When Liu Hui and Wu Yuanjia returned to the hospital, Mei Peng was treating those five patients. He strictly followed the designed procedure, telling the patients that he would first use Traditional Chinese Medicine, and only after they had ingested the very bitter health tonic would he administer the IV drip, claiming it was for reducing inflammation. After receiving the IV, the patients would fall into a deep sleep, and upon waking, they would undergo massage and acupuncture. After two days following this regimen, the patients would be well enough to be discharged.

Liu Hui, Mei Peng, and Liang Jingyue discussed the government policy, and they found nothing objectionable, only expressing concern over whether Liu Hui could produce such a large quantity of medicine.

Liu Hui harbored some worries himself. They still had fifty kilograms of the remaining illicit substance, enough to trade for five hundred doses of medicine, but what about after that? How would they manage future development? The most crucial thing now was to source more of the substance. He couldn't simply purchase it on the open market, could he? One hundred grams exchanged for one dose cost tens of thousands of yuan. Setting aside the cost, long-term, large-scale purchases on the market were impossible; being targeted by the police would be extremely dangerous.

Liu Hui was internally conflicted. He then recalled that he didn't even have a car to his name when leaving the hospital, which detracted from the institution's image. Consequently, he asked Liang Jingyue to procure two automobiles for their future transportation needs.

“Ahui, what kind of cars are you thinking of buying?” Liang Jingyue inquired.

“Something under three hundred thousand yuan. We shouldn't be too flashy, lest we attract unwanted attention.”

“Under three hundred thousand, hmm, how about the Audi A4? Audi has an excellent reputation, and its performance is outstanding. Many government departments use them; they are very comfortable to ride in—an ideal vehicle balancing family and business use,” Liang Jingyue mused for a moment.

“That sounds good. Let’s buy two. We’ll use them when we go out from now on.”

Liu Hui stretched, hit his lower back a few times, and said, “This past month has been the most exhausting period of my life. Now that the hospital is running successfully, I need a few good days of rest.”

“Boss, you should rest well. You’ve been worn ragged during this time. I’ll keep an eye on things here at the hospital,” Mei Peng said, recognizing how hard Liu Hui had worked, and proactively offered to stay behind.

“Ahui, I want to go with you too. We haven't gone out to have fun in ages,” Liang Jingyue said coquettishly.

“Alright, we’ll go together. But if you leave, what about the car purchase?” Liu Hui asked.

“Hehe, well about that…” Liang Jingyue pulled out her phone and dialed a few numbers, calling car dealerships she knew. In the span of one call, she not only settled on the models and prices but even selected the license plates.

“See? I haven’t delayed work at all. I’ll go pick up the cars right away. Buying a car is simple; it’s settled very quickly,” Liang Jingyue declared proudly.

“Wait, aren’t you going to the dealership to look at the cars? That was too fast?” Mei Peng had never bought a car before. In his perception, buying a car involved visiting the dealership, examining options repeatedly, and only then making a decision.

“Hehe, don't worry. The owner of this dealership is a good friend of mine; she gives me the absolute lowest price. She won't cheat me. I bet by the time we go to pick them up, the license plates will already be installed.”

“Hehe, well… fast is good. I’ve wanted to drive for many years!” Mei Peng felt a little awkward.

“Our hospital will get better and better. When we become powerful enough to transcend everything, we’ll drive Rolls-Royces,” Liu Hui declared with grand ambition, filled with boundless hope for the future.

“By the way, Second Brother, didn’t Third Brother open an ecological farm resort in the neighboring province? I was busy the last time you went and couldn't make it. Can you tell me about it? Is it fun there?” Liu Hui suddenly remembered Third Brother’s resort.

“Third Brother’s resort is doing very well and is quite large. When I last visited, guests needed reservations, and there were many activities available. The food was decent too—very interesting and fun. And Third Brother and Cai Lufeng’s child is already two years old and adorable. It’s just that we haven’t been in close contact recently; I’m not sure how things are going there,” Mei Peng recalled.

“Hold on, who is this Third Brother you’re talking about?” Liang Jingyue asked.

“Third Brother? His name is Zhou Tengyun. We were in the same dormitory in college. There were four of us in our dorm. When we first enrolled, we saw other dorms ranking themselves, so we made one too. I was the eldest (Boss), Mei Peng was the second (Second Brother), and Zhou Tengyun was the third (Third Brother)!” Liu Hui explained.

