There was no answer in the beer glass on the table, but for the past few dozen minutes, Mo Jie had stared at it blankly, as if all the secrets of God were hidden in the bubble. Since the plague doctor left the tavern, he had lost count of how many beers he had ordered. Sometimes he would call someone to settle the score, but no matter what the boss said, the ratcatcher quickly forgot about it, and he even forgot how much he hated this drink from the West.

That's the point. Forget, forget the man lying in the cellar. Forget about the stench that spreads through him. Forget that the young man lying down had saved his life. Forgetting to leave this plague man here would endanger himself and the woman who was more important than his own life, and all the people who patronized it.

Where is God? He's not doing well, but he knows that there are a lot of people who are doing well and a lot of people who are not doing well. For example, Pereira Sr. was a midwife, an open-minded woman who had no children of her own and who had spent her life adopting poor children who had been discarded. She was the kindest, kindest, and noblest person that could be found in the city. How could the gods allow the plague to strike her? How could they allow the disease to take the lives of her children, and even break her heart little by little before the Black Death had calmed her heart once and for all?

If this was retribution, the revenge of the old gods on those who followed the Holy Religion, then why didn't this terrible curse ring while the cathedral was still there, when the music of the priests' gatherings resounded throughout the city? Why did the gods not strike until now, when so many people now need their mercy and not their judgment?

Or are the gods as powerless as everyone else? Mo Jie took a large sip of beer as he thought about this terrible idea. The priests of the temple were nearly extinct in Yangning, and they were killed by the plague that lurked on the corpses they had collected for burial. The priestesses of the Temple of the Goddess of Life also died in droves, as their rituals and prayers could not fight the scale of the plague. Even those who believe in ancient gods are so stupid when they pray to their gods to bless them. Because it wasn't long before they died of the plague just like ordinary people.

The world around him was falling apart. Everything Mojie knew and believed was turned upside down. It seems impossible to have such a chaotic upheaval in such a short period of time. The luxurious green meadows near Yangning have been occupied by refugees and turned into a mud swamp full of tents and shacks. Yin Shixing, the brave "Lion of the South River", the great master of the city, fled his territory and remained in the palace of the emperor of the Southern Emperor. Those low gutters, the marvels of engineering that kept the city clean, became a breeding ground for swarms of pests.

It's insane! Nothing makes sense! Mo Jie threw his head back and drained the last dross from the cup. He began to wave at the bearded man, but when he noticed that Hu Junling was standing right in the kitchen door, his cheeks flushed with shame. She's not the kind of person who pretends to be serious, but equally, she won't accept someone who drinks to escape their troubles.

Anger suddenly ignited in the rattrap's heart. Who is she, and why is she against him? What else could he do but drink? Drink it and forget it! Drink it and forget it!

Mo Jie waved his hand to the shopkeeper and motioned for him to give him another glass of beer like horse urine. Hu Junling walked to the counter, took the plate from the tavern owner, and brought it to the table.

"Don't you have anything to say to me?" Mo Jie muttered as she placed the beer in his hand.

Hu Junling looked down at him, pain carved into her face. Mo Jie woke up almost immediately. She began to speak, but he pressed his finger to her lips. He didn't want to hear what she had to say. If he didn't hear it, it wasn't true. If he didn't know what was happening, it didn't happen.

Tang Lian! He used to be a boy who was naïve enough to be a little stupid, a hillbilly with no knowledge. But he was brave and loyal, and Mo Jie owed him his life.

The ratcatcher pushed the glass away and held the fox Junling's hand tightly. He looked up at her, and there was no glimmer of hope in his eyes, only a terrible hollowness. "I'm sorry," he said to her. "I shouldn't have asked...... I shouldn't have taken this risk......"

Tears rolled down the woman's eyes. "He saved your life," she said, sobbing. "I owe him a debt too."

Listening to the woman's words, Mo Jie suddenly felt a lot of tightness in his chest. As long as he doesn't disturb himself and the woman in front of him, the "old night" has nothing to do with him even if he conquers the whole world. He allowed himself to worry about things that were beyond his ability, and he let himself be distracted by his sense of responsibility to Tang Lian. None of that matters. The important thing is that he loves the woman and makes sure she is safe.

"Junling, I..."

The ratcatcher hadn't finished what he wanted to say. Just then, the tavern door slammed open. A group of soldiers in rough cloth armor burst into the store. It was so late, and several customers were drinking, and they screamed and trembled in fear before the threat of the soldiers' halberds and swords.

Huo Cheng walked leisurely into the tavern like a wolf trotting through a flock of sheep. When he saw Mo Jie, a merciless, vengeful smile appeared on his thin face. He glanced at the other guests in the room, and frowned when he didn't see the Rand man from before.

"General!" The bearded man shouted and walked out in circles from behind the counter. "What is the wind that blew the future general to Lord Price's mansion?" The bearded man rarely mentions the names of his lords, the nobles who run the tavern and pay a portion of the profits. For him, employing such a strategy is the strongest evidence that fear beats in his veins.

Huo Cheng raised his gloved fingers and motioned for the bearded man to be quiet. He turned and waved his hand at the stuffed rat. He said to his followers, "Take that unsightly thing and burn it." ”

After hearing Huo Cheng's words, Mo Jie jumped up and came to Huo Cheng with his fists clenched angrily. "You can't do that!" The ratcatcher roared.

"Ah, it turned out to be you, a charlatan," Huo Cheng said nonchalantly. He nodded, and a night watchman poked the handle of his halberd into Mo Jie's stomach, stabbing him out of breath. The ratcatcher was so hurt that he couldn't straighten up, and Fox Junling rushed towards him. Huo Cheng's snap of his fingers allowed a night watchman to stop her.

"You're such a busy dog, aren't you?" Huo Cheng sneered. He turned and watched as more soldiers walked towards the tavern. There was also a third man walking between the two guards, his face covered in blood and a torn linen robe draped. Mo Jie secretly exclaimed when he recognized the dress. Although he had never seen this man's face before, he was certain that this prisoner was the plague expert who had visited here. Mo Jie recalled the beggar who had stayed outside alone and was freezing. There was no doubt that that person was Huo Cheng's spy who had been planted here to spy on the tavern.

"I'm announcing that this place is closed with immediate effect!" Huo Cheng said, taking out a piece of parchment from his sleeve. He shook the parchment at the beard. "You're going to nail this to your door and paint a big red cross at every entrance and exit of this building. There was a plague in this place. People here are not allowed to leave for thirty days. If anyone sees you in the streets, I have given the order that they cut you down as soon as they see you. ”

Huo Cheng pleaded and protested after rejecting his statement. He watched with a smile as his men walked the giant rat away. Then he turned around and stared down at Mo Jie. "You're going back with us," he said. "Yes...... Some questions to ask. ”

A frightened cry came out of Hu Junling's throat. She struggled to break free from the guards. "It was my idea!" All mine! I did it to hide Tang Lian!"

"Don't lie to him," Mojie said, coughing. "He knew I did it. He just wanted me alone. ”

Huo Cheng's eyes were more like a snake than before at this moment, and he strode towards the ratcatcher. "Very sensible," he said. Then he turned his gaze to the crazy woman. "We're only interested in rat catchers. She can stay. ”

After saying this, Huo Cheng stuck to Mo Jie's ear and continued, his eyes becoming even colder than before. "She can stay...... For the time being, yes. ”