Breaking Army - Chapter 15

Xiao Chen held Ming Feiyi’s waist token, and as expected, they faced no resistance. However, just as they entered the town, they were met by a young man in green robes. Upon seeing them, the man froze for a moment before pulling two pieces of white cloth from a box he was carrying. He strode toward them and tossed the face masks right at their heads, shouting with full vigor, “Have you lost your minds!?”

Xiao Chen lacked strength and his reactions were slow, but Mu Qing stepped forward to block, catching the white cloths mid-air so they didn’t hit the Prince’s face. Xiao Chen could tell that although the newcomer was aggressive, he harbored no ill intent, “May I ask who…”

“Cover your mouth and nose first! Half the town is sick. I don’t care if you’re new doctors or just some wandering charlatans, do as you’re told!”

The lad wasn’t very old, but he had quite a temper. Xiao Chen and Mu Qing followed his lead. Seeing them cover their faces, the man’s expression softened slightly, though his face remained sour. He said irritably, “I am Bai Zhu, a physician from the Jishi Clinic in Mingxiao Town. Where did the government find you people this time?”

Xiao Chen clasped his hands, “I am Xiao Chen, a disciple of the Xingyun Temple. This is my young attendant, Mu Qing.”

“Oh,” Bai Zhu said icily, “Charlatans.”

“Ahem,” Xiao Chen said helplessly, “Little physician, you shouldn’t say such things…”

Bai Zhu interrupted him impatiently, “I saw your face just now, you’re clearly sick yourself. If you people were truly all-powerful, would you even get sick? Shouldn’t you be popping a pill to stay young forever or ascending to heaven on the spot? Fine, suit yourselves. If you want to seek death, I won’t stop you, just don’t get in the way of me treating my patients.”

The illness was truly an accident. As for immortality, he didn’t need medicine for that. But seeing how much he disliked Taoists, perhaps the previous priest who came wasn’t a true cultivator but a fraud?

“Physician Bai, I am truly a man of the Dao, here to save lives,” Xiao Chen said gently. “Did another priest come before us?”

Bai Zhu looked at him more closely, “You’re at least more pleasant to look at than that hypocrite. Yes, there was one, named Hua Wuhen. He said this plague was caused by evil spirits, but he hasn’t found a thing after several days… though I haven’t figured out the cause of the illness either,” Bai Zhu frowned at this. “But I believe illnesses require medicine. If you start talking about drinking talisman water to cure people, I’ll kick you out right now!”

“I won’t. Illnesses naturally require medicine, but if it truly is an evil spirit, that’s a different matter. Physician Bai, can I see the patients and that priest?”

“Some of the patients are gathered at the ancestral hall. I’m headed there now, come if you want to see. As for that priest you mentioned, he said he sensed evil energy and went to investigate. Who knows where he is, he’s not my responsibility.” Bai Zhu’s voice was full of disdain. “Follow me.”

It was lucky that both Xiao Chen and Mu Qing had good temperaments, otherwise, the little physician’s mouth would have surely offended them.

However, despite his sharp words, he noticed Xiao Chen was ill and didn’t walk too fast, he was clearly someone with a “knife-like mouth but a heart of tofu.” They had to cross the center of the town. For such a large town, the streets were deserted, desolate, and quiet. They occasionally met a few people out to buy supplies, all masked and in a hurry. Many households had their windows cracked open, with people peeking out, likely feeling stifled after being stuck inside all day.

The townspeople clearly knew Bai Zhu. Someone called out from a window, “Little Divine Physician Bai, did the government send new people? Are we saved!”

Bai Zhu rolled his eyes, “You’re better off trusting me than them.”

Xiao Chen did a quick scan. Many households were occupied. He asked Bai Zhu about the situation, “Physician Bai, you said half the town is sick, why are only some gathered at the ancestral hall?”

Bai Zhu said in surprise, “Because the hall isn’t big enough, obviously! There are about four hundred people in town, and nearly two hundred are sick. How could they all fit? The rest are elsewhere and have been ordered not to move around freely.”

He scoffed at Xiao Chen’s lack of common sense. Xiao Chen gracefully accepted the lesson. Even if he knew some things about the mortal world from stories, he couldn’t know everything, and there would always be slips. But it didn’t matter, it was a minor issue: he was very good at faking it.

Mu Qing’s eyes were fixed entirely on Xiao Chen, worried about his health. Xiao Chen coughed occasionally but didn’t let it stop him from questioning Bai Zhu, “Have there been any deaths from the illness?”

