Chapter 043: Strange

Tang Mubai had already spoken with Lin Huafeng and was representing “Miracle” in a collaboration with “Madman,” venturing outside the city to hunt non-human lifeforms together.

However, the vehicle required for the expedition had to be provided by him.

Previously, Tang Mubai had planned to follow his father’s example and take his truck to a modification shop for upgrades. Now that Yang Kai could handle it, that expense was saved!

As a newly recruited member, Yang Kai had immediately shown his value—it was impressive. Of course, just because he was a good person didn’t mean Tang Mubai would consume his own lifespan to immediately boost Yang Kai’s strength, even if he possessed the “Mechanical” talent. For now, he would not enhance it.

If their bond wasn’t strong enough, who could say whether Yang Kai would simply leave after being strengthened? After all, Yang Kai was now a professional martial artist, fulfilling the small dream of the elderly who had raised him.

If his “Mechanical” talent increased now and he couldn’t restrain his restlessness, running off to a government research institution—should Tang Mubai kill him or not? If he did, it would be a waste of his spent lifespan; if not, he would be left with unresolved thoughts.

All in all, it would be a mess. Rather than face such dilemmas, it was better to wait until Yang Kai’s bond exceeded sixty percent.

Tang Mubai resolved that, from now on, no matter whom he recruited, if they wanted him to expend his life to enhance their strength and talent, their bond would have to surpass sixty percent!

…

After their discussion, Yang Kai, excited, ran back to his new house, grabbed a pile of tools, and prepared to measure the truck and design modification plans.

But at that moment, the freshly cooked meal from Miracle Restaurant had already arrived.

Tang Mubai told him to eat first before taking measurements—it wouldn’t hurt to wait.

Yang Kai, upon receiving his meal box, finished it in a flash.

He then switched on the large lamp in the yard and began circling the truck, examining it.

Tang Mubai, holding his own meal, stood nearby, watching without interrupting.

After finishing his slow dinner, seeing Yang Kai still busy, Tang Mubai called out to him, then took the off-road vehicle for a drive, gathering the lifeforce lost from recently deceased people or animals.

It was almost midnight when he returned to the base. He went inside to sleep.

After washing up, he had just lain down when suddenly the door was pushed open.

It was his little cousin, Lin Tianzhen, hugging a pillow as she entered and slipped into Tang Mubai’s bed.

Tang Mubai was momentarily surprised, then leaned against the headboard and smiled, “Zhenzhen, what made you want to sleep with your big brother tonight? There’s no thunderstorm tonight… Hey, hey, why are you crying?”

Halfway through, Tang Mubai panicked as he saw his little cousin lying on the pillow, silent tears streaming down her face.

“Zhenzhen, don’t cry, don’t cry. Tell me, did someone bully you, or are you in pain?”

Tang Mubai clumsily tried to wipe away her tears, but the more he wiped, the more they fell.

She made no sound, only silent tears, which was even more heartbreaking than loud cries.

Tang Mubai was anxious, helpless, and was wondering whether to call Fang Shuixian to ask what had happened when the little girl suddenly asked in a hoarse voice, “Brother, are Mom and Dad never coming back?”

Buzz—

Tang Mubai shuddered, finally understanding what had happened.

She hadn’t been bullied, nor was she ill—she missed her parents.

Tonight’s liveliness was something that only happened when the Miracle Mercenary Group returned from a hunt; the group would celebrate late into the night.

Moreover, it had been over a month since Tang Mubai’s father and the others had met with misfortune.

Usually, their longest trips lasted no more than twenty days before they returned. This time, it had been over a month, and the little girl had finally sensed something was wrong.

At eight years old, she had begun to realize something was amiss.

If someone had spoken to her about it at this moment, her tears would have been only natural.

With this in mind, Tang Mubai gently lifted her into his arms, holding her close, and asked softly, “Who told you that?”

“Xiao… Xiao Bei said so…” She clung tightly to Tang Mubai, sobbing, “She… she said her mom and dad also… also left, and after four whole Sundays, they never came back… never came back…”

She finally broke down, wailing, “Brother, are Mom and Dad never coming back? Are they? Are they? Are they? Waaa…”

Tang Mubai opened his mouth, unsure how to answer, and could only hold her tightly, whispering, “Your brother is still here, your brother is still here…”

She gripped the blanket with all her might, her body shaking with sobs.

Cry, let it out, and it will pass.

Tang Mubai’s eyes grew misty, and he sighed inwardly.

He had already grieved back on the original Earth, and the former “Tang Mubai” had been through his own bouts of despair.

So, unlike the little girl, who was suddenly overwhelmed by sorrow and unable to control herself, he was more composed.

Fortunately, once she cried it out, she wouldn’t bottle it up and make herself ill.

For now, he would stay by her side; in time, she would…

“Brother, I want barbecue!”

Suddenly, Lin Tianzhen’s trembling body stilled. She stopped crying, lifted her red eyes to look at Tang Mubai, and said in a hoarse voice, “I want barbecue, grilled fire deer meat!”

“…Alright, let’s go eat grilled fire deer meat!”

Tang Mubai threw back the covers, got dressed, helped his little cousin dress, and headed downstairs to drive to the night market.

In Red Maple City, the night market stayed open until three in the morning.

Tang Mubai brought his cousin, and sure enough, the long night market street was still bustling with people.

He chose a barbecue restaurant, and as soon as they entered, Tang Mubai called out to the waiter, “Fifty skewers of fire deer meat, and make it quick.”

“Right away!” the waiter called back.

“And drinks too—chilled fruit juice, if you have it,” Tang Mubai added.

“No problem!”

With that, Tang Mubai sat down with his cousin.

All along the way, the little girl hadn’t spoken, but now her eyes were fixed on the grill nearby, following every movement of the skewered meat.

For some reason, Tang Mubai sensed a strange aura emanating from her.

Was it his imagination?

He wondered.

Previously, whether she was happy or sad, his cousin had always loved to eat, but never before had he felt such an odd sensation from her.

Was it just that his senses had become sharper? Or had something truly changed in her?

Tang Mubai was uncertain.

While he pondered, the fifty skewers of fire deer meat and chilled juice arrived.

Without waiting for Tang Mubai to help, the little girl immediately grabbed two skewers, eating one after another—each bite a whole skewer, gone in two mouthfuls.

Without wiping her hands, she went right back for more.

In less than a minute, all fifty skewers were gone!