Chapter 173: Gathering Medicinal Herbs
The meat tumor on Man Zhi’s neck was healing well after surgery.
Jian Mo examined him carefully and told Xing Yi and the others, “Give it two more days. Once the wound heals, Man Zhi will be able to shift freely between his human and beast forms.”
Xing Yi asked, “Is it because we’re worried the stitches on his neck might tear?”
Jian Mo nodded. “Yes, shifting forms now could reopen the wound and cause severe bleeding.”
Man Zhi, lying on the ground as they examined his wound, immediately said, “I promise I won’t shift until you give me the green light, Jian Mo.”
Jian Mo patted him with a smile. “You’re in great shape. From my experience, it should take only three or four days to heal enough. It won’t be long.”
Man Zhi beamed. “That’s great news.”
With Man Zhi recovering steadily, everyone had confidence in Jian Mo’s medical skills.
Jian Mo quickly performed surgeries on other patients, and their recoveries went smoothly, often leaving them in better shape than before. His reputation spread, and patients from over ten surrounding tribes came seeking his help.
Even though Xing Yi was present, many of these patients had particularly complex conditions. Some Jian Mo couldn’t treat, even after collaborating with Xing Yi. For cases where both of them were stumped, they had no choice but to set the problems aside temporarily.
Nonetheless, their joint efforts significantly reduced the number of ailing individuals in the region.
What surprised everyone the most was that Jian Mo could treat dental issues.
Toothaches, long endured by many, had caused immense suffering. Upon learning that Jian Mo could treat them, patients traveled great distances, elated to finally have relief from their pain.
Thanks to his skill in treating teeth, Jian Mo’s supplies not only remained plentiful but were replenished with various new resources. From metal pieces to fabric and food, he received an abundance of gifts.
In private, Jian Mo said to Wu Jiong, “Thank goodness we brought enough anesthetics and glue. Otherwise, we might’ve had to make a long trip back to the tribe for resupply.”
Wu Jiong replied, “Even if we had to return, it wouldn’t be a problem. I could ride Ying Ao back to the tribe, and it would give me a chance to check in with everyone.”
Jian Mo glanced at him. “But I don’t want to be apart from you.”
Wu Jiong didn’t respond, simply wrapping an arm around Jian Mo and planting a kiss on his beast ear.
Since Jian Mo was still undergoing his second development, Xing Yi also prescribed supplements for him.
Regarding Jian Mo’s unique condition, Xing Yi reassured him, “This is rather rare, but it’s not really a medical issue. There’s no urgent treatment needed. Just eat well, and your development will gradually catch up.”
“I understand. I’m not in a rush,” Jian Mo replied.
Xing Yi patted him gently on the shoulder, clearly fond of the young healer who had come from so far away.
Jian Mo and his companions continued staying at the Star Yi Tribe.
The tribe welcomed them warmly. The chief even arranged for them to move into a larger, newly vacated house.
With his patients recovering well and Fen Hui gaining weight under Xing Yi’s care, Jian Mo immersed himself in daily exchanges of medical knowledge with Xing Yi and Xing Jiu. He diligently recorded everything he learned.
The paper and brushes Jian Mo brought also fascinated Xing Yi, who offered to trade for a stack of paper and ink. Jian Mo originally planned to gift them, but Xing Yi insisted on an exchange. In the end, Jian Mo half-traded and half-gifted a generous supply of writing materials.
One day, Xing Jiu approached Jian Mo. “The autumn winds are picking up. We need to gather a type of seaweed used to treat skin conditions like rashes. Want to join us?”
Jian Mo’s interest was piqued. “Absolutely!”
Xing Jiu added, “The seaweed is a bit tricky to collect—it grows on fish.”
Jian Mo blinked in surprise. “On fish? How does that work?”
Xing Jiu gave a mysterious smile. “You’ll see when we get there.”
He quickly gathered a group of beastmen for the trip.
The tanned beastmen greeted them cheerfully, flashing white grins. “Doctor Jian Mo, Chief Wu Jiong.”
“Hello,” Jian Mo replied warmly.
After introductions, Xing Jiu urged them to set out promptly.
The beastmen shifted into their animal forms, carrying packs and giving rides to the sub-beastmen. Together, they sprinted toward the sea.
The Star Yi Tribe wasn’t far from the coast, but they needed to cross a mountain to reach it.
After some running, they finally arrived.
Though the weather wasn’t cold, the sea water was already chilly. Jian Mo dipped his toes in, only to shiver from the sharp cold.
Noticing this, Xing Jiu asked, “Can you all swim?”
“Of course! Everyone in my family can swim—even Chirpy and Ying Ao. They’re excellent swimmers,” Jian Mo boasted.
“That’s a shame they’re not here today. I’d love to see that,” Xing Jiu said, laughing.
“They’ll join us tomorrow,” Jian Mo promised.
Xing Jiu pointed toward the sea and explained, “We’re heading to that bay up ahead. Once there, we’ll call the fish over and gather the seaweed from their bodies.”
“Got it. Lead the way,” Jian Mo said, intrigued.
The group continued running, eventually reaching a rocky islet.
The bay ahead was filled with deep, clear water.
Following Xing Jiu’s instructions, one of the beastmen climbed a tall rock and pulled out a bone instrument. Standing on the rock, he began to play.
The instrument emitted deep, resonant, and ethereal notes reminiscent of a whale’s song.
Hearing such an unusual sound for the first time, Jian Mo couldn’t help but gaze at the instrument with fascination.
As the melody echoed over the water, they waited patiently on the reef.
Eventually, faint, similar sounds responded from the sea.
Jian Mo, excited, asked, “Was that the fish calling back?”
Xing Jiu chuckled. “Yes, it’s a type of large fish.”
