Chapter 52

"Old General!"

As soon as Geshu Han collapsed, everyone in the residence cried out. The madams and maids all gathered around. Li Jinglong, Hongjun, and the others were pushed out of the crowd. Seeing the chaos, Hongjun frowned and looked inside.

"Quickly call a doctor —"

"Oh no! Someone come quickly! Madam, it's not good! "

Li Jinglong: "Go take a look at Old Madam."

Geshu Han was in his sixties and didn't listen to anyone except his wife. The couple was deeply in love. Now that there was a large army surrounding the city and Geshu Han suddenly fell ill, it was truly an internal and external problem.

"Seal off the news." Li Jinglong hurriedly ordered the captain of the guards, "Don't leak it out. Tell others that Old General is having a meeting to discuss countermeasures. Quickly go!"

The maids helped Geshu Han's wife into the room. Hongjun went in to check her pulse and said, "Her condition isn't serious. She's just frightened. She'll be fine after drinking some calming soup."

Everyone in the residence sighed in relief. Old Madam asked, "Are there still enemies outside? Where's the general? Quickly go take a look. "

Hongjun replied, "Old General is fine. He must have caught a cold in the snow yesterday and fainted because he was too worried. Please don't worry."

Old Madam finally calmed down. She grabbed Hongjun's hand and said, "You're all good children. I've heard from Old Master."

Hongjun held her hand and listened to her ramble on. Since Li Jinglong didn't rush them, he chatted with her for a while. Only then did he know that Geshu Han's wife used to be the eldest daughter of a wealthy family. When she was fourteen years old, she saw Geshu Han's heroic appearance in armor and fell in love with him. She followed him until now. During this period of time, she went to war and followed him. She never complained.

During this period of time, Geshu Han rose and fell, but his wife always followed him. When he was fighting outside, she would stay in the city and wait for him to return. As a Turkic, Geshu Han's promotion was extremely difficult, but she never complained. More than twenty years ago, the Feng County Barracks could not wait for the soldiers' pay and provisions and almost mutiny. It was she who sold her jewelry and dowry and went to Chang 'an to mediate the situation.

She and Geshu Han had two sons and one daughter. The eldest son went to Luoyang, the younger son was stationed in the south, and the daughter was married to Ji Zhou. Geshu Han had never taken a concubine in his entire life. In his family, his wife was always the most important. No matter how angry he was, as long as his wife came out to persuade him, he would immediately calm down.

"This time, it still can't compare to when Master defeated the Turks." The Old Madame said, "The siege lasted for three months. Later on, there was no food in the city. Old Master even saved the army rations for me to eat. But if he didn't eat his fill, how could he have the strength to fight? Don't you agree? "

Hongjun held her hand and replied, "Nothing will happen this time. Don't worry."

The old madam grunted. She didn't know what kind of demons and ghosts were surrounding the city. She continued to talk about how many injuries Geshu Han had suffered and how many bloody battles he had fought.

Hongjun was originally quite annoyed with Geshu Han. After all, his temper towards Li Jinglong was too bad. But after hearing this, he couldn't help but feel respect for him. What he respected even more was their forty-plus years of relationship as husband and wife.

"How many years have you two been together?" Hongjun asked.

The old madam thought for a while and her mood gradually improved. She smiled and said, "Forty-two years."

When she married him at fourteen, Geshu Han was in his twenties. Now, the old madam was already fifty-six. Hongjun couldn't help but think, Forty-plus years is almost a lifetime. He just didn't know if he would also have such a life, to have someone to rely on and accompany until he grew old.

"Do you love him?" Hongjun couldn't help but ask.

"I've seen him since I was very young." The old madam smiled and said to Hongjun, "I also forgot how old I was that year. He was about your age. I even called him Big Brother … Later, I found out that he was a Turkic with the surname Geshu. "

Hongjun also smiled. He didn't know why, but he really wanted to hear the old madam talk about their love story. It sounded so beautiful. When can I have it too?

The old madam muttered for a while more before falling asleep. Hongjun gently pulled his hand out and signaled the maid not to wake her up. He slowly walked out of the room. Li Jinglong waited in the corridor. Hongjun was startled. The two looked at each other. Li Jinglong seemed to be a bit lost in thought. Clearly, he also heard the old madam's words outside.

"It's not easy." Li Jinglong said as he looked at the falling snow in the courtyard.

"Yes." Hongjun said, "It's really good."

Hongjun looked forward to that relationship very much. After hearing it, he was still a bit dazed. Li Jinglong, on the other hand, laughed and looked at him. Then, he sighed and said, "Slowly reflect on it. The situation is a bit strange. Come and take a look."

