Xu An said, "Wh-why (੭ •_•)?" He scratched his head.
Seeing Xu An like this, Yixuan felt irritation welling up inside her.
She could not resist rapping Xu An on the head before saying, "Ask fewer questions and do more work!"
"Oww." Xu An stared resentfully at Yixuan.
"Master, why do you say there's Corruption in it?" Belle also asked.
"Well, that's because exposure to Corruption numbs people's senses, making it easy for them to become trapped in hallucinations," Yixuan explained.
Huh? ?_? Master, so I shouldn't have bothered asking? What happened to master and disciple being of one mind? So it's you and Belle who are of one mind, huh? No love left. No love at all.
I'll draw a circle and curse you both to have nothing tasty to eat for three days...
Ignoring Xu An, the others continued talking. "Could this be the so-called therapeutic effect of Worry-Free Water?"
Ye Shiyuan said, "Yes. Worry-Free Water might contain Corruption. Doctor Lor used its pain-relieving effect to deceive his patients, but in reality, it was just drinking poison to quench their thirst."
"That explains how he fooled those people. Man, that guy is despicable. He wanted people to doubt Hui Crystal Meike's medicine so he could take the opportunity to sell his own. What a crooked merchant-no, he's worse than a crooked merchant," Xu An said.
"Exactly. I heard there seems to have been more Corruption in the Lemnian Hollow lately. Maybe Doctor Lor used that as the raw material for his fake anti-corruption medicine," Belle added.
"Shit! I wondered why he was sneaking around alone that day, and I even saved him!" Xu An said in frustration. "If I'd known, I'd have left him for those Ethereals to play with."
"Hmph, that story about using Hui Crystal Meike's abandoned production lines to make medicine was probably something he made up!"
"That guy is beyond despicable. I can't take it anymore! Where is he now? Let your senior sister tear him apart!" Ju Fufu said fiercely.
"As it happens, I just found out that Paro and some workers went into the Hollow to receive treatment from Lor," Belle said.
"Let's hurry!" Xu An said.
They quickly sprang into action, heading into the Hollow.
"I'll use the HDD to help navigate. You can head straight in," Wise said. Then he went back to his room, grabbed some equipment, and came out again.
"Great, let's get going!" Ju Fufu said impatiently.
They all soon reached the Hollow by cable car. Following Wise's directions, they quickly arrived at the treatment area the workers had mentioned.
"Belle, this vicinity is the treatment area the workers mentioned.
"I just tried tracking nearby communication signals... It's very faint, but it seems to be somewhere around here." As Wise spoke, he looked around but saw no sign of anyone.
"Huh? There's Corruption everywhere around here. Why choose this place for treatment?" Senior Sister Fufu was thoroughly puzzled.
"The workers said it was to avoid Hui Crystal Meike's investigations, but something about it doesn't sit right with me," Wise replied.
"Probably to make the 'treatment' easier," Xu An said.
Their expressions darkened.
"Anyway, let's hurry and look around for signs of Paro."
They continued moving.
"There are Ethereals nearby. Be careful, everyone," Belle warned.
"It's fine, Belle. You and Wise stay somewhere safe," Xu An said. Then, `(*∩_∩*)′, he formed an Ether barrier around them to keep them from getting hurt or anything. Though, with his master right there, he was being a little redundant.
Pah, pah, pah! What do you mean, redundant? This is called icing on the cake.
Yixuan looked at Xu An from the side, her face full of confusion.
Her eyes asked Xu An, What are you doing?!
Uh, hehe. Xu An gave a sheepish laugh, then dispelled the barrier. After all, that thing did consume some energy.
After quickly dealing with the few Ethereals in front of them, they began investigating.
"Look, there's something strange over there," Ju Fufu said, pointing to a flower-bud-shaped substance nearby that gave off a purplish-black aura.
"That's a Corruption Gall, a condensation of Corruption. Be careful, everyone. Don't touch it. Fufu, when we get back, I'll be checking your studies," Yixuan said mildly.
"I shouldn't have gotten curious [・ヘ・?]" Ju Fufu looked miserable.
"There are quite a few condensations of Corruption around here," Yixuan said, looking around. "Our Mount Yunkui techniques can clear these things away."