The beastman continued to play the bone instrument, and gradually, a school of large fish swam toward the sound, entering the bay.
The fish moved leisurely within the bay, appearing very relaxed.
Xing Jiu observed them and said, “We’ll need to dive into the water to collect the seaweed growing on these fish. Since you two haven’t done this before, you can watch from the shore.”
Jian Mo and Wu Jiong decided not to force themselves. “Alright, we’ll observe first.”
Xing Jiu and his group dove into the water, swimming toward the large fish.
The fish were extraordinarily docile, neither avoiding nor attacking, allowing the group to approach them with ease.
Once near the fish, the group used tools resembling scrapers to carefully remove seaweed clinging to the fish’s bodies. If there was debris or other items stuck to the fish, they removed that as well.
Watching from the shore, Jian Mo felt they looked like practitioners of a reverse fish spa.
Typically, fish nibble at human debris during a spa. This time, however, the roles were reversed as the group cleaned the fish.
The role reversal was both amusing and endearing.
Jian Mo remarked to Wu Jiong, “It looks fun. Why don’t we give it a try too?”
Wu Jiong held onto Jian Mo’s arm. “Let’s wait until they’re back and ask if there’s anything we should be cautious about.”
Due to their robust constitutions, the beastmen and sub-beastmen could hold their breath far longer than average humans. They stayed underwater for six or seven minutes before surfacing for air.
Jian Mo called out from the reef, “How’s it going?”
Wiping water off his face, Xing Jiu replied with a grin, “Great! This is what we’re used to doing.”
Jian Mo asked, “Can we join in too?”
“Of course,” Xing Jiu said. “Stretch out and warm up a bit first. The water here is calm, and with us watching, there shouldn’t be any problems.”
Jian Mo laughed. “Alright, here we go!”
Since no one else was removing their clothing to enter the water, Jian Mo and Wu Jiong didn’t either. They adjusted their carrying baskets, found a good spot, and jumped into the sea.
The seawater felt noticeably different from other bodies of water, with a distinct buoyancy.
Surprisingly, it wasn’t as cold as Jian Mo had anticipated.
Recalling his experiences swimming in the frigid, snowmelt-fed waters of the Xue Jiao Tribe, Jian Mo found this much more manageable.
Swimming steadily, he made his way toward Xing Jiu’s group, with Wu Jiong following close behind.
When they reached the large fish swimming below, Jian Mo couldn’t help but marvel. “These fish look a lot like River Qin fish.”
Xing Jiu perked up. “You’ve seen River Qin fish?”
“Of course,” Jian Mo said. “When we went looking for chili peppers, we encountered them at a tribe called the Shang Meng Tribe. One of their River Qin fish had trouble giving birth, and I helped deliver the baby.”
Xing Jiu chuckled. “Is there anything you don’t know?”
Jian Mo grinned. “The more you see, the more you learn. Assisting a River Qin fish during birth isn’t that stressful. I’ve treated many animals; the pressure is far less compared to treating beastmen and sub-beastmen. I can even try riskier methods when needed.”
Xing Jiu nodded in agreement. “That’s true. Treating beastmen and sub-beastmen often requires playing it safe, avoiding aggressive techniques.”
As they talked, Xing Jiu gradually guided them into the water, ensuring they adjusted well to the environment. He then motioned for them to dive below the surface. “Get close to the fish and scrape the seaweed off their bodies. Don’t worry about making mistakes; we can sort everything out onshore.”
Both Jian Mo and Wu Jiong nodded, ready to give it a try.
Diving beneath the waves was initially challenging, especially for novices. Fortunately, their experience swimming in rivers and lakes helped them adapt quickly, and they successfully submerged.
Xing Jiu led the way, occasionally glancing back to ensure they were doing fine. Seeing that they’d adjusted well, he brought them to a calm, gentle fish.
The large fish turned its head to glance at them, showing no aggression.
Underwater, Xing Jiu demonstrated how to use the scraper to clean the fish’s body. After watching twice, Jian Mo and Wu Jiong got the hang of it, with Wu Jiong excelling in both speed and precision.
The task was physically demanding, requiring frequent resurfacing for air, but it was a unique experience. Despite the fatigue, they thoroughly enjoyed it.
At one point, a fish seemed so pleased with the cleaning that it flipped onto its back, exposing its belly while letting out a playful, drawn-out sound.
Jian Mo couldn’t resist petting the fish’s belly, finding it surprisingly soft.
The fish seemed delighted, twisting and swaying under their hands as if playfully interacting.
However, the cold water eventually necessitated breaks. After a while, they returned to the shore to warm up, eat, and sort the seaweed they had collected.
Xing Jiu sorted through the haul, explaining to Jian Mo and Wu Jiong the types of seaweed they’d gathered and which ones were medicinal.
Jian Mo took meticulous notes, writing everything down in his notebook.
After finishing, Jian Mo shared, “I once treated a beastman with a severe skin condition. It took a long time to heal, and even now, the fur in the affected area grows sparsely.”
He described the condition: “The patches were extremely smooth, especially on his scalp. At first, I thought it was just hair loss, but I discovered similar patches on his body.”
Xing Jiu pondered. “That sounds like oily eczema. Seaweed isn’t very effective for that. You’d need Black Blade Grass and White Clay. When you return, I’ll pack some for you.”
Jian Mo was thrilled. “That’s perfect. The poor guy is still dealing with bald spots. It’s been rough for him.”
Xing Jiu laughed. “Bald spots aren’t too bad. At least oily eczema doesn’t itch or hurt. There’s another type, tumor eczema, that’s painful, itchy, and causes bald patches—a real nightmare.”
Jian Mo leaned in eagerly. “You have to teach me how to treat tumor eczema!”
Thank you for the chapterrrr ??