"Got it, I'll make sure to call next time." Xu Mo secretly breathed a sigh of relief. This time, he had managed to keep things under wraps without a hitch—he really had to thank that incompetent classmate.
After washing the bloodstains off in the bathroom, Xu Mo changed into clean clothes. As soon as he returned to his room and put away his "spoils of war," he heard Xu Nanshan knocking on the door.
"Xiao Mo, if you're free, come out for a moment. I need to talk to you."
"Oh, one sec, I'll be right there." Xu Mo quickly stuffed his bloodstained clothes into a plastic bag and hid them under his bed. Then, with a hint of unease, he stepped out of his room.
Xu Nanshan was seated in the center of the living room sofa. The usual "family discipline" tool had been replaced with a tea set. When he saw Xu Mo approaching, he gestured for him to sit across from him and personally poured a cup of tea, placing it in front of him.
This kind of solemn atmosphere was rare. Xu Mo had a vague idea of what his father wanted to talk about, so he didn't dare to speak first. Instead, he carefully held the teacup and listened quietly.
"Xiao Mo, what was your score on the last monthly exam?" As expected, his usually reserved father opened with an inquiry about his studies.
"I think it was 484? It's been a while, so I don't remember exactly, but it shouldn't be off by more than five points." Xu Mo knew this wasn't a high score—just average in his class, neither particularly outstanding nor falling behind.
"That's about ten points higher than the exam before that, not much of an improvement." Xu Nanshan nodded. He was well aware of Xu Mo's usual performance, so he didn't criticize him too harshly.
"Dad, why are you suddenly bringing up the last monthly exam?" Xu Mo was surprised. His father had said a month ago that he wouldn't mention it again, yet here he was bringing it up.
"Don't worry, I'm not here to rehash old matters." Xu Nanshan waved a hand, his tone gentle. "Xiao Mo, you're eighteen now, an adult. Your mother and I have talked, and we think it's time for you to start making your own decisions. We won't be making choices for you like before."
"Dad, are you saying…"
"Yes, in six months, you'll graduate from high school. You know that last year's cutoff score for top-tier universities was 640, and even second-tier universities required at least 550. With your current scores, you'd likely end up in a third-tier school or a vocational college." Xu Nanshan took a sip of tea, his tone carrying a trace of regret. "Although there's a push for well-rounded education these days, society still values academic qualifications above all. Without a degree from a prestigious university, most companies won't even consider your application. Your mother and I discussed it and thought that rather than struggling through a mediocre university, it might be better to invest in a vocational school where you could learn a skill. That way, at least you'd have a trade to rely on after graduation. But we also don't want to make this decision for you and have you resent us later, so we wanted to hear your thoughts."
Seeing his father's conflicted expression, Xu Mo was overwhelmed with guilt. He had never taken his grades seriously, not realizing how much worry it had caused his parents. They had already started racking their brains over his future, yet he had been so indifferent.
As Xu Mo remained silent, deep in thought, Xu Nanshan assumed he had been too hasty. This was a major life decision, one that could determine Xu Mo's future. Expecting an immediate answer was indeed unrealistic.
Patting Xu Mo's hand reassuringly, he said, "It's okay, I just wanted to bring it up. You still have six months—there's no rush. Take your time and think it over…"
Xu Mo was momentarily stunned. His father had always been the strict, authoritarian figure in his life. The mere mention of "Dad" brought to mind countless memories of being disciplined with a rattan cane. Yet today, he saw a different side of him—a father who cared, who worried, who was willing to let his son make his own choices. The stark contrast was almost hard to believe, and a warm feeling gradually spread through his chest.
Dropping the mask of sternness he had worn for eighteen years—this was his father's true self.
"Dad… I'll do my best."
Xu Nanshan smiled in relief. Xu Mo hadn't made any concrete promises, but these words were enough.
—
The clock hands pointed to eleven. The dim yellow glow of the streetlights filtered through the floral curtains, casting strange, shifting shadows on the walls. Another quiet and peaceful night.
It had been an hour since Xu Mo returned to his room, but his father's words still echoed in his mind. The college entrance exam, university, career, future—words that once seemed distant were now looming right in front of him. For the first time, he realized he needed to start planning for what lay ahead.
His father's suggestion about a vocational school came from a place of care, but Xu Mo had no intention of considering it. After all, with the enhancements brought by the Apocalyptic Shard, his memory and cognitive abilities had far surpassed those of an average person. If he started working hard now, reaching the top-tier university cutoff score in six months wouldn't be an impossible feat. There was no need to settle for the worst-case scenario.
Rather than focusing on the college entrance exam—something he could easily achieve—what he truly needed to think about was his path as an Apocalyptic Shard Wielder.
It had been nearly two months since December 21st, the day he obtained his first Apocalyptic Shard and awakened the ability Gentle Touch. Throughout this time, he had faced numerous challenges, even brushes with death. But despite everything, he had never truly identified himself as a "wielder." He still saw himself as just an ordinary person with a bit of extra strength, instinctively approaching problems the way a regular human would—thinking like a normal person, solving things like a normal person—never considering the advantages his shard-given powers could offer.
Before, he had never thought there was anything wrong with this. After all, no matter how strong his abilities were, he was still human. It was only natural to think like one. But looking back on the near-fatal battle he had just survived, he finally realized just how wrong—how utterly naïve—he had been.
There was nothing wrong with thinking like a normal human. The problem was that from the moment he obtained his first Apocalyptic Shard, the world he belonged to was no longer the same. The people he faced were no longer ordinary humans.
As Chang Ziteng had once said, the world of Apocalyptic Shard Wielders was fraught with danger. If he wanted to avoid it, he had only one option: give up his shards, exit this world, and return to being a regular person. That path might come with its own worries, but it would at least be free from the life-threatening dangers of the wielder's world. After all, the two were not the same world at all.
Shard wielders possessed powers beyond human imagination. The force of conventional society had little power over them, and the legal system that governed ordinary people was practically meaningless to them. Though their world seemed to exist within modern civilization, in essence, it had regressed to the most primitive rule of all—the law of the jungle. Survival of the fittest.
Xu Mo had once believed that staying low-key, avoiding conflict with other wielders, and simply living his life in peace was possible. He only planned to use his powers for self-defense, nothing more.
But today's ambush shattered that illusion.
The world of Apocalyptic Shard Wielders was lawless. In a realm where personal strength reigned supreme, there were no governments, no organizations strong enough to impose order. Wielders might have incredible power, yet they were more vulnerable than ordinary people—because once you entered this world, there was only one rule that mattered.
Power. And more power.