Courtyard Check-in: Starting with a Small World of Cultivation

Chen Yu woke up in excruciating pain.

The pain was layered: the outermost layer was a burning sting to the skin, like countless red-hot needles pricking it; deeper was a dull ache of tearing muscles, as if the muscles of his entire right arm were being ripped into strips; the deepest was a burning pain in his bone marrow, like magma flowing through his bones. These three sensations intertwined, causing every breath he took to tug at every nerve in his body.

He opened his eyes, his vision blurry for a few seconds before gradually clearing. Before him lay a familiar yet strange scene—the white ceiling of the research vessel's medical room, a single energy-saving light casting a soft glow. The air was thick with the mixed smells of disinfectant, iodine, and some kind of herbal medicine.

"Awake?" Zhou Mingyuan's voice came from the side.

Chen Yu reluctantly turned his head and saw Zhou Mingyuan sitting on a chair by the bed, holding a medical record book and making notes. The ship's doctor wasn't wearing a white coat today, but rather a dark blue casual suit. His eyes behind his glasses looked tired, but his gaze was clear.

"Dr. Zhou..." Chen Yu began, his voice hoarse like sandpaper scraping, "How long...have I been unconscious?"

"Twenty-seven hours." Zhou Mingyuan put down the medical record book and came over to check Chen Yu's pupils. "From 4 a.m. on June 1st when he was rescued and put on the ship, it is now 7 a.m. on June 2nd."

Twenty-seven hours... Chen Yu was shocked. He tried to move, but his whole body felt like it was falling apart, especially his right arm, which was wrapped in thick bandages and fixed to his chest.

"Don't move." Zhou Mingyuan held him down. "Your right arm is badly injured. There are large areas of burned and necrotic muscle tissue, and the bone is also slightly cracked. I treated it with the 'Muscle Regeneration and Bone Repair Ointment' from the Observatory, but it will take at least a month to fully recover."

"Muscle-regenerating and bone-healing ointment..."

"Don't ask too many questions." Zhou Mingyuan waved his hand. "You just need to know that this medicine is very precious, and ordinary people can't afford it. I used it on you because..." He paused, "...because what you did was worthwhile."

Chen Yu was silent for a moment, then asked in a low voice, "The others on the ship...?"

"It's all taken care of." Zhou Mingyuan sat back in his chair, his tone calm. "I told Captain Li Dahai that you encountered a strange marine creature at sea that could spew hot liquid, and you were injured while defending yourself. Although this explanation was far-fetched, anything can happen in a place like the South China Sea, so he reluctantly accepted it."

"Those...those pillars of light, those vortexes..."

"I'll say it's a rare mirage and an unusual marine phenomenon," Zhou Mingyuan pushed up his glasses. "Don't forget, I'm the ship's doctor and a special advisor to the Ocean Bureau. They'll believe me to some extent."

Chen Yu breathed a sigh of relief. But then another question popped into his head: "The Vermilion Bird Key..."

"Under your pillow," Zhou Mingyuan said in a low voice. "I used a trick to disguise it as an ordinary mineral specimen. Apart from you, no one else would think it's a red stone."

Chen Yu groped around with his left hand and, sure enough, found a hard object under the pillow. It was warm to the touch; it was the Vermilion Bird Key. He felt slightly relieved.

"Mr. Wen and the others..."

"They're gone," Zhou Mingyuan said. "While you were unconscious, I contacted them through the Star Observatory. They've safely left the South China Sea and are on their way back to the Seven Star Alliance headquarters. Mr. Wen asked me to tell you to take good care of your injuries and not to tell anyone about the Vermilion Bird Key for the time being, including your closest relatives."

Chen Yu nodded. He understood this principle—the more you know, the more dangerous it is.

"Also," Zhou Mingyuan's expression turned serious, "there's movement from the Heavenly Dao Alliance. News of Long San's death has already spread, and Luo Sha is investigating the murderer. Although Mr. Wen and the others have misled us, they will eventually trace it back to you."

"Rakshasa..." Chen Yu thought of the woman who fought Ye Gucheng on the cargo ship, and a chill ran down his spine.

"But you don't need to worry too much." Zhou Mingyuan changed the subject. "This is China, and the Heavenly Dao Alliance won't dare to overreach. Besides, you now have the protection of the Seven Star Alliance, so as long as you don't act alone, your safety is guaranteed."

Just then, footsteps sounded outside. Zhou Mingyuan immediately changed his expression, transforming from a serious observer back into a kind ship's doctor.

The door opened, and Li Dahai walked in, followed by Zhao Jianguo.

"Xiao Chen is awake?" Li Dahai walked to the bedside and carefully examined Chen Yu. "How are you feeling?"

"I'm much better, thank you for your concern, Captain."

