Staten Island, New York, the principal's office of Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters.
Professor Charles Francis Xavier, the headmaster of Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters, also known as Dr. X in Zhou Yi's memory, warmly received Zhou Yi's family after learning of their purpose.
Zhou Yi held both admiration and a desire to keep his distance from this Mutant spiritual leader who dedicated his life to the peaceful coexistence of Mutants and humans.
The immense Mental Energy of Professor Charles is universally acknowledged; this power is not merely a matter of willpower, but also describes his incredibly strong psychic abilities.
The ability to control a person's life and death with just a glance or a thought is no exaggeration.
And more simply, reading people's memories and controlling their minds, these miraculous abilities are as easy as eating and drinking for Professor Charles.
Therefore, people like Zhou Yi, who harbor secrets, generally try to avoid meeting Professor Charles if possible.
Although he had some confidence in Charles's character and his own innate abilities, Zhou Yi was unwilling to take the risk unless absolutely necessary.
Perhaps noticing Zhou Yi's spiritual unease, Professor Charles smiled slightly, and a powerful sense of affinity immediately enveloped them.
He spoke with a hint of playfulness.
"It seems, Mr. Zhou, that you are quite afraid of me, but don't worry, I'm not some kind of disciplinary dean."
"You're joking!" Zhou Yi tugged at the corner of his mouth, not entirely at ease, "I imagine anyone who knows of your great reputation, Professor, wouldn't feel completely relaxed in your presence."
"Mr. Zhou, what you're referring to are those who are against us Mutants, but as a friend who treats us equally, I think your concern is completely unnecessary." Professor Charles pushed his wheelchair, slowly moving in front of Zhou Yi's family, and spoke to Zhou Lan.
"Ms. Zhou Lan, please rest assured.
Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters is committed to the dream of all Mutants and humans living in harmony.
Since your daughter has become a member of us Mutants, we will naturally do our best to educate her and help her integrate into this World."
Zhou Lan sadly hugged the silent, timid Charisse, kissed her forehead, and said, "Professor, I have faith in you.
My poor Charisse, don't worry, you'll have many new friends here, and Mommy and big brother will visit you often."
Charisse remained silent, only tightening her grip on Zhou Yi's clothes.
At this moment, Professor Charles, who had been waiting by the side, suddenly spoke.
"Ms. Zhou, I feel there's something I need to discuss with you.
This matter concerns your son, Mr. Zhou Yi!"
"Yi, what happened to him?" Zhou Lan, already somewhat mentally fragile from the sudden family incident, couldn't help but raise her voice a few octaves.
Her heart was now filled with fear, as she seemed to have already guessed something.
"Regarding Mutants, Ms. Zhou Lan, what do you know?" Professor Charles did not directly answer Zhou Lan's question, but instead picked up his teacup and slowly explained.
"Mutants, strictly speaking, are a species evolved from humans.
Compared to humans, Mutants have no other changes at the genetic level; the only change is that all Mutants have one more gene set than humans, and that gene set is named the X-gene by us."
"It is because of the existence of the X-gene that Mutants are able to separate from the human group.
Similarly, it is precisely because of the X-gene that Mutants are stronger, smarter, and more miraculous than humans.
However, this does not mean that only Mutants who exhibit abilities have the X-gene.
In fact, according to our research, the X-gene exists in a considerable portion of people's genetic sequences, but in the gene sets of these people, some are dominant, causing these humans to already possess mature abilities and Mutant characteristics, such as your daughter, Young Miss Ferguson."
"And there is another group of people whose X-genes show recessive characteristics.
This means that although their abilities and X-gene characteristics have not yet Awakened, they are still extremely different from ordinary humans.
And your son, Mr. Zhou Yi, is very likely a potential Mutant with no outward difference from a normal person."
At this point, the two women present had focused their gaze on Zhou Yi.
Zhou Yi paused, looked at Dr. Charles, and said, "How did you discover I have superpowers?"
Upon hearing this, Zhou Lan involuntarily covered her mouth, her eyes filled with panic.
Clearly, what was happening now was completely beyond her imagination.
Zhou Yi, who was about the same height as Zhou Lan, placed his hand on her shoulder and said apologetically, "I'm sorry, Mom.
I've kept this from you for so long, but you have to know I had my reasons."
Professor Charles then added, "Yes.
Ms. Zhou, everyone with extraordinary abilities who wishes to maintain a normal life must tell some white lies.
I've seen too many tragedies; believe me, you are already a fortunate person."
Hearing these words, Zhou Lan's expression became somewhat dazed, and then she slowly fell asleep in the chair.
In fact, during the recent persuasion, Professor Charles used his ability, which made Zhou Yi feel an invisible Mental Energy fluctuation.
However, in this matter, he felt that Professor Charles did the right thing at the right time, so he did not stop him.