“It’s been five days since the first patient was found. So far, one elderly person whose body couldn’t hold out has passed away.” Bai Zhu stopped walking, “We’re at the ancestral hall.”

As they pushed the doors open, the smell of medicine and filth hit them, thick and choking. During the day, patients were also settled in the courtyard of the hall, looking thin and sallow. There were men, women, the elderly, and children. Many had a bucket or basin in front of them, and some were leaning over them to vomit, which was the source of the stench.

Bai Zhu acted as if he had no sense of smell, stepping into the courtyard without a change in expression. He kept talking, “This sickness spreads fast. Most of the town has been hit, but those of us from the outside haven’t caught it yet. The mortality rate isn’t high so far. Some have headaches, some have fevers, the symptoms vary, it’s very strange. The only thing they have in common is that they all vomit and find it hard to eat, so everyone is losing weight rapidly. If they can’t eat, they won’t last. If this drags on for a few more days…”

Everyone understood what Bai Zhu left unsaid. If it continued, people would inevitably start dying. The doctors were anxious. This illness was bizarre, it was essentially wasting people away. Xiao Chen moved closer to observe. There was indeed a trace of evil energy, not much, it looked more like the lingering scent left by a passing creature, like a Calamity Demon. Their presence alone could cause mortals to fall ill.

The demon that left the sickness seemed to have moved on, meaning the people’s illness could be treated with medicine and wouldn’t become a massive plague. Xiao Chen wasn’t a doctor, so he couldn’t help much there.

After speaking, Bai Zhu glanced at Xiao Chen and couldn’t help but add, “Have you seen a doctor? I can take a look at you, but I won’t waive the consultation fee.”

Xiao Chen waved him off, indicating it wasn’t necessary. Bai Zhu gave a light snort. He never believed in fortune-telling or priests, so he asked Xiao Chen half-mockingly, “So, what have you seen?”

Still thinking he was a charlatan, Xiao Chen began to put on an act, “Well, this priest has calculated that Ruoshui Town is surrounded by water on three sides and has excellent feng shui. As for the evil energy…”

Xiao Chen’s words stopped mid-sentence. He narrowed his eyes and looked toward the west. A powerful surge of evil energy had suddenly erupted there, so thick it felt suffocating. This shouldn’t be possible. High-level beings were suppressed in the mortal realm, and no one should be able to release power to this extent unless…

The casual smile vanished from Xiao Chen’s face. Although Bai Zhu could only see his eyes, he keenly noticed the instant change in expression. He froze, about to ask, when Xiao Chen said quickly to Mu Qing, “Stay here, I’m going to take a look.”

With that, he vanished in the blink of an eye. Bai Zhu’s eyes widened: qinggong? There was actually qinggong this fast in the world? He hadn’t even seen the man move, it was as if he had vanished into thin air. And the man was sick! To be that fast while ill, this priest actually knew martial arts…

However, before he could finish his thought, the young attendant who had been told to stay put clearly had no intention of obeying. He also vanished from Bai Zhu’s sight instantly, leaving him alone. Bai Zhu didn’t even have time to call out to him. He clicked his tongue dryly, “…What kind of people are they…”

Forget it, it had nothing to do with him. He should continue caring for the patients. Bai Zhu knelt in front of a small child who had just finished vomiting and used a cloth to wipe the child’s mouth, not minding the mess at all. The child looked up obediently. A gentle look appeared in Bai Zhu’s eyes, and he was about to comfort the child when the boy’s eyes widened, looking behind him.

No, more accurately, the child was looking at the sky. Bai Zhu turned around slowly, and his face was immediately filled with disbelief.

Everyone in the hall saw the same image, and the crowd quickly became agitated, “Ah! Ah! The gods! The gods have appeared!”

Xiao Chen didn’t know that as soon as he left, someone in town had staged a “divine appearance.” He moved too fast, and when he landed, his head spun, nearly making him lose his balance. He leaned against a tree and started coughing again, this time more violently, as if he were going to cough up his internal organs. While coughing, he thought to himself that this illness really came at the wrong time. Amidst his coughing, someone began to laugh softly.

The laughter was light, but to Xiao Chen’s intuition, it sounded entirely malicious. He used his face mask like a handkerchief, covering his mouth as he looked up. He saw a man bowing politely to him, “Greetings, Prince Po Jun.”

To the west of the town, where the evil energy reached the sky, stood a person, or rather, a demon. Xiao Chen recognized him as a demon at a glance. He was pale as a ghost with a stiff smile on his face, his eyes locked onto Xiao Chen. When Xiao Chen saw what was around him, his face darkened instantly.

