Chapter 170: Searching For The Demonic Source
Tian You Calendar Year 2, June 22nd, in Lelang City. The Winged Tiger was lying comfortably, with a female tiger right beside it. Ignoring the female tiger’s disdain, its big claws forcibly rested on the beautiful tiger’s waist, hugging her as it slept.
Looking back on these past few months. During the months it hid on the mountain, it suffered terribly, its body covered in pustules filled with wriggling worms, and the fur without pustules was infested with ticks. With no prey to hunt, it could only eat rotten meat and drink stream water. Just as it was burning with fever, dizzy and disoriented, it suddenly saw firelight to the south and followed the feeling there.
When the Winged Tiger stumbled into Wu Fei’s marching route. The soldiers were startled at the sight of this monster.
A group of ignorant young lads immediately wanted to stab this filthy thing to death and bury it, as it was too disgusting; but the Wu Family Army squad leaders recognized it as the Old Marshal’s mount, so they sent it to Wu Fei.
Wu Fei didn’t hesitate to delouse it, specially fitting it with a huge Elizabethan collar, shaving its lower body fur clean, spraying medicine on all the sores, squeezing them clean and applying iodine tincture. The collar has now been removed, but its fur hasn’t fully grown back yet—that’s why the Winged Tiger’s current harem despises it.
The Winged Tiger wasn’t annoyed. The Wu lad knew how to treat people well! Whenever a female tiger didn’t please it, Wu Fei would tie her with rope or trap her upper body in a cage with the hind half exposed outside for its elder to enjoy. (Female tiger: Can you humans act like humans?)
In Wu Fei’s words, this old fellow had fought battles for half a lifetime and deserved to enjoy himself.
By spirit beast lifespans, the Winged Tiger species can live up to three hundred years; but as the war beast of the Military Strategist leader, after enduring killing intent corrosion, its lifespan was now middle-aged, with over forty years left.
Wu Fei wouldn’t let anyone else ride it, as neither he nor Wu Hengyu needed to, and no one else in the clan was qualified. Treating Wu Hanluan’s mount well was a clear signal that the military camp cared for its elders.
The Winged Tiger was very satisfied now, eating and drinking well, sowing seeds weekly to complete its tasks. Otherwise, it just checked if the statue the Wu Family built for it was majestic enough. In Lelang City, General Wu Hanluan riding it stood imposingly in the city.
The Winged Tiger’s outcome was one of the best endings for a Military Strategist mount. Compared to the austere longevity of spirit beasts, a killing beast remained immortal and indestructible even after a century; enjoying incense and fire, feasting on various human world offerings.
“Life is so wonderful, but where is my master? Why is my back so empty?” After enjoying its wonderful life once more, the Winged Tiger suddenly felt emptiness.
The Winged Tiger recalled Wu Hanluan’s figure the last time he jumped off its back and left, suddenly letting out a low, muffled roar.
“Awoo—Ao—Wuwuwu!”
Hearing the mournful howl, Wu Fei came over.
The Winged Tiger immediately abandoned its food and female tigers, lifting its head like an orange cat, staring at Wu Fei with big eyes as if to say: “Lad, have you avenged me and my master yet!”
Wu Fei: “Follow me.”
…Wu Hanluan is dead, and everything will be a new beginning…
Now Wu Fei’s troops have fully controlled all of Zhenzhou. As for resistance, no one dared resist; after all, the rebels had been counting on external support. They also hoped Wu Fei would stay passive, allowing him to head north and wipe out Ji Prefecture troops directly, while the other prefects remained inactive—then all the rebels obediently handed over city defenses.
But was it going to stay peaceful just like that? Wu Xiao Que’s mindset was notoriously “broad.”
Xuan Chong wasn’t settling scores with Zhenzhou’s other forces for now, not because he forgot. It was the “plague corrosion” issue still pending. That situation could serve as an excuse for these forces to quibble.
Xuan Chong (Wu Fei) judged based on the national power shifts from his previous life: though eager to settle the big external accounts, he should hold off; first sort out internal accounts, because only after handling high-priority internal matters could settling external ones be satisfying.
