“To be honest, sir…” Doctor Cai hesitated, clearly struggling with his thoughts. His eyes kept darting toward Song You, as if he wanted to speak but was too apprehensive, held back by some inner concern.

He weighed his options for a long while, exchanging a glance with his two disciples before finally steeling himself.

“This Nine-Day Plague is indeed strange. As you mentioned, the afflicted suffer horribly—head to toe, inside and out, there is no part left unscathed. They look like ghosts even while still alive. Treating it requires a comprehensive approach: internal medicine, external poultices, combined with acupuncture and fumigation therapy,” Doctor Cai explained as they walked.

He added, “My disciples and I have researched day and night, giving it our all, but we’ve been constrained. Although the current method shows some signs of effectiveness, it is far from perfect. Those with milder symptoms, or those who are in better physical health and have a bit of luck, may experience temporary recovery. But nine times out of ten, we still fail to cure it.”

Song You caught on to the key points in Doctor Cai’s explanation and noticed the healer’s glance in his direction after he finished speaking. Sensing that there was more to be said, Song You prompted him at the right moment, “What is it that concerns you, Doc?”

“It goes against worldly customs and norms.”

“I am but a hermit traveling the land. While I follow common customs, I am not bound by them,” Song You reassured him. “Speak freely, Doc.”

“What if it’s something you find unacceptable?”

“Then I will pretend I never heard it.”

“Ah…” Doctor Cai let out a long sigh, shaking his head.

Song You walked beside him, listening intently, eager to witness the renowned healer’s insights firsthand.

“The Nine-Day Plague struck suddenly—how could there be enough time for a thorough study of its nature? It attacks both inside and out. Without knowing the true symptoms, how can one prescribe the correct treatment?” Doctor Cai spoke slowly. “Do you know when I first began to understand the inner and outer symptoms of this plague, and started formulating a strategy?”

“I do not,” Song You replied.

“It was after the two valiant

jianghu

heroes from Yanzhou who volunteered to escort me both fell ill and passed away…”

As he said this, Doctor Cai glanced at Song You and his companions.

The swordsman’s brow furrowed slightly, as if something had dawned on him, though he showed no other reaction. The young Daoist, however, raised an eyebrow and gave a slight nod, his expression calm and unchanged.

“I see…” the young Daoist nodded and said.

He had heard rumors that this healer employed unsettling methods such as cutting flesh to set bones and performing trepanations and internal surgeries—techniques that shocked the common folk. It seemed now that these rumors were true.

Such skills went far beyond the realm of ordinary medicine. In this era, such practices were indeed unheard of and terrifying.

To perform autopsies and dissect corpses for the sake of understanding the disease—now that was truly remarkable.

People believe that the dead possessed a spirit, and there had always been a deep-rooted tradition that emphasized reverence for the deceased. The bodies of the dead were considered sacred, and some burials were even tied to the family’s feng shui. Crimes such as grave robbing, coffin opening, and corpse theft were considered extremely severe, each one graver than the last.

For several consecutive dynasties, opening coffins and stealing corpses had been punishable by death, seen as heinous crimes akin to deliberate murder. As far as Song You knew, in the current Great Yan Dynasty, grave digging alone carried a three-year sentence of hard labor. Once a coffin was opened, the punishment was hanging.

It was not just common folk— even the authorities faced significant hurdles. If there was a major case involving a deceased person who had already been buried, requesting an exhumation for a second autopsy is exceedingly difficult. ṛàΝօ𝖇Êș

𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦

Firstly, there were societal norms and rituals. Secondly, there were the laws of the court.

Although the northern regions were in turmoil now and countless people had died in Gui Commandery, these deaths were due to the plague, not warfare. During his journey, Song You had only seen human remains at the foot of Beifeng Pass; elsewhere, there were no bodies strewn about.

On the contrary, in these times, it was imperative that the dead are buried as quickly as possible.

Even the poorest families, who could not previously afford coffins or a proper burial, now received financial assistance from the authorities for burials, making it even harder to encounter exposed bodies compared to the past.

To obtain a corpse, one would almost certainly have to open a coffin. Such an act, even for a famed healer, could not be done openly.

