Chapter 110 Midnight Flight

Chapter 110 Midnight Flight

After Guan Yuanfeng left, Zhou Yun cleaned up the mess at Yunding Mountain Villa by himself, using his psychic abilities to regrow the destroyed trees.

Autumn was the season of harvest, and the fruit trees they had brought back from the nursery with Guan Yuanfeng were now ready for picking.

He gathered a lot of figs, grapes, pomegranates, and oranges, then took them to Nanshan Herb Garden, asking Zhu Zhuan to distribute them to employees and guild members whose families had suffered economic difficulties due to the disaster.

Although Beiming had also been hit hard by the disaster, thanks to thorough preparations and the efforts of the Growers' Guild in restoring crops destroyed by the typhoon, the losses were significantly mitigated, and the overall situation in the base was still quite good.

Qin Sheng brought some gossip from the Gong family: "I heard that the so-called Psychic Association has officially been established after a grand meeting. The president is the director of the Psychic Research Institute, Wu Zhou is the vice president, and Miss Gong has been appointed as the editor-in-chief of the association's magazine. It seems the couple is thriving in Central Base. The Gong family spent a fortune buying a mansion there, and it looks like they won't be returning to Beiming anytime soon."

Qin Sheng winked: "Old ginger is indeed spicier. City Lord Gong is clearly keeping his daughter and that Luo Yunkai apart, just waiting for the child to be born safely. Central Base is not a place ordinary people can afford to live. Luo Yunkai, being an ordinary person, can't go there either."

Zhou Yun chuckled to himself, thinking how different this was from his previous life. In his past life, he had never heard of Qin Sheng and Miss Gong having a child. It seemed that in his previous life, with the old City Lord Gong gone, Qin Sheng couldn't control Miss Gong at all. Now, with the old City Lord Gong still around, he must be determined to have a child no matter what.

However, given City Lord Gong's cunning and his unreliable daughter, Zhou Yun's cooperation with the Gong family remained purely based on interests, not as deep as his collaboration with Ren Yuefei from Jing Nan Base.

In any case, things were now vastly different from his previous life.

Thinking this, Zhou Yun looked at Qin Sheng with some pity: "I see City Lord Gong has been relying on you a lot recently, hasn't he?"

Qin Sheng replied, "Probably because of my brother. He's given me management of the eucalyptus forest logging site and the seaside paper mill, saying it's convenient since I have good relations with the wood psychic ability users in the guild. Those were originally managed by his nephew, but they weren't profitable, and his nephew kept making excuses, so City Lord Gong took them back and handed them to me."

Zhou Yun smiled. In truth, Qin Sheng himself was very capable, but now he was completely overshadowed by Qin Mu.

He didn't dwell on these thoughts. The current task was to stockpile food and medicine, preparing for the upcoming winter.

He thought of Yao Lao and, seeing that Zhu Zhuan was managing the herb garden, Master Xinhai was overseeing the guild, and Qin Mu was handling the pharmaceutical business, everything seemed to be in good order. He decided to send the captives to the herb garden and have the drugs on Wei Anguo tested.

Shen Lan came by that day to inquire about the typhoon situation, and together they administered some drugs to knock out the captives before sending them by helicopter to Nirvana Manor.

There were a total of twenty-four captured psychics from Tianlang, all in good physical condition. Upon arrival at Nirvana Manor, they were locked up in a special prison designed for psychics.

The prison was lined with shadow hemp on the walls and floors, with anti-collision designs. Iron bars, shadow hemp restraint suits, and shackles ensured that everyone remained subdued.

They were held in a large cell, and as they gradually woke up, it was the first time they had seen each other since being captured. They looked at each other in confusion: "You were caught too?"

The team members couldn't help but count their numbers. Pojun said, "Don't bother looking. Only Qisha is missing. We don't know if he escaped or is being held separately. Who was the last to see him?"

There was a heavy silence. Members from other action teams said, "We didn't see him at all. We were wrapped in vines and passed out before we could even send a message."

Lihuo said, "Earlier, our rooftop team was trapped in that building. The captain was still in contact with us, but then it seemed like a fight broke out, and only Jumen responded. The others didn't reply after that."

Pojun looked at Wei Anguo: "Jumen?"

