Chapter 158: Unexpected

Chapter 158: Unexpected

In mid-June, Gong Yanqing indeed quickly arranged the time, and Zhou Yun finally ended his vacation and returned to Guixu City, secretly performing the surgery for Gong Yanqing at the Nanshan Medicinal Garden.

After the surgery, like Ye Yuqing, Gong Yanqing didn’t immediately sense his psychic abilities, but his body felt somewhat lighter. Zhou Yun taught him some methods for absorbing crystal cores and practicing psychic abilities, then sent him back to Beiming to recuperate, telling him to keep it under wraps for now and to regularly check related indicators.

Gong Yanqing returned to the city lord's residence, indeed only claiming to be recuperating from an illness, spending his days spoiling his granddaughter, seemingly enjoying his retirement. Behind the scenes, though, he’d already directed the city hall to start drafting a co-governance merger plan.

Golden Swan Hotel.

In the bar's private room, Gong Feiyun was pouring wine for Wu Zhou: "You said you wanted to have a child, so you had to quit drinking. Now that the child is born and you won't be having a second one anytime soon, brother-in-law can enjoy a drink. This is mutated agave wine—a rare treat. Only the finer aged wines are still around, and they've all been reserved by the major bases."

Wu Zhou originally didn't want to drink, but upon hearing it was mutated agave wine, he didn't refuse and took the glass. They were hosting officials from the Psychic Society who were in town tonight, having come to Beiming City after visiting Guixu City.

As the vice president of the Psychic Society and a local, he had no choice but to host, but he wasn't good at these things. Gong Feiyun stepped up to handle the reception and did it flawlessly, for which Wu Zhou was grateful.

Gong Feiyun smiled: "In a few months when the child is a bit older, you and my sister will return to Zhongzhou, right? I’m sure Third Uncle won’t want you taking the child away."

Wu Zhou felt somewhat stifled: "Zhongzhou’s nowhere near as comfortable as here, there's nothing there, fruits and seafood cost a fortune, and even heating your home costs an arm and a leg. Feishuang’s always complaining about the cold, and the child is still young. This time, we’ll likely stay here to recover."

He raised his glass and drank it all in one go. The spicy, smooth wine slid down his throat, and the powerful psychic energy of the mutated agave immediately flowed to his limbs, filling him with power, like he could take on the world.

He sighed: "No doubt, it’s good stuff—no wonder it costs so much. This stuff is even more expensive in Zhongzhou."

Gong Feiyun said: "Beiming’s safer than Zhongzhou these days. Guixu’s crystal core shields and cannons, I hear from friends in Zhongzhou that the military there doesn't even know how to make them. I’ve no idea when Guixu City pulled off such a big move. Plenty of people have come asking me, and when I say I don't know, they don't believe me, saying the Gong family has close ties with Guixu City, and all the city officials of Guixu are from Beiming, so I must be hiding something."

He poured another glass for Wu Zhou, smiling bitterly: "I really have no choice, who’d believe I’m the city lord’s own nephew?"

Wu Zhou said: "Guixu City’s under General Guan’s command, and there's also the mysterious Dongjun. Regular folks can’t get the inside scoop. I heard from the city lord he doesn’t even know where the cannon was shot, that sea turtle’s not from around here."

Gong Feiyun's eyes flashed: "Could it be the Jingnan Base? During the New Year’s visit, when we toured the weapons factory, didn't General Ren Yuefei greatly praise the idea of the crystal core energy stove and crystal core weapons, saying he wanted to invest in the technology? At that time, General Guan was also willing to cooperate with the Gong family, but I don't know why we were completely excluded in the end."

Wu Zhou casually said: "Who knows, even if the city lord was involved, it wouldn't be our place to know."

Gong Feiyun laughed: "You hit the nail on the head with that. But you're better off than me, you're my sister's husband after all, and you've had a precious daughter, the first psychic in our Gong family. Look how much Third Uncle dotes on her, everything will be yours in the future."

Wu Zhou sipped the wine slowly, reluctant to finish it: "Forget it, I'm just a tool for carrying on the family line."

