Chapter 459 – The First Winter (Six)
“Calling Wei Ci a sick beauty is spot on.”
“Isn’t this just asking for trouble?” Zhang Ping pushed the door open; the room was dimly lit and filled with a sharp medicinal smell, tinged with a musty decay. He sat beside Wei Ci’s bed, a look of helplessness on his face as he witnessed his friend getting sick every few days—both heart-wrenching and aggravating. “If this keeps up, you’ll end up a walking medicine chest.”
After taking his medicine, Wei Ci felt a slight warmth in his icy limbs. “Don’t worry, I won’t die.”
He said this with a nonchalant demeanor, yet a faint gloom lingered in his brows.
Zhang Ping had known Wei Ci for many years and understood the environment he was raised in.
He wasn’t born with an aversion to the cold; it was something he developed over time, being regarded as a disaster by the Wei clan and living a tough life since childhood.
Now that he had finally grown up, Wei Ci started to pay attention to his health. However, maintaining good health was no easy feat, and just when he showed a bit of improvement, he had to go north again—whatever the reason behind that was a mystery.
Going north was one thing, but this guy had the worst luck, making Zhang Ping question his own life choices.
First, there was a serious illness, and after struggling back to health, as they approached the Wanzhou border, they encountered an epidemic.
What’s an epidemic, you ask?
The demon that makes everyone turn pale in fear!
Wherever there’s an epidemic, it means that area will soon become a hell scorched by death.
Bodies litter the wilderness, uncared for, becoming food for wild animals and a great breeding ground for maggots.
Zhang Ping had a kind heart, but he wasn’t foolish; staying here was like courting death.
Wei Ci was almost persuaded to leave, but just as they were about to go, he changed his mind.
He spotted a severely ill young girl, about seven or eight years old, in ragged clothing, her face pale and skinny, with some unknown yellow pus staining her body—a ghastly sight. When Wei Ci saw her, she was barely keeping her dark eyes open, displaying a flicker of will to live, but ultimately, she succumbed to her illness, her labored breathing weakening, the light in her gaze fading away…
A life extinguished before his very eyes like a shooting star.
This scene reminded him of something from years ago.
Just recalling those memories sent a heart-wrenching pain piercing through him, a dull ache lingering painfully.
“This child has already passed away, and she’s carrying an illness. You should keep your sick body away from her…”
Zhang Ping felt increasingly like Wei Ci’s caretaker, exhausting his breath in useless persuasion day after day.
Wei Ci ignored Zhang Ping’s words; a hint of struggle and torment flickered across his face before settling into calm.
“This epidemic, I can treat it. We should stay,” Wei Ci declared astonishingly.
Zhang Ping was taken aback, almost exclaiming.
“Wait, Wei Zixiao, do you really think you can treat an epidemic with your level of medical skill? This isn’t just high fever or wind-cold; one wrong move can cost lives. You want to stay to save people, but be careful, or you might lose your own life in the attempt.”
“My life is tough; I won’t die,” Wei Ci smiled and subtly pushed away the resurfacing memories, forcing his expression to appear more natural. “Xiheng should leave first. The epidemic’s miasma is thick; I don’t want you catching it. We’ll meet in Xiangyang.”
Zhang Ping spat under his breath.
A sickly person dares to roam in the epidemic zone, and he—fit and healthy—needs to be afraid?
As it turned out, Wei Ci could indeed treat epidemics, and his medical skills were quite impressive. From his demeanor, it seemed he had plenty of experience treating such diseases, and Zhang Ping could only assist.
Maybe it was luck or strict precautions, but neither of them caught the illness, although Wei Ci’s complexion worsened day by day, showing a more pronounced pallor that made him look more like a patient than a healer… as if a gust of wind could knock him down.
Due to the epidemic, they stayed in this place for over two months.
Once the clouds of illness finally cleared, Zhang Ping noticed he’d lost quite a bit of weight, and Wei Ci didn’t need mentioning.
“Who would have thought, Zixiao harbors such a healer’s heart…”
Though he wasn’t formally trained, his medical skills surpassed those of many seasoned physicians.
Tsk, life isn’t fair.
Wei Ci rubbed his face, having kept a stern expression for so long that he felt his cheek muscles would stiffen.
“I’ve read a few medical books out of boredom; it’s just a superficial understanding.”
Zhang Ping: “…”
Back when Wei Ci casually mentioned he had a minor understanding of sculpting and then produced a masterpiece akin to renowned works, and now he’s saying he has a superficial understanding of medical texts while treating epidemics so adeptly—even snatching lives back from the grasp of the king of hell… What, does he need to show off to survive?
Zhang Ping didn’t know what showing off meant, but he felt the same frustration as the audience in the live stream.
I just want to smack this guy!
Before Zhang Ping could act, over twenty fierce-looking bandits rushed in, brandishing knives, exuding intimidation as they barged in and directly asked, “Who’s the physician for epidemics?” Without further ado, they whisked Wei Ci away, dragging Zhang Ping and his Book Boy along for the ride.
The bandits weren’t here for anything nefarious; they just needed Wei Ci to treat their leader.
Wei Ci initially didn’t want to cooperate, but when he saw who the bandit leader was, he acquiesced.
While they were bandits, they hadn’t yet had time to commit any real evil; turning to a life of crime had been out of necessity.
“How do you know they were forced into this?” Zhang Ping questioned, confused, as they had said nothing at all.
Wei Ci replied coldly, “It’s likely the Green Garment Army causing the trouble. The Green Garment Army goes around conscripting camp prostitutes, sending people to remote areas to forcibly abduct women and young girls… These bandits must have revolted in dissatisfaction; if they haven’t committed evil yet, then saving them a life won’t hurt…”
Zhang Ping was dumbfounded, “Conscripting camp prostitutes and forcibly taking women to serve in the army… This…”
Wei Ci chuckled coldly, “Is that surprising? Since ancient times, there have been no women in the army. It’s not that there aren’t any women; it’s just that during the day, they serve as laborers, and at night, they satisfy the men’s urges. The Green Garment Army simply made this beastly behavior blatant; many military camps in Dongqing have been doing this behind closed doors, including the past Zhengbei Marquis’s residence and the Cangzhou Meng Clan… This has long been tacitly accepted by many, including the thousand-year-famous general Meng Jing, who didn’t escape the norm. Many believe they fight for their families and country, so it’s only natural for women to relieve their needs, not knowing that these women are often virtuous ladies or rustic women… Forget it, what am I telling you all this for…”
Having once been as ignorant, Wei Ci had seen and experienced much over time, and naturally, he had come to understand more.
“But it’s not just sinful women who become camp prostitutes…”
“There aren’t that many sinful women in the world.”
Wei Ci scoffed, his gentle brows now laden with frost.
These words not only opened a new worldview for Zhang Ping but also struck a chord with this band of bandits.
