Chapter 175: Planning
Nan Yu looked out the window. It was already very late, and he felt a little troubled because he had no idea where Yu Lanfeng had gone. Qin Wenxing had said that he seemed to be handling the matter involving Wu Zhengting and Wu Qinhao, negotiating with the people sent by the Imperial Family.
Nan Yu had originally wanted to go over and take a look, but after thinking it through, he decided against it. Since they were dealing with official business, it was better not to interrupt them.
So he stayed in the office and helped Yu Lanfeng process some paperwork. He merely glanced through the more important documents and set them aside, while signing and approving the less important ones before sending them off for execution.
For some reason, he suddenly felt uneasy.
But no matter how much he thought about it, he couldn't figure out what he had overlooked.
"Forget it. I'd better finish this work first. Otherwise, when he gets back, he'll have to spend ages dealing with all of it..."
By the time Yu Lanfeng returned, five hours had passed.
Nan Yu had just finished handling everything that he was both authorized and capable of dealing with. After studying under Yu Lanfeng for so long, managing this kind of paperwork was no longer a problem for him.
After returning, Yu Lanfeng spent only a few minutes reviewing what Nan Yu had processed.
"There aren't any problems. I'll finish the rest in another half hour. Go get some rest first. I'll come find you afterward."
Nan Yu nodded.
"Got it. I'm going to check on the patients in the ward. Two new patients were admitted over the last couple of days. Their conditions are rather serious, so I've been observing their recovery."
After saying that, he stood up and left the office to Yu Lanfeng before heading toward the ward.
The two soldiers lying there were said to be the very first patients in the rear military hospital whose Mental Contamination had reached S-rank. Their hospitalization dated back almost exactly to when the troupe had first been established.
That alone showed just how terrible their conditions truly were.
Nan Yu had taken a certain risk when he chose to treat these two patients.
Yu Lanfeng hadn't intended to agree at first, but Nan Yu had promised to treat them one at a time instead of consecutively, and only then had Yu Lanfeng reluctantly consented.
The first patient had been treated the day before yesterday, with his Mental Contamination reduced to B-rank.
For an Ability User, that level was still acceptable.
After remaining unconscious for such a long time, if all of his Mental Contamination were removed at once, his originally hyperactive Mental Sea would abruptly become completely calm. There was a very real possibility that he would never wake up again.
Keeping his Mental Contamination at B-rank provided just enough stimulation for his Mental Sea to begin repairing itself naturally.
That would give him a much better chance of recovering and eventually regaining consciousness.
Nan Yu walked over to the first patient's bedside and began another examination.
He discovered that the patient's Mental Sea, which had been utterly calm after most of the contamination had been removed, had now regained a faint trace of vitality.
His Mental Sea had gradually begun becoming active again.
It was slowly resisting the small amount of remaining Mental Contamination while also taking advantage of every tiny opportunity to repair itself.
Although the progress was incredibly slow, Nan Yu knew this was an excellent sign.
At this rate, the man would probably regain consciousness in about a month.
As for rehabilitation afterward, it was still impossible to estimate. They would have to wait until he woke up before assessing his recovery.
The situation on this side looked promising.
Unfortunately, the patient lying in the neighboring bed wasn't doing nearly as well.
Yesterday, Nan Yu had removed most of this man's Mental Contamination as well, leaving it just above the threshold of B-rank to stimulate his Mental Sea into recovering after enduring S-rank contamination for so long.
But after an entire night had passed, the results were disappointing.
It wasn't that there had been no improvement whatsoever...
Nan Yu frowned slightly.
After recording the patient's condition, he muttered to himself,
"If it still doesn't work in the end... then I'll have to replenish his Mental Sea with my own mental power."
It was certainly possible.
However, a Mental Power User's mental power belonged entirely to themselves.
Giving away part of it...
...was fundamentally different from what Nan Yu had done by placing that small sphere of his mental power inside Zhou Ziyu's Mental Sea.
The sphere in Zhou Ziyu's Mental Sea had merely been temporarily separated. It still belonged to Nan Yu and could eventually return.
But using his own mental power to fill someone else's Mental Sea meant permanently giving away a portion of his total mental power.
If his total mental power were one hundred...
Then previously, separating ten points into Zhou Ziyu's Mental Sea merely consumed those ten points temporarily. Through cultivation, he could quickly restore them.
But if he permanently gave ten points to this patient...
Then his total mental power would permanently become ninety.
Those missing ten points could not simply be recovered through cultivation.
He would have to repeatedly exhaust his remaining mental power and cultivate together with the Nianshen Grass again and again, slowly increasing his overall capacity.
That process might take several months...
Perhaps even half a year.
Still, unless absolutely necessary, Nan Yu had no intention of doing such a thing.
Being able to save these people was already more than enough.
