☆, Chapter 32 Reunion

Shen Qingqiu sat up abruptly.

Floating corpses! Oh my god!

I just said, "The water is so clear," and then a floating corpse comes along. Seriously, can't you be a little less slapping in the face?!

Liu Qingge used the boat pole to hook the floating corpse, turned it over, and found it was just a skeleton. Because its entire body, including its head, was wrapped in black cloth and its face was submerged in the water, she hadn't noticed it before.

Shen Qingqiu asked, "Junior Brother Mu, do you know of any plague in this world that can instantly turn a person's entire body into bones?"

Mu Qingfang slowly shook her head and said, "I've never heard of such a thing."

Like rowing against the current, if you don't move forward, you'll fall behind. After a while, the small boat had already moved backward a distance. Liu Qingge picked up the pole again and said after a moment, "There's more ahead."

Sure enough, five or six floating corpses drifted in from the front, all white bones wrapped in black cloth, just like the first one.

As Shen Qingqiu was deep in thought, suddenly, Liu Qingge thrust the long bamboo pole into the stone wall beside him. The thin, brittle bamboo pole pierced straight into the hard, seamless rock. The boat was fixed in place, motionless. Shen Qingqiu, sensing something amiss, abruptly stood up: "Who's there?"

From the depths of darkness ahead came rapid breathing, and the faint light from the bow of the ship illuminated the silhouettes of figures. A young boy's voice said, "Who are you? What are you trying to do, sneaking into the city from the underground river?"

Shen Qingqiu said, "I would also like to ask you, who is also here, this question."

Although he was standing on a small, dilapidated boat, he had a pleasant appearance, dressed in blue robes with black hair, a long sword at his waist, and exuded a calm and composed air, appearing quite ethereal. Furthermore, Shen Qingqiu had now developed his own style and experience in putting on airs, making this image quite convincing.

The boy was stunned for a moment, seemingly intimidated by his impressive appearance. After a long pause, he shouted, "You can leave now! You're not allowed into the city!"

Liu Qingge scoffed, "You? Who can you stop?"

The boy said, "There's a plague in the city. Get out if you don't want to die!"

Mu Qingfang said gently, "Young man, that's exactly why we've come..."

Seeing that they wouldn't leave, the young man angrily shouted, "Can't you understand human language? Get out of here! Or I won't be polite!" Before he finished speaking, a spear thrust forward, its powerful gust of wind quite frightening. Liu Qingge sneered.

Five seconds later, the boy was defeated and thrashed in the water.

Liu Qingge flicked him into the water with a single finger. Shen Qingqiu heard the boy still cursing in the water and asked, "Should we rescue him or not?"

Liu Qingge: "What are you scooping up with all that energy? We're going into town." He pulled out the bamboo pole and continued rowing.

The three emerged from the underground river, leaving the illegal boat untethered to the shore; it drifted back into the darkness on its own. The exit was in a desolate, shallow swamp in the city, deserted by any sign of human presence. After walking towards the city center for a while, they were suddenly pursued by someone footsteps.

The drenched boy rushed up, furious, and said, "I told you not to come into the city! What's the use of coming in? There were plenty of people who said they were coming to save people from the plague, all sorts of big monks and Taoist priests, all sorts of flower palaces, and none of them got out! They're just asking for death, sigh!"

So this young man's ambush in the darkness was actually for their benefit. Shen Qingqiu suppressed a laugh and said, "Now that we're all inside, what do you suggest we do?"

The boy said, "What else can we do? Follow me and don't run around! I'll take you to find the senior monk and the others."

Seeing that the other two had no objections, and since they were unfamiliar with Jinlan City, it would be best to have someone guide them to avoid detours. So Shen Qingqiu lowered his head and asked, "Young man, what is your name?"

The young man puffed out his chest and said, "My name is Yang Yixuan, and I am the son of the Golden Weapons Shop in the city."

Could it be the weapons shop merchant who risked his life to report to Zhaohua Temple and ask for help?

