Chapter 97: Violence
News that Nan Yu had left the academy together with Zheng Fengyin quickly reached his older brothers.
Fortunately, Nan Yu had informed them beforehand, so whenever people asked about it, they simply gave no real response.
They acted as though they knew nothing and continued with their special training.
Yang Zhou, on the other hand, received far more questions.
His temper was much better than Nan Yun's and Nan Zhen's.
At first, he patiently answered that he didn't know anything.
Eventually, however, he became so annoyed by the endless questions that he simply went home.
Once he returned to his residential community, he wasn't worried anymore.
No outsiders were allowed inside.
The man who had cheated on his lover had already been thrown out and was permanently banned from entering the community.
It was immensely satisfying.
Even the property management staff who had repeatedly crossed the line had been completely replaced.
Only after returning home did Yang Zhou finally find some peace and quiet.
He even blocked incoming communications so nobody else could contact him.
Only a handful of important people had been added to his priority contact list.
Everyone else was unable to reach him.
Meanwhile, Nan Yu quickly saw Zheng Fengyin's older brother.
His condition looked terrible.
Zheng Fengyin knew exactly how serious his brother's situation was.
Every Mental Power User who had examined him had reached the same conclusion—
Without a High-Tier Mental Power User...
He was beyond saving.
But how could Zheng Fengyin possibly invite a High-Tier Mental Power User?
Even if he had the chance, he would first have needed years to accumulate enough contribution.
His path into a legion had already been cut off.
There had never been any opportunity.
Besides...
His brother didn't have enough time left to wait.
That was why Zheng Fengyin had completely lost hope.
Now the only question was...
Was Nan Yu really as extraordinary as the rumors claimed?
After arriving on the Capital Star, Zheng Fengyin had deliberately looked into this junior Mental Power User.
The results had shocked him.
He hadn't expected Nan Yu to be so incredible.
At such a young age, he had already become someone personally recruited by Marshal Yu's legion.
So even if the rumors were exaggerated...
His genuine ability absolutely wasn't.
Marshal Yu's legion only accepted people with talent, strength, and potential.
Zheng Fengyin nervously looked at him.
"Well?"
Nan Yu examined the man who continued struggling wildly on the bed.
Fortunately, the restraints were of exceptionally high quality, making escape impossible.
His expression became serious.
"I need to examine him first."
"Please wait outside."
Zheng Fengyin understood the rules.
Although he desperately wanted to stay...
He had no choice.
"Alright."
"I'll wait outside."
Nan Yu nodded casually.
"Until I come out—or tell you it's alright to enter—absolutely don't let anyone come in and disturb me. Understood?"
"I understand."
"Don't worry."
After saying that, Zheng Fengyin left the room.
Only after confirming that he wouldn't suddenly come back in did Nan Yu walk over to the bedside.
Looking down from above...
The man's face was twisted with ferocity.
His eyes were bloodshot.
Although they were open...
There wasn't the slightest trace of reason left inside them.
Nan Yu didn't dare place his hands near the man's head.
If the man suddenly turned and bit him...
He might lose a finger.
Better to be cautious.
Releasing his Mental Power had long since become effortless.
His Mental Power entered the man's Mental Sea.
The very first thing he saw...
Was complete devastation.
The Mental Contamination inside had already reached a true S-rank level.
Which meant...
Ordinarily, only a High-Tier Mental Power User could eliminate it.
As for whether Nan Yu could do it...
Of course he could.
As long as he took it seriously.
Although the contamination had already reached S-rank...
Judging by its condition, it had only crossed that threshold recently.
Definitely no more than half a year ago.
That meant there was still hope.
As long as he used the Nianshen Grass...
It could be done.
Unfortunately...
He couldn't use the Nianshen Grass here without any worries.
At the very least, the patient had to be moved into the hospital, or the people secretly assigned to protect Nan Yu had to guard the entrance.
Only then would he feel safe.
