A few days later...
Even though Xiongshan County was under lockdown, people started dying on the streets, with horrifying screams frequently coming from the east, south, west, and north of the city.
The Li family, having completed preparations for lockdown and gearing up for a long battle, sent people out to investigate upon hearing the news.
Everyone was shocked when the investigation was over.
The city was sealed, but the plague sohow found its way in.
And once it did, it exploded rapidly, almost like they had just taken a breath, and the next mont, their hair stood on end.
The entire Li family was almost certain: soon, Xiongshan County would beco another Hundred Flowers Mansion.
The first lady clasped her prayer beads, continually rolling them, reciting Buddhist scriptures, praying for the blessing of the compassionate Bodhisattva.
The second lady looked alard, holding Li Zhili’s hand helplessly, gathered together in Master Li’s study, not daring to go anywhere.
But Master Li also didn’t know what to do.
Master Li had been to the frontline, and there, he had indeed seen the tragic deaths of those infected and knew how terrifying this plague was.
"Master, what shall we do? Should we leave the city?" The second lady asked, crying, helpless, lacking her usual dominance when beating Li Xuan’s second brother.
Li Zhili, however, spoke emphatically: "Mother, we can’t leave the city right now!
Xiongshan County is not Hundred Flowers Mansion, Hundred Flowers Mansion was the first city to erupt with the plague, they could still flee.
As for us, Xiongshan County has already fallen, and the surrounding counties that haven’t locked down are even worse off.
Leaving the city only leads to a dead end."
Master Li looked at his second son reassuringly.
This judgnt was reasonable.
However, he himself was also both scared and irritated, sotis yelling outside to the servants.
"Seal the gate! Quickly seal the gate first!"
"Wait, wait, wait, co back, is the grain in the granary still there?"
The servant hurriedly responded: "It’s still there."
"Still there?"
Master Li slapped his forehead in frustration, "Why couldn’t it be moved to the Li family?"
Previously, the Li family’s strategy was "the whole city fighting the epidemic," so grain being in the granary was normal; but at this mont, Master Li had changed "whole city" to "whole family."
This would be fatal.
The Li family had enough grain for years, but that grain wasn’t in the Li family’s ho, it was in the granary.
But if they wanted to get to the granary, they would need to go outside.
Going once wouldn’t yield much grain, it would take at least a day of transportation.
But who knew how the plague was outside.
Yet if they didn’t get it today and the plague persisted for a year or half a year, what could they do? What would the Li family eat? Would they risk running outside to get it then?
The servant waited, asking, "Master, what should we do?"
Master Li irritably said, "Close the gate first, close it well!"
The servant hurried off.
...
...
In Li Xuan’s small courtyard, Tian Yuan, Wei Yao, Rose, and Qiao’Er were gathered too.
Among the four won, except for Qiao’Er, the other three were surprisingly calm.
Tian Yuan’s pretty face showed a contemplative look, after a long ti she said, "We’ve locked the city very tily, and based on the rough outbreak tiline provided by my husband, there shouldn’t be any infected people mixed into the city, so... there’s only one explanation.
People die, but the plague doesn’t die.
Not only doesn’t it die, but it can spread with the wind, and with birds."
Wei Yao puffed a breath, blew the bangs in front of her forehead into a fluffy ss, then suppressed her slightly annoyed mood and said, "The wind shouldn’t be, if the wind could infect, I’d be infected long ago."
Tian Yuan calmly said, "The wind alone may not carry it far, but if there are infected people nearby, then it could.
Our Xiongshan’s city gates have long been closed, it seems like birds or fish brought the plague in, and now it’s infected people, it’s impossible to handle."
Su Qiang’s waist was adorned with "fragrance bags," "gourds," "amulets against evil," she said softly: "Sister Yuan’s words are really reasonable, master, sister Yuan, what should we do?"
What should we do?
What else to do?
They’ve done so much, yet it still spread to Xiongshan County.
What else can be done?
Li Xuan knew, this matter had completely spiraled out of control.
If he didn’t do sothing now, the Li family would surely be finished.
But no one knew to what extent the plague could spread via the wind. Theoretically, anyone appearing outside could be infected.
And with this transmission speed and intensity... was this the rhythm to wiping out humanity in one go?
Li Xuan found it hard to believe.
Such unpredictability, how could it co to this!
The plans, scripts, and preparations in his mind were suddenly overturned, and he had to turn to another path—survival.
Li Xuan’s face was ashen, but he had already made a decision.
He said, "Wei Yao, grab the quilts, take the ladies to the cellar, and then do not co out."
The cellar had ice, and it contained food stored by the Li family; hiding inside with the outside sealed, as long as they could physically endure, there would be no other issues.
Wei Yao solemnly stood up, said nothing more, quickly bundled the sheets and quilts into a small mountain, then carried them on her back.
Tian Yuan held Li Xuan’s hand, saying, "Husband, you should join us."
Su Qiang behind her wiped small pearls, occasionally looking at Li Xuan with tearful eyes.
