Chapter 73: Disciple
According to Old Master Bai's thinking, the best possible outcome would be for Bai Zhouyun and Nan Yu to get married as soon as possible.
He had never expected that the grandson he had nearly given up on would suddenly come to his senses.
Still, this was a good thing.
At least it greatly reduced the risks on his side.
However...
He still had to continue making preparations behind the scenes.
It was just a pity that Nan Ming had run off again.
That brat was obviously afraid that he would come to discuss the wedding before he returned.
Still, it was understandable.
If Nan Yu had been his own precious grandson while Bai Zhouyun belonged to another family, he would have long since secretly sent someone to get rid of the boy.
He simply wasn't worthy of his precious grandson.
Unfortunately...
That disappointing grandson really was his own flesh and blood.
So there was nothing he could do.
"Hmph!"
Old Master Bai could only snort coldly.
"It's good that you understand. Behave yourself."
"This time, I won't keep watching you or controlling you anymore."
With that, Old Master Bai left the living room.
Only after he was gone did Bai Zhouyun finally breathe a sigh of relief.
Every time his grandfather appeared, the pressure he gave off was overwhelming.
Only after he had left did Bai Zhouyun slowly sit down to rest.
What a joke.
Back then, he either didn't care or was simply afraid.
But now...
He fully understood just how terrifying his grandfather truly was.
After all, someone who had once fought alongside the Emperor as a comrade-in-arms couldn't possibly possess only the strength he appeared to have on the surface.
Bai Zhouyun opened his contact list.
The very first contact was Yun Feiyu.
A faint smile appeared on his face.
So...
It was still the same as before.
He removed Yun Feiyu from the top of his pinned contacts before opening Nan Yu's contact page.
However, he didn't send a message.
He knew Nan Yu hadn't completely changed his opinion of him yet.
If he bothered him now, he would only make Nan Yu dislike him even more.
He also noticed Nan Yun's and Nan Zhen's contact information.
Those two were even harder to deal with.
The biggest reason, of course, was all the stupid things he had done before.
He had looked down on their precious younger brother.
Meanwhile, the two of them were utterly devoted younger-brother fanatics.
The way they treated him now...
He had only himself to blame.
Bai Zhouyun slowly stood up.
Not long afterward, his parents walked over.
"Son, are you alright?"
Bai Zhouyun nodded.
"I'm fine, Mom, Dad."
"I've figured things out."
"You've figured it out? Really?"
The corners of Bai Zhouyun's lips lifted.
"Yes."
"Xiao Yu has already become so outstanding."
"If I don't keep working hard, I'll definitely be left behind."
"I want to become a High-Tier Ability User as soon as possible."
"It's wonderful that you've come to your senses."
"If you ask me, you and Nan Yu are perfectly matched already."
"You don't have to push yourself so hard."
Bai Zhouyun shook his head.
"Mom, you can't say that."
"Right now, everyone says I'm not worthy of Xiao Yu."
"If I don't improve my strength as quickly as possible, then sooner or later I really won't be worthy of him."
"Oh my, how can you talk about yourself like that?"
"As far as I'm concerned, the two of you are perfectly matched."
"But if you're willing to work hard, that's naturally the best outcome."
"It's just..."
"Becoming a High-Tier Ability User isn't that easy."
"The money for regularly hiring a Mid-Tier Mental Power User to remove your mental contamination is being paid by your grandfather."
"Although he says he won't interfere with you anymore, deep down he still hopes you'll become successful."
"Hmph."
"They all say you aren't worthy of Nan Yu."
"When my son becomes a High-Tier Ability User, let's see who still dares to say that."
They said those words confidently.
But everyone knew exactly how difficult it would be for Bai Zhouyun to break through to High-Tier.
In truth, no one understood that difficulty better than Nan Yu.
That was precisely why he tried his best to avoid Bai Zhouyun.
Even in his previous life, becoming a High-Tier Mental Power User had nearly exhausted him.
Not to mention now.
Meanwhile, Bai Zhouyun still hadn't realized just how difficult the road ahead would be.
—
When Nan Yu returned home, he immediately saw Nan Yun and Nan Zhen sitting on the sofa in the living room with their arms folded across their chests.
They looked exactly like they were waiting to interrogate someone.
His very first thought was that Yang Zhou had sold him out.
Very good.
