Chapter 122: Medical Treatment
With the tiger safe, the wolf and eagle attacked the snake without restraint.
The golden eagle’s talons finally pierced the snake’s eyelid, blinding one eye.
The wolf tore another massive chunk of flesh from the snake’s wounded body.
Despite its injuries, the tiger refused to back down, joining the fray and viciously tearing into the snake’s flesh.
Hot blood splattered across the ground, thick and pungent.
Filled with hatred for the giant snake, they tore into it relentlessly, each biting and clawing, and without realizing it, they swallowed a fair amount of snake blood.
The snake, facing three fierce opponents, could no longer hold its own.
As its wounds multiplied, it struggled less and less.
With a screech, the golden eagle swooped down, seizing a moment of distraction between the snake and the wolf to claw out the snake’s remaining eye.
Now blind, the snake writhed in agony, thrashing across the ground like a giant whip, breaking trees and grass with its movements.
With the snake incapacitated, the eagle picked up Xia the cat from afar, flying back to the truck.
Meanwhile, the tiger and the wolf charged in unison, savagely biting down on the snake’s already mangled weak spot. With a final, violent tear, they severed the snake’s head.
Though decapitated, the snake wasn’t dead.
Its yellow eyes, filled with hatred, continued snapping at the air, while its massive body rolled and convulsed, crushing anything in its path.
Even headless, the snake’s thrashing was still deadly.
The wolf and tiger didn’t dare relax their guard.
The wolf stepped back, reverting to human form, shouting, “Xi Nian, keep an eye on it! I’m going to check on Xiao Nong!”
The tiger nodded, staying on guard as the snake’s body thrashed violently against the ground.
In the momentary calm, the tiger noticed something strange: the snake had two small horns on its forehead!
Even in a world where mutations were common, the sight of those tiny horns stirred thoughts of the old legend—where snakes, upon transformation, could become mighty dragons.
The giant tiger’s eyes darkened, and his face became very serious.
Over there, Xia Huo Qu quickly pulled on his pants, ran a few steps, grabbed the car’s headlight, and climbed onto the roof.
Kong Zhi had already returned to his human form and was frantically checking Xia the cat’s condition.
Xia Huo Qu’s heart sank as he reached out to feel the soft cat’s belly, trying to detect its heartbeat.
The cat’s heartbeat was faint, not strong at all.
Xia Huo Qu’s fingertips recoiled as if burned, and his face turned pale. “I’ll go make some honey water. Kong Zhi, after you drink the honey water, immediately take Xia Nong back to the base to see Dr. Ou!”
“I’ll do it,” Kong Zhi said, standing up quickly. “I want to add bamboo fruit and honeysuckle to the honey water!”
“You stay with Xia Nong, I’ll go.” Xia Huo Qu jumped off the car. “Watch him, I’ll be right back.”
The honey, bamboo fruit, and honeysuckle were all in the truck bed.
Xia Huo Qu leaped off, climbed onto the truck bed, moving so quickly that his knee banged hard against the truck’s side, making a loud noise.
Despite the force of the hit, he didn’t even flinch, directly hopping into the back and grabbing a large bowl. He scooped out a handful of honeysuckle and poured all the hot water from the thermos into the bowl.
While the tea steeped, he grabbed the bamboo fruit, put it into a bag, and smashed it using a nearby jar, making a thudding sound on the truck floor.
Each thud felt like it landed on everyone’s hearts.
The giant tiger’s ears twitched as he heard the sound. Glancing at the now still giant snake, he opened his mouth, tore off a huge chunk of meat, chewed, and swallowed it.
It was his first time eating raw meat, and his eyes were full of savagery. The meat, both slimy and bloody, made him want to vomit.
He couldn’t afford to.
The tiger’s eyes flashed with fierceness. He looked down, found a large patch of plantain, and bit into it.
The bitter and astringent taste of the plantain overpowered the nauseating, bloody flavor.
The giant tiger felt a warm current rise from his stomach, spreading through his limbs, easing the pain inflicted by the giant snake.
