The Government

Chapter Eighteen: The Government

The morning light streamed through the curtains as Daniel groggily rubbed his eyes. He had barely slept. After the long talk with his grandmother, he spent the night reflecting on everything that had happened—the tournament, his rapid progress, and the fact that he had drawn attention from powerful figures.

But he hadn't expected what he saw when he walked into the living room.

His grandmother sat on the couch, eyes fixed on the television. The news anchor's voice was urgent, the headline at the bottom of the screen flashing in bold letters:

"Unusual Strength Sightings Across the Country – Are Superhumans Real?"

Daniel froze.

The screen cut to shaky phone footage of a man lifting a car off the ground with one hand, his expression calm. Another clip showed a woman dodging gunfire at inhuman speeds before disappearing into an alley. The final video was the clearest—a teenager in a high school gym sending someone flying across the room with a single palm strike.

Daniel's heart pounded. Cultivators.

"Is this real?" his grandmother murmured. "What is happening?"

Daniel sat down beside her, trying to keep his expression neutral. "Looks fake," he said, though he wasn't sure if he was convincing himself or her.

His grandmother gave him a sharp look. "You don't believe that."

Before he could respond, the news anchor continued, "Authorities have not confirmed whether these incidents are related, but reports suggest that similar events have been increasing. Scientists are investigating possible explanations, and government officials have yet to comment."

Daniel swallowed hard. This was bad. Cultivation had always been hidden, passed down through families or secret organizations. But now, it was slipping into the public eye. And if the government got involved…

His grandmother turned to him. "Daniel. You said you've been training. Have you seen anything like this?"

He hesitated. "Not exactly," he lied. "Just normal martial arts."

She studied him for a long moment before sighing. "Be careful, Danny. I don't like where this is going."

Daniel nodded, but inside, his mind raced. He wondered how much the Sūn Family knew about this.

_____

Walking into school the next day felt strange. After days of focusing on cultivation, the mundane world of hallways and lockers almost seemed unreal. Yet, there was a buzz in the air. Students whispered in groups, scrolling through their phones, discussing the same thing he had seen on the news.

"Did you see the guy lifting the car?"

"That had to be edited, right?"

"No way, man. My cousin saw some homeless guy in Texas jump off a three story building and just… walk off."

Daniel kept his head down, moving through the crowd. He wasn't sure how many people at this school were cultivators—if any—but he had a feeling he wasn't the only one thinking about this differently.

By the time lunch rolled around, things only got stranger.

The intercom crackled to life, cutting through the cafeteria noise.

"Attention students. All classes will be suspended this afternoon for an emergency school assembly. Attendance is mandatory."

A wave of murmurs rippled through the cafeteria. Emergency assemblies weren't common.

"What's going on?" someone muttered.

"Maybe they're gonna talk about the news?"

Daniel frowned. If the school was getting involved, that meant the government was already moving.

_____

The entire student body packed into the auditorium, the usual chatter laced with nervous energy. Teachers stood by the walls, watching closely.

Then, a man stepped onto the stage. He wasn't a principal or any school official Daniel recognized. He wore a dark suit, his posture rigid, his gaze sharp.

When he spoke, his voice carried an unsettling authority.

"How many of you," he asked, scanning the crowd, "have read cultivation novels?"

Silence.

Daniel felt his stomach drop.

The world was changing. And fast.