Jian Mo treasured his hard-earned green onions.
Seeing that the green onions still had roots, he picked a day to plant them, hoping they would take root and thrive in the He’an Tribe.
After planting the onions, he watered them twice. However, instead of seeing the leaves grow, he found bugs appearing.
Tiny black dots of insects covered the undersides of the leaves. Despite the little ones standing guard in the field daily, they couldn’t stop the infestation.
Jian Mo himself tried cleaning the leaves several times, only for the bugs to multiply.
Frustrated, Jian Mo complained to Wu Jiong, “Now I understand why no one wants to farm. These crops are nothing but trouble. Gathering food is so much easier—if you find something, you take it home; if not, you don’t stress about it.”
Wu Jiong’s warm hand gently squeezed the back of Jian Mo’s neck to comfort him. “We’ll figure something out.”
Jian Mo sighed. “What’s there to figure out? We can’t pluck the bugs off each leaf one by one.”
Wu Jiong nodded. “If there’s no other way, I’ll do it myself.”
The bugs were certainly annoying, but knowing Wu Jiong was willing to stand by him and take practical steps to help made Jian Mo feel much better.
Jian Mo nudged his head against Wu Jiong’s like a playful cub. “Let me think it over again.”
On the way home, Jian Mo kept brainstorming.
When he ran into Qing Kuo and Min Dang, they stopped to check on him after noticing his glum expression.
Qing Kuo asked, “Had a fight?”
Jian Mo waved it off. “No way. What would we even fight about?”
Qing Kuo laughed. “You scared me for a second. If you didn’t fight, why the long face? Did something happen?”
Jian Mo sighed. “The crops in my field have a problem. As soon as the weather warmed up, the leaves started getting infested with bugs.”
Realizing the issue, Qing Kuo said nonchalantly, “Our fields have bugs too. Just pluck the leaves off when they get bad.”
Jian Mo looked even more dejected. “I barely have any leaves to begin with. If I keep plucking them day after day, who knows if the plants will survive long enough to bear fruit.”
Qing Kuo shrugged. “If you don’t get anything, you don’t. Just forage outside. We’ll never truly run out of food.”
Jian Mo waved dismissively. “That won’t do. If I plant something and it yields nothing, that’s too much of a failure for me. I can’t accept that. I’ll figure something out.”
Qing Kuo and the others laughed. “If you come up with a solution, make sure to share it with us.”
“Don’t worry. I won’t leave you out,” Jian Mo assured.
Two days later, while sorting through medicinal plants at home, Jian Mo came across some spring thunder eggs. He froze for a moment and suddenly recalled the concept of pesticides.
Aside from conventional pesticides sold externally, there were also folk remedies using natural poisons.
Some toxic plants could harm not only humans but also insects and other small animals.
Spring thunder eggs caused the skin to ulcerate upon contact. Could they work as a pesticide?
Determined to try, Jian Mo took a few spring thunder eggs, crushed them with a stone, soaked them in water, and then sprinkled the mixture onto some of the crops.
If the spring thunder eggs were effective, the leaves would be free of pests in a couple of days.
He only experimented on a few plants to keep the test contained.
On the first day, nothing seemed to change—the leaves were still crawling with bugs. On the second day, the leaves looked a bit cleaner. By the third day, the pests were completely gone.
It seemed the poisonous spring thunder eggs could indeed be used as a pesticide!
Jian Mo was delighted and inspected the crops carefully.
Without the bugs, the leaves grew lush once more. The newly sprouted buds were especially plump and vibrant.
Excited, Jian Mo told Wu Jiong, “It really works!”
Wu Jiong responded, “Let’s gather more spring thunder eggs.”
Jian Mo immediately suggested, “Let’s take Qing Kuo and the others along. If everyone uses this pesticide, it’ll prevent pests from spreading.”
Wu Jiong agreed. “That sounds like a good plan.”
“I’ll go tell them right away!” Jian Mo exclaimed.
When Jian Mo explained the idea to Qing Kuo and the others, they were intrigued and quickly agreed to join in.
Since it was the season for spring thunder eggs, there were plenty in the wild. After a few days of searching, they gathered a large haul.
Everyone crushed the eggs, mixed them with water, and applied the homemade pesticide to their fields.
With the pesticide in use, pest infestations significantly decreased in both private and communal fields, and the crops grew vigorously.