As the pain subsided, he felt much lighter, and even his breathing became stronger.
The giant tiger took another big bite of snake meat, swallowing it while carefully assessing his body’s condition.
The snake’s meat did help with the pain.
After finishing the meat, the comfort made him feel drowsy.
Xia Huo Qu hadn’t noticed the giant tiger’s movements.
He quickly smashed the bamboo fruit, scooped up the crushed honeysuckle, and added it to the water. Then, he stirred in a large spoonful of honey.
The honey water in the bowl was thick, with plenty of honeysuckle bits and bamboo fruit mixed in.
He took a sip himself, feeling a warm sensation spread from his stomach, making him feel more energized.
The tea was fine.
Xia Huo Qu called to Kong Zhi, “Kong Zhi, bring Xia Nong over here.”
Kong Zhi jumped down from the roof with the cat in his arms, ducking into the truck bed.
Xia Huo Qu looked at the cat in his arms and said softly, “Put Xia Nong down on the ground.”
Kong Zhi did as he was told.
Xia Huo Qu gently held Xia the cat’s soft left paw and spoke softly, “Xia Nong, turn back into your human form first. Let’s have some water.”
“Meow.” Xia the cat trembled, but with no strength, the transformation failed.
“Hang in there!” Xia Huo Qu encouraged him. “You can do it, Xia Nong!”
“Meow.” Xia the cat struggled, flipping over onto his belly, and finally managed to change back into his human form.
His lips were pale, his face covered in cold sweat, and his eyes were already losing focus.
Xia Huo Qu grabbed a nearby blanket, wrapped it around him, and brought the honey water to his lips. “Here, drink some honey water and recover a bit.”
Xia Lu Nong felt like vomiting but forced himself to drink the honey water as instructed.
The honey water was rough on the throat, full of honeysuckle and bamboo fruit bits.
Summoning all his strength, Xia Lu Nong swallowed the water, staring up at the dim ceiling of the truck.
Xia Huo Qu and Kong Zhi each held one of his hands.
Though Xia Lu Nong was the most severely injured, his palms were dry and warm, while the others’ hands were cold and clammy with sweat.
One of Xia Huo Qu’s hands was shaking, but the other held the water bowl steadily. In a soothing tone, he said to his younger brother, “Have another bowl.”
Xia Lu Nong, still gasping for air, lowered his head and managed to drink another bowl. A warm feeling spread through his body. “I’m feeling a bit better. I’m so tired… I want to sleep for a while.”
“Don’t sleep, stay awake,” Xia Huo Qu urged, bringing over a third bowl of honey water with honeysuckle and bamboo fruit. “Drink one more bowl, and then Kong Zhi will take you back to the base.”
Xia Lu Nong was already struggling to drink more, but not wanting to disappoint his brother and Kong Zhi, he forced himself to drink another bowl, feeling the water rise in his throat.
Kong Zhi, noticing his discomfort, gently rubbed his back.
Xia Huo Qu handed the bowl to Kong Zhi, saying, “Kong Zhi, you drink the rest, and then take Xia Nong back to the base.”
“Got it!” Kong Zhi didn’t bother with the bowl and gulped down the remaining honey, bamboo fruit, and honeysuckle water straight from the basin. Wiping his mouth, he said, “Xia Nong, turn into a cat now, and I’ll take you back.”
“Wait!” Yan Xi Nian entered, wearing only pants, carrying a long piece of snake meat in his hand. “This snake meat helps with healing wounds. Let Xia Nong eat some.”
Xia Huo Qu glanced at Yan Xi Nian’s bruised chest and abdomen and asked in a low voice, “Your bones are fine?”
“It’s no big deal,” Yan Xi Nian replied. “I just tested it myself. Let Xia Nong eat some snake meat, and then Kong Zhi can take him back.”
Xia Huo Qu and Kong Zhi didn’t object.
Xia Lu Nong smiled weakly as he smelled the pungent snake meat.
