The likelihood of this already-banned technology being transmitted from outside into Black Port and then learned by Chi Yun Su was slim. Therefore, the greatest possibility was that this technology originally belonged to Chi Yun Su and was taken out of Black Port by someone.
Given the numerous card crafting techniques Chi Yun Su had revealed—which had startled the Inspector several times—she was quite certain this was the truth.
In fact, the Inspector was not mistaken.
Those capable of becoming card makers were never lacking in intelligence; it merely depended on whether they were willing to apply their minds to analyzing such matters.
The Card Cleansing Technique was indeed developed by Chi Yun Su.
Those without knowledge of card crafting could not grasp how remarkable it was to detect energy within a Card, nor how impossible it seemed to perform direct overlay-style card repairs. However, they could easily recognize the immense wealth that could be generated by cleansing discarded Circuits from discarded Cards and reusing them.
Lu Wei.
That traitor had betrayed and caused the deaths of many companions for the sake of this technique, defecting to the then-leader of West District Two in Black Port.
After the rebellion led by Lu Wei, the survivors—Chi Yun Su and the others—later eliminated the West District Two leader who had collaborated with Lu Wei, intending to personally deal with the traitor. Unfortunately, they were one step too late.
By then, due to the exceptional Card Cleansing Technique, Lu Wei had already seized the opportunity to leave Black Port.
It was precisely because of this incident that all upper echelons of Black Port became aware of the seller’s desire to leave, and they collectively blocked Chi Yun Su’s path out of Black Port.
Black Port was never short of violent individuals willing to fight and kill, but support and healing roles were genuinely scarce!
Fortunately, to this day, Chi Yun Su had finally managed to emerge from within.
Although the opportunity that led to this was something she had never anticipated.
Originally, Chi Yun Su had planned to investigate Lu Wei’s situation after leaving and changing her identity, never expecting this information to fall into her hands so effortlessly.
But upon reflection, it made sense.
Something like the Card Cleansing Technique, related to card crafting, would naturally be most familiar to card makers. Thus, it was no surprise that the Inspector had discerned it from her Cards.
Chi Yun Su expressed her gratitude to the Inspector with utmost sincerity: “Teacher, after I complete what I must do, I will come find you.”
“No need,” the Inspector flatly refused. After being rejected earlier, the impulsive thought that had surged within her had dissipated. In truth, she had no intention of continuing to mentor students, as she was not the most suitable person to guide Chi Yun Su.
She had merely wanted to take Chi Yun Su along to startle others.
Casually, the Inspector took out a pen and wrote a letter of recommendation on a piece of paper. As she wrote, she said, “You lack neither ideas nor experience. What you lack most now are fundamentals.”
“You’re only seventeen, just the right age for schooling.”
“You should go study.” As the Inspector finished speaking, the recommendation letter in her hand was complete. She tapped the pen tip on the name of the recommended individual and turned to ask Chi Yun Su, “What name do you plan to use by then?”
The Inspector did not believe Chi Yun Su would continue using the name and identity of ‘Rune Mountain’ indefinitely.
Chi Yun Su lowered her head to look at the recommendation letter the Inspector had written.The handwriting on the letter was delicate and elegant, and the content seemed to sincerely praise her for being earnest, persistent, responsible, and dedicated. It also lauded her for being diligent in her studies, eager to learn, and highly thoughtful—essentially, it was composed of countless words of praise.
Is this how the Inspector sees me?
Chi Yun Su was momentarily stunned, her eyes brimming with emotion. “Teacher, could you add that I have a strong innovative spirit?”
Unable to hold back, the Inspector rolled up the recommendation letter and tapped Chi Yun Su on the head. “This is the standard format.” After saying this, the Inspector, who could be considered quite experienced, couldn’t help but grumble, “Do you even have anything to do with the descriptions on this letter?”
Chi Yun Su politely rubbed her head where she had been tapped, her expression still full of confidence. “But I think I meet all of them.”
