The teams further back were unclear about what had happened in front, so they could only hurry along. Chaos and panic spread for a while. Fortunately, horses were faster than the black insects, and after about a quarter of rapid running, they finally escaped from the group of creatures. The relatively flat desert terrain prevented them from getting separated even during the chaos, and the scattered teams gradually regrouped.
Several leaders rode their horses to the front and asked Yang Zhuo what had happened. Yang Zhuo didn’t hide anything and explained about the black venomous insects hiding beneath the desert.
The leaders were cautious and quickly summoned the respective accompanying physicians.
“Do any of you know what those insects are?” They asked the physicians.
The physicians looked panicked and ashamed. “This… They look like centipedes, but they have shells similar to crabs. We’ve never seen or heard of such strange creatures.”
The team leaders were astonished. If these creatures could instantly poison a horse weighing hundreds of catties, wouldn’t it be even easier to kill a person? Since they didn’t know what those insects were, they had no idea how to treat the poison. If they encountered those venomous creatures again, their lives would be in jeopardy.
However, the special forces soldiers from the Great Han Kingdom showed no concern. If the Emperor and Yan Guiqing weren’t worried, why should they be?
Yilihan and Bai Shaobai soon noticed the calmness of the Great Han Kingdom’s troops.
Bai Shaobai recalled that he had forgotten to ask if Yang Zhuo’s team’s physician knew about these creatures. He turned to Yang Zhuo, “General Yang, we haven’t consulted your physician about those insects.”
Yang Zhuo pretended to be clueless and replied, “Oh, General Bai, I almost forgot. Physician Qin, do you know what they are?”
Yan Ge glanced at Bai Shaobai and thought, ‘Clever; if you didn’t ask, I wouldn’t have bothered mentioning it.’
“Those insects are called ‘Black Fleas’; they thrive in the desert and are extremely venomous. Once bitten, a person will be paralyzed and lose strength in the blink of an eye, followed by unconsciousness. If the antidote is not taken within 30 seconds, the poison will spread throughout the body, leading to certain death.”
The other physicians looked at him in shock and admirration. They had never heard of, let alone seen, such strange creatures. They believed that this area was rarely explored, and as a result, these peculiar creatures didn’t have a name. Turns out they are called “Black Fleas.”
In truth, Yan Ge only knew about the Black Fleas because of the Pharmacopoeia. Fortunately, he and Huangfu Yuchen had come in person this time; otherwise, it was highly likely that the hundred elite soldiers would have all been wiped out.
When the special forces soldiers heard his words, they were even more grateful to the Emperor and Yan Guiqing.
Yilihan and Bai Shaobai exchanged glances and decided to pay more attention to Yan Ge.
Yilihan immediately asked for further details, sounding very polite, “May I ask, Physician Qin, how should a person who has been bitten by the Black Fleas be treated?”
“This…umm…” Yan Ge deliberately hesitated.
A slight smile appeared at the corners of Huangfu Yuchen’s mouth as he looked at Yan Ge with indulgence, not interrupting.
Yilihan saw Yan Ge’s reaction and was displeased. He turned to Yang Zhuo, “General Yang?” He wanted to apply pressure on Yan Ge through Yang Zhuo.
Unfortunately, he miscalculated.
Yang Zhuo sighed helplessly, “General Yilihan, I’m afraid you’re mistaken. Our Emperor was concerned about the dangers of this journey, which is why he sent the best physician to accompany us. Physician Qin is highly skilled, and even our Emperor trusts and values him greatly. I dare not make things difficult for him.”
Although Yilihan didn’t believe his words, the other physicians were not as skilled as this Physician Qin. They might need this arrogant person’s assistance during the journey, even if it meant parting with some gold. Thinking of this, Yilihan glared at the other physicians—a bunch of trash.
Enduring his frustration, he had no choice but to turn to Yan Ge again, speaking politely, “Physician Qin, the main purpose of this journey is to search for treasure. If we lose manpower, it will be a great loss for any kingdom. Your kingdom’s emperor has dispatched troops, indicating that he values this matter greatly. Therefore, we will still need your assistance along the way. Given the favor your emperor shows to you, I believe you wouldn’t want to disappoint him, right?”
