ZZZZAP!
Crackle! Crackle!
Just as Shen Ren was preparing to dodge the fire attack, he suddenly saw a bolt of lightning arc across the Eagle's body.
Sizzle! Sizzle!
The massive bird let out a screech of pain as the lightning scorched its feathers and skin, leaving behind charred patches. It convulsed briefly before collapsing to the ground, letting out its final breath.
Shen Ren, momentarily stunned, turned to the side and saw his sister, Xiao Mei, her hands still faintly crackling with residual energy from the lightning attack.
"Xiao Mei?" he murmured, astonished.
He was stunned for a moment, trying to process what just happened. Though he quickly recovered, the amazement still lingered in his eyes. As he approached her, he noticed she looked weak and exhausted, clearly drained by the use of such a powerful ability.
Suppressing his curiosity, he gently held her shoulder to keep her from collapsing.
"Xiao Mei, are you okay?" he asked, concern filling his voice.
Shen Ru offered a tired smile. "Yes, I'm fine. I told you I could help," she said softly, a sense of satisfaction in her tone.
She glanced at his arms and frowned. "But look at you brother. You're badly burned."
Shen Ren shrugged, trying to hide the pain.
"It's nothing. Why don't you tell me how you used that lightning?" he asked, quickly changing the subject.
Shen Ru grinned, raising her hand to show the crackling sparks dancing at her fingertips. "Oh, this? I have a special physique called the Sky Breaker Lightning Physique. It lets me wield lightning abilities, but it burns through a lot of Qi to use it."
"I see..." Shen Ren nodded, though he couldn't shake the sense of disappointment creeping in. His own physique didn't seem to possess any extraordinary powers like hers.
As if sensing his thoughts, Shen Ru added with a mischievous smile, "Oh, and I almost forgot—my physique is Heaven Grade."
Shen Ren felt another blow land. A Heaven Grade physique? That sounded incredibly powerful, almost untouchable. Meanwhile, he didn't even know if his physique had a grade at all. The disparity between them seemed to widen with every word.
"Am I going to have to rely on my sister to protect me from now on?" The thought briefly crossed his mind, but he quickly shook it off, forcing himself to be optimistic.
At least, knowing she had such a powerful ability gave him some comfort. She would have a better chance at surviving whatever challenges awaited them.
---
"Let's go, brother. I'm fine now. It'll be evening soon," Shen Ru said, glancing at the darkening sky.
"Okay, I'm worried about Father and Mother as well," Shen Ren replied, his voice carrying a hint of urgency.
The two siblings resumed their journey, and after encountering a few minor obstacles, they finally reached their house. To their relief, it was still intact.
Inside, their father, mother, and Aunt Dr. Shen Lin sat anxiously in the drawing room. Their father, Shen Ruanzhi, was pacing back and forth, tension evident in every step. He was a refined-looking man with a casual demeanor, dressed simply, with a pair of glasses resting on his nose. Shen Ren had inherited his father's sharp facial features, while Shen Ru took after their mother's beauty.
Dr. Shen Lin, who was seated on the sofa with a little girl sleeping on her lap, noticed them first. "The kids are back, brother!" she exclaimed softly, careful not to wake the child.
The little girl stirred, blinking her small eyes awake just as their father spotted them. "Ren, Ru'er, you're back!" Shen Ruanzhi hurried over and embraced them both with his broad shoulders, his relief palpable.
Shen Ren, wrapped in his father's arms, instinctively realized that their father hadn't awakened as a cultivator either. He felt a wave of relief wash over him. As much as the world around them was changing, he was grateful his parents wouldn't have to endure the dangerous path of cultivation.
He and Shen Ru would have to carry that burden alone.
"Thank the heavens you two are safe!" Rong Hua exclaimed, rushing closer.
The little girl, Shen Xinyi, tiptoed alongside her mother. Tugging on Shen Ren's clothes, she smiled up at him. Despite the searing pain from his burnt arms, Shen Ren couldn't resist picking her up.
"Big brother," Xinyi said innocently, "Mommy, Uncle, and Auntie said we have to leave our house. I don't want to go. Will there still be sweets for me?"
Shen Ren's smile faltered slightly as confusion clouded his face. His father, Shen Ruanzhi, spoke up. "Yes, we'll have to leave soon. It's not safe here anymore."
"Where will we go, Dad?" Shen Ren asked, concern creeping into his voice. Shen Ru also looked eager for answers, while little Xinyi pouted at being ignored.
"My business partners told me they've built a Shelter Zone surrounded by a large wall. We need to head there. It's only a few kilometers away, just outside the city. I've got the map here." Shen Ruanzhi unfolded a map and showed it to them.
Shen Ren nodded, but confusion lingered in his thoughts. "When did they build walls like that? Did they know something was coming?" His mind wandered to Ying Yue's early warning and the sudden break-up that made more sense now.
"Ren, you're hurt... you need treatment," Shen Lin said as she gently took Xinyi from his arms, her worried eyes noticing the burn marks.
His mother quickly followed her gaze, her brow furrowing in concern. "How did you get hurt, son?"
"It's nothing major," Shen Ren said, attempting to reassure them. "We just encountered an eagle that could breathe fire. The world's changing…"
Both parents exchanged worried looks, their faces tight with unease.
To lighten the mood, Shen Ru stepped forward. "Crackle! Crackle!" Lightning crackled at her fingertips as she displayed her newfound power. "Look, Mom and Dad! I can control lightning now!"
Their parents stared in disbelief. "This... this... what is happening to the world?" their mother murmured, wide-eyed.
Shen Lin quickly fetched a medical kit and began treating Shen Ren's wounds, while Shen Xinyi watched silently from the sidelines, her innocent eyes reflecting the uncertainty of the moment.
As the family prepared for the inevitable journey to the Shelter Zone, a sense of foreboding filled the air. It wouldn't be long before they left their home for the unknown.