Abyssal Chronicles

Chapter 409 - 410: Yumo’s Warning [6/14]

In the heart of the icy winter forest lay a massive pit, nearly three kilometers in radius. It was a terrifying scene, reminiscent of hell itself. Everything within was charred and engulfed by fire, while countless twisted corpses of demons were scattered across the pit. The sight of their grisly deaths was enough to send shivers down anyone’s spine.

There were no whole bodies on the ground; most were mutilated beyond recognition. The ghastly view made it clear that these demons had been brutally crushed to death by an immense force. Blood, chunks of flesh, and remains of organs were strewn everywhere.

The air was heavy with the stench of blood, the scent of scorching, and an oppressive silence that added to the horror of the scene...

...

"What... what on earth has happened here?!"

Having detected something unusual in the central part, Yumo, located in the eastern region of the winter forest, urgently transformed her consciousness into numerous bloody-red butterflies, rushing at full speed to the center where the intense clash of power had just occurred.

Upon seeing this horrific scene, Yumo couldn’t help but cry out in shock. Countless bloody butterflies began to flutter anxiously, scattering in all directions.

However,

Before Yumo could understand what had transpired here, she detected a familiar scent of blood and shadowy power. Though the scent was faint within the pit, filled with the mixed odors of numerous demons, Yumo instantly captured it.

The moment she sensed this fragrance, a thick feeling of unease rushed to her heart.

’This..’

’What is this scent?!’

Following the trail, Yumo’s gaze fell upon a figure lying on the scorched land, covered with wounds and barely clinging to life—a purple-haired young man.

"Pi... Pierre?!"

A flash of crimson light signaled the bloody butterflies, representing Yumo’s consciousness, to rush to the young man’s side. They surrounded Pierre, and a surge of shadowy power enveloped him, probing his wounds and striving to halt his bleeding.

And to preserve his fading life force...

"What... what has happened here?"

As she stared at the youth on the brink of death, Yumo found herself in unprecedented panic and unrest, anxiety completely consuming her. If she had a physical body at that moment, tears of sadness would have surely fallen.

Although the young man before her often caused her trouble, he was, after all, the first son she had created. His place in Yumo’s heart was special and unique.

As she watched her child gasping for air but not exhaling, terror gripped her. Her voice broke as she called out,

"Hey, Pierre, you brat! What has happened? Tell me!"

The bloody butterflies continued to nudge Pierre’s battered body, trying to elicit a response from him. However, the heavily injured Pierre had already lost consciousness and was unable to respond.

Upon seeing this,

Yumo’s inner anxiety reached its peak.

"No... no... don’t... don’t let anything happen! Hey Brat, I won’t allow anything to happen to you! Hey!"

Though she had raised demons merely as challenges for future heroes, their injuries or deaths meant nothing to her..., or that’s what she thought…

But witnessing this demon king, linked to her by blood and with whom she had spent countless days and nights, teetering on death’s door, Yumo couldn’t help but feel an instinctive sorrow.

Strictly speaking, this was also the first time Yumo became aware of some emotions hidden deep within her heart.

However,

At this moment, Yumo didn’t have time to delve into this matter, because while examining Pierre’s physical condition, she unexpectedly noticed the power of the shadow force contained within his wound. At this instant, Yumo’s heart violently trembled, and a rage she had never felt before burst forth from within her.

The next moment,

A scarlet light suddenly erupted, and Yumo’s consciousness sharply focused on the edge of the deep pit, upon that ferocious, enormous monster...

"You fiend! What on earth have you done? AAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!"

...

...

--

Time returns to the present,

Upon hearing the word ’Youlan’ from Yuan’er, Yumo couldn’t help but recall some events from the past. With the memories of bygone days surging to the forefront of her mind, the black-haired girl’s emotions began to waver slightly out of control:

"Yuan’er, where did you see her? What exactly happened? Did she do anything to you?! ..."

Yumo suddenly grabbed Yuan’er’s shoulders, asking anxiously.

"Mama??"

Yumo’s sudden change in attitude naturally startled little Yuan’er, leaving the pink-haired girl slightly stunned and at a loss, as she stared blankly at her mother. Seeing Yuan’er’s somewhat uneasy expression, Yumo quickly realized her daughter’s thoughts.

