I tidied up the note and tested the temperature of the cup holding the medicine. It was still a bit hot. I found another empty cup, poured the medicine into it twice, then placed it on the tray and took it out.
Wu Guodong was talking animatedly with the divine doctor, likely recounting his glorious past.
When he saw me approach, he paused his conversation and looked at me. "It's good to be young," he said. "Everything is just beginning. Unlike me, who can only pass the time with memories."
I quickly replied, "General, you are only held back by your physical condition. Once you recover, you can still lead troops and achieve great things."
Wu Guodong chuckled, "You're just trying to make an old man happy. Old is old, and I accept it. Once I'm feeling better, I'll travel around. I've worn this military uniform my whole life; it's time to take it off."
It seemed he had come to terms with power. After holding onto it for a lifetime, there would always be a day to hand it over, it was just a matter of whether he was willing to let go.
I felt his words held a great deal of longing and helplessness. If circumstances allowed, I doubted he could truly let go and turn away as gracefully as he claimed.
I handed him the medicine, and he took it, drinking it down in one gulp.
I quickly took the empty cup from him and went back to wash it.
This was the second day Wu Guodong had taken the medicine, and his spirits had clearly improved. I was happy for him from the bottom of my heart. However, a trace of worry began to surface. If Wu Guodong's illness could truly be cured, would he do as he said, take off his uniform, and cultivate his character?
Or, what would Chen Liben, who now held great power, think?
Would he want them to nurse him back to full health?
I was startled by my own thoughts. If my suspicions were true, we might be in greater danger. Chen Liben would not allow such a thing to happen.
I felt as if an invisible net was closing in on us. I, along with the divine doctor, were trying to save a man, but in doing so, might be destroying ourselves.
I suddenly understood why Wu Guodong had emphasized taking off his uniform. Perhaps he was trying to signal to them that he no longer harbored ambitions of regaining military command and only wished to spend his remaining years in peace.
These words were spoken to them for two reasons: for his own sake, and to protect us.
If someone truly wanted him dead, and the divine doctor brought him back from the brink of death, we would likely be the ones to perish.
Having reached this conclusion, I wondered if the divine doctor had thought of it too.
Given his intelligence, I assumed he was fully aware of the situation.
After thoroughly washing the cup, I placed it inside a glass cabinet.
Once it was put away, I deliberately made a mark. I tore a small piece of paper, about the size of my fingertip, from the note Wang Dong had given me, and used it to hold down a corner of the cabinet door before closing it and fastening the clip.
These empty cups would be used to hold freshly brewed medicine tomorrow.
When I went outside, I saw the guards helping Wu Guodong to walk in the open space. He could already take several steps. According to him, he had been confined to his bed for the past fortnight.
He told me with a smile that his people had already begun preparing for his funeral.
He then burst into hearty laughter, sounding more like a robust man than a patient.
This laughter was also a declaration to his subordinates: Wu Guodong had risen again!
I said, "General, you shouldn't exert yourself too much all at once. Perhaps you should return to your room to rest."
My words were half concern, and half an attempt to make him curb his newfound vigor, lest he attract unwanted attention.
Wu Guodong replied, "It's fine. Let me tell you, fighting here relies entirely on physical strength. Mechanization is useless. Without good stamina, just walking and climbing mountains can exhaust a person to death. That's why, with the foundation I've built, as long as the medicine is right, I can be fully revitalized!"
I believed him. He had been in such a state yesterday, and while these few doses of medicine were miraculous, his good physical foundation was also a significant factor in their rapid effect.
Just then, the sky suddenly became overcast, and the heavy rain began to fall. I, along with the guards, quickly helped Wu Guodong back to his room.
After settling Wu Guodong, my mind was still on Wang Dong's matter. The divine doctor, sensing my thoughts, said to Wu Guodong, "General, please rest for a while. My apprentice and I are going to practice our skills."
Although Wu Guodong knew my identity, he did not expose me. He waved us away and lay down on the bed, preparing to rest.
We returned to our room, where I told him about Wang Dong's note and showed it to him.
After reading it, he said, "It's necessary to go. This will be of great help in understanding their capabilities. Find Wang Dong again and see how much he wants. The more greedy he is, the easier this matter will be to handle."
I hummed in agreement and went out to find Wang Dong.
Wang Dong and the others were in the lobby. I pretended to be heading to the operation room to tidy up and lingered there for a while. Then, as I left, I gave Wang Dong a meaningful look and stopped about ten paces away, waiting for him to follow.
As expected, not long after, Wang Dong crept over to me. I said, "Master asked how much you want and how you want to be paid."
Wang Dong replied, "I have an account in the mainland. I'll give you the account number during dinner. Transfer twenty thousand to me, and then I'll have someone escort you there."
The divine doctor was right; his appetite was indeed considerable. Twenty thousand was a large sum back then, enough to buy a villa in Ruili.
I asked how he would know if I had transferred the money.
He said he had contacts in the bank who could check, reassuring me.
Network systems weren't as developed then, but internal banking systems could still promptly verify fund transfers.
Here, we had our own banks and mobile communication. Except for not being a different country, the culture and public facilities were replicated from ours.
As I mentioned earlier, textbooks and military structures were identical to ours.
However, do not be mistaken into thinking that this place is the same as ours and become careless, believing their talk of shared origins. Here, other than the superficial similarities, everything else is worlds apart!
There are no moral standards or bottom lines, no legal constraints, no social ethics. Murder and arson for profit are commonplace. Every criminal method in the world can be found here.
And Wu Guodong, I don't believe a word of his talk about letting go this afternoon. If he can recover, he will be a lion, not a docile rabbit!
I told Wang Dong I understood and to prepare the account details promptly, assuring him that he would see the transfer information by tomorrow morning at the latest.
We would be able to stay here for one more day and leave the morning after tomorrow.
After returning from Wang Dong, I relayed his request to the divine doctor.
The divine doctor commented, "Indeed, his demands are significant. Here, RMB is a hard currency. It could buy half a street in town. He wants so much money; he must be planning something, perhaps even getting involved in drug trafficking."
I asked, "If that's the case, aren't we indirectly supporting him?"
The divine doctor replied, "Yes and no. Because our aim is to dismantle this transport chain and thwart their plans, ultimately, this money will not be allowed to circulate."