499: Chapter 499 No Fate in This Life

Lin Xiao had basically handed over the extraction of Penicillin to Hua Nongying and Gu Zhiyao.

After all, he had tried so many times and failed, proving that he truly lacked talent in this area.

Rather than giving blind instructions, it was better to only provide the theoretical foundation.

Extraction and testing would take at least one to two days, so Lin Xiao took advantage of this free time to visit the medical point for refugees.

In a large area of requisitioned civilian houses, the wounded were divided into three zones according to the severity of their injuries.

A small portion with minor injuries could basically move around freely.

Those with moderate injuries needed quiet rest, and the Militia sent people to care for them.

As for the hundreds who were seriously injured, most had various complications such as wound infections, and some had already undergone amputations to save their lives.

Inside the severe injury zone, the air felt exceptionally oppressive.

Faces devoid of hope stared blankly, their eyes dim and lifeless, as if they were merely waiting for the moment death arrived.

When they heard that the Prince of Zhenbei had come to visit them, although some were quite excited, most could only open their eyes and steal a single glance.

In truth, when one's life is hanging by a thread, no matter what great figure arrives, they wouldn't care much.

"Please forgive us, Your Highness. The patients here are all in critical condition and cannot get out of bed to pay their respects."

The official in charge of the severe injury zone said with a nervous expression.

"It's no matter. Just mind your own business; don't let my presence delay your duties."

The official nodded repeatedly but still didn't dare to leave, silently following by his side.

Lin Xiao walked through the rooms, looking at each bed one by one.

Occasionally, he would infuse some true qi into those who were on the verge of giving up, allowing them to hold on a little longer.

Even holding on for one more day meant an extra glimmer of hope.

He didn't dare use Technique lightly.

As the saying goes, too much of a good thing is as bad as too little.

Innate qi is extremely powerful. For these weak, injured people without any martial cultivation, it wouldn't be a healing elixir but rather a lethal poison!

As he passed by a certain sickbed, a father and daughter caught Lin Xiao's attention.

A little girl, about ten years old, was wiping the forehead of a middle-aged man lying down with a fever.

The girl kept murmuring, "Daddy, are you feeling better? Don't leave A-Shui behind..."

Seeing this, the official hurriedly explained, "Your Highness, this child is called Xiao Shuier. Her father is a carpenter surnamed Lü."

"This Carpenter Lü built a cellar at home, and by relying on that cellar, his wife and daughter escaped the disaster."

"However, to help defend the city, he didn't make it back to hide in time. One of his arms was severed by the Khitan people."

"Fortunately, he's tough; he didn't die after jumping into the river. But the injury was too severe, and by the time he was found, it had already begun to fester."

Looking at Carpenter Lü's attributes, Lin Xiao felt a surge of anxiety!

[Lü Sixian, 35 years old, Hanyang carpenter, Aptitude: yellow grade]

[Traits: Supernatural Craftsmanship (Legendary), Loyal and Gallant (Special), Carpenter]

This was the first time Lin Xiao had seen a legendary artisan-type trait since Old Yu!

Even that kid Xie Yu didn't have this talent!

Although this Lü Sixian hadn't achieved much to date, it was clear he simply lacked a guide and a platform to display his brilliance!

Lin Xiao was furious; those damn Khitan people had actually cut off the arm of a top-tier artisan!

However, as long as he could be saved, even with only one arm, Lü Sixian would surely be of great use.

Thirty-five years old—he was still young!

Old Yu was certainly formidable, but he was getting on in years and needed a successor!

"Your Highness..."

Seeing Lin Xiao standing nearby without leaving, Lü Sixian squeezed out all his strength, attempting to sit up.

"Don't get up. If you have something to say, just say it," Lin Xiao hurriedly urged.

Lü Sixian pleaded feebly, "I beg Your Highness... let my daughter go to the Prince's Manor as a maid... She is very hardworking and very well-behaved..."

