Chapter 250: Injury

“Xiao Yi?”

Xu Chongguo, who was sitting on the stairs smoking, saw the figure in the gray cotton coat return. He immediately walked up to him and asked sternly, “Xiao Yi, where have you been?”

Zhao Yi scratched his head awkwardly, trying to avoid Xu Chongguo’s gaze.

Xu Chongguo’s expression hardened slightly. He pulled out Zhao Yi’s right hand, revealing a short knife still covered in dirt clutched in his grip. “Did you go to kill Old Man Ding?”

“I... I really intended to go...”

“And then?” Xu Chongguo lowered his voice. “Is he dead? Where did you bury the body? Was anyone seen?”

“Old Man Ding is dead... but I didn’t kill him.”

Xu Chongguo paused, surprised. “Then was it the Enforcer?”

“No, it was that reporter named Lin. I saw him shoot Old Man Ding in the alley.” Zhao Yi recalled Chen Ling’s indifferent gaze from earlier, and his brows furrowed unconsciously. “I just have a feeling something’s not right with that reporter...”

Xu Chongguo’s expression immediately turned a little strange. “Why is it Lin Yan again...”

“Again?”

“Just before you came back, Officer Han Meng came by,” Xu Chongguo said slowly. “He asked if we had been interviewed by a reporter named Lin Yan, and also if we knew where he lived... But how would we know where that reporter lives?”

“Officer Han Meng also thinks he’s problematic?” Zhao Yi frowned deeply, lost in thought.

“Anyway, Officer Han Meng’s matter has been put to rest... we can finally live in peace now.” Xu Chongguo patted Zhao Yi’s shoulder. “Next time, don’t do something like murder for revenge, understand?”

Just as Zhao Yi was about to say something, Xu Chongguo’s hand landed on his shoulder, and Zhao Yi’s face instantly went pale, wincing in pain.

Seeing this, Xu Chongguo immediately withdrew his hand. “Your wound isn’t healed yet?”

“...No.”

“I told you to go to the hospital earlier, why haven’t you gone?”

Zhao Yi opened his mouth and said bitterly, “We just arrived in Aurora City not long ago, and we barely managed to find a job. The salary is just enough for Ling’er and me to live on... Where would we get money for a hospital?”

A hint of helplessness flashed in Xu Chongguo’s eyes. He turned and went back into the house. A moment later, he returned with a dozen silver coins and pressed them into Zhao Yi’s hand.

“Next time you’re in trouble, remember to tell your uncle,” Xu Chongguo said seriously. “Even though your uncle hasn’t found a job yet, I brought most of our belongings when we fled from District Three... Take this for your treatment. You can pay your uncle back when you earn money later.”

“This...”

“Take it. You need to heal your body to have the strength to work and earn money.”

Without another word, Xu Chongguo tucked the money into Zhao Yi’s embrace and turned to leave, leaving Zhao Yi standing alone, his eyes filled with gratitude.

Zhao Yi was not one to procrastinate. After borrowing Xu Chongguo’s money, he immediately went to the hospital. After all, Xu Chongguo was right: he could only earn money if his body was healthy. With a hand that couldn't lift and a shoulder that couldn't bear weight, how else could he make a living?

Zhao Yi chose a public hospital within Aurora City. Although it was crowded and the equipment was old, the advantage was its relatively cheap prices. He took the last number of the day and pushed open the door to the consultation room.

“What’s bothering you?” the doctor asked, closing his medical record book.

“I have a wound on my back that hasn’t healed in days.”

“Take off your shirt and let me see.”

As Zhao Yi removed his shirt, revealing a deep, bone-exposing whipping mark, the doctor’s eyes widened in shock and bewilderment.

“You...” The doctor gently reached out and touched Zhao Yi’s wound, making Zhao Yi nearly jump from the pain. “You’re one of the survivors who came from District Three a few days ago, aren’t you?”

“How did you know?”

“We can’t treat wounds left by the Calamity.” The doctor shook his head and began writing in the medical record book. “Moreover, your injury has deteriorated to your internal organs and cannot be removed... You don’t seem very old; you probably aren’t married or have children yet, right? Have your parents come? I need to explain the situation to them...”

Zhao Yi stood rooted to the spot.

“Doctor... I can’t be cured?”

The doctor didn’t answer directly, but his expression said it all.

Zhao Yi’s face was extremely pale. He had finally managed to borrow money, hoping to get himself cured as soon as possible, only to be met with this outcome... As if remembering something, he clutched at a last straw and asked, “Doctor, do you know of a doctor named Chu? My friend said he’s very skilled. Should I go ask him?”

“Doctor Chu? You mean the divine Doctor Chu?” The doctor sighed deeply. “Given your current condition, even he would likely be powerless... Fine, I’ll tell you the location of his clinic. Go try your luck.”

After speaking, the doctor thought for a moment, then took a form from a drawer and handed it to Zhao Yi.

“What’s this?”

“It’s an application form for voluntary participation in human experimentation. If you ultimately have no hope, you could consider surrendering yourself to Aurora City... At least after you’re gone, your family will receive a very generous pension.”

Zhao Yi stared blankly at the form, his mind numb. He casually stuffed it into his pocket and rigidly turned to leave.

In the cold, stark corridor, patients queued, waiting for their consultations. Zhao Yi stood like a statue amidst the continuous sounds of coughing and groaning. After an unknown amount of time, he slowly lowered his head to look at the clinic address in his hand...

That was his last hope in life.

Dusk fell.

Chen Ling pushed open the newspaper office door, leaving work right on time.

Although the official closing time was now, most people were still working overtime at the newspaper agency. After all, "Aurora Daily" was currently the largest publication in Aurora City, and to get ahead here, everyone had to compete fiercely.

Chen Ling, however, clearly wouldn’t get caught up in such a "rat race." For one, his reporter identity was just a cover he chose for gathering intelligence, and he had no desire to become a high-ranking executive, so there was no need to waste too much time there. On the other hand, as a "rising star reporter" who had broken two major stories within days of starting, he also had the capital to refuse the intense competition.

What surprised Chen Ling, however, was that Wen Shilin hadn’t appeared at the newspaper office since the Han Meng case concluded. He hadn’t taken Chen Ling on any interviews or investigations, seemingly busy with something on his own.

As Chen Ling walked down the street, his peripheral vision suddenly caught sight of a familiar figure ahead. His eyes narrowed slightly... Zhao Yi?

Zhao Yi was still wearing his gray cotton coat, holding a piece of paper as if searching for something. However, judging by his expression, he seemed to be in a daze.

Chen Ling pondered for a moment. Instead of leaving, he trailed far behind Zhao Yi, wanting to see where he was going.