Chapter 96

That sound...

The brother and sister exchanged a glance.

Jiang Zhi asked uncertainly, "This voice... it sounds a bit like Gou An's?"

Gou An is the soldier who was rescued by Jiang Zhi earlier.

She walked straight over and pushed open the closed door, and sure enough, she saw Gou An and his comrades waiting outside in a jeep.

The other party was very tactful and did not approach their house.

Upon seeing Jiang Zhi, Gou An's eyes visibly lit up.

"Comrade Jiang, I wonder if you have any free time right now? What about the clinic..."

He seemed a little embarrassed when he said this.

They had only been home for a short time when they were dragged back to help out.

But the soldiers' current situation is far from optimistic.

This natural disaster has damaged many of the medical instruments in the clinic. Several soldiers are getting increasingly ill, and if this continues, they may lose their lives.

It was a matter of life and death, so Huang Xianming shamelessly asked Gou An and the others to take the person over to help with treatment.

Jiang Zhi immediately knew what it was about and replied, "Okay, wait a moment, I'll tell my family and then I'll come with you."

Upon hearing that it wasn't for him, Jiang Shu quickly sat back down, only sticking his neck out to ask, "A-Zhi, do you want me to come and help?"

Jiang Zhi: "No need, I can handle it myself."

She said something to everyone at the table and then got into the car.

Let's go.

After everyone left, Yuan Ying said, "Our Azhi is now a guest of honor for the officials!"

Wu Xiu laughed and said, "Azhi has always been the most outstanding among the children since she was a child. I reckon that in the future, many people will definitely have to trouble her."

Jiang Si became a little nervous upon hearing this, "Grandma, does that mean Auntie will come home less often in the future?"

This question left everyone speechless.

Ye Qingyun paused as she wiped the table, turned to look at Jiang Si's reddened eyes, and gently comforted her: "Silly child, how could that be? No matter how busy your aunt is, she still has to go home."

Yuan Ying nodded in agreement and patted Jiang Si on the back: "That's right, your little aunt loves you the most. Besides, she's got quite an ability to be valued by the authorities now, you should be proud of her."

Wu Xiu sighed, her eyes filled with a mixture of relief and heartache: "Azhi is very capable, and capable people always have to shoulder more responsibility."

Jiang Shu finished the last sip of soup in his bowl and said, "You guys don't need to worry. Ah Zhi and I have discussed it, and we don't plan to join the government. If we encounter any situations where we need help, we'll just go and lend a hand."

Old Master Lin, who was listening nearby, chuckled and said, "You guys are quite willing to spend money."

Given the abilities and age of these brother and sister, if they were to officially join the government, their future prospects would be limitless.

The power, resources, and security provided by official connections that others would kill for are readily available.

But these two younger family members chose to stay with their family...

While Old Man Lin thought it was foolish, he was also somewhat envious.

So much for companionship...

These two words rolled gently through Old Master Lin's mind, carrying a bittersweet feeling that was hard to describe.

He has lived most of his life, and in his youth, he neglected his family too much because of his work and responsibility to the country. When he wanted to make up for it later, he was already all alone.

He watched Jiang Shu serve food to Ye Qingyun, and watched Jiang Si whisper secrets in Jiang Hai's ear. The unique aroma of highland barley mingled with their voices, warmly enveloping everyone.

This sense of security that comes from having a family together is something he could never have obtained, no matter how much power or resources he held back then.

"Alright, alright," Old Master Lin picked up his water glass and took a sip, the warmth of the plain water soothing his throat. "Whatever makes you happy. In this day and age, being able to keep your family safe and sound is better than anything else."

*

As soon as Jiang Zhi got into the car, she asked Gou An and the others, "What's the situation at the health center now?"

When Gou An mentioned his comrades at the clinic, his face darkened: "It's not good. This cold wave broke out too suddenly. Many of our seriously ill comrades lost the life support of their medical equipment. Four or five of them have already passed away."

As Jiang Zhi listened, she felt as if something heavy was pressing down on her heart.

This time, they went to the largest comprehensive health clinic in the base, called "Hope".

Normally, we admit more mutants from Zone C.

