Chapter 23: King of the Deserted Island

Chapter 23: King of the Deserted Island

The traps were effective. Zhou Yun placed a beast trap at the front door of the house and another at the restaurant entrance every day, capturing two to three zombies almost daily.

Guan Yuanfeng had mastered the technique of shooting zombies with arrows, piercing their skulls without damaging the crystal cores.

With more and more crystal cores in hand, Zhou Yun made rapid progress in his psychic powers, avoiding many unnecessary detours.

By the standards of his past life, his psychic energy should have now reached the third tier. However, because of the foundation from his past life, he used his psychic powers much more proficiently, far exceeding what would normally be expected at this level.

The psychic powers rating system was a standard that had been deliberated and established by various psychics after much exploration.

The specific criteria were based on the solidity of the crystal cores within the body, the destructive power of psychic attacks, and the sustainability of psychic energy output.

It could be said that by purely absorbing crystal cores, most psychics could reach the third tier or its peak. However, to reach the fourth tier, a large amount of real-world combat experience and one's own physical attributes were necessary.

There were only a handful of fifth-tier powerhouses, and they were mostly attack-type psychics.

In his past life, even as a support-type psychic with fifth-tier water and wood psychic abilities, Zhou Yun, despite his low profile, was still a notable presence.

But at this moment, most psychics were still groping in the dark. Only Zhou Yun, with the experience of his past life, wasted not a single crystal core, and his psychic level grew rapidly.

To advance his psychic powers rapidly, he spent countless tireless hours in the nursery each day.

He infused his psychic energy into different medicinal seedlings again and again until they were exhausted, then absorbed the crystal cores to replenish his energy. Zhou Yun gradually consumed the mutated sea fish from the seafood restaurant.

Another half month passed in the blink of an eye. The severe drought showed no signs of easing, and the radio broadcasts had stopped airing any content. All frequencies only emitted static noise, and the world seemed to have fallen silent.

Guan Yuanfeng knew that this was because the spaceship flying to Mars had departed, taking the elite members of humanity.

Those left behind were scattered, and few were as fortunate to have a safe haven like theirs.

Blue Star had devolved into a lawless, uncivilized society where only the strong survived.

When he used the drone and discovered there were no living people in the neighborhood, an overwhelming sense of loneliness washed over him.

They seemed to be the only two survivors in this apocalyptic world. Would they stay here for the rest of their lives?

Guan Yuanfeng didn't talk to Zhou Yun about these thoughts, but he vaguely felt that even if he did, Zhou Yun probably wouldn't care.

Zhou Yun was someone completely indifferent to outside opinions. Guan Yuanfeng could fully imagine that Zhou Yun in the past must have had difficulty integrating into collective life. He was intelligent, confident, rational, and mature, seeking only to please himself.

If it weren't for the fact that their balconies were adjacent, Zhou Yun might not have even noticed him. When Zhou Yun was focused on growing vegetables and cooking, there was a sense of detachment, as if he was isolated from the world.

He placed the radio, which could no longer receive any signal, on the table and saw Zhou Yun walk out of the room holding a crystal core to show him. "Guan, I've discovered that the power within the crystal core can be absorbed by psychic powers."

Guan Yuanfeng raised his eyebrows, his expression disapproving, his voice carrying some severity. "How can you be so reckless?"

That comes from a zombie's brain. Who knows if it could carry the zombie virus?

Zhou Yun, however, opened his palm reassuringly. "Don't worry, there are no side effects. Instead, it enhances psychic powers. Look."

Guan Yuanfeng watched as the translucent blue crystal slowly lost its color in front of him, becoming a dull, lusterless glass-like substance before crumbling into powder.

Zhou Yun rarely displayed his psychic powers in front of him, and such a display was quite surprising.

Zhou Yun then summoned a giant water ball, as large as a basin, leaving Guan Yuanfeng speechless.

Zhou Yun smiled. "See? It's much larger than what I could summon before."

He cupped his hand, and the round water ball floated forward, flying all the way to the flower pot by the window where lotus leaves were growing. It turned into water droplets, drenching the delicate lotus leaves.

"Not only is the water ball larger, but my control over my psychic abilities has become more precise. Through daily meditation and practicing Ba Duan Jin, I can feel my psychic energy flowing more clearly through my body."

