Chapter 59 Returning to the Black Market

Chapter 59: Returning to the Black Market

Ji Anzhi got up early but, as usual, was running late again.

He hurriedly washed up and had just changed his clothes when Ji Anjue's soft, pleading voice echoed in his mind: 'I want to go too! I'm so hungry it's stunting my growth! I'm still just a sprout...'

Despite Ji Anjue's pleading words, Xiaoxue had already been egged on by Ji Anjue into clinging to Ji Anzhi's pant leg, meowing plaintively. Ji Anzhi had no time to argue; he was running late again. He grabbed his Space Bracelet, stuffed Ji Anjue inside—ignoring his wails—picked up Xiaoxue, and dashed out of the dorm.

As Ji Anzhi left, Qi Yanshen was about to knock on his door. Seeing Ji Anzhi rushing downstairs with Xiaoxue, scarfing down a couple of bites of breakfast, even Lu Yan was stunned by the scene.

They were short on time. The four of them quickly boarded the hovercar and headed for the teaching building.

Once seated, Qi Yanshen asked, concerned, "Are you feeling unwell?"

Recalling Ji Anjue's words from yesterday, Ji Anzhi mustered all his energy to respond cautiously, "Maybe it's a delayed reaction from running around on the starship during the break. Suddenly being back on solid ground and relaxing might have caused it."

The reason seemed plausible. Qi Yanshen took out a tonic recipe his father had given him and handed it to Ji Anzhi, advising him to rest and recuperate properly to avoid damaging his health. If he wanted to continue in this field, such situations were inevitable, whether in military work or starfield exploration.

Ji Anzhi thanked him and accepted it, then relegated it to a dusty corner of his Space Bracelet, just like the gift from Lu Yan's father, which remained untouched in its corner.

On the way, Ji Anzhi closed his eyes as if to rest, but in reality, he was listening to the memories Ji Anjue had secretly peeked at.

'That Energy Tank you developed—Jian Fuxu has reverse-engineered part of it. That anti-leakage structure you created... it seems to also increase explosive power. Did you know that?'

Ji Anzhi certainly didn't know. He was aware of the anti-leakage structure, but the increased explosive power was a complete surprise to him; there had never been an explosion during the modification process.

Ji Anjue continued, 'Oh, and Lu Yan confirmed your identity the day before yesterday.'

Ji Anzhi's heart tightened, his hand unconsciously clenching, nails nearly biting into his palm. In that instant, he even wondered what Qi Yanshen and the other two were planning—was it a soft approach or were they just biding their time?

Ji Anzhi relaxed his clenched hand, resolving to properly educate Ji Anjue later about not dragging things out like that!

Sensing Ji Anzhi's thoughts, Ji Anjue fell silent, sulking. It wasn't intentional; digesting the memories took time!

Upon arriving at the classroom, Ji Anzhi sat down with Xiaoxue, trying hard to focus on the lecture. However, his mind wandered several times, and by the time he refocused, the class was over. Fortunately, he had a habit of recording lectures, so he could listen again later.

After two morning classes, Ji Anzhi was completely drained—partly due to his physical condition, and partly because Ji Anjue was incredibly noisy. Unfortunately, he couldn't block it out...

Ji Anzhi gritted his teeth. Indeed, some things were better left unsaid. Before it was out in the open, everything was fine; afterward, it became a mess both inside and out.

At lunch with Qi Yanshen and the others, Ji Anzhi, like the day before, only ate about a third of his meal before stopping, making an excuse about having other business.

Qi Yanshen had spent the entire break with Ji Anzhi on missions, and the three of them had always eaten together. Back then, Ji Anzhi's appetite had been the same as at school. But since that night he didn't return to the dorm, Ji Anzhi had shown obvious changes in many aspects.

The haircut that day had struck him as odd. Later, he realized that if it had been done with scissors, some strands should have been longer and others shorter. But Ji Anzhi's hair looked as if it had been sliced straight off with a knife—messy, yet unnaturally even.

Then there was the strange scent on him, his noticeably poor complexion, and his abnormal appetite—all indicating that something major had happened the night Ji Anzhi didn't return. One thing was certain: Ji Anzhi didn't want to talk about it.

Lu Yan and Jian Fuxu, having not seen Ji Anzhi during the break, simply assumed it was a post-starship reaction. After all, such reactions could range from mild nausea to severe neural fatigue.

After leaving, Ji Anzhi headed to the trading district. In front of Ji Anjue, he bought several tubes of concentrated, industrial-strength weed killer and a Psychic Soother.

The implication was obvious: if you don't shut up, these are for you.

Ji Anjue was a natural-born coward and didn't make a peep for the rest of the afternoon.

Poor Xiaoxue, however, was forced to listen to a certain plant's endless chatter.