There was no need to sacrifice himself to that extent.
For now, he decided to wait and see.
After all, when he had checked on the first patient the day after treatment, that patient's condition hadn't looked particularly encouraging either.
It had simply been a little better than this one's.
Hopefully, by tomorrow, the second patient would also show noticeable improvement.
If that happened, Nan Yu wouldn't have to split off part of his own mental power.
It wasn't that he couldn't bear to do it.
Rather, he had reached a critical stage in his own cultivation.
If it could be avoided, it should be avoided.
This wasn't a simple problem with an easy solution.
—
While Nan Yu was worrying over the patients, Yu Lanfeng wasn't actually dealing with the remaining paperwork in his office.
Instead, he and Qin Wenxing were both staring solemnly at an urgent report that had just arrived from headquarters on the Capital Star.
Nan Yun and Nan Zhen had disappeared.
The report recorded every detail of their disappearance.
It was connected to members of the Song family.
The last people seen with Nan Yun and Nan Zhen had been a pair of siblings from one of the Song family's branch families.
The older brother was Song Xiaoyu.
The younger sister was Song Xiaomei.
What puzzled them was that Song Xiaoyu had vanished together with Nan Yun and Nan Zhen.
Only Song Xiaomei remained behind.
Yet she insisted over and over that she knew absolutely nothing.
She admitted that she had accompanied her brother to visit the Nan brothers, who had been receiving treatment in the infirmary after fighting each other.
She had simply gone to support her older brother.
Everything that happened afterward had completely exceeded her expectations.
She had never imagined events would unfold like this.
Yu Lanfeng opened the interrogation recording.
On the screen, Song Xiaomei looked extremely nervous.
"I'll ask you one more time. Where are Nan Yun and Nan Zhen?
"You should understand that they're not only members of the Nan family, they're also students of the Royal Military Academy of the Capital Star. Most importantly, they disappeared inside the academy itself.
"This matter will involve the Nan family, the academy, and even members of the Imperial Family.
"While things haven't completely gotten out of hand yet, I advise you to tell us everything immediately.
"Otherwise, once the situation becomes truly irreversible...
"Even at your age, you should already understand the consequences.
"I won't say any more.
"What do you think?"
Although Song Xiaomei was young, she had grown up in an intensely competitive environment.
She naturally understood how terrifying the consequences would be if the two brothers weren't found before the situation escalated.
The problem was...
She genuinely didn't know anything.
"I've already explained this many times.
"I heard that my brother had always been bullied.
"He just wanted to pursue someone he liked, but he was met with cold treatment and sometimes even verbal insults.
"I couldn't accept that, so I insisted on coming with him.
"My brother has always been extremely introverted. He's the kind of gentle person who's easily bullied."
"But when I arrived and saw the two people lying in those hospital beds...
"I immediately felt something was off.
"They didn't look like the type who would verbally abuse others.
"They looked very upright."
"But appearances can be deceiving.
"So I argued with them.
"As the argument continued, I gradually discovered the truth..."
The interrogator asked,
"What truth?"
Even Yu Lanfeng and Qin Wenxing became more attentive.
But what she said next surprised both of them.
"My brother wasn't pursuing just one of them.
"He was pursuing both brothers at the same time.
"It seemed like he liked both of them and couldn't choose between them, so..."
"So the Nan brothers found out about it.
"That's why they treated my brother so badly.
"Nobody else knew about it—or rather, nobody had even considered that possibility.
"That's why so many people sided with my brother."
At this point, Song Xiaomei frowned deeply.
"When I learned the truth, I felt sick.
"My own brother turned out to be that kind of person.
"It was disgusting...
"I was truly disgusted.
"I know I'm still young, but I understand some things."
"If someone spends money outside and plays around with several people, that's their own business.
"But what my brother did...
"I really couldn't accept it.
"That's why I told everyone."
"Anyway, after everything was exposed, I don't know whether he flew into a rage because the truth came out or for some other reason.
"He suddenly took out a spray can and sprayed it into the air twice.
"I blacked out immediately.
"When I woke up, I'd already been taken to the hospital, and afterward I was brought here.
"Everything I've said is the truth.
"Really.
"If you don't believe me, hypnotize me.
"Use a lie detector.
"I'm willing to cooperate with anything.
"This is all I know."
The recording ended there.
Both Yu Lanfeng and Qin Wenxing could tell she hadn't been lying.
They then began reviewing Song Xiaoyu's personal records.
They discovered that although Song Xiaoyu was a Mid-Tier Mental Power User, his mental power had barely crossed the threshold into Mid-Tier.
If it had been even slightly lower, he wouldn't have qualified as a Mid-Tier Mental Power User at all.
Whether that counted as good luck or bad luck was hard to say.
He had simply landed exactly on the boundary.
Even stranger...
