CHAPTER 90: CHAPTER 90 SCHOOL DOCTOR

EDITOR: DRAGON BOAT TRANSLATION

The last day of the May Day holiday, the Tactical Bureau hadn’t started work yet; only one or two security guards were on duty. As a national bureau, it apparently abided by the holiday rules faithfully.

Yu Kuangtu was still in the office. When Ren Suo entered, he heard a sound from the computer on Yu Kuangtu’s desk, "...Annihilation Stardust Fist..."

Although Yu Kuangtu immediately closed the video, Ren Suo knew from the sound alone that he was watching episode 50 of "Over My Dead Body." The Annihilation Stardust Fist, a move not inherited and created by Ren Family Cultivators until after episode 50, was easily recognizable by its distinct Ancient Luoyang area dialect.

It was unexpected that someone as burly as Yu Kuangtu would be so caught up with the drama series, even keeping pace with recent releases.

"You’re here?" Yu Kuangtu gestured for him to sit down. "Wait a bit, not everyone’s here yet."

Who isn’t here?

But Ren Suo didn’t ask further and obediently sat down, while Yu Kuangtu resumed watching his drama. While watching, Yu Kuangtu suddenly asked, "This ’Over My Dead Body,’ it’s about to finish, isn’t it?"

Huh? Is he asking me?

Ren Suo considered for a moment and decided to lean into his image as someone with ’strong analytical skills’: "Either it will end in a few days, or it’s one of those TV series that spans hundreds of episodes."

"Hm? Why?" Yu Kuangtu seemed surprised.

"Deputy Director, first of all, this TV series doesn’t deviate much from actual history. Elements like Spiritual Energy, Earth Spirit, and monsters never appeared in history. However, the birth and death of historical figures, the occurrence of historical events, and even their acquaintanceship with Ren Family Cultivators are all traceable."

"And the mission of the Ren Family is to live until the Central Plains are unified and the ravages of war are quelled. At that time, they will hand over the methods to suppress the Spirit Vein to the royal family, allowing the latter to quell the Spirit Vein."

"The one who ended the chaos of the Three Kingdoms was Sima Yan, who usurped Wei to establish the Jin Dynasty. If the TV series is to end soon, it might be during the periods when Jin extinguished Shu and Wu; the former would indicate an irreversible trend, and the latter would signify the true end."

"If the Ren Family’s plans succeed, the TV series would naturally end after the Central Plains Spirit Vein is quelled. If their plans fail or other unforeseen events occur, it could continue. However, what follows is the era of the Five Barbarians wreaking havoc, a period of chaos not ending until the Tang Dynasty asserted its rule."

Ren Suo shrugged. "But then again, no one knows what Ren Naiser thinks or where the video footage comes from—maybe he’ll split it into several seasons?"

Yu Kuangtu, however, listened earnestly to Ren Suo’s thoughts. "Being able to deduce so many possibilities from a single premise... Not bad at all. Indeed, you should go to..."

Just then, Yu Kuangtu’s phone rang. He answered with a few "hmms," then stopped the video and took Ren Suo down to a room on the first floor of the Tactical Bureau.

As soon as he entered the room, Ren Suo saw several people in white lab coats fiddling with machinery. One of them was a female doctor he remembered—Yao Meilü, from the Third Hospital in the suburbs.

"Hm?" Yao Meilü seemed to remember Ren Suo as well. She looked at him a few times, then turned to Yu Kuangtu and said, "Is this the person we’re testing?"

"Well, maybe he has Talent," Yu Kuangtu replied without any hint of arrogance, chatting calmly with Yao Meilü. It seemed the Tactical Bureau and the medical system were independent entities.

"It’d be better if he does; otherwise, we’d have come for nothing. These machines were supposed to be moved back yesterday." Yao Meilü directed other medical personnel to adjust the machines and, after a while, had Ren Suo undergo testing under their scrutiny.

