The next step became much easier to handle.
People from the Xia Group came to receive the captives, cleared the battlefield, and sent all the spoils of war to Lu Yuan.
Those mercenaries were all sent to the slave market in Xifu City to be sold in bundles.
The money from the sales would mostly go to Lu Yuan, with the Xia Group only daring to take a small cut for their labor.
At the Eastern Suburb Medical University, Operating Room No. 3.
Since this was the first time Lu Yuan had encountered a corpse affected by corrosive acid abilities, it took him a bit longer than usual.
After thirty-five minutes, a pristine corpse was hung up in the exhibition hall on the basement level.
Afterwards, Lu Yuan pulled over a chair and sat in front of the Acid Dragon corpse, closing his eyes in deep contemplation.
He was absorbing the new knowledge that had appeared in his mind.
"Feline mechanical brain structure..."
The new knowledge he gained this time was quite formidable.
Prior to this, Lu Yuan could only construct the mechanical brain structures of canines. Now, he had added the ability to construct feline structures as well.
It's worth noting that felines include the kings of beasts like tigers.
It took Lu Yuan over two hours to fully comprehend this knowledge.
When he opened his eyes, he pondered whether he should keep a feline guardian at home to protect the premises.
The alligator mutt in the backyard pond wouldn't cut it - that idiot only knew how to splash about restlessly all day long.
And it couldn't stay out of the water for too long either.
"Hmm, which polluted source has a formidable feline mutant..."
After some thought, Lu Yuan couldn't recall any.
He only remembered that there were Thunder Tigers in the No. 6 Secret Realm near Yun City, but he had already exterminated the species last year.
An ordinary Thunder Tiger wasn't worth Lu Yuan's significant effort.
Now, as he turned his head, he could see the Thunder Tiger corpse hanging there.
"Forget it, these things happen by chance. No need to rush..."
After admiring his day's artwork, Lu Yuan prepared to leave.
In the spiral staircase, he encountered Liu Yuan and another girl -
Carrying a stack of paper boards and wearing a mask.
This was the rehabilitating patient residing in Room 71 on the third basement level.
She was also one of the two patients, besides Niu Ben, that Lu Yuan had deemed qualified to be transferred to the upper-level patient rooms during his recent inspection.
Upon seeing each other, the girl took a slight bow towards Lu Yuan, but did not speak.
Lu Yuan smiled, "Long time no see, congratulations."
The girl nodded in response.
"I remember you have a lot of belongings to move?"
Liu Yuan: "Niu has already moved upstairs."
Lu Yuan: "Mm, your room number is 92. It's been prepared, so if you need anything, you can ask the two nurses."
The girl simply bowed and nodded at Lu Yuan again, remaining silent.
Lu Yuan then stepped aside, gesturing for her to go first.
The girl glanced at Lu Yuan, then followed Liu Yuan out.
Watching her leave, Lu Yuan scratched the back of his head in slight exasperation.
This girl's name was Ling Long.
Room 92.
Niu Ben looked perplexed at the several large boxes filled with origami in front of him, feeling vexed.
He could understand someone having a hobby of folding paper, but he couldn't comprehend why someone would take it to this extreme.
Looking at the thousand paper cranes, then at the paper mouse, Niu Ben felt that if the folder applied some ink, they could pass off as the real thing.
Puzzled, he picked up a paper mantis and squinted to examine it closely.
"Do you like it? If so, I can give it to you," a crisp voice suddenly came from behind Niu Ben.
He quickly turned to see the masked Ling Long.
"Ah? Haha, no need, I couldn't possibly!"
It seemed Ling Long smiled behind her mask, "It's fine, it's rare to meet someone interested in origami."
As she spoke, she took out a small knife and gently cut her finger, letting a drop of blood well up.
Niu Ben exclaimed, "What are you doing?"
Ling Long simply let that drop of blood fall onto the paper mantis in Niu Ben's hand. In the next second, an unbelievable thing happened.
The paper mantis came to life!
Though still made of paper, it moved just like a real mantis, stretching out its neck and taking small steps forward with its four legs.
Seeing this, Niu Ben's sturdy frame trembled violently. "You... you're the one from Room 71 on the third basement level?!"
Ling Long nodded.
Niu Ben said nothing more. He lowered his head, carefully protecting the living paper mantis in his hand, and hurriedly left.
After Niu Ben departed, Liu Yuan entered and casually closed the door behind her.
Leaning against the door, she looked at Ling Long and said, "Ling Long, Dr. Lu has done you a favor. What do you think?"
Ling Long nodded in agreement.
"Good that you acknowledge this. So, I hope you'll be a bit more polite to Dr. Lu in the future. At the very least, greet him whenever you see him."
Ling Long's gaze shifted slightly downward, landing on Liu Yuan's chest area.
Liu Yuan nodded, "That's right, your sister's heart is inside me."
Ling Long tilted her head, "And the other one?"
"Inside another nurse."
Mist gathered in Ling Long's eyes. "What gives you the right to use my sister's heart?"
Liu Yuan fell silent for a moment, then said, "Ling Long, from now on, I'll treat you better than your own sister ever did."
Even through the mask, Liu Yuan could tell Ling Long was smiling.
"My own sister? Heh..."
"If your own little sister wanted to kill Dr. Lu, what would you do, dear sister?"
Liu Yuan wasn't surprised by this question at all.
"I would kill my own little sister first, to spare her from suffering. It might not be right, but it would be the best option for her."
"Believe me."
Ling Long turned away, no longer facing Liu Yuan. "I'm tired."
Liu Yuan opened the door and took a step out, "Ling Long, the past is in the past. I hope you remember clearly that it was your sister, in her Spirit Dragon form, who attacked Dr. Lu first."
"Do I need to explain what you Spirit Dragon Clan members look like in your dragon forms?"
Ling Long raised her hand, "Even if my sister didn't attack him first, based on his habits, he wouldn't have let her go either."
Liu Yuan cleared her throat somewhat awkwardly, "Ahem, well, the situation might have developed that way according to his usual methods..."
"But he didn't actually let it play out like that, did he?"
"Sister Yuan, dear sister, I'm tired."
Liu Yuan fell silent, then sighed, "Alright, rest for now. Let me know if you want anything to eat."
As she closed the door, Liu Yuan saw Lu Yuan standing in the hallway.
Instantly, she shuddered slightly.
Forcing an awkward smile, she said, "Boss, seeing as how You You and I are both using Ling Long's sister's heart..."
Lu Yuan said indifferently, "Yeah, don't worry. I won't let her die until I fully understand the secrets behind the Spirit Dragon Clan's dual hearts and blood."
Liu Yuan: "..."
"Boss..."
"Hm?"
"If you ever decide to eradicate them completely, let me do it?"
"Wait, wait, explain what you mean by 'eradicate completely'?"
"You'd actually say something like that to a surgeon?"
"Do you have some misunderstanding about me?"
"Boss, the weather is nice today."
"Yeah, it's raining, so it's rather good."
...