Chapter 86: The Infant’s Clue
(This novel is translated and hosted on Bcatranslation)
Yuan Chen’s interest in treating illnesses seemed to have been piqued. Early the next morning, he ventured beyond the city to observe the children’s recovery.
Ji You followed shortly after, standing before Wei Rui’s congee stall. As he helped distribute congee, he kept an eye on the situation alongside Kuang Cheng.
In Qing Yun, there is an old saying: “Illness strikes like a mountain collapsing, but departs as silk threads unwind.”
However, under the wondrous techniques of the Pill Sect, even children like Qing Wa regained their vitality in a short period.
By channeling Pill Qi, they could suppress the invasive wind affliction and even expel it entirely. With the radiance of their alchemical arts, they could directly target the source of illness.
Ordinary medicinal pills, taken with water, require time to dissolve and take effect—sometimes hindered by the patient’s ability to absorb them. But under the hands of a Pill Master, Pill Qi catalyzes the medicine’s potency instantly.
This was no longer mere “treatment.” It was truly a case of bringing someone back from the brink of death.
Kuang Cheng, ever the modest gentleman, prided himself on maintaining composure in all matters. Yet, witnessing such mystical techniques, even he couldn’t help but exclaim in amazement.
“I’ve never seen a Pill Master before. Over the past few days, I’ve been wondering—if ordinary physicians possessed such methods, perhaps…”
“This is a realm accessible only to cultivators. Catching even a glimpse of it should not make you dwell on it. The more you ponder, the more resentful you’ll become of this world’s disparities.”
Kuang Cheng was momentarily stunned by Ji You’s words, then regained his clarity.
Indeed, this world held many things beyond the reach of ordinary mortals. Yuan Chen’s seemingly miraculous intervention was merely the most basic technique of a Disciple of the Pill Sect.
After a brief silence, Kuang Cheng sighed deeply. “Ji Brother, your words ring true. Were it not for you, these impoverished children might have perished here. How else could they have received such divine aid?”
Ji You turned his gaze toward him. “It wasn’t entirely my doing.”
“?”
“Yuan Chen, for all his quirks, has a fundamentally kind heart. He’s easily inspired, practically a walking self-help mantra. The truth is, he’s simply never considered what kind of person he wants to become. That’s why what you said earlier—may indeed come to pass.”
“Earlier…?”
“Yuan Chen is a Direct Disciple of the Pill Sect, highly likely to become their next sect master. His ideals will shape the future of the sect.”
Kuang Cheng froze at the words. The term “Direct Disciple” echoed loudly in his mind.
“Ji Brother, how do you know someone of such standing?”
Ji You crossed his arms, leaning against a patch of dew-covered wild grass. “I was sent to Qiling by the Heavenly Script Academy and encountered Yuan Chen there. He was searching for his sister, so I helped him rescue her.”
Wei Rui, who had been quietly listening nearby, suddenly paused her congee ladle. “But I heard Young Master Yuan address you as ‘Brother-in-law’ just now?”
“Ah… well, he did want to marry his sister off to me, but I refused.”
Kuang Cheng’s brows immediately furrowed. “Ji Brother, you’re being shortsighted. For the sake of the common people, marrying a woman of such status is the natural course!”
Ji You’s lips twitched. “Did you forget the last time I brought someone to your residence?”
Kuang Cheng hesitated, recalling the fairy who had been eavesdropping in his courtyard and later snapped a branch with just one finger. That fairy… was not someone to be trifled with.
“Ji Brother, you’ve become far too entangled with beauties.”
“What is that supposed to mean? Am I to blame for being this good-looking?” Ji You was slightly vexed, bemoaning the injustice of the world.
[Just because I possess this unparalleled visage, I must work a hundred times harder to match my appearance with my abilities. And yet, who could I possibly confide in about such struggles?]
“Still, Ji Brother, with your extraordinary talents, you could just marry both.”
Kuang Cheng was firm in his assertion. “With the Pill Sect’s support, your descendants could establish a noble family in Feng Prefecture. With you at the helm, the common folk would lead better lives. That’s far better than letting that Immortal Worship Mountain Manor flaunt their arrogance every day.”
“Your way of thinking…” Ji You smacked his lips. [What a peculiar line of thought.]
Whenever Ji You faced injustice, he often sought to conquer the world through sheer strength. Yet here was Kuang Cheng, suggesting he rely on his looks instead.
[Expanding the family line… Such talk would make even a gentleman blush!]
Ji You wasn’t sure what crossed his mind, but he thought, [You, scholar, are absolutely incorrigible!]
Listening to their conversation, Wei Rui couldn’t help but blink. Usually, she mingled with the likes of the Princess of Chang Le and her entourage, believing friendships ought to be that way. Yet, after meeting Kuang Cheng and Ji You, she found their company more relaxing.
She disliked the scheming and constant vigilance required when with the princess and her circle. This casual banter, however, felt far more comfortable.
Although, there were moments when their conversations turned unavoidably blush-inducing…
At this moment, Yuan Chen emerged from the quarantine area, sweat beading his forehead as he wiped it with his wide sleeve.
Ji You looked up. “How is it?”
“A few more days of rest, and they’ll recover completely. But that invasive black qi…” Yuan Chen paused. “It’s peculiar.”
“Peculiar?”
“The black qi initially attacks the organs but then begins to adapt to the human body. Early symptoms may be mild, but once fully developed, it will become a severe illness. It’s like a poisonous fruit, ready to explode and spread throughout the city.”
Hearing this, Ji You frowned deeply. “Is that why you stopped me from intervening earlier?”
