Chapter 158: Unexpected Diplomacy
by xennovelThe air seemed compressed by immense force, forming visible, layered ripples.
The thin mist enveloping the small town and surrounding farmlands thickened suddenly in the absence of lights. Strangely, though the mist grew denser, the Red Moon in the sky became clearer and larger.
This change created an illusion, as if the Red Moon was drawing closer to the earth.
Its light, vibrant as blood, descended vertically.
…
…
Caught between Lu Xin’s family of four and the Queen of this eerie small town was Qin Ran.
As an Ability User himself, he could feel the chaotic, fragmented mental power swirling around, sensing the turmoil in his own mind.
This shocked him profoundly, making him want to scream uncontrollably.
He hadn’t expected this seemingly ordinary person from Qinggang City, connected to the “Escaped Lab,” to actually dare confront one of the most powerful mysterious creatures. The absurdity of it sent a splitting headache through him:
“Impossible…”
“Could the materials I obtained be wrong?”
“He shouldn’t have the strength to face the Queen right now unless…”
“…he’s already reached the second stage?”
…
“That monster is terrifying… Are they really going to fight?”
Qin Ran wasn’t the only one suffering a splitting headache; Lu Xin was also enduring immense pressure and pain.
Upon seeing the mysterious Queen of the Small Town, he felt an indescribable pressure. It was formless yet tangible, constantly conjuring various hallucinations and illusions before his eyes, like fragmented shards of a mirror, each reflecting broken scenes. Several times, he nearly got lost within them.
But he clung to his reason, instinctively knowing that succumbing to those scenes might mean never waking up.
At this moment, Lu Xin felt an urge to back down from the confrontation.
It wasn’t fear, but an instinctual reaction when facing a powerful and unknown creature.
But he couldn’t retreat. Lu Xin saw his Mom and Sister watching the mysterious Queen intently. Though he couldn’t see his Father, Lu Xin heard his heavy breathing and knew he was watching the Queen too.
It reminded him of certain moments in life.
When facing a rabid dog, you had to stare into its eyes, or it would lunge at any moment.
He understood this was also a battle, and he needed to stand by his family, accompanying them.
This thought sustained him, keeping him rooted firmly to the spot.
Even as his mind grew increasingly chaotic, filled with fragmented scenes and frantic, unintelligible whispers echoing in his ears, he held his ground, watching the Queen, even shifting slightly to stand protectively in front of his Sister.
Blood trickled from his nose, but his gaze grew colder.
…
…
Mom noticed Lu Xin’s nosebleed, and her expression seemed to harden slightly.
Then she looked at the Queen, who seemed hesitant now, pausing by the small villa on the mountain, unsure whether to advance or retreat. A faint, gentle smile appeared on Mom’s face, a smile devoid of hostility.
“Hello!”
She spoke softly, greeting the Queen.
The Queen seemed momentarily surprised. Her pitch-black, bottomless eyes shifted slightly.
Mom’s smile widened. She nodded gently at the Queen and said, “Your little town is very beautiful…”
The Queen’s expressionless face somehow conveyed a sense of slight relaxation.
The oppressive atmosphere also seemed to ease.
“Don’t be nervous.”
Mom smiled gently at the Queen. “Our family is just traveling, helping our child with a small task. We stumbled in here by accident, I’m truly sorry. But your place is so lovely, especially these flowers…”
…
Mom’s reaction surprised Lu Xin slightly. “Mom can actually communicate with the Queen?”
Qin Ran, naturally, was even more astonished.
His worldview seemed to be crumbling. He stiffly turned to look at the refined woman who was speaking.
She was actually trying to chat with the Queen?
But the bigger surprise was yet to come.
Thin, unsettling, and strange voices sounded in the air:
“Thank… you…”
…
The Queen actually replied…
Both Qin Ran and Lu Xin were utterly stunned.
Mom’s smile deepened. “It’s just… if they’re all pink, it’s a bit monotonous.”
