Chapter 162: Breathtaking Beauty

Chapter 162: Breathtaking Beauty

The travel package is a shared ticket for all event bases, allowing for installment payments and the flexibility to visit all designated attractions at the bases over the next three years.

During the validity period of the package, holders can travel to any base. The jointly organized bases have established weekly tourist flights with an 80% airfare discount.

Upon arrival at the event base, travelers can stay at designated tourist hotels and enjoy professional local tour services, including guides, security escorts, and transportation. All expenses can be paid with Alliance currency or the event base currency at a 1:1 exchange rate.

The first installment of the package is exceptionally affordable, requiring only ten crystal cores. Travelers can even choose to take up temporary jobs or tasks at the first tourist base to fund their journey to the next.

Online discussions are buzzing.

"Only psychics can go on trips, right?"

"Not at all, my whole family is planning to go. Ten crystal cores allow us to live in any of the joint bases without paying city gate taxes. With discounted airfare, we plan to work at each base for a month to save for the next installment of the journey. After three bases, we'll arrive at Guixu City in December to spend the winter. Friends say there are plenty of job opportunities, affordable housing, and a comfortable winter with many small bases nearby for further sightseeing. It's better than enduring the harsh winter in the north with scarce resources and paying base head taxes."

"Now I'm tempted."

"And isn't it said that Guixu has developed a method for crystal core transplantation?"

"Don't be naive, that's probably reserved for the elite."

"Such surgeries sound like they're just starting; who knows the side effects?"

"To experience what psychics feel, side effects might be worth it."

"Don't be foolish, what if there's no psychic ability and only lifelong side effects? The risks are high; let the leaders go first."

"Why overthink? It's the apocalypse; seeing the world before dying seems nice."

"The copywriting is good—a farewell to past civilizations, a tribute to nature, and a journey towards the future. With family gone, maybe traveling can help meet new people and form new families."

["The world is wonderfully colorful, a bit suspicious, a bit unreal, but truly breathtaking." (Note) I really want to see it.]

"Am I the only one traveling for food? Haven't you seen the food section in the travel brochures? It's been so long since I've had fresh lamb or beef; I've almost forgotten the taste. This rare chance for inter-base travel is too good to miss."

"I wanted to say that, but seeing everyone talk about life, the apocalypse, and the future, I felt a bit shy. Being able to taste local delicacies during the apocalypse is the happiest thing."

"We're traveling for medical treatment. My daughter was bitten by a mutant rat, got infected, and had to have her leg amputated. She suffers from chronic nerve pain. We heard about high-level wood abilities in Guixu that can treat her. My wife and I plan to sell our house and move there for treatment. She's still young; we hope for a new life for her."

"Can we join a group? Several of us with similar cases have formed a group and plan to travel to Guixu together. Can we exchange information?"

"The future will be better. Life seems to be improving day by day."

A large number of people are flocking to Guixu, especially northerners facing the imminent winter.

Amidst this hustle and bustle, Guixu also welcomed a low-profile guest.

General Tan Kai arrived in Guixu by helicopter one evening. Guan Yuanfeng personally drove him back to Yunding Mountain Villa. Since the announcement of the crystal core transplantation project, security at Yunding Mountain Villa has been elevated to an unprecedented level.

Zhou Yun had imagined Tan Kai to be as tall and imposing as Guan Yuanfeng, a stern and unsmiling general. Instead, he was of medium height, even somewhat slender, appearing somewhat short among the generally tall, 1.8 to 1.9-meter-tall bodyguards. With snow-white temples, sharp eyes, and a straight back, he indeed looked serious when not smiling, but he appeared quite amiable upon seeing Zhou Yun.

Tan Kai looked at Zhou Yun with a kind expression: "Hello, Dr. Zhou. Yuanfeng mentioned he's getting married to you. Unfortunately, I might not be able to attend the formal wedding. This trip is secret. The situation in Zhongzhou isn't good, I'm really sorry."

Zhou Yun smiled: "General, you're like a mentor and father to Yuanfeng, treating him with great kindness. It's a bit of a regret that you can't attend, but we're already very satisfied with your blessings."

"We've found peace here, all thanks to your care in Zhongzhou, General. There's no need for you to apologize."

Tan Kai shook his head with a bitter smile: "I'm struggling alone. Yuanfeng used to share much of the burden. When he insisted on leaving Zhongzhou, I thought he was just tired, and considering how straightforward and rigid he was, he had suffered too much in Zhongzhou, so I let him return home for a break."

He sighed with emotion: "I never expected that you all have truly opened up a new world here, and in turn, provided me with great support. This strategic retreat was brilliantly executed. Yuanfeng is brave and proud, excels in combat and troop leadership, but he never had such a lofty vision and strategy."

