Chapter 18 The Gray Dome 18 The thing that built the Gray Dome is...
Amidst the chaos, Xu Yang was carried into the emergency center on the 20th basement level by a large entourage, where the on-duty medical staff hurriedly pushed him into the emergency room.
Whether Xu Yang fainted in front of millions of people or during such an important speech undoubtedly touched the hearts of many people from the Upper Tower District to the Lower Tower District.
Lin Suwen rushed to the 20th basement level immediately. People from the upper tower area couldn't come down from there, so the area wasn't completely blocked.
The person in charge of setting up the stage was wiping sweat in the corridor. Lin Suwen looked at him sharply; he looked like he was about to cry.
“Your Excellency, I really don’t know what happened. It was my mistake for the banner to fall, but Secretary Xu wasn’t hit. He suddenly fainted,” the person in charge said tremblingly. “Secretary Xu had been coughing before he went on stage, and he seemed to be feeling unwell. Perhaps he was already feeling unwell…”
Lin Suwen pursed her lips, her expression stern, but her words were not reproachful, "I know this has nothing to do with you. Has the scene been secured? Have any suspicious persons been found?"
"No, Your Excellency President," replied Captain He Hua. "The situation was brought under control immediately. All the people present were questioned, and no suspicious persons were found. It was not an attack."
Lin Suwen pondered for a moment, "Is that banner very close to Xu Yang? Check if there's anything on it."
“It has already been checked,” Hehua said. “It only contains some synthetic fragrances. People with allergies may experience sneezing, but it will not endanger their health.”
"So it seems that Xu Yang's illness was caused by working while sick," Lin Suwen sighed. "Which doctor is in charge of his treatment?"
"It's Dr. Zhang," the person in charge said. "He happens to be on duty today."
Before he could finish speaking, the lights in the emergency room went out, and Xu Yang was wheeled out lying down, with an oxygen mask on his face.
"Dr. Zhang," Lin Suwen greeted him, "How is the situation?"
“Your Excellency, Mr. President,” Dr. Zhang removed his mask, “had Secretary Xu been working at a high intensity for a long time?”
“His work has been quite concentrated lately,” Lin Suwen said wearily. “These are turbulent times, and many things have to go through his hands. He even voluntarily canceled his vacation… Did he faint because of overwork?”
"That's part of the reason, and another one is whether Secretary Xu likes to drink?"
“I’m not quite sure about that,” Lin Suwen said.
"A large amount of alcohol was detected in his body, and he must have drunk alcohol the night before," Dr. Zhang said. "He has allergies and is prone to reacting to chemical components, but the consequences are usually not serious, and he probably didn't take it seriously. However, due to his alcoholism, fatigue, radiation, and other factors combined, it suddenly flared up."
Lin Suwen became serious. "Is that very serious?"
"Let's observe him a bit more. Allergies can be a minor or major issue. If his condition stabilizes by tomorrow, then he'll have gotten through it," Dr. Zhang said.
What else could Lin Suwen say? Having confirmed that this was not a conspiracy by the rebels and opponents, but simply Xu Yang's own negligence in taking care of his health, she could only instruct the doctor to take good care of him.
She didn't have much time to stay there. After giving her instructions, she and Hehua left in a hurry. Xu Yang had collapsed, and his work still needed to be done, plus that important speech. She would only be busier.
Xu Yang was unconscious for about five hours. When he woke up in a daze, the only sound in the quiet ward was the ticking of the medical equipment. He was breathing with difficulty and felt that his entire airway was swollen, making it difficult to even breathe.
"Someone come here..."
He thought he was yelling with all his might, but the sound he made was barely louder than a cat's meow. He turned his head to reach for the call bell by the bed, but as soon as he turned his head, cold sweat broke out.
A figure stood quietly by his bedside, its dark phoenix eyes staring intently at him.
His vision was blurry, and he blinked hard a few times before he could recognize the person's face. Faced with such beautiful and alluring eyes, fear showed in his own eyes.
"South……"
"You woke up at just the right time; I just came in," Nanmen Jue said with a smile. "I never expected things to change so quickly, like thirty years ago on the east bank of the river and thirty years on the west bank."
"How could you..."
