Birthday

This was the first time Tylem had ever been up this close with someone being murdered right in front of his eyes in such a gruesome and bloody manner.

Tylem, himself, has never killed someone before.

Nevertheless, Tylem remained strangely calm, looking at the rolling head like it was to be expected.

Besides his rising heartbeat and sweat, Tylem didn't feel too bad.

It didn't take him much to regain his full composure.

The reason was simple. These people in front of him weren't even worthy to be called human in his eyes.

Though just seeing was far different from doing.

"Keith." Tylem, with Emily at his side, turned to Everett and the screaming boy.

Somehow, Keith had not fainted, his willpower was quite amazing.

"Mother, I want to kill him." The words came flowing out of Tylem's mouth.

It sounded demonic when coming out from a mere child.

With this, Everett and Keith had confirmed the relationship between these two.

Lynne wasn't a normal child with no backing; instead, she was the precious daughter of Beijing's strongest underworld power.

"I've messed up bad..." Keith was beginning to lose consciousness. In the end, he had dragged his entire family into this mess, the one responsible for their great Lin Family's downfall was no one but himself.

It was odd. Sometimes when one was about to die, realization would suddenly come, but it would be too late.

"Dear, are you sure?" Right now, Emily could see the fierce resolve in Tylem's eyes.

In those deep eyes, there was no trace of a simple child.

Even if she said no, Emily was certain that Tylem would carry on with his desires anyway.

"Yes." Tylem saw the blades available in the room, but he did not move toward any of them.

Raising his hand, Tylem walked up toward Keith, who was dying at his feet.

"It's funny how things ended up like this, huh?" Tylem stated. "When you bullied Lynne back then, I bet you never thought that such a day would come."

Keith's face was full of regret and pain, and he was unable to say a single word.

With his tongue cut off, no one was able to hear his worthless apology.

Everything had started off pure enough.

In the beginning, it was just a simple, pure-hearted love for Lynne.

However, upon rejection, his pride and ego had gotten the best of him.

Now, his entire family was in ruins because of him. Unlike those domineering CEOs in the romance novels, there was no good ending this time around.

The word 'regret' wasn't enough to describe how he was feeling right now.

"Goodbye, Keith." Tylem plunged his hand deep into the Onel leader's heart. "Have fun rotting in hell, you piece of shit."

Unfortunately, he was unable to toy with him further. With one look, he could tell that Keith was seconds from fainting.

"..." The light in Keith's eyes was fading. Indeed, hell suited someone like him.

"Son!" Everett cried out, in this short time, his noble face seemed to have aged by many years.

The scattered white in his father's hair could no longer be hidden. Keith saw this and he cried.

[Everyone, I've let you down.]

Like this, Keith passed away full of regret and remorse, even after death he would be unable to ever rest in peace.

"I... killed someone." Tylem's hand was still resting inside Keith's chest. [Why does this feel like a dream?]

Taking his bloodied hand out, Tylem suddenly felt disgusted with himself as he fell backward into Emily's arms.

The stomach-churning stench was strong.

"Mother..."

Uncontrollably, Tylem began to vomit, and Emily stroked his back with care.

Tylem had not expected to feel like this after killing Keith, someone he definitely hated with all his might.

Since Keith had threatened Lynne's life, he undeniably deserved to die in his eyes.

The coldblooded Keith, who toyed with the lives of others, was very different compared to those bullies from back then, James and Mason.

It wasn't an understatement to say that the person he wanted dead the most was Keith.

So... why was he feeling so disgusted right now?

Shouldn't he be shouting in joy and excitement?

Sighing, Emily hugged Tylem as she used her free hand to take Everett's life in the blink of an eye.

Before Everett even knew it himself, his grand life had come to an end.

The great Lin Family that had existed for over a century was over. Inexplicably, an ancient, powerful family like themselves had collapsed overnight. When news of their destruction spread, no one would believe how everything had truly gone down.

Rehan and the rest of Winter's Edge would come to clean up the Lin Family's stragglers soon, erasing all trace of their existence.

With time, the Lin Family would become a distant memory.

In front of true power, things like status and wealth were indeed useless.

With the chilling wind, on this fateful night... a single woman and child had taken down one of Beijing's ruling top five families.

"Everything will be fine, dear." Emily coaxed Tylem to sleep. "I'll be with you the entire way."

Somehow, with the blood still invading his senses, Tylem had managed to fall asleep in just a few short minutes.

The repulsion was an expected mechanism built from living in modern society for over eighteen years.

Tylem didn't want to become indifferent to killing either though, apart from those who came at them with evil intent, he would not go around killing aimlessly. But like the saying goes, having done it once before, the second time generally becomes much easier.

