Chapter 112: Saving Lives is Like Fighting a Fire

"Uncle, what is the name of this person you mentioned, and what does he look like?"

For Zhang Shen, however, the information provided by Wang’s father seemed to hide an important, obscure clue.

"The man was average-looking, particularly thin and small. Besides, he handed me a business card."

Following the direction of her father’s finger, Wang Ying found the only business card in the drawer.

"He told me to contact him once I had made up my mind."

"Long Si..."

Before Wang Ying could finish her sentence, Zhang Shen realized the situation was unusual. Through his previous interactions with Huang Wanting, Zhang Shen had already heard the legends surrounding Long Si. Later, thanks to Meng Ran’s "showing off," he also knew that Long Si operated a restaurant. What Zhang Shen hadn't anticipated was why the legendary Long Si would take an interest in this humble dumpling shop.

"You know him?" Wang Ying was clearly surprised that Zhang Shen was familiar with Long Si.

Currently, Zhang Shen only knew a little about the legends surrounding Long Si, so to say he "knew" him would be a gross overstatement.

"I’ve only heard of him."

For Wang Ying, she didn't care about the relationship between Zhang Shen and Long Si; she only wanted to know if the toxins in her father's body were the result of this man's handiwork.

Meanwhile, Zhang Shen was racking his brain for a way to detoxify the patient when his phone suddenly rang.

"Hello? Fatty, what is it?"

"Zhang Shen, where have you gone? Class is about to start! Don't you know Hao Lei has swapped the afternoon P.E. class again?"

"Uh..."

Before Zhang Shen could decide how to respond, Meng Ran began to urge him incessantly from the other end of the line.

"Hurry back. If you don't, Wang Ying will be stuck doing extra worksheets again. If that happens, I won't let you off the hook!"

With that, Meng Ran hung up.

Zhang Shen realized that Meng Ran was clearly trying to spare Wang Ying from extra work, though he was too embarrassed to say it directly. Since Meng Ran knew he was with her, he had simply called him there.

One moment, Zhang Shen was focused on the antidote; the next, he thought that their teacher Hao Lei really ought to change her name to "Hao Lei" (So Tired). They were in their final year—was there really a need to apply so much pressure?

However, when he recalled Lu Ming "handing over" the P.E. class to Hao Lei that afternoon, a thought flashed through his mind. While he couldn't fully neutralize the poison yet, he could at least curb its spread. He possessed the Fire Spirit Pill that Lu Ming’s father had gifted him as a token of gratitude.

With this in mind, Zhang Shen said to Wang Ying, "Wait for me here. I need to run back to school, and I'll be right back."

He dashed out, hailed a taxi on the side of the road, and headed straight for the school.

With less than ten minutes before class, Zhang Shen didn't bother asking Hao Lei for leave and headed straight for the dormitory. To him, the life of Wang Ying's father was far more important than any lecture. Even if Hao Lei were to punish him, he would accept it. If she insisted on giving him "the burden of great responsibilities," he was sure Wang Ying would help him out, one way or another.

When Zhang Shen reached the dorm, he found it empty. He knew Meng Ran would have already left for class. He quickly rummaged through his locker and pulled out an inconspicuous black plastic bag. After his experience with Huang Wanting’s black bag, he didn't dare leave these "dazzling" items in plain sight; he couldn't predict what Meng Ran might inadvertently do.

Opening the bag, he saw the Nine Dragon Cauldron was intact. A huge weight lifted from his heart. When he lifted the lid, he found the Fire Spirit Pill still inside.

Without a second thought, Zhang Shen tied the bag shut and sprinted out of the dormitory.

However, as he was rushing down the stairs, he collided head-on with Chen Rong. The force of the impact sent both of them tumbling.

Zhang Shen was a twenty-year-old in his prime; the collision was nothing to him. But Chen Rong’s aging frame could hardly withstand such a "battering."

After scrambling to his feet, Zhang Shen hurried to help the principal up.

"Principal, are you alright?"

Hearing the familiar voice, Chen Rong asked, "Zhang Shen? Why are you still here instead of being in class at this hour?"

Caught off guard, Zhang Shen gave an evasive answer: "Principal, I... I had a stomach ache, so I was a bit slow."

As the principal, Chen Rong was no stranger to students skipping class. However, he always felt that Zhang Shen was a rare talent who, if properly nurtured, could go far.

Chen Rong didn't expose the lie. Instead, he pulled out his phone and dialed a number.

"Hello, Teacher Hao? Is Zhang Shen from your class in the room?"

"No, he isn't! Meng Ran asked for leave on his behalf, saying he wasn't feeling well. I was planning to check on him after class."

Though Hao Lei didn't know why the principal was suddenly asking about Zhang Shen, she answered truthfully.

"There's no need for you to wait until after class. Bring Meng Ran to the boys' dormitory right now. I'll be waiting for you downstairs."

Chen Rong hung up the phone.

"Young man, I told you to attend your classes, yet here you are. Have you forgotten the promise you made to me and Commissioner Wei in my office?"

In truth, Chen Rong was merely frustrated by Zhang Shen's wasted potential; he wanted to use this method to motivate him.

On the other side, after receiving the principal's call, Hao Lei hurried toward the boys' dorm with Meng Ran.

"Meng Ran, what exactly is wrong with Zhang Shen?"

Seeing the principal summon them, she suspected something was amiss. Was the situation different from what Meng Ran had claimed?

A flurry of questions swirled in Meng Ran's head. *Didn't Wang Ying ask Zhang Shen to go treat her father? Perhaps he finished, but he should have gone to class—especially since the first period is Hao Lei’s! Why is the principal involved now?*

Meng Ran and Hao Lei were completely out of sync; they just wanted to know why the principal had summoned them.

"Principal, we're here!"

A few minutes later, Hao Lei and Meng Ran reached the bottom of the boys' dormitory building. They saw the principal and Zhang Shen standing there.

Upon hearing them, Chen Rong turned to Hao Lei and said, "Teacher Hao, are you aware that Zhang Shen from your class is late for his lesson?"

Facing the principal's question, Hao Lei shot a glance at Meng Ran before responding, "Meng Ran requested leave for him at the start of class."

"Oh, is that so? And what exactly did Meng Ran say?"