Chapter 57

"If Yi Yi gets hungry…" Yan Quan said cautiously.

Ding Huan explained, "Yi Yi only needs nutrient solution every three days; she doesn't need food now. All the nutrient solution is stored here—I'll feed her when the time comes."

Seeing Yan Quan still hesitating, Hearing Qu Yonghe quickly said, "Then we'll follow Teacher Ding's advice."

After saying that, she took the initiative to pull Yan Quan away.

After saying that, she took the initiative to pull Yan Quan away.

【4】 He then took Yan Quan's hand and led her away.

Ding Huan wasn't fully at ease with Qu Yi's condition—he could monitor her while cultivating here, and if any emergency arose, he could respond immediately.

Moreover, he knew this was the most critical time for Qu Yi's recovery; even without noise, too many people coming and going wouldn't be good.

At this moment, Qu Yi was like a porcelain shard that could shatter at the slightest touch—she needed not careful care, but absolute silence.

Looking at Qu Yi lying quietly on the hospital bed, Ding Huan made a silent vow: no matter what, he would make her recover.

After several days without proper rest, once his mental tension eased, Ding Huan felt overwhelming exhaustion.

He didn't rest—he began cultivating the Luo Shi Jing.

In the blink of two days, when Ding Huan awoke from meditation, he found Qu Yi's aura had grown much stronger than before.

He immediately went forward to examine her condition.

"Are you the doctor who saved me?" Qu Yi's voice was barely audible.

Ding Huan was a Level Two Gene Cultivator—he could hear her clearly.

He grunted, "Don't worry. Just rest and heal—your injuries will vanish soon."

"I can't see anymore," Qu Yi said, her tone filled with fear.

"Trust me—I'll let you see the beauty of this world," Ding Huan said softly.

"Mm." Qu Yi's breathing instantly calmed.

Ding Huan's words resonated deep within her soul, stirring a profound inner echo.

When living conditions are harsh and people constantly teeter on the edge of life and death, morality becomes fragile; evil, oppression, and slaughter are everywhere, and people no longer trust one another…

Qu Yi always believed that this world still held beauty—if one paid attention, one could feel it.

The warriors who fought to death protecting human cities, battling gene beasts, drenched in blood.

The scholars who worked day and night studying survival genes to strengthen humanity.

The students who strived to enter the Top Ten Blue Star Academies, then contributed their strength to protect Earth.

She'd heard the death rate among Top Ten Blue Star Academy students exceeded fifty percent, yet every year countless still tried to enter.

Perhaps they wanted to grow strong—but more, they likely thought as she did: to become strong enough to protect Earth, to protect humanity.

And after environmental mutations, every day before sunset, that blood-red afterglow…

These were the beauties she believed in—the beauty of the world she could still see.

After giving Qu Yi a dose of nutrient solution, Ding Huan took out the Spirit Root Gene Serum.

He took a deep breath and said, "Qu Yi, this serum is very important to you—don't let your emotions stir. Drink it."

Qu Yi obediently drank the serum from Ding Huan's hand.

If this were Ruiji Hospital, she would never believe anything was "very important to oneself" or "important and unimportant"—because she knew she was going to die.

Now, she clearly felt her bodily functions slowly recovering, growing better and better.

Half an hour later, Ding Huan whispered, "Qu Yi, how do you feel?"

"Warm streams are spreading through my whole body—I feel much lighter," Qu Yi said.

Ding Huan clenched his fist. This was the sign of gene spirit root formation—but her reaction was weak. Could she fail to form a gene spirit root?

At that moment, he heard Qu Yi let out a muffled groan of pain, and sweat beaded on her forehead.

"It feels like I'm being burned by flames—my whole body is engulfed in fire. These flames are burning inside me…" Qu Yi's voice grew intermittent, as if she might vanish at any moment.

"Don't worry—it's normal. Just endure it," Ding Huan comforted her from beside her.

He was deeply anxious: first, he didn't know if Qu Yi could even use the spirit root gene he'd forged from his eyebrow blood.

Second, he didn't know if she could fuse another spirit root gene if this attempt failed.

"Mm." Qu Yi gritted her teeth against the unbearable pain, her fingers gripping tightly—she seized Ding Huan's wrist.

Though she'd hovered near death for half a month, her body thin as if a breeze could carry her away, beneath the flames consuming her from within, she unleashed a fierce will to live.

Ding Huan's wrist was scratched open by her nails, blood seeping out.

Two full hours passed before Qu Yi finally fell into a slow, deep sleep.

Ding Huan exhaled in relief—he knew the worst was over. Whether Qu Yi had formed a gene spirit root? He'd have to wait until tomorrow's Luo Shi Jing cultivation to find out.

"Are you Teacher Ding?" Qu Yi's faint voice startled Ding Huan, who had been dozing beside the bed.

Ding Huan felt guilty—he'd actually fallen asleep beside her.

"It's me. Don't worry—I'll make you well," Ding Huan gently patted Qu Yi's hand.

"I'm sorry, Teacher Ding…" Qu Yi's voice trembled.