Zhou Yun looked at Guan Yuanfeng. "So, you should practice Ba Duan Jin with me more regularly. I really think it has benefits. Maybe you'll awaken your psychic abilities someday."

Guan Yuanfeng felt helpless. "I am learning. Isn't it enough that I'm taking it seriously?"

Zhou Yun thought, but deep down, Guan Yuanfeng didn't believe he could become a psychic.

He observed that although Guan Yuanfeng never slacked in archery practice and appeared calm around him, the melancholy between his brows grew deeper with each passing day.

This was a hero trapped by his own mind, imprisoned by his own doubts.

With a strong sense of responsibility and altruism deeply ingrained in his bones, his excessive emphasis on honor and his over-reliance on social recognition and a sense of belonging made him vulnerable in this apocalyptic world.

His leveling speed was still too slow. He needed to reach the peak of the third tier as soon as possible, and ideally advance to the fourth tier to have a better chance of awakening Guan Yuanfeng's psychic abilities.

However, after reaching the third tier, absorbing crystal cores had a much slower effect on leveling up. He had to spend a lot of time in the nursery, which meant he had less time to spend with Guan Yuanfeng.

In fact, Guan Yuanfeng's understanding wasn't wrong. After the red fog appeared, there were no more naturally mutated individuals.

Only the newborns of psychics had a chance to also be psychics...

But human ambition knows no bounds. It wasn't until Zhou Yun became a target that he realized someone had been secretly researching how to transplant psychic abilities from the start.

Their experimental subjects weren't limited to mutated plants and animals, as mutated plants and animals were rare at the beginning of the apocalypse.

Their initial targets were psychics, aiming for psychic transplants.

He was the only person to reach the fifth tier with wood-based abilities, so no one knew that wood-based abilities inherently possessed the power of grafting.

If they had treated him with respect, he might have been willing to help them try to awaken their psychic abilities, but they were greedy, believing that nothing was beyond their reach.

Meanwhile, Guan Yuanfeng asked, "What are we having for dinner tonight?"

Zhou Yun was equally enthusiastic about meals. "Shrimp paste taro. The restaurant has pre-peeled frozen taro that we need to use up quickly. It has a very unique flavor."

He described the flavor of shrimp paste in detail. "Shrimp paste, which we've used in cooking before, might have gone unnoticed. It's made from fermented shrimp and has a salty and umami flavor. It's great for braised tofu, steamed fish, stir-fried vegetables, and even noodles. It's also excellent for braised taro; the preparation is simple but unique." He had quite a few Arctic krill paste cans, which were excellent as side dishes.

"And there are the freshly harvested taro flower stems. This variety of taro stems doesn't make your mouth tingle. If you remove the central pistil, peel it, and stir-fry it with eggplant before steaming, it becomes soft and glutinous, perfect for a hearty meal."

He had always been handsome, but after awakening his psychic abilities, his skin took on a jade-like glow. His eyes were black, his eyelashes distinct as if drawn with ink, his nose tall and straight, his lips red and moist, and his hair thick and black. When he spoke, he appeared full of vitality, radiant.

Guan Yuanfeng, who had always been observant, had long suspected this and now confirmed it. "You seem to have become even more attractive," he said. "Does awakening psychic abilities enhance your physical condition?"

He recalled the scorching weather when, despite his current disability, his physical abilities were already far superior to ordinary people. Yet, he had nearly suffered from heatstroke, while Zhou Yun had been running up and down without any issues. It was likely that Zhou Yun had already awakened his psychic abilities at that time.

Zhou Yun turned to look at him, his eyes bright. "Yes, I've been observing the changes in my physical condition. My strength is increasing, my speed on the treadmill is better than before, and my endurance has improved. I can run five kilometers without any wear and tear. I've measured my temperature, heart rate, and blood pressure. My temperature is normal, my heart rate is a bit faster than average, and my blood pressure is normal."

He calmly and rationally assessed the changes in his body. "My metabolism seems to have accelerated. I eat more, but I need less sleep. After excessive use of my psychic abilities, I do need rest to recover."

He stood up. "My height and weight have increased slightly, but not significantly." He walked to the side and poured a glass of water for Guan Yuanfeng.

