Chapter 104: To Be Continued
This matter only continued to escalate. Old Master Bai soon learned about it as well, and he was so furious that he immediately ordered Bai Zhouyun to be brought before him. But for some reason, after searching everywhere, they still couldn't find any trace of him.
"Where has that little bastard gone?! Go find him! If you can't find him, then don't bother coming back yourselves!"
Sitting in the seat of honor, Old Master Bai ground his teeth as he glared at the people below him. How had they come back empty-handed again? Couldn't they search more places?
Couldn't they ask more people?
Everyone hurriedly left the Bai residence in terror and began frantically searching for Bai Zhouyun's whereabouts.
Normally, it wouldn't matter much if Bai Zhouyun disappeared for a few days, as long as nobody was looking for him. But the problem was exactly that—someone was.
And not just anyone. It was his grandfather, who clearly wouldn't stop until he found him. That made the situation rather delicate. Even the two Mental Power Users assigned to Bai Zhouyun's residence had no idea where he had gone.
However, one of them did provide a piece of information.
"When Young Master Bai left, he told me that once he came back, he'd become much stronger. By then Nan Yu would definitely forgive him completely and be with him. Then he left."
Those exact words were relayed to Old Master Bai.
Who was he?
Even if he had never personally experienced such things before, he had lived long enough. If he still couldn't understand the meaning hidden behind Bai Zhouyun's words, then he would have lived all those years for nothing.
After hearing it, he sat silently in the living room for nearly half an hour before finally saying,
"That's enough. Stop searching. Call everyone back and have them return to their duties. That little bastard will come back on his own. The moment he returns, bring him directly to me."
"Yes, sir!"
"Then... what about everything on the news..."
Old Master Bai rubbed his temples.
He truly had a headache.
At first, he thought it might just be paid internet trolls manipulating public opinion.
But after investigating, they discovered that every single netizen participating in the discussion was real.
In other words, no one was artificially steering the conversation.
No one had hired people to smear the Bai family.
That trending topic had climbed to the top entirely on its own merit!
Old Master Bai sighed.
"I don't want to say anything else right now. Just contact Xiao Yu and see if you can reach him. It's been so long since we've spoken. I wonder how he's been doing."
Of course, Nan Yu had been doing very well.
Practically everyone who knew him knew that he had always been doing well.
But now, his fiancé—his future partner—had suddenly become the center of such an enormous scandal...
Almost everyone who knew about it believed their engagement was as good as over.
After all, Nan Yu was now recognized as the person most likely to become a High-Tier Mental Power User in the future.
Someone so outstanding and full of potential being paired with someone like Bai Zhouyun...
As long as they were citizens of the Empire, they simply couldn't accept it.
When Bai Zhouyun's relationship with Nan Yu had first become public, most people had supported Nan Yu, while a smaller portion believed Bai Zhouyun was simply a spoiled young master from a powerful family, and that being a bit playful was understandable.
But now...
StarNet was filled with curses.
Along with Bai Zhouyun himself, the Bai family that had raised him into what he was now was being cursed as well.
After all, when everyone was doing it, the law couldn't punish them all.
If it had only been one or two people insulting someone online, they could easily be tracked down and crushed by the Bai family.
But now nearly everyone discussing the topic was criticizing them.
Following the crowd and adding a few insults of their own didn't seem like such a big deal.
They simply didn't believe the Bai family would really hunt down every single person.
Even if the sky fell, there would always be taller people to hold it up first.
If the people spreading the news the widest or insulting them the most were actually retaliated against, then that would be the signal that the Bai family had begun their cleanup.
At that point, everyone else could simply delete their own comments and quietly hide.
Meanwhile, Nan Yu's daily life had become one where he was constantly surrounded by classmates chatting about one thing after another.
Everyone was trying their best to distract themselves.
As if, by doing so, they wouldn't have to think about Bai Zhouyun's disgusting affairs.
Had the Bai family taken action?
Of course they had.
