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Awakening of Thunder and Flame
Chapter 4: The Awakening Begins

Chapter 4: The Awakening Begins

A few days had passed since the lightning strike, and Li Tong's life seemed to return to normal. However, deep inside, he felt that something had changed, as if some latent power within him had quietly awakened.

One morning, Li Tong got up as usual to prepare for work. As he stood in front of the mirror washing his face, he suddenly noticed that his complexion was paler than usual, and there seemed to be a faint glimmer in his eyes. He paused for a moment, staring at himself for a few seconds, then shook his head, dismissing it as a result of sleep deprivation.

His mother was up early, busy in the kitchen, while his father sat on the sofa in the living room, reading the newspaper. His father's health was still not good, and his coughing had worsened recently. Li Tong watched his father's back, silently vowing to make more money quickly so he could take his father for a thorough medical checkup.

“Ah Tong, do you want to take some extra lunch today?” his mother asked while busy with her tasks.

“No need, Mom. I'll buy something for lunch,” Li Tong replied casually, though he felt a bit uneasy. Lately, he had noticed a decrease in his appetite, and nothing seemed to taste good anymore.

His father put down the newspaper and coughed lightly before looking up at Li Tong. “Ah Tong, the weather hasn't been great lately. Take care of yourself and don't push too hard.”

Li Tong nodded, feeling a warmth in his heart. “Dad, how have you been feeling? Do you need to see a doctor?”

His father waved his hand dismissively. “It's nothing, just the same old problems. No need to make a fuss. But you, you should think more about yourself and not just focus on work.”

Li Tong felt a tightness in his chest as thoughts of his newfound ability and Zhou Yilin crossed his mind. However, he said nothing, only offering a reassuring smile. “Don't worry, Dad. I'll take care of myself.”

As Li Tong rode his scooter through the city streets, his body gradually returned to normal, but the memory of the lightning strike continued to linger in his mind. He began to notice the electrical devices around him, as if they were sending him signals.

One day, while delivering food to an office building, Li Tong ran into his colleague, Ah Qiang. Ah Qiang was a cheerful and talkative young man, a few years younger than Li Tong, and had been a deliveryman for three years. They often crossed paths during deliveries and occasionally chatted.

“Hey, Li! You must be swamped with orders lately, right?” Ah Qiang teased with a grin.

Li Tong smiled and nodded. “Yeah, there's been a lot of orders recently. How about you?”

“Same here. I feel like I'm about to collapse from exhaustion,” Ah Qiang complained, but then shrugged it off with a nonchalant expression. “But it's good to make some money. Gotta support the family, after all.”

Li Tong nodded in agreement and was about to continue on his way when he suddenly noticed the elevator doors behind them opening on their own. They both turned to see the elevator lights flickering, as if there was a problem with the circuitry.

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“What's up with the elevator?” Ah Qiang asked in confusion.

Li Tong felt a chill run down his spine as he thought about his recent experiences. He took a step back, noticing that the flickering seemed to subside as he moved away. This confirmed his suspicion that there was some sort of connection between his body and electrical devices.

“Maybe the wiring is just old. It's nothing,” Li Tong said, trying to sound calm and change the subject.

Ah Qiang didn’t think much of it and shrugged. “This building is ancient. It’s not surprising if things start acting up. Anyway, I’ve got to get to my next delivery.”

Li Tong nodded, and they both left the building, heading in different directions. As Li Tong walked, his mind kept replaying the strange incident with the elevator. He began to realize that his ability wasn’t just about sensing electricity—it might also be affecting the devices around him.

When he got home, Li Tong noticed that his sensitivity to electrical devices was growing stronger. One time, while repairing a phone charger at home, he accidentally touched the exposed metal wire. Expecting a mild shock, he was surprised to feel a warm current flowing through his fingers instead.

Amazed, Li Tong pulled his hand away, and the current disappeared. When he touched it again, the warmth returned. He repeated this a few times, confirming that this phenomenon wasn’t a coincidence but a result of some change in his body.

He didn’t dare to tell anyone about this, especially not his family. He knew his parents’ health wasn’t great, particularly his father’s, and he didn’t want to worry them.

Li Tong’s life remained busy, but the mysterious power inside him made him increasingly uneasy. He continued to receive orders from Zhou Yilin while delivering food. Every time he saw her, his emotions became more complicated.

One day, Li Tong delivered food to Zhou Yilin again. The streets were slippery after the rain, and he carefully made his way upstairs and rang the doorbell. When the door opened, Zhou Yilin stood there with her usual professional smile.

“Hello, your food has arrived,” Li Tong said as he handed her the food box, his tone polite and professional.

“Thank you,” Zhou Yilin replied as she took the box and noticed the fatigue on his face. “Has work been busy lately?”

“Yeah, a bit more orders recently,” Li Tong nodded, trying to maintain a natural demeanor.

“Take care and stay safe,” Zhou Yilin said briefly before nodding slightly to express her thanks.

“Sure, thanks,” Li Tong replied and turned to leave. He didn’t say much and didn’t show too much emotion, simply fulfilling his duties as a deliveryman.

This brief exchange left Li Tong with mixed feelings, but he understood that their relationship was nothing more than that of a customer and a service provider. He pushed those thoughts aside and focused on his work, trying to forget the unsettling thoughts.

Li Tong began to realize that his life was undergoing an irreversible change. This change could affect the people around him, especially his family and ordinary people like Zhou Yilin, whom he didn’t want to involve. To protect himself and avoid disturbing others, he decided to keep these changes to himself for now.

That night, Li Tong lay in bed, replaying recent events in his mind. He knew he had to learn to control this power, or the consequences could be dire. He began to picture various future scenarios in his mind, thinking about how he could use this power without worrying his family or putting himself in danger.

However, no matter how much he thought, the source of this power remained a mystery. He didn’t know why he had this ability or what the future held. But one thing was clear—his life would never be as peaceful as it had been before.

The moonlight spilled into the room, and Li Tong quietly stared at the ceiling, silently making up his mind. He knew the road ahead was full of unknowns and challenges, but there was no turning back. He had to face it bravely. He vowed that no matter what difficulties lay ahead, he would face them head-on, not just for himself but for the people he loved.

That night, Li Tong slowly drifted into sleep, his mind filled with countless thoughts. His life might still seem ordinary, but within him, a seed of change had quietly taken root. And this seed would eventually change his fate and lead him down a completely new path.