At the Border of the Yan Region. Several soldiers tasked with guarding the supply unit were working diligently, ensuring not even a single mosquito could enter the supply area. This was because any negligence would be met with military discipline. The Young General was particularly strict about regulations. The previous guard unit, which allowed the enemy to infiltrate the supply unit, still couldn’t get out of bed. In the commander’s residence, Zhao Yangshi and Yong Saiweihao were intensely preparing battle formation plans. However, the discussion between father and son was suddenly interrupted by the report of Yang Zhuang. "Master, Young Master, there’s trouble outside.” "What happened?" Yong Saiweihao’s calm voice responded. "Several soldiers have fallen ill, coughing up blood, and we can’t determine the cause," Yang Zhuang reported. "Come in," Yangshi permitted, folding the battle formation plans. "At present, several dozen soldiers have suddenly fallen ill without any known cause. They are all coughing up blood. Some, with lower spirit energy, died immediately, while others are still alive. We called the military physician to examine them, but even he couldn’t determine the cause," Yang Zhuang reported with a tense voice. He had seen the soldiers’ condition firsthand: pale faces, dwindling life force, and those who were still alive seemed unlikely to survive much longer. Once called the physicians over, they could not find the cause of the sickness. How could military physicians have a low skill? They were selected from among the royal physicians, but even they couldn’t identify the cause of the illness. If these physicians couldn’t figure it out, how could ordinary village physicians? Therefore, he rushed to report to the general because the soldiers’ illness might be contagious. If an epidemic broke out in the army, merely surviving would be considered fortunate, let alone waging war against the Tang Region. "Lead the way!" Yangshi ordered sternly. When Yangshi and Yong Saiweihao arrived at the recovery quarters, which served as a small health facility, they saw the elderly physician and his assistants hurriedly preparing herbal medicine. "Greetings, General, Young General," the elderly physician quickly greeted the highest commanders in this time with deference. "Dispense with the formalities. How are the patients?" Yangshi said. "Please, General, come inside and see for yourself," the elderly physician led them into the recovery quarters. As they entered, the smell of blood hit their faces, but both maintained their composure. The scent of blood was nothing to them. The sick soldiers looked pale, their skin as white as if all the blood had drained from their bodies, their life force steadily diminishing as if being sucked away. "I am incompetent and unable to determine the cause of this illness. Please, General, punish me as you see fit," the elderly physician knelt in despair. He had been a physician since the age of twenty, and now, with his hair completely white, he had never encountered such a strange illness before. "Did they eat something unusual?" Yong Saiweihao asked. "I’ve already inquired. They ate the same food as all the other soldiers in the camp. No one secretly consumed anything other than what the cooks provided.” Yangshi pondered for a moment. "Hao’er, send someone back to report to His Majesty and request the royal physicians to investigate this matter," he ordered sternly. A few days ago, they had captured an enemy at the supply unit. If this illness was caused by a common disease, it would be manageable, but if it was due to the enemy poisoning the supplies, it could endanger the entire army. The pawn that would determine the region’s fate had been placed. "Yang Zhuang, have our men inspect all the dried food and grains in the supply unit. Report any abnormalities immediately." Yong Saiweihao turned to carry out his father’s orders. Just then, he sensed a faint power of character from one of the patients on the bed. When he looked again, the power of the character had vanished without trace. He frowned, wondering if the soldier had an item inscribed with a character on himself. However, he quickly dismissed the curiosity and hurried to follow his orders. The royal physicians were summoned urgently. The chief royal physician, who examined the sick soldiers thoroughly, shook his head in helplessness. What was happening? Why was the life force of each soldier being drained completely? Yong Saiweihao stood watching the royal physicians examine the sick soldiers in calm demeanor, his handsome face was extremely tense. "General, Young General, I have been a physician for almost 50 years and have never encountered such a strange illness. I am at a loss on how to treat it." Without knowing the cause, he could only brew herbal medicines to temporarily sustain their life force. "Is there a royal physician skilled in character-based healing among you?" the Young General asked. Three days ago, he had sensed a faint character’s power from the patient. Though it was brief, it had left him curious. He had ordered the soldiers to inspect all items around that soldier but found nothing inscribed with character. So where did that power of the character come from? Even without evidence, his instincts told him something was amiss. "No, Young General. However, if you need a royal physician who is an inscription master, you can inform the royal court to send more physicians here." Typically, a royal physician who used character-based healing method was the high-rank royal physician, only treated the royal family and the emperor. Therefore, none had been sent to the military camp. "Alright," Yong Saiweihao nodded in acknowledgment. "Why did you ask about the royal physician who uses character-based healing method? Is something wrong, Hao’er?" Yangshi asked his son. "I have some suspicions, that’s all." "General, there are more sick soldiers. Five have died, and another 23 are showing symptoms. All have the same condition," a shift guard urgently reported from outside. This was a significant issue that needed to be reported to the general