Let Me Explain, Fairy
Chapter 202 - 160 Doing Things_2

Chapter 202: Chapter 160 Doing Things_2

Xu Xinyao did not say much more to Xu Yuan but quickly followed, walking side by side with Ran Qingmo and whispered some secrets to her.

...

...

...

Within the main hall of the county office,

Colonel Wang had already removed his armor, wearing a brown cloth garment that faintly showed seeping blood. He was massaging his temples with force, while a deputy beside him reported in a low voice the various affairs within the city:

"... The roster of the fallen brothers has been compiled; here is the list, three thousand five hundred sixty-nine fatalities, two thousand seven hundred sixty-five missing..."

"... We have temporarily conscripted labor to clear the debris and corpses from the streets within the city, but the pace is still too slow..."

"... The city’s reserves of medicinal supplies have run out, and it’s estimated that many won’t make it through the night..."

As one matter after another was continuously reported, the deputy’s tone suddenly grew a bit graver:

"There’s also the issue that the militants from those merchant caravans and Xia Groups have started to get restless."

Upon hearing this, Colonel Wang, who had been focusing his gaze, lowered his hand, his voice weary:

"Go into detail."

The deputy fell slightly silent upon the request, speaking in a low voice:

"The city walls to the west and south have been destroyed, leaving a large residential area in rubble. Now, with the Demonic Beast tide receded, many citizens are returning home to retrieve their money and valuables, but some of the militants have already preemptively looted these possessions, and there have been incidents of them silencing the citizens in the ensuing conflicts.

"Moreover, what’s more pressing is the leftover Beast Cores and materials from those Demonic Beasts outside the city are also being slowly encroached upon by that group of merchants."

"...."

After a moment of silence, Colonel Wang suddenly slammed his palm down on the desk in front of him.

The desk broke with the force of Colonel Wang’s palm.

"This bunch of scoundrels! Their assistance in defending the city has done little good and caused much harm, and now they dare to show their faces, how dare they?!"

Having said that, Colonel Wang took a deep breath and let out a cold laugh:

"This matter is not impossible to handle. For now, keep them steady and have them focus on clearing the corpses within the city. As for those Demonic Beast Cores and materials... let them take them, let them take as much as they can. Once reinforcements arrive, we’ll make them cough everything up, principal and interest! If they don’t, not a single one of them will leave the city!"

The deputy saluted upon hearing this:

"Yes, General."

Colonel Wang pondered for a moment and added an instruction:

"Remember, we are just turning a blind eye, don’t officially agree to anything with them."

"Yes."

"Anything else?"

The deputy thought for a moment, then said in a low voice:

"General, Doctor Cheng has sent a message saying the disease cleansing powder has run out, and if it continues this way, a plague is likely to break out soon."

Colonel Wang fell into a brief contemplation, then spoke softly:

"Then have people remove the corpses from the city as soon as possible."

The deputy shook his head gently and said:

"General, Doctor Cheng said that just removing them might not be enough, they need to be burned."

"Burned?" Colonel Wang frowned.

"...."

The deputy looked around, then leaned closer to whisper in Colonel Wang’s ear:

"Establish a quarantine zone within the city and directly set the corpses in the south and west of the city aflame."

Upon hearing the deputy’s words, Colonel Wang simply asked:

"If we burn them, are you sure that it will prevent the outbreak of the plague?"

The deputy shook his head: "It would merely reduce the risk."

Colonel Wang’s eyes lowered as he gently tapped the armrest of his chair with his calloused hand. After a moment, he spoke softly:

"Go and organize a team to clear a section..."

"General Wang!"

The deputy interrupted Colonel Wang, emphasizing slightly, "Even considering losses, we have tens of thousands of Demonic Beast Cores and materials. If all are sold, it’s enough for Shengshan County to recast the Formation Patterns, even to train a new army."

Colonel Wang nodded and said:

"I know."

"Then why?"

Colonel Wang looked at the deputy, managing a strained smile:

"If people are gone, then Shengshan County is truly gone. With such heavy casualties, The Imperial Court will surely provide disaster relief. Go prepare."

The aide-de-camp remained still.

