Chapter 7- Think about It, It is still a Tragic Word
“Master!” Yan Mo called out to Yuan Zhan who was prepared to leave.
Yuan Zhan turned his head.
“You’re not going to eat breakfast before you leave?” In fact, he was very hungry.
Yuan Zhan, “Catch prey on the road then we’ll talk.” Meaning if there was no prey then there was no need to eat.
Beloved Master, you are really that useless? Actually so poor that you don’t even have enough food to make breakfast for your household?
Yan Mo covered up his own disdain. Sporting an ingratiating smile, “Master, I sincerely recommend that before you leave, you go behind the barn to pick some thistle leaves. If you get hurt on the road, you can chew it up and slather it on your wound to stop the bleeding.”
“Got it.”
“Master!”
Yuan Zhan turned around impatiently. “What do you want now?”
“Besides the Setose thistle, can I also describe some other common herbs to you? If you find them on your journey, you can also use them. If you can pick some back, I can keep them for future use.”
With Yuan Zhan’s narrow and fierce eyes, his face revealed clear ridicule. “Future use? It’s something you need?”
Yan Mo’s face held a bashful smile.
Yuan Zhan suddenly turned back, walked to Yan Mo’s side and forcefully pinched his cheek. “Then talk, the herbs you want, what do they look like?”
Yan Mo’s cheek twitched in pain, but he continued to smile. “Then Master, please listen.”
Yan Mo then began to describe a few of the herbs and insects that he wanted.
Squirrel’s Foot Fern – There are big leaves on both sides, smaller leaves on opposite sides, leaves have a pointed segment, short stem, it looks like a fish bone.
Chinere Elder Herb – leaves alternate, leaves form directly from stem, the leaves grow slanted and are oval, the flowers bloom flat, they are small white flowers that look like stars, the fruits are very small like eggs, it’s a scarlet color.
Ox Knee…
Yan Mo stopped to comment, looked at a foggy minded Yuan Zhan and asked, “Master, did you remember them?”
Yuan Zhan refused to admit that he did not understand. With a straight expressionless face he replied, “Troublesome”.
Yan Mo saw that his palm did not respond and realized that the man next to him didn’t remember a single thing. Holding back the urge to beat his brains, with a pleading look cautiously said, “Master, I can draw it out. Can you please peel me a smooth wood board? Then bring me either branches or grassroots that haven’t completely burned in the firepit.”
Other people’s’ slaves can save them from doing many tasks. How come when he gets a slave he has more work to do? He tightly pursed up his lips, stretch out a thin severe smile and pointed at the youth’s nose, “Your wound better heal by the time winter comes! If it’s not healed by then I’m cutting it off! “
“……..yes, Master.”
Yuan Zhan lifted the curtains to go outside and fiddle around for a bit. With a cold face he came back and threw a piece of wood that was about a foot long, 8 centimeters wide, and a centimeter thick.
“Master, there’s also the branches…..”
Yuan Zhan went out again and brought back a few branches and stiff grassroots that didn’t burn fully. “Hurry up, need to assemble when the horn calls. People who don’t show up also get punished.”
“Yes.” Yan Mo ignored his master’s ugly complexion, grabbed the carbonized half of the roots, and drew quickly on the wooden board.
He didn’t know how Yuan Zhan cut and polished the wooden board. The surface was unexpectedly smooth and there were no burrs.
Yan Mo recalled several urgent herbs he needed as well as a couple common ones, then he tried his best to draw all the features as notable as possible.
When he was young he did not learn how to draw, but he also did not reveal his talent. It wasn’t until one summer vacation after college, he was helping a doctor who lived in the mountains and gave free medical consultations. There he discovered that one of his classmates who usually looked very ordinary could free hand draw the herbs the locals wanted. He couldn’t help becoming extremely envious.
Over the next few years, he followed the professor when he went to sell wild herbs. He began to feel that being able to draw is better than being able to speak in certain areas. For this reason, at the age of 26 he started to learn to draw, practicing everyday uninterrupted.
Today, after 13 years of hard work, even if he could not become a painter, he could draw herbs that had been imprinted in his mind. It’s as easy as falling off a log.
