Chapter 1 Striped Grey Plate Spider (2/2)

”Sssss!”

An overbearing and angry hiss permeated the thick walls and filled the entire stairwell. It was a deep and commanding sound.

The Striped Grey Plate Spider's legs that had just started to bend in preparation to leap momentarily froze. The spider stood still. Its blood-red eyes stopped twinkling and it began to produce a string of low squeaking sounds from its mouth.

But the monster that made the sound earlier did not hiss again.

After a moment's hesitation, the spider's blood-red eyes started to twinkle again. With uncertainty, the spider raised one of its legs to climb the stairs.

”Sssss!” As if provoked, this hissing sounded even angrier than the one before.

”Zhizhizhizhi...” retracting its raised leg, the Striped Grey Plate Spider jumped down the stairs and fled.

Gao Peng let out a breath and wiped the sweat off his brow. Why did the spider run back downstairs?

Could it all have been a game of tag for the spider? Chasing me for fun and happily going back down to its web after seeing that I'm almost home? Thought Gao Peng.

Gao Peng rubbed his chin. Hmmmm… Even he did not believe the nonsense that he just thought up.

Gao Peng took out his keys and unlocked the door. ”Pa, Ma, I'm back,” he said with a bright smile on his face.

Gao Peng pushed open the door to an empty house. It was so quiet that it seemed as though he was in a world inhabited only by him.

A gray-brown sofa was placed in the living room. Opposite was a rather old looking television set. The house was clean on the inside, with minimal decorations and furnishing. It was easy to see that the owner was diligent and cleaned the place often.

Adjusting his mood, Gao Peng took a deep breath and opened the bedroom door. The curtains were drawn, blocking out the glare of the strong sunlight and giving the room a dim look.

The bed in the room was neat and tidy. Gao Peng's face was lit with a smile and he happily said, ”Pa, Ma, I finally came in first in class for my exams. You guys must be really happy.”

Gao Peng was speaking to a framed black and white photo.

In the photo frame was a picture of a couple. The male looked elegant and gentle while the female looked dignified and virtuous. The couple smiled happily, as though through this thin piece of paper, the people from two different worlds could make eye contact with each other.

But the two people in the photo did not reply Gao Peng. They simply smiled with the same unchanging smile on their faces.

Gao Peng forcefully put on a prideful grin. ”My school results have always been bad, and you guys often scolded me for it. But now, I'm finally first in class and fourth in the grade. You guys must be so happy, right? You don't have to worry about my studies anymore,” Gao Peng said, as his eyes began to redden.

The thinly clothed teenager simply stood in the middle of the bedroom, his thoughts wandering in the silence. It was only when the sky became dark that the teenager came to his senses with a start. With an apologetic smile on his face, he said to the couple in the picture, ”Pa, Ma, the school is organizing an excursion tomorrow, so I probably wouldn't be back for a few days. But don't worry about me! The school has hired professional bodyguards to assure our safety. I will make sure to be careful!

”I've heard that this time, the school has hired bodyguards from the BlueShield Protection Company. According to what I've heard, BlueShield Protection Agency has lots of Monster Trainers. If I could become one as well, that would be the best! At least half of my classmates hope to become Monster Trainers themselves!”

In a dark and dim room, a thin and fragile-looking teen talked to himself while facing a photograph. He waved around both his hands as he spoke, clearly in high spirits. His eyes shone brightly as well, embodying his yearning for the future and his desire to grow stronger.

But no one answered his words. How he wished, at that moment, that someone could give him a thumbs-up, or some words of encouragement. Even if the people in the photo were to pop out just to oppose his plans for the future, it would still be wonderful to him.

But it did not happen. The couple in the photo remained in the photo, smiling warmly, side by side.

The room quieted down. All that was left was the sound of the teen's own breathing.

The teen suddenly felt a little cold and rubbed his elbows with both his hands, looking dejected. But soon enough, the depressing atmosphere was blown away by a sunny and confident smile on his face. He returned once again to being the bright and optimistic teenager that he was.

Leaving the bedroom, Gao Peng carefully closed the bedroom door, as though to avoid disturbing the couple in the photo.

Nobody saw it: it might have been a trick of the light. But for a moment, the smile on the couple's faces in the photo seemed happier and sweeter.