Guan Yuanfeng's gaze lingered on Zhou Yun's tall, lean frame—broad shoulders, narrow waist, and long, muscular legs. His skin was smooth and firm, and his thin clothes revealed not a hint of excess fat, exuding vitality and strength.

Even though it was a scorching day, he felt cool and dry, without a drop of sweat. When Guan Yuanfeng's smooth, delicate hand gripped his arm, it was even cooler than his own body temperature. Perhaps this was a unique trait of water-type psychic abilities.

This is what it means to be human—chosen by evolution.

And I am one who should have been left behind, unable to adapt to the harsh conditions of this new world.

Zhou Yun encouraged Guan Yuanfeng, "Keep practicing Ba Duan Jin—you never know what might happen. Maybe one day, you'll awaken your psychic abilities too."

Guan Yuanfeng gave a noncommittal reply, but in his heart, he knew it was impossible for him to awaken any such powers.

He did these things only to make sure Zhou Yun wouldn't be disappointed.

Zhou Yun was undoubtedly a good person, but Guan Yuanfeng couldn't bear the thought of being weak, of becoming a burden.

Having left the army, lost his legs, and with no psychic abilities or special skills, he felt utterly useless.

Even in this harsh new world, he found himself growing increasingly dependent on Zhou Yun.

Zhou Yun enjoyed solitude and wasn't afraid of loneliness. Living in isolation didn't make him feel alone.

He was carefree and detached, calm and adaptable, living life on his own terms. Planting vegetables, listening to music, exercising, reading, studying medical skills—his life was fulfilling.

He was someone who truly enjoyed being alone, essentially a cold and indifferent loner. He didn't need companions, and his psychic abilities allowed him to survive perfectly well on his own in the apocalypse.

It was Guan Yuanfeng who feared loneliness. He involuntarily sought closeness with Zhou Yun because of his own weakness.

Despising his fragile mentality, hating his own resignation and softness, Guan Yuanfeng, like an onlooker, coldly realized his own mental decline.

The world had already abandoned ordinary people, so what was he still clinging to?

The once unbreakable captain was now just a memory. His future seemed to be wasting away in a safety shelter built by others.

====

That night, Zhou Yun was woken by Comet. In the darkness, the dog whimpered and tugged at his sleeve, clearly anxious.

He got up and followed Comet through the rooftop to Guan Yuanfeng's room. The room was stifling, and Zhou Yun wanted to turn on the light, but realized the power had gone out, which explained why the air conditioning had stopped.

Since awakening his psychic abilities, his vision and night vision had greatly improved. Even without light, he could see Guan Yuanfeng lying still on the bed. He went over and touched his forehead; it was scorching hot.

He wanted to give Guan Yuanfeng some water, but found that the water had been cut off too. The thermos was empty.

After the power outage, the pressurized water pump stopped working, and naturally, the supply to this tall building was cut off as well.

He looked out the window into the pitch-black night, the streetlights all dark.

Over a month into the apocalypse, the backup generators had finally reached their limit and completely shut down.

Zhou Yun's side of the building had been retrofitted with solar and wind power, so he hadn't noticed the outage.

The power had held on longer than he'd expected. In his previous life, it hadn't gone out when they left the neighborhood, though it had already been hard to endure in the heat.

Perhaps the military had been maintaining basic infrastructure like power and announcements, but once the ship to Mars left Blue Star, order had become impossible to sustain.

How long had the power been out? Guan Yuanfeng hadn't said, maybe because he was feeling unwell and couldn't call for help without phone signals.

Thankfully, Comet was there. Zhou Yun sighed inwardly seeing Guan Yuanfeng's prosthetic by the bedside.

Guan Yuanfeng seemed to have completely ignored his own needs.

He held out his palm and condensed a thin sheet of ice. A key milestone of reaching the third tier in water-type abilities was the power to freeze water into ice, gaining the ability to fight.

I didn’t expect leveling up to be so simple and natural.

Zhou Yun held the ice block up to examine it briefly before placing it in Guan Yuanfeng's mouth, but Guan Yuanfeng only stirred slightly and did not wake up.

Zhou Yun carried the feverish Guan Yuanfeng on his back. Guan Yuanfeng had been paralyzed from the thighs down and was very light. Since gaining his psychic abilities, Zhou Yun’s physical strength had greatly improved, making it easy to carry him despite his feverish state.