“That’s a bit strange. To me, Ahui looks younger than Mei Peng; how did he become the Boss?” Liang Jingyue asked, confused.

“Hehe, that’s because the four of us in the dorm were unconventional. Other dorms ranked by age, but our ranking was based on the magnitude of our individual aspirations!” Mei Peng interjected.

“Oh, what an odd ranking method. So, what were your aspirations back then?” Liang Jingyue asked curiously.

“This Third Brother, Zhou Tengyun, his aspiration was to open a rustic-style farm resort in the countryside and live there with his wife,” Mei Peng reminisced.

“That fits the ideal of a traditional Chinese man, and it’s quite realistic,” Liang Jingyue commented.

“Yes, he has achieved his dream now. As for mine, it is to revitalize Traditional Chinese Medicine and promote it worldwide,” Mei Peng spoke of his ambition.

“Ah, given the current difficulties facing TCM, achieving that goal must be incredibly hard!” Liang Jingyue exclaimed.

“Indeed, that aspiration is very difficult, but having this hospital now gives us a sliver of hope!”

“Ahui, what is your aspiration? Is it what people usually say it is?” Liang Jingyue asked Liu Hui.

“Yes. My aspiration is to establish an ideal world. It must first have a perfect legal system, then highly developed social productivity, allowing everyone to live and work in peace, fully enjoying rights of freedom and equality. People should be able to pursue professions they love, and everyone should achieve comprehensive development. All significant activities must adhere to principles of fairness, openness, justice, and democracy,” Liu Hui replied.

“But such an ideal, at present, seems fundamentally impossible to achieve, right? It sounds much harder to realize than Mei Peng’s ambition,” Liang Jingyue asked worriedly.

“Yes, his ideal is truly over the top, which is why he’s the Boss. Then they said my ideal was also rather lofty, so I became the Second Brother. As for Zhou Tengyun, his aspiration was the most ordinary and realistic, so he ended up as Third Brother,” Mei Peng summarized from the side.

“Oh, so that’s how it is. I was always puzzled why you called Ahui Boss when you are older than him! Wait, weren’t there four people? Who is the Fourth Brother?” Liang Jingyue suddenly realized and pressed further.

“Jingyue, just don’t ask about that Fourth Brother. His aspiration is too vulgar. I’ll introduce him to you when you meet him later!” Liu Hui seemed reluctant to speak of it.

“Yes, it is indeed difficult to talk about. We can discuss it later if the chance arises!” Mei Peng added, also looking a bit embarrassed.

“Speaking of Third Brother, I haven’t seen him in a long time. Why don’t we go spend a couple of days at his place?” Liu Hui stroked his chin and suggested.

“That sounds great! I haven’t been to a farm resort in ages either. It would be a good chance to meet Third Brother,” Liang Jingyue agreed happily.

“Third Brother would be overjoyed if he knew you were coming. Jingyue could also meet Third Brother’s wife and child, and we could all have a good chat,” Mei Peng remarked enthusiastically.

“Then it’s settled, we’re going to Third Brother’s place. If we get the cars back today, we’ll leave tomorrow morning. Hehe, let’s not call him beforehand; we’ll just surprise him when we show up!”

“I’ll go get the cars right now,” Liang Jingyue said, immediately setting off for the dealership.

The next morning, Liu Hui and Liang Jingyue set off for the neighboring province together in the hospital’s new car. Third Brother’s location was in a small town under Mingyue County in the adjacent province. Driving from Bashan via the expressway would take about three and a half hours. Liu Hui was all prepared; he planned to show up right around mealtime to give Third Brother a good scare.

Along the way, Liu Hui and Liang Jingyue were affectionate, whispering sweet nothings to each other, and they took turns driving, so the passage of time felt negligible. Unconsciously, they arrived at Mingyue County. Liu Hui followed the map provided by Second Brother, driving toward Third Brother’s resort. However, after circling the vicinity twice, he couldn't locate the farm resort. Liu Hui scrutinized the map again; it seemed correct; Second Brother had clearly marked the resort's location.

“Ahui, why can’t we find it? Did we take a wrong turn?” Liang Jingyue asked.

“It should be right here, but why can’t I see it?” Liu Hui said, puzzled.

“The map must be wrong. I just saw some ruins over there; there’s no farm resort,” Liang Jingyue was equally confused.

“Okay, I’ll stop a local farmer and ask for directions.”

Liu Hui got out of the car and flagged down a passing farmer, asking, “Brother, excuse me, how do I get to the ‘Secluded Peach Blossom Spring’ Farm Resort?”