The Inspector thought carefully… and realized it was actually true.
It was just that every time Chi Yun Su displayed these admirable qualities, she would inevitably push her luck and demand more from her, leaving people unsure how to evaluate her.
In any case, the Inspector had never seen anyone as shameless as Chi Yun Su.
Sometimes, the Inspector even wondered if Chi Yun Su was deliberately keeping her distance from others in this way.
But considering a place like Black Port, it was hard to blame Chi Yun Su for anything.
“Alright, stop fooling around. Give me a name,” the Inspector said impatiently.
Seeing the Inspector’s expression, Chi Yun Su quickly composed herself. Several pseudonyms flashed through her mind, but in the end, all the names that crossed her thoughts settled on one.
She truly wanted to live in this world genuinely and steadfastly.
Not falsely.
Chi Yun Su took a deep breath.
“Chi Yun Su.”
“My name is Chi Yun Su—Yun as in clouds, Su as in simplicity.”
The Inspector could sense the unusual tone in Chi Yun Su’s voice as she said the name, but she didn’t comment. Instead, she simply nodded, wrote the name down, and signed the recommender section with her psychic energy signature.
Among card makers, nothing was more effective at preventing forgery than a signature imbued with one’s own psychic energy.
“Take it,” the Inspector said casually, folding the recommendation letter and tossing it into Chi Yun Su’s arms as if nothing had happened. She then commanded haughtily, “Now, continue. Show me how to use this Ink to craft a Card.”
Although Chi Yun Su didn’t know what kind of institution Changyang Comprehensive University, recommended by the Inspector, was, she knew that all star systems in this world were named with the character “Chang.”
For example, the star system she was currently in was the Long River Galaxy, with its central planet being Changhe Star.
Changyang was undoubtedly in another star system.
No matter what happened in the Long River Galaxy, as long as she wasn’t caught, she could use this recommendation letter—essentially an admission notice—to seek education in the Changyang Star System.
Holding this recommendation letter, which bore the Inspector’s psychic energy signature and was absolutely genuine, Chi Yun Su was genuinely moved.
Chi Yun Su also recalled many people she had encountered long ago.
In her previous world, her circumstances hadn’t been much better than they were now.
Her hometown could be described as a place of poverty and hardship.
Having struggled her way out of such a place to pursue her studies, Chi Yun Su had encountered many kind people like the Inspector along the way.Chi Yun Su held grudges but also remembered kindness. When she first left the mountains, she had once thought about returning to build up her hometown once she achieved success in her studies.
However, by the time she had mastered her craft, her hometown was no longer the barren, desolate place it once was—it had become a picturesque, prosperous rural village… In the end, Chi Yun Su was pressed into service at the research institute, where she shone brightly.
Lately, it seemed she had been reminiscing about the past more often. Chi Yun Su pulled her thoughts back.
After carefully putting away the letter of recommendation, Chi Yun Su eagerly pulled out a blank base card and twirled a pen in her hand with practiced ease. “Teacher, it’s just card crafting—watch and learn!”
The Inspector: “…”
He raised his hand.
Smack!
In the end, Chi Yun Su and the Inspector discussed card energy design late into the night, barely managing to outline a relatively systematic design and optimization approach for this new discipline of card crafting.
After the preliminary discussion came to a pause, Chi Yun Su yawned in the pitch-black night, groggily tidying up the several empty Ink bottles she had used, and prepared to leave.
But just before stepping out, the Inspector called her to a halt.
“Wait, before you go, help me move these books out,” the Inspector instructed his assistant, Chi Yun Su.
Following the Inspector’s pointing finger, Chi Yun Su’s eyes fell upon the stack of books she had been subtly hinting at earlier, which the Inspector had shown no intention of lending her.
Chi Yun Su: “!”
The Inspector slightly lifted his chin. “Remember to bring them back in five days.”
“Teacher, I will never forget you!”
The Inspector: “…” Somehow, that didn’t sound like a good thing.