Chapter 29

The mountain path was treacherous, and Daili walked at a sluggish pace.

From the front of the line, to the middle, and then slowly slipping all the way to the rear. Daili knew she was walking very slowly; in a little while, she might fall behind.

But she believed she had done well enough. As for that spirit of gritting one's teeth and never giving up until the last breath...

Forget it, it wasn't for her.

Daili stopped and looked around.

"Has my lady found a suitable location?" A deep male voice came from ahead.

Daili turned her head at the sound and saw that the man who had been at the front of the line had somehow come over. The ground was thick with grass and foliage; large, connected leaves could hide the rugged, uneven terrain beneath. A moment of inattention, and one could easily step wrong and twist an ankle.

But Qin Shaozong moved as if walking on level ground. In fact, in the brief moment Daili hesitated and felt a pang of envy, he had already walked from the distance right up to her.

Perhaps because she hadn't answered, the corners of his eyes lifted with a sharp edge. "You used to spin lies effortlessly. Has your tongue stopped working now?"

For a moment, Daili completely understood why Li Zan had sent men to hunt him across the mountains. This man was just that arrogant, that infuriating.

But under another's roof, one must bow their head. Daili could only say, "What location?"

"Walking so slowly, weren't you trying to find a place to retire to the mountains? To live among the birds and beasts." Qin Shaozong said, raising a hand to point at a ravine they had just crossed. "In my opinion, that spot isn't bad. There's a snake den there. Red chain snakes, non-venomous, only about as thick as a child's wrist. A bite wouldn't be life-threatening, and my lady certainly wouldn't be bothered by mosquitoes at night."

Daili: "..."

Even though she knew he was trying to scare her, Daili was inherently afraid of those cold-blooded, crawling creatures. Just the thought that she might have actually stepped over a snake den made goosebumps break out all over her back.

Daili quickly walked forward.

Qin Shaozong followed, a smirk playing on his lips.

It didn't last long, however. Qin Shaozong watched as she began to veer off course, finally walking to a large tree and picking up a straight branch about as thick as a chicken egg.

Daili wanted to find a branch to use as a hiking pole, to make walking the mountain path less strenuous. But after testing it, she found the branch she had picked was a bit too long.

The length of a hiking pole relates to the user's height. For someone of her stature, around 1.2 meters would suffice.

This branch was about 1.45 meters.

Daili stepped on the lower end of the branch, trying to use her weight to snap off the extra twenty-some centimeters.

Unfortunately, perhaps because the branch was relatively thick, or perhaps because the section she wanted to break off was too short and too close to the ground to apply force properly, she stomped several times without breaking it.

A gaze brimming with amusement had been watching her from the side. "Is my lady picking out a snake-driving stick in advance?"

Daili corrected him, "It's a hiking pole. Using this as an aid makes walking mountain paths much less tiring."

Qin Shaozong didn't quite understand why this "hiking pole" needed a specific length, but seeing her futile attempts, he reminded, "Use a knife."

Daili paused, suddenly remembering she had a tool on her.

The night they hid in the cave, he had given her a dagger. He hadn't asked for it back, so she had kept it, feeling somewhat more secure with the blade by her side.

Daili took out the short knife and, under Qin Shaozong's complicated gaze, crouched down. Holding the knife in her right hand and pressing down on the branch with her left, she began to saw slowly.

"Scratch, scratch..."

The dagger left a few shallow scratches on the branch's surface.

Qin Shaozong's mouth twitched. "By the time you finish sawing through that branch, the sapling next to it will be tall enough to block out the sun. Give it here."

Daili looked at the knife marks, thinking to herself that she only needed to cut partway in, then she could step on it from the opposite direction to snap it off. It couldn't be as exaggerated as he said.

But she stood up anyway and handed him the branch.

Qin Shaozong took the branch. Before Daili could even hand over the dagger from her other hand, she saw a flash of white light before her eyes, followed immediately by a soft snap as something fell to the ground.

Daili looked down. It was a small section of branch, about twenty-some centimeters long, precisely the part she had wanted to cut off. The cut followed exactly along her shallow scratches, not a hair off.

Daili: "..."

Qin Shaozong casually scraped off the excess twigs from both sides of the branch, sheathed the short knife, and said, "Take it. Keep up."

Daili silently put away her dagger, took the hiking pole, and continued on her way.

