But suddenly…
Just before Shen Hao was about to fall into the pit — his legs already dangling inside — the hole stopped expanding. Right there. At the edge.
His heart skipped a beat. He was sweating hard, breathing fast. He couldn't believe it — he had been seconds away from death. Trembling, he looked up at the sky and muttered:
"Thank God… thank you…"
Quickly, he began clawing at the ground with his hands, dragging his injured body away from the edge. He finally reached the roadside and leaned against the wall of a nearby building for support. He took a deep breath and tried to relax.
Everyone else had already evacuated the area.
Shen Hao was the only one left — sitting all alone by the side of the road with a broken leg.
Then suddenly…
A scream.
It sounded like the voice of an old man — and it was coming from the pit. It grew louder, closer, like something was rising up from deep inside.
Shen Hao, still breathing heavily, turned his head in curiosity. From where he was sitting, he looked down into the pit.
And then he saw it.
A glowing ball of blue light, about the size of his hand, was shooting up from the darkness. The old man's scream seemed to be coming from inside it — louder, closer, and fast.
The orb flew out of the hole, straight toward him.
He flinched in fear, trying to move — but it was too fast.
In a split second, the glowing blue ball slammed into his chest, hitting him with enough force to launch him over two meters into the air. He screamed in pain and panic.
When he landed, his head hit the pavement hard.
And everything went black.
He woke up in a hospital bed.
"Wh... Wha... What happened…? Where am I...?"
The door burst open.
It was his family.
"Oh my God, you're finally awake!" his mother cried as she rushed over and hugged him tightly.
Everyone looked relieved. But then Shen Hao looked down.
And saw what he didn't want to see.
His leg — wrapped tightly in bandages.
His mom pulled away just as the doctor entered the room.
"Mr. Shen Hao," the doctor said, "you have a fracture in your leg. The injury is serious, but not permanent. You'll be able to walk again — but it'll take at least seven months."
Silence.
The whole family looked stunned. Deep down, they already feared it — but now that it was official, the truth hit harder than they expected.
The doctor left. The room was quiet.
Then came words of comfort.
His family stayed by his side, reassuring him, trying to lift his spirits.
"You'll be back on your feet in no time."
"We're just happy you're okay."
"You're strong, you'll get through this."
Shen Hao listened — but his mind was elsewhere.
Something else mattered more than recovery right now.
His father placed a hand on his shoulder and said, "I'm so glad you're safe, son. I was really worried about you."
"Don't worry, Dad," Shen Hao replied. "A lot of crazy stuff has happened lately, but I'm still standing… kind of."
His father smiled.
"You're strong, son. I'll let you rest now. I'll come by later."
His dad left the room.
Shen Hao's mind immediately kicked back into gear.
That blue orb…
He placed a hand on his chest.
"I remember it hit me… right here."
Then, something clicked in his head.
Wait a second…
"That blue orb… and the faint blue figure I saw during the school incident… they might be connected."
And then suddenly — realization.
His memories were fuzzy, but he recalled the voice.
It had always been the same. Old. Rough. Maybe 75 or 80 years old.
The same voice he heard in his dream — the same one during the school quake — and just now, coming from the glowing orb.
But this time, it wasn't in his head. It came from outside — from the ball of light.
He still didn't know what it all meant. But for once, Shen Hao didn't feel lost.
He smiled.
"Finally… finally, I have a lead."
"Something's changing. I'm getting closer to solving this mystery."
And from that moment, he couldn't stop thinking about it.
He spent the whole day — and the day after — piecing together what he knew.
Four months passed.
Shen Hao's condition had improved a lot. His leg was healing faster than expected. Soon, he was discharged from the hospital.
Back at home, he stayed in his room — still in a wheelchair, but in much better spirits. Only three more months, and he'd be able to walk again.
But before that day could come…
It happened.
Something even stranger than before…