The Lingering Side Effects

"Mr. Graves, would you like me to help you pour water on yourself?" Yuye asked.

Su Ming flicked her finger on the head, making a crisp sound.

"... If you don't want it, then you don't want it." Yuye covered her forehead, looking slightly aggrieved.

A large tub of hot water had already been prepared in the bathhouse. Su Ming sat on a stone stool next to it, ladling water over his head one ladle at a time.

On a wooden box next to it, there was a long, dark piece of paper.

If Yise hadn't specifically mentioned it, Su Ming wouldn't have recognized it as soap.

This stuff feels very rough when rubbed, and has a fine, grainy feel when rubbed against the skin.

But just as Yise had praised, it really did clean you up.

As a ladle of hot water was poured down, the grayish-black water flowed away along the cracks in the stone slabs, and the fatigue that had been accumulating on Su Ming's body for days seemed to be carried away as well.

****

Su Ming spent five minutes longer than usual washing himself, and felt much more refreshed.

He stepped out of the bathhouse, the night Qingfeng carrying the scent of grass from the wall. A few scattered stars twinkled in the sky.

Su Ming finally understood why Yise was in such a good mood just now.

He went up to the second floor and found that Yise's door was open.

She was lying in bed reading the script for "The Cangxiao Dynasty: The Flame of Succession Arc".

Jinxiu rested her head on her forehead, her hands supporting her head, also seriously studying the character.

However, Yise's posture seems a bit off.

Su Ming took another look and found that the girl was lying on her back with her arms and legs tucked in.

That's clearly a dog with its belly showing!

Su Ming resisted the urge to take a picture.

[Is this also a side effect of "Memory Grasp"?] he asked Jinxiu.

Jinxiu tilted her head, glanced at Yise's posture, and also noticed something was wrong.

"[I think... yes, right?]" She touched her lips with her small hand.

[Maybe, Yise is just like this all the time?]

That's really special.

****

Sensing the movement, Yise put down his manuscript and looked at Su Ming.

Is something wrong?

A few strands of damp hair clung to the girl's cheek, Yise's eyes were filled with the question, "Are you talking about me behind my back?"

Su Ming immediately shook his head.

"Nothing."

"I forgot to ask earlier, how are your injuries?"

"Do you need me to send the medicine over?"

Yise sprang up, flipped ninety degrees, and ended up squatting on the bed. Just like a husky!

Even worse, Yise looked down at the wound on his shoulder, stuck out his tongue and licked it, leaving a wet patch near his collarbone.

Su Ming almost choked on his own saliva.

Yise, however, remained completely calm, showing no awareness what he had done.

She turned to answer Su Ming:

"No need, look, the wound has healed completely."

"Full recovery will only take a few days."

Su Ming could only force himself to keep a straight face and pretend he hadn't seen it.

He rolled up his sleeves, revealing his arms.

Part of the wound was quite deep and hadn't fully healed; after taking a bath and soaking in water, a patch of red was visible.

"Then I'll handle this."

Jinxiu replied, "No problem!" She was about to fly over when she realized she was a step too late. Because Yise had already grabbed Su Ming's arm and licked Su Ming's wound.

Su Ming's body stiffened.

Yise also froze.

She finally realized what she was doing!

Yise's face flushed red, almost to the point of steaming.

Su Ming thought she would let go of his hand, but to his surprise, the enraged Yise suddenly bit his arm!

Both of them were stunned again.

This time, Yise finally reacted normally as a human girl.

She turned her head and lunged to the other side of the bed, covering her head with the blanket, her legs twitching wildly.

"Well, Yise..." Su Ming said awkwardly.

"I know about the side effects of reading orc memories."

He comforted her. (The last line appears to be a website footer or tagline and doesn't translate directly.)

Yise's voice came from under the covers.

"Forget about this right now!"

"... I'll try my best," Su Ming said insincerely.

****

The next morning, after breakfast...

As soon as the morning light peeked over the courtyard wall, the Yugan climbed onto the roof to inspect the tiles.

"The rainy season is coming soon to Water Chestnut Island, so we need to take care of it," Yuye explained to Su Ming.

"Will Yugan work?" Su Ming was very worried and surprised.

"Roof repairs are something kids do," Yuye said matter-of-factly. "They're lightweight and won't easily damage the roof."

"This is our specialty," Yugan said proudly. "I do it often, and I can earn up to 12 copper coins a day!"

Su Ming glanced at it and found that Yugan was indeed very professional. The tiny half-cat-man squatted on the roof tile, its tail lowered for balance, and moved nimbly back and forth to check.

Yugan quickly found the problematic tile.

