Two months had passed since the adequately named 'Day hell descended'. Following the escalation of internal tensions by the three factions, monsters were cleared out of the controlled north and central region, fleeing towards the remote west China with low numbers.
The new government took this time of relative peace to strictly manage food supplies, raise the importance of cold weaponry and understand the status page and its uses more thoroughly. Only weeks later, unique class holders were treasured by the government and its leaders once realising each got their own unique skills to match their specific class.
The military was overhauled with a new importance on stats, classes and unique skills. As more and more civilians were headhunted or coerced into joining the army due to their status pages, it was re-named the 'awakened army'.
As it turns out, not everyone was able to have a status page of their own, and more than 40% of the population in central China, were still unable to fight back without guns, with awakened users naming them 'Cripples'.
The Imperial faction, was similarly recruiting awakened fighters to guard borders, establish order in chaotic cities and putting down riots. They, however, were much more forceful and authoritarian in their practises, forcing those unique class holders to work for them or pay with their lives.
Both factions were able to root out any monsters within their borders and ensure no further harm could come to their citizens. After two months of peace, some believed the chaos had passed, while others, believed this was only the beginning.
The martial alliance, had been abnormally quiet throughout this time, securing their own sect grounds and protecting nearby regions but with no interest in expansion. They operated throughout all of China, and in the borders of both other factions. They understood that this was not the time to enact war or pick a fight.
Meanwhile, Tang Sheng had been plenty busy in these few months. He had returned to his secluded mountaintop in order to train Mia. Being closer to the natural elements, namely wind, thunder and earth, was said to increase the productivity in controlling worldly energy.
Mia, on the other hand, was miserable. On one hand, she had improved a great deal in two months, more so than she had improved her entire life. She owed much to her new Master, but had also finally understood the grin on her second Senior's face when he wished her good luck in her training. To be put simply, it was gruelling. Cruel beatings with broken legs, sprained arms, and left without the ability to stand day after day. The only point of interest was, every hit and kick by her master was aimed at her weak points in a spar. Never once did he injure her unnecessarily. It was always to teach and understand her own weak points in battle. After enduring this long, she had improved greatly, and according to her master had potential to rival his own. She had risen from a novice martial disciple to a high tier martial expert within only a few months. This made her feel as if she was on the top of the world, to be praised in talent by one of the strongest beings on earth, was a feeling few had ever been able to experience.
Just as Tang Sheng was getting ready to begin his sparring session with his latest disciple, he saw Zhu Mao, his second disciple, walk up towards the peak of the mountain.
Stopping what he was doing, Mia breathed a sigh of relief.
"Zhu, what's wrong? You seem to be concerned about something" Sheng said looking toward his disciple with furrowed brows.
Looking up at his master, Zhu Mao bowed, before explaining the situation.
"Master, an illness seems to have spread from the West. A variant of rabies, the doctors say. Since it hasn't affected either central or northern China, but came from the far west, neither major faction has been able to look into it. I'm afraid this will affect us sooner than we hope." He said, worried for his sect.
Zhu Mao had never faced a problem that couldn't be fixed with brute force, or through threatening or reasoning. A virus that could control the minds of those possessed, could decimate his region without adequate preparations. However, even with preparations and fortifications, quarantining citizens would only be a temporary fix. Central China's scientists are the only hope for a cure, but they have not yet come in to contact with the virus. The west will be hit weeks before affecting those in central and northern China, he worried.
As if reading his disciples mind, Tang Sheng asked "Do you also believe this illness is the second wave, connected to the foreign invasion? You should contact your first senior; he could give you more information about the virus and preventative measures." He suggested
"Master, the imperial faction has been supressing information flow throughout the regions. They have interrupted the majority of intercommunications between the west, including our district, and the central new government. We can only contact a few regions in the imperial faction's control that have less of an idea about the virus than we ourselves do. Our only hope so far, would be to quarantine all newcomers for three days before confirming their status as non-infected. We will await for the virus to spread further to the east so that scientists can study for a cure."
After informing his master of recent events and worries, Zhu Mao left the mountain and reached his palace in the inner city of Negong district. Immediately, he was informed by rushed advisors of the refugees at the south gate begging to be let in.
Unlike the nearby regions, Negong district was built like a fortress with its walls and defences. Now improved to defend against both monsters and men, it was a heaven in an apocalypse. Some close by towns and cities have always been flooding into the region for safety and have since been allowed entry. Now, however, Zhu Mao was at a loss. He had received reports that only 60 miles West, a district had completely fallen with contact lost due to the illness people had named 'The Plague'. He could not risk the safety of his people for those of other regions and districts.
Upon hearing his advisors' suggestions, Zhu Mao said, "Set up a quarantine refugee camp outside of our southern gates, send another garrison of armoured awakened to protect them as they are outside of the wall. No one enters until they have been cleared by our doctors under three days medical supervision." He ordered.
"Yes sir!" They replied in unison before enacting his commands.
----
After creating a make-shift encampment for the refugees, some newcomers understood the reason for doubt as they had come from a plague-infested region, whilst others, began to create trouble and unrest among the ranks of the quarantined.
"This is ridiculous, how can these guards treat us this way?!" An arrogant ex-town Chief that had his village and civilians lost, bellowed to his camp mates.
"I agree, we have just survived a catastrophe to be thrown into another one. What happens when one or two infected reach this camp? Much can happen in three days. I say we break in, with the help of our awakened seniors, those guards are nothing" He spoke silently as he observed the armed guards. Awakened guards were a rarity among the southern wall and were typically used to keep peace and hunt remaining orcs in the region.
The troublemaker suggesting the break-in, then looked towards his senior brother. A tall sturdy man over 6 foot in height with robust muscles and tattoos. Before the awakening, he was a gang member known for his brutality. Now, he was awakened with the power to control fire. So far, he had never met anyone in the past two months that could threaten him and could take what he wanted by his whims. When had anyone treated him this way? as a mere refugee? He was enraged.
Yang Hao, the awakened, decided. He would break in and crush anyone in his way. Maybe, he would take control of this region for his own gains and raise an army. A grin etched itself onto his face. He would move tonight.