Yuan zhan took the finished wood board and saw many detailed plants. He couldn’t help but raise his eyebrow. He also thought that when his little slave asked to draw, it would be full of big circles and small circles with some sticks coming out, didn’t expect….
“Insects too?”
“Yes, those bugs can also be used as medicine, actually they work very well.”
“This kind of painting, your priest also taught you this?” Yanshan’s priest was so powerful? How did he not know?
“Yes.”
Liar! If Yanshan priest really had this drawing ability, he would have left long ago to the upper city to serve the god. Why live a precarious life in a small far away tribe? Even if he couldn’t live in the upper level, he would still be worshipped in the lower city.
Yuan Zhan kept his poker face, don’t let the youth see his shock and surprise.
This youth is still young. It could be that the priest never had time to tell him how amazing this hand was, if so then he will also not tell him.
If he let the youth know, this his free slave would fly away! Absolutely not allowed!
Nobody cares how good you are, once it reaches my hands then it becomes mine!
Poor Yan Mo all day long hit a wild goose, today he let this wild goose peck him blind.
But because of his tendency to “do nothing” created trouble, feeling that mastering how to draw is very convenient, but he didn’t realize how great it was.
He did not know much about the local areas since he never journeyed away from Yuan Zhan’s area. Did not know that there are temples and temple servants here, also did not know that with his special skill, he would be very welcomed at any temple.
But the most important for this youth was that deep inside his heart, he still held contempt for his young master. From the beginning he didn’t take him seriously, waiting for his injury to heal before getting rid of him. So naturally, he had no intentions to study the change of expressions in Yuan Zhan’s face.
So…. Yuan Zhan only deserves to have him as a slave for a few years!
Yuan Zhan held onto the wood piece as he left the tent. When he was outside, he carefully and cherishingly tucked the wood into his bag tightly, hanging around his waist.
Inside the tent, Yan Mo looked at his glowing palm and smiled. He drew four different types of plants and two kinds of insects. The guide reduced his scum points by 6. He only needed to subtract one more point then he could finally return to 100 million. But that wood piece was too small, even if he wanted to draw more he couldn’t.
The first day Yuan Zhan left, Yan Mo holed up in the tent and did not leave. He had hurt his leg, it was best to not move.
Cao Ting brought him a meal and carried him on her back to the mountain valley twice to solve a physiology question.
Looking at the natural toilets, he had no other choice but to praise the resourcefulness of the ancients.
About 20 meters from the tent, there was a natural crevice. This crevice was not wide, just like inside the old public toilets with the long/narrow latrine pits.
All the men, women, elderly, and children in Yuan Ji Tribe only needed to be slightly careful as they liked the convenience of the toilets. Some that were truly lazy, dug a pit behind their tent. When finished they would cover it with dirt. This form of urination was absolutely not stressful so many people just use this method to dispose everywhere.
So the poorer areas are usually always accompanied by a variety of disgusting odors.
Yan Mo already adapted to this dirty environment and was already used to all kinds of odors. This was Yan Mo’s forced habit, causing him to 100% pay attention to the environment and self hygiene.
With regards to saving water, from morning to evening a tribe that does not wash their face or mouth; even if you want to get good health, the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak.
During the entire day, Yan Mo did not lay down and do nothing, He looked through the pile of trash, wanting to see if there was anything useful in there. He didn’t find anything, only a pile of insects.
Bugs were still a good thing, some of the insects looked like bugs he knew. For example, there were some species of myriapods that he did not recognize.
In this pile, he was trying to find earth insects. By earth insects, he meant the ground beetle. They liked the dark, moist humid soil, likes to grow in old fashioned roof huts and underneath corners, reliably treats chills and fevers, bruises, obstructed mammary glands, and diseases that come with setting a bone or muscle.
Only female insects had this medical ability. Males have wings while females do not. But it’s not nice to say that the males had no medical attributes. But because not only are there fewer males, once it evolves into a fully grown bug, it will grow wings and fly. Very nimble, hard to catch, and once it mates it dies.
Looking at so many bugs, Yan Mo sighed. If only he could use the Guide’s Second Article right now, he could identify if these bugs were useful to him. But if he wanted the guide to help him identify creatures, he must subtract 100 more scum points. After getting to 100 million points, he still needed to subtract 101 points.
