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Chapter 31: Awakening
Wang Ping rummaged around and found an old-fashioned enameled medical tray, its white edges chipped and scarred with black marks from years of use. He placed the syringe, aspirin tablets, and a bottle of medical alcohol he had unearthed onto it. After a moment’s thought, he added a plastic bottle of glucose solution from the table nearby before dragging the tray out of the room.
The tray clattered noisily across the floor, the bottles and syringe rolling about inside. The glucose solution sloshed around, forming bubbles as it moved. Hearing the commotion, Rosette trotted over curiously, pawing at the bottles in the tray. Wang Ping turned and nudged her away, leaving her to stand reluctantly by the side, her eyes following the movement of the bottles.
Reaching the car door, Wang Ping set the tray down on the ground and hopped into the vehicle, opening the passenger door. Gu Lang was slumped over the driver's seat, looking utterly miserable. Though his appearance was pitiful, thanks to Wang Ping’s earlier efforts to reduce his fever, his condition had improved significantly. However, the external injuries sustained during their journey were more severe. Considering the rough terrain they’d traversed, it was fortunate that Gu Lang hadn’t suffered a concussion.
Given the difficulty of the procedure, Wang Ping decided to administer a muscle injection in Gu Lang’s arm, similar to childhood vaccinations. Tearing open the sleeve of Gu Lang’s shirt, Wang Ping used two fingertips to unscrew the cap of the alcohol bottle. Balancing precariously, he climbed onto Gu Lang’s body, intending to disinfect his arm.
However, as the alcohol swirled inside the bottle and Wang Ping’s paws slipped, the entire contents spilled out, drenching Gu Lang’s arm and soaking his body. The bottle rolled off and fell outside the car.
“Uh… oh…”
A low groan escaped Gu Lang’s throat, his first relatively loud sound since leaving Maasai Mara. This indicated that his condition was indeed improving. It was no wonder he could still moan despite his weakened state; half his body was soaked in alcohol, which stung the numerous small wounds covering him. Even Wang Ping winced at the sight.
“Well, I guess this counts as disinfection.”
Wang Ping shrugged humorously, though due to his skeletal structure, it looked like the bones in his shoulders were moving independently—an eerie sight.
Carefully picking up a syringe from the tray, Wang Ping jumped back into the car, climbing onto the seatback via Gu Lang’s shoulder. Removing the needle cap with his teeth, he steadied the syringe between the pads of his paws and aimed for a meaty part of Gu Lang’s arm.
How did the Vet usually do this?
Tilting his head in thought, Wang Ping recalled his own experiences receiving injections at the hospital. Mimicking those memories, he pushed the needle firmly into Gu Lang’s arm—perhaps too forcefully, as the entire needle disappeared into the flesh.
Using his chin to depress the plunger, Wang Ping removed the syringe and tossed it back onto the tray. Perhaps because he hadn’t pressed a cotton ball to the injection site or withdrew the needle too slowly, a bead of blood immediately welled up where the needle had been.
As Wang Ping debated whether to clean it, Rosette wandered over again, sniffing at the discarded syringe in the tray. Wang Ping hurriedly pushed her aside.
Only a bottle of glucose and a strip of pills remained in the tray. The sturdy plastic bottle made it easy for Wang Ping to handle. Using his claws, he peeled back the foil covering the pills and shoved two into Gu Lang’s mouth. Then, piercing a hole in the glucose solution bottle with his claw, he inserted the entire neck into Gu Lang’s mouth and squeezed several gulps into him.
Gu Lang coughed violently, likely choked, and even briefly opened his eyes to glance at Wang Ping before sinking back into a deep sleep.
“Done! The rest is up to you!”
Sitting on the steering wheel, Wang Ping patted Gu Lang’s chin and placed the remaining glucose and aspirin on the dashboard so Gu Lang would see them upon waking.
Rosette, perhaps hungry or bored, yawned widely and let out a soft growl before bounding off toward the woods. Soon, sounds of chaos echoed faintly from the forest as she hunted.
Leaving Rosette to her pursuit, Wang Ping returned to the northern room. His earlier inspection had been cursory, and he wanted to investigate further.
Adjacent to the infirmary was a larger room—the male team members’ dormitory. The entrance to the basement was also located here. Oddly, while all other rooms, including the main gate, were unlocked, this particular room was secured.
After fruitlessly poking at the lock with his claws, Wang Ping gave up. These security doors had been personally selected by Captain Luke, and without his nimble hands and proper tools, opening it was impossible.
Leaving the northern room, Wang Ping circled the car and entered the communal lounge on the opposite side. The furnishings here were sparse: a small dormitory separated by a partition, a row of chairs in the outer area, and a simple kitchen equipped with basic utensils.
Though the kitchen existed, the security team rarely used it. Even when stationed here, most of their time was spent in the wilds of the forest or grasslands, subsisting on compressed biscuits and nutrient supplements.
Examining the dust-covered chairs, Wang Ping noted that no one had used this space recently.
There weren’t many armed ranger teams patrolling the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, and due to the vastness of the region, patrols were irregular. Teams typically responded to informants’ tips or specific missions, meaning some areas might go untouched for weeks.
Given the current situation, this location seemed suitable for Gu Lang’s recovery.
“Hmm…”
By now, the sun had risen high, warming the air in the forest to a lazy warmth. Though unanswered questions lingered in his mind, administering the medication to Gu Lang provided Wang Ping some relief. Exhaustion washed over him—he hadn’t rested properly in two nights.
Returning to the clearing outside, Wang Ping found a shaded corner on the northern side and sprawled out on the ground, waiting for Rosette to return from her hunt while dozing off. However, the dampness near the river made him itch, prompting him to retreat to the car, curling up on the passenger seat to sleep.
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Gu Lang felt as though he were trapped in a long dream. At times, Wang Ping tormented him relentlessly; at others, a beautiful nurse administered injections in a hospital. Reality and illusion blurred together.
The nurse, however, seemed rather rough, and the spot on his arm where the needle had pierced throbbed persistently.
“Water… Grandma, pour me some water…”
Gu Lang mumbled deliriously. The world was silent except for the occasional rustle of leaves stirred by the breeze.
About half an hour later, Gu Lang’s head lifted slightly, his eyes cracking open just enough to reveal his parched lips and aching body. His arms felt impossibly heavy, devoid of strength.
Through blurred vision, he noticed what appeared to be a water bottle nearby. Without thinking, he grabbed the squished plastic container, attempting to twist off the cap with his right hand. But his fingers lacked strength, and after struggling for a while, he failed to open it. Instead, applying too much pressure with his left hand, he squeezed water out of the bottle.
Seeing this, Gu Lang simply positioned the bottle at his mouth and squeezed the contents directly into his throat.
The water was lukewarm and slightly sweet—mmm, not bad.
Tossing the deflated bottle aside, Gu Lang exhaled deeply, leaned his head back, and drifted off to sleep once more.
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