Unraveling Evolution

In the golden October, with a clear sky and the sun about to reach its zenith, the city of Huang was quiet as if still in deep slumber.

A bird with a wingspan of nearly two meters descended gracefully, landing on the top of the prominent sign of the Quincy District Central Hospital. After surveying its surroundings, it was eventually drawn to a window on the side. Whether it appreciated the pigeon-like silhouette reflected on the glass or the scene beyond the glass, it lingered for a while. After intermittently making some unintelligible cooing sounds, it spread its wings and flew away.

In the Special Intensive Care Unit on the 23rd floor of the central hospital, a young patient lay on the bed. A medical record lay at his feet:

October 2, 2013, 14:23

Name: Miao Pu

Gender: Male

Age: 22

Date of Birth: July 7, 1991

Occupation: Second-year student at the School of Biological Science and Technology, Huang City Forestry University.

Chief Complaint: Bitten by a wolf on the left hand and left forearm, with 5 wounds. Mild damage to muscles and ligaments, no fractures detected. Mild infection with high fever.

Treatment: Disinfection and cleaning of wounds, suturing and bandaging, oral pain relief and anti-inflammatory drugs.

October 2, 2013, 17:49

Chief Complaint: Acute shock with high fever

Physical Examination: Temperature: 42°C, significant congestion of oral and pharyngeal mucosa, swelling of both palatine arches, bilateral tonsils enlarged to 11 degrees, pinpoint purulent secretion visible in the crypts, redness and swelling of lymphoid follicles on the posterior wall of the throat. The appearance of petechiae and ecchymosis on the skin, predominantly on the limbs, accompanied by profuse sweating.

Planned Examinations: Complete blood and urine analysis, comprehensive biochemistry, infection screening, chest X-ray, electrocardiogram, bacterial culture, and sensitivity testing if necessary.

Diagnosis and Differential Diagnosis: Unknown viral infection, urgent isolation, emergency life support.

Treatment: October 2, 2013, 18:00, urgent patient transfer as ordered by superiors, destination unknown.

...

The patient was covered in various tubes and colorful cables, and around the bed were more than ten types of instruments, some of which might not even be available in top medical research institutes.

However, despite the advanced equipment, none of it seemed to be in operation. All the instruments were idle, despite being properly connected to power sources; the indicator lights remained unlit.

The patient's body showed no signs of life. The room was so silent that his breathing couldn't be heard, and there were no visible chest movements. It seemed like he had long since died.

Suddenly, the patient opened his eyes. His gaze did not focus, and his expression was contorted, mouth wide open as if attempting to shout but seemed as if an invisible hand choked his throat, preventing any sound. His eyes quickly reddened, and his skin rapidly turned crimson. Veins protruded on his neck, temples, and forehead. Blood vessels and sinews became prominent, followed by spasmodic convulsions.

The extreme agony tortured the patient as if undergoing severe punishment. Bed sheets and patient gowns were soon soaked with sweat from relentless shivering. As time passed, there was no sign that the torment would stop or ease. The instinct for survival made the patient emit hoarse sounds involuntarily, but helplessly, he couldn't produce any volume. He could only rely on himself now, either to survive or perish.

Like someone suddenly given the chance to breathe after suffocation, the intense and sustained inhalation sounded like it came from the depths. "Huh... cough... woo..." In this prolonged process of inhaling, it seemed as if he had rekindled the flame of life, gaining vitality.

Struggling, Miao Pu sat up from the bed.

He appeared to want to say something, but the tube inserted into his mouth blocked his attempt. His eyes, now misty and confused, gradually focused.

The daylight outside penetrated through the gaps in the blinds, too glaring to look at. He squinted for a while before adjusting to the indoor lighting.

Shaking his head, he instinctively lifted his arm. A sudden stinging sensation helped clear his eyes further. Despite the gauze still covering his wounds, he sensed no discomfort.

Covered with various tubes and cables, Miao Pu observed them for a moment. Some were inserted into him, while others connected to machines. Among the high-tech medical instruments, none were operational. He felt thunderstruck.

With determination, he got off the bed, a look of bitter resentment as he gazed at the variety of mysterious instruments surrounding him. Murmuring to himself, he moved his left hand, discovering no abnormalities. Though the bandages remained, he instinctively felt they posed no significant problem.

Struggling to descend from the bed, Miao Pu was faced with two alarming discoveries.

Firstly, there was a thin tube inserted into his nether regions, attached to a bag filled with a golden liquid.

Secondly, his rectum was connected to another tube.

"Ugh, is this some kind of mistake?"

"Doctor, anyone there? Help!" Despite calling for help, no one answered. Determinedly, he summoned his courage, pulled himself together, and with a determined spirit, he reached for the tube attached to his posterior.

