Chapter 1009: Rheumatism |
The raindrops from the sky fell like broken strings of pearls, continuously descending from the boundless sky.
They showed absolutely no sign of stopping. The entire sky appeared grey and overcast. One could say the rainy season felt utterly lifeless, conveying instead an extremely damp sensation.
Gu Mu felt lower back pain and soreness, continuously rubbing his knees, shoulders, and waist.
The expression on his face appeared to be in deep pain, as though he’d contracted a serious illness.
"Grandfather Gu Mu, are you alright? Do you need me to fetch anything?" An apprentice asked anxiously.
Gu Mu had been teaching those apprentices furniture-making when he suddenly felt uncomfortable throughout his entire body.
Now, he was resting on a chair, still holding a cup of hot water the apprentices had poured.
Gu Mu appeared extremely exhausted. Even though the apprentices continuously helped him relax his shoulders and knees, it made no difference.
"I’m fine. I just need to rest for a while," Gu Mu waved his hand dismissively.
Because this was an annual affliction, and Gu Mu had grown accustomed to it.
However, each year proved more severe than the last. Now the sensation of bodily pain was worse than last year.
"Grandfather Gu Mu, this won’t do. If this continues, you’ll no longer be able to bear it. Maybe you should return to your room to rest first? We can manage ourselves here." One apprentice asked anxiously.
"Even returning to rest would be exhausting. I think we might as well go directly to the Shaman. Maybe he has a solution," another apprentice said.
The apprentices all knew Su Bai had learned numerous Shaman Techniques, including a Healing Shaman Technique.
"That’s right, that’s right! Let’s go directly to the Yong’an Building," a relatively senior apprentice said repeatedly.
"This trivial matter. I just need to rest. Don’t disturb the Shaman over everything," Gu Mu’s voice became stern.
He did not want to go to the Yong’an Building over such a minor issue. He knew the Yong’an Building dealt with numerous matters daily. One absolutely could not disrupt the Shaman’s work over one’s personal physical condition.
"Grandfather Gu Mu, continuing this way won’t work. We must go to the Yong’an Building. Even if the Chieftain punishes us, it doesn’t matter." The most senior apprentice immediately said.
He could not bear watching someone who had taught him survival skills suffer, especially not for the first or second time.
"Indeed. Even if we’re punished, we’ll be punished together," the apprentices responded in unison.
They felt this was not a minor matter. Gu Mu was the Tribe’s most experienced carpenter. Many tasks entrusted to him were accomplished successfully. This represented an enormous contribution to the Tribe. Gu Mu was an extremely important person to the Flame Dragon Tribe.
Everyone in the Tribe understood this clearly, so everyone respected him greatly. Some people with surplus provisions would kindly offer him some grain.
The apprentices felt such a prestigious person falling ill warranted disturbing the Shaman without incurring punishment.
Gu Mu was moved by the apprentices’ kindness. Additionally, he truly felt extremely uncomfortable, so he did not refuse further.
He allowed the apprentices to retrieve a stretcher. Everyone helped Gu Mu onto it to lie down.
Afterwards, the apprentices covered the entire stretcher with a large Animal Hide to shield against the rain.
…
Half an hour later, the apprentices brought Gu Mu to the Yong’an Building. During this time, they encountered Yan Jiao.
The latter naturally agreed upon hearing the situation, accompanying them to the Yong’an Building.
Su Bai naturally received Gu Mu very welcomingly. The maids conscientiously prepared hot tea.
"Shaman, I truly didn’t intend to disturb your work. I just feel uncomfortable throughout my body and wanted the Shaman to examine me," Gu Mu said somewhat weakly.
His thighs and hands were trembling uncontrollably. One could see he truly felt extremely uncomfortable.
"No need for such words. Come find me whenever you’re uncomfortable. Where do you feel unwell?" Su Bai said seriously.
He genuinely respected Gu Mu deeply because of his advanced age and exceptional skill. Additionally, he had helped Su Bai considerably. Without him, many things wouldn’t have been invented.
"I feel my knees, neck, and hands… everywhere aches. It’s a wave-like aching." Gu Mu pointed repeatedly across his body.
"How long have you experienced this discomfort?" Su Bai began forming a hypothesis internally.
Observing the other party’s age and the indicated areas, he could roughly guess it resembled a certain modern disease.
"Seems like it started when I was forty or fifty years old. Each year grows more severe than the last," Gu Mu said.
"Does this happen every rainy season?" Su Bai asked again.
"Yes, yes. Every time the rainy season begins, my entire body feels uncomfortable," Gu Mu nodded repeatedly.
"Shaman, I sometimes experience this too. Some other Tribe members also do. I wonder what kind of illness this is?" Yan Jiao asked repeatedly.
He empathised too strongly, because he also frequently experienced pain in those areas, also during the annual rainy season.
"If I’m not mistaken, this is rheumatism. It manifests whenever it rains. That is, when the air becomes humid." Su Bai explained simply.
"Rheumatism?" Everyone asked in unison, puzzled.
"Rheumatism is a type of disease primarily affecting the joints, bones, muscles, blood vessels, and related soft tissues or connective tissues." Su Bai’s expression was extremely serious. "Rheumatism is relatively insidious and gradual, with a lengthy process. It is mostly hereditary. And, prolonged exposure to cold and moisture dramatically increases the probability of contracting this disease."
"I think I understand. Because our rainy season lasts very long, the surrounding environment becomes extremely humid. Our bodies also aren’t very dry." Yan Jiao suddenly comprehended. "Plus the snow season lasts very long. This fulfils the Shaman’s mention of exposure to the cold. This explains why most of us contract this illness, correct?"
"One could say that. Right now, almost all elderly Tribe members have this disease. Middle-aged people also mostly have it. The difference seems to only be the onset duration, whether longer or shorter." Su Bai instantly became extremely serious, because this was not a trivial matter. Rheumatism could be major or minor.
Initially, it manifested as a slight aching sensation. After a few days, this discomfort would disappear.
However, over time, rheumatism symptoms would grow increasingly severe. People would feel increasingly uncomfortable. Severe cases would even affect walking, movement and much more. It was a tremendously tormenting affliction.