245: Chapter 245 The Immortal Physician

Jingmen City.

Not long after Lin Xiao entered the city, he received a letter from Feng Yuzhang.

"A plague!?"

Upon hearing this news, the generals present were so frightened that their faces turned pale; they were more nervous than they were about going to war!

Zhao Caiwei frowned and said, "Husband, our army cannot advance any further. Moreover, while Jingmen is still safe, we must blockade the city gates as soon as possible!"

"Yes, General Lin. I encountered it once when I was a child. More than half the people in our county died, and the wells smelled of rotting corpses. It was terrifying!"

"This thing... the only way is to lock up everyone who gets infected. There's simply no cure!"

Several officers discussed it fervently. No matter how powerful an army was, it could not stop this invisible enemy!

Lin Xiao, however, was not too shocked. To a modern person, biological warfare was nothing unusual.

Prince Bai had suffered defeat after defeat on the front lines; he would eventually be driven to desperation. Lin Xiao had long been mentally prepared for this.

He just wasn't sure exactly what this plague was; he needed to prescribe the right medicine for the symptoms.

"Don't be nervous. When soldiers come, we block them with generals; when water comes, we dam it with earth. If a problem arises, we'll just find a way to deal with it."

Seeing General Lin so composed, everyone's hearts immediately felt more at ease.

That's right—back then, Lin Xiao had brought Zhao Yunting back from the dead. Perhaps he really did have a way to treat this plague?

Lin Xiao first ordered all the fabric shops in the city to deliver large quantities of cloth, having people cut out many face coverings to be used as masks.

Regardless of the disease, there was a high probability it was spread through droplets; wearing them would always be useful.

To "spread awareness," Lin Xiao planned to first give a lesson to the officials, officers, and medical personnel.

On a high platform in the military camp, Lin Xiao spoke eloquently and demonstrated everything to nearly a thousand attendees.

Those below were required to record every single key point.

For some illiterate rough fellows, he even specifically arranged for literate scholars to assist them.

Lin Xiao's goal was clear: start from the management level to break down various fears and misconceptions about the plague.

As long as those at the top didn't panic, they could control the disease even if it really arrived.

While Jingmen had not yet been affected, they had to start with prevention as soon as possible.

"From this day forward, no one in the city is allowed to drink raw water. A large part of the source of this plague lies in the water; boiling it will kill it."

"Also, these masks I taught you to use must be boiled in water every day after use. This is called disinfection..."

"Items used by the sick, especially plates and chopsticks, must also be boiled..."

"Feces and urine are also contagious! They must not be scattered randomly and must be buried promptly..."

After the teaching session, the officials present were all amazed.

Even some of the practicing physicians felt they had gained much; they went from being dismissive at first to listening intently later on.

Once the class was over, Lin Xiao immediately demanded that what he had said be popularized throughout the city, and even to the counties and villages, as quickly as possible.

Furthermore, the Zhenbei Army set up "makeshift hospital" shelters outside the city in advance, built stoves for boiling water, and dug septic pits, preparing to isolate any potential patients at any time.

Once someone was found to be infected, they would be immediately settled in a makeshift hospital.

Although not a single case had been discovered yet, the entire city was mobilized.

Fortunately, Lin Xiao now lacked no money thanks to various house raids, so the citizens were very cooperative.

By the time everything was done, it was already late at night.

On the way back, Zhao Cailing, who had run around with him all day, had eyes full of curiosity.

As a military doctor and a consultant for the plague, she had followed Lin Xiao since the morning.

At first, she thought Lin Xiao would need her advice on many things, but she later realized she couldn't actually help with much.

"Brother-in-law, you said during the day that the root of the disease is in the water and that boiling the water can kill it. Is that root a physical thing?"

Lin Xiao smiled. "You're quite patient; it's been half the day and you're only asking now."

Zhao Cailing's face reddened, and she puffed out her cheeks. "If you won't say, then forget it, hmph!"

"That's right, those are bacteria—microorganisms that we cannot see."

Lin Xiao said, "It's just that if I said it, many people wouldn't understand, so I didn't go into detail."

"Bacteria?" Zhao Cailing asked curiously. "Then how did you see them, Brother-in-law?"

Lin Xiao said casually, "I saw it in some miscellaneous books."

Zhao Cailing naturally didn't believe him, but she had to admit that Lin Xiao's understanding of the epidemic was very much in line with medical principles.

"Brother-in-law, if you weren't my brother-in-law, I think I could introduce you to my master."

"What do you mean?"

"My master is a descendant of the Medicine King Valley. Because she's too formidable, no one has ever dared to marry her. If it were you, Brother-in-law, maybe you could tame her!"

Zhao Caiwei said from the side, dissatisfied, "Ling'er, stop messing around! How can you talk about your master behind her back like that?"

