Five people had just succumbed when another person showed symptoms of poisoning; this time, it was a young man.

The sequence of five poisonings sparked widespread panic among the guests. Even Ren Lijuan and her cousin began to look unsettled, with some considering a desperate dash to the hospital, feeling that only there could they find true security. Others were so overcome they felt the need to vomit whatever they had consumed. In an instant, the entire restaurant descended into chaos.

“Don’t move randomly! If you run out, what if the poison takes full effect halfway there? There is a doctor here, a truly formidable divine physician, who can at least handle your immediate problems!”

Long Feng suddenly stood up and projected his voice across the room. His tone was loud, amplified by the internal Neijin woven within his words. Hearing him, most people froze in place, and a slow calm began to settle.

Zhang Yang looked up, sparing Long Feng a glance tinged with genuine admiration. The Wushang Zhendian truly was a supreme Daoist mental cultivation technique; it even possessed the ability to soothe agitated minds. Long Feng had hit the jackpot this time; this cultivation method was priceless.

The fifth person poisoned was quickly brought back from the brink by Zhang Yang. For five consecutive cases, Zhang Yang had dispensed five Detoxification Pills. Even these standard pills were not cheap, as Zhang Yang had infused them with rare medicinal ingredients he usually kept guarded. Fortunately, Zhang Yang had a decent reserve supply, enough to manage this immediate crisis for those who truly needed help.

“What happened?”

As everyone waited in silence, the groom, the first one to collapse, finally stirred, struggling to sit up and asking with a dazed expression. The flush had vanished from his face, his mouth was no longer dry, and he looked outwardly indistinguishable from before the poisoning.

“You’re finally awake! You scared me to death!” The bride rushed forward to support the groom, crying out her relief; his collapse had terrified her.

“I’m fine. What happened just now? Why is everyone gathered here?” The groom looked around in confusion. He only remembered making toasts, then feeling suddenly unwell and collapsing, after which everything was a blank. He woke up cradled in his wife’s arms.

“You were poisoned. How do you feel now?” After the initial shock subsided, the bride hastily inquired, recalling the terrifying symptoms the groom had exhibited. Now that he was awake, she worried about lingering aftereffects.

“Poisoned?” The groom’s eyes widened. He couldn't believe it and glanced down at himself, then froze instantly. He could see numerous silver needles piercing his body, each one terrifyingly sharp. The sight alone almost made him leap straight up in alarm.

“Don’t move! I’ll pull the needles out for you!” Zhang Yang appeared beside him, pressing lightly on his shoulder. The agitated groom immediately stilled, staring at Zhang Yang in surprise. He remembered Zhang Yang well—Ren Lijuan’s classmate, whom he’d run into unexpectedly today, and with whom he’d just shared a drink.

After calming the groom, Zhang Yang slowly began extracting the needles one by one. The tips of these needles were tinged black. It was a pity there was no proper sterilization equipment available; otherwise, they could have been reused after disinfection.

“Zhu Qing, you’re awake?” Xiao He rushed back in from outside, shouting with relief upon seeing the groom, now freed of the needles. He was followed by several other people. These were hotel staff members, who had been terrified upon hearing about the mass poisoning in the dining room. If people had fallen ill here, they would have been held accountable.

“I’m fine. I was really poisoned?” The groom, Zhu Qing, nodded dazedly. He had no memory of the poisoning event; he felt a bit uncomfortable now, but assumed it was just the effects of too much alcohol. It was entirely thanks to Zhang Yang’s intervention; with the doctor’s skill and the complement of profound Neijin, stabilizing the groom’s immediate condition had been manageable.

Before Xiao He could speak, someone nearby suddenly flushed scarlet, struggled for breath, clutched their throat, and collapsed. As he fell, the man babbled nonsensically about aliens attacking Earth and Sun Wukong battling Ultraman—acting completely insane. Zhang Yang immediately moved to his side, first using silver needles to stabilize his body, then administering an antidote pill.

Six people had now shown symptoms—this was unequivocally a mass poisoning event, and the toxin was potent. Who knew how many more would succumb? While Zhang Yang’s pills could suppress the onset of the poison, there weren't enough to treat everyone immediately. He was forced into a reactive role, treating whoever showed symptoms first. The rest would have to hold on until they reached the hospital.

“Someone really was poisoned!” A look of horror crossed Zhu Qing’s face. Now, without any explanation from Xiao He, he understood what had happened. The current victim’s erratic display filled him with dread, and just recalling his own state sent shivers through him.

The accompanying hotel staff panicked, urgently calling for vehicles while simultaneously contacting their superiors. This was a five-star hotel; a mass poisoning incident would severely damage their reputation. More importantly, saving lives was paramount. They absolutely could not let any of the poisoned individuals suffer further harm, as that would elevate the situation beyond mere reputation damage.

