Chapter 147: Carrying Out the Plan
But this was all for the mission.
He could tolerate it for a little while. After all, it was only a few extra glances. It wasn't really a big deal. Once he relaxed, it didn't feel nearly as uncomfortable anymore.
Nan Yu didn't mind.
Yu Lanfeng, however, increasingly felt that allowing this man to stay here had been a huge mistake. He never should have said that in the first place. He should have sent him away immediately.
As for learning Nan Yu's mannerisms...
There were plenty of surveillance recordings available. Watching those would have been enough. The organization didn't know most of Nan Yu's little habits anyway. Learning the general idea would have sufficed.
Unfortunately...
There was no medicine for hindsight.
Since Nan Yu himself hadn't complained and simply wore an expression that said, This is for the mission, so I can endure it, Yu Lanfeng could only endure it as well.
Time slowly passed.
Meanwhile, the hospital had already begun preparing to send the two patients over.
There was still something bothering Nan Yu.
"Brother."
"They're just changing their faces and sending them back exactly as they are."
"Aren't they worried we'll examine their bodies and discover something wrong, then arrest them immediately?"
"They're exposing themselves far too easily."
Yu Lanfeng replied calmly,
"That's a gambler's mentality."
"They're betting that if they win, the rewards will be enormous."
"But if they lose..."
"They're only sacrificing four people."
"The two replacements."
"And the two spies hidden inside the transport team."
"Everyone else remains safe."
Nan Yu nodded.
"Exactly."
"They'll even learn from this failure."
"The next plan could become even more flawless."
"So this may actually be our best opportunity."
Yu Lanfeng nodded.
"That's right."
"When the time comes to replace you..."
"Move quickly."
"I know."
"I will."
Although Nan Yu had complete confidence in his own abilities...
He wasn't arrogant enough to believe he could safely escape after actually being kidnapped.
Following the original plan remained the safest option.
That way...
He would stay safe.
And Yu Lanfeng could finally stop worrying.
Still...
Perhaps this time he would finally get to see Yu Lanfeng fight seriously again.
Those flames...
He hadn't seen them for a very long time.
Back on the Capital Star, Yu Lanfeng rarely had any opportunity to use his Ability.
In fact...
Most Ability Users had to suppress their powers entirely.
The front lines were completely different.
Every day Nan Yu watched recordings from the battlefield.
Countless Abilities erupted across the screen like flowers blooming all at once.
Only then did he truly understand why Mental Power Users were considered physically weak compared to Ability Users.
Of course...
Ordinary people who possessed neither Ability nor Mental Power...
Actually had stronger physiques than Mental Power Users as well.
Nan Yu calculated the time.
"They should arrive in about a day."
"This time..."
"It has to succeed."
...
They quietly waited for the transport team.
Eventually...
Nan Yu received the notification.
He immediately stood up and headed toward the ward.
His substitute had already arrived beforehand.
The man was hiding inside the concealed lounge connected to the room.
Nan Yu entered through the main entrance.
Yu Lanfeng still couldn't completely put his mind at ease.
Instead of accompanying Nan Yu through the front door, he entered through another entrance and went directly into the hidden lounge.
There...
He remained together with Nan Yu's substitute.
The substitute practically wished he could fuse himself into the wall.
Wearing a mask, he looked more than ninety percent similar to Nan Yu.
Unless someone examined him carefully...
The difference was almost impossible to notice.
He had even mastered Nan Yu's tone of voice.
Combined with the similar appearance...
He was practically another Nan Yu.
Of course...
There was one enormous difference.
Nan Yu was a Mental Power User.
The substitute was an elite Ability User.
Anyone who had reached his current position possessed exceptional abilities.
He wasn't someone ordinary soldiers could compare to.
His combat strength was publicly recognized.
Which meant...
Even if he were kidnapped...
He could rescue himself perfectly well.
Nan Yu behaved naturally under the surveillance cameras, acting as though nothing unusual had happened.
He remained busy inside the ward alone.
A thick curtain separated the two hospital beds.
It completely blocked the view from one side to the other.
Originally...
They had planned to use two separate rooms.
But after thinking it over, they abandoned the idea.
If the two patients woke up and discovered they weren't together...
They might become cautious instead of acting immediately.
That would only delay the operation.
To ensure the enemy carried out their plan as quickly as possible...
Nan Yu's side had practically thrown caution aside.
The two impostors had to meet immediately.
Only then would they contact the hidden accomplices waiting in the shadows.
