"Xuan Shen, Jue Ming Zi, Tian Dong Men, none of them work. What else can we add?"
Wan Yunting's face was dark, his slightly long hair was messy, and the beard he hadn't shaved for several days looked particularly disheveled.
But combined with his chiseled, sharp features, he looked very manly. He held a half-smoked cigarette between his fingers, puffing clouds of smoke, and studied a prescription with a frown in his right hand.
Li Yuxiu, sitting beside him, wore a loose pajama set with her beautiful hair cascading down her chest. Her bare face was naturally radiant. Although she had gotten a bit tanned from staying here, it didn't affect her stunning beauty.
She held a pen and wrote a new prescription, handing it to Wan Yunting. With a calm tone, she said, "Our research direction is correct. We are still missing a minister drug that can balance the other herbs!"
Looking at the prescription Li Yuxiu had rewritten, Wan Yunting narrowed his eyes. He was seriously examining it while smoking, then said, "Use Xing Ye Shen."
Upon hearing about Xing Ye Shen, Li Yuxiu thought for a moment and nodded, "Xing Ye Shen can detoxify a hundred poisons. It's worth a try."
Wan Yunting also nodded, tapping the ash off his cigarette into an ashtray.
"Cough..."
Li Yuxiu, sitting next to him, coughed lightly from the smoke. Wan Yunting only then reacted and quickly extinguished the cigarette. He smiled and said, "It's getting late. Why don't you go back and rest?"
"It's fine, I'll look at the prescription a bit longer."
Li Yuxiu waved her hand and continued to study the prescription. Seeing this, Wan Yunting stood up, picked up her cup, turned around, refilled it with water from the kettle, and handed it back to her. He said, "Tomorrow we'll try with Xing Ye Shen. If it doesn't work, we'll think of something else..."
"Mm..."
Li Yuxiu, who was engrossed in the prescription, reached for the cup without looking, but missed. The water spilled all over her, soaking her pajamas.
Wan Yunting repeatedly apologized, and Li Yuxiu shook her head, indicating it was fine. As she quickly shook the water off her pajamas, Wan Yunting, standing next to her, froze, his eyes taking in the view.
"I'm heading back."
Li Yuxiu, completely unaware that she had exposed herself, stood up to leave. Seeing Wan Yunting's strange expression, she asked, "What's wrong?"
"Oh, nothing..."
Wan Yunting quickly averted his gaze, a forced smile on his face. "Then you should go back and rest early."
Li Yuxiu looked at him with a hint of confusion in her intelligent phoenix eyes, not realizing anything was amiss. Seeing that he wouldn't explain, she didn't press further. She grabbed a prescription and turned to leave. Just then, her phone, tucked in her pajama pocket, rang. It was her sister, Li Tianyi.
Li Yuxiu stopped at the doorway to answer the call, asking, "Tianyi, what's up?"
"Sis, something big has happened! The TCM world in the capital has been turned upside down."
Li Tianyi was currently traveling in Huangshan with her father, Li Tiangui. However, after seeing the news, she immediately called her elder sister.
"What do you mean turned upside down? What exactly happened?" Li Yuxiu had no idea what she was talking about.
Wan Yunting was clearing the table. Hearing her talking on the phone at the door, he also turned his head curiously to glance over.
Li Tianyi explained on the phone that most of the people from the Liu and Xue families had been arrested. Li Yuxiu, having already anticipated this outcome, was not too surprised. She asked, "Are you and Dad okay?"
"We're fine. Dad and I are hiking in Huangshan. We're heading back down to the hotel now to rest," Li Tianyi said as she helped the elder.
"Let me say..."
Li Tiangui took the phone and asked, "Yuxiu, be careful in Africa. I heard that virus is very potent..."
"Don't worry, Dad, I'm fine."
Li Yuxiu continued, "But you, don't return to the capital yet. Wait until things calm down a bit."
"I understand."
Li Tiangui nodded and sighed, "I didn't expect Gu Yuanbai to be so ruthless, burying the Liu and Xue families. He's going to completely reform the entire TCM landscape nationwide."
