1. Silent Storm.

"This place is strange."

The old man sat in front of the old building. It looked abandoned. The windows were broken, the door was open, and the walls were covered in moss and vines.

"I wonder what happened here?" The old man sighed. He looked at the old sign that hung above the entrance: The Black Lion Inn. He'd never seen such a shabby inn before.

He walked inside. As expected of ruin, the floor was covered in rubble. Someone had smashed the chairs and tables. All that remained were scraps of wood and metal. Even the bed was destroyed.

His eyes fell upon a bookcase, and he picked up a few books. He opened one, and he read the title: Tales of the Ancient World. His brows furrowed, and he closed the book.

"Where did I put my pipe?" The old man fished out his pocket and found it. After putting the pipe between his teeth, he continued looking for a lighter. Eventually, he spotted a box of matches sitting on top of the desk. He lit the pipe and started smoking it.

A moment later, he heard someone approaching him. Turning around, he saw a young girl. She wore a blue dress, and her hair was tied back with a ribbon. Her skin was white as snow, and she had dark brown eyes. She was around 15.

"What do you want?" The old man asked. The girl stared at him suspiciously, then took out a piece of paper and handed it to him. He took the letter and read it. Then he said, "It seems that our paths crossed by chance."

"Is it from Miss Maria?" The girl nodded. "Then go home now," the old man ordered.

The girl slowly got up from the chair. The next moment, she was gone. The old man placed the letter on the desk and noticed a small red gem on the desk.

"That's an important thing. Don't lose it." He smiled and put it in his pocket. The old man sighed, the world really changed.

***

At the beginning of a new day. The Old Man woke up early and went to the kitchen where he prepared breakfast for the guests. Today, he made egg-fried rice.

While preparing the food, he heard a knock at the door. When he opened the door he saw Xu Jinli, A young beautiful man and a little 4 years old child. The old man smiled when he saw them as if he saw his old friends.

Xu Jinli had a cold face which suited his beautiful face, he came and sat on the dining chair.

The old man served them their meal and said: "Eat!"

Xu Jinli was shocked when he received his eggs, "Eggs? How come I didn't notice?"

The old man smiled and answered, "You don't seem to have noticed because you're a vampire and your senses are dulled."

"Oh right…"

Xu Jinli rolled his eyes, He was used to the old man now. After eating his food and helping the child eat, he asked the old man.

"What about them? Did they settle down?"

The old man picked up the dishes to wash them and answered by the way.

"Yeah, Almost all of them came back, only 23 people are missing. Do you want to wait?"

Xu Jinli was silent for a while and shook his head.

"They seem to have other plans."

The old man smiled.

"Well, I'll give you this for free. That is a reward for being an old friend. You need not pay me anything else."

"Thank you very much for the information."

The old man shook his head.

"Anyway, what is your plan?" The old man asked. Xu Jinli looked at the little child who was playing with his fingers.

"What can I plan, when they are ready we will move."

The Old man understood, Anyway he was ready to follow Xu Jinli whenever Xu Jinli wants.

***

"Ah, look at the sky! It's so blue today!"

Xu Jinli was sitting in a chair in the garden of the inn. He looked up to see the clear blue sky and felt a sense of freedom. The Oldman felt bored after a while and this was when the inn door rang and another person came.

He was handsome and looked young but had an air of superiority.

Xu Jinli and the old man together looked at the man. The Old man smiled while Xu Jinli nodded.

"Little Yui is back? Do you want to eat something?"

Yui shook his head but thinking of something he said in a hoarse voice.

"A cup of warm water."

The Old man shook his head.

"Brat, That's not something to eat."

Yui ignored the old man and sat opposite Xu Jinli.

"Boss, I heard 3 of us were killed."

Xu Jinli raised his eyebrows.

"Aliens?"

Yui shook his head.

"No, it's 'them'."

The Old man frowned too.

"Are they...them?"

Yui held a small object in his hand.

"This is a death card, it shows that the person is dead."

The old man and Xu Jinli both had a normal expression as if they knew the power of Yui. The old man gave the water to Yui. Xu Jinli asked.

"Reason?"

Yui glanced at the little child while replying.

"They reached out to their families and tried to take them away."

The old man was furious. He slammed the table.

"Just this?!"

Yui nodded and drank the water.

Xu Jinli shook his head.

"Do you know something?"

Yui nodded.

"Yes, We learned more about the Dark Mages."

"Dark mages?"

Yui nodded.

"These guys are actually Dark Magic users or Dark Magicians."

Xu Jinli glanced at Yui.

"Of course I know they are Magic users but what did you learn about them?"

Yui looked at the ground with his lips pursed.

Xu Jinli thought for a moment, then he suddenly stood up.

"Let's go."

Yui followed Xu Jinli inside.

"Hey, What are you doing?"

The old man was stunned and asked.

"Dealing with them."

Everyone was stunned by Xu Jinli's words.

"How dare you?"

"Enough!"

Xu Jinli turned to face them and glared.

"We will decide who dies. They kill 3 because they wanted to leave us and we had no obligation to protect them. However, now those Aliens can touch my people and I can let them be?"

Xu Jinli's eyes had anger in them. The Old man tried to say but then he shook his head.

"I will take care of the child."

Xu Jinli paused and looked at the child and saw the child looking at him. He nodded to the old man.

"Do me the favour. Don't let the child cry."

The old man laughed.

"Don't worry. Kids are happy by crying. And besides, I'm used to it."

The old man looked at the child and smiled.

"Can you drink this?"

The child looked at the cup and after drinking, said: "More please."

Xu Jinli saw this and nodded to Yui. The two left the inn.

***

Xu Jinli came to the Guild Hall and glanced at the few people.

"All are here?"

"Oh? Boss!"

"Boss you are back?"

