Rust Disease Germs / Assigning Tasks

Zhu Hao suddenly realized, "So that's how it is."

Si Ming suddenly realized that Yu Shuying's response at this moment was the normal one. Even if she really did Mind-Reading Technique Zhu Hao's mind, she should pretend not to know. This was the wise thing to do. In contrast, her aggressive attitude at the Black Earth Gang meeting was not the behavior of a smart person at all.

"You must be Ma's apprentice. I heard you've learned Xiao Xuan's 'True Scripture of Great Number Decay and Rupture'. Can you demonstrate it to me?" Zhu Hao asked.

Si Ming did not refuse, and mobilized the nuclear energy hidden within his body to maximize the defensive capabilities of the Jade-Clad Dharma Body.

"Oh! Interesting. It can actually transform cell structure and simulate properties very similar to alloys. This is different from ordinary external training methods. There are no weaknesses, and it doesn't require consuming True Qi. It directly affects the body, making it closer to body-refining techniques..."

Zhu Hao immediately began academic research, frequently touching Si Ming's body with his hands, using his True Qi and spiritual sense to conduct in-depth investigations and analyze the internal structure, occasionally letting out exclamations of surprise. It was clear that his interest in Si Ming far exceeded that in Yu Shuying.

"Super Martial Dao is indeed amazing. Its philosophy is completely different from the martial arts of the Sea Continent, forming a separate system. I bet the author is definitely not from this world."

Just as Si Ming was about to reach his limit of patience, Zhu Hao withdrew his hand and said, "How about this, during my time in Russia, you can help me research the Super Martial Dao. It won't take up too much of your time; just come whenever you have free time. And I don't want you to help for free. You can read any of the books in this library, including the rare martial arts manuals in my collection. In addition, I was fortunate enough to obtain a fragmented Super Martial Dao Cultivation Method, which you can use to study."

Chapter 224 Rust Disease

"This is where Rust Disease are treated. Be careful. Although Rust Disease is transmitted through contact, theoretically, as long as you don't touch them, you won't be in danger. However, the clothing of Rust Disease patients can also be contaminated with the germs, and you can easily get infected if you're not careful. Therefore, those with Internal Cultivation Level Nine must wear protective clothing. According to intelligence, those with Internal Cultivation reaching level nine can expel the Rust Disease."

After talking with Zhu Hao for a while, Si Ming remembered the second task of this trial and made a request to see the Rust Disease and confirm the symptoms of this strange disease with his own eyes.

This was something that Lin Qingtong could have easily led the way for, but Zhu Hao seemed to have other ideas and personally led everyone to the concentration camp for Rust Disease —it was called a ward, but in reality, it was just an isolation area without any treatment.

Lin Qingtong Internal Cultivation Level Ten, so she naturally doesn't need to wear protective clothing. The protective clothing here looks a bit like a spacesuit, but it's not as thick. The helmet she wears also has a mesh screen, so she doesn't need to use an oxygen cylinder because the Rust Disease is not transmitted through the air.

Inside the ward, all the doctors and nurses were wearing protective suits, making them appear particularly bulky. Each of them wore an expression of resignation, speaking and acting sternly. The scene reminded Si Ming of the situation during the fight against SARS in his previous life.

According to Lin Qingtong, the medical staff here are all recruited from China, with very few locals. Firstly, they have firsthand experience of the devastation of Rust Disease and know how terrible it is. Secondly, in terms of awareness, few organizations in the world can match the Mohist.

Just as Si Ming was about to change into protective suits with Liu Qingqing and Yu Shuying, Zhu Hao said, "Young man, you don't need to change. Jade-Clad Dharma Body, I believe it's impossible for Rust Disease to infect you. Judging from the cell strength, the Rust Disease are simply powerless to invade your body. If an ordinary person's body is a thatched hut, your body is an iron fortress. The Rust Disease are at most a group of ordinary soldiers with swords and guns. They can occupy the thatched hut, but even if they break all their weapons, they can't open a hole in the fortress. Of course, if you're still worried, it's fine to wear protective suits."

"Since you've said so, I believe you."

Si Ming couldn't see any reason why Zhu Hao would speak so carelessly, and he was indeed very confident in his own health.

"The most difficult thing about Rust Disease is its insidious nature. In the early stages, there are basically no symptoms. It will only lie dormant in your body and spread silently. If it can be detected in time, you can ask a martial artist with profound skills to help expel it, or you can directly remove that part and implement physical isolation, which is also a method. However, once rust spots appear on the skin, it means that it has entered the late stage, and there is no way to save it."

Si Ming felt that this thing was a bit like cancer. It was good at lying dormant and was difficult to detect in its early stages. Ordinary people would not go to the hospital to check if they had cancer. They would only go to the hospital for examination when the symptoms appeared, and by then it was often in the late stage.

