You Dare Slaughter the City Guard!

"What happened to Xiao Tao'er?"

As soon as Qi Lin came out, he saw a crowd gathered outside her home.

He hurriedly squeezed through the crowd and found Xiao Tao'er lying on the ground, still holding a basin of food in her little hands. The food inside was still steaming hot, and none of it had spilled.

"Brother Qi Lin, it's time to eat..."

When Xiao Tao'er saw him, a glimmer returned to her dim eyes. She struggled to lift a trembling arm. "Mother said you're a great hero, and you can't go hungry."

The food smelled wonderful and had been arranged so neatly, with little snacks and fruit on the side...

But Qi Lin's heart felt as though it had been torn open!

Brown blisters covered Xiao Tao'er's once-fair forehead. Bluish-purple veins bulged across her little face like magma beneath the earth, and firelight even surged through her flesh and blood.

On her exposed forearms, deep crimson sores overlapped with black scabs, and ochre-colored mucus seeped through cracks in her skin. Most horrifying of all, burn marks spread from her back to her waist, looking like demonic flames in the dark of night!

"Brother, it hurts! It hurts so much..."

Xiao Tao'er was suddenly wracked by searing pain and rolled on the ground.

She finally lost her grip on the basin, spilling the food all over the ground.

"The food, Brother's food."

She struggled to pick up the bowl, her two charred little hands trembling.

"Xiao Tao'er!"

Qi Lin's heart ached. He hurriedly crouched down to pick her up.

"Don't touch her!"

A doctor rushed out of the nearby He Family Medical Hall, his voice unbearably hoarse and strained.

"She has the Fire-Burning Plague! It's an acute onset, and it's contagious!"

At those words, the faces of the people around them turned deathly pale with fright.

The Fire-Burning Plague was one of the legendary Five Decays of the Heavenly Dao!

The five decays were Wind Erosion, Metal Piercing, Thunder Death, Frost, and Fire Burning. They were the five most terrifying plagues on the Divine Scion Continent, also known as the All Beings Equal Disease.

The disease did not spread only among mortals. It was said that even top experts could be infected, dying when their true essence ran dry and their flesh and blood suffered grievous damage.

Among ordinary folk, anyone who contracted it would surely lose their entire fortune.

A chronic case was better. With proper isolation, it was not easily transmitted. Pingyang District had more than a hundred chronic Fire Burning Disease patients, including Lin Xiaoyu's parents. Though they had emptied their home to pay for medicine, at least they were still alive.

"An acute onset is like being sliced to death!"

"This poor child..."

Seeing Xiao Tao'er convulse and cry out in pain, the neighbors wept tears like rain.

"Heavens!"

Xiao Tao'er's mother was right beside her. Disregarding the risk of infection, she cradled Xiao Tao'er in her arms, her whole body trembling with sobs.

"Why must the frayed rope always break at its thinnest, and misfortune always seek out those who already suffer? She's only six. What has she done to deserve this..."

Her wails poured into his ears. Qi Lin watched the mother and daughter who usually brought him laughter and joy now crying helplessly, as though they had fallen into hell. His eyes, too, turned red.

Why?

That Xiao Clan and those powerful elites did every evil imaginable, yet enjoyed endless wealth and glory!

Meanwhile, poor people like them, who struggled to stay alive, still had to suffer heaven's punishment and be tormented by the Heavenly Dao!

Why!

"Doctor He!"

Just then, Qi Lin suddenly shouted, "I heard the Ice Mystic Pill can suppress an acute Fire Burning Disease attack! Where can I buy one?"

"Yes! Yes..." Doctor He nodded hurriedly. "The Green Jade Hall has them! It's in Mystic City's Dongyang District, a bit far away, and they're very expensive..."

Hearing this, the woman suddenly raised her head, hope welling in her eyes. "My husband left us a sum of compensation money. I'll go get it!"

She raced home like a madwoman.

"Quick! Let's all put some money together first. Saving the child comes first," the neighbors hurriedly said.

"Give me the money. I'll take Xiao Tao'er to the Green Jade Hall."

Qi Lin immediately used his Mystic Sea Realm true essence to protect himself and picked Xiao Tao'er up.

"It's contagious..."

Doctor He stopped halfway through his warning, his eyes red again.

That was right. To get her to Dongyang District, there was no other way except for Qi Lin to take her there himself.

"You must get the Ice Mystic Pill within half a shichen, or this child will be gone!" Doctor He warned.

"All right!"

Qi Lin put away the neighbors' savings. Those simple faces, those sincere feelings... Why did they have to live such difficult lives?

"Money! The money!"

Xiao Tao'er's mother brought a money pouch still smeared with dirt. It might have been the dowry her father had left for the child's future...

"Qi Lin, let me carry her. Don't let her infect you," the woman said anxiously.

"Auntie, it's all right. I'm a martial artist."

With that, Qi Lin held the suffering little girl in his arms and rushed toward Dongyang District with all his strength.

The countless candles of Pingyang District flickered at that moment, like the fire of life, sheltering the little figure ablaze in Qi Lin's arms.

"Brother..."

Xiao Tao'er was nearly unconscious from the pain. Her hand, covered in cracks and blood from her burns, clutched Qi Lin's lapel tightly. Her voice was weak but full of pride as she said, "My daddy was in the City Guard. He saved so many people... He was a great hero too..."

"I know!" Qi Lin's thirteen-year-old face was more determined and mature than ever. He looked down at the little girl in his arms, and when he saw the hope of life in her dim eyes, it was as though a fierce fire had ignited within him too. "Your father is an example to everyone."

Just as Qi Lin was about to rush out of Pingyang District, sharp bangs and cold shouts suddenly rang out.

"Stop!"

Clang! Clang! Clang!

In the blink of an eye, a large group of armored City Guards blocked Qi Lin's path. They were tall and imposing, with vigorous Qi and blood and considerable combat strength.

The man leading them had a slender build, a heroic bearing, a profound cultivation, and an air of nobility.

"Su Cheng?"

Qi Lin knew this commander of the City Guard. Su Cheng had been present when Su Lianxi came to Pingyang District to do charity work before.

Now Su Cheng stood on high, looking down at Qi Lin. "Evil men have appeared in Mystic City recently. To protect the lives and property of the people, no one is permitted to leave Pingyang District."

Qi Lin was stunned for a moment. Then his eyes blazed as he said, "The patient in my arms is suffering an acute Fire Burning Disease attack. I need to take her to the Green Jade Hall quickly to buy medicine for her to take! Honored guards, please show us some leniency."

"An acute Fire Burning attack?"

When the hundred-odd City Guards heard this, they hurriedly backed away, covering their mouths and noses.

"Don't bring her over here!"

They swiftly drew their weapons and pointed them at Qi Lin.

"Since it's an acute attack, don't waste the money. Hurry up and bury her."

Su Cheng raised an eyebrow and glanced at Xiao Tao'er, the corner of his mouth twitching slightly. "Bury her deep."

"You..."

At those words, a bloody tide surged in Qi Lin's heart, and killing intent rose in his eyes.

"The esteemed City Guard has actually become the Xiao Clan's lapdogs!"

A black wooden sword suddenly appeared in his hand.

"So what if we have?" Su Cheng sneered. "You little orphaned ghost, are you going to kill me?"

"Haha!"

Waves of laughter broke out among the City Guards.

"This brat wants to copy those evil men and kill members of the Xiao Clan, and butcher us City Guards too."

"Does he dare? The City Guard are soldiers who protect the city. Does he have the guts to lay a hand on a soldier?"