I Am Immortal in Great Yu

Chapter 145: Chapter 63: No Descendants

”But Seventh and Eighth Grade Martial Artists only get a slight fever, and they’re fine afterward.”

’Does this mean the epidemic isn’t very deadly? I’m not afraid, but Mom, Third Sister, Ling’Er, and Nannan are all ordinary people!’

How could Fang Rui not be worried?

It was no wonder he felt such immense killing intent toward the Lin Family of Changshan City!

”Alright, Brother Fang, I just came over to inform you of this. I have to head back now. There’s no telling what orders might come down from above...”

”Brother Jiang, wait!”

Fang Rui stopped Jiang Ping’an and went into the house. He returned a moment later with a stack of simple masks made from double-layered silk cloth, as well as some Insect-Repelling Medicine Pouches. ”These are Insect-Repelling Medicine Pouches. No need for a long explanation; just wear them on your person like a sachet.”

”As for this, it’s called a ’mask.’ You wear it on your face like this...”

He said, demonstrating, ”The extras are for your wife, nephew, and niece. Consider it a small gesture from me!”

Fang Rui was naturally familiar with the plague. Its main routes of transmission were airborne, via rat fleas, and through direct contact.

Transmission by contact was relatively easy to prevent; the main concerns were the latter two—airborne transmission and transmission via rat fleas. The masks and Insect-Repelling Medicine Pouches could provide targeted prevention against those.

He had whipped up these little gadgets yesterday after hearing the news, in the time between dinner and bed. He hadn’t expected them to actually come in handy.

”Brother Fang, with a friendship like ours, I won’t waste words on thanks. I’m off! Take care!”

Jiang Ping’an turned and strode away.

...

After seeing Jiang Ping’an off,

Fang Rui returned to the house, shared the news of the plague, and distributed the masks and Insect-Repelling Medicine Pouches to Mrs. Xue of the Fang Family, Third Lady, Fang Ling, and Nannan, telling them to wear them.

To his surprise, neither Mrs. Xue of the Fang Family, Third Lady, nor the two little girls, Fang Ling and Nannan, showed any signs of panic.

The two little girls were one thing—they didn’t understand the gravity of the situation. But Mrs. Xue of the Fang Family and Third Lady...

’Hey, this is a plague, you know! Could you be a little more concerned?!’

Grumbling to himself, Fang Rui asked aloud, ”Mom, Third Sister, how can you be so calm?”

”Huh? Brother Rui, didn’t you say so yourself? As long as we don’t go outside and we have these masks and insect-repelling pouches for protection, what is there to be afraid of?” Mrs. Xue of the Fang Family said matter-of-factly.

”That’s right, Brother Rui!”

Third Lady brought him a basin of water to wash his face and said with a gentle smile, ”We have you here at home. As long as you’re here, no matter what happens, we feel at ease and aren’t afraid.”

In the past, Fang Rui’s calm and cautious demeanor had given them immense confidence. It had gradually become a habit: as long as he, their pillar of support, was present, they felt fearless.

”This... You have a little too much faith in me.”

Fang Rui shook his head with a wry smile. Now that he understood, his heart only felt heavier.

’Besides their trust in me, it’s also that Mom and Third Sister might be somewhat mentally prepared, but they still don’t grasp how serious this is!’

He knew just how devastating a real plague could be. In his past life, even a vast, powerful nation could be brought to its knees by one. In an era like this, the phrase from the history books, ’not a cock-crow for a thousand li,’ was no mere figure of speech!

’Unlike before, this time there’s no tangible enemy. I have all this power, but it’s useless... This is a war without smoke or fire!’

To be honest, Fang Rui didn’t have much confidence himself, so he suggested, ”Mom, Third Sister, why don’t we leave Changshan City?”

”As for Dad, it’s basically confirmed that he’s not in Changshan City anyway. We can go somewhere else and continue asking around for news of him. It makes no difference.”

Third Lady wasn’t sure how to respond to this, so she looked toward Mrs. Xue of the Fang Family.

”Alright.” Mrs. Xue of the Fang Family thought for a moment before agreeing.

She trusted Fang Rui’s judgment. Events had proven his foresight time and time again.

Hearing that both Mrs. Xue of the Fang Family and Third Lady agreed, Fang Rui felt a sense of relief. ’I just hope it’s not too late to leave!’

...

After breakfast, Fang Rui hurried out the door.

「Not long after.」

He returned to Willow Alley with a grim look on his face. Someone in the caravan leaving Changshan City had fallen ill. They couldn’t leave; the departure was delayed.

Needless to say, under these circumstances, he wouldn’t dare travel with that caravan even if it were leaving.

And what about leaving on their own, without a caravan?

In a year of such severe drought, the lands outside were teeming with refugees and bandits. To leave in such a hurry, with no caravan to guide them and no one to watch their backs... The consequences were unthinkable.

It was better to stay in Changshan City with Mrs. Xue of the Fang Family, Third Lady, Fang Ling, and Nannan.

At least if they stayed in the city, they wouldn’t necessarily get sick. Even if they did, with Fang Rui’s Medical Skill and the herbs stockpiled in the cellar, they would likely be fine.

And if worst came to worst, he could always add more points to his Medical Skill.

He returned home.

Before going inside, Fang Rui used his Dark Force to ’disinfect’ himself. Only then did he enter, his face etched with worry, to deliver the news that they couldn’t leave.

”Brother Rui, if we can’t leave, then we won’t leave,” Third Lady said, sensing his distress. She quietly took his hand to comfort him.

”That’s right. It’s okay. As long as our family is together, we have nothing to fear.”

A mother knows her son best. Mrs. Xue of the Fang Family shook her head and smiled gently at Fang Rui. ”Brother Rui, it’s true that we believe in you, but don’t put such a heavy burden on your own shoulders. Whatever happens, we’ll face it together. We may not be able to help much, but we can certainly share in the hardship...”

”And us!”

Fang Ling, holding Nannan’s hand, squeezed in closer with her.

The brilliant gold of the morning sun streamed through the condensation-kissed window, casting a lovely silhouette. The five shadows huddled together, swaying gently on the ancient, mottled yellow-mud wall.

...