Chapter 16: The Miraculous Scroll from the East

Travel-worn, outside the door was a group of battered adventurers.

Each had damaged leather armor, bloodstains all over, and mud clinging to their bodies, clearly having just endured a fierce battle.

Leading them was a scarred man bearing twin swords and a head of silver hair.

Upon hearing Ji Ming's question, he widened his eyes slightly in surprise.

"Huh? How would you know that."

"Yeah, how would I know."

Ji Ming shrugged and made way for the crowd.

"Bring the patient inside, but it's crowded in there—remember to let fewer people in."

Under the swordsman's lead, two sturdy warriors carried in a trembling adventurer who had lost all strength.

"Be careful, don't touch the head."

The swordsman stepped over to relieve one of them, slowly helping the patient onto the bed.

Ji Ming didn't rush to start treatment; instead, he stood three meters away and observed for a moment.

The one attacked by the aberration was a youthful adventurer no longer a child.

At this moment his pupils trembled, his face was pallid, and cold sweat poured from his whole body.

This reaction clearly indicates a curse; perhaps he saw something terrifying in a hallucination.

Only after the youth lay down steadily did the silver-haired swordsman turn and bow.

"Hello, Doctor. We are adventurers of the Wolf Pack Squad."

"I am Captain Dasike, introduced to me by Sitong of the Iron Chain Squad."

He lowered his voice and asked tentatively.

"I heard him say you can treat aberration illnesses—is that true?"

Ji Ming glanced at him and replied calmly.

"It's possible, but you must first tell me what you encountered."

Dasike glanced at the youth, then slowly furrowed his sword-like brows.

"Then I'll make it short."

As a fantastical otherworld, the vast Yangyue Star naturally hosts many species.

Overall they can be divided into six categories, namely:

Most numerous, with the largest territory and most balanced aptitude: the Human Race.

Composed of various beast‑headed humanoids or green‑skinned creatures, tall and warlike: the Beast Race.

Represented by elves and dwarves, few in number but of exceptionally high quality: the Spirit Race.

Represented by gnomes and goblins, lowly but still possessing wisdom: the Subhuman Race.

And, though widespread throughout the world, lacking wisdom they can only be wild beasts or vassals: the Magic Beasts.

And everything besides these five is the Aberrations.

She might be a Wendigo with a sheep‑bone skull, devouring flesh and drinking blood.

Or she could be a Blood Clan lurking in the human world, constantly preying in secret.

Or perhaps a Water Ghost haunting the lakes, waiting to drown those who fall in.

They are either hard to communicate with, unable to coexist, or both.

What the Wolf Pack Squad encountered was an Evil Curse Witch dwelling in a swamp.

Earthen golems erupting from the ground, and various unstoppable curses.

Originally intending only to hunt some magic beasts, the adventurers strayed into the witch's territory and nearly died in her layered traps.

But no matter how strong the witch, she could not withstand the adventurers' numbers.

Under Dasike's lead, they used a feint‑east‑strike‑west maneuver to successfully approach the witch.

However, as the witch lay dying, she unleashed the strongest curse of her life.

The one closest to the curse was the elite adventurer who had driven his weapon into her heart—namely, the man now lying on the bed, twitching incessantly.

Being able to befriend Sitong, Dasike's character is naturally not bad.

"We've searched the witch's hut inside out and found no way to break it—indeed we don't even know what this curse is!"

Saying this, he angrily smacked his thigh, when suddenly he heard a line.

"This is the Soul Nightmare Technique unique to the Evil Curse Witch."

Dasike stared for a moment, then lifted his head in delighted surprise.

"Doctor, do you know this curse?"

"If the System knows it, then I know it!"

Ji Ming's gloomy gaze drifted toward the distance.

"I know a little."

According to the panel's description, this is a vicious curse that can accompany the cursed for life.

It continually produces hallucinations, replaying all the feared things of the cursed one's life in a loop, and implants a "this is real" hypnotic suggestion.

Under such cruel torment, the cursed cannot eat or drink nor sleep, and will soon die from mental collapse.

Faced with such a deadly art, Dasike naturally went first to the Inner City to find a clinic, but……

"To be frank, Doctor, we've already paid the consultation fee, but they can't even name the curse."

"Since you know what the curse is, do you know how to cure it?"

If it were yesterday's Ji Ming, he would have smashed them with a stick and then let the adventurers cheerfully carry the patient away awaiting a turn.

But today…

Isn't this just clinical material delivered to our door?

Since he's a friend of Sitong, I'll reluctantly give it a try.

Ji Ming waved his hand, signaling the adventurers to clear a workspace.

He sank his breath, his expression solemn, and with a swish pulled out a piece of parchment from his bosom.

This is... a magic scroll?

All the adventurers widened their eyes, never expecting Ji Ming to have such a treasure in his hand.

Dasike also narrowed his eyes, understanding why Sitong would suddenly hold this famous quack doctor in such high esteem.

Those who can possess a magic scroll are no ordinary people; maintaining good relations will never be a loss.

Ji Ming ignored their reactions, instead slowly unrolling the scroll so that the side bearing the calming talisman faced the patient on the bed.

As the name suggests, the calming talisman's function is to soothe overly agitated emotions such as joy, anger, sorrow, and happiness, restoring the person's mind to tranquility.

Coincidentally, this curse's effect on humans is limited to the mental faculty as well, so producing the calming talisman is like prescribing the right medicine.

Indeed, the destined nemesis from the shadows has descended; the curse shrouding the man, driven by instinct, has been reactivated once more.

"No, no, no, don't come near me!"

The man's expression instantly turned to anguish; he struggled and howled as he sat up from the bed, sprinting toward the outside of the clinic.

But how could Ji Ming let him have his way?

"Hold him down!"

With the doctor's fierce shout, the two burly men didn't hesitate and immediately pressed the man back down.

Taking a breath, Ji Ming pinched the talisman and began chanting the incantation corresponding to the calming talisman.

Now with others' help, we can fully unleash the power of the calming technique—might as well give it a try.

While listening to Ji Ming's murmured incantation, the two burly men exchanged glances and both looked toward Dasike.

Dasike nodded, indicating they just needed to cooperate.

Finally, a brilliant golden light blossomed upon the talisman.

"Seal!"

Ji Ming pressed backhandedly, laying the entire piece of parchment onto the patient's face.

Just moments ago he was yowling and wishing to tear apart the person before him; the young man instantly fell silent, lying stiff as a board.

The talisman's effect is astonishingly good!

If it weren't for damaging his image, Ji Ming would love to whistle a celebration right now.

"That's enough; we've taken the first step toward solving the curse."

Ji Ming spoke steadily, just about to continue coaxing, when he suddenly noticed the surroundings were a little too quiet.

The entire treatment room—whether those inside or those peeking their heads out the door—was filled with adventurers all silent.

He blinked his eyes.

"Everyone, could a miraculous scroll from the East really be this frightening?"