Passing through the rooftop, the sky was filled with countless stars, and the night was like still water, but the temperature had not dropped and remained warm.

This hot weather quickly caused uncared-for crops to wither and die. The food crisis in the apocalypse was unprecedented, and the human population on Blue Star was rapidly decreasing.

It was not until humans discovered psychic abilities and realized that absorbing crystal cores could upgrade these abilities to defend against zombies that they found a new path forward.

Water-based psychics could create clean water sources, combat psychics could easily wipe out zombies, and earth-based psychics constructed high platforms and walls for bases. Psychics joined forces and gradually formed bases.

Ordinary humans with professional skills in medicine, agriculture, and other fields were also recruited to conduct research on psychic abilities, zombies, mutated plants, and animals.

Some people struggled to survive, others sought power, while a few dedicated themselves to humanity’s future.

Guan Yuanfeng's hot breath brushed against Zhou Yun's neck. He recalled the tall, intact corpse submerged in preservative fluid from his previous life, a body that no longer breathed.

Guan Yuanfeng had given everything for humanity but did not receive the honor and respect he deserved.

At this moment, his survival was the best outcome. Zhou Yun needed to trigger his psychic abilities and find a way to regenerate his lost limbs.

Guan Yuanfeng had lost the will to live. Some people easily gave up on themselves once they were no longer needed.

In his previous life, Zhou Yun had been fragile and incompetent. Guan Yuanfeng had protected him and likely contacted his teammates to escort him to the nearest base, after which he had signed a voluntary agreement to participate in an experiment.

Zhou Yun had prepared for this life, but those preparations had somehow drained Guan Yuanfeng’s will to live.

He would fight to the end for a stranger’s safety or a dog’s life, contacting his teammates, but remained indifferent to his own well-being.

Zhou Yun took Guan Yuanfeng to the room next to his, which had once been his mother’s. It had been empty since his mother's passing. After being reborn, he had always intended for Guan Yuanfeng to live here and had cleaned it up accordingly. But it wasn’t the right time to bring it up while the utilities were still working.

After laying Guan Yuanfeng on the bed, Zhou Yun turned on the air conditioning to cool the room. He condensed an ice block in his hand and used it to wipe Guan Yuanfeng's body to reduce his fever, then pulled over an IV drip for him.

Guan Yuanfeng's hands were large, with thick, rough calluses on his palms, strong knuckles, but an unhealthy grayish complexion. His veins were prominent, especially the vein on his little finger, and the deep lines in his palm indicated a significant deficiency in vitality.

Zhou Yun chose a thin catheter and inserted the needle into Guan Yuanfeng's hand, connecting the IV bottle. After securing his hand, Zhou Yun took a book and sat nearby to read.

The IV worked quickly, and Guan Yuanfeng's fever soon subsided. Zhou Yun checked his pulse and hung another bottle of saltwater and sugar solution.

When Guan Yuanfeng woke up, the first thing he saw was Zhou Yun’s profile, his eyelashes lowered as he read. The room's light was dim, but the air carried the fragrant smell of rice porridge.

Guan Yuanfeng shifted slightly, feeling every muscle ache and his body weighed down by exhaustion. Zhou Yun immediately looked over and pressed his hand. "Don't move, you're still on an IV drip."

As Guan Yuanfeng gradually regained consciousness, he felt a little apologetic. "Sorry to have troubled you during your rest."

Zhou Yun smiled. "No need to apologize. You're a patient, and I was also taken care of by you when I was sick."

He glanced at the IV bottle. "It should take about fifteen more minutes. I'll get the porridge ready. Is there anything specific you'd like to eat?"

Guan Yuanfeng said, "Porridge is fine."

Zhou Yun knew Guan Yuanfeng would say that. He always accepted whatever came his way, never complaining, which really meant he didn’t care about his own needs.

Zhou Yun said, "The water and electricity have been cut off on your side, and I took the liberty of bringing your luggage and suitcase over. I'm not good with circuit repairs, so it's better if you stay here with me. This room has been unused; I occasionally practice calligraphy and read here. You can stay with peace of mind."

Guan Yuanfeng realized this was unavoidable. In the end times, resources like water and electricity were scarce, so there was no need to live separately. He didn’t refuse, simply saying, "Thanks for the trouble."

