Chapter 162: Obtained
"The area of his Mental Sea that had been damaged was in the middle of recovering. During that recovery process, it happened to come into contact with Zhou Ziyu's mental power after it entered his Mental Sea. As a result, the two partially fused together... so..."
By the time Nan Yu finished explaining, they more or less understood what he meant.
In short...
Even after being cured, the man would likely be left with rather serious aftereffects.
Han Lu nodded.
"Please tell me. I'll make sure he cooperates with the treatment."
Nan Yu replied,
"I directly removed the portions where the mental powers had fused together."
"In other words..."
"His Mental Sea is now incomplete."
"In my estimation, it'll probably take two or three years for it to fully repair itself."
"And even after every trace of Zhou Ziyu's mental power has disappeared, some of the psychological effects he left behind may still linger for a while."
"He'll need time to recover."
Han Lu answered seriously,
"I understand."
"Thank you very much."
Nan Yu waved his hand.
"That's not a problem."
"But during this period, it's best if you keep him under constant supervision."
"At the beginning of his recovery, the feelings produced by Zhou Ziyu's control may still remain."
"As time passes, and without Zhou Ziyu's mental power continuing to influence him, he'll gradually return to his original self."
"But it'll take time."
"If you don't keep an eye on him, he might end up doing something inappropriate somewhere without anyone noticing."
"I hope you'll watch over him carefully."
Han Lu's expression turned solemn.
"I understand."
"I'll keep a close eye on him."
"Please don't worry."
Nan Yu nodded.
After thinking for a moment, he realized there wasn't anything else that needed explaining.
He turned and walked over to Yu Lanfeng.
"Let's go see Zhou Ziyu."
"Now might be the perfect opportunity to break through °• N 𝑜 v 𝑒 l i g h t •° his psychological defenses."
"If we miss it..."
"We may never get another chance."
Yu Lanfeng thought briefly before understanding what Nan Yu meant.
Earlier, Nan Yu had mentioned that the fragment of Zhou Ziyu's mental power inside that soldier's Mental Sea had shown obvious fluctuations.
That meant Zhou Ziyu had most likely sensed that the man had come very close to where he was imprisoned.
He had continuously urged him to come rescue him.
What Zhou Ziyu hadn't expected...
Was that the man had been so severely wounded he couldn't possibly save him.
Then...
He had sensed his own mental power inside that person's Mental Sea gradually disappearing.
He would inevitably realize...
That the person he had been controlling had been discovered.
And then Nan Yu had completely cured him.
Which meant...
He had just lost his final bargaining chip.
If he still refused to cooperate now...
There might truly be no hope left.
Walking beside Yu Lanfeng, Nan Yu said,
"Actually..."
"It seems Zhou Ziyu only wants to survive."
"Maybe we can give him just a tiny bit of hope."
Yu Lanfeng glanced at him.
"Hope?"
Nan Yu had said hope.
Not opportunity.
Hope...
Could always be shattered.
Besides, it was an intentionally vague word.
They only needed to make a general promise.
As for how Zhou Ziyu chose to interpret it...
That had nothing to do with whatever decision they eventually made.
...
After arriving outside Zhou Ziyu's detention room...
They first checked the surveillance footage.
Unexpectedly...
Zhou Ziyu wasn't alone.
The same five soldiers who had "come to play" yesterday were there again.
And...
They seemed to be enjoying themselves.
Nan Yu couldn't help taking a deep breath.
"Brother..."
"Should we tell them to leave now?"
"Or wait a little longer?"
Zhou Ziyu was once again huddled tightly in the corner, terrified by the five men.
Although he looked as though he was on the verge of a complete breakdown...
The five of them had judged the situation perfectly.
They simply stood there chatting among themselves.
Every sentence dripped with sarcasm aimed at Zhou Ziyu.
Yet...
None of them actually approached him.
It was as though they knew his mental state was extremely fragile.
If they pushed too hard...
The result might backfire.
So they merely enjoyed taunting him from a distance.
Watching them, Nan Yu actually found it rather amusing.
"They're pretty adorable."
"They insult him in the most roundabout way possible."
"Not a single swear word."
"But they've practically cursed him inside out several times already."
Yu Lanfeng said,
"Wait a little longer."
Nan Yu smiled.
"Sure."
"I think they're doing a pretty good job."
"Once they leave, it'll be our turn."
"...Actually, no."
"If I go in, he'll probably get nervous."
"You should go instead."
"If the hope comes from you..."
"He'll believe it much more than if it came from me."
"Our ultimate goal is still to get that list out of him."
"Once we have it..."
"We can discuss everything else."
Yu Lanfeng nodded.
"Mm."
Nan Yu suddenly remembered something.
"By the way..."
"Earlier you said people from the Royal Legion on the Capital Star would come take over."
