Chapter 70: The Plague of Blood

For an alchemist, two days passed in the blink of an eye. Qi Xiao entrusted the finished potion to Raymond, asking him to deliver it when he had the chance, and then made his way to Midiel’s study.

Qi Xiao stole a glance at the desk. The pitch-black box lay open, but its mysterious contents were missing—most likely taken by Deimos. The cane in Midiel’s hand today was one Qi Xiao had never seen before, its deep purple hue suggesting it was a recent acquisition.

With a flash of violet light, Qi Xiao found himself in a square room. Maorian was already waiting inside, showing no surprise at the sudden appearance of the two men. He first offered Midiel a formal salute, then smiled and greeted Qi Xiao, “Long time no see, Qi Xiao.”

He then produced the potion, its rosy-golden liquid shimmering within the bottle, and placed it before Qi Xiao.

After a few polite exchanges and heartfelt thanks, Midiel reached out to take the potion, inspecting it thoroughly. Knowing that he was not needed for what would follow, Maorian excused himself and left.

“Well, teacher, is there any problem?” Qi Xiao looked up at Midiel. He rarely met his teacher’s gaze, always feeling a bit guilty, and only now noticed that Midiel’s eyes were a rare pale green, flecked with hints of tea-white, lending them a profound depth.

Midiel’s tone was relaxed, and Qi Xiao even detected a note of satisfaction. “Rest assured and study hard. I know this senior as well. Since she has taken a liking to you, it’s up to you not to disappoint her.”

Qi Xiao replied firmly, “I will.”

Seeing Midiel raise his cane, Qi Xiao hurriedly interrupted, “Wait a moment, teacher. Please return first—I have some trivial matters to attend to. I’ll come back on my own later so as not to take up your time.”

Midiel glanced at Qi Xiao, pondering for a moment before saying, “Very well. You should get out more often anyway, gain some experience. Staying on the island all day gives you no sense of urgency.”

Qi Xiao gave a wry smile and agreed. Midiel nodded and vanished from the room, his voice lingering in the air: “I’ll leave your potion in your room. Collect it when you return.”

Having resolved a major worry, Qi Xiao breathed a sigh of relief. So there truly were benevolent wizards in this world. Having watched too many movies, he’d always had a rather low opinion of wizards’ morals. This was also why he remained; since this alchemist was so kind and approachable, it shouldn’t be difficult to consult him about the antidote for the Blood Plague—at the very least, he wouldn’t be thrown out.

But when he reached the site of the former alchemy shop, he realized he’d been too optimistic. The quaint shop he remembered had left a deep impression, yet now, a processing plant stood in its place, looking long-established rather than newly built.

Qi Xiao sighed and left, understanding the situation without needing to ask. Still, since he was already here—after all, Pat City was a highly developed, wizard-centric town—there might yet be some news about the Blood Plague. He returned to the auction hall and found Maorian, explaining his purpose.

“Alchemy, is it... Pat City has two advanced alchemist apprentices. One rarely stays in town, but you could try visiting later. The other is right here in our hall. Since you’re Lord Midiel’s student, and he just spent a fortune in magic crystals here, your status is among the highest in our establishment. I’ll go inquire for you now.”

Qi Xiao thanked him softly. Maorian smiled and went backstage.

After a long while, Maorian returned, rubbing his head and walking unsteadily. He said, with some hesitation, “Well... Mr. Mili seems to have some insights about this illness, but there was so much technical jargon, I couldn’t really understand. You’d best speak with him yourself.”

Qi Xiao nodded in understanding and followed Maorian to the backstage laboratory. The door slowly opened, revealing a room filled with alchemical tools and potions. In one corner, an alchemist in a deep brown robe was hard at work.

Noticing the visitor, Mili paused his task and turned to face Qi Xiao. At first glance, the man seemed quite ordinary and approachable.

“Young alchemist, I hear you’re interested in the Blood Plague?” Mr. Mili’s voice was slightly hoarse, yet carried an air of authority and expertise.

Qi Xiao nodded, asking humbly, “Yes, Mr. Mili. I am very interested in cures for this disease. Would you share your thoughts with me?”

Mili took a cloth from a nearby shelf, wiping his hands, and after a moment’s contemplation, explained, “The Blood Plague is a rare and complex disease. It affects several systems: the blood, the immune system, and the nervous system.

“Previously, it was known as Spiritual Blood Disorder. Ordinary people and wizards alike who contract it suffer from spiritual blood depletion, blocked meridians, soul-blood separation, spiritual blood regeneration failure, and soul-blood imbalance. Though it isn’t immediately fatal, it is excruciatingly painful.”

Qi Xiao nodded in agreement—most of these symptoms matched what Feng’s younger brother endured, clearly showing that Mili had done his research.

Mili continued, a note of caution in his voice, “Although I have studied the Blood Plague, its cure remains unclear to this day. However, based on my current understanding and some preliminary experiments, I have a few speculative treatment plans.”

He hesitated for a moment before continuing, “You may not believe it, but my interest in the Blood Plague began because I myself suffered from it as a child. So, in my spare time over the years, I’ve always studied it when I could.”

“What!” Qi Xiao was startled and quickly asked, “Forgive my impertinence, but how did you recover?”

Mili shook his head gravely. “It was a master of ritual magic who used a strange rite to ‘transfer’ my illness away. Yes, I could feel it—I wasn’t truly cured, the disease was simply miraculously removed.”

Then, as if he knew what Qi Xiao wished to ask, he added at once, “That wizard only saved me because he owed my father a favor from his apprentice days. He has long since left to wander other wizarding realms and likely won’t return for decades.”

Qi Xiao frowned in thought for a moment, then asked, “Then, if you would, please share your theories. To be honest, I’m seeking your advice for the sake of a friend’s younger brother who has also contracted this strange disease. As an alchemist, I want to do whatever I can to help. I can’t just stand by and watch him die in agony.”