100: Chapter 100 Protecting and Encouraging Anhe's Recovery! With One Heart and One Mind, We Assist Kangtai; With Frailty, We Strengthen Our Will to Protect Our Country (4)

Inside the Intensive Care Unit, doctors were performing emergency resuscitation. The atmosphere was heavy to the extreme; every second felt like a race against death. The sound of the defibrillator's electric shocks, the doctors' urgent commands, and the shrill whirring of equipment wove together, piercing and heart-wrenching. Mu Li's body convulsed violently under the electric shocks, his limbs stiff and tense, yet there was no sign of waking. His eyes remained tightly shut, his face as pale as a thin sheet of paper, and even his breathing had become increasingly faint, almost imperceptible. The curve on the heart rate monitor grew flatter, nearly becoming a straight line, while his blood pressure plummeted below critical levels. All vital signs were failing rapidly; everyone's heart was in their throat, and fine cold sweat seeped from their foreheads. Even more difficult was that Mu Li suffered from long-term lumbar spine injury compressing his nerves, compounded by chronic cardiopulmonary decline. During the resuscitation, he suffered a sudden onset of persistent ventricular fibrillation. His heartbeat was extremely weak and irregular, and standard energy defibrillation was ineffective. The doctor repeatedly adjusted the defibrillation energy and shocked him multiple times, but his heart rate would only recover briefly before falling back into a near-death state—long-term wear and tear had left his myocardial tolerance extremely poor, making conventional defibrillation protocols ineffective.

"Prepare 1mg of epinephrine, intravenous injection! Increase the infusion dosage of crystalloid fluid, and continue chest compressions!" the attending physician roared, his voice full of unwillingness, urgency, and a hint of undisguisable gravity. "Pay attention to the compression depth of 5-6 cm and a frequency of 100-120 beats per minute. Do not stop! He has long-term myocardial fatigue and extremely low sensitivity to epinephrine. We can increase the subsequent dose to 1.5 mg. Also, prepare 150mg of amiodarone; dilute it and administer it slowly via intravenous push to counter the persistent ventricular fibrillation!" He had never seen a patient so tenacious yet so fragile—clearly, his body was riddled with holes, having encountered multiple severe injuries and crises, yet he always managed to burst forth with astonishing resilience in desperate situations. But this time, Mu Li's body was already overdrawn to the extreme. Chronic hidden ailments had erupted completely, compounded by multi-organ dysfunction caused by excessive fatigue, making the resuscitation difficulty far exceed expectations. The nurses executed the orders with quick hands and feet. The nurse responsible for chest compressions had sore arms and numb fingertips in less than ten minutes, yet did not dare to pause for a second. In the mere 2-second gap during the relay change, Mu Li's heart rate would slide again, nearing a stop several times. Worse still, due to long-term bed rest and weak respiratory muscle strength, Mu Li developed symptoms of acute respiratory failure. With increased airway secretions, emergency tracheal intubation was needed to assist breathing. However, his throat muscles were abnormally stiff due to nerve compression, making laryngoscope exposure difficult. It took two repeated attempts to successfully intubate. During this time, his heart rate once completely hit zero, and the medical staff simultaneously administered electric defibrillation, only just managing to pull him back from the hands of death.

Just as the epinephrine was injected into Mu Li's body, a faint, current-like "buzzing" sound suddenly echoed from deep within his mind, breaking the boundless darkness and silence. Immediately after, a cold, emotionless mechanical voice, after months of silence, echoed once again, clearly entering Mu Li's consciousness:

[Energy detection in progress... Remaining energy 0.01%, triggering emergency restart mechanism...]

[Restart progress 10%... 30%... 70%... 100%... Emergency restart successful.]

[Host's vital signs are on the verge of collapse; initiating emergency life support program, prioritizing the allocation of remaining energy to repair core organ function...]