Hongjun was very surprised. He quickly followed Li Jinglong through the corridor and into Mo Rigen's room.

Lu Xu lay in front of Mo Rigen's bed and pulled on his pinky finger. Hongjun saw Mo Rigen's expression and knew that something was wrong. It wasn't this serious yesterday. What happened?

Lu Xu saw Hongjun come and quickly moved aside. She pointed at Mo Rigen. It was obvious that she had been worried for a long time, but she couldn't find him.

Hongjun touched Mo Rigen's forehead and said, "Mo Rigen?"

"Cold …" Mo Rigen replied.

Mo Rigen only ate some rice soup last night. Today's meal was on the table and only touched a little. Looking at it, it was most likely fed by Lu Xu.

He was still naked and covered with a quilt. His arms and shoulders were exposed. His external injuries had already healed.

"Give him another pill?" Li Jinglong asked.

"He took two." Hongjun replied, "He can't take anymore. I'm afraid his body will burn up if he eats too much."

Mo Rigen was half asleep and half awake. He was afraid of the cold. Li Jinglong said, "It doesn't feel like a cold. It feels like he was bitten by a snake. I don't know if he was infected with corpse poison after being scratched by the ghouls. "

"The wound didn't fester." Hongjun frowned and said, "It shouldn't be. You …" He suddenly remembered that there was more than one person injured yesterday. He immediately said, "Chief, what about you? How are your injuries? "

Li Jinglong took off his clothes. With his back facing Hongjun, he opened his outer robe to let him see his injuries. There were several obvious knife wounds on his back. There was an arrow wound on his arm, but it had already healed.

Li Jinglong said, "There's one more thing. Come take a look."

Hongjun first put on an unlined garment for Mo Rigen. Lu Xu looked at Hongjun worriedly. Hongjun's mind was in a mess. He said, "I'll go get some medicine for him."

Lu Xu stubbornly followed. Li Jinglong left the mansion and let Hongjun take Lu Xu to the main street of Liangzhou City on horseback. Outside the city, the ghoul legion had yet to launch a siege. However, rumors had already spread among the people of Liangzhou City. They were in a constant state of panic. The city was shrouded in a strange and terrifying atmosphere.

Hongjun wanted to go to the pharmacy, but Li Jinglong took them into a small alley. On the way, they entered a house. It was Qin Manor. Qin Liang was lying on a couch. His daughter Ji Yanran and his wife were guarding him.

Hongjun: "!!!"

"Quickly come take a look," Ji Yanran said anxiously. Earlier, she had sent a letter to the General's Manor. Li Jinglong had finally come.

"Exactly the same," Hongjun murmured.

"What's the same?" Ji Yanran asked.

Hongjun looked at Qin Liang's wounds from yesterday. They had been treated with Jinchuang Ointment, so they were basically fine. However, his complexion was ashen. It was exactly the same as Mo Rigen's.

Ji Yanran and Madam Qin asked about this and that. Hongjun was deeply worried. He only comforted them with a few words before saying that he was going to get some medicine. He left Qin Manor and went to the pharmacy in the city. Liangzhou City was a place that one had to pass through on the Silk Road. There was an abundance of medicine. There were even the seeds of the Soul Leaving Flower from the Western Regions, as well as snow lotus and other expensive medicines. However, Hongjun looked at the medicine drawer and didn't know what to make.

At this moment, he only hated how little he had learned in the past. Why didn't he learn more about medicine from Chong Ming? What if something happened to Mo Rigen … Hongjun was at a loss. In his mind, he was already thinking about how to go to Shiwei to inform Mo Rigen's family and have them come to see him. At this moment, Li Jinglong patted Hongjun's back and said, "Don't be afraid. Just do your best. I'll take care of everything."

Hongjun nodded. He grabbed some medicine that could resist the cold and improve blood circulation and left the pharmacy. Li Jinglong gestured for him to wait for a moment. He sat down at a restaurant outside the alley and ordered something to eat.

This restaurant was called "Fish and Sheep Restaurant." It was famous for its mutton dumplings. In the cold weather, the owner scooped a large spoonful of medicinal soup stewed with fish bones. The dumplings were wrapped in mutton and thin shreds of red and white radish. The dough was chewy, and the filling was sweet and juicy. The mutton was tender and fragrant, and the medicinal soup could resist the cold. It was simply a delicacy.

However, Hongjun really couldn't eat. He had a lot on his mind. Lu Xu ate two mouthfuls and suddenly started crying. He couldn't stop wiping his tears.

