In the dim room, the faint light caught sight of a figure huddled on the floor, convulsing ceaselessly. To be precise, that form could hardly be called human anymore!

A greenish ** oozed constantly from the cracked skin, accompanied by a pungent, sour stench that hung heavy in the air. Hu Niu froze, not out of fear, but from sheer bewilderment over what kind of creature this was!

But she soon knew, for in the next moment, a sharp cry erupted from her, and she lunged forward. “Papa, Papa, what’s wrong with you, sob” Hu Niu, unlike Niu Niu, lacked that strong courage, and this sudden change terrified her into tears.

The viscous ** coated her hands and clothes; though it carried a tingling, itchy sensation, she was utterly oblivious to it. The person on the floor, hearing Hu Niu’s wails, managed to force open their eyes, only to shove her away instantly, speaking in a raspy, desperate tone: “Go, get out of here!” Hu Niu was clearly startled by her father’s action, but after a moment of stunned silence, she threw herself forward again, whimpering, “Papa, I brought the medicine back!

If you just take it, you’ll be alright!” Though she spoke those words, tears streamed down her face because she knew, even as she said them, that her father’s condition had worsened beyond anything before. The person on the ground tried to push Hu Niu away once more, but the last remnants of his strength were insufficient to complete the action.

He opened his mouth as if to say something, but in the next instant, he was seized by a violent spasm and closed his eyes. “Papa, Papa, wake up quickly…” Hu Niu shook him desperately, but no matter how loudly she cried out, her father remained unresponsive.

The situation before them was no longer something a mere dose of medicine could solve. This was the first time Hu Niu had seen her father’s body weeping green fluid.

“Papa, hold on, I’ll run and fetch the two Physician Grandpas right now!” Hu Niu scrambled to her feet and bolted outside, completely forgetting Niu Niu in her panic. Watching Hu Niu’s retreating form, Niu Niu was momentarily at a loss.

She hadn't expected to witness such a scene; it immediately brought to mind her deceased mother, and the crushing grief she had felt then. She glanced back at the figure on the floor.

Though completely still, Niu Niu knew he was not yet dead, though death was certainly near. Something had to be done!

With that thought, Niu Niu quickly cast a healing spell, mending the wounds on the man’s body first. Then, Niu Niu slowly channeled her True Essence (Zhen Yuan Li) into the man’s body, attempting to prolong his life.

While Niu Niu couldn't cure him, ensuring he survived momentarily meant her Brother Xiu would surely be able to heal him! Under the slow infusion of True Essence, the man’s breathing finally stabilized, yet his eyes remained closed.

Niu Niu almost allowed herself a moment of relief, but a sudden complication arose: the man’s body was at its absolute limit and could not withstand the surge of True Essence. He immediately began vomiting the green ** in great gulps, appearing dangerously close to drawing his last breath at any moment.

This threw Niu Niu into a fluster; she busied herself again, completely forgetting to contact Zhong Shenxiu and the others. ※※※※※※ Hu Niu nearly stumbled into the apothecary shop, her cries echoing immediately: “Grandpa Shou, Grandpa Pang, hurry and save my Papa…” The two old men started in surprise when Hu Niu burst in, exchanging a glance as if they had already guessed something.

“Hu Niu, don’t panic. Tell Grandpa exactly what happened!” the stout old man soothed gently.

Niu Niu quickly narrated the scene she had just witnessed in a choked voice, tears gushing from her eyes like a broken dam. The two old men felt a pang of heartache.

Though they had long anticipated such a day, they hadn't expected it to arrive so soon, or so abruptly! “Niu Niu, don't worry, Grandpa will accompany you to look!” Grandpa Pang comforted her again.

“I’ll grab the emergency kit. You two go ahead!” Grandpa Shou, knowing time was critical, quickly retreated into the inner room.

※※※※※※ As Hu Niu and Grandpa Pang entered the room, they found Niu Niu frantically busy, her expression clearly etched with anxiety. Hu Niu’s father was no longer lying on the floor; he had been moved to the **.

His complexion was visibly less terrifying than before, and his eyes were open, though he remained unable to speak or even move with any ease. In that moment, Hu Niu was stunned, and Grandpa Pang was even more so!

Niu Niu’s fingers, moving almost like blurs, tapped rapidly over the man’s body. Golden light enveloped both her and the patient entirely.

Most bizarrely, a stream of rainbow-colored light radiated continuously from Niu Niu’s other hand. What was she doing?

That was the first question that flashed through Grandpa Pang’s mind, but it was quickly supplanted by a second: Who exactly was this little girl? Grandpa Pang was no child; even with his limited experience, he could tell that Niu Niu was far from ordinary.

Hu Niu, standing nearby, was clearly more focused on her father, urging Grandpa Pang, “Grandpa Pang, hurry and check on my Papa!” Grandpa Pang snapped back to attention and moved forward to examine the man’s condition. Niu Niu also cooperatively ceased her movements; after all, she lacked systematic medical training.

