Chapter 24

Chapter 24

Lin Youhan's mind momentarily froze, as if he'd heard something utterly fantastical. "Are you insane?"

"Not insane. The psyche-enhancing drug's effects on you are too profound," Si Muyun stated earnestly. "A sudden surge in your psychic energy would undoubtedly draw unwanted attention, a situation I'm sure you'd rather avoid."

He continued, "Psychic fusion won't cause a sudden spike, but it can temporarily elevate your psychic energy to Grade A. My psychic energy is far more effective than any drug."

Lin Youhan hesitated. "But…"

His mind abruptly replayed the memory of Si Muyun's first use of psychic energy—the moment he had kissed him.

As if sensing his apprehension, Si Muyun softened his tone. "How about this: if I overstep any boundaries, you can stop me at any time."

Lin Youhan pondered for a moment, then nodded, a mix of belief and doubt in his expression.

The next instant, an intensely cold psychic energy surged into his mind, weaving through his mental sea and intimately brushing against his own.

Lin Youhan's heart pounded uncontrollably. His fingers clutched Si Muyun's shirt helplessly, and he opened his mouth, on the verge of calling for a halt.

Noticing Lin Youhan's reaction, Si Muyun leaned closer. "The initial stage of psychic fusion might be a little uncomfortable. Just bear with it."

Lin Youhan, unable to endure it further, closed his eyes, inwardly scoffing at his words. "A little uncomfortable?" The moment that psychic energy began to roam, it felt no different than standing utterly exposed before Si Muyun.

Si Muyun's psychic energy level was exceptionally high. In no time, Lin Youhan's eyes welled up, and his unhealthily pale skin flushed with a faint pink. He gripped Si Muyun's shirt even tighter. He opened his eyes, glancing around to ensure everyone else was engrossed in their own tasks and hadn't noticed his unusual state, then whispered, "...How much longer?"

"I'm uncomfortable."

He couldn't shake the persistent sensation of the opposing psychic energy enveloping him. Though subtle, he had definitely noticed it.

Si Muyun lowered his gaze, reassuring him, "It'll be over soon."

Hearing this, Lin Youhan relaxed slightly, thinking, *It should be almost done, right?*

But he had no idea how much time had truly passed. When he looked around again, the classroom was empty save for the two of them. He lifted his head, meeting a pair of dark, bottomless eyes. Si Muyun's downward gaze was intensely intimidating, like a predator observing its prey, poised to strike.

"Si Muyun..." Lin Youhan blinked, his eyes glistening with moisture. "Are you done yet?"

Only after speaking did he realize the oddity of the situation. Wasn't Si Muyun supposed to be helping him? How had it turned into him helping Si Muyun?

At this thought, Lin Youhan's consciousness, previously muddled by the psychic energy, cleared somewhat. He pushed Si Muyun away, stood up, and changed the subject. "We should probably head down for the assessment soon."

After saying this, he felt like a heartless cad, using someone and then discarding them. He then tried to steady his voice, adding, "Don't be too disheartened. Your psychic energy is truly excellent."

Si Muyun chuckled at this. "Then use it more often."

Lin Youhan, who had essentially shot himself in the foot: "..."

That really wasn't necessary.

Lin Youhan refused. "I have the drug."

"But I won't let you lose control," Si Muyun calmly countered.

He added, "Besides, didn't you enjoy it? My psychic energy is beneficial to you—it can help restore your memories. If you need it, come find me anytime."

He moved closer to Lin Youhan, his gaze fixed on him. "Or perhaps you dislike this method?"

"I—" Staring into those eyes, Lin Youhan hesitated repeatedly before turning his face away. "I need to go down for the assessment."

Si Muyun hadn't expected a response anyway. He helped straighten Lin Youhan's disheveled shirt. Despite the hot weather, Lin Youhan had layered a thin shirt over himself. But during the psychic fusion, Lin Youhan had found it too warm and rolled up his sleeves slightly. Si Muyun, looking down, could clearly see what appeared to be a dense, continuous pattern around his elbow, extending and disappearing into the sleeve.

At the time, he had noticed Lin Youhan's unusual expression but hadn't delved deeper. Now, seeing it again, his heart felt as if it had been steeped in lemon juice—sour and astringent.

There seemed to be a secret hidden beneath the sleeve.

-

Before they even reached the school's assessment room, they encountered a long queue stretching out of sight.

Lin Youhan was poor at recognizing faces. He scanned the line several times but couldn't identify which group belonged to Mecha Class 1. Instead, while pulling Si Muyun to the end of the line, they ran into Jiang Xun and his two companions, who had caused trouble not long ago.

