Popularity is everything; I play a super genius

"No! Don't call me master!"

It's worth noting that characters who become the protagonist's mentors in anime series almost never have a good ending.

They're either tragic figures who sacrifice themselves to pave the way for their apprentices, or they're tools for advancing the plot by being sacrificed at crucial moments—definitely a high-risk profession.

Saki no longer wanted to be tainted by such karma.

Although these kinds of scenes are often highlights, very tear-jerking and popular...

But for Saki, what use is popularity if he's dead?

He's the kind of guy who's going to keep showing off until the very end!

"Yes, Saki-kun! Then I won't call you that anymore. But in my heart, I will always respect you as my master!"

Upon hearing this, Qi Ji took the salty soy milk and drank a sip.

The temperature is just right, and the saltiness is perfect.

He nodded in satisfaction and patted Huomu on the shoulder with a sense of relief.

At that moment, Qi Ji glanced at the salty soy milk that Huo Mu had bought and that Qi Ji was even more fond of, and his eyebrows twitched.

She never expected that Huo Mu, with his thick eyebrows and big eyes, would be such a smooth talker!

I have to admit, she lost again!

Whether it's kneeling or buying breakfast, my awareness in these two aspects is far inferior to Huomu's...

The three of them sat around a bench by the training field and finished their breakfast.

During this time, Saki also completed a brainstorming session.

Combining the original storyline with his understanding of the Fire and Wood abilities, he finally came up with a teaching plan that might work.

"Fire and Wood".

"Here!" Huo Mu packed up the three people's leftovers, put them in the trash can, then kicked his legs to attention in the direction of Qi Ji and shouted in response.

"Good, that's very energetic! Tell me—how do you want to become stronger?"

Without hesitation, Huomu answered loudly, "I want to awaken the Echo!"

"Huh? Ah, cough cough!" Saki was taken aback by the answer and almost choked. He quickly coughed twice to cover up his embarrassment.

Echoes of Awakening?

He thinks too!

Isn't this something he himself hasn't even managed to do yet?!

He himself is still a "silent responder"!

So, this is beyond the scope of the curriculum!

Of course, it's perfectly normal for Huomu to say that.

Because in this world where "echo" is the foundation of power, the general consensus is—

Only by awakening the echo can one truly embark on the path to transcendence and gain the "qualification" and "direction" to become stronger.

Qi Ji's mind raced as he quickly organized his thoughts, trying to steer the conversation back onto his pre-set path.

He coughed twice and said:

"Huomu, regarding the matter of awakening echo, although I can give you some guidance in theory, you need to think it through clearly. Echo is the power of the heart, the resonance and manifestation of one's own will."

Saki's tone softened, taking on a hint of warning:

"If you rely too much on the guidance of outsiders or so-called 'shortcuts,' it may affect the purity and potential of your response, and you may even go astray."

It's important to understand that truly powerful responses often stem from the deepest, most authentic self-discovery! How can we rely on outsiders?

Upon hearing this, Huo Mu felt as if he had been enlightened!

He was only thinking about becoming stronger and hadn't considered such a deep issue at all.

Saki is right. The response is your own; how can you expect to rely on others?

"But..." Huomu then seemed somewhat lost again.

"How can I become stronger if I don't awaken the echo? Doesn't having no echo mean having no power?"

"What are you saying!" Qi Ji's voice suddenly rose, carrying a resolute tone.

"Can't you become stronger if there's no response?"

This is--

"Useless thinking!"

Saki stepped forward and placed his hands heavily on Koki's shoulders:

Look into my eyes and answer me!

What is the "heart essence"?

For a moment, Huo Mu was ignited by Qi Ji's highly infectious tone and shouted:

"It is the power of the 'heart'! It is the condensation of one's own life energy, will, and emotions!"

"Very well! Then let me ask you again, what is an echo?"

"It's a... amplifier?"

As Huo Mu spoke, he glanced at Qi Ji with a hint of uncertainty.

After receiving the latter's affirmative nod, I couldn't help but feel a little excited and shouted even louder:

"Echo is a 'tool' that releases our inner power in a specific way and efficiently!"

"That's right!"

