Embers Ad Infinitum

Chapter 552: First Review

Jiang Baimian picked up the phone and made terse grunts before looking at Shang Jianyao with a strange expression. “The C-14 project team wants you to go over for another test.”

After informing him, she said in a teasing tone, “You sure are busy!”

Shang Jianyao looked at the wall clock in the room and reluctantly said, “It’s almost time for lunch, so I’ll go in the afternoon. It’s not like they provide meals!”

He was very resentful about this. He had previously wanted to try the research institute’s canteen.

“Whoa, that’s a show of ill-discipline.” Jiang Baimian rolled her eyes at him, picked up the receiver, and dialed back. She restrained the smile on her face and said in a very formal tone, “We have a routine meeting internally; it’s very important. Shang Jianyao will be at your place after 2 p.m.”

The C-14 project team didn’t seem to have any objections.

Jiang Baimian quickly hung up and smiled at Shang Jianyao. “Done!”

She then joked, “It’s not that easy to encounter a good superior like me.”

Shang Jianyao glanced at Long Yuehong. “She’s talking to you! Listen carefully.”

Long Yuehong wanted to retort, but he felt a little nervous when he thought about who he would work under after leaving the Old Task Force. Therefore, he said with emotion, “That’s right. It’s really lucky to encounter such a good superior like Team Leader for my first job after graduation.”

He felt that if he had gone to another Old Task Force or another frontline team from the Security Department, it was unknown if he would still be standing in one piece. Of course, he definitely wouldn’t experience so much in other jobs as he did now, and the dangers he encountered would also be significantly reduced. However, Long Yuehong believed that his growth in the past year exceeded that of others by ten years. Not only was this reflected in his rank but also in his personal transformation.

“That’s right, that’s right.” Shang Jianyao strongly agreed. “Look, you already have a mechanical arm.”

“Are you mocking me?” Jiang Baimian was amused.

She stood up and snorted. “This won’t do; I have to show you the dignity of a team leader. I’ll treat everyone to lunch!”

“Alright,” Shang Jianyao replied with a glow on his face. “This way, we can get a lot of food.”

Bai Chen quietly listened and watched from the side with a faint smile.

...

At 2:15 p.m., Shang Jianyao met the C-14 project team’s person-in-charge—Mei Shou’an—on the third floor of the underground building.

Mei Shou’an sat in the warmly lit office. He nudged his gold-rimmed glasses and pointed at the chair opposite the table. “Please sit.”

“You only said sit last time.” The honest Shang Jianyao said whatever was on his mind.

Mei Shou’an was just about to speak when he suddenly burped. He pressed the back of his hand to his mouth and said with a serious expression, “You should know very well why I requested for you.”

“I’m not sure.” Shang Jianyao shook his head. He then explained, “There are too many reasons. I don’t know which one it is.”

Mei Shou’an picked up the thermos beside him and took a sip. “Why didn’t you say that you had already become an Awakened last time?”

Shang Jianyao said in surprise, “It’s not like you don’t know that I have mental problems.”

As he spoke, he pointed at his head as though it was a matter of course.

Mei Shou’an’s five fingers on the thermos moved as he asked, “What level are you at?”

“I just entered the Mind Corridor.” Shang Jianyao was very honest.

The eyes behind Mei Shou’an’s gold-rimmed glasses seemed to widen a little. He stared at Shang Jianyao and didn’t speak for a long time.

“Are you sure?” he asked again in confirmation.

Shang Jianyao didn’t respond verbally. He leaned back in his chair and crossed his fingers.

Sizzle!

The light in the office suddenly flickered.

“Electromagnetic Interference...” Mei Shou’an no longer had any doubts about Shang Jianyao’s level and strength. He frowned and asked, “When did you Awaken?”

Shang Jianyao had an ‘are you stupid?’ expression. “When I participated in your experiments.”

Mei Shou’an clasped his hands and asked with a strange expression, “In other words, you only used one year and three months to enter the Mind Corridor?”

Shang Jianyao nodded sincerely. “That’s right. It was still a little slow; it took a lot of time towards the end. Sigh, I just couldn’t steel my resolve.”

Mei Shou’an decided not to discuss the topic. “Your team has experienced so much on the surface. Your team leader should’ve long sensed that you are an Awakened, but she didn’t submit a report about it.”

Shang Jianyao shrugged. “Something that can be resolved with Inference Clowning. If one attempt doesn’t work, a few more times will do.”

This was the plan that had been discussed by the Old Task Force. Once the company learned that Shang Jianyao was an Awakened, they could push all the blame onto him. After all, he was already an Awakened at the Mind Corridor level. No matter how he was punished for such ‘minor mistakes,’ it would only be a slap on the wrist.

“One of your abilities is Inference Clowning?” Mei Shou’an’s focus was diverted. “Are you from Master Zhuang’s domain? What are your other abilities?”

