Chapter 107 The Doctor Is In 3 (1/2)

”And that's two hundred!” Zero announced happily. Hua Tuo let him sleep in today so Zero wasn't cranky in the morning.

Zero's first task as a doctor's apprentice was to prepare pills for the villagers who were still mostly sleeping. According to Hua Tuo, many of them would be suffering from something called hangover - a side effect of drinking too much alcohol. Zero nodded and followed the instructions carefully. They made two hundred pills to hand out to anyone who might need them later.

”Good. Now get washed up, we will visit Cleo for breakfast and pass the pills to her for distribution. We'll be having a busy morning so do your best to keep up.”

Zero beamed and swiftly followed after Hua Tuo who disappeared down the trapdoor.

”We're following the dark blue crystals this time,” Hua Tuo told his student. ”Cleo lives in a tree apartment near the farms. She's the village's herbalist and shares the apartment with Lovina, the village witch and healer. Lovina makes the tastiest pancakes so we're heading over for breakfast.”

Zero blinked. He didn't know what pancakes were but if Hua Tuo said that it was good, Zero can't wait to try some.

The dark blue crystal underground tunnel came to an end and Zero found them walking up a slope. He could see some light at the end of the road and wondered if that was how the exits looked like. Zero was amazed by how well hidden the exit was when they emerged from beneath some tree roots.

Zero tottered along the slightly damp grass behind Hua Tuo. He didn't know where the farm was located but he didn't think there would be one in such a dense forest. Hua Tuo proved Zero wrong when they entered a small clearing with a small clear stream running through it. Zero blinked at the dazzling sight. The farm looked similar to what Hua Tuo had in his fields outside the hut. However, Zero was interested in how such a farm did not get noticed. Half Moon Village was a very mysterious place.

”Cleo and a few others live over there, let's visit them first. You can check out the farm on another day. Harvest happens in tomorrow so there is no hurry.”

The brunet agreed and skipped along the stones to cross the small stream. They reached the tree apartment and Zero looked up. The apartments were very well concealed in the tree and from the bottom, he couldn't exactly tell where they were unless he tried to sense their presence.

”Who else lives here?”

Hua Tuo stroked his beard and frowned. It had been some time since he last visited. ”If I recall correctly, Cleo and Lovina are on the third floor. Wiser is on the topmost floor. Qin Yun is on the second, Moona and Latitia are on the first.”

Zero blinked. He was expecting to see something when Hua Tuo mentioned that there were people living on the first level. However, he couldn't see anything except for a sturdy tree trunk. Could it be...?

The physician grinned. His student was learning fast. ”You're right. That's Lovina's illusion.”

Zero grinned. ”Are we going to climb again?”

Hua Tuo mocked horror. ”Are you asking this old bag of bones to climb such a horrifyingly tall tree? Of course not! Why climb when we can use this conveniently located teleporting circle?”

Zero blinked. He looked at the ring of flowers and raised a brow. That was a teleporting circle? Zero thought teleporting circles were far more complicated than some neatly grown flowers. Hua Tuo noticed the look of doubt on Zero's face and smirked. His student had much to learn, bringing him on a trip was a good idea. Normally, fairy rings were avoided as they can teleport a person to a random location that often proves dangerous. Some say that stepping into a fairy ring can bring a year's worth of bad luck. However, the truth was that fairy rings were created by fairies as a form of friendship.

Only those the fairy who created the circle consider a friend or ally may step through it safely and arrive at their homes. The circle was made by Latitia and it brought them to the 'lobby' of the tree inside. From there, they would take one of the modes of transport up to the respective occupant's apartment. For Wiser, there was the pulley. For Lovina and Cleo, there was the magic circle. For Qin Yun, they had to step into a foxfire platform which could prove to be a little scary the first few times. As for Latitia and Moona, all they had to do was knock on the door.

Without telling Zero anything, Hua Tuo walked into the fairy ring and disappeared. Zero was quick to follow, not wanting to be left behind. The brunet blinked as the surroundings changed as soon as he stepped into the fairy ring. He saw Hua Tuo standing by a magic circle and grinned. Now he understood why Hua Tuo was so sure. Two cheeky looking ladies were waiting by the circle with Hua Tuo.

The lady with copper hair, freckles on her cheeks and green eyes beckoned to him. Using Mind's Eye, Zero knew that she was Latitia. The semi-transparent lady with silver hair and silver eyes who looked more spirit than nymph was Moona. Hua Tuo waited patiently as Zero walked over and greeted the ladies. Moona smiled politely and Latitia giggled as Hua Tuo placed his hand on the magic circle.

The platform below started to bring them upwards and Zero blinked. He didn't know flying magic could be used on objects without active control. Perhaps, it was the power of the magic circle?

They arrived fairly quickly and Cleo greeted them at the door.

”Good morning everyone! Wiser is still sleeping but Lovina is already up. She's flipping pancakes as we speak.”