Chapter 174: Unconscious
The two brothers lay on their hospital beds, staring at each other.
Each thought the other was an idiot.
Before long, they burst into laughter together, because they realized that not only was the other person an idiot—they were too.
A real life-and-death battle would never involve deliberately aiming for someone's face.
You aimed for the head and other vital points.
In reality, they had never fought like that.
Everyone claimed their sparring looked so savage that it seemed they were trying to kill each other.
But the truth was nowhere near that exaggerated.
Even during their matches, they instinctively held back.
After all, they were brothers, not mortal enemies.
Nan Yun sighed.
"It's been so long. I wonder how our little brother is doing in the legion."
"The last time we contacted him was fifteen days ago."
"It's so inconvenient."
"Dad can probably talk to him all the time, but he never tells us how Xiaoyu's doing..."
Nan Zhen frowned slightly.
"Now that he's become a Mental Power User in the legion, he's probably treating Ability Users and clearing their Mental Contamination every day."
"What else could he be doing?"
Nan Yun nodded.
"Yeah."
"The same work every single day."
"I wonder if he's tired."
"If possible, I just hope he gets more rest."
"He's still so young..."
Nan Zhen said firmly,
"We only have a year and a half left until graduation."
"Even if we can't meet the requirements for early graduation, we still have to graduate with the best possible results."
"Then we have to pass the legion's entrance examination."
"We can't keep letting our little brother stay ahead of us forever."
Nan Yun agreed.
"Yeah."
"Let's head back to the dorm after this and continue our special training tomorrow."
"We really owe those people a favor."
"If it weren't for them, the academy wouldn't have assigned us a private training room."
"Otherwise..."
Otherwise, the elite soldiers Yu Lanfeng had left to train them wouldn't even have a place to teach them.
The academy was crowded everywhere.
Especially around the training facilities.
Every day they were packed with people.
Any Ability User who had free time would come to train.
There was no helping it.
Ability Users were naturally competitive.
Training rooms and combat arenas were almost always overflowing.
Besides Ability Users, there were also many Mental Power Users who came simply to watch.
Mental Power Users had plenty of choices when selecting future partners.
Many of them liked to observe the academy and see whether there were any particularly outstanding Ability Users who suited them.
One such Mental Power User was Song Xiaoyu.
About two months earlier, he had noticed the two brothers and had been paying close attention to them ever since.
Every time they came to the medical ward for treatment, Song Xiaoyu would arrive carrying food or gifts to visit them.
Since Nan Yun and Nan Zhen knew he belonged to the Song family, they never treated him rudely.
But neither would they accept anything from him.
Nor would they engage in any interaction beyond the bare minimum expected between classmates.
Whenever they faced Song Xiaoyu, both brothers remained cold and distant.
Their goal was simply to make this Mental Power User give up.
Unfortunately...
It was much easier said than done.
Song Xiaoyu was unusually persistent.
Moreover, he appeared gentle and delicate, completely unlike the rest of the Song family.
Even if he truly were an ideal marriage partner...
It was still impossible.
As long as he remained a member of the Song family, they would never accept him.
Who knew whether the Song family had deliberately sent Song Xiaoyu to lower their guard...
Only to suddenly trap them later by creating an irreversible situation?
If that happened, a marriage alliance between the Song and Nan families would become unavoidable.
Because they had considered that possibility from the very beginning, the brothers had become extremely cautious.
They refused to eat anything given to them by others.
Even factory-sealed food remained unopened.
Everything they consumed was either prepared by themselves...
...or purchased from the academy cafeteria.
If even the cafeteria became unsafe...
Then there would truly be no hope.
Before Yang Zhou's incident, perhaps someone could have tampered with the cafeteria.
But what had happened to Yang Zhou had sounded the alarm throughout the academy.
Everyone understood that if security wasn't strengthened, a first incident would inevitably be followed by a second.
The only question was when.
As a result, the cafeteria was now managed entirely by the military.
Specifically...
The Imperial Family's military.
The soldiers responsible for inspections and security always kept an extremely low profile.
They deliberately avoided drawing attention to themselves.
If you didn't look carefully...
You'd never notice which "students" were actually soldiers in disguise.
That arrangement worked perfectly.
Since nobody knew exactly where the surveillance was, anyone planning to act rashly was far more likely to expose themselves.
Ever since those soldiers had taken over security, the cafeteria had become remarkably orderly.
The frequent fights that used to occur had completely disappeared.
After enough troublemakers received disciplinary punishments, everyone gradually learned to behave.
While lying in the medical ward, Nan Yun and Nan Zhen discussed what they wanted to eat afterward.
About ten minutes passed.
Their treatment still had another ten minutes remaining.
At that moment, the ward door opened.
Two Mental Power Users walked inside.
