"Okay." Qiuyue handed over the pastries with both hands. "These are prepared by Mr. Si for Miss Qing Yan. Please take them upstairs, Assistant He."
"No trouble at all, no trouble. Uncle Qiu made a special trip," He Ning replied politely. After taking the items upstairs, he called Qing Yan and asked, "President Qing, what should I do with these things?"
"Eat them."
"Huh? Should I eat all of them?" He Ning was happy but couldn't help asking, "But there's so much, I can't finish them all by myself."
"Give some to Pan Pan." Qing Yan sat in the car, her voice cold. "And don't slip up."
"Understood."
He Ning also sent some to Pan Pan.
Upon arriving at her headquarters, Qing Yan got out of the car. Several subordinates with guns outside the door immediately became excited, saying, "Boss, you're here!"
Qing Yan noticed that they were all wearing masks and raised an eyebrow in suspicion. "How many people are infected?"
"Four yesterday, and three more today..." one of the subordinates couldn't help but speak up. "Boss, they're all at Dr. Chen's place. It's better if you don't go..."
Qing Yan was puzzled. "Yesterday, Dr. Li got infected, and today his whole body started to rot..." another subordinate couldn't help but say, "This X3 is coming on strong. If you're not careful, it can cost you your life. You're the backbone of the gang, and the base can't do without you..."
"It's fine, I'll be careful," Qing Yan stepped forward, paying no attention to the virus.
Her subordinate hurriedly reminded her, "Boss, if you really want to go in, make sure to wear protective gear!"
Otherwise, it would be troublesome if she got infected!
This was Qing Yan's base, with vast grasslands leading to her main stronghold, where her research institute was located on the second floor.
Dr. Chen and the seven infected individuals should be in the isolated ward on the far east side of the second floor.
Everyone she encountered along the way respectfully greeted her.
Qing Yan changed into protective gear and entered the eastern ward. She saw the seven infected individuals lying on their respective beds, their skin varying degrees of rotten.
They were groaning in pain, enduring great suffering.
"It hurts so much, Dr. Chen..."
"Dr. Chen, I feel terrible. It's like my whole body is on fire..."
"Save me, I don't want to die..."
"Don't scratch your wounds. The more you scratch, the faster you'll die!" Dr. Chen was overwhelmed. Hearing the sound of the door opening, he turned his head and seemed to see a savior.
"Boss, you finally came?"
Seeing their boss, Dr. Chen became extremely excited. This was great, the boss had arrived, there was hope!
"Tell me what's going on." Qing Yan entered and immediately began observing the conditions of each patient, taking their pulses.
"I heard that someone stole an unsuccessful drug from the C Gang's research institute and put it on the market, specifically to harm others."
Dr. Chen, indignant, spoke, "Those infected will initially have a high fever all over their body. Gradually, their skin will become blistering hot, unbearable for them. They will scratch themselves for momentary relief, but it only intensifies their discomfort."
"So they continue scratching, making their skin worse, until their entire body is covered in ulcers, and they die."
Dr. Chen witnessed this process, filled with urgency but helpless, not knowing how to help them...
"And all of this happens within three days," Dr. Chen lamented helplessly.
Now, the people lying in hospital beds have only two days, some only one day, left to live...
Qing Yan's gaze darkened. It was despicable for these people to resort to such low methods with the drugs.
"Several major forces, along with some small factions, have been infected," Dr. Chen sighed, unable to contain his frustration. "The whole Triangular District is in panic, everyone wears masks when they go outside!"
Some factions have brought in medical experts from abroad, and others have called famous Chinese traditional medicine practitioners, but without exception, they are all helpless in the face of this condition.
"Bring me my acupuncture case," Qing Yan commanded.
As soon as Qing Yan finished speaking, Dr. Chen immediately fetched it. Qing Yan opened the case, took out slender silver needles, and began inserting them into acupuncture points on one of the patients.
"Follow my order and administer acupuncture to the others," Qing Yan demonstrated to Dr. Chen.
Dr. Chen hurriedly followed suit.
After a while, several patients began coughing up blood. Although they felt some relief throughout their bodies, their skin still burned and was uncomfortable.
"I'm going to the research lab for a moment. Bring two more people in to watch over them and prevent them from scratching their wounds. If the pain and itching become unbearable, they can gently rub the affected areas with their fingertips," Qing Yan instructed.
"Yes!"
Qing Yan grabbed a pen and wrote a prescription, instructing someone to go to the medicine mountain in the back and gather all twenty-something types of herbs needed.
The previous acupuncture only temporarily delayed the spread of the toxin. To truly detoxify, all twenty-nine herbs had to be prepared. Fortunately, Qing Yan had all twenty-nine herbs available in her medicine mountain!
Meanwhile, in the territory of the C Gang, Qingmu hurriedly came in to report, "Lord Chen, four more brothers have been infected with X3. You should wear a mask..."
It would be troublesome if he got infected!
Si Yechen put on a mask, leaving only a pair of sharp eyes visible. His voice was icy cold, "How did the drug from our research institute get leaked?"
"It is said that there is a traitor among our gang, and we are in the process of purging them..." Qingmu never expected that someone would have such audacity to betray their gang!
Seeing a hint of darkness in Si Yechen's eyes, Qingmu hastily said, "A few of us seasoned experts have been researching the antidote, but once a person is infected with this virus, their entire body will rot and they'll die within three days. Even if we develop the antidote, it's estimated that half the people will already be dead."
This virus is highly infectious, and once infected, the fatality rate is 100%!
"Lord Chen, we can't stay here for long. Once we find the Tian Gui ginseng, we need to leave immediately."
"We can't just ignore those infected people. Tell the experts to speed up their research and develop the antidote as soon as possible," Si Yechen's voice was icy cold. "Any news on the Tian Gui ginseng?"
"It's been said that a specimen appeared at an auction in the Triangle District. We've sent people to investigate, and we should have results soon."
Si Yechen unlocked his phone and looked at the screensaver of the girl. His voice softened, "As soon as there's news, move out."
He was determined to obtain the Tian Gui ginseng!
Looking at the girl on the phone screen, he couldn't help but think of her just a few hours after parting. When he went abroad last time, he couldn't sleep because of missing her...
It was only after returning home and holding her in his arms that he was able to sleep well...
Qingmu accidentally noticed the screensaver, a photo of Qing Yan Miss taken by a journalist outside the Uplift Grand Theater that day.
Si Yechen had bought it back at a high price to use as his phone wallpaper.
If Miss Qing Yan knew how deeply Lord Chen cared for her, she would surely be moved...
After all, she was the first and probably the last to capture Lord Chen's heart...
"Yes, I will immediately dispatch people to gather information," Qingmu respectfully retreated.