Meng Huai, back on Emperor Star, had been extremely busy these past few days.
Zheng Yiran was determined to thoroughly study the perception barrier, so Meng Huai dedicated most of her time to this endeavor. Secondly, the wine she had previously sold had received excellent reviews, with many people asking for her to restock.
Meng Huai was therefore researching how to turn the wine into a mass-produced product, ideally one that could be manufactured without expending much manpower.
This was not a difficult task in the current era, so while teaching Zheng Yiran, Meng Huai browsed forums for suitable locations to establish a winery.
Zheng Yiran was earnestly studying the perception barrier, but mastering such a skill was not as simple as merely wishing for it; otherwise, only a handful of people would possess this ability.
After another failed attempt, Zheng Yiran sighed and sat on the ground. The connection to using the perception barrier was immense, and to assist her, Meng Huai had specially prepared several instant perception recovery potions for her.
In fact, the wine sent to Xie You earlier had the same effect, but Zheng Yiran was still learning and abstained from drinking it.
Thinking of this, Meng Huai felt quite awkward. The wine's effect seemed a bit redundant now, and she had even sent it to Xie You.
Little did she know, Xie You treasured the wine dearly. He would sometimes drink a little when he overused his perception, much to the silent displeasure of his subordinates. If Meng Huai knew that Xie You had taken the wine to the battlefield and used it as an instant perception recovery agent, she would regret it even more!
Seeing Zheng Yiran sitting on the ground, Meng Huai took a sip of the potion, her expression indescribably forlorn. Meng Huai first allowed Zheng Yiran to process her emotions. Only when Zheng Yiran had calmed down and wished to try again did Meng Huai speak, "How about this, I'll try one more time, and you can attempt to touch it with your perception."
This skill was inherently difficult to learn. The instructors teaching command skills at the academy were also merely conveying theory; they themselves did not possess it.
But Meng Huai was different. She could release her perception barrier to allow Zheng Yiran to make practical contact, perhaps achieving a different outcome.
Thus, Meng Huai released her mental perception, constructing a perception barrier around Zheng Yiran, and said to her, "It's now. Try to use your mental perception to feel it."
"Okay."
Zheng Yiran also released her mental perception, solely exploring this perception barrier. Meng Huai controlled the perception barrier, ensuring it would not harm Zheng Yiran. Instead, Meng Huai released more perception to guide Zheng Yiran's own senses.
This method of teaching was certainly unique, but the lesson was indeed very useful.
"How was it?" Meng Huai withdrew the entire perception barrier and asked Zheng Yiran.
Zheng Yiran did not answer Meng Huai, instead pondering the sensation she had just experienced. Then, a one-second perception barrier appeared around Zheng Yiran.
Although it lasted only for a second before dissipating, it was still a perception barrier that Zheng Yiran had released herself.
Zheng Yiran was clearly excited. So excited, in fact, that she scooped Meng Huai up and spun her around.
"I can actually release a perception barrier! Meng Huai!"
Meng Huai was also very happy for Zheng Yiran, but she thought to herself, "Could you please put me down first... I'm getting dizzy, and this isn't very heroic at all!"
Hearing Zheng Yiran's excited voice, the three people from the adjacent training room came running.
"What's going on?"
"Did you learn it?"
"You learned it so quickly?"
Zheng Yiran put Meng Huai down and excitedly told Hui Xingxiu and the other two, "Even though it only lasted for one second! It was a perception barrier I released myself!"
Saying this, Zheng Yiran even made a "one" gesture with her finger, her expression particularly triumphant.
"Good, good! It seems you can protect yourself now."
"Oh, if you say that, then I'm the one in danger!" Rong Feiwen exclaimed. He then said to Zheng Yiran, "Practice hard! When the time comes, include me in your perception barrier! I'm counting on you, Commander!"
Zheng Yiran, who had just learned the perception barrier, was not stingy about this and immediately patted her chest, saying, "Don't worry, where there's me, there's you!"
However, she really did need to practice diligently. There were only a few days left until the next competition, and she had to be able to protect herself and the mecha pilot for a few seconds!
A few seconds would be enough time for a soldier to rescue them in a dangerous situation.
After teaching Zheng Yiran, Meng Huai returned to the classroom. Shang Pingying, who saw Meng Huai return, began to taunt her.
"Oh, isn't this the strongest soldier back? If you're the strongest soldier, why are you still attending classes in our logistics department?"
"Strongest Soldier" was a recent online evaluation of Meng Huai. Shang Pingying was extremely envious and jealous of the support Meng Huai had gained from the military school league. However, since her Imperial Military School had come in last place in the previous competition, Shang Pingying dared to mock Meng Huai; otherwise, she would have had no standing.
Shang Pingying's sycophantic friends chimed in, "The strongest soldier still lost."
"Is the strongest soldier who lost still the strongest?"
"Perhaps not!"
Meng Huai looked at these young girls and frowned, wondering if they had nothing better to do.
Meng Huai reached up to touch her hair, a simple gesture that startled the group of girls. They thought Meng Huai was going to hit them and preemptively accused her, "Don't hit people! Don't think you're so great; hitting someone in the military school will get you punished!"
Seeing the girls backing away repeatedly, Meng Huai ignored them.
Ju Yiqiu also stepped forward and said, "Meng Huai would never hit you! Are you even worth it?"
"Who are her opponents? They are the elites of every military school, all SSS-level soldiers. Dealing with you would be... a waste of time."
Shang Pingying, seeing Ju Yiqiu's arrogant demeanor, sat on the desk and advised her, "Ju Yiqiu, I advise you not to pick the wrong side. You know Meng Huai can't protect you forever! This logistics department is not a place for you to run wild."
Meng Huai chuckled upon hearing this and asked Shang Pingying, "Then what is this logistics department?"
Meng Huai remembered something and continued, "Oh, right, your class advisor is your sister, isn't she? So this logistics department is your Shang family's territory!"
At this moment, Xie Zhanzhe stopped watching the spectacle. Hearing Meng Huai mention the Shang family's territory, he became displeased.
"Oh?"
A single word caused Shang Pingying to panic. She couldn't afford to offend the Xie family. Her Shang family was merely affiliated with the Meng family; how could they dare offend the Xie family! Although Xie Zhanzhe was only the son of the Emperor's elder brother, he was still someone she couldn't afford to provoke.
Shang Pingying never expected that merely mocking Meng Huai a few times would result in Xie Zhanzhe stepping forward.