121. The Flow Society (1/2)

Shi Yuexin wore a warm smile upon hearing that Tongsi was willing to engage in an in-depth exchange. Since the start of the semester, she had never seen a student as genuinely interested in "Flow" as Tongsi, even though the Flow Club had already recruited twenty or thirty new members. Most of the new recruits were only there for the senior girls; no one actually cared to understand the philosophy of Flow. Tongsi, however, had developed a keen interest in it before even joining.

Shi Yuexin led Tongsi to the Flow Club, explaining the intricacies of Flow along the way. "Please process the membership for this new recruit," she said, pushing Tongsi toward another senior member as they returned to the club's classroom. After a brief registration, Tongsi was officially a member. He learned from the senior that the club consisted of five veteran members—all girls—and twenty-nine new recruits, including himself, comprised of twenty-three boys and six girls.

The club occupied two school classrooms, a sign of its relatively large status. Passing through a small door into the second room, Tongsi saw the new recruits gathered there, listening to a senior girl explain the core concepts of Flow. After he introduced himself—"Hello everyone, I'm Tongsi, the newest member of the Flow Club"—a wave of excitement rippled through the room.

"Isn't that Tongsi?"
"It’s actually Teacher Tongsi..."
"Brother Tong! I've been a huge fan since '82!"

The walls of the club were covered in calligraphy of the character "Quiet," representing the essence of Flow. Yet, the moment they saw Tongsi, the naturally restless students couldn't contain themselves, turning the room into a fan meeting.

"Oh? You seem to be a school celebrity," the senior on stage remarked, looking at Tongsi with newfound interest.

"Calm down, Yawei, don't scare off our new recruit," another senior said, nudging her. Shi Yuexin then turned to Tongsi. "Tongsi, this is the main classroom where we practice Flow. The room next door is the lounge and registration area. There's an empty seat over there; go ahead and take it."

Tongsi nodded and sat down, while the other new members kept their eyes fixed on him, completely forgetting why they had joined the club in the first place. Shi Yuexin began the lecture. Unlike standard academic classes, her goal was to introduce the mysteries of Flow. The club’s primary purpose was to unlock the psychic potential of its members, allowing for silent communication between trainers and their Pokémon during battles.

In a typical battle, trainers rely on vocal commands, which allows the opponent to anticipate their moves. But by using telepathy to command one's Pokémon, a trainer could strike without warning, catching the opponent off guard. Of course, this was no simple feat. It required long-term practice to achieve a state of "oneness" between trainer and Pokémon. A member of the Four Heavenly Kings in the Linhai Province had risen to the top of the ranks precisely because of this skill, maintaining his position despite having Pokémon no stronger than those of his peers.

Tongsi had researched Flow after seeing the recruitment poster and found it fascinating. He hoped that by mastering it, his three Pokémon would gain a deeper understanding of psychic energy.

For three consecutive days, Tongsi practiced his focus in the club, sitting motionless on the floor. His Elekid was disciplined, his Eevee occasionally peeked around, and Shuckle... well, he really needed to wipe his drool.

Meanwhile, his application for "travel-study" remained unapproved. When he checked in with Teacher Gu, the man was evasive, claiming the principal was busy.

"Tongsi, are you interested in visiting our Flow Dojo?" Shi Yuexin asked, noticing how steadfastly Tongsi sat while the others dozed or daydreamed. She had been considering weeding out the less dedicated members, but Tongsi stood out.

"A Flow Dojo?" Tongsi opened his eyes, intrigued.

"You've never heard of it?" Shi Yuexin asked, surprised. Tongsi shook his head; he had only ever heard of the Jiahua Gym.

"The Flow Dojo focuses on psychic training," she explained. "Some of our top students there can already conduct Pokémon battles without uttering a single word."

Tongsi stood up immediately. His interest was piqued. "Really? I'd love to see it."

"Great," Shi Yuexin smiled. "Let's go after school."