Shang Jianyao sized up the intellectual-like researcher. “Are you an Awakened?”

“Yes.” Mei Shou’an didn’t hide the truth. With that said, he burped again.

“What level are you at?” Shang Jianyao took the initiative, acting as if he were the inspector.

Mei Shou’an hesitated for a moment before frankly saying, “I’ve also entered the Mind Corridor.”

“You’re already a Mind Corridor-level Awakened, yet you aren’t aware that you can’t inform your abilities and price to anyone?” Shang Jianyao immediately ‘criticized’ the person in charge of the C-14 project.

Mei Shou’an couldn’t help but raise his hand to nudge his gold-rimmed glasses. “It doesn’t matter if you say it or not. It’s very obvious.”

There’s something wrong with his mind!

“Therefore, I can’t reveal my abilities to others.” Shang Jianyao acted as if it was only right.

Mei Shou’an slowly exhaled and said, “Since you’ve already become a Mind-Corridor Awakened, you will have to undergo two to three tests and reviews. This will be the first one. Shang Jianyao, what’s your goal? Or rather, what are your pursuits?”

Shang Jianyao’s expression turned serious bit by bit. “Saving all of humanity!”

Mei Shou’an was mentally prepared. He paused for a few seconds and asked, “What happens after saving humanity?”

“Be the Rec Center’s PIC on a certain floor and organize everyone to sing and dance!” Shang Jianyao became active and excited. “I won’t object if you transfer me to the Entertainment Department to be its PIC.”

Mei Shou’an was momentarily speechless. He could only pick up a pen and write in the notebook in front of him.

He wrote down Shang Jianyao’s complete answer and added his opinion at the end: “The subject of review has a strong sense of belonging to the company.”

After adjusting his attitude, Mei Shou’an thought for a moment and said, “If you can pass all the reviews and tests, you will be in charge of your Old Task Force later at your level.”

“That won’t do.” Shang Jianyao shook his head very firmly.

“Why not?” Mei Shou’an asked in confusion. “If you’re worried about your team leader, the company can transfer her to be the team leader of another team.”

Shang Jianyao’s expression gradually turned solemn. “Because... I can’t beat her.”

Mei Shou’an massaged his forehead and burped again.

“She’s also an Awakened?” asked the research institute’s PIC.

Shang Jianyao shook his head. “Not for the time being.”

Mei Shou’an couldn’t help but ask, “Then, why can’t you defeat her? What does she rely on?”

Mei Shou’an knew very well how powerful Mind Corridor-level Awakened were.

Shang Jianyao fell silent for a moment before saying, “She relies on her brain.”

Mei Shou’an fell silent for a while before picking up the thermos and taking another sip. “Ahem, what do you know about the Mind Corridor level?”

Shang Jianyao explained most of what he knew, but he didn’t mention Du Heng’s last exhortation.

Mei Shou’an nodded and said, “You guys have indeed experienced a lot. I can remind you again not to transfer the aura or power in items to your Sea of Origins. This will result in the exposure of your mind coordinates. It’s very easy for the corresponding powerhouse who has explored the Mind Corridor’s depths to invade you. Furthermore, they can also get helpers to come along. This is a very dangerous act. We can’t hope that the other party doesn’t sense it. Although this is also a relatively common situation, one can never be too careful. I should’ve told you this when you entered the Sea of Origins, but you had to hide your strength.

“Also, try your best not to tell others the door number of your Mind Room. This might result in you being attacked in the Mind Corridor. You don’t want real-life enemies to open your room and explore your mind, right? Exploring itself is equivalent to an invasion.”

Shang Jianyao thought for a moment and said, “Then, that means I can wipe them all out?”

Mei Shou’an felt choked. After a long time, he said, “I hope your strength matches your lofty ambitions.”

Shang Jianyao skipped the topic and took the initiative to ask, “Can exploring other Mind Rooms enhance one’s strength?”

Mei Shou’an sized up Shang Jianyao again. “You’re still relatively good at thinking when you’re normal. Yes, based on the company’s internal definition, it’s a way to enhance your mental strength through such tempering. But exploring other mind rooms is also a very dangerous matter. It’s best to do it one step at a time. Retreat when you discover any abnormalities and continue after you are done making preparations.”

At this point, Mei Shou’an shared some general knowledge. “Under normal circumstances, you have to explore at least five Mind Rooms to raise your mental strength to the point where you can see the New World’s door. Otherwise, you won’t be able to find it.”

“What about abnormal circumstances?” Shang Jianyao was very curious.

Mei Shou’an’s expression changed slightly. “Seeing the door to the New World from randomly opening a door after one just enters the Mind Corridor.”

After saying that, his expression turned solemn. “Such people often claim to have received a Kalendaria’s favor.”