Bear School Astartes

Chapter 348: 348. Leaving, Unable to Leave

Lann had witnessed the scene where Henrik was saved by a blood vial.

Thus, he could quite understand how Viola described the ”blood healing.”

—It was as if injecting fresh vitality into a decayed body!

Directly replenishing and enhancing life force... This feeling of pleasure, satisfaction, and reassurance should make one feel ’bliss’ more than any addictive drug in the world.

Moreover, ordinary people might have a chance to escape, but those outsiders who came to Yan’an with the purpose of ’fighting terminal illness and prolonging life.’

Even to withstand the progression and erosion of disease, they must continuously undergo ”blood healing.”

It was even less possible for them to leave Yan’an.

”Blood healing” is a specialty of Yan’an.

Only in Yan’an can people obtain that sacred blood.

This city, and the people living in it... Is their connection with ”blood” too close?

Lann chewed on his bread, thinking incessantly.

”Gascogne.”

”Hmm?”

The priest, who had just placed a chicken leg from the plate in the center of the dining table onto his wife’s plate, replied while dealing with two daughters’ dissatisfaction and turned his head towards the guest.

Lann pursed his lips, weighing his words.

”Yan’an is indeed peculiar, I’ve never seen a city like this, ’blood healing,’ ’beast plague’ and all. But the appearance of these two peculiar things in one city, could it be... I mean, is it possible...”

”The spread of the beast plague relies on blood? Or, at the very least, there’s a connection between the two?”

In Yan’an, blood seems to hold some degree of sacredness and religiosity, linking the filthy beast plague with blood. Lann’s hypothesis would be a bit adventurous in this religiously charged city.

But fortunately, Gascogne is fundamentally an outsider and was even a priest before coming to Yan’an.

Viola also isn’t a local with prejudices against outsiders; otherwise, she wouldn’t have married Gascogne.

So Lann’s hypothesis didn’t cause much of a stir at the table, just brought a smile to the couple.

”In the early days of the beast plague, such doubts indeed existed for a while.”

Viola explained rather nonchalantly.

”But the feeling ’blood healing’ gives is something everyone has experienced; the sacredness of blood is undeniable. Plus, possessing the knowledge of ’blood healing,’ within the Healing Church, the origin of ’blood healing,’ no one has ever contracted the beast plague. This is enough to prove there’s no connection between ’blood healing’ and ’beast plague.’

”If forced to say there’s a connection, it’s only this: sufficiently timely and powerful ’blood healing’ can cure ’beast plague.’

Lann nodded silently, seemingly accepting this explanation.

But in his heart, he actually only confirmed one thing further: the influence of the Healing Church in Yan’an is deeply rooted.

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After a sumptuous breakfast, Viola tidied up the bed for Lann in the guest room.

The clean and tidy spare bedding didn’t have the smell of mold, but rather a reassuring soap scent after washing.

Viola’s diligence and attentiveness in housekeeping made Lann a bit impressed.

Mentos knew exactly what its host was thinking.

It immediately projected an image on the retina.

Faced with chores, Margaret would most likely just splash out money to buy a new set...

Want to see the image of hardworking housewives?

Probably only Mentos could synthesize one for you.

Lann’s eye twitched, then he casually pressed Mentos down.

Following Henrik’s suggestion, Gascogne prepared to go outside to purchase beast-repellent incense.

This was a type of spice produced in Yan’an to deal with beast plague patients, which could mask the human scent and make beast plague patients feel nauseous, thus avoiding houses.

Last night’s Hunt Night saw residents dragged out and killed by beast plague patients breaching doors, mostly those who didn’t have enough incense.

This stuff isn’t cheap; it’s monopolized by the Healing Church.

But fortunately, Hunters in Yan’an belong to a high-income group, Gascogne’s family doesn’t struggle to afford it.

”Please watch the house for me, Lann. Just as we agreed.”

At the door, the priest, wearing a freshly washed coat, spoke to Lann inside the door.

”I’ve known Henrik for a long time, but I’ve never seen him as flustered as he was last night. He’s an exceptionally skilled Hunter; so skilled, in confronting beasts, many of us think he will never meet a Hunter’s death. But his mistake last night...”

Lann, wearing Gascogne’s old shirt, stood leaning against the door frame, arms folded.

The priest’s words left him slightly silent.

For if he were to put himself in Vesemir’s shoes in the state Henrik was last night, it would be like realizing something terrifying.

”Go ahead and shop with ease; I’ll keep an eye on things here.”

Lann first firmly agreed.

”But when you return, I might leave Yan’an.”

”Oh?” Gascogne asked curiously, ”You won’t treat it? Even excluding ’blood healing,’ Yan’an’s medical level is world-class.”

”Not treating it, these cat eyes are just odd in appearance, won’t make me uncomfortable. More than improving appearance, I’m rather uneasy about Yan’an...”

Gascogne was silent for a moment, then chuckled lightly.

”Ah, leaving before having deep contact with Yan’an... That’s good too. One might even say it’s a wise decision. You’re luckier than most outsiders who come here; you at least have a choice.”

”The incidence of beast plague is rising; ordinary residents don’t sense it, but the Hunters do... The situation is worsening.”

”The number of bodies dragged out after Hunt Night gets larger each time, and the frequency of holding Hunt Nights is increasing. This city’s atmosphere is getting neurotically tense.”

As Gascogne said this, he intentionally lowered his voice.

His low, husky voice at this moment was like a murmur in a dream, the sound spreading only between him and Lann.

”Since you already sense the change in situation...” Lann also lowered his voice, ”In my opinion, you should take your family and leave here, far away.”

Gascogne was first silent, then smiled without a word, raising his wide-brimmed hat to glance inside the house.

Lann still didn’t understand why his bandaged eyes could obtain so much visual information, but he indeed had observation skills.

In this middling sized house, Viola busily cleaned the furniture, one of the little girls played with toys while the other held a book.

Sunlight penetrated through the window, dust floating in the beam at this moment didn’t seem dirty, instead evoking a sense of peculiar warmth.

”I can’t leave.”

Outside the house, Gascogne spoke calmly, and repeated.

”I can’t leave. Yan Nan People can’t leave Yan’an; I can’t leave Viola and the children. So I can’t leave, don’t want to either. That’s just how it is.”

”Understood.” Lann nodded with a calm face, ”Then...good luck, Gascogne.”

”Also in advance, safe travels to you, Lann. I won’t be out for long, should be back by noon, hope it doesn’t delay your plans then.”

”There’s nothing to be delayed; before you return, I’ll take good care of them for you.”

Lann decisively spoke.

”Well, thank you.”