Letting the Pig into the House

"War God Palace?"

Wen Xiuyong had never met anyone like Lin Yan. Judging by his age and strength, he seemed like a newborn calf unafraid of tigers, yet Wen Xiuyong instinctively had a premonition that he could do it.

Standing in the clouds of the War God Palace...

Did that mean becoming a Planetary-level councilor, one of the five Speakers, or even Hong and the Thunder God?

Rationally speaking, such confidence was ridiculous, yet Lin Yan truly was someone who made it difficult to stay rational.

He was silent for a while before saying, "It's good that you have your own goals."

"But could Professor Wen help me put together a reading list for studying biology?" Lin Yan asked with a gentle smile. "I think it's quite interesting."

During his studies, he had discovered that Coenzyme R3V held enormous potential and was far from limited to its current applications.

So although he had declined to study under Wen Xiuyong, he still wanted a deeper understanding of biology.

It would not interfere with his training anyway.

Wen Zhi'an blinked her large eyes. Wasn't that what I said before?

There was something off about him.

A faint flutter stirred in her heart. The male classmate who had secretly had a crush on her during their senior year of high school had truly become completely different.

He could do everything well. He was optimistic and cheerful, yet calm and strong.

She looked into Lin Yan's eyes. Those pitch-black pupils seemed to possess a peculiar magic, tranquil as a lake at night, making people unable to resist sinking into them.

He no longer awkwardly averted his gaze whenever she looked at him. Instead, when he noticed her eyes on him, he would look back at her gently.

Yet that gentleness had a sharp edge of its own, and Wen Zhi'an felt as though it had scorched her.

She could not help wondering, Does this boy still like me the way he used to?

And what do I think?

She lowered her head, her heart suddenly a mess.

Girls had their own worries too.

It had been three days since the Gray Gorilla was transported to the research institute.

The beast tide war was growing increasingly tense. There had been no sign of the Skinning Monster these past few days, while Lin Yan continued studying and training.

The Star Team secretly teased him for risking his life just to chase a girl, currying favor right under her father's nose.

At first, he argued with them, but eventually he stopped.

Because he gradually realized that his arguments were turning into excuses. During this time, he really had begun to enjoy the atmosphere of being with her more and more.

That youthful ambiguity, carrying just a little sweetness.

It was like walking down a country path in the height of summer, with the fresh scent of leaves and the rich fragrance of gardenias drifting through his hair on the breeze. Fireflies carried lanterns, stars lit the road ahead, and everything seemed mysterious and beautiful.

Let nature take its course.

There was nothing shameful about liking someone.

Wen Xiuyong, however, felt rather conflicted. He was not stupid. He later learned that the two had been classmates before and had only recently run into each other again. With a father's sensitivity, he quickly sensed that something was off between them.

But he also felt that this was perfectly normal.

Boys and girls were two creatures naturally drawn to one another. It was instinct.

Still, he was somewhat worried about how his wife would react if she found out later. Based on what he knew of her, she probably would not want their daughter to fall for someone like Lin Yan.

So he could not help feeling gloomy, and the way he looked at Lin Yan became a little more "fierce."

This was what they called letting the pig into the house!

In a dark corner.

Blood flowed silently.

A man in a white lab coat suddenly emerged from within, his gaze sinister. Seeing the soldier in combat gear leaning against the wall with vacant eyes, he revealed a strange smile.

He walked over to the soldier and coughed. Bu Xiangyang immediately regained consciousness, feeling slightly dizzy as he let out a muffled groan.

"Young man, what's wrong?"

"I'm fine. Maybe the pressure's been a little high lately. Thank you for your concern, Professor Wu."

"It's nothing. I should be the one thanking you. You've all taken care of me these past few days."

"It's our duty."

"Well then, since I've already obtained the materials I needed, let's return to the research institute."

"Yes, all right."

Bu Xiangyang suspected nothing. He did not realize he had briefly lost consciousness, and during that time, a monster had put on human skin and begun its actions.

"Professor Wu" walked ahead. He casually turned his head toward the crown of a tree. A Black Cat lay sprawled atop one of its branches, seemingly asleep.