Of course, if there are patients or injured people that the health centers in Zones B and D cannot handle, they will also be sent here.

Before long, the group stopped in front of the clinic.

The "Hope" Health Clinic was converted from several rows of interconnected multi-story residential buildings.

From the outside, the white paint on the exterior walls is mottled from the freezing, and water stains from the melting ice are clinging to the corners.

Gou An and his group led Jiang Zhi inside through the door.

The plastic curtain at the entrance had been torn after freezing solid, leaving several small cracks at the edges. Now it hangs limply, with some white marks left from the melting ice.

The room was filled with the bitter smell of disinfectant mixed with herbs.

There were white frost marks on the metal casing of the water dispenser faucet in the corner.

In the registration and waiting areas separated by the lobby, the peeling-painted benches were filled with pale-faced patients coughing incessantly.

Almost all of them were mutant warriors who suffered frostbite when the cold wave arrived.

The medical staff at the clinic were so busy they barely had time to rest.

They didn't even have time to ask them a question.

Gou An didn't waste any time and went straight to Director Diao of the clinic to explain his purpose.

Upon hearing that they had come to treat the soldiers' mental pollution, Dean Diao was so excited that he stepped forward and grasped Jiang Zhi's hand.

"So you're the legendary Comrade Xiao Jiang! We've been waiting for you! These past few days, the soldiers' mental pollution has been getting worse and worse. We've tried everything to suppress it, but nothing we can do. The medicine in the clinic is almost gone. I'm so worried that half my hair has turned white!"

Jiang Zhi felt uncomfortable with Dean Diao's bureaucratic tone and tried to pull her hand away, but he pulled her inside.

As they walked, they hurriedly explained, "There are still six soldiers lying in the intensive care unit. Their mental state has reached a critical point; if it deteriorates any further, it will spiral out of control. Please come in quickly, please come in quickly—"

Dean Diao walked with a brisk pace, and his face, which had been shrouded in worry, now revealed a genuine hope.

Jiang Zhi followed her up to the second floor.

The corridor on the second floor felt even more oppressive than the one on the first floor. The smell of disinfectant was mixed with a faint smell of blood and a subtle, unsettling aura of mental disorder.

This floor is entirely occupied by critically ill patients.

From time to time, suppressed groans and suffocating beeping sounds from medical equipment could be heard from the room.

Dean Diao called over the director in charge of this floor, "Xiao Li, quick, get a few white coats out and give them to Comrade Xiao Jiang and the soldiers to wear. Get ready to take them in for treatment."

Director Li had heard before that the base had produced a great figure who could cure mental pollution.

He had initially thought she was a powerful, experienced mutant, but he never expected her to be a young girl like Jiang Zhi. He was momentarily stunned.

He couldn't help but wonder if such a young girl could really cure mental pollution, but her level of superpower was not high enough to make much of a difference.

Here, there are twenty-eight soldiers suffering from mental pollution!

And each of them was seriously injured!

Judging from the girl in front of me, her superpower level is not high. Can she really solve the problem of these warriors suffering from mental pollution?

Dean Diao: "What are you standing there for? Go now!"

Director Li quickly responded with a "Yes, yes," and turned to get his white coat.

After Jiang Zhi and the others put on their white coats, Director Li led them to a six-person ward.

The base has not yet been fully restored to power, and the clinic is currently using a generator. In order to save electricity, the medical staff did not dare to turn on the air conditioning in the rooms on such a day.

In the hospital ward.

Six hospital beds were lined up along the wall, and the soldiers on each bed were enduring the torment of mental pollution.

The soldier by the window was so thin he was unrecognizable.

Yet he was still tormented by mental pollution, his skin-and-bones hands gripping the railing tightly, a suppressed groan escaping his throat.

The one in the middle doesn't look as bad; there's still some flesh on his hand, but he's still suffering.

The one on the innermost side looked the heaviest; it was in so much pain that it was completely unconscious and could only frantically pound on the bed.

The restraints on his hands were very tight, and his eyes were filled with a chaotic redness.

...

Every instrument screen next to these six soldiers was flashing wildly.

Dean Diao, with a fawning smile, asked, "Comrade Xiao Jiang, which side would you like to start with?"

