At the end of January, several lavishly decorated carriages slowly entered a residential district for commoners in southern Ancient Yue City.
Inside the clinic at the end of the street, numerous patients sat or lay scattered about. Every one of them was gaunt and frail, yet their bellies were swollen like melons. Regardless of age or sex, they all looked like women heavy with child.
"Owww..."
Low moans rose from the corners from time to time, making the listeners' hearts clench.
"These are patients suffering from Living Gu Parasites disease. This form of the disease is also called abdominal bloat disease, because fluid accumulates inside the abdomen, and worms infest the blood as well. The liver and spleen often become enlarged, impairing their function..."
Zhu Lisheng and the others stepped down from their carriages. At the sight before them, their brows furrowed deeply.
"This place is filthy. I never expected such distinguished guests to visit, and failed to come out to greet you. Please forgive me." The man in charge of the clinic approached and bowed deeply.
"You are the proprietor here, I take it? We have some questions." Zhu Lisheng beckoned him over, speaking warmly.
"What would you like to ask, my lord?" the proprietor hurriedly replied.
Zhu Lisheng said, "How many patients have you admitted here in total? How do you manage their care, and how do you treat them?"
The proprietor was briefly taken aback. These hardly seemed like matters that high-ranking dignitaries would care about.
But since they had asked, he answered honestly.
Zhu Lisheng soon learned from the proprietor that the clinic housed patients from Ancient Yue City who had inadvertently contracted Living Gu Parasites. Since Ancient Yue City was the administrative seat where the royal residence stood, its sanitation was relatively good, and its