Chapter 4: The First Potion
Right at the entrance to the boarding ramp, Liu Lei halted his steps, blocked by someone standing in his path.
“Heh, Liu Lei, Zhang Shuhao, Li Qingming, and Wang Fuyong all joined the group around the same time as you, didn’t they?”
“I’m quite curious. Each one of them turned out to be an undercover agent—who’s to say you aren’t one too?”
“Look, here’s a video of the four of you drinking together. What do you think will happen if this video ends up in Brother Xiao’s hands?”
Liu Lei’s eyes narrowed slightly, as if calculating how difficult it would be to quietly and discreetly rid himself of this troublesome obstacle ahead.
“Liu Lei, I heard you have a good relationship with customs.”
“If you can guarantee that my goods pass through customs and get into the Magic City without a hitch, I can guarantee this video will never see the light of day.”
Liu Lei didn’t bother with unnecessary words. He started walking step by step toward the man holding the video.
“Heh, Liu Lei, thinking of using force?”
“Do you really believe you could take me out in three minutes?”
“If you’re delayed for even a moment, or if you have a whiff of blood about you, paired with the video in my hand, what do you think Brother Xiao will make of it?”
“You have one minute to decide.”
Liu Lei’s pace faltered for just a moment. Not to mention three minutes, even within a single minute, he was confident he could handle this man. But to do it swiftly, leaving not a trace of blood on himself—that was much harder.
“Brother Lei, leave this one to me. You go on ahead!”
Liu Lei was surprised to see Su Bai suddenly appear.
“You?”
Before Liu Lei could finish, Su Bai surged forward and snatched the phone from the man’s hand in an instant. With a swift chop of his hand, the man was knocked unconscious.
Liu Lei glanced at the phone—just in time. The video was seconds away from being sent; if Su Bai had been a moment later, it would already be in Brother Xiao’s hands.
“Su Bai, go now. Leave him here. After we leave, someone will deal with him.”
As if sensing Su Bai’s thoughts, Liu Lei continued, “Don’t go any farther.”
“Where I’m headed is extremely wary of outsiders.”
“Your sudden appearance could backfire.”
“Taking care of him was already a huge help to me.”
Su Bai, who had been about to follow, stopped in his tracks.
He understood Liu Lei’s reasoning. Sometimes, more people only complicated things.
Watching Liu Lei depart, Su Bai gave another salute. Though he was still worried, he couldn’t help but feel a surge of excitement.
Because Yang Mengke finally had a chance to be saved.
With the medicine in hand, Su Bai didn’t take any more jobs, but rushed desperately toward the hospital.
“Xiao Ke, wait for me!”
Su Bai hurriedly pushed open the door to the hospital room. Yang Mengke, wrapped in bandages, had once again been fitted with an oxygen mask.
Su Bai’s heart leapt into his throat.
He knew that whenever Yang Mengke was put on the oxygen mask, it meant her condition had worsened again.
“Xiao Ke, you’re going to be okay, you’re going to be okay, just hang on!”
His hand trembled as he fumbled for the medicine.
At that moment, Yang Mengke seemed to sense Su Bai’s presence. She opened her eyes just a crack and looked at him, forcing a smile.
With a voice as thin as a whisper, she said, “Brother…”
That single word seemed to sap what little strength she had left.
Seeing Su Bai’s anguish, she tried several times to raise her hand to comfort him, but failed each time.
“Xiao Ke, I’ve found the antidote. I’ve found it!”
“Let’s take it together, okay?”
Yang Mengke smiled at his words. She knew she didn’t have long left. These past days had already burdened her brother enough. She knew that as long as there was a slim chance, Su Bai would do everything to save her.
Even though she doubted the reliability of a medicine found in the wild, she didn’t want to disappoint him. Whether she took it or not made little difference at this point, so she might as well take it and give her brother peace of mind.
“All right.”
With trembling hands, Su Bai carefully broke open the medicine vial. He removed Yang Mengke’s oxygen mask and poured all the medicine into her mouth.
Just then, a nurse walked in and saw the scene.
“Sir, what are you doing? Why did you remove the patient’s oxygen mask without permission?”
“I know you’re not—”
She glanced at Yang Mengke and realized there were words she shouldn’t say in front of the patient.
She adjusted the oxygen mask for Yang Mengke, glared at Su Bai, and said, “Sir, please step outside with me.”
Su Bai realized the nurse had misunderstood. At the moment, he had no way to explain.
He gave Yang Mengke a reassuring look and followed the nurse out.
They walked until they reached a deserted emergency stairwell.
The nurse rounded on him. “Do you realize you’re hastening her death with that behavior?”
“As long as the patient still draws breath, we must not give up hope. Even our hospital hasn’t given up—what right do you have to?”
“Are you even a brother? Is it really that you have no money left, not even for her oxygen?”
“Have you any conscience left?”
Su Bai was left speechless, unable to get a word in. He wanted to protest, but had no way to.
He could only explain, “I’m sorry, Miss Nurse, I never meant to give up.”
“I was just wiping her mouth.”
“I’ll pay, I’ll pay right now. We’ll never give up. Please tell the doctors to use the best medicine.”
“Please, take care of Yang Mengke. I’ll take care of the rest. I’ll find a way…”
Hearing him repeat that he’d “find a way,” the nurse assumed he was talking about money. Thinking back, she realized her words had been too harsh.
After all, she was only a nurse, and he was the patient’s family—it wasn’t really her place.
“I’m sorry, I was a bit harsh just now.”
Su Bai quickly replied, “It’s all right, I know you’re doing it for Xiao Ke’s sake.”
When Su Bai pushed open the door and entered the room again, he was utterly shocked by what he saw. Yang Mengke was sitting up in bed.
“Xiao Ke, how did you get up? You—”
Yang Mengke was still in disbelief herself.
“Brother, what did you give me?”
“After I took that medicine, I felt a warm current flow through my body. Everywhere it went, the burns I suffered started healing bit by bit.”
“And now, I feel filled with strength.”
“I thought I’d try to sit up, and to my surprise, I really could!”
Su Bai anxiously urged, “Lie back down, quick. I’ll explain about the medicine later.”
“If the nurse comes in and sees you now, I’ll have no way to explain.”
Yang Mengke nodded vigorously, too excited to express her joy.
She had thought her days were numbered, that soon she’d be separated from her brother forever.
Now, Yang Mengke was filled with hope for life once again.
There was still too much in this world she couldn’t bear to leave.