The Martial Doctor

"Yes, young master, I'll ride back immediately!"

...

"Why are you here?" Lin Miao was directing villagers to screen suspected cases, brewing preventive medicine, and teaching everyone how to disinfect.

Suddenly turning around, he saw Lin Yurou adorably standing behind him in full protective gear and wearing a mask.

"I'm here to help you," Lien Yurou said, a blush appearing on her cheeks.

"Are you up to it?" Lin Miao asked. Although women adapt well, the pain of the first year of marriage still affects recovery.

"I studied medicine too. With such a big event happening, I can assist you. Don't worry, I had measles as a child."

"You've had measles..." Lin Miao asked, surprised. Those who contract measles develop red rashes which form pustules, leaving scars even after healing, resulting in small "pox" marks that survivors have on their faces, making them identifiable.

But Lien Yurou had none on her face.

"Young master, my master gave me an ointment to remove the pockmarks. It was because of this that my family didn't favor me, leading me to apprentice under Master Guan." Lien Yurou shyly explained.

No wonder!

Why would a young lady from the Lien Family think to study medicine? It seemed unnecessary, but there was a small story behind it.

Yet, this was private; Guan Biyun, being her master, naturally wouldn't expose her apprentice's shortcomings.

Whether Lien Yurou shares this herself is her own decision.

"Yurou, this is no joke. Are you certain you've had measles?" Lin Miao asked solemnly. As a master of the Meridian Passage Realm, he can sense any anomalies in his body even if he hasn't contracted smallpox.

Moreover, although the smallpox virus is formidable, claiming millions of lives, those with strong physiques and resistance experience only mild symptoms if infected.

Thus, martial artists typically have better health, and unless they're frail and elderly, minor smallpox viruses aren't a significant threat to them.

But for ordinary people, especially the elderly, weak, sick, and disabled, it is quite deadly.

Lien Yurou nodded with certainty.

"Alright, then follow me and be my assistant, adhering to my arrangements," Lin Miao nodded, agreeing to have Lien Yurou accompany him.

"This preventive medicine: each person should drink a bowl every six hours, at least two bowls a day, and even those not infected should drink it, with half the dose for children!"

"Physician, Physician, please save my child..." a woman cried as she ran over, clutching a small boy of five or six.

"Madam, don't panic. First, put the child down and let me have a look!" Lin Miao soothed the distressed mother as he reached out to check the boy's forehead.

Very hot — he was already feverish.

"Mother, it hurts..."

After checking his pulse and symptoms, it was clear the boy was infected with "measles," although the source of infection was unclear, leaving the mother bewildered.

"This is the early stage of infection. Yurou, administer Silver Qiao Powder to him and move him to the mild symptoms isolation room for observation," Lin Miao instructed.

"Yes."

"You cannot enter. Having been in contact with the child, you're at risk of infection too. From now on, you must stay in the isolation area..."

"I need to care for my child," the mother insisted, anxious.

"We have dedicated caregivers for the children, don't worry. He won't go hungry or cold. You're surely aware of the terrors of measles, which affects not just a family but the entire village, possibly the entire Dongshan Prefecture," Lin Miao declared sternly.

The woman was stunned by Lin Miao's words, not voicing further objections, and obediently followed others to the isolation area.

Though the conditions in the isolation area were basic, all necessities were provided: three daily meals and protection from the wind and rain. The inhabitants cramped into one room, but genders were separated, and disinfectant procedures were obligatory. Except for their undergarments, everyone had to strip their outer clothes, which were returned upon exit.

Though this was just one village, Miao Manor could still temporarily gather hundreds of sets of clothing; if isolation were to extend on a larger scale, it would be problematic.

Lin Miao hoped it was confined to this village — early detection and containment could prevent a greater disaster.

As time went on, more sick individuals were identified.

Though the infection source was untraceable, Lin Miao noted a commonality among cases: most were infected children.

Adults were not entirely exempt but fewer in number.

The village housed many children — about seventy to eighty; some families had more than one child, with nearly a quarter now infected.

Symptoms varied in severity.

Judging by the worst patient's progression, smallpox had been in the village at least half a month; its virus has an average incubation period of twelve days, though variances occur.

This was a rough timeline.

Considering this period, infection likely coincided with the New Year, days when village activities were abundant, with visits and celebrations, obscuring the precise source.

"Where is the village chief? Quickly gather and compile the village's population count, present or absent, and report immediately!" Lin Miao ordered as he summoned the village chief.

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