Under the cover of night, police cars, their red and blue lights flashing, swarmed into the northern mountainous region of Holy City.
Most people had no idea what happened that night, as the higher-ups had intentionally blocked the news.
「The next morning.」
A chilly morning breeze swept through the streets. The roadside stalls were steaming, still bustling with voices. However, compared to the usual numb and hurried atmosphere, today’s conversations were clearly tinged with a bit more excitement.
Even a few elementary schoolers with backpacks were waving their arms and legs around, excitedly describing last night’s commotion...
"My brother said last night was a great worldly calamity, a red-haired great terror descended upon the world! It swallowed half a mountain in one bite!"
"That’s not right. My brother clearly said it was his fellow cultivator friend from the Kunlun Sect undergoing a Golden Core lightning tribulation. The commotion was a bit big, but that’s nothing to be surprised about."
"What’s not right about it? Maybe your brother’s cultivator friend *is* the red-haired one."
"Oh, right... But why red hair?"
"I know, I know! The book said it’s called an ominous old age, where you grow red hair all over your body. That’s why you have to rejuvenate yourself for a second spring, to defy heaven and change your fate..."
"Wow, Xiao Mei, you know so much!"
Wan Ze walked past. "..."
He silently averted his gaze.
The corner of his mouth twitched almost imperceptibly.
The higher-ups in Holy City had clearly imposed a total information blackout on last night’s events. Although rumors were running rampant among the populace, there were no related reports in the newspapers.
It was a deliberately maintained calm, its purpose unknown.
Wan Xiaoyu gently tugged his clothes. "Brother?"
"Speak," Wan Ze tossed out at the school gate.
Xiaoyu tilted her little face up, her big eyes full of curiosity. "What’s a ’red-hair’?"
"Another type of ’yellow-hair’," Wan Ze replied offhandedly, making it up.
Wan Xiaoyu looked thoughtful, then suddenly said something shocking. "I want to become a red-hair too. It sounds pretty awesome."
"..." Wan Ze’s face darkened. "Don’t be ridiculous."
"Brother, why don’t you dye your hair red?"
"Shut up and watch where you’re going!"
"Hee hee, they’re so silly... to actually believe such nonsense."
After dropping his chattering sister off at the school gate, Wan Ze turned and hurried to the high school section.
In the classroom, Zhou Xianchuan was whispering furtively about something, his face animated with excitement.
Seeing him arrive, he immediately pushed through the crowd, trotted over, and said mysteriously, "Ah Ze, about that crazy commotion yesterday, I heard some gossip. It’s huge!"
Wan Ze put down his backpack and looked up. "What gossip?"
Zhou Xianchuan looked left and right, leaned in, and deliberately lowered his voice. "The world is changing! Spiritual Qi is recovering! The officials can’t hide it anymore! Ze, let’s stop practicing martial arts. We need to think bigger! Let’s go cultivate immortality! I’ve already picked out a mountain..."
’I knew it... I really don’t know what I was expecting!’ Wan Ze took a deep breath and looked at him. "Bro, do you have a fever? Or did yesterday’s tremor rattle your brain?"
Zhou Xianchuan’s mouth twitched, and he said irritably, "Screw you, I’m serious! That’s what everyone is saying now!"
Wan Ze unhurriedly took out his textbook and said casually, "You’d rather believe in the recovery of Spiritual Qi than believe I’m the reincarnation of Emperor Ying, right?"
Zhou Xianchuan froze for a second, then nodded vigorously. "I believe it! That, I believe! I totally believe it!"
"Very well. We have just awakened, Our Dragon Soul has not yet recovered, and We lack the Power to summon Our old retainers. Might Our dear minister first sponsor Us with five yuan as startup capital? When We once again command the world, We shall enfeoff you as the Grand Marshal of the Realm, a title to be passed down for generations!"
Zhou Xianchuan’s excited expression froze. He stared blankly for two seconds, then flipped him the bird. "...Fuck, yeah right! You’re so full of it!"
Zhou Xianchuan grumbled and was about to leave, but then, as if remembering something, he sneakily sidled back, his voice even lower. "On a serious note, that guy on the bus last night mentioned mortars... That couldn’t be real, right? If that’s true, then this is a huge deal!"
Wan Ze shook his head. "I don’t know."
Outside the window, the northern sky was clear and bright. Who would have thought it was lit up by the flames of war last night?
"Bro, you really don’t care about current events at all..." Zhou Xianchuan mumbled, then said shamelessly, "Oh, right, let me copy your math homework. I was so busy thinking about the explosion last night, I forgot to do it."
"Bro, you’re one of a kind!" Wan Ze gave him a thumbs-up and pushed his homework over.
Morning reading period had just begun.
The homeroom teacher, Sun Mingde, appeared at the doorway with a solemn expression. He raised a hand, signaling for the reading to stop, and the classroom instantly fell silent.
"...I have an announcement. The school is requiring us to begin an official break starting this afternoon, lasting until normal classes resume next Monday. Students who are able to leave campus can do so after school lets out at noon. Those who can’t, please register your names. You will have a supervised study hall in the classroom this afternoon, and I will be with you the entire time... until your parents come to pick you up."
A roar went through the students, who were all stunned by this incredible surprise.
Many students stared at Sun Mingde. No one suspected they had misheard; they just thought he’d lost his mind this morning.
However...
...from the two classrooms next door, a series of sharp gasps could be heard, one after another.
So...
They were really getting a break?
Just like that, with no warning?
...
「By noon.」 The entire school was buzzing with a restless energy.
Students were everywhere, walking and talking, deep in discussion.
"You don’t think it’s related to the big explosion last night?"
"It’s definitely related. My uncle’s in the fire brigade. He called home this morning and his tone was all wrong! But when we asked what happened, he wouldn’t say a word!"
"Damn it, it must be the recovery of Spiritual Qi! Screw studying, dudes! One-click ascension to immortality! Let’s just ascend on the spot!"
"What if it’s not cultivation, but a superhuman awakening? Like the global evolution they talk about in novels?"
"That makes sense too. I pray I get a crazy-awesome talent! Nothing too fancy, just time stop is fine... Fuck, don’t look at me like that. I swear I’m not thinking of doing *that* kind of thing. I, Zheng Shemo, am not that kind of person, okay!"