The environment has a remarkable influence.
Even an excellent student finds it difficult to study in a dormitory setting, whereas an average student, upon entering a library, can become absorbed in their work, swept up by the atmosphere.
While many view this as a commonplace phenomenon, Su Jie sees it differently; he perceives the impact of the surrounding environment and nature on a person’s psychological state…and, by extension, their physical constitution.
The natural environment can indeed provide a boost to one’s cultivation.
Su Jie instinctively began to assess the *feng shui* layout of the library: spacious and bright, permeated with the scholarly scent of books, quiet and serene…an ideal setting for academic pursuit.
For a formidable figure seeking to lie low, this would be the perfect place to recuperate and strengthen their abilities.
There is actually some truth to the common trope in fiction where a supreme martial arts master is found hiding in the guise of a humble librarian.
Su Jie glanced around, looking for a seat.
It was summer vacation, so the library was largely empty, with plenty of available seats. Yet, amidst all those seats, there was bound to be one that served as the optimal “formation eye”…the focal point of the energy field.
This “formation eye” corresponds to the hidden “one” found in the concept of the “Number of Great Evolution” (*Dayan zhi shu*).
For a person, this point represents a flaw or weakness; for the environment, however, it signifies a vital spark of life…a lifeline connecting heaven and earth. If a person occupies this spot, over time, they can harness the power of heaven and earth to fortify their own vulnerabilities, effectively using the cosmos to mend the self.
While the “formation eye” of a location might mean little to an ordinary person, it is of immense importance to a master of Su Jie’s caliber.
The concept of the “unity of heaven and humanity” (*tian ren he yi*) actually encompasses this very principle. “This is the spot…not only the focal point of the library’s energy formation but also that of Q University as a whole.” Relying on his keen intuition, Su Jie instantly pinpointed the exact location.
However, he discovered that the spot was already occupied.
It was a young woman with lovely hair and a fresh, wholesome look. She was engrossed in her work, consulting information on a laptop with a stack of thick books beside her.
Just as Su Jie was about to walk over and speak to her, another male student entered and headed straight for that spot. He sat down opposite her and whispered cautiously, “Senior, please give me a chance…could I get your contact info?”
*Guys these days are certainly bold, asking for contact details right here in the library. He clearly failed to get it outside and followed her in to pester her,* Su Jie thought with a smile.
Faced with the request, the young woman simply smiled. “This is the fifth time you’ve asked for my contact info…you’re certainly persistent. But it’s so hot out, and the library is so quiet…perfect for a nap. Why don’t you just put your head down and rest for a bit while I finish this book?”
As she spoke, her slender fingers held a pen, spinning it rapidly.
The pen danced between her fingers…now like a windmill, then a nimble serpent, a fluttering bird, or a blooming flower…moving with astonishing agility.
There was a hypnotic quality to the motion; it drew the eye, pulling the observer in until they felt a sudden, overwhelming drowsiness.
The young man asking for her contact details found his gaze captivated by the spinning pen. As he watched, he let out a yawn; unable to keep his eyelids open, he suddenly slumped onto the table and fell fast asleep.
“A hypnotic technique?” Su Jie was genuinely surprised.
The girl had actually hypnotized the young man simply by twirling her pen.
Pen-spinning is a form of culture widely popular among student groups worldwide; there are even international pen-spinning associations. The way enthusiasts manipulate a pen across their fingertips to perform dazzling, almost miraculous tricks is truly breathtaking.
Pen-spinning also serves as a form of exercise, enhancing finger dexterity, coordination, and balance control. It trains the cerebellum and motor nerves…much like the manipulation of a crystal ball.
Having studied crystal ball techniques under Master Ma, Su Jie was an expert in this field. Crystal ball manipulation can treat psychological issues, insomnia, and neurasthenia…and, of course, induce hypnosis.
By the same logic, if one’s pen-spinning technique reaches a masterful level, it too can be used to induce hypnosis.
However, hypnosis generally requires the subject’s cooperation; without it, success is difficult to achieve.
Yet here, the girl had hypnotized the young man casually while speaking, simply by twirling her pen…a feat of such extraordinary skill that it was almost inconceivable.
Su Jie had initially assumed the girl had merely stumbled upon the library’s prime spot…the “eye” of the spatial formation…by chance; now, it appeared to be a deliberate choice. He hadn’t expected to find someone at Q University who was not only well-versed in hypnosis and Feng Shui but was a true master of the craft.
He couldn’t help but walk over.
The hypnotized young man was fast asleep, and the girl, ignoring him completely, continued with her studies.
Su Jie approached the young man, helped him up, and guided him to a corner where he could sleep undisturbed. His technique was incredibly deft; the young man remained fast asleep even as Su Jie supported him.
Su Jie sat down in the spot the young man had just vacated and looked at the girl, who was engrossed in her studies. “I’d like this seat. Could you move over a bit?”