If someone barged in halfway through while he couldn't interrupt the purification...
Wouldn't they discover the Nianshen Grass?
Besides...
If the process were interrupted midway...
The backlash would affect both the patient and Nan Yu himself.
For ordinary Ability Users, stopping a purification halfway wasn't a problem.
But not this one.
Once it started...
It absolutely couldn't be interrupted.
Nan Yu understood that perfectly.
After thoroughly examining the condition of the man's Mental Sea, Nan Yu withdrew his Mental Power.
He silently estimated the situation.
Without another Mental Power User removing the contamination...
The man truly didn't have many years left.
No wonder Zheng Fengyin had looked like that.
Nan Yu still couldn't forget the hollow, lifeless eyes he'd seen when the communication first connected.
It had been as though there was nothing left in the world worth living for.
Nan Yu opened the door and walked outside.
Zheng Fengyin was standing right there.
The moment he heard the door open, he spun around.
"Can he be saved?"
"Is it serious?"
"You..."
"Can you do it?"
"Can you save him...?"
Seeing him desperately clutching at what seemed like his final lifeline...
Nan Yu sighed softly.
"For me..."
"It's possible."
Deep down, Zheng Fengyin had actually been waiting for Nan Yu to say he couldn't do it.
If that happened...
He could die alongside his brother without any lingering regrets.
But instead...
He heard something entirely different.
Nan Yu had said—
He could do it.
He really could.
He actually...
"Huh...?"
Seeing Zheng Fengyin standing there blankly, Nan Yu couldn't help laughing.
"I said I can do it."
"So..."
"Shouldn't you start making preparations now?"
"I know your brother means everything to you."
"But I also have plenty of other things waiting for me."
"So if you have time now..."
"Hurry and prepare a quiet place suitable for me to begin."
"The moment you're ready..."
"I can start."
"So the timing depends entirely on you."
Zheng Fengyin nodded absentmindedly.
Then, all at once, realization struck him.
It was really possible.
It was actually possible.
Every trace of despair vanished from his face.
The hopelessness...
The lifelessness...
They disappeared completely.
It was as though he'd been reborn.
He suddenly looked full of energy and determination.
Nan Yu glanced back and smiled to himself.
Not bad.
Zheng Fengyin moved astonishingly fast.
He borrowed a secluded private room in the academy infirmary.
It was even located in the farthest corner.
He also knew people were secretly protecting Nan Yu.
After contacting him and watching him arrive, Zheng Fengyin entrusted everything here to Nan Yu's guards before quietly waiting by the stairwell.
Nan Yu smiled.
"You trust me that much?"
"If I say I can do it..."
"You really believe I can?"
In truth...
He genuinely was confident.
Everything had lined up perfectly.
Zheng Fengyin answered quietly,
"Right now..."
"Besides you..."
"I can't think of another Mental Power User I could ask."
"If even you can't do it..."
"Then there's truly no hope."
"So..."
"I trust you completely."
Faced with that absolute trust...
Nan Yu felt unexpectedly warm inside.
"Alright."
"Then I'm going in."
"You can wait over there."
"If everything goes smoothly..."
"I'll probably come out within an hour."
"If it doesn't..."
"It could take more than ten hours."
"So if I don't come out for a long time..."
"Go eat something."
"Get some rest."
There were already people protecting him here.
Zheng Fengyin didn't need to remain outside every second.
On the surface, Zheng Fengyin nodded.
But in his heart, he had already decided—
He would wait until everything was over.
Nan Yu saw through him immediately.
Still...
He didn't say anything.
Instead, he walked into the room.
Before closing the door, he looked at the guards.
"I'm counting on you."
"Until I come out..."
"Don't let anyone enter."
"Don't let anyone disturb me."
Without waiting for a response, he shut the door.
Although the guards remained silent...
They faithfully took up their positions.
Inside...
The man was just as frenzied as yesterday.
Constantly struggling.
Trying desperately to break free.
