Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

They didn’t let their guard down, over ten men continued to point their long spears at them, two other men were sent to survey the area while raising their torch.

The firelight illumined the area, indeed about ten carriages that were hidden in the dark was seen, and soon proven to contain rations and medical herbs.

A second man held his fire torch and walked up, and with the convenience of the light, the big man discovered the snake is still firmly biting that servant who by now was deathly pale.

“It’s just a harmless black striped snake, you won’t die if bitten. Stop groaning.”

He meticulously identified and knew for certain that the snake is not poisonous. It was common to see it at the outskirts in these parts, he raised his hands and got it off the man. It curled in his hands, then using his sturdy left arm, he tossed it off. That snake was thrown afar off, then they noticed movements amid the grass and woods.

When the servant heard the man’s words his body stopped trembling, he lowered his head and looked at the wound on his palm. Bright red blood flowed but no signs of poison was observed.

“Nevertheless, when you get back you should wash the wound thoroughly, apply some medication to ease the swelling then your wound will heal faster.”

The commotion here also alerted the troops in front and so they stopped their tracks.

At the most forefront of the group, a man who dressed scholarly and had eyes that are dark like thick tinted ink asked, “What happened?”

“We found some suspicious people. They claim they’re transporting rations and medications for the people of Shangjing.”

The man allowed the words to sink in then raised his brows lightheartedly, “Oh? Bring me to them. If it’s truly for the good of the people, why are they so secretive?”

“Master, Meng Hun will go with you.”

Beside the man stood a burly strong man with a bushy beard, the muscles on his body rippling from his coarse hemp cloth, even hidden, with one glance you’d know the immense force that each muscle contained.

Huang Tan brought along 1000 imperial guards and 500 dan of rations, entering through another side of the east gate of Shangjing city that collapsed.

The imperial guards held up hundreds of torches, from afar it looked like they were floating in the skies like slowly drifting stars.

Huang Tan half-closed his eyes, with the aid of the firelight he could see their surroundings, he remarked helplessly that human strength cannot resist natural disasters.

Shangjing City which was bustling two days before was utterly desolated now. The night wind carried with it an unspeakable smell of blood.

He grudgingly took out a handkerchief from his bosom, covered the tip of his nose, then raised his hands.

“Let’s go —”

Suddenly, a fragile cry calling for help came from below the collapsed ruins by the side.

“Save me… save, save me…”

Such weak cries coupled with the dark night; it has a horrifying feel.

The imperial guards were on the move, though many appeared fearful. Huang Tan’s face remained unchanged; he waved his hands to move forward.

“It is important to read the edict, let there be no delay.”

Shangjing became a deserted city, even Huang Tan’s hair unbearably stood up.

Jiang Pengji resides at the east of the city; the camp base is also set up at that region. Huang Tan and his men also entered through the east gate. Both locations are not far apart. Moreover, the fire at the camp base never burns out, it stands out in the night thus making Huang Tan’s job of locating them easier.

“Is the Second Langjun of the Liu’s around?”

Huang Tan brought men to read the edict, creating a commotion along the way. Feng Jin saw from afar and prepared beforehand for the arrival of the edict.

Feng Jin boldly declared, “Second Langjun has brought men to carry out rescue efforts. He may not be able to rush back in time; I urge the messenger to rest temporarily.”

Huang tan looked like he wasn’t distracted, truthfully, he already glanced once through this temporary, run-down campsite with the remaining light around.

All he heard are weary cries of pain from the injured, the air filled with the smell from medicines, many even exuded with heavy bloody smells. Having smelled so much of it, his stomach felt unwell, his throat filling with a sour taste, “What is this smell?”

Being an esteemed eunuch, Huang Tan was born with a silver spoon in his mouth. Feng Jin also hailed from an aristocratic family, naturally he wouldn’t know either..unless he rolled around the mud as he grew up?

He also couldn’t withstand it anymore yet knowing the miserable state the people who experienced the earthquake are in, he knew these minor sufferings were nothing.

