C1 Earth's Transformation

"Form a line, everyone. Take it easy, one at a time," the homeroom teacher called out from the front.

On June 25th, 2021, the school organized vaccinations for the students.

The Earth had recently suffered through a devastating virus the previous year, leaving no corner of the globe untouched and the loss of life was substantial.

Every aspect of life, from personal health to the economy, felt the impact.

With the introduction of vaccines this year, countries around the world were scrambling to administer them.

However, some nations stood apart due to their misplaced confidence, which led to virus mutations and a new global threat.

"Chu Xing, do you think the vaccine will be effective? I've heard the mutated virus is quite formidable," Luo Xiaoyun inquired.

"Trust our country, Luo Xiaoyun. It may not be foolproof, but it's certainly beneficial," Chu Xing responded confidently, his habit of keeping up with the news making him well-informed.

"Regardless, getting vaccinated is the most reassuring option."

"Exactly. There are many countries where people can't even find a place to get vaccinated."

"We're fortunate here. Our nation has the situation well in hand, and our everyday life is largely undisturbed."

"It's distressing to see the death toll in other countries every day. I'm genuinely concerned for them."

"There's an old saying, 'The emperor is less anxious than his eunuchs.' Worrying won't help."

...

The conversation caught on, and soon the other students joined in.

The talk then turned to plans for the upcoming summer break.

Some were looking forward to traveling, others to attending study programs, while some planned to visit relatives or simply relax at home.

"What about you, Chu Xing? What are your plans for the summer?" Luo Xiaoyun, who was on the slender side and somewhat shy, found it easy to talk to Chu Xing.

"I'll be working. And you?" Chu Xing said without hesitation.

"I'll just be staying at home," Luo Xiaoyun replied, as if it were the most natural thing, his question stemming from an understanding of Chu Xing's circumstances.

"Oh," Chu Xing murmured, a tinge of envy in his voice. Home was a concept so distant and intangible for him.

At sixteen, Chu Xing stood 1.75 meters tall and was a high school freshman.

He had grown up in an orphanage, developing a reserved nature, speaking little, and keeping to a small circle of friends. He had been living at the boarding school since middle school.

Tuition was offset by government and community subsidies, and his academic performance was strong, earning him scholarships year after year. In his free time, he'd pick up odd jobs, managing to live independently.

In the afternoon, the first class commenced.

The homeroom teacher droned on about ancient texts from the podium, while the students listened with a lack of enthusiasm, some even sneaking in a nap.

Chu Xing occasionally glanced up at the teacher, his gaze inadvertently sweeping past Lee Xiaoran seated in front of him.

Lee Xiaoran's jet-black hair was cut at ear length, revealing a delicate and pale neck. Her slight frame was clad in a purple short-sleeved top, giving her an air of spirited grace.

Suddenly, a thunderous "Boom!" jolted the room.

"Ahhh!" Panicked cries filled the classroom as the sleeping students jerked awake, looking around in confusion. The building began to tremble.

"Earthquake!"

"Earthquake, run!" The homeroom teacher quickly came to his senses and ushered the students toward the safety of the sports field.

Ten minutes later, the sports field was crowded with students, all in disarray.

Xijing City had experienced tremors before, but none as intense as today's, casting a shadow over Chu Xing's heart.

Students were on their phones, assuring their families of their safety.

"Chu Hao, are you okay?" Chu Xing clutched his phone, his voice tinged with urgency.

"I'm fine. I was outside when the earthquake struck. What about you?" The voice on the other end was equally concerned.

"I'm safe, just staying on the sports field. Be careful."

"You too, take care."

Chu Xing and Chu Hao had been raised together in an orphanage, not by blood but as close as brothers, sharing the surname of the orphanage director.

They were inseparable, facing hardships and sharing joys together, cherishing the best moments of their childhood side by side.

In junior high, their paths diverged—Chu Xing stayed to study in Xijing City, while Chu Hao left for a school in the martial city. Still, they kept in constant contact and often reunited during holidays.

"Chu Xing, are you blind? You ran into me." Out of nowhere, Wang Feiqiang from our class shoved Chu Xing's shoulder with force. Caught off guard, Chu Xing stumbled backward, only avoiding a fall thanks to Luo Xiaoyun blocking his path.