"That's good, that's good." Li Dahai breathed a sigh of relief. "You have no idea how horrifying you looked when you were rescued. You were covered in injuries, and your right hand was almost burned... Dr. Zhou said it was an attack by some kind of high-temperature marine creature. I've been sailing for thirty years, and I've never seen such a monster before."

Zhao Jianguo also came over, his face full of curiosity: "Comrade Chen, what exactly happened to you? Could you tell me in detail? This could be of great value to marine biological research!"

Chen Yu glanced at Zhou Mingyuan, who nodded slightly.

"I...didn't see it very clearly either," Chen Yu fabricated. "I was observing at sea when suddenly something emerged from the water, like...like a giant jellyfish, but it could breathe fire. I got hit by it and passed out."

The description was riddled with flaws, but coupled with Zhou Mingyuan's authoritative endorsement, Zhao Jianguo actually believed it: "A fire-breathing jellyfish? Could it be some kind of unknown deep-sea creature? I have to record this!"

He pulled out his notebook and began scribbling furiously. Li Dahai frowned, "The South China Sea is getting stranger and stranger... It seems we'll have to be more careful when we go out to sea in the future."

The two stayed a while longer, told Chen Yu to get some rest, and then left.

After the door closed, Zhou Mingyuan smiled and said, "You see, sometimes the simplest lies are the easiest to believe because people are only willing to believe what they can understand."

"Dr. Zhou, you..." Chen Yu asked hesitantly, "Why are you helping me so much?"

Zhou Mingyuan was silent for a few seconds before slowly saying, "The purpose of the Star Observatory is 'to observe and record, and maintain balance.' We do not participate in the struggles of the cultivation world, but we also do not want to see any force become too powerful and break the balance. The Heavenly Dao Alliance's ambition to collect all seven key stars will bring disaster. Helping you is maintaining the balance."

He stood up: "Alright, you've just woken up and need to rest. I'll come back this afternoon to change your dressing. Remember, you can't move your right hand; use your left hand as much as possible."

After Zhou Mingyuan left, Chen Yu was the only one left in the infirmary.

He lay back down on the bed, his left hand clutching the Vermilion Bird Key under his pillow. The key felt warm to the touch, resonating subtly with the Fire Spirit Root within him. He could feel the Vermilion Bird's primordial power contained within the key slowly nourishing his body, especially his injured right arm, which was recovering much faster than expected.

"System," Chen Yu murmured to himself.

[Host Status: Severely Injured (Severe burns to the right arm, bone fracture, estimated recovery time 28 days)]

[Currently held: Southern Vermilion Bird Key (already bound to a master), Small World Upgrade Fragment x1, Fire-type Divine Power "True Technique of Departing Fire" x1, Annual Sign-in Count +1]

[Recommendation: Using Small World Upgrade Fragments can increase the Small World level, enhance spiritual energy concentration, and accelerate injury recovery.]

Small World Upgrade Fragments? Chen Yu recalled the reward the system had previously notified him of. He couldn't enter the small world right now—his physical condition was too poor, and forcing himself to enter might cause him to faint—but he could probe it with his consciousness.

He closed his eyes and focused his mind, his consciousness sinking into a small world.

Compared to before, the small world has changed significantly. The area is still about ten acres, but the flow of the spiritual spring has increased considerably. The spring water has transformed from a trickle into a small waterfall, cascading into the pool below and splashing white spray. The pool has roughly doubled in size, the water is clearer, and a faint mist of spiritual energy floats on its surface.

The most obvious change is the concentration of spiritual energy—it has increased by at least 20%! You can feel the spiritual energy nourishing your body with every breath.

The planted medicinal herbs were growing exceptionally well; the Purple Gold Grass had already blossomed, its golden flowers radiating a rich spiritual energy. Chen Yu didn't recognize the several newly sprouted herbs nearby, but judging from their appearance, he knew they were no ordinary plants.

In the center of the small world, on the open ground next to the thatched hut, floats a diamond-shaped transparent fragment, emitting a soft white light—that is the small world upgrade fragment.

[Use Small World Upgrade Fragments?] System prompt.

Chen Yu hesitated. Would using it now cause any strange phenomena? It was too dangerous on the ship.

"Not for now." He decided to wait until it was safe to do so.

Exiting the small world, Chen Yu began studying the "True Technique of Separating Fire." His consciousness contacted this divine ability, and a flood of information poured into his mind—it was a technique specifically for cultivating and utilizing the power of separating fire, divided into nine levels, corresponding to the various realms from Qi Refining to Nascent Soul. He could currently only see the first three levels.

First level: Fire Protection. Upon successful cultivation, a fire shield can be formed on the body's surface, with defensive power far exceeding that of ordinary spiritual energy shields, and can also reflect some fire-attribute attacks.

Second level: Fire Transformation. This allows you to condense fire into various forms for attack, such as fire arrows, fire blades, and fire nets.

