Chapter 87: Progress
Yu Lanfeng had taken him to see the starry universe inside the massive instance that had yet to be fully completed. In truth, even by the end of it, Nan Yu had never received any direct confirmation from Yu Lanfeng himself.
Maybe he had simply wanted to show him the project's progress.
Maybe he wanted to confirm the schedule for future testing.
Maybe he had simply wanted to show him the stars...
Yes, to express that he liked him.
But Nan Yu never received any confirmation from him.
That was simply how things were.
Lying in bed, Nan Yu took a deep breath and looked at the Nianshen Grass on his bedside table, the corners of his lips curling upward slightly.
Perhaps...
His life was only going to get better from here on.
Just two days.
In only two days, Bai Zhouyun had almost completely suppressed all the rumors circulating around the school.
At the same time, however, news began spreading that Yun Feiyu was planning to enter the entertainment industry.
Everyone found it rather awkward.
Yun Feiyu was a student of the Royal Military Academy of the Capital Star. He had turned down admission to better academies just to stay here and become Nan Yu's disciple.
Yet everyone knew that, with his aptitude, graduating was impossible.
In other words, he had practically sacrificed his future just to remain at the academy.
Originally, everyone thought Yun Feiyu had some hidden trump card.
Who would have expected that he actually planned to enter the entertainment industry?
It wasn't that they looked down on the entertainment industry, but...
A student from the Royal Military Academy entering show business...
That alone could practically be considered a scandal.
Fortunately, what comforted everyone was that if Yun Feiyu ultimately failed to graduate, the academy would not officially recognize him as one of its graduates.
That made many students feel much better.
Even so, plenty of students openly confronted Yun Feiyu and bluntly told him that, before he officially left the academy, he absolutely could not truly enter the entertainment industry.
In other words, if he really wanted to pursue a career there, he would either have to withdraw from school completely or wait until Nan Yu graduated and leave the academy alongside him.
Otherwise, it was absolutely forbidden.
If he dared ignore them, every one of them would use the influence of their families to make sure he was completely ruined and could never recover.
Yun Feiyu agreed without the slightest hesitation.
After all, this had only been a temporary solution Bai Zhouyun had come up with. He had never actually intended for Yun Feiyu to enter the entertainment industry.
Since this was merely a warning, Yun Feiyu wisely chose to comply.
Seeing him agree so readily, the other students naturally didn't continue pressing the issue.
As long as they didn't catch him.
But if they ever did...
It definitely wouldn't end so easily.
By the time Nan Yu heard about all this, it was already close to the scheduled release of the short video on that website—
the very excuse Bai Zhouyun had once used to deceive him.
Nan Yu actually took the time to watch it.
Sure enough, one of the people appearing in the video was Yun Feiyu.
However, his face was never shown clearly from beginning to end.
Only people who knew Yun Feiyu very well would recognize him.
Anyone unfamiliar with him would have no idea who he was.
As for the other person...
He could only be described as a slightly popular actor.
The entire short film revolved around him.
Yun Feiyu merely served as a supporting figure.
That was probably exactly the result they had wanted.
After all, to them, this whole matter was nothing but a humiliation.
In truth, although Yun Feiyu's abilities were poor and he had always dreamed of attaching himself to Bai Zhouyun, he had never once considered entering the entertainment industry.
His real goal had always been marrying into a wealthy family.
Especially a family like the Bai family.
Bai Zhouyun was the Bai family's only son.
Even if Bai Zhouyun wanted to marry an ordinary Mental Power User, the Bai family would probably never allow him to choose someone who had previously worked in the entertainment industry.
After all, anyone with half a brain knew just how chaotic that industry was.
Especially people from elite families like theirs.
The number of minor celebrities they casually played around with was beyond counting.
That was exactly why Yun Feiyu had initially resisted Bai Zhouyun's plan.
Fortunately, throughout the entire short film, his face never appeared clearly.
The video lasted five minutes.
He appeared for less than thirty seconds.
At most, viewers caught a brief side profile.
The rest of the shots showed only his back or similar angles.
Nan Yu and Yang Zhou watched the short film together in their classroom.
Yang Zhou let out a cold laugh.
"You can tell at a glance this was filmed at the last minute just for your sake. It's fake as hell. The male lead is some completely unknown actor who's apparently about to get shelved. Bai Zhouyun really went through a lot of trouble digging someone like that up."
