Regrets

Chu Yan had been in a foul mood lately, though in truth, the old man had never really been in a good mood during the twenty years since he became the Nightwalker Commander.

There were simply too many problems to deal with: exploring the Inverse Realm, attending to Fortress affairs, and dealing with all sorts of people to ensure the Nightwalkers received the resources and funding they deserved.

If he could, the old man would rather lead his own team into the Inverse Realm, as he had in his younger days. Compared with dealing with people who each had their own agenda, he would much rather fight the Children of Darkness to the death.

At least the latter was straightforward. Either you died, or I did.

As Commander, survival no longer had to come first, but the endless weighing of gains and losses was wearing away the old man's patience.

And he had never had much patience to begin with.

Chu Yan liked the night.

At night, there were fewer things to worry about. He could sit alone on the terrace at home and enjoy the breeze, or water his flowers and plants.

So when his wife told him someone wanted to see him, Chu Yan snorted. "I'm not seeing anyone."

His wife, Song Qiao, had been with him for more than forty years. No one knew her husband's temper better than she did.

"Oh, then I'll go tell Ling Feng," Song Qiao said deliberately, casting a glance at her husband.

Sure enough, Chu Yan turned around. "What? It's Ling Feng? You should have said so! Don't do that again, old girl. If you hold up important business, I'll hold you responsible!"

Song Qiao covered her mouth and chuckled. "Yes, yes, you're the Commander. You can find anyone guilty if you like, and I'm no exception."

"Smart mouth!"

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

"What is it? Why did you have to come to me this late at night? Can't you handle it yourself?" Chu Yan had only a daughter, no son, and he regarded Ling Feng as his own. He knew the young man's abilities well. Unless something serious had happened, Ling Feng would never have sought him out at this hour.

"Commander, do you remember the boy I told you about last time, the one who awakened a new class?"

Chu Yan took out a pipe and packed some tobacco into it. "Of course. I've already spoken to the City Lord about it. Are you worried about the budget? Don't be. The City Lord has approved it. We'll have the additional funding within half a month at most."

Ling Feng planted both hands on the desk and leaned forward. "No, Commander. It's not about the budget. That boy, Tianyang-something just happened to his mother. She died in the Black Mine!"

Chu Yan froze. Taking in Ling Feng's tone, the old man suddenly rose like an enraged lion. "What? Someone got his mother killed?"

Ling Feng smiled bitterly. "Most likely. We don't have much evidence yet, but it seems that lady was suddenly taken to the Black Mine. She was only there a few days, but unfortunately, she didn't survive. Tianyang has taken it very hard. I've already sent Lin Yang to investigate and find out who's responsible. My only concern is that if the culprit is the person I suspect, then with Tianyang's temper, this certainly won't end peacefully. If a conflict breaks out, we Nightwalkers..."

Chu Yan seemed to understand as well. He sat back down and lit his pipe. "Are there really so few people who have a problem with us Nightwalkers? Yet after all these years, we're still standing. Ling Feng, remember what I told you. The Nightwalkers are strong because we value every member as family."

"All right, Commander. I understand what you mean. I also hope we can get justice for that lady, Nanfei." Ling Feng saluted. "Then I won't disturb you any..."

"Wait!"

Chu Yan interrupted the Chief of Staff. "What did you say Tianyang's mother's name was?"

Surprise flickered in Ling Feng's eyes, but he still answered, "Nanfei. Is something wrong?"

"No." Chu Yan waved a hand. "That's all, then. I'm tired. Handle it as you see fit. In any case, find the mastermind. If you run into any trouble, let me know."

"Understood, Commander." Ling Feng saluted again, and his image vanished.

Chu Yan blew out a smoke ring. "Nanfei? Could she be that Nanfei... If so, wouldn't this boy Tianyang be his..."

At that thought, Chu Yan opened a drawer, took out a private communicator, and composed a message: Find out how many women named Nanfei there are in the Fortress.

Only ten minutes later did the communicator receive a reply: Understood.

The old man then rummaged through drawers and cabinets before finally calling out helplessly, "Old girl, where did you put the files Ling Feng sent over last time?"

Well, finding things had always been the Commander's weakest skill.

It was already late at night when Tianyang got home. Like a soulless husk, he climbed mechanically off the Electromagnetic Motorcycle. He opened the door, left it open, and dropped into a chair.

He stared at the ceiling, his eyes empty.

Thirty minutes after he ended his call with Ling Feng, a vehicle from Fortress Hospital had rushed to the Black Mine.

They had already taken his mother's body away, saying the examination report would be ready the day after tomorrow at the earliest.

After the hospital vehicle left, Tianyang had been in a daze. He could barely even remember how he had gotten home.

Even now, it still felt unreal, as though he might wake up tomorrow and see his mother walk through that door, nagging him to go to the Nightwalkers and complete the paperwork to leave.

But he knew that was no longer possible.

His mother... was truly gone.

The distraught boy entered Nanfei's bedroom, gently took down the blanket hanging beside the bed, folded it, and laid it flat on the pillow.

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

A photograph of Nanfei alone.

It had been taken ten years ago. Tianyang remembered borrowing a camera from Kaidi back then and eagerly hurrying off to take his mother's picture.

At first, Nanfei had refused. Only after his relentless pestering had she reluctantly let Tianyang take a photograph.

In the picture, his mother was in her early thirties, her expression stern. There was a faint scar on her brow and another on her arm.

The scar on her arm came from when Tianyang was seven. He had knocked over a cup and fallen off his chair. Nanfei had caught him, but a shard had pierced her arm and left that scar.

The one on her brow came from when Tianyang was nine and a group of neighborhood children had thrown stones at him. As Nanfei drove them away, one of them had struck her in the head with a stone.

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

Yet after talking back to her last time, he had kept putting off his apology.

And now, he would never have the chance.

Some things, once missed, could never be made right. They could only become regrets.

There was no light in the dim shack, only the sound of stifled sobs...

PS: This week's opponents are really putting up a fight. I already got knocked down one spot this morning. Please support me and send all the votes you can. Brothers, step up the firepower!