Return to the City: The Strongest King
Chapter 523 - 524 Traveling on a Business Trip with Song Xiaoru

Chapter 523: Chapter 524 Traveling on a Business Trip with Song Xiaoru

Xiang Te and Ellington, these two fellows, truly resembled a pair of diligent and studious elementary school students at this moment. Their serious attitude was so commendable that even Song Xiaodong couldn’t help but admire them. Their achievements were indeed tied to their earnestness.

Perhaps many people lack such a dedicated attitude toward learning and the effort it demands.

These days, Song Xiaodong had been producing medicines whose effects were completely unknown, and he would directly consume them himself.

This surely scared the daylights out of Xiang Te and Ellington.

The first time Ellington saw Song Xiaodong swallow the finished medicine, he anxiously said, "Mr. Song, you are testing new drugs on yourself, that’s too dangerous. I suggest we should first try it on animals and then conduct clinical trials."

Xiang Te also said with a grim expression, "Mr. Song, since the medicine is experimental and its effects are unknown, what you are doing is extremely dangerous."

Song Xiaodong, however, could see their sincerity and just smiled, saying, "It’s fine, you guys continue with your work, I’ll go test the medicinal properties." Then he entered the private room inside.

Ellington, pale-faced, said, "Vice President He, this is really too risky; you must persuade him. Having seen the ingredients in this medicine, some of them are highly toxic—how can he just consume them like that?"

He Wenbai chuckled and said, "At the beginning, I was the same as you, but do you know we have a very famous figure in China named Shennong?"

"Who is Shennong?" The two of them instantly became curious.

He Wenbai explained, "Shennong is our ancestor. He saw humanity suffering from diseases, so he tasted all sorts of herbs to personally experience their medicinal properties and created many methods to alleviate human ailments."

"There was such a person? So, Mr. Song is like Shennong?" Xiang Te couldn’t help but be filled with longing admiration.

He Wenbai’s eyes brimmed with reverence as he responded, "More or less."

This made Ellington and Xiang Te’s admiration for Song Xiaodong soar to new heights, but still, Ellington couldn’t help expressing his concern, "But what if he gets poisoned?"

He Wenbai smiled lightly, "Mr. Song is certainly aware of this. With his medical skill, he can handle the situation, so you need not worry."

"I see, this really is an incredibly magical affair. Meeting a remarkable person like Mr. Song is the greatest gain from our trip to China."

"Indeed, indeed, I can say he is the most miraculous person I have ever met in my life. Traditional Chinese Medicine is so incredible, it’s beyond imagination."

Song Xiaodong had been tasting medicines these few days. He was no Shennong, but he did possess a certain level of drug tolerance. Moreover, he could ensure his own safety. And these medications, he couldn’t possibly let others try them, as the true effects wouldn’t be accurately experienced.

The substances Song Xiaodong developed over the last few days, after trying them himself, seemed to have weak medicinal effects and even strong toxicity. If it were not for him, those who took the medicines would probably have ended up in the emergency room right away.

However, after several days of testing, Song Xiaodong also somewhat understood the problems. The ginseng, polygonum multiflorum, and Lingzhi he used were not aged enough, which weakened their ability to neutralize the poisons, allowing the toxicity to prevail. Only after reducing the proportion of the most toxic ingredients did he manage to produce a non-toxic medicine today.

Feeling no toxicity, Song Xiaodong carefully experienced the medicine’s properties, indeed sensing a faint trace of energy from within, though so weak that it was barely perceptible without focused attention.

But the presence of even a slight trace bolstered Song Xiaodong’s confidence immensely. At the very least, it proved the method was right. With sufficiently aged ingredients for those three items, perhaps he could significantly enhance the medicine’s efficacy.

As for now, this medicine was of no use to ordinary people, and even for a Kung Fu master like Song Xiaodong, who had a real sense of energy, the effect was too minuscule to be considered. So unless he could find high-quality herbs, the research was akin to a useless delicacy. It all depended on whether he could find those three medicinal ingredients.

On Friday, Song Xiaodong received a call from the Fang Family in Provincial City. They had found a hundred-year-old mountain ginseng. Overjoyed, Song Xiaodong knew that such mountain ginseng was now a rare find for him.

Song Xiaodong immediately said he would personally go to collect it. He didn’t even dare to let them deliver it. If anything went wrong, he knew he would be regretting it deeply.

Just as Song Xiaodong hung up the phone, Song Xiaoru called him.

Song Xiaoru promptly said, "Dongzi, I’m going to Provincial City for a meeting. I won’t be at home this weekend."

Song Xiaodong immediately replied, "You’re going to Provincial City? That’s perfect, I’m heading there too. I can drive you."

"That’s great. When are you leaving?"

"I’m setting off right now. How about you?"

"Then come to pick me up at home. I just need to grab a couple of clothes."

An hour later, Song Xiaodong and Song Xiaoru left home together, heading for Provincial City.

Seeing Song Xiaodong’s impatient demeanor and the speedy drive, Song Xiaoru asked, "Dongzi, did something happen to make you in such a rush?"

"I’m going to pick up some medicine. Hehe, it doesn’t really matter if it’s a bit early or late, I’m just a little anxious," he replied.

Song Xiaoru immediately said, "Then slow down a bit, you’re speeding a lot."

As Song Xiaodong chatted with Song Xiaoru, he became less hasty. In two hours, Song Xiaodong and Song Xiaoru arrived at a hotel.

"How many rooms would you like to book?" the receptionist asked Song Xiaodong.

"Just one," Song Xiaodong casually replied.

Song Xiaoru’s face suddenly flushed, she opened her mouth as if to speak but then said nothing.

After they checked into the room, Song Xiaoru put down her things and gave Song Xiaodong a reproachful look, saying, "Why did you book just one room?"

"What’s the problem with one room?" Song Xiaodong was taken aback and then, noticing Song Xiaoru’s coy expression, felt a stirring inside him, but quickly dismissed his inappropriate thoughts, hurriedly saying, "Sis, we might not end up staying at the hotel tonight, I booked one room for you for now."

"Oh, you gave me a fright," said Song Xiaoru, relieved, but inside she felt an unexpected twinge of disappointment.

Song Xiaodong caught the fleeting look of loss in Song Xiaoru’s eyes. He wrapped an arm around her shoulder, grinning, "However, you never know, I might just run over and stay with you tonight."

Song Xiaoru glared at Song Xiaodong, "Hmph, you can’t do that. Either book your own room or don’t come at all." Yet, deep down, a sense of anticipation and excitement suddenly surged within her.