"This is the room we've arranged for you. The white coat and medical supplies are on the table."
The person in charge of the seafood market pointed to the open door and smiled.
"Please stay in this room. I'll arrange for one of our staff to come over later."
Shen Heng glanced at the white coats hanging on the bookshelf and the medical supplies on the desk, then looked at the middle-aged man.
"Okay, I understand. Thank you for your help!"
"No, it's me who's troubling you!" the middle-aged man said with a smile. "If there's nothing else, I'll go over and arrange for people to come over."
Shen Heng nodded and then went inside.
After putting on his white coat, Shen Heng walked behind his desk and sat down.
He leaned back in his chair, closed his eyes, and listened intently to the sounds around him.
"Let me tell you, this batch of grouper is incredibly fresh! It only arrived at the dock at 3 a. m. and wasn't transported out until 5 a. m..."
"Look at those gills, so red, you can tell at a glance..."
"Brother Chen, the ice machine in cold storage room number three is broken again, it's almost time..."
"Hey, Che Kai! I've been complaining to you for ages, and this water pipe still just won't get fixed, right? Every day, when it comes to collecting payment, you're like you're killing me, but as soon as I ask you to..."
All sorts of sounds rang in Shen Heng's ears.
He didn't open his eyes until he heard footsteps stop outside the door.
"Knock knock--"
A knock sounded on the door, Shen Heng calmly said:
"Come in."
The door opened with a click, and a middle-aged man walked in.
"Doctor."
"Hmm." Shen Heng nodded and pointed to the chair opposite the desk.
"Sit down, then place your hands on the table and stretch them out; it'll be fine in a second."
"Okay, sure." The middle-aged man nodded and did as Shen Heng instructed.
Shen Heng raised his hand to hold the uncle's hand still, then took a lancet from the medical supplies next to him.
"It might hurt a little, but just bear with it," Shen Heng reminded him.
"Yes, I know, I've had my blood drawn before," the uncle said with a hearty laugh.
"Besides, it's okay even if you don't say anything. What man can't stand such a little pain?"
Shen Heng nodded, showing no intention of engaging in idle chatter with the older man.
The Origin Power covered the blood-collecting needle and was used to prick the uncle's finger.
"Hiss--"
The middle-aged man gasped, his body shivering involuntarily.
As the lancet was removed, a large drop of blood quickly gushed from the man's finger.
Shen Heng pretended to pick up a test strip, smeared it with blood, and then released his left hand that was holding the uncle's arm in place.
"No, doctor, I just felt a chill all over my body. I've never felt this before when I had blood drawn!" The uncle looked at Shen Heng with some confusion.
"It's probably because you've been feeling weak lately. Just go back and replenish your energy," Shen Heng said without changing his expression.
"Is... is that so?" The middle-aged man's expression became somewhat unnatural.
"Yes, that's right."
Shen Heng nodded, placed the test strip in the medical kit, and then looked at the middle-aged man.
"If there's nothing else, you can go out."
"Okay, okay!"
The man nodded and then walked out.
A skeptical muttering came from outside the door.
"Am I really that weak lately? I guess I'll have to eat more seahorse when I get back..."
Is this considered a way to boost consumption?... Shen Heng pondered.
Soon, another figure walked in.
Shen Heng pointed to the stool opposite him.
"Sit here, then put your hands..."
Shen Heng tested fifty or sixty people in a row until a man in his early twenties with a somewhat dark complexion walked in.
"You are, Inspector Shen?" The visitor looked at Shen Heng with some surprise.
Shen Heng looked at the person who had arrived, recalled his memories, and quickly matched the face.
" Qiu Rui?"
"Oh? Do you know me?" Qiu Rui smiled and strode in.
"Yes, I checked the personnel registration information in the Martial Arts Association. Your information is in there, and..." Shen Heng looked at Qiu Rui, recalling for a moment.
"You were part of that organization that was wandering the city the other day, searching for the Calamity Beast, right?"
"Yes, that's right. Is your memory that good?" Qiu Rui looked at Shen Heng with some surprise.
You memorized it based on just one document?
And then there was that brief, almost non-existent encounter—how could the other person remember it?
Are all the people in the Supervision Bureau this type?
"Hmm, not bad," Shen Heng replied casually, then asked, "How's your squad doing?"
At this point, Qiu Rui couldn't help but let out an awkward smile.
"I've been wandering around aimlessly these past few days, and I haven't found anything."
"It's normal that we couldn't find it. After all, it only happens about ten times a month, and we don't even know where it's going to happen," Shen Heng said, looking at Qiu Rui and instructing him.
"But remember, if you find one later, you need to determine the level of the Calamity Beast before deciding whether to engage it."
"Yes, we've been keeping an eye on that!" Qiu Rui nodded in response.
He looked at Shen Heng and asked with some confusion:
"Didn't I receive a notification saying I needed to come in for a blood test? Why is it...?"
Suddenly, his body stiffened slightly, his gaze fixed on Shen Heng, and after a moment's hesitation, he said:
Are you here to check if there are any Calamity Beast?
Shen Heng glanced at Qiu Rui, then nodded and asked:
"You work here too?"
"Uh... sort of. My family owns a fishing boat and also has a stall here. I used to help out often, but now that I've become a quasi-martial artist and can sense Origin Power, I only help out when things get really busy," Qiu Rui explained.
"Have you heard any strange noises around here recently?" Shen Heng asked.
"No."
Shen Heng's gaze lingered on Qiu Rui's face for a moment before he nodded slightly.
"In that case, put your hand out so I can check it. If everything is fine, you can go back."
"Okay, sure." Qiu Rui extended his hand as instructed.
Shen Heng glanced at Qiu Rui, then raised his hand and placed it on Qiu Rui's wrist.
The Origin Power swept rapidly through his body.
After a moment, confirming that the other party was indeed not parasitized or possessed by the Calamity Beast, Shen Heng slowly raised his hand.
"Alright, if there's nothing else, you can go now. Remember, don't spread this around outside, or it could cause panic."
"Okay, I understand!" Qiu Rui nodded in response, then lifted his leg and walked towards the door.
Just as he was about to leave, he stopped, turned around, and said:
" Inspector Shen, if you need any help later, just call me!"
"Okay, I understand!" Shen Heng nodded slightly, his gaze fixed on Qiu Rui's departing figure.
He pondered for a moment, then lightly tapped his finger on the table.
After a moment, Shen Heng brought his attention back to the present.
Then they continued testing the next people...