The Desire to Live!

Holding the newly refined Detoxification Pill, Ye Jing's heart was filled with hope for the people of the Great Li Kingdom to regain their lives.

He knew that this was not just due to a few pills, but also a beacon of hope that allowed countless lives to continue.

However, things rarely go as planned, and an undercurrent was quietly brewing, attempting to nip this glimmer of hope in the bud.

The next morning, sunlight pierced through the clouds and shone on every corner of the capital of the Great Li Kingdom, but it seemed unable to Rogue Person's hearts.

Ye Jing personally supervised the distribution of the Detoxification Pills; each pill carried his hopes for peace!

One pill is enough to cure every person.

The once bustling streets are now deserted, replaced by ragged, haggard figures.

They huddled under dilapidated eaves or lay on the cold stone pavement, their eyes filled with a mixture of longing for life and despair.

An indescribable sadness and helplessness filled the air, as if even the wind was weeping.

Without medicine to combat the plague, they will all die here.

Just as the heavy and oppressive atmosphere was about to engulf everyone, a rapid and loud gong sound broke the silence over the capital. Immediately afterwards, an official in uniform, looking hurried, walked through the sparse crowd and stood on a high platform in the middle of the street.

His voice, like a giant bell, clearly resounded throughout the surroundings, each word resonating in people's hearts like spring thunder.

"Fellow villagers, listen to me! Great news, fantastic news!" The official's voice was filled with excitement and joy. His eyes swept across the crowd, trying to convey this hope to everyone. "Through our tireless efforts, we have finally found an antidote to combat this plague!"

Upon hearing this, the previously silent street instantly erupted in excitement. People were stunned for a moment, then their faces lit up with disbelief, as if they had been parched and had grasped at the last straw in their despair.

"Really? We're saved?" An elderly woman tremblingly raised her hand, tears welling in her eyes, her hands clasped tightly to her chest, as if afraid that this sudden happiness was just a dream.

"Yes, sir, are you telling the truth?" Those who could still stand gathered around the officer, their eyes filled with both expectation and doubt. After all, they had experienced too much disappointment and pain these past few days.

"Absolutely true!" The official nodded firmly, then took out an exquisite porcelain bottle from his robes and held it high. "This is the Detoxification Pill, personally crafted by the Grand Alchemist Ye Jing. It has successfully treated many patients, proving its extraordinary efficacy!"

Cheers erupted from the crowd; some embraced each other and wept with emotion, while others knelt on the ground, kowtowing to the sky in gratitude for God's mercy.

At this moment, all the suffering and struggle seemed to vanish, replaced by a joy of rebirth and boundless anticipation for the future.

"Lord Ye Jing, you are our savior!" Someone shouted first, and then more people echoed, all turning their gaze to the tall and solemn medicine house in the distance, their hearts filled with admiration and gratitude for Ye Jing.

"Everyone, follow me to the Yamen gate to collect your medicine. Dissolve the Detoxification Pills in water, and one bowl each will cure you!"

At the order of the officials, the people surged towards the Yamen like a tide, their faces filled with anticipation and hope.

The sunlight seemed to shine more gently on this land, adding a touch of brightness to this gray world.

In front of the Yamen, a temporary medicine shed had already been set up, and several doctors in long robes were busy preparing Detoxification Water, each drop embodying respect for life and a desire to save lives.

"Please line up and keep order. Everyone will receive treatment." An elderly doctor stood in front of the medicine stall, calming the restless crowd with his kind yet firm voice.

Although the people were extremely anxious, under this guidance, they gradually regained order and stepped forward one by one to receive the seemingly ordinary bowl of Detoxification Water that carried countless hopes.

"Glug glug..." Bowls of Detoxification Water were slowly drunk. At first, people only felt a warm current slide from their throats into their hearts. Then, the pain that had been tormenting them for a long time seemed to really begin to lessen.

The coughing decreased, breathing became smoother, and some elderly people who were previously bedridden even tried to stand up, their eyes sparkling with the light of new life.

"It really works! I feel much better!" Exclamations of surprise rang out from the crowd, and this sudden improvement lifted everyone's spirits.

However, as time went on, people gradually discovered that although the symptoms were somewhat relieved, it was not as the officials had said, that "one bowl per person would be enough to cure them."

The shadow of illness has not completely dissipated; rather, it lingers like the cold winter wind, still making one shiver.

"What's going on? Didn't they say it would make you better if you drank it?" Some people were puzzled and started whispering among themselves, and a sense of unease spread through the crowd.

"Yes, I still feel dizzy and my cough hasn't completely stopped," a middle-aged man said, frowning as he looked worriedly at the empty bowl in his hand.

At this moment, an old man stepped out of the crowd, his voice weak yet full of strength. "Let's go to the Yamen and find out what's going on with this Detoxification Water!"

Led by the old man, the group returned to the Yamen in a grand procession. However, when they asked to get more Detoxification Water, they were told that the stock was already depleted.

"What? It's gone? What do we do now?"

Upon hearing this, the people erupted in uproar, their anger and despair intertwining to form a force that could not be ignored.

"Please listen to me calmly." At this moment, a middle-aged official in official robes walked out of the Yamen. His face was solemn, and he was clearly aware of the seriousness of the problem. "Regarding the effectiveness of the Detoxification Water, we have indeed received some feedback that it has not achieved a complete cure. We are investigating the reasons for this with all our might."

"An investigation? We can't wait!" A young mother cried, her baby still coughing in her arms. "My child is so young, he can't wait!"

The official sighed, knowing full well how weak his words sounded in the face of these anxious people. But he still tried his best to explain, "Please trust us. We will find out the cause as soon as possible and take measures to resolve it. At the same time, we will try our best to find other treatment methods and will never give up on any life."