Wearing an oxygen mask, he could barely make a sound. Xu Yang glared at Nanmen Jue, a ruthless glint in his eyes.
He instantly understood that his current predicament was definitely due to Nanmen Jue's machinations.
But how did she do it?
He was second only to the emperor and was not a newcomer to the space. He was usually careful enough, so why did he still fall for Nanmen Jue's trick?
Seeing that he was breathing heavily, Nanmen Jue kindly reached out and took off his oxygen mask.
"What...you've done..."
"I shouldn't explain so much to you now. Based on the experience gained from countless literary works, when it comes to getting things done, talking too much often leads to bad outcomes."
With a smile, Nanmen Jue openly took out a spray bottle and sprayed it into Xu Yang's oxygen mask in front of him.
Xu Yang's eyes widened.
"You...you..."
"Does this scene look familiar?" Nanmen Jue said.
Just half a month ago, the person lying here was Nanmen Jue. Xu Yang tampered with her oxygen mask. If He Ting hadn't stumbled in by chance, she would have died instantly.
And now, the person standing is Nanmen Jue.
Nanmen Jue was afraid that the amount was not enough, so he sprayed it several times, and even choked and sneezed himself.
“This fragrance is quite strong,” she said. “What’s the difference between dying in this fragrance and dying in a flower garden? I’m so good to you, letting you go on your way smelling sweet.”
"brute!"
Nanmen Jue paused, "Did you all take the same swearing course? That's so unoriginal."
Xu Yang was panting heavily, his eyes bloodshot as he watched Nanmen Jue approach, the oxygen mask with added filling being placed over his mouth and nose.
"Thank you for telling me that oxygen masks can be used not only to save lives, but also to kill people."
Nanmen Jue pressed the mask tightly against his face and then pressed it down firmly.
"Rest in peace, you reincarnator whose true name you did not even know."
Xu Yang's already swollen airway was further irritated by the inhalation of irritating gas. The swollen tissue instantly filled his throat, blocking his airflow and causing him to suffocate.
Nanmen Jue lowered his eyes and coldly watched him struggle and twist, his face first turning red and then purple, and then gradually turning into weak twitches.
She deftly twirled a scalpel between her thin medical gloves. It would be best if he could just die naturally like this; she would only need to wipe the oxygen mask clean and leave no clues. But if he really did get lucky and didn't die, she would have to finish him off.
However, this also increases the likelihood of being discovered.
Nanmen Jue waited patiently. Seeing that Xu Yang had stopped convulsing and his face had turned deathly pale, her fingers trembled and went limp when she raised them.
This is the first time a life has truly died at her hands, and it probably won't be the last.
Nanmen Jue clenched his fist tightly, reached out and took off Xu Yang's oxygen mask. Just as he was about to wipe it clean, Zhang Chuxi, who was keeping watch at the door, suddenly knocked on the door.
Nanmen Jue suddenly looked up, and Zhang Chuxi's voice came in muffled.
"It's too late, get out now!"
Nanmen Jue slashed the oxygen mask off. Looking at the knife in her hand, her mind raced, but she still didn't do anything.
Footsteps could be heard by then. Nanmen Jue slipped out the door and hid in the shadows around the corner with Zhang Chuxi.
The person rushing over surprised Nanmen Jue greatly.
It's Qi Mo.
He was very anxious. He rushed in but didn't have time to close the door. Nanmen Jue went back to the door and looked in through the crack in the open door.
Qi Mo was startled when he saw Xu Yang's appearance. He rushed over, ringing the call bell while checking Xu Yang's breath, and then revealed a look of surprise.
He was pleasantly surprised, but Nanmen Jue's eyes darkened.
Did this guy take some kind of breathing pill? He's been holding it in like this and he's still not dead?
She gritted her teeth, realizing she had underestimated these veterans.
Even if he didn't die, Xu Yang's condition should be quite dangerous. Qi Mo's eyes kept scanning the surroundings. At the critical moment, he grabbed the scissors on the table and stabbed Xu Yang's air chamber.
Cut open the blocked trachea to clear the airway.
Qi Mo is clearly an ordinary person with no medical background, how dare he do this? Nanmen Jue suddenly remembered that she had used this same method to save He Ting before.
