The news of Jian Mo’s new medicine spread far and wide, drawing groups of people to seek his help.
While treating boils was one reason, most visitors were curious about how the He’an Tribe had developed and wanted to exchange goods during their visit.
In this era of gathering, people weren’t overly busy and could always find time to watch and engage in such activities.
One afternoon, Jian Mo returned from gathering food, and a patrolling beastman informed him that a group from the Xiong Ying Tribe had arrived to seek treatment for boils. They were waiting for him at the small clinic.
When Jian Mo arrived at the clinic, he found it bustling with people.
Ban Ming sat at the center of the crowd, enthusiastically introducing the He’an Tribe to the visitors. His partner, Ah Meng, sat across from him. The two exchanged a few words and shared smiles, their joy undiminished even by the teasing of those around them.
Jian Mo knocked on the door as he entered, breaking their reverie.
Ban Ming cheerfully introduced the visitors. “Brother Jian Mo, Ah Meng, and his people came to see you about treating boils.”
Jian Mo nodded. “No problem. Who needs treatment?”
A beastman stepped forward from the crowd. “I do.”
Jian Mo asked, “Let me see. Where are the boils?”
“On my back,” the beastman replied. “Doctor Jian Mo, what’s the payment for treatment now?”
After asking him to remove his robe, Jian Mo carefully examined the boils. “For boils, there’s no charge. Just let me know how the treatment works for you afterward.”
The boils on the beastman’s back were quite large. He grimaced as Jian Mo pressed around the area. “Thank you, Doctor Jian Mo,” he said through gritted teeth.
“You’re welcome,” Jian Mo replied. “This is just a common boil. I’ll give you a tube of medicinal oil to apply. Come back in two days for a follow-up.”
The medicinal oil, extracted from Spring Thunder Bulbs, contained effective components but wasn’t as harsh as using the bulbs with white clay alone.
Jian Mo found the oil effective, but he relied on patient feedback for a proper evaluation.
After applying the medication, Jian Mo told the beastman, “You’re good to go. Just follow the instructions.”
As the beastman dressed, he asked, “Doctor Jian Mo, a friend of mine from a neighboring tribe has a festering paw injury. Could he come to you for treatment?”
Jian Mo, putting away his tools, asked, “How did it get infected? Was it an illness or an injury?”
The beastman wasn’t sure. “Probably an injury? I know he got hurt, but I didn’t ask for details.”
Jian Mo said, “Tell him to come see me. I’ll need to examine it before I know if I can help.”
“Alright, I’ll let him know,” the beastman replied.
Jian Mo didn’t dwell on it. Many sought his advice, but some never returned, possibly recovering on their own, seeking help elsewhere, or simply adapting to their ailments.
His routine remained unchanged: most days were spent gathering with others, and occasionally, he and Wu Jiong went out alone.
At times, Jian Mo sought advice from Ye Luo and collected herbs outside.
It wasn’t until he had nearly forgotten about the beastman with the infected paw that the man arrived with his tribesmate.
The beastman introduced himself. “Doctor Jian Mo, my name is Ru Da. I’m a beastman from the Hai Zuo Tribe. Jiu Heng told me to come see you.”
It took Jian Mo a moment to remember who Jiu Heng was. Upon hearing he was a beastman from the Xiong Ying Tribe, Jian Mo realized. “You’re the one with the paw injury?”
Ru Da smiled bitterly. “Yes, that’s me.”
Jian Mo said, “Let me take a look. Which paw is it? Can you shift to your beast form?”
Ru Da shook his head. “It’s too painful. Can I stay in human form? The injury is on my right hind paw—my right foot.”
“Alright, let me see,” Jian Mo said.
Ru Da removed his leather sandal in front of Jian Mo, revealing a blackened big toe. The skin around the nail had shriveled, exposing pus beneath.
Aside from the discoloration, a foul odor emanated from the wound—it wasn’t looking good.