"Was that true?"
"I haven't received any notification."
Yu Lanfeng answered calmly,
"It was false."
"I was just scaring him."
"I didn't expect him to keep refusing to talk."
"We'll see how he behaves now."
"If he still refuses..."
"There's no point waiting any longer."
"We'll hand him over directly to the Royal Legion."
Nan Yu hesitated.
"It's not that I don't trust the Royal Legion."
"But..."
"Will enough people be escorting him?"
"What if they're attacked on the way back to the Capital Star?"
Combat ability was one thing.
Numbers were another.
If too few people escorted him...
Even with equivalent equipment...
They'd inevitably be overwhelmed.
What if Zhou Ziyu got rescued?
Yu Lanfeng shifted his gaze toward the surveillance monitor.
"That won't be a problem."
"When it's time to escort him to the Capital Star..."
"It'll be after this year's Ability Beast uprising has ended."
"I'll personally take him back."
"Unless..."
"The organization sends someone stronger than me."
Nan Yu shrugged.
That...
Didn't seem very likely.
Hearing that, he relaxed.
Everyone at this military base hated Zhou Ziyu to the bone.
They monitored him around the clock.
Personnel from different departments who normally had little interaction supervised one another.
There was virtually no chance of anything going wrong.
Ever since discovering that spies had infiltrated his legion...
Yu Lanfeng had constantly felt that one part of the legion was compromised...
Then another...
But he had never believed the organization had truly penetrated its core.
Otherwise...
Why would they send someone as important as Zhou Ziyu—a high-ranking Mental Power User—to infiltrate them?
He hadn't been completely certain before.
But after everything that had happened...
Yu Lanfeng was convinced his earlier judgment had been correct.
The moment Zhou Ziyu lost the last person under his control...
He completely gave up.
What did that prove?
It proved there weren't many members of the organization inside this military base.
Or...
Even if there really were spies...
They had no access to classified information.
Nor could they get anywhere near this location.
They simply had no way to rescue him.
Now...
Zhou Ziyu could only hope for mercy from the Empire.
Of course...
That mercy would have to be purchased with secrets.
His second hope...
Was that the organization would hurry and rescue him.
The problem was...
He had no idea when that might happen.
Perhaps they'd delay until the day he died here.
This place wasn't like anywhere else.
As long as Yu Lanfeng was present...
Rescuing someone here was dozens of times more difficult than escaping from the Capital Star's prisons.
Perhaps even harder.
Once Yu Lanfeng discovered a rescue operation...
It didn't matter how advanced the enemy's equipment was.
Or how many elite operatives they sent.
Every single one would die.
Without exception.
That was simply the conclusion the organization had reached after years of repeated clashes.
Which was exactly why...
Ever since learning Zhou Ziyu had been personally captured by Yu Lanfeng...
No final decision regarding a rescue had ever been made.
Had he been imprisoned anywhere else...
They probably would have rescued him long ago.
As one of the organization's senior members...
Zhou Ziyu understood exactly how the organization operated.
So much time had already passed without any movement.
That meant...
They were still hesitating.
They knew he wouldn't die immediately.
But Zhou Ziyu also knew something else.
As long as Yu Lanfeng remained here...
The organization wouldn't dare attempt a rescue.
And if Yu Lanfeng took him everywhere he went...
Wouldn't that mean he'd never escape?
Wait...
Actually...
Once he became useless...
Or they determined they could no longer obtain anything valuable from him...
He would simply be abandoned.
And what happened to abandoned pieces?
Did anyone even need to ask?
They'd be killed.
No one would release a tiger back into the mountains.
Even Zhou Ziyu wasn't foolish enough to expect otherwise.
So...
What now?
He had already revealed the existence of the list.
Although they seemed interested...
They hadn't accepted his conditions.
But...
What if he lowered his demands?
Instead of asking them to let him go...
What if he simply offered to cooperate?
Curled up in the corner...
A sudden idea flashed through Zhou Ziyu's mind.
Maybe...
It really could work.
If it did...
Then he'd be saved.
Saved!
Thinking that...
He completely ignored the five soldiers continuing to mock him.
He suddenly stood up.
Then stared fixedly at them.
The five immediately retreated several steps.
It wasn't because they feared Zhou Ziyu.
Rather...
They were worried he might suddenly rush over...
Grab one of them...
Use his mental power...
Or even choose mutual destruction by detonating his own Mental Sea.
If that happened...
Their own recovering Mental Seas might be caught in the blast.
They could easily become idiots.
Yu Lanfeng and Nan Yu immediately noticed the sudden change.
Nan Yu frowned.
"Hm?"
"What's going on?"
"Is Zhou Ziyu trying to drag everyone down with him?"
Then he looked more carefully.
"No..."
"He looks excited."
"Maybe he thought of a way to escape."
