My Mother is the White Moonlight of a Tyrant - Chapter 29: Sudden Change, Her Turning of the Tide

Chapter 29: Sudden Change, Her Turning of the Tide

The mountain path was rugged, and Dai Li walked sluggishly.

From the front of the line, to the middle, and then gradually slipping to the rear, Dai Li knew she was walking too slowly—soon she might fall behind.

But she believed she had done well enough. As for that relentless, never-give-up spirit even when hanging by a thread…

Forget it, it didn’t suit her.

Dai Li stopped and looked around.

Has Madam found a suitable location? A deep male voice came from ahead.

Dai Li turned toward the sound and saw that the man who had been at the front of the line had somehow made his way over. The ground was thick with grass, and broad leaves covered uneven patches, making it easy to misstep and twist an ankle if one wasn’t careful.

But Qin Shaozong moved as if walking on flat ground. In the brief moment Dai Li hesitated and envied his ease, he had already closed the distance and stood before her.

Perhaps because she hadn’t responded, the corners of his eyes lifted slightly with a sharp edge. You used to spin lies effortlessly. Has your tongue stopped working now?

For a moment, Dai Li completely understood why Li Zan had sent people chasing him all over the mountains. This man was just that arrogant—begging for a lesson.

But under someone else’s roof, one must bow their head. Dai Li could only reply, What location?

Madam walks so slowly, isn’t it because you’re looking for a place to retire in seclusion among the mountains? To live alongside the birds and beasts. As Qin Shaozong spoke, he pointed toward a ravine they had just crossed. In my opinion, that spot is quite nice. There’s a snake den there—red chain snakes, non-venomous, only about the thickness of a child’s wrist. Even if bitten, no need to worry about your life. And if you live there, you certainly won’t be bothered by mosquitoes at night.

Dai Li: …

Even though she knew he was trying to scare her, Dai Li was inherently afraid of cold-blooded reptiles. Just the thought that she might have actually stepped over a snake den made her break out in goosebumps all over her back.

Dai Li quickly strode forward.

Qin Shaozong followed, a smirk playing on his lips.

But it didn’t last long. Qin Shaozong noticed her veering off course until she stopped under a large tree and picked up a straight branch about the thickness of a chicken egg.

Dai Li wanted to use the branch as a hiking pole to make the mountain trek easier. But after testing it, she realized the branch was a bit too long.

The length of a hiking pole should correspond to the user’s height. For someone of her stature, around 1.2 meters would suffice.

This branch, however, was about 1.45 meters long.

Dai Li stepped on the lower end of the branch, trying to snap off the extra 20 centimeters or so.

Unfortunately, perhaps because the branch was relatively thick, or because the section she wanted to break was too short and close to the ground, making it hard to apply force—after several attempts, she still couldn’t break it.

A gaze brimming with amusement had been fixed on her from the side. Does Madam intend to gather a snake-driving staff in advance?

Dai Li corrected him, It’s a hiking pole. Using this as support on mountain paths saves a lot of effort.

Qin Shaozong didn’t understand why a hiking pole needed to be a specific length, but seeing her struggle to break it, he reminded her, Use a knife.

Dai Li paused, suddenly remembering she had a tool with her.

On the night they hid in the cave, he had given her a dagger. He never asked for it back, so she had kept it. Having the knife nearby usually gave her some peace of mind.

Dai Li took out the short knife and, under Qin Shaozong’s complicated gaze, crouched down. Holding the knife in her right hand and pressing the branch with her left, she began to saw slowly.

Creak, creak…

The dagger left several fine scratches on the surface of the branch.

Qin Shaozong’s lips twitched. By the time you finish sawing this branch, the sapling beside us could already provide shade. Hand it over.

Dai Li glanced at the knife marks, thinking to herself that she only needed to carve halfway through before snapping it in the opposite direction—hardly as exaggerated as he claimed.

Nevertheless, she stood up and passed him the branch.

As Qin Shaozong took the branch, Dai Li hadn’t even managed to offer the dagger in her other hand when a flash of white light swept past her vision. Immediately after, something fell to the ground with a snap.

Dai Li looked down to see a small branch segment, about twenty centimeters long—exactly the section she had intended to cut, severed perfectly along her faint scratch marks.

Dai Li: …

Qin Shaozong casually scraped off the excess twigs from both sides of the branch, sheathed his short blade, and said, Take it. Keep up.