As the group entered the ward, they immediately noticed a significant drop in temperature. The room was unusually quiet, with only the footsteps of the medical staff. No one spoke; there was neither the casual conversation of optimists nor the sighs of pessimists. It was as if no one was alive, a stark contrast to other infectious disease isolation wards.

Lin Qingtong asked with a smile, "How is it? Doesn't it look a bit like a morgue?"

Zhu Hao scolded, "Qingtong, watch your words!"

Lin Qingtong said nonchalantly, "What's there to be afraid of? Anyway, these people won't get angry even if they hear it. In fact, it would be a good thing if they got angry, since I'm helping them cure their ailments."

Zhu Hao sighed helplessly, "You'll suffer a great loss sooner or later because of that mouth of yours."

Lin Qingtong scanned the patients in the ward and said, "These people can't even open their mouths, yet they haven't been particularly lucky. This shows that whether you suffer a loss or not has nothing to do with how you speak; what matters is your strength. If they had trained harder and had stronger Internal Cultivation, they wouldn't have ended up like this."

"The doctrine of might makes right is not the tenet of the Mohist School. We must learn to love and treat others equally, and not bully others just because we are skilled in martial arts. The mentality of being superior to others is unacceptable."

"Okay, okay, Master, stop nagging, or your hair will fall out even faster."

"This has nothing to do with hair!"

While the master and apprentice were bickering, Si Ming observed the Rust Disease in the room. He saw that they were all squatting on the hospital bed, staring blankly ahead, their bodies covered in the color of rust. They didn't speak and just sat there. If it weren't for the occasional patient getting out of bed to move around, they would probably be regarded as statues. Even when they did get out of bed, they moved as slowly as turtles and their movements were very stiff, like puppets on strings.

"Speaking of which, how are they going to eat now that they've become like this?" Si Ming asked curiously.

Zhu Hao said, "It's just a normal meal, only the pace is very slow, taking an hour for one meal. Fortunately, their body temperature is very low, so they don't care if the food gets cold. In addition, according to the investigation, after being infected with Rust Disease, the patients' daily energy expenditure will be greatly reduced, to about one-tenth of what it used to be, so even if they eat only once every two or three days, it's not a big problem."

Lin Qingtong joked, "In a sense, it's a good way to combat famine. If it were during a time of natural disasters in the past, it could probably save a lot of refugees."

"Qingtong, don't mock the patients, and don't joke about the refugees. They're already pitiful enough. I don't expect you to have any sympathy, but at least don't rub salt into their wounds." Zhu Hao shook his head helplessly. "You weren't like this before. Although you were mischievous, at least you knew what you should and shouldn't do. Now you're becoming more and more reckless. Your master is really afraid you'll make a mistake. I wonder what you've been through all these years."

Lin Qingtong said, "Perhaps it's a final burst of energy before the end of adolescence."

"Your rebellious phase lasted quite a while."

Zhu Hao suddenly felt a pang of regret. Perhaps he had spent too much time on martial arts research, neglecting the education of his two children. One was aloof and indifferent, the other eccentric and arrogant. He had truly failed his friend's trust.

However, this wasn't the time to reflect on family education. Zhu Hao shifted his focus and said to Si Ming, "I have a request. I hope you can touch the patient to confirm my hypothesis. Of course, you don't need to worry about infection. Even if the hypothesis is wrong, I will use my True Qi to cleanse your body afterwards."

Si Ming did not refuse. He randomly picked a Rust Disease from a hospital bed, said "excuse me," and then reached out to touch the patient's arm.

Zhu Hao didn't use any instruments; he directly focused his True Essence into his eyes, magnifying his vision to the point where he could see individual cells, and observed the points of contact between the two parties.

"The Rust Disease have begun to spread; they've already come into contact with your cells and started to penetrate the cell wall... Just as I suspected, the Rust Disease can't destroy your cell structure; it's helpless against you."

Zhu Hao nodded in satisfaction and was about to disperse the True Qi gathered in his eyes when he suddenly saw a scene that shocked him.

"My God! Your cells are starting to engulf Rust Disease!"

Chapter 225 Assigning Tasks

With Si Ming's continued contact, the Rust Disease's arm began to fade, restoring the patient's natural skin color.

Zhu Hao quickly asked, "Are you feeling unwell anywhere?"

Si Ming shook his head. "I don't feel anything."

Zhu Hao pondered for a moment and said, "It seems you're absorbing too little. Let's continue then. If you feel any discomfort, stop immediately. I'll be monitoring your cell changes closely."

Si Ming nodded, then another question came to mind, "Senior, you seemed to have mentioned 'cell wall' earlier, are you sure you didn't mispronounce 'cell membrane'?"

Zhu Hao said, "You've practiced the 'Blazing Yang Battle Art,' haven't you? This unique Cultivation Method can absorb solar energy and convert it into True Qi. Have you ever heard of any animal that can absorb solar energy?"