Chapter Sixty-One: I Want to Go Home

“What should we do next?” Manager Su couldn’t help but ask.

“Those five, keep them together for now. During the day, there shouldn’t be any issues. At night… I’ll try to find a solution. As for the others, make arrangements to separate them later and put them in your backyard, let them bask in the sun, and it would be best to prescribe them some restorative tonics to replenish their blood and energy. Otherwise, after all that turmoil last night, their bodies are still shrouded in malignant energy—they won’t last long.”

As he spoke, he couldn’t help but sigh. “It’s a pity that yesterday’s battle with those malicious spirits drained me so much. If it were only a matter of dispelling this evil energy, it wouldn’t be that difficult.”

With that, he didn’t linger any longer and left ahead of them.

“Manager…” Steward Zhou called out.

“Just do as Old Wu said. Have the apprentices prepare a tonic for each of them. As for the five upstairs, each should get a Vitality Pill,” Manager Su instructed after some thought.

“Yes!” Steward Zhou replied and headed to the pharmacy in the back. With a few shouts, Chen Yushu was also assigned the task of preparing a tonic.

During this time, the injured from upstairs were gently helped down, and their wan, depleted faces made it hard to believe that just yesterday, each of them was full of life.

“These ghosts are truly terrifying,” muttered Xu San, who stood nearby.

Chen Yushu said nothing, quietly tending to his decoction. After roughly half an hour, he carried the finished tonic to the backyard.

There, seven or eight injured men sat together. Though each appeared weak and drained, they managed to muster their strength to gather around a single figure.

As Chen Yushu drew closer, he realized it was Shi Hao. At this moment, Shi Hao was distributing talismans.

As he handed them out, he explained, “Manager Su of the Liu family pharmacy is generous and kind—he’s provided two talismans for each of you. The cost has already been covered, so I’ll distribute them now. You all know their effects: even if one doesn’t remove all the malignant energy, it will alleviate most of it. They’re simple to use—just stick them directly onto yourselves.”

Hearing this, the first to receive a talisman didn’t hesitate and immediately stuck it onto his body.

Sizzling sounds erupted; flashes of spiritual light flickered, and the evil energy within him visibly dissipated under the talisman’s power.

Seeing this, the others followed suit, applying their talismans in the same manner.

Soon, the sizzling sounds filled the air. For some, a single talisman was enough to rid them of the malignant energy; for others, whose affliction was heavier, two were required. Each talisman quickly blackened as the evil energy was consumed.

Meanwhile, the warriors’ pallid faces began to regain color before everyone’s eyes. Though their lost vitality could not be instantly restored, at least the malignant energy had been removed.

Only then did Chen Yushu bring the tonic to the first man who had been cleansed, saying, “Our manager has instructed me to bring each of you a bowl of restorative tonic, to replenish your strength and blood.”

The man who received the bowl laughed heartily. “Thank you, Manager Su, and thank you, young man.”

“It’s my duty,” Chen Yushu replied.

“Manager Su truly is generous. These talismans cost eight taels of silver each—he gave two to everyone. And this restorative tonic is worth three taels a serving. That’s no small expense,” another person commented.

“Hmph! All of this happened because we were helping Su Ming. If he hadn’t suggested attacking the bandits in Water Curtain Ravine, none of this would have happened. Our Tiger Fang Gang wouldn’t have lost so many good men,” someone retorted.

“It’s not just your Tiger Fang Gang—our Sea Raider Gang suffered losses too. There are still two of our brothers upstairs, in much worse condition. If their situation isn’t dealt with soon, I doubt they’ll survive the night,” another added.

“Didn’t Lord Wu from the Office of Subduing the Yin come just now? Shouldn’t he be able to resolve all of this?”

“Resolve it? You don’t know the half of it. Nearly everyone who went to Water Curtain Ravine was affected—some are still at the magistrate’s office. Last night, the entire Office of Subduing the Yin was mobilized to guard the magistrate’s office, but there was still a huge commotion. It’s said that people nearby heard strange singing from the office, saw red lanterns rising, and at least two women in red floating in the sky…”

“This…”

“And why was only Lord Wu able to come? Because the rest simply couldn’t make it.”

These words sent a chill through everyone present. The implications were many, but none of them boded well. It was clear this was no small matter, and it was likely far from over.

Yet, as they thought about it, a sense of relief washed over them. At least they were out of danger—once the malignant energy was removed, there was no reason to remain at the pharmacy, and they were safely away from the five left upstairs. In the end, when it came to survival, no one would risk their own life for another, even if they were friends.

The quick-witted among them turned to Shi Hao and said, “Brother, do you have any more talismans? I’ll take two more, if you please…”

The others, seeing this, began to clamor for more as well.

…

When Chen Yushu returned to the pharmacy, it had already reopened. But the incident had caused such a stir that rumors were flying all over the town. Few dared to seek treatment here—most preferred to walk a little farther to other pharmacies and clinics.

Chen Yushu welcomed the quiet, burying himself in the side room with his books.

Reading +1

Reading +1

Medicine +1

Reading +1

…

By afternoon, more news had spread from the magistrate’s office: the singing in the night, the red lanterns suspended high, the red-clad women drifting in the sky, the screams, and the corpses carried out at dawn. Rumors ran rampant.

And so, when it became known that the Liu family pharmacy had also sheltered the warriors from the bandit suppression, even fewer dared to enter. Even the common folk passing by tried to give the place a wide berth.

It is worth mentioning that, after drinking the restorative tonic, those warriors in the backyard—despite some still being injured and barely able to move—forced themselves to leave.

As for the five upstairs, it was as if they’d been forgotten. Other than a visit from their families, no one dared to check on them, let alone go upstairs.

Until sunset.

Suddenly, a desperate shout broke the silence. “I can’t take it anymore! If I stay here any longer, I’ll die! I want to go home—I want to go home!”

Bang!

A door upstairs slammed open, and someone burst out, rushing down the stairs in a panic.