Chapter 128: The Problem
Once all the students had returned to their seats to wait for class, Nan Yu finally let out a sigh of relief.
He could finally relax.
Being surrounded by so many people just now had honestly been exhausting.
Come to think of it, though...
When he had actually gone on a mission with Yu Lanfeng before and returned, why hadn't everyone been nearly this curious?
It didn't take him long to figure it out.
That previous mission had genuinely been classified.
Very few people had known about it, and students at the academy certainly hadn't been among those few.
Naturally, no one had come asking questions.
This time was different.
This time, the story about a classified mission had been deliberately fabricated by Yu Lanfeng and the others.
It was a vague, half-true explanation that was allowed to spread.
Its sole purpose was to conceal the truth behind Nan Yu's disappearance.
After thinking it over, Nan Yu felt that although the plan had been somewhat risky, it had ultimately worked.
He endured the entire day at school.
Quite a few students tried, both openly and indirectly, to find out details about the "classified mission."
Either Nan Yu smoothly brushed them off...
Or Yang Zhou intercepted them before they could press further.
Only after school finally ended did Nan Yu truly relax.
Yang Zhou glanced toward a hovercraft parked nearby.
"Is that one here to pick you up?"
Nan Yu nodded.
"Yeah."
"Do you want to come with me?"
"I've had a bad feeling lately."
"After thinking about it, besides my family and Brother Fu, you're the person I'm closest to."
"The people targeting me won't find it easy to attack my family."
"The only one who's practically defenseless is you."
"So from now on, come stay over there."
"You won't be able to live inside headquarters itself, but you can stay in the family residential building."
"It's outside the inner compound, but everyone living there is the family of legion members."
"The security there is extremely strict."
"I've already talked to him about it."
"He agreed."
Yang Zhou blinked.
He had only intended to remind Nan Yu to be more careful in the future.
He had never imagined Nan Yu had already planned so far ahead.
But...
Since Nan Yu had already considered everything for him...
Wouldn't refusing simply make him ungrateful?
Besides...
He had to admit Nan Yu was right.
If the people targeting Nan Yu really decided to use him as a breakthrough...
He would be finished almost immediately.
In that case...
Accepting was obviously the wiser choice.
He wasn't someone who stubbornly refused help.
"Alright."
"I'll go with you."
"I'll definitely be safer over there."
Especially after Nan Yu had been kidnapped again...
The legion's protection around him would undoubtedly reach an unprecedented level.
Yang Zhou could benefit from that as well.
Nan Yu smiled.
"That's great."
"I thought you might refuse."
"Since you've agreed, I'll go back with you and help pack your things."
"You'll move over today."
"The apartment has already been prepared."
"It's only a one-bedroom place."
"It's a little small, but it's more than enough for one person."
"I personally checked it."
"It's very clean, nicely decorated..."
"And most importantly, it's safe."
"There are shuttle hovercrafts every day if you need to go anywhere."
"You only have to pay a small number of credits."
Yang Zhou laughed.
"Alright, alright."
"I'll go pack."
"You'll wait for me here?"
Nan Yu shook his head.
"I'll go with you."
"Fine."
"You can help me pack."
"It'll be faster that way."
...
When they arrived at Yang Zhou's apartment, Nan Yu stepped inside—
Then immediately froze.
"My goodness."
"How long has it been since I came here?"
"How did this place turn into a doghouse?"
Yang Zhou looked rather embarrassed.
His schedule had been completely chaotic these past few days.
The truth was...
He had been constantly worried about Nan Yu.
Now that Nan Yu had safely returned, he had finally adjusted his emotions somewhat.
But...
Although his mood had recovered...
He still hadn't cleaned the apartment.
It wasn't that he couldn't hire someone.
He simply disliked letting strangers into his home.
As for the cleaning robot...
He actually did own one.
Unfortunately, he had accidentally broken it some time ago.
Since he hadn't been in the mood to repair it—or buy a new one—
One reason after another...
Eventually resulted in his home becoming exactly like a doghouse.
Nan Yu didn't say anything further.
He had a feeling...
He himself might be partly responsible for this.
Since that was the case...
He decided not to mention it.
"Come on."
"I'll help you pack the things you'll need."
"Oh, right."
"This time, make sure you pack everything."
"If you need something later..."
"Don't ever come back here alone."
"Understand?"
"At school..."
"On the road..."
"And over there..."
Those places are all relatively safe.
"But this apartment complex..."
"We can't guarantee anything."
"If you get kidnapped here..."
Nan Yu paused before continuing,
"No matter what happens..."
"I'll definitely come rescue you."
Yang Zhou looked at him helplessly.
"How can I possibly feel reassured hearing that?"
"If they kidnap me, it'll only be to lure you out."