Feng Jin knitted his brows and thought of a resolution. “Please pardon me, esteemed messenger, the campsite is rundown and dirty and there are many injured people around. To prevent the diseases or infections from affecting you, Jin boldly invites the messenger to another site to wait temporarily. Jin will send men to inform the Second Langjun to come back this instant.”

He convinced Huang Tan to wait at one side, where a small shed had been set up. There was an incense burner burning with sandalwood. The scent filled the air, neutralizing the strange smell.

Huang Tan sat on top of the stool; roaming around the campsite with his eyes.

Having seen from afar the shadows of small hills, he pointed towards them and questioned, “What are those?”

Presently the wind blew in their direction, the smell that came from there smelled bad. If not for two fragrant incense burners by his side, he would’ve vomited.

Feng Jin instinctively turned to look, and a bitter smile spread across his face. He replied, “Your esteemed messenger, those are the unfortunate ones who lost their lives from the earthquake. The weather is intensely hot now, flies abound, it’ll be hard to preserve the dead bodies and it’ll take just three to five days for the body to decompose and this will encourage maggot growth. The bodies stink as they decompose… if not handled well, it’d be easy for an epidemic to spread. Thus, during the rescue efforts, we dug these corpses out and will bury them soon after.”

At the start, Huang Tan had listened calmly, but as Feng Jin continued to elaborate, his reddened face gradually faded away to become pale white until it changed to a deathly grey. Under the moonlight, the silhouette of the pile of “small hills” can be seen clearly…

…and are honestly piles of dead bodies…

Unable to bear it anymore, Huang Tan’s stomach heaved a yellow, acidic spit was expelled from his mouth. The dirty sputum contained undigested abalone and sharks’ fin, some fatty item…Feng Jin secretly spied and glimpsed at him, the edge of his mouth curled into a mild mocking smile.

They waited for an hour. Huang Tan recalled the pile of ‘small hills’ nearby so often that he couldn’t sit still. It was as if needles pricked him, it was that uncomfortable.

Luckily, an angelic voice sound from afar at this moment… the rightful lord Liu Xi arrived.

Liu Xi was no stranger to Huang Tan, remembering him as one who has outstanding features, a pure, arrogant youth from an aristocratic family. In a year or two, he’d be an ideal life partner idolized by countless young women. Yet, now that they’ve reunited, Huang Tan almost doubted his vision. The person before him was really Liu Xi?

Jiang Pengji looked a Huang Tan’s dazed expression, then lowered her head to look at herself, frowning discreetly.

She knew her present appearance looks like a beggar who hasn’t bathed for two to three years. Her sleeves are unkempt and short, her garment is filled with dried blood and other contaminants such that its original color cannot be discerned. Ashes and stains intermingled with sweat and stubbornly stuck on her face, it almost disguised her entire outlook.

Needless to mention Jiang Pengji’s indistinguishable blood and flesh, both her feet are also bound with a coarse, thick cloth and went through a lot of abrasions that only a tiny fragment is left.

Let alone a beggar, someone who was on the run for more than 10 years also would look cleaner than her.

“Second Langjun of the Liu’s, receive the edict.”

Jiang Pengji looked too tragic; Huang Tan couldn’t bear to shift his focus. Without reason, his heart filled with emotions believing that Liu Xi truly had a compassionate heart. Her motivation was solely for the people, rather than becoming one of those pretentious base people who don’t walk the talk (to put it kindly) but have a glib tongue, and nothing comes forth from their hands.

“Your subject Liu Xi, bows to accept the Emperor’s will.”

Huang Tan pulled out a roll of exquisite silk from his sleeve, then slowly opened it and read the edict with a sharp voice.

—–

At another location —

“Look at that— it’s been a long time, why does Xiaoyu look so pathetic?” A young scholar was riding on a horse and broke into an intriguing smile.

Xu Ke was shocked and opened his eyes wide, disbelieving what he saw.

“Why are you here?”