Family

With Karen's current soul strength, even if he were dozing in a reclining chair taking an afternoon nap, his sensory perception could casually blanket over half of Luojia City. Thus, the moment Uncle Mason wheeled a client out of the nursing home, Karen had already locked onto him. Karen had deliberately taken this route because he knew Uncle Mason would definitely pass by here when driving back to Mink Street. Yet even though he had tracked the hearse all along, when the family vehicle drove past him, the sheer impact still left Karen feeling a faint touch of daze and fluster. This Nutshell-brand hearse had been purchased before Karen left home. A few years had passed, yet it still looked brand-new. Even the protective plastic film over the body hadn't been peeled off, labels still clinging flush against the carriage. Karen could have waved or called out. If he wished, he could have seated himself inside the hearse in the very next instant. Yet his hand rose and his mouth parted, but he did not wave, nor did he make a sound. A surge of timidity welled up from deep within. He was terrified that if he took the initiative to call out, the hearse would dissolve into thin air, and he would discover that this was merely a dream, an illusion, a trial. He had experienced similar scenarios far too many times in the past, and he had grown accustomed to severing again and again such temptations that threatened to sink him into delusion. Because the longing was so deep, when it was finally within reach, it felt all the more unreal, fraught with intense insecurity. Screeech... Ahead, the vehicle that had just driven past suddenly slammed on the brakes, pulling off a hearse drift. Karen smiled. It seemed Uncle had spotted him after all. "Kanna, remember to call him Uncle in a moment. He's a wonderful elder." "Mm." Little Kanna nodded. Purr's paw lightly traced a circle on Little Kanna's head—a reminder for Kanna to speak up. After spending so much time together, they knew each other inside and out, so Purr understood very well what to do at specific moments to make Karen feel more at ease. Catching the hint, Little Kanna put on an amazed expression and piped up, "That car is so pretty!" Karen nodded, confirming with warmth, "Yeah. That's the best car in the world." In the beginning, the family had used a modified hearse, which was quite inconvenient. Later, they purchased this brand-new Nutshell Professional Edition hearse. Karen still remembered the feeling when the new vehicle arrived home, the first time he sat in the driver's seat and gripped the leather-wrapped steering wheel with both hands. His hearse complex had been born from that very moment. Perhaps in secular eyes, a hearse symbolized bad luck—people might even spit hurriedly onto the ground upon encountering one in the street. But in Karen's eyes, it was a tangible symbol of solemnity and dignity, and even more, the vessel carrying his family's livelihood. Relying on it, his uncle who had failed in investments could prop up the household once more, his aunt could find shelter after her divorce, and an orphan who had lost his parents like him, along with his younger cousins, could enjoy security and stability. The hearse began to reverse, but after backing up only a short distance, it suddenly stopped. Then it accelerated forward, vanishing around the end of the street in no time. "Huh..." Little Kanna, who had already put on an adorable expression ready to greet the uncle, blinked. "Is Uncle nearsighted?" Purr yawned and replied, "When picking stocks, yes, meow." Little Kanna: "Then Uncle must have a lot in common with the fun-lover." "That's right, meow. When the time comes, we can set up a table on the roof for the two of them." ... "Mr. Mason, what's wrong? That really looked like Young Master Karen! It's been a few years, but I took a close look just now... and that golden retriever looked very familiar!" "It must be Karen! Our Karen is back! Hahaha!" Mason laughed as he pressed hard on the gas pedal. "But, Mr. Mason, what are you doing?" Mason took a deep breath and said, "Through the branch here, we checked on that apartment we helped Karen take out a loan for back then..." "I remember Young Master Karen paid off the mortgage early. Madam Mary was so happy at the time, she told everyone she met." "Yes, he paid off the mortgage, but the registered owner of that apartment changed later. He sold the apartment again." "Ah, how could that be..." In the early days, Karen's first apartment in Allen Apartments was indeed bought with a loan. Later, to ease the pressure on the family, he paid off the loan ahead of schedule. Subsequently, Karen moved multiple times—first to the Pavaro Funeral Parlor, then to the Whip of Order Apartments, and now into