Chapter 77: I Only Have Medicine to Stop Bleeding, Not Pain Relievers

“I had to come check on you first, in case…” Shen Shilang began, “I told them that if I didn’t return within half an hour, they should go back and call for reinforcements. If I went back directly, then that would mean…”

There would be no need to call—it would mean everyone was already gone.

“There’s an ambush outside. How could you break through on your own?” Wei Zhaoxian felt Shen Shilang’s words were just excuses. “If you can safely escape, leave now. Don’t worry about us!”

“If I make it back, I’ll definitely settle accounts with Jianlang!” Wei Zhaoxian said angrily.

Jianlang knew about Shen Shilang’s situation, yet he didn’t come himself and let Shen Shilang take the risk!

“He was supposed to come, but I knocked Jianlang unconscious,” Shen Shilang said, smoothly redirecting the conversation.

With Su Jinshi present, Shen Shilang had the confidence to break through. However, bringing along many people would be troublesome—it would be wiser to wait for reinforcements, especially since Wei Zhaoxian and the others seemed to have sustained severe injuries.

Wei Zhaoxian: “…”

Indeed, hearing Shen Shilang say this, Wei Zhaoxian no longer insisted on Shen Shilang leaving first.

“I also brought some medicine, fearing you might be injured. Though it’s not much, it can temporarily alleviate your condition, which is better than letting the injuries worsen.”

Wei Zhaoxian sighed, “You…”

Clearly, Shen Shilang’s earlier claim about being able to leave alone was just an excuse. He had rushed in to deliver medicine, trying his best to treat them.

“Since you’re already here, let’s go,” Wei Zhaoxian said.

Shen Shilang noticed Wei Zhaoxian’s pale face and Guan Changping’s poor condition, so he asked, “General, how bad are your injuries?”

“Not fatal,” Wei Zhaoxian replied, though his tone could have been more convincing if his face weren’t so pale.

“What about the casualties?” Shen Shilang pressed.

Wei Zhaoxian’s expression darkened. “Many dead or wounded. Now, including us, only fifteen remain, all injured. Seven are too severely wounded to move.”

“You said you brought medicine—do you have enough?” Wei Zhaoxian asked.

“I have some medicine to stop bleeding. Let’s prioritize the most severe injuries,” Shen Shilang replied.

Wei Zhaoxian nodded. “Having some is better than none. Otherwise, I was truly afraid… afraid they wouldn’t survive the night.”

Shen Shilang followed Wei Zhaoxian and Guan Changping to a naturally formed cave shelter, not particularly deep but able to accommodate a few people at a time. Thankfully, there were several caves nearby, allowing everyone to spread out.

Upon arrival, the less injured soldiers were tending to their more severely wounded comrades. Wei Jianming was leaning alone against the cave wall. He was also injured, using torn strips of his clothes for makeshift bandages. But judging by his injuries, they were considered minor.

At this moment, Wei Jianming’s face was deathly pale, and he occasionally cried out in pain.

But no one paid him any attention.

It was unclear whether everyone was busy caring for their severely injured comrades, or if they simply didn’t want to deal with Wei Jianming.

“Shen Shilang?!” Wei Jianming exclaimed in surprise upon seeing him.

Hearing this, everyone turned to look.

“Who is the most seriously injured? Let’s handle them one by one,” Shen Shilang said, ignoring Wei Jianming and turning to Guan Changping.

Guan Changping led Shen Shilang to a nearby cave where a soldier lay unconscious, his face flushed with an abnormal redness, his bloodstained clothes clinging to him.

Shen Shilang felt the soldier’s forehead—it was burning hot. “I’ll go get some fever-reducing medicine from the store for you to give them,” Su Jinshi said urgently. “If this fever keeps up, they may not make it.”

“Mm,” Shen Shilang agreed.

The others assumed he was simply responding to his assessment of the injuries.

Su Jinshi quickly bought fever medicine from the store and told Shen Shilang, “Take one pill at a time, every two hours, until the fever completely subsides and doesn’t return.”

Shen Shilang pretended to reach into his robe, and Su Jinshi took the opportunity to place the medicine bottle in his hand.

Shen Shilang poured out a small black pill and fed it to the soldier, explaining, “This is a fever-reducing medicine. Before leaving the capital, I had some prepared in anticipation of potential battles where the military doctors might be overwhelmed.”

Wei Zhaoxian let out a breath, “Good thing you thought ahead.”

Shen Shilang administered the fever medicine to the three soldiers with high fevers, then applied hemostatic powder and rebandaged the wounds of the others, using torn clothing as makeshift bandages due to the limited supplies.

“This is just a temporary solution. Once reinforcements arrive, we can return to camp for proper treatment,” Shen Shilang said.

Even so, everyone felt a sense of relief. “It’s already much better than before.”

“Young Master Shen, we owe you our lives. If we escape successfully, we’ll dedicate ourselves to repaying you! If not… we’ll repay you in the next life!” one soldier declared.

“Thank you, Young Master Shen!”

“Young Master Shen came alone to save us. We’ll never forget this great kindness and virtue!”

“Please don’t speak like that,” Shen Shilang replied. “How could I save you only to have you risk your lives in repayment?”

Wei Zhaoxian had noticed Shen Shilang’s own injuries and finally found an opportunity to say, “You should tend to your wounds as well.”

Shen Shilang shook his head, “These minor injuries are nothing. Let’s focus on everyone else first.”

One by one, Shen Shilang treated the soldiers based on the severity of their injuries, even tending to Wei Zhaoxian. Throughout this time, no one had mentioned attending to Wei Jianming.

Shen Shilang realized that their earlier disregard for Wei Jianming was not an oversight, but rather intentional. Wei Jianming’s disobedience of military orders had led to the deaths of so many comrades, and the survivors now resented him, even though he was Wei Zhaoxian’s son.

Shen Shilang sighed and approached Wei Jianming, “How bad are your injuries?”

“Can’t you see? I’m in agony!” Wei Jianming cried out.

Shen Shilang assessed his wounds and saw that they were relatively minor compared to the others, who had clearly tried their best to protect him.

“I only have medicine to stop bleeding, not pain relievers,” Shen Shilang said flatly. “And your wound no longer needs hemostatic treatment, so you’ll just have to endure it.”

With that, Shen Shilang left Wei Jianming and went to find Wei Zhaoxian.

“Don’t bother with him,” Wei Zhaoxian said angrily. “If it weren’t for him, we wouldn’t have lost so many men!”

Su Jinshi had been keeping watch outside for the reinforcements, and as the sun was setting, she finally returned, urgently started poking Shen Shilang – the communication device’s effect had worn off – reinforcements had yet to arrive, and time was running out.

…