"Sister Yuxiu, I didn't expect you to even speak the local dialect."
Wan Yunting, supporting Nie Xiaoyu with his right hand and Li Yuxiu with his left, was surprised she could communicate with these local indigenous people.
Li Yuxiu smiled slightly. "I used to run a clinic in South Africa and traveled to various parts of Africa. Especially among the residents of some local primitive tribes, although they look primitive, it is often the case that they have their own methods of identifying herbs, which they use to treat their illnesses."
Wan Yunting nodded, realizing that Li Yuxiu was also very familiar with the traditional healing methods of the local African natives.
As the chief led Wan Yunting, Li Yuxiu, and Nie Xiaoyu back to their tribe, many people inside heard the commotion and came out, all showing warm smiles. They gathered around Wan Yunting, Nie Xiaoyu, and Li Yuxiu, communicating with each other...
Only Li Yuxiu could understand their words, but she wasn't completely familiar with them. Daily communication was fine, but if the topics were too deep, she couldn't understand and had to guess.
The chief knew that Li Yuxiu and Nie Xiaoyu were injured and invited them into a house built of branches and leaves. Inside, an elderly local was sitting by the central hearth. The roof was open, allowing the smoke to drift out. A strong herbal aroma filled the air, and it was clear that this old man was likely the tribe's doctor.
The chief spoke with the old man, and Li Yuxiu, understanding them, told Wan Yunting and Nie Xiaoyu, "This old man is the tribe's doctor. The chief has invited him to treat our wounds."
As she spoke, the chief turned and waved to them, signaling them to come forward for treatment by the elder...
Li Yuxiu went forward without hesitation. Nie Xiaoyu, however, was a little apprehensive as she followed. The two sat on the ground covered with leaves, while Wan Yunting stood by and watched...
The old man first lifted Li Yuxiu's clothes to examine her wound, exchanged a few words with her, and then examined Nie Xiaoyu's wound, speaking to her as well. But Nie Xiaoyu couldn't understand and, like Wan Yunting, looked bewildered...
"He said the injuries are very serious and need immediate treatment," Li Yuxiu translated the old man's words for Nie Xiaoyu.
After the old man finished speaking, he began taking the piled herbs nearby and placing them on a stone slab. Using a stone resembling a pestle, he started grinding the mixed herbs until they formed a green paste, which he then applied to Nie Xiaoyu's wound...
"It's fine, these herbs are for treating infected wounds."
Wan Yunting recognized the herbs the old man was grinding and told Nie Xiaoyu not to worry...
It had to be said that these local primitive natives had their own unique approach to herbal research. Although not as systematic as Chinese traditional medicine, these natives were familiar with the efficacy of herbs and could treat and heal their tribal members.
Of course, they couldn't cure all illnesses. These native doctors were most skilled at treating external injuries, as the natives often went hunting and might be scratched by animal claws or suffer accidental injuries. The natives had a very effective way of dealing with these.
However, for other diseases, these native doctors were helpless.
"How does it feel?" Wan Yunting asked Nie Xiaoyu after the herbs were applied to her wound.
Nie Xiaoyu nodded and said, "It feels much more comfortable."
Wan Yunting nodded and watched as the old man was also applying medicine to Li Yuxiu's wound. He then went over to examine the very fresh herbs piled nearby, which had clearly just been picked. One particularly unusual herb caught Wan Yunting's attention, and he couldn't help but pick it up and examine it closely...
This herb was very peculiar. Its leaves and stem were bright red, with strange patterns. The leaves had very fine fuzz and felt soft to the touch.
Wan Yunting picked a leaf, and the sap that flowed out was actually red. Even Li Yuxiu looked surprised and asked, "What kind of herb is this?"
Wan Yunting smelled the sap of the herb; it had a peculiar scent. He shook his head slightly. "I've never seen it before. It's probably a local herb. Sister Yuxiu, ask him."
Li Yuxiu nodded and asked the old man about the strange herb in Wan Yunting's hand. The old man answered her, and Li Yuxiu then told Wan Yunting, "He said it's called Kapuda."
"Kapuda?"
Hearing the name, Wan Yunting assumed it was a local designation.
"Let me see..."
Li Yuxiu couldn't help but reach out for it. Wan Yunting handed her a sprig, then took another to study it. He even licked the red sap of the herb with his tongue. It was slightly bitter, and his tongue immediately felt numb.
Wan Yunting frowned, a strange feeling arising in his heart. He said, "This herb is quite special. It has a slight toxicity, but not much. It should balance the toxicity of other herbs and is a cold-natured herb."
Li Yuxiu also studied the herb and exchanged a few words with the old man before telling Wan Yunting, "What you said is correct. This herb is cold-natured. They usually add it to other herbs to treat external wounds."
Wan Yunting nodded and then said, somewhat cryptically, "This herb has a certain wound-healing effect, and it can promote blood circulation!"
