Chapter 67: Is This Really Going to Kill Us?

Mu Nan Zhao originally had no patience to deal with Gu Qingye.

But when he heard Gu Qingye say someone had died, his face instantly darkened: "Up to now, only one person in Shitou Village has been sick; who did you hear that someone died from?"

Gu Qingye was a little afraid of him, and stammered, "Everyone says that, but I don't remember the specifics."

Mu Nan Zhao's eyes filled with ferocity: "Since it's just a rumor spreading, don't go around proclaiming these as truth, understand?"

Gu Qingye had never felt such pressure before; she stood stiffly, unable to move at all.

Only after Mu Nan Zhao had walked far away did her legs go weak and she knelt down……

Before evening, Shitou Village had already been spread with a layer of lime powder.

The number of dead rats burned that day in the village was clearly reduced compared to the previous day.

Moreover, up to now no one has come forward to report anyone having a fever or cough.

It seemed this day would soon pass peacefully.

Village Chief Zhao looked at the expanse of white everywhere and, for once, felt his mood lighten.

He said to his wife, "You're tired too; go back and we'll quickly rustle up something to eat, then get a good night's sleep."

Mid-slope, under the big elm tree.

Gu Xixi boiled eggs using Lao Langzhong's medicine pot and medicine stove.

There were also pancakes, several flavors of pickled vegetables, and stir-fried cured meat.

These were all brought by Madame Zhao in the afternoon; if you don't feel like cooking, you can eat them as is.

Gu Xixi split the pancake, stuffed it with dried meat and pickles, and warmed it by the fire.

"Master, it's ready to eat."

Lao Langzhong had just taken a bite when Xiao Hua came over meowing.

Lao Langzhong smiled, broke off a piece and gave it to it, saying, "Greedy little cat, after rats get boring, human meat pancakes are even more fragrant."

Gu Xixi scooped out the boiled eggs, absentmindedly gazing down at the village.

Clearly, the situation in Shitou Village had improved.

But for some reason, she felt uneasy tonight.

She thought, Mu Nan Zhao has been gone for most of the day; why hasn't he returned yet?

After the two of them and the cat had filled their stomachs, Gu Xixi tidied up the jars; just as she stood up, she saw firelight quickly gathering on the road below.

Each point of light swayed, unmistakably torches in people's hands.

More and more torchlight surged toward the village entrance.

Gu Xixi quickly set down the jar, "Master, something might have happened in the village."

Passing Zhao Si's house, Gu Xixi noticed the guard was gone.

Two pitchforks were haphazardly thrown on the ground, clearly the guard had left in a hurry.

Yet the gate remained locked from outside, a faint light seeping through the crack.

The Zhao Si family probably still didn't know what had happened outside.

Gu Xixi did not tell Lao Langzhong about this.

She supported Lao Langzhong as they continued forward, secretly thinking, if trouble really broke out, she would first ask Lao Qian for the key to let this family out; otherwise they'd be too pitiful.

Still one li from the village entrance, the road ahead was packed with people holding torches.

"I really saw it—outside are all soldiers in armor!"

"They brought five big carts of firewood and grass, plus two horse-drawn wagons with wooden barrels, which might contain tung oil!"

"Tung oil mixed with firewood—this is going to burn us all to death!!"

In an instant, cries of grief rose up.

Gu Xixi pulled Lao Langzhong forward through the crowd, repeatedly saying, "Excuse me, everyone make way for the doctor! Let him go speak to the people outside!"

After great effort she reached the front, where Gu Xixi saw Village Chief Zhao standing inside the fence, waving his right hand, looking very agitated.

"Sir soldier, please bring your commander over; I want to ask him why these firewood supplies were suddenly brought here!"

"Our village still has hope—this morning they promised to help us get medicinal herbs, yet tonight they suddenly want to burn the village!"

A soldier said, "Stop shouting; for now they haven't said they'll burn it."

"However, your village has had so many deaths from illness; as the village chief, I'll give you a straight answer."

"It's just a matter of a day or two—let everyone do what they want, eat what they want, and eat their fill."

Hearing this, Village Chief Zhao grabbed the fence with both hands to barely stay upright.

His eyes bloodshot, he cried out in grief, "No one in Shitou Village has died of illness! Who's spreading lies! Who!"

At this point, Gu Xixi and Lao Langzhong finally managed to squeeze to the front.

Gu Xixi had already heard the exchange between Village Chief Zhao and that soldier.

She rushed over and said, "I've brought the doctor; he can testify that the plague in Shitou Village isn't that severe."

"Only one person is infected, and he has already taken medicine."

"It's impossible for multiple people to have died of illness; this must be a rumor spread from outside!"

Lao Langzhong quickly nodded, "Exactly, I'm the doctor; I stake my life on it—everything I've said is true!"

The soldier glanced at the two, stepped back a few paces, and fell silent.

Suddenly a man from behind shouted shrilly, "Oh no! They're moving the tung oil!"

One sentence—like a drop of water falling into hot oil—caused everyone to erupt.

"Better to fight them than to be trapped here and burned alive!"

"Right! Everyone, charge out together!"

Village Chief Zhao realized things were bad, his voice hoarse from shouting, "Don't act rashly; listen to me, don't run outside!"

There is still room for negotiation now; don't start a conflict with the soldiers.

Zhao Village Chief cried out and bowed, but the villagers couldn't hear his words at all.

Gu Xixi was made dizzy by wave after wave of the crowd, and could not see clearly whether anyone outside was moving things.

She only focused on tightly holding onto Old Doctor Lang, lest he be knocked over by the people around.

The stationed soldiers outside picked up their weapons one after another, shouting, "A riot! A riot!"

"Superiors have ordered that villagers in the epidemic area may not go out; if there is resistance, they will be killed without mercy!!"

Gu Xixi was squeezed against the fence and unable to move.

Behind her were desperate and angry shouts; beside her ear came the creaking of the wooden fence under pressure.

Ahead, about a dozen soldiers pointed their spears at the fence.

Looking further ahead, a few soldiers jumped onto the cart and carried the tung oil onto the dry grass.

At the moment the fence gave way under the weight, Gu Xixi exerted herself to shove Old Doctor Lang sideways, while her own body lurched forward uncontrollably.

The bright spear tip approached; at the last moment, what flashed in her mind was Mu Nan Zhao.

"Sorry, Mu Nan Zhao, I might have caused you to take a detour."

"But you're the male lead; taking a few more detours will surely still let you achieve your wish of holding power over the court."

Suddenly, the forward momentum of her body stopped.

When her feet left the ground, Gu Xixi looked up.

Mu Nan Zhao sat astride a black horse, one hand gripping her arm; looking down at her from above, his expression was astonishingly grim.

Gu Xixi landed lightly in front of Mu Nan Zhao.

She didn't have time to think about how it felt to ride a horse for the first time, and blurted, "I knew you'd definitely make it in time!"

Mu Nan Zhao gritted his teeth and said, "Shut up."

For some reason, he paused a moment, then said in a cold tone, "You were only a step away from being a corpse."

Mu Nan Zhao held his head high; Gu Xixi turned back and could not see his expression.

She could only smile ruefully and say, "We scared ourselves for nothing—thanks to you, right?"

From beside them came a man's hearty laugh: "Sure enough, the love between husband and wife is deep!"