"With so many people around, it's bound to happen." Chu Xing massaged his sore shoulder and confronted Wang Feiqiang. "What's your problem?"

Wang Feiqiang, standing at 1.7 meters, stepped up to Chu Xing, tilting his head back to meet his gaze. "You hurt me when you bumped into me. Apologize."

"You're causing a scene over nothing. It was you who squeezed in front of me and shoved me on purpose."

Chu Xing's glare was fierce. His thin frame was a result of focusing on just getting by and growing quickly. Wang Feiqiang, though shorter, was stocky, his body padded with extra weight.

"Don't spout rubbish. You might be a good student, but you're a lousy person," Wang Feiqiang jeered, leaning his bulk into Chu Xing. "All you do is play the orphan card to look pathetic and scam sympathy. You have no shame."

Wang Feiqiang's voice boomed, drawing a crowd of classmates who began to murmur among themselves. He cast a deliberate glance at Lee Xiaoran, as if his words were meant for her.

The sting of Wang Feiqiang's remarks hit Chu Xing hard. As an orphan, he didn't have the luxury to be wasteful.

He always kept to himself, never seeking pity or sympathy from anyone.

Yet now, Chu Xing found himself at a loss for words, his face burning with indignation, eyes blazing with anger, as he hissed, "I didn't do it."

"Wang Feiqiang, Chu Xing was just talking to me. He didn't touch you," Luo Xiaoyun interjected, seeing Chu Xing's distress, raising her voice in his defense.

Wang Feiqiang whipped his head around to glare at Luo Xiaoyun.

"Who's making a commotion here? Isn't it chaotic enough?" the homeroom teacher bellowed.

"You, the so-called pitiful one, shouldn't be looking at people you have no business with," Wang Feiqiang muttered with scorn, before turning on his heel and heading towards Lee Xiaoran.

Chu Xing's gaze lingered on Wang Feiqiang's retreating figure, Lee Xiaoran's look of concern flashing before his eyes. A moment of clarity struck him.

"Is Wang Feiqiang worried I'll snatch his goal? Or does he sense a threat?" Chu Xing mused. "All I want is to excel in my studies; I have no grander desires."

"Chu Xing, are you okay?" Luo Xiaoyun inquired, her voice tinged with concern.

With a wry smile, Chu Xing shook his head. "The tree yearns for stillness, yet the wind refuses to cease."

"Everyone, look at the sky—it's so incredibly blue and beautiful."

"Wow! It feels like we're in a dream."

"Those white clouds over there, they're straight out of a fairy tale."

...

Chu Xing also looked up, captivated by the sky's crystalline clarity, reminiscent of jade, and its oceanic depths. His troubles momentarily forgotten, he was drawn into its vast beauty.

That afternoon, the playground buzzed with teachers and students alike, all engrossed in the news spreading across the internet.

Disasters had struck nearly every corner of the globe, leaving behind the devastating marks of earthquakes.

Some areas revealed bottomless pits, others showed mountains cleaved in two, and hillsides pockmarked with countless holes, resulting in losses beyond comprehension.

Earthquakes had shaken the entire world almost simultaneously, and volcanoes worldwide had erupted.

The destruction caused by major volcanoes like Mount Huizhi, Claw Wai Island, and the Red Stone Volcanic Group was particularly severe.

The world's tallest peak, the Himalayas, continued to rise, its exact new height still undetermined.

Scientists were still at a loss to explain the cause.

By five in the afternoon, the school had dismissed classes early and announced a night off.

After supper, Chu Xing sought solitude in the small forest on campus, wrestling with the day's conflicts and his uncertainty about the future.

This was his sanctuary, a place of peace where he could be undisturbed.

With the night off, most students had returned home, leaving the school in quietude.

Since the afternoon's earthquake, Chu Xing had felt an increasing vitality. It was as though chains had been lifted from him, allowing his spirit to blend with the space around him, as comforting as basking in the warmth of the sun.

Lost in his own thoughts, Chu Xing was abruptly jolted back to reality when he sensed something hurtling his way. Moments later, darkness overtook him as he slipped into unconsciousness.