That person was a tall man.
He ran wildly like a madman.
Several pedestrians on the street were knocked down by him. They all said unhappily, "What are you doing!" "Why are you running so fast on such a hot day..." "This is the first time I've seen someone who doesn't have a face when they walk."
As they spoke, several people started to laugh, but they weren't really angry. Who knew that that person would charge forward recklessly.
He crashed into a tall and gorgeous carriage.
Blood splattered everywhere!
He fell on his back.
The passers-by who were originally joking screamed. The owner of the carriage was also shocked. He stuck his head out and said, "Who hit him? Who hit him? "
It happened so suddenly.
Xie Lian had no choice but to put down the youth and quickly step forward.
He asked, "What happened?"
That person crashed into the hard carriage and seemed to have fainted.
His messy hair covered his face.
Many people were watching carefully. Without waiting for Xie Lian to get closer, he suddenly jumped up again.
He screamed, "I can't take it anymore! Kill, kill! Someone come and kill me!! Come quickly! "
A few burly men among the passers-by couldn't stand it anymore.
They said, "Which family's crazy person did not lock up properly and ran out? Take him back, take him back..." They wanted to go up and hold this person back.
Who knew that..,
Just as they surrounded him, when they saw the crazy man's face clearly, they also screamed several times.
They hurriedly dodged. "What kind of monster is this!!!"
The crazy man ran towards them and shouted, "Beat me to death!!!"
Those people were extremely shocked. Xie Lian happened to come up. When they saw that it was the crown prince, they rushed behind him as if they had been pardoned. Without thinking, Xie Lian raised his leg and kicked the crazy man, causing him to somersault in the air and fall to the ground like a gentle dog gnawing on mud. A few people pointed to the ground and said, "Your Highness! This person... this person... he has... he has!!! "
Without needing them to say anything, Xie Lian also saw that this person actually had two faces!
To be more precise, it was a face that had grown another face. This second face was squeezed on half of the crazy man's cheek. It was the size of an adult's palm. This crazy man was a young man, but this face was like a wrinkled little old man. It was extremely ugly!
Xie Lian was extremely shocked. All he could think of was one sentence:
What kind of monster was this?!
He immediately grabbed the sword at his waist and pulled it out. This sword was given to him by the Divine Martial Great Emperor, the Red Mirror. Ever since he met the strange man in white, he had been carrying this sword with him, in case he needed it someday. Maybe one day he would be able to see the true face of that thing. It just so happened that it came in handy at this moment. He unsheathed the sword, and the gleam of the sword gleamed brightly. However, when he lowered his head to take a look, the image reflected by the sword didn't change in the slightest. It was still the same person, the same two terrifying faces. In other words, this madman was not a demon or a ghost. He was a human!
However, could there really be someone in this world who looked like this? If she was born with such an appearance, how could it not be spread in Immortal Music Imperial City for so many years? Just as Xie Lian was bewildered, a person beside him suddenly asked, trembling with fear, "He … … how did he become like this?"
When Xie Lian heard this, he put the Red Mirror sword back into its scabbard and turned his head to ask, "You know this person? Wasn't he like this before? "
Quite a few people said, "Yes, we work together with him. Of course it's not like this. Before, his face … … didn't have this thing!! "
Seeing that more and more onlookers had gathered, almost blocking the street, Xie Lian's expression turned solemn. He raised his voice and said, "Everyone, don't come near. There's nothing, disperse!" That bandaged teenager helped him separate the crowd, but Xie Lian didn't notice. He was busy communicating with Feng Xin Mu Qing, "Quickly come to the imperial city's Shenwu Street!"
When he put down his hand, he saw another person stuttering on the side, looking very hesitant. Xie Lian took the initiative to step forward and asked, "Do you have something you want to say?"
Seeing the crown prince ask, that person finally mustered up his courage and said, "Your Highness, there's something I don't know if I should say or not … …"
How could Xie Lian have the time to wait for him to exchange pleasantries? He concisely said, "Just say it!"
That person said, "A few days ago, there were a few small pits on my chest. Three big pits and two small pits. I didn't feel anything. It didn't itch or hurt, but it felt quite comfortable when I scratched it. I didn't care much about it, but when I saw this brother, I felt a little … a little guilty, haha. "He laughed dryly and unbuttoned his clothes, revealing his chest." Look at me … … there's no problem, right? "
When he took off his clothes, the crowd fell silent. What was on this person's chest? How were there "a few small pits"? His facial features were clearly complete, and they could make out a vague woman's face!
That person looked down and was shocked. "How could this be?! It clearly wasn't so … so … "Lifelike before? Lifelike? No matter which word was used, it was extremely terrifying!
Everyone felt their hair stand on end. That person couldn't help but grab Xie Lian's clothes and shouted, "Your Highness, save me!"
