Chapter 194: Why Are You Running So Fast

Beidi, Jin City, the territory now occupied by the Qi Clan.

In the cold season, Jin City is just as the literati's poetry describes: "The river has ice and the mountains have snow, the northern gate is Jin and travelers are few."

A land of frequent warfare and bitter cold.

In the past, Jin City always carried an atmosphere of desolation and sorrow.

Jin City is located at a mountain pass, blocking threats from further north.

Mountain peaks and rivers form a natural barrier, which, together with man-made military structures, constitutes a massive defensive system.

After the chaotic times, the Qi Clan occupied this place. By the riverside, they built a wall of brick and stone to prevent the Plague Ghosts in the river from sneaking in. At the same time, they expanded Jin City.

As refugees from the South fled north one after another, and money, grain, and supplies continuously flowed in, this place became lively and increasingly wealthy.

It is currently only autumn, and the bitter winter has not yet arrived.

In a certain large mansion, the newly built reception hall is bright and grand. The luxurious furnishings reveal the special status and position of the host family.

In Jin City, when it comes to nobility, it is certainly not the imperial clan, nor those dukes and marquises, but the "Qi" of the Qi Clan!

The temperature in Beidi is gradually dropping, and while it has not yet snowed, the master of the mansion has already lit the Fire Wall for this private banquet. Inside the luxuriously decorated reception hall, there is a display of pearls and jade, and fine wine and nectar.

Most of those inside are young children of wealthy families or descendants of the powerful.

The sound of strings and bamboo never ceases, and beautiful wine and beautiful people surround them.

They want to take advantage of these few days to find more amusement.

The Autumn Hunt season has begun, and the vanguard of the Qi Clan has already set out to start clearing out the Plague Ghosts.

In a few days, they will also set out as the second batch of the Autumn Hunt Army. In reality, it is just following behind the vanguard to scoop up military merit.

Some will symbolically hunt a few Plague Ghosts, while others are purely there to sponge off the credit. They have privileges.

Regardless, they will be going on a long journey in a few days, and there are no decent post stations or inns outside right now; unless one runs to another city, one can only eat the food one carries while resting along the way.

The conditions are completely incomparable to those at home!

Of course, for now, one should enjoy oneself for as long as one can!

Amidst the wine, women, and music, a young man wearing riding and archery attire strode in, his gaze sharp and cold; one look and it was clear he was in a bad mood. The guards outside wanted to stop him but dared not, and in the end, they all lowered their heads in silence.

The young man stepped into the hall, and without waiting for any reaction from those inside, he kicked over the nearest low table.

The soup, dishes, and snacks all overturned, and several people nearby could not dodge in time and were splashed all over.

The music and singing in the room came to a sudden halt. All laughter and banter were forced to an end.

The young man sitting at the head of the table bears a four or five-part resemblance to this young man.

At this moment, the young man at the head slapped the table and rose to his feet, about to roar.

Slap!

A folded newspaper was whipped across his face.

For someone trained in martial arts, even holding soft paper can produce the effect of a wooden board.

Half of the young man's face turned red instantly. He was so angry that his eyes were bloodshot.

To be slapped in the face in front of so many people, how could he not be angry?

Even his own brother wouldn't get away with it!

The young man was about to strike back.

But the young man who had burst in was like a machine gun, firing off a string of scolding:

"Eat, eat, eat! People's iron hooves are almost kicking onto your face! And you're still eating!"

The others around were confused, and upon hearing this, they were shocked, thinking that a war had started.

They thought to themselves: How could that be?

Who has enough supplies right now to support a war?

The young man did not explain further and threw the newspaper directly to the young man: "Look!"

The young man had been full of rage, but as his gaze swept over the few sentences on the newspaper, his eyes nearly popped out of their sockets.

He could no longer care about his face, which had been slapped red, and said loudly: "How is this possible! It must be fake, right?"

The young man sneered: "Heh, what do you think?"

The young man looked at the fold marks on the newspaper.

It must have been folded and rolled into a small tube, then sent urgently via a tamed bird of prey acting as a flying messenger.

"Xinzhou... how could that be?" The young man still refused to believe it and read what was written on the newspaper again.

The young man said: "After you're done, give it to the others to pass around."

In any case, merchant caravans would soon bring more newspapers from Xinzhou; it couldn't be stopped at all.

Let everyone understand the latest news and have a bit more urgency, instead of indulging in pleasure all day and neglecting training!

Not doing a lick of real work!

Xinzhou is practically kicking us in the face, and you bastards still have the heart to play!!

The young man at the head still had eyes full of disbelief as he dazedly passed the newspaper to his side.

Someone next to him immediately took it. The others couldn't just stand there waiting, so they all crowded around.

After reading it, they had the same thought.

"How could this be possible?!"

They knew too well how terrifying the Evil Plague was and how difficult those Plague Ghosts were to deal with!

They had sought out many divine doctors, monks, Daoists, and even those mages from the grasslands who practiced witchcraft; they had tried all sorts of methods. Nothing worked at all!

"Even in places where divine doctors gather, I've never heard of a single one being cured!"

