Chapter 199 – A Personal Invitation

Jian Mo’s teaching had been going smoothly.

His students were all adults, disciplined and self-motivated. All he needed to do was teach; he didn’t have to worry about much else.

As long as his heart wasn’t tired, he felt fine.

One sunny autumn afternoon, Jian Mo gave his students their first hands-on practice lesson.

He was teaching them to listen to the movements inside the body.

So, many beastmen of the Riverside Tribe shifted into beast form and lay down on the grass. Other beastmen from visiting tribes who had brought their cubs to attend lessons also lay down at Jian Mo’s request.

From afar, the grassland looked like a field of giants—furry beasts, one-horned horses, even massive armored beasts that weren’t exactly cute but still awe-inspiring.

Jian Mo led his students from one to the next, listening as he explained: what the inner sounds meant, what counted as healthy, and how to memorize the general sound of a healthy giant beast.

The sounds inside a giant beast were loud, making them easier to distinguish.

As lessons went deeper, Jian Mo would gradually train them to listen to sub-beastmen, human-form beastmen, cubs, and even pregnant sub-beastmen.

After hearing enough, they should naturally be able to tell the differences.

At first, the beasts lying on the ground were restless. But seeing how gentle Jian Mo’s actions were, plus the warmth of the sun, they soon calmed down.

Some even fell asleep under the sunlight—like Ban Ming.

That huge gray cat sprawled out in sleep, all four paws spread. Fortunately, he still remembered beastman etiquette: his big fluffy tail was pressed tightly over his lower belly like a blanket.

Jian Mo was familiar with Ban Ming, so he lingered longer when examining him.

The gray cat didn’t mind people climbing over him. At most, if someone stepped on his belly, he would twitch an ear.

The students were gentle, and when they sensed his discomfort, they quickly apologized.

One after another, they examined the gray cat. When it was A’Meng’s turn, Ban Ming shifted his tail under his belly, curling the tip around A’Meng’s wrist.

A’Meng’s ears flushed red; he flicked the tail lightly.

Jian Mo couldn’t help but smile, patting the cat’s shoulder blade as if to say: Do your work, stop flirting.

The gray cat’s tail snapped straight. Everyone chuckled.

Jian Mo guided his students through all the beasts, then told them to continue practicing on their own.

The students stayed, checking and recording the beasts’ features as they worked.

Hunters and gatherers returning to the tribe gathered to watch. Even the cubs came, though they didn’t dare disturb. Still, a seed of curiosity was planted in their hearts.

Jian Mo’s healer’s class continued.

Before long, they reached the stage of treating external injuries.

Jian Mo sighed to Wu Jiong:
“External injuries are hard to teach. Ideally, you teach while treating a real case. Unfortunately, no one has come for treatment lately. If only we had a patient, I could explain as we went.”

Everyone was healthy; he couldn’t very well injure someone for the sake of teaching.

Wu Jiong said:
“I’ll have people ask around. If someone’s hurt, we’ll invite them to our tribe.”

Jian Mo nodded:
“Good. I’ve also spread the word—maybe we’ll get lucky. If not, I’ll just delay this part of the lesson until later.”

Wu Jiong:
“No need. Major injuries are rare, but small wounds are common enough.”

Everyone knew Jian Mo needed patients, so they helped keep an eye out.

One day, one of his students, Luan Feng, a sub-beastman from the Meng Shui Tribe, came to him:
“Teacher, my father’s friend—he’s a beastman from the Sun Blaze Tribe—recently hurt his leg. I think it fits our teaching needs.”

Jian Mo brightened:
“How did he get injured? How long has it been?”

Clearly, Luan Feng had asked already:
“Scratched by a beast’s claw—skin split open, bone visible. It’s the sixth day since the injury.”

Jian Mo frowned:
“Why didn’t he come here for treatment?”

Luan Feng:
“He tried folk remedies, but they didn’t work well. Teacher, should we invite him over?”

Jian Mo thought a moment:
“With his leg hurt, traveling would be hard. Better I go check myself. If it’s suitable, we’ll invite him back. If not, no need to trouble him.”

Luan Feng:
“Then we won’t have lessons?”

Jian Mo:
“We’ve had class continuously for a while. This is a good chance for a break—for you and me.”

He planned to ride Chirp-Chirp and Ying’ao with Wu Jiong. Leaving in the morning, they’d arrive by the next afternoon—much easier than making the beastman travel on foot.

He told Luan Feng:
“No time to lose. If we can, we’ll leave tonight. Tell everyone: no class tomorrow, no class the day after. If we’re back on the third day, lessons resume. If not, continue the break.”

Luan Feng agreed quickly.

Jian Mo packed, humming happily as he worked.

When everything was in his basket, lid tied shut, he swung it on his back and turned—only to see Wu Jiong leaning against the doorframe, watching.

Jian Mo startled:
“When did you get back?”

Wu Jiong:
“A while ago. Why so happy?”

