Call On Me

8

I walked to the intensive care facility within our infirmary and I was honestly heartbroken. There were only six or so children within this little Dafan village but four of them are sick. Now the elderly, I see, have been affected too. Wen Popo just due to exhaustion but there were several elders who suddenly got sick. I realized that a plague might be starting. The first sign of the illness was skin lesions and rashes, and fatigue. Later a cough would come and the person gains a respiratory infection. A severe case of the flu, which is not good. It has a tendency to spread if not handled properly.

"Healer Shen," I called out.

"Yes, Leader San?" Healer Shen greeted and walked over to him.

"If possible, I want this section of the infirmary quarantined off. I want people who come here wearing masks and gloves. I also want people to sanitize as best as they can. This cannot spread further," I told him.

"Of course," Healer Shen said, "I will let the other healers know."

I then turned to the others, "You will have to forgive me," I said, "I have to ask you to step out and wash and dress into fresh robes. I can't risk anyone else getting sick or even a chance of it spreading."

"Of course," Maiden Jiang said, "I will return with the proper precautions and help out here as best as I can."

"Actually, Shi—" I stopped myself and cleared my throat, "Maiden Jiang, I heard you are a good cook. Perhaps you can help the kitchen staff work up something to feed these patients. A broth maybe?"

Maiden Jiang smiled, "I would be glad to help out there...you will just have to show me the way," she said, "and you can call me Shijie if you want."

"I appreciate it," I said.

"You said you have young ones cultivating? Mind if I help with training them during my stay?" Lan Zhan asked.

"Really?" I asked, "that would be very kind of you."

Lan Zhan nodded and turned to his brother, "tell Shufu I will return when I get the chance. I just wish to stay for a while."

"Of course," Zewu Jun said, "I will have a disciple send some robes your way too."

"No need, I have some on me," Lan Zhan said.

"Very well," Zewu Jun said, "I do have to go. Others are expecting me to return to Sunshot soon."

"Take care of yourself," Lan Zhan told him.

"I will," Zewu Jun said, "you too," he then looked at me, "take care of him."

"Not that it's needed, I will do my best to make his stay comfortable," I said, "I heard Hanguang Jun is quite capable."

"Brother, I will be fine," Lan Zhan said, "worry about yourself."

Zewu Jun sighed and nodded. He left then with Chifeng Zun. I led Shijie to the kitchen after she freshened up. After getting her situated, I led Lan Zhan to our training grounds, "right now this grew have newly formed cores. There is only four of them but it's not bad. The five behind them have been working on their swordsmanship. They have had their cores since the beginning of San Bao. I just helped them gain control and confidence."

"Do you have a weapon smith?" Lan Zhan asked.

"You are looking at him," I said, "my head disciple helps me when I work on them. Each sword has been made by me."

Lan Zhan looked at the swords that the older disciples used. Each disciple has a distinct personality and design to match the wielder, "Leaded San is very talented," he said.

"I have some people gather materials not far from here. Yiling also sends supplies in exchange for protection. We have people walking the streets to keep the peace and help them when needed, we get supplies. We of course also offer them medical assistance," I explained.

"You are doing well here," Lan Zhan said, "I can see that leaving your past behind did something good for you."

I looked at him, "only some of it," I said, "there are some things I left behind that I wish I could still have."

"What?" He asked.

I shook my head, "nothing important anymore," I said.

"Leader San!" Qing-Jie called for me, "I have been looking for you, just in time for your session."

"Now?" I asked.

"Yes, now," she said, "we talked about this and you agreed."

I sighed and nodded, "very well," I said and turned to Lan Zhan, "this is where I leave you. I have some business to attend to."

"Mnn," he nodded.

"If you need me, have a disciple help you," I said and left him there with the disciples.

I then followed Qing-Jie back to my residence and she had needles and a medicine brewed for me, "now take it. Less medicine could cause some discomfort, I want you to know that," she warned.

I nodded and laid down, "just do what you need to do."

"You are quite obedient today," she said as she started placing needles on my acupuncture joints.

"Do you want me to be difficult?" I asked playfully.

"I have needles in my hand right now, so don't make me use them more thoroughly," she warned.

I giggled, "Jie, why must you always be so mean to me."

"Because I care," she said.

"Just because you care doesn't mean you have to be mean," I told her.

"It's called touch love," she said placing the last needle, "A'Ning, I need you now."

I braced myself. She and A'Ning used their spiritual energy to pass through the needles in my body. Those needles sent that energy into me and it was like an electrical current running through me. I gasped and gritted my teeth. This was all to keep my spiritual passage ways and container cleansed and full of energy. It was a way to send over an abundance of energy to me and it lasts for about a month before I need another treatment. It's enough to help protect this small community. It's enough to use music as a tool to help others and it's enough for me to maintain the little energy I have left after my core was removed. Wen Qing believes that this could help me gain a new core someday. I just need the right source of energy. Perhaps someone who can as more compatible to my energy supply.

"You know, if you had a partner, this wouldn't be that much of a problem," she said.

"Jie, what are you going on about now?" I asked as I was now released from this torment.

"If you had a partner, dual cultivation would be more beneficial than this. It's a way to help share energy," she said, "perhaps...Lan-Er-Gongzi? I noticed you making googly eyes at him when I came and got you."

"Jie, don't make such jokes," I said, "Lan Zhan is not like that. I am also not like that."

"Could have fooled me," she said, "now, you know the rules, do not overdue it for the rest of the day. You can do more extreme things tomorrow."

"I know, but will it be a problem if I go check on the disciples training under Lan Zhan?" I asked.

"Go ahead, just do not do anything to overexert yourself," she said.

I sighed and left with A'Ning, "Gongzi, are you really going to be okay? I know you get a bit dizzy and fatigued after these treatments," he questioned.

"A'Ning, I need to look after my guests," I said, "would you mind checking on Maiden Jiang and see if she is doing okay on her end?"

"Of course, be careful," he said. I nodded and sighed once he was gone. I then went over to the training grounds to check on things there.