Yu Lanfeng immediately instructed someone to notify the five soldiers.
They quickly left.
Soon...
Only Zhou Ziyu remained inside.
He eagerly sat down in the chair.
Then rested his head on the table and immediately fell asleep.
It looked as though he'd spent the entire night without sleeping.
Nan Yu blinked.
"So..."
"All that just so he could get some sleep?"
Yu Lanfeng stood.
"Let's go."
Nan Yu followed.
"I'll come too."
"I'll stay outside."
"If he tries to use mental power on you..."
"I'll notice immediately."
"And I'll make sure he regrets it."
...
It seemed Zhou Ziyu had been waiting specifically for Yu Lanfeng.
The moment Yu Lanfeng entered...
He immediately stood up.
Then smiled at him.
The instant Nan Yu saw that smile...
Goosebumps spread all over his body.
It was far too flattering.
Far too ingratiating.
Instead of feeling jealous...
He simply felt disgusted.
Yu Lanfeng remained completely unmoved.
He calmly sat down.
"Go ahead."
Zhou Ziyu smiled.
"As expected of Marshal Yu."
"You figured out I had something to say so quickly."
"I'm not someone who likes beating around the bush."
"Since you're here..."
"I'll get straight to the point."
"I have an excellent proposal."
"It's not only beneficial for me."
"It'll benefit you too."
Yu Lanfeng asked,
"So?"
"You're willing to hand over the list?"
Zhou Ziyu nodded repeatedly.
"That's right."
"And..."
"I can tell you every single name on the list right now."
"Treat it as my admission gift."
Yu Lanfeng raised an eyebrow.
"Admission gift?"
"You mean..."
"You're betraying your organization?"
Zhou Ziyu answered,
"I've thought about it."
"I think this is the best path."
"How about we cooperate?"
"I'll give you the entire list."
"Then you'll deliberately expose a weakness and allow them to rescue me."
"That way..."
"They'll inevitably expose several people on the list."
"You'll be able to openly eliminate those spies."
"And after I return..."
"The organization won't suspect me."
"Then I'll secretly report everything to you."
"What do you think, Marshal Yu?"
"Isn't this the perfect plan?"
"It's a win-win situation."
"Don't you think it's brilliant?"
Standing outside the door...
Nan Yu's lips twitched.
There were simply too many loopholes.
First...
What if Zhou Ziyu disappeared completely after returning to the organization?
How would they ever find him?
Second...
Who could guarantee the list he provided was genuine?
He could easily include innocent people.
If they eliminated those names...
Wouldn't they be killing innocent citizens?
Yu Lanfeng had naturally realized all of that.
But instead of pointing it out...
He simply watched Zhou Ziyu enthusiastically gesture while explaining his grand plan.
Only after Zhou Ziyu finally finished...
Did Yu Lanfeng clear his throat.
"It sounds interesting."
"But..."
"Who can guarantee you're telling the truth?"
"The list you provide..."
"Only you know whether it's genuine."
"And even then..."
"How can you be certain the information you received is accurate?"
"Second."
"And this is the biggest flaw in your plan."
"Why should I believe that after regaining your freedom..."
"You'll continue honoring your promise and send me intelligence?"
"And finally..."
"Even if everything proceeds exactly as you described..."
"Who can guarantee you won't become a double agent?"
"If you pass our information back to the organization..."
"We'll suffer much greater losses."
The thing Yu Lanfeng truly cared about...
Was Nan Yu.
The organization's senior leadership firmly believed Nan Yu possessed the Nianshen Grass.
If Zhou Ziyu really held the position he claimed...
Then he certainly knew about it.
Yu Lanfeng suddenly asked,
"Has your organization recently issued a mandatory mission concerning Nan Yu?"
The moment he heard that...
Zhou Ziyu's heart skipped a beat.
That question had struck frighteningly close.
Of course he knew the answer.
He knew it extremely well.
The only problem...
Was whether he should say it.
If he revealed it...
Would Yu Lanfeng truly continue with their cooperation?
"You mean..."
"The mission concerning Nan Yu?"
Yu Lanfeng nodded.
"That's right."
"A mandatory mission."
"One that has to be completed."
"If you're really one of the organization's senior members..."
"You should know about it."
"What?"
"Forgot already?"
"Tell me the contents."
Zhou Ziyu hesitated.
He honestly didn't know whether he should reveal it.
If he spoke...
Would Yu Lanfeng's attitude improve?
Would they cooperate?
Or...
Would Yu Lanfeng simply begin disposing of him properly?
He had to think carefully.
Yu Lanfeng waited patiently.
Nearly half an hour passed.
Only then did Zhou Ziyu finally raise his head.
"I think..."
"I can give you the list first."
"You can verify whether it's genuine."
"If it is..."
