Chapter 169: Striving for Higher Ground

Chapter 169: Striving for Higher Ground

After proposing the method of spiritual imprinting, Zhou Yun quickly collaborated with Yao Huan and Taoist Master Yunyin on research and also discussed the treatment plan for Kui Niu's case.

The next day, when Zhou Yun went to treat Kui Niu, he brought Ren Duoduo and Zhao Yi, carefully explaining the pulse readings to them and letting them try their hand at it.

Kui Niu assumed the two kids were Zhou Yun's young apprentices, and he didn’t mind as they talked about pulse conditions and recited prescriptions with ease.

After the pulse reading, Zhou Yun performed acupuncture on him and said, "I think if you keep using your old training methods, it will be difficult to adapt to your current crystal core. I recommend switching to a more balanced and powerful psychic cultivation method to balance your Qi and blood, and to achieve equilibrium in your left and right hands, achieving complete Yin-Yang balance. Only then can you re-adapt and utilize the crystal core."

Kui Niu asked, "Could you recommend something, Dr. Zhou? Is it Ba Duan Jin?"

Zhou Yun shook his head, "Ba Duan Jin is good for physical fitness and is suitable for ordinary people. Your meridians are very strong, and you are a metal psychic. I recommend externally practicing Yi Jin Jing and internally cultivating Xi Sui Jing."

Bi Fang, standing nearby, widened his eyes, "The temple we visited the other day offers classes on Yi Jin Jing."

Zhou Yun said, "Yes, according to traditional medicine, the human body has twelve primary meridians that connect the organs and limbs, circulate Qi and blood, forming the body's major circulation."

"Yi Jin Jing uses the traditional medical art of guiding Qi, based on the twelve primary meridians, consisting of twelve forms. Yi Jin Jing can transform and strengthen the tendons and bones, unblocking the body's meridians, while Xi Sui Jing purifies the mind and body. Mastering Yi Jin Jing results in the Diamond Body, which I believe is very suitable for metal psychics who are skilled in physical combat, and it helps in unblocking the meridians."

Kui Niu asked, "Do you have any recommendations for this cultivation method, Dr. Zhou?"

Zhou Yun replied, "The abbot of Lianhua Mountain Temple in Guixu City, Master Xinhai, is a wood psychic with profound expertise in Yi Jin Jing and Xi Sui Jing. I can refer you to him. Given your talent, you’ll likely master it quickly. Once you are fully accustomed to the latest psychic cultivation methods and take psychic supplements with the same effects, supplemented by acupuncture, you should be able to re-adapt to your own crystal core."

"Their monk quarters are also available for rent, so you can stay there, which will be convenient for treatment and practice."

Kui Niu was delighted, "Thank you, Dr. Zhou!"

Zhou Yun nodded, finished the acupuncture, and said, "Don't use your psychic powers, take the prescribed medicine on time, and come back for a follow-up in a week. You can be discharged now. Focus on your training; our psychic tournament is next month, and I hope you can make it. The prizes are significant."

Bi Fang couldn't help but ask a series of questions, "What if someone gets injured in the competition? What are the rules for winning? What if someone accidentally kills another?"

Zhou Yun smiled, "We have thorough safety measures. Everyone can pay attention to the information and specific judging rules issued by the Guixu authorities later."

Bi Fang pressed on, "The wood and thunder dual-core psychic who caught those pursuers the other night, and the water psychic who can release dense fog, will we have a chance to face them in the arena?" They later encountered Qing Luan and found out that when Qing Luan received the message and rushed to the hospital that night, they encountered thick fog and couldn't reach the inpatient department no matter what!

They were considered top-tier in the north, but now in Guixu, they encountered such deeply hidden talents, which left them in awe and eager to face them.

Ren Duoduo said, "That depends on whether you have the skills to reach the finals."

Bi Fang was confident, "Our Shan Xiao team can do it, and I'm a fire psychic, naturally countering wood abilities."

Ren Duoduo glanced at him, "I heard you can conjure a fire phoenix?"

Bi Fang extended his hand, and a small phoenix flame danced on his fingertip. He raised his eyebrows and smiled, "What do you think? Pretty cool, right?"

Ren Duoduo said, "There’s a junior division in the tournament. How old are you? Maybe we'll meet."

Bi Fang was puzzled, "Guixu dares to let kids into the arena? What about the minor protection laws?"

Ren Duoduo scoffed, "We have crystal core barriers; we won't get hurt. You don't understand. Besides, you don’t seem like an adult either."

Bi Fang touched his nose, "I'm almost sixteen!"

Ren Duoduo chuckled, "Under eighteen, youth group."

Bi Fang was speechless.

The room burst into laughter, lightening the mood. Zhou Yun called Zhao Yi over, "After the acupuncture, the pulse will change somewhat. Come and diagnose the pulse again."

Zhao Yi came over and sat down to take Kui Niu's pulse again, slowly feeling Kui Niu's wrist. Kui Niu then noticed that Zhao Yi's gaze was unfocused, indicating he was blind, and felt a bit of sympathy.

Zhou Yun suddenly interjected, "About that external hard drive from yesterday, they found some hidden folders. After decrypting them, they uncovered some emails and gift receipts. The city defense office will likely come to ask for your cooperation in the investigation soon."

The Shan Xiao team members exchanged looks. Kui Niu asked cautiously, "What kind of list? Is it important? We didn't know. We copied it from the computer of the Nu Long City Lord."

Zhou Yun replied, "Doesn't look like a lab computer. Seems more like a personal one."

