Lu Fan walked down the crowded school hallways, his steps confident but unassuming. Conversations buzzed all around—laughs, plans, complaints about homework—but none of it distracted him from the subtle rhythm inside his veins.
He had learned to mask the strange energy pulsing beneath his skin. To the world, he was the same talented, good-looking student who always helped others and never caused trouble.
At his locker, Jia Wei waited, waving him over.
"Ready for the math test tomorrow?" she asked, her eyes bright with concern.
Lu Fan smiled warmly. "More than ready. I'll help you study after school."
She beamed. "You're the best."
Friends like Jia Wei were rare—people who saw him for who he was, not just the surface. Yet even they didn't know the full story: that Lu Fan spent hours after school practicing control of the energy within, pushing himself to understand this hidden power.
That night, in the solitude of his room, Lu Fan closed his eyes and focused on the gentle pulse inside. The shadow skill whispered faintly—an echo he couldn't yet fully grasp but felt growing stronger.
He understood one thing clearly: cultivating this power wasn't just about strength. It was about survival—and something far greater.
He was no longer just a boy in a broken family. He was becoming someone who could change his fate.