Young Jiang Ziya

The shadow of the blood plague did not dissipate after the investigation.

On the contrary, it is like filthy blood seeping into cloth, slowly and stubbornly spreading outwards.

Xiqi dispatched more squads to seal off a larger area around Qingya Village under the guise of "bandit suppression" and "epidemic prevention," while closely monitoring other border villages.

The tense atmosphere, like a taut bowstring, permeated the military and also quietly seeped into the civilian population.

Lü Shang's new identity—Ji Fa's personal servant—allowed him to move more freely within the Marquis's residence and hear more news.

He soon discovered that this "freedom" was accompanied by Ji Fa's omnipresent criticism and sudden orders.

From checking if there's a speck of dust on the armor, to whether the horses are properly brushed and shiny, to the tea being slightly too hot, anything can become a reason for the young master to reprimand him.

This was less a servant's job and more a continuous, vengeful prank. Lü Shang could only lower his head and endure it, suppressing the vague guilt he felt from using his spiritual power and Shi Yuan's stern warning.

That day, he was being bossed around by Ji Fa, carrying a half-finished saddle through the backyard corridor, when he suddenly heard a suppressed sob.

The sound came from behind a clump of half-withered jasmine flowers in the corner of the corridor. He paused, and through the gaps in the branches and leaves, he saw a young girl dressed as a maid with her back to him, her shoulders trembling.

It was Yi Jiang. She was Daji's personal maid from the You Su clan, a quiet girl who always followed behind Daji, with a scholarly air about her.

Lu Shang had a good impression of her; during their several chance encounters, she would nod slightly, her smile polite yet distant. But at this moment, she had completely lost her usual composure.

Lu Shang hesitated for a moment, then asked softly, "Miss Yi Jiang? Are you... alright?"

Yi Jiang turned around abruptly, her face still wet with tears, her eyes filled with panic and helplessness.

Upon seeing that it was Lü Shang, she seemed to breathe a slight sigh of relief, but her sorrow only deepened.

"Lu Shang...it's you." She wiped away her tears, her voice choked with sobs. "I...I don't know who to tell...Qingya Village...my father, he...something happened to him!"

"Qingya Village?" Lü Shang's heart sank. "Your father is...?"

"He's a blacksmith, and he lives in Qingya Village." Yi Jiang's tears welled up again. "The other day, a fellow villager brought a message saying that my father has contracted a strange illness, with a persistent high fever, and red spots starting to appear on his body... like... like..."

She couldn't continue, her eyes filled with fear. Clearly, she had also heard the rumors about the "strange disease" in Qingya Village.

Lü Shang immediately understood. Blood plague infection!

"Does the young master know? Or... Miss Daji?" he asked hurriedly.

Yi Jiang shook her head, tears streaming down her face: "I dare not tell you, Miss... You have treated me so well, but this matter involves the plague, and I am afraid of causing her trouble. Young Master... I dare not tell you either."

She was just a maid, her voice carrying little weight. How could she dare to disturb the young master of Xiqi with the "epidemic" from her hometown?

Seeing her despair, something deep within Lü Shang was touched.

He thought of his mother who had died young, and of the helplessness of being all alone. Shi Yuan's warnings echoed in his ears, but Yi Jiang's tears seemed even heavier before him.

"Take me to see it," he whispered, as if possessed.

***

Taking advantage of the moment when Ji Fa was summoned by the Marquis for a meeting in the afternoon, Lü Shang managed to "slip" some travel tokens and a powder to mask his scent from Shi Yuan. He then followed the unsettled Yi Jiang and quietly slipped out of the side gate of the Marquis's residence.

Using their waist tags and medicinal powder, they lied that they were medical apprentices who had secret medicine to deliver to relatives of suspected patients for verification. They managed to slip past the outer checkpoints and enter Qingya Village, which was actually deserted.

Yi Bo's house was at the east end of the village, in the backyard of a simple blacksmith's shop.

Pushing open the half-closed courtyard gate, a strong stench of blood and decay mixed with the smell of herbs assaulted my senses.

In the dimly lit room, a burly man lay on the bed, his body soaked in sweat, his cheeks flushed with an ominous red.

His neck and arms were indeed covered with scattered, dark red rashes with indistinct edges, some of which had merged into patches, turning a deep black color.

