Tomb raider: You're going to extract my alien bloodline?

Chapter 52 is an extra chapter for "Mint Grass Jelly Ice Cream".

Thanks for the generous gift! Next time, no need to spend money. Just browse around and have fun, a couple of freebies will do!

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Zhang Qiling led Qin Yuan through several winding alleys, eventually stopping in front of a courtyard house with dusty exterior walls that looked quite old.

It was already getting dark, and there weren't many people in the alley, except for a few faint barks from a dog in the distance.

Qin Yuan was waiting for the deliveryman to take out his keys and open the door when he saw this man look up at the courtyard wall, then take two steps back, take a light running start, push off the wall, grab the top of the wall, and flip up as if he had no weight. He squatted on the top of the wall, turned around and gestured to him with his eyes: Come up.

Qin Yuan: "..."

Well, as expected of Zhang Qiling, even his way of getting home is so unique. It seems he either forgot his keys or simply doesn't have this habit.

Qin Yuan glanced at his gloved hands and then estimated the height of the wall. Fortunately, his enhanced physical abilities were impressive, and he didn't exert much effort, flipping over as he had been shown, landing relatively easily.

The yard was quiet, not too big or too small, and tidied up... well, it perfectly matched his stereotypical image of someone who was practically disabled in life.

There wasn't much of anything superfluous; even fallen leaves were scarce on the ground. The doors to several houses were closed, giving the place a desolate feel. In the corner, however, stood an old locust tree, growing quite lushly, adding a touch of life to the yard.

Zhang Qiling jumped down from the wall and pointed to the main house and the east wing: "These two are occupied. You can choose the rest yourself."

The implication is: You can stay wherever you like, except for those two rooms, but you'll have to clean up after yourself.

It seemed there was another tenant in the house besides Zhang Qiling. Qin Yuan readily agreed and headed towards the west wing. He had just pushed open the slightly jammed wooden door and hadn't even had a chance to see how much dust had accumulated inside when he heard a soft rustling sound from the wall behind him.

The two turned around at the same time and saw another person squatting on the wall. Judging from the way they came home, it was definitely the owner of the other house.

The man was dressed entirely in black—a black leather jacket, black leather pants, and black boots—and wore large black sunglasses. Wearing sunglasses in a dark alley at night was just as absurd as Qin Yuan wearing sunglasses to hide his heterochromia.

He squatted on the wall in a casual, even somewhat nonchalant, manner, with an unlit cigarette dangling from his mouth.

Qin Yuan's heart skipped a beat, and he subconsciously adjusted his sunglasses. Wow, they're wearing the same clothes… no, the same style?

Hei Xiazi clearly noticed the extra person in the yard, especially Qin Yuan's sunglasses and leather jacket, and a playful smile appeared on his lips.

"Yo, mute." Black Glasses greeted Zhang Qiling first, his voice carrying a hint of nonchalant roguishness. "Rare indeed, bringing someone home?" He nimbly jumped off the wall, landing silently, and walked straight over, his gaze sweeping over Qin Yuan like a searchlight, lingering especially on his sunglasses and gloves for a few seconds.

Zhang Qiling glanced at him and uttered a single word: "Blind." That was her response.

Hei Xiazi wasn't annoyed. He chuckled and moved closer to Qin Yuan, almost pressing his face against his to examine him closely. "This is... a new friend? Dumb, aren't you going to introduce him?" His aura was complex, a mix of arrogance and a carefree,江湖-like air. He seemed easy to talk to, but Qin Yuan's instincts subtly sensed a hidden danger.

Zhang Qiling was silent for two seconds. Just when Qin Yuan thought he was going to mention the tenant or his teammate, he heard him utter two words calmly:

"younger brother."

Qin Yuan: "...?"

Black Bear: "...Pfft!"

Qin Yuan opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but then felt that this identity... wasn't necessarily a bad thing? It was better than explaining that he was a transmigrator with an alien system, a mutated bloodline, and someone who came to lock up alien machines.

Black Bear seemed to have discovered some earth-shattering gossip; if he took off his sunglasses, his eyes hidden behind them would surely light up.

He stroked his chin, circled Qin Yuan a little, and said in an exaggerated tone, "Brother? The mute brother, that's my blind brother! What should I call him? Wearing sunglasses at night, is that because he took after his blind brother, his eyesight isn't good either?" His last sentence was clearly a joke.

Qin Yuan composed himself. Since his brother had given him this identity, he would just go along with it. "Qin Yuan, your eyes... are alright, but you're a little sensitive to light." He made up an excuse, since he couldn't take off his sunglasses anyway.

Black Bear raised an eyebrow and patted him on the shoulder familiarly: "Qin Yuan, nice name! But the surname is Qin? Dumb, is this brother your biological brother? A cousin? A godbrother? The surname is Zhang? Zhang Qin Yuan? Or... Dumb, are you actually adopted? Or is he your half-brother who was lost and wandered off?" He went on and on, his words becoming more and more outrageous, until he was practically stirring up trouble on purpose.

Zhang Qiling didn't speak, but merely lifted his eyelids and glanced indifferently at Hei Xiazi. His gaze held no murderous intent, yet it made the surrounding air temperature drop several degrees, carrying a calm threat that seemed to say, "Try saying another word."

Black Bear immediately raised his hands in surrender, but his smile widened: "Alright, alright, I won't ask, I won't ask." Black Bear hooked his arm around Qin Yuan's neck, then looked at Zhang Qiling, "Dumb guy, what's for dinner? Besides boiled water and possibly expired compressed biscuits, is there anything else edible here?"

Zhang Qiling: "..."

Qin Yuan glanced at the deserted courtyard, wide enough to run a horse in, and realized it was unrealistic to expect Zhang Qiling to conjure up a meal. He reached into his pocket, pulled out a wad of cash from his system space, and offered, "Let me treat you. Let's eat out; consider it my lodging fee?"

Black Bear was the first to respond: "Great job, little brother! I know a street food stall nearby that has amazing barbecue!"

Zhang Qiling did not object, which can be considered as acquiescence.

So, half an hour later, this strange scene appeared in front of a popular barbecue stall in the night market:

Two tall men, both wearing large sunglasses late at night and dressed in a way that seemed out of place with the lively atmosphere around them, stood side by side in the ordering area.

One of them, grinning roguishly, was loudly ordering food from the owner: "Fifty skewers of lamb, twenty pieces of beef tendon, five skewers of kidney..." The other stood quietly to the side, his face partially obscured, but his hands were busy carrying two large cases of beer, ready to pay the bill.

About five meters away from them, another handsome young man in a hoodie was standing alone under a bare tree, his body slightly turned to the side, his back to the two strange men in sunglasses, his whole being screaming, "I don't know them, I'm just passing by."

The surrounding diners and passersby would occasionally glance at the two strange men in sunglasses late at night, whispering among themselves. Zhang Qiling pulled his hood down further, looking as if he wished he could disappear on the spot.

This meal... was quite eye-catching. Hei Xiazi didn't seem to care at all, even enjoying his meal and frequently raising his glass to toast Qin Yuan. Qin Yuan felt a little awkward eating while wearing sunglasses, but thankfully he could just use the barbecue pole horizontally. Zhang Qiling remained silent throughout, quickly finishing his food and then continuing to gaze at the sky, trying to blend into the night.