Chapter 122
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Chapter 122: Within Reach
The world is indeed cruel…
Lin Qingliu gazed at the patient beside him, who was deeply immersed in a dream, and sensed that they must have been deprived of restful sleep for a long time.
He reflected on his own situation; in this world, he stood alone, without family or friends.
As for his followers, Lin Qingliu acknowledged their significance, yet he still struggled to define their place in his life.
His thoughts grew increasingly tangled; viewing this world as a mere game was misguided, but what could he possibly do to preserve the last ember of humanity?
He had no definitive answer, but for the moment…
Lin Qingliu tenderly raised the patient’s head from the dream and began to implant one suggestion after another.
This was not an effort to conceal the painful memories; such an attempt would be futile and could only drive the patient to madness.
The suggestion Lin Qingliu was imparting was designed to make the patient believe, upon awakening, that those events had transpired many years ago.
At least, the illusion of a lengthy passage of time could help to erode some of the painful memories.
Ten minutes later, the patient awoke from the dream.
His eyes cleared, no longer clouded with pain and sorrow.
The painful memories seemed to have faded, as if they had occurred over a decade ago, becoming increasingly indistinct.
Yet, Lin Qingliu could still detect the sorrow hidden deep within the patient’s gaze.
The patient rose from the chair, stretched his neck, and said,
"Thank you, doctor. I feel much better."
Lin Qingliu looked up at him,
"What are your plans now?"
"I will leave the army, return home… to be with my family."
"Very well, I wish you safety."
The patient exited the examination room, and the examiner waiting outside began to assess his mental state.
A somewhat intense discussion ensued.
Five minutes later, a report card was presented to Lin Qingliu, bearing an astonishingly high score.
As he was about to depart, a soldier called out to him:
"Mr. Lin Qingliu, please wait a moment.
"This round of assessments has concluded, and as the highest scorer, a distinguished individual has personally requested to meet you."
"To meet me? Here?"
"Yes."
"A big shot? How significant?"
"It is His Excellency, General Wencheng."
As the soldier spoke, his eyes gleamed with unmistakable admiration and anticipation.
Lin Qingliu observed the soldier, whose eyes seemed to gleam with a certain light, and felt too embarrassed to inquire whether the general’s favor needed to be repaid.
He returned to his examination room, sat down, and began to wait quietly.
After half an hour, the door of the examination room slowly opened, and a Middle-aged Man, who appeared to be under fifty, entered.
This man exuded a sense of unwavering determination at first glance.
His graying hair was cut in a practical crew cut, and even beneath two layers of military uniform, the signs of his rigorous physical training were evident.
He carried his military cap under his arm and walked with a stride that seemed to stir the air around him.
The man entered alone, pulled out a chair, and seated himself in the spot previously occupied by the patient.
"You are Lin Qingliu? I just had a conversation with the patient you treated. The results are indeed remarkable."
"You are too kind," Lin Qingliu replied.
"Not at all."
Wencheng seemed to have little patience for polite modesty and flattery. He spoke with utmost seriousness:
"I am Wencheng, the supreme commander of the military organization, accountable only to the Hope Council. I have no reason to exaggerate your accomplishments."
Lin Qingliu maintained his composure as he looked at the man before him, though inwardly he mused:
That was rather blunt…
"Very well, then I thank you for your praise."
Lin Qingliu responded with a smile, his instincts telling him that Wencheng’s purpose here was anything but ordinary.
Could this man also be grappling with psychological issues?
No, that couldn’t be it; the plot shouldn’t take such a melodramatic turn…
With hundreds of thousands of people in Hope City, surely there must be someone capable of providing him with psychological counseling.
At that moment, the imposing general before him spoke:
"Could you elaborate on your therapeutic methods? I’ve familiarized myself with that patient’s experiences, and I truly cannot fathom how you managed to treat him to such an extent."
Lin Qingliu regarded the earnest Middle-aged Man, sensing his genuine desire to understand…
After a moment of thought, he replied:
"Therapy, hypnosis, suggestion, and…"
As Wencheng listened, he nodded in approval.
"And a touch of superpower."
The moment those words left Lin Qingliu’s lips, he noticed the general’s expression stiffen.
Yet, a commander capable of leading an army always remained composed in the face of the unexpected.
He looked at the young doctor and asked:
"Are you serious?"
"Yes."
"What is your superpower?"
"Make people trust me more, and then proceed with hypnosis.
"At least, that’s what I think for now."
Lin Qingliu shrugged:
"This ability is hard to describe, right?"
Wencheng’s face still showed signs of doubt, as if a pet owner was praising their pet for being so smart, yet receiving the absurd reply, "Because I’ve become a genius!"
"Why… not participate in the Ability Testing?"
Of course, it’s because I’m pulling a fast one on you.
Lin Qingliu shrugged and said innocently:
"I participated in Ability Testing throughout my childhood, but there were no results. Then, after working as a psychologist for a while, my abilities started to emerge…"
A few seconds later, Wencheng, having processed Lin Qingliu’s answers, called his subordinate waiting outside:
"Arrange an Ability Testing for him as quickly as possible."
Half an hour later, an ability report was handed to Wencheng:
[Ability: Hypnosis (tentative)
Rarity: High
Growth Potential: Low
Overall Rating: C
Ability Description: Induces a hypnotic state in the target through verbal guidance. Can affect one person at a time, with effects stronger than the majority of normal psychologists. Given that this ability is somewhat related to professionalism and can be partly substituted by peers, it is rated as C.]
Wencheng scanned the report from top to bottom, then looked at the innocent-looking Lin Qingliu across from him:
"Is your position full-time or part-time?"
Lin Qingliu had already thought about this question, mainly because El, this fake Batman, often got hurt…
"Part-time."
Wencheng shook his head:
"Your ability is very useful; doing it part-time is a waste.
"I understand you might still have some attachment to your original clinic, but I hope you can distinguish what choice is best for humanity, just like most soldiers in the army.
"Of course, I am not someone who takes advantage of others. Your compensation will be the best among psychologists."
Lin Qingliu thought for a moment; logically speaking, he had no reason to refuse now.
Just earlier, he had quietly scanned Wencheng using his knowledge path ability. The man didn’t seem to be a superpowered individual, but his physique was almost at the peak of humanity, and he was not someone to be trifled with.
"Alright, I agree to join. So what will be my role?"
"You will form a mobile therapy team with other psychologists who pass the assessment. You will serve as the captain and work quickly to mitigate the aftereffects of the recent incident."