Seeing Shen Qingqiu staring at the young man, Liu Qingge asked, "What are you looking at?"

Shen Qingqiu said in a low voice, "I think this child can hold his own against you for a while, and he has a good temperament. Both of these qualities are rare, so he is a promising talent."

As you enter the main city, the number of pedestrians gradually increases.

But this "many" was only relative to the previous emptiness; there were at most three or four figures on the street, all buried from head to toe in black cloth, hurrying along like startled birds or fish that had slipped through the net. Yang Yixuan led the three of them to his home. This weapons shop was quite large, occupying four storefronts along the widest main street, all connected together to form one large house, and also including an inner courtyard, inner hall, and cellar.

Master Wuchen was in the cellar. He was lying on the bed, his lower body covered by a quilt, and upon seeing the reinforcements from the Cangqiong Mountain Sect, he immediately began chanting "Amitabha."

Shen Qingqiu said, "Master, the situation is critical, so I won't say anything more. What kind of plague is raging in Jinlan City? Why has the Master entered the city and not left, without any news? And why is everyone wrapped in black cloth?"

Wuchen smiled wryly and said, "What Immortal Master Shen asked is actually all the same question."

As he spoke, he pulled back the blanket covering his lower body. Shen Qingqiu froze.

Under the blanket, there was only a pair of thighs; below the knees, there was nothing. Where the calves should have been, they had all disappeared.

Liu Qingge asked coldly, "Who did it?"

Wuchen shook his head: "It wasn't anyone who did it."

Shen Qingqiu was puzzled: "If no one did it, could it have just disappeared on its own?"

To everyone's surprise, Wuchen nodded and said, "These are the legs I didn't have."

His legs, above the knees, were still wrapped in black cloth. Wuchen reached out and tried with difficulty to untie it, and Mu Qingfang quickly helped him. Wuchen said, "This thing might make you fellow Daoists feel a little uncomfortable."

As the black cloth was untied layer by layer, Shen Qingqiu's breath hitched when he saw what was wrapped inside.

Master, you call this "feeling slightly unwell"?!?!

What used to be his thigh was now completely ulcerated, with necrotic skin and rotting flesh. When the black cloth was loosened, a stench filled the air.

Shen Qingqiu: "...This is the plague in Jinlan City?"

Wuchen said, “That’s right. When this disease first appears, small areas of red spots will appear. In a few days to half a month, the red spots will expand and rot. After another month, the ulceration will reach the bone. It is necessary to wrap the body in black cloth and avoid exposure to the wind in order to delay the onset of the disease.”

No wonder everyone in the city is wrapped up like a black mummy.

Shen Qingqiu said, "The attack lasts for a month, so why did Mr. Yang, who went to Zhaohua Temple to report the news, turn into bones in an instant?"

Wuchen's face showed grief as he said, "I am ashamed to say that I only learned later that those who contract this disease can survive for about a month if they are in Jinlan City. However, if they are too far away from Jinlan City after contracting the disease, the onset will be accelerated. My two junior brothers were caught off guard when they left the city and returned to the temple, and the disease broke out on the spot."

No wonder we can't get in or out!

Liu Qingge asked, "What is the source of the disease? How did you get infected?"

Wuchen sighed, “I am ashamed. I have been hesitant for many days since entering the city. I am still at a loss as to the root of this plague. I do not know where the disease is, how it is transmitted, or even whether it is contagious at all.”

Mu Qingfang asked in surprise, "What do you mean by that?"

Shen Qingqiu seemed to understand something and said, "Look at the son of that weapons shop owner. He has been taking care of Master Wuchen for so long, yet he doesn't wear a single black cloth around his body. This shows that his skin is intact and he is very healthy. If this is indeed a plague, it is indeed strange that Master Wuchen did not infect him."

Wuchen said, "That is exactly what I meant. We have failed to achieve our goal and have instead caused trouble for everyone. I feel really bad about it."

Shen Qingqiu said, "Master's original intention was to save people from dire straits, please don't say that." Seeing Mu Qingfang intently studying the ulcers on Wuchen's leg, as if he couldn't smell a trace of rottenness, he asked, "Junior Brother Mu, have you discovered anything? Can you concoct a treatment formula?"

