Chapter 132: Waiting for Next Spring

Chapter 132: Waiting for Next Spring

Ye Yuqing's surgery was completed quickly.

From his perspective, it felt like he had just been given anesthesia, slept through it, and woke up without any sensation. According to Ling Dingxiu, even the abdominal wound was undetectable, as smooth as before. If it weren’t for Dongjun’s enigmatic image, he might have suspected it was a scam.

Zhou Yun earnestly taught him the method of energy circulation: "Although you don’t have legs and arms, you can try to imagine them when circulating energy."

Ye Yuqing: "..." How can I imagine something that’s not there? What is this energy pathway, and what is this energy sensation? The top student, who always excelled, suddenly felt like a dunce, completely bewildered.

Unfortunately, Zhang Guangming wasn’t around; he had gone on a mission. Otherwise, he could have shared some experience. He should be back by the New Year, so there’s no need to rush. Zhou Yun comforted him: "General Ling knows it too. There’s no barrier to this; it’s like intuition. You’ll gradually understand."

Ling Dingxiu: "..."

Ye Yuqing: "..."

That made sense, and suddenly, he felt more confident.

Zhou Yun drew the curtains and began the acupuncture treatment: "After I finish the acupuncture treatment, you should rest well. Your mindset is crucial. You need to cultivate your psychic ability, holding onto the hope that your limbs and eyes can recover."

Although Ye Yuqing had some suspicions before, he still found it hard to believe: "Can my eyes really recover? That giant gate—Wei Anguo, who awakened his psychic ability after the apocalypse, but his hand didn’t recover."

Zhou Yun skillfully inserted the needles, very certain: "Yes, it’s related to your psychic ability level. It requires some auxiliary treatments and support, and it will take some time. If you work hard to enhance your psychic ability, it will be faster." With his wood psychic abilities aiding the treatment, the speed would also increase.

He removed the bandages from Ye Yuqing’s eyes and carefully examined the wounds: "As for Wei Anguo, he’s an earth-type psychic. Originally, with gradual leveling up and proper treatment, he could have recovered. But he used that gene hormone, so it’s impossible now. I’m currently trying to repair it for him, and there might be hope later." In his previous life, Guan Yuanfeng had transplanted an incompatible fire psychic ability but still managed to recover his legs, showing how remarkable his original talent was.

He quickly inserted needles around Ye Yuqing’s eye acupoints and then performed "Revive Spring."

The eyes are still a very delicate organ. In his previous life, Qin Sheng took nearly a year to fully recover.

But with the recovery of his limbs and his light psychics, it should be faster than Qin Sheng’s recovery, probably similar to Guan Yuanfeng’s.

The winter is particularly long, and by the time the snow melts in spring, he should have recovered.

In any case, Qin Sheng from his previous life and Guan Yuanfeng in this life have given him extensive experience in treating limb regeneration, so his tone was very confident.

This certainty was conveyed to Ye Yuqing, boosting his confidence as well.

After finishing the acupuncture, Zhou Yun packed up, gave Ling Dingxiu some instructions, and also checked Ling Dingxiu’s pulse to assess his condition, advising him to absolutely refrain from using his psychic ability before leaving.

Once Zhou Yun left, the ward finally quieted down.

Ye Yuqing thoughtfully asked Ling Dingxiu: "Yao Lao is Zhou Doctor’s teacher, but every time Zhou Doctor performs acupuncture on me, it feels very different from Yao Lao’s." Although each acupoint also felt warm, the warmth and itchiness at the limb stumps and eye sockets were particularly distinct.

Ling Dingxiu said: "Both Yao Lao and Zhou Doctor draw the curtains when performing acupuncture on you, so I can’t see the difference."

Ye Yuqing: "..."

Ling Dingxiu, however, was enthusiastic: "The canteen has fruits today. I brought some up, including loquats. I remember you like them."

Ye Yuqing was surprised: "Where did the loquats come from in this freezing weather?"

Ling Dingxiu explained: "They’re from the off-season greenhouse at the nursery, ripened by wood psychic ability users. It’s said to be for the Spring Festival symposium."

Ye Yuqing: "...Isn’t this a hospital?"

Ling Dingxiu said: "This is Nanshan Medicinal Garden. Outside are various herbs, vegetable and fruit greenhouses, and further out, I heard there’s a farm."

Ye Yuqing pondered for a while: "I remember Nanshan Medicinal Garden was transformed from a prison."

