Chapter 159: After All, They Were Family

Father didn’t want to back down this time!

Lu Xin’s heart tightened instantly.

He could feel Father’s resentment and greed, and he could also feel his own Heart and brain enduring an indescribable, immense pressure. It made him feel like during those moments of extreme stress when he suffered from “ghost oppression” – his consciousness became intensely clear, yet his body completely refused to obey him. Panic enveloped him.

At such a moment, the most terrifying thing wasn’t being immobilized.

It was the feeling that his consciousness was sinking.

That sensation of sinking into a bottomless pit, not knowing if he could ever wake up if he truly sank…

So he could only brace himself, clenching his right fist with all his strength.

Father was reaching his right hand towards Qin Ran. Lu Xin knew what would happen if Father caught Qin Ran, so the more critical the moment, the less he could yield. He fiercely clenched his right fist, determined not to let Father accomplish what he was trying to do.

“Ssi…”

Little Sister arched her back, more furious than she’d been facing the Queen. She shrieked: “I won’t let you bully Big Brother…”

But no matter how angry she was, she only dared shout; she didn’t dare charge forward.

“The more you act like this, the less we can let you out…”

Mother’s expression also turned unusually cold. She spoke slowly, her tone heavy:

“Are you truly angry, or are you afraid?”

“Where are you trying to escape to?”

“We are all family. If family can’t even look out for each other, who in this world can you trust?”

“Do you truly want our family to fall apart right here and now?”

“…”

As she spoke, she had already raised her hand.

She extended two fingers.

Lu Xin could clearly feel Father trembling now, seemingly radiating both Fear and some other intense Emotion.

But this time, Father didn’t retreat.

It was a feeling of wanting to risk everything for one final struggle, even through the Fear.

At this moment, Lu Xin even felt Father’s power intensify.

His own body was stiffening, that icy sensation threatening to spread over him completely.

“I’ll turn you into a Toy… the kind that can’t move…”

Little Sister’s eyes turned blood-red, her childish voice taking on a strange, rasping quality.

Seeing Father like this, Mother also slid her hand into her handbag; half of a pair of Scissors emerged.

…

“Just what the hell is going on?”

At this moment, the most bewildered, the most frantic, was clearly Qin Ran.

He felt the Mental Fluctuation radiating from this Ability User from Qinggang City become exceptionally intense. He saw the man’s hand reaching towards him, trembling violently, the fingers slowly splaying open one moment, then clenching painfully tight the next.

His mind went blank. His neck stiffened. He didn’t dare move a muscle.

He was always someone skilled at seizing opportunities, but right now, he froze.

Because he realized the slightest movement could trigger terrifying consequences.

…

Mother and Little Sister seemed prepared for a serious fight with Father.

And Father, right now, also seemed determined to risk everything for one final desperate gambit.

Lu Xin could only desperately clench his fist, using that effort to resist the pressure Father exerted on him…

His Heart contracted violently downwards, unsure what kind of power would erupt when it sprang back.

“You…”

But precisely at that moment, a slightly hesitant voice sounded:

“Can you please not argue at my place?”

…

All four members of the family suddenly turned their heads simultaneously towards the little Villa on the hill behind Happy Town. They saw the mysterious Queen, who had just withdrawn into the Villa, now emerged halfway out again. Her expression was blank, her face emotionless, yet they could somehow sense a feeling from her – an awkwardness, clearly unhappy but unwilling to state it outright.

This voice interrupted the family’s quarrel.

The pressure on Lu Xin abruptly lessened significantly.

“Oh dear, so sorry…”

Mother said apologetically to the mysterious Queen, then turned her gaze to Lu Xin, or rather Father, with a cold smile. “See? Others are already watching our family’s humiliation. How much longer do you intend this farce?”

Father remained silent, his icy gaze sweeping from Lu Xin toward the hill.

Mother continued, “When trouble comes, no one will help you.”

Lu Xin felt the pressure bearing down on him lessen significantly.

Father’s hollow voice echoed beside his ear: “Hehehe… I was only joking with him…”

Then Lu Xin could sense Father’s vicious, eerie stare pass over him, the voice growing heavier: “But I stand by what I said. He is useless trash. You protect him now, but sooner or later, he will kill you all…”

“Just wait. The day will come…”

“He will kill every last one of us…”

“When that time comes… when that time comes… it’ll be too late for regrets…”

“…”

The pressure vanished instantly, leaving nothing behind.

Lu Xin watched Father leave. Standing by the door, he glared fiercely at Lu Xin before turning and striding into the room.

BANG!

The door slammed shut viciously, screaming his extreme displeasure.

……

“Hah…”

Lu Xin exhaled in relief, his vision clearing.

He saw the flower field beneath the Crimson Moon, and Qin Ran standing before him, drenched in cold sweat.

Beside him stood Mother, seeming to breathe a subtle sigh of relief, and Little Sister, who cocked her head, examining him intently.

From the villa behind Happy Town, the Queen once more withdrew her presence within.

“Over?” He spoke softly, almost instinctively.

“Over.” Mother looked at him gently. “What do you intend to do?”

Lu Xin turned his gaze to Qin Ran. After a long pause, he said, “He did terrible things in Qinggang. I should take him back. Recover what they stole. Hand them over to Headquarters for handling. And also…” He paused slightly before continuing, “Just now, I heard him mention many things that interest me. I want to ask him… what exactly is going on?”

“…”

“That’s right, there really are things I know about you…”

At that moment, Qin Ran seemed to perceive a shift in Lu Xin. His eyes darted rapidly, and he suddenly spoke up loudly, addressing Lu Xin: “I don’t know what state you consider yourself in, but all this is false. In reality, you—”

Snip!

Mother had appeared, scissors in hand, making a single, soft cut.

In Lu Xin’s vision, Qin Ran’s mouth kept opening and closing, his expression almost feverish with excitement.

He was staring intently at Lu Xin, clearly desperate to convey something crucial through his words.

But he didn’t realize he was making no sound at all.

……

“I know he has knowledge about you as well, and that you deeply wish to understand this…”

Mother looked softly at Lu Xin. “That painting… it’s in his case. Along with other materials. Information about the Crying Little Boy… and about you yourself. You don’t really need to hear it from him. He might lie. Seeing the materials directly would be far more authentic and reliable than anything he could tell you. However…”

“…”

Here, Mother suddenly moved to stand directly in front of Lu Xin.

Simultaneously, Little Sister instantly locked her gaze onto Qin Ran, her double rows of sharp teeth grinding violently.

Lu Xin looked at Mother in surprise, uncertain of her intention.

“I’m not trying to prevent you from learning these things…”

Mother gazed at him tenderly, her beautiful eyes clouded with a gentle melancholy, her voice soft, almost pleading. “Just promise me one thing, alright?”

“Only when you reach the Second Stage… only then should you look inside that case…”

Her words were slow, deliberate. “Otherwise… you wouldn’t be able to bear it.”

“…”

Lu Xin froze.

He didn’t comprehend what Mother meant by “wouldn’t be able to bear it,” but in his memory, this was the first time she had ever made a request of him.

After a long silence, he slowly nodded.

“Wahoo!!”

The instant he nodded, Little Sister’s face lit up with pure excitement. She pounced on Qin Ran.

Lu Xin could see Qin Ran’s body violently convulsing, seemingly screaming—only Lu Xin heard no sound.

……

“We can’t bring his Spiritual Entity back. This physical body doesn’t belong to him either; taking it outright would be impolite…”

Mother was once again the picture of refined elegance as she explained with a faint smile. “So… let Little Sister have her fun!”