Training Program

Jiang Mian sat alone on the hospital bed, leafing through the documents in her hands.

Just moments ago, a whole group of officials from who-knows-where had flocked to her: the Construction Bureau, the Public Security Bureau, the Education Bureau, the City Defense forces...

They spoke earnestly and treated her with such warmth, as if she were a once-in-a-century treasure.

But Jiang Mian knew perfectly well that this sudden attention was closely related to the ability she had just "awakened."

The document in her hands... supposedly outlined the new regulations issued this year.

It stated that all Awakened ranked in the top fifty Sequences would be enrolled in the "Training Program" and receive the highest level of resource support.

Participants would not only receive generous scholarships and one-on-one guidance from experienced Awakened, but could also ride the "Mist Special Line" for free to the Central City Circle for intensive training.

The Central City Circle...

Jiang Mian had only ever heard of it. They were the first seven Base Cities, and now they seemed to have reached a level of civilization not much different from that before the Mist, roughly equivalent to the capital today.

Ordinary people living Inside the Wall could go their whole lives without a chance to visit another Base City, let alone that place.

With all this special attention, plus her own "not low" Sequence, Jiang Mian was someone they considered to have limitless prospects.

"No wonder they're in such a hurry..."

Jiang Mian murmured.

As someone who had just "awakened" Sequence 48, [Eye of the Storm], she had happened to land at exactly this moment.

The officials clearly wanted to invest in her and build a relationship early.

Now that Jiang Mian had official protection, Li Hao's Father wouldn't dare lay a hand on her, whether he was a Second-tier, Third-tier, or even Fourth-tier Awakened.

But she would certainly be under far more scrutiny than before. She would have to maintain an even more perfect disguise and not let a single flaw show.

Unfortunately, all her abilities were related to the elements. Apart from [Gale], which could hide her presence and make it easier to conceal herself or escape, blending into a crowd depended entirely on her.

The hospital room door opened gently, interrupting Jiang Mian's thoughts.

Lin Yun had returned, with someone following behind her.

It was Ye Chenyang.

He wasn't wearing his uniform today, but a set of dark casual clothes.

Jiang Mian instinctively narrowed her eyes as she watched Ye Chenyang approach. How should she put it...

Just judging by his appearance, his features were sharply defined and his gaze deep and bright. He looked upright and honorable, but not like some clueless hothead.

She had to admit, he was kind of handsome...

Wait, what was she thinking?!

Jiang Mian hurriedly put a stop to that dangerous thought.

Had she just... judged a man's appearance in her head? How absurd was that...

Could staying in this body for too long be making her perception all confused?

Time to take my meds...

She silently looked away, deciding it had to be the suppressor wearing off.

"Jiang?"

Ye Chenyang sat down beside the bed and handed her a small bag and a Super Battle-Damaged Mobile Phone. His voice was gentle, yet carried a quiet strength.

"Huh?"

Jiang Mian took the things from him.

She'd changed out of the clothes she'd worn yesterday, and her belongings had probably been collected and stored together.

But she didn't have much: a little money, a ring of keys, and a beat-up phone.

"Thank you."

She tried to sit up, but Ye Chenyang gestured for her to lean back and stay comfortable.

Lin Yun saw that Jiang Mian seemed to be in good spirits and reminded her to take a few precautions—mainly, not to use her ability lightly over the next few days. Then she checked the time.

Her brows drew together slightly, and she looked a little apologetic as she said:

"Get some good rest. I have to go to school now, but I'll come see you later."

"Mm-hmm."

Only then did Lin Yun hurry off, leaving Jiang Mian and Ye Chenyang alone in the room.

For a while, the room felt rather quiet.

Jiang Mian lowered her eyes, rubbing her fingertips over the cracks on her phone screen as she thought about the details of yesterday.

She hadn't... given herself away, had she?

She thought her performance yesterday had been decent, and she'd deliberately kept her behavior afterward under control. This kid wasn't very old; he couldn't be that perceptive.

"Jiang, are you feeling any better?"

Ye Chenyang sounded as if he were just making conversation. He didn't ask about the details of what had happened yesterday.

From the way his ability sensed things, he felt that Jiang Mian was somehow very special, and he couldn't help wanting to learn more about her.

"I'm okay. I'm just feeling a little weak."

"Have you made any plans for what to do about the ability you awakened?"

"I don't know."

Jiang Mian shook her head, a hint of confusion in her eyes. A touch of vulnerability slipped out before she could help it.

"My head's still a bit of a mess. And... [Eye of the Storm]—I can hardly believe it. Maybe I just got lucky, and..."

Ye Chenyang leaned forward slightly, bracing his hands on his knees with a serious expression.

"This is potential you already had. It wasn't luck."

"But... I feel like I can't control it very well."

Jiang Mian looked uneasy, like an ordinary person who had suddenly come into a fortune and didn't know what to do with it.

Seeing this, Ye Chenyang offered some reassurance.

"Abilities ranked in the top fifty, especially those on the [Elemental] Path, really are difficult to control at first."

"Besides, a skill's damage and range depend entirely on how well an Awakened can manipulate the elements.

Aside from Elemental Burst, even people with the same ability will show slight differences."

"Mm."

Jiang Mian answered softly. She already knew about that, so she was still thinking about how to control her "performance" from here on.

"You've just experienced an Elemental Burst, so you should know how taxing it is. It can also easily... injure someone by accident."

Ye Chenyang watched Jiang Mian's reaction. She still seemed to be recovering from what had happened yesterday, and was responding a little sluggishly.

"My ability is Sequence 49, [Shining Blade]. Our Paths are different, but a lot of things are similar when it comes to controlling our abilities. Maybe I can teach you a few things."

Sequence 49—an ability in the same "bracket" as hers, and a rare High-tier Sequence, too?

It seemed reasonable enough, but Jiang Mian still felt that his strength didn't quite add up.

Could a First Order [Shining Blade] move through her Wind Field without hindrance? And he had an extra mental skill, too?

This guy was definitely hiding something!

Though she had her doubts, Jiang Mian didn't let them show. Instead, she put on a suitably surprised expression.

Right now, with a "senior" who also had a High-tier Sequence offering to guide her, she didn't seem to have any choice but to gratefully accept.

"Really? Thank you..."

"You don't need to thank me. Before that, you need to focus on getting better."

Ye Chenyang glanced at the documents beside Jiang Mian and reminded her:

"If you agree to join this program, you can go with me when the time comes. Including you, there are only three people in our city with High-tier Sequences so far."

"We can discuss the details once you've recovered. What you need most right now is rest, so I won't keep you any longer."

He stood up and left Jiang Mian a note.

"This is my contact information. Get in touch if you need anything."

"Mm-hmm."

"Get some good rest."

Ye Chenyang said nothing more, turned around, and walked out of the hospital room.

Jiang Mian listened as his steady footsteps faded into the distance, and only after they disappeared completely at the end of the corridor did she slowly let out a breath.

Honestly... what kind of rotten luck did she have, always running into this strange guy?