Chapter 131: Success
It wasn't that Nan Yu was arrogant.
It was simply that he possessed a cheat-like advantage. As long as his mental power was strong enough and flexible enough, anything that relied on mental ability was naturally much easier for him.
That was why he could keep up with Professor Liu's teaching pace.
As for whether Du Enyun could keep up...
Nan Yu honestly wasn't sure.
Or rather, he probably couldn't.
Otherwise, after discovering Nan Yu's astonishing learning ability, Professor Liu wouldn't have abandoned Du Enyun and chosen him instead.
It wasn't that Nan Yu didn't want Du Enyun to study alongside him.
He was simply worried that after experiencing this, Du Enyun might end up questioning his entire life.
The gap between them really was rather large.
However, Nan Yu also realized something.
Du Enyun knew far more than he did in many fields and possessed much more practical experience.
Perhaps in the beginning, things would actually be quite easy for him, because Professor Liu was currently teaching mostly foundational knowledge.
Even Nan Yu himself could tell that.
Du Enyun said, "I really do want to study together with you. It's Professor Liu's class. Sometimes even a casual remark from him is more valuable than several months of studying alone. If I can learn alongside him, I'm sure I'll gain a great deal."
Nan Yu asked, "But everything Professor Liu is teaching me right now is fairly basic. Won't you find it boring?"
Or rather...
Wouldn't it just be a waste of time?
Nan Yu could tell that, as one of the more famous doctors in the medical building, Du Enyun was extremely busy every day.
Du Enyun replied, "I'll make time for it, and it won't affect my current work. What do you think?"
Nan Yu blinked.
"Actually, that's something you should decide yourself. As long as you can convince Professor Liu, whether I agree or not doesn't really matter."
Du Enyun shook his head.
"How could it not matter? We'll be studying under Professor Liu together from now on. Of course I should ask for your opinion first. So... what do you think?"
Nan Yu took a deep breath.
"Of course I don't mind."
"I'd actually be happy to have someone studying with me."
"In that case, go talk to Professor Liu."
"Ultimately, he's the one who has to agree. Sorry, but I can't help you with that."
Du Enyun waved his hand.
"It's alright. This is my own business."
"I'll go find him now."
Du Enyun quickly left.
Nan Yu watched his departing figure before turning away himself.
His opinion of Du Enyun wasn't particularly good or bad.
If Du Enyun approached him, Nan Yu wouldn't deliberately provoke him.
If he didn't, Nan Yu certainly wouldn't take the initiative either.
...
After returning to his residence, Nan Yu immediately began reviewing everything Professor Liu had taught that day.
Whenever there was something he didn't fully understand, he listened to the recordings.
Actually...
He had recorded the entire lesson.
Listening to it again was equivalent to attending the class a second time.
Whenever Professor Liu branched into related topics, Nan Yu would also search for additional references and professional explanations on the StarNet.
That way, he could understand Professor Liu's lessons much more thoroughly.
His learning speed was astonishing.
Before nightfall, he had already finished reviewing everything.
Not long after shutting down the StarNet, Yu Lanfeng returned.
His expression didn't look particularly good.
Nan Yu immediately asked,
"What happened? Did something go wrong?"
Yu Lanfeng shook his head.
"Not exactly."
"I had secretly arranged for some people to live in another country. They've sent back information saying they spotted Bai Zhouyun there."
"They also said he's spending money lavishly, as though he's extremely wealthy."
Nan Yu blinked.
"So... it's true?"
Yu Lanfeng shook his head again.
"Right now it's only an unconfirmed report."
"We still don't know whether it's true."
"There aren't any videos or photos yet."
"We're waiting for additional evidence."
"I'll tell you as soon as it arrives."
Nan Yu thought for a moment before shaking his head.
"You don't have to tell me."
"It doesn't matter anymore."
"I have nothing to do with him now."
Hearing that, Yu Lanfeng's tightly furrowed brows finally relaxed.
His mood visibly improved.
"Then let's eat first."
"I had the cafeteria send dinner over."
"Eat a little more later."
Nan Yu leaned comfortably against him.
"Alright."
...
Yu Lanfeng actually knew everything that had happened in the medical building.
However, since nothing truly serious had occurred, he hadn't interfered.
If those people had actually crossed his bottom line...
Simple dismissal would have been the lightest punishment.
Fortunately, they had restrained themselves.
Still...
Emptying Nan Yu's office had gone a bit too far.
Yu Lanfeng quietly considered how he could teach them a small lesson afterward without allowing them to suspect Nan Yu.
That way, Nan Yu himself wouldn't even know they had been punished and therefore wouldn't accidentally expose anything.