One of them was the very person they had just been talking about—
Song Xiaoyu.
Following behind him was another Mental Power User, a petite, adorable young woman.
The moment Song Xiaoyu entered and saw the brothers lying quietly on their beds receiving treatment, a pure, innocent-looking smile bloomed across his face.
"Brother Nan Yun, Brother Nan Zhen, how are you feeling?"
The brothers simply nodded.
Neither replied.
Song Xiaoyu was already accustomed to that reaction.
But the female student beside him wasn't.
She puffed out her cheeks angrily.
"Why are you two being so cold to my brother?"
"He came all this way to visit you."
"He even went to the cafeteria and brought you food."
"Can't you at least thank him?"
The brothers looked toward her.
Before either could speak, Song Xiaoyu immediately stopped the girl behind him.
She was his younger sister—
Song Xiaomei.
"Xiaomei!"
"Don't say things like that."
"I wanted to come here myself."
"As long as I haven't disturbed them, that's enough."
"How could you say something like that?"
"Didn't you remember everything you promised before I brought you here?"
Only then did Song Xiaomei recall what her brother had told her beforehand.
She had begged him to let her come.
He'd warned her repeatedly—
No matter what happened, she wasn't allowed to interfere.
She wasn't allowed to say whatever she wanted.
After all...
He was the one pursuing them.
Even as a Mental Power User, he needed to lower himself a little.
Everyone knew how difficult the Nan brothers were to pursue.
Not only within the academy...
But throughout the entire Capital Star.
It wasn't because the Nan family was uniquely powerful.
There were still several families stronger than theirs.
The real reason lay with the brothers themselves.
Anyone who knew them understood one thing.
The two of them were hopelessly obsessed with their younger brother.
If someone wanted to pursue either of them...
There was one absolute rule.
Never speak badly about Nan Yu in front of them.
Do that once...
And there would never be another chance.
On the other hand...
You couldn't casually bring up Nan Yu either.
Because the moment you did...
The brothers would enthusiastically launch into endless praise about how wonderful, obedient, and absolutely perfect their little brother was.
You'd be trapped listening to them praise him for half a day...
Or even an entire day.
Of course, only close acquaintances ever received that treatment.
Someone like Song Xiaoyu—
Who kept throwing himself at them...
And who belonged to the Song family, which had an extremely poor relationship with the Nan family—
Naturally wouldn't receive any warmth from them.
Sure enough...
Even after Song Xiaoyu scolded his sister, Nan Yun and Nan Zhen merely let out cold laughs.
The contempt in their expressions couldn't have been clearer.
Nan Zhen twitched the corner of his mouth.
"Our injuries are minor."
"The doctor already said we'll be able to move freely in another ten minutes."
"So naturally we'll go to the cafeteria ourselves."
"Why did you have to bring food?"
"Wasn't that completely unnecessary?"
"And another thing..."
He looked directly at Song Xiaomei.
"Everything your brother does is entirely his own choice."
"We've never asked him to do any of it."
"In fact, he always shows up carrying those oversized lunchboxes."
"Now everyone thinks we're complete scumbags."
"They think we're making a physically weak Mental Power User carry heavy meals, prepare sauces for us, and deliver food."
"It makes it look like we're abusing him."
"When people ask whether someone's been bullying him..."
"He never explains."
"He only says, 'Nobody made me do it. I wanted to.'"
Nan Zhen turned his sarcastic gaze toward Song Xiaoyu.
"Do you know what happens after he says that?"
"Instead of understanding the situation..."
"Everyone becomes even more convinced that we're tormenting him."
"We're completely innocent."
"If you insist on doing all this, couldn't you at least be a little discreet?"
"No..."
"Forget discreet."
"Every single time, you deliberately choose the busiest moments to approach us."
"Whenever people ask you questions, you either shake your head or stay completely silent."
"On the rare occasions you speak, all you say is, 'I did it willingly.'"
"Who wouldn't misunderstand that?"
"You really think we don't know exactly what you're trying to accomplish?"
The brothers spoke one sentence after another.
Song Xiaoyu remained silent throughout.
Meanwhile, Song Xiaomei looked back and forth between them, completely panicked.
Everything had escalated so quickly.
Had it all started because of her?
She'd only complained a little because she felt sorry for how hard her brother had been working.
How had things turned into this?
Only after recovering from her shock did she hear Nan Yun's final words.
"Enough."
"Stop following us."
"And don't come looking for us anymore."
"Honestly..."
"You're really becoming annoying."
Song Xiaomei had intended to stay quiet.
But those words finally pushed her over the edge.
"What do you mean?!"
"If you don't like him, then fine!"
"But why do you have to say something so hurtful?"
"Is this really the upbringing of the Nan family?"
Nan Yun curled his lips into a mocking smile.
"You two really are strange."
