Chapter 398: Lan Yu
Chapter 398: Chapter 398: Lan Yu
When Chairman Lan saw that the person being beaten was indeed Lan Xin, he instantly burst into tears. Ignoring the people holding him back, he struggled frantically. "He’s a hero of the Federation! The idol of all the young people in the Half-Beastman Tribes! How could you treat him like this?"
"Let me go! Let me go!" Chairman Lan cried, overcome with emotion.
Just as Chairman Lan was struggling, the punishment finally stopped.
"Uncle Lan, please don’t be like this. You’re only making things difficult for Lan Xin." Nine-tailed grabbed Chairman Lan and pulled him back.
Lan Xin was helped to his feet and walked over to Chairman Lan. "All of my achievements were granted by my Master," he said. "Uncle Lan, you should know that without the link she gave me, I’m no different from any other Half-beastman."
"There are many Half-beastmen who receive a link from a female, but very few can achieve what you have in such a short time," Chairman Lan said to Lan Xin, his initial surprise turning to heartache. "Lan Xin, you secured a position in the Military Department and earned the favor of the Life Research Institute. That was all your own doing. Why must you belittle yourself?"
He felt that since Lan Xin had reached such a high Level and commanded an elite legion, he should have some backbone. How could he endure such humiliation?
The children who grew up in the Half-Beastman Tribes had incredibly hard lives. Every year, there were several cases of suicide among those who could no longer endure their masters’ abuse, and these incidents left deep psychological scars on the youths approaching adulthood.
He had even wanted to invite Lan Xin to the Half-Beastman Tribes to share his insights and methods for rapid advancement, to encourage those children to find their fighting spirit and pursue a better life.
"I’m not belittling myself. I just know my place," Lan Xin replied calmly, then turned and slowly walked away. He had to find Yu Mingche and ask him to inspect the punishment.
"Uncle Lan, didn’t you want to see the Master? She’s waiting for you in the reception room," Nine-tailed quickly reminded him, seeing that Chairman Lan was about to chase after Lan Xin.
As they neared the reception room, Nine-tailed emphasized again, "Uncle Lan, Lan Xin and I both belong to the Master. You have no right to question anything she does to us. I hope you’ll be mindful of your place."
Chairman Lan glanced back at the two young Half-beastmen he had brought with him. The main purpose of his visit was to offer them to Ning Xuan. One of them, Lan Yu, was Lan Xin’s half-brother and bore a slight resemblance to him; his aptitude was also excellent. Chairman Lan had originally assumed that even if Ning Xuan didn’t accept both, she would at least keep one for Lan Xin’s sake. Now, however, he was no longer certain. After all, it seemed Lan Xin held no sway with Ning Xuan at all.
Chairman Lan had taken it for granted that Ning Xuan would hold Lan Xin in high regard. This was because he had no idea how Lan Xin had managed to level up and get promoted so quickly within the military. Furthermore, he was completely unaware that Federation Marshal Ying Yaoshi was also one of Ning Xuan’s matched partners. From his perspective, although Yu Mingche held a high political position, he possessed no military authority. Therefore, Lan Xin, a man who commanded troops, ought to be an incredibly important asset to Ning Xuan.
In the reception room, a report on Chairman Lan’s reaction to seeing Lan Xin beaten had already reached Ning Xuan. Having investigated Lan Xin’s background, Ning Xuan knew he and Chairman Lan were blood relatives, so she could somewhat understand the chairman’s feelings. However, understanding was one thing; she had no objections to Yu Mingche’s actions.
’Lan Xin hasn’t been home in a year. Who knows if his heart has grown wild? Even if Yu Mingche hadn’t laid down the law, I wouldn’t have let him off easy myself.’
It had to be said, having Yu Mingche around really did save her a lot of trouble.
"Greetings, Miss Ning." When Chairman Lan saw the elegant and noble woman sitting in the main seat of the reception room, his previously agitated mood suddenly calmed.
The public had previously assessed Ning Xuan as an S-Class Controller. However, a certain combat video had been spreading like wildfire across the Star Network these past few days. Although Ning Xuan’s appearance in it was brief and her face was never fully shown, anyone who knew her would instantly recognize her.
The fact that Ning Xuan could escape from an SSS-level Starry Sky Beast made some people who knew her begin to re-evaluate her Level.
"There’s no need for such formalities, Chairman Lan. Please, have a seat," Ning Xuan said, getting straight to the point. "What brings you here today?" She was worried about Yu Mingche and also wanted to check on the beaten Lan Xin, so she had no interest in exchanging empty pleasantries with the chairman.
"I mainly came to thank you, Miss Ning. It is only with your patronage that Lan Xin could achieve so much. As a token of my gratitude, I have selected the two most handsome and talented youths from my tribe who are approaching adulthood, and I offer them to you for your service." As Chairman Lan spoke, he pushed the two youths forward.
One of these youths had blue eyes like Lan Xin, while the other had pale golden irises. Both were exquisitely featured with excellent figures. Judging by their skin and bone structure, they were both rare beauties.
The two youths wore expressions of naive innocence, a stark contrast to the state Lan Xin and Nine-tailed had been in when they were first sent over.
’How should I put it... Lan Xin and Nine-tailed had been trained in an underground Training Institute. Although their personalities were different, both of them bore the marks of being disciplined and conditioned. The way they looked at me was trained, filled with a desire to please and seduce.’
’Lan Xin was pure, while Nine-tailed was bewitching. Each had his own style.’
’But these two youths, from their gazes to their posture, were clearly wild and untrained.’
At Chairman Lan’s signal, Lan Yu and Qing Jiu took a few steps forward so Ning Xuan could get a clearer look.
"There’s no need to thank me, Chairman Lan. Lan Xin is my person, so his merits and achievements belong to me as well. Therefore, you can take these two back with you. I don’t need them." As Ning Xuan spoke, she stood up, a clear gesture of dismissal.
"Miss Ning, please, take a closer look! Lan Yu’s aptitude is even better than Lan Xin’s. When he was born, his spiritual power was already at B-level!" Chairman Lan said urgently, pulling Lan Yu forward. "He only began to mutate a few years ago because he accidentally ingested a poisonous fruit. Even so, he endured it. He didn’t fully mutate; he just developed Half-beastman characteristics. We all believe this is only temporary and that he will eventually be able to undergo a full transformation. If you’re willing to cultivate him, his achievements will absolutely surpass Lan Xin’s!"
Lan Xin and Lan Yu were only two years apart. The same year Lan Yu was born, Lan Xin began showing beast-like characteristics and was sent away to the Half-Beastman Tribe. From the moment of his birth, Lan Yu displayed outstanding aptitude and potential, and so the family showered all of its resources and affection on him.
Even when Lan Yu later developed beast-like characteristics as well, the family still didn’t give up on him. They didn’t send him to the Half-Beastman Tribe to be raised. Instead, they did everything they could to cover it up and search for a cure.