As soon as he grasped the snake staff, Garrett Nordmark looked around and felt immediately invigorated. His back wasn’t sore anymore, his legs no longer hurt, and the way people looked at him... it was different.


    It was as if he had become radiant, bathed in layer upon layer of holy aura.


    Ahem, they wouldn’t think I’m possessed by the god of medicine, right? Surely not, there’s no such god of medicine in this world, not like the legends of Asclepius. But maybe, just maybe, if I work hard to enhance my reputation, I could turn this snake staff into a symbol of healing in this world?


    Garrett held the snake staff and let his mind wander. He was eager to try out the functions of the spirit snake. He looked left and right, then suddenly stopped:


    At his feet were all sorts of shapes, round and square, horizontal and vertical, a summoning circle only half-drawn with numerous ingredients scattered about. Garrett estimated his non-existent ballet skills and knew that tip-toeing out would inevitably disturb something.


    Jump out? Sorry, but ever since middle school, he had never passed the long jump.


    He looked down, two apprentices were underfoot, one organizing materials within the circle, another following with a small shovel, scooping up dirt. What a pity, these ritual materials could have been reused, the beast blood and medicinal powders used for the circle were being wasted...


    Two warriors, rolling up their sleeves, stood far off to the side, rubbing their hands together, preparing to move a totem pole.


    "About this pole...?" Should I be taking it with me? It looks so heavy!


    “This pole is used to nurture the spirit of the totem, especially when the caster’s strength is insufficient, or there is a gap in power, allowing the spirit of the totem to reside on the pole, sustained by the tribe’s sacrifices,” explained an elder with feathered headdress, smiling gently.


    “As a priest like you, you can directly supply it with psychic energy, no need to carry the pole around.”@@@@


    “Oh, oh, oh...” Garrett felt relieved. Indeed, there are many ways to contain ethereal and spiritual entities back at the council. He’d get a copy of those methods later. As for the pole, let it stay here for the next tribe to use!


    Garrett waited patiently. Fortunately, the quick-witted apprentices swiftly cleared a path for him. Garrett, holding the snake staff, dashed out and was immediately stopped by the elder with a smiling intercept:


    “Mr. Nordmark, is there something urgent?”


    “Ah? I was going to try this snake spirit...”


    Try out the spiritual enhancement from the totem spirit to see if it’s satisfactory enough for electrodiagnostics; also to explore what the totem spirit itself can reveal by probing inside a human body.


    After all this trouble, how could he not make a thorough attempt!


    “Since it’s an attempt, could you perhaps take a walk through our tribe?” Elder Broc asked with a genial smile, his face amiable. Garrett understood his implication: it’s rare to have such a unique healer around, why not take the opportunity for a free health check, and perhaps, a free treatment session as well?


    However, elder, do you realize your face now looks exactly like that chief physician back in the day who used to say, “This symptom is quite typical, let the students have a look,” and then summoned a bunch of medical students all at once...


    Though reminded of some not-so-pleasant memories, Garrett did not refuse. He followed the elder into the host tribe’s residential area. Upon entering the first house, he reflexively cast a protective bubble around himself, then discreetly dispersed it when unobserved.


    Even in the comparatively prosperous tribes of the great plains, living conditions were hardly something to look forward to. Most homes were supported by beast bones, the walls were made of mud-brick, and beast skins covered the top. An entire family—men, women, the elderly, and children—lived in one room, even sleeping together on a single heated brick bed.


    The wealthier homes had beast skin curtains dividing the brick bed, while the poorer homes lacked even that. Stepping inside, he was greeted by the smell of years of accumulation... R?a??Ο?E??


    Garrett had no choice but to endure the odor while conducting check-ups. After all, odors are also an important clinical indicator that can’t be ignored. For instance, the smell of diabetic foot or the rotten apple scent of ketoacidosis—you know what’s happening as soon as you smell it.


    Besides, I only know about administering oxytocin for inducing labor... and I don’t have that medication on hand!


    Elder Broc chuckled, not pressing further. They reached the patient’s dwelling, and as soon as they lifted the curtain, the agonized moans were already audible. The pregnant woman, drenched in sweat, lay on the heated brick bed, her belly clearly showing full-term.


    The only thing Garrett could do was quickly cast an electrocardiogram spell. Hmm, her heart rate is a bit fast, which is natural, but not yet abnormally so. As for the position of the fetus, he wouldn’t know unless he performed an ultrasound.


    But, the pregnant woman’s husband might not be comfortable with him touching the pregnant belly. Garrett discreetly glanced over; when Elder Broc moved closer, the young man was already struggling...


    “Child, don’t be afraid, the spirits always protect you.” Elder Broc used his healing skills to boost the pregnant woman’s strength, then from the inside of his robe, he flipped out a small pouch, pouring out some powder:


    “Here, drink this.”


    What is that?


    Garrett curiously peeked. The pregnant woman obediently drank the powder, but her condition hardly improved, nor did it trigger immediate labor. Garrett, while unnoticed, pulled Elder


    Broc aside to a quiet spot behind the house, and quietly asked him:


    “What is that medicine made of?”


    “That, ah...”


    Elder Broc looked around once more. If it were another tribal elder or even his own disciples asking, he would absolutely not reveal the secret recipe unless absolutely necessary; but this generous human healer could be made privy to it. He straightened his clothes, his smile restrained:


    “That’s our tribe’s secret recipe. It’s made from pumpkin seeds, gourd flesh, and the feces of a hawk, mixed together to induce labor. It has to be from our tribe’s sacred hawk, or the feces won’t be effective. You better not tell anyone else!”


    What... Garrett was stunned. That works? That’s effective?!


    In fact, it really wasn’t effective. The pregnant woman tossed and turned, struggling for nearly an hour, her breathing growing weaker. Seeing the situation turning dire, Elder Broc had no choice but to produce a new secret recipe:


    “Let the fluid that impregnated her also induce her labor. Let her husband go over, @#$%...”


    A series of operations involving sound that must be censored below the neck. Garrett was dumbfounded:


    Wait, wait. Theoretically, prostaglandins do indeed promote the maturation and softening of the cervix, which means, they can induce labor... but your method is way too rough!


    I might as well do it myself! At least, a simple cesarean section, I can handle that!


    ---------------


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