Chapter 130
Chapter 130: Compassion for the Suffering of the People (Part 3)
After passing the checkpoint, Si Cang Qing and Cheng Tian Bi went to the Chaojiang County government office,
where the temporarily appointed magistrate, Zhong Chenxu, was waiting for their arrival.
Inside the main hall, Si Cang Qing sat at the head of the table, silently listening to Zhong Chenxu report on the
situation in the twelve townships.
“Now, nearly half the people in each village have been settled, the infected have been quarantined, and the Phoenix
Temples in each village have been sealed off. However, many people have still fled to the Phoenix Temple on
Chaotian Mountain in the western suburbs… In addition…”
Seeing the other party hesitate, Si Cang Qing’s eyes darkened. “Speak!”
Suddenly startled, Zhong Chenxu hurriedly said, “Of the 318 medical practitioners, dozens have also been
infected… This plague is extremely virulent; anyone who touches an infected person or anything they have
touched will become ill…”
Hearing this, Cheng Tian Bi exclaimed in surprise, “Then, are there still people in each village who haven’t
fallen ill?”
“Only half have escaped, but many of those infected fled to the Phoenix Temple,” Zhong Chenxu said fearfully.
“Currently, the local military is focused on maintaining order, and the terrain of Chaotian Mountain is treacherous;
there’s nothing they can do for the time being!”
“Leave the Phoenix Temple aside for now,” Si Cang Qing said calmly, staring… Looking at the man, he said
coldly, "You just said that even the doctors are infected, so... the doctors are helpless against the plague?"
After hesitating for a moment, Zhong Chenxu gritted his teeth and nodded, "People are dying every day...
Since the Prime Minister arrived, the people have calmed down a bit, but... if they don't get treatment, they'll
probably become restless again!"
Si Cang Qing lowered his eyes and pondered for a moment, then asked again, "Where is Liu Yi now?"
"Your Majesty, the Prime Minister is currently in LuyangTownship, where the plague is most severe."
Standing up, Si Cang Qing looked at Cheng Tian Bi and said, "Let's go to Luyang Township."
Zhong Chenxu was startled and hurriedly advised, "Your Majesty, you absolutely mustn't! The plague there is
extremely severe; a slight mistake could lead to infection!"
Si Cang Qing gave the man a cold glance, completely disregarding his words—even a scholar like Liu Yi dared
to stay in the plague zone; he, Si Cang Qing, wasn't that cowardly. Although he had never cared about the lives of
others, as the Emperor of Canghuan, he had a duty to the people.
Looking at Cheng Tian Bi, Si Cang Qing said calmly, "Be careful." He had given Cheng Tian Bi his Snow Silk
Armor before they arrived; with a little care, there shouldn't be any problems. Although he didn't want Cheng
Tian Bi to take risks, now, if they wanted to break the plague, they truly had to rely on him.
“You needn’t worry about me,” Cheng Tian Bi smiled calmly. “As a physician, I understand.”
Without lingering, the two didn’t even have lunch, heading straight for Luyang Township.
The carriage chugged along the country road. Lifting the curtain, the view was of verdant mountains and clear
waters, a refreshing sight that soothed the soul. Cheng Tian Bi quietly observed the scenery when suddenly, not
far away, a child squatted halfway up the embankment, pale and thin, eyes downcast, digging at something.
The carriage quickly passed by, and as the curtain slowly fell, Cheng Tian Bi sighed softly. In times of turmoil,
even in prosperous times, it is always the common people who suffer. Even though he felt unbearable pain, he
was powerless to change things; many things cannot be done simply by thinking about them.
Now, the only thing to do was to find a cure as soon as possible; those afflicted could not wait.
Upon arriving at Liu Yi's temporary residence in Luyang Township, they found themselves in makeshift shacks
erected for the villagers—all those uninfected had been relocated to wasteland to completely prevent the spread of
the plague.
Alighting from the carriage, Si Cang Qing saw from afar the thin man, slightly bent over, conversing with two
elderly women sitting on the doorstep. He seemed to be smiling, listening quietly, perhaps occasionally speaking
a few words.
"...Sir, I'm not exaggerating! Look, Aunt Yang said so too! Xiao Jiao is very clever and capable, absolutely
virtuous...Most importantly," the old woman spoke mysteriously, her voice undiminished, "Xiao Jiao has a face
that brings good fortune to her husband; she'll definitely give birth to several chubby babies!"
Liu Yi chuckled softly, unaware of the approaching figure. Another elderly woman, who had been listening
intently, noticed Si Cang Qing and his companion and called out, "Sir, are those your friends?"
Liu Yi straightened up, turned around, and upon seeing Si Cang Qing, his expression changed. "Your Highness...
Young Master, what brings you here?"
Si Cang Qing said calmly, "Why can't I be here?"
The two elderly women looked at Si Cang Qing with some curiosity. "In two days, Dasheng should be able to be
saved..."
"Really?" the old woman sobbed. "Sir, you're not just trying to appease this old woman, are you?" "
With a look of shame, Liu Yi was momentarily at a loss for words. He looked at Si Cang Qing, only to see him
nod indifferently. Then, the woman who had spoken earlier grasped Si Cang Qing's hand, looking at him with a
sorrowful yet hopeful expression, "Young master, you have shown me such great kindness, I beg you..."
Her words were incoherent. Si Cang Qing hesitated slightly, but ultimately did not push the old woman away,
only responding coldly.