Mu Li's consciousness had originally been immersed in a boundless darkness, cold and heavy, as if trapped tightly by the water pressure of the deep sea. He didn't even have the strength to struggle, and even breathing felt difficult. He could clearly feel his life slipping away bit by bit, wanting to grasp something but unable to catch anything. But as the mechanical voice sounded, a weak yet warm energy suddenly spread from deep within his mind, flowing slowly through his limbs and bones. His heart, which had been on the verge of stopping, suddenly gave a slight palpitation, and the coldness and weakness of his body eased slightly.

Inside the Intensive Care Unit, the curve on the heart rate monitor suddenly flickered weakly, then slowly climbed back to around 60 beats per minute. His breathing also became a bit steadier, though still weak, requiring the ventilator for support, and his blood oxygen saturation gradually climbed back to 85%. A flash of relief from surviving a disaster crossed the doctors' eyes, yet they dared not relax in the slightest. Their tone was full of excitement yet gravity: "There's a response! Heart rate and blood oxygen are both recovering! Continue maintaining the intravenous amiodarone pump, adjust the ventilator parameters, increase the oxygen concentration, and closely monitor blood pressure and blood oxygen saturation. Record vital signs every 5 minutes. Once ventricular fibrillation recurs, adjust the treatment plan immediately!" Everyone dared not rest, continuing to stand guard by the hospital bed, monitoring all vital signs in real-time, their fingertips still trembling slightly from tension—they all knew that this had only temporarily stabilized the situation. Mu Li's body was still in an extremely dangerous state; multi-organ function had not yet recovered, and there was a high risk of recurrent ventricular fibrillation and pulmonary infection. This battle against death was far from over.

[Vital signs initially stabilized, remaining energy 0.005%. Initiating system self-check program to investigate the cause of long-term dormancy...]

The cold mechanical voice sounded again in Mu Li's consciousness. This time, accompanied by a series of data streams, it was clear and orderly. Mu Li's consciousness gradually became a bit clearer. He "looked" blankly at the void of darkness before him, his heart filled with shock and confusion—this is... the system?

He had almost forgotten about this existence. From the initial kidnapping, imprisonment, and torture, to later dragging his scarred body to the project site to repair the core reactor, and then to being discharged for recuperation, encountering new crises, and dragging his broken body to hold his post—through these long dozens of chapters, the system seemed to have vanished into thin air. It had never appeared again, given no prompts, and provided no help. He had even thought that this mysterious system had left completely, or had failed for some reason, and would never appear again.

[Self-check program complete. Reasons for dormancy are as follows: 1. In the early stages, the host encountered extreme situations such as severe injuries, infections, and starvation multiple times. To maintain the host's basic vital signs, the system consumed excessive energy. Energy reserves dropped below the critical value three months ago, entering a forced dormancy state; 2. During forced dormancy, the system automatically activated an energy recovery mechanism, but recovery efficiency was extremely low, only able to absorb trace amounts of energy from the host's daily activities and environment, until this time when the host's vital signs were on the verge of collapse, triggering the emergency restart protocol and consuming the last of the energy reserves to complete the restart; 3. Supplementary explanation: The system is deeply bound to the host's vital signs. When the host's vital signs are below the threshold, the system prioritizes ensuring the host's survival rather than activating functional modules.]

The mechanical voice broadcasted in an orderly manner, every word clearly entering Mu Li's consciousness. Only then did Mu Li understand that the system had not abandoned him, but had been silently guarding his life in places he could not see. The many desperate situations where he had faced death might not have been just due to his own tenacity and persistence, but also the silent support and protection of the system behind the scenes. It was just that the system's energy was limited; to keep him alive, it had to enter forced dormancy, stopping all external functions and no longer issuing any prompts.

[Current system status: Emergency restart mode, retaining only three core functions: life monitoring, energy recovery, and basic information analysis. All other functional modules are in a locked state. Unlock condition: Energy reserves reach 10% or above.]

