Chapter 54 : I’ll come back and deal with you

The person leading the group was still the same general from before. Song Ying looked behind him but still didn’t see Huo Zhen.

Faer was a little disappointed. “Why don’t I see General Huo?”

The Deputy General said to them, “We can move the supplies ourselves. You may return first.”

Song Ying said, “We are friends of General Huo Zhen. Please inform him so that we can—”

“He’s not here right now.”

There it was again.

As the garrison general here, how could Huo Zhen not be present?

Chen Hong also sensed that this man had a bad temper, but he didn’t dare say anything. He could only try to comfort Song Ying. “We’ll be staying in Wucheng for quite a while anyway, there’s no rush.”

Song Ying thought for a moment, then said, “Alright, let’s head back.”

Before leaving, she told the Deputy General, “If General Huo Zhen returns, please tell him that Ji Yuefang, whom he wanted, has been delivered.”

The Deputy General clearly had little patience. “Just go back.”

They returned to the guesthouse to rest.

Faer pouted unhappily. “That general is annoying. I bet he won’t even tell General Huo.”

Song Ying frowned and took off her handkerchief. Perhaps due to the incense burner in the room, the strange odor wasn’t as strong inside as it was outside.

She took a deep breath and said, “Forget about him for now. Go bring me the box. Xiaomi, stay outside and let me know if anyone comes.”

Xiaomi responded, “Yes.”

Song Ying opened the box, which contained her bottles, jars, and recently purchased medicinal herbs.

Faer watched from the side. “Miss, are you going to make new medicine now?”

“Mm. I’ll give it a try.”

Song Ying sniffed every bottle, but still felt something was off, so she took out the book Master Yu had given her and read through it repeatedly.

Faer stayed quietly by her side.

With just a single glance or gesture from Song Ying, Faer would instinctively grind ink or pour tea for her.

Song Ying read for about an hour.

It wasn’t until Xiaomi came in to report that Chen Hong was coming that Song Ying put away the books and bottles.

Hearing the clinking sound of porcelain inside, Chen Hong couldn’t help but ask curiously, “What are you doing in there?”

Song Ying asked, “What’s the matter?”

Chen Hong replied, “It’s not me, one of the doctors wants to see you.”

Song Ying said, “Alright, let’s go.”

When they arrived at the main hall, two doctors saw Song Ying and asked, “Boss Fang, do you have any extra blind beans?”

Song Ying asked, “What’s wrong?”

One doctor explained, “Some people aren’t used to the local climate and are experiencing diarrhea and vomiting.”

Chen Hong immediately chimed in, “Me too. I’m not vomiting or having diarrhea, but I feel weak all over and have no energy.”

Song Ying looked at Chen Hong and noticed that there was indeed a hint of fatigue in his expression.

“I have a little left, but not much.”

The doctor said, “We’ll take whatever you have. We need a lot of blind beans to prepare medicine for everyone during this time.”

Song Ying asked Xiaomi to fetch them, then asked the doctors, “Have you noticed a strange smell in the air here in Wucheng?”

The two doctors looked at each other and shook their heads. “No, have you?”

Song Ying replied, “It’s very faint, but it makes me feel extremely uncomfortable. It’s bitter and fishy, kind of like soil mixed with blood.”

The doctors still shook their heads. “We’ve never noticed anything like that.”

Song Ying said, “Maybe there’s something wrong with my nose.”

After the blind beans were delivered, Song Ying returned to her room and continued working with her medicine bottles.

The sky gradually darkened.

Faer yawned and lit the oil lamp.

“Miss, it gets so cold here at night. Shall I get you another layer of clothing?”

Song Ying rubbed her sore eyes and asked, “Faer, are you feeling unwell?”

Faer replied, “No, I’m in good health. I’m not afraid of any of those nasty diseases.”

Song Ying still felt that something was wrong with the strange smell lingering in the air of Wucheng, and she suspected it was the real reason why everyone was experiencing discomfort attributed to the local climate.

But no matter how much she combed through the books, she couldn’t find an answer.

“Miss, Boss Chen is here.”

Chen Hong came in with a pot of boiled blind bean water.

“The doctor said that even if you’re not sick, drinking this like water can prevent illness.”

Song Ying asked him, “Have you drunk it yet?”

Chen Hong answered, “I have, and I don’t feel anything. The doctor told me to rest early, he said I should be fine by tomorrow.”

Song Ying said, “Then go back to your room.”

Chen Hong glanced into her room and said, “I can’t sleep.”

Song Ying replied, “I’m busy and don’t have time to chat with you.”

Chen Hong said, “What are you doing? Do you need help?”

Song Ying said, “Yes, I need you to leave.”

Chen Hong sighed, “Brother Fang, are you disgusted with me?”

Song Ying said, “It’s not that I dislike you, it’s just that I need to focus. You’re not feeling well, go rest early. When you’re better, I’ll treat you to tea.”

Chen Hong, knowing that she didn’t drink alcohol, nodded. “Alright then, I won’t bother you anymore. See you tomorrow.”

After seeing Chen Hong off, Song Ying returned to her room and continued her research.

Meanwhile, in the main tent of the military camp—

Huo Zhen had just finished drinking his medicine and was coughing uncomfortably. “Damn, this is way too bitter.”

Fu An said, “Bitter medicine means it’s working.”

Huo Zhen was furious. “What working? I’ve been drinking this crap for four days and it hasn’t helped at all. ‘Cough cough cough cough’.”

Fu An stepped forward and patted him on the back. “Brother, you’re lucky to still be alive. Just drink the bitter medicine and stop acting so reckless next time.”

Huo Zhen punched him in the stomach. “Damn you, who gave you the guts to lecture me?”

The punch wasn’t too hard. Fu An took a step back and laughed. “Alright, alright, I won’t say anything more. I know you wanted to take Longsai, but you also have to think about your own safety. If anything happens to you, what will your future wife do?”

Huo Zhen went silent. He had been too impatient this time.

He’d originally planned to lead elite troops to strike a stronghold near Longsai, but ended up walking straight into an ambush.

An ambush would’ve been one thing, but those shameless Xiyue bastards had even poisoned their weapons.

If he hadn’t reacted in time, he would’ve died there.

He couldn’t die.

Song Ying was still waiting for him.

Huo Zhen cleared his throat and asked, “Have all the supplies from the Chamber of Commerce been arranged?”

Fu An: “Yes. The herbs for today’s medicine were delivered by them perfect timing.”

Huo Zhen asked again, “You didn’t tell anyone about my injury, right?”

Fu An replied, “Of course not. Some of your friends came looking for you, but I told them you weren’t here.”

Huo Zhen was stunned. “Friends? Who?”

Fu An thought for a moment. “There was a guy, wasn’t very tall, had a big scar on his face, but he looked clean and fair. Oh, and he left a message. Something about a square chicken you wanted? I brought the message.”

“Fang Ji?” Huo Zhen was confused by what he said.

Fu An tried to recall again. “If it’s not Fangji, then maybe Jifang? Two words? Or three?”

Huo Zhen smacked him on the head. “How could you forget something so simple?!”

At that moment, Fu An suddenly remembered. “Ah! I remember now! Ji Yuefang! He said the Ji Yuefang you wanted has arrived.”

In the next second, Huo Zhen grabbed his collar tightly. “Brother?!”

Huo Zhen gritted his teeth and demanded, “Where are they now?”

Fu An: “They went back to the Chamber of Commerce guesthouse.”

As soon as he heard that, Huo Zhen shoved him aside and ran out of the main tent without another word. “I’ll deal with you when I get back!”