Chapter 3: New Beginnings, Silent Autumn

"Son!!!" Xu Yue screamed at the top of her lungs.

Chen Xiu looked toward the direction of Xu Yue's voice, his reaction delayed. Instinctively, he reached out to grab at something, but his head felt like a lead ball, tilting backward uncontrollably, dragging his entire body toward the surface of the river.

In that moment, a few short seconds seemed to be stretched by an unseen hand.

The rushing sound of water, the snapping of his school uniform in the wind, the whistling cold air beneath the bridge, the bone-chilling ice of the river, and the embers of the setting sun—all these chaotic sensations surged into Chen Xiu's senses at once.

"Why must I die? Why would I die? Why are they killing me..."

Chen Xiu's eyes were red and swollen, fine blood vessels spreading from his pupils. Memories of the beautiful moments he held dear flickered before his eyes like slides in a projector.

Splash!

A small spray of water erupted on the river’s surface, no more significant than a stray droplet.

Bright red blood drifted through the darkness like a scarlet ribbon, fine bubbles rising toward the surface, and with them, the beautiful memories before Chen Xiu's eyes began to shatter.

In an instant, an indescribable fury exploded in Chen Xiu's chest like a volcano. His heart began to tremble uncontrollably like an engine, ripples of energy radiating from his body.

The beautiful things he cherished were so small; why did they have to be erased? What right did they have to erase them, to destroy everything he held dear?

They ostracized, they feared, they were wary—so why was he the one to die? Why couldn't it be them?

Why should he die for their emotions?!

Chen Xiu's dim eyes grew as deep and oppressive as the ocean, and the hole through his brow began to heal.

At the same time, a piece of parchment glowing with black light appeared before his eyes, tadpole-like symbols wriggling upon it.

Though Chen Xiu did not recognize these symbols, he understood their meaning.

"Bear my body, embrace my power, ascend as a god once more. My name is Pangu. Will you?"

"I will."

Having said this, Chen Xiu's vision plunged into endless darkness, his body drifting south with the turbulent undercurrent.

He did not know who Pangu was, nor did he understand the full meaning of those words, but he understood the final answer.

He had nothing left to lose. If this "will" could change something, then that would be good enough.

...

"Boss, this guy is so strange. To have soaked in the Lu River for so long with such an aged body, and the news even reported he was shot in the forehead—how is he still alive?"

"I’m just a guy who makes fried rice. How would I know? Just hurry up and get some human blood for him to drink!"

"His body is so withered, drinking human blood won't restore him to his original state. Maybe we should just throw him back into the Lu River!?"

"We already fished him out; there's no reason to kill one of our own kind. Go prepare some pork."

"Boss, are you losing your mind? If pork worked, why would other Awakened take the risk to kill people?"

"The other Awakened don't have to deal with a bullet through the brain. Since we can't get human flesh, let's just try feeding him pork. Treat a dead horse as if it were alive—if he lives, he lives; if not, so be it."

"Fine, I'm going." The sound of footsteps faded away.

In a haze, Chen Xiu felt as though he were lying in a warm, soft place.

His eyelashes fluttered slightly, and his heavy eyelids were slowly lifted. What met his gaze was a flickering tungsten light bulb, followed by a blurry face looming directly over him.

"...Who are you?" Chen Xiu's cracked lips parted slightly.

"My name is Li Ji. Just call me Boss. If you can survive and are willing to stay with me, then from today on, you shall be called Li Chenqiu!"

...

Time is like running water, slipping through the cracks when one is least aware, never lingering. In the blink of an eye, two years had passed.

Tianyuan Federation, City No. 11, a rainy night.

Neon lights and fine rain slowly intertwined. Cars moved along the slick road under the guidance of traffic lights, their headlights drawing long beams through the rain curtain.

Beneath the dim streetlights, raindrops shimmered with a pale silver luster like crystals. Pedestrians held various umbrellas, weaving or strolling through the rain. Looking down from above, it was like an overturned palette, messy and disorganized.

Within this chaotic crowd, one person stood out.

He kept his head down, umbrella-less, wearing a solid black hoodie with the hood pulled low to shroud his face in shadow. His hands were stuffed in his pockets, and he strolled through the crowd with a lollipop in his mouth.

"My uncle, his uncle, they are all his uncles, high tables, low stools..."

Hearing his ringtone, Li Chenqiu turned, walked to the side of the road, and squatted down. He pulled his phone out from under his hood and pressed answer: "Hello, this is the 'Coco-Coco-Delicious Fried Rice' shop. How can I help you?"

"You brat, where did you run off to? Did you go to the First High School area? Get back here immediately!" Li Ji shouted from the other end.

"Boss, coming back is out of the question. If you want to deduct my pay, go ahead!" Li Chenqiu said, fiddling with his sparse bangs while staring at the water pooling on the road.

"You really have grown wings, haven't you? Tell me, why are you asking people about the whereabouts of the Special Investigation Bureau's Fourth Team?"

"Naturally, to kill them. With the right time, place, and people, how could I miss such an opportunity?" Li Chenqiu said casually, his relaxed tone as if he were discussing what to have for dinner.

"Are you insane? You're only at the First Inhibition stage. What do you have to fight them with? That Wang Zhongshan is at least a Third Inhibition. Do you think your life is too long?"

Li Chenqiu smiled noncommittally and looked up at the passing vehicles.

Over the past two years, Li Chenqiu had learned many things he hadn't known before, such as the "Inhibition."

There were differences in strength among individuals, which gave rise to the concept of "Inhibition."

When an ordinary person pushed their physical functions to their current limit and then subjected their nervous system to certain stimuli—such as the death of a family member or extreme sports—they could break their human genetic lock, raising the ceiling of their physical capabilities. This was the First Inhibition. The Second and Third Inhibitions followed the same logic.

Destined Ones were different from ordinary people; they started at the First Inhibition, with the same path for breaking subsequent inhibitions.

The Awakened were a special case; they did not require mental stimulation to break inhibitions. As long as they consumed humans to strengthen their physical functions to the limit, they could break through.

To avoid exposing his identity and because he felt a deep aversion to eating human flesh, Li Chenqiu had relied on his unique nature over the past two years to stay young and steadily increase his strength by eating pork, mutton, and beef—a capability other Awakened did not possess.

After a long silence, Li Chenqiu bit down on his lollipop with a *crunch* and tossed the stick into the drain.

He stood up and said, "I've watched combat videos of Third Inhibition Destined Ones. I reached that level of strength half a year ago, even though I'm only at the First Inhibition."

"You... you... even if you're confident you can win, can't you at least plan it? Li Qingxia and I could help you..."

"No need." Li Chenqiu nonchalantly interrupted Li Ji. "Killing doesn't require a plan. Strength is enough."

"Can't you wait a little longer?" Li Ji asked, unwilling to give up.

"Wait? I've been waiting ever since I lay in that bed two years ago and heard the news of my mother's death. Boss, why do you think my mother jumped? She loved me so much, but she didn't even see my body—how could she have rushed to commit suicide? Was she in despair at the time?" Li Chenqiu's pupils grew increasingly deep, his hand holding the phone trembling slightly.

There was no sound from the other end of the line.

"I will kill them. I won't spare a single one of their loved ones, either."

*Beep.*

Li Chenqiu hung up the phone and pulled his hood lower. As he turned, his delicate facial features shifted like dough, and in the blink of an eye, he had transformed into the likeness of someone else.