Chapter 102: Tedious
Nan Yu was especially cautious about the second round.
After all, both volunteers had been provided by the other side, meaning they were the ones most likely to tamper with something.
But to Nan Yu, even an Ability User like Zheng Fengyin's older brother, whose Mental Contamination had already reached S-rank, could be saved.
Not to mention anyone else.
No matter how many tricks Wu De wanted to play, there was no way he could openly hand Nan Yu an A-rank contaminated Ability User while secretly giving himself an S-rank patient disguised as A-rank.
Anyone could see through something that obvious.
So Nan Yu simply waited to see where exactly they intended to cheat.
What Nan Yu didn't know was that Yu Lanfeng had quietly arrived at the academy long before the match began with several people under his command.
They were watching the competition from a nearby rooftop.
Compared with battles between Ability Users, competitions between Mental Power Users really weren't entertaining at all.
They were as bland and flavorless as plain boiled water.
Yet Yu Lanfeng watched with complete concentration.
Perhaps because the person he cared about was standing over there.
As for why the plan against Bai Zhouyun hadn't been carried out earlier, that was also because of today's competition.
It was their own affair.
No matter how unpleasant these allied delegates were or how insignificant their status might be, they were still representatives of an allied nation.
If news broke right now that Nan Yu was engaged to a complete piece of trash, and the matter exploded into a huge scandal...
Those people would certainly spread the story everywhere after returning home.
They would loudly proclaim that the Empire actually allowed such a worthless Ability User to be engaged to such an outstanding Mental Power User.
It would be an insult to the Mental Power User.
Then they would boast about how much better their own country treated Mental Power Users.
In short, they would seize every opportunity to belittle another nation while glorifying their own.
That way, their own citizens would become even more convinced that their country was superior while every other nation was inferior.
It also strengthened patriotism and unity.
Even if such a minor incident wouldn't really matter in the grand scheme of things...
Yu Lanfeng simply didn't want news of Nan Yu's engagement to Bai Zhouyun spreading overseas.
Within the Empire, everyone who needed to know already knew.
But they were all fellow citizens.
Most people sympathized deeply with Nan Yu while looking down on Bai Zhouyun with equal parts contempt and jealousy.
So...
No matter what, Yu Lanfeng would never allow Nan Yu to lose face or become a weakness for foreigners to exploit.
Once this delegation left, they could officially begin putting their plan into action.
He only hoped nothing unexpected happened on his sister's side.
Thinking about it, Yu Lanfeng sighed inwardly.
Even if something did go wrong, it didn't matter.
He would be watching everything from behind.
He would ensure that not a single mistake occurred.
When his gaze returned to the platform, both volunteers had already stepped onto it.
To prove they hadn't cheated, the two Ability Users immediately underwent Mental Contamination testing on stage.
Their readings differed by less than ten points.
The difference was negligible.
Over the past several days, both volunteers had deliberately consumed large amounts of Ability Beast meat while refusing all Mental Power treatment.
Their Mental Contamination had therefore risen to A-rank.
They could still remain conscious from time to time, but they were under tremendous psychological torment.
Occasionally they even lost control and tried smashing things or attacking people.
Fortunately, both volunteers were tightly restrained.
Neither could move.
Since the volunteers had been provided by the allied nation, the Empire had supplied the restraints.
They guaranteed that even if someone's physical strength increased tenfold, they still wouldn't be able to break free.
Nan Yu felt absolutely no psychological pressure.
As soon as the competition officially began, he and Wu De each stood beside a hospital bed.
Nan Yu extended both hands.
However, instead of immediately placing them beside the volunteer's head, he shifted them sideways, gently securing both sides of the man's head with his palms.
That way, the volunteer couldn't suddenly turn around.
After all, although the rest of his body was restrained, his head wasn't.
Nan Yu didn't want to risk being bitten.
Holding him from this angle allowed Nan Yu's hands to move together with any sudden motion.
No matter how violently the volunteer struggled, he wouldn't be bitten.
