Chapter 75 — The Medicine Bearer Through the Chaos

Boundary Without Sword

The group left Nghinh Phong citadel through a side gate to the East at a time when it was not yet fully dawn, when a thick fog still covered the surrounding mountains, hiding their footsteps from eyes watching from afar. Tinh Yen took the lead, carrying on his shoulder a small white flag embroidered with the image of a medicinal plant - the neutral symbol of the medical profession that Ve Khai Trach had someone urgently prepare during the night, along with Ton Ba Nghi and two soldiers personally selected by Dinh Ba Kham for their bravery and discreetness.

"We will go northeast, following the shallow stream leading into the mountain forest." Dinh Ba Kham said, pointing at the map one last time before the group disappeared into the mist. "Remember, once you leave the sight of the city walls, you will be in territory that is not under anyone's firm control. Keep the white flag in the most visible position at all times, and absolutely do not carry anything that could be mistaken for a weapon."

Tinh Yen nodded, tightened her grip on the strap of the medicine bag at her side, clearly feeling the weight of responsibility weighing heavily on her shoulders. This is not only a trip to find Thanh Phong, but also a test of the philosophy she has carried with her throughout her life as a physician - whether the kindness and neutrality of a physician is really enough to protect her in a land torn apart by war.

The first three days passed in tense silence, the group weaving through dangerous trails, avoiding any sign of either side of the army, only stopping to rest briefly when absolutely necessary. The mountainous terrain in the Northeast is much harsher than Tinh Yen imagined — steep rocky slopes, dense forests obscuring vision, and the cold air of the mountain winds beginning to change seasons.

On the third night, when the whole group stopped by a sheltered rock hole to rest, Ton Ba Nghi couldn't help but ask Tinh Yen, his voice was soft under the light of the campfire, which was carefully shielded so as not to reveal it far away. "Doctor Do, are you scared? We are going into a place none of us have ever known, we don't know what lies ahead."

Tinh Yen was silent for a moment, looking at the small fire burning before responding. "I'm afraid." She admitted frankly. "But I learned from my master that fear is not something that needs to be completely eliminated, but something that needs to be learned to carry with you and keep going. If we wait until we are no longer afraid to act, we will probably never be able to do anything."

One of the two soldiers accompanying him, an older man with a few old scars on his weathered face, contributed, his voice low but firm. "I have followed Lord Tran Bac Hau into battle for more than twenty years, and have passed through countless dangerous lands. What I have learned is that caution and courage always go together, lacking either can easily lead to danger."

The group nodded in agreement, then fell into a fitful sleep, taking turns keeping watch all night amid the chirping of insects and the sound of the wind passing through the cold rocks. The next morning, the group continued to set out earlier than usual, trying to make the most of daylight to overcome the most dangerous roads before night fell again.

On the fourth day, when the group was walking along a low hillside, they suddenly encountered a small group of Bac Dich soldiers on patrol, about five or six people, all of whom had drawn their swords and drawn their bows ready when they discovered the stranger's shadow.

"Don't panic." Tinh Yen spoke softly to the people accompanying her, her voice trying to stay calm even though her heart was beating rapidly. "Remain in position, hold the flag high, so they can clearly see we are not carrying weapons."

She stepped forward, held up a white flag embroidered with the image of a medicinal plant, and spread her arms wide to show that she was not carrying anything dangerous. The group of Bac Dich soldiers approached, their eyes full of caution, one of them, seemingly the group's leader, shouted in a hybrid language between their language and Dong Lam, signaling the group to stand still.

"I am a physician." Tinh Yen spoke slowly, trying to use the simplest words, while pointing to the flag and the medicine bag on her side. "I'm here to treat anyone who's injured, no matter what side's soldiers."

The group leader frowned, seemingly pondering, then motioned for one of his team to step forward, pulling up his sleeve to reveal a swollen, infected wound on his arm — perhaps the result of some previous minor skirmish that hadn't been properly treated.

This was the decisive moment. Tinh Yen knew that everything depends on her next reaction. Without hesitation, she walked up to the wounded soldier, signaled for permission to be examined, then quickly opened the medicine bag, began cleaning and treating the wound with all the dedication and skill she always reserved for any patient, regardless of where he or she came from.

"This wound is quite infected and needs to be cleaned thoroughly and applied medicine regularly over the next few days." She spoke, explaining more with gestures than words, because she was sure the soldier did not understand everything she said. "If not treated properly, the condition can become more serious, even threatening the entire arm."

The soldier, although initially wary, gradually relaxed when he felt Tinh Yen's carefulness and professionalism in every move. When she finished bandaging and gave him a small packet of medicine with instructions for use with gestures, the group leader's eyes softened significantly compared to the initial wariness.

He said something to the people in his group, then turned to Tinh Yen, his voice still reserved but no longer threatening. "Who are you... looking for?" He asked, in broken Dong Lam language but enough to understand.

Tinh Yen paused for a moment before that unexpected question, then decided to be honest. "I'm looking for a wounded man who went missing after the battle at Nghinh Phong. A man from the Dong Lam army."

The group leader's eyes flashed with something unpredictable, then he shook his head, signaling that he didn't know anything about it, but didn't show any more hostility. He signaled his soldiers to retreat, allowing Tinh Yen's group to continue on their way without causing any further obstruction.

When the North Dich soldiers disappeared behind the trees, Ton Ba Nghi breathed a sigh of relief, wiping the sweat from his forehead even though the weather was still chilly. "I thought we wouldn't be able to get out of that situation peacefully." He said, his voice still shaking.

"Trust takes time to build, even between enemies on the battlefield." Tinh Yen replied, her voice thoughtful as she looked in the direction the group of soldiers had just left. "I believe, today's action may not only help us move forward safely, but may also open a certain door for what we are looking for."

The group continued on their way right after, heading deeper into the still foggy mountains and forests, carrying in their hearts both relief after the first encounter and a constant vigilance for the unknown that was still waiting ahead, where the boundary between friend and enemy, between life and death, was more blurred than anywhere Tinh Yen had ever set foot on during her long journey in life.

That afternoon, when the group stopped by a small stream to get water and rest a bit, the elderly soldier suddenly spoke, his eyes still filled with surprise at what he had just witnessed. "Doctor Do, I have to confess, I never thought that one day I would stand and watch a physician treat an enemy soldier right in front of me, and yet feel no anger in my heart, I just felt... there was something right about it."

"I also doubted myself every time I had to do the same thing." Tinh Yen replied, sitting down on the bank of the stream, looking distantly at the clear water flowing through the rocks. "But my master once taught, when a person has fallen and needs to be saved, they are no longer an enemy or friend, they are simply a human being in pain. If we start distinguishing between who deserves to be saved and who does not, we will lose the very essence of the medical profession we are pursuing."

Ton Ba Nghi, sitting nearby, nodded thoughtfully. "I think, perhaps it was because of that perspective that the Bac Dich soldier trusted us from the first meeting." He said. "If you were them, you would have a hard time trusting someone who only pretends to be kind to gauge the situation."

The group rested a while longer by the stream, taking advantage of the opportunity to eat some dry food before continuing on their journey. Everyone had a new confidence in the path they had chosen, even though there were still countless unknowns ahead.