Chapter 19: The Use of Merit!!

"One merit point can be exchanged for five free attribute points."

"Ten merit points can be exchanged for one skill point that can enhance any skill," the panel prompted.

Hearing this prompt and seeing the wounded soldiers scattered throughout the infirmary, Zhao Feng smiled inwardly. "Saving people brings unexpected rewards. Merit points—this is wonderful."

As Zhao Feng finished suturing and applying medicine, Master Chen immediately stepped forward to inspect the wound. After the suturing, the bleeding had almost completely stopped, and with the application of the hemostatic medicine, the effect was even better.

"This suturing method is actually so miraculous? It stopped the bleeding just like that? Can needles and thread be used this way?" Master Chen looked at Zhao Feng with a face full of astonishment.

"Suturing naturally stops the bleeding, but if the internal organs have suffered heavy damage, it can only be left to fate," Zhao Feng said.

"Setting aside whether your quenching and disinfection method is useful, this suturing method alone could be of great use. My teacher was a great physician, the most famous physician in the world, and even he did not possess such a technique. Little brother, are you truly a soldier? Where did your mother study? Could she have been a disciple of a hidden great physician as well?" Master Chen asked, stunned.

"My mother may have had a teacher, but she probably wouldn't be considered a great physician. I just happened to learn these things by chance," Zhao Feng said modestly.

As long as one possessed a modicum of medical knowledge, suturing was not difficult to apply. Furthermore, medical practices in this era were not particularly refined; the soldiers in this infirmary who required suturing were almost all severely wounded, and survival was the primary concern.

"I have a premonition that with this suturing technique, once it spreads, you will have established the foundation of a great physician," Master Chen remarked with emotion.

"Military Physician Chen, let's not waste time. Follow me. I will teach you this suturing method and the precautions for quenching and disinfection."

Listening to the waves of wails echoing through the camp, Zhao Feng focused his mind on the task at hand.

"You are willing to pass this suturing method to me? This is a top-tier secret method for stopping bleeding!" Master Chen was quite surprised. In this era, the boundaries between sects and lineages were strict; why would one teach such a thing without a master-disciple relationship?

"I don't intend to use this method for any personal gain. Moreover, this method might save countless brothers-in-arms. If I teach it to you, and you pass it on, we can benefit the soldiers of the Great Qin army today, and once the world is at peace, we can benefit the common people of the world," Zhao Feng said with a smile, before walking toward a heavily wounded soldier.

Hearing Zhao Feng's words, a look of admiration appeared on Master Chen's face.

"Such a suturing secret is a life-saving miracle for the army, yet he offers it so selflessly. A man of great virtue. Or perhaps, this is what my teacher called the 'benevolence of a physician,'" Master Chen thought to himself.

He did not waste any time and immediately followed behind Zhao Feng. As the highest-ranking military physician in the Lantian Camp, he now stood behind Zhao Feng like a student.

"Military Physician Chen, the blade must be heated until it is red-hot, then cooled with strong liquor to disinfect it. Aside from drinking alcohol for pain relief, pouring strong liquor over a wound can also disinfect it... As for the suturing method, it involves sewing the flesh together according to certain rules..."

Zhao Feng explained to Master Chen while treating the wounded soldiers. The latter, naturally, listened with utmost seriousness.

This scene caught the attention of many other military physicians in the infirmary, who were greatly surprised.

"That wounded soldier is treating other wounded soldiers? Why does it feel like the teacher is being taught?"

"Yeah."

"It feels like that soldier is instructing the teacher."

"You must be joking. The teacher's medical skills were passed down from the number one physician of our Great Qin. A mere soldier is teaching the teacher medicine?"

Many military physicians looked on with great confusion. However, remembering Master Chen's strictness, they did not dare to say much, only feeling intense curiosity.

Time passed.

After a significant amount of time had elapsed, a fair-skinned general in military uniform with her hair tied up arrived at the entrance of the infirmary, accompanied by several personal guards.

"Who is the officer in charge of the infirmary?" Wang Yan shouted immediately upon arrival.

In response, a military officer ran over quickly and bowed. "Subordinate greets the Military Commander."

"What is the situation in the infirmary?" Wang Yan asked.

"Reporting to the Commander. Master Chen and fifty military physicians are doing their utmost to treat the wounded. With Military Physician Chen's intervention, many wounded soldiers have already been out of danger," the officer replied respectfully.

"It is good that Military Physician Chen is personally here," Wang Yan nodded.

Then, Wang Yan scanned the area and asked, "Do you know of a soldier named Zhao Feng?"

"Reporting to the Commander," the officer replied immediately, but a strange expression crossed his face.

"Where is he?" Wang Yan asked instantly.

"He... he is teaching Military Physician Chen medical skills," the officer said awkwardly. He then turned and pointed toward the inner section of the infirmary where the severely wounded were located.

Wang Yan looked over.

She saw a man with bandages wrapped around his upper body and bloodstains on his face—clearly a wounded soldier who had recently undergone treatment. Yet, instead of resting, he was holding a small knife, extracting an arrow from a heavily wounded soldier and treating him. And as the best military physician in the Lantian Camp, Master Chen was standing beside this soldier like a student, acting as an assistant by handing over knives, medicine, and bandages.

"What... what is going on?" Wang Yan looked at the officer, somewhat dazed.

"To be honest, the Commander might not believe it. This Zhao Feng is proficient in an extraordinary medical skill that even Military Physician Chen finds highly admirable. This skill can greatly increase the survival rate of the wounded. Currently, Zhao Feng is teaching Military Physician Chen," the officer said with a smile.

"He is actually proficient in medicine? And he can even teach Master Chen?" Wang Yan was completely stunned.

But at this moment, Zhao Feng was unaware that someone was watching him. He continued to suture, extract arrows, and apply medicine to the severely wounded.

"Treated one person, obtained 1 merit point," the panel prompted.

Hearing this, Zhao Feng felt at ease. The appearance of the prompt proved that the soldier's life had been saved through his treatment. If there were no prompt, it meant the injury was too severe and the treatment was ineffective.

In this period, Zhao Feng had treated ten people in succession. There had also been failures.

"According to what little brother Zhao said, the 'Seven-Day Wind' is not caused by the injury itself, but by filth or even rust on external weapons invading the flesh. Furthermore, even a blade that has never been used may carry the poison of the Seven-Day Wind—or what you call bacterial poison. It can be burned away by intense fire, or killed by pouring strong liquor over it," Master Chen said, sounding like a student seeking knowledge.

"Exactly. As long as disinfection is done properly and the suturing method is used, the survival rate of the wounded can increase by at least thirty to forty percent," Zhao Feng said with a smile.

"Listening to little brother Zhao's medical theories, I have gained much," Master Chen said with admiration.

"You are too kind, Military Physician Chen. What I have said is merely theory; it still requires practice through you and your subordinate physicians. This time, Military Physician Chen can try suturing. I will perform the incision, and you will do the suturing," Zhao Feng suggested.

"Very well! Then today, I shall work together with little brother Zhao to save lives!" Master Chen laughed loudly.

...

(End of Chapter)