The heavy black SUV cut through the cold morning mist toward the western suburbs of Yanjing.
Behind the wheel, Tie Niu gripped the leather rim so hard the seams groaned.
“Boss Lin, the hospital called three times while we were on the highway,” Tie Niu growled, his knuckles white. “Director Ma brought two dozen private security thugs from Situ Pharma. They chained the glass doors of the central dispensary shut. The hospital director begged him on his knees, but Ma had him pushed down the marble steps.”
Lin Mo sat in the back seat, his eyes calm.
Beside him, Dr. Gu Qinghe held a small amber glass vial up to the grey daylight. Inside the glass rested a dull, dark brown pill the size of a marble.
Old Master Mo leaned over from the front passenger seat, holding an antique silver loupe.
“Doctor Gu,” Old Master Mo said in a low voice, “is that really the patented Yanjing Longevity and Marrow Pill?”
“It is,” Dr. Gu said, his fingers trembling with suppressed fury. “I bought this sample from a private broker two days ago. I spent half the night running chemical and spiritual distillations on it.”
