In the second inpatient building of the Yuezhou Sanatorium, the entire place was eerily empty. All patients had been transferred to other inpatient buildings, leaving only He Jiaqing and Xiao Zhenggong. Not even medical staff remained. Should anything unexpected happen to He Jiaqing, there would be no one to provide immediate assistance.
Xiao Zhenggong stood in front of He Jiaqing’s hospital bed, frowning without saying a word.
He Haiqin was set to arrive in Yuezhou today. Xiao Zhenggong was in charge of monitoring He Jiaqing at the hospital, while Chen Changrui was responsible for welcoming He Haiqin at the train station.
As Xiao Zhenggong was observing He Jiaqing, a sudden oppressive force hit him.
Xiao Zhenggong looked towards the doorway of the hospital room.
He Haiqin, accompanied by He Haisheng and eight supporters, walked into the hospital room, examining Xiao Zhenggong from head to toe.
He had met Xiao Zhenggong before and knew that Xiao Zhenggong was the Gang Leader of the Jiang Xiang Gang. Xiao Zhenggong had once introduced Cui Tiq to treat He Haiqin. By all accounts, Xiao Zhenggong had done He Haiqin a favor.
However, He Haiqin had later paid Cui Tiq a generous sum and allocated a share of business to Xiao Zhenggong. Since then, they were even. To He Haiqin, the Jiang Xiang Gang still amounted to nothing more than a bunch of riff-raff.
He glared at Xiao Zhenggong and greeted him, "Scram!"
Xiao Zhenggong’s eyebrows knitted together, and rage began to burn within him.
He Haisheng tried to reason, "Brother, this is the Deputy Captain of the Dark Star Bureau."
"I said scram!" He Haiqin repeated his greeting to Xiao Zhenggong, completely disregarding He Haisheng’s attempt to mediate.
Xiao Zhenggong clenched his teeth and walked out of the hospital room.
He Haisheng said, "Brother, we’re in the Outside Provinces now. We can’t offend people from the Dark Star Bureau."
"Bullshit!" He Haiqin scoffed. "Aren’t they just Patrol Officers? It’s a privilege for him that I even speak to him!"
He Haisheng sighed. "Brother, didn’t we agree on the way here? The Outside Provinces have their own rules."
"I can’t keep track of so many damn rules!"
"Alright then," He Haisheng relented, knowing it was futile to argue further. "Let’s take a look at Jia Qing first."
He Haiqin stared at He Jiaqing on the hospital bed for over ten minutes.
He Haisheng was very nervous. He couldn’t tell any difference between the current He Jiaqing and his past appearance, but the verdict of real or fake would ultimately depend on He Haiqin’s judgment.
In another inpatient building, Wan Jinxian, who had just been admitted to the hospital yesterday, was even more anxious than He Haisheng.
He practiced Disease Cultivation and found it easy to make himself sick. Others couldn’t easily spot any flaws.
But He Jiaqing had just come back from Puluo State, and his left hand was newly regrown. If He Haiqin noticed anything amiss, Wan Jinxian couldn’t help He Jiaqing; He Jiaqing would have to confront the situation on his own.
"What is going on here?" He Haiqin muttered to himself.
He Haisheng’s heart leaped into his throat.
He Jiaqing’s heart also hung in suspense.
"How did it get like this?" He Haiqin’s voice trembled. "What has happened to my son!"
He recognized his own flesh and blood. The boy on the bed was undoubtedly his son.
He Haisheng exhaled in relief and said, "Brother, haven’t I already informed you about Jia Qing’s condition?"
"Is this the condition you told me about? He’s barely recognizable!" Tears began to stream down He Haiqin’s face.
He knew about He Jiaqing’s condition. When He Jiaqing was first admitted to the hospital, He Haisheng had informed him and even specially had photographs sent to He Haiqin.
But upon seeing his son in person, He Haiqin’s heart was wracked with pain.
"Hasn’t he been treated for a year already? I’ll strangle those bastards in the Outside Provinces! Are they mistreating us because we’re not from here? Damn them all..."
Enraged, He Haiqin roared, and the entire inpatient building shook ceaselessly.
The sanatorium director stood downstairs, trembling with fear, as he phoned Chen Changrui. "Captain Chen, you must handle this. You can’t let these people run wild here."
Chen Changrui attempted to soothe him, "Don’t worry, we’ll take care of it."
"Take care of it?" Xiao Zhenggong interjected from the side. "Do you have the guts to do that?"
Chen Changrui looked at Xiao Zhenggong calmly. "Deputy Captain Xiao, you understand their customs. Please go in and try to calm He Haiqin down."
Xiao Zhenggong scoffed. "Why should I? What does this have to do with me?"
"How can you say it has nothing to do with you? This is a mission given to us by the Bureau."
"What mission did the Bureau give? Am I to arrest them or kill them?"
"The Bureau instructed us to prioritize the greater good. Our mission is to maintain..."
Xiao Zhenggong cut Chen Changrui off. "What’s the use of spouting such nonsense? Bottom line, aren’t we just supposed to watch over things?"
...
He Haiqin gradually calmed down and turned to He Haisheng. "Third Brother, tell our people to get ready. We’re taking Jia Qing home; he shouldn’t suffer here any longer."
"Brother, the doctor said Jia Qing can’t be moved. If he leaves the hospital, his life could be in danger."
