NOVPUB
Chapter 65: The boy’s circumstance
In an abandoned house in Dual Horns Peak city, Eleine, Sylphia, Xin Haotian, and all the children they freed from the prison had gathered. This house was one of their meeting places with the Skull of Dual Horns group, making it a discreet location far from public attention. Situated in a seldom-traveled alley, it served as an ideal spot for hiding and secret meetings.
After waiting for 20 minutes, Aldrian arrived at the house where 20 of the children were taking shelter for the time being.
"What are we going to do with these children?" Sylphia asked.
"We just need to free them," Aldrian replied. "Some of them still have family they can return to. As for those who don’t, we can only leave their future to fate. We’ll provide them with some energy stones to help them survive. At the very least, we shouldn’t feel morally burdened after everything they’ve been through."
"I’m still worried about the consequences of our prison break," Sylphia said. "Will they be alright?"
"The Skull of Dual Horns was just a tool used by the city authorities, specifically Commander Jin," Aldrian explained. "He maintained the Skull of Dual Horns as a thug group to do their dirty work. As far as I know, there’s no other group like them in this city. With them gone, we’ve already crippled their operations here. Only those thugs knew the details and controlled these children, the authorities didn’t involve themselves directly in this matter but some of them knew what they did."
Aldrian looked at the children, focusing on the boy he had saved earlier. The boy sat in a corner, holding a cup of water, staring down into it. He gazed at his own reflection on the water’s surface until he felt other person presence standing in front of him, he looked up to see who cast the shadow. Aldrian looked into the boy’s trembling eyes before sitting on the floor beside him.
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Yu Fenglian
Age : 9 years
Race : Human
Cultivation : None
Cultivation technique : None
Attack techniques : None
Defense technique : None
Movement technique : None
Supporting technique : None
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Aldrian reviewed the boy’s information for a moment before he asked,
"What is your name?"
"Yu Fenglian."
"So, Yu Fenglian, I have some questions for you. I apologize in advance if my questions bring up unpleasant memories, but I need some information."
Yu Fenglian just nodded. He wasn’t as afraid now as he had been when he first met Aldrian. He could sense that the man before him was no ordinary person, someone capable of killing all the members of the Skull of Dual Horns and escaping the city guard headquarters unscathed. If Aldrian wanted him dead, it would have happened long before Yu Fenglian even realized it.
"Please ask, young master," Yu Fenglian said.
"Is your mother the only family you have left?"
Yu Fenglian trembled for a moment but still answered,
"Yes, I only have my mother left."
"What happened to the rest of your family?" Aldrian asked again.
"They... they died."
"How?"
"I don’t know. One night, three years ago, our clan was raided by an unidentified group. They were strong, and our clan couldn’t resist. We were destroyed overnight," Yu Fenglian said.
"Did your family have many enemies?"
"I don’t know. I never really knew about that kind of thing. Father and Mother never told me anything regarding their problems."
Aldrian nodded, thinking it made sense. Yu Fenglian was still a young boy, even back then. Most of the families typically wouldn’t burden a child of his age with such matters.
"Where is your mother?" Aldrian asked.
"She is at home, 2 kilometers from here."
"Can I meet your mother?"
"You can, but my mother is really sick, so I don’t know if she can receive you properly."
"It’s okay. I just want to see how she’s doing."
Aldrian then spoke with Eleine, Sylphia, and Xin Haotian, asking them to stay with the other children while he visited Yu Fenglian’s mother. After that, he walked with Yu Fenglian to his home, located in a slum area of the city.
"So, why did you become a pickpocket? How did you meet those thugs?" Aldrian asked as they walked.
"After my clan was destroyed and my mother’s condition got worse, I desperately needed energy stones to pay for her treatment. One day, those men came to me and promised to help with my situation. But I didn’t know then that it would become my nightmare. Somehow, they knew about my circumstances and even threatened me with my mother," Yu Fenglian answered.
Aldrian listened to the boy’s story while also observing his surroundings.
As they walked through the slum area, Aldrian noticed many people in poor condition, a stark contrast to other parts of the city. Most of them appeared to be ordinary mortals without any cultivation. They soon arrived in front of a small, shabby wooden house. The house was surrounded by a small yard and a decaying wooden fence overgrown with weeds, it was far from a decent place to live.
