Chapter 405 - Chapter 405: The Mystic Berry

Chapter 405: The Mystic Berry

Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

When Rong Qi arrived, Lu Chengzhou was not in the lab. She donned her protective gear and proceeded to the lab table on her own. In a cage on the table was a little white mouse, an experimental subject that Lu Chengzhou was nurturing.

Rong Qi gazed at the mouse, its tiny eyes darting around the cage, her own eyes flickering between light and dark. She leafed through the medical journal her grandfather had left behind, which detailed every step of that groundbreaking experiment. The antidote to counteract the K3 virus had already been half-developed by her late grandfather. What remained were a few key ingredients.

She and Lu Chengzhou had been covertly collecting medicinal herbs from various places these past few weeks. They were almost there, save for one last component. Even if they did complete the formula, they wouldn’t dare administer it to Ye Nanshen right away.

With a thoughtful expression, Rong Qi booted up the lab computer and logged into the global medical forum. The K3 virus couldn’t have only affected Ye Nanshen. Yet, for so many years, not a single other case had surfaced.

Rong Qi scrolled through forum posts, noting the latest trends—always the usual medical discussions and help-seeking threads. No mentions of the K3 virus, nor even anything remotely related to viruses.

“You’re here?”

The lab door swung open, accompanied by the sound of Lu Chengzhou’s voice.

Rong Qi gave a noncommittal hum in reply.

“You skipped school today?” Lu Chengzhou asked.

Setting down what he was holding, Lu Chengzhou approached her.

“I’ll go tomorrow.” Rong Qi kept her eyes glued to the computer screen, wrapping herself tightly in her protective gear.

Lu Chengzhou furrowed his brow, wondering if she wasn’t hot in that getup.

“Any news about the Mystic Berry?” Lu Chengzhou asked.

The mention of this elusive herb made Lu Chengzhou’s face crease further.

“I’ve been through countless documents these past few days, but there’s no trace of Mystic Berry. Do you think it’s extinct?” Lu Chengzhou asked.

Rong Qi’s scrolling fingers paused. “No. A hidden tycoon bought a Mystic Berry at an auction ten years ago.”

“An auction? How do you know about something that happened a decade ago?” Lu Chengzhou asked.

Rong Qi hesitated before answering, “Because that auction was sensational. Someone tried to assassinate the tycoon who bought the Mystic Berry, and the venue caught fire. It was quite the scandal.”

“Ah, you mean the 428 Auction? Now I remember. Our hospital received a lot of patients because of that incident,” Lu Chengzhou said.

At Rong Qi’s mention, Lu Chengzhou began to recollect. He had never imagined that the Mystic Berry, the very thing they were in desperate need of now, had once been an auction item.

“So how do we locate this tycoon? Do you think he’d be willing to sell?” Lu Chengzhou asked.

Rong Qi said, “There’s an auction at Serene Garden this weekend; he might show up there.”

Serene Garden’s auctions were no ordinary events. They were legendary within the auction community, featuring not just extravagant jewelry and rare gemstones, but occasionally even unique medicinal herbs. The tycoon in question was known for attending high-end auctions, never leaving without either a purchase or a sale.

Since that was the case, Rong Qi figured she would try her luck.

However…

“I haven’t heard anything about Serene Garden holding an auction this weekend,” said Lu Chengzhou.

Rong Qi replied, “Maybe they haven’t announced it yet.”

Today was Tuesday, and the weekend felt an eternity away. With Ye Nanshen, the man at the helm of Jingsheng Corporation, missing in action, his prolonged absence would spark rumors and possibly create unnecessary complications. And that was something Rong Qi was in no mood to deal with..