Chapter 316: Chapter 234: Disease-Resistant Shiitake _1
Lance and his companions roamed the Land of Corruption, deep in the wilderness.
Their objectives were all different.
Lance’s primary goal was to survey this region, archaeologically investigate the buildings, and discover the brick and stone roads that had once been laid.
He needed to rebuild the roads and re-excavate those historical outposts. These would be used to transport and station troops, continuously expanding his control northward. Only by doing so could he constrain the Old Ancestor’s activities.
Moreover, delineating areas for clearing was also necessary: determining which places were suitable for logging and charcoal burning, and which could simply be set ablaze.
After the burning, he needed to decide where to cultivate farmland and where to grow medicinal plants.
All these required personal reconnaissance. He knew well that development wasn’t just talk; it had to be adapted to local conditions, with no blind development.
Paracelsus came to collect samples from this area, curious about the changes in the plants and animals growing in these corrupted regions and their impacts on humans.
As for Grendel, her goal was very simple and clear: the Witch’s medicinal fields.
Knowing the location, she naturally prioritized reaching the fields to gather herbs. However, there was no need for a forced march this time around; the journey, which normally took a day and a night, was slowed.
Lance and Paracelsus continually made new progress toward their goals...
As night fell, the three of them and a wolf settled in a campsite they had cleared in the Land of Corruption, where finding even a slightly clean spot was difficult.
Above the campfire, a vegetable and meat stew simmered in an iron pot. Beside it, on a grill woven from iron wire, sea fish caught that morning and cured with fine salt were roasting.
Their fat sizzled as it cooked—a richness typical of sea fish that made them so fragrant.
No matter the circumstance, food always comforted the heart.
And the light of the fire brought warmth and a sense of security.
It was just unclear what the other two were up to.
Grendel wrinkled her nose at the bubbling stew, indicating disinterest, although she did eat a fair amount of the grilled fish.
Paracelsus, on the other hand, had refrained from drinking any water since nightfall and kept a respectful distance from even the soup, opting only for soft white bread with a bit of roasted fish.
Lance didn’t understand their pickiness. Or perhaps it was just a lack of appetite in the Land of Corruption?
Lance, however, didn’t mind. Logistics were never a concern for him, so he and Wang Cai polished off the large pot of stew.
After eating their fill, even Lance became languid. However, he didn’t want the atmosphere to turn oppressive, so he chose to share his thoughts on new medical ideas.
He also brought up common diseases, discussing their pathological principles and treatment approaches with the two women.
This world possessed Supernatural Power, and a portion of these disease-causing principles inevitably fell under the influence of such Supernatural Power.
Therefore, Lance couldn’t directly apply the modern medical theories in his mind, especially since he wasn’t a doctor and his understanding was only at an average person’s level.
But in any case, his germ theory of disease was quite innovative for an era that based medical theory on the balance of bodily fluids and favored bloodletting.
Grendel was also interested in these topics. She might not join in other conversations, but when it came to diseases, injuries, and human anatomy, she had some knowledge.
It was this knowledge that allowed her to understand that many of his theories were strikingly innovative. She had originally thought the Lord was merely powerful, but now realized he was also knowledgeable and possessed unique insights into these afflictions.
It was no surprise that Paracelsus, a university student, understood his words.
But the fact that Grendel, a member of the Mountain Barbarian Tribe, also understood made Lance curious. It seemed not all tribes were as conservative as Boudica’s.
Lance also noticed Grendel’s speech didn’t carry the heavy accent or bizarre tribal vocabulary that Boudica possessed. She spoke clear common language and could use even uncommon words naturally.
All these observations deepened Lance’s curiosity about her, but he kept his interest subtle to avoid scaring her off.
"Alright, it’s getting late. You two rest. I’ll keep watch."
Lance didn’t plan to disclose everything at once. He knew little enough as it was, and speaking further might reveal too much.
"No, I’ll keep watch," Grendel stated, standing up. She took several Seeds from her pocket, tossed them to the ground, planted her Antler Staff in the earth, and began chanting.
In Lance’s eyes, he could see a green glow swirling around her, connecting with the antler-shaped buds on the Antler Staff as their lights intertwined and reflected one another.
Then the Seeds on the ground began to germinate, growing long thorns that spread out to form a thorny ring around the camp—a deterrent that would likely make anyone think twice before approaching.
Those who lived in the Mountains, places teeming with ferocious beasts, naturally had their own methods to guard against night raids.
Lance had no objections; being able to sleep was a welcome change. His previous night watches had felt like nothing more than obligatory overtime...
The silent night passed peacefully under the protection of the thorns. The team packed up and continued deeper into the wilderness.
"How can there be such huge mushrooms!"
The mushrooms near the Witch’s outpost were the most striking. At the sight of the massive fungi towering over them and eclipsing the sun—many taller than a person—even the usually aloof Paracelsus couldn’t help but exclaim.