Lynn's statement hung heavily in the air, and silence descended upon the room. He carefully observed the butler and the client’s reactions as he revealed that he knew the true nature of this condition.
Alfred's eyes immediately narrowed sharply, his previously calm facade cracking for a brief moment. The old gentleman, however, simply raised an eyebrow, displaying a mix of surprise and curiosity.
His cloudy eyes lit up, their corners creasing as he smiled and stared at the old steward. "Look, this young man still knows something," he remarked, a tinge of excitement creeping into his weary tone.
The master struggled to get up from the couch. Seeing this, Alfred immediately moved to support him, grasping one arm firmly yet gently. Lynn also reacted quickly, rushing to lend aid on the other side.
Without hesitation, the man’s gnarled fingers slowly moved to the front of his robe. With some difficulty, he managed to undo the knot keeping it closed around his slender frame.
As the garment slipped open, it unveiled the upper half of his weak body. Certain areas were tightly wrapped in bandages, and the places that were not covered revealed dark and wrinkled skin.
Lynn's eyes widened at the sight before him, a mixture of shock and fascination washing over him. A faint yet unmistakable rotten odor wafted up from the location of the white wraps, indicating the skin was still actively rotting and decaying beneath.
When he first entered this room, he had already detected a strong perfume emanating from the old man. At the time, he thought it was just used to cover the unpleasant smell of body odor.
However, now that he had witnessed firsthand the extent of necrosis plaguing the flesh, another explanation seemed more likely. The fragrance was probably intended to mask the stench of decay.
He imagined that without such camouflage, the smell of putrefaction would be overpowering. Especially since the chest and back were practically covered with the dark, deadened tissue.
Lynn was surprised this man had managed to endure contamination of this magnitude without succumbing completely. Such high intensity of spiritual pollution should normally have triggered a mutation.
"I won't take off the pants, the pollution on the legs is not as bad as the upper body," said the elderly master shuddering slightly. Though he tried to appear strong, his body betrayed the toll of his condition.
"Your life is really tough," Lynn said sincerely, shaking his head as he took in the severity of the situation. "Many would have already mutated or perished long ago enduring something like this."
"Hahahahaha, tough life? This is something I love to hear. If there's one thing I can rely on to survive to this point, it’s that I’m tougher than others,” the old man laughed heartily.
But suddenly, his body trembled violently, as if his laughter had left him breathless. His expression quickly shifted from joy to a grimace of discomfort, one weak hand clutched at his chest.
"Medicine...quickly...give me medicine..." he rasped weakly between pained gasps. Fortunately, Alfred was always prepared for such a situation. He had his master’s medicine at the ready.
Reacting swiftly, he produced a small leather box from his inner pocket and unclasped it. Inside was an array of various medications and tonics. These were the old man's usual prescriptions.
Selecting quickly through them, he grabbed two pills, one was jet black while the other shone a vibrant yellow. Then, he secured the dying patient’s jaw and slipped it into his mouth.
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"Swallow, sir, swallow," the steward urged in an unsteady voice, gently massaging the man's throat to stimulate his reflexes. With great effort, he managed to force the medicine down.
Since the first moment Lynn met the old butler, he always appeared as a steady and sophisticated person. But at this moment, his usual demeanor was disturbed, fraught with anxiety, and even slightly overwhelmed.
The rich client stayed immobile on the couch, his body constantly trembling. Alfred hurriedly fetched a glass of water from a nearby table and held it to his master’s lips, helping him take a sip to wash down the medication.
At the same time, he raised his voice and called out to the nearest maid outside the room, urgently instructing her to locate the old man's personal doctor and request his immediate presence.
Seeing the situation unfold, Lynn stood there dumbfounded. He secretly prayed in his heart that the client wouldn't take his last breath. Or at the very least, wait until after he was gone from this place.
Luckily, to his relief, after swallowing the two mysterious pills, the old man’s agonized wheezing and tremors slowly eased. The tension seeped from his skeletal frame as the medication took effect, bringing a degree of stability.
His cloudy eyes became even more obscured, indicating the drugs were rapidly inducing pronounced wooziness. A fatigued expression settled across his timeworn features. The ordeal had sapped his limited reserves.
"This happens every time," he rasped weakly once able to speak again. "Each time feels like I've traveled to hell and back. But at least this medicine provides some relief."
Lynn nodded sympathetically at these words. But inwardly, his thoughts were racing, piecing together clues about the two mysterious pills that had just been administered.
If he was not mistaken, they seemed identical to the set he had taken from the defeated swordsman just the night before. At the time, his mind had been consumed by other matters, causing him to forget about his initial intention of using [Evaluation] to analyze their purpose.
This realization sparked his curiosity, along with unease at the coincidence. He decided to ask while he had the chance, hoping to learn more about their origins and intended effects.
"Excuse me, Sir Alfred. That medicine seems quite effective, though I don't recognize it,” Lynn remarked casually, turning to the butler. " What kind of drug is that specifically?”
"Oh, just the master's regular prescription to help manage his...condition," the butler replied vaguely with a polite smile. "I apologize, but I'm not at liberty to disclose the precise situation. It is a private family matter."
Lynn's eyes narrowed, it seemed he wouldn't get the full response he desired. The polite smile and vague answer made it clear that he was not going to receive any further information.
However, his master interjected at that moment to offer the details he needed. "It's called Demon Suppressing Pills, used to suppress spiritual pollution. Since the world began to change, this medicine formula started spreading through various channels of the federation."
"My contamination is very serious, I wouldn't be able to live until now without these," the old man continued, his voice tinged with gratitude. "They are the only thing keeping me from succumbing completely."
Lynn's ears perked up at the revelation, his mind began racing with thoughts as these simple words revealed a lot of information. But before he could inquire further, hurried footsteps approached down the hall outside.
Within seconds, a middle-aged man with a shiny bald head burst into the room, his breathing slightly labored. In his hand, he tightly held a leather medical bag, serving as a clear indication of his profession.
"Sir Feng, are you alright?" the newcomer asked worriedly, rushing over to the old man's side. It was clear this was the private physician that the butler had urgently summoned.
"Quickly examine master’s body," the butler urgently instructed. The doctor, who had been hired by the elderly gentleman from the best hospital in H City at a generous salary, meticulously examined his employer.
After the body check, the bald middle-aged man’s expression grew increasingly grave. "Sir Feng, your heart is a bit weakened, I strongly suggest you go to the city hospital now and have a more in-depth examination."
The old man, Feng, let out a tired sigh as he listened to the assessment. “We both know it's pointless to go to any hospital," he replied wearily. "The results are the same every time we check. I feel perfectly fine, so there's no need for me to rush off anywhere."
The bald doctor shook his head helplessly, they had this discussion many times before. However, when he saw the other person in the room and the medical bag in hand, he suddenly became very angry.
Turning to the old butler, voice tinged with accusation. "Did you bring in another quack to try and peddle false hope?" he demanded, gesturing sharply towards Lynn, expressing his disapproval.