Young Jiang Ziya

The village of Qingya brought back not only terror, but also an invisible chill.

It was already late at night when they returned to the Marquis's residence.

Ji Fa ordered his men to carry the injured guards to the clinic and strictly forbade his companions from recounting what they had seen to outsiders.

The anger and anxiety on his face were replaced by a deeper solemnity. He walked straight toward his father Ji Chang's study, his back straight, carrying a weight that was beyond his years.

Lü Shang was not qualified to go.

He carried his weary body through the winding corridors of the Marquis's mansion and slipped into a secluded courtyard in the southwest corner.

This is the residence of the old pharmacist Shi Yuan, and also his only "home" in Xiqi.

Pushing open the slightly ajar wooden door, a whiff of air mixed with the bitter scent of herbs and the smell of old books wafted out.

Inside the room, only a small oil lamp was lit. Shi Yuanzheng, hunched over, was flipping through an ancient scroll with blackened leather by the dim light.

Hearing the noise, he looked up, the deep wrinkles on his face appearing particularly stern in the shadows.

"You're back?" Shi Yuan's voice was dry and hoarse. "I heard something strange happened up north. Did you stumble upon it?"

Lu Shang nodded and briefly recounted his experience in Qingya Village, deliberately omitting the details of how he used his abilities, only saying that the monster "collapsed on its own" after being stabbed by Ji Fa.

As Shi Yuan listened, his cloudy old eyes suddenly contracted when he heard the words "blood and filth" and "monster form".

After Lü Shang finished speaking, he remained silent for a long time, so long that the wick of the oil lamp crackled and popped.

"It didn't collapse on its own." Shi Yuan suddenly spoke, his voice so low it was almost inaudible, yet it pierced Lü Shang's ear like an ice pick. "You did it."

Lü Shang's body stiffened.

"Your overly 'clean' smell might fool others, but it won't fool me."

Shi Yuan put down the scroll, stood up, and walked to Lü Shang.

He was short and hunched over, but his gaze pressed down heavily on you. "What did I tell your mother? I sent you here, telling you a thousand times to stay alive, not to play the hero!"

Your skills are nothing compared to real danger! You dare to make a move right under the noses of the law-breaking guards?

Do you know that kid Lei Kai? His nose is sharper than a dog's!

If he had sensed even a trace of psionic energy fluctuation back then, he could have turned your little courtyard upside down, tied you up like a dumpling, and thrown you into the Purity Tower!

Lü Shang lowered his head, his fingers unconsciously fidgeting with the hem of his clothes: "Back then... Ji Fa..."

"If you die, how can you face your mother and all the fear and anxiety I've endured these past few days?" Shi Yuan's chest heaved, clearly showing his genuine anger.

But seeing Lü Shang's pale and tired face, and his hand instinctively protecting his still throbbing temples, the old man's anger, like a punctured husk, dissipated with a hiss.

He sighed heavily and sat back down in his chair.

"Never mind... In that situation, if you hadn't intervened, the young master would probably have been in real danger."

Shi Yuan rubbed his temples, his weariness deepening. "But this is a one-time exception. Remember, your life is no less valuable than anyone else's. Especially now..."

He raised his head, his eyes filled with complex emotions: fear, worry, and a deep-seated sorrow.

"If I'm not mistaken... that thing in Qingya Village wasn't a coincidence. It's very likely... the 'blood plague'."

"Blood plague?" Lü Shang was unfamiliar with the term.

"The fifth blood plague." Shi Yuan's voice was even lower, as if it took a lot of effort to say these words. "What you see is only the outermost and mildest form of 'blood boiling syndrome'."

The real blood plague... is the festering wound deep within the abyss, the venom flowing out to corrode the present world.

It will pollute the land, twist living beings, and create monsters you cannot imagine.

The creatures that are completely corrupted by it will become 'blood puppets' that only know how to spread pollution and pain.

Historically... it has appeared four times, and each time, it nearly reduced the world to ashes.

Lu Shang felt a chill rise from the soles of his feet: "Is there no solution?"

"Yes, but it's the same as no." Shi Yuan smiled bitterly. "Every time the blood plague breaks out, the group that ultimately resists and temporarily repels it is a group of people known as the 'Red-browed Watchers'."

"The Crimson-browed Watchers?"

"A bunch of... fools who willingly bear the curse." Shi Yuan's gaze was cast to the dark night sky outside the window, as if it could penetrate thousands of miles and see that legendary bitter and cold land. "They are stationed at the Frosty Snow Mountain Fortress in the far north, watching the movement of the weakest point of the barrier between the Azure Sky and the mortal world for generations."

They possess an ancient and cruel secret method that allows them to temporarily resist the blood plague contamination by drinking... a 'special substance'.

But the price is that their lives will be drastically shortened, and before they die, they may become neither human nor ghost due to the pollution accumulated in their bodies.

