Few could truly comprehend what churned within Shang Chao Zong's heart. His family was in decline, and for the sake of raising his warriors' morale, his own sister had charged into the fray. If anything were to happen to his sister, how could he ever face his parents and brothers in the afterlife?
"Brother, I'm fine." Shu Qing said in a weak voice, shaking her head.
Niu You Dao flashed, arriving swiftly beside them. Extending a hand, he began to examine Shu Qing. He pressed an acupuncture point on Shu Qing and then inspected her back. Niu You Dao said nothing concerning the girl's actions. He believed that of all paths, one should always choose the safest. And a person should never take risks without reason. Therefore, at this moment, he truly did not understand this girl. Why would such a delicate creature rush onto a battlefield? However, though Niu You Dao showed nothing outwardly, deep down he felt ashamed.
Of course, at this moment, he should only be worried about Yuan Gang.
"Prince, the Grand Princess is fine. She just lost a lot of blood. A little recovery and she'll be all right. Only the wound on her back is quite large. We'll need to stitch it up so there won't be scars." Niu You Dao told Shang Chao Zong after examining Shu Qing's back.
Hearing that nothing serious would happen to his sister, Shang Chao Zong sighed in relief. However, upon hearing about stitches, he asked with some doubt:
"Stitches? What kind of stitches?"
"Uh..." Niu You Dao recalled that medicine here wasn't as advanced as in his former world. So, explaining, he said:
"Basically, you take the body and sew it up like clothing. Then, not only will the scar be smaller, but it will also be better for the wound."
As soon as Shang Chao Zong heard this, he was stunned. He even got goosebumps. How could one sew a body like clothing?
"Flesh and blood are not clothing. Lord Dao must be jesting?"
Niu You Dao scratched his forehead. Such a concept was likely difficult for them to grasp. And he was too lazy to explain everything, so he let them decide.
Shu Qing asked in a weak voice:
"Lord Dao, will stitches help heal the wounds?"
Niu You Dao: "Of course!"
Shu Qing: "Then I ask Lord Dao to help stitch up our wounded brothers."
"Uhhh..." The wounded bodyguards standing nearby involuntarily stepped back. Like Shang Chao Zong, they felt a chill run down their spines. Was this a joke?
Shang Chao Zong, frowning, said:
"Shu Qing, this matter..."
Shu Qing interrupted him:
"Brother. I believe Lord Dao would not speak idly. If this effectively helps heal the wounds, then let it be so."
Looking at the frightened faces of the bodyguards, she resolutely said:
"Lord Dao, stitch me first!" — Evidently, she wanted to set an example.
Niu You Dao smiled and, turning his head, said:
"Monkey, get everything ready and put water to boil!"
Yuan Gang nodded and, turning around, called Yuan Fang and the other monks over. They immediately began to help, with joyful eagerness.
Lan Ruo Ting knelt nearby and pulled two porcelain flasks from a red bundle. From them, he extracted two pills. One pill was red, the other green. Shu Qing took both of them.
These pills seemed familiar to Niu You Dao. He had seen their descriptions in a book. They were given to wounded soldiers.
He asked curiously: "Are these the Blood-Replenishing and Invigorating Pill and the Refreshing Pill?"
"Correct!" — Lan Ruo Ting nodded.
Niu You Dao knew that the Blood-Replenishing and Invigorating Pill and the Refreshing Pill prevented wounds from festering. In fact, they had an anti-inflammatory effect.
Shang Chao Zong could not stay with his sister indefinitely. At such a time, he had other concerns. He needed to attend to the other wounded and the deceased. He left his sister with Niu You Dao and went to the others.
Reaching the 33 fallen warriors, he stood silently beside them. The Yinyang and Wuli battle banner flapped in the wind.
33 fallen warriors, about a hundred wounded. For some, this was an obvious victory. But for him, such losses were immense. After all, he had very few people. How many times could he afford to lose so many?
Feng Ru Nan, standing not far away, kept glancing at Shang Chao Zong, who was covered in blood. At times, she would turn her head and look at the wounded Shu Qing. He, as a prince, had galloped first into the front line, and his sister had galloped behind him, holding the banner. And their father, with a single detachment, had shattered a numerous army. Feng Ru Nan, however unwilling she was, had to admit that she had underestimated the brother and sister. Yet, she could not admit it verbally.
She approached Shu Qing and calmly asked:
"Princess, are you well?"
"Sister-in-law, I'm fine!" — Shu Qing replied in a weak voice.
