Chapter 171: Human Meat Sieve

Chapter 171: A Human Sieve

"A wise man has his ways."

Shen Fuqing raised an eyebrow slightly, a confident, knowing smile playing at the corners of his lips, as if everything were already under his control.

Qin Jiao: "So what's Lord Shen's clever plan?"

"Let's talk somewhere else—this isn't the place."

Given where Guan Jiu's allegiances might lie, talking about this in his home could get us in trouble if someone overheard.

They left the government office and boarded a carriage, with Shen Fuqing leading Qin Jiao and the others to the inn they'd stayed at before.

Cong Shuang and Military Doctor Hou had been staying here with Xiao Baiyu and the rest, so when Qin Jiao arrived, he found Cong Shuang first, handed the kid over to her and Doctor Hou, and then went to look for Xiao Baiyu and He Zhao.

As Qin Jiao and Xie Nai reached the first floor, they saw Xiao Baiyu and He Zhao rushing down the stairs from the fourth floor, with a grim-faced young attendant right behind them.

"What's going on?" Qin Jiao grabbed He Zhao. "Why the hurry?"

Xie Nai spotted the medical kit slung over Xiao Baiyu's shoulder and guessed, "Did someone get bitten by a Sharp-crested Snake?"

"Yeah, in the backyard garden," Xiao Baiyu said, already heading toward the back.

The innkeeper, a man in his forties who liked his leisure, had set aside a small flower bed in the modest backyard. This time of year, the rain lilies were in full bloom, their soft pink petals looking like rosy clouds. Qin Jiao and He Zhao had stopped by a few times to admire them.

By the time Qin Jiao and the others got to the garden, the snake was long gone. Three young women were lying in the thick rain lilies, unconscious, their lips purple. The snake-repellent sachets they'd been wearing were torn and lying on the ground, for some reason.

The innkeeper, frantic, rushed over to Xiao Baiyu: "Doctor, please hurry! They're so young—they can't die!"

Xiao Baiyu and his group had been staying here a while, and the innkeeper already knew he was a doctor. So the moment the attendant found the victims, the innkeeper's first thought was to get Xiao Baiyu.

"The bites are on the ankles, the back of the neck, and the arms," He Zhao said quickly. "Senior brother, you take the lead—I'll back you up."

With three people hurt, Xiao Baiyu couldn't handle it alone in time. Luckily, He Zhao knew some medicine and could help with the emergency treatment.

"Alright."

Xiao Baiyu nodded, opened his kit, and laid out his tools. He Zhao followed along, carefully doing each step.

The innkeeper watched, his anxiety obvious: "What the hell is going on? Why are so many Sharp-crested Snakes showing up all of a sudden? These girls are the same age as my daughter—they can't die!"

Shen Fuqing had already walked around the garden once. His guess was that the women were admiring the flowers when the snake struck out of nowhere.

"Don't worry, they're not gonna die."

Xiao Baiyu said, sprinkling medicinal powder on one of the women's wounds to reassure the innkeeper.

They'd gotten some venom from the Sharp-crested Snake earlier, and Xiao Baiyu and Military Doctor Hou had been studying it and testing antidotes. They hadn't fully cracked the cure yet, but keeping people alive was no problem.

"Thank God, thank God... Otherwise, I'd never forgive myself."

Hearing that, the innkeeper sighed in relief, then suddenly asked, "Xiao Wang, what about the folks from Xiaoxiang Medical Hall? Are they here yet?"

In Xiaoxiang County, anyone bitten by a Sharp-crested Snake got sent to Xiaoxiang Medical Hall. The innkeeper had sent a guy to get help from there while also calling for Xiao Baiyu.

"Not yet, boss. There seem to be way more snakebite cases than usual today. When I got there, the place was swamped!" the attendant named Xiao Wang reported.

"Oh no, what now? Go push them again—people's lives are on the line!"

"Alright, I'm off!"

Xiao Wang was about to run off when Shen Fuqing raised a hand to stop him. "Leave them here at the inn, if you really want to save them."

Shen Fuqing's words clearly meant something more, and both Qin Jiao and Xie Nai shot him a look.

The innkeeper's face went red with worry. "Sir, what do you mean? Of course I want to save them! They got bitten by a Sharp-crested Snake in my place. If they make it, I'd trade my own life for theirs without a second thought!"

The innkeeper was a plain, honest guy, and his voice was shaking as he spoke. Xiao Baiyu had met him a few times and knew he was a good man, so he said gently, "Don't worry, boss. No one's trading any lives."

Then Xiao Baiyu added, "I need you to get a clean room ready, seal the doors and windows so no draft gets in, and round up some medicinal herbs."

"Understood, I'll arrange it immediately!" The innkeeper acknowledged, then directed others, "And you lot, fetch writing materials to note down what to purchase."

Xiao Baiyu and He Zhao had already administered emergency treatment to the three women's wounds, drawing out the superficial venom with specialized instruments. As the attendants hurried to carry the injured upstairs, He Zhao wiped his hands and called out to the innkeeper, "Don't worry, my senior brother is from Apricot Grove Manor—far more reliable than that so-called Xiaoxiang Medical Hall!"

In the Tianyuan Dynasty, everyone knew the name Apricot Grove Manor. So, once He Zhao finished speaking, the anxiety on the innkeeper's face vanished: "Oh! A divine physician from Apricot Grove Manor! Then I'm at ease!"

The attendants soon carried the three unconscious women upstairs. Qin Jiao took a careful look—compared to their earlier pallor and purple lips, their condition had markedly improved, with a hint of color returning to their lips at least.

Xiao Baiyu could handle the subsequent treatment alone, so He Zhao didn't assist further. The group settled in the garden. Before long, the innkeeper, grateful for their help, had the attendants bring out fine tea and refreshments.

Qin Jiao poured tea for everyone, especially He Zhao. When He Zhao returned from washing his hands, he found Qin Jiao holding a cup of tea, looking as if he intended to feed it to him personally.

"What are you up to?" He Zhao halted, hesitant to approach. "Little Qin Jiao, open your skylight and let's speak plainly."

Qin Jiao found it amusing: "Why are you nervous? I'm just commemorating the beginning of our friendship."

"Huh?" He Zhao was taken aback, then a thought struck him, and he laughed heartily. "You mean that time at Liming Academy!"

"Yes." Qin Jiao handed the tea to He Zhao. Watching him treat the injured had reminded Qin Jiao of long ago at Liming Academy, when He Zhao had bandaged his wounds—the first time they truly connected.

"That was ages ago. Can't believe you still remember."

He Zhao smiled and sat down at the table. Qin Jiao curved his lips, thinking, You remember too—otherwise, how would you understand the moment I mentioned it?

"Let's set that aside for now." He Zhao set down his cup and turned to Shen Fuqing. "What did Lord Shen mean earlier? Why say the three women should stay at the inn if we truly want to save them? Would they die at Xiaoxiang Medical Hall?"

Though He Zhao had been focused on treating the wounds, he'd also been half-listening to Shen Fuqing's conversation.

"And what about Lord Shen's earlier mention of visiting Xiaoxiang Medical Hall?" Qin Jiao added.

"Little Master Qin misunderstands—Your Excellency never entered Xiaoxiang Medical Hall." Shen Fuqing held his teacup, a cold, sardonic smile on his face. "It's heavily guarded by soldiers. A civil official like me attempting to force entry would be turned into a bloody human sieve before even getting close."

Qin Jiao was puzzled: "Then how did you..."

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