Yan Xi Nian brought the meat to his lips. “Eat it. I tried it earlier, and you can have something else afterward to wash it down.”
Kong Zhi, scanning the truck bed, quickly found the chopped chili they had brought along. He grabbed it and poured a small bowl, saying, “You can use this to wash down the snake meat after you eat it.”
Xia Lu Nong, in his weakened state, said, “Just give me the chili to dip it in. I’ll try to eat a little more.”
Kong Zhi cut the snake meat into pieces.
Xia Huo Qu said, “Go easy on the chili.”
Kong Zhi nodded, lightly dipping the snake meat in the chili before offering it to Xia Lu Nong’s lips.
Raw meat is indeed unpleasant to eat, but its effects are undeniable.
After eating, a flush of red appeared on Xia Lu Nong’s face, improving his pale complexion significantly.
Xia Lu Nong felt nauseous, but his brother quickly poured some tea for him, saying, “Just bear with it for a moment.”
His face showed clear signs of discomfort.
Next to him, Yan Xi Nian took out a small blanket from his backpack and placed it inside. He said, “Xia Lu Nong isn’t feeling well. When Kong Zhi flies, pay close attention to this backpack and hold it carefully.”
Kong Zhi nodded.
Xia Huo Qu stood up and bowed slightly to Kong Zhi, “I’m entrusting Xia Lu Nong to you. Please ensure he gets back to the base safely.”
Kong Zhi returned the gesture, “I’ll be as fast as possible.”
Kong Zhi jumped to the ground and transformed back into a golden eagle.
Xia Huo Qu and Yan Xi Nian placed the backpack containing Xia the cat around the eagle’s neck, and it held it in its beak.
The golden eagle nodded, ran a few steps, let out a cry, and flew off towards the base.
Xia Huo Qu and Yan Xi Nian cleaned up the area.
The giant dead snake lay there, its body and head separated.
Both men stared at the snake, feeling very conflicted.
Yan Xi Nian said, “Let’s take this snake back with us. It’s valuable and can’t be left here for the mutated beasts hiding in the dark to take advantage of.”
Xia Huo Qu, exhausted, nodded. He looked at the snake’s ferocious head, grabbed a large burlap sack from the back of the truck, and carefully wrapped the head in several layers.
Yan Xi Nian watched nervously from the side, “Be careful. Even though the snake’s dead, it can still have nerve reactions and bite. Don’t let it get you.”
Xia Huo Qu, having fought the snake earlier, knew how dangerous it was. He grabbed the snake by the back of the severed neck and threw the head into the sack, wrapping it in several layers to block the mouth as much as possible.
After securing the head, they loaded it into the back of the truck, making sure it wouldn’t roll around during the drive and cause harm.
Once the snake’s head was safely handled, they moved on to the body. Despite being dead, the body still had nerve reactions and tried to coil around them as if to crush them.
Luckily, without venom, the risk of harm was minimal.
They quickly gathered the rest of the snake’s body.
Yan Xi Nian smiled wryly, “This thing is terrifying. The only good thing is that it’s still fresh, so we can take it to the base for research before it spoils.”
Xia Huo Qu responded, “I suspect that the smaller snakes we encountered earlier were sent by this big one. Its intelligence seems to have evolved significantly.”
Yan Xi Nian’s expression grew serious, “Knowing to attack the weakest target is already alarming. If it could command its minions to ambush us, that would be terrifying. I don’t think they’ve evolved that far yet. Otherwise, humans would stand no chance.”
“No, I believe its intelligence rivals that of humans. Otherwise, why would Xia Lu Nong still have been targeted at the last moment? He wasn’t prominent or close to the lotus pond. The snake sprang out from there as if it knew we were about to leave and it would lose its chance to strike.”
Yan Xi Nian felt a chill, “You really think so?”
Xia Huo Qu nodded, “Mutated plants like the honeysuckle have been communicating with humans and even reading human books. Why couldn’t animals evolve in the same way?”
