Chapter 307
Chapter 307
Aronana wept ceaselessly, her eyes fixed on Big Dummy’s face. After washing Princess Rourou’s entire body, he dressed her in clean clothes. Then, he soaked a new towel, placed it on his wife’s forehead, and began to brew her medicine.
“Wife, Little Dummy said you’ll be all better in a few days. Little Dummy is a very great man. Everything he says is true.”
Big Dummy spoke with excitement as he brewed the medicine, his heart finally at ease. If Little Dummy said his wife would be fine, then she would be. But Princess Aronana, watching his back, said something else.
“In this world, I only trust you and Master.”
It was the truth. Aronana knew her master had gone to save the people. Every time, whether it was in the State of Qiang, the State of Yue, or among the barbarian tribes, whenever a great disaster struck, he would rush to save the people. And each time, he would bring Aronana with him, which had been an immense bother. Only now did she understand her master’s heart and the meaning behind the words, “all lives are precious.”
After Princess Nana contracted smallpox, neither her father, her mother, nor even her siblings came to see her. They all avoided her as if she were a venomous snake. It felt as though she had been utterly forgotten by everyone, but Big Dummy remained by her side, watching over her at every moment. Oh, and there was Huang Feng, too. But of course, she wasn't that important.
At that moment, Divine Maiden Xue Yin stood outside, but she did not enter the room. She simply stood there with a look of blessing before quietly departing to save the people.
* * *
The King of Qiang’s recovery was dramatically faster than Shen Lang had anticipated. He had been born with a naturally formidable constitution. However, the king attributed his complete recovery to Shen Lang.
‘A divine physician. So incredible. A formidable young man.’
Though the King of Qiang recovered quickly, countless people of his state were dying day by day. The daily death toll grew, and the smallpox epidemic spread with increasing ferocity. Finally, the king agreed to build a large temple for Shen Lang. However, he stipulated that the temple could have no signboard, no statues of sages like Confucius, and must be used solely for Shen Lang to administer smallpox inoculations to the people of Qiang. Shen Lang agreed. Soon after, the king dispatched five thousand soldiers, who erected a large temple spanning five to six hundred square meters in just two days.
Some might ask how a temple could be built so quickly, wondering if the people of Qiang were gods of architecture. They were not. The temple was little more than a massive tent. A frame was built with a large amount of wood, over which a thick, oiled, waterproof canvas was stretched. This was merely the first stage of the so-called sacred temple’s construction. Next, Shen Lang schemed of ways to hang a signboard and bring in a statue of Confucius.
The following day, a large caravan of carriages arrived from the Heavenly Dao Society. They had transported a thousand mirrors as a gift for the King of Qiang. The king was delighted. A thousand mirrors were equivalent to a vast fortune. But they were too precious to sell, so he would store them all in his treasury to show off to others. Along with the mirrors, the Heavenly Dao Society had also brought a giant iron rod and a large quantity of copper and iron wire. That night, Shen Lang ordered the Jin Clan warriors to work through the night to modify the temple.
Soon, the temple was complete. Shen Lang planned to transform it into a true sacred temple shortly. The time had come for Shen Lang to put on his performance. He would swiftly complete his mission here, display a miracle of salvation for all, and begin his role as a savior tomorrow before quickly departing the State of Qiang. After performing a divine miracle and unleashing a great slaughter, Shen Lang would return to the capital of Yue to report the completion of his mission to the king. He planned to leave the lands of Qiang in ten days at most.
* * *
For days, Divine Maiden Xue Yin continued to travel among the people, saving them. Although she did not know how to treat smallpox, she could thoroughly separate the infected from the uninfected. This method minimized the chances of transmission as much as possible. Crown Prince Arotai had originally intended to kill all the citizens infected with smallpox, but she had used her status and reputation to stop him. The more ardently the King of Qiang adored her, the less he could refuse her requests.
To the countless people of Qiang, Divine Maiden Xue Yin was like a saint. This was true not only in the State of Qiang but in all the regions surrounding the Snow Mountains, including the people of Yue and Chu. Whenever a great disaster occurred, she would surely be there. Even Princess Aronana, who had been resentfully forced to tag along, thought of her as a saint. The reason Xue Yin had taken Princess Nana to disaster sites was to make her realize the preciousness of life and wash away the murderous thoughts in her heart.
And now, as the crisis of smallpox descended, Divine Maiden Xue Yin could not save the people from the plague, but she stopped the butcher’s knives wielded by the King of Qiang and the Crown Prince from taking countless lives. Moreover, many people owed their lives to her each day, as she saved only the most humble and pitiful among them. It was not that she disdained the nobles, warriors, or the powerful, but that the most wretched of people needed her more.
Today, she was like a Buddha spreading boundless virtue to the countless people of Qiang. When the god of death came for them, where was their Heavenly God? What had the Snow Mountain Temple done? They were nowhere to be seen, but Divine Maiden Xue Yin was by their side. After a full day of tireless work, she would return to Shen Lang’s residence very late each night. Then, she would bathe and change her clothes.
