Chapter Seventy-Four: The Rescue

Baolong, Lingmei, and Xiaomei listened to Music narrate Wu Ming’s latest ordeal. They were on the verge of collapse. “What should we do? What should we do?” The three of them stared at Music, desperate for a solution.

“Oh, stop looking at me like that! I don’t know either…” Music pouted, tapping her index fingers together in embarrassment, clearly out of ideas.

“Senior Brother? Why aren’t you turning on the light… Is there a blackout? Senior Brother?” At this moment, Wu Ming was already blind and deaf, fumbling around with his hands. “Senior Brother? Say something, will you?”

Baolong shrugged helplessly. “What now, Sect Leader? I can’t take the fall for this!” With that, he helped Wu Ming onto the bed.

“We have three options,” Xiaomei said. “First, we find the Time Hunter and trade her for the antidote, but that would be a disgrace to our sect—and besides, this Qin Qing is…” She paused. “Second, we could go to the Spirit World for the antidote. I remember the hot blood from the heart of the Nine-Tailed Celestial Fox can cure all poisons, but only the Sect Leader’s Mountain Sea Mirror could handle its power. And given how foul the Sect Leader smells now, there’s no way we can bring him along…” Xiaomei shook her head at Wu Ming, then continued, “The third way is to use the Divine Mirror of Time to turn back the clock—but who among us can activate it? And most importantly, the Sect Leader only has five days left to live!”

Music nodded gravely. “Time is our biggest enemy now. The Sect Leader only has five days left… If we’re unlucky, it could be four…”

“What? Only four days? This flesh-and-blood Tang Monk is really…” Lingmei fretted anxiously. “I’ll go find the Nine-Tailed Fox for some of her blood. Music, come with me. Director Baolong, you stay and take care of the Sect Leader. Xiaomei, you go after the Time Hunter!” Lingmei issued orders with the authority of a true leader.

“Sigh, it’s the only way. I hope your enchanting ways get results. When this is over, those two pests must pay.” Xiaomei accepted Lingmei’s instructions with a gloomy expression.

Music, though reluctant, could only follow suit, muttering, “When it’s time to charge into danger and risk our lives, you never forget me…” But seeing Baolong left behind to care for the reeking Sect Leader, Music could only tag along after Lingmei, heading out to the Spirit World.

Just as everyone was about to spring into action, two burly men in suits appeared before them—Long San and Long Wu.

Music’s eyes immediately recognized them. “Look, they’re here…”

“Ah, I heard the Sect Leader is unwell, so I brought some miraculous medicine to visit,” Long San said politely. “How is your Sect Leader?” Just as he finished, a melodious sound came from inside the room—

“Pfft… pfft…” A stench accompanied the sound, so foul it nearly suffocated everyone.

Long Wu instinctively pinched his nose, but at a sharp glance from Long San, he hurriedly dropped his hand—military discipline was clearly strict.

“We heard and came quickly. This is our latest technology, it might help…” Long San gestured to his briefcase as he entered the room. Xiaomei rushed to assist.

Inside the bag was a sophisticated lockbox. With a fingerprint and iris scan, Long San opened it, revealing a syringe and a vial of blue liquid—crystal-clear, as if alive.

“What is this?” Lingmei demanded, unwilling to trust anyone else with Wu Ming’s fate.

“It’s a quantum medicine. It permeates every cell in the body, stabilizing or removing toxins.” As Long San explained, he drew the liquid into the syringe. “Roll up Mr. Wu’s sleeve!”

Baolong, prepared, complied. As Long San injected the medicine, Wu Ming gave a faint murmur and passed out.

“What’s happening? Why did he faint? Is the medicine safe?” Baolong fired off three anxious questions.

Long San flipped the briefcase, which transformed into a computer. A humanoid figure appeared on the screen. “Initiating toxin removal! Long Wu, bring a bucket. The rest of you, hold down Mr. Wu—his reaction will be intense!”

Everyone nodded and moved into position.

The screen displayed dozens of probes. Long San, as if playing a game, tapped at the black, red, and blue dots. Wu Ming thrashed wildly—the usually sturdy Baolong was kicked away, Music took a headbutt that left a lump, and Xiaomei suffered a bloody scratch down her arm. Only Lingmei, ruthless as ever, pinned Wu Ming’s hand beneath her foot, showing no mercy to the patient.

“I can’t hold him!” Baolong gasped, overwhelmed by Wu Ming’s violent struggle. It was as if Wu Ming was unleashing some ultimate technique, threatening to take their lives.

Music, tears streaming down her face, gritted her teeth. “You fat fool, shut up! If you’re so tough, you take the head!” Baolong dared not protest further—Wu Ming, eyes blood-red, looked ready to bite.

Xiaomei glared daggers at Baolong, who was nearly in tears from frustration. Lingmei, unfazed, scolded, “It’s just a kick to the face and a bit of a nosebleed. Be a man and endure it!” With nowhere to vent, Baolong could only bow his head and clamp down on Wu Ming’s legs, only to take another kick to the face.

Meanwhile, Long San was drenched in sweat. The medicine, a quantum robot, scanned Wu Ming’s body and tried to forcefully clear the toxins. But Wu Ming was riddled with poison; whenever a toxin was targeted, it would shift, playing hide-and-seek with Long San. Progress slowed as he had to lock onto every cell—billions and billions of them. The computer never tired, but it was time-consuming, and Wu Ming suffered greatly.

After half an hour, the process was complete. Long San pressed the purge button and called out, “Hold him tight! Long Wu, the bucket!”

Music, Xiaomei, and Lingmei, already channeling their spiritual energy to restrain Wu Ming, braced themselves. Baolong, caught off guard, was kicked a meter away as Long San pressed the button. Quick-thinking, Long Wu handed Baolong the bucket and pinned Wu Ming’s legs himself.

Wu Ming thrashed on the bed, roaring like a mythical beast. The others, drenched in sweat, used all their strength to hold him down. After ten brutal minutes, Wu Ming finally quieted.

“The bucket! Hurry, let Mr. Wu vomit into it!” Long San directed Baolong.

But Baolong, probably dizzy from the stench, reacted a second too late. Half of Wu Ming’s vomit landed on his head, the rest in the bucket. The stench was even worse than before.

Gagging, Baolong threw up as well.

After expelling the foul liquid, Wu Ming’s face looked much better, and the stench was gone. As everyone was about to cheer, they realized a problem—Wu Ming was still blind and deaf.

“What…?” Lingmei looked at Long San with deep concern.

Long San explained calmly, “The poison afflicting Mr. Wu is unprecedented. Our technology can clear the toxins from his body, but the damage already done appears irreversible. I’m sorry, there’s nothing more we can do.” Shaking his head, Long San began packing up his equipment. “Let Mr. Wu rest for now. If we find another way, we’ll return.” With that, Long San and Long Wu took their leave, while Music, Xiaomei, Lingmei, and Baolong escorted them out of the room.