Nan Yu twitched the corner of his mouth.
"Really..."
Yang Zhou suddenly called out,
"Nan Yu... Student Nan Yu!"
Nan Yu looked at him.
"What?"
Yang Zhou frowned.
"It's not about me. It's about you. Are you really okay?"
Nan Yu blinked.
"What exactly would be wrong with me?"
Yang Zhou stared at him.
"What do you think after watching this short film?"
Nan Yu shrugged.
"I don't really think anything. Why?"
"You seriously don't?"
Yang Zhou continued.
"If Bai Zhouyun or Yun Feiyu suddenly appeared in front of you right now, what would you do?"
Nan Yu's lips twitched.
"Huh?"
Yang Zhou urged him.
"Come on, answer."
Nan Yu frowned slightly.
He knew Yang Zhou was still worried about him, so he patiently replied,
"What else would I do? Didn't you already say it yourself? It's obviously something they filmed at the last minute just to fool people. Do I really look that easy to fool?"
"As far as I'm concerned, the two of them have probably already slept together in private."
"Disgusting..."
Yang Zhou stared at Nan Yu with wide eyes.
"..."
Only then did Nan Yu realize what he had just said.
But he didn't feel even the slightest bit guilty.
He wasn't the one who had done anything shameful.
Why should he feel guilty?
Yang Zhou cautiously asked,
"So... that's really what you think?"
Nan Yu looked completely matter-of-fact.
"Isn't that exactly what happened?"
Yang Zhou nodded.
"That's right. Actually, I think so too."
"Then what do you think about Bai Zhouyun?"
"The guy who already slept with Yun Feiyu but still keeps chasing after you, constantly insisting there's nothing between them..."
Nan Yu snorted coldly.
"Enough, enough."
"Don't mention him in front of me."
"He completely ruins my appetite."
Although Nan Yu's tone wasn't particularly pleasant, Yang Zhou didn't mind in the slightest.
What mattered to him was that Nan Yu truly seemed to have escaped from that scumbag Bai Zhouyun's trap.
"That's wonderful, Nan Yu."
"You've really moved on."
Nan Yu fell silent.
Yang Zhou couldn't help feeling a little regretful.
If he had known that learning Bai Zhouyun had slept with someone else would make Nan Yu completely give up on him, he would have told him long ago.
Then again...
If he had said it earlier, Nan Yu probably wouldn't have believed him.
Still, things had turned out very well.
Nan Yu turned his head and looked at Yang Zhou, who was gazing at him with an expression full of relief, almost like a proud old father.
A shiver ran down his spine.
"Well... it's about time."
"Let's go eat first."
Yang Zhou smiled broadly.
"Sure."
"Let's eat first."
Meanwhile, Bai Zhouyun genuinely breathed a sigh of relief.
After the short film was released, the rumors linking him and Yun Feiyu gradually died down.
Although there were still a few stubborn people insisting they didn't believe it and that everything looked fake, gossip had an expiration date.
So much time had already passed.
As for whether Bai Zhouyun and Yun Feiyu really had something going on...
Most people probably already had their own guesses.
Even if Bai Zhouyun truly had a relationship with Yun Feiyu, it was nothing more than fooling around.
Did anyone seriously believe he would give up Nan Yu and marry someone like that?
Of course not.
Bai Zhouyun looked back at Yun Feiyu, who was lying on the bed behind him.
The exposed skin of his neck and arms looked pale, soft, and slender.
But Bai Zhouyun knew perfectly well that beneath the blanket, every inch of his skin bore the marks he had left.
They had indeed slept together.
However, Yun Feiyu was a man.
As long as they never went through official medical procedures, it was impossible for them to have children.
That alone reassured him.
It was only for fun.
Yes.
Nothing more than fooling around.
Someone of Yun Feiyu's status had always been nothing more than entertainment to him.
Never someone to take seriously.
What he wondered now was whether, after Yun Feiyu became Nan Yu's disciple, Nan Yu would still tell him about the Nianshen Grass like he had in their previous life.
If Yun Feiyu also became a High-Tier Mental Power User...
Then Bai Zhouyun wouldn't have to struggle so hard anymore.
Yun Feiyu loved him so deeply.
