Chapter Thirty-Eight: Uncle Ye

Chapter Thirty-Eight

After Night Jingxuan finished instructing the steward, Old Yu, he took Mei's hand and continued inward. Yet Mei pulled him back.

“Ah Ye, let go!” Mei whispered.

“What’s wrong?” Night Jingxuan looked at her, puzzled.

“Well, I think I’d better go in with the others. You go ahead first!” Mei said, uncertain of the etiquette in this world when visiting someone’s home, especially at such a moment. It felt safer to stay with Mo Chen and the others.

Night Jingxuan had no idea what she was worried about. He only felt she wanted to distance herself from him, so he gripped her hand tighter. “No need. You’re all my guests. Come in together!”

Unable to break free, Mei turned to the steward who had been watching her. She passed him her bow and asked, “Sir, could you keep my bow for me?”

She wasn’t sure if there was such a custom in this world, but in her original one, visiting any major family meant surrendering weapons as a sign of respect to the host. Of the six of them, she was the only one openly carrying a weapon. Unsure what else to do, she followed her instincts.

“Of course, miss,” Old Yu replied with a gentle smile, taking the bow in both hands.

Seeing his smile, Mei felt she had made the right choice.

In truth, before the apocalypse, anyone entering the Night household had to pass several checks; even a pocketknife was forbidden. After the apocalypse, with the rise of various ability users, weapons became less critical, and the rules relaxed. Since Night Jingxuan had brought them in, no one checked them. Yet voluntarily surrendering a weapon was different—it signified respect and goodwill, proof they meant no harm. For any reason, Old Yu’s impression of them improved.

Inside, a middle-aged man sat upright in the living room. A long, deep scar ran from the corner of his right eye to his jaw, giving him a fearsome look. Four burly men stood behind him like bodyguards. At this point, Night Jingxuan finally released Mei’s hand and stepped forward, bowing slightly. “Father.”

Night Jingxuan’s father, Night Shitian, looked him up and down with a stern expression. Seeing his son’s healthy appearance and neat attire, he nodded.

“It’s good you returned safely.” His words were firm, his tone stiff, and his face expressionless.

But Night Jingxuan was accustomed to his father’s manner. He straightened, respectfully asking, “Father, how is your health these days?”

“It’s fine. Have you awakened an ability?”

After the apocalypse, the number of ability users became the key measure of a family's strength, so Night Shitian was naturally concerned for his son’s power—it mattered for the Night family’s future. No matter how much weaponry they had, without enough ability users, their influence would eventually wane.

“I’m a metal element ability user. Is the situation at the Night family tense?”

“Not very. Most matters outside are handled by your cousin Night Jingnan. You can ask him later. And these are…?” With outsiders present, Night Shitian said little more, instead glancing at the group who had come in with Night Jingxuan.

“They’re my friends—Mei, Mo Chen, An Ziyou, Lin Shaojie, Qu Wenyuan. This is my father,” Night Jingxuan introduced them.

“Hello, Uncle Night!”

“Hello, Mr. Night!”

The five greeted him in two ways, making everyone a bit awkward. Mei looked innocently around, puzzled—she thought she’d addressed him properly for his age.

The others couldn’t explain; their relationship wasn’t as close, and the man was clearly not easy to approach, with a face even colder than Night Jingxuan’s. Better to be polite.

So, silence fell.

Night Shitian’s gaze lingered on Mei. He hadn’t missed that his son had brought her in hand-in-hand. He knew his son's character well, and had never seen him so intimately close to anyone, especially a girl.

With that in mind, Night Shitian softened his tone. “You’re all friends of Xuanyan. Calling me uncle is proper. Please, sit—don’t be shy! Young lady, come, sit here.”

He gestured for everyone to take their seats, and beckoned Mei to sit beside him.

Mei didn’t understand why he wanted her at his side, but after glancing at the others, she went over and sat down.

The others took seats on the sofa opposite Night Shitian. Soon, hot tea was served.

“Young lady, how old are you?” Night Shitian’s voice was gentle as he looked at her youthful face and clear, questioning eyes. His expression warmed, though his unfamiliarity with it made it hard for others to notice.

Though Mei couldn’t read much from his face, she sensed no malice.

“Seventeen,” she answered, giving the age of her body.

