Chapter Thirteen: The New Mentor

Chapter Thirteen: [The New Mentor]

Today, Xia Zheng was in an exceptionally lighthearted mood. With the affairs at military headquarters finally settled, he could devote himself to his supernatural training at last. And ever since his run-in with Captain Diaz, his hunger for strength had only grown.

Upon arriving at the company, he discovered the lobby was empty; not a soul had clocked in yet. Only a dozen or so mechanical servants were busying themselves with cleaning, tidying documents, and other such tasks. Glancing at the clock on the wall, Xia Zheng realized it was not yet seven—perhaps he was a bit too eager.

His excitement had left him skipping breakfast, and only now did hunger gnaw at him. As he made his way to the sofa, he was surprised to find a primary schooler sleeping there. Whose child could this be, studying so late? Surely the child of one of the squad members, Xia Zheng mused.

“Want a lollipop?” The child offered one to him.

“Thank you!” Xia Zheng, stomach rumbling, accepted and bit into the candy.

With a beep, a mechanical butler approached carrying a tray laden with coffee, croissants, boiled eggs, corn, and more—making Xia Zheng’s hunger all the more acute.

“Can you… Can you order breakfast here?” he asked curiously.

The schoolgirl nodded, handed him a menu, and began sipping her coffee, its scent hinting at chocolate.

“Children need a nutritious breakfast. You shouldn’t eat things that are too sweet,” Xia Zheng offered kindly, then ordered a bowl of noodle soup with a fried egg. The mechanical butler took the menu and busied itself with the order.

The girl shot him a glare, began to eat with deliberate elegance, and asked, “New employee?”

“That’s right. Hey, why don’t you call me ‘big brother’? Where are your manners?” Xia Zheng reached out, ruffling the child’s hair.

Smack!

She knocked his hand away, warning, “Touch my head again, and you’re dead.”

“Whose child talks like that?” Xia Zheng looked around, but saw no sign of her guardians. How strange—were parents nowadays really so careless?

Soon, his egg noodles arrived. Xia Zheng dug in heartily, noticing out of the corner of his eye that the schoolgirl watched him eat, as if she wanted some.

“Do you want me to order you a bowl?” he asked.

“No, I’m almost done. But… how about letting me try a bite?” She pointed to his noodles.

Xia Zheng hesitated. “Aren’t you afraid of my germs?”

“You talk too much. Just one bite.” She leaned in, mouth open, waiting to be fed.

Scratching his head, Xia Zheng wondered if all kids these days were this uninhibited. Oh well. He picked up some noodles and fed her.

“Tasty! Another bite!” she demanded. Xia Zheng relented, feeding her several more times until his noodles were nearly gone. Seizing the moment while she savored the taste, he quickly finished off the rest.

“Hey, you little sneak,” the schoolgirl grumbled, clever beyond her years.

Xia Zheng ignored her, handing his dishes to the mechanical butler just as Chu Yan appeared on the other side of the lobby.

“Captain Chu, reporting in!” Xia Zheng forgot all about the girl, slinging his bag over his shoulder and hurrying over.

Chu Yan nodded, gesturing to the schoolgirl. “Already acquainted? Good.”

“Huh? Captain, what’s the surprise you mentioned today?” Xia Zheng was puzzled.

Chu Yan glanced at the girl. She raised a finger to her lips, signaling him not to spoil the secret. Chu Yan coughed and said, “I’ve found you a mentor… a very formidable one.”

“Really? Where?” Xia Zheng asked excitedly.

“There!” Chu Yan pointed toward the schoolgirl.

Xia Zheng looked but saw nothing out of the ordinary. “I don’t see anyone. Where?”

“There!” Chu Yan pointed again, but Xia Zheng still overlooked her.

“Captain Chu, is it possible my mentor’s power is invisibility? Is that why I can’t see them?” Xia Zheng ventured.

Chu Yan decided to drop the act, pushing the schoolgirl in front of him. “This is your mentor, and my senior—an esper of the mental discipline: Shen Hua.”

Xia Zheng looked down at the young girl, then back at Chu Yan, realizing this was no joke. He picked up the girl and protested, “Captain Chu, you must be mistaken. I don’t want to be taught by a kid—”

Before he could finish, an invisible force bound him, lifting him into the air, twisting him into a complex yoga pose.

“You brat, so arrogant. I was planning to teach Chu Yan a lesson first, but since you crossed my path, I’ll start with you. As luck would have it, I’ve just learned a new set of yoga moves for enhancing the bust—let’s review them.” With her psychic power, Shen Hua manipulated Xia Zheng through a series of challenging yoga postures while she practiced below, as if following an instructional video.

Chu Yan slipped away, the cries and creaking bones echoing behind him sending a chill down his spine. He remembered how, back in the day, this senior had tormented him mercilessly. Even at his most miserable, with every joint dislocated, he refused to yield or agree to marry her. Years had passed, and she remained single—her strength only more formidable. Could it be that a life of chastity truly empowered espers?

Then again, it was no wonder—what man would dare marry such a forceful woman? It would be courting death.

