THE BRAINWASHED BATTLE MACHINE 2

The sun was getting higher. The sunlight was hotter and more stinging.

The barren land caused by the flood which was still destroyed and could not be planted was now witnessing a terrible incident that would leave a painful memory for those who became the victims.

Two armies were facing one another. Wu Qi became freely to observe his enemies as close as possible, and his instincts shouted much louder that something wrong really occurred and that he should take his troops as far away as possible. However, he did not know how to express it concretely, and since he could not express it, he was forced to follow Yan San's arrogant instructions. "All troops, be ready!"

The faces of the Huan Shikang army were all wild and fierce. But Huan Shikang himself was not there. As expected, since he did not want to catch the disease. He only took a few minutes to act as the commander-in-chief and commanded his army to begin their fight, but then he immediately fled to a safe place. This fact worried Wu Qi even more. But he had no time to analyze any further because, the war had started.

The enemy troops ran at full speed. Their speed in running was so fast that even Wu Qi made no suspect this time. Yan San was on cue for the archers to line up and prepare their arrows. When the enemy approached, thousands of arrows were fired. But the enemy managed to brush it off. Only a few caught off guard and fell down with arrows, but the others were able to parry just in time, and rushed fiercely again.

The enemy soldiers slashed their swords. San Hu Wei immediately welcomed their attack. The soldiers who were seriously sick released rough breaths when they clashed with San Hu Wei. That was indeed the strategy of disease transmission Rumilie had arranged. They lost their strength when fighting, they were stabbed to death immediately and their blood splashed the San Hu Wei. It had also been arranged by Rumilie. These troops were death squads. They knew the reason why they were sent to battle, it was not to defeat the enemy, but to die.

As predicted, San Hu Wei won the war easily.

"The enemy forces have retreated! Hahahaha!" Yan San shouted loudly, he was so proud as watching the rest of the troops retreated rushingly. "They won't win after all! Their territory has been ravaged by that deadly disease, the victory is definitely on our side!"

Yan San's arrogant exclamation in the part of "their territory has been ravaged by that deadly disease" lit the lights in Wu Qi's brain. All oddities that his instinct whispered since earlier were suddenly crystal clear. It was as if he had just managed to connect all pieces into a complete puzzle - and what the puzzle displayed, was the God of Death with a terrible face slashed his machete, ready to slaughter them all. His face turned white. His whole body was shivering. He was shaking.

"My Heaven..." He moaned. "We will die..."

Yan San spurted out. "Hey! How can you even say such damn things! We have won, and they have lost! Mind your tongue, don't you dare to say that again!"

"You're wrong... it's they who have won, because we have entered their trap... we will die... but I must prevent it..." He turned around, shouted loudly. "All of us cannot return to the barracks! And we all cannot return to the city and even to the palaces as well! We must leave Kaifeng as far as possible, and isolate ourselves!"

"How insolent you are, Wu Qi! How dare you give orders here while you are nobody! I am the chief commander, here and now! And more, you dare to instruct such an awful thing?!?..."

"Because we have all caught the disease due to our fight with the Shuizhen and Shuanghu rebels!"

Only now did Yan San fall silent. He was not a fool who must be explained many times to get understand. "You mean... they were sent to pass the disease on us, that's why they're easy to beat, because they're ready to die..."

Wu Qi nodded weakly.

Yan San shook his head. "No... I... still feel okay..."

A soldier next to him staggered, whether it was coincidence or not. But that was enough to make Yan San's heart pound and he was also shivering with fear.

"All soldiers! We won't return to Kaifeng! Instead... we must look for a place far from the residential area and stay there, so that we won't infect other people!"

As Yan San shouted that command, his mind kept screaming, I have contracted that deadly disease, I will die! I will die! I will die! Fear spread over immediately. All soldiers whispered restlessly to each other. Panic swept through San Hu Wei faster than the disease itself. They were all gripped by the same fear; That they had got infected, and they would die.

Wu Qi looked at those who were now in turmoil with fear of the disease. He bit his lip grimly. His hands were clenched tightly.

As a soldier, he had been ready to die. If he had to die on the battlefield, to protect his lord, his city, and his country, then he was ready for it. And even more, it would be a moment of pride. He believed, his entire family, his tribe, and his motherland Ming, would be proud of it.

He would do what a soldier must do. Fight to the death - and finally, die on the battlefield.

***

"There's something weird..."

Liu Ku frowned. He put his chin on the table and thought. Zhu Youdun then asked, "Sooner or later, the rebels will definitely attack us. Won't it be strange if they just keep quiet?"

"You are right... but... why do I keep hearing that loud warning, that we should watch out of danger..." Liu Ku jumped, he suddenly rose to his feet as if a spring had thrown him. His face was as pale as a wall. "This is bad... this is really bad! The real reason why they attack us... is to pass the disease on us!"

A terrifying silence instantly swept across the room. Liu Ku continued, "Now only Shuizhen and Shuanghu Districts are still loyal to the rebels, unless both of them, the whole Kaifeng has returned to be loyal to the country. Both districts are hit by the epidemic. So the combatants who fight with us must be suffering from the disease. They are now using a strategy of dying together. They don't want to die alone, "If we die, you must die too." At first, I wasn't suspicious because it was impossible for a sick person to take up arms and fight. But suddenly I remember that several potions can dope the stamina and make it up to the highest, the sick people can appear perfectly healthy and powerful for a few moments, before they run out of energy and die. But few moments are enough for them to inflict disease on our troops. So... our troops must have caught up the disease..."

Zhu Su replied. "I don't understand what the problem is. Isn't this disease made by you and Nayin? So you should have an antidote for it?"

"I apologize... but, there is no antidote for it, Your Highness..."