tone. They had only realized when they arrived at the manor's gate.
"What! It escaped! How is that possible?" Blood nearly stood from his seat; disbelief etched across his face. He had always believed his parents could capture the beast as easily as lifting a hand.
Salza's cold voice cut through, saying, "It appeared the time wasted on you was enough for the wolf to make an escape," he berated.
Maria corrected calmly, "The servants were bringing in supplies when the wolf escaped. Its speed was remarkably fast and caught them unaware. By the time the guards realized, it was long gone."
Salza's displeasure deepened. she keeps butting in, he thought bitterly.
Blood shook his head. So be it. Since the wolf had escaped, he would simply try again with another.
He finished his meal quietly, excused himself, and made his way to the manor's library. His mother's teachings awaited him. The morning had been hectic, maybe her lessons would steady his mind.