When Lu Xu cried, it reminded Hongjun. When Hongjun was young, he would be angrily reprimanded by Chong Ming whenever he cried. The more he cried, the more he would be beaten, so he endured it. However, when he thought of Mo Rigen, he didn't know where to ask for help. He immediately panicked and reached out to comfort Lu Xu. He couldn't help but cry.

Li Jinglong: "…"

"I said that Mo Rigen will get better." Li Jinglong said, "Do you believe me? Hongjun, when have I ever failed to fulfill my promises to you? "

When Hongjun heard this, he instantly regained his confidence. He thought that it seemed to be true. Li Jinglong had always fulfilled his promises to him. He had never broken his promises.

"I believe you." Hongjun said, "But he doesn't believe me."

Li Jinglong and Hongjun patted Lu Xu's head and told him to eat. Lu Xu only calmed down after a while.

"Is it good?" Li Jinglong asked.

Hongjun's mood was slightly better after eating the delicious food. This time, he was even more conflicted. He was worried about Mo Rigen, but he didn't dare to show his worry. He didn't want Li Jinglong to think that he didn't believe him and get angry.

"Just treat it as if we were investigating a case in the past." After eating lunch, Li Jinglong leaned on the second floor of the restaurant and looked out at the busy streets. He said, "If you're too concerned, you'll be confused. You have to be calm. Only then can you see a glimmer of hope from the layers of mystery."

Hongjun seemed to understand. Li Jinglong said again, "Hurry up and eat. If you don't finish eating, how can you have the energy to investigate the case?"

Lu Xu also understood and finished the dumplings in the bowl with Hongjun. After leaving the street, Li Jinglong said again, "There's no rush to go back and make the medicine. Let's go to the market first."

Hongjun followed Li Jinglong and saw that Li Jinglong bought a pair of children's snow boots with sheepskin lining.

Hongjun asked, "What are you going to do?"

Li Jinglong answered, "You'll know later."

Then Li Jinglong bought a thick sheepskin bag and borrowed a pair of scissors. He cut a few holes in the sheepskin bag and tied a rope to the bag. He frowned and said, "I can't do anything about my feet. Go and find me a pair of small sleeves. "

Hongjun, "…"

"Buy a few more thick ropes." Li Jinglong ordered, "Buy some sturdy ones."

After buying everything, the three of them went to the garrison in the city. There were even more soldiers who had collapsed here. There were no less than forty barracks lying on the ground. Everyone had the same illness as Mo Rigen and Qin Liang.

Hongjun was shocked. When he looked at Li Jinglong again, Li Jinglong was not surprised at all. It was as if he had expected this to happen.

The military doctor looked at them for a long time and said that they were injured and had a fever. However, he could not explain why. The soldiers were shivering from the cold and their bodies were cold.

"Give them this medicine and see." Hongjun handed the prescription to the military doctor. The doctor's prescription was similar to Hongjun's. He adjusted a few herbs and ordered people to prepare the medicine.

"How many people are sick?" Li Jinglong asked.

A deputy general was unwilling to answer. It was obvious that he was afraid of affecting the morale of the soldiers. Li Jinglong opened his hand. Inside was a wooden tablet from the general's residence. It was unknown where he had stolen it from.

"Thirteen thousand three hundred and seventy-five people." The deputy general said, "There are still people who are falling sick."

Li Jinglong, "…"

Yesterday, Geshu Han had led twenty thousand cavalry out of the city. In other words, all the injured soldiers had fallen sick. Liangzhou claimed to have fifty thousand cavalry and thirty thousand infantrymen. The entire city had eighty thousand soldiers. They still had the strength to fight.

Li Jinglong mounted his horse again. This time, Hongjun did not ask and followed him to the city gate tower.

The cold wind was biting cold. A hundred thousand ghouls who had died in battle surrounded the city. They were like statues in this world of ice and snow. Their bodies were covered in white snow, becoming one with the snow.

"What do you think they're doing?" Li Jinglong asked.

"They seem to be waiting." Hongjun frowned.

"What are they waiting for?" Li Jinglong tilted his head and looked at Hongjun.

Hongjun, "…"

Hongjun suddenly understood Li Jinglong's train of thought. A hundred thousand ghouls who had died in battle had surrounded the city for a day and night. Why didn't they attack the city? Were they waiting for reinforcements? Not necessarily. What were they waiting for? Were they waiting for the soldiers in the city to fall sick and die?

"Do you think Mo Rigen, Qin Liang, and the ten thousand soldiers were poisoned, or was it an epidemic spread by ghouls who had died in battle?" Li Jinglong asked Hongjun. "This is very important, Hongjun."