Colonel Wang furrowed his brow:

"Li Chengqi, are you thinking of disobeying orders?"

The aide-de-camp shook his head gently, whispering:

"General, all the brothers we can muster right now total just over two hundred. We simply don’t have enough manpower. If we issue such an order now, the merchant caravans and Xia Groups within the city won’t agree to it."

Colonel Wang cracked a cold, harsh smile:

"Do you think they dare rebel?"

The aide-de-camp shook his head:

"They wouldn’t dare, but they would dare to not put in the effort. With the men we have at our disposal now, we simply cannot complete such a massive project."

"......"

Colonel Wang fell silent, and finally, with a sense of helplessness, he sighed, "Go on, leave me alone for a while...."

The aide-de-camp hesitated for a few breaths on the spot, then gave a fist-and-palm salute and respectfully said:

"General, you rest. I will take my leave now."

Having said that, he turned and walked out of the main hall, leaving Colonel Wang seated alone before the desk broken in two.

After a while,

Colonel Wang bowed slightly and picked up the roster of the dead and missing from the ground, examining it carefully, page by page.

The sound of the pages turning echoed in the silent hall.

Looking at the names, some familiar, some foreign, on those rosters, his fists slowly clenched tighter and tighter.

He had been in Shengshan since the start of his military service.

Twenty-seven years.

From "Little Wang" to "Brother Wang" and then to "Uncle Wang."

He had seen the people represented by the names on the roster; he had interacted with many of them. Some called him General Wang, others called him Uncle, and there were those who came back from the market, excitedly telling him they found a bargain and could make a good amount of money to improve the barracks next year.

And now, they were just a few meager words on this roster.

Colonel Wang couldn’t view these young men as mere numbers, like those high above did, because in his eyes, they were once living, breathing individuals.

Page by page, as he reached the last few, Colonel Wang’s breathing grew increasingly labored.

A suffocating feeling enveloped him almost completely.

"Myriad Manifestation Sect..."

A voice, almost as if grinding his teeth, rose lowly in the silent yamen hall; his hands holding the roster were veined with tension, but the solidly-built middle-aged man still refrained from destroying it.

After what seemed like an eternity, Colonel Wang slowly picked up the brush from the ground, lightly dipped it into the spilled ink, and opened the roster to the last page and the final line, where he wrote down his own name.

After doing all this, Colonel Wang leaned back into his chair and let out a low laugh, a laugh filled with relief.

He was going to seek justice from the Myriad Manifestation Sect.

Even though he knew that this journey would most likely lead to certain death, the brothers in the barracks, the deceased civilians, and the ruined Shengshan County all required justice.

Thinking this, Colonel Wang carelessly placed the roster on the ground.

And at that moment,

"Colonel Wang, what are you planning to do?"

A low voice resounded at his side.

Colonel Wang’s pupils shrank slightly, but he quickly composed himself, recognizing to whom the familiar voice belonged, and he slowly rose and turned to look:

"Young Master Zhou, when did you arrive?"

Behind him stood a handsome young man in bloodied robes, his expression calm as he watched him.

Xu Yuan, upon hearing the question, remained silent, calmly scanning him before slowly walking forward to pick up the roster from the ground, flipping through it. Upon seeing the last name on the last page, he exhaled softly:

"Actually, you didn’t have to do this."

Colonel Wang didn’t speak:

Xu Yuan looked at him and asked:

"You don’t believe the Imperial Court will take action against the Myriad Manifestation Sect?"

Colonel Wang shook his head:

"It’s not that I don’t believe. I’ve lived in Xize State for so many years. I’m more familiar with everything in this area than anyone. Taking action against the Myriad Manifestation Sect would involve a lot, a whole lot. If Shengshan County really were gone, perhaps for political reasons the Imperial Court might move against the Myriad Manifestation Sect, but given the current situation, it’s highly unlikely. Shengshan County needs disaster relief, needs rebuilding....."

Xu Yuan’s eyes flickered as he sighed quietly:

"You are right, the Imperial Court indeed will not take action against the Myriad Manifestation Sect."

Colonel Wang smiled faintly, looking down at his hands covered in calluses:

"So, someone has to take matters into their own hands."