After a while, Miao Pu's expression transformed into one of dumbfounded shock. Attempting to pull out the thin tube from his posterior seemed feasible, but there appeared to be an obstruction preventing its removal.

"This can't be right. I was just bitten a few times by a wolf. Why the need for such an extensive setup?" Facing the multitude of strange instruments surrounding his bed, Miao Pu felt thoroughly bewildered. Complaining, he moved his left hand, finding no discomfort. Though the gauze hadn't been removed, he felt there was no significant issue.

Wrestling the tubes and cables off his body, he was soon drenched in sweat. Gasping like a dog, he realized two disturbing facts.

Firstly, there was a fine tube inserted into his genitals, connected to a bag containing a golden liquid.

Secondly, a tube was connected to his rectum.

"Ugh, is this some kind of mistake?"

"Doctor, is anyone there? Help!" Despite his calls for assistance, no one responded. With a determined mindset, he took hold of the tube connected to his posterior. After a while, Miao Pu's expression turned into one of dumbfounded shock. Attempting to remove the thin tube from his posterior seemed possible, but an obstruction prevented its extraction.

"This can't be right. I was just bitten a few times by a wolf. Why such an elaborate setup?"

Muttering to himself, he moved his left hand, feeling no discomfort. Though the gauze remained in place, instinctively, he believed there was no significant issue.

Struggling to get off the bed, he was met with two astonishing discoveries.

Firstly, a thin tube was inserted into his genitals, leading to a bag filled with a golden liquid.

Secondly, a tube was connected to his rectum.

"Uh, is this some kind of mistake?"

"Doctor, anyone there? Help!" Despite calling for assistance, no one answered. Summoning his courage, he grabbed the tube attached to his posterior. After a while, Miao Pu's expression transformed into one of dumbfounded shock. Attempting to pull out the thin tube from his posterior seemed feasible, but there appeared to be an obstruction preventing its removal.

"This can't be right. I was just bitten a few times by a wolf. Why the need for such an extensive setup?" Facing the multitude of strange instruments surrounding his bed, Miao Pu felt thoroughly bewildered. Complaining, he moved his left hand, finding no discomfort. Though the gauze hadn't been removed, he felt there was no significant issue.

Wrestling the tubes and cables off his body, he was soon drenched in sweat. Gasping like a dog, he realized two disturbing facts.

Firstly, there was a fine tube inserted into his genitals, connected to a bag containing a golden liquid.

Secondly, a tube was connected to his rectum.

"Ugh, is this some kind of mistake?"

"Doctor, is anyone there? Help!" Despite his calls for assistance, no one responded. With a determined mindset, he took hold of the tube connected to his posterior. After a while, Miao Pu's expression turned into one of dumbfounded shock. Attempting to remove the thin tube from his posterior seemed possible, but an obstruction prevented its extraction.

"This can't be right. I was just bitten a few times by a wolf. Why such an elaborate setup?"

Muttering to himself, he moved his left hand, feeling no discomfort. Though the gauze remained in place, instinctively, he believed there was no significant issue.

Struggling to get off the bed, he was met with two astonishing discoveries.

Firstly, a thin tube was inserted into his genitals, leading to a bag filled with a golden liquid.

Secondly, a tube was connected to his rectum.

"Uh, is this some kind of mistake?"

"Doctor, anyone there? Help!" Despite calling for assistance, no one answered. Summoning his courage, he grabbed the tube attached to his posterior. After a while, Miao Pu's expression transformed into one of dumbfounded shock. Attempting to pull out the thin tube from his posterior seemed feasible, but there appeared to be an obstruction preventing its removal.

"This can't be right. I was just bitten a few times by a wolf. Why the need for such an extensive setup?" Facing the multitude of strange instruments surrounding his bed, Miao Pu felt thoroughly bewildered. Complaining, he moved his left hand, finding no discomfort. Though the gauze hadn't been removed, he felt there was no significant issue.

Wrestling the tubes and cables off his body, he was soon drenched in sweat. Gasping like a dog, he realized two disturbing facts.

Firstly, there was a fine tube inserted into his genitals, connected to a bag containing a golden liquid.

Secondly, a tube was connected to his rectum.

"Ugh, is this some kind of mistake?"

"Doctor, is anyone there? Help!" Despite his calls for assistance, no one responded. With a determined mindset, he took hold of the tube connected to his posterior. After a while, Miao Pu's expression turned into one of dumbfounded shock. Attempting to remove the thin tube from his posterior seemed possible, but an obstruction prevented its extraction.

"This can't be right. I was just bitten a few times by a wolf. Why such an elaborate setup?"

Muttering to himself, he moved his left hand, feeling no discomfort. Though the gauze remained in place, instinctively, he believed there was no significant issue.

Struggling to get off the bed, he was met with two astonishing discoveries.

Firstly, a thin tube was inserted into his genitals, leading to a bag filled with a golden liquid.

Secondly, a tube was connected to his rectum.