Shi Yuan turned his head and stared intently at Lü Shang: "Most importantly, their existence and the truth about the blood plague are top secrets that are strictly sealed."

Royal families and high-ranking officials of law enforcement agencies may know bits and pieces of information, but they will never make it public.

Because fear breeds greater chaos. Therefore, the Redbrow Watchmen are almost entirely unrecognized by the world; they are the Night's Watchers who walk in the shadows, destined to be forgotten victims.

How similar this was to the sorcerer's predicament! Lü Shang thought to himself.

"So, the reason why warlocks are so strictly controlled, even to the point of being thrown into the Tower of Purification and stripped of their emotions... is it also because of fear?"

Lu Shang voiced his long-held question, "Are you afraid we... will bring about a blood plague?"

"Fear? Hmph, that's one reason, but not the whole story."

Shi Yuan sneered, with deep sarcasm, "After the first blood plague, humanity rose from the ruins of the demon race, and they feared all forces that they could not understand or control."

Psychic energy comes from the Azure Heaven, and so does the blood plague.

To those in positions of power, there is no essential difference between the two—both are destabilizing factors that could destroy order.

Warlocks are merely sitting ducks who happen to possess that power.

He paused, his tone chilling: "As for the Tower of Purity... that's not just a simple prison."

Sorcerers sent in who are deemed "potentially dangerous" or "lacking in will" will undergo a "spell-sealing ritual".

That's not as simple as depriving someone of their emotions; it's using the most brutal methods to crush and peel away a person's joys, sorrows, loves, hates, memories... everything that constitutes the 'self,' bit by bit!

What remained was an empty shell, a perfectly controllable, humanoid artifact that only obeyed commands! More terrifying than death!

Lü Shang felt a chill run down his spine.

He finally understood why Shi Yuan was so afraid of his talent being discovered.

"Back then... your parents took you and hid in various places because they didn't want to be controlled..."

Shi Yuan's voice choked for a moment, and he didn't continue. He simply patted Lü Shang's shoulder heavily, "So, you better hide well! Absolutely, absolutely, you can't take any more risks!"

Just then, there was a gentle knock on the courtyard gate.

Who could it be so late at night?

Shi Yuan gestured for Lü Shang to hide behind the curtain in the inner room, then straightened his robes and went to open the door.

Standing outside the door was none other than Ji Fa.

He changed out of his stained outer robe and into a dark casual outfit. His face showed obvious fatigue, but his eyes were surprisingly bright, as if he had made some important decision.

"Mr. Shi Yuan, I apologize for disturbing you so late at night." Ji Fa's tone was more respectful to his elders than usual. "My father has already heard my report about the situation in the north."

The situation is urgent, and my father would like to ask you to come over. He has some questions about ancient plagues and unusual diseases that he needs to consult.

Shi Yuan seemed unsurprised, merely nodding slightly: "Since Your Excellency has summoned me, this old man will naturally obey."

He turned around and casually said towards the inner room, "Ah Shang, keep an eye on the medicine on the stove. I'll be right back."

Lu Shang, behind the curtain, held his breath.

Ji Fa seemed to only then notice the furnishings in the courtyard and the faint scent of herbs. His gaze swept over the simple room filled with books and herbs, and he casually asked, "It's quite quiet here, sir. Who was that just now?"

"A good-for-nothing distant relative, but at least he's hardworking. He'll help out here and earn a living." Shi Yuan said calmly, stepping aside to lead the way. "Young Master, please."

Ji Fa didn't ask any more questions and turned to walk ahead.

Just as he stepped out of the courtyard gate, he paused almost imperceptibly, his gaze seemingly glancing quickly toward the curtain where Lü Shang was hiding. His eyes were still sharp, but seemed to hold an elusive probing.

The footsteps faded into the distance. Lü Shang stepped out from behind the curtain, his palms icy cold.

Shi Yuan was called away late at night, clearly because of the matter in Qingya Village.

It seems that Lord Ji Chang understands these extraordinary matters far better than he appears.

He walked to the window and looked out at the thick, impenetrable night.

Blood Plague... Crimson-browed Watchers... Demon Sealing Ritual...

The terrifying images described by Shi Yuan lingered in his mind.

The pool of pus and blood in Qingya Village seemed like a drop of cold sweat seeping from a huge nightmare.

In this world filled with fear and hostility towards psychic energy, is this power a tool to uncover the truth, or a source of destruction?

"We must notify the Crimson Eyebrow Watchers." Shi Yuan's words, spoken in a very low voice before leaving, echoed in his ears.

If the blood plague really makes a comeback, then Xiqi, and even the whole world, will face not just ordinary wars or famines.

Rather, it was the twilight of an era, the beginning of an age of ashes, a time of bloodshed, monsters, and countless silent sacrifices.