She was exceptionally fond of cleanliness, yet she spent every day with the filthiest of the Qiang people. After bathing, she would sleep in the room next to Shen Lang’s. She never locked her door and would sometimes speak with him through the wall. Her words were as warm as a spring breeze.
* * *
At that moment, Divine Maiden Xue Yin was bathing in her small room, while Shen Lang was outside, reading a book. Before leaving, Zhong Chuke had said that the Divine Maiden had only ten days left to live. It had now been six days since then, meaning only four remained. Shen Lang had exhausted every method and examined her countless times, but he could not find the cause of her illness or determine what poison she had been afflicted with. He couldn't even be certain she was poisoned, so naturally, he had no way to save her.
Shen Lang was burning with anxiety.
‘Only four days until she dies? Am I supposed to just let an angel like her die? No, absolutely not!’
Shen Lang racked his brain, reading through all the data in his computer. He had to save Xue Yin. Recently, she had been running a slight fever, but Shen Lang still couldn't find the cause. This only made him more frantic.
The sound of splashing water came from the room; the Divine Maiden was bathing. It was likely the happiest moment of her day.
“Divine Maiden, why do you busy yourself every day, traveling to save the people? Is it because of the compassion in your heart?”
Shen Lang couldn't help but ask the question that had been on his mind. In truth, he didn't believe in natural-born saints.
“No.”
“Then for what reason?”
“To atone for my sins, to accumulate virtue.”
“Great Master Zhong Chuke said before he left that it was not your sin.”
“I cannot untie the knot in my heart. His Highness suffered a calamity because of me.”
That part was a little hard to understand.
“Then for whom are you accumulating virtue, Divine Maiden?”
“I do not know. I wish for that person to be alive, but I know that he is not.”
Her words were so complex that they were impossible to comprehend. Shen Lang fell silent for a long while before speaking again.
“Divine Maiden, Great Master Zhong Chuke said you only have four days left to live.”
“That is likely so.”
Hearing this, Shen Lang fell silent. But suddenly, the fragrance in the air thickened in an instant. It was more intense than before, like the rich aroma wafting from a well-ripened wine. Then, a pained voice came from the room. Shen Lang shot to his feet and asked.
“Is it happening again?”
“Yes.”
Shen Lang asked in a trembling voice.
“When it happens this time, do your hands freeze as well?”
“Yes. I will lose the ability to care for myself.”
“I will bring a serving woman to attend to you.”
Divine Maiden Xue Yin was in the middle of her bath, her divinely beautiful body completely bare. Moreover, the attack had robbed her of the ability to move her hands. She could no longer dress herself. Without a single scrap of cloth on her body, only a woman could enter the room to dress her and carry her out. From inside the room, Divine Maiden Xue Yin said.
“It’s alright. Shen Lang, you come in. Wipe me clean, dress me, and carry me to bed so I may endure this trial.”
“But you are not wearing anything. Men and women should keep their distance.”
“It is fine. You are a good boy, are you not?”
“But I have impure thoughts in my heart.”
“Even with impure thoughts, you are still a good boy. Come in. It doesn't matter if you see my body, that is all.”
The fragrance in the air grew even thicker. Shen Lang picked up a clean towel and a silk robe and entered the room. Divine Maiden Xue Yin was in the bathtub. The aroma billowed thickly like a potent wine, and her beautiful form was faintly visible in the water. Forcing herself to endure the pain, she stood up and said in a trembling voice.
“Good boy, wipe me down, change my clothes, and lay me in bed.”
At that moment, a body of divine beauty was revealed before Shen Lang. Just then!
*Crash, crash, crash, crash.*
A dozen martial arts masters of the highest caliber smashed through the walls and leaped into the room. They were all bald—the top-tier monk masters of the Snow Mountain Temple. They let out loud, booming laughs mixed with rage.
“There can only be one temple in the State of Qiang: the Snow Mountain Temple! Shen Lang from the State of Yue, you dare build a sacred temple in our land to steal the faith of the Qiang people from us? You are courting death! The Great High Priest Gohae sent us to tear you limb from limb!”
“Divine Maiden Xue Yin, is your poison acting up again? Unable to move? This is truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity! Brothers of the cloth, let’s go! We’ll tear Shen Lang to shreds, then feast our eyes on Divine Maiden Xue Yin. Not a single thread on her, is there? A celestial beauty who could topple kingdoms and cities. A single glance is worth not just this life, but the next as well! After that, we’ll send her to the Snow Mountain Temple for the Great High Priest Gohae to enjoy. A celestial maiden like this, only someone like the Great High Priest is worthy of possessing her, wouldn't you agree? Hahahahaha!”
The dozen or so monks with supreme martial skills seemed to have gone mad at the prospect of seeing Xue Yin’s beautiful body. Xue Yin sank back into the steamy water, concealing her exquisite form below her neck. She looked at Shen Lang and spoke gently, her voice betraying no concern for the immediate crisis.
“Good boy. Cover yourself with that robe, get into the tub, and stay with me.”