The Yao Emperor and His Human Doctor.

Chapter 17 - Impure Water.

It was Su Ning's first time flying a yao. Even more so in one that was a dragon. Ren Loo's body was wider than a tree trunk and as long as a house. It's a good thing it turned into the courtyard, otherwise it would have destroyed part of the clinic's rooms. He held her side to her back without squeezing too much but in such a way that the wind wouldn't blow her away either.

Su Ning did not have the matrix to reach the Lake of Black Stones, so he had no choice but to accept this help from Madam Ren or descend the mountain on foot. Using his qinggong it would take him at least one shichen to get there. However, dragons were known to be proud and carrying a human on their back was at least dishonorable to their species.

Madam Ren probably wanted to repay the doctor's care for her mother, and Su Ning thought it best never to mention this help to others. The doctor recorded this advice in his mind, however he could not help but think that it was very pleasant to be able to fly and see the mountain from above.

As expected, before long they landed in the forest next to a large lake. Originally carp lived underwater, barely coming out. With the contamination of the water, they had to adopt human form and set up small tents around the lake. They urgently needed water and built a small reservoir to store the water they got from other streams nearby.

Su Ning squatted down next to the water and tested it with his fingertips, took a small sip and smelled it.
The Empress and Madame Ren, back in their human form, approach as well. Superficially, the water seemed clear and transparent, and the shiny black, rounded stones that gave the lake its name could be seen in the background. The two dragons were still admiring the water in disbelief.

After a brief assessment, Su Ning walked to one of the nearby tents.
"Good afternoon" He greeted with a gentle smile. "I'm looking for the person responsible for your Clan."
There was a lone carp yao inside, quite weak. She pointed to one of the tents.
"Thanks." The doctor took advantage and, stretching his hand over an empty jug, condensed water as he had done with the tea last time. The carp stared, ecstatic at the possibility of drinking fresh water. "What you are?"
"I'm a doctor. I'll come back later to take a better look." He said leaving.

The carp took the jug and drank it all in one gulp, sighing in relief. So Deshi’s  family managed to find him! And he really came!
Su Ning knocked lightly on the entrance of the Clan leader's tent, a strong and robust yao poked his head out. He was also pale and haggard from dehydration, but not as pale as the other carp seen previously, thanks to his well-trained and muscular build.

He was young, with lively and attentive eyes.
"Yes? Who are you?"
"I'm Dr. Su. I heard your water is contaminated."
The yao carp left the tent. Standing tall, he was much taller than the doctor, so that he had to lower his head to look him straight in the eye.
"Did Deshi's family talk to you?" He asked suspiciously.

"Yes, you refer to a couple with a baby. They were in the clinic recovering. How long have you been like this?"
The leader ran his hand through his hair tiredly. "Two days ago, we suddenly started feeling sick, having a fever and vomiting. At first only the elderly and children were affected, then young people and adults started complaining of burning gills and we were no longer able to stay in the water ."

"I understand". Su Ning slowly nodded. The dragons appeared right behind him, catching part of the conversation.
"Lady Empress Qiang Ling! Madam Ren!" The yao immediately knelt down upon seeing them.
"Oh! Get up, young man. Are you the leader of the Clan? What's your name?" Qiang Ling questioned gently.

"I'm He Qin, madam."
"You are He Lua's son then." Madam Ren remembered. He Lua was a centuries-old carp, who had long ago retired and retired to farming in an isolated lake. He Qin confirmed that he was in charge of the Clan now.”
"Mister He, could you tell me which water source feeds the lake?" Su Ning asked.

"There is a small river at the back of the forest, it flows into the lake but its source is at the foot of the mountain..."
"Okay. Could you show me?" Su Ning asked politely.
The group followed to where a small stream of water flowed into the lake. The doctor went to the river and drawing a sigil with a small stick at the end of the bed, he blocked the flow of water that entered the lake.

He Qin "......." He wasn't a doctor???
"Qun Ye" the doctor called the flower fairy and grasped the tip of his index finger. Everyone was even more perplexed when the fairy extended her two pairs of translucent wings and flew towards the finger, biting the tip with her sharp teeth. She started to suck some blood.

"Huh? What is she are you doing?" The Empress whispered in shock to Ren Loo.
"It looks like it's a contract." Madam Ren narrowed her eyes. Wasn't this common knowledge to humans, as the doctor knew it? And why do it now?
"A contract?" The Empress was confused, even she didn't know what this was.

"A yao can borrow energy from the human spiritual core." Madam Ren explained. "But this is a very old practice and went into decline after the war."
"And what does the human gain from this?" The Empress furrowed her eyebrows, giving spiritual energy in exchange for what?
"In this case, a favor that he himself would not be able to do, of course."

They watched as the fairy finished her small sip of blood, flew to the center of the lake and opened her thin, white arms, sending small green sparks across the lake. The sparks fell onto the calm waters and then a green carpet of duckweed began to cover the entire surface, dyeing it a bright, resplendent green.
"Aaah! Yes, you're very smart doctor!" Madam Ren laughed and applauded.

The rest seemed confused. Seeing the perplexity on her mother's face, she explained.
"Duckweed has a high power to decontaminate and recover water. He made a contract with the flower fairy so that she would have enough strength to cover the entire lake with them to clean it up."

"So this fairy produces duckweed?"
"Yes." The doctor replied. "Flower fairies acquire the ability to produce a species of plant when they produce their first seed. Each one has its own characteristic plant. Duckweed also has an enormous capacity for purifying water and is more effective than the matrices that they exist for that. It's the best way to get pure water."

The doctor prepared to go up the river, followed by the dragons.
"Mister He, after burning incense for a while, you can let the carp return to the lake. Tell them to wash their gills well."
“Where are you going, doctor?” He Qin asked.
"I'm going to see where the source of contamination is. For the entire lake to be polluted in two days, the poison would have to continuously flow through the river." The doctor waved his sleeves as he turned to follow the watercourse with a confident smile.

Author's Note

Ren Loo is so experienced 😁, Qiang Ling must be very proud of his daughter! And unlike Qiang Young, she is very open-minded, even though she lost her husband to a cultivator... This is a sad story... but I won't give any spoilers now, you'll have to wait 😅.