50: Chapter 50 Someone poisoned it!!!

For the citizens of Flower City, another busy and fulfilling day had begun.

At the construction site outside the West City Gate, voices were clamoring, and the atmosphere was buzzing with activity.

People were moving bricks, mixing mud, laying walls, and transporting materials...

Everyone was full of drive, their faces beaming with anticipation for the future.

However, for Shang Youjun, today was an extremely agonizing day.

In the early morning, he heard that Mr. Zhu had gone to seek employment from the City Lord.

And he had succeeded.

Mr. Zhu was appointed as the Chief Strategist of the Military Department, officially becoming an official of Flower City.

Upon learning this news, Shang Youjun felt both envious and conflicted.

He also wanted to be like Strategist Zhu Ge, to find a job and contribute to Flower City.

But he could never bring himself to make the decision.

Before his vision was restored, he was just a blind man.

What could a blind man do?

Even if he went to apply for a job, who would want him?

The words of that official from the Construction Department yesterday still echoed in his ears:

"If you get hurt, or even face a life-threatening situation, I'll be the one held responsible!"

He knew it was well-intentioned.

But precisely because it was well-intentioned, it left him feeling even more at a loss.

Thus, just like yesterday, he found a corner and stayed there silently.

Listening to the busy sounds around him, feeling the bustling atmosphere of everyone working hard.

Yet he could do nothing.

This feeling of having nothing to do made him feel terrible.

It was as if he were an outsider, isolated from this liveliness.

But there was one thing that comforted him.

That was the color radiating from everyone.

Orange.

A warm, bright, and reassuring orange.

This color permeated the entire construction site, like a warm ocean, enveloping him within it.

Although he couldn't do anything, just staying within this orange hue already made him feel very comfortable.

...

However, just at this moment—

Shang Youjun's body stiffened slightly.

He sensed something unusual.

In that ocean of orange, two small gray dots suddenly appeared.

Gray?

Shang Youjun frowned.

He was not unfamiliar with this kind of gray.

Back in Liu City, this gray was everywhere.

It was a color full of Death Qi, representing numbness, despair, and... darkness.

But why...

In a place like Flower City, would this color appear?

Here, there is food, shelter, and a City Lord who treats everyone well.

Everyone is happy, everyone is content.

Why would someone still radiate this color?

A trace of unease rose in Shang Youjun's heart.

He didn't make a sound, but silently followed the direction of those two gray dots from a distance.

His footsteps were very light, making almost no sound at all.

Although he couldn't see, his hearing and perception were exceptionally sharp.

Those two gray dots kept moving, seemingly deliberately avoiding the crowd.

Shang Youjun followed unhurriedly, always maintaining a safe distance.

After a while, the two gray dots finally stopped.

It seemed... they had entered a courtyard.

Shang Youjun quietly moved closer, hiding outside the courtyard wall.

He held his breath and pricked up his ears.

The voices of two people came from the courtyard.

"Brother Liu..."

A young voice, trembling slightly.

"Why... why are my hands shaking now?"

"Are we... being too heartless by doing this? Are we failing the City Lord too much?"

Shang Youjun's heart sank abruptly.

What did these words mean?

Another hoarse voice sounded, carrying a hint of impatience.

"It's already done, why dwell on these things?"

"Think about your old mother at home! Think about your seven-year-old sister!"

"If we don't do this, they will lose their lives!"

The young voice trembled even more.

"But... but Brother Liu..."

His voice was very low, but it was still heard clearly by Shang Youjun.

"We are poisoning the water supply!"

"We will harm everyone in the city!"

Poisoning the water supply?!

Shang Youjun's body jolted, as if struck by lightning.

His hands and feet instantly went cold, and his heart pounded violently.

Poisoning the water supply! They were going to poison the water supply!

He didn't expect that in a place like Flower City, someone would actually do such a thing!

No wonder... no wonder they turned gray! It was premeditated!

Shang Youjun's mind was a mess.

What to do? What to do?

He must tell everyone!

He must stop them!

He couldn't let anything happen to Flower City!

He couldn't let anything happen to the City Lord!

This thought exploded in his mind like a thunderclap.

Shang Youjun did not hesitate at all and turned to run.

He had to find the patrolling City Guards!

He had to tell them that someone was going to poison the water supply here!

However—

"Clang!"

Because he was too nervous, his footsteps became chaotic, and he suddenly bumped into a bamboo pole by the courtyard wall.

The bamboo pole fell to the ground, making a sharp, jarring sound.

Shang Youjun's heart sank.

Oh no!

"Who is it?!" A roar came from the courtyard.

Immediately followed by rapid footsteps. Two people rushed out of the courtyard.

"Someone is eavesdropping!"

"Catch him!"

Shang Youjun knew he couldn't outrun them.

He was a blind man, and the others were two grown men.

But he didn't stop.

While running for his life, he shouted with all his might—

"Someone help!"

"Someone is poisoning the water supply here—!"

His voice pierced the sky, echoing throughout the city.

Behind him, the rapid footsteps were getting closer and closer.

Shang Youjun's heart was about to jump out of his throat.

But he didn't stop.

Even if he would be caught the next second.

Even if he would be killed the next second.

He still had to shout this news out!

He had to protect this city!

He had to protect this orange!

"Poisoning the water supply—!"

"Someone is poisoning the water supply!!!!"

...

Flower City Lord's Mansion.

This was the first time Zhou Yun sat in the main seat of the official hall.

In the past, when handling government affairs, he always did so in the study or on the city walls; he rarely used such a formal setting.

But today was different.

What happened today was too serious.

Poisoning the water supply.

Someone was going to poison the water wells in Flower City.

When Zhou Yun learned of this news, he was completely shocked.

The water wells in Flower City were all interconnected.

The underground water veins crisscrossed; if the water source of one well was contaminated, it meant the drinking water for the entire city would have problems.

If it hadn't been discovered in time... he dared not imagine the consequences.

Tens of thousands of citizens, all poisoned overnight.

At best, vomiting and diarrhea; at worst...

He took a deep breath, driving those terrifying images from his mind.

Fortunately, it was discovered in time.

Fortunately, the youth named Shang Youjun sounded the alarm in time.

Otherwise, Flower City would be finished.

...

At this moment, outside the City Lord's Mansion, it was already a sea of people.

After the news spread, the entire Flower City was in an uproar.

Angry citizens swarmed from all directions, surrounding the City Lord's Mansion tightly.

"Poisoning the water supply! Someone actually dared to poison the water supply!"

"This is trying to kill all of us!"

"Kill them! We must kill them!"