Chapter 45

I found myself back in Luoyang? Looking at the flames that shot up to the sky and the distant palace towering high, the background of the collapsing buildings amidst the smoke was like a silent film, with no sound to be heard.

Only the struggling figures, like ants, engaged in chasing and killing, moved like marionettes in a silent play, twisting, dying, and then being scorched into ashes, blown into the sky.

Even the ashes and embers carried by the wind, like snowflakes, felt cold in my hands, or perhaps they had no temperature at all.

Duantan, Luantai Mountain, Dacheng Hall, Qingyuan Garden, Yunei Pavilion, Chengxian Shrine, Huaiji Hall, Tian Gong Academy, Jixia Hall, Gongde Workshop, Fuping Lane... Familiar and unfamiliar landmarks and buildings were all being devoured by the flames, disappearing silently.

The autumn sun, obscured by the black smoke and falling dust, turned into a dim yellow, then was completely covered by the black clouds, turning the day into night.

But I found myself in the underground world of Luoyang City.

The damp and stuffy atmosphere of the sewers, the omnipresent smell of decay and fermentation, the soft and slippery ground underfoot, and the uncertain feeling of not knowing how deep the next step would sink, all contributed to the eerie atmosphere.

Various creatures like cockroaches, snakes, and worms, hidden in the water, made rustling sounds, making it impossible to know when they would suddenly appear in some shadow or corner.

Rats, which never knew fear or avoided people, would sometimes chase and play in the dark corners, or suddenly screech and dart past, leaving a wet sensation.

The constant sound of flowing water echoed in the deep alleys, making it impossible to determine direction by sound. The light from the sky wells and wooden and stone grates was the only guide, providing a sense of comfort that the world of civilization was not far away.

But all this was overwhelmed by the violence on the surface. The deep red background of the rising flames, the dark red of the blood flowing in rivers, the darkness and cold of the underground world, and the isolated loneliness, became the best shelter and hiding place.

Large amounts of dark red flowed continuously in the gray-black sewage, impossible to conceal or dilute. Occasionally, limbs and pieces of flesh, suspected to be human, were washed and pushed along, slowly moving and embedding themselves. Large rats with gray-black fur, like in a frenzy, leaped and feasted on the fresh food.

They occasionally raised their slightly cloudy eyes, looking at the still moving living things with a reluctant gaze, but were soon attracted by more blood and warmth.

I moved forward slowly, determined to continue no matter what I encountered, even if I was exhausted, both physically and mentally, and covered in wounds. I seemed to be stubbornly pursuing something, supporting myself against the slippery walls and moving forward.

It was as if I had been swallowed by darkness, not knowing how far or how long I had walked. Even with the "Luoyang Underground Network Map," I couldn't determine the direction.

Then I fell into a deep void and climbed back up, covered in filth.

My hand pressed against the wall felt a sharp pain, as if burned by something. I could see again, but my palm was bleeding profusely, and no matter how I tried to wipe it with my clothes, it wouldn't stop. After a great effort, I bandaged it, but the blood soon soaked through, forming a strange pattern.

An eye, a vertical eye, hidden in the thick moss and years of grime, was unmistakably filled with malice.

"Wake up..."

I was suddenly shaken awake, my heart pounding, and I heard a low voice calling.

"Axia..."

Gradually regaining my senses, I felt a soft body hugging me, giving me a sense of reality.

Although it was early spring and getting warmer, Baotou Dun, who was afraid of the cold at night, always wanted to sleep with me. Having a warm bedmate, I naturally accepted it without complaint, even though we hadn't progressed further.

So it was easy for him to wake me up at any time.

"Doctor, there's something that needs your attention..."

A low voice came from outside the light.

I felt the warm dagger in my pocket and the cold touch of the crossbow, which reassured me.

I looked at the young steward's anxious face in the dim white glass lantern.

"What is it?"

Baotou Dun helped me put on a thick outer robe, found a short saber under the bedding, and tied it to my waist.

"Someone is injured... Please, Doctor, take a look."

"I'm coming."

I sighed. After the various practices in recent days, my skills in treating external injuries had become quite proficient.

"Follow me..."

I carried the medicine box, squinting as I walked out of the shed under the flickering lantern light, shivering from the night dew.

The large camp was quiet, with most people resting by the fire pits. Only a few people were adding night feed to the animals, and the animals were making snorting sounds.

We were staying in a large village with a wooden fence for protection against bandits. After paying some money, we had access to houses and animal sheds.

However, houses were limited. Baotou Dun and I slept in a large cart under a grass shed, with three sides covered and the front and back enclosed with mats, blocking most of the sound and view. Most people didn't have this luxury.

Those with better conditions could set up tents and rest together, while others laid down felt mats against the walls, one end tied to the wall and the other held down with stones, sleeping in a small corner. As for the laborers and porters, they could only find a flat spot, lay down their clothes, and wrap themselves in a piece of cloth for the night.

The differences in status and class were evident in these dark corners.

Around a dozen large carts and main houses stood, originally a shrine and a temple, showing signs of disrepair and decay but still larger and more spacious than other buildings.

Before entering, I easily detected a fresh smell of blood and the various expressions of confusion, bewilderment, suspicion, and anxiety on the faces of the people who had been awakened, mingling with the strange odors and a sense of unease in the air.

A dispute had already taken place in a small room at the back of the shrine.

"Why did you find a doctor who joined us halfway?"

