Martial Arts: I Have a Wilderness World-Chapter 79: County Magistrate

Slowly, as the medicated bath cooled and the water cleared, Cheng Zongyang, whose eyes were shut tight and jaw firmly clenched, began to relax.

This time, he didn’t have to strike his body.

Without leaving the tub, he opened his eyes and spat out a mouthful of bloody saliva onto the floor. Then, he summoned his interface and looked at the last section—

Martial Arts:

Body Refining Skill (35/1000, Beginner’s Practice)

Basic Saber Technique (33/100, Uninitiated)

—

"It was at eleven, and now it’s thirty-five. An increase of twenty-four points!" Cheng Zongyang let out a sigh of relief.

’The effect is incredible!’

But he didn’t know if the twenty-four points was a fixed amount from the medicated bath, or if the medicinal food he’d eaten had given him a bonus.

"It’s fine. I’ll switch things around next time." A sharp glint shone in Cheng Zongyang’s eyes.

After getting out of the water, he looked down at his body—abs, V-cut, Adonis belt, tiger stripes...

"Tsk tsk, this is the body I dreamed of having in my past life!"

The excess fat on his body had vanished, and it had been completely reshaped.

At the same time, he also noticed he seemed to have grown a bit taller.

’Almost 170cm now!’

"I didn’t expect the first medicated bath of this second stage to change my appearance so drastically."

Cheng Zongyang let out a soft breath and took a moment to assess the changes in his body.

Muscle Strengthening was equivalent to Refined Flesh. This first session had burned away the surface layer of fat, altering his physique and muscle definition.

As a result, he didn’t feel a significant increase in Power.

’If I keep cultivating this way, I can reach the Eighth Grade Martial Arts Realm in less than two months!’

But he also understood that the greatest effects of the regimen came from the Medicinal Materials.

No matter how small the Ginseng Root was, it came from a Centennial Ginseng. That’s why the effect was so potent.

’Once things have settled down, maybe I’ll learn some medicine from Second Uncle. Medicine and Martial Arts go hand-in-hand. If I know medicine myself, it will be much more convenient to use these remedies in the future.’

After finishing his medicated bath for the day, Cheng Zongyang didn’t stop. Instead, he continued to practice his Basic Saber Technique.

Only by reaching the Beginner level as soon as possible would he feel more secure.

Jade Peak County, Central Region, in the rear courtyard of the Government Office.

The rear courtyard of the Government Office had been converted. 𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞

Its unused rooms had been turned into lodging for the city’s Doctors and a temporary infirmary.

In the brightly lit courtyard, a worried-looking Cheng Guangshan watched more than a dozen Doctors discussing their patients’ symptoms.

The patients housed here were all City Guard Soldiers. As soon as one of them fell ill, they were brought to this courtyard.

Many didn’t understand why they were being brought to the Government Office, but no one offered an explanation.

They were now in a heated discussion, unable to reach a consensus. The symptoms were largely the same—chills and high fever—but there were minor variations from patient to patient.

This led to a disagreement on how to formulate a general prescription.

Just as their heated discussion failed to produce a result, a middle-aged man in official robes entered through the courtyard gate. He carried himself with a refined and handsome air.

"Lord County Magistrate." Someone recognized the newcomer and immediately fell to their knees to kowtow.

Instantly, all the others followed suit, paying their respects.

Looking at the Doctors in the courtyard, Chang Younian asked politely:

"There’s no need for such ceremony. Please, rise. The number of patients outside the city is growing, and a considerable number have been infected within the city as well. We must find a cure as quickly as possible. You should all understand that if this plague is not resolved, none of you will be going home."

"It’s not that I am being cruel, but this matter is urgent and not open for discussion."

But then, one of them said nervously, "We have no tools, nor any usable Medicinal Materials. How are we supposed to diagnose and treat them?"

Chang Younian smiled. "Rest assured. Just tell the guards what you require, and they will have it all delivered."

"Of course, if you are able to resolve this plague, I will not be stingy with the rewards."