By then, he would possess a High-Tier Mental Power User who depended on him wholeheartedly.
Although...
In the past, he had already possessed someone like Nan Yu.
Back then, however, he had been young and arrogant.
He had resented the engagement arranged by his family and constantly wanted to do something to express his dissatisfaction.
But because he had still been young, he had never truly dared cross the line.
That resentment only continued to build...
Eventually leading to what happened afterward.
But now...
There was still time.
Bai Zhouyun's gaze shifted toward the direction of the academy.
At this hour, Nan Yu should still be at school.
After thinking for a moment, he took a shower, cleaned himself up, changed into fresh clothes, and prepared to leave.
Just then, Yun Feiyu slowly woke up.
"Zhouyun...?"
He had only just awakened and was still a little dazed.
After everything they had done the previous night, he didn't even have the strength to get out of bed.
All he could do was lie there, quietly watching Bai Zhouyun.
Bai Zhouyun sighed.
He realized that he still couldn't bring himself to be cruel to Yun Feiyu.
After all, in his previous life they had been together for so many years.
And because of Yun Feiyu's deep devotion...
His love for him.
"I'm going back to school. There are classes this afternoon. I'll head to the cafeteria first once I get there. If you get hungry later, just order something to eat. I've transferred one hundred thousand credits to you."
"For now, bear with it. You know my grandfather cut a huge portion of my allowance. I can't give you too much right now. Later... once I become a High-Tier Ability User, everything will get better."
Yun Feiyu lay on the bed, the corners of his eyes still red.
"Mm. I'll listen to you."
What Bai Zhouyun liked most was exactly this side of Yun Feiyu—
an obedient lover who listened to everything he said.
That kind of lover suited his tastes perfectly.
It also satisfied his desire for control.
After arriving at the academy, Bai Zhouyun headed for the cafeteria.
Coincidentally, just as he reached the entrance, Nan Yu and Yang Zhou were walking out after finishing their meal.
Bai Zhouyun smiled at Nan Yu.
"Xiao Yu... what a coincidence. Finished eating?"
Nan Yu's expression remained indifferent, but he didn't immediately walk away.
"Mm. We're done."
"I see."
Bai Zhouyun smiled.
"Looks like I came at the wrong time. I was undergoing special training at home all morning. They didn't let me leave until noon. So the first thing I did after getting back to school was come here for lunch."
Nan Yu glanced at him.
"So what? During your special training, nobody prepared food for you?"
Bai Zhouyun chuckled.
"I left in a hurry. I don't really like what they prepared anyway. I actually prefer the food in the academy cafeteria."
"I see."
Nan Yu nodded.
"Then go eat. We're leaving."
Bai Zhouyun felt that Nan Yu's attitude toward him had improved considerably.
He silently reminded himself to wait a little longer.
Now wasn't the right time to bring up that matter.
He would wait another couple of days and see how things developed.
"Alright."
"I won't keep you any longer."
"I'll come find you when I have time."
Nan Yu simply waved his hand before leaving with Yang Zhou.
After they had walked some distance away, Yang Zhou surprisingly didn't say a single word.
It was almost as though they hadn't run into Bai Zhouyun at all.
Nan Yu looked at him curiously.
Yang Zhou noticed.
"What are you staring at me for?"
Nan Yu shook his head.
"Nothing."
"I just think it's strange."
"Me?"
Yang Zhou pointed at himself.
"What's strange?"
Nan Yu laughed softly.
"In the past, every time I exchanged even two sentences with Bai Zhouyun, you'd analyze those two sentences into dozens of hidden schemes about how he wanted to harm me."
"But today..."
"You didn't say anything at all."
Yang Zhou laughed.
"I wondered what it was."
"The fact that you can say something like that tells me you've really moved on."
"Besides..."
"The Nan Yu I know is very proud."
"No matter how much he loved someone, once that person had slept with somebody else..."
"They're dirty."
"And he would never shamelessly keep chasing after them."
Nan Yu nodded seriously.
"That actually makes a lot of sense."
"It sounds exactly like me."
Yang Zhou waved his hand.
"Enough joking."
"Let's go."
Peaceful campus life passed quickly.
Most of Nan Yu's time was spent casually dealing with Bai Zhouyun while devoting nearly all of his energy to communicating with the Nianshen Grass and cultivating.