Satisfied, Nan Yu released his Mental Power.
It quietly entered the volunteer's Mental Sea.
Perhaps because he had previously treated Lan Feng, Qin Wenxing, Zheng Fengyin's older brother, and numerous severely contaminated patients at the hospital...
Being cautious had already become second nature.
Every time he treated an Ability User, he carefully controlled his Mental Power when entering their Mental Sea.
He never allowed carelessness to create unnecessary danger.
This time, however, such concerns weren't really necessary.
Wu De genuinely wanted to win.
But these two volunteers had accompanied him from his own country.
He couldn't very well sacrifice them simply to frame someone from the Empire.
He still intended to bring them home safely.
That was precisely why he had insisted on using volunteers from his own side.
He feared the Empire would secretly cheat.
But when he watched Nan Yu completely eliminate all of the volunteer's Mental Contamination in only ten minutes...
He simply couldn't believe it.
It was utterly unbelievable.
Meanwhile, apart from Wu De and his delegation, everyone from the Empire looked completely unsurprised.
A few people briefly showed astonishment before quickly calming down.
Those who remained perfectly calm had seen this many times before.
Nan Yu occasionally worked part-time in the academy's medical office.
Although he only worked a handful of hours each month, over time many students had personally witnessed just how fast he was.
Those who looked shocked were simply people who had never seen it in person before.
Even so, they had heard countless stories.
After the initial surprise, they quickly accepted it.
Wu De and his people, however...
Couldn't.
His emotions wavered.
His concentration broke.
His Mental Power was forced out of the volunteer's Mental Sea.
His purification work hadn't even reached one-tenth completion.
Meanwhile...
Nan Yu had already finished.
It looked so effortless.
As though it had been nothing more than a trivial task.
Only now did Wu De finally realize that the Empire's reputation for having the strongest Mid-Tier Mental Power User was no exaggeration.
His strength was real.
His appearance was every bit as handsome as rumored.
But...
But...
Suppressing the overwhelming frustration in his heart, Wu De suddenly shouted at Nan Yu.
"Even if you win, it doesn't matter! I'll never approve of you being with Marshal Yu! Marshal Yu belongs to me! He's mine!"
After shouting those words, Wu De immediately turned around and ran away.
He abandoned one volunteer whose Mental Contamination had already been purified and whose restraints had been removed...
As well as the other volunteer who was still suffering from Mental Contamination.
Nan Yu blinked.
He clearly hadn't taken those words to heart.
The surrounding spectators also found the outburst rather amusing.
Everyone knew what kind of person Yu Lanfeng was.
Naturally, nobody took Wu De seriously.
Nan Yu casually walked over to the second volunteer's bedside and purified his Mental Contamination as well.
Afterward, one of the academy's teachers came forward and escorted both volunteers away.
The winner of the competition was naturally Nan Yu.
But in Nan Yu's opinion...
The entire match had simply been a waste of time.
He would rather have spent that time doing something enjoyable.
Nan Yu and Yang Zhou soon left the academy together.
Yang Zhou couldn't help complaining.
"That guy is unbelievable. Those two volunteers are from his own country, aren't they? The moment he lost, he just ran away. He completely abandoned his own people."
"And honestly, I don't think those volunteers were really volunteers. He probably forced them into agreeing."
Nan Yu sighed.
"It isn't our business. Let them handle their own affairs."
Although many people heard Wu De's declaration before he fled...
Almost nobody took it seriously.
They simply assumed he regarded every outstanding Mental Power User as his romantic rival.
A rival whom Marshal Yu didn't even acknowledge.
Everyone found it ridiculous.
A foreigner actually dared dream of becoming the partner of the Empire's strongest Marshal.
It was nothing but wishful thinking.
Compared with Wu De...
Everyone unanimously felt that even if the Marshal chose an ordinary citizen, it would still be better than choosing Wu De.
At least that person would be from the Empire.
Besides, although Wu De was indeed a talented Mid-Tier Mental Power User...
