Inside The Black Mist

Chu Yan's recent mood wasn't very good, and for this old man, it had been a long time since he felt truly at ease. Ever since he took on the position of Night Walker Commander, his mood has never been quite right.

After all, there were just too many issues to deal with—exploring the Inverse Realm, fortress administrative duties, and interacting with all sorts of people to ensure that the Night Walkers received their due resources and budget.

If he had a choice, the old man would prefer to lead his team on expeditions into the Inverse Realm rather than dealing with the various individuals and their hidden agendas. He'd rather face dark creatures; at least they were straightforward, a matter of life or death.

Sitting in the commander's seat meant dealing with countless calculations of gains and losses, slowly wearing down his patience, which had never been abundant.

Chu Yan enjoyed the night.

During the night, there were fewer things to worry about. He could sit alone on the terrace of his home, feeling the breeze or tending to the plants and flowers.

So when his wife informed him that someone was calling him, Chu Yan merely grunted, "I'm not seeing anyone."

His wife, Song Qiao, had been with him for over forty years, and she knew her husband's temper better than anyone.

"Oh, it's from Ling Feng," Song Qiao deliberately mentioned, giving her husband a knowing look.

Sure enough, Chu Yan turned around and said, "What? If it's Ling Feng, you should have said so earlier. Don't waste time; it's crucial. I only scold you because I care!"

Song Qiao covered her mouth, amused, and said, "I know, I know, you're the Commander, and you can make anyone confess. I'm no exception."

"Hmph!"

Chu Yan entered his study, where a holographic screen displayed Ling Feng pacing back and forth.

"What is it? Must you call me in the middle of the night? Can't you handle it yourself?" Chu Yan had only one daughter and no sons, and he treated Ling Feng as if he were his own. He knew the young man's abilities well, and he wouldn't have called him at this hour unless it was a significant matter.

"Commander, do you remember the young man who recently awakened a new class?" Ling Feng asked.

Chu Yan packed his pipe with tobacco and replied, "Yes, I remember. I've already discussed it with the City Lord. He approved the additional budget, and we should receive it within a couple of weeks."

Ling Feng shook his head. "No, Commander, it's not about the budget. That young man, Tianyang, his mother just had an accident. She died in the Black Mine!"

Chu Yan paused, his tone filled with anger. "What? Was his mother deliberately harmed?"

Ling Feng sighed, "It's highly likely. Although we don't have solid evidence yet, it appears that she was brought to the Black Mine unexpectedly. Despite only spending a few days there, she didn't survive. This has had a significant impact on Tianyang. I've already ordered Linyang to investigate and find out who is responsible. My concern is, if the culprit is who I suspect, given Tianyang's temperament, this matter won't end peacefully. If there's a confrontation, the Night Walkers..."

Chu Yan seemed to understand and he stood up like an angry lion. "What? She was killed by someone?"

Ling Feng looked somewhat surprised but replied, "Most likely, Commander, although I don't have concrete evidence yet. I've given orders to identify the mastermind. I just wanted to make sure you were aware of the situation."

Chu Yan seemed to understand. He sat back and lit his cigarette. "Are there many people who have objections to us Night Walkers? But after so many years, we are still standing today. Ling Feng, remember what I said, Night Walkers, the reason why we are so strong is because we treat every member like family."

"Understood, Commander," Ling Feng saluted and was about to disappear from the holographic screen.

But Chu Yan interrupted the general staff officer, "Wait, what is the name of Tianyang's mother?"

Ling Feng's eyes flashed with surprise, but he still replied, "Nanfei, do you have any questions?"

"No." Chu Yan waved his hand. "That's it. I'm tired. You can handle it from here. In short, find out the mastermind and tell me if you encounter any difficulties."

"Okay, Commander." He saluted again, and Ling Feng's image disappeared.

Chu Yan exhaled a smoke ring. "Nanfei? Could it be that Nanfei... If so, this young boy, Tianyang, would be..."

With this thought in mind, Chu Yan opened a private communicator, sending a message, [Check and see how many women named Nanfei are in the fortress.]

Ten minutes later, he received a response, [Understood.]

Finally, after a fruitless search in his office, Chu Yan called out in exasperation, "Old lady, where did you put those documents that Ling Feng sent last time?"

Well, searching for things had always been the Commander's weakness.

...

When he returned home, it was already late at night. Tianyang looked like a soulless shell as he mechanically dismounted from his electromagnetic motorcycle. He opened the door but didn't bother to close it; he just slumped into a chair.

He stared at the ceiling, his eyes empty.

Half an hour after ending communication with Ling Feng, a fortress hospital vehicle rushed to the Black Mine. They had taken his mother's body away and said they would provide the autopsy report within a few days.

After the hospital vehicle left, Tianyang felt lost, and he couldn't even remember how he got back home.

Even now, he had a surreal feeling as though his mother would walk through that door tomorrow and start nagging at him to process his Night Walker retirement papers.

But he knew that was impossible.

His mother... was truly gone.

The bewildered young man walked into Nanfei's bedroom. He carefully folded the blanket hanging over the bed, spreading it flat on the pillow.

Sitting on the edge of the bed, Tianyang saw a photograph.

A solo picture of Nanfei.

The photo was taken ten years ago, and he remembered it clearly. At that time, he had borrowed a camera from Kaidi and eagerly wanted to take a photo for his mother.

Nanfei had initially resisted, but she eventually allowed him to take a reluctant shot.

In the photograph, his mother, in her thirties, had a stern expression, and there were faint scars on her forehead and arms.

The scar on her arm dated back to when he was seven, as he had knocked over a glass, causing the shards to cut her when she shielded him from it.

The scar on her forehead was from when he was nine. A group of children nearby had been fighting with him, and although Nanfei had driven them away, he was still hit by a stone in the process.

Looking at the photograph, Tianyang suddenly realized how much his mother had done for him and how many wounds she had suffered for his sake.

But he had never apologized to her after their last argument.

And now, there would be no opportunity.

Some things, once missed, could never be remedied, only remembered with regret.

In the dimly lit shack, with no lights, only the sound of choked sobs filled the air…