“You’re going to the ‘Secluded Peach Blossom Spring’ Farm Resort?” The farmer looked at Liu Hui with a strange expression.

“Yes, our map shows it’s right here, but we’ve searched everywhere and can’t find it.”

“Aren’t you standing right where the ‘Secluded Peach Blossom Spring’ Farm Resort is?” The farmer pointed toward the pile of rubble.

“What? This pile of ruins is the ‘Secluded Peach Blossom Spring’ Farm Resort?” Liu Hui was stunned.

“It used to be called the ‘Secluded Peach Blossom Spring’ Farm Resort, but I don’t know what it will be called next,” the farmer replied, shaking his head.

“What happened? It was a resort just a while ago; how is it ruins now?” Liu Hui’s premonition grew increasingly grim.

“It was demolished. They said it was an illegal structure.”

“How is that possible? Did Third Brother fail to obtain proper permits and operate illegally?” Liu Hui thought to himself.

“Then where is the owner of the ‘Secluded Peach Blossom Spring’ Farm Resort now?” Liu Hui continued to question the farmer.

“Ah, the owner’s surname is Zhou. He was a very kind man, good to the surrounding villagers, and he had a beautiful wife and a lovely child. The resort was booming. But somehow, someone reported it, claiming the resort was an illegal structure that needed demolition. During the forced demolition, the owner’s wife and daughter somehow died. Afterward, nobody knows what happened, but Boss Zhou suddenly suffered severe full-body burns, fell into a coma, and was dumped by the roadside. It was the villagers, remembering Zhou’s past kindness, who took him to the old temple ahead for temporary shelter. When they called 110, no police officer was willing to respond, and when 120 arrived, they only asked who was paying. Everyone here is poor; no one could afford the fee, so 120 immediately left him. There was nothing else to do but place him in the temple. It’s tragic; he has extensive burns but receives no medical care, and he looks like he won't last long,” the farmer recounted sadly.

“What?” Liu Hui roared in fury, suddenly lifting the farmer bodily with both hands.

“What nonsense are you spouting? How could Third Brother encounter such a thing? Are you jealous and deliberately weaving lies to trick me?” Liu Hui truly could not believe Third Brother had met such a tragic end.

“Ahui, put him down first.” Liang Jingyue, seeing the situation turn volatile from inside the car, rushed out to try and pry Liu Hui’s hands apart. But in his rage, she couldn't move him.

Liang Jingyue frantically struck Liu Hui’s arm. Stirred by her blows, Liu Hui regained clarity, noticing the farmer hanging in the air was near fainting. He immediately let go. The farmer sat on the ground, rubbing his arm vigorously, his eyes showing fear toward Liu Hui.

“Brother, I apologize; I was too impulsive just now. The Zhou boss you mentioned is my sworn brother; I am his Big Brother.”

“It’s alright, it’s alright. If you are his Big Brother, then you must be here to help him. I’ll take you to the temple to find him,” the farmer remained remarkably simple and kind, holding no grudge.

“Thank you,” Liang Jingyue helped the farmer up.

They all got into the car, and the farmer pointed ahead: “It’s just over there!”

Liu Hui hastily drove in the direction he pointed. As the car passed the pile of ruins, they spotted a plaque with a few fragmented, large characters faintly visible as “Secluded Peach Blossom Spring.”

Inside a dilapidated small temple, Liu Hui found Zhou Tengyun’s body. Zhou Tengyun lay motionless on a quilt, eyes tightly shut. His entire body was blackened and blistered, emitting streams of foul-smelling yellow fluid, with flies buzzing over him. Several small bowls of food were placed nearby, which looked untouched.

Liu Hui’s eyes welled up with tears. Was this really their honest, steady Third Brother? His only wish was to live a simple life; how could he have encountered such catastrophe?

“Jingyue, take the drinks from the car and try to feed them to Third Brother. I need to step out for a moment.”

Liu Hui walked behind the temple. Ignoring the daylight, he directly activated the Planar Trader and contacted Zeg. Zeg connected almost instantly.

“Esteemed Lord Liu Hui, what can I do for you?”

“Esteemed Lord Zeg, I require your assistance. A friend of mine has suffered massive full-body burns and is near death. I must save him. Do you have any medicine that can accomplish this?”

“Do you have detailed examination results?”

“No, not at this moment.”

“In that case, I cannot accurately diagnose the injury to formulate a corresponding therapeutic agent!”