He was breathing heavily, his consciousness was blurred, and he occasionally let out painful groans.

"Father!" Yi Jiang rushed to the bedside, tears streaming down her face.

Lü Shang's heart sank completely. These symptoms were exactly the same as those described by Shi Yuan regarding the early stages of blood plague infection.

He activated his spiritual vision and saw an even worse scene—Yi Bo's life aura was being eroded and entangled by a turbid, ever-expanding dark red energy, like a torch being swallowed by a swamp, its light rapidly dimming.

"We must save him..." Yi Jiang grabbed Lü Shang's sleeve as if grasping at a last straw. "Lü Shang, you're always by Mr. Shi Yuan's side, you must have a way, right? Please..."

Shi Yuan? Shi Yuan had long ago asserted that the blood plague was incurable. At least, it was incurable by any method known in the common world.

But... perhaps not "any" method.

A dangerous thought popped into my head uncontrollably.

If he could purify the fully formed monster in the cellar of Qingya Village, then could he try to... purify the "pollution" that has just begun to grow in Yibo's body?

Even if it's just to suppress it and buy some time?

Shi Yuan's roar seemed to explode in his ears again.

But seeing the despair in Yi Jiang's eyes and feeling the rapid loss of Yi Bo's life force, Lü Shang gritted his teeth.

"I... I'll give it a try. You go out and keep watch, don't let anyone in."

After sending Yi Jiang away, Lü Shang locked the door. He walked to the bedside, took a deep breath, and cleared his mind of all distractions.

Deep within his pupils, the pale golden glint reappeared, more focused than ever before.

He did not attempt to "dispel" or "eliminate" that foul energy—it was too deeply entangled with Yibo's life aura, and forcibly separating it might directly cost him his life.

He changed his approach, condensing his pure and peaceful spiritual energy into an extremely thin and dense "net," carefully "covering" the dark red energy on Yi Bo's body, like covering a burning coal with a layer of damp, cold sand.

The process was slow and meticulous, and it took a huge toll on Lü Shang's spirit.

Sweat soaked his temples, and his temples throbbed.

After an unknown amount of time, Yi Bo's heavy breathing gradually calmed down, and the flush on his face and the red spots on his body faded away at a speed visible to the naked eye!

Lu Shang withdrew his spiritual energy, staggered a step, and only managed to stand up after grabbing the corner of the table.

He felt a strong wave of exhaustion, but looking at Yi Bo's increasingly peaceful sleeping face, a sense of relief mixed with lingering fear welled up in his heart.

Maybe...it really works?

He called Yi Jiang in. Seeing that her father was clearly better, Yi Jiang was overjoyed and thanked Lü Shang profusely.

Lu Shang only instructed her to keep it a secret, and left her some common qi-tonifying herbs prepared by Shi Yuan, telling her to decoct and take them on time, before hurriedly leaving. He had to get back before Ji Fa discovered his disappearance.

***

However, Lü Shang underestimated the treacherous nature of the blood plague, as well as the vigilance of the Breaking Law Guard.

Yi Bo's "miraculous recovery" was too conspicuous in the desolate Qingya Village.

The next day, Lei Kai, who was on a routine patrol, noticed the blacksmith who should have been on the verge of death but was suddenly able to get out of bed and walk around.

Considering that this person was one of the first villagers to show symptoms, Lei Kai's alarm bells went off.

It is common knowledge that those infected with the blood plague have absolutely no chance of self-healing.

Therefore, the only explanation is that there is external interference! And it is very likely the work of evil sorcerers, attempting to cover up the source of the infection, or even to cultivate more covert blood puppets!

Lei Kai immediately gave the order to arrest the town head, who had just recovered somewhat and was still dazed and confused, without any further explanation.

Following the clues, they found "unknown herbs" left by Lü Shang in Yi Bo's house, as well as Yi Jiang, who looked flustered and tried to defend her father.

The father and daughter were instantly convicted of "colluding with an unknown sorcerer," "possibly possessing evil magic," and "being suspected of being the source of the plague." They were put on a prison cart and sent directly to the Tower of Purity in Xiqi City, a place that evoked fear in everyone's eyes.

When the news reached Lü Shang, he was brushing Ji Fa's warhorse when the brush fell to the ground with a clatter. His face turned deathly pale, and his mind went blank.