Jian Mo’s eyes sparkled:
“Luan Feng said a beastman in Sun Blaze Tribe hurt his leg. I want to check it out. If it suits, I’ll invite him to demonstrate for the students.”

Wu Jiong raised a brow:
“Happy just because you found a patient?”

Jian Mo:
“Of course not—because I get to go out!”

Teaching was fulfilling, but it was also tiring. He had planned to give the students a break soon anyway.

Jian Mo asked:
“You’re free, right? It’ll only be two or three days. We’ll be back on the third.”

Wu Jiong:
“What could happen? The tribe’s peaceful.”

Jian Mo:
“Then let Qing Kuo and De Jiang know. I’ll feed Chirp-Chirp and Ying’ao. Let’s leave before dark.”

Wu Jiong:
“On it.”

They finished preparations and, despite the setting sun, set off on Chirp-Chirp and Ying’ao.

The beasts, lively after a day of play, surged forward with powerful wings.

They flew long into the night. By the time the moon was high, they had reached the Red Fang Tribe’s territory. They found a flat, sheltered spot, stopped to rest, and cooked dinner.

Jian Mo had brought half-prepared food—just needed heating.

The two men and two beasts sat by the fire, eating slowly.

Jian Mo sighed:
“Feels like it’s been a while since we traveled. I missed this.”

Wu Jiong:
“Next time you give the students a break, we’ll come out again. The Arrowbone Beasts are getting fat. I’ll take you hunting.”

Jian Mo:
“Deal. I’ll bring seasoning. We’ll roast meat on the spot.”

Wu Jiong:
“No problem.”

They finished quickly, washed up, and Wu Jiong shifted into his giant wolf form. Jian Mo climbed onto his back, wrapped in warmth, and soon drifted asleep to the sound of steady breathing.

Whether because Chirp-Chirp and Ying’ao flew faster now, or because the road was familiar, they reached Sun Blaze Tribe by noon the next day.

This wasn’t their first visit. And they were no longer unknown youngsters.

On hearing their purpose, the Sun Blaze chief said at once:
“The injured one is Bo Ao. I’ll take you.”

Jian Mo asked:
“How is his wound?”

“Not sure. But it hasn’t healed.” The chief warned:
“Bo Ao has a strange temper, and he’s in a foul mood from the injury. If he speaks harshly, I hope you won’t mind.”

Jian Mo:
“Understood. Don’t worry—we know how to communicate.”

Before they even entered the house, Jian Mo smelled blood and rot. The injury was serious.

The chief called:
“Bo Ao, we’ve come to see you. This is Doctor Jian Mo from Riverside Tribe.”

A weary voice replied:
“Doctor Jian Mo? The famous healer?”

A haggard middle-aged beastman limped out, glaring:
“What do you want with me?”

Jian Mo:
“How’s your leg? May I take a look?”

Bo Ao:
“No.”

Jian Mo choked on his words. The chief quickly explained:
“That’s just his temper. Don’t mind him.”

Then to Bo Ao:
“They came all this way. Why be so rude?”

Bo Ao:
“They’re not my guests! Whoever invited them can treat them politely.”

Jian Mo raised his voice:
“Are you feeling unwell? I think your leg shows signs of a second injury.”

The chief blinked:
“He only hurt it once!”

Bo Ao stopped:
“How did you know I was hurt twice?”

Jian Mo:
“It’s obvious—the new wound looks different from the old.”

Bo Ao hesitated, then said:
“Come inside.”

Inside, he finally let Jian Mo examine him.

After careful inspection, Jian Mo asked in surprise:
“You cut yourself the second time?”

Bo Ao:
“Yes. After I was hurt, I called a healer from Yan Wang Tribe. He applied medicine, but my leg worsened—started rotting. I cut away the bad flesh myself.”

The leg was badly swollen. Jian Mo wasn’t shocked; he simply put on gloves and pressed gently:
“It’s infected. There’s debris inside. Needs debridement.”

Bo Ao:
“After being ruined like this, can it still heal?”

Jian Mo pressed lightly:
“Shouldn’t be too bad. It hasn’t rotted too deep. If we clean and stitch it, you’ll recover. What medicine did that healer use?”

Bo Ao:
“Long-headed beast dung.”

Jian Mo:
“…What?”

He had studied many prescriptions but had never heard of dung for wounds.

Cautiously he asked:
“Steamed?”

Bo Ao:
“No, fresh. Directly plastered on.”

Jian Mo winced:
“That’s… a serious problem.”

Bo Ao growled:
“I doubted it too! But he swore everyone used it, cured many. Liar!”

The chief added:
“It has worked before. But maybe Bo Ao’s wound was too large. Normally, dung from grass-eating beasts can help.”

Jian Mo thought grimly: perhaps small wounds healed because the patients were strong, not because of dung. But Bo Ao was older, his wound large—dung only worsened it.

He said:
“The light here is dim. Let’s go outside.”

Bo Ao, now trusting him, agreed.

Under daylight, the wound was terrifying—a long gash from just below the knee to above the ankle, deep enough to show bone, filled with pus.