Having not found the things he wanted to find in the tent, Yan Mo did not get discouraged. He found Cao Ting and asked a lot of questions. Besides the stuff in this tribe, what else did he need to be careful of? The characteristics and features of the nearby water source and creatures? In addition, he did not forget to teach Cao Ting medical knowledge while also instructing her to go back to the barn and pick fresh thistle for him to dress his wound. For this reason he reduced his scum points by 3.
The second day Yuan Zhan was gone, Yan Mo dressed and stared at his wound for half a day.
Cao Ting helped him redress his wound. Fixing the wooden sticks she sighed.
Yan Mo lifted his head up, “Sister, what’s the matter?”
Cao Ting rubbed the grass rope, shook her head and replied, “Master Da He might not make it.”
“Didn’t the priest already treat him?” As soon as Yan Mo thought of Da He, he remembered that not only had he caused him to gain 10 scum points, he also had to endure a firey pain every night. This caused him to not have favorable impressions of him. Not cursing him to an early grave was already considered pretty nice. Naturally he did not want to help him with a treatment. This is why he did not speak when Cao Ting mentioned Da He. Although he knew that if he helped that person, it would guarantee a scum point reduction.
That’s correct, he’s taking out his anger on someone else. Whatever… In any case, he is scum.
Cao Ting Sighed again, “There are originally not very many herbs. Master Da He got hurt so badly, even if he got well he can’t even become a warrior anymore. Why would the priest waste his precious medicine on him. The last time the priest went over, he directly cut off his broken arm and used fire to burn the arm and stop the bleeding. They can do nothing about the hole in his abdomen. The priest wiped Shentu water on him, but it may not have been much use.”
“Shentu water?” (1)
“Ah… it’s a treasure that’s been passed down through generations of tribal priests. We all call it Shentu, not only can it treat lots of injuries, it can also make dirty water clean. Use it on tanned fur, the fur will become soft and bright.”
Yan Mo’s heart dropped. “That type of Shentu, does it look like a transparent crystal?”
“I’ve never seen it before. Only heard that when the priest brings it out it looks like a pretty shiny powder.”
Listening to its uses, it sounded like Alum. Was there an alum mine nearby? Or was it that the priests here could once in a while obtain some?
However to use the alum to stop bleeding, the usage of this stuff was not correct. Using it could directly damage the brain cells, burn, vomit, diarrhea, extreme weakness, and even death were all possibilities.
Suddenly having a thought, Yan Mo hastily asked, “Is this holy water used in the entire tribe?”
Cao Ting lost her smile. “Your thoughts are kind. How can there be that much holy water for you to use? Only in the summer when water is scarce, when there is no choice but to use the muddy water, the great priest will use Shentu to clean the dirty water. However that clean water is only for the chief, the priest, and the elders to use. Even the Rank 3 Warriors don’t really get much, don’t even need to mention the slaves.”
How fortunate! Yan Mo gasped greatly. If that Shentu was really Alum, even if it could clean dirty water, the alum was very harmful to the human body. Using the alum purified water for a long time, could lead to anemia, osteoporosis, and brain atrophy. (2)
“When the priests here get old do they become demented? They don’t remember anything?” Yan Mo asked another question.
Cao Ting was surprised, “How did you know? I hear the adults talking about it sometimes, they say that when the tribe priests reaches a certain age they’ll transfer all knowledge and experience to the new priest. It’s called Fushen. When the old priests completes Fushen, the soul will disappear. Leftover is only the walking meat. Doesn’t know anything, also doesn’t know how to do anything and doesn’t even know how to eat.”
Is this Alzheimer’s disease caused by brain atrophy? The priest here is also wise. Being unable to explain their own symptoms, so created this kind of Fushen. Not only did they not diminish their own prestige, but in fact caused more worship onto them.
“Xiao Mo?”
“Hm?”
Cao Ting hesitated and asked, “Can I tell other people about how the setose thistle leaves stop bleeding? “
“Of course you can.” I wish you would tell other people, “Setose thistle leaves can not only stop bleeding, can also relieve fevers, treat swelling and cure boils. Oh, you can also eat it like a vegetable.”
