"Killing a rotting corpse isn't that hard." Fields gained confidence and casually flicked the blood off his sword.
"My lord, be careful!"
Another half-bodied rotting corpse took advantage of the gap to crawl over and tried to bite Fields's ankle. At the critical moment, Ashna picked up a manure fork from the wheelbarrow and fiercely thrust it into the zombie's back, pinning it to the ground.
"Phew! Well done!"
Fields broke out in a cold sweat, stepped back a few paces, his heart pounding wildly, nearly being caught!
Although necrotic poisoning can be cured by church clergy, the cost is extremely high; without one hundred gold coins, forget about it.
Gradually recovering from the intense palpitations, Fields let out a long sigh, rubbed Ashna's head, and thanked her: "As a token of gratitude for saving my life, I will reward you with a gold coin, Ashna!"
Ashna was overjoyed, her eyes sparkling with gold light. She had never seen so much money in her life: "Really? But it was my duty to do so."
Rotting corpses are not like the zombies in horror movies; as long as a weapon pierces their bodies, it will cause them harm.
More rotting corpses surged forward, attacking the barricade formed by the wheelbarrows with bared teeth and claws.
But seeing that the rotting corpses were not strong and couldn't attack them through the wheelbarrows, the slaves at the back of the convoy also picked up farming tools and counterattacked the zombies outside the vehicle formation.
Fields didn't hesitate either, raising his sword to continue slaying the enemies.
As blood flowers splashed one after another, a large number of rotting corpses fell under the farming tools and Fields's long sword.
"Wow!"
At the same time, a scream was heard. One of Conor's cavalrymen, while charging, was grabbed by the cloak by a village woman dressed rotting corpse. With a fierce tug, the cavalryman's legs flailed as he fell backward.
"Crack~"
The sudden fall caused the back of the cavalryman's head to hit the ground, instantly rendering the unfortunate soul motionless.
Conor cursed angrily: "Damn it! Useless!"
What angered him even more was that Fields wasn't scared out of his wits but was calmly directing the slaves.
"Cut off each corpse's head, then pile them up and burn them on site." On the way, Fields had crammed knowledge about putrefaction. These humans who have been putrified pose great harm to the environment when they die. If left unattended, they will quickly become a new source of pollution. Fields frowned, looking hesitantly at the distant gray fog stretching to the horizon, "Not even reaching Nightfall Territory yet, and encountering so many zombies, this is not a good omen."
Although his family disliked him and wanted to exile him, sending him to a place full of corpses was too ruthless.
"Thank you for your help, my lord."
The fleeing refugees knelt forward as if seeing their savior, then prostrated in front of Fields, kissing his boots.
"May the God of War illuminate your future!"
Fields accepted calmly, scanning these refugees who looked as ragged as beggars, and asked: "Where are you from? How could there be so many rotting corpses? Those putrified creatures shouldn't be able to get past the towering walls of Kashan Fortress."
"It's the Death Mist! The gray fog from the north seeped through the fortress walls and enveloped our Oak Village. As it was nighttime, most people in the village were sleeping when they were putrified by the mist and turned into rotting corpses. Only we escaped." The villagers were terrified, as if recalling a horrifying memory, shaking like a sieve.
The gray mist, also known as the Death Mist, is said to be the root of putrefaction. Mixed in the air, it quickly kills its host upon inhalation and transforms them into putrified monsters.
Only those with lord abilities or chosen by the gods can be immune.
Additionally, purchasing the Church's redemption lamp can dispel the gray mist. Of course, the price is steep; Fields spent fifty gold coins to buy two lamps, just because of his noble status.
After quietly listening to their plea, Fields frowned: "Where is your lord? According to what I know, every border fortress has a god-chosen defender, they shouldn't let the gray mist seep in."
"The baron and the god-chosen went to investigate the whereabouts of the heretical cult. Only the baron's son is left in the castle."
"Let's go, we shall meet the master of this place." After everyone was ready, Fields mounted his horse.
To reach Nightfall Territory, they needed permission from the local baron.
Upon arriving at Kashan Fortress, Fields was stunned by the majestic fortifications, the continuous stone walls and round towers forming a solid and towering defense system together with the mountain range. The walls capable of accommodating cavalry were equipped everywhere with crossbow cannons, trebuchets, and oil cauldron braziers. Such military preparedness meant that even an army of a hundred thousand would have no choice but to break their heads against the walls. Everywhere, lion and eagle flags fluttered, proclaiming the might of the old empire.
But the biggest problem was...
"Where is everyone?"
Fields was dumbfounded; there was not a single person on the outer walls, just barren expanse as far as the eye could see.
Conor was also terrified, paling: "Could it be an orc raid! If the orcs breach Kashan Fortress, the entire province will fall instantaneously."
"It shouldn't be, otherwise it wouldn't be so quiet."
Fortunately, after advancing some distance, Fields saw torches lit on the inner city walls.
"Don't come closer, who are you?" someone called out from the wall. In the torchlight, heads were bustling, indicating that the castle was well-manned.
Why did they suddenly abandon the outer military stronghold? Fields wondered.
"I am Baron Fields of the Ross family, heading to Nightfall Territory for my appointment. Please open the gates of Kashan Fortress and let us through."
The officer speaking seemed quite为难, he hesitated for a moment before calling over a young man, who was none other than the son of the Bull Baron.
"No! My father hasn't returned, no one can deceive the castle gates open! Leave here or we will shoot."
Hearing the resolute response from the wall, Fields twitched his mouth, guessing that the young man had been frightened out of his wits by the rotting corpses. He immediately called out: "It's me, Fields. I've even donated money here, remember? I am not your enemy."
"Just a few lousy coins? The whole empire sends money to the border, why should I remember you? You outsiders come here making a fool of yourselves."
"This is ridiculous, indeed there aren't many good nobles." Fields's teeth were nearly clenched to dust. His last act of kindness ended in vain. If it weren't for Fields not having soldiers, he would have liked to storm the castle immediately, but he still patiently said: "These villagers, I rescued them halfway... "
Before Fields could finish, he heard cursing.
"Damn it, you think my castle has too much food? Who told you to save those foolish things! Meddlesome busybody, if you dare bring them a step closer, I'll shoot immediately."