DHMB - Chapter 8
Chapter 8
The Alliance Military University's cafeteria was the most distinctive among all military schools. Kai Yun's master had applied to the Alliance Military University specifically because of it and had mentioned it to her many times.
So, after her application was rejected, when choosing a different exam location for the borrowed test slot, she still stubbornly selected the Alliance Military University.
However, perhaps because she hadn't seen other military schools, she couldn't discern what was so special about this cafeteria. Based on the few dishes she had ordered, it seemed merely passable.
...Perhaps it was a taste called 'memory'?
Kai Yun lowered her head and continued to finish the food on the table.
By this time, a group of examinees had finished their tests and came to the cafeteria for a meal. Another group, seemingly just finished with training, carried customized high-level weapons and walked around the cafeteria with tired expressions.
The aisles gradually became crowded, and the noise grew louder.
Kai Yun stopped eating and surveyed the students around her.
Actually, one thing she told Lei Kaiding wasn't a lie. This was indeed the first time she had seen so many people. Compared to the solitude of Rebuilt Barren Star, even the air here felt full of life.
Kai Yun hadn't arrived early, so her seat was near the edge, with the exit conveniently to her right.
Just as the flow of people was at its peak, a sweeping robot passed by, precisely blocking the exit. Students had to slow down and temporarily form a queue.
A male student practicing swordsmanship took small steps forward, stopping right beside Kai Yun.
The overly long sword hilt behind him hung diagonally in the air. He was looking down at the optical computer in his hand, tapping away, seemingly completely unaware of Kai Yun. Then, with an abrupt turn, he nearly knocked her potted plant to the ground.
"Hey."
Kai Yun quickly grabbed the ceramic pot, holding it up in the air, and reminded him, "Be careful."
The student turned his head, finally understanding what she meant, and quickly apologized, "Ah! Sorry!"
Kai Yun held the potted plant in her hands, turning it around to examine its leaves.
She felt like on her first day in the Alliance, it had already endured so much hardship and was on the verge of death.
How could the Alliance be even more terrifying than her Rebuilt Barren Star?
"Are you researching polluted soil remediation?"
Kai Yun looked up, realizing the student hadn't left. He glanced at the small tomato plant in her hand and asked, "Or are you doing biological evolution cultivation?"
Kai Yun looked at the potted plant, then at him.
"You won't get any fruit planting it like this."
The sword on his back seemed very heavy; he kept having to support it with his hand.
"Your root system hasn't been modified at all, has it?"
Kai Yun: "Then..."
A companion behind the student stepped forward, patted his shoulder, and reminded him, "Jiang Tu, I'm heading back to rest now."
Jiang Tu responded and turned his head, seemingly about to leave as well, but Kai Yun was faster. With a flick of her toe, she kicked a chair directly behind him.
Kai Yun said solemnly, "Please, have a seat!"
Jiang Tu: "..."
She pushed the tomato plant forward, sincerely saying, "Look how young and fragile it is, it still wants to live!"
Jiang Tu felt a bit shy under her gaze. He lifted one shoulder slightly and said in a low voice, "I... I just have a little research, it's not professional. This one of yours..."
Students behind them were pushing and shoving: "Hey, move aside, please."
Kai Yun immediately stood up, pressed the cleaning button on the table, and said clearly and distinctly, "My dear friend! It seems this isn't a suitable place to talk. Do you mind moving somewhere else to discuss our ideals?"
Jiang Tu was bewildered by her enthusiasm and nodded blankly.
Kai Yun saw that one of his shoulders was higher than the other, indicating he was struggling with the weight. She stepped forward and offered, "You've been carrying your sword for so long, do you need my help?"
Jiang Tu quickly stopped her, saying, "My sword is very heavy, girls can't lift it. I'm a solo combat student, actually, I'm still..."
Kai Yun had already lifted it with one hand, swung it in a half-circle onto her back, as easily as carrying a paper bag, and looked up, saying, "Huh?"
Jiang Tu: "..."
"My dear friend! You look a bit unwell, why are you so pale?" Kai Yun patted his shoulder affectionately and said, "Don't work too hard. Learning martial arts is a long road, the important thing is to take care of your body."
Jiang Tu's Adam's apple bobbed, and he swallowed hard.
Kai Yun pointed grandly towards the door: "This way!"
"Oh, so you want to plant tomatoes on this kind of soil on a large scale?"
The two sat on the protective stone railing in front of the green belt. Jiang Tu examined the soil in the pot and nodded, saying, "Regarding planting on heavily polluted soil like this, a professor I know once did similar research and even wrote a paper on it. But later, because the prospects were too narrow, the project was halted."
Degraded to this extent, there was almost no nutrient content left for plants to grow. Continuing the research was meaningless. The investment and output were completely disproportionate.
Kai Yun gestured with her hands: "I have a small yard about this size, and it's all planted with this kind of tomato. But it hasn't borne fruit."
Jiang Tu looked at the space she indicated and stiffly twitched the corner of his mouth. The biggest problem wasn't not bearing fruit; it was the cost.