Comparing every examination from the day he enrolled until the last one before his disappearance, Yu Lanfeng discovered that Song Xiaoyu's mental power value had remained almost completely unchanged.
That was obviously abnormal.
Students at the academy were all still growing.
Their mental power should naturally increase to some degree.
Not remain perfectly stagnant like Song Xiaoyu's.
That immediately reminded Yu Lanfeng of the organization's serum.
Could Song Xiaoyu have also used it to force himself into becoming a Mid-Tier Mental Power User?
Even so, with such mediocre mental power, the organization probably wouldn't value him much.
Since he also belonged to the Song family—even if only a branch family—they had likely abandoned the idea of taking him back as an experimental subject.
As for this incident...
After careful consideration, Yu Lanfeng became convinced that it was definitely connected to that organization.
More importantly...
No.
It wasn't merely possible.
This operation was absolutely aimed at Nan Yu.
Otherwise, why would they kidnap two ordinary Ability Users on the Capital Star at this stage?
For fun?
Obviously not.
They had another objective.
Yu Lanfeng said,
"They're definitely still on the Capital Star.
"They may not have even left the academy yet.
"We have to locate them as quickly as possible."
"And...
"Right now, the Capital Star is jointly guarded by detachments from the Empire's ten strongest legions.
"Normally, it's impossible for the organization to infiltrate in large numbers.
"Someone must have provided them with cover.
"We have to investigate that lead thoroughly."
"We absolutely cannot allow them to leave the Capital Star with Nan Yun and Nan Zhen.
"Otherwise...
"In the vastness of the universe..."
Where would they even begin searching?
By then, they would be placed in an extremely passive position.
Nan Yu might even become involved and get hurt.
That was something nobody wanted.
Even the missing Nan Yun and Nan Zhen would never want to see their younger brother harmed.
Therefore...
Yu Lanfeng made a decision.
Looking Qin Wenxing straight in the eye, he said,
"Remember this.
"Don't tell him."
Qin Wenxing paused for only a moment before nodding in understanding.
"Yes, Marshal. I understand."
In truth, even if Nan Yu were told, he would have only two choices.
Either trust the people on the Capital Star to rescue his brothers...
Or personally rush back to help search for them.
And if he did that...
He would very likely walk straight into the tra—
...Trap...
Huh?
At that moment, Qin Wenxing suddenly realized something.
A brilliant solution flashed through his mind.
"Marshal.
"If the people who kidnapped Nan Yun and Nan Zhen learned that Nan Yu had already found out and was on his way back to the Capital Star...
"Wouldn't they simply stay there and wait for Nan Yu before attempting to capture him as well?"
Yu Lanfeng froze.
Then his eyes lit up.
"Excellent idea!"
They immediately put the plan into action.
They summoned the soldier who had previously impersonated Nan Yun.
Thanks to his achievements during the last mission, he had earned a considerable amount of contribution points and received a promotion.
He had originally been an ordinary private.
Now he had become a squad leader.
After all, promotions couldn't happen too quickly.
Higher rank meant more difficult missions, and one's strength also had to match the position.
Although he was highly capable, he still needed time to fully prove himself.
The situation, however, was urgent.
So he was secretly summoned once again.
"Marshal! Deputy Commander Qin!"
Qin Wenxing said,
"We have an extremely urgent mission for you.
"It requires absolute secrecy.
"It may be extremely dangerous.
"Or perhaps not dangerous at all."
Without any hesitation, the soldier agreed.
"No problem!
"I can do it!"
If he couldn't...
Then he would simply die during the mission.
He had no complaints.
He needed missions like this to demonstrate his ability and worth.
Within half an hour, he secretly accepted the assignment.
Then he departed the military base aboard a small spacecraft.
Accompanying him was a ten-man elite squad composed entirely of outstanding soldiers from the legion.
The soldier's mission remained the same.
He would impersonate Nan Yu and return to the Capital Star.
Having supposedly learned that his two brothers had been kidnapped, he was rushing home in panic.
After learning the details of the mission, he fully understood the caliber of enemies he would likely face.
If they discovered he was actually an Ability User...
He would certainly die.
Even if they didn't discover it immediately...
It would only be a matter of time.
Still...
If the operation proceeded smoothly, Nan Yun and Nan Zhen might already be rescued before he himself was captured.
If that happened, the mission could already be considered a success.
That would naturally be the ideal outcome.
—
Less than two minutes after Qin Wenxing left with the soldier, Nan Yu walked into the office through the door, narrowly missing them.
He walked over to Yu Lanfeng.
"You're still not done?"
Yu Lanfeng replied calmly,
"Qin Wenxing had something he needed to report to me.
"He just left.
"I'm only getting started now.
"Sorry.
"Give me another half hour."
Nan Yu wasn't the unreasonable type.