Jiang Zhi frowned.

She released her supernatural power to sense the mental state of several warriors.

One of them had such weak mental strength that he was like a candle flickering in the wind, and could be extinguished at any moment.

Jiang Zhixin's heart tightened, and she walked up to the soldier who didn't look too heavy.

Director Li, thinking she lacked the ability to assess the patient's condition, quickly reminded her, "Comrade Jiang, this soldier seems to be in more stable condition than the others. Why don't we treat the one next to him first?"

Director Li was referring to the soldier next to him who was so thin he looked like skin and bones.

Jiang Zhi shook her head. "He's not the heaviest."

Her gaze fell back on the warrior with weak mental strength: "He looks calm, but his mental pool is about to shatter. He doesn't even have the strength to struggle anymore. If this drags on any longer, even if he is saved, he will be a cripple."

She pointed to the emaciated soldier next to her, "That one looks heavy, but his mental strength is still relatively stable, so it shouldn't be difficult to suppress him. Save this one first, he doesn't have time to wait."

Director Li looked at the life monitoring device next to him with suspicion.

But the vital signs of that disfigured soldier were clearly even more unstable...

Jiang Zhi sensed Director Li's distrust, but didn't explain.

The soldier whose vital signs were unstable was not suffering from low blood pressure due to mental pollution; even if his life was in danger, he could be saved.

The other soldier was different.

Although his physical wounds were small, the mental pollution he suffered was severe. If we don't save him first and let it drag on, even she might not be able to save him.

She looked up at Director Li and said, "Director Li, please stabilize this soldier's vital signs first. I'll treat him after I finish treating this one."

Although Director Li had doubts, Jiang Zhi was, after all, someone who had been instructed by his superiors to cooperate fully, and her words just now were clear and logical, not like she was just spouting nonsense.

He suppressed his uncertainty and quickly replied, "Okay! I'll arrange it right away!"

Regardless, let's do as she says first; we can't really delay saving lives.

Just as he turned to prepare, the soldier whom Director Li thought was not seriously injured suddenly convulsed, and the life monitor emitted an urgent "beep beep! beep!" sound.

Everyone was shocked.

Director Li immediately pressed the emergency call button: "Quick! Patient number five is in trouble, emergency resuscitation!"

Just as Director Li was about to administer life support to the soldier, Jiang Zhi had already stepped forward and walked to the soldier's bedside.

"Jiang Tong—" Director Li wanted to step forward, but was held back by Gou An and the others.

Gou An's eyes were firm. "Director Li, please trust Comrade Xiao Jiang."

Director Li was anxious, but given the current situation, he could only suppress his restlessness.

He secretly decided that he would wait two more minutes, and if the soldier did not improve in two minutes, he would intervene no matter what.

Jiang Zhi was unaware of the actions of the people behind her.

She placed her fingertips on the other person's wrist pulse, and her supernatural power seeped into the other person's mental pool through their skin.

Sure enough, inside, a cloud of black mist was frantically devouring the warrior's remaining mental barrier. His originally clear mental energy was being entangled by the black mist and was gradually becoming turbid and gray.

Jiang Zhi focused her mental energy, transforming it into a fine filter that precisely enveloped the black mist, peeling it away and purifying it bit by bit.

now.

The ward was so quiet that the only sound was the urgent ticking of the medical equipment.

"Beep beep—beep beep—beep beep—"

Director Li, along with several nurses who had rushed over, Dean Diao, Gou An, and a few others, stood aside, barely daring to breathe, their eyes fixed on Jiang Zhi.

The other person's brows were slightly furrowed, and a faint halo surrounded him. His expression was so focused that he seemed to be isolated from the outside world.

Everyone's hearts were in their throats.

I don't know how much time passed.

Everyone watched as the soldier's tense brows on the hospital bed gradually relaxed, the frantically beating medical equipment slowly calmed down, and his clenched fist slowly loosened.

Director Li wiped the sweat from his palms, and the nurses beside him exchanged glances, their eyes filled with barely suppressed tension and anticipation.

It really works!!

In the past, whenever the soldiers had an attack, they could only use all available tranquilizers and life support to try to save them.