the Barrier Castle. That original apartment had already been bought by Xili for her own family to live in. Alfred originally wanted to gift it to Xili, but Xili insisted on buying it with her saved wages. At first, she wanted to register it under her younger brother's name, but Alfred claimed an employee welfare discount offered twenty percent off that wouldn't apply under someone else's name, so it was ultimately registered in hers. Alfred had even shared this anecdote with Karen over tea. However, because Karen rarely contacted home, it caused a misunderstanding for his aunt and uncle far away in Rulan. Inquiring about Karen through whatever channels they could, upon learning that the owner had changed, they assumed Karen had sold the apartment to pay off his debts. As for Karen mentioning during his occasional correspondence that he was doing great and living a prosperous life, in the elders' eyes, this was nothing more than a child away from home reporting only good news and hiding the hardships. Truth be told, right at the start, Uncle Mason had disagreed with his father's arrangement to let Karen follow the Allen family to Wien. Though he knew the Allen family was fabulously wealthy, possessing a vast manor and countless businesses in Wien, Mason understood all too well that marriages between families of vastly disparate status rarely sustained happiness. He didn't want his nephew suffering or being bullied abroad. He would much rather his nephew stayed home to run the funeral parlor alongside him. The family wasn't doing poorly by local standards, and his nephew was handsome just like he had been in his youth. Finding a wife like his aunt and living a peaceful, happy life—how wonderful would that have been? "Ron, did you see the clothes Karen was wearing?" "I did. A very ordinary robe..." Guided by Uncle Mason's presupposition, Ron slipped into analytical mode as well. "Oh, yes, Young Master Karen's clothes look dirt-cheap at a glance, and a bit ill-fitting. And that little girl beside him has white hair—could she be sick? I heard that with certain incurable illnesses, hair turns white. And that dog—it was fine when it left, but now its head is completely bald! Ah... it looks like Young Master Karen is really having a rough time." What Karen was actually wearing was the divine robe gifted by the Whip-Wielder, inhabited by Qianmei. On the black market, it was a sensational treasure. But among the secular world, Karen would toggle the robe's state to make it look restrained and ordinary. And the robe's traditional cut looked ill-fitting in Ron's eyes—perhaps only a wine-red slim-fit suit would strike him as high-end. Mason said, "That's why I couldn't face him just now! The boy had a hard time out there and couldn't make it, so he finally came home. The pressure must already be crushing. And my nephew has always had a proud streak—he's probably rehearsed an entire story by now. What I need to do right now is rush home, tell Mary and the others, and make sure they're ready to play along, rather than bumping into him halfway and throwing off his rhythm and embarrassing him! "Who knows, maybe he rented better clothes and plans to change right before walking through the door? "Or maybe he's walking this distance so that a cab ride closer to home will be cheaper? "Sigh, my poor Karen." "Mr. Mason, you're a truly wonderful elder. Truly." "If I were, I wouldn't have let him leave home in the first place! In fact, I've known for a long time that he wasn't doing well there. His wife's family name is Allen, but what was the apartment he took out a loan to buy? Allen Apartments! If the couple truly had a good relationship, would he have needed to take out a loan to buy his wife's family's property?!" Mason drove the hearse into the courtyard of their home. Mary walked out, habitually directing Ron to wheel the guest down into the basement. But as soon as the rear door opened, she caught a whiff of a foul odor. Ron: "Aha, Madam, I have great news to tell you!" Mary: "Did you eat shit, Ron?!" Ron: "..." Mason grabbed his wife's arm and pulled her toward the house, while calling out his sister's name. Mary: "Damn it, Mason, I told you to keep an eye on Ron and make sure the nursing home nurses cleaned the guest first! You didn't listen to me again! Now the hearse stinks, and I'll have to..." "Karen is back!" "...have to wash Karen myself—what?!" Mary froze. "Say that again?" "Karen is back! I saw him on the road. He's walking toward home, almost here." "If you saw him, why didn't you give him a ride?" "He hasn't been doing well. Now that he's home, I wanted to give you all a heads-up first." Just then, Aunt Winnie walked out and asked, "Who's back?" Mason: "It's a day off today. Call all the kids out. I have something