CH 100

Chapter 100: Retrieving medicine

Qin Jun settles down on the edge of the bed, carefully checking over the groggy Wen Bin. A few moments later, he pulls the blanket back up and tucks it around the youth. Standing up, he turns to regard the anxious Zhou Xingfeng.

"His wounds opened again and become inflamed."

"You beast." Wringing cold water from the cloth in his hands, Li Qing spits out these two words as he places the wet towel on Wen Bin's forehead.

"Tsk, tsk…really didn't expect this from Brother Zhou ah. You actually ravaged a young sprout[1]." Huo Zaiyuan ridicules from where he sits, drinking a mouthful of water.

"Eh…that…Qin Jun, is Wen Bin's situation critical? Does he need medicine?" Gazing down at Wen Bin's feverish face, Zhou Xingfeng's heart feels very uncomfortable, as though something is mercilessly squeezing it. Distracted by the unease, he completely disregards the jabs his classmates threw at him.

"The infected wounds caused this fever, but we have antibiotics here, so it shouldn't be an issue. As long as he takes this medicine properly, the fever will recede. However, there may be another possible reason for this Junior brother's fever." Qin Jun purses his lips lightly, then continues. "I just gave him a full-body check-up and discovered that he has a type of heart disease. The bottle he clutched in his hand is a medicine that will keep his condition under control. From the looks of things, he was diagnosed with it a long time ago. The problem now is the bottle's empty. I don't know how long he has gone without his medication, but if this fever is due to his condition, then it will be troublesome."

"Troublesome…then, what can we do? How can we save him?" Zhou Xingfeng pounces on Qin Jun, a hand grabbing the apprentice doctor’s collar.

"If there's still a hospital around, all we need to do is bring him there for an injection and take a couple medicines and he will be fine." Qin Jun answers calmly, not taking Xingfeng's rude actions to heart. "But it's the apocalypse now. There are no hospitals."

"Are you saying we need to find the injection and medicine for Wen Bin?"

"Correct. Even if his heart disease is not the cause of his fever this time, he absolutely cannot go without his medication, I'm sure you understand."

"I'll go take it from the hospital." Releasing his grip on Qin Jun, Zhou Xingfeng looks at Wen Bin, hands clenching into fists. "I cannot let anything happen to him."

"Hospitals have the highest risk factor." Sitting beside Huo Zaiyuan, Long Zhanye who had kept silent all this while finally opens his mouth. "When I was communicating with my grandfather before, he told me there were a few foreshadowing omens of things to come a week before the apocalypse. During that short period, a large number of people all over the country suddenly came down with a strange illness. The first symptoms are fainting, becoming scatter-brained, then loss of consciousness. None of them woke from their coma until that night. When they finally opened their eyes, everyone one of the victims were already transformed. So the number of zombies in hospitals will definitely be more than even the ones on the streets."

"I still have to go. I can't stand seeing Wen Bin…" Zhou Xingfeng blurts out.

"Since you have already made up your mind, then let's go." Standing up as he says so, Long Zhanye lazily stretches, a faint smirk on his face. That look is of someone ready to fearlessly take on any challenges thrown at him…the very image of a warrior.

"Eh…you…" Never did Zhou Xingfeng expect Long Zhanye to offer his help so readily.

"Little Yuan will definitely not stand aside when you go off to retrieve medicine." Long Zhanye shifts his gaze to Huo Zaiyuan, asking. "Isn't that right?"

Although his little Yuan seems nonchalant towards this whole situation, for those who are familiar with him, his heart is softer than anyone Long Zhanye knows. His little Yuan is kind and loyal. Since Zhou Xingfeng is a friend, Huo Zaiyuan will not be a bystander.

"Zhanye really knows me well!" Huo Zaiyuan rises from the chair, shooting a faint smile to Zhou Xingfeng. "In this kind of circumstances, brothers should put their abilities on display, isn't that so?"

"Although I wish to come along, I have to look after my patient, so I wouldn't be going. I wrote the name of the shot on a piece of paper for you guys to retrieve as well as the medicine you need to look for." Qin Jun speaks up, handing over a piece of paper torn from a notebook. On it were the names of the medicine and injection, as well as a few pieces of equipment needed. At the same time, Wen Bin's empty bottle is also placed in their hands. "Because everything pertaining to heart diseases will be placed in a section together, all you need to do is find that place and you will be able to get the medicine. As for the shot, it will be placed in a freezer. Although the electricity would have disconnected, hospitals should have emergency backup generators that will kick in during blackouts. So the freezers should still be operational."

"We got it." Zhou Xingfeng nods. "We'll trouble you to take care of Wen Bin in the meantime. I'll go prepare first, then we can leave immediately." Staring at Wen Bin one last time, Zhou Xingfeng stalks out of the room.

Wait for me.

After Zhou Xingfeng departs, Qin Jun hands another piece of paper to Huo Zaiyuan. "The medicines listed on here, bring them back if possible. It'll be best to have some more supplies on hand."

"Un." Huo Zaiyuan dips his head in acknowledgement.

