Modern Medicine

Azan Castle's supply caravan came and went in a hurry.

They had originally planned to stay in the city for two days and enjoy themselves.

But after what had happened, Lin Ke's mother was no longer in the mood for sightseeing.

Neither was Lin Ke. He had no desire to wander around; instead, he kept thinking about the guards, eager to bolster his fighting strength.

Perhaps it was the fear of insufficient firepower he had carried over from his previous life.

So the servants in the supply party quickly and methodically finished their purchases and headed home, drawing on their years of experience.

That night, the grounds outside the castle were brightly lit.

"A Rabbitfolk? Hah. A weak, short-lived race. Perhaps you should find yourself another follower."

That was the first wife's assessment, vicious and harsh.

Having delivered her verdict, she turned and went upstairs, ostensibly to keep her dear friend company.

Nix clenched his fists, but did not lash out. Instead, he quietly followed behind Lin Ke.

Lin Ke could not be bothered with the first wife.

"Young master, may I put this Rabbitfolk follower in the room next to John's?" Steward Billy always concerned himself with practical matters, though he seemed ill, his face rather pale.

"Yes, that's fine." Lin Ke nodded, then asked with concern, "Uncle Billy, are you sick?"

Billy shook his head. "No, something struck me in the chest a couple of days ago. It just hurts a little. Cough, cough, cough..."

As he spoke, Billy coughed several times.

Lin Ke immediately stepped forward and rubbed Billy's chest. Billy was delighted, but still gently eased Lin Ke away. "Young master, about the compensation for the wounded guards..."

Lin Ke nodded. "Yes, they must receive what I promised. John knows about that."

Then Lin Ke pointed upstairs. "Uncle Billy, remember to take good care of my mother. Make her a cup of lucky flower tea. She had quite a fright this time."

Lucky flowers were small blossoms that soothed the nerves and helped people sleep.

After saying that, Lin Ke sent John into the castle with Steward Billy to handle the arrangements for the guards.

A steward's duties often encompassed accounting, household management, diplomacy, purchasing, and much more.

John still had a great deal to learn from Billy. After all, once Lin Ke became Viscount Azan, John would be his steward.

Lin Ke turned to Nix. "Nix, you did the right thing just now. There are plenty of times when you can't just say whatever you like."

On the journey home, Lin Ke had given Nix a general explanation of life at the castle, which was why Nix had managed to endure the first wife's venomous tongue.

Otherwise, according to Nix, dueling was quite common in his tribe-or rather, in all the tribes south of the Great Swamp.

Without Lin Ke there today, Nix, who was only four months old, probably would have had to learn how to duel.

Fortunately, Nix understood that human society was complicated, far, far, far more complicated than tribal relationships.

He would have to keep learning, little by little.

"Come on, Nix. Let's go visit the wounded." Lin Ke headed for the castle's ground floor, taking Nix with him.

Nix followed, still rather bewildered.

"It's... so... so big inside!" Nix could not help exclaiming as he entered the castle.

"Don't you know any other adjectives?" Lin Ke chuckled.

Even before they reached the castle, while it was still far in the distance, Nix had been full of admiration. But his descriptions were limited to things like "so big" and "so pretty."

Even the words he had used earlier to swear his allegiance were simply something every Rabbitfolk in his tribe had to learn at two months old.

After all, the Rabbitfolk's potential was so limited that almost everyone who left tribal life behind to travel or adventure had to find someone powerful to rely on. Learning the oath of allegiance was therefore very important.

"What's an adjective?" Nix looked rather clueless, with none of the decisiveness and composure he had shown at noon.

Lin Ke smiled without explaining. "You'll find out someday."

He walked on. Nix scratched his head, his two long ears swaying above it, then hurried after him.

The guards lived on the castle's ground floor. However, the castle had no such thing as an infirmary, so the wounded all slept in the communal dormitory.

The air inside was damp, thick with the smell of mold, sweat, stinking feet, and even urine!

Lin Ke frowned the moment he stepped inside. The stench was overpowering!

Even Nix's upright ears drooped. He covered his nose and said nothing.

Thirty bed frames stood before them, the room's full capacity, and all of them were bunks.

Each had three wooden sleeping platforms stacked from bottom to top, reaching all the way to the ceiling!

The bedding looked grimy and blackened. Who knew how long it had been since it was washed? Even in the dim firelight, mold was visible.

It looks like I'll have to pay more attention to the servants' living conditions once I have the means... Lin Ke sighed inwardly.

Anyone who had lived through the prosperity of his previous world would have sighed at these prison-like conditions.

And the slaves here lived in even worse conditions than the guards.

Only with strong, healthy bodies could they do more for him!

"It looks like this place needs renovating. Or we could simply put up a shelter outside," Lin Ke said without thinking.

Steward Billy and John often accompanied him, and would usually ask thoughtful questions such as "Shall we build it now?" or "How many do you need?" so they could carry out his wishes.

But the one following him now was Nix, who asked curiously, "Why?"

Lin Ke continued without thinking. "Because the air doesn't circulate here, and it's warm and damp. That makes it easy for bacteria to grow. Even healthy people would be more likely to fall ill here, and if they're wounded, their wounds are even more likely to become infected."

Nix looked at Lin Ke with admiration. "Mr. Lin Ke, you know so much!"

Lin Ke said nothing. This was all just common knowledge in modern medicine, much like boiling untreated water before drinking it.

But...

Did this world even have modern medicine?

At that thought, Lin Ke looked at Nix with interest, particularly as he studied his body from head to toe.

The Rabbitfolk here had much in common with the rabbits of his previous life, such as their love of cleanliness.

Although Nix had just been through an ordeal of fleeing for his life, his fur was still white.

"Would you like to learn? Some ways to treat other people, I mean. If you do, come with me tomorrow, and I'll teach you," Lin Ke asked tentatively.

Modern medicine!

As far as Lin Ke knew, this world only had people resembling priests and witch doctors, much like the practitioners of early Chinese medicine in the ancient days of his previous world.

Moreover, they relied primarily on mysterious powers-in other words, the powers of Professionals.

For instance, when he was little, his mother had once knelt outside a witch doctor's door for an entire day and night for his sake. Only when she fainted did she move a witch doctor enough to treat Lin Ke.

That was also why Lin Ke had gradually moved on from his previous life and come to accept his mother.

Then again, thinking about it now, that witch doctor might have been a Professional too!

"Learn? Learn from Mr. Lin Ke? Yes! Healing and helping other people! Yes!"

Nix was excited at first, but then he seemed to touch on something painful, and tears suddenly streamed down his face again. "My mother died of an illness last year. Our tribe's only [Witch Doctor] was away at the time. Boohoo..."

"May she return to the embrace of your ancestors." Lin Ke patted Nix's shoulder helplessly and said no more.

His thoughts were on medicine now. If he could bring modern medicine to this world, perhaps he really could reduce the number of deaths caused by illness, injury, and disability.

For a well-trained soldier to survive the battlefield only to die of a cold would be utterly fucked up.

"Then they'll just have to make do for tonight." Lin Ke led Nix out of the foul-smelling room.

The servants and guards were still outside moving supplies and had not returned. It was already rather late, so they would have to wait until tomorrow to put together a simple place for the wounded to stay.

There were plenty of hands, anyway, and it did not need to be elaborate. A basic shelter would do.

"Come on, Nix. Oh, and you're sure you're interested in medicine?"

"Yes, sir."

P.S. Please give me a few monthly votes and recommendation votes. This kid hasn't had any votes to eat for three days. Pretty please~