Chapter 53 The Ten Directions' Ultimate Song: The Ashes of Calamity—This person actively sought him out…
This person came to us on their own initiative.
He had lived alone as a widower for many years, spending his days drinking heavily, rarely sober throughout the year. The only times he was sober, apart from New Year's Day, were the days his wife passed away, but even then, over the years, he was always in a state of semi-drunkenness.
For the past few days, he had been feeling a persistent itch on the back of his neck, which he couldn't help but scratch, but the itch persisted. He had asked a doctor for a box of ointment, but it only provided temporary relief, and the condition worsened afterward. Gradually, the incessant itching stimulated his nerves, making him increasingly irritable, to the point that he scratched off a piece of flesh from the affected area. The bleeding and the pain outweighed the itching, bringing him a brief moment of clarity.
During this rare moment of lucidity, he encountered people searching for symptoms of the blood spider plague. Upon hearing that they were sent by the king, he thought they could cure him and asked them to take him away. Although he did not have the red markings, the condition of his neck was truly horrifying, so they agreed to take him away.
These dozens of people were temporarily housed in a manor outside the city, and Yu Zhi was among them.
Among the ten people with Yu Zhi, there were men, women, young and old, the oldest being over seventy and the youngest no more than three years old. They were all happily preparing for the New Year at home, but now they were suddenly gathered here and felt uneasy. However, they trusted Mi Zhen and Yu Zhi completely and comforted each other.
Yu Zhi learned from them that these people lived in different parts of the city and did not know each other. Apart from three or four people who lived relatively close to each other, the others had almost no connection.
Yu Zhi's heart sank. This disease was not only contagious, but given the current situation, it would only infect more people.
Fortunately, they had already been separated when they arrived.
The only child here was not used to the unfamiliar environment and was blocked by the partition, so he cried incessantly, and no matter how his mother tried to soothe him, it was no use.
Yu Zhi emerged from behind the partition. Upon seeing this, the woman quickly covered the child's mouth and shrank back into the corner, saying, "I'm sorry, Your Majesty, we disturbed you. Please go back now."
Yu Zhi smiled and pointed to the veil on her face. She then moved closer, squatted down in front of the child, opened her palm to reveal a piece of candy, and gently coaxed, "Look what this is?"
The child's eyes lit up when he saw it was candy. He sniffed and looked at Yu Zhi longingly, asking, "Can I have some?"
Yu Zhi said, "Of course you can." She then fed him the candy and asked, "Will you still cry after you eat the candy?"
The child hesitated for a moment with the candy in his mouth, then nodded and shook his head.
Yu Zhi asked, puzzled, "What does this mean?"
The child honestly said, "I won't cry anymore, but I'm scared. Will I die?"
Upon hearing this, everyone around fell silent. This was exactly what they had feared.
Yu Zhi was taken aback by his words, and the image of the old man at the moment of his death flashed before her eyes again. Yu Zhi didn't answer his question, but instead said, "How about I sing you a song?"
The child rubbed his eyes and said "Okay".
Yu Zhi sat down cross-legged, and his calm and powerful singing voice rang out, calming the fear in people's hearts:
I do not worship the Dragon King or seek immortality.
A small boat dares to venture into the nine heavens
When the wind comes, I will be the sail.
When the rain comes, I turn into rock.
Fearless of the mountain god, fearless of the abyss
Barefoot, I shattered the towering peak.
Thorns Weave Battle Robe
Tiger's roar as a zither string
Disrespectful to the Thunder God, unafraid of fire
Palm lines cleave the flames of purgatory
Flame Tongue Silver Spear
Rainbow Embroidered Saddle
Unkneeling to the ice, undaunted by the cold
Blood boils over the three-foot abyss
Frosty Blade Cuts Through Corrupted Bones
Snowfield wheat fields
The song of "Man Will Conquer Nature" has never ended.
The Milky Way rolls up like cooking smoke
The child laughs and points into the depths of the clouds.
Half scars, half lotus
As the song ended, Yu Zhi looked at the child again and said solemnly, "I understand everyone's anxiety. No matter what happens, I will stand with you all. If..." Yu Zhi paused, touched his flat stomach, and felt a warmth spreading through his palm, as if he had gained endless strength and made a certain decision. He continued, "If it really comes to that, I will be with you all."