Yan Xi Nian looked off into the distance, worry in his eyes. “For now, it’s just one snake. But if these mutated animals undergo mass transformations and gain significant intelligence, the problem we’ll face won’t just be this one snake. It’ll be a question of how humanity survives, how we’ll hunt and gather resources outside.”
Xia Huo Qu said, “This is beyond what our base can handle. We need to broadcast this over the radio and alert other bases. The consequences of this are likely far greater than we imagine.”
“Let’s notify them as soon as we get back,” Yan Xi Nian said, patting Xia Huo Qu on the shoulder. “Come on, let’s head back. I’ll drive the truck without the window, and you take the other one. We’ll talk more once we return.”
Xia Huo Qu stepped aside, “I’ll take the one without the window. I’m uninjured, so I can react faster. It’ll be safer if I drive it.”
Yan Xi Nian’s ribs ached, possibly fractured or even broken. Knowing Xia Huo Qu’s stubbornness, he didn’t argue and agreed to drive the truck with the window, following closely behind.
The drive back was quiet and tense.
They didn’t stop until they arrived at the base late at night, around 10 PM.
As soon as their trucks pulled into the base, the sentries came to check on them.
Xia Huo Qu’s voice was hoarse with tension as he asked, “How’s my brother? When did they return?”
“They got back this afternoon and immediately sent him to Dr. Ou. No bad news has come out, so he should be recovering,” one of the sentries reassured him. “Don’t worry, Vice Captain Xia. Xia Lu Nong has a good fortune, and Dr. Ou is quite skilled.”
Xia Huo Qu said, “Thank you. Could you notify the resource management committee to gather at our place?”
“Will do,” the sentry nodded. “Should we help you drive the trucks to your house?”
Xia Huo Qu shook his head.
The roads inside the base were smooth, and Xia Huo Qu quickly drove his truck to his home.
By now, it was late at night, and there were few people on the streets. He drove fast.
Those who had heard about Xia Lu Nong’s accident rushed to Xia Huo Qu’s house as soon as they saw the trucks pulling in, understanding the urgency of the situation.
When Xia Huo Qu got out of the truck, he told the gathering crowd, “We encountered a terrifying giant snake while hunting. Its body is still in the truck. Please have the kitchen staff bring ice blocks to preserve it for now.”
The people outside quickly responded, “Got it!” “Don’t worry, Vice Captain Xia.”
Xia Huo Qu quickly gave his orders, then switched on the courtyard lights, carefully lifted the basket from the truck, and opened the sack to reveal the snake’s head. “This is a king cobra. Even after being dead for 24 hours, it can still bite and poison someone to death. Be careful while handling it. As for everything else, we’ll deal with it once we’re back.”
His voice was calm and methodical, and no one noticed anything unusual about him.
In contrast, Yan Xi Nian, who had sustained injuries and driven for so long, was sweating profusely, his face pale, and he sat to the side, struggling to catch his breath, barely able to speak.
The people who had arrived nodded at Xia Huo Qu’s instructions. “Vice Captain Xia, don’t worry. We’ll handle things here.”
“Thank you for taking care of this.”
After glancing at them, Xia Huo Qu rolled on the ground, his clothes tearing apart as he transformed into a giant wolf. He crouched next to Yan Xi Nian, signaling for him to climb onto his back.
Yan Xi Nian, without a word, silently climbed on.
The medical clinic wasn’t far from their home, and Xia Huo Qu ran there quickly.
When they arrived, the clinic was brightly lit, and through the glass windows, shadows of people moving around could be seen inside.
The giant wolf growled softly, stopping to let Yan Xi Nian down before transforming back into his human form. He grabbed his shorts from his mouth and put them on before anxiously pushing open the clinic door. “Dr. Ou, how’s my brother? Is he going to be okay?”
“Is that you, Huo Qu?” Dr. Ou walked out from the ward, his face serious. “Xia Lu Nong’s condition is temporarily stabilized, but don’t worry too much.”
Xia Huo Qu’s heart tightened. “What do you mean, ‘temporarily stabilized’? Does that mean you can’t fully cure him?”