Li Yuxiu's delicate eyebrows furrowed. Suddenly, she said, "If this herb can be added to the formula we were researching before, do you think it's feasible?"
Wan Yunting looked up at Li Yuxiu, his eyes shining as he nodded. "That's exactly what I was thinking."
Li Yuxiu nodded and said, "Then we'll try this herb when we get back..."
"Great, I have signal!"
Suddenly, Nie Xiaoyu exclaimed excitedly from the side. Wan Yunting and Li Yuxiu turned to look at her, startling the old man. Li Yuxiu quickly explained a few things to him...
"That's great, quickly contact the base..."
Upon hearing Nie Xiaoyu say she had a signal, Wan Yunting also became excited. Nie Xiaoyu, holding Li Yuxiu's phone, immediately called the base. The operations room communicator answered her call. Nie Xiaoyu said excitedly, "This is Nie Xiaoyu, is Captain Luo there?"
The communicator was stunned for a second upon hearing Nie Xiaoyu's voice, then immediately reacted, "That's great, Captain Nie! You're alive! Captain Luo and the others aren't at the base; they've already gone to look for you."
As the communicator spoke, they also immediately pinpointed Nie Xiaoyu's location using the phone's GPS. Zooming in, they saw it was the location of the Baka tribe and asked, "Captain Nie, are you at the Baka tribe?"
"Yes," Nie Xiaoyu replied.
"Okay, I'll contact Captain Luo right away and have everyone go to the Baka tribe to find you. Are Doctor Wan and Doctor Li with you?" the communicator asked.
"Yes, the three of us are together."
Nie Xiaoyu glanced at Wan Yunting and Li Yuxiu. Both were extremely happy; they had finally managed to contact the peacekeeping forces at the base.
"Alright, I'll contact Captain Luo and their team right away to get in touch with you."
"Okay, I'll wait for Captain Luo's call," Nie Xiaoyu said, ending the call with the communicator...
At this moment, Luo Guowei, Qin Guowu, and over a hundred peacekeeping soldiers were searching for Wan Yunting, Nie Xiaoyu, and Li Yuxiu in the primitive tropical jungle. The muggy jungle was filled with all sorts of venomous creatures, causing several soldiers to be injured and sent back. Everyone was sweating profusely, and after searching for several hours, they still hadn't found any trace of them...
"Could Doctor Wan and the others have returned the way they came?" a soldier asked.
Qin Guowu waved his hand. "There are our troops outside. If Doctor Wan and the others really returned to the jungle, they would have encountered us."
Several soldiers looked tired. "We can't track their movements now. If we continue like this, it will be difficult to find them."
Luo Guowei wiped the sweat from his face and waved his hand. "No matter what, we must find them..."
"What, they've made contact with Captain Nie!"
A communicator behind him received a call from the base operations room and immediately turned back to shout excitedly at Luo Guowei, "Captain Luo, we've found Captain Nie and the others! The base said Captain Nie called them and said they are at the Baka tribe!"
"That's great..."
Upon hearing this news, everyone present became excited. Finally, they didn't have to wander aimlessly in this muggy jungle anymore.
"You contact Captain Nie and the others immediately."
Luo Guowei pointed at the communicator and then beckoned to Qin Guowu, "Notify everyone to head towards the Baka tribe's location..."
"Captain Luo, the Baka tribe is less than five kilometers away. We can leave the jungle and reach the Baka tribe in this direction." Qin Guowu determined the direction of the Baka tribe's location using his equipment and pointed south with his thumb.
"Alright, everyone set off. At the same time, notify those outside to also head towards the Baka tribe; we'll rendezvous there."
Luo Guowei waved his hand, and everyone present began to set off in the direction of the Baka tribe indicated by Qin Guowu...
"Captain Luo, the call is connected, here..."
The communicator immediately handed the satellite phone to Luo Guowei, who then asked, "Little Nie, is that you?"
"It's me, Captain Luo."
Hearing Luo Guowei's voice, Nie Xiaoyu smiled and said, "Doctor Wan, Doctor Li, and I are at the Baka tribe."
"Mhm, we're heading towards the Baka tribe now. How are you all doing?" Luo Guowei asked excitedly.
Nie Xiaoyu briefly recounted their situation. Luo Guowei breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing that they were only slightly injured and not in life-threatening danger. "You rest at the Baka tribe first; we'll be there soon."
"Okay, Captain Luo, talk to you later."
After Nie Xiaoyu finished speaking, they ended the call, and she smiled at Wan Yunting and Li Yuxiu, saying, "Captain Luo and the others are in the jungle and are heading this way."
"That's wonderful..."
Wan Yunting and Li Yuxiu were thrilled and excited; they could finally return to the base.
About an hour later, they saw Luo Guowei, Qin Guowu, and the fully armed peacekeeping soldiers approaching the Baka tribe on foot from a distance...