"What's wrong?" Ji Fa glanced at him and asked casually, "You're being clumsy."

"N-nothing..." Lü Shang hurriedly picked up the brush, his fingers trembling. He was doomed! He had ruined Yi Jiang and her father!

He was almost absent-minded until his shift ended, then ran back to Shi Yuan's courtyard like a madman.

Upon entering, he was greeted by Shi Yuan's unprecedented rage.

"Idiot! A self-righteous idiot!"

Shi Yuan slammed a scroll of bamboo slips down at Lü Shang's feet, trembling with rage. "Who gave you the audacity! Who told you to touch those infected with the blood plague?! What do you think your pathetic tricks are? Some kind of magic elixir?!"

"I just wanted to save him..." Lu Shang tried to explain, his voice hoarse.

"Save him? That's killing him!" Shi Yuan interrupted sharply, his eyes filled with heartache and lingering fear. "The reason why the blood plague could become a catastrophe that swept across the continent is because once it invades a living being's body, it's like a maggot clinging to the bone, entangled and symbiotic with the host's life essence!"

Once your meager psychic energy is depleted, or the infection worsens, the backlash will be more intense and rapid!

It's actually a 'good thing' that Yi Bo has been captured and imprisoned in the Purification Tower. At least the demon-sealing rituals inside the tower can temporarily suppress all the abnormalities within his body, although he will no longer be 'himself' after that..."

Shi Yuan took a breath, stared at Lü Shang, whose face was deathly pale, and said, word by word, "The blood plague has no cure. At least, it has no cure until the true 'source' is found and shut down."

This is an ironclad rule that has been proven by the lives of countless Red Eyebrow Guardians and millions of other lives!

Throughout history, countless brilliant sorcerers and physicians have tried every possible method, but in the end, they could only watch helplessly as the infected transformed or died!

Your reckless "good intentions" this time could not only kill Lord Yi, but also accelerate the spread of the blood plague in a way we haven't yet detected, and completely expose yourself and that girl Yi Jiang to the guards! Is this the result you wanted?!

Every word felt like a whip lashing at Lü Shang's heart. His legs went weak, and he could barely stand. He realized that what he had done was not a rescue, but potentially a more terrible form of harm.

"I...I'll go find Lei Kai and explain! I saved the person, it has nothing to do with Yi Jiang!" Lu Shang turned around and was about to rush out.

"Stop right there!" Shi Yuan shouted. "If you turn yourself in now, what will you change besides sending yourself to the Purification Tower as well?"

Do you think the guards will believe a servant like you? They'll think you're an accomplice, or even the mastermind! Then, no one can save you!

Lu Shang stood frozen in place, despair washing over him like ice water.

Looking at his dejected appearance, Shi Yuan sighed deeply, his anger gradually subsiding, leaving only deep weariness: "Now, immediately, go and completely erase those 'little tricks' you left on Yi Bo."

Before the monitoring array of the Purification Tower detects it. Then… pray. Pray things won't get any worse.

***

That night, the moon was dark and the wind was high.

Lü Shang, relying on his familiarity with the Marquis's residence and the powder provided by Shi Yuan that could temporarily interfere with low-level monitoring runes, sneaked like a shadow into the outer prison of the Tower of Purity, located in the northwest corner of Xiqi City and shrouded by high walls and an invisible force field.

The dungeon where temporary suspects were held was cold and damp, filled with the smell of mildew and a faint stench of blood.

The security wasn't particularly tight, but the pervasive, oppressive atmosphere targeting psionic energy made Lu Shang very uncomfortable.

He quickly located the solitary cell where Yibo was being held.

The old man was chained to the stone wall with special shackles and seemed to have fallen into a coma again. His complexion was worse than during the day, and the dark red rashes were showing signs of reappearing.

Despite his heartache, Lü Shang once again gathered his spiritual energy.

This time, he carefully and gradually removed and dismantled the "net of calm" he had previously laid out.

As he moved, Yi Bo's body began to tremble violently, and painful whimpers came from his throat. The red spots became bright red and raised again at an alarming speed, and even began to ooze fine beads of blood.

After the suppression was lifted, the erosion and counterattack of the blood plague became even more ferocious.

After doing all this, Lü Shang was exhausted and dared not look at the miserable state of the town lord any longer. He staggered away from the dungeon.