Upon hearing this, everyone turned to look at Yu Zhi. Although they couldn't see her expression, everyone present was deeply moved by her words. Some couldn't help but sob softly, while most were speechless with shock.
Yu Zhi added, "So until that moment arrives, please have faith and join me in overcoming this dark period!"
Upon hearing this, the others echoed, "Your Majesty, we believe in you!" "Let's fight it together!"
Just then, the child suddenly spoke up: "Your Highness, the song you sang just now was so beautiful! I've memorized it all, and I want to sing it for more people!"
Yu Zhi extended her little finger and smiled, "Then let's pinky swear! You must sing it for more people!"
The next morning.
"Your Majesty! A new discovery!"
"Your Majesty! We've found out!"
Two voices broke the morning silence outside Mi Zhen's courtyard. The imperial physicians, their faces bruised, rushed to find Mi Zhen, only to bump into the group that had gone out to investigate the source of the infection.
Mi Zhen's voice came from the inner room, "Come in, everyone."
The two groups entered the house one after the other, only to find that Mi Zhen's condition was somewhat unusual. His eyes were bloodshot, his hair was disheveled, and he looked much more haggard.
That's so strange.
They all began to wonder, was it because the Empress had also been quarantined? No. Although this situation was special, far more serious ones had happened before, but they had never seen him like this before.
What's even stranger is that they vaguely sensed a terrifying aura emanating from Mi Zhen, making them feel both unfamiliar and chilled to the bone.
After a long silence, Mi Zhen looked at them, her expression indifferent, and asked, "What have you all found out?"
One of the imperial physicians spoke first: "The old man's death was horrific, but fortunately, the blood is not contagious. This illness should be erysipelas. This winter is colder than usual, and those who catch a cold are very susceptible to erysipelas. However, it is still unclear why the old man's body exploded and he died. As for the man's symptoms, it is actually tinea, which is common in winter and is not contagious. It will be fine once the scabs form."
As soon as he finished speaking, a glimmer of clarity returned to Mi Zhen's eyes, but another person said, "Your Majesty, we have found that some of these people yesterday were nobles from the city, and others were cloth merchants and tailors. As for that man, he was just a casual laborer due to years of alcoholism. In addition..." The person paused, then continued, "We have also found seventeen people with symptoms consistent with the old man, and another fifteen people with symptoms consistent with the man. This matter is probably not simple."
The imperial physician's expression darkened; this was completely different from what they had found. But why were it a cloth merchant and a tailor?
Mi Zhen stood up, his brows furrowed, and looked at the imperial physician, asking, "Is there any treatment available?"
If the previous diagnosis is incorrect, then the treatment may not be effective either. The imperial physician knew that this matter was strange and dared not make a rash judgment. After a moment of silence, he said, "These two diseases have come on strangely. If we really follow what this gentleman says, then the treatment we thought of earlier should be useless. But since it is spreading so quickly, we can only treat the symptoms first and find out the cause as soon as possible."
Another person said, "Your Majesty, with the Lunar New Year's Eve approaching, the rampant spread of this strange disease is likely to unsettle the people. The most urgent task is to appease the people and prevent the epidemic from spreading further."
Mi Zhen rubbed his temples hard and said, "Issue the order: from this day forward, the city gates will be closed, and no one, whether inside or outside the city, may enter or leave. Residents within the city must remain at home and not go out. If any symptoms are detected, immediately send a signal via flying feather message. At the same time, prepare the necessary supplies and medicines for the people to ensure their safety at home. Furthermore, strictly investigate rumors circulating in the streets; we must not allow panic to spread. The Imperial Medical Academy must expedite the search for a treatment and immediately draft epidemic prevention regulations, distributing them to every citizen. No matter what happens, I am here! I vow to overcome this difficult time together with all the people!"
The two replied in unison, "Your subject obeys the decree."
The imperial physician, recalling Mi Zhen's earlier unusual behavior, said, "Your Majesty, you don't look well. Allow me to examine you."
Mi Zhen waved his hand and smiled, "I'm fine, I just haven't had enough rest. The epidemic is severe now, so I must take care of myself."
