Chapter 1081: Painful Convulsions

"I’ve got it on my back," Si’an patted the bundle on his back and passed on Gu Jinli’s message to Qin San Lang.

After listening, Qin San Lang led Si’an out of the camp, pointed at the injured soldiers, either lying or crouching, and said: "Zhang Zhong, untie all the bandaged wounds, let them apply this new medicine juice before rebandaging."

To be honest, the injured soldiers had a pained look upon hearing this.

"Sir, we endured the pain to bandage our wounds, and now you want us to undo it and bandage again—do you think we haven’t suffered enough?"

But Qin San Lang’s fierce reputation was well-known throughout the Prefecture garrison, and these soldiers had trained under him in winter, summer, and night drills. They admired and feared him, daring not to oppose, so they obediently endured the pain and untied the bandages, ready for the alcohol application.

Si’an cheerfully took out the alcohol and distributed it to Zhang Zhong and the others, instructing: "This stuff is precious and limited; don’t pour too much. Use cotton cloth to absorb the alcohol and wipe the wound."

Even with these instructions, when the alcohol-saturated cotton cloth was applied to the wounds, the injured soldiers cried out in agony.

Qin San Lang said coldly: "Why are you yelling? Are you girls? Can’t tough guys like you handle a bit of pain? Useless."

The injured soldiers: "..."

They’re useless, they admit it—it really hurts, what is this stuff?

One soldier, under Qin San Lang’s intimidating presence, mustered the courage to ask.

Si’an replied: "It’s a new medicine. Applying this juice reduces wound inflammation and prevents high fever from injury."

The soldiers were quite satisfied upon hearing this.

If this juice has such effects, then enduring the pain is worth it. Weapon injuries easily cause high fever, and once it sets in, survival becomes uncertain.

"Master, Young Master also sent other antiseptic medicine for you," Si’an said to Qin San Lang.

Qin San Lang: "Use it for those more severely injured. For minor injuries, just use alcohol and wait until tomorrow. If inflammation occurs, switch to the antiseptic medicine."

The alcohol was freshly made, and they weren’t sure of its efficacy or extent, so they planned to test it on minor injuries for a day—it wouldn’t be fatal.

"Got it." Si’an acknowledged, handing the antiseptic medicine to Zhang Zhong, and both distributed it to the more severely injured soldiers.

Si’an and Zhang Zhong understood Qin San Lang’s intent and didn’t forget to add: "This medicine was sent by Company Commander Qin’s fiancée."

Upon hearing this, the soldiers naturally praised Qin San Lang, making him very pleased, with a smile on his face—a smile that intimidated many.

Zhong Yu came out of the room and saw Qin San Lang leaning against a tree trunk, eating grilled fish while listening to the soldiers’ compliments.

Zhong Yu felt sour, muttering under his breath: "Show-off, all this for an engagement, what’s so great about it, worth boasting everywhere?"

Zhong Yu intended to make achievements for Great Chu first, which is why he hadn’t married. Otherwise, not only would he be married, he’d have kids.

Just wait, once back at camp, he’d write home to get his marriage set, quickly marry and have a child before Qin San Lang, then they’ll compare sons!

Qin San Lang sensed Zhong Yu’s gaze, but didn’t even spare him a glance, slowly eating his grilled fish, his elegant eating style making Zhong Yu even more envious.

"A penniless drifter pretending to be nobility, do you think you’re a noble young master just from acting the part?"

In the entire Prefecture garrison, Zhong Yu had the best background; he was the real noble young master.

"Chief Commander, your hand is injured, how about trying this new medicine juice? I secretly took some from Zhang Zhong, but I have to return it soon; would you like to try?" said Liu Tong, a soldier under Zhong Yu, who brought alcohol to Zhong Yu to curry favor upon noticing Zhong Yu’s injured arm.

Zhong Yu was quite familiar with Liu Tong and typically disdainful of flatterers, but upon hearing the new medicine’s benefits, he wanted to try it.

Zhong Yu extended his arm, saying with slight arrogance: "Apply it on me."

Liu Tong, smiling with joy, eagerly cleaned Zhong Yu’s wound, then rolled the cotton cloth into strips, soaked it in alcohol, letting it absorb fully.

"Too slow, this stuff smells like alcohol, so it should work like spirits—just pour it directly," Zhong Yu glanced towards Qin San Lang, worried the pauper might see him using the medicine from his household, and would look down on him even more.

Zhong Yu, being self-conscious, had recently been beaten by Qin San Lang for a mistake, so he didn’t want to be belittled again.

Liu Tong frowned, hesitatingly said: "Chief Commander, applying this on the wound is quite painful, better to wipe it; pouring directly would be unbearable."

Zhong Yu heard this, his expression turned icy, felt belittled, grabbed the alcohol bottle, and with a splash emptied it on his arm wound.

Then he...

"Ah——!"

A piercing scream shattered the sky; Zhong Yu waved his arm wildly in pain, spinning in circles, his face turned pale, nearly passing out from the agony.

Qin San Lang approached while holding his grilled fish; glancing at Zhong Yu convulsing in pain, he said: "Five hundred taels, compensate."

Zhong Yu, not stupid, understood clearly, gritted his teeth against his arm’s throbbing pain, glared at Qin San Lang: "This damn painful worthless medicine asks five hundred taels, you’re worse than bandits!"

Qin San Lang’s gaze chilled: "Creating a new medicine takes time and effort unimaginable to someone like you. The spilled alcohol bottle could save at least a hundred soldiers’ lives in the medicine-short Northwest. Do you think a hundred soldiers’ lives aren’t worth five hundred taels? Or do you find my wife’s medicine not worth that price?"

On the latter words, the tone carried a murderous intent. Zhong Yu felt a chill—if he dared say Qin San Lang’s wife’s medicine was worthless, he might get stabbed again.

Yet claiming a hundred soldiers’ lives are not worth five hundred taels would lose him favor—not just in the camp, but even among his soldiers’ ranks, arousing resentment.

Truly a cunning thief, spoken with traps within!

Zhong Yu had no choice but to pay, directly pulling out a thousand-tael silver note, wanting to throw it at Qin San Lang. But as he raised his arm and the note hadn’t been thrown, Qin San Lang’s sleeve flashed a white light—a dagger hidden in his sleeve!

Zhong Yu was terrified, withdrawing his throwing gesture, holding his anger, handing the silver note to Qin San Lang.

Qin San Lang glanced at the note, didn’t accept, saying: "Both hands."

Didn’t your parents teach you manners, don’t even know this basic etiquette?