The first elective class in the afternoon was Energy Studies. Unsurprisingly, Ji Anzhi ran into Jian Fuxu. He went over and sat next to him, instructing Ji Anjue to secretly read Jian Fuxu's memories and report back truthfully.

Upon learning that Jian Fuxu was indeed researching the 5000-unit capacity Mech Energy Tank he had modified, and had made some progress in deciphering it, Ji Anzhi couldn't quite articulate what he was feeling.

After a long silence, Ji Anzhi barely paid attention to the lecture. Exposing his identity at the military academy now would be like a lamb to the slaughter—he was walking on thin ice. But he couldn't drop out; he had to grit his teeth and finish the four years.

The Third Legion's starship had to be secured—it was his means of escape in the future.

Having steeled his resolve, Ji Anzhi finally began to focus on the lecture. As class was about to end, Jian Fuxu, ever the research fanatic, finally realized he had an elective that day. He inquired about Ji Anzhi's health, seemingly unconvinced by his answer, and, like Qi Yanshen, handed over a few items, saying they were good for his health and that he should eat more and exercise.

Ji Anzhi accepted them. These items met the same fate as the previous ones—relegated to a dusty corner.

After class, Ji Anzhi returned to his dorm. Even though he hadn't done anything particularly stimulating or mentally draining that day, he felt utterly spent. Yet, he wasn't really sleepy. Ji Anzhi opened the recording of the morning's lecture to listen again.

For the next week, Ji Anzhi remained in this state. The teachers noticed his abnormality and tried to suss out if anyone was bullying or suppressing their one and only student. They repeatedly encouraged Ji Anzhi to speak up if something was bothering him and not keep it bottled up.

Even though Ji Anzhi repeatedly insisted he was fine, just a bit tired and having trouble concentrating, and that no one was bullying him, the teachers in the Star Chart Department remained skeptical. However, out of respect for Ji Anzhi's reluctance, they didn't press the issue openly.

As a result, students from the other twelve departments suffered. The Star Chart Department teachers complained daily to their counterparts in other departments. Annoyed, those teachers turned around and grilled their own students repeatedly, almost to the point of installing surveillance on each one just to hand the records over to those old fossils in the Star Chart Department!

Ji Anzhi learned about this from Chi Yan, who, because he was relatively close to Ji Anzhi, had been pulled aside for questioning several times by teachers. They nearly subjected him to interrogation techniques used on prisoners, which filled Ji Anzhi with guilt.

But before the guilt could settle, Chi Yan pulled out a bunch of medicines for him to try, saying he had formulated them himself and tested them on lab mice, so there shouldn't be any major issues.

Faced with Chi Yan's expectant, puppy-dog eyes, Ji Anzhi steeled himself and politely declined. It wasn't that he didn't trust Chi Yan, but he was too familiar with the components of forbidden drugs. Substances that even the black market had no antidotes for—how could a first-year student like Chi Yan possibly formulate a cure?

Chi Yan, however, thought Chief Ji doubted his technical skills. He put away the medicines, determined to work hard and strive to become the Chief of the Medical Department next year!

Unaware of this for now, Ji Anzhi negotiated with Ji Anjue to pause the induction of his psychic secondary development. Over the weekend, he went to the military academy's medical office for another check-up. Doctor Shenmu Yi concluded that the psychic secondary development was nearing its end, estimated to finish by the following weekend, and asked him to return for another check-up then.

Finally about to shed the state of psychic secondary development in the public eye, Ji Anzhi felt a wave of relief. Escaping this state was definitely more beneficial than not, though it meant he would no longer have free access to leave the academy. Some things would have to wait until breaks to purchase on the black market.

He needed to make one more trip to the black market before his free exit privileges were revoked to buy Psychic Stimulants.

From the moment he named Ji Anjue, Ji Anzhi had already placed the little guy under his protection. This sprout was inexperienced in the world; if he didn't protect it, it'd be sliced up for sure if discovered by the Federation.

Moreover, by naming it Ji Anjue, he was, to some extent, treating it like family—as if he had gained a mischievous and picky younger brother.

Of course, the most important point was that its likelihood of betraying him was very low. With its cowardly, easily-spooked nature, it definitely wouldn't sell him out.

So, early Sunday morning, Ji Anzhi set off for the black market with Ji Anjue in his Space Bracelet.

Ji Anjue's mind-reading ability was quite useful—a natural lie detector. Might as well make use of it.

Before heading to the black market, Ji Anzhi first changed his disguise at the port. A male beta was their primary suspect, while alpha and omega disguises were easily seen through. It was better to disguise as a beta female.

He put on a simulated chest plate and a navy blue long-sleeved dress, donned a fluffy black wig with slight curls, applied dark lipstick, slipped on five-centimeter thick-heeled shoes, and finally draped on a wide cloak. Thus disguised, Ji Anzhi left the port for the black market.

