Chapter 156: Black Cat
"The special potion is ready," said Kurosawa Yaka.
"Doctor, did you make it yourself?"
"Are you planning to use it directly on Sakurai Shiru?"
"Yes, although it hasn't been certified, the effectiveness of the medicine is guaranteed," Kurosawa Yaka said. "Please trust my medical ethics on this."
Bai Wei hesitated for a moment.
In the past, Sakurai Shiru's condition was unstable. The special potion can be described as life-saving. But now that her condition has stabilized, is it still necessary to continue using it?
Kurosawa Yaka said, "In the past, Miss Sakurai managed to get through with the help of this special potion. Although her condition has now stabilized, it doesn't mean there isn't a possibility of a relapse. In fact, the likelihood of a relapse might be higher."
Bai Wei shook his head and said, "I am not a thief who picks up a bowl to eat and then smashes the pot. I'm just curious, if there is such a powerful potion, then why..."
"The raw materials are too scarce, and cultivation is also very challenging. Moreover, it is very difficult to get medical approval," Kurosawa Yaka explained. "I have tried, but if we cannot produce it in large quantities, this medicine will remain too scarce and might even become a tool for profiteering."
"Are you saying that it's free?"
"Of course, I made it myself, so if there are any risks, I will bear them myself," Kurosawa Yaka said. "In the past, Mr. Sakurai and I signed the corresponding agreement before I could confidently administer the medicine."
"Can you show me, please?"
Sakurai said kindly, "I can give it to you directly, as her guardian has changed and Mr. Sakurai has passed away, making the contract invalid."
Bai Wei picked up the agreement contract and glanced at it, now realizing the true reason why Kurosawa Yaka wanted to talk to him.
"Doctor Kurosawa, you still wanted to continue using the special medicine, right?"
"Yes," she admitted straightforwardly, "based on past medical records, each time it reaches December, this illness worsens. Without the special medicine, there is a high chance that she won't be able to make it through."
"Will it worsen even further?" Bai Wei exclaimed in shock.
"Yes, so Mr. Bai, please don't rush to discharge her. Otherwise, if something happens, it will be too late," Doctor Kurosawa said urgently. "If you have financial troubles, I can advance next month's medical expenses."
Bai Wei fell silent.
Upon hearing these words, he began to doubt Kurosawa Yaka's true intentions. Could it be that she wanted to continue experimenting with medicine?
She also realized that her words were too hasty, so she added an explanation, "I have taken care of her for over three years, and she means a lot to me. I want nothing more than her safety and well-being. You should understand that."
Bai Wei said, "I also wish for her safety. That's why I don't want to take on any additional risks."
Kurosawa Yaka opened the drawer and took out a stack of files, placing them on the table. "Please have a look."
Bai Wei quickly scanned the medical records and asked, "What are these?"
"Previous cases, cases of death," Kurosawa Yaka emphasized, "Sakurai Shiru is not the only one who has contracted this illness. Many girls have been affected by this type of disease. Most of them fall ill in December, and within a few days, they succumb to it… even though they were previously healthy individuals."
Bai Wei pondered.
"Please don't worry, I am not trying to coerce you. I am just saying... in case, if her condition worsens, I hope you can sign this agreement," Kurosawa Yaka said. "It's very important, and I hope you take it seriously. Also, please don't let her leave the hospital within December. At least wait until this phase of the crimson moon fades before considering her discharge."
Bai Wei didn't respond immediately, "Let me think about it."
With that, he stood up and left the office.
Kurosawa Yaka clenched and then released her fingers, as if lamenting her own lack of eloquence. Even though she spoke from her heart, her words were met with doubt.
"By the way, Doctor Kurosawa," the young man said before leaving, only to return again.
"What?" she cast a puzzled glance.
"Your hair color...," the young man asked, "Is it natural?"
"Of course, it's natural. I've always been proud of the chestnut-colored hair my parents left me," Doctor Kurosawa smiled. "Do you find it to be rare?"
"Your hair is very beautiful," Bai Wei shook his head, "Perhaps golden would be more fitting."
Kurosawa Yaka was taken aback. She lowered her gaze towards her own hair and when she lifted her head again, the figure had already disappeared outside the door.
She didn't think much about it and continued to lower her head to organize the documents, starting her work.
