Chapter 304
Chapter 304
King Kang nodded. Shen Lang said,
“Your Majesty, it is time to take your medicine.”
King Kang was taken aback.
*Why add such a superfluous remark?*
And so, King Kang drank the medicine in one gulp. The anesthetic Shen Lang had prepared was far more potent than Zuo Baiyu's, containing a special ingredient. It not only induced unconsciousness but also eliminated pain. Not long after drinking the medicine, King Kang felt the agonizing, intense itching gradually fade.
*Incredible. It truly works.*
Soon, King Kang felt a sense of comfort. As sleepiness washed over him, his mind cleared, and he felt refreshed. The reason was that the medicine contained poppy. Shen Lang had also drunk a little, but it was no issue. Poppies were originally used for medicinal purposes. As if handling a priceless treasure, Shen Lang took out an exquisite and beautiful porcelain bottle. It was a porcelain bottle made of gold and jade. A medicine contained in a bottle made of such rare materials had to be a miracle drug.
The smallpox and hives that had erupted so fiercely on King Kang's body were, at their core, nothing more than a herpes virus. However, Zuo Baiyu had repeatedly administered medicines that were too strong for the king's body to handle, causing an accumulation of damp toxins. In the end, the toxins had erupted to the surface, spreading ferociously and creating a terrifying sight, but the treatment was quite simple. In the modern world, acyclovir and calamine lotion would have been enough to solve it. But in this world, while those medicines didn't exist, there were plenty of Chinese medicinal prescriptions. Adding Ban Lan Gen to the secret formula of She Dan Tang would be especially effective. Besides that, the ointment Shen Lang had created by mixing various Chinese medicinal herbs was also particularly effective.
Alright, to be more blunt. The illness King Kang was suffering from was one that didn't even need treatment; it would have cleared up on its own after a few days of rest. However, using Shen Lang's medicine would make the recovery faster and more dramatic. With the air of handling something precious, Shen Lang scooped out some of the ointment and lightly tasted it with his tongue to show it wasn't poisoned. After half a quarter-hour, Shen Lang put on silk gloves and began to apply the ointment, little by little, onto the dense pox covering King Kang's body.
“Ah…”
As Shen Lang's hand applied the ointment, King Kang, who had been sleeping as if unconscious, couldn't help but let out a sound.
*Soothing, so very soothing. Shen Lang is truly remarkable. With just one touch, my body feels this at ease.*
How could it not be soothing? The ointment contained mint and borneol, so it was bound to feel very cool.
“It's working. It's incredibly effective!”
King Kang said as much before falling back asleep.
“Come out.”
The Crown Prince of Kang spoke quietly to Shen Lang, who then followed him out.
* * *
In the great hall, the Crown Prince said,
“Master Shen, was that truly the last of the miracle drug for treating smallpox?”
Shen Lang nodded.
“Then can the common people infected with smallpox not be treated?”
Shen Lang noticed that A'Lutai's attitude had completely changed. Before King Kang, A'Lutai had appeared fierce and full of killing intent, but now he seemed calm. This man had a different character from his father. Shen Lang took out a cigarette, lit it, and took a sweet drag. The Crown Prince was surprised by his action, and when Shen Lang offered him one, he shook his head and refused.
*Damn, so suspicious. He won't even smoke a cigarette I offer him. He's acting as if I'm definitely going to harm him. Fine, then I'll make sure to harm you for real.*
Shen Lang focused solely on smoking, blowing one smoke ring after another. On the surface, it looked as though Shen Lang was a proficient smoker, but in truth, he neither liked cigarettes nor did they agree with his constitution. But to get the Crown Prince before him addicted, he had no choice but to lead by example. The Crown Prince caught the scent and discovered that the Nicotine Grass Shen Lang was smoking was unusually fragrant compared to others. He was already addicted to the scent of tobacco, so he began to savor the secondhand smoke from Shen Lang's cigarette.
Shen Lang replied,
“I cannot cure the smallpox that others have contracted, but I can prevent it.”
“What do you mean?”
“Roughly one-eighth of the people of Kang have likely contracted smallpox. Those already infected must leave their fate to the heavens. However, the rest, who have not been infected, can take preventive measures and never contract smallpox.”
The Crown Prince asked in a trembling voice,
“Are you saying, Master Shen, that you have a way to free the State of Kang from the threat of smallpox forever?”
He couldn't help but be moved. To the State of Kang, smallpox was like a grim reaper. Every few years, an outbreak would claim countless lives. Whether slave or royalty, everyone was equal before the terrifying disease. Several of A'Lutai's older and younger brothers had died from smallpox.
“That is correct. I can completely liberate the State of Kang from smallpox. You will soon see whether I can succeed. Entrust me with several slaves who have never had smallpox, and I will give them a preventive medicine. Then, if they are sent among those with smallpox and do not become infected, it will prove my words are true. I will administer a new medicine, a vaccine, into their bodies, making them forever immune to smallpox. If I do not succeed, you may take my head.”
The Crown Prince of Kang quickly bowed to express his gratitude.
