In Part I, we witnessed astonishing superpowers — like the Taoist’s ability to teleport and manipulate reality — that stretched the boundaries of what we believe possible. But such superpowers are not confined to one era or culture.
Throughout history, remarkable individuals have displayed superpowers that defy explanation, challenging our assumptions about the limits of the human mind and body. Consider Wolf Messing, a Russian psychic renowned for his mental prowess.
He reportedly influenced Kremlin guards through sheer thought, convincing them he was a high-ranking official and walking unhindered through the most secure areas of Soviet power. Similarly, ancient China offers its tales of the extraordinary. Zhong Wuyan, remembered not for beauty but for a far rarer gift, stunned those around her with the ability to vanish in broad daylight. Her unusual talent would not only earn the awe of King Xuan of Qi — it would alter the course of her life and kingdom alike.
The legendary Zhong Wuyan
Zhong Lichun, known as Zhong Wuyan, lived in Wuyan City in the state of Qi. Because of her famously unattractive appearance, no matchmaker was willing to find her a husband. Even by the age of 40, she remained unmarried. But Zhong Wuyan refused to accept this fate.
One day, she dressed up and went to the palace to see King Xuan of Qi. She boldly declared that she was the unwanted woman of Qi and had come to propose marriage herself. At that moment, the king held a grand banquet with his ministers. When they heard that the notorious “ugly woman” had come to ask for marriage, they laughed and mocked her. Still, King Xuan’s curiosity was piqued, and he agreed to meet her.
When King Xuan saw her, Zhong Wuyan was as unattractive as the rumors said. He said bluntly: “My palace is not short of concubines. If you can’t find a husband in your village, why would you come asking to marry the king? Do you have any special talents?” Zhong Wuyan replied: “I have no special talents. I only admire you deeply, my king.”Her frankness and courage amused King Xuan. Curious, he pressed: “Well then, what are you skilled at?”
After a brief pause, Zhong Wuyan answered calmly: “I can become invisible.”Coincidentally, King Xuan had recently been studying invisibility techniques himself. Excited, he asked her to demonstrate. Before he could even finish his sentence, Zhong Wuyan vanished right before his eyes. The king was stunned.
After the banquet, he eagerly returned to his books on invisibility, but no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t master the technique. The next day, he summoned Zhong Wuyan and begged her to teach him her secret. Instead of sharing invisibility tricks, she gave him a grave warning: His reign was seriously threatened. She laid out four significant dangers facing the kingdom. Hearing her wise analysis, King Xuan was deeply moved.
King Xuan soon realized that no one cared for his well-being as deeply as Zhong Wuyan did among his ministers, concubines, and courtiers. Moreover, they shared a rare and mysterious interest in the secret of invisibility. Moved by her sincerity and wisdom, his heart softened, and before long, he married Zhong Wuyan, making her his queen.
This remarkable story is recorded in Biographies of Exemplary Women, a historical text compiled by Liu Xiang during the Han Dynasty.
Conclusion
From the astonishing feats of the Taoist performer in Part 1 — leaping lightly, teleporting, even bending perception itself — to Zhong Wuyan, the woman who vanished into thin air and reshaped a kingdom’s fate, these tales challenge everything we think we know about human potential. Are these isolated miracles? Or echoes of deeper abilities hidden beneath the surface of everyday life — abilities we’ve forgotten or dismissed?
Whether witnessed firsthand by observers like Ni Kuang or passed down through ancient records, these accounts share one thing: They invite us to look beyond the limits of what we consider normal, and to question how much more might be possible.
The true question isn’t merely whether such superpowers exist, but what might awaken in us if we began to believe they could. The extraordinary may not be far away — it may simply be waiting for us to recognize it.
Translated by Cecilia and edited by Tatiana Denning
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