Chapter 68.1: Misunderstanding
Moreover, the most pressing issue was right in front of them.
With Nan Yu still officially engaged to Bai Zhouyun, he could not simply refuse Bai Zhouyun's protection outright.
Their engagement was not merely a verbal agreement.
The Emperor himself had served as the witness, and that alone made the situation difficult enough to deal with.
On top of that, their engagement had been officially registered.
In other words, simply changing their minds meant nothing.
If they wanted to break off the engagement, they had to formally dissolve it.
Under the Emperor's supervision as the original witness, both parties had to go to the appropriate government department and officially cancel the engagement.
That was the Empire's legal procedure.
Although Nan Ming was currently away from home and there was no elder available to discuss marriage matters, the Bai family still could not force the two of them to marry.
However...
There were still plenty of other ways they could make things unpleasant for the Nan family.
After thinking it over again and again, Nan Yu decided not to fall out with Bai Zhouyun for the time being.
He looked at him with obvious hesitation.
"Are you telling the truth?"
"Or are you lying to me again?"
"I'm not a child anymore."
"I'm not going to believe everything you say just because you say a few nice words."
"And besides..."
"I still haven't settled the matter of you openly going to Fusè."
The moment Fusè was mentioned, Bai Zhouyun immediately thought of all those baseless rumors.
"Those rumors were fake."
"Xiao Yu... you didn't actually believe them, did you?"
Nan Yu shook his head.
"Of course I know the rumors were fake."
"I'm not talking about the rumors."
"I'm talking about the fact that you went to Fusè."
"You looked completely familiar with the place."
"I'd say you must have gone there plenty of times before."
"You seemed awfully experienced."
Only then did Bai Zhouyun realize what Nan Yu meant.
"Xiao Yu, don't worry."
"Before, other people only took me there to broaden my horizons."
"I only wanted to make you angry because I was upset."
"I wasn't actually planning to have fun there."
"I ended up drinking too much because I was in a bad mood."
"Then I got drunk."
"And everything turned into what it did."
"If I'd known things would end up like this, I definitely wouldn't have gone."
"I promise you."
"I'll never go to Fusè again."
Nan Yu's mouth twitched.
"Really?"
"What about places similar to Fusè?"
"You only mentioned Fusè."
"Does that mean you're still planning to visit other places like it?"
Bai Zhouyun hurriedly shook his head.
"No."
"From now on, I'll only stay by your side."
"I'll never disappoint you again."
"And starting today..."
"I'll work twice as hard."
"I'll become stronger."
"I'll become someone worthy of you."
Nan Yu blinked in surprise.
Could Bai Zhouyun actually be serious?
Wait...
If Bai Zhouyun wanted to become stronger, there was only one way.
Fight continuously to gain combat experience.
Constantly consume Ability Beast meat to strengthen his abilities.
And in doing so...
His Mental Contamination would inevitably become increasingly severe.
Who, then, was the most suitable person to remove that contamination?
Besides Nan Yu...
Who else could there possibly be?
So that was it.
The Bai family...
And Bai Zhouyun...
They were planning this all along.
How impressive.
A top-tier Mid-Tier Mental Power User available completely free of charge.
Of course they'd make full use of him.
Perhaps...
With Nan Yu helping him like that, Bai Zhouyun really could become a High-Tier Ability User.
Nan Yu was almost laughing from anger inside.
Outwardly, however, he remained perfectly calm.
"So?"
"Tell me."
"What exactly are you planning to do?"
"How are you planning to work hard?"
Bai Zhouyun hesitated before looking around.
The butler.
Nan Yun.
Nan Zhen.
And Fu Yu'ang.
Nan Yu said calmly,
"Just say it."
"Why are you looking at them?"
"They all care about me."
"They also want to know what you're thinking."
"So why not say it openly?"
"Wouldn't that put everyone's mind at ease?"
Bai Zhouyun nodded.
"I'll work hard."
"Xiao Yu, don't worry."
"But..."
"I'll still need your help."
Nan Yu thought to himself—
Here it comes.
Just as expected.
He wanted to make use of him.
To use him for free as a Mental Power User.
Even hiring a Mental Power User only half as capable as Nan Yu currently appeared to be would cost an enormous amount of money.
Not to mention someone like Bai Zhouyun, who wanted to become stronger.
A useless person like him could only improve by constantly eating Ability Beast meat over a long period of time.