Jian Mo said, “Wait a moment. Let me examine it thoroughly.”
Ru Da nodded hurriedly. “Thank you, Doctor Jian Mo.”
Jian Mo donned a mask and gloves, fetched some saline solution for disinfection, and began his examination. Though saline wasn’t ideal, it worked well enough for surface cleaning without causing much pain.
He observed Ru Da’s expression as he worked, moving quickly and gently.
Upon inspection, Jian Mo concluded that the nail bed was necrotic.
He explained, “In this situation, we may need to remove the nail, clear out the pus, and let a new nail grow.”
Ru Da inhaled sharply. “You mean you’ll remove it?”
Jian Mo used tweezers to tap the toe gently. “The surrounding tissue has shriveled, and the pus is severe. There’s no other way. If we don’t remove it, the infection might persist or even spread, affecting the whole foot.”
Ru Da grimaced. “The experienced elders in my tribe also suggested removing it, but the pain scares me. I couldn’t bring myself to do it.”
Jian Mo reassured him. “I have an anesthetic. It should make the process much easier.”
Ru Da asked, “What’s anesthetic?”
Jian Mo explained, “It’s something you drink that makes you fall asleep. Once you’re deeply asleep, I’ll remove the nail, clean out the pus, disinfect the wound, and you’ll wake up with much less pain.”
Ru Da exchanged nervous glances with his tribesmate, both looking uneasy.
Seeing their hesitation, Jian Mo added, “Think it over. Call me when you decide.”
Ru Da quickly said, “Do it! Doctor Jian Mo, please help me. I’ve made up my mind.”
“Alright,” Jian Mo replied. “Let me explain the procedure and possible risks first.”
He thoroughly explained the steps and potential consequences to Ru Da and his tribesmate. Jian Mo emphasized that they needed to accept the worst-case scenario to avoid any future disputes or conflicts between the tribes.
Having endured the festering injury for so long, Ru Da finally agreed to the plan. In front of his companion, he promised not to hold Jian Mo accountable, no matter what happened.
Ru Da took a deep breath and said, “I can’t take this anymore. Even if it kills me, I want this toe fixed.”
Jian Mo, noting Ru Da’s fear, reassured him, “It’s not as bad as it sounds. I just have to warn you about the worst-case scenario. Complications are rare.”
Ru Da gave a pained smile that was almost a grimace. “Then I’ll trouble you, Doctor Jian Mo.”
Jian Mo replied, “No need to delay. Let’s prepare and do it today.”
He called Wu Jiong for assistance, and soon Ru Da was put under with anesthetic.
Nail removal was a minor surgical procedure, something Jian Mo had performed on small cats and dogs back on Earth. There, local anesthesia would suffice.
However, without injectable anesthetics here, Jian Mo could only let Ru Da sleep through the procedure before treating his toe.
Despite the constraints, Jian Mo efficiently completed the operation in just over ten minutes. He carefully separated the nail from the bed, removing the entire nail intact. Then, he cleaned out the pus and bandaged the wound.
Normally, medicine would be applied, but Jian Mo didn’t have suitable drugs on hand.
The risks of using herbs on such a large wound were too high, so Jian Mo had to rely on Ru Da’s immune system to do the work.
While topical treatment wasn’t an option, he prescribed herbal tea with anti-inflammatory properties, confident that the minor surgery would likely pose no issues.
Ru Da didn’t wake up until the evening, with his companion by his side the entire time.
Upon waking, his companion immediately went to fetch Jian Mo as instructed.
Jian Mo dressed and, accompanied by Wu Jiong, went to check on Ru Da.
As soon as they met, Ru Da wiggled his toe and exclaimed, “Doctor Jian Mo, my toe feels so much better! It doesn’t hurt at all to bend it now.”
Jian Mo warned, “That’s because the pus is no longer pressing on it. Don’t move it for now.”
Ru Da grinned sheepishly. “Got it.”