Yuan Chen extended his hand, revealing a strand of trembling black qi trapped within the seven-colored radiance in his palm. “Brother-in-law, try refining this with spiritual qi.”
Ji You, hearing this, moved his finger, channeling a surge of powerful spiritual qi into Yuan Chen’s palm. To his surprise, the black qi abruptly swelled, completely engulfing the spiritual qi as though consuming its prey.
“Why is this happening?” he asked.
“In mortals, it’s merely an illness,” Yuan Chen explained. “But once it infects cultivators, who knows what it might become?”
Ji You’s expression turned grave at these words.
The initial stages of cultivation focus on tempering the body, rendering it immune to mortal ailments. Figures like Lu Qing Qiu, who could stride through winter’s chill in only a single layer, often brought a fleeting warmth to Ji You’s otherwise tedious cultivation path. Cultivators were impervious to cold and flu; thus, the prospect of a black qi capable of infecting them was terrifying. Clearly, this was no ordinary phenomenon.
The crucial question remained: where did this invasive black qi originate?
As Ji You pondered, Yuan Chen produced three pills from his robes. “Brother-in-law, you should take one. Kuang Cheng and Miss Wei should each have one as well.”
“Then let’s take precautions.”
Ji You tossed a pill into his mouth. Instantly, a surge of heat rose within him, rushing to his head. After a bout of coughing, he felt as though his affliction had been cured, albeit with an odd sensation of drooling. “Is this medicine always so potent?”
Kuang Cheng, watching this, looked somewhat apprehensive. “This is… rather uncouth.”
Yuan Chen immediately explained, “Brother-in-law’s body is fortified through cultivation, so I used a stronger dose. Your pills are more diluted.”
“I see.” Kuang Cheng accepted a pill and handed one to Wei Rui. Wei Rui hesitated as she recalled Kuang Cheng’s remark from the previous day about not washing his hands. Blushing, she wondered if he had truly gone unwashed. After much deliberation, she swallowed the pill with water.
After coughing softly a few times, Kuang Cheng turned to Yuan Chen. “How is Qing Wa now?”
“His condition was severe, but after some congee, he can now speak without issue. However, he’ll need rest before he can walk again.”
“Can we question him?”
“Of course.”
Kuang Cheng then addressed Ji You. “Brother Ji, I need to visit the orphanage.”
Ji You looked at him quizzically. “What, donating money again? Put my name on the list this time.”
“Not a donation. I need to verify something. I’ll explain everything when I return.”
With that, Kuang Cheng left for the city, following the rain-slicked stone streets to the outskirts. Along the way, he bought several skewers of candied hawthorn.
At the orphanage, a boy with a round face and tiger-like demeanor was sitting in the courtyard, gazing at the sky.
Kuang Cheng crouched in front of him. “Hu Wa, what are you looking at?”
“I don’t know. Brother Kuang, have you found my sister?”
Hu Wa’s parents had fled after failing to pay their offerings, leaving behind Hu Wa and his infant sister, who were sent to the orphanage. Before long, his sister was taken away.
Kuang Cheng had promised to find her. Hearing the boy’s question now, he felt at a loss.
After returning from Qiling, Kuang Cheng had discussed the matter with Ji You while Yuan Chen treated patients. Ji You had mentioned that infants were indeed taken to Qiling. Luo You’s wife had stated that for over three years, the mountains echoed daily with the cries of babies. This suggested that the missing infants from Shengjing were but a fraction of a larger tragedy. Other towns across the Nine Provinces likely faced similar fates.
But the trail ended at Qiling. No one knew where the infants went or whether they lived or died.
“Distribute these candied hawthorns to everyone first. Then I’ll take you somewhere.”
Hu Wa’s eyes widened. “Where?”
Kuang Cheng gave a faint smile. “You’ll see when we get there.”
Hu Wa was soon brought to a refugee camp beyond the city walls. Noticing Ji You’s furrowed brow, Kuang Cheng pulled him aside. “This is the boy from the orphanage who asked me to find his sister.”
Ji You ruffled Hu Wa’s head. “Why bring a child here, where the sick gather?”
“Qing Wa’s pendant…”
“?”
Hu Wa’s father had been a hunter who crafted two pendants from beast bones, one for each child. Before fleeing, he left them behind, perhaps hoping for future reunion. When Hu Wa asked Kuang Cheng to find his sister, he described the pendant in detail. Kuang Cheng had seen such a pendant on Qing Wa’s neck. Yet, having never seen it firsthand, he decided to bring Hu Wa for confirmation.
Given that the infants had been taken to Qiling and Qing Wa and the others had escaped from White River Village on Qiling’s southern side, there was a possibility they had encountered each other.
Ji You, hearing this, looked at Hu Wa with a mind racing with thoughts. The Qiling ruins were riddled with bizarre occurrences, culminating in the death of many and the collapse of the mountain, all caused by a demonic cultivator’s pursuit of ascension.
Yet the infant mystery remained unsolved. Ji You had not anticipated this unexpected turn in the case.
It felt as if pieces of a puzzle were finally coming together.
Under Yuan Chen’s protective pill radiance, Hu Wa was brought into the refugee camp. Moments later, they emerged. Confirmation required little time.
“Is it so?”
“It is.”
The pendant was indeed as Hu Wa had described. However, Kuang Cheng refrained from directly questioning Qing Wa. He knew the likely answer would be devastating, too much for Hu Wa to bear.
After a moment of thought, Ji You suggested, “Bring Qing Wa out. We can question him back at your courtyard.”
“That’s what I planned.”