Chapter 131 - 130: Xu Mo
Xu Bamboo’s... Uncle?
Yang Shen’s eyes widened.
’Zhuzi and I have this in common, too?’
But in his next sentence, Xu Mo said:
"Of course, for many reasons, she doesn’t know me..."
Xu Mo raised his hand and held it in front of Xu Bamboo’s forehead.
Yang Shen, on guard, moved to stop him, but thankfully, the man didn’t touch her, merely hovering his hand there for a moment.
Through his Qi Sensitivity, Yang Shen detected faint Spiritual Energy Fluctuations emanating from the man’s palm.
Yang Shen frowned. "What did you do?"
Xu Mo replied, "She needs to rest. I just helped her sleep a little longer."
The Spiritual Qi maintained a small cloud of mist, swirling without dispersing.
’Could this be... the legendary "Biological Force Field"?’
’At his age, he’s actually a master of the Jade Viscera Realm!’
’A whole major realm higher than Huo Jun...’
Looking like an ordinary, good-natured university lecturer, Xu Mo smiled and sat down next to Yang Shen.
Placing his hands on his knees, he said gently, "So, Xu Bamboo goes to the same school as you... What a coincidence."
Facing the man who was supposedly Xu Bamboo’s uncle, Yang Shen was still quite respectful. "You... know me?"
Xu Mo nodded. "The Blood Burning Force is the Cultivation Technique you obtained, right? I’m the friend Chen Beiwang asked for help."
Realization dawned on Yang Shen.
’Wait a minute! Didn’t Chen Beiwang say he wouldn’t reveal my information?!’
’Did that tractor sell me out?’
As if sensing Yang Shen’s confusion, Xu Mo explained:
"He said he found a high school student to tutor, got beaten up badly, but that the kid had a lot of potential. You know, the usual ’it’s not that I was weak, he was just too strong’ kind of excuse..."
"I even laughed at the guy... Then, some time later, he sent me a Cultivation Technique, saying it belonged to a confidential friend and asked me to help figure it out."
"Based on my twenty-plus years of knowing him, he’s the type who hates being bothered by people, and he rarely uses the word ’friend’... I guessed the owner of the Cultivation Technique had to be the high school student he was always talking about."
Yang Shen was lost in thought...
’Was my status really that special to Chen Beiwang?’
’It’s not like I’ve ever seen him socialize... Well, not in any normal way. As for the *other* kind of socializing, I’m afraid that never stopped for a single day.’
’That tractor’s energy source was probably all spent on his spark plugs.’
Xu Mo spread his hands. "Of course, I only confirmed your name and face later... After all, you were on the news. Old Chen also used that to try and prove it wasn’t that he was weak, but that you were too strong."
’The Big Pharmacy incident...’
The feeling was a bit strange, as if a complete stranger had actually known him for a long time...
Xu Mo’s attention seemed to be entirely on Yang Shen. As for his own niece, Xu Bamboo... he didn’t seem very concerned.
Even though they were in a hospital, and even though Xu Bamboo was showing bad signs regarding her health.
According to him, he had students and friends at the hospital who contacted him after seeing Xu Bamboo’s case file.
As for why Xu Bamboo was registered at the hospital...
Her previous treatment for "Martial Arts Psychosis" had also been here, but Xu Mo hadn’t shown up that time.
For some reason, he had appeared this time.
Although he was full of curiosity, Yang Shen kept his focus on the main point. He hadn’t gone to all this trouble tonight for idle chitchat; he was here to get a diagnosis.
"You’re wearing a white coat, so you must be hospital staff... Xu Bamboo’s condition... is very complicated. Could you get someone to help look into it?"
Xu Mo nodded. "Yes, her condition is very complicated. I’ve already seen some of the test results."
"So... what is her illness?"
Xu Mo said, "It’s not an illness. To be precise, it’s a symptom."
"What do you mean?"
"Self-induced sleep deprivation... Due to a combination of very complex factors, she seems to have lost the ability to fall asleep on her own."
Yang Shen looked at Xu Bamboo in surprise. "Sleep deprivation? But isn’t she sleeping right now..."
"She didn’t fall asleep on her own. You made her fall asleep."