"We will face everything together..."

* * *

Time flowed like water.

Weeks went by quickly.

In this time, the capital had been taken by storm.

The news of the Lin Family's silent overnight destruction raised the brows of many. Numerous conspiracy theories were arising. It was shocking and mindboggling. This was an ancient family, but it had been erased off the face of the Earth without leaving any evidence.

Many parties were trying to fish in troubled waters, fighting over the Lin Family's seemingly ownerless property. In Ivla, the situation had also become very chaotic as a result. The unexpected downfall of Onel's leader, Keith Lin.

While everyone else was in chaos, a family of four was spending a very peaceful day at home. The atmosphere was blissful. Lynne's bullying matter had also been resolved. The main reason for her bullying had disappeared, after all.

Furthermore, with Tylem's backing and the school's support, no one dared to offend Lynne anymore.

Tylem was acknowledged as the school's strongest fighter, even being voted as the 'most-desirable husband' by some of the schoolgirls during a party.

Girls admired talented and strong men, after all.

Lynne had also rekindled her broken relationship with Ava. It took the two some time to get used to one another again, but time was often the best medicine, the two childhood friends would be just fine.

Kaden had been shocked at the sudden turn of events, having looked at Tylem with a knowing eye. The two friends continued to study martial arts together, and Tylem was now also receiving guidance from Emily, a top expert.

For the family, the recent days were very peaceful and mundane.

Dark.

It was the weekend.

Today, the family of four was celebrating a very special occasion.

Tylem's twelfth birthday, the first of many to come.

In the rather disorganized kitchen, Tylem brushed back his hair with a smile.

The sound of laughter encompassed the house, and Tylem was rolling the dough.

Making pizza for the first time, Tylem made many mistakes, his family very helpful and guiding.

"Brother, that's not how you do it~" Lynne gently took Tylem's hand, instructing him on how to use the rolling pin.

"Ooh." Tylem nodded as he remembered the movements, getting better.

"Let's have a great night, Tylem." Weston grinned while bringing in the pizza toppings. "Happy birthday, son."

"My darling is now twelve years old." Emily sniffled with a loving smile.

"Mn." Tylem couldn't help but tear up for the first time in a long time, which resulted in a long group hug. "It's my birthday..."

Before meeting them, he had almost forgotten his birthday even existed.

It was the first time he had ever celebrated his birthday with others who cared about him, and he didn't mind spending his birthday at home; instead, he enjoyed it very much.

Tylem just treasured being with his family like this: he wouldn't trade it for anything in the world.

The bright chatter continued for a while until the finished pizzas came out of the oven, a beautiful char on the crust.

"Oh, look at that!"

"It turned out amazing!"

"Brother, look~"

Eagerly, Emily, Weston, and Lynne took out the pizzas with immense care.

"Yeah." Tylem closed his eyes, holding back the tears.

Using the best ingredients possible, the smell was heavenly.

But Tylem had other thoughts besides the delicious food.

Even though Tylem was a food lover, he couldn't smell the fragrant pizzas at all right now. In his eyes, all he could see was his cheerful family, their smiles so bright and soft.

With tears in his eyes, Tylem thanked them countless times in his heart, "I couldn't imagine life without you guys..."

The pizzas were brought to the dining table, and in the center of it, a big black forest cake shone with all its beautiful glory.

There were twelve candles all placed with obvious care.

"Come, come~" Emily was giddy with joy. "Everyone, hehe~"

Taking the seat of honor, Tylem trembled as he watched Emily light up the candles, his father and sister standing with her.

In short time, all the candles were lit.

Soon enough, Emily, Weston, and Lynne all began singing 'Happy Birthday', and Tylem's heart shook with each beat.

Tylem was a cultivator in amazing condition, but he was struggling to breathe.

"T-thank you all..." Tylem bit his lips.

"Brother, don't cry~" Still clapping, Lynne hugged Tylem. "You have to stay strong for all of us~"

For the first time ever, Lynne had seen her mighty brother display such a cute and emotional side.

"Baby is right." Emily hid her tearful face on Weston's chest.

"Men shouldn't shed tears." Weston chided with laughter, even though he was crying as well.

"Y-yes." The cake was placed in front of Tylem as he took a long breath.

"Blow~" The family cheered.

In Tylem's mind, this moment seemed to last forever as he prepared to blow out the candles.

The happiness he was feeling right now meant the world to him.

"Whoosh."

The flames flickered as the candles were blown out.

"Yay!" Everyone laughed. "Happy twelfth birthday, Tylem!"

With everyone at his side, Tylem shyly covered his smiling mouth.

"Yeah."