Fight Poison with Poison

As the lord of a city, Chen Bingting had Yulin City in the palm of his hand. Yu Yuhan and Jiang Shuo simply forced their way out of the city.

Outside the city, driven away by soldiers, the Disaster Victims were almost nowhere to be seen. Only after the two fled into the cave dwellings did they discover that most of the Disaster Victims were hiding within. For a time, the cave dwellings were packed to bursting.

"This place isn't far from Yulin City, yet the soldiers turn a blind eye. They say they're afraid of affecting public order, but most likely some important figure has come down to inspect the place. They're afraid he'll see masses of Disaster Victims and that it'll hurt their official record." Yu Yuhan was furious. "Come on, let's check on the person infected with the epidemic."

The infected man was past fifty. He had curled up with his limbs drawn in at one corner of the cave dwelling, his eyes clouded and his spirit listless. Before entering the city, Yu Yuhan had already instructed the other Disaster Victims not to approach him. If circumstances had allowed, it would have been best for him to stay alone in a separate cave dwelling. The Disaster Victims nearby stared blankly in this direction. Although Yu Yuhan had explained the dangers of the epidemic, to people who already had one foot through the gates of hell, it did not seem all that frightening.

Jiang Shuo stepped forward and cautiously lifted the man's sleeve. His condition had worsened further. The red blotches on his forearm had turned into papules, with faint signs of suppuration. "Miss Yu, do you have any idea what this is?"

"This kind of pox rash was recorded in Ge Hong's Zhou Hou Fang during the Han dynasty, but unfortunately, there is no effective means of prevention or treatment. The only thing known is that it is extremely contagious. Even without direct contact, one may still become infected." Yu Yuhan frowned, staring fixedly at the sick Disaster Victim. "When I was in the Capital, I specialized in studying this epidemic. I only know that the patient must clear internal heat and purge toxins, then be cared for meticulously, to have some chance of surviving. That depends on the individual's constitution, though—it is not a breakthrough in my medical skill. The problem now is that we are desperately short of herbs and manpower. With so many Disaster Victims, we simply cannot care for them all."

"We have to find a way to notify the Hundred Flowers Sect." A trace of worry suddenly appeared between Jiang Shuo's brows. "I wonder how Li Zicheng is doing."

"Don't worry about that. No matter what, he is still a member of the Hundred Flowers Sect. Some suffering is unavoidable, but his life will not be in danger. As for the Hundred Flowers Sect..." Yu Yuhan pondered for a moment, then shook her head. "Chen Bingting would rather drive away the Disaster Victims and stir up public outrage than leave anything to chance. One can imagine that Yulin City must be under tight guard right now. Sneaking into the city would be harder than climbing to heaven. For now, we can only wait and see how things develop, then find another way once this storm has passed. If I do not return for a long time, the Hundred Flowers Sect will surely make a move."

Yu Yuhan displayed a maturity and wisdom far beyond her years. As she spoke, she waved a hand. "It is too early to discuss that. Our most urgent task is to handle what is before us."

The baleful miasma invaded the body through the mouth and nose, and taking medicine internally was the most effective way to dispel it. But Yu Yuhan's medicine chest had limited space. They had no tools for brewing medicine, and even clean water was scarce. Though the two possessed medical skill, they faced the plight of a clever wife unable to cook without rice. With no other choice, they could only apply medicine externally and use massage to ease the patient's suffering as much as possible.

The next day, Jiang Shuo woke Yu Yuhan from her light nap, his expression grave. Yu Yuhan understood at once. Despite their every effort, the patient had still inevitably died.

Yet the epidemic did not vanish with the patient's death.

On the third day, Jiang Shuo discovered a newly infected patient during an examination. On the fourth day, the number of patients rose to four. On the fifth day, ten...

The epidemic grew increasingly severe. Jiang Shuo and Yu Yuhan were run ragged, their heads spinning with exhaustion. The number of patients multiplied by the day, and every day brought agonizing deaths.

Throughout this time, Yu Yuhan never gave up hope of curing the epidemic. Based on the knowledge she had learned, she tried all manner of combinations, but every attempt failed.

Once the medicine was exhausted, what Yu Yuhan and Jiang Shuo did most was watch helplessly as the patients died one after another.

The epidemic was like a raging, sky-swallowing flood. The human wall formed by just the two of them seemed so tiny and insignificant.

Then Chen Han, who was on good terms with Yu Yuhan, also contracted the epidemic. Because he had spent so long helping at Yu Yuhan's side, his illness was already extremely severe by the time he became infected.

That day, Chen Han suffered an attack. His entire body was like a blazing fireball, his limbs convulsing violently, his eyes rolling white, foam seeping from the corners of his mouth. Yu Yuhan and Jiang Shuo stood on either side of him. Jiang Shuo loosened the patient's collar and belt, pried open his teeth, and stuffed a rag wrapped around a wooden stick into his mouth to keep him from biting his tongue. Yu Yuhan drew out the Silver Needles she kept close to her body and inserted them in turn into Baihui, Hegu, Neiguan, and other acupoints. Before long, Chen Han's convulsions stopped.

Yu Yuhan removed the needles and examined Chen Han's body before finally letting out a breath of relief. Though his breathing rose and fell unevenly, it was mainly because he had exerted himself too much just now. He had already fallen into a deep sleep.

Against the epidemic's terrifying mortality rate, Chen Han was undoubtedly very fortunate—he recovered successfully. The pustular rash on his skin gradually shriveled and formed thick scabs, leaving scars behind after they fell away.