Chapter 153 Night Like Wine

Chapter 153 Night Like Wine

By dinner, Zhou Yun was well-rested and full of energy.

The dinner was set at the official guesthouse of Guixu City, which was previously the official training center. The architectural style and decor were understated and simple, nestled against mountains and water with stunning scenery. The materials were of solid quality, and the facilities were well-equipped.

Dong Kexin had tidied up the place and invited members of the Wood Abilities Association to transplant and accelerate the growth of a batch of ornamental trees. It was spring, and the scenery was breathtaking.

As Zhou Yun walked in, he heard Luo Shouchang speaking: "I had already had a falling out with my family. This playboy invoked my name, and I didn’t want to get involved. But knowing that it was General Guan and the City Lord who saved him, I feel ashamed. I can’t say I don’t acknowledge them, so I can’t ignore the favor from the City Lord and the General. I won’t interfere with the Luo family; it’s a personal debt."

Luo Shouchang noticed Zhou Yun entering and quickly stood up, smiling as he approached. Zhou Yun extended his hand for a handshake and said with a smile, "General Luo, you’re a man of great integrity. I’ve always said you’re upright and would never have such a scheming, ungrateful nephew. You don’t need to worry about it..."

Luo Chenhui, standing beside him, was subjected to Zhou Yun’s relentless and sarcastic mockery. His face stiffened, but he still forced a smile and stepped forward, humbly saying, "I was blind and didn’t recognize your greatness. I offended General Guan and City Lord Zhou..."

Zhou Yun smiled, "You only realized you couldn’t match our power and influence, so you hurried to apologize. It’s not that you truly feel you were wrong."

Luo Chenhui’s expression was at a loss. In official circles, wasn’t it customary to give each other some face and move on? How was this supposed to proceed? If they weren’t willing to accept the apology, why arrange this dinner?

Zhou Yun then asked Luo Shouchang, "Your family didn’t offer you any benefits, did they? You wouldn’t have come otherwise."

Luo Shouchang chuckled dryly, "City Lord, you’re as sharp as a blade. I was affected by a flood, and they exempted me from taxes for three years."

Zhou Yun’s eyes sparkled, "The Luo family has such influence?" He sat down with a smile, "Young Master Luo, for this apology, we need something substantial." Guan Yuanfeng was too upright to ask for benefits, but Zhou Yun had no such qualms. A gentleman values righteousness, while a petty man values profit. He was happy to play the petty man.

Luo Chenhui: "..." Weren’t you just putting on a righteous face earlier?

He humbly inquired, "What does the City Lord mean?"

Zhou Yun said, "Stealing the lightning butterflies is one matter, and saving lives is another. Let’s see what the Luo family can offer Guixu."

Luo Chenhui hesitated, "Before coming, my family’s elder instructed that during my three-year term as Deputy Governor of Zhucheng City, I am to be at General Guan’s disposal and fully cooperate with his work."

Luo Shouchang scoffed disdainfully, "Still just spouting pretty words. Third brother, Guixu’s tax exemption and discounted supply of industrial raw materials—let’s get something concrete."

Luo Chenhui quickly said, "I will do my best."

Guan Yuanfeng suddenly interjected, "During your three-year term as Deputy Governor of Zhucheng City, if you’re found guilty of any illegal activities, extortion, or abuse of power, you won’t be going back."

Luo Chenhui shivered slightly and hurriedly said, "I guarantee I will comply!" He even instinctively stood at attention, heels together, before realizing he wasn’t in the military. But he fully understood that his previous boasts about marrying City Lord Lin must have been overheard, and he dared not entertain such thoughts anymore. He would have to serve out his term honestly.

Luo Shouchang chuckled coldly, "Don’t worry, General Guan. This kid just graduated. Though he’s full of greed and cunning, he hasn’t had the chance to do any real harm. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have made this trip. Consider it for my nephew’s sake, to straighten him out. Whether he learns is up to him." He scolded Luo Chenhui without mercy, "Meeting General Guan now is your good fortune. Even in these times, if you go down the wrong path, you might end up in a sack one day without knowing it."

Luo Chenhui forced a smile, "Uncle is right. Chenhui will definitely reform and strive to do good from now on."

Zhou Yun then smiled and said, "Let’s eat before the food cools."

Everyone took their seats, but Luo Chenhui had no appetite. Zhou Yun, however, started asking him about the specialties of Zhucheng and any rare mutated plants and animals. Poor Luo Chenhui felt like he was on pins and needles, sweating profusely.