The little she knew was standard knowledge shared among all members of the ‘Misty Mercenary Group’! In terms of actual medical skill, Kaini knew a bit more, but it was still limited—certainly nothing comparable to what Luo Bin had learned when Zhong Shenxiu intentionally taught him everything he knew!

Grandpa Pang first cast an odd look at Niu Niu before bending down to examine the patient. He pried open the man’s mouth, then scrutinized his eyes, and finally began taking his pulse—acting every bit like a Traditional Chinese Medicine doctor.

Under the expectant gazes of both Hu Niu and Niu Niu, Grandpa Pang’s expression grew increasingly grim. Hu Niu’s father’s condition was far more severe than he had imagined.

By all accounts, the man should already be dead; yet he wasn't, as if some force was artificially sustaining his life, which baffled him. “Grandpa Pang, how is my father?” Hu Niu asked nervously.

Grandpa Pang remained silent. In truth, he didn't know how to deliver the devastating news to Hu Niu; her father was beyond help, and at his current state, he wouldn't last longer than half an hour at most.

“Ah” Niu Niu suddenly gasped, looking excitedly at Hu Niu, “Hu Niu, don't worry, I’ll go fetch my Brother Xiu right now! He can definitely cure your father immediately, don't worry, I’ll be right back!” With that, she bolted out the door.

By the time Hu Niu and Grandpa Pang reacted, Niu Niu was gone. Niu Niu ran back to the inn at her fastest pace.

In the previous chaos of treatment, she had forgotten about her Brother Xiu—that omnipotent presence—believing firmly that if her Brother Xiu intervened, success would be instantaneous! “Brother Xiu, Brother Xiu…” Niu Niu called out anxiously, her voice immediately drawing Kaini and the others out, but Zhong Shenxiu was nowhere to be seen.

“Niu Niu, what’s wrong?” Charlotte asked with concern, her first thought being that Niu Niu had been bullied. “Brother Xiu, where is Brother Xiu?” Niu Niu searched frantically all around.

“Niu Niu, what happened? Your Brother Xiu went out with your Sister Luo Bin!” Kaini replied, equally concerned.

※※※※※※ At that moment, Grandpa Shou, who had arrived afterward, walked in carrying a wooden chest. Seeing Grandpa Pang’s expression, he seemed to understand something but still asked softly, “How is it?” Grandpa Pang shook his head helplessly, offering only a few simple words: “The poison has reached the marrow!” Even though he had suspected it, Grandpa Shou’s body still trembled.

He knew all too well what 'poison in the marrow' signified—a condition even an immortal would find difficult to cure! “Grandpa Shou, hurry and treat my Papa!” Hu Niu hadn’t grasped the gravity of her father’s situation yet, believing a simple treatment would suffice for recovery.

Grandpa Shou didn't speak, setting down the emergency kit and personally examining the patient. However, his subsequent expression mirrored Grandpa Pang’s.

Grandpa Shou and Grandpa Pang exchanged a look, and finally, Grandpa Pang spoke, “Hu Niu, you are a strong child. Grandpa Pang believes nothing can break you, no matter what happens.

Listen to Grandpa Pang, your father…” Grandpa Pang faltered as he reached the crucial point; he simply couldn't bring himself to finish the words. “Hu Niu, your father cannot be saved.

We had planned to tell you later, but now that his condition has worsened, he won't last much longer!” Grandpa Shou said with an air of regret that immediate truth was better than drawn-out agony. The things one must face, no matter how much one tries to escape, must eventually be faced!

Grandpa Shou’s words struck Hu Niu like a thunderbolt from the clear sky. She froze, utterly stunned.

“Hu Niu, when your father is gone, you stay with the two Grandpas!” Grandpa Pang’s words were meant for Hu Niu, but also for her father. Though unable to speak, Hu Niu’s father cast a look of profound gratitude toward Grandpa Pang; the burden of his daughter’s future was finally settled, and he could depart in peace.

“Grandpa Shou, you’re lying to Hu Niu, right? My Papa will get better, won’t he?” Hu Niu’s expression, a mixture of smiles and tears, was heartbreaking.

Both old men were struck dumb. If they could, neither would hesitate to save Hu Niu’s father, but now, it was too late for anything they or anyone else could say.

If even Physician Leorien couldn't manage it, what hope did they have? The atmosphere in the room grew suffocatingly heavy, and just then, Niu Niu’s distant cries echoed from outside.

“Hu Niu, don’t worry! My Sister Kaini is here, and your father will absolutely be fine!” Hearing this voice, neither Grandpa Pang nor Grandpa Shou felt a surge of joy, nor did a shred of hope stir within them.

It was too late; it wouldn't matter who arrived now! Both men sighed, already contemplating how to handle the arrangements for the deceased.