Chapter 303
Chapter 303
"Light the lamps, light the lamps."
At his command, countless trembling servants lit every candle. In an instant, all the lamps in the great hall were ablaze. The King of Qiang descended from his throne and stood before a large mirror to examine his reflection, then jumped back in shock.
‘Is that a man or a ghost in the mirror? My entire body is covered in pustules. This… this is the most malignant form of smallpox. The kind they say is a certain death sentence.’
Even the strongest warrior would surely die if they caught such a disease. Of course, only Shen Lang knew that it wasn't smallpox but an extremely potent pox virus. The contagion Zuo Baiyu had planted in the King of Qiang's body had finally erupted. The outbreak was so ferocious, it was enough to make anyone who saw it faint from shock.
The King of Qiang was panic-stricken. He was incredibly brave, greedy, and cruel. But at the same time, he was terrified of death. He treated the lives of everyone around him as insignificant, but he considered his own life to be priceless. Once, when he was on a raid in the Western Regions, he had developed a minor ailment below the belt and immediately ended the campaign to return to the State of Qiang for treatment. Is it true that the more selfish a person is, the more they fear death? In an instant, the King of Qiang was seized by an endless terror.
‘Am I going to die? No, no! I have countless beauties and endless wealth. I don't want to die, I can't die! Even if everyone else in the world dies, I, the King of Qiang, must not. I will plunder more, defile more women, and enjoy more riches, glory, and power. A great hero like me can't die. Who can treat smallpox? Zuo Baiyu, get Zuo Baiyu in here at once.’
In his fear, the first person the King of Qiang thought of was Zuo Baiyu. But then he remembered that Zuo Baiyu was already dead. A splitting headache and a wave of nausea washed over him, and his whole body burned with fever. It was a high fever that would not break. These symptoms were identical to smallpox, and they were growing more violent by the moment. Then, he thought of Shen Lang.
"Shen Lang, didn't you say you could treat smallpox? Treat me at once. Now!"
The King of Qiang roared.
"Your Majesty, I can certainly treat smallpox. In fact, I am likely the only one who can. However, the medicinal ingredients I have prepared can only make one dose of the divine remedy, enough to save a single person. And this medicine will undoubtedly have a miraculous effect."
Shen Lang's words sounded vaguely familiar.
"Give it to me. Prepare the medicine and give it to me…"
At that moment, the King of Qiang could no longer care about A'luona's life or death.
"I dare to guarantee it. You will see an effect within two hours. In one day, you will be halfway cured. In three days, the disease will have mostly receded, and in ten days, you will be fully recovered, with your life no longer in danger. A one hundred percent cure, with no side effects whatsoever. Not even a single pockmark will remain."
Shen Lang sounded just like a quack doctor.
"Stop your nonsense and treat me now. Do you understand?"
The King of Qiang bellowed, his voice explosive. He had been fine when he first woke up, but his furious outburst was now accompanied by an unbearable itch that spread across his entire body.
"If you wish for my treatment, it is very simple. You must agree to two conditions."
The King of Qiang was taken aback.
‘Why has it increased to two conditions?’
If he rushed things, it might become three, and then more and more.
"Speak."
"First, Luo An had an illicit affair with Zuo Baiyu. Now that Zuo Baiyu is dead, this woman is using every trick she can to have me killed. If she lives, she will stab me in the back, and I won't be able to display my full healing skills. Therefore, I ask that you kill her. Only then can I use my full abilities to treat you, Your Majesty."
Hearing Shen Lang's words, Luo An cried out in alarm.
"Liar, you're a fraud! Your Majesty, kill him at once! Shen Lang can't treat smallpox at all. Smallpox is an incurable disease! He means to harm you, Your Majesty. You must kill him."
Shen Lang spoke calmly.
"If I fail to cure Your Majesty here, I will be torn to pieces anyway. I have already cured many people. Do you know of Qiu Yao'er? She suffered from such a strange illness that even the most famous doctors in the world could not diagnose it, yet I cured her. Princess Yingluo was poisoned, but no one even knew she was poisoned, let alone how to treat her, yet I cured her. Princess Yingyan suffered from an unknown illness that caused such excruciating fits of pain every day she wished for death, yet I cured her."
Shen Lang's words were very persuasive. He continued without pause.
"Luo An is merely a woman you plundered, and you must have grown tired of her by now. You must harbor some resentment toward her, Your Majesty. She certainly did engage in sordid acts with Zuo Baiyu. Only if you kill her can I focus my mind and treat you!"
Luo An fell to her knees.
"Your Majesty, they say even a single night as husband and wife creates a deep bond! Shen Lang means to harm you. You must not, absolutely must not believe him. You must kill him at once. Kill this wretched man."
The King of Qiang looked down at the kneeling Luo An and spoke coldly.
"Did you hide so far from me because you were afraid of catching smallpox? Does my contracting smallpox have nothing to do with you? Nothing to do with Zuo Baiyu? Weren't you two trying to harm me?"
Then, the King of Qiang suddenly strode over to Luo An, grabbed her by the neck, and twisted. And so, Luo An died an unfortunate death, her life cut short before it could truly blossom. The King of Qiang turned to Shen Lang.
