The sun gradually sank into the boundless sea of sand, collecting all the light and heat. When night falls, the stars begin to appear, and the old nine-story buildings are lit up. The orange-red light peeked through the iron bars and glass windows, a scene of peace and quiet. If you stand on the ground and look up at this time, through the dim light, you can see wisps of cooking smoke slowly rising. The air is filled with the scent of various ingredients, and it reminds you of the warmth of home.

This place full of life is a staff community located in the north of Shacheng City. Most of the people who live here are factory workers on long-term contracts or other stable jobs.

After dark, the street lights in the community were lit up one after another. It's 7:30 p.m., and it's half an hour before the end of the morning shift at the Sand City factory. As a result, the neighborhood is quiet, and there are few people walking around the road.

At this time, the only lively place in the community is the basketball court. Under a bright spotlight, a group of fifteen- or sixteen-year-old teenagers were chasing after me, sweating and engaging in fierce confrontations. The incandescent light shone on the slightly cracked concrete floor, and from time to time gray and black sneakers stepped on, bringing up a faint cloud of soot.

The basketball court is located in the middle of the complex and is surrounded by several buildings. On the side of the stadium is a concrete and brick spectator seat, and at this moment, a figure is crouching in the spectator seat, as if watching the teenagers play. However, in the eyes of this spectator, the teenagers' movements seemed to be half a beat slower, as if a group of three-year-olds were grabbing the ball and playing.

On the court, a handsome and well-proportioned teenager was dribbling the ball, dodging left and right, intercepting through the encirclement of two people, and then jumped up and sent the ball in his hand into the basket.

"Ye Xinyun, beautiful!" "Good!" "Kill them." The teenager's teammates cheered loudly.

"Foul." "Stealing" "It doesn't count. "The boy's opponents were angry.

The handsome young man smiled slightly, didn't say anything, and returned to his place.

"Bang Bang Bang ......"

At this moment, there was a sudden burst of scattered applause outside the stadium. Following the sound, I saw four figures appear on the edge of the court. When the teenagers in the stadium saw them, they stopped and looked over.

"打得不◎dǐng ◎diǎn ◎ small ◎ said,.▼.□os_(); Wrong! Very good! A few seconds later, four young men walked into the light, led by a tall, thin young man with bulging cheekbones and piercing eyes, who was the one who had just spoken.

The teenagers didn't speak, just watched them quietly.

"Ye Xinyun, Brother Leopard asked me to bring a message, your family has not paid interest for half a year......

"Dewey, you traitor, you grew up here, you ......" The young man beside Ye Xinyun stepped forward, interrupted the tall and thin young man's words, and said excitedly.

But he was only halfway through his words when the tall and thin young man raised his hand suddenly, "Smack!" There was a crisp sound, and the boy was pulled out.

"Why are you beating people!" "Dewey, you're not a thing!" The teenagers gathered around.

"Get out of here!" "You want to die?" The four young men took a step back and stood sideways.

In an instant, the two sides drew their swords and crossbows, as if they would fight at any time.

"Don't be impulsive, everyone, this is our family affair, and it has nothing to do with you." Ye Xinyun pulled away a few partners and said in a deep voice.

"That's right, it's only right to repay debts." Dewey said with a smile.

"Our family doesn't owe you any money." Ye Xinyun said with a frown.

"Your sister borrowed ......" Dewey was interrupted by Ye Xinyun's roar in the middle of his speech.

"My sister hasn't been home for three years, why do you say she borrowed it!"

"The IOUs are still there, written in black and white, if you don't accept it, you can tell the boss of Blackstone." Dewey's face darkened, and he said viciously.

Ye Xinyun didn't speak, just looked at the other party.

"Anyway, your parents have recognized it, I came this time, just to pass a word, Boss Blackstone said, if your family doesn't have enough money within half a year, we will abolish your two legs and let you go in a wheelchair for the rest of your life." Dewey squinted his eyes and said.

"My dad is sick and doesn't have a job yet, and our family has no money to pay back." Ye Xinyun's tone softened and said.

"If you don't have money, you can rob it, sell meat, or sell your house, there are many ways." Dewey said in a flirtatious tone.

"You ......" Ye Xinyun blushed, clenched his fists, and glared angrily at Dewey.

"Okay, the words have been brought, I was going to sue your parents, but the floor of your house is too high, I am too lazy to climb the stairs, so I bother you to inform on your behalf." After saying that, Dewey waved and left with the people.

After Dewey left, the teenagers lost the mood to play ball and scattered home. Ye Xinyun first sent home the young man who had just spoken for him and was slapped by Dewey, and then returned to his unit with a heavy heart, and walked up the stairs step by step.

His family lives on the dǐng floor, and he has to walk for a while. As he walked, his steps grew heavier and heavier. Three years ago, his sister disappeared and has not been heard from since. Nine months ago, my father fell ill and lost his job. Originally, the family was already difficult enough, relying on his mother to help others as a nanny outside, he also went out to do odd jobs, barely supporting his life. But today, when someone from the Blackstone Mercenary Group came to the door, he learned that his parents were still burdened with his sister's debts......

