Chapter 92.2 – When the Roses Bloom (10)
◎ Why do doctors save people? ◎
Nai Wen forced a stiff smile and softly coaxed, “Come here, I’ll give you candy.”
Tian Tian was well-educated; she didn’t talk to strangers or accept things from them. She shook her head vigorously. “No, I want to go.”
She turned and dashed towards the ward’s exit.
“Stop her!” Nai Wen commanded.
The mercenaries, with their strong arms, pinned Tian Tian to the ground. Her doll fell, and Tian Tian cried out in fear.
Nai Wen’s voice was cold and light. “I’m in so much pain. Why am I the only one in such agony? Play with me, won’t you?”
Hearing the screams from inside, the mercenaries at the door seemed hesitant. “Is this… going too far… even in the hospital?”
Another person nearby said indifferently, “It’s the same everywhere. If you don’t want to die, I’d advise you not to meddle.”
Under Mu City’s influence, Nai Wen could act without restraint. Mu City’s hierarchical system was twisted, and even if he committed further wrongdoings, he could be suppressed. He had done this kind of thing many times before. After all, regardless of the ruckus, someone would always cover it up for him.
When Fang Zhixu woke up, he had a splitting headache.
He propped himself up from the cold floor. The nap hadn’t lasted long, less than an hour. But after nearly a day and night of standing at the operating table, even his robust body couldn’t endure, so he succumbed to sleep for a short while.
Rubbing his forehead, Fang Zhixu walked to the rest area. Just before he entered, he remembered something. He turned towards the hospital’s downstairs supermarket and bought three boxes of strawberry-flavored ice cream.
He didn’t want to be a father who broke a promise.
As he returned to the rest area, several hospital leaders were standing at the door, each with a worse expression than the other.
“What’s wrong? Don’t worry, the surgery was very successful, everything will be fine,” Fang Zhixu smiled and attempted to open the door.
“Zhixu…” The hospital director placed a hand on his shoulder, preventing him from entering.
“Why?” Fang Zhixu was puzzled, lifting the bag in his hand. “Let me in first. The ice cream is melting. Tian Tian will get angry again soon, and that little girl is not easy to appease.”
“Zhixu…” the hospital director repeated, tears streaming down his face.
Suddenly, Fang Zhixu had a foreboding feeling.
…
In the cold morgue, Fang Zhixu saw Tian Tian’s body.
A tattered doll was stuffed into her arms, her limbs broken, oddly reassembled, and her exposed skin filled with various bruises.
Fang Zhixu’s world collapsed.
“I will kill him!!!”
People around him hurriedly held him back. Fang Zhixu, with bloodshot eyes, kept struggling, wrestling, and tearing, but was firmly restrained.
The hospital director looked grave. “Zhixu, Nai Kang from Mu City is here with the security forces, they have surrounded the entire hospital. There are troops stationed outside Tongwan. This incident has caused a diplomatic crisis, and the news of Tian Tian’s murder has been temporarily suppressed.”
“Even if you rush out now, it won’t help. It will only cost your life,” the director knew the next words were too cruel for Fang Zhixu, but he had to say them. “The Magistrate’s intention is… you will still perform the surgeries, and he will personally oversee your work.”
“Get off me… I will kill him, I will definitely kill him with my own hands!”
Fang Zhixu was pinned to the ground, his head against the floor. His vision gradually blurred. “I was wrong… Tian Tian, Dad was wrong…”
“Dad, why do doctors save people?”
“Because that’s our job.”
“What if they are bad people? Do you save them too?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because bad people are first humans, and then they’re bad people. Doctors don’t have the right to judge, but the law will punish the bad people.”
But would the law really punish bad people?
At least, not in Mu City.
Fang Zhixu had raised a knife countless times, wanting to rush out and kill Nai Wen, but Nai Kang’s men imprisoned him and forced him to operate on Nai Wen. Fang Zhixu refused to comply and spent numerous sleepless, painful nights in the dark lounge.
Then, the end of the world came.
Fang Zhixu was hit by a high fever. Having treated several individuals with special abilities, he knew secrets about awakening and a glimmer of hope ignited within him.
“As long as I awaken this ability, as long as I can awaken, no matter what ability it is, I will definitely kill them.”
But reality dealt him a cruel blow.
Fang Zhixu did awaken an ability, but it was the most useless – a healing ability, capable only of saving lives. How ridiculous it seemed that when his heart was filled with hatred, fate demanded he continue to be a doctor, saving lives and aiding the dying.