Arriving at the black market as a beta female, aside from a few people in the shadows initially casting glances his way, their attention quickly shifted upon identifying him as a beta female. This relieved Ji Anzhi. He found the target shop and purchased the Psychic Stimulant drugs he needed.

After buying the Psychic Stimulants, Ji Anzhi also picked up a few other items from some shops to replenish his supplies for the next three months.

From his arrival to his departure from the black market, no one from the Eighth Legion suspected him. Of course, Ji Anjue deserved some credit for this. Every time they were about to run into Eighth Legion personnel, Ji Anjue would promptly warn him to avoid them.

Soon returning to the port on Sko Star, Ji Anzhi changed out of his disguise, bought a ticket back to Military Academy Star, and arrived in the afternoon at two o'clock.

Back at the dorm, Qi Yanshen was putting Lu Yan through extra training again, and Jian Fuxu was still conducting experiments in his room. This conveniently allowed Ji Anzhi to head straight upstairs to his room.

The moment he closed the door, Ji Anjue couldn't wait any longer: 'Hurry up, hurry up! I want it!'

The noise gave Ji Anzhi a headache. He quickly took Ji Anjue out of the Space Bracelet and poured the newly purchased Psychic Stimulants into his pot.

As soon as the substance was poured in, Ji Anjue immediately quieted down and stopped throwing a tantrum in Ji Anzhi’s mind. Ji Anzhi was happy to have some peace and lay down to play with a bored Xiaoxue.

Truth be told, ever since Ji Anjue exposed itself, Xiaoxue had become more and more skittish and energetic. In less than a week since the start of the semester, she had already spent points to buy several sets of school uniforms.

After tiring Xiaoxue out, Ji Anzhi was also exhausted. Soon, he lay down on the bed and fell into a deep sleep. He didn’t wake up midway and slept straight through until six the next morning.

When Ji Anzhi got up and checked the time, he frowned. His sleep duration was getting longer and longer—this time he had actually slept a full thirteen hours. The side effects had already exceeded his tolerance. It seemed he would need to take some stimulant medication in the future.

Today, he had woken up unusually early. Ji Anzhi left a note in the living room saying he was heading to the classroom first and not to wait for him. Then, he took his two lively dormmates and rode the hovercar to the teaching building.

The first class today was a Medical Department elective. Ji Anzhi was the first to arrive in the classroom, which surprised those who came later—they hadn’t expected Chief Ji to come so early.

Chi Yan was the first omega to arrive. When he entered and saw Ji Anzhi, he immediately ran over and sat down beside him, asking in a low voice, “How have you been feeling lately?”

Ji Anzhi replied, “I’ve been sleeping too much.”

Chi Yan frowned. “How long?”

“Thirteen hours straight, from yesterday to today.”

“!!!”

Chi Yan was so startled that he quickly asked Chief Ji if he had any discomfort or headaches. Only after receiving an answer that everything was fine did he relax. He rummaged through his Space Bracelet, pulled out several boxes of medicine, and stuffed them into Chief Ji’s arms, saying, “These are all stimulants and nootropics, as well as agents to stimulate muscles. Take them all—they’ll help with any possible symptoms.”

Ji Anzhi accepted Chi Yan’s kindness and told him that his secondary spiritual development was about to end. Chi Yan didn’t have much of a reaction—the end of secondary spiritual development had both pros and cons, so there was no need to dwell on it too much.

Later, the other omegas from the Medical Department arrived one after another. As usual, Ji Anzhi was surrounded by them, while Xiaoxue lay on the desk looking utterly resigned to her fate, suffering everyone’s petting and fussing.

The day passed quickly. In the evening, when Ji Anzhi returned to the dorm, even though he hadn’t been eating much lately, he could still tell that the meal prepared by the robot today was unusually lavish.

“Today is Qi Yanshen’s birthday.”

Since it was Qi Yanshen’s birthday, he felt he should stay and celebrate. So instead of going upstairs, he sat in the living room waiting for Qi Yanshen, who was still doing extra training in the training room, to come up.

Jian Fuxu, surprisingly, didn’t retreat to his room to work on experiments. Instead, he decorated the living room. Although he didn’t understand the point of decorating, for the sake of his childhood friend, he obediently set up the living room and dining area.

So when Ji Anzhi brought Xiaoxue back upstairs and came down, he saw Jian Fuxu placing blue and white balloons all over the second floor, hanging streamers in many spots, and even placing flowers—which were clearly bought by Lu Yan—on the living room table and various cabinets.

After the robot finished preparing the meal and Jian Fuxu finished decorating the second floor, Lu Yan mysteriously brought out a wooden box. From the sound, it seemed to contain glass bottles.

Lu Yan opened the wooden box and announced, “Let’s have a little drink tonight!”

Ji Anzhi looked at the dozen or so bottles of high-proof tequila, brandy, and other strong liquors.

Are you sure it’s just “a little”?