Chapter 76: The Mutation Source Hidden Nearby (Cultivation)

Ying Duo, after successfully delivering the "quest item" and confirming that Teacher Li Ya had begun treating Luo Jinyou, quietly walked over to a nearby chair and sat down, beginning AFK State while waiting for the treatment to finish.

Obviously, they had no idea how much psychological damage their previous words had inflicted on Li Ya.

Teacher Li Ya no longer wanted to deal with Ying Duo and instead refocused on the patient before her.

The abnormal surge in Luo Jinyou's Mutation was no small matter, especially since he had only recently experienced a sudden spike in Mutation Value.

Two abnormal surges occurring within a short period definitely indicated something was wrong.

She simultaneously used a communicator to contact the two students' homeroom teacher, explaining the reason for their tardiness, and also sent a message to Luo Jinyou's guardian, Professor Luo De'an.

Li Ya briefly outlined the situation in the message, after all only the professor knew the detailed condition of Luo Jinyou's body.

After ending the communication, Teacher Li Ya furrowed her brows; following a series of more precise examinations and analyses, she stared at the returned data, her brows tightening further.

"The Mutation Value spiked suddenly, but the magnitude is small; the energy spectrum suggests contact with some… milder Mutation?"

Can a Mutation be mild? She rubbed her chin, muttering to herself.

"It doesn't seem like accidental exposure to high‑concentration contamination; rather, it appears that the subject has already adapted to the Mutation Source to some degree, and only a recent increase in exposure dose or duration caused the slight fluctuation?"

This hypothesis sent a chill through her mind.

Adaptation often implies long‑term, repeated contact.

"Could it be… that there is a Mutation Source near Luo Jinyou? The earlier sudden surge might also have been an accident caused by an abrupt encounter with a Mutation?"

The more Li Ya thought about it, the more she felt this possibility was significant.

Considering Luo Jinyou's unique and unstable constitution, she had reason to suspect that this might be a conspiracy deliberately targeting him.

"We must locate this source of contamination," Teacher Li Ya resolved.

"Luo Jinyou, please think carefully—have you received any strange gifts lately? Or come into contact with any unusual items?"

It might not necessarily be malicious intent; after all, because Luo Jinyou's condition is special, Professor Luo De'an usually fears any contact he might have with a Mutation, and children outside aren't as sensitive to Mutations. It could also be that Ying Duo's luggage became contaminated with a Mutation.

Teacher Li Ya's tone unusually turned serious; she immediately fetched a Mutation Scanner from nearby and scanned Luo Jinyou, as well as the blanket and close‑fitting clothing that Ying Duo had brought along.

Luo Jinyou lay on the hospital bed; though weak, his mind remained relatively clear as he pondered Teacher Li Ya's words.

Long‑term exposure? Unusual items?

These past few days, aside from necessary activities, he had spent most of his time holed up in his dorm.

Everything needed for his lodging, from bedding to daily supplies, was personally and meticulously prepared by Professor Luo De'an, making it impossible for a suspicious Mutation Source to have been mixed in.

Then… what about Ying Duo's luggage?

The thought arose but he immediately dismissed it.

When Ying Duo previously entered the dorm, he came empty‑handed; even the bed he slept on last night was temporarily taken over by him, and he hadn't been in the dorm at all in the preceding days.

So it couldn't be that Ying Duo's luggage became contaminated with a Mutation.

Luo Jinyou racked his brain but couldn't find anything in the dorm that might be related to a Mutation.

He shook his head with a bewildered expression and said weakly.

"Teacher Li Ya, there shouldn't be any suspicious items in our dorm…"

After all, anyone could harm him, except Professor Luo De'an.

While Teacher Li Ya was busy checking and Luo Jinyou fell into contemplation, Yang Yixie, who had been ignored by the two, began to feel bored.

The quest‑completion prompt hadn't appeared yet, and the two key NPCs had 'gone offline.'

His gaze drifted aimlessly around the infirmary, finally landing on the portable Mutation Detection Device belonging to Luo Jinyou that Teacher Li Ya had removed and placed on the nightstand.

He casually picked up the Detection Device, examined it in his hand, and looked at Luo Jinyou.

"Can I have this?"

Ying Duo had already grasped the true essence of this game; the rewards given by the quest are merely basic, and a player can obtain far more on their own.

Luo Jinyou, already agitated by the Mutation issue, merely glanced at the remark casually and didn't pay much attention.

It's just a Detection Device; he'll just ask Teacher Li Ya for another later.

"Hmm, if you like it, take it," he replied absentmindedly.

Having received permission, Ying Duo instantly perked up.

He sat back down beside the bed as if no one were there, his hands once again emitting the characteristic Ying Guang Lu energy glimmer, and began skillfully dismantling the Detection Device's casing.

He intended to first unlock the blueprint, then see if he could extract Engraving Runes that could be learned, and whether the device itself held any modification potential.

Screws, gears, screen…

Each component, under his fingers, was handled as casually as a docile pet.

Meanwhile, Teacher Li Ya had finished scanning Luo Jinyou's personal items and ultimately found nothing.

"No residual abnormal energy…" Li Ya said, puzzled, "Could the Mutation attachment still be in the dorm?"

She carefully inspected every item Luo Jinyou carried—clothing, rabbit plush—scanning each with a precise energy Detection Device.

The result was nothing; the items were all normal.

Then it must be inside the dorm.

Although Luo Jinyou said there should be no Mutation Source in the dorm, it's better to check everything just in case.

"You rest for now; the Mutation Value is gradually decreasing. Professor Luo De'an should arrive shortly, and just in case, I'll still go check your dorm…"

She said this while casually reaching to turn off the Detection Device.

Because Ying Duo had just moved to sit beside the bed, he blocked the cabinet holding the instrument.

"Ying Duo, could you please move…"

The Detection Device, just as it was scanning from behind Ying Duo who was bent over the dismantling, brushed past his hair tips as it swept over.

"Beep beep beep! Beep beep beep—!!!"

The Detection Device, which should have remained silent, suddenly emitted a sharp, rapid alarm like a cat whose tail had been stepped on.

The energy reading on the screen instantly spiked red, the needle frantically jumping to indicate a danger zone far exceeding normal environmental values.

Teacher Li Ya: "!!!"

Luo Jinyou: "!!!"

Both were startled by the sudden piercing alarm, shivering, and simultaneously glanced at the detector in Teacher Li Ya's hand that was sputtering like a malfunctioning device.

Teacher Li Ya was stunned; she instinctively shook the detector in her hand, thinking the instrument had malfunctioned, and even tapped it.

"What's going on? It was fine just a moment ago......"

She tried to reboot the device again, but whenever the detector approached the direction of Ying Duo, the piercing alarm sounded again, and the Mutation reading was frighteningly high.

Teacher Li Ya watched the scene, fell into an odd silence, and slowly, inch by inch, carefully brought the detector's probe closer to Ying Duo again…

"Beep beep beep beep—!!!" The alarm peaked, and the value on the screen was nearly breaking the limit.