Chapter 334: The Purest Mutation

"Fine, then let's move on to the next question."

Yang Yixie's tone remained flat, but it was a bit less detached than before.

Luo Wen yuan was startled for a moment, "You speak."

"So, what exactly is the Gloomy Fluorescent Stone?"

Luo Wen yuan was startled again, then smiled, "The kid is quite eager to learn."

He walked to the console, brought up an image and projected it onto the wall: a teal‑colored crystal whose surface shimmered with the same glow as Ying Duo's hair.

"Gloomy Fluorescent Stone…." he thought for a moment, then explained in as plain language as possible, "You can think of it as the 'purest Mutation.'"

"The Mutation Sources we usually encounter basically come from some organism—Aberrant Species' blood, organs, secretions, or plants and water tainted by Mutation. These sources carry the organism's 'trace,' so the Mutations they trigger tend to have a certain bias."

"But the Gloomy Fluorescent Stone is different; it is pure Mutation energy, formed over long periods of compression and condensation in a highly unique geological setting, finally manifesting as a crystal. It originates from no organism, alters no organism—it is Mutation itself."

Wen Jing yun looked at Ying Duo's hair.

"That's also why we were so surprised earlier; the Gloomy Fluorescent Stone is the purest Mutation Source. In theory, any organism in prolonged contact with it would be completely 'rewritten' into a wholly new existence driven entirely by Mutation, yet you haven't."

At this point, Wen Jing yun sighed.

"I don't even know what this means—Is Mutation evolving? Or perhaps …"

She didn't finish, but the worry in her tone was already evident.

Yang Yixie, however, didn't let the two continue their lament.

He set down the dessert in his hand, his golden eyes calmly fixed on the two, and spoke, cutting off Luo Wen yuan's impending long‑winded discourse.

Come to think of it, his Mutation Source is just a piece of stone, isn't it?

The only good news is that, at least when his Mutation Value rises, he won't sprout a bunch of weird extra organs like Bai Mu Yun and the others.

"Alright, let's get down to business."

Yang Yixie merely nodded; his question had been answered, so it was time to attend to the matter at hand.

His golden eyes stared steadily at them, and he asked word for word:

"Where is your son Luo Jinyou now?"

Luo Wen yuan's relaxed posture instantly tensed.

He sat upright, the smile on his face vanished, replaced by a vigilant scrutiny.

The eyes that had just been obsessed with Mutation data now sharply fixed on Ying Duo.

"What are you asking that child for?"

His voice deepened, carrying a father's characteristic protectiveness and suspicion.

Yang Yixie watched his reaction, thinking that, indeed, using the surname to locate Luo Jinyou's parents wouldn't be wrong.

"I am his roommate," he answered truthfully.

Luo Wen yuan was startled for a moment.

Then he furrowed his brows, began to size Ying Duo up from head to toe, his gaze growing increasingly critical—glowing green hair, a face that showed no expression, a tone that rose and fell not at all…

"Impossible," Luo Wen yuan shook his head, his tone firm, "How could Xiao You possibly have a roommate like you?"

Yang Yixie: "......."

Why does that sound like an insult?

He was about to explain something when he noticed Wen Jing yun's expression was off.

She didn't immediately deny it like Luo Wen yuan, nor did she press about Ying Duo's identity.

She simply stood there quietly, eyes lowered, as if pondering a question.

Wen Jing yun suddenly lifted her head, looking at Ying Duo.

"What year are you from?" Her voice was soft, yet oddly heavy.

Yang Yixie was startled by the words, but showed no expression.

Year?

He instinctively wanted to frown, but his face stayed stiff; he could only tilt his head, a motion he found easier to make.

"It is the first academic year of Mitra Academy now," he said, "Luo Jinyou and I share a dormitory."

He didn't state the year directly, but that was enough.

Wen Jing yun's fingers tightened slightly as she silently calculated in her mind.

A few seconds later she lifted her head, her gaze at Ying Duo turning complex.

"…ten years," she whispered, as if to herself, "At least ten years later."

Luo Wen yuan was stunned.

"What ten years?" he hadn't processed, "Wen Jing yun, what are you saying?"

Wen Jing yun gave him no answer.

She simply walked to the console, took a card from a drawer, and handed it to Ying Duo.

It was a research institute identification card, very similar to the one Yang Yixie had previously found in the dorm, but with a higher clearance level.

"Xiao You is upstairs," her voice remained soft, "sleeping in my room."

Yang Yixie took the card, lowered his head and glanced at it.

【Research Institute Identification Card (Gold)】

【Affiliation: Eternal Day City Third Energy Mineral Research Institute·Senior Researcher】

【Clearance Level: Level 5 (Access to all institute areas)】

【Note: A gift from the past, perhaps it can take you where you wish to go.】

"Wen Jing yun," Luo Wen yuan, seeing this, immediately panicked, finally recalling that Ying Duo had entered illegally, "What are you doing?! This person's background is unknown—"

"Wen Yuan."

Wen Jing yun's voice interrupted him; she didn't turn around, she just said quietly:

"He said he was Jin You's roommate."

Luo Wen yuan's movement froze.

Roommate.

Mitra Academy.

Ten years later.

Those three words together were like a lightning bolt, splitting the chaotic fog in his mind.

The minimum admission age at Mitra Academy was also 16......

Then he opened his mouth, but nothing came out.

Yang Yixie watched the couple's reaction, saying nothing.

He simply tucked the card away, nodded to the two, then turned and walked toward the doorway.

He also heard Luo Wen yuan's voice behind him fading away, light as if afraid to disturb something:

"....... Ten years later? Then now......."

He didn't finish.

But Wen Jing yun knew what he wanted to ask.

"It is memory," her voice was as calm as dust settling, "someone is recalling us."

Yang Yixie's steps faltered for a moment.

He simply kept walking forward, the door closing behind him.

In the laboratory, Luo Wen yuan stared at the tightly shut door, motionless for a long time.

Then he scratched his hair and gave a wry smile.

"Has the Mutation ten years later become so rampant?" he murmured, "That kid can have a Gloomy Fluorescent Stone on his head and still be lively; the Church's technology has progressed rapidly........."

Wen Jing yun gave no reply.

She only watched the instruments still running on the console, the whiteboard on the wall covered with formulas, and the still verdant plant in the corner.

Then she smiled gently.

The smile was faint, yet carried a hint of relief.

"....... So that's how it is."

She said.

It turned out they had long since been gone.

It turned out this place was someone's memory.

It turned out her child was still thinking of them ten years later.