"If you really come..."
"Wouldn't you just be walking into their trap?"
"Are you stupid?"
Nan Yu blinked.
"I'm not stupid."
"I just wanted to tell you..."
"If you don't want me to end up walking into a trap..."
"Then you need to be more careful."
"You absolutely can't keep thinking you shouldn't bother anyone, then go off somewhere alone without telling anybody."
"That's the most dangerous thing you could possibly do."
As it happened...
That had been exactly what Yang Zhou had been thinking.
Sneaking out alone.
Coming back here alone to grab something.
Those all seemed like perfectly ordinary things.
But now...
Apparently they weren't ordinary anymore.
Nan Yu patted him on the shoulder.
"Alright."
"Let's finish packing."
...
The apartment was so messy that many belongings had become filthy.
Neither Nan Yu nor Yang Zhou wanted them anymore.
They simply piled everything into one corner as garbage.
Once the cleaning robot was repaired, it could throw everything away.
That would also make the apartment much cleaner.
Nan Yu looked at the two backpacks they had packed.
"Is that really all?"
Yang Zhou scratched his head awkwardly.
Most of his belongings had become dirty.
He didn't want them anymore.
He would simply buy new ones after moving.
So...
That really was everything.
"Yeah."
"I'm done."
"Let's go."
"I probably won't be coming back here for a long time."
Nan Yu thought about it.
No one knew when that organization would finally be eliminated.
No one knew when things would truly become safe.
Perhaps...
Yang Zhou really wouldn't have many opportunities to return here.
After making sure everything had been packed, Nan Yu said,
"Let's go."
"When we get there, I'll see if I can help you apply for an even better place later."
"If it's possible, we'll move you again."
Yang Zhou looked surprised.
"No need."
"I can sleep comfortably anywhere."
Nan Yu couldn't help smiling.
As long as Yang Zhou could sleep in...
He was satisfied.
"Alright."
"Let's go."
"This place probably won't see much of you anymore."
"Think carefully."
"Did you leave anything behind?"
Yang Zhou wandered around the apartment one last time.
Eventually...
He pulled a box out from beneath the bed.
Opening it, he took out a small case roughly the size of two palms.
"This."
"If you hadn't reminded me..."
"I would've forgotten it."
Nan Yu's eyes widened slightly.
There was a very subtle emblem in one corner of the case.
The Imperial Family's emblem.
Which meant...
It had been given to Yang Zhou by someone from the Imperial Family.
Who else could it be?
Previously...
Nan Yu had already thought something about Yuan Qiyang's behavior toward Yang Zhou seemed unusual.
There had always been an indescribable feeling between them.
Now...
It looked as though their relationship really had been progressing.
Yet even now...
Neither of them had revealed anything.
Most likely...
The obstacle lay with Yang Zhou.
Nan Yu understood him well.
Yang Zhou possessed a strong sense of self-awareness.
He was only a Low-Tier Mental Power User.
In his own eyes...
He simply wasn't worthy of Crown Prince Yuan Qiyang.
If he had at least been a Mid-Tier Mental Power User...
People might still criticize them somewhat.
But the gap wouldn't have been overwhelming.
Now...
If news of their relationship became public...
Yang Zhou would probably become another Bai Zhouyun in everyone's eyes—
Targeted by endless personal attacks and mental harassment.
Keeping their relationship secret...
Was probably the best choice for now.
Just wait a little longer.
After Nan Yu graduated...
He would devote himself entirely to cultivation.
He would become a High-Tier Mental Power User as quickly as possible.
Then...
Yang Zhou could also use the Nianshen Grass.
Of course...
That absolutely couldn't become public knowledge.
Whether Yang Zhou could keep the secret...
Nan Yu believed he probably could.
Still...
It never hurt to be cautious.
...
Nan Yu carried the two backpacks onto the hovercraft together with Yang Zhou.
The hovercraft traveled at top speed along military air routes, quickly leaving the city center behind before reaching the remote outskirts.
The area looked desolate.
But countless hidden surveillance systems had been deployed nearby.
This place was already extremely secure.
Yang Zhou quietly stared out the window, seemingly lost in thought.
When he finally came back to his senses—
He jumped in surprise after discovering Nan Yu looking in his direction.
"W-Why are you staring at me?"
Nan Yu looked speechless.
"I wasn't staring at you."
"I was staring outside."
"I was daydreaming too."
Yang Zhou twitched at the corner of his mouth.
If Nan Yu had truly been daydreaming...
How could he possibly know Yang Zhou had been doing exactly the same thing?
Still...
He had no intention of arguing over something so trivial.
Soon afterward...
It began to rain.
There wasn't any danger.
But both of them belatedly realized something.
"Something feels off."
"Don't you think so?"
