Inside The Black Mist - Chapter 86 - A Happy Family
Chapter 86 A Happy Family
After leaving the classroom, Tianyang and Lao Xu arrived at the college parking lot together. When Lao Xu saw Tianyang’s electromagnetic motorcycle with the Crimson Moon Warblade hanging next to it, he was somewhat surprised.
Tianyang started the motorcycle. “Our weapons are all equipped with biometric recognition, so it’s useless for others to take them. Besides, I don’t think anyone would dare to casually take a Night Walker’s equipment.”
Lao Xu shook his head. “My surprise isn’t about that, but about you bringing the weapon out of the door. Brother, although Night Walkers can carry weapons in the city, carrying it around like this might attract some gossip.”
Tianyang shrugged. “Oh, that’s what you meant. I didn’t notice. It’s just that something happened last night, so I felt it necessary to carry it with me.”
Lao Xu’s sparse eyebrows furrowed slightly. “What happened last night?”
Tianyang briefly recounted the incident with the figure outside the elevator door.
Lao Xu reminded him, “You should report it to the captain.”
Tianyang ran his hand through his hair. “Actually, I’m not sure. It might have been just my imagination. If I trouble the captain over such a small matter, I think it’s making a mountain out of a molehill.”
“You have a point. Well then, be careful on your own.” While speaking, Lao Xu walked over to a nearby tricycle and opened the door, then got in.
This motorcycle seemed to have been used for some time; the paint was peeling off, one of the headlights seemed broken, and there were traces of patches on the tires.
It seemed that Lao Xu wasn’t very affluent; otherwise, with his status, he should be able to afford a better vehicle.
Lao Xu stuck his head out of the window. “Come on, let’s go to my place. Don’t lose track of me.”
Tianyang smiled.
Although they were both Night Walkers, their dormitories were not close to each other. In fact, residential units in the upper city area were limited, especially for someone like Tianyang, who just had been promoted to an upper citizen and didn’t have his own industry in the upper city.
Therefore, moving to the upper city required an application, and the fortress would reclaim some vacant apartments, re-register the property rights, and then allocate them to the applicants.
If Tianyang were killed in battle and had no relatives, the house would be reclaimed by the fortress and transferred to the next applicant.
Even if there were relatives, the fortress would only give them a three-year temporary residence. When the term expired, if they couldn’t meet the contribution points required by the fortress, they would still have to move out.
This was one of the rules of the fortress.
Arriving near Lao Xu’s apartment building, Tianyang noticed that the building had been used for quite some time. It was currently undergoing renovation, with scaffolding erected on the west side of the building and workers painting on those scaffolds.
And there was no elevator.
Walking up the stairs, Lao Xu led the way. “The houses in our area have been built for more than 40 years ago, almost as old as me. The city hall has always had plans to demolish and rebuild, but resettling residents is a big problem. After dragging it out, they decided not to demolish it this year and just renovate it.”
Arriving on the fourth floor, Lao Xu didn’t open the door but pressed the doorbell.
After a moment, a childish voice sounded from the intercom on the door, “Who’s there?”
Lao Xu winked at Tianyang and said with a smile, “Guess.”
A cheer sounded from the intercom, “Daddy’s back.”
The door immediately opened, and a small figure rushed out and threw herself into Lao Xu’s arms.
Lao Xu picked her up and spun her around. Tianyang could see clearly now; it was a five or six-year-old girl.
Lao Xu rubbed his face against her chubby cheeks. “Did you miss Daddy?”
“Yes, super miss.” The little girl hugged Lao Xu’s neck tightly and planted a big kiss on his cheek, her voice loud enough to be heard throughout the corridor.
Lao Xu lifted the girl, somewhat proudly telling Tianyang, “This is my daughter, Xiaomai. Isn’t she lovely?”
Tianyang’s mouth twitched slightly. “She’s quite cute.”
Lao Xu laughed happily and instructed his daughter, “Call him brother.”
The girl named Xiaomai called out in a childish voice, “Hello, brother.”
“Lao Xu, you’re back?” A gentle female voice sounded from inside the door.
Lao Xu carried his daughter into the room. “I’m back. Zijin, we have a guest today. Uh, Tianyang, come on in; don’t just stand outside.”
Tianyang smiled and entered the house, finally seeing Lao Xu’s wife.
She was much younger than Lao Xu; with her long hair tied up and wearing an apron, she seemed to be cooking.
She stood by the window with a gentle smile on her face, somewhat complaining to her husband, “You didn’t inform me when we had a guest. Let me go fry a few more dishes; you entertain your friend first.”
Lao Xu looked very pleased, waiting for his wife to enter the kitchen before he pulled Tianyang into the living room. “We’ll have something to eat soon. Take a seat; I’ll go get a book for you.”
Leaving Tianyang and his daughter, Lao Xu disappeared into the room.
The little girl kept staring at Tianyang curiously. “Brother, why is your hair silver?”
Tianyang ran his hand through his hair. “Well, that’s a long story.”
The little girl stepped back warily. “Mom said boys who dye their hair are troublemakers. Are you one, brother?”
Tianyang couldn’t help but smile wryly.
“I don’t know about others, but your big brother Tianyang, I can guarantee, is definitely not a troublemaker.” Luckily, Lao Xu returned, holding a thick book in his hand, which he placed in Tianyang’s hand.
Xiaomai hugged Lao Xu’s leg and smiled, “I believe Daddy, so I’ll be friends with you.”
Tianyang was amused by the little girl before looking at the book in his hand.
“Analysis of Inverse Universe Characters.”
Lao Xu patted the book. “This is a good thing. Remember to return it to me after you finish reading.”
It was evident that Lao Xu cherished this book, just like he cherished his happy family. Tianyang suddenly understood why Lao Xu had so many concerns about the Inverse Universe.
It was simple because there were people waiting for him to come back to the Fortress.
After eating two meals at Lao Xu’s house, Tianyang spent the afternoon helping him assemble and paint a wooden horse.
At 8 o’clock in the evening, he bid farewell to Lao Xu’s family and drove back to his apartment alone.
This time, Tianyang didn’t take the elevator; he took the stairs. When he reached the floor where his apartment was located, Tianyang tightened his grip on the Crimson Moon Warblade.
But tonight, there was no abnormality in the corridor, nor did he feel like he was being watched.
He opened the door and entered the house, sitting down on the chair in the living room and placing the war blade aside.
After resting for a moment, preparing to get up to take a shower, a breeze tousled Tianyang’s hair.
The teenager walked towards the bathroom, taking a few steps before suddenly stopping. Then, like lightning, he returned to the chair, drawing the Crimson Moon Warblade!
The window was open.
But he remembered that he had already closed all the doors and windows when he left in the morning.
Tianyang silently approached the window and ran his hand over the windowsill. There were no marks on the windowsill, but his palm felt something strange. When he turned his hand over, he found a few grains of sand sticking to it.
He licked his palm gently. It tasted salty, like the sand washed by the sea on the beach.
Tianyang looked around the entire living room. Finally, he saw the partially open door of the bedroom…
