Chapter 168: Healing

Chapter 168: Healing

Zac felt annoyed as he stepped through the door to the back of the clinic. He just wanted to go through the town unannounced and disappear before anyone could remember him. Yet hed been forced to knock out one of the higher-ups of the town just because of some silly jealousy. Who knew what type of trouble would come knocking if he stayed too long.

With a few quick steps he walked through an unadorned corridor and found himself in an austere clinic looking like some ancient herbalists treatment room.

Various herbs were hanging from the roof, creating a thick scent in the room, and the walls were covered with old drawings that seemed to show the chakras of the body. However, the room was completely empty, with the Purifier nowhere in sight.

Zac frowned and looked around a bit. Suddenly he spotted that something was odd with a large medicine cabinet, and with a simple push moved it to the side. It led him to another room, and Zac could only gape when he entered it.

The interiors looked like the basement of a real anime fanatic, if this particular fanatic was also a corrupt warlord. Stands displaying figurines were placed next to machine guns and actual gold bars. The room was completely cluttered, and in the back a man in his late thirties was lounging in a recliner, watching some old series on the television.

A cough from Zac made the man jump up like his ass was on fire. He quickly swiveled toward the exit, and seemed shocked to see a man decked in furs and a war axe standing in his sanctuary.

Who are you? How dare you enter this place? the man said with a flustered face as he tried to shoo Zac back. Out, OUT!

I didnt mean to intrude on your Private area, Zac said with another cough as he backed out into the clinic. Your nurse sent me through to get some help in exchange for a donation. After that, Im leaving this town.

Finally after having stepped outside and closed the hidden door did the man seem to calm down.

"Wait here a second," he said as he rushed over to the door and shouted for the nurse, who quickly came running.

The two exchanged a few whispers as the surrepticiously glanced over in Zac's direction, until the nurse left again.

No way, if I help you then Perseverance will get angry with me. You beat up one of his lieutenants, who knows what he'll do," the Purifier said, looking scared.

Thats why I would like you to hurry up, Zac said, simply pouring some crystals on the floor in front of him. I pay well.

Greed shone in Mr. Wangs eyes as he saw the crystals falling like rain from Zacs bag.

Fine, tw-.. no, five thousand crystals, and not one less, the Purifier said, not being able to stop himself from licking his mouth. And leave right after, I will deny having helped you.

Fine, go ahead, Zac said as he started to undress.

Dont you know anything? the man hurriedly said with a look of disgust. Who wants to see your naked body? Just point where your miasma wound is.

Zac stopped, feeling a bit surprised, but pointed toward his side where the festering wound was located.

The Purifier took a step forward and a golden light started to emit from his hands. Zac carefully gazed at the light, and was relieved to see that that the Purifier didnt seem to play any tricks on him. The light felt like concentrated Cosmic Energy, but it was somehow changed to contain far more of the vibrant life that always existed in it. It was like the opposite of miasma in a sense.

He could keep going along the edge of the incursion, finding other Purifiers to help out as well, but there was no telling how much time he would waste that way. Weeks, perhaps. And there was no guarantee that the other healers had any solutions.

The other option was to just hope for the best and push through the Dead Zone. That meant that he would have to go through areas with dense miasma while his wound was out of control though.

Finally he settled on staying the night in the town. He would wait to see if the restless attacks would subside. If things got worse he might have no choice but to seek out a better Purifier, but if the wound got back to normal again he would push through the Dead Zone.

Sorry about your hands, Zac said as he placed the agreed upon crystals on the ground.

You should start working in earnest on your class. My wound came from an evolved Zombie, so this kind of injury will become more and more common. If you cant heal these kinds of wounds, then sooner or later some wounded powerhouse might lash out at you in anger. That little bodyguard downstairs wont be able to protect you.

Mr. Wang didnt answer Zac, but the Purifier's frown deepened as he thoughtfully looked at his hands. With that Zac left the small room and walked through the clinic. Zac didnt actually know if what he said was the truth, but humanity needed as many competent Purifiers as possible.

Wang Guo got such a gift thanks to his familys odd occupation, but if he continued like now that precious gift would get squandered, and it might lead to the death of many warriors who might otherwise have survived.

The two men were still lying unconscious on the ground when Zac returned to the lobby, though they had been repositioned so that their airways were unobstructed. The nurse called Yao Yao looked up when he appeared, but his facial expression must have been quite bad since she flinched away.

Is there an ambush waiting for me outside? Zac only asked with a hoarse voice as he gave the girl an even look.

I dont know, no one has come in or out since you arrived. Is Purifier Wang okay? she answered looking a bit scared.

Hes fine, but a bit drained. He will likely not be able to work tomorrow, Zac said with a shrug as he exited clinic.

A quick look around showed nothing out of the usual, except the fact that the whole queue was looking at him with curious or envious eyes. There were no guards lined up, and Zac felt no danger through his sense, so he simply walked away.

A few quick twists and turns later he found himself in a secluded area where he changed his large fur cloak for a more nondescript one. He thought about changing his full face, but he was afraid of doing that at the moment.

The pain of the transformation might cause him to lose focus, which he couldnt risk while his wound rampaged around in his gut. He did however remove the bun, causing his long hair to cover his face somewhat.

Next, he hurried over to a tavern far from the clinic. He had already seen a few as he walked through the town earlier, as apparently many Zombie hunters didnt bother owning property. They left for long stretches of time, and their homes might be ransacked when they returned.

Instead many chose to stay in hotels and taverns while they were in town. Zac chose one that was neither particularly flashy nor run-down, and quickly paid for a room.

He was starting to get a bit dizzy as he was walking up the stairs, as the constant movement had put a strain on him. He opened the door with shaky hands and with a muffled groan he sat down on the floor, finally able to focus on the Dao of Trees.

Time slowly passed and Zac was extremely relieved to sense that his wound was slowly calming down, allowing him to relax somewhat. However, he didnt dare to relent, so he kept his Dao going, even if it was starting to cause some strain. He felt that as long as he could keep this up for a couple of more hours he'd be back in decent shape, to the point he would dare enter the Dead Zone.

But unfortunately the night wasnt fated to be a quiet one, as the subdued sounds of steps stopped right outside his door.