Old Fu sat comfortably in the living room, his back straight despite his old age. His beard was long and neatly tied at the end, swaying slightly as he spoke. Wrinkles lined his face, but his eyes, sharp and full of wisdom, betrayed no frailty. He wore simple gray robes, their edges embroidered with faint silver patterns. His hands, though aged, still held the steadiness of a practiced healer.
Noel and Lana sat across from him, their expressions a mixture of warmth and formality.
"Hahaha! When I first heard the news, I almost didn't believe it!" Old Fu chuckled, stroking his beard. "To think that the sickly young master of the Immortal Sect is now up and about, as healthy as ever!"
Noel smiled, pride evident in his expression. "Yes, Kazel has made a miraculous recovery. You wouldn't believe how much he has changed, Old Fu."
Lana, however, smiled wryly. "You said you heard it from the Rising Stone Sect?"
"Indeed," Old Fu nodded, his eyes narrowing slightly with curiosity. "I was visiting the sect to replenish my medical supplies when I overheard some disciples whispering about it. They said young Kazel made a sudden visit—caused quite a stir, from what I gathered. I had to come and see it with my own eyes!"
Lana's smile remained, but a trace of tension flickered across her face. "Ah... yes, he did go there."
Noel simply nodded along, though his expression tightened ever so slightly.
At that moment, Kazel stepped into the living room, the last to enter. He walked with a steady gait, his hands tucked behind his back. His gaze immediately landed on Old Fu, and for a brief second, something unreadable passed through his eyes before he offered a small, polite smile.
"Physician Old Fu," Kazel greeted. "It's been a long time."
"Ah, Kazel, I almost didn't recognize you!" said Old Fu, his eyes widening slightly as he took in the boy's healthy complexion.
"Hahaha, yes," Kazel laughed, settling into the seat across from him. He crossed his legs casually, his expression lighthearted. "Tell me, Old Fu, is memory loss a side effect of the medicine?"
Old Fu blinked. "Hmm? O-Oh yes," he answered, the words slipping out with an almost automatic response.
"I see," Kazel chuckled, scratching the back of his head as if in thought. "Because I've been forgetting a lot lately."
Outwardly, his tone was carefree, but inwardly, he was watching—no, studying Old Fu. His gaze flickered over the man's body language, the way his fingers briefly twitched, the subtle shift in his posture. Most telling of all was the brief hesitation in his voice. There was no confidence in his answer.
( You hesitated, old man. )
"Hahaha! Thankfully, you didn't forget about us!" Noel laughed heartily, oblivious to the unspoken tension in the air.
"That would be bad," Lana added with a warm smile—except there was an edge to it, a silent warning. The kind of smile only a mother could give, the type that meant 'if you dare forget about us, expect a world of tough love.'
"Hahaha, but thankfully, it's not that severe," Old Fu quickly followed up, rubbing his hands together. "However, I do need to check up on you first. Noel, Lana, may I have some private space with your son?"
"Oh, of course. You can use his room," Noel said, nodding without a second thought.
Kazel stood up smoothly, a polite yet unreadable smile stretching across his lips. "Let me lead the way, great benefactor," he said, his tone respectful. But beneath it, an entirely different thought lingered.
( Let's see what you really have to say, Old Fu. )
Inside Kazel's room, Old Fu stepped in and immediately took a look around. His brows raised slightly as his gaze wandered over the scattered remnants of the Immortal Sect—old robes folded haphazardly, a half-unfurled banner draped over a wooden chest, and relics stacked in a way that suggested more sentimentality than organization.
"My, my," Old Fu muttered, clasping his hands behind his back. "It seems you've been busy collecting... memories." His voice carried a hint of amusement, though his eyes flickered with mild surprise.
Kazel glanced around, then chuckled, rubbing the back of his head. "Hahaha, yeah... it's a mess, huh?" He casually nudged a folded sect robe to the side with his foot before turning back to Old Fu. "But, well, these are mementos from my grandfather. I should cherish them." His smile was lighthearted, but his words carried weight.