“So, what you needed was the body of the deceased,” Song You remarked.

“…” Doctor Cai did not respond immediately.

Song You caught the look in Doctor Cai’s eyes and had a sense of his concerns.

Whether it was about the spirit of the deceased being aware in the afterlife or the feng shui affecting the living descendants, these were rooted in Daoist beliefs. As a Daoist, dressed in a robe, Song You was expected to be the one who held these beliefs the most.

He gave a slight smile to Doctor Cai, hoping to ease his worries, and then said, “What you’re doing is not an evil act, so why the concern? In extraordinary times, extraordinary measures are required. Besides, you neither dug up graves nor opened coffins without permission. Those two

jianghu

heroes—they must have consented willingly, didn’t they?”

“Exactly,” Doctor Cai confirmed.

“What are their names?” Song You remarked.

“They were both disciples of the northern Changqiang Sect—one was named Miao Yuan, the other Hu Yuan,” Doctor Cai sighed. “I am truly indebted to them.”

Song You studied the expression on Doctor Cai’s face.

To have come up with a solution so quickly, it was likely not only thanks to these two bodies. It was highly probable that the two of them had helped him secretly obtain other corpses while they were still alive, though Doctor Cai did not want to admit this.

Song You saw no need to press the issue further and simply said, “From now on, leave the troublesome matters to us. Doc, focus solely on studying the disease. As for everything else, I will handle it properly.”

“You intend to…”

“They’re just corpses, nothing complicated,” Song You said calmly. “Countless have died in Gui Commandery, and there are plenty of wandering spirits and lost ghosts as well. Doc, you might not have encountered them on your journey, but as a Daoist, I’ve seen quite a few. I also know the art of creating plant effigies.

“If the spirits consent, I can retrieve their bodies and replace them with effigies for burial, preserving the feng shui.”

“Would they agree to this?”

“There will always be some who agree,” Song You replied with confidence.

In reality, the issue often wasn’t with the deceased themselves but with the living. The families of the dead were usually the ones most reluctant to see the bodies disturbed. The deceased, however, were unable to speak, and the living found it hard to make such a decision on their behalf.

Moreover, after dealing with ghosts often enough, one would come to understand that many of the fears people have about the afterlife stemmed from the unknown. Once someone actually became a ghost, much of that fear and concern dissipated.

“Doc, rest assured. As long as we uphold the proper rites, our consciences will be clear. If there are any karmic consequences or sins, I alone will bear them,” Song You said with the same calm and assured tone as before. “All I ask is that you focus on developing a cure for this plague. If you can save the people of Gui Commandery, it will be a boundless act of merit.”

“…”

Doctor Cai finally realized that the young Daoist was speaking the truth. Deeply moved, he bowed with sincere gratitude. “I will leave this matter in your capable hands, then!”

“Don’t mention it,” Song You replied.

Everyone had their strengths, as well as their shortcomings. No one could excel at everything.

Song You was a Daoist, not a physician. He happened to be skilled in dealing with spirits but was not adept at curing plagues, so he simply focused on what he was good at.

Thus, he continued traveling through Gui Commandery alongside the divine doctor.

At dusk and into the night, whether at the front of the village or behind the houses, it was often hard to tell the living from the dead. New ghosts frequently stood lost in thought by their own graves, uncertain whether they were longing for old friends, reflecting on their past life, reluctant to leave the mortal world, or anxious about entering the underworld.

But at this point, they had already departed from this world. No ordinary person could see their figures or hear their voices. Even if they lingered for a few more days before dissipating, their existence would be filled with only loneliness.

It became a common sight to see a Daoist conversing with ghosts.

In those moments, for these newly departed souls, he was the only one who could speak with them.

Some agreed willingly; others hesitated. Whenever he encountered the slightest hesitation, Song You would abandon the attempt entirely.

However, just as he had anticipated, the ones who were the most open-minded about this matter were often the spirits themselves. Or perhaps it was due to the simple nature of the villagers—they had died from the plague and knew firsthand the agony of the illness, the suffering of the disease. Having died quietly in the shadows, when asked by the Daoist, they were willing to do whatever they could to help the Doc, to add a spark of light to the divine doctor’s efforts.