At this time, Feng Xin and Mu Qing received the communication and rushed over from the city gate tower. Seeing this, both of them frowned. Feng Xin shouted, "Get up, what's going on?"
Xie Lian didn't have time to explain. He patted that person's shoulder and comforted him, "It's okay. Just calm down. " His tone was gentle and firm, serious and calm. That person thought he had a card up his sleeve and was even more convinced that such a small matter was as easy as flipping his hand for His Highness the Crown Prince. He calmed down. However, Xie Lian's heart was in turmoil.
This kind of "human face" actually grew gradually! And those who had this symptom — let's call it a symptom for the time being — wasn't just one person. In that case, could it be possible to guess that there were actually more?
He immediately summarized the general situation to Feng Xin and Mu Qing and said, "Report to the Imperial Palace and pass down the order to search the entire city to see if there's anyone else who has similar things on their body. We must not miss a single one!"
Because this thing was too frightening, the monarch attached great importance to it after receiving the news. He dispatched a large number of people to conduct a search and investigation, and the efficiency was surprisingly high. That night, it was confirmed: In the entire Xian Le Imperial City, there were already five people who had relatively clear human faces on their bodies. These five people either saw it and didn't take it seriously, or the "human face" grew in places where it wasn't easy to detect. In addition, it didn't hurt or itch, so they didn't notice. In addition, there were more than ten people who already had relatively shallow pits and protrusions on their bodies. They were suspected to be "human faces" that hadn't yet formed.
Among these twenty or so people, the majority were women and youths. After they were all sent to Xie Lian, they were all anxious and uneasy. They greeted each other and casually comforted each other with a few words. Xie Lian was originally explaining things to others, but when he noticed this, he felt that something was wrong and asked, "Do you all know each other?"
The official who had been busy all night glanced at the booklet and said, "Your Highness, many of these people live in the outskirts of the Imperial City and live relatively close to each other. It's possible that they have some daily interactions with each other."
Many of them live in the same place? Mu Qing was stunned and said, "The people who live close to each other all have human faces on their bodies? Could it be that this thing is contagious??? "
Xie Lian thought about it faster than him, but he didn't speak as fast as him. He immediately said, "Separate! Disperse the crowd. No one is allowed to hang around nearby. Find a place and completely isolate everyone here! "
"There's a strange disease. It's contagious." Once these six words were leaked out, it was more effective than dispersing the crowd or dispersing the troops. How could it be that the surrounding crowd dispersed? More than half of the houses on the street were empty. Xie Lian ordered the officials and soldiers who had come to listen to his orders to be fully armed and properly protected. He then led these twenty or so people to the outskirts of the Imperial City where some of them lived.
Near the outskirts of the Imperial City, there was a large forest called the Buyou Forest. The ministers intended to build an area here to temporarily house the "patients". However, when they entered the forest, the others were busy setting up camp. The more Xie Lian walked, the more an ominous feeling circled around his heart. Feng Xin and Mu Qing naturally also felt it. Feng Xin took the lead and said, "Your Highness, could this be that Lang Ying … …"
Xie Lian crossed his arms and frowned, "That's right. It's here. "
Wasn't this the Buyou Forest where Lang Ying personally dug the hole and buried his son's body?!
The three people noticed this and looked at each other in dismay. Although they couldn't clearly say what it was, they vaguely had a guess. It drove them to coincidentally start looking for the place where Lang Ying's body was buried that day. However, several months had already passed since that day. Moreover, there were so many trees in the Buyou Forest. How could they still remember which tree Lang Ying's body was buried under?
Just at this moment, an indescribable stench wafted over.
This stench was somewhat similar to the smell of rotting corpses, but it was even more suffocating. Just one breath was enough to make a person faint. The others also smelled it and retreated one after another. They covered their noses and fanned themselves, "What's over there?" "What's going on! It's even more smelly than if it was marinated in a jar of soy sauce for ten years … … "
Xie Lian rushed forward and followed that frightening smell. Sure enough, he found a somewhat familiar crooked tree. Under the tree, the ground slightly bulged, forming a gentle little mound. The soldiers raised their swords and gathered around to protect him. Xie Lian raised his hand to stop them and said in a low voice, "Be careful. Normal people shouldn't come over. "
Feng Xin, who wasn't a normal person, casually picked up a shovel and went forward. With a few shovels, that mound of dirt became a pit. The stench became increasingly strong, and he became even more careful with his shovel. After a few more shovels, a little black thing was dug out from under the soil. It seemed to be slightly squirming.
He slowed down his movements, and the soldiers acted as if they were facing a great enemy. Suddenly, the surface of the soil arched up high, and a swollen, enormous figure broke out of the ground, exposing itself to the crowd of people holding torches.
That putrid stench instantly soared, and quite a few people immediately vomited on the spot. Xie Lian's pupils also shrunk.
