Chapter 10

"Your humble servant, Sun Simiao!"

As soon as the words were spoken, the courtyard was filled with the sound of knees hitting the ground. The Hu family's steward and servants all knelt down, and even the Wang brothers knelt.

"Old Immortal Sun! It's really Old Immortal Sun!" The Hu steward's eyes, which had been blank with shock, now sparkled with fervor, a fervor no less intense than if he had captured a wild, original Ultraman with his bare hands...

Li Su didn't kneel, but he was also stunned.

Sun Simiao, the Medicine King? He never expected that the first famous person he would encounter in the Zhenguan era would be him!

Clearly, this was no mere charlatan or useless old man. He was a true immortal, said to have lived to the ripe old age of 102. More admirable still were his character and medical ethics, as well as his superb medical skills and disinterest in fame and fortune.

Li Su stared at Sun Simiao in a daze. At that moment, he felt an impulse to kneel and beg the old immortal to bless him... to get rich?

The courtyard was filled with kneeling people, and Sun Simiao's expression was not pleasant. He gave Li Su a heavy sniff, clearly displeased with this young rascal. Then, with a stern face, he said to the kneeling crowd, "Why are you kneeling? Get up, all of you, get up! Kneeling at the sight of someone, where did you learn such bad habits?"

Pointing to the Hu steward, who was in awe, Sun Simiao asked, "Does your family have a sick cow?"

The Hu steward's admiration grew even deeper. "Old Immortal, you save all living beings, even animals. Truly, your virtue is boundless..."

"Shut up. I only treat humans, not animals. This cowardly boy said he could, ask him."

"Ah?" The Hu steward's gaze quickly shifted to Li Su, his admiration turning to suspicion. "Li family boy, what are you up to again?"

Li Su glanced at Sun Simiao and smiled bitterly. "Today, while talking with the Wang brothers about smallpox, I blurted out a few things. I didn't expect this old Taoist to hear, so..."

Sun Simiao impatiently interrupted him, "At a time when lives are at stake, why are you still talking nonsense? Quickly bring out your sick cow, hurry up!"

The Hu steward's eyes darted back and forth between Sun Simiao and Li Su for a long time before finally deciding to follow the old immortal's words. He turned around and went to fetch the cow.

Li Su moved a few steps to Sun Simiao's side, bowed to him, and said with a smile, "This young one failed to recognize the mountain, and offended the old immortal just now. Please, old immortal, don't take it to heart..."

Sun Simiao grunted, "Forget it, why should I take it to heart with a young rascal like you? As long as you really have a way to treat smallpox, I'll bow to you on behalf of all the people in the world."

"Never, never, old immortal, you're too kind... Speaking of which, old immortal, you only heard a few words from this young one, and you believe me so easily?"

Sun Simiao laughed in exasperation, "You're just a young rascal with no beard. What virtue do you have that makes me believe you? It's just that I'm at a loss with smallpox, and in my desperation, I'm trying anything. You said you had a way, so I came to see. Do you think I have nothing better to do?"

Li Su forced a laugh, and at that moment, the Hu steward slowly led a cow over.

The cow didn't look very well, its head drooping lazily, chewing something, its large eyes scanning the crowd before losing interest and hanging down again.

Li Su squatted down and examined the cow's abdomen. Yes, it was indeed a female cow, and there were several sores on her udders, already oozing pus, yellow and a bit disgusting. It was indeed a cow with smallpox.

Sun Simiao also squatted down next to Li Su and glanced at him. "Young boy, tell me, how do you plan to use the cow to treat smallpox?"

Li Su smiled bitterly. "Old immortal, this young one never said he could definitely cure it. It's just a trial. The epidemic is so severe, how can one person alone solve it?"

Sun Simiao nodded. "That's true. Though you're young, you're not arrogant. Tell me, how do you plan to try?"

Li Su pointed to the sores around the cow's udders. "This cow also has smallpox, but cows have much stronger antibodies and immunity than humans. Although the smallpox is the same, after the cow's body resists and fights it, it can develop a certain level of immunity. So, while smallpox is a deadly disease for humans, it rarely kills cows..."

Sun Simiao looked puzzled, and even a bit... ashamed?

He didn't understand many of the new terms, but... it sounded impressive.

Sun Simiao was very serious about his studies, especially in medicine. He looked up at the Hu steward and asked, "How long has this cow been sick? What are the symptoms?"

The Hu steward had been looking at Li Su with a strange expression. He had watched Li Su grow up, but he had never seen him in such a profound and knowledgeable state. This boy's character... seemed very different from before.

Seeing the old immortal ask, the Hu steward hurriedly replied respectfully, "It's been about ten days. It's just not very energetic, eats less, and it's hard to find a veterinarian in the area. The master plans to report to the authorities and slaughter it in about ten days."

Sun Simiao nodded and continued to observe the sick cow without further addressing the Hu steward.

Li Su pointed to the cow's udders and continued, "If a part of our body becomes ulcerated, it will start to ooze pus. Once the pus is drained, the ulcerated area will gradually heal. The same is true for animals. Old immortal, please look, the cow's udders are oozing pus, which is the result of the immune system fighting the virus. After the cow's body resists the virus, the pus contains the smallpox virus, but it's different from the smallpox virus because it also contains antibodies against the virus. What I need is this pus. It's very important. Applying it to a person's wound can not only prevent smallpox but also... cure... cure..."

As Li Su spoke, his speech slowed, and his face turned pale involuntarily.

He realized he had made a mistake.

In his previous life, he knew too little about smallpox because it had been virtually eradicated. Modern people didn't deliberately remember such a disease. He only knew that vaccinating with cowpox was effective, but he wasn't sure if it could cure or only prevent. Seeing the sick cow now, fragmented memories from his past life flooded back, gradually piecing together a coherent whole. Only then did he realize that cowpox vaccination could only protect healthy people who hadn't yet contracted smallpox, but it couldn't save those who already showed symptoms.

Cold sweat trickled down his pale face. Li Su felt he had let down the Wang brothers and the fourth son of the Wang family.

Everyone's eyes were still on Li Su. Sun Simiao patted his shoulder and said impatiently, "Keep talking, what are you spacing out for!"

Wang Zhuang and Wang Zhi, standing nearby, were so anxious that they stomped their feet. Everyone, including the Hu steward, couldn't help but urge him on.

After a long while, Li Su stood up, his eyes slightly red. He turned to the Wang brothers and suddenly bowed to them.

"I'm sorry, I can only guarantee that those who haven't contracted smallpox will never get it again, but for those who have already contracted it, I have no way. I'm sorry, I can only save your parents, not the fourth son."

The Wang brothers were stunned, tears streaming down their faces. Wang Zhi, being younger, burst into loud sobs.

Wang Zhuang, the eldest, was heartbroken but resolute. He wiped his tears with his sleeve and said firmly, "The fourth son had a bad fate, we accept it. In such times, saving one is better than saving none. Please, find a way to save our parents. They haven't contracted smallpox yet, they can still be saved. As long as our parents are alive, the family won't be destroyed."

Sun Simiao's expression became excited. Having practiced medicine for many years, he was no longer emotionally attached to life and death, but he was focused on another point.

"Young boy, don't lie to me. Do you really have a way to prevent those who haven't contracted smallpox from ever getting it? Is it true?"

Li Su's mind was in turmoil, and he nodded half-heartedly.

Sun Simiao nodded. "Life and death are serious matters. Any treatment must be based on a proper diagnosis and tested before it can be applied. Let's try it for the sake of all the people. If it works..."

Sun Simiao paused and looked at Li Su. "If it works, young boy, you will receive the gratitude of all the people in the world!"