He looked at Zhou Yun: "When he mentioned he was getting married, I inquired and finally matched the 'Dr. Zhou' in the intelligence reports with Yao Huan's disciple. The eastern lord's spring light illuminates all, heralding the dawn after a long night."

Zhou Yun felt somewhat embarrassed: "I just focused on bettering myself and did what I was capable of. It is the General who cares for the world that is truly admirable."

Tan Kai shook his head: "I aspire to benefit the world, but I'm caught in a dilemma, unable to even take good care of my most valued subordinates. You say you focus on self-improvement, but in reality, you love the world. I feel ashamed, old, and drained of energy. Today, coming all the way from the headquarters, seeing the blooming flowers in Guixu like spring, I couldn't help but envy young Guan, and also felt the desire to return home and retire."

Zhou Yun smiled: "General Tan, you're still as sharp as ever, especially after I transplant the crystal core for you, you will surely live a long life." General Tan has an affinity for wood psychic abilities. Once the transplant is successful and he rests well, he will regain new energy.

Tan Kai said: "The emergence of psychic powers appears to be a new evolutionary path for humanity, but sometimes I wonder if we should follow the natural order, the survival of the fittest. Since we haven't been endowed with the ability to evolve and survive by heaven, perhaps we should accept our fate."

Zhou Yun smiled: "General Tan, from Pangu creating the heavens, Kuafu chasing the sun, Houyi shooting the sun, to Yu the Great controlling the floods. Our traditional culture is about battling heaven and earth, never giving in. Who can represent the will of heaven? We must first hold power in our own hands to walk the path we deem right."

Without mastering power, one will constantly be disturbed, excluded, and exploited. He didn't want to recall, but looking at the increasingly chaotic world from his past life, people like General Tan who care for the world must gradually disappear, leaving the center of power, and the whole world will completely head towards a doomsday collapse.

Guan Yuanfeng said: "General Tan, we still need you."

General Tan sighed deeply: "I don't deny that I am full of desire for power, but I am also worried that once I have longevity and power, I might also be corrupted by power and become someone I don't want to be." He flew to Guixu persuaded by Guan Yuanfeng, but when he saw the eastern lord in person, and power was truly within reach, he suddenly hesitated again.

Guan Yuanfeng said firmly: "You won't, and I need your supervision too. If I make a mistake, Captain, you can still remind and correct me as before."

General Tan's eyes slightly reddened at his words: "Well said."

He looked at Guan Yuanfeng as if seeing the stubborn eighteen-year-old who had just enlisted, tall and doing everything quickly and well, but as stubborn as an ox. He personally taught him tactics, strategies, and leadership, watching him grow into a pillar, becoming the youngest special forces captain, with countless achievements.

He never expected that nepotism and a bomb would destroy his most cherished protégé.

He regretted a thousand times accepting the favor, accepting the nepotism, and was heartbroken to see the most resilient person fall into depression after amputation.

Psychiatrists informed him that Guan Yuanfeng possessed immense willpower and endurance, but precisely because of this, his high sense of responsibility and overly strict self-demand might lead him to endure pain and stress for a long time, unwilling to confide, causing negative emotions to accumulate continuously. Continuing in such a military setting, depressive symptoms could worsen, leading to an uncontrollable situation.

At this time, Guan Yuanfeng also proposed to retire and return home. He believed family companionship might alleviate his depression, so he agreed. However, the apocalypse came, and he regretted again not insisting on keeping him.

However, everything has turned out well. He looked at Guan Yuanfeng with relief, always subconsciously attuned to the eastern lord's every action, even when by his side, his gaze always fell on the other, easily showing expressions for the other's words, his heart constantly moved.

This is love, even if the other is unexpectedly a man; they are soulmates walking side by side. He truly felt happy for Guan Yuanfeng.

He teased Zhou Yun: "I never imagined Guan Yuanfeng could be so perceptive; it's Dr. Zhou who knows how to cultivate people."

Zhou Yun's ears turned slightly red, and he didn't respond. Yao Huan came over to prepare him for the surgery, while taking his pulse, responded: "This is like brine turning tofu; one thing tames another. My disciple used to prioritize romance over practicality, but now with General Guan, he talks about going to sea or traveling. Even eating chicken involves several methods, one elaborate pattern after another. It seems like the love bug has just grown, they infect each other, getting worse day by day."

Guan Yuanfeng: "..."

Zhou Yun: "..."

Tan Kai stayed in Guixu for only three days. Zhou Yun personally performed the crystal core transplant surgery for him and detailed a rehabilitation plan. Tan Kai then flew back to Zhongzhou.

Soon, word of Tan Kai awakening wood psychic abilities spread quietly. Everyone guessed that Guixu could perform crystal core transplant surgeries, but Guixu never publicly admitted it.