The Second Token

The person and the beastman rounded a few corners, finally finding a secluded corner.

Cheng Shuili spoke first: "What is the situation at the hospital now? Does Dean Xiong Ji know about the medicine?"

Lang Yu took a few deep breaths, calming his emotions before speaking: "Except for the beastmen in the wolf-race territory who are safe and sound in the King's safe zone, beastmen from other territories who have fallen ill have almost all come to the town to seek medicine. But this plague is aggressive, fast, and fierce. Even with the Dean's vast experience, he is momentarily at a loss, so he has to use the old methods: isolate first, then provide conservative treatment, and observe the patients' conditions while administering medication one by one."

This was a bit too professional, but Cheng Shuili still grasped a key point amidst the fluff—the Town Central Hospital had no solution for this plague yet.

"As for the medicine..." Lang Yu wore a smug expression, and Cheng Shuili immediately knew the answer: "King, how could I not keep such a good thing hidden from others?!"

He winked at Cheng Shuili, as if doing so had been ordered by her, the King.

Seeing this, the veins on Cheng Shuili's forehead throbbed. Finally, unable to bear it, she punched Lang Yu on the head: "What are you blindly showing off for? Why hide this matter so well?"

Cheng Shuili was speechless.

Lang Yu usually seemed quite shrewd, so why did he do such unnecessary things at critical moments?

No wonder the journey here had been so smooth; it turned out that not a single word of the situation had leaked out from the beastman town.

Cheng Shuili frowned and pondered for a moment before asking: "Have any beastmen noticed that not a single wolf-race member is here?"

Lang Yu shrank his neck after being hit, and hearing this question, he immediately realized this might be an opportunity to make up for his mistakes. He hurriedly nodded: "Yes! King, just now a few familiar beastmen asked me why the wolf-race seems unaffected, and why not a single one has come to the hospital. I... I just made up an excuse to brush them off! Should I tell the truth?"

His voice was panicked; he clearly had no idea what to do.

Cheng Shuili took a deep breath and calmed down instead.

What she promised the Rat King was to control the plague in the beastman town, which meant the news would spread sooner or later, and all races would know of the existence of the miracle drug.

The urgent task was to arrange the diluted medicine and ensure the news was released in the way most favorable to her.

"Take me to Dean Xiong Ji." Cheng Shuili made a prompt decision. "Once you lead me there, you can leave. Remember, if any beastmen ask you about the wolf-race or the medicine, tell them the truth—tell them that your King, which is me, indeed has a miracle drug to treat the plague. And because of the recent deal with the Rat King, this batch of life-saving medicine will be distributed to every beastman in need as soon as possible!"

She wanted to use Lang Yu's mouth to spread the news, on one hand to stabilize the panic, and on the other to drag the Rat King into this, reducing the resistance she might encounter while also making the Rat King owe her a favor.

Lang Yu nodded heavily, not daring to say more, and hurriedly bowed and scraped to lead the way.

With Lang Yu, the 'insider', opening the path, Cheng Shuili soon met the overwhelmed Dean Xiong Ji in an office piled high with bottles and jars.

Having not seen him for just a few days, this bear-man, who was originally full of vigor, seemed to have aged significantly. His eye bags were heavy, and his fur had lost its usual luster.

He was sighing over a pathology report. Seeing Lang Yu enter, he only raised his eyelids and asked weakly: "Lang Yu? What is it? Didn't I say not to disturb me unless it's an emergency?"

"Dean, it's me." Cheng Shuili stepped out from behind Lang Yu and sat down opposite Xiong Ji with a solemn expression.

Lang Yu did not have many other skills, but he was completely proficient in reading the room, especially in reading the King's expressions.

Cheng Shuili only glanced at him, and he sensibly lowered his head and retreated.

Xiong Ji's expression was complex; normally, he would certainly welcome Cheng Shuili.

But now the plague was raging, and she was such a delicate little human. Even the powerful physique of a beastman was powerless against the disease, let alone her.

Xiong Ji spoke with full concern: "Human miss, why did you come at this time? The situation in the town is very bad now. The speed of the plague's spread is far beyond our imagination. The hospital is overcrowded, and the medicine is also..."

He sighed heavily, his bear paw pressing weakly on the report on the table. "We have tried many methods, but the effects are minimal. It is too dangerous here; you had better leave as soon as possible."