Yan Ge rubbed his hands and said, “Well, I do like shiny things…”
Huangfu Yuchen’s lips curled with a deeper smile.
Yilihan, Bai Shaobai, and the others: “…”
Seeing that Yang Zhuo showed no intention of pleading for them, they each took out one hundred taels of gold and offered some flattering words. Although they felt they had been taken advantage of, they couldn’t do anything about it. If they encountered any medical problems on the way to the Demon Fortress, they would still need this “Qin” person’s help. With this in mind Yilihan and the others felt slightly better.
Nonetheless, Yilihan deeply felt humiliated and vowed to make them pay when they reached their destination. Regardless of how much gold they gained, he would make sure they returned it obediently!
Yan Ge accepted the gold and said, “Black Fleas have a peculiar trait: once one of them bites a person, the others won’t bite that person again. So, if someone is bitten, they must stay still in the same spot to avoid the poison spreading too quickly. Then, silver needles can be used to seal the person’s acupoints, confining the poison to the bitten area. Until the antidote is taken, the person must avoid strenuous movements; otherwise, they’ll die. Once the antidote is ingested, the poison can be completely removed.”
Yilihan and Bai Shaobai finally looked relieved.
“No one in our team knows how to treat this poison. In case of an incident, we will have to rely on Physician Qin,” Bai Shaobai added.
Yan Ge nodded generously, “No problem. However, as you all know, we are traveling lightly this time, and I didn’t carry many medicinal materials. Besides, I am responsible for the safety of our own soldiers. So, except for the Generals, I can only use silver needles to seal the poison on the other people until we find the necessary medicinal herbs to treat them.”
This reasoning was both logical and reasonable. Yilihan and the others could not demand more; all they could do was ask their soldiers to be extremely careful.
To avoid unintentionally stepping on Black Fleas’ nests again and being chased, the leaders decided to proceed as fast as possible. Although this had its drawbacks, such as tiring the camels and horses and making them hot and in need of water, there was no better option.
The large group continued to travel at a fast pace for another two hours before stopping to rest.
To protect themselves from the Black Fleas and other strange insects, several physicians took out insect repellent powder and protected their troops.
Yan Ge had also prepared insect repellent, but his was not in powder form, but rather a paste.
Yan Jin curiously asked, “Papa, why is yours in paste form? I see others using powder.”
Yang Zhuo and the others were also curious.
Yan Ge smiled and explained, “The insect repellent paste I’ve made maintains its effectiveness for a longer time when kept at the right temperature. Even if the desert heat dries out the paste, it will condense into granules and won’t be blown away by the wind, allowing us to reuse it. The next time we use it, we just need to add some water and mix it.”
“I see.”
Everyone suddenly understood and admired Yan Ge’s intelligence and talent. After all, Yan Guiqing was from their Kingdom!
Huangfu Yuchen watched his beloved confidently command the soldiers to set up camp, then instructed them to dig small pits every two zhang (about six meters) to place the insect repellent paste in.
His gaze was so hot that Yan Ge’s back felt itchy.
He turned his head and glanced at Huangfu Yuchen.
Huangfu Yuchen chuckled, took a water bottle and walked over, “Drink some water. Just tell them what to do.”
“I’m afraid they won’t be able to grasp the dose properly and waste the medicine.”
Huangfu Yuchen took an umbrella from Gao Feng, and used it to shield Yan Ge from the sun. Despite their profound cultivation, being roasted under the scorching sun for too long was uncomfortable.
Indeed, the desert was not a comfortable resting place and after resting for about two hours, Yilihan ordered them to continue on the journey.
It was now the other kingdoms’ turn to lead, and the pressure on the Great Han Kingdom’s team lessened.
They encountered the Black Flea again, but fortunately, their fast pace allowed them to escape without any injuries to the people or horses.
