C23 Old Man

The officer's eyes held a hint of reminiscence as he reflected, "Lin Jingtian was truly a once-in-a-lifetime genius. His accomplishments were hard-fought, earned with his own two fists. At the time, I was just a low-ranking soldier at this base, and I've spent years striving to emulate him. It's such a shame about the news of him..."

Regaining his composure, he apologized, "Sorry, I got a little carried away. What's your name?"

Lin Hann was taken aback by the officer's words, sensing the legendary status of his father that seemed to follow him everywhere.

When the officer inquired about his name, Lin Hann responded with a smile, "Sir, Lin Hann at your service! I come recommended by the Ye family from Hui City."

The others were intrigued as to why the Ye family would recommend an outsider for such a prestigious training camp, but professional etiquette kept their questions at bay. The current dilemma was who would take Lin Hann under their wing for the next phase of training.

The assessment originally had ten candidates remaining. The four trainers would select two to three individuals based on the unique characteristics of their abilities and combat styles. After a month of training, a collective competition would showcase the fruits of their labor. But now, with only Lin Hann remaining, they were at a loss for how to proceed.

The sole female officer then asked Lin Hann, "What is your special ability, and what's your typical approach to combat? We need to understand your specifics to craft the most effective training plan for you."

Lin Hann was reluctant to disclose his Esper ability, fearing that a fabricated ability might prevent his true Copy Esper skill from being honed and advanced.

The group was puzzled by Lin Yi's silence, and the female officer offered reassurance, "Lin Hann, is there something you're hesitant to share? Don't worry, we're here to help you improve, not to judge. There's no need to be so guarded."

As Lin Hann wrestled with his decision, an elderly man emerged from the base, interrupting the conversation.

"Leave the lad to me for the next month," the elder stated plainly.

The four trainers were astonished to hear that the old man intended to personally mentor Lin Hann. Without protest, they returned to the base, understanding that the elder's command was not to be questioned.

Lin Hann watched the elderly man approaching and asked curiously, "Who might you be?"

The elderly man didn't respond to Lin Hann right away. Instead, he studied Lin Hann intently for a moment before murmuring to himself, "The resemblance is uncanny..."

Then, the old man headed towards the mouth of the valley, calling over his shoulder, "Lin, follow me."

Puzzled yet intrigued, Lin Hann kept pace with the old man.

After a twenty-minute trek, they had left the base in the valley far behind. Neither Lin Hann nor the old man spoke during the walk, maintaining a peaceful silence until they reached a waterfall.

There, a quaint wooden cabin stood with a table and two stools out front. The old man took a seat and gestured for Lin Hann to sit opposite him. Lin Hann complied, settling into his seat.

The old man, now facing Lin Hann, smiled and inquired, "Lin, do you find yourself with many questions?"

Lin Hann nodded, voicing his thoughts, "I'm curious about why you've brought me here. Are you going to be the one overseeing my training?"

"I'm aware that the four youngsters back at the base are more than capable of training the average person," the old man answered, "but they can't unlock the potential I see in you. As someone who cherishes talent, I couldn't resist the urge to personally offer you some guidance, despite my advancing years."

Before Lin Hann could respond, the old man added, "You're Lin Jingtian's son, aren't you?"

A jolt of surprise ran through Lin Hann. He wondered how the old man could possibly know that. Yet, he quickly regained his composure, realizing that if the old man had any malicious intent, he wouldn't have taken him away from the instructors for a secret training session.

With this in mind, Lin Hann confirmed, "Yes, my father is indeed Lin Jingtian! Sir, are you acquainted with him?"

"Not just acquainted," the old man revealed. "I was your father's instructor twenty years ago. He was the first genius of his kind I ever encountered, leaving an indelible impression on me. You bear a strong resemblance to him, though you have a more refined appearance. I was so impressed by your father's talents that I wanted to take him on as a disciple. He held me in high regard, yet he declined my offer. That remains one of my life's greatest disappointments."

Lin Hann pondered for a moment before speaking up, "You mentioned that you're the only one who can help me unlock my potential and enhance my superpower. Did you see how I performed during the assessment? Wasn't it stated that there would be no surveillance inside?"

The elder nodded, then shook his head, explaining, "The day more than thirty people were eliminated, our base took a special interest. But due to regulations, it was inappropriate for us to intrude and possibly disrupt the trainees' natural performance. However, I'm not bound by those constraints. I went in to take a look and discovered you, a daring young man! You managed to provoke everyone's anger, then faked evidence to implicate the Liu family. Ultimately, you used the Lau family's identity to eliminate the Liu family's youngster. I'm sure their return to the capital will stir up quite a storm. And all this chaos? It's thanks to you, my boy!"

Lin Hann sheepishly scratched his head and grinned, "I really had no choice. Though I'm quite pleased with the outcome, I swear it wasn't intentional!"

The old man watched Lin Hann with a chuckle. "Enough! I know what kind of person you are. Honestly, your potential surpasses even that of your father; you just haven't fully tapped into it yet. In the days ahead, I'll train you thoroughly so you can undergo a true transformation!"

He then inquired, "What exactly is your superpower? Despite my observations, I'm still puzzled about your ability."

With a sly smile, Lin Hann revealed, "My power is Copy Esper. I can replicate other people's abilities and tangible objects." Demonstrating, he conjured a flame in his left hand and a vine around his right. Then, another Lin Hann materialized beside him, transforming into a stream of water that looped back to the original.

The elder was visibly astonished by Lin Hann's display and asked, "Can you replicate any ability? The way you wield it seems indistinguishable from the authentic abilities. It's more formidable than I anticipated!"

Lin Hann responded, "There are limits. If someone is significantly stronger than me, I can't replicate their power. While there are no restrictions on using abilities, my Spiritual Energy is finite, so I must use it judiciously."

The elder nodded in agreement and remarked, "Hmm, what you perceive as flaws are really just reflections of your current strength not being sufficient. Once you bolster your power, you'll start to outpace the other espers by leaps and bounds! Your combat style is incredibly versatile, something you must have noticed during the evaluation. You're merely in the Body Tempering Middle Period, yet you've managed to outmaneuver the scions of the great families. It appears I need to revise my strategy, or I might inadvertently hold you back!"