Cutting-Edge Technology R&D Center

Chapter 9: Voices of Doubt

“Fang Bing, what exactly is a Green Slender Snake…?” Ma Ling stared blankly at the phone, which had already been hung up, the operator’s urgent voice still echoing in her mind. “I don’t know much either. All I know is that if the Green Slender Snake’s venom isn’t treated within an hour, death is highly likely… and the victim mustn’t be jostled, or the toxin will spread even faster.” Fang Bing shook his head. That was all he knew—information he’d specifically sought from Wang Hao after Wang Hao had saved him. Just as Ma Ling was about to speak, she was interrupted by a ringing sound. She hurriedly glanced at her phone, but it showed no response. A flash of disappointment crossed her eyes—it wasn’t her phone ringing. “Ma Ye can be saved…” Fang Bing pulled out his phone with a look of surprise and delight. As he looked at the caller ID, his smile grew even broader, and he hurriedly answered the call. “Hao Ge, I need your help… Ma Ye was bitten by a Green Slender Snake up on Caoshan Mountain,” Fang Bing said urgently. Ma Ling’s face had lit up at the mention of “can be saved,” as had those of the other students; even a glimmer of hope flashed through the despair in the teacher’s eyes. But upon hearing the words “Hao Ge,” Ma Ling felt a pang of disappointment. She listened briefly to the voice on the other end of the line—it was none other than that detestable Wang Hao, who never participated in class activities. The other students also showed a hint of disappointment. Could a classmate who didn’t fit in with them really handle a snake venom that even the hospital treated as a life-threatening emergency? “First, get her upright, then press down on both sides of the protrusion below her neck. I’ll be right over,” Wang Hao said urgently. With the green-slender snake’s venom, there was no time to waste—if too much time passed, it could be fatal. Moreover, if treatment was delayed and the toxin reached her brain, even if she survived, she’d end up mentally impaired. “Okay, hurry over.” After hanging up the phone, Fang Bing immediately turned to the others and said, “Come help right away—get Ma Ye upright.” “Wait—I don’t trust Wang Hao. Shouldn’t we wait for the doctor’s call? My phone’s ringing… I’ll answer it first, then we’ll talk.” Ma Ling stopped Fang Bing just as her own phone began to ring. “Okay, I’ll handle it exactly as you said right away…” Ma Ling nodded in agreement, a hint of apology flitting across her face as she looked at Fang Bing. After a moment’s hesitation, she spoke up, “Doctor, a classmate of mine said to press down on both sides of the protrusion on the neck. Is that a reliable method?” “Brilliant! If you do that, by the time we arrive, there’s a very good chance the victim will still be alive, and it will also delay the toxin from reaching their brain.” Ma Ling hung up the phone, but Fang Bing shot her a cold glance and turned to the others, saying, “Aren’t you going to help?” The other students snapped out of their daze and immediately scrambled to help. “I’m sorry…” Ma Ling said to Fang Bing, her face filled with remorse. “You shouldn’t be apologizing to me—you should be apologizing to Wang Hao and Ma Ye, but certainly not to me. If this call had come even a little later, Ma Ye would probably have been reduced to a vegetable by the time the doctor arrived.” Fang Bing shook his head and said softly, running his fingers over Ma Ye’s neck before immediately pressing down firmly with two slightly spread fingers. “Is Wang Hao on his way here?” Ma Ling looked a bit ashamed, but after a moment’s hesitation, she spoke up. “Yes… it shouldn’t be long.” “I probably won’t be able to join you for dinner. A classmate was bitten by a green-slender snake in Caoshan, and I have to go check on him right away,” Wang Hao said after hanging up on Fang Bing. He then turned to Lan Wei and continued, “Lan Wei, hurry up and get some herbal medicine—bring it over to Caoshan in a bit.” “Okay.” “I’m heading out now.” Wang Hao knew there was no time to waste; the Green Slender Snake’s venom spreads extremely quickly, so he had to get there as soon as possible. “Xiao Hao, we’ll go with you,” Zhang’s father said urgently. “You two wait here and come over with Lan Wei later. Be careful on the way.” By the time Mr. Zhang spoke, Wang Hao had already dashed out. Without pausing, he headed straight toward Caoshan. It would take at least three mountain passes to reach Caoshan, and time was of the essence—he needed to get there as fast as possible. “The Green Slender Snake’s venom spreads extremely quickly after a bite. Without prompt treatment, the victim will die. If treatment is delayed and the toxin reaches the brain, it will damage the neural pathways, causing irreparable damage.” Zhang Xin pulled out her phone to look it up and read aloud some of the Green Slender Snake’s characteristics. Instantly, they understood why Wang Hao was in such a hurry to leave; if they went with him, they would indeed be a burden to him. Wang Hao moved through the mountains and forests at breakneck speed, as if walking on flat ground. Even when he encountered fallen trees or one-meter-high cliffs blocking his path, he simply leaped over them. His physical condition was exceptional; beneath his ordinary-looking physique lay terrifying strength. At Level 6 in Physical Tempering, he was even more formidable than some soldiers who had undergone long-term professional military training. However, since Wang Hao had never actually compared himself to others, he wasn’t sure just how extraordinary his physical strength really was. In any case, in terms of running speed and jumping ability, he had nearly reached the limits of human capability. “We’re almost there,” Wang Hao said, his eyes flashing as he picked up speed once more. Right now, Wang Hao was like a cheetah moving through the mountains and forests, moving as swiftly as lightning. On Caoshan Hill, Ma Ling and their instructor were watching anxiously as several male classmates helped Ma Ye to his feet, while Fang Bing stood behind Ma Ye, nervously pressing on the area below his neck. “What’s that?” Just as all attention was focused on Ma Ye, someone suddenly let out a startled cry, pointing in a certain direction with a slightly trembling hand. “What is that…? It’s moving so fast, I couldn’t get a clear look…” “It’s coming toward us—it can’t be some kind of wild beast, can it?!” It was nearing dusk, and the light was gradually fading as the Sun set. After the student’s cry of alarm, many students looked in that direction and immediately spotted the extremely fast movement heading straight toward them. Fang Bing’s eyes lit up with delight. He hadn’t seen any movement, but the direction the classmate was pointing to was toward Lanjia Village. Having witnessed Wang Hao’s terrifying physical prowess before, he naturally guessed that it might be Wang Hao arriving. “Hao Ge, hurry up! My hands are going numb,” Fang Bing shouted urgently. He didn’t dare relax his grip even slightly, because beneath his neck, numerous blood vessels had already begun to show beneath his skin, slowly turning black. At that moment, Ma Ye’s expression of despair was suddenly replaced by an overwhelming will to survive, for he was gradually losing control of his body as his limbs slowly went numb.