Old Fu hummed thoughtfully, stroking his beard as he nodded. "Indeed... cherishing the past is admirable." His eyes lingered on the worn fabric of an old robe, its once-pristine embroidery now faded with time. "Though, I must say, it's rare to see a young one so attached to an old sect like this."
Kazel merely smiled in response, his eyes unreadable. ( Rare, huh? )
He gestured toward the small table by the window. "Shall we begin the check-up, Old Fu?"
As they sat down, Old Fu extended his palm, beckoning Kazel to do the same. His fingers twitched slightly, an invitation for contact.
Kazel eyed the gesture for a moment, then tilted his head.
"Let me check your pulse," Old Fu said with a practiced smile.
"Oh, right," Kazel replied, placing his hand in Old Fu's.
The old physician pressed his fingers lightly against Kazel's wrist and began resonating with the pulse. His expression remained neutral at first, but soon, a subtle furrow appeared between his brows.
Kazel, ever observant, caught the change instantly. "Is something wrong, Old Fu?"
"Huh? W-Well," Old Fu quickly forced a chuckle, "it seems like you are healthier than my horse."
"Hahaha," Kazel laughed along, though inwardly, his curiosity sharpened. ( That hesitation... )
Trying to appear casual, he leaned forward slightly. "Can I ask something? How do you check on someone just by feeling their pulse?"
Old Fu's smile returned, this time with a touch of pride. "Oh, here," he extended his hand toward Kazel, "check mine."
Kazel did as he was told, pressing his fingers to Old Fu's wrist. But there was nothing—just a faint, rhythmic beat.
"Do as you would cultivate," Old Fu instructed, "and you'll be able to take a peek."
"Oh..." Kazel's lips parted slightly in realization. However, unlike what Old Fu might have expected, he did not close his eyes to focus. Instead, he let his fingers linger a second longer.
At that moment, Old Fu retracted his hand as well, his demeanor shifting slightly. His voice turned serious. "Kazel, do you still consume your medication after feeling better?"
Kazel immediately noted the subtle shift and deliberate change in topic. ( Interesting. ) But he answered without pause, "No, not really."
Old Fu clicked his tongue and crossed his arms. "Well, you should," he said firmly. "So that your body won't adapt to it. The next time you suffer the same disease, the same pills could still be effective."
Kazel merely nodded, but behind his calm expression, his mind was already turning. ( Adaptation, huh? How amusing... )
Kazel leaned forward slightly, his gaze sharp. "What kind of disease am I suffering from exactly?"
Old Fu let out a small sigh, his expression grave. "It's the Soul Rotting disease," he explained. "Your soul quite literally rots. You'll feel extreme weakness, and your life force will slowly vanish. Even your eyes will dull, like an empty puppet with no strings left to hold it up."
Kazel blinked twice. If this were his old world, he would have called it nonsense. But this was different. This was a world where Soul Space existed, where spiritual energy flowed like air. He couldn't dismiss it outright.
"And this medicine," Kazel tilted his head slightly, "how does it help?"
"It prevents your soul from rotting further," Old Fu replied. He reached into his robes and pulled out a small, round pill. Its surface was dark, almost obsidian-like, with a faint sheen under the light. "Here, take this."
Kazel stared at the ominous pill resting in the old physician's palm before taking it between his fingers. Without hesitation, he popped it into his mouth and swallowed.
Old Fu's eyes widened in shock. "You—"
"Thank you, benefactor," Kazel nodded, his expression calm.
"E-En," Old Fu coughed lightly, regaining his composure. He pulled out a small pouch and handed it to Kazel. "There are nine more inside. Make sure to consume one daily. Preferably first thing in the morning."
Kazel opened the pouch slightly, glancing at the other identical black pills inside. "Oh—"
"It's fine," Old Fu cut him off as he stood up. Then, resting a firm hand on Kazel's shoulder, he said, "I don't want to see you passing out like at the banquet before."
Kazel's brow twitched. ( Banquet? )
Before he could ask, Old Fu smiled and gave him a small nod. "Get some rest, Kazel."
With that, the physician turned and exited the room. Moments later, Kazel heard him greeting his parents before stepping out of the house.
As soon as the door shut, Kazel raised his hand, opened his palm—
And spat out the black pill.