"You're the ones who insisted on approaching us."
"You're the ones who keep bringing us things we neither need nor intend to eat."
"I honestly don't know what the point is."
"Since you've been following us, you should already know that for quite a while now, neither of us has accepted food from anyone."
"We only eat meals we cook ourselves or food from the academy cafeteria."
Then his tone suddenly shifted.
"But your brother seems especially determined to bring us things."
"Especially things we absolutely don't need."
"It's honestly ridiculous."
"The academy has a huge cafeteria."
"The ingredients are top quality."
"The chefs are among the best."
"The food tastes excellent."
"And yet your brother skips breakfast there."
"He'd rather risk being late to class by running outside the academy just to buy breakfast and bring it to us."
"Don't you think that's strange?"
"Why would we ignore the excellent breakfast in the cafeteria just to wait for him to bring us ordinary food that doesn't even taste very good?"
Song Xiaomei stared blankly before slowly turning toward her brother.
"Brother..."
"You... really did all that?"
Song Xiaoyu didn't know how to answer.
Before Nan Yun had bluntly pointed everything out...
He'd never realized how strange his actions appeared.
Now that it had all been laid bare...
Even he thought his behavior seemed rather bizarre.
But he'd already done it.
And every action had been sincere.
So...
He didn't regret any of it.
"I don't regret it."
"I know I did it willingly."
"I just wanted more opportunities to spend time with you."
"I hoped..."
"Maybe..."
Everyone present could understand what Song Xiaoyu meant.
Likewise...
Everyone knew the Nan brothers had rejected him from the very beginning.
Because of that, opinions throughout the academy had split into two camps.
Those supporting Song Xiaoyu believed that pursuing someone as a physically weaker Mental Power User already required tremendous courage.
Even if the confession wasn't accepted...
The brothers should at least show him basic respect.
Instead, they remained cold and indifferent.
Those supporting the Nan brothers held a different view.
Mental Power Users certainly enjoyed many privileges.
But choosing a partner wasn't solely their decision.
The Empire had never granted Mental Power Users the right to force anyone into becoming their future spouse.
Besides...
The brothers had rejected him so clearly.
Continuing to pursue them at that point was simply shameless.
Many people admitted they had never imagined a Mental Power User could be so thick-skinned.
For a long time, Ability Users had believed Mental Power Users were delicate, aloof, short-tempered people who constantly needed to be coaxed.
There was another reason many opposed Song Xiaoyu.
The first was his identity as a member of the Song family.
The second...
After watching him pursue someone for nearly two months...
Nobody could actually tell which brother he was pursuing.
Every time he approached them, both brothers were together.
Everything he prepared came in pairs.
Nothing suggested he favored one over the other.
That made the entire situation extremely strange.
Was there some hidden motive?
People also noticed that Nan Yun and Nan Zhen treated everyone else with basic courtesy.
Only Song Xiaoyu received such an icy attitude.
Combined with his bizarre way of courting them...
Many began wondering whether he'd accidentally crossed one of their taboos.
Perhaps he'd spoken badly about Nan Yu in front of them.
That would certainly explain why both brothers disliked him so much.
Soon afterward, however, someone posted a clarification.
The matter had nothing to do with Nan Yu.
Unfortunately...
The poster refused to reveal the real reason.
The discussion quickly died down.
At the end of that thread, the original poster declared that within one month they would uncover proof and give everyone a huge surprise.
Only three days remained before that deadline.
Nan Yun and Nan Zhen had no idea whether the poster truly had evidence.
Still...
Both brothers had been quietly following that thread.
Because the poster had sounded so absolutely certain, many people continued watching the discussion, waiting for the promised revelation.
All they could do...
Was wait.
After collecting herself, Song Xiaomei still chose to stand beside her brother.
He was her brother, after all.
As his younger sister...
She naturally sided with family.
"Aren't you Ability Users supposed to give way to Mental Power Users?"
"My brother came here out of kindness."
"He brought you gifts because he cares."
"He keeps following you because he likes you."
"If you don't want to accept it..."
"Then at least don't stop my brother from treating you well."
"He just likes you."
Nan Yun and Nan Zhen stared at her in complete disbelief.
What...
Had she just said?
Neither of them was quite sure they'd heard correctly.
Fortunately, treatment finished at that moment.
The brothers climbed off their beds.
They stretched their arms and legs, adjusting to their newly healed bodies.
Everything felt a little stiff.
Only after moving around for a while did they feel normal again.
Just as they prepared to leave, Song Xiaoyu stepped in front of the doorway.
"Wait."
The brothers stopped.
Neither had any intention of laying a hand on a Mental Power User.
If he had something to say...
They would simply let him finish.
Nan Yun spoke first.
"If you've got something to say, then say it."
"But after that, stop bothering us."