"Can you treat me now?"
Shen Lang shook his head.
"Not yet. Not yet!"
The King of Qiang grew angry.
"What else do you want?"
"Write a letter of admission of guilt and have a messenger deliver it to the capital of Yue at top speed."
"In your dreams!"
The King of Qiang was furious, and Crown Prince A'luotai shouted.
"Father, that would be a humiliation to you! I will gouge out one of this bastard's eyes right now. That will teach him not to make outrageous demands and to treat you obediently."
As he finished speaking, A'luotai drew his dagger again and advanced toward Shen Lang. Shen Lang said coldly.
"Your Majesty, it seems the Crown Prince wishes for your death. He is trying every means possible to prevent me from treating you."
Shameless. His words were utterly shameless, yet they were a poisoned barb that struck deep into a man's heart. Hearing this, the King of Qiang shot a lightning-quick glare at A'luotai. Shen Lang's words held a kernel of truth. If he died, A'luotai would become the new king. Moreover, he had already had smallpox, so he would never catch it again.
"Get out!"
The King of Qiang roared, and Crown Prince A'luotai quickly scurried out. Shen Lang spoke calmly.
"Your Majesty, do not delay any longer. Is your life more important, or your pride?"
"Can you really cure my malignant smallpox? If you fail, I will tear you limb from limb."
"You will see an effect within two hours, and the disease will be halfway gone in a day. I guarantee you will witness a miracle. I am the only divine doctor in this world."
The King of Qiang gnashed his teeth as he stared at Shen Lang. But his words made sense. His life was indeed more important than his pride.
"I will meet your demand and write the letter of apology! But if I see no effect from your treatment tonight, I will make you regret ever being born into this world."
The King of Qiang picked up a brush and wrote a few large characters on a piece of silk.
[Our State of Qiang was wrong to burn your nation's ancestral temple without cause!]
That was the King of Qiang's letter of apology. This was as far as he would go. Never in his life had he humbled himself like this, nor had he ever admitted fault after ascending the throne. Two copies of the letter were made, and the King of Qiang's royal seal was stamped on them. Shen Lang took out a cowhide parchment envelope, placed the letter inside, and sealed it with wax. Finally, he placed the letter inside a small box he had prepared in the State of Yue, affixed a long paper seal over the box, and sealed that with wax as well. The letter of apology was complete!
"Shen Lang, remember this. If you fail to cure me, I will tear you to pieces, and that letter will never leave the State of Qiang to fall into the hands of Yue."
"I understand. Now, Your Majesty, please move to a clean room. I will now formally begin the treatment for your malignant smallpox."
***
Inside an exceptionally clean room, dozens of candles were lit, illuminating every minute detail. Next, Shen Lang took out some Nicotiana—tobacco—and began to burn it. He also used lime powder to draw a Taiji diagram on the floor and pasted several talismans on the walls. Would any of this work? Not in the slightest. But it created a sense of ritual, and it looked sophisticated and impressive.
‘Zuo Baiyu's work was too sloppy. This is how a high-level con artist operates.’
Besides the King of Qiang, the only others in the room were the Crown Prince and a sinister-looking old eunuch of formidable martial skill. Why would a barbaric little state like Qiang have a eunuch? And one who was clearly a master of martial arts. In addition to them, two unremarkable physicians from the State of Qiang were present to observe. If they possessed any great medical skill, would there have been a need for Zuo Baiyu?
These physicians had only two methods of treatment: ritualistic dancing and bloodletting. Bloodletting was a high-class medical technique they had learned from the Western Regions. They had one thing in common: they had all survived smallpox, so they had no fear of contagion. When they saw how Shen Lang had arranged the room, they were immediately struck by the mysterious and impressive atmosphere.
‘He truly is a divine doctor. He looks incredible just by his preparations.’
The Crown Prince of Qiang sniffed the air and moved closer to where the tobacco was burning. They were somewhat addicted to tobacco but didn't know how to inhale, so they only sniffed the scent.
‘Don't you worry. I will soon open a new world for you. I will make you the greatest chain-smokers of this other world.’
The King of Qiang stripped off all his clothes. Shen Lang hesitated for a moment before covering the man's private parts. It wasn't out of concern for the King of Qiang's modesty, but rather a consideration for everyone else in the room, including himself. By then, the King of Qiang was in unbearable agony. His fever was raging, he felt a strong urge to vomit, and the itching was intolerable. Shen Lang took out the divine remedy.
"Your Majesty, drink this."
A'luotai said coldly.
"Wait… what if you've poisoned this medicine?"
Without a word, Shen Lang immediately ladled out a spoonful of the medicine and drank a mouthful. Then, everyone waited quietly to see if the poison would take effect in Shen Lang's body. It was merely an anesthetic he had prepared; of course, it wasn't poisoned. Drinking it would only make one feel a little dizzy. That was why Shen Lang had only drunk a tiny amount. After about a quarter of an hour, Shen Lang spoke.
"May His Majesty drink it now?"