Chapter 132: Rotting Corpse Disease
Unlike the black, sooty walls of the kitchen, the infirmary had greenish moss-covered walls. It was located near the garden, furthest from the hubbub of the research quarters. It was a peaceful place, even if it remained far from socialisation. However, this was the vibe Anji thought would encompass the Mystical Qilin Sect. It was rather ironic, but only the Yan Ping exuded the aura of a sage from a mysterious mountain. Everyone else resembled some mad inventor more than a cultivator. The large garden surrounding the infirmary was full of herbs, and Pearl explained how herbalists living in the quarters nearby cared for it. Unlike the rest of the sect, these retired librarians enjoyed nature more than the four walls and sea of books they spent most of their lives with, something Anji could understand. Spending more than half of her life confined to her room because of her poor health, Anji preferred spending time outdoors rather than indoors whenever possible.
Anji recognised some of the herbs growing in the garden. However, many other plants in the garden were not related to medicine. Even after studying under Doctor He and reading many books, Anji still did not know many things. The medical knowledge here must be way more advanced than Anji initially thought.
Knocking the front door, Pearl placed a hand on Anji’s shoulder and waited for someone to answer. After a while, a retired librarian answered the door. He was wearing a long white robe and round glasses, similar to many other cultivators in the sect. However, he was also wearing something that covered both his hands entirely. Why was he wearing gloves, and why were they red?
Smiling as if undisturbed by the suspicious appearance, Pearl introduced Anji as the new special student reporting for her first health check. The retired librarian took two looks at Anji before his eyes lit up.
"That’s right! I had forgotten all about it! Sorry, let me get the others right away and change out of these. We were dyeing bandages, I must look very unsightly. My apologies, please come in first!"
Ushering Anji and Pearl inside, the librarian quickly excused himself and apologised for not having time to make tea. Inside the infirmary, Anji noticed a drastically different environment to the infirmary Doctor He worked at.
Unlike the infirmary in which Anji practically grew up, the infirmary here was painted completely white. Doctor He believed that seeing more greens and beautiful scenery helped with the relaxation of the mind and sped up natural recovery. However, the absolute lack of colour on the inner walls surprised her. Moreover, there were many glass vials containing liquids of various colours. Many glass jars had various plants submerged in liquids. These jars were sealed tightly, and Anji wondered if they were making alcohol instead of medicine. The strange setup inspired curiosity.
While Anji observed the infirmary with interest, Pearl fidgeted uneasily. Of all the places in the western district, the infirmary was known to be the craziest. Although retired, most of these people used to be researchers or assistants of researchers. As many cultivators did not fall ill, they seldom treated their patients for physical ailments. However, many patients who checked in the infirmary were diagnosed with stress syndromes. Their job was to restore the balance of the mind more than the body. Their treatment involved white walls and a strict monk-like schedule for a moon cycle, something most researchers likened to torture despite its effectiveness.