CHAPTER 919: CHAPTER 921: THE POISON HAS BEEN CURED

On the second day Yang Ming waited in the County, the government officials who had gone to Anding Village brought back Lengzi and the wealthy landlord.

The officials left Anding Village that afternoon, but were still slower than Yang Ming’s fast horse, thus they arrived later.

The County Magistrate’s efficiency was impressive, interrogating both men on the very same day.

Lengzi, just like in Anding Village, confessed to everything. Although the villagers of Anding Village wished to protect him, the government office had arrived and sealed the village. For the lives of the entire village, Lengzi knew he had to speak the truth.

Although he had his pitiful circumstances, a mistake remained a mistake, and pity could not be used to evade his crimes.

The wealthy landlord initially refused to admit anything, wailing and screaming, but the Magistrate employed some unknown strategy, leading the landlord to eventually confess.

However, he could not reveal the origin of the poison or the antidote method, nor did he know if this poison could be contagious.

For safety’s sake, the Magistrate decided to await the return of the government official sent to Medicine King Valley, to confirm that the poison was not contagious, before calling back the officials who sealed Anding Village.

Upon hearing the news, Yang Ming sighed with relief. He even admired the Magistrate, silently resolving that if he were ever to attain a title himself, he hoped he could also serve the people genuinely.

Now that the truth was clear, as long as Medicine King Valley confirmed that this poison’s symptoms weren’t contagious, the villagers of Anding Village could be released.

He had never heard of any contagiously spreading poison, so Yang Ming was quite confident.

The following afternoon, as Yang Ming returned from gathering news outside, a government official came to his door, "Brother, our superior called for you to come over."

"Alright, thank you government official, brother."

Yang Ming followed the official to the county government office. This time he didn’t go to the public hall.

But Yang Ming still respectfully knelt down in salute, "A humble citizen pays respects to the Magistrate."

"There’s no need for formalities; this is not the public hall. Rise and sit." said the Magistrate.

Yang Ming stood up but was too embarrassed to sit down, given the Magistrate’s standing.

"Sit down," the Magistrate repeated, offering a seat.

Yang Ming had no choice but to sit down, but his heart was pounding. What was the Magistrate plotting?

"The reason to call you today is to inform you of the findings from Medicine King Valley."

"..." Yang Ming’s eyes were slightly astonished. Yesterday’s trial results were notified by officials, yet today he was summoned in person — could there be bad news?

"Sir, how is the poisoning affecting the villagers? Has it been remedied?"

The Magistrate slowly replied, "When the official arrived, the villagers from Anding Village had just arrived as well. They happened to witness the doctors at Medicine King Valley treating the villagers."

"It is indeed a type of poison. After ingestion, the poison manifests quickly, causing red bumps all over the body and unbearable itching, but it is not deadly. Even without medication, the symptoms will heal twenty days after onset. Now, with Medicine King Valley’s help, the villagers have been cured."

Upon hearing about this poison, Yang Ming was greatly surprised, and simultaneously worried. This poison had a similar nature to his son’s poison — his son’s poison was undetectable until he fell into a deep coma and died, whereas this poison healed twenty days post outbreak.

Both poisons were beyond the discernment of ordinary doctors; only the highly skilled from Medicine King Valley could identify them. It suggested that the individual who concocted these poisons was mastering both medical arts and poison techniques.