The Lord of Yue City had been sitting in his study for half a shichen, a sandalwood box on his desk, emitting a faint fragrance.
Inside the box lay the gift sent by the Sunrise Commandery Governor.
The Lord of Yue City sighed again and opened the box once more, gazing at this "gift" — a head preserved through Dao arts.
It looked lifelike, none other than Qin Nianmin.
Though Qin Nianmin had indeed escaped the Yue City region with Jiang Wang's help, he hadn't been able to leave the Sunrise Commandery's domain, and was directly intercepted by soldiers blocking all routes.
In his desperation to flee, Qin Nianmin clamored to report to the Sunrise Commandery Governor, and indeed used Old Master Qin's reputation to secure an audience. The final outcome... was this.
What made the Lord of Yue City sigh wasn't the head itself, but the price he would have to pay for it.
Having spent so long in Sunrise Commandery, he knew that old fox of a governor all too well.
The man had preserved and sent the head simply to tell him — I've solved your problem for you, now figure out how to pay.
Just as Yue City's terrible performance during the plague had only earned him a few hollow reprimands, the real price was always paid in secret, in the carts of gifts he sent to the commandery office.
Now here came yet another head.
The Lord of Yue City couldn't stop feeling the sting.
This wasn't something that could be settled with a few hundred Dao Origin Stones!
For a moment, he actually wished Qin Nianmin had gone to file an imperial complaint. But it was only a wish.
"That old fox," the Lord of Yue City said, frowning at Qin Nianmin's head. "What's he playing at, stirring up trouble first by trying to send messages, then by threatening to file an imperial complaint? It's no benefit to the state and no help to the matter — what exactly is he after?"
The newly appointed guard commander said respectfully, "The treacherous commoner's mind is truly difficult to fathom..."
"Mortals in this world all seek something. If not wealth, then fame!" The Lord of Yue City sneered. "No doubt he wanted a virtuous reputation, just like his father. This Lord will ensure he dies innocent in life and remains nameless in death!"
He slammed the box shut and declared, "This villain Qin Nianmin, virtuous on the surface but malicious within! His thoughts are evil, guilty of countless unforgivable crimes! He secretly colluded with heretical Daoists, sabotaged the city lord's plans, and allowed the plague to spread! Old Master Qin was angered to death by him!"
The more he spoke, the angrier he became, as if it were already established fact. He struck the table and ordered, "Send this villain's head throughout the city domain! Let it serve as a warning!"
"This villain is utterly despicable!" The new guard commander perfectly demonstrated how he surpassed his predecessor, his teeth gritted in fury on the spot, so enraged that people half-worried he might lose control and gnaw on Qin Nianmin's head.
...
Qin Nianmin's head began circulating through the city domain that morning alongside the proclamation of crimes. During such a critical time fighting the plague, to divert manpower for this — one had to say the Lord of Yue City was truly a talent.
Buddhists strongly believe in karma. As the saying goes: "Karma cycles, and retribution is never absent."
Whether it was retribution or not — at least the Lord of Yue City himself felt so in that moment.
Because after the head began circulating that morning, damning Qin Nianmin, that afternoon he received news that made his blood run cold.
The people responsible for burying the city lord's guard commander Li Yang and two Transcendent investigators... had all contracted the plague.
Among them was a Transcendent cultivator.
And this Transcendent cultivator had died within a mere three shichen of showing symptoms!
Even worse than how ordinary people fared against the plague.
If the deaths of Li Yang and the others could perhaps be attributed to someone using heretical arts, or to plague corruption after death...
Then this latest Transcendent cultivator who fell ill and died undoubtedly proved that the plague ravaging the State of Yang had completed its evolution — it could now harm Transcendents.
In other words, the one force that had been most capable of confronting the plague head-on was no longer safe itself!
This meant...
The plague might already be uncontrollable!
The Lord of Yue City had immediately reported the deaths of Li Yang and the others to the Yang Court.
But he himself hadn't entirely believed it, after all, a single case was hard to prove. And now...
Perhaps it was his imagination, but the Lord of Yue City felt himself growing feverish, and couldn't help reaching up to touch his forehead — only to find it ice-cold, drenched in cold sweat.
...
...
At Green Goat Town, Dugu Xiao had hastily prepared a coffin and buried Xi Zichu with little ceremony.
But on the way back, she noticed the Four Seas Trade Alliance's warehouse guards leaving in droves with bags and bundles, and hurried to report to Jiang Wang.
At such a critical time fighting the plague, Jiang Wang naturally couldn't let them withdraw.
When he arrived at the scene, Xiang Qian was blocking the Alliance guards, refusing to let them leave. If not for respecting the Alliance's reputation, he would likely have come to blows already.
The moment the bald guard commander saw Jiang Wang approaching, he shouted, "My lord, young master, Lord Jiang! Please let us go. We haven't touched a single item from the warehouse. We're only taking our own things!"
Seeing that this group wasn't there to cause trouble, Jiang Wang didn't start fighting immediately and asked directly, "Why the sudden departure? Wasn't the cooperation going well?"
"Well..." The bald guard commander hesitated, then said, "We're homesick and truly wish to return!"
"If you're so attached to home, why did you leave in the first place? I had an agreement with your Steward Qian. The town is short-handed right now — am I supposed to find someone else to watch the warehouse?" Jiang Wang said slowly. "Tell me the truth, or you won't be leaving."
The bald man looked around, gritted his teeth, and leaned close to whisper, "Lord Jiang, I'm telling you this but please don't spread it — this is top-secret! I heard the plague in the State of Yang has mutated. It no longer just infects ordinary people — it can harm Transcendent cultivators too! You should leave quickly. If you don't, you won't be able to!"
At these words, Dugu Xiao's face went deathly pale.
Even Xiang Qian couldn't help glancing around and maintaining some distance from the others.
"Who told you that?" Jiang Wang frowned. "If it's supposed to be secret, why are security measures so poor?"
The bald man knew there was no way to leave without explaining, and forcing his way through was even less possible.
So he leaned closer and whispered, "I have a good brother who's now serving at Steward Qian's side. This was supposed to be confidential... but please don't betray him."
Seeing him speak with such conviction, Jiang Wang's frown deepened. "Where is Steward Qian now?"
"To be honest... Steward Qian has probably already returned to the State of Qi."
Forgoing huge profits just to flee back to the State of Qi!
As one of the largest trade alliances in the State of Qi, the Four Seas Trade Alliance was undoubtedly well-informed.
Jiang Wang knew this likely wasn't false.
Especially having personally felt the plague toxin acting up in his body, and witnessed the Plague Bell shattering before his eyes...
Could this plague toxin truly evolve? Not merely through the Plague Bell's catalysis during battle?
Was this the White Bone Dao's true backup plan?
If this plague toxin could truly overwhelm even Transcendent cultivators, then this was likely no longer a matter of one city or one commandery.
It might not even be limited to just the State of Yang!
Le Wen