Inside The Black Mist

Dun, dun, dun…

On the stove, a high pot emitted a fragrant aroma. Next to it, a boy about eleven or twelve years old looked at the potatoes and chicken in the pot; his mouth was watering.

He looked at the girl wearing an apron and asked, "Sister, when can we eat?"

Xun was in the process of turning off the fire and preparing to plate the food from the high pot. She replied, "I've already told you, we have important guests coming tonight. We can eat once they arrive."

The boy wore a worried expression as he gazed at the table not far away, filled with many delicious dishes. Steamed fish, stir-fried meat and vegetables, cold dishes drizzled with sesame oil, and now this potato and chicken dish.

The boy had never had such a sumptuous dinner in his life.

Since returning from the Inversion, Xun, now an Ascender, has gained significant attention from the Fortress.

Her father, who had been bedridden, was taken to the medical center in the Upper City the day after her return. A caregiver was even arranged for him. Even though Xun hadn't gone to the hospital, her father was receiving excellent care.

Luo Shan had also granted her 2,000 Contribution Points, which was a substantial amount for Xun.

Furthermore, as a perk of being an Ascender, her Upper Citizen identity had already been processed. An application for an apartment in the Upper City was in progress, and when it was ready, Xun could allocate two slots to move into the Upper City apartment.

Everything was progressing positively.

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The more this happened, the more grateful Xun felt toward Tianyang. If it weren't for him, she might have suffered humiliation from Zhou Wang, and her life could have taken a different turn.

So, Xun proactively invited Tianyang to her house for tonight. She had even taken a day off and began preparations early in the morning.

After placing the potato and chicken dish on the table, Xun checked the clock. It was getting late, and she wondered if he had arrived yet.

Seeing a table full of delicious food but being unable to eat, the boy laid on the table and said, "Sister, why isn't your boyfriend here yet?"

Xun's face turned bright red, and she scolded, "Xiao Jie, don't talk nonsense, or I won't give you any food!"

The boy named Xiao Jie immediately covered his mouth, afraid of saying anything that might cause him to miss the sumptuous meal tonight.

Xun took off her apron, walked out of the house, and looked around the street.

Near the street, there were two men, disguised as beggars, and a drunkard. However, Xun knew they were the guards arranged by Luo Shan.

Every Ascender, as part of the shining elite, was worth the Fortress's full attention, especially after the incident with Zhou Wang. Luo Shan didn't dare to take any risks.

Apart from these two guards, the street was unusually empty, and Xun gazed at the intersection, expecting that the figure she was waiting for would appear any second.

But she didn't know that Tianyang was currently driving to the Upper City. So, their evening appointment was bound to be missed.

In the Upper City, at Qin Residence, Qin Jie stood on the balcony, looking at the clean and well-kept streets below. The green belts on both sides were a sight the Lower City lacked, and the tranquil environment was a symbol of luxury.

As a family established for over 50 years, they had reached the fourth generation. Except for the first-generation patriarch, there had been no Ascenders in the Qin family for the past two generations, including Qin Jie.

In Qin Wu's generation, Qin Jie didn't have high expectations. He just hoped that his son could secure a minor official position. Father and son struggled, aiming to earn ten thousand Contribution Points each year to maintain the family's standing and related rights.

However, just half a year after sending his son to the mining team, trouble arose.

Not only did his son die, but the one who killed him was just a newly awakened young kid!

Qin Jie couldn't swallow this indignation.

It wasn't just the death of his son that bothered him; it was the looming possibility of the Qin family's decline.

Therefore, despite Lin Yang warning him not to seek revenge, Qin Jie acted.

At the thought of throwing that kid's mother into the Black Mine, a cruel smile crept onto Qin Jie's lips.

He knew very well that no woman could survive in a place like the Black Mine, especially since he had bribed the Black Mine's management. As he expected, the woman had died three days ago.

Later, he heard that a youth named "Tianyang" had infiltrated the Black Mine at night. Qin Jie was somewhat surprised, but he had anticipated this situation.

Paper couldn't cover fire, and sooner or later, the truth would come out.

Qin Jie wasn't worried that Tianyang would seek revenge. On the contrary, he was waiting for that kid to come and meet his doom.

Yes, meet his doom!

In the seemingly calm Qin Residence, eight experienced, cunning, and ruthless Prospectors laid in ambush. These were people who had ventured into the Inversion and survived—true desperadoes.

They were willing to do anything for the right price, and most importantly, they were willing to risk their lives and dared to do so!

In addition, Qin Jie had hired a Level 3 Ascender, despite the man's infamous reputation. Hiring him damaged Qin Jie's reputation when the news got out, but he couldn't care less about that now.

But Qin Jie's trump card wasn't the Prospectors or the Ascender; it was his position as the head of the Third Security Division!

Yes, he wasn't an Ascender, but he was, after all, a government official, and the Security Division itself was a violent institution. So, when necessary, Qin Jie could mobilize personnel from his division. If Tianyang showed any signs of aggression, Qin Jie could openly take the law into his own hands!

Thinking of this, a wide smile spread across Qin Jie's face.

"Come on, kid. I'll make you realize that a freshly awakened Ascender is actually nothing. You will pay a steep price for your recklessness!"

Suddenly, footsteps sounded from behind, and an elderly man who appeared to be a steward spoke softly, "Master, we've just received a message from the city checkpoint. The young man is driving alone and has already entered the Upper City."

Qin Jie's eyes shone with excitement, and he rubbed his hands eagerly, speaking with a voice that only he could hear, "Son, did you hear that? That kid is on his way. You just wait; I'll send him to apologize to you!"

...

After entering the Upper City, the number of streetlights suddenly increased, providing ample illumination and allowing Tianyang to see every corner clearly.

He switched to autopilot mode, opened the navigation system, and entered Qin Jie's name.

Soon, the location of the Qin Residence appeared clearly on the interface. He set the destination for the Qin family, and the motorcycle made a turn at the next intersection.

Then Tianyang saw them.

Ling Feng! Han Shu! Lao Xu! Cang Du! Ji Yu!

Tianyang had to stop the motorcycle because they had blocked several cars, completing the blockade.

Soon, two more cars arrived from behind, sealing off the route.

Tianyang's gaze fell on Ling Feng. He hadn't expected that Ling Feng, who was far away at the Lighthouse Base, would especially return.

"Director Ling, please make way." Tianyang's tone was calm, but the more composed he appeared, the more it conveyed the sense that beneath that calm exterior was a volcano about to erupt.

Ling Feng adjusted his glasses and took a few steps forward. "Tianyang, it's not too late to stop now. Compared to you, Qin Jie is just a minor player. You don't need to take risks for someone like him. I'll say it again, let the Nightwalkers handle it. We can go through the proper legal process to bring him to justice."