At ten in the morning, Fu Sijue and Li Junnan brought Gu Ran to a building in the park, which bore a sign that read “Junnan Life Science Research Center.”
Gu Ran had been here in her previous life—to help Han Muze steal some research data from inside. Later, because of that data leak, Li Junnan was repeatedly targeted by kidnappings and assassination attempts, all because many wanted to obtain the final results of that research.
Returning here now, everything felt familiar to Gu Ran, but her mindset was entirely different this time. Now, she stood firmly on Fu Sijue’s side.
The building had five floors above ground, but Gu Ran knew there were also four underground levels. The lowest level was accessible only to Li Junnan and a few collaborators of the research center.
“Miss Gu, over the past six months, I’ve drawn Sijue’s blood for testing every month. Why haven’t I been able to detect the Heart-Devouring Poison you mentioned?”
As soon as they entered the building, Li Junnan spoke up.
“Doctor Li, aren’t you aware of the characteristics of the Heart-Devouring Poison? It’s colorless and odorless—ordinary blood tests simply can’t detect it.”
“Then why are you so certain that Sijue has been poisoned with Heart-Devouring Poison?”
“Through traditional Chinese medicine pulse diagnosis. But I suppose you wouldn’t believe that. Why not test Brother Jue’s blood again? Your research center should have low-temperature testing equipment, right?”
Gu Ran asked, and Li Junnan listened with a mix of skepticism and curiosity before nodding.
“What specific low-temperature conditions are needed?”
“Minus sixty degrees Celsius. One of the toxins in the Heart-Devouring Poison becomes highly active under extremely low temperatures, and this particular toxin is the key component of the poison.”
As Gu Ran spoke confidently, Li Junnan grew increasingly puzzled. How could a girl of eighteen or nineteen know so much about the Heart-Devouring Poison? Even he had only stumbled upon it years ago and later gathered some information on the subject, but he had no idea that such a method was required to detect it.
Gu Ran didn’t miss the doubt in Li Junnan’s eyes.
Indeed, from last night until now, she had displayed too many unusual behaviors. But for Fu Sijue’s sake, she couldn’t hold back. Fortunately, Li Junnan was one of Fu Sijue’s trusted allies.
“Doctor Li, I know you have many questions right now, but just remember one thing: both you and I want to help Brother Jue eliminate the toxins in his body. That’s all that matters.”
Li Junnan wanted to argue further, but when he looked up, he caught Fu Sijue’s warning glare and immediately changed his attitude.
“Alright, let’s head to the testing center first.”
After that, the group went directly to the testing center on the second floor.
A doctor was about to come over to draw Fu Sijue’s blood, but Gu Ran stopped them.
“Brother Jue, let me draw your blood.”
Without hesitation, Fu Sijue sat down in front of Gu Ran, rolled up his sleeve, and gazed at her affectionately.
“Alright, Ranran, go ahead and draw as much as you need.”
Watching from the side, Li Junnan couldn’t help but roll his eyes. At this rate, even if Gu Ran wanted to drain Fu Sijue of all his blood, the guy wouldn’t hesitate. Truly, a beautiful woman is a calamity—the ancients didn’t lie.
Gu Ran’s technique was excellent; Fu Sijue didn’t even feel any pain before a tube of blood was drawn.
“Where is the low-temperature laboratory?”
Gu Ran asked without delay. Then, Li Junnan led the two to the low-temperature laboratory on the underground first level.
“Do you need any help?”
Seeing that Gu Ran had gone to change into sterile clothing, Li Junnan couldn’t help but speak up.
Gu Ran raised her brows slightly, glancing at Li Junnan out of the corner of her eye before speaking calmly.
“No need, but you can come in with me if you’re worried.”
After saying this, Gu Ran quickly changed clothes and followed the staff into a room.
It had to be said that the equipment in this research center was quite advanced, almost all world-class. The equipment in this forty-square-meter room alone was estimated to be worth no less than a hundred million.
Indeed, it’s easier to thrive with powerful backing. Gu Ran knew perfectly well that the real master behind this research center was her Brother Jue.
By the time Li Junnan entered, Gu Ran had already placed Fu Sijue’s blood sample into the rapid cooling chamber and was preparing the instruments needed for later use.
For a full two hours, Li Junnan truly couldn’t intervene at all. Initially harboring some disdain, he gradually became astonished as he watched Gu Ran skillfully isolate the toxins from the blood sample.
“This is the lethal toxin of the Heart-Devouring Poison, developed from poisons extracted from ten different animals.”
Li Junnan looked at the freshly printed sample report in his hand, his expression darkening to the extreme.
Although he was a surgical specialist, his second major during university had been toxicology. He had heard his mentor mention this type of toxin sample—it was renowned as one of the top ten extraordinary poisons currently known.
At this point, Li Junnan no longer doubted Gu Ran. Now he only hoped she could find a way to detoxify Fu Sijue.
Gu Ran sensed that Li Junnan had something to say, but she didn’t give him the chance to speak.
