The mountain does not summon.

Chapter 64 Lady Liu Regretted, Song Qingchao Convinced with Reason

“Why aren't they distributing food?”

Ying Zhong scratched his head. “Shou Hou said the food was soaked and dirty, unfit to eat.”

Bai Youan, who had been silent, lifted the curtain with his fan. “He’s right. After a great disaster comes a great plague.”

Song Qingchao chimed in, “And the sewage is the source of the disease.”

Although she drank rainwater herself, she was very careful about cleanliness when collecting it. She filtered it three times and boiled it before drinking.

Later, after she started traveling with Bai Youan, the water she drank was what he provided, which was fine even after boiling.

In fact, disasters themselves did not cause infectious diseases,

but their subsequent effects could facilitate the emergence of contagious illnesses.

Especially now that they were in the mountains with abundant insects and rodents, and they were prisoners, malnourished, sleep-deprived, and constantly on the move, their bodies were weak and they were easily infected.

Song Qingchao and Bai Youan exchanged a glance. “We have to help him.”

However, Shou Hou quickly suppressed the protesting prisoners with absolute violence.

Song Qingchao covered Liu Zhe'er’s eyes and carried her back into the carriage.

Everyone fell silent.

Killing one person to suppress everyone else was the fastest method at the moment.

What they needed now was time.

And with so many people in the group, Shou Hou didn't care if one or two died.

To save the majority, he had to sacrifice the minority.

Song Qingchao didn't agree, but she had nothing to say.

Now, she could only place her hope in Bai Youan.

She hoped that the books in her spatial dimension could give Bai Youan some inspiration.

But how easy was it to predict events that had not yet occurred?

She only knew that there would be a tribulation, nothing else.

Everything needed to be explored.

As dusk approached, Shou Hou finally cleared the road.

He urged the people to move on, not resting due to the darkness.

Although the crowd grumbled, they kept pace.

Without entering a city for a day, there would be no replenishment, and they would starve for another day.

Some who couldn't bear the hunger picked up drowned animals to eat.

For water, they simply drank it without fire.

Shou Hou tried to stop them, but he was severely reprimanded.

Even when Song Qingchao distributed mugwort, clean water, and dry wood, this situation still occurred.

She and Song Qingmu had been scolded and driven away several times.

Fortunately, no one had shown any abnormal symptoms yet.

But Song Qingchao’s heart remained uneasy.

She returned to the carriage, where Bai Youan was examining all the ancient books she had moved out.

Her excuse was simple: she had bought them during their last trip to the city.

Liu Zhe'er sat nearby, sewing a handkerchief.

Better safe than sorry.

“Any progress?”

Bai Youan rubbed his temples. “No.”

He hadn’t slept well for days, and his eyes were bruised.

Song Qingchao didn’t argue with him but instead thoughtfully brewed him a pot of tea.

Bai Youan couldn’t help but tease, “So gentle?”

Song Qingchao retorted, “Yes, because you’re useful.”

“Then I should thank myself for knowing medicine,” Bai Youan leaned towards her, his breath on her ear, “otherwise I wouldn’t see Miss Song like this.”

Song Qingchao pushed him away and stacked the books in front of him. “Hurry and read.”

Because they were busy rushing, Shou Hou’s supervision of them was reduced.

Several people thus sat in the carriage.

Everyone had their own tasks. After traveling for several days, half of them were wearing face masks.

Song Qingchao advised those who didn't wear them daily but was driven away each time.

Until the night before entering the city.

Song Qingchao and the others were preparing to sleep after finishing their work when a knock on the door disturbed them.

She threw on her clothes, lifted the carriage curtain, and saw Madam Hu.

“What do you want now?”

Song Qingchao’s expression was full of impatience. “You want food again, don’t you?”

She frowned and handed out a small basket of steamed buns. “I have no interest in arguing with you right now.”

Madam Hu’s eyes widened at the sight of the basket of buns as she recoiled, shaking her head. “I don’t, I don’t want anything.”

Her eyes were red, as if afraid of being rejected. “And I’m not looking for Zhe’er, don’t be afraid.”

“Then what do you want?”

“I…” Madam Hu looked down at Liu Fubao in her arms, then suddenly stepped forward, wanting Song Qingchao to see how Liu Fubao looked.

“I want Doctor Bai to take a look, to see why my Fubao isn’t moving anymore.”

With Madam Hu’s movement,

a foul odor assailed Song Qingchao, making her cover her nose. She looked down at Liu Fubao.

Liu Fubao’s face had turned green, his nose and mouth were bleeding, and there was vomit around his mouth that hadn’t been wiped away.

“Ah!”

She cried out in fear and retreated backward.

Madam Hu’s eyes were wide open, her face full of concern, and she moved forward. “What’s wrong? Is my Fubao’s illness curable?”

A deep sniffle echoed from behind Song Qingchao. “What’s wrong?”

After a rustling sound, hot breath softly brushed past her.

Bai Youan propped himself up with his left hand, his right hand reaching towards Song Qingchao’s shoulder, but his gaze was on Liu Fubao in Madam Hu’s arms.

Upon seeing Bai Youan, Madam Hu’s mouth stretched into a grin that reached her ears. “Mr. Bai, please take a look at Fubao. He hasn’t moved since dinner. My Fubao has never been so well-behaved.”

“He’s dead.”

Bai Youan’s words were so cold that Song Qingchao felt compelled to turn and look at his expression.

These words didn’t sound like something Bai Youan would say.

“No! You’re lying!” Madam Hu suddenly clutched Liu Fubao tighter. “You must be jealous of my Fubao! That’s why you refuse to treat him!”

“My condolences.”

“No! You’re lying to me, lying to me!”

Madam Hu shrieked, waking some who had fallen asleep.

However, no one paid her any mind at this point.

Everyone was exhausted.

She grabbed Song Qingchao’s hand. “Save him! You saved Zhe’er, so you’ll surely save Fubao, right!”

Song Qingchao shook her head and recoiled.

But her hand was held as if by a vise, refusing to let go.

Bai Youan hugged her from behind, reached out, and pried Madam Hu’s hand off hers.

Then, he clasped her hand, embraced her, and retreated back into the carriage.

He shielded Song Qingchao behind him, then stepped out of the carriage alone and held Madam Hu down.

Patiently, he explained to Madam Hu the cause of Liu Fubao’s death and his own inability to help, over and over again.

He was very gentle, patiently telling Madam Hu that Liu Fubao’s death was not her fault.

Song Qingchao watched the scene from inside the carriage.

Although she disliked the child Liu Fubao, she had never expected such a young child to die.

The commotion here eventually attracted Shou Hou.

After he arrived and understood the situation, he immediately ordered his men to restrain the now-frenzied Madam Hu and unceremoniously took Liu Fubao away.

“Give me my son back! Give him back to me!”