It seems that today, Lu Qing is determined to present himself as the "Divine Doctor" image, so he didn’t speak and just gestured to signal Zhu Yu and the rune to mount their horses and depart.
The three of them galloped all the way to the imperial guard camp. Everything appeared normal there, with the Fire Head Army busy preparing breakfast, and smoke gently wafting from a corner of the camp.
In the camp, the soldiers continued their morning inspections and drills as usual. Situ Jing stood by the training field, supervising them.
If Zhu Yu hadn’t witnessed Pang Centurion’s madness with her own eyes the night before, or personally examined his corpse, this sight would have made her think that all of it was just a dream and nothing had actually happened in the Li State imperial guard camp.
Many soldiers in the imperial guards were still shaken and scared from the night before. After just one night, they returned to their usual orderly state, proving Situ Jing indeed has so skill and authority.
Upon seeing Zhu Yu, Situ Jing quickly looked behind her, only to see a guard with a bronze mask, not the Golden-faced Imperial Censor.
He finally withdrew his gaze and turned to the "Divine Doctor" in a blue veil beside Zhu Yu. After closely observing, he guessed sothing, quickly masking his initial surprise, and approached to greet them with clasped hands: "How have you rested at the post station last night?"
"Thanks to the General’s blessings," Lu Qing replied with a bow, "I didn’t expect the camp to be so lively this morning."
"Since it’s poisoning, there’s no use keeping the soldiers who lived and ate with Pang Centurion locked up. So, I released them to drill with the others today to prevent isolated fear and panic," Situ Jing explained.
Speaking, he glanced around and pointed to the edge of the training field: "Let’s talk while we walk."
The training field of the imperial guard’s camp was vast, extending beyond sight. In the middle stood imperial guard soldiers diligently drilling under their respective generals, so practicing strokes, others swinging swords, with bursts of deafening shouts filled with murderous spirit erupting occasionally.
"I ticulously analyzed the commonalities among the previously affected individuals last night," Situ Jing said while leading them along a quieter area around the training field, "Aside from being military officers in the camp, they have no other similarities at all.
The deceased had varied appearances; so went outside the camp and had contact with outsiders before the incidents.
Yet, so never had contact with outsiders and hadn’t stepped out of the camp.
After the Old Capital Commander’s accident, I knew for sure, at the onset of sumr in Huazhou, there were consecutive torrential rains causing floods, and the camp’s food supply was insufficient. The Old Capital Commander dispatched a Vice Commander leading troops to escort a shipnt of provisions to the Huazhou imperial guard camp.
The Vice Commander was fine when he left, but halfway back, he couldn’t make it and was eventually carried back by the accompanying soldiers, only to breathe his last shortly after returning.
After sothing happened to the Old Capital Commander, a Yu Hou was dispatched to the capital to deliver a ssage. Upon his return, even before dismounting, he fell off and died outside the camp.
The two, from the mont they left, had no contact with similar people.
And last night’s Centurion did not even leave the camp or have any outsider contact.
Thus, my incompetence prevents from figuring out the connection among these incidents."
Lu Qing was about to speak when he glimpsed through the veil at a person approaching from afar: "Does the General know that person?"
Situ Jing turned around and saw the person striding briskly toward him: "That is the Deputy Capital Commander in the camp; he has been stationed in the military of the Li State for many years, even before the previous Old Capital Commander arrived here."
Zhu Yu hadn’t t this Deputy Capital Commander before, yet the person left a profound impression on her.
During the chaos in the camp the previous day, this person, despite receiving the camp’s ssages, had not shown up from beginning to end.
The four stood still, waiting for the Deputy Capital Commander to approach.
The trained military man quickly reached them, covering the distance in no ti.
"Forgive my tardiness, General!" The Deputy Capital Commander dropped to one knee before Situ Jing, a posture of seeking forgiveness, "I intended to rush over imdiately upon hearing of the camp’s situation last night, but my headwind struck, making it impossible to open my eyes, let alone go out or ride a horse.
This whole night, in fear and unease, all I could do was dose myself with dicinal decoctions. By dawn today, feeling a slight relief from the headwind, I hurried back."
"Vice Commander Zhou, rise quickly," Situ Jing bent down, offering a supporting hand, "The issues in the camp last night have been resolved; you needn’t worry about it.
Coincidentally, I’ve invited a wandering Divine Doctor to see if there’s any plague within our camp.
This Divine Doctor possesses remarkable dical skills, capable of reviving the dead and restoring bones.
Since Vice Commander Zhou just had a headwind attack, why not let the Divine Doctor take a look at it? If he could prescribe so dicine and help eradicate this root illness, it would be excellent and spare you from frequent suffering."
Saying this, he clasped his hands towards Lu Qing: "Divine Doctor, this is Deputy Capital Commander Zhou Kang. Please, if you would, see what to do about his headwind?"
Lu Qing nodded slightly, with an unhurried deanor, eerily similar to Yan Daoxin’s pretentious behavior that Zhu Yu first witnessed.
Zhou Kang, the Deputy Capital Commander, glanced in bewildernt at the stranger in a light aqua robe and veil hat, and hastily addressed Situ Jing again: "I dare not trouble the Divine Doctor invited by the General. My headwind is an old ailnt; it causes discomfort only during an attack. Once it passes, it’s gone, and during non-attack tis, I’m no different from ordinary people.
Given such significant incidents have occurred in our camp, this minor headwind is trivial and doesn’t warrant wasting ti. It’s better to promptly strategize!"
"What strategies does General Zhou have?" Seeing the situation, Situ Jing followed up with a question.
"My humble opinion is that our camp might have encountered so Evil Spirits. This is why incidents have continued happening intermittently over such a long period."
Zhou Kang drew nearer to Situ Jing, speaking softly as though the re ntion made him apprehensive and fearful, even in broad daylight, "I heard about Pang Centurion’s actions earlier; it’s indeed unnaturally grave!
I reckon we should find soone to select an auspicious date and conduct a ritual to drive away evil within our camp?"
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