Lin Xiao was back in his room. It had been hours since he started looking for information, but it was all to no avail.
Every lead seemed to evaporate before his eyes, and even the forums that had been buzzing with activity earlier had now gone eerily silent, as if the event had never happened.
Lin Xiao closed his laptop with a sigh, feeling a growing sense of helplessness.
Xiao Bai and Lil'blackie jumped onto the bed beside him. "Nothing still?" Xiao Bai asked, his eyes wide with concern.
Lin Xiao sighed and shook his head. "No, there's nothing on the forums. It's like the whole event was wiped from existence." He slumped back on the bed, his hand resting on his forehead. "How do I proceed now?"
Lil'blackie tilted her head, her expression serious. "Maybe we're looking in the wrong place. The forums might be monitored or controlled by someone who doesn't want this information out there."
Xiao Bai's eyes lit up. "What about the old library in the city? You know, the one with all the ancient books and manuscripts? Maybe there's something there that can help."
Lin Xiao had already considered that.
The library was known for its vast collection of rare and obscure texts, and it wasn't as easily monitored as online forums. "That's a good idea," he said, sitting up. "It's worth a shot. We need to find out more about the red moon and that face, and the library might have some old records or texts that can help."
He stood up, and went downstairs, "Let's go to the library tomorrow. For now, let's get some rest."
The cats nodded in agreement and went downstairs with him.
His sister wasn't around, likely in her room. Mother Lin was in the kitchen, and her eyes lit up as soon as she saw him. "Xiao Xiao, good timing! Come with me, we're going to the market to get groceries."
Lin Xiao nodded, realizing he could use the distraction. It would be good to get some fresh air and clear his head. Plus, he hadn't spent much time with his mother lately. She seemed genuinely pleased by his agreement, and he noticed how happy it made her to have him around.
He sat on the sofa, waiting for his mother to get ready. Xiao Bai and Lil'blackie settled beside him, their presence comforting. After a short while, Mother Lin was ready. They got into the car and headed to the market.
The market was bustling with activity, filled with the sounds of people chatting, vendors calling out their wares, and the occasional honking of horns. Lin Xiao and his mother walked side by side, weaving through the crowd. They stopped at various stalls, picking out fresh vegetables, fruits, and other essentials.
"Do you remember how your father loved these?" Mother Lin said, holding up a bunch of leafy greens. "He always said no meal was complete without some fresh greens."
Lin Xiao smiled, memories flooding back. "Yeah, he did. And he always insisted on getting the freshest ones. He had a knack for picking the best produce."
Mother Lin chuckled. "He sure did. And those tomatoes—he could never resist them. He said they reminded him of his childhood."
As they moved through the market, they continued to reminisce about Lin Xiao's father. They talked about his quirky habits, his favorite dishes, and how he would always try to cook elaborate meals on weekends, even if they didn't turn out quite right.
"Remember the time he tried to make that fancy dessert?" Lin Xiao said, laughing. "He ended up burning it, and we had to open all the windows to air out the house."
Mother Lin laughed too. "Oh, yes! The smoke alarm went off, and he tried to fan it with a towel. It was a disaster, but we still had a good time."
They bought some of Lin Xiao's favorite snacks, ones his father used to bring home as treats. The simple act of shopping together and sharing these memories brought a sense of warmth and closeness. It felt good to be connected, to remember the happy times, and to feel that bond with his mother.
As they finished their shopping and loaded the groceries into the car, Mother Lin looked at Lin Xiao with a gentle smile. "I'm glad we did this today. It's nice to spend time together, just like old times."
Lin Xiao nodded. "Yeah, it is. Thanks, Mom."
As Lin Xiao and his mother drove back home, the sun was dipping below the horizon, casting long shadows across the landscape.
Lin Xiao glanced up at the sky, noting the moon appearing as it normally did—a calm, white presence in the evening sky. Yet, a strange feeling gnawed at him, an intuition that something was about to happen.
Just as they turned onto a quiet stretch of road, Lin Xiao's eyes were drawn back to the moon.
He couldn't shake the sense of unease. The air seemed to thicken with tension.
Suddenly, a piercing scream echoed through the sky, loud enough to rattle the car windows and send chills down his spine.
Lin Xiao instinctively jerked his head towards the source of the sound, searching the sky for an explanation, but saw nothing.
His heart raced as he turned his gaze back to the moon, and what he saw made his blood run cold.
The entire landscape was bathed in an eerie red light, as if the world had been dipped in blood. The once-normal moon had transformed into a sinister scarlet orb.
But that wasn't the only shock—another moon had appeared beside it, equally red and ominous.
The sight was horrifying. "What the heck is happening?" Lin Xiao whispered, his voice trembling with fear and confusion.
In that moment, a system notification flashed before his eyes:
[Polluted by a God - Chance to Lose Sanity +10%]
Lin Xiao's heart pounded. "What the heck?" he repeated, his mind reeling. The red light seemed to pulse, growing more intense.
He felt an overwhelming sense of dread, as if the very fabric of reality was unraveling.
"Xiao Xiao, what's wrong?" his mother asked, noticing his distress. She followed his gaze and gasped, her eyes widening in terror. "What is that?"