Cannon fodder in the Interstellar

Upon hearing Colonel Li Qixing’s lofty self-introduction, and his blunt declaration that he was here specifically to see her, Ruo Manni felt a tightening in her chest and her smile instantly froze.

She felt unworthy of such attention from a military commander; it was far beyond her comprehension. Ruo Manni instinctively heightened her vigilance. Someone with secrets could hardly be innocent, and any oddities would inevitably lead to suspicion.

“I am a Level 7 telekinesis master, and I have always wanted to take on a true disciple who can carry on what I’ve learned. When I learned about you, I thought of taking you as my disciple, so I specifically came to assess you today,” the commander stated plainly.

However, Ruo Manni was not moved by his words, nor was she swayed by the prospect of latching onto such a powerful figure. She calmly asked, “Are you saying, Mentor, that you want to take me as your disciple…?”

“I want to take you as my closed-door disciple. Are you willing?” Li Qixing asked seriously.

This sudden opportunity felt overwhelming, leaving Ruo Manni somewhat dizzy. She knew nothing about this commander, and she was unsure of the significance of the master-disciple relationship in this era, as well as the constraints it imposed on both parties.

Most importantly, she couldn’t discern whether this commander was genuinely interested in taking her on as a disciple or if he had ulterior motives. His mastery in telekinesis surpassed hers, and she could not gauge the authenticity of the admiration he expressed with her spiritual energy.

However, since he was a significant figure, she felt compelled to respond quickly, with no time for careful consideration. Thus, Ruo Manni hesitated and said, “I’m still not of age. Can I make this decision on my own, or do I need to discuss it with my guardian first?”

Naturally, she didn’t want to refuse a good opportunity, but she also couldn’t tell if this might be a trap. She could only buy some time before making a decision.

Hearing her response, Li Qixing did not show any displeasure; instead, he said approvingly, “Even if you agree, I must first obtain your guardian’s consent before I can officially take you as my disciple. Your cautious nature is commendable.”

Ruo Manni provided Colonel Li with the communication signal for Captain Lin, and he immediately dialed it.

Due to the communication shield automatically activated by Li Qixing’s quantum brain, Ruo Manni could not hear what he said to Captain Lin or see his expression.

However, ten minutes later, after it was clear that Li Qixing had ended the call, Captain Lin’s message came through to Ruo Manni:

“Ruo Manni, Colonel Li wants to take you as his disciple, and I have allowed it. He is currently the strongest telekinesis master in our Gus Empire, so it’s great that you can have him as a mentor. But remember, I once told you about some principles that you absolutely must not violate. No matter the situation, you should never make those mistakes. Keep in mind that those who encourage you to violate these principles are not truly looking out for your best interests. If anyone tries to force you to do so, send me a message immediately.”

The last two sentences were emphasized by Captain Lin.

As a genius girl far from her guardian, Ruo Manni could likely encounter various challenges, and she had no elder nearby to guide her correctly. Captain Lin and Instructor Fang had spent considerable effort outlining sixteen absolute principles that Ruo Manni must not violate.

Ruo Manni looked at the sixteen principles and understood how much effort Captain Lin and his wife had put into them. Even though a young girl might struggle to distinguish right from wrong or good from bad in relationships, as long as she followed these principles, she wouldn’t go astray.

Captain Lin’s concern at this moment truly showed how much he cared for her. He wanted her to have a good teacher, but he was also afraid she might end up with the wrong person.

A smile crept onto Ruo Manni’s lips, and she felt very pleased. Captain Lin was looking at the situation from her perspective, rather than thinking about how he could use her to establish a connection with Colonel Li.

Following Captain Lin’s guidance, Ruo Manni performed a deep bow and said, “Disciple pays respects to the master.”

Colonel Li helped her up and cheerfully said, “My holiday ends the day after tomorrow. For now, I’ll teach you some basics over the next couple of days. When I take my next vacation, I’ll hold a formal apprentice ceremony to introduce you to everyone.”

This implied it would be public. What would such an action represent? Ruo Manni suppressed her doubts, planning to message Captain Lin about it later that evening after returning to the dormitory.

After Ruo Manni had paid her respects, Li Qixing began to assume the role of her master.

Previously, Li Qixing’s teachings had only involved the cultivation of telekinesis skills, and he hadn’t mentioned the crucial telekinesis meditation techniques.

Now that their relationship had changed, Li Qixing asked Ruo Manni to practice the telekinesis meditation techniques, and she complied.

An hour later, Ruo Manni emerged from the meditation room. Li Qixing pondered for a moment before asking, “Did you learn your meditation techniques from the war realm?”

“Yes, Master. Is there something wrong?” Ruo Manni sensed an underlying meaning in her master’s question.

“This meditation technique is a heavenly-level mind technique, and it’s impossible for it to be included in the war realm. The fact that you learned it means someone specifically gave it to you.” With Li Qixing’s authority, he immediately identified the issue.

“Is there something wrong with this meditation technique?” Ruo Manni felt anxious.

“No, there’s nothing wrong. In fact, it’s excellent. This meditation technique isn’t something that can just be bought with money. Even the one I practice isn’t as good as yours.”

“Then, the person who specifically gave me this technique is doing it for my benefit?”

“Of course.”

“OK, as long as it’s for my benefit,” Ruo Manni breathed a sigh of relief.

As for who the kind person was that did this good deed without revealing their name, Li Qixing didn’t say. Ruo Manni felt he had his suspicions, and she also had some guesses.

The War realm was developed under the leadership of the Crown Prince, and heavenly-level mind techniques were part of the inheritance of great families, so this matter was definitely connected to the Crown Prince.

Now that he had a grasp of Ruo Manni’s cultivation level, Li Qixing personally stepped in to spar with her, teaching her how to use and control her telekinesis.

Previously, Ruo Manni had learned to use her telekinesis to manipulate weapons for attacks, but Li Qixing taught her to abandon weapons and instead use her telekinesis to manifest various weapons for combat.

Learning these skills requires not only a strong mind but also the ability to control techniques with great precision, many of which are innovations created by Li Qixing himself.

“These attack skills are not just for everyday use; they are even more practical when operating mechs. However, although your cultivation level is not low, you still don’t know how to compress and condense your mental strength. You should focus on training in that area first,” Li Qixing said.

With the teacher carefully guiding her, Ruo Manni quickly mastered the techniques. Of course, achieving accuracy required continuous practice.

This child’s comprehension ability is very strong, and Li Qixing grew increasingly satisfied with his teaching: “I have been looking for a suitable successor to perfect and pass on the skills I created, but I have not encountered anyone suitable until now. You are the most outstanding and ideal successor I have come across.”

The master and disciple stayed in the training room for over two hours before leaving. If it hadn’t been for Mrs. Li’s relentless calls, Li Qixing would have completely forgotten about accompanying her to a banquet that evening.

After instructing Ruo Manni to come back at the same time tomorrow, Li Qixing hurriedly left.