Finest Servant

Chapter 569 Poison You to Death

As the large caravan pressed deeper into the boundless desert, the air became increasingly scorching, and the climate progressively drier. The sweeping wind and sand made it impossible for people to keep their eyes open.

But there was more to worry about. As they ventured closer to the heart of the Sea of Death, the wind, bringing the sands along with it, grew more and more violent. Day or night, the furious sand filled the sky, tainting it a vivid orange-yellow. Tall walls of sand, like spinning tops, roared and howled as they charged at the caravan, burying everyone in a sea of yellow sand. Even breathing became extraordinarily difficult. The further they ventured, the more terrifying the Sea of Death revealed itself to be.

In such conditions, not only did their pace slow considerably, but supplies became increasingly scarce. Each day, dozens of warhorses collapsed and died in the sand, and the soldiers were showing signs of dehydration.

"If this continues, I'll be dried up," Gao Qiu gasped, sticking out his tongue. The saliva he spat was yellow and full of sand. "This damned Sea of Death is no place for humans. When the hell are we getting out of here?"

Lin Wanrong's throat was dry as a desert. He swallowed hard, feeling his throat sore from dehydration. "Judging from our current direction, we should be about halfway through," he said, wiping his burning forehead with his sleeve, only to find it devoid of sweat. "Don't worry, Brother Gao. Considering the bleached bones we've discovered along the way, we're on the right path. Pioneers must have crossed the Lop Nur and reached the regions around Gaochang and the Tianshan Mountains."

At the mention of bleached bones, a chill ran down Gao Qiu's spine. Ever since they found the first bone, they had encountered countless remains over the past couple of days. The Silk Road was quite literally built on a pile of bones. Compared to those who had come before them, their only advantage was having slightly more men and horses.

"Gaochang? Tianshan?" Hu Bugui furrowed his brows. "I've heard of these places but it seems we've rarely had anyone reach them."

Lin Wanrong nodded. "Then let's be the first to get there. Tianshan is a magnificent place, filled with birdsong and breathtaking scenery. There's a snowy pond at the peak, where, as legends have it, the daughters of the Jade Emperor bathe. Crossing over the Tianshan Mountains leads us to the Altai Mountains. From there, we can re-enter the Alxa grassland from the northwest, cross Khovd and Uvs Lake, and reach the Turkic royal court in Kyzil."

Everyone knew this route by heart before setting off. Once they crossed the Altai Mountains and entered the grasslands, they'd be in their element. The hardest part was crossing from the Sea of Death to the Tianshan Mountains.

"By the way, General, how is Li Wuling?" Hu Bugui asked worriedly. "Yujia said he would wake up within three days, but today is the third day!"

Lin Wanrong nodded, concerned. This had been troubling him as well. Ever since the water pouch was delivered, Yujia had ignored him. Over these past few days, she hadn't spoken a single word to him.

"I'll go take a look," Lin Wanrong said as he waved his hand and headed directly towards Li Wuling's carriage. The moment he lifted the curtain, a faint, soothing fragrance filled his nostrils. Looking closer, he saw a young Turkic girl holding a pestle, gently grinding herbs. The scent originated from the mortar.

Curious, Lin Wanrong leaned in and sniffed, asking, "What is this medicine? It smells wonderful!"

Yujia glanced at him and turned her head away, seemingly uninterested in conversing with him.

‘What's gotten into her?’ Lin Wanrong chuckled awkwardly. "Miss Yujia, you must be exhausted. Today is the last day of the three-day deadline. I wonder when my friend will wake up."

"No need to remind me," Yujia's tone turned icy as she thrust the pestle into his hand. "You're just in time. Crush these herbs!"

Her voice was chilly, issuing a command without a shred of courtesy. Since it was for Li Wuling's sake, Lin Wanrong was more than willing to oblige. He pounded away with gusto, making the wooden mortar resound with clattering. Soon, he had ground the herbs into a fine powder. He didn't know what herbs she was using, but they smelled wonderful, although the powder felt icy cold upon contact with the skin.

"Water!" Seeing the powder was ready, Yujia grabbed a wooden bowl and coldly ordered.

