The boy’s reaction was beyond mere shock; it was as if he’d heard an impossible joke. His response was so extreme that it seemed he couldn’t believe what he’d just heard.
Wen Xin noticed this and sighed inwardly. He roughly understood why the other had been sulking alone in a corner these past few days.
He walked over and stood face-to-face with the boy. Without being aggressive, he calmly asked again, “Why do you think you can’t?”
This question jolted Canary awake. He shuddered suddenly.
“Why can’t you?”
This was a thought he’d never entertained before. His mind was in turmoil, and he subconsciously blurted out, “Because they all say so…”
“Just because they say so, does that make it true?”
“No.” Canary felt that Wen Xin didn’t understand anything, yet the man’s questions were throwing his mind into chaos. “You simply don’t know how difficult it is!”
[“If you’re an A-level, there’s a chance to evolve into S-level. But a C-level canary should just forget it—stop dreaming.”]
[“I’m not trying to discourage you, but look at that B-level wild boar over there. It’s higher-ranked and stronger than you, and even it can’t do it. Do you still think you can?”]
[“Poor little bird, how much blood must you shed to understand that a canary can never become an eagle!”]
[“Form, genetic rank, combat power—they’re all predetermined from the start. Have you seen the most powerful mutant in the base? Trust me, once you see it, you’ll have no more thoughts, because you’ll be too scared to do anything but tremble.”]
When he finally met Number One, Canary realized that no one had lied to him. Under the oppressive aura released by the other, he indeed could only tremble, unable to utter a single word out of sheer fear.
It also made him realize how fanciful his previous aspirations had been.
The boy’s eyes were red as he murmured the words “impossible,” looking as if he were possessed by a nightmare.
Wen Xin immediately felt that he couldn’t let the boy continue to spiral like this; otherwise, he’d develop psychological issues.
He cupped Canary’s face in his hands. “Then tell me, what do you think?”
“Are you willing to accept this? Do you resign yourself to fate? Do you think you’re incapable?”
Wen Xin didn’t know how difficult Canary’s situation was, but he could empathize with the feeling of being trapped in a cage.
Back in his student days, he had a deskmate who loved to draw but lacked talent. She participated in various competitions but mostly only received participation awards. More than ten years of hard work couldn’t even match what others achieved after a year or so of learning.
She nearly collapsed, and even her supportive parents began advising her to give up. Wen Xin also thought she might put down her paintbrush.
Until one day at a class reunion, the girl had transformed into an extraordinary young woman. With a radiant smile, she told everyone that she had become an illustrator with millions of followers and had even won second prize at the city level last month.
Later, they returned to their old school. Beside the teaching building stood a tree that had been struck by lightning years ago, leaving only half of it. Many thought it would die.
But to their surprise, the withered tree had sprouted fresh green branches.
Life continually creates miracles.
From that moment, Wen Xin believed that nothing was impossible.
Canary was forced to meet Wen Xin’s gaze.
The man’s clear eyes were like a mirror, reflecting his own crazed appearance.
But his gaze was also like a solid wall, blocking the inferiority and self-loathing surging from Canary’s heart, encouraging him to speak his true thoughts.
“I…”
Various thoughts flashed through his mind. Canary’s voice trembled, and he nearly bit his own tongue. “I think I can.”
He finally said it.
Canary clenched his fists tightly, surprised at his own courage, and shouted hoarsely, “I don’t think I’m incapable!”
“That’s right.” Wen Xin hugged him and said with unwavering certainty, “You absolutely can.”
Wrapped in the warmth of the embrace, the boy’s eyes moistened once again.
Like a child afraid of losing something, he subconsciously grabbed Wen Xin’s sleeve, as if finding shelter in a storm. He repeatedly asked, “…Can I really become strong?”
Wen Xin patiently reassured him, “Yes, you can.”
“How strong can I become?”
Wen Xin smiled, “For example, strong enough to defeat Xiao Hei?”
“…”
Canary immediately froze. When he heard Wen Xin’s barely suppressed laughter, he realized he was being teased. Flustered and exasperated, he said, “So you still don’t think I can… Ah!”
Wen Xin lifted Canary and placed him on the nearby flowerbed.
The boy wobbled, grabbing onto Wen Xin’s shoulders to steady himself. The next moment, he heard the man say, “Stand up straight.”
He quickly straightened up and inevitably had to look down at Wen Xin.
Wen Xin tilted his head up, smiling gently at the boy who was unaccustomed to the height. “See, you’re already strong enough to look down on me.”
Canary’s movements halted.
Wen Xin stood on his tiptoes and reached out to adjust Canary’s posture. “Keep your back straight; don’t hunch over. It’s okay to lower your head, but don’t lower your head while looking up with your eyes… Why do you lower yourself to look up at others?”
Listening to the young man’s gentle advice, Canary’s mind went blank.
Then, a warm palm lifted his chin, guiding him to look up at the boundless sky.
“Like this. Even when we’re looking up, we can confidently raise our heads. Do you see that observation deck over there?”
“Now, you’re standing on the flowerbed looking down at me. One day, you can stand in a place that high and look down on even more people.”
