Gao Wu: I inherited the evil organization in the game

Chapter 666 Back

The lock cylinder made a soft "click" as it turned in the keyhole. Before the door was even pushed open, Feng Mu could already tell what was outside—a human figure was standing outside, with his fingers on the doorknob.

Because the image constructed by "hearing" is pure black and white and lacks color, the scene looks... somewhat like a dead person walking out of an old black and white portrait, mechanically turning the door lock from the outside.

It looked a little creepy, and Feng Mu was a bit unaccustomed to it for a moment.

until--

The door hinges creaked slightly as the door was pushed open inwards.

Thus, the black and white portrait seemed to be instantly splashed with vibrant and rich colors, the light and shadow became soft and natural, the skin regained its color, and the clothes returned to their original hues.

It was as if someone had stepped out of a black-and-white portrait and was suddenly brought to life, standing vividly before him.

It was her mother, Wang Xiuli, who had returned.

Feng Mu glanced almost subconsciously at the old wall clock, its hour and minute hands pointing precisely to a moment—the time when "dawn" would break.

In an instant, the steel back of the upper town turned on its lights, and colorful "light" spilled down into the lower town, shining into the room through the thin curtains.

The light cast countless trails of swirling dust particles in the air, transforming the originally dark living room into a dim and hazy atmosphere.

Wang Xiuli looked up, seemingly completely surprised that her son would be home at this hour. A hint of surprise flashed across her tired face, and then a warm smile naturally curved her lips upward.

"Hey, son? What are you doing home? Did you come back last night?"

Almost at the same time, a smile appeared on Feng Mu's face, and he asked with concern in his voice:
"Mom, why weren't you home last night? Where did you go? I came back and didn't see you, I was a little worried."

The mother and son asked the same question almost simultaneously, and their words were almost identical, both genuinely expressing their care for each other.

The two of them paused for a moment, then looked at each other and gave each other identical smiles.

Although Feng Mu's facial features resemble his father's, some of his expressions are like his mother's, especially when he wears glasses.

This scene added a touch of warmth to the otherwise somewhat deserted house.

In stark contrast to his feigned concern for his father, Feng Ju, Feng Mu's concern for his mother, Wang Xiuli, was entirely genuine and heartfelt.

After all, in this dysfunctional family, the only person who had ever truly treated him well from childhood to adulthood, who had never changed for anything and remained consistent, was his mother.

Feng Mu habitually raised his hand to adjust his glasses and answered in a low voice:
"A major case occurred in District Nine last night, with very negative consequences. The police station..."

He offered a brief explanation, then sighed heavily:

"I came here to find my father, but he's not home. Mom, do you know where he went?"

Upon hearing this, Wang Xiuli's smile faded slightly, she shook her head, and a genuine worry appeared between her brows:
“I don’t know exactly where your dad went. Last time, after the family finished dinner, he received a phone call and left in a hurry with a very bad expression. After that, he rarely came home.”

She paused, lowering her voice slightly, with a hint of uncertainty.

“When I called him, he always told me he was busy with a very important case that required strict confidentiality and that his schedule couldn’t be revealed. I didn’t understand these rules of the police station, and I was afraid of interfering with his work, so I didn’t dare to ask any more questions…”

Feng Mu knew perfectly well the real reason why Feng Ju dared not go home—he was afraid that monsters in human skin were living in his house.

Of course, the monster in question could only refer to him and Yu Huai, and could never be Wang Xiuli.

"It must have been tough for Feng Ju to come up with such a useful excuse, haha—"

Feng Mu sneered inwardly, but remained outwardly calm.

But this is good, it saves him the trouble of making up lies to deceive his mother, and he can continue to use his father's "secret mission" as a perfect excuse to get by.

Feng Mu nodded, a look of understanding on his face, and comforted her:

"Well, Dad might really be on some special mission. Mom, don't worry too much. He's experienced, he'll be fine."

He skillfully steered the conversation back to the original question:

"By the way, Mom, you still haven't told me where you went last night? When I came back, no one was home, and I thought something had happened to you."

Wang Xiuli bent down and took off her ordinary-looking, somewhat worn low-heeled shoes.

With Feng Mu's eyesight at this moment, there was no need to observe deliberately; the subtle scenes of the entire house and even the floors above and below were almost simultaneously reflected in his "eyes".

