Chapter One Hundred and Five: Dragon Village

Parting the curtain and stepping inside, Red Heart and the others were already in the room. A dozen-odd sickbeds had been arranged beneath the windows, and the patients’ condition was far from hopeful.

“Thank you for your trouble, esteemed magicians. I’ll go fetch some water for you,” said the young boy before hurrying off.

After Spirit Dream treated them with a purification spell, she shook her head sadly.

“They’ve been infected too severely, and for far too long. None of these people can be saved.”

White Saint sat in a chair nearby, preparing medicine, and looked over at Black Feather with a relaxed expression.

“We still have to let Black Feather take a hand.”

Black Feather wrapped his right palm in bandages as before, then walked to one of the beds. The infected patient’s breathing was faint. He extended his right hand and placed it near the patient’s chest; little by little, the dark aura was drawn into his palm. A moment later, the black mist that had been coiling around the patient’s body was gone.

At that moment the boy returned, carrying a water jug in one hand and a careful stack of bowls in the other. Though still very young, it was clear that ever since his parents had fallen ill, all the little clinic’s affairs had been managed by him. His face was disciplined and resolute.

“Spirit Dream, try your healing art once more,” Black Feather said.

“Ah.” Spirit Dream sighed. Though she held no real hope, she was willing to try again, no matter how slight the chance. She went to the patient and once more bathed his body in the warm light of purification.

Miraculously, the infected man who had shown no response just moments before slowly began to regain color in his face. Even Spirit Dream had not expected it. She cried out in delight:

“He’s getting better!”

The boy, who was pouring water for everyone, also showed joy on his face. “That’s wonderful. Many physicians from the Divine Dragon Clan have come before, and none of them could do anything. Esteemed magicians, can my father and mother be saved too? ...”

Red Heart nodded, and everyone’s spirits rose at once.

“How did you do that?” Spirit Dream asked Black Feather in puzzlement.

Black Feather pretended to be busy and deliberately avoided the question. White Saint changed the subject.

“All right, my medicine is ready too. Take this prescription and apply the medicine continuously to the wounds for several weeks, and you’ll recover.”

The boy accepted it and thanked him over and over.

By then, the boy’s parents had also slowly emerged from the healing process and awakened from unconsciousness. Color returned to their faces.

“Father, Mother!” The boy threw himself into their arms in joy.

They were still far too weak to sit up. “How long were we unconscious? And who are these people? ...”

“They’re magicians from the Holy City. Our infected people of the Divine Dragon Clan can be saved now,” the boy said, wiping away tears of excitement.

Red Heart had seen Black Feather use dark magic before and had some understanding of his devouring ability, so she understood why he had been the key to this journey. She instructed the boy beside her:

“Gather the infected from the nearby villages here, so we don’t have to travel far. That way, we can also set out again as soon as possible.”

The boy nodded and immediately went to carry it out.

Over the next few days, villagers came from all around after hearing of their reputation. Especially after word spread that the infected had recovered by a miracle, the tiny clinic was nearly overwhelmed.

Red Heart stood at the door directing the families of the infected into long orderly lines, and the treatment progressed smoothly. Even patients with other ailments came pouring in, though of course they were all sent away.

Before this, everyone had believed that patients severely infected by demons were nearly impossible to cure. But from that day on, rumors of “bringing the dead back to life, a divine healer walking the earth” spread swiftly and began to travel far and wide.

Just as the rescue work was nearing its end, that evening a shout suddenly rang out from the street outside the clinic:

“The leader of the Divine Dragon Clan has arrived!”

Red Heart immediately rose, preparing to go out and welcome the visitor. The little boy inside the clinic, upon hearing “the leader of the Divine Dragon Clan,” turned pale with shock and stood respectfully at his parents’ side. He had only ever heard of the “royal house of the Divine Dragon Clan” in legends and had never seen such a great figure in person.

Black Feather thought to himself, “The leader of the Divine Dragon Clan... could it be...”

Before Red Heart even reached the doorway, the guards outside had already parted the curtain and entered, standing scattered on both sides. Then Dragon Matriarch strode in, leaning on the Divine Dragon Scepter, her bearing grand and formidable. Her eyes shone brightly, and she was full of vigor as she surveyed the young magicians before her.

When Red Heart saw Dragon Matriarch, he immediately dropped to one knee. “I, Red Heart, a foreign warrior of the Divine Dragon Clan, pay my respects to the leader!”

The clinic couple also hurriedly bowed in unease. Dragon Matriarch waved them up. “You are not warriors, so there is no need to bow!” The two stood up again, grateful.

A guard beside her introduced her:

“This is the leader of the Divine Dragon Clan, Dragon Matriarch.”

Dragon Matriarch narrowed her long eyes, her gaze seeming to weigh something. She looked at the few infected patients who were gradually recovering in the room, then at White Saint, and said:

“You are the one who treated these infected people?”

White Saint thought the old woman looked somewhat familiar; he had seen her in the battle at the Great Wall. Hearing her tone, which clearly carried suspicion beneath the question, he felt a little displeased and replied:

“I worked with my companions to heal them.”

“Heal them?” Dragon Matriarch’s tone turned stern. “Young man, do not be arrogant simply because you are young! Who on this continent does not know that those severely infected by demonic attack cannot be cured? I already knew the condition of the infected here. To say that you could heal them is a bit too boastful!”

White Saint had long taken a dislike to her, and so he met her bluntness with equal sharpness, without the slightest courtesy:

“You heard right. They were healed. As for the condition of the wounded, you can ask the patients who walked out of here.”

Dragon Matriarch’s aura sank; she narrowed her eyes, anger showing on her face.

At that moment, the clinic’s owner had already been helped forward by the boy. He said respectfully:

“Leader, I am the one in charge of this clinic. Our illness was indeed cured by these magicians. Not long ago I was still a severely infected patient. I never imagined I could live again...”

Hearing this, Dragon Matriarch, still half-skeptical, said no more. She turned, leaning on the Divine Dragon Scepter, and slowly walked away, saying:

“Have that apothecary come with me.”

A guard behind her immediately pointed at White Saint. “You. Come with us. The rest of you stay here.”

White Saint was most unwilling, but with both hands in his coat pockets, he still walked out.

Black Feather and the others exchanged glances, still unable to make out Dragon Matriarch’s intention.

Sky Tear could not help muttering, “What is she calling him out there for? She clearly doesn’t believe his healing ability, and she won’t even let the rest of us go with him. Who knows what she’s plotting...”

Red Heart said, “Dragon Matriarch must have something important to discuss with him. You can all relax. Let’s wait here.”

She understood what kind of figure Dragon Matriarch was and how weighty her position was among the people of the Divine Dragon Clan. No one dared defy her orders.

Since even their captain said so, everyone could only wait.