After five bigwigs in Beijing's elite circle fell into their trap, I fled.

Chapter 198: Announcement of funeral arrangements
Capsized?

Jiang Shu said calmly, "Don't worry, this boat won't capsize. It's running very smoothly and harmoniously right now. Today it's Ning Yunzhan's turn, but starting tomorrow, Li Yubai, Yan Yu, and Feng Li will also take time to visit you."

Jiang Liuyun rarely retorted: "They're all big shots, they have nothing you need. They're just playing around, don't get love-struck."

Ning Yunzhan smiled in disagreement: "Madam Jiang, please rest assured, compared to the rest of us who are just 'playing around,' Xiaoshu is the one who is really 'playing around.'"

Jiang Liuyun's gaze shifted back and forth between Ning Yunzhan and Jiang Shu, then he remained silent.

Jiang Shu, however, looked at Nie Zheng and said, "My mother and I want to have a private talk between women."

Nie Zheng paused for a moment, then looked at Ning Yunzhan: "You artists have a unique perspective, why don't we go to the lab together and take a look at those virus decomposition diagrams?"

Ning Yunzhan nodded: "Of course."

The two left, leaving the mother and daughter alone.

Jiang Shu pulled Jiang Liuyun's hand out from under the covers and gently squeezed it.

"You're doing bone reading and fortune telling again?" Jiang Liuyun's face darkened. "It's accurate and inaccurate, and you just say things that make people angry. Look at what happened after you told that guy surnamed Guan's fortune. He tried to kill himself, and now he's at the door every day muttering and trying to summon his spirit. I'm so angry I could die."

"What bones are you touching? I just noticed how soft and delicate Mom's hands are, and I was curious." Jiang Shu chuckled. "What kind of medicine did the doctor use that can reverse aging? If it's used a few more times, will the wrinkles on your face disappear next time I see you?"

Jiang Liuyun promptly fell silent.

“If you won’t tell me, then I won’t ask.” Jiang Shu sighed softly. “Mom, let’s talk about something else. I saw a really luxurious cruise ship today, just like the one in the city. I’ll take you there when you’re better. Don’t worry, it won’t cost any money.”

Jiang Liuyun looked at his daughter: "Okay."

Jiang Shu added, "What else do you want to play or do? I'll take you there."

Jiang Liuyun paused for a moment, then her gaze softened: "At my age, I'm not really interested in conquering the stars and the sea. But there are a few things I need to tell you, so listen carefully."

Jiang Shu: "I'm listening."

"First, do you remember the JS haute couture store that Mom took you to? That was a brand that Li Erniang and I founded when you were about one year old, a wardrobe specially made for you. If Mom can no longer take you to buy clothes, JS will send you new clothes every month until you get old."

Jiang Shu said "Oh," and then added, "You've actually planned out all my clothes for the rest of my life, like you're making your final arrangements."

"Stop being silly," Jiang Liuyun said again. "There's another thing. Under the apricot tree in our yard, there's a box buried with all sorts of gifts that the villagers have given you over the years. If you ever fall on hard times, remember to dig it up. It can help you get through tough times."

"...They're just bricks, loose change, broken keys, rags, and scraps of stone." Jiang Shu raised an eyebrow. "Could they be treasure maps?"

Jiang Liuyun didn't explain, and went straight to the next matter: "If something happens to me, just remember two things: you have absolutely no connection with Guan Muyun or the Jiang family in the capital. Don't worry about any old feelings, just treat them like strangers."

“I can understand that whiny girl. But the Jiang family…” Jiang Shu probed, “have they bullied you too?”

“No.” Jiang Liuyun didn’t say it explicitly. “One last thing: you are not allowed to get involved in the dark world. In this life, be a free, happy, and peaceful person, and take care of the elderly and see them off in their final days for our entire village.”

Jiang Shu: "...You actually gave your last words?"

Jiang Liuyun: "This is just a mother's deep expectation."

