Chapter 48
Chapter 48
I wanted to turn and inspect him immediately, but class was underway!
My time for ordinary studies was already scarce. After school and during vacations, every spare moment went to learning the esoteric arts from Old Cao and Master.
Yet I had to rank first in every exam. I could not waste class time!
I would wait until break.
The clock showed only ten minutes remaining.
Let him drink for now.
…
Ring!
The teacher gathered his books, dismissed class, and left. Students began resting and chatting.
Wang Dachun dashed to the warm-water urn, filled a large cup, and gulped it down.
Yao Nan stared. “What’s wrong with him?”
I studied his stomach gravely, then asked Zeng Jin, “Are you sure your boss drank almost twenty jin today?”
Looking uneasy, he nodded firmly.
“Yes. Brother Chun has drunk constantly since arriving this morning. At first I thought he was thirsty. At lunch he drank three large cups. Our thermoses hold five hundred milliliters, and he’s had at least twenty cups without using the toilet…”
Each cup weighed one jin. Twenty cups truly meant twenty jin!
I frowned.
Ordinarily, that much would cause water intoxication!
If intake greatly exceeded elimination, retained water lowered plasma osmotic pressure and expanded blood volume, damaging the nervous system.
Yet Wang Dachun showed no symptoms. Despite never urinating, his abdomen remained flat.
Where had twenty jin gone?
Anything abnormal had a cause.
But I was only a middle-school student. I could not tell whether an evil entity had attached itself to him or this was some strange physiological condition unknown to me.
“Zeng Jin, this is abnormal. Ask Mr. Chen for leave and take him to the infirmary.”
Wang Dachun returned while drinking, having consumed two more cups!
“Wu Zhong, thanks for your water.”
Though spoiled, he retained some decency.
I waved. “It’s free water.”
After Yao Nan left with a friend, I told him seriously, “Something is wrong. See the doctor.”
Surprised by my concern, he scratched his head. “I’m terribly thirsty, but nothing feels uncomfortable.”
Zeng Jin urged, “Go anyway, Brother Chun.”
I added, “If the doctor can’t solve it, don’t go home after evening study. Meet me on the roof.”
Wang Dachun stared. “I thought our conflict was over. You still want to fight?”
I rolled my eyes at the idiot, sat down, and used every remaining minute to study.
Wang Dachun and Zeng Jin did not return for the next two classes or evening study…
At nine thirty, I waited until everyone left and the duty students prepared to lock the classroom. They still had not appeared.
“Why worry about someone who offended me?”
I headed for the coffin shop to study with Old Cao.
Outside the school gate, however, Zeng Jin ran toward me in panic and visibly relaxed.
“Brother Wu, thank goodness! Something’s very wrong with Brother Chun. Please come see him!”
I frowned. “Didn’t you visit the infirmary? What happened?”
“I’ll explain on the way. He’s alone at home, and I’m afraid something will happen.”
He pulled me south through town and recounted events.
The school doctor examined Wang Dachun and declared him perfectly healthy, even accusing them of inventing an excuse to skip class.
Wang Dachun helplessly demonstrated by drinking four large cups, then several more minutes later.
Frightened, the doctor admitted ignorance and referred him to the town hospital, advising them to notify his parents.
But both parents were away in the county until tomorrow!
The two boys visited the hospital alone. Tests again found nothing, so they returned home.
Zeng Jin was his closest follower and genuine friend, so he stayed and withheld water.
For several minutes Wang Dachun remained fine. Then thirst made him agitated and violent. He paced, growled, flashed savage looks, and stared at Zeng Jin like a stranger.
Terrified, Zeng Jin gave him water, restoring him to normal.
Remembering my warning, he hurried to find me.
One thing puzzled me. Why was he certain I could solve what two doctors could not?
When I asked, his body stiffened.
“You said to find you if the doctors couldn’t help–on the roof.”
“That was casual. Tell me why you truly believe me.”
My tone allowed no evasion.
He wilted. “Brother Wu, I know you’re no ordinary person. You’re an expert with miraculous abilities, like on television.”
What?
He knew I practiced mystic arts?
How?!
Startled despite my maturity, I blurted, “How did you learn I possess methods of the esoteric arts?”