7.4

Qiao Chen opened the ebony case that he had held with him for many years. There were a dozen scalpels of differing sizes and shapes neatly arranged inside. Each of the blades glinted under the operating room's light. The blades seemed to have emitted a sharp chill as it flashed. These seemingly thin as paper scalpels caused everyone's hearts to tremble.

Qiao Chen asked several doctors in the medical department to come over and assist him. The first soldier was given anesthesia and rolled into the operating room. Qiao Chen took out a scalpel and quickly cut through the soldier's skin where his spine was located.

This was the first time Qiao Chen had used the cold iron scalpels. He turned on his system throughout the entire process in order to make sure that everything would go smoothly. An assistant doctor beside him kept wiping the sweat from his forehead.

The bone spurs growing on the soldier's vertebrae were black and extremely compact. Qiao Chen wanted to remove the bone spur from the base of the spur- right where it connected to the vertebrae. He also needed to be very careful and not injure the spinal cord. If the spinal cord was damaged, then the soldier's would have chronic pain and mobility issues for the rest of their life.

The other doctors watched Qiao Chen cut off those hard as steel bone spurs quickly. Amazement hadn't even set in yet when they noticed that the bone spurs had been sliced off smoothly. Furthermore, the incision site hadn't even bled a drop of blood. They were in awe. If it was them removing the bone spurs, then the spurs would have definitely cracked and splintered.

The assistant immediately sewed the wound up after Qiao Chen removed all of the soldier's bone spurs. The second Qiao Chen finished the operation; the next soldier was immediately wheeled in.

Qiao Chen didn't take any break in between. He continued to work, operation after operation. The day bled into night. It wasn't until noon of the next day when the final soldier's surgery was complete.

Qiao Chen exited the operating room. He felt dizzy and lightheaded due to the strain of the system running from the day before until now.

"Are you okay?" Long Ao asked worriedly as he walked over to Qiao Chen with a thermos cup. Qiao Chen took his mask off the moment he could, so Long Ao could see how pale Qiao Chen was.

Qiao Chen accepted the thermos of hot chocolate and took a sip. Then he shook his head.

"I'll walk you back. Take a rest. I'll have some soldiers stand guard for you too." Long Ao said. He ignored the others' gazes and wrapped an arm around Qiao Chen's shoulders. Then they walked out together.

"My scalpels are still inside." Qiao Chen said and glanced back at the operating room.

Long Ao kept his arm around Qiao Chen's shoulder as they stood there and waited. Less than ten seconds had passed when a soldier exited the room with Qiao Chen's scalpel case in hand. He handed it to Long Ao, and Long Ao held onto it for Qiao Chen while they continued their way back to Qiao Chen's residence.

Qiao Chen briefly took a shower once he reached his room. Then he laid down on his bed to finally rest.

"Have a good sleep. I won't let anyone hurt you no matter what happens. You don't have to worry anymore." Long Ao assured as he gently stroked Qiao Chen's face.

Qiao Chen's lips quirked up into a small smile. Then he pulled Long Ao down by the neck for a kiss. The two kissed for a while before Long Ao pulled away to let Qiao Chen rest up.

Qiao Chen had taxed his brain by over using the system, so he was thoroughly exhausted. Long Ao visited Qiao Chen later that evening for dinner. However, he couldn't bear to wake Qiao Chen up and left him to sleep until he had fully recovered. Qiao Chen slept until the morning of the next day.

The soldiers who underwent the bone spur removal were carefully examined when they woke up. There were no problems with their spines, and the doctors concluded that they would be able to move normally once their wounds healed.

Everyone was all atwitter over Qiao Chen's medical skills. The entire operation event had spread like wildfire by the doctors present. They gossiped that he was just too skillful. Some said that he was particularly strong, because he had the strength to cut those steel-like bones like butter. Others also proclaimed that Qiao Chen's scalpels were equally strong. The claimed that the incision made by those scalpels didn't even cause a drop of blood to drip from the body.

The people in the antiviral research department were also filled with relief. They figured that the entire matter about the soldiers would be dropped because they were successfully cured. They never would have expected that they wouldn't be able to feel relief for a long time in the near future.

Qiao Chen tested the soldiers' blood and found that there was some troubling news. He told the soldiers that they needed to resolve the problematic antibodies that were left in their bodies. If they didn't figure something out soon, then the bone spurs would eventually begin to grow once more.

It was nearly impossible for the antivirus research department to find a solution before the bone spurs would begin to grow on the soldiers again. Furthermore, they didn't want to waste valuable time and research on saving the soldiers. They wanted to spend their time working on the antibody research instead.

Qiao Chen told them that if they deemed this a waste of their time, then they should leave up to him. To do this, however, meant he needed to be given access to the research building and allowed to set up a research team.

Thusly, Qiao Chen was invited to the research building's conference room. Besides Qiao Chen and Long Ao, there were also army commanders, the director of the research department, and several other important research department personnel.

"You're just a doctor. How would you be able to understand drug development? Medical skills are not the same as research skills. It's ridiculous that you even want to set up a research group in our research department." Xu Jianping, the leader of the antiviral research department, exclaimed. He looked very unhappy and constantly looked at Qiao Chen's face with disdain.

"In addition to being a doctor, I also have a master's degree in chemistry and pharmacology. My family has had five generations of doctors. In the time where there was no such thing as pharmaceutical companies, my family had already began research and development of drugs to help the people. Before the end of the world, my family owned a hospital and a pharmaceutical company that developed drugs for the betterment of the human life." Qiao Chen calmly reported his family background. Everyone in the room was surprised.