Only then would they attempt to kidnap him.
Nan Yu's thoughts were complicated as he performed the examination.
Sure enough...
The results matched the previous inspection exactly.
Everything remained identical...
Except for the faces.
If even he couldn't detect anything...
Didn't that prove the situation itself was abnormal?
Nan Yu pondered it repeatedly.
He had only just realized this issue.
So...
What should he do?
Continue following the original plan?
Or deliberately create additional trouble for them?
Unfortunately...
Only a handful of people currently knew the truth.
He didn't even know whom he should tell.
And perhaps...
Even saying it wouldn't change anything.
In the end...
Nan Yu decided to continue according to the original plan.
After preparing for so long...
They deserved to see whether it would work.
He began treating the patient whose condition was slightly less severe.
Whenever treating genuine members of their legion...
Nan Yu always tried to restore them completely in a single session.
If that wasn't possible...
He reduced their Mental Contamination to B-rank before eliminating the rest later.
For these two...
He had no intention of being so generous.
All he needed to do...
Was lower their Mental Contamination beneath S-rank.
So he stopped at precisely that point.
He reduced it to A-rank...
Very close to S-rank.
Close enough that they remained extremely uncomfortable.
But no longer insane.
Their judgment would inevitably deteriorate.
Which benefited the plan considerably.
It took Nan Yu four to five hours to lower the first patient's Mental Contamination below S-rank.
Soon afterward...
The man woke up.
His consciousness was hazy.
Almost immediately he tried to clutch his head.
Unfortunately...
He was still tied to the bed.
Unable to move, he could only force himself to remain calm.
Otherwise...
His current condition made thinking nearly impossible.
It hurt too much.
Previously...
He had remained mostly unconscious.
He hadn't felt anything.
Now...
The pain was overwhelming.
Nan Yu ignored him entirely.
Instead...
He returned to the lounge to rest before continuing.
One patient had already awakened.
If he immediately treated the second patient afterward...
His true ability would become obvious.
He had to put on a convincing performance.
Nan Yu remained inside the lounge for nearly sixteen hours.
Only after deciding enough time had passed did he return.
The first patient had his eyes open and was quietly watching him.
"You're awake."
"How do you feel?"
"You are...?"
Nan Yu narrowed his eyes slightly.
"I'm Nan Yu."
"I recently joined."
"You've probably heard my name before."
"So..."
"How do you feel now?"
The man shook his head.
"Doctor Nan Yu."
"I'm alright."
"How's my companion?"
"I'm about to treat him."
"You should rest."
"After he's finished..."
"I'll gradually remove the remaining Mental Contamination from both of you."
"It's alright."
"I can endure it."
"Please help him first."
Nan Yu didn't waste any words.
He walked behind the curtain and began treating the second patient.
This treatment also required four to five hours.
However...
To deliberately create the illusion that this patient required even longer...
Nan Yu intentionally slowed himself down.
This time...
He spent nearly eight hours before finally stopping.
Both men were now awake.
Naturally...
Nan Yu had already planted tiny Mental Power spheres inside both of their Mental Seas.
To put it bluntly...
Given their current mental condition...
If he detonated those spheres now...
The two of them would become complete idiots instantly.
The most important part...
They knew absolutely nothing about it.
Nan Yu smiled.
"You're both awake now?"
Since that was the case...
The curtain was no longer necessary.
He pulled it aside.
The two men immediately saw each other.
For a split second...
Both froze.
Then...
Their expressions instantly returned to normal.
The reaction had lasted only an instant.
If Nan Yu's Mental Power hadn't been extraordinarily sensitive...
He never would have noticed.
Pretending not to see anything, he said,
"I've consumed too much Mental Power."
"I'm going to rest now."
"You should both rest as well."
"Once I've recovered..."
"I'll remove the remaining contamination."
"Thank you, Doctor Nan Yu."
"You've worked hard."
"Please go rest."
"Don't exhaust yourself."
Nan Yu nodded.
Then turned and left through the side door.
Once he was gone...
The two men lay on their beds, frowning deeply as they spoke quietly.
"How are you feeling?"
"It feels like something's crawling around inside my head."
"It hurts like hell."
While speaking...
He casually made several subtle hand signals.
The other man clearly understood.
He pressed a hand against his forehead.
"Same here."
"It hurts terribly."
"Let's wait until Doctor Nan Yu removes all the Mental Contamination."
"I was thinking the same thing."
"In this condition..."
"We can't accomplish anything."
They were surprisingly disciplined.
