The crowd was nearly spitting blood, infuriated by the three witnesses. One was an imbecile who, apart from a few simple phrases, understood nothing, only pointing at me and repeating, "He killed, he killed." Another was blind, spouting nonsensical ravings that painted me as utterly depraved, narrating the murder scene with the colorful flourish of a traveling storyteller, as if he had witnessed it firsthand. The third was an old man, so deaf he couldn't hear a thing; ask him ten questions, and he wouldn't catch a single syllable. Could these people possibly serve as witnesses?

Cheng Susu erupted in fury. "I will testify for Zhao Qian! I swear he didn't commit murder; he's been framed!"

Constable Sun, standing closest to us, quietly warned her, "Miss, the laws of the Twin Cities Kingdom are explicit: women cannot serve as witnesses in court."

What in the hell kind of law is that? Whoever drafted it must be an absolute idiot. To not even offer an award for civic bravery is one thing, but to exclude female witnesses? This is blatant, severe gender discrimination!

Cheng Susu’s concern for me was deeply touching. I whispered to her, "Don't worry about it. Go on down for now and let him throw his tantrum. He won't end up well, hehe..."

Cheng Susu knew what I was planning. If the dog-like petty official pushed any further, my only recourse would be to kill him and escape. Her staying would only impede my actions. So, she quietly said, "Be careful. I'll go outside and meet up with Linglong and the others. Once we’re out of the county yamen, Daliguan and Linglong will be there to support you. No one here can stop their combined assault."

Smack! The dog-like petty official slammed his hand heavily onto the desk. "Prisoner Zhao Qian, the evidence and witnesses are all arrayed against you. What else do you have to say? Guards! Subject him to torture immediately, then throw him into the death row cell to await the order from the Judicial Division for instant execution!"

I reached instinctively for the laser pistol tucked at my waist, preparing to draw it, kill the petty official, force Constable Sun and the others into compliance, and seize the opportunity to flee. Just then, several loud, pig-like squeals echoed from outside, followed by three tall, massive white pigs charging into the yamen, each carrying three people.

Everyone froze, staring toward the entrance of the main hall. I, too, was momentarily stunned, my hand hovering, and I stopped my movement. Three figures dismounted the pigs. They were covered in dust, suggesting a long journey, and their uniforms appeared to be those of imperial soldiers, distinct from the local yamen runners.

Before they even fully entered the door, the leader shouted, "County Magistrate An Deshan, come out and receive orders!"

Magistrate An, completely bewildered, hurried over, jogging slightly. "May I ask who the three of you are?"

The man in the lead replied, "I am a Chiliarch serving under Prefect Wu, my surname is Tong. Prefect Wu has an urgent directive for Your Excellency, the County Magistrate."

Magistrate An bowed deeply. "Chiliarch Tong, your humble servant An Deshan awaits your command."

Chiliarch Tong stated, "Prefect Wu orders you to immediately proceed to Hulu Village at the foot of Gourd Peak to find a divine physician named Zhao Qian. Prefect Wu’s principal wife has contracted a strange ailment. Merchants dealing in furs traveling from Feiyu County to Feiying Prefecture reported that there is a divine physician in Hulu Village whose medical skill is godlike; he performed abdominal surgery to remove an infant with a divine blade, yet mother and child emerged unharmed. Prefect Wu has issued a top-priority decree: you must ensure I return to Feiying Prefecture with the divine physician by tomorrow morning to treat the Principal Wife."

The entire assembled company stared dumbfounded. Chiliarch Tong noticed their vacant expressions. "What is it, Magistrate An? Do you have difficulties?"

Magistrate An’s small eyes darted around. "Yes, Lord Tong, this humble county indeed has unspeakable difficulties."

Chiliarch Tong pressed, "What difficulties can’t be spoken? Hurry up and tell me! Prefect Wu’s Principal Wife is the daughter of the current Prime Minister. Her illness cannot be delayed. Even the imperial physicians from Twin City have been unable to help. Prefect Wu has placed all his hopes on Divine Physician Zhao. If you have trouble securing him, you must solve that trouble all the more urgently to bring him here."

