“Eighty kilometers, Professor, I’ve finished!” The sweat-drenched youth burst in, shouting.
His gaze immediately fell upon Huang Xiu.
He rubbed the back of his head, a gentle smile gracing his features, and said, “Hello, fellow student, my name is Yun Ning.”
“Hello, I’m Huang Xiu.” The student, clad in his school uniform, introduced himself, then turned to Professor Yuan and continued, “I am deeply grateful for your invitation; it is a profound honor.”
Professor Yuan raised an eyebrow.
“I presume you’re about to follow that with a ‘but’?”
Huang Xiu nodded.
“But to leave high school after only completing the second year of senior high… I believe that would become a profound regret.”
“I wish to experience my entire high school career thoroughly, to draw a perfect conclusion to my academic journey.”
He paused, then added, “Moreover, aren’t the Heavenly Capital University entrance exams held annually? Surely, I could participate next year as a third-year senior high student, couldn’t I?”
“Actually…” Professor Yuan cast a glance at Yun Ning, who stood behind him with his arms crossed, signaling him to take a seat.
“As long as you choose to join Heavenly Capital, you will be immediately enrolled after the re-assessment.”
“Therefore, even if you choose to participate in your third year of senior high, you still wouldn’t complete the entire academic year.”
“Professor Yuan means that no matter if you choose to come in your second or third year of senior high, your high school career won’t be complete, so why waste an entire year?” Teacher Yue Zhengyang explained.
“Exactly, that’s precisely my point.” Professor Yuan clapped his hands together.
“What’s more, you no longer have the option of returning for your third year of senior high.”
“You have already become aware of the world’s true nature, and have even entered the Awakening phase.”
Professor Yuan’s gaze was sharp, like a torch.
With a swift *snap*, his chopsticks snatched a piece of pig trotters from Yun Ning’s hand.
Yun Ning gnashed his teeth in frustration, yet dared not reclaim it.
He could only lower his head and furiously shovel rice into his mouth, venting his resentment.
“The government will not permit an Awakened individual, one who knows the truth of the world and is in the midst of their Awakening, to remain within a high school campus,” Professor Yuan stated gravely.
“After all, Awakened individuals are both invaluable talents and the most unstable of factors,” Teacher Yue Zhengyang interjected.
“And…” Professor Yuan turned to Teacher Yue Zhengyang.
“Tell the Landlady to bring two more portions of pig trotters.”
Teacher Yue Zhengyang nodded, then rose and exited the private room.
“If I choose to remain at school, what would become of me?” Huang Xiu unconsciously rubbed the now-cold teacup.
“You face only two possible outcomes.”
Professor Yuan raised a single finger.
“First, you would be compelled to join an official organization, placed under its jurisdiction, and continue your studies within a specialized institution.
While there would be no threat to your life, and your food and lodging would be covered, it is certainly not Heavenly Capital University, and offers far less freedom.”
“Indeed,” Yun Ning affirmed, nodding as he continued to shovel rice.
‘Being forced to join an official organization…’ Huang Xiu silently dismissed this option in his mind.
Perhaps Professor Yuan’s words contained some exaggeration to paint a grim picture, but transferring to an official organization truly seemed less appealing than joining Heavenly Capital University.
“Second, your memories would be erased, and your spiritual foundation (TL Note: The ‘spiritual foundation’ or ‘ling ji’ refers to the core essence of one’s awakened abilities, comparable to a spiritual root or innate talent.) would be removed—meaning the latent energy within you would be extracted, rendering you an ordinary person with no possibility of ever Awakening again.”
The air conditioner, set to a frigid 16°C, whistled out cold air.
A chill swept across the nape of Huang Xiu’s neck.
He shivered involuntarily.
“To truly become an ordinary person? Is such a technology even possible?”
“Memory erasure is already a highly mature technology; it causes no harm to the brain.
Removing the spiritual foundation would also not affect your physical body.”
Professor Yuan looked at Huang Xiu with a hint of profound meaning in his eyes.
“But are you truly willing to accept either of these fates?
