"Now, we'll test your own superpowers."Jean Grey led Zhou Yi deep into the laboratory, into a massive tunnel that resembled a wind tunnel.
"So far, what abilities have you discovered in yourself?" Jean held an electronic tablet and adjusted the tunnel's equipment. As she made adjustments, the entire tunnel echoed with the grinding and shifting of metal components.
Zhou Yi thought for a moment and said,"Besides the gravity-field control and telekinesis I've already shown, I can also manipulate certain types of light. I can control flames as well—at first my maximum temperature was only 2,500 degrees Celsius, but now I can reach over 3,000. Lastly, I can fly. My speed is about the same as when I'm running at full speed."
Hearing this, Jean once again looked at Zhou Yi with a strange expression. But she didn't comment. She simply instructed him to activate each ability toward the instruments she had started up, so that she could obtain the most accurate data.
Zhou Yi said nothing more. He rose into the air, first flying two laps inside the tunnel at supersonic speed. Then, beams of intense radiation shot from his eyes, slicing the metal testing target clean in half. Next, he used fire, gravity fields, and telekinesis—unrestrainedly bombarding every testing device in sight. In an instant, the entire tunnel looked as if it had been plowed through dozens of times by heavy explosives; he nearly blasted a hole straight through the floor.
Faced with such destructive power, Jean could only extract a small blood sample from Zhou Yi before promptly sending him out of the lab. She did, however, give him her personal contact information so she could inform him of the blood test results. Zhou Yi did not object, but as a condition of cooperating with the Xavier Institute, he required that the blood sample be destroyed after testing.
Jean agreed to this request. Although she hadn't asked Professor Charles for approval, she understood very well that such precious research material could never be kept. Many powerful mutants—or mutants with traumatic pasts—were unwilling to let their blood or biological samples circulate. Falling into enemy hands, such materials could easily become the key to suppressing or harming them.
After leaving Jean's laboratory, Zhou Yi used Professor Charles' help to awaken the unconscious Zhou Lan. Mother and son said goodbye to Xia Rui before departing the Xavier Institute. For Zhou Yi and Zhou Lan, there was much to prepare, especially since they had only just arrived in New York.
But Zhou Yi's departure did not end Jean Grey's work. She first contacted Professor Charles through telepathy to brief him on the situation in the lab—then she threw herself into analyzing Zhou Yi's blood sample.
Although Jean's primary field was psychology, she held doctorates in psychology, medicine, and biological sciences. As a high-intelligence mutant, she took it upon herself to handle all of Zhou Yi's sample research alone.
First, she believed that since she had taken on the task, she should see it through. Second—and she could not deny it—she had developed immense interest in Zhou Yi's extraordinary abilities.If they came from the X-gene, then Zhou Yi could very well become one of the strongest mutants after Charles Xavier and Erik Lehnsherr. And these weren't just latent abilities—they were fully manifested.
If his powers did not originate from the X-gene, then how exactly had they formed?
This overwhelming curiosity became Jean's greatest motivation.
Lastly—and most importantly—no one truly knew how many agents from other factions lurked within the Xavier Institute. At least before Charles had lifted certain internal restrictions, that had certainly been the case.
This meant that the information of such an overwhelmingly powerful superhuman must be kept strictly in safe hands. The fewer people exposed to it, the better. So Jean felt only she could handle the examination with absolute security—and the final data would remain accessible to only a tiny handful.
For all these reasons, Jean devoted herself to the intense research. Immersed in such work, time passed quickly—so quickly she didn't even notice someone tapping her shoulder.
"Jean, how are you holding up? Did that boy leave?"It was Ororo, who had returned. Judging from her curious expression, she had already seen the catastrophic state of the deeper laboratory chambers.
Jean massaged her temples, picked up a cup of coffee, and took a few slow sips of bitterness before replying,"To be honest, I don't feel great. And as for that guy—there was no way I was letting him stay any longer."
"Is it that bad?"Ororo picked up a file sitting beside Jean. The large X-symbol on the cover made her pupils contract."You're using the top-secret files?!"
"You know the rules. You can look, but you can't speak."Because Ororo held high-level clearance within the Institute, Jean didn't stop her from reading—she simply stressed the importance.
Ororo nodded and opened the file.
The first page contained Zhou Yi's basic personal information: name, birthplace, schools attended, medical history, and basic data about his friends and family. It was nothing special, just like any standard dossier. Ororo skipped it.
But when she reached the next page, her expression turned serious.
