"What about the Meng Han powder?" Fang Er asked curiously.
"Meng Han powder? If I cut you while you're asleep, would you wake up?" Sun Simiao rolled his eyes, wondering why Fang Er would ask such a foolish question.
Fang Er: ...
Forget about a knife, even touching him with a needle tip would startle him awake.
Ashina Bobi and the condemned prisoner were sent into the ward outside the operating room and hooked up to IV drips.
For two days and three surgeries, Old Sun's nerves had been stretched taut. Seeing them settled, he had two palace maids called to look after them and then returned to rest.
As soon as Fang Er returned to the back courtyard, Zhu Zi rushed over.
"My Lord, the leader of Heyi Jike has been found."
"Where was he found? Is he still alive?"
"He was found in the home of a hunter outside the woods. He was rescued from a tiger's den by that hunter."
"So, the fellow was carried off by a tiger?"
"How is he? Is he badly injured?"
"He's not too badly injured, but the leader of Heyi Jike's face was licked by the tiger."
"Licked? What's so great about being licked?"
But what Zhu Zi said next left Fang Er utterly stunned.
"Yes, the hunter said he was licked by the tiger and his entire face was disfigured."
"The hunter said the tiger didn't kill him because there were cubs in the den. The leader of Heyi Jike was carried back to the tiger cubs to be their plaything."
"This damn thing, licking him disfigured him? And he was taken to be a sparring partner for the cubs?"
Tsk, tsk, tsk. Just thinking about it made his scalp tingle!
"Poor guy, but it's good he's still alive."
"Are they settled?" Fang Er asked.
"Yes, they've been placed with the leader of Hele Meng Gan and the others."
"Alright, I understand. You can go."
After dismissing Zhu Zi, Fang Er went to a side of the courtyard, took out a key, opened the door, and went inside.
The lock on this room was a three-ring lock he had retrieved from the system. Only he had the key. Inside were the machine tools.
He randomly selected a few, stored them in his warehouse, then took them out again in an empty room in the front courtyard, and notified Zhao Gang and the others to come and take them away.
Watching the craftsmen transfer the machine tools, Fang Er casually asked Zhao Gang, "How is the helicopter?"
"Reporting to my Lord, the engine sustained some damage. I'm currently leading people in repairing it, and the fuselage is being remade."
The next day, Fang Er appeared by Ashina Bobi's bedside again.
Old Sun was already checking his pulse. Seeing Fang Er arrive, he merely nodded slightly in greeting.
Fang Er stood aside, waiting for him to finish the examination.
After a long while, Old Sun withdrew his right hand, frowning.
"Although there are signs of recovery, two streams of vital energy are intertwined within him. The situation is not optimistic."
"Two streams of vital energy?"
"Is this a rejection reaction?"
"Old Sun, do you have a way to resolve this?" Fang Er asked nervously.
Sun Simiao shook his head. "This matter is troublesome. Let me think."
He then fell silent, pondering how to administer the medicine.
After the time it takes an incense stick to burn, he looked at Ashina Bobi, who was still unconscious on the bed, and slapped his thigh. "I've got it!"
Fang Er quickly said, "Please tell me, Old Sun. Do we need anything else? I'll have someone prepare it."
Sun Simiao smiled and began to explain, "His current condition is like the relationship between the various tribes on the steppe and the Great Tang!"
"The new kidney transplanted into him is like the Turks submitting to the Great Tang!"
"They are not of the same tribe, so it's natural for there to be wariness!"
"It was your method of assimilating foreign tribes that reminded me. As long as that stream of vital energy that doesn't belong to him is assimilated, he will be safe!"
"This matter requires my junior disciple."
"Li Chunfeng?"
"What method does he have?"
Although he couldn't figure it out, Fang Er still asked Su Feng to fetch him.
Shortly after, Li Chunfeng entered the ward behind Su Feng.
Old Sun pointed at Ashina Bobi. "Junior disciple, I replaced this man's kidney yesterday. You check his pulse."
Li Chunfeng had been looking after pregnant women among Yelü Goudan's people and didn't know about the kidney transplant.
Upon hearing Sun Simiao's words, he was startled and looked at him with a bewildered expression, seeking confirmation.
"Kidney transplant?!"
Old Sun nodded. "Yes, a kidney transplant. His previous two kidneys were injured by a branch, and the other had also atrophied. Junior Fang suggested using someone else's kidney to transplant into him."
"The kidney was transplanted eight hours ago. Although he shows signs of recovery, two streams of vital energy are intertwined within him, and the situation is not optimistic."
"That's why I called you over."
Li Chunfeng stepped forward and placed his right hand on Ashina Bobi's pulse.
A moment later, he withdrew his hand.
"Does Master Uncle mean the Great Pei Yuan Pill?"
Sun Simiao nodded with satisfaction, stroking his beard. "The vital energy is impure and the foundation is unstable. The Great Pei Yuan Pill is the best choice. What do you think?"
"Using the Great Pei Yuan Pill to solidify the foundation, strengthen his vital energy, and assimilate the vital energy that doesn't belong to him, I believe it can be done." Li Chunfeng gave his answer after a moment of thought.
"Very well, the Great Pei Yuan Pill is the life's work of fellow Daoist Yuan. Therefore, this matter shall be entrusted to you, junior disciple."
"Yes!"
Li Chunfeng accepted the task, then took out paper and a brush from his怀 and wrote a prescription, handing it to Fang Er.
"I would trouble my Lord to have someone prepare the materials."
Fang Er took it and glanced at it.
"Good heavens! The medicinal ingredients listed here are no simple matter."
"2 qian of deer antler, 1 qian of tiger bone, 3 qian of hundred-year-old ginseng, 2 liang of Angelica sinensis, 1 liang of white peony root, 4 qian of rehmannia root, Polygonum multiflorum..."
"1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6..." Fang Er unconsciously began to count. Good heavens, there were over thirty medicinal ingredients!
"All of these?"
"Yes, the sooner the better! It will take me a day to refine the pills."
"His vital energy is impure. If the medicine isn't administered quickly, I fear he won't last three days."
"Three days, damn it, three more days!"
"Alright, Su Feng, take this prescription to Shenyang and find those medicinal herb merchants. Tell them my Lord requires them. They must be gathered before sunset."
Su Feng took the prescription and turned to leave.
After examining Ashina Bobi, Sun Simiao walked towards the condemned prisoner.
The condemned prisoner stared blankly at the ceiling. Having lost one kidney, the pain had already brought him to his senses.
Before Fang Er and Old Sun arrived, he had tried to recall those vague images. He even endured the pain from his wound, stuffing his hand under the covers, and trying to stimulate himself.
However, reality dealt him a blow.
He seemed to be impotent!
Suddenly, he felt his wrist being grasped. The condemned prisoner was startled, thinking they were going to take his remaining kidney.
He looked at Old Sun and Fang Er with terror. "No! Don't! Don't come near me!"