Feng Ru Nan noticed Niu You Dao nearby and her expression immediately changed. What kind of advisor stands back when his charge rides into battle? Therefore, she couldn't help but say:
"Shameless scoundrel!"
"..." Niu You Dao wanted to say something, but ultimately remained silent.
Feng Ru Nan called Weng Li to look after Shu Qing. After all, Shang Chao Zong only had men at his disposal, and it would be inconvenient for them to care for Shu Qing.
When the tent was set up, Yuan Gang brought everything inside. Shu Qing lay on the felt mat.
Niu You Dao had already prepared himself. He extended his hand and then remembered that men and women should not touch each other, even when passing something. So, he asked hesitantly:
"Grand Princess, may I cut your clothing a little to stitch the wound?"
Shu Qing understood what he meant. Evidently, he would see her back. Biting her lip and closing her eyes, she replied:
"To save those wounded in battle, I trust that Lord Dao is not an uncouth man." — Thus, she hinted that he would not do as he pleased.
Niu You Dao smiled and cut her clothing from behind. There, he discovered a red mark. This girl, though disfigured, had skin on her back that was so delicate, white, and beautiful, like porcelain. One couldn't leave a wound to mar this beauty.
"It's a pity there's no alcohol to disinfect the wound..." Niu You Dao whispered to himself. He only had a needle and thread, sterilized in boiling water.
Seeing Niu You Dao thread the needle, Shu Qing couldn't bear it and turned her head away.
Niu You Dao pressed acupuncture points and relieved her pain. Then he quickly and meticulously stitched the wound. He hoped the scar would be small and inconspicuous. This way, he felt less ashamed.
Weng Li, standing nearby, was simply terrified. A chill ran through her body. How could one sew a person like clothing? Horrifying!
Completing everything, Niu You Dao helped Shu Qing sit up slightly.
"Alright, be careful not to strain the wound. Once it heals, the stitches can be removed, and no scar will be visible."
"A scar isn't important." — Shu Qing shook her head. She already had a mark on her face; what good was it if there was no scar? What mattered to her were the people, of whom they already had so few. Therefore, it was better to treat them now.
Stretching her back, she noticed that nothing had happened. So, smiling, she said:
"I ask Lord Dao to take care of our brothers."
Niu You Dao smiled and nodded to Yuan Gang:
"Handle this and take the bear and the others with you. There are many wounded; the more people who know how to do this, the faster everyone will be taken care of." — He wouldn't handle everyone himself, after all.
Yuan Gang turned and left.
Weng Li helped Shu Qing change her clothes.
Niu You Dao, noticing Shu Qing's pale face, whispered with a sigh:
"You... You know you weren't born for battles. Why did you charge out?"
"We, brother and sister, harbor no selfish intentions. Otherwise, we wouldn't have the Yinyang and Wuli protectors." — Shu Qing calmly replied, putting Niu You Dao in an awkward position. He was quite the egoist, after all.
She suddenly asked: "If Yuan Gang had gone into battle, would you have gone too?"
"It depends on the situation." — Niu You Dao quickly replied and immediately left. He didn't want to discuss it.
As soon as Weng Li finished helping Shu Qing, she immediately went to Feng Ru Nan and reported everything to her. Feng Ru Nan's expression changed — "Sewing a person like clothing?"
Bai Yao: "What the devil possessed him?!" — he muttered, looking at Niu You Dao.
After Shu Qing, by her example, showed that she had undergone the stitching, the other bodyguards also had to have themselves stitched. Yuan Gang and the monks began stitching everyone. Fortunately, stitching wasn't difficult. Only courage was needed.
However, as they were stitched, the bodyguards couldn't help but scream from the pain. They weren't afraid of losing their heads, but they were afraid of watching themselves being sewn up like clothing. Perhaps this was because Niu You Dao had pressed Shu Qing's vital points, providing a pain-relieving effect.
Hearing the screams of the Yinyang and Wuli bodyguards, Feng Ru Nan was surprised. Could this be a method of the Yinyang and Wuli Guards? She was still impressed by this guard, so she wanted to learn from them. Therefore, she went herself and began to observe them. Because of this, the bodyguards being treated in her presence endured with all their might, trying not to cry out in pain.
Dusk was already falling, so the group occupied an impregnable mountain for the night. Using a Bird King, a message was sent to Feng Lin Bo. After all, the losses were considerable. Even the disciples of the Heavenly Jade Sect suffered casualties. Therefore, the Heavenly Jade Sect needed to send more disciples. And they would have further discussions there.