Li Yuxiu looked back at Wan Yunting, who was sitting on a chair. He was also on the phone with Gu Yuanbai, discussing the same matter. He said, "Old Gu, you are right. Don't worry, I'll have results from my end soon. When I return to China, we'll change the entire landscape of the TCM world together."
Gu Yuanbai nodded and cautioned, "Then take good care. We'll wait for your return."
"Alright, that's all for now..."
After finishing the call with Gu Yuanbai, Wan Yunting hung up. Li Yuxiu also ended her call and returned, asking, "What are your plans now?"
Wan Yunting pulled over a chair and motioned for her to sit down. He smiled and said, "Complete reform!"
As Li Yuxiu sat down, she remained oblivious to the fact that her satin pajama top was wet, clearly revealing the outline of her black lace sleepwear. This made Wan Yunting's eyes dare not look at her chest.
Li Yuxiu frowned slightly and said, "By doing this, you've severely damaged the vitality of TCM!"
Wan Yunting held a cigarette but remembered something and hesitated to light it. He turned to Li Yuxiu and smiled, "That's why we have to come up with a prescription to treat the Red Demon La infectious virus!"
This statement made Li Yuxiu's expression falter. Her intelligent phoenix eyes gazed at Wan Yunting, asking, "What if you can't cure the Red Demon La virus?"
"That's fine too, isn't it?"
Wan Yunting held the unlit cigarette in his mouth, shrugged, and smiled, "At worst, we start over. I don't believe that without those parasites, our TCM cannot develop. It's just a matter of time."
Li Yuxiu nodded. She was indeed shocked by the swift and decisive actions of Wan Yunting and Gu Yuanbai.
At this moment, she finally understood Wan Yunting and Gu Yuanbai's firm stance and determination for the future of TCM. No one could stop them from leading TCM towards revival!
"Sister Yuxiu, to be honest, we really need your help back in China!"
Then, Wan Yunting looked at Li Yuxiu with sincere eyes and said earnestly.
Li Yuxiu's intelligent phoenix eyes deepened. To be honest, after spending time with Wan Yunting, she finally realized that this man, nearly ten years her junior, was far superior to her in both medical skills and his determination for the future development of TCM.
Years ago, it was precisely her lack of firm resolve to change the corrupt atmosphere within the domestic TCM circle that led her to seek opportunities abroad.
Now, witnessing Wan Yunting and Gu Yuanbai's decisive actions in rectifying the corruption within the capital's TCM circles and completely reforming everything, Li Yuxiu not only felt admiration but was also moved by Wan Yunting's invitation.
She then looked up, her sharp, intelligent phoenix eyes fixed on Wan Yunting. After careful consideration, she finally nodded.
"That's great."
Seeing her agreement, Wan Yunting's face lit up with excitement. "Sister Yuxiu, with your help when you return to China, I believe we can turn the situation around quickly."
Li Yuxiu's pretty face also broke into a slight smile. "I admire your decision. I hope TCM can have a clean environment."
"It will."
Wan Yunting said with a firm smile, "As long as our goals are aligned, we will naturally lead TCM on the path to revival. No one can stop our progress."
"Mm..."
Li Yuxiu nodded, feeling quite happy. She hoped to join Wan Yunting's team and lead TCM towards revival, so that the people could truly recognize TCM and benefit from it, allowing Chinese medicine culture to flourish once again.
"Well, it's getting late, Sister Yuxiu. You should go back and rest..."
The joyful Wan Yunting couldn't help but glance at Li Yuxiu's wet pajamas twice before quickly shifting his gaze away.
Li Yuxiu finally sensed the man's gaze was not quite right. She looked down at her chest and her cheeks flushed instantly. She quickly got up, turned away, and with a faint glance at Wan Yunting from her intelligent phoenix eyes, she grabbed the prescription and hurried out.
Wan Yunting sat on the chair, awkwardly touching his nose, then shook his head and smiled.