"Uh, is this some kind of mistake?"

"Doctor, anyone there? Help!" Despite calling for assistance, no one answered. Summoning his courage, he grabbed the tube attached to his posterior. After a while, Miao Pu's expression transformed into one of dumbfounded shock. Attempting to pull out the thin tube from his posterior seemed feasible, but there appeared to be an obstruction preventing its removal.

"This can't be right. I was just bitten a few times by a wolf. Why the need for such an extensive setup?" Facing the multitude of strange instruments surrounding his bed, Miao Pu felt thoroughly bewildered. Complaining, he moved his left hand, finding no discomfort. Though the gauze hadn't been removed, he felt there was no significant issue.

Wrestling the tubes and cables off his body, he was soon drenched in sweat. Gasping like a dog, he realized two disturbing facts.

Firstly, there was a fine tube inserted into his genitals, connected to a bag containing a golden liquid.

Secondly, a tube was connected to his rectum.

"Ugh, is this some kind of mistake?"

"Doctor, is anyone there? Help!" Despite his calls for assistance, no one responded. With a determined mindset, he took hold of the tube connected to his posterior. After a while, Miao Pu's expression turned into one of dumbfounded shock. Attempting to remove the thin tube from his posterior seemed possible, but an obstruction prevented its extraction.

"This can't be right. I was just bitten a few times by a wolf. Why such an elaborate setup?"

Muttering to himself, he moved his left hand, feeling no discomfort. Though the gauze remained in place, instinctively, he believed there was no significant issue.

Struggling to get off the bed, he was met with two astonishing discoveries.

Firstly, a thin tube was inserted into his genitals, leading to a bag filled with a golden liquid.

Secondly, a tube was connected to his rectum.

"Uh, is this some kind of mistake?"

"Doctor, doctor... Is anyone there? Help!" Despite calling for help for a long time, there was no sign of anyone. Gathering his courage, Miao Pu decided to take matters into his own hands. He clenched his teeth and pulled at the tube behind him, and, lo and behold, it seemed like it could be pulled out.

After a while, Miao Pu's expression resembled someone who had been insulted. His cheeks were crimson, sweat formed on his nose, and his breath quickened. If his expression had a bit of coquetry, it might easily lead to certain thoughts. However...

He currently supported himself with both hands on the edge of the bed, raising his well-shaped buttocks. His facial features, unusually close, emitted heavy breaths and whimpering sounds from his nasal cavity.

Miao Pu frowned, staring fixedly at the small tube inserted on his brother's head, as if contemplating something. After a while, he furrowed his brows, adopting a heroic demeanor, and gently touched his brother's private part. "Brother, I'm sorry..."

Wishes are always beautiful, but reality is often cruel. Accompanied by trembling moans and whimpering sounds, he gave up on the idea of pulling out the thin tube. It seemed to be stuck, and he couldn't remove it.

"Is this necessary? Just a few bites from a wolf, and they go to such lengths?" Faced with the various instruments around his bed, some of which he couldn't guess the purpose of, Miao Pu felt thoroughly shocked. Grumbling to himself, he moved his left hand, finding no discomfort. Although the bandage hadn't been removed, he instinctively felt there was no significant issue.

Struggling to get off the bed, he, with a face full of bitterness and resentment, looked at the tray with the bag filled with liquid. "Urinary catheter? Ugh..." After a helpless sigh, he pinched the edge and picked up the bag, observing. Upon discovering a twistable stopper at the end of the bag, he headed straight for the bathroom.

Sniffing the hospital's air, rich with indescribable odors, he walked towards the window intending to open it for some fresh air, but...

Miao Pu was stunned. The scene that met his eyes from the window was an empty street, chaotic and dilapidated shops, vehicles scattered in all directions, and distant buildings shrouded in black smoke...

"What in the world is going on..." Muttering to himself, Miao Pu's brain instantly froze.

The city seemed to have experienced some kind of catastrophe, accompanied by a deadly silence. At this moment, the city appeared as if it had died, eerily quiet.

When Miao Pu finally came to his senses from the shock, after rummaging through cabinets and causing a commotion, unfortunately...

Firstly, this damn hospital room was not the one he remembered. The monk's robe with blue stripes on a white background, worn loosely, was his only covering, not to mention personal belongings.

Secondly, once the drowsiness from just waking up dissipated, a strong sense of hunger assaulted every nerve. Waves of cold sweat emerged, and symptoms of hypoglycemia became evident. After emptying the water cooler into his mouth, aside from partially filling the bag wrapped in gauze around his thigh, he remained just as hungry.

Lastly, when he looked in the mirror, he discovered a person. After repeatedly confirming it was himself, he was dumbfounded...

Thick, glossy black beard and rough sideburns that should have had no connection to smooth or elastic somehow appeared so. Undoing the monk's robe, V-