Magistrate An replied, "Lord Tong, we do have someone here from Hulu Village named Zhao Qian, but whether he is the divine physician you seek, I cannot be certain. Might we be permitted to go inside and inquire?"

"Oh!" Chiliarch Tong was overjoyed. If the divine physician was here, his timeline would be much more relaxed. Otherwise, failing to return to Feiying Prefecture by tomorrow morning might cost him his position. "Then quickly, take me to see him!"

I was still sprawled on the floor; I needed to maintain the ruse, otherwise Constable Sun couldn't explain things to the dog-like petty official. Magistrate An approached me and asked, "Zhao Qian, are you from Hulu Village at Gourd Peak?"

I nodded. "This humble person indeed comes from there."

Chiliarch Tong interjected anxiously, "Are you the divine physician who performed the procedure to cut open the belly and extract the infant?"

I replied, "I dare not claim to be a divine physician, but I did perform that Caesarean section. Is there an issue?"

"Excellent! Divine Physician Zhao, greetings. I am Chiliarch Tong from Feiying Prefecture, sent by Prefect Wu to respectfully invite Divine Physician Zhao to Feiying Prefecture to treat the Principal Wife."

Damn it. So my name had reached Feiying Prefecture, and the Prefect himself needed my medical services. This was quite the development. I feigned hesitation. "Chiliarch Tong, it's not that I wish to put on airs, but look at my current condition. Do I look fit to treat anyone? Perhaps you should seek a more capable person."

Chiliarch Tong finally registered my state. "Right, Divine Physician Zhao, what is happening here? Why are you lying on the ground? Quickly, get up."

"I dare not. I have been sentenced as a murderer by the dog-like petty official. You should keep your distance. That petty official bites everyone when he goes mad. If he wrongly accuses you of being my accomplice, it would be disastrous."

Swish! A gleaming pudao (saber) was drawn from Chiliarch Tong's waist. Bang! He brought it down hard on the petty official's desk. "Who the hell is the dog-like petty official? Step forward!"

This sudden turn of events terrified the petty official. He stood up shakily. "I am the dog-like petty official. My cousin is the Director of the Judicial Division in Feiying Prefecture. I am executing his writ to personally interrogate the murderer Zhao Qian."

Two more pudao blades slammed onto the desk. Magistrate An grimaced in pain, grinding his teeth; that desk had cost him three iron coins! The other two men were Centurions. They cursed together, "Damn it! We don't care if you're a dog official or a pig official! We only know that Prefect Wu of Feiying is the highest authority! Divine Physician Zhao is a healer of the living; how could he be a murderer? You must have fabricated the charges, you bastard dog! We'll chop you first!"

Saying this, the two men drew out a meter-and-a-half-long staff from behind their backs. This staff had connecting mechanisms at both ends of the handle; with a snap, they joined to form a genuine pudao. The two men, brandishing their blades like thugs, charged forward. Da Niu’s fierce eyes fixed on the petty official, making his legs turn to jelly.

When a scholar meets a soldier, reason is often lost. Moreover, this petty official was clearly trying to avenge the Third Sage, so his conscience was already weak. He collapsed to his knees. "Mercy, lords, mercy! I have the writ from the Judicial Division! I am not speaking nonsense!"

Chiliarch Tong remained relatively composed. He blocked the two Centurions. "What case is this? Since you are wasting time dithering, let me conclude the trial for you."

The dog-like petty official knew these men were here to invite the divine physician; if they conducted the trial, things would go badly for him. He stammered, "This might not be appropriate, Lord. It doesn't seem to follow protocol."

The two Centurions pressed their blades against the petty official's neck. "What did you say, you son of a bitch? I’ve killed countless bandits; killing you, an old dog, would be effortless." These three were under strict orders from Prefect Wu to invite Divine Physician Zhao, regardless of the cost or circumstance. The minor Judicial Division was merely a department under Prefect Wu's jurisdiction and had nothing to do with the military. Furthermore, military officers historically disliked civil officials. Having been tested on the battlefield for years, the three naturally held the petty official in utter contempt.

