Chapter 90 Support from All Directions

After the "Little Star" program aired, the radio station's fax and message service, which was specially set up by the Spark Base, was flooded with messages. Everyone was very concerned about Jiang Xiaoheng's condition. Some people sent the doctor's contact information, some sent dietary therapy and traditional Chinese medicine prescriptions, and some left acupuncture methods.

The nearby bases were even more direct; regardless of whether they had previously cooperated with Xinghuo or met Jiang Rong and her group, everyone extended a helping hand. Dozens of medical teams composed of healing-type ability users and doctors arrived at Xinghuo base one after another despite the difficulties, and more medical teams and renowned doctors were still on their way.

An Ran from the New Human Base even personally led a team to Xinghuo. Upon arrival, the experts gathered to study Xiao Heng's case. This rescue was unprecedented, even before the major crisis.

With so many medical teams, the pressure on the healing-type ability users at the Spark Base was greatly reduced. Experts and scholars gathered together to carefully discuss treatment plans, and with everyone's joint efforts, the rate of Xiao Heng's organ deterioration slowed down significantly.

In the past few days, Xiao Heng has been sleeping for longer periods of time. To keep him in a good mood, Jiang Rong's family takes turns entering the ward to stay with the child whenever he is awake.

Upon learning that they could visit Xiao Heng in the hospital today, Xiao Hao and Yuan Yuan changed into their protective suits early and waited for the doctor to lead them into the room. As soon as they entered the room, the two children gathered around the bedside. Yuan Yuan gently touched the tubes attached to Xiao Heng's body, "Big brother, does it hurt?"

Xiao Heng smiled with his eyes narrowed, "It hurt a little at first, but I'm used to it now. Yuan Yuan, quickly take out your notebook, your brother will teach you to write and draw."

As soon as she finished speaking, Jiang Yuan puffed out her cheeks in grievance, "The nurse confiscated my homework." She also confiscated the mouse skeleton that she had painstakingly prepared for several days. She and her brother Xiao Hao had rehearsed for several days, hoping that her brother Xiao Heng would enjoy the bone dance.

Jiang Hao reached out and touched Xiao Heng's hair before pulling out a disinfected phone from his protective suit pocket: "You know what? The little fairy bloomed several flowers today, and two little pimples have sprouted on her body. They're so cute! Let me show you~"

Fearing that Jiang Xiaoheng might have difficulty, Jiang Hao skillfully raised the bed board. The three children gathered together, chatting and laughing, their laughter drowning out the ticking of the medical equipment in the ward.

Jiang Rong stood outside the ward watching this heartwarming scene, but her heart was filled with bitterness. Despite so many medical teams coming to help, the child's condition remained far from optimistic. Xiao Heng was too young; methods effective for adults might not be suitable for him. So many doctors had come from the medical teams, yet not one dared to confidently prescribe a treatment plan.

Jiang Rong sighed heavily. Just then, she heard footsteps behind her. Without turning around, she knew it was Guan Shao. Guan Shao gently patted Jiang Rong's shoulder. "Little Jiang, go and rest for a bit. I'll take over the guard duty."

Jiang Rong stayed with Xiao Heng in the hospital for as long as he stayed there, and even though he was an esper, he looked quite haggard after days of this. Guan Shao saw this and was very worried. He knew how important Xiao Heng was to Jiang Rong, and he had taken on most of the burdens during this time, just wanting to make things a little easier for his partner.

Jiang Rong shook her head. "No, thank you. Zhou Xing and the others are coming. We'll go check on them in a bit."

*

Zhou Xing originally planned to visit the Xinghuo Base and connect with Chu Qiang and the others after completing the mission, but before the mission was over, he received a shocking message: Meng Liang was still alive.

Meng Liang is not only alive, but thriving. He resides in Liu Heng's body and, during a visit to the Xinghuo Base, attempted to control Jiang Rong. The surveillance cameras in the hospital room clearly captured Meng Liang's actions, leaving the people at the Peace Base with no room for denial.

If this gets out, the Peace Base will be in chaos. The ability users who are already dissatisfied with them will definitely use this to their advantage. Even though Zhou Xing isn't very politically savvy, he knows he has to suppress this matter.

Suppressing this is no easy task. The people at Xinghuo Base are furious, especially Captain Jiang. Their perfectly healthy baby is now in the ICU because of their boss. If he were Captain Jiang, he'd skin Meng Liang alive.

In order to get Meng Liang back and to cover up the incident, Zhou Xing had no choice but to agree to the Starfire Base's demands. From now on, the Starfire Base could use electricity generated by the Peace Base's power plant. Not only did they not return the people who had previously supported Starfire, but they also had to transfer hundreds of thousands of technical personnel to Starfire.