Midway through the meal, Zhou Yun casually asked, "By the way, how is that Young Master Ye who was with you last time? You two were close, right?"

Luo Chenhui’s forehead broke out in a fine sweat, and he hurriedly distanced himself, "We were just alumni, not even in the same class. When I enrolled, he was about to graduate, and he studied medicine, so he’s much older than me. He’s quite reclusive and doesn’t have many friends. It’s just that during the selection for Deputy Governors, he was Ye Yuqing’s cousin and a top candidate. My family knew we were alumni, so they asked me to befriend him..."

Zhou Yun smiled, "How is his health now?" It seemed these second-generation elites were indeed sharp. Such distancing must mean Ye Yuqing had made some moves.

Luo Chenhui cautiously replied, "After we parted at the Xining base, his father personally took him back to the Lindong base. His health isn’t a major concern, but he mentioned having some trouble with his psychic powers. Yesterday, when I met with my uncle, my family called and just reminded me that he seems to be going to Zhongzhou for treatment. The Ye family’s patriarch is also going to Zhongzhou for recuperation, seeking a good doctor. But my family told me that something might have happened in the Ye family and advised me not to associate with him anymore."

Zhou Yun nodded and didn’t press further, as if it were just a casual question.

Luo Shouchang said, "The Ye patriarch is going to Zhongzhou? Haha, it seems Old Ye Fox’s illness was indeed suspicious."

He watched Guan Yuanfeng serving Zhou Yun a piece of wild leek stir-fried with cured meat, both seeming completely uninterested in the topic. Recalling that Guan Yuanfeng and Ye Yuqing were arch-rivals, he decided not to continue the conversation and instead chatted casually, "Why didn’t the city lord think of us for the project with the Xining base? I heard from Old Fu that they might have discovered some new material for weapons."

Zhou Yun smiled, "If City Lord Luo is willing to support, that would be even better. You are an established industrial base, and if you could send some technical talents, we might achieve breakthroughs faster. We've made some new progress in crystal core resonance and discovered a new material."

Luo Shouchang eagerly asked, "What material?"

Zhou Yun replied, "Spider silk from volcanic spiders."

Luo Shouchang was delighted, "City Lord, make sure the Sanchu base is part of this!"

Zhou Yun smiled, "The Jingnan base is really eager too. If the Sanchu base has suitable technical personnel and researchers, please report them as soon as possible. We are about to form a research team."

Luo Shouchang immediately said, "I’ll have it for you tomorrow!"

After the banquet, Guan Yuanfeng drove back with Zhou Yun. As they drove by the river, they saw flowers blooming like clouds on both sides, filling the air with fragrance. The riverside was crowded with people, men, women, old and young, with kids, as if it were a peaceful era before the apocalypse. The flowers, nourished by wood psychic ability users, bloomed even more splendidly.

Zhou Yun looked out of the car window happily, "The weather’s perfect. Let’s walk back."

The dog beside him barked in agreement.

Guan Yuanfeng said, "Alright." They got out of the car, and Guan Yuanfeng had someone drive it back. They strolled slowly with the dog.

Zhou Yun took out his phone, "I’ll sneak a call to check on Qin Sheng."

Guan Yuanfeng knew Zhou Yun would eventually get to this, so he just nodded slightly, holding the dog's leash, and found a spot by the roadside to watch the river view, patting the dog to sit down.

Zhou Yun sat down, dialing the phone while watching Guan Yuanfeng take the dog down the slope to the riverside to watch people fishing.

Qin Sheng picked up right away, "Dr. Zhou! What brings you to call me?"

There was a loud wind noise on his end, and Zhou Yun was surprised, "What are you doing?"

Qin Sheng laughed heartily, "We’re out at sea! Ling Dingxiu got this huge yacht for ice fishing. It's awesome! Hohoho! Just too cold! Freezing!" A voice in the background said, "Step back! This big one! Let me shock it! It’ll calm down!"

Over the loud laughter, Shen Lan spoke up, "Tell City Lord Zhou we're all fine."

Zhou Yun: "..." He asked, "Is the base secure now?" They dared to let them go out to sea.

Qin Sheng said, "Stable, everyone’s been taken care of." He seemed to have found a quiet corner, as the background noise disappeared.

Qin Sheng lowered his voice, "City Lord, that Ye fox is truly vicious. When dealing with him in the future, be more cautious. He's truly heartless..."