The dog-like petty official was completely silenced. If he didn't know when to back down, even if these two didn't kill him, they wouldn't let him off easy. Magistrate An was secretly ecstatic, barely containing his laughter. He seized the opportunity, stepped forward a couple of paces, and quietly explained the case to Chiliarch Tong.

Chiliarch Tong frowned deeply. "What kind of rubbish doctrine is that? I carry Prefect Wu's token. Today, I will settle this case on behalf of Prefect Wu. Those three witnesses deserve to die. Later, find someone to confiscate their homes, and all their assets shall be turned over to the public treasury. Divine Physician Zhao acted virtuously to uphold justice; he is a role model for us all. I will petition Prefect Wu for a commendation across the entire prefecture. That settles the case. All irrelevant parties, disperse!"

Constable Sun smacked his lips, taking a long moment to process the situation. "Court dismissed!" he roared with relief, startling the petty official into a cold shudder.

Chiliarch Tong personally walked over. "Divine Physician Zhao, please rise quickly. We need to return to Feiying Prefecture tonight!"

I put on a pained expression. "Replying to Lord Tong, I fear I cannot go. My backside is completely shredded from the beating; I still need someone to treat me first. Could you perhaps find a physician for me first?"

Chiliarch Tong's face darkened. He turned to Magistrate An. "This is pure nonsense! Who ordered the beating of the Divine Physician? If this delays treatment for Madam Wu, who will bear the responsibility?"

Magistrate An and Constable Sun both directed their gazes toward the dog-like petty official. Lord Tong, enraged, strode over and kicked the petty official squarely in the backside twice. "Damn it, you just keep causing trouble! Guards! Those who struck the Divine Physician just now, double the blows upon him now!"

Constable Sun nimbly stepped forward and grabbed the petty official. With an air of righteous indignation, he declared, "Dog-like Petty Official, I was merely following orders. I apologize for the offense."

Two yamen runners stepped forward, and Constable Sun began counting: "One, two, three..."

The petty official rolled around in agony. Four yamen runners immediately surrounded him, pinning his limbs. These strikes were nothing like the earlier disciplinary ones; those hadn't even broken the skin. But now, these runners put their full strength into it—one strike was enough to fell the petty official, yet they didn't use two. They beat him until snot and urine ran down together. The spectacle was akin to slaughtering a pig; only his breath remained, much to the cheers of the gathered common folk outside the hall.

I felt too awkward to remain lying on the ground. Magistrate An personally came over to help me up, so I took the opportunity to rise. Chiliarch Tong stepped forward. "Divine Physician Zhao, about the matter of the treatment?"

I replied, "If Prefect Wu is ill, this humble person certainly would not dare delay. However, having been detained by the dog-like petty official for so long, I must return home to inform my family. Furthermore, I need to bring my medicines and my assistant; otherwise, treating Madam Wu will be impossible."

Chiliarch Tong nodded repeatedly. "Of course, of course. I will personally escort Divine Physician Zhao home."

Passing by the barely audible petty official, I took two steps, then turned back. "Dog-like Petty Official, why did you choose such a name for yourself? Using the character for 'dog' is not considered a good thing in my hometown. By the way, Chiliarch Tong, I won't die now, will I?"

Chiliarch Tong’s face flushed. "What are you saying, Divine Physician Zhao? If you were in danger, I would have no explanation for Prefect Wu. Could there still be someone who intends to cause you trouble? I have faced down countless battlefields and never feared anyone. Today, I carry the Prefect’s order—let any blind fool dare confront me!"

I waved my hand. "It's good that I won't die. I recall this gentleman on the ground said if I didn't die, he would eat dog food and drink dog urine. I believe, however, that breaking one's word is the most detestable thing."

Lord Tong roared with laughter. "Guards! Since this friend of yours is so fond of dogs, grant his wish! After the beating, send him off to eat dog food and drink dog urine!"

I left the yamen laughing heartily. So what if my superpowers were gone? With my current abilities, I could still navigate and control this world.

Chiliarch Tong politely invited me onto a pig. I hadn't seen a single rideable pig in all of Feiyu County. Perhaps these pigs were only for high-ranking officials. Seeing Chun Tian peering cautiously from the gate, I excused myself to briefly explain the situation to her.

