Chapter Five: Awakening

Once the wound debridement was complete, Jiang Bai retrieved the catgut thread she had prepared earlier and skillfully sutured the wound with quick, precise movements. Her hands were steady, and the edges of the incision were perfectly aligned. In no time, the stitching was finished and knotted. After disinfecting the area once more, she applied herbal ointment and carefully bandaged the wound.

Jiang Bai then turned her attention to addressing General Duan’s fever. She gave detailed instructions to Stone, who was the more meticulous of the two attendants: "Remember these areas—the palms, the soles of the feet, the hollows of the knees, and the back. When he runs a fever, you can wipe these spots with strong liquor to lower his temperature. Normally, you must ensure good ventilation to let the 'illness' dissipate, but be careful not to let the patient catch a chill. You can cover him up completely while airing out the tent, then remove the extra layers once the ventilation is done. Doing this every two days is sufficient."

Jiang Bai looked up at Yang Bin and added, "Observe him tonight. If the fever breaks, it means the wound has been properly treated, and there shouldn't be any further complications."

Yang Bin noted her instructions carefully and assigned Hammer and Stone to keep watch. The two men listened intently; this was their General, and every detail mattered.

Jiang Bai channeled her wood-attributed energy into General Duan one last time. Having done all she could, she let out a long breath and turned to Yang Bin, who was standing guard. "I have done my best. Now, it rests in the General's own hands."

Yang Bin looked at her with gratitude. "Miss Jiang, thank you."

Jiang Bai smiled faintly. "Think nothing of it; it is only my duty."

As Yang Bin and Duan Jing watched her depart, Duan Jing looked at his sworn brother, whose brow was no longer furrowed, and felt a sense of relief wash over him.

The next morning, Jiang Bai arrived with Jiang Ye to check on the patient. Yang Bin excitedly informed her that the fever had subsided. Jiang Bai merely nodded calmly; after all, she had exhausted a significant amount of her energy and felt nearly drained.

"The General's condition has stabilized." Hammer and Stone, who were helping in the tent, looked at Jiang Bai with eyes full of awe. It was truly unbelievable—a case deemed hopeless by countless military surgeons had actually been saved by her hands.

Over the next few days, Jiang Bai visited daily to change the bandages and monitor the recovery. The General’s condition improved, and his breathing became steady, yet he showed no signs of waking.

Duan Jing also visited every day, his mood fluctuating with the state of the General. They had just captured Ping City; if the outside world learned that the General was severely wounded and comatose, their enemies would almost certainly strike back. He needed to know when the General would wake, and if it wasn't possible, he had to prepare for the worst.

One evening, Duan Jing entered the tent to find Jiang Bai changing the dressings. He stood by quietly, filled with gratitude and respect. When she finished and turned to leave, he stopped her. "Dr. Jiang, the General's wound has clearly healed. Why is there still no sign of him waking?"

"The General was injured for too long, and the environment inside the tent was poor, which led to a secondary infection and worsened his condition. He is currently in a deep coma, which is actually his body's way of recovering," she explained.

"Is there any way to help him wake up sooner, without hindering his recovery?"

Jiang Bai pondered for a moment. "I could use some specialized medicine to stimulate his nerves and help him regain consciousness, but the method carries some risk. It requires careful consideration."

After a moment of thought, Duan Jing made his decision. "Miss Jiang, please proceed. We trust you."

Jiang Bai nodded and began preparing the concoction. She carefully measured the medicine and gently fed it to the General. Once he had swallowed it, she turned to Duan Jing. "Now, we wait to see how he reacts."

Duan Jing stood by the bedside, eyes fixed on the General, full of anticipation and anxiety. Jiang Bai stood nearby, using her energy to stimulate the General’s brain and activate his neurons. As the seconds ticked by, the General’s breathing grew rapid, and his brow furrowed as if he were experiencing pain.

Suddenly, his fingers twitched. Then, his eyes slowly opened, revealing a dazed expression.

Duan Jing was startled, then shouted with joy, "General! You're awake!"

The General’s gaze gradually focused, landing on Duan Jing’s face. He spoke weakly, "Duan Jing... where... where am I?"

Duan Jing took his hand, moved to tears. "General, you’re finally awake! You’ve been unconscious for seven full days. It was Dr. Jiang Bai who saved you."

The General turned his gaze to Jiang Bai, a hint of gratitude in his eyes. "Thank you, Miss Jiang."

Jiang Bai smiled slightly. "You are welcome, General. It was my duty."

As she prepared to leave, her gaze fell upon the dirty tent. Although it was clearly the best one available, it had been used for so long that no amount of cleaning could hide its grime.

"Now that the General is awake," she suggested, "you should move him to a new tent. The stagnant air in here might hinder his recovery."

Duan Jing agreed. He had his men move the General to a cleaner tent. It was only an ordinary soldier's tent and certainly not as comfortable as the original, but since the doctor had spoken, they knew staying in the old, tainted space would be detrimental.

The General's recovery lifted the spirits of the entire camp, and the soldiers' morale soared. Duan Jing finally felt the weight lift from his shoulders.

However, he knew the war was far from over. Though their band of former mountain bandits had taken Ping City, the challenges ahead remained dire. He decided that while the General recovered, he would intensify training and bolster their defenses. Taking a city was easy; holding it was hard. This was their first conquest, and they had to defend it at all costs.

Meanwhile, Jiang Bai remained in the camp to treat other wounded soldiers. The sister-and-brother duo had become famous for saving the General, and unlike the arrogant military surgeon Wang, they had earned a sterling reputation for their kindness.

"Gently, please," a soldier muttered, watching his comrade wince under the rough treatment of Dr. Wang.

"This is the only way to ensure it heals properly," Dr. Wang retorted impatiently.

"When Dr. Jiang treated us, my brother didn't wince like this at all," the soldier countered.

"I am not her," Dr. Wang sneered, his disdain so palpable that the soldiers who had been treated by Jiang Bai felt a surge of indignation.

Just as the soldier was about to confront the arrogant doctor, a voice cut in.

"That's enough. Dr. Wang studied under Li Yi; naturally, his methods are different from Dr. Jiang's. A little pain is only to be expected."