What he didn't know was that shortly after he left, Yi Bo briefly regained consciousness amidst extreme pain.

In the final moments of his life, a kind of clarity, like a final burst of light, allowed him to perceive the terrifying changes in his body and to recall his daughter's weeping face.

With his last breath, he left fragmented but clear last words to Yi Jiang, who was granted a brief visit the following day and was weeping uncontrollably:

"Jiang'er... Father is dying... Something is coming out of my body... I can't let that thing harm others... especially you..."

His cloudy eyes gazed at his daughter, filled with pleading, yet also with a sense of farewell: "The copper hairpin your mother left behind... it's very sharp... child... help your father..."

Yi Jiang was struck dumb, and instantly understood her father's meaning.

Looking into her father's eyes, where there was no doubt about his pleading and determination, and at his rapidly degenerating, inhuman limbs, she was overwhelmed by immense grief.

Under her father's gentle yet firm gaze, she trembled as she pulled out her mother's only keepsake—a sharpened copper hairpin.

There was no scream, only a suppressed, heartbreaking thud.

In this way, the old blacksmith Yi Bo preserved the last shred of human dignity for himself and for his daughter.

***

The sudden death of Yi Bo and the murder of Yi Jiang's father in the dungeon caused a stir.

However, the autopsy results clearly showed that Yi Bo's body had highly active blood contamination, and that his death was caused by a sharp object piercing his heart in one go, with no other traces of surgical manipulation.

Yi Jiang's overwhelming grief did not seem fake.

Just as Lei Kai still insisted on his suspicions and wanted to continue detaining Yi Jiang or even launch an investigation, Shi Yuan took the initiative to meet with Ji Chang, as an old pharmacist and scholar, to plead his case.

He did not mention Lü Shang, but analyzed from the perspectives of pathology and human nature, pointing out that Yi Bo was indeed infected and died. Although his daughter's actions were understandable, they were also acts of righteousness in sacrificing her own family to prevent future troubles. Furthermore, Yi Jiang herself showed no signs of infection or magic.

He subtly cautioned that during this sensitive period, excessively pursuing a woman who had just experienced the pain of losing her father and whose actions objectively prevented the spread of pollution might discourage soldiers and civilians.

After careful consideration, Ji Chang adopted Shi Yuan's suggestion.

Yi Jiang was released, but was ordered not to leave the Marquis's residence and to be available for questioning at any time.

As for the herbs left behind by Lü Shang, they were treated as ordinary tonics, and their origins were not investigated.

The storm has temporarily subsided, but the shadows have deepened.

Lu Shang watched from the shadows as Yi Jiang, withered and vacant in her eyes, was helped back to Daji's residence by her maids, and his heart ached.

This heavy guilt and sense of powerlessness became a fresh wound in his heart.

**

Several days later, the atmosphere in the military camp was so heavy that it was impossible to break the silence.

The list of envoys to the Southern Kingdom of E has been basically finalized.

Ji Fa sat in the main seat, while Lei Kai, the garrison commander, stood beside him like an iron tower, his face stern.

On the other side sat a composed young man—Wu Dan.

He was Ji Chang's fourth son and Ji Fa's younger brother. He had been adopted by Wu Zhuo, the Grand Herald of Dongyu, as his heir in his early years, but he was still the most trusted diplomatic envoy of Xiqi. Naturally, he was present at the banquet.

"The State of E is located in the southwestern region, a land of towering mountains with extremely rugged terrain."

Lei Kai's voice was like a blade scraping through armor, his knuckles tapping on a rough map. "Their country is the richest in the world, thanks to the spiritual essence beneath the earth. Six or seven out of ten spiritual essences produced in the world come from the mountains of E. However, their national strength is weak, and the root of this weakness also lies in this substance."

Ji Fa looked at Wu Dan. No one present understood the intricacies of diplomatic relations better than him.

Wu Dan nodded slightly, her words clear: "The energy emanating from the spiritual marrow vein is no less potent than a bone-corroding poison for ordinary people."

The miners of Nan'e had short lifespans, and the population dwindled, so Nan'e had a reputation for wealth but no real prosperity.

Their means of survival were nothing more than two: to submit to the court and pay tribute in exchange for protection; and to sell their refined spiritual essence to various feudal lords to sustain their lifeline.

