Chapter 59: The Cola-Drinking Man

When Lu Xin emerged from the Orphanage, it was already between eight and nine o’clock in the evening.

In the Satellite City, save for the depraved spots Gecko frequented, the streets were already very quiet at this hour.

The alleys were peaceful and still, with only streetlights casting patches of light against the encroaching darkness.

Walking through such streets, one could almost hear their own breathing. It felt like the whole world had emptied, except for the occasional rat darting at blinding speed through an alley corner, or a homeless person curled up in a cardboard box, staring straight ahead with hollow eyes.

Lu Xin walked slowly, both hands tucked in his pockets.

It had been a fulfilling evening. He could tell Teacher Xiaolu was in a great mood, and the group of silly kids, seeing their teacher so happy, got swept up in the cheer. Of course, a bigger reason for their excitement was probably finally eating dumplings that day, and receiving the many biscuits and candies Lu Xin had brought along – it felt just like celebrating the New Year.

Lu Xin had tied on an apron and helped the children wrap dumplings. Then, he watched them sing songs and dance…

…And it felt terribly awkward!

He absolutely did not find those off-key songs (missed by miles) or their clumsy, duck-like dancing appealing.

Nor did he find the game of “Eagle Catches Chicks” much fun.

Yet, he had no choice but to remain sitting among the rowdy kids, mechanically clapping his hands and forcing a stiff smile.

The most pleasant part of the entire evening was sitting outside on the steps with the elderly Security Guard. They shared a plate of peanuts, a plate of cold dumplings, and drank the old man’s treasured, fiery Laobaigan liquor that burned the throat like liquid fire.

Still, the overall feeling that night was good.

Lu Xin disliked the children’s singing and dancing, but he wanted them to be warmly dressed, well-fed, and content.

Besides, Teacher Xiaolu’s sincere smile was truly pleasing to see.

Lost in thoughts of the night’s experiences, Lu Xin walked slowly down the street. His shadow fragmented and multiplied under the passing streetlights.

Distracted, he didn’t seem to notice that as he passed a still-open storefront, there was a man sitting under the patched sun umbrella outside. The man had a thick beard, wore a pair of black Glasses, and was extremely thin. He was lounging on a plastic chair, legs crossed, casually sipping cola through a straw and staring at Lu Xin with a smile.

Lu Xin also didn’t notice when, passing another street corner, the same man reappeared leaning against a brightly graffiti-covered wall. A cigarette dangled from his mouth. Hands in pockets, he leaned back with ease, watching Lu Xin and smiling.

And when Lu Xin was almost at the nearest Subway Station, the man was there again, now seated in front of a makeshift dumpling stall near the entrance. He smiled at Lu Xin while waiting for the vendor to serve him his dumpling soup.

……

Lu Xin’s footsteps suddenly halted. He turned his head to look at the man, his gaze seeming slightly unfocused.

Facing Lu Xin’s stare, the man broke into a wide, delighted grin.

Lu Xin regarded him quietly. The man’s smile remained amiable.

Lu Xin continued to watch him without expression. The man’s smile grew even more cheerful.

Lu Xin kept his eyes fixed on him. The man’s smile began to falter, stiffening slightly…

……

Then, Lu Xin slung the bag from his shoulder, reached inside, and pulled out his Handgun, aiming it directly at the man.

Caught under the gun’s muzzle, the man flinched slightly in surprise.

However, instead of fear, another smile blossomed on his face, as if he wasn’t remotely concerned that Lu Xin might actually pull the trigger.

So Lu Xin suddenly squeezed the trigger.

“Bang!”

In the quiet night, the gunshot was piercing, thunderous, soul-shaking.

Several patrons at the nearby dumpling stall were so startled they fell to the ground. The snack vendor screamed, nearly collapsing himself. Yet, shockingly, from such close range, the man suddenly twisted his body in an Aberration-like contortion. He slapped a hand on the ground, and his abrupt movement managed to evade the bullet.

He seemed equal parts startled and angry. “You…!”

Lu Xin didn’t answer. He kept firing at the man.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

The man’s body suddenly contorted even more bizarrely. Pushing off with one hand on the ground, his whole form snapped upright. His feet kicked against the aluminum stall cart, propelling him backwards like a spring, while the cart itself was sent skittering far backwards. Of the three bullets, only one managed to graze his arm, clearly causing little real damage.

“A Maniac, are you?”

Suspended in mid-air for a split second, the man shot Lu Xin a look of bafflement and irritation, cursing under his breath before darting off into the distance.

Lu Xin gritted his teeth fiercely and gave chase.

He broke into huge strides, gun still held firmly, ready to seize any chance for another shot. But the stranger proved astonishingly agile. After launching himself away, he slapped hands and feet against the brick wall beside him, using the rebound to propel himself further down the road. As his body began to descend, he swiftly spread both arms wide. Though his hands grasped empty air, his form abruptly bounced skyward again.

It was as if he had reached out and snagged two invisible threads.

This effortless, bobbing motion almost seemed like he was gliding through the air.

Compared to Lu Xin, giving chase solely on foot and pushing his legs to the limit, he was naturally much slower.

With each effortless leap, the man steadily widened the gap. Glancing back at Lu Xin struggling to keep up, he seemed somewhat surprised himself.

He appeared genuinely taken aback by Lu Xin’s sluggish speed. Surprise quickly gave way to an instinctive, mocking curl of his lips.

That smirk only fueled Lu Xin’s anger, driving him to run even faster.

Even when his lungs felt ready to burst, he was determined to catch this person.

The path behind them quickly ran out. Ahead lay a deep construction pit. The road ended abruptly with a railing at its edge, darkness and danger lurking below. Farther out, under the distant glare of work lights, were jagged skeletal outlines of exposed steel reinforcements and broken brick walls like shattered teeth. Dropping straight down promised either a deep pit or a forest of sharp, upturned metal rods.

The man reached the broken road’s end with ease. He leapt upwards, covering a distance of three or four meters in a single bound. One hand reached out as if grasping an invisible thread, leveraging its hold to swing himself forward, directly towards a section of half-collapsed wall on the skeletal building beyond.

His figure was a split-second away from vanishing into the consuming darkness.

At the last moment, he glanced back at Lu Xin, clearly thinking, He won’t possibly follow me here, will he?

He hadn’t anticipated that Lu Xin, upon reaching the edge of the severed road, would leap without hesitation. Yet, looking at that ordinary, clumsy body hurtling into the construction pit zone, it felt like a suicidal plunge…

……

“Little Sister…”

As Lu Xin jumped, he silently called out a name in his mind.

While Lu Xin was pursuing the man, a small, black-cloaked figure had been speeding across rooftops and building facades far behind them. She moved with blurring speed, rapidly shortening the distance. And just as Lu Xin leapt from the broken overpass, she also lunged.

Her small hands spread out, wrapping around Lu Xin’s plummeting form. A giggle escaped her. “Gotcha…”

In that instant, Lu Xin’s body suddenly acquired preternatural agility. He shot up a foot to land.

Below him, hidden in the darkness, was a sharply cut-off steel tube. Stepping down hard on that exposed edge could easily impale a foot.

But Lu Xin planted his sole firmly on the sharp edge without issue. Instead, he used it as a pivot, catapulting himself further upwards into the air.

Under the Crimson Moon, his figure became ghost-like.