After much thought, Yu Lanfeng ultimately decided to leave the matter to several people inside the medical building who already disliked that group.
Naturally...
Nan Yu knew absolutely nothing about any of this.
His attention remained fixed on skipping grades.
"Oh, by the way."
"Have you settled everything with the academy?"
Yu Lanfeng answered,
"Don't rush."
"Even if everything is approved, you'll still need about a year before graduating and taking the graduation assessment."
"So being anxious won't help."
Nan Yu thought about it.
That was true.
"Then make sure you tell me as soon as there's any news."
"No problem."
...
The next morning, when Nan Yu arrived at the medical building, he unexpectedly saw Du Enyun standing at the entrance chatting happily with two people.
The moment Du Enyun noticed Nan Yu entering, he excused himself and walked over.
"You're here."
"You came a little late."
Nan Yu checked the time.
"No."
"I actually arrived fairly early."
"It isn't that I came late."
"It's that you came early."
Du Enyun laughed helplessly.
"Fine."
"I'll admit I came early."
"But I was too excited about attending Professor Liu's class to sleep."
"By the way..."
"Weren't you so excited before that you couldn't sleep either?"
Nan Yu smiled.
"I was excited."
"But I still slept very well."
"If you don't get enough sleep, you'll have no energy for class the next day."
Having been effortlessly countered several times in a row, even Du Enyun's excellent patience was beginning to crack.
Fortunately, Nan Yu noticed immediately.
"We've already been chatting for quite a while."
"If we don't go upstairs now, we'll be late."
After saying that, Nan Yu headed upstairs.
Du Enyun paused briefly before quickly following him.
Yesterday, he'd put in tremendous effort before Professor Liu finally agreed.
If problems arose during their very first lesson together...
It would definitely be his fault.
So he had to do everything possible to keep up with Nan Yu's learning pace.
Besides...
Even if these were subjects he'd learned before, hearing Professor Liu explain them again would undoubtedly still be beneficial.
...
Nan Yu knocked.
After receiving permission, he entered the office and sat down at his desk, quickly beginning today's studies.
Du Enyun chose the seat directly opposite him.
Both of them took out their materials and started reviewing.
But soon, Nan Yu realized something.
Shouldn't Du Enyun be doing his own work right now?
Why was he still here?
Was attending Professor Liu's lessons really that important?
Surely he already knew most of this material.
Could it simply be because Professor Liu had repeatedly kept Nan Yu behind after class, and rumors had begun circulating that Nan Yu would become his successor?
But...
Everyone knew Nan Yu could never remain here as Professor Liu's successor.
Nan Yu was a Mental Power User.
Not just any Mental Power User.
He was an exceptionally powerful one.
That meant his future would never be limited to medicine alone.
He had come here simply to learn how to combine medical knowledge with the use of mental power.
Otherwise...
Patients might die before he managed to completely remove their Mental Contamination.
That would truly be the greatest tragedy.
Which was why Nan Yu wanted to learn as much as possible.
When the time came...
That knowledge would certainly prove invaluable.
Nan Yu was proving his beliefs through his actions.
As for Du Enyun...
Nan Yu couldn't shake the feeling that he was simply competing against him.
As one of the finest doctors in the medical building, he was spending all his daytime hours here studying.
Was he planning to work overnight treating patients instead?
Although those thoughts crossed Nan Yu's mind...
He said nothing.
Because, in the end, this had nothing to do with him.
It was entirely Du Enyun's own choice.
...
About two hours later, Professor Liu arrived to personally guide Nan Yu.
He sat beside him with several textbooks and began today's lesson.
Nan Yu listened attentively.
As always...
He secretly recorded everything.
Later, after returning home, he intended to listen several more times.
Perhaps Professor Liu already knew he was recording.
Whenever he lectured, every word was pronounced clearly.
Every detail was explained thoroughly.
Nan Yu understood everything with remarkable ease.
Afterward, Nan Yu asked several questions.
Professor Liu answered every single one patiently.
Then Professor Liu asked Nan Yu a few questions in return.
After hearing the answers...
He nodded in satisfaction before leaving.
Only then did Nan Yu finally realize something felt strange.
From beginning to end...
Professor Liu had only been teaching him.
Meanwhile, Du Enyun sat opposite them looking completely calm, as though nothing about this surprised him.
Almost as if...
Everything had already been arranged beforehand.
The corner of Nan Yu's mouth twitched.
Could it be...
When Du Enyun said he wanted to study together...
He had meant that Professor Liu didn't need to teach him personally.
He simply wanted to sit nearby and listen.
That...
Was honestly rather impressive.
Nan Yu genuinely admired that determination.
