Chapter 116: Casting a Long Line to Catch a Big Fish

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Xuan Xuan glanced at Zhan Yu. Zhan Yu had ordered people to knock everyone unconscious first, allowing them to extract the larvae from their bodies in one go.

Xuan Xuan walked over to Xuan Guo’s side and watched as others worked.

She observed the larvae being removed and then saw the wounds being stitched up.

Xuan Xuan carefully examined the situation, casting a quick glance around. Why was this larva smaller than the others extracted?

She couldn’t figure it out. Zhan Yu asked, “What’s wrong?”

Xuan Xuan shook her head. “I don’t know. I just feel there’s something off about her, but I can’t pinpoint what.”

“Could it just be your imagination?” Kuang Shao asked.

After all, when one dislikes someone, it’s easy to believe there’s something wrong with that person; illusions can form.

Xuan Xuan ignored him and asked Lou Yitong beside her, “Do you see anything unusual about her?”

Lou Yitong closed her eyes, using her mental power to sense for a while, then sighed dejectedly, “I don’t feel the same as before. It seems like there’s no problem now.”

“What do you mean by ‘seems’?” Zhan Yu asked.

“Yesterday, I was sure she had something wrong, but now, even though I feel it in my heart, I just can’t find anything,” Lou Yitong said, a bit frustrated.

Xuan Xuan nodded; she felt the same way.

“Wake her up and have her drink this.” Xuan Xuan took out a bottle of “True Word” serum.

When Xuan Guo woke, she looked at Xuan Xuan with hatred. “What did you do to me?”

Xuan Xuan didn’t answer her question. “Do you have any other issues in your body?”

“No.” Xuan Guo’s heart skipped a beat; she answered without hesitation.

Xuan Xuan frowned. That shouldn’t be.

“Did you tell Zhan Yu I wasn’t in the dorm?” Xuan Xuan probed.

Xuan Guo covered her mouth but still admitted, “Yes.”

The effect of the “True Word” serum hadn’t worn off. Xuan Xuan continued, “Back then, you encouraged the students to target me and even pushed me from behind, didn’t you?”

Xuan Guo’s eyes widened in terror. How did she know?

Yet her mouth involuntarily confessed, “Yes.”

Wan Qi Weihao and Wan Qi Weihan exchanged glances nearby. What was going on?

Xuan Xuan pressed on, “Are there any other issues inside your body?”

“No.” The same answer.

Xuan Xuan’s brows furrowed deeper. She looked down at her and finally sighed helplessly. Could it really be that there’s no problem?

“Alright, let them leave,” Xuan Xuan said. Maintaining her domain drained energy, and her magical and mental power was nearly depleted.

Zhan Yu nodded and ordered the group taken to the infirmary. Xuan Guo stood up and snapped at Xuan Xuan, “I hate how you always stand over me like you look down on me.”

She hated her. She was better at everything, always controlling her life, and she had no way to resist.

“I love how you can’t stand me yet can’t destroy me,” Xuan Xuan replied indifferently.

After that, she didn’t look at her again and let Kuang Shao, Wan Qi Weihao, and the others continue handling things.

Xuan Xuan told Kuang Shao, “Keep an eye on Xuan Guo.”

“Do you still think there’s something wrong with her?” Kuang Shao asked, realizing that his junior sister here had a bit of a scheming side.

Xuan Xuan yawned, ignoring him. She had gotten up too early this morning and wanted to sleep after eating.

Not having to do military training felt so good. “The ‘True Word’ worked, but she still insists there’s nothing wrong with her body.”

Zhan Yu knew the serum’s effect and was puzzled, “So she really has no problem?”

“There should be a problem,” Xuan Xuan said.

“Then why didn’t the ‘True Word’ make her tell the truth?” Zhan Yu asked.

“Either she truly has no problem, or there’s only one possibility.” Xuan Xuan looked at Zhan Yu and paused slightly.

Kuang Shao and Zhan Yu looked at her in unison. “What possibility?”

“That queen larva is inside her,” Xuan Xuan said. This suspicion wasn’t impossible.

Zhan Yu’s eyes flashed with horror. “Does she know?”

“She should know; otherwise, she wouldn’t be so nervous. But this is just my suspicion.” Xuan Xuan shrugged. She had no evidence.

“Why would you suspect that?” Zhan Yu’s face grew cold. The Federation hated the insect race, and soldiers hated them most of all.

Xuan Xuan said, “I think she has a problem. Lou Yitong thinks so too. She must have a problem, but we can’t find it. So I suspect she’s hiding something more advanced inside her body, something even more advanced than what Xiao Daopeng had. That’s why even Lou Yitong and I haven’t discovered it.”

After a moment’s thought, Xuan Xuan added, “That’s why I had you give her the ‘True Word.’ Under its effect, she still claimed she had no problem.”

Zhan Yu said, “What does that mean?”

“Unless there’s a powerful hypnosis involved, it's impossible. Xuan Guo herself doesn’t have that ability, so there’s only one possibility: the insect race inside her did it.” Xuan Xuan shrugged. “The larvae don’t have that power. Overall, it should be that high-level insect race parasitizing her.”