Very, very good.
He had actually learned how to tattle.
Still, it didn't matter.
Nan Yu was confident he could get through this.
"Big Brother, Second Brother, what are you doing sitting here?"
"Oh right, where's Brother Fu?"
Nan Yun answered calmly.
He didn't seem angry.
Thinking about it, that made sense.
Even if they were angry, it would be directed at Bai Zhouyun, not at their precious little brother.
"Old Fu went to investigate something."
"He'll be here soon."
Nan Zhen patted the seat beside him.
"Come here, little brother."
"We need to talk."
Nan Yu walked over and naturally sat beside him.
"Second Brother, are you asking about what happened outside Yang Zhou's residential complex?"
"I knew the news would spread quickly."
"After all, a lot of people saw it."
Nan Zhen looked somewhat embarrassed.
He hadn't even asked the question yet before Nan Yu had beaten him to it.
Still, embarrassed or not, he wasn't about to let it go.
"So..."
"Can you tell us exactly what happened?"
Nan Yu thought it over carefully.
If someone had really witnessed the scene, it would indeed have been easy to misunderstand.
Back then, whenever he quarreled with Bai Zhouyun, a scene like that would usually signal they were about to reconcile.
After organizing his thoughts, he finally spoke.
"He came looking for me."
"It was rather strange."
"He said he'd hired a special instructor to train him at home."
"He also bought a large amount of Ability Beast meat."
"And he said..."
"He wanted to become a High-Tier Ability User as soon as possible so he'd be worthy of me."
"I also heard he'd hired a Mid-Tier Mental Power User to stay at his house and remove his mental contamination whenever necessary."
Nan Yun and Nan Zhen exchanged a glance.
The alarm bells in their hearts reached their highest level.
"I see."
"So..."
"What do you think?"
"Do you think what he's doing is a good thing?"
Nan Yu looked puzzled.
"What does that have to do with me?"
"So what if he becomes stronger?"
"So what if he becomes better?"
Nan Yun hesitated before saying,
"Don't you think he's become rather... attractive?"
"He actually knows how to improve himself now."
"He doesn't even need someone else pushing him anymore."
"When he really becomes a High-Tier Ability User..."
Nan Yu interrupted him.
"When he actually becomes a High-Tier Ability User, we'll talk about it then."
"Besides, Dad is still away on a mission."
"Even if the Bai family wants to speed up the wedding, they can't do anything while he's gone."
"So..."
"I really don't understand what the two of you are so worried about."
"Instead of thinking about all this, you'd be better off spending more time training."
"What if Bai Zhouyun actually surpasses you one day..."
Nan Yun immediately shot to his feet.
"Are you kidding?"
"The two of us?"
"Get surpassed by that piece of trash?"
Nan Zhen also looked completely incredulous.
"Little Brother, don't say ridiculous things."
"That's impossible."
Nan Yu nodded.
"I know."
"I know."
"I was only joking."
"Alright."
"If there's nothing else, I'm going back to my room."
"I need to cultivate."
"The sooner I become a High-Tier Mental Power User..."
"...the sooner I can completely free myself from Bai Zhouyun."
"Don't you think that's a good thing?"
Nan Zhen nodded immediately.
"Very good."
"Of course that's a good thing."
"Go cultivate."
"We're heading off for special training too."
Only after returning to his room did Nan Yu quietly breathe a sigh of relief.
Perfect.
He had successfully gotten past his two brothers' questioning.
Meanwhile, Nan Yun and Nan Zhen were left feeling completely unsettled.
"Do you think it's true?"
"Those were Little Brother's real thoughts, right?"
"Of course they were."
"I don't think there's any problem."
"But earlier..."
"Didn't he seem to waver because of Bai Zhouyun?"
"What if Bai Zhouyun keeps talking to him?"
"Wouldn't we be finished?"
Nan Zhen waved a hand.
"It's fine."
"From now on, we'll brainwash Little Brother every single day."
"Everything will be alright."
Nan Yun nodded.
"Then let's go train."
"So we don't actually end up getting surpassed by that piece of trash like Little Brother joked about."
Nan Zhen snorted.
"As if that's possible."
What the two of them didn't know...
Was that in their previous life, Bai Zhouyun really had surpassed both of them.
Not only that, he had left them far behind.
And the greatest reason for that...
Had been Nan Yu himself.
