Chapter 107 Spring Beast Tide - 9 With Lu Yi by my side...
Accompanied by Lu Yi, Tang Bufan went to the research institute located in the Eastern Federation. Several researchers had volunteered to work overtime the night before, so preliminary results had been obtained regarding his genes and blood.
Tang Bufan's genes are similar to those of the Poison People, so he has a certain reference effect on repairing the genetic disorder caused by radiation and mutation in them. However, since he has now mutated into a sub-beastman, the effect is limited.
Even so, the researchers were still very excited. Tang Bufan was a living ancient human and their ancestor, and he could be of great reference and use in improving their genes. If it weren't for Lu Yi watching them closely, they would have loved to drain Tang Bufan's blood dry.
Moreover, they firmly believe that their current discoveries are less than one-tenth of Tang Bufan's actual value. The Rebooters represent the most advanced technology on Earth, and their obsession with Tang Bufan suggests that he possesses an even greater treasure.
They were right; Tang Bufan was still keeping the matter of time travel a secret.
Tang Bufan thought that Dr. Jiang and Fang Yue had been classmates for seven years and attended the same university, so Dr. Jiang would know Fang Yue better than Pei Zhishu. So he shook off the group of annoying researchers and sneaked into his office.
"How much do you know about me, and how much does Miss Fang Yue know?" Tang Bufan asked Dr. Jiang. "Mr. Pei has already told me that your New Business Alliance once cooperated with the Rebooters."
Dr. Jiang glanced at the door, which was tightly shut. He then closed the window and drew the blinds before lowering his voice to say to Tang Bufan, "The Rebooters' purpose in capturing you is not to take your blood, but to get information about your transmigration."
As expected. Tang Bufan wasn't surprised, and frowned as he pressed him for an answer: "Why did you choose me?"
“Zero is the one who selects people, not me, I don’t know that.” Dr. Jiang stared straight at Tang Bufan: “But I do know that this time travel experiment is related to changing the world.”
Tang Bufan was taken aback, somewhat bewildered: "I can change the world? I'm just an ordinary elementary school teacher."
“You don’t need to know anything, you just need to ‘react’.” On Dr. Jiang’s table was a petri dish of Tang Bufan’s blood. He tapped the shell with his finger: “Just like these cells, you are the experimental subject, Zero is the observer, the world is your petri dish, and the ‘reaction’ you present is the data he needs.”
Tang Bufan seemed to understand but not quite, while Lu Yi asked again, "Is the Restarter related to the Education and Culture Group?"
Dr. Jiang's eyes flickered slightly as she looked at him in surprise.
Tang Bufan felt that the name "Cultural and Educational Group" sounded familiar. After thinking about it carefully, he suddenly remembered that the Cultural and Educational Group was Fang Yue's original sect, which was destroyed more than 20 years ago, and Fang Yue became an orphan in that disaster.
“The Cultural and Educational Group, like the Peacekeeping Faction, belongs to the pro-beast faction. However, the Peacekeeping Faction is forced to be pro-beast for political reasons. The Cultural and Educational Group is different. It genuinely believes that the beastmen helped humanity overcome the most difficult period and that they share the same origin as humans, so the two can coexist.” Lu Yi said slowly, “Before it was destroyed, it was in charge of the cultural and humanistic aspects of the underground city.”
"..." Dr. Jiang remained silent, but her gaze towards Lu Yi carried a hint of admiration.
Tang Bufan gradually realized that the information stated that the Cultural and Educational Group was destroyed by the resistance faction's attack. But if the Cultural and Educational Group was really destroyed by the resistance faction, why would Fang Yue be willing to cooperate with the Rebooters?
He then recalled Fang Yue's power struggle with the peacekeeping faction, and suddenly a terrifying thought popped into his head.
"Could it be..." Tang Bufan looked at Lu Yi in shock: "The destruction of the Education Group was..."