If they didn't, the Bai family's reputation would be completely destroyed.
And honestly speaking, they had been wronged.
Because they genuinely had no idea that Bai Zhouyun was involved with Yun Feiyu.
Recently, Bai Zhouyun had performed exceptionally well.
He had worked hard and shown great determination.
Old Master Bai had even unfrozen his accounts and hadn't discovered any reckless spending.
He was serious at school.
After returning home, he devoted himself to special training.
He never slacked off.
Everyone in the Bai family who witnessed his efforts believed he had truly changed.
Or rather...
They believed he simply had no time to fool around with anyone else.
Yet despite all that, Bai Zhouyun had still managed to find time to fool around with Yun Feiyu.
They simply had no idea when.
Thinking it over, however, Bai Zhouyun always returned home immediately after school, so it could only have happened during school hours.
After all, classes weren't scheduled morning and afternoon every day.
Their entire weekly course load only amounted to three days of classes, scattered between Monday and Friday.
Some elective courses might be held on Saturday or Sunday, but there was still plenty of free time.
According to reports, Bai Zhouyun usually spent his time at the training grounds and never went anywhere else.
The Bai family had previously investigated and confirmed that this was indeed the case.
However, they hadn't kept people watching him continuously.
They had only observed him during the early stages.
Once they confirmed that Bai Zhouyun truly was working hard, they stopped monitoring him.
So now they investigated again.
This time...
The information they received differed from before.
Very differently.
"Bai Zhouyun kept it up for a while at first. There wasn't any problem. But later someone kept coming to see him. At first he refused, but eventually he started leaving with that person."
"The number of times they went out gradually increased, and they stayed out longer and longer. As a result, he spent less and less time training here. Just recently, he didn't come here at all for two straight weeks."
The person who gathered this information immediately reported back to Old Master Bai.
Old Master Bai took a deep breath.
"So that's how it is."
Instead of steadily improving through honest effort...
He had chosen shortcuts.
Did he really think shortcuts were so easy to take?
Hadn't he considered it?
If those crooked methods truly made people stronger without consequences, then among all the families superior to the Bai family—and even those merely equal to them—there were countless who could obtain those substances.
Even families somewhat weaker than the Bai family still had plenty of ways to acquire them.
So why didn't they?
There was naturally a reason.
Because they all knew how dangerous those drugs were.
Still, there was one thing Old Master Bai could understand.
Everyone else had already become High-Tier Ability Users.
Only Bai Zhouyun remained stuck as a Mid-Tier Ability User, unable to raise either his strength or his rank.
That was probably why, in a moment of desperation, he had made such a choice.
But no matter how much he thought about it now, it was useless.
Everything would have to wait until Bai Zhouyun returned.
Even with the Bai family's influence, there was simply no way they could locate Bai Zhouyun once he had fallen into the hands of that organization dealing in illegal drugs.
Bai Zhouyun definitely wasn't on the Capital Star anymore.
Those organizations were always extremely cautious.
There was no way they would conduct such a transaction directly on the Capital Star.
They would certainly arrange for Bai Zhouyun to leave the Capital Star in secret.
So even if they turned the entire Capital Star upside down, it would accomplish nothing.
No matter how furious Old Master Bai was, he could only endure it.
Until Bai Zhouyun came back.
Two days later.
Old Master Bai asked,
"How are things on StarNet?"
"Master, we've contacted everyone we could. Some cooperated, some refused. This is already the best result we can achieve."
At the very least, the topic was no longer trending.
However, discussions continued privately in countless places.
They had only barely managed to suppress it.
As for whether it would rebound...
No one could say.
Perhaps the very next moment it would surge back and climb onto the trending list again.
Old Master Bai was boiling with anger, yet his expression remained composed.
"That damned mutt still isn't back?"
His nickname for Bai Zhouyun had escalated from "that little bastard" to "that damned mutt."
It was obvious he had reached the limits of his patience.
Standing nearby, Bai Zhouyun's parents became increasingly anxious.