That thing could no longer be described as a 'person'. Anything else was more similar to a person than it. No one would be able to tell that this corpse, which could be described as' enormous', was once a thin and weak child!
An urge to vomit surged up his throat, and Xie Lian tilted his head to look to the side. Feng Xin and Mu Qing were also stunned. They both blurted out, "What is this thing?!" "Is this a curse, or is it purely the decay of a corpse??"
Regardless of what it was, Xie Lian knew what he should do now. He said, "Everyone retreat! The further the better! Burn this thing clean! "
After he finished speaking, he raised his hand and a raging flame gushed out. The flames soared into the sky, and the thick smoke billowed. Right at this moment, the mournful sound of a bugle horn came from a distant city tower.
The three of them simultaneously raised their heads to look. This was the signal for the enemy to invade. Feng Xin cursed, "Damn it, they just had to attack us at this time!"
Mu Qing's face was calm. Under the light of the flames, he looked uncertain. He said, "Perhaps, they did it on purpose?"
Xie Lian decisively said, "Mu Qing, stay here and deal with this. Feng Xin, you come with me. First, beat them back. Remember, you can't let them see any flaws! "
At night, the two of them hurriedly rushed out of the city and hastily fought a battle.
Although they were caught unprepared this time, they still won. Although they won again, none of the people from Xian Le, including Xie Lian, felt the slightest bit of joy from winning.
This sudden "strange disease" was called the "Human-faced Plague" by the people. Within Immortal Music Imperial City, it spread like wildfire with the speed of a thunderclap, causing everyone to be in a state of panic.
The monarch had considered sealing off the news, but the first patient had rushed out from the streets. There were countless witnesses, so it couldn't be hidden from the start. Moreover, the Human-faced Disease spread and flared up extremely quickly. Within a short six days, suspected symptoms were found in more than fifty people.
At the same time, Yong An's attacks also became more frequent. Under the pincer attack from many sides, Xie Lian almost didn't have time to spare to make rain in Yong An. Most of the magical power and energy that was originally used to do this were consumed in the Imperial City's quarantine area.
In the cold and secluded forest, there were large expanses of tents and shacks. Xie Lian walked through the patients on the ground. This quarantine area had more than twenty people in the beginning, but now it had nearly a hundred people. It was getting bigger and bigger. Every day, as long as Xie Lian was free, he would come here and use his magical power to alleviate the terrible symptoms of the patients here. But in the end, relief was not a cure. What people hoped was that he could cure themselves. As Xie Lian walked, a young man lying on the ground suddenly raised his hand and grabbed the hem of Xie Lian's clothes. He said, "Your Highness, I won't die, right?"
Xie Lian was about to speak, but he felt that this person was somewhat familiar. Looking carefully, wasn't this the passerby who gave him an umbrella when he found out that Xian Le was short of water and it was raining in the Imperial City?
Thinking of that day, that rain, and that umbrella, Xie Lian's heart immediately warmed. He squatted down and lightly patted the back of this person's hand. He said seriously, "I will do my best."
That person seemed to have obtained the hope of life. His eyes flashed with joy. He repeatedly said good and lay down again. From these people's eager eyes, it could be seen that they deeply believed that he could do it. Therefore, every time he met their eyes, Xie Lian would feel a little self-reproach in his heart. He wanted to find a solution as soon as possible.
After walking around the quarantine area, Xie Lian found a place to sit. Mu Qing raised a bonfire and he sat in contemplation. In the distance, a few little odd-job workers carried a stretcher and left. They whispered, but they didn't know that Xie Lian had heard everything.
"How many is this?"
"The fourth or fifth."
The stretcher carried a patient who died in the secluded forest. In fact, it was very difficult to kill people with the Human-face Disease. But, not dying was scary. Not dying meant that they would have to carry this thing on their body for the rest of their life. Just thinking about it made people lose the courage to live. Especially some young women who cherished their appearance. If it grew on an important part like the face, most of them would choose to die in the end.
One person sighed, "Sigh! When will it end? "
Another person said, "With His Highness the Crown Prince here, we won't lose. Don't worry."
The first person complained, "I'm not worried about losing, but in this situation, what's the use of not losing? It's still hard for us commoners to live. Sigh … Forget it, I'm not complaining. Just pretend that I didn't say anything. "
If Feng Xin was here, he would definitely scold them immediately. Mu Qing glanced at Xie Lian and continued to light the fire. She didn't say anything. When the two people were completely gone, she said indifferently, "It's really the opinion of a commoner. They only know how to complain. Don't tell me that they want a Martial God to monopolize everything? "
Xie Lian shook his head. What that person said made a certain amount of sense. He was a Martial God. An army with him would be invincible. However, at this time, what was the use of just winning the battle? The army was established to protect the commoners, but the commoners at the back were being attacked by the plague. Wouldn't the original advantage become a joke?