He merely gave Professor Charles a warning look and said, "I don't want this to happen a second time, neither to my mother nor to Charisse!"
As he spoke, invisible ripples spread out, as if a ten-thousand-pound hammer had suddenly smashed into the Void Realm.
The carpet around Professor Charles seemed to be struck by an invisible immense force, visibly crushed into sand-sized particles that piled up on the floor.
Clearly, this miraculous power was precisely controlled, making it act only on a specific area, rather than affecting the floor as well.
However, Zhou Yi's movement was still a bit too big.
Just as Zhou Yi demonstrated his power, two people pushed open the door and rushed in.
One of them, a red-haired beauty, directly extended her hand towards Zhou Yi, and an invisible force immediately acted upon Zhou Yi's body, as if a giant hand was forcefully gripping him and lifting him up.
This was a miraculous telekinesis, a superpower generated by powerful Mental Energy materializing into real physical kinetic energy.
And Zhou Yi also possessed this power.
Golden flames seemed to burn in his eyes, and a thought surged from Zhou Yi, instantly transforming into powerful physical force, like a wall, directly canceling out the red-haired beauty's telekinetic hand, and forcefully pushing the two intruders against the wall, controlling all their movements.
"Please stop, Mr. Zhou Yi, Scott and Jean mean no harm." Professor Charles's voice came, not through the ears, but through the mind.
His voice was as calm as before, as if he completely disregarded everything Zhou Yi had done.
But subtly, it showcased his strength and status as one of the most powerful Mutants in the World.
Zhou Yi had to admit that this old man in a wheelchair was a formidable presence worthy of respect.
The telekinesis dissipated, and the two individuals were released from Zhou Yi's control.
Scott, the man with strange eyes, and Jean Grey, the red-haired beauty, also seemed to have received Professor Charles's psychic communication, and did not make any superfluous movements, merely walking silently behind Professor Charles, guarding him on either side.
However, from their expressions, it was clear how displeased they were internally.
Of course, Zhou Yi didn't care about that at all.
This was the rule in the Mutant World, and even the entire superpower World: if my power is greater than yours, I can ignore you.
Professor Charles paid no mind to the emotions between the three of them, simply introducing them.
"Scott, and Jean Grey.
They were both my students, and now they are teachers at the academy; your sister will be taught by them in the future."
"Scott, please take Young Miss Ferguson to familiarize herself with the academy.
Mr. Zhou Yi and I still have some matters to discuss."
The man with the strange glasses standing behind Professor Charles nodded.
He first walked up to Zhou Yi, looked down at him and gave him a challenging glare—though it was highly likely Zhou Yi couldn't see it.
Then he walked up to Charisse and spoke in a relatively gentle tone.
"Please follow me, Young Miss Ferguson.
From today onwards, Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters will be your second home."
Zhou Yi also patted Charisse's head at this time and said, "Go on, Charisse.
It's just a new school and a new environment.
Mom and I will pick you up on the weekend to come home."
Ever since seeing the superpowers Zhou Yi displayed, Charisse, though still a bit timid, clearly showed an improvement in her demeanor.
She just looked at Zhou Yi a bit strangely and mumbled, "Alright, I'll listen to you this time.
But it's a deal, you have to pick me up on the weekend, and don't have accidents all the time like before!"
Zhou Yi chuckled, rubbed her head, and squinted, saying, "Don't worry, Little fellow.
I'll bring you a gift then."
Charisse stopped speaking and left the office with Scott.
It wasn't until the office door closed that Professor Charles smiled and spoke to Zhou Yi, who had turned his head.
"I can tell you have a wonderful family, and you love your family very much."
Zhou Yi chuckled and said to Professor Charles and Jean Grey behind him, "I think that's a given, isn't it?"
Professor Charles sighed at these words.
He turned to face the window, looking at the groups of Mutant students passing by outside, and said.
"I've seen too many instances where the identity of a Mutant creates a rift in family affections, causing families to break apart and even be destroyed.
And too many Mutants go astray because of all this."
Zhou Yi listened to Professor Charles's lament and remained silent.
This topic was too profound.
Mutants were not just mutations in abilities; a large part of it was physical mutation.
Transforming from a human into a monster was a huge blow to the family, society, and one's own psyche.
Without guidance, the distorted Worldviews of these Mutants could very well drive them to do all sorts of crazy things.
And would the human World allow such things to happen? The answer was obvious.
Under these circumstances, the living space of Mutants could only be infinitely compressed.
What would happen in the end, Zhou Yi dared not assert.
The only thing he could be sure of was that it would inevitably be countless tragedies.
And Professor Charles, this powerful Mutant, undoubtedly played the role of a Saint here.
He was using his life's energy to expand new living space for Mutants.
Although it was a drop in the bucket, what was certain was that he had always been doing it and had led more people to advance on this Dao.
This was a person with a great personality and noble morality, a point Zhou Yi had no doubt about.