They still hadn't done anything. Not a single move. Yet somehow, the match just stopped, and they ended up being the last ones standing. Even stranger, the judges were staring at them with fiery eyes... like they were lambs waiting to be slaughtered? No, no, that couldn't be right. They had to be imagining things.
When the competition was called off, people from both Wu City's Medicinal Herb Association and the other side rushed in together. They began diluting the original potion with saline, injecting it into the children one by one. Four people had to hold each patient down to suppress the violent reaction the medicine triggered, while others frantically recorded the data.
In no time, the whole event turned into a massive emergency treatment site. The air was filled with shouts and orders being yelled back and forth.
Even Jing Shu had almost forgotten why she'd come in the first place. She joined the team using the original potion to treat the kids and soon became one of the most capable among them.
She wasn't good with needles, and honestly, if it weren't for the Spirit Spring, she couldn't even keep a flower alive. Everything she'd ever grown came from that golden cheat of hers. Aside from that, she really wasn't good at much... but she did have one advantage—she was strong.
Even diluted with saline, the Bodhi Potion was still incredibly potent. Earlier, the bugs inside that kid nicknamed Er Qiu had almost burst out from his body in resistance. These children were under anesthesia, so they didn't feel pain, but the bugs' reactions were fierce.
If no one held them down properly, the results could've been disastrous.
…
…
"This is all that's left of the original potion..." Minister Zhao handed Jing Shu a small vial, clearly reluctant to part with it. He spoke solemnly, as if making a vow.
"Don't worry, President Jing. Aside from the first two test subjects that counted toward the competition, we'll include all the rest of the used potions in the government procurement list. You won't lose anything. And from now on, we'll purchase all Bodhi Potions from Wu City's Medicinal Herb Association. As for the production rights of this new drug, we'll officially hand them over to your association as well."
Jing Shu waved him off, checked the time, and felt her stomach growl. She hadn't brought Xiao Dou with her to keep a low profile. That big chicken showing up in front of hundreds of people would've been way too flashy, and now she hadn't eaten all day. Poor Xiao Dou was probably starving too. She needed to finish this up and head back.
The potion had been brought here precisely to save lives, after all. Being able to rescue these children—the seeds of humanity's future—gave her a real sense of accomplishment.
"You don't need to return it," she said lightly. "Didn't you say you'd need data from at least a few hundred people for the trials? There are still some patients outside in worse condition. Before the next batch of medicine is ready, you can use what's left for them. Consider it my personal donation. No need to make a fuss about it."
Keep a low profile. Always keep a low profile.
"Excellent, excellent! What you're donating isn't just medicine—it's human lives you're saving! Don't worry, we won't make a big deal out of it, but this contribution must go into the national database. Even if you don't want recognition, this deserves to be recorded as an honorable act!"
Minister Zhao's tone left no room for negotiation. Even though he'd only met Jing Shu that day—and she was a full twelve years younger than him—he couldn't help but feel they were on the same wavelength, like she was someone he could genuinely work with.
Meanwhile, Boss Zhang, the overall supervisor who'd been transferred from another department to clean up this mess, was already gone. He'd left happily with his only grandson, now fully cured. His goal had been simple: he'd taken over this disaster of a project because his grandson had been infected. Now that the cure was found and the boy was fine, Boss Zhang, who didn't really understand any of this anyway, immediately handed everything over.
"Lao Zhao, the rest's up to you," he'd said. "My health's not great, so I'll head home first."
With that, he just walked away, leaving Minister Zhao from the R&D Epidemic Prevention Department in full control of the entire operation—including all pharmaceutical rights, which he promptly delegated to the Wu City Medicinal Herb Association.
"Oh right, I almost forgot to announce the results! The other associations are still waiting outside, aren't they? Lao Miao, update the data and publish the results right away! I got so worked up I nearly forgot! And grab a few more people to deliver the remaining potion to the other side—those patients are in serious condition. The new drug will take a while to produce, and I'll need you to personally oversee the new batch and its comparison tests. No, forget it, I'll handle it myself. Time's tight and the job's urgent!"
Lao Miao had been holding out his hand for the potion for quite a while, but before he could take it, Minister Zhao suddenly pulled it back and rushed off again.
"Wait for me! Hey, Minister, slow down!" Lao Miao shouted as he chased after him. "You really gotta stop running off like that every time you get an idea!"
Jing Shu laughed and shook her head. One second Minister Zhao was chatting away with her, and the next, he was gone in a flash. But maybe that's exactly the kind of person the country needed—someone who could keep pushing forward in the apocalypse.
"Danai, I'll leave the rest to you. Handle the follow-ups, contracts, and coordination," she said, before slipping away.
Once she stepped outside, she took off her gas mask and inhaled deeply. The fresh air filled her lungs, and just as she was about to relax, her phone rang urgently.
"Hello?"
"Wu City took first place! You've secured all pharmaceutical rights, next year's resource allocations, and even a share of the newly discovered crimson energy! I knew sending you was the right call! After Wu City was disqualified, I still backed you up all the way! You did great, Jing Shu!"
It was Zhou Bapi, his voice full of excitement. Then another voice cut in, slightly annoyed.
"Please, you were the one who couldn't make it. Stop trying to steal the credit! Hand me the phone."
The line suddenly grew louder—it was Jin Tianci.
"Excellent work, President Jing. You've completely exceeded our expectations. None of us saw this surprise coming."
Bundled in her thick coat, Jing Shu kicked at a muddy puddle, smiling as she said, "Thanks for believing in me. When Wu City was disqualified earlier, I said I'd explain everything this afternoon. Well, this outcome is my explanation to everyone."
It was all built on mutual trust. If, back then, Wu City had rushed to dismiss her or ignored her entirely, things wouldn't have turned out like this. But they'd chosen to trust and protect her, and because of that, they'd earned this victory together.