About half an hour later, all the target seeds had been collected.
After tallying, the group had gathered:
-
Approximately thirty pounds of various rice varieties.
-
Around twenty-five pounds of corn seeds and twenty pounds of wheat.
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Ten pounds each of miscellaneous grains like soybeans, peanuts, and mung beans.
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Common varieties such as tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, eggplants, cabbage, spinach, and radishes, with five to ten bottles (or bags) of each.
Additionally, there were two full boxes of seeds for cash crops like cotton, as well as flowers and medicinal herbs.
Six heavy plastic-sealed containers were placed before Han Ning. These were experimental-grade seeds, not sold in bulk like commercial products.
Beyond that, there were four more boxes filled with various lab supplies. While the bulky equipment couldn't be moved, smaller experimental tools could still be taken—enough to facilitate research.
With this many seeds, Han Ning would have plenty to study for a while.
He waved his hand, instructing a few students to carry the boxes. "Let's head back," he said.
Mission accomplished, the group returned to the dormitory. Though they hadn't looted convenience stores or small supermarkets along the way, the strongest monster had already been defeated by Han Ning. Aside from the initial scare, everyone was in good spirits.
Inside the dormitory building, Han Ning motioned for the students to place the boxes near him and turned to Zou Yu.
"As agreed, you should assign me an expert proficient in agronomy."
Zou Yu nodded and called out firmly toward the back of the crowd, "Professor Ye, please come forward."
The crowd parted slightly, revealing a man in his fifties with weathered, dark skin and deep lines etched by time.
Zou Yu introduced him:
"This is Professor Ye Yuan, a senior professor in our university's College of Agriculture. His expertise lies in crop genetic breeding and cultivation techniques, with profound knowledge in soil improvement and integrated pest management. He's a true expert in these fields."
As Zou Yu spoke, Han Ning studied Professor Ye. His dark, rough skin and steady demeanor matched the image of an agronomy expert who had spent years toiling in the fields.
"Professor Ye, are you an ordinary person?" Han Ning asked with a slight nod.
"Yes," Professor Ye confirmed.
Han Ning didn't dwell on whether the professor was an Awakened. His goal wasn't to find a combat partner—researching crops didn't require exceptional strength. Having abilities would be a bonus, but their absence didn't matter.
"To ensure you keep your word and prevent unnecessary misunderstandings, I'll need Teacher Su to accompany me temporarily until I verify Professor Ye's expertise," Han Ning said, glancing at Su Mingke beside him.
"Once confirmed, I'll release her safely."
"You—!" Zou Yu's expression darkened.
"Teacher Su!" Several anxious murmurs rose from the crowd.
Before anyone could react, two Vines shot out from Han Ning, coiling around the waists of Professor Ye and Su Mingke.
Chapter
"What are you doing?" Su Mingke instinctively tried to struggle, but the force from the vines rendered her immobile.
Professor Ye remained unusually calm, his body slightly tensed as he allowed the vines to coil around him.
Han Ning pulled Professor Ye closer with one arm as the vines drew him near, while his other arm restrained the struggling Su Mingke. The remaining vines coiled around nearby boxes, maneuvering deftly as he leaped down the stairwell.
"Teacher Su (Mingke)!" "Professor Ye!"
"Stop him!"
"Hold it right there!"
Zou Yu and several quick-reacting Awakened cried out in alarm, instinctively moving to pursue.
Several Awakened rushed to the stairwell entrance, staring out at the endless downpour and turbid waters—there was no trace of Han Ning or the other two.
"Damn it!"
"Brother Zou, what do we do?" Someone asked desperately, their eyes red as they looked at Zou Yu's ashen face.
"Chase them! We can't let him take Teacher Su and Professor Ye," another shouted emotionally.
"Where? Do you even know where he went?!" Another voice carried despair.
Chaos filled the stairwell.
Zou Yu clenched his fists until his knuckles turned white, his chest heaving violently as he stared in the direction Han Ning had disappeared, his gaze full of conflict.
"Brother Zou, make a decision! If we wait any longer, we won't catch up," a companion urged anxiously.
Zou Yu closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
A few seconds later, he reopened them, his expression now calm.
He turned to face the varied expressions around him and spoke:
"Forget it!"
"Forget it?" The crowd stared at him in disbelief.
"That monster's strength—we all saw it. There's no way we could stop him... If we rush out and clash with him, it's just suicide. It'll only lead to more casualties."
He paused, then raised his voice sharply,
"The only thing we can do now is grow stronger. Only by becoming stronger than him can we protect those we care about, survive in this damned world, and have the right to talk about the future!"
...
"Putting on quite the act."
Outside the building, Han Ning controlled the vines, keeping several boxes suspended midair as he glanced back at the dormitory and couldn't help but laugh.
He had just walked right past them in broad daylight.
They'd had time to stop him—all of them pretending to be frantic—yet not a single one dared to take a step forward.
"Seems your friends aren't too keen on saving you," Han Ning remarked with a chuckle.
Su Mingke pressed her lips together and turned her head away without responding.
"Tch." Professor Ye shook his head with a bitter smile.
Han Ning brought Professor Ye, Su Mingke, and the dozen or so heavy boxes back to the moored Wind Chaser sailboat.
With practiced ease, he lifted the seed boxes one by one onto the deck.
Xu Ming, Yu Na, and Snowflake on board quickly moved to help.
Then, holding Professor Ye and Su Mingke, he vaulted over the railing and landed steadily on the rain-slick deck.
"Boss, you're back—" Xu Ming's words cut off abruptly.
His gaze landed on the dark-skinned, composed older man and the visibly displeased young woman beside Han Ning before turning back to him in confusion. "Uh... who are these two?"
Han Ning didn't explain, simply issuing a terse order: "We'll talk later. Get these under cover. Lao Xu, set sail."
Though brimming with questions, Xu Ming knew the boss's orders took top priority.
He immediately nodded: "Yes, boss!"
Then he quickly strode to the helm, starting the auxiliary diesel engine while calling for Yu Na to help retrieve the temporarily dropped anchor.
"Woo~"
The deep horn sounded again, piercing through the rain.
The "Wind Chaser" slowly turned its bow, leaving the shallow waters near the Agricultural and Forestry University, and re-entered the relatively open deep-water channel, cutting through the waves toward the direction of Azure Cloud Resort.
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