to instruct everyone on, quick!" ... Little Kanna looked at the house number and read, "13 Mink Street." Karen said, "Kanna, remember this place. This is home." Little Kanna tilted her head up to look at Purr atop her head. "Is it Sister Purr's home too?" Purr: "Yes, indeed." She had stayed in the Inmeles household far longer than in the Allen Manor. Karen adjusted his clothes. One advantage of the divine robe was that its embedded arrays could meet various needs. Karen activated the self-cleaning array, making the robe look fresher and more vibrant. However, just as Karen was about to push the gate open, an older-model hearse drove up and pulled over by the entrance. A middle-aged man stepped out of the driver's seat. He looked closely at Karen, then shouted in delight: "Young Master Karen! Haha, Young Master Karen, it really is you! You're back!" "Hello, Paul. How have you been?" Paul was originally one of the family's two assistants, along with Ron. Unlike Ron's lackadaisical lifestyle, Paul had always been diligent about learning. Not only did he learn how to drive and earn a raise, but he later contracted the crematorium, rising from a hired hand to a partner of the Inmeles family. "I'm doing great, Young Master Karen! I'm a father of three now, haha!" "Congratulations, Paul." Purr looked at Karen: "Meow." Kanna looked at Karen: "Meow." Kevin jumped on the bandwagon, turning his dog head to look at Karen: "Woof!" "Young Master, is she your..." Paul looked at Kanna. "She's my daughter, Kanna. Greet Uncle Paul." "Hello, Uncle." "Hello, hello, Miss Kanna." Paul tactfully refrained from mentioning the child's hair color. At that moment, behind the living room door, Uncle Mason and Aunt Mary stood on either side, preparing to walk out naturally the moment Karen entered the yard and gasp: "Oh my goodness, Karen, you're home!" However, Paul's arrival threw off their timing. Mason: "Why did Paul come now?" Mary: "He's here to deliver urns." Mason: "Do we keep standing here waiting?" Mary: "The engine of Paul's second-hand hearse can be heard from the back street." Mason: "Then do we go out?" Mary: "Let's go!" Mason and Mary stepped out through the front door. Their steps were so in sync that their arms bumped into each other, both stumbling and nearly tripping over the steps. Seeing this, Karen quickly pushed open the courtyard gate and walked in. "Uncle, Aunt!" "Karen, you're back!" "Haha, my Karen!" Uncle Mason stepped forward and gave Karen a tight embrace, then stepped aside. Aunt Mary moved in next, wrapping Karen in a gentle hug and patting his back: "It's good that you're back, so good to have you home. We're not leaving this time—just stay right here at home. We've all missed you so much." "I missed you all too, Uncle, Aunt." Stepping into the living room, Karen saw Aunt Winnie sitting inside, pretending to sip from an empty coffee cup. Aunt Winnie stood up in "surprise." "Karen, you're back!" "Yes, Aunt." "Let me see, let me see." Aunt Winnie came forward, took Karen's hand, and carefully examined the changes in him. "You've grown taller, and more mature. That's wonderful." Little Kanna twirled around, greeting everyone: "Hello, Uncle! Hello, Aunt! Hello, Aunt! I am Kanna, Kanna Snow-White Inmeles." Once the surname was spoken, there was no room for doubt. "What an adorable child." Mary squatted down and gathered Little Kanna into her arms. Mason, meanwhile, was doing mental calculations. Based on the date his nephew left home, the child might have been conceived on the cruise ship to Wien, or right during the initial blind date. Then his nephew, enduring cold shoulder after cold shoulder from the Allen family, fathered a daughter with a genetic illness with Miss Allen... In the end, utterly unable to survive in Wien, his nephew had no choice but to bring his poor grandniece back home. Unbeknownst to Karen, Kanna's white hair had caused an entire tragic melodrama to play out in his family's minds. "Brother Karen!" "Brother Karen!" Mina, Lunt, and Chris came running down from upstairs. Mina had grown up. Girls generally matured earlier, and now she had shed her childish awkwardness, looking quite like a young lady. Lunt had grown much taller too, with visible muscles on his arms. Chris, the youngest, hadn't changed much and was still very cute. Karen hugged his younger cousins one by one. Only after the hugs did he realize a problem—he had overlooked something very important... gifts! When others returned from a trip, they always remembered to bring something for family, yet he had actually returned completely empty-handed. To tell the truth, whenever "returning home" crossed Karen's mind, all he thought of was the Temple, the Holy See... He had genuinely neglected the smaller details. If this were