Three days after the apocalypse, there was an internal shift in Mu City, and Nai Kang left Tongwan with Nai Wen.
Fang Zhixu regained his freedom and returned home, utterly lost. Upon opening the door, he found Zhang Wanyao, who had noticeably lost weight, waiting for him with a calm expression.
“Ah Yao…” Fang Zhixu murmured, reaching out to embrace her, his head resting on her neck as tears streamed down his face.
“Fang Zhixu, you killed your own daughter.” But this time, Zhang Wanyao pushed him away.
Fang Zhixu froze in place. The equally haggard Zhang Wanyao handed him divorce papers.
“For these many days, what have you done? You couldn’t even carry out your revenge. You’re not worthy of being a father, or my husband.”
“I can’t face you anymore. I want to move to another city and start over.”
Fang Zhixu was too exhausted; his mind was not functioning properly. He reached out to grab her, “That’s not true, Ah Yao, I…”
Zhang Wanyao evaded his touch and walked swiftly towards the door.
“You, Fang Zhixu…” Her back trembled, her words cold and harsh, “No matter how much you suffer, you must live, spend the rest of your life atoning for Tian Tian.”
Fang Zhixu stood stunned for a few seconds, then stumbled out after her, but Zhang Wanyao was already gone.
He wandered the streets like a lost soul. His final memory was of several zombies leaping towards him.
…
“Let him be for now.” Lin Youyou closed the door, leaving Fang Zhixu alone in the room, while the rest of the people remained silently in the living room.
“Nai Kang, damn it,” said Song Ke, enunciating each word.
Was Nai Wen, the murderer of Tian Tian, deserving of death? Yes, but it was not easy to kill Nai Wen. The challenge was the magistrate of Mu City, Nai Kang, the ‘tyrant,’ who allowed his son’s actions to go unpunished after the crime, utilizing military force to oppress and even demanding Fang Zhixu continue surgery for the killer, showing no regard for him as a human.
Song Ke finally understood why Fang Zhixu and Zhang Wanyao often appeared absent-minded in her presence – because the similar pear dimples reminded them of Tian Tian, that lovely little girl. Perhaps it was because of this that Zhang Wanyao took the initiative to help her.
Irene touched the cannon in silence and said, “Of the three warlords, Miao Lun and the General have the closest relationship. I initially thought she wanted to get close to Miao Lun, but now it seems…”
Irene sighed silently and left the apartment, V587 resumed the meeting.
“Now, what do we do?” asked Song Ke. “I think she’s not lying to us.”
Regarding Zhang Wanyao’s words before she left, Song Ke believed her intentions were sincere. This matter was undoubtedly important, as she reminded them twice.
“Based on her meaning, Mu Qin’s recruitment of the Guard Unit might not be related to the General, but rather to the refugees from Shaye,” Zhuang Qingyan pondered for a moment and made a decision, “Let’s temporarily hold the original plan. Next, we will monitor Mu Qin’s movements and try to visit Shaye.”
“I’ll go, follow Mu Qin,” said Song Ke.
“I’ll go to Shaye first,” Su Cha said, taking the initiative to take on the other task. He was the most suitable person for it.
Shaye (District D88), Xiangang (District D90), and Emerald City (District D101) were large D-level cities surrounding Mu City. With Su Cha’s skills as an A-level awakener, combined with his proficiency in stealth and concealment, they were not worried when he went alone.
When evening came, Song Ke returned on time. Everyone waited until the early hours of the morning, but Su Cha was nowhere to be found.
Lin Youyou’s messages went unanswered, receiving no response. Su Cha never failed to reply to her messages before.
“Nothing bad would happen, right?” Lin Youyou expressed her concern.
“Should I go look for him?” Song Ke stood up.
Suddenly, there was a loud “thud” at the apartment door. The group turned their heads towards it, displaying alert expressions.
Song Ke’s palms slightly moved, conjuring a spiritual weapon dagger. With caution, they waited for a moment and then forcefully opened the door—
Su Cha was covered in blood. Despite holding on to open the door, his gaze was hazy. He managed to say, “Shaye, there’s… there’s…”
He couldn’t complete his sentence; he collapsed in a pool of blood.
“Su Cha!!” Song Ke quickly examined him. Su Cha had multiple cuts and wounds, with a fatal piercing wound in his abdomen, seemingly from a sword.
