Chapter 40: Poison in the Fog

In almost an instant, Jiangnan pulled three sachets from his bosom and handed them to the three women.

"Put them on! Don't take them off!"

The three women took the sachets, immediately handling them gingerly and keeping them close to their bodies.

Murong Wan's face turned pale, her voice tinged with panic.

"Mr. Jiang, what on earth is happening?"

"Someone's playing tricks!"

Jiangnan's voice was deep and icy, like ten‑thousand‑year‑old ice,

"And moreover, the opponent's methods are harsher than I imagined!"

His gaze burned like a torch, piercing the dense fog as he looked toward the dead‑silent county town ahead.

The thick fog churned, swirling around Qinghai County like a ghostly specter.

Within a few breaths, the surrounding white mist grew even denser.

At that moment, a figure burst out of a tightly shut shop beside them!

The person staggered, fear etched on his face, and hoarsely shouted:

"Quick! Come in quickly! The fog is poisonous! Quick!"

The sudden turn of events startled everyone; Murong Wan instinctively looked at Jiangnan, her eyes asking.

Jiangnan's gaze hardened, and he gave the man a slight nod.

"Enter!"

With Jiangnan's approval, Murong Wan and Ye Wan did not hesitate, supporting Su Meiruo, and rushed into the shop following the man.

Bang!

The heavy wooden door slammed shut, sealing out the outside dense fog.

Inside the shop, dim light illuminated a few assorted goods, and a faint musty odor lingered in the air.

The man gasped heavily, still shaken, leaning against the door; his clothes were tattered and stained with grime.

"Thank you!"

Murong Wan spoke first, her tone filled with gratitude.

Only then did the man lift his head, revealing a face weathered by years; he seemed in his forties, with sunken eye sockets rimmed with blood vessels.

"No need to thank me; I'm Li Dong, the owner of this shop."

Li Dong's voice was hoarse, tinged with fatigue,

"You... who are you, and why come here to court death?"

"We came to help."

Ye Wan asked anxiously,

"What exactly is happening? Where are the townsfolk? Where have they all gone?"

Li Dong heard this, a flash of pain crossing his eyes; he let out a long sigh, his voice low:

"The dead are dead, the fleeing have fled... Qinghai County is already finished..."

"Finished?"

Ye Wan widened her eyes in disbelief,

"How could this be? Didn't they say it was just Smallpox Rash?"

Li Dong gave a wry smile: "Smallpox Rash? That's only the beginning! This fog... this fog is the real death‑bringer!"

Jiangnan had remained silent, but now suddenly spoke:

"Between the Smallpox Rash and the white mist, there is probably some connection."

"And all of this is linked to the River God Spring!"

"Do you know the location of the River God Spring? We must set out immediately."

"You've lost your lives now???"

Li Dong's complexion changed abruptly; he jerked his head up, staring at Jiangnan in terror,

"I tell you, going to that place will kill you!"

Su Meiruo's heart sank sharply, a foreboding feeling surging within her.

Her mentor, Qu Lao, was the director of the Qinghai County Health Center.

Just three days ago, she had spoken with Qu Lao on the phone, and he had mentioned investigating the River God Spring!

"Director Qu of the county health center! Did he go to the River God Spring?"

Su Meiruo's voice trembled, a hint of sobbing in it, as she stared fixedly at Li Dong.

Li Dong clenched his teeth, averting his gaze from Su Meiruo. He was silent for a moment, then finally spoke slowly:

"Director Qu... and the health department experts went to the River God Spring three days ago... and have not returned..."

"What?!"

Su Meiruo's face turned ghastly, her body swayed and she nearly fell.

Ye Wan hurriedly steadied her, comforting:

"Sister Meiruo, don't worry; Director Qu is a fortunate man, destiny will protect him, he will be fine!"

Murong Wan then looked at Jiangnan, her tone bearing unprecedented gravity:

"Mr. Jiang, what should we do now?"

Jiangnan's expression remained calm, showing no hint of panic.

"Act immediately, go rescue them at once."

"But..."

Li Dong stepped forward, still trying to persuade something.

But at that moment, "Boom—" a sudden thunderclap erupted!

Almost at the same time, the mist outside the window surged abruptly, roaring like a tsunami, battering the shop's doors and windows fiercely, producing a heart‑pounding "bang bang" sound.

Jiangnan's gaze suddenly chilled, because he could clearly feel that within the mist something was watching them with a predatory stare.

"Hmph, Insect Carving Minor Technique!"

Jiangnan let out a cold snort, and his words carried a few extra notes of seriousness.

"There are evil entities in this mist that are about to reach a critical mass; we must set out immediately, lest trouble arise later."

Li Dong was startled by those words, looking at Jiangnan with bewildered doubt:

"You… who exactly are you?"

Su Meiruo hurried forward a step, her tone urgent:

"We are from the Jinghai City Health Department, ordered to investigate and resolve the Smallpox Rash! This is Jiangnan, the expert, our specially appointed specialist!"

Li Dong clearly didn't believe it, eyeing the group with suspicion.

Seeing this, Su Meiruo, without hesitation, produced her credentials and handed them to Li Dong: "Look closely! This is my work badge!"

Li Dong took the badge, examined it carefully; a flash of light passed through his previously clouded eyes, and he suddenly lifted his head, saying excitedly:

"So it's you! My sister mentioned you; she said Jinghai would soon send people over."

"Then, once this mist clears, I'll drive you to River God Spring right away!"

"Do you know the exact location of River God Spring??"

Murong Wan's tone carried a hint of doubt, because the location of River God Spring is hidden, and ordinary people generally have no idea.

Li Dong immediately nodded, his eyes full of anxiety and worry:

"Of course I know! I was originally a resident of Divine Spring Village, then moved to the county town for work. My sister Li Sisi, also at the county health institute, three days ago went with Director Qu and others to River God Spring, but now… now there's no news at all…"

At this point, Li Dong's voice choked, and his eyes reddened.

Murong Wan's heart tightened again, and she hurriedly comforted, "Don't worry, with Mr. Jiang here, she and Director Qu will be fine."

Li Dong took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down:

"River God Spring lies on the mountain behind Divine Spring Village; that spot was originally our village's Holy Land, but since the mist appeared, it has become ominously sinister… Three days ago, Director Qu took health‑department experts there, saying they would investigate the source of the mist, but after they went, they never returned…"

"Three days ago…"

"We can't wait any longer!"

Jiangnan coldly cut Li Dong off, his gaze blazing like a torch, staring straight at the rolling mist outside the window,

"This mist is growing denser, and the evil entities keep swelling; if we keep waiting, we may run out of time!"

"But if this mist is inhaled too much, it will kill people!"