Xu Mo tapped his temples with two fingers. "Simply put, she has developed a combined psychological and physiological ’subconscious aversion’ to sleep. Not only is she unwilling to sleep, but even if she does, she wakes up startled almost immediately. There might also be some overlapping factors from her Martial Arts Psychosis. The brain’s mechanisms are very complex."
Yang Shen asked, "Did the test reports show all this?"
"No, but it’s what I was able to find out. My ’Biological Force Field’ is rather special. Her thoughts are peaceful right now, which is very precious for her at the moment."
Yang Shen asked the crucial question: "If this continues... will it lead to death?"
To his surprise, Xu Mo shook his head.
"Given her Martial Arts Realm is at the Marrow Refining Realm, and with the support of some Mental Supplements, my judgment is no."
"Even if there are severe consequences, they would likely be schizophrenia, alexithymia, depression, or cognitive decline. But death, no."
Xu Mo smiled. "Even if she becomes a vegetable, she’ll be a physically healthy, vital vegetable."
Yang Shen frowned. "That’s not funny."
"Oh... it was just an example, I meant nothing by it. Besides, I’m an expert in treating people in vegetative states."
Yang Shen slowly let out a breath, thinking about how to subtly express the "risk of premature death" for Xu Bamboo, but Xu Mo had already changed the subject:
"Enough about her. Let’s talk about you. Where did you get that Jade on your chest? Can I see it?"
Yang Shen’s pupils contracted...
Sensing the young man’s vigilance, Xu Mo smiled.
"You picked it up at the Big Pharmacy, didn’t you? Don’t be nervous. I’m something of an insider myself."
"I might... know even more about it than you do. The power of ’Curse Engraving’ is very special. We currently know very little, so any sample is precious."
Yang Shen repeated, "Curse Engraving...?"
"That’s right. The Power used by those Aliens. I’m the one who came up with that translation, but it’s already in widespread use. It’ll likely become the official name in the future."
Yang Shen didn’t agree to his request to study the Jade, but Xu Mo wasn’t annoyed.
Everyone has their own opportunities, even fortuitous encounters. He was neither a cop nor a judge.
It was perfectly normal to be unwilling to share it with others.
It seemed Xu Mo was genuinely not concerned about Xu Bamboo and had only come to chat with Yang Shen.
He spoke clearly and fluently:
"The Power of Curse Engraving has enormous potential in ’Armed Application.’ It could become an external tool for Martial Artists. Compared to other ’Source Abilities’ from the Exotic Realm like ’Witchcraft,’ ’curses,’ and ’Spiritual Energy,’ it’s a much better fit for the Martial Arts path of Cyan Blue."
"In my judgment, besides the ’runes’ from the Exotic Realm controlled by Europe, Curse Engraving is the most suitable for Martial Artists. If you’ve tried using it, you should be able to feel that."
Yang Shen still said nothing, merely brushing a stray strand of hair from Xu Bamboo’s face.
His answer was already obvious.
He didn’t want to discuss the topic any further.
Xu Mo sighed. "Well, I won’t force you. But you should be taking your college entrance exams soon. After they’re over, if you change your mind, you can join my research group."
"Not as a test subject, but as a participant, to develop the potential of Curse Engraving together."
As he spoke, he took out a business card and handed it to Yang Shen.
On it was written, "Jianghuai Sports College - Sixth Institute of Biomedical Research."
"Professor Xu Mo"
Xu Mo pushed up his black-rimmed glasses. "This is a project related to the Exotic Realm. You’ll have access to a lot of information ordinary people don’t, and you might even get to participate in the development of that Exotic Realm."
"As one of the first people on Cyan Blue to come into contact with ’Curse Engraving,’ I think you might have some unique inspiration..."
Xu Bamboo’s uncle stood up. "Well, I’ll be going. If you change your mind, you can contact me anytime."
Yang Shen said, "Wait, you’re just leaving like that? What about Xu Bamboo?"
"What about her?"
Yang Shen retorted, "What do you mean, ’what about her’? You’re her uncle! Her health is failing, aren’t you concerned?"
Xu Mo shook his head. "I promised someone I wouldn’t get involved with her. The truth is, I know her, but she doesn’t know me."
"I’m afraid you’ve misunderstood. I didn’t come here to treat her, and she doesn’t need treatment... I came to make her leave. That’s why the hospital notified me."
Yang Shen’s brow furrowed deeply as he looked at Xu Mo.
The distrust in his eyes only grew.
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