Mu Qingfang shook his head: "This doesn't seem...like a plague." He looked at the others: "I need to examine more patients before I dare to draw a conclusion."

Shen Qingqiu came out of the cellar and saw the weapons shop owner's son angrily carrying a long sword back. He smiled and asked, "Young master, what's wrong?"

Yang Yixuan said angrily, "More people are coming into the city. They're all just rushing to their deaths!"

It seemed another group had arrived with reinforcements. Seeing his face puffed up like a steamed bun, Shen Qingqiu teased, "Little brother, I see you're quite skilled. Do you have someone to teach you?"

Yang Yixuan ignored him. Shen Qingqiu continued, "I'm telling you, go find the brother who knocked you into the water today. He's very strong. Fighting with him a few more times will be more useful than learning from anyone else."

Upon hearing this, Yang Yixuan's eyes lit up with eager anticipation, and he abandoned Shen Qingqiu and ran off. Shen Qingqiu was overjoyed to have given Liu Qingge such a troublesome problem. After taking a few steps and turning the corner, she stopped when she saw the scene ahead.

The city was deathly still, every house tightly shut. Many who were already homeless had nowhere to go and gathered in the streets. The streets, once bustling with people and vehicles, were now deserted, and they dared not show their faces. They were unrestrained, setting up large iron pots, piling firewood underneath, and boiling water. Several were plucking feathers from chickens they had stolen from somewhere. All were wrapped in airtight black cloths, and when they saw Shen Qingqiu, whose appearance was so out of place, they weren't surprised at all, looking at him as if he were already dead. After all, in the past few days, they had seen countless imposing cultivators who came to the city claiming to rescue them. They died even faster than they had!

The cook tapped the iron pot: "The soup's ready! Come and serve it!" Instantly, many homeless people who had been lying nearby picking lice jumped up, grabbed their bowls, and rushed over. The scene resembled a disaster relief effort for starving people.

The epidemic disrupted the rhythm of life in the entire city, and these spontaneously organized communal meals could actually save lives.

We must find out the source of the epidemic as soon as possible so that Jinlan City can return to its former glory. Shen Qingqiu made this decision in his heart and turned to leave. A person came towards him. She was leaning on a cane, her body was hunched, and her hands were shaking so much that she almost dropped the bowl. She seemed to be an old lady.

Seeing this, he tried to make way for her, but whether it was due to old age and weakness or hunger, she stumbled and bumped into Shen Qingqiu.

Shen Qingqiu helped her up, and the old woman said in a slurred voice, "I'm sorry... I'm sorry... I'm getting old and senile..." As she spoke, she hurriedly walked past him, probably afraid that the soup would be gone.

Shen Qingqiu took two steps, then suddenly stopped, sensing that something was wrong.

wrong.

This old lady looked like a candle in the wind, as if she could be blown away at any moment, so why did her body feel so heavy when she bumped into me?!

He turned around abruptly, but among the crowd scrambling for hot soup, he couldn't see the "old lady" from before.

There was a flower-lined alley entrance on the left. Shen Qingqiu followed it and just happened to see a hunched back flash past at the end of the alley.

Holy crap, that speed is comparable to a 100-meter sprint hurdles! And she calls herself an "old lady"?! I must have been blind just now!

Shen Qingqiu took off after her. Although now that he thought about it, the old woman's appearance was indeed suspicious, could he be blamed for not noticing something amiss sooner? Right now, everyone in the entire Jinlan City was dressed in this suspicious, hunched-over black cloth!

During the chase, he suddenly felt an itch on the back of his hand, so he raised it up to take a look.

...This hand has truly suffered many misfortunes. It was the one that was riddled with holes by Elder Sky Hammer back then, and now it's the first one to develop red spots!

Speaking of which, it was this very book that made me impulsively click on "The Arrogant Immortal Demon's Path." Ugh, I want to chop this hand off!!!

