Seeking Truth with a Sword-Chapter 537 - 483: Bestowing Blood

Chapter 537: Chapter 483: Bestowing Blood
Yesterday at this time, the Governor Mansion was bustling with activity as everyone was busy packing their personal belongings for evacuation.
But now, the belongings had been packed, and the Governor Mansion was eerily quiet.
Li Hui sat in the main seat, expressionlessly looking at the newspaper in his hands. The news about various nations issuing declarations against Yu Country had been published. Although it occupied only an insignificant, tofu-block-sized space on the paper, it seemed incredibly important to the Yu Country people who truly cared about current affairs.
Officials from the Governor Mansion and Assistant Officers brought by Prince Yue also sat in the hall, either pretending to look at the newspapers or aimlessly writing something on paper.
Everyone’s real attention was focused on the grandfather clock against the wall.
DONG, DONG, DONG—
As the hands moved to the top, a muted chime echoed from the clock.
All the officials visibly relaxed, and someone secretly let out a long sigh of relief.
Exactly one day and one night had passed since Li Ang said he would produce the medicine. The deadline had arrived.
"Attend to your own duties," Li Hui said, his tone neutral, as he put down the newspaper. He then rose from his chair and walked out of the hall to the laboratory in the corner of the Governor Mansion.
The laboratory’s windows were tightly shut, and the curtains were drawn, obscuring any view inside.
Yan Yundang, clad in heavy armor, stood like a statue before the laboratory door, his expression cold and unmoving.
Qiu Feng, Ouyang Shi, and Li Leqing sat in the pavilion, their expressions anxious.
Xi Yangyu, in a corner of the courtyard, was leisurely eating, using Telekinesis to suspend a pot of hot tea and some sweets. Seeing Li Hui appear, he clapped his hands and rose to greet him.
"Your Highness Prince Yue."
Qiu Feng and Ouyang Shi also stood up to greet Li Hui when they saw him.
Li Hui waved his hand and asked Li Leqing with a slightly furrowed brow, "The deadline has arrived. Is Risheng still in the laboratory?"
Like the common people of Hedong Road, Li Hui had been waiting for the rumored cure for too long. Expectation and hope had vanished. Perhaps there was genuinely a medicine for the plague, perhaps Li Ang could indeed invent it, just as he had completely cured malaria, saving countless people from illness. But not today, perhaps not even soon.
"I’ll go ask."
Li Leqing, who had not slept all night, wobbled as she stood up, steadying herself on the table. With Qiu Feng’s support, she managed to stand firm.
She gave Qiu Feng an "I’m fine" smile, then turned and walked to the laboratory door.
"Princess."
Yan Yundang, diligently fulfilling his duty as a guard, was sparing with his words, merely nodding at her, still holding the horse lance in his hand.
"May I go in to see him?" Li Leqing asked softly. "I’m a bit worried."
The plague had come so suddenly and fiercely, taking so many lives. She could sense the guilt, self-blame, and burden in Li Ang’s heart.
Yan Yundang remained silent for a long moment before finally unfastening the key from his waist and handing it to her. "...Please be quiet, Princess," he added softly.
Li Leqing took the key. Yan Yundang stepped back two paces, making way at the door, and watched as Li Leqing slowly unlocked the laboratory door.
Inside, the light from the talisman lamp was still steady.
Li Ang, wearing a white lab coat, was scurrying between experiment tables, operating equipment and murmuring to himself, "Just a little more, just a little more..."
He did not notice the door had opened, nor did he notice Li Leqing standing outside. While operating the equipment, he was remotely controlling the Ink Silk Clone miles away using his Mind.
"..."
Li Leqing watched the focused young man in the laboratory, his hair messy from long neglect. Her mouth opened as if to speak, but she eventually fell silent.
Finally, she took a half step back and silently closed the door.
"How is it?" Li Hui approached, asking in a deep voice.
"Risheng said he needs just a little more time." Li Leqing was silent for a moment, then softly asked, "Could you give him two more hours?"
"How long has it been?" Li Hui took a deep breath. "We can’t delay any longer. We need to evacuate now."
"But..."
"No buts." Li Hui shook his head firmly at his younger sister. "The situation in the city is already severe, and you know what such large-scale natural and man-made disasters can attract. The Jianquan Monk took his own life and transformed into a Chaotic Wind. And Taiyuan Prefecture is not far from Xingzhou. If it really attracts the Chaotic Wind, there will be chaos beyond our control!"
Ordinary Chaotic Wind could enhance natural and man-made disasters and even block Array Formation Talismans, which was troublesome enough. But the Chaotic Wind born from the transformation of the Jianquan Monk might even have the effect of absorbing people’s souls and dragging them into the Six Paths of Reincarnation Illusion Realm.
At this moment, Taiyuan Prefecture had fulfilled all the conditions needed to invite the Chaotic Wind.
A son of a thousand gold does not sit in an open hall.
Even if not for his own life, Li Hui also had to consider his full-blooded younger sister, Li Leqing.
"Duke Yan, please fetch Risheng. We need to leave," Li Hui said gravely. "If the Chaotic Wind arrives, all communication will be cut off, and the outside world will have no knowledge of what has happened in Taiyuan Prefecture. Who knows if people from Zhao Ming will appear."
Li Hui knew that Yan Yundang was a Martial Arts Grandmaster and was also most concerned about Li Ang’s safety. If Li Ang was unwilling to leave, Yan Yundang could forcefully remove him.
"..."
Hearing the name Zhao Ming, Yan Yundang’s brows furrowed slightly. He was also aware that Zhao Ming’s influence was fueling the plague.
Their side had Yan Yundang, a Martial Arts Grandmaster, and Xi Yangyu, a Candle Cloud Telekinesis Master. Xi Yangyu was not very reliable. Moreover, the Taiyuan Wang Family, the most important force in the city, had also become their enemy...
"Alright." Yan Yundang nodded and was about to open the lab’s door.
However—
"This is terrible, Your Highness Prince Yue!" A panicked voice came from outside the courtyard. A Sergeant in military uniform quickly approached, knelt on one knee before Li Hui, and ed, "Scouts that common people from various workshops in the city are gathering. Some are infected with the plague, and some are not. All of them are rushing towards the Governor Mansion."
"What?!" Hearing the words "common people gathering," Li Hui’s pupils contracted. "Take me there!"
With a wave of his sleeve, Li Hui had the Sergeant lead the way. Qiu Feng, Ouyang Shi, and Li Leqing hesitated for a moment but followed.
THUD, THUD, THUD.
They passed through the Governor Mansion. The officials in the mansion had also heard the news, and many climbed to high floors, looking out the windows.
On several main streets of Taiyuan Prefecture, teeming crowds were swarming. Most wore masks, but some had already developed tumors and black spots on their skin. Many other common people of Taiyuan were carrying, supporting, or holding their sick relatives.
Dozens of respected local elders, leading thousands of civilians, surrounded the Governor Mansion. Then, before the astonished eyes of Li Hui, Li Leqing, Ouyang Shi, Qiu Feng, and all the officials, they knelt en masse in front of the Governor Mansion like a tidal wave.
"What are you doing?! Are you rebelling?!" The military officer guarding the Governor Mansion stood at the door. His heart pounded with anxiety, yet he forced an angry demeanor. He drew his Broadsword, slashed it against a beam by the door, sending wood splinters flying, and bellowed, "All of you, back off!"
"Please, Mr. Li, grant us your blood!" a local elder yelled hoarsely, slamming his head heavily onto the ground.
"Please, Mr. Li, grant us your blood!!!"
Countless voices merged into a single roar, surging up into the sky.