Sanity Barrier

"Thank you, uh... what should I call you?"

Brent opened his mouth to express his gratitude, but got stuck for a moment.

"You can call her Mo Shui or Big Sister."

Lu Yuan interjected, placing the book Mo Shui lived in before Mina.

"Mina, Mo Shui will stay with you from now on, until you learn to control your own talent."

As he spoke, Lu Yuan pointed at the black notebook.

"This is where Mo Shui will live in the future. Remember, no matter where you go, you must bring this notebook with you."

Mina struggled slightly as she hugged the notebook to her chest, then nodded with a solemn little face.

"Doctor Lu, don't worry. Mina will protect Big Sister's house."

"Mm, good."

He patted Mina on the head in approval before turning to Brent.

"Your sister is fine now. I'll take her to the base for a simple registration later, then arrange for you two to move into the room next door as soon as possible."

"Ah! Doctor Lu, does that mean my sister will be registered with the Night Watchers?" Brent watched Mo Shui floating in the air, his mind racing as he instantly realized this was a great chance to find someone powerful to rely on.

"Mm, you two got lucky." Lu Yuan took Mina's hand and gestured for Mo Shui to follow. "Brent, stay at the clinic for now. If anyone comes looking, tell them to wait. The room next door is yours and Mina's now, so remember to tidy it up."

"No problem, Doctor Lu!"

"And Mo Shui, it's time for you to go in."

Lu Yuan tapped the notebook.

Mo Shui floated over reluctantly. After pulling another clump of black knowledge from Mina's body, she finally slipped into the book and vanished.

When Lu Yuan brought Mina to the base, Mary was already waiting.

Mary's eyes lit up when she saw the little girl Lu Yuan was holding by the hand. She quickly walked over and patted Mina on the head.

"She's so cute. Lu Yuan, you really do have an eye for things. You somehow run into everyone."

"I found it a little unexpected too," Lu Yuan replied, watching Mina, who did not resist.

"Alright, how should we register her? Do we need to call Mo Shui out?"

"Just have the girl come with me. As for Mo Shui, better not. That little thing doesn't like me."

Mary's hand paused on Mina's head, as if she had recalled some unpleasant memories.

"Mm. Mina, go with... Aunt Mary—no, Big Sister Mary for a bit. I'll wait here for you."

Lu Yuan spoke softly to Mina.

"Mm, Doctor Lu, wait for me to come back."

Mina was not afraid. She nodded her little head, then took Mary's hand to show that she was ready.

The smile on Mary's face deepened at the sight.

"Alright, Doctor Lu, I'll take her first. It'll take some time. Once we're done, I'll bring her back to your clinic."

Halfway there, Mary suddenly added another sentence.

"Don't worry. There won't be any danger."

"Mm."

Only after hearing that did Lu Yuan leave the base with Mo Shui.

Back at the clinic.

Brent was enthusiastically cleaning up the room next door.

He was clearly very satisfied with his new home. It made sense—the environment here was far better than the low-rent housing by an unknown amount.

Seeing that Lu Yuan had returned alone, he instinctively asked about it.

After Lu Yuan gave a simple explanation, Brent finally relaxed.

Then Lu Yuan thought for a moment, took several Silver Shields from a drawer, placed them on the table, and pushed them toward Brent.

"Go buy dinner."

"No, no, no, Doctor Lu, I have money on me!" Brent hurriedly waved his hands, trying to refuse.

"This is for future meals, and it includes your wages."

Lu Yuan's expression turned serious, his tone leaving no room for argument. "Since you work here, you follow my rules. I don't want my employees working on empty stomachs."

Brent looked into Lu Yuan's eyes. His outstretched hand froze in midair before he finally took the silver coins with slightly reddened eyes.

"Thank you... thank you, Doctor Lu. I'll go right away."

"Mm. If it isn't enough, remember to tell me."

Once Brent left, the clinic fell silent again.

Lu Yuan sat down and knocked on the black notebook.

"Come out and work. Stop playing dead."

A wisp of black smoke emerged from the notebook in his arms, and Mo Shui floated out indignantly. "What do you take a noble Book Spirit for? Do you think you can summon me whenever you want?"

"Spit out that copy of Basic Structure of Sanity Barrier." Lu Yuan ignored her protest. "I know you put it in your stomach."

Mo Shui rolled her eyes, opened her mouth, and made a retching motion.

Plop.

A thick book covered in crystal-clear mucus fell onto the table.

Lu Yuan skillfully wiped the cover clean. Just as he was about to open it, a small icy hand pressed down on the pages.

"You're too slow reading it like that."

Mo Shui looked at Lu Yuan with disdain.

"At your reading speed, Mina might be grown up by the time you learn how to build a Sanity Barrier."

"You have a faster method?"

Lu Yuan did not argue. He simply asked in return.

"Of course." Mo Shui snorted, then fluttered her little wings and flew onto Lu Yuan's head, where she sat down.

"Empty your mind. Don't resist. Consider this payment for bringing me out."

The next instant, Lu Yuan felt a torrent surge directly into his mind.

That torrent was not dry text, but pure experience and knowledge that had been broken down and refined.

The originally obscure terminology became like enlarged building blocks. How to assemble them and stack them was clear at a glance.

At the same time, a string of gray-white text appeared before Lu Yuan's eyes:

[Receiving knowledge infusion...]

[Constructing Sanity Barrier...]

Lu Yuan suddenly opened his eyes, a flash of dark blue passing through their depths.

Deep in his mind, sanity far beyond that of ordinary people continuously condensed. Under Mo Shui's infusion, Lu Yuan kept mobilizing his own sanity until it finally formed a tough, invisible barrier that completely wrapped around his brain.

And at the instant that barrier formed—

[Sanity Barrier (Beginner): 3/3. A special technique that condenses one's sanity into a "wall," increasing sanity's defensive power and resilience to a certain extent.]

[Your understanding of sanity has deepened. Perhaps you really can uncover the secrets of sanity?]

[Sanity III: +2, 2/75.]

Lu Yuan sensed the increasingly solid "sanity" deep within his mind, and an unprecedented sense of security rose from the bottom of his heart.

More importantly, Lu Yuan discovered that his sanity limit had actually recovered by two points!

"It really works! The reduction in sanity caused by Strange Dream isn't completely irreversible! As long as I master more skills for solidifying sanity, I'll eventually be able to completely rid myself of this illness!"

Suppressing the joy in his heart, Lu Yuan grabbed Mo Shui, who was still sprawled atop his head, and pulled her down.

"Mo Shui! Does this knowledge infusion of yours have any limitations?"

Mo Shui did not answer immediately. Instead, her whole spirit looked dazed and weak.