Alesha said nothing, just watched her quietly.
That calm gaze, however, made Suina feel a little uneasy.
Wu Liang glanced at her coldly:
"Over three hundred people in the Tribe are infected with the plague, and Alesha can save them now."
Suina was choked speechless.
Of course she knew about the plague in the Tribe; some of her clansmen had also fallen ill.
She was just unconvinced.
"I need you to build something."
Alesha spoke, taking out a simple diagram of a Distillation Apparatus she had drawn.
"This is a stove connected to a sealed ceramic pot. Fermented fruits or grains are placed inside the pot."
"Steam from the pot is drawn out through a conduit."
"After passing through a long Cooling Tube wrapped in cold water, the liquid that finally flows out is what I need."
Alesha explained the principle of distillation in the simplest language as she drew.
"What... what in the world is this thing?"
Suina looked utterly skeptical.
"This is called a Distiller; don't worry about that for now."
Wu Liang was too lazy to explain further.
"I want to see a sample tomorrow. You don't have too much time."
"Alright, since it's something to save people, I have no other objections."
Suina took a deep breath, suppressing the dissatisfaction in her heart.
"Sisters, let's get to work!"
...Leaving the Military Workshop, Alesha led the Guard Team Wu Liang had assigned her directly to the Wounded Soldiers Camp, which had already been sealed off.
From afar, a scent of blood could be smelled, and wails and coughs rose and fell.
The guarding warriors saw her and immediately raised their weapons nervously.
"This is a restricted area. The Chieftain has ordered that no one is allowed near!"
"I am here by the Chieftain's order."
Alesha swept her gaze over the guards and said sternly:
"From now on, I am taking over here. Open the gate."
Upon hearing this, the guards let them pass and pushed open the wooden door.
Most of the patients in the barracks were lying haphazardly on straw mats, many crowded together.
The women responsible for care wore masks, each pouring medicinal soup into the mouths of the patients.
"Everyone stop!"
Alesha's voice made everyone turn their heads and stop what they were doing.
"Now listen to my arrangements."
"Take all mildly ill patients who can still walk to the open ground on the east side! Separate them from the severely ill patients!"
"Open all windows to allow air circulation!"
"Clear away all filth on the ground and cover it with plant ash!"
"From now on, without my permission, no one is allowed to feed the patients anything!"
Alesha's orders made the Wounded Soldiers Camp noisy.
"Why should we listen to her?"
"We've always treated them this way!"
"Exactly, she's from the Moon Spring Tribe, who knows what her intentions are!"
Questions arose from all sides; most of the women responsible for care were from the Black Rock Tribe.
The Moon Spring Tribe women behind Alesha were somewhat timid, unconsciously shrinking back.
"Silence!"
A furious roar came, and Akomann suddenly walked in with a team of warriors holding spears.
Her icy gaze swept across the entire scene, and everyone fell silent in awe.
"Chieftain Wu Liang has ordered that from now on, all affairs of the Medical Camp are to be fully handled by Chieftain Alesha."
"Her command is the Chieftain's command."
Akomann's voice was firm and powerful.
"Anyone who dares to disobey will be punished for treason!"
The women who had just been clamoring immediately shut their mouths.
Akomann walked to Alesha's side and whispered:
"Wu Liang told me to cooperate with you fully. What do you need me to do?"
"Thank you. Please help me maintain order."
Alesha gave her a grateful look.
"I'm not trying to harm them; I'm trying to save them."
"If they follow what I say, they might live. Now, act immediately!"
Under the supervision of Akomann and the guards, the isolation work began.
Mildly and severely ill patients were strictly separated.
The Moon Spring Tribe women, wearing newly made, thicker multi-layered linen masks, began to clean the camp.
They dragged out all the soiled straw mats and fabrics, piling them up in the distance to be incinerated.
The ground was repeatedly scrubbed with plant ash and clean water.
Throughout the afternoon, the Wounded Soldiers Camp was in a tense yet orderly bustle.
Meanwhile, on the other side.
Suina stared at the Distiller diagram, studying it.
"Chieftain, can this thing... really work?"
An Artisan from the Chuishi Tribe leaned over, full of doubt.
"How can steam turn into water? And flow out of a pipe?"
"How should I know!"
Suina snapped back, but then quickly suppressed her anger.
"Stop talking nonsense and just make it according to the drawing!"
"Use the best clay to fire the fermentation pot; making a few pots isn't difficult."
"For that Cooling Tube, roll it with thin copper sheets, and then make a trough outside for us to pour cold water into!"
Even though she was a hundred times unconvinced, once Suina decided to do something, she would give it her full concentration.
She directed her clansmen, dividing the work.
Wu Liang did not leave; he stood not far away, watching.
This epoch-making creation had to be personally supervised by him to ensure absolute success.
He walked over from time to time, correcting some details.
Although Suina didn't say it aloud, she was secretly astonished.
Wu Liang's understanding of this apparatus was far deeper than she had imagined.
Every modification he proposed went straight to the core, making even her, an experienced old Artisan, have to concede.
This man, not only skilled in warfare, but also understood forging?
Time passed minute by minute, and the sky gradually darkened.
With everyone's efforts, a crude but complete Distillation Apparatus was finally constructed.
"Bring the fermented fruits!" Wu Liang ordered.
Soon, several large pots of wild fruits, which had been fermenting for many days and emitted a sweet and sour aroma, were brought over and poured into the Distillation Pot.
"Seal the pot opening, and use wet clay to seal all gaps. Not a single wisp of steam can leak!"
"Light the fire! Start with a small flame, heat it slowly!"
Under Wu Liang's command, the furnace fire was lit.
Everyone held their breath, staring intently at the long copper tube.
Time passed slowly. The fruits in the pot gradually heated up, making gurgling sounds. A faint fruity aroma began to spread.
"Look! The tube is hot!"
An Artisan exclaimed.
Indeed, the end of the copper tube connected to the ceramic pot began to get hot.
"Pour cold water!"
Suina shouted loudly.
The clansmen who had already prepared immediately poured buckets of cold well water into the stone trough surrounding the copper tube.
"Sizzle—"
The scorching copper tube met the cold water, emitting a violent sound and a large cloud of white mist.
Everyone's hearts were in their throats.
Just then, at the end of the Cooling Tube, a drop of crystalline liquid trembled and condensed.
Then, with a 'drip', it fell into the ceramic bowl prepared below.
Immediately after, the second drop, the third drop... drops of liquid converged into a thin stream, slowly flowing into the bowl.
An extremely strong, never-before-smelled pungent odor instantly spread, making everyone involuntarily take a step back.
"This... what is this smell?"
"It's so strong!"
Suina also widened her eyes. She cautiously leaned closer and sniffed the scent.
Pungent, burning.
Wu Liang stepped forward, dipped his finger into a little liquid, then flicked it gently, and the liquid on his fingertip flew into the furnace fire.
"Whoosh—"
A small cluster of blue flames instantly ignited, then quickly extinguished.
"Ah!"
The surrounding Artisans all cried out in fright.
"This water... it can catch fire?"
Suina was completely stunned.
"This is called alcohol. We succeeded."