“Really? You can eat it?”
Yan Mo nodded his head.
Cao Ting was ecstatic, but also sad. “But I’ve already almost picked dry all the thistle behind the barn.”
“You can go look for it somewhere else. Hillside, grassland, desert, it’s even likely to grow on that roadside. The closer you are to water, the more likely it will grow there. This thing is not uncommon, only need to find one stalk, then you’ll find more stalks.”
“How fantastic. Xiao Mo, then can I bring He Tu to pick thistle with me?” Cao Ting explained, “He Tu is Master Da He’s wife.”
For Cao Ting to call Da He’s wife’s by name, Yan Mo did not find it strange. The teen’s memory told him that the status of women here was not high, only slightly better than slaves. They could get food distributions from the tribe. The children they gave birth to is slightly more valued than children from a female slave. If female slaves have children with their masters, the child is still considered a descendent of the tribe, they can get food distributions from the tribe. But as soon as there is a lack of food, children born from female slaves get the least amount of distribution, therefore they are the first to endure death repeatedly.
If the child was born from two slaves, then it is still a slave.
“The things I taught you, as long as I don’t explicitly say it, you are free to teach others.”
Cao Ting was moved, “Xiao Mo, you are a nice person.”
Yan Mo revealed a thick ‘I’m a good person’ smile.
“Then do you have a way to let Master Da He go a bit easier?”
“You want me to go take a look at Master Da He?” Yan Mo was not surprised.
Cao Ting nodded her head, then shook her head and anxiously replied, “ I don’t want to pressure you, even the priest can not cure it. He Tu’s hope already died. Just doesn’t want Master Da He to suffer this badly for his last few days. Can you do it? I heard that some priests can make the heavily injured patients sleep, sleep until they die. I can sneak you in, won’t let the priest know.”
Yan Mo did not want to go, there are three reasons.
#1 The cleverest housewife can’t cook a meal without rice.(3) There are no surgical tools or drugs here, it’s not possible to just use several stalks of thistle to cure Da He. Moreover, Da He’s current situation is most likely due to infections and other complications. In this serious situation, even if he came back from his illness, it’s not guaranteed that the actual person will be back. (4)
#2 If he went and couldn’t help Da He, maybe that damn Transformation Guide will make a record of it.
#3 If he cures Da He, maybe he can reduce some scum points, but it may also attract the attention of the tribe priest.
But Yan Mo dare not refuse, he was scared that if he said he would not go, the Transformation Guide would add 10 scum points in the name of “Seeing but not Saving”.
“Their only purpose is to let Da He not be in so much pain as he passes. Than I don’t need to save him, correct?” Yan Mo spoke in Chinese to his own right hand.
The Guide did not respond to him.
To go, will be tragic. Don’t go, it’s still tragic. This single word “Can” is so tragic. (5) Yan Mo sneered in his heart.
Cao Ting did not know what was going on in his heart, only saw him stop speaking. Guessing he may be afraid of trouble, touched his head and asked, “If you can do what you say, I think He Tu will give you meat as a reward.”
“……. go…. Why would I not go?” Isn’t this just an euthanasia, it’s not like he never did it before.
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(1) I’m not entirely sure how this would translate out. It literally means Divine Earth Water. So I’m just sticking with the original Chinese name for now.
(2) Anemia: Low amounts of blood cells therefore less oxygen circulating.
Osteoporosis: Brittle/stiff bones, makes it really easy to break.
Brain Atrophy: Loss of brain cells leading to dementia
(3) The cleverest housewife can’t cook a meal without rice: Idiom that means that no matter how good someone is, you can’t make something without the proper materials.
(4) Just in case it didn’t make sense. Yan Mo is saying that Da He has already been suffering badly from other complications. Even if Da He’s body was properly healed, he might have suffered too much damage for him to be normal again. Physical and mental wise.
(5) 惨 Can = means tragic, or horrible
T/N:
Sorry I haven’t’t been updating! I’ve had rehearsals/shows until 11PM for the past few days and haven’t had much time. Summer is almost here though so my updates will be more frequent! I’ll post medical terms in the notes as well for people who aren’t as familiar with them. It’ll be a mixture of google and my own knowledge from working at a clinic.
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