"Sister-in-law, what's going on in the news?" Dr. Shen Lin asked, hurrying into the living room, with Shen Ren and Dr. Yi following close behind, their expressions grim.
Rong Hua, seated in front of the television, nodded anxiously. "Yes, there's chaos outside. Look at this," she said, pointing to the screen.
The footage showed people rioting in the streets—committing crimes, looting, and robbing as if the entire city had fallen into madness. Shen Ren watched, his brow furrowed in concern.
"This is terrible! Son, do you know what's happening? What was that loud noise earlier?" his mother asked, her voice laced with worry. She seemed unaware of the strange display panel Shen Ren had seen earlier, and whether that was a good or bad thing, only time would reveal.
"Mother... it's like this," Shen Ren began, explaining how they had suddenly gained newfound strength through the cultivation system that had seemingly appeared out of nowhere.
His mother shook her head, still struggling to process the information. "Huh? It's hard to believe, son," she muttered, her disbelief clear.
Without a word, Shen Ren casually lifted the heavy sofa, something that would have been tough for him in the past.
"See this, Mom. This is the new reality," he said, his tone serious, as he set the sofa down gently.
Shen Ren's mother gasped, her hand covering her mouth as she watched her son effortlessly lift the heavy sofa. Her disbelief began to waver, replaced by an undeniable realization. She stared at Shen Ren, still trying to process everything.
"How… How is this possible?" she whispered, her voice trembling.
"It's real, Mother," Shen Ren said gently as he set the sofa back down. "Something changed after that loud noise. I don't know exactly how or why, but it's happening. Dr. Yi and I both have these strange panels in front of us, and we can feel our strength increasing."
Dr. Shen Lin, standing nearby, nodded in agreement, her face pale as he stared at the television screen.
"And it's not just here. Look at the chaos outside—these special people are losing control. They're becoming stronger but not everyone knows how to handle it properly. They committing crimes out of excitement."
Shen Ren's mother sank into a chair, her hand resting on her forehead. "What is the world coming to? If people are already committing crimes like this…"
Rong Hua, Shen Ren's aunt, added, "We also need to consider how widespread this is. If everyone is gaining these powers, there will be unimaginable consequences."
Suddenly Shen Ren's thoughts shifted to his younger sister, Shen Ru. His heart clenched with worry. "Mom, Meimei still outside. I need to go and bring her back safely. Quickly, tell me where she is."
His mother, Rong Hua, realized the urgency and nodded. "She said she was going to the Skyline Club. But please, be careful on the way, son," she reminded him, knowing that her presence would only slow him down.
Shen Ren grabbed the car keys, already focused on the task ahead. "Alright, Mom. I will."
As he moved toward the door, his aunt called out, her voice tinged with worry, "Take care, Ren." She trusted his intelligence and quick thinking, but with the city in chaos, anything could happen. The unknown dangers lurking outside made her concern grow.
Shen Ren gave them a reassuring nod before stepping out.
"Sister-in-law, give my brother a call as well." Shen Lin reminded.
Rong Hua gave her a nod and picked up her phone.
---
Meanwhile, Shen Ren was already driving through the chaotic city streets, his eyes scanning the devastation through the windshield. The sounds of distant shouting and the occasional crash echoed around him, adding to the growing tension in the air.
Screech!
Suddenly, he slammed on the brakes and jumped out of the car, staring in disbelief at what blocked his path.
"What the...?"
A towering Ginkgo tree, standing at an incredible 50-60 meters tall, had risen out of nowhere, its branches heavy with golden leaves stretching across the entire area, casting a shadow that blocked out the sunlight from the west. It was as if the tree had burst from the earth, reclaiming the land with its immense presence.
Shen Ren took a few steps back, craning his neck to take in the full height of the tree. As he looked around, he noticed that other similarly enormous trees—some he recognized, others he didn't. They were sprouting from the ground, causing the earth to vibrate beneath his feet.
He quickly snapped out of his awe. I can't get distracted now, he reminded himself. His priority was still on finding Shen Ru.
Breaking a sturdy twig from one of the smaller trees, Shen Ren picked it up, gripping it tightly. It wasn't much, but it was something. It gave him a small measure of confidence.
Although, he knows some basic Taekwondo moves, it might not be enough.
Who knew what could happen next in this strange new world?
As Shen Ren sprinted down the street, he noticed the destruction spreading across the city. In the distance, several buildings had been uprooted by the massive trees, their foundations torn apart. Rubble, bricks, and dust were scattered everywhere, the aftermath of the sudden transformation of the landscape. The air was filled with debris, and the chaos seemed unending.
A pang of pity hit him for the people trapped or struck by this calamity. The unfortunate ones caught in the chaos likely had no way out. But Shen Ren couldn't afford to dwell on it.
His sister, Shen Ru, was still out there, and she was his priority. He pushed forward, running at full speed, his heart pounding in his chest.
"Fortunately", he thought, "Our house is in a remote area."
There shouldn't be any problem. If so he could only hope his family remained safe back home. There were respectable guards and house workers stationed there; with some luck, they would be able to face any danger that came their way.
"H-Help! Please... Thief..."
From the road ahead, he could hear a woman struggling against a hooligan while holding a baby in her arms. The skinny hooligan was trying to snatch her belongings, but despite carrying the baby in one hand, her grip on her belongings was surprisingly strong.
Frustrated, the hooligan pulled harder, finding it unacceptable that he couldn't overpower her. The baby's cries grew louder, wailing "WAAH WAAH" as the struggle intensified.