A Shiver of Terror

"Xiao Chen, your mom said you joined the school's Martial Arts Team. How do you like it?"

Lin Zichen had just gotten home when Lin Yansheng asked him that from the living room.

When school let out that afternoon, he'd called Zhang Wanxin to tell her he'd joined the school's Martial Arts Team and would be home late, so both his parents already knew.

"It's pretty good. I can work up a sweat after school and get some exercise."

Lin Zichen replied as he took off his shoes.

Lin Yansheng asked, "Xiao Chen, you're exceptionally talented both academically and athletically. Have you decided which path you want to take in the future?"

"I think my athletic ability is stronger than my academic ability. And martial arts has better prospects, too. Once I'm in high school, I'll join the Martial Arts Class and start training." Lin Zichen answered without hesitation.

In this world, there were no Martial Arts Classes in the earlier stages of education.

That was because training in martial arts too young could affect a person's physical development.

Only in high school, once students' bodies had nearly finished developing, did schools offer Martial Arts Classes.

Until then, students mainly focused on academic subjects.

However, schools also offered courses on Gene Fusionists, Mechanical Cyborgs, Exotic Beasts, and related topics, so students could develop in all areas.

"Funny you should say that. Your mom and I were hoping you'd take up martial arts, too. Looks like the three of us are of one mind." Lin Yansheng smiled, looking pleased.

In this world, where humanity was constantly under threat from Exotic Beasts, all pursuits were inferior to martial arts.

Only by training in martial arts and strengthening the body to a certain level could people endure the backlash of Gene Fusion and Mechanical Modification, becoming exalted Gene Fusionists or Mechanical Cyborgs.

"By the way, where's Mom?"

"Your mom went grocery shopping with Aunt Meng. She said it's Friday, so both families could get together tonight."

"No wonder I didn't see her around."

Lin Zichen nodded and didn't say more. He soon headed upstairs to shower.

He'd worked up a sweat training, and now he felt sticky and uncomfortable.

In the bathroom.

After showering and drying off, Lin Zichen stood naked before the mirror, closely inspecting himself.

Even though his workouts were intense, his muscles didn't look bulky at all. He was nothing like an exaggerated bodybuilder—his build was lean and muscular.

The kind of physique that looked slim in clothes but well-muscled without them.

"Not bad. A perfect physique."

Looking at himself in the mirror, Lin Zichen felt satisfied.

Then, on a whim, he began practicing punches and kicks in front of the mirror.

[You are practicing boxing. Qi and blood +1, hand muscle strength +1, hand agility +1, boxing proficiency +1]

[You are practicing kicking. Qi and blood +1, leg muscle strength +1, leg agility +1, kicking proficiency +1]

He hadn't practiced for long when laughter and chatter drifted up from downstairs.

It was Zhang Wanxin and Xu Meng. They'd returned from grocery shopping.

He also heard Shen Jianye and Shen Qinghan.

The two families were having dinner together tonight, and all three of them had come over.

Now that everyone had arrived, Lin Zichen picked up the clothes nearby, put them on, and headed downstairs.

Downstairs.

He saw the two mothers cooking in the kitchen, the two fathers chatting over tea, and Shen Qinghan doing practice tests on the sofa, studying hard.

Hearing Lin Zichen's footsteps, Shen Qinghan looked up at him and complained, "Xiao Chen, you took forever in the shower. I've been here for half an hour already."

"It wasn't that long."

Lin Zichen sat beside her and leisurely started looking at his phone.

He was reading the latest news and keeping up with what was happening around the country.

He hadn't been reading long when Shen Qinghan leaned closer, her face full of mystery.

"Xiao Chen, guess what Mom and Aunt Xin bought. You'll never guess."

"Hairy crabs?"

"Nope."

"Lobster?"

"Wrong again."

"Then I give up."

"I knew you'd never guess!" Shen Qinghan beamed triumphantly, then revealed the answer. "Ghost Shadow Squid meat! They bought three jin!"

Ghost Shadow Squid meat?

Lin Zichen thought he'd misheard. Surprise showed plainly on his face.

Lin Yansheng, seated nearby, said, "Your mom knew you and Hanhan wanted to try it, so she specially asked Aunt Meng to go buy some at the mall."