"I’m sorry, young master, that my house is not good enough to receive someone like you," Yu Fenglian said, blushing with embarrassment.
Aldrian just smiled and gently stroked Yu Fenglian’s head.
"It’s okay. I just want to see how you and your family are living," Aldrian replied. 𝓃𝓸𝓿𝓹𝓾𝓫.𝓬ℴ𝓶
"Then let me check if Mother is already awake. She sometimes sleeps a lot because of her condition." Yu Fenglian slowly opened the door, careful not to disturb his mother. Aldrian followed closely behind and finally saw a bedridden woman lying on a wooden bed.
Her condition was pitiful, her body was malnourished, her face pale, and sweat continuously rolled down her cheeks. Even though she appeared to be sleeping, her breathing was heavy, as if she had difficulty drawing breath.
"I’m sorry, young master, but it looks like Mother can’t speak to you right now. Once she falls asleep, it’s hard for her to wake up." Yu Fenglian said.
"Can I check your mother’s condition?" Aldrian asked.
"Are you a physician, young master? Since misfortune befell my family, I haven’t been able to take my mother to a physician because I don’t have any energy stones to pay. I’m afraid I can’t offer you anything."
"No, I’m not a physician, but I can examine your mother’s condition, and maybe we can find a cure."
Aldrian gently touched Yu Fenglian’s mother’s wrist to check her pulse. Under Yu Fenglian’s hopeful gaze, Aldrian focused his senses and directed his energy into the woman’s body.
"Her meridians are blocked by foreign energy, and her middle dantian has been dried up for a long time. She’s already in critical condition and it’s a miracle she’s held on this long." Aldrian thought to himself.
"When one of the attackers tried to kill me, my mother blocked the attack, but she was still injured," Yu Fenglian said, his face clouded with sadness as he looked at his mother. "My father used his remaining strength to help my mother and me escape to one of our family’s hideouts."
Aldrian nodded, continuing to focus his energy to examine her entire body. After a moment, he reached a conclusion.
"Your mother has been poisoned, and the poison is quite potent. It has already taken root deeply in her body and spread throughout. Based on my estimation, she can survive for another year if there are no sudden changes. You would need a physician at the duke stage to cure her. I have to say, your mother is fortunate to have survived this long."
Yu Fenglian gasped at Aldrian’s words, another year? A physician at the duke stage? Forget about a duke stage physician, he couldn’t even afford the lowest ranking one. His eyes trembled, and tears began to well up as he looked at the bleak situation of his only family. Without hesitation, he kowtowed to Aldrian.
"Do you have a way, young master? Please, I beg you to cure my mother. I have nothing of value to repay you, but if you can save her, I will do everything I can to repay this debt!" he pleaded, his head still bowed.
Aldrian looked at Yu Fenglian for a moment before turning his gaze back to the woman.
"Due to the severity of your mother’s condition, treating her will require careful effort. After examining her body, I have a way to cure her, but the chances of success are only fifty-fifty. If it fails, your mother will no longer be able to withstand the poison, which will eventually lead to her death. Are you sure you want to proceed?" Aldrian asked.
"Is there no other option with a higher success rate?" Yu Fenglian asked, his voice filled with worry.
"There may be other methods, but the longer you wait for treatment, the more her condition will deteriorate. I can only offer my suggestion, but the decision is yours to make." Aldrian said.
Yu Fenglian pondered his options, his face showing the internal struggle he felt about deciding his mother’s fate. After a moment, he gritted his teeth and looked at Aldrian with determination in his eyes.
"Please, save my mother. If I do nothing, she will suffer more. I’d rather take any chance to save her. If she leaves me because of this, then I’ll bear the guilt." Yu Fenglian said, his voice resolute.
Aldrian smiled at Yu Fenglian’s determination and ruffled the boy’s hair.
"Don’t worry, I will do my best to cure your mother. Now, can you step outside so I can begin?"
Yu Fenglian’s face brightened with hope, but he glanced at his mother with worry before stepping outside the house. Left alone, Aldrian pulled a small wooden chair next to the bed and sat down.
"You can open your eyes now; your son is outside." Aldrian said softly to the woman who appeared to be sleeping. Her eyelids fluttered for a moment before slowly opening, revealing her beautiful lavender eyes.
