Wu Liang looked at the woman before him, who was as gentle as water.
She lowered her head, her hands restlessly wringing the corner of her clothes.
Her long eyelashes cast a shadow under the light, concealing the emotions in her eyes.
"Sit down."
Wu Liang pointed to a wooden chair nearby, while he casually sat in the main seat and poured himself a glass of warm water.
Alesha's body stiffened for a moment, but she still sat down submissively on the wooden chair.
She sat only on the edge of the seat, her posture stiff and formal.
"You don't need to be so nervous."
Wu Liang took a sip of water, his voice very calm.
"I didn't call you here alone to do anything to you."
Hearing this, Alesha's body seemed to relax slightly, but she still didn't dare look up at him.
"I just want to discuss a deal with you, or rather, give you a new choice."
Wu Liang set down the water glass, interlaced his fingers on the table, and leaned forward slightly.
A powerful sense of pressure washed over her, and Alesha's heart couldn't help but beat a few beats faster.
A deal?
A choice?
She couldn't understand what kind of deal she could possibly have with this man.
"I don't understand what you mean."
Alesha's voice was gentle, her tone soft.
"Alesha..."
Wu Liang's gaze fixed on her eyes.
"The Yuequan Tribe is famous in the Great Desolate Mountain for being skilled in identifying Medicinal Herbs and treating injuries and illnesses, am I correct?"
Alesha looked up, a hint of confusion in her clear eyes.
"Yes... our Tribe does indeed possess some knowledge of Medicinal Herbs; every Tribe in the Great Desolate Mountain knows this."
"Very good."
Wu Liang was satisfied with her reaction.
"As you've seen, although we won this battle against the roland people, our casualties were not small."
"For a Tribe to be powerful, relying solely on warriors who can fight isn't enough; it also needs healers who can save the dying and help the injured."
He stood up and walked over to Alesha.
His tall figure loomed over her, bringing a massive sense of pressure to Alesha.
She instinctively wanted to shrink back, only to find she had nowhere left to retreat.
"I need you, Alesha."
"I plan to form a specialized Medical Camp within the Tribe, responsible for treating the wounded and researching medicines."
"And you are the most suitable candidate in my mind."
Alesha was stunned.
She had thought of many possibilities.
She thought Wu Liang might threaten her or possess her, but she never expected him to make such a request of her.
Form a Medical Camp? And have her be in charge?
This... this didn't seem like a bad thing.
"I... what can I do?"
She asked somewhat uncertainly.
"There is much you can do."
Wu Liang said.
"You can organize your people's knowledge of Medicinal Herbs and teach it to more people."
"You can lead them to gather Medicinal Herbs and produce Wound Medicines."
"To show my sincerity."
Wu Liang shifted the conversation.
"Starting tomorrow, the remaining members of your Yuequan Tribe will be moved to the best accommodations, and their food rations will be the same as the warriors of the Black Rock Tribe."
"Furthermore, they won't have to go mining or reclaim farmland. Their job will be to assist you in establishing this Medical Camp."
Alesha's heart skipped a beat.
These conditions... were too generous.
She could fully hear the meaning in Wu Liang's words. He was giving her, and her people, a choice.
A choice to exchange knowledge and obedience for dignity and preferential treatment.
"Alesha, come with me."
Wu Liang suddenly stood up and took Alesha to the Wounded Soldiers Camp.
Opening the door, an even stronger smell wafted out, making Alesha instinctively frown.
A few oil lamps were lit in the room, making the light dim.
On rows of crude wooden beds lay many wounded warriors of the Black Rock Tribe.
Most of them had been wounded in that battle at Wild Boar Ravine.
Some had broken arms, some had injured legs, and many more had thick linen bandages wrapped around them, already soaked with blood.
In the battle with the roland people, they were not all unscathed.
Several women from the Black Rock Tribe were frantically changing their bandages and feeding them water, but clearly, they were severely shorthanded.
Moreover, the way they treated wounds was, in Alesha's eyes, far too crude.
They simply rinsed the wounds with clean water, applied crushed herbs, and then haphazardly wrapped them with strips of cloth.
"This is our Tribe's Wounded Soldiers Camp."
Wu Liang's voice sounded in Alesha's ear.
"You've seen it now."
Wu Liang pointed to a Female Warrior whose wound was inflamed and said in a low voice.
"My warriors, they are very brave and fearless in battle."
"For the Black Rock Tribe, they would shed their last drop of blood."
"But when they are injured, what I can do for them is pitifully little."
"We have no real Physicians and don't know how to handle complex wounds."
"We don't know how to prevent wounds from festering, nor do we know how to alleviate their pain."
"You should also know that many times, we can only watch helplessly as these warriors die—not on the battlefield, but from post-war pain and infection."
His voice carried a trace of heaviness and helplessness.
Wu Liang looked at Alesha.
"A powerful Tribe cannot only have warriors who can fight; it also needs Doctors who can save lives."
"I..."
Alesha opened her mouth but didn't know how to speak.
"I won't force you."
Wu Liang's tone was very calm.
"The choice is in your hands."
He pointed his finger at the room full of wounded soldiers.
"You can bring your people who know about Medicinal Herbs here."
"Use your knowledge and hands here to save the lives of these warriors and earn the respect of the entire Black Rock Tribe."
"I promise you, as long as you can save people, you will receive the best treatment, the most ample supplies, and the respect of everyone."
After saying that, Wu Liang just watched her quietly, not saying another word.
In the room, the groans of the wounded soldiers rose and fell.
A young warrior, due to intense pain, bit down hard on a piece of wood, veins bulging on his forehead, his whole body trembling.
Alesha's heart was wrenched by this sight.
She was naturally compassionate.
Seeing such a scene, she almost instinctively wanted to step forward and help.
"Think it over carefully."
"Once you've made up your mind, bring your people here tomorrow."
After saying that, Wu Liang turned and left.
When Alesha returned to her quarters, the atmosphere in the room was very solemn.
Ignis, Suina, Sa Lan, and Florgloria were all sitting there.
Lolia was pacing anxiously at the door, and seeing her return, she was the first to greet her.
"Sister Alesha, you're back! Did he... did he do anything to you?"
Everyone's eyes focused on Alesha's face.
Ignis's gaze was particularly sharp as she looked Alesha up and down, seemingly trying to find any traces on her.
"What did he say to you?"
Ignis's tone was very aggressive.
"Did he threaten you?"
Alesha shook her head, her face still somewhat pale.
She walked to the table, poured herself a glass of water, and drank it in one gulp before she felt her chaotic thoughts calm down a bit.
"He didn't threaten me."
She took a deep breath and recounted exactly what she had seen and heard in the Wounded Soldiers Camp, as well as the words Wu Liang had spoken to her.
The room fell into a deathly silence.
The faces of the several women all showed expressions of shock and disbelief, just as Alesha had earlier.
"A Wounded Soldiers Camp? Having the people of your Yuequan Tribe serve as Doctors?"