What were they supposed to do?
Neither of them was particularly capable, so they had always pinned all their hopes on their only son.
Things had once looked promising.
As a child, he had been sensible and obedient.
He had shown some talent in family management.
He had even become engaged to someone from the Nan family.
But as Bai Zhouyun grew older and his personality gradually solidified, he eventually became the useless waste everyone had known before.
If one had to point to the greatest reason for his transformation...
It was because every other child his age had become a High-Tier Ability User.
Only he remained unable to improve.
He had gone from desperately trying to work harder...
To becoming increasingly discouraged...
And finally giving up altogether.
Even so, one thing had remained unchanged.
His neglectful and indifferent attitude toward Nan Yu had always been exactly the same.
As for why he was now trying to cling to Nan Yu...
Everyone believed he had finally realized Nan Yu's true value.
But Nan Yu had already seen his true nature.
He would never cling to Bai Zhouyun again.
Now, more and more voices were demanding that Nan Yu's engagement to Bai Zhouyun be dissolved.
Basically, anyone who had discussed, participated in, or even merely seen the news on StarNet would say the same thing, whether online or in real life.
The Empire had to intervene.
How could such an outstanding Mental Power User possibly be paired with such a worthless scumbag?
That was what almost everyone who knew about the matter believed.
At the moment, Bai Zhouyun genuinely had no idea what was happening outside.
The thing he had gone there to obtain couldn't simply be taken away.
He had to remain under those people's supervision after using it and survive the initial dangerous period.
Only after they confirmed there were no dangers or side effects would they allow him to leave.
Most importantly, they needed to ensure that no drug residue related to their product remained inside Bai Zhouyun's body.
That process naturally took quite a while.
Perhaps because Bai Zhouyun's physical condition had improved recently, although it took some time, he was finally informed on the third day that he could leave.
As Bai Zhouyun walked out, the people escorting him secretly looked at him with strange expressions.
Whenever he glanced at them, however, they immediately looked away, pretending they hadn't been watching him at all.
Feeling the power of a High-Tier Ability User coursing through his body, Bai Zhouyun was overwhelmed with excitement.
Although he constantly felt as though someone was intermittently watching him, he paid it little attention.
A place like this naturally required constant surveillance.
Because of that...
He completely missed his chance to learn the truth.
Only after he was secretly escorted back to the Capital Star, after all those people disappeared without a trace in a very short time, did he finally open the door, leave the temporary residence, and head home.
He could hardly wait. Before the hovercraft had even arrived, he sent a communication request to Nan Yu.
At that moment, Nan Yu was still at Yang Zhou's house having dinner with him. Joining them for the free meal were Nan Yun, Nan Zhen, and Fu Yu'ang. The four of them were eating quite happily.
After dinner, Nan Yu was planning to remove their Mental Contamination once again.
But just then, his communicator rang.
At the moment, only he knew about it.
When he saw that the caller was actually Bai Zhouyun, he was a little surprised.
"Bai Zhouyun is calling me. Brother, do you think he knows his scandal has already been exposed?"
Nan Yun's cheerful expression immediately turned cold.
"He's probably calling to explain himself. Just hang up."
Nan Yu thought for a moment.
"I think I'll answer first. Let's hear what grand speech he has prepared. Somehow... I don't think he knows yet."
The moment he said that, Nan Yun, Nan Zhen, and Fu Yu'ang completely lost their appetites and all gathered around him to stare at the communication screen.
Nan Yu had no choice but to share the communication display with them.
Of course, on Bai Zhouyun's side, only Nan Yu was visible. The people sitting beside him couldn't be seen.
After the call connected, they saw Bai Zhouyun appear on the screen.
His eyes were bright, his spirits were excellent, and he looked...
As if he still didn't know.
If that was the case...
Then why was he calling?
"Xiao Yu, I've finally become a High-Tier Ability User! From now on I can finally stand beside you without always being overshadowed by you. Aren't you happy?"