Once infected with the evil, no one has ever been saved!

Otherwise, why is everyone so afraid?

They are not afraid of getting hurt; what they fear is the wound being tainted by foul blood, for that would be the end of it!

"On what grounds does Xinzhou dare?!"

"It could also be fake."

"What if it's real?"

This is indeed news that can unsettle people's minds; the *Xinzhou Times* must have already been sent to all parts of the north, and it is very likely to break the current situation in the north! "How did that down-and-out Zhao Family run so fast?!" someone could not help but say.

"They even claim to sincerely invite fellow practitioners from all sides to go to Xinzhou for exchanges and discussions... They have wolfish ambitions! It's wishful thinking!"

"We must not let a single one get away!"

Every family is short on medical talent; this is clearly walking into a tiger's den, a one-way trip, so how could they possibly let their own talent go over there?!

In the reception hall, everyone truly had no heart for amusement anymore.

They cannot stop everyone, but those key talents must be closely guarded; they must not be allowed to run off!

That would only strengthen the opponent and weaken themselves!

"Even if what is written in the *Xinzhou Times* is true, we can still continue to pressure... urge those pharmacists, physicians, and this or that type of mage; perhaps we can see results!"

The young man sitting at the head of the table agreed: "That's right! If the Zhao Family can do it, there is no reason we of the Qi cannot!"

And...

Rather than taking the risk of sending their own talent over, it is better to let spies go and test the waters!

"What does the Head of the Family say?" the young man asked his elder brother beside him.

The youth, who had been keeping a sullen face, glared at them: "I didn't dare stay there."

Everyone understood.

The Head of the Family of the Qi is certainly in a bad mood.

The news in the newspaper is most likely true.

After everyone had looked at the newspaper, the young man snatched it back and his gaze swept over the content again, specifically the part mentioning the Patrol Guard Division. Compared to Ren Qi, who focused his attention on Wen Gu, the disciples of their Qi family placed more focus on the name of Pei Jun.

The Qi and the Pei Family are both military merit families, but compared to the Pei Family, who are trapped in the capital and have been suppressed all along, their Qi family has fared better outside and has more people they can use.

The Qi family also has people in charge of horse farms, so when the world fell into chaos, they were not short on horses.

They had previously looked down on Pei Jun: as an heir to a military merit family, how could you be willing to assist a down-and-out family?

Later, they felt that the Pei Family and the Zhao Family were a match in temperament—both families have very few people capable of taking responsibility! A sign of decline!

But now, with the *Xinzhou Times* spreading, Pei Jun's reputation throughout the entire Beidi is bound to rise significantly!

"Why can't I do what Pei Jun can?!"

They all shared the same psychology.

And, the way they looked at the physicians, pharmacists, and various Masters they kept in their own households became less than pleasant.

You want status, I give you status; you want privileges, I give you privileges; and I haven't been stingy with medicinal materials either.

Where are the results?!!

After autumn began, the temperature dropped quickly.

The Xianshou Army of various forces in Beidi mobilized.

Merchant caravans followed closely behind, delivering goods and the latest news to all sides.

The merchant caravan heading to the Du Clan in Jizhou also carried the *Xinzhou Times* to sell the news.

But faster than the merchant caravans were the intelligence personnel of the Patrol Guard Division; while they contacted the Bai family, they delivered this issue of the *Xinzhou Times* into their hands.

The Bai Family residence.

Bai Hang secretly held a copy of the *Xinzhou Times* he had just obtained, sharing this news that could shock his entire clan with his elder brothers and sisters.

"Father is indeed far-sighted and has great vision!"

It is fortunate that they planned ahead; if they were to act now, it would be too late!

It is hard to imagine how many people will head to Xinzhou in the future!

This concerns life itself!

Although the newspaper says that the epidemic has not been completely conquered yet, they have already successfully taken the first step!

While others are hesitating, Xinzhou has already taken such a crucial, big step!

Who wouldn't be tempted upon hearing this?

This giant beast that is Xinzhou is growing too fast!

It is as if someone is constantly whipping it; this giant beast runs faster and faster, and others accompanying it at its side will be left behind if they are not careful. "Our Bai family should also go over as soon as possible!" Bai Hang said to his elder brothers and sisters.

Go over as early as possible, and integrate as early as possible!

Xinzhou is running so fast because it must have abundant talent and fierce competition; one slow step and you will be left even further behind!

The more Bai Hang thought about it, the more anxious he became.

Fortunately, when they contacted Xinzhou, it was before this news came out. If they were to contact them now, he doesn't know if they would even be able to get a spot.

Here in Jizhou, the powerful and wealthy families who are well-informed in secret are already stirring.

Those who are watching their family will also have their attention diverted by those wealthy families.

"This is the perfect time to leave!" Bai Hang said.

The rest of the Bai family felt the same way.

Seeing this *Xinzhou Times*, their confidence grew even stronger.

Before, there was still some confusion and anxiety about the future, but now?

Where is there any confusion?

There is no anxiety!

That is called a path to survival!

Goodbye, Jizhou!

Our Bai Family will take our leave first!