At the same time...
He would need an outstanding Mental Power User like Nan Yu accompanying him at all times, constantly removing his Mental Contamination.
Otherwise...
Even after decades, he still might never become a High-Tier Ability User.
Nan Yu took a slow breath.
"My help?"
"What kind of help?"
For now, he decided to play dumb.
He hoped Bai Zhouyun wouldn't actually be shameless enough to say it aloud.
After all...
He had already experienced this once in his previous life.
Bai Zhouyun had desperately consumed enormous quantities of Ability Beast meat while frantically challenging others to battle.
Back then, Nan Yu had already become a High-Tier Mental Power User.
Even so...
He had still been exhausted.
Bai Zhouyun consumed too much Ability Beast meat.
He trained far too intensely.
The contamination accumulated rapidly.
Because of that...
Nan Yu had been forced to remove Bai Zhouyun's Mental Contamination every single day.
How long had that continued?
Half a year.
A full six months.
Even with Nan Yu's strength as a High-Tier Mental Power User in his previous life...
Treating Bai Zhouyun every single day...
While Bai Zhouyun relentlessly devoured Ability Beast meat every day...
It had still taken six entire months.
Now...
No matter how much stronger Nan Yu had become...
He still wasn't as powerful as he had been in his previous life.
Perhaps...
If he really treated Bai Zhouyun every day now...
It wouldn't take six months.
It might take years.
Just as Nan Yu thought Bai Zhouyun wouldn't actually say it...
Bai Zhouyun opened his mouth.
But Nan Yun reacted even faster.
He stepped directly between them.
"Finished talking yet?"
He glared fiercely at Bai Zhouyun.
"You've talked long enough."
"Shouldn't you be done by now?"
His expression was terrible.
His eyes looked positively murderous.
Bai Zhouyun had the distinct feeling that if he said one more sentence...
Nan Yun would immediately attack him.
He forcibly swallowed the words he had originally intended to say and replaced them with something else.
"Big Brother."
"I know you've misunderstood me because of everything that happened before."
"But I want you to know..."
"I'll treat Xiao Yu well from now on."
"In this lifetime..."
"He'll be the only person I'll ever treat well."
After saying that, he looked toward Nan Yu, who stood behind Nan Yun watching him with obvious confusion.
"Xiao Yu."
"I'm leaving now."
"I'll come see you again."
Watching Bai Zhouyun walk away, Nan Yun couldn't shake the feeling that something was different.
But what exactly?
He coughed lightly.
Nan Yu immediately came back to his senses.
"What's wrong, Big Brother?"
Nan Yun looked at him with an expression of utter disappointment.
"You're asking me what's wrong?"
"I should be asking you that!"
"Weren't you staring at him the whole time?"
"And when he left..."
"Weren't you still watching him?"
Nan Yu paused slightly.
Was it really that obvious?
But he had only been confused.
Today's Bai Zhouyun...
Really did seem somewhat different from before.
However...
Nan Yun, Nan Zhen, and Fu Yu'ang were all looking at him with expressions of obvious disapproval.
Nan Yu didn't even need to guess.
The three of them had misunderstood him again.
"You've misunderstood."
"It's not what you think."
"I was only surprised by his attitude."
"Don't you think he acted very differently today compared to before?"
Unfortunately...
In their eyes...
His explanation sounded exactly like he was defending Bai Zhouyun.
Nan Zhen placed both hands on Nan Yu's shoulders.
"Little Brother."
"Don't lose yourself again."
"What exactly is so good about that Bai guy?"
Fu Yu'ang nodded.
"I didn't notice anything different."
"He was only more eloquent than before."
"Maybe he learned some new tricks somewhere specifically to coax you."
Nan Yu found himself speechless.
Because...
That was actually possible.
Could everything he had sensed earlier really have been nothing but an illusion?
The calm and serious appearance Bai Zhouyun had displayed just now...
It had resembled the Bai Zhouyun from the later years of his previous life.
Had he unconsciously projected the Bai Zhouyun from his previous life onto the current one?
After thinking carefully...
It actually seemed entirely possible.
Then...
How was he supposed to explain that?
The three older brothers had unanimously concluded that Bai Zhouyun was about to deceive him once again.
All of them became extremely nervous.
After discussing it among themselves, they reached a decision.
From now on...
Unless Nan Yu stayed home...