Kui Niu explained, "It belonged to the brother of the Nu Long City Lord. After we captured him, we forced him to copy the relevant data and threatened him and the experts to perform a transplant surgery for me on the spot in the lab. With the help of Qing Luan and Zhu Long, the wound healed. Then we heard that the zombie wave had broken through the city's defenses! We only managed to free the experimental subjects from the lab's dungeon before making a hasty exit from Nu Long City."

Zhou Yun said, "I heard it's some private messages between folks from the Northern Free Federation and the Alliance government."

Kui Niu's expression changed several times, "What is the Northern Free Federation?"

Zhou Yun replied, "I only heard it's a northern organization. The city defense office mentioned it to me, but I'm not too worried about the specifics. They mentioned the interrogation is making progress." In fact, Guan Yuanfeng took the list very seriously and had already sent the relevant information back to General Tan that night.

Kui Niu watched Zhou Yun for a bit, seeing him seriously explain the pulse to Zhao Yi, and started to relax.

After finishing the pulse diagnosis, Zhou Yun prescribed another formula and explained the pulse to Zhao Yi and Ren Duoduo again before standing up and instructing Kui Niu, "Head straight to the temple to find Master Xinhai. Just tell him you're with the Shan Xiao team, and I've already given him a heads-up. And don't sweat the city defense office; just be honest."

Kui Niu nodded. Qing Luan escorted Zhou Yun out of the ward, watching him take the two children downstairs before turning back, "What should we do? Should we really come clean? We killed the city lord's brother and those unethical scientists. Even though they had it coming, we can't exactly admit it openly."

Kui Niu thought for a moment, "Let's just say there was a big fire when we left. We were in a hurry to rescue the imprisoned people and didn't know what happened to them. That's the truth. Plus, ever since we got to Guixu, we've been following the law." Even though Bi Fang started the fire, and those people were locked in the same iron cells where they'd kept the experimental subjects.

"Isn't that just karma for their dirty deeds? Could they really expect the Alliance government to uphold justice for them? Fairness and law have been long gone in this world, but in Guixu... they really need to be careful, as it still feels like a reassuringly normal society."

Qing Luan lowered her voice, "And what about the Northern Free Federation..."

Kui Niu waved his hand, "That has nothing to do with us. We only carried out some missions and delivered some letters in the past. The Northern Free Federation is no longer a significant force. Those documents... are probably letters of betrayal and collusion. It's not surprising that some in the Free Federation secretly communicated with the Alliance government, but once discovered, they would be in trouble from both sides, which is why we were pursued."

Qing Luan said, "..."

Zhu Long said, "Didn't you say before that if the North could break away independently, we could join them? That's why we secretly did some missions for them."

Kui Niu narrowed his eyes, "People strive for higher ground. We used to look down on the Alliance government, but now with the emergence of crystal core weapons, the North is no longer a viable option. Don't you think Guixu is a better choice? Spending our days practicing martial arts, relaxing, taking on missions, and living ordinary lives in the city. You could even settle down and get married."

"A city where ordinary people can live well, we should be able to live well too. Prepare for the arena, strive for more benefits." Even as psychics, they yearn for the orderly, secure life they had before the apocalypse.

===

In Zhou Yun's office, Zhu Zhuan, Shen Lan, Qin Mu, and Qin Sheng were already waiting.

Zhao Yi said, "There was a big fire. They locked people in the cells. A big brother released a red phoenix on the spot and led people away from the lab. There were many experimental instruments."

Zhu Zhuan nodded, "Consistent with our speculation. After having their crystal cores removed and finally tracking them down, it's no surprise they sought revenge."

Shen Lan said indifferently, "It's not under Guixu City's jurisdiction, and no case has been filed, so it's not our concern."

Qin Mu asked Zhao Yi, "What else? They seemed quite relaxed, so they must have had a lot on their minds. What did he think of Dr. Zhou?"

Zhao Yi replied, "During the first pulse diagnosis, he wondered if we were Dr. Zhou's children, but he didn't hear us call him 'Dad,' so he probably thought we were just students. He thought Dr. Zhou was handsome and looked young, and later planned to inquire about his marital status with others in the hospital. If he was single, he thought it would be a good opportunity to introduce Qing Luan to him and play matchmaker."

Zhou Yun, "..."

Everyone burst out laughing.

Qin Sheng laughed the loudest, "I'm going to tell General Guan!" Since his misjudgment about the relationship between Guan Yuanfeng and Zhou Yun led to him being mercilessly mocked, he had been very regretful, feeling that his lifelong wisdom had failed him in this gossip matter.

Even Shen Lan couldn't help but smile slightly, "This guy looks rough and tough, but he's actually quite meticulous, worrying about so much. I thought all metal manipulators were as slow as Qin Sheng."

Qin Sheng suddenly got hit by the boomerang, "Who says I'm slow?" Ren Duoduo quickly retorted, "My dad isn't slow either!"

Qin Mu shielded his younger brother: "Is there anything else?"

Zhao Yi shook his head: "During the pulse diagnosis before leaving, he was deeply troubled, repeatedly mentioning the Northern Free Federation? How could it be related to them? He seemed very shocked."

Zhu Zhuan nodded: "It seems he really didn’t know about the existence of this list, so the possibility of it being deliberately sent to us is smaller, and its authenticity is relatively high. It seems the Northern Free Federation has its own agenda. But now that this list is in our hands, I’m afraid we might also face trouble."

Zhou Yun said: "No need to worry too much, General Guan will handle it. Let’s all head out and get back to work."

Everyone responded and got up to leave. Shen Lan went down to bring the Shanxiao squad back to the city defense office to assist with the investigation, while Qin Sheng drove Ren Duoduo and Zhao Yi back first. When Zhou Yun saw them off downstairs and into the car, he still warned Qin Sheng: "Don’t go blabbing to General Guan."

Qin Sheng: "...I understand."