Chapter 37: An Uneasy Calm

Father was losing his temper again. This was normal.

He was almost always angry and when he flew into a rage he’d hit people. Not just Mom but Sister too though he rarely touched Lu Xin himself. Because every time he tried Mom would get angry and whenever Mom got angry she could always scare him. But what Lu Xin didn’t understand was why most of the time Mom wouldn’t stop or scare him.

This time however was a bit strange. Sister actually dared to talk back.

Usually when she provoked Father she’d just slip away or hide.

“You damned brat you’re asking for death!”

Spurred by Sister’s defiant retort Father grew even angrier. He paced restlessly inside the room his eyes looking like they wanted to tear someone apart as he cursed viciously, “Don’t think just because you snuck some food outside and got a little stronger you can talk back! You dare eat that stuff behind my back… If you’ve got the guts stay away forever! But as long as you come back I’ll make sure you remember this…”

“Fine I won’t come back!”

Sister dangled from the floorboards above her black hair disheveled retorting fiercely, “When I grow up it’ll be your turn…”

“You think you’ll even get the chance to grow up?”

“When I grow up I’ll tear you into pieces and make you into a doll…”

“Roar…”

“Hiss…”

…

…

“Sigh…”

Lu Xin slowly walked over while listening to their argument arriving at the door.

“You still know how to come back?”

Father’s tall figure blocked the light spilling from the room casting a thick bloody darkness.

Seeing Lu Xin he became visibly angrier his bulging eyes fixed deadly on him.

Lu Xin lowered his head and said, “I’m back with the groceries!”

Father seemed taken aback for a moment. His almost palpable rage seemed unable to find an outlet.

Lu Xin lifted his left hand slightly. “There’s also a bottle of wine for you!”

Father’s ferocious expression froze for an instant.

Lu Xin slowly looked up at his Father. “Can we just have a quiet meal today?”

Father fell silent abruptly though his anger was still obvious.

But the usual torrent of abuse didn’t follow.

“Alright Miss Chen now that you’ve moved here we’re neighbors! They say a close neighbor is better than a distant relative we should look out for each other… No worries no worries it’s no trouble at all. You rest well today come visit anytime okay…”

In the living room Mom elegantly dressed was on the phone. But this time she hung up rather quickly. Leaning against the windowsill with a smile she said softly, “What are you waiting for? Let the two children in. Oh my you bought quite a lot of groceries today. What a feast! Hurry inside the family is waiting for you to eat. I’ve already been impolite to my friend because of you…”

Father silently coldly moved aside creating a gap.

Lu Xin walked in carrying the groceries but Sister remained in the hallway watching Father warily.

Mom helped set the table looked at the groceries Lu Xin bought and smiled, “You seem to be in a good mood today. Went to the Orphanage?”

Lu Xin nodded putting the things down.

Hearing the word ‘Orphanage’ both Father and Sister outside in the hallway suddenly looked over.

Their gazes were peculiar.

A moment later Mom took Lu Xin’s groceries to prepare them while Father and Sister also returned to the table.

The meal was eaten in silence but it was blessedly quiet.

Only occasionally would Father Mom and Sister secretly exchange glances then reveal strange expressions.

…

…

After finishing the meal Lu Xin went downstairs and slowly started exercising.

Last time he had resolved the Special Pollution Source 041 with Sister’s help but afterward he felt very tired even experiencing some backache the next day. He knew it was because he didn’t exercise enough getting exhausted easily with any activity. So from then on he developed the habit of going downstairs for a stroll after every meal to improve his physical fitness.

A couple of hops a few jumps a hundred-meter slow jog back and forth—Lu Xin felt he was trying hard.

Especially after finding this job of cleaning up Pollution Sources it made him feel like everything had purpose.

Even the Red Moon in the sky seemed somewhat more vivid.

Just as Lu Xin finished his jog and was considering whether to do ten more push-ups the Red Moon’s light flickered slightly.

From the shadows in a corner a dagger suddenly flew out.

The dagger made almost no sound but its speed was surprisingly fast instantly aiming for Lu Xin’s leg.

Lu Xin was startled managing only to turn around.

Even before he could fully turn the dagger had already reached him.

However the dagger still didn’t hurt him.

Sister dropped lightly from a nearby lamppost and in a flash snatched the dagger in her hand.

“Who is it?”

Only then did Lu Xin manage to cry out looking warily towards the shadows.

“Haha as expected from someone with the same series Ability as me. Your reaction is pretty quick!”

There was no one where Lu Xin was looking but a voice sounded from the shadows behind him. Lu Xin quickly turned again and saw someone slowly walking down the side of a nearby Building. He was treating the Building wall like flat ground walking down step by step until he was about a meter from the ground then lightly jumped down landing upright.

It was a Young man wearing a trench coat and large Sunglasses but with a bright smile.

He first raised his hands and smiled, “I just wanted to test you!”

Saying this he walked towards Lu Xin extending his hand. “Let me introduce myself. My name is Gecko. Colonel Chen sent me!”

“Gecko?”

Lu Xin quickly recalled the name especially after hearing Chen Jing’s name he knew this guy’s origin. But he didn’t shake his hand his brow furrowed tightly. “Don’t you know that was very dangerous?”

“Dangerous?”

The person called Gecko looked somewhat stunned. “No way bro. For us Spider-types how can this be considered dangerous?”

Lu Xin silently turned and glanced around.

Sister was crouching beside him her hand gripping the dagger plunged into the ground her eyes cold watching Gecko with ill intent.

She was particularly staring at his neck as if wanting to take a bite.

And upstairs by the street-facing window the figures of Father and Mom had appeared expressionless watching the scene below silently.

It had been a long time since he’d seen his Family so united…

“The danger I’m talking about is you!”

Lu Xin sighed softly then turned and walked towards the other end of the alley. “Follow me. Quickly.”

…

“Bro it’s not that serious…”

The man called Gecko scratched his head following Lu Xin while explaining somewhat awkwardly, “I was just saying hello. In our group people even greet each other with guns you know. They say it’s to train personal alertness…”

“I mean I crossed two Cities just to find you and not only do you not invite me upstairs for a sit-down you get this angry…”

…

“He wants to go upstairs for a sit-down…”

Lu Xin really didn’t know what to say this time. He thought for a moment and said seriously, “Definitely next time!”