Under Jian Mo’s meticulous care, Bei Ya soon regained consciousness.
The first thing Bei Ya did upon waking was instinctively reach for the wound on his face. Jian Mo, quick to react, grabbed his hands and said, “Don’t touch it; it could get infected.”
Bei Ya stared intently at Jian Mo. “The wound on my face—”
Jian Mo reassured him, “You’ve had surgery. It’s a bit better than before. Would you like to take a look?”
Bei Ya pressed his lips together, his eyes brimming with hope.
Jian Mo observed him carefully, gauging his emotional state.
After a moment, Jian Mo handed him a mirror. “Take a look.”
The mirror was handcrafted from polished metal, slightly less clear than modern ones but far better than using water to check one’s reflection. Although their tribe had glass mirrors, those were too fragile to carry on long journeys.
Bei Ya hesitated as he held the mirror, then slowly lifted it to his face.
The mirror reflected his face clearly, scars and all.
Jian Mo said, “The surgery was a success; it should heal well. We’ve gathered Redstone Grass. Once the wound stops oozing, I’ll apply it for you. In the meantime, I’ll also make some tension-reducing patches to help.”
Bei Ya’s eyes reddened with emotion.
Jian Mo handed him a clean cloth with a gentle smile. “Don’t cry; it might dirty the wound and cause inflammation.”
Bei Ya nodded, tears streaming uncontrollably. “Thank you, Doctor Jian Mo.”
Jian Mo replied calmly, “No need to thank me. For the next couple of days, try not to speak or make any expressions.”
Bei Ya nodded fervently, pursing his lips and dabbing his tears with the cloth.
Even as they talked, Bei Ya couldn’t resist looking at the mirror repeatedly. Though his current appearance was far from what it had been before the injury, it was a massive improvement from the scar-covered state he had gotten used to.
He had never imagined his face could be smooth and refined again.
Performing the surgery on Bei Ya had taken up so much time that they couldn’t make it to another tribe that day. After a brief discussion, they decided to camp in the wild by the riverside for convenience.
The Meng An Tribe members also stayed behind.
Jian Mo and Wu Jiong personally rode Chirpy back into the mountains to gather familiar tree bark. Stripping off the inner layer, Jian Mo planned to use it for making the tension-reducing patches.
The patches functioned like adhesive bandages. Delicate areas like facial skin were especially prone to widening scars as wounds healed, due to tension on the surrounding skin. The patches helped pull the skin together, reducing the stress on the wound and preventing scar tissue from overgrowing.
Once protein sutures began absorbing into the skin, it was the right time to apply the patches. They would remain until the new tissue could withstand surrounding tensions.
Knowing how much Bei Ya cared about his appearance, Jian Mo wanted to ensure his recovery was as perfect as possible.
Jian Mo had brought along some boiled adhesive but not in large quantities. Never having tested it on human skin before, he was cautious about potential allergies. Concerned about the tenderness of facial skin, he first applied the adhesive to tree bark and attached it to his own arm for testing.
Wu Jiong watched his actions and stepped forward, offering his arm instead. “Let me try.”
Jian Mo smiled warmly. “I’ll do it myself. I need to experience the process to see if there’s anything that needs adjusting.”
Wu Jiong relented but remained watchful. “Let me know immediately if you feel discomfort.”
“I wouldn’t take risks with my own body,” Jian Mo assured him.
Wu Jiong leaned in, nudging his forehead against Jian Mo’s in a silent gesture of support.
While they were busy, others cooked dinner and brought portions over, including meals for the two Tou Tou Beasts.
Despite Jian Mo often teasing Chirpy about being overweight, the creature’s constant flights had actually slimmed it down on this journey. Ying Ao, the other beast, was self-reliant, always managing to hunt and forage enough to stay well-fed.
It even seemed to take joy in fussing over Chirpy, despite protests. Jian Mo decided to let them sort out their dynamics without interference.
Everyone was exhausted that evening. After setting up the camp, they quickly settled down and drifted to sleep among their respective groups. The sound of snores soon filled the air.
Bei Ya lay beside his companions, staring at the stars for a long time before finally closing his eyes.
The next morning, Jian Mo’s first thought upon waking was to check the bark patch on his arm. Despite wearing it overnight, the patch remained smooth and cool, with no discomfort or redness.
He touched it, delighted by its effectiveness.
Wu Jiong approached, inspecting the patch with a finger. “The adhesive hardened.”
“It’s expected with bio-glue,” Jian Mo explained. “It stiffens once dried, but it works. The challenge is removing it.”
“Peel it off directly?” Wu Jiong suggested.
Jian Mo shook his head. “I’ll try alcohol first. If that doesn’t work, oil. Worst case, I’ll soak it in hot water. Pulling it off might tear the skin.”
Wu Jiong fetched alcohol and dabbed some on a clean cloth, rubbing it against the patch. It worked almost immediately, dissolving the adhesive without any need for harsher methods.
Pleased with the results, Jian Mo resolved to use this method for Bei Ya’s treatment.
Jian Mo’s arm remained smooth and pale, showing no signs of redness, swelling, or blistering—barely even leaving a mark.
Having confirmed the method’s effectiveness, Jian Mo brought the remaining tree bark and glue to Bei Ya. “I’ve prepared the tension-reducing patches. We’ll be traveling soon, so let’s apply them now to avoid complications on the road.”