The imperial physician was still somewhat worried and said, "Are you really alright? Let me take a look at you."
Seeing the imperial physician's resolute attitude, Mi Zhen allowed him to take the emperor's pulse and check on him. Only after the physician personally confirmed that there was nothing wrong did Mi Zhen feel relieved. However, he still said, "If Your Majesty feels any discomfort, you must inform this old minister."
Mi Zhen said, "Alright, I understand! By the way, you mentioned earlier that some of those people were cloth merchants and tailors. Investigate if there's any connection between them. Remember, be sure to take precautions!"
After the two men received their orders and left, Mi Zhen gazed in the direction outside the city and silently clenched his fists.
When the lockdown order was issued, the people were panicked and at a loss, but under the government's measures, they quickly calmed down, cooperated actively, and stayed at home.
The streets, which should have been bustling with activity for the New Year, are now devoid of laughter and hawking cries, save for the rustling of the wind and the scraping of armor as soldiers patrol.
Yu Zhi was not infected and therefore did not need to remain in the quarantine area, but with the city gates closed, she, as the empress, had no intention of leaving anyway. She led the imperial physicians and soldiers sent by Mi Zhen, dividing the area into three quarantine zones according to the severity of symptoms, and personally distributed supplies to them.
Because the first group of infected people were mostly tailors and cloth merchants, the imperial physicians indeed found clues in the fabric. Most of the fabric used in Yunhuai came from the local specialty, Huai brocade, and the secret to making Huai brocade came from a unique insect found only in Yunhuai called "Huai silkworm." This insect resembles a silkworm but has spider tentacles; it feeds on Huai leaves and spins silk to weave cloth, hence the name Huai brocade. Because Huai brocade is delicate, soft, and has a bright luster, it is warm in winter and cool in summer, making it very popular among the people of Yunhuai, and also among people from other countries.
As the New Year approaches, people are making new clothes, and these people are in direct or indirect contact with the new clothes made of locust brocade.
Strangely, they found nothing unusual in the locust seeds this year, but they did find dormant insect eggs in the blood of living people.
This conclusion terrified everyone. Many immediately wanted to take off their old clothes, and some, thinking of the countless worm eggs inside their bodies, scratched their skin incessantly, rolling on the ground from the itching. The imperial physicians urgently used acupuncture and moxibustion to suppress the spread of the red lines, with initial success.
Unfortunately, misfortunes never come singly.
The first man with persistent tinea versicolor on his neck recovered at an unusually fast pace. Fifteen minutes after applying the medication, a scab had formed on the affected area. He thought the scab meant he was healing, but instead, it grew directly onto his body and spread throughout, feeling as hard as tree bark. Within the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, one of his arms became completely paralyzed and immobile. Not only that, he also inexplicably became agitated, frantically banging his head against the wall repeatedly, each bang harder than the last, until his head was covered in blood and he eventually knocked himself unconscious.
The people's hearts, which had finally settled down, were thrown into chaos again.
Ever since Feng Yi and Xi Le got married, every Lunar New Year's Eve has been a reunion of all four families at Yun Huai. This year, however, due to Yun Xiang's book compilation and the Ghost Realm celebration, they were unable to gather. Only Yao Qi's mother and husband were free, so they decided to visit their old friends at Yun Huai and the Ghost Realm separately before returning to Tianjia Mountain to celebrate the New Year with Ming Qi and Yun Xiang.
Upon arriving at Yunhuai, the two found the city gates tightly shut, the city desolate, and devoid of civilians; the soldiers all wore masks as they walked. Only when they met Mizhen did they understand what had happened.
Yaoqi asked, "What happened? Why are there two kinds of plagues appearing at the same time?"
Mi Zhen opened her eyes wearily and said, seemingly seriously, "Maybe someone wants me dead."
Mother Yi said, "Pah, what nonsense are you talking about! This illness is very strange, I'm going to find Yunxiang right now."
Before she could finish speaking, Mi Zhen stopped her, saying, "Absolutely not! Not to mention that Yun Xiang's current status makes it inappropriate for her to interfere in worldly affairs, she is also pregnant. We must not let her take any risks. I am the monarch of this country, and it is my duty to protect this land and its people."
