Murim's Weakest Princess-Chapter 132: Rotting Corpse Disease

Unlike the black, sooty walls of the kitchen, the infirmary had greenish moss-covered walls. It was located near the garden, furthest from the hubbub of the research quarters. It was a peaceful place, even if it remained far from socialisation. However, this was the vibe Anji thought would encompass the Mystical Qilin Sect. It was rather ironic, but only the Yan Ping exuded the aura of a sage from a mysterious mountain. Everyone else resembled some mad inventor more than a cultivator.

The large garden surrounding the infirmary was full of herbs, and Pearl explained how herbalists living in the quarters nearby cared for it. Unlike the rest of the sect, these retired librarians enjoyed nature more than the four walls and sea of books they spent most of their lives with, something Anji could understand. Spending more than half of her life confined to her room because of her poor health, Anji preferred spending time outdoors rather than indoors whenever possible.

Anji recognised some of the herbs growing in the garden. However, many other plants in the garden were not related to medicine. Even after studying under Doctor He and reading many books, Anji still did not know many things. The medical knowledge here must be way more advanced than Anji initially thought.

Knocking the front door, Pearl placed a hand on Anji’s shoulder and waited for someone to answer. After a while, a retired librarian answered the door. He was wearing a long white robe and round glasses, similar to many other cultivators in the sect. However, he was also wearing something that covered both his hands entirely. Why was he wearing gloves, and why were they red?

Smiling as if undisturbed by the suspicious appearance, Pearl introduced Anji as the new special student reporting for her first health check. The retired librarian took two looks at Anji before his eyes lit up.

"That’s right! I had forgotten all about it! Sorry, let me get the others right away and change out of these. We were dyeing bandages, I must look very unsightly. My apologies, please come in first!"

Ushering Anji and Pearl inside, the librarian quickly excused himself and apologised for not having time to make tea. Inside the infirmary, Anji noticed a drastically different environment to the infirmary Doctor He worked at.

Unlike the infirmary in which Anji practically grew up, the infirmary here was painted completely white. Doctor He believed that seeing more greens and beautiful scenery helped with the relaxation of the mind and sped up natural recovery. However, the absolute lack of colour on the inner walls surprised her. Moreover, there were many glass vials containing liquids of various colours. Many glass jars had various plants submerged in liquids. These jars were sealed tightly, and Anji wondered if they were making alcohol instead of medicine. The strange setup inspired curiosity.

While Anji observed the infirmary with interest, Pearl fidgeted uneasily. Of all the places in the western district, the infirmary was known to be the craziest. Although retired, most of these people used to be researchers or assistants of researchers. As many cultivators did not fall ill, they seldom treated their patients for physical ailments. However, many patients who checked in the infirmary were diagnosed with stress syndromes. Their job was to restore the balance of the mind more than the body. Their treatment involved white walls and a strict monk-like schedule for a moon cycle, something most researchers likened to torture despite its effectiveness.

Five minutes later, a row of infirmary nurses lined up to greet Anji, holding up various measurement tools that Anji had never seen before. Unlike the crazy inventions outside that were large, chaotic and flashy, the creations used by the infirmary were small and compact. They performed simple and practical tasks like effectively measuring Anji’s height, weight and temperature. All Anji had to do was remain still in a chamber for a minute while the nurses recorded the results and adjusted the measurement device.

"You can step out of the measuring chamber now," a friendly lady nurse chuckled and helped Anji out of her measuring chamber. We know who you are, so you don’t need to worry. Your secret is safe with us. However, as part of the doctor-patient confidentiality, we’d need you to speak with the doctor alone. Pearl will wait here with us. Is that alright?" freёnovelkiss.com

Waving goodbye to her guide for now, Anji followed the nurse to see the doctor. There was only one certified doctor in the sect who understood a few things about medicine. According to the nurse, his father was a refugee from the outside world and lived in the village at the bottom of the mountain. All his life, he learned medicine from his father and became the only doctor in the sect.

"There are other doctors among the common people. However, there is only one doctor here in the inner court. He is not a cultivator, but he has chosen to volunteer for duty in the infirmary for personal reasons. Doctor Yun will be in charge of your health while you are here with us. Please don’t conceal your condition if you feel unwell or hurt. We received direct orders from Sect Leader Yan to write weekly health reports to be given to your guardian living in the outer court."

Knocking twice on the door to a different room, the nurse opened the door and introduced the newest patient.

Doctor Yun was a thin middle-aged man with a thin moustache. He looked similar to Doctor He, and Anji wondered if all doctors looked like that. The familiarity already left the impression that Doctor Yun was a good physician.