Silently, Dai Li put away her dagger, gripped the makeshift walking stick, and continued their journey.

Halfway there, a sudden cacophony of battle cries erupted—war drums pounding, shouts and clashes merging into a roar like a depth charge detonating towering waves.

Startled, Dai Li instinctively scanned their surroundings.

Everything appeared normal. No arrows flew from the woods, no armored soldiers charged with blades. Only the mountain wind swept past, carrying the sounds of slaughter.

Perhaps it was her imagination, but Dai Li thought she caught a faint whiff of blood in the wind.

The battle cries seemed to materialize into invisible lions and tigers before her eyes—clashing with fangs and claws, churning up dust and spraying blood.

It seems the encirclement has begun, Qin Shaozong remarked with a faint smile.

Mo Yanyun, Hu Bao, and the others were visibly excited. They had long prepared and eagerly anticipated this hunt designed to crush Li Zan’s main forces in one stroke.

The Dark Valiant Cavalry has surrounded them from all sides, leveraging the terrain. This battle should conclude swiftly, Mo Yanyun said, his excitement tinged with regret that he couldn’t join the fray.

Then, recalling something, he added, My Lord, I’ve heard Li Zan has a fierce general named Wang Qinglie under his command. This man possesses extraordinary martial skill and herculean strength, wielding a Three-Point Blade with supernatural prowess. In the past, when Li Zan’s forces were weaker and he faced several encirclements by Ji Province troops, it was always Wang Qinglie who rescued him from certain doom.

With morale shattered and defeat inevitable, what can mere brute courage achieve? Hu Bao murmured.

Mo Yanyun pondered this and conceded the point.

Even if Wang Qinglie managed to extract Li Zan from this encirclement, sparing his life, it wouldn’t change the fate of the troops Li Zan had brought to Peach Blossom Ridge—they were doomed.

With their main force destroyed, only the old, weak, and wounded would remain, whom they could dispatch as easily as slicing vegetables.

Amid the relentless sounds of battle, Qin Shaozong and his party arrived at the rear of Peach Blossom Ridge—the encampment of the Dark Valiant Cavalry’s cookhouse.

A dark Qin banner fluttered in the wind, its edges unevenly cut into flame-like points that shifted like a row of sharp tiger teeth, radiating intimidation.

The guards spotted the approaching party from a distance. Recognizing the leader, their hearts leaped with exhilaration.

The Lord has returned—!

The long blast of the horn swept through the entire military camp like a gale. More and more soldiers came to greet them, and the previously solemn camp instantly became bustling with activity.

This was Dai Li’s first time setting foot in an ancient military camp. As she had expected, this temporary encampment was far more rudimentary than a permanent garrison.

There were no armories, no formal training grounds. Soldiers lived in separate camps with their weapons, prioritizing ease of departure.

Countless eyes turned toward her—admiring, shocked, curious, puzzled, dazed…

They came in all varieties, like a pack of wolves suddenly discovering a mismatched lamb in their den.

Dai Li pondered thoughtfully. Given their reactions, it seemed the army consisted entirely of men, with no camp followers kept.

This was a good sign, indicating that the commander held his soldiers to high standards, wanting their strength focused on battlefield combat rather than on women.

The leader should set an example and lead by action.

From what she had learned about him these past days, that man wouldn’t embarrass himself by indulging in carnal desires within the army—even if she had followed him into the camp, she would likely have her own tent.

At most, one more day and her monthly courses would be over. Fortunately, they had come to the camp. If they had remained on the multi-storied warship, he would certainly…

With this thought, Dai Li found the fervent gazes around her somewhat endearing.

Qin Shaozong suddenly glanced sideways at Dai Li. Sensing his gaze, she quickly composed her expression, instantly becoming elegant and dignified, as if the sly flicker he had just seen was merely his imagination.

The muscles along Qin Shaozong’s jaw tightened, and he unconsciously licked his canine teeth, trying to dispel that contemplative itch.

However, soon enough, whether it was Dai Li, Qin Shaozong, or any soldier in the camp, everyone’s attention was completely captured by another matter.

Clip-clop, clip-clop—

A fast horse galloped in from the direction of the battlefield, its hooves pounding rhythmically, kicking up clouds of dust. Upon closer inspection, one could see that this horse was somewhat unusual.

Ordinary cavalrymen rode one to a horse, but two people were crouched on this steed.