a clerical family, Karen could have casually gifted any of the trinkets or accessories on his person, not to mention the countless scrolls and sacred artifacts packed inside the satchel Kevin carried. The issue was that Grandfather's philosophy was for everyone else in the family to stay far away from the church circle. Thus, the accessories on him were unsuitable as gifts and would only invite unnecessary trouble for them. Since he hadn't brought gifts, giving red packets would do. Karen reached into his pocket, but inside were only point coupons—no lubi, not even a single riel. In the end, Karen could only say with some embarrassment: "Sorry, I forgot to prepare gifts. I'll make it up to you later." The family members, having already "learned" of Karen's "true situation," saw his awkward predicament—especially the gesture of putting his hand in his pocket and pulling it back out empty. This only deepened their conviction that Karen had truly been suffering out there. Aunt Winnie subconsciously dabbed at the tears at the corners of her eyes: *This poor child probably had to scrape together borrowed money just for the ferry ticket.* Uncle Mason: *This boy probably couldn't even afford cab fare, only managing to change into one fresh outfit.* Mina spoke up, "Brother Karen, it's enough that you're back. Really." Lunt chimed in, "Yeah, Bro." Little Kanna followed up with greetings: "Hello, Sister Mina, Brother Lunt, Sister Chris." "Ah, so cute!" "So adorable!" Mina and Chris immediately came over to hug Little Kanna. Lunt stood to the side, grinning foolishly. Little Kanna looked at Lunt and asked curiously, "Brother Lunt, are you still using your hand?" Lunt: "..." Karen glanced at Purr, who had hopped from Kanna's head back onto Kevin's back. Purr turned her head away, pretending she didn't exist. Aunt Mary spoke up then: "Our little Kanna seems to be using the wrong forms of address." She was addressing everyone exactly as Karen did. "Um..." Little Kanna looked toward Karen. On the way here, who was it that taught her to say "Uncle"? Karen also turned his head, pretending not to see. "Uncle, I want to go see Grandfather." "Come, I'll take you." Karen followed Uncle Mason upstairs, with Kevin carrying Purr up behind them. The first-floor living room was left to the women and children. Aunt Mary held Little Kanna in her lap, seated on the sofa, while the others gathered around. "Kanna, did you two live well in Wien? Were you happy?" Certain questions weren't suitable to ask Karen directly, but it was far easier to learn their actual situation from a child. Kanna recalled her life in Wien during this period: if she wasn't doing homework, she was preparing to do homework. Kanna sighed, lowered her head, and said: "Not happy." The family members' eyes darted to each other, an expression of *just as we thought* on their faces. Mary comforted her, "It's fine. Everything will be all right now that you're home. We're all your family, Kanna." "Yes, Kanna, we're all your family." "Live with us from now on. We'll take you out to play." Little Kanna asked with slight doubt, "Really?" Even Grandmother's intervention hadn't been able to halt Sister Purr's march toward making her do homework. Little Kanna harbored serious doubts about this family's ability to intervene. After all, she could sense that Grandmother was formidable in a fight, whereas the family here... were all ordinary mortals. "Of course! You're our little sister," Mina said. "Mina, you're her aunt." "Hehe." Mina waved her hand. "Same difference! I want to dote on her like a little sister. Brother Karen was so good to us when he was home." Before Karen left home, he would have heart-to-heart talks with his younger siblings. Of course, most importantly, Karen had already been receiving a share of the family income back then and could earn extra on the side, so he gave them plenty of pocket money. Chris asked, "Kanna, where's your mother?" Aunt Winnie glared sharply at her daughter at once. *What kind of question is that?!* Only after asking did Chris realize she had misspoke. Little Kanna replied, "Sister Purr." In the little bone dragon's eyes, Karen was an equal father, and Sister Purr was mother. "Sigh." Aunt Winnie let out a sigh. *Poor child, her mother isn't around, so she can only play with a cat.* Aunt Mary asked, somewhat indignantly, "What about that young lady from the Allen family? Doesn't she come to see you?" The young lady from the Allen family? Eunice? Little Kanna shook her head. "It's not easy to see her at all. Most of the time, she only lives in Karen's... in Daddy's mouth." Aunt Mary and Aunt Winnie exchanged glances: *Both being mothers, how could her heart be so cruel as to abandon her own daughter just like that?