"Then come back and talk to me."
Yu Lanfeng raised an eyebrow.
After acting foolish for so long...
Zhou Ziyu had finally made one intelligent suggestion.
This method really was feasible.
Although...
Its greatest value was still buying time.
Yu Lanfeng asked,
"So?"
"Which list will you hand over first?"
"One location?"
"Half of it?"
"A quarter?"
"Or..."
"Are you simply stalling?"
Zhou Ziyu shook his head.
"Not at all."
"Marshal Yu..."
"I'm the only senior member of the organization currently in your custody."
"If, while I'm imprisoned..."
"Everyone whose name appears on that list starts disappearing..."
"Or getting arrested..."
"Or dying one after another..."
"They'll immediately suspect me."
"At that point..."
"I'll truly have betrayed the organization."
"I've thought it through."
"Rather than risking my life infiltrating them again..."
"My abilities probably won't let me obtain truly important intelligence anyway."
"So..."
"I'd rather switch sides completely."
Not only Nan Yu...
Even Yu Lanfeng looked slightly surprised.
"You've adapted rather quickly."
"So you're really giving up your position in the organization?"
"And choosing to stay here?"
Zhou Ziyu nodded.
"Yes."
"So..."
"I can answer the question you asked earlier."
The question...
About the organization's mandatory mission.
Yu Lanfeng had known all along...
That Zhou Ziyu knew.
Zhou Ziyu finally spoke.
"It concerns Imperial Mental Power User Nan Yu."
"He possesses a treasure."
"If someone returns with only that treasure..."
"They'll receive an enormous reward."
"But if they bring back both the treasure..."
"And Nan Yu himself..."
"They'll immediately become the administrator of one of the organization's national branches."
"Although it's officially a mandatory mission..."
"Most people are eager to accept it."
"Do you know what it means to manage one of the organization's national branches?"
"Status."
"Power."
"Wealth."
"Their entire lives would change overnight."
Yu Lanfeng asked,
"What exactly is this treasure?"
"Others may not know."
"But you do."
Zhou Ziyu didn't deny it.
Instead, he looked somewhat puzzled.
"Is it really alright to say it here?"
"Isn't it supposed to be your own secret?"
"I've tested things before."
"People in this military base only know the information that appeared in the news."
"They don't know anything else."
"So..."
"I know that, apart from a very small number of people..."
"Almost everyone in your legion still doesn't know Nan Yu possesses that item."
Yu Lanfeng replied calmly,
"It's fine."
"Just say it."
"There's no one watching the surveillance right now."
Before leaving earlier...
Yu Lanfeng had already disconnected every surveillance feed.
Both the monitoring and audio systems had been completely shut down.
The only person able to hear the conversation...
Was Nan Yu standing outside the door.
Nan Yu's expression wasn't very pleasant.
But there was nothing he could do.
The matter of the Nianshen Grass was simply too important.
If the organization failed to obtain it...
Then sooner or later...
They might simply expose the secret to everyone.
Or even sell the information.
Then...
What would happen to him?
Hm?
After thinking about it...
Nan Yu realized he wasn't actually that worried.
Yu Lanfeng was protecting him.
As long as Yu Lanfeng remained beside him...
Nobody reckless enough would dare cause trouble.
Besides...
By the time that happened...
Perhaps he would already have become a High-Tier Mental Power User.
Merely keeping his true level hidden.
So...
The only thing Nan Yu needed to do now...
Was cultivate as quickly as possible.
Become a High-Tier Mental Power User.
As soon as possible.
After hesitating for a long time...
Zhou Ziyu finally gritted his teeth.
"Nianshen Grass."
Yu Lanfeng thought,
Just as expected.
"Do you know who revealed that information to your organization?"
"Was it someone from the Empire?"
Zhou Ziyu nodded.
"I know."
"We even discussed it."
"They said..."
"That person was someone Nan Yu used to like."
"His former fiancé."
"The surname was Bai."
"I forgot the given name."
Yu Lanfeng said,
"Bai Zhouyun?"
Zhou Ziyu slapped his thigh.
"Right!"
"That's it!"
"I almost forgot."
"Yes!"
"His surname is Bai."
"His name is Bai Zhouyun."
"I only heard it a few times."
"So I didn't remember clearly."
"However..."
"Although everyone considered the mission extremely important..."
"The organization's strongest Mental Power Users actually don't believe Nan Yu really possesses the Nianshen Grass."
"They simply think his talent is extraordinary."
"Some of them even wanted to persuade Nan Yu to join the organization."
"Oh, right."
"The last time I contacted the organization..."
"They also mentioned that Bai Zhouyun had applied for permission."
"He claimed his relationship with Nan Yu was still extremely good."
"And that if they gave him the opportunity..."
"He could even personally recruit Nan Yu into the organization."