Chapter 53: Useless Ability

When Feng Ling returned, Luo Bi was flipping through a book while researching information on her optical computer. She looked up and said, "Hu Li came by. She gave me an introductory textbook, and someone named Fang Cen came with her."

Feng Ling took off his military jacket. "Fang Cen is the wife of Wen Wei, the captain of the Second Combat Team, and a Level 1 Alchemical Contractor."

Luo Bi really wanted to tell Feng Ling what Fang Cen had said, but considering how some people at the garrison base evaluated her, she decided against it to avoid being accused of having ulterior motives.

Feng Ling, however, asked very seriously about the guidance Hu Li had given her. Luo Bi told him the truth, and Feng Ling frowned. "She only gave you a book?"

Luo Bi smiled without saying anything. What else could she expect? Did Feng Ling think Hu Li was going to teach her hand-holding style? Every Alchemical Contractor has their own set of unique techniques, and it wouldn't be a good thing for them to be learned by others.

Feng Ling didn't mean it that way; he was well aware of certain rules within the Contractor community. He simply wanted Hu Li to offer Luo Bi some pointers, but clearly, Hu Li was not being sincere. Feng Ling reached out, took the book, and flipped through it, letting out a scoff. An introductory textbook? He could get his hands on books like this easily; there was no need for Hu Li to use it to do a favor.

"Be careful. Hu Li treasures this book; don't let it get damaged, or I won't be able to explain it to her," Luo Bi reminded him.

Feng Ling tossed the book aside. "It's fine. If it gets damaged, I'll compensate her with ten more."

Seeing Feng Ling's casual attitude, Luo Bi knew such a book was insignificant in his eyes. Glancing toward the book, she said, "I can't even understand it. I'll return it to her tomorrow."

Feng Ling nodded and took his pajamas into the bathroom.

The first thing Luo Bi did after getting up the next day was return the book. When Hu Li took it, she said in surprise, "Why are you returning it so soon? Have you finished reading it? Don't just read it; you must contemplate it with your heart to grasp its mysteries."

Having said that, she warmly invited Luo Bi into her house, but Luo Bi shook her head. "I have things to do, I won't come in."

Back at home, Luo Bi began refining medicine again. Refining medicine was extremely taxing on mental strength and soul source power, and it took a long time; she could only refine one furnace per day. For two days in a row, the sound of exploding furnaces could be heard throughout the family apartment area.

Exploding one furnace every single day was truly not something an ordinary person could do. Just how much of a failure was she? Roger found this fascinating and would run to the First Combat Team every day, eager to gossip: "I have to say, once you get used to the noise, it's actually quite pleasant to listen to."

Qin Yilang had just returned from the training room. Hearing this, he gave him a meaningful look; exploding a furnace wasn't a good thing, so he shouldn't treat it as a joke in front of Feng Ling.

Roger looked innocent; even if he didn't mention it, others would. The sound of the exploding furnaces was just too comical.

The members of the First Combat Team also found it unbelievable. They knew that it wasn't easy for a Contractor to refine spiritual medicine, but exploding every single furnace they tried to refine—the failure rate was simply too high.

Qin Yilang sighed. Once Roger left, he called Feng Ling into his office and said, "I hinted to the team members earlier, but those two Contractors disagreed with Luo Bi joining our combat team."

Now that the commotion from Luo Bi's exploding furnaces was so loud, the other two Contractors in the combat team would be even less likely to agree to her joining.

"It's fine." Feng Ling didn't care about this.

Qin Yilang breathed a sigh of relief. There were military regulations stating that if a family member of a soldier awakened mental strength or soul source power, they were eligible to apply to join their relative's combat team. With a "useless" level of ability like Luo Bi's, let alone the two Contractors in the team disagreeing, even he was unwilling to accept her in his heart.

Every time a combat team went on a mission, they faced life and death. If a Contractor was incompetent, they would, at best, hinder their teammates, and at worst, bring total destruction to the entire team—and such examples were not uncommon.

(End of Chapter)