Another half month passed in the blink of an eye.
The academy would soon begin another vacation.
Today, however, he had arrived at the military hospital for one final treatment session with Lan Feng.
In fact, Lan Feng had regained consciousness over half a month ago.
However, because of the secrecy surrounding this place, he wasn't allowed to have any communication with the outside world.
Nan Yu pushed open the door and entered the hospital room.
Lan Feng was reclining against several pillows.
"How are you feeling today?"
Lan Feng opened his eyes and smiled at Nan Yu.
"I feel great."
"I think I could go kill Ability Beasts right now."
Nan Yu smiled faintly at the gentle expression on his face.
"If you're talking about physically going out to kill Ability Beasts..."
"I can guarantee you could."
"But your Mental Sea hasn't fully recovered yet."
"So... I'm sorry."
"You still can't leave."
Lan Feng and Lan Yu looked almost identical.
But Lan Yu was like a firecracker—
the type that exploded at the slightest spark.
Even so, in ordinary times he remained calm, steady, and iron-blooded.
Lan Feng, on the other hand, was the very image of a refined young master.
Although the brothers resembled each other so closely, no one would ever mistake one for the other.
Still...
There was one undeniable fact.
Lan Feng was stronger than Lan Yu.
Whether in terms of personal ability...
Or managing a company.
After all, the Lan family's business empire had been built from nothing by Lan Feng himself.
Lan Yu had merely inherited that foundation and expanded it even further.
Then again...
Thinking about it that way...
Both brothers were actually extraordinary.
Nan Yu smiled.
"Today's your final treatment."
"After it's finished, I'll observe you for another two days."
"If everything looks good, you'll finally be able to go home and reunite with your younger brother."
A trace of anticipation flashed across Lan Feng's eyes.
"Thank you."
Nan Yu waved his hand carelessly.
"It's fine."
"You're paying me."
"I'm not treating you for free."
Lan Feng smiled faintly.
He knew perfectly well that if money alone could buy back his health...
He would never have remained bedridden for so many years.
The truth was that Nan Yu genuinely wanted to save him.
Otherwise, Nan Yu could simply have examined him, declared that nothing could be done, and walked away.
Once he recovered completely and reappeared before the public...
Who knew how all those Mental Power Users who had previously examined him would react?
There was one thing Nan Yu had never mentioned.
Lan Yu didn't know it.
But Lan Feng had vaguely sensed it himself.
At the beginning of his coma, before his Mental Sea had deteriorated so severely, he had still retained a faint awareness.
Only after more and more Mental Power Users came to examine him...
Did he gradually lose consciousness altogether and sink into true slumber.
He didn't want to tell Lan Yu.
If Lan Yu discovered that he himself had indirectly caused Lan Feng's injuries to become progressively worse...
He probably wouldn't be able to accept it.
Nan Yu looked at him.
"Ready?"
"This is the final treatment."
"It may sound formal, but it'll be exactly the same as before."
"Don't put any pressure on yourself."
"And don't be nervous."
Lan Feng smiled.
"I know."
"I'll leave everything to you, Nan Yu."
Nan Yu couldn't help feeling just a little proud.
"Mm."
Lan Feng lay back and closed his eyes.
Nan Yu finished his preparations before taking his seat beside the bed.
He placed both hands on either side of Lan Feng's head.
Then the final repair began.
His Mental Power slowly entered Lan Feng's Mental Sea.
This time, the Mental Sea was essentially completely restored.
Only a few extremely stubborn pockets of Mental Contamination still lurked in several hidden corners.
That was right.
The defensive layer surrounding Lan Feng's Mental Sea had actually been completely repaired several days ago.
The only remaining problem was these traces of contamination.
It wasn't that such a small amount posed no danger.
These remnants were extraordinarily stubborn.
Nan Yu suspected they were the true culprit behind the destruction of Lan Feng's Mental Sea.
They had likely once possessed a very unusual toxicity.
Now that toxicity had long since been exhausted.
What remained were merely the residues.
Having fused together with the Mental Contamination, they had become exceptionally difficult to remove.
Ordinary Mental Contamination could usually be completely purified after one or two treatments.
But these...
If an ordinary Mental Power User attempted the job, even after ten or so treatments there would probably still be residue left behind.