At this time, the bonfire swayed slightly. A person sat beside Xie Lian. It was Feng Xin. Xie Lian immediately asked, "How was it?"
Feng Xin shook his head, saying, "It's the same as the result of your investigation. We couldn't find Lang Ying on the back slope. We also didn't see any strange people in white clothes. We don't know where they are hiding. There's no way to check if they are playing tricks. Also, the people of Yong An are really good. None of them are infected with the Human-faced Disease. "
Mu Qing poked the fire, saying, "The Imperial City and the back slope are so close. No matter what, it's impossible that none of them are infected. It's obvious that they are the ones playing tricks. "
Many people secretly thought this way, and it was indeed very reasonable to think this way. However, even if they knew that it was the people of Yong An, or more specifically, that it was Lang Ying who was playing tricks, the other party hid very well. They couldn't find any clues.
They suspected that the Human-faced Disease was caused by a curse. The corpse of Lang Ying's son was the source of the curse. However, if it was a curse, this curse was really very beautiful. It didn't leave any traces that they could trace back. What could prove this suspicion? Nothing. Who knew if this Human-faced Disease was just a new type of disease that was born naturally? Unless they caught the target of their suspicion, Xie Lian had no way to determine what the Human-faced Disease was.
He also hurriedly reported his guess to the Heavenly Court. However, it was already said that Xie Lian broke the rules and descended to the mortal world. Things were different now. In the past, if he wanted to report something, he could just directly enter the Divine Martial Hall and tell Jun Wu loudly. Now, he had to follow the rules. One must know that the so-called rules, if he was lucky, he could pass it by mercilessly throwing some merit points. If he was unlucky, he might be forced to follow a set of extremely complicated procedures that would endlessly delay. After it was done, the Heavenly Court would just send a Heavenly Court official to deal with it. Xie Lian himself was a Heavenly Court official. Other than Jun Wu, there was no one in the Heavenly Court who could surpass him. The Heavenly Court official that was sent down might not be as strong as him. Jun Wu's burden was so heavy. In the mortal world, it was said that he was busy every day. It was impossible for him to come down personally to help him. Therefore, this report was just a symbolic one. There was no real hope.
However, Xie Lian's mind was not thinking about this. He was thinking about another problem. He said, "If Yong An released the curse in order to destroy the Imperial City, then the most effective attack should be to attack the army. As long as the army is defeated, wouldn't it be equivalent to opening the city gates? But in reality, the Human-faced Disease did not spread to the army at all. "
It was not that there were no victims of the Human-faced Disease in the army, but relatively speaking, the number was extremely small. There were only three or four of them. Moreover, after they were sent to quarantine, the situation was immediately controlled and did not spread. Feng Xin always said what he thought, "Perhaps it was because they felt that even if they defeated the army, they would lose without a doubt with you around. They might as well not attack the army and directly attack the civilians."
Hearing this, Mu Qing laughed. Feng Xin said, "What are you laughing at?" Mu Qing said, "Nothing. You can always come up with very reasonable opinions. I have no objections. "
Feng Xin was most annoyed by his manner of wanting to stab people in his heart but always pretending to be gentle. He directly ignored him and said, "If it was really done by them, I will look down on them. If they have the ability to fight on the battlefield, what is the point of using such underhanded methods to harm innocent civilians? "
Hearing this, Xie Lian deeply agreed. He sighed and said, "These days, I have been thinking about how to get infected. First, we need to know how to get infected, then we can control it. "
Feng Xin said, "Isn't it very clear? If you get too close, come in contact with it too much, drink water, eat, sleep and so on together, you will be infected. "
Xie Lian rubbed his forehead and said, "On the surface, it is true. However, let's take the army as an example. The soldiers in the army also drink water, eat and sleep together, so they should be closer and more frequent than normal people. But why are there so few infected soldiers? "
Mu Qing frowned and said, "What you mean is that under the same conditions, but with different constitutions, some people will be infected and some won't. What you want to ask is what kind of people can resist the Human-faced Disease. "
Xie Lian raised his head and said, "Mu Qing understands me. It is exactly so. If we can find this, we will have a way to stop the spread of the Human-faced Disease. "
Mu Qing nodded and said, "That's good. Then we will look at what kind of people are more likely to get Human-faced Disease. Among the patients in the secluded forest, what kind of people are the most common? "
Xie Lian had been brought to the secluded forest countless times these days, so he could answer with his eyes closed. He immediately said, "Women, children, youths, the elderly, and young men who are not very tall."
Feng Xin said doubtfully, "Could it be that only those with weak bodies will be infected? Should we ask the king to order all the people in the Imperial City to train their bodies diligently? "
"…"
"…"