"Right now, my only worry is Yu Zhi. She's pregnant and is all alone outside the city. I'm worried about her."
Both of them were shocked by the news, but they had no time to be happy.
Yao Qi made a quick decision, saying, "Mother, you stay here. I'll go find Ming Qi for help." Before Mi Zhen could speak, Yao Qi shook his head and added, "You don't need to say anything more. This illness came on strangely. Of the few of us, only Yun Xiang and Ming Qi have the best medical skills. Even if I don't say anything now, they'll find out sooner or later. Whether it's because of our divine identities or our friendship, we can't just sit idly by. I'll handle things with Yun Xiang." With that, Yao Qi cast a spell and left.
A small courtyard at the foot of the mountain.
Yaoqi explained the symptoms of the two illnesses to the two men, who looked grave. Yunxiang said, "Let's go now, there's no time to lose."
Yao Qi hesitated for a moment, then said, "Why don't you let Ming Qi go first, and then you can come back when the situation stabilizes? You just finished writing the manuscript, and you're quite far along in your pregnancy, so you should rest at home for a few days first."
Yunxiang was anxious to save lives and said urgently, "I can wait, but can those infected people wait? These two diseases are so strange and progress so quickly. If we don't find a cure in time, there will be great chaos."
Ming Qi sighed softly and said, "Let's go together as a group of three. Xiang Jun knows what she's doing, and I'll take good care of her."
Seeing that the two were resolute, Yaoqi said no more.
Yunhuai Village, on the outskirts of the city.
"I don't want to die!!! I want to get out!! Let me out!!!"
A man stumbled toward the gate, half-naked, patches of raw flesh mixed with blood on the back of his neck, scabs clinging to his skin, teetering on the verge of falling off—a gruesome sight. Many others, like the man, had witnessed the horrific scene and were restless. They ran aimlessly through the village like headless flies, completely unprotected. Soldiers arrested people, while Yu Zhi shouted to calm them down; for a moment, cries of agony, weeping, and anger filled the air.
When the three arrived, this was the scene they saw.
In the chaos, Yu Zhi nearly fell, but Yao Qi swiftly caught her, asking, "Are you alright?"
After Yu Zhi regained his footing, he noticed Yao Qi and the other two and exclaimed in surprise, "Why are you here?"
As soon as he finished speaking, Ming Qi tossed a handful of fragrant powder into the air. This powder, invisible and colorless upon exposure to light, was as fine as dust, yet possessed a delicate and lingering fragrance with calming and soothing effects. Before long, everyone had calmed down. The man who had been there earlier slumped to the ground, panting heavily, the look of terror still etched on his face.
Ming Qi asked, "What happened? Why did they try to run away?"
Everyone present gasped, and no one dared to speak.
The soldiers escorted these people back to the isolation room one by one, and then led Mingqi and Yaoqi to the woodshed. The two of them were so shocked by the scene before them that they were speechless.
A corpse lay on the ground, or rather, a human-shaped piece of wood. Upon closer inspection, the person's face was grotesque, limbs twisted, and body completely woody. The pupils were split into tree rings, new shoots sprouted from the fingernails, and moss grew on the body, seemingly continuing to grow. This was the first man to exhibit these symptoms.
Ming Qi raised his hand to check and found that he had suffocated to death. The petrification had been slowly consuming the body from the inside out until it was completely devoured.
Ming Qi's eyes dimmed, and after gazing intently for a while, she gently touched his brow. His features gradually returned to normal, and he peacefully closed his eyes.
Yaoqi and Mingqi exchanged a glance, both feeling a sense of foreboding.
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Author's Note: I'm so sorry everyone!! I'm back!!! I've been so busy lately, and I had to go out of town for training for a while, so I haven't been able to update. I'm back now and trying to update as soon as possible! I have to go out again next month, so I'll try to write more recently. Originally, this chapter was the second to last chapter of Volume 2, almost 10,000 words (there's still some content left to write), but I suddenly wanted to wrap it up around chapter 55, so there are two more chapters left. I'll try to release them tomorrow. Sorry for keeping you all waiting!
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