Chapter 132: Severe Disaster
Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
“Kill to appease the wrath of the heavens?” Tang Jinghong’s tone was cold. “If the heavens were so evil, you would have died long ago!”
The village chief opened his mouth but could not say a word to refute.
Tang Jinghong asked coldly, “Who came up with this idea?”
The villagers lowered their heads. No one made a sound.
“Covering up for each other?” Tang Jinghong’s voice was cold and oppressive. “Do you think I can’t do anything to you just because there are a lot of you?”
Still no one spoke.
Tang Jinghong’s eyes darkened. He was furious. “Someone, register these people. Send all the men to the army and the women…”
The woman who was acting as a priestess panicked. Her three sons were all in the crowd. If they were sent to the army, she wouldn’t be able to see them again. “General, I’ll tell you, I’ll tell you…”
Tang Jinghong looked at the woman coldly. “Speak!”
The woman said anxiously, “It was the village chief’s idea. In this area, everyone regarded me as a sorceress. A few days ago, the village chief came to me and asked if 1 could hold a sacrificial ritual to pray for rain. I said that I could give it a try. The next day, the village chief kidnapped a girl and brought her to me. I saw that he had made full preparations, so I agreed.”
The village chief’s body softened and he collapsed. “It was my idea, General. Please let them go. I’m willing to bear the responsibility.”
Tang Jinghong ordered, “Kill him!”
The soldiers dragged the village chief out and killed him on the spot. Blood splattered all over the ground!
Everyone was trembling. They were so frightened that they did not even dare to breathe.
Tang Jinghong swept his gaze across everyone. “If something like this happens again, 1 won’t let you off easily!”
The villagers hurriedly replied, “We won’t dare to do it again.”
Chu Qingzhi walked over to save the girl from the rack. The girl was frightened and fainted due to dehydration.
The man who was knocked out got up. When he saw that woman was safe and sound, he was overjoyed. Then, he rushed over and pounced on the woman excitedly. “Jinniang, Jinniang, are you okay?”
Chu Qingzhi took the water from Fang Zerong and fed it to the woman. Then, she placed her in the man’s arms. “She’s frightened. She’ll be fine after resting.”
The man was extremely grateful. “Thank you, Miss.”
It was already dark. Tang Jinghong asked the soldiers to set up camp and investigate the surrounding villages.
After arranging everything, Tang Jinghong walked towards Chu Qingzhi.
Chu Qingzhi was standing by the river and looking into the distance quietly. Suddenly, she looked up into the sky.
There were immortals in this world. She had seen them before.
But why weren’t they sending down rains?
She had seen countless tragic scenes along the way. Could it really be that they had angered the heavens?
However, weren’t they heavens good and just? Shouldn’t the heavens take pity on the suffering people? Even she, who had killed countless people, couldn’t bear to see these people suffering.
Tang Jinghong walked to Chu Qingzhi’s side and looked at her. At this moment, Qingzhi gave people a feeling that she did not belong to this world. “Qingzhi, what are you thinking?”
Chu Qingzhi said, “I’m thinking about when it will rain.”
Tang Jinghong looked up, his deep eyes filled with worry. “The sky is clear and sunny. It doesn’t look like it will rain anytime soon.”
“That’s right!” Chu Qingzhi pulled Tang Jinghong away. “Let’s go and see if there are any water veins. With water, these villagers will stop causing trouble. Coincidentally, we also need to replenish our water bags.”
Tang Jinghong followed Chu Qingzhi and thought to himself, Qingzhi, you’re my lucky star.
The night sky was filled with stars.
After appeasing the villagers, Tang Jinghong and Chu Qingzhi returned to the camp.
Fang Zerong brought them food. He was clearly not in good spirits today. “General, the disaster is getting worse. According to the itinerary, we should be able to see the refugees tomorrow.”
Tang Jinghong reached out and patted Fang Zerong’s shoulder. “Eat more. Rest early tonight. We have a lot to do tomorrow.”
Fang Zerong smiled. “Okay.”
With that, he left the tent.
Tang Jinghong put all the meat into Chu Qingzhi’s bowl. “Qingzhi, I have a lot of things to arrange tomorrow. When I’m not by your side, protect yourself. In addition, I’ll send four soldiers to you. They’ll listen to you. If there’s anything you need them to do, just tell them.”
Chu Qingzhi looked at Tang Jinghong’s cool and handsome face. “I know. Don’t worry about me. Focus on the matters at hand.”
Tang Jinghong pulled Chu Qingzhi’s hand over and held it gently. Her hands were so soft that he didn’t want to let go.
After dinner, Tang Jinghong left the tent with the bowls and chopsticks.
Chu Qingzhi took out a pen and paper and sat behind the table. She wrote and drew. The orange candle light shone on her face, casting a silhouette on the canvas. She looked quiet and beautiful.
After a while, Tang Jinghong returned to the tent with his hands behind his back, as if he was holding something.
He stopped in front of the table. “Qingzhi, I have something for you.”
Chu Qingzhi looked up and smiled. “What is it?”
Tang Jinghong took his hands out from behind. He was holding an exquisite hat made of cattails. It was pale yellow and was decorated with two flowers made of cattails.
“The sun is too hot. Wear this hat.” During the day, he saw that Chu Qingzhi’s face was red from the sun and wanted to make a hat for her.
Chu Qingzhi held the hat in her hand in surprise. It was very exquisite and cute and with the two flowers decorated on it, it was specially suitable for girls to wear. “Jinghong, you’re really ingenious. I like it very much.”
Tang Jinghong smiled. “I was afraid that you wouldn’t like it.”
“I like it.” Chu Qingzhi handed the hat to Tang Jinghong. “Put it on for me.”
Tang Jinghong put the hat on Chu Qingzhi’s head carefully. There were two braided ropes on the hat. They could be tied up to fasten the hat under the chin.
Tang Jinghong sized up Chu Qingzhi, who was wearing the hat. “You look even prettier.”
Chu Qingzhi couldn’t help but laugh. “I think you’re indirectly praising yourself.”
Tang Jinghong stared at the woman in front of him intently and said gently, “Everything I say to you is true.”
Chu Qingzhi felt sweet inside like she had just eaten honey.
The sky gradually brightened, and Chu Qingzhi and the others had been marching for two hours.
As they marched, the scene in front of them became more and more shocking.
Chu Qingzhi looked ahead. The cracked ground was like the wrinkles on an old man’s face. The crops in the fields all died. As far as the eye could see, there was nothing that looked green. The trees that could still be eaten were all cut to the ground. The bark and leaves on them were all gone.
The villages they passed by were uninhabited. It was like a ghost village. Some of the walls had collapsed, and there was a lot of loose soil on the ground. When they dug it up, there were often more than one corpse.
Among these corpses, there were men and women, old and young. It was shocking..
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