"Alright.
"I'll wait for you over there."
Yu Lanfeng devoted himself to finishing the paperwork.
Nothing about his expression suggested he was hiding such an important secret.
Likewise, Nan Yu noticed nothing unusual.
Nan Yu lay down on the sofa to rest.
Just thirty minutes later, Yu Lanfeng walked over to wake him.
Only then did he discover that Nan Yu had already fallen asleep.
It seemed the treatments over the past two days had consumed far more of his mental power than expected.
Otherwise, he wouldn't have fallen asleep after only half an hour.
Feeling a pang of heartache, Yu Lanfeng carefully carried him onto the bed.
He stayed in the room watching over him while remotely directing various matters through his optical computer.
When the time was about right, he went to the kitchen and began cooking.
When Nan Yu finally woke up, he rubbed his eyes and immediately caught an incredibly enticing aroma.
"It smells amazing.
"These ingredients must have been freshly delivered, right?
"Isn't that a little extravagant?"
He got out of bed and walked into the kitchen, where Yu Lanfeng was pouring the last bowl of soup.
Yu Lanfeng simply replied,
"The taste is worth it.
"Come try it."
Nan Yu eagerly took a bite.
"It's delicious!
"Really delicious!
"I never imagined your cooking could become several levels better with ingredients this fresh."
A faint smile appeared on Yu Lanfeng's lips.
"I'm glad you like it."
After finishing the meal, Nan Yu set down his chopsticks.
"When I have time in the future, I'll practice my cooking too.
"I'll make delicious food for you."
Yu Lanfeng knew that once Nan Yu learned the truth, he would definitely blame him and become angry.
Nan Yun and Nan Zhen loved their little brother deeply.
And Nan Yu loved his two older brothers just as much.
He only hoped this incident wouldn't leave Nan Yu angry for too long.
Otherwise, it would be very detrimental to the progress of their relationship.
Yet whether as the Empire's Marshal...
Or as Nan Yu's lover...
He would make exactly the same decision.
Because there was a ninety-nine percent chance that the enemy's true target was Nan Yu.
If Nan Yu personally returned to the Capital Star...
He would inevitably fall straight into their trap.
That would be the worst possible outcome.
The current plan was far better.
After all, the substitute had fooled even the organization before.
Everyone who had been captured back then had remained unaware of the substitute's existence.
In other words...
Once they heard the news, they would certainly believe the returning Nan Yu was the real one.
Even if someone among them suspected otherwise...
They would still remain on the Capital Star to verify it.
As long as they stayed...
Nan Yun and Nan Zhen would eventually be found.
The situation could still be turned around.
Nan Yu noticed Yu Lanfeng staring at him and became slightly embarrassed.
"Why are you looking at me like that?
"I'm done eating.
"You should hurry up and finish too.
"Afterward, let's go train.
"I've started making up the special training I missed a while ago.
"I'm not in a hurry to cultivate my mental power right now, so I might as well find something else to keep myself busy."
Yu Lanfeng had no objections.
"Alright."
After dinner, the two of them spent more than three hours inside the training room.
When they finally came out, Nan Yu was being carried on Yu Lanfeng's back.
He looked utterly exhausted.
Yet Nan Yu was extremely satisfied.
This time, Yu Lanfeng hadn't held back at every opportunity.
Instead, he had genuinely treated Nan Yu like an ordinary soldier undergoing special training.
Nan Yu felt that once he became a High-Tier Mental Power User, he could finally try participating on the battlefield.
And if things became too dangerous...
There would still be people protecting him.
Yu Lanfeng asked,
"Does it hurt?"
Nan Yu took a deep breath.
"I'm alright.
"I'll just soak in a bath when we get back, sleep for a night, and tomorrow I'll be completely revived."
Yu Lanfeng shook his head.
"Use some treatment spray afterward."
Nan Yu blinked.
"Why?"
"If you don't, you won't be able to get out of bed tomorrow."
Nan Yu blinked again.
"Is it really that serious?"
"Of course.
"Even new recruits need to prepare a bottle of treatment spray during their initial training period.
"They spray themselves every night.
"Otherwise, they'll be so sore the next day that they won't even make it to special training on time."
"I see.
"Then let's do as you say."
Actually, he was already starting to feel sore all over.
Some parts of his body were even becoming numb.
So he decided to listen.
As for why Yu Lanfeng had never mentioned it before...
That was because their previous training had never reached this level of intensity.
Lying on Yu Lanfeng's back, Nan Yu suddenly asked,
"Are you hiding something from me?"
Yu Lanfeng's heart skipped a beat.
But outwardly, his expression didn't change at all.
"What makes you ask that?"
Nan Yu looked a little troubled.
"I don't know.
"I've just had this feeling lately...
"Like something isn't quite right."