About the incident with the white-haired girl, several months had passed by unknowingly.
On this particular evening, Lin Zichen was massaging his parents' shoulders in the living room.
Lin Yansheng and Zhang Wanxin, having sat in front of their computers for long periods to write novels, had many areas of their bodies become stiff and uncomfortable.
Especially the shoulders, which often made cracking sounds with just a simple move.
"Xiao Chen is really thoughtful, even knowing to massage Mom's shoulders. Mom's love for you hasn't been in vain."
Zhang Wanxin lay on the sofa, enjoying the appropriately firm massage from Lin Zichen, her face filled with happiness and pleasure.
Sitting to one side, Lin Yansheng felt somewhat disgruntled and complained, "It's unfair. You only massaged me for less than half an hour just now, but you've been massaging her for almost an hour and are still going!"
Zhang Wanxin hummed, "I was the one who changed all his diapers when he was a child and bathed him too. Now I'm enjoying a bit more of my son's filial piety. How is that unfair?"
"If you put it that way, then I really need to have a good talk with you— I was the one who made his baby formula."
"You have the nerve to mention that? The baby formula you prepared for him was either too hot or too cold, shameless."
The couple began to bicker over their words.
Lin Zichen listened and smiled, not taking it too seriously.
He knew that his parents were just bickering for fun and wouldn't actually start a real argument.
Moreover, a bit of verbal sparring could add to the family atmosphere, which was pretty good.
Meanwhile, a news report was airing on the television screen in the front.
"Capital City's Prodigy, Creating More Splendor!"
"At just ten years old, he successfully fused with the Exotic Beast Gene, able to lift a thousand-pound boulder with one hand!"
"A promising future!"
Upon hearing the term "Capital City's Prodigy," Lin Zichen immediately turned to look at the television.
Indeed, it was the prodigy from Capital City who could lift 20kg with one hand at just two years of age.
"It's this Capital City's Prodigy again, the frequency of this kid appearing on screen is way too high. Are they trying to turn him into an internet celebrity to earn money through endorsements?"
Lin Yansheng muttered, touching the stubble on his chin as he watched the news on television.
Zhang Wanxin expressed her confusion, "This child is only just ten years old, his body hasn't even developed properly yet, and they're letting him fuse with the Exotic Beast Gene. Aren't they afraid that he won't be able to suppress the gene and that it could lead to mutations?"
After some thought, Lin Yansheng said, "After all, it is a thousand-year-old Martial Arts Family from Capital City. They know much more than we do. Perhaps they have some advanced Genetic Fusion technology."
"Advanced as it may be, it's still not right to experiment on their own child. I can't understand it." Zhang Wanxin shook her head, not appreciative of the Martial Arts Family on television.
Lin Yansheng disagreed, "You don't understand; these Martial Arts Families often place more emphasis on family interests. Sacrificing personal interests is quite normal for them; otherwise, they wouldn't have grown to such an extent."
"Yes, yes, you know best!" Zhang Wanxin gave him a look and didn't want to continue the conversation with Lin Yansheng.
Lin Zichen listened silently to the side, not voicing any opinions.
He had been keeping an eye on this Capital City's Prodigy from time to time even now.
He learned that at the beginning of the month, the boy had been working on lifting a 100kg barbell with one hand.
Unexpectedly, by the end of the month, he had grown to be able to lift a 500kg weight with one hand.
His strength had quintupled.
All he could think was that having resources at home was a good thing, allowing some to win right from the starting line.
However, I'm only 8 years old, and I haven't yet fused with the Exotic Beast Gene. Still, I can lift a 300kg barbell with one hand. Even without my family being able to provide resource support, I'm more promising than this Capital City's Prodigy...
With this thought, a smile couldn't help but appear on Lin Zichen's face.
Very soon.
Another piece of news started to be reported on television.
It was about something overseas.
In a neighboring country across the sea, an incident with Exotic Beasts attacking had occurred.
Relevant videos were released.
In the video, a dilapidated abandoned city is overrun with black swarms of giant mutant rats.
In one scene, an extremely gruesome sight can even be seen.
A giant mutant rat with eight eyes, three meters in length, is gnawing on a fresh human corpse.
Its fangs are covered in scarlet blood.
It looks abnormally ferocious.
This scene wasn't censored; it was fully displayed on the television screen, with even close-up shots, which were quite unsuitable for children.
Furthermore, Lin Yansheng and Zhang Wanxin did not change the channel to prevent Lin Zichen from watching.
This was due to the different living environments.
In this mutated Earth, the authorities wanted everyone to clearly understand the dangers of exotic beasts.
Even children were no exception.
Thus, many reports about exotic beasts tended to be quite graphic.
"Upon investigation, this exotic beast attack incident was exacerbated by the involvement of the Heretical Sect members."
"We hope that other countries can provide us, Sakura Sea Country, with some assistance to jointly eradicate the Heretical Sect members."
"We, the Sakura Sea Country, will fight to the death with the Heretical Sect elements!"
In the video, an elderly man from Sakura Sea Country with graying temples bows deeply to the viewers in front of the television after delivering his angry speech.
It was the first time Lin Zichen had heard the term "Heretical Sect."
He immediately picked up Zhang Wanxin's phone to look it up online.
He then discovered that the so-called Heretical Sect was an anti-human organization founded by traitors.
These Heretical Sect traitors, for the sake of their own interests, had betrayed the human race and become lapdogs of the exotic beasts, aiming their spears at their kin and frequently launching attacks within human territories.
Many weaker nations often suffered greatly as a result.
"It's a good thing I was born in a strong and powerful country with a relatively stable environment for me to grow up steadily," Lin Zichen thought to himself relievedly.
Now, he wished for nothing else but for his homeland to remain secure so he could develop peacefully until he turned eighteen.
By then, with his trump card, even if he encountered those giant mutant rats from the news, he would possess sufficient strength to protect himself and his family.
"Boom——"
"Boom——"
"Boom——"
Suddenly, bursts of explosive sounds came from outside the window.
The glass trembled.
Eardrums buzzed with the resonance.
Hearing the noise, Lin Zichen quickly gathered his thoughts and ran to the window to check the situation.
He drew back the curtains and saw dozens of Mechanically Modified Humans streaking through the night sky, leaving trails behind.
"Why are there so many official Mechanically Modified Humans flying at this time? Has something happened?"
Lin Yansheng, who had also come over to the window at some point, was looking at the retreating figures of the official Mechanically Modified Humans in the night sky with a puzzled expression.
Zhang Wanxin also came over, and as she looked up at the night sky, she said worriedly, "I hope nothing bad has happened."
Lin Zichen stood in front of Zhang Wanxin, quietly staring at the lingering flight trails in the night sky, sharing the same concerns as Zhang Wanxin.
...
PS: Bowls out, seeking Monthly Pass recommendation tickets!