Chapter 51: Chapter 49: The Rat in Black Iron Lake! 1

Translator: 549690339     —

Potential value, on the other hand, had increased by a full 3 points, a likewise immense boost!

The growth in potential value would make Su Changkong even more extraordinary, making the practice of various martial arts easier and simpler, forming a virtuous cycle!

With both the Five Animal Frolics and the Turtle Breath Technique breaking through, Su Changkong felt the long-missed ease, but he did not slack off.

“Above a martial artist of Divine Bravery, there must be stronger ones. Being able to throw one’s weight around near a small city is no real skill!”

Su Changkong muttered to himself. The Body Refinement Realm is merely the first realm for a martial artist. There are people beyond people, and mountains beyond mountains; one cannot afford to be proud or complacent.

Every day, Su Changkong proceeded with his usual practice. He could feel that whether it was in forging or blade technique, progress became easier and swifter. To step into the 7th realm was just a matter of rigorous training. Winter left and spring arrived, the severe cold of winter had passed, and the mildly warm spring came as promised.

“Clang, clang, clang!”

One morning, after Su Changkong had finished practicing the Five Animal Frolics, the bell for assembly and roll call rang throughout Black Iron Manor.

As usual, everyone gathered in the manor’s courtyard, and Director Liu began calling out names.

“Qian Yue! Has Qian Yue not arrived?”

However, Director Liu soon furrowed his brows, as he repeatedly called out a name several times with no one answering!

“Qian Yue… he seems to be ill today, resting in his chamber.”

Shortly after, a man spoke up.

“Hmm… now that the seasons are changing, everyone should be mindful of the temperature changes.”

Director Liu did not pursue the matter further upon hearing this; among over a hundred people, it was quite common to have colds or illnesses.

Su Changkong didn’t pay much attention at first, but this incident was out of the ordinary!

Two days blinked by, and it was time for the morning assembly and roll call again.

Lu Yi, he has caught a chill and asked me to take a leave on his behalf!”

And there’s Li Yi, he’s not feeling well. He vomited early in the morning and can’t come to work today.”

One after another, people spoke up, causing Director Liu’s frown to deepen. “Could it be influenza?” Meanwhile, Su Changkong’s heart stirred; so many people falling ill at once was extremely unusual. He thought of the somewhat contagious influenza!

“Cough, cough, cough… I… I think I’m sick too…”

At that moment, a man started to cough violently, his face pale.

Su Changkong remembered that this man was named Sun Qian, a forging master at Black Iron Manor.

“Cough… cough, cough!”

Sun Qian’s coughing was so violent that it seemed as if he was about to cough out his lungs. The people nearby subconsciously stepped back a bit, their faces showing concern, while Sun Qian covered his mouth with his hand.

After more than ten coughs, Sun Qian stopped; however, in the space between his fingers was a streak of blood red.

“This… this…” Sun Qian, looking at the blood he had coughed up, turned pale. He had always been very healthy. How could he be sick enough to cough up blood?

Get two people to take Sun Qian back to rest. Also, Qian Yue and the others… make them stay inside and not go out or have contact with others!”

Upon seeing this, Director Liu immediately gave orders with a face more serious than ever.

“Yes!”

Everyone complied, their expressions solemn.

If it were something like the flu, it wouldn’t be too bad, but if it was an epidemic… that would be trouble!

“Is it an epidemic? Winter has only just passed!” Su Changkong also frowned deeply, knowing that in ancient times, what was most terrifying was not merely natural disasters or man-made calamities-the epidemic was even more fearsome, worse than the former two combined.

With limited medical care and sanitary conditions, if one caught an epidemic in ancient times, it mostly came down to luck; if one could endure it, they would live; otherwise, waiting for death was all that was left!

Director Liu immediately reported the matter to Manor Lord Mo Tie, who took the situation very seriously. His approach was simple: isolate Qian Yue and the others who were sick, have someone deliver food and water, and prevent any contact with others.

But the situation did not end there. After another day, the number of people with symptoms increased from four to seven, and the additional three did not have much interaction with Qian Yue and the others on ordinary days, yet they still fell ill!     y

Fear and panic spread throughout Black Iron Manor.