A voice, loud as a booming bell, shouted from the distance, so urgent that its tone even cracked at the end, Mr. Ding! Mr. Ding Lianxi! Come quickly, save him!!

The Dark Valiant Cavalry were equipped with sturdy, well-fed horses whose speed ordinary steeds could not match. In mere moments, the distant horse and rider had charged into the camp.

A strong gust of wind swept past, carrying with it a thick, heavy scent of blood.

Mr. Ding!

The entire camp was calling for Mr. Ding. Dai Li guessed that this Mr. Ding was likely an army physician, and the most skilled one in the camp at that.

She saw Qin Shaozong’s face darken as he strode quickly toward the newcomers. After a moment’s thought, Dai Li followed.

Hearing the shouts outside, Ding Lianxi hurried out of his tent. He was around forty, with a broad forehead, fair complexion, and a light beard, appearing gentle by nature.

But at this moment, the chief physician of the Dark Valiant Cavalry looked astonished, gasping sharply, How could Squad Leader Qiao be injured like this? He’s almost bled dry.

This was no exaggeration. The man referred to as Squad Leader Qiao was severely wounded. The armor on his torso had been torn open by a weapon with brute force, piercing through the plating to injure the flesh beneath. Everything in sight was stained a glaring red with blood.

Even now, fresh blood continued to gush from his body. In stark contrast to the vast, blinding crimson was his face, which was growing paler by the second.

Anyone could see his life was fading away.

The man who brought Qiao Wangfei back said bitterly, The encirclement strategy was going smoothly at first. We wiped out countless enemy troops and were about to take the salt smuggler leader’s head when Wang Qinglie suddenly appeared. That man stood nearly ten feet tall, massive as a mountain, incredibly strong. His Three-Point Blade was wielded to perfection, cutting down many soldiers to cover Li Zan’s retreat. Precinct Chief Qiao, Chief Fengtun, and Yan Xiaowei joined forces against him. After a long and bitter fight, they finally beheaded him at the cost of Precinct Chief Qiao’s severe injuries and minor wounds for Chief Fengtun and Yan Xiaowei.

Those around them listened in shock and fury.

Every soldier in their Dark Valiant Cavalry was the elite of the elite. One could say that the very best soldiers from You and Bing regions, all within Qin Shaozong’s territory, were selected for the Dark Valiant Cavalry.

They ate good meat at least every other day, with unlimited meat and full meals, combined with training intensity far exceeding ordinary soldiers. Over time, every Dark Valiant Cavalry soldier developed a robust physique.

This was just the foundation. This expensively maintained cavalry unit eliminates a portion of people every season.

Those who failed assessments would be sent away, losing the terrifyingly high allowances, the generous meals of fine dishes and meat they could eat to their heart’s content, and the admired honors others envied.

Driven by these incentives, every soldier was trained to be agile and skilled. If ordinary soldiers were like this, how much more so for the precinct chiefs.

The three thousand Dark Valiant Cavalry were divided into four precincts: east, south, west, and north, each with only one Precinct Chief. This Precinct Chief led over seven hundred men. He might not be the absolute best fighter, but his martial skills were definitely among the top.

Even so, with three of them joining forces, Qiao Wangfei was still severely injured to this extent—how could they not be shocked?

While the man was speaking, Ding Lianxi had already performed a preliminary examination on Qiao Wangfei. The more he checked, the worse his expression became. Finally, he shook his head helplessly at Qin Shaozong. My lord, the wound is too large, the bleeding simply won’t stop. I regret that I am powerless to save him.

At these words, the surroundings fell silent.

Some gritted their teeth, their eyes reddening uncontrollably; others clenched their fists, glaring with murderous intent toward the battlefield.

Qin Shaozong closed his eyes. Take Qiao Wangfei—

Do you have any cattle in your army? Why not try slaughtering a healthy ox and placing him inside its belly? He might not have to die. A gentle voice came through, like a spring breeze sweeping across the boundless desert wilderness.

Qin Shaozong turned abruptly.

Everyone looked over in unison, their eyes fixed on the woman standing two steps outside the circle surrounding Qiao Wangfei.

She wore dusty gray clothes, yet her skin was like snow, her hair like satin, her gaze soft as water. Her entire being seemed to glow with a gentle pearl-like radiance, making it hard to look away.

