Chapter 467: Chapter 469: Sneaking into the City
“Ah Mo continued, ‘I think the plague might be man-made. General Liu might have been threatened by soone.'”
“Hmm?” Pei Huaian raised his eyebrows and asked.
Luo Cheng also spoke up, “I agree with Guard Mo’s theory. On the way here, I had asked the Imperial Physician and found out there’s a disease called ‘bloodthirst.’ This disease spreads rapidly and can cause death in a short period of ti.”
“Continue,” Pei Huaian said.
“But once it breaks out, it’s disastrous. So, I suspect General Liu must be under soone’s control; otherwise, he would never allow the virus to run rampant. After all, this disease is contagious. If it spreads, not only will Jingzhou suffer from the epidemic, but other nearby cities will also be affected.”
“What you’re saying is just your speculation. Why would General Liu have no choice?” Pei Huaian frowned, obviously not satisfied with his guess.
“It’s also a guess, Your Highness. After all, General Liu has fought many battles and earned great military achievents over the years. How could he be so cruel to the people?” Ah Mo sighed.
Pei Huaian pondered for a mont then looked up at Luo Cheng, “Is there another way into the city?”
“Yes, there is a secret passage to the southeast that leads into Jingzhou,” Luo Cheng responded.
Pei Huaian nodded slightly then instructed, “Ah Mo, stay in the camp; Luo Cheng, co with to investigate the city.”
“As you command!” Ah Mo saluted and accepted the order.
Although worried about his master’s safety, he still did not argue.
Pei Huaian and Luo Cheng, along with a team of soldiers, silently entered Jingzhou through the secret passage.
As soon as they entered the city, they were overwheld by a foul stench in the air that made them nauseous.
Pei Huaian covered his nose and, furrowing his brow, looked around, a flash of confusion in his eyes.
Luo Cheng explained, “This is the sll of decomposing bodies under the sun’s scorching heat, which is why it’s so intense.”
Hearing this, Pei Huaian nodded to show he understood and led the way forward.
The streets were littered with corpses, the degree of decay was frightening, pus flowed on the ground, emitting a strong, sour sll.
Luo Cheng covered his nose, his face turning pale. He looked at Pei Huaian, concern evident in his eyes.
“Fifth Prince, we should cover our noses and mouths to avoid getting infected.”
Pei Huaian nodded and instructed the soldiers behind him, “Everyone, cover your noses and mouths.”
“Yes,” all the soldiers imdiately covered their noses and mouths.
His gaze fell on the shops on both sides of the street, where every sign was smashed, the doors and windows were also shattered, and the roofs were covered in dust.
“What happened here?” he asked puzzledly.
Luo Cheng shook his head, indicating he was not sure.
Pei Huaian took a deep breath, forced himself to calm down, and looked around for clues, trying to find a solution.
His gaze suddenly caught sight of three beggars sitting in a corner.
“Let’s go and ask them about the situation; we might find out sothing new,” Pei Huaian instructed Luo Cheng.
Hearing this, Luo Cheng followed him.
The three approached the beggars and squatted down. Pei Huaian bent down and started to ask, “Excuse …”
Before he could finish, one of the beggars lunged at him, his face covered in decay. Luo Cheng quickly pulled Pei Huaian back.
The beggar seed to be frightened of them and quickly shrank back.
He spoke in a terrified voice, “Don’t… don’t kill . Please… please spare …”
“Tell , why are you here?” Pei Huaian asked in a stern voice.
The beggar shakily pointed at a distance, stamring, “We were forced here, we were forced!”
“What exactly happened? And what’s with your face?” Pei Huaian asked harshly.
The beggar tremblingly replied, “We are all villagers from Naless Village. A plague suddenly broke out in our village a few days ago. We barely escaped, only to encounter General Liu on the road.”
“Did he save you?” Luo Cheng asked tentatively.
The beggar cried and shook his head, “He captured us all and used us as guinea pigs.”
“We were not infected with the plague initially, but he deliberately threw us among the dead who were infected. Then he experinted on us, turning us into neither human nor ghost before dumping us here.”
Pei Huaian’s eyes narrowed slightly, “Did General Liu turn you into this? Why would he do such a thing?”
“Only this way can Jingzhou beco a dead city. He wants to burn the city; he is a traitor, colluding with the enemy.”
Alard by the beggar’s words, Pei Huaian realized the situation was more complex than he had imagined.
“Are you infected with the plague?” Luo Cheng asked again.
The beggar trembled and lowered his head, “I don’t know if we are infected with the plague. Our faces are rotting, but we don’t have other symptoms.”
Pei Huaian, thoughtful, nodded. It seed the plague indeed existed, but its severity was uncertain.
“Take good care of yourselves and try to avoid the corpses. I will send Imperial Physicians to bring dicine to you,” Pei Huaian advised lightly before standing up and walking away.
Once on the street, Pei Huaian looked at the bustling streets, his mood heavy.
Luo Cheng kept his lips tightly sealed, his brows locked in worry, his face expressing his concern.
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