Shuai Chang said, “I’ll carry you over.”
Without waiting for Arybern to refuse, he directly picked him up in a horizontal position.
Feeling uneasy, Arybern clung to Shuai Chang’s neck, afraid of falling. “Austin, I can still manage. Please put me down.”
Even though it was night and no one could see, being embraced like this by Austin made it difficult to feel composed.
Arybern gently squirmed, hoping Shuai Chang would let him down.
Shuai Chang gave his bottom a light slap, “Stop squirming.”
A shiver ran through Arybern’s spine, the sudden stimulation causing a wave of pleasure to rush from his tailbone to his heart and brain.
Blushing, Arybern dared not move again, fearing another of Shuai Chang’s playful slaps on his embarrassing areas.
Shuai Chang remarked, “You’re moving so slowly. By the time we check the water source, it will be morning. If you don’t rest tonight, how will you have the energy to treat patients tomorrow?”
“Okay,” Arybern murmured softly, staring down and avoiding eye contact.
With swift steps, Shuai Chang utilized his fighting spirit, and Arybern quickly examined the water source. The two returned to their room, where Arybern pulled out his pocket watch and discovered it was only one in the morning.
“There are no problems with the water sources nearby. Perhaps we’ve taken a wrong turn, or maybe the culprits used another method to poison?”
Shuai Chang helped him take off his outer robe, “Let’s sleep first and deal with it tomorrow.”
Shuai Chang could see Arybern was exhausted; his efforts to keep his eyes open while clearly desperate for sleep were heart-wrenching.
Days passed, and there were still no clues as to how the illness was transmitted.
The number of patients in the outskirts dwindled, with only just over fifty remaining showing mild symptoms of body rot. Arybern decided to treat them all in one go.
Shuai Chang followed closely as Arybern examined the patients one by one, but there were no youngsters among them.
Shuai Chang asked, “Ling Tuan, is something wrong?”
Ling Tuan replied, “No, everything is normal, handsome.”
Having successfully cured the last patient, everyone cheered, calling “Saint Son” as they returned to the town.
Alger planned a grand evening party to celebrate Kane Town’s reprieve from its nightmare.
That night, a bonfire was lit in an open area, its flickering flames casting joyful red hues on the faces of the people.
Watching Arybern’s smile, Shuai Chang couldn’t help but slip his hand into Arybern’s oversized sleeve, gently holding his soft, slender fingers.
Arybern’s eyelashes fluttered slightly; his expression remained unchanged, but his earlobes turned red, letting Shuai Chang wrap his entire hand slowly.
“Saint Son, it’s bad!” Mrs. Ruth, the town mayor’s wife, ran over in distress.
The singing and dancing ceased, and tears glistened in Ruth’s normally gentle brown eyes as she collapsed before Arybern.
Arybern quickly helped her up, “Mrs. Ruth, don’t worry. Take your time to tell me what’s wrong.”
Ruth choked back tears, “Anseil, Anseil’s body is turning black, and there’s already evidence of decay.”
Chapter 106: The Demon King Tempting the Saint Son
Arybern supported Ruth, “Where is Anseil now? Let’s hurry there.”
Through her tears, Ruth pointed east, “He’s at his home.”
Arybern looked at Shuai Chang, who remained calm: “Saint Son, first cast a healing spell on Mrs. Ruth to prevent her from getting afflicted.”
Ruth shook her head, “Don’t worry about me. Saving Anseil is what matters.”
“Even if Mrs. Ruth doesn’t care about her own safety, she must think of the townspeople. What if they get infected again? The Saint Son won’t be here in Kane Town forever.”
Ruth froze, her face flushed with shame as she said, “I’m sorry, I didn’t think of that, Sir Knight.”
Indeed, Ruth had some gray material clinging to her. Arybern cast a healing spell and entrusted her to Alger.
Shuai Chang and Arybern remembered where Anseil lived, which wasn’t far from there; they hurried there within about five minutes.
The door was ajar, likely because Ruth had panicked and left it open.
Shuai Chang used his power to form a protective layer around himself and entered first.
Inside, glowing stones were placed around the room, and as they walked in, painful cries echoed from the innermost part.
Shuai Chang pushed open the door, revealing Anseil’s figure.
He lay on a stone bed covered with brown sheets, wearing short clothing. His exposed limbs were dark and shiny, swollen to twice their normal size, with several ruptured spots oozing black pus—a terrifying sight.
Anseil couldn’t move his limbs and could only scream to distract himself from the pain, which was evidently ineffective; his cries grew more desperate.
After confirming that Anseil was alone, Shuai Chang stepped aside to let Arybern in.
“Why is it so severe?” Arybern exclaimed in shock upon seeing Anseil’s condition.
According to logic, Anseil had contracted the illness today; his condition shouldn’t have deteriorated so fast.
But now wasn’t the time to investigate the source; Arybern instructed Shuai Chang to wait outside.
At last, Shuai Chang waited for the last infected youth.
He went into the living room to wait, kindly closing the door behind him.
After two hours, Arybern stumbled out, his face flushed and unsteady, collapsing into Shuai Chang’s arms, gasping, “Austin, take me back to the room.”
Without hesitation, Shuai Chang picked up Arybern and ran toward the mayor’s house, thankfully encountering no one on the way to notice Arybern’s disarray.
Arybern writhed painfully, “Mmm—Austin, are we there yet? I’m feeling so terrible—”
Shuai Chang held him tightly, letting Arybern rub against him, “Almost there.”
Arybern had no idea what awaited him that night, but Shuai Chang did.
He wanted to return even more urgently than Arybern did.
Finally spotting the outline of the mayor’s house, Shuai Chang pushed the door open, ensuring to close it securely, and wound through to the room where they had been staying these days.
Shuai Chang placed Arybern on the bed and locked the door from the inside.