Qi Mo saw that scene on the screen, along with the others.
She gave a gloomy smile.
She has good learning abilities, but what interests her more is when these two people started dating.
Nanmen Jue hid in the shadows, calmly watching the medical staff rush in and begin emergency treatment. Because Xu Yang's original problem was tracheal swelling, the sudden worsening of the condition did not arouse suspicion.
"What should we do?" Zhang Chuxi asked anxiously, "Was it so close to success?"
"Let's go first." Nanmen Jue turned around. "We've been away from the isolation room for a long time. If we don't go back soon, someone will find out."
The monitoring and recording work in the isolation room is very important. If Nanmenjue did not have the status of chief student, those researchers would not have so easily handed over an area to her.
Killing your enemies is important, but you can't let the desire to kill and hatred blind you, or you'll end up getting yourself killed.
She doesn't have the power to be so willful right now.
"Qi Mo just went in." Zhang Chuxi's voice trembled slightly. "Have the two of them formed an alliance?"
"I'm afraid it's not just the two of them."
"You mean, Zhu Wenjie also...?"
"Do you regret coming with me?" Nanmen Jue asked calmly. "I am the only newcomer in this world, yet they ganged up on me. I am truly outstanding, even frightening."
"...When you ask me questions, you don't need to praise yourself at the same time." Zhang Chuxi's lips twitched, and she found that the tension of the enemy being allied with everyone except them had lessened a bit.
“I may be weak, but I’m not that stupid,” she said. “If I were with those three people… I’d probably become a dish.”
Nanmen Jue reached out and ruffled her hair.
“I can’t guarantee that we’ll both survive, but I can promise you that I won’t abandon you,” Nanmenjue said. “You are my pledge of allegiance to Iron Drill.”
Zhang Chuxi was amused by her and nodded vigorously, "Let's work hard together to get out, and I will definitely train hard and not hold you back anymore."
"No."
Zhang Chuxi: "What?"
“You didn’t hold me back.” Nanmen Jue looked at her seriously. “You were the one who climbed into the ventilation duct to release the irritating gas, and you were the one who climbed so high to tamper with the banner. How could you hold me back? You’re a real expert.”
Zhang Chuxi blushed slightly. "What you did was more dangerous. I was not easily discovered, but you risked sneaking into his office and switching his wine... Speaking of which, how did you find out he has allergies?"
“The day he came to discuss Zhu Wenjie’s treatment plan, I smelled a very faint scent of cetirizine on him. It’s an allergy spray that’s only used by people with very severe allergies, and it just so happens that this world has it.” Nanmen Jue frowned. “I’m just not sure if he’ll still be allergic after his constitution is improved? Unless he didn’t use any points to improve his constitution at all.”
“It’s possible he didn’t improve, or it could be a side effect of using some kind of prop,” Zhang Chuxi said.
Nanmen Jue suddenly realized, "That explains it. We now know he must have used a tool to hide his name. But can using such a tool have side effects?"
“It seems that most items have side effects. Not only do they have side effects, but they also have limited usage times and durability. In other words, a reincarnator can’t just live a long life with a useful item; they have to keep looking for more.” Zhang Chuxi smiled bitterly.
Nanmen Jue fell silent.
This god is truly wicked.
The two quickly returned to the isolation room, and fortunately, they had not yet been discovered.
Zhu Wenjie huddled in the corner, staring blankly in the direction of the camera. He seemed to have lost all hope of living, his whole being pale and dejected.
Zhang Chuxi glanced at it and quickly looked away. "What about this side... what are you planning to do? Should we kill him?"
Nanmen Jue leaned back in his chair, swaying back and forth, with only two of the chair legs touching the ground.
"Can't bear to? Or are you afraid to kill?" she asked casually.
Zhang Chuxi remained silent. She still had the mindset of an ordinary person and had a natural fear of killing. However, she also knew the harm this person had caused to Nanmen Jue. If Nanmen Jue hadn't been lucky, she would have really died.
She dared not, nor could she bear to, but she would not plead for him.
"My hands were shaking just now too." Under Zhang Chuxi's surprised gaze, Nanmen Jue said, "When I realized I might have killed Xu Yang, my hands almost wouldn't obey my commands. Why are you so surprised? Didn't I say I'm just an ordinary medical student? What's so strange about having the fear of killing?"
