As the few people were discussing what to do, Leng Ren's trembling voice, filled with pain, rang out.
"Let's try cutting it open and using the spirit spring water! I really can't stand the pain anymore..."
Leng Ren had followed Huo Qiyuan since he was a child, training hard and risking his life for his master. He had been a guard for over twenty years, enduring countless major and minor injuries, but never once had he felt such unbearable agony as he did now.
Initially, they hadn't realized how severe Leng Ren's bone injury was. However, after Huo Qiyuan returned to Yaoking City with Leng Nuo and the military doctor examined him, they discovered the situation was very bad.
The bones beneath Leng Ren's skin, from his collarbone to his shoulder blade, were essentially shattered. If treated according to the military doctor's method, his left arm would have been permanently disabled.
Upon hearing the possibility of permanent disability, the military doctor hesitated to proceed. Leng Ren also did not wish to become disabled, so he endured the pain, waiting for Huo Qiyuan's return. Perhaps His Majesty would return with him, and with His Majesty present, there might be a chance for his arm to heal.
Seeing Leng Ren's pained expression and his swollen shoulder, Leng Si hardened his heart, drew the dagger from his waist, sterilized it, and walked to the bedside...
Leng Si swallowed, holding the dagger. He had killed people like cutting vegetables before, but now, to make an incision on Leng Ren, he needed a long period of psychological preparation.
Leng Si closed his eyes, and when he opened them again, his gaze had changed. He chose the most glistening spot on Leng Ren's swollen shoulder and made his cut.
"Mmmph... hiss..."
The dagger sliced through the skin, then through layers of crimson muscle, revealing the stark white bone beneath. The initial sensation of the cut was shallow.
But as the pus and blood began to flow out, the burning, stinging pain caused even the usually strong Leng Ren to let out a muffled groan, his body trembling uncontrollably.
Leng Ren tightly gripped Leng Ao's hand, pressing his head against Leng Ao's shoulder, his face contorted as he continuously gasped for air to alleviate the physical agony.
The stagnant blood in his shoulder had already festered after being trapped for a day. What flowed out, besides pus and dark red blood, were also fragments of flesh and splintered bone...
As the blood stopped flowing, Leng Heng quickly stepped forward to clean the wound with the prepared spirit spring water. Looking at the large protrusion on Leng Ren's collarbone, the skin stretched taut over it, clearly outlining the shape of the bone.
Leng Heng's hand, as he cleaned the wound, trembled uncontrollably. He silently prayed for the Prince to return soon. If his eldest brother's arm were truly crippled, how devastated would he be!
At the same time, Leng Heng couldn't help but worry. If his eldest brother's injuries were so severe from just one palm strike, he wondered about the condition of their tenth brother. He had been hit very hard at the time!
Perhaps it was a psychological effect, or perhaps the spirit spring water was more effective on wounded tissues. Regardless, after cleansing the wound with the spirit spring water, Leng Ren appeared to be slightly better.
The group toiled until the middle of the night, and only when Leng Ren finally drifted off into a heavy sleep did the others rest by his bedside.
In another room, Leng Feng remained lost in thought, not speaking further. Seeing Su Ling'er sleeping on the low couch, curled on her side, he closed his eyes and continued to ponder his concerns.
Just as Leng Feng's mind was a tangled mess and he was about to truly fall asleep, there was a sudden movement from Su Ling'er's side. From the sound of it, she seemed to be trying to get up, perhaps needing to use the restroom?
No! Leng Feng opened his eyes in the darkness. He felt Su Ling'er's footsteps, and they were coming in his direction. Could it be that she was worried he would catch a chill and was coming to cover him with a blanket?
Thinking this, Leng Feng felt a pang of guilt. Ling'er was clearly very good to him, yet he harbored suspicions in his heart...
"Leng Feng? Leng Feng, are you asleep?"
The moment Su Ling'er called out his name, Leng Feng almost blurted out that he was awake. But in that instant, he suddenly wanted to know if Su Ling'er was coming to cover him, or...
Before Leng Feng could finish his thought, he closed his eyes and fell into a deep slumber. As his eyes closed, he smelled a peculiar fragrance, and then he lost consciousness...
The next morning, Leng Ren was awakened again by the worsening pain of his wound. Leng Si and the others had been waiting for Huo Qiyuan's return. He had returned overnight twice before.
However, even after noon, Huo Qiyuan had not yet returned. They understood then that Leng Nuo's injuries were likely not optimistic.
Otherwise, given the Prince's personality, he would have rushed back overnight. After all, they had agreed that the army would depart for Chehe City the next day.
Leng Feng, on the other hand, was even more silent today. Su Ling'er had spoken to him several times, but he had only given perfunctory replies, then kept his eyes closed, pretending to be asleep.
He kept thinking about the scent he had smelled last night. It must have been from Su Ling'er's body. Besides the different fragrances, he had also detected Su Ling'er's unique scent.
So, what was that strange aroma? Why had he suddenly lost consciousness, feeling as if he had fainted? Could it be a sleeping potion?
Meanwhile, Su Ling'er sat by the table, bored, occasionally glancing back at the person on the bed. She didn't know what was wrong with Leng Feng today; he seemed exceptionally sleepy?
However, considering the military doctor had mentioned his body was very weak, Su Ling'er didn't think he was feigning sleep. When Leng Heng came to deliver lunch at noon, Leng Feng, who had been planning to sit up,
He estimated that the Prince should have returned from Yaoking. He wanted to ask about the condition of his eldest brother and tenth brother, especially the tenth brother. Last night, he had seemed to have lost his mind, and what he saw before him were not people, but swarms of monsters, which was why he had struck so hard...
Leng Heng still brought two portions of food. Today, there was also a cup of diluted spirit spring water and a teapot.
Seeing that Leng Feng was not yet awake, he placed the items on the table. He then said to Su Ling'er with a blank expression that the cup contained Leng Feng's medicine and that she shouldn't forget to feed it to him, before preparing to leave.
Leng Feng, upon hearing his cold and distant tone, re-closed his eyes heavily. It seemed his brothers now held a prejudice against him...
At this moment, Su Ling'er called out to stop Leng Heng and said softly, "Big Brother Leng Feng is still very weak and hasn't woken up yet. Yesterday, after the other Deputy General Leng gave him this water, his condition seemed to improve a lot. Could you give him a little more water today?"
Leng Heng turned and looked at her intently. He had deep, narrow eyes, and when he stared at someone without expression, he gave the impression of an endless abyss, making one feel oppressed and fearful.