At dusk, the guide led them to set up camp on a small hill. Surprisingly, the small hill had a tree as thick as an adult’s arm and as tall as an adult’s shoulder. There were some scattered rocks around, big and small, and the ground was somewhat more solid.
“This is probably the only place in the entire desert with such big rocks. It’s relatively safe to camp here.”
Yilihan said, “Then let’s camp here, and we’ll continue our journey tomorrow morning,.”
He arranged for someone to set up the guide’s tent first and sprinkle insect repellent powder before managing his own troops.
The Great Han Kingdom’s team was under Yang Zhuo’s charge, and he dealt with everything. Huangfu Yuchen pulled Yan Ge to the hillside to watch the sunset. The rounded sunset had a clear outline, resembling a huge egg yolk, bathing the entire desert in golden light, as if it were paved with gold. The wind blew the fine sand in layers, like frozen waves.
“What a magnificent sight,” Yan Ge couldn’t help but praise, “The desert is so majestic, with boundless expanses. Under the setting sun, people’s shadows stretch long over the flat ground.”
“Great poem!” Huangfu Yuchen hugged Yan Ge’s shoulder playfully and teased, “Did you compose it yourself?”
Yan Ge didn’t have the nerve to say “Yes”. He replied, “That’s not important. What matters is that the desert sunset is really beautiful.”
Throughout the journey, Yilihan, Bai Shaobai, and others had already become suspicious of the relationship between Yan Ge and Huangfu Yuchen. However, they didn’t dwell on it, nor did they have the time to do so, as they were already exhausted just from guarding against the Black Fleas.
By the side of the small hill, everyone was busy with their own tasks, making the surroundings unusually quiet for a moment.
Yan Ge and Huangfu Yuchen kept watching the sun set before returning to the others. The desert nights were cold, and after a simple dinner, everyone retreated to their tents to rest early.
The special forces soldiers had great trust in Yan Ge’s medical skills. Except for a few who took turns to keep watch, the rest of them quickly fell into deep sleep and slept soundly.
The teams further back were unclear about what had happened in front, so they could only hurry along. Chaos and panic spread for a while. Fortunately, horses were faster than the black insects, and after about a quarter of rapid running, they finally escaped from the group of creatures. The relatively flat desert terrain prevented them from getting separated even during the chaos, and the scattered teams gradually regrouped.
Several leaders rode their horses to the front and asked Yang Zhuo what had happened. Yang Zhuo didn’t hide anything and explained about the black venomous insects hiding beneath the desert.
The leaders were cautious and quickly summoned the respective accompanying physicians.
“Do any of you know what those insects are?” They asked the physicians.
The physicians looked panicked and ashamed. “This… They look like centipedes, but they have shells similar to crabs. We’ve never seen or heard of such strange creatures.”
The team leaders were astonished. If these creatures could instantly poison a horse weighing hundreds of catties, wouldn’t it be even easier to kill a person? Since they didn’t know what those insects were, they had no idea how to treat the poison. If they encountered those venomous creatures again, their lives would be in jeopardy.
However, the special forces soldiers from the Great Han Kingdom showed no concern. If the Emperor and Yan Guiqing weren’t worried, why should they be?
Yilihan and Bai Shaobai soon noticed the calmness of the Great Han Kingdom’s troops.
Bai Shaobai recalled that he had forgotten to ask if Yang Zhuo’s team’s physician knew about these creatures. He turned to Yang Zhuo, “General Yang, we haven’t consulted your physician about those insects.”
Yang Zhuo pretended to be clueless and replied, “Oh, General Bai, I almost forgot. Physician Qin, do you know what they are?”
Yan Ge glanced at Bai Shaobai and thought, ‘Clever; if you didn’t ask, I wouldn’t have bothered mentioning it.’
“Those insects are called ‘Black Fleas’; they thrive in the desert and are extremely venomous. Once bitten, a person will be paralyzed and lose strength in the blink of an eye, followed by unconsciousness. If the antidote is not taken within 30 seconds, the poison will spread throughout the body, leading to certain death.”