"Because he is the only one we can find now."

"We must treat them..."

"Unless you want them to die from their injuries."

"The intercepting forces are mainly deployed at sea, so taking the land route was a risky move..."

"But we didn't expect it to go wrong..."

"Our available resources are limited now, and we must cherish every bit of valuable strength..."

"We can't fully trust the local authorities. When it comes to profit, they can be even more ruthless than bandits..."

We passed through the hall and the courtyard, and I was led to a single room behind the wooden niche where the spirit tablets were originally placed, now temporarily covered by a curtain.

I saw the young steward, the head of the guards, and the leader of the volunteers, all with complex expressions, staring at me as if trying to read my face. They only led me in when the injured person groaned.

Seeing the pale, almost lifeless person on the bed, my heart sank.

Although I was a fake doctor, having spent a long time in Liangshan, I could easily tell that the injuries on this person were not the result of an accident or a mistake.

The torn flesh and broken bones were not caused by a fall or a horse ride, but by heavy weapons like axes and swords, wielded with deadly force.

The shape and position of the wounds, from the front to the ribs and back, suggested a fierce battle, with attacks from all sides and long-range bow and arrow attacks.

Anyone or any force capable of causing such injuries was not to be underestimated, let alone ordinary bandits. It seemed I had gotten involved in some serious trouble.

The special treatment and attention I received were indeed not a good sign. But now that I was here, I couldn't back out or regret it.

I calmed myself, opened the medicine box, and revealed a set of small surgical tools, needles, and scissors, all collected and modified during my journey.

The curved scissors were bought from a cosmetics shop, originally for eyebrow trimming, and then bent in a blacksmith's forge. The surgical blades and curved needles were custom-made by a hardware craftsman. The hemostatic clamps and fixators were selected and modified from a castrator's tools.

I used the process of organizing these tools to clear my mind, then put on the inner leather gloves and examined the patient without touching them, trying to look professional.

"Boiling water, charcoal fire..."

I instructed, assessing the size and severity of the wounds, the risk of internal and external bleeding, and the urgency of treatment.

"Also, cotton strips, not silk, boiled in hot water."

To my surprise, they hesitated, looking at each other.

"What are you waiting for?"

A voice scolded.

"Go and do it."

They finally sprang into action.

"Unrelated people, out, except for those bringing supplies..."

I continued.

"Too many people will make the air dirty and worse for the patient."

"Keep the charcoal fire close to keep the dampness away and maintain body temperature."

"But keep the windows open for ventilation, to prevent smoke from accumulating."

"Doctor..."

An impatient voice.

"What do you think?"

"Only do what we can, and leave the rest to fate."

I said coldly.

"These are new and old injuries, treated together."

I exaggerated the severity to minimize the impact of any possible outcome.

"Surviving this long shows a strong body and will."

Surprisingly, there were no accusations or doubts, only silence, or perhaps uncertainty about my assessment.

Although the young steward had assured me that the injured person was a brother who had been severely wounded while on a scouting mission, their serious and concerned expressions suggested that this was not just a guard or a scout.

Only then did I feel confident enough to start the surgery, using my experience from dozens of cases, both human and animal, in Liangshan.

"More bleeding..."

A slight tremor in my fingers caused a gush of blood, but I remained expressionless.

"Use a cloth to block it, then sew it up."

"Spraying blood!"

"Bind the artery... wait for me to sew it up."

"What, you don't know what an artery is? Use your fingers to clamp it here."

"What, the bound area is turning purple and bruised?"

"Prick it to let the blood out."

"The skin is torn, use a long needle to hold it, like skewering a roast goose."

"What, you don't know how to skewer a roast goose?"

"Hey, he's waking up again, hold him down if you don't want him to die."

"No pulse? Prick his Baihui, Renzhong, and Hukou points."

"These are the most sensitive areas to pain, any reaction means there's hope."

During the process, the patient woke up in pain several times and then passed out again. I finally found the feeling of being a skilled surgeon, like the characters from manga and anime.

"Get some soybean oil, or rapeseed oil or tea oil if you don't have soybean oil."

"Make sure it's filtered and clear, and if it's old, that's even better."

"Apply it carefully to all the wounds."

"Don't use lard or anything, or the wounds will fester and the patient will die."

Seeing me skillfully finish the last large wound, biting off the thread, they were still in a state of awe.

"Get a piece of hard wood, the harder the better, and shape it into a splint."

"Roast it over the charcoal fire and polish it clean."

"Bind it to the broken bone with clean cloth to prevent movement and allow it to heal."

"Give him plenty of concentrated red sugar water to replenish the lost blood."

"Don't move him easily, and avoid alcohol, spicy, and pungent foods, or he'll die in pain."

After giving these instructions and seeing them scurrying around, I felt a bit more at ease.

"Next one..."

I took a deep breath, feeling a bit tired, and said calmly.

"Don't tell me you only have one injured person. I can smell the blood."

"Right..."

They finally snapped out of their daze and hurried to arrange for the next patient. Another person was brought in, with slightly lighter injuries and more consciousness.

They had rescued four injured people in total, but one had died shortly after returning due to the delay, which led them to seek my help in desperation.

After treating this patient, the copper basin was filled with various objects I had removed, including blade tips, fragments, leaves, wood chips, and several intact flat-headed arrows.

"Boil all the tools in hot water twice before using them again."

But when I started treating the last patient, who seemed less severely injured, I encountered some trouble.