“Let’s leave this place first.”
Li Junnan was taken aback, then glanced around at the environment—it really wasn’t suitable for conversation.
After they exited, Fu Sijue asked nothing, simply holding Gu Ran gently and saying softly,
“You’ve worked hard.”
Li Junnan couldn’t help but complain inwardly—he had also been inside for two hours, yet no one showed him any concern.
Oh well, a gentleman doesn’t argue with a lady. Besides, he had known Fu Sijue long enough—this brother would abandon friendship for beauty.
When the three arrived at Li Junnan’s office, he couldn’t wait to speak as soon as they entered.
“Gu Ran, do you really have a way to detoxify the poison in Sijue’s body?”
In that moment, Li Junnan’s way of addressing Gu Ran had changed too. Although he used her full name, it felt much more familiar than calling her Miss Gu.
Gu Ran nodded, speaking with complete confidence,
“If I can’t do it, then no one in this world can.”
Gu Ran had always been confident in her professional skills, but Li Junnan didn’t quite agree. He pursed his lips and said,
“Are you saying you’re more skilled than the Poison Doctor?”
Hearing Li Junnan mention the Poison Doctor, Gu Ran asked as if casually,
“Are you looking for the Poison Doctor?”
“Exactly! But the Poison Doctor has always been elusive. Our people have been searching for over half a year without any leads. Previously, we even offered two hundred million through Silver Fox and the Dark Web to inquire about the Poison Doctor’s whereabouts, but no one ever took the job. Among the world’s most mysterious figures, the Poison Doctor is probably the hardest to find. But it’s alright if we can’t find the Poison Doctor—we’ve learned that Dr. Lan will come to Nan City tomorrow. We’ll see if we can arrange a meeting with him.”
Li Junnan held nothing back at this point. Since Gu Ran already knew about Fu Sijue’s poisoning, there was no need to conceal the search for those two experts.
Gu Ran could only think to herself—what a small world, what profound fate.
However, Gu Ran didn’t plan to enlighten them just yet. Instead, she turned to Fu Sijue and said, “We’ll begin treatment today. I’ll start by using acupuncture to clear the toxins from your body. But since the poison has deeply penetrated and reached your heart meridians, complete detoxification will require me to develop a corresponding antidote pill.”
Gu Ran was no miracle doctor. Before treatment, she briefly explained the general situation, then took a piece of paper from the desk, wrote down a prescription, and handed it to Li Junnan. “Doctor Li, please arrange for someone to prepare the herbs according to this prescription. For Formula One, boil ten bowls of water down to one bowl. For Formula Two, use a large pot with twenty liters of water. We’ll need it later for Brother Jue’s medicinal bath. Also, prepare a set of gold needles for me.”
Both Li Junnan and Fu Sijue looked puzzled. Li Junnan asked, “Treatment here? Wouldn’t procedures like medicinal baths be more convenient at Tan Palace?”
“That place isn’t safe.”
With just these few words from Gu Ran, a flicker of astonishment crossed Li Junnan’s face. Meeting Fu Sijue’s confirming gaze, he angrily punched the sofa. “Who is it? Everyone at Tan Palace has been with you for years, even Xiao Ya has been by your side since childhood!”
“We’re still investigating. I believe we’ll find out soon, but we can’t alert the enemy for now. I need to lure out the mastermind behind this.”
Hearing Fu Sijue’s explanation, Li Junnan understood his intention and nodded. “Alright, then you two can come here from now on. I have everything here anyway, and there’s a bathtub in the adjacent restroom.”
This had been agreed upon by Gu Ran and Fu Sijue in their bedroom that morning. On the surface, Fu Sijue was one of the investors in this research center and visited periodically. Since Gu Ran’s treatment plan involved acupuncture every couple of days, their visits wouldn’t raise suspicions.
“Then let’s begin. Can you arrange for the gold needles?”
Gu Ran wasn’t worried about the herbal medicines—she’d prescribed common ingredients. But a complete set of gold needles was something only veteran traditional doctors would possess.
“Don’t worry. Give me half an hour, and I’ll have everything ready.”
With that, Li Junnan took the prescription and left the office.
Suddenly alone in the office, Fu Sijue immediately pulled Gu Ran into his embrace. “Ranran, thank you for your hard work.”
“Brother Jue, anything related to you is never hard work. But you—the treatment might be painful later, so you’ll have to endure it.”
“It’s fine. I’m not afraid of pain.”
Li Junnan worked quickly. In less than half an hour, everything was prepared. The research center had a dedicated area for brewing traditional medicine, and a complete set of gold needles—both long and short—was procured.
“Is this enough?”
Uncertain how many needles Gu Ran would need, Li Junnan had prepared one hundred eight gold needles—probably every needle available at the center.
“It’s enough.”
Gu Ran nodded, then turned to Fu Sijue. “Brother Jue, take off your clothes and lie down on that bed over there.”
Hearing this, Fu Sijue showed no nervousness but instead smirked playfully. “Oh? Everything off?”