Chapter 30: A Different Kind of Vision
by xennovel“See them directly?”
Chen Jing paused slightly hearing Lu Xin’s words, then subconsciously asked.
She emphasized the word ‘see’.
“Yes!”
At this point Lu Xin became quite serious. “I can see what those monsters look like. That’s how I knew those three were just trapped not part of the monster. And my sister could only help me deal with that monster because I could see it… That monster *was* terrifying but once you dodged it, you were fine!”
“So you’re saying…”
Chen Jing looked thoughtful her expression gradually turning serious. “You can see those distorted mental force fields?”
“Sometimes I can. Like in the coffee shop I saw that monster put something in my cup. And just now when that monster suddenly erupted I could see it too. But… once it hid in the puddle I couldn’t see it anymore…”
Lu Xin slowly explained frowning. “You guys can’t see them?”
“Most of the time we can’t!”
Chen Jing frowned saying slowly, “And strictly speaking we don’t ‘see’ them so much as sense them!”
“Mental monsters don’t have physical forms. We can only perceive their existence under certain circumstances!”
…
Lu Xin mulled over the difference for a moment before slowly asking, “Then maybe… that’s your problem?”
“That…”
Lu Xin’s words threw Chen Jing off balance for a moment.
Talking with this young man felt strange, not least because his invisible sister was apparently watching her.
But her professionalism quickly helped her regain composure.
Her tone lightened and she chatted with Lu Xin with a smile for a while.
She asked about everything from Lu Xin’s initial investigation at Qin Ran’s place to how he was adapting to cooperating with the Investigation Team. She also inquired in detail about what it felt like to see the mental monster and fight it. She even grabbed a pencil and quickly sketched the ‘human-shaped fruit tree’ Lu Xin described based on his account…
…Lu Xin felt this woman was quite skilled; he just described it and she drew it so accurately.
“You did very well this time. Go back and rest for now!”
After their serious conversation Chen Jing rubbed her temples and said to Lu Xin, “I’ll inform you about the follow-up investigation!”
“Okay!”
Lu Xin also stood up looking somewhat hesitant.
Seeing this Chen Jing smiled reassuringly. “Don’t worry. Some of your abilities are indeed rare but after the Red Moon incident powers from mental alteration are incredibly varied. Being able to see pollution sources and even fight them up close isn’t necessarily bad nor is it the strangest. I’ve even encountered someone who could steal others’ abilities…”
Lu Xin nodded. “Actually I wanted to ask about the payment…”
…
Chen Jing missed a beat, froze for a moment, then smiled. “It’ll be transferred to your account soon!”
Lu Xin felt relieved nodded and turned to walk out the door.
“A lot of people are looking at you funny…”
His sister followed beside him tilting her small face up at him. “Brother that woman with the weird chest is trying to trick you…”
Lu Xin gently raised a finger to his lips whispering, “Hush they’re paying us…”
…
…
After seeing Lu Xin downstairs and arranging a car to take him back Chen Jing walked back thoughtfully to the previously empty meeting room. Lu Xin’s earlier answers seemed to have sparked a cascade of complex thoughts within her.
She hadn’t known about Lu Xin’s ability to see pollution sources or that he believed he directly saw the monsters.
Frankly this could become a blind spot in her work.
But she couldn’t help it because likely only the Main City had the resources for a comprehensive evaluation of Lu Xin’s specific situation.
But Lu Xin’s mental state made her hesitant to risk sending him there.
And Lu Xin’s performance during this mission stirred even more conflicting emotions within her.
The diversification of abilities often signifies an increased risk of losing control.
But this young man had saved three of their members during a dangerous pollution incident.
Or rather he prevented them from killing three of their own.
…
…
“Being able to see mental monsters isn’t a particularly unique case. In fact during a full moon especially when the weather is clear and the Red Moon’s light is strong many people have claimed to see strange shapes of mutated mental entities. Some look like ghosts others various twisted monsters. This is actually where the term ‘mental monster’ originated!”
“However strictly speaking they probably aren’t seeing but rather sensing them. Because the energy levels of those pollution sources are so high they affect our brains distorting our vision which makes us perceive those images…”
“Because of this no photographic equipment can capture their actual appearance. This has been confirmed!”
“All existing images of monsters are based on drawings and hold little reference value!”
“Also one more point worth mentioning: the images of mental monsters seen by different people at the same time are mostly vague and cannot be accurately described. For the same mental monster some describe ghosts while others claim they saw Ultraman…”
…
…
Suddenly a woman’s voice echoed in the empty meeting room. It was Corporal Han Bing.
Chen Jing rubbed the bridge of her nose then reached out to the window and pressed a button.
Projection devices on all four walls of the office activated casting light that immediately began constructing lifelike pale blue human figures scaled to actual size within the empty room.
It was as if the entire office suddenly filled with people.
If an outsider saw this they would surely find it incredibly bizarre.
Just two streets away from this Security Hall there were neighborhoods where people couldn’t even use phones and lacked reliable water and electricity.
Yet here in the Security Hall meeting room high-end holographic projection technology from before the cataclysm had already been restored.
“But his case is clearly different…”
A man in a white coat and glasses spoke. “Not only can he see them but in his eyes he can even distinguish details perfectly. From four or five meters away he could determine whether our three team members were restrained or polluted.”
“This is no longer just a matter of illusions. I’m more inclined to believe that because his psychic power level is extremely high his sensitivity to mental fluctuations and changes is incredibly sharp. Then within his chaotic consciousness it allows him to ‘see’ the monster!”
“My preliminary assessment is that his psychic power level might have already reached three hundred… or higher!”
…
The atmosphere in the office became quiet for a moment.
Clearly an Altered Person in the initial mutation stage who hadn’t even undergone guidance possessing a psychic power level of over three hundred units was a matter of extreme importance. Everyone needed a moment to analyze and process this.”