Hearing this, Xu An said, "Master, let's leave this one for Wise and Belle to practice on. I'll go clear the others with Senior Sister and the rest."
"All right, but be quick. Just clear away everything blocking the path. We're rather pressed for time.
"Wise, Belle, try doing what I taught you."
Over on Xu An's side, he said, "Senior Sister Fufu, you're in for it when we get back~"
Ju Fufu rolled her eyes and ignored him, concentrating instead on clearing away the condensations of Corruption.
"Go, Senior Sister~" (*＾ー＾) Xu An said smugly.
"What are you so smug about?! Hurry up and clear the path," Fufu urged.
"Oh..." Xu An answered, then swept his hand and cleared away all the Corruption before them.
Seeing the Corruption in front of them suddenly vanish, Fufu and the others sensed the flow of Ether, then turned to Xu An.
"You did that?"
"Ah, yeah. What's wrong O_o?"
"Why didn't you use that before we started working?" Fufu asked.
"You didn't ask (¯―¯٥)," Xu An said.
Silence was a soundless "confession." O_o
"Senior Brother Pan, hold Senior Sister Fufu back," Wise said from the side, shaking his head at the farce.
"Fufu, don't be rash." Pan Yinhu hurriedly held Ju Fufu back.
"Yeah, Senior Sister, don't be rash~" Xu An teased.
It would have been fine if he had kept quiet, but saying that only made her angrier.
"Junior Brother, let go of me! I'll scratch his face to shreds!" Fufu flailed her arms and claws.
"Enough. Stop fooling around. Let's go," Yixuan spoke up.
They stopped fooling around. How could they keep going? The boss had spoken. If they continued, who knew what would happen to them when they got back?
"Master, we haven't seen a single person supposedly receiving treatment around here."
"There's a communication signal ahead! Let's hurry over and look!" Wise suddenly said.
They followed Wise's directions, clearing out Ethereals as they went.
"This damned place is crawling with Corruption and Ethereals. Is it really suitable for treating patients?" Pan Yinhu complained. "If you ask me, it looks more like a meeting spot for Hollow Raiders!"
As Fufu cleared out Ethereals, she did not forget to reply. "Junior Brother's right! There's definitely something wrong with that Doctor Lor!"
"I've sensed their location. They're just ahead. Something seems to be wrong with Paro!" Xu An said.
After clearing out the Ethereals, they followed Xu An toward Paro.
"Cough, cough... Ugh... I-it's you?! ...Help... Please help me..." Paro did not seem to have realized they would appear here.
Xu An crouched down to examine him, using a technique to clear the Corruption from his body.
"Paro, what happened to you?!"
"I... My wife and I came here to see Doctor Lor for our regular treatment... I already drank the Worry-Free Water, so why... does it still hurt so much... Cough, cough." Paro's voice was weak.
Sensing the state of his body, Xu An sighed and shook his head at Ju Fufu.
Then he channeled his own Ether energy into Paro's body as gently as possible to ease some of his pain.
"Please save my wife... She... They're in there." Paro pointed in a direction.
Yixuan frowned. "His Ether Corruption has flared up. Yinhu, Fufu, hold him up. I'll try to regulate the Ether inside his body."
"Ugh... Aaargh... Ah!" Paro screamed, no longer able to endure the pain of Ether Corruption.
"M-Masters from Mount Yunkui... Stay back! I don't want to drag you into this! Aaargh!"
Paro shouted those words before losing consciousness. Then he looked in the direction where he had pointed out his wife earlier, light swirling in his eyes. There was no knowing what he was thinking in those final moments.
The beginnings of a core had already appeared on his body. He struggled to his feet and charged deeper into the Hollow.
Moments later, his cries of pain became the shrill, savage roars of an Ethereal, echoing through the depths of the Hollow.
Xu An watched quietly without saying a word.
After taking a deep breath, he suddenly recalled Komano Masato's earlier words, telling him to spend more time with his child.
The anger in his heart built up.
He vanished from the spot in an instant.
"How could this happen?! Does that mean Paro has already..." Fufu could not hide the dejection in her voice.
"Senior Sister, a core appeared on him just now..."