Under Lang Jiuchuan’s series of audacious moves, the medicine trial had at last produced results.

The living-dead who had been poisoned for a long while were clearly more deprived of reason than those in the early stages of infection — they would lunge and bite by the instinct of bloodlust alone. Yet they would not actually draw blood from those they attacked, which was apparently the effect of the herbs in the decoction at work. And for those who had been lunged at, as long as the wound was treated immediately — the small bite-wound cut away with a blade, then cauterized and cleaned with fire — the corpse poison would not spread rapidly.

Even this result alone was cause for great joy. As long as there was a way to prevent contagion, there would be no cause for despair.

Lang Jiuchuan turned to examine Xiaoyu’s pulse. Her pulse had become steady and calm. She then used her spiritual sense to examine the meridians within Xiaoyu’s body, and found that the black corpse poison was no longer spreading. In particular, after Xiaoyu vomited up several mouthfuls of black blood, the blood was no longer as thick and foul-smelling as before.

She then looked at Dazhu, who had the most severe case of corpse poisoning — he was among the first wave of critical patients, and his internal organs had already begun to decay. The decoction he had consumed could only slow the deterioration and ease some of his pain and agitation — a complete cure was impossible. Even were a complete cure achieved, the damage to his organs could not be undone.

She was only human, not a deity. It was not within her power to repair organs that had already been corrupted.

So this corpse poison — it had to be completely eliminated before the poison entered the lungs, before the internal organs began to corrode. Otherwise, even with a proven antidote, there was no saving organs that had already rotted away.

Even the finest physician cannot snatch back from the King of Hell one who is fated to die.

Lang Jiuchuan first had this bucket of the medicinal liquid administered into the mouths of the living-dead, regardless of the severity of their symptoms — at the very least, a few might be snatched back from the King of Hell’s grasp. For those whose poison had truly seeped into their organs beyond saving, at least their suffering could be somewhat alleviated.

After that, she deliberated for a moment and drew a Pure Yang Formation-Breaking Talisman. This talisman was drawn with crimson cinnabar mixed with hundred-year-old lightning-struck wood powder — supremely yang, supremely firm, with spirit imbued within it. When placed in water it dissolved immediately, capable of breaking through miasma, dispelling yin, and protecting the body with upright energy.

Lang Jiuchuan placed this talisman in the remaining pot of medicinal liquid and channeled her true energy to activate it. The deep brown liquid instantly transformed to a brownish-red.

She turned her gaze toward the soldiers in General Ma’s garrison.

Here it came — she was searching for guilt again.

Everyone stiffened, each privately wondering whether they had committed any wrongs. Those who had killed village bullies — did that count as a killing sin?

General Ma stepped forward. “Young Daoist, I am willing to be the test subject.”

“General — you cannot take this risk, let me do it!” General Ma’s personal guard stepped forward in alarm.

“No need. If the nest is overturned, no egg goes unbroken. If one is fated to become one of them, it is only a matter of time.” General Ma waved him off, then said to Lang Jiuchuan, “After all, even if bitten, the flesh can still be cut away and cauterized. I am of advanced years, with both children and grandchildren. My son has already given me a grandson. I have my succession secured — come what may, it matters little.”

Those listening felt a heaviness in their hearts.

Lang Jiuchuan glanced at him. This general’s bearing was cold — his face, though not exactly covered in rough flesh, carried a countenance that at first glance struck people as exceedingly fierce. But was he truly as his outward appearance suggested? Not necessarily.

Just as the honest-looking man had proved not to be honest, a man who appeared fierce was not necessarily a wicked man.

This general possessed an upright spirit.

Lang Jiuchuan passed the decoction to him. General Ma took it and drank it without a moment’s hesitation. Almost immediately, he felt as though a current of fire coursed through his entire body, racing swiftly through all his meridians and extraordinary vessels, scattering every trace of cold. Beads of sweat broke out across his forehead.

How hot!

General Ma removed his armor, rolled up the sleeve of his left arm, and walked directly toward the living-dead being held in a separate enclosure. He approached the lightly infected first — not a single one dared near him. Instead they all drew back to avoid him.

He then walked toward the section holding those with poison deep in their organs. Lang Jiuchuan called out, “Wait.”

She drew two new Formation-Breaking Talismans. One was dissolved in clean water, which was then mixed into a mist and sprayed over him. “Go.”

