Fabre in Sacheon’s Tang

As I was still pondering over the fact that someone had died, a clamor erupted near my ear.

I heard the commanding officer barking orders, the soldiers yelling, and the voice of the Immortal of Medicine among them.

“Hey! Where do you think you’re going!? Didn’t you hear me?”

“Old man, are you trying to get yourself killed? Even if there’s an outbreak of plague in there!?”

“I am a man known in the martial world by the title ‘Immortal of Medicine.’ Would you be willing to let me enter? I’d like to attempt treatment.”

I turned to see the Immortal of Medicine approaching the commanding officer, requesting to be let inside.

At first, the officer sneered with arrogance, but the moment he heard the name “Immortal of Medicine,” his face went pale and he immediately bowed respectfully.

“Th-The Immortal!? Are you the Immortal of Medicine of the Many-Healing Sect?”

While we were on our way here, my brother had explained that the Many-Healing Sect was the organization that the Immortal of Medicine and Immortal of Herbs belonged to—a sort of Doctors Without Borders in the Central Plains.

It was a sect dedicated to healing all manner of ailments.

They treated the poor for free, while the rich paid voluntarily after receiving treatment. As such, they were universally praised.

“You’ve heard of me?”

“How could anyone working in either the civil or military spheres not know of the Immortal of Medicine and the Many-Healing Sect?”

Apparently, whenever an epidemic broke out, the Immortal of Medicine or the Immortal of Herbs—or sometimes their disciples—would be dispatched directly.

I’d heard even government epidemic offices were well aware of them, and it seemed that was no exaggeration.

“This is rather embarrassing. Anyway, would it be possible for us to go inside? Or would that put you in a difficult position?”

“N-No, not at all, Immortal of Medicine. It would be an honor if you took the lead. In fact, we were ordered to open the way should you arrive.”

Bowing again, the officer stepped back.

Then, trying to gather information in advance, the Immortal of Medicine asked,

“Has there been much loss of life?”

“No, sir. We just had our first death this morning, so we decided to monitor the situation and block off the village in the meantime. If half the population had started dying, we were planning to burn the entire village, but thankfully it hasn’t come to that.”

“I see. Then we must hurry inside.”

“You all stay here. So-ryong and my disciple, you come with me.”

“Understood, Elder Brother.”

“Yes, sir.”

The Dragon Fangs were told to stay at the entrance, while only I was allowed to accompany the two elders.

The Dragon Fangs couldn’t join us since they had no concept of infectious disease, but because I had some knowledge of medicine, I was granted permission.

Though even if I hadn’t been, I would’ve gone in anyway.

No matter what it is, I can’t back down before I see it with my own eyes.

There might be some spirit beast involved—so of course I had to go. I had hesitated a bit because someone had died, but there could be an explanation. I couldn’t jump to conclusions before confirming things myself.

If it really were an epidemic, I might have to worry—but if it was just anemia, then it likely wasn’t a respiratory illness and probably wasn’t contagious.

“Let’s cover our mouths and noses with this cloth, just in case. I think we’ll be fine, but better safe than sorry.”

Standing beside me, the Immortal of Herbs handed me a piece of cloth.

When I unfolded it, I saw it resembled a kind of mask.

Probably because there was still a chance it was infectious, he wanted me to cover my nose and mouth.

Having something like this definitely makes me feel better.

“I’ve soaked it in medicine, so it has the effect of realgar as well. It should offer some protection against poison, at least for a short while.”

“Understood, Grandpa.”

I tied on the triangular mask, which looked a bit like a bandit costume, and the scent of herbal medicine wafted up.

As I breathed in the pleasant fragrance and prepared to follow the elders into the village—

“So-ryong, be careful.”

“Young Lord, please take care.”

“Yes, I will.”

I gave a smile to my brother and sister-in-law, who watched me with concern, then followed the two elders.