"...But the way you acted was like a cold-blooded killer with years of experience." Zhang Chuxi closed her agape.
Nanmen Jue rolled her eyes at her.
“I am a law-abiding citizen without a doubt.” Apart from frequently getting into fights and being sent to the police station, and almost ending up in a juvenile detention center, “What’s so great about being a habitual killer? So many cells work so hard to combine into a living person, and to kill someone so easily, making all that effort go to waste, is really impolite.”
"..."
Although the reason was a bit bizarre, Zhang Chuxi once again realized from a strange perspective that Nanmen Jue was a medical student.
She may seem arrogant and cruel, but perhaps it is in her heart that she has a respect and love for life that led her to choose to study medicine.
Everyone knows that studying medicine is a long and arduous journey, and it's impossible to persevere without a passion and dedication that transcends the human spirit.
“Nanmen, you will definitely become a good doctor,” Zhang Chuxi suddenly said.
The swaying stool stopped, and Nanmen Jue looked at her in surprise, a smile appearing on his face.
"Okay, I'll try my best to get out of this awful place and become a doctor."
As they were talking, they heard some noise from the earpiece next to them. Nanmen Jue picked it up and put it on. Zhu Wenjie was speaking in the earpiece, his voice very low, without any of the previous madness.
"...Do you have family? Is there no one waiting for you to come back?"
Zhang Chuxi glanced at Nanmen Jue, but Nanmen Jue didn't react.
They all thought Zhu Wenjie was going to play the sentimental card and continue to persuade them to spare his life, but he laughed hysterically and curled up even smaller.
"Reincarnators have no family... No matter who's by your side, in the end you'll be all alone. Poor newbie, you think you can control this game, but your nightmare hasn't even officially begun yet... Hahaha! Hahahahaha!"
He suddenly burst into heart-wrenching laughter, and Zhang Chuxi immediately took off her headset. She stared blankly at the screen, where Zhu Wenjie was wearing a strange smile.
At this moment, Nanmen Jue's bracelet lit up, indicating that there was a new notification or message.
She opened it and glanced at it, her expression turning serious, and she straightened her posture.
"What is it?" Zhang Chuxi jumped up as if she were a frightened bird.
"The results of my experiment are in, and the report was automatically sent to my bracelet."
The further Nanmen Jue looked down, the more strange her expression became. Before Zhang Chuxi could ask any more questions, she stood up.
"Walk."
Where to?
“I want to see the president,” Nanmenjue said. “I have something to ask her.”
...
Lin Suwen is very busy dealing with the aftermath of Xu Yang's collapse.
Nanmen Jue asked several people along the way and finally found her on the 120th floor. She was in an empty classroom next to the square. The stage had been cleared and the banners had been hung up again. Lin Suwen was here to personally explain the situation to the public on behalf of Xu Yang.
Nanmen Jue's face was her pass. She entered the guard's protective circle and suddenly saw several soldiers in white uniforms and white helmets.
She realized something and slowed her pace.
She gestured for Zhang Chuxi to shush, and the two of them walked quietly. As they approached the classroom, Zhao Huai'ren's voice came first.
"Suwen, you've already deceived the masses once. Do you really intend to deceive them a second time?"
"Brother Zhao, didn't you already promise me? We've already regrouped the people, and the speech is about to start. Are you going back on your word again?"
Nanmen Jue stopped and exchanged a surprised look with Zhang Chuxi.
She was wondering what reason Lin Su-wen would use to explain to the public, but she didn't expect her to try the same old trick again!
Zhao Huai-ren remained silent for a few seconds, then let out a deep sigh.
"Xiao Jue exposed your lie last time. Do you think she'll just sit idly by and let you lie a second time?"
“Nanmen’s sense of justice and morality amazes me; you’ve raised a good child.”
"Suwen... what are you thinking about?"
"You know me, Brother Zhao."
"Now that you call me Brother Zhao, you're no longer the president. Tell me, what are your intentions towards Xiao Jue? What are you planning to do to her?"
"Brother Zhao, don't get agitated." Lin Suwen's tone sounded very calm. "You're the one reminding me to deal with her, aren't you?"