Nan Yu fell silent.
Bai Zhouyun continued enthusiastically,
"I disappeared for several days without telling you this time. You must have been worried when you couldn't contact me, right? It's okay, I'm back now. Where are you? I'll come find you so we can chat."
Nan Yu remained speechless.
Bai Zhouyun smiled.
"You're not still angry, are you? Don't be mad anymore. From now on I'll only listen to you. How about that? If I ever break my promise, then let your brothers beat me up!"
Nan Yu was completely speechless inside.
Who are his brothers?
Sure enough, the instant Bai Zhouyun finished speaking, the expressions of Nan Yun, Nan Zhen, and Fu Yu'ang all became extremely ugly.
That bastard actually had the nerve to call them "brothers."
They genuinely wanted to crawl through the network and beat him half to death on the spot.
Bai Zhouyun rambled on and on by himself, but Nan Yu didn't say a single word.
He simply looked at him with a rather subtle expression...
One that even carried a trace of disdain.
If Bai Zhouyun still couldn't tell something was wrong at this point...
Then he was truly stupid.
"Xiao Yu, you don't look very happy. If something's bothering you, tell me. I'll definitely help you."
Only then did Nan Yu finally speak.
"Go check the trending page on StarNet. The news about you has climbed back into the Top Ten."
Then he immediately hung up.
Bai Zhouyun hadn't even reacted yet.
Before he could look up the news on StarNet, a communication request from his family came through.
Watching the topic climb back into StarNet's Top Ten trending list, Old Master Bai had finally reached his limit.
Rubbing his aching temples, he barked,
"Has he come back yet?"
"Yes, sir!"
"Where is he?"
"It seems he's on his way to see Nan Yu."
"Don't let him go! Bring him back immediately. If he refuses to return, tie him up and drag him back! I'd like to see just how capable he thinks he is now!"
Roughly fifteen minutes later...
Bai Zhouyun appeared in front of Old Master Bai.
On the floor.
He had been tied up tightly.
The restraints had originally been designed for Ability Users whose Mental Contamination had reached the peak of A-rank or even S-rank.
He couldn't break free at all.
"Grandpa... what exactly happened?"
Old Master Bai carefully sensed his strength.
He had indeed reached the level of a High-Tier Ability User.
Moreover, the drug's effect was unexpectedly excellent.
He looked energetic.
There didn't seem to be any side effects whatsoever...
Could it be...
His grandson had simply been unbelievably lucky?
After taking an illegal enhancement drug, not only had nothing gone wrong, but he had adapted to it perfectly?
"What do you think?"
"Take him for a complete physical examination first. Whatever needs to be discussed can wait until after that."
So Bai Zhouyun was dragged away once again for a thorough examination.
Every possible test was performed.
Nothing was wrong.
In other words...
Even if he insisted he had never taken any illegal enhancement drugs, the examination would support his claim.
There were no traces of the drug remaining in his body.
Perhaps it had already been completely metabolized.
That alone proved nothing.
Yet Bai Zhouyun showed absolutely no side effects.
Every part of his body...
Every organ...
Was in perfect condition.
It was almost as though...
He had originally become a High-Tier Ability User through normal means and had merely happened to consume the illegal drug afterward.
Once the drug had been completely metabolized...
There wasn't even the slightest clue left behind.
This type of illegal drug only worked on Mid-Tier Ability Users.
If someone had already been a High-Tier Ability User beforehand, it wouldn't have any effect at all.
And Bai Zhouyun's current condition made it appear...
As though he had successfully become a High-Tier Ability User entirely through his own effort and training.
Perhaps those few days away hadn't been spent taking illegal drugs as everyone suspected.
Maybe he had truly gone somewhere secluded to make his final breakthrough.
Even Old Master Bai was surprised as he looked through the thick stack of examination reports.
It was actually true?
There wasn't a single abnormality.
Had his grandson really come to his senses?
Bai Zhouyun stood nervously to one side.
By now, he had already learned everything that was happening on StarNet.
