lcionline Chapter 483 Living people being trained into ghosts—it's too cruel.
Chapter 483 Living people being trained into ghosts—it's too cruel.
The dungeon was dark and damp, with a smell of rust and mildew permeating the air.
The "ghost soldier" who was bound hand and foot was fixed to a specially made iron frame.
Even so, he continued to writhe restlessly, letting out low, beast-like growls from his throat.
His eyes were bloodshot and red, his face was covered with bulging veins, and his skin had an abnormal grayish color, making him look very different from ordinary people.
Dr. Qian approached and examined the patient closely.
He first examined the "ghost soldier's" pupils, then opened his eyelids. Next, he put on thin, gossamer-like silk gloves and gently pressed several acupoints on the "ghost soldier."
The "ghost soldier" didn't react at all, but struggled even more violently, making the iron chains creak and rattle.
"Pain sensation seems extremely dulled, even... gone," Dr. Qian mused, his brow furrowed.
He then took out a thin silver needle and carefully pierced an acupoint on the "ghost soldier's" arm.
The "ghost soldier" still felt no pain; instead, it became even more agitated because it was bound.
“General, Madam, look here.” Doctor Qian pointed to an inconspicuous patch of skin on the back of the “ghost soldier’s” neck. “There are several extremely tiny needle marks here, arranged in a peculiar way, unlike those left by ordinary medical treatment.”
Gu Junze and Chu Ruohan looked closely and found that it was indeed as Dr. Qian had said.
“And his smell,” Dr. Qian sniffed lightly, “besides the smell of blood and sweat, there was also… a very faint smell, like rotting grass and trees.”
"Dr. Qian, do you have a preliminary assessment?" Gu Junze asked.
Doctor Qian shook his head solemnly: "Unheard of! It doesn't seem like poisoning, but rather... that some kind of secret method has forcibly boosted physical strength while simultaneously sealing off the five senses and the mind."
He paused, then continued, "To find out the truth completely, we should try taking some of his blood, but... this beast is ferocious, and taking samples is not easy."
"I'll do it." Shadow One appeared behind them without them noticing.
He drew a specially made small dagger from his waist and took out a porcelain bottle, clearly intending to cooperate with Doctor Qian.
Just as Yingyi was about to make his move, the "ghost soldier" suddenly fell silent, its crimson eyes fixed on the dagger in Yingyi's hand.
What came out of his throat was no longer a roar, but a... whimper?
Everyone was stunned.
Chu Ruohan was observant. She noticed that the "ghost soldier's" gaze did not seem to be entirely focused on the dagger, but rather on a peace charm hanging from Ying Yi's waist below the dagger.
Those amulets were commonly worn by soldiers and had nothing special about them.
"Could it be..." Chu Ruohan's heart stirred, and she whispered to Yingyi, "Yingyi, show him the amulet on your waist."
Although Yingyi was puzzled, he still took the amulet as instructed and slowly extended it toward the "ghost soldier".
A strange scene happened.
When the "ghost soldier" saw the amulet, the crimson in its eyes faded slightly, and its manic emotions calmed down considerably.
He reached out his bound hand, as if trying to touch the amulet...
"He...he seems to still have some residual consciousness?" Vice General Wang watched in disbelief.
Dr. Qian also looked astonished: "This...this is unbelievable!"
Gu Junze's gaze was deep as he observed the "ghost soldiers'" reaction, and a certain guess gradually took shape in his mind.
These "ghost soldiers" may not be monsters by nature, but rather... once living, breathing people.
"Dr. Qian, proceed with the blood draw," Gu Junze said in a deep voice. "Be extremely careful."
With the "reassurance" of the amulet, the "ghost soldiers" cooperated much better, and Dr. Qian successfully obtained the blood he needed.
Back in the council chamber, the atmosphere remained oppressive.
Chu Ruohan spoke first, her tone filled with worry: "Junze, the invitation from the Northern Yan princess is clearly a trap. It's far too dangerous for you to go alone."
"Yes, General!" Vice General Wang hurriedly echoed, "This humble general is willing to lead a detachment of elite troops to accompany you, so that we can look out for each other!"
Duan Qingye slammed the teacup heavily on the table, making a loud "bang".
"Provide assistance? Are you sending yourselves to your deaths! Since that witch specifically named him and ordered him to go alone, what are you going to do with her? Be targets!"
Gu Junze sighed softly, "Since the Northern Yan princess dared to make this invitation, she must have something to rely on. Perhaps she thinks I will definitely go, or perhaps she has other purposes."
"You're her target!" Duan Qingye sneered. "That vixen's eyes were suspicious when she looked at you! She either wants to kill you, or she wants to... turn you into one of her 'creations'!"
These words sent a chill down the spines of everyone present.
“My mind is made up,” Gu Junze said slowly. “I will keep my appointment on time three days from now.”
He looked at Chu Ruohan and softened his voice: "Han'er, weren't you studying that bone whistle before?"
"Perhaps we can find a breakthrough there. If we can disrupt the actions of those 'ghost soldiers,' my chances of winning will increase."
Upon hearing this, Chu Ruohan's spirits lifted slightly.
She took out the black bone whistle from her sleeve: "I've always thought that there must be a pattern to how this bone whistle is played, with different syllables representing different commands."
"It's just that without a reference, it's difficult to crack."
"Have the people sent to search for the Northern Yan musical scores returned?" Gu Junze asked a deputy general.
The lieutenant bowed and said, "General, we have searched the entire city and found several volumes of folk music scores from Northern Yan, but most of them are romantic tunes and do not seem to be related to military orders."
As he spoke, he presented several yellowed scrolls.
A hint of disappointment appeared on everyone's faces.
Just then, Dr. Qian walked in from outside, carrying a small tray. He looked tired, but also excited about his discovery.
"General, we've made a discovery..."
He placed the tray on the table, on which were several small porcelain bowls filled with liquids of different colors.
"The blood of those 'ghost soldiers' appears to be made from dozens of rare poisonous herbs. This medicine can greatly stimulate a person's potential, making them incredibly strong and tireless, and can also temporarily block the sense of pain."
“But,” Dr. Qian’s tone shifted, becoming heavy, “the side effects of this drug are also extremely severe. It can seriously damage a person’s mind, causing them to gradually lose their self-awareness and eventually become a mindless walking corpse that only knows how to kill.”
"Moreover, long-term use can cause irreversible damage to the body, and even if you stop taking the medication, it will be difficult to recover completely."
“Those needle marks,” he continued, “were probably the routes for administering the medicine.”
"Is there any way to save us?" Chu Ruohan asked anxiously.
Dr. Qian sighed: "It's very difficult. Even if we know what kind of medicine the Northern Yan is using, it's impossible to concoct an antidote in a short period of time."
Silence fell over the council chamber once again.
The methods of Northern Yan were far more vicious and ruthless than they had imagined.
Time passed slowly, and the three-day appointment drew ever closer.
Northern Yan has remained inactive!
Only Chu Ruohan continued to study the bone whistle tirelessly, without sleep...
After arranging everything, Gu Junze stood alone on the city wall, gazing towards the direction of the Northern Yan army camp.