I Am Immortal in Great Yu

Chapter 151: Chapter 65: Retribution (3)

Ordinarily, the plague is extremely difficult to detect during its incubation period.

But Fang Rui possessed Dark Force, and with the heightened perception granted by his Power, he was sharp enough to spot the subtle differences between those in the incubation stage and healthy individuals, allowing him to identify them.

In other words, he was essentially a human detector.

’Of course, to accomplish this, one’s Medical Skill would have to be at Mastery Level or higher. You’d also need to be a Dark Force expert—even Sixth Grade Enlightenment wouldn’t be enough!’

Sixth Grade Enlightenment produces Bright Force, which is fierce and domineering. Dark Force, in contrast, is hidden and gentle. As long as it isn’t detonated, it won’t unleash its destructive power and can be used as a probing tendril to enter a patient’s body.

Fang Rui naturally wouldn’t reveal his discovery. He only said, ”Uncle Zao Hua, Xiang Lin’s wife, you were with Ah Huai, so it’s highly likely you’ve also been infected. Fortunately, it’s still in the incubation period and hasn’t broken out yet.”

”You two should also drink a bowl of this medicine. After drinking it, you’ll probably run a slight fever. This is normal. You just have to get through it.”

Their situation was very different from Ah Huai’s.

They were adults, and their infections were in the incubation stage. Ah Huai, however, was just a child, and his illness had already reached the acute phase. In a way, it was already a bit late for him.

If Uncle Zao Hua and Xiang Lin’s wife had an eighty to ninety percent chance of being fine, then Ah Huai’s chance of recovery was only forty to fifty percent.

”Alright, if Ah Huai’s condition improves, come and let me know... I’m off!”

Fang Rui didn’t stay long. After doing all this, he left amidst the profuse thanks of Uncle Zao Hua and Xiang Lin’s wife.

Afterward, he didn’t go straight back. Instead, he went to Third Lady’s house next door. There, he used a dual-disinfection method with Dark Force and a special medicinal powder to scrub himself down and change into a fresh set of clothes.

Only after ensuring everything was clear did he return.

...

Uncle Dashen’s house and Uncle Zao Hua’s house were not far from each other.

While Fang Rui was at Uncle Zao Hua’s house treating the sick, Uncle Dashen and his wife, who had been up tossing and turning because their son Da Muzi was ill, were startled awake in the middle of the night.

His wife happened to see Fang Rui from the window. ”Brother Rui of the Fang Family! He said he didn’t have any medicine during the day, but I think he just didn’t want to treat our Da Muzi on purpose. Look, he went to Zao Hua’s family!”

Uncle Dashen hurried over, glanced outside the window, and sighed, ”That’s true. Our family has no connection to the Fang Family, so it’s no wonder he wasn’t willing to take the risk. But Zao Hua’s family is different. They spoke up for the Fang Family back in the day...”

Anger, regret, jealousy, helplessness...

A torrent of emotions flooded his heart, giving rise to a dark and vicious thought: ’It would be best if this Brother Rui of the Fang Family fails to cure Zao Hua’s family. Even better if he gets infected himself, brings it back, and his whole family dies off. That would be great!’

...

「As dawn was breaking.」

Outside, Uncle Zao Hua, following Fang Rui’s instructions, had come over. He called through the window to inform Fang Rui that Ah Huai’s condition had stabilized. His high fever was gone, he wasn’t coughing anymore, and he was just a little weak.

After delivering the news, he was overwhelmed with gratitude and began to kowtow loudly.

’Looks like that prescription is quite effective.’

Fang Rui thought to himself, then said aloud, ”Alright, Uncle Zao Hua, please get up. It’s good that Ah Huai’s condition has stabilized. Uncle Zao Hua, you must keep this matter confidential!”

”Brother Rui, don’t you worry!”

Uncle Zao Hua said earnestly, ”I’ll take this matter to my grave. I won’t breathe a single word of it.”

He thought about the serious consequences if this got out, his mind racing through the possibilities: if word spread, Fang Rui might be taken away by the Rebel Army; then there was the issue of the medicinal ingredients...

”It’s not that serious,” Fang Rui said, shaking his head.

Even if word got out, it wouldn’t have a major impact. After all, it wasn’t unheard of for someone with a decent level of Medical Skill and a bit of luck to cure a patient or two.

As for the medicinal ingredients?

He had connections with a Rebel Army governmental officer, so keeping a small amount for himself was well within the rules.

Asking Uncle Zao Hua to keep it a secret was simply part of Fang Rui’s habit of keeping a low profile.

...

Coincidentally, because they had been up most of the night worrying about the sick Da Muzi, Uncle Dashen and his wife were up early and happened to see Uncle Zao Hua going to Fang Rui’s house.

With dark circles under his eyes, Uncle Dashen watched with a mixture of shock and suspicion as Uncle Zao Hua, a joyful expression on his face, headed toward the Fang Family’s home.

’Could it be? The sick one from Zao Hua’s family... has his condition stabilized? But how is that possible?! That’s the plague!’

’Shouldn’t it be Brother Rui of the Fang Family failing the treatment, getting infected himself, and his whole family dying off?’

As Uncle Dashen stewed in his jealousy and hatred, he suddenly felt a tickle in his throat. He subconsciously covered his mouth and coughed twice. When he opened his hand, he saw a gob of startlingly crimson, bloody phlegm.

”I’m infected?!” He felt the world spin.

Just then, a cry suddenly came from inside the house.

Uncle Dashen shook his head and rushed inside, only to see his wife clutching Da Muzi and weeping. ”Husband, Da Muzi... he’s not breathing!”

...

In stark contrast to the despair at Uncle Dashen’s house, where disaster was piled upon disaster, the atmosphere in the Fang Family’s home was light and cheerful.

After Fang Rui announced that he had cured Ah Huai, Mrs. Xue of the Fang Family and Third Lady were finally able to rest easy.

Although Fang Rui had said before that he could cure anyone in the family if they got sick, empty words could never be as convincing as a real-life example right in front of them.

With their hearts at ease, Mrs. Xue of the Fang Family and Third Lady had smiles on their faces as they went to the kitchen to make breakfast.

”Nannan, Ling’Er, come here!”

Fang Rui beckoned to the two little girls who had just woken up. He called them over, carefully extended his Dark Force, and after a thorough examination, he let out a sigh of relief.

’They’re all fine. It seems my preventive measures were quite effective after all.’

’If I keep up these strict precautions and regularly check on Mother, Third Sister, Ling’Er, and Nannan—a two-pronged approach—I might just get through this plague without needing to upgrade my Medical Skill.’

Fang Rui thought to himself.

It was early morning, and the sun was just rising. A soft, orange-red light streamed through the window. Bathed in the dawn glow, he gave a big stretch.

...