Demon King: Hero, don’t run away!

73: Chapter 73: You’re on my ship now, no escaping 73: Chapter 73: You’re on my ship now, no escaping Carlo had chosen an escape route for Bai Jin and Yang Yu, a route that took them far from the research institute and the Big Pancake President’s villa’s north gate.

The officer guarding the north gate had some history with the Silver Orchid Commerce, and Carlo had barely needed to exert any effort to persuade him to help with this small favor.

By the time Silver Orchid Commerce’s messenger arrived carrying a large sum of Gold Coins, wanting to reconcile and persuade the officer to screen for suspicious vehicles, Yang Yu had already been let go.

Upon leaving Chuanyang City, Yang Yu drove the carriage northward along the main road.

A gentle breeze blew, and the night had not yet faded, the sky just barely bright enough to let the roadside scenery be taken in.

As Chuanyang City completely disappeared from the horizon, Yang Yu gradually slowed down the carriage.

Early risers could be seen in the fields, laboring; showing too much panic would only arouse suspicion.

This was an open-top carriage; according to Carlo, a roofed carriage would be too conspicuous at this hour.

An open-top carriage could be passed off as a poor merchant who had set off early, greatly reducing the risk.

Whether Carlo was telling the truth or not did not matter; as long as the payment was exactly as agreed, Yang Yu had no complaints.

To avoid the cool breeze of the early morning, Bai Jin sat close against the wooden boxes, occasionally letting out a light cough.

She was well aware of her condition.

The sense of lightness, as if she had grown wings, that came after drinking the resurrection medicine lasted only for a moment.

Her body hadn’t changed compared to before; each cough brought a stabbing pain in her chest.

She reflected that it had already been two years since then.

From childhood, she had traveled with her master, whose skills she had also inherited.

They had traveled to many places and spent many years together; she had been very happy during that time.

If there was anything she was dissatisfied with, it would be her master’s teaching methods, which had shaped her slightly odd personality.

But that ordinary life did not continue indefinitely.

Five years ago, her master had suddenly contracted a strange illness.

The symptoms, no different from an ordinary cough, could not be cured no matter what.

Initially, he coughed a few times every few days, but it soon turned into several times a day, occasionally accompanied by fever and days confined to bed.

Her master had sought treatment everywhere, but to no avail.

Eventually, her master gave up.

“I know my own body; there’s no need to waste more time on me.

Instead of spending time on me, why not visit a few more places?

Bai Jin, is there anywhere you’d like to go?”

Bai Jin could never forget that smile; pale and feeble, but warm, tinged with a hint of regret—the look of a father who had not fulfilled his responsibilities.

Traveling far and wide, in the end, her master took her back to the place where he had first taken her away.

It was a beautiful seaside village.

Upon returning there, her master immediately pointed to a visible rock from the entrance of the village and said, “If I die, burn my body to ashes and scatter them near that rock.

It’s the custom here; no matter how far a person travels in life, as long as they can return to these rocks and have their ashes scattered here, they can forever reunite with their loved ones.

So, please.”

Not long after that, her master died.

Bai Jin fulfilled her master’s dying wish and scattered his ashes near the rock.

At the same time, Bai Jin shouldered her master’s fate.

She left that small village and, like her master had taken her on journeys, she began to travel.

Until a year ago, she too was beset by the same disease.

“I say, Bai Jin, are you feeling any better?”

Gazing at the adolescent’s back, Bai Jin flashed a smile.

“Hehe, I’m all better now.

It’s hard to believe they hid such a great thing in such a deep place.

But, thanks to you, we successfully found it.

I can feel my body gradually recovering; the cough now is a sign of improvement, it’s the resistance of the disease.

Don’t worry, I keep my promises.

You helped me get the medicine, I will definitely adventure with you!”

If he had the same lifespan as his master, that would be another full two years.

Two years should be enough time to accompany him throughout his adventure.

Bai Jin looked up at the stars gradually fading in the sky and murmured in his heart.

“You lied, didn’t you?”

Yang Yu’s words struck a chord in Bai Jin’s heart, and he tried to keep the pain from showing on his face, maintaining his usual eerie smile.

“How could I lie?

I always keep my word, and I never give up halfway.

If you dare to doubt me, I’ll curse you.”

Yang Yu sighed deeply and steered the carriage methodically.

“After drinking the medicine, you’re still not well, are you?

I know you’ll probably want to argue, but I’m telling you upfront, you can’t fool me.”

Bai Jin’s gaze dropped to He Meng, who was sleeping on a sack, unsure of how to respond.

Though it had been only a short half-month, they had gone through a lot together.

The more Bai Jin followed Yang Yu, the more incredible he found him.

How could he hide such a small matter from him…

Perhaps Yang Yu had already noticed that Bai Jin’s days were numbered.

Bai Jin gripped his magic wand tightly and drew a small magic array next to the chest; it was his first time drawing that particular array, a storage magic array.

He had wanted to complete the task his master gave him after recovering, but now, it seemed there was no longer a chance for that.

Perhaps handing it over to him was the right choice; he would handle it far better than her.

Injecting a little magic power into the magic array, Bai Jin opened his mouth slightly but was interrupted by Yang Yu.

“I say, Bai Jin, do you trust me?”

This sudden question caught Bai Jin off guard, and she didn’t know why Yang Yu chose this moment to ask it.

But, the answer was already in her heart.

“Mmm.”

Bai Jin’s tone was firm.

“Then catch this properly!”

Yang Yu threw something to the rear; Bai Jin hurriedly stopped injecting magic into the array and caught what Yang Yu threw.

It was a pristine white jar, light enough to hold in one hand, a material Bai Jin had never seen before.

The content rustled inside, and the jar bore inscriptions unknown to her.

“This thing is called antibiotics; I happened upon it in some Underground Maze; it seems to be used for treating illnesses.

Trust me, just try it—three times a day, three pills each time.”

Saying so, Yang Yu turned his head, and the rising sunrise cast brilliant morning light on his side face, his confident smile seemingly never fading.

“Even if it doesn’t work, no worries, I’ll find a way to cure you.

My adventure is longer than you can imagine.

Since you’re aboard my ship of thieves, don’t think about escaping!”