His heart was pounding.
He finally understood the strange look Nan Yu had given him during their communication.
Now he was worried about his grandfather's attitude.
He was also worried whether he could still win Nan Yu back.
And if he couldn't...
Then he would simply have to create an opportunity himself.
Old Master Bai threw the thick stack of reports onto the desk.
Smack!
The heavy documents hit the tabletop with a loud sound, instantly snapping Bai Zhouyun out of his thoughts.
Old Master Bai stared at him.
"Tell me honestly. What exactly were you doing during those three days?"
Bai Zhouyun had assumed his grandfather already knew everything.
But judging from his current attitude...
Perhaps he didn't?
Or perhaps he did know and simply wanted him to confess?
As if.
If confessing would actually help...
He felt he might as well struggle a little longer.
"Grandpa, before I left, I told one of the Mental Power Users at home that I was going to become a true High-Tier Ability User. I found a secluded place to make my breakthrough so I wouldn't be disturbed."
Old Master Bai looked at him skeptically.
"I'll assume you're telling the truth. Since you've already succeeded, answer one question."
"Where exactly were you staying?"
Bai Zhouyun had no psychological burden about answering that.
By now, the people there had certainly packed everything up and left.
Even if someone went to investigate, they wouldn't find any clues.
So he honestly gave the location where he had stayed.
Old Master Bai immediately ordered members of the Bai family stationed on that planet to investigate.
About two or three hours later, images from the location were transmitted back.
It was an abandoned and extremely secluded place.
If someone wanted to make a breakthrough, it was indeed an excellent choice.
Even if it had been destroyed during the breakthrough, there would have been no losses.
After all, nobody lived there.
Although Old Master Bai still harbored some suspicion, he was finally willing to have a proper conversation with Bai Zhouyun.
"Fine. I'll let this matter pass for now. But if you notice anything {N•o•v•e•l•i•g•h•t} wrong with your body in the future, report it immediately. Don't hide it. Understood?"
Bai Zhouyun obediently nodded.
"Yes, Grandpa."
Old Master Bai continued,
"That matter is over. The important issue now is what comes next. I assume you already know."
"Yes, Grandpa."
Bai Zhouyun knew he had indeed been careless.
At the time, he had only wanted to record the videos for fun.
Sometimes he and Yun Feiyu would spice things up a little by watching them.
He had never imagined someone could actually dig those videos out.
Which meant...
That person definitely knew he was already involved with Yun Feiyu.
They knew the two of them were living together somewhere outside.
They even knew it was near the warehouse district.
And that person had to be an extremely skilled hacker...
Someone capable of breaking into the warehouse network and copying the videos.
"So," Old Master Bai asked, "how do you plan to deal with this?"
Bai Zhouyun hesitated.
"...I don't think there's any way to deny it anymore."
"Of course there isn't!"
Old Master Bai snapped.
"It's already an undeniable fact. How are you supposed to deny it? Just admit everything, sincerely apologize, and issue a public apology across the entire network! Promise that you'll turn over a new leaf and properly stay with Nan Yu from now on!"
"And then casually let people learn that you've already become a High-Tier Ability User. Only the strong are worthy of someone like Nan Yu—the idol of the Empire."
But everyone understood one thing.
Even if Bai Zhouyun had truly become a High-Tier Ability User...
On the Capital Star, High-Tier Ability Users were everywhere.
That fact alone proved nothing.
Bai Zhouyun couldn't think of any better solution.
In the end, he could only follow Old Master Bai's advice.
First, under his grandfather's watchful eyes, he drafted a public statement.
The general idea was an apology.
He admitted that he had failed to resist temptation and beauty, causing something that never should have happened.
The rest consisted of one apology after another.
Every imaginable form of apology.
He repeatedly stated that he would continue seeking Nan Yu's forgiveness no matter how long it took.
His wording was extremely sincere.
He humbled himself in every possible way.
He placed himself in an incredibly, incredibly low position.