How many people are going to 98?

“Should we have some constables accompany you?”

This was not the outcome the council had hoped for...

While Wu Qingchen was still pondering, the priest had already begun counting heads aloud:

“Hmm... let me see which constables might be suitable...”

“Dalric... Bier... Abner... these three families are quite large; they should have finished plowing by now and can accompany you to the forest. No, no, three seems too few...”

The priest glanced around and continued naming: “Also Nicklas... Heller... these two families are smaller, but their oxen weren’t injured, and they seem to have harvested the fodder just yesterday, so they should be able to go to the forest as well. That makes five... Alvin... Hold... these two families seem a bit troubled; should we include them too?”

Three! Five! Seven!

Wu Qingchen felt sweat beginning to bead on his forehead.

The constables in a medieval village were not like the police officers of the 21st century who could devote themselves entirely to their duties.

In Eclaire Village, except for the leader Espier, the constables were more like another form of labor rather than a public office.

These villagers, relatively well-off and partially trusted, were exempted from some manual labor in exchange for maintaining daily order in the village and performing various temporary tasks for the lord and the priest, after completing their own heavy agricultural chores.

Around the summer labor period, which was the busiest time for farming, pulling out several primary workers from the fields was not an easy decision even for the priest.

For those constable families, this was an unexpected calamity.

“Having constables accompany me...” Wu Qingchen did not want to inexplicably bear any resentment, “...Lord, the constables already have a lot of work. It doesn’t seem right to trouble them at this time.”

“There’s no such thing as right or wrong; you needn’t worry about that...”

Because of the collective injury to the oxen, this year’s harvest was already compromised, and the priest wasn’t too concerned.

“The forest is dangerous. Having constables accompany you will make gathering herbs much safer, and with more people helping, it will definitely be faster than you going alone.”

“There’s no need to go again! Uh... what I mean is...”

At this, Wu Qingchen smiled knowingly.

“The forest is a bit frightening... but recently, when I went to look myself, I found plenty of herbs near the big rock just past the midstream...”

“What!” This was the surprised exclamation of little André.

While Wu Qingchen and the priest were speaking, André, who knew nothing about cattle treatment and had no interest in villagers, helpers, or constables—almost another world to him—had remained silent. Now, hearing Wu Qingchen mention this location, André couldn’t help but shout out in astonishment: “Los, you went all the way to the big rock!!!?”

“The big rock!” The priest was equally shocked. “Los, you actually went that far alone... That’s not something to take lightly!”

André and the priest’s surprise was understandable.

Eclaire Village was a small basin surrounded by mountains, with villagers living and working mostly on small plains and hills separated by rivers and streams.

These developed or semi-developed areas were separated from the towering mountains by several hundred meters of winding forest.

These forests marked the boundary between wilderness and civilization, nature and agriculture, and were the villagers’ primary source of firewood.

Beyond these several hundred meters of forest, deeper inside, lay a harsh land ruled entirely by nature: venomous snakes, ferocious beasts, cliffs, mountain torrents, floods, bandits—countless dangers.

The “big rock just past midstream” Wu Qingchen mentioned was along a larger stream leading north from the village into the forest. After some distance, a prominent boulder appeared—one of the customary markers indicating the boundary of safety.

“No choice...” Wu Qingchen’s expression was both innocent and helpless. “I’ve searched the nearer parts of the forest already; all the herbs I could find have long been used up... I have to venture further inside.”

“Even so, you can’t go so deep alone!” Little André’s expression was disapproving.

“The oxen needing treatment couldn’t wait a few days...” Wu Qingchen said this matter-of-factly, without any hint of boasting. “Besides, I’m fine, aren’t I?”

How could anything happen to me?

I am the person in the entire Eclaire Village most familiar with every danger within these few hundred meters of forest.

“I see...” The priest paced a few steps, then resumed, “Were the herbs you found near the big rock enough?”

“No...”

Wu Qingchen shook his head quickly, thought for a few seconds, then added, “The herbs gathered from there were only enough to treat the remaining oxen for two or three days... Now, if we want to quickly teach the cattle handlers and helpers to treat them, we need much more.”

