The cicadas outside were frantically calling, while the hum of the electric fan dispelled the continuous buzz.
The television camera switched back to the studio, the host looked down at the script while speaking:
"The spokesperson for the Association reminds citizens: If you find anything resembling black belt-like objects recently, please stay away and call the emergency hotline to report. The identity and motives of the 'Black Cocoon' are still under investigation, and our station will continue to follow the progress of the event. Next up is the weather information."
Upon hearing this, Ji Minghuan withdrew his gaze from the TV screen.
He thought, "While Gu Qiye hasn't returned home yet, I should use 'Restraint Detection' to see what abilities Su Zimai has, and maybe complete the main task directly."
Thinking this, he opened the skill tree panel to confirm the skill's effects.
[Restraint Detection (Learned): When you use the restraint belt to touch an opponent (must be human), a series of data (attributes, abilities) will pop up in your mind.]
Although he had not used it in practice yet, from the text, it seemed he only needed to touch without error. He thought.
"Do you want a drink?" Ji Minghuan said, getting up from the sofa.
"Cola," Su Zimai said.
"Alright."
Ji Minghuan walked to the corner of the living room, opened the refrigerator door, took out a bottle of cola from the freezer, and grabbed a cone ice cream from the lower frozen compartment.
He slowly strolled closer to Su Zimai, raised the hand holding the cola, and from the sleeve of his school uniform jacket, the restraint belt emerged, gently and slowly reaching for her shoulder from behind.
In that second, the pitch-black restraint belt darted out like a tiny hook snake from the sleeve of the school uniform jacket, weaving through the veins of Ji Minghuan's wrist.
Afterwards, it slowly touched Su Zimai's shoulder.
[Condition met: Touch the target's body, passive skill "Restraint Detection" activated.]
On the sofa, Su Zimai, who was playing with her phone, shivered as if a venomous snake suddenly coiled around her neck.
She was still wondering what touched her body, then turned her head abruptly to see a bottle of icy cola. Just taken from the fridge, the red container was emitting white mist.
At this moment, Ji Minghuan had already retracted the restraint belt into the sleeve, and to divert Su Zimai's attention, he chilled her neck with the cola and then released it.
As cold as an ice block, the cola can fell from Su Zimai's shoulder like a stone off a cliff, but she quickly reached out and caught it.
"Are you sick or something?"
She shot a sidelong glance from the back of the sofa, coldly staring at Ji Minghuan, her voice deepened. No one enjoys being pranked like this, especially when she just felt something bizarre stinging her.
"Helping you get a cola, and you have such a poor attitude. Next time, I won't." Ji Minghuan said, tearing open the ice cream cone package while checking the data panel generated by "Restraint Detection."
[Target Gender: Female]
[Target Attributes: Strength: D-level; Speed: C++ level; Spirit: B-level]
[Extraordinary Species: Exorcist]
[Rank: First Rank (Exorcists have three ranks in total)]
[Celestial Driver: Magic Hand (Rarity is A-level among Celestial Drivers) (Currently this Celestial Driver is bound with the demon: Refrigerator Demon)]
"What on earth is this..."
Ji Minghuan expressionlessly bit into the ice cream, then opened the task panel to see that the main task "Investigate what my sister is hiding" still wasn't completed.
"Is it because I haven't personally seen her use extraordinary powers, or because I'm unsure of her exact identity within the 'Demon Hunter'? Combining last night's scene of Gu Qiye in battle gear dressing wounds in the living room, Ji Minghuan analyzed it in his mind and quickly drew a conclusion.
"By the way," Su Zimai suddenly said.
"What now?"
"Dad said he'll come home tonight," Su Zimai said.
Ji Minghuan paused for a moment, then said, "But he didn't message me."
He thought for a moment, muttered softly, "Maybe he didn't message our brother either, just told only you?"
"Then you should tell our brother later."
"Alright, but once my brother hears dad will come back, he might not come home tonight."
"Whatever he chooses," Su Zimai expressionlessly replied, "but if my brother doesn't come back, then I will go stay at a friend's house too."
Just then, the sound of the door opening came, and the two simultaneously turned their heads from the back of the sofa, seeing Gu Qiye entering from the hallway, carrying a heavy shopping bag. The crumpled outline vaguely revealed boxes of ingredients inside.
Gu Qiye, playing with his phone in his left hand, adjusted the shopping bag with his right, and in a threatening tone, said to the two on the sofa, "I'll cook dinner tonight, you two brats better not run around; wait until after eating before you go out to play."
Ji Minghuan observed his neck; at this moment, Gu Qiye's neck had no sign of wounds, not even scars remained. Despite being severely injured by the Ghost Bell last night, he couldn't help but marvel at the Mutants' rapid recovery, although... it might also be due to the exceptional medical support of the Mutants Association.
"Got it," Su Zimai responded.
"And you, classmate Xiao Yu," Gu Qiye asked while heading to the kitchen, "Did you hear me?"
Ji Minghuan replied carelessly, "I won't run around, but another person is coming for dinner tonight."
"Who?" Gu Qiye placed the shopping bag on the kitchen table, raised an eyebrow, turned to ask, "Your classmate? Or a friend? Then I should make a good-looking meal to leave a good impression on them."
"It's dad."
The air in the living room suddenly grew quiet, Gu Qiye's expression froze, stunned for several seconds.
His reaction was due not only to their father Gu Zhuo having not been home for two years but also because... of what "Black Cocoon" said when meeting him alone last night.
.....
"Aren't you curious? What exactly has your father been doing outside these past two years? Did he really just have an argument with you and doesn't want to see you? Or... is there another plan in your father's mind, so that he had to leave alone to avoid involving you and your siblings?"
"That's right, Gu Zhuo, is he also hiding some unknown secrets just like you..."
"Think about it, is your father really such a coward? How could he be so sullen to the extent of hiding from his children and living outside for two years? Was there some reason forcing him to do so, like you joining the Mutants Association for the truth of your mother's death?"
....
After coming to his senses, Gu Qiye paused for a couple of seconds before softly saying to Ji Minghuan:
"Let him come if he wants."