54: Chapter 54 The Strange House

Chu Xuan carried the extinguished oil lamp as he walked out of the main gate.

His entire body was covered in bloodstains, yet the young security guard on duty only glanced at him and didn't ask any questions; instead, he gave a very earnest salute.

"Heart Bewitchment is truly a useful ability, but the fifteen-minute cooldown is still too long..."

Chu Xuan knew his current appearance would surely draw attention. He had to get back soon to clean up, or he would definitely run into unnecessary trouble.

Moreover, he wanted to return as early as possible to confirm his family's safety. The existence of something as terrifying as a Specter in this world made him feel very uneasy.

He took out his phone; it only had one bar of battery left. Taking a taxi or a bus was out of the question—his skill cooldown wasn't over yet, and a driver would surely notice something.

So, he scanned a shared bike and specifically chose alleys and small paths, trying his best to avoid being caught by surveillance cameras, as he pedaled forward following the vague guidance in his heart.

Actually, with his current agility attribute, his speed on two legs wasn't slower than a bicycle, but Chu Xuan felt it was better to hide his strength as much as possible.

Chu Xuan already had a preliminary plan: first, go back to see his parents and family.

Then, quickly get some sleep and try to contact the authorities within the dreamscape to see if Heart Bewitchment could truly resist probes from skills like Mind Reading.

If not, he would have to do his best to avoid the authorities for now and think of other ways later.

Amidst these thoughts, Chu Xuan endured his drowsiness and exhaustion. After weaving through alleys for more than ten minutes, he finally arrived in front of a small courtyard.

"I vaguely remember that it should have been during my junior year of college when my family was in a car accident... they were all killed by a muck truck that ran a red light..."

"Now that I'm back, although I don't know why terrifying and bizarre Strange Creaturess exist in this world, at least my family is still here. That future tragedy will never happen again!"

Chu Xuan's heart felt both excited and somewhat hesitant.

He quietly scaled the wall into the yard. An old dog lying on the ground saw Chu Xuan, wagged its tail, and ran over, letting out a soft whimpering sound as it affectionately licked his pant leg.

"Good boy, be quiet..."

A heartfelt smile appeared at the corners of Chu Xuan's mouth. He patted the dog's head a few times. Once the local dog wagged its tail and returned to its simple doghouse to lie down, he quietly approached the front door.

He gently turned the doorknob; as expected, it was locked.

Chu Xuan sighed softly. His keys were left at the dormitory. Left with no choice, he followed his original plan, waiting until the fifteen-minute cooldown was over before leaping up to climb to the second floor.

Gripping the security bars, he tapped lightly on the window. Before long, a corner of the curtain inside was pulled back, revealing a young woman in pajamas.

"You...!!"

The beautiful young woman's face filled with terror. Just as she was about to scream, Chu Xuan immediately activated his Heart Bewitchment skill, making her ignore the bloodstains all over him.

"Chu Caiwei, don't scream! It's me. Open the door for me."

The young woman froze for a moment, then nodded repeatedly and turned to run out of the room, leaving Chu Xuan with a view of her back.

Chu Xuan breathed a sigh of relief and jumped down from the second floor.

He didn't want to wake his parents and make them worry. Since his skill could only affect a single target, he had to wake his older sister instead.

In his memory, his sister was the one who was most tolerant of him.

"Aren't you supposed to be at school? Why are you back so early in the morning, and why were you knocking on my window?" the young woman asked in astonishment as she opened the door.

"I'll tell you later. I'm a bit tired; I'm going to take a shower first."

Chu Xuan waved his hand, not wanting to dwell on the matter. He was exhausted and sleepy, his head felt like it was being constantly poked by an electric drill, and his ears were ringing so loudly that it was difficult to hear people speak.

Snap!

The chandelier on the first floor was suddenly turned on. A middle-aged couple walked out of the bedroom and ran to Chu Xuan's side in a panic, wanting to check where he was injured.

"Son, what on earth happened to you? Let Mom see, where are you hurt!" The middle-aged woman's tears flowed freely.

Meanwhile, the middle-aged man ran to get a first-aid kit and simultaneously took out his phone, preparing to call for emergency services.

"Dad, Mom, don't worry. This isn't blood."

Chu Xuan thought quickly and hurriedly came up with a lame excuse: "I went to a cosplay event last night. It was too late to go back to the dorm, so I came home. But I was afraid of waking you, so I stayed outside all night. I really couldn't hold out any longer this morning, so I had Sis open the door for me."

"Bro! Did someone bully you? Tell me, and I'll beat them up for you!" A teenage boy who looked like a high schooler came running down from upstairs, his fists clenched and his expression cold.

"Chu Zheng, don't talk nonsense. I'm perfectly fine!" Chu Xuan immediately stood up, took off his outer garment, and tore off the bandages still wrapped around him to show that he had no wounds.

"That's good, then. That's good." His mother sobbed, wiping away her tears.

His father's eyes were also red as he let out a long sigh of relief.

Seeing that his family didn't doubt him at all, Chu Xuan also breathed a secret sigh of relief. At the same time, he felt moved; as expected, the ones who trusted him the most would always be his family.

"Son, go take a shower quickly. Mom will make you something to eat."

"Xiao Xuan, that Transformers toy you've always wanted—Dad already bought it for you. I'll go get it for you now."

"Bro, I won't fight you for the mini-games on the computer anymore. I'll let you play first..."

"Sis promises to tell you fairy tales. You can listen for as long as you want..."

Watching his family get busy just for him, a strong wave of emotion surged in Chu Xuan's heart. His eyes instantly grew hot, and he forced himself to keep the tears from falling.

After showering, he came out and changed into the clean clothes his younger brother had prepared for him.

Looking at the smile on his brother's face, Chu Xuan suddenly realized that his brother had grown up and become sensible, no longer as mischievous and unreliable as before.

A large table full of sumptuous dishes had already been prepared.

There was Guobaorou, Sweet and Sour Fish, Stewed Ribs, Steamed Crabs, Braised Shrimp, and many candied haws—all of which were Chu Xuan's favorites.

The whole family sat around the table, looking at Chu Xuan with smiles. His father held a Transformer in his hand, grinning and shaking it at him while making funny faces.

His younger brother sat obediently to the side, his eyes innocent and pure.

His sister held a book of fairy tales, already beginning to narrate in a clear, melodious voice.

"Xiao Xuan, come and eat quickly. You must be starving." His mother had a kind smile on her face.

Chu Xuan's body trembled. He sat down, picked up his chopsticks, and began to eat ravenously, feeling that this meal was incredibly sweet and delicious.

In this warm atmosphere, Chu Xuan felt like his head didn't hurt as much anymore, as if it were being healed by his family's love.

"Slow down, don't choke..." His mother served a small bowl of rib soup, her expression full of heartache. Her gentle and loving smile seemed like it could melt anyone.

"Our Xiao Xuan is the best boy."

"Of course. My son is so smart; he gets the 'Triple-A Student' award every semester. His teachers praise him all the time!"

"My little brother has grown up; I can't even outrun him now..."

"Big brother is the best! He can wash his own clothes now and even cooks instant noodles for me."

Chu Xuan could no longer hold it back; tears burst from his eyes.

His family, all together and sitting around the table—wasn't this the wish he had dreamed of?

"What I have always yearned for... it turns out I already had it all along..."

Chu Xuan ate heartily, having already made up his mind.

This was the harbor for his soul and the sanctuary he craved most when exhausted. He would protect this place forever and never let anyone destroy it.