After examining the toe, Jian Mo said, “It looks good. This wasn’t a major issue, so there’s nothing to worry about.”
Ru Da laughed nervously. “But you scared me before removing the nail!”
Jian Mo replied, “I have to explain all the risks. If something unexpected happens, the consequences can be serious.”
Once the checkup was complete, Jian Mo said, “There shouldn’t be any problems now. Rest well here tonight, and I’ll check on you again in the morning. If anything happens during the night, you can come find me.”
Ru Da and his companion readily agreed.
The next morning, after Jian Mo finished washing up, his first task was to visit Ru Da.
Overnight, Ru Da’s condition had improved significantly, with no signs of inflammation or swelling around the toe.
Jian Mo wasn’t sure if the cool spring weather or the beastmen’s impressive healing abilities were responsible, but he was relieved to see Ru Da recovering so well.
With such good progress, Ru Da wouldn’t have to suffer much longer.
Ru Da, too, was delighted with his recovery. Having braced himself for the worst, he found the outcome far better than expected. The relief was incomparable to the pain he’d endured with the festering nail.
After repeatedly thanking Jian Mo, Ru Da asked excitedly, “Doctor Jian Mo, what can I offer you as payment?”
Jian Mo replied, “This was a minor issue. Just give me something equivalent to three rolls of fabric. It doesn’t have to be fabric—honestly, I’d prefer other items.”
“No problem,” Ru Da said. “I’ll ask my tribe to deliver it.”
“There’s no rush,” Jian Mo reassured him. “You can send it over once you’re fully recovered. You don’t need to stay here anymore. After drinking the herbal tea, you’re free to head back.”
Ru Da nodded firmly. “Thank you, Doctor Jian Mo!”
Feeling immensely relieved, Ru Da returned to his tribe. After only five days of rest, he came back to the He’an Tribe with his companion, bringing goods to thank Jian Mo.
“Doctor Jian Mo, I brought eggs and meat for you,” Ru Da said.
“Thank you. How’s your toe?” Jian Mo asked.
“It’s much better,” Ru Da replied proudly. “It’s even starting to grow a little nail.”
He opened the basket to show Jian Mo the eggs and meat. “This is Arrowbone Beast meat. It tastes great.”
Jian Mo recognized it immediately. They had caught Arrowbone Beasts with salted bait during the winter. “Aren’t Arrowbone Beasts particularly hard to catch?”
Grinning, Ru Da said, “I use traps. Once set up, I can catch them easily. Doctor Jian Mo, give it a try. If you like it, let me know, and I’ll send more over.”
“Thanks,” Jian Mo replied.
As he inspected the basket, Jian Mo noticed a small package wrapped in fabric beneath the eggs and meat.
Surprised, he looked up at Ru Da.
Ru Da smiled proudly. “I noticed you’ve been planting things by the river. I thought you might like this wild vegetable.”
Jian Mo examined the sesame-sized seeds. “Are these seeds for a wild vegetable?”
Ru Da nodded. “It’s a particularly tender one. When the shoots sprout, you can eat the young stems. They’re best harvested before the leaves turn green—lightly blanch them in hot water, and they’re delicious. Once they grow larger, they turn bitter and don’t taste as good.”
Hearing Ru Da’s detailed explanation, Jian Mo grew curious. “Do you plant crops in your tribe as well?”
“We do, but not as much as you do,” Ru Da replied. “We don’t fence off the land like you. We just plant things casually around our houses.”
“You only grow crops that taste good, right?” Jian Mo guessed.
Ru Da nodded.
Jian Mo thought for a moment and then asked, “Have you seen or eaten a crop with a distinctive fragrance?”
Jian Mo wanted to inquire about green onions. Spring was the prime season for them to grow, and he hoped to find something similar.
He rummaged around, found some charcoal and a wooden board, and quickly sketched a green onion. “This is what I’m looking for. We call it a scallion.”
