Chapter 177

Chapter 177

When Chen Ji arrived at the temporary workers' dormitory at the construction site, half of the medicine he had brought had already been used up, though there was still plenty of the decoction left. Some of the creatures were too weak; without a potent dose, they wouldn't have made it through the day.

He had only managed to find so many creatures thanks to Second Grandpa and his lot. Otherwise, he would have been completely lost in the forest by himself.

Chen Ji looked at the silent dormitory and asked, "Where's Little Red?"

He gazed at the quiet dormitory, every window dim. He was just about to say something when Second Grandpa continued, "The workers are caught in Little Red's illusion spell, asleep. Don't worry... sleeping more at a time like this is actually good for them."

Only then did Chen Ji feel relieved. Deep down, he knew there was nothing to worry about. The workers' physical condition was better than that of most young people; a little rain would affect them the least. He had just felt a bit panicked, the kind of irrational fear that arises when you arrive at a place that should be bustling but is eerily quiet.

Chen Ji casually chose the nearest door to check. Sure enough, four burly men were lying on beds, their snores rising and falling in rhythm. Without needing his instruction, the little ghostly spirit and Little Translator had already jumped down from the upper floor of the dormitory and landed in front of him. Little Translator said, "Brother Chen! Don't worry, we've checked! Everyone's fine! They'll be okay after a good sleep! They just need to rest and recuperate for a couple of days!"

"Those foremen were also brought back by Brother Little Red! Brother Little Red set up a ward; ordinary creatures can't get in right now!"

Chen Ji nodded and said softly, "You've worked hard."

Little Translator and the little ghostly spirit carefully nuzzled Chen Ji's arm with their heads, emitting low, happy-sounding cries. Chen Ji thought to himself that once this was over, he'd treat everyone to a proper feast back home, with proper incense offerings and a pig's head, so everyone could enjoy themselves.

Second Grandpa coiled his slender tail around Chen Ji and tossed him onto his back. "Alright, stop dawdling. I'll take you down the mountain."

Chen Ji responded softly. Second Grandpa's massive form transformed into a black streak of lightning, and in the blink of an eye, he had carried Chen Ji into the ghost path. It was fortunate that very few entities within the ghost path had physical forms, or they would have knocked countless beings out of the way along the journey.

When they reached the village, it was also eerily quiet. Chen Ji didn't rush in. First, he made a call to the village official, Zhao Ling. No one answered. Chen Ji frowned slightly. Just then, several people rushed out of a house about thirty meters ahead of him. The leader was Zhao Ling. She shouted at the top of her lungs, "You, go to Grandpa Liu's house! You, go to Grandpa Zhou's house! Someone stay here with Grandma Zhang!"

She irritably pulled out her phone. "Hello?! Has the ambulance arrived yet?!"

Chen Ji could hear the voice from the receiver. He raised his hand and waved in Zhao Ling's direction, intending to say he could help if needed, otherwise he wouldn't disturb them. But before he could speak, he saw Zhao Ling sprinting towards him, grabbing his arm, and pulling him back. "Come on! Brother Chen, hurry, hurry!"

"Grandma Zhang isn't doing well! You need to go take a look, quickly!"

Chen Ji was a 'surgeon,' but since ancient times, medicine and the Dao were inseparable. Even a 'surgeon' knew how to diagnose illnesses.

Grandma Zhang was the biggest supplier of the free-range chickens Chen Ji's family ate. Chen Ji didn't have time to ask about other things and hurried over. When he entered Grandma Zhang's courtyard, his heart sank. His worst fear had come true.

Shangyang Village was similar to other poor, remote mountain villages. Most of the young people had gone out to work, leaving behind the elderly, weak, sick, disabled, and young. Especially the elderly, whose vitality was already waning. After being drenched by this rain, signs of deathly energy were indeed beginning to show.

—What kind of bullshit Mountain Lord was this? Not only could He not protect the villagers at the foot of the mountain, but He also harmed them. Did He even have the right to be called a Mountain Lord?

He quickly entered the inner room and saw Grandma Zhang lying on the bed, limbs limp, eyes closed, breathing faint. As he approached, the people around made way. "Mr. Chen is here!"

"Mr. Chen, please take a look quickly!"

Second Grandpa, perched on Chen Ji's shoulder, had already jumped onto the bed. Since everyone had witnessed Second Grandpa's power, no one stopped him. Second Grandpa said, "Vitality is damaged, the foundation is injured... Look, when the deathly energy inside the body increases at a visible rate like this, it means they're dying. Once the vitality is completely gone, they're dead for good."

Chen Ji confirmed this and nodded—that's exactly what he had thought. No one had taught him, but he understood at a glance. Looking at Grandma Zhang's life force, which was nearly swallowed by deathly energy, he asked, "I saw Dr. Yang leaving earlier. What did Dr. Yang say?"

"He said she must be sent to the hospital quickly," Zhao Ling said. "He told me to call her children."

Chen Ji nodded. "I have a folk remedy. I'm not sure if it can save her, but we can give it a try. Should we?"

Grandma Zhang's children had all gone out to work. Her husband had passed away long ago. Her daughter-in-law had been here, but she had also gone out to work half a month ago.

This wasn't an ordinary time. If she could have been saved but died from taking some random folk remedy, someone would be held responsible. Not only Chen Ji, but Zhao Ling would also be responsible, and she might even lose her job.

Just as Zhao Ling was hesitating, a faint, breathless voice suddenly said, "...I'll take it!"