General Ma walked up to Dazhu. Yet Dazhu recoiled in terror, backing away. When General Ma’s hand made contact with his, Dazhu’s body began to sizzle and emit wisps of blue smoke, his expression contorting in agony.

Just like with Lang Jiuchuan.

General Ma was greatly heartened. He turned to look at Lang Jiuchuan.

Before Lang Jiuchuan could speak, she spotted someone approaching in the distance using a rapid-travel technique — it was Daoist Zhishang, and in his hands was a man bound up, a talisman affixed to the man’s forehead.

“Quange.” Xiaoyu recognized the man at a single glance, her eyes flooding with tears of agitation.

Lang Jiuchuan said to General Ma, “Dazhu has received the decoction, which has suppressed his ferocity. Combined with the decoction you drank and the talisman-mist sprayed over you, the protective upright yang energy means he does not dare approach you. But what about this one, who has not yet drunk any medicine — do you dare let him try?”

“Why would I not dare?” General Ma stood steadily, utterly unperturbed.

Daoist Zhishang appeared somewhat disheveled. “Dao-friend Lang, this old Daoist found him in Tongzhai. He had already bitten two people and had completely lost his reason. The other two have already been brought back by that young Daoist.”

Lang Jiuchuan stepped forward and tore the talisman paper from Liu Quan’s forehead. General Ma walked over and held out his left hand directly toward the man’s mouth.

Daoist Zhishang’s pupils contracted. He was just about to say something when he saw Liu Quan let out a low growl and step backward, eyeing General Ma with alertness, his expression deeply uneasy and agitated.

“That settles it.” Lang Jiuchuan broke into a smile and said to Daoist Zhishang, “I have a new formula. Whether it can eradicate the corpse poison has yet to be determined, but for those who are unaffected, drinking it can suppress the living-dead corpse-poison carriers from attacking and biting. General Ma is the test subject — have a look.”

Daoist Zhishang was overjoyed. “Is that truly so?”

General Ma grabbed hold of Liu Quan and moved close. Liu Quan let out a howl and — rather than biting — was so struck by the talisman-water scent emanating from General Ma’s body that he kept staggering backward.

Lang Jiuchuan retrieved fresh decoction and forced it down Liu Quan’s throat.

In an instant, Liu Quan convulsed violently, clawing at his own throat, and expelled great mouthfuls of reeking black blood. From his body, a plume of blue smoke rose and drifted apart.

Everyone watched as the corpse spots faded from his body and his formerly crimson eyes gradually returned to normal, unable to contain their joy.

Liu Quan collapsed to the ground, his eyes clearing. He looked toward Xiaoyu, and tears streamed down his face.

Lang Jiuchuan gripped his wrist to feel his pulse. It had calmed considerably. Most crucially, the restoration of clarity of mind meant there was still hope.

“Decoction combined with talismans — it works.” Lang Jiuchuan looked toward General Ma. “First boil this decoction and have the people on our end drink it. Take the formula and talismans to Yangchun Prefecture, have the local authorities boil it in large quantities, and administer it to the common people. Those who have contracted the corpse poison may also drink it, and then have them come to the medical tent to have the poison fully eradicated.”

Daoist Zhishang hurriedly asked what talisman it was. Lang Jiuchuan handed it over. He studied it for a moment, his expression growing grave.

“What is it?” Lang Jiuchuan noticed his expression and immediately asked.

Daoist Zhishang said, “The corpse-poison plague has spread extremely widely. Even with a proven remedy, the spiritual talismans may prove inadequate. This talisman is intricate — not everyone can draw it to the level of a true spiritual talisman. This old Daoist can make a strenuous attempt, but as for the other Daoist friends, I fear they will struggle to produce talismans that carry genuine spirit. To say nothing of the fact that plague prevention also requires talisman-water to be misted and sprayed across the area, and the quantity of talismans that would require is beyond calculation.”

He paused, then continued with some hesitation, “Furthermore, even with spiritual talismans, should we encounter those corrupt officials who prize their own lives above all and act selfishly, they may hoard the talismans or use them for profit — and the common people will gain nothing from it.”

Human nature was fundamentally selfish.

Some people always thought of themselves first. Given a remedy and spiritual talismans, they would think first of making the decoction more potent and using it on their own family, or of profiting from it — in which case how would the common people ever benefit?

Lang Jiuchuan gave a cold laugh. “Profiting from a national disaster — I would like to see who dares.”