Chapter Eleven: Awake

The middle-aged man addressed as Old Jin by Old Wang scrutinized Chu Feng carefully. He hadn’t expected Old Wang to bring back such a young doctor, which made Old Jin somewhat doubtful—had Old Wang found the wrong person?

"Hello, Mr. Chu," Old Jin said, extending his hand to Chu Feng. "I’m here to safeguard Elder Chen’s security. Just call me Old Jin."

"Let’s not linger here shaking hands," Old Wang interrupted, quickly pulling Chu Feng further inside. "Let’s have Chu Feng check on Elder Chen first."

Old Jin watched as Old Wang led Chu Feng away, his gaze thoughtful, but he said nothing more.

"Chu Feng, Elder Chen is inside. Go in and examine him; I won’t go in," Old Wang said as he stopped at the door to the ward.

Chu Feng glanced at Old Wang, then entered with his medical case.

Inside, Chu Feng saw Elder Chen, a man of about seventy, lying in bed. Chu Feng’s first reaction was a vague sense of familiarity, as if he’d seen this man somewhere before, though he couldn’t quite recall.

Chu Feng approached, took Elder Chen’s pulse, then placed his watch-wearing hand on Chen’s waist. The watch’s dial began to move, its numbers shifting from eighty to seventy-eight.

Just as Chu Feng withdrew his hand, a sigh sounded.

Chu Feng looked up; Elder Chen had opened his eyes. In that instant, Chu Feng remembered where he’d seen this man—lying before him was Elder Chen, one of the renowned founding figures of the nation, explaining why he seemed so familiar.

"Elder, how do you feel? Is it more comfortable than before?" Chu Feng asked quietly.

"Much better than earlier. The pain has eased. Young man, it seems you’ve saved me," Elder Chen replied, a smile creasing his deeply lined face.

"I suppose so. I’ll call the others in; please stay here and don’t move," Chu Feng said, then went outside to summon Old Wang and Old Jin.

"Elder Chen, you’re finally awake. You’ve been unconscious for two days and three nights," Old Wang exclaimed, tears streaming down his wrinkled cheeks.

"Old Wang, you’re no youngster. Why are you crying like this? What does it look like?" Elder Chen scolded with a stern face.

Old Jin, standing nearby, was equally moved. Both of them were Elder Chen’s old subordinates, having followed him through many years of hardship.

"Old Wang, where did you find this young man?" Elder Chen now grew curious about Chu Feng’s identity.

"He was recommended by Elder Li. Elder Li told me he’d discovered a miraculous doctor in Shanghai, so I brought him here to treat you," Old Wang explained the matter succinctly.

He didn’t mention the attack at the airport, thinking it would only worry Elder Chen and was better left unsaid.

"Mr. Chu, has Elder Chen fully recovered?" Old Jin asked.

"Not so quickly. I’m not a miracle worker. He’ll need long-term treatment," Chu Feng replied. After examining Elder Chen, he realized the illness was more severe than he’d anticipated, compounded by Elder Chen’s age and declining bodily functions.

"Old Jin, I’ve lived a long life; it’s enough. Don’t grieve over my life and death—I’ve made peace with it, so why are you so anxious?" Elder Chen spoke with serenity, as did many old soldiers; life and death held little weight for them.

"Elder Chen, don’t be so pessimistic. I won’t promise you’ll be full of vigor, but at the very least, I can extend your life," Chu Feng said. He couldn’t guarantee a complete cure, but he could use his watch to prolong Elder Chen’s life.

"That’s wonderful. As long as Elder Chen’s health improves, his next mission is—" Old Wang was so excited he blurted out something he shouldn’t have, then abruptly stopped upon realizing his mistake.

"Elder Chen, you chat for now. I’ll step outside for some air," Chu Feng said, sensing they were about to discuss confidential matters, and excused himself.

"Old Wang, tell me honestly—were you attacked on the way here?" Elder Chen’s demeanor changed as soon as Chu Feng left, no longer frail; his eyes shone with keen intelligence.

"When Chu Feng and I were at the airport, we were ambushed. My men vanished, and the car I arranged had a bomb planted in it. If it hadn’t been for Chu Feng’s quick reaction, we’d have been blown to bits," Old Wang recounted the airport incident in detail. Old Jin, listening, clenched his fists, his eyes blazing.

"Elder Chen, I think you should return to the base and have Chu Feng treat you there—it would be much safer," Old Jin advised, knowing a hospital could be vulnerable.

"We’ll discuss returning to the base later. Has the test result come out? If so, show it to me," Elder Chen replied, evidently uninterested in returning to the base, instead addressing Old Jin.

"Elder Chen, your body is too frail. Let’s wait until tomorrow to review the test result," Old Jin said, reluctant to present it now, worried about Elder Chen’s health.

"Just show it to me. With these old bones, who knows how many days I have left? While I can still move, let me spot problems for you, so you don’t stray down the wrong path," Elder Chen insisted.

The test results he referred to were for an advanced weapon being developed by the national military, currently in the improvement phase. Elder Chen was responsible for its refinement, and once completed, it would greatly enhance the nation’s international standing.

"I’ll fetch it right away. Old Wang, stay here and look after Elder Chen," Old Jin said, then left to retrieve the report.

"Old Wang, bring that young man back in—I have something to ask him," Elder Chen instructed.

Old Wang acknowledged and turned to leave.