“What benefit does she get from this?” Zhan Yu didn’t understand. Collaborating with the insect race?

“People who make deals with devils are never lacking.” Xuan Xuan said.

Whether on Mata Continent or in the Federation, there were always those who dealt with devils. They always had a fluke mentality and insatiable desires.

“I’ll go capture her,” Kuang Shao said.

Xuan Xuan replied, “No need. The insect larvae inside her have been removed, probably gravely injured. She won’t be able to do anything for a while. I put a little interesting device on her. Just keep an eye on her.”

She waved her hand. She had spent considerable effort planting something fun on Xuan Guo. If she didn’t let her stay put for a while, it wouldn’t be amusing.

“Also, I want to find out why the insect race came here. This place is too close to the imperial capital,” Xuan Xuan said.

Zhan Yu’s expression turned serious. Indeed, this place was so close to the imperial star, and only troops were stationed here. How did they sneak in?

Kuang Shao had the same thought. They found nothing at the insect race’s gathering area.

Yet, inexplicably, insect traces appeared near the imperial capital.

This matter couldn’t be rushed. They would cast a long line to catch a big fish. Xuan Xuan now headed to Zhan Yu’s place to prepare lunch.

Standing before Zhan Yu, watching him, she thought: if he doesn’t go home, who will cook?

Zhan Yu had a black line across his face. This girl hadn’t changed at all since childhood. He remembered back then, she looked at him expectantly on the sofa, wanting him to carry her to the kitchen.

Just like now.

Only that chubby bun-like face had turned into a delicate one, still retaining a slight double chin.

Lou Yitong and the others were abandoned. Nothing was more important than food.

Zhan Yu took Xuan Xuan home and quickly made lunch. Xuan Xuan looked dissatisfied; she thought Zhan Yu was just going through the motions.

“I’ll come back this afternoon.” She returned to her dorm with a stern face.

Zhan Yu didn’t care whether she came or not. Due to signal issues on the uninhabited star, he used special methods to contact his grandfather.

“Grandpa.”

“Hm?” Zhan Shaohua sounded puzzled. “Aren’t you training?”

Zhan Yu nodded. “There are insect races appearing here.”

“What? Insect races on the uninhabited star? Since when? How many? What type? Any casualties?” Zhan Shaohua fired off a series of questions. No matter what, the appearance of the insect race near the imperial capital was a big issue.

Seeing his grandfather’s barrage of questions, Zhan Yu patiently answered one by one. “Just in the past couple of days. They’re a special kind, seemingly a new mutant type.”

“What type?” Zhan Shaohua asked urgently. Mutant insects were hard to deal with.

“Wan Qi Xuan Xuan discovered it. She said these insects control larvae that parasitize humans and can monitor and influence the hosts,” Zhan Yu explained.

“Parasitize?” Zhan Shaohua asked. “Is that easy?”

Zhan Yu smiled wryly, reflecting on the gap between him and his grandfather. “Very easy and nearly undetectable. But Wan Qi Xuan Xuan already has a solution.”

“That Wan Qi girl is supposedly useless, the disciple of Kuang Hongyi? The one you liked?” Zhan Shaohua chuckled. “She’s definitely not simple.”

Zhan Yu nodded. Indeed, she was not.

“But there’s still one not found. Wan Qi Xuan Xuan said it’s probably parasitizing a student. We haven’t dealt with her yet. Wan Qi Xuan Xuan wants to play the long game.”

After a moment’s thought, Zhan Shaohua agreed, “That makes sense.”

“I want these people to stay here. After all, they are the Federation’s future. Even if there’s danger, they need proper training,” Zhan Yu shared his thoughts.

Zhan Shaohua nodded. “Cowards who haven’t tasted blood aren’t the Federation’s future. If anything happens, I’ll take responsibility.”

“I want grandpa to send more people here. I want a thorough investigation,” Zhan Yu said firmly. This was necessary. Without a thorough check, he wouldn’t be at ease or satisfied.

Zhan Shaohua agreed, “That’s the right move.”

“Understood.” Zhan Yu nodded.

“Contact me immediately if there’s anything. Stay safe,” Zhan Shaohua instructed.

Only then did Zhan Yu end the call.

Kuang Shao also contacted Kuang Hongyi about the same matter.

Wan Qi Weihao contacted Wan Qi Yi as well. He wasn’t personally worried, but concerned for Xuan Xuan’s safety.

After receiving the news, Wan Qi Yi contacted Zhan Shaohua. The Federation’s top military academy’s training was always managed by the Zhan family.

“A rare visitor,” Zhan Shaohua said cheerfully.

Wan Qi Yi smiled, “No news is good news. Sorry for the intrusion.”

Zhan Shaohua understood his intention, “Thanks to your granddaughter this time.”

That was why he was worried. Wan Qi Yi said, “They’re short-handed over there. Should we send people from the Wan Qi family?”

“Not for now. If anything else is found, I’ll notify you,” Zhan Shaohua replied politely.

Wan Qi Yi agreed. Since the Zhan family cared, there was no problem.

They casually discussed cooperation matters between their families before ending the call.

Xuan Xuan had indeed found a good teacher, or else—

She sighed. The insect race had truly begun to make their move.