"Three-grade medicinal pill, Ice Spirit Pill?"
Dustin recognized at a glance that the woman with a faint scent on her body was Maeve, the teacher who taught in the Martial Hall.
The shopkeeper, behind the counter, froze momentarily, his brows furrowing in confusion before he responded. "My dear, the shop only stocks second-grade medicinal pills at most. As for third-grade pills... those are rare. You'd need to visit the Array Master Guild for something like that."
Disappointment clouded Maeve's face as she turned on her heels to leave, her expression momentarily downcast.
But as she took a few unsteady steps, her vision blurred, and her knees buckled. She crumpled to the floor, her body going limp.
"Mrs. Lu!" Dustin was immediately by her side, striding over in a heartbeat. He caught her just before she hit the ground, cradling her in his arms. The weight of her body was soft, but it was the sight of her flushed, feverish face that filled him with concern.
Her skin felt scorching hot to the touch. A fever of some kind, he thought.
The shopkeeper, along with a few curious onlookers nearby, watched in stunned silence as Dustin carefully supported Maeve.
Maeve's eyelids fluttered, and her eyes slowly opened. She blinked up at him, recognition dawning as she met Dustin's concerned gaze. But the instant she realized the compromising position she was in, her face flushed even deeper. She made a feeble attempt to pull away from his grasp, but her body was betraying her, leaving her with no strength to do so.
"Dustin... Take me away," she whispered, her voice strained and fragile.
Dustin nodded without hesitation, his heart aching at her vulnerable state. He gathered her up in his arms, his mind racing. "Where to, Mrs. Lu?"
Maeve's thoughts were clouded, her awareness slipping in and out, but she still managed to stammer, "To my place."
Without another word, Dustin moved swiftly, carefully navigating through the streets of Novaridge City, all the while aware of the piercing gazes and gossip that followed them. Whispers filled the air, the rumors already beginning to swirl.
"The girl's burning up... is she being poisoned?"
"Who's this kid carrying her? What luck!"
Maeve, too, could feel their eyes upon them, her discomfort growing. Every step, every whisper, made her pulse race faster with embarrassment. She wanted to say something to them, to chastise their lewd remarks, but she couldn't summon the strength.
Dustin, feeling equally irked, refrained from saying a word. If it weren't for the situation, he would have dealt with them, but right now, his focus was on getting Maeve to safety.
Her residence in Novaridge was an elegant, secluded courtyard—peaceful and well-kept. As Dustin carried her inside, he laid Maeve gently on her bed. The heat radiating from her body was alarming, but it was slowly starting to subside.
Sitting beside her, Dustin furrowed his brow, recalling his earlier observations of her condition. Three months ago, he'd noticed something off about Maeve's heart. And now, seeing her in this state again, his concern deepened. The heart was a vital organ for any cultivator, and any instability there could be deadly.
Soon enough, Maeve's breath steadied, though she remained in a semi-conscious daze. Her cheeks still carried the remnants of the flush, her skin warmer than ever.
Dustin sat by her side, vigilant. Maeve's eyelids fluttered once more, and her gaze met hihimalbeit weakly.
"Dustin, thank you..." she murmured, her voice barely audible, a ghost of a smile playing on her lips. Her gratitude was evident, but her tone still held a trace of wariness.
"Don't mention it, Mrs. Lu. I'm just doing what I can for you." Dustin responded, his voice filled with sincere care. He hesitated, then asked, "What happened to you just now?"
Maeve sighed deeply, her breath shaky as she glanced away for a moment, seemingly gathering her thoughts. Finally, she spoke, her voice tinged with resignation. "I was born with a special physique, Dustin. This happens... every few days."
Dustin's confusion only deepened. "Special physique? What do you mean?"
Her eyes lowered, and she continued, her words heavy with sorrow. "I have what's called the Desolation Vein. It's a condition where the fire energy in my body... slowly consumes me. Every seven days, I suffer through the burning pain in my heart. Over the years, I've used Ice Spirit Pills to suppress it, but..." She trailed off, shaking her head. "The pills are running out, and I fear that the worst is coming."
Dustin's heart ached. "So the Ice Spirit Pills... are no longer enough to suppress it?"
Maeve nodded weakly. "Even with the pills, it only prolongs the inevitable."
A sudden thought struck Dustin. Could he possibly help her? The idea was risky—he wasn't a healer, but he had certain abilities that might make a difference.
"Mrs. Lu," he said carefully, "can I try something? Maybe... I can help."
Maeve turned her gaze to him, a hint of skepticism crossing her features. "You?" She sounded almost incredulous. "What could you possibly do, Dustin?"
Dustin smiled, though there was no hint of arrogance in it. "I'm not sure I can cure you completely, but I can try to relieve the immediate pain."
Maeve's expression softened, if only slightly. "I don't know if I can trust you, but... I'll allow you to try. Just don't... do anything foolish."
Dustin nodded in acknowledgment, moving closer to her bedside. "I promise I'll be careful."
He reached for her wrist, gently placing his fingers on her pulse. Maeve watched, her gaze unwavering but full of uncertainty. Dustin's fingers began to glow with a faint light as he channeled his inner energy into her body. Maeve could feel something shift inside her, a warmth spreading from the point where his fingers touched her skin.
For a moment, it felt as if the burning fire inside her chest was ebbing away, the uncomfortable tightness in her heart loosening. She closed her eyes, exhaling deeply, feeling a surge of comfort she hadn't known in years.
The heat in her chest seemed to dissipate, but suddenly, a violent wave of energy surged from within her. Maeve gasped, her body trembling as the heat intensified, sending her into a state of heightened awareness.
Dustin's face grew pale as he felt the power course through him. His inner energy, normally controlled, now surged with uncontrollable force. He was pulling the flame-like energy from Maeve's heart, absorbing it into his own body.
"What is happening?" he muttered, the temperature around him soaring. His clothes were soaked with sweat, his body burning with an intensity that made his skin feel as if it were on fire.
Maeve, too, was trembling. The comfort she had felt moments before quickly turned into a suffocating heat as the fiery power left her body. She opened her eyes and found herself staring at Dustin, his features flushed, sweat dripping down his face.
"Stop…" she whispered, but the words barely escaped her lips.
Dustin didn't hear her. His body was shaking, his mind a blur, as he struggled to control the surging power. His hands were still locked on her wrist, but the inner energy coursing through him seemed to have a life of its own.
As time passed, the temperature rose unbearably, and both Dustin and Maeve's bodies were wracked with heat. And then, just as it seemed they could bear no more, Dustin's vision blurred. The world around him went dark.