Not long after, the Southern Barbarian Kingdom was plagued by a devastating epidemic (d?ch b?nh) ??, starting in the Southern Royal City and then spreading throughout the nation. Some people would be chatting and laughing, only to turn around and collapse dead on the spot. Some developed festering sores all over, dying a painful death as if they had been exposed to the sun for many days. Others developed stripes, as if they had been whipped for many days, before also dying. Still others became mute for many days before dying. These forms of death were exactly like the sufferings Prophet Noe had endured when tortured by the Southern Royal Lord.
The epidemic raged fiercely, forcing the Southern Barbarian Kingdom to adopt a "Stay where you are" policy, implementing lockdowns and restrictions on movement to prevent the spread of the disease. This excluded truly necessary cases (such as buying food according to regulations, emergency medical visits, or frontline forces), with the participation of soldiers to ensure compliance with Social Distancing (Gi?n cách X? h?i).
People were "Locked in their Homes" (Cách ly X? h?i). The government applied very strict social distancing measures, sometimes fully locking down entire areas (neighborhoods, wards, or even cities) for weeks or months. The prohibition of movement made it impossible for people with money to directly buy food or basic necessities.
The sight of "throwing money out the window" (qu?ng ti?n qua c?a s?) was an image reflecting the utter helplessness and extreme difficulties of the people trapped indoors without food. They had to throw money down to street vendors or volunteers below to ask for help buying goods, or to pay for scarce support services.
There were also cases of people genuinely "throwing money out the window" and weeping, because their life's purpose was to make money, the more the better. But now, having money yet being unable to buy food, this internal collapse awakened many people spiritually, leading them to seek meaning for their lives beyond money. Was there anything else to pursue? What about dreams? What about family? What about religion? What is spirituality? etc.
The epidemic spread for two years and was contained only within the borders of the Southern Barbarian Kingdom. The population was halved; houses were empty, fields lay unplowed, and there were many children without parents—because the disease spared children, primarily affecting adults. Nurseries and orphanages opened up more and more.
Just as the epidemic slowed down and neared its end, war broke out. Surrounding nations launched attacks, especially the Jade Nation, which marched its armies south, conquering cities and lands with minimal effort. The populace and soldiers believed that the Prophet's death was caused by the Southern Barbarian Kingdom, and by becoming citizens of the Jade Nation, they would no longer be tormented by the epidemic.
And indeed, just as suddenly as the epidemic appeared, it ended just as abruptly. As soon as the Jade Nation captured the Southern Royal City, the epidemic completely vanished. The King of the Southern Barbarian Kingdom was captured and executed soon after. The Jade Nation implemented a policy of assimilation (??ng hóa) of the Southern Barbarian Kingdom, turning the Southern Barbarian people into Jade Nation citizens. Nurseries were established everywhere to educate, train, and teach history to the children as if they were people of the Jade Nation.
The King of the Jade Nation even encouraged the poor to move to the Southern Barbarian Kingdom, promising them land and houses. Anyone marrying a Southern Barbarian person would be given buffaloes and cows, and giving birth to a child with a native would even earn them money. In a short time, the Jade Nation almost completely swallowed the Southern Barbarian Kingdom, from land to people, with no risk of rebellion or war. The Southern Barbarian Kingdom, being a fertile and underexploited land, was taken over by the Jade Nation with its high-level technology. This propelled the Jade Nation into a period of unprecedented development, ushering in a Golden Age (Th?i k? Hoàng kim).
Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.
Celestial Record (Thiên Th? Ghi Nh?n) ??
Date Log (Nh?t ky ngày): [Current Date]
Event (S? ki?n): Noe (Noe) completed his mission and had to face the assassination plot of the Shadow Guard Squad (??i ám B?). He saved Feng Chen (Phong Tr?n) and feigned death (gi? ch?t) to avoid unnecessary trouble.
Impact (Tác ??ng): Noe's (Noe) standing among the great powers is concealed. He is now a figure considered dead by everyone, yet he possesses a hidden great power.
- Merit Update (C?p Nh?t C?ng ??c)
The Celestial Record has collected and analyzed the notable Merit (C?ng ??c - Gongde). Noe possesses the ability to use the "Eye of Merit" (C?ng ??c chi nh?n) to view others’ and his own Merit.
- Character File Update (C?p Nh?t H? S? Nhan V?t)
The Celestial Record has collected new data and updated the character files.
- Analysis of Demon and Ghost Power (Phan tích s?c m?nh c?a Ma và Qu?)
- Demonic Artifacts/Energy (Ma khí): Demonic Artifacts (Ma khí) were mentioned many times, especially the Demonic Sword, Demonic Saber, Demonic Spear, Demonic Staff, etc. These are weapons used to enhance power but come at the cost of lifespan, flesh and blood, sanity, or even the soul ??.