Chapter 114: Diagnosis and Treatment

Shangguan Chuci narrowed her eyes, observing intently, her expression growing increasingly grave on her exquisitely handsome face.

Jiang Yingxue, seeing her merely watching without taking action, couldn't help but wonder to herself, "What kind of background does this pretty young master have, and what sort of magical ability does he possess, to be able to discern hidden illnesses within the human body just by using his eyes?"

Cheng Xiaoshan’s feelings were even more complex. That shopkeeper Lu not only had beauties at his sides but was also flanked by extraordinary figures; in a certain sense, it was truly admirable.

At that moment, Lu Chenyuan, noticing her expression, realized things were taking a turn for the worse and asked in a deep voice, "Could it be..."

Although Wang Ergou did not know the background of these people, reading expressions was a basic skill for a waiter. He could clearly see that Shangguan Chuci and the others were no ordinary people, and their knowledge was equally vast. Seeing the color drain from their faces, his heart sank, plummeting to the very bottom of his chest.

Though he spent his days welcoming guests at the inn, he had heard whispers of the strange occurrences plaguing the Zhenhai River region lately. Thinking of the horrific scene of that man at the fish market who had turned into fish in the middle of the street, and fearing he might suffer the same fate, he began to tremble uncontrollably.

Shangguan Chuci said, "Indeed. His condition is identical to that of the man at the fish market. The reason for this distension is that his belly is already filled with live fish. It is only his fortune that they have not yet devoured his internal organs, leaving him a sliver of hope."

Hearing this, Wang Ergou’s face went deathly pale. His legs gave way, and he collapsed onto his knees. Forget about dignity; with a mess of snot and tears, he kowtowed repeatedly to Shangguan Chuci, pleading incoherently, "Young Master! Young Master, save me! I am over twenty, I haven't even taken a wife, nor have I carried on the family line—I cannot die in such an inexplicable way!"

Seeing this, the monk Zhifei felt a surge of compassion. He recited a Buddhist chant and said, "Amitabha. In this humble monk’s view, since there are fish in his belly, the logic is much like having parasites in one's stomach. Why not find some potent medicine to poison all the fish within? Would that not resolve this calamity?"

Upon hearing this, Cheng Xiaoshan nodded repeatedly, finding the logic sound.

However, Shangguan Chuci shook her head and sighed, "Little Master, you are mistaken. While it may seem similar, the reality is worlds apart. Parasites are merely a biological ailment, but fish growing in the belly is a metaphysical catastrophe."

Seeing the confusion on everyone's faces, she explained, "The vitality of those fish is already intertwined with the host’s bloodline, as if they were one. If you were to poison the fish, the host would lose his life instantly as well. This is a situation of shared life and death; it cannot be broken."

Cheng Xiaoshan listened from the sidelines. Though he did not know what profound fields "biology" or "metaphysics" were, he assumed it was simply his own lack of learning. Yet, he understood the crux of the matter and realized this method would not work, leaving him feeling utterly helpless.

Shangguan Chuci looked at the distraught Wang Ergou, who was crying until he was no longer recognizable, and sighed, turning her gaze toward the silent Lu Chenyuan. "Brother Lu, do you have any ideas?"

Lu Chenyuan stepped forward. A mere glance with his naked eyes revealed nothing, so he said, "Come here, let me take a closer look."

Cheng Xiaoshan was astonished. He had assumed that a capricious demon like Lu would view human life as mere blades of grass and would never bother with the life or death of a mere waiter. He had not expected him to step in to help; such meddling seemed completely at odds with his identity as a demon. But upon second thought, he realized this action fit perfectly with the persona he was currently maintaining. Thinking of such hidden depths, his wariness deepened further.

Wang Ergou was stunned when Lu Chenyuan spoke. He had never imagined that among all these god-like figures, it would be this seemingly unremarkable shopkeeper who would be the first to speak. Looking at the young master Chu and the pair of siblings in cloaks, everyone wore an expression of expectation, as if they believed that if this shopkeeper Lu were helpless, there would truly be no other way.

"Is... is this really the same Lu Chenyuan I know?" Wang Ergou felt lost. He knew Lu Chenyuan was skilled, but he had never guessed he was such a profound and unfathomable figure. Not daring to hesitate, he scrambled up from the floor, not even bothering to dust off his knees. With a final sliver of hope, he approached with reverence, his voice trembling, "Shopkeeper... Shopkeeper Lu, please... take a look. Is there... any hope for me?"

Seeing the sudden shift in his attitude, Lu Chenyuan knew the man must have mistaken him for someone of great importance. Though he felt helpless, he had no time to explain, and simply placed a palm over the man's distended abdomen.

The moment he made contact, he felt a faint, turbid current of energy swirling beneath his palm. It was highly covert, far less distinct than the spiritual aura of a cultivator. He slowly closed his eyes, pouring all his focus beneath his palm.

In an instant, he seemed to hear the sound of flowing water.

It was not the babbling of a brook or the rushing of a river, but an abyssal current hidden in endless darkness. At that very moment, the innate, cursed power within his own body, drawn by this current, showed signs of awakening.

Lu Chenyuan’s heart tightened; he quickly steadied his breathing, forcibly suppressing that sign of transformation. Yet, in the moment he channeled his inner techniques to struggle against that transformative power, a strange thing happened.

The deep-sea current in Wang Ergou’s belly, which had been flowing steadily, suddenly seemed like a school of startled fish that had crashed into a titanic beast; in a flash, they lost their formation and scattered in all directions. After a moment, they gathered again, but were far more docile than before, losing all their unruly aggression.

Lu Chenyuan’s heart stirred. He thought to himself, "Is this a temporary suppression? But this treats the symptoms, not the root cause. The suppression is only for now; if the fundamental issue isn't solved, the next backlash will be even more violent."

He withdrew his hand and, amidst the surprised and curious gazes of the others, pondered for a moment before looking at Wang Ergou. "How do you feel now?"

Wang Ergou moved his body and felt that the gnawing hunger in his belly had indeed subsided by more than half. Though he still felt uncomfortably bloated, he felt much lighter. A look of wild joy appeared on his face, and he moved to kneel to Lu Chenyuan again. "Thank you, Shopkeeper Lu! Thank you for saving my life!"

The monk Zhifei and the siblings Cheng Xiaoshan were left dumbstruck. They had seen clearly that the young man had merely touched his belly, without any trace of true energy flowing from his body, yet the effect was immediate. To be able to alleviate such a bizarre illness with such ease—this was truly a miraculous technique, something they had never heard of before!

Seeing that his method worked, Lu Chenyuan felt slightly relieved. However, with a life at stake, he dared not be overconfident. Ignoring the risk of revealing his true nature, he said sternly to Wang Ergou, "My abilities are limited; for now, I can only provide temporary suppression. In my opinion, the root of this illness lies in the Eastern Sea. Only when the troubles of the Eastern Sea are resolved can your condition be truly cured."