Hongjun immediately fell into hesitation. He frowned and thought for a long time. Li Jinglong answered, "Intuition."

"Poison." Since he said so, Hongjun answered without thinking.

Li Jinglong said, "I also think it's poison. It's a poison that can turn living people into dead people, and then into ghouls who had died in battle. You wait here, I'll go catch a few and come back to try."

"No, no, no." Hongjun said, "You must not go!"

Li Jinglong said, "I won't be affected by this epidemic."

"But you'll be trampled to death!" Hongjun said, "There's a hundred thousand soldiers!"

Li Jinglong said, "You'll be in charge of receiving me."

"No!" Hongjun said, "I'll go with you."

Li Jinglong grabbed Hongjun's collar and said, "You can't let anything happen to you!"

Hongjun pulled his sleeve and showed him the back of his hand. Li Jinglong was stunned.

There was a scar on the back of his hand from yesterday, but it had already healed.

Li Jinglong frowned and said, "Maybe it's because there aren't many scars."

Hongjun glanced at Lu Xu and whispered, "This epidemic is only effective on humans. I'm a demon, so it's different."

"Mo Rigen …" Li Jinglong realized that Lu Xu was beside him and signaled with his eyes. Hongjun replied, "He's not. He's still a mortal."

Li Jinglong could only give in and said, "Then you must …"

Hongjun looked at Li Jinglong with a smile in his eyes. Li Jinglong stopped being wishy-washy and said, "Let's go."

Li Jinglong and Hongjun put on protective saddles and mounted their horses. Lu Xu chased after them and shouted, "Me! Me! "

"Go back quickly!" Hongjun said to Lu Xu.

Lu Xu hurriedly pulled out his shirt and showed it to Hongjun. Hongjun and Li Jinglong were stunned. Lu Xu also had a scar on his collarbone, which had obviously healed a long time ago.

"You're okay too?" Hongjun looked at Lu Xu in surprise.

Lu Xu took an iron shovel from beside the city gate and carried it on his back. Li Jinglong couldn't explain it clearly and shouted, "Someone come, detain him!"

The soldiers swarmed forward like a swarm of bees, but Lu Xu was angry. With a swish, he passed through the gap between the soldiers' bodies. Hong Jun only felt a blur in front of his eyes, and Lu Xu had already disappeared without a trace.

"How is he so fast?" It was the first time that Hongjun noticed Lu Xu make a move.

Immediately after, Lu Xu blocked in front of the two people and shouted, "Me!"

Li Jinglong said angrily, "No way!"

"I'll protect him." Hongjun said to Li Jinglong. He could more or less understand that Lu Xu wanted to save Mo Rigen. Li Jinglong frowned deeply. Hongjun said, "If you were sick, I would also be worried."

When Li Jinglong heard this, he said helplessly, "You're my superior. Let's go, let's go!"

Thus, Hongjun carried the prepared thick rope on his back. The three of them galloped on their horses, constantly approaching the ghoul army's formation. The plains outside the city were silent.

Li Jinglong said in a low voice, "I'll lure one over. You wait for an opportunity to trap it with the Five-colored Divine Light."

Hong Jun said, "Chief Inspector, do you think … are you sure you can lure 'one'?"

The three of them stopped their horses and looked at the unmoving formation about ten zhang away. Li Jinglong said, "Why don't I try shooting an arrow first?"

Li Jinglong aimed at one of them. Hongjun had never practiced riding a horse before. He only felt that it was easier to fight on the ground.

Li Jinglong aimed and lowered his bow several times. Finally, he made up his mind and shot an arrow.

At that moment, Hongjun's heart was in his throat.

In the distance, there was a "dang" sound. The ghoul soldier at the front of the formation was shot down with his head and helmet.

However, the army was unmoved.

Hongjun, "…"

"Again." Li Jinglong shot another arrow and shot down another head. There was still no movement.

Hongjun, "???"

Hongjun suddenly remembered that a neat row of ghouls using his throwing knife to cut horizontally … seemed to be very useful?!

Li Jinglong saw the modao in Hongjun's hand and said, "That's not good."

Hongjun said, "What if they don't have orders and are waiting in formation? Wouldn't they all be finished if we cut them a few more times? Military orders can't be disobeyed, right? "

Li Jinglong hesitated for a moment and didn't stop Hongjun. He said, "Cut them once."

This atmosphere was really too strange. Hongjun gathered his strength at his wrist. After the Immortal Slaying Flying Knife merged into one, the modao suddenly flowed with light and became almost transparent.

Li Jinglong: "How many slashes can you make?"

