However, that didn't stop him from trying to open a door in other areas.
Even without authority, if he could just open one door, he could exert influence. Then, he could gradually plan and do more, expanding his influence in the Anomalous Human World.
The best door, naturally, was Nadou Tong.
Qingshui said to Ou Yuan:
"I'm very curious about the various abilities of Anomalous Humans. The Anomalous Human World has too many things that science can't explain. There's no shortage of people to study things that can be understood in the real world, but for things that can't, it makes no difference whether I'm there or not. Grandmaster, I want to study these to explore new fields, inspire ideas, and find interesting subjects."
You're being a bit too modest.
No one had truly figured out the things you were working on before. We couldn't have done it without you.
Academician Ou Yuan adjusted his glasses.
But that explains it then.
In fact, it wasn't just Qingshui; many scientists who knew about the existence of the Anomalous Human World were eager to study it, including Ou Yuan himself.
Many Anomalous Humans' abilities were simply too unscientific.
Leaving aside everything else, if spatial abilities like those of Feng Shayen could be understood, they would bring enormous changes to human technology.
"At that time, just mention a few things about it. If the higher-ups don't ask too much, don't say too much. As long as you bring it up, there won won't be any problems later, and I can even help operate it. But remember, we're doing legitimate scientific research. You absolutely cannot cross any unethical red lines."
"I understand, Grandmaster."
"Alright, that's enough for today then. Get some good rest. Remember to dress mature and presentable on the 24th."
"The 24th? Is it a special day?"
"The National Highest Science and Technology Award, National Science and Technology Progress Award First Prize."
Ou Yuan explained.
"Ah? Can one really win two awards at the same time?"
"No one before has been able to produce two major achievements consecutively within a year."
Ou Yuan said with emotion:
"Originally, the highest award was going to be given to you for your electronic lithography technology, but since you've come up with this, that's another matter entirely."
Ou Yuan pointed to the supercomputer installed with Bai Ze.
Understood. In the end, it's still because I'm awesome.
Thanks, Tony, thanks, Lex Luthor, thanks, Batman!
Early July.
A plane flew directly from the Capital City to Yingtan, Jiangxi.
Outside the airport.
A bearded uncle was smoking, puffing out clouds of smoke, while a cold, bespectacled man in a suit next to him was looking up information on a tablet.
Further back were a man and a woman in Nadou Tong employee uniforms.
"I say, Brother Si, which big shot needs you two to wait here to pick them up?"
Zhang Chulan asked, sitting on the steps, playing a popular parkour game on his phone.
Feng Baobao sat next to him, hunched over, staring intently at the little running figure on the phone screen.
"Chairman Zhao just called and told me to come pick up our senior scientific advisor for Nadou Tong. I heard he's a super impressive scientist."
Xu Si flicked his cigarette butt to the ground and stomped it out, replying.
"A scientist?"
"If you've been following the recent news, you should know him. Zhuo Qingshui, Professor Zhuo. He developed internationally leading lithography machines and chips, and recently he came up with artificial intelligence. His standing in the domestic scientific research community now is probably as high as the Old Heavenly Master's – absolutely top-tier!"
Xu Si lit another cigarette.
"He's also an Anomalous Human?"
"Yep, a Mohist Sect disciple, and very strong. Four months ago, an old-generation master of horizontal cultivation, Chai Yan, who supposedly had some old grudges with the Mohist Sect, tried to attack him while he was traveling. But he got beaten up by him instead and was captured and locked up at the company headquarters."
Xu San adjusted his glasses, taking over the conversation.
"Is this Chai Yan very skilled?"
Zhang Chulan, who had only officially entered the Anomalous Human World a little over a month ago, asked curiously.
"He taught Na Ruhuo, one of the Two Heroes, so what do you think? Although he was defeated by his own disciple, his skill is no joke. To be able to beat down an old-generation master of horizontal cultivation, no matter what methods were used, he's a tricky opponent for you on your path to winning the championship."
"Ah? He's a scientist, why would he suddenly come to participate in the Luo Tian Grand Ceremony?"
"He's a Mohist Sect disciple under thirty. There's nothing wrong with him being interested in participating. No matter what, this Luo Tian Grand Ceremony is a rare event in the Anomalous Human World that hasn't been seen in years. It's perfectly normal for him to want to join in the fun."
"What if I have to face him then?"
Zhang Chulan sighed.
That white-haired, cold-faced junior uncle who used lightning techniques was already difficult enough. Why was there someone even more troublesome?