Soon, the entire Ten Shinobi Squad knew that Chu Yan had used his personal connections to bring in a master of the mental discipline—rumored to be at A+ rank.

The one who suffered most was Xia Zheng. On his very first day, his mentor publicly demonstrated her yoga routine on him all morning. Some female employees and squad members’ wives shamelessly joined Shen Hua in following Xia Zheng’s contorted postures. By the end, he felt as if he’d been trampled by an elephant—utterly miserable.

That afternoon, in the training area, Shen Hua began Xia Zheng’s first lesson in mental discipline: meditation.

Sitting cross-legged before his mentor, Xia Zheng still struggled to accept the situation. But there was no denying it—her expertise was clear.

“A mental esper is vastly different from the three most common types: enhancers, superhumans, and elementals. Our power comes from the mind. While the other types focus on training the body, we cultivate the spirit. That’s why our daily practice is called ‘spirit refinement,’ and one of its most common methods is meditation.” Shen Hua guided Xia Zheng into a meditative state, a psychological condition that, once the mind is ready, comes naturally.

Xia Zheng closed his eyes, following Shen Hua’s instructions to seek a state called “void stillness”—a place between thought and no thought, between wakefulness and sleep, a kind of lucid slumber.

“Don’t force it. Don’t chase after void stillness; that’s missing the point. Let it come naturally, with ease and acceptance…” Shen Hua observed Xia Zheng closely. He was trying too hard—his intensity was, in fact, a hindrance.

He adjusted his breathing, calming his agitation. Gradually, his mood shifted.

“This so-called ‘void stillness’ is a kind of realm. When your mindset is right, the realm follows. It’s almost philosophical. Space, time, the universe… all things are interconnected. Existence is a relationship; destruction is another. To think is one state; not to think is another. So that’s it… What I need to change is my state, not to chase a particular goal. I’ve been aiming in the wrong direction.” In that moment of realization, Xia Zheng slipped into the meditative void. Instantly, a surge of psychic power radiated from his mind, expanding outward—Shen Hua sensed it at once.

Shen Hua was stunned, though her face betrayed nothing.

“For a first-timer, entering the void state usually takes a whole day—two or three is normal; a week for the less talented, half a month for the mediocre. Beyond that, they’re not suited for this path. But this boy managed it in less than half a day. Remarkable. Not only is his psychic talent outstanding, but his comprehension is extraordinary. No wonder he’s both scholarly and martial.” Shen Hua had never seen a student with such insight. She decided then to stay in the Polant District longer to teach him.

Talented students are rare, and to nurture them is a teacher’s greatest joy.

A faint crackle of electricity accompanied a metallic friction noise as Shen Hua slowly opened her eyes. What she saw would remain with her forever.

Xia Zheng was deep in meditation, but his power could turn imagination into tangible reality. Thus, his meditative presence manifested as a mysterious cube, entwined with countless glowing electronic tails, emitting a radiant light of thought. These rays felt warmer than sunlight, sharpening the mind like a revelation from above.

At this moment, if other mental espers were meditating nearby, they would surely benefit, for Xia Zheng was sharing his insights and state of mind with all present. Shen Hua, too, absorbed this youthful enlightenment—immature for now, but with experience, it would make him a true sage.

After about two hours, Xia Zheng emerged from meditation. The mysterious cube vanished, but he could distinctly feel that his psychic power—yes, it was now proper to call it that—had increased and grown more refined.

“Knife!” Xia Zheng curled his finger, picturing a flying blade in his mind. Channeling his mental power to his fingertip, he snapped it forward.

Clang!

A crisp sound rang out as a blade of force sliced through the air, embedding itself in the wall. Fortunately, the wall was made of anti-magic stone; ordinary material would have been cleaved.

“Attack power: Grade C,” the training room’s voice announced. This was a Level 2 room, with reinforced defenses able to withstand a full-force B-rank attack and real-time data analysis for trainees.

Ordinarily, Xia Zheng’s psychic attacks rated D or D+, occasionally reaching C. But now, after just one meditation, even a casual strike was at C level—a clear improvement.

Shen Hua stood up, approached him, and said, “Well done. You’ve grasped the knack of meditation. Next, I’ll tailor a training plan to your psychic strengths. Oh—don’t neglect your physical training. A strong mind needs a strong body as its foundation. The stronger your body, the better, though don’t overdo it. As for weapons, I think throwing and piercing types suit you best. Attacks made purely of psychic force consume too much energy; save those for emergencies, like when you’re unarmed. Understand?”

“Thank you, Master…” Xia Zheng no longer balked at calling her master. She might look like a child, but her skill was what mattered. A teacher imparts knowledge and resolves doubts—nothing else is as important.

“Very good. Disciple, tonight you’re taking your master out for ramen.” With that, Shen Hua took his hand and led him to the cafeteria. Xia Zheng, half laughing, half crying, followed along. Who would have thought that after one bowl of noodles, his master would become obsessed with all kinds of noodles? He wasn’t sure if that was a good thing.

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