Xuan Chong’s current solution: All of Zhenzhou needed restoring order, with every troop reviewed once—even Donghua Commandery, the prefecture, Zhu Prefecture, places where his armed forces had set foot, all required inheriting force territories.
But! Everything hinged on resolving Zhenzhou’s plague corrosion first. Because when still sick oneself, the more one wanted these vassals to play dutiful sons at the bedside, the more they would struggle and rebel.—Da Mao in his previous life was like that, hoping vassals would cling close to ease his symptoms while still ill. The result: enemies on all sides.
Maozi was notorious for lacking political cunning, while the east’s long history taught Xuan Chong: Before political struggles, first understand what the opponent truly fears about you!
For example, when Emperor Taizong of Tang wanted to strip the excessive princely titles his father had granted, Wei Zheng advised him to first summon the princes for court debate, clarify the opposition’s views, identify the strongest ones, and which could be pulled over through interest exchanges.
Xuan Chong was clear now: Once he resolved Zhenzhou’s corrosion issue and completely cleared his ties to Chen Land’s plague.
Then in Donghua Commandery, Longyou Commandery (Chapter 83) territories, with his economic and military strength, plus the influence of his deployed merchant groups, the old subordinates there would automatically align.
After all, he had the prestige for prestige, military for military, and solid economy—as long as free of the “vilest under heaven” flaw, why wouldn’t the Wu Family Army military leaders scattered out there pledge loyalty if not brain-dead! Why not be loyal!
Note: Integrating regional forces isn’t about how much loyalty the region has, but whether the lord offers sufficient blood reward. If the lord is about to die, who would come pay respects?
The question now: Where exactly is the plague’s source? Lelang City is bustling with traffic; every morning, all manure buckets are collected by fixed city guards, and hygiene workers check every household. Every home’s leftovers must be covered with fixed gauze cloths to prevent mosquitoes; plus after the hottest period begins, all leftovers must be reheated before eating.
Xuan Chong considered that having every household boil water every morning was unrealistic. So he opened boiled water shops in the city.
City residents just pay, and every morning they get a pot of boiled water delivered home. If they don’t want to buy, fine—but if the anti-plague team’s elders spot sickly faces, they’re immediately sent to isolation for labor service.
Every month, the boiled water shops send the list of non-buyers to the anti-plague team.
…However, biochemical warfare can’t be solved by defense alone; must strike the source directly….
Xuan Chong now arrived at the Five Prefectures of Chong Shui, planting his banners atop the major cities. Now all city wells have crystal-clear water, and urban plagues are fully eliminated.
In Xuan Chong’s view, the vortex from the Evil Moon hanging in the sky remained, like the ground-end of a tornado, no longer in the city but flexibly roaming its surroundings.
And while shuttling greatly, Xuan Chong also spotted that huge pustule beneath Lelang City.
Though the tunnel in Lelang City legends that led straight to the underground prison was now gone. But Xuan Chong felt that thing was still there. Its current disappearance was only because he was stationed here; once he left, it would surely reappear.
Xuan Chong: Must squeeze out this pus before the local “biochemical crisis” lifts.
Speaking of “lifting,” the “lotus seed” in Xuan Chong’s hand hadn’t been used yet; the System wouldn’t give pointless items.
Only after the lotus seed reaches the target can the current phase task complete.
Here, Xuan Chong locked all cities and dispatched troops to pursue the “space tornado beam” from the roaming Evil Moon drop.
Just as Xuan Chong puzzled over finding the plague source, his virtuous helper Yao San Niang came online.
Here, Wu Fei led the Winged Tiger to the inner residence; Yao San Niang placed her hand on the Winged Tiger’s forehead. Soon she drew out strands of white threads—these were the Winged Tiger’s bonds with Wu Hanluan, and since Wu Hanluan was deeply linked to the Golden Dou, Yao San Niang targeted the Winged Tiger to seize “rotten source” information.
The Winged Tiger shook its head, stunned, looking at the inexplicable qi drawn from it. Before it felt any loss, boom—Wu Lu jumped into the tiger’s embrace, giving the Winged Tiger a grand slam; the Winged Tiger helplessly watched this lad tug its ears while playing.