He paused briefly, his gaze sweeping over the crowd: "And the feudal lords of the world not only use spiritual essence to support their own guards, but also use it to forge monitoring compasses, imprisonment shackles, and demon-slaying arrows... to control sorcerers."

Nan'e is the source of both this power and these shackles.

Lei Kai stood with his arms crossed, his cold, hard face revealing no emotion.

He was in charge of supervising the sorcerers of Xiqi and governing the Tower of Purity. He was ruthless but loyal. Spiritual essence was essential to him, and Nan'e was a resource area that he had to control.

Ji Fa remained silent for a moment, his fingers unconsciously stroking the hilt of his sword: "So, how can we persuade Marquis E to form a united front against the blood plague?"

Wu Dan said, "Lord E is straightforward and dislikes the empty rhetoric of Chaoge, which is one advantage of him. However, he values ​​practical benefits even more. Empty talk about righteousness is useless; one must get to the heart of the matter."

He looked at Ji Fa and said, "If the blood plague truly spreads like wildfire, trade routes will be cut off, and the mines will surely become dead zones."

At that time, the spiritual essence will accumulate inside the mountain, no different from a stubborn rock. Why don't we take advantage of this and explain the advantages and disadvantages to him?

Just then, a calm voice came from behind Ji Fa:

"Perhaps...it's more than just cutting losses."

Everyone's gaze shifted slightly, landing on Lü Shang, who stood with his hands at his sides as if he didn't exist.

Ji Fa raised an eyebrow slightly, but did not reprimand him: "Speak."

Lu Shang stepped forward, his head still slightly lowered, his voice steady: "When I was sorting through the epidemic files with Mr. Shi Yuan, I heard that the blood plague is filthy and cannot be removed by force; it requires continuous purification with pure spiritual energy."

If the soldiers on the front lines are to contend with the Blood Puppet, they will likely need the power of spiritual essence to temporarily boost their physique and stabilize their minds.

He paused, then continued, "If Xiqi can form an alliance with E, it will not only protect its trade routes, but also, under the guise of 'fighting the blood plague together,' purchase spiritual marrow in large quantities and on a long-term basis."

For the State of E, this not only averted disaster, but also opened up a new path... one that was more secure and perhaps more advantageous than relying on Chaoge.

After he finished speaking, the hall fell silent.

For the first time, Lei Kai's sharp, hawk-like gaze truly fell upon Lü Shang, carrying a scrutinizing and chilling intent. How dare a mere servant presume to discuss military and political affairs?

A hint of surprise and deep thought flashed across Wu Dan's eyes.

This statement, though simple, cleverly combines "righteousness" and "practical benefit," pointing directly to the core issue.

Ji Fa stared at Lü Shang for a few moments, then suddenly twitched the corner of his mouth, his smile unreadable: "You've got some nerve."

He neither confirmed nor denied it, but turned to Wu Dan and Lei Kai, "but he pointed out one thing—fighting the blood plague is bound to be a bottomless abyss that consumes spiritual essence."

Chaoge's attitude is ambiguous, and its supplies are uncertain. We must hold the essence of Ezhou firmly in our own hands.

He stood up abruptly, his young face sharp and intimidating, a resolute determination born of knowing the dangers ahead: "A straightforward person has his own way of speaking. No empty talk, just talk about survival, about gains and losses, about a big deal he can't refuse."

His gaze shifted to Wu Dan: "We're counting on you for this mission." He then glanced at Lei Kai: "The guards along the route must be vigilant; no mistakes are allowed."

Finally, looking out at the carriages and horses that were being prepared, there were Shi Yuan, Yi Jiang, and Daji standing quietly to the side.

"As for you," Ji Fa turned his head and said calmly to Lü Shang, "you came up with the idea, so think carefully on the way to how to close this deal. If you can't figure it out—" His tone was casual, yet carried an undeniable pressure, "I'll settle accounts with you when we get back."

"Understood," Lü Shang replied, bowing his head.

The carriages are about to set off, heading into the deep fog of the southwest. The bloodstains still wet in Qingya Village, the deep sorrow buried in Yi Jiang's eyes, the heavy lesson in Lü Shang's heart, and the budding, dangerous, and audacious schemes will all be crushed into the unknown mountains along with the wheels of the carriages.