"Four at most." There was no problem with magic treasures, but Hongjun's magic power and cultivation couldn't keep up. This slash was extremely powerful, almost destroying the heavens and the earth. It could even cut off mountains.

"One slash in the north, south, east, and west." Li Jinglong had changed his mind and said, "Attack!"

Hongjun shouted loudly. His wrist turned, and the tip of the knife swept up an arc. His hands separated, and he slashed horizontally in front of him.

Suddenly, the knife Qi exploded. It was the first time Li Jinglong saw Hongjun make a move. The knife Qi rolled up a thousand layers of snow and rushed toward the corpse army. With a whoosh, it entered the first row of soldiers. Then, the entire phalanx of nearly two thousand people collapsed.

However, in the next moment, all the corpses outside the city moved!

One hundred thousand corpses charged toward the center!

Li Jinglong shouted, "Retreat!"

Hongjun said, "I'll make up for it …"

"Don't make up for it!" Li Jinglong shouted, "Go! Protect Lu Xu! "

In an instant, the army surrounded them like a tide. Hongjun realized that he still had Lu Xu with him, so he immediately turned around and ran. The phalanx quickly gathered together. Li Jinglong held the Wisdom Sword in his hand and swept left and right. The light of the Mind's Lamp was even stronger than the Immortal Slaying Flying Knife. After being slashed by the sword Qi, the corpse army was immediately thrown off their feet.

Lu Xu shouted, "Catch! Catch! "

Lu Xu took off the rope on Hongjun's back and jumped off the horse. Hongjun was scared out of his wits. He shouted, "Lu Xu! Don't run around! "

At that moment, Lu Xu held the rope in his left hand and the shovel in his right. He spread his arms and ran on the snowy ground. His speed was as fast as a falcon in the snow, comparable to a galloping horse. Li Jinglong didn't have time to think anymore. He shouted, "Catch one!"

"It's alive!" Lu Xu shouted. "Half!"

Hongjun, "???"

"Not half!" Li Jinglong didn't expect that his conversation with Mo Rigen that day would be heard by Lu Xu. He shouted, "One! One! "

Thus, Lu Xu ran on the ground while Li Jinglong and Hongjun galloped on horseback. Behind them was an army of nearly ten thousand ghouls. An earth-shattering chase unfolded outside the city. There was a clamor at the city gate. Everyone saw this scene and cheered for the three of them.

"Hongjun, Five-colored Divine Light!" Li Jinglong turned his head and shouted as he galloped on horseback. Hongjun, who was on horseback, turned his body and released the Five-colored Divine Light. With a loud bang, the group at the front of the pursuers was blasted high into the sky.

"Catch!" Li Jinglong shouted.

Lu Xu turned around and threw the rope at the pursuers. He dragged one of them down. The ghoul flailed its arms and legs wildly as it was dragged along the snowy ground.

"Catch one more!" Hongjun said.

Li Jinglong hurriedly shouted, "No need, no need!"

Hongjun made another move and Lu Xu caught another ghoul. Then, the three of them turned around a mound and caught a third ghoul. Hongjun dragged three thick ropes with three ghouls tied to them. He dragged them along the snowy ground.

"You guys are addicted to catching ghouls!" Li Jinglong shouted, "Enough! Let's go! "

Hongjun shouted, "Lu Xu, come up quickly!"

Lu Xu leaped a few steps and stepped on the ropes. He flew behind Hongjun and sat down steadily. The three of them dragged the ghouls further and further away. Li Jinglong kept looking back. After crossing a frozen river, he saw the ten thousand cavalry chasing after them.

"Oh no." Hongjun's horse gradually slowed down as it dragged the three captives. "They won't keep chasing us like this, right?"

Li Jinglong shouted, "Turn around and attack the frozen river!"

Hongjun subconsciously leaned to the side and waved his saber. The saber energy sank into the frozen river. Immediately, the ice surface shattered and the pursuers fell into the river one after another. They fell to the bottom of the river and couldn't stop struggling as they were carried downstream by the river.

The two of them stopped their horses to observe. They saw that the ten thousand cavalry continuously rushed into the river. They didn't seem to have the slightest ability to distinguish between the two. They just rushed into the frozen river and didn't know how to take a detour.

Li Jinglong's mouth twitched as he looked at the scene in front of him. Suddenly, a low roar came from the distance.

"It's that voice again."

The ghouls suddenly stopped and retreated, leaving the river. The three that were caught also began to wobble, dragging the ropes as they staggered in the direction of the sound. Hongjun casually dragged the captives down and went around the western gate with Li Jinglong to return to Liangzhou City.