Ling Dingxiu said, "Yes, there are slogans outside about turning over a new leaf. With high walls and electric fences, it's heavily guarded and very safe."

Ye Yuqing remained silent.

Ling Dingxiu continued to mutter, "I forgot to ask Dr. Zhou if I could have some agave liquor. Walking near the distillery, the air is filled with the aroma of alcohol. If only the General could see, I saw their mutated agave, like countless green swords, looking beautiful in the snow. It's the first time I've seen it, and I think you would definitely like it."

Ye Yuqing's lips curled into a slight smile: "You can ask Yao Lao tomorrow as well."

Ling Dingxiu peeled loquats while chatting: "I heard that only the industries of alcohol, silkworms, and shadow hemp garments remain here; everything else has moved into the city. It's under very strict management. I heard they recently caught a spy trying to steal research data."

"Today, Deputy Governor Qin told me that the Tianlang team is mainly responsible for public security in the city and asked if I needed to arrange for them to come and guard the General. I declined."

Ye Yuqing said, "If you're bored, you can call them over for a chat."

Ling Dingxiu pouted: "Once a traitor, always a traitor."

Ye Yuqing was torn between amusement and exasperation: "Have you forgotten that the Tianlang team was never ours to begin with? The people they betrayed are also our enemies; we now have a common enemy."

Ling Dingxiu suddenly realized, "Oh, right."

Ye Yuqing smiled: "Qin Mu was likely probing to see if we would move against the Lindong Base."

Ling Dingxiu said blankly, "You can't do much now, can you? Focus on recovering first."

Ye Yuqing laughed.

There was a knock at the door, crisp and rhythmic—a military-trained knock.

Ling Dingxiu looked up, instinctively springing to his feet, his body tense, then suddenly realizing they were now under someone else's roof, he said somewhat sheepishly, "General Guan."

Ye Yuqing turned his head with a smile: "General Guan."

Guan Yuanfeng walked in: "Feeling better? Zhou Yun told me the surgery was a success."

He was tall, and his presence immediately made the room feel cramped. Ling Dingxiu instinctively pushed a chair over for him to sit.

Ye Yuqing said, "Much better, though I'm still a wreck. Can't properly receive guests, my apologies."

Guan Yuanfeng's sharp eyes scanned him up and down as he sat down: "This morning, there was a video conference for the annual debriefings of the military bases. The Lindong Base's report this year was handled by General Ye. The reason given was that you were ill and recuperating."

Ye Yuqing was startled but quickly caught on: "Ye Lihui doesn't carry enough weight, so grandfather decided to step in himself? With him involved, even Old Tan would have to show him some respect."

Guan Yuanfeng said, "Yes. And he looked full of energy, with jet-black hair, as if he had awakened a psychic power."

Ye Yuqing fell silent.

Ling Dingxiu interjected: "When they gave me the psychic ability stimulant, the Haiyuan Laboratory had a proposal to recruit volunteers for crystal core transplants to awaken psychic abilities. The guys below asked me if it was reliable, and I also thought it wasn't very reliable, so I asked someone I knew. They told me that experts from Cangshan City were brought in, but the success rate isn't very high, and they said the psychic ability stimulant works better, with abilities skyrocketing after taking it."

Ye Yuqing was speechless.

Guan Yuanfeng frowned coldly: "So it was the Ye family who took Li Xiong's information—a classic case of the thief crying 'stop thief'."

Ling Dingxiu belatedly shut his mouth.

Ye Yuqing coughed awkwardly: "At that time, sending out the Tianlang team was probably to control the information about the mutated poppies for psychics. The transplant surgery must have cost a fortune to bring in experts. I do remember the laboratory had that expenditure, but I only glanced at it briefly. It seems the Lindong Base has long been out of my control. Grandfather must have started planning from then, as those who once had power are even more reluctant to lose it. He is old and more desperate for psychic abilities."

Guan Yuanfeng remained silent, and though Ye Yuqing couldn't see, he could feel the intimidating aura. He knew Guan Yuanfeng was truly angry about Zhou Yun being besieged. It was the first time in many years he had seen Guan Yuanfeng so furious, storming into his house in Zhongzhou. Frankly, he had always looked down on Guan Yuanfeng, thinking he was just Tan Kai's blade. From that day on, his perception of Guan Yuanfeng completely changed, seeing him as a true hero. But he never thought he would now be under his protection.