immediately. News of the contagious disease had spread throughout the army, severely affecting the soldiers’ morale. Yong Saiweihao hurried out of the recovery quarters to follow the shift guard and check on the ill soldiers of this day, in case there was something suspicious. He was quite certain that this issue was related to the enemy infiltrators who recently entered the camp. However, despite thoroughly inspecting the supply unit, they found nothing suspicious or indicative of what might have caused the soldiers to fall ill. A soldier with his clothes covered in blood was hastily carried in. "Stop!" Yang Zhuang shouted immediately. The soldier was gently laid on the ground. The white stretcher was stained with blood, and the smell was so strong that several shift guards turned away. Yong Saiweihao knelt on one knee beside the patient, calming his mind to investigate his suspicion. With his white-tier spirit energy, his senses were incredibly sharp. As he calmed his mind, the power of the character he had initially suspected appeared. It was indeed the character’s power! However, this power of the character was different from the usual kind. Although it was faint, almost undetectable, it was not beyond Yong Saiweihao’s capability. This type of power of the character seemed to be absorbing the life force before gradually dissipating. Once the life force was completely drained, the power of the character would also disappear. Could it be a dark character? This long-lost art had resurfaced here. It was a way of killing that left no trace to follow. The person behind this was no ordinary. The handsome face grew tense. This situation not only killed soldiers but also subtly eroded their morale. "Inform Taizi to send royal physicians who use the art of character and royal inscription masters here immediately." This matter required Taizi’s help, so it would be quick. If he or his father handled it themselves, they would have to petition the Emperor, a process that involved many steps before they could get the royal inscription master to fix the problem. And that might be too late. Seeing his son’s demeanor, Yangshi also knelt to inspect the patient. Within moments, the face of the General of the Region immediately grew tense. The father and son exchanged worried glances. Yangshi quickly wrote an urgent petition for Yang Zhuang to deliver to Taizi, requesting him to petition the Emperor and send the inscription masters as quickly as possible. If only a few soldiers had died, it wouldn’t be a significant issue. However, with millions of soldiers in the army, if all of them fell sick, then that would be the end of the Yan Region. After sending the petition, it took only four days for the royal court to urgently send the best physicians and inscription masters. The Emperor prioritized this matter highly, even Taizi was coming to assist. In the reception hall sat Wenlang, Yangshi, Yong Saiweihao, the inscription master and the physicians sent by the court, including several high-ranking soldiers. The issue of dark character must be discussed in the meeting. Everyone’s faces were tense, and the atmosphere was heavy with pressure. "I have thoroughly investigated. It is indeed dark character, as the General and the Young General suspected," Yun Baise reported. He was one of the most skilled royal physicians in art of character. "Dark character has been lost for hundreds of years. However, it reappeared. Moreover, it reappeared in a military camp during the war between regions is extremely dangerous, Your Highness," Li Zhong said. Li Zhong, a third-rank special noble who inscribed character for the Emperor, was highly skilled in the art of character and trusted by the Emperor. "Master Zhong, can you resolve this? If it continues, it will become a major problem. The Tang army is already putting pressure on us," Yangshi said worriedly. Soldiers are the region’s shield, and if their morale is shaken, how could they win the war? "General, it’s not that I don’t want to help, but the art of dark character is ancient. The patients only show symptoms and faint power of the character. There are no visible character patterns. I truly have no solution," Li Zhong said. Ordinary poisonous characters are already hard to remove, let alone dark characters without visible patterns for him to learn. How would it be possible to remove it? Despite wanting to help, it truly was beyond his ability. Everyone grew more tense upon listening. If even Li Zhong, the best inscription master in the court, couldn’t help, did it mean the Yan Region was doomed? The generals and officers showed fear. Wenlang and Yong Saiweihao kept calm expressions, but their hearts were heavy. Everyone was drowning in despair. "But there might be someone who can help," Yun Baise suddenly said during the silence, causing his voice to echo in the meeting room. Everyone looked at him. "Who can help, Royal Physician?" A deputy general asked, unable to contain his excitement. Even a glimmer of hope was worth pursuing. "I must say, he ‘might be’ able to help, but I cannot guarantee it. Additionally, I do not know where he is now," Yun Baise said. "Oh? Where can we find him then? And who is this person, Royal Physician?" "Your Highness, you might remember the events in Fengfu City years ago. The mysterious physician who helped you back then could use ancient characters. Unfortunately, I have been unable to locate him. I believe he might be able to help," Yun Baise said, turning to Wenlang. When Wenlang heard the words from this young royal physician, he glanced at Yong Saiweihao. They exchanged looks for a moment before looking away with composed faces. "Hmm, we will immediately send people to urgently search for this mysterious physician," Wenlang said. "Have all the royal physicians try to sustain the patients’ conditions as long as possible. As for the rest of you, find the source of this power of character," Yangshi ordered the royal physicians and all the commanders. The dark power of character could be coming from objects, food, water, or clothing. In this moment, they did not know what exactly the culprit had