C1 Thunder Strikes the Top Scholar!

Zhang Xiaolong lay in bed, a searing heat surging through his chest as if a fire was burning inside him.

It had been five days since he regained consciousness, though he had no idea how long he had been out before that.

His last memory was of riding in Second Brother Jiang's electric tricycle, heading to the county to catch a bus to Yanjing.

He had been clutching his admission letter to Yanjing University, with Luh Xiaoya seated beside him, who was also en route to Yanjing, albeit to a different university. A crowd of villagers had gathered to see them off.

In recent years, the novelty of having a university student emerge from the rural areas had faded, but having two from the same village was a first in many years.

What made it even more significant was that Zhang Xiaolong wasn't just any student; he was the national College Entrance Examination Top Scorer. City leaders had even visited the Zhang family home to congratulate him, which explained the village's elaborate farewell.

Scoring 748 points out of a possible 750 was a feat that had left the nation in awe and filled Zhang Xiaolong with immense pride.

But in hindsight, that score seemed to mock him. Seven-four-eight, go to hell! It was as if the heavens had sent a thunderbolt specifically to strike him down...

On that fateful journey to the county, under a cloudless blue sky, a bolt of lightning inexplicably struck him.

Zhang Xiaolong had collapsed instantly, losing all awareness.

Five days later, he slowly came to, paralyzed and unable to even open his eyes, but he could hear his parents talking.

Through their fragmented conversations, he pieced together the gist of what had happened.

Out of the entire group that day, no one had seen the lightning approach, but he was the sole victim.

Now, Clear River Village was rife with speculation. Some claimed the Zhang family's ancestors hadn't accrued enough virtue to handle such fortune, others suggested Zhang Xiaolong was paying for misdeeds in a past life, and a few even theorized he was possessed—how else could such a simpleton have aced the exams when their own children, who were already passing notes to girls in middle school, couldn't?

As Zhang Daniu grumbled about the rumors to his wife, Liu Mei, his voice was tinged with unmistakable irritation. It was understandable. He had gone from being the proud father of a College Entrance Examination Top Scorer, celebrated by all, to someone whose name was whispered in corners, a father cursed by a demon, according to local gossip. It was a bitter pill for anyone to swallow.

What infuriated Zhang Daniu even more was the transformation of his once exemplary son, and the fact that people were still spreading lies about him.

For Zhang Xiaolong, the opinions of others were of little consequence. He was more concerned with understanding what had happened to him. What was it that had penetrated his chest?

Indeed, Zhang Xiaolong vividly recalled the moment when the thunderbolt struck, bringing with it a heavy object that crashed into him. Despite the incredulity of the situation, he was certain of his memory. The searing pain in his chest was surely caused by whatever had entered his body.

But what was that object? How had it come down with the thunderbolt, and why hadn't he died from such a heavy impact? These were just a few of the questions for which he had no answers.

Lost in thought, the burning sensation suddenly escalated. His chest skin pulsed violently as if the foreign object was attempting to break free from within him.

"Hmm..." A stifled groan escaped Zhang Xiaolong's throat as he clutched the bedsheet, his eyes bulging with intensity.

In that instant, he found himself regaining some mobility.

Yet, there was no time for celebration. The intense burning in his chest demanded all his strength to withstand. As painful as it was, he was determined not to lose consciousness again, fearing he might not awaken if he did.

Sweat beaded on his forehead as he endured the pain. Then, suddenly, beams of light emerged from his chest.

The light was not blinding but rather diffused and gentle. Nonetheless, it was enough to leave Zhang Xiaolong utterly astonished, momentarily forgetting the agony he had just experienced.

Amid the soft, earthy-yellow glow, an ancient, simple black four-legged small cauldron emerged. It appeared as a mere shadow, yet it conveyed an undeniable sense of reality.

In just a couple of breaths, the light and the tiny cauldron vanished as if they were mere illusions, retreating back into Zhang Xiaolong's body.

Zhang Xiaolong frantically felt over his body, but he couldn't find anything.

He pulled open his shirt to reveal a mark of a small four-legged cauldron etched into his skin. As he was about to touch it, the mark began to fade away, and his skin returned to its former appearance, without even a speck to be seen.

Zhang Xiaolong touched his forehead, perplexed. As the College Entrance Examination Top Scorer, he had read a wide array of books, but he had no idea how to make sense of this bizarre event.

Had anyone witnessed what just occurred, they might have been frightened out of their wits, and his reputation as some kind of monster would be inescapable. Worse yet, he could be seized by some secretive agency for dissection and study.

With this troubling thought, Zhang Xiaolong vigorously massaged his forehead. He had no intention of becoming a guinea pig and was determined to keep this incident a secret.

"Is Mr. Daniu at home?"

While Zhang Xiaolong's thoughts were in turmoil, trying to figure out how to handle the strange changes he had experienced, a familiar voice called out from outside. It was Luh Dashan, Luh Xiaoya's father, who had planned to share a ride with him on that day.

Despite his name, Luh Dashan was far from mountainous in stature; he was slight and wiry, with a cunning look about him that made it clear he was the type to scheme and seek advantages. He wasn't popular in Clear River Village, but fortune favored him with a daughter who was both beautiful and bright.

Zhang Xiaolong and Luh Xiaoya had been classmates from elementary through high school, sharing a good rapport. Now, they were both headed to Yanjing University, which made Zhang Xiaolong quite familiar with 'Mr. Dashan', despite his less than favorable impression of him.

"Brother Dashan, welcome! Please, have a seat. I'll pour you a glass of water," Zhang Xiaolong's mother said, rising to extend her hospitality.

"No need to fuss, I'll just be a moment," Luh Dashan replied, his beady eyes scanning the room as if searching for something. "How's Xiaolong doing? Feeling any better?"

"It's been over a month, and there's been no change..." Liu Mei couldn't help but let out a sigh, her eyes brimming with sorrow. "I can't help but wonder what terrible karma I must have accumulated in a past life to deserve this. Why has this misfortune fallen upon Xiaolong?"

"Enough already, what good does it do to talk like that?" Zhang Daniu, clearly agitated, cut off Liu Mei, "Mr. Dashan, is there something you need to tell us? If there's something on your mind, just spit it out."

Liu Mei's expression tensed briefly before she exhaled another heavy sigh, turning her gaze towards Luh Dashan as though she had anticipated his arrival.