One look was enough to tell he wasn't a decent person.
He was at least twice Nan Yu's age.
Yet look at Nan Yu.
So mature.
So sensible.
And then look at Wu De.
He abandoned a volunteer who was still suffering from Mental Contamination and stormed off in anger.
Anyone who hadn't witnessed the competition might have thought he was the victim.
Fortunately...
Nan Yu had stepped in and helped.
By the time these rumors began spreading, Wu De had already boarded the starship returning to his own country.
He knew nothing about what people were saying.
After boarding, he did briefly remember the Ability User he had abandoned.
However, he had spent so many years acting superior that apologizing never even crossed his mind.
Nor did he think about seeking the man out himself.
Instead, he waited.
He expected someone to bring the volunteer back.
Once they came looking for him...
Only then would he deal with it.
But he waited...
And waited...
The starship departed the Capital Star.
Escorted—or rather monitored—by several Imperial military warships, it traveled through space for several days.
Yet...
Nobody ever came looking for him.
He found it rather strange.
But his pride wouldn't allow him to ask.
Since nobody mentioned it...
He decided to pretend nothing had happened.
After all...
They didn't need his help anymore, did they?
The remaining Ability Users didn't think that way at all.
The person they had escorted with complete loyalty had demanded that their comrades rapidly consume enormous quantities of Ability Beast meat.
All so their Mental Contamination would reach A-rank and they could serve as volunteers for his competition.
Then, after barely purifying a tiny portion of the contamination...
He abandoned them completely.
And on top of that, he shouted such shameless nonsense.
When had Marshal Yu Lanfeng ever paid him the slightest bit of attention?
What shocked them even more...
Was that Nan Yu had been the one to save them.
Under normal circumstances, deliberately raising Mental Contamination to A-rank in such a short period, then immediately removing it during a competition...
Would itself place tremendous strain on an Ability User's Mental Sea.
There had already been countless precedents proving this.
But they hadn't had a choice.
Wu De had repeatedly insisted he feared the Empire would cheat.
Only volunteers from their own side could be trusted.
And what happened?
Nothing.
All that talk about fearing the Empire would cheat because they couldn't beat him...
In the end...
Wu De simply couldn't compare to Nan Yu.
Ten minutes.
Just ten minutes.
The first thing everyone worried about was whether their comrades' Mental Seas had suffered permanent damage.
But they were immediately proven wrong.
Both volunteers purified by Nan Yu were full of energy.
There wasn't the slightest abnormality.
After returning to the starship, comprehensive examinations confirmed they were in excellent health.
By then...
The group had gone beyond mere surprise.
They were almost in a daze.
"He's incredible. There weren't any side effects at all. Before this, when my Mental Contamination reached B-rank and he purified it, it was fast and effective... but the side effects were awful."
The speaker still vividly remembered the sensation.
It had felt as though someone had split open his skull and stirred his brain around with both hands.
The pain had been unbearable.
Nan Yu knew absolutely nothing about the favorable impression he had left on members of the allied nation.
He had simply done what he believed was right.
Those two volunteers had lain on that platform, placing their trust in Mental Power Users.
Wu De had betrayed the trust of those two Ability User soldiers.
But Nan Yu couldn't simply walk away.
This was the Empire.
Even if he were only putting on appearances...
He still had to behave as he should.
Yang Zhou looked at him.
"Hey, were you even listening to what I was saying?"
"I was."
"You were?"
"You said Wu De is shameless. That claiming Marshal Yu Lanfeng belongs to him and insisting they'll definitely end up together is nothing but wishful thinking. It'll never happen."
Yang Zhou looked completely matter-of-fact.
"Was I wrong?"
Nan Yu thought about it.
Although Yang Zhou had sounded a little emotional...
And his choice of words wasn't exactly refined...
Everything he said was completely correct.
Because...
That person belonged to him.
Nan Yu had heard every word Wu De shouted.
Naturally, he wasn't happy about it.
But he couldn't say anything.
He couldn't even let his expression change.
Otherwise...