Zhou Xing leaned against the car door, waiting anxiously and helplessly. The agreed time was fast approaching, but the convoy from Xinghuo Base still hadn't appeared. He took a frustrated drag on his cigarette, exhaling a breath of stale air, "What the hell is this?!"

Despite venting his frustrations, Zhou Xing patiently looked towards the east, where a convoy was slowly approaching under the gloomy sky.

Not long after, the convoy stopped in front of Zhou Xing and his group. Jiang Rong got out of the car first, followed by the other ability users from the Starfire Base.

Zhou Xing glanced at the group and was surprised again: the last time he met the ability users from the Starfire Base, only Guan Shao among them was a level three ability user. How come there are several level three ability users in the group after only a few days?

Jiang Rong successfully advanced to become a Level 3 Ability User, which was something to celebrate. However, with Xiao Heng in trouble, no one was in the mood for celebration.

Zhou Xing stubbed out his cigarette and stood up straight. His gaze fell on a fully armed vehicle in the middle of the opposite side. This vehicle was made of lead; it was a cage custom-made for Meng Liang. Locked in such a vehicle, Meng Liang's supernatural abilities wouldn't even be able to extend a single tentacle.

Jiang Rong nodded to the superhuman escorting them. After the car door opened, the superhuman pushed the wheelchair out of the car. Liu Heng sat slumped in the wheelchair, his face pale. Even though the temperature wasn't high, large beads of sweat still seeped from his forehead.

Liu Heng had no physical wounds; his injuries stemmed from his soul. Two souls were tearing at this body, and whether the ambitious Meng Liang would gain control or the original owner of the body would prevail depended on their abilities.

Sensing the disturbance, Liu Heng opened his eyes and glanced listlessly at Zhou Xing. His voice was hoarse as he said, "Old Zhou, save me..." Before he could finish, his expression changed again, "Zhou Xing, kill him, kill him!"

Those present witnessed Liu Heng's expressions shifting as he exchanged insults with Meng Liang, causing Zhou Xing's face to twitch uncontrollably. Liu Heng was his good brother, and Meng Liang was his boss; when the two started fighting, he had no idea who to side with.

Jiang Rong said slowly, "The person is here, Captain Zhou, take him back."

Zhou Xing took a deep breath and stepped forward. As he grasped the wheelchair, he couldn't help but ask, "Captain Jiang, the Peace and Spark Bases are still brother bases, right?"

Jiang Rong said seriously, "Of course. Don't worry, the friendship between the two bases will not be affected by personal actions. The doors of Xinghuo Base will always be open to the people of Heping Base."

Zhou Xing nodded. "Okay. I'll take President Meng and Lao Liu back first..." After taking two steps toward the car, his steps slowed, and he said in a hoarse voice, "Captain Jiang, I'm very sorry about what happened this time."

Jiang Rong lowered her eyes. "This isn't your fault. We all did our best. It's going to rain soon, Captain Zhou. Have a safe trip."

Watching the convoy from Peace Base drive away, Chu Qiang sighed helplessly, "Old Zhou is really unlucky to have met a boss like this. Xiao Jiang, will Meng Liang possess Old Zhou again?"

Meng Weixian sneered, "Do you think this is a novel? Meng Liang can just possess someone whenever he wants?" Xiao Heng's counterattack almost crippled Meng Liang's superpower. If he calms down, that's fine, but if he continues to be ambitious, no one can save him.

This should be the last time everyone sees Liu Heng and Meng Liang. Although the higher-ups of both bases kept the matter a secret, there will always be well-informed people who will spread the truth.

Pan Pan sighed, "I hope Lao Zhou can hold on." There are too many superhumans in the Peace Base, and morale is low. The real test for them has only just begun.

Jiang Rong looked up at the sky. "It's going to rain. Let's go back first."

The period from late June to early July is the plum rain season, and this year's plum rain will be more intense than in previous years. They need to hurry back and arrange for manpower to build ditches and dig ponds to cope with the upcoming floods.

The car had barely started when large raindrops began to pour down, and muffled thunder rumbled through the clouds. Guan Shao skillfully gripped the steering wheel and drove attentively. "An Ran just asked me if she could buy some seeds from us after this harvest, and we'd set the price."

Jiang Rong glanced out the window. "There's no need to ask for an exorbitant price; a normal price will suffice. When the medical teams we sent to all our bases left, we made sure they took some seeds with them."