Unfortunately...
He still couldn't.
Nan Yu dragged over a chair and sat beside the bed.
Both hands carefully cradled the Nianshen Grass.
His palms completely concealed the tiny flowerpot, making it impossible to see what he was holding.
His Mental Power spread outward.
The treatment itself...
Was actually very simple.
Overwhelm the Mental Contamination with an enormous quantity of Mental Power.
Destroy it.
Crush it completely with overwhelming force.
Then expel every shattered fragment.
Once that was done...
The Mental Sea would recover at the fastest possible speed.
Previously, Nan Yu had always treated patients gently.
Especially Lan Feng and Qin Wenxing.
This...
This direct and violent approach...
Was his first time.
Actually...
Most Ability Users required treatment like this.
Only this man's condition was especially severe.
That was why almost every Mental Power User had been helpless.
It could honestly be said—
Had Zheng Fengyin never met Nan Yu...
His brother would never have been saved.
For Nan Yu...
This method was actually the easiest.
Whether it was the quantity of his Mental Power...
Or its sheer strength...
Both were already comparable to those of a High-Tier Mental Power User.
The only thing missing...
Was the final bottleneck.
Just a little more time.
Just a little longer.
And he would become a true High-Tier Mental Power User.
He had a feeling.
One year.
Less than one year.
He would definitely reach that level.
Then...
Once he became a High-Tier Mental Power User...
He wanted to see what Bai Zhouyun would do to save their engagement.
Or perhaps...
There would be nothing Bai Zhouyun could do at all.
The instant Nan Yu's Mental Power entered the patient's Mental Sea...
It expanded rapidly.
Completely surrounding every trace of Mental Contamination.
Then...
Using overwhelming superiority...
He crushed it.
Destroyed it.
Ground every fragment into dust.
Finally...
He expelled every shattered remnant.
Saving this man demanded extraordinary Mental Power in both quantity and quality.
Everyone believed only a High-Tier Mental Power User could accomplish such a feat.
Everyone else...
Was incapable.
But Nan Yu...
Was the exception.
An hour passed.
Neither especially long...
Nor particularly short.
Nan Yu had already done everything he possibly could.
Once every trace of Mental Contamination had been removed...
The man slowly closed his eyes.
He fell into an incredibly deep sleep.
That was perfectly normal.
Although he'd been unconscious while suffering from Mental Contamination...
His entire body had remained in a state of constant mental overexcitement.
Now that everything had finally returned to normal...
Sleep naturally came first.
Nan Yu carefully put away the Nianshen Grass.
It was his greatest treasure.
Nothing could be allowed to happen to it.
Only after safely storing it did he walk over and open the door.
He slowly walked toward the opposite end of the corridor.
Upon reaching the stairwell...
He finally saw Zheng Fengyin.
He was sitting rigidly on the steps.
Nan Yu couldn't help smiling.
"It's over."
"Senior."
Zheng Fengyin neither stood up nor turned around.
He simply bent forward...
Buried his face in his knees...
And silently remained there.
Perhaps...
He was crying.
Nan Yu didn't disturb him.
He merely stood quietly where he was, waiting for those overwhelming emotions to settle.
About five minutes later...
Zheng Fengyin finally stood up.
He walked toward Nan Yu.
At first glance...
He seemed completely fine.
Only...
The faint redness around his eyes betrayed him.
Naturally, Nan Yu didn't tease him about it.
"Come with me."
"You should see him first."
Zheng Fengyin cautiously walked to the ward.
After Nan Yu opened the door...
The very first thing he saw was his older brother sleeping peacefully.
He slowly approached the bed.
Standing beside it...
He silently looked at his brother.
It wasn't that he doubted Nan Yu.
He simply needed to confirm with his own eyes...
That his brother truly was alright.
Only after confirming it...
Did he finally let out a genuine sigh of relief.
Nan Yu decided to leave the room to Zheng Fengyin.
