Volume Two: Shadows of the Past, Chapter Sixty-Five: The Reason!

Faced with this dilemma, Chen Jing truly could not provide Wang Nianjun with a definitive answer, so he remained silent, holding her quietly.

After weeping silently for a while, Wang Nianjun slowly regained her composure. She understood that for Chen Jing, choosing between these two situations was incredibly difficult; thus, she did not force him to make a decision or give her a clear answer. Since Chen Jing could not choose, she would simply help him make the decision in the end.

Sensing that Wang Nianjun had calmed down in his arms, Chen Jing gently eased her back half a step.

Looking at his teacher, who had never appeared so vulnerable and precious, a slight ache pricked at Chen Jing’s heart. He used his hand to gently wipe the tear tracks from her face, then let his hand linger, caressing her cheek with infinite tenderness in his eyes.

Wang Nianjun raised her hand to cover his, unconsciously rubbing her cheek against his palm. She did not speak, simply gazing at him with infatuation.

The two stared at each other in silence for a long time until Chen Jing finally broke it. He asked softly, "Teacher... you said earlier that Molly’s ability would definitely be useful to me... did you do something to Molly?"

Since Wang Nianjun had stated this so confidently, it meant she must have known the specific nature of Molly’s ability.

However, mere knowledge was not enough; she must have done something to cause a drastic change in Molly’s ability, allowing it to be effective for Chen Jing’s injuries. Otherwise, no matter how extraordinary Molly’s ability was, it would be impossible to fully repair Chen Jing’s shattered psychic brain region. After all, the gap in their ability levels was simply too vast.

Hearing Chen Jing’s question, Wang Nianjun reluctantly pulled away from his palm. She hesitated for a moment before saying calmly, "I planted my own psychic spark in Molly’s brain region."

At these words, Chen Jing gripped Wang Nianjun’s shoulders tightly, saying in disbelief, "Teacher, you gave your psychic spark to Molly? How could you be so foolish? Don't you know that your strength will be severely diminished, and your ability level will never be able to advance again?"

Once an esper breaks through from a Level 6 Controller to a Level 7 Domain Walker, they form a psychic spark within their mind—the key to a Domain Walker’s ability to manifest a domain. Losing this spark means not only the potential loss of the ability to release one's domain, but, more importantly, the end of any further progression in ability level.

A Domain Walker’s psychic spark can be extracted and even used by other espers. This is one method of legacy transmission among Domain Walkers. When a Domain Walker nears the end of their life, they typically pass their spark to an esper who has not yet reached the domain level, helping them advance rapidly and increasing their success rate in forming their own spark.

Because the psychic spark helps the recipient stabilize the volatile energy that comes with rapid advancement, there is no need to worry about the side effect of the brain region being unable to withstand the surge.

Chen Jing’s own situation was quite similar. If he were not also a Domain Walker who had already formed a psychic spark—allowing him to contain all his energy within it—he would not be walking and talking with a shattered seventh brain region. Otherwise, with his leaking, constantly collapsing brain region, his powerful psychic energy would have long since overwhelmed him, causing his brain to burst and leading to death.

Wang Nianjun was naturally aware of all these facts, but for Chen Jing’s sake, she was willing to do it.

Sensing Chen Jing’s worry and unease, Wang Nianjun comforted him softly, "It’s alright. What does it matter if my strength is reduced? At worst, I’ll submit an application to stop carrying out S-level missions. As for the ability level, there’s no need to worry about that either; you know that at my level, there’s no telling how many years it would take to advance even one tier."

Though Wang Nianjun spoke lightly, Chen Jing knew she would not give up on missions. For example, she had gone alone to rescue Li Zijie, knowing full well she had lost her psychic spark—a move fraught with danger.

If the people at Pandora knew that the Imperial Dynasty’s "Phoenix" had lost her psychic spark, it is unlikely she would have escaped that night. It is more probable she would have been left there forever. After all, Wang Nianjun, the "Phoenix" of the Imperial Dynasty, was near the top of Pandora’s kill list.