What he purchased from the pharmacy before the apocalypse began consists only of bandages, medical gauze and a few commonly used medicines like penicillin and antibiotics. Being unknowledgeable in the field of medicine, he didn't bother getting anything else. Now Qin Jun advises him to get a few more types of medicine, of course, he is going to comply.

Ten minutes later, Long Zhanye, Huo Zaiyuan and Zhou Xingfeng get into the off-road vehicle and leaves the school grounds.

As Long Zhanye is not familiar with S City and Huo Zaiyuan is a beginner at driving, the responsibility falls to Zhou Xingfeng. However, the other two don't stay idle as Xingfeng drives. One sneakily retrieves a few different firearms from his space while the other begins distributing those few equipment between the three of them.

Because hospitals are one of the most dangerous places during the apocalypse, one must absolutely not treat this situation lightly. If one slips up the slightest, one will become food for zombies.

"Xingfeng, these three items are for you." Huo Zaiyuan hands over a peach wood tile, a piece of yellow paper and a paper crane.

Although he has no idea what these items are used for, Zhou Xingfeng still accepts them, abide a little puzzled.

"Little Yuan, these are…"

"The wooden tile has protective capabilities. It can resist twenty plus zombie attacks. The yellow paper can erase your aura but you need to make sure both are placed on your skin. As for the paper crane, it acts like a tracker so I will always be aware of your location." Huo Zaiyuan explains blandly, then places another backpack on the unoccupied passenger seat. "There are a few emergency tools in there, as well as a fully-loaded magazine. Naturally, it would be best not be separated when we are in there."

"Yeah…got it." Looking at the backpack, Zhou Xingfeng nods. But as his gaze returns to the paper crane and talismans, he can't help asking. "That…little Yuan…these talismans…wh - where did you get them?"

Why had he never known little Yuan believed in these kinds of things?

"I made them myself. Don't lose them." Huo Zaiyuan reminds his friend sternly. "These are genuine items and not stage props!"

"Er…all right, all right. I will take good care of them." Despite not knowing why Huo Zaiyuan insists on the usefulness of these talismans, he still listens and tucks them securely in his clothes.

The off-road vehicle moves swiftly through the roads, heading towards the nearest hospital.

When the car approaches, one can see the area surrounding the hospital block is flooded with more zombies than the average residential area. Instructing Zhou Xingfeng to circle the block once, Long Zhanye takes the opportunity to find a point with the least number of undead in order to park the vehicle.

"Are we going to lead or…?" Huo Zaiyuan questions as they get off, scanning his surroundings carefully. However, no zombies could be seen in their vicinity. Satisfied, he points towards the hospital's walls.

"Let's climb over that. Xingfeng, will you be able to?" Holstering his pistol, Long Zhanye slings his rifle on his back and draws his sword.

"No problem."

"Then let's go." Because Zhou Xingfeng is here, Huo Zaiyuan cannot return the car into his space. Thus, he leaves a paper crane in the vehicle in order to guard it. After setting up a simple protective array around the car, the first zombies start to appear.

The three men swiftly climb up the perimeter wall and flip over the back entrance of the hospital. Before, when they circled the block, the main entrance of this building is obstructed by piles of debris and scrap metals. Corpses and various body parts litter the bloodstained ground, unclear if they belonged to humans or zombies…it is an extremely sickening scene. On the other hand, the back entrance is a lot cleaner, even if there is an occasional dismembered body lying partially hidden here and there.

Having confronted hundreds and thousands of zombies during their journey from Z City to here, Long Zhanye and Huo Zaiyuan are already numb to these grotesque sights. Zhou Xingfeng's expression also remains serene, showing that this is not his first trip outside after the apocalypse began.

"Once we enter the main building, we must be extremely cautious. First priority is to find a map of the various sections in the hospital. We're here to find medicine, nothing else." Long Zhanye whispers, waiting for the other two to nod in affirmative before leading the way in.

With the Aura Concealment Charm stuck on their bodies, the three manage to avoid stirring up a large disturbance the moment they set foot in the hospital. After Long Zhanye dispatches a zombie dithering in front of the staircase with a single slash of his blade, they immediately head up. Huo Zaiyuan hangs back for a few seconds to drop a couple more simple arrays at the bottom of the stairs before following.

From the second floor onwards, the main building of the hospital is linked to the other smaller structures surrounding it via walkways and corridors. As the apocalypse began in the middle of the night, the night watch staff is only a few, meaning there aren't too many zombies in places for staffs only. As a result, the trio speedily clears the surrounding undead, discovering a map sitting next to the registration board showing the entire layout of the hospital in record time. Under three pairs of eyes, the medication storage area is quickly pinpointed.

"The highest floor." Zhou Xingfeng whispers, frowning lightly.

"Can't use the elevator, so we have to use the stairs. It's only twenty storeys. You're young, aren't you?" Long Zhanye smirks, patting his shoulder.

"Yeah, even thirty floors wouldn't be a problem."

"Let's keep moving."

Footnotes:

[1] Young sprout = Underaged person.