That evening, the trending news about the gas explosion at Jici Hospital appeared across the media platforms of Yacheng and even all of Haizhou, sparking heated discussion.
An entire half of the outpatient building had collapsed in the blast, while the other buildings had also suffered varying degrees of damage.
The hidden dangers and negligence threatening public safety prompted the public to reflect collectively.
In the end, the matter temporarily came to a close when the relevant municipal officials held a press conference and bowed in apology.
What surprised everyone was that, despite such a serious accident occurring in a hospital, only one doctor had actually died.
It was reported that the deceased, Mr. Lawrence, had worked at Jici Hospital for seven years. He had been diligent and devoted, with a benevolent heart and miraculous hands. To have encountered such a calamity without warning was truly lamentable.
On this matter, Mr. Ji Jue—a renowned exam-machine at Yacheng's Tianmen University, an unknown commentator, a direct victim of the accident, and someone unwilling to reveal his name—stated:
"Meow, pop the champagne!"
Unfortunately, although it had been a good death, there was no champagne to pop.
After suffering such a major accident, Jici Hospital was forced to enter a period of maintenance and repairs.
Fortunately, the City Hall, which ordinarily did nothing but bow and could not even fart, had unexpectedly played the role of a timely rainmaker. It transferred the inpatients to other hospitals and paid part of the treatment costs, an amount utterly insignificant to those lords. There were not many patients, but it felt as though the sun had risen in the west.
When Ji Jue lay in a clean private room, he felt flattered beyond belief. Then, without the slightest hesitation, he polished off four luxurious nutritional meals in a single day!
Two days later, Wen Wen suddenly came knocking and asked, "The outpatient building I accidentally punched half to pieces will cost only a little over eight million to rebuild. But for some reason, all the electric scooters and cars in the two parking lots were totaled, with losses exceeding twenty million. I don't know why, but do you have any idea what happened?"
Ji Jue declared, "I'm a victim too. My head was injured, and I've lost my memory. You're asking me? How the hell would I know?"
"The secondhand electric scooter I bought from Lu Feng last year was practically brand-new—ninety-nine percent new, previously used by a girl—and now it's gone!"
"Did I say anything?"
In any case, admitting it was absolutely impossible. He had shed blood for the Federation and taken bullets for Yacheng—how could he endure such slander? It must have been that bastard Lawrence!
Besides, he had acted out of a righteous heart. Hadn't he merely seen Wen Wen standing alone and outnumbered against the forces of darkness and evil, then stepped forward out of loyalty?
If he had known she was so powerful and so awesome, to the point where she was almost capable of striking out eighteen dragons with a single palm, then Ji Jue... well, he probably would still have done it.
Fighting felt great!
Fighting nonstop felt great nonstop!
It was just that the matter had somehow grown so serious in the end that Ji Jue could not help worrying. "You didn't get punished, did you?"
"Punished? What punishment would I get?"
Wen Wen sneered and flicked her cigarette ash out the window. "Do you really think I'm the one who has to pay this little bit of money? Do you believe that if blowing up half a hospital's outpatient building could take down a Shepherd of the Dragon Offering Society, then tomorrow the Security Bureau could bulldoze every hospital in all of Yacheng?
"Besides, overturning the conspiracy and attack of a terrorist organization, saving tens of thousands of people in the North Mountain District from harm, and smashing a Shepherd's dog head, all while suffering losses this tiny? The Governor would probably laugh in his sleep.
"After this operation, the entire Yacheng Security Bureau won't have to worry about its KPI for the year. If those idiots weren't at odds with me, they'd definitely have to kneel and kowtow to me!
"The ones who stood around watching the fun back then are probably regretting it so badly their intestines have turned green. If they'd joined in even a little, such an enormous accomplishment wouldn't have fallen into my pocket alone."
"Accomplishment? What accomplishment? Is there a bonus?"
Ji Jue's eyes lit up. He began wriggling around on the bed, then moved closer with a smile as eager as a licking dog. "Don't say we should split the spoils half-and-half—I contributed too, team leader!
"I have DKP! You can't leave me out of the loot roll!"
"Nothing."
Wen Wen shrugged regretfully and fished around in her empty pockets. "The things issued to me are useless to you, and you can't get any of the Security Bureau's internal benefits. But..."
She paused, then smiled. "Lawrence did have a bounty on his head."
"How much?"
Ji Jue's eyes shone even brighter. "To be perfectly honest, I love this kind of worldly possession!"
"Let me calculate. The Federation Security Bureau put up more than ten million. Not too much. The Empire offered more than forty million, and those lunatics at the hospital also put up quite a bit, though they wanted him alive... Anyway, with all the miscellaneous rewards added together, it's all here."
As she spoke, she pulled a sheet of paper from the pocket at her chest.
The number—more than fifty-three million—instantly blinded Ji Jue's dog eyes!
Unfortunately, it was not a check.
It was a donation form.
The North Mountain District Security Bureau office had donated it to the Chongguang Charity Foundation, which had operated Jici Hospital all along, explicitly designating it as a special donation for the restoration and reconstruction of Jici Hospital.
Ji Jue stared blankly for a long while, then suddenly felt that this was not so bad.
Although Lawrence had committed countless evils over the years, that did not mean Jici was a devil's den. To the many patients who had no money and nowhere left to turn, a charity hospital like this might be their last lifeline. At a critical moment, even the shortest lifeline could still save a life!
Besides, fifty million looked like a lot, but Ji Jue could not spend it all on wining, dining, and debauchery even by himself. To a place like a hospital, it was barely a drop in the bucket. Build a new building, add two new sets of equipment and instruments, and the money would vanish in an instant.