Listening from the lounge while watching the surveillance feed...
Even Nan Yu had to admit they weren't stupid.
They understood perfectly well that they first needed all of their Mental Contamination removed.
Only then would they act.
Nan Yu took a deep breath.
"I'm definitely going personally."
"My substitute is an Ability User."
"He's strong."
"But he can't do my work."
He looked seriously at Yu Lanfeng.
After a long silence...
Yu Lanfeng finally agreed.
Since he would personally remain here...
Nothing could possibly happen.
"Tomorrow we'll remove their restraints."
"I'll have Yuan Qiyang accompany you."
"Sounds good."
"I'll definitely need someone's help."
"Yuan Qiyang is perfect."
"Though..."
"When they see him..."
"They might think..."
"If they're kidnapping me anyway..."
"They may as well kidnap the Crown Prince of the Empire too."
"That would become the biggest scandal in Imperial history..."
"...Alright, alright."
"I'm joking."
Yuan Qiyang was currently standing silently in the corner behind him.
Seeing that expression...
Nan Yu immediately became embarrassed and wisely stopped talking.
Time passed quickly.
Around halfway through the next day...
Nan Yu finally arrived.
Following closely behind him...
Was Yuan Qiyang.
The two men lying on the beds exchanged a natural glance.
Then they watched Yuan Qiyang remove their restraints.
"You can move around freely for now."
"Doctor Nan Yu needs to prepare a few things."
"Don't disturb him."
The two clearly recognized Yuan Qiyang.
Immediately after standing up...
They respectfully saluted him.
Ordinarily...
Yuan Qiyang would have stopped them.
But these two were different.
He calmly accepted the salute.
"Alright."
"Stretch your legs."
"I'll call you later."
"Yes."
The two supported each other while slowly walking around the room.
They probably had no idea how long they had been bedridden.
Nan Yu exchanged a glance with Yuan Qiyang.
Then he began pretending to prepare medical equipment.
In reality...
None of those things would actually be used.
Everything was simply to delay time.
About half an hour later...
Nan Yu finally announced he was ready.
The same patient from yesterday lay down first.
His companion occupied the other bed.
The curtain was drawn between them once again.
Neither could see the other.
It didn't matter.
They could still talk.
However...
While a Mental Power User manipulated someone's Mental Sea...
Ability Users shouldn't think too intensely.
Both men obediently remained silent.
Nan Yu looked at the head resting beneath his hands.
The man's body looked thin.
If he had truly been one of Yu Lanfeng's soldiers...
Nan Yu would have pitied him.
Unfortunately...
He wasn't.
Whenever treating genuine soldiers...
Nan Yu always used the gentlest possible method.
For these two...
There was no such kindness.
He directly used the roughest technique possible.
He gathered every trace of Mental Contamination inside the Mental Sea...
Crushed it violently...
Then dragged it out all at once.
It wouldn't actually damage their Mental Seas.
But...
Their heads would ache for several days afterward.
Which happened to coincide perfectly with the period when they would urgently need to contact the other spies.
Nan Yu managed his timing perfectly.
One and a half hours later...
He finished.
He deliberately appeared completely unfatigued.
"I still have enough strength."
"I'll remove yours as well."
"Once both of you are finished..."
"You can transfer to the ordinary ward."
"There are other soldiers there who recovered from conditions just like yours."
"You'll undergo rehabilitation together."
"When you've recovered..."
"The Marshal has special assignments waiting for you."
"Thank you, Doctor Nan Yu."
"I'll trouble you then."
Mental Power Users were also commonly called doctors.
Because of Nan Yu's special relationship with Yu Lanfeng...
Few people usually addressed him that way.
Hearing it now felt oddly refreshing.
Almost fun.
After removing every trace of Mental Contamination from both men...
Nan Yu suddenly looked embarrassed.
"Don't look at me like that."
"I'm not really that amazing."
"My Mental Power is simply a little stronger."
"Fundamentally..."
"I'm no different from any other Mental Power User."
"Doctor Nan Yu..."
"You're being far too modest."
"You're only a Mid-Tier Mental Power User."
"And yet you completely cured two S-rank patients."
"We've never even heard of such a thing."
"You've given us a second life."
"Thank you."
"We'll definitely repay you someday."
Nan Yu waved dismissively.
"No need."
"The soldiers who recovered before you will be here shortly."
"Follow them during rehabilitation."
"And come back every day for examinations."
"Understood, Doctor Nan Yu."
Soon...