[Detected severe bodily damage to host: Herniated disc at L3-L5 lumbar segments with nerve compression, mild cardiopulmonary decline, chronic headaches, multiple soft tissue strains throughout the body, and pulling pain from scars on the back. Recommendation: Stop all high-intensity activities immediately, undergo systematic treatment and rest, and supplement with high-energy, high-nutrient food to promote physical recovery.]

[part:gemini-3.0-flash]

Mu Li's consciousness trembled slightly in the darkness. He finally understood the true state of his body; it was even more severe than the doctor had described. Every injury tormented him, and every movement brought immense pain. But he couldn't fall. Li Mo was still on the run, the plots of the Overseas Forces were ongoing, the nuclear fusion power station project still needed him, and the comrades who stood fast by his side needed him. He carried the core interests of the nation and the safety of countless people on his shoulders. He remembered Zhang Hongyuan's exhausted but firm gaze, the silhouettes of the technicians staying up late to troubleshoot hidden dangers, Old Wang's regretful tears, and Chen Ming's helpless look. A warm current welled up in his heart, mixed with deep guilt—guilt for failing to protect those around him, and guilt for not being able to crush the Overseas Forces' conspiracy faster due to his physical condition. Yet, this guilt ultimately transformed into a more resolute strength. He silently told himself in his heart that no matter how much pain he had to endure, or how many times he had to gamble with the Reaper, as long as he had a single breath left, he would never give up. He had to live well, recover as quickly as possible, catch Li Mo personally, root out all the lackeys of the Overseas Forces, thoroughly crush their conspiracy, and safeguard this hard-won peace and the nation's core energy defense line. He would not fail his comrades' trust, the nation's entrustment, or the sense of responsibility and perseverance etched into his bones over the years. Even if he had to rush into danger with a broken body in the future, even if he had to fight against pain time and again, he would never retreat. Only by giving his all could he protect the mountains and rivers and ensure the safety of his comrades.

[Detected strong host consciousness fluctuations; emotional state is highly tense. It is recommended to calm your mind and reduce consciousness consumption to cooperate with the life support program in repairing the body.] The system's mechanical voice sounded again. It was still cold, but inexplicably carried a trace of imperceptible "concern," as if it were following the core protocol bound to the host, or perhaps quietly touched by this firm will that transcended pain. Mu Li closed his eyes, his consciousness slowly settling in the darkness. He tried to follow the system's suggestion to calm his mind, but scenes of the project site, the hidden dangers of Li Mo's escape, and the exhausted yet steadfast figures of his comrades still couldn't help but surface in his mind. The responsibility etched into his bones ultimately made it impossible for him to truly let go of his tense nerves.

[Warning: Host's emotions remain tense, energy consumption is accelerating. Remaining energy will drop below 0.001%, and the effectiveness of the life support program will significantly diminish.] The system's warning sounded immediately, carrying an unquestionable coldness. [Host, please relax immediately; otherwise, the stability of core organs cannot be maintained, triggering another life crisis.] Mu Li's heart jolted. He knew clearly that his current stubbornness would not only fail the system's emergency treatment but also disappoint everyone around him who cared for and relied on him. He took a deep breath and tried to clear his mind, temporarily suppressing all his worries. He allowed that weak but warm energy to flow slowly through his limbs and bones, nourishing his body that was on the verge of exhaustion and repairing damaged organs and nerves. The stabbing pain in his waist and the pulling pain in his back seemed to ease slightly under the shroud of this energy.

Outside the Intensive Care Unit, Zhang Hongyuan remained on the bench, his eyes fixed on the tightly closed door. His fatigue was almost enough to crush him, yet he refused to move even a step. A young technician silently accompanied him, handing him a warm lunch box again without further persuasion, just quietly staying with him, waiting together for news of Mu Li waking up. The lights in the corridor were soft, but they couldn't dispel the heaviness in the air. The "beeping" of the equipment operating pierced through the door; every sound felt like a knock on Zhang Hongyuan's heart, carrying all his worries and expectations. He took out his phone and looked at the real-time report from the project site on the screen—the equipment was running normally, the anti-interference system showed no abnormalities, Hengxin Technology's investigation was continuing, and International Law Enforcement Organizations had also increased their efforts to hunt down Li Mo, blocking all possible smuggling channels. Everything was progressing toward stability, but beneath this stability, unknown dangers still lurked.

