Class soon ended.
After school, Li Chen and Su Pangzi walked home, casting curious glances from time to time at the fully armed Special Affairs Bureau personnel by the school gates.
"Chen-ge, what do you think they're here for? Look at that woman with the amazing figure. Holy crap... holy crap... flames are coming out of her!!"
Su Zhe's eyes practically popped out as he stared at the woman.
Li Chen narrowed his eyes slightly. He could clearly see that the fluctuating aura above the woman's head was extremely unstable, churning like the waves of the sea. It was strikingly different from Teacher Yu's: one was like a storm raging over the sea, while the other was calm at all times.
Could it be because the woman is using her ability? What if Teacher Yu used his ability too?
Li Chen fell into thought. Because he could see things others couldn't, he would sometimes stand on the road watching before becoming lost in thought, until someone interrupted him.
It wasn't until the woman got into a black sedan that—
Li Chen came back to his senses and pulled Su Pangzi away. If he didn't pull him away now,
perhaps his heart would be completely filled with the woman's figure.
Su Zhe looked thoroughly reluctant. He teased, "Chen-ge, I was only taking a look. It's not like I was measuring her bust, waist, and hips. You were staring just as hard!"
"..." Li Chen had been looking at the aura around the woman, while Su Pangzi had been looking at her figure. Those two things didn't seem quite the same, did they?
Li Chen gave him a disdainful look and said, "Just because you can look doesn't mean you can have her. You'd be better off thinking about the awakening in a few days."
Then the two figures, one tall and one wide, slowly made their way to their respective homes beneath the setting sun.
Phew~
After washing his face, Li Chen looked at his somewhat youthful face and murmured,
"Another exhausting day."
"I can't be late again tomorrow. At least I should manage it for one day."
"And the awakening is about to begin. I should do at least some preparation for it in the meantime."
The power hadn't gone out at home today. Thankfully, he wouldn't have to sleep on the balcony, at least. It was still a little cold out there at night.
After making do with a quick dinner,
he lay on the worn-out bed, gazing up at the yellowing ceiling, his thoughts wandering who knew where.
He didn't know what his future held and felt utterly lost. He had no goal. Just as Teacher Yu had said, his parents had long since died, and he had no one to rely on. He lived day to day on the bereavement allowance.
He was only sixteen, after all!
What kind of age was sixteen? No one would hire him, so he couldn't earn money and naturally couldn't survive in this society. His only way out now was the awakening two days away. If he became a Sequence User, perhaps he could scrape by in this society.
At least he wouldn't have to worry about three meals every day.
He understood that once he became a Sequence User, he could at least use that status to earn money.
A Sequence User? Am I qualified to become one?
Do I have what it takes to become a Sequence User?
Every night, Li Chen seemed to ponder his life and what he lived for. Was it for himself? Or for his deceased parents?
But neither seemed to be the answer. His life appeared to be shrouded in darkness, and he soon fell asleep while lost in thought.
Clang~ Clang~ Clang~
The peal of a great bell rang out in Li Chen's mind, waking him with a start.
His eyes snapped open. Somewhat stunned, he saw nothing but boundless darkness before him, while the bell continued to toll within it.
"Where am I? Shouldn't I be at home?"
Li Chen was utterly bewildered. He froze and hesitated for a while, but eventually stood up and looked in the direction of the bell.
In the void, seven suspended stairways led into the boundless darkness. He couldn't see what lay at their ends.
Before each stairway stood a magnificent gate, each a different color.
Li Chen subconsciously looked toward a White Door that stood open. A faint aura within the magnificent White Door seemed to be drawing him in.
It was strange. The gate seemed very familiar to him.
It couldn't have been more familiar. He even felt that it should have belonged to him in the first place.
Still puzzled, Li Chen slowly walked toward the open White Door. This space was fantastical: he could actually walk through the void, something he wouldn't have dared to imagine.
It wasn't far, and he soon reached the gate. He looked down at the white stairway beneath his feet, which led to who knew where, pondered for a few seconds, and stepped onto it.
In an instant—
He felt a terrifying pressure that nearly forced him to the ground.
Shock flashed in Li Chen's eyes. He had only taken two steps forward, yet he could no longer withstand the pressure. What on earth was happening?
Just then, a wisp of white current streamed out of the void and entered his body like a fine thread.
He could clearly feel an unfamiliar aura appear inside him, yet nothing else happened.
Then everything blurred...
Everything began to fade, and he woke with a start in the middle of the night, his clothes soaked with cold sweat.
"What on earth just happened?"
"And what were those seven gates?" Li Chen couldn't hide the shock in his eyes. He was certain that his dream had been real, yet he also found it hard to believe.
After all, it was the first time he had ever experienced such a strange dream.
He looked out the window at the night sky, where dawn had yet to break. In a slight daze, he thought he might not be able to sleep tonight.
"..."
The sun rose as usual.
Li Chen wasn't late today, but faint dark circles shadowed his eyes, as though he hadn't slept well.
Suddenly, a voice rang out in surprise. Su Zhe, carrying quite a few steamed buns, teased, "Well, look who it is!"
"Chen-ge, it's rare to see you in the classroom this early!"
Li Chen's thoughts of last night's dream were interrupted. He turned and replied, "I didn't sleep well. I am a little early today."
Su Zhe grinned and handed Li Chen a bun. "Chen-ge, have a bun. Class should be starting soon, and I don't want to eat buns during class like yesterday."
Li Chen accepted it without feeling awkward. He and Su Pangzi were best buddies. Although they sometimes played tricks on each other, they were still very close.
As they ate the buns, Su Zhe told him everything he had seen on his way in that morning. "Chen-ge, the Special Affairs Bureau's cars seem to be gone today. I even made a special trip around the academy entrance just now, and I didn't see a single one."
"They should have left."
Li Chen smiled. "Weren't you just hoping to catch another glimpse of that woman in red? Is that why you went around there?"
Su Pangzi scratched his head with a mischievous grin. Sure enough, Chen had seen right through him.
"Oh, right, the Awakening Ceremony has been moved up."
"It seems it's this afternoon. Apparently the Evil Cult has infiltrated Magic City, so they moved it up to today to keep it from interfering with the students' awakening."
"Moved up?" Li Chen pondered for a few seconds. This was rare, but it was indeed for the students' sake. Still, with the Evil Cult infiltrating Magic City at a time like this, they shouldn't be after the students, should they?
"What do you think? I don't think the Evil Cult is after the students. None of the students have awakened yet, after all. Even those with good talent couldn't possibly be identified, right?"
"Besides, there are so many teachers protecting the academy. Surely they wouldn't be that brazen?"
Su Zhe laughed too. "True. Why would an Evil Cult organization have designs on students like us? We're all just ordinary people. Even if the Evil Cult came, all they could take would be this life of mine, destined to become a hero."
"Chen-ge, just watch. I'll definitely awaken a super cool ability!!"