People would notice.
He had endured Bai Zhouyun for so long in order to remain the wronged party.
If all that effort were ruined by a single facial expression...
Wouldn't that be a complete waste?
Thinking of Bai Zhouyun reminded Nan Yu of something.
Only then did he realize that Bai Zhouyun hadn't appeared in front of him for quite some time.
Where had he gone?
Then he remembered what Bai Zhouyun had told him before.
Had he really gone to take those prohibited drugs?
Even if he had...
So what?
He chose to take them himself.
Nan Yu had never forced him.
Besides...
This lifetime, Bai Zhouyun was still hopelessly entangled with Yun Feiyu.
Some things truly never changed.
His nature remained exactly the same as in the previous life.
Secretly carrying on with Yun Feiyu behind his back.
The only difference...
Was that in this life, Bai Zhouyun actually knew how to flatter him, seek forgiveness, and genuinely put in effort.
In the previous life...
Bai Zhouyun had completely ignored him.
Meanwhile, Nan Yu had chased after him like a brainwashed idiot.
Every time Nan Yu thought about his former self...
He wanted to travel back in time and slap himself awake.
Unfortunately...
There was no medicine for regret.
All he could do now was try to forget that foolish, pig-headed version of himself.
"Nan Yu," Yang Zhou called.
"Why are you spacing out again?"
Nan Yu looked at him.
"What is it? Was there something important you wanted to tell me?"
"Of course! The video of Wu De challenging you has already been uploaded to the StarNet. Everyone's talking about how unbelievably fast you were! And people analyzed the volunteers after they woke up. Judging by their movements and expressions, they didn't have any discomfort at all!"
Nan Yu froze slightly.
Oh.
He had completely forgotten about that.
Normally, when an Ability User's Mental Contamination rose and fell dramatically over a short period, there would always be side effects.
Mental fog.
Nausea.
Symptoms similar to a mild concussion.
Those with strong constitutions usually recovered within a day or two.
Those with weaker constitutions often needed three or four days...
Or even an entire week.
That was why Ability Users generally avoided allowing their Mental Contamination level to rise too rapidly.
But those two volunteers had obviously forced themselves into that condition within a very short period of time.
For a time, Nan Yu became the center of attention.
Even people who had previously shown no interest in gossip about him joined the discussion.
The footage had come directly from the academy's surveillance system and the official videographers hired by the school.
There was no possibility of manipulation.
Everything was genuine.
People were fascinated by Nan Yu's incredible speed and the fact that his treatment produced no lingering side effects.
Within just a few hours, countless people were posting online that they intended to take the entrance examination for the Royal Military Academy of the Capital Star, hoping to enroll and have a face-to-face exchange with Senior Nan Yu.
As Nan Yu scrolled through those conversations, he couldn't help feeling embarrassed.
Yang Zhou grinned mischievously.
"Hehehe... Our Nan Yu has become a huge celebrity. So? Feels pretty good being famous, doesn't it?"
Nan Yu nodded.
"It does feel nice... but I have a feeling I won't have much freedom in the future."
Yang Zhou curled his lips.
"What freedom do you need? Until you graduate, you'll either be on the Capital Star, at school, at the hospital, at home, or over at my place. Wherever you go, you'll have people protecting you."
"And after graduation, you'll definitely join Marshal Yu's legion immediately. Nobody in the legion is going to chase after you all day, right? So honestly, becoming famous doesn't seem like it'll affect you much."
Nan Yu blinked.
After thinking about it...
That actually made perfect sense.
"Then after graduation, do you want to join Marshal Yu's legion with me?"
Yang Zhou spread his hands helplessly.
"What are you talking about? With my abilities? Forget whether they'd even want me—I don't really want to go myself."
Nan Yu looked surprised.
"Why not? Isn't Marshal Yu's legion great? The待遇 is excellent, it's very safe, and most importantly... the status is incredibly high."
Yang Zhou shook his head.