Zhou Yun replied, "It's no trouble. It's the end of the world, and it's just the two of us. We should look out for each other."

As Guan Yuanfeng watched him leave, he propped himself up with his elbows and noticed there were handrails by the bed, and by the bedhead, there were buttons and an IV stand—a hospital bed. It was probably the room where Zhou Yun's deceased mother had stayed. He probably didn’t mention it to spare Guan Yuanfeng’s feelings, only saying it was unused.

Guan Yuanfeng remembered the lift Zhou Yun had mentioned earlier. Zhou Yun had resigned from a big city job to care for his sick mother, and now it seemed like he had indeed been attentive.

When he got up, he saw his prosthetic limb and wheelchair neatly placed on a long rattan chair beside the bed, but he was too weak to put on the prosthetic. The sweat-soaked shirt he had been wearing was gone, replaced with a clean set of clothes, likely found in his luggage.

Before he lost consciousness, he had been drenched in sweat. Zhou Yun must have moved him, cleaned his body, and changed his clothes, seeing every part of him, including his missing limbs.

There was no point in pretending by wearing the prosthetic, which would only make Zhou Yun’s care more difficult.

He remembered the embarrassing times in the hospital when he had to rely on medical staff for everything.

He looked around the room with a sense of defeat. The layout was the same as the suite across from his, but this was clearly the master bedroom, with an en-suite bathroom, floor-to-ceiling windows with curtains drawn, and a balcony outside.

The room was very tidy, with a bed, wardrobe, and a five-drawer chest with a television on top. The most noticeable feature was a wide and long huangyang wood desk by the window.

The desk was wider and longer than standard, with a lush bamboo plant on it. A scroll was inserted in the scroll holder, and brushes of different sizes hung on the brush rack. An inkstone and brush washer exuded an ancient charm. A calligraphy scroll hung on the wall behind the desk.

Although Guan Yuanfeng wasn't proficient in calligraphy, he could see the scroll was written like flowing clouds and running water, the characters elegant and free, with a distant artistic conception. He could barely make out the first two characters, "Dong Jun."

Zhou Yun came in with a tray and, seeing Guan Yuanfeng looking at the calligraphy scroll, assumed he was bored. He asked, "Would you like to read a book? Or should I bring the TV in to play a movie for you?"

Guan Yuanfeng shook his head. "I was just admiring the calligraphy. Did you write this? What does it say?" He felt the characters resembled Zhou Yun—elegant and light.

Zhou Yun replied, "Yes, it's a piece from Qu Yuan's 'Dong Jun,' one of the 'Nine Songs.'"

Guan Yuanfeng nodded and looked up to see the IV was almost finished. Zhou Yun removed the needle, packed up the IV tube, and pressed a button on the side of the bed, slowly raising the lower half of the bed so Guan Yuanfeng could sit semi-reclined with armrests on both sides.

Guan Yuanfeng then used the wheelchair, saying, "I'll go wash up in the bathroom."

Zhou Yun saw him struggling to get up but only assisted without stopping him. He guided him to the bathroom, saying, "The sink here is lower, and the bathroom and bathtub have been adapted for elderly use."

He demonstrated the usage, and Guan Yuanfeng noticed Zhou Yun had thoughtfully brought over his towel, toothbrush, and other items. The sink, bathroom cabinet, bathtub, and toilet were all suitable for wheelchair height, and the bathroom door was wider than usual, clearly modified.

He couldn’t help but compare this to his own place across the hall. His family knew he was disabled, but no one had ever thought to install more convenient facilities for him at home.

Of course, those people were likely gone now. He had never met anyone who cared for their family as attentively as Zhou Yun.

If not for the end times, Zhou Yun's future wife and children would have been very happy.

He thanked Zhou Yun, who considerately left the bathroom and closed the door, saying before leaving, "Call me if you need anything. There's also an emergency button in the bathroom."

After washing up, Guan Yuanfeng returned to the bed to find a light meat porridge, steamed millet cake, a dish of pickles, and a dish of salted duck eggs with rich, oily yolks.

Guan Yuanfeng picked up his chopsticks and slowly ate, though he still had little appetite. However, not wanting to trouble Zhou Yun, he finished everything.

The comet was also happily gnawing on a bone by the door.