She hadn't wanted Qu Fei to call Ding Huan—they'd called him anyway.

Ding Huan was in danger now—the Gene Alliance was still hunting him. If they found him here, he wouldn't even have time to escape.

She also remembered yesterday—she'd probably scratched his wrist. She carefully grasped his hand and gently brushed her fingers over his wrist—no wound felt—she finally relaxed a little.

"No, I'm the one who's sorry—I didn't take good care of you."

Ding Huan truly blamed himself from the bottom of his heart. He thought killing those two men who collected Qu Yi's data and destroying that notebook would protect her.

In truth, Qu Yi had nearly died in Puhai.

Qu Yi's nose tingled with acidity; she stared blankly at Ding Huan.

Even with empty eyes, unable to see anything, she still desperately wanted to ask him: why was he so kind to her?

She wasn't a girl so beautiful that one couldn't look away; she had no special strengths.

"Qu Yi, now follow me in cultivation. The technique I practice is called the Luo Shi Jing…" Ding Huan didn't give Qu Yi time to think—he urgently needed to know whether her gene spirit root had formed.

Qu Yi nodded vigorously.

Ding Huan began teaching Qu Yi about acupoints, meridians, and the concept of the Zhou Tian.

Fortunately, Qu Yi was a student at Qinghe University and had already systematically studied all human acupoints and meridians.

Now, Ding Huan merely gave her a slight reminder, and she understood immediately, saving many awkward questions.

To Ding Huan, Qu Yi was the most critical in destiny, yet she was not his lover.

Some movements must be avoided whenever possible.

When Qu Yi began her first Zhou Tian, a faint warmth rose in her dantian, and she exclaimed excitedly, "Teacher Ding, I feel a thread of warmth lingering in my dantian…"

"And then?" Ding Huan's voice rose with excitement.

"After the second Zhou Tian, that thread of qi seemed to grow stronger," Qu Yi said.

"Good. Don't practice yet. Wait until I've fully transmitted the Luo Shi Jing to you," Ding Huan sighed deeply. What mattered most was that Qu Yi had generated a genetic spirit root.

Qu Yi had an excellent memory; Ding Huan taught her the entire Luo Shi Jing in just one hour, including explanations.

"Qu Yi, the later stages of the Luo Shi Jing may be difficult to advance through—I've only just begun practicing it myself. This technique is extremely precious. Do not teach it to anyone."

Ding Huan warned.

He knew that even if Qu Yi taught it out, no one else could practice it.

The Luo Shi Jing was too significant—he didn't want Qu Yi to cause unnecessary trouble by revealing it.

"Mm. No matter who asks me, I won't say a word," Qu Yi murmured. She considered it Ding Huan's possession; if he told her not to reveal it, she wouldn't.

"If someone insists on asking you, teach them another technique instead. It's called the Thousand Meridians Genetic Scripture—I taught it to three students at Yujiang University.

I also taught them a fist technique called Basic Long Fist. If you ever get the chance, go to the Great Han Yi Academy and find Fang Chong. Have Fang Chong teach you Basic Long Fist."

Ding Huan planned to transmit the Thousand Meridians Genetic Scripture to Qu Yi next. Basic Long Fist required hands-on instruction and couldn't be taught all at once—Qu Yi was clearly not ready for it yet.

Upon hearing Ding Huan's words, Qu Yi froze in stunned silence.

She had assumed the technique Ding Huan had given her earlier was the same one taught to the three Yujiang University students. Now she realized the one he'd given her was far more precious.

"Teacher Ding, why are you…" Qu Yi couldn't hold back anymore and wanted to ask him.

She truly didn't know Ding Huan at all, yet his devotion to her surpassed that of a lover.

This gave her a deep inner illusion—that Ding Huan was her long-lost lover, and today he had returned.

"Don't speak. Focus on memorizing the Thousand Meridians Genetic Scripture," Ding Huan's voice came, halting her questions.

Qu Yi forced herself to set aside her tangled emotions and began memorizing the Thousand Meridians Genetic Scripture.

Another hour passed before Qu Yi finally said, "Ding… brother, I've remembered it all."

She felt she shouldn't call him "Teacher"—calling him Teacher would unconsciously widen the distance between them.

"Good. Next, I'll teach you some minor spells: Wind Blade Spell, Fireball Spell, Wind Riding Spell, Dust-Removing Spell…"

"Just memorize them. The key lies in internal qi control, incantations, hand seals, and other spell formulas. You can't use them yet—wait until you reach Level One Gene Cultivator before attempting to practice," Ding Huan continued.

Spells? Qu Yi was momentarily stunned. She understood and accepted cultivation, since gene cultivation wasn't a secret on Earth.

But spells? That sounded almost mythical. She'd never heard of anyone using spells.

Now Ding Huan's voice and explanations came again, so she gathered her focus and strained to memorize.

She had a premonition—Ding Huan seemed about to transmit everything he knew to her, then leave her forever.

The thought filled her with fear and unease. In just a few days, she had grown deeply dependent on him.

She didn't want him to leave—but she couldn't say it.