Night Haunter

Although Han Mingxuan did his best to stay calm, Curze could still tell that his father was nervous.

Curze then described the xenos in his mind in exhaustive detail, along with everything that had led up to it.

"Oh, right, he said his name was Night Haunter."

Night Haunter?!

Could it really be the shell?

"Let him out."

Whoosh!

The pages of the books in the room fluttered, and the room, which had been kept at a constant temperature, instantly turned cold.

"Konrad Curze?"

"I've always been Curze."

"No, you're Night Haunter. My son isn't."

"He and I..."

Curze had wanted to say that there was no difference between himself and this young Curze.

But now he couldn't bring himself to say it.

"I know. You're both Curze, but you've had different experiences."

"So what should I call you? Night Haunter, or Night Haunter?"

"Just call me Curze, uncle."

Tsk, how strange.

This feels really strange.

"Never mind. I'll be presumptuous and call you my son. Do you mind?"

"After all, having you call me uncle while wearing my son's face makes me feel like I've been cucked."

"All right, father."

Whew, that's much better.

When Han Mingxuan had first arrived, the will of Earth had told him there was another child. He hadn't understood what it meant at first, but now he did.

That so-called child was Night Haunter.

"In my childhood memories, you didn't exist, father."

"That doesn't matter."

"Yes, it really doesn't. After all, as he is now, he lives more like a person than I do."

"You're human too, Curze."

"I stopped being one a long time ago, father."

Smack!

Han Mingxuan picked up a broom beside him and brought it down on the shell's head.

It was the first time Han Mingxuan had hit Curze since his awakening, though it was the older shell he was hitting.

"Since you don't mind me calling you my son, then you're my son."

"Listen carefully, Curze."

"You've been human from the start. You're just someone who went down the wrong path."

"A prodigal son who returns is worth more than gold. There's still time."

"No, father..."

Smack!

Han Mingxuan hit him again.

"You wrote that letter, didn't you?"

"I did. Sorry for troubling you."

"It's nothing. If a child has psychological problems and their parents don't talk to them, it'll be trouble when they go down the wrong path."

"Have you read the letter I wrote you?"

"Yes, father."

"Then what did you think?"

"I don't know."

Han Mingxuan took a deep breath. He knew that Curze's ten thousand years of torment weren't something he could resolve with a few simple words.

"You've lived longer than I have and know more than I do, so there are things I'm not qualified to lecture you about."

"But remember this: a prodigal son who returns is worth more than gold."

"Everything in this world is only just beginning. In your original memories, I didn't exist."

"So how things will unfold in this world's future is still unknown."

"You can try starting over."

Start over?

"Can you let me see what you look like?"

"Father, I can't. As he puts it, I'm very ugly. I'd frighten you."

"Listen, my son wouldn't refuse me a request like this. Let me see what you look like."

The next moment, the whole room turned pitch-black. Curze's body slowly fell backward, and a tall, dark figure appeared before Han Mingxuan.

Looking at the towering figure before him, Han Mingxuan instinctively raised his hand.

Curze saw Han Mingxuan's movement, but he was simply too tall. With no other choice, the Night Haunter knelt on one knee.

That left Curze lower than Han Mingxuan.

"Wash your face and tidy yourself up, and you'd be a handsome young man." Han Mingxuan reached out and patted Curze on the shoulder.

"A new world has a new future. That goes for this world, and it goes for you too."

"Whether it's you, the Night Haunter, or Curze, now that you're in my home, take it easy."

"Also, I hope you can help Curze in the days ahead."

"But father, I'm just a madman, a madman driven to destruction by Psychic Power prophecies."

"How long have you been in Curze's mind?"

"I've been with him since the first time he took action."

"Has he had any self-destructive prophecies?"

"No, father. That's precisely what surprised me."

"And while you've been in Curze's mind, have you had any more of those self-destructive prophecies?"

The Night Haunter shook his head. Nothing like that had happened again since he came over.

"Since there won't be any more self-destructive prophecies, I still hope you can help him. Think of it as helping yourself."

"Curze is exceptional. As a mortal father, there's only so much I can teach him, so he'll need a better teacher in the days ahead."

"You're the best teacher for him."

"But..."

"I told you, Curze is exceptional, and so are you. You just took the wrong path. You weren't born that way."

"Think of it as sheltering my son from the wind and rain, or as giving yourself a chance at redemption."

The towering Night Haunter was silent for a long time. Finally, he bowed to Han Mingxuan.

"I swear in the name of the Night Haunter, father, I will not fail your trust and expectations."

Han Mingxuan waved his hand.

"Don't be so serious. As far as I'm concerned, Curze has suddenly gained an older brother. After all, in my eyes, the kid's only three or four years old."

"Since we're family, there's no need to say anything so solemn. It's unnecessary. I don't do things the way Huangpizi does."

Huangpizi?

That reminded the Night Haunter of his own biological father.

He really was golden yellow.

"Haha, he really is Huangpizi, father. A very precise description."

"All right, since there's nothing wrong, I can rest easy."

The Night Haunter nodded. Everything around them returned to normal, and Curze slowly woke up.

"Father, did I fall asleep?"

"No. I just met that xenos you mentioned. To be precise, he isn't a xenos, just a human who's been altered."

"We talked about a few things, and now I feel much more at ease."

"I'm just a mortal. My time is limited, and I can't walk a long road with you. Now that he's here to accompany you, that's a good thing."

"My advice is simple. If there's anything you can't resolve or understand, you can ask him."

"You can treat him like an older brother. You can trust him."

Curze's expression was complicated. He didn't know what that xenos had discussed with his father.

But he knew that xenos was definitely up to no good!

"I understand, dad. I'll talk to him."

"Good, as long as you understand. I'll leave you now. Get some rest. I'll have someone bring you a proper set of furniture later."