Bab 24: Chapter 24: Mummery, part 1

"Our house is filling up," Wei Caihong noted. Nikola was next to him and looking at the ground, which was filled with groaning people who all had the same bluish skin.

"You have to play your part. I showed you how to examine them. Go ahead and do it," Nikola whispered, his eyes pleading. Guilt eating away at him. "Please, for me?"

Wei Caihong raised an eyebrow.

The only room in the house which didn't have sick people in it was their bedroom. And, well, the corridor in front of it. Nikola didn't want anyone to see the blood drinking going on in this house.

The new magistrate had come, ordered Wei Caihong to heal everyone, and went back to his palace to hide. He held a fan to his nose all the while as if that would protect him. Wei Caihong was livid. The worst thing about it all was that the noble was prone to stubbornness.

Like now.

"I want to avoid touching them. I don't need to do so to know they are sick."