Chapter 367: Return to Second Corps Headquarters
Chapter 367: Chapter 367: Return to Second Corps Headquarters
"You’re showing off. That’s just blatant showing off, Yu Mingche. You got a kid in there yet? Once you do, hurry up and give Ning Xuan to me." Ying Yaoshi glared resentfully at Yu Mingche’s stomach.
"It’s not that easy," Yu Mingche retorted. "Besides, Ning Xuan spent a whole month keeping you company, and you’re still not satisfied. Don’t be so greedy."
"You say a month, but we were on the battlefield the whole time. We barely had a few days together," Ying Yaoshi said, frowning. "Forget it. I’ll figure out a way to make time and go back for a visit in a while."
"By the way, are you sure this plan will work?" Ying Yaoshi said to Yu Mingche. "Those families are already onto your people recruiting on the Low-class Stars. The bases you selected aren’t very safe. I think Ning Xuan’s original plan—sending people to Extreme Cold City to be trained—was a pretty good idea."
"The City Lord of Extreme Cold City might not have ties to other factions, but we have no connection with him either. Even if we managed to get a batch of keys, there would be too many variables once we sent our people in." Yu Mingche was not in favor of training them in Extreme Cold City.
It wasn’t just because Extreme Cold City was someone else’s territory. More importantly, its culture was quite different from the Federation’s. Many of the male Spirit Controllers who entered Extreme Cold City were either fleeing their enemies or trying to escape the control and oppression of their Contractors.
Most of these individuals held radical views and were hostile toward the Federation at large. If their recruits were influenced by that atmosphere, it would make their work much more difficult.
"Well, you’d better think of a more suitable place, then," Ying Yaoshi reminded him. "In any case, those addresses I sent you have been compromised. You need to make preparations."
"Right, I know," Yu Mingche replied with a nod.
Once they were done with business, Ying Yaoshi asked curiously, "You didn’t let Ning Xuan in just now, and she just obediently left?"
"What else? Was she going to charge in and beat me up?" Yu Mingche shifted his body slightly, a searing pain flaring across his back.
Seeing the pained look on his face, Ying Yaoshi privately mocked him for being so delicate. "Ning Xuan doesn’t have the best temper. You should know when to quit. Don’t push it, or if you really provoke her, you’ll be the one suffering."
There was a clear hint of schadenfreude in Ying Yaoshi’s tone as he spoke.
"I know what I’m doing. If there’s nothing else, let’s talk later." Yu Mingche clearly wanted to end the conversation.
The day after Yu Mingche claimed to be sick, Ning Xuan had someone retrieve her personal seal. She then spent the entire day diligently processing documents. Whenever she came across something she didn’t understand, she had Yan Fuzhen explain it. By day’s end, Ning Xuan had familiarized herself with the dozens of large, profitable companies under her name. Most had been operating for over a decade, with mature business models and stable market positions, so they didn’t require any major changes.
The funding needed to establish the Vermilion Bird Pavilion came mostly from these profitable companies. In addition, most of the money Ning Xuan had earned on S12 Resource Star had also been invested into the project.
After Ning Xuan rejected Chairman Wang’s suggestion for her to undergo gene-matching again, the chairman had relayed her decision to the Elder Council. It was clear, however, that they hadn’t given up.
No matter how tight security was at the Qingluan Mountain villa, word of the discord between Ning Xuan and Yu Mingche was eventually picked up by certain interested parties. On the third day after Yu Mingche had shut her out, Mo Yan, Ji Wuchen, and Guo Jia came to request an audience. Accompanying them were several teachers from the Central Star Military Academy.
Ning Xuan had no intention of seeing Ji Wuchen and his companions, but it would have been rude to refuse the teachers from the Central Star Military Academy, as all of them had taught her at some point.
Ning Xuan met them in the reception hall of the front courtyard. After some meaningless pleasantries, a man who looked to be in his thirties spoke up.
"Student Ning, I apologize for the presumptuous visit, but I’ve come today to ask for a favor." Yu Xuzhang, an instructor from the Central Star Military Academy’s Mecha department, looked at Ning Xuan with utmost sincerity.
"Mr. Yu, please tell me what it is. If I can help, I’d be happy to." During her time at the military academy, Ning Xuan had taken a few courses in the Mecha department. This particular Mr. Yu had been a very serious instructor who hadn’t slacked off or treated her differently just because she was there for an elective.
Ning Xuan had a good impression of him.
"I heard, Student Ning, that you are extremely skilled in the Golden Needle Acupoint Technique." Mr. Yu’s eyes shone as he gazed at Ning Xuan. "They say you can use Golden Needle Acupuncture to clear blocked meridians, allowing female Spirit Controllers who previously couldn’t use a Cultivation Method to finally begin their Cultivation. This improves their physical constitution and relieves them of the worry of having to suppress their spiritual power’s growth due to a weak body."
"I have performed that kind of treatment before," Ning Xuan said, understanding Mr. Yu’s intentions immediately. "However, a while ago, the young lady from the Zhang Family died, apparently due to a spiritual power collapse. The Zhang Family believes her fate is linked to the treatment I provided. Because of that, I’ve already decided not to perform this kind of treatment for anyone else."
"Student Ning, I’ve looked into the cause and effect of the Zhang Family incident," Mr. Yu said earnestly. "That tragedy occurred because they ignored your instructions and were greedy for quick results. It had nothing to do with you. Since we’ve come seeking your help, it goes without saying that we trust you completely."
"Mr. Yu, the Zhang Family said the same thing in the beginning," Ning Xuan replied, shaking her head with a bitter smile.
"Student Ning, to be frank, my niece has been bedridden for over a decade. All the major hospitals have concluded that she won’t survive the year. The young lady from the Zhang Family was in the same predicament, and you were able to save her. I’m certain you can save my niece as well," Mr. Yu said sincerely. "Please, rest assured. We can find a neutral party to witness the process, and we can even draw up a written contract. I guarantee there will be no repeat of the Zhang Family incident."
The other teachers, who had come for the same reason, all chimed in to support his plea.
Since they had put it that way, Ning Xuan felt she couldn’t refuse any longer, so she agreed.
While the teachers’ goal was straightforward, Ji Wuchen and the others found it difficult to voice their desire to remain by Ning Xuan’s side. So, after some more empty chatter, the teachers had their nieces and sisters brought over. Ning Xuan examined each of them and wrote out a prescription list of herbs, instructing their families to gather all the ingredients. She told them the treatment could begin as soon as everything was ready.
Mr. Yu and the other teachers immediately left to gather the herbs. That afternoon, however, Ning Xuan received a notice from the Second Corps Headquarters Base. A large horde of Exotic Beasts had appeared in their defensive airspace. The Second Corps Headquarters had entered a wartime state, and she was ordered to return to her post immediately to provide support.