When Chu Xiuyan and Guo Li came back to the village, playfully bickering, the sky had already darkened, leaving only the faint afterglow of the setting sun in the distance.
The boy gripped a straight tree branch, pressing it against the other boy’s back, coldly saying, “Boy, surrender now—you can’t run away anymore.”
Guo Li, walking ahead with his hands in his pockets, looked utterly dejected. Spotting Zhang Chun at the village entrance, he mimicked the boy’s tone with a cold edge: “The one who can’t escape is you, idiot.”
Chu Xiuyan: “?”
He looked up and locked eyes with the stern-faced Zhang Chun, then quickly put on a smile and greeted him, “Uncle, I’m not coming back for dinner tonight. I’m going to Aunt’s place.”
Zhang Chun glanced at the two in front of him and said in a deep voice, “You went to the Back Mountain?”
“Yeah.”
Chu Xiuyan said casually.
“Weren’t you watching all along?”
He smiled, tapping the ground with the tree branch, dragging out the last syllable, “I can feel a gaze coming from beneath my feet… Uncle, you’re so perverted.”
Zhang Chun froze, clearly not expecting the boy’s sharp senses.
He swallowed the words in his mouth, then silently turned and walked away.
Chu Xiuyan: “?”
He didn’t think much of it and took Guo Li back to Shu Xiumei’s house.
The warm, orange light inside cast a cozy atmosphere.
Chu Xiuyan saw Zhang Chun sitting by the dining table and grinned, “Uncle, you came to mooch dinner too?”
Zhang Chun didn’t reply.
Shu Xiumei, just coming out of the kitchen after washing her hands, looked kindly at both of them and said, “Wash your hands and let’s eat.”
Guo Li felt an ominous premonition, but the black-haired boy seemed completely oblivious, still lively and cheerful as ever.
Shu Xiumei looked at him: “Go wash your hands.”
Guo Li quickly dashed into the kitchen.
Chu Xiuyan washed his hands, sat down at the table, and immediately began eating with his chopsticks.
Meanwhile, the little boy glanced between faces at the table as if he’d noticed something and cautiously tugged at Chu Xiuyan’s sleeve.
The black-haired boy looked at him blankly, chewing the rice in his mouth before swallowing.
Shu Xiumei served each of them a piece of meat and gently said, “You’ve played all day and must be tired. Eat more.”
“All right, thank you, Aunt!”
Guo Li’s uneasy feeling made it hard for him to sit still during the meal.
After Chu Xiuyan finished eating, he wanted to stay longer, but Zhang Chun, with a grim expression, grabbed him by the collar and dragged him away.
Once only the two of them were left inside, Guo Li helped clear the dishes and followed Shu Xiumei, fiddling with his fingers as if struggling to say something.
Finally, he whispered, “Mom, I went to the Back Mountain today.”
Shu Xiumei was washing dishes: “Mm, I know.”
The boy looked downcast.
“Sorry, Mom. I went somewhere dangerous… I made you worry. I won’t do it again.”
Shu Xiumei paused her washing.
The cold water ran over the back of her hand, bringing a chill.
She quickly composed herself, turned around, knelt down, and gently stroked the boy’s hair, saying, “The one who should apologize is me, Little Li. It’s Mom who… has put too much pressure on you.”
A hint of sadness flickered in Shu Xiumei’s eyes, but her smile remained warm. “Before, we lived in a terrible, harsh environment. That’s why I only wanted you to stay far from danger, to survive, grow healthy, and become an ordinary adult.”
“But now, it’s different.”
She wiped her hands dry, placed her hands on his shoulders, and spoke earnestly, “In this village, no one steals, fights over petty things, or breaks into others’ homes at night… So, Little Li, you can go outside without worry—run, laugh, make mischief, play with your friends, and grow up happily.”
Shu Xiumei’s words sounded like they were meant for both the boy and herself: “It’s safe here. No one will hurt us. In fact… many people will protect us.”
Guo Li looked up, a tear sliding down his cheek.
His confused mind went blank for a moment as he panicked, “Mom, why are you crying?”
Shu Xiumei wiped her tears away.
“Nothing…”
Her expression suddenly turned serious.
“Hold out your palm.”
Guo Li opened his hand, puzzled.
The next moment, a rough, calloused hand fell onto his small palm.
Guo Li was stunned.
“This is a small lesson. Little Li, no matter how fun the Back Mountain is, don’t go alone anymore, understand?” Shu Xiumei said seriously.
“…”
“Mm, okay.”
Meanwhile, on the other side.
Zhang Chun was caught in painful inner struggle.
Next to him was the carefree black-haired boy, waving the straight tree branch wildly in the air.
Under the dim night sky, the moonlight was hazy. A breeze stirred up tiny dust particles, bringing a chill.
Zhang Chun’s mind echoed with Shu Xiumei’s voice.
‘That child was brought back by you. Even if he seems closer to me, he’s actually more attached to you. So, talk to him. If it’s you, he’ll definitely listen.’
Although that was what she said… he had never reasoned with anyone before. He always used force to make others obey!
Zhang Chun covered his face, utterly defeated.
Chu Xiuyan noticed the man’s odd expression and casually said, “Uncle, you look troubled. Want me to cheer you up?”
Zhang Chun’s thoughts were tangled, and after hesitating, he asked, “Yun, Yunyan, what do you think of my strength?”
Chu Xiuyan took a moment to realize Yunyan was calling him and said, “So-so. Weaker than me.”