Wei Anguo remained silent for a while before speaking: "I was hiding at the bottom of the lake, waiting for orders. Qisha came out and called for me to prepare for an ambush. He was drawing attention in battle, targeting a fifth-tier opponent, and told me to be careful, strike decisively, and not hold back."

"I failed in the ambush and only managed to severely injure the target. Later, the target summoned plants that entangled me, and I passed out. I don't know what happened to Qisha in the end."

Pojun asked, "So, there was a wood psychic ability user lying in ambush? Was it Master Xinhai?"

Wei Anguo replied, "I'm not sure. It was all foggy at the time, and I didn't see anyone."

Tanlang looked around the cell and at their prison uniforms: "What kind of place is this? It's so bizarre, completely suppressing our psychic abilities. Is it the same for you?"

Pojun said, "Yes, I can't use my abilities. What about Jumen's mechanical claws?"

Wei Anguo replied, "His prosthetic limbs have already been removed."

Tan Lang stood up and felt around the walls, his shackles clinking: "What are they planning to do with us here? Is there surveillance installed here?"

A man who had been silent all along said, "I have a resistance to anesthesia, so I woke up earlier. I saw that all of us had our blood drawn and our height and weight measured. Also, the weather here is warm and hot. Based on how long we were out, it's about the same time it would take to fly from Beiming back to the Golden Triangle."

Tan Lang turned to him, startled: "Are you suggesting, Tianji, that we might be used for experiments?"

"Like those experimental subjects in Cangshan? Using mutated poppies to manipulate us?"

Everyone fell silent.

Someone whispered, "Maybe they'll even extract our crystal cores."

Wei Anguo finally couldn't hold back: "Guan Yuanfeng isn't that kind of person. He said he just wanted to check the drugs in my system."

Everyone looked at him, and Pojun asked, "Did you see Guan Yuanfeng, Jumen? Isn't he still up north handling disaster relief?"

Wei Anguo said, "Yes, I don't know how he suddenly appeared. When I came to in the herb garden, he came over and asked me in detail about the battle and the mission I received. He looked very serious but didn't elaborate, just that he thought the drug I used to enhance my psychic abilities might cause genetic mutations and collapse, and he would investigate it. He also asked if anyone else in Tianlang had taken it and who gave me the drug."

Pojun asked, "Did you tell him everything?"

Wei Anguo said, "There was nothing I couldn't tell him. The battle was just a surprise attack, and the mission was to capture and eliminate drug lord accomplices and illegal researchers. As for the drug, I didn't know who developed it. Tianxiang gave me the drug, and everyone goes by code names. I don't know if any of you used it."

Tianji looked at him sharply: "Did you know Guan Yuanfeng previously?"

Wei Anguo was silent for a while: "Yes—we were both medically discharged due to disabilities. After his legs healed and he returned to Central Base, Tianxiang had me undergo a full check-up and asked why I couldn't use my psychic abilities to restore my arm."

Tianji said, "So how was Guan Yuanfeng able to regrow his legs? Is it because lightning-based powers are unique? Or are dual-type psychic powers stronger?"

Wei Anguo said, "I don't know. Later, they recommended this drug to me, saying it was still in the experimental stage but had been tested on animals with no side effects so far. They said that by boosting my psychic level, I might be able to regenerate my own arm."

Tianji said, "But you haven't regenerated it. And your strength is inconsistent, not as steady as Tan Lang, who is also earth-based."

Tan Lang said, "I didn't use any drugs. My mom always said that all drugs have some level of toxicity."

Tianji said, "I didn't take any either."

"Neither did I..." Everyone else chimed in, and finally, they all looked at Pojun.

Pojun rubbed his nose, a bit embarrassed: "Honestly, even though I don't like Guan Yuanfeng, I heard that all special operations team members refused to participate in the Psychic Research Institute's studies, and Guan Yuanfeng refused to provide any blood samples or tests."

"I always feel that someone who can rise to such a high position probably has their own information channels. Although I can't refuse the tests, this drug... it's better not to use it if possible. Qisha, Ziwei, Tianfu—none of them used it, though they didn't say so. They obviously come from good families. Are they stupid? Wouldn't they use something good first?"

Tianji summarized: "So, except for Jumen, none of us used it."

