Bone Painting Coroner

Chapter 38 - Do You Want to Save Yourself?

As he approached, the housekeeper did not raise his eyes even once to look at Ji Yunshu. "What use would you have for this old servant?" he asked. His voice betrayed his deep loneliness.

A gentle smile hung on Ji Yunshu's lips as she handed the brocade box over to the housekeeper, "Old mister, I came to bring this to you. If you grind it, add brown sugar and some spirits, and then apply the mixture onto the scar on your face, it'll certainly help,"

The housekeeper was so taken aback by this sudden display of care, he almost seemed terrified; his body trembled as he raised his eyes to meet the kindhearted visage of Ji Yunshu. His first reaction was to decline her offer, "Please, Teacher. This old servant has done nothing to deserve the bestowal of such a valuable medicine."

"Please accept it, old mister. The value of a medicine depends entirely on the patient. If it's useful for the patient, then it's precious indeed, but for those who don't require it, it has very little value. I believe that it's best used on you, and that's why I hurried to bring it to you, despite the snow. I insist that you accept my gift," said Ji Yunshu.

"I..."

Ji Yunshu gave him no chance to further argue and pushed the box into the old housekeeper's chest, "Please, I insist."

It was true, that if the medicine were to be properly preserved until the modern age, it would be worth millions. But, to each what is needed. Ji Yunshu liked money, but there were lines that she would never cross. If she could not return to her own time, her only fate was to become a pile of bones.

In the end, the housekeeper held onto the box and said, "Your old servant is extremely grateful for your kindness, teacher." As he spoke, he bent down to salute her.

Ji Yunshu, whose young age made it inappropriate for her to receive such a display of thankfulness, hurried to stop him before he could fully prostrate himself by supporting his elbows, "Please, old mister, there's no need for such formality. I wouldn't dare to receive a bow from you,"

"Teacher, you are a kind man, how can this old servant ever repay you?"

"Please make good use of this medicine to mend the wound you have on your face, that'll be enough."

"Again, you have my deepest thanks," said the old housekeeper.

Ji Yunshu smiled back and was about to reply when she suddenly felt something sticky on her fingers. It seemed as though something got stuck to her hand as she reached for the elbows of the housekeeper. She glanced at his sleeves discreetly while maintaining her smile and saw a dark spot: the fabric was burnt. Whatever was on the housekeeper's sleeves had become stuck to Ji Yunshu's thumb when it hadrubbed against the fabric.

Ji Yunshu stopped looking at the old housekeeper's arm and moved her hands away from his elbows, as if nothing happened. She then asked in a quiet voice, "Old mister, I left my sandalwood box here during my last visit. Did you happen to find it?"

"Yes, of course, I'll bring it to you right away."

Ji Yunshu nodded. The moment the old housekeeper turned away, the smile on Ji Yunshu's face vanished without a trace. Instead, it was replaced by a grave look. She raised her hand and carefully inspected her thumb: there was a thin piece of wax adhered to it. She sniffed it and knew instantly. This unique scent could only come from a mixture of Roxburg rose flower and lotus flowers.

This is out of place. She remembered the burn on the housekeeper's sleeves. The wax must have gotten there as the fabric touched the flame of a candle. I remember smelling this somewhere, but where?

Ji Yunshu seemed to be on the verge of grasping something, but it was staying just out of sight.

"Teacher, here's your box, I've put everything I found in there,"