Chapter 57: Success
Everyone could clearly see the exhaustion on Nan Yu's face. Yu Lanfeng walked over.
"Thank you for helping him. He's a good soldier."
Nan Yu raised an eyebrow slightly.
"You don't need to thank me for that. Senior Liu entrusted me with this."
In other words, it wasn't the legion that had invited him. Zhang Yun was a good soldier, but after he was injured, only those closest to him truly worried about him.
Of course, Nan Yu wasn't saying the legion didn't care about injured soldiers. After all, all the medical resources in this hospital were completely free for members of the legion.
That was already doing more than enough.
Most other legions only provided treatment, and even then, it often wasn't free, especially for those who were heavily injured or on the verge of death.
If someone like Zhang Yun had been unlucky enough to end up in a legion with poor morals, he might have simply been thrown into some forgotten corner and left to fend for himself.
Nan Yu smiled.
"And this is something I should do. Thanking me like this is a bit too formal."
Yu Lanfeng didn't continue the topic.
"You look exhausted. Do you want to rest here? Going home is fine too. The road will be safe."
Nan Yu suddenly recalled how quiet the journey here had been.
He hadn't thought much about it before, but now he found it strange.
Why was the phrase "the road will be safe" coming from Yu Lanfeng?
Was he planning to have someone escort him back?
Wait.
His gaze shifted to Nan Yun and Nan Zhen.
Both brothers immediately became guilty and looked away.
Nan Yu became angry.
"What are you hiding from me?!"
Nan Yun reluctantly answered,
"It wasn't us. Dad hid it from you. Last night he talked with an officer from Marshal Yu's talent recruitment department for a long time. In the end, he sent him away smiling. They definitely reached some sort of secret agreement."
Nan Yu turned his gaze to Yu Lanfeng.
Recruiting him, but not even informing him?
Yu Lanfeng himself was stunned.
He didn't know either.
His people had recruited Nan Yu, but no one had informed Nan Yu personally?
"My apologies. My subordinates acted without enough consideration. Once I—"
Nan Yu quickly interrupted him.
"Forget it, forget it. Dad probably saw that I needed to work here for several days and didn't want to pressure me or distract me. He probably intended to tell me after I got home."
"And last night I went to bed early to prepare for today. Even if that person came to our house, he wouldn't have seen me. Dad and my brothers definitely wouldn't have let him disturb me."
"So it's all just a coincidence. Your soldiers are all diligent and conscientious. You can't punish them over a small matter like this. It'll chill their hearts."
Yu Lanfeng found it somewhat amusing.
He knew that already.
He had only planned to make the person apologize in person and leave the matter there.
It wasn't as though he planned to punish him severely.
As for "chilling hearts," he didn't need Nan Yu to teach him such things.
Still...
For some reason, Nan Yu's serious lecturing just now actually felt rather pleasant.
Perhaps this was why so many Ability Users wanted to get married.
Having someone who could keep you in check.
What Nan Yu didn't know was that Marshal Yu actually had quite a lot of inner thoughts.
Yu Lanfeng smiled.
"Thank you."
Nan Yu was embarrassed by such a serious expression of gratitude.
"Uh... it was nothing. I just said it casually."
"Those doctors are going in to check on Senior Zhang's condition, right? Then I won't delay them. I'll leave first."
Yu Lanfeng said,
"There are special rest rooms on the top floor. You can rest there. It's one hundred percent safe."
Even if it hadn't been one hundred percent before, with him present, it certainly was now.
Nan Yu actually wanted to go home.
But Nan Yun and Nan Zhen both strongly agreed with Yu Lanfeng.
"That's right, Little Brother. Since the Marshal says so, just rest here. We'll contact Dad."
Fortunately, the person asking him to stay was the Marshal himself.
If it had been anyone else, their father would've skinned them alive.
Nan Yu awkwardly smiled.
"Then... I guess I'll rest here for a while."
When he entered the room upstairs, Nan Yu found it very well furnished.
But unfamiliar places were unfamiliar places.
He thought he might not be able to sleep.
He was quickly proven wrong.
Not long after lying down, he fell asleep.
Meanwhile, Nan Yun and Nan Zhen were quietly communicating with Nan Ming in the living room outside.
"Dad, we're still at the hospital."
Nan Ming asked,
"When are you coming back?"
"Little Brother is exhausted. He's sleeping in a top-floor rest room."
Nan Ming frowned.
"Is he alright?"
"He's fine, just tired. The Marshal said there were rest rooms, so he let him stay."
Nan Ming paused.
"The Marshal?"