As we made our way down the small path toward the village, the Immortal of Medicine asked,

“By the way, do your children not need to cover their noses and mouths?”

He must have been worried about zoonotic diseases, but insects catching human diseases? That was something I’d never heard of.

“Sir, insects are biologically different from humans, so they’re not susceptible to human illnesses. I believe there’s no need to worry.”

“Good. That’s a relief. I just found those little guys so cute ~Nоvеl𝕚ght~ that I couldn’t help but worry.”

Seems like we’d gained another fan. My kids really do put people at ease just by being there.

As we walked farther along the path, a village came into view.

It was a typical rural settlement, perched on a low hill.

About a hundred houses clustered together, quaint and quiet.

“Is this the place?”

Just as we reached the entrance, a small procession emerged from within the village.

Two sturdy men were carrying something wrapped in cloth, following behind an elderly man. A woman trailed them, wiping away tears.

It looked like a funeral procession, but something unusual caught my eye—everyone had dark circles around their eyes.

Like pandas, the people’s eyes were ringed with heavy shadows.

“Huh?! Ma—Masks?”

“Oh, we’re not bad people.”

The old man at the front looked startled upon seeing us, and the Immortal of Medicine quickly called out.

At his words, the old man spoke with caution.

“But... wasn’t the village entrance blocked by the authorities? How did you get here?”

“I am known in the martial world as the Immortal of Medicine...”

“The Immortal!?”

“We’re saved! The Immortal has come!”

“We’re saved!”

This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.

Before the Immortal of Medicine could even finish his sentence, the people were already shouting that they were saved.

The fame of the Immortal really was incredible.

Seeing it, I couldn’t help but feel a little envious.

This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.

I thought it would be nice if my nickname were as widely known in the Central Plains as his.

My title, Father of All Venomous and Spirit Beasts, should really spread across the whole of the Central Plains someday...

「‘Huuuh?! The Father of All Venomous Beasts!?’

‘You mean the one known as the father of all poison and spirit creatures?!’

‘Heh heh... how embarrassing. It’s not such a grand title, really.’

‘To think I’d meet the Father of All Venomous Beasts in a place like this!’」

I was indulging in a little daydream about becoming famous when—

After the cheering died down, the Immortal of Medicine turned to the village head and asked,

“Is the deceased in there?”

“Yes, Immortal.”

“May I take a look before burial?”

At his request, the villagers looked to the woman at the rear.

She seemed to be a family member. She sank to the ground and spoke through her tears.

“If only he had held on a little longer... the Immortal might have reached him...”

It sounded like she regretted that he hadn’t lasted long enough to receive treatment. But to me, it felt like the reverse.

If we had arrived just a bit sooner, maybe he would’ve lived.

We had spent several days treating Geumdo, after all, so I couldn’t help but feel responsible.

I hadn’t even thought of it earlier, but had we not delayed, we could’ve gotten here sooner.

Damn...

Just then, I heard the Immortal of Herbs whispering to me mentally.

[So-ryong, this isn’t your fault. Do you know how many regretful deaths we’ve seen in our lives caring for the sick?

There were times we lost someone just because we’d gone for a meal. Once, during a flood, we were delayed, and dozens died while we were stuck on the road.

Each one has their own fate. That’s all it is.]

Noticing the gloom on my face, he was comforting me.

Meanwhile, the Immortal of Medicine gently asked the crying woman again...

“I’m sorry I was late. But if I’m to heal others, I’ll need to take a look first. Would that be alright?”

At his words, the woman, clutching what was clearly a corpse, nodded while sobbing.

“I understand, Elder. My younger child is in serious condition too, so please... after checking on this one, please look at them as well.”

“I will. No—let’s see the living child first.”

“Th-Thank you, Elder!”

No wonder the body seemed small—it likely wasn’t an adult.

The corpse was taken back into the house where they had lived, and we decided to examine the woman’s surviving child, who was in critical condition.

“Haa... Haa...”

