CHAPTER 48: CHAPTER 46 SPIDER CAVE

In addition to respiratory poisoning from the toxic fog, these wounded had more injuries from poisonous spider bites.

In his past life during elementary school in the countryside, a teacher had taught about handling snake bites. While Austin forgot the specific steps, it generally involved tying off the blood vessel to prevent the poison from spreading to the heart, and using a knife to create a cross-shaped incision to squeeze out the poison.

Both spiders and snakes are highly venomous creatures, so the treatment should be roughly similar.

Under Austin’s command, the group of beastmen immediately used knives to open the wounds, hoping to force out some of the poison.

However, perhaps due to the passage of time, the poison had already seeped into the muscle cells, making it impossible to squeeze the deadly spider venom out of the muscle.

It could also be a problem with the physique of otherworldly beastmen; the poison from the bites was trapped in the swollen muscle, perhaps preventing the venom from flowing to the heart, thereby allowing these beastmen to miraculously survive.

But this state would not last long. These beastmen had already inhaled the toxic fog from the poisonous spiders and were in a poisoned state. If the concentrated poison in the wounds fully penetrates the swollen muscles into the blood vessels, there would be no saving them.

"Go chop some bamboo."

Seeing that the method of cutting open the wounds and squeezing out the poison was ineffective, Austin did not give up, but started on a rural remedy—cupping.

Soon, a few beastmen chopped down some bamboo, and under the guidance of the Blue Young Dragon, cut them into bamboo tubes, then polished the edges clean.

Next, they lit a flame with some tinder and briefly heated the inside of the bamboo, then quickly covered the swollen, bruised wounds with a pop.

Due to the principle of thermal expansion and contraction, the bamboo tube stuck tightly to the beastmen’s skin.

The beastmen quietly waited nearby, and after about five to ten minutes, they removed the bamboo tubes.

At the wounds, blackened blood mixed with poison flowed from the swollen wound, and the swelling seemed to reduce slightly, the bruise color fading significantly.

It worked!

Thus, under the busyness of the beastmen, these beastmen lying on the straw began a continuous session of cupping.

After a busy half day’s work, the injured began to breathe easier and fell into a deep sleep.

The attending beastmen breathed a sigh of relief, knowing that although the wounded beastmen’s lips remained purple-black, they were far better off than before when they were groaning and wailing. The poison in the wounds had been cleaned out, and the unbearable pain tormenting them all day had vanished.

"Your Highness... it’s really better!"

Quik looked at Rodney and the others, who had been wailing in pain but now were soundly asleep, and was almost at a loss for words.

In this Kawa Great Forest, beastmen’s lives were the least valuable, especially for these lower-class species, who could only wait for death if injured or poisoned.

But now, Austin had not only not given up on these doomed fellows but had used a simple method to treat them with very positive results.

For a moment, Quik was filled with countless words but couldn’t say a single one.

"Not good enough yet."

Austin shook his head, knowing that although the wounded had fallen into a deep sleep, the problem was far from resolved.

They had merely been exhausted by the pain of the spider bites. The cupping only treated the external problem, and by the look of their purple-blue complexions, it was clear the poison was far from being neutralized.

"It’ll be fine, Your Highness. With your benevolence, Rodney and the others will surely get through this ordeal."

Quik sincerely said to Austin, acting as the clan leader who cared for them, these Clansmen, had never seen such a benevolent leader in his life who cared about the health of unimportant soldiers.

"Bring squads one and two, prepare the troops, we’re going to inspect the Spider Cave."

Regarding Quik’s suggestion of leaving Rodney and the other wounded to fend for themselves, Austin neither affirmed nor denied, simply giving orders.

In his past life’s village, the elders always said that within ten steps of a poisonous snake, there was always an antidote.

Austin did not know the truth of that saying, but if that group of spiders lived in caves, there might be plants or animals within that had certain immunity to the spider venom, and those plants or animals might be useful in neutralizing the poison in Rodney and others.

Moreover, an area where magical beasts gathered was likely to have magic resources.

Certainly, Austin had every reason to make this trip.

After arranging for guarded beastmen, Austin took two elite squads towards the direction of the Spider Cave.

After almost two hours, they finally arrived at the entrance of the Spider Cave.

"It’s here, Your Highness Austin."

The Jackal Wolf People guiding the Blue Young Dragon spoke with a tremor in their voice, looking at the pitch-dark cave entrance as if seeing the gates of Hell, pale and filled with fear.

Poor child, perhaps from now on he would have developed claustrophobia.

Looking at the dark entrance, there were still some scattered footprints on the grass, left by Rodney and others in their frantic escape.

And from within, Austin keenly sensed that the magic seemed to grow more active...

"Squad two, go fetch some torches."

The cave was deep and dark inside; without torches, visibility was impossible.

And the spiders were afraid of fire; maybe Rodney and the others had been attacked because they attracted attention with their bonfire, and by boldly entering with torches, they might enjoy the same treatment.

Of course, this would fit right into Blue Young Dragon’s expectations.

This exploration had the dual purpose of finding an antidote and probing enemy conditions.

And with him there, there was no reason to fear them.

Soon, the beastmen of the second squad lit five or six torches, and under Austin’s command, the group of beastmen, along with the dragon, cautiously ventured into the cave.

"I wonder if there would be any magic crystal ore-type resources inside; there should be, or else the spider magical beasts wouldn’t be able to survive in such a nest..."

With many thoughts in mind, the Blue Young Dragon slowly entered the cave.

Fortunately, the entrance wasn’t too small, allowing Austin to enter with his stature; otherwise, it would’ve been quite a hassle.

Hopefully... there will be a great reward.