But the price he paid was enormous.
First of all...
Instead of treating patients during working hours, one of the medical building's top doctors was sitting here relearning material he had already mastered.
As one of the best doctors, he should have understood all of these fundamentals with ease.
When Professor Liu heard such a request...
He had probably felt disappointed.
Still...
It was the same conclusion as before.
This was Du Enyun's own decision.
No one had forced him.
Nan Yu even suspected that, after he eventually left, Professor Liu's original intention of accepting Du Enyun as a disciple had probably been completely ruined by this single decision.
After all...
No professor would choose a student who acted this way.
Especially not someone like Professor Liu, whose standards were incredibly high.
Now Nan Yu actually felt a little sorry for Du Enyun.
He probably still hadn't realized any of this.
He simply believed Nan Yu had stolen the position of Professor Liu's disciple.
So he had come here hoping to demonstrate his own ability and knowledge.
Perhaps then...
Professor Liu would choose him again.
Nan Yu sighed inwardly.
Forget it.
There was no point thinking about it anymore.
...
Royal Military Academy of the Capital Star.
Principal's Office.
The principal looked awkwardly at the man seated across from him.
Everything Yu Lanfeng had said sounded perfectly reasonable.
But...
Their academy had never—
Well...
Actually, there had been precedents.
They were simply extremely rare.
Since the academy's founding countless years ago, only Yu Lanfeng had ever graduated early through sheer ability and comprehensive evaluation.
No second person had ever appeared.
Well...
Perhaps there was one exception.
Nan Yu's mental power value.
That alone represented immeasurable worth.
Nan Yu's value simply couldn't be ignored.
The principal's hands trembled slightly.
"Well..."
"This really isn't something I can decide by myself."
"As for allowing Nan Yu to skip grades..."
"Have you asked for his consent first?"
"After all, this isn't a minor matter."
Yu Lanfeng answered calmly,
"Of course."
"This is Nan Yu's own decision."
"As long as it's what he wants, I'll support him unconditionally."
"And as far as I'm concerned, Nan Yu's current achievements and abilities no longer require him to remain at the academy."
"Keeping him there is only wasting his talent."
"Once he graduates, it'll coincide perfectly with the outbreak of Ability Beast activity along the borders."
"If he accompanies me then..."
"Who knows how many casualties could be prevented?"
"Wouldn't you agree?"
The principal nervously wiped the sweat from his forehead.
"How about this, Marshal..."
"Please give us another two days."
"I'll discuss the matter with the academy's senior leadership."
"If nobody objects..."
"I'll naturally approve it."
Yu Lanfeng looked at him.
"Who exactly will be involved?"
"I think I should speak with them personally."
The principal's lips twitched.
Only now did he fully realize...
Yu Lanfeng was absolutely determined to make Nan Yu skip grades.
There was no possibility of delaying things any longer.
"That... won't be necessary."
"I guarantee you'll receive a definite answer within three days."
"How about that?"
"Oh, and during that time..."
"We'll still need Nan Yu to come here in person."
"This isn't a small matter."
"We also need to confirm everything directly with him."
Yu Lanfeng nodded.
"No problem."
"I'll bring him here tomorrow."
"I hope you'll handle this matter carefully."
"Of course."
Yu Lanfeng didn't stay long.
The fact that he had come personally already meant he had squeezed time out of an impossibly busy schedule.
Now he had to return immediately to deal with official business.
Everything he'd said about the borders was true.
Before long...
Ability Beasts would begin rampaging again.
He would have no choice but to head to the front lines.
And when that happened...
Nan Yu would remain on the Capital Star.
No matter how many guards Yu Lanfeng left behind, he would never truly feel at ease.
So before leaving personally...
He had to ensure the academy approved Nan Yu's accelerated graduation.
He also had to obtain permission for Nan Yu to accompany the military into battle.
Which meant...
Yu Lanfeng still had far more work to do.
...
Meanwhile, Nan Yu continued studying diligently under Professor Liu.
Only a few days were enough for Du Enyun to truly understand how terrifying Nan Yu's learning speed really was.
If it had been him...
He also would have chosen a student like Nan Yu as his final disciple.
Not someone as ordinary as himself.
What Du Enyun failed to realize was that he himself was already outstanding.
At such a young age, he possessed authority, extensive knowledge, exceptional medical skill, and the admiration of countless people.
Yet now...
He had completely trapped himself inside the belief that Nan Yu was simply too amazing and that he could never compare.
Meanwhile, Nan Yu immersed himself entirely in studying.
He had completely forgotten about Du Enyun these past few days.
He barely spoke to him at all.
Professor Liu, delighted by how easy Nan Yu was to teach, devoted all his attention to him as well.
