Qin Chuan had encountered many socialites like this before, and he easily brushed them off with just a few words. 

Jiang Ning goes to Yuecheng every week. If Ma Guangnian isn’t available to accompany her, she goes to find Lao Hu. 

She never goes empty-handed, either bringing a few pounds of cornmeal or Chen rice. Whoever has time to accompany her gets these gifts, considering it as paying for her lessons. 

Not having seen Ma Guangnian for several times in a row, Jiang Ning couldn’t help but feel curious. “Lao Hu, what has Mr. Ma been busy with lately?” 

“There is official news that the eternal night may be coming to an end, and a major disaster has occurred in the north, which is very likely to affect the south. Mr. Ma has been busy with Professor Li during this period and often doesn’t even have time for three meals.” 

Professor Li? That should be the old professor who conquered the smog virus. 

Jiang Ning pretended to gossip, “What disaster happened in the north?” 

Having accepted a talented and eye-catching disciple, Lao Hu had nothing to hide. “It hasn’t been officially announced yet. The news came from the capital. That place was plagued by nuclear waste, there was a millennium’s strongest earthquake, underwater volcanoes erupted, and the entire country was swallowed up in a short time.” 

Wiping out a country in seconds, what a powerful volcanic eruption it must have been. 

The volcanic ash produced by such a level of volcanic eruption is immeasurable. 

Jiang Ning’s scalp instantly tingled. The smog was coming! 

It turned out that the smog disaster was the truth behind the country’s annihilation in seconds. 

Jiang Ning was somewhat anxious. “Can we predict what viruses the smog will bring?” 

Lao Hu looked worried. “The finer the volcanic ash particles, the deeper they enter the respiratory tract. After being inhaled by people, these particles will accumulate in the respiratory system and can cause many diseases. 

Exposure to coarse particles can harm the respiratory system and induce asthma. 

Fine particles may cause heart disease, lung disease, respiratory diseases, reduce lung function, etc. The risk is very high for sensitive groups such as the elderly, children, and those already suffering from heart and lung diseases.” 

This is only physical damage. The environmental damage is even more obvious. Not only does it produce haze, but it also seriously damages the surfaces of buildings. 

If it encounters a typhoon or rain, the wet and heavy volcanic ash falling down can directly collapse the roof. 

Seeing her quite frightened, Lao Hu comforted her while teaching, “Don’t worry too much. The research institute has been cultivating medicinal herbs related to this for years. You have to trust our doctors; they will definitely overcome the difficulties.” 

Jiang Ning nodded, “Yeah, I believe you guys can do it!” 

The class ended, and she packed up and left. 

Just as she reached downstairs, she saw Ma Guangnian coming out of the glass shed, accompanied by several students and an old man in his seventies. 

He was thin, with half-white hair, but he looked spirited. 

Jiang Ning greeted him, “Mr. Ma, long time no see.” 

Ma Guangnian was very happy. “Xiao Jiang, wait a moment, I have something to say.” 

He escorted Professor Li upstairs, instructed a few assistants with tasks, and then came over. “Sorry, I’ve been too busy lately. I didn’t even have time to accompany you when you came over.” 

“It’s okay, I can figure things out on my own. Teacher, you don’t have to delay the important matters.” 

Ma Guangnian still had a lot to do. To put it briefly, “I heard that the island country’s volcano erupted, and volcanic ash may come down all the way. Although we are far away, it may cause a smog disaster. 

I don’t know what diseases the smog will cause, but there’s definitely a tough battle ahead. This time, it will truly test our medical personnel.” 

With so many natural disasters in recent years, many outstanding talents have been lost. Our task is very difficult. Officials in various cities have received the news and are urgently assembling medical personnel. When the time comes, medical personnel from cities such as Pengcheng, Guancheng, and Xiangshan will all gather in Yuecheng to face this battle together. 

“And we must win, otherwise the disaster will be unimaginable.” 

“Jiang Ning, are you interested in joining?” 

Jiang Ning’s head buzzed for a moment, and it took her a while to find her voice again. “Teacher, I’m willing.” 

She was worried about not finding a reason. 

For the sake of winning this battle, she had been preparing for years. 

“Okay, then you need to be prepared at all times. Once the smog arrives and cases arise for clinical observation, we’ll have to race against time.” 

Jiang Ning wanted to ask what preparations the research institute had made, but she held her tongue. Not to mention that various testing equipment had been destroyed by the natural disaster, even the most basic protective clothing and masks might not be available. 

Jiang Ning drove back to Fengcheng with a heavy heart. 

That night, after much consideration, she decided to find Qin Chuan. “Brother Qin, is there any way to get a batch of protective clothing, masks, or alcohol?” 

“Little sister, it’s been so many years since the natural disasters. Even if there were, these things would have expired long ago.” 

Jiang Ning thought about it and realized it was true. With severe weather conditions alternating, even if they were well preserved, they would have expired. 

She calculated repeatedly the Chinese medicinal materials she had hoarded over the years. Fortunately, she had grown enough mugwort. If she made it into moxa, it could have a certain sterilizing effect. 

“I saw Professor Li today.” Jiang Ning described the old man’s appearance and looked at Huo Yishen. “Is it him?” 

Huo Yishen nodded. “Yes, that’s Professor Li.” 

Jiang Ning also mentioned Ma Guangnian’s invitation to join the research team, but she was worried about leaving Huo Yishen with the two. “How about we go together when the time comes?” 

As long as the smog virus doesn’t change and the two crucial medicines are ready, this battle shouldn’t be as difficult as the last one. 

Huo Yishen didn’t refuse. “Hmm, we’ll see how things go.” 

Eternal Night continued, and half a month passed in the blink of an eye. 

In a daze, she felt a bit dazzled. 

Jiang Ning slowly opened her eyes, seeing the light coming in through the window. 

The sunlight wasn’t dazzling, it even felt a bit dim, as if it was covered in gray dust. 

Jiang Ning suddenly realized something and reached out to pull the curtains. 

It was dawn. 

Eternal Night had disappeared. 

She saw the sunlight, the sunlight through the smog and it appeared so dim that it seemed obscured by countless dust particles. 

She had thought about the butterfly effect, but she hadn’t expected the cumulative damage. 

According to Huo Yishen’s memory, the smog arrived about half a month after Eternal Night ended. 

Because there was no wind, the smog spread relatively slowly at first, so people thought it was just fog. It wasn’t until someone came out coughing, and those who stayed outdoors for too long had ash on their faces, that they realized it was smog, and eventually it became a haze with visibility of less than 5 meters. 

But now it was different. Just as Eternal Night had ended, the smog came one after another, not giving the survivors a chance to catch their breath. 

No, Eternal Night hadn’t even ended yet, and the smog had already arrived. It’s just that nobody could see clearly in the darkness, let alone discover its presence. 

Jiang Ning instantly became nervous. 

She quickly took her pulse and tested her cardiorespiratory function with deep breaths, feeling fine for the moment. 

Huo Yishen was awakened by her and saw the thick fog outside the window. It took him a moment to come to his senses. He couldn’t help but cough a few times…