We entered the room where the child lay. The kid was pale, wheezing heavily.

The Immortal of Medicine hurried to the bedside and began checking the child’s pulse.

“Cold sweat... a lot of it. And the eyes are red. But why is there no color in the face?”

“No color?”

“Look. The face is completely pale. Hm? The hands and feet?”

The symptoms were clear. The child was drenched in cold sweat, with bloodshot eyes. Just as the elder had said, their complexion and skin were extremely pale.

But what was even more alarming—the fingertips and toes were turning black.

“Disciple, take a look at this.”

“Understood, Elder Brother.”

The Immortal of Herbs approached to examine the child with concern.

The mother asked with a worried expression,

“How is it, Elders? Is it serious? Can my child be saved?”

Without responding right away, the Immortal of Medicine placed his palm on the child’s chest and replied,

“First, I’ll channel some inner energy to stabilize their breathing. In the meantime, let me ask you—what symptoms have you had?”

“I... My heart feels tight and races, sometimes I yawn uncontrollably. There’s a strange ringing in my ears, and my eyes sting.

My hands and feet are cold, and my whole body aches.”

As he listened to her symptoms, the Immortal of Medicine channeled inner energy into the child—but strangely enough, there was little to no improvement.

Normally, even a dying patient would show signs of stabilization under qi infusion. But not this child.

“Your heart is racing, you’re yawning, and the hands and feet are turning black?”

“Could it be...?”

It seemed they both realized what it was. Alarmed, the two elders spoke quickly.

“Disciple, go examine the corpse immediately!”

“Understood. So-ryong, come with me!”

“M-Me too?”

“Yes, quickly!”

I flinched at the idea of examining a corpse—but well, it’s not like this would be the first time.

I’d seen plenty of bloodied bodies before. I followed the Immortal of Herbs into the next room.

He unwrapped the shroud and examined the corpse’s back.

After checking, the Immortal of Herbs nodded slowly.

“Just as I thought.”

“You’ve figured it out?”

“Yes. It’s ischemia.”

“Ischemia? Isn’t that different from anemia?”

“Let’s stabilize the child first. We’ll talk after.”

“Understood.”

We returned to the other room, and the Immortal of Herbs reported to his elder brother.

“It’s as we suspected.”

“Get the medicine.”

“So-ryong, bring me my bag.”

“Yes, sir.”

I fetched the Immortal of Herbs’ medicine bag, and he pulled out a small pill.

“That one?”

“Yes. That’s it.”

It was the same medicine he had been working on during our journey here—Boheoldan, the Blood-Replenishing Pill.

I’d seen it during the bedbug incident. In this world, it functioned like an emergency blood transfusion in pill form—used to replenish blood loss.

Since we’d heard the villagers were severely anemic, he had made a batch just in case. He’d said we’d decide whether to use it depending on what we found—apparently, now was the time.

「“But Grandpa, I thought anemia had a variety of causes? Isn’t Boheoldan meant for people who’ve lost a lot of blood?”

“You really know your stuff. That’s right. Anemia can have many causes. And Boheoldan is for when someone is bleeding and has a literal shortage of blood.”」

From what I remembered from my previous life, anemia occurs when the body can’t deliver enough oxygen through the bloodstream to the tissues—essentially a type of hypoxia.

But it isn’t always caused by a lack of blood. Sometimes it’s due to red blood cell issues, or iron deficiency—the causes vary widely.

However, the fact that he brought out Boheoldan meant this was truly a case of blood deficiency.

He’d prepared it just in case, but this pill was basically equivalent to a blood transfusion. You only use it when someone’s total blood volume is dangerously low.

Which meant one thing—this wasn’t a plague.

Something here was causing blood loss. Something tied to blood-draining.

I had considered the possibility of an epidemic... but that possibility had just been ruled out.

After all, there’s no way an entire village would suddenly start suffering from blood loss for no reason.