After shaking her head, she regained her composure,

Her once gentle and loving expression returned,

Patting the little girl’s head, Yumo patiently asked:

"Yuan’er, you said you saw her... um, saw your ’Sister Youlan’. What exactly happened?"

"Um, well..."

As she spoke,

Yuan’er looked down, hesitating, her heterochromatic eyes filled with indecision,

After all,

Previously, Sister Liyu had instructed her not to mention Sister Youlan in front of her mother...

But she accidentally...

Let it slip...

Seeing Yuan’er’s hesitation, Yumo inquired puzzledly:

"What’s wrong, Yuan’er? Can’t you tell Mama?"

"No... no... it’s not that I can’t."

"Then, can you tell me?"

"Wha..."

Faced with Yumo’s inquiry, little Yuan’er, after struggling for a moment, ultimately chose not to conceal the truth. She honestly recounted everything she had seen and heard after leaving Wind City, including her time with the honey-haired big sister, and told everything to her Mother,

Although her Sister, Liyu, had instructed her not to do, since she’d already let it slip, Yuan’er didn’t want to leave her mother with the impression of an dishonest child. After all, in the little one’s eyes, telling her Mama about her big Sister wasn’t a big deal, right?

’Mama now seemed quite anxious, too.’

"Sister Youlan, huh? Her words..."

...

...(Yuan’er animatedly telling the story)

...

Due to the little one’s limited ability to express herself, what she described left Yumo only half-understanding.

But,

As Yuan’er’s words continuously entered her ears, Yumo’s eyes gradually narrowed, and her expression became very complex. Clearly, Yumo had realized that Liyu’s previous statement that Yuan’er had been looked after by the Ghost Star Flame Group during that time was pure nonsense...

However, at this moment, Yumo had no time to ponder why Liyu had deceived her. Instead, she focused all her attention on her little daughter’s actions and expressions.

Listening to Yuan’er’s account of events, Yumo was only able to understand half of it. Yet, from Yuan’er’s enthusiasm and her expressive body language, She could easily guess that the little one harbored deep affection and trust for her ’Sister Youlan’.

After realizing this, Yumo’s expression became even more serious.

Her seriousness was accompanied by an unexplainable frustration and anger.

Although, from Yuan’er’s description, it could be roughly guessed that during that time, Youlan had taken meticulous care of Yuan’er—protecting the famished girl, teaching her basic control over the power of shadows—Yumo’s stern expression did not waver in the slightest.

Finally, after Yuan’er excitedly recounted the entire story, Yumo took a deep breath.

"Um? Mama?"

"Yuan’er."

"What’s wrong, Mama?"

"Yuan’er, do you really like ’Sister Youlan’ that much?"

"Yes, yes!!"

Without hesitation, Yuan’er nodded energetically.

"Yes! Sister Youlan is wonderful! She gave me tasty food, taught me to control my strength, and even told me lovely bedtime stories! I love her so much!"

"Sigh..."

"What’s wrong, Mama? Why are you sighing?"

"Yuan’er."

"Yes?"

"Although it may seem cruel, Mama must tell you something now. That is... your Sister Youlan is not as good as you imagine..."

"Eh??"

The little girl blinked in confusion, looking at her mother with a perplexed expression, "Mama, what do you mean by that?"

Faced with this question, Yumo took a deep breath, looked seriously into Yuan’er’s puzzled eyes, and warned her in a stern tone:

" Sometimes, people aren’t what they seem. Your ’Sister Youlan’ is a madwoman. She is not sincerely good to you! She took care of you like that only to deceive you and win your favor! Then she might use you! Yuan’er... you must understand, she is insane, a very dangerous person! You must never trust her easily... you might consider her as a sister, but she might not see you as her little sister! Who knows when she will reveal her true nature and harm you!"

"Mama? Mama?"

"Anyway, listen to Mama, don’t think about ’Sister Youlan’ anymore. That person... is not your sister... if you encounter her, stay away from her, and never believe her words, understood?!"

"But... but..."

"There are no ’buts.’ Listen to Mom, understood?!"

Facing her confused little daughter, Yumo unusually raised her voice with a firm tone,

However,

The young girl’s voice

Carried a hint of bitterness...

"Though you may not understand why you have to do this... no matter what... You must know, Mama is doing this... for your own good."