The familiar sarcastic tone instantly calmed Zhang Chun, who ignored the comment and continued on his own:
“But even someone strong like me can’t protect everyone. You know my Soil Element Ability is great for monitoring, but in the blink of an eye—while I’m dozing off or grabbing a drink—enemies might invade, people might suddenly die, and I won’t be able to stop it.”
Once he started talking, it was easier to continue.
“Power isn’t absolute. Don’t let yourself or those you want to protect face dangers they shouldn’t have to.”
Chu Xiuyan hesitated, then said, “When I’m strong enough, all dangers will just be child’s play.”
Zhang Chun stopped walking and looked at the boy, his tone calm and unreadable.
“I used to be confident like you. But later… I lost everything.”
***
Late at night, Chu Xiuyan tossed and turned in bed, unable to sleep.
[System, talk to me for a bit.]
No response.
[Is there anything like watching videos or playing games?]
The System replied grumpily: [How could there be? Where would I get the energy for that?]
Chu Xiuyan rested his hands behind his head, staring at the pitch-black ceiling.
[What did Uncle mean? He once had everything but lost it all because of some mistakes?]
The System paused, then said calmly: [Zhang Chun’s existence might cause you some misunderstandings about this world. This is the End of Days, the original order collapsed, humanity twisted, and most people barely survive. Even the strongest suffer devastating failures.]
Chu Xiuyan curled up tighter under the covers.
[System, will I be like that too?]
[…]
Before the System could answer, the black-haired boy murmured to himself: [No, that’s wrong. I shouldn’t think like that. The moment I hesitate and start to give up, all disasters will come crashing down on me.]
Chu Xiuyan’s chaotic thoughts suddenly cleared.
[System, you’re right. I’m special. So I can do what others can’t.]
System: [? Wait, what did I say?]
Excited, Chu Xiuyan jumped out of bed, rushed to Zhang Chun’s door, and knocked loudly, cheerfully calling, “Uncle! Let’s go for a night run!”
Zhang Chun, roused from sleep: “…”
He began to wonder if this was the boy’s way of getting back at him.
When the shouting came again from outside, Zhang Chun groaned and refused.
Chu Xiuyan pouted, “Fine, then I’ll go running alone.”
Footsteps faded into the distance.
Zhang Chun yanked the blanket over his head, lay back down, and quickly fell asleep.
Meanwhile.
Chu Xiuyan ran around the village, his spirits high.
When he reached the village entrance, he saw the black dog curled up by a tree stump.
The villagers had made it a doghouse, where it was now sleeping soundly, snoring.
Suddenly, two hands pulled the dog out of its warm nest.
Upon opening its eyes, the dog saw a smiling face.
“Little Black! Let’s go for a night run!”
The black dog was shocked: “??? Woof—”
It was dragged along by the boy on a leash, leaving deep claw marks on the ground and howling mournfully.
At that moment, a shadow gradually emerged outside the village, walking slowly toward it. Heavy footsteps shuffled against the earth.
Moonlight revealed the visitor’s face.
It was Cui Zhiyong.
He looked disheveled, clothes torn and bloodstained. His normally bright Blue Eyes were glazed and unfocused. His body wobbled with every step, as if about to collapse at any moment.
Chu Xiuyan saw him and greeted, “What a coincidence. You’re back. Night run too?”
Cui Zhiyong had no strength to speak and only shook his head, then watched the energetic black-haired boy dragging the struggling black dog into the distance.
He pulled out a well-worn booklet from his pocket and scribbled a crooked line on a blank page.
[1:00 AM, observation target forcibly dragging black dog for a night run.]
Then, he continued his heavy footsteps, purposefully heading in a direction.
Zhang Chun’s sleep was shallow.
Half awake, he sensed a gaze and opened his eyes warily, only to see a dark figure standing by his bed, quietly watching him.
Looking closer, it was the silent Cui Zhiyong.
Zhang Chun: “… What are you doing?”
Cui Zhiyong said nothing but threw a booklet over, then walked out like a ghost.
Zhang Chun opened the booklet, and the next second, various explosive, X-rated scenes flashed before his eyes.
‘Hmm~ Hmph~’
He: “…”
Just as Cui Zhiyong stepped outside, he suddenly spun around with quick steps, snatched the Little Yellow Book from Zhang Chun’s hands, and calmly tossed him another booklet.
“Observation records. Take a look.”
His voice was hoarse.
The energy he’d gathered moments ago vanished, and he wearily walked out again.
Zhang Chun stared at the booklet in his hands, confused. “Ah, you want me to see this?”
He rubbed his forehead in frustration, looked at the open door, and casually set the booklet aside.
Then he got out of bed, closed the door, and locked it.
Only then did he relax and return to sleep.
After some unknown time, a faint voice suddenly sounded.
“Uncle, Uncle.”
Awakened for the third time, Zhang Chun groaned and looked toward the window.
Outside, a black head poked up, and in the thick darkness, a pair of bright eyes shimmered faintly.
Standing on tiptoe outside the window, Chu Xiuyan said cautiously, “After I came back from the mountain, I wanted to tell you something, but you were too serious, so I forgot. Well… when I was playing in the mountain, I sensed three gazes: one from underground, one from behind— that slippery stalker. And one from the sky, different from your spying; that gaze was full of malice, very dangerous.”
Having said that, he left satisfied.
Zhang Chun sat on the bed, slowly running his hands through his messy hair with an expressionless face, thinking:
I probably won’t get any sleep tonight.