—
Meanwhile, at the Capital Star's spaceport...
A Mental Power User stepped off a massive passenger starship.
Following behind him were no fewer than ten High-Tier Ability Users.
Judging from their presence alone, every one of them was exceptionally powerful.
Simply feeling the pressure they emitted caused everyone nearby to instinctively keep their distance, unwilling to invite trouble.
"Do you know where he lives?"
One of the attendants immediately replied,
"Young Master."
"You've only just arrived on the Capital Star."
"Your mental condition isn't at its best after the journey."
"If you challenge him now, it wouldn't be a fair match."
The young master snorted.
"So you're saying I can't beat him because I'm tired?"
"N-No, that's not what I meant."
"It's just that everyone's exhausted after traveling."
"Why don't we rest for a day before looking for him?"
"We're already on the Capital Star."
"He isn't going anywhere."
"I heard the Royal Military Academy has just started classes."
"He'll definitely stay on the Capital Star."
The young master thought about it.
"That makes sense."
"Fine."
"We'll rest first."
"Tomorrow..."
He glanced at everyone's exhausted faces before changing his mind.
"Forget it."
"You all look so tired."
"We'll rest for two days instead."
"Thank you, Young Master."
The young master secretly yawned twice.
Actually...
He wasn't resting because he himself was tired.
He was resting because everyone accompanying him was exhausted.
Yes.
That was definitely the reason.
—
Nan Yu peacefully spent another two or three quiet days.
During those days, Bai Zhouyun never came looking for him once.
Nan Yun and Nan Zhen had worried for nothing.
Even so, they remained constantly on guard.
After all, who knew when Bai Zhouyun might suddenly decide to come looking for Nan Yu again?
Nan Yu himself didn't find it particularly strange.
However, after school today, the person who came looking for him wasn't Bai Zhouyun.
It was Yun Feiyu.
After hearing from Bai Zhouyun that Yun Feiyu was about to be expelled, Nan Yu had promptly forgotten about it.
But now that Yun Feiyu was standing before him...
He remembered everything.
Yun Feiyu looked utterly dejected.
Standing timidly in front of Nan Yu, he shifted awkwardly from foot to foot, clearly wanting to say something but not knowing how to begin.
Originally, Nan Yu hadn't intended to pay him any attention.
But then a possibility suddenly occurred to him.
Yun Feiyu had most likely come to ask Nan Yu to accept him as a disciple.
For Nan Yu, that decision itself wouldn't matter much.
But for Yun Feiyu...
It would allow him to remain at the academy.
Not as a regular student.
But as Nan Yu's disciple, permitted to continue studying alongside the academy's students.
If he failed to meet the graduation standards, however, he still wouldn't graduate.
Moreover, there was a time limit.
If Nan Yu graduated before Yun Feiyu met the graduation requirements, Yun Feiyu would still be expelled.
He would receive none of the benefits given to graduates.
On the other hand...
If he accepted the academy's original arrangement and transferred to another school, he would at least become a teacher with an excellent salary after graduation.
Looking at Yun Feiyu standing there now...
Nan Yu already knew there was no chance he'd make the sensible decision.
He was probably still deeply involved with Bai Zhouyun.
How could he willingly leave the Capital Star?
Nan Yu frowned slightly.
"If you have something to say, say it quickly."
"If not, I'm leaving."
"I have things to do."
Just after saying that, Nan Yu suddenly remembered the incident in the game.
Seeing Yun Feiyu's pale complexion now...
It was probably because he'd been forcibly kicked out of the game, leaving his mental condition somewhat unstable.
But...
What did that have to do with him?
Yun Feiyu bit his lip.
"Student Nan Yu..."
"I..."
"I have something I want to ask you."
The corners of Nan Yu's lips slowly curved upward.
Should he let Yun Feiyu fail to stay at the academy and force him to accept the transfer to the teachers' university...
Or...
Should he let him remain here until Nan Yu graduated, fail to meet the graduation requirements, and then be expelled outright?
As far as Nan Yu was concerned...
Someone like Yun Feiyu was better kept where he could watch him.
That way, whatever Yun Feiyu did, Nan Yu would know about it sooner or later.
Other people might not understand such a decision.
But Nan Yu understood it perfectly.
Yun Feiyu gritted his teeth before speaking with great difficulty.