Someone knocked on the ward door.
When it opened...
A large group entered.
Only then did the two impostors realize...
Every single person was someone they had seen previously at the hospital.
Every one of them...
Had recovered.
Not a single failure.
In other words...
Every Ability User treated by Nan Yu had been completely cured.
That only strengthened their conviction.
Nan Yu absolutely possessed the Nianshen Grass.
Otherwise...
How could he possibly accomplish something like this?
His own ability?
Impossible.
If Nan Yu had always possessed this capability...
Why hadn't he displayed it from the very beginning?
Why had his astonishing talent only emerged after entering the Black Night Forest?
The organization already knew exactly where Nan Yu had obtained the Nianshen Grass.
On the entire Capital Star...
There was nowhere else besides the Black Night Forest where such a treasure could exist.
Nan Yu had no idea what they were thinking.
"You arrived just in time."
"These two are new."
"Take them with you."
"Don't waste any rehabilitation time."
"Understood, Doctor Nan."
"We'll bring them back tonight."
Nan Yu shook his head.
"That's unnecessary."
"Come back tonight only for the routine examinations."
"I want to check both your physical condition and your Mental Power."
"Rehabilitation is enough during the day."
"You may leave."
His arrangement visibly allowed the two impostors to relax.
Then...
They quietly departed together with the others.
Afterward...
Surveillance over them became even tighter.
They obediently followed the rehabilitation schedule.
Everything looked completely natural.
Only Nan Yu knew...
Their S-rank Mental Contamination hadn't even lasted six months.
Although their bodies appeared thin...
They weren't genuinely frail.
They had deliberately reduced their body weight to reach that appearance.
Fundamentally...
They were completely different from the genuinely recovering soldiers.
Throughout the day...
They remained exceptionally well-behaved.
Whatever they were told to do...
They did.
Without a single complaint.
Nan Yu glanced at the time.
"That's enough."
"Bring them back."
Yu Lanfeng frowned.
"But once they're back..."
"They'll undergo another physical examination."
"They can't seriously intend to do nothing."
"That seems impossible..."
At that moment...
Nan Yu casually opened their basic records.
Then...
In the blink of an eye...
The information refreshed.
Nan Yu's eyes widened.
"Huh?!"
"Did you all see that just now?"
Yu Lanfeng and Yuan Qiyang had both been looking at the records together with him.
Of course they had seen it.
Someone had altered the files again.
Anyone capable of tampering with the legion's medical records...
Could only be someone inside the legion with medical qualifications...
And considerable skill.
Whether that person was male or female didn't matter.
The important part...
Was how unbelievably fast they had acted.
Nan Yu was certain...
If he hadn't happened to open those records at that exact moment...
They probably would never have noticed.
Then...
They would have arrested the two impostors immediately.
Although the operation still wouldn't have failed...
They would lose the chance to expose the hidden spies elsewhere.
That wasn't what they wanted.
Nan Yu blinked.
"In that case..."
"Let's pretend we never noticed."
"They want to delay time."
"So can we."
"The substitute is already prepared."
"And if they keep delaying..."
"They'll have to contact even more accomplices inside the legion."
Every accomplice they found...
Would be another traitor.
Yu Lanfeng intended to arrest every single one.
He had even prepared his own personal interrogation instruments.
This time...
He intended to use them himself.
It had been a long time since he had personally interrogated anyone.
He wondered whether his skills had grown rusty.
Perhaps...
He could even let Nan Yu watch.
Nan Yu noticed Yu Lanfeng staring at him.
"What?"
"You don't think pretending not to know will work?"
"Of course it will."
"We'll do exactly that."
"Everyone."
"Control your expressions."
"From now on..."
"Monitor every form of contact they have with the outside world."
"Even interactions with the other recovering patients must be watched carefully."
"Leave no loopholes."
"This time..."
"We're eliminating every spy in one operation."
"Understood?!"
"Yes, Marshal!"
By evening...
Nan Yu watched more than a dozen recovering soldiers enter one after another.
They lined up.
Each underwent a physical examination and body scan.
The results surprised everyone.
The last two patients...
The ones most recently treated...
Actually possessed the healthiest physical conditions of the entire group.
There was nothing anyone could do about that.
Ability Users naturally possessed extraordinarily strong constitutions.
They could deliberately lose weight to appear weak.
But...
Body scans could never completely hide the true condition of their physiques.
Fortunately...
That wasn't a problem.
After all...
Their S-rank Mental Contamination had been genuine.