This method of rescue can only suppress the symptoms, it cannot treat the underlying condition.

These soldiers who experience seizures might die during one of their attacks.

Just like the patient in bed number 5 who is currently being treated by Jiang Zhi.

When the nurses rushed in, they clearly saw his life points plummet to the limit.

Unexpectedly, in just a short time, the other party had completely calmed down, and their vital signs gradually returned to normal.

This is a form of mental pollution that they are powerless to stop!

"That's...that's amazing..." a young nurse murmured, her voice trembling.

The head nurse next to her quietly tugged at her sleeve, afraid that she would disturb Jiang Zhi, but she herself did not look away, and the admiration in her eyes shone like stars.

Even Director Li, who was initially skeptical, was overjoyed.

The soldiers are truly saved!!

The higher-ups didn't lie to him!

Immediately afterwards, Director Li felt a surge of fear and relief – thankfully he hadn't interfered with Comrade Jiang's treatment, otherwise it would have delayed the soldiers' medical care.

Jiang Zhi didn't care what others thought of her.

She was focused on the rescue process.

Perhaps it was because she had gained more practical experience during the mission, but Jiang Zhi clearly felt that her control over her mental power had reached a new level.

Compared to treating Gou An's mental pollution before, this time Jiang Zhi only spent a little over ten minutes to completely eliminate the pollution in the warrior's mental pool.

After finishing, she didn't check on the other person's condition, but turned to Director Li and said, "Director Li, I'm done here. Could you have someone check him for any other problems?"

After speaking, Jiang Zhi moved on to the next soldier.

Director Li was stunned for two seconds before he realized what was happening.

"Okay, okay! We'll check right away."

He strode over to the soldiers who had just been treated and personally examined them. When he found that all of the soldiers' vital signs had returned to normal, the shock in his eyes deepened.

The mental pollution that had troubled them for so long was so easily resolved by the little girl in front of them!

After confirming that everything was correct, he straightened up and solemnly instructed the head nurse next to him, "Organize all the data on the cured soldiers. We need to record it and submit it to the higher-ups later."

This time, Director Li's tone no longer carried any of the previous doubt, only an undeniable sense of importance.

As the head nurse went to carry out the task, Director Li watched Jiang Zhi's retreating figure, head down, saving lives. His voice was barely audible, tinged with disbelief, as he sighed, "With this girl around, the number of brothers lost during missions at our base will likely be significantly reduced..."

Dean Diao, standing to the side, was so excited that he didn't know what to say.

"This is...this is truly a savior sent from heaven!"

Gou An stood aside, watching his comrades who had fought side by side on the battlefield slowly regain their color, and the anxiety that had been hanging in his throat finally subsided.

He blinked hard at his red-rimmed eyes, trying to hold back his tears, but his vision still blurred—his brothers, whom he thought he might never see again, were now lying peacefully, each faint breath seeming to tell him: they had survived.

He clenched his fists until his knuckles turned white, a burning emotion choking him, but he could only repeat in his heart, "That's great...that's really great..."

Jiang Zhi paid no attention to the surge of excitement and gratitude among the crowd.

She simply bent down and treated the soldiers one by one with focused attention.

In the end, almost all the medical staff at Hope Health Center secretly came over, just to catch a glimpse of the legendary figure who was said to be able to cure mental pollution.

During this time, Dean Diao and Gou An were worried that she wouldn't be able to hold on and wanted to give her a break, but Jiang Zhi refused.

These soldiers have been delayed for too long; even a day's delay could make the treatment more complicated.

Gou An could only keep handing her Su Yuan cakes.

Jiang Zhi's face turned deathly pale after the last warrior affected by mental corruption was treated.

Gou An looked at her with concern: "Comrade Xiao Jiang, are you alright?"

Jiang Zhi raised her hand to press her throbbing temples and shook her head: "It's nothing, I'll be fine after a rest."

She's just overused her powers; she'll recover gradually with enough rest.

After Director Li finished checking on all the soldiers, he quickly went to Dean Diao and reported: "Dean Diao, all the soldiers' vital signs are stable! The mental pollution has been brought under control, and there shouldn't be any major problems with their recovery!"

