Chapter 1193: His backbone (1/2)

How could one sabotage the ingredients?

For example, those with aged mildew could be sunned and washed before being delivered; those with the essence already extracted could be dried out and sent over. Such things were commonplace in the medical world.

Some mildewed ingredients could still be used after a wash, but others would turn poisonous. Meanwhile, the ingredients with essences extracted were less effective when used at normal dosages, thus affecting the treatment of patients. Gu Beiyue was fretting over who to delegate the task to, but a straightforward girl like Mu Linger who dared to offend anyone was the best choice.

When he saw her dusty, travelworn state, he said, “Miss Linger should rest first. I’ll go ahead and you can join me tomorrow morning.”

“I’m not tired! Doctor Gu, a day’s delay means many lives lost in the quarantined district!” Mu Linger was serious.

Currently the plague had been basically brought under control in Northern Li. Every city had been divided into half to separate the sick and healthy citizens. The various medical teams were sent off to different regions to save the patients. Ning Cheng’s soldiers were in charge of delivering medicine to the healthy to avoid getting sick. Everything had its own sequence, but many severely ill patients still died daily. Their corpses were all cremated as a precaution.

Gu Beiyue wanted to head here personally so he could save the seriously ill victims. Seven cities had surrendered to Ning Cheng so far, making up half of Northern Li. About 300 or so sick patients were divided between them. It was impossible for Gu Beiyue to save them all, so he could only do his best and rescued each one he could.

Gu Beiyue admired Mu Linger’s professionalism and nodded. “I’ll give you two hours. Eat something and take a break.”

This was the moment Jin Zi entered the tent and ran into Mu Linger. He startled but so did she. The two of them stood at opposite ends of the doorway only ten paces apart to stare at each other. Gu Beiyue left soundlessly with Ning Cheng following.

But Jin Zi suddenly turned back and said coldly, “Ning Cheng, I need to find you for something!”

“Oh…” Ning Cheng said meaningfully. “Then speak.”

“We’ll speak elsewhere!” Jin Zi’s tone was obviously unkind. However, his gaze never left Mu Linger.

Mu Linger truly disliked his staring. Every time she saw his eyes, they were always cold and sharp, as if they could see through to her inner heart. She was a hopeless fool who couldn’t even recognize her own thoughts, so she both feared and hated eyes like his.

“Then...shall we go?” Ning Cheng asked next.

Jin Zi withdrew his stare and turned to stalk off. The hanging curtains over the door fell back to its spot before Mu Linger recovered her wits. Actually, she had come to Northern Li both to save its people and settle accounts with Jin Zi. In two more days, their one-year deadline would be up.

Mu Linger shook her head, not wanting to think about it any longer. She had already decided on the way here to have a falling out with Jin Zi as soon as he asked her about it! Exhaling softly, Mu Linger went to sit down on one of the soft lounge beds nearby.

But suddenly!

“Cheep…”

The sharp cry made Mu Linger leap up, only to see Lil Thing with its four limbs stretched out on the rabbit-fur seat. It had been squashed flat. Mu Linger didn’t realize it’d been napping here when she sat down. She quickly picked up Lil Thing and tugged at its front paws, then at its back legs.

“Lil Thing, I didn’t mean it. I didn’t know you were here.”

Lil Thing stretched its paws lazily and moved its neck a few times before peering at Mu Linger.

“I really didn’t do it on purpose,” Mu Linger apologized.

Lil Thing immediately stood up straight and turned around in a circle to show Mu Linger it was perfectly fine.

Mu Linger broke into a smile. “You’re still the best!” She sat back down to rest, allowing Lil Thing to jump onto her. It was very happy to see Miss Linger after all this time.

Although Mu Linger was exhausted, she couldn’t fall asleep. She wanted to go outside and ask after the situation in the quarantine regions, but she didn’t want to interrupt Jin Zi and Ning Cheng if they were outside too. She placed Lil Thing in her palms and struck up a conversation.

“Lil Thing, do you know Doctor Gu’s going to get married?”

“That’s not right. You have to know if you talk to him everyday!”

“Lil Thing, have you ever seen that Eldest Miss Qin? I haven’t, but I heard she’s confined to a wheelchair for the rest of her life.”

“Lil Thing, you understand Doctor Gu best. What do you think he’s thinking?”

As Mu Linger prattled on, Lil Thing remained lost. It didn’t even know anything about that Eldest Miss Qin. Originally, its duty was finished after the gentleman brought Gu Qishao back to Medical City. It was supposed to return to Mama Yunxi’s side and take a look at the little master. But it couldn’t bear to part with the gentleman. Mama Yunxi didn’t send anyone to pick it up either, so it happily followed Gu Beiyue to Northern Li.

While Mu Linger was spacing out with Lil Thing, Jin Zi and Ning Cheng had settled down in a different tent.

“Why didn’t you tell me she was coming?” Jin Zi’s face looked furious.

Although Ning Cheng was blind in one eye, his other one was still sharp and incisive enough to see Jin Zi’s temper. “What,” he asked, “You can’t bear to see her head to the quarantine regions?”

“I’m asking you, why didn’t you tell me she was coming?” Jin Zi said word for word.

“Why should I?” Ning Cheng smiled coldly.

“You!” Jin Zi fumed.