The next day, Wan Yunting woke up early. According to the prescription he and Li Yuxiu had researched last night, he added Xing Ye Shen and began decocting the medicine in a clay pot on a row of fire stoves behind the mess hall.
The dozen soldiers infected with the virus could only rely on Bai Hu Tang and buffalo horns daily to control the spread of the virus within their bodies. However, over time, the medicinal effect naturally weakened, and the virus in their bodies gradually spread and worsened.
Therefore, Wan Yunting was anxious to research a prescription to completely control and eradicate the Red Demon La infectious virus.
Not only Wan Yunting, but also Huang Hongying, Lin Dongxiang, and their team with Huang Guoqi were anxious. Virus researchers worldwide were also in the same predicament, desperately wanting to develop a drug to completely eliminate the Red Demon La infectious virus.
Several countries surrounding Mali and some European countries had reported cases of the Red Demon La infectious virus, causing tension worldwide as everyone feared the virus spreading to their countries and causing an epidemic.
"How is it?"
Li Yuxiu arrived. Unlike Wan Yunting, she wasn't wearing a military uniform but a simple solid-colored shirt paired with denim trousers and flat shoes, which didn't detract from her excellent demeanor.
"Almost ready."
Wan Yunting, tending the stove, looked at Li Yuxiu. Neither of them seemed to recall the awkward incident from last night.
"Doctor Wan, Doctor Wan, hurry! Little Zhao is dying!"
Suddenly, a loud shout came from the isolation building.
The mess hall supervisor, Fatty Niu, also rushed over anxiously, shouting, "Doctor Wan, Little Zhao is dying, you need to come quickly..."
"Alright..."
Wan Yunting immediately stood up, asked Fatty Niu to watch the decocting medicine in the clay pot, and hurried towards the isolation building with Li Yuxiu. On the first floor, they put on protective suits and gas masks and ran upstairs. They saw Huang Hongying and Lin Dongxiang there, and Long Xingyu and the military doctor, Old Zhang, were resuscitating a young soldier on the bed.
"Doctor Wan and Doctor Li are here..."
Everyone gathered around the bed parted to make way for Wan Yunting and Li Yuxiu.
"What's the situation?"
Wan Yunting and Li Yuxiu rushed in. As they entered, the monitor immediately beeped.
The military doctor Old Zhang and Long Xingyu froze, looking at the monitor where the heart rate line had flatlined. The soldier's heart had completely stopped. Several young military doctors nearby cried out, "Little Zhao, don't sleep! Wake up..."
"Doctor Wan, Doctor Wan, please save Little Zhao!" the military doctor Old Zhang, who had recovered, shouted urgently.
Long Xingyu snapped back to reality and continued chest compressions for cardiopulmonary resuscitation on Little Zhao.
Wan Yunting was holding Little Zhao's wrist to check his pulse, but the pulse had stopped. He immediately checked the soldier's eyes; the pupils had dilated and lost their luster, meaning he was beyond saving.
Turning to see Long Xingyu still performing CPR, Wan Yunting sighed and said, "Stop. He's gone."
Long Xingyu's hands faltered. He looked up, his eyes glaring at Wan Yunting, and shouted, "Aren't you very skilled? Save him!"
"Xingyu..."
Lin Dongxiang and Huang Guoqi quickly pulled Long Xingyu aside, urging him to calm down.
"Damn it..."
Long Xingyu let out an angry roar of frustration and unwillingness. He flung off the arms of Lin Dongxiang and Zhao Peng and quickly walked outside.
Wan Yunting sighed helplessly, not taking offense at his outburst. He understood Long Xingyu's breakdown.
Not to mention him, many people present were also on the verge of collapse. Everyone felt a sense of powerlessness against the Red Demon La infectious virus, believing that it was impossible to eradicate the virus and save these young soldiers.
That feeling of powerlessness and despair had cast a pall over everyone's spirits during this period.
Everyone could understand Long Xingyu's emotional outburst and curses, and they all wanted to vent their unwillingness, but they had all managed to suppress it.