Cheng Shuili met Xiong Ji's weary and anxious gaze and spoke calmly: "Dean, I am here for exactly this reason. The wolf-race is entirely safe and sound; don't you find that strange?"

The meaning behind these words made Xiong Ji suddenly look up, a glimmer of light flashing in his turbid eyes: "The wolf-race? They... could it be..."

He remembered that he indeed hadn't seen any wolf-race patients recently. He had previously thought it was because the wolf-race had a special constitution or had good isolation, but now, prompted by Cheng Shuili, he immediately realized the unusual nature of it.

Apart from Lang Yu the doctor, he had indeed not seen a single wolf-race patient!

Even if other doctors weren't exactly terrified, they at least had their protective measures in place.

And as for Lang Yu...

Xiong Ji carefully recalled and realized that this guy, Lang Yu, didn't even wear a mask.

After realizing this, his face instantly turned darker than the bottom of a pot, and he immediately picked up the internal phone on the desk: "Doctor Lang Yu doesn't wear a mask while practicing medicine. Check which regulation he violated and deduct his bonus for this month."

Cheng Shuili, sitting opposite: "???"

That wasn't what she meant at all!

The bear-race personnel who received the call: "???"

Does the Dean still have the leisure to enforce discipline?

And Lang Yu, who still didn't know his wages had been deducted, was walking to his office with his hands behind his back, humming a little tune.

Xiong Ji put down the phone, took a deep breath, and looked at Cheng Shuili with burning eyes again. The previous fatigue was replaced by an emotion mixed with hope and urgency: "Human miss, please speak directly. What is going on with the wolf-race? What did you mean by your words just now?"

Since the other party was so urgent, Cheng Shuili naturally didn't need to beat around the bush anymore and directly laid her cards on the table: "It means that I have a miracle drug that is highly effective against this plague. The wolf-race took this medicine in advance, which is why they were able to achieve total immunity."

"Really?!" Xiong Ji stood up abruptly, causing his chair to slide back and make a harsh sound. "Where is the medicine? How much is there? What conditions are required?"

He asked in a barrage, his body leaning forward, his massive bear paws pressing on the table, trembling slightly with excitement.

"I have the medicine. But the current quantity is not large. Producing this medicine requires a large amount of energy stones, and I need time to coordinate."

Cheng Shuili's voice was extremely steady:

"I came to see you with only one request. You are highly respected. I hope you will come forward to stabilize the situation in the town and soothe the emotions of all the races. Please tell everyone that the miracle drug is already on the way and will arrive by tomorrow at the latest. But the preparation of the medicine takes time, so it must be distributed in order and in batches."

Xiong Ji frowned, immediately understanding Cheng Shuili's intent. His eyes flashed, and he suddenly asked: "According to what order?"

Cheng Shuili met his gaze, not avoiding it at all: "To be honest, I came to solve the problem in the beastman town at the request of the Rat King. Therefore, the rat-race beastmen must be ranked first, and as for the subsequent order..."

She paused appropriately, leaving enough room for Xiong Ji's imagination, and then said kindly: "I can completely listen to your arrangements, Dean."

Xiong Ji was silent for a moment, his rough bear paws rubbing the table. When he raised his head again, his eye sockets were already red.

He had originally thought Cheng Shuili would take this opportunity to propose harsh conditions or take full control of the distribution rights to seek maximum benefits for the Black Feather or the Rat King.

Unexpectedly, she had handed the decision-making power for everyone except the rat-race to him!

Xiong Ji slapped the table hard, his voice carrying uncontrollable excitement and choked sobs: "Good! Good! Human miss, this sentiment, as well as the previous one, I, Xiong Ji, and our bear-race, really have nothing to repay..."

His voice stopped abruptly, and a look of realization appeared on his face.

Something Xiong Ji had been thinking about for a long time suddenly had a different answer at this very moment.

Since the younger generation is disappointing, this throne should be held by someone with virtue and ability!

He raised his hand to wipe the tears from the corners of his eyes, closed his eyes, and as if he had made some determination, took a small package carefully wrapped in brocade cloth from his bosom.

After opening it layer by layer, a tooth was lying inside.

This thing was somewhat familiar. Cheng Shuili was about to say something when she was pulled by the hand, and the tooth was pressed heavily into her hand.