As the old saying went, split the spoils half-and-half when you meet.
After rounding up and down, didn't that mean he had effectively donated more than twenty million to charity too?
Although he was still dirt-poor, he was at least a certified Chosen One now. Was he supposed to worry about not being able to make money? He would not even need to fret over his student loans anymore, right? At worst, if he were truly driven into a dead end, couldn't he just cover his face, hit a couple of ATMs, and have everything he needed?
Seeing Ji Jue clutching the deposit slip and celebrating his poverty, Wen Wen, who had not seen the reaction she expected, instead felt bored. She shook her head, took out a bag from beside her, and handed it over.
"Forget it. I won't tease you anymore."
She said, "This is the thing meant for you."
"Oh, how could I possibly accept this? Ah↑ ah↓ ah→ ah..."
Watching this grandson put on an affected show of refusal while clinging desperately to the bag, Wen Wen could not resist the urge to give him a good Big Cunt. At a time like this, couldn't he show at least a little noble integrity?
"You've spent too much, you've spent too much. Actually, I don't care about these things. Sister Wen, you understand me. When it comes to being a person, I value nothing more than selflessness; what I uphold is dedication..."
Though he kept rambling, Ji Jue's hands never stopped. The moment he unzipped the bag, he saw a box inside. He opened it and said, "It's a necklace. The design is pretty distinctive!"
Only after giving his habitual compliment did he suddenly realize what he was looking at. He raised his head in shock and looked toward Wen Wen.
Something was wrong.
Twelve hundred thousand percent wrong!
They had known each other for less than a week, yet she had given him a watch and now jewelry too... What was she trying to do?
Were women out in society really so full of schemes?
He was terrified that he might feel around inside next and find a set of car keys. What would he do then? The main issue was that he felt his moral bottom line could not withstand such a test!
He was so afraid that after falling into depravity, he would end up waking every day in a seaside villa, stuffing himself with food and drink, champagne, and luxury cars.
"What are you thinking about?!"
Wen Wen rolled her eyes. Unable to endure it any longer, she slapped him on the back of the head, then slapped him again. "This is something that fellow from the Dragon Offering Society left behind. I have no use for it, so I'm giving it to you. Take it if you want it. If you don't, I'll take it back!"
"Don't, don't! Wasn't I just moved?"
Ji Jue hurriedly covered the bag and smiled apologetically. "The warmth I've felt in Yacheng throughout my entire life doesn't compare to what I've felt in the two days since meeting Sister Wen. My Little Pearl is practically about to fall out."
As he spoke, he happily examined the pendant in his hand.
Another batch of gold coins dropped by Lawrence!
As the saying went, when a whale fell, all things flourished. Ji Jue had originally thought Lawrence's death was a wonderful thing, but he had not expected Lawrence to keep dying better and better! Hopefully, more people like him would die in the future—ideally one every workday and two on holidays.
The tiny necklace was about the size of the first joint of a little finger. Set into its base was what appeared to be a fragment from some statue, glittering gold. It had been carved into half a face, with only the lips remaining complete. They wore a meaningful smile, seeming sorrowful and joyful at once, mysterious and solemn, like a god.
In the Security Bureau's appraisal files, it was called the Mouth of the Ancient One.
It had originally been an ancient alchemical artifact unearthed in Central Earth by the Empire.
According to expert research, its records might date back to before the Calamity Era. It may have been crafted during the Central Empire's heyday in imitation of the emperor's majesty, a sacred object specially enshrined in temples.
Simply put, it was a figurine.
Of course, anything that had inspired so many people to kneel and worship it was certainly no ordinary figurine. It was probably the sort that could casually fetch several hundred million once put up for auction, right?
It looked awesome!
Unfortunately, the object had originally been complete, but it was later damaged in a struggle over it, scattering its fragments in all directions.
Even as a fragment, it still possessed special abilities.
What it represented was self-healing.
It could accelerate wound repair, purge toxins, and eliminate abnormal conditions.
Equipment of this type was always in the highest demand. After all, no one could guarantee they would never suffer so much as a bump or bruise while out in the world. One could never have too many life-saving items.
In the hands of a Chosen One like Lawrence, with Matrix compatibility and proper use, even regrowing a severed arm would not be beyond it. Although Ji Jue did not possess the [Vortex] Matrix, drawing out two or three tenths of its effects would be enough.
"After Spiritual Substance is infused into it, it can accelerate wound repair or stabilize injuries. But its ability works by promoting cell division, and using it too often will shorten your lifespan. So I suggest you don't use it recklessly. Wearing it provides an effect anyway."
Wen Wen reminded him, "The side effect is that you'll get hungry much faster after being injured, and your appetite will increase severalfold. Keep that in mind."
"It's fine. I get hungry quickly anyway. I'll just count eating more as an extra meal."
Ji Jue happily put it on, completely unconcerned. The nutritional meals here were free and self-service, after all. He was not paying out of pocket. Before he was discharged, he was determined to eat the cafeteria clean!
"Take this seriously. This thing is meant to keep you alive."
Wen Wen's expression turned solemn. "I just received the Security Bureau's on-site survey results today. The Dragon Blood contamination has been completely cleared. Hardly any remains, and it can be entirely ignored."
"Huh? Isn't that a good thing?" Ji Jue was dumbfounded.
After all, according to Wen Wen, that Dragon Blood stuff could make ordinary people who merely smelled it fall into madness and transform into all kinds of bizarre ghosts.
Now that it had been cleaned up, didn't that mean everything was safe and sound?
Before you continue