He muttered, "It’s scary."

Zhou Yun couldn't help but lower his voice too, "What happened?"

Qin Sheng said, "We went back to the Lindong base with the Deputy Governor. Old General Ye and Ye Lihui, along with the three armies’ officers, were at the airport to greet the Deputy Governor. When they saw Ye Yuqing and the Deputy Governor get off the plane together, their expressions shifted."

"Probably seeing Ye Yuqing intact and returning with so many people, they got scared. With so many officers present, no one suspected anything, only congratulating him on his recovery. Midway through the welcome banquet, Ye Lihui tried to slip away with Ye Shiqing to catch a flight, but of course, Shen Lan intercepted them."

"Once the banquet was over, the clueless Deputy Governor went back to his hotel room. Ye Yuqing took Old General Ye, Ye Lihui, and Ye Shiqing to the beast farm where Ye Shiqing raised animals, and drove all the beasts into cages. He told them that, given their family ties, if Ye Shiqing could kill all the beasts and live, the score would be settled. The three could leave the Lindong base and go wherever they wanted, and he would not pursue them further."

"There were at least a dozen mutated beasts in the cage, my God." He wasn't sure he could survive.

"The scariest part was Ye Yuqing saying if they cared about their son or grandson, Old General Ye and Ye Lihui could join in too."

Zhou Yun: "..."

Qin Sheng, hiding in the dark cabin, seemed to recall the scene of that day and shivered slightly. Ye Yuqing even smiled and said, "I heard Grandpa has also awakened his psychic ability. If you feel sorry for your grandson, going in to help isn't bad. The chances of survival would be higher. After all, he's the only psychic in our Ye family."

Zhou Yun said, "So they didn't go in after all?"

Qin Sheng replied, "No, Ye Li Hui knelt down, wailing and kowtowing to beg him, but she didn't go in. Old Master Ye remained silent the whole time."

Zhou Yun was very interested, "So, Ye Shiqing didn't die?"

Qin Sheng shivered, "No, he really killed all the beasts. Honestly, those beasts were initially even a bit afraid of him, probably because he had tamed them harshly. But later, with the blood, their wild instincts took over..."

The scene was too brutal and inhumane; he didn't want to recall it, just said, "In any case, it was a gruesome and horrifying sight. Ye Shiqing's face was covered in scars, horrifyingly disfigured, even more so after being mauled by the beasts. But as a metal manipulator, although his limbs were torn and incomplete... he still managed to protect his vital parts. It's just strange, his psychic ability seemed to be malfunctioning."

He whispered, "Later, I left without watching further, and heard from Shen Lan that he survived, but he barely looked human anymore, just clinging to life. Ye Yuqing kept his promise and arranged a plane to send them out of Lin Dong overnight." Actually, probably not many people watched till the end; he suspected that if Ye Yuqing could see, he might not have been able to watch either.

He continued, "Thankfully, you weren’t there; it was too gruesome. Though I know Ye Yuqing is pitiful, it’s an eye for an eye, but was it necessary... couldn’t he have just ended it quickly... forget it, let's not talk about this anymore. How is Gui Xu? I miss home a bit."

Zhou Yun smiled, "The flowers are in full bloom, eagerly awaiting your return."

He hung up the phone and saw Guan Yuanfeng walking back with the dog from afar. He had changed into casual attire for the evening banquet, broad-shouldered and long-legged, looking sharp and handsome, walking with the dog, extremely dashing. The nightmare felt like a distant memory.

The night was boundless like transparent seawater, the faint fragrance of flowers was everywhere. He leaned back on the bench, looking up at the stars, feeling Guan Yuanfeng sitting down beside him, "How is it?"

Zhou Yun said, "Evil has been repaid, it's good." The evildoers got their retribution, the good have their place, and those who were about to do evil no longer dared to covet. His heart was calm; he reached out and covered Guan Yuanfeng's hand on the side, smiling, "The days now are really good."

He feared it might be a dream, so he had grown used to giving himself a slight jolt during his happiest moments, to remind himself that such good days were not a dream.

He slightly turned his head and gently kissed Guan Yuanfeng's lips. Guan Yuanfeng was a bit surprised, after all, it was outdoors; it was the first time Zhou Yun was so bold.

Of course, the night was thick, and there was no one around; he was willing to indulge his lover.

Guan Yuanfeng held his hand tightly and kissed him back.