At the very top, Jean had written a prominent line:
"Superhuman whose abilities originate from unknown genetic mutation. Non-X-gene natural mutation."
Below was Jean's detailed analysis, derived from testing Zhou Yi's blood sample.
"Testing reveals an extraordinary rate of cellular division—growth, evolution, and mutation occur at unimaginable speeds. However, the cells appear to be in a weakened state; highly evolved cells seem to devour inferior ones to maintain stability.Hypothesis: the target's body produces insufficient energy to sustain rapid evolution, forcing it into a low-grade evolutionary mode…
Upon exposure to Radiation Type-3, no malignant reaction occurred. The cells absorbed the radiation's energy, increasing division and evolution rates, maintaining a high evolutionary state.Conclusion: the target responds positively to radiation exposure; ability intensity likely increases.
Resistance test: no adverse reaction to radiation…Fusion test: target cells show extreme rejection; all injected substances were consumed and unable to affect the target cells.Viral testing in progress…"
The file was accompanied by photographs taken during the experiments, proving Jean's analysis. Ororo had no doubt the data was genuine—and the conclusions surpassed her expectations.
A natural superhuman not produced by the X-gene—and unbelievably powerful based on the ability data.
Even for mutants, this level of talent was overwhelming. But just as humans vastly outnumbered mutants, people like Zhou Yi were so rare that they posed no true threat to the broader situation.
So Ororo's first reaction was to ask,"What does the Professor think?"
"He hopes we maintain a good relationship with him. If we can bring him into our circle, that would be ideal."
"But he's not a mutant. We have no way—and no justification—to recruit him."Ororo set the file down, tapping her fingers against the desk.
"We don't need him to join the X-Men. But when necessary, we can ask him for help. His sister is a student at the Xavier Institute. If possible, she might even become an X-Man one day."Jean collected the file and turned her back to Ororo.
"Damn it, the girl is only eight. What are you thinking? The Professor would never agree."Ororo pressed her fingers to her forehead. She had no idea why Jean would even think this way.Couldn't mutants solve mutant problems on their own—must they rely on outside power?
"The Professor won't agree, of course. This is my and Scott's idea—and not for now, but for the future. Every strength we can secure must be secured—not for us, but for the future of mutantkind."
Ororo fell silent. After a long moment, she said softly,"I hope you're not wrong. And I hope your decisions won't bring tragedy."
Jean nodded wordlessly. Under her telekinetic control, the paper file disintegrated into countless fragments. Meanwhile, the digital data archived in the Institute's classified systems would be sealed under multiple layers of encryption—accessible only to the highest-level members.
Unless the Xavier Institute was completely overrun, information about Zhou Yi would never be leaked.To the elite mutants of Xavier's school, Zhou Yi had already become a potential hidden ace. If utilized properly, he could deliver devastating blows to their enemies.
But there remained one problem:How to establish a good relationship with him?
Thinking about this made Jean's head ache.
Judging from Zhou Yi's behavior, he seemed like most adolescent boys—strongly attracted to the opposite sex.But they couldn't seriously use a honey-trap on him. The Institute was a school, not an intelligence organization, and didn't manipulate its own members like that. Even if they tried—who would they send?
If she went herself, Scott would fire lasers at Zhou Yi's house the next morning. Forget cooperation—both sides would probably end up fighting to the death.
Sending Ororo? As a former street leader, Ororo wouldn't necessarily listen to such orders—unless there was genuine chemistry between them.
Realizing where her thoughts had gone, Jean froze—then silently cursed herself for being ridiculous.But the future was unpredictable. Who knew what might happen?
Back in their New York home, Zhou Yi suddenly sneezed. Before he could say anything, Zhou Lan planted her hands on her hips and slipped immediately into full "tiger mom" mode.
"Don't try that with me. Today, you are not going to sleep until you explain exactly what you've been hiding."
"But that's my privacy!"Zhou Yi tried resisting, but the fury flashing in Zhou Lan's eyes made him wilt instantly.
In traditional Chinese households, the heavens were big, the earth was big—but Mother was always biggest of all. In this family, ordinary human Zhou Lan, not superpowered Zhou Yi, was the absolute authority.He had nothing to say against that—after all, she was his mother.
But coaxing his mother into forgiveness was no easy task.It looked like he wasn't sleeping tonight.
Damn that Charles—bald old man, running his mouth!Zhou Yi cursed silently, but on the surface he could only smile obediently and attend to his mother carefully.
It looked pitiful—but to Zhou Yi, he found a certain warmth in it.Because this… was home.
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