Christmas, Hometown

In the early morning, a light snow began to fall in New York, adding a touch of romance to the bustling metropolis.

Today was also the annual Christmas Day. Christmas trees were visible everywhere along the streets, and holiday carols echoed through the avenues and alleys.

"Merry Christmas, Xi Nian!"

"Good morning, senior."

Two beautiful young girls, each with a distinct style, appeared. One wore a little red hat with reindeer antlers, while the other jingled a delicate silver Christmas bell on her wrist. These were small gifts Xi Nian had bought for them the day before. They walked side-by-side, their footsteps crunching on the white snow, undoubtedly becoming the most stunning sight on the pedestrian street.

"Merry Christmas, good morning," Xi Nian replied, waving as he responded, unable to suppress a yawn from his fatigue. Inside his backpack, the Essence Devourer Beast, Little Huang, was also fast asleep amidst a pile of clothes.

"Xi Nian, where did you go last night?" Gwen asked, looking at his obvious dark circles.

Xi Nian rubbed his somewhat messy black hair and weakly replied, "Forced to save the world."

"Liar!" Gwen scoffed playfully.

Xi Nian shrugged, knowing that Gwen would take his words as a joke.

"Didn't you sleep well?" Kara asked gently.

"Yeah," Xi Nian nodded, going along with Kara's words. "I'm just not used to hotel beds."

Xi Nian was indeed someone who was particular about his bed. If he suddenly had to switch beds, he would have trouble sleeping.

Well, his aunt's bed was an exception.

Moreover, he hadn't slept in a bed at all last night; he had slept in a tree like a stray cat, so it was no wonder he was tired.

Fortunately, his symbiote ability had expired, otherwise, he wouldn't be able to meet up with Gwen and the others in his human form right now.

Xi Nian sighed inwardly. Was it easy for him?

After meeting up with Gwen and Kara, the three continued to browse the morning market. After a simple lunch, they began their journey back to Washington.

On the train leaving New York, Gwen and Kara flipped through their phones and newspapers, starting to catch up on the scattered information about what had happened in New York City the previous night.

"Iron Man was eaten alive? Scary!"

"What was that gray-green liquid monster? So disgusting!"

The girls' conversation, which had started out relatively normal, quickly veered off course—

"Wow, the little black cat is so cute! I really want to hug it!"

"It's so powerful!"

Seeing that Gwen and Kara were not scared at all, but rather fond of the little black cat, Xi Nian blinked and said, "That cat looks a bit like Little Huang."

"Huh?!"

Upon hearing this, Gwen and Kara both looked at the orange kitten sleeping on Xi Nian's lap. In fact, the moment they saw the black cat, they felt it did resemble Little Huang that Xi Nian carried with him.

However, after Xi Nian mentioned it first, they felt that Little Huang and the black cat were very different.

Whether it was their appearance, fur color, or even their aura, there were obvious distinctions. In particular, the presence of the black cat reported in the news gave Kara a subtle sense of threat, whereas the current Little Huang, even if it were a special alien creature, posed no threat to her.

Seeing Kara shake her head, Gwen smiled and retorted, "Little Huang is not like that black cat."

"That's true," Xi Nian agreed with a nod, secretly relieved.

He had passed this hurdle.

"But looking at that black cat, why do I have a strange sense of familiarity?" Gwen mumbled in confusion.

"Me too," Kara said, stroking her platinum blonde hair that shimmered in the sunlight. A hint of confusion flickered in her beautiful eyes. "It's like I've seen it somewhere before."

Was this the legendary female intuition?

"How could you have seen it? It was so dangerous and terrifying that it even ate Iron Man," Xi Nian quickly tried to gloss over the topic, steering the conversation elsewhere.

Regardless.

Following the trending topic of the superhero Silver-Haired Goddess, after today, the mysterious black cat creature would also become a nightmare for many!

For example, a certain billionaire playboy would often wake up in a sweat from his dreams, dreaming of being swallowed into an unknown space again.

This would lead to Stark Industries rushing the production overnight, ultimately resulting in the creation of a strategic weapon codenamed "Anti-Black Flash (Black Cat) Armor."

Washington.

After parting ways with Gwen and Kara at the station, Officer George, who had driven to pick up Gwen, gave Xi Nian a meaningful look as he drove away.

Xi Nian pretended not to see it.

After seeing Kara off in a taxi, the sky outside had already darkened, with countless neon lights blurring their glow under the falling snow.

Christmas Eve was fast approaching.

Xi Nian thought for a moment. With his backpack on, he didn't head home but instead set off for another part of the city.

Washington, Potomac River.

The bustling commercial streets nearby were adorned with the festive atmosphere, making the snow-covered woods on the riverbank and bridge appear somewhat desolate.

Xi Nian quickened his pace as he arrived, gazing at the perfect figure seated on a wooden chair by the river.

"Aunt."

"You're back?" The woman, elegantly seated on the wooden chair, turned her head. Her exquisitely beautiful face was both serene and gentle, her clear, gem-like eyes reflecting the young man's image.

Xi Nian's heart leaped, and he nodded with a smile, "I'm back. Sorry to keep you waiting."

They hadn't made plans, nor had they contacted each other, yet they had arrived at this place with a remarkable understanding.

After all, this was where they had first met, precisely on Christmas night sixteen years ago.

Today, sixteen years ago.

A demigod who had grown utterly disillusioned with the human world, and a reincarnator who had just arrived in this world. These two lonely souls became family, destined to spend their lives together.

"Sit down and talk," Diana blinked.

Xi Nian put down his schoolbag and was about to sit on the wooden chair next to his aunt.

Suddenly, his aunt opened her arms: "It's cold outside."

"You treat me like a child again..."

Though Xi Nian said this, his body obediently settled onto her long, supple legs.

Who could resist the allure of true comfort?

Diana asked softly, "That little black cat that appeared in New York, that was you, wasn't it?"

"Yes."

Xi Nian nodded, explaining in detail how he had unexpectedly encountered the Venom symbiote, resulting in a three-in-one state, and his subsequent hunt for symbiotes.

"So that's how it was," Diana mused, looking at Little Huang, who was still asleep in his schoolbag. She pondered, "If it wasn't absolutely necessary, try not to enter that uncontrollable state so easily in the future."

"I know," Xi Nian agreed wholeheartedly. The chaotic thoughts and extreme temperament that surfaced in the three-in-one state were far more twisted and terrifying than when Venom parasitized him alone.

However.

This also meant he couldn't borrow the power of the Venom symbiote when it eventually revived. After all, once infected by Venom, he would be forced into the three-in-one mode again.

Until this problem was solved, Xi Nian couldn't bond with Venom again.

And now, Venom was parasitizing the Essence Devourer Beast, even in a dormant state, but their fluids might already be circulating. This also meant Xi Nian couldn't acquire the Essence Devourer Beast's physical abilities independently through the Lord of Kin.

"I have an idea," his aunt's voice suddenly came from behind his ear.

"Go ahead," Xi Nian nodded.

"Come home with me," Diana said gently.

"Aunt, what are you talking about? Of course, I have to go home with you." Xi Nian was confused. "It's Christmas, where else would I go?"

"I'm not talking about home here in Washington," Diana took a light breath and said seriously, "Come back to my hometown with me."

Hometown?

Xi Nian was stunned.