After a while, the head nurse walked in.
Kurosawa Yaka thought for a moment and said, "Could you help extend Sakurai Shiru's hospital stay until January?"
The head nurse wondered, "Wasn't it already extended?"
Kurosawa was taken aback, "When was it extended?"
"Before you came back, Mr. Bai had already paid the fee. He said that he wanted Sakurai Shiru to stay in the hospital for another month for observation."
"I see." Kurosawa Yaka furrowed her brows in confusion. After the head nurse left, she began pondering the previous conversation. If Bai Wei had already paid in advance, there was no doubt that his reaction just now seemed intentionally naïve.
"Why did he insist on delaying for a whole month?"
"Has he already known that her illness in December could possibly worsen?"
"But this claim, until now, no one has believed me, and more people are willing to believe it's just a coincidence... Sakurai Shiru too, except for the first year, I applied the medicine in advance, making her symptoms not appear obvious."
The doctor tapped his fingers, suddenly thinking of another possibility.
"Or is it..."
"He also knew about the Blood Moon Disease?"
She bit down on the joint of her index finger.
"Speaking of which, ever since he arrived, Shiru's illness suddenly worsened and then suddenly improved. Currently, no matter how many tests are done, the cause cannot be found. It's completely unclear why Shiru's condition can recover so well. I tried all kinds of medication before but none of them worked, just treating the symptoms but not addressing the root cause."
"If we can find the right method for treatment, all the descendants of witches will be safe."
"Should I go talk to him some more? But I don't think he will tell the truth."
"What should I do to be able to ask..."
She found herself stuck in a thinking rut, and before she knew it, it was time to go home.
She entered the dressing room and started changing her clothes. Inside the open wardrobe, there was a mirror. As she undressed, she instinctively took off her glasses and looked at herself in the mirror. Her chestnut-colored, curly long hair shimmered with a golden glow in the reflection.
She hurriedly put her glasses back on, and her reflection in the mirror returned to normal again.
She gently rubbed her cheeks, making sure there were no other blemishes on her face.
She changed into her clothes and took out a small, elegant burgundy wooden box from the cabinet. The box had dragon-shaped engravings on it, filled with intricate golden patterns.
She opened a wooden box that was about half the size of her palm and took out a pendant. The pendant was made of strands of golden hair, with a pale piece of bone in the center.
She picked up the bone and gently kissed it in front of her lips. She then placed it on her forehead and devoutly prayed.
"Your Majesty blesses us."
"May our coven of witches escape this disaster."
...
On the way home, Bai Wei also pondered whether there was something wrong with this Kurosawa Yaka.
There were two possibilities. One was that she could be a wicked person who experimented on others, but that seemed unlikely, though not impossible.
The other possibility was that she could be associated with witches, and it was highly likely that she knew the exact origin and periodicity of the Blood Moon Disease.
If it was the latter, there would be nothing to be guarded against.
And furthermore, the latter possibility was slightly more likely.
Just her appearance alone made it difficult for Bai Wei to feel any disgust or unease.
Her features and demeanor resembled closely that of a witch from the Black Rose.
The majority of witches simply could not live for up to five hundred years. At least, there was no way she could have lived that long.
Bai Wei shook his head, pushing aside any unnecessary thoughts.
Now he realized that there was not just one patient with Blood Moon Disease.
This also meant that there were even more descendants of witches than he had imagined, but in the relatively secluded Yingzhou, there wasn't even a means of treatment.
Unfortunately, her method of treating Sakurai Shiru couldn't be widely spread, unless there was another Golden Throne shooting up into orbit around Earth's moon.
The Scarlet Curse is truly a challenging problem.
With only one week remaining until December, time grew increasingly urgent. The Scarlet Curse grew stronger as it neared the middle of the month. In the past few days, its impact had been minor, but the toxins continued to accumulate within the body, gradually becoming activated. By the fifteenth of December, it would reach its peak.
The trouble had not truly arrived yet.
"Ensuring the safety of Sakurai Shiru is the utmost I can do. In times of hardship, one must take care of oneself and not be burdened."
Bai Wei exhaled white mist in the winter night under the streetlight. He then looked at the light turning from red to green and was about to move forward when suddenly there appeared an obstacle blocking his path.
A black cat stood in his path.
