As the sun set, the troop of Inspectors—survivors of a bloody battle—finally limped into the small Nanshan Town.

At the main intersection, a dozen or so Inspectors were clearly waiting for them. The town’s Doctor Li was also standing by with seven or eight apprentices, obviously having been notified in advance.

"Quick, save my uncle!"

"My uncle is the most injured!"

"Save me... I don’t want to die..."

"Mom, I don’t want to die..."

In an instant, the once somber procession erupted into a clamor.

Xu Yuan acted quickly. Supporting Chu Mu, he pushed past a few Inspectors blocking the way and began to shout. 𝕗𝗿𝕖𝐞𝐰𝗲𝕓𝐧𝕠𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝐨𝚖

"Doctor Li, quick, come take a look at my Brother Mu! He’s the most seriously hurt..."

"My Brother Mu is not going to make it, Doctor Li..."

Hearing Xu Yuan’s cries, the corner of Chu Mu’s mouth twitched, but right now, he truly didn’t have the extra energy to speak.

At this very moment, he felt an exhaustion like never before. If he weren’t gritting his teeth and forcing himself to stay upright, he really would have collapsed on the spot and fallen fast asleep.

But he truly wasn’t sure if he would ever wake up again if he did fall asleep.

Perhaps because they had met a few times before, upon seeing the blood-soaked Chu Mu, Elder Doctor Li actually walked past several other wounded Inspectors and strode quickly to his side.

"Help him over there to sit down and take off his clothes!"

Doctor Li glanced at the bloodstains on Chu Mu’s abdomen and pointed toward a bonfire that had already been lit nearby.

"Doctor, will my Brother Mu be okay?"

The moment the Armor and thick winter coat were off, Xu Yuan asked impatiently.

"The wound itself is fine; it didn’t damage any organs. The main problem is that it’s been left for too long."

"It’s not a major issue. I’ll treat it for you now, then write you a prescription to start taking."

"In a couple of days... no, the day after tomorrow. Come to my Medicine Hall the day after tomorrow to get the dressing changed. Rest for about a month, and you’ll be fine."

After speaking, Doctor Li raised his hands and began to treat the wound on Chu Mu’s abdomen.

Only after hearing Doctor Li’s words did the anxiety that had been gripping Chu Mu’s heart finally subside.

He didn’t know anything about Medical Skill, but he at least understood what an infection was.

With a wound like this, he didn’t need to think to know that an infection was all but guaranteed.

In this era, with these medical conditions, an infection was basically a death sentence.

But this Doctor Li before him kept saying it wasn’t a major issue, clearly showing great confidence.

Chu Mu... could obviously only place his hopes in Doctor Li’s "not a major issue."

"Doctor Li, what is that?"

Chu Mu couldn’t help but be stunned when he saw Doctor Li take out a short, threaded needle.

"Suturing."

Doctor Li looked up at the astonished Chu Mu and explained, "A large wound like yours must first be sutured to heal properly."

"Don’t worry. The thread for the suture is made from Cang Tree Silk. It dissolves into your flesh as the wound heals, so there’s no need to remove the stitches later."

After explaining, Doctor Li chuckled. "Besides, your Inspection Office isn’t short on money. You guys always get the good stuff."

’Suturing? And with dissolvable stitches, no less? This kind of treatment doesn’t fit the era at all.’

Chu Mu couldn’t help but ask, "Do other doctors also suture like this?"

"The art of medicine is vast and profound. I’ve spent my entire life studying it, yet I’ve only managed to scratch the surface of its principles."

"This suturing is just one method for treating severe injuries."

At this point, Doctor Li glanced up at Chu Mu.

"If you were more severely injured and still alive for me to treat, I’d first have to clean the wound, then use Qi Blood to clear the stasis..."

"If you had practiced Martial Arts and were accomplished in your Qi and Blood Cultivation, an injury like this would be even simpler to treat."

"All you’d need is a prescription to boost your qi and nourish your essence. You’d just have to circulate your Qi Blood properly in your daily life, and the wound would heal on its own..."

Chu Mu’s surprise turned to amazement, and he asked impatiently:

"Is Qi Blood really that miraculous?"

"The human body is a treasure trove, and Martial Arts, by nurturing Qi Blood, is the key to unlocking it."

"Once you come into contact with Martial Arts yourself, you’ll naturally understand."

’Martial Arts is just the key?’

Chu Mu was taken aback. He subconsciously felt there was something unusual about that statement. Just as he was about to ask more, a sharp, pulling pain cut off the words on the tip of his tongue!

He looked down to see Doctor Li already stitching his abdominal wound. That pulling pain was clearly from the short needle repeatedly piercing his flesh and tugging at the wound.

Chu Mu gritted his teeth. "Is... there no... medicine to reduce the pain?"

"There is, but that medicine is only for major injuries!"

Elder Li glanced at Chu Mu, his tone heavy with dissatisfaction. "Here in Nanshan Town, the only ones with major injuries are you lot from the mining site."

"My pharmacy hasn’t had a use for it in a long time, so I haven’t prepared any. It’s too late now. Just endure it!"

Hearing this, Chu Mu could only grit his teeth harder and dared not speak again.

If he tried to talk, he was afraid he’d bite his own tongue off!

The wound already sent a piercing pain through him with the slightest pull. And now, every single time Elder Li passed the needle and thread through, it tugged on the wound!

Every second felt like a year!

This indescribable, excruciating pain lasted for about a quarter of an hour before it finally ended.

"Hhhh..."

He had been gritting his teeth so hard that now, with the pain subsiding, his jaw was stiff and he could barely make a sound.

"Alright, I’ll apply some medicine, and you’ll be fine."

Elder Li handed the needle and thread to an apprentice, then took a prepared medicine jar and once again got busy with Chu Mu’s wound.

Inside the jar was a dark, lumpy mass, clearly the product of various medicinal herbs ground and mixed together.

The moment this seemingly unremarkable paste covered his wound, Chu Mu’s face, which had just begun to calm, twisted completely!

"The medicine is key. It can prevent the wound from festering and promote healing!"

"The pain will usually last for about a quarter of an hour, then gradually subside over time."

As Elder Li packed up his things, his words made Chu Mu’s already twisted face contort even more savagely.

’A quarter of an hour of this kind of pain!’

’This treatment is more agonizing than torture!’

When he caught a glimpse of the faint smile on Elder Li’s lips and recalled the doctor’s earlier words, how could he not understand?

’The claim about not having prepared any pain-reducing medicine was probably just an excuse.’

’This Elder Li just wanted them, the Inspectors, to suffer a little!’

Overwhelmed by the intense pain, Chu Mu was rendered speechless.

And all around him, as Elder Li continued his treatments, a rising chorus of agonized wails began to sound, one after another.

A good while after a quarter of an hour had passed, Chu Mu finally recovered from the tide of excruciating pain.

His entire body was drenched in sweat, as if he’d been submerged in water.

"Help... help me back..."

It took Chu Mu a tremendous effort just to get those few simple words out.

Supported by Xu Yuan, Chu Mu struggled to move, staggering with every step like a tottering old man.

...