Waking up groggily, Han Li felt a soft body hugging him tightly and looked to his side and it was his mother, hugging him so tightly – like a koala – and sleeping soundly in this noon time.

Looking at her sleeping face, he had the urge to tease her but he didn't; she was also using his hands as a pillow, and his hands were wrapped around her, so he couldn't even move without disturbing her, but he didn't plan to move anyway.

Motionlessly lying in his old house's bed, his mother calmly asleep naked in his embrace, the smell of old wood, the distant chirp of birds... Wasn't all that one of his dreams? Why would he move?

But in this calm backdrop, his thoughts started to flicker into action. In his previous life, he had already come to know about his "Three Life Eye" when he was approximately 400 years of age and was already preparing for this new life from that point.

Being killed by the Righteous faction was a surprise, but being reborn was expected and hoped for, he had barely not suicided at that point; he was waiting for his death.

Feeling Yue Li slightly move in his embrace, Han Li gently caressed the top of her head and whispered, "Sleep more...I am here, don't worry."

Yue Li calmed down and hugged him a bit closer.

Han Li continued patting her head and delved back into his thoughts. 'I was too young, too stupid, and too arrogant at this point of my life, that is why when your lifespan was ending, I could do nothing but look on as you aged and died. I was a fool.'

But no more!

"In this life, I will live without regrets, and achieve everything I have ever wanted to," Han Li muttered, "And this time, I won't miss to protect all whom I care for."

His hold around Yue Li tightened, she was comfortably and deeply asleep. That was a sight he had dreamed to see with all his heart at a point, but could never get to.

Yet it was happening and it was all real.

And if the world had to burn to achieve his dreams... Let the world burn.

But then, the image of an ugly young lad came to his mind; so ugly that even beggars wouldn't want to be around him. But on that rainy night, this same boy, with a dirty and bloody face, had asked him, the then great demon, a question.

"Great Demon, you say that you did all this murder to save that young girl, but even if you saved her today... Won't she die someday, in some other way?"

He was stunned and in disbelief, even if he killed everyone to save her, if she died in the end...

Han Li chuckled lightly, at that point, he hadn't had the answer or guts to say it, he was too young, too foolish.

He gently stroked his mother's hair. "You won't die, I won't die, nor would anyone I care for. As long as I become strong enough, as long as I am the one who controls life and death."

He also had the confidence to say so, he wasn't some inconspicuous little brat from the Southern Lust village anymore, he was the second coming of the Great Demon.

Moreover, this time, he will not lose his mother or her system's support like the last time, and if he played all his cards well... He had a chance at getting it all.

Ambition never went along with emotions, but he...had a chance.

Yue Li gently opened her eyes and cringed slightly as she murmured, "I have been awake for quite some time... you know?"

She was enjoying him calmly hugging her and stroking her hair, but why did he say such things all of a sudden?

"Oh...were you awake?" Han Li asked, not surprised at all. If he wasn't sure she was awake, he wouldn't have spoken out loud.

"You are so edgy today... do you know what my other world's people would call you?"

Surprised, Han Li asked, "What?"

"An edge lord."

Han Li turned silent. Was that something like the Lord of Blades or something?

Well, as long as it had an edge... It suits someone like him too, he guessed.

Mom kissed his chest and said, "Don't worry, I am just joking."

Han Li blinked, what...? He pinched her on her waist, and asked, his face slightly dark: "Tell me what that means!"

"Ouch! You scoundrel, how dare you pinch your mom!"

Then,

Lovely laughter echoed in the room...

Yue Li's bell-like tone mixed with Han Li's chuckle. 𝘧𝘳ℯℯ𝓌ℯ𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋ℯ𝓁.𝘤𝘰𝓂

Indeed, his mom was the best.