Wei Anguo, however, said, "Do you remember Tiantong? Once, when Tianxiang took me for a check-up, I ran into him in the lab."

Tianji said, "Wasn't he confirmed to be an undercover agent who got caught? I don't know where he was sent from. What was he doing when you met him?"

Wei Anguo said in a low voice, "I don't know. He was wearing surgical clothes and looked very thin. I wouldn't have recognized him if he hadn't called out to me. He hurriedly told me to stop taking that drug."

Tan Lang hesitated for a moment, then also said in a low voice, "Actually, I envy the special operations team members. Although Guan Yuanfeng is tough, even the ordinary people in the special operations team seem to live more like humans than we do."

"Both earth-based, Tang Anchen is somewhat slow, intellectually disabled. He can't even execute advanced earth-based techniques, much less earth escape. He's been stuck at the third level for a long time, but Guan Yuanfeng still takes him everywhere, never嫌弃 him."

"When they go on missions, they usually come back unscathed. Even the ordinary special operations team members have zero casualties."

Pojun said, "What's the point of saying all this? Following orders is our duty. Everyone has their own tasks."

Tan Lang scratched his head: "I just wanted to say that falling into his hands might not be such a bad thing, so don't worry too much."

He smiled and said, "You know what? They tricked me into that reception room where I couldn't use my powers, and there was actually a sign on the wall that said 'Please step into the trap.' I actually think they're pretty funny, not like bad guys."

Lihuo whispered, "They could have easily killed us if they wanted to. There's no need to keep so many of us alive just for experiments. I also think they went easy on us, perhaps... because we're all comrades."

Tianji frowned, "Don't get your hopes up." He glanced up, "There must be surveillance systems here. Everyone should be aware and not disclose any unit secrets."

Pojun said, "Although I'm the deputy team leader, I want to say that I don't know any secrets. Tianji, do you know some incredible secrets? We've always gone by code names, and only those above the third level can get the code names of the fourteen main stars. When Tiantong was captured, they replaced him right away. Our training is also in secret bases, and when we carry out missions, we only know the mission objectives, not the source. Tell me, what unit secrets can we possibly leak?"

Tianji: "..."

The members of Tianlang all burst into laughter.

Tianji looked at everyone's rare relaxed smiles and felt somewhat helpless, "No need to spill the beans so fast about us being just lab rats and grunt workers."

===

The September sky was a cloudless blue.

On a clear afternoon, bright sunlight bathed the entire estate, and the gleaming white marble buildings looked like something out of a fairy tale.

Although it was already late autumn and snowflakes were falling in the north, the breeze in the Golden Triangle remained warm and humid, carrying the rich fragrance of flowers and the scent of freshly turned soil, making it quite pleasant.

On an afternoon like this, lying in the rooftop garden, you couldn't help but feel sleepy—perfect for a nice nap.

Zhou Yun had gotten up early to check on the outdoor camellias and had just had lunch with his teacher. Now, he was feeling lazy but didn't want to nap. Alone in the rooftop garden, he idly flipped through a book. Comet lay beside him, curled around a large block of ice, also dozing.

In the distance, the sound of helicopter propellers could be heard, and a military-green helicopter landed on the nearby rooftop helipad.

Zhou Yun saw a few people getting off and knew it was probably a plane from the Jing Nan Base. He didn't bother to check and just kept lounging in his chair.

Ren Yuefei walked briskly to the rooftop garden and found Zhou Yun lounging alone, casually reading a book. He was somewhat surprised, "Why are you so free? What are you reading?"

Zhou Yun showed him the cover, "General Ren, what brings you here in person? Didn't you say the typhoon hit the coastal bases hard?"

Ren Yuefei saw the familiar cover, "It's 'Night Flight.' Duoduo's mom gave me a copy once."

Zhou Yun thought of his previous profession and nodded, "Your wife's got great taste."

Ren Yuefei sat in the wicker chair next to Zhou Yun and let out a long sigh, "I'm embarrassed. I didn't really read this book back then, only remembering the many monologues and feelings. But the descriptions of midnight flights are indeed very delicate."

He stretched out his long legs, his handsome features seemingly reminiscing, "I still remember the book saying that flying a plane is not about controlling a cold piece of metal, but about piloting a living body. I was deeply moved by that, as well as the feelings of flying in the sky and looking at the night sky."