“That’s what I wanted to discuss with you.” Dr. Ou continued, “After treating him with my medical abilities, Xia Lu Nong’s condition has improved, but he hasn’t fully recovered. In fact, during observation, his condition worsened again, and I had to treat him repeatedly. I suspect there’s internal bleeding that I can’t stop.”
Xia Huo Qu felt a heavy weight in his heart. The worst-case scenario had happened. “What should we do now?”
“Calm down first. Xia Lu Nong’s life isn’t in immediate danger. But you know the situation of this clinic. I’m not a fully qualified doctor, and we lack the resources for proper surgery here. If we want to fully heal him, we’ll have to transfer him to another base where trained surgeons can operate.”
Xia Huo Qu asked, “Even if you increase your ability’s output, you can’t heal the internal bleeding?”
Dr. Ou gave a bitter smile, “I’ve already tried, but it didn’t work. Though it’s not entirely hopeless. If I continuously channel my ability into him while stimulating his wounds, there might be a chance for them to heal. But we can’t take that gamble right now.”
Xia Huo Qu closed his eyes for a moment, then opened them again. “I understand. I’ll contact the others immediately. We’ll head to Yacheng Town right away.”
“Good!” Dr. Ou said. “I’ll come with you. We’ll leave tonight, and I’ll monitor Xia Lu Nong during the journey. Nothing will happen to him, so don’t worry too much.”
Xia Huo Qu nodded, turning to Yan Xi Nian, “I’ll go make arrangements now. Please keep an eye on him—he’s injured as well.”
Yan Xi Nian, still pale, managed to say, “Thank you.”
Dr. Ou motioned for him to come over. “Captain Yan, come inside so I can take a look at you. But I’m almost out of energy, and what little remains needs to be saved for Xia Lu Nong, so we’ll have to treat you the traditional way.”
“It’s fine. Just give me some anti-inflammatory meds. I’m tough, I can handle it,” Yan Xi Nian replied as he followed Dr. Ou inside the clinic.
Meanwhile, Xia Huo Qu went to check on his brother in the ward.
Xia Lu Nong was already asleep, with Kong Zhi sitting by his side, his eyes bloodshot from exhaustion.
Xia Huo Qu patted him on the shoulder and said quietly, “You’ve worked hard. Xia Lu Nong’s condition isn’t looking good, so we’ve decided to take him to Yacheng Town immediately. Are you coming with us?”
Kong Zhi nodded without hesitation, “Of course.”
Xia Huo Qu glanced down at his brother and sighed silently before saying, “I’ll make the necessary arrangements. Stay here and keep an eye on Xia Lu Nong. We’ll leave soon.”
He left to contact the resource management committee and gathered others, including Ban Niu, Liao Quan Nan, Old Liu, as well as skilled fighters like Hu Wen Xuan and Zhuang Nan. In total, ten people, taking three trucks.
One truck led the way, another followed as backup, and Xia Huo Qu’s truck was in the middle.
Their vehicles were packed with supplies such as rice, cured meats, and the remaining half of the snake’s body.
Having worked tirelessly for so long, everyone was exhausted. No one drove; instead, they all sat in the truck bed.
Dr. Ou glanced at each of them and gently said, “You all have bloodshot eyes. Get some rest. I’ll keep an eye on Xia Lu Nong, and there will be no problems.”
Xia Huo Qu quietly replied, “Thank you, Dr. Ou. We appreciate your help.”
“It’s nothing. Saving lives is a doctor’s duty,” Dr. Ou sighed. “Don’t worry. With me here, Xia Lu Nong will be fine.”
Following her gaze, Xia Huo Qu looked down at his own hands, realizing that they were trembling. The shaking was so obvious, and he hadn’t been this unsettled in a long time. Embarrassed, he quietly said, “I’m sorry for losing my composure.”
Dr. Ou shook her head. “There’s no shame in it. Being emotional doesn’t make you weak.”
She added, “Now, try to get some rest. Who knows, you might need your strength for what lies ahead.”