inscribed the dark characters on. The meeting concluded, and everyone dispersed to fulfill their duties. However, in the following days, more low-ranking soldiers continued to fall ill, overwhelming the recovery quarters. They had to set up additional tents to accommodate the patients. The army sent a request to the royal court for more royal physicians and assistants. Wenlang had traveled to Fengfu City several days prior to search for the mysterious physician who was the army’s only hope. "General! The front line is requesting reinforcements of fifty thousand soldiers. Our forces at Mingshan Valley are losing ground and can barely hold on!" reported a commander urgently. "Father, I will lead the troops. You stay here and handle the dark character issue," Yong Saiweihao volunteered. "No, I will go myself. You stay and manage things here. The soldiers need morale on the battlefield," Yangshi said. As the great general, his presence would surely boost the soldiers’ morale. "Then please be careful, Father." "You too." Whether on the battlefield or in the camp, both were equally dangerous now. In the first battle between the Yan and Tang Regions, the Tang Region attacked with a force of one hundred thousand soldiers and ten thousand iron-armored cavalries, attacking Yan soldiers waiting to ambush at Mingshan Valley and forcing them to retreat a hundred li. General Yangshi personally led another hundred thousand soldiers and twenty thousand cavalry to the battle field. As the battle between Yan and Tang started, border residents had to evacuate urgently. With the war in the south, they headed north of Yan Region. The route northward was filled with refugees. Some families used carriages and wagons to move things, while the impoverished had to walk. Despite the hardship, they had to prioritize survival. They spread out to various northern towns and set up tents outside city walls. In Fengfu City, some southern people had already arrived. The Governor Xin ordered the construction of refugee tents and strict organization. As for the impoverished without money for food, the Governor and Master He had already discussed that they would let them do labor and turning the soil in the experimental agricultural fields of the Fengfu City Farmers Association in exchange for money and food for their families. They would use this opportunity to expand the experimental agricultural plots and official farmland. The farmland was government-owned land, they would employ jobless townspeople to tend crops under Master He’s supervision. After selling the crops, expenses for labor, farming equipment, and seeds would be deducted. The remaining funds would benefit the townspeople, building a library, temple, and pavilion for travelers and residents to rest. Zhenzhu sat on the bamboo bench in front of the house, gazing through the slightly open gate. She saw some of the refugees carrying heavy loads as they fled for their lives. Some even carried their small children, barely a year old, to escape the danger. She sighed deeply. No matter the era, power struggles always persisted. Human greed was truly despicable. Zhenzhu looked away from the refugee families and picked up a piece of black Tiejin silk, placing it on the bench. She began sketching embroidery designs onto the fabric. She was making a warrior’s outfit and intended to enhance it with special abilities using a function of a formation and certain characters, such as enhanced protection or Illusionary Character and Concealment Characters. This concept had been in her mind for over a year, but various tasks had left her with little time. Thus, the outfit that would be embroidered with a pattern that would become a formation and a character according to her idea had been shelved. Now, having completed the order by sending military uniforms to the army, she decided to revisit her idea. Zhenzhu laid out the paper where she and Baihu had designed a formation, naming it ‘Invincible’. This was because she had integrated Illusionary Character and Concealment Characters into the formation. Besides the ability to defend against arrows, blades, and various weapons, it could also create illusions and camouflage momentarily. She intended to sell this outfit to Brother Hao, since he was on the battlefield and surrounded by enemies. If this outfit could make him safer, why would he not pay her for it? "Big Sister, what are you doing?" He Yu came out from the residence, peeking at what his sister was drawing on the fabric. "I’m drawing a mountain eagle. Come help me draw," Zhenzhu replied without looking back. She used the mountain eagle symbol to represent the wind element, one of the positions to complete the formation. "Big Sister, is that a mountain eagle you’re drawing!" He Yu was shocked. At first glance, he thought his sister was drawing a duck. How did it turn into a mountain eagle? However, fearing he might embarrass his big sister if he said this, He Yu kept silent. "Of course it is. Is it beautiful?" "Uh, how about I draw it for you, Big Sister?" "Good, good. Help me draw it. This part is for the mountain eagle, this part for the tiger, and here for the turtle. Leave this spot empty; I’ll add the characters," Zhenzhu pointed out the positions for the animals that symbolized the different elements. Once the drawings were done, she would need to find eight special types of silk to represent the eight elements. She was determined to make this special outfit her masterpiece. "Yes, Big Sister." He Yu concentrated hard on drawing, not wanting his sister to demonstrate her exceptional drawing skills. The two siblings worked diligently, adjusting and correcting the work. Nearly four hours passed, yet there was no sign of completion. "What are you doing?" "Making a warrior’s outfit," Zhenzhu replied instantly without looking up to see who was asking. "Who is it for?" The person continued to ask. "I’m going to sell it to Brother Hao." Zhenzhu was quite annoyed. So many questions! Wait! Why did this voice sound unfamiliar? Read ‘Rebirth: This Farmgirl Has Spirit Fish Scales’ before anyone else with more Chapters at https://www.jinovel.com/en