The so-called test was simply practicing Cultivation Methods. Yao Meilü’s expression soured as she watched. "Although it’s not my place to say, this Talent is probably below the academy’s average standards. Moreover, considering the activation time of his Qi Cyclone, its current state, and his Talent, it appears he has neglected his Cultivation."

"But for rare talents, requirements can be lowered," Yu Kuangtu remarked. "After all, we’re with the Tactical Bureau. Just like you, we only get a few hours of rest a week. Where would we find time to cultivate?"

Yao Meilü conceded this point, saying, "Alright. But if he doesn’t have the Talent, even having a First Aid-type Awakening Ability wouldn’t secure him a spot."

Yao Meilü carefully pulled out a square Crystal Body from her pocket and handed it to Ren Suo. "Hold this Law Net Instrument; you remember how to use it, right?"

Naturally, he remembered. When Ren Suo was learning the ’Clothing’ and ’Lock’ Spiritual Energy Techniques, he had accessed the internet via the Law Net Instrument and downloaded the two abilities into his mind. However, this Law Net Instrument seemed different, with some white impurities deep within, not as pure as the ones he had seen before.

He took the Law Net Instrument, activated his Cultivation Method, and naturally let his thoughts sink into the dark space of the instrument.

In the dark space, a white character for ’Healing’ slowly emerged. As he watched it, he naturally comprehended the Spiritual Energy Technique from it: ’Healing.’

When he came to his senses, he had already left the Law Net’s space. Yao Meilü, seeing him open his eyes, took the Law Net Instrument, noted the impurities had vanished, and sighed, "There goes the last test quota. Lucky you."

Yao Meilü gestured, and a medical staff member brought over a cage containing a lab mouse.

"Next, I will make a minor incision on the lab mouse’s fur to create a small wound. You will then try to heal the mouse using the ’Healing’ you just learned," Yao Meilü said as she put on medical rubber gloves.

Ren Suo blinked, pointing to himself. "Me? I’ve only been learning it for less than a minute..."

"It’s unrelated to learning time," Yao Meilü said as she held the mouse. "’Healing’ is different from ’Clothing’ and ’Lock.’ The latter two are non-affinity Spells that any Cultivator can use. ’Healing,’ however, transforms Spiritual Energy into Life Energy. It can stimulate limb regeneration, treat wounds, and perform other functions, belonging to the life-affinity Spells. Using it requires a Cultivator to possess ’life affinity,’ a Talent that’s difficult to measure."

Ren Suo asked curiously, "Does that mean one can’t cast a Spell from a specific affinity if they don’t have the appropriate Talent? For example, without fire affinity, they can’t cast fire Spells?"

Yao Meilü shook her head. "Of course not. Affinity is just one aspect; the impact of one’s Level is also significant. It’s like having a weak subject in junior high; you can’t solve those math problems. But when you advance to high school, you gain a broader perspective. Even if you can’t solve high school math, looking back, the junior high problems don’t seem so tough."

"Cultivators are classified into Levels like first turn and second turn. Although Spells don’t have such clear Levels, the average Level of Cultivators who use a certain Spell is considered the Spell’s Level," Yao Meilü explained.

"Affinity levels vary in strength; they aren’t simply a matter of ’1’ or ’0.’ Those with strong affinity can use Second-Tier Spells right from the first turn, though they are extremely rare. Those with average affinity can use Spells of the same tier. Those with poor affinity might need to reach the second, or even third or fourth transformation, to use First-Tier Magic."

"We teach ’Clothing’ and ’Lock’ not only because they are highly practical, but more importantly, because these Spells have no affinity requirement. Learning efficiency depends solely on the learner’s diligence and intelligence."

Ren Suo had a sudden realization. He looked at Yao Meilü and asked curiously, "Are you a Cultivator too?"

"Yes," Yao Meilü answered casually. "I’m going to begin now. If you can cast ’Healing,’ it means your affinity has reached an excellent Level."

"Excellent?" Ren Suo blinked. "This Spell..."