Chun Tian replied, "Mr. Zhao, the Miss saw everything that happened just now. She and Miss Linglong have already gone home to wait for you. Hehe, so you are a divine physician!"

Chiliarch Tong and I rode the pigs, while two Centurions walked alongside, leading the animals. The four of us quickly reached that winding alley. Upon entering the courtyard gate, everyone stood smiling, watching me arrive. Daliguan was the first to shout, "If we had been just a moment later, we would have charged..."

Laeski nudged his younger brother, cutting him off, and then glanced furtively at Chiliarch Tong. "That dog-like petty official was sentencing you. We were almost scared to death. It's good that you're back, good that you're back."

Cheng Susu curtsied to Chiliarch Tong. "Thank you, Lord Tong."

Chiliarch Tong looked briefly surprised when he first saw Cheng Susu, this soldierly figure. "And who is this young lady?"

Cheng Susu quickly interjected, "Zhao Qian is my husband. I am deeply grateful to Lord Tong for his righteous rescue, a humble woman."

A flicker of disappointment crossed Chiliarch Tong's eyes before he clapped my shoulder and chuckled. "Divine Physician Zhao, what great fortune, what great fortune! I truly envy you."

Linglong let out a low huff from the side, then turned and retreated into her room. Chiliarch Tong addressed me, "Divine Physician Zhao, time is extremely tight; not a moment can be wasted. You have seen your family now; should you prepare to depart for Feiying Prefecture?"

I said to Laeski, "Brother Lai, could you please entertain our three military guests? I need to discuss the matter of going to Feiying Prefecture to treat Madam Wu with everyone."

Laeski led the three men to the living room for tea while the rest of us crowded into Linglong’s bedroom. Wahani said, "That was too close. If Chiliarch Tong had arrived half a cup of tea later, we would have already resorted to murder and rebellion."

I laughed. "I've always been quite lucky."

Linglong glanced at Cheng Susu. "Yes, you have finally gotten what you wished for."

Cheng Susu smiled. "Miss Linglong, please don't misunderstand. Saying that just now was the lesser of two evils. It is not proper for a woman to show her face publicly. If I hadn't said I was already married, if that Chiliarch Tong had developed other intentions, it could have been very troublesome. Rest assured, I have no other intentions regarding Zhao Qian."

Linglong’s face burned scarlet as Cheng Susu hit the mark. "You—are you truly Madam Zhao Qian? Even if you don't remember now, won't you recall eventually?"

Cheng Susu smiled. "That is a matter for the future. Besides, as far as I know, Zhao Qian has more than one wife. He has many wives. If you get jealous, you won't be able to keep up."

Linglong turned and fled. "I'm not talking to you anymore! Who’s jealous? I’m only twelve; I don't know what you’re talking about!"

I pulled Linglong back. "Everyone, let's put these things aside for now and discuss how we are going to treat Madam Wu."

Linglong, blushing deeply, sat down again, not daring to look at either me or Cheng Susu. She lowered her head. "You are Lord Bird God, your divine blade is miraculous; treating Madam Wu should be a simple task, shouldn't it?"

I weighed the matter carefully. "I am confident in saving one person, but once I start this, I won't be able to stop. Moreover, I don't have an extensive supply of medicines. Ah, if Qingqing were here, it would be better. I know nothing about your world, and I fear a single misstep could bring disaster upon myself, just like those three ruffians. If Chiliarch Tong hadn't shown up in time, we would all be fugitives now."

Cheng Susu said, "Zhao Qian, why don't I accompany you?"

Linglong was the first to object. "That might not be wise. You are the County Magistrate's adopted daughter. Even if you were once Madam Zhao, no one here will acknowledge that relationship now. Besides, how much do you actually know about this place? And, if Zhao Qian is in danger, can you truly save him? You still need his protection."

Cheng Susu smiled, a smile so ambiguous it made Linglong wish she could burrow underground. Cheng Susu continued, "How about this, Zhao Qian: I will stay behind, and let Linglong and Daliguan accompany you to Feiying Prefecture. Linglong is skilled with the bow and arrow, and most importantly, she understands the written script of the Twin Cities Kingdom and has some knowledge of their world, which is much better than mine. She will certainly be of great help to you. Daliguan can serve as your personal guard; I believe with him, twenty or thirty ordinary men couldn't get close to you." Wahani agreed. "I second that. It wouldn't feel right letting you go alone."