Behind the demon was a giant, sinister array. Inside it lay a large number of demons that had reverted to their original forms. Their bodies were gradually shriveling, some reduced to just skin, because their life force was being drained by the array. It was a continuous consumption. The reason the array was red was that it was fed with blood and lives.

The demon smiling at Xiao Chen was also in the array, he was the core, the only one still standing. Beneath his robes, his legs had turned back into roots, and blood was slowly flowing into the array.

He was a flower demon.

Xiao Chen’s face turned completely cold. He forced a cough back down, tore off the face mask, and said in a hoarse voice, “The Hundred Demon Array, a sacrifice of over a hundred demons… It seems we have a great grudge between us. How did you know I was in the mortal realm?”

“If one wants to know, one will always find out.” The demon smiled, wearing a refined face that couldn’t hide the crazed glint in his eyes. “This lowly demon, Hua Wuhen, is here to see the Prince off.”

“To think a mere Hundred Demon Array is enough, are you overestimating yourself or underestimating me?” Xiao Chen curled his lips. He let go of the tree and stood straight. “Even if my cultivation is suppressed in the mortal realm, I don’t give a damn about a measly Hundred Demon Array.”

Xiao Chen made it sound easy, but he had almost no cultivation left and was still ill. It was difficult enough just to stand, yet he didn’t show any weakness. His aura even surpassed Hua Wuhen’s. A general who had fought a hundred battles had no reason to retreat when facing the enemy.

They had truly spent a fortune. Since cultivation was suppressed in the mortal realm, they had resorted to an evil array, using lives to fill it and summoning a terrifying formation. How big was this grudge? Once the Hundred Demon Array was active, all contact with the outside world would be cut off. Xiao Chen’s communication methods would no longer work. Breaking the array would be difficult, but not impossible.

Since arriving in the mortal realm, Xiao Chen hadn’t been carrying any weapons. A faint light glowed at his fingertips as he was about to summon his sword, when the sound of someone landing came from behind him. Mu Qing had caught up.

“Why did you… didn’t I tell you to stay put, you brat!”

Mu Qing’s face was deathly pale. He stared intently at the array and the demon, the sword in his hand trembling. Xiao Chen thought he was frightened by the gruesome and bloody scene, feeling both angry and soft-hearted, “Don’t be afraid, they’re just some wild beasts, it looks a bit scary but once the array is broken, maybe we can even save them for a snack.”

Mu Qing shook his head. He wasn’t afraid. It was just that a moment ago, he suddenly realized the spiritual power transfer between himself and his main body had been cut. Consequently, this conjured body would soon fail and dissipate. Being exposed in front of Xiao Chen was one thing, but the problem was… the Hundred Demon Array. How did they know Xiao Chen was in the mortal realm, and why did they prepare such a lethal move specifically for him!

Mu Qing’s eyes seemed to darken in color, though the demon he was glaring at was focused entirely on Xiao Chen, completely unaware.

Hua Wuhen tilted his head and smiled, “The Prince’s power shakes the three realms, so one Hundred Demon Array is naturally not enough, but it’s sufficient to trap you for a moment. My King has been suffering in hell for centuries. Star Lords do not enter reincarnation, so when you die, your soul will scatter and nothing will remain. Such a death shouldn’t be too easy.”

“While you were on your way here, I used a little magic to let the people of Ruoshui Town see the ‘gods appearing.’ I told them that you are the evil spirit bringing chaos to the mortal world. To cure their illness, they must eliminate the evil spirit and eat your flesh and blood.”

Xiao Chen felt a chill in his heart. Hua Wuhen laughed delightedly, “Hahaha, Prince, why don’t you look behind you?”

The array suddenly glowed with intense red light. Xiao Chen grabbed Mu Qing and stepped back. Once the red light flared, ordinary people without spiritual power could no longer see the array or Hua Wuhen.

As Xiao Chen retreated, his steps faltered and he coughed violently. His fever worsened. Mu Qing supported him, but Xiao Chen couldn’t hold on any longer and had to lean against the tree, trying to regulate his breathing and suppress the coughing. Before he could fully catch his breath, he felt Mu Qing’s grip on his arm tighten.

Xiao Chen sighed.

He patted Mu Qing’s hand, signaling him to let go. Xiao Chen’s chest ached from the coughing. Seeing the people gathering with scythes and hoes, even some of the sick ones, he still had time to think: over a hundred people.

So this is where my tribulation lies… it wasn’t a romance tribulation after all.

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