Amidst the crowd, Cheng Guangshan remained silent. He had long suspected something like this epidemic might happen and had already taken precautions at home.

’But he didn’t understand. Why wait until the epidemic erupted to deal with something that could have been prevented much earlier?’

’Calling it urgent now... isn’t it a little too late?’

The county had its own Official Physicians who served the Government Office, so they must have known about the situation.

But he wasn’t an official, so he had no way of knowing the County Magistrate’s thoughts.

But after a moment’s thought, the benevolent heart of a healer took over, and he couldn’t help but speak up.

"Your Excellency, would you be willing to hear this commoner’s suggestion? It might help reduce the spread of the epidemic."

Hearing this, Chang Younian smiled. "Of course. As long as a suggestion is effective, I will adopt it and proceed accordingly."

Hearing this, Cheng Guangshan’s impression of the County Magistrate improved considerably. Though they had never interacted before, the man seemed reasonable enough under the circumstances. At the very least, he was willing to listen to suggestions.

Cheng Guangshan began to speak at once.

"First, send men to quickly burn the bodies outside the city walls. I’ve seen them, but the City Guard Soldiers wouldn’t listen to me. Those corpses are the source of the infection. They must be burned to ash."

"Second, use limewater... actually, with the water shortage, just sprinkle lime powder on the ground outside the city. The refugees should also be thoroughly washed, or the infection will continue to spread. As for the water... we’ll just have to find a way."

"Third, the infected must be quarantined separately and not housed with the healthy."

Chang Younian listened intently, nodding from time to time and mentally noting everything Cheng Guangshan said.

They wanted to accomplish certain things, but destroying the County Town in the process was not one of them.

After listening, he asked, "Is there anything else?"

Cheng Guangshan shook his head. "Not for now. This is knowledge passed down in my family. It can solve some of the transmission issues and make subsequent treatment easier."

"Otherwise, our research won’t be able to keep up with the rate of infection. I’m afraid that by the time we develop a cure, it will be too late for everyone."

"Good. I will do as you say. And you are? From which clinic?"

"I am Cheng Guangshan, from Cheng’s Clinic in South City."

Cheng’s Clinic.

Chang Younian murmured the name to himself a few times, then nodded and turned to leave.

Having dealt with the matter, Chang Younian stepped out of the courtyard and spoke to the Chief Constable waiting nearby.

"Chief Wang, keep a close watch on those Doctors. Fulfill any requests they might have, and do not neglect them. However, you are not to permit anyone to leave."

Chief Wang clasped his hands. "Yes! I obey."

"Master, let’s go," Chang Younian said with a smile to the refined, scholar-like young man waiting by the sedan chair.

"Yes, Your Excellency." The young man smiled, closed his folding fan, and clasped his hands.

In a good mood, Chang Younian got into his sedan chair, left the County Magistrate’s Office, and headed for the north side of the city.

In the northern part of the city, within the reception hall of a certain residence.

Four middle-aged men were gathered in the hall.

They sat in silence, each in his own chair with eyes closed, as if resting. There was no communication. One man nervously jiggled his leg, another tapped his fingers on an armrest, a third rolled Baoding balls in his palm, and the last sat with his brow deeply furrowed.

These restless gestures betrayed their inner turmoil.

After waiting for about the time it takes an incense stick to burn, a servant hurried from outside to the doorway of the reception hall. He bowed and clasped his hands toward the men inside before turning his gaze to the man in the host’s seat and announcing respectfully:

"Master. The honored guest has arrived."

Hearing this, Zhao Kaitai—who sat in the host’s seat, dressed in a silk brocade robe woven with gold thread and embroidered with a bird in flight—opened his eyes, his deeply furrowed brow finally relaxing.

A look of joy spread across his face as he immediately rose. "Quickly, show him in... no, I will go and welcome him myself."

With that, he strode out with powerful, confident steps.

"Patriarch Zhao, we’ll go with you!"

At that, the other three men also rose and hurried after him.