Brother Shang and Little Black

[Ding! Congratulations to the host for surviving another day. Survival Points +100]

[Current Survival Points: 5100]

Early the next morning.

As the human-faced Weird Moon sank below the sky, the scorching sun rose.

The survivors were up early.

So was Fan Shang.

As the aromas of instant noodles and other cooking food drifted over, Fan Shang got out of the vehicle with Little Black.

He held a packet of instant noodles and a sausage.

Seeing everyone around him eating lunch, Fan Shang wasted no time setting up his portable gas stove and getting ready to put a pot on to cook his noodles.

Little Black watched eagerly from beside him, seemingly urging Fan Shang to hurry up.

"Meow!"

"I know. I'll get cooking in a second."

As he spoke, Fan Shang glanced at Little Black, who was now the size of a large dog.

He felt that one sausage probably wouldn't satisfy Little Black anymore.

With that in mind, Fan Shang went back to the vehicle for more food.

After all, even if his cat ate a little more, he couldn't let Little Black go hungry.

Just as he brought the food out and was about to start cooking,

a figure suddenly approached.

Looking up, he saw Steward Huang's former lackey.

The Tall, Thin Man.

He stopped in front of Fan Shang and spoke.

"B-Brother Shang, Captain Liu and the others asked... asked you to come eat with them."

The man was nervous and stammered as he spoke.

Fan Shang's actions yesterday had probably frightened him too. On top of that, rumors were circulating through the convoy that Fan Shang enjoyed chopping the heads off people and weird creatures.

All of that had left the man this nervous.

Of course, Fan Shang had no idea what was going through the man's head. His words left Fan Shang rather speechless.

"So I'm never getting rid of this stupid nickname, huh?"

Fan Shang muttered.

Then he looked at the man.

"So what does Brother Tie want to see me about?"

"..."

"Uh, Brother Shang, I... I don't know either."

The man answered awkwardly.

Hearing that, Fan Shang said nothing more.

He immediately packed away the portable gas stove he had set up, then carried his supplies toward the front of the convoy.

Although he didn't know what Liu Tie wanted, Fan Shang happened to have a few things he wanted to ask him too.

He could take care of those while he was there.

Fan Shang walked on, with Little Black following close behind.

As they passed the man, Little Black couldn't help glancing at him.

Those eyes, one blue and one gold, left the man feeling unnerved.

Fortunately, Little Black soon looked away and followed closely behind Fan Shang.

Only after Little Black looked away did the man breathe a sigh of relief.

What kind of cat is that? Just one look sent a chill down my spine. Is that a Sequence Transcendent ability too?

They soon reached the front of the convoy, where Zhou Ping was already heating a pot.

Seeing Fan Shang approach, Zhou Ping immediately greeted him.

"Hey, Brother Shang, you're here? Have a seat."

Fan Shang: "..."

At those words, even Fan Shang's corpse-pale face nearly twitched.

"So when exactly did this damn nickname start? And Zhou Ping, could you stop calling me that? It sounds ridiculous. Just call me Fan Shang."

As he spoke, Fan Shang handed Zhou Ping the two packets of instant noodles and the sausages.

Zhou Ping accepted them without protest, opened the packets, and dropped the noodle cakes straight into the pot.

Then he tore open the seasoning and chili oil packets. After squeezing out most of their contents, he didn't waste what remained either, dipping the packets into the pot to rinse them out.

He was determined to use every last bit and waste nothing.

"When did it catch on?"

Only after fishing out the cleaned seasoning packets did Zhou Ping answer.

"Last night. Once Brother Tie called you that, the survivors in the convoy followed suit. And as for calling you by your name, Brother Shang?

"No way. If it hadn't been for you last night, Brother Shang, our convoy would probably have been finished. So as far as I'm concerned, you're my big brother now."

Zhou Ping patted his chest and spoke earnestly.

"..." Fan Shang fell silent at that.

But since Zhou Ping wouldn't change, Fan Shang couldn't be bothered to correct him anymore.

It was only a nickname anyway. His little sister had always called him Fan Wushang before.

"So where's Brother Tie? Didn't he invite me over to eat?"

Just as he finished speaking, Fan Shang heard a rough yet steady voice.

"Haha, coming, coming! What's all this Brother Tie business? Brother Shang, just call me Little Tie or Liu Tie from now on."

Fan Shang turned to see Liu Tie approaching with a bundle of dried noodles wrapped in paper.

After handing the noodles to Zhou Ping, he plopped down.

"..."

Fan Shang had lost count of how many times he had been left speechless.

He wanted to speak, but Liu Tie seemed to have anticipated his response.

"Hey, Brother Shang, don't refuse. And don't feel awkward or embarrassed about it. If it hadn't been for you, our convoy really might have been done for this time."

At that, Liu Tie recalled their fight against the Grudge-Crying Ghost last night. Without Fan Shang, he might really have had to use the Purple Talisman.

And if he had used the Purple Talisman, Liu Tie would have been bedridden for at least a week. In this danger-filled Weird World, that was practically no different from a death sentence.

It was only because the old customs had fallen out of favor that he didn't. Otherwise, Liu Tie genuinely wanted to kowtow to Fan Shang.

Seeing the sincerity in Liu Tie's eyes, Fan Shang swallowed the words on the tip of his tongue.

Then Lin Xue arrived too.

Seeing Fan Shang seated there, she nodded to him and sat down as well.

For some reason, the sight made Fan Shang feel that this was how things ought to be.

Then, under Fan Shang's surprised gaze, Lin Xue began using her ability.

She dropped chunks of ice into the pot.

The ice melted into water and came to a boil, replenishing the dwindling water in the pot.

Seeing that, Fan Shang finally understood why Lin Xue hadn't brought any supplies.

With such a convenient Sequence ability, why the hell would she need to?

As he thought that, the noodles in the pot gradually came to a boil, and the aroma of instant noodles spread through the air.

"Meow!"

Smelling the food, Little Black let out a cry.

That meow immediately drew Liu Tie and the others' attention.

They had thought the dark gray lump by Fan Shang's feet was something else, but it turned out to be a cat.

Looking at the black cat on the ground, even Liu Tie couldn't help growing curious.

"Brother Shang, that cat of yours is no ordinary cat."

Although he had seen Little Black once yesterday, seeing the cat up close today made Liu Tie even more certain of his suspicions.

"That's a Heterochromatic Black Cat. I thought they were just a rumor, but I actually got to see one today. I thought I'd go my whole life in this damned world without ever seeing one."

"To think I'd actually get to see a black cat-and a Black Cat, at that."

Liu Tie said.

"Hm?"

"What do you mean?"

Hearing that, Fan Shang couldn't help asking.

Although he knew Little Black was extraordinary, he still didn't know just how extraordinary.

Liu Tie's words had piqued Fan Shang's interest.