Chapter One: Who Are You?

As Ruoxi led the way, the forest around them grew increasingly sparse. The dense trees they had seen earlier were now few and far between, and the troublesome branches scattered across the ground had all but disappeared. Instead, the earth was covered with swathes of grass, some resembling clover.

It was clear that the grass had been trampled by many feet, forming a path. Their route was almost bare, devoid of roots or leaves, while the surrounding foliage remained lush. Looking back, Xiaoshan saw the boundless expanse of the forest, sensing that it held countless wonders—sometimes they felt close, other times distant, yet always just out of reach.

Ruoxi seemed to notice Xiaoshan glancing behind and explained, "This is the forest attached to Mount Kilimanjaro. There are nearly two hundred volcanic craters nearby. Sometimes, the temperature here gets extremely high. Best not to approach the small craters—they might erupt with molten lava. It's very, very dangerous!"

Mount Kilimanjaro was extraordinarily tall, its highest peaks covered in thick snow and ice. "The higher you go, the colder it gets, and the snow only deepens," she continued. Xiaoshan thought this was common sense, but hearing her speak, he couldn't help but want to agree with her.

Ruoxi chatted along the way, telling tales and curiosities about the area. To ordinary people, these stories might seem mundane, but to Xiaoshan, they were fascinating. She talked, he listened, and together they continued their journey.

After walking nearly two or three kilometers, they arrived near a mountain quite different from the barren one they had seen before. The environment matched Ruoxi's description perfectly: lush greenery below, snow and ice above. Xiaoshan was certain it was his first time here, and he found it wondrous.

A few more minutes brought them between two mountains and, at last, to the small town Ruoxi had mentioned.

This town resembled something from ancient times, its roofs covered with green tiles, each piece glistening with verdant charm. As they approached, the ground was paved with green stone bricks, giving the place an air of elegance and grandeur. The bricks bore mysterious patterns, and the fragrance of flowers grew stronger as they neared, suggesting that the town was home to many blossoms—so many that the scent was pervasive, yet not overpowering, only pleasantly fresh.

"Our town has the best environment in the province," Ruoxi boasted, "You can tell just by the surroundings and the fragrance of flowers! It's perfect for cultivation and building a strong foundation!" She spoke with pride as she introduced her hometown.

“Cultivation?” Xiaoshan asked in confusion. He understood the importance of the surroundings, but the concept of cultivation was entirely new to him.

“You mean you don’t even know about cultivation?” Ruoxi regarded him as a stranger. Surely everyone in this world should know about it, even ordinary people. This was the era of apocalypse, also known as the age of universal armament. Even the most ordinary citizens knew what had happened in the carcinogenic era—the twenty-first century. Although there were no schools nowadays, she thought everyone would at least know this.

But then, remembering he didn’t even know his own identity, she realized it was hardly surprising he knew nothing of cultivation.

“Cultivation means training and tempering the body’s internal organs to nurture inner strength, which can be unleashed through special techniques—either to wound enemies or to strengthen oneself. Building a foundation is training the limbs and torso, gradually developing muscle over time. Simply put, it’s about becoming physically strong. Before training, one might be able to lift eighty pounds, but after, over a hundred.”

“Usually, people start developing inner strength at fifteen, while fourteen-year-olds are considered geniuses. Among the new generation, it’s rare for thirteen-year-olds to awaken their potential.”

“Oh… So it means you can become very strong, able to protect others?” Xiaoshan feigned understanding.

Ruoxi was speechless—did being strong mean only protecting others? Did he not want to become the strongest in the world?

“That’s more or less it,” she replied after a pause.

Xiaoshan smiled at her answer. If he became strong, he would never face a repeat of that terrifying incident in the forest—he could protect others. The thought brought a gentle smile to his lips.

Ruoxi watched him smile, and seeing his childlike face, she found herself lost in thought. It wasn’t until Xiaoshan waved his hand in front of her eyes that she realized her face was as red as an apple. She touched her cheeks—they were warm and flushed.

“Where are we going?” Xiaoshan asked sincerely, noticing Ruoxi’s blush but thinking nothing of it.

“Where to?” Ruoxi felt a surge of annoyance seeing his lack of reaction—he didn’t care about her embarrassment!

“Of course, to my house!” She deliberately raised her voice, hoping Xiaoshan would sense her irritation.

“Oh, I see! Why are you shouting?” Xiaoshan scratched his head in confusion.

Ruoxi huffed and strode ahead, her anger barely contained.

“Ah!” Xiaoshan sighed, feeling rather frustrated.

As they walked through the town, Xiaoshan heard the shouts of children everywhere—he couldn’t tell if they were fighting or training, but their cries sounded miserable, echoing through the streets.