Chapter 67: The Power Within

A month passed quietly, with Mu Nanhe fully immersed in his routine training. Yang Qingyan was performing surgeries at the military hospital every few days, earning admiration from the hospital staff for her exceptional skills.

On a day in November, the county hospital admitted several patients suffering from coughs, runny noses, and mild fevers. Initially, the doctors did not pay much attention, treating them as ordinary cases of colds and utilizing simple herbal remedies and folk methods. Little did they know that just two days later, the conditions of these patients would deteriorate sharply. They not only developed high fevers but also experienced difficulty breathing and extreme fatigue, with some even slipping into comas.

Dr. Zhang, the head physician of the hospital, paced anxiously in the yard, and upon encountering the equally grave-faced Dr. Li, he pulled him aside and asked, “Old Li, the situation with these patients is alarming. The herbal remedies we used have shown no effect at all. What could be going on?”

Dr. Li sighed and shook his head helplessly. “I’m not sure. I’ve never seen such a troublesome illness. And have you noticed? It seems to be contagious; yesterday, the nurse attending to Xiao Wang started displaying fever and cough too.”

Just as he finished speaking, a chaotic commotion arose nearby. New patients were being brought in, accompanied by desperate family members crying out, “Doctor! Please save my family member. He has symptoms just like those previous patients. This illness spreads too quickly—many people in our village are starting to feel unwell!” Panic enveloped the entire hospital in an instant.

In just a few days, the disease began to spread explosively throughout the county. The hospital became overcrowded, patients filling every bed, hallway, and corner, wracked with pain and distress.

Due to the severe shortage of hospital beds, patients lay on makeshift wooden platforms. Family members gathered anxiously around, faces marked by worry and despair, their cries and pleas creating a dismal atmosphere that hung heavily over the hospital.

Doctors worked day and night, trying countless herbal treatments and methods, yet with little success.

Upon hearing the news, Yang Qingyan rushed to the military hospital to help out. When she entered, she immediately encountered Dr. Zhao, who was in charge of treating this outbreak. She anxiously said, “Dr. Zhao, I want to help fight the epidemic. Even though I’m not a formal medical staff member, I’ve assisted in the clinic before and know some pharmacology. Please let me stay!”

Dr. Zhao looked into her determined eyes and nodded. “Alright, we are desperately short of hands right now. Having you assist is a great help. Follow me.”

In the hospital, Yang Qingyan was constantly on the move, assisting doctors with patient care and organizing medical records. She noticed that the patients’ conditions were progressing alarmingly fast; many went from mild symptoms to critical danger in just a few days.

As she watched patients struggling in pain on their beds, her heart raced with urgency, and she resolved to find a treatment solution.

Meanwhile, the soldiers were not spared. The virus spread even faster during intense training and collective exercises. Many soldiers collapsed on the training grounds, presenting with fevers and coughs, incapacitated to continue their duties.

Yang Qingyan, during her time helping in the hospital, became acutely aware of the severity of the illness and promptly applied to participate in drug research efforts. She spent days immersed in the cramped pharmacy of the military hospital, tables piled high with medical texts and herbal samples, continuously experimenting with various combinations of medicinal herbs, meticulously recording patient reactions to each treatment.

One day, Dr. Zhao entered the pharmacy, concerned as he saw Yang Qingyan’s bloodshot eyes. He advised, “Qingyan, you’ve been working through many nights. You should take a break; don’t wear yourself out!”

Yang Qingyan shook her head resolutely. “Dr. Zhao, I’m fine. The number of patients keeps increasing, and if I can do more, they will suffer less.”

Countless failed experiments did not discourage her; instead, they ignited her fighting spirit. “I must find a solution; I cannot let these patients continue to suffer,” she vowed silently.

As the situation grew increasingly severe, the number of patients continued to rise, putting tremendous pressure on both the hospital and the military. Yang Qingyan, feeling anxious, only took three to four hours of rest each day, using the remainder of her time to analyze cases and adjust formulas.

During one particular experiment, she noticed a unique combination of herbs that showed some potential in alleviating symptoms, although the effectiveness was still lacking. Deep in thought, she recalled her hidden abilities and felt a wave of mixed emotions. Using her powers would risk exposing her secret, bringing unknown dangers, but as she looked at the suffering patients in the ward and the soldiers collapsing in the battalion, she gritted her teeth and decided to discuss the matter with Mu Nanhe.

Yang Qingyan found Mu Nanhe and said, “Nan He, the number of patients in the hospital is increasing rapidly, and their conditions are worsening too quickly. Conventional treatments aren’t working at all. I want to use my powers to help treat the patients. If this continues, many will be in life-threatening situations!”

Mu Nanhe’s brow furrowed as he grasped Yang Qingyan’s hand, speaking earnestly, “Qingyan, I understand how you feel. It pains me to see our comrades falling. But have you considered the danger you face if your abilities are revealed? Those with ill intentions will not hesitate to go after you.”

Yang Qingyan lowered her head, contemplating for a moment before raising it with determination. “I understand the risks, but I cannot just watch them suffer! I want to give it a try.”

Mu Nanhe sighed lightly, saying, “I understand your resolve, but your energy is limited. Even if you tirelessly use your powers to treat, how many people can you possibly save? Plus, overextending your abilities could harm your own health.”

After pondering his words, Yang Qingyan suddenly had a bright idea and excitedly exclaimed, “I know what to do! Instead of direct treatment using my powers, I can infuse my energy into the water, then use this water to brew the medicine. This way, it might enhance the drug’s efficacy and allow me to help more people! And it’d be less likely to expose my secret; even if someone notices the heightened effectiveness of the medicine, they won’t be able to deduce the specific formula tied to my abilities.”

Mu Nanhe looked at her, expressions of concern and admiration mingling in his eyes. “Qingyan, this still carries risks. You need to be extremely careful; make sure no one finds out. If anything feels off, you must tell me right away.”

Yang Qingyan nodded vigorously, “I will! I’ll protect myself and work swiftly to develop an effective medication to help everyone.”