Chapter 46: From This Moment On

On the road, a carriage was slowly moving, with eight knights riding ahead and behind, their faces stern. An old coachman, with gray hair, squinted his eyes and held the whip, looking ahead with a somewhat indifferent expression. With the sound of the whip cracking, they left the road behind, dust flying up.

Inside the carriage, an old man with a gaunt face sat, frowning slightly, deep in thought.

This old man was none other than Du Shiqing, the world-renowned first divine doctor. This time, he was traveling from the Great Zhao Empire to the Iron Cloud Kingdom.

"Mr. Du, your mission to Iron Cloud is simple. Use your miraculous hands to help the ailing king of Iron Cloud live as long as possible. Under no circumstances should he die too soon!"

These were the words spoken by the Imperial Chancellor, Wu Diqing, when he personally met Du Shiqing before his departure, emphasizing the importance of the task.

Why the king of Iron Cloud needed to live longer, Du Shiqing understood. Currently, although the crown prince of Iron Cloud is in charge, he is not the emperor. In some matters, his authority is not legitimate.

As long as the king of Iron Cloud can hold on to a breath of life, Iron Cloud will never be a solid block! Even if the crown prince, Tie Butian, is a genius, as long as he does not dare to kill his father to ascend the throne, he can do nothing about this situation.

If the king of Iron Cloud can last another month, it will buy the Great Zhao Empire another month! Ideally, it would delay until everything is ready and the war breaks out. At that time, the greatest disadvantage of Iron Cloud, that the crown prince is not the king, will become evident!

But this task is incredibly difficult.

Only Du Shiqing knew how hard it was!

Du Shiqing sighed with a bitter smile. In the past, when Tie Shicheng was in his prime, he fought on the battlefield against the Great Zhao Empire. At that time, Wu Diqing was just a cabinet scholar, serving as a military supervisor. Secretly, he hired the world's top archer to assassinate Tie Shicheng, shooting him amidst the chaos of battle!

The arrow was laced with a deadly poison!

Tie Shicheng was shielded by his guards, and the arrow first pierced through a guard's chest before hitting him, reducing its lethality. However, the poison almost killed him!

Again, Wu Diqing secretly hired Du Shiqing with a large sum of money to treat the king's injuries... In his life, Du Shiqing had only done one thing that went against medical ethics: he cured Tie Shicheng of the poison but planted another incurable, slow-acting poison in his body!

The poison slowly eroded Tie Shicheng's body, just as the Great Zhao Empire gradually eroded Iron Cloud.

He injured him but did not let him die. He could swallow but did not swallow. Over the years, through the struggles with Iron Cloud, Wu Diqing continuously gained merit, increasing his influence and capital. Whether in the military or the government, Wu Diqing's achievements were unmatched. He is now the first person under the emperor in the empire!

He continuously gained merit and fought, but always kept Iron Cloud with the strength to resist, not allowing it to be completely destroyed. He used Iron Cloud as a base for his own achievements. Now, at the peak of his power, he is finally ready to deal with Iron Cloud. With Wu Diqing's current authority, even the emperor is helpless against him!

Wu Diqing's use of power and strategy has reached a level of mastery.

Now, Tie Shicheng's body is beyond saving, and he is only hanging on by a thread. If it weren't for the extraordinary Crown Prince, Iron Cloud would have already become part of the Great Zhao Empire!

Now, the task he once set in motion must be completed by himself?

Du Shiqing sighed deeply.

The road ahead is long.

Chu Yang stood on the mountain, hidden by the dense forest, quietly watching the slowly approaching horse team.

With a slight effort, the note in his palm, which read, "Iron Cloud is offering a large sum to hire the world's first divine doctor, Du Shiqing, to go to Iron Cloud City. On the ninth day of the month, they will pass through Tiger Ridge," crumbled and scattered.

Then, without a moment's hesitation, his body shot through the trees like a meteor, heading down the mountain.

This was the path he had already planned to rise. Du Shiqing was the key!

To enter Iron Cloud and reverse his fate, it was not enough to just enter the country. After entering, he needed to gain attention. After gaining attention, he needed to earn trust; after earning trust, he needed to gain power!

All of this had to be accomplished in a short time! At most, two years to complete what an ordinary scholar would take a lifetime to achieve! Chu Yang's task was not easy.

But he was resolute!

Du Shiqing was the beginning of Chu Yang's plan!

"Neigh..." A strong horse neighed and stopped. In front of the carriage, a young man had already dismounted. Dressed in black, with a handsome face, he looked at the carriage with a calm yet excited expression.

"Who are you?!" The eight knights simultaneously reined in their horses, three swords and five knives drawn.

"Is the person inside the carriage the world's first divine doctor, known as the Benevolent Hand, Du Shiqing, Du Lao?" The black-clad youth's eyes were filled with genuine gratitude and reverence, seemingly unaware of the gleaming weapons around him.

"Who are you?" The leading knight's eyes were sharp like a hawk, coldly watching him, not relaxing his vigilance. The others, while locking onto the youth with their aura, subtly spread out to protect the carriage from all directions.

"Is it you?" The youth took another step forward, showing great urgency.

"Whether it is or not, it's none of your business." The leading knight coldly said, "Step back!" He could see that the youth seemed to have no ill intentions, but this journey was of great importance, and caution was necessary.

"If it is Mr. Du, I beg you to come out and meet me." The youth persisted.

"Ridiculous!" A loud shout, and three bright knives simultaneously shot out, slashing at the youth.

The black-clad youth seemed to be startled, then a look of anger appeared on his face. His body twisted, dodging left and right amidst the knife light. The knives were like a waterfall, but he moved safely through them. Suddenly, his hands shot out like eagle claws.

With a clang, a long knife fell to the ground, and the leading knight felt a numbness in his wrist, almost losing his weapon. Surprised, he dismounted and shouted, "Form the formation to meet the enemy!"

The seven knights simultaneously dismounted, ready for battle, their knives gleaming, ready to strike.

"Wait!" Du Shiqing called out from inside the carriage, then calmly said, "Young sir, I am Du Shiqing. What can I do for you?"

Saying this, he lifted the curtain, revealing his face.

"Mr. Du, be careful! This person's intentions are unknown and suspicious." Two guards immediately drew their swords to protect the carriage, ready for battle.

"Indeed, it is the divine doctor Du!" The black-clad youth's face flushed with excitement, ignoring the weapons before him, and walked straight toward Du Shiqing without any defense.

After two steps, his body touched the blade, but the leading knight did not retract his weapon.

The youth felt the pain of the blade piercing his skin, looked down, and smiled awkwardly, then deeply bowed to Du Shiqing.

This strange action left everyone bewildered.

"Do you remember eight years ago, when you practiced medicine and saved lives here at Tiger Ridge? At that time, the two countries were at war, and you, with your benevolent heart, saved the wounded. During that trip to gather herbs, you passed through a village and saved a couple of villagers?"

"Oh?" Du Shiqing frowned. In his life, he had treated countless people; how could he remember each one? But he did recall being in this area eight years ago.