Jiang Xun was listening to his friends chat, feeling bored, when he turned around and saw a familiar face behind him. The owner of that face greeted him enthusiastically. Jiang Xun was about to respond with a cold smirk, but the next second, his gaze shifted, and he unexpectedly met a pair of deep, bottomless black eyes. The overwhelming presence of someone in a position of authority hit him like a wave, and he stiffly retracted his smile.

After withdrawing his smile, he covertly glanced out of the corner of his eye, feeling like he had seen this person somewhere before. But upon seeing that utterly ordinary face, he reassured himself and turned back, muttering inwardly, *There's no way my cousin Si Muyun would be here.*

Lin Youhan nudged Si Muyun with his elbow, signaling him to look at Jiang Xun standing ahead. "Why did he suddenly stop smiling? Wasn't he just telling me 'just you wait'? I'm standing right here—why isn't he looking at me?"

Si Muyun immediately caught the key point in his words. "He came looking for you before?"

"Yeah, back when you were shamelessly flirting with me in the hallway," Lin Youhan said. "That guy even threatened me and challenged me to a fight."

Jiang Xun, who had been planning to keep to himself, couldn't take it anymore and turned around. He wanted to shout but was intimidated by Si Muyun's gaze, forcing him to lower his voice. "Are you out of your mind? I never challenged you to a fight!"

"I don't bother with rats," Lin Youhan snorted.

Jiang Xun: "...Lin Youhan!"

"Who said you could call your grandpa by his full name? No respect for your elders." Lin Youhan patted his shoulder. "But since you're being so sensible, from now on, you'll be the number two freshman in my book."

Jiang Xun: "..."

This Lin Youhan must truly be insane.

Jiang Xun's eyes bulged, and he said fiercely, "I don't need that!"

Lin Youhan shook his head. "Such a quick-tempered kid."

Hearing this, Jiang Xun wanted to say more, but out of the corner of his eye, he noticed an intensely cold gaze fixed on him. He felt a prickling discomfort, rendering him speechless. He had a strong intuition that if he uttered another word, the owner of that gaze would pick him up and toss him three meters away.

Forced to submit to this "dark" authority, Jiang Xun glared at Lin Youhan resentfully. "Y-You just wait."

With that, he turned away as if he had seen a terrifying demon, leaving behind a bewildered Lin Youhan, who was still full of fighting spirit and ready to go another eight hundred rounds.

Lin Youhan looked at Si Muyun. "What's his problem?"

Si Muyun: "Perhaps you're just too handsome, and he felt inadequate."

Lin Youhan stroked his chin, quite satisfied with this answer. "I know my unrivaled handsomeness."

Jiang Xun, who had been eavesdropping with perked ears: "..."

Who asked you?!

Lin Youhan continued talking to himself for a while as the line slowly moved forward. The closer they got, the more they could hear astonished exclamations, as if someone's pheromone level had shocked everyone.

Lin Youhan stood on his tiptoes to see, but unfortunately, the people in front were taller than him. Even on his toes, he couldn't see much—most of his view was blocked by the backs of their heads.

He sighed helplessly.

Seeing this, Si Muyun asked him, "What's wrong?"

Lin Youhan didn't speak.

"Still worried about your psychic energy?" Si Muyun asked cautiously, "If you're truly concerned, you can have your robot test it for you."

Lin Youhan said, "Never mind, we're almost up next."

He added, "I believe in you."

-

Not long after he finished speaking, only Jiang Xun and one other boy remained in front of them.

As soon as the boy in front of Jiang Xun put on the sensor cap, the corresponding value on the screen kept climbing, rising straight to S-level before stopping.

The boy next to him also had his psychic energy rise to S-level before stopping.

After the two finished testing and left, Jiang Xun stepped forward. Just before putting on the sensor cap, he glanced back at Lin Youhan and said provocatively, "Lin Youhan, watch closely."

Lin Youhan raised an eyebrow defiantly, "I'm watching. Don't disappoint me, number two freshman."

Hearing the last part, Jiang Xun felt his anger surge again, almost choking with rage. "I'd like to see how high your psychic energy really is!"

"Quit stalling. If you're not testing, don't keep everyone waiting."

Lin Youhan thought that after saying this, Jiang Xun would focus on testing his psychic energy. Instead, Jiang Xun mistakenly thought Lin Youhan had given up unilaterally and snorted with satisfaction.

