Chapter 4: Focus

Route Ming's home was located in the outer city, or to put it simply, the homes of all ordinary people were in the outer city.

In this era, city construction was generally divided into two cities: inner and outer. Ordinary people lived in the outer city, while professionals resided in the inner city. A towering city wall separated the inner and outer cities, dividing the world into two halves. From any vantage point, the magnificent city wall was an unobstructed sight.

Route Ming waited at the bus stop for a few minutes and then boarded Bus 28, selecting a window seat after depositing a large Summer Coin.

"I heard that in some big cities, there are no buses. Instead, they have summoning-type professionals who summon creatures as their means of transportation, along with puppeteers who craft puppets, and mechanists who build mechanical vehicles or hovercraft."

Route Ming recalled the big cities he had seen on television and felt a certain longing.

In reality, most of these big cities were experimental cities for the Universal Professional Program. Over time, there were almost no non-professionals in these cities. Consequently, they didn't require regular positions like bus drivers, and buses naturally phased out of the scene.

However, Lincheng, as a later-developed city, had too many ordinary people.

Ordinary people were the tears of the era.

These ordinary people missed the good times and couldn't earn a living as professionals. Still, they hoped that their children could become professionals. They had to bear tremendous pressure and hardship, supporting their children's journey to becoming professionals with their ordinary lives. Route Ming's parents were among these ordinary people.

It was precisely because of the existence of these ordinary people that positions like bus drivers were not completely abolished in Lincheng.

Route Ming opened the window, and the warm breeze of September rushed in, with tall trees lining the streets speeding by, giving Route Ming a dreamy feeling.

He opened his Talent Interface several times and found that his SSS-level innate talent had not disappeared.

It wasn't a dream. Route Ming completely relaxed, mentally contacting his friend channel, lurking to check the class group, and casually chatting with Little Fatty.

Half an hour quickly passed, and he arrived at the Jiaheng Community bus stop.

It was said that this was an old community built before the new century, specifically for the workers of the Jiaheng Cotton Mill. There were more than a hundred buildings here. After the Jiaheng Cotton Mill closed down after the new century, the Lincheng government renovated the residential buildings to provide employment for the local residents. They even built a factory specializing in processing cat beast claws. Almost all residents of Jiaheng Community worked there.

The community was clean, but it had a sense of age when you looked closely.

When Route Ming arrived home, it was already 1:00 in the afternoon, and his parents were at work. Only a petite and fragile girl sat on the sofa, vigilantly watching the door and holding a fruit knife.

If her legs could move, she might be hiding behind the door, ready to strike any "intruders."

"Oh, it's my brother. I thought it was a thief. You scared me."

Route Xuan put the fruit knife on the table and patted her chest.

Route Ming ruffled Route Xuan's head playfully, smiling, "Didn't I tell you I had the afternoon off today? What are you afraid of? Am I your brother or a thief?"

"Didn't you hear the news? There's a thief who stole a lot of valuable items and escaped to the outer city."

Route Xuan explained, "That's why I was scared. Otherwise, I wouldn't be."

"Ah, I see. Well, be careful on your own, and remind Mom and Dad to lock the anti-theft door when they go out in the future. It's a bit troublesome, but it's safer. Also, why are you holding a fruit knife? What if you accidentally hurt yourself? Mom and Dad don't take care of you, and why are you just watching TV in the afternoon? Why don't you go to school? It's good to read some books."

"Brother, you're even more nagging than Mom. I don't want to read."

"You little brat, can't stand a few words from adults, huh?"

"Brother, from now on, I'll call you Mom. Mom scolded me the same way just now, with exactly the same words."

"Backtalking, huh? You're asking for it!"

"Ah!" Route Ming tickled Route Xuan, and laughter filled the room.

This was their way of getting along as siblings.

In this small family, no one treated Route Xuan as a special needs individual. Even a fruit knife could be placed where Route Xuan could reach it without worry.

Because of this, despite her strange illness and physical disability, Route Xuan's personality remained cheerful.

Occasionally, she might feel down, but she never showed it.

"Alright, let's get to the point."

After playing around for a while, Route Ming turned a little more serious and said, "Xuan Xuan, today your brother officially became a professional. I've become a Holy Knight. Maybe I can heal you in the future."

About two years ago, when she had just entered junior high school and was two years younger than Route Ming, Route Xuan suddenly developed a strange illness. It started with numbness in her legs, then weakness, and eventually complete loss of sensation in her legs, all in just a month.

The hospitals in Lincheng and surrounding cities couldn't find any problem, so they could only rely on higher-level auxiliary professionals from the hospital to provide her with treatment once a month to temporarily prevent her condition from deteriorating.

Route Xuan had given up hope.

So, when she heard what Route Ming said, she was stunned.

"When you're better, you still have to go to school. You need to read more at home so that you won't fall behind when you go to school later."

Route Ming continued, "You're fifteen now, so if you can get better within a year, you can directly enter the first year of high school and study with kids your age. That way, you won't feel out of place."

"I'll read, brother. I'll read diligently."

Route Xuan was a little flustered. She fumbled around, pulled out a crumpled textbook from under the sofa's backrest, and recited its contents while her eyes gradually blurred with tears.

Watching his sister's reaction, Route Ming felt a pang of sympathy.

To be honest, he didn't know if he could completely cure his sister. After all, he had just entered the third year of high school and hadn't started formal training in professional knowledge. But that didn't stop him from working towards it.

Besides, Route Ming had tried it out. With the SSS-level talent boost, Light Focus became exceptionally powerful. Once he learned healing skills, there was a good chance he could heal his sister!

"Alright, Brother, you should get busy. I'll focus on studying now; it makes me uncomfortable to see you like this."

With red eyes, Route Xuan pretended as if nothing had happened and gestured for Route Ming to leave.

"Okay." Route Ming chuckled, "Call me if you need anything."

Back in his room, Route Ming couldn't wait to take out several textbooks. After experiencing Light Focus, he felt addicted to it.

"Forget about anything else; with just this skill, I could easily ace the arts section of the college entrance exam. I won't have to waste time cramming for it in the future. I can use all my time for cultivation. Maybe I can even catch up with the Rocket Class! Then there's hope for an A-level professional university."

With the display of his powerful talent, Route Ming's ambitions expanded, and he suddenly had aspirations he had never dared to think of before.

Route Ming glanced at his sister in the living room to make sure she was okay before taking out a textbook, activating the Light Focus skill, and began earnestly reciting it.