But Guan Yuanfeng knew military dogs had a larger appetite, mainly eating meat. With him, they consumed a staggering amount of food each day.

With zombies surrounding them, they couldn’t risk stepping outside and would have to hunker down for the long haul. Although Zhou Yun grew things and raised livestock, the twenty thousand yuan he had given before the apocalypse was worthless now.

Indulging in self-pity felt too weak; he had never been so unable to let go. He had never been so unable to move on.

He knew that Zhou Yun was a generous and kind person, treating him with respect and humility, like a true gentleman.

But… the feeling of self-loathing would constantly prick at him like a thousand tiny needles whenever he was being cared for, preventing him from resting easy under someone else's kindness.

Just then, Zhou Yun walked in from outside, holding a trumpet vine and placing it in the vase on the table. Seeing that Guan Yuanfeng was about to get out of bed to clean up, he hurriedly said, "Don't move. You should rest properly. I'll take care of this. No need to be polite. We have a dishwasher; I just didn't use it because there weren't many dishes before."

He came over to collect the dishes and pressed Guan Yuanfeng back down, saying, "Rest well. If you're bored, you can watch a movie or read a book."

Guan Yuanfeng obediently lay down, and Zhou Yun sat next to the bed, saying, "Let me take your pulse. It's time to change your prescription."

Guan Yuanfeng placed his wrist on the wrist rest and watched as Zhou Yun took his pulse. Zhou Yun's fingertips lightly pressed into his skin, his fingers long and strong, with a strong presence.

Unaware that Guan Yuanfeng was distracted, Zhou Yun focused on the pulse diagnosis and sighed, "Try to relax. It's too hot, and your heart is overheated. I'll add some heart-clearing herbs to your prescription."

He then took out an acupuncture kit, saying, "Let me give you some acupuncture on your back."

Guan Yuanfeng undid his clothes, and Zhou Yun walked behind him, holding the needles, infusing them with psychic powers tied to the wood element before inserting them into the acupuncture points. "You need to practice the breathing techniques I taught you. Calm your mind and find the sense of qi."

Guan Yuanfeng casually responded, "I have it." But how could he possibly calm his mind?

When he was alone, thoughts of the past and future would flood his mind, along with the various pains and discomforts of his body. Where could he find peace of mind?

He truly admired how Zhou Yun remained calm and methodical in the face of the apocalypse, planting his vegetables and raising his fish with such composure.

This doctor, so gentle and refined, could face zombies without changing expression. Now that he had awakened his psychic abilities, his water-based powers ensured that at least food and water were no longer a concern…

In this apocalypse, Blue Star was evolving, and those without psychic abilities, ordinary people, were being weeded out by nature.

A myriad of thoughts flooded Guan Yuanfeng's mind, giving rise to countless distractions.

But these days were too quiet. Although he knew that if he stepped out of the iron door and down the building, he would be immediately devoured by zombies.

And in places unseen outside, countless people were fighting zombies, and countless weak individuals were dying.

He had Zhou Yun to thank for these peaceful days with plenty of food and water, but he would rather be like his comrades, either dying heroically on the front lines fighting zombies, burning with passion to sever the heads of zombies, or working together with his teammates to build the base in the rescue base, giving his all, instead of living like a shadow of his former self, unable to take a single step out of this building, his body and soul trapped in a wheelchair.

Originally, his heart was filled with anxiety and self-loathing, but for some reason, when Zhou Yun inserted the needles, a cool sensation seemed to inject into his acupuncture points, suddenly calming his heart.

After finishing the needles, as per the usual procedure, they had to wait for about half an hour. Zhou Yun helped him lie down and covered him with a thin blanket before casually picking up a book to read.

Guan Yuanfeng saw Zhou Yun sitting in the rattan chair, reading with a leisurely posture but focused expression, and casually asked, "What book are you reading?"

Zhou Yun showed him the lead-gray square cover. "The Words by Jean-Paul Sartre."

The cover looked just as serious and scholarly as an academic book. Guan Yuanfeng asked, "Is it good? The title doesn't sound like a novel."

Zhou Yun said, "It's an autobiography. I like its intimate and introspective self-reflections. He also said that he wrote the book to 'explain the causes of my madness, my neurosis.'"

Guan Yuanfeng couldn't help but feel silent for a moment. "Is he famous?"