Saki's voice echoed in the empty training ground, carrying an undeniable certainty:

"Then, Huomu, tell me one last time!"

Your heart, your will, your strength—

Do you absolutely need tools to amplify things for you?

Huo Mu was stunned, his pupils contracting slightly.

Saki's words were completely different from the education he had received and the common sense he had heard since childhood!

According to the book, the so-called "mind essence" is the integration of human spirit and will, which can only be transformed into a power with substantial efficacy through resonance.

Setsuna, standing to the side, couldn't help but feel confused upon hearing this. Her theoretical grades were excellent, second only to Saki and Ruri in the class.

"Saki-kun, the textbook says that unreacted and transformed mental energy cannot be released outside the body to form effective power. This is a conclusion drawn from countless verifications..."

"Then the textbook is wrong."

Saki's tone was perfectly calm, but given the implications of his words, it sounded to the two of them as "an almost arrogant certainty."

The reason Saki dared to say that was precisely because he knew—

In the original storyline, before awakening the Echo, Huomu broke through the shackles of common sense with his burning will and perseverance.

He learned his signature move, the "Flame Fist," which involves concentrating one's inner energy into the fist and releasing it as scorching flames!

In some ways, Huomu is the real genius.

What Qi Ji needs to do now is to "predict" in advance and guide the other party to fully realize this talent!

While gaining some screen time and boosting his popularity, he might also secretly learn Huo Mu's [Flame Fist] under the guise of "instruction".

This is one of Saki's clever little touches.

And without a doubt—

A genius mind!

……

……

Chapter 49 Use Flame Fist on it!

"The textbook... is wrong..."

She murmured to herself, unsure whether, at this moment, she should trust the authoritative textbooks or the "absolutely correct" Saki.

Saki didn't explain further to Setsuna, but instead refocused her gaze on Hikido:

"Huomu, I'm asking you—"

When you want to protect something, when you risk your life, when you give it your all...

How would you feel?

Huo Mu paused for a moment, then subconsciously placed his hand on his chest: "It's hot, it feels hot."

Saki nodded, her voice carrying a knowing "I knew it" tone:

That's it.

Your heart is already responding to your heart.

That 'heat' is your will, it is your strength; you just don't know how to use it yet.

At this point, Saki hesitated slightly, unsure how to continue the conversation, so he simply ended the topic by saying:

"Alright, that's all I can do to help you become stronger."

The rest is up to you to figure out, feel, and try for yourself.

Remember, only what you realize and create yourself truly belongs to you, and is the path best suited for you!

After saying this, Qi Ji stretched, his tone instantly switching to a lazy mode, and he slipped away as if fleeing:

"I'm going to take a nap over there. You keep practicing by yourself. Good luck."

Upon hearing this, Huomu suddenly understood and nodded vigorously:

"Yes! Saki-kun! I will definitely work hard! I will never let you down! I will never disappoint you!"

Looking at Saki, who had finished saying what he wanted to say and went to take a nap under the shade of a tree, and then at Kamo, who now seemed to "understand everything" and was full of energy, a bunch of question marks suddenly appeared on his forehead.

No! So what exactly did you understand?!

Why didn't I understand anything?!

It seems like Saki-chan just said something, but then again, it seems like she didn't say anything at all...

Seeing Huo Mu truly immersed in his work, full of energy, gesturing and muttering to himself in the air, he couldn't help but question his own existence once again.

Suddenly realizing something, the girl slapped herself hard!

What's wrong with you, Shasha?

Just because I'm stupid and didn't understand what Saki-chan was saying, I doubted Saki-chan!

Saki is an absolute genius; there must be a deeper meaning behind everything he says!

and so--

It's not that Saki-chan has a problem, it's that you have a problem!

You're so stupid!

See, even that idiot Huomu understood!

Could you possibly be dumber than that Firewood guy with an F rating...?!

Thinking of this, he suddenly perked up.

Even though what Saki-chan said was completely different from what was in the textbook...

But before you start to doubt, at least try it out!

That's right!

Is the textbook more authoritative, or is Saki Saku correct? Setsuna decided to find the answer through her own practice!

In an instant, he made up his mind, clenched his fists, and stood in front of another training dummy.