"No problem, no problem, that Mohist Sect professor, I'll just bury him for you, alright? Hey, you missed that gold coin."
Feng Baobao pointed at the game screen on Zhang Chulan's phone and blurted out in her unique Sichuan accent.
"Baobao, this person… we can't bury him. More accurately, we can't harm him. We need to protect him as much as possible; he mustn't be hurt."
Xu San awkwardly scratched his head and chuckled.
"So, what about Zhang Chulan?"
"We'll have to wait until he arrives and then talk to him. It's a shame we don't know this great scientist's personality, so we can't cater to his preferences."
"No problem."
Xu Si suddenly leaned on Xu San's shoulder, pointing to a spot not far away.
There, several young people were also waiting outside the airport. One of them held a sign that read: "Senior Brother Zhuo, over here!"
"San, look over there. Wouldn't it be clear if we just asked those Mohist Sect disciples?"
Before Xu San could answer, Xu Si pulled out a pack of Soft China cigarettes from his pocket and walked towards them.
In front of Xu Si, an old hand, these Mohist Sect disciples—all under thirty and constantly immersed in research—were quickly integrated into their group and had their secrets spilled.
"So… you haven't had much contact with Professor Zhuo either?"
Xu Si finished his second cigarette, put away his lighter, and asked.
"Pfft, he's a big shot who reached the pinnacle right from the start of his career, and he only joined our sect less than a year ago. Besides the one time I met him last year when my master and I visited the Grand Master, I haven't seen him. But I heard that in the research circles in the Capital City next door, many people want to follow Senior Brother, the big shot."
A thin man wearing glasses said with a sigh.
"Is he easy to get along with?"
Xu Si offered another cigarette, and casually borrowed back the lighter he had just put away.
"It's not a matter of whether he's easy to get along with. The main thing is that if you follow him, you're guaranteed to achieve results, and big ones at that. Top journal papers just keep coming out, one after another. He can make everything clear – what needs to be done, what the direction is. As long as you work diligently, that's all that matters. In the research world, that's far better than too many other bosses."
The thin man took a deep drag from his cigarette, looking pleased.
Another fashionably dressed young woman beside him added:
"But we've never heard of Senior Brother, the big shot, causing any trouble because of his temper, so he should be quite easy to get along with. It's just that he's very firm in his decisions. Within the research group, he's the type who has the final say, but he has the intelligence and capability to back it up, because everything he said later proved to be correct.
It's a pity, I'm a biology student, and I don't know if Senior Brother, the big shot, needs biology students."
"Honestly, I also want to cling to Senior Brother, the big shot, after I get my doctorate."
"I've already sent my resume to Senior Brother, the big shot's team. I hope it gets accepted."
...
Xu San and Zhang Chulan exchanged a look.
"Third Brother, what do you think?"
"It's easy, but also difficult."
"You're saying nothing at all."
"Who says? This kind of person, they're like some leaders who have the final say. As long as you serve them well and smooth things over, as long as it doesn't infringe on their interests, they'll agree.
Actually, it's the same for most people. If that still doesn't work, then offer money. If money isn't enough, then use a honey trap."
"Uh… someone like him probably isn't short on money, right?"
"Then it's up to Xu Si, isn't it?"
"Huh? You're not suggesting Fourth Brother use a honey trap, are you?"
A shiver ran down Zhang Chulan's spine as he imagined a scruffy Xu Si, dressed in a maid outfit, batting his eyelashes.
That wouldn't be a honey trap; it would be intimidation, wouldn't it?
"Exactly."
Xu San said something startling.
"Let Xu Si take him for a full-service foot massage. Your Fourth Brother is an expert at this kind of thing; he can find places like that in any city."
Zhang Chulan's face immediately showed a look of longing.
He was still a virgin, after all.
"Then… when Fourth Brother takes Professor Zhuo, can he take me along to experience it too? No other meaning, I just want to help Fourth Brother share the burden…"
"You can. Conveniently, you have a cinnabar mark, so you can't do anything. You can be in charge of secretly filming."
Xu San pushed up his glasses.
Zhang Chulan: "Huh?"
His plan to lose his virginity was going to fail again.
"What do you know? If we have a recording, we'll have leverage. If the honey trap doesn't work, we'll have to resort to this method."
"Third Brother, this isn't like your usual style."
"No choice. If you hang around Xu Si long enough, you'll become very proficient in this kind of thing too. Otherwise, why would Chairman Zhao and the Old Master both choose him to be the regional manager?"
