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Become the strongest in the Shadow Realm !
墨書 Inktalez
Zhang Rui pushed open the visibly aged and constantly noisy wooden door, and slowly walked into the third teaching building of Xuanyang High School. The feeling of the staircase railing was old, the lighting was dim, as if unable to fully illuminate every corner of this ancient building. This school is located in a nondescript small town in Taiwan, where the superficial liveliness and noise can't hide the underlying oppression and monotony.
As soon as he entered the classroom, Zhang Rui felt the invisible gazes shooting towards him like arrows. The layout of the classroom was typical of Taiwanese classrooms, with a blackboard and podium at the front, followed by neatly arranged wooden desks and chairs. Each desk was filled with various books and stationery, indicating the busyness and pressure of high school life.
The classmates were sitting at their desks, some chatting, some using their phones, and some doing homework. However, when Zhang Rui walked in, all these activities paused for a moment. Their gazes fell on him, with a slight upward curve at the corners of their mouths, but it was definitely not a friendly or accepting smile.
First, he noticed Li Junxian, the most popular person in the class, but also one of the people who loved to pick on Zhang Rui. Walking down the classroom aisle, he seemed like a dazzling presence, attracting all the attention. His fashion sense always led the trend, and his tall figure and handsome face made him an undisputed focus in the school. His smile always hung on his face, as if nothing could disappoint or worry him. However, behind this smile hid an almost imperceptible cunning, a secret arrogance known only to himself.
He is good with words and excels at social gatherings. Whether it's teachers or classmates, everyone praises him. He always finds himself at the center of the group, not only because of his appearance and talent, but also because he knows how to manipulate the emotions of the crowd and make himself the brightest star in others' eyes.
However, even the brightest stars have their own shadows. Li Junxian's confidence and extraordinariness in the crowd cannot completely conceal his obsession with power and status. He likes to place himself in a superior position and enjoys seeing people feel uneasy or inferior because of him. This sense of superiority is like an indispensable part of him, a dark corner that he may not have noticed himself.
For someone like Zhang Rui who is unsociable and somewhat isolated, Li Junxian always has an indescribable dissatisfaction and rejection. He mocks Zhang Rui, but it is more of a self-confirmation, a way to reaffirm his own social status. He is used to being admired, used to standing in the spotlight, but he has never considered how those he ruthlessly tramples on might feel. To him, Zhang Rui is just a small obstacle on his path to success, a stumbling block that needs to be removed.
"Hey, Zhang Rui, what esoteric knowledge are you studying today? Found any UFOs yet?" Li Junxian sneered.
Zhang Rui tried to look at him firmly, "You better be careful. Maybe one day I'll really find a UFO and have them take you away." His retort was weak, almost like a suppressed scream in his throat.
A burst of laughter erupted in the classroom, as if confirming his low status in this small society. Zhang Rui felt a tightness in his chest, as if invisible chains were constricting him, making it almost impossible to breathe. He walked quickly to the back of the classroom, the usually overlooked corner, and sat down, lowering his head, trying to make himself inconspicuous in this deceptive environment.
He opened the textbook, but found himself unable to concentrate. The words seemed to float on the surface like oil slick, making it unbearable to look at. His mind was still stuck in those cold sneers and sarcasm, and for a moment, he could almost hear the increasingly obvious crack deep inside his heart trembling.
Looking around, he felt like a tree on a deserted island. The teacher was tirelessly explaining functions and differentials at the podium, but his mind had long flown elsewhere. He lowered his head and looked at the textbook, and the complex mathematical formulas and numbers seemed to come to life.
At first, the numbers were just gently swaying, like the surface of a lake being brushed by a breeze. But then, these numbers began to twist, as if some small creature was struggling. Zhang Rui blinked, unsure if this was some kind of illusion. He looked back at his textbook, and the numbers were no longer lifeless symbols, but invisible little creatures, jumping and spinning.
He felt like he was in a place far from the real world, a world he had always longed for - full of various mysterious creatures described in the Classic of Mountains and Seas and the monsters and demons from urban legends. He saw himself wearing ancient battle armor, holding a sword shining with a strange light. He felt like he had become a brave warrior, ready to face the upcoming challenges.
He walked along a narrow path and encountered the "Nine-Tailed Fox," a Fox Spirit with nine elegant tails. The Nine-Tailed Fox smiled and asked him, "Young warrior, what brings you here?" Zhang Rui felt excited, as he believed he had finally found an opportunity to showcase himself and gain recognition. He replied, "I am here to find my purpose and defeat those who seek to disrupt the peace of this world."
The Nine-Tailed Fox nodded, then waved its tails, creating a shining path in front of Zhang Rui. He followed the path, filled with courage and anticipation. However, at that moment, he suddenly heard a chilling laughter, a sound that sent shivers down his spine. He turned around and saw a looming figure slowly approaching him - it was the "Yaksha," a demon that feeds on human blood and souls.
Zhang Rui tightly gripped the sword in his hand, preparing to face the impending battle. But just as the demon was about to approach him, he suddenly felt a wave of immense fear, as if all his courage had been sucked away in an instant.
Then, he was abruptly brought back to reality by a sharp question. "Zhang Rui, can you tell me what the derivative of this function is?" The teacher's voice pierced through his daydream.
Zhang Rui suddenly looked up and saw the whole class turning to look at him. His heart returned to the real world in an instant, and the swirling numbers turned back into cold symbols. He felt a bit embarrassed, but also understood that no matter how much he longed to enter that fantasy world, reality would always pull him back in the cruelest way. As the teacher shook her head helplessly and said to Zhang Rui, "You need to take the class seriously, stop daydreaming all day." Laughter filled the room, and the classmates seemed to have found a new source of entertainment.
Zhang Rui felt a wave of shame and inferiority in his heart. Once again, he felt himself being tightly bound by invisible chains. This time, he even lost his only sanctuary of daydreaming. He sat back in his seat, looking out the window, but he couldn't muster any courage or hope. He felt like a lost boat that could never find a way out, surrounded by endless darkness.
However, even in such a low point, deep inside, he still holds an unextinguished hope - perhaps one day, he can truly find the world that belongs to him and become a hero there.
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