Xu Mo was well aware that even during the day, this narrow alley saw very few passersby. The chance of someone walking by and discovering him now was almost nonexistent.
Although he didn't want to die, he had almost no hope of being saved anymore.
It turned out that HeShang's ominous words were spot on. He had often warned that one day Xu Mo would lose his life for meddling in other people's business. He just hadn't expected it to happen so soon.
Lying on the cold road, gazing up at the twinkling stars, Xu Mo felt a strange sense of tranquility. Listening to the incessant chatter of the so-called "famous expert" on the radio, he quietly savored the last moments of his life.
Dad, Mom, I had planned to take care of you in your old age, but now I must leave before you…
HeShang, I'm afraid I can't accompany you anymore to buy new games or watch anime… and that twenty bucks I owe you? It looks like it'll never get paid back…
And... that debt I may never be able to make up for in this lifetime...
Without the interference of neon lights, the night sky above the alley was particularly clear and dazzling. Xu Mo could no longer remember the last time he had seen such a beautiful starry night in this increasingly bustling city. It was as if he could reach out and grab a star with his hand.
Do people see beautiful things before they die?
"Hey? What's that... in the sky?" Just as Xu Mo was about to close his eyes, the female host on the radio suddenly exclaimed.
In the pitch-black sky, faint light had begun to emerge, dimming the stars. These lights seemed alive, constantly shifting into various patterns across the sky, like colorful ribbons being thrown upward, dancing and expanding until they merged into a vast expanse, eventually forming a vibrant, rainbow-like glow.
"Everyone, don't panic. This is likely a special natural phenomenon caused by electrically charged particles from the sun entering Earth's magnetic field. It's not some kind of end-of-world omen..."
The so-called "expert" Wang continued to speak calmly, and Xu Mo couldn't help but feel a strong urge to smack him. After going on about a bunch of complicated terms, wasn't he just trying to say that this was the "aurora"? He probably didn't even believe it himself. Anyone with a little common sense knew that auroras typically occurred near the poles. While it was possible to see them in mid-latitude regions, it was never on such a large scale. No wonder some people were associating it with "end-of-world omens."
At this thought, Xu Mo surprisingly felt a little comforted. If this strange "aurora" was truly an omen of the end of the world, then dying today might not be so unlucky after all... At least he wouldn't have to struggle in the apocalypse with his weak powers like in movies and games.
Suddenly, Xu Mo felt an increasing chill around him, his eyelids growing heavier. At this moment, he no longer cared about anything else—he just wanted to sleep.
Was it his imagination? In a daze, Xu Mo seemed to see the entire sky of seven-colored auroras suddenly shatter like glass, transforming into countless colorful light spots that fell randomly and scattered in all directions...
"Uh... can someone tell me, is this real?"
With the rising sun and the cool morning breeze, Xu Mo stood in the familiar alley, confused, looking down at his seemingly still-living body.
Looking at the jagged rips in his clothes and the dirty, blood-soaked stains, it was clear this wasn't a dream. But when he touched his stomach, it was smooth and free of any marks—how bizarre...
"Good morning, listeners! Today is February 22nd, the 17th day of the 11th lunar month, and also the Winter Solstice from the 24 solar terms. It's currently 7:30 AM, and it's time for the daily 'Shangshan News'..."
"7:30 already? Oh no, I'm late!"
Xu Mo suddenly snapped out of it, no longer pondering the deep question of "why am I still alive." He grabbed his phone card from the scattered parts of his phone, threw his bag over his shoulder, and ran off.
It wasn't that Xu Mo had thick skin or didn't care—he simply found his homeroom teacher's fury far more terrifying than death itself.
His blood-stained school uniform was obviously unwearable, but fortunately, there was enough money left in his bag to pay the fee for some handouts. He quickly bought a new jacket at a discount store along the walking street and tossed the bloody uniform into a trash bin. Then, he hailed a cab and headed straight for the school.
As the automatic school gate lit up with a red warning light, signaling that it was about to close, Xu Mo threw the fare at the driver before leaping out of the cab and charging toward the gate at lightning speed.
It must be said that while Xu Mo didn't have many strengths, his sprinting speed was quite impressive. The 50-meter path and three flights of stairs were covered in less than a minute, and he finally reached the classroom just in time to avoid the skeptical gaze of his homeroom teacher, who had a face resembling a mix of an orc and a goblin.
As soon as Xu Mo sat down, his desk mate, HeShang, leaned in with a smug expression, saying, "Hey, where'd you go last night? I tried calling you, but it didn't go through. Your mom even called me. Good thing I was smart enough to say you were at my place studying and fell asleep. That kept it from blowing up. If she asks, don't let the cover story fall apart."
"Your mom called you? Yeah... thanks. I really owe you one. If not for you, I'd be in big trouble." Xu Mo sighed with relief. Although the excuse wasn't perfect, as long as both he and HeShang stuck to it, they wouldn't face much punishment.
"Heh, no need to thank me. Friends have each other's backs, right? Besides, it was just a cover-up..."
Xu Mo shoved HeShang lightly, joking, "Shut up! What do you mean 'friends have each other's backs'? You should be saying it's 'about the money!' Don't even get me started on the fact that I don't have a girlfriend yet, let alone sharing one!"
"You ungrateful beast! Didn't I lend you more than ten limited-edition anime figurines? What, you use my waifu and then want to pretend like nothing happened?!"
"I really can't talk to you, you otaku."
Xu Mo sighed, tapping his forehead. He still couldn't understand HeShang's behavior. Had otakus evolved into a new species that had somehow diverged from the rest of humanity?
After some laughter, HeShang didn't forget to ask Xu Mo where he had been last night, grinning mischievously. "Hey, you still haven't told me. What did you do last night? Stayed out all night? Couldn't resist the urges and went to one of those places with pink lights? Did you get any red envelopes?"
"Shut up! How could I go to those places? Can't you think of anything else besides lewd stuff?"
"What's wrong with lewd stuff? Even though I live in the world of anime, I'm still a healthy young man! Youth, do you know what that means? Youth means going wild!"
"..." Xu Mo was completely speechless.
"Going wild"? More like wild toilet paper, if you ask me...
HeShang seemed eager to keep questioning Xu Mo about his whereabouts the previous night, but just then, the bell rang for the start of class, temporarily ending his relentless curiosity.
The first lesson was English, taught by their homeroom teacher, Mr. Pang, who had a face resembling a half-orc, half-goblin hybrid.
But today, Mr. Pang, who usually had an imposing face, looked strangely kinder than usual. Xu Mo couldn't help but feel an uncomfortable chill, reminiscent of the old "friendly" Japanese forces during the invasion of China. He got goosebumps instantly.
Apparently, Xu Mo wasn't the only one with this strange feeling. HeShang, sitting beside him, muttered with a shudder, "What's up with Mr. Pang today? What does he want to do? Is he targeting Xiao Bai's... you know?"
Xiao Bai, whose full name was Si Mo Bai, was the "class heartthrob" of the 3rd-year class, certified by i900, and also the class president and top student. With a delicate, almost feminine face, he was the nightmare of all the girls in the class and the enemy of every guy.
But it was clear that Mr. Pang's cheery mood had nothing to do with Xiao Bai's... well, you know. He stood at the podium, clapped his hands, and shouted loudly, "I have an announcement, everyone! Our class will be getting a new student today, and I hope you can show the spirit of unity and friendliness that Class 3 is known for. Let's make our new classmate feel welcome! Did everyone hear that?"