“These princes --- each one in a position of power --- yet they treat the people like dirt. When Father entrusted them with the Southern Border, he hoped they would temper their abilities and protect the lives of the people. But now it’s clear --- they only know how to fight for power and treat human lives as pawns in their games.”
Margaret’s face was full of anger, her
beautiful eyes tinged with a chilling coldness.
Toward her three older brothers, Margaret felt
not only rage --- but a deeper disappointment.
In her eyes, none of the three were wise
rulers. None of them deserved the throne.
“Now’s not the time to assign blame. The
priority is to save the innocent people,” Dustin said calmly.
He had no good impression of Li Wenxing, Li
Guanglong, or Li Juntang.
Li Wenxing was a hypocrite --- two-faced and
deceitful.
Li Guanglong was cruel and violent --- brave but brainless.
As for Li Juntang --- selfish, petty, and willing to sacrifice anyone for
personal gain.
“Mr. Rhys is right. Those civilians are in dire
straits. Only we can save them now,” Su Lan said seriously.
Margaret took a deep breath and gradually
suppressed the fury in her heart, regaining her composure.
“Organize a rescue team immediately! Head to Wugang
City at the fastest speed --- save as many lives as we can!”
She wasted no time and gave the order on the
spot.
She chose Wugang City not because the plague
there was more severe, but because the other two --- Lincheng and Liyang --- were
already beyond saving.
Those infected had already been completely
burned or killed by Li Guanglong and Li Juntang’s violent methods.
Even if she led a team there now, she wouldn’t
be able to save anyone.
In contrast, Li Wenxing’s complete neglect at
least left the infected with a sliver of survival.
As for how many could be saved --- only time
and effort would tell.
Very soon, under Margaret’s command, a rescue
team departed from Pucheng and headed straight toward Wugang City.
At this moment, in the slums of Wugang City...
A towering wooden wall enclosed a massive
prison-like cage. The damp air was filled with the stench of vomit and rotting
flesh.
Sharp bamboo stakes lined the top of the wall.
Occasionally, you could spot weathered strips of cloth --- left behind by those
who had tried to climb out.
Over five thousand people were crammed into the
muddy ground inside, without even a full mat of straw to rest on.
From a corner came the weak cries of a child. A
ragged woman was patting the child’s back with frostbitten hands. Her exposed
arms were covered in dark blotches, and when she coughed, horrifying swellings
bulged from her chest.
“Water... anyone... water...”
A frail old man lay on the ground, scraping at
the grass roots in the mud with his fingers.
The skin on his neck was already ulcerated,
oozing foul yellow-green pus. Beside him, two strong men were tearing apart a
moldy half bun, eyes clouded with hunger and greed, ignoring the maggots
crawling into their tattered clothes.
Suddenly, a commotion broke out on the western
side of the slum. A few plague-infected patients collapsed, convulsing
violently as their skin turned black before everyone’s eyes.
Uninfected civilians screamed and tried to
retreat, but the crowd behind them crushed them forward. They could only watch
in horror as the black patches spread across the bodies like living things.
“Don’t touch them! It’s contagious!”
Someone shouted, and panic instantly erupted.
Some picked up stones and hurled them at the
infected. Others stepped on their fellow prisoners, trying to climb the wooden
walls.
In the chaos, a woman holding a baby was shoved
to the ground. The infant in swaddling fell into the muddy water --- and before
it could even cry, it was trampled underfoot.
“Please, officials! We’re not sick! Let us
out!”
A few symptom-free civilians knelt at the
wooden barricade, shaking it with all their strength.
Outside the wall, armored soldiers stood
watching coldly. Every now and then, their spears would jab impatiently at
anyone who got too close.
“What the hell are you yelling for? The crown
prince’s orders were clear --- you’re all staying in there!”
A burly officer with a face full of scars spat
out a blade of grass from his mouth, grinding his boot over a bloodstain on the
ground.
“When the plague’s gone, we’ll let you out --- if you’re still alive by then.”
Just as he finished speaking, a chorus of
coughs suddenly rose from the east side.
A dozen formerly healthy people collapsed to
their knees, clutching their chests as black saliva dribbled from their lips.
Fear spread like the plague itself.
More and more people began to scream and sob in
despair. Some slammed their heads against the wooden posts. Others ripped at
each other’s hair. The entire cage had become a living hell.
As night fell, a cold drizzle began to fall.
The rain washed the filth off the ground --- but
it couldn’t wash away the despair in the air.
More and more bodies curled up in the mud --- no
one could tell whether they were asleep, or if they’d never wake again.
Only the torn flag atop the wooden wall still fluttered in the wind and rain, wailing like a ghost. - Ton
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