* Mina kissed the back of Little Kanna's hand with heartache and said, "It's all right, we love you. We all love you. An aunt is like a mother too, right, Chris?" "Uh-huh, uh-huh!" Chris nodded vigorously. "I'll use my allowance to buy you dresses!" At this moment, Paul spoke up: "Ladies, please carry on chatting. I'll head to the market to buy some groceries." Even though he was a small business owner now, Paul knew contracting the crematorium was thanks to the support of the Inmeles family. Thus, he had always considered himself a hired hand of this household. "Thank you for your trouble, Paul." Mary looked down and asked Little Kanna, "Kanna, what do you usually eat at home?" "Pills." Instantly, the atmosphere throughout the entire living room came to a dead halt. The way everyone looked at Little Kanna grew even more heartbroken. ... Karen followed Uncle Mason up to the third floor. Uncle Mason opened the door to Grandfather's bedroom and gestured for Karen to come in. Purr didn't follow him inside, hopping onto the windowsill instead. This was her favorite spot. Kevin hopped up as well, resting his chin below her paws, his canine eyes following Purr's gaze outside. The sky was pitch-black and dense, as though rain was imminent, yet not a single drop had fallen, as if brewing a true tempest. Purr said, "It seems Xiti isn't coming... but she might, I really don't know. With her temperament, having lost face here last time, she'd definitely clamor to come along this time. If she came, that would be wonderful. I truly hope she's one of those pillars of light right now." Purr looked down at her cat paws. "Hehehe, meow." Kevin wagged his tail, brushing it gently across Purr's back. The gaze he cast at the dark clouds outside was tinged with clear disdain. Even if one said a thousand or ten thousand times that the gods were about to return, so long as they hadn't truly descended, then he—Raniedal—remained the most mysterious and powerful existence in this world! "Woof!" Purr reached out a paw and patted Kevin's bald head. "Good boy, stupid dog. Of course I know we'll fight together. We are... Evil God Knights, meow!" ... Karen saw Diss lying on the bed. Diss wasn't dressed in a nightrobe, much less loungewear, but in his priestly vestments. On the coat rack nearby hung neatly ironed formal attire. This meant that under the meticulous care of Uncle Mason and Aunt Mary, Grandfather was not sleeping away his days as an invalid, but living just as he always had. From the perspective of ordinary people, caring for a bedridden elder in such a manner demanded an immense amount of devotion. "Thank you, Uncle. You've worked so hard." "Hey, kid!" Uncle Mason clapped Karen on the back, laughing affectionately. "What are you thanking me for? You call him Grandfather, but I call him Father!" Karen walked to the bedside. Uncle Mason brought a chair over. "Here, sit and talk with your grandfather. He surely missed you." Right after, Uncle Mason leaned toward the bed and called out to Diss: "Dad, your favorite grandson is home. He came to see you." With that, Uncle Mason stepped out of the bedroom, leaving the space to the long-parted grandfather and grandson. Karen looked at Diss's still sharp, resolute features, remaining silent for a long time. He had so much he wanted to say to him. He could talk about the people he had met over the years, the events he had lived through, the sights he had beheld; he could also speak of how many temple elders had arrived in Luojia this time, which legion was deployed... There was clearly so much he could say, yet at this moment, Karen did not want to speak. Sitting before him, all urgency, hesitance, and crises faded into insignificance. Even if lightning were to flash, thunder to roar, and fierce winds to rage outside in the next moment, none of it mattered anymore, because he was home. This home had always sheltered him from wind and rain. Even after he departed, its protection had continued to endure. His composure did not stem from his current strength and standing, nor from Kevin lying on the windowsill outside, but from the elder lying asleep before him. Wait a little longer—wait until the rain truly begins to fall; Wait until our Lord Rasma successfully condenses the godhead fragment; Wait until the elders of the Temple descend once more in their arrogant postures; Wait until those who advocate for the gods' descent reveal their true desires and faces. There was still time anyway, and there was no rush. Let the fish take the bait on their own. You can sleep a little longer, rest a little more, and let them perform on stage a little longer; Most importantly, dinner needs time to be prepared as well. Karen stood up. Smiling faintly, he said, "Grandfather, when the food is ready, I'll call you again."