Swallowed Star Chapter 2 — RR

Translator: Translation Nation

Editor: Translation Nation

The southern district serves mainly as a low-rent housing zone. It's crammed beyond capacity, and the apartments resemble enormous rectangular concrete slabs, erected without any thought to sunlight.

Luo Feng's residence sits on the 32nd floor of a 36-story apartment block.

"Feng, heading to the dojo tonight?" Wei Wen calls out while walking toward a different apartment.

"I've got family tutoring tonight. Might hit the dojo afterward. No need to wait for me." Luo Feng grins, waves, and dashes up the stairs; every stride of his skips four steps. Like a swift leopard, he hits the second floor in mere moments.

Third floor, Fourth floor…

"Step! Step!"

Even at full sprint, Luo Feng moves with remarkable agility, dodging other residents on the stairs effortlessly.

"Feng, back from school?"

"Yeah, Uncle Wang." Luo Feng's breath stays steady. As an 'Elite' student, this pace feels like a casual stroll.

Most residents figure no elevator makes sense. Adding one would hike up rents. Right now, scaling dozens of floors is a breeze for many.

To them, installing an elevator would just squander resources.

Power costs a fortune, and with the city's defenses running on electricity, the whole nation demands it.

32nd floor!

Eight households occupy the 32nd floor, Luo Feng's family among them.

"Kacha!" Key in hand, Luo Feng unlocks the door.

"Brother, that you?" A voice echoes from inside.

"Yeah." Luo Feng shuts the door. His home is a simple one-bedroom with living room, totaling 36 ping*.

*A "ping" is approximately 3.306 square meters.

From his earliest memories, he's shared this 36 ping space with his parents and brother, a family of four.

"Hua, what're you studying?" Luo Feng steps toward the balcony.

There, a frail, pale teen in a wheelchair clutches an English book. Spotting it, Luo Feng chuckles, "Pulaisi, the investment guru? Among investing pros, isn't stock legend 'Bafeite' the biggest name?"

Luo Feng knows zilch about stocks or investments.

"Bafeite doesn't fit my style. Pulaisi's ideas align better with mine, so I learn more from him." The thin teen looks up with a faint smile.

"Keep at it." Luo Feng smiles.

Casually, Luo Feng's eyes drift to his brother's legs, stabbing his heart with pain… Years back, a car smashed his brother's legs. Everything below the thighs was wrecked, leaving him crippled. In today's world, a disabled person endures crushing pressure. Even schooling comes via online remote classes.

Long deprived of sunlight, his brother's skin holds a ghostly pallor, like constant illness.

Plus… he's shy, with few friends.

"Mom and Dad's wages are modest, supporting me and my brother—who's disabled… Our family bears a heavy load, stuck in this budget rental."

"I must alter our family's fate!"

Luo Feng vows inwardly.

"I like Xu Xin, but I haven't pursued her, haven't chased romance."

"Law allows marriage at 18, so high school sweethearts wed post-graduation. Few skip relationships in school. Why me?"

"No time for love! Family's not loaded, no elite tutors. I rely solely on myself." Luo Feng eyes the worn living room sofa that doubles as a bed. "All these years, four of us in one room and living area. Brother and I take the bedroom; parents stick to the sofa…"

"I'll get my family into a spacious villa, one with an elevator."

"Dad and Mom on a king-sized bed."

"Brother won't battle stairs anymore."

"Big windows flooding sunlight everywhere!"

These dreams echo endlessly in Luo Feng's mind, fueling his relentless drive.

Thus──

He ranks among #3 High School's three 'Elite's, the sole one from modest roots. The others hail from riches.

……

"Huahua~~" Water gushes from the tap, swiftly filling the electric kettle.

"Chichi……" Kettle plugged in, Luo Feng lounges on the sofa, history book open, reciting key sections nonstop.

Abruptly──

"Di!"

Water boils. Luo Feng sets the book aside, fills the thermos, then a big plastic mug on the table.

"AD 2026, the Hong Ze battle unfolded at Hong Ze Lake… Right, 2026." Luo Feng recites events sequentially. Math tops his school subjects, but history captivates him most. Each glimpse of 21st-century chronicles

……

Stirs deep unrest.

Humanity's rebirth etched in these pages!

"Hua." Luo Feng approaches his brother.

"Yeah, bro?" Luo Hua sets his book down.

"I marked 139 key points here—quiz me." Luo Feng offers the history text. Luo Hua grins. "Sweet, I seldom quiz you. Get ready, bro. Wrong answers mean embarrassment."

"Fire away." Luo Feng chuckles, settling on the couch.

"One warrior slew the 'Tiger head dragon,' rescuing hundreds of thousands, enabling thousands to reach Jiang Nan base. Who's the hero? Origin? Age at death? Exact date?" Luo Hua flips pages, quizzing.

"Hero 'Dong Nan Bao,' awarded four-star medal nationally. From Yuan Jiang Tai Xing. Died at 39. Happened… around AD 2018…" Luo Feng ponders.

Luo Hua presses, "Precise date—2018, month and day?"

"Er… probably…" Luo Feng hesitates, "June 18th."

"Ha, first one wrong!" Luo Hua shakes his head. "Dong Nan Bao from Yuan Jiang Tai Xing, died at 39, yes. But it was AD 2018, June 16th."

"Ah!"

Luo Feng slaps his forehead,苦笑. "Always mix 16 and 18. Keep going."

"Got it, focus up—second question." Luo Hua beams excitedly. "AD 2013 in…"

……

Brothers quiz back and forth, time racing past.

"Half the book done—68 questions, 63 correct, 5 wrong." Luo Hua glances at the wall clock. "Parents due home soon. One final question; rest later."

"Final one? Bring it." Luo Feng sharpens focus.

"Basic stuff: Recap key 'Da Nie Pan'* era events." Luo Hua queries.

*Da Nie Pan's pan character was slightly different, but this basically means Nirvana/Grand Nirvana, or at least hints at it. I will call it the Grand Nirvana period from now on.

Luo Hua grows solemn—the Grand Nirvana marks humanity's pivotal reformation epoch. "Early 21st century saw global virus waves. 2003 SARS, 2009 H1N1, then 2013's terrifying R-type virus. It spawned twenty variants, thwarting vaccines. Nations worldwide suffered massive casualties."

"Medicine progressed, curbing the virus."

"But January 2015, R virus birthed its worst form: RR virus!"

"Prior mutations spread via fluids or water briefly. RR transmits through fluids, water, and—deadliest—air! Lingering three hours airborne!"