"I am the current patriarch of the bear-race, but as you can see, I am old and should retire. The younger generation of the bear-race is disappointing. I want to resign, but I can't even pick a successor." Xiong Ji's voice carried a hint of fatigue and helplessness. His rough fingers gently rubbed the bear tooth, which was warm like jade but contained majestic power. His expression was serious: "This is the token of our bear-race patriarch, which is the token of the King. Human miss, are you willing to become the next King of the bear-race?"

Cheng Shuili was stunned.

What is all this?

Wasn't she here to solve the plague? Wasn't she here to find Xiong Ji and ask for his assistance?!

How did she end up becoming the King of the bear-race?!

Can this be right?!

She subconsciously wanted to pull her hand back; that heavy bear tooth felt as if it were burning hot.

"Dean Xiong Ji, are you... are you confused with urgency? This is too ridiculous! I am a human, the Wolf King, how can I hold the position of King of the bear-race?"

"Why not?" Xiong Ji gave a wry smile, but his eyes were exceptionally clear and firm. "Human miss, my choice of you is definitely not a rash decision. The younger generation of the bear-race..."

It seemed that it gave him a headache just to mention the younger generation of his tribe. He locked his brows tightly, his eyes narrowing slightly due to discomfort. He wanted to say something but swallowed it back, and all his words turned into a sigh.

He held Cheng Shuili's hand firmly, his strength too great to refuse: "I am not joking, nor am I senile. I see very clearly that this world is undergoing drastic changes, and the old order is collapsing. If the bear-race doesn't make changes, if we don't choose a new King, the only thing waiting for us when the next disaster comes is extinction!"

As if worried that Cheng Shuili wouldn't believe him, he said sincerely: "Isn't the wolf-race the best example? You are not a beastman, so you might not be very clear about what the wolf-race was like before: corruption, rot, and people living in misery! If it weren't for you, their new King, the wolf-race would definitely have been one of the races wiped out in this disaster! King, you can save them, why can't you save us?"

No!

Cheng Shuili hadn't accepted the token yet!

And even if she had accepted it, hadn't Xiong Ji, the old King, not retired yet? How did it become this guy's turn to call her "King"?!!

Is he forcing her into this?

Cheng Shuili was no longer the ignorant human she had been before.

After dealing with the wolf-race, she deeply understood what it meant to bear the responsibilities of a King while enjoying the rights of a King.

If another race were added...

Cheng Shuili frowned in deep thought.

The bear-race and the wolf-race were different.

The wolf-race had decayed to the point of returning to primitive society, while the bear-race even had industries in the beastman town, and they even ran a hospital!

Cheng Shuili looked at the heavy bear tooth in her hand, then at Xiong Ji's eyes, which were full of anticipation and even a hint of desperation, and weighed it rapidly in her heart.

Should she refuse?

This seemed to be the easiest choice.

But since Xiong Ji had said this much, he had almost staked the future of the bear-race on her. This "trust", or "entrustment", was too heavy; a direct refusal might shatter the friendly relationship they had worked so hard to build.

And accepting... meant the burden on her shoulders would increase exponentially.

But at the same time, if she could truly integrate the power of the bear-race, the Black Feather safe zone would gain a solid ally with significant weight in the beastman world, a stable source of medicine and technology, and a formidable armed force!

This would undoubtedly be a huge boost to the future development of Black Feather, especially for establishing a foothold in this chaotic world.

One must bear the weight if one wants to wear the crown!

Thinking of this, Cheng Shuili took a deep breath, looked at Xiong Ji again, and asked: "Dean Xiong Ji, you entrust such a heavy responsibility to me; can the bear-race accept it? Will the younger generation be willing to listen to the command of a human, an outsider?"

Hearing this, Xiong Ji showed a bitter yet resolute expression: "Not accept? Then beat them until they accept! The bear-race values power and respects the wisdom that can lead the tribe to survive. You solved this plague, which means you saved the lives of countless bear-race members; this is the greatest kindness and proof of power! As for those stubborn idiots who only know how to fight internally..."

A flash of ruthlessness appeared in his eyes: "It's just the right opportunity to clean house! I will clear the obstacles for you as much as possible before you take over. As long as you nod, my old bones can still carry things for you for a while!"

With things said to this point, Cheng Shuili knew that Xiong Ji was determined to bind the bear-race to her.

How could she not take the help delivered to her door?