Thus, the mountain spirits dug the graves, and plant effigies took the place of the corpses.

Lady Calico’s lantern, once hung on a tree branch in the wild, would stay lit for the entire night. Under its light, the divine doctor and his disciples often worked tirelessly, without rest.

The Daoist waved his hand, dispelling the chill of the north wind, watching from a distance without disturbing them. The swordsman, meanwhile, sat far away, cradling his sword, tending a small fire as he gazed at the stars throughout the night, his thoughts unknown.

With the Daoist providing protection, sometimes standing right by the grave, even passersby were unaware of their presence.

Occasionally, he summoned the spirits of the departed to ask them directly about their experiences with the illness. The wild beasts were unperturbed, and no evil spirits dared to interfere.

By day, they traveled through villages and towns.

The Daoist continued to transform his spiritual energy into rainwater, mixing it into wells and cisterns. This dispelled the sorcery afflicting the sick and invigorated those who were still healthy, helping to curb the spread of the plague.

The divine doctor, on the other hand, coordinated with local officials to test the new treatment methods he had developed over a lifetime of medical research. Together, their combined efforts yielded substantial results.

As they journeyed, Song You witnessed the remarkable talents of this healer.

He truly lived up to the title of divine doctor—not only was he well-versed in the body’s meridians, bones, and anatomy, and thoroughly knowledgeable in medical theories and pathology, but he also possessed an almost supernatural ability.

Song You had seen him glance at someone who showed no outward signs of illness, yet accurately diagnose an ailment that had not yet manifested. He had also seen him take one look at a person and instantly discern all the illnesses they carried and what treatments were needed.

Sometimes, with just a glance at someone’s face, he could tell the hardships they had faced in life; by feeling their pulse, he could even predict how long they might live if free from disaster.

There wasn’t a single herb, insect, or creature in the world that he did not recognize.

The disciples often mentioned that sometimes Doctor Cai didn’t need to use medicine at all—he would simply tap on certain points, instruct the patient to perform specific actions, or say a few words, and the person’s condition would noticeably improve.

As for the legendary elixirs of immortality, youth-preserving pills, or even medicines that could supposedly grant ascension to immortality or alter one’s gender, their master seemed to know about them as well.

However, whenever the disciples brought up such topics in his presence, Doctor Cai would promptly reprimand them for speaking nonsense without regard for the truth, explaining to Song You that these were nothing more than baseless rumors spread by the common folk.

With such a healer, now aided by a Daoist, free to fully dedicate himself to his research—and already having a deep understanding of the plague—the treatment methods quickly improved and became more effective.

Song You’s tasks, however, went beyond just assisting with the healing.

While traveling, whenever they encountered signs of demons or monsters causing trouble, he would take the time to investigate and eliminate them as needed.

It was said that many villages had minimal contact with the outside world, and after the outbreak of the plague, they became entirely isolated. Yet, there were still cases where the plague appeared out of nowhere, with no clear origin.

Such cases required careful investigation.

Because of this, their progress was much slower than before. But Song You remained patient throughout. Lady Calico, for her part, seemed utterly unbothered.

Winter deepened, and the cold grew harsher.

The experiences they had, the suffering they witnessed in each region, and the actions of the Daoist and the divine doctor—there was truly no need to elaborate further.

Unknowingly, it was already the twelfth lunar month. Snow had fallen in Hezhou, or at least in Gui Commandery.

The wilds were now swept by a biting cold wind, covered in a thick blanket of snow. Doctor Cai, wrapped in heavy clothing, sat atop the black horse of the swordsman. His two disciples followed closely behind Song You and the swordsman, leaving a trail of footprints with every step.

The Daoist, covered in wind and snow, spoke as he walked, “Congratulations, Doc. The treatment is now taking shape. Once we reach Lingze County and verify its efficacy, we can report it to the authorities and implement it across the entire region.”

“Let’s hope it succeeds this time,” the doctor replied from the saddle.

It was hard to tell whether the white on his head was snow or hair.