For those who constantly walk the edge of life and death, strength is the greatest safety guarantee. A significant reduction in strength means an increased failure rate for missions, and mission failure often means death.

Furthermore, there was a point Chen Jing could empathize with most: for those who had possessed powers since childhood, the inability to advance meant the same as losing the ability to use powers at all. In either case, it signified the loss of one’s future hope.

Chen Jing knew the importance of the psychic spark to Wang Nianjun, but the deed was done. She had already separated it from herself for a month; even if she took it back, it could never fully integrate with her own powers as it once had.

Thinking of this, Chen Jing sighed, yet he still urged her, "Teacher, you should take the spark back. Molly doesn't need it. If you take it back now and refine it slowly, you might still be able to release your domain." For a Domain Walker, the domain was paramount; without it, they were no different from a Controller.

However, to Chen Jing’s persuasion, Wang Nianjun only shook her head silently. She gently stroked his face, gazing at him with deep affection. "Ah Jing, you know that if I had to choose between my powers and you, I would choose you without hesitation."

Chen Jing’s heart trembled, his words catching in his throat.

Wang Nianjun placed a finger against his lips, smiling softly. "Molly is a good child. I know you can’t bear to hurt her, and neither can I. But regardless, since she possesses the ability to heal you, I cannot simply ignore it. Since we don't want to hurt her, we will just use a method that saves you without causing her harm."

After she finished speaking, Chen Jing was left speechless. He knew that if the roles were reversed, he would certainly do the same for her. Yet, knowing this, he could not help but feel filled with guilt toward Wang Nianjun; he felt he owed her far too much.

Seeing Chen Jing accept her explanation, Wang Nianjun hesitated before revealing another truth: "Actually, I’ve looked into it. Molly’s ability is one-time use. No matter who she is treating, once she fully unleashes her power, she releases all of her energy at once. That is why she fainted from exhaustion the first time she tried to heal you."

Chen Jing looked at her in surprise; he truly hadn't known that was the nature of Molly’s ability.

Wang Nianjun continued, "In normal circumstances, letting Molly use her ability to save Zijie would be fine; at most, it would just be the aftermath of overexertion. But now that Molly possesses my psychic spark, if she were to use her power to treat Zijie, not only would her own energy be depleted, but my psychic spark would be completely consumed as well. Once that power is spent, Molly’s ability will no longer be able to grow steadily and rapidly, and in doing so, we would lose the chance to heal you."

Wang Nianjun knew that if she didn't explain this, Chen Jing would surely choose to save Zijie in the end.

At this point, Chen Jing was completely caught in a moral struggle.

On one side, a loved one had sacrificed herself to secure a chance to save him; on the other, that same chance could be used to save his brother. How should he choose?

In truth, Chen Jing need not struggle, for this opportunity had been secured by Wang Nianjun’s sacrifice; she had every right to choose whom to save.

Yet, if it were ultimately used to save him while leaving Li Zijie as he was, could Chen Jing truly be at peace?

Seeing Chen Jing fall silent, Wang Nianjun knew he was still wavering, so she struck while the iron was hot. "This time, Ah Jing, listen to me. When I did this, I asked Molly, and she expressed that the person she wanted to save was you. If you let her know that you used the only chance she had to save you to save someone else, she would hate you for the rest of her life.

"Besides, since this opportunity was created by me and Molly, it is our right to decide who to save. While I want to save Zijie, I want to save you even more. I cannot lose you, Ah Jing. Didn't you once say you would accompany your teacher forever? If you don't let me save you, how can you stay with me? Can you bear to abandon your teacher and leave me all alone?"

Faced with Wang Nianjun’s affectionate questioning, Chen Jing could only offer a bitter smile.

Indeed, if that were the case, he had no right to choose; the decision should belong to Wang Nianjun and Molly.

But still! He could not bear to watch Li Zijie remain a vegetable for the rest of his life.

"Teacher, let me think about it," Chen Jing said, rubbing his brow, his head aching intensely.

"Very well. When the time comes, let me handle it. You don't need to say anything, Ah Jing. You don't need to do anything at all."