kvmb Chapter 336
Chapter 336
To quickly determine the cause of the illness, the two decisively decided to split up. Wan'er, with her keen observation and intelligence, ventured into the wealthy family's kitchen, meticulously examining all the ingredients and carefully scrutinizing each dish and seasoning. Meanwhile, Ye Jiuchen nimbly went to the well near the poor family's home, conducting a thorough investigation of the well water.
Ye Jiuchen repeatedly observed and tested the well, but found nothing unusual about the water. However, his keen eyes spotted a strange powder residue near the well, its color dark, its particles fine, and its pungent odor unpleasant. Meanwhile, Wan'er's investigation at the wealthy household yielded a significant discovery: she detected a similar strange smell in the tonics commonly used by the rich.
After thorough investigation and meticulous reasoning, they finally uncovered the ugly truth behind the epidemic. It turned out that unscrupulous merchants, in pursuit of exorbitant profits, had heartlessly sold inferior medicinal materials to the wealthy at high prices, while secretly dumping the remaining residue near wells in poor areas in an attempt to cover up their evil deeds.
Upon learning the truth, the two were filled with righteous indignation and anger, but they knew that their immediate priority was to quickly prepare an antidote and save the city's inhabitants. Suppressing their anger, they relied on their profound medical knowledge and rich practical experience to carefully concoct an effective prescription using common medicinal herbs. They then tirelessly distributed the medicine free of charge throughout the city and patiently instructed patients on how to use it.
Thanks to their tireless efforts, the patients' conditions gradually improved, and the number of recoveries increased daily. As the sick people recovered one after another, the city finally began to regain its former liveliness and vitality. The streets were once again filled with laughter and joy, and the markets returned to their usual bustling state.
As the first rays of sunlight gently bathed the earth, casting long, slender shadows of Wan'er and Ye Jiuchen, they didn't linger for a moment. They resolutely turned, facing the rising sun, and marched towards the unknown distance. Their receding figures revealed unwavering determination and resolve, as if declaring to the land that their mission extended far beyond this.
The road beneath their feet was rugged and uneven, and the scenery on both sides grew increasingly desolate, yet their gazes never wavered. Finally, a remote town came into view. A thin layer of mist hung over the town, adding an eerie, deathly atmosphere to the entire place. Every house was tightly shut, as if resisting some unknown fear. The moment they stepped into the town, the sounds of painful coughs gripped their hearts like sharp hooks.
Without hesitation, Wan'er and Ye Jiuchen immediately threw themselves into investigating the epidemic. They visited each household, carefully examining the symptoms of every patient. The patients were covered in horrifying red rashes, the vibrant red like demonic marks, striking and grotesque. High fevers had turned their cheeks flushed, their cracked lips constantly exhaling hot breath, and they frequently babbled incoherently, as if their minds had been corrupted by an evil force.
In order to find the cause of the illness, they did not let go of any possible clues. They carefully drew a bucket of water from the village well, carefully observed the color and smell of the water, and even scooped up a handful to taste it, trying to find any abnormality in the water; they also checked the food in the villagers' homes one by one, from moldy dry food to pickled vegetables, smelling each item carefully and repeatedly rubbing it in their palms to observe its texture.
Days passed, but the cause of the illness remained a mystery, and the anxiety in Wan'er and Ye Jiuchen's hearts grew thicker and thicker like dark clouds. Then one night, the moonlight, like water, draped the earth in a silver veil. Ye Jiuchen, his brow furrowed with worry as he paced through the town in thought, was suddenly struck by a black cat that darted into an abandoned house like a black lightning bolt. A thought struck Ye Jiuchen, and with a mixture of curiosity and doubt, he slowly approached the house.
He gently pushed open the rickety door, and a stench of decay assaulted his nostrils, making it almost impossible to breathe. By the moonlight, he peered inside and saw a pile of strange-looking herbs. Their leaves were an eerie deep purple, edged with serrated thorns, and their stems oozed a foul-smelling sap. Intertwined together, they looked like evil creatures that had sprung from the depths of hell. Ye Jiuchen, with his extensive knowledge and experience, carefully examined them and was horrified. If these herbs were mixed together, they would produce a deadly toxin, enough to make anyone sick.
After a thorough investigation, a horrifying truth came to light. It turned out that a wicked and malicious pharmacist was plotting to conduct inhumane human experiments here to satisfy his twisted thirst for knowledge and insatiable ambition.
Wan'er and Ye Jiuchen were furious and determined to immediately prepare an antidote to save the innocent villagers. Using their superb medical skills and profound understanding of pharmacology, they busied themselves in a simple hut. The sound of grinding herbs rustled, and the liquid in the medicine pot gurgled and bubbled, emitting a bitter medicinal aroma.
However, just as the antidote was about to be completed, the evil pharmacist, unwilling to let his plot be exposed, launched a sneak attack like a ghost. Sensing the danger, Ye Jiuchen stepped forward without hesitation, engaging the pharmacist in a breathtaking battle. The pharmacist's eyes gleamed with madness and ferocity, wielding a sharp dagger, each move deadly. Although Ye Jiuchen was agile, he was momentarily careless and was slashed on the arm by the pharmacist's dagger, blood instantly staining his sleeve.
Seeing this, Wan'er was frantic with worry, but she remained calm. Her eyes instantly hardened with composure and determination, and her mind raced through various medical techniques. Suddenly, a brilliant idea struck her—to fight poison with poison. She swiftly retrieved several highly toxic but mutually antagonistic herbs from the room, cleverly combined them, and then, catching the apothecary off guard, hurled them at him. The herbs scattered in the air, transforming into a cloud of poisonous mist. The apothecary, unable to dodge in time, inhaled it and was immediately paralyzed, temporarily losing his ability to move.
Taking advantage of the situation, Wan'er helped the injured Ye Jiuchen to his feet and hurriedly fled the town. In a secluded mountain cave, Wan'er carefully tended to Ye Jiuchen's injuries. She meticulously cleaned his wounds and applied herbal medicine, her eyes filled with concern and self-reproach. As the days passed, Ye Jiuchen's injuries gradually improved, and the color returned to his once pale face.
As the first rays of morning sunlight streamed into the cave, Ye Jiuchen slowly rose and stretched his limbs. He gazed at Wan'er, his eyes gleaming with unwavering resolve. No words were needed; their hearts were in sync. They packed their belongings, stepped out of the cave, and set off once more towards the next place of suffering. Their steps were firm and powerful, determined to continue on this path of healing and saving lives, never turning back even if the road ahead was fraught with thorns. For they knew deeply that every life awaiting treatment was like a twinkling star in the night sky, worthy of their utmost protection, of illuminating the dark sky shrouded in illness.