Third level: Fire Escape. A short-range fire escape technique, covering a hundred feet in an instant, but consuming a huge amount of energy.

"Good stuff..." Chen Yu thought with delight. With this divine ability, his fire-based attack methods would be much more diverse, and he would no longer have to rely solely on the Fireball spell.

But cultivation takes time, and even more so, a healthy body. Right now, he can barely move, so he can only memorize the incantation for the time being.

At noon, Zhou Mingyuan brought Chen Yu his meal—plain porridge, steamed egg, and some green vegetables. Chen Yu managed to finish it with his left hand and felt his strength returning somewhat.

"We're heading back," Zhou Mingyuan said while clearing away the dishes. "We expect to arrive in Guangzhou in four days. Once we get there, a car will take you directly to the airport to fly back to Beijing."

"So fast?"

"Captain Li felt the South China Sea was too dangerous and decided to end the scientific expedition early," Zhou Mingyuan said. "Moreover, your injuries require better medical care, and the equipment on board is limited."

Chen Yu nodded. He also wanted to go back as soon as possible to see Qin Huairu and the child.

In the afternoon, Chen Yu tried to get out of bed and move around. With his right arm fixed to his chest, he could only walk slowly by holding onto the wall with his left hand. Every step was painful all over his body, but he gritted his teeth and persevered—prolonged bed rest would lead to muscle atrophy, and he had to regain his mobility as soon as possible.

He walked to the porthole and looked outside.

The weather in the South China Sea was beautiful, with blue skies, white clouds, and a calm, mirror-like surface. The "Xiangyanghong 03" was sailing at full speed, leaving a white trail in its wake. Several seagulls followed the ship, occasionally swooping down to fish.

Everything looked so peaceful, as if the thrilling battle for the secret realm and the life-or-death struggle a few days ago had never happened.

But Chen Yu knew that some things had completely changed.

He was no longer the transmigrator who only wanted a peaceful life. He was drawn into the vortex of the cultivation world, obtained the Vermilion Bird Key, killed Long San, and forged a blood feud with the Heavenly Dao Alliance.

The road ahead is destined to be anything but peaceful.

In the evening, Chen Yu's body temperature suddenly rose. After examining him, Zhou Mingyuan said it was a normal reaction—his Fire Spirit Root was evolving, and his body was adapting to the new power. He gave Chen Yu a fever-reducing pill and applied a damp towel to his forehead.

At night, Chen Yu developed a high fever and had many dreams in his hazy state.

In his dream, there was a world of flames, the cry of the Vermilion Bird, the ferocious face of Long San, and the eerie laughter of the Rakshasa... There was also a courtyard house where Qin Huairu was holding her child and waiting for him, but there was always a layer of mist in between, and he could never get through it.

"Huai Ru... Xiao An..." he murmured in his dream.

A hand pressed against his forehead, and a cool breath flowed in, relieving the heat.

"Hang in there." Zhou Mingyuan's voice seemed to come from a great distance. "This is a necessary stage in the evolution of your spiritual root. If you can get through it, your cultivation will advance further."

Chen Yu gritted his teeth and persevered.

In the early hours of the morning, his high fever finally subsided. He was soaked in sweat, as if he had been pulled out of water, but he felt much more relaxed. The most amazing thing was his right arm—which had been in excruciating pain, now only had a dull ache, and he could feel the tissues inside his arm rapidly repairing themselves.

"The Fire Spiritual Root... truly extraordinary." Zhou Mingyuan exclaimed after examining it. "At this rate, it should recover in half a month, not a month."

Over the next three days, Chen Yu's health improved day by day. By the morning of the fourth day, he was able to eat and wash by himself, and even do some simple activities with his left hand. Although he still couldn't move his right arm, he could already bend his fingers slightly.

On the morning of June 6, the "Xiangyanghong 03" arrived at Huangpu Port in Guangzhou.

As the ship docked, Chen Yu stood on the deck, gazing at the familiar harbor scene. A month ago, he set off from here as an ordinary scientific expedition member; a month later, he returned as a cultivator possessing the Vermilion Bird Key and having clashed with the Heavenly Alliance.

"Comrade Chen, the car has been arranged." Li Dahai walked over, patted him on the shoulder, and said, "Go back and take good care of your injury. There's no rush with work. I'll help you get leave from the institute."

"Thank you, Captain."

"Don't mention it, you were injured at work too." Li Dahai paused, then lowered his voice, "Xiao Chen, the situation in the South China Sea... is a bit strange. I'm not stupid, and I don't really believe what Dr. Zhou said. But since you don't say anything, I won't ask any more questions. I just hope you remember, no matter what happens, safety comes first."

Chen Yu was moved: "I'll remember that."

Zhou Mingyuan accompanied him as he disembarked. A black sedan was waiting at the port; the driver was a middle-aged man with a blank expression.

