I Am Immortal in Great Yu

Chapter 150: Chapter 65: Retribution (2)

Mrs. Xue of the Fang Family’s stern facade lasted only a moment before crumbling. Tears welled up in her eyes. Fearing she would only strengthen Fang Rui’s resolve to leave, she choked back sobs and tried to persuade him gently, ”Brother Rui, I heard. Didn’t your Uncle Zao Hua ask for folk remedies and medicinal herbs? Just give them to him.”

”But you, you really don’t have to go. You can’t go!” She gripped Fang Rui’s wrist, her knuckles turning white from the force.

”That’s right, Brother Rui, just listen to your Auntie! Giving him some medicine is enough. There’s no need to put yourself in danger,” the Third Lady chimed in, also trying to persuade him.

’I’m not just doing this for Uncle Zao Hua’s family. I’m doing it for you all!’

Fang Rui didn’t say this out loud. If he were to tell them he was taking this risk for their sake, the two of them would probably try even harder to stop him.

He knew they were just worried about his safety. That was easy enough to handle—he just had to show them proof.

”Mother, Third Sister, don’t worry. I’m a Martial Artist, and not just an ordinary one!”

As Fang Rui spoke, he pulled his right hand free from the Third Lady’s grasp and pressed it toward the wall from a distance. With a soft HISS, a shower of dust rustled down from the yellow mud wall.

”Ah!”

Mrs. Xue of the Fang Family let out a low cry. Startled, she instinctively recoiled. She could see that his move was impressive, but she didn’t quite understand what it meant.

The Third Lady, however, was more worldly. She instinctively covered her mouth, her clear, beautiful eyes wide with shock. ”Brother Rui, you—you’re a Middle Grade Martial Artist?!”

She had struggled and made her way in the outside world, so she was quite knowledgeable. She had once entertained the idea of practicing martial arts herself, but without a Cultivation Technique or resources, she eventually gave up. Still, she knew more about Martial Artists than the average person.

”Third Sister, you have a good eye. That’s right, I’m already a Middle Grade Martial Artist!”

Fang Rui nodded and continued to explain, ”This plague isn’t actually that deadly. If a Ninth Grade Martial Artist gets sick, they’ll lose some Primordial Qi but can still pull through. Seventh and Eighth Grade Martial Artists will only get a slight fever.”

”And as for Middle Grade Martial Artists, I heard from Brother Jiang that they are completely unaffected.”

He strongly suspected that because Middle Grade Martial Artists undergo a qualitative change in their bodies, their vitality so abundant that they give birth to Power, an Extraordinary Power. The plague bacteria simply couldn’t invade their bodies. Or rather, if it did, it would be instantly eliminated by a Middle Grade Martial Artist’s powerful immune system.

Hearing Fang Rui’s explanation, Mrs. Xue of the Fang Family and the Third Lady, though still in shock, finally began to relax a little.

”When I return from treating the sick at Uncle Zao Hua’s house, I’ll use my Power and some medicinal powder to disinfect myself. Then I’ll wash up at Third Sister’s place and change my clothes. There’s no risk of bringing the plague back,” Fang Rui added.

Seeing how thoroughly he had prepared, Mrs. Xue of the Fang Family and the Third Lady finally, reluctantly, agreed. Still, they earnestly insisted he put on a mask and gloves, getting him fully geared up.

...

「Leaving the house.」

”Let’s go, Uncle Zao Hua. Sorry to keep you waiting!”

”Brother Rui, you...” Uncle Zao Hua tried to persuade him again.

”Uncle Zao Hua, I have my own plans. Besides, I’m already out here. You don’t expect me to go back in, do you?” Fang Rui said, waving his hand dismissively.

”Sigh! Brother Rui, I... I...”

Uncle Zao Hua stammered, knowing he owed the Fang Family an immense debt. He secretly made a vow: ’From now on, no matter what the Fang Family needs, I’ll do it without a second thought. Even if it means death, I won’t even frown!’

...

「Arriving at Uncle Zao Hua’s house.」

On the bed, Ah Huai was unconscious with a high fever, shivering violently. He would cough from time to time, even spitting up bloody phlegm.

Fang Rui performed a thorough examination, and his brow furrowed deeply.

Uncle Zao Hua and Xiang Lin’s wife stood to the side, watching nervously. Seeing Fang Rui’s frown, their hearts grew even more anxious. ”Brother Rui, how is he?” they asked uneasily.

”It’s a bit tricky!”

Fang Rui answered, making a silent judgment: ’With my Medical Skill, I can treat him, but I’m not entirely confident.’

This wasn’t the worst-case scenario, but it wasn’t the best, either.

So he said it plainly, ”I can’t guarantee a cure. In other words, it’s up to fate!”

”If Ah Huai’s own will to live is strong enough to pull through, that would be for the best. But if he can’t, the illness might rebound, and in that case, I’m afraid...”

Fang Rui shook his head, the rest of his words left unspoken.

”Uncle Zao Hua, Xiang Lin’s wife, what do you think? Should I treat him? Of course, it’s best to decide quickly. The longer we wait, the smaller the chance of recovery.”

”This...” Xiang Lin’s wife was still hesitating.

Uncle Zao Hua had already gritted his teeth. ”Treat him! Brother Rui, you do whatever you can. If he really can’t make it through this, then that’s just his fate!”

”Alright then.”

Fang Rui nodded, acting with swift decisiveness. ”I’ll go brew the medicine. You have honey here. Mix a bowl for Ah Huai to drink.”

To ensure precise control over the dosage of herbs and the brewing temperature, he always handled the tasks of mixing and brewing the medicine himself. He strove to perfectly calibrate the medicine’s potency for the greatest therapeutic effect.

「Less than an hour later.」

Ah Huai had drunk the honey water and regained a bit of consciousness. The medicine was also ready.

”Brother Ah Rui!”

Ah Huai woke up in a daze. He vaguely saw Fang Rui’s figure, and tears welled up in the corners of his eyes.

The feeling was like... seeing your idol by your side when you are at your most desperate, tormented by illness...

He subconsciously recalled the chicken and mushrooms from that one night. It was a memory etched deep in his mind, a ray of light that had pierced through his bleak life.

”Hang in there. You can get better,” Fang Rui encouraged him.

”Mmm!”

Ah Huai mumbled his agreement, his heart filled with trust for Fang Rui.

「After Ah Huai drank the medicine.」

Fang Rui went outside. ”Uncle Zao Hua, Xiang Lin’s wife, come over here. I’ll take your pulses as well.”

As he took their pulses, a sudden thought struck him, and a strange expression appeared on his face: ’I didn’t expect this, but coming here has brought an unexpected reward!’