"I'd like to ask Student Nan Yu..."
"...to accept me as your disciple."
Nan Yu deliberately put on an expression of complete shock.
He abruptly straightened up.
"Y-You..."
"What did you just say?!"
His voice came out rather loudly.
Many students who hadn't walked far yet immediately turned toward them.
When they saw Nan Yu and Yun Feiyu together, the gossip-loving instincts inside them instantly flared up.
Especially Yang Zhou.
He had only just walked a short distance before spotting them.
He immediately ran over.
"Oh my god!"
"I've only been gone what..."
"Two or three minutes?"
"And you've already gotten tangled up with someone else again?"
Nan Yu looked at him speechlessly.
He wondered whether Yun Feiyu would really be scared off by just a few words from Yang Zhou.
Yang Zhou looked Yun Feiyu up and down.
"Oh?"
"So it's you."
"Yun Feiyu."
"Why are you blocking Nan Yu's way?"
"Shouldn't you be looking for that Bai scumbag instead?"
"What?"
"Did he abandon you because he's suddenly treating Nan Yu well now?"
"So why are you looking for Nan Yu?"
"Don't tell me you're here to ask him to give Bai Zhouyun back to you?"
"I'm telling you honestly."
"Our Nan Yu doesn't care about your Bai Zhouyun at all."
"You can go after him as boldly as you like!"
Before he could continue, Nan Yu grabbed his wrist, signaling him to stop.
No matter what...
The engagement between him and Bai Zhouyun still existed.
When it involved an official engagement, some things became awkward.
People could privately criticize Bai Zhouyun all they wanted.
But openly encouraging him to be with someone else was an entirely different matter.
Yang Zhou immediately realized his mistake.
He coughed awkwardly before changing the subject.
"Right."
"What did he come looking for you about?"
"He couldn't have come to persuade you on Bai Zhouyun's behalf, could he?"
"You didn't fall for it again, did you?"
What did he mean by "fall for it"?
Yun Feiyu felt miserable.
But he didn't dare argue.
After all...
He was the one asking for a favor.
Nan Yu shook his head.
"He didn't mention Bai Zhouyun."
"He came to ask me about becoming my disciple."
Yang Zhou blinked.
Then a grin spread across his face.
"Oh?"
"Seriously?"
"Yun Feiyu, are you serious?"
"I heard the academy gave you a final ultimatum."
"You have one week to make your decision."
"If you leave the academy, I heard they've arranged a really good place for you."
"So you're really not going?"
"Why insist on staying here?"
"You won't even be able to graduate."
"You'd just be wasting time."
"Anyone with a normal brain would choose the path the academy arranged for you."
Yang Zhou had made his meaning so obvious that anyone who still didn't understand could only be called hopelessly stupid.
Yun Feiyu's face turned crimson.
He looked as though he were about to lose his temper.
Yet he still held it back.
He merely stared stubbornly at Nan Yu.
Nan Yu deliberately looked troubled.
"Accepting you as my disciple..."
"Honestly, it doesn't benefit me at all."
"But it doesn't hurt me either."
"Even if you fail to graduate in the end, it won't affect me."
"But you'll lose the opportunity to attend the school that's most suitable for you."
"So..."
"Are you really sure?"
Yun Feiyu's eyes immediately lit up.
"Yes!"
"I want to stay."
"This academy is the best."
"I want to remain here."
"I'll definitely become strong enough to meet the graduation requirements before you graduate!"
Nan Yu rolled his eyes thoughtfully.
"In that case..."
"I suppose I could consider it."
"But I can't make a decision immediately."
"Give me two days."
"I'll give you my answer then."
Yun Feiyu was overjoyed.
In his eyes, Nan Yu's answer practically meant he had already agreed.
It had always been like this before.
As long as Nan Yu didn't reject him on the spot, there was an eighty percent chance it meant yes.
Nan Yu took a deep breath.
"Yang Zhou."
"Let's go."
Yang Zhou followed him in a daze.
Only after they boarded the hovercraft did he finally ask,
"Nan Yu..."
"You aren't seriously planning to agree, are you?"
Nan Yu glanced at him.
"Yang Zhou."
"Think carefully."
"Would it be better for him to follow the academy's recommendation and transfer to another school..."
"...or stay here as my disciple?"
Yang Zhou answered without thinking.
