SCOM - Chapter 19
Chapter 19
Since Zuo Luohuan's return, Jiang Hong had noticed something different. She had never smoked before, but after returning to the Capital, she always carried a pack of cigarettes, like a seasoned smoker.
Jiang Hong hadn't asked. Knowing Zuo Luohuan's personality, she liked trying new things; smoking was probably just a phase. But he often couldn't reach Zuo Luohuan's communicator.
This was very strange.
They had known each other since childhood. With Zuo Luohuan's temper, she would either answer or hang up immediately. She wouldn't let it ring until the automatic reply kicked in, because she hated being bothered.
On Friday afternoon, Jiang Hong, shocked by Ji Yuezhi's course choices, called Zuo Luohuan and discovered she wasn't at school. It was a crossroads, bustling with people. The Capital was vast, with countless similar intersections.
Normally, Jiang Hong wouldn't have noticed anything amiss, but coincidentally, there was a small restaurant behind Zuo Luohuan's location that he had visited early this year. He immediately knew which area Zuo Luohuan was in.
There wasn't much in that area, the only noteworthy entry in the information network was a private clinic opened by a doctor whose license was nearly revoked, who also had some ties to the black market.
After hanging up, Jiang Hong returned home on Saturday. Thinking about the people coming and going from that clinic, the shady dealings behind the scenes, he couldn't rest easy. He finally used the Jiang family's information network to find out what Zuo Luohuan had done at the clinic.
The next day, he charged straight to the Zuo residence to question Zuo Luohuan: "What were you doing at Fang Yong's clinic?"
"Keep your voice down." Zuo Luohuan leaned against the bay window, a cigarette still between her fingers, glancing at Jiang Hong. "My parents are still downstairs."
Jiang Hong looked at Zuo Luohuan's disheveled, lazy, and decadent appearance, his face darkening like the bottom of a pot. "You're worried about being heard? Zuo Luohuan, you've run wild outside these past few years, you even dare to touch addictive drugs!"
"Don't know what you're talking about." Zuo Luohuan slowly stood up, put out the cigarette, and threw it away. "Stay for lunch?"
"..."
Jiang Hong suddenly lunged forward, grabbing Zuo Luohuan's arms, pinning her against the wall, instantly becoming even angrier. "In your current state, you can't even dodge me!"
Thinking about the information he found, Jiang Hong even suspected Zuo Luohuan's motive for going to the Armament Database building – perhaps stealing data for some ill-intentioned people.
Zuo Luohuan's face was pressed against the wall. She said helplessly, "Let go first."
Jiang Hong didn't let go, cursing, "You waste!"
Any louder, and the people downstairs would hear clearly.
Zuo Luohuan pressed her tongue against the inside of her cheek, scoffed, "I warned you."
Then she suddenly spun around, broke free, swept Jiang Hong off his feet with a kick, bent down, and pinned him with both hands, instantly reversing their positions.
"Waste or not, I can still beat you." Zuo Luohuan finished speaking, released him, stood up, saw Jiang Hong lying motionless on the floor, and kicked him lightly. "Get up, don't play dead."
Jiang Hong simply spread his limbs, lying motionless on the floor, ignoring her.
Zuo Luohuan watched Jiang Hong cover his eyes with his arm and asked, "...Are you crying?"
"Go away!" Jiang Hong cursed under his breath. "Don't talk to me."
Zuo Luohuan leaned back against the bay window. "I went to the clinic to see a doctor. Why such a big reaction?"
Hearing this, Jiang Hong only thought Zuo Luohuan was lying. People addicted to drugs loved to lie. He rolled over and sat on the floor, his eyes red with anger. "You think I'm stupid? Fang Yong got a batch of addictive drugs from the black market last month, and another batch last week. I checked; the people entering and leaving his clinic recently were ordinary folks, only you. Zuo Luohuan, look in the mirror, look at your face, pale as a ghost."
...It was indeed difficult to explain for a moment.
Zuo Luohuan raised her hand, pressed hard on her temple, then directly lifted her shirt, revealing the bandages wrapped around her abdomen. "I really went to see a doctor."
Jiang Hong stared blankly at the bandages already stained with blood, then stood up in front of Zuo Luohuan, frowning. "You're injured? Why didn't you go to the hospital? Why Fang Yong's clinic?"
"Fang Yong's skills are good, and I don't want others to know," Zuo Luohuan lowered her shirt.
"That's not right. You first went in early September, it's October now. How is your wound still bleeding?" Jiang Hong belatedly noticed the abnormality.
"The wound was poisoned, difficult to heal on its own." Zuo Luohuan said nonchalantly; Fang Yong had been working on an antidote recently. "But it's almost better, probably healed by next month."
"The addictive drugs were used for..."
"Not for this wound." Zuo Luohuan pointed to her head. "My brain is sick."
Jiang Hong fell silent for a long time, then suddenly asked, "Zuo Luohuan, are you dying?"
Zuo Luohuan glanced at him. "What nonsense are you spouting? Say something nice."
"Then tell me what happened, if you still consider me a friend." Jiang Hong had always known Zuo Luohuan presented a false front, but he hadn't expected to be deceived for so long.
"Nothing much. Ran into some trouble on Xijiang Star, got captured and interrogated." Zuo Luohuan said casually, "They used drugs and torture. I have some lasting effects. Fang Yong got the addictive drugs to extract a few components."