Xuan Chong asked Yao San Niang: “Can you grasp it?”
Yao San Niang: “The Rotten Evil Moon Power indeed refuses to yield, husband. Do you really have a divine item to counter this rotten power?”
In Yao San Gu’s view, the golden task System had prompted her that helping Xuan Chong find the target was enough. But Yao San Gu was still very curious about what Xuan Chong held.
Xuan Chong looked at her gaze and slowly asked: “Why do I feel like you’re afraid?”
Yao San Niang dodged the gaze: “Where? (Changing the subject) I went to do Yao Calculation.”
…While Xuan Chong was preventing the plague, Yao San Niang was not seeking divination signs in the City God Temple…
In front of the City God’s altar, Yao San Niang found a spot, located all the “Sensitive People” with strong sensitivity in the city, and had them all sealed off.
These Sensitive People with strong sensitivity, some were born with Yin Yang eyes and could see ghosts from birth. Others had special abilities, able to survive from childhood by eating dirt to fill their stomachs.
Having once been “God’s Chosen,” Yao San Niang knew very well that when the “Blessing” of April permeates the Human World, these Sensitive People with strong sensitivity would first communicate with April in a mysterious way. When April is strong, this communication becomes the trigger for bringing the Blessing to the Human World.
But at present, when the “Rotten Moon” wants to evade purification by powerful existences in the Human World, these Sensitive People are the backdoor.
Lu Changsheng was just such a guy who made a living off his sensitivity. He was a fortune teller in Lelang City, with very weak Dao Cultivation. The only usable Supernatural Power he had was the “Entering Dreams” Supernatural Ability. He did dream interpretation work, and the rice he ate in modern society would be called a hypnotist plus psychologist.
Compared to the hypnotists in movies from Xuan Chong’s previous life who used swinging pendulums to hypnotize, fortune tellers generally lit a stick of incense.
In the City God Temple, Lu Changsheng was brought in by Armored Soldiers of the Wu Family Army for questioning. Separated by a screen, he kowtowed to Yao San Niang.
Yao San Niang assigned him a task: to archive the divination and dream interpretation information from people who came to him in the past few days and hand it over.
Lu Changsheng hurriedly said, “Madam, the things in those commoners’ dreams are full of strange forces and gods! This… some filthy dreams might sully your noble ears.”
Yao San Niang said indisputably: “Organize them. For those that can be carefully drawn out, I will verify the real ones and reward one string of cash to ten strings of cash accordingly.”
Lu Changsheng was slightly stunned upon hearing this. He, who had always lived off his dream-viewing ability, panicked. He asked Yao San Niang, “Great lord,
Yao San Niang walked out from behind the scenes. Lu Changsheng saw this noblewoman dressed in luxurious clothes, his gaze becoming dazed. It was not because he was lecherous, but because this air of nobility was something he had never seen before. And such a noble person was completely unrelated to matters of the martial world.
Yao San Niang knew what this fortune-teller had seen in the dream and said word by word, “What you saw was originally not real, but here everything can become true.”
Yao San Niang flipped her palm, and a mass of blazing flame emerged from her palm. She slowly said, “When the real becomes fake, the fake becomes real; where there is nothing, there is something, and where there is something, there is nothing. Do you think this mass of fire is real?”
Lu Changsheng looked at the flame, and the more he looked, the more it seemed real, as if waves of heat were rolling; just as he gazed deeper and deeper, he suddenly felt a suction force, as if his divine soul floated and fell into a space.
In this space, he was like an ant. The noblewoman in front of him originally turned into a tall Bodhisattva. And the flames he had been staring at gathered above Yao San Niang’s head. A lazy and gorgeous bird flew out from the top of Yao San Niang’s head, glanced at him, revealed a disgusted expression, and a streak of flame shot past.
Before Lu Changsheng could dodge this bone-incinerating flame, this crimson blaze immediately transformed into a bird beak and pecked toward him; in an instant, the hooked bird beak hooked out something inside Lu Changsheng’s body.
