August 28th. Zhou Ming walked down the street, wearing a black short-sleeved shirt.
The lingering heat of late August still clung to Yu City. The pedestrians were either stylish young women holding parasols or middle-aged men fanning themselves with palm-leaf fans. Zhou Ming’s simple black shirt stood out starkly, drawing frequent glances from those around him, some accompanied by a few mocking whispers.
Zhou Ming felt a bit helpless. He genuinely had no other clothes to wear. After all, just the day before, he had been lying in a hospital bed recovering. This shirt was bought for him by a fellow patient’s family member while he was still in the hospital.
As for the reason for his hospitalization—his hometown had been hit by an Energy Beast Tide. Both his parents had died, and all his relatives were gone. In this cruel world, the fact that Zhou Ming survived, even covered in injuries, could be considered lucky. News reports of no survivors after Energy Beast Tides were everywhere.
This world was not peaceful. Two forces coexisted: Superhumans and Energy Beasts. As for the relationship between good and evil, generally speaking, Energy Beasts were evil, while Superhumans… varied from person to person.
Regarding Energy Beasts and Superhumans, Zhou Ming remembered reading this in a book: Guixu is the fundamental unit of all existence in the world. When a living being dies, its Guixu may reconstruct into an Energy Beast. Energy Beasts can strengthen themselves, or even evolve into more powerful beings, by devouring other Energy Beasts or unformed Guixu. Some high-level Energy Beasts even possess intelligence.
Superhuman abilities, on the other hand, originate from a mutation within part of the Guixu inside a human body, transforming it into “Energy,” thereby granting humans special powers.
However, as a human, physical training was equally important.
Zhou Ming’s plan for his own future was to improve his physical fitness and, combined with his ability, strive to reach the level of “withstanding artillery fire with one’s body” as soon as possible.
Fortunately, he remembered that he had awakened as a Superhuman during the Energy Beast Tide, though he passed out immediately after awakening.
Youth was a wonderful thing; you could fall asleep as soon as your head hit the pillow.
During his hospital stay, Zhou Ming’s ability had not been registered, mainly because his body was too weak to use his powers normally.
Humans truly had limits.
Zhou Ming had also fantasized about not being human—like becoming a cyborg, a hybrid species, or a higher-dimensional being—but this world didn’t have those settings. If you didn’t want to be human, you could probably only become an Energy Beast after death… or become their food.
After being discharged from the hospital today, Zhou Ming hurried to the official organization “Jingquan Union” to register his ability.
Using an unregistered ability was illegal, punishable by detention for minor offenses and imprisonment for serious ones, with a minimum sentence of five years. Zhou Ming definitely didn’t want to end up behind bars.
He took out his phone and checked the information on the official app:
Name: Zhou Ming
ID Number: 554…
Ability: Air Pressure Manipulation (Environmental Perception, Air Bullet)
Grade: Dust Grade
Currently, it was known that Energy Beasts and Superhumans were divided into seven grades: Dust Grade, Sand Grade, Windflow Grade, Flood Grade, Dust-Severing Grade, Earth-Splitting Grade, and Tsunami Grade.
The Air Bullet had considerable power, with an impact force comparable to a handgun. Its drawbacks were its limited control range—it could only be condensed within a 0.5-meter radius of his body, only one could be controlled at a time, and its direction was fixed after firing. Its effective range was about 15 meters; beyond that, it would dissipate.
Zhou Ming tapped on “Ability Details.” After loading for a moment, it displayed:
Environmental Perception: By controlling air flow, perceive the surrounding environment within a 5-meter radius.
Air Bullet: Compress air to form a projectile and fire it.
Zhou Ming remembered the massive Energy Beast that had triggered the tide in his hometown—a fish-like appearance, crimson eyes, skin covered in twisted tentacles.
His future plans… well, try to join the Lantern Bearers of Jingquan Union by his junior or senior year of university. Only a professional combat department could help him improve his strength more effectively.
Zhou Ming stood by the floor-to-ceiling window of a street-side milk tea shop, adjusting his clothes in the blurry reflection while contemplating the future.
Now he was alone, carrying a deep-seated blood feud. He had to make plans early.
Yes, Zhou Ming was still a student. Strictly speaking, he hadn’t officially started university yet; it would be accurate to call him a high school graduate. Because of this, he still carried a bit of youthful naivety and inexperience.
He raised his hand and touched his chin, looking at his black-haired, black-eyed, somewhat delicate reflection in the glass, and shook his head.
‘What am I thinking about at a time like this… I should deal with reality first.’