As a result...
Both of them naturally ignored Du Enyun.
...
That afternoon, just as Nan Yu was leaving in high spirits after another satisfying day of study, Du Enyun suddenly stopped him outside the building.
Nan Yu frowned slightly.
"Do you need something?"
Nan Yu was a Mental Power User.
Du Enyun was an Ability User.
If an Ability User dared attack a Mental Power User...
He would be arrested immediately.
Remaining in the legion afterward would be almost impossible.
Fortunately, Du Enyun had no intention of using force.
Instead, he frowned and asked,
"Why do you learn so fast?"
Nan Yu answered honestly,
"Learning has a lot to do with mental ability."
"Have you forgotten what I am?"
"My mental power is much stronger than that of ordinary Mid-Tier Mental Power Users."
"Do you understand now?"
Du Enyun froze.
"You mean..."
"Mental Power Users with stronger mental power are naturally better at learning?"
"But then why..."
Nan Yu shook his head.
"You still don't understand."
"I'm saying that my mental power is much stronger than that of ordinary Mid-Tier Mental Power Users."
"And I'm genuinely interested in this field."
"I truly want to learn."
"My mental power is also more sensitive and much more flexible."
"That's why I learn so quickly."
Du Enyun blinked.
"So..."
"It's not that my talent is inferior."
"It's simply because I'm not a Mental Power User?"
Nan Yu suddenly had the urge to roll his eyes.
How many times had he repeated it already?
The reason was that his own mental power was exceptionally strong.
He was a special case.
Not every Mental Power User could do this.
Watching Du Enyun walk away wearing an expression of complete enlightenment, as though he'd finally understood everything, Nan Yu instantly lost all desire to explain further.
If he wanted to misunderstand...
Then let him continue misunderstanding.
It wasn't a big deal anyway.
Nan Yu watched him head toward his own office before turning away himself.
Just before leaving, however, he remembered the office Du Enyun had supposedly redecorated for him.
Since he'd been studying with Professor Liu every day, he hadn't visited it once.
Perhaps...
He should go take a look now.
After all...
Whether he used it or not, it was still his office.
Surely nobody would—
As he reached the door, he noticed it wasn't completely closed.
Faint voices drifted out from inside.
Someone was there?
The corner of Nan Yu's mouth twitched.
He slowly pushed the door open.
Someone sat behind the desk, organizing documents.
When the person saw Nan Yu, she looked surprised.
"Hello?"
"Can I help you?"
Nan Yu looked at her expressionlessly.
"Are you new here?"
She hesitated before nervously nodding.
"Yes... Senior."
"Is something wrong?"
Nan Yu asked calmly,
"Is this your office?"
She nodded again.
"Yes."
"This is my office."
"When did you arrive?"
"I've been here about three or four days."
"Who brought you here and told you this office belonged to you?"
The young woman became even more nervous.
So this office really wasn't hers...
She had thought it seemed much nicer than the others when she first arrived.
Now it turned out there really was a problem.
"I-I..."
"I don't remember."
"I just know a senior brought me here..."
"He said this would be my office from now on..."
"I really didn't know..."
Nan Yu narrowed his eyes slightly.
From the corner of his vision, he noticed someone hiding around the nearby corner.
He let out a long sigh.
"Forget it."
"I wasn't planning to come back here anyway."
"If you're using it, then just use it."
He turned and walked away.
But once again...
He didn't even make it out of the building before someone stopped him.
"Comrade Nan Yu, wait a second."
"Why are you leaving so quickly?"
Nan Yu looked at the man before him.
He didn't know his name.
But the face was familiar.
When he had eaten with Du Enyun before, this man had been loudly egging everyone on.
He had also participated in emptying Nan Yu's office.
As for whether today's incident was also his doing...
That remained to be seen.
Nan Yu asked calmly,
"Do you need something?"
The man smiled awkwardly.
"Nothing important."
"I just wanted to explain."
"She's new."
"She got in through connections."
"Before she arrived, we hadn't assigned her an office."
"So we temporarily let her use yours."
"After all, she has powerful backing."
"People like us can't afford to offend someone like that."
"So, Comrade Nan Yu..."
"Please be magnanimous."
"Can you forgive us?"
Nan Yu glanced at him before looking at the young woman standing behind him.
She looked very young.
Probably a recent graduate.
She also appeared timid and obviously uneasy about the entire situation.
She didn't resemble someone with influential backing at all.
Nan Yu slowly turned back toward the man before him.
His voice was calm.
"...Do you really think..."
"...that the reason I never pursued any of these incidents from the beginning..."
"...is because I was afraid of all of you?"