Lin Xiao was confused. "Medicine King Valley? What is that?"

"Brother-in-law, you know so much about medicine, yet you don't know about the Medicine King Valley?"

Zhao Cailing was shocked, and even Zhao Caiwei was somewhat surprised.

"That is the most famous medical sect on the Tianwu Continent. All healers consider entering the Medicine King Valley as the supreme honor."

"Although it's not as large as the Five Great Sects, no one dares to look down on it!"

"Legend has it that the first Valley Master of the Medicine King Valley was a disciple of the Heavenly Palace!"

The Heavenly Palace again?

Lin Xiao became a bit interested. "So, you are a disciple of the Medicine King Valley?"

Zhao Cailing said dejectedly, "I could have been, but to take care of Father, I didn't leave with my master, so I don't count..."

"Ling'er sacrificed a lot for Father. Father has always felt guilty about it," Zhao Caiwei sighed from the side.

"It's okay. My master said that as long as a healer has the heart to save the world, it's the same everywhere. There is no distinction between high and low!" Zhao Cailing giggled.

Lin Xiao looked at his optimistic and cheerful sister-in-law and laughed, "Don't worry, as long as you follow your brother-in-law, you'll be a Medical Immortal of your generation sooner or later!"

"You said it! I'm holding you to it, Sister, be my witness..."

Amidst their laughter, the three of them returned to the temporary General's Mansion.

As soon as they arrived, they saw General Jiao Daniu waiting with a nervous expression.

"General Lin!"

Jiao Daniu ran over to report: "A group of refugees was found five miles outside the city, and some of them have contracted the plague!"

Lin Xiao's heart skipped a beat. He had just planned to go to Hanyang overnight to lead people to investigate the plague, but he didn't expect it to arrive so soon.

"Did you follow my instructions?"

"Yes! The brothers all wore masks and kept their distance, and those refugees have been settled in the makeshift hospital outside the city!"

Lin Xiao immediately turned his horse around and looked at Zhao Cailing. "Ling'er, do you have the courage to go there with me?"

"Who are you looking down on? I'm a doctor! If I don't go, who will?" Zhao Cailing said proudly.

Zhao Caiwei's brow furrowed slightly, but she didn't stop them.

Lin Xiao said nothing more and took Zhao Cailing straight out of the city.

After arriving at the makeshift hospital, the area had already been blockaded by the Zhenbei Army.

Lin Xiao and Zhao Cailing wore masks and entered a tent. Inside was the smell of burning mugwort, which was a traditional method of disinfection.

There were over a dozen men, women, and children who looked like villagers from somewhere.

They had some purpuric spots on their bodies, some were coughing up blood, and most were listless.

The older ones were doing okay, as their bodies could still hold up.

Two children who looked eight or nine years old were seriously ill and were already bedridden.

"This is General Lin of our Zhenbei Army!"

The captain in charge of the makeshift hospital introduced him, and several villagers immediately knelt on the ground in fear.

"General! General, please don't kill us! We will leave on our own..."

"We only fled here and didn't plan to enter the city... If you want to kill someone, kill us, but please spare the children..."

Several villagers cried and were about to kowtow.

Lin Xiao stepped forward directly and, ignoring the alarm of those around him, helped them up with his hands.

"Fellow villagers, there's no need to panic. Tell me, who wants to kill you?"

"I... we are from near Lu City in Yong Province. After the village caught the disease, the White King's Army drove us away. If we didn't leave, we would die..."

An old man with graying hair said tearfully, "My old lady was shot dead just because she walked too slowly..."

"In this dead of winter, other counties won't let us in either. We had no choice but to come to Jingmen to try our luck..."

The soldiers present were moved by this despair and sorrow, and many showed expressions of righteous indignation.

Lin Xiao's gaze turned cold. Although he had long guessed it was Prince Bai, this poisonous scheme was far more venomous than the previous ones...

As a prince, to come up with such a cruel strategy, was he planning to destroy everything since he couldn't have it?

"Old man, our Zhenbei Army will not kill civilians randomly. We brought you here to save you."

Lin Xiao pointed to Zhao Cailing behind him and introduced her loudly:

"This Doctor Zhao, despite her youth, is a Medical Immortal from the Medicine King Valley. Let her take a look at you."

As soon as these words were spoken, the soldiers and villagers present were all shocked!

Although some had never heard of the Medicine King Valley, "Medical Immortal" sounded formidable!

Zhao Cailing's bright eyes widened as she looked blankly at her boastful brother-in-law!

What are you talking about!?

Lin Xiao remained calm, turning back to give her an encouraging look.

He had said he would make her a Medical Immortal of her generation; this was called being as good as his word!