Chapter 12: Sudden Change

"Stop playing dead! Do you think pretending will get you out of this?" The constable holding the rope was clearly experienced and convinced the ruffian was feigning illness.

But to his surprise, the ruffian’s struggles only grew more violent. His face contorted in agony, veins bulged on his forehead and hands, as if he were drowning—unable to breathe, unable to escape, thrashing wildly from suffocation and terror.

"Help… help me…" he finally managed to choke out, the words muddled, desperate like a dying beast. Then he collapsed, convulsing on the ground, his movements fading until he lay deathly still.

The strangest thing was that his skin began to pale at a visible rate—not the ordinary pallor of death, but the swollen, ghastly whiteness of flesh long submerged in water.

"A ghost has killed him!"
"The ghost is here—run!"

Panic erupted among the hundred or so onlookers, their fear uncontainable as they scattered toward the gates.

Another ruffian, paralyzed with terror, let out a scream and bolted for the exit. He’d barely taken two steps when the same eerie affliction seized him. He writhed in agony, like a beast floundering in water—the more he struggled, the deeper he seemed to sink, suffocating, veins bulging, his face twisting in horror.

Then the young man who had first slipped out from the inner quarters—seized and bound by two constables—also began to convulse, his throat issuing guttural, choking sounds.

Chaos reigned. The county magistrate, Magistrate Hu, was terrified, but none were more frightened than Head Constable Li and his men. The three afflicted were the very ones who had snuck into the Wang family’s inner rooms to pilfer, just as Li and his constables had.

"Chief, I… we…" one constable stammered, trembling violently, nearly fainting with fear.

"Run! Escape!" Head Constable Li shouted, leading the charge for the door.

His men fled in a panic, valuables plundered from the Wang household tumbling from their clothes, abandoned without a second thought—clearly, their lives were worth more than any loot.

But just like the panicked ruffian, each constable who had entered the inner rooms was struck down after only a few steps, their limbs flailing, their bodies writhing in agony.

One constable, gripped by terror as the affliction overtook him, suddenly drew his saber and slashed wildly at the air.

A sickening thud—the blade struck another constable, blood spattering as the man collapsed, unable even to scream. His throat rasped with choking sounds as he writhed and convulsed on the ground.

The air was thick with the scent of blood, intensifying the horror and dread.

The constable who had drawn his blade seemed oblivious to having struck his comrade. Still he flailed wildly, face contorted in agony, clearly overtaken by the same affliction.

A sudden scream rang out—it was Magistrate Hu, trailing behind in the chaos, who stumbled directly into the path of the frenzied blade. His shoulder was gashed, blood pouring as he fell to the ground.

It was his misfortune; in the panic, no one had spared him a glance.

Fang Yue, who had already reached the gate as the madness began, did not immediately leave. The bizarre events left him shaken, but curiosity compelled him to stay.

He saw clearly as Magistrate Hu was struck and collapsed.

Fang Yue’s mind raced, weighing the dangers in an instant. He snatched up the heavy wooden bar from beside the gate, gritted his teeth, and charged at the crazed, sword-wielding constable.

With a dull thud, the frenzied constable was knocked aside, his blade tumbling to the ground.

Fang Yue, still clutching the bar, watched as the constable’s struggles waned, his skin taking on that unnatural pallor. Only when he was sure the danger had passed did Fang Yue discard the bar and approach Magistrate Hu.

"Are you all right, Magistrate?" Fang Yue asked, attempting to help him up.

Magistrate Hu groaned in pain as Fang Yue slowly lifted him.

"Fang, help me…" Magistrate Hu pleaded.

Fang Yue glanced around. Save for himself and Magistrate Hu, everyone capable of moving had already fled. The courtyard was strewn with corpses, each bearing the same hideous, contorted expression—a sight to chill the blood.

"Come," Fang Yue said, supporting Magistrate Hu as they hurried out.

Once they’d escaped the Wang family’s gate, Fang Yue finally drew a breath. At the far end of the street, he spotted Head Constable Li peering back anxiously, his face etched with terror.

When he saw Fang Yue supporting Magistrate Hu, Li’s relief was palpable. After a moment’s hesitation, he hurried over. "Magistrate, you’re safe! Thank heavens!"

Blood streamed from Magistrate Hu’s shoulder as he replied weakly.

Fang Yue was surprised that nearly all of Li’s constables had perished, while Li himself remained unharmed, but this was not the time for questions.

Although the wound on Magistrate Hu’s shoulder didn’t seem life-threatening, the bleeding could not be ignored. Fang Yue asked, "Where is the nearest clinic?"

Li now noticed the injury as well. "It’s not far—come with me!"

He tried to help support Magistrate Hu, but the wound made it impossible, so he quickly led the way.

"Hold on, Magistrate, we’re almost there," Fang Yue reassured him. This was not only a matter of responsibility—he had risked much for Magistrate Hu, and he didn’t want his efforts to be wasted.

After a short distance, Fang Yue realized their progress was too slow. Crouching down, he lifted the magistrate onto his back and jogged after Li.

Magistrate Hu was somewhat plump, and Fang Yue, a mere scholar, soon found himself breathless. Fortunately, the clinic soon came into view.

"Doctor Sun! Come out, quickly!" Li burst into the clinic, shouting.

"Why are you making such a racket? Don’t you know this is a place for quiet?" A little girl with twin braids emerged from the inner room.

"Where’s your father? The county magistrate is hurt—fetch him at once!" Li clearly knew her.

The girl, seeing the official robes on the man Fang Yue carried, turned pale with nerves. Magistrate Hu had only recently taken office and she did not recognize him, but she knew the uniform.

"My… my father’s out on a call, he isn’t here," she stammered, flustered. The magistrate was the highest official in the county—what had happened for him to be wounded like this?

"Where did he go? Go find him, now! If something happens to the magistrate, your clinic will answer for it!" Li snapped, his tone sharp with urgency. Should anything happen to the magistrate, Li would be in trouble as well.

"He’s at Old Madam Liu’s house in the west of town—I’ll fetch him right away!" The girl turned to rush out.

"Wait," Fang Yue called after her.