Seeking Truth with a Sword-Chapter 502 - 453: Falling Ill

Chapter 502: Chapter 453: Falling Ill
"Heh heh..." Thinking of Yang Yu, who revealed his ’straight-man’ tendencies the moment he successfully wooed a girl, Li Ang could only muse,
My friend, you’re really something.
Now in their fourth academic year, Li Ang was increasingly busy and seldom had the opportunity to go out for a meal with friends as he was doing now.
The two were eating side dishes at the restaurant, chatting about recent events.
Song Shaoyuan and You Xiao were preparing to have a child and were now in the naming phase. They hadn’t settled on a girl’s name yet, but for a boy, they were considering Song Shuhang or Song Qingshu.
Those names evoked a strong sense of déjà vu...
A Professor who had taught them national history, an elderly Doctor, had passed away due to old age. Before he died, the Professor, who had been serious all his life, finally made a joke. He requested that his children not bury him but cremate him instead, and press his ashes into dice. Whenever his descendants felt lost, they could toss the dice as if seeking life advice from him.
Casual chats always seemed too short. Before they knew it, dusk was approaching, so they paid their bill and headed downstairs to go their respective ways.
Inside their Golden City Mansion residence, Chai Chai was still laboriously working on her Mathematics homework, complaining as she wrote, "I can’t understand why the people in these math problems are so strange! The pool manager is simultaneously filling the pool and draining it, madly wasting water, apparently without fear of the owner reprimanding him. The old farmer puts chickens and rabbits in the same cage without worrying about them falling ill. And how large must that cage be to fit dozens of chickens and dozens of rabbits?
Then there’s the Spiritual Energy Locomotive driver. He always travels at a constant speed, is never late, and can even precisely calculate the speed of another locomotive, instantly figuring out when the two will pass each other. Is he a Telekinesis Master from the Cloud Patrol Realm? If he’s so good at calculating, why doesn’t he help the aforementioned farmer count chickens?"
Beside her, Ouyang Shi, who was also doing homework, heard Chai Chai’s exasperated rant. He wanted to laugh but dared not, struggling to contain himself.
"I’m back."
Li Ang casually took off his outer coat and hung it on the rack. Seeing Chai Chai’s continued complaints, he chuckled and ruffled her hair. "Have you had dinner?"
"No."
Chai Chai shook her head like a rattle-drum. "There’s so much homework at the start of the new term! Young Master, how about you let me copy your homework from last year?"
"What are you thinking?"
Li Ang flicked Chai Chai’s forehead. "You need to do your own work; try to be a bit more independent."
Chai Chai covered her forehead, pouting. "Hmph! Back then, I used to help you get dressed, and I washed your pants and quilts. Now you’re telling me to do things myself."
Li Ang was left speechless. He smacked his lips, wanting to argue but unable to find the words.
Fortunately, at that moment, the sound of a carriage stopping could be heard from outside.
Li Ang breathed a sigh of relief and walked to the courtyard to open the door. "Who is it?"
Standing outside the courtyard gate was a familiar face: Yan Zhou, the eldest legitimate grandson of the Duke Yan Mansion, and Duke Yan Yundang’s grandson.
"Yan Dalang?"
Li Ang asked with confusion, "What brings you here? Is something the matter?"
According to Chang’an custom, someone like Yan Zhou, the eldest legitimate son of a distinguished family, was expected to serve in the Imperial Guard. It had been a while since Li Ang had seen him.
"My second uncle is sick," Yan Zhou said, his expression anxious. Li Ang and the Yan Family were on excellent terms, so Yan Zhou didn’t bother with pleasantries.
Yan Hu, the second son of Duke Yan Yundang, held a military post in Shuo Province. Shuo Province was located north of Yu Country and was a vital passageway to the Anbei Protectorate, making it geographically crucial.
Some time ago, Yan Hu had sent a letter back stating that livestock at the local pasture were dying from disease, including over a dozen warhorses. Caring for and breeding warhorses was a military duty, and mass deaths of warhorses could become a serious incident. Yan Yundang had therefore pulled some strings, purchasing large doses of Allicin specifically for livestock and having the Duke Mansion servants send it to Shuo Province.
He had thought that would be the end of the matter, but today, two urgent letters had arrived. The letters mentioned that several herders in charge of grazing and caring for the livestock in Shuo Province had all fallen ill. The disease was progressing rapidly, unlike any common illness. According to the soldiers’ investigation, several people in nearby farmsteads had contracted the disease a month ago and died quickly. When Yan Hu sent this letter, he himself was feeling unwell and was bedridden.
Yan Zhou pursed his lips and said, "My father suspects this might be what the Academic Palace publications refer to as some kind of ’zoonotic...’ disease?"
Li Ang asked, "A zoonotic infectious disease?"
"Exactly!"
Yan Zhou nodded. "Shuo Province is a minor prefecture with a population of over one hundred thousand. The local State Mansion lacks the authority to possess a Nearby Worm, so they couldn’t contact Er Lang immediately to confirm the situation. Nonetheless, although my second uncle lacks talent in Martial Arts, he has taken Medicine Baths since childhood. He has trained his tendons and bones to a level nearly comparable to that of a Postnatal Martial Artist. For him to feel discomfort, this disease must be extraordinary. That’s why the family had me come and inquire."
Li Ang thought for a moment and asked, "Do you have more specific information?"
Yan Zhou didn’t immediately react. "Huh?"
"I mean, the types of livestock affected and the condition of the deceased, both animal and human," Li Ang clarified.
There are many zoonotic infectious diseases, such as foot-and-mouth disease, tuberculosis, porcine epidemic diarrhea, and goat encephalitis. Each disease has different causes and manifestations. Without examining the specific cases or autopsy s, Li Ang couldn’t guess which particular disease it was.
"Oh, I see."
Yan Zhou realized. "The letter mentioned that the sick livestock included cattle, horses, sheep, donkeys, and dogs, among others. Both livestock and humans would die within three or four days of falling ill, with a very high morbidity rate. According to a soldier’s , one patient was perfectly fine the day before, with no visible abnormalities. Within a single day, his skin began to bleed extensively and became covered in bruises. After death, his body turned... purple?"
A purple... body?
Li Ang’s pupils shrank slightly.
Shuo Province was remote and not of a high administrative rank, so the local outbreak hadn’t received timely attention. Yu Country was simply too vast, with over seven hundred State Mansions, and countless diseases emerged and disappeared daily. It was impossible to devote significant resources to every single disease. Moreover, this was a critical time, with preparations underway for war against the Zhou Kingdom.
Rapid onset, severe symptoms, high mortality rate... These descriptions sounded deeply unsettling.
"Skin turning purple is likely caused by abnormalities in the circulatory system..."
After some thought, Li Ang said, "You should return first. I’ll make some quick preparations at home and take this evening’s Spiritual Energy Locomotive to Dai State. From Dai State, I’ll proceed to Shuo Province."
"Alright!"
Seeing Li Ang agree, Yan Zhou breathed a sigh of relief, boarded the carriage, and left Golden City Square.
"You’re leaving tonight? So urgently?" Chai Chai couldn’t help but ask softly.
"Zoonotic diseases carry the risk of widespread transmission; the faster we act, the better. Early detection, early containment, early resolution."
Li Ang shook his head, a heavy feeling settling in his heart.
Let’s hope it’s not the disease I’m thinking of.