"Engineer Mu, you must wake up," Zhang Hongyuan murmured in a low, raspy voice, with a hint of a sob. "The project still needs you, we still need you. Li Mo hasn't been caught, and the Overseas Forces' conspiracy hasn't been crushed. You can't just fall like this. Don't worry, I will definitely guard the project and our position. When you wake up, we will root out all the lackeys together and protect the nation's core interests. I won't fail your entrustment." His words were very light, but they carried an incredibly firm determination, like a promise to Mu Li and a way to encourage himself.

Inside the ward, Mu Li's consciousness gradually stabilized, his breathing became more even, and the curve on the heart rate monitor slowly settled within the normal range. His blood oxygen saturation continued to rise, and his vital signs finally escaped the critical state, gradually stabilizing. That weak energy continued to flow slowly within his body. The system's mechanical voice sounded again, its tone returning to its usual coldness, but with less warning and more stability: [Host's vital signs are stabilizing. The life support program continues to run. Remaining energy 0.001%. Entering low-power mode, initiating slow energy recovery, prioritizing self-consumption replenishment.]

Mu Li's consciousness gradually blurred, not because of a life crisis, but because of physical exhaustion and the system's soothing. He ultimately couldn't resist the long-term high-intensity consumption and the torment of pain, falling into a deep sleep. The moment before he drifted off, he made a silent promise in his heart: when he woke up and recovered, he would personally catch Li Mo, thoroughly crush the Overseas Forces' conspiracy, protect the safety of the project, his comrades, and the mountains and rivers he desperately guarded with his broken body. He would not fail the nation's trust, the system's protection, or his own unwavering original intention and sense of responsibility.

Outside the window, the rain had stopped at some point. The heavy clouds gradually dispersed, and a sliver of faint moonlight filtered through the window, gently falling on Mu Li's pale face, as if casting a gentle halo over this broken yet incredibly resilient body. The "beeping" of the equipment was still monotonous, but it was no longer ear-piercing; instead, it carried a rhythm of hope. The silence in the ward was no longer suffocating, replaced by a silent perseverance and expectation.

Zhang Hongyuan heard the doctor's soft announcement from inside the ward, learning that Mu Li's vital signs had stabilized. He finally couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief. His tense nerves relaxed instantly, his eyes grew hot, and tears almost burst forth. He raised his hand to rub his bloodshot eyes and picked up the warm lunch box, not refusing for the first time. He ate in small bites, knowing he had to take good care of himself to better assist Mu Li after he woke up and to hold the position they guarded together.

As the night deepened, the lights of the ICU remained on, guarding the sleeping Mu Li on the bed. In the corridor, Zhang Hongyuan still waited on the bench, his gaze gentle and firm as he looked toward the ward. At the project site, technical and security personnel remained at their posts, closely monitoring every piece of equipment for any hidden dangers. In the distance, the pursuit by International Law Enforcement Organizations continued, all to bring Li Mo to justice and crush the Overseas Forces' conspiracy.

The struggle with the Reaper had temporarily ended in Mu Li's narrow victory, but the game with the Overseas Forces was far from over. Mu Li, dragging his broken body, had fallen into a deep sleep under the system's silent protection and the sincere expectations of his comrades. He was building up his strength, waiting for the moment he would wake up, waiting to rush back to the battlefield, using his perseverance and responsibility to continue the oath of "Protecting the Mountains and Rivers with a Resilient but Broken Body." And those guarding him and the project were also standing fast, walking side by side with him, using the collective strength of their hearts to build a solid defense line for the nation's core energy, quietly waiting for the clear sky after the storm, and waiting for Mu Li to wake up and set out on the journey once more.