Sludge suction system

The figure hidden in the darkness was none other than Wang Jing, who had disappeared for many days.

Just as Dr. Qian poured the poison into the water source and was about to flee, a dark figure suddenly emerged from the shadows beside him and blocked his way.

Dr. Qian looked up in alarm and saw a tall, cold-faced stranger standing before him. In the moonlight, his eyes were as cold and sharp as stars, staring intently at him as if they could see through the sins deep within his heart.

"Who...who are you? What do you want?" Dr. Qian asked in a trembling voice, his hands instinctively gripping the hem of his clothes, and his legs beginning to go weak.

The man chuckled coldly, his voice low and menacing: "Dr. Qian, you have quite the nerve! Poisoning the water source—do you want the people of White Bird City to pay for your jealousy?"

Dr. Qian was startled, and large beads of sweat rolled down his forehead. He tried to remain calm and said, "What...what nonsense are you talking about? I don't understand!"

The man took a step closer, his imposing presence causing Doctor Qian to involuntarily take a few steps back: "Hmph, don't you understand? I saw everything clearly just now. Do you think you can do all this without anyone noticing?"

Dr. Qian's eyes darted around, searching for a chance to escape, but he found there was nowhere to go. His voice carried a hint of despair: "What do you want? I have no grudge against you, why are you forcing me like this?"

The man crossed his arms, a mocking smile playing on his lips: "No grudge? If word gets out about your evil deeds, what do you think will happen to you? However, I can give you a chance."

As if grasping at a straw, Dr. Qian asked eagerly, "What opportunity? As long as you don't expose me, I'm willing to do anything!"

The man narrowed his eyes slightly, a hint of cunning flashing in them: "From now on, you have to listen to me. You have to do whatever I tell you to do. Otherwise, I will immediately tell the whole city about what you did today, ruining your reputation and leaving you with no place to be buried."

Although Dr. Qian was filled with doubt and unease, he had no other choice but to nod repeatedly, "Okay, I promise you. But I still don't know who you are."

The man sneered, "You don't need to know who I am. You just need to remember that your life is in my hands now."

Dr. Qian inwardly groaned. He didn't know what the purpose of this stranger who had suddenly appeared was, but in order to save his life for the time being, he could only comply. What he didn't know was that he had fallen into a more complex and dangerous vortex. This disaster caused by jealousy was developing in a more uncontrollable direction.

Under the cover of night, Wang Jing led Doctor Qian through a maze of twists and turns to a dilapidated courtyard on the outskirts of the city. The courtyard was surrounded by overgrown weeds, and the house was crumbling, clearly indicating that it had been uninhabited for a long time—an ideal hiding place.

As soon as he entered the courtyard, Wang Jing closed the gate tightly and turned to the still-shaken Doctor Qian, saying, "From now on, you will stay here. Without my permission, you are not allowed to step out of this courtyard." Doctor Qian looked around, his heart filled with fear and unease, but he dared not disobey and could only nod silently.

Before the first rays of morning sunlight had fully awakened the city of Shiratori, an invisible terror had already quietly spread to every corner of the city. The people of the city drew water from the wells as usual, preparing to start a new day, completely unaware that the clear water had been mixed with deadly poison.

At first, only a few people experienced mild discomfort. They felt slightly cold and their hands and feet were a little weak. They thought it was because they hadn't slept well the night before or had caught a cold, so they didn't pay much attention to it. They simply drank some hot water and continued with their work. However, as time went on, the situation took a sharp turn for the worse.

More and more people began to experience symptoms, and the condition worsened. Their bodies trembled uncontrollably, as if gripped by a cold force, their teeth clenched so tightly they cracked, and even thick blankets could not dispel the bone-chilling cold. Then, a high fever surged like a tidal wave, their body temperature soared, their faces turned bright red, their burning skin seemed to ignite the surrounding air, and they fell into a delirious state of confusion, occasionally uttering painful groans.

This was followed by severe stomach spasms, spasming in waves that caused excruciating pain. They began to vomit incessantly, initially food, but later even bile, the pungent odor filling the room. The frequent vomiting left them extremely weak, their legs trembling, unable to even stand. Even more heartbreaking, many quickly fell into a coma, their eyes closed, their breath as faint as a candle in the wind, their lives hanging by a thread, their fate hanging in the balance.

The entire city of Shiratori was plunged into chaos and panic. Sick people could be seen everywhere in the streets and alleys, some lying in front of their homes, others collapsed on the roadside, their cries and sobs mingling together, a heartbreaking and tragic scene.

Bai Pingping's clinic was soon engulfed in noise and despair.

At first, only a few figures staggered towards the clinic. Their steps were unsteady, their faces as pale as paper, and their bodies shivering uncontrollably, yet they struggled to support each other. Before they could even stand properly, the one in the lead vomited violently, the filth splattering on the ground and emitting a pungent, sour smell. Immediately afterward, more people poured in from all directions. There were elderly people, carried by their families, coughing incessantly; there were young and strong men, now weak and hunched over, their steps dragging; and there were women holding children in their arms, the children's faces flushed red, eyes tightly closed, neither crying nor making a sound, unconscious.

In an instant, the open space in front of the clinic was packed with people. Cries, groans, and coughs mingled together, like sharp knives piercing people's hearts. "Dr. Bai, please save my child!" "Dr. Bai, I beg you, my father is dying!" "Save my mother first, she keeps vomiting and has no strength left!" The cries of pleading rose and fell, accompanied by desperate tears. People pushed and shoved each other, all wanting their loved ones to be treated first. Some even argued over it, but the pain of illness quickly suppressed their anger, leaving only helplessness and fear.

Amid the chaos, Bai Pingping and Xia Mu hurriedly moved about, her eyes firm yet tinged with anxiety, constantly reassuring everyone: "Don't rush, everyone, take it one at a time, we will do our best to treat them!"

"Could this be Dr. Qian's conspiracy?" Bai Pingping wondered to herself as she looked at the patients filling the clinic.