Gong Feiyun said: "Why so disheartened? I see Third Uncle paving the way for you wholeheartedly, I truly admire his capabilities. He acts decisively and has a keen eye for people. The path he's paving for you and Feishuang is also very good. Third Uncle has this illness now, that's why he chose you so carefully to take care of my sister. I heard from my uncle that the cancer can't be completely cured. It seems Guixu is now promoting a medicine made from mutated yew, which has better effects, but it only delays the inevitable."

Wu Zhou said: "Hmph, the other day I saw Director Yuan bring a copy of 'Guixu Journal' over, very excited, and sought out the city lord. The city lord glanced at me and went into the study to talk with Director Yuan for a long time before leaving."

"Later, I found that journal to read, the one that published the crystal core weapons. After flipping through it carefully, Director Yuan must have been focusing on the medical papers, and easily found the paper on the treatment plan for amputees signed by Yao Huan and Zhu Ming. That treatment plan clearly involved transplanting a crystal core, turning the patient into a psychic, and then regenerating the limbs."

"Indeed, high-level psychics can regenerate lost limbs, and of course, there's also the reason of the high-level wood psychic, Dongjun. Currently, the wood psychics in our Psychic Society speculate that Dongjun should already be at the fifth level, the only one at that level. Wood psychic abilities are known to level up slowly, and now there isn't even a fourth-level wood psychic yet."

"That paper, the first author is Yao Huan, but everyone thinks the second author, Zhu Ming, also known as Dongjun, is the real author."

Gong Feiyun was very interested in the information Wu Zhou mentioned about Yuan Xuegang: "You mean, my uncle sought out my uncle because he has a new medical idea?"

Wu Zhou said indifferently: "The city lord and General Guan have a good relationship, and Yao Huan, the first author of the paper, has always been treating the city lord. As long as he agrees to accept the crystal core transplant, the other party would certainly be willing to add an experimental sample. Once the city lord becomes a psychic, cancer will no longer be a terminal illness. Limbs and eyes can be regenerated, what's cancer? Moreover, there's also the mutated yew specific medicine."

Gong Feiyun came back to his senses, the Psychic Research Institute hadn't told him this information. It seems that if Third Uncle really accepts the crystal core surgery and becomes a psychic, then neither Wu Zhou nor himself would have any chance to inherit the city lord's position.

Looking at Wu Zhou's expression, he smiled: "If he can really become a psychic and cure the illness, his lifespan will increase, and Third Uncle will have plenty of time to cultivate your little Wenxing, a natural water psychic. I thought she would inherit your fire core, but unexpectedly it was water."

Wu Zhou's face darkened, and he didn't speak.

Gong Feiyun thoughtfully said: "Drink up, it's also good if Third Uncle can recover his health. Beiming is now close to Guixu, the first to benefit, even Zhongzhou has to curry favor with us now. As the vice president of the Psychic Society, you're also in high demand, right?"

Wu Zhou, slightly drunk, said under the influence of alcohol, "The Psychic Research Institute is nothing, they haven't researched anything, just a bunch of useless people."

Gong Feishuang smiled and checked the time, "Let's head back first, it's getting late and I'm afraid Feishuang will blame me for leading you astray."

Wu Zhou sneered, "I'm a son-in-law, not a servant, would she dare scold me? If she angers me, it won't be pleasant for anyone. She treats me like breeding stock, not realizing she's just a breeding sow herself, even her father looks down on her."

Gong Feishuang, already aware of her brother-in-law's notorious affair, smiled and said, "Brother-in-law, you stand upright and naturally have reason wherever you go. I see Sister now respects you greatly."

Wu Zhou stood up unsteadily, "I'm doing this for the sake of the city lord... he treats me well." Gong Feishuang helped him into the car back to the city lord's mansion.

When he returned to his room, Gong Feishuang was holding their daughter, feeding her with a bottle, her face gloomy, with a nanny standing by holding a towel to assist.

The psychic baby had a huge appetite, ordinary milk couldn't satisfy her, so the Gong family specially spent money to buy mutated goats and cattle to raise, milking them daily to feed the child.