"Hello there, young lady. Please have a sit here. I’m just going to complete the rest of the check-up and take your pulse. You don’t have to be nervous."

The doctor’s office was different from the white walls outside. If anything, this was closer to Doctor He’s office, which she was familiar with. Many shelves were filled with medical books, a grindstone with some dried herbs and many pills left to dry on the window sill. The smell of tonic brewing and a sterilising set of acupuncture needles reminded Anji of home.

The nostalgia made her tear up, but she held back the waterworks. It was only a check-up. There was no need to be so dramatic.

After the nurse left the room, the doctor smiled kindly at Anji while reading her pulse.

"I heard so many stories about you even before you arrived. Is it true that you were treated by the legendary Doctor He back in the Celestial Dragon Sect?"

Legendary? Anji always knew Doctor He was a great doctor, different from the others. Her father had mentioned it. However, she had no idea he would be this famous. After all, Doctor He did not appear that much older than Doctor Yun. They must have started learning medicine at about the same time.

Nodding, Anji explained how she was his student. Although she had not mastered all his skills, Doctor He deemed her a decent physician and gifted her a set of acupuncture needles as her graduation and parting gift. The portable herb grindstone in her luggage that she left at her shifu’s cottage was evidence of her medical practice.

Thrilled there was a prodigy similar to Doctor He, Doctor Yun’s respect for Anji grew even more. Unlike him, Anji had only learned medicine for a few years but was already more experienced than most physicians. As the only adept doctor in this sealed-off place, Doctor Yun thought he would make better progress in medical research if he worked with the cultivators. Half of his dream was achieved. They invented many useful tools. However, despite all the books and discoveries, he still found his knowledge lacking.

Yet, sitting right before him was a fountain of new medical knowledge who had inherited his idol’s teachings. How could Doctor Yun not be excited?

While taking her pulse and asking Anji various questions about her health, including food allergies, sleep cycle, physical stamina and past medical history, Doctor Yun also slipped in some questions about hypothetical medical cases and what the young girl thought about them.

"The rotting corpse disease is actually a neurological defect. Doctor He wrote his theory in a medical journal I read because it was more interesting than memorising the one thousand most toxic plants in the world. When there is a wound, the body normally reacts quickly to recover it naturally. People who walk around with skin rot fail to understand they have a wound, and the body does not react to the lack of pain, causing it to become infected quickly and rot away when no actions are done to rectify it."

The more they talked, the more reluctant Doctor Yun became to let the girl go. Although she was slightly fatigued and distressed in her new environment, her health was not majorly alarming. The doctor wrote in his report that she was advised to sleep earlier and eat at a regular time.

"I hope to see you more often to discuss these interesting case studies, young Doctor Zhao. However, I will let the nurses and your guide know you must follow a strict meal and rest schedule. The long travel today has fatigued you, and it is easier to catch a cold when your body is tired. For the next few nights, you must sleep on time."

Nodding as Doctor Yun escorted her back to the waiting room with white walls, Anji was told to accept a few nutrition pills he prepared before she arrived at the Mystical Qilin Sect.

"These are spiritual stabilising pills with some nourishing herbs that your patron prescribed for your energy. Take it before you go to sleep every night. It will help you make quicker progress with your cultivation and stamina."

Accepting the pouch of pills, Anji waved goodbye to the doctor and nurses in the infirmary. Now that they were done with the health check-up, Pearl reminded Anji that she had to report to the infirmary at four in the afternoon for her check-up before dinner daily. If she were late, the nurses would have to search for her.

"I won’t forget," Anji promised Pearl. "Where are we going to next?"

Smiling, the senior librarian pointed at one of the tallest buildings that could be seen even from the isolated infirmary.

"That is the western district’s astrology tower and the researcher’s annual meeting hall. Any promotion tests will be held here. Showcases of new research for funding and project reviews are all done here. You can say that this is one of the most important places of the sect. However, we are heading there today to find your research mentor for the orientation month. Those who are available and can accept new helpers will attend. There are many types of personalities, so you should brace yourself to answer many questions."

Nodding, Anji thanked Pearl for the warning. Feeling slightly nervous as they climbed yet another winding set of stairs to get to the main district, Anjiquickly identified the western library that Pearl worked at. Already, she was becoming familiar with the sect. However, unlike the Celestial Dragon Sect, this place was too big. If people thought the Celestial Dragon Sect was the richest clan in the Rainbow Alliance, the Mystical Qilin Sect was the true bank concealing all its wealth.

Hand in hand, Anji and Pearl walked towards the building, which was as tall as a pagoda, feeling nervous for different reasons.