"How could it be? I only sought out the farmer once I was sure of my resolute beliefs."
Master Tian chuckled softly, tapping his own temple, "Iāve long been a wild grass growing freely, beyond the boundary he can harvest. As long as my belief doesnāt falter, heāll never be able to pull me back. And, in the end, I still have to thank him... It was he who helped me bind the āshadow,ā allowing me to occasionally use my powers without worrying about backfiring on myself."
"So you agreed to Inspector Cheng?"
"No." Master Tian paused for a moment, then suddenly shifted the topic back, "Do you know why I never let you practice martial arts?"
"I know, youāre afraid that after awakening my powers, I wonāt live long like you."
Tian Lei pouted, "But I canāt even awaken the shadow, maybe in my case, the genetic mutation stops, and Iām just a normal person."
"No, youāre special."
Master Tianās gaze softened, with a trace of nostalgia, "When you were born, you instinctively wrapped yourself in shadows, probably because of the farmerās influence on me back then. But later, your power receded, entirely hidden until now, but it hasnāt disappeared. Maybe one day when you face danger, it will suddenly erupt."
He sighed, his voice a bit heavier: "Iām afraid youāll walk the old path I did, so I wanted you to stay in the safest place, never touching those dangers, just living as an ordinary, safe person."
"But..."
"But safety isnāt something you get by hiding." Tian Lei shook her head, but her eyes brightened, "If I hide in this building for decades and the infection tides end, whatās the point of living?"
"Yeah... Even I realized today, living like this, thereās really no flavor."
Master Tian touched his pocket, pulled out a cold beer, opened it, and took a sip.
The cold liquid slid down his throat but didnāt quell the heat in his heart.
"No matter how dangerous the outside world is, itās better than being trapped in this tiny space. Iāve been trapped for over a decade, but the wild grass in my heart that longs to grow outside has never withered, just hasnāt found the right opportunity."
"So you want to join the caravan?"
"Depends if thereās a suitable opportunity." Master Tian burped, his wine-laden laughter dispersing in the cold wind, "A third-rate assassin like your mom, lives by luck, betting her life on everything, and as for me..."
"Top assassins rely on information, layout, and strategy..." Tian Lei quickly interrupted, covering her ears with a laugh, "Youāve said that 800 times already, my ears have calluses!"
"As long as you remember."
Master Tian laughed heartily, "Today, when chatting with that Inspector Li, I deliberately demonstrated my powers to probe him, and I was also probing him in return. But while heās in the open, Iām in the shadows, so I ended up with the upper hand."
"Hmm... He should be a good person, just pretending to be indifferent, worried good people donāt live long. Unfortunately, the act isnāt convincing, doesnāt have the right aura."
"And Inspector Cheng? Is he a good person?" Tian Lei asked curiously.
"No." Master Tian shook his head straightforwardly, without a hint of hesitation.
"No?" Tian Leiās voice suddenly increased in pitch.
"What, you doubt your fatherās judgment?"
Master Tian glanced at her, "Why are you so anxious?"
"Uh..." Tian Lei stuttered a bit, "But didnāt he save my life, and yours too."
"Just because someone saved a life doesnāt mean theyāre a good person."
Master Tian couldnāt help but smirk, "Heās not fully definable yet, regarded as neutral order. If surrounded by good people, he could do good deeds, but if surrounded by bad ones, he could follow suit without any psychological burden or question his choices."
"However, how to put it, people have a magnetic field, just like you... Always encountering those who indulge in little tricks and small gains. Inspector Cheng has a magnetic field that attracts good people. Even if heās surrounded by bad people, they wonāt like him or become his friends."
"Then what about the opportunity youāre talking about?"
"Iām betting on luck, hoping my luck isnāt bad." Master Tian felt his pocket but didnāt find a second beer, so he leaned against the brick wall, sighing with a wry, cunning smile like an old fox.
"Tch, and you say my mom is a third-rate assassin."
Tian Lei shook her head speechlessly, "Let me guess, are you betting that heāll realize you were tricking him and ask you again?"
"Such harsh words, how did I trick him?" Master Tianās smile remained, "Your mom saved me back then, betting I wouldnāt kill her to silence her. So Iāll try him too. Besides, Iām going out to risk my life, dealing with infection sources, Infected Bodies, Mutant Beasts, and dealing with those troublemaking kids outside. This job isnāt easy, and I could lose my head at any time."
"Also, the price he offered today is all vague. I want to see something more tangible, promises that would make Master Tian willingly help him."
"Such as?"
Tian Lei pressed on, but Master Tian didnāt answer further, just leaned against the brick wall, eyes closed, listening to the wind.
From the crack in the window of the fifth floor, a manās hoarse singing floated on the wind from a radio.
He sang:
"Life is like a ruthless carving knife, changing our appearance."
"Are we to wither before we bloom?"
"I once had... dreams!"
...