Seeing him return reeking of alcohol, Gong Feishuang frowned in disgust, turned away with the child towards the baby's room. Wu Zhou sneered and went upstairs to his room. Since the pregnancy, they had been sleeping separately, their relationship as cold as ice, like temporary partners completing a phase task, each doing their own thing.

However, somehow this sneer seemed to hit a nerve in Gong Feishuang. She handed the child to the nanny, jumped up and said, "Stop! Wu Zhou! What are you laughing at? The child isn't feeling well, and you go drinking! What kind of father are you? I haven't slept for a day and a night!"

Wu Zhou was baffled, "I told you, it was to entertain guests from the Psychic Research Institute, father knows. The child is a psychic, what could be wrong, she's just hungry, feed her and she'll be fine. There's a nanny, whether you sleep or not is none of my concern."

Gong Feishuang angrily retorted, "You just doubt the child isn't yours, that's why you're so indifferent. I asked you to do a paternity test, but you insinuated that uncle would tamper with it. You cold-hearted trash, you don't deserve to have family!"

Wu Zhou, heartbroken as his parents had passed away, was enraged by the comment, "What do you, a spoiled lady, know about family? You're just a fickle-hearted thief crying thief!"

The couple's hysterical argument escalated, the baby sensing something was wrong, began to wail loudly, suddenly the room became damp and a light rain started, the nanny, flustered, carried the child out, the mist following.

Gong Feishuang took the child, Wu Zhou waved his hand, heat rising, evaporating all the mist, sneering at her, "Fire and water don't mix, what's there to say. I think you're constantly picking fights, maybe you're neurotic, could be postpartum depression." He turned and went upstairs.

Gong Feishuang, holding the child, suddenly burst into tears, the nanny unsure how to comfort her. These days Gong Feishuang had indeed been emotionally unstable, often crying for no reason, refusing to let the nanny inform the city lord, the nanny, a simple person, was at a loss on how to soothe her.

The next day Wu Zhou got up and saw Gong Feishuang coming to him with a smile, "Feishuang isn't here?"

Wu Zhou frowned, "I think the nanny mentioned she was going for a vaccine today, postpartum, she has to go to the medical clinic next door for various things every now and then."

He asked Gong Feishuang, "The wine yesterday was really good, does Elder Brother have any more? If so, I'd like to buy some more. I felt it really helped enhance my psychic powers." His long-stagnant psychic powers had shown signs of a breakthrough last night.

Gong Feishuang said, "It's hard to come by, but if brother-in-law wants, I have another bottle, I'll have it sent to you later." He lowered his voice, "Do you have a study room? There's some information I need to tell you."

Wu Zhou opened the study room door and invited him in, "Sit, what would you like to drink?"

Gong Feishuang, "Water is fine, brother-in-law, are you aware that the city hall is working on a dual-city co-governance plan? In the future, North Ming and Guixu cities will be managed and operated as one."

Wu Zhou wasn't particularly concerned, "Guixu is so powerful now, North Ming has to rely on it for sustenance, it's inevitable."

Gong Feishuang chuckled, "Did you know Qin Mu and Qin Sheng used to depend on our city lord's residence for their livelihood? What a turnaround. Now it's North Ming's turn to seek favor under the brothers' rule."

Wu Zhou sneered, "Speaking of those two brothers, there's a joke, it's said that when the city lord was choosing a son-in-law, he was also in the running, but he fell ill that day and didn't go, so the city lord chose me. Later, Miss Gong heard Qin Sheng was also a candidate, and was quite regretful, complaining that the city lord didn't choose more carefully. Hahaha."

Gong Feishuang laughed, "He was indeed a guard for our family, now he's turned the tables and risen in status, no wonder Sister is upset. By the way, I went back and inquired yesterday, I discovered a secret."

Wu Zhou asked, "What secret?"