Even Long Ao looked at Qiao Chen in a different light after Qiao Chen finished speaking. No base would ever let this kind of talent go. However, when Long Ao had met Qiao Chen, he was alone. Qiao Chen never really talked about these things with him either.

Military Commander Long Wu and the Director of the Research Department, Dr. Lu, glanced at each other. If Qiao Chen spoke the truth, then they needed to let him use his strengths to the best of his ability. He would be a very valuable person on base.

"We have no way of verifying this even if you're telling the truth. How would we know if you're lying or not? Let's say we believe you… how much experience do you actually have and are you even capable? Are you even willing to accept the responsibility if your research goes downhill?" Xu Jianping interrogated angrily.

"I'll take full responsibility if there are any problems. Don't worry, Team Leader Xu. I will do my best to not push my responsibilities onto others like you do to others." Qiao Chen retorted. He wasn't a very good tempered person. He wouldn't continue and stay patient after each and every one of Xu Jianping's mockery and aggressiveness.

"You…" Xu Jianping's face turned ugly when he heard Qiao Chen's retort. "You can claim that you'll take responsibility, but will it actually matter? What if you end up doing something that 'taking responsibility' wouldn't even matter. It would be useless for you to keep spouting responsibility this, responsibility that unless you are willing to pay with your life due to your mistakes." Xu Jianping righteously said.

"Then I'll be responsible." Long Ao said. "I will take responsibility for any problems he causes."

Long Ao looked at his uncle, Long Wu, as he said this. There was a resolute firmness and determination in his eyes.

Long Wu was a bit surprised that his nephew would choose to protect Qiao Chen in this way. Even though Long Ao and Qiao Chen's relationship was no secret, even he had heard about it, but he never expected that their relationship would have develop this deeply already.

Xu Jianping wanted to continue berating Qiao Chen, but he was interrupted by Long Wu's words, "Are you finished speaking now, Team Leader Xu? Will you allow me to have a few words with Dr. Lu?"

Long Wu had been in a high position for many years as a military commander. He could speak in a calm tone devoid of anger as long as he wanted to. Unfortunately for Xu Jianping, the army commander had already spoken. No matter how much he looked down on Qiao Chen, he wouldn't dare to express anymore of his discontent.

Long Wu simply asked Qiao Chen some questions about the plans for his research team. He looked to Dr. Lu for his opinion and saw Dr. Lu gently nod in approval. Once he received the confirmation, he green lit Qiao Chen's request.

Qiao Chen told them that his family's pharmaceutical company owed a factory. They had just imported a lot of brand new research and production equipment from abroad before the end of the world. Unfortunately, the zombie apocalypse occurred before they could put the equipment into use. The stored the equipment in a secret location. There was another person who knew where the equipment was, but only he knew how to get it out. Most of the stuff should be there, so he requested to have a convoy follow him out to bring the equipment back to their base.

The army commander was quite happy and surprised at Qiao Chen's words the moment the words left his mouth. Dr. Lu, on the other hand, excitedly stood up to bring Qiao Chen into his office. He wanted to talk more in depth with Qiao Chen about the equipment first before he headed out.

Long Ao waited a long time outside of his grandfather's office before Qiao Chen was released from his grandfather's clutches.

Later that evening, Long Ao pressed Qiao Chen under his body. Once he had Qiao Chen melted into a puddle, he began his interrogation, "How many more secrets are you keep from me?"

"What- what am I not telling you?" Qiao Chen panted. His brain was still a bit fuzzy from their 'exercise' just now.

"Your life experiences and family background. Basically everything that happened in the past… Why haven't you told me about it?" Long Ao asked discontentedly.

"You didn't ask. Of course I'd tell you if you asked. If I took the initiative to tell you all of this, wouldn't it seem like I'm showboating?" Qiao Chen looked at Long Ao innocently.

In a world like this, there were numerous people who were unwilling to recall their past memories. Vulnerability was something very few people wanted to expose nowadays. It was the same whether a loved one was killed by a zombie or turned into one. It was all the same deeply painful parts that clouded their once bright memories.

Under normal circumstances, other people wouldn't forcefully rip open other people's wounds. If the concerning party didn't take the initiative to talk about it, then they wouldn't pry. Therefore, Long Ao never really thought to ask Qiao Chen about his history. He figured that if Qiao Chen wanted to talk, when he was ready to talk, then he would. Long Ao's love for Qiao Chen had already rooted deep within his heart, so he felt bad when he barely knew the person whom he loved so dearly.

"Then I'm asking now. What else about you do I not know? Be very thorough in your explanations and tell me everything as early as possible. If not, then…" Long Ao half threatened. His hand traveled down between Qiao Chen's legs and roughly rubbed him.

"Ahn!" Qiao Chen yelped even though it sounded more like a groan. When he caught his breath again, Qiao Chen wrapped his arms around Long Ao's neck and said, "If I tell you every single detail about my life from childhood to now, then it'll take me several days. Are you sure you really want me to start talking now?"

"I'll definitely tell you everything you want to know in the near future. Now why don't you satisfy me first?" Qiao Chen's to long legs wrapped around Long Ao's waist, and he began to gently grind himself against Long Ao.

Long Ao stared deeply at Qiao Chen's flushed cheeks and eyes filled with desire. He could still continue his interrogations. This side of Qiao Chen made him feel so possessive that he never wanted to let other people see Qiao Chen again.