"Aunt Li," Liu Yi said, supporting the old woman's arm and subtly removing her hand from Si Cang Qing's body,
softly comforting her, "These two young masters are skilled doctors. If we wait another day or two, Dasheng
should be able to be saved..."
"Really?" the old woman sobbed, "Sir, you're not just trying to appease this old woman, are you?"
With a look of shame, Liu Yi was momentarily at a loss for words. She looked at Si Cang Qing, only to see him
nod indifferently, then softly say, "I'm not trying to appease you..."
"Good, good."
She responded repeatedly, and the old woman, embarrassed, released her grip. The other person was also wiping
away tears.
◇Cang◇Huang◇Seven◇Palaces◇
“I saw you all chatting happily just now,” Cheng Tian Bi sighed gravely, “I thought the situation had improved
somewhat…”
Glancing at Si Cang Qing, who sat there silently, Liu Yi said in a low voice, “Of the thirty accompanying
physicians, ten have already fallen ill… The villagers who remained are simple and honest; seeing that we have
done our best, they have all calmed down and are helping out as much as they can…”
“However, the number of people left in the village is decreasing day by day… The remaining twenty physicians
are doing their best to treat them, but with almost no effect… We must be careful not to contract the plague
ourselves.”
His words were spoken coldly, but the pain in his eyes was undisguised.
Liu Yi slightly curved his lips. "The elders in the village seem relieved, but... just like before, they're all so eager
to arrange marriages for their daughters here..."
The implication was clear: the elders, having weathered many storms in their lives, had quickly come to terms
with the situation. They were probably prepared to die, yet unable to let go of their young daughters at home,
hoping these "high-ranking officials" could rescue them.
Suddenly standing up, Si Cang Qing said calmly, "Liu Yi, lead me on a tour! Bi, you discuss it with the doctors,
then begin developing the antidote..." Looking intently at Cheng Tian Bi, he softly uttered, "Thank you for your
hard work."
This unwavering trust made Cheng Tian Bi smile instantly. He said, "Okay." Even though accepting this promise
meant he had to find a cure, otherwise... he would become a sinner, yet he still had no regrets.
In this Canghuan Kingdom, there is a cold-blooded yet compassionate emperor, and a prime minister who
dedicates himself to the people until his dying breath. The people should not have suffered this calamity! For the
sake of the common people, for Si Cang Qing, and to live up to this trust, he must rescue those who are suffering.
He will not return to the capital until the plague is eradicated!
After half a day, the villagers all recognized Si Cang Qing and Cheng Tian Bi, knowing they had come to help.
They were all extremely polite, showing none of the chaos he had expected.
Stopping by the pond, watching several women on the water's edge wielding mallets and beating clothes, Si Cang
Qing suddenly spoke, "You did well."
Slightly taken aback, Liu Yi replied softly, "In the end, I only deceived these villagers, letting them obediently
await their deaths!" Her words were tinged with a faint sadness and a deep self-mockery.
"Everyone has their own expertise," Si Cang Qing replied coldly, "Do what you are capable of."
Not to mention, with Cheng Tian Bi's medical skills, it's highly likely he could find an antidote; even if he
ultimately couldn't save those people, it wouldn't be anyone's fault.
Liu Yi remained silent. Si Cang Qing was cold and indifferent, his actions largely stemming from his status as
emperor; however, it couldn't be denied that his words weren't without merit. Changing the subject, he asked,
"Your Highness does Consort Bi really have a way to find the cure?"
Si Cang Qing didn't answer, but he never doubted Cheng Tian Bi's medical skills. The ability to revive the dead
and heal the wounded was no exaggeration. Besides, it was the same plague; since the previous dynasty's ancestor,
the God of Medicine, had ultimately found a cure, Cheng Tian Bi, who had already surpassed his predecessors,
could do the same this time.
Just as the two were talking, a guard quietly approached, "Your Majesty, His Highness Qiu has sent a secret letter."
On the thin sheet of paper were only eight characters: "The plague is incurable; it is a living human gu."
Liu Yi clenched his fist tightly, and the paper turned to ashes. Si Cang Qing exuded an icy chill, causing even
Liu Yi beside him to tremble—he recognized the totem on the paper at a glance as the mark of the Misty Palace.
This message, in fact, was delivered by Qi Shuangran.
Living Human Gu? Living Human Gu!
He had never expected it to be caused by the Living Human Gu. Although he harbored doubts about the events
at the Outer Heaven, he never anticipated…
The so-called divine punishment was actually a man-made disaster!
Si Cang Qing recalled the piles of white bones and the gruesome corpses in the secret chamber of the Tianwen—
the Qiang people, turned into living human Gu, only loved to eat living people. Therefore, those who broke in,
though fortunate enough not to be eaten, quickly died from their bites. It was for this reason that Qi Shuangran,
when bitten on the thigh, immediately tore off a piece of his own flesh.
If it were truly a plague, he could still believe Bi could find a cure. But the Living Corpse Gu… that Qiang man,
having lived for a thousand years as a mummified corpse, according to the technology of his previous life…
his genes had already mutated!
“Your Majesty!” Liu Yi called out anxiously.
Si Cang Qing snapped back to reality, looked at the other man, his eyes icy cold, and said, “Immediately order
the relocation of those in Chaojiang who are not infected.”
Before things spiral out of control, the only option was… to abandon Chaojiang!
++
Author’s note:
Although Mo found the Living Corpse Gu, many things were not actually his doing.
Comments
Post a Comment