“Alright.” Xia Huo Qu forced himself to sleep and urged the others to do the same. “Kong Zhi, Xi Nian, you should rest as well. Dr. Ou is right; we need our energy to face whatever crisis comes in the daylight.”
Yan Xi Nian nodded, pulling out a sleeping bag and silently crawling inside.
Kong Zhi, however, rubbed his reddened eyes and muttered, “I can’t sleep.”
Xia Huo Qu patted his shoulder and said, “Neither can I, but we have to try. Xia Lu Nong is counting on us. Rest now—who knows what we’ll face in Yacheng Town.”
Kong Zhi sighed softly and said, “If only our base had developed more.”
If their base had its own hospital, they wouldn’t need to drive all night to another base for medical help.
Yan Xi Nian replied, “We’ll have all of that one day. Now, get some rest.”
The truck swayed as they drove. Outside, the sky gradually brightened and then darkened again as they took turns driving, pushing forward day and night without stopping, heading straight for Yacheng Town.
The situation was urgent, so no one complained. They silently drove at speeds faster than usual, reaching Yacheng Town by the third morning.
At the city’s outskirts, armed guards stopped them, refusing entry.
Xia Huo Qu said, “We’re here to discuss something with your leader. Go and notify them.”
One of the guards asked, “What’s it about?”
Xia Huo Qu took out the massive snake they had captured to show them.
Even after several days, the giant snake still had nervous activity and looked quite fresh. Its thick, barrel-sized body made the guards’ skin crawl. After a quick glance, they turned away, not daring to look any longer.
The guards quickly reported to their superiors.
Since Xia Huo Qu’s base had electricity, they were more connected to the outside world and had regular contact with Yacheng Town, so they were treated as allies. The people in Yacheng Town didn’t make things difficult for them and led them straight to meet the city lord.
Xia Huo Qu sent some of their people to find Old Mo while he and Yan Xi Nian went to meet the city lord.
The people of Yacheng Town didn’t find anything odd about them or pay special attention.
Kong Zhi knew Old Mo, and Old Mo also recognized both Kong Zhi and Xia Lu Nong. When Kong Zhi explained the situation, Old Mo was shocked. “Xia Lu Nong is that badly injured? Wait here, I’ll contact the hospital right away. Our hospital is well-equipped, and as long as you can provide supplies, he can be treated. I’ll take you there.”
Dr. Ou said, “Thank you. I suspect that Xia Lu Nong has internal bleeding in his abdominal cavity. We need to perform an abdominal drainage surgery immediately.”
“Understood! Let’s go to the hospital first, and I’ll arrange the necessary documentation for you,” Old Mo replied.
Kong Zhi said, “Thanks, Brother Pan. We’ve got some rice in the truck bed—you can use it as needed.”
Old Mo, being familiar with the area, quickly arranged for the appropriate hospital, thanks to the abundant supplies they brought.
Within an hour, Xia Lu Nong was rushed into surgery.
His spleen was damaged, and part of it was shattered. The doctors had no choice but to remove that section of the spleen.
An hour later, Xia Lu Nong was wheeled out of the operating room.
Dr. Ou’s abilities finally came into play as she used her power to help accelerate Xia Lu Nong’s recovery.
With that, Xia Lu Nong was finally out of danger, and everyone could finally relax. They all wiped the sweat off their brows outside the operating room.
Kong Zhi’s legs gave out, and he collapsed to the floor.
No one mocked him.
Old Liu helped him up and gave him a comforting pat on the shoulder.
Thanks to the generous amount of supplies they provided, Xia Lu Nong was given a private room. They closed the door, making it easier to talk privately.
Dr. Ou said, “The anesthesia will take some time to wear off. We’ll stay here and watch over him until he wakes up.”
“Thank you, Dr. Ou. We’re really grateful for all your help this time,” Xia Huo Qu said sincerely.
“We’re all from the same base—there’s no need for formalities,” Dr. Ou replied, her face pale from exhaustion. “Besides, I’m close to Xia Lu Nong. I was worried sick when he got hurt.”