About halfway, Daili suddenly heard a cacophony of battle cries. War drums thundered, shouts and the clamor of combat rose in waves, like a depth charge exploding and sending towering waves skyward.

Daili's heart leaped, and she instinctively looked around.

Her surroundings were normal. No cold arrows flew from the forest, no armored soldiers charged with drawn blades. There was only the mountain wind, carrying the sounds of slaughter as it brushed past her face.

Whether it was Daili's imagination or not, she thought she caught a faint scent of blood on the wind.

The sounds of battle seemed to materialize into invisible lions and tigers before her eyes, locked in combat with fangs and claws, churning up dust and splattering flesh and blood.

"It seems the hunt has begun." Qin Shaozong's lips curved into a smile.

Mo Yanyun, Hu Bao, and the others were extremely excited. They had prepared for a long time, eagerly anticipating this hunt that could crush Li Zan's main forces in one fell swoop.

"The Xuanxiao Cavalry has surrounded them from all sides, taking full advantage of the terrain. This battle should be over quickly," Mo Yanyun said, excited yet with a touch of regret that he couldn't be on the field himself.

As he spoke, he suddenly remembered something. "My lord, I heard Li Zan has a fierce general under him named Wang Qinglie. This man possesses extraordinary martial skill, Herculean strength, and wields a three-pointed double-edged blade with god-like prowess. In the past, when Li Zan's power wasn't as great and he suffered several encirclements by the Jizhou troops, it was this Wang Qinglie who repeatedly saved him from peril."

"The tide has turned, and morale is shattered. How can the mere bravery of one man salvage that?" Hu Bao said quietly.

Mo Yanyun thought for a moment and agreed.

Taking a step back, even if Wang Qinglie managed to extract Li Zan from this encirclement, saving him from death, it still wouldn't change the fate of the army Li Zan brought to Peach Blossom Ridge being annihilated.

With the main force gone, only the old, weak, sick, and injured would remain. Dealing with them would be as easy as slicing vegetables.

Amidst the continuous sounds of slaughter, Qin Shaozong and the others arrived at the rear of Peach Blossom Ridge, the encampment of the Xuanxiao Cavalry's commissariat.

The dark "Qin" banner fluttered in the wind. Its edges were not straight but cut into flame-like points. As it rippled in the wind, the edges seemed to form a row of sharp tiger teeth, exuding formidable intimidation.

The guards at the camp saw a group approaching from afar. Once they recognized who it was, their hearts surged with excitement and immense joy.

"The Lord Marquis returns—!"

A long horn blast swept through the entire camp like a gale. More and more soldiers came forward to welcome them, and the previously solemn camp instantly became bustling with noise and excitement.

This was Dai Li's first time encountering an ancient military camp. It was largely as she had imagined; this temporary encampment was much more rudimentary than a permanent garrison.

There was no dedicated armory, no formal training grounds. The soldiers lived in separate camps with their weapons, prioritizing ease of departure.

A multitude of gazes turned her way—admiration, shock, curiosity, confusion, bewilderment...

They came in all varieties, akin to a pack of wolves suddenly discovering a lamb, utterly out of place, nestled in their den.

Dai Li pondered. The look in their eyes suggested the army was exclusively male, with no camp followers kept.

This was a good sign. It indicated that the commanding officer held his soldiers to high standards, wanting their strength focused solely on slaughtering enemies on the battlefield, not on women.

The leader sets the example and should act accordingly.

Based on her understanding of him over these past days, that man would not compromise his authority for the sake of a woman. Even if she followed him into the camp, she would likely have her own tent.

At most, one more day and her monthly courses would be over. It was fortunate they had come to the camp. If they had stayed on the tower ship, he would certainly have...

Thinking this, Dai Li suddenly found the intense stares around her somewhat endearing.

Qin Shaozong suddenly turned his head to glance at Dai Li. Sensing his gaze, she quickly composed her expression, instantly becoming elegant and dignified, as if the flicker of cunning he had just seen was merely his imagination.

The muscles along Qin Shaozong's jaw tightened. He unconsciously ran his tongue over a canine tooth, trying to wipe away that thoughtful itch upon it.

However, very soon, whether it was Dai Li, Qin Shaozong, or any soldier in the army, all their attention was captured by another matter.

"Clatter, clatter, clatter—"

A fast horse galloped in from the direction of the battlefield, its hooves pounding, kicking up a cloud of dust. Upon closer look, one could see this horse was somewhat unusual.