"I don't like hardship. I'd rather stay on the Capital Star, take a few commissions every now and then to earn some money, and spend the rest of my time playing games."
"That's the kind of carefree life that suits a lazy person like me."
"I can't even get up early."
Nan Yu had been about to persuade him.
But the moment he heard that last sentence...
He immediately gave up.
Military life definitely required getting up early every day.
Nan Yu could do that.
But Yang Zhou...
After knowing him for so long, Nan Yu had never met anyone who loved sleeping in quite as much as he did.
He honestly couldn't imagine Yang Zhou surviving in the military if he continued refusing to get out of bed until the very last second every morning.
"Forget it," Nan Yu said with a smile. "We're adults now. Everyone knows what they want, and only you know what kind of life suits you best. Since you don't want to join the legion with me, let's just keep in touch whenever we have time."
Yang Zhou nodded.
"I was thinking the same thing. Just don't forget about me after joining the legion."
"When you have time, contact me."
"I know there are all kinds of confidential things in the military, so just do whatever's convenient."
"I know."
When they reached the entrance to the residential complex, Nan Yu noticed an extremely familiar hovercraft slowly coming to a stop beside them.
Only after it landed did he remember.
It was Yu Lanfeng's usual, low-profile hovercraft.
Yang Zhou looked puzzled.
"Huh? Why did it stop here?"
A smile appeared on Nan Yu's face.
"It's here to pick me up."
"So I won't be staying at your place tonight."
Yang Zhou waved dismissively.
"That's fine. I'll actually have an easier time by myself."
"Tomorrow I won't have you dragging me out of bed..."
"...Hm?"
Suddenly something occurred to him.
Nan Yu had installed an absolutely inhuman alarm clock in his apartment.
It couldn't be dismantled.
It couldn't be smashed.
Even if he hid in another room, that demonic alarm would still reach his ears.
It was pure torture.
Fortunately...
The alarm never rang during holidays.
That was one of the reasons Yang Zhou loved vacations so much.
Seeing that Yang Zhou genuinely didn't seem reluctant to part with him, Nan Yu finally turned and walked toward the hovercraft.
As soon as he sat down inside, he saw Yu Lanfeng sitting there alone.
Or rather...
The hovercraft contained only the two of them.
Originally, Nan Yu intended to naturally sit in the seat right beside him.
But for some inexplicable reason...
His conscience felt guilty.
So he quietly shifted a little farther away.
Only about the width of a fist.
To Nan Yu, it didn't seem like much.
Yet the temperature inside the cabin seemed to drop noticeably.
Normally, Nan Yu was extremely good at reading the atmosphere.
But today...
It was as though he couldn't sense anything at all.
"By the way, Brother," he said, "what brings you here? Didn't I tell you I was staying at Yang Zhou's place tonight?"
Yu Lanfeng's tone remained perfectly calm.
There wasn't the slightest hint of emotion.
"I needed to talk to you."
Nan Yu nodded.
"What is it? Just tell me."
"If it's something I can do, I'll definitely do it."
Yu Lanfeng looked at him.
"Earlier, I saw Bai Zhouyun hiding in a corner, secretly staring at you."
The smile on Nan Yu's face froze.
No wonder...
During the competition, he had constantly felt as though a cold-blooded snake were watching him.
He had looked around several times without spotting anyone.
At the time, he'd simply assumed he wasn't wearing enough clothing.
But now...
Sure enough, it had something to do with Bai Zhouyun.
...Wait.
Something wasn't right.
If Yu Lanfeng knew Bai Zhouyun had been secretly watching him...
Didn't that mean Yu Lanfeng had also been there?
And had watched that incredibly short...
Incredibly boring competition from beginning to end?
Even worse...
He had also witnessed Bai Zhouyun's disturbingly obsessive behavior.
Just thinking about it made Nan Yu feel incredibly stifled.
Fortunately...
Bai Zhouyun had only dared lurk nearby and secretly watch him.
He hadn't dared step forward or do anything.
So Yu Lanfeng didn't really have much reason to be angry.
Because...