Locke City—
Locke City was a small city bordering the Star Luo Empire. In terms of size, it was much like Nuoding City.
Dai Mubai draped himself in a filthy scrap of cloth, half his body soaked in blood, and staggered through the city gates on unsteady feet.
His face was covered in knife wounds, with blood and dirt caked onto his skin. Every movement felt like countless needles stabbing him viciously, making his vision swim with darkness.
He had no idea how long he had been walking. His vision had long since blurred, until the corner of his eye caught sight of a faded wooden sign at the street corner.
The five crooked characters on it read "Miraculous Hands Spring Revival Hall," yet they seemed like a talisman promising salvation.
Dai Mubai exhausted the last of his strength and stumbled inside. The strong scent of herbs in the apothecary entered his nose, somehow clearing his muddled mind a little.
"Physician! Physician!"
He braced himself against the counter, his body trembling uncontrollably. His voice was as hoarse as a broken gong.
"Come quickly and save me... please, save me..."
Before he could finish speaking, darkness swept over his eyes. Unable to hold himself up any longer, he slowly slid down the counter to the floor.
The scrap of cloth slipped from his shoulder, exposing the vicious wounds on his face.
A commotion came from the depths of the apothecary, and an old physician carrying a medicine chest hurried out at the sound.
The old physician glanced at Dai Mubai lying on the floor, his brows drawing sharply together as he quickly approached.
He first swept his eyes over the wounds covering the man's body, especially the knife marks on his face. Blood mixed with dirt had congealed into purple-black scabs,