Lin Wanrong quickly fetched his water flask from his belt and poured water into the bowl. Yujia noticed the dried lipstick marks on the flask's mouth, and disdainfully hummed, "Why is there so much left? Haven't you been drinking?"

"I've been saving it," Lin Wanrong said as he carefully sealed the flask, smiling.

Yujia felt her cheeks grow warm. She lowered her head, pouring the herbal powder into the bowl and stirring it. "What are you saving? You Great Hua people are all liars!" ṚΑ𐌽ȱΒЕṣ

Lin Wanrong hastily waved his hand, "I mean that water is precious, so I've been saving it. Don't misunderstand!"

"You're the one who's misunderstanding!" Yujia snapped, handing him the wooden bowl, which Lin Wanrong carefully accepted.

From her bosom, Yujia took out a dried herb that carried a pungent scent. She broke it into two pieces, putting the remaining half back. Lin Wanrong sniffed and his face changed immediately. "Is this—Nose-piercing Grass?"

"You're not entirely ignorant," the Turkic girl snorted. She shredded the Nose-piercing Grass and dropped it into the bowl, immediately altering its previously delightful fragrance. A pungent odor now filled the air, horribly unpleasant.

Using tobacco in a medicinal brew was certainly not a Great Hua medical practice. What on earth was Yujia up to? Overwhelmed by the strong smell, Lin Wanrong whispered, "Yujia, the healer, what exactly is this medicine? Its smell is so—unique."

"Unique, is it?" Yujia gave a slight smile, holding the bowl up to his lips and softly saying, "Why don't you have a taste?"

"Me, taste?" Lin Wanrong stammered, "Maybe not, I'm perfectly healthy. Why would I need medicine?"

Yujia nodded. "You won't try it? Then let's give it to the injured man. After all, I'm not entirely confident it'll work."

"What do you mean by this?" Lin Wanrong widened his eyes, asking seriously.

Yujia glanced at him and said calmly, "This is a rather unique medicinal herb. I need someone with thick skin to test its effects. That's all."

‘Test its effects on someone with thick skin? Is she insulting me again?’ Lin Wanrong chuckled, "It's not poisonous, is it?"

"You can choose not to drink it," Yujia replied, her expression cold as she glanced at him.

If she wanted to poison him, she could've easily tampered with his water pouch. There was no need to add something to the medicine.

Lin Wanrong chuckled again. Staring at the murky medicinal soup, he steeled himself and took a small sip while holding his nose.

"Ptui—ptui—" The moment the medicine touched his mouth, a sharp taste surged from his throat to his lungs and back to his throat. It was numbing, spicy, sour, and bitter, worse than stale water.

Spitting out all the medicine, Lin Wanrong exhaled deeply, his face distorted with bitterness. "Young lady, what on Earth is this medicine? I'm afraid you'll scare me to death if you don't poison me."

Yujia laughed heartily, doubling over with joy, "You drank it just because I told you to—you're so foolish! Oh dear, now you're going to be poisoned by me!"

Lin Wanrong's face changed dramatically. "Are you serious? How can you be so malicious?"

Yujia's face changed too, and she glared at him. "Yes, I am serious! What about it? I am malicious, and I want to poison you—why don't you kill me?"

‘Poison me, my foot! With her skills, if she had really poisoned me, could we still be arguing like this?’ Lin Wanrong raised his hands in a placating gesture as he saw Yujia seething with anger, resembling a fierce leopardess. "Alright, alright, let's stop fighting. I believe you wouldn't poison me."

"Don't flatter yourself," Yujia said coldly, "Maybe you're already poisoned by my latent poison and you don't even know it."

Lin Wanrong shook his head and smiled, "Although we belong to opposing tribes, you don't seem like someone so malevolent. By the way, why did you trick me the other day into believing you washed your face with clean water? I actually fell for it!"

Yujia's cheeks flushed. She retorted, "Did you believe it just because I said it? Are you that gullible? It's just that you have a dirty mind. I don't want to talk to you."

She turned her head away, her lips tightly clenched, her face icy. Lin Wanrong knew he had been somewhat credulous in this matter. This woman, though proud, was incredibly intelligent and not impulsive.

