Chapter 60: Dying for You Is No Problem

The gene alliance's old base in Puhai was raided, and nearly twenty senior officials, including Deputy Alliance Head Gu Xian, were killed without survivors.

Although none of the gene alliance's strong members were harmed in this incident, it delivered a heavy blow to the gene alliance.

The gene alliance's leader, Shi Shi Changqian, flew into a rage, vowing to capture the killer and execute him publicly, then tell the entire world what happens to those who dare touch the gene alliance.

Yet the Puhai Security Bureau responded indifferently to this incident, ignoring Shi Shi Changqian's demands for a full investigation leaving no detail unexamined.

This reaction cooled Shi Shi Changqian's anger—he remembered this was Huaxia.

The gene alliance, though a global organization, still could not dictate how Huaxia's official bodies operated.

The gene alliance had many strong members, but so did Huaxia's Security Bureau, and the Martial Arts Alliance was also part of Huaxia's Security Bureau.

With no other choice, Shi Shi Changqian could only investigate himself.

The only slight comfort for Shi Shi Changqian was that Qin Qiang and Antonio had provided useful leads.

Before entering the Dongxun Gene Center building, they had met a material merchant at the entrance.

The material merchant carried a large sack, as if he had just exited the Dongxun Gene Center building—he was a prime suspect.

Even though the Puhai Security Bureau refused all cooperation, the gene alliance still discovered that this material merchant knew Fang Chong and had spoken with him at length.

"Immediately bring Fang Chong to the gene alliance," Shi Shi Changqian roared, his voice thick with murderous intent.

Antonio shook his head. "Leader, that won't be possible."

"Why?" Shi Shi Changqian frowned at Antonio.

Even if the gene alliance's standing in Huaxia was weaker than elsewhere, surely fetching a student shouldn't be an issue?

He didn't believe the news could reach the Security Bureau—if it did, he was certain they wouldn't risk a feud with the gene alliance over a single student.

Antonio explained, "Fang Chong joined the Great Han Yi Academy. When we went to demand him back, they replied with one sentence—we had to return empty-handed."

"What did they say?" Shi Shi Changqian asked instinctively.

"They said, 'What is your gene alliance? Do you have the qualifications to demand someone from the Great Han Yi Academy? Are you still dreaming?'"

Antonio hated repeating those words, but Shi Shi Changqian was too forceful—he had no choice.

"Who said that?" Shi Shi Changqian's earlier fury vanished.

"Guo Qingrong, the Martial Arts Department instructor of the Great Han Yi Academy."

"You didn't go to find Zhang Yongcheng…"

Before Shi Shi Changqian finished speaking, he realized he shouldn't have said it.

If there was one person on Earth who held the gene alliance in the lowest regard, it was unquestionably Zhang Yongcheng.

Going to Guo Qingrong might earn you a few taunts. But going to Zhang Yongcheng? That old man might actually strike you.

"Go tell Hou Hou Hezhong to keep searching for other leads. I'll seek out Qu Yonghe of the Martial Arts Alliance and Nong Yizhen of Zhenyu Academy. I refuse to believe there's nowhere to seek justice after a murder."

Shi Shi Changqian now felt so stifled he wanted to vomit—he regretted going to Kunlun Mountain. He'd gained nothing, and now the gene alliance's base had been completely destroyed.

Now, he still couldn't find the killer.

No—he'd found a lead, yet couldn't pursue it further. Since its founding, when had the gene alliance ever been so humiliated?

In every country, the gene alliance walked with impunity. As long as gene beasts roamed the Earth, the gene alliance's status would never waver.

This iron law didn't hold in Puhai—how could he accept it?

…

Yiling City, Xiuhu Community, Qu Yonghe's home.

"Yi Yi, you really can't remove the bandages yet—it's only been six days," Wen Xing pleaded beside Qu Yi's bed.

Not just Wen Xing—Yan Quan and Qu Yonghe were also urging Qu Yi to wait another half-month.

Qu Yi said, "Aunt Xing, I know my own condition better than anyone—I know my right eye has nearly recovered, and my left eye is also slowly healing."

I have confidence—believe me, it won't have much impact."

In just this past week, practicing the Luo Shi Jing, Qu Yi felt rapid progress—she even suspected she might reach the First-Level Gene Cultivator rank in just a few more days.

Logically, she shouldn't feel this way—but she did. This confidence came entirely from practicing the Luo Shi Jing.

She truly felt her eyes were improving.

"Alright then," Wen Xing said, seeing Qu Yi's determination. She glanced at Qu Yonghe and Yan Quan, then agreed to her request.

She was a top-tier surgeon—if the eyes hadn't healed, there wouldn't be major complications.

She turned off the lights and removed the bandages…

"Yi Yi, how are your eyes?" Yan Quan's voice trembled.

Qu Yi whispered, trembling, "I see—I see… Thank you, thank you…"

She didn't just see—she saw with perfect clarity.