Hearing that, Lin Zichen felt a strange warmth in his heart.

He looked at Zhang Wanxin, busy in the kitchen, then quickly got up and went over. "Mom, let me help."

Shen Qinghan followed him in to help, too.

It was now 8:30 p.m.

Dinner was finally ready.

Although dinner was much later than usual and everyone was starving, the sumptuous spread of eight dishes and a soup made them all feel the wait had been worth it.

"Xiao Chen, this Ghost Shadow Squid meat smells so good, and it's so chewy. It's delicious!"

Shen Qinghan was beaming with happiness as she picked up a piece of Ghost Shadow Squid meat and put it in Lin Zichen's bowl.

Lin Zichen picked it up and took a bite. It really was delicious.

[You have devoured a trace of the "Ghost Shadow Squid's" Life Origin]

[Ghost Shadow Squid Atlas: 3.01%]

Hm?

The atlas progress bar had increased?

Lin Zichen was momentarily stunned, surprised. But after thinking it over, it seemed perfectly reasonable.

If he could devour it just by touching it, then eating it would let him devour even more.

As he was thinking about this, the television in front of them was reporting the news.

"Genius Girl, Shocks the Nation!"

"At just fourteen years old, she has successfully fused with the Energy Heart, becoming the youngest Mechanical Cyborg in the nation's history!"

"When her energy is activated, she can easily lift a 2,000-kilogram off-road vehicle with one hand. She can sprint a hundred meters in just three seconds and leap eight meters straight up from a standing position!"

"Once the Kyoto Prodigy, now a genius girl. Which of these two peerless talents will become the ruler of this era?"

"Will Gene Fusion prove invincible? Or will mechanical ascension be unstoppable? Let's look forward to the two geniuses' ultimate showdown in the future!"

Everyone at the table watched the report.

Zhang Wanxin said, looking exasperated, "How come there's another genius girl now? She's only fourteen. Her body hasn't even finished growing, and they've already made her a Mechanical Cyborg. What were her parents thinking?"

Lin Yansheng took a sip of soup. "They probably saw how successful the Kyoto Prodigy was as a publicity stunt, and how much money it made, so they wanted to follow suit and cash in."

Listening from beside them, Lin Zichen also thought this so-called peerless prodigy was just a publicity stunt to make money.

There was nothing wrong with making money. He could understand that.

Watching the news on the television, Shen Qinghan thought Peerless Twin Stars sounded wonderful. Full of resolve, she turned to Lin Zichen and said, "Xiao Chen, I'm going to work hard to improve myself. I hope that one day, you and I can become the Peerless Twin Stars!"

"Yeah. You can do it."

Lin Zichen gave her an encouraging gesture.

Watching the two children interact, Shen Jianye and Xu Meng felt a little bitter. They grew more and more worried about Shen Qinghan's future.

Work hard to become the Peerless Twin Stars?

But the reality was that the gap between the two children would only keep growing.

Never mind. Hanhan was still young.

She could have another day of happiness, and their friendship could last another day. Let her live in the moment.

They could worry about the future when it came...

Shen Jianye and Xu Meng had made peace with it. They figured it was best to let things take their course, and stopped fretting over every little thing.

After all, worry only brought misery and couldn't change anything.

Soon.

The television began reporting another news story.

"In XX District of Shanhai City, the head of the district Public Security Team was killed last night at 11 p.m. in his office at the Public Security Station. Surveillance footage showed that he was killed by a Giant Mutant Rat that had infiltrated the station."

"The team leader, He Chunshan, served in the post for three years. During his tenure, he made outstanding contributions to public security in XX District, arresting nineteen Rat God Cult followers and helping Mechanical Cyborgs kill three Giant Mutant Rats..."

After recounting the team leader's contributions, the television immediately aired a video interview.

The interview was with officers from the station. Each looked furious, shouting that from now on, they would fight the Rat God Cult to the death.

Everyone in the room stared wide-eyed at the report, unable to believe it.

The head of the Public Security Team was dead?

Last night at 11... Wasn't that shortly after they'd all left the Public Security Station?

At the thought, everyone felt a chill of fear.

Lin Zichen especially recalled the rat he'd seen last night, and a shiver of terror ran through him.