Seventeen? Yet she looked, at most, fifteen. Night Shitian was surprised.

He wasn’t alone—aside from Mo Chen, everyone was astonished. They never guessed she was seventeen; she certainly didn’t look it!

“It must have been dangerous getting to Changyang Base?”

“Not really. We came with a convoy from Yuehua Base. On the road, we only encountered a mutated monkey and a mutated spider—nothing dangerous,” Mei replied casually, not seeing the mutated animals as anything special. Yet to the others, her tone sounded rather boastful.

Mutated animals were even harder to deal with than mutated zombies—a fact acknowledged in the apocalypse. An ability user might escape from a mutated animal of their own level if lucky; if not, death was inevitable.

Her nonchalant tone about two mutated animals suggested either ignorance from being sheltered, or genuine skill.

Thinking his son wouldn’t easily get close to just anyone, Night Shitian tried again. “So, you must be quite formidable?”

“Mm,” Mei nodded, but her expression turned a little dejected. “But even if I say so, I doubt uncle will believe me.”

She never lied, but no one believed her!

Night Shitian found her expression amusing; it was rare to meet someone so relaxed upon first encounter. Curious, he asked, “You’re not afraid of me?”

“Why should I be?” Mei was surprised and puzzled. He wasn’t some legendary master—why should she fear him?

“But many people are afraid of me. Don’t you find my scar frightening?” Night Shitian, intrigued, teased her.

“It’s just a scar; what’s so scary? You’re much better looking than the zombies outside!” Mei answered earnestly. After she spoke, the atmosphere in the room grew strange, everyone’s faces… contorted.

A stifled laugh finally burst forth.

Everyone quickly turned to see who dared laugh.

A young man, his face beaming and barely able to contain his laughter, strode in from the doorway.

“Well said! Second Uncle, next time the juniors are scared speechless by you, send them out to fight zombies. Let them see for themselves—you’re far more handsome than any zombie! Hahaha, I’ve never heard anyone praise someone like this before!” The young man clearly feared nothing of Night Shitian’s stern face, and even teased him by echoing Mei.

Night Shitian, hearing his words, didn’t get angry as others expected, but replied, a little helpless, “Nan’er, why are you back so soon?”

“I’m currently the head of the base, after all. I knew as soon as Jingxuan and his friends arrived. Lucky I got back quickly—missing such a scene would be a shame! Come now, little sister, tell big brother your name,” Night Jingnan sat on the other side of Night Shitian, turning to Mei with a playful smile.

Mei looked wordlessly at the smiling young man, guessing he was the cousin Night Jingxuan’s father had mentioned. Regardless, his manner of teasing like she was a small pet irked her.

Her eyes flashed, and she gave him a brilliant smile. “I’m Mei—like ‘ghostly charm.’ Uncle!”

Uncle?

Night Jingnan’s smile faltered. He didn’t think he was that old.

“Little sister, you got it wrong. You should call me big brother!” Night Jingnan corrected her.

“Wrong? Aren’t you Ah Ye’s brother?” Mei tilted her head, her big eyes full of confusion.

“Yes, I’m his cousin.”

“Then it’s not wrong. You’re more than ten years older than me; isn’t ‘uncle’ proper?”

“Who told you being ten years older means you’re an uncle?” Night Jingnan asked, frustrated.

“Isn’t it said that every three years is a generational gap? You and I are separated by so many, shouldn’t I call you uncle?” Mei feigned confusion.

Night Jingnan was left speechless, feeling as though he’d aged many years hearing her call him uncle over and over.

“What do you call my second uncle, then?” Night Jingnan pressed on.

“Uncle Night, of course!” Mei replied honestly, unable to change it.

“You call my uncle ‘uncle,’ and me ‘uncle’ too. Isn’t that awkward?”

Mei’s gaze flicked between Night Shitian and Night Jingnan, and finally, she shrugged innocently. “Not at all!”

Night Jingnan was completely defeated, covering his face and leaning back on the sofa.

Stifled laughter filled the room again. Even Night Shitian’s eyes glimmered with amusement, Night Jingxuan’s lips curled up, and Mo Chen and the others bent their heads, lips twitching as they struggled not to burst out laughing.

It would be rude to laugh aloud!

But it really was hilarious!