Dai Li met those deep brown eyes without fear. He’s already in this state—the worst that can happen is death. Why not try this folk remedy? Treat a dead horse as if it were still alive.

My lord, I have never heard of such an absurd thing, Ding Lianxi frowned.

Placing a dying man inside an ox’s belly to save him? In decades of practicing medicine, he had never heard of such a thing. Was this not sheer nonsense? They might lose the man and a healthy ox in the process.

But Qin Shaozong said, Bring an ox here.

A soldier immediately went to carry out the order. The logistics troops had ample supplies, never short of oxen and horses for pulling carts. Soon, an ox was led over.

Qin Shaozong drew the ring-pommel knife from his waist and personally sliced open the cow’s abdomen. With a gushing sound, bright red blood immediately flowed out. Hu Bao swiftly cleared the cow’s internal organs to make space in the abdominal cavity.

When ready, Mo Yanyun and another person lifted Qiao Wangfei together, stuffing him into the cow’s belly with only his head exposed to breathe.

Ding Lianxi crouched beside the cow, fingers pressed against the pulse on Qiao Wangfei’s neck.

Everyone watched nervously, none daring to speak, as if afraid their voices might flatten Qiao Wangfei’s fading pulse.

Time passed slowly, but no one left.

Eh? A high-pitched exclamation of surprise broke the silence.

Everyone’s nerves twitched as if plucked by an invisible hand. Before their hearts could fully clench with dread, Ding Lianxi exclaimed in amazement, C-Captain Qiao’s pulse has stabilized!

Normally, with such massive blood loss, Qiao Wangfei should have already succumbed. Yet now, not only did his pulse persist—albeit faint—but it was gradually steadying.

A miraculous revival, truly unbelievable!

Ding Lianxi’s astonishment landed like a boulder in a lake, stirring waves of exclamation around them.

Is it true?

Heaven has eyes! Wonderful, Captain Qiao might survive!

Dai Li noticed the man beside her watching and turned to meet Qin Shaozong’s gaze. She said earnestly, It’s too early to say he’s out of danger. We must observe further.

This dose of caution was necessary, as she had only read about this Visceral Poultice Therapy in texts.

It was said that when Genghis Khan, the legendary conqueror, was campaigning against the Khitans, his beloved general suffered grave injuries bordering on death. The Great Khan immediately ordered a live cow to be gutted, placing the general inside to cheat the King of Hell’s summons.

This treatment was later recorded by Li Shizhen in Compendium of Materia Medica: For severe wounds, place the injured in a freshly slaughtered cow’s belly; revival may occur after some time. ①

The principles were twofold: first, the newly opened bovine abdomen provided warmth and a largely sterile environment. Excessive blood loss causes sharp drops in body temperature, making a clean heat source near human body temperature crucial to stabilize the wounded and prevent futile fat consumption for thermogenesis.

Second, bovine spine could serve as a medicinal agent, capable of rapidly stanching bleeding even when applied externally.

But these were merely cold words on a page. Whether it would work in practice, Dai Li had no certainty.

It was truly a case of trying everything in desperation.

Saving him would be a life gained. If it failed, it would simply mean returning to his destined fate.

Ding Lianxi looked at Dai Li, both excited and contrite. This is…

He didn’t know how to address her.

Dai Li introduced herself, Dai Li. ‘Dai’ as in distant mountains’ hue, ‘Li’ as in the dawn. You may call me Dai Li directly.

Qin Shaozong’s brow twitched almost imperceptibly.

Under his superior’s glance, Ding Lianxi lowered his gaze, avoiding direct eye contact with Dai Li. He bowed deeply to the young woman. My ancestors practiced medicine for generations, and I myself have been a physician for thirty-five years. Yet today I realize there are always greater masters beyond our knowledge. I was disrespectful earlier and beg Madam Dai’s forgiveness.

Dai Li hadn’t expected such a formal apology. After a pause, she reciprocated with a slight curtsy. I merely happened to know some folk remedies. I don’t deserve such praise as ‘greater masters beyond our knowledge.’

①Note: Actual historical reference from Li Shizhen’s Bencao Gangmu (Compendium of Materia Medica)
Author’s Note: Holding out a big bowl begging for nutrient solution Orange HeartYellow HeartTeal Heart

Deng Deng really loves these cute little emojis on Jinjiang, so adorable Shy

①: Compendium of Materia Medica