Director Li's voice was filled with barely suppressed excitement, his previous tension completely dissipated. Looking in the direction where Jiang Zhi was resting, he added, "Thanks to Comrade Jiang, these soldiers really... really escaped with their lives!"

Just as Dean Diao was about to say something, a series of orderly footsteps suddenly came from outside the clinic.

The head nurse downstairs had just finished arranging logistical supplies when she looked up and saw Commander Wang, the highest-ranking person in charge of the base, walking briskly towards her with his guards.

The head nurse was startled and immediately rushed over nervously.

"Commander Wang, you...?"

She didn't expect that he would arrive so soon after the matter was reported.

Commander Wang waved his hand, indicating that Dean Diao, who had run downstairs to greet him, did not need to speak. He then turned his gaze to the cubicle where Jiang Zhi was resting: "You're busy, you don't need to wait here."

"I heard that Comrade Xiao Jiang rescued all the soldiers, so I came to see her."

The head nurse was quite excited—this was Commander Wang! The absolute leader of their base, a figure they usually only saw in mission-issuing videos, was actually standing right in front of them today!

She wanted to remind Jiang Zhi, but seeing the row of soldiers behind Commander Wang, she had to give up the idea.

Looking at Jiang Zhi, who was being personally visited by Commander Wang in the cubicle, the head nurse felt a little envious.

—To have such talent at such a young age, and to be valued so highly by the top leader, one is likely to rise rapidly in the future.

*

Jiang Zhi stuffed five or six Su Yuan Bing (a type of glutinous rice cake) into the rest room before she felt her mental pool had been replenished and she was no longer so idle.

It seems that this quick-acting cake is no longer suitable for her now.

She thought to herself that when she saw Huang Xianming again, she would ask if there was anything in the base that could restore mental strength better than Suyuanbing.

As she was thinking this, Jiang Zhi caught a glimpse of a green figure walking in from outside.

That's a unique way of walking for soldiers.

Jiang Zhi looked over.

A middle-aged man in military uniform strode over, his shoulders broad and his back straight, exuding the ruggedness characteristic of a soldier.

The man's dark face was sharply defined, with a few shallow wrinkles at the corners of his eyes, but his eyes were very bright, and he was not someone to be fooled at first glance. The imposing aura he exuded made it clear without anyone saying a word that he was an important person whose words carried weight.

Jiang Zhi didn't sense any malice from the other person. She stood up and asked, "You are...?"

Commander Wang smiled and said, "You must be Comrade Jiang. You are indeed a promising young man."

"I'm Wang Jianguo, from the base's armed forces department. I heard from Lao Huang that you were a great help during your trip to Hunan Province... You have an older brother, right? Didn't he come with us?"

Jiang Zhi had some guesses about the other party's identity.

But she didn't expose it.

Jiang Zhi doesn't like official stuff.

She smiled slightly and said, "Colonel Huang is exaggerating. I didn't help much. It was all the result of everyone's joint efforts... As for my brother, he's at home taking care of the family now."

Wang Jianguo recalled that his subordinate Wan Changlong had reported on a matter in the air-raid shelter, in which the Jiang family was also involved.

His eyes held even greater admiration.

It's true that families that can raise talented people are usually not bad.

He raised his hand to rub his cheeks, which were stiff from the cold, and his tone softened: "Old Huang raved about you to me, saying you're capable and courageous."

She was so humble, but now I see she's definitely a composed and capable girl.

Jiang Zhi was a little embarrassed. "Colonel Huang is just flattering me. I just encountered a problem and thought I should lend a hand if I could. It's not about courage. If we're talking about ability, those of you who are on the front lines are the real deal." She looked up at Wang Jianguo, her eyes clear. "Besides, we're all teammates on this mission. If someone gets into trouble, the others won't just stand by and do nothing."

Wang Jianguo smiled, then changed the subject, "You rescued all those soldiers outside, didn't you?"

This wasn't a problem for him either. Without waiting for Jiang Zhi's reply, he continued, "The base is in dire need of a pragmatic and capable young man like you. How about considering coming to the Armed Forces Department to help out? We'll give you a formal position, and you won't have to worry about your salary and benefits."