Lin Youhan caught sight of this and his lip twitched.

He's like a child who hasn't been weaned.

Jiang Xun put on the sensor cap. A second later, the value on the screen rapidly climbed, stopping only at 2S Level.

The bystanders were stunned by the value. After just two seconds, the crowd erupted in cheers, and waves of astonished exclamations followed.

"Whoa, this guy looks so slender, but his psychic energy is that high?!"

"With this level, he can easily operate a mech, and his psychic linkage priority is higher than others. Why couldn't I be 2S Level?!"

"There aren't many people with 2S Level psychic energy in the school. There were already two 2S Level freshmen earlier, and now another one... damn! This year's freshmen are so strong! They're almost as good as the batch from eleven years ago!"

...

Jiang Xun was feeling proud upon hearing these praises, but his face darkened immediately after—he wasn't the first one to test as 2S Level.

Lin Youhan was also shocked by the reading, thinking that the guy who kept provoking him really had some talent.

He regretted telling Si Muyun that his psychic energy was only A-level. If his psychic energy turned out to be lower than this guy's, he'd be ridiculed for four years.

How could someone as brilliant and impressive as him be laughed at?!

-

"Si Muyun."

Just as Jiang Xun left and Si Muyun was about to step forward, he heard the person next to him softly call his name. The voice, usually firm, had softened considerably, almost like a plea.

Si Muyun stopped and asked, "What's wrong?"

Lin Youhan whispered, "Can you help me one more time? Just this once."

He added, "Don't worry, I'll make it worth your while."

Si Muyun looked at him and calmly said, "Alright."

"Si Muyun, you're too kind!" Lin Youhan threw his arms around him. "From now on, you're the greatest benefactor of my Lin family!"

Si Muyun lowered his eyes without speaking.

*I'd rather be your lover than your benefactor.*

-

Before putting on the sensor cap, Lin Youhan noticed that Jiang Xun hadn't left but was standing to the side with an eager, spectating expression.

Lin Youhan ignored him because Si Muyun's psychic energy had already quietly entered his psychic field.

He quickly put on the sensor cap, watching intently at the fluctuating value on the screen.

When the value reached 2S Level, he was about to signal Si Muyun to stop, but Si Muyun wasn't looking at him. So the value on the screen kept rising, not stopping even at 3S Level.

Lin Youhan thought, *This isn't good*, and reached out to pull Si Muyun to make him stop. Suddenly, the instrument in front of them emitted two beeps, and the next second, the screen shattered, issuing two streams of black smoke.

Lin Youhan: "..."

*Bro, I asked for your help, but not to go this far.*

The people around clearly hadn't expected the instrument to break. Since the batch of students from eleven years ago broke the instrument, no one had been able to break it again in the following eleven years.

It was also that batch from eleven years ago that produced four exceptionally talented students, who gained fame at the Technology Conference ten years ago.

The people around looked at the two with expressions of awe, as if they were looking at two monsters.

Jiang Xun was too shocked to speak. He gave a cold laugh and strode away.

Lin Youhan dazedly took off the sensor cap and turned to Si Muyun. "Your... psychic energy exceeds 3S Level?"

The highest recorded psychic energy level in Star City was only 3S Level. Although levels beyond 3S Level existed, they were exceedingly rare.

The sensor tester at Star Institute could only measure up to 3S Level. Beyond that, the instrument would break. The broken instrument was proof enough.

Si Muyun took off his sensor cap and didn't conceal it. "My psychic energy level is 3S Level."

"Then why..."

"Your psychic energy affected me, causing a psychic resonance."

Hearing the term "psychic resonance," Lin Youhan's mind went momentarily blank.

Psychic resonance occurs when two people with similar psychic energy levels have their psychic energies enter each other's psychic field, creating a neurological response. The most remarkable aspect of psychic resonance is the fusion of their psychic energies, demonstrating a level exceeding either individual's alone.

This explained why Si Muyun's psychic energy was 3S Level, but the instrument measured a level beyond 3S.

He and Si Muyun... had undergone psychic resonance.

But how could someone like him, whose psychic energy was below average, reach 3S Level?

-

"You're saying two freshmen with psychic energy beyond 3S Level have appeared this year?"

In a bright office, a round table was surrounded by a group of older individuals. Despite their age, their eyes were clear and sharp, fixed intently upon the screen on the wall.

When the footage appeared, everyone else focused on the instrument, except for one half-gray-haired old man who stared intently at Lin Youhan's face.

This face... was strikingly similar to the one from ten years ago.