Chapter 180: Cultivating Su Mei
After feeding the snake swarm until they were full, Zhou Ming finally rode Silver Scale back to the underground camp.
After briefly learning about the changes in the camp over the past few days, Zhou Ming placed most of his attention on Su Ningfeng.
Although the gene structural diagram had not yet involved deeper-level research such as bloodlines, it was still quite a challenge for Su Ningfeng.
If not for the assistance of the intelligent assistant Snake Spirit, which could handle some mechanical tasks, Su Ningfeng alone would not have been able to keep up.
“Sir, over the past few days I have already familiarized myself with and mastered all kinds of instruments. I have now begun researching the genes of the Ironthread Snake, but obtaining a complete genetic structure diagram cannot be accomplished in a short time.”
Inside the laboratory, Su Ningfeng, dressed in a lab coat, was reporting the latest progress to Qin Fan.
“You don’t need to rush this matter too much. I know the difficulty of genetic structure diagrams. You just need to do your best according to my requirements.”
“This document is one-third of the Ironthread Snake’s genetic structure diagram. Take some time to study it carefully to avoid wasting time on repetitive research, and it should also provide you with some research ideas.”
Toward Su Ningfeng, Zhou Ming did not impose any rigid deadlines.
Back then, he himself had researched Ironthread Snakes in Snake Valley for an entire year, so he understood very well the complexity of bloodlines and genes.
Even a small problem would require a great deal of time and effort to resolve.
Now that it was confirmed Su Ningfeng had not lost his professional skills, Zhou Ming conveniently handed over his own past research results to him, with the purpose exactly as he had stated.
“Thank you, sir.”
“Also, I have a task arranged for Su Mei. It’s not a dangerous mission in the wilderness, but rather entering the base to help with deliveries. There’s no danger, but I wanted to inform you in advance so you won’t worry.”
After understanding the laboratory situation, Zhou Ming then informed Su Ningfeng of Su Mei’s arrangement, since she was Su Ningfeng’s daughter.
As the camp’s only research talent at present, he naturally needed to show some respect.
“Thank you, sir.”
Upon hearing that there was an assignment for his daughter, Su Ningfeng could not help but feel nervous, but once he heard there was no danger, he immediately expressed his gratitude.
After all, everyone in the camp had their own duties. Letting his daughter remain idle all the time was not a good thing.
Having spent ten years in the wilderness, Su Ningfeng also understood that there was no such thing as pies falling from the sky.
“It’s good that you understand.”
After making arrangements for Su Ningfeng, Zhou Ming directly left the laboratory.
“Su Mei?”
Seeing that Su Mei was not in the small courtyard, Zhou Ming suddenly asked.
“Sir, Su Mei should be at the No. 2 Cave training ground.”
At the corner of the small courtyard, two Snake Guards stepped out from the shadows.
Ever since the establishment of the Snake Guards, and with Su Ningfeng staying in his laboratory, there were always two Snake Guards guarding the courtyard, ensuring someone was always available to await Zhou Ming’s orders.
“Shi Lei, go and call Su Mei over to see me.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Luo Feng, I have placed thirty sets of Saint Elephant Type-2 Combat Suits, Thunder Type-2 Revolvers, and Blood Hunter Type-3 Handguns in the storage room. Go notify Li Hu to take fifteen sets himself.”
“Among them, two sets are for Qiu Tieyi and Li Bao.”
“As for the Thunder Type-2 Revolver specialized bullets, thirty rounds per person. For the Blood Hunter Type-3 Handgun ammunition, you can take them as needed from the Internal Affairs Department.”
“Yes.”
After arranging the two of them, Zhou Ming returned to his own living room and brewed a cup of Blood Jade Royal Jelly.
After drinking good things for so long, Zhou Ming had little interest in ordinary tea or coffee.
A moment later, Su Mei arrived.
“Su Mei, do you still remember what life inside the base is like?”
This time, Zhou Ming planned to have Su Mei take charge of transporting Sapphire Fish. Although she possessed strong survival abilities in the wilderness, he was worried that she might not understand the rules of the base and cause trouble.