Li Xuan smiled, wiped Su Qiang’s tears, then seriously looked at Tian Yuan and said, "I will join you shortly."
Tian Yuan said, "I will always wait for you."
After the four won left, Li Xuan imdiately went to the study and inford his parents, second mother, and second brother, telling them not to wait and to quickly go to the cellar.
...
After dealing with these matters, Li Xuan flew onto the roof of the Li family residence, his eyes revealing a look of contemplation as he gazed into the distance.
Outside the Li family, chaos had already erupted.
And soon, the Li family itself might beco chaotic.
Even the most loyal servants and maids are bound to go mad at the brink of life and death. If not madness, they definitely cannot withstand the tornt of the epidemic. After all, Li Xuan had witnessed this pain firsthand; even Liu Yingyi completely broke under it.
Now, the normal laws are failing, and before his eyes was practically the beginning of a hellish apocalypse...
Who would have thought that all of this started because the Red Shadow Demon Fiend of the Luoshi Sect bit a few people??
It’s truly maddening!
Li Xuan cald his emotions.
Now, he could actually only do one thing, and that is... [Ghost Raising].
He rembers, all ghosts follow the will of the demon called "Tiger Demon of the Year".
In other words, the ghosts he raised would naturally follow his will.
Living humans cannot move in epidemic areas, but ghosts?
Can ghosts?
If ghosts can.
Then... ghosts will replace living humans, protect the Li family, and bring food and water to those hiding in the Li family’s cellar.
However, Li Xuan found himself unable to make the final decision.
For conflicts or to eliminate risks, killing was not difficult for him.
But harming innocents was a trendous psychological obstacle.
Even when the Tian family plotted against the Li family, he rely picked out those aware of it to kill, leaving those unaware untouched. Thus, the Patriarch of the Tian family died, but the first lady of the Tian family sold the property and escaped alive.
At this mont, his cold rationality tells him to turn the maids and guards of the Li family, even the nearby common people into evil ghosts.
This way, with evil ghosts defending, no one could invade the Li family. He could safely hide in the cellar, with the evil ghosts serving him tea and bringing him whatever he ordered as if it were delivery.
However, his emotions tell him that doing so... what difference would it be from being a true demon?
Moreover, Li Xuan knew many of the servants, maids, and caretakers of the Li family. How could he possibly lay hands on them?
Li Xuan sat on the roof ridge, clenched his fists, and patted his forehead, deciding to give himself the ti of one incense stick to think.
When the ti is up, if he has not convinced himself or found another plausible solution, then... he has no choice but to do it.
A demon is a demon, brutality is brutality, but it’s better than watching family die tragically!!
...
...
"Ah-choo!"
Master Li sneezed, muttering, "It’s so cold here! Madam, why does Xiaoxuan insist on us moving here?"
In the candlelight, blocks of ice were piled up, strips of frozen at hung on hooks in the distance, and in the corner there was a heap of aged wine.
Tian Yuan, wrapped in a cotton coat, sat in a large rattan chair, hurriedly got up to explain her previous judgnt.
"Transmitted by the wind? And so lethal... It’s like death!" Master Li was frightened and then said, "Why isn’t Xiaoxuan coming in? What can he do outside alone?"
Saying this, Master Li turned abruptly to Wei Yao and shouted, "Yaohua, go help your young master."
Wei Yao said, "Following his arrangents, staying here is the greatest help to him."
Master Li said, "Your young master can’t defeat you, how can you not help him?"
Wei Yao was silent without speaking.
This silence left Master Li stunned.
The madam was also stunned.
The madam looked at Rose.
Rose blinked and said, "Yaoyao, do you know sothing?"
Wei Yao did not say more.
The madam pulled Master Li away, gently reminding him, "Master, what makes Xuan’Er so capable to have Miss Wei listen to him like this?"
Master Li appeared slightly enlightened, muttering the unfamiliar term: "Secret Martial Artist."
His eyes shifted, speaking in a lowered voice, "Madam, you say Xuan’Er is also a secret martial artist and even stronger than Yaohua..."
The madam covered his mouth, saying, "Let’s just follow the children’s arrangents."
Master Li nodded, and imdiately grinned, rubbing his hands together, saying repeatedly, "It’s too cold."
...
...
The ti of one incense stick quickly ended.
Li Xuan stood up coldly.
This ti, he deliberately stored the demon blood of the "Abnormal Monkey" in the second slot.
Thus, when he placed the demon blood of "Tiger Demon of the Year" into the first slot, the demon skill [Ghost Raising] would beco stronger.
Previously he tested that if the "Monkey" was placed in the first slot and "Year" in the second, then... the phantom fake human he created would naturally possess a copper head and iron arms, seeming normal yet immune to blades and spears.
Now, it’s [Ghost Raising]’s turn.
Li Xuan was about to inject the demon blood of "Tiger Demon of the Year" into the first slot when his expression changed suddenly, as he saw soone knocking on the Li family door.
No!
It’s not one person, but a group of people!
He focused his eyes for a clear look, and noticed the leader was none other than Liu Yingyi!
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