"Oh. Alas, it's a bit unaccustomed to transition from caring for others to being cared for!"
"Be content! Cough cough cough... In the past, we couldn't even dream of enjoying such comfort!"
"That's true, let's just treat it as a vacation!"
"Now that's more like it! Cough cough cough..."
As they chatted and lightened up, the two felt much better, and the dark energy on their backs lessened slightly.
Liu Sandao walked out of the hospital with Bai Suxiang. Bai Suxiang wasn't wearing a mask.
"No mask?"
"Masks are unavailable, and the hospital isn't selling them anymore!"
"Oh."
Liu Sandao replied softly.
Just then, something dark and dense suddenly lunged at Bai Suxiang.
"Get away!"
Liu Sandao shouted and pulled Bai Suxiang behind him.
What approached was an oblivious soul.
Liu Sandao "swished" his hand, striking it.
"Hee hee hee!"
Instead of a scream, the thing emitted a strange sound...
In an instant, it dissipated into several wisps of black energy.
Liu Sandao had expected his full-force attack to completely destroy it.
But to his surprise, the clumps of black energy slowly drifted away. About ten meters from him, they suddenly reformed into their original shape and then swiftly floated off.
"Ah, what's happening?"
Bai Suxiang exclaimed in alarm.
Liu Sandao was also startled. This soul couldn't be fought directly. If this continued, there would only be more of them.
He let out a long sigh. The gloom that had dissipated earlier gathered in his heart again.
"Let's go, we'll talk about it after we get back!"
Liu Sandao said.
Bai Suxiang nodded.
...
In the hospital director's office, Jin Zhong sat opposite Director Li.
After a moment, Jin Zhong spoke, "If you hadn't stopped me that day, I would have blurted it out!"
"Alas, you saw the reporters' demeanor, they looked like they wanted to eat people! Without instructions from the higher-ups and solid evidence, unauthorized release of information would lead to accountability!"
"Accountability, accountability! In the end, we... alas!"
Jin Zhong sighed as he spoke.
He had dedicated his life to this field. Now, in his twilight years, he had become timid.
"Ring ring! Ring ring!"
At this moment, the office telephone rang.
Director Li picked it up:
"Hello, what is it?"
"Director, please come quickly, several more cases! They only passed through Guozhuang Market and got infected! And other cities across the country are also discovering cases on trains passing through Sandong City!"
"This... alright, alright, we're coming over immediately!"
Director Li said, standing up. "Let's go and see these new cases!"
Hearing this, Jin Zhong immediately stood up, "Yes, let's go!"
In the hospital's isolation ward, they met the patients. The situation was the same as the previous cases: severe coughing, but otherwise stable.
While they were busy, bad news arrived.
The condition of the first infected patient in the isolation ward took a sharp turn for the worse. They were fine in the morning, but by noon, they suddenly developed a fever of 40 degrees Celsius. Ordinary cold and fever medication had no effect, and they were now in intensive care.
"What?"
Upon hearing the report, Director Li frowned and said.
"No, we must report this no matter what. This situation is too obvious to ignore. If measures aren't taken soon, more people will be infected! Then, it won't just be a treatment issue; it will plunge Sandong City into chaos!"
Jin Zhong's attitude became resolute.
He had lived a long life and had few worries. If necessary, he would take responsibility.
"This... alright, I'll call Minister Gao and report to him!"
Director Li hesitated for a moment before saying.
"Good, call him immediately!"
Jin Zhong urged.
"Hello, Minister Gao, this is Li..."
Director Li reported the situation they had just discovered and relayed his and Professor Jin Zhong's recommendations.
Minister Gao on the other end of the line clearly hesitated. The call went silent for at least half a minute.
It was evident that the virus was now spreading from person to person, and at a faster rate than initially anticipated.
According to Director Li and Jin Zhong, the virus might be present in the air throughout Sandong City.
Minister Gao had some understanding of such matters. Viruses spreading through the respiratory tract were common, like influenza.
He was not unaware of these issues.
What needed careful consideration was: once this decision was made, he would bear the brunt of the responsibility.
His current position was the result of decades of hard work, and any misstep could negate it all. Further promotion would be virtually impossible.
But the current problem was, even if he suppressed this news, a single mistake could lead to more than just losing his job; he might even end up in prison.
His mind raced, weighing the pros and cons of the situation repeatedly.
"Minister Gao, Minister Gao, are you still listening? Are you still listening?"
Director Li repeated, unsure if Minister Gao was still listening on the other end.
"Yes, yes, I am!"
After a long pause, Minister Gao responded.
"So, about this matter?"
"Uh, for now, please don't worry about it. I will report it to the higher-ups in person and strive to disclose this situation to the public as soon as possible!"
"Alright, it must be as soon as possible. We will take measures to isolate all infected individuals!"
Director Li also relayed what the hospital intended to do.
"Yes, alright! That's all!"
Minister Gao said, then hung up the phone.
"How was it?"
Jin Zhong asked anxiously.
"He said to leave it to the higher-ups to make arrangements. We should focus on researching how to treat these cases!"
Director Li said, shifting the conversation to the patients.
Jin Zhong didn't press further, knowing that any discussion would ultimately lead back to treating the illness.
The two then began to discuss treatment strategies.
Meanwhile, on the other end of the line, Minister Gao, with a touch of unease, entered the Ministry of State Security. This department was responsible for all national security matters in China, including the spread of diseases.
Their disease control department was directly under the leadership of the Ministry of State Security.
He had already informed his superior about the matter he needed to report, so his superior was waiting in his office to hear his report.
"Hmm, if that's the case, why haven't measures been taken?"
"Alas, yes. But we were afraid that doing so would cause public panic. Then..."
Minister Gao reported with reservations.
"Hmm, haven't you assessed it? Is there any better solution to this matter?"