The existence of Heavenly Dao in the Black Eye Galaxy once puzzled Qi Ze. But now he understood that Heavenly Dao still existed, just on a grander scale, making it hard to perceive. The natives of the Black Eye Galaxy interpreted the phenomena caused by Heavenly Dao's descent as "electromagnetic storms."
An electromagnetic storm referred to an extreme imbalance of elemental particles in a certain area, leading to collisions between elements, which then produced disasters such as lightning, hurricanes, fires, and earthquakes. Since the activities of elemental particles were unpredictable, electromagnetic storms could not be forecasted. Every second, every place, was susceptible to its destruction.
To minimize losses, buildings in the Black Eye Galaxy were equipped with lightning protection systems, fire prevention systems, windproof systems, and earthquake-resistant systems, making them as solid as fortresses. Qi Ze had taken this into account when he brazenly set up the Yin-Yang Reversal Formation in the basement.
After confirming there were no casualties, the inspection team sent by the school left. Before departing, they had Ouyang Ye fill out a form documenting the damage to the house. They would arrange for a construction crew to repair it.
"Serious?" Qi Ze, fresh from a shower, had water still dripping from his hair.
Ouyang Ye quickly took a towel to dry him off, reporting candidly, "Not serious. A corner of the eaves is missing, probably struck by lightning; a large part of the exterior wall is blackened, with several cracks, but the internal structure is intact. Repairing the cracks and repainting will fix it. This is a natural disaster, and the school will handle the repairs; it's not our concern."
He spoke with a straight back, clearly not feeling guilty.
Qi Ze lazily responded with a "Hmm."
Ouyang Ye had a belly full of questions but hesitated to ask. Everyone had secrets, especially massive ones like Young Master Qi. He felt it was better to let things unfold naturally, taking whatever Young Master Qi gave and following wherever he pointed, maintaining this subordinate relationship.
Dropping the towel and picking up a hair dryer, he continued his report, "Uncle will send someone to take Yan Junyu away later. Young Master Qi, you really won't show up? Think about it, you used to adore him, but he didn't give you the time of day. This time, you saved him but hid it silently. Isn't that a loss? How about we ditch him first, then pretend to accidentally bump into him, save him again, and have him owe you a huge favor. With regular interactions over time, you can't fail to develop feelings."
Qi Ze gave him a faint glance, a smile playing on his lips. "We were the ones who found the empty mech and the missing person. Are you worried the military is too incompetent to suspect us?"
Ouyang Ye laughed dryly, looking embarrassed.
"Just make sure to get him out safely, don't do anything extra." Qi Ze had already recovered to the peak of the Foundation Establishment stage. He could dry his hair with a simple hand gesture, but he was accustomed to being pampered. He now lounged on the sofa, eyes half-closed, his demeanor languid, looking more like a young master than Ouyang Ye.
"I understand, I won't cause trouble for you, Young Master Qi." Ouyang Ye reassured him repeatedly before calling his uncle to hurry.
Within half an hour, Li Yu arrived, staring in disbelief at Yan Junyu inside the iced coffin. He was alive, genuinely alive. The previously ruined body was now perfectly restored, with breathing and a heartbeat. If not for seeing it with his own eyes, he would have thought he was dreaming.
But he asked no questions, directly ordering his confidants to carry the man into the flying ship.
"Young Master Qi, won't you take another look at Yan Junyu?" he asked considerately as he was about to leave.
"No." Qi Ze slowly shook his head. Since the debt of gratitude had been repaid and the man had no feelings for him, it was better to put distance between them. Reflecting on it, his feelings for Yan Junyu were less about love and more about reliance, relying on someone to alleviate the confusion and fear when he first entered this strange world.
"We have no destiny together." He added, then waved his hand. "He's about to wake up, you should leave now."
Li Yu knew this was the outcome, and he immediately left the school with the flying ship. How could Young Master Qi be so infatuated with someone as to lose his mind? He was willing to pay such a huge price to save Yan Junyu, yet in the end, he silently sent the person away, showing he didn't want anything in return, merely repaying a life-saving grace.
This behavior was very magnanimous and reassuring. In future cooperation, at least there would be no worry about betrayal or backstabbing.
Two months ago, Zhou Guantong's hometown suffered an invasion by an electromagnetic storm. Her family's vast plantation was destroyed, and her parents died in the disaster. She had to take a long leave to handle the aftermath and was now rushing back to school.
Her thesis was due in a month, and if she didn't pass the defense, she wouldn't receive her pharmacologist certification. A group of relatives was waiting to divide the property, and she, with little support, couldn't fight them, relying solely on herself. Pharmacologists were scarce talents in the empire, and once they graduated, finding work wasn't a concern, with high salaries and status. If she could further her studies at the Imperial Military Academy, her future would be even brighter.