Lu Changsheng took a closer look, and this was a twisted maggot, exactly the thing he had seen in the victim’s dream during the character divination a couple of days ago. At that time, the victim claimed he saw the elder in his family appearing in a dream. Although the elder was very kind, his body was full of bugs.
Lu Changsheng looked at this thing and quickly said: “Hus, Madam, no, Empress, it’s, it’s, it’s this thing, I’ll draw it right away.”
Moments later, after the flames had burned everything away, Yao San Niang looked at Lu Changsheng and asked in return: “Can you still draw it now?”
Lu Changsheng was just about to say, “Give me pen and ink,” but he suddenly froze. He found that he could not remember this thing clearly.
Yao San Niang looked at him: “Don’t think about it anymore. If you keep thinking, that thing will burrow into your brain on its own.”
Lu Changsheng suddenly shuddered, then looked at Yao San Niang and said, “Empress, what is this?”
Yao San Niang sighed and said, “Now in Lelang City, some great power has planted Gu Worms on the people. Those monstrous things in their dreams are all Gu Worms.”
Then he pointed at that maggot that had been dug out, “If only a few people see it in their dreams, these are all illusions. Once all the city residents see it, it will become real.”
After Lu Changsheng shuddered, he understood why those Mister with shallow Dao Cultivation often “leaked heavenly secrets” and died untimely deaths.
Yao San Gu said to him and the soldiers escorting him: “Let him go to the marketplace in the city to interpret dreams and divine characters. After divining each day, bring him to me to report.”
Lu Changsheng murmured: “My lord, me? He wanted to refuse, but it didn’t give him the chance.”
Regarding the investigation into the corrosion of “Green Moon power,” Yao San Niang needed a white glove. After all, with Evil Moon power, too much contact would unknowingly lead to influence. Thinking of this, Yao San Niang spat: “Except for that enemy.”
…Perspective returns to this side…
Xuan Chong learned about Lu Changsheng as this white glove from Yao San Gu and immediately found this guy.
Upon seeing this fortune-teller who interpreted dreams for a hundred people every day and already showed signs of balding from it, Xuan Chong paused, feeling as if something was trembling in his skull, so he stepped forward, and a lotus seed mark instantly appeared in his palm.
As Xuan Chong pressed his palm to Lu Changsheng’s forehead, Lu Changsheng shuddered, then involuntarily looked up at the sky with his mouth wide open, a faint glow of brilliant colors shining through his facial features.
Xuan Chong muttered to himself: This is exorcising demons? — Speaking of which, this kind of mystical stuff isn’t my main business. The system gives me history class, my main jobs are war, farming, culture and education, and building political systems. Only for things these jobs can’t solve does the system provide redemption items to handle.
As Xuan Chong’s palm left Lu Changsheng, in Xuan Chong’s perception, Lu Changsheng seemed to suddenly regain his soul all at once, and the bizarre condition in this unlucky guy’s brain where maggots had grown disappeared.
However, in Yao San Niang’s eyes, a blue lotus sacred mark appeared on Lu Changsheng’s forehead, which in an instant completely purified the pool of pus that the “Lord of Rot” reflection had left in the mind of Lu Changsheng, this Sensitive Person.
Yao San Niang vaguely sensed the great terror in Xuan Chong’s palm, and involuntarily retreated two steps. She couldn’t help but feel that this thing would be branded onto her body, and her Dao Cultivation would be burned away by more than half.
And Xuan Chong paused for a moment, then lowered his head to look at his own palm. In the eyes of the others, it seemed like Xuan Chong’s palm was holding something,
In Xuan Chong’s perspective: A illusory lotus seed like a projection appeared in his hand.
System prompt: “Its true body is not here. What you have in your hand now is just an ‘IP address’ that can connect to this lotus seed. Only after locking the IP address of the ‘source of rot’ (the golden dou hidden by Wu Hanluan), can this lotus seed go offline to the real source of rot.”
Xuan Chong approved of this: “To thoroughly resolve the biochemical war, we still have to rely on offline reality! Only nuclear bombs falling on the biochemical company’s head will stop the release of the biochemical virus.”