This decision was made partly to repay a debt of gratitude, and partly to help each other. The great crisis was indeed terrifying, but it didn't take everyone's lives; only humans would try to harm their own kind. If we don't join forces to survive and instead plunder, scheme, and attack each other, the surviving humans won't live much longer.

Guan Shao responded, "There are also some bases that want to form an alliance with our base."

The bases that sent medical teams to Xinghuo did initially intend to rescue people, but after seeing the scene at Xinghuo base, they were all extremely envious.

If they could form an alliance with Xinghuo and use Xinghuo's power to build their own base, they could also have enough to eat and wear, live in beautiful houses, and be free from the harassment of mutated plants and animals.

Jiang Rong nodded, "Okay, let Gangzi and the others handle this."

Outside the car window, the rain poured down like a waterfall, raindrops splashing against the dew and creating a white mist. The sound of the rain poured into the car, making the interior even quieter.

Just then, the car radio emitted a crackling sound, and a familiar voice came through the radio, "Hello, can you hear my voice?"

Guan Shao sat up abruptly, and even Jiang Rong, whose thoughts were wandering out of the car window, became alert. The two exchanged a glance. Wasn't that Gu Zefeng's voice?

Gu Zefeng spoke in a somewhat roguish and nonchalant tone, "Hey? Why isn't anyone talking? That shouldn't be the case. Isn't this a 24-hour hotline? Hey, someone come here, I have a good doctor here."

Upon hearing the word "doctor," Guan Shao pressed the button on the radio, "Gu Zefeng."

Gu Zefeng chuckled, "Guan Tou'er, long time no see. You really screwed me over, turning my handsome self into the Condor Hero. How are you going to compensate me? Let me think, how about you share some of your superpowers with me?"

Jiang Rong didn't want to listen to Gu Zefeng's nonsense. He said, clearly and deliberately, "I am Jiang Rong from Xinghuo Base. Captain Gu, you say you have a good doctor?"

Gu Zefeng clicked his tongue. "Oh, it's Captain Jiang. My apologies. Yes, we have a few doctors at our base. I don't know if you've heard of them."

As Gu Zefeng spoke, he casually mentioned a few names. Jiang Rong looked at Guan Shao in surprise; these were the very people the experts had mentioned during the consultation that morning. The doctors at the consultation had said that if they could find these experts, Xiao Heng's treatment plan could be finalized.

These experts are at the Imperial Power Base? What a coincidence! Could Gu Zefeng be lying to them?

Jiang Rong suppressed her emotions and said, "Captain Gu, could you please have these doctors treat my child? If they can cure Xiao Heng, I'm willing to reward Captain Gu with crystal cores."

Gu Zefeng chuckled, "Of course I sent you the message because I wanted to save the child, but the doctors at our base are too old to travel around. They said that if you need their treatment, you'll have to come to Huangquan."

"Of course, I definitely won't go to Xinghuo. You know about my feud with Guan Shao, and I'm afraid I won't come back if I go. So, Captain Jiang, if you need our base's doctors to treat your illness, you'll have to bring your child to Huangquan."

"Of course, you can refuse. After all, so many doctors and healing-type ability users have gone to your Starfire, so you probably don't need a few old bones like us here."

Guan Shao said in a deep voice, "How do I know if you're lying to us?"

Gu Zefeng scoffed, "After being comrades-in-arms with you for so many years, it seems you don't understand me at all. When have I ever joked about children? My grudges with you are one thing, but I have no grudges against Captain Jiang and his baby, so there's no need for me to joke about them."

"In short, that's the situation. If Captain Jiang trusts me, he can bring his child to Huangquan. If he doesn't, then pretend I didn't leave you a message."

A low hum of radio noise came from the loudspeaker. Guan Shao looked intently at Jiang Rong, "Have you memorized the names of those doctors?"

Jiang Rong nodded seriously, "After I go back, I'll discuss it with everyone. If these experts are really in Huangquan, I'll take the child there."

Author's Note:

The grandfather on the fifth floor was infected with COVID-19 and passed away yesterday morning.

Just a few days ago he was riding his tricycle, full of energy, chatting with me, but in just a few days he's become weak.

Grandpa's wife fell and has been paralyzed at home ever since. Everyone thought that Grandma would pass away first, but unexpectedly, it was Grandpa who passed away first.

The person passed away yesterday morning. A mourning tent was set up at noon, and the funeral procession started with wailing and trumpet playing in the evening.

At 2 a.m. this morning, my grandfather's family set off for the funeral to reserve a spot at the crematorium.

The funeral during this special period was perfunctory and helpless. The old man's tricycle was hauled away by a scrap collector, and his belongings were either burned or thrown away.

A living, breathing person is gone just like that.