Jiang Shu leaned closer to her: "Mom, I have a business deal that seems absurd, and I'd like to discuss it with you."

Jiang Liuyun looked at her warily: "What are you planning?"

“If you let me join your fighting team, I’ll take you somewhere.” Jiang Shu gently placed her hand on her head, and a halo gradually appeared in her palm. “Close your eyes, let me show you the goods first.”

In the laboratory. "This is the virus data that the professors compiled over three days." Nie Zheng handed Ning Yunzhan a stack of documents, then pointed to a display case next to him, "These are ten types of viruses that have been extracted. Three of them have been analyzed and we have begun to try to develop effective drugs."

Ning Yunzhan took it, flipped through it for a while, and his gaze fell on one of the pages of information.

That was a virus that the laboratory named No. 9.

The document contains detailed data from dozens of virus experiments, and its difficulty level is rated as Super S.

"Virus No. 9?" Ning Yunzhan asked softly, "Which one of the extracted samples was it?"

Nie Zheng stood up and took out a dark green virus sample from the display case: "This one."

Ning Yunzhan took it, stared at it for a long time, and his expression gradually darkened.

"Where did Virus No. 9 come from?"

"This is the latest virus developed by Country R, ​​and it was recently brought to the Misty Continent." Nie Zheng looked at Ning Yunzhan's slightly flustered expression. "You recognize this virus?"

“I don’t recognize it. But its characteristics…” Ning Yunzhan stared intently at the sample, his tone solemn, “Commander Nie, prepare yourselves, things might get out of hand in Misty Continent. If those lunatics manage to sneak out, it will be a huge problem.”

"What do you mean?" Nie Zheng's expression also changed.

Ning Yunzhan looked at him: "The chaotic land of Misty Continent is guarded by the Holy Spirit Academy. And this virus is targeting the Holy Spirit Academy, or more precisely, it targets the Holy Spirit Academy's most precious... Wood Spirit Qi."

"So, they want to destroy the Holy Spirit Academy, then escape from Misty Continent and wreak havoc on the world?" Nie Zheng's eyes were icy cold!
"It's just a guess." Ning Yunzhan didn't say anything definitively. "I just happened to have been to the Holy Spirit Academy and am quite sensitive to wood spirit energy. And this number 9, according to the data, happens to be able to corrode spiritual energy. It's too targeted, so it's hard not to think about it."

After saying that, Ning Yunzhan seemed to remember something and immediately stood up: "I'm going to find Xiaoshu."

In the ward.

Jiang Liuyun closed his eyes. After a moment of dizziness, he opened them again and was still lying in the hospital bed.

The difference was that the dark spots on her arms had become much more active, and the blood flowing in her veins was churning and raging like boiling water. A feeling of weakness and pain, even greater than before, spread throughout her body.

Jiang Shu stood there, pale-faced, her beautiful eyes filled with confusion and helplessness. In her hand, she still clutched a bird of paradise pelt that had been mostly corroded.

How could this be?
Jiang Shu was unusually flustered.

Just then, Ning Yunzhan knocked on the door and entered. He glanced at the bird of paradise's fur in her palm and instantly understood what was going on.

He gently extended his hand to Jiang Shu: "Madam Jiang needs to rest. Let's go home first and come back tomorrow, okay?"

Jiang Shu silently put away the bird of paradise's pelt, grasped Ning Yunzhan's hand, and said in a trembling voice, "Ning Yunzhan, I..."

"Yes, you don't need to say it, I know." Ning Yunzhan lowered his voice and patted her head reassuringly. "Let's go home first."

Nine o'clock at night, at the Alluring Villa.

Four men sat in the living room, looking at a tattered bird of paradise pelt on the coffee table, somewhat speechless.

"So, my sister went out and ruined Rong Jingchen's fur?" Yan Yu finally couldn't help but gloat.

“That’s not the point.” Jiang Shu took a deep breath. “The point is, my mom is really in trouble.”

(End of this chapter)