He could clearly "see" that the edges and soles of his mother's shoes were covered in mud, which was damp and sticky, and there were also a few withered leaves the size of a fingernail stuck to them.

Feng Mu didn't suspect anything.

The road construction projects in District 9 have always been done with shoddy workmanship, especially near old and dilapidated communities like theirs. Many non-main roads are still uneven dirt roads, and it is perfectly normal to get wet mud and dead leaves on your feet when you go out.

Wang Xiuli changed into the old slippers placed by the door, making a soft "pat-pat" sound as she stepped onto the cold floor.

She didn't answer immediately. Instead, she went to the table, poured herself a glass of cool water, took two sips, and then, after catching her breath, softly replied:
"Mom had a nightmare last night."

She held the water glass, her gaze unfocused, as if recalling a nightmare that still haunted him.

"I dreamt that your dad was outside, in the dark, and couldn't find his way home. He kept calling my name..."

When I woke up, I was terribly panicked and couldn't fall back asleep or lie still, so... I went out and randomly looked for your dad near our house.

Feng Mu's heart skipped a beat, an indescribable sense of horror swept down his spine, and he almost blurted out:
"Mom, then you found..."

He stopped abruptly halfway through his sentence.

Feng Mu felt that he must have lost his mind for a moment to ask such a stupid and absurd question.

Feng Ju is long dead, his head is gone, crushed to dust. How could his mother possibly find him? And where could she possibly look?

Wang Xiuli was also taken aback by her son's abrupt question, but seeing his bewildered expression, she couldn't help but chuckle.
"What nonsense are you talking about, child? I just had a nightmare and was confused for a moment."

Besides, your dad isn't a three-year-old child; do you really think he can't find his way home?

Feng Mu secretly breathed a sigh of relief, and at the same time looked at his mother more seriously.

At this moment, Wang Xiuli's face showed the fatigue of returning home late at night, but when she looked at him, her eyes were full of pure tenderness and love.

Her temperament blended perfectly with the home. In Feng Mu's unique perspective, she, like the cups, floors, and walls of the house, was enveloped in a faint, omnipresent aura of deathly stillness.

On the contrary, Feng Mu himself, having thoroughly purified himself through three marrow cleansings, appeared too "clean" in the "sight" at this moment, making him seem out of place, like an outsider who had accidentally wandered in.

Yes, Feng Mu can now clearly "see" himself. It's as if two synchronized images are constantly playing in his mind.

One is a normal, colored first-person perspective, where you can't see what's behind you or your facial features.

The other image is a black and white 3D panoramic view with a very wide coverage, allowing you to "see" every detail of yourself and the surrounding environment from 360 degrees without any blind spots.

Thanks to his mental attribute, which surged to 82 points, processing two dynamic images simultaneously did not burden his mental processes at all, nor did it even require any exertion.

The only problem is that seeing your own face and whole body in a black and white overhead view always feels... a bit ominous, as if you're previewing your own funeral portrait.

Feng Mu's mind raced, and he suppressed these distracting thoughts, then followed his mother's words and said:

"Yes, Mom, you're right. Dreams are always the opposite of reality. Dad will definitely be fine."

However, things are getting increasingly dangerous in District Nine at night. Mom, you should try not to go out alone at night; it's too dangerous.

Wang Xiuli put down her water glass, nodded obediently, and seemed quite pleased with her son's concern.
"Okay, okay, Mom knows. Mom will try not to go out at night from now on."

Completely different from Feng Ju's authoritarian, patriarchal style, Wang Xiuli has always been gentle and mild-mannered, and is very receptive to her children's opinions.

Then, as if suddenly remembering something, Wang Xiuli turned her head to look at the wall clock, and lightly slapped her forehead, saying:
"Oh dear, I've been so busy talking that it's already this late. Mom should go make breakfast."

She looked at Feng Mu, a smile returning to her face.
"You rarely come back, what would you like to eat? Mom will make it for you right away, it'll be quick."

Feng Mu was willing to spend more time with his mother and chat, but there was no need for her to stay for dinner.

He had already been unable to swallow those synthetic foods, and now that he could clearly see the ominous black mist swirling around the food, it was even more difficult for him to swallow.