The others quickly brought a chair for Dr. Ou to sit down.
Ban Niu asked, “Kong Zhi, what exactly happened to you that day? We didn’t dare ask these past few days, but now can you tell us? With your strength, how did things get so bad? Even Captain Yan was seriously injured.”
Kong Zhi didn’t hide anything and explained what had happened in detail.
As Ban Niu and the others listened, they broke out in cold sweats.
Old Liu said grimly, “If it’s really that dangerous out there now, then we’ve been incredibly lucky to survive all the times we’ve gone out.”
Kong Zhi added, “I don’t know what’s happening elsewhere, but I used to fly into cities often to gather supplies, and I never encountered mutated plants and animals as advanced as this—let alone ones with intelligence.”
He continued, “I suspect they’re undergoing further mutations, leading to the distortions that the Honeysuckle mentioned.”
Ban Niu couldn’t help but exclaim, “If that’s true, then it’s just too unfair to humanity! All the other species are evolving, and humans are stuck in place. Eventually, there’ll be no room left for us to survive.”
“No,” Kong Zhi said unexpectedly. “I think humans are mutating too, just not as fast or as visibly.”
Everyone exchanged looks.
Ban Niu muttered, “I don’t know about others, but I haven’t changed at all. You all know—I still can’t transform into anything other than human form.”
“That’s not necessarily true,” Old Liu said, eyeing him. “I remember when I first met you, you weren’t as tall or as built as you are now.”
“Well, no kidding,” Ban Niu retorted. “When you met me, the disaster had just struck. Back then, I was just an average guy—didn’t even lift weights, so I wasn’t exactly muscular or tall.”
But Kong Zhi chimed in, “I think Old Liu is right. I wasn’t this tall before either, and my muscles weren’t as developed. Most importantly, my animal form wasn’t this strong before. Now, I can carry much heavier loads. It’s hard to say this isn’t some kind of further mutation.”
Old Liu nodded. “We’ve always thought that our abilities increase as we train, but we forget that human abilities have limits. We shouldn’t be seeing such consistent improvements, yet we’ve continued to grow stronger.”
Ban Niu rubbed the goosebumps on his arms. “The more you say, the creepier it sounds. If that’s the case, where’s the end of human mutation? And what about plants and animals? Even with my limited knowledge, I know about the law of conservation of matter. No species can just keep mutating endlessly, right?”
Old Liu said, “It doesn’t need to mutate endlessly. Even if it mutates to a certain level, that’s already more than enough for humans to deal with.”
Ban Niu shuddered.
Seeing this, Old Liu patted him on the shoulder. “We don’t need to worry too much for now. It’s just a theory. We can talk about it once the mutations are complete. No need to scare ourselves right now.”
After Old Liu finished speaking, everyone fell silent.
Their nerves had been tense for so long that they were all exhausted. Without further conversation, they found corners in the private room to either stand or sit.
Luckily, because they had provided enough supplies, the hospital didn’t mind them crowding into the private room.
Xia Lu Nong soon woke up.
He had been in a daze for days, his mind unclear and unable to think much. All he knew was that they had brought him to Yacheng Town’s hospital.
When he opened his eyes again, his thoughts became clear. He looked around at the people in the room and slowly asked, “Am I in a hospital room?”
“Yes,” Kong Zhi replied, holding his hand. “You just had surgery, and now you’re fully recovered.”
“That’s great,” Xia Lu Nong said, looking at him. “It must’ve been hard on you these past few days.”
Kong Zhi’s voice was hoarse as he said, “It wasn’t hard at all. What’s there for me to be tired about?”
Xia Lu Nong looked around at everyone and thanked them, especially Dr. Ou. “Dr. Ou, you saved me again.”
“No need to thank me. It’s what I do,” Dr. Ou smiled. “Just don’t cry when I send you the medical bill later.”
Xia Lu Nong laughed, “I won’t cry. Charge whatever you want. Without you, I wouldn’t even have the chance to cry.”