Distracted for a moment, Shen Qingqiu slowed his pace and suddenly sensed someone attacking from above with sword energy. He opened his folding fan, ready to unleash a gust of wind blade at any moment, and shouted, "Who?!"

The man suddenly landed from the eaves of a nearby building. The two met face-to-face, and Shen Qingqiu blurted out, "Gongyi Xiao?"

The young man immediately withdrew his sword, both surprised and delighted: "Senior Shen?"

Shen Qingqiu said, "It's me. What brings you here?" Suddenly remembering that Yang Yixuan had mentioned that more people had entered the city from the underground river, she assumed it was Gongyi Xiao's group and asked, "Did Huanhua Palace send you to lead people into the city to investigate?"

Gongyi Xiao said, "This junior was indeed ordered to enter the city to investigate, but... I was not the one who led the investigation."

Shen Qingqiu was puzzled. Gongyi Xiao was the most favored disciple of the old palace master of Huanhua Palace. Before Luo Binghe appeared, he was basically considered the next leader. The old palace master's only beloved daughter was also infatuated with him. Whenever there was anything that happened among the disciples, he had to lead the team. Apart from Luo Binghe, who could use the male protagonist's halo to easily defeat him, who could take his position?

However, there was no time to think it through. Various thoughts raced through his mind in an instant, and Shen Qingqiu said, "Let's chase after them together!"

Gongyi Xiao responded loudly, and the two of them leaped out together.

The hunched figure slipped into a five-story building. Even from the outside, the building exuded a fragrant aroma, and the stage was adorned with vibrant flowers, suggesting it had once been a brothel or similar establishment. But now, the laughter and song were long gone; only the open doors revealed a somber atmosphere in the first-floor hall.

The two held their breath and stepped across the threshold.

The hall was in disarray, with tables and chairs overturned. Shen Qingqiu glanced at Gongyi Xiao and said in a low voice, "Separately investigate. You check the private rooms on the left, and I'll take care of the right one."

He used his folding fan to push open the door to the nearest room. He could vaguely see a person lying on the bed. He was startled at first, but then quickly relaxed.

It was just a skeleton, dressed in an elaborately patterned shirt, adorned with jewels, lying peacefully. It was probably the woman inside, knowing her death was near, who had dressed herself in her finest clothes and lay down to die. Even in death, she wanted to be beautiful; perhaps it was a woman's nature. Shen Qingqiu sighed for a second, then left the room, closing the door behind her.

In several rooms in a row, there were the remains of women in formal attire. It seemed that this brothel had been almost completely wiped out. Just as Shen Qingqiu was about to push open the sixth room, noises and voices came from the second floor.

The two leaped up the stairs. Shen Qingqiu went first, still on the stairs. Suddenly, a gentle young voice rang out: "It's alright. You all don't need to worry about me."

Upon hearing this voice, Shen Qingqiu was struck dumb, and the folding fan in his hand snapped with a crack.

In that instant, even breathing seemed to stop.

He stood frozen on the stairs, but he could already see the elegant pavilion at the end of the second-floor corridor. A group of disciples dressed in the robes of the Illusionary Flower Palace were surrounding one person in the center.

It was a handsome young man dressed in black. His hair ribbon fluttered with his dark hair, and he carried an ancient longsword on his back. His face was like jade, and his two eyes, as deep as a pool of cold stars, were inadvertently glancing in this direction.

Although he has grown up quite a bit and his temperament is very different from before, Shen Qingqiu would never mistake this face, which could be chosen as the cover boy of a romance novel from any angle!

At the same time, a familiar voice, long forgotten, accompanied by a monotonous tone like Google Translate, bombarded his mind with a barrage of notifications:

Hello. The system has been successfully activated.

[Universal Activation Code: Luo Binghe]

[Self-monitoring: Overall energy operation is normal and in good condition.]

Hibernation mode is disabled. Start in standard mode.

[Update package download and installation complete]

Wait, what the heck?! You actually updated?!

Thank you for using our service again.

Can I return it?