Jiu'er watched Lord Rat's retreating back without a hint of discouragement. He whispered to his little companions.
"It's fine. Lord Rat didn't chase us away directly, so he's definitely giving us tacit permission to stay.
"We'll start repaying his kindness by helping him clean up."
Of the three people in Heart's Desire Hall, Shitou was obsessed with cultivation, always thinking about out-competing Hong Ling.
Lord Rat acted like a high-and-mighty lord, only caring about his own food, drink, and comfort.
As for Ku Chan, the monk was long accustomed to being slovenly; even his monastic robes were covered in stains.
The environment inside the house was, in a word, indescribable.
Acting immediately, Jiu'er used his leadership as the king of the children to gather the little beggars.
Aside from himself, who was still a mortal, the other children had all stepped into the first-stage early-phase Qi Induction stage thanks to the pills. They were quick-handed and coordinated well.
Sweeping floors, wiping tables, and organizing clutter—the little ones worked with such fervor that Heart's Desire Hall soon became tidy.
Outside the hall, several pleading family members were nearly in tears. "...We really can't buy it anywhere!"
Lord Rat stroked his chin, his tone abrasive. "What's the use of begging me! Do you think Lord Rat can grow pure lotus root out of thin air for you, or conjure up some detoxifying purple bamboo?
"If you can't buy it, then just wait to rot and die!"
Before his voice had even faded, the sound of approaching footsteps was heard.
Lin Zhixue was seen carefully supporting Lin Shaobin, surrounded by a group of family servants as they pushed through the crowd.
Lin Zhixue's face was filled with gratitude as he bowed deeply to Lord Rat and Ku Chan.
"Grandmaster, Lord Rat, after my son took the medicine, the sore-poison has been suppressed and he has awakened. We have come specifically to kowtow and thank you two lords for saving his life."
The crowd's gaze immediately focused on Lin Shaobin.
He still looked very weak, his face pale, needing his father's support to stand steady. However, the aura around him had faintly reached the third-stage level, clearly the result of the divine pill.
Yet on his face and neck, large patches of withered human-face sores remained, completely destroying his originally handsome features.
"Sigh, what a pity for such a fine young man like Young Master Lin..." someone in the crowd whispered with regret.
"Indeed. Such a handsome youth before, and now his face..."
"But it's a blessing in disguise. He broke through directly to the third-stage!"
"The Lin boy was already a standout among the younger generation. Now that he's gained this opportunity, his future prospects are probably limitless!"
"Yes, cultivation is the foundation; appearance is secondary."
Some felt regret, others felt sympathy, but more were filled with envy and burning desire for that third-stage cultivation.
Lin Shaobin seemed completely indifferent to the gazes of the outside world. He broke away from his father's support, and though his steps were a bit floaty, he still performed a solemn, grand bow to Lord Rat.
"This junior, Lin Shaobin, thanks you, Lord, for saving my life."
Lord Rat frowned, his crimson eyes staring at Lin Shaobin's face for a long while before he suddenly gave an annoyed 'tsk.'
He pulled out a black mask identical to the one he wore and tossed it over.
"Wear it!" Lord Rat's tone was impatient. "The plague-qi can be dispersed, but these scars are hard to remove. Don't go around showing off those human-face scars like an embarrassment."
Lin Shaobin caught the mask, momentarily stunned.
He didn't actually care much about his appearance; being able to keep his life was already a great fortune.
But looking at the mask in his hand, which was wreathed in a faint mist, he followed the advice and put it on. The mist obscured most of his face, leaving only a pair of calm eyes visible.
Lin Zhixue expressed his gratitude to Lord Rat and Ku Chan once more, stating he would take his son back to the manor to continue treatment.
The sore-poison needed to be scorched with Sanyang True Fire for seven days to be completely eradicated.
Once Lin Shaobin was fully recovered, he would surely bring heavy gifts from the Lin family to pay another visit of thanks.
Just as he was about to leave, a middle-aged fat man in brocade robes with an anxious expression squeezed through. He grabbed Lin Zhixue's sleeve and asked urgently.
"Brother Lin! Brother Lin, please wait! May I ask if your manor... if your manor still has any spare pure lotus root and detoxifying purple bamboo?"
This fat man was the head of the Zhang family, with wealth comparable to the Lin family, making them a family of status in Lantao City.
Lin Zhixue was stunned by the question and asked in confusion, "Brother Zhang, although these two are fourth-grade spirit herbs and are quite precious, with the wealth of your Zhang family, it shouldn't be difficult to purchase a set, right?"
The head of the Zhang family had a bitter expression. "Brother Lin, you don't know! I sent people to search all the pharmacies and herb gardens in the city, large and small!
"The strange thing is right there. There's no shortage of other medicinal materials, but these two specifically are out of stock throughout the whole city!
"Not a single one can be found. Those damned human-face sores appeared in my manor a few days ago too, and now the entire household is in turmoil. I really had no choice but to come and beg you, Brother Lin!"
As soon as he spoke, several other people in fine clothing—clearly heads of middle-tier families—surrounded them, chiming in one after another.
"It's true, Master Lin! Our Chen family also needs them urgently!"
"Our Li family too! We've run through the whole city and can't find a single stalk of pure lotus root!"
"Brother Lin, if your Lin family can spare some, we will surely provide a heavy reward!"
Everyone turned their hopeful gazes toward Lin Zhixue.
Only then did Lin Zhixue realize the severity of the problem.
The reason his Lin family had stock was that they controlled several acres of precious Yellow Grade spirit fields. This was a core advantage other families lacked, so their treasury was always stocked with various spirit herbs for emergencies.
Seeing everyone's anxious looks, Lin Zhixue pondered for a moment and nodded.
"Since the prescription was bestowed by Lord Rat, I, Lin, do not dare to keep it to myself. There are indeed some stocks in the treasury; I shall use them to show my respect."
He immediately called over a trusted family servant and whispered a few instructions, telling him to return to the manor at once to fetch the medicinal materials.
This move solved the pressing needs of many, but some people were still crying out.
"Grandmaster, Buddha Lord, we were lucky enough to have prepared some materials beforehand and have used them according to the prescription. The sore openings have improved slightly, but the person... the person just won't wake up!"
"Yes! They've been in a deep sleep, unable to wake. What should we do?"
"We beg the grandmaster to bestow a divine pill to save my child!"
They pinned their final hopes on the soul-shaping pills bestowed by Ku Chan.
In just that short time spent talking, several more patients suffering from human-face sores were carried onto the open ground outside Heart's Desire Hall.
Even further away, people could be seen carrying stretchers, rushing toward this direction.
The terrifying evil sores that had originally only appeared in the Lin manor seemed to have erupted overnight throughout Lantao City's inner city district like a plague.
Furthermore, those affected seemed mostly to be from prestigious and powerful families.
The newly arrived patients were in much worse condition than Lin Shaobin had been.
Among them was a plump old man placed on a door plank; his entire face was completely unrecognizable.
It was entirely covered by a patch of dark purple sores.
The sores constantly oozed a yellowish, turbid pus. Crowded together, one could even see distorted mouths and noses slightly opening and closing within the discharge.
Pus and blood dripped along the edges of the door plank, and the stench was overpowering.
Rate on N.U.
