The meal was rushed, a bit stifling.
Everyone could feel Guo Xiufang's dissatisfaction.
Bai Suxiang kept picking up food for Guo Xiufang, constantly trying to ease her tension, but to no avail.
Finally, it was Fu Ruhai's cheerful banter that slowly dissolved Guo Xiufang's worries and resentment.
The three of them were then able to leave and head to the First Hospital of Sandong City.
Professor Jin Zhong was there, and their work at the hospital would be much smoother.
Indeed, as soon as Professor Jin Zhong saw them, he immediately arranged a private office. Although it was small, it was completely independent, which greatly facilitated their work.
Here, they could research more deeply whether those who took Yitié Ling would have their souls taken by the entity.
For several days, they did not see Professor Jin Zhong.
They heard from other doctors that he was attending a meeting and would not be back at the hospital for some time.
This was normal; for experts of his caliber, attending meetings frequently was common.
However, Bai Suxiang had been dispirited since returning from the clinic.
"What's wrong?"
Fu Ruhai, however, noticed Bai Suxiang's subdued mood and asked.
"Many of our patients have inexplicably been switched to Yitié Ling!"
"What? How is this possible?"
Fu Ruhai's expression immediately turned serious upon hearing this.
"I don't know, but the nurse at the front desk told me to dispense less medication, perhaps they don't know how to use it."
Bai Suxiang said dejectedly.
Liu Sandao remained calm, showing no signs of displeasure.
The three of them, who were once very busy, became idle once again.
This was eerily similar to the situation when they were ostracized by Zhang Kui.
The calm before the storm, the more tranquil people become, the more restless the wind blows.
As expected, news of personnel changes arrived.
Liu Sandao and Fu Ruhai continued to work at the hospital as usual. Although the work of treating the plague had become much lighter, it had never been shut down.
Many of the doctors who had originally worked with them were transferred to other departments, leaving only a few older doctors and nurses.
Someone joked, "It's like they're being sent to the geriatrics department for treatment!"
This was no exaggeration; apart from the three of them, the average age of the remaining staff hovered around fifty.
Fortunately, their treatment method did not excessively rely on equipment.
Even if it did, it was simple and did not require the assistance of complex machinery.
"You stay here as a diversion, we'll be back soon!"
Liu Sandao said to Bai Suxiang.
This situation forced him to investigate the true effects of Yitié Ling.
"Mmm, alright." Su Dan Novel Network
Hearing Bai Suxiang agree, Liu Sandao and Fu Ruhai vanished in a flash.
They moved through the entire hospital in a state imperceptible to ordinary people.
The patients in the hospital, especially those under lockdown, were energetic, some even exceptionally excited.
"This medicine really works wonders. You have no idea, I was feeling so terrible back then I just wanted to die. I never expected that after just one dose of Yitié Ling, I'd feel full of energy!"
A middle-aged woman happily told the person next to her.
"Yes, me too. Mine was a bit slower, though. I only started feeling better after the third dose!"
Someone beside her also chimed in.
Liu Sandao inspected and found that the entire floor was taking Yitié Ling.
However, unlike before, black energy slowly grew into wedges. Everyone who appeared overly excited had wedges growing on their backs.
The wedges were dark and oily, emitting a pitch-black luster.
"Hmph, I wonder what this entity is up to,"
Fu Ruhai muttered, attempting to sprinkle some Jiéyōu powder from his finger onto those wedges.
After so much exploration, Fu Ruhai had already mastered the dosage.
As long as the wedges were black, they would be attracted to the Jiéyōu powder, appearing entranced and eventually growing golden halos.
But this time was different!
As soon as Fu Ruhai sprinkled the Jiéyōu powder, "Pfft!"
A burst of red flame erupted from thin air.
It shot from the wedge and headed towards Fu Ruhai's finger.
"Damn it! This works too?"
Fu Ruhai, dodging the flame, exclaimed in surprise.
Seeing this, Liu Sandao's brows furrowed.
Such a violent reaction was unexpected.
He cast Ruòshuǐ Fù, forming a ball with water threads, randomly selected a black wedge, and casually sprinkled some Jiéyōu powder.
"Pfft, pfft, pfft~~"
Compared to Fu Ruhai's attempt, the flame was even more intense, and the sound more fervent.
After being burned by the fire, the wedge instantly grew ten centimeters taller.
It was dark and oily, swaying left and right.
"This won't do. Yitié Ling seems to have increased their resistance, or perhaps their ability to counter Jiéyōu powder."
Liu Sandao said, a hint of worry on his face.
If this continued, if the entity wanted them, they would have no power to stop it.
"Then we must stop the use of Yitié Ling, that way we can prevent the entity from taking more souls!"
Fu Ruhai said indignantly, wishing he could skin the entity alive.
"We can't stop it right now..."
Liu Sandao stopped mid-sentence, pulling Fu Ruhai to the side.
Their speed was so great that Fu Ruhai didn't even have time to speak.
At this moment, a peeking figure appeared in their sight.
It was a soul, looking much thinner.
From its appearance, it seemed to be a female ghost.
"What is it trying to do?"
Fu Ruhai mumbled.
"Shh! Let's watch and see!"
Liu Sandao stopped him in time.
He saw that the female ghost looked somewhat familiar, and upon closer inspection, he realized it was Fang Huairan.
Fang Huairan, unaware of their presence, floated towards a wedge.
The wedge was slick and oily.
Fang Huairan opened her mouth and bit into it.
Her movement was somewhat like a ravenous dog pouncing on prey.
"Hiss, hiss, hiss!"
A rustling sound followed.
Expecting that her biting and gnawing of the wedge would be fatal to the person with the wedge, they were surprised to find that the owner of the wedge showed no ill effects; instead, their complexion improved.
This was unexpected for Liu Sandao.
Could it be that the entity had a change of heart this time and would help humanity eliminate the plague?
But it had clearly taken hundreds of lives right under his and Fu Ruhai's noses.
How could this contradictory behavior be explained?
After sucking on the wedge for a while, Fang Huairan's spirits seemed to improve significantly. Her previous lethargy was replaced by bright, crimson eyes.
"Mmm, mmm, mmm!"
Fang Huairan, now standing, let out an inexpressible sound.
Even her hair began to float around her!
"Let's destroy it, otherwise it'll just go on to harm people!"
Fu Ruhai suggested.
"Wait, I have a better idea!"
Liu Sandao said, and then began to cast a barrier.
With a "fuh, fuh, fuh, fuh" sound, a barrier rose from the ground.
"Ah!"