Wang Si carefully examined the boatman's pulse while Wang Aija observed on the side. She was rather curious about the abnormal watery eyes of their patient.
"His pulse is too erratic." Wang Si muttered and turned on the side to face Zui Qingxing.
"He had been lethargic like this since we've docked our boat," Zui Qingxing politely responded.
Wang Si nodded his head and thought for a while. Then, he returned his attention to the boatman and check the neck by slightly moving his cloth. He then continued to check the skin until he closely examined the pale face.
"Esteemed guest, can you tell me what happened last night? I don't see any----," the old physician abruptly stopped his sentence the moment he rolled the sleeves of the boatman. His eyes widened in complete horror as his line of vision darted to the arm.
"Old physician, what's wrong?" Wang Aija peered closer too and her entire body trembled in fear.
On the skin of the boatman's arms were strange markings. It was not just mere scratches. There were vivid lines drawn deep in the skin that resulted in torn flesh and wounds as if someone was using some sort of pointed object, to sculpt the marks.
Zui Qingxing looked at the two figures who had gone in complete silence as if their bodies had just frozen. Somehow, he also felt tears forming in his eyes. He raised his hands and wiped the inner sides of his eyes using the hem of his cloth.
"G-Grand physician... Great herbalist?" Zui Qingxing cautiously called when they abnormally stood still for a long time. He slightly furrowed his eyebrows, completely confused by the sudden change in their expressions.
How strange!
Earlier, these figures were just too excited to see him. But, now, their eyes widened as if something extremely terrifying was presented to them!
When there was still no reaction coming from the two apothecary owners, Zui Qingxing took the initiative to look at the subject of their attention. He slightly bent his body and peered at it.
In an instant, Zui Qingxing's eyes also dilated, and his face turned completely pale. Even his hands were visibly shaking as he covered his mouth to prevent from screaming!
"T-This..." He mumbled while staring at the boatman's arm. For some reason, he could not look away at the formation drawn on the boatman's skin.
Zui Qingxing then knew that it was not just a simple wound but something very sinister that all of them were very familiar with!
There were lines strangely plastered on the arm and it revealed some of his flesh being torn in a formation of an ominous hexagon.
But, what horrified them most was not the vicious wounds on the skin but the effect of the symbol that formed on the arm.
"S-Something is extremely wrong here... This boatman carries Hex Mile of Tears. Why is this formation drawn on his skin?" Wang Aija expressed and took a step backward. Her attention gradually switched to Zui Qingxing.
"H-Hex! Ahhh... T-This is a formation that triggers an illness ... and it's contagious!" Wang Si finally announced and quickly raised his hands. A faint green aura automatically appeared and spread at the body of the boatman.
Zui Qingxing gulped and wiped the water in the side of his eyes again. How could this happen to his companion? They were fine before they left the Boundless Shoreline!
Before this old wine merchant could even realize what was happening, Wang Aija's slender fingers were already peeling off the garments on his arm.
"Both of them are carriers of Hex Mile of Tears!" Wang Aija announced in complete disbelief.
Zui Qingxing was still processing what he just heard. He is a carrier too? But, he did not feel any abnormalities in his body at all!
"That's impossible! I am completely fine!" Zui Qingxing immediately contradicted but, when he glanced at his arm, there were indeed vicious wound markings on his skin! The scene ultimately rendered him speechless.
Wang Si and Wang Aija were quick to circulate the power of their elixir field and spread green aura in the entire apothecary building to prevent the illness from infecting others.
Two Hex formations! Only time could tell the impact of an extremely malicious formation to their region!
Wang Aija took care of the guard that had opened the gate and the servant that greeted Zui Qingxing. They were also placed in separate wards to avoid any further spreading of the illness.
"What a malicious formation!" Wang Si exclaimed in disbelief! Who would have expected that someone holding the most important token identity issued by their master could potentially infect and cause harm to their civilians!
Since it was Zui Qingxing that had come to them, these apothecary owners decided to stay in his ward.
Wang Si had strong immunity to illness. Thus, he was not worried about his body getting infected by it. Wang Aija was also good at clearing toxins in her body. Their only problem was the common people in their region.
"Hex Mile of Tears... T-The illness is actually like a curse. Anyone who will be severely afflicted and infected by this would suffer death by crying. Your eyes would just shed tears until you lost your sanity and die of dehydration. But, we, apothecary owners, believed that every curse has a cure, every disease can be treated, and all problems of physical condition had appropriate solutions! Although I have not met this kind of formation before, I will find the herbs... for the cure of this illness," said Wang Aija with a long sigh.
The old merchant was completely at loss. Death by crying! He had seen someone die of this illness during his youth. But, he had never expected to be one of the victims of it. Not only a victim, but he was also the carrier!
Wang Si could not help but shook his head several times. He then glanced at Zui Qingxing and forced a small smile on his face. "Esteemed guest, don't worry. We will find a way to treat you and remove the formation in your body and your boatman too. However, you really put all of our citizens in danger. I could only hope that you have not met anyone along the road when you come into our apothecary building."
Alas! Zui Qingxing and the boatman had already exposed themselves on the bustling road together with the locals that morning!