Yang Zhou thought for a moment.
"Nothing feels strange."
"It's just rain."
"It's not like it hasn't rained before."
"Exactly."
"The rain itself isn't strange."
"And they wouldn't do something so meaningless."
...
Nan Yu brought Yang Zhou to the family residential building.
Although it wasn't technically inside legion headquarters...
It stood right along the outer perimeter.
Everyone living there was either elderly parents, children, spouses, or other important family members of legion soldiers.
People who needed protection.
As a result...
The security there was nearly identical to headquarters itself.
Nan Yu led Yang Zhou to an apartment door.
After transferring access permissions to him, he took him inside.
The apartment was fairly small—
About fifty square meters.
But for someone living alone...
It was more than enough.
Most importantly...
The interior decoration perfectly matched Yang Zhou's taste.
Yang Zhou looked around happily.
"This place is great."
"I'll be living here from now on!"
Nan Yu smiled.
"I'm glad you like it."
"Oh, right."
"You can invite friends over if you want."
"But don't casually hand your access permissions to anyone."
"Otherwise..."
He deliberately paused there.
Yang Zhou immediately became nervous.
For some reason...
He suddenly had the feeling that Nan Yu knew something.
Otherwise...
Why would he suddenly say something like that?
Still...
He quickly dismissed the idea.
The two of them had always understood each other extremely well.
Sometimes...
They could guess each other's thoughts just by watching expressions and actions.
Nan Yu naturally had no intention of exposing Yang Zhou's feelings.
"Alright."
"It's getting late."
"I'm heading back now."
"When I have time later..."
"I'll come stay here for a couple of days."
Yang Zhou smiled as he waved goodbye.
Only after Nan Yu completely disappeared from sight did he return to his new apartment.
Honestly...
This place really was incredibly safe.
He finally felt somewhat relieved.
Although he hadn't shown it outwardly...
He had always known he himself was in danger.
Everyone close to Nan Yu either belonged to the Nan family...
The legion...
Or possessed tremendous status and influence.
Only he...
Was completely ordinary.
If someone targeted him because of Nan Yu...
He wouldn't even have the ability to resist.
Of course...
He wasn't blaming Nan Yu.
He had merely been wondering how he could stay alive.
He had never expected Nan Yu to think even further ahead than he had.
"...Thank you."
Sitting quietly on the bed, he murmured those words softly.
Then...
He opened his communicator.
Finding a communication number without any note attached—
Just an ordinary string of digits—
He stared at it for a long time.
Yet every single digit had long since been engraved into his memory.
He could recite the entire number backward without hesitation.
After hesitating for a long while...
He decided not to place a call.
Instead...
He sent a message.
If the other person saw it...
Hopefully they'd reply.
If they were busy now...
Calling would only disturb them.
Sending a message first seemed better.
Sure enough...
After waiting about ten minutes...
No reply came.
The other person was obviously occupied.
He would simply wait.
And while waiting...
What should he do?
For Yang Zhou...
The answer was obvious.
Sleep.
He desperately needed to catch up on all the rest he had missed.
...
When Nan Yu returned to the residence, the first thing he saw was Yu Lanfeng working inside.
"Why are you here?"
"Weren't you in the conference room?"
He had asked downstairs earlier.
They had told him Yu Lanfeng was in a meeting.
"It ended earlier than expected."
"So I came back to wait for you."
Nan Yu walked over to the sofa and collapsed onto it.
Staring at the ceiling, he sighed.
"How long are these days going to continue..."
"No, wait!"
He suddenly sat upright.
"Brother."
"Didn't you say before that you'd help me discuss skipping grades with the academy?"
"If possible..."
"I'd like to take the graduation examination next year."
"I'll earn first place for you to see."
But that wasn't even the most important reason.
The important part was...
Once he graduated...
He could officially join Yu Lanfeng's legion.
He could travel alongside him.
He could quietly become a High-Tier Mental Power User.
And...
He could naturally help Yang Zhou become a Mid-Tier Mental Power User as well.
He absolutely didn't want Yang Zhou and that person to miss each other simply because of something like this.
They belonged together.
They were a perfect match.
At that moment...
Nan Yu noticed the medicinal soup simmering nearby.
It was almost ready.
The dark, nearly black liquid...
Who exactly was it meant for?
Who needed medicine to reduce internal heat?
Naturally...
It was Yu Lanfeng.
Nan Yu had sincerely impressed several veteran doctors at the medical clinic.
Some of them even understood traditional medicine.
Thanks to them...
He had obtained several herbal prescriptions.
Yu Lanfeng had to drink one dose every three days.
Nan Yu trusted these remedies completely.
Which meant...
Yu Lanfeng didn't dare refuse the bowl of dark medicinal soup he personally delivered.
