101 The Radiance of Humanity

Even the farmhands knew to avoid danger, so the treatment plan devised by the Earthlings naturally prioritized Wu Qingchen’s safety while tending to the plowing ox.

With Dean’s level of insight, he only noticed that Wu Qingchen had seemingly taken the safest position ahead of time. He failed to realize that Wu Qingchen had subtly adjusted his body—his angled stance, foot placement, and body lean—all without conscious thought, preparing himself in the perfect posture to pivot and flee at a moment’s notice.

Moreover, as Wu Qingchen led Idra to reposition, he casually shifted their orientation, “unintentionally” forcing Dean and Elmo to settle into the only two “barely safe spots” left. In doing so, he also inadvertently blocked the infinitesimal chance that the plowing ox might pursue them.

Given the meticulously chosen Earth-based treatment methods, the likelihood of the ox going berserk was vanishingly small, let alone launching a frenzied chase.

However, as with any plan involving the medieval world, “Wu Qingchen’s safety” was always singled out as the paramount priority. When formulating and executing the training program for the “Directed Teaching of Plowing Ox Treatment Techniques,” every aspect—from handling the injured ox, recovery speed, to treatment efficacy—had to give way to ensuring Wu Qingchen’s security. The teaching outcomes, learning difficulties, and even the life safety of the two farmhands had to be fully subordinated to serving Mr. Wu Qingchen.

Fortunately for the farmhands, who were unwittingly caught in this scheme, even after localizing the advanced medical techniques—which could just as well be called alchemical, magical, or necromantic—only a tiny fraction was tailored to their learning ability. Yet Wu Qingchen’s methods of calming the ox, unwrapping the bandages, and applying the medicinal pack impressed the two farmhands greatly.

Glancing around to see everyone standing firm—or rather, blocking the way—under the watchful eyes present, Wu Qingchen gently held the new medicine pack and slowly pressed it against the ox’s abdomen, about half a palm’s width away from the wound.

In the next moment, the once calm ox lifted its hind hoof slightly, raised its neck, and exhaled sharply through its nostrils.

The two farmhands, familiar with livestock behavior, knew this was the ox beginning to feel uneasy.

At the same time, Wu Qingchen quickened the pace of his left hand, which rested on the ox’s neck, applying a bit more pressure. His right arm, which supported the medicine pack, gently rubbed circles over the ox’s abdomen through the pack.

So this is possible?

The pupils of the farmhands contracted instantly, and sure enough, the ox gradually calmed again.

Wu Qingchen’s right hand, still holding the medicine pack, began to slowly move toward the wound.

The crucial moment of applying the medicine pack was imminent!

Dean and Elmo’s eyes widened to their fullest extent; their necks stretched out painfully long; their bodies instinctively leaned forward, and their feet unknowingly stepped beyond the “barely safe” zone.

At this most critical juncture—at the peak of Dean and Elmo’s anticipation—

Wu Qingchen suddenly stopped.

More precisely, he set down the medicine pack and ceased soothing the ox. With his freed left hand, he scratched his head and said, “Oh dear, Idra brother, I just came to take a look. How did I end up dragged into treating this ox?”

“Is that so?” Idra recalled honestly. “I didn’t drag you in; you were the one who first asked how the ox was doing.”

“Oh! I only asked briefly; I didn’t say I’d come in to treat it! Well, no use talking now! What a mess, I’ve stayed too long... Oh no, I’m going to be late... Idra brother...”

As Wu Qingchen spoke rapidly, he casually hung the medicine pack on a nearby rail. “Could you please tidy this up? I have to rush off—lots to do... And you two, Dean, Elmo...”

He glanced sideways at the two farmhands. “...You’re coming with me. There’s some work to do...”

Having said that, Wu Qingchen strode quickly out of the cattle shed.

Just like that? He simply left?

He actually left!

Right at the critical moment of applying the medicine pack to the ox’s wound, he just vanished?

This abrupt and deeply unsettling ending was akin to a movie suddenly cutting off at a crucial scene, or chasing the latest chapter of a novel only to find it abandoned for five years, or a goddess finally agreeing to a date but setting it for February 30th—various torturous cliffhangers that inflicted a massive psychological blow to the farmhands.

Unable to articulate why, Dean looked around again. The area within sight was neat and clean, unlike other livestock pens cluttered with chaotic tools.

Maintaining order and tidiness in the cattle shed was indeed crucial.

Dean had to be grateful for this, because if they were cutting hay now, he might have raised his sickle to strike Wu Qingchen’s head; if planting vegetables, he might have grabbed the manure fork to jab at Wu Qingchen’s neck...

This train of thought revealed just how deeply Wu Qingchen’s actions had traumatised the farmhands.

“Come on!” Noticing no one followed, Wu Qingchen called back to the two farmhands still standing dumbfounded in place.

“All right, all right...”

Wearing painfully twisted smiles, Dean and Elmo shuffled over to Wu Qingchen’s side with steps so unsteady they could almost be called staggering.

“Oh...” Seeing their expressions, Wu Qingchen’s voice brimmed with understanding. “I know you wanted to watch a little longer...”

“No, no!” “No, no, no!” Dean and Elmo shook their heads vigorously, like tender leaves buffeted by a storm.

“Really? Not at all? Are you sure?” Wu Qingchen asked the three short questions in succession, then suddenly fell silent, fixing his gaze on them.

“Well...” “Uh...”

Dean and Elmo exchanged glances, then looked at the ground, then at the ox, stammering, unable to admit but unwilling to deny.

Before them, Wu Qingchen maintained a faint smile. Using techniques taught by microexpression and negotiation experts, he observed that the accumulated psychological pressure on the two farmhands had roughly reached the threshold. He ceased pressing and gently coaxed, “Actually, you do want to see a bit more, don’t you?”

“Um... yes...” “Yes, you’re right, a little...”

“See? It’s okay to want to watch...” Wu Qingchen smiled encouragingly and reassuringly. “...But there’s no time now. We have to go do some work first. When we’re done, if there’s still time, I’ll teach you more...”

“All right! Let’s go!” “Yeah, let’s hurry!”

The two farmhands immediately agreed together, without any questions like “Where?” “What work?” “Is it far?” or “What about the tasks in the cattle shed?”