52: The shock of the journey home

The early morning sunlight filtered through the medical center's window, falling upon Lu Guangming's face. He slowly finished his discharge procedures, declining Wang Pang and the others' offers to see him off. Carrying a simple pack on his back, he walked out of the grand gates of Donghuang Academy alone.

From the pocket of his slightly oversized jacket, a small head peeked out—it was the Little Sprite. It curiously observed the unfamiliar world outside the school, its large eyes reflecting the busy streets filled with traffic, seemingly finding everything novel.

With some time left before his train's departure, he decided to slow his pace and walked leisurely along the tree-lined boulevard outside the academy.

Having experienced an earth-shattering final and a month of medical recovery, breathing the slightly dusty air of the world outside the school gave him a sense of being in a different lifetime.

The prize money and resource quota for the individual competition champion were quite generous, enough to ensure his family wouldn't have to worry about making ends meet for a long time.

Thinking of this, the corners of his mouth unconsciously curled up. Perhaps he could buy Xiaoyu that smart drawing board she had been talking about for a long time, and get Qinghe the latest holographic logic deduction device. As for his parents... His thoughts were interrupted by a small commotion ahead.

A few workers wearing reflective vests from the Urban Construction Bureau, their clothes stained with mud, were repairing a damaged section of the sidewalk. One of them, a burly man, was lifting a heavy floor tile that usually required machinery to hoist, steadily placing it in its designated spot.

His arm muscles were knotted, and a faint current of air swirled around his movements; he was clearly a Strength System Awakened.

Lu Guangming stopped and watched with interest. This was the first time he was observing another Awakened outside the school from the perspective of an "insider." The worker's movements were agile and highly efficient, his face covered in sweat and a hint of satisfaction after his labor.

Just then, two personnel wearing the standard uniforms of the "Public Security Management Bureau" walked over, their expressions serious.

"Number C-7382, Zhang Dali." One of them took out a tablet and verified the information, speaking in a businesslike tone. "According to Article 17 of the 'Civilian Superpower User Management Regulations,' using Superpowers for production work in a public area without reporting in a non-emergency situation constitutes one recorded violation. Please present your 'Superpower Suppression Bracelet' and ensure it is in normal working order."

The worker named Zhang Dali froze, the satisfaction on his face instantly vanishing, replaced by embarrassment and helplessness.

He silently put down the floor tile, pulled a black device resembling a sports bracelet from his pocket, and skillfully put it on his wrist. The indicator light on the bracelet flashed a few times before turning a steady green.

"Officer, I just saw the tile was too heavy and wanted to lend a hand..." he tried to explain, his voice a bit dry.

"Rules are rules." The Public Security Management Bureau officer operated the tablet expressionlessly. "A repeat offense will result in a fine or even mandatory community service. Remember, keep the bracelet on at all times; this is for public safety."

The surrounding pedestrians, who were originally accustomed to this, now cast their gazes over. Those looks were complex—some curious, some scrutinizing, but most held a subtle wariness, as if looking at an unstable source of danger.

Zhang Dali lowered his head and said no more, simply walking back to his companions. The hand wearing the bracelet hung somewhat unnaturally. His companions patted his shoulder and whispered a few words of comfort, but the atmosphere remained heavy.

Lu Guangming stood there, watching the slightly hunched back of the Awakened worker, then looked at the two officers who left directly after finishing their task, his brow furrowing slightly.

He remembered that in the academy, although there were rules, the use of Superpowers was encouraged and researched, serving as the foundation for the path to becoming stronger.

But here, in this ordinary city, Superpowers seemed to have become an "abnormality" that needed to be restrained and guarded against.

A subtle sense of discord quietly sprouted in his heart.

He shook his head, temporarily suppressing these thoughts, and continued toward the station. Perhaps this was just an isolated case. Right now, he just wanted to get home quickly, back to that harbor where he could completely relax.

The Maglev Train Station was teeming with people. In the spacious and bright waiting hall, giant screens scrolled through train schedules and public service announcements.

Lu Guangming passed through security smoothly—the security gate emitted a very faint hum as he passed, but the indicator light remained green. The staff member only gave him an extra look before signaling him through.

Throughout the process, the Spirit of Light stayed obediently tucked in his pocket, suppressing all energy fluctuations as if it were just an ordinary decoration.

He found his carriage, stowed his luggage, and sat in a window seat. The train started smoothly, and the city scenery outside the window began to recede rapidly.

The carriage was quiet; most passengers were looking down at their terminal devices. Lu Guangming also closed his eyes.

However, not long after he closed his eyes, he was Awakened by a moderate argument coming from the carriage ahead.

"...According to the rules, you need to move to the designated carriage." It was the voice of a flight attendant, carrying a stylized politeness that nonetheless held a tone of non-negotiability.

"There was no such rule when I bought my ticket! What's wrong with me sitting here?" an agitated voice retorted.

Lu Guangming opened his eyes and looked toward the sound. At the junction between his carriage and the one ahead, he saw a Physique System Transformation Awakened, whose body bore mutations from his Superpower that looked like stone lumps growing on him.

He was confronting a flight attendant with a flushed face. A worn-out tool bag lay at his feet.

"Sir, please understand, this is for the comfort and safety of all passengers." The attendant maintained a professional smile, but there was no warmth in her eyes. "Awakened passengers are requested to sit in the designated carriages, where there are more complete... uh... supporting facilities." She paused, seemingly searching for a suitable word.

"Supporting facilities?" the Ability User's voice rose, tinged with humiliation. "Isn't it just an isolation carriage? I'm not a criminal! I earn my living with my own strength, who am I bothering?"

His voice attracted the attention of many passengers. Lu Guangming saw that the previously indifferent gazes were now focused on that Ability User.

In those gazes, there was coldness and curiosity, but more than that, there was a clear rejection and a faint fear.

It was as if he were not a living human being, but a bomb that could explode at any moment.

Several passengers sitting near him even instinctively hugged their luggage and leaned back, trying to distance themselves from him.

"Rules are rules." The attendant repeated the cold phrase, her tone hardening. "If you do not cooperate, we will have to take enforcement measures and record it in your personal credit file."

The Awakened opened his mouth, wanting to say more, but seeing the attendant's icy gaze and the stinging looks from those around him, his strength seemed to drain away, and his shoulders slumped.

He lowered his head deeply, avoiding everyone's eyes, and silently picked up the worn tool bag. Like a banished beast, he followed the attendant, stumbling toward the so-called "designated carriage" at the front of the train.

As he passed by Lu Guangming, Lu Guangming clearly saw that this Ability User's eyes seemed somewhat moist. That broad back was now filled with an indescribable sense of lowliness and grievance.

Quiet returned to the carriage, even quieter than before. Someone breathed a sigh of relief, others went back to their terminals, as if what just happened was merely an insignificant interlude.

But Lu Guangming could no longer close his eyes.

He leaned against the back of his seat, watching the scenery flash by outside the window. The sense of relaxation he felt upon leaving the school had long since vanished. The air conditioning in the carriage was at a comfortable temperature, yet he felt an inexplicable chill.

Isolation... discrimination... fear... Was this the daily life that ordinary Awakened had to face outside the academy walls?

The train sped along, carrying him toward the home he missed, but also carrying him toward his first real confrontation with this rapidly polarizing, fragmented world.