Someone was injured!
I kicked the gate open. Charged straight in. Ran toward where the bloody smell was heaviest.
Tamayo froze momentarily. After reacting, her expression changed. Hurriedly chased after me.
I came to someone's home as a guest. Hadn't brought my blade. But no matter... If there was a demon here, I'd personally tear it apart. Make it regret stepping into this city.
But when I rushed to the well, I didn't see the demon I imagined. Only Keizo and Koyuki lying unconscious on the ground. Beside them, a pool of coughed-up blood.
What was going on?
Tamayo hurriedly caught up. Rushed to their sides. Calmly pressed their pulses. Turned them over. Pried open mouths, lifted eyelids to examine. Gaze fell on the water bucket nearby.
She dipped her hand in the blood on the ground. Licked it, then told me, "Poisoned. Don't panic. Still can be saved! Find everything I tell you. I'll induce vomiting first!"
I immediately turned to find things. After placing that pile of emergency supplies beside her, I turned and rushed out again. Went to the pharmacy for medicinal ingredients Tamayo needed.
The pharmacy had already closed. I had no time to politely greet them. Similarly kicked the door open.
"Apologies! Critical patient urgently needs medicine. Compensation and payment will be sent later!"
I practically emptied those medicine cabinets. Wrapped them in paper bundles. Before the shopkeeper could light a lantern and stop me, ran away again quickly.
When I returned, Tamayo had finished emergency treatment. Moved the two into a room.
I handed her the medicine. Also entered the room to check their conditions.
They still had needles in their bodies. Still pale-faced with closed eyes. But already had faint breathing.
Whew—
I let out a huge breath. Almost sat down on the ground.
After Tamayo finished brewing medicine and brought it over, we worked together to feed them. Only then had time to trace the poison's source.
Tamayo walked directly to the well. Drew up another bucket of water.
She said nothing. But the meaning was already very clear.
I leaned by the water bucket. Directly used the ladle to scoop a spoonful and drank it.
For me, personally experiencing it was fastest to verify. After tasting, I knew the poison was placed in the water.
Also an extremely domineering poison. Could make people die in agony.
Even if luckily survived, physical condition would become very poor.
No—without Tamayo, this brilliant doctor who'd lived hundreds of years, no one could save them back.
Tamayo lightly furrowed her brows. Worriedly asked, "Did they offend someone?"
Once matters involved people, Tamayo wasn't good at handling them. Because getting involved easily attracted human attention.
For example, she saved people who should have died. Couldn't stay here until dawn. Let others remember her face.
I was very sorry. Originally wanted to invite her over to relax for a while. Never expected to make her rush over, then have to leave hastily.
Tamayo waved her hand. Brows relaxed. Instead smiled, "If you hadn't invited me over, I also couldn't have saved them. This should be fortunate."
She left follow-up treatment plans. Instructed me to write immediately if anything happened. She wouldn't go far. Would wait for my news in a nearby city. If anything was wrong, would rush over again.
Tamayo did this much. Naturally, I couldn't drag my feet in follow-up handling.
Who this poisoner was—didn't need to think to guess. Definitely the despicable petty people next door.
My fault. Seeing them behave for several years, thought they'd truly settled down.
Tamayo went back to pack luggage. Also called Wakaba over to help me handle what followed.
Wakaba brought several women rushing over. Helped me bring Keizo and Koyuki back. I wasn't comfortable leaving them to recuperate beside the criminals.
Perhaps the commotion was too big. They used dismantled door planks to carry the two out. Outside the gate, over ten men had already gathered.
Judging by clothing, all from the neighboring dojo.
I led people walking out. A fierce-looking person stepped out blocking the way. "Who are you people!"
When Wakaba came, she also brought my blade. I flipped the blade. Used the back to aim at them. Beat each person present one by one.
Finally kicked that guy blocking my way. Also called Wakaba to bring people to follow.
After Kyoko received the message Tamayo brought, she took money to pay the pharmacy. Then went to the authorities to report.
When I returned, she'd just come back too. Told me the authorities had already taken the case.
I nodded. Indicated I understood.
I had no evidence of their poisoning. But also didn't need evidence.
Since they did despicable, sinister evil deeds, must bear the evil consequences of me using power to oppress people.
By dawn, Keizo was first to open his eyes.
His body was ultimately much stronger than Koyuki's. Just opened eyes and regained consciousness. Struggled to climb up to find his daughter.
I pressed him down in time. "Koyuki's fine. She hasn't woken yet."
Keizo weakly smiled at me. Didn't ask about what happened. Unclearly said, "Again... thanks to... your care."
He ate some plain congee. Drank another dose of medicine. Lay down to continue sleeping deeply.
But I was more worried about Koyuki.
Her body was originally very poor. Though recovered her health, her physical foundation wasn't built well.
Poisoned so violently—afterward, could her body still recover?
I anxiously watched over her.
By high noon, Hakuji, who'd received news and rushed back, frantically charged directly into the room.
Koyuki still hadn't awakened.
I realized the situation was somewhat ominous. Her condition might be worse than I anticipated.
Even if I wrote to Tamayo—facing this situation, could she really give treatment methods?
Hakuji tremblingly held Koyuki in his arms. Eyes bloodshot, looked toward me. Eyes still held a trace of faint light.
"Miss Chihaya! Koyuki—she—she'll wake up, right?"
I remained silent for a long time. The light in his eyes gradually dimmed. Despair surged up. About to swallow his heart.
"By conventional methods, indeed already incurable," I said. "But an unconventional method still exists. However, requires you to pay a price."
Hakuji agreed to my request without hesitation. But Keizo still hesitated somewhat.
"Really must do this?" he tremblingly asked Hakuji. "The path you'll walk—it's the path of carnage. Can never turn back."
Hakuji knelt beside his bed. Kowtowed heavily. Pleaded, "Master! Let me save Koyuki! As long as I can protect you both, I'm willing to do anything! Rest assured—I won't let Koyuki do these things with me! She'll live peacefully!"
Hakuji bitterly begged for a whole day. Also saw Koyuki never waking.
I fed her medicine according to the prescription Tamayo left. Her breathing remained very faint.
Another night arrived. Keizo finally nodded in agreement.
When Koyuki woke, the moon had already hung on the treetops.
She groggily opened her eyes. Curiously glanced at moonlight pouring into the room. Following the moonlight, looked toward me sitting bedside.
"You... who are you?"
My heart sank heavily to the bottom. Tone still very gentle, said, "I can be considered... your mother."
~~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~~
Read up to (40+ ) advanced chapters on Patre\on
Visit us here: patreon.com/DarkGolds
Happy reading, everyone!