Canary: “…”
He took a shallow breath, his chest rising and falling unevenly. His tightly clenched fists gripped even harder, his fingernails digging into his palms.
Wen Xin didn’t notice the restrained tear that suddenly slipped from the boy’s eye. He patted Canary’s hand and reaffirmed, “You absolutely can.”
When they returned home, Canary still felt a feverish warmth on his forehead, staring blankly as if in a daze.
Ah Lü seemed to have noticed something unusual and kept circling around him.
Previously, Canary had nearly been strangled by this snake, which had become a psychological shadow for him. He instinctively asked nervously, “What’s wrong? Why are you looking at me like that?”
Ah Lü’s face, initially full of question marks, instantly turned into a gleeful grin. “Haven’t you noticed any changes in yourself?”
“What changes?”
Ah Lü didn’t answer but turned to ask Xiao Hei, “Hey, do you know why he’s like this?”
Xiao Hei, rarely awake instead of sleeping, gazed at Canary for a long moment. Understandingly, he said, “He originally had fused genes. Due to a lack of guidance during development, his other forms and genetic expressions didn’t manifest prominently.”
“Oh—so this is a sudden awakening?”
Watching them speak in riddles, Canary was filled with exasperation, thinking that the base focused all its attention on high-level mutants like them; who would think to guide him?
Then, upon hearing the word “awakening,” his heart pounded like a drum. “What awakening?”
The little fox approached, sniffed him, and exclaimed in surprise, “Jiujiu, your aura has reached B-level!”
Thud.
The monumental news struck him, and Canary was rooted to the spot.
Canary was very wary of humans, avoiding everyone except Wen Xin. Xiao Hei guessed that the person who had guided Canary’s awakening was likely Wen Xin, albeit unintentionally.
Since that was the case, he didn’t mind offering another piece of advice. “I can sense the agitation in your aura. The genes you’ve fused are likely far beyond B-level. Look at yourself; there should be some visible traits.”
Canary snapped back to reality, belatedly realizing that his shoulders felt excessively warm. Panicking, he hastily pulled up his sleeves.
Rows of brown and yellow feathers lined his skin, but they no longer felt soft and fluffy like those of ornamental birds.
He tremulously touched them—light yet rigid, layered upon each other—the kind of feathers only large birds of prey would have!
That evening, when Wen Xin dragged his weary body home, he found that Canary had changed. He no longer looked down when speaking to people, and there was a newfound sparkle in his eyes.
Having counseled someone for the first time, Wen Xin wasn’t sure if it had been effective. Seeing the boy regain his confidence, he was genuinely pleased.
After understanding the situation, Ah Lü pounced over, both jealous and envious, clinging to Wen Xin and whining incessantly, “Meow meow meow!”
I want to awaken too; help me!
Xiao Hei noticed the fatigue between the young man’s brows and proactively pulled away the unreasonable snake.
Wen Xin laughed and played with them for a while.
No matter how tired he was, he never missed spending time with his furballs.
But that night, as he prepared to sleep, the little fox uncharacteristically approached him.
Usually, the little fox slept with Canary. This was the first time he showed such closeness to Wen Xin.
Ah Lü, of course, wasn’t willing to let someone else take his spot. Seeing Wen Xin divide his attention between Canary and the little fox, he felt an inexplicable sense of urgency, baring his teeth and hissing at the little fox.
The little fox shrank back in fear, but with just one sentence, he convinced Ah Lü.
“My ability can help humans rest very well.” The little fox wagged his tail. “He’s been so tired these days; he already has dark circles under his eyes.”
Ah Lü’s fierce demeanor froze. He hesitated on the bed and then ran out to consult Xiao Hei.
After receiving a confirming answer, he returned with a sullen face and reluctantly agreed, “Only for tonight. Tomorrow, you have to leave!”
Wen Xin noticed that the two furballs seemed to have reached some agreement, and then Ah Lü left the room looking displeased.
Sitting on the bed, he looked at the fluffy, big-tailed little fox in his arms and sighed helplessly. “You’ve chased away my cat. How are you going to make it up to me, little one?”
The little fox eagerly let out a soft “Yip.”
I’ll compensate you with a fox!
Wen Xin was amused by his lively expressions.
He was used to sleeping while holding a cat, but seeing the little fox curled up at the edge of the bed, he didn’t force him to come over. He turned off the lights, closed the door, and prepared to sleep.
However, this time, he fell asleep unusually quickly.
Almost the moment his head touched the pillow, Wen Xin drifted into slumber.
In his dream, he found himself in a lavish palace adorned with silk and satin, carved railings, and jade steps. Gold, silver, and jewels were countless; it seemed that all the world’s beauty was gathered in this one place.
Wen Xin was conscious within the dream, feeling a bit puzzled.
Where is this?
Before he could get out of bed, a slender, delicate hand reached over from beside him, gently turning his face back.
Turning his head, Wen Xin saw a beautiful woman in a pink dress reclining elegantly on a couch. She rested her chin on one hand, her eyes shimmering with a gentle light, and asked with a smile as if presenting a treasure, “So, do these make you feel comfortable?”
