805 - I Am This Murim’s Crazy B*tch

[The All-Healing Life and Death Rejuvenation Pill] "Last night must have been tough on you. Heavenly Flower(天華), you can go now. The trouble with Jangyunpa is somewhat resolved. I called you for that, not because we're short-handed." Inside the quarantine area, the Grand Doctor wasn't extraordinarily busy. When the strange illness spread, Lady Kunming sealed off a northern corner of the city, gathering all the sick and their families in one place. This meant there were plenty of able-bodied individuals accompanying the sick ones. They took care of those with milder symptoms, while the more severe cases were managed by the Grand Doctor. From the fact that the Grand Doctor had been personally collecting money in the city of Kunming, it was evident the work wasn't too overwhelming. However, it wasn't the same for yesterday and today. About forty warriors from Jangyunpa had suddenly fallen ill, causing the Grand Doctor to stay up almost without sleep to care for the patients. Fortunately, with Qing and Tang Nanah's help, he was forced to take some rest, else he would have stayed up all night tending to the patients. "Hey, you were doing pulse readings late into the night yesterday. Things are busy right now; how can I leave when you clearly need help?" "It's fine. We're not so desperate as to need help from a half-skilled healer. We've managed to control the symptoms to some extent, and the rest just calls for occasional check-ins." "But Nanah is here too. I've just been reading medical books, while Nanah is a real physician." "Enough chatter. If I say go, just go." "Why are you suddenly trying to send me away, Elder? Did something happen?" The Grand Doctor clicked his tongue in dissatisfaction. "It's nothing. How can a woman with a child be so careless? Haven't you seen the Jangyunpa people laid low? The illness spread overnight; even if you're a high-ranking expert and safe, shouldn't you be more careful with the child?" He implied that it would be better for Qing to leave before she or her child could get infected. "But you said it wasn't infectious." "That was up until the day before yesterday. Seeing as how the symptoms have spread this severely among strong adults, it's a different story." "Perhaps they just ate something bad together. Besides, if it was contagious, the kids who play with the little ones would have gotten sick first." Kids quickly make friends and erupt in dolphin-like laughter. Jia Yeo was busy romping with all the children in the quarantine area and would only return quietly after dark. The kids in the quarantine area were all running around healthy, so why would Jia Yeo fall ill? Jia Yeo's level could be categorized as Second Tier after some pluses and minuses. She had consumed a significant elixir given by the Zenith of Women, who had personally nurtured her. On top of that, Jia Yeo had trained in the Reverse Tendon Hand Washing Sutra (역근세수경), a supreme skill. Though she couldn't yet control her internal energy, it was already circulating smoothly in her body. When energy circulates smoothly, it strengthens one's life-force, and a robust life-force bolsters the body against disease, which is why martial artists seldom fall ill. "You can't care for patients your whole life, so why get attached for no reason? Just leave; it’s best." "Why are you so eager to send me off? Can't I help if it's not for a lifetime?" "Why do you argue when an elder speaks? You're too kind-hearted." Breaking news: the Grand Doctor claims Qing is too kind-hearted. This was the kind of comment that could make many who wished to object find themselves speechless or clutching their necks in shock. "Hehe." "It's not a compliment. It's an insult. One must know how to be ruthless and keep others at bay. You think kindness is a good thing; it just means you're easy to exploit." "Elder, aren't you respected by many for caring for the poor all your life?" It was merely the usual banter, a time filled with mutual compliments. However, the Grand Doctor's face suddenly hardened, his lined features casting a certain shadow. "......Leave." "Elder?" "Don't speak such terrible words. I'm just a wretched charlatan with a long life, unworthy yet unyielding." "Elder? Are you alright?" "Leave. Please. Even if there's no precedent for the disease spread, there's no certainty it won’t happen. I must be mad to bring a woman with a child here. Leave quickly, and you're actually helping this mad, old fool. My nerves won't allow me to focus on treatments while you linger, so just go." Once the Grand Doctor spoke this firmly, it felt awkward to insist on helping more. What choice did Qing have but to pack up? "Uh, well. Elder, then I'll provide you with more drafts. But I wonder if they'll accept Taechang Sangbang drafts in this town. I'll check with the bank and exchange them into something usable, and then send them to you through someone later." "Yes, well thought out. Once you've resolved your matters, don’t tarry and head back to the Central Plains. It's wise to avoid areas where these diseases are rampant." Though it was an odd statement coming from someone who constantly visited disease-infested areas. Regardless, just as Qing was awkwardly gathering her things to leave. -Master! Master, an emergency! An urgent voice calling for the Grand Doctor. Soon, the urgent matter was voiced from beyond the door. -A large wave of patients is rushing in from outside! ---- In front of the makeshift barricade gate, there was a frenzy of unloading the patients. Unloading means to put down a load, and it was an entirely accurate description. Loads of patients were being placed neatly on the ground, like bodies being laid out. Even the critically ill who couldn’t move on their own were being handled this way, while patients with milder symptoms stumbled in with long faces, trudging inside. It wasn't just a case of thrusting the ill into the quarantine zone. At a distance, soldiers holding spears stood apart, wary of infection, while those carrying and setting down patients were the family members who would soon join them in isolation. There were already over forty critically ill patients sprawled on the ground. Including their families, the number of newly quarantined individuals was staggering. Even counting only the severely ill, the numbers were significant, and considering those with milder symptoms who managed to walk in on their own, along with their families, the tally easily exceeded two hundred. N2Q1UkN6Sk9iTEJZNGlLdU5pL0Jqck8yUlBJaGp4WG9pWWlTSGVSYzRMN1BRUDhrbllsd0dBNGFOSWk2TXphMg