After comprehending the world’s true nature, would you willingly resign yourself to an ordinary life, returning to being a common person?
To relinquish the superior life that awaits you, the infinite possibilities, the formidable power?”
“I, I…..” Huang Xiu lifted his head, his face a canvas of struggle and bewilderment.
He was unwilling to detach himself from his current life, yet equally unwilling to abandon the possibility of a better future for himself.
He was merely a seventeen-year-old boy.
When school started, all he wanted was a holiday; during class, all he yearned for was the bell.
He would eat at noon and be hungry again by half past twelve.
He approached everything with a myopic view, his future plans extending only as far as university…
Ordinary yet prone to chuunibyou (TL Note: A Japanese term describing a ‘middle schooler syndrome’ where one indulges in delusions of grandeur, often believing they possess special powers or a secret destiny.), lazy yet short-sighted.
Constantly fantasizing about being extraordinary, yet when the path to greatness truly lay before him, he still hesitated.
What was it that prevented him from making a decision?
Was it Fang Miaoging?
No, absolutely not!
For the first time, Huang Xiu deeply questioned his own heart.
It was cowardice, fear, and apprehension of the unknown!
Change might not always be good, but if he did nothing, he certainly wouldn’t make a mistake!
This was his true sentiment.
“Don’t rush!” Professor Yuan chuckled.
“You still have two days before the re-assessment to consider everything carefully.
I believe, in the end, you will make a decision you won’t regret.”
“Furthermore, why not try out your supernatural abilities first?
Experiencing both sides of this world thoroughly might help you make a better decision.”
“Supernatural abilities?” Huang Xiu’s expression showed a flicker of interest.
Contemplating the future felt too arduous, too difficult for him.
Being timid, he utterly lacked the resolve to make such a life-altering decision on the spot.
Thus, rather than agonizing over it, he decided to temporarily cast it aside and leave the decision to his future self, two days hence.
Though this was merely a temporary evasion, as the saying goes, ‘the boat will naturally straighten when it reaches the bridge.’ Please, future self!
“I want to try!” Huang Xiu nodded vigorously.
“Alright!” Professor Yuan nodded with a smile.
“Let’s eat first; you’ll need energy to use your abilities once you’re full.”
****
“Just as no two leaves in the world are exactly alike, so too are no two supernatural abilities precisely identical.”
Within a sealed room spanning a full two hundred square meters, Professor Yuan strolled across the concrete floor, flanked by Huang Xiu and Yun Ning.
Teacher Yue Zhengyang, as a recruitment officer, had numerous miscellaneous tasks and had been called away by a phone call to attend to business shortly after dinner.
Huang Xiu, meanwhile, had been brought to this special institution, named the Bureau of Anomalous Jurisdiction, which was hidden within the bustling city.
“Even identical twins who Awaken simultaneously will possess subtle differences in their abilities.”
Professor Yuan meticulously explained to Huang Xiu.
“Nevertheless, while supernatural abilities are never truly identical, there are indeed abilities of the same type.
For instance, controlling fireballs and fire snakes can essentially be categorized as one and the same.”
Both controlling fireballs and fire snakes are, in essence, manipulations of flame, differing only in their manifestation.
“This is an officially sanctioned training ground for supernatural abilities.”
Professor Yuan gestured with his hand.
“Here, you may use your abilities without any restraint.”
“But I’m not entirely sure what my own ability is, or how to use it.
What should I do?” Huang Xiu suddenly asked.
“Hmm? Such a thing?” A flicker of surprise crossed Professor Yuan’s eyes.
“Typically, after an Awakened individual experiences their initial Awakening, they instinctively understand how to use their abilities.
It’s as natural as breathing.”
“The subsequent stages merely serve to refine and strengthen those abilities.”
“Is that so… haha…” Huang Xiu said, a touch of awkwardness in his voice.
“I seem to be an exception.”
“No matter,” Professor Yuan said, unfazed.
“I’ll help you figure it out here.”
As a Level Two Professor at Heavenly Capital University, he had guided dozens of Awakened individuals.
In his eyes, Huang Xiu’s situation was hardly a problem at all.