Then he reacted.
"Right. That hospital belongs to the legion. It's not strange for the Marshal {N•o•v•e•l•i•g•h•t} to appear there."
"You met him?"
Nan Yun nodded.
"Yeah. We ran into him immediately, and he stayed outside the room with us until Little Brother finished."
"Seeing how tired Little Brother was, he let him rest here."
"Dad, do you think the Marshal is interested in Little Brother?"
Nan Ming nearly spat out his tea.
"What nonsense are you talking about?"
"What interest? Tell me, what kind of interest could the Marshal possibly have?"
"Don't forget your little brother still has that troublesome engagement. With the Marshal's character, how could he openly pursue an engaged Mental Power User?"
Nan Yun narrowed his eyes.
"Dad, I just said the Marshal likes Little Brother. I didn't say he was pursuing him."
Nan Ming froze.
Thinking about it carefully, that really was possible.
Otherwise, according to the Marshal's usual style, he should've left immediately after Nan Yu entered the room.
But he had stood outside for so long...
Could it be because he wanted to evaluate—
Right!
The Marshal definitely knew his legion was recruiting Nan Yu.
This had simply been a perfect opportunity to assess Nan Yu's abilities.
Feeling that he had grasped the truth, Nan Ming glared at his two foolish sons.
"Enough. Stop imagining things."
"From now on, everyone in this family except Xiao Yu needs to keep a low profile."
"If you go outside spreading nonsense, I'll break your legs."
Hearing such words spoken in such a calm tone was terrifying.
"Yes, Dad."
They were only joking among family members anyway.
They had no intention of telling anyone else.
Meanwhile, Yu Lanfeng was listening to the doctors' report.
"Marshal, Soldier Zhang Yun's condition has improved. His Mental Contamination has decreased considerably."
"He was previously stuck at a critical point and in a strange balance, so nobody dared intervene."
"Nan Yu has effectively given us a breakthrough. From now on, with our hospital's Mental Power Users taking over, his Mental Sea should fully recover in three to six months."
Yu Lanfeng asked,
"If Nan Yu treated him instead, how long would it take?"
The doctor considered.
"Judging from today, perhaps around two months. Of course, if he performs even better, it could be faster."
Liu Gan, who had been standing in the background, finally relaxed.
Whether they entrusted the matter to the hospital or to Nan Yu, it was only a matter of time.
At most, within half a year, Zhang Yun would recover.
Once his Mental Sea recovered, he could begin restoring his body and undergoing special combat training.
Liu Gan had already become Zhang Yun's superior.
He wondered how Zhang Yun would react after waking up.
"Liu Gan!"
He immediately snapped back.
"Marshal!"
Yu Lanfeng understood his excitement and didn't comment on his absent-mindedness.
"Zhang Yun is your partner. We've decided to leave his future treatments to Nan Yu. Since you are the one who entrusted him, it's more appropriate for you to discuss this."
"Of course, the hospital still needs to observe and monitor him."
"I hope you'll tell Nan Yu that we won't disturb him during treatment, but outside of work hours, we'd like him to communicate with the doctors here."
The doctor beside him added,
"Many Mental Power Users stationed here for years would also like to communicate with him. If it's convenient..."
"Naturally, we'll compensate him. He's working so hard."
Liu Gan asked,
"How much?"
The doctor froze.
If Liu Gan passed along the request and Nan Yu asked about payment, saying "I don't know" would be awkward.
"Ten million credits. Marshal, what do you think?"
Ten million?
It wasn't even enough to buy one of the two machines attached to Zhang Yun.
Yu Lanfeng, however, had almost no concept of money.
Credits were just numbers.
He bought whatever he wanted without paying attention to the price.
Most of his life had been spent focused on war and the legion.
Long ago, he had become insensitive to money.
"I've invested quite a lot into the hospital over the years, haven't I?"
The doctor froze.
"Yes, Marshal. Then... thirty million credits!"
Yu Lanfeng frowned.
He still thought it sounded too little.
But judging from the doctor's expression, it already seemed quite high.
In that case, thirty million it was.
He looked at Liu Gan.
"You understand?"
Liu Gan nodded dumbly.
His own commission had only cost five million credits.
The Marshal truly deserved to be called the wealthiest legion commander.
Generous indeed.
Just for such rewards alone, Nan Yu would probably join their legion eventually.
Meanwhile, Nan Yu was sleeping soundly, completely unaware.
After finishing his instructions to Liu Gan, Yu Lanfeng finally left.
He had stayed too long.
As for Nan Yu...
His eyes narrowed slightly.
