The next day.

After taking the medicine, many of the villagers who had fallen ill regained their strength within a day, their faces flushed with color. Although their bodies remained weak, at least the disease was cured. One by one, people started coming out of their homes. The villagers were so moved they nearly cried, kneeling before Ye Shikai and calling him a "benefactor."

"Oh, traveling doctor, you’re truly a Divine Doctor with miraculous healing skills. You are the benefactor of our Baimu Village."

"Alright, everyone, there’s no need to thank me. Saving lives is my duty. Those cured villagers should be taken home by their families to eat more nutritious food and strengthen their bodies. The rest should not worry; since the pharmacy is effective, it’s just a matter of time before everyone is cured," Ye Shikai explained.

"That’s wonderful!"

"Yes, the traveling doctor is truly our benefactor."

Ye Shikai removed his mask; the source of the plague was all concentrated in the village and had been burnt away. Now with the formula, they were treating and preventing the spread of the epidemic. In this way, within a week, the plague would be completely eliminated.

"Traveling doctor, you are our village’s benefactor; we... have no way to repay you."

"Cough, cough, actually, I do need your help. I hope you could..."

"Say no more, traveling doctor. Whatever you ask of us, we’ll assist you with all our strength, even at the cost of our lives."

"Well then, I want to take a look at the back mountain of the village. Who among you is most familiar with the terrain and can act as a guide?" Ye Shikai asked.

"That’s easy. I’ll call over Hu Zi. He’s a hunter in the village, often venturing into the mountains alone. He’s more than sufficient for the job." Soon after, a "slim" man appeared before Ye Shikai. He wasn’t tall, probably only about five foot four, not much taller than the women beside him, and he carried a bow on his back. Ye Shikai noticed that though Hu Zi wasn’t tall, his muscles were well-developed, indicating he was skilled in mountain cross-country activities. According to the villagers, when he hunted in the mountains, he was like a monkey entering the forest, at ease, with extraordinary physical strength and powerful legs.

"Are you Hu Zi?"

"Yes, I greet you, benefactor." Hu Zi took off his longbow, slowly kneeling before Ye Shikai to pay respects.

"Alright, alright, get up quickly." Ye Shikai hurriedly helped him up.

"Hu Zi is not only the best hunter in the village but also a master archer, able to shoot an arrow into a beast’s neck from a hundred paces."

"Benefactor, though I may not be as skilled as the villagers say, as long as you need my service, I will risk my life for you."

"Alright, accompany me into the mountains; I need you as a guide."

.................................

The back mountain.

"Benefactor, look, there are many small paths in this mountain, as well as many caves; inside, there are pathways connecting them, intricate and complex. If one unfamiliar with the area enters the caves on impulse, they’d surely get lost inside."

"Hu Zi, can you see behind those mountains?" Ye Shikai pointed into the distance, where the Chu Army’s camp was located. He hoped to find a path connecting the two places, so the Chu Army could escape through this route, avoiding the Qin Army’s blockade and retreat smoothly to Ba Shu.

"Yes."

"Are there any other paths that can go through?" Ye Shikai continued to ask.

"Well... there are indeed some, but they are all rarely trodden paths that hardly anyone takes, and they are rugged and difficult to traverse."

"Are there paths in the caves that can lead far away?"

"Indeed, but the paths in the caves are intricate, requiring someone to guide..."

"Do you know the way then?" Before Hu Zi could finish, Ye Shikai interrupted.

"Of course. If you wish, benefactor, I can lead you through right now," Hu Zi nodded in agreement.

"That would be great."

The cave.

"Benefactor, look, these caves are all naturally formed, with many branch paths inside. During the time of the Seven Kingdoms, this place was once Chu State’s territory, then Qin State’s. This cave... became the Hidden Soldier Cave, storing weapons and provisions inside," Hu Zi explained to Ye Shikai.

Ye Shikai carefully examined the surroundings inside the cave. There were indeed signs of habitation, even some tables and chairs, though the wooden furniture had long since rotted away, suggesting this had been a long time ago.

"Since it was once the Hidden Soldier Cave, why is it empty now?" Ye Shikai asked.

"After Qin unified the land, they built a fortress nearby, so naturally, this cave wasn’t needed as a storage place anymore. Who would want to live in such a dark and damp place every day?"

"That’s true. The Qin Dynasty unified the land, collecting all civilian weapons to prevent the remaining forces of the Six Kingdoms from rallying against them." Ye Shikai looked at the cave; the roads inside were not particularly narrow, and once the path was determined, at least ten to twenty thousand troops could be evacuated every day. In this way, within a week, the entire army could retreat.

"Benefactor, let’s keep going; there are many rocks on the ground, be careful underfoot."

An hour later, the two finally exited the cave, and Ye Shikai had recorded the entire route on paper. With this map, the Chu Army could retreat.

Ye Shikai looked into the distance. That was the frontline of the Chu Army, where Huo Ziqing had set up many camps near the city, while the Qin Army had established a camp thirty miles opposite them. At such a close distance, cavalry could charge to the Chu Army positions within the time of burning an incense stick. It’s clear the Qin Army was confident and fearless.

"Benefactor, there Qin and Chu armies are in combat."

Ye Shikai closed his eyes, ears listening quietly, faint cries and sounds of weapons clashing resonated through the air—it was a great battle.

"Indeed, with tens of thousands on each side, a battle at this scale could cut down all the trees on the mountain, and still not be enough to make coffins."

"Benefactor, you’ve traveled the land, certainly more knowledgeable than a rash man like me. When do you think this war will end?" Hu Zi’s tone softened. Ye Shikai could hear his "inner voice." Even a tough guy who hunted beasts in the wild had his vulnerabilities. War is a sight no civilians wish to see, especially for places like Baimu Village, positioned on the Qin-Chu frontlines, facing the constant threat of being wiped out. Today they’ve survived the plague, but can they escape tomorrow’s "calamity of war"?

"Perhaps tomorrow, perhaps never ending. If lucky, we might witness peace in our lifetime."

"Benefactor, do you hope for the Chu Army to win or the Qin Army?" Hu Zi continued to ask, Ye Shikai fell silent, eyes fixed on the distance, face heavy.

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