"Built by the mountain, layer upon layer of defense, the Qin Army really has treacherous intentions." Ye Shikai looked at the camp before him and couldn’t help but mutter. The Qin Army’s support was these towering mountains, their bulwark was these barriers, difficult to cross. There were already many local garrison troops outside, all following Mi Wen’s command, trying to cooperate inside and outside to open up this path, allowing the elite Chu Army inside to evacuate. However, the progress didn’t seem smooth; they were just local garrison troops, soldiers when they held weapons, and mere farmers when they put them down, lacking combat power. Meanwhile, the Qin Army here was elite from Xianyang, occupying advantageous terrain, making a hard attack a poor strategy.

After repeated consideration, Ye Shikai concluded that the most stable method was to find a path and then inform Huo Ziqing to lead the army back to Chu Territory, avoiding the Qin blockade. As for those cities already seized, they could only be abandoned. Cities are not soldiers, they are firmly rooted and can’t be moved, lonely surrounded by the Qin Army, inevitably doomed to fall.

"Traveling doctor, look, there’s a traveling doctor over there." At this time, several villagers beside him also saw Ye Shikai, noting his long robe and the medicine box he carried, deducing his identity.

"Traveling doctor." Several villagers approached Ye Shikai, bowing as they spoke.

"Ahem, do you have any issues?" Ye Shikai inquired, no longer a general but a traveling doctor, needing to "adapt" to this identity at all times to avoid revealing his true self.

"Traveling doctor, we’re villagers from nearby. Many in the village have caught the plague, and the doctors inside have all fled. Please, traveling doctor, lend your righteous hand and help us poor people." After speaking, a few villagers knelt before Ye Shikai, putting him in a difficult position.

"What are you doing, please get up quickly." Ye Shikai hurriedly said, persuading them until they stood up.

"Traveling doctor, the village doctors have fled, no one is here to treat us, and those villagers afflicted by the plague fear... their time is short. Please, traveling doctor, assist us, our village will be eternally grateful."

"Alright, I agree to help. Where is your village?" Ye Shikai asked.

"Great, our village is called Baimu Village, right behind. Please follow me, traveling doctor." Several villagers led Ye Shikai into the mountains, the path unsuitable for horses. He dismounted, leading the horse forward.

"Why didn’t you go to the city to find someone, since the village doctors left? There are large medical halls in the city, someone there should be able to treat the plague." On the way, Ye Shikai asked curiously.

"The traveling doctor may not know, there’s fighting everywhere now, soldiers come every day, today it’s the Chu Army, tomorrow the Qin Army. Sometimes soldiers from both sides meet in the village and start fighting immediately, blood flowing like rivers. I’ve heard it’s the same in the city, every day people are dying there, how can we go to the city for doctors?" The leading villager replied helplessly, with not just helplessness but also resentment towards the war. Ye Shikai could understand, no one likes war except... those in power, it’s a means for them to rule.

"I see."

"Now the plague is widespread in the village, many women and children are sick. Without a prescription, they die within a week after catching it."

"It seems to be an acute plague." Ye Shikai muttered. Ancient people didn’t have the advanced technology of modern times, so many viruses like influenza were called "plagues" in this era. There were ways to treat it, but formulating medicines took time.

"Yes, that’s why we hope the traveling doctor can help, whether successful or not, the villagers will always remember the traveling doctor’s kindness."

"Ahem, rest assured, though my skills aren’t sharp, I’m confident." Ye Shikai cleared his throat and continued. Despite not seeing himself as highly skilled, he had many medicines in his Storage Ring, mostly purchased in Linxiang City, with some modern medicine to treat the plague, which should be no problem.

"That’s good, everything depends on the traveling doctor."

Ye Shikai knew he was "the hope of the village" now. Though unfamiliar with the village, never having heard of it, he empathized with the villagers. If he refused, those sick would undoubtedly die. The ones left would have to leave.

"Traveling doctor, where have you treated folks before?" 𝘧𝓇ℯ𝑒𝓌𝑒𝑏𝓃𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭.𝒸ℴ𝓂

"Haha, I’m a traveling doctor, naturally wandering the world, treating anyone I meet. Meeting you today is also a type of fate."

"I see."

.................................

An hour later.

Ye Shikai arrived at the village entrance, sensing a dense "deathly aura." There were hardly any villagers on the road; occasionally spots some people, looking pale and emaciated, like "malnutrition."

"Why do some houses hang black cloth and others white cloth?" Ye Shikai looked at the houses, many roofs hung black and white strips.

"Sigh, the plague is rampant in the village now. If someone at home catches it, a black cloth is hung above the eaves. If someone dies, a white one is hung. It’s too tragic; some homes hang both, or even worse... every single person has died."

"Yes, truly too tragic." Ye Shikai got off his horse, tying it outside the village. As a cultivator, he was nearly immune to poisons, let alone a mere "plague." But to appear "ordinary," he covered his mouth and nose with a clean towel.

"We’ve gathered the infected villagers. Should we take you there now?"

"Yes, quickly."

Ye Shikai entered the house pointed out by the villagers, where over a hundred patients lay. There were elderly and women and children; they were weaker than adults and fell ill easily during a plague.

"Stay outside, don’t enter without my orders to prevent infection. Also, hurry home and boil hot water, as much as possible." Ye Shikai turned and told the villagers.

"Okay, quick, go home and boil water."

Ye Shikai entered the house alone, finding a child whose face had turned black, unconscious and in danger. Time was of the essence, so Ye Shikai activated his Inner Strength, gradually infusing a stream into the child’s body.