He quietly withdrew.
As for payment...
There was no need to mention it now.
There would be plenty of time for Zheng Fengyin to repay him in the future.
Hehe...
Nan Yu left in an excellent mood.
Before leaving, however, he sent Zheng Fengyin a message.
Today's events must never be discussed publicly.
People could know that Nan Yu had cured his brother.
But nobody could know his brother's actual condition.
Nor any of the treatment details.
After all...
Nan Yu had already cured many Ability Users.
One more wouldn't attract much attention.
But if Zheng Fengyin exposed the true severity of his brother's condition...
That would become troublesome.
Someone whose Mental Contamination had officially reached S-rank...
Had actually been cured by a Mid-Tier Mental Power User.
That was unprecedented.
Never before seen in history.
If word spread...
Nan Yu would never again enjoy the freedom he currently had.
Once he became a High-Tier Mental Power User...
He absolutely intended to remain with Yu Lanfeng.
Otherwise...
The Empire would effectively imprison him until the day he died.
Or force him into endless treatments.
Or assign him to produce outstanding descendants with someone else.
Either way...
He would lose all freedom.
Nan Yu had no intention of becoming that kind of person.
Fortunately...
That day wasn't far away.
However...
As he left the infirmary...
He unexpectedly spotted Bai Zhouyun standing near the exit.
It looked as though he was deliberately waiting for someone.
Before Bai Zhouyun noticed him, Nan Yu quickly hid behind the nearby wall.
He concealed himself completely.
Who was Bai Zhouyun waiting for?
Could it be Yun Feiyu?
That didn't seem likely.
He had only recently denied having any relationship with Yun Feiyu.
If he secretly met him around the academy now...
Wouldn't all of his previous denials become meaningless?
So...
Who exactly was he waiting for?
Nan Yu waited there for more than ten minutes.
Then realization suddenly struck him.
...He wasn't waiting for me, was he?
What now?
Wait.
Why was he panicking?
Couldn't he just leave through the back entrance?
The infirmary wasn't limited to a single exit.
Just as he turned around to leave—
Bai Zhouyun suddenly called out.
"Xiao Yu?!"
Nan Yu froze.
He stood perfectly still.
Logically speaking, Bai Zhouyun had been quite far away.
He shouldn't have been discovered.
Could it be...
Had all that special training finally started paying off?
Had Bai Zhouyun's hearing become that much sharper?
All in all, Nan Yu ended up being discovered.
It wasn't because he walked out on his own.
Bai Zhouyun walked over and found Nan Yu hiding behind the wall.
He didn't seem to realize in the slightest that Nan Yu had been avoiding him.
The moment he saw Nan Yu, he broke into a delighted smile.
"Xiao Yu, it's been so hard to see you lately. No matter where I look, I can never find you."
Nan Yu silently rolled his eyes.
"I'm usually in class. We just don't have lessons in the same classrooms, so you've kept missing me."
"By the way, were you waiting for me here? Did you need something?"
Bai Zhouyun shook his head before nodding again.
"Yeah, I wanted to talk to you about something."
Nan Yu asked,
"What is it?"
Bai Zhouyun smiled.
"Xiao Yu, it's been a long time since we've had lunch together. I thought maybe we could go out and have a meal today. What do you think?"
Nan Yu wanted to refuse outright.
"Maybe another day. I just finished treating an Ability User in there, so I'm not feeling very energetic right now. I just want to go back and rest."
Bai Zhouyun paused for a moment.
"Was it Zheng Fengyin?"
Nan Yu blinked.
"You know him?"
"Of course."
"He was still at the academy after we enrolled. I'd seen him before, although he'd never seen me."
"Really?"
"Yeah."
"By the way, there have been a lot of unfamiliar faces around the academy recently. Do you know what's going on? Their treatment seems different from ours. All of these newcomers... or rather, they're all seniors who already graduated and then returned to the academy. Did the academy gather them together for something?"