Bo Ao said bitterly:
“I feared my leg would be crippled, so I cut away the rot. But it didn’t help.”

Jian Mo thought: the infection wasn’t fully removed, and cutting probably caused more.

He said:
“I brought medicine. Let me wash your leg.”

Bo Ao:
“Do as you like. Just save my leg.”

Jian Mo:
“I’ll try my best.”

He sterilized tools, boiled salt water, and began cleaning.

Many Sun Blaze tribesmen gathered, staring in awe at his gleaming instruments.

Unbothered, Jian Mo focused on treatment. This was also good advertisement—future students would come.

With a calm, convincing air, he drew warm saline into tubes, flushing the wound and draining pus.

Bo Ao sat silently, cooperating fully.

The injury was bad; it took two whole jars of saline to clean it.

Afterward, Jian Mo didn’t apply medicine but left it to heal naturally:
“With wounds like this, ordinary powders can hinder healing. Better to observe a couple days, then decide.”

Bo Ao, seeing the cleaned wound, nodded unconsciously.

Jian Mo smiled:
“Don’t worry. I once saved a beastman run clean through. Your case is lighter—he recovered well.”

The chief asked:
“Qin Hai’s chief? We heard rumors but thought them exaggerated.”

Jian Mo:
“That’s him. You can ask him yourselves—his wound was indeed severe.”

He decided not to ask Bo Ao for cooperation yet. Better to wait—if healing showed progress, persuasion would be easier.

The tribe arranged a room and food. Jian Mo and Wu Jiong rested.

Next morning, Bo Ao was already waiting outside, cloak wet with dew.

Jian Mo asked in surprise:
“Why so early?”

Bo Ao:
“I want my leg healed sooner. Doctor Jian Mo, look—it’s better, isn’t it? Less swollen today?”

Jian Mo checked carefully:
“Yes, much better. In two days, the swelling should go down more. If conditions allow, we’ll stitch it—it will heal faster.”

Bo Ao:
“Good, good! Whatever you say.”

Jian Mo:
“Today we can use medicine. I’ll clean it again, apply ointment, and bandage.”

Bo Ao nodded gratefully.

Wu Jiong came to help. Together they spent the whole morning cleaning, medicating, and bandaging.

At last, Jian Mo said:
“Your wound is treatable. We’d like to invite you to our tribe, to demonstrate debridement and stitching for my students. Would you?”

Before Bo Ao could ask, Jian Mo explained the lessons and the need for real cases.

Bo Ao hesitated, glancing at his leg:
“I can’t travel far.”

Jian Mo:
“We have flying beasts. You can ride one, and we’ll bring you back afterward. If you help, treatment is free, and we’ll even provide supplies as thanks.”

Bo Ao waved a hand:
“It’s not about supplies. Fine, Doctor Jian Mo—I trust you.”

Jian Mo:
“Great! Time is short—we should leave today. I’ll speak with your chief.”

Bo Ao agreed:
“Whatever you say. Just tell me what to bring.”

Jian Mo:
“Nothing much. Coming with us is already a great help.”

Still, since they’d come all the way, they traded for insect wax and other local goods before leaving.

Bo Ao packed lightly.

For safety, Wu Jiong rode Ying’ao with Bo Ao, while Jian Mo rode Chirp-Chirp.

After two days, they returned to Riverside Tribe.

The students were waiting eagerly:
“Teacher, finally! We were about to come fetch you.”

Jian Mo laughed:
“With Wu Jiong here, what danger? Don’t worry. This is Bo Ao. Tomorrow he’ll help demonstrate debridement and stitching.”

Ye Luo said:
“He came such a long way—let’s arrange lodging at the clinic.”

Jian Mo:
“Good. And prepare hearty meals to help him recover.”

He returned home with Wu Jiong, preparing supplies and reviewing knowledge for the surgery lesson.

Operations were harder than most treatments—he had to explain carefully.

Usually, barefoot-doctor-level healers wouldn’t do surgery, but in emergencies, such knowledge could save lives.

While Jian Mo worked, Wu Jiong settled the beasts, cooked dinner, then called:
“Done yet?”

Jian Mo looked up:
“Almost. Let me finish a few lines.”

Wu Jiong glanced at the page:
“What are you writing?”

Jian Mo:
“A lesson plan.”

He explained line by line:

“This line reminds students about infection—never use unclean remedies, like smearing dung directly on wounds.”

“This one stresses sterilization—disinfection is vital.”

“And here: beyond physical treatment, we must care for the patient’s mind. Illness makes people fragile. Improper handling can cause not only pain but lasting psychological trauma.”

After explaining, Jian Mo looked up to find Wu Jiong gazing at him intently. He laughed:
“Why are you staring?”

Wu Jiong kissed him, murmuring:
“When you speak like that, you shine. You’re captivating.”

Jian Mo’s eyes curved:
“All thanks to your support. Without you helping with everything, I wouldn’t be here calmly writing.”

Wu Jiong held his hand, kissed it:
“That’s why we’re perfect partners—meant for each other.”