“Yes, it was the peacekeeping faction that truly destroyed the education and cultural group.” Dr. Jiang picked up where Tang Bufan left off, letting out a deep sigh.
"The Education and Culture Group is a very moderate faction. They acknowledge the existence of orcs, sympathize with their past experiences, and have been working hard to reconcile humans and orcs. Guo Wen's teacher was a member of the Education and Culture Group. The cultural revival of the Eastern Federation is also a result of the Education and Culture Group. As Guo Wen came to power, the Education and Culture Group's power has grown, and its authority in the underground city is showing a tendency to surpass that of the Peacekeepers. So, at the meeting where they discussed sending humans to the surface to teach orcs, the Peacekeepers detonated a bomb that had been planted in advance."
Tang Bufan listened in a daze. He knew there was serious infighting in the underground city, but he didn't expect it to have reached this level.
"So the cultural and educational group was destroyed, and the remaining members were forcibly taken in by the peacekeeping faction, which then established a new cultural and educational department." Dr. Jiang said in a low voice, his eyes deep. "Fang Yue knew that the peacekeeping faction was behind it, but she was alone and powerless, so she could only join the new business alliance to gradually build up her influence."
"What is her collaboration with the Rebooters?" Lu Yi pressed.
Dr. Jiang smiled at him and said, "I can't say for sure. If you want to know, you should ask her yourself."
Seeing that he refused to answer, Lu Yi thought for a moment and asked again, "Are there any former members of the Education Group among the Rebooters?"
Tang Bufan was a little confused and couldn't help but interject, asking, "Is the education and culture group very important?"
Lu Yi looked at him and said, "The full name of the Cultural and Educational Group is the Cultural and Religious Joint Research Group."
Tang Bufan slapped his forehead. He thought it was a cultural and educational organization... but it turned out to be culture and religion?!
That makes sense; how could there be no religious organizations in the apocalypse?
Tang Bufan then thought about the religious methods Zero used to control the mutated poison people, and suddenly realized what was going on.
"You're very smart." Dr. Jiang looked at Lu Yi, who was only 18 years old, with admiration: "No wonder you come from a family of powerful people, you are very perceptive about power struggles."
Ordinary people cannot connect these things together in a logical and systematic way.
"So, is the Rebooter related to the Education and Culture Group?" Lu Yi continued to ask Dr. Jiang.
Dr. Jiang smiled faintly: "I'm sorry, I still can't answer that. Why don't you try asking Fang Yue?"
He and Fang Yue have been friends for over twenty years, having known each other since junior high school, and he would never betray her.
Seeing that he was unwilling to answer, Lu Yi did not force him. Anyway, he was going to find Fang Yue later, but he couldn't help asking now.
Dr. Jiang didn't say anything more, so the two had to take their leave. On the way back, Tang Bufan was still a little dazed, trying hard to absorb the information he had just learned.
He couldn't help but complain to Lu Yi, "You discovered so much, why didn't you tell me?"
"The teacher underwent so many tests yesterday, and he must be feeling very heavy-hearted. I don't want you to think about these things anymore." Lu Yi apologized to him, then took Tang Bufan's hand in a conciliatory manner: "I will definitely tell you later."
Tang Bufan gave him a light kick, but didn't continue nagging him. He was still shocked by the power struggle in the underground city.
If the Cultural and Educational Group hadn't been destroyed, the Eastern Federation might be a different place now. Pro-beast humans would come to the surface to teach orcs, and the orcs wouldn't be so resentful of supporting humans.
However, what the peacemakers want is not the future of humanity, but their absolute power in the underground city.
Tang Bufan felt somewhat annoyed, and gained a deeper understanding of some of the inherent flaws in human nature.
"Is Fang Yue going to destroy the peacekeeping faction?" Tang Bufan couldn't help but ask Lu Yi.
"I don't know." Lu Yi's tone was lower than usual: "The peace treaty is a double-edged sword. The peacekeeping faction used this sword to stabilize the chaotic underground city. I think the bad thing is not this faction, but some people in it."