The other physicians looked at him in shock and admirration. They had never heard of, let alone seen, such strange creatures. They believed that this area was rarely explored, and as a result, these peculiar creatures didn’t have a name. Turns out they are called “Black Fleas.”
In truth, Yan Ge only knew about the Black Fleas because of the Pharmacopoeia. Fortunately, he and Huangfu Yuchen had come in person this time; otherwise, it was highly likely that the hundred elite soldiers would have all been wiped out.
When the special forces soldiers heard his words, they were even more grateful to the Emperor and Yan Guiqing.
Yilihan and Bai Shaobai exchanged glances and decided to pay more attention to Yan Ge.
Yilihan immediately asked for further details, sounding very polite, “May I ask, Physician Qin, how should a person who has been bitten by the Black Fleas be treated?”
“This…umm…” Yan Ge deliberately hesitated.
A slight smile appeared at the corners of Huangfu Yuchen’s mouth as he looked at Yan Ge with indulgence, not interrupting.
Yilihan saw Yan Ge’s reaction and was displeased. He turned to Yang Zhuo, “General Yang?” He wanted to apply pressure on Yan Ge through Yang Zhuo.
Unfortunately, he miscalculated.
Yang Zhuo sighed helplessly, “General Yilihan, I’m afraid you’re mistaken. Our Emperor was concerned about the dangers of this journey, which is why he sent the best physician to accompany us. Physician Qin is highly skilled, and even our Emperor trusts and values him greatly. I dare not make things difficult for him.”
Although Yilihan didn’t believe his words, the other physicians were not as skilled as this Physician Qin. They might need this arrogant person’s assistance during the journey, even if it meant parting with some gold. Thinking of this, Yilihan glared at the other physicians—a bunch of trash.
Enduring his frustration, he had no choice but to turn to Yan Ge again, speaking politely, “Physician Qin, the main purpose of this journey is to search for treasure. If we lose manpower, it will be a great loss for any kingdom. Your kingdom’s emperor has dispatched troops, indicating that he values this matter greatly. Therefore, we will still need your assistance along the way. Given the favor your emperor shows to you, I believe you wouldn’t want to disappoint him, right?”
Yan Ge rubbed his hands and said, “Well, I do like shiny things…”
Huangfu Yuchen’s lips curled with a deeper smile.
Yilihan, Bai Shaobai, and the others: “…”
Seeing that Yang Zhuo showed no intention of pleading for them, they each took out one hundred taels of gold and offered some flattering words. Although they felt they had been taken advantage of, they couldn’t do anything about it. If they encountered any medical problems on the way to the Demon Fortress, they would still need this “Qin” person’s help. With this in mind Yilihan and the others felt slightly better.
Nonetheless, Yilihan deeply felt humiliated and vowed to make them pay when they reached their destination. Regardless of how much gold they gained, he would make sure they returned it obediently!
Yan Ge accepted the gold and said, “Black Fleas have a peculiar trait: once one of them bites a person, the others won’t bite that person again. So, if someone is bitten, they must stay still in the same spot to avoid the poison spreading too quickly. Then, silver needles can be used to seal the person’s acupoints, confining the poison to the bitten area. Until the antidote is taken, the person must avoid strenuous movements; otherwise, they’ll die. Once the antidote is ingested, the poison can be completely removed.”
Yilihan and Bai Shaobai finally looked relieved.
“No one in our team knows how to treat this poison. In case of an incident, we will have to rely on Physician Qin,” Bai Shaobai added.
Yan Ge nodded generously, “No problem. However, as you all know, we are traveling lightly this time, and I didn’t carry many medicinal materials. Besides, I am responsible for the safety of our own soldiers. So, except for the Generals, I can only use silver needles to seal the poison on the other people until we find the necessary medicinal herbs to treat them.”
This reasoning was both logical and reasonable. Yilihan and the others could not demand more; all they could do was ask their soldiers to be extremely careful.