When he climbed to the seventh floor, he looked at the dimly lit corridor, remembered the vast road ahead, and could no longer lift his feet. Suddenly, the pain of losing his loved ones, the grief and indignation of facing reality, and the confusion about the future, as well as the huge pressure of life, all came to his heart, and he could no longer control his feelings, curled up in a corner of the corridor, and cried in a low voice. He didn't dare to be too loud, he was afraid of alarming his neighbors and parents. This home is already cold and cold, and it can't bear the pressure anymore.

After a few minutes, he collected his feelings, wiped away his tears, showed a forced smile, and then straightened up, walked up the ninth floor, and came to the front of the house.

Pushing the door in, the gray-haired Ye Mu was leaning against the dining table and dozing, waiting for him to come back to eat.

"Mom......" Ye Xinyun screamed softly.

"Xinyun, you're back, drink the soup quickly." Mother Ye woke up and saw that her son was coming home, so she hurriedly greeted.

"Okay......" Ye Xinyun took a sip of soup, and then noticed that his father was not at home, so he asked, "What about Dad?" ”

"The old man went to his old boss to see if he could arrange a job to help people watch the door......" Speaking of this, Ye Mu sighed, "You also know that since your father twisted his waist, his body is not as good as before, and now he can't do heavy work, he can only do diǎn light." ”

"Hmm." Ye Xinyun lowered his head, thought about it, and said, "Mom, I want to go to Uncle Zhao tomorrow......"

"What are you looking for Uncle Zhao for?" Ye Mu asked.

"I ...... I want to enter the factory......" Ye Xinyun hesitated.

"No way!" Mother Ye slapped the dining table and said sternly, "You haven't graduated from high school yet, you have to go to college in the future, and you have to find a decent job in the future like your sister." ”

"But......" As soon as Ye Xinyun spoke, he was interrupted by Ye Mu.

"It's nothing, eat quickly, eat well and review your homework." Ye Mu said strongly.

"Oh......" Ye Xinyun obediently lowered his head and ate dinner.

But halfway through eating, Ye Xinyun suddenly noticed that his mother didn't move his chopsticks, so he raised his head. In an instant, he saw his mother with her head bowed, tears quietly falling......

"Mom......" Ye Xinyun hurriedly got up and hugged Ye Mu's shoulders hard.

"It's been three years...... Why is your sister ...... Why is there not even a diǎn sound...... Is she ...... Isn't it already ...... She has been strong since she was a child...... Don't listen to us...... What mercenary group do you have to join...... We are honest people...... How can you mix with those people who lick blood with knives......" Ye Mu said intermittently with tears in her eyes.

"Mom, my sister is beautiful and smart, she must be fine...... Ye Xinyun comforted softly, "Maybe one day, she will come back with a rich and powerful brother-in-law." Under his persuasion, the mother gradually regained her calm. After dinner, he helped wash the dishes again and returned to his room.

Their house is a two-bedroom apartment, and since his sister joined the Blackstone Mercenary Group, he has moved from the living room to the room. In the blink of an eye, seven or eight years have passed.

The moment he turned on the light in the room, he was suddenly startled and almost shouted. Because in his room, there was a stranger standing unexpectedly. On closer inspection, the stranger was a man, in his early twenties, dressed in a black tarpaulin uniform, with a gun and sword on his back. Outwardly, the other party is a mercenary.

"Yes, it's calm." The mercenary smiled wickedly and complimented.

Ye Xinyun immediately turned around and closed the door, not because he didn't want to call, but because he couldn't. Judging from the other party's outfit and skills, since the other party can quietly appear in his room, it means that it is easy to kill him. Even if it attracted her mother's attention at this moment, it would only scare her and would not help her in any way.

"Who are you? Why are you here? How did you get in here? Are you one of the Blackstone Mercenaries? Didn't Dewey say just now, Brother Leopard will return half a year to our family, and I will go to work in the factory immediately, and I will be able to repay your interest at that time. Ye Xinyun said without stopping.

"Friend, I'll only answer one question at a time, and I'll ask when you're ready." The mercenary said lightly.

"Why are you here?" Ye Xinyun thought for a while and asked.

"I'm your sister's friend, and she's asked me to bring you a message." The mysterious mercenary said.

"My sister!" Ye Xinyun shouted loudly, and then realized that his voice was too loud, and hurriedly lowered his voice and asked, "Is it really my sister who asked you to come?" ”

"Hmm." The mercenary diǎn bowed his head.

Ye Xinyun's face suddenly turned happy, and then he asked, "My sister ......" He hesitated for a while, plucked up the courage to continue asking, "Is she okay?" ”

"She's fine, she's just busy, so ask me to come over and have a look." The mercenary explained.

"We're all doing well, you tell my sister not to worry." Ye Xinyun hesitated for a moment and said.

"Hmm." The mercenary nodded his head.

"By the way, big brother, what should I call you." Ye Xinyun looked at the other party and asked hopefully.

"Iron slag." The mercenary replied. The other party's voice was not loud, but it had an indescribable momentum.