He tapped the tile surface with his finger, heard a hollow sound, then used a thin piece of iron to pry open the seam and carefully removed the broken tile piece by piece, barely disturbing the intact tiles next to it.

That's absolutely true.

Consider that at six years old, in his hometown, he had just graduated from kindergarten, or at most started primary school.

She should still be at the age where she can be pampered in her parents' arms.

Su Ming sighed and cast a triggered safety shield on the Yugan.

Even if you fall from the second floor, you won't get hurt.

Several windows in the house were broken, and Yuye began to be removed.

Perhaps because she hadn't washed herself clean yesterday, Yuye wrapped a headscarf around her head.

She rolled up her sleeves, used wooden wedges to hold the window frame in place, and then slowly removed the rotten crossbeams. The morning sunlight streamed through the window, and dust particles in the light floated around the Yuye.

This scene suddenly gave Su Ming the urge to quickly destroy the Plundering Clock. Such an industrious race should not be trapped in such a predicament.

****

Around mid-morning, the Hebana arrived.

He brought over three orcs and introduced them to Su Ming as actors who had previously participated in the performance.

All three were dressed in old clothes, but they tried their best to keep them clean.

"We can do all the odd jobs except for the performance!" one of the orcs volunteered.

Su Ming remained expressionless and began discussing wages with them.

Eleven hours of work per day, with one lunch provided.

Several orcs wanted 45 copper coins a day, but Su Ming bargained the price down to 35 copper coins.

"My work isn't heavy," he argued confidently. "You can eat much less, and your bodies won't be so worn out."

The reason was clearly sufficient, and the three orcs actually agreed.

Normally, actors, as a "skilled profession," should be paid more. However, the entertainment industry is currently in a slump.

For them, if they didn't do this, they would have to go back to the streets to do other hard labor, such as moving goods or carrying stones, which would be more physically demanding than working in the theater.

Other jobs might require a few days of rest, but theater work can go on indefinitely.

This isn't wisdom; it's simply a survival choice.

One of the older participants even voluntarily lowered his price to 30 copper coins.

Su Ming continued:

"Our rule here is that wages are paid every ten days, with eight months' wages paid upfront and two months' wages held as a deposit."

"You must ask for leave in advance. If I don't approve it, you have to come even if you're sick!"

None of the orcs had any objections.

These are the rules of passage at Lingbei Port; everyone who works at the docks there follows these rules.

It's slightly different from the local version, but not by much.

Since this patron is from that side, it's only right to comply. "And then, my sister's room is on the second floor."

Su Ming's tone sharpened, and his gaze swept over the faces of the group.

"No one is allowed to go up!"

"Or be fired immediately!"

This time, he adopted a persona of someone with a bad temper and a harsh personality.

The less Su Ming communicates with these orcs and the less distance he keeps from them, the fewer openings he might reveal.

A picky and demanding foreign investor is much safer than a mild-mannered persona, and won't attract much scrutiny.

"Yes, boss!"

The orc quickly replied.

Su Ming finally showed a slightly satisfied expression.

"Not bad!" he said to the Hebana.

"Everyone after that should follow this standard." "Otherwise, don't bring them here; it's a waste of time!"

"Yes, Mr. Graves!" Hebana replied.

****

An hour later, Hebana brought in another seven or eight employees.

Even though Su Ming deliberately kept the salary low, the relatively easy job at the Raccoon Dog Dream Theater was still very attractive.

The courtyard gate opened and closed repeatedly throughout the morning, and the dusty, half-orcs entered cautiously and expectantly.

Besides performing, some of them can cut fabric, and some can repair wooden frames.

After agreeing on the terms, they immediately began tidying up the site, and the courtyard quickly became lively.

After years of silence, the Raccoon Dog Dream Theater actually looks like it's reopening.

"Won't you expect me to assemble a complete theater troupe anytime soon?" Su Ming asked, somewhat helplessly.

He was also hoping that Hebana wouldn't be able to find enough people in time, causing the performance to be delayed indefinitely.

"They're not really going to make me go up and act, are they?" Yise complained. The two exchanged a glance.

Su Ming suddenly felt something was off. He couldn't help but feel that there was a hint of expectation mixed in with Yise's complaining expression.

"Hey, do you actually really want to perform?" he asked suspiciously.

Yise was about to bare his teeth when he realized something was wrong and smacked himself on the head.

Then it stretched out its claws, pressed its ears back, raised its tail, and squinted its eyes at Su Ming.

Yise finally adopted a "correct" threatening posture, befitting a cat.

"Believe it or not, I'll scratch you!"

She waved her claws.

Su Ming covered his face; this was too much to bear!

He never imagined that he was actually the victim of the "Memory Grasp" spell's side effects!