Chapter 62 : The Slightly Expensive Meditation Room

I carefully left with my still slightly warm incense burner.

The aura and presence that Senior carried made me instinctively uncomfortable.

It wasn’t that I disliked her honestly, I liked her a lot but I was keenly aware that this mental state was abnormal, which made me subconsciously resistant.

After leaving, I felt much more at ease.

Sitting on the bus, I was so relaxed that I even had the leisure to slowly study the incense burner in my hands.

But after examining it, I came to one conclusion: it was just an ordinary small burner, still carrying the faint scent of incense that hadn’t fully dissipated.

Though the smell was subtle now, it was still relaxing.

It was almost hypnotic.

After only a few minutes of experiencing it in the shop, I was already feeling sleepy, yawning nonstop.

I was starting to regret not taking the bus back home.

Yes, this bus wasn’t heading to my villa but to the meditation room.

The meditation room was a massive building provided by the academy specifically for meditation, filled with individual meditation rooms.

But with so many students at the academy, was just one building really enough?

I remained skeptical about that.

As for Senior Ying Shiqian’s suggestion to check out meditation rituals at the library, I didn’t go there first.

I wanted to try it myself, take a hit to my confidence, and then look into those rituals.

Though I acknowledged this world had supernatural forces, rituals still felt a bit unreliable.

I’d treat it as a last resort to try if I had no other options.

Soon, I reached my destination.

The map on my phone showed a large area, but in person, it looked even more impressive than the photos.

Even at this hour, I could see seniors coming and going.

It seemed pretty lively here.

With curiosity, I walked into the lobby.

The front desk was quite spacious, and as I entered, I could even hear the echo of my footsteps.

“Hm… a freshman. Here to get a meditation card?”

“Meditation card?”

I looked at the senior at the front desk, who spoke first, immediately asking about a card.

That felt very on-brand.

“Yes, the meditation card is like a membership card here. If it’s too much trouble, you can handle it online through your phone. There are many packages. Want me to go through them one by one?”

“No, no, thank you. I just want to try out the meditation room’s effects for now. I haven’t thought that far ahead.”

“Just a temporary visit? That’s fine too. You can apply freely after getting a meditation card. If you have any questions, just ask me.”

Hearing my request, she seemed less enthusiastic.

But it made sense working this late without getting off yet must be tough.

After all, I was already off work.

“Where can I check that? Is it in the academy system too?”

I asked, holding my phone.

The academy system had so many functions.

Even the library could be accessed through it, supporting some online reading.

“Yes. Have you linked your student card, freshman? If not, it could be a hassle.”

“I’ve linked it. Um, I found it. No need to trouble you, Senior.”

“Okay.”

After finding the meditation section in the system, I smoothly located the meditation room reservations.

Yes, reservations.

It seemed the meditation rooms here were indeed limited, but I checked and saw there were still some available, so I felt relieved.

The reservations divided the meditation rooms into tiers, much like standard and luxury rooms in a hotel.

After a quick look at the differences, I realized it was about the level of service inside, complete with photos for reference.

There were basic options: regular meditation rooms and advanced meditation rooms, plus custom bookings for special requirements.

I glanced at the prices and immediately gave up on the higher-end options.

They weren’t for me or my wallet’s balance.

I’d stick with the regular meditation room.

Those cost between 50 and 100 yuan per hour.

Yes, even the most basic meditation room charged by the hour.

Though the photos didn’t show why they were worth that much, I couldn’t let my money go to waste, right?

I checked the time.

Though the trip to the Aromatherapy Specialty Store delayed me, it was still quite early, assuming I ignored my usual sleep schedule.

I looked at my balance and the current time.

In the end, I chose the top-tier option for the regular meditation room at 100 yuan per hour.

I didn’t really have a choice; it seemed like those were the only ones left.

If I wasn’t quick, they’d be gone.

As for duration, I went with two hours.

My incense would last about an hour, so the extra hour was my last bit of leeway.

After booking, my phone displayed a bunch of notices, like not disturbing others’ meditation to preserve the experience, and that staff wouldn’t actively interrupt users.

Overstaying required prompt payment of extra fees.

If you overstayed by 24 hours, you’d be forcibly removed, so we had to keep track of time ourselves.

The meditation room could also have a time reminder set.

If not, you have to manage it yourself.

After reading a long list of notices, I got my number: 01032.

“Um, do I find it myself?”

I went back to the front desk to ask the senior.

“Yes, that number is Room 32 on the first floor. It’s easy to find. Go ahead.”

“Okay, thank you.”

After a quick thank you, I headed in.

As I walked to the back, I saw a straightforward long corridor with densely packed doors, clearly maximizing space usage.

I wasn’t sure if it was my imagination, but it felt bigger inside than it looked from the outside.

Soon, I found my number hanging on a door.

A quick scan opened it easily.

Upon opening the door, a faint scent of incense wafted out.

Though subtle, it lingered.

Walking in, I realized the so-called meditation room was smaller than I expected, with barely anything inside.

Just a mat on the floor and a spot for taking off shoes.

The worn marks on the floor showed it had been used many times.

I didn’t mind and got to work, placing my small incense burner on the ground.

Coincidentally, there was a designated spot for it.

Recalling Senior’s demonstration, I started setting up the incense.

This tiny bag was a day’s wages, so I didn’t want to waste a single speck of powder.

Only after lighting it with the special matches did I breathe a sigh of relief.

As the unique scent of the incense wafted out, I began inspecting the room’s facilities.

Since the incense needed time to take effect, it didn’t stop me from doing other things.