A Chain of Traps

The half-hour deadline was almost up, and Ma Zhonghua grew increasingly anxious, pacing the corridor outside the prefab isolation rooms.

Zhang Zhi sneered. "Curator Ma, worrying won't help. Misjudging someone and getting conned isn't really anything to be ashamed of."

Ma Zhonghua glanced at Zhang Zhi, not bothering to respond.

Zhang Zhi added snidely, "But if there's some sort of deal behind all this, things could get messy."

"What are you implying?" Ma Zhonghua caught the insinuation and was furious.

Zhang Zhi chuckled. "Nothing. The half hour is almost up. When it is, will you call the police, or should I?"

Ma Zhonghua snorted and refused to answer.

Of everyone present, Ye Yiming naturally had the most confidence in Luo Yang. But as the deadline approached, even he grew a little anxious, glancing now and then at the isolation room Luo Yang had entered.

Zhang Zhi checked his watch and deliberately raised his voice. "Two minutes left! Two minutes!"

He even began imagining Luo Yang's miserable appearance as the police led him away. Just picturing it made him happy.

Just then, the door to the isolation room opened, and Luo Yang stepped out.

A medical worker standing by the door sprayed him with a little disinfectant.

Everyone's eyes turned to Luo Yang.

Ma Zhonghua could no longer worry about anything else. He hurried over and asked anxiously, "Luo, how did it go?"

Luo Yang sighed. "Difficult. Really difficult."

Ma Zhonghua's heart sank. "You failed?"

Luo Yang did not respond. He merely lowered his head, looking dejected.

"You little con artist! With that pathetic ability, you thought you could swindle me out of five hundred thousand? I'm telling you, you're in serious trouble!" Zhang Zhi was positively delighted.

Luo Yang ignored Zhang Zhi as well, but turned toward the doorway and said, "Mr. Shi, come on out. Everyone's waiting to see you."

"Coming."

A middle-aged man stepped through the doorway. It was Shi Fei, the archaeological team's artifact restorer. His complexion was rosy, and he looked full of energy, nothing like a patient infected with a virus.

The smile vanished from Zhang Zhi's face.

Ma Zhonghua was beside himself with joy. "Ha! A true miracle doctor! He cured him as soon as he stepped in. Some people couldn't even identify the cause, yet still dared to question Divine Doctor Luo's medical skills. They really ought to take a good look in the mirror and reflect on themselves."

He threw back every bit of the aggravation he had just endured.

"That's impossible!" Zhang Zhi refused to accept this outcome and quickly found a new angle of attack. "Just because the patient can walk doesn't mean he's cured. Viruses are invisible. We need tests to confirm it!"

Luo Yang sighed again. "Chief Zhang, is admitting defeat really so difficult?"

Zhang Zhi snapped, "I haven't lost! Don't think I can't see through your tricks. You can't fool me!"

Luo Yang smiled. "I knew you'd try to welsh on the bet. Mr. Shi, why don't you tell everyone how you're feeling now?"

Shi Fei obligingly nodded. After a brief silence, he said, "It felt very strange. Before Divine Doctor Luo cured me, I felt as though I were in a dream, but the dream had no substance. I couldn't remember a single detail. I was anxious and frightened, and I felt as if I were dying. Now I'm better. I feel alive again. In any case, thank you, Divine Doctor Luo."

After speaking, he took the initiative to reach out with both hands and shake Luo Yang's hand.

The local medical staff from Luo City applauded.

A gratified smile appeared on Ye Yiming's aged face, and he felt a trace of smug satisfaction.

My daughter really knows how to pick them!

"I don't accept this!" Zhang Zhi suddenly lost control of his emotions. "This has to be a scam! I demand a comprehensive examination of the patient!"

Luo Yang shrugged helplessly.

Shi Fei frowned. "You demand an examination, so I have to submit to one? Who do you think you are?"

The retort left Zhang Zhi choking on his anger. He took a deep breath before he could suppress it. "This... this involves a crime. You can't refuse just because you want to!"

Luo Yang smiled and said, "Everyone, take a good look. Our friends from Huaxi Hospital, you should look closely too. This is the kind of character your Chief Zhang has. Honoring a bet is basic decency. Are you really willing to throw away your integrity over a mere five hundred thousand?"

"You!" Zhang Zhi had only just swallowed his anger, but Luo Yang's provocation sent it rushing straight to his head. He nearly burst a blood vessel!

Luo Yang changed tack. "Chief Zhang, how about this? Let's sign another betting agreement. I can persuade Mr. Shi to undergo a comprehensive examination. This time, we'll wager a million. If Mr. Shi has no virus in his body and is healthy, the million goes to me. If your judgment is correct and this is a trick I'm using to deceive people, you can do whatever you like with me. What do you say?"

Zhang Zhi's lips trembled, but this time he said nothing.

He suddenly realized that this brat wasn't satisfied with swindling him out of five hundred thousand. He wanted to swindle another million out of him!

He even suspected that the brat's dejected look when he first came out had been an act put on for his benefit. After tricking him once, he wanted to trick him a second time!

"Chief Zhang, if you won't sign a new betting agreement, then the five hundred thousand is mine, and you'll have to leave. I don't want someone standing around sabotaging me while I work," Luo Yang said.

Zhang Zhi snapped, "Brat, we were sent here by our superiors to support Luo City. You think we'll leave just because you tell us to? Who do you think you are?"

Luo Yang smiled calmly. "You've added a 'we' where it doesn't belong. I meant you, not the other specialists from Huaxi Hospital. If you insist on staying, I'll leave. Then they'll have to invite me back, and you'll still have to go. So you might as well show a little backbone and leave on your own, rather than embarrass yourself again later."

Zhang Zhi felt as if his lungs would burst with anger. But Luo Yang stood before him like a six-sided fortress, without even a crack to exploit, let alone breach.

After standing stunned for several seconds, Zhang Zhi said nothing. He abruptly turned and walked toward the main entrance.

In that brief span, it felt as though the entire world had betrayed him and taken the opposing side. He felt utterly lonely and desolate. Two tears rolled from the corners of his eyes and slid silently down his cheeks.

A man did not shed tears lightly; he simply had not yet been hurt deeply enough.

But, but... this was just too cruel!

Watching Zhang Zhi walk away, Luo Yang felt an inexplicable pang of conscience.

Had I gone a little too far?

I won five hundred thousand from him and made him cry. A grown man like that-how long would it take him to recover from the emotional damage?

"Luo, what's your next step?" Ma Zhonghua came over to ask.

Only then did Luo Yang look away. "I'll keep treating the patients. Once they're cured, take me to that Sacrificial Pit. That's the key to solving this problem."

"No problem," Ma Zhonghua said readily.

Luo Yang headed toward another prefab isolation room.

It was Bai Jing's room.