Dr. Ou quickly responded, “Spit out those unlucky words. Don’t say such things.”
Old Liu, with his experience, said, “Now that Xia Lu Nong is better, we should head back quickly. If they figure out his identity, things might get complicated.”
“Right, right,” Ban Niu added. “Let’s hurry back, and if possible, have Old Mo smooth things over for us again.”
They quietly slipped back and asked Old Mo to handle the aftermath.
Old Mo was surprised that Xia Lu Nong recovered so quickly. While happy for him, he assured them, “You can relax and stay here. I’ve taken care of everything. Besides, Xia Lu Nong’s already better, and even if Yacheng Town investigates further, they won’t find anything.”
Kong Zhi said, “For now, we’re still partners. We just asked a doctor to treat an injury. They shouldn’t make an issue of it. Thanks again, Brother Pan. We’ll handle things on our end and ensure this doesn’t cause you any problems.”
“Don’t mention it,” Old Mo said, patting Kong Zhi’s arm. “You go rest up. I’ll check on the situation and see if Captain Yan is back yet and how things are looking.”
Kong Zhi nodded and politely escorted him out.
Yan Xi Nian and Xia Huo Qu returned that evening. When they saw that Xia Lu Nong was well, the tension between them immediately eased.
Both of them, exhausted, found seats and sat down.
Old Liu asked, “How did the talks go? What did the people of Yacheng Town say?”
“Same old. We gave them a rundown of the situation and warned them to be careful. After seeing the snake, they said they’d be cautious and even agreed to share any new intelligence they gather with us,” Yan Xi Nian replied.
Old Liu shook his head. “I doubt they’re the type to share information.”
“Who knows?” Yan Xi Nian said weakly. “For now, we’re still in this together. The more strength humans have, the better our chances of survival. Maybe they’ll be willing to share when it comes to less critical information.”
Dr. Ou couldn’t bear to listen anymore and interrupted, “Let’s save it for tomorrow. Tonight, get some rest. I’ve recovered most of my energy, so Captain Yan, come over, and I’ll treat your wounds.”
Yan Xi Nian nodded. “Thank you, Dr. Ou. These past few days have been brutal. This wound has made it impossible for me to sit or sleep comfortably.”
Dr. Ou’s healing abilities worked wonders. After her treatment, Yan Xi Nian felt much better, able to relax without pain.
Xia Huo Qu, equally drained, said, “Let’s rest for a day. Tomorrow, after we’ve slept, we can gather more supplies or information, and then we’ll head back to the base. We’ll settle the supplies from this trip when we return.”
“No rush.”
“Thank you, Vice Captain Xia.”
“Vice Captain Xia, get some rest. We’ll talk about everything tomorrow.”
After saying their goodnights, everyone returned to their rooms. Old Mo’s inn was large enough that each person had their own room, but for safety’s sake, they paired up.
Dr. Ou shared a room with Zhuang Nan, who stayed up to keep watch.
Yan Xi Nian and the others had more to discuss, so they gathered in the same room.
As soon as Xia Huo Qu entered, he gave his brother a thorough check, asking, “How are you feeling? All healed up?”
“Yes, all good,” Xia Lu Nong replied, holding out his arms for inspection. “Brother, don’t worry. Aside from the incision still healing, there’s nothing else wrong.”
Hearing this, Xia Huo Qu finally let out a long sigh of relief. “You really scared me this time.”
“Sorry, Brother, for causing so much trouble.”
Xia Huo Qu said, “What trouble? We’re family—no need to talk like outsiders.”
Yan Xi Nian agreed. “Exactly. Xia Lu Nong, you did great. You even saved me.”
Xia Lu Nong waved it off. “No, I didn’t.”
Yan Xi Nian ruffled his hair. “Don’t be modest. Your ability is really valuable. Even if you’re not a fierce beast, you played a crucial role in the fight.”
Xia Lu Nong nodded and then said unexpectedly, “Speaking of which, I feel like my ability has grown a bit. After being injured by the snake, it seemed to increase.”