“I think planting some blue irises in the flower field would make it even prettier…”
…
“I also think planting only pink flowers is a bit plain, but I couldn’t find better seeds…”
The Queen replied again in her thin voice.
They were actually chatting…
…
…
Qin Ran was petrified.
The chaos and needle-like pricks in Lu Xin’s mind lessened, replaced by astonishment.
“Seeds are easy to find. High-wall City…”
Mom answered with a smile, seemingly chatting relaxedly with a friend.
But as she mentioned this, Lu Xin suddenly glanced at Mom with concern, wanting to stop her but holding back.
Mom seemed to understand Lu Xin’s thoughts, gently changing her words. Smiling, she said, “You could alternate planting farm fields and flower fields. That way, the two colors can create beautiful patterns. Plus, the farm fields turn yellow in summer, and white when it snows in winter. The patterns would always be changing…”
…
“Mm, thank you…”
The Queen replied softly. The surrounding pressure diminished further.
Even the town residents beside the small town, holding guns with strange mouthparts protruding, seemed noticeably friendlier. Their muzzles lowered, and the residents slowly retreated towards the rooms behind them.
“You’re welcome. I’m really sorry for breaking your things…”
Mom smiled gently. “It looks like you’ll have to fix the damage yourself…”
“But, if I have the chance later, I’ll come visit you again…”
…
“Okay, I will welcome you warmly…”
The Queen’s slender voice faded as her massive form began retreating into the small villa.
The surrounding pressure seemed to return to normal.
Meanwhile, Qin Ran, who had collapsed in the withered flower field and seemed unable to stand, remained completely dumbfounded.
He stared blankly as the Queen silently retreated into the small villa on the mountain.
Then he saw the Ability User from Qinggang City, the black shadow behind him, the woman in the sun hat, and the distorted little girl.
They turned their heads simultaneously, eight eyes fixing on him.
An indescribable panic surged from the depths of his heart.
…
…
Lu Xin hadn’t expected the Queen, who looked so terrifying, to actually be quite reasonable.
He didn’t fully understand what had just happened, but he could sense that the Queen’s hostility had indeed vanished.
Looking at his family around him, he noticed Mom seemed slightly relieved, Sister looked merely curious, and Father was clearly a bit unwilling, though he didn’t seem to object to Mom’s handling of the situation.
Now that this matter was resolved, the only one left was naturally Qin Ran…
…
…
“Hehehehe…”
Just as Lu Xin was pondering this, Father’s hollow, dry laughter suddenly echoed beside his ear.
Then Lu Xin saw his own arm lift, entwined with a black shadow.
The hand moved uncontrollably, reaching for the terrified, almost stupefied Qin Ran. Sensing Father’s fury and knowing what he intended, Lu Xin quickly strained against his own arm, preventing Father from grabbing Qin Ran…
“I still have questions for him…”
he said in a low voice, explaining to Father.
Qin Ran had mentioned something earlier that concerned him deeply, and he wanted to clarify it first.
“Hehehehe…”
Father’s laughter grew louder.
“What’s there to ask such trash? Kill him, killing him is cleaner…”
…
Lu Xin felt the pressure on his arm increase as it strained towards Qin Ran.
“I said I still have questions for him…”
Lu Xin insisted, forcefully controlling his arm.
“Trash! Trash! You’re trash too! Cowardly, weak trash…”
Father’s voice suddenly turned incredibly furious, roaring loudly.
Lu Xin felt his mind go blank, as if being forced into a strange place.
His nosebleed intensified, gushing out. His heart felt like it was being squeezed relentlessly by an invisible giant hand. Not just his right hand, but his entire body was on the verge of losing control.
“You should go back…”
Mom suddenly turned, looking expressionlessly at Father.
“Go back?”
Father’s voice held a strange tone, followed by suppressed, loud laughter.
Hollow and deep: “Hehehehe…”