Sadly, bad guys have now taken over this faction.
The beast tide had officially passed, and it was now April. The garden, which had been extensively damaged, was quickly restored. He Xing and He Yunlai invited the two of them to return to Qingzhu Xiaoxuan in their RV.
After discussing it, Tang Bufan and Lu Yi decided to go back. The RV was still not very convenient for water and drainage, and Tang Bufan had become more delicate now, wanting to wash his face and take a bath every day.
Wan Bing, who had left to return to his hometown, sent a letter. The surrounding villages and towns had suffered heavy casualties in the beast tide and the attack by the poisonous people. Wan Qi, after being reminded by them, had led the townspeople to hide in the mountains, in caves and cellars. So only a dozen or so people who did not listen to advice died.
It's true what they say, you can't reason with a damned devil.
Pei Zhishu also gave their family a place to live in Taicheng. Lu Yi mentioned it to him, and Pei Zhishu casually told his assistant. The officials in charge of the outer city took it very seriously and arranged a large five-bedroom, two-living-room apartment in a very good location in the outer city.
But Wan Qi did not give up on Beishan Town. He asked Wan Bing to move with his wife and children first, while he led the townspeople to rebuild the town. Following Lu Yi's instructions, he buried the mutated poisonous people caught in the trap in a good field, hoping that the pollution would be reduced and that there would be a good harvest next year.
Tang Bufan had nothing to do on the mountaintop, so he discussed with Wan Yiming about going down the mountain to visit relatives. Since the RV was inconvenient to drive, Lu Yi swiped his card to buy Tang Bufan a car.
It was a very expensive luxury car, produced in the underground city. Tang Bufan was both happy and felt it was a waste. He smirked and muttered to Lu Yi, "Why don't we just borrow one from Pei Zhishu? We can't take it back to the Western Federation anyway."
"It's alright, I'll give it to Wan Yiming later." Lu Yiming handed the car keys to Wan Yiming, asking him to be Tang Bufan's driver.
This time, Wan Yiming's lips curled up.
"..." Tang Bufan felt a little sorry for Lu Yiming. He thought that if he couldn't take the car with him, he could resell it. But seeing that Lu Yiming didn't care, and that Lu Yiming was a likable young man, he tacitly agreed to give him the car.
Lu Yi had other things to do. He had to hold a video conference with the Western Federation and was also in charge of transactions between the two federations.
The first aircraft of the Western Federation is about to be completed. Although the border there has also suffered some attacks from the poisoners, the number is not large. Given the heavy losses suffered by the Eastern Federation this year, Pei Zhishu is discussing with Lu Yi about having the West send some supplies over.
Otherwise, the Eastern Federation won't be able to gather enough supplies for the dungeons this year, and without supplies, there will be no humans, and 100 orcs will be without wives this year.
Lu Yi agreed, but in exchange, he wanted to exchange it for degradation water made from the corpses of mutated poisonous people. This water was developed by the research institute based on the characteristic that the decomposition of mutated poisonous people's corpses can effectively reduce soil pollution. Although it was still in the observation period, Lu Yi had already placed an order and planned to transport it back to the Western Federation to spray the land.
Pei Zhishu was reluctant to give it up, as it was a valuable resource that could reduce pollution, but unfortunately, the Eastern District Underground City needed supplies.
Tang Bufan didn't get involved in their transactions, afraid of hurting his relationship with Pei Zhishu... Well, they didn't have much of a relationship, but Tang Bufan still quite liked Pei Zhishu. This young master from the underground city was very generous to him, sending clothes, paper, ink, and antiques to Qingzhu Xiaoxuan in a continuous stream, almost making Tang Bufan think that he wanted to pursue him.
On the day the Wan family moved to Taicheng, Wan Yiming happily put on a sharp suit, took the luxury car keys Lu Yi had given him, and took Tang Bufan down the mountain to explore the outer city.
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