The park that morning was filled with a soft golden light. The breeze rustled through the trees, carrying the scent of earth after last night's drizzle. Birds perched on the lamp posts, singing songs that blended with the laughter of children in the distance.
Yet amidst that peaceful scenery, chaos had begun to take shape.
Lu Xio's heart pounded rapidly in his chest as the color drained from the old man's face. The very man he had boasted of saving now lay twitching weakly on the bench, his breathing uneven, his pulse fading like the last ember in dying ash. Lu Xio's hands trembled uncontrollably, his face pale as paper.
He had been smiling moments ago, basking in the admiration of the crowd. But now, fear replaced arrogance. The whispers around him were no longer of praise but of suspicion and judgment.
"Didn't he just say he could cure the man?" one bystander muttered.
"Look at that old man's face… he looks worse than before!" another added in a hushed tone.