Everyone turned to look. Grandma Zhang had woken up at some point. Her cloudy eyes stared directly at Chen Ji, yet they held no reflection of him. Suddenly, her eyes began to regain their sparkle, and even her complexion seemed to improve. She found strength from somewhere, half-sitting up, and said, "I'll take it! You all bear witness! If I die from it, it's my time! It has nothing to do with Mr. Chen! That thing, record a video! As proof! And tell my kids, if I die, split the family assets equally!"

With that, she fell back onto the bed.

"Tsk tsk, the final rally," Second Grandpa said ominously.

Chen Ji didn't hesitate any longer. At this point, taking time to record a video would mean there was no time left to treat her; they might as well start preparing the funeral. He took the medicinal decoction Little Translator handed him, unscrewed the cap, and told Grandma Zhang to drink. "Drink! At least half the bottle!"

Everyone was momentarily stunned to see Chen Ji produce a bottle of mineral water out of thin air.

One knows their own condition best. Grandma Zhang had accepted her fate, but if she could live, who would want to die? She took the mineral water bottle and gulped it down, not caring how bitter and astringent it was. Even if she couldn't swallow it all, she had to drink!

Within a few breaths, two-thirds of the medicine in the bottle was gone. Chen Ji snatched the bottle back. "Enough! Now listen to me, breathe... Hold this talisman paper! Clench it in your palm! Sleep!"

Grandma Zhang took the talisman paper Chen Ji handed her and gripped it tightly. Somehow, in just half a minute, she felt a surge of warmth spread through her body, which had been icy cold. This warmth wandered through her body, warming wherever it went.

The talisman in her palm was also hot, even a bit scalding, but it felt extremely comfortable to her.

Chen Ji also observed that the medicine was taking effect. It was worth throwing in that hundred-year-old wild ginseng root. He let out a sigh of relief and asked Zhao Ling, "How much longer until the ambulance arrives?"

Zhao Ling whispered, "At least another hour or more... They said the hospitals in the town and the city are already full."

It was the same old story: the young could withstand it, but the elderly couldn't.

A flicker of coldness passed through Chen Ji's eyes, then vanished—he knew this rain would make many people sick, but for hospitals to be overflowing meant the rain must have been incredibly potent.

Chen Ji understood Zhao Ling's concern. The village had cars, but if something happened while taking the village officials' car to the town hospital, who would be responsible?

Chen Ji asked, "Who else isn't doing well?"

Zhao Ling listed a few names, all familiar to Chen Ji. Zhao Ling's eyes shifted. "Then let's go to the next house first. Brother Chen, you go check on them!"

With that, Zhao Ling pulled the others along to the next house, not leaving a single person with Chen Ji—after the rain, the elderly were sick. It was perfectly reasonable for Brother Chen to go check on whether the elderly in each household were sick. As for whether he gave them anything to eat or drink... they didn't know; they weren't present. Everyone was busy checking to see if any elderly person had collapsed at home.

Surveillance cameras? The village only had them at the entrance.

Zhao Ling knew she should believe in science at a time like this, but sometimes science couldn't keep up. You had to use whatever worked first!

"Alright," Chen Ji agreed. Just as he was about to head to the next house, Grandma Zhang suddenly murmured, "The Mountain Lord has shown His power..."

A hint of sarcasm tinged Chen Ji's voice. "Granny Zhang, it's not good to chant nonsense."

With that, Chen Ji left and hurried to the next house.

At the households Chen Ji visited, most of the elderly were lying in bed. Those who were better off could still groan and complain about aches and pains here and there. Those who were worse had breath going out but none coming in. After Second Grandpa's diagnosis, some were given medicine to drink, while others only needed a cup of water—more for psychological comfort.

Strangely enough, some elderly people actually felt much better after drinking the genuine mineral water Chen Ji poured for them.

Chen Ji followed behind Zhao Ling and the others, keeping a distance. There were only about twenty households, so they moved quickly. By the time Chen Ji came out of the last house, he happened to hear a series of ambulance sirens at the village entrance. Zhao Ling waved her hand decisively, instructing that all the elderly be sent to the hospital, and she herself, still worried, followed along.

"Grandpa Zhou, you must get on!" Zhao Ling leaned over the old man's ambulance stretcher. The old man kept shaking his head. "...No, no money..."

Zhao Ling said loudly, "I have money! I have money! I'll cover it for you!"

Grandpa Zhou still refused to go. Zhao Ling waved her hand, signaling the medical staff to carry Grandpa Zhou onto the ambulance. She had already said this many times today. There weren't enough spots in the ambulances, so Zhao Ling and the others had to drive their own cars to follow. Some family members who were present also had to go along, so they had to borrow Chen Ji's car.

Chen Ji handed her the keys and shook his head. "This isn't a small sum."

Zhao Ling's eyes were bright. "I know!"

"But I'm here to serve the people!"

"I'll save as many as I can, even if it's just one—otherwise I won't be able to sleep at night!"

Chen Ji wondered how much money a recent college grad in her position could have. He was about to send her some money so she wouldn't be stuck covering the ambulance bill, but Zhao Ling waved him off, snatching his car keys as she headed out. "I do have some savings!"

"Brother Chen, you should head back first!"

Chen Ji quickly followed, worried she might end up taking out an online loan... Picking up on his worry, Zhao Ling pulled out her phone, opened her banking app, and showed him the balance right then.

Zhao Ling said, "I'm not sick, I don't need this. Brother Chen, you should just..."

Chen Ji interrupted, "Ginseng and astragalus chicken soup, with decades-old wild ginseng. Just have a couple sips each."

Zhao Ling immediately snatched the mineral water bottle. "Thank you, Brother Chen! I really need this!"