As soon as he finished speaking, a strange sound came from deep within the woods, like someone blowing a cow horn, a mournful wail echoing through the silent forest, sending chills down one's spine. Zhao Feng instinctively clutched his equipment case to his chest: "What's that noise? Could it be... A wild animal?" "No wild animal," Gesang's expression was grave, "It's the Lhoba people's 'exorcism ritual.' It seems someone in the village is very ill, and they're healing him in their own way." Passing through the woods, the view suddenly opened up. A small village nestled in a mountain valley, dozens of stilted houses built against the mountainside, their roofs covered with thick thatched roofs, wielding wisps of white smoke rising in the rain. In the open space in the center of the village, a dozen Lhoba people dressed in animal skins were dancing around a bonfire, waving spears and machetes, chanting incantations. Beside the bonfire, a wooden frame was tied, and on it lay a person, bound by thick vines, their features obscured. "What are they doing?" Mu Zhao watched, her heart pounding. "They're 'exorcising' spirits," Gesang sighed. "They believe illness is caused by evil spirits, and they need to exorcise them through shamanic rituals and burning fire. The one lying there must be the patient." Just then, a Lhoba man spotted them and immediately charged forward, brandishing a spear and shouting in a language they couldn't understand, his eyes fierce as if he wanted to devour them. Gesang quickly stepped forward and explained in broken Lhoba. After gesturing for a while, the man's expression softened slightly, but he still gripped his spear tightly, watching them warily. "He said the children in the village have contracted a 'strange illness,' with fever, vomiting, and delirium. The shaman has been performing rituals for three days without success, and he won't let outsiders near," Gesang translated. Mu Zhao's heart sank. "Children? We're doctors; perhaps we can help." She took a step forward, but the man blocked her way with his spear. He pointed to the equipment boxes they were carrying, then to the sky, muttering something excitedly. "He said you're carrying 'glowing demons,' which will anger the mountain god and worsen the child's illness," Gesang translated helplessly. Zhao Feng panicked: "What demons! This is life-saving equipment! With all this fuss, if the child really had a serious illness, it would have been delayed long ago!" Just then, a piercing cry suddenly came from beside the fire. A Lhoba woman was huddled by a wooden frame, crying out to the child lying on it. The child's body convulsed violently, and green foam came out of its mouth. "Oh no!" Mu Zhao's heart clenched. "That child might have meningitis! If the fever continues, it will damage his brain!" Ignoring the man's attempts to stop her, she ran towards the fire. Shen Yuhuai followed closely behind, blocking her way to prevent anyone from harming her. Zhao Feng and Lin Yu also rushed over, putting the equipment boxes down and about to open them to retrieve their equipment. "Stop!" An old voice rang out. An old man wearing a feathered headdress emerged from the stilted house; he was likely the village shaman. He carried a cane wrapped in snakeskin and slowly approached Mu Zhao, his cloudy eyes fixed on her as if they could see right through her. "What do you want?" The old man's Mandarin was surprisingly good, though his accent was heavy. "I'm a doctor, I can save that child," Mu Zhao said, pointing to the child on the wooden frame. "He's not possessed by an evil spirit, he's sick and needs treatment." "Nonsense!" The old man abruptly raised his cane. "He's been possessed by a mountain spirit! Only my incantation can save him! You outsiders, leave now! Otherwise, the mountain god will be angry!" "If we wait any longer, the child will truly be beyond saving!" Mu Zhao's voice rose as well. "Look at his eyes, his pupils are almost dilated! These are typical symptoms of meningitis; he must be brought down with fever and given intravenous fluids immediately!" The shaman was momentarily intimidated by her imposing manner, then became even angrier: "You dare question my incantation? I'll have the mountain god punish you!" He raised his cane, chanting rapidly and urgently towards the sky. Suddenly, a thunderclap boomed in the sky, and a bolt of lightning ripped through the rain, striking a large tree not far away, instantly igniting the trunk in flames. The Lhoba people, terrified, knelt down and kowtowed to the sky. The shaman looked at Mu Zhao triumphantly: "See? The mountain god is angry!" The man seized the opportunity, raising his spear to thrust at Mu Zhao. Shen Yuhuai swiftly pulled her behind him, stepping forward to face the spear, his eyes as cold as ice: "Who dares to touch her?"
