Chapter 53: This is simply sheer fantasy!

[Ding! Detected that the host's right arm is infected with toxin. You must apply this herb as soon as possible to neutralize the poison and save your arm!]

Following the system's abrupt prompt, Yang Chuan finally gave a serious look at the wound on his right arm.

He saw that the bright red blood between his fingers had turned somewhat dark. The blades wielded by those assassins had actually been poisoned!

"Damn it, those insidious and cunning beasts! If I hadn't acquired the book *Comprehensive Medical Science* in advance, this arm of mine would likely have been crippled today!"

Yang Chuan was well aware of this.

Even though he currently possessed the martial cultivation abilities of a Grandmaster, while he could kill enemies through physical means, he could not cure a poisoned body.

Fortunately, a few days ago, driven by a sudden surge of benevolence, he had actively sought out divine physicians in the nearby deep mountains and forests, which was how he happened to acquire this marvelous medical tome.

Initially, he thought he would have to return to the capital, obtain a physical copy through the system's mysterious method, study it daily, and spend several years before becoming a legendary medical saint.

Who could have expected that this book came with an automatic problem-solving function? As long as he or someone near him was injured and the system detected a need for help, it would directly provide a treatment plan and the required herbs.

Upon discovering this convenient feature of the book, Yang Chuan was overjoyed and immediately hurried toward Tian Yueying with the herbs in hand.

Soon, the two met under the tree at the entrance of the village. Tian Yueying already felt deeply for Yang Chuan, and before he could even steady his footsteps, she anxiously went to inspect his wound.

To her dismay, upon looking at it, she let out a piercing scream of fright.

"Ah! Yang Chuan, your blood—why has your blood turned black? Could it be that those blades..."

"Yes, the blades were coated with poison. Fortunately, the antidote grows right here in the nearby bushes. Yueying, help me apply it."

With that, Yang Chuan handed the herbs in his hand to her, took off his outer garment, and bared his upper body.

Staring at the herbs in her hand, she tentatively gestured them against Yang Chuan's right arm, only to find that if they were merely pasted on, the herbs would quickly fall off.

Moreover, with herbs like these, unless the juices within them were extracted, it was utterly impossible to mend a wound.

With this in mind, Tian Yueying tentatively sniffed the scent of the herbs, and upon confirming there was no particularly strange odor, she put them straight into her mouth.

The moment she chewed them just once, a thick, intense bitterness flooded her entire palate, nearly causing her to vomit.

Yet, so that Yang Chuan's wound could heal quickly, she could only grit her teeth against the bitter taste, silently grinding the herbs into a paste with her teeth.

This entire scene was witnessed by Yang Chuan.

"Yueying, you..."

Hearing Yang Chuan's call, Tian Yueying had no time to reply. After chewing thoroughly a few more times, she finally spat out the herb mixture, which now resembled a muddy paste.

"Cough, cough... Yang Chuan, the herbs must be expressed into juice and applied externally for the best effect. Since there are no suitable tools at hand right now, this was the only way. You mustn't despise me!"

"I..."

Looking at Tian Yueying's face, which was twisted like a bitter melon, Yang Chuan gazed at her with eyes full of doting affection and couldn't help patting her little head.

"You fool, these herbs must be very bitter, right? To treat my wound, you were willing to chew even such bitter herbs. How could I possibly despise you..."

After Tian Yueying applied the herbs to the wound, the two looked into each other's eyes, and for a moment, even the surrounding air seemed to freeze.

At this moment, they didn't look like a ruler and a subject, but rather like a pair of lovers bound to each other for half a lifetime.

You in me, and I in you.

This was a warm feeling Yang Chuan had never experienced while by Yan Wugou's side.

If not for a lingering barrier in his heart that he had yet to cross, he would have almost leaned in and kissed her.

Realizing that the current atmosphere was somewhat awkward, Yang Chuan gave a hurried cough, and the two pulled back their lingering gazes.

"In my current state, it's probably somewhat inappropriate to go and disturb the nearby villagers anymore, right?"

Glancing at his discarded outer garment, Yang Chuan thought to himself that since the blood was already laden with toxins, it would be best to simply dig a hole nearby and bury it.

As for the agreed-upon casual lunch at a villager's home... with his upper body bare, how could he possibly have the face to go?

"Oh, what does it matter? Since we've already come, we might as well go directly and ask a villager. With good luck, we might even catch them at mealtime!"

With that, Tian Yueying boldly hooked her arm through Yang Chuan's left arm and walked straight into the village.

"Yueying, is this really appropriate?"

"What's inappropriate about it? You're a grown man; are you afraid of walking around bare-chested and being laughed at?"

...

For lunch, the two ate a bowl of thin rice gruel plus two coarse-flour steamed buns.

Beyond that, not a single trace of meat could be seen, nor were there even any green vegetables.

After the meal, Yang Chuan inquired with the villagers and learned that they had been eating such coarse fare every day for more than a dozen years.

The family of three was skin and bones, looking like refugees who had just fled from a famine-stricken area.

When asked about the reason, he learned that recently, due to a drought, the grain yield in the fields had dropped significantly.

Yet, according to the imperial court's regulations, they still had to hand over a designated amount of grain, which was why not even a single stalk of green vegetable could be found on their dining table.

As for any remaining property in the household, the villager gave a bitter smile.

He stated that for over a decade, they had barely managed to keep themselves from starving, and had never been able to save any silver taels.

Hearing this news, Tian Yueying hurriedly took two ingots of silver from her sleeve and thrust them firmly into the villager's hands.

When asked why they couldn't save money, the villager explained that all these years they could barely feed themselves, let alone keep a beast of burden to transport grain.

In this way, a vicious cycle was formed, repeating over and over until they grew poorer and poorer.

"Old Uncle, rest assured. In Xiaocheng, they have already begun selling a new type of mechanical device. One only needs to learn briefly to master its techniques. It can transport twenty dan of grain at a time, requires no food or water during transport, and costs a mere one silver tael!"

When he first heard about this, the old villager did not believe it in the slightest.

What kind of mechanical beast could go without food or water and still safely transport grain?

That was sheer fantasy!

However, when Yang Chuan revealed his identity and stated that he was an imperial commissioner sent by the Empress on a tour of inspection, the old villager nodded half-in-doubt, saying he would go to Xiaocheng to take a look when he had time.

After exchanging some pleasantries, Yang Chuan and his companion left the villager's home.

Compared to the prosperous Xiaocheng, the small village before them was truly like heaven and hell.

Walking out, Tian Yueying couldn't help expressing her emotions with a sigh.

"I never imagined that separated by merely thirty miles, the living standards of the common people would differ so drastically. Today we must not only develop bustling cities; the nearby villages deserve even more of our care."

"Let's go, let's take a look in the fields. I want to think of a way to help the farmers improve their lives."