“But if we conduct an examination, I fear he won’t survive long enough. His injuries are too severe; he might die en route,” Liu Hui said, distressed. Zhou Tengyun’s condition was so critical that the slightest jostling might prove fatal.

“I have a kind of Potential Stimulant here. It can activate the body's latent reserves, allowing even someone near death to hold on for over ten hours. Of course, if no cure is found within those ten hours, he will still die. I wonder if ten hours is enough time for your examination?”

Liu Hui was overjoyed: “Esteemed Lord Zeg, I need this Potential Stimulant immediately. Please trade it to me right away. As for those magical powders, we can settle the account after my friend is treated.”

“Certainly no problem.” Zeg searched his storage space and traded over a syringe.

Upon receiving the injection, Liu Hui hastily closed the transaction interface, neglecting any formalities. When he returned to the temple, Liang Jingyue was trying to feed Zhou Tengyun a drink using a bottle cap, but Zhou Tengyun’s mouth remained tightly shut, preventing the liquid from entering. The farmer was sighing nearby.

“Jingyue, make way.” Liu Hui approached with the syringe. Liang Jingyue quickly moved aside. Liu Hui, having never given an injection but recalling his childhood shots, jabbed the needle into Zhou Tengyun’s buttock and injected the Potential Stimulant. He watched Zhou Tengyun anxiously, but there was no immediate reaction. He sighed internally, praying the medicine would work.

With the farmer’s help, Liu Hui managed to lift Zhou Tengyun, quilt and all, onto the back seat of the Audi. After securing Zhou Tengyun, he handed the farmer a business card, saying, “Brother, I apologize for my behavior earlier today. If you ever need anything in the future, you can come find me in Bashan City.”

Without waiting for the farmer’s reaction, Liu Hui drove away. In the car, he instructed Liang Jingyue to call Mei Peng, explain the situation, and have him prepare at the hospital so the examination could begin as soon as Zhou Tengyun arrived.

With Third Brother severely injured, Liu Hui’s mood was heavy, and he remained silent in the car. The atmosphere on the return journey was consistently somber. Driving there had taken three and a half hours; driving back, focused entirely on the road and aided by his recent rigorous training, Liu Hui’s reaction time was astonishing, bringing them back to Hantang Hospital in under two and a half hours. If he hadn't considered Liang Jingyue’s presence, he would have driven even faster. The Potential Stimulant was truly miraculous; although there was no external sign, it allowed Zhou Tengyun to hold on until they reached the hospital.

Mei Peng was already waiting at the hospital entrance with the examination equipment prepared. Seeing Liu Hui’s car arrive, he immediately directed the transfer of Zhou Tengyun into a ward for examination. Fortunately, some of the hospital’s older equipment had not yet been discarded and was now put to use.

An hour later, Zhou Tengyun’s detailed examination results were ready. Mei Peng’s eyes were bloodshot as he reviewed them. He handed the results to Liu Hui and tried to comfort him: “Boss, please accept my condolences! Third Brother’s injuries are too severe. His total body surface area burn is 87 percent, and his internal organs are already failing. Even the most authoritative hospitals in the world couldn't fix this. But what is strange is that with injuries this severe, long-distance transport should have been impossible. How did you manage it?”

Liu Hui took the examination report and replied flatly, “Perhaps Heaven deems Third Brother’s life not yet finished. His suffering has been so terrible, perhaps Heaven wants him to stay alive for revenge.”

Liu Hui went to the basement and opened the Planar Trader, summoning Zeg, who appeared promptly.

“Esteemed Lord Zeg, thank you very much for the Potential Stimulant; my friend held on until we reached the hospital. His examination results are now available.”

“Esteemed Lord Liu Hui, please relay your friend’s examination results to me.”

Liu Hui first traded over Zhou Tengyun’s various scans and then read the conclusions from the examination report to Zeg, as Zeg could view the scans but could not read Chinese characters. On the screen, Zeg used some instrument to record what Liu Hui said, then told him, “Esteemed Lord Liu Hui, I need to immediately convene my technical personnel to study your friend’s condition. Please wait; I will notify you as soon as there is news.”

“Esteemed Lord Zeg, I must remind you that my friend does not have much time left; he has less than six and a half hours remaining. Therefore, I hope you can be as quick as possible.” Liu Hui cautioned Zeg.

“Esteemed Lord Liu Hui, I will be mindful of the time constraint.” Zeg withdrew from the Planar Trader first.