Chapter 256 - 178: Must Read, Perish Together
Ren Yuanyang was completely engrossed, and it wasn’t until three hours later that Lu Jiamei carefully called out.
"Leader?"
"Hm?" Ren Yuanyang looked at Lu Jiamei, a little confused.
"It’s getting late. You should rest," Lu Jiamei said.
Ren Yuanyang was slightly taken aback. He pulled out his phone and glanced at the time; it was already past midnight.
"Has it been that long?"
Ren Yuanyang found it incredible. He felt like he’d only been looking for a moment, yet three hours had flown by.
"You were completely absorbed!" Lu Jiamei chuckled, then asked curiously, "Leader, what are you reading?"
Before Ren Yuanyang could answer, Qin Haonan, who was piloting the boat up front, asked with a gossipy expression, "Leader, you’re not reading *that* kind of novel, are you?"
"What kind of novel?" Ren Yuanyang was confused.
"You know, Liu Bei stories!" Qin Haonan said, waggling his eyebrows suggestively.
Ren Yuanyang was taken aback for a second, then he caught on. "You’re so young. Is your mind filled with nothing but filth?"
Lu Jiamei, who was standing nearby, looked completely lost. "What are you two talking about in riddles?"
Ren Yuanyang had no choice but to explain in a low voice, "Liu Bei called himself the Imperial Uncle. ’Imperial Uncle’ is a pun for..."
Lu Jiamei finally understood and immediately shot Qin Haonan a glare. "You’re so young and already so corrupt! If I ever catch you reading those ’Liu Bei stories,’ I’ll have your hide!"
Qin Haonan ducked his head. "I’m not the one who likes reading that stuff."
Lu Jiamei then turned to Ren Yuanyang. "Leader, you’re not... actually reading that, are you?"
Ren Yuanyang rolled his eyes. "See for yourself what I’m reading!"
He moved aside to give her a view of the computer, and Lu Jiamei glanced at the screen.
"Daoist Scripture? Leader, are you planning to become a monk?"
Ren Yuanyang was speechless for a moment. "Of course not. These scriptures might be useful for enhancing our Mental Energy! Besides, ’becoming a monk’ is mostly a term for Buddhism; Daoism doesn’t really use it."
"Oh?" Lu Jiamei said, surprised.
Ren Yuanyang nodded. "When we get back, you two should study these scriptures as well. You might learn something."
"Yes, Leader!" Lu Jiamei replied.
Qin Haonan, however, looked troubled. "Leader, do I have to? I tend to fall asleep the moment I start reading!"
"No. You have to read it. Even if you don’t understand it, you must memorize it!" Ren Yuanyang replied firmly.
"Argh!" Qin Haonan whined, his face screwing up. "I guess I won’t be getting anything else done, then!"
Ren Yuanyang stood up and shot him a look. "Don’t be so dramatic. Just memorize a little every morning, and you’ll get through it eventually."
With that, he walked out of the cabin. He realized his Mental Energy had fully recovered, and he was going to enhance all the sheep and pigs.
The lambs and piglets were smaller, so Ren Yuanyang could enhance them just by standing outside.
This time, Lu Jiamei had already guessed what he was about to do and had prepared fodder in advance.
As soon as Ren Yuanyang finished the enhancements, she immediately placed the fodder into the feeding trough.
Seeing Lu Jiamei’s actions, Ren Yuanyang gave a slight nod and turned back toward the cabin.
’A subordinate who knows what to do without being ordered and doesn’t ask questions about things that don’t concern them. Who wouldn’t want someone like that?’
Back in the cabin, Ren Yuanyang sat down at the computer again. He was ready to start memorizing the Daoist Classics.
’Studying this little by little is too slow. Better to just cram it all into my brain now and analyze it later.’
’This will also prevent data loss in case the computer malfunctions in the future.’
The Daoist Scripture provided by the Aircraft Carrier Base was all-encompassing, including content on Inner Core, Outer Pill, Guiding, Scripture Technique, talismans, Exorcising Demons and Subduing Monsters, Exorcism and Prayer, Zongheng Military Strategy, and more. Even a quick read-through would take a considerable amount of time!
After feeding the pigs and sheep, Lu Jiamei returned to the cabin and found Ren Yuanyang back at the computer again, looking like a teenager addicted to the internet.
"Leader, why don’t you get some rest?" Lu Jiamei suggested.
Ren Yuanyang waved his hand. "I’ll read for a while longer. You go get some rest."
Seeing she couldn’t persuade him, Lu Jiamei shook her head helplessly and went to the cockpit. "Haonan, go take a break," she said. "I’ll pilot for a while."
Qin Haonan nodded. "Alright. Don’t forget to take a few extra laps in the Second-level Wind Sea Region on our way."
"Got it!" Lu Jiamei replied, taking the helm.
Qin Haonan went to the rear cabin. Although he was curious about the computers, the very thought of having to study made his head spin. He decided to just lie down on a nearby sofa, pretending to be exhausted.
Ren Yuanyang glanced at him but didn’t force him to come over and study. After all, Haonan had been piloting the speedboat this whole time; he really did need some rest.
Seeing that Ren Yuanyang wasn’t calling him over to study, Qin Haonan breathed a sigh of relief, found a comfortable position, and drifted off to sleep.
Another three hours passed, and the speedboat was approaching the Seventh-level Wind Sea Region, home to the Peach Blossom Base.
Just then, Lu Jiamei spotted another speedboat, but this one appeared to be towing many smaller boats.
"Leader, I’ve spotted another speedboat!" Lu Jiamei immediately reported.
Ren Yuanyang instantly stood up from the computer and headed for the cockpit.
Qin Haonan was startled awake and hurried after him.
Their eyesight wasn’t as good as Lu Jiamei’s, so they couldn’t make out the situation in the distance.
"It seems things are getting lively around here," Ren Yuanyang said with a slight frown. "Let’s get our things back to the base first. Watch for any other speedboats in the area!"
"Yes!" Lu Jiamei nodded. "Haonan, you pilot. I’ll keep watch!"
"You got it!" Qin Haonan immediately stepped forward to take the helm.
Just as Lu Jiamei was about to tell Qin Haonan to turn the boat around, she suddenly spotted another speedboat rapidly approaching the one that was towing the small boats.