At this moment, Ji Yun's eyes were already fixed on the highway exit, where an ambulance painted white was approaching.
The driver must have seen the rescue flag affixed to their motorcycle because he was headed straight toward them!
The vehicle stopped in front of the two, and a physician in a white coat inquired about the identities of Ji Yun and Wu Kai.
Once confirmed, he ducked back into the vehicle and retrieved a very special double-shoulder bag.
This double-shoulder medical bag was uniquely designed, resembling a human chest cavity, and its exterior material was clearly impact-resistant.
"Comrade Ji Yun, I'm sorry to trouble you, but you must deliver it within thirty minutes. We've already delayed too much time on the plane. Now, it's morning rush hour, and even if we have traffic police to direct the flow, I'm afraid it won't be fast enough to reach Lanyang Hospital. We can only rely on you motorcycle enthusiasts from the Rescue Association now," the physician said earnestly.
"Thirty minutes, huh? That seems a bit tough. Hey, is the Hongqing City Expressway open yet? If it's open, we could get there in 20 minutes," Wu Kai interjected.
"Not yet, I've asked the road department, that's why we're depending on you," the doctor in the white coat replied.
"What's in the bag?" Ji Yun had already mounted the bike and started the engine.
The tone of the doctor dressed in white dipped noticeably as he said,
"It's a heart!"
Ji Yun and Wu Kai exchanged a look, like two shock-stricken parakeets — fuck!!
Although their rescue training did not cover heart transplant surgery, Ji Yun knew that once the heart was harvested from the donor, it had to be transplanted within six hours; otherwise, the success rate would steeply decline.
They were expected to deliver it within thirty minutes?
Had it already been more than five hours?
What were they doing earlier, lying up for a last-second shot at victory??
"This organ transport bag, is it shockproof?" Ji Yun immediately asked.
"It mimics the human chest cavity, unless you and the bike end up airborne," the physician said as he handed over the "Double-Shoulder Chest Bag" to Ji Yun.
With the special bag on his back, Ji Yun felt an immense pressure.
His own heart was in his throat, and damned if there wasn't another one on his back — soon he'd be drift-racing with dual hearts!
"Whoo! Whoo!!! Whoo!!!!"
The rear wheel was already burning rubber, roaring for a while!
Ji Yun glanced at the time on the vehicle's screen.
9:29 AM.
"Thirty minutes, right?" Ji Yun said.
"Yes, can you make it? I just heard on the radio that a solar eclipse is happening in 30 minutes, traffic is very likely to become even more chaotic," the doctor said.
Ji Yun looked up at the sky and realized the sun, large as a disk, had an unexpectedly large chunk missing!
The shape was eerily peculiar, its color even carried a bewitching tone, like a circular door that was slowly opening or perhaps closing.
No wonder ancient people were terrified by the occurrence of a solar eclipse— its presence still inspires dread and awe even today!
"I will do my utmost!" After Ji Yun spoke, he lowered the visor on his helmet.
He suddenly let go of the clutch and twisted the throttle to the max!
"Vroom!!!"
Ji Yun was racing down the highway with a living heart on his back.
Behind him, dust billowed and Wu Kai's cries gradually faded into the wind — "I haven't gotten on yet! I haven't gotten on!"
...
Up ahead was a new overpass.
If he continued straight past the overpass, he could cross the large mountain tunnel ahead and save about eight minutes to reach the urban area.
That was the Hongqing City Expressway that Wu Kai and the doctor had mentioned earlier.
Yet, despite nearly ten years of construction, the road had still not opened to traffic.
With no other choice, Ji Yun could only take the old third-ring road.
The old third-ring road had some twisting mountain bends and, due to road wear and narrow lanes, would get congested into a long line during peak hours.
The rescue personnel must have been aware of Lan City's traffic conditions, hence they informed these motorcycle enthusiasts from the Rescue Association in advance.
Their decision was wise.
As Ji Yun rode up, he found the road completely blocked, the shrill honking of car horns echoing in the mountain pass.
Even with the urgent sirens of an ambulance, it would be hard for drivers to clear a path for life.
In fact, it was difficult even for motorcycles to get through.
Facing this challenging road, Ji Yun took a deep breath.
He kept the throttle open, his expression focused!
Weaving through traffic!
Lights flickering!
Overtaking through the storm drain!
Ultimate lean-in bends!!!
After a series of high-difficulty maneuvers, Ji Yun felt his own heart about to jump out of his throat and seek refuge in the backpack behind him!
"Zwooosh!"
Ji Yun zipped past a Wuling Hongguang minivan's window at high speed, extinguishing the cigarette of the driver who was resting it on the window.
The Wuling Hongguang driver reached his head out the window angrily, about to curse loudly when suddenly a fake hairpiece slapped onto his shiny bald head.
The driver was dumbfounded.
Looking back, he saw a similarly shiny bald head among the dozens of cars behind him, cursing and swearing!
"Young man, what the hell are you driving!" the bald man shouted after Ji Yun's receding figure.
"Forget speeding on a straight road, this guy's going a hundred miles per hour on the bends, threading through traffic—he must be a motorcycle god!" an envious middle-aged man peered out from a minivan.
"At that speed, any small mistake and he's gonna be black and blue all over, right??"
"All this nonsense, if he crashes, he'll be spread over here and there!"
...
Nine minutes!
That was already his limit.
With 21 minutes left, he had passed one of the most difficult sections.