Zhang Chuxi looked at Nanmen Jue in horror. Nanmen Jue remained expressionless and shook his head slightly at her.
"You know perfectly well that Xiao Jue is my child! You... cough cough! Lin Suwen, I helped you tell such a colossal lie for the sake of your so-called 'secret', and I supported your swift and decisive suppression. Now what do you want to do? Are you going to lay your hands on an innocent child? What did she do wrong? She only exposed your lies!"
“She exposed not only my lies, but also the peace that the Gray Tower has painstakingly maintained for hundreds of years,” Lin Suwen said. “You’re an old man in the tower. Have you forgotten what the tower looked like when the rebels rebelled? Everyone was in danger, corpses littered the ground, and the human population was already very small. Brother Zhao, every drop of human blood is precious. What if something like that happens again? The rebels haven’t been dealt with yet. Can the Gray Tower withstand a second rebellion?”
"Are you telling me all this to force me to make a choice?" Zhao Huai-ren's voice trailed off. "Are you forcing me to deal with Xiao Jue to maintain the stability of the Gray Tower?"
“I won’t let her die, Brother Zhao. Nanmen is a child I watched grow up. Her parents died in the rebel army’s rebellion. She should hate them the most, but that child actually chose to join them for the sake of her justice…” Lin Suwen’s voice lowered, pleading, “Just keep her in a safe place for now, or tell her not to talk nonsense anymore. As long as this chaos passes, we’ll think of something else, okay, Brother Zhao?”
“…Xiao Jue will not agree.” Zhao Huai Ren’s tone seemed to have aged several decades. “She would rather cooperate with the resistance than tell this lie. Unless she is killed, she will not be willing to shut up.”
"You're pushing me, Brother Zhao."
"You're the one forcing me. What are you hiding that you still won't tell me?" Zhao Huai-ren said. "Suwen, you've loved singing since you were little, and you wanted to be the number one singer in Gray Tower! Why did you suddenly become interested in politics one day? After taking office, you took drastic measures, eliminating all unstable elements in Gray Tower, driving all the rebels out of Gray Tower, and severing ties with almost all your relatives and friends. Later, you even told this huge lie that you would never have told before. What exactly happened to you? What are you afraid of!"
"...Don't force me, Brother Zhao, don't force me."
"Suwen!"
A commotion arose from behind as the crowd began to enter. Having experienced the previous incident and been detained for questioning, they were all in a bad mood and harbored resentment, making them even more demanding of the speech.
If Lin Suwen cannot provide them with a satisfactory explanation, it's hard to imagine what will happen here.
The two people inside also heard the noise outside. Lin Suwen's voice became noticeably urgent, "Now is not the time to talk about these things, Brother Zhao. Please help me calm the public down first, and then I will explain to you slowly."
“...Every time you have a reason to escape, Suwen, you know I always soften my heart.”
"Brother Zhao!"
"I understand." Zhao Huai Ren sighed wearily. "I will help you with this, but on the condition that you don't touch Xiao Jue. As for her... I'll explain."
Lin Suwen's voice immediately relaxed, "I knew it... I knew it, Brother Zhao, you still care about me and about Gray Tower."
“Xiao Jue is my bottom line, Su Wen,” Zhao Huai Ren said.
"I know," Lin Suwen sighed as well. "If we can keep it from her too, that would be best..."
Suddenly, with a loud bang, the classroom door was pushed open.
The two looked toward the door in alarm, only to see Nanmen Jue slowly close and lock the classroom door.
"Xiao Jue?" Zhao Huai Ren exclaimed in surprise.
“I’m sorry, you can’t hide it from me anymore.” Nanmen Jue looked at Lin Suwen, whose eyes suddenly sharpened. “Compared to this little lie, I have something more important to ask Your Excellency the President.”
"South Gate, don't be silly." Lin Suwen glanced towards the window.
“If you want me to expose your lies in front of everyone in the Upper Tower again, then you can call for help right now.”
"..." Lin Suwen looked at Nanmen Jue, "What do you want to ask?"
"How was the Gray Tower built?" Nanmen Jue asked Lin Suwen, looking directly at her. "Is what you're afraid of the thing that built the Gray Tower?"
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