Chapter 268: Many Hands, Great Strength

Cheng Shuili looked expressionlessly at a particularly massive Fire Lizard, its hind claws forcefully standing upright, its front claws gesturing wildly in a strange pose, while the other lizards slapped the ground with their tails "pa pa".

It seemed to be expressing agreement, but what exactly it was saying....

Cheng Shuili is not a lizard, so of course she doesn't understand the lizards' language.

The one being held suddenly thrashed, its short legs frantically pointed toward the deep part of the tunnel, then pointed at the golden medicine bottle, and finally made an exaggerated gesture.

Cheng Shuili didn't understand what they were saying, but she realized one thing: the thing she was looking for must be down there, and perhaps she could find it by following the tunnel the lizards dug.

And... these little guys seem harmless.

Cheng Shuili hesitated for a moment, then released the small lizard in her hand.

The other Fire Lizards, seeing their companion freed, immediately leapt on the spot, spun in the air, surrounded the small lizard, and with all four claws crawled toward the deeper part of the tunnel.

Cheng Shuili thought for a moment, then took out from the Abyssal Ring an Engineer's Shovel she hadn't used since acquiring it.

Going straight down is still too risky; shall we just dig it open?

Wolf Yu, who had been watching the commotion from the side, finally found his task; his eyes suddenly lit up, and he said, "I'll go get two more shovels."

After speaking, without waiting for Cheng Shuili or the other person's reaction, he vanished in a flash.

Cheng Shuili and Su Rui exchanged a glance, each seeing speechlessness in the other's eyes.

Seriously, can a Beastman like Wolf Yu really be a doctor?

But recalling what Director Xiong said, the hospital now even has trouble with the simplest suturing, Cheng Shuili thought that Wolf Yu being the attending physician here doesn't seem strange.

Fortunately the golden medicine bottle is here; otherwise handing Qi Wan Yi over to these Beastmen...

Cheng Shuili shook her head abruptly; her master absolutely cannot get into trouble!

She brandished the Engineer's Shovel, swung it down, and then suddenly recalled a rather deadly problem.

She and Su Rui can only stay in Shou Ren Xiao Zhen for two hours!

Although Cheng Shuili hasn't been kicked out before, being expelled wouldn't be a pleasant experience, right?

And... digging pits is not only physical labor, it's also extremely time‑consuming!

Relying only on the three of them... they'd probably spend the next two hours, plus the following two hours, still not find where that special device is.

Many hands make light work! Since that's the case... let's shake people!

Cheng Shuili put away the Engineer's Shovel, gave Su Rui, who was standing nearby looking dazed, a glance, and called, "Let's go."

Su Rui immediately followed, "Not digging anymore?"

"Of course we have to dig, but not us."

Cheng Shuili lightly brushed the dust off herself, then followed the path Wolf Yu had led them on, walking back all the way.

Soon they arrived at the director's office.

Just before knocking, Su Rui suddenly said, "I thought you'd call out your subordinates."

Cheng Shuili raised an eyebrow lightly; she's not that kind of exploitative bad boss!

Although the stuff will ultimately belong to Cheng Shuili, up to now they've been helping the hospital deal with trouble.

Logically and reasonably, the manpower has to come from the hospital.

Cheng Shuili does have subordinates, but she wouldn't delegate everything to them.

When the Lao Da doesn't think about providing benefits for his subordinates, and instead, even when there's nothing, looks for tasks for them, that's too much.

Cheng Shuili raised her hand and knocked, and a familiar "Please come in" soon echoed from inside the room.

Su Rui pushed the door open, and Xiong Ji, upon seeing the two in an instant, frowned as if unwilling to accept reality, slightly turned his head, and said in a mournful voice, "I've been mentally prepared for a long time, the safe has been repaired, just put it in directly, the password is..."

Cheng Shuili: "......"

What a terrible password.

She clicked her tongue lightly, and after seeing Xiong Ji rally himself, she stated the purpose of this trip.

When Xiong Ji heard that, he instantly perked up and asked, "Is there still hope? Can my hospital recover?"

Cheng Shuili didn't guarantee anything, "That depends on how Director Xiong arranges the manpower."

Xiong Ji's expression straightened, he immediately rose, patted his chest, and said gravely, "Follow me."

The two followed behind Xiong Ji, passed several corners, and Xiong Ji lifted his hand to push open a door, with Cheng Shuili and the other stepping in right after.

The room's furnishings were simple: a table, and on the table sat a microphone.

Cheng Shuili sensed something, and the next moment Xiong Ji sat before the microphone with a serious expression, cleared his throat, and said solemnly into the mic:

"All medical staff, attention! All medical staff, attention! Emergency mobilization notice issued now!!!"

"In the morgue on the -1 floor, fire lizard activity traces were found, confirmed to be linked to the hospital's anomalous incident. We now need thirty volunteers with digging tools to go to the site and assist the investigation. Medical staff participating in this operation will have their performance bonus increased by 20% this month. Additionally... the newly arrived batch of honey in the pharmacy, each participant may receive two jars."