Xiao Shuier looked up at Lin Xiao with teary eyes, filled with fear, anxiety, resistance, and a sense of maturity that exceeded her age.

"Where is your wife?"

Lin Xiao noticed that Lü Sixian's marital status was 'Married' rather than 'Widowed,' which meant his wife was still alive.

Lü Sixian looked heartbroken and remained silent.

"My mother left. She took all the money in the house with her..." Xiao Shuier bit her lip, trying hard not to cry.

The official on the side sighed, clearly having known about this for a long time.

"What a sin! To be able to remarry, she didn't even want her child!"

"Xiao Shuier is so pitiful. If it weren't for the fact that we can barely protect ourselves, I would have wanted to adopt her..."

The other injured patients in the same room either expressed disdain for the mother or pity for the girl.

Lin Xiao frowned. The saying 'husband and wife are like birds in the same forest, but they fly their separate ways when disaster strikes' was truly not just an empty phrase.

This also showed how rare and precious it was that Xiao Qingxuan had not left during the crisis at the Stone Fortress.

"Lü Sixian, focus on recovering for now. This Prince will do his best to cure you."

Lin Xiao encouraged him, "Surely you would prefer to be able to watch your daughter grow up yourself, wouldn't you?"

"I... if I could, of course I..."

Halfway through his sentence, Lü Sixian suddenly realized something was amiss.

"Your Highness, how do you know this lowly one's name?"

Lü Sixian's pale face was full of confusion, and Xiao Shuier also looked at Lin Xiao curiously from the side.

Lin Xiao smiled. "This Prince cherishes talent. Your craftsmanship is excellent, and I have long taken notice of you. Therefore, you must persevere, so that in the future you can work for me and for the people of the Northern Borders."

Lü Sixian certainly didn't think Lin Xiao had truly taken a liking to his craft; after all, he was just a nobody.

Clearly, the Prince was concerned for them in his heart, which is why he said those words to boost morale.

At the thought that the great Prince of Zhenbei was encouraging him, a spark of fighting spirit ignited in Lü Sixian's eyes, and tears of excitement rolled down.

The news that the Prince of Zhenbei was in the ward, promising to do his utmost to save these seriously injured people, spread rapidly.

When they heard that the Prince could even call out the name of a lowly carpenter, everyone was even more deeply moved.

The Prince truly has the common folk in his heart!

[Comprehension Ability +134, Comprehension Ability +236...]

Lin Xiao was somewhat caught off guard by these suddenly surging Comprehension Ability points. This works too!?

He really wasn't doing this for the sake of Comprehension Ability points!

The following evening.

Lin Xiao was in the backyard of the Inspectors Office, watching Hua Nongying, who was wearing a mask, perform the final concentration of the Penicillin.

Gu Zhiyao also held her breath on the side, her eyes fixed on Hua Nongying with a hint of admiration.

Through this collaboration, the two women had come to appreciate each other, as medicine-making and wine-brewing shared many similarities.

Suddenly, Zhao Cailing walked in with a solemn expression. "Brother-in-law, that Lü Sixian you asked me to keep a close eye on just had a flare-up of heat toxin. He's about to fade away."

Lin Xiao frowned. He had infused him with true qi yesterday, but in the end, was it still just a drop in the bucket?

"Nongying, since this Penicillin has been extracted, let's take it and try it," Gu Zhiyao said boldly.

"Ah?" Hua Nongying was shocked. "But... but it hasn't been tested yet."

"There's no time. Rather than certain death, it's better to give it a try."

Gu Zhiyao looked at Lin Xiao. "What do you say, Your Highness?"

Lin Xiao knew it was madness, but things had come to this point; they could only take a gamble.

"Bring the prepared silver needles and white liquor. You must pay attention to disinfection, and avoid using too large a dose."

Gu Zhiyao broke into an excited smile. "Don't worry, just leave the rest to me..."

"If Penicillin is ineffective, then it only proves that the Prince and I have no destiny to become one family in this life!"