An ordinary cavalryman rode one horse, but two people were hunched over this steed.

A voice, clear as a booming bell, shouted from the distance, so urgent its tail end even cracked, "Doctor Ding! Doctor Ding Lianxi! Come quickly, save a life!!"

The Dark Cavalry were all equipped with sturdy, well-fed steeds, their speed unmatched by ordinary horses. In mere moments, the distant rider charged into the camp.

A gust of wind swept past, carrying a thick, heavy scent of blood.

"Doctor Ding!"

The entire camp was calling for Doctor Ding. Dai Li guessed this Doctor Ding was likely a military physician, and probably the most skilled one in the army.

She saw Qin Shaozong's face darken as he strode quickly towards the newcomers. After a moment's thought, Dai Li followed.

Hearing the shouts outside, Ding Lianxi hurried out of his tent. He was around forty, with a broad forehead, fair complexion, and a light beard, appearing to have a very gentle disposition.

But at this moment, the chief physician of the Dark Cavalry wore a look of shock, drawing a sharp breath. "How could Commander Qiao be injured so grievously? He's nearly bled dry."

This was no exaggeration. The man called "Commander Qiao" was critically wounded. The breastplate on his torso had been torn open by a weapon with brute force, the armor breached and the flesh beneath injured. As far as the eye could see, everything was stained a blinding red.

And still, blood continued to gush relentlessly from his body. In stark contrast to the vast, glaring red was his face, growing paler by the second.

Anyone could see his life force was fading.

The man who had brought Qiao Wangfei back said with fury, "The encirclement strategy was going perfectly. We had wiped out countless enemy troops and were on the verge of taking the salt smuggler leader's head when that Wang Qinglie suddenly appeared. The man was nearly ten feet tall, massive as a mountain, incredibly strong. He wielded a three-pointed blade with masterful skill, killing many of our soldiers to cover Li Zan's retreat. Seeing this, Commander Qiao, Commander Feng, and Commandant Yan joined forces to fight him. After a long, bitter struggle, at the cost of Commander Qiao's severe injuries and Commander Feng and Commandant Yan's lighter wounds, they finally managed to behead him."

Those around listened, both shocked and enraged.

Every soldier in their Dark Cavalry was the elite of the elite. One could say that within the regions of You and Bing, under Qin Shaozong's control, the very best of all troops were selected for the Dark Cavalry.

They ate good meat at least every other day, with meat and rice in ample supply. Combined with training intensity far exceeding that of ordinary soldiers, over time, every Dark Cavalryman developed a robust physique.

Yet this was merely the foundation. This cavalry unit, built with heavy investment, eliminated a portion of its men every season.

Those who failed the assessments were sent away. Then the staggeringly high allowances were gone, the fine food they could eat to their heart's content was gone, and the honor envied by others was gone.

Under such stimuli, every soldier was trained to be agile and skilled. If ordinary soldiers were like this, how much more so the commanders?

The three thousand Dark Cavalry were divided into four companies: East, South, West, and North. Each company had only one head commander. This head commander led over seven hundred men. He might not be the absolute best fighter, but his martial prowess was certainly among the top ranks.

Even so, with three of them joining forces, Qiao Wangfei was still gravely injured to this extent. How could they not be shocked?

While the man was speaking, Ding Lianxi had already given Qiao Wangfei a preliminary examination. The more he checked, the grimmer his expression became. Finally, he shook his head helplessly at Qin Shaozong. "My lord, the wound is too large. The bleeding simply cannot be stopped. I beg your pardon, but I am powerless."

Silence fell all around at his words.

Some gritted their teeth, their eyes reddening uncontrollably. Others clenched their fists, glaring towards the battlefield with murderous intent.

Qin Shaozong closed his eyes. "Take Qiao Wangfei..."

"Do you have any cattle in the camp? Perhaps try slaughtering a healthy ox, then place him inside the ox's belly. He might not have to die." A gentle voice came through, like a spring breeze sweeping across the boundless, sandy wilderness.

Qin Shaozong whirled his head around.

Everyone's gaze shifted in unison, focusing on the woman standing just two steps outside the circle surrounding Qiao Wangfei.

She wore dull, grayish garments, yet her skin was like snow, her hair like satin, her eyes limpid as water. Her entire person seemed to glow with a gentle, pearlescent light, making it hard to look away.