With her method of cultivation, the amount of nutrient solution needed to raise one small tomato plant would be enough for her to buy several tons of tomatoes directly. And to cover a large area... did this person have an entire mineral vein at home? Even that wouldn't be enough for her extravagance.
"If you want to improve it purely through planting methods, I don't think it's possible. Science abandoned this research direction decades ago."
Jiang Tu put the potted plant down, hesitated for a moment, and said, "I previously participated in Professor Ye's research project on synthetic biology... Of course, because the project was stopped, the results weren't confirmed, and what follows is just my own immature speculation..."
He spoke very uncertainly, as if lacking confidence, so his voice got lower and lower. But Kai Yun was listening intently to his explanation and immediately said, "Tell me, tell me!"
Jiang Tu seemed encouraged by her and raised his voice, saying, "I discovered it by accident. If you fuse the root gene of a mutated vine tree with ordinary plants, their survival rate increases significantly. Although mutated trees grow aggressively, their root systems are overly developed, and their growth force can even penetrate any hard structure, making them highly dangerous plants in the Alliance. However, when they are in severely polluted sandy soil like this, they can solidify the soil and provide nutrients in return. Maybe they can even slowly improve the soil quality and no longer be aggressive. It's just that there's no guarantee whether they might undergo secondary mutation or something..."
Kai Yun was confused: "But won't the genes of mutated organisms contaminate the growth of the tomatoes? Will the tomatoes still be edible?"
Jiang Tu: "No, they won't. The mutated vine tree's genes are already very stable. If you only transplant the root genes, it won't affect the tomato fruit. It can even help it resist the effects of radiation or other environmental pollution."
As Jiang Tu spoke about these things, his eyes clearly lit up, and the rest of his words practically tumbled out.
"When this plant first mutated, in order to survive, it aggressively plundered most of the nutrients from the soil, preventing other organisms from taking root and thus dominating the entire area. Many people called it a bandit, but it stubbornly survived on a lifeless piece of land. In the end, it even became a hope for other organisms wanting to re-establish themselves. The life in nature is truly amazing."
After speaking, Jiang Tu suddenly realized something. He said apologetically, "Did I say something you don't understand?"
"Although I don't quite understand, I think what you said is very right." Kai Yun praised him online, "Someone who can have such thoughts is truly remarkable."
Jiang Tu looked at her in surprise.
"I just feel that even mutated organisms are just trying to adapt to the rules and survive," Jiang Tu said. "Maybe one day, they will develop into a different form and return to human society."
Kai Yun said, "Your personality doesn't feel like someone who studies martial arts."
"Many people say that. Maybe I'm really not suitable. But I still don't want to let down their expectations." Jiang Tu lowered his head slightly, then said, "If you trust me, you can give it to me. I'll help try it out."
Kai Yun couldn't ask for anything more. Anyway, for her, it couldn't get any worse.
"Thank you."
Jiang Tu left Kai Yun his contact information, then picked up the potted plant, put his sword back on his back, and prepared to leave.
"My dear friend!" Kai Yun asked, "Are you interested in immigrating?"
Jiang Tu turned back in surprise: "Huh?"
Kai Yun said, "My country welcomes you! If you are willing to rebuild Rebuilt Barren Star with me, you will be the most noble human in our country, second only to me! You can choose your own title and claim your own territory, and as for privileges, we can discuss those further."
Jiang Tu didn't expect her to be a Planet Inheritor. After a moment of stunned silence, he declined, "...No, thank you."
Kai Yun wasn't discouraged and asked again, "Then are you still participating in the upcoming Alliance Military Academy Tournament?"
Jiang Tu: "...Yes, I am."
Kai Yun flashed a brilliant smile: "If we happen to be in the same exam hall, I will repay you. Regardless of whether the method you mentioned works or not, I've remembered this kindness."
Jiang Tu looked her up and down. There was no malice in his gaze, but it carried a hint of amusement.
"Is that so?" he said politely, but clearly didn't take it to heart. "Then thank you."
Kai Yun waved obediently, watching him leave.
At nine o'clock the next morning, the first round of the Alliance Military Academy Tournament officially concluded.
Sanyao was tallying points and organizing videos in the background. The major military schools suddenly summoned their students and invited relevant instructors to hold temporary lectures.
The lecture titles were bizarre, such as: #How to "Die" Beautifully#, #You Can Die Gracefully Too!#, #Why Did Zilu Die to Straighten His Cap?#, #One Hundred and Eight Ways to Land#...
Kai Yun also received a unified notification from the Alliance Military University. The opening slogan was: "Respect the Competition, Reject Grandstanding!"
She found it utterly baffling.
Everyone had spent so much effort or money preparing for the Military Academy Tournament, who wouldn't take the competition seriously? And what was this about grandstanding?
This kind of thing, targeting a small minority, could be handled with specific education. Holding large lectures at a crucial point in the competition, affecting the students' state, was truly a foolish operation.
She deleted the message, immediately forgot about it, and continued refreshing the Sanyao interface, waiting for the next exam hall arrangement.
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