It seemed the crops, once wild plants, were accustomed to harsh environments. Now transplanted into fields with ample water, fertilizer, and sunlight, they seized the opportunity to grow robustly.
Jian Mo gazed at the thriving crops in his field, a profound sense of accomplishment swelling within him.
Because spring thunder eggs were toxic, Jian Mo specifically warned the little ones not to approach the fields for now.
Not entirely reassured, he also informed the parents and asked Wu Jiong to pass the message to the patrolling beastmen.
Seeing his serious attitude, everyone took his warnings seriously and relayed them to the children, who obediently agreed.
Thankfully, the little ones had already captured and scared off many of the animals that used to wreak havoc in the fields, so the current wildlife disturbance was minimal.
As the weather warmed further, inter-tribal exchanges increased.
People from other tribes visited the He’an Tribe, and He’an Tribe members traveled to other tribes in turn.
One day, Qing Kuo and his group returned from the Meng Shui Tribe and sought out Jian Mo. “A highly skilled witch doctor has arrived at the Meng Shui Tribe. They’re interested in exchanging knowledge with you. Are you interested?”
This was Jian Mo’s first time hearing the term “witch doctor” in daily conversation. He confirmed, “You mean a priestly witch doctor?”
Qing Kuo looked puzzled. “What other kind of witch doctor is there?”
Jian Mo quickly clarified, “No, I was just curious since I’ve never heard about a witch doctor before.”
Qing Kuo nodded in understanding. “We rarely have witch doctors visit our region. But this one seems to be the real deal and appears decent. If you’re interested, we can invite them over. If not, just decline.”
Jian Mo thought for a moment. “I think it’s worth it. Shall we go to the Meng Shui Tribe to meet them?”
Since arriving here, Jian Mo hadn’t encountered anyone in the medical field. Occasionally, some individuals used family recipes to treat specific illnesses, but there was no established medical system.
He was curious about the witch doctor’s methods and eager to learn.
Qing Kuo, hearing Jian Mo’s interest, said, “I’ll send a message tomorrow and invite the witch doctor to visit us.”
Jian Mo hesitated. “Is it safe to have a witch doctor here? There are so many little ones in the tribe—”
The thought of a witch doctor unsettled Jian Mo. Though he had no experience with witch doctors, the term “witch” carried an air of mystique. Given the magical elements he had encountered since his transmigration, he felt a certain respect and apprehension.
Qing Kuo noticed Jian Mo’s tense expression and laughed. “A witch doctor is just a person. Don’t be so nervous. If there’s really any trouble, the chief could handle it with a single swipe—no lingering issues at all.”
Jian Mo chuckled awkwardly. “I’ve just never met one before.”
After the He’an Tribe sent a message, the witch doctor arrived the very next day, dusty from his journey.
The witch doctor was an elderly beastman with a face full of wrinkles but a remarkably energetic demeanor and a kind expression.
Witch doctors were typically sub-beastmen, so a beastman witch doctor was unusual. However, given the vast diversity of the beastman world, it wasn’t too surprising if some tribes preferred beastmen for the role.
Jian Mo and Wu Jiong welcomed the witch doctor, who introduced himself as Lian Ke, into their home.
As soon as Lian Ke saw Jian Mo, he exclaimed with excitement, “I’ve heard about you for a long time! Finally, I get to meet you!”
He seemed to have a very outgoing personality. Jian Mo smiled and replied, “Hello, and welcome to our Tribe.”
Lian Ke nodded enthusiastically and immediately asked, “Doctor Jian Mo, I heard you treat illnesses using herbs and tools, rarely relying on witchcraft?”
Jian Mo was curious about what exactly “witchcraft” entailed but nodded anyway. “That’s correct. I don’t use it.”
Lian Ke pressed further, “Without witchcraft, how do you treat patients?”
“Just with ordinary herbs,” Jian Mo said, subtly changing the topic. “We don’t deal much with witchcraft-related things here. Do you have a lot of it in your region?”
“Plenty!” Lian Ke exclaimed, pulling a large backpack in front of him. “During this trip, I collected many items rich in witchcraft energy. Look—”
He began taking out an assortment of bones, insects, bark, and beast teeth, spreading them haphazardly across the floor with pride.
The sight, combined with his grimy fingernails, gave Jian Mo goosebumps. “Do these really work?”