Amidst the group's idle chatter, an airplane streaked across the sky, slowly landing on the airport runway.
Soon after.
Qingshui, empty-handed, and Yue Qian, carrying a suitcase with very few belongings, successfully met up with everyone.
All their luggage had been stored in a Devouring Pouch that Qingshui had found time to create.
In addition, Qingshui had also refined a pair of sunglasses that could detect the flow of Qi within a fifty-meter radius, which Yue Qian was currently wearing.
As soon as Xu Si saw Qingshui, he immediately led the group to greet him.
"Oh, Professor Zhuo, and Brother Yue, here, have a cigarette. Chulan, why aren't you taking their luggage?"
Xu Si gestured with his eyes for Zhang Chulan to take the luggage.
"No need, the luggage isn't heavy. Most of our things are in the Devouring Pouch," Yue Qian said, shaking his head with a serious expression.
Anything belonging to Professor Zhuo could involve classified research projects and could not be entrusted to anyone else.
"Senior Brother Zhuo!"
"Senior Brother, you're amazing! I'm Zhang Miao from Tianda University, studying environmental science and also minoring in law."
This was the "Outlaw Zhang San" from the WeChat group, the skinny guy.
He probably went into law because he saw no future in environmental science.
"Senior Brother, you're amazing! I'm Yan Qiu from Nanda University, studying biology…"
"Senior Brother, look at me…"
"Senior Brother…"
Four junior students from the Mohist Sect also gathered around.
Well, calling them juniors wasn't entirely accurate.
His current body was 27 years old. Besides Zhang Miao, who was the same age, the other two men and one woman were all older than him.
The Minggui realm, neither strong nor weak, was considered proficient. Among the younger generation, they were above average. Unless it was a special case like Qingshui, it usually required considerable effort to reach that level.
So, these people were actually all twenty-eight or twenty-nine, almost thirty.
Of the remaining one woman and two men, the woman, Yan Qiu, was a biology Ph.D. and lecturer at Jinling University. One of the men, Liao Fan, was from the computer science department of the neighboring Bathhouse University and now worked as an assistant researcher at a certain institute, holding a mid-level professional title like a lecturer.
The remaining man, Liu Kun, was a Ph.D. student at Zhendan University, studying mathematics.
He wasn't bald; his hair was still very thick—just prematurely gray, with half of it white. It was a very natural white, not from dye, and he didn't know if it was from studying mathematics.
After exchanging pleasantries for a while longer, everyone finally arrived at the hotel.
Xu Si had already prepared a grand feast.
After dinner.
After the gathering, Xu Si didn't leave immediately. Instead, he chewed on a toothpick and, smiling, escorted Qingshui to his room door.
"Say, Professor Zhuo, interested in a second round? My treat."
"A second round?"
Qingshui looked at Xu Si with a smile in his eyes, then at Yue Qian.
"Ah, yes, and Brother Yue. For this second round, I've arranged for you at a foot massage parlor. I've already made arrangements, guaranteed to be the top performers."
Xu Si's face showed a smile that all men understood.
"Xu Si, if you have something to say, just say it directly. There's no need to beat around the bush. As long as it's a reasonable request, as a consultant for Nadou Tong, I'm very happy to help you all."
"Oh, you saw through me, huh."
Xu Si gave an awkward laugh and rubbed his hands together.
"Then I'll go call Chulan. This matter concerns him. We mainly have something we'd like to ask of you."
Xu Si quickly called Zhang Chulan over.
"Let's go, we can talk on the way," Qingshui waved his hand.
"On the way? Are you planning to…"
"Didn't you just say we were going for a foot massage? Everything's already arranged, wouldn't it be a waste if I didn't go? Let me warn you, if you try any tricks, Brother Yue will act on the spot."
"You can rest assured," Xu Si winked at Zhang Chulan.
The latter understood immediately.
"Oh, Teacher Zhuo, my life as a student is so bitter…"
"Stop, no need for such exaggerated tones, Naked Butt Hero."
"Huh? I've been exposed? And it spread to the vocational school?"
"No, nothing like that. I just happened to see the Nankai forum, and I thought that Naked Butt Hero must be an Anomalous Human. With your build, I recognized you right away."
"Phew… Is that so…"
"So, Zhang, you wouldn't want the fact that you're the Naked Butt Hero to be exposed, would you?"
"Teacher Zhuo! From now on, I am your dog! Please, don't treat me as a human!"
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