Not only had her recently operated right eye recovered, but her other eye now perceived faint light—her intuition had been correct; both eyes would fully restore.

As she spoke, tears streamed down her face.

She had believed she would spend her life in darkness—yet now she could see again.

Having known darkness, she understood better than anyone how precious light was to her.

Everyone in the room rejoiced for Qu Yi at that moment.

After a brief adjustment period, Wen Xing turned on the lights. Qu Yi felt no discomfort; the others now saw her eyes clearly.

The eye that had just undergone surgery shone brightly like a star. The other eye was clearly beginning to recover.

In such a short time, Qu Yi had recovered to this extent?

"How is this possible?"

Wen Xing was the first to disbelieve—she had performed the surgery herself. Even under optimal conditions, recovery to this level should take months.

Yet Qu Yi had done it in just six days.

Six days?

"Truly a divine art…" Qu Yonghe couldn't help exclaiming.

Wen Xing's surgical skills were indeed unparalleled, but Qu Yonghe didn't believe Qu Yi's eyes could have recovered to this degree in just six days—it was entirely due to Wen Xing's efforts.

Clearly, most of this credit belonged to Ding Huan.

"Yiyi, can you see something with your other eye too?" Yan Quan noticed a difference in Qu Yi's unsurgically treated eye and asked immediately.

Before Qu Yi was injured, that eye had always been dull and gray; now, a faint glimmer shone within it.

"Mm, I can see now. Thank you…" Qu Yi said thank you again.

"Ding Laoshi is our family's benefactor," Yan Quan couldn't help clasping her hands together.

"Where did Ding Laoshi go?" Qu Yi couldn't help asking.

Yan Quan said, "After Ding Laoshi saved you, he left. We don't know where he went."

But Qu Yi knew Ding Huan hadn't just saved her.

Her rapid recovery, even the sense that her strength improved daily, came from practicing the Luo Shi Jing that Ding Huan had passed to her.

How could this be merely a matter of gratitude?

Qu Yonghe hesitated before saying, "Yiyi, I think you should be told—you must know…"

"Yonghe…" Yan Quan quickly called out to her husband, fearing the news might harm Qu Yi's health.

Qu Yonghe spoke slowly, "Our Qu family is not ungrateful. Ding Huan has done Qu Yi such a great favor—if I conceal this, I would truly be forgetting my benefactor. I cannot do it."

Hearing Qu Yonghe speak this way, Yan Quan said nothing more, only nodded, her eyes slightly red.

"Dad, what's wrong?" Qu Yi sensed something was off—the atmosphere felt heavy.

Her body had healed, her eyes had recovered—why, after their initial joy, did her parents and Aunt Xing now seem guilty?

"Yiyi, your eyes actually belong to Ding Huan—he gave one of his own eyes to you…"

Before Qu Yonghe finished speaking, Qu Yi froze.

For a long time, she said not a word, moved not a muscle.

"Yiyi…" Seeing her condition, Yan Quan rushed forward to support her.

"Why did you agree…?" Qu Yi suddenly felt her eyes burn with unbearable ache; her heart was wracked with torment, her voice strained.

If she had known Ding Huan gave her his eyes, she would have preferred to remain in darkness forever.

"Yiyi, your father and I never agreed—but Ding Laoshi insisted on it. He said only his eyes could restore yours—no one else's would work…"

Yan Quan gently comforted her daughter.

Though Yan Quan knew Ding Huan had spoken incorrectly—he should have said "donated" not "returned"—she still repeated his exact words to Qu Yi.

Qu Yonghe added, "I don't know what relationship you had with Ding Huan, but you owe him a great debt. You must repay him someday."

"No, I cannot keep his eyes—I must find him and return them," Qu Yi cried.

If she kept Ding Huan's eyes, she would never forgive herself, nor find peace.

Ding Huan is still wanted—what if he gave his eyes to her? What would become of him? Would the Gene Alliance's villains let such an opportunity slip away?

Qu Yonghe softened his tone as much as he could: "Yiyi, Ding Huan gave you his eyes because he wants you to recover—not to see you waste his gift."

If you return his eyes, do you even know where he is now?"

"Secondly, a life saved must be repaid with a life. Ding Huan is being hunted. Your talent is good—if you work hard, even without joining one of the Ten Great Academies of Blue Star, you may still become a Gene Cultivator."

"Once your strength grows, you can help Ding Huan—even if it costs your life, your mother and I will not stop you, because your life is his gift."

Qu Yonghe's words snapped Qu Yi back to clarity and calmness—yes, Ding Huan was being hunted now; how could she possibly find him to return the eyes?

And Ding Huan had taught her such a powerful cultivation technique—she had only practiced for a few days and already felt her strength surge. If she continued, she would surely be able to help him one day.

As her father said, her life was saved by Ding Huan, her eyes were given by Ding Huan—she would gladly give her own life for him in the future.

One day, if she ever saw Ding Huan again, she would return his eyes to him.