“Ahhh! Help!”
“Energy Beast! Run!”
“Can’t you move faster! Was all that training for nothing! I want to live a few more years!”
Zhou Ming’s head snapped up. In the distance, a panicked crowd was running toward him, a mix of terror and angry shouts. No need to think—an Energy Beast had appeared.
Why would an Energy Beast appear in the city?
Because Guixu was everywhere. The birth locations of Energy Beasts were random; they could appear anywhere.
Zhou Ming initially planned to run with the crowd. Just like when his hometown was hit by the Energy Beast Tide, he and his parents had fled with the crowd toward the town.
It wasn’t shameful. In the face of survival, nothing else mattered.
Besides, cities now regularly conducted evacuation drills precisely so ordinary people could run faster.
Zhou Ming had already started running, but he suddenly glanced back over his shoulder.
Too slow.
This speed… it was just like back then… In a few more seconds, the Energy Beast would catch up.
And then…
He didn’t want to go through that again.
Now, he also had an ability—Air Bullet, and Environmental Perception. Maybe… he could try to hold them off.
But reason told him: with his current strength, he was no match for an Energy Beast.
But if he didn’t go—who would avenge his parents?
In the end, Zhou Ming gritted his teeth, turned around, and charged forward against the flow of the crowd.
A car with crumpled sheet metal blared a piercing alarm. Drinks and snacks were scattered on the ground. Shop windows were shattered. Several bodies lay on the street, blood staining the ground.
In the distance, five humanoid Energy Beasts were surrounding a few people who had fallen.
In that instant, Zhou Ming’s reason shattered.
He remembered the scene of his parents’ brutal deaths.
Rage consumed everything.
Air Bullets shot out one after another. He charged forward recklessly.
He didn’t want to think about what happened next in detail.
He had intended to buy time, but he was swallowed by emotion, fighting like a berserker who had lost his mind, trading injury for injury, forcibly repelling two Energy Beasts and holding off the rest.
He had also nearly harmed others.
Objectively, he was saving people, but in Zhou Ming’s view, his impulsiveness had frightened the two people inside the milk tea shop.
He wanted to tell Gadelia that she didn’t need to be too grateful or take care of him.
But whenever he thought of her, the words wouldn’t come out.
“Knock, knock, knock—”
Zhang Chuanlei walked in carrying a basket of fruit, looking around.
“Hello, you must be Zhou Ming? I’m a Lantern Bearer, Zhang Chuanlei.”
“Yes, hello.” Zhou Ming responded politely.
Zhang Chuanlei placed the fruit basket on the counter, sat down, straightened his black uniform, and said seriously:
“Mister Zhou Ming, regarding your act of bravery, the government has decided to commend and reward you. Funds are being processed and will be transferred to your account later.”
“Protect yourself. Leave the danger to us.”
“At the same time, we also hope you will act according to your abilities in the future, putting your own safety first. When there’s danger, we will be at the forefront.”
Zhou Ming was silent for a moment, then nodded.
Zhang Chuanlei continued:
“We also have an invitation for you—Probationary Lantern Bearer.”
A Probationary Lantern Bearer was also part of the Lantern Bearer system and required participation in missions, though the benefits were slightly lower. This position was established to allow people who passed the political review, written exams, and practical combat tests to adapt early to the dangers and brutality of the job. If they could persevere, they could become full members after a few months.
Similar to an official “intern.”
“What do you think?” Zhang Chuanlei asked.
Zhou Ming didn’t hesitate. “I accept.”
“Good! I like decisive young people like you!” Zhang Chuanlei clapped his hands.
“Once you’re healed, report to ‘Jingquan Union.’ Our squad is waiting for you to join.”
The Lantern Bearers belonged to Jingquan Union, the specialized operations department for combating Energy Beasts and Superhuman criminals. They usually operated in groups of four, responsible for specific areas.
Jingquan Union was a transnational organization, nominally emphasizing cooperation and mutual benefit in the fight against Energy Beasts, but in reality, each country still prioritized its own interests. Local branches had essentially become dedicated national agencies.
“By the way, speaking of that foreign girl…” Zhang Chuanlei changed the subject.
“The one you saved. You should really thank her properly! When your heart stopped, she performed CPR and gave you mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. She even paid your medical bills. And she’s beautiful. What a great girl.”
He sighed.
“Ah, why don’t I ever encounter someone like that?”
Zhou Ming was silent for a moment before saying,
“She’s just a bit too enthusiastic. I find it a bit overwhelming.”
“You brat!”
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