Gong Feishuang said, "Guan Yuanfeng was in Zhongzhou for so long, although he was at the peak of combat power, he only fought zombies and mutated creatures, never heard of any contributions in research. The Psychic Research Institute knows best. But after coming to Guixu, they could transplant crystal cores and develop weapons using crystal cores, do you know why?"

Wu Zhou said, "That doesn't concern us."

Gong Feishuang was somewhat frustrated, "You don't know, Guan Yuanfeng led a team on a mission to Cangshan City, the drug lord there was secretly researching crystal core transplants and using drugs to control psychics. After he went, he killed the drug lord, publicly claimed it was internal strife among the drug lords, then took all the research materials, and also took away the elite psychics controlled by drugs from Cangshan City."

Wu Zhou pondered, "You mean, he misappropriated those materials?"

Gong Feiyun said, "The Alliance government was completely unprepared; he moved too swiftly. The Alliance military and government wanted to investigate thoroughly and hold him accountable. General Ye Yuqing dispatched personnel to investigate, but he immediately stirred up trouble, surrounded General Ye's residence, and killed people to instill fear."

"His reputation was impeccable, and he had extensive connections. The military couldn't do anything, afraid of a rebellion, so they established a large military district to pacify everyone and assign them to local positions."

"But insiders all knew about this. Sure enough, he emerged, established his own city, and now with so much research data, the central government speculates that Guan has the data from Cangshan City and is using narcotics to control the related psychics and researchers."

Wu Zhou had also heard some rumors about this in Zhongzhou, but he didn't care much: "These are just rumors, right? Regardless of their truth, now Guixu City has weapons, technology, and can ensure food and clothing for all."

Gong Feiyun, however, said, "The Alliance government and military want evidence but have never obtained the crucial evidence. If they could get conclusive evidence, then all the major bases could pressure and initiate a joint offensive. Could he really act against humanity and bomb each base one by one? The key lies with Dongjun. The Zhongzhou government suspects that Dongjun, who never appears, including Yao Huan, has already been controlled by Guan Yuanfeng using narcotics. The crystal cores they transplanted might have addictive properties."

Wu Zhou pondered thoughtfully.

Gong Feiyun added, "Perhaps the next target... will be our Gong family."

Wu Zhou didn't quite believe it: "I don't think the city lord is that foolish."

Gong Feiyun said, "Who knows? People are fragile in the face of death. But now there's a unique opportunity."

Wu Zhou asked, "What opportunity?"

Gong Feiyun replied, "Third Uncle has probably already transplanted a crystal core. He's been recuperating these days and has started preparing to transfer the city's defense. I inquired with my uncle, and he dodged the question. It's almost certain that he has transplanted a crystal core."

Wu Zhou said, "Are you saying the city lord has already been controlled by Guixu?"

Gong Feiyun said, "The Alliance military and government are waiting for evidence. If Third Uncle's crystal core transplant surgery has issues, and the cause of failure is revealed to the public, the Alliance government and military can legitimately dispatch an investigation team to Beiming City, then mobilize heavy forces to pressure Guan Yuanfeng into handing over Dongjun and admitting his crimes."

Wu Zhou: "..." He looked bewildered. What does this have to do with me?

Gong Feiyun took out a bottle of medicine: "Third Uncle is very cautious now, but he has no defenses against you and my sister. A small amount of this drug, when mixed into water and consumed, can activate the toxic drug components in Third Uncle's body. Don't worry, it won't harm him; it's just to facilitate the detection of drug components and expose Guan Yuanfeng's conspiracy. Then the truth will be revealed to the world. The Alliance government has promised that Beiming will be under your responsibility, and Guixu will also be managed by Beiming."

"There's not much time left. If we delay any longer, the entire Beiming will be taken over by Guan Yuanfeng. Are you willing to spend your life as breeding stock, always controlled by others? Third Uncle is already a puppet. You are the only psychic in the Gong family. If you don't rise to power, who will? My sister is now utterly devoted to you... As long as you become the city lord, she can only depend on you and can't do anything to you..."