I hesitated. "But if I take Linglong and Daliguan with me, what about your safety here? If Chief Wa comes looking for them, how will you cope?"

Cheng Susu replied, "I am here. And Constable Sun is a decent man; he has always shown me respect. I will explain the situation concerning Wahani and Laeski to him beforehand. With him mediating, Chief Wa won't dare do anything to them."

"Good," I agreed. "This is a chance to search for the Seven Maidens while I'm out. You all must be extremely careful of the dog-like petty official seeking revenge here at home. However, his target is me; he doesn't know any of you. As long as you avoid conflict with him, you should be fine."

I didn't dare bring too many life-saving needles; I heard that bandits were rampant outside, and losing them would be troublesome. I would only take two for immediate use. As for the various superior medicinal supplies taken from the spaceship, I packed a large bag. The laser pistol and combat knife were, of course, necessities.

Linglong was visibly excited. She wrote a letter to be left with Hu Shanyang, instructing that if anyone entered the city, they should deliver it to Qingfeng in Hulu Village, explaining that she had now become the number one assistant and beautiful bodyguard to Lord Bird God, Divine Physician Zhao, and was heading to Feiying Prefecture to treat Prefect Wu’s wife.

Daliguan, who previously only knew how to hunt in the mountains, was completely captivated by the endless sights of this bustling mortal world and was reluctant to leave. More importantly, the food here was far tastier than the monotonous meat diet of Hulu Village. Even the preparation of meat was varied and inventive, which was a delight for someone with his massive appetite.

The three dared not delay. After packing their things, they set off with Chiliarch Tong. Daliguan walked with the two Centurions, while Linglong and I rode the pigs with Chiliarch Tong. On the road, through conversation, I learned that these large pigs were rarely ridden even in Feiying Prefecture; only the military possessed a few dozen for senior officers' transport. The primary reason was that these animals were difficult to tame and impossible to raise and breed in captivity. The number captured in the wild was limited, and training them was equally difficult, making them inferior to horses in every practical way.

But the Ten Thousand Horse Kingdom was cunning and treacherous; not a single breeding horse was allowed to enter the Twin Cities Kingdom, and there were no naturally occurring wild horses within its borders. For hundreds of years, the horse had been a unique species belonging exclusively to the Ten Thousand Horse Kingdom. Relying on this mounted advantage, the Ten Thousand Horse Kingdom had always held dominance over the Twin Cities Kingdom—a nation less than one-tenth its size dared to raid across the border dozens of times a year.

Horses, swift and ferocious in a charge, were unstoppable. The Twin Cities Kingdom also possessed vast, open plains perfect for cavalry maneuvers. The Ten Thousand Horse Kingdom maintained no fewer than a hundred major bandit gangs that constantly roamed the border of the Twin Cities Kingdom, waiting for an opportunity to sweep in and plunder grain and women. Furthermore, the Twin Cities Kingdom’s arms supply was constrained by the Jin Kingdom, putting it at a further disadvantage against the Ten Thousand Horse Kingdom in recent years. Several border prefectures and counties were on the verge of being annexed.

The imperial court had organized several campaigns to suppress the bandits, but after a few major engagements, the Twin Cities Kingdom suffered heavy losses and no longer had the strength to organize large-scale punitive expeditions. They could only maintain a defensive posture everywhere, constantly reacting to aggression. The bandits’ plundering became increasingly reckless, accelerating the decline of the Twin Cities Kingdom.

Hearing Chiliarch Tong’s narration, I sighed. None of the maidens from home had sent anyone to meet me yet; perhaps some complication had arisen somewhere. Now, finding the Seven Maidens would depend solely on me, but my superpowers were gone. Even if I could occasionally activate an X-ray scan, it would drain my physical stamina significantly. It seemed my goal of leaving this place quickly was unattainable. I would likely be dragged into the turmoil of this chaotic age.