Which was exactly why someone as professionally skilled as Nan Yu had to handle it.
The truly difficult part had been the first several treatments.
Each time he removed the contamination, it was like slowly scraping away layers one tiny piece at a time.
Watching it was almost pitiful.
Fortunately...
This was the last time.
Nan Yu took a deep breath.
"I'm starting."
Only the final traces remained.
With one concentrated effort, Nan Yu completely cleared them away.
Since so little remained, the process was relatively quick.
Only two hours passed before it was over.
Nan Yu exhaled deeply, withdrew his Mental Power, and lowered his hands.
"Done."
"No problems."
"How do you feel?"
Lan Feng remained lying on the bed with his eyes half closed, looking utterly relaxed.
"Mm..."
"I don't think I've ever felt this comfortable in my entire life."
"Thank you..."
Nan Yu rolled his eyes.
He had already said he was charging money.
Why keep thanking him?
Still...
This time he didn't argue.
Because even if he accepted payment, besides himself, there wasn't another Mental Power User capable of taking on Lan Feng's commission and succeeding.
"Alright."
"Get some proper rest these next two days."
"As long as I come to the hospital, I'll stop by to check on you."
"I'll examine you again."
"Once I confirm everything is completely fine..."
"They'll knock you unconscious and send you home."
Lan Feng froze slightly.
Knock him unconscious?
Well...
This place was highly classified.
Being knocked out before being escorted away actually sounded perfectly reasonable.
"Understood."
Nan Yu nodded.
"Alright."
"I'm leaving then."
He was rather tired himself.
Not just today.
The past several weeks had been exhausting.
The vacation was approaching, and before it began, the academy would also hold a relatively small promotion assessment.
After all, students advancing to the next year naturally had to pass an evaluation.
The assessment was quite friendly toward Mental Power Users.
Since their numbers were small.
For Ability Users, however, the requirements were much harsher.
Nan Yu wondered whether Bai Zhouyun would manage to advance this time.
If he failed to meet the standard...
He would have to repeat the year.
Watching all of his former classmates move up together...
While only he was left behind to spend another year studying alongside the new students...
Just imagining it was amusing enough.
Nan Yu truly wanted to witness such a scene.
He walked through the secret passage.
Seeing that he still had some time left, he decided to stroll around the hospital.
He had heard that a batch of soldiers and officers suffering from severe Mental Contamination had recently been transferred from one of the border regions and were currently receiving emergency treatment.
The most critical cases had already undergone an initial purification by Nan Yu some time ago.
They were now able to maintain their sanity.
After Nan Yu's preliminary purification, the remaining contamination could be completely handled by the hospital's Mental Power Users.
So there was no need for Nan Yu to personally do everything himself.
He made a round through the emergency ward.
Finding no urgent situations, he breathed a sigh of relief and prepared to head toward the staff lounge for a break.
Everyone he passed respectfully greeted him.
Nan Yu nodded politely in return.
This was what happened when someone possessed enough ability.
Everyone naturally respected them.
Just as Nan Yu was about to leave, someone called out to him.
He looked over.
It was another Mental Power User.
He vaguely remembered seeing him before, but couldn't remember who he was.
He seemed to be responsible for another ward.
Why was he here?
"You're..."
The newcomer twitched the corner of his mouth.
"Nan Yu, hello."
"I'm Wu Qin."
"We haven't seen each other for a while, but we still work in the same hospital."
"We run into each other all the time."
"I didn't think remembering my name and face would be that difficult."
Nan Yu awkwardly rubbed the corner of his mouth.
"Oh."
"I remember now."
"You're the Mental Power User who never got along with Qiao Yu."
What kind of description was that supposed to be?
Wu Qin sighed.
He looked extremely reluctant, but his tone was unusually sincere.
"Nan Yu..."
"I actually have a patient."
"Something about him feels... wrong."
"Could you come take a look?"
Nan Yu frowned slightly.
Wu Qin cared deeply about his pride.
Unless the situation was genuinely serious, he would never ask Nan Yu for help.
Without wasting another second, Nan Yu followed Wu Qin toward the other ward.
The moment they entered that section of the hospital...
Nan Yu froze in shock when he saw Yu Lanfeng standing there.
The Marshal...?!
Why was he here at this moment?!