"At that time, Duoduo's mom told me that by reading this book, she could imagine me flying in the sky, feeling closer to me and understanding me better."

Zhou Yun nodded, and Ren Yuefei looked at his calm expression, "You are indeed the type of person who would enjoy reading such a book. I remember there's a line in it, something like a person's wealth comes from their suffering and hardships, as well as from accepting a simple life."

Zhou Yun smiled, "General Ren, you're too modest. You remember it quite clearly. Books given by loved ones are different."

Ren Yuefei said, "Because that line is right at the beginning. The whole book is only a few tens of thousands of words, but I tried hard to read it many times, always starting from the beginning... My wife even marked it with a colored pen. She really liked this author and even bought 'The Little Prince' for Duoduo."

"I wasn't very interested back then because I heard the author disappeared after a flight, which seemed very unlucky."

Zhou Yun couldn't help but laugh.

Ren Yuefei looked at him, "There's another line in the book, that the happiness of life is not in unrestrained freedom, but in the responsibility of undertaking and accepting missions."

He smiled, "That easily reminds one of Guan Yuanfeng."

Zhou Yun smiled, "General Ren, you didn't come all this way, expending energy, just to chat about literature and life with me, did you?"

Ren Yuefei said, "You guessed it, didn't you?"

Zhou Yun said, "Is it related to Guan Yuanfeng?"

Ren Yuefei spread his hands, "I really didn't want to come, but both General Tan and Ye Yuqing have asked me to be the mediator."

Zhou Yun asked, "What did he do?"

Ren Yuefei replied, "He returned to the Central Base without informing anyone, secretly brought his trusted special forces, and surrounded Ye Yuqing's residence in the middle of the night."

"General Ye had two psychic aides guarding him, one with fire psychic abilities and the other with water psychic powers. They were killed on the spot. Of course... if he didn't kill them, he would have been the one to die. The moment they came out, they went all out with sniper rifles, mortars, and everything. In psychic battles, life and death are decided in a heartbeat. In short, anyone who came out to fight from the residence couldn't last more than three moves against Guan Yuanfeng."

"He made no demands, simply surrounded the house. When Ye Yuqing sent someone to ask what he wanted, he didn't say anything."

"Ling Dingxiu brought a rescue team, but in front of everyone, Guan Yuanfeng used a tornado to lift him up and electrocuted him, causing incontinence. If it weren't for a high-level light abilities practitioner present, he wouldn't have survived."

"General Tan personally approached him, but Guan Yuanfeng refused to meet. It's said they spoke on the phone, but Guan Yuanfeng remained unyielding and refused to listen to reason."

"It's been a week now."

Zhou Yun laughed.

Ren Yuefei sighed helplessly, "General Tan approached me. This is essentially a military uprising. If this goes to a court-martial, Guan Yuanfeng will be condemned by everyone. For now, it's being suppressed, and no one is allowed to discuss it. The matter remains confined to the upper echelons of the military and is under control."

"General Tan asked me to tell you that you might be the only one who can persuade him now."

"General Tan said that you were indeed wronged this time, and he only found out afterward. The factions within the military are complex, and it's hard to explain everything at once. In short, even with his power, he can't completely overthrow the other side. If you don't kill the snake, it will come back to bite you, so he suggests you endure for now. He will mediate and seek your input on the compensation you and Guan Yuanfeng desire. He will strive to secure it for you, but if Guan Yuanfeng keeps dragging this out, he might not be able to protect him anymore, and it could implicate you again. He advises against letting this escalate further and become irreparable."

"Ye Yuqing also approached me and asked me to apologize to you, saying it was all a misunderstanding. He was misled by intelligence reports into believing that Guan Yuanfeng had secretly held onto those dangerous items."

Zhou Yun smiled, "A misunderstanding? Please tell General Tan and General Ye that Guan Yuanfeng is standing up for me. How can I persuade him? I won't intervene."

"They should fully understand what Guan Yuanfeng wants—he's such a simple man. He merely seeks justice."

Zhou Yun picked up the book "Night Flight" and waved it at Ren Yuefei, "People don't seek eternity in all things; they simply wish their actions not to lose significance overnight."

"In life, there is no escape. The only constant is the momentum of progress."

"Abyss."