Chapter 17: The Medical Quarters

The four or five injured farmers were all carried back to the small village, but there was nowhere suitable to settle them, so Zhan Xiaobai had them taken to the administrative courtyard for the time being.

Before long, some players had already brought back a portion of the required herbs. Many of these were actually quite common; the difficulty lay in gathering the complete set. Zhan Xiaobai bought each set for four copper coins, and soon had all the herbs he needed.

Li Asan, who knew a little about medicine, prepared the herbs and applied them externally to the farmers’ wounds.

Zhan Xiaobai watched curiously from the side. The bleeding gradually stopped, and the effects of these herbs were surprisingly good.

After applying the medicine, Li Asan said, “My lord, it will take a little time for them to fully recover. It’s not suitable to keep them here either—perhaps we should build a clinic to house them?”

Zhan Xiaobai agreed, “Good idea, but our village doesn’t have a doctor. Who will look after them?”

Li Asan smiled, “Please don’t worry, my lord. I know a little about herbal medicine—enough to be considered half a doctor. Let me take care of them.”

Since the farmers had nothing to do at the moment, Zhan Xiaobai thought it would be perfect to have them start working. He had Li Asan choose a spacious, quiet spot to build the clinic.

After more than half an hour, Jian Ba, Young Hero Spring and Autumn, Ah Fei, and others returned to the village with a large group of players. Each looked as though they’d survived a bloody battle, bearing various wounds.

Ah Fei immediately called out when he saw Zhan Xiaobai, “Big brother, we found that wild wolf! Damn thing was level sixteen—it took more than thirty of us to almost surround it. If it hadn’t been for Militiaman No. 1 holding it off, it would have gotten away.”

Zhan Xiaobai asked, “Do you know where it came from?”

Ah Fei shook his head, unable to explain.

Jian Ba said, “I asked the players who were there at the time, but no one knew where it came from. Later, I led people around the logging site for several miles but found no clues. I think it’s a wandering wolf that strayed near the logging grounds and injured the villagers by chance.”

Zhan Xiaobai nodded and told them to get some rest.

That was all that could be done; there was nothing else he could do.

The clinic was completed in half a day, and the injured farmers were all settled inside. Whenever Zhan Xiaobai had free time—though it seemed he was always free—he would come by to check on their recovery.

One time, he happened to find Qiushui already there.

Qiushui laughed, “Big Brother Bai, why do you keep coming here? This is the fourth time I’ve seen you at the clinic today.”

Zhan Xiaobai smiled, checked the wound of the most seriously injured farmer, noting it was mostly healed, and replied, “I can’t help but worry. I won’t feel at ease until they’re fully recovered. If any of them are left disabled, that would be terrible.”

“Oh, is that so?” Qiushui smiled sweetly. “But I get the feeling you’re more interested in the herbs themselves, aren’t you? Are you wondering whether these herbs would be effective on players?”

Zhan Xiaobai was startled. Qiushui’s insight was impressive—she’d guessed his thoughts at once. “Is that what you think too?”

Qiushui said, “I hadn’t thought about it initially, but I noticed you kept watching how quickly the wounds were healing, so I figured you must be observing the herbs’ effectiveness. Then I wondered whether players, not just NPCs, could use them. However… I’m guessing they probably don’t work on us.”

Zhan Xiaobai was curious, “Oh? How do you know that?”

Qiushui analyzed, “Well, if the herbs were very effective, you would have already told us to gather them in large quantities. Yet you haven’t, right? Plus, by now, a lot of players must know this recipe and are probably trying it themselves. If it worked, players would be overjoyed, but I haven’t noticed any excitement. So, I conclude the herbs are ineffective for players.”

Zhan Xiaobai smiled and shook his head. Qiushui’s reasoning was flawless.

“You’re absolutely right. The herbs are indeed ineffective for players.” He revealed his left wrist, showing a wound. “I did an experiment—self-inflicted three points of health loss, then used these herbs. As you know, players regenerate one point of health per hour automatically. After fifty minutes, I gained one point of health—so I saved 16.6% of recovery time in the first hour. But the effect ended there. Over the next two hours, I recovered one point each hour as usual. The effect is too small and the cost too high—there’s essentially no practical value.”

Qiushui glimpsed the wound on his arm and exclaimed in alarm, “Big Brother Bai, why would you experiment on yourself?”

“That’s the only way to observe the effects directly. Surely I wouldn’t make someone else do it for such a small matter?” Zhan Xiaobai withdrew his wrist, a little regretful. “It’s just a pity about the herbs—four copper coins, just to save ten minutes.”

Qiushui, seeing he was all right, felt relieved. After a moment’s thought, she asked, “Big Brother Bai, do you know why this medicine is so effective on NPCs but so much less so on players?”

Zhan Xiaobai shook his head. “I’ve been wondering about that myself. This medicine can restore about twenty points of health to an NPC, so theoretically it should work the same on players. But the difference is obvious… Maybe we’re using it wrong, or maybe it just doesn’t work on players at all.”

Qiushui suggested, “We won’t figure it out just by guessing. Why don’t we call Li Asan and ask if there’s another way to use the medicine?”

Zhan Xiaobai agreed. Li Asan probably knew more than they did and might have an idea. He sent a farmer to fetch Li Asan.

Li Asan arrived at the clinic shortly. “My lord, you called for me?”

Zhan Xiaobai explained his thoughts and asked if there was another way to use the medicine.

Li Asan replied with a troubled expression, “My lord, my medical skills are shallow—I only know this one prescription for treating external injuries, and only how to use it as a poultice. I don’t know anything else. I learned this little bit of medicine from someone else, so I’m afraid I can’t help with your question.”

“Oh? Who did you learn it from?”

“An itinerant doctor—I don’t know his name.”

Zhan Xiaobai’s spirits lifted. “Do you know where he is now?”

“He’s a wandering doctor, roaming the countryside, rarely staying in any one place for long. I have no idea how to find him. But if you want to look for him, my lord, I’ll keep an eye out. If he passes through here, I’ll be sure to bring him to you.”

Zhan Xiaobai had no choice but to let Li Asan go.

It seemed he would have to find another solution for these herbs.