After all, if something happened inside an Alliance base, with his current capabilities it would be very difficult to resolve.
“I only have a little impression.”
Facing Zhou Ming’s inquiry, Su Mei did not hesitate much and answered truthfully.
“Starting tomorrow, I will personally take you to Qinghui Base, to familiarize you with the environment and ways of handling matters within Alliance bases.”
Within the camp, aside from Zhou Ming himself, only Su Mei currently had the qualifications to freely enter and exit Alliance bases. Her importance was no less than that of her father.
Moreover, the other party also possessed outstanding Beast Tamer talent and had even mastered rare assassin techniques.
For such a talent, Zhou Ming did not mind investing a bit more effort in her.
“Yes.”
Without the slightest hesitation, Su Mei immediately accepted Zhou Ming’s arrangement for her.
For Su Mei, as long as Zhou Ming could ensure her father’s safety and she no longer had to endure a life of displacement and wandering, she did not mind obeying Zhou Ming’s orders.
And the attitude Su Mei displayed also made Zhou Ming feel extremely satisfied. He immediately took out the items he had prepared for her.
“This is a Beast Knight class advancement, an assassin manual called ‘Shadow Sting’, a tube of essence blood I extracted while researching the Phantasmal Scale Snake Lizard, as well as one milliliter of Star-glow Spirit Liquid, and finally several basic books related to Beast Tamers.”
“You should keep these things well. I hope you take the assassin path of a Beast Knight.”
“I believe that with your intelligence, you can understand what I mean.”
“Understood.”
Su Mei’s personality was much like her attire—clean and straightforward, without any unnecessary words—perhaps an influence brought about by life in the wilderness.
After handling the matters at hand, Zhou Ming then had Su Mei take the items and withdraw. Only then did he have the time to carefully examine the Phantasmal Spirit Sword he had won at the auction.
The sword body was slightly over one meter long and a little more than two fingers wide. The blade was like silvery frost, the entire sword tough and straight.
After a brief inspection, Zhou Ming activated it with his spiritual power, and the sword body immediately became flexible, able to bend freely like a soft sword.
After testing the transformation effect of the Phantasmal Spirit Sword, Zhou Ming then proceeded to test its enchantment effect.
He saw that semi-transparent snake scales surfaced on his right hand holding the sword. Soon after, the scales turned ink-green as the toxin stored in the gallbladder emerged.
The next moment, the Phantasmal Spirit Sword, radiating a sharp aura, also began to show ink-green patterns on its silvery-white blade. With a gentle swing, a special faint fragrance spread through the air.
If there were low-tier Ferocious Beasts beside Zhou Ming, the faint fragrance emitted by the snake venom would be enough to make their entire bodies go limp, eventually causing them to gradually lose all resistance.
“At last, I have a weapon suitable for me. From now on, when facing Phantasmal Tamers who wield spells, I no longer need to rely on my physical body to resist head-on.”
The test results left Zhou Ming extremely satisfied. He immediately sheathed the sword into a scabbard shaped like a belt and fastened it at his waist.
This scabbard had been provided free of charge at the auction, so Zhou Ming did not need to specially have one made.
……
Early the next morning, Zhou Ming brought Su Mei with him to Qinghui Base.
Su Mei’s identity was registered in the Alliance’s records, so entering Qinghui Base went very smoothly. Only her hunter-like attire attracted some curiosity, since it was rare for women to venture into the wilderness as hunters.
“How does it feel?”
Looking at the bustling Qinghui Base before them, Zhou Ming turned his head and asked Su Mei about her feelings.
“Good. Much better than the wilderness.”
Compared to Su Mei’s simple reply, the light flickering in her eyes expressed her inner feelings far more clearly.
Seeing this, Zhou Ming revealed a faint smile at the corner of his mouth and did not ask further. He then began taking Su Mei around to familiarize her with the Alliance base, teaching her how to live within the base and how to handle different situations she might encounter.