Chapter 255 - Jia City's Letter to the People
Chapter 255 of "Red Heart Patrols the Sky" opens with: Throughout the history of Daqi, âYuan Fengâ could well compete for the title of longest... Find out what happens!
Throughout the history of Daqi, âYuan Fengâ could well compete for the title of longest era name.An era name used for over fifty-four years; in the lengthy history of Daqi, there were only two such instances.
As a vassal state, Yang Country naturally followed the calendar of Daqi.
Jiang Wang regained his senses from cultivation and restrained the Heaven and Earth Gate, which was faintly perceptible.
If he wanted to break through the Heaven and Earth Gate, he could start trying now.
Inside the silent Tongtian Palace, the nine great Star River Dao Spirals rotated without sound, and the Star Spirit Snake, lithe and agile, shuttled back and forth among several SpiralsâDark Candle was no longer enough for it to coil around.
The warning on the eve of Fenglin Cityâs destruction once made Jiang Wang feel as if Dark Candle possessed its own sentience.
But it had not shown anything similar since then.
Moreover, Dark Candle had become very short and small; even if a way to light it were found, Jiang Wang estimated it could not last a quarter of an hour.
A sudden heart palpitation stopped Jiang Wangâs cultivation, and he pushed the door to step outside.
He was still living in the mine site, among these simple and hardworking miners, which gave him a sense of solidity.
âWhat happened?â
The panicked expression on Dugu Xiao cast a shadow over Jiang Wangâs mood.
Having experienced the death of Ge Heng and feeding the butchered body of the masked pig-bone murderer, along with Hu Shaomengâs severed fingers, to the dogs,
In Jiang Wangâs eyes, there shouldnât be many things that could cause her to panic like this.
âMany people have died in Qingyang Town!â
The moment Dugu Xiao spoke, Jiang Wangâs heart lurched.
He grabbed Dugu Xiao and hurried directly toward Qingyang Town: âWhat exactly happened?â
The robust reserve of Path Origin allowed him to protect Dugu Xiao as they progressed.
Familiar scenes rapidly receded in their field of vision, Dugu Xiao felt her heart was about to leap out of her throat.
âAnâŚ
outbreak!â
What Jiang Wang didnât know was that Dugu Xiaoâs panic wasnât caused by the many deaths in Qingyang Town, but by the worry that the incident would provoke Jiang Wangâs discontent and anger.
He had no mood to consider the maidâs feelings any longer.
He could not understand, regardless of the disease, even if it were a plague, hadnât Qingyang Town made preparations to deal with it?
How could so many people still have died?
Jiang Wang, with his transcendent cultivation, rushed toward Qingyang Town.
Hearing the commotion, Zhu Biqiong, Xiang Qian, and Zhang Hai all chased after him.
The distance from the Hu Clan Mine Site to Qingyang Town was not far, but as Jiang Wang sped to the town, many people who saw his figure only then recalledâthe last time he sped here was when he executed Hu Shaomeng with his sword.
In Yang Country, the government office where the chief official presided was called the Town Hall.
At this moment, a haggard-looking Hu Lao Gen was inside the Town Hall.
He did not have the ability to avert the crisis, and even lacked the courage to face it.
He had been appointed to this position because he was obedient and familiar with the locality.
When Jiang Wang landed in front of the hall, Hu Lao Genâs legs went soft, but for some reason, he felt a sense of relief in his heart.
âBriefly tell me what happened,â Jiang Wang said directly.
âGreat⌠Great Sir, itâs like this⌠we, weâŚâ Hu Lao Gen struggled to speak for quite a while but still could not articulate the situation.
Jiang Wangâs discontent was unmistakably evident.
Dugu Xiao said from behind: âMy lord, I had summarized the information before but hadnât had a chance to inform you.
The entire Qingyang Town region, the symptom patterns of those who fell ill all match the first two who died!
Up to the moment I learned the news and reported to you, today twenty-seven have already died, and in these past days, a total of fifty-three people.
Those currently in the midst of the epidemic or suspected of it⌠we donât have an accurate number yet!â
Even though Hu Lao Gen was responsible for Qingyang Town, Dugu Xiao had the data at her fingertips.
