CHAPTER 142: CHAPTER 122 GUARD

Li Ang went to the supervision building to report to Sacrificial Officer Chen Danqiu. Dr. Su Feng, hearing the news, hurried over and was immediately assailed by a pungent odor upon entering the room. He mumbled in disbelief, "Haotian above, what is that smell?"

"Medicine."

Chen Danqiu’s face was taut, the muscles at the corners of his eyes twitching slightly. He gently swirled his palm, summoning a continuous breeze to clear the room of the rich and pungent smell of allicin.

"What sort of medicine has such a strong odor?"

Su Feng covered his nose, his expression exceedingly odd.

Li Ang, already somewhat accustomed to the scent, calmly said, "Garlic."

"Garlic?"

Su Feng raised an eyebrow, hesitated for a moment, then stepped forward. He pinched a test tube, lifted it, and gazed at the light yellow, oil-like liquid inside. "This medicine... can it cure blood sores?"

"Perhaps it can."

Li Ang nodded. He believed that, with the current conditions and the extraction process, he had done as well as possible. Allicin, repeatedly distilled and concentrated, could certainly treat infections and pus formation caused by bacteria like Staphylococcus.

In fact, besides wound infections, allicin can also treat cryptococcal meningitis, Candida sepsis, neonatal thrush, tinea capitis, diphtheria, dysentery, certain gynecological diseases, chronic stomach ailments, chronic colitis, and so on. To say it’s a cure-all isn’t too much of an exaggeration.

Li Ang silently mused, Hmm... why does this sound a bit like the green bean medicinal claims of Fortune Doctor Yu Miaoshui from Yizhou City?

He didn’t elaborate on allicin’s many other functions; just its potential to treat blood sores was enough to make it a Divine Medicine, worth its weight in gold.

The only thing missing was case validation.

"Sacrificial Officer Chen, Dr. Su, to validate the function of this medicine, I request to conduct experimental validation," Li Ang spoke up. "First, in the Academic Palace’s farm, feed chickens, ducks, cows, pigs, and other livestock medicines of varying concentrations, set up control groups, and observe whether internal use of the medicine is harmful to the livestock.

"Second, administer the medicine orally to large livestock like pigs, donkeys, and sheep that suffer from blood sores, or apply it topically, again with control groups, to observe its effectiveness."

"The controlled variables method, right? No problem."

Chen Danqiu and Su Feng nodded together. In recent times, many doctors at the Academic Palace had begun to use the novel terms "controlled variables method," "experimental control groups," and others that Li Ang had introduced. The doctors of the Academic Palace were among the most nimble-minded and open-minded people in Yu Country; moreover, the controlled variables method indeed proved to be rational and effective.

Li Ang continued, "Thirdly, I hope to be able to visit the officially run clinic in Chang’an City."

"What?"

Su Feng’s expression changed slightly. "So soon? Isn’t that a bit hasty? Let’s wait a while, observe if the medicine is effective on livestock, and then visit the officially run clinic."

The officially run clinic was a place set up by the Yu Kingdom’s Court to demonstrate its concern for the common people. The policy was well-intentioned, but due to high costs and a lack of manpower and resources, the clinics couldn’t be scaled up. They were limited in size, inefficient, and only a small portion of the poor and sick could be admitted.

Li Ang proposed visiting the officially run clinic to offer the medicine to the poor and sick there. Su Feng, however, disagreed, fearing it was too hasty because the clinic was filled with unfortunate souls suffering from severe illnesses. With their feeble bodies, they were not long for this world. Even if the medicine were effective, there was a decent chance patients could still die. At that point, the new medicine might undeservedly be blamed, which would not be good for Li Ang’s reputation.

"It’s alright, Doctor."

Li Ang knew that Dr. Su was considering his best interests and said firmly, "If this medicine is completely ineffective, that would be one thing. But if it is effective... As a Doctor, I cannot hoard my knowledge and fail to save lives when I see death upon them."

Actually, if conditions permitted, I should first use agar to create a culture medium, grow Staphylococcus in it (extracted from the pus of suppurating infections), and then test allicin’s sterilization efficiency. But, as I always tell myself, time waits for no one—this refers to both the patients’ lives and allicin’s short shelf life.

"Blood Sore has killed countless people, from the royal family and nobles to the common people. Those afflicted with it basically have half their lives taken away. And even if they barely cling to life, they must suffer the torture of illness. A medicine that can treat Blood Sore is of great significance and must be kept secret."

Sacrificial Officer Chen Danqiu pondered for a moment before speaking in a deep voice, "I will go speak to the Ministry of Rites, only mentioning that the Academic Palace has a medicine to be tested at the Chang’an Clinic, without specifying what medicine it is or what disease it targets. In addition, during this period, the Academic Palace will provide you with a guard, one team overtly, and one covertly. You would do well to minimize your outings as much as possible."

"Understood."

Li Ang nodded. After washing up, he took the Academic Palace carriage. Besides Chen Danqiu, two other people sat in the carriage, one male and one female, both guards assigned to him by the Academic Palace.

"An instructor?"

Li Ang was slightly surprised. The male guard was named Ren Xin and the female guard was Sui Yi; both were Academic Palace Instructors and also seniors who had graduated two classes before Cheng Juxiu.

"I have no classes during this period, so the Sacrificial Officer conscripted me."

Ren Xin, a tall and burly Natural Science Instructor, spread his palms in resignation.

"So you’re Li Ang. The soap you invented is really good."

Sui Yi, a gentle-looking Sword Study Instructor, smiled at Li Ang and said softly, "I heard Jinxiu Hall got the exclusive rights from you too? Considering I’ll be guarding you for the next few days, could you help me get some limited-edition cosmetics from Jinxiu Hall? My skin tends to dry out in winter."

"Uh, sure, sure."

Li Ang had never attended classes taught by Sword Study Instructor Sui Yi, but he had heard from classmates that she was a former Academic Palace Patrol and her strength was quite formidable.

Sacrificial Officer Chen Danqiu assigned two Academic Palace Instructors to be my overt guards. So, what kind of status and strength would the covert guards protecting me possess?

Throughout the journey, Li Ang pondered the depths of the Academic Palace’s resources. Before he knew it, the carriage had entered Chang’an City and arrived at the officially run clinic near the East Market.

Just as it had been a few months ago when Li Ang first arrived in Chang’an, the Chang’an Clinic still presented a desolate and deathly quiet scene.

The manager of the clinic came out to receive the delegation from the Academic Palace. Li Ang donned a full set: mask, gloves, and white lab coat. He disinfected himself and the patients, then applied allicin to the pustules on the patients and also orally administered allicin of different concentrations to another group of patients.

The entire process lasted for two hours, until ninety percent of an entire box of allicin was used up and the patients in the clinic were all treated.

Afterward, Li Ang took the carriage to the Cloud Banner General’s Mansion in Xuanyang Square.

Chen Dalang’s wound had become infected and inflamed. With the consent of the Cloud Banner General and his wife, Li Ang administered the medicine to Chen Dalang.

What followed was a quiet wait for the results of the allicin’s sterilization to emerge.