Bei Ya nodded obediently and sat before Jian Mo, cooperating fully.
Jian Mo asked for an extra clay pot, started a small fire nearby, and began melting the adhesive with a water bath. While the glue melted, he carefully used scissors to trim the tree bark to match the contours of the wounds on Bei Ya’s face.
The patches needed to be of precise lengths and widths, tailored to suit each wound perfectly. This required meticulous preparation.
None of the others had seen anything like what Jian Mo was making. Though curious, no one came over to watch. Everyone tacitly continued with their tasks, treating Bei Ya as an ordinary person. Even the typically boisterous younger beastmen were unusually considerate today.
Bei Ya sat silently, his face tilted up.
Jian Mo worked gently on his face and soon finished applying the tension-reducing patches. With so many wounds on Bei Ya’s face, the patches ended up covering about 70% of his skin. While they would make eating and speaking inconvenient, Bei Ya didn’t seem to mind.
The patches wouldn’t need replacing as long as they stayed clean, adhered well, and caused no allergic reactions. Frequent replacement risked tearing the wounds again, given the adhesive nature of the patches.
Jian Mo examined Bei Ya’s face carefully. “That’s it for now. Once you’re back, make sure to rest and keep your diet light. Try to stay in good spirits. The patches should last seven to ten days. If they don’t fall off, leave them alone. If they do, it’s fine to ignore them.”
The healing abilities of beastmen and sub-beastmen were remarkable. For them, wounds typically healed significantly in three days, making the patches unnecessary after seven to ten days. Humans, however, would need to wear them for two to three weeks.
Bei Ya nodded.
Jian Mo smiled. “Take good care of yourself. Once the patches fall off, we should be back at the He’an Tribe by then. You should come by for a follow-up check.”
Jian Mo then handed Bei Ya a basket of Redstone Grass. “The others helped find this for you. It’s known to reduce scarring. Once the patches fall off, you can mash the grass and apply it to your face. But if you notice redness or swelling, stop using it.”
He gave careful instructions, listing everything he could think of. Once satisfied that he hadn’t missed anything, Jian Mo smiled at Bei Ya. “Alright, rest up when you return.”
To Jian Mo’s surprise, Bei Ya grabbed his wrist. “I want to go with you.”
Jian Mo blinked. “The journey will be tiring; it might not be good for your recovery.”
Bei Ya insisted, “If I’m with you, nothing will go wrong.”
Understanding his reasoning, Jian Mo pondered. Bei Ya would indeed be safer under his watch, allowing them to respond quickly to any issues. However, Jian Mo wasn’t the group’s leader; the decision wasn’t his alone to make.
Yun Long, already paying attention, stepped forward upon catching Jian Mo’s pleading glance. “He can come, but someone will need to carry him.”
One of the Meng An Tribe’s beastmen immediately volunteered. “I’ll stay back and accompany Bei Ya if that’s alright.”
Other members of the Meng An Tribe chimed in. “We’ve brought food and can keep up easily. We won’t be a burden.”
The ever-helpful Chief Yandun added, “I think it’s better if Bei Ya stays with us. With such severe injuries, it’s more reassuring for him to remain under Doctor Jian Mo’s care.”
Since no one objected, Jian Mo smiled. “Alright, let’s have him come along.”
To protect Bei Ya’s wounds, Jian Mo found him a wide-brimmed hat and clean cloth. He instructed Bei Ya to wear the hat and drape the cloth over his face to shield it from sunlight.
For Bei Ya, avoiding sunlight was the top priority. Despite the heat, he diligently followed Jian Mo’s advice, wrapping himself tightly.
The Meng An Tribe members headed back to report to their people, ensuring the tribe wouldn’t worry. Jian Mo’s caravan resumed its planned route, setting off toward the Snowfoot Tribe.
The original plan was to reach the Snowfoot Tribe in one day. However, the day’s delays meant they arrived a day late but earlier than expected in the afternoon.
The Snowfoot Tribe, situated at the foot of a snowy mountain, was near a massive lake with turquoise waters. The striking scenery of the lake and snow-capped peaks was breathtaking.
Unlike other tribes, the Snowfoot Tribe’s houses resembled stilted buildings, likely due to the damp, chilly environment. Raising their homes above the ground kept them dry and comfortable.
The view was unfamiliar, but the people waiting inside were not. Members of the Yu Qi tribe and Bai Zhi Tribe had heard Jian Mo’s caravan was coming and had gathered here to wait for them.
However, the two tribes still didn’t get along. Upon seeing Jian Mo, they immediately started arguing, each insisting Jian Mo should visit their tribe, not the other’s.
Their young members quarreled openly.
The Yu Qi tribe members taunted, “Why would anyone visit your place? You don’t even have proper houses, just nests!”
The Bai Zhi Tribe glared back, puffing their chests. “At least we don’t shed fur everywhere!”
Yu Qi tribe: “Your food is disgusting—just bugs and berries!”
Bai Zhi Tribe: “But you shed fur!”
Yu Qi tribe: “And your people have a history of pooping on heads.”
The Bai Zhi Tribe members huffed angrily, their feathers ruffling. “That’s ancient history! But you’re shedding fur right now!”
Turning to Jian Mo, the Bai Zhi Tribe protested, “Doctor Jian Mo, surely you wouldn’t want to visit them and end up with a mouthful of fur?”