Xiong Ji paused, then added:

"Doctor Wolf Yu is already on site, but he can't dig it alone. Let me repeat, this is not a drill! This is not a drill! Our hospital is facing a major crisis!"

Finally, he almost shouted:

"For the glory of the Beastmen Hospital! For our honey reserves! Charge!!!"

After speaking, Xiong Ji "snap"‑ed the microphone off, turned to Cheng Shuili with a simple smile, "Is that okay? Our hospital's mobilization efficiency has always been high."

As soon as the words fell, the corridor filled with alternating wolf howls, bear roars, and various Beastmen's excited shouts, accompanied by "thump thump thump" of running, and the whole hospital seemed to come alive.

It should be fine, right?

Cheng Shuili wasn't quite sure either.

She thought for a moment, then led Su Rui back to the -1 floor to take another look.

Many Beastmen had gathered here, far exceeding the thirty Xiong Ji mentioned, and... almost all of them were bear‑type Beastmen.

Each had an iron spade; after a shovel strike they'd stomp with their feet, scooping out a lot of earth at once, and with so many people, before long the fleeing Fire Lizards were dug out.

Fortunately these bear‑type Beastmen had no murderous intent; their eyes only held a longing for honey.

Cheng Shuili originally planned to have them keep digging here, while she and Su Rui went to the weapons shop to take a look.

At this speed, we should be able to locate the special device in a little while.

Cheng Shuili suddenly feels she's forgotten something, turns her head and looks at Lang Yu limping, propped up by a bamboo stick of unknown origin, gives her a pitiful smile and explains, "Wang… I just found the iron spade, but I have no idea what those bear tribe beastmen are up to; they swarmed and took everything."

They rub their eyes, seeming truly aggrieved, "I didn't manage to grab it in the end, and I got pushed several times, and because I couldn't steady my legs I fell…"

Their voice grows lower as they speak, and when they try to look up at Cheng Shuili's reaction, they happen to see bear tribe beastmen brandishing iron spades and digging furiously.

Lang Yu lets out a startled cry, "Why are they here?"

It seems they didn't hear the bear chief's broadcast, so they're easy to fool.

Cheng Shuili clears her throat twice and explains, "The director just came by, said they'd find someone to help us, and then these beastmen showed up."

"Is that so?"

Lang Yu seems a bit surprised, but holding unwavering faith in Wang, they accept the explanation without hesitation, "Then should we keep digging?"

What are we digging? To squeeze in?

Cheng Shuili is at a loss for words, but Su Rui generously answers the question.

Not only can they not squeeze in, the Fire Lizards also can't get out.

The top layer of soil is being frantically turned over by the bear tribe beastmen; as they swing iron spades, dust billows.

The Fire Lizards' once‑peaceful underground nests are thrown into chaos; they panic and flee in all directions, their tiny bodies darting agilely between the giant bears' legs like clusters of flickering flames.

Cheng Shuili notices a particularly robust Fire Lizard squeezing out from between a bear's legs; its little claws scramble at the ground, its tail whips rapidly, as if cheering itself on.

This effort is not in vain; after a tumble it finally squeezes out between the legs of two bear tribe beastmen.

As soon as it lifts its head, it meets Cheng Shuili's gaze.

The Fire Lizard's tiny eyes instantly light up, as if it has found a savior—the human who never harmed them!!

It immediately pushes off with its hind legs, stands upright, its two front paws waving exaggeratedly, and emits rapid "squeak" sounds.

But Cheng Shuili can't understand it at all, so she gives no response.

The other Fire Lizards, as if hearing the sound, also scramble out of the bear beastmen's circle; their short legs sprint wildly, their tails wobble side‑to‑side from the haste, and when they stand they look like a bunch of drunken little fire dragons.

They all rush to Cheng Shuili's feet; some cling to her boots, their little claws gripping the laces tightly, as if "won't let go even in death."

Some even crawl directly onto the tops of her feet, trying to beg for Cheng Shuili's help with their actions.

But…

These bear tribe beastmen are the ones Cheng Shuili summoned, after all.

Cheng Shuili doesn't know why she appears as a good person in the Fire Lizards' eyes, but that doesn't stop her from pretentiously comforting them.

The robust Fire Lizard seems to think victory is near, suddenly goes full drama mode, and with a "pop" flops down in front of Cheng Shuili, its four paws up, belly exposed, tail twitching as if playing dead.

The other Fire Lizards see this and immediately imitate, all collapsing, their tiny eyes secretly watching Cheng Shuili's reaction.

Cheng Shuili looks down at the troupe of dramatics at her feet, and her mouth twitches involuntarily.

She is, after all, the mastermind…

These guys really… even when calling for help they find the wrong person?

Cheng Shuili crouches, pokes the robust Fire Lizard's belly; it immediately lets out a "squeak" and rolls over, its little paws clutching her finger, blinking innocently.

Fine, this bunch not only knows how to play the pitiful, but also to act coquettishly.

Cheng Shuili sighs, but their nest will definitely be dismantled.