Zhou Yun nodded. "He's a very famous philosopher. There's a line you've probably heard before, 'Hell Is Other People,' which comes from one of his plays and is very famous."

Guan Yuanfeng had indeed heard it.

Zhou Yun seemed to have found some interest in the topic and enthusiastically said, "Actually, there's a line in this book that contrasts with 'Hell Is Other People.' It goes: 'On my aerial island, I am the foremost, the unrivaled.'"

He flipped to the fifth chapter with ease and continued reading aloud, "But once I am placed among the common people, I fall to the last place."

Guan Yuanfeng couldn't help but feel silent for a moment. He looked at Zhou Yun's side profile, his long eyelashes and radiant gaze focused on the book, truly enjoying and resonating with it.

He recalled the difficult and obscure tongue-twisting words that Zhou Yun had suddenly uttered while they were watching a movie a few days ago. He really was a man with a strong artistic sensibility.

Zhou Yun seemed to still be patiently explaining to him, "When a person is isolated in their own world, they feel infinitely powerful. But once they start interacting with others, their sense of self becomes subject to external judgment. Once you care about others' opinions and crave their approval, others become a cage for the self. Hence, 'hell is other people'—a famous quote by Jean-Paul Sartre, meaning that other people can be a source of suffering."

As an altruist, Guan Yuanfeng might find it hard to accept this kind of thinking, but Zhou Yun was quite willing to discuss and share his thoughts with him.

However, Guan Yuanfeng felt embarrassed and found it difficult to continue discussing such philosophical and obscure topics. Pursuing the conversation further would make him feel like he was pretentiously trying to appear cultured. So, he just responded superficially.

Perhaps due to genuine mental exhaustion, he started to feel drowsy.

In his dream, he felt Zhou Yun removing the needles from him and turning him over. He wanted to open his eyes and turn over by himself, but his eyelids were heavy, and drowsiness enveloped him.

After the acupuncture, he only felt peace and tranquility in his heart, as if the troubles that had been weighing on his mind were left behind. The only thing he was determined to do was sleep, and he soon fell asleep again.

When he woke up again, it was already evening. He saw from the window that the distant mountains were covered in a layer of golden light. It took him a while to regain his senses and remember that this was Zhou Yun's house.

His own room was in the west, cold and damp with poor lighting. This master bedroom, however, had a beautiful view, was spacious and well-ventilated, and offered a picturesque scene of green trees outside.

He got up feeling that he had sweated and now felt much lighter. Zhou Yun's medical skills were indeed very good.

He glanced at the prosthetic but decided not to put it on. He only wore loose shorts and sat on the wheelchair, then operated it out of the room. Comet, who had been waiting by the door, immediately followed him.

He didn’t see Zhou Yun in the house. It was probably time for him to tinker with his vegetables and medicines on the rooftop again.

On the table, there was a pot of mung bean and seaweed porridge, obviously left for him. Still recovering from a fever, it was exactly what suited his palate. He finished it in a few gulps, washed the bowl casually, and then turned the wheelchair toward the rooftop.

While the daytime heat still lingered, the rooftop had cooled down considerably. The chickens, ducks, and geese had been released from their cages and were now pecking for insects in the garden.

He glanced at the fish pond nearby, where an electric eel swam leisurely. He had always found it unlike Zhou Yun's style to have such a large pond just for one electric eel.

In the other two lotus fish tanks, dozens of fish were crammed and jumping up and down. He had personally seen Zhou Yun catch fish from them to cook. But in another large, deep, and luxurious rectangular fish pond, only one electric eel swam comfortably, surrounded by artificial rocks and banyan trees.

Zhou Yun wasn’t on this rooftop, so he was probably at the domed restaurant on the neighboring rooftop, tending to his precious medicinal plants.

Over these days, he had watched those medicinal plants grow from sprouts to thriving plants, and he couldn’t help but be impressed. The restaurant also had a lot of equipment, which Zhou Yun treasured dearly, spending much of his time in the domed restaurant-turned-medicinal garden.

He didn’t disturb Zhou Yun. When Zhou Yun was working, he was truly immersed in it, and any interference would be a disturbance.

He took a bag of fish food and sprinkled some into the fish tank, watching the fish scramble to grab the food. Suddenly, he noticed a shadow covering the fish tank's surface, and a rustling sound. Comet beside him suddenly started barking alertly.