The more lightly she spoke, the heavier Jiang Hong's heart became.
After a long pause, Jiang Hong spoke, his voice hoarse, "I'll help you find the antidote, and those people."
"No need." Zuo Luohuan seemed somewhat uninterested, looking up at him. "Investigating rashly will only alert the enemy, not to mention... I don't think your information network can find anything."
Even the Jiang family's information network was useless?
Jiang Hong frowned at Zuo Luohuan. "Who exactly are they?"
"Don't know." Zuo Luohuan changed the subject. "Want to stay for lunch later? My dad's cooking personally. Food made by the Commissioner himself is rare."
Jiang Hong took a deep breath, finally saying spinelessly, "Yes." He could brag about it when he got back.
...
A weekend passed, and the military students began classes again. The second years, having experienced their first week of courses, now had a general understanding of their respective instructors.
Today, the military students in the Combat Department consciously brought a change of clothes, fearing a repeat of last time. However, this time, Instructor Kang Guang didn't invite former Fierce Shield Holders over but began teaching personally.
"A week apart, you all still look so..." Kang Guang grinned, the two scars adding to his terrifying appearance, "...punchable."
The military students: "..."
Jiang Hong leaned closer to Zuo Luohuan, whispering, "Are your injuries okay?"
"No problem." Zuo Luohuan lowered her head, flexing her wrist. She had long grown accustomed to it, but... remembering someone's sensitivity to pheromones, she'd better not bleed.
"I'll fight you all. Others watch from the side first." Kang Guang randomly pointed to a row of people. Before the 'physical instruction', he adjusted the classroom floor data. "Let's try swampy mud mode today."
Calling it a swamp wasn't entirely accurate; it just felt like slowly sinking when stepped on, making it difficult to pull oneself out quickly.
Kang Guang clearly wasn't satisfied with this 'swamp'. He stepped around, shaking his head. "Still not enough. Later, I'll take you to a real swampy mud pit to fight. Mixing with smelly water, unable to even open your eyes, that's a real swampy mud pit."
"..."
"Come on." Kang Guang had the designated students come up. It was basically a beating. Whether Alpha or Omega, he showed no mercy, hitting wherever it hurt most.
Jiang Hong watched from the side, aching all over. "This is just a one-sided beating."
After beating four or five military students, Kang Guang felt this batch couldn't take a punch; they were down and motionless after just a few hits. He clicked his tongue, turned to look at the remaining people. "Heard someone challenged the entire Red List top ten last year? Step out."
Everyone subconsciously looked towards Zuo Luohuan. Jiang Hong frowned, remembering her injuries, looking at her with some worry.
Zuo Luohuan, however, had no extra thoughts. She walked out from the group of military students. Having chosen the course, she was already prepared.
Kang Guang looked at the emerging Zuo Luohuan, sizing her up. "You're the one who challenged the Red List top ten, then skipped class for a year?"
Before Zuo Luohuan could answer, he suddenly attacked, aiming straight for her head.
Absolutely no instructor ethics!
Kang Guang moved quickly. The so-called swampy mud mode barely affected him; he moved like he was on flat ground, his body incredibly light, completely contradicting his Alpha physique.
Conversely, Zuo Luohuan was affected by the sinking, sticky ground, her movements considerably hindered, her speed slowed. She couldn't match Kang Guang's flexibility for now, so she chose defense.
Sensing her intention, Kang Guang increased his attack frequency again, leaving Zuo Luohuan no room to breathe. Every blow felt like being hit with a steel rod.
The observing military students winced; the dull thud of impacts sounded painful just thinking about it.
Yet, both the attacker and the attacked remained expressionless, making it even more terrifying.
Jiang Hong watched from the side, his eyes fixed. Sometimes he truly admired Zuo Luohuan's tolerance and control. A normal person, when injured, would instinctively avoid their wounds during a fight, but she never showed any sign of it, completely defying her instincts.
If Zuo Luohuan could explain at this moment, she would tell Jiang Hong, the more she avoided her abdomen, the more Kang Guang would attack there, so she had to control herself, pretend she had no vulnerable spot.
Originally, Kang Guang mainly targeted the head and heart of all incoming students, intending to teach them how to protect their vitals in combat. But fighting Zuo Luohuan became interesting; she was particularly tough, her defense surprisingly good. He simply abandoned his teaching objective, attacking everywhere, giving her no chance, finally kicking her down.
Only then did Zuo Luohuan slightly turn her body, lifting her leg to avoid Kang Guang's kick aimed at her abdomen, letting him hit her thigh bone instead, using the momentum to fall.
Kang Guang stared at her for a moment: ...Why did that kick feel a bit too smooth?
However, he didn't dwell on it, turning to point out the students' problems and guiding them on how to move in this swampy mud.
Kang Guang might be brutal, but his teaching in practical combat was undeniable; every word hit the mark on the military students' flaws.
"That's it for today. The classroom door is always open. Practice more when you don't have class." Kang Guang's gaze swept over everyone. "No improvement next class, get out."
After most people left, Jiang Hong walked over to Zuo Luohuan. "Are you okay?"
Zuo Luohuan shook her head. "Don't you have another class? Go first."
Jiang Hong had no choice but to leave first.
Zuo Luohuan rested in place for a while, then suddenly remembered something: Yan Yan still hadn't brought the invitation card.
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