Meteor Fall Master in the 'Starry Abyss'

"I still don't know if players will descend, maybe, there will appear another 'Li Zi'... Damn it, don't tell me I'll complete some ghostly achievement of 'me killing myself'?!"

Just thinking about this, Li Aozi started to feel overwhelmed.

—————————————

"Speaking of which, the health monitor shows that he's now out of danger."

The Professor pushed the tablet to one side, took off his glasses, and looked at the two standing before him with a slight smile:

"If that's the case, Anna, Head Nurse Nodley, what do you need me for?"

"Professor—"

"It's precisely because of that guy that we've come to see you!"

Anna had just begun speaking when Head Nurse Nodley immediately cut in, stepping up to the table, faced the Professor's gentle smile, and said in a serious tone:

"Professor, he's only been here a few hours and has already wasted a large amount of our manpower and resources. We still don't know what benefits we can get from him. If he keeps presenting these difficult problems, requiring a lot of time and effort to manage daily... In the long run, it will not only bring immense pressure to the internal treatment and surveillance but also affect the external missions of Mingji..."

Head Nurse Nodley spoke non-stop for a few minutes while the Professor just listened quietly, smiling and gesturing for her to continue.

Anna stood aside, holding the report in her hands, silently waiting for Nodley's monologue to end.

"... In conclusion, I don't think we should continue to invest such a large amount of resources to monitor and follow up on Li Aozi's treatment."

The moment Head Nurse Nodley finished speaking, the Professor immediately nodded and responded with a question:

"So, according to Head Nurse Nodley's thinking, how should we handle Li Aozi?"

"Just treat him as a typical Infected. He has shown his dangerous nature; even as a Martial Artist like myself, I would be knocked down when he loses control. Therefore, he must be physically detained, his freedom restricted, clad in a full-body Restraint Suit, and undergo regular sample testing—"

"That is to say," the Professor mused, "you think that a Restraint Suit, which can't necessarily confine a level 3 Infected, could trap someone who could, in a frenzied state, defeat a Martial Artist with a single blow, a suspected level 5 Infected?"

"No, what I mean is, if we enhance the material it could…"

"Li Aozi has not yet awakened Arcane Energy, but what if he does?"

The Professor asked earnestly:

"The people of the Four Nations dare not claim they can completely control a Transcendent who has awakened Arcane Energy. If we can fully detain an Infected who has awakened Arcane Energy, wouldn't that indicate—we would be superior to the Four Nations?"

"No, that's not what I mean, Professor..."

"If Mingji is stronger than the Four Nations, then why are we only confined to an abandoned Shelter, instead of going out to save all the suffering people of the Outer World?"

The Professor frowned slightly and sighed:

"Possessing strength far beyond the Four Nations, yet not using it to help the world, instead secluding ourselves in a corner, Mingji is merely clinging to life, and secretly conducting forbidden experiments—that's how the world views us, it's perfectly understandable."

Head Nurse Nodley was somewhat dazed; how did the topic of containing the Ersha Virus-infected patients suddenly turn into a public relations crisis for Mingji Humanity?

If the Professor continued like this, Nodley felt she would be bearing an immense burden of guilt.

"In fact, I understand as well, after all, the Ersha infection is just my own speculation. Mingji has become what it is today because of my personal opinion. One could say, the downfall of Mingji Humanity's reputation, the talent drain, the misunderstanding by the world—all of these are solely due to me..."

The Professor's eyes reddened, slightly clouded, the silver-haired beauty's voice carrying a hint of self-reproach and frustration:

"I didn't want things to be like this, it's all my fault... My inability to protect you has led Mingji to this state where everyone is against us!"

"Indeed, I should have resigned back in 201 and entered the third-level hospital."

"That's not the case!"

Feeling a wave of guilt, Head Nurse Nodley hurriedly clarified:

"Professor, you bear no responsibility, without your wise leadership, Mingji Humanity wouldn't exist, nor would we talk about the continuation of mankind's noble character. Obviously, the leadership of Mingji Humanity, especially our philosophy, our original intention—can only be maintained in your hands."

"Nodley... thank you for saying that."

The Professor wiped her eyes and said with a bitter tone:

"It feels good to be trusted."

Her attempt to force a smile, with her eyes at the edge of tears, cut through Nodley's heart like a blade. The previously vehement Head Nurse now felt the weight of thorns upon her back.

In Professor Ming's office with only the three of them present, Head Nurse Nodley felt as if she was being exposed under the watchful eyes of everyone.

The murmured whispers from the audience, though faint, seemed to stab directly down her spine, a powerful sense of shame gushed forth uncontrollably, a mix of shame, regret, and self-reproach.

'The Professor has endured such tremendous pressure, yet I was still blaming and doubting her.'

Noise like the roar of waves filled Nodley's heart:

'I am really worthless, for she, as an Upper Being, has still forgiven and pardoned my impulsiveness and insubordination.'

As a somewhat accomplished Martial Artist, she blushed, bowed her head, and apologized sincerely and loudly to the person who was sobbing silently and consoling herself in the wheelchair:

"I am very sorry! Professor! I regret my irrational remarks and apologize to you."

"Nodley, stand up, this is not your fault."

The corners of the Professor's eyes turned slightly red, and her voice became hoarse:

"I want to bring everyone a better tomorrow, as you know... A Level 5 Infected could perhaps truly prove the existence of the Ersha Theory. I was too impatient, I didn't consider you all..."

"It was my perspective that was too narrow, Professor."

Nodley gasped, her body trembling slightly, barely keeping control of her facial muscles, tears streaming down:

"We've been too selfish, only thinking about making our positions easier, yet forgetting that Mingji Humanity has tread on the path of Ersha Theory for decades, without any substantial progress... Yes, you did it for our sake. We all know, how could we doubt you..."

Before the Professor, her body stronger and more robust than that of a bodybuilding athlete, seemed just like a kindergarten child who had made a mistake.

"Nodley... you've been wronged."

"Professor, please give me another chance, I will not make the same mistake again."

"If that's the case," the Professor said, cheeks flushed, sobbing softly, feigning composure and forcefully maintaining her authority: "there's still some distance between you and patient Li Aozi, I know he caused you considerable harm before he was taken in, and used up a lot of manpower and resources."

"But, when facing the unknown, even if one exerts all their effort, it's futile. Just making contact with the unknown is a great step forward."

"Having missed a Level 5 Infected, the next opportunity to prove the theory's truth... will have to wait a very long time."

"I don't want the blood of Mingji's predecessors and volunteers to be shed in vain, I have always encouraged myself to achieve something significant, to prove the real existence of the Ersha Virus, and to use this theory to end the suffering of the people in the Outer World."

"Professor..."

"Please continue to cooperate with the research. If another incident like yesterday occurs, the patient is still very weak, we might lose such a valuable opportunity..."

The Professor said solemnly:

"Everything will go as planned. I will remove any obstacle, and the cost will be mine to bear. This is the ideal belief of all humanity, and for this, we spare no expense!"

Her tone became increasingly fervent, and Nodley, deeply moved, stood up with her chest puffed out, her expression full of conviction.

The Professor said:

"The brilliance of human nature, eternally remembered."

"The brilliance of human nature, eternally remembered!" Nodley repeated firmly.

"I will remember all of this, and complete the training with utmost responsibility."

"That's the spirit, that's our Nodley."

Nodley, brimming with energy and determination, earnestly promised: "Then I'll go prepare the training plan. I will not disappoint."

"Wait a moment..."

The Professor suddenly called out to her.

"Professor?"

"Nodley."

She reached to touch her neck, asking with concern:

"...Does your neck still hurt?"