The Grand Doctor strode decisively through the chaos, making his way to a man wearing an official cap—a seeming indication of his role as an official. It appeared this man was either in charge of the quarantine efforts or held a similar position. "What in the world is happening here? Where did all these patients come from?" he asked. "Well, sir, the patients have flooded in from Donjagu. It's chaos. Lady Jibu ordered their immediate collection and quarantine. Despite the lockdown, the strange illness continues to spread. Do you have any remedies for this?" "Come on now, keeping on bringing patients recklessly like this isn't the solution. When the number of people increases by the hundreds overnight, where will they be housed? How will we feed them? If you're going to cram people in, you should also bring in supplies. This way, we can save those who are barely holding on and administer treatment." "Aye, even if you tell me, what can I do but follow orders?" "So if that's the case, are you saying we should just leave them to starve to death?" "Well, honestly, sir, it's not something I should say to you, but we didn't ask you to care for the patients, did we? Many of these decisions aren't within my control." "What!? That's outrageous!" The Grand Doctor’s mouth fell open. Could this truly be the words of an official? The state had not requested the Grand Doctor to care for patients, and he was doing so of his own volition. He had no authority to interfere in state affairs. With such disappointing remarks coming from someone considered a person of responsibility, it was no wonder the Grand Doctor found himself silenced. However, silencing Qing was not so easily accomplished. "Do you think just because words come out of your mouth, they make sense? And if you know they're not words fit to speak to the Elder, why say such nonsense?" "Well, it’s a figure of speech." "A figure of speech should make sense. Once the Elder here takes care of the patients, prescriptions will follow, and won’t the officials at least support that? Are you saying you have nothing to do with it because it wasn't your idea?" Qing shot back, making the official bow his head down. For a moment, it seemed like he realized the shame of his words. "Don’t be too harsh, Divine Sword Maiden. Despite his flaws, this man did spend his own wealth to help. How much power do those at a lower rank have? They're just doing as they're told." "That’s correct……." "Whose orders are they following that's this absurd? Without the Elder, these patients would have starved ages ago. Were they supposed to just be crammed in here to die on their own?" The official offered an excuse. "Lady Jibu insists it's to save at least the ones who can be saved." "So you are saying that you would abandon those who are still alive? Can't they be saved with food aid, even if the Elder is here? Isn’t there supposed to be reserved food aid for times like these? If not now, then when?" "Food aid is only distributed in cases of natural disasters or plagues, and since it's uncertain whether the patients will recover, we can't just distribute it carelessly…" What he meant was, there was no guarantee that even if the food aid was distributed, the patients would recover, so he wouldn't hand it out. In other words, they were simply crammed together to die if they couldn't endure. "What nonsense…” “Given that the registered population of Kunming amounts to several tens of thousands, it’s hard to distribute food aid recklessly to patients without any promise of recovery…” Even so, the official stubbornly defended Lady Jibu. By common standards, Lady Jibu's decision was rather merciful. In cities where epidemics broke out, burying the sick alive was an ordinary measure. Having them quarantined and left to survive was a rare chance. With limited access to medical treatment, patients were practically seen as half-dead. So why expend resources saving those destined to perish? The most effective way to halt an epidemic was for the patients to disappear, either by death or recovery. If they were left to die, the epidemic would end. If food aid prolonged their lives, it could keep the cause of the epidemic alive. Hearing this, Qing understood Lady Jibu's decision. In a world unlike Qing's hometown, where they persevered in research until a cure was found, it was a grim but practical decision to sacrifice a few patients to save the tens of thousands in the city. "But may I ask who you are to speak so forthrightly, miss……” "Well, how about we talk over there for a moment?" Qing discreetly guided the official away, pulling a silk pouch from her sleeve and handing it to him. "Well, it's light... I’ll relay this to Lady Jibu, but as for any immediate food aid, if there's flood or calamity next harvest, using the help to save patients now could leave healthy people starving." "It's not gold, check inside." "Ahem, it wasn't a token of sincerity, but what's inside, huh." The official peeked inside and was met with the shimmering seal of the Imperial Inspector. It practically greeted him saying, "Hello? I'm the Imperial Inspector." Suddenly, the official's face drained of color, and he promptly straightened his posture, standing upright. “Shh. Go inform Lady Jibu. The entire populace under heaven belongs to the Emperor, and it is not for the servants to decide to keep or discard those who are old and sick. Therefore, arrange for relief food to be distributed to feed them immediately.” “Yes, I will comply with the order!” Qing understood Lady Jibu's decision. If it had been someone else's problem, Qing might have sighed, "Ah, this primitive, ancient, undeveloped Zhongyuan, of course." However, given all the efforts the Grand Doctor had made, how could one simply let that go to waste? It was important not to let the noble efforts of a revered sage in these heartless times be rendered futile. If villains are punished, shouldn’t the righteous be rewarded? After the official hurriedly scampered away as if fleeing, Qing returned to the Grand Doctor with a gleeful smile. “Elder, for now, you don’t have to worry about food supplies. They’ll be sending relief food.” “What? How?” “Well, I persuaded them?” “But that man doesn’t have authority. Did you... perhaps threaten to... if they didn’t comply?” “I told you, I persuaded them.” The Grand Doctor's expression lifted. Even though there were issues with finding beds for patients or accommodations for the other quarantined individuals, the most pressing issue was the food supply. Now that it was resolved, the method hardly mattered.