"We're really not suitable for each other."
"No..."
"Actually, Nan Zhen should be the one saying this."
"You keep claiming you like us."
"But after all this time..."
"Neither of us can even tell which one of us you're supposedly in love with."
"So why don't you answer that question for us?"
"It'll clear up not only our confusion..."
"But everyone else's as well."
"I'm sure plenty of people want to know."
Song Xiaoyu lowered his head.
"I..."
"The person I like is..."
"It's..."
"Actually..."
He suddenly froze.
This time, however...
His gaze rested squarely on Nan Yun.
So the person he truly liked...
Was Nan Yun.
Most likely, because Nan Yun always appeared especially cold, Song Xiaoyu had feared gifts intended only for him would be rejected.
So he had simply brought enough for both brothers instead.
Choosing crowded places had probably been another strategy.
He hoped they might accept the gifts in front of so many witnesses.
Unfortunately...
It had never worked.
The brothers still refused every single time.
Nan Yun sighed.
"I'm sorry."
"Our current goal is becoming stronger."
"After graduation, we're joining Marshal Yu Lanfeng's legion."
"We're going to pass every assessment through our own abilities."
"We simply don't have time to think about marriage or starting a family."
"So it's still far too early for this."
However...
Song Xiaoyu had come prepared.
He picked up one of the items he'd brought earlier.
It was a small spray bottle, no larger than his palm.
Before anyone could react...
He aimed it at the brothers and sprayed twice.
Nan Yun and Nan Zhen instantly covered their noses and mouths while retreating.
But because they'd been completely unprepared...
Both had inhaled a tiny amount.
Whatever it was...
It definitely wasn't harmless.
Within only two seconds...
Their vision began spinning.
Five seconds later...
Both brothers collapsed unconscious onto the floor.
Song Xiaomei stared in horror.
"Brother!"
"What are you doing?!"
"What did you use?!"
"What is that?!"
"Where did you get it?"
"Our family shouldn't have anything like that!"
Song Xiaoyu's gentle expression disappeared completely.
He glared at her viciously.
"Stop causing trouble!"
"I brought you here to help."
"Not to get in my way."
"Come over here and help me!"
Song Xiaomei had thought her brother wanted moral support while pursuing someone.
She had never imagined...
This was the kind of "help" he meant.
"Brother..."
"Do you even know what you're doing?"
"This is the academy!"
"The Royal Military Academy of the Capital Star!"
"And this is the medical ward!"
"Every doctor here knows they're receiving treatment."
"They're supposed to leave in thirty minutes."
"When we came in, plenty of instructors saw us enter this room too."
"If all four of us quietly disappear together now..."
"Anyone with half a brain will know we're involved."
A flicker of hesitation crossed Song Xiaoyu's eyes.
But it vanished almost immediately.
He remained resolute.
"What do you know?"
Song Xiaomei blinked.
"What?"
Song Xiaoyu looked at the unconscious brothers.
"I really..."
"Really love them."
Song Xiaomei froze.
"...Huh?"
"You don't understand."
"You don't understand how I feel about them."
She frowned in confusion.
"What do you mean... them?"
"Wait..."
"Don't tell me you...!"
The corners of Song Xiaoyu's lips curled upward.
"So..."
"You figured it out?"
Song Xiaomei stared at him.
"What are you thinking, Brother?"
"Forget that."
"That isn't important."
"The important thing is..."
"What are you planning to do now?"
As soon as she finished speaking, she watched Song Xiaoyu casually put away the spray bottle.
Then he opened his backpack again.
This time...
He took out two syringes.
It was obvious he had prepared everything in advance.
"Brother!"
"What are those?!"
"You're going to inject them?!"
"You can't!"
"That's against Imperial law!"
"Even Mental Power Users are severely punished if they break the law!"
"The Empire protects us Mental Power Users..."
"But breaking the law still carries serious consequences!"
"Do you really not care anymore?"
"We're members of the Song family."
"Even if lots of people dislike us, as long as the Song family exists, our future is secure."
"Are you really going to destroy your own future with your own hands?"
Song Xiaoyu appeared to calm down.
Then he tilted his head slightly and looked back at her.
"You actually know quite a lot."
"You explained the law very convincingly."
"Planning to become a lawyer in the future?"
"But don't forget..."
"You're the one I invited here to help."
"Instead of stopping me..."
"You should be helping me."
"Otherwise..."
"If something goes wrong later..."
"I'll drag you into this too."
"What do you think?"
For the first time in her life...
Song Xiaomei felt as though she and her brother weren't siblings at all.
At first she'd believed everything was the Nan brothers' fault.
But now...
Her own brother seemed to have become some kind of lunatic.
She swallowed nervously.
"Brother..."
"Tell me one thing first."
"What exactly is inside those syringes?"