Chapter 61: It

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 powerful members were harmed in this incident, it delivered a heavy blow to the organization.

The gene alliance's leader, Shi Shi Changqian, flew into a rage and swore 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; when Shi Shi Changqian demanded a full investigation leaving no detail unexamined, the bureau acted as if it hadn't heard a word.

This response cooled Shi Shi Changqian's temper—he remembered this was Huaxia.

The gene alliance, though a global organization, still could not dictate how Huaxia's official institutions 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 on his own.

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 encountered a material merchant at the entrance.

The material merchant carried a large sack and seemed to have 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 uncovered 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 bringing a student here shouldn't be an issue?

He didn't believe the news could possibly reach the Security Bureau—but even if it did, he didn't think they'd 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 his transfer, they replied with one sentence—and our people 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 authority to demand someone from the Great Han Yi Academy? Are you still asleep?'"

Antonio hated having to repeat those words, but Shi Shi Changqian was forceful—he had no choice.

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

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

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

Wwwottkдno￠O

Before Shi Shi Changqian finished speaking, he realized he shouldn't have mentioned that name.

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

Seeking out Guo Qingrong might earn you a few taunts—but seeking out Zhang Yongcheng, that old man might actually strike.

"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 that after a murder, there's nowhere to seek justice."

Shi Shi Changqian now felt so suffocated 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 this 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—and how could he accept that?

…

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

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

Not just Wen Xing, but 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, this won't have a major 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, and it was pure confidence from practicing the Luo Shi Jing.

She truly felt her eyes were improving.

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

She was a top-tier surgeon—if there were no signs of recovery, it wouldn't be a major issue.

Turn off the lights, remove the bandages…

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

Qu Yi trembled as she replied, "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 thought she would spend the rest of her life in darkness—yet now she could see light 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 clearly saw her eyes.

Her recently operated eye shone as bright as stars; her other eye was clearly beginning to recover.

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

"How is this possible?"

o￠o

Wen Xing was the first to disbelieve—she had performed the surgery herself; even under optimal conditions, Qu Yi's postoperative recovery would take months to reach this level.

Now it seems Qu Yi used only six days.

Six days?

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

Wen Xing's surgical skills are indeed unparalleled, but Hearing Qu Yonghe did not believe Qu Yi's eyes could recover to this degree in six days—it was entirely Wen Xing's doing.

Clearly, most of this credit belongs to Ding Huan.

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

Before Qu Yi was injured, that eye had always been a dull 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 had done more than just save her.

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

How could this be merely a matter of being a benefactor?

Hearing Qu Yonghe hesitated and said, "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.

Hearing Qu Yonghe spoke slowly, "My Qu family is not ungrateful. Ding Huan gave Qu Yi such a great favor—if I conceal this, I would truly forget my benefactor. I cannot do it."

Hearing Hearing Qu Yonghe say this, Yan Quan said nothing more, only nodded with slightly reddened eyes.

"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 are actually Ding Huan's. He gave one of his own eyes to you…"

Before Hearing Qu Yonghe finished speaking, Qu Yi froze.

For a long time, she said not a word, moved not at all.

"Yiyi…" Seeing Qu Yi's state, Yan Quan rushed forward to support her.

"Why did you agree…?" Qu Yi suddenly felt her eyes painfully sore; her heart was now filled with torment, her speech barely possible.

If she had known Ding Huan gave her his eyes, she would rather have remained in darkness forever.

"Yiyi, your father and I refused, but Ding Laoshi insisted—he said only his eyes could restore yours, no one else's would do…"

Yan Quan gently comforted her daughter.

Though Yan Quan knew Ding Huan had spoken wrongly—that he should have said "donated" rather than "returned"—she still told Qu Yi Ding Huan's exact words.

Hearing Qu Yonghe added, "I don't know what relationship you had with Ding Huan, but after receiving such a great favor from him, 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 happiness again.

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

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

If you return the eyes to Ding Huan, do you even know where he is now?

Second, a life saved must be repaid with a life. Ding Huan is being hunted now. Your talent is decent—if you work hard, even without joining the Top Ten Starblue Academies, you may still become a Gene Cultivator someday."

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

Hearing Qu Yonghe's words instantly cleared Qu Yi's mind and calmed her—yes, Ding Huan was being hunted now; how could she find him to return the eyes?

And Ding Huan had taught her such a powerful cultivation scripture—she had practiced only a few days and already felt her strength surge; if she continued, she would surely help Ding Huan in the future.

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

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

(That's all for today's update, friends—goodnight!)