Nan Yu shook his head.
"I'm not really sure either. Senior probably heard that I'm pretty capable, so he came to ask for my help. As for everything else, I don't know much."
The announcement hadn't been made yet.
According to the academy leadership, they had to wait until all three hundred and fifty students had arrived before officially revealing what had happened.
Honestly...
Standing before everyone and admitting their own mistakes would be the greatest challenge of all.
Fortunately, the people who would have to step forward had nothing to do with Nan Yu.
It would be the academy's leadership.
He could simply sit back and enjoy the show.
In any case, the Royal Military Academy of the Capital Star's reputation and status wouldn't suffer any lasting damage.
After all, the Empire's finest students gathered here.
Every top legion also prioritized recruiting outstanding talents from this academy.
Even if there were some scandals...
They would only affect things temporarily.
Once the storm passed...
The academy might become even more popular than before.
Because of Marshal Yu's legion...
Graduating from this academy meant there was a chance to take the assessment.
A chance to pass it.
A chance to enter the legion.
A chance to become...
Bai Zhouyun interrupted his thoughts.
"Is that so? Then, Xiao Yu, how did you meet this senior? I've never seen the two of you in contact before. Did he already know you as soon as he arrived?"
Nan Yu laughed.
"Of course he knew me. Other people might not, but surely you know."
"Do you have any idea how famous I am now?"
Would Bai Zhouyun not know?
Of course he knew.
He knew perfectly well.
Nan Yu's current value and status had already reached a level that no other Mid-Tier Mental Power User could match.
Which meant...
Only recently had Bai Zhouyun truly become the number one target of envy among every capable, talented, intelligent, and socially skilled Ability User.
What Bai Zhouyun didn't know...
Was that Nan Yu had already completely drawn the line between them.
And...
He was currently in an ambiguous relationship with Yu Lanfeng...
No, no.
That wasn't the right way to put it.
Anyway...
The engagement between him and Bai Zhouyun was definitely going to be canceled.
And after it was canceled...
He certainly wasn't planning to spend the rest of his life alone.
He still wanted someone by his side.
If he was going to choose someone...
Then naturally, he would choose the very best.
And who was the very best right now?
There wasn't even a need to think about it.
It was obviously Yu Lanfeng.
Compared to Yu Lanfeng...
Everyone else could be crushed into dust.
Although the elders in the family might have some opinions about the difference in their ages...
There was no denying it.
Nan Yu and Yu Lanfeng were incredibly well matched.
Nan Yu looked at Bai Zhouyun.
"Anything else?"
"If not, I'm leaving."
"I used up quite a bit of Mental Power just now, and I want to go back and rest."
Bai Zhouyun smiled gently.
He looked every bit the considerate gentleman.
"Alright."
"Then let me take you back."
Nan Yu shook his head.
"I'll just rest at Yang Zhou's place."
"It's not far."
"I won't trouble you."
"It only takes two or three minutes by hovercraft."
Bai Zhouyun kept looking directly into his eyes.
With complete sincerity, he said,
"Xiao Yu."
"Let me take you."
"It's been such a long time since we've spent any time alone together."
Nan Yu folded his arms.
The irritation on his face gradually became obvious.
"It's been a long time since we've been alone together?"
"I remember that in the past, what you hated most was being alone with me."
"Every single time it was just the two of us, you'd come up with some excuse to leave."
"You'd tell me to wait for you."
"And then what happened?"
"I waited there for you forever."
"But instead, you went off and had fun with someone else."
"You left me behind all by myself."
"So why have you changed so suddenly now?"
"It's almost..."
"...as if you've become a completely different person."
The final sentence had merely been something Nan Yu blurted out casually.
Unexpectedly...
He saw Bai Zhouyun's pupils contract ever so slightly.
...What kind of reaction was that?
Just as Nan Yu was about to look more carefully...
Bai Zhouyun's expression had already returned to normal.
Had he...
Simply imagined it?