"How is the old man?"

"Boss, There is a new report."

Xu Jinli smiled at the people. These are his own people. He sat on the chair near the bar.

"Good morning everyone!"

Everyone cheered and greeted him.

"Today's lunch is fried rice, go get some!"

Xu Jinli said cheerfully.

Everyone laughed. Xu Jinli looked at Yui.

"So, where are they?"

Yui replied with a cold expression.

"I thew them in underground jail."

"And our people?"

"Old Lady is treating them."

Xu Jinli nods. A young lady comes and stands opposite Xu Jinli. She had a furious expression.

"Xu Jinli! Our people are treated like this! Are we not humans?! We are also their own people and they declared us Aliens?! On what basis?!"

Yui put a hand on the shoulder of the young lady. This Young lady's friend was one of the 3 people who were killed.

Xu Jinli glanced at the young lady and lowered his eyes.

"I'm sorry."

The young lady lowered her head in shame.

"Yui, Why did you bring them here?"

Yui shrugged.

"Because I was told that these aliens might attack them."

The young lady laughed angrily.

"They are double face! And Yui! Do you think that they differentiate between us and Aliens? Hah."

Xu Jinli smiled. Yui glared at the lady but he left the hall. The lady shook her head and sat beside Xu Jinli.

"So how's the Old man?"

Xu Jinli nods.

"All fine. Can cook the best food as always."

"So when is he coming back?"

Xu Jinli glanced at her.

"Are you so free?"

The lady laughed.

"No."

Xu Jinli chuckled and said, "But that's good too. You should try it sometime."

The lady laughed.

"Okay then, what happened?"

Xu Jinli thought for a moment.

"Someone called the help."

The lady raised her eyebrow.

"Oh who?"

"Kuroi. She knows it is dangerous, but she still insisted."

The lady nodded and said, "If you want to save someone, then you should do it yourself."

"Indeed."

The lady glanced at Xu Jinli.

"But you don't intend to save someone and want to get away with a reason?"

Xu Jinli smiled.

"Knew you will understand."

The lady rolled her eyes.

"No need to flatter. I do have a reason for you. Go to the Moon Desert. I heard that aliens and humans are fighting for that land recently. But my intuition says there is a treasure to discover."

Xu Jinli raised his eyes with interest.

"Oh?"

"Yes, I believe a lot of things have been hidden there. Just go and find out."

Xu Jinli nodded.

"Alright, I will do just that."

The lady laughed.

"You're such a good guy."

The lady stood up and left. Xu Jinli watched her until she disappeared into the crowd. Then he turned around in his seat.

"Haah… I'm going to the desert."

Xu Jinli rubbed his head. The people saw their Boss like this and didn't care they had other things to do.

"Go ahead, boss. Make sure you don't die."

One of the men from the guild said. Another voice said.

"Die? What are you talking about?"

The man grinned at him.

"I was just saying!"

"Ahaha, that's what happens when you drink too much."

Another man added.

"Come on, Kid, Drink up."

The man shoved a glass of alcohol in the kid's hand.

The kid shook the hand. He stood up and said.

"I have work! I won't drink!"

The guildsmen laughed.

"Kid you are drunk!"

Xu Jinli saw the casual and refreshing atmosphere and a warm smile came to his face. They missed such relaxation the most.

"Who cares? I am not a kid anymore."

Xu Jinli took a big gulp of alcohol and threw up.

"Mgh... Mhh..."

He coughed hard. He wiped his mouth with his sleeve and stood up.

'Damn still disgusting.'

His Anorexia is getting worse day by day.

***

"Haaah... I hate this place…"

Aqua, his familiar, was lying down on the floor. She must be tired. The old man who was acting as her guardian was also sleeping. The old man opened his eyes and looked at the distance then lay down with the child in his arms.

'Did I forget something?'

The old man thought.

But he ignored it.

***

Xu Jinli rushed to the Guild Hall, the child was already asleep. He gently laid him on the bed and went outside. The sun had set, and night had fallen.

The Old man saw Xu Jinli.

"I thought I forgot something, here take this with you."

Xu Jinli looked at the lunch box and smiled.

"Thanks for the hard work."

"How many days will you be gone for?"

The old man asked after a moment.

Xu Jinli thoughtfully said.

"Maybe 3 days?"

The old man mumbled.

"I am hearing 3 a lot today."

"What?"

The old man smiled.

"It's nothing."

The boy laughed.

"No, but actually, I'll be busy for 3 days."

The old man nodded. He doesn't care anymore. This kid can go to death's mouth one day and come out alive another day. They are all used to this.

But still-

"Don't die."

Xu Jinli laughed.

"Do you think I can die?"

The old man rolled his eyes.

"How I wish I could think that."

He replied.

The old man hugged the child and went back inside.

Xu Jinli went to the Guild Hall as well.

For some reason, he was feeling uneasy.

His heart was beating fast. Like something very important will happen soon.

Something extremely important. Or...was he just nervous?

He stood at the entrance of the guild hall and felt dizzy. It came from nowhere.

Wait...Is he sick again?

Maybe he was a crow mouth and the next moment he felt numb and fell down.

'Damn...not again.' was the last thought before he fainted.

When Xu Jinli woke up, the sun was high in the sky.

An empty lunch box was sitting beside him. He slowly got up and looked around, no one was there. Then he noticed the food was gone.

Yui came inside with an old lady.

"Oh, still alive?"

The old lady said with a joyful voice. Xu Jinli shook his head.

"Mn, Still alive. How are you, Doc Maria?"

Maria the old woman nodded.

"How can I not be fine but you- What the hell is wrong with you! I told you to take your meds on time! But what?! All meds are untouched!"

The old lady Maria, as if a switch was clicked shouted.

Yui leaned on the door frame and yawned, he was used to this.