“If that comes to pass, everyone in the State of Kang will forever remember Master Shen's great kindness.”
Shen Lang was surprised.
*Weren't you the one who was just screaming about killing me? You even said you'd cut out my tongue and chop off my hands.*
The Crown Prince offered an embarrassed excuse.
“Before my royal father, I must maintain a violent demeanor. Please do not laugh at me, Master Shen.”
Shen Lang looked at him. This Crown Prince would not be easy to deal with. He was more formidable than his father.
“Let us speak again after I have first treated King Kang.”
“If you, Master, administer this new vaccine to the people of our State of Kang, allowing us to be free from the threat of smallpox forever, then the Jin Clan will henceforth be our state's greatest friend.”
“Then can our family replace the Su Clan as the State of Kang's sole partner?”
The Crown Prince hesitated for a moment before speaking.
“It would be difficult to replace them completely. In my current position, it is difficult to make any definitive statements.”
His meaning was that it was difficult to say while his father was on the throne. In other words, once he ascended the throne, anything would be easier to discuss.
“Heaven has the virtue of cherishing life, so I, too, cannot stand by and watch countless people of Kang die. I wish to save the State of Kang from the grim reaper that is smallpox. However, I have two conditions.”
“State them.”
“First, designate the Yue slaves who were in the prisoner carts as the first recipients of my vaccine. When this is done, I wish to take them back to the State of Yue.”
“That can be done.”
It was only a thousand slaves, not a high price to pay.
“Second, build a sacred temple within the State of Kang as soon as possible.”
That was the State of Yue's condition, and Shen Lang's mission as an envoy to Kang. The first mission was to make King Kang write a letter of apology and send an envoy to the capital of Yue to admit his fault; that mission was already complete. The second mission was to build a sacred temple on Kang soil. The people of Kang had burned down one of Yue's sacred temples, a great humiliation that damaged the nation's dignity. How could that be redressed? Should they send soldiers to destroy the State of Kang? That was difficult to implement for the time being, an impossible task. It would require too great a price. Therefore, the most brilliant method was to build a sacred temple in the State of Kang, allowing the light of the sages to shine upon the land of the barbarians. This would restore the honor of the entire Eastern civilization.
If Shen Lang could fulfill these two conditions, his father-in-law would be enfeoffed as the Marquis of Xuanwu, and Raging Tide City would officially become the territory of the Jin Clan. The King of Yue himself had promised it. But upon hearing this, the Crown Prince of Kang was so shocked he nearly jumped out of his skin. The entire State of Kang had only one faith, the Sky God, whom they worshiped at the Divine Temple of the Snow Mountain. And now, to build another sacred temple on Kang soil? Was that even conceivable?
The Crown Prince of Kang hesitated and said,
“Building a sacred temple in exchange for saving the people of Kang is no great matter to me. But the people of Kang all believe in the Sky God; they cannot accept a second deity. If a sacred temple were built on Kang soil, at best it would be burned down, and at worst, it could incite a rebellion. It's not that I cannot agree, but even if I and my royal father were to agree, the people of Kang would not permit it. It is an impossible task, impossible no matter who comes!”
The Crown Prince spoke of the current reality without exaggeration. This was a matter related to the faith of the State of Kang, so even a firm agreement from the royal family would be useless. In medieval Europe, if you told the king of a certain country to believe in Buddhism and build a Buddhist temple in his land, would that be possible? At that time, all European kings required the Pope to perform their coronation. If a king were to suddenly change his faith, the crusaders of Europe would invade to destroy that country and its king.
“Then, could Your Highness build a large building on an empty plot of land not far from the royal palace? We won't label it a sacred temple, nor will we place any statues inside. I will administer the smallpox vaccine to all the people of Kang there.”
Then, Shen Lang made a firm request.
“If you do not agree to that condition, we can no longer discuss the matter of saving the State of Kang.”
The Crown Prince thought for a moment, then nodded.
“I will speak to my royal father about it. That much should be possible.”
* * *
King Kang had been in a deep sleep for a solid twelve to fourteen hours. When he awoke, he felt greatly invigorated and shot up, staring intently at the large mirror before him. About a third of the pustules that had densely covered his body had already peeled away. He looked much better than the frightening sight from yesterday. Moreover, the unbearable itching was gone. He was ecstatic.
“Good, good.”
He clapped Shen Lang firmly on the shoulder.
“A divine doctor using a miracle drug indeed. To treat this vicious smallpox so quickly.”
“Please do not be hasty, Your Majesty. It will still take about ten more days for a full recovery.”
King Kang laughed loudly and said,
“This much is already incredible.”
Crown Prince A'Lutai, the old eunuch, and the two physicians all thought Shen Lang was absolutely remarkable.
*It was a malignant smallpox that should have been a death sentence. For Shen Lang to treat it... he is truly a divine doctor, possessed of miraculous medical skills. An extraordinary man.*
Then, King Kang swayed and said,
“Why do I feel dizzy? And it feels like my whole body is burning with a high fever.”