Chapter 70: Medicine
Chapter 70: Medicine
Chen Chuan's eyes flickered with realization.
Banned drugs! These were all banned substances! Glancing at the person lying nearby, it seemed they were here for a transaction, only to have their plans interrupted by his arrival.
He shook his head, blaming their misfortune on bad luck.
Tossing the drugs aside, he approached the groaning and writhing figures on the ground, giving each a kick to silence them.
Retrieving his flashlight, he checked his watch; it was already 8:50. Time was almost up.
Returning to the well, he lowered the bucket, gently swaying it. Due to his inexperience, he only managed to draw half a bucket of water, but it would suffice.
From his bicycle, he took out pre-prepared black beans and soybeans, pouring them into the water. He then placed the bucket near the well's edge and slowly backed away.
At 9:00, he waited, watching his watch for a few minutes, but there was no movement.
As he wondered if he had the wrong location, he heard a faint splash and rustling sounds, distinct in the quiet night.
Switching off his flashlight, he peered into the dim moonlight and saw a seemingly adorable child crawling out of the well, babbling incoherently.
But a closer look made him pause.
This was no child; it was a fat, insect-like creature with a row of abdominal legs and a fleshy hump on its back, resembling the upper body of an infant a few months old!
After crawling out, the creature cried out twice, as if sniffing the air, before dropping headfirst into the wooden bucket with a loud splash.
Chen Chuan quickly grabbed a sturdy waterproof bag he had prepared, rushed forward, and covered the bucket, turning it over to pour the creature and water into the bag. He then removed the bucket and swiftly tied the bag, leaving a small opening.
At that moment, he sensed a slight distortion in his "Secondary Self," reminiscent of his previous encounter near Jiao Mountain.
Was it because of this well baby? What was this creature?
Fortunately, the damage was minimal, causing him no harm. He decided not to dwell on it, stood up, and lifted the creature, preparing to leave.
As he walked away, the man on the ground, Brother Tian, seemed to regain consciousness, thanks to Chen Chuan's earlier restraint. Still groggy, he mumbled, "Brother Tong, you can take the goods, but don't forget the money."
Ignoring him, Chen Chuan hung the bag on his bike and was about to push it away when he paused.
Brother Tong? He seemed to recall something.
Recalling a memory, he stopped his bike, hurried back to the well, and opened the plastic bag containing the drugs. He poured them out, revealing boxes of Tiancong Baicao's Awakening Capsules and injection vials produced by Talred Company."
These were... anti-mutation drugs.
Taking a breath, he walked over and kicked Brother Tian again, rendering him unconscious once more.
Chen Chuan repacked the drugs, pushed his bike outside, and found the nearest phone booth. He picked up the receiver, ready to call the Patrol Bureau, but hesitated and hung up.
After a moment, he searched his bag for a piece of paper and dialed the number on it.
After a wait, a deep voice answered, "Hello? Who is this, calling so late?"
"Uncle Wei, I'm looking for Wei Chang'an. I'm his classmate," Chen Chuan replied.
"A classmate, eh? Hold on," said the voice.
Soon, Wei Chang'an's tired voice came through, "Hello? Who's this?"
"Brother Wei? It's Chen Chuan," he said.
"A junior?" Wei Chang'an's voice perked up slightly, asking, "So late, is something wrong? If you need help, I'll do my best!"
"Brother Wei, I think I saw Tong Qianjiang," Chen Chuan stated.
"Who?"
Chen Chuan repeated slowly, "Tong Qianjiang."
Wei Chang'an's voice grew tense, and he whispered urgently, "Where are you?
Under the dim glow of a street lamp, Chen Chuan points across the street, "There's a Beitun Department Store over there, near the Old City God Temple in the north."
Wei Chang'an asks, "Are you safe now?"
"I'm safe," Chen Chuan assures him.
"Good. Stay put, don't call anyone, and don't wander off. I'll be there soon! Remember, don't take any risks, ensure your safety first!" Wei Chang'an instructs.
"I understand, Wei Ge," Chen Chuan replies.
Wei Chang'an hangs up after his brief conversation.
Chen Chuan, after a moment of thought, rides his bike back into the alley. He finds Brother Tian still unconscious, ties him up with a rope he had prepared, and drags him out by the rope.
As Chen Chuan exits the alley, he hears a group of people running down the street towards him. He sees about twenty to thirty people rushing in his direction. One of them points at him and shouts, "It's that kid!" Then, with a startled cry, "Brother Tian is with him!"
Chen Chuan parks his bike and slowly approaches the group.
Wei Chang'an drives swiftly, arriving from the southwest in just over a quarter of an hour.
When he arrives, he sees people lying on the street, from the street corner to several lampposts in the distance, groaning and wailing. Broken sticks, bent knives, and twisted steel pipes are scattered everywhere. A bicycle is parked next to a phone booth, and Chen Chuan is quietly leaning against the back of the bike, using the lamppost's light to examine something.
Wei Chang'an exclaims and slowly stops his car. He unbuckles his seatbelt, gets out, and walks over to Chen Chuan. "Are you okay, junior?"
Chen Chuan stands up and replies, "I'm fine."
"That's good," Wei Chang'an says. "Now, tell me what happened."
Chen Chuan recounts the previous events and shows Wei Chang'an the medicine he obtained.
Listening intently, Wei Chang'an's expression turns serious. "Your guess is correct. That man is most likely Tong Qianjiang."
He pats Chen Chuan on the shoulder and says with relief, "Fortunately, you didn't get into a conflict with him. This guy is extremely skilled, and even I wouldn't be confident of winning against him. Moreover, he might be carrying weapons, which makes him even more dangerous."
In Wei Chang'an's mind, Chen Chuan is still the same fighter he was two months ago. Although Chen Chuan is already a formidable newcomer at Wu Yi Academy, Wei Chang'an believes he's not ready for Tong Qianjiang, who is a thorough rogue. Furthermore, it's hard to predict if Tong Qianjiang has backup, and these fugitives are not to be taken lightly.
"Wei Ge, can you find Tong Qianjiang's whereabouts with these people?" Chen Chuan asks.
Wei Chang'an shakes his head. "It's difficult. Finding Tong Qianjiang through these small fry is almost impossible. But..." He smiles, "I have a hunch, and if it's true, junior, both of us will make a great achievement!"
He walks over to Brother Tian, pinches his philtrum a few times, and after a few seconds, Brother Tian slowly regains consciousness. Wei Chang'an quickly removes his hand and wipes it with a handkerchief. "Hey, do you know Scarface?"
Brother Tian shivers and looks at both of them. "No, I don't know him."
"Then you do know him."
Wei Chang'an wipes his hands and throws the handkerchief away. He tells Chen Chuan, "Junior, we can't find Tong Qianjiang now, but we can follow this lead to find Scarface. Chou Huzi's goods are with him, and Tong Qianjiang must have come here to trade with him!"
Excitedly, he adds, "I've been looking for this Scarface guy for almost two months, with no leads. I never expected a tail to show up. You've really helped me out, junior!"
Wei Chang'an walks over to the phone booth, makes a few calls, and then returns, still excited. "Junior, I'm taking this guy with me. If we can find Scarface, we might locate Tong Qianjiang's gang. This case is already on the government's radar, and I'll add your name to the assignment. How about you come with me now?"
Chen Chuan pats the back of the bike and says, "Wei Ge, I still have some things to do."
Wei Chang'an agrees, "Alright, don't worry about this. Someone will handle it later, and if I find any clues about Scarface, I'll let you know."
...
...
(End of Chapter)
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