"This is someone from the observatory; they'll take you to the airport," Zhou Mingyuan said. "Your ticket is already bought; it's a 2 PM flight, a direct flight to Beijing. Once you arrive in Beijing, someone will pick you up and take you to the hospital for a full checkup."

"Dr. Zhou, aren't you going back to Beijing?"

"I still have some things to take care of." Zhou Mingyuan took out a small wooden box from his bag. "Here you go. There are three 'Spirit Nourishing Pills' inside. Take one every week to help consolidate your cultivation and accelerate your recovery."

Chen Yu accepted the wooden box and solemnly thanked him, "Dr. Zhou, thank you so much this time."

"It's my duty." Zhou Mingyuan smiled. "Also, I have something to remind you—when you return to Beijing, be careful of the people around you. Although the Heavenly Dao Alliance wouldn't dare to act openly, they might use other methods."

Chen Yu's heart skipped a beat: "You mean...?"

"It's just a reminder; it might not happen," Zhou Mingyuan waved his hand. "In any case, it's better to be safe than sorry."

Once in the car, Chen Yu looked back through the window. Zhou Mingyuan stood at the dock, waved to him, then turned and disappeared into the crowd.

The car drove towards the airport.

On the way, Chen Yu looked out the window at the street scene of Guangzhou. This city was completely different from Beijing; it was more humid, more bustling, and the clothes worn by pedestrians were more flamboyant. He thought of the thin cloth clothes Qin Huairu had made for him before he left, and of his son babbling as he learned to speak; he longed to return home.

Airport, waiting area.

Chen Yu found a corner to sit down, his right hand still fixed to his chest, and his left hand carrying simple luggage—most of his things were left on the ship, and he only brought a few personal items and the Vermilion Bird Key.

While waiting to board the plane, he suddenly felt a gaze upon him.

It wasn't just a normal look; it was a scrutinizing, probing, and even slightly hostile gaze.

Chen Yu remained calm and quietly extended his spiritual sense. Although his injuries had not yet healed and the range of his spiritual sense had shrunk to thirty feet, it was still enough to cover the entire waiting hall.

He "saw" the person—a man in his forties, wearing a hat and dressed in an ordinary gray Zhongshan suit, sitting about twenty meters diagonally opposite him, reading a newspaper. But Chen Yu could sense that the man's attention was actually on him, and... there was a faint fluctuation of spiritual energy emanating from the man!

A practitioner!

Chen Yu's heart tightened. Were they from the Heavenly Dao Alliance? They found us so quickly?

He pretended to check his watch, observing out of the corner of his eye. The man seemed to notice something, put away his newspaper, and got up to walk towards the restroom.

Chen Yu hesitated whether to follow. However, the opponent's strength was unknown, and he was seriously injured; acting rashly would be too dangerous.

Just as I was hesitating, an announcement came over the loudspeaker: "Passengers traveling to Beijing, please note that boarding for flight CA1308 is now beginning..."

Chen Yu took a deep breath, picked up his luggage, and headed towards the boarding gate.

He could feel that gaze following him until he passed through security and disappeared at the end of the passage.

On the plane, Chen Yu's seat was by the window. He fastened his seatbelt, looked out at the runway, and his thoughts were churning.

Zhou Mingyuan's warning was correct. The Heavenly Alliance has already set its sights on him.

But this was China, in 1964, with strict security; they dared not act openly. What about covert methods? Threatening family members? Creating an accident?

Chen Yu clenched his left hand. He had to regain his strength as soon as possible and protect his family.

The plane took off and soared into the sky.

Outside the window, the city of Guangzhou grew smaller and smaller until it became a tiny dot on the map.

Chen Yu closed his eyes and began to circulate the "Tai Xuan Zhen Jue" while simultaneously diverting a sliver of his mind to communicate with the Vermilion Bird Key.

The key emitted a gentle warmth that nourished his meridians, especially his injured right arm, which healed even faster.

Four hours later, the plane landed at Beijing Capital International Airport.

When Chen Yu stepped out of the cabin and breathed in the dry, cool air of the north, he let out a long sigh of relief.

Go home.

But what awaits him is not only the warmth of his family, but also the eyes watching from the shadows and the impending storm.

At the exit, he saw a familiar figure—

It's Yang Jianguo! The director of the Commission of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense actually came to pick him up at the airport in person!

"Comrade Chen Yu, you've worked hard." Yang Jianguo stepped forward, looking at the bandage on Chen Yu's chest with a complicated expression. "The car is outside, let's go to the hospital first."

"Director Yang, it's you..."

"Some things are better discussed in the car."

As Chen Yu sat in the black Volga sedan, Yang Jianguo's first words made his heart tighten:

"Chen Yu, the higher-ups know about the situation in the South China Sea."