This is wrong… this doesn’t seem to be an epidemic or influenza.”

That evening, after finishing his practice of the Five Animal Frolics, Su Changkong was holding a water jug, taking a few swigs when suddenly his heart gave a faint thump, and a subtle sense of alarm rose within him.

“Puh!”

Su Changkong immediately spat the water out, his expression fluctuating.

“The water source… could the problem be with the water source?”

Su Changkong looked at the water bottle in his hand, a thought occurring to him.

Inside Black Iron Manor, seven people had fallen ill, but among them, some rarely had any contact with each other on a regular basis. If there was one thing everyone did every day, it was eating and drinking!

And water was something everyone had to drink daily. Could the sudden outbreak of illness among the people be due to the water source?

“Go find the Manor Lord.”

Su Changkong felt it was necessary to investigate this aspect, so he immediately got up and went to the back courtyard of Black Iron Manor to look for Mo Tie.

It was already evening; in a room, Mo Tie’s brows were deeply furrowed: “So many people are sick… Is it the flu or a plague? Yesterday, someone was sent to Clearwater City to fetch Doctor Liu, but as soon as Doctor Liu heard about the situation, he refused to come to Black Iron Manor for all the money in the world.”

Ordinary illnesses were one thing, but suspected plague-related symptoms made general doctors avoid them like the plague, lest trouble befalls them. Mo Tie had people contact doctors from Clearwater City, and those doctors only advised him to isolate those with symptoms, to avoid direct contact with them at all costs.

“Bang! Bang! Bang!”

There was a knock at the door.

“Come in, the door isn’t locked.”

Mo Tie said after regaining his senses.

“Branch, ah!”

A tall youth pushed the door open and entered—it was Su Changkong!

“Changkong? What brings you to me?” Mo Tie was slightly surprised; Su Changkong was low-key and rarely sought him out on his own.

“Manor Lord, several people have fallen ill in the manor recently, could the fundamental reason be related to the food and water?” Su Changkong didn’t beat around the bush and got straight to the point.

Water and food- even Su Changkong had to drink water and eat on schedule. If there was an issue with either, then everyone in Black Iron Manor was in trouble!

“Right… the water, go check the water source!”

Upon hearing this, Mo Tie immediately sprang to his feet.

Originally, they had assumed it was something like the flu, but could it be that there was a problem with the water source?

“Old Liu, get a couple of people to come with me to the back mountain for a look, to Black Iron Lake,” Mo Tie ordered as soon as he found Director Liu.

111 go too.” Su Changkong prepared to accompany them to the scene. Rather than being clueless, having an understanding would allow for better preparedness!

Mo Tie, Director Liu, Su Changkong, and two of Mo Tie’s trusted aides, a group of five, headed towards the back mountain of Black Iron Manor.

Black Iron Lake was a pool of water located behind the mountains of Black Iron Manor.

The water needs of the more than a hundred people in Black Iron Manor could not be met by a mere well. Black Iron Lake was the source of the manor’s water; whether it was drinking water or the water used for quenching during forging, ’ it all came from Black Iron Lake.

Black Iron Lake, the water clear, occasionally with a few leaves floating on the surface. When the breeze blew, it caused ripples on the surface of the lake.

From the surface, there appeared to be no issues with Black Iron Lake.

“Old Zhang, go down and take a look,” Mo Tie instructed one of the men.

This man named Zhang Shu was good at swimming.

“Alright!”

Zhang Shu nodded, peeled off his clothes and shoes, leaving only his undergarments on, and dived into Black Iron Lake, plunging toward the bottom to explore.

He occasionally surfaced to breathe.

After about the time it took to burn a stick of incense, a discovery was finally made!

“Manor Lord… take a look at this!”

Zhang Shu called out from the water.

In Zhang Shu’s hand, he was holding a rat!

More precisely, the corpse of a rat.

Zhang Shu climbed ashore and tossed the rat’s corpse onto the ground.

This rat’s corpse was peculiar, bloated from soaking in the water, its fur had fallen off, and its body was covered with small, bulging pustules!