Chapter 680 — Restoring Confidence

The television station, too, was working overtime editing the press conference footage, preparing to broadcast it at the earliest possible moment!

Li Cihua burst stumbling into Young Master Bing's room. "Young Master Bing, we're in trouble! Our plan has failed!"

Young Master Bing was at that moment lying in bed reading *TheFaint Light of Old Dreamshuku on his phone -- a thoroughly satisfying urban novel -- and he was just imagining himself as the protagonist, gleefully tormenting the supporting characters, when Li Cihua barged in and ruined it. He was immediately annoyed. "What are you yelling about? What plan failed?"

"Young Master Bing, Crippled Wolf just called. That Guan Daifu Pharmaceuticals has already figured out the cause of the First High students' comas -- it's poisoning -- and they've even identified the poison itself. It's the Seven Grasses Death Powder, and they've compounded an antidote..." Li Cihua said in a panic.

"Impossible!" Before Young Master Bing could speak, the Medicine King cut in first. "The Seven Grasses Death Powder is an ancient poison unmatched through the ages. There is simply no way to cure it. Even I don't know what the antidote is -- how could they possibly have a formula for one?"

"I don't know either. Crippled Wolf only just gave me the news..." Li Cihua was merely passing along what Crippled Wolf had told him.

"Turn on the TV and let's see. If it's really true, there's bound to be news about it!" Young Master Bing frowned. He had heard of Guan Daifu Pharmaceuticals -- a newly founded company that was rising fast, and had made a huge splash at the Yu family auction. Could they really have compounded an antidote? Otherwise, how would they know the poison used was called the Seven Grasses Death Powder?

Hearing Young Master Bing's words, Li Cihua hurriedly switched on the television, and it just so happened that the broadcast of Guan Daifu Pharmaceuticals' press conference had only just begun.

When everyone in the room saw Fat Lai holding forth on the stage, they were all stunned! Young Master Bing ground his teeth in fury. Earlier, when he'd heard that Gu Mengyao had also been poisoned, he had been beside himself with joy -- but in the blink of an eye, this ancient poison unmatched through the ages had been cracked by Guan Daifu Pharmaceuticals, and they had already compounded an antidote!

"Impossible, impossible!" The Medicine King's eyes were wide too, his face full of disbelief. "This is an ancient poison unmatched through the ages, one that cannot be cured by any formula. Even if they identified the poison, it would be impossible for them to compound an antidote in such a short time. Even that person couldn't do it!"

The person the Medicine King referred to was a man who had utterly defeated him, a nightmare that haunted him. Yet even that person could not possibly have produced an antidote in such a short time. It was absolutely impossible!

But the facts were right there before his eyes, and the Medicine King had no choice but to believe them. After all, a television news broadcast would not make things up. If Guan Daifu Pharmaceuticals had not actually compounded an antidote but claimed they had, then once the truth came out, it would deal a severe blow to the company -- a fatal one for a newly founded firm!

Hearing the Medicine King going on and on about how impossible it was, Young Master Bing grew irritated. He frowned and said, "Enough. Since it didn't work this time, we'll think of something else!"

Young Master Bing had not expected that the Medicine King, who looked so formidable, would be so fragile inside, so unable to withstand a setback! Even when his own Qibing Tower had come crashing down, he had not lost heart -- he was still thinking of ways to deal with Wei Zhao!

Of course, Young Master Bing thought this way because he did not understand how fearsome the Seven Grasses Death Powder truly was. Only the Medicine King himself knew in his heart how terrifying and formidable it was! He had assumed this poisoning was a sure thing, because even he had no antidote for this poison, let alone the ordinary hospitals!

He had never imagined that Guan Daifu Pharmaceuticals could compound an antidote for the Seven Grasses Death Powder! He truly did not believe it, yet the facts left him no choice. After all, the other side really had identified the cause of the students' comas and had named the poison as the Seven Grasses Death Powder -- which meant they had some understanding of this poison, and so the antidote must be real as well. Otherwise, no company would gamble with its own future. Whether the poison was cured or not had nothing to do with Guan Daifu Pharmaceuticals; if they couldn't cure it, why would they take on such a task?

It seemed the other side's medical skills were no trifling matter!

Guan Daifu, Guan Xuewen... In the past, the Medicine King had never taken Guan Xuewen seriously. Although this man was honored as a divine physician by the Four Great Families and the Five Minor Families, the hidden families all had their own personal physicians, and the Medicine King was one of the Zhao family's personal physicians!

But now the Medicine King was forced to take Guan Xuewen seriously. It seemed the man really did have some skill?

Guan Xuewen, I'll remember you. I will contend with you and see who is the better!

……………………

At the same time the news broadcast went out, Gao Xiaofu also learned of it. He too had been sent home when school let out!

After going home, Gao Xiaofu felt fear in his heart, but also a certain excitement -- the excitement of having done something bad! It was the first time he had ever done something so wicked, poisoning others! When he saw the ambulances shriek out of the school carrying the twenty-eight students, and then learned that the hospital had issued critical condition notices for them, a strange, inexplicable thrill surged in his heart!

But after that came deep worry. After all, those were twenty-eight lives -- if they died just like that, then he would be the murderer!

Earlier, when the hospital could not determine any cause, Gao Xiaofu had breathed a sigh of relief. True, he had poisoned those students, but there was no evidence -- even the hospital couldn't provide an answer. When the time came, the whole thing would probably just be quietly dropped!

But it was not long before a company called Dr. Guan Pharmaceuticals held a press conference. Not only had they identified the cause of the students' fainting, they had also handed the formula for the Seven Grasses Death Powder over to the police. In other words, the police would soon begin their investigation, and when that happened, if they traced things back to the cafeteria food, it would be all too easy for suspicion to fall on him and Zhong Yongliang!

Now Gao Xiaofu was genuinely alarmed. He hurriedly picked up the phone and dialed Zhong Yongliang's number. He had to talk things over with Zhong Yongliang and work out a plan; he could hardly just sit around waiting for the police to come knocking at his door, could he?

Zhong Yongliang had just finished his kidney transplant and was lying in the hospital basking in the sunshine outside the window, feeling thoroughly pleased with himself. Life really was wonderful, he thought. Having a kidney was a fine thing indeed; he felt as though he had regained his confidence as a man!

The phone rang. Zhong Yongliang picked it up and saw that it was Gao Xiaofu calling.

./