Chapter 306: The Underground Palace’s Punishment
This novel is translated and hosted on BCatranslation
“Those who desecrate the underground palace shall be executed without mercy.”
“Souls, return…”
“Not worth it, this world is not worth it…” He murmured, his gaze lowering, his mind eroded over the endless years.
Yet, he still remembered everything about his master.
Even if his memories were lost, he remained steadfast in guarding all that belonged to his master.
As though protecting his master had been engraved into the very depths of his soul.
“Xing Hui, Xing Hui, I am your master!” Lu Chao Chao waved her small hand in front of him.
But she was just a little dwarf.
Not even as tall as Xing Hui’s legs.
Feeling embarrassed, Lu Chao Chao dragged over a chair, stepped onto it, and flailed her arms in front of Xing Hui, “I am your master!”
Yet, Xing Hui only stared blankly at her, showing no response.
Lu Chao Chao was growing impatient.
Flipping open the Divine Register, she saw that the War God Xing Hui was already halfway into corruption. The mere sight gave her a splitting headache.
With a swift motion, she infused a streak of spiritual energy into Xing Hui’s soul.
“Hmm, I’ve hidden your presence. Let’s go out for a walk…” Lu Chao Chao smiled brightly.
Though Xing Hui had lost all his memories, he still instinctively followed her steps, refusing to part even a single step away.
Lu Chao Chao led Xing Hui through the streets.
The streets were chaotic and desolate.
Occasionally, the sounds of scuffles could be heard, likely fights over the treasures looted from the underground palace.
“Damn it… damn it…” The killing intent on Xing Hui’s body grew even heavier.
Fortunately, Lu Chao Chao was able to suppress it, restraining his urge to annihilate everything in sight.
At this moment, Lu Chao Chao understood.
This plague was neither heavenly punishment nor human calamity.
It was Xing Hui.
Xing Hui had guarded the underground palace for a millennium. The burial goods within had long been tainted with the killing aura emanating from his body. Those who plundered them unknowingly carried away this malignant energy. The destruction of the underground palace had become the final straw that broke Xing Hui’s restraint.
His killing intent spread, his divinity on the verge of collapse, bringing disaster upon mortals.
Lu Chao Chao arrived at the medical clinic.
Inside, the place was bustling, with imperial physicians working tirelessly.
Lu Zheng Yue was being protected in the center, surrounded by several imperial physicians.
“Strange…”
An elderly physician, his hair and beard white, his face exhausted yet eyes sharp, muttered, “Very strange. The rumors claim the plague spreads through blood, saliva, and breath, yet Second Young Master Lu shows no signs of infection.”
The physician carefully examined his limbs, “Do you feel any pain?”
Lu Zheng Yue shook his head, “None at all.”
“Miss Wen, my apologies. Do you feel any discomfort?” The physician tapped her knee and arm with a small hammer.
Wen Ning shook her head, “None.”
“Strange…” The physician stroked his beard, deep in thought.
The little one remained silent, hands clasped behind her back as she walked through the quarantined zone.
Everyone else wore thick layers of masks.
Lu Chao Chao had no such protection.
“Child, where is your family? Who let you out?!” A fierce-looking woman scolded.
Lu Chao Chao turned her head, and the woman immediately pulled out a clean handkerchief, covering her mouth and nose.
“Don’t you know there’s a plague? Which reckless adult allowed you to wander here?! Cover your mouth and nose and leave at once! This is not a place for children!”
The woman’s brows furrowed sternly, her voice harsh.
Seeing Lu Chao Chao staring blankly at her, the woman softened her tone, “Where is your family? Don’t tell me they all perished in the plague…”
“Poor child…” She gritted her teeth, hesitated, then pulled out two white steamed buns wrapped in oil paper from her pocket.
“Food is scarce in this desolate city. I work in the quarantine zone and receive three steamed buns a day. Here, take these…”
“Hide them well. Don’t let others steal them.”
“Little girl, here’s some broken silver.” Suddenly, a sickly patient called out. He fumbled in his pockets and pulled out a small piece of silver.
“I picked this up at the underground palace’s entrance when it was first opened.”
“My family is poor, but take it, little one.”
More patients followed suit, rummaging through their pockets. Some handed over copper coins, some broken silver, filling Lu Chao Chao’s arms with money.
“Take it. These were all picked up near the underground palace.”
“Come to think of it, the ones who profited most were those scoundrels. They stormed the underground palace and smashed it apart. We only dared to pick up what was left at the entrance…”
At least they had some conscience and never stepped foot inside.
“Wait… my neighbor’s family looted many treasures from the palace, and they…” The woman frowned in doubt.
“They were among the first to catch the plague.”
“Their entire family perished.”
A man suddenly slapped his thigh, “Ah! My nephew’s family also looted the palace. They died!”
A sickly patient sat up suddenly. The others exchanged glances and started recalling.
“My great-uncle stole from the palace and died early.”
“My neighbor looted too and perished!”
The more they talked, the more their hearts filled with fear.
“Could this… be the underground palace’s punishment?”
A collective shudder ran through the crowd.
“Now that I think about it, everyone who entered the palace… they all died!” They searched their minds but could find no exceptions.
All were dead.
“I sell buns. Many customers have used silver from the underground palace.”
“I own a silk shop. I’ve accepted such silver too.”
“I sell sugar paintings. I’ve taken that money.”
Everyone began questioning each other, realizing they had all come into contact with the palace’s wealth.
The woman who gave Lu Chao Chao the steamed buns hesitated, “I never touched it, yet I remain uninfected…”
Silence fell.
A terrifying realization spread among them.
Chaos erupted in the medical clinic, and Lu Chao Chao led Xing Hui to a quiet corner.
“Xing Hui, this world is rotten, but there are still people who try to mend it. The kind-hearted should not pay for the sins of the greedy!” Lu Chao Chao patted the wealth in her arms.
“The innocent should not die in vain.”
Most importantly, Xing Hui must not commit the slaughter of tens of thousands of innocent people.
He was a god, not a demon.
Xing Hui remained silent, only gazing at her blankly.
At that moment, the panic in the quarantine zone alerted Lu Zheng Yue.
Rong Che rushed to investigate, and what he discovered was shocking.
Not a single person who had ransacked the underground palace survived the plague. Those with mild symptoms had only inadvertently touched the stolen treasures.
“No wonder Zheng Yue remains uninfected. He never touched a single coin from the palace!”
“Could it truly be the palace’s revenge?”
“Do you remember the words on the stone gate? The master of the underground palace had only one request—not to damage the palace. Anyone who needed something could take it after bowing.”
“But they reduced it to ruins!”
“Serves them right! Greedy scoundrels!” Lu Zheng Yue spat in anger.
The imperial physicians exchanged nervous glances, “Then… how do we cure them?”
Lu Zheng Yue furrowed his brows, deep concern in his eyes. “Have the sick bow before the palace… see if forgiveness can be granted.”
A great crowd knelt in pilgrimage, bowing with every three steps, their foreheads bleeding as they reached the entrance of the underground palace.
Lu Chao Chao stood at the rear, Xing Hui by her side.
Even after the prostration, the malicious aura clung to them.
Lu Chao Chao turned to Xing Hui, “Xing Hui, you can’t control the killing aura anymore, can you?”