"That’s right, this Spell is second-tier. Cultivators with average affinity need to reach the second turn to be able to use this Spell." Yao Meilü took the squeaking lab mouse, which several medical staff members helped to hold still, and made a cut on its abdomen. "If your affinity doesn’t reach that Level... then you won’t have the chance to become..."

"Alright." Yu Kuangtu interrupted Yao Meilü. "Ren Suo, start now."

At that moment, Ren Suo keenly felt he stood at a crossroads. Failure meant returning to his previous state, but success could bring about some amazing changes.

He took a deep breath, placed his hand over the mouse’s wound, and activated his Qi Cyclone according to what he remembered.

A glimmering white light emanated from his hand, almost enveloping it in a ball of light with a radius the length of his palm, like a lit lightbulb. Ren Suo felt his Spiritual Energy rapidly depleting. After using up about one-third, he quickly stopped.

"Hmm..." Yao Meilü looked at the mouse. "Regrettably."

There was no change in the wound on the mouse’s body.

"With average affinity, you can only produce a superficial light effect; you haven’t fully converted it into Life Energy..."

"Wait a moment!" Ren Suo took another deep breath. "Let me try again."

Yao Meilü looked at Yu Kuangtu, who said, "As long as that mouse doesn’t bleed to death."

Ren Suo calmed his mind, placed his hand over the mouse’s wound, cupping his palm almost entirely around the small creature.

The glimmering white light shone again, enveloping his hand. Yao Meilü had no expectations. Affinity was something one either possessed or lacked. It was like a pre-pubescent boy who couldn’t get an erection; one was either Exceptionally Gifted or had to mature to an average state.

However, Yao Meilü could feel Ren Suo’s tension. He was holding the mouse so tightly that his right palm was almost airtight; she even wondered if the mouse might be squeezed to death.

Yet, Yao Meilü couldn’t shake the feeling that she had seen a hint of green light...

After a few seconds, Ren Suo opened his hand and let out a long breath. Yao Meilü took a glance and was immediately stunned.

Yu Kuangtu, who had been watching from a distance, also let out a soft ’Ah’ of surprise.

The wound on the mouse had completely disappeared.

"..." Yao Meilü placed the mouse back into the cage and said, "Affinity Talent: Superior. Deputy Director Yu, he’s the last tester, isn’t he?"

"Yes," Yu Kuangtu said with a smile. "I’ll have security help you move the equipment now. Ren Suo, come with me."

Following Yu Kuangtu back to the office, Ren Suo felt he must have passed the test.

"I knew it. Someone with a First Aid-type Talent should have a relatively good life affinity." Yu Kuangtu took out a cup of juice from the mini-fridge under his desk and handed it to him. "Ah, what a relief that you didn’t disappoint me."

I actually fooled you with the Touch of Healing; otherwise, I would have failed.

Seeing through but not revealing, Ren Suo pulled open the can of juice, took a sip to calm his nerves, and asked, "Deputy Director, what is this all about?"

"Oh, it’s like this," Yu Kuangtu explained. "In about a week, the Cultivator School in Lianjiang will be established."

Here it comes, Ren Suo felt slightly excited.

"This school will cover all six grades of junior and senior high and will be a direct-entry, full-time institution. Currently, Lianjiang has about 650 school-age students with cultivation aptitude. At the Cultivator School, these students will receive detailed cultivator training in addition to their regular academic classes."

Six grades of junior and senior high...? Is he suggesting I go back and be a senior in high school? Do senior year all over again? Or... become a teacher?

As Ren Suo let his thoughts run wild, Yu Kuangtu continued, "Since a cultivator’s combat power far exceeds that of an ordinary person, any conflict could lead to death or severe injury. Therefore, such a Cultivator School must be equipped with a school doctor capable of using ’Healing.’ Coincidentally, I can’t directly interfere with the Cultivator School. It’s under direct government supervision, and as one of only ten such schools nationwide, it receives a lot of attention. However, I need someone who can help me identify any promising prospects from within..."

Ren Suo blinked, pointing to himself. "School doctor?"