“Hmm... even the herbs near the big rock aren’t enough...” The priest stopped pacing, hesitated a moment, then asked, “How many kinds of herbs are still missing?”

“About five or six, Lord.”

“Five or six... that’s manageable...”

Hearing this, the priest seemed relieved.

“Alright, then don’t go to those dangerous places again... Teach the constables to recognize these few missing herbs later, and let them go find them... After all, they’re used to running through the forest every winter catching runaway slaves!”

What’s dangerous for Los is just routine for the constables...

If little André, standing beside them and listening carefully, hadn’t been there, he might have doubted whether the teacher was talking about the same place.

While André was silently learning the ruling class’s mindset, the priest was already counting heads again:

“Hmm... Also... since Los isn’t going, Dalric... Bier... Abner... yes, those three will do... Actually, thinking about it, the forest isn’t that dangerous after all. The other constables should stay behind and work more in the fields.”

“Uh...” Wu Qingchen hesitated.

“What’s the matter? Speak up!” The priest encouraged him not to hold back.

“If we’re going to teach the helpers to treat the oxen...” Wu Qingchen suggested, “Lord, wouldn’t it be better to have them gather herbs as well? After all, when the helpers return to their own villages, they will certainly be doing similar work...”

“Hmm... you’re right...” The priest nodded repeatedly. “Then let those two outsiders go too... Hmm, that means we need even fewer constables... Just find any constable to guide them—Dalric would be good since his home is near the forest...”

“Uh...” Wu Qingchen hesitated again.

“What’s the matter? Speak up!” The priest once again encouraged openness.

“If it’s their first time gathering herbs...” Wu Qingchen suggested, “Lord, perhaps I should go with them. After all, if we only show them the leaves and roots, I’m afraid the helpers and constables won’t be able to clearly recognize the real herbs once they’re inside the forest.”

“Hmm…” After a few seconds of thought, the priest nodded slowly.

Having immersed himself for years in various medieval medical disciplines like “drowning treatment,” “vomiting treatment,” “coma treatment,” “bed rest,” and “rolling on the ground,” the priest understood well that a herb picked and isolated looks like a completely different species from the same plant growing in its natural place. Moreover, many herbs Wu Qingchen used only required a specific part of the plant, making identification even more difficult.

“You’re right...” After consideration, the priest agreed with Wu Qingchen’s view. “For the first time gathering fodder in the forest, you really need to go along.”

“But...”

At this, the priest suddenly fell into deep contemplation, clasping his hands tightly. After a long pause, he turned to his official disciple and said:

“André... after the last sermon, I remember Cleo stayed at the church?”

“Yes, Teacher...” André scratched his head, puzzled why the priest suddenly changed the subject during their talk about herbs.

“Why did he stay?”

“He was looking for you!”

“I know...” The priest’s expression grew serious. “I mean... what was he looking for?”

“He was bitten by a snake in the forest; you gave him holy water to drink.”

“How is he now?” The priest pressed on.

“Not well. A few nights ago, when he passed by the church, his leg was still badly limping...”

“Hmm...”

The priest was satisfied with the answer to his first question and smiled at André. Then he continued:

“Yesterday, did you see Alta’s youngest son?”

“Yes.”

“Did you see his face?” The priest gestured around his own face.

“Yes, his face was swollen.”

“Do you know why?”

“Yes, his father hit him.”

“What was the reason?”

“Little Alta was herding livestock in the forest during the day. At night, one chicken was missing... No one knows what took it! His father beat him!”

“Hmm...”

Having asked these questions, the priest turned back to Wu Qingchen and said earnestly,

“Do you hear that? The forest really is dangerous…”

“I hear you.” Wu Qingchen nodded solemnly.

“Alright, Los...” Lord Playa began to issue instructions, “Soon, you’ll go to the livestock shed and call those two outsiders...”

“André, you’ll run a few errands later, going to...”

At this point, Lord Playa turned to little André, took a deep breath, and continued:

“...Dalric, Bier, Abner, Nicklas, Heller, Alvin, Hold... call all seven of them to come to the church to wait and accompany Los into the forest!”