"Of course staying here would be bet—"
He stopped halfway through the sentence.
"Huh?"
"Wait..."
"Something feels wrong..."
He pondered it over and over before finally grasping the hidden meaning.
"Holy crap!"
"Nan Yu, you're incredible!"
"This really is killing without spilling blood!"
Nan Yu smiled meaningfully.
"So..."
"You figured it out?"
Yang Zhou immediately gave him a thumbs-up.
"Brilliant."
"That's absolutely brilliant."
"If Yun Feiyu transfers to that other academy, he really might make something of himself."
"But if he stays here..."
"He'll completely lose his value."
Both of them knew perfectly well that there was absolutely no way Yun Feiyu could meet the graduation standards before Nan Yu graduated.
When that time came...
He would simply be expelled.
And after being expelled, he would no longer have the chance to attend the academy originally recommended to him.
In the end...
He would gain nothing.
Perhaps Yun Feiyu had considered that possibility.
Unfortunately...
He still believed he wouldn't fail.
Besides, remaining at this academy made it much more convenient for him to stay close to Bai Zhouyun.
And...
He had actually come to beg his romantic rival, Nan Yu.
That alone showed just how much pride he had already swallowed.
—
After arriving at Yang Zhou's home, Nan Yu logged back into the game.
He began gradually familiarizing himself with the controls again.
After all, he had signed a contract with Yu Lanfeng.
If he couldn't play skillfully, wouldn't he be letting down the five percent profit share he'd been given?
The moment they logged into the main city, Nan Yu was flooded with private messages.
However, the system had already completed all the automatic transfers.
Most of the messages simply said things like:
"Thank you, Boss!"
"Thank you, Big Brother!"
Nan Yu opened the screenshots that the AI had neatly organized.
In the end, he saw that among those five bounty targets, the lowest level had already fallen to somewhere in the forties.
The highest had dropped into the sixties.
To achieve results like this in only a few days...
That was truly impressive.
Moreover, more than half of those kills had been made by the team of brothers.
The corners of Nan Yu's lips curved upward.
It seemed that as long as those people refused to admit defeat and kept logging into the game...
They would simply keep getting killed.
The only question was how long they could endure.
Yang Zhou soon appeared beside him.
Knowing Nan Yu was reading his private messages, he quietly waited without interrupting him.
Soon, however, he spotted a somewhat familiar figure in the distance.
Tilting his head, Yang Zhou stared ahead.
That was...
Nan Yu closed his private messages.
Seeing Yang Zhou standing there motionless without even blinking, he couldn't help wondering—
Had the guy fallen in love at first sight?
"Yang Zhou..."
"Yang Zhou?!"
Yang Zhou suddenly snapped back to reality.
"Huh?"
"What?"
"What happened?"
The first thing he saw was the meaningful look in Nan Yu's eyes.
"I was just wondering..."
"Who are you staring at so intently?"
"Don't tell me it was love at first sig—"
Yang Zhou spat several times.
"Pah, pah, pah! Don't say something like that."
"I wasn't looking at him because of that."
"I saw that person we met a few days ago..."
"You know, the one we met in the game..."
"The person standing beside him!"
Nan Yu thought for a moment.
The person they had met in the game a few days ago had been none other than Marshal Yu.
Which meant the one standing beside him had naturally been Crown Prince Yuan Qiyang.
"You saw him up ahead?"
"Is he alone?"
Yang Zhou nodded.
"Yeah."
"Should we go over?"
Nan Yu grabbed his wrist.
"Forget it."
"He must have important business to take care of."
"If we go over and interrupt him now, we might just end up wasting his time."
"Let's leave him alone and look around somewhere else."
Yang Zhou thought about it.
"Alright then, let's..."
"Huh?"
Nan Yu followed his gaze and turned around.
The corner of his mouth twitched.
That person was...
Yang Zhou narrowed his eyes.
"That's that guy, isn't it?"
Nan Yu's expression darkened slightly as he nodded.
"That's right."
"It's him."
"I really didn't expect to run into him here."
Yang Zhou frowned.
"What's he doing in the game?"
Nan Yu thought for a moment.
He still hadn't told Yang Zhou that Shui Zhongyou was actually Yun Feiyu.
Since he hadn't mentioned it before...
There was no need to bring it up now.
He might as well pretend he didn't know.