Plotting with You: The Forensic Scientist in Ancient Times!-Chapter 386 - 385: Awakening

The old man seemed somewhat flustered. It took Zhu Yu and Yan Daoxin quite some time to calm him down so that they could properly inquire about his situation.

Upon questioning, they learned that although the old man was from Lan Country, he was not from the area around the Immortal Castle. Originally, he was traveling with his wife, two sons, and daughters-in-law, all six of them in their family carriage, to celebrate a relative’s birthday in the area.

He vaguely remembered that something might have tripped the carriage halfway, or they accidentally fell into a large water pit and got stuck. In any case, something went wrong, and he couldn’t remember anything after that.

His mind had been poisoned by the Fake Castle Master’s concoction for a long time, often leaving him dazed and unable to distinguish between dreams and reality. His memories were jumbled and sometimes contradictory.

It took the old man half a day to roughly explain his background. He then became anxious again, eagerly wanting to find his sons and wife.

However, no one knew if any of the other people included his wife, sons, or daughters-in-law, so they could only temporarily console him.

Yan Daoxin checked his pulse again and confirmed there was indeed nothing seriously wrong with him, aside from extreme weakness. He then quickly arranged for someone to watch over the old man while he and Zhu Yu went around with talismans to administer the antidote.

As more and more people took the antidote, they gradually began to wake up. Like the old man, they initially suffered significant confusion, unable to distinguish between reality and illusion, unsure if they were awake or still dreaming.

After a while, some younger and healthier people completely awakened. Though momentarily bewildered, they finally regained their senses and could clearly recount their experiences to Yan Daoxin, Zhu Yu, and others.

Similar to the old man, some had families living nearby, while others were travelers or merchants merely passing through. Some were intercepted by mountain bandits, and others came to acquire the Immortal Castle’s dyes and silks, only to never leave once brought inside.

None of them could recall how they were detained. They merely felt they had been plunged into a long dream, sometimes unconscious, other times dreaming of a blissful paradise where everyone was indescribably happy, singing and farming together, and they themselves were filled with an inexplicable euphoria.

Thus, after awakening, they were plagued with confusion, struggling to determine what was real and what was a dream. It took considerable effort to remember their identity, where they lived, and how they ended up in the Immortal Castle.

From the accounts given by these people, it appeared that the old steward had not lied.

Yan Daoxin pondered for a moment and had Fu Lu deliver a bowl of porridge, with more broth than rice, to the old steward, as a reward for his honesty.

When asked about the thin porridge, Yan Daoxin firmly denied intentionally keeping the old steward perpetually hungry.

"He’s been starving for so long now. If you give him a biscuit, he’d wolf it down and choke. That would make him go straight to Yama Hall, and I’m not pulling him back!" he justified confidently.

Indeed, no one objected to this arrangement. Everyone even felt that such punishment was fitting for an accomplice like him, not letting him easily starve to death but making him live in discomfort was the best approach.

After a hectic half day, all those who had taken the antidote regained consciousness, including the castle’s cook.

Upon awakening, the cook looked at his reflection in the well and was so shocked that he staggered several steps back and fell over.

This was the first time Zhu Yu and the others saw the cook—a tall and thin man horrified by his reflection, prompting them to ask who was in the water.

After inquiry, they realized this cook was originally the head chef for the Jiang Family at the Immortal Castle. He had been a rotund man with a round face, thick arms, and legs.

Now, he had become tall and skinny.

Yan Daoxin talked with him for a while and figured out why, aside from the True Castle Master Jiang Hong whom the Fake Castle Master spared, this cook was the only one who survived in the entire castle.

Partially because the cook was robust, even under the influence of the sedative, he managed to persist longer than most.

Moreover, during his dreamy haze, he continued his daily task of cooking for the entire castle. The chef had a peculiar habit from his apprenticeship—tasting his dishes’ seasoning while cooking.

This habit carried into his dream, allowing him to unconsciously consume a little food daily.

Once everyone regained full consciousness, more and more recalled their identities, where they lived, and whom they were with initially.

The Immortal Castle became lively like never before.

The awakened, all seeking out their relatives and friends, some reunited, while others could not locate their loved ones, no matter how they tried.

Zhu Yu and others, of course, knew where those missing had gone. 𝓯𝓻𝒆𝙚𝒘𝓮𝙗𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝒍.𝙘𝓸𝙢

Luck was somewhat on the side of the first awakened old man; his two sons and daughters-in-law were still well, but his wife, being elderly, had unfortunately disappeared.

The family, once six, now only five, wept mournfully together before regaining their composure.

Others were not as fortunate.

Some had traveled in groups of four or five, yet now only found themselves alone, their companions lost, feeling entirely out of place, unfamiliar with the land, and not knowing where they were.

Some, though awake, were left dazed and confused, unable to recall their identities, sitting stunned as if neither truly alive nor dead.

Even veterans from Lu Yan’s troops stationed later in the fortress—hard soldiers who had faced bloodshed—were visibly distressed by the sight of these people, genuinely sympathizing with their plight.

Lu Qing gathered those who regained their senses, allowing them to leave the Immortal Castle gradually after nightfall, returning to their homes.

Alternatively, if they felt too weak, they could remain to recuperate for a few more days, regaining their strength before departing.

Just as Lu Qing finished suggesting this plan, a man’s voice came from the crowd: "No!"