CHAPTER 177: CHAPTER 167: HAVE YOU ALL BEEN KICKED IN THE HEAD BY A DONKEY?

While the two were sleeping soundly, in the northwest Qingyun Town, two ragged old men joined the slum.

Such old men were way too common here, so no one suspected anything, and no one paid them any attention.

Seeing that there was still wood burning in the center of the tent, and quite a few people were gathered around the fire, the two old men, leaning on crutches and holding broken bowls, walked over, "Please, could we also warm ourselves by the fire? We’re so cold."

Although it was only September, the northwestern nights always had particularly strong winds. Without shelter, sleeping in such cold winds would inevitably lead to catching a cold or something similar.

Gathering around the fire at least helped dispel some of the chill.

Hearing the old men’s words, a young man stood up, kindly saying, "You two uncles can come sit over here with me."

"Thank you! Thank you!" The two old men quickly expressed their gratitude with faces full of appreciation and then went over to sit down.

Once seated, they said no more but quietly sat there warming themselves by the fire.

Only when the people around the fire gradually fell asleep, did the two exchange a glance, a trace of viciousness flashing in their eyes.

Then, when no one was watching, they took out a very serpent-like slender object from their crutches and tossed it into the fire.

After doing so, they quickly got up and left the fire.

And that object quickly burned in the fire, then emitted bouts of black smoke, spreading in the direction of the tent under the night wind’s gusts.

...

"Hehehe, now Da Qin is in big trouble... Let’s hurry to the next town!" One of the old men snickered as the black smoke spread around.

"Yeah, let’s go! When the Grand Assembly begins, let’s see how Da Qin dares to claim the head of the myriad dynasties!"

"Oh right, there’s still a Da Qin army nearby, isn’t there? Since we’re here, why not just go all out? If we can spread the illness into the Capital City, it would be best."

By then, just the outbreaks of plague would leave Feng Qingyang scrambling.

Hehe.

"That’s absolutely right! Let’s go!" the other agreed enthusiastically.

Then the two figures disappeared into the dark night without a trace.

...

Though the bandit suppression mission had already been completed ahead of schedule by the Crown Prince, Lin Changqing couldn’t possibly just return to the city without confirming it.

Moreover, he had also received a secret edict from the Emperor, instructing him to take people to investigate the Pass.

Furthermore, since the Pass had been recaptured, naturally, a new group needed to be stationed there.

With things yet to be arranged, Lin Changqing, as the commander, of course couldn’t return immediately.

After resting for a night, Lin Changqing prepared to lead people up the mountain the next day.

Just after leaving Qingyun Town, he encountered two thinly-clad beggars.

"Please, kind sir, we haven’t eaten for three days and nights, cough cough..." The two old men leaned on crutches, held broken bowls, and looked at Lin Changqing with pitiful eyes.

Hearing this, the deputy generals beside him couldn’t help but show expressions of sympathy.

They instinctively assumed these two old men were victims of the bandit troubles at the Pass.

Just about to suggest to Lin Changqing to give them some rice, they saw Lin Changqing thrust his long spear forward, pointing at one of the old men’s throats.

Then he shouted sternly, "Men, seize them!"

At these words, the deputy generals were stunned.

"General Lin? What is this?"

"Yes, they just want some food. If we don’t give them any, so be it, but why seize them?"

Lin Changqing sneered, "Have you all been kicked in the head by a donkey? Why plead for these two strangers?"

"Think about it, on our journey here, when did any beggar dare to approach us for food? Furthermore, the Crown Prince long distributed the grain from the Pass to the townspeople. How could they not have eaten for three days and nights?"

The Crown Prince’s subordinates always worked meticulously and precisely; there was no way two old men would starve for three days and nights.

"Besides, if they hadn’t eaten for three days and nights, could they still make it to beg from us?" Lin Changqing’s eyes were sharp.

So, this indicates there is something wrong with the two beggars!

...

Hearing Lin Changqing’s words, the others couldn’t help but show looks of realization.

But just as someone was about to step forward to capture the two, the two old men’s expressions suddenly changed. They raised their crutches and forcefully deflected Lin Changqing’s spear, then used a movement technique as slippery as eels to dodge the soldiers’ grasp, retreating dozens of meters in an instant.

This startled everyone.

At this moment, the two old men snickered, "Sharp-eyed, but too bad!"

If only they had a little more time to find an opportunity to poison them.

Unfortunately, this Lin Changqing was not easily fooled and ruined their plans.

But as long as those patients ran around spreading the illness, the plague could still be dispersed everywhere.

Then in a flash, they disappeared into the distance.

Seeing this, Lin Changqing immediately rode his horse in pursuit.

But he soon realized he couldn’t even see their shadows, let alone determine their escape direction.

For a while, Lin Changqing’s face turned frigid.

Who exactly were these two old men?

At this time, others also caught up, "General Lin, did they escape?"

Lin Changqing nodded, "Indeed, these two are suspicious. First, send someone to the town to inquire when they arrived, if anyone has seen them."

"Yes, General Lin!"

At this moment, everyone gained respect for Lin Changqing.

Initially, they thought he was heartless and merely wanted to capture two old men disrupting their march.

Facts proved that Lin Changqing had keen and detailed observations, and they had wronged him.

...

Because Feng Qiwu, before leaving, distributed the grain brought down from the Pass, even slum dwellers could now cook porridge to drink.

Moreover, the soldiers were coming to take over the Pass, bringing them peace, so everyone in the slum was full of hope for life going forward.

But no one expected that after a night, many patients who had been improving after taking Bai Susu’s medicine suddenly started coughing more severely.

Some severe patients abruptly coughed up blood and died within a few days.

Seeing this, the entire slum plunged back into unease.

Why, all of a sudden, did their conditions worsen?

To get treatment, some people had to sell their food and went to town to see a doctor.

But the doctors couldn’t figure out the cause, just prescribed some medicine to take back and drink it first.

After another three to five days, many more died, and everywhere, you could see patients with pale faces constantly coughing.

Some wanted to continue seeking medical help to survive and tried to go to towns farther away.

But as soon as they reached the city gate, they were stopped by the guards.

"Halt, all patients with colds are temporarily not allowed to leave Qingyun Town."

The Crown Prince had instructed that any patients with colds or coughs were not to leave.

Though not knowing why this was necessary, indeed, the number of similar patients wanting to enter the city had been unusually high recently.