Chapter 504 - 505: Drinking the Medicine

Chapter 504: Chapter 505: Drinking the Medicine

The bandits who had been standing with Tian Er now took a disgusted half-step to the side, giving him space to writhe on the ground.

"Don’t test our patience. Get back to work. Now."

With Tian Er serving as a cautionary tale, the others didn’t dare to linger. They shuffled back to the wasteland in twos and threes, but now, everyone was wary of each other.

They were all carefully watching the people around them for any symptoms, afraid of being dragged down as well.

Mountain Leader’s eyes darted around. He knew a rare opportunity had arrived.

He secretly sidled up to Mr. Lang. The moment Mr. Lang saw him approach, he quickly shuffled a few steps away. "Don’t get so close."

Mountain Leader: "...I have something to tell you."

Mr. Lang’s face was full of suspicion. "Whatever you have to say, you can say it from over there. Don’t tell me you know something’s wrong with you and you’re trying to infect me on purpose!"

Hearing this, Mountain Leader took a deep breath and silently told himself, ’This man is still useful. I have to endure it.’

"You heard what they said just now. This thing can be fatal."

Mr. Lang: "So what?"

"This is a great opportunity," Mountain Leader said. Seeing no one was watching him, he slowly edged a little closer to Mr. Lang.

Mr. Lang: "Just say what you need to from there. They can’t understand our language anyway. You don’t have to be so secretive."

Mountain Leader: "Sir, don’t you want to go back?"

Mr. Lang: "Hah, easy for you to say. We’ve been brought to this place—do you really think we can go back? Look around. We can’t even get past the first checkpoint, let alone anything else."

Mountain Leader took a deep breath. "That’s why I’m saying this is an opportunity. I refuse to believe these people aren’t afraid of the plague. As long as we watch for the right moment when chaos breaks out and make a break for it with our men, what can they do to us?

Once we’re out, we can spread the word that there’s a plague here. You think that won’t cause a panic?

Hah. Besides, someone here might already be infected. If we get out and mingle in a few crowded places, what do you think will happen?"

This was a plan that achieved multiple goals at once—they could escape and get revenge. He refused to believe Mr. Lang wouldn’t be tempted.

Sure enough, Mr. Lang lowered his eyes. "But we don’t know our way around here. If we get caught and dragged back, our fate will likely be even worse."

Mountain Leader said, "Don’t forget about me. I have Tian Er with me; they’ve been operating around here for years. I can’t speak for other places, but I know this area like the back of my hand."

He then lowered his voice again. "Besides, you think I’ve been here all these years without leaving myself an escape route? As long as we can get out of here, I can get us back home."

Home. The word struck a chord deep in Mr. Lang’s heart. He stared intently at Mountain Leader. "I can’t just take your word for it. Why don’t you start by explaining in detail... our current..."

...

The guards watching over the wasteland were oblivious to the secret plotting.

But in the late afternoon, they were replaced by another group. This new group was wrapped up tightly from head to toe, with only their eyes showing.

This struck even more fear into the hearts of Tian Er and the others. They frequently tried to ask the guards for information, but the guards ignored them completely. They would even brandish their weapons to drive them back if they got too close.

What made them even more anxious was that not only did the guards not demand they complete a certain amount of work today, but no one even came to chase them off when they collapsed onto the ground.

"Are they... planning to just let us die off on our own?"

"Probably. We’re all going to die sooner or later anyway. We might as well fight them."

"Fight? What are you going to fight with? Didn’t you see there are more of them today? Are you going to fight them with your bare hands?"

"Forget it. It’s already come to this. We’ll just live one day at a time."

"Don’t you guys want to go back? I want to go back! I have parents and children at home."

"How are we supposed to get back? We can’t even get over this mountain, not unless we take all these guys down."

"It’s impossible. We should..."

...

"Time for your medicine." At mealtime, the familiar call was replaced by this new one, and a thick, medicinal smell drifted through the air.

"What kind of medicine is this?" Mountain Leader asked, holding his bowl at the front of the line.

Ah Liu ladled a large spoonful into his bowl and said impatiently, "It’s the cure that’ll save your lives. Drink it or don’t. Next."

Mountain Leader stood to the side with his bowl, watching. Mr. Lang, his face grim, now reached the front of the line. "Hey, you. Is this actually effective against the plague?"

"How should I know? This is the prescription from the doctors in town. If we weren’t afraid of losing you lot and having no one to clear the wasteland for us, we wouldn’t have bothered with all this trouble.

Anyway, this is your one shot. Take it or leave it."

As he spoke, Ah Liu impatiently tapped the side of the pot and yelled, "Next!"

’I don’t know what the Master was thinking,’ he grumbled internally. ’Do I look like an actor? Why’d he give me a role like this?’

When it was Tian Er’s turn, he kept bowing to Ah Liu. "Thank you, Sir! I was just wondering, how many doses of this medicine do we need to take?"

"Your attitude’s not bad," Ah Liu said, ladling an extra-large spoonful into his bowl.

Tian Er: "..." ’This is medicine, not a meal.’

"For now, we’ll see how you all react. If it’s effective, you’ll take a few more doses to consolidate the effects, and you should be fine."

"This plague can be cured?"

Ah Liu tilted his head up haughtily. "Hmph. That depends on what kind of doctor you have.

Doctor Fan is the disciple of an Imperial Physician from the palace. How could he not have a few life-saving prescriptions up his sleeve?

Don’t worry. As long as you take your medicine properly, this illness won’t kill you."

Tian Er was stunned. ’Are the doctors in the Rong Dynasty really that skilled?’ If something like this happened on their island, all they could do was wait to die.

"I praise you a little and you’re already getting full of yourself. Hurry up and move to the side. Don’t block the person behind you from getting their medicine." Ah Liu rapped his ladle hard against the pot a few more times. "Next!"

Tian Er looked at the brownish liquid in his bowl, pinched his nose, and drank it all in one gulp. The people behind him stared, dumbfounded. It was the first time they had ever seen someone so eager to take medicine.

"That’s the spirit," Ah Liu said, giving him a thumbs-up. "Now that’s the proper way to take medicine. Was that enough? I can give you another bowl if it wasn’t."

Tian Er: "..."

...

With someone taking the lead, the other bandits figured the medicine was safe and obediently chugged it down.

Seeing that everyone had finished their medicine, Ah Liu finally stopped, satisfied. "We’ll watch closely today. As long as no one else shows symptoms, that means the medicine is working. After consolidating for a few days like this, there should be no more problems.

You don’t need to be afraid. After all, your lives are still useful. Our general won’t just leave you to die. As long as you work hard, we can guarantee you’ll live."

The person behind him, seeing him get more and more carried away with his speech, quickly nudged him. "Don’t hold everyone up from their work."

...