"Wait a moment……"

An even more terrifying thought suddenly entered his mind.
"Could the custom-made meals that the martial arts school delivers to me every day... also be contaminated with this black aura?"

Feng Mu's heart skipped a beat.

If that's the case, will he still be able to eat in the future?

Should we... go on a hunger strike?

After all, he had already cultivated to the "Nascent Soul" stage. According to the novels about cultivating immortality, he should be able to abstain from grains, right?

What's that saying again? Those who consume qi will never die!
But this world is full of...black mist!!!

A jumble of thoughts surged in like a tide, making him feel agitated. In the end, he could only grit his teeth and force himself to suppress these thoughts for the time being.

Feng Mu shook his head and said:
"No, Mom, there's no time. I'll just come back to see you. I have to hurry back to work; there's a ton of stuff to take care of there."

Wang Xiuli was a little disappointed, but she didn't say much, only nodded and gave some instructions:

"Okay, then... then work is more important. Remember to buy something good to eat on your way, don't work on an empty stomach, it's not good for your health."

Feng Mu nodded, said no more, and quickly walked towards the door.

Watching her son's hurried departure, Wang Xiuli suddenly remembered something and raised her voice to ask again:
"Xiao Mu, come home more often when you have time! Mom is always thinking about you all when she's home alone... Also, call your sister when you have some free time and ask how she is."

I have no idea what she's busy with all day. I call her, and nine times out of ten I can't get through... You're her brother, you should keep an eye on her."

Feng Mu paused almost imperceptibly, his back to his mother, and replied in his usual voice:
"Oh, I see."

Should we take better care of my younger sister?

He will... Of course he will discipline them "well".

However, even he himself didn't know what he would be disciplining in the future.
He will... but it's just unknown whether he will be disciplining Feng Yuhuai or the "rag doll" that is parasitizing and eroding him.

"Never mind, it doesn't matter, they're all just experience points!!!" He sighed inwardly.

He turned back one last time to give his mother a filial smile before hurrying downstairs, his figure quickly disappearing around the dimly lit corner of the stairwell.

Wang Xiuli stood at the door, quietly watching her son leave, before the smile on her face slowly faded away like the receding tide.

She didn't act immediately, but stood quietly for a few more seconds before slowly closing the door.

He slowly closed the door and then locked it from the inside.

This subconscious detail is quite similar to my son's; they both have a strong sense of safety precautions.

She turned around, her gaze unconsciously falling to the low-heeled shoes she had just taken off and placed by the door.

She frowned slightly as she looked at the dirt stuck to her shoes, then bent down to pick them up and walked into the bathroom.

The bathroom still had a faint moisture mixed with a slight odor that hadn't been flushed away.

Wang Xiuli seemed completely oblivious to the unusual smell.

She calmly placed the dirty shoes into the sink, then her gaze swept over the almost empty family-sized shower gel bottle in the corner of the shower area.

She walked over, picked up the empty bottle, and casually threw it into the trash can next to her. Then, she took out a brand new bottle of shower gel from the storage cabinet under the sink, skillfully unscrewed the pump, and placed it back in its original position on the shelf.

Throughout the entire process, she didn't show the slightest suspicion or surprise on her face, seemingly not finding it strange at all that her son had used up a whole tub of shower gel overnight.

After finishing all that, she didn't stop. Instead, she took a clean white cloth from the hook on the wall, soaked it, wrung it out, and began to meticulously wipe every surface of the bathroom.

Wall tiles, glass partitions, faucets, countertops... she wiped them with utmost care, her movements slow and steady, until everything was spotless, reflecting the dim, not-so-bright light filtering in from the window.

Finally, she stood in front of the bright mirror in front of the sink, just like Feng Mu had stood earlier.

Her face was clearly reflected in the mirror, and she looked at herself in the mirror.

She smiled silently at herself in the mirror, then lowered her head, picked up an old shoe brush, filled it with water, and began to scrub the mud off the soles and edges of her shoes again and again, with utmost seriousness and even a touch of stubbornness.

shhhhh--

shhhhh--

The rhythmic scrubbing sounds echoed continuously in the excessively quiet and clean bathroom, over and over again, tirelessly.

....
(End of this chapter)