Whenever he went outside, one of the three of them would accompany him on a rotating schedule.
Their only objective—
Never allow Bai Zhouyun anywhere near their little brother.
Nan Yu stood nearby, watching them openly discuss the arrangements right in front of the person concerned.
He had absolutely no say in the matter.
Naturally...
He couldn't object.
Everything they were doing came from genuine concern for him.
The only problem was...
They were probably going to interfere with his special training again.
Nan Yu asked helplessly,
"Won't delaying your special training be a problem?"
The three of them turned toward him simultaneously.
"Of course not."
"Special training can begin anytime."
"The instructors are stationed here permanently to protect you anyway."
"But if Bai Zhouyun manages to brainwash you again..."
"That would be the worst outcome."
Nan Yu's mouth twitched.
They made him sound like someone without a brain.
Nan Yu took a deep breath.
"I understand now."
"So in my brothers' eyes..."
"I'm really such a shallow person."
"In that case..."
"Do whatever you want."
Crossing his arms, he turned around and walked back toward the house.
Nan Yun and the others blinked.
Watching his retreating figure, they exchanged puzzled glances.
"...Did we make Little Brother angry?"
The three looked at one another.
Finally...
They hurried after him.
They couldn't let their little brother stay angry.
Nan Yu watched them awkwardly explain that they hadn't meant anything else.
They were simply worried about him.
Nothing more.
Nan Yu pouted slightly before finally nodding.
"I know you're worried about me."
"But I know what I'm doing."
"I've already told you that I absolutely won't forgive Bai Zhouyun this time."
"I think..."
"You should trust me."
Unfortunately...
His behavior just now really hadn't inspired much confidence.
Seeing the meaningful expressions on their faces, Nan Yu immediately realized something.
Because of everything he had done over the past several years...
His credibility regarding Bai Zhouyun had probably completely collapsed.
Nan Yu sighed.
"So what are you planning to do?"
"Are you really going to have someone follow me every single time I leave the house?"
Nan Yun knew that wasn't realistic.
Even if they managed it for now...
What about later?
School would start soon.
Once classes resumed...
As long as Bai Zhouyun put in enough effort...
He would inevitably find opportunities to be alone with Nan Yu.
Wouldn't they be back where they started?
Nan Yu blinked.
"Just trust me, alright?"
"I'm not a child anymore."
"You can't protect me forever."
"It's time for me to face my future by myself."
"Some things..."
"I have to face myself."
"I have to make my own decisions."
"Don't you agree?"
Although they still couldn't completely relax...
After thinking it over, they decided to respect Nan Yu's wishes.
"Then promise us."
"You have to stay true to yourself."
"You absolutely can't let Bai Zhouyun fool you again."
Nan Yu smiled.
"I know."
"Don't worry."
"I was only curious about what he had come to say this time."
"I wanted to see what new trick he was trying."
"That's the only reason I kept looking at him."
"It doesn't mean I've softened toward him."
"Just wait."
"Once I become a High-Tier Mental Power User..."
"I'll be able to completely say goodbye to him."
Nan Yun, Nan Zhen, and Fu Yu'ang carefully observed his expression.
It didn't look like he was lying.
Had they really overreacted?
Still...
It was always better to be cautious.
During this period, Nan Yu's routine remained simple.
He was either at home...
At the hospital...
Or accepting commissions outside to continue expanding his network of contacts.
With one thing after another filling his schedule...
Time passed quickly.
Then...
The day before school resumed...
Nan Yu finally witnessed the results of everyone's efforts at the hospital.
The soldier who had nearly become beyond saving because of Qiao Yu's negligence...
Woke up.
The very first person he saw after opening his eyes...
Was Nan Yu.
Nan Yu blinked before smiling gently.
"You're awake?"
The man had been unconscious for far too long.
His thoughts were still sluggish.
After a long pause...
He slowly nodded.
Soon afterward...
The doctors and the director hurried into the room.
They immediately performed a complete examination.
The final measurements showed—
His Mental Contamination had already fallen to half of A-rank.
Compared to before...
When it had been on the verge of reaching S-rank...
This result was unbelievably good.
In fact...
Several days earlier, their examinations had already shown that his Mental Contamination had decreased dramatically.
By all rights...
He should have regained consciousness by then.
Yet...
For some unknown reason...
He simply hadn't woken up until today.