âWhy am I only hearing about this now?â
âSubordinate also found out today⌠perhaps because the outbreak was so severe today, it couldnât be concealed anymore!â
âWe canât keep this a secret any longer.â
Jiang Wang chewed over this sentence, his gaze turning cold as he looked at Hu Lao Gen: âYouâre the one keeping secrets?â
âBefore, um, I didnât know it was this serious.â In his panic, Hu Lao Genâs words became more and more jumbled: âEarlier, those in the lower villages who died werenât reported.
Only yesterday did I find out, thinking it could be contained.â
âI had already instructed that we control it like weâre fighting an epidemic, with martial law throughout the town.
How could things have gotten to this point?â Jiang Wang stared into Hu Lao Genâs eyes, his hand already resting on his sword.
One wrong word, and he would kill!
The past affection was not enough for Hu Lao Gen to be forgiven.
When Jiang Wang was still concealing his identity, Hu Lao Gen was the first to show goodwill towards him, for Jiang Wang, as a Transcendent Cultivator, still treated him as a person.
What Jiang Wang found most unacceptable was that, after such a reason earned Hu Lao Gen his trust and Hu Lao Gen became the head of the town watch, he did not regard other townspeople as humans and disregarded their lives!
According to the census, the entire Qingyang Town area had a population of thirty-six thousand six hundred seventy-one.
Half of them resided in Qingyang Town, the other half were scattered across more than thirty villages.
The total death toll of fifty-three, on paper, was just a light number.
But when applied to the living population, relative to the number of people in Qingyang Townâs area, it was already extremely frightening.
Once it got out, it would be enough to cause widespread panic!
Hu Lao Gen was tongue-tied and speechless.
It was Dugu Xiao who explained from the side: âMany townspeople simply canât stay put, refusing to stay home.
Those preoccupied with making a living, attending gatherings and banquets, there are just too many.
They are all our kith and kin, they havenât broken the law or committed crimes, and the constables in town canât really do anything to them.
In my opinion, the main reason is still the proclamation from Jia City!â
âThe proclamation from Jia City?â
âThe peacekeeping notice, every town has it, it must be posted.â Finally catching up, Hu Lao Gen took a proclamation from the desk and handed it to Jiang Wang with both hands: âBecause of this, the townspeople donât believe me and refuse to stay put.
No amount of persuasion works.â
What Hu Lao Gen didnât say was that even he himself felt that Jiang Wang was making a mountain out of a molehill.
He also didnât think anything serious would happen.
Of course, Jiang Wang wouldnât fail to see this.
But at this moment, his entire attention was captured by the thin sheet of paper in his hand.
The paper wasnât thick, yet it carried weight because of the seal of the Jia City City Lordâs Mansion stamped upon it.
Added to it was the credit accumulated by the Xi Family over several generations managing the Jia City area for hundreds of years.
It was the trust that tens of thousands of people from the Jia City domain had in the Jia City City Lordâs Mansion!
It was just a sheet of paper, but heavier than anything else.
On it was writtenâ
âThis is to inform the people of a disease that is causing disturbance, with rumors spreading.
On behalf of the East King Valleyâs Transcendent Cultivator, Xizi Chu, these private discussions are clarified!
Xizi Chu, a Teng Long Monk of East King Valley, a contemporary master of medicine.
For this minor illness, a mere flip of the palm is all that is needed!
Thereâs no need for the populace to be disturbed by the disease in their daily comings and goings.
We hope for the peopleâs peace!â
After reading this âpeacekeeping noticeâ.
A chill ran up from his spine to his Heavenly Spirit.
And then, an uncontrollable rage!
Claiming it takes but a flip of the palm to end the disease, yet fifty-seven people in Qingyang Town died from the same illness.
Saying there is no need to worry, yet fifty-seven people in Qingyang Town have already died!
In the entire Jia City domain, how many others are ill, how many more have died?
What kind of peacekeeping notice is this?
Itâs clearly a âDeath Encouragement Notice!â