“Wooo-wooo!” The unmistakable sound of approaching ambulances echoed from outside. Zhang Yang glanced at the remaining victims who hadn't yet regained consciousness and immediately instructed Xiao He to organize them into batches for transport. Those left behind were ordered not to move, as any of them could experience an outbreak at any moment. Everyone was compliant now, obeying Zhang Yang implicitly, even though most didn't know him.

Understanding everything, Zhu Qing quickly placed a call to his father. He had hosted his classmates to celebrate his wedding, and now they were poisoned. This implicated him, as he was the host; he was responsible until the end. Such a massive event was beyond his ability to handle alone; he had to inform his family.

Immediately after hanging up, his expression shifted violently. He turned back to the bride and urgently asked, “Liu Chang, you also ate quite a bit. How are you feeling?” Liu Chang was the bride's name, and also Ren Lijuan’s cousin. After Zhu Qing spoke, her face also changed subtly. It wasn't just him; everyone present felt a creeping unease, wondering if they would be next. But thankfully, Zhang Yang was there, providing a profound sense of security.

Zhang Yang was the first to spot the poisoning and had successfully treated one victim. The others were stabilized, and Zhu Qing was fully conscious, proving this man genuinely had methods for dealing with the poison. With such a person present, even poisoning was less terrifying.

“The cars! The cars are here!” The hotel staff hurried back into the dining room. Hearing about the mass poisoning, the hotel spared no expense, immediately dispatching two large buses—the fastest transport available, though insufficient for everyone. The hotel was also contacting several nearby hospitals to send every available ambulance. All available personnel were being mobilized to ensure everyone reached medical attention as quickly as possible.

“Zhang Yang!” Xiao He couldn’t help but look at Zhang Yang. Zhang Yang used to be their class monitor, and instinctively, in a crisis, Xiao He defaulted to following his lead, despite not having seen him for years.

Zhang Yang surveyed everyone in the hall and spoke quietly, “I noticed the infection rate seems slightly higher among the men. Let the men board the buses first. Send them in separate groups to the nearest emergency rooms—it must be fast. I will stay here to look after those remaining.” These people looked terrified. Knowing they were poisoned, with an unknown onset time, naturally caused anxiety. If Zhang Yang hadn't been present, coupled with the calming effect of Long Feng’s Neijin projection, chaos would have erupted long ago.

Hearing Zhang Yang’s directive, Xiao He gave a slight nod. The men preparing for the hospital rushed out, with Zhu Qing actively helping manage the flow. The remaining women were anxious but remained silent. This was hardly the time for chivalry. With five out of the six victims being male, the proportion was noticeably higher, even though the gender ratio at the event had been nearly even. In this situation, prioritizing the men’s immediate transport to the hospital was logical.

As the first group left, Zhang Yang kept Xiao He and Zhu Qing behind. Zhang Yang handed each of them three Detoxification Pills, instructing them to take one for themselves and distribute the rest among the passengers on their respective buses. These were emergency measures against potential on-bus poisoning outbreaks; the pill would help mitigate the toxins. If too much Yangjinhua (Datura) toxin built up, it could be fatal or cause permanent damage without swift intervention.

Zhang Yang remained behind, ensuring those staying were cared for. He couldn't watch over the bus passengers, so he relied on them. Zhang Yang gave Xiao He an extra pill for himself to take discreetly. With that safeguard, Xiao He could ensure he wouldn't fall ill while responsible for an entire busload. Furthermore, as an old classmate, while Zhang Yang would help any patient, he naturally felt obligated to look after his own people first.

The two buses departed quickly, leaving the remaining women, some of the more timid ones, beginning to cry. Ren Lijuan and her cousin, Liu Chang, had to comfort them one by one. At least Zhang Yang’s presence kept them from descending into panic and despair. Thinking of this, Ren Lijuan glanced at Zhang Yang again. Her eyes held a deep sense of astonishment.

She knew Zhang Yang studied medicine, that he was a medical student, but she never imagined he possessed such skill, capable of handling such a severe poisoning incident. She felt no worry now, only a steady, grounded sense of security—with Zhang Yang here, everything would be alright.

Soon, another bus arrived—an emergency loan from a travel agency parked nearby. Upon hearing about the mass poisoning, the agency sent a driver immediately to assist without question. No one else developed symptoms during this time, allowing Zhang Yang a slight reprieve. Liu Chang and Ren Lijuan were busy organizing passengers onto the second bus. Zhang Yang gave Liu Chang three Detoxification Pills, instructing her to take one immediately to ensure she stayed well enough to tend to anyone who might suddenly collapse on the journey. (To be continued)RQ

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