“The library is practically empty. If you want to study, you could pick any seat…why do you insist on this one?” the girl asked without looking up.
She hadn’t even glanced up when Su Jie moved the sleeping young man earlier.
“This spot has good *feng shui*. It looks like you’ve been occupying it for a long time; surely you understand the principle that one shouldn’t hog all the advantages,” Su Jie said.
Only then did the girl look up.
The moment she raised her head, Su Jie felt a gaze as sharp as lightning…piercing enough to make his own eyes flinch. Yet, that dazzling intensity lasted only an instant; the very next moment, her eyes seemed as gentle and calm as still water.
“You want the seat, so just say so…why bring up *feng shui*? Are you trying to be funny? Or are you just like that guy from before…trying to hit on me?” She seemed capable of seeing right through people.
Su Jie noticed her delicate, refined features, which held a classical charm; had she been dressed in traditional robes, she would have looked like a fairy stepping out of a painting.
As she spoke, the pen in her hand began to twirl.
“Hypnosis via pen-twirling doesn’t work on me,” Su Jie said with a smile. “That said, I have to admire your technique. I’m genuinely curious…to think there’s a hypnosis expert like you here at Q University?”
“So, does that mean you know hypnosis too?” The girl stopped twirling her pen.
“I know a little bit about it, though I usually use a crystal ball for hypnosis,” Su Jie said. “Of course, I can also do it without props…by directly compressing blood vessels and nerves to induce cerebral hypoxia, thereby achieving a hypnotic effect.”
“I never expected to find someone who knows the ropes here at Q University. Did you come looking for me today?” the young woman asked.
“Not really; I came here to study,” Su Jie said, waving his hand. “I just happened to notice you occupying the best spot and saw you hypnotizing that guy by spinning your pen.”
“You really don’t know who I am?” the young woman asked, curious.
“I really don’t.” Su Jie shook his head. Although he was a student at Q University, the student body was massive; busy with his training and research, he hadn’t engaged in much socializing, so it was perfectly normal for him not to recognize everyone.
However, while she was speaking, he opened his laptop. It booted up in a second, and he quickly logged onto the school website to take a look.
“So, you’re Tang Yunqian, our Student Union President.” Su Jie had found her information.
Her profile was prominently displayed on the school website.
Given Qin Hui’s talent and capability, he was only a vice-president.
Just how impressive, then, was the Student Union President of Q University?
It turned out to be the young woman standing right in front of him.
For one thing, the fact that she knew the library was the ‘energy nexus’ of the campus…and that this specific spot was the nexus of the library itself…combined with her pen-spinning hypnosis technique, showed she was no ordinary person.
“You’re a freshman, aren’t you?” Tang Yunqian studied Su Jie for a moment.
“Not exactly; I’ll be a sophomore after the summer break,” Su Jie said with a smile.
“Are you interested in joining the student council?” Tang Yunqian asked. “I happen to need an assistant.”
“Not interested,” Su Jie declined. His gaze then fell upon the books arranged on Tang Yunqian’s desk; he noticed they were all works on architecture. On a sheet of paper lay a hand-drawn preliminary design for a large building.
He didn’t know which building she intended to design, but a quick glance revealed that the elements of the layout were intricately interconnected. The design perfectly embodied the majesty of the Four Symbols…with the Azure Dragon and White Tiger mirroring each other, and the Vermilion Bird and Black Tortoise in harmonious resonance. Furthermore, the positions of various constellations were marked on the blueprint.
While an ordinary person might not understand it, Su Jie could see that Tang Yunqian intended to integrate celestial elements into the architecture, ensuring the structure resonated with the alignment of the stars.
It was a true embodiment of the saying: “Knowledgeable in the heavens above and the earth below; well-versed in the Five Elements, the Eight Trigrams, the constellations, and the sun and moon.”
Suddenly, Su Jie was reminded of the person who had designed the landscape garden for Liu Shi. He recalled that the designer…whose style was brimming with imaginative flair…was a young woman. Could it be that she was none other than Tang Yunqian, the student council president of Q University standing right before him?
Q University was the top-ranked university in the country; its students were elites selected from across the nation, and the student council president was the elite among elites.
Even Zhang Jinchuan might not be qualified for such a role; after all, he was not the student council president at B University.
“If you don’t want to join, then never mind,” Tang Yunqian said, turning her attention back to her design work.
“Integrating astrological elements into a design is exceptionally challenging,” Su Jie said again. “Your blueprints incorporate the Four Symbols; in our ancient culture, the constellations are categorized into the Twenty-Eight Mansions…a truly remarkable system. However, when you attempt to merge modern astronomy with these ancient classifications, you encounter contradictions…since the ancient divisions often lack scientific accuracy…and that creates a dilemma for your design.”
“You know about this stuff, too?” Tang Yunqian looked up once more. “Which department are you from? Do you study design as well?”
“I’m from the School of Life Sciences,” Su Jie replied, “though I do know a thing or two about architectural design.”