He placed the medicine on the desk, his voice filled with encouragement. However, the study door was suddenly pushed open, and Gong Feishuang stormed in, her hair disheveled, still wearing her nightgown. She held a pistol, her eyes bloodshot, and screamed hysterically at Gong Feiyun, "My dear cousin, so this is what you're like, plotting against my father! Go to hell!"

As soon as she finished speaking, bang! bang! bang! The pistol in her hand fired.

Gong Feiyun was shocked that Gong Feishuang was at home. He hurriedly drew his gun from his waist but was already too late; he had been shot multiple times. His eyes widened, and he lifted his gun to aim at Gong Feishuang's heart.

Wu Zhou, who had been standing there dumbfounded, finally reacted. He raised his hand, and a flame engulfed Gong Feiyun's gun-wielding hand.

"Boom!"

Half of Gong Feiyun's body was burned. He looked at Wu Zhou in disbelief and collapsed.

====

At the headquarters building of Guixu City's military district.

"Gong Feiyun is dead?"

Zhou Yun sat in the office, looking at Qin Mu in surprise: "How did he die?"

Qin Mu, with a look of helplessness, handed him a bottle of medicine: "Gong Feiyun privately approached Wu Zhou, saying that the Gong city lord had been controlled by Guan Yuanfeng using narcotics and had transplanted a crystal core. As long as it was publicly announced that the city lord's transplant surgery had issues and that he was actually controlled by drugs, the Alliance military and government would have evidence to launch a righteous crusade against Guixu City, expose General Guan's sinister ambitions, and rescue the city lord Dongjun, who is controlled by narcotics."

Guan Yuanfeng: "..."

Zhou Yun: "..."

Qin Mu continued, "There was monitoring in the study. Miss Gong, because her child was ill, hadn't slept well all night. In the morning, she saw her cousin sneaking around to visit her husband. She had secretly installed monitoring in the study and turned it on to eavesdrop. Upon hearing this grand conspiracy, she was furious, grabbed her self-defense pistol, burst into the study, and shot Gong Feiyun multiple times."

"Gong Feiyun was hit, raised his gun to retaliate, but Wu Zhou beside him cast a fireball, burning his arm... By the time the city lord arrived, Gong Feiyun's body was already cold."

"The surveillance video from the study and the drug have both been sent over by the Gong family patriarch."

"You have to admit, the conspiracy was pretty well thought out. It sounded pretty convincing to me. If we didn't know Shen Lan and the others, we might really have believed that General Guan was a sinister villain with ulterior motives."

Zhou Yun couldn't help but laugh. He took the reagent: "I'll have someone analyze this to see what it is."

Qin Mu shrugged: "Shen Lan has already looked at it. He said it's the extract solution from the mutated poppies they injected before. No need to test it. They're very familiar with it. They said all the previous batches were destroyed, but it seems some have leaked out."

Zhou Yun thought for a moment. According to what Ye Yuqing said during the interrogation, before they went to Cangshan City, Cangshan had already been in contact with the alliance government and the Ye family. Moreover, the Ye family patriarch had shelled out a fortune to invite experts from Cangshan City to Lindong to perform a crystal core transplant surgery. After Cangshan City was burned down, these experts stayed in Lindong.

He nodded. "Got it. The Gong family patriarch should be able to handle it."

Qin Mu also discussed matters of dual-city governance and the transfer of the city defense forces with Guan Yuanfeng before leaving the office.

Zhou Yun spun the vial in his hand, studying it. The truth he didn't know in his previous life could now be roughly inferred. As for the future of the world and the fate of the Gong family's Beiming, he had no clue. It should move in a positive direction, right?

Just like today's unexpected events, he could no longer predict what would happen in the future. But the person he cared about most, he had already protected. He looked at Guan Yuanfeng, his chest a whirlwind of emotions for some reason.

After seeing Qin Mu out, Guan Yuanfeng turned to find Zhou Yun deep in thought, looking at him with a complex expression, and asked: "What are you looking at?"

Zhou Yun smiled: "Checking out the big bad demon king, who’s got the poor, innocent Lord Dongjun locked up and under his thumb. This script is pretty solid."

Guan Yuanfeng: "..."