He quickly turned his head and saw a massive eagle circling above the rooftop. It was enormous, with a wingspan that stretched wide, talons like razors, and a hooked beak designed for tearing flesh. Its sharp eyes were fixed on the chickens below.

Guan Yuanfeng's heart pounded, and his combat instincts took over. He swiftly drove the wheelchair to the attic and grabbed a bow and arrow.

Just as he did, the eagle outside dove down from the sky at high speed, aiming for a rooster scratching the ground in the vegetable patch.

The electric fence briefly slowed the eagle down, but the current had no effect on such a massive bird. The incredible acceleration and momentum easily broke through the fence, and in an instant, the eagle had landed on the rooftop.

The chickens were startled and scattered, but the eagle's sharp claws had already firmly grasped one.

In the blink of an eye, Comet lunged forward and sank its teeth into the eagle's leg.

Comet, a well-trained military dog, was quite large and engaged in a fierce struggle with the giant eagle on the rooftop.

The eagle's claws were razor-sharp, and in one swift motion, they left deep, bloody gashes on Comet's body, exposing the bone.

At the door, Guan Yuanfeng pulled back his bow, his upper arm muscles bulging, his eyes narrowing. He aimed at the eagle's heart and released the arrow without hesitation.

The arrow flew true, piercing the eagle's body with deadly accuracy. The eagle screeched sharply from the injury and suddenly soared into the air, carrying the arrow with it.

Guan Yuanfeng had never seen a giant eagle that could still fly after being shot. It soared high into the sky, screeching furiously as it flapped its wings.

Guan Yuanfeng nocked another arrow and immediately loosed it at the eagle.

As the eagle flapped its wings, a powerful gust of wind surged from its steel-tipped wings, sending the arrow hurtling back toward Guan Yuanfeng.

The sudden gust sliced through his skin, sending blood spurting from the wound. The intense pain caught Guan Yuanfeng off guard, and he nearly lost his grip on the bow. Instinctively, he turned, raising his arm to shield himself from the wind. In that moment, he saw Comet rush to his side and shield him, but the arrow had already pierced through Comet's body.

Guan Yuanfeng's heart nearly stopped in shock as he watched Comet stagger. Then, out of the corner of his eye, he saw several translucent ice blades slice through the eagle's body and wings, tearing open multiple bloody holes.

Despite its grievous injuries, the eagle screeched and prepared to dive at Guan Yuanfeng again. But before it could, a figure stepped forward, blocking its path. With a single swing of his knife, the figure chopped off one of the eagle's wings.

Guan Yuanfeng looked up to see Zhou Yun, who still held a sickle in his hand. His eyes were cold as he watched the eagle, now unable to maintain balance, fall heavily onto the rooftop, where it flapped its wings in agony. Zhou Yun's demeanor was cold and detached, a stark contrast to his usual peaceful and calm presence.

The dying eagle opened its beak and let out a sharp, piercing cry. Small tornadoes suddenly formed on the rooftop, shaking the flower pots and uprooting the newly planted seedlings.

With cold indifference, Zhou Yun watched the scene unfold. He extended his hand, and a wave of water surged from his palm, alive with energy, sweeping toward the eagle. In an instant, it condensed into a giant block of ice, completely freezing the eagle inside. The ice block stood motionless on the rooftop, and all the tornadoes dissipated, leaving only a scene of devastation.

Guan Yuanfeng could feel the cold air radiating from the ice block. The once-mighty eagle was now frozen solid inside, its distinct golden-brown feathers and sharp, blade-like claws and beak visible through the transparent walls of ice.

Guan Yuanfeng stood there, speechless, witnessing a scene that resembled a magical movie. The only thought in his mind was:

Could psychic powers really be this formidable?

He stared at Zhou Yun, who still gazed at the eagle frozen in the ice. Zhou Yun's left hand still held the knife, while his right hand, which had just unleashed such a powerful psychic attack, hung loosely by his side. His fingers were long, and his expression was as cold as ice.

Behind him, the wind roared overhead, and vast stretches of clouds stretched into the distance. He stood tall and straight, like a king surveying his domain, his posture noble and awe-inspiring.

"On my floating island in the sky, I am unmatched and supreme."