Lian Ke frowned. “Of course, they do! Take this beast tooth, for example. If you have a toothache, soak it in medicinal water and wear it on your body. In a few days, the pain will go away.”
Jian Mo eyed it skeptically. “Mind if I take a closer look?”
Considering the hardy constitutions of people in this world, minor issues like gum inflammation probably resolved on their own. The beast tooth might not be the real solution.
But then again, Jian Mo had never dealt with witch doctors before, so he couldn’t say for sure.
Lian Ke waved his hand generously. “Go ahead.”
Jian Mo examined the beast tooth carefully but couldn’t discern any secrets.
Lian Ke went on to introduce several other unique medicinal items, all of which were used by wearing them or burning them into ash for consumption.
Jian Mo suspected this was the beastman world’s version of zhuyou therapy—a type of psychosomatic treatment designed to instill positive suggestions and rely on the patient’s self-healing ability.
Back in college, the overlap between veterinary and human medicine didn’t include such methods, nor had he encountered them during his time as a pet doctor. But now that he thought about it, such approaches might have merit.
Psychological therapy could be quite effective in certain contexts. Perhaps he could incorporate it into his own treatment system to alleviate patient discomfort for conditions he couldn’t immediately resolve.
After showing off his items, Lian Ke asked Jian Mo expectantly, “Doctor Jian Mo, do you have any special medicinal ingredients here?”
Jian Mo did indeed, and he brought down various jars filled with medicinal herbs from upstairs. The collection included everything from internal medicines for detoxification and heat-clearing to external remedies for swelling and pain relief. He even had a few recipes specifically for treating abscesses and external injuries.
As Lian Ke inspected the herbs, he remarked in admiration, “I’ve heard of similar recipes before, but I didn’t expect to find them here. When applying these herbs to wounds, do you wrap them with cloth?”
Jian Mo nodded. “Yes, they need to be secured with a cloth over the wound.”
Lian Ke grinned proudly. “On my side, I can mix the medicinal liquid into a paste and apply it directly. It sticks firmly without needing any cloth.”
“A paste?” Jian Mo asked, intrigued.
Lian Ke retrieved a jar of dark, sticky ointment from his bag. “Yes, this kind of paste.”
Using a wooden sliver, he scooped out some ointment and smeared it onto his skin. The paste solidified quickly, forming a leathery layer that clung tightly to the surface.
Jian Mo’s eyes widened. “This is just like those traditional plaster remedies!”
He had looked into making such pastes before but had given up after failing to find certain ingredients like cinnabar. To think this witch doctor had access to similar materials!
Suppressing his excitement, Jian Mo asked, “Witch Doctor Lian Ke, may I examine your paste?”
Lian Ke handed him the jar without hesitation. “Feel free. This is my unique recipe. I’ve used it to treat countless patients since I developed it.”
Jian Mo carefully inspected the paste. It resembled tar, emitting a medicinal scent he couldn’t quite identify. It was incredibly sticky and retained its adhesive properties even when dry.
Jian Mo’s interest grew. “Could I trade for the recipe for this paste?”
Lian Ke refused outright. “That’s not possible. But I’d be willing to trade beast teeth or insects for one of your recipes. The one for treating abscesses looks particularly useful.”
Jian Mo shook his head. “That’s also my unique recipe. I can’t trade it lightly.”
Lian Ke sniffed the air dramatically. “Ah, I can tell it includes spring thunder eggs, right? They’re effective against abscesses but too aggressive. Your recipe seems much gentler.”
Jian Mo was surprised by Lian Ke’s sharp eye but stood firm. “I’m only interested in your paste. Beast teeth and insects aren’t part of my system and would be of no use to me.”
Lian Ke conceded with a chuckle. “I had heard you were unique, but meeting you, you’re even more exceptional than I imagined.”
To be fair, Jian Mo also felt enlightened after meeting Lian Ke. “You’ve brought me plenty of inspiration too.”
“Of course,” Lian Ke boasted. “These medicines of mine are quite effective.”
Realizing they wouldn’t reach an agreement for now, Jian Mo smiled and invited, “Why don’t you stay in our tribe for a couple of days? We can exchange ideas slowly, and we’ll revisit the matter of the paste and recipes later.”
Lian Ke agreed cheerfully. “Sounds good!”
