Meeting

The two-odd months between the end of the Ability Test and his enrollment passed.

Yu Jing carefully looked after his mother until her health recovered, while also considering moving. The Dihua Ability Institute was located in Central District One, some distance from District 19. Even the fastest plane took over two hours to get there, and traveling from his rural home to the airport took even longer.

With 3.5 million yuan in cash, Yu Jing checked housing prices in Central District One online, only to discover that the money was barely enough to pay a fraction of the cost. In the end, he considered that his mother had lived in the countryside of District 19 for decades and had many friends there. He deposited three million yuan into her account and decided to leave her there, returning home during his yearly breaks.

Yu Jing packed his luggage and arrived at the District 19 airport. His fully recovered mother insisted on seeing her son off, but after Yu Jing repeatedly tried to dissuade her, she finally agreed to accompany him only as far as the airport.

"Once you go to the Ability Institute, you'll be on your own. In a big city..."

Yu Jing's mother was much like any other parent seeing a child off for a long journey, constantly reminding him of things to watch out for in the big city. Yu Jing never found it annoying. He nodded and agreed to every request she made, then dragged his suitcase and entered the boarding lounge with his boarding pass.

"Mom, I'll come back to see you during the holidays! Call me if anything happens."

Yu Jing no longer lingered. He turned around and walked straight toward the top-tier VIP lounge indicated by the arrows inside the airport. He had not paid for the ticket to Central himself. The top-tier first-class ticket cost 32,000 yuan, and even with money to spare, Yu Jing would never spend so extravagantly.

The ticket had been delivered to Yu Jing's home by anonymous mail ten days earlier. He could basically determine who the sender was.

Inside the same top-tier VIP lounge, Yu Jing saw a sharply dressed man in front of him, carrying a briefcase. With his high nose, deep-set eyes, and blue-crystal-colored irises, combined with his yellow skin, it was clear that he was probably mixed-race.

Yesterday, at the research institute, the man had worn a round hat that cast his face in shadow. The invisible pressure radiating from his body had also prevented Yu Jing from seeing his features clearly that night. Based on the information he had now, however, he could easily deduce that this man was the director of the District 19 Research Institute.

"Sit!"

There were eight seats in the top-tier VIP lounge. Although only forty minutes remained before boarding, no one else entered the lounge where the two men were sitting.

Yu Jing sat down opposite the director. Since he had never liked talking, he immediately lowered the brim of his hat after taking his seat, showing no intention of speaking with the director in front of him.

"I didn't expect you to have some connection with the Yu family. If you get the chance, spend more time with Yu Xiaoxiao."

"The Yu family... I'll definitely repay her for this favor," Yu Jing replied.

"You're a straightforward fellow. Come along and board first. It isn't very safe to talk here. I've booked the plane's top-tier first-class cabin, so our conversation inside the plane will be completely confidential... Also, from now on, address me as 'Special Commissioner Liang.' I'll be your commissioner at the Dihua Ability Institute."

Yu Jing merely gave a slight nod before following Special Commissioner Liang through the VIP passageway to board ahead of schedule.

Inside the spacious first-class cabin, Special Commissioner Liang instructed the flight attendants not to enter for the entire flight. He prepared two cups of extra-strong hot coffee at the self-service beverage station and handed one to Yu Jing.

"You should have put your family matters behind you by now. Once you enroll, returning home will be very difficult. During these two months of vacation, you should have gained at least some familiarity with the plant inside your body. There's no need for a practical demonstration. Just give me a simple report on what you've learned."

Although the plane was relatively safe, Special Commissioner Liang was not completely at ease.

Yu Jing answered softly, "I haven't learned very much. I only know two things. First, the plant in my arm can extract energy from any organic matter. Second, as long as I get enough sunlight for photosynthesis each day, both it and I can obtain nourishment without eating food. However, I need three times as much water as an ordinary person every day."

Just as Yu Jing had described, he carried a large bottle of mineral water in his backpack to replenish his fluids at any time.

"Is that all?"

Yu Jing replied in a low voice, "Because you told me that the thing inside my body was of great importance, I never released the life-form from my arm throughout the entire vacation. I also didn't try to investigate its other abilities."

"Good. It's excellent that you managed to suppress your curiosity about your own body. We'll slowly expand and investigate its specific condition in my research room at the Ability Institute. I arranged this meeting before your enrollment because, after weighing it repeatedly, I decided I should warn you in advance about certain matters concerning the Dihua Ability Institute, so you can avoid dying during the start of the school term as much as possible... After all, although you passed the test, you were ultimately still killed. I have to take certain necessary factors into account."

Yu Jing noticed one important word and immediately asked, "Killed?"

Special Commissioner Liang nodded. "Before official classes begin, there will be a routine physical training session that every newcomer must face. According to past statistics, the death rate among newcomers during physical training is 11%. Although you were carefully selected, you're still a group of chicks that have only just broken out of their shells. In real danger, the death rate is very high."

Yu Jing immediately asked, "What will we encounter? Dangerous Objects like those in the test?"

"Things more dangerous and more lethal than those in the test. I don't know exactly what they'll be. It depends on how this year's leaders at the Ability Institute arrange it. In short, they won't make things easy for you newcomers... But as long as you survive physical training and perform well during it, your life in the first year will be quite eventful."

"Di... Special Commissioner Liang, what exactly is this Dihua Ability Institute?" Yu Jing could not help asking the question in his heart.

"Many graduates would be unable to answer your question. You'll have to find the answer yourself over the next four years. Next, we'll discuss your body's abilities... Also, if you encounter danger during physical training, or even get killed, the thing in your arm is an anomaly. You'll inevitably use it during training, so you need a reasonable explanation for this ability."

"Are you suggesting that I establish a certain relationship with you? Since you're a biological specialist, you could explain that the plant in my arm is merely some ordinary kind of plant?"

"You catch on quickly, kid!"

Special Commissioner Liang looked at Yu Jing approvingly. He then took an identification card and a large stack of documents from his briefcase and handed them over.