To avoid unintentionally stepping on Black Fleas’ nests again and being chased, the leaders decided to proceed as fast as possible. Although this had its drawbacks, such as tiring the camels and horses and making them hot and in need of water, there was no better option.
The large group continued to travel at a fast pace for another two hours before stopping to rest.
To protect themselves from the Black Fleas and other strange insects, several physicians took out insect repellent powder and protected their troops.
Yan Ge had also prepared insect repellent, but his was not in powder form, but rather a paste.
Yan Jin curiously asked, “Papa, why is yours in paste form? I see others using powder.”
Yang Zhuo and the others were also curious.
Yan Ge smiled and explained, “The insect repellent paste I’ve made maintains its effectiveness for a longer time when kept at the right temperature. Even if the desert heat dries out the paste, it will condense into granules and won’t be blown away by the wind, allowing us to reuse it. The next time we use it, we just need to add some water and mix it.”
“I see.”
Everyone suddenly understood and admired Yan Ge’s intelligence and talent. After all, Yan Guiqing was from their Kingdom!
Huangfu Yuchen watched his beloved confidently command the soldiers to set up camp, then instructed them to dig small pits every two zhang (about six meters) to place the insect repellent paste in.
His gaze was so hot that Yan Ge’s back felt itchy.
He turned his head and glanced at Huangfu Yuchen.
Huangfu Yuchen chuckled, took a water bottle and walked over, “Drink some water. Just tell them what to do.”
“I’m afraid they won’t be able to grasp the dose properly and waste the medicine.”
Huangfu Yuchen took an umbrella from Gao Feng, and used it to shield Yan Ge from the sun. Despite their profound cultivation, being roasted under the scorching sun for too long was uncomfortable.
Indeed, the desert was not a comfortable resting place and after resting for about two hours, Yilihan ordered them to continue on the journey.
It was now the other kingdoms’ turn to lead, and the pressure on the Great Han Kingdom’s team lessened.
They encountered the Black Flea again, but fortunately, their fast pace allowed them to escape without any injuries to the people or horses.
At dusk, the guide led them to set up camp on a small hill. Surprisingly, the small hill had a tree as thick as an adult’s arm and as tall as an adult’s shoulder. There were some scattered rocks around, big and small, and the ground was somewhat more solid.
“This is probably the only place in the entire desert with such big rocks. It’s relatively safe to camp here.”
Yilihan said, “Then let’s camp here, and we’ll continue our journey tomorrow morning,.”
He arranged for someone to set up the guide’s tent first and sprinkle insect repellent powder before managing his own troops.
The Great Han Kingdom’s team was under Yang Zhuo’s charge, and he dealt with everything. Huangfu Yuchen pulled Yan Ge to the hillside to watch the sunset. The rounded sunset had a clear outline, resembling a huge egg yolk, bathing the entire desert in golden light, as if it were paved with gold. The wind blew the fine sand in layers, like frozen waves.
“What a magnificent sight,” Yan Ge couldn’t help but praise, “The desert is so majestic, with boundless expanses. Under the setting sun, people’s shadows stretch long over the flat ground.”
“Great poem!” Huangfu Yuchen hugged Yan Ge’s shoulder playfully and teased, “Did you compose it yourself?”
Yan Ge didn’t have the nerve to say “Yes”. He replied, “That’s not important. What matters is that the desert sunset is really beautiful.”
Throughout the journey, Yilihan, Bai Shaobai, and others had already become suspicious of the relationship between Yan Ge and Huangfu Yuchen. However, they didn’t dwell on it, nor did they have the time to do so, as they were already exhausted just from guarding against the Black Fleas.
By the side of the small hill, everyone was busy with their own tasks, making the surroundings unusually quiet for a moment.
Yan Ge and Huangfu Yuchen kept watching the sun set before returning to the others. The desert nights were cold, and after a simple dinner, everyone retreated to their tents to rest early.
The special forces soldiers had great trust in Yan Ge’s medical skills. Except for a few who took turns to keep watch, the rest of them quickly fell into deep sleep and slept soundly.