Both remained silent in the carriage. Lin Wanrong held the bowl of medicine, unsure whether to proceed or retreat, visibly awkward.

After a tense moment, he finally let out a sheepish laugh. "Well, Divine Healer Yujia, consider this my apology for the misunderstanding last time. Also, thank you for the clean water you gave me."

Yujia turned her head away, snorting softly, "That was just returning what's yours, no need to thank me."

Lin Wanrong couldn't read her expression, unsure of her thoughts. Treading carefully, he said, "Divine Healer, it's getting late. What about the condition of my injured brother—?"

"Where is the golden blade?" Yujia interrupted him rudely, turning her head with a cold expression.

Lin Wanrong reached into his robe and pulled out a dazzling, curved blade. Smiling, he said, "Right here! Rest assured, Miss Yujia. If there's one thing everyone can vouch for, it's my honesty. I keep my promises."

Yujia disregarded his boast. She looked at the golden blade with a mixture of delight and concern. After a long silence, she finally spoke softly, "Help the wounded man up."

Overjoyed, Lin Wanrong quickly lifted Li Wuling's limp body, cradling him in his arms. Yujia took the golden blade from him, aimed it at Li Wuling's chest, causing Lin Wanrong to startle. "What are you doing?!"

"This is none of your concern," Yujia replied coldly. "Hold the bowl of medicine and listen for my command. Once I say ‘begin,’ pour it all in one go. No stopping."

With no other option in such a critical moment, Lin Wanrong had no choice but to comply. Yujia gripped the golden blade, never drawing it from its sheath. She peeked under Li Wuling's eyelids and nodded slightly. Suddenly, she struck with the blade's hilt, imbuing it with a hidden force that hit Li Wuling's chest.

Li Wuling’s body jolted in his unconscious state, and a pained moan seemed to escape his lips as his mouth opened. "Quick, begin!" Yujia urged anxiously.

Without hesitating, Lin Wanrong clutched Li Wuling’s neck and poured the medicine down his throat. Li Wuling's stomach gurgled and, stimulated by the medicine, his face flushed red and he began to cough violently.

"Li Wuling, Li Wuling—" Seeing Li Wuling’s response, Lin Wanrong joyously hugged him, calling out his name.

The potency of the medicine couldn't be underestimated. After a few coughs, Li Wuling began to retch. "Quick, get him out of the carriage—" Yujia ordered urgently.

Lin Wanrong carried him out of the carriage. Li Wuling hunched over and threw up onto the sand.

"Li Wuling—" Hu Bugui, Gao Qiu, and Xu Zhen immediately rushed over, attracting the attention of all the soldiers around.

Throughout Li Wuling's period of unconsciousness, he had consumed very little sustenance. Besides some sour-smelling clear water, he couldn't throw up anything else. Although his physical injuries had mostly healed, he was extremely weak. After that bout of vomiting, it seemed he'd expended all his energy. He lay back in Lin Wanrong’s arms, his face as pale as paper, and his breath extremely faint. Only his slightly trembling eyelashes reminded everyone that he had indeed woken up.

"Water!" Lin Wanrong yelled, and Hu Bugui promptly handed him Li Wuling's water pouch. Even in his unconscious state in the desert, Li Wuling was consistently hydrated, and his water pouch was always kept full.

Lin Wanrong poured the clear water into Li Wuling's mouth. Thirstily, he sucked in a few mouthfuls, and his cracked lips slowly began to move.

Lin Wanrong was elated and hugged his shoulders tightly. "Li Wuling, Li Wuling, wake up quickly—"

"Brother Lin—" The call was weak to the point of frailty, tinged with panting breaths, as if it had come from the heavens. In the midst of the roaring winds and swirling sands of the vast desert, it was barely audible. Yet, somehow, it reached everyone's ears.

Li Wuling slowly opened his eyes. His gaze was dull and lifeless, but in the eyes of the five thousand soldiers, it shone like the morning star in the sky.

"Haha, Little Li is awake, Little Li is awake!" Lin Wanrong burst into loud sobs and laughter, tears streaming down his face.

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