“What? The plague is spreading in Pucheng?”
Upon hearing the news, Margaret’s expression
changed drastically. “How could this happen? Didn’t we say last night that it
was already under control?”
When the plague first appeared, she immediately
ordered the village to be sealed off and all infected individuals to be
quarantined.
Anyone who had come into contact with an
infected person was also placed under strict surveillance.
Under such circumstances, how had the plague
spread so severely overnight in Pucheng?
“The outbreak in Yangliu Village was indeed
contained, but a new source of infection has emerged in Fengxi Town. It was
completely unexpected. Over a hundred people are now showing symptoms of
infection, and the number continues to rise,” the aide reported gravely.
“Immediately seal off all exits and entrances
to Fengxi Town! Do not allow the plague to spread any further. Strictly monitor
anyone infected and investigate everyone else thoroughly. Go, now!” Margaret
ordered decisively.
“Yes, ma’am!”
The aide didn’t dare delay and immediately set
things in motion.
To be cautious, military forces were deployed
to seal off all entry and exit points of Fengxi Town.
No one was allowed in or out.
Strict control measures were enforced.
Though it caused some disruptions, it was a
necessary step for the greater good.
“Just as I thought --- this isn’t going to be
simple. The White Bone Cult is planting seeds everywhere,” Dustin said with
narrowed eyes.
Yangliu Village was only the beginning. The
real battle was yet to come.
“They operate in the shadows while we are exposed.
Until we uncover the White Bone Cult’s stronghold, we can only move step by
step and minimize losses as best we can,” Margaret said, her brows furrowed.
“The plague has already spread. I can’t handle
this alone. We should request reinforcements from Stonia,” Dustin suggested.
“Gather all doctors skilled in acupuncture and bring them here. I’ll teach them
how to expel the plague toxins. That way, even if more outbreaks occur, we
won’t be caught off guard.”
“Good idea. I’ll contact them right away,”
Margaret agreed, immediately using her network to begin recruiting doctors.
Rather than giving a man a fish, it’s better to
teach him how to fish. Though Dustin’s medical skills were extraordinary, even
he was limited in a widespread outbreak like this.
More skilled physicians were essential.
While doctors like Dustin were rare, experts in
acupuncture were not hard to find in Stonia.
With enough skilled hands and knowledge of
Dustin’s methods, they could effectively combat future outbreaks.
…
At that moment, in Wugang City ---
Li Wenxing sat in the City Lord’s Mansion,
listening to his subordinates' report, a grim look settling on his face.
“Your Highness, based on our investigation,
over a hundred people in Wugang City have already been infected. Most are under
quarantine, but a few have slipped through our control. Should we impose a full
lockdown on the city?” the aide asked.
“One hundred is still within manageable limits.
There’s no need to lock down the entire city yet. Gather all infected
individuals in one place. As for the escapees, send soldiers to capture them
immediately. We must bring them back before the plague spreads further,” Li
Wenxing ordered after a moment of contemplation.
A full lockdown would cause too much damage and
make them appear incompetent --- an image he couldn’t afford if he wanted to
outshine Li Guanglong and Li Juntang in this political competition.
To emerge victorious, he needed to control the
outbreak with the least amount of damage and disruption.
“Your Highness, aside from preventing the
spread, we also need to develop an antidote to the plague soon. If all those
infected die, and the news reaches the imperial family, it won’t look good,”
Qian Jin reminded him.
“I’ve already invited two renowned physicians
from Stonia. By now, they should be arriving. With their help, creating an
antidote shouldn’t be a problem,” Li Wenxing replied confidently.
“So Your Highness was already prepared. This
old servant was overthinking it,” Qian Jin smiled.
As they spoke, a guard quickly entered and
bowed. “Your Highness! The two renowned physicians have arrived and are waiting
outside!”
“Excellent! Bring them in at once!” Li
Wenxing’s face lit up with joy.
The physicians had come at just the right
moment to address his most pressing need.
“Yes, sir!”
The guard responded promptly and soon returned
with two elderly individuals.
One was an old man, the other an old woman.
Both were in their sixties or seventies with
graying hair, but their energy and presence were impressive.
The old man was Zhong Xiang, a renowned
physician in Stonia, famous for his acupuncture skills.
The elderly woman was Fang He, equally
well-known and highly skilled in pharmacology and detoxification.
“Greetings, Your Highness!”
Upon entering, Zhong Xiang and Fang He bowed
deeply to Li Wenxing.
“Divine Physician Fang! Divine Physician Zhong!
You’re finally here!” Li Wenxing rose to greet them warmly. “A plague has
broken out in Wugang City over the past two days. Many people have already been
infected. Only you two can help now!”
“A plague?” Zhong Xiang was slightly taken
aback, visibly surprised. “Your Highness, how could a plague suddenly break
out? Could someone be behind this?”
Unlike common infectious diseases, a plague
could cause mass casualties and was classified as a top-tier threat --- something
that always caused panic.
“The exact cause is still under investigation.
For now, what matters most is that you treat the patients and develop a cure
for the plague as soon as possible,” Li Wenxing said.
“Saving lives is always the top priority.
Naturally, we’ll do our best,” Fang He nodded.
“Your Highness, where are the patients? May we
examine them now?” Zhong Xiang asked.
“Of course, right this way,”
Without wasting any time, Li Wenxing led the
two physicians quickly out the door toward the designated treatment location. - Ton
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