Medicine

47%.

Chen Chong looked at the number before him and thought:

The progress is so-so. It's getting slower and slower. I feel like I'm getting "sick" of the cafeteria food.

The cafeteria's meals were ordinary in both flavor and nutrition, naturally. Their one advantage was that there was plenty of food, and if that still wasn't enough, he could always make up the difference with Nutrient Paste.

Even so, the three daily meals were still his main source of nourishment. Chen Chong planned to put some money into his cafeteria account and get a share of better ingredients.

But he already had a plan for the most important use of that money.

Following Yu Feng's directions, Chen Chong arrived at the Park's Infirmary, a single-story building a little over two hundred meters west of the Fighter Dormitory.

"What's bothering you?"

A middle-aged doctor wearing a mask asked him.

The doctor's manner was no different from those Chen Chong had seen at hospitals in the city. Chen Chong looked him over, then said:

"Nothing's bothering me. I'm here to buy supplements. Do you have E-2?"

"Oh, we do."

The doctor perked up and started to reach for the medicine behind the counter.

"Wait a moment. Let me look at the list first."

Chen Chong stopped him and took a laminated, color-printed list. It showed a range of nutritional supplements, each with pictures and descriptions.

Yu Feng had directly recommended E-2, but Chen Chong wanted to take a look first.

"E Series nutritional supplements, basic nutrients developed by Dawn Biology. They can greatly improve immunity, increase metabolic efficiency, improve organ function, and strengthen muscle fibers..."

After a string of promotional claims, he finally got to the important part:

"Suitable for fighters who have yet to enter the next realm. Can accelerate bone strengthening."

Then came E-1 through E-4, with each one more effective than the last. However, they didn't have E-3 or E-4 here, and even if they had, Chen Chong couldn't afford them.

Those were high-end E Series products, costing at least five figures. Even in the city, demand outstripped supply.

Chen Chong glanced over the other supplements. Most were products from Dawn Biology.

The "Bright Light" Series could improve eyesight, while the "Big Tree" Series activated a second growth spurt. There was even the A Series, which comprehensively enhanced physical conditioning and was effective even for high-realm fighters...

Most were out of stock. After all, this wasn't some major pharmacy.

Chen Chong looked them over. E-2 really was the most suitable for him.

It was only available as a drink: one ten-milliliter bottle for 6,800 yuan at the internal price.

Chen Chong paid for it. After receiving the slender, finger-length brown bottle, he took a look, put it away, and quickly left.

Back in his dorm room, Chen Chong shut the door and took out the nutritional supplement again.

In this world, nutritional supplements from biotechnology companies were almost indispensable for fighters who wanted to climb higher.

They might sound impressive, but in practice, they were no fundamentally different from protein powder for working out or medicinal powders and pills for traditional martial arts. They all replenished and strengthened what the body needed; the only difference was their form.

But nutritional supplements in liquid form didn't even differ in form.

Still, this was a product of modern technology—or, more accurately, Central City technology. Who could say whether what circulated in the Wasteland was real or fake? Whether it was inferior stuff passed off as the genuine article? It was hard to tell.

Even at Thunder Dragon, a major Park, fighters had bought fake medicine and dropped dead after taking it.

It was a rare occurrence, but it did happen. And while the chance of dropping dead was low, the likelihood of side effects was high. As a result, many fighters were wary of these supplements.

Chen Chong, however, didn't care.

At worst, it wouldn't work. He trusted his own digestive system.

As long as it wasn't just water, it would do him some good.

"Nutritional supplements aren't just for improving my realm. They must contain a lot of energy, right?"

Chen Chong was looking forward to it. How much would this little vial, which had left his wallet almost empty, improve his talent?

The power of the First Form had completely changed his circumstances. He had been looking forward to the Second Form for a long time.

He didn't wait any longer. He unscrewed the cap, tipped back his head, and drank it all in one gulp.

"Brother Zhang, have you heard anything?"

In Lichuan, at the Factory 139 staff dormitory, inside the Shen Family home,

Shen Jianping held the receiver and spoke in a low voice.

Chen Liping, wearing an apron, stood beside him with her hands clenched tightly together. She unconsciously slowed her breathing, her face tense with worry.

A buzzing sound came from the other end of the line:

"Who is this? Jianping? Heard anything? About what?"

Shen Jianping frowned.

"My nephew..."

"Oh, right, right. Hey, I've had a bit too much to drink."

Brother Zhang laughed awkwardly.

"I asked around for you today. Well, I've got some news. But... this is going to be difficult."

His voice trailed off.

Shen Jianping's spirits lifted at first, but then he said solemnly:

"Brother Zhang, thanks for the effort! I know this is a tough matter. You've gone to a lot of trouble for me, and I'll make sure to thank you properly!"

"Come on, why are you saying that? What kind of relationship do we have? No need to thank me. Your nephew's in trouble—how could I not help? It's just that, if it were only a matter of me putting in some effort, I definitely wouldn't charge you a cent. But this involves a lot of people. I had to go through two intermediaries to get the news, and they had to ask other people, and then..."

"Brother Zhang, I understand. I'm already grateful you were able to find out anything. Just tell me how much, so I can give them a thank-you payment."

Worried about what might have happened, Shen Jianping cut straight through the other man's roundabout hints.

"Ahaha, Jianping, you're a straightforward man! I've been Uncle Zhang for half my life, and this is the first time I've seen an uncle-in-law like you!"

"Brother Zhang, just tell me how much you need. I'll get it ready as soon as I can."

"Hey, it's not about how much I need. It's them..."

"Right, right, it's them. I spoke too quickly, Brother Zhang."

Shen Jianping hurriedly corrected himself, taking care not to offend him.

"Mm, that's more like it. Hic."

A drunken hiccup came through the phone, followed by a soft click, as if someone had flicked a lighter.

"Let me see... Mm, they say the information is worth one—a hundred bills."

One? A hundred bills?

That meant one hundred hundred-yuan bills: ten thousand yuan.

Shen Jianping fell silent. Chen Liping's mind went blank.

Their income was decent, but they had three children to raise, so there wasn't much they could save.

Ten thousand yuan was already an enormous burden for them.

It wasn't that they couldn't come up with it, but this was only to buy a piece of information. Everything was just beginning.

"But... Brother Zhang, you know my family's situation. Could you—"

"No haggling. They never haggle."

Zhang Quan's voice came through, cool and firm.

Chen Liping looked at Shen Jianping with reddened eyes. He glanced back at his wife's expression, fell silent for a moment, then said decisively:

"All right. Brother Zhang, should I bring you the money now..."

"Hey, Jianping, you're too polite. It's so late—how unsafe would it be outside? Just give it to me at work tomorrow."

Zhang Quan finished speaking and was about to hang up, but Shen Jianping hurriedly called out:

"Brother Zhang! Wait. But where is my nephew... exactly? The boy's been missing for so long. I'm really worried."

There was a brief silence on the other end. Then came a cool reply:

"Call me back in five minutes."

The call ended. Chen Liping stepped forward and took her husband's hand.

"Jianping..."

Shen Jianping patted her hand reassuringly.

"Don't worry. We'll find Chen Chong and bring him home. I'll pay whatever it takes!"

Five minutes later, Shen Jianping immediately dialed Zhang Quan's number. Then he heard the wonderful words from the other end of the line:

"We found him."