They would definitely meet again.
About ten minutes after his hovercraft departed, another hovercraft landed.
The Empress descended and hurried into the hospital.
She immediately grabbed the director.
"Where's Marshal Yu?"
"The Empress?! The Marshal already left."
She stared blankly.
"Huh? W-when?"
"Over half an hour ago. He's probably already far away."
The Empress instantly became dejected.
The director used the opportunity to slip away.
If he said the Marshal had only left a few minutes ago, she would definitely chase after him.
And if she caught him, who knew whether the Marshal would later come looking for trouble?
So he had told a tiny lie.
That wasn't a big deal, right?
Although disappointed, the Empress soon learned that Nan Yu was in the hospital.
Her spirits immediately lifted.
After tidying herself up carefully, she prepared to meet him.
After all, Nan Yu was the Mental Power User she had already decided to snatch for her younger brother.
Naturally, she had to treat him seriously.
Nan Yu slept in the inner room while Nan Yun and Nan Zhen rested in the living room.
Neither expected the Empress to suddenly appear.
By the time the director learned of it, she had already reached the door.
After adjusting her appearance, she ordered someone to knock.
But no matter how long they knocked, nobody answered.
Just then, the director arrived.
Perfect timing.
"Your Majesty, Nan Yu isn't resting in this room. He's in the room next door. And he's probably still sleeping."
"So..."
If she went now, Nan Yu would definitely be woken up to receive her.
The Empress thought for a moment.
Then she decided to show consideration.
"Open this room instead. I'll rest here. Once the child wakes up, inform me."
"No problem."
The director quickly opened the room and then contacted Liu Gan as fast as possible.
Liu Gan was downstairs.
He planned to discuss the Marshal's request after Nan Yu woke up.
Watching his lover, whose complexion had already improved and whose Mental Sea was stabilizing, he felt as sweet as if he'd eaten honey.
Just a little more time.
Everything would definitely be alright.
When he heard the news, he was stunned.
"The Empress herself?"
"Yes."
"She's waiting next door upstairs?"
"Yes."
"And after Nan Yu wakes up, she wants him informed because she wants to see him?"
"Exactly."
Liu Gan blinked.
"So what?"
The director was stunned.
Right.
What problem was there?
The Empress probably just treasured talent!
Feeling enlightened, he relaxed.
"When you talk to Nan Yu later, tell him about it."
"No problem."
When Nan Yu woke up, it was already evening.
He washed his face with cold water and walked into the living room while stretching.
His two brothers and Liu Gan were there.
"Awake?"
Nan Yu immediately noticed their strange expressions.
"What happened?"
Liu Gan first repeated the Marshal's proposal.
Nan Yu thought for a while.
"I don't mind, but don't forget. Those instructors and seniors who were with you are still waiting."
Liu Gan remembered.
Nan Yu smiled.
"I already promised them."
"I can't postpone everyone just to focus on Senior Zhang."
"As far as I know, even if I do nothing, the hospital can restore him."
"But they said it'll take three to six months."
"That makes things even easier."
"There are only four people ahead of him."
"It'll take me about half a month to finish with them."
"Then I'll come here and help."
"By then, no one will have anything to complain about."
Liu Gan brightened immediately.
"That's true. Let the hospital take care of him in the meantime."
Nan Yu stretched.
"It's already so late. We should go home. Dad must be worried."
More than worried!
Nan Yun immediately sat him down.
"Don't rush."
"Dad couldn't wait and already came."
Nan Yu blinked.
"Then let's go home together."
Nan Yun stopped him again.
"Actually... there's another person in the next room."
Nan Yu immediately realized that this was the source of their strange expressions.
"Enough with the suspense. Who is it?"
Could Yu Lanfeng still be here?
Nan Yun answered,
"The Empress."
Ah?
Silence filled the room.
After several seconds, Nan Yu finally spoke.
"The Empress?"
"The one I'm thinking of?"
Nan Yun nodded.
"Exactly."
"Is she discussing something with Dad?"
"We don't know."
"We weren't allowed inside."
"Maybe you should go take a look?"
They had heard that the Empress came to catch the Marshal, but he escaped first.
After discovering Nan Yu was here, she insisted on seeing him and had waited until nightfall.
It was either something very good...
Or something very bad.
Could the Emperor have sent the Empress to warn the Nan family not to dissolve the engagement with the Bai family?
If that was the case, then things would truly be troublesome.
Nan Yu frowned.
He couldn't understand the reason.
Surely...
She wasn't here to play matchmaker between him and Marshal Yu?