Zhou Guantong was lost in thought when she suddenly remembered she was missing an herbal ingredient for her experiment while passing by the Morauna Great Forest. She hastily stopped to gather it.
The Morauna Great Forest belonged to the Imperial Naval Academy, divided into various zones for practical exercises, herb cultivation, and beast breeding. Zhou Guantong walked confidently into the cultivation area, carefully observing each plant. Suddenly, she heard a strange noise, and upon closer inspection, she found a man lying in the underbrush.
"Officer Yan?" She whispered in disbelief, brushing aside his disheveled hair, then reached out to test his breath and pulse. Thankfully, he was alive. This extraordinarily handsome and regal face was unmistakable. But how was this possible? Her roommate had texted her that Officer Yan had been found long ago.
She didn't have time to dwell, planning to move him to her car, but was startled when she touched his arm and saw his eyes open. With a hoarse voice, he asked, "Who are you? Where am I?" A purple electric spark danced and flickered in his palm, crackling ominously. What would happen if it hit someone?
Zhou Guantong froze, raising her hands and stammering, "Officer Yan, I'm a pharmacology student at the Imperial Naval Academy. My name is Zhou Guantong."
Yan Junyu had no memory of this name. He tried to recall something but suddenly felt an excruciating headache, only letting out a muffled groan before fainting again. Zhou Guantong stood stunned for a moment, seeing no movement before mustering the courage to approach and drag him to her flying car.
She called her roommate to inquire about Officer Yan's recent condition. After hanging up, she vaguely realized he hadn't been recuperating in the hospital but had been in the Morauna Great Forest all along. This meant she had just found a missing person of considerable importance. If handled properly, this could be a great opportunity, a chance to escape from her vampire relatives and climb higher. Thinking this, Zhou Guantong's breathing quickened.
Arriving at school, she told no one and instead contacted Yan Bo, asking him to pick up the person. On the way, Yan Junyu woke up again, and she tried to probe for information, discovering to her delight that he seemed to have lost some memories. He was unaware that two months had passed since his disappearance, and his mind was in a half-awake, half-dazed state.
Now she was finally relieved, suppressing her excitement as she walked into the Military Department.
"How is Officer Yan? Is he alright?" Before Xu Qi could ask, she anxiously spoke first.
"There are specialized doctors taking care of him, don't worry." Xu Qi got straight to the point. "Since you found the unconscious Officer Yan two months ago, why didn't you contact us? You should know everyone was looking for him, right?"
"My family had an emergency, and I couldn't leave. Moreover, the electromagnetic storm disrupted the communication satellites, and I could only use my smartbrain after leaving my hometown. I'm sorry for not contacting you in time." Zhou Guantong understood the art of speech. The more one explained, the more suspicious it became, so it was better to summarize. Whatever happened to her recently, Xu Qi would certainly investigate.
An electromagnetic storm could cause long-term communication interruptions, and the death of both parents was indeed a major event that couldn't be ignored. No wonder she hadn't returned Yan Junyu when she found him on the way. According to the doctors, Junyu's body was healthy, with internal and external injuries healed, and his psychic realm hadn't declined. It seemed he had been well taken care of during these two months. Xu Qi mulled over this while reviewing Zhou Guantong's personal information, seemingly believing her story soon after.
Of course, he had no way of explaining how Junyu had left the crushed cockpit, but as long as he was safe, these puzzles could be slowly investigated later.
"Comrade Zhou, thank you for your selfless help and care for Junyu. If you have any difficulties in the near future, you can come to me. Here is my card." Xu Qi handed over a golden card, smiling. "Now, you can leave."
Zhou Guantong didn't take the card, licking her dry lips from nervousness, and asked, "I have a request now, I wonder if the general can agree?"
"Please speak." Xu Qi politely gestured. Without pretending to be generous or trying to curry favor, she immediately asked for her reward. Zhou Guantong's approach was wise.
"I want to further my studies at the Imperial Military Academy, can I?" Zhou Guantong could almost hear her heart pounding, fast and urgent. If she relied on her actual abilities, she wouldn't even pass the preliminary exam, so she could only rely on Xu Qi. She had indeed found Officer Yan, saving his life, or it would have been terrible if a wild beast had come by! However, she seemed to forget that the cultivation area had been isolated to ensure pharmacologists' safety, with no wild beasts allowed in.
Xu Qi smiled and nodded. "As you wish, the notification will be delivered to you on time."