Chapter 2 The Next Day
The next day, amidst the dimly lit, smoky dawn, a cataclysmic change swept through Xian Yue’s military camp. Many of the early rising soldiers had been poisoned. Those affected experienced chest pains, as if pricked by tiny needles, and their faces erupted in red spots, spreading across their cheeks.
As Qing Yao rose, An Ding Feng immediately reported the incident.
Startled, Qing Yao, accompanied by the valiant Cavalry Officers Bing Xiao and Yin Xuan, rushed to various tents. Within the tents, soldiers, some seated, some standing, many were poisoned. Red spots marred their faces, and they writhed on the ground, moaning in pain. Many bravely endured, their bodies convulsing on the bedding, creating a scene of utter misery.
The military doctor was tending to them. Qing Yao approached and knelt beside the physician, softly inquiring, "What is happening? Is this poisoning?"
The busy doctor glanced up at Qing Yao, then spoke with a grave expression.
"Although it resembles poison, it is not entirely so."
"Is there a cure?"
Qing Yao asked urgently, her heart aflutter with anxiety at the sight of so many afflicted soldiers.
The doctor cast a look at the commander and shook his head uneasily. "The type of poison has not yet been identified, so there is no cure."
"What can be done?"
Qing Yao suddenly stood and paced the tent. Gazing at the writhing figures within, her brow furrowed deeper. Why had this happened? The doctor said it wasn't quite like poison. What in this world could resemble poison yet not be? A thought flashed through her mind, her expression turning cold and grim. Could Hua Wen Bo have come to the border pass? If so, these people might have been afflicted by gu.
"Could they have been afflicted by gu?"
Qing Yao's voice suddenly rang out. Yin Xuan, who was kneeling on the ground examining another soldier, looked up at her words, his expression heavy as he replied, "Indeed, they have been afflicted by gu."
"That man has actually come to the border pass. Damnable."
Thinking of that man, Qing Yao's pupils turned terrifyingly dark. She hadn't expected his mere appearance to cause such suffering.
However, in this heavily guarded military stronghold, it was impossible for him to come and go freely. How had he entered without a trace? Qing Yao pondered, her brow furrowed, when a shiver ran through her. Her chest felt heavy, as if needles were piercing her heart. A钻心的 pain, and large drops of sweat rolled down her face. Unable to bear it, she slumped to her knees. Bing Xiao, seeing her commander collapse in pain, her face immediately changed, and she cried out in alarm.
"Marshal, are you alright?"
As Bing Xiao spoke, Yin Xuan, who had been examining others nearby, looked over in alarm. Seeing Qing Yao’s pained posture as she knelt on the ground, his heart became uneasy. He flashed over swiftly, supporting her, and spoke with concern.
"What is happening? How have you also been afflicted by gu?"
Yes, how had she also been afflicted by gu? Qing Yao thought fuzzily, and then quickly recalled something. This morning, she had done nothing but drink a cup of water. So, the problem was the water source. Realizing this, her face immediately turned ashen, and she cried out.
"Quickly, there are ang worms in the water source! Immediately notify the kitchen and stop all drinking water. Go at once!"
As her voice fell, Bing Xiao flashed away, hurrying to the kitchen to inform the cooks. All water was to be halted for the day.
Ultimately, the inspection confirmed it was indeed the water source. The water contained a type of poisonous gu, as fine as silver threads, visible only in sunlight. Even high temperatures could not harm it in the slightest.
In the main command tent, Qing Yao’s face was pale, the stinging pain in her chest intensifying. Yin Xuan, at her side, tightly clasped her hand and spoke with concern, "Yao'er, don't worry, I will find a solution as quickly as possible."
"Mm, I'm fine. You didn't drink the river water, did you?"
"I didn't drink it today."
Yin Xuan shook his head and turned to look at Mo Chou at the side. His voice, cold and murderous, rang out, "You attend to the Marshal. I will go and examine what kind of gu worm this is."
Yin Xuan’s tall figure strode out. Seeing Qing Yao in such pain, he was consumed with anxiety, wishing he could immediately identify a cure for this gu worm.
"Yin Xuan, Mao Xueqiu's blood can neutralize animal toxins. See if it can be used!"
Qing Yao called out from behind. Yin Xuan responded with a nod and walked out.
Qing Yao knew his urgency and did not stop him. After he left, she clutched her chest and slowly asked Bing Xiao, "How many people have been afflicted by gu now?"
"Reporting to the Marshal, half of the soldiers have been afflicted," Bing Xiao, usually stoic, had a look of deep anxiety in her eyes. If the Marshal were to meet with misfortune, this army of one hundred thousand would be utterly annihilated. The Marshal must not be harmed. Moreover, if she were harmed, the Emperor would likely suffer greatly.
Qing Yao said nothing further, curling up against the bedding as the pain surged, her consciousness beginning to blur. Fortunately, the water source had been controlled, preventing more than half of the soldiers from being affected. But now, without drinking water, how long could their one hundred thousand troops hold out?
Qing Yao was in torment, both physically and mentally, while also worrying about the safety of others.
Who could have imagined that Ji Xue’s plan would involve transferring Hua Wen Bo from the imperial palace? Hua Wen Bo, that man was always so arrogant; how had she managed to make him act?
As Qing Yao drifted in and out of consciousness, two figures suddenly rushed in from outside the tent. They were Yin Xuan’s two subordinates, their faces etched with urgency as they cried out.
"Marshal, this is bad! Master intends to test the gu himself to find a solution. Marshal, you must stop him."
As the subordinates spoke, Qing Yao and Bing Xiao within the tent were simultaneously startled. Was this man mad? Even if he were trying to find a cure, there was no need to test the gu on himself. She suddenly opened her eyes and looked at Bing Xiao, struggling to rise, and slowly said, "Help me up."
"Yes, Master," Bing Xiao had not been afflicted by gu, nor had Xiao Yu'er or Mo Chou. She had woken up early that day and drank a cup of water on an empty stomach, only to be afflicted by the ang gu.
When the two stumbled into the adjacent tent, Yin Xuan had already forcibly drunk the river water, leaving no time to stop him. Qing Yao's face was pale. Her dark eyes stared menacingly at the man. His complexion was not good at this moment, but on the low table in the tent, a small amount of blood was placed, taken from Mao Xueqiu. He intended to test what substance this gu worm originated from.
Experimenting on others was something they could not describe the feeling of, nor could they find a solution. With so many people afflicted by gu, a solution needed to be found quickly. This was not just Qing Yao’s problem; it was his problem too. These people were his subjects.
"You are mad."
Qing Yao scoffed, swaying slightly as she sank beside him. He had a fearless expression, extending his hand to tightly grasp Qing Yao's, and spoke with gravity.
"Even if it is bitter, I won't let you endure it alone. We will share all the joys and sorrows together."
"But you are?"
Qing Yao almost cried out, but managed to restrain herself. She truly lacked the strength, and could only watch the man beside her. His gaze had shifted away from her. He reached out and took the bowl from the low table, drinking the small amount of blood.
At this moment, no one dared to speak. They could only hope for a miracle, praying that this blood could neutralize the gu worm.
After fifteen minutes, Yin Xuan's complexion improved considerably. Although he still felt a stinging pain, it was not as severe as before. Mao Xueqiu's blood could not fully neutralize this gu worm, but it could alleviate the symptoms. What did this imply? This gu worm was nurtured within the body of an animal. What kind of animal was it? As long as that animal was found, Mao Xueqiu's blood could be mixed with the animal's blood to kill the gu worm.