The time was 1:16 PM.
The sliding door to the innermost room of the main house was tightly shut.
This room was not on any of the regular pathways of the Kurose Clan’s daily routines.
The room was not large, about eight tatami mats in size, with no windows. The only natural light came from the washi paper hanging lamp on the ceiling that was always lit.
The light was a warm yellow, shining on the dark cypress wood floor, on the polished brass fittings of the Buddhist altar, and on the free-standing picture frame placed beside the altar.
Hei Luan Yu Si stood before the altar, his back to the door.
Today he was wearing a dark gray shirt.
His gaze fell on the picture frame next to the altar.
The frame was made of dark wood with no elaborate carvings on the border, only a simple five-petal flower carved at each of the four corners.
It was the Tsukimi family crest, a long-lost old-fashioned pattern. In this city, probably only Hei Luan Yu Si could still accurately draw it from memory.
Inside the frame was a photograph.
The person in the photograph was a woman in her mid-twenties.
Her features were about seventy percent similar to Hisaki’s.
Especially those dark brown eyes.
This woman was Kurose Yuko, née Tsukimi Yuko.
Hei Luan Yu Si’s wife, the mother of Heilai Fei and Hei Lai Qi.
Hei Luan Yu Si looked at the photograph and was silent for a long time.
In his heart, he said some things to the person in the photograph.
Those words, Yuko could not hear.
He knew.
But every time he had to make an important decision, every time he had to weigh the organization against the family, every time he saw her shadow in Hisaki and Sumire, he would come to this room and stand for a while.
It wasn’t to pray for an answer, just to have a place where those words that could not be spoken to anyone could land.
Then, the sound of a maid’s voice came from outside the door.
She was announcing that the Young Lady had arrived.
Hei Luan Yu Si shifted his gaze from the frame and turned around.
Before he could say “Come in,” the sliding door was pushed open.
“Father!”
Hisaki stood at the door.
Her breathing was a little faster than usual, her chest rising and falling slightly, her dark brown eyes fixed on her father’s face.
Hei Luan Yu Si looked at her but did not speak immediately.
He raised his right hand, palm facing down, fingers slightly spread, and made two very light pressing-down motions in the air.
That was a gesture Hisaki had seen since she was a child, meaning “calm down first.”
No command, no scolding, just a father telling his daughter.
I know what you want to say, but don’t rush, calm down first.
Hisaki shut her mouth as soon as she saw the first pressing-down motion.
Hei Luan Yu Si lowered his hand and placed it behind his back.
When he said these words, he did not look at Hisaki but turned his head, his gaze falling back on the picture frame beside the altar.
“Yuko has not woken up yet.”
Kurose Yuko had passed away many years ago and now rested in the Kurose Family Private Cemetery on the eastern outskirts of Tenza City. There was always a fresh pine branch cut from the garden that morning placed before her tombstone.
The Kurose Yuko in the photograph was still smiling like that.
What Hei Luan Yu Si meant by “not woken up” was:
This matter was too noisy, too intense, and would disturb her who was still sleeping peacefully.
So, in front of Yuko’s photograph, we should not argue. Let’s calmly explain things.
Hisaki understood.
Her throat moved. The sharp momentum she had built up when bursting into the room was half-drained the moment the word “Yuko” was spoken.
Her gaze passed over her father’s shoulder and landed on the picture frame beside the altar.
The mother in the frame was exactly the same as in her memory.
The last time she had stood beside her mother, she had only reached her waist. Looking up, she could see the outline of her mother lowering her head and smiling gently at her.
Later, that outline was gradually soaked a little yellow by time, but it never faded by even a trace.
“I know why you’ve come.”
Hei Luan Yu Si spoke, his voice returning to its usual flat, emotionless weight.
He turned to face Hisaki, still holding his hands behind his back.
“I’ve been fully briefed on yesterday’s matter by the Underboss. A dead angle on the second floor of Sunshine Town, over a hundred people. The leader is currently at large. I will not let those who hurt your people go.”
Sure enough, Hei Luan Yu Si paused for less than a second before continuing.
Father had more to say.
Hisaki’s lips moved, but she held back and did not speak.
“I’ve already sent people to handle this. The groups that need to be cleaned up, the IPs that need to be located, and those who need to be pursued from online to offline—not a single one will be missed. Don’t worry about Xiao Bailai. The follow-up security has also been arranged.
“However… if you can talk her out of it, try to keep her from doing something unreasonable.”