Even with his thick skin, he couldn't help feeling a bit embarrassed just then. He coughed lightly: "My grandfather probably took the risk of a psychic ability transplant to control the entire Lindong Base."

Guan Yuanfeng said, "What's your plan?" His voice was still laced with displeasure.

Ye Yuqing replied, "They wouldn't dare publicize my accident, and to show that everything in the East Base remains unchanged, they will try to ensure everything continues as usual, including the cooperation contracts I had established with other bases."

"I probably have until winter to recover."

Guan Yuanfeng said coldly, "Ye Yuqing, Zhou Yun is benevolent, but I am not."

Ye Yuqing sighed, "I won't forget your kindness, but now I have nothing, I can only promise future support. The East Base will rise and fall with the Abyss."

Guan Yuanfeng nodded slightly, not caring whether Ye Yuqing could see, and stood up to leave.

Ling Dingxiu sighed deeply and whispered to Ye Yuqing, "I misspoke."

Ye Yuqing smiled, "No, right now, we need to be upfront with each other. Thanks to you for providing effective information." His smile gradually cooled, "My grandfather probably thinks that if he steps forward, my retaliation won't be as harsh... or maybe he thinks a cripple like me is beyond saving."

Ling Dingxiu said, "General, you should focus on getting better first."

Ye Yuqing lay down, "I know."

Ling Dingxiu whispered, "But you seem really anxious right now."

Ye Yuqing denied, "I'm not anxious." I need to think carefully about how to get back at them.

...

Guan Yuanfeng walked downstairs and saw Zhou Yun coming in from outside, carrying a full basket of vegetables, looking very surprised, "Why are you here?"

Guan Yuanfeng stepped forward to take the heavy basket, "I came to talk to Ye Yuqing about some things. Also to take you back... you haven't been home in three days."

Zhou Yun smiled, "The transplant surgery is a real hassle, requires a lot of preparation, and the teacher is also staying here."

Guan Yuanfeng said, "I thought you were trying to dodge winter training."

Zhou Yun: "..."

Guan Yuanfeng's stern features softened with a smile, "Why did you grab so many veggies?"

Zhou Yun said, "I want to make a hotpot."

Guan Yuanfeng said, "We've got donkey meat at home, perfect for a donkey meat hotpot."

Zhou Yun was surprised, "Where did it come from?"

Guan Yuanfeng said, "The Three Chu Base sent it over as a gift for the troops."

Zhou Yun was really craving, "Donkey meat is tasty, but it's tricky to cook."

Guan Yuanfeng said, "Yes, I didn't dare mess with it, just had them cut twenty pounds and brought it home, it's very fresh."

Zhou Yun immediately decided, "Let's head back then."

They got into the car, Guan Yuanfeng driving, Zhou Yun was a bit surprised, "Why are you alone?"

Guan Yuanfeng said, "They took other cars to the nearby military camp. I came specifically to see Ye Yuqing." He then mentioned Ye Zixi's matter, Zhou Yun pondered, "If it's Li Xiong's experts, they might not be able to handle a dual-ability transplant."

Guan Yuanfeng said, "Didn't you use wind and electric crystal cores to trigger mine back then?"

Zhou Yun smiled, "That was me, others can't do it." He used grafting, which is different from simple and crude transplants.

Guan Yuanfeng held the steering wheel with one hand and reached out to caress Zhou Yun's wrist with the other: "You are the strongest."

Zhou Yun, however, didn't notice this subtle gesture. Instead, he grasped Guan Yuanfeng's hand and was lost in thought. Could it be that in his previous life, the old master of the Ye family was too impatient to find dual-element crystal cores and went for a single-element transplant instead? Or perhaps, due to his advanced age, he didn't dare to risk transplanting two crystal cores, only to realize later that he had reached the fifth stage and then decided to act on himself?

He pondered aloud: "The surgeries performed in Cangshan City back then all had side effects because they were forced transplants. Only those with excellent physical fitness, high talent, and good affinity survived. The risks were enormous. Ye Zixi is already over eighty years old and still took the risk to undergo this surgery. It seems you're right; Ye Yuqing's control over the Lindong Base is quite strong."

He concluded: "So, this time, we've made a profit by saving him." He glanced at Guan Yuanfeng, a smile playing in his eyes: "Perhaps by next Spring Festival, we'll be able to enjoy seafood sent from the Lindong Base."

Guan Yuanfeng: "..."