It sensed "Professor Wu's" gaze. Its closed eyes narrowed slightly, revealing a glimmer of shattered gold.

"Professor Wu" withdrew his gaze, looking utterly unconcerned.

They passed through four security checkpoints at the research institute before they were allowed inside.

When Liu Mingxuan saw them, he recorded the time they entered and left.

"Professor Wu" entered his office to inspect the materials he had retrieved, while Bu Xiangyang returned to his unit and stayed with the Star Team.

Liu Mingxuan asked, "Xiang Yang, did anything unusual happen when you went out today?"

"No." Bu Xiangyang stretched and said, "I wonder if that monster has already left. There hasn't been any movement at all these past few days."

"No movement is a good thing too. The military district is taking the soldiers' disappearances very seriously now and requires every unit to conduct strict daily checks and records. These past few days, there have only been wartime casualties, with no one vanishing without explanation. Even if that monster is still in the North District, it clearly isn't as rampant as before," Li Tao said.

"Also, Lin Yan said that Professor Wen has received word that those powerhouses from Tianjing Base City who went abroad to explore the ruins are nearly finished and should return soon. When they do, we won't be as passive as we are now."

Bu Xiangyang said expectantly, "I wonder if I'll have a chance to meet Chairman Jia then. He's my idol!"

Meanwhile, in the laboratory.

Lin Yan was conducting an experiment at the lab bench, while Wen Zhi'an recorded the experimental process and data.

He had been quite focused on this matter over the past few days, continuously trying to optimize the experimental plan for Coenzyme R3V.

There were currently two Coenzyme R3V medicines on the market, named X gene capsule and Jade Marrow respectively. The former came in packages of 10 mg × 30 capsules and sold for three million. The latter was a medicinal solution prepared using medical equipment Huaxia had obtained from the ruins. Its effects were astonishing, and its price was even more astonishing. It cost the same as the Water of Life—thirty billion.

When Huaxia exchanged resources with the United States, the corresponding trade item for the Water of Life was Jade Marrow. In the eyes of most people, the two medicines were of equal value.

Because the profits were enormous, extracting it from monster organs was acceptable despite the high cost. Even if the cost doubled, it would still be acceptable. However, mass production was extremely difficult, and the current production plan simply could not support an increase in Coenzyme R3V output.

Wen Xiuyong's idea was to use microbial fermentation to forge a new path, but it was not easy. The technical difficulties would still take a long time to overcome.

Lin Yan had originally wanted to try that route as well, but he ultimately gave up. Even Wen Xiuyong was stumped by it, so there was little he could do.

In the end, he chose a rather foolish approach, like Thomas Edison conducting more than six thousand experiments before discovering that tungsten filament was a suitable material for electric lights.

After more than ten thousand attempts in the Virtual Hall, he finally discovered a new raw material suitable for extracting Coenzyme R3V through this spirit of moving mountains little by little: a plant called "Niyelo."

Based on that, he redesigned the experimental logic.

Then, once the experiment succeeded, he filled in the underlying theoretical framework.

Lin Yan was almost fully prepared now, but presenting it directly would be a bit too much. So he planned to wait a few days before bringing out the successful plan.

Over the past few days, he had steadily made improvements in the laboratory, and Wen Zhi'an had taken the initiative to assist him.

Wen Xiuyong had originally not wanted them together all day and had intended to create some obstacles, but after seeing Lin Yan's results, he abandoned that idea.

Whether he created obstacles or not was one thing, but dampening Lin Yan's enthusiasm for research would be bad. There was no need to act like a child.

So he covered his face and left.

"This experimental plan produces 1.5 times the previous output!" Wen Zhi'an was shocked by the final experimental result.

Lin Yan was not particularly excited. He still had a brilliant idea in his head that could increase output by more than tenfold, and he had not revealed it yet.

"Little Wen, praise me," Lin Yan said with an obedient look.

Wen Zhi'an turned her back to him and pretended to be haughty. "I don't want to."

At that moment, "Professor Wu" walked over with a kindly smile and asked:

"Do you know where Professor Wen went?"