Chapter Seventy-One: Granny Moon

Mi Li nodded, sighing, “To have a friend like you is truly a blessing. Based on my analysis, I’ve devised several approaches.

First, to craft a potion that fuses with spiritual blood—I’ve already outlined the basic formula and conducted some experiments. It shows some suppressive effect against the Blood Plague, though it cannot fully eradicate it. There’s still room for improvement, and I’ll give you a copy of the formula later.

Second, to perform a spiritual blood essence ritual. Ritual magic and runework share certain similarities, so it might be worth trying purification and blood refinement runes. I can’t guarantee results—my memory of this rite goes back to my childhood, and I can only recall fragments of the runic engravings since becoming an advanced sorcerer’s apprentice this year.

Third, to develop a soul-blood harmonizing agent. According to my hypothesis, this elixir could stimulate the regenerative capacity within the blood, promoting the repair of damaged tissue. Through alchemy, I aim to synthesize a balancing agent to adjust and stabilize the relationship between soul and blood, restoring their natural synergy. I have research notes documenting my work in this area, but no finished product as of yet.

As for the last option—it’s not my field. Perhaps an alchemist specializing in lithomancy could design an optimizer to induce soul-blood resonance and enhance spiritual blood circulation. That might prove useful.”

Mi Li spoke at length, his throat growing parched. He seized a cup nearby and took a deep gulp before continuing, “These are the extent of my findings. I must remind you, all these methods are still experimental—I cannot offer any certainty. Treating the Blood Plague demands utmost caution. Every step must be closely monitored for the patient’s reactions.”

Qi Xiao listened intently. He could sense Mr. Mi Li’s sincerity and profound understanding of the disease. He also knew these plans, formulas, and notes were the fruit of years of Mi Li’s labor, and to have them handed over so readily was a gesture of immense generosity. Qi Xiao understood well how precious a potential cure for an incurable plague could be, and he thanked him at once:

“Mr. Mi Li, your generosity and selflessness move me deeply,” Qi Xiao said earnestly. “Not only have you shared invaluable knowledge and insight, but also your wisdom and hard-earned discoveries. This is an immense help to me.”

Mi Li waved his hand with a gentle smile. “On the path of knowledge, we are all fellow travelers. I only hope these studies might aid in treating the Blood Plague and offer patients a glimmer of hope, so they need not suffer as I did in my youth.”

Qi Xiao nodded in agreement. “I understand, Mr. Mi Li. I will build upon your research and experiments, and strive to find a cure for the Blood Plague.”

Taking the notes and formulas Mi Li had prepared, Qi Xiao made a respectful bow before leaving. He inquired after the whereabouts of another apprentice alchemist, then bid farewell to Mi Li and Maurian.

Qi Xiao walked briskly into the woods beyond the city. Orienting himself, he headed southeast.

Not far along, a wooden cabin appeared before him. Qi Xiao halted at the door, drew his staff, and knocked three times with its back in a measured rhythm. He stepped back and waited respectfully.

He waited for a full ten minutes with no response from within. Sighing, he was about to leave when the door suddenly opened.

“Come in. Upstairs,” called an aged woman’s voice.

Qi Xiao entered quietly, treading softly up the stairs. Despite his care, the wooden steps groaned beneath him, but the witch seemed unbothered.

At the top, he found himself in a room suffused with the aura of magic. Strange arcane items and scrolls hung from the walls; sturdy bookshelves brimmed with heavy tomes, each spine etched with intricate runes, exuding an ancient and mysterious presence.

At the center stood a large alchemical workbench, crowded with tools and materials, bearing evidence of frequent advanced experiments. Behind it sat an elderly witch in a high-backed chair. In the dim light, her figure seemed especially frail.

Qi Xiao greeted her softly, “Respected Grandmother Moon, I am Qi Xiao. Thank you for seeing me despite your busy schedule.”

Grandmother Moon slowly raised her head, revealing a deeply lined yet spirited face, her eyes dark and heavy-lidded. Her hair hung in wild tangles, pooling on the floor—if straightened, it would surely surpass her entire height.

She let out a laugh, sharp and strange, like the cry of a nightjar startled by a foe. Qi Xiao’s expression remained unchanged as he waited before her.

After a couple of laughs, her tone turned cold. “State your purpose, young man.”

Qi Xiao had only just begun to speak when Grandmother Moon suddenly burst into tears, sobbing, “I know… I know why you’re here. Mi Li just sent a message by carrier pigeon… I know, I know it all.”

Qi Xiao was momentarily lost for words, so he offered a few perfunctory phrases and stood quietly while she composed herself.

After a while, Grandmother Moon returned to her earlier demeanor and spoke coldly, “Second shelf from the left, sixth book—take it and don’t come back.”

Qi Xiao quickly pulled out the manual she named, held it to his chest, thanked her sincerely, and left the cabin in haste.

No sooner had he stepped outside than the door slammed shut behind him. Qi Xiao turned back, sighing.

Mi Li had explained briefly before sending him here: Grandmother Moon, once renowned far and wide for both her beauty and her extraordinary skill as an alchemical apothecary, suffered in her later years. In an attempt to retain her youth, she concocted a potion based on a dubious recipe, and after drinking it, her mind became unstable.

Emerging from the woods, Qi Xiao found the sky had grown dim. He snapped his fingers, summoning a wisp of light to twine about him, and gently opened the booklet in his hands.

Within were records of many patients Grandmother Moon had observed and treated. The manual detailed the pathological mechanism of the Blood Plague, including the accumulation of aberrant magical particles in the blood and their corrosive effect on the vascular lining.

She had conducted deep analyses of the patients’ blood and identified several key abnormal elements, theorizing these might be critical therapeutic targets. Yet, after years of research, progress remained elusive.

The manual included special case studies, covering patients of varying ages, genders, and constitutions, and catalogued their diverse responses to different treatments through numerous controlled experiments.

Grandmother Moon had even explored the psychological impact of the Blood Plague, and how psychological interventions could ease patients’ suffering and anxiety. These insights, Qi Xiao realized, were valuable not just for victims of the Blood Plague, but for all gravely ill patients. He found he had indeed learned a great deal.