Dai Li met those deep brown eyes, unafraid. "He's already in this state. The worst that can happen is death. Why not try this folk remedy? Treat a dead horse as if it were still alive."

"My lord, I have never heard of such an absurd thing," Ding Lianxi frowned.

Placing a dying man inside an ox's belly to save him? In his decades of medical practice, he had never heard of such a thing. This was sheer nonsense! Not only might the man still be lost, but a sturdy ox would be wasted too.

But Qin Shaozong said, "Bring an ox here."

A soldier immediately went to carry out the order. The logistics corps had ample supplies, with no shortage of oxen and horses for transport. Soon, an ox was led over.

Qin Shaozong drew the ring-pommeled sword from his waist and personally sliced open the cow's belly. With a wet, sloshing sound, bright red blood immediately flowed out. Hu Bao swiftly cleared the cow's entrails, making space within the abdominal cavity.

When it was about ready, Mo Yanyun and another man lifted Qiao Wangfei together and placed him inside the cow's belly, leaving only his head exposed to breathe.

Ding Lianxi crouched beside the cow, his fingers pressed against Qiao Wangfei's neck, checking his pulse.

Everyone watched nervously, no one speaking, as if afraid that the sound of their voices might flatten out the faint beat of Commander Qiao's pulse.

Time flowed slowly by. No one left.

"Huh?" A high-pitched sound of confusion startled them all.

Their nerves felt plucked by an invisible hand. Before their hearts could fully leap into their throats, they heard Ding Lianxi exclaim in astonishment, "C-Commander Qiao's pulse... it's stabilizing!"

Normally, after losing so much blood, Qiao Wangfei should have already breathed his last. Yet now, a pulse remained. True, it was weak, but it was definitely palpable and gradually becoming steadier.

A miraculous cure, truly unbelievable!

Doctor Ding's exclamation was like a boulder dropped into a lake, immediately stirring up a wave of astonished murmurs around him.

"Is it really true?"

"Heaven has eyes! This is wonderful, Commander Qiao can be saved!"

...

Dai Li noticed the man beside her looking at her. She also turned her head and said seriously to Qin Shaozong, "It's still too early to say he's out of danger. We must wait and see what happens next."

This dose of cold water was necessary because this "abdominal packing therapy" was something she had only read about in books.

It was said that Genghis Khan, the legendary conqueror, once had a beloved general who was gravely wounded and on the brink of death during a campaign against the Khitans. The Great Khan immediately ordered a live cow to be cut open, and the general was placed inside its belly, thereby evading the summons of the King of Hell.

This therapy was later recorded by Li Shizhen in the Compendium of Materia Medica: "For the severely wounded, place them inside a freshly opened ox's belly; after some time, they will revive." 1

Reportedly, the principle was twofold. First, the freshly opened cow's belly was warm, and its abdominal cavity was largely a sterile environment.

Excessive blood loss causes a sharp drop in body temperature. At such a time, what is critically needed is a clean, warm furnace close to human body temperature to stabilize the wounded person's core temperature, preventing their body from consuming fat reserves on futile heat production.

Second, ox spine could be used medicinally; even applied externally, it was said to have the ability to staunch bleeding swiftly.

However, the above were merely cold words on a page. Whether it would actually work in practice, Dai Li had absolutely no certainty.

It truly was a case of treating a dead horse as if it were still alive.

Saving him would mean gaining a life. But if the treatment failed, it could only be considered a return to his destined fate.

Ding Lianxi looked at Dai Li, both excited and remorseful. "This lady is..."

He didn't know how to address her.

Dai Li introduced herself, "Dai Li. 'Dai' as in the color of distant mountains, 'Li' as in dawn. You can just call me Dai Li."

Qin Shaozong's eyebrow twitched.

Feeling his superior's gaze sweep over, Ding Lianxi quickly lowered his eyes, avoiding looking directly at Dai Li. He bowed deeply to the woman before him. "My ancestors practiced medicine for generations, and I myself have been a physician for thirty-five years. Yet today, I have learned that there is always someone greater, and skies beyond our own sky. I was disrespectful earlier. I beg Lady Dai not to hold it against me."

Dai Li hadn't expected such a formal gesture. She paused, then returned a slight curtsey. "I merely happened to know some folk remedies. I hardly deserve the phrase 'skies beyond our sky'."