"Cough, from a medical perspective, the plague is actually a virus that spreads through carriers in the population, causing widespread infection and death. It is commonly referred to as the plague in folk terminology."
Yu Wei and his companions were left somewhat confused, as if they understood and yet didn't understand.
"Xiaohua, what exactly is a virus? What is a carrier? Why don't we understand?"
"It's normal not to understand. I came across these terms in a medical book. In short, all you need to remember is that the plague is actually an infectious disease and not the wrath of mountain deities."
"Xiaohua, if the medical book says it's an infectious disease, does it provide any remedies for treating the plague?"
Yu Wei looked at Gong Xiaohua with hopeful eyes.
"People believe that the plague is caused by the anger of the mountain deities, punishing humanity by sowing the seeds of punishment. Those who are punished by the mountain deities suffer from rotting bodies and die while coughing up blood. No rituals, witch doctors, or physicians can solve it. The only way is to burn the punished individuals to appease the mountain deities and achieve a complete resolution."
"So, there is no specific remedy for treating the plague. We need to analyze and study the symptoms of the patients and identify the source and cause of the disease before we can treat it."
"But if we can take some preventive measures in advance, we can avoid the occurrence of the plague."
"Shuangyu County is the source of water disasters, with the highest number of deaths, and the bodies haven't been properly handled. Have you noticed that there are more and more animals feeding on corpses on the roads, especially rats?"
"Yes, there are many animals, especially rats. But what does that have to do with the rats?" Yu Wei looked puzzled as he asked Gong Xiaohua.
"Rats are carriers of the virus. An outbreak of the plague could occur here at any time, and it would be extremely dangerous."
"We need to quickly return to Nanlong Prefecture and have the authorities take over the county to implement preventive measures throughout the entire prefecture. Otherwise, the consequences will be unimaginable."
"But we've only just arrived in Shuangyu County, and we don't even have a clue about the case. Won't it be a wasted trip if we leave so soon?"
"Don't worry. During our night investigation of the county yamen, we gained significant insights. It should be a great help in solving the case for the authorities."
"Then what are we waiting for? Let's find the authorities and head to Nanlong Prefecture."
Saying that, they were about to get up, but accidentally touched their wounds, causing Yu Wei to grimace in pain.
So they supported and leaned on each other as they walked into the forest.
...
In an unfamiliar town.
The Worrying Ghost found a medical clinic to treat their injuries and sent a carrier pigeon message to the headquarters of the Wuji Sect: "Mission failed, heavily injured, barely escaped, please come quickly."
The leader of the Wuji Sect received the secret message and was once again shocked. This time, they had truly met their match.
"Master, what should we do? Even Second Young Master couldn't defeat her. Should we ask the Master himself to take action?"
"No, we have suffered too many losses in this mission. We must not act rashly anymore."
"What about the client? What do we tell them?"
"Tell them the mission has failed, suspend the assassination for now, and reconsider our plans. Also, arrange for someone to bring Second Young Master back as soon as possible."
"Yes, Master."
Gong Xiaohua and a few others walked for about half an hour before they encountered Lord Li and Xiao Fu.
When Lord Li saw Gong Xiaohua and the others, they were all covered in injuries, which caused him great distress.
"How are your injuries? Is there any danger to your lives?"
"You need not worry, Lord. We are not in danger of losing our lives."
"That's good, that's good. I've found a cave just now. It's relatively hidden and safe. Let's go there to take shelter and rest for a while."
"Yes, Lord."
The group arrived at the cave and took their seats.
Gong Xiaohua approached Lord Li and took out an account book and a secret letter from her bosom, handing them to Lord Li.
"Lord, I found these in the study at the Shuangyu County yamen. They should be of significant help to you in solving the case."
Lord Li received the account book and secret letter and began to read them on the spot. The more he read, the angrier he became.
"It's truly appalling. These damned individuals disregard the lives of millions of people, showing no regard for human life. It's intolerable."
"Xiaohua, you've done well. With this account book and secret letter, we will soon crack the case."
"Lord, when The Worrying Ghost was cornered by me, in order to save himself, he offered to exchange information with me. He said..."
Gong Xiaohua proceeded to tell Lord Li in detail the information The Worrying Ghost had provided.
Lord Li was filled with sorrow and anger.
"To betray one's country for personal gain, to harbor ambitious and treacherous intentions. How can such a person, who can disregard the principles of heaven, become a prince of the Dayi Dynasty and enjoy the livelihood of the people?"
"I will immediately write a letter to report this to the king. We must secretly investigate this person and provide an explanation to Nanlong Prefecture and the people of the entire realm."
"This matter is of great importance. You must not reveal a word of it to anyone, lest we alarm the enemy."
"Yes, Lord."
"Lord, I have another matter to report."
"Oh? What is it? Speak freely."
"Currently, there are starving corpses scattered all over Shuangyu County, and the authorities have turned a blind eye. Sooner or later, it will lead to an outbreak of disease. We need to take over Nanlong Prefecture as soon as possible to prevent the occurrence of epidemics in other counties."
"Disease? What kind of disease?"
"The plague."
Lord Li's face turned pale, and he said, "Xiaohua, how did you come to know this? We mustn't create panic."
"Lord, I read about it in a medical book. It says that during times of natural disasters, when a large number of people die, if it's not handled properly, it can lead to a plague outbreak."
Lord Li fell into contemplation, pacing anxiously in place.
After a while, he stopped and said, "Xiaohua, do you truly believe this?"
"I do."
"Good, I believe you."
Turning to Yu Wei and the others, he said, "We'll set off early tomorrow morning. Can you endure the journey?"
"Lord, Xiaohua's healing medicine is very effective. After a night of rest, we'll be ready to go."
"Very well. Xiao Fu, you haven't been injured, so I entrust the travel arrangements to you."
"Yes, Lord. I'll take care of it."
"Good, go ahead. Stay safe."
Lord Li looked at the several constables before him, their bodies stained with blood and in a sorry state.
If it weren't for their selfless protection, the case in Nanlong Prefecture would not have been resolved anytime soon.
He said to Yu Wei and the others, "Throughout this journey, you've endured hardships, but we've gained a lot. Your contributions have been significant. Once this matter is resolved and we return to the capital, I will make sure you're rewarded."
Yu Wei and the others were filled with joy and approached to express their gratitude, but Lord Li stopped them.
"You're injured, there's no need for excessive courtesy."
"Thank you, Lord. Your kindness is unforgettable to us."
Then, turning to Gong Xiaohua, Lord Li said, "Especially Xiaohua, you have shown bravery and resourcefulness, and your contribution to solving the case cannot be overlooked. Once we return, I will personally recommend to His Majesty to promote you to the position of Deputy Chief of the Criminal Department's Detective Division. In the future, when it comes to apprehending major criminals, we will rely on your dedication."
"Thank you, Lord. Your kindness, I..." Xiaohua's words were interrupted by Lord Li.
"Never mind. I don't care much for these formalities and etiquette."
Gong Xiaohua gently touched her nose, trying to conceal her embarrassment.
She was only putting on a show to express her gratitude. After all, she was being promoted two ranks in an instant. She didn't expect Lord Li to see through her act.