"Which doctor said that? This Western Hospital, do they even know how to treat patients? These Western Doctors are just wasting time! By the way, where is that damn Foreign Devil? Cui... something or other. If he could cure my illness, he can definitely cure Jia Qing too!"
"Brother, you were treated for an illness, but Jia Qing is being treated for injuries. It’s different."
"What’s the difference? Do you know anything about medicine..."
With much coaxing and persuasion, He Haisheng finally managed to calm He Haiqin down.
He Haiqin sat by the hospital bed, holding He Jiaqing’s left hand and sighing repeatedly. "You scoundrel, always insisting on going to the Outside Provinces for your education! Isn’t there enough for you to learn back home?"
"If you’re going to study, then study. You came here hale and hearty, and you should have returned the same way. And did you really have to try and bring me some ’great treasure’? Now look! The treasure isn’t here, and you’ve become like this."
He Haisheng glanced down the corridor where Dark Star Bureau personnel were still waiting. "Brother, it’s good that Jia Qing is okay. I’ll stay here. You should head back. The Outside Provinces are very wary of us."
"What’s there to be afraid of? I’d like to see who dares to touch me!"
"Brother, this isn’t our home. Besides, things aren’t peaceful back home either. The Lu Family is still causing trouble every day!"
"Damn the Lu Family! My son is lying in the hospital, and they still dare to spread rumors! That old bastard Lu Maoxian must be tired of living. Just wait until I get back—I’ll bury him myself!"
The hospital building continued to shake occasionally. Chen Changrui and Xiao Zhenggong appeared calm. Several veteran detectives pretended to be calm, but the new team members couldn’t even feign it. Ming Xing was so scared they nearly wet themselves but dared not go to the bathroom. Light Bulb was covered in grease, ready to bolt at any moment.
The newcomer Qin Minghui looked extremely grave.
He was afraid, but more than that, he was ashamed. The current situation was clearly not why he had joined the Dark Star Bureau.
Qin Minghui said to Chen Changrui, "Captain, this is a hospital. They shouldn’t be allowed to cause such a scene."
Chen Changrui said nothing. Xiao Zhenggong laughed beside him, "Well, why don’t you go stop them then?"
Qin Minghui indeed headed towards the sickroom, but Big Head grabbed him. "No acting on your own."
Xiao Zhenggong looked at Qin Minghui and asked, "Who are you? You’ve got some nerve!"
Qin Minghui replied, "I’m new, Chief Xiao. You’ve seen me before. My codename is Chuuni."
"Chuuni," Xiao Zhenggong struggled to recall such a person as he closely observed Qin Minghui. "That codename isn’t wrong. I’ll remember you now."
...
News of He Haiqin’s visit to Yuezhou soon reached Puluo State. The Ling Family was the first to report: ’Father and son reunited, yet Mr. He remains unconscious. Rumors disproven.’
The Lu Family, not to be outdone, quickly followed with their own report: ’Deep familial love—a year since the incident, they finally meet. Yet, suspicion between father and son? What caused their mistrust?’
This news muddled the waters further.
The news reports even included special commentary: ’Rumors or truth? Everything must be traced back to the source.’
Monkey Qiu, accompanied by two young masters of the Lu Family, watched the excitement. Whether it was rumors or truth, it didn’t concern them. Lu Maoxian, however, was pushed to the forefront of the controversy.
Lu Maoxian grew very anxious and hurried alone to Sage Peak, to the Saint’s Mansion.
After waiting for more than two hours beneath the deep corridors, the panting and shouting from inside the room gradually subsided.
The Saint spoke, "What brings you here?"
Lu Maoxian knelt respectfully on the ground. "Master, I am in a difficult situation. The Head of the He Family, He Haiqin, may act against me."
After a moment of silence, the Saint said, "You have earned merit this time. I reward you with three Gold Yuan Pills."
A young man in white took out three Gold Yuan Pills and handed them to Lu Maoxian.
The three elixirs were treasures, but they couldn’t change Lu Maoxian’s situation.
The Saint continued, "I have my own plans for dealing with He Haiqin. But as long as He Jiaqing lives, you must remain vigilant."
"He is a major concern for me; you must not take him lightly. The moment He Jiaqing sets foot in Puluo State, you must inform me immediately."
With some reassurance, Lu Maoxian nodded repeatedly. "Disciple will do his utmost."
The Saint added, "There’s one more thing. I’ve heard that films have become very popular in Puluo State recently, and some contain acts of great treason. Such depraved trends must be decisively stopped. I entrust this task to you. Make no mistakes!"
Lu Maoxian agreed and crawled backward on his knees as he left the Saint’s Mansion.
On his way down the mountain, Lu Maoxian pondered the Saint’s orders.
He had also received some news that Ma Wu’s films were backed by Lu Yuanshan and Lu Yuanhai.
These two brothers had never publicly discussed cinema, certainly to avoid damaging the Lu Family’s reputation.
Lu Maoxian looked at the three Gold Yuan Pills in his hand. These elixirs were of superior quality, with the Pill’s Poison within tolerable limits. They could potentially advance his cultivation level by nearly a year.
As Lu Maoxian made his way downhill, his steps quickened.
...
「He Haiqin had left.」
He Jiaqing lay on the hospital bed, with He Haisheng sitting by his side.
Taking advantage of Haisheng being momentarily distracted, He Jiaqing raised an eyebrow and flashed a bitter smile.
PS: Jia Qing can still smile; it seems he still has a way out.