When Yu Lanfeng first confirmed that the horrible-looking liquid wasn't poison...
But actual medicine...
He had been utterly unconvinced.
Unfortunately...
It really was medicine.
The first time he drank it...
He almost failed to maintain his usual calm expression.
It was unimaginably bitter.
He even seriously suspected that whoever prepared it had deliberately made it taste that awful.
Yet...
He couldn't possibly go cause trouble for them.
After investigating...
He discovered that making the medicine unbearably bitter had apparently been a consensus among nearly everyone on the Capital Star.
In other words...
Nan Yu hadn't come up with the idea himself.
The medical staff had simply recruited Nan Yu to carry out their plan.
Nan Yu was the executioner.
And Yu Lanfeng...
Had become the unfortunate guinea pig.
Naturally...
Later, while Nan Yu wasn't around, Yu Lanfeng personally visited the medical clinic.
One by one...
He reminisced with every doctor individually.
Officially...
It was simply "catching up."
Each doctor sat alone with him in a room.
Yu Lanfeng quietly continued handling official documents.
He made each person sit there for one hour.
Sometimes two.
Without saying much.
Simply making them understand...
Exactly what could...
And couldn't...
Be joked about.
Everyone who came afterward received identical treatment.
Old or young...
It made no difference.
After experiencing Yu Lanfeng's unique lesson...
They all became noticeably more well-behaved.
Later...
When Nan Yu visited the clinic again...
No one awkwardly asked him about Yu Lanfeng anymore.
Especially questions regarding their relationship.
Nan Yu never learned that Yu Lanfeng had privately visited every doctor.
As far as he knew...
He only wanted to work hard here.
Support himself properly.
After all...
Working here actually paid a salary.
And considering Nan Yu's growing reputation...
That salary would probably increase again before long.
By now...
He had become accustomed to the many curious gazes around him.
Groups of people often gathered together.
Then mysteriously disappeared somewhere.
He knew perfectly well...
They were discussing him.
He simply didn't know that Yu Lanfeng had already visited many of the doctors for one-on-one conversations.
No one knew exactly what had been said.
But judging from everyone's behavior afterward...
It had definitely been something unforgettable.
Nan Yu checked the time before looking around the unusually quiet office.
"Are all of you still busy?"
"Isn't it already time to eat?"
"Didn't you say before that you had to rush to the cafeteria early, otherwise all the good food would be gone?"
Those words had originally been spoken by them.
The headquarters cafeteria served exceptionally delicious, high-end meals.
Even people with high status couldn't eat food like this outside.
The only problem was...
Their physical fitness couldn't compare with soldiers.
So every day...
They had to arrive ahead of the main crowd.
That way they could order their food before the soldiers flooded the cafeteria.
Only then could they peacefully eat in a private dining room.
They had completely forgotten the time.
But after Nan Yu reminded them—
"Oh no!"
"My favorite dish is available today!"
"We're already five minutes later than usual!"
"If we don't hurry now, we'll definitely miss it!"
"Let's take a hovercraft!"
"It'll be faster!"
In reality...
The flight only took one minute.
Did they really need a hovercraft?
After discussing it for about a minute...
Everyone unanimously decided—
Yes.
Absolutely.
Nan Yu thought about it before agreeing as well.
The academy cafeteria was already excellent.
Surely the headquarters cafeteria would be even better.
As someone eating there for the first time...
He should probably act a little reserved...
Reserved...
Well...
Forget it.
Sometimes...
Going along with the crowd wasn't such a bad thing.
If everyone got caught doing something together...
At least no one would feel lonely.
Thanks to the hovercraft...
They reached the cafeteria before the main wave of soldiers.
They successfully ordered every one of their favorite dishes.
Nan Yu noticed one particular dish.
There had originally been ten portions.
The moment they arrived...
Only five remained.
Meaning...
Their group alone had purchased the other five.
Nan Yu stared at the enormous portions.
"These are huge."
"Can you really finish them?"
"It's fine."
"If we can't, we'll pack the leftovers."
"Food this delicious is still amazing even after sitting for a while."
Nan Yu took a deep breath.
"You ordered so much at once."
"Aren't you afraid someone will come cause trouble?"
Everyone exchanged glances.
Then someone laughed.
"This is Marshal Yu's headquarters on the Capital Star."
"Security here is unbelievably strict."
"The rules have always been crystal clear."
"No one would dare start trouble here."
Another person chuckled.
"And even if someone does..."
"The one who suffers won't be us."
"It'll be the idiot who started it."
"Not only will they be punished..."
"They'll also have to pay for our entire meal."
"I actually hope someone comes looking for trouble."
"That way..."
"Everything we ordered today would end up being paid for by someone else."