Curse Sequence

"See? I told you, the zombie horde can't breach the city."

"At least a dozen top-tier Transcendent were half-step into legend appeared last night. That's strange. How could there be so many? Most of the top combat power of City of Radiance is probably here."

"Didn't you hear that Carlo, the Frost Moon Sword Master, would also be coming? Where did you get that information?"

"An old friend whose identity I find rather inconvenient to disclose."

"Oh"

Rein and Guy were chatting and joking in the shack. Nareta, the little girl, wasn't Transcendent and was very sleepy, so she curled up in the shack's haystack and fell asleep.

As the sky brightened and gradually took on a bluish hue, the city was deserted, almost devoid of any living people.

Everyone was scavenging among the piles of corpses outside the city; finding anything was considered a bonus.

They talked for most of the night, and Rein learned more about Gaia.

The two chatted casually, about everything under the sun: the Transcendent, martial arts, swordsmanship, gossip.

Guy is a very talkative guy, and he knows a lot of things.

Over the years, he has wandered through many provinces of two great empires, accumulating a wealth of life experience that is truly astonishing. His knowledge is like that of an encyclopedia; he seems to know everything.

This guy wasn't just a dabbler; he was proficient in many fields, including astrology, literature, archaeology, forging, and alchemy. He also mastered at least ten local languages from the two great empires.

If it weren't for his terrible health, Rein thought he was a very romantic guy.

After talking all night, he finally believed what this guy had said before: that he was the dream lover of all the ladies and young women in Sid's high society when he was young.

A good-looking face alone is definitely not enough, but this guy is really talented.

This made Rein feel like he was eating lemons for the first time.

With his "Smart Brain Database," he almost lost a conversation to someone who relied on his memory.

However, despite his talent, Guy's experiences over the past ten years are truly heartbreaking.

A pair of legs, traveling countless miles alone.

This was the first time Rein had ever heard of someone traversing two great empires on foot and surviving.

In Guy's own words, he was already prepared to die, and there was no lower point in his life; danger would rather avoid him.

A very philosophical statement.

The morning light poured down on the earth and illuminated the shack.

Soft light shone on Nareta's sleeping face, and a few mumbled words could be heard as she enjoyed this brief moment of peace and tranquility in her dream.

As they chatted, they heard the murmur in his sleep and their gazes fell upon it.

Rein frowned slightly and offered his opinion. "Nareta's bloodline seems to be inherited from a previous generation. If I'm not mistaken, some of her Gene Chain might be different from normal humans. I suspect she might have some kind of ancient bloodline. The curse of her bloodline might be a kind of Transcendent power."

The two had already gotten quite familiar with each other, and Guy was convinced that Rein was not a "malicious" person.

There was nothing to hide, so he nodded. "Yes. I once saw a related record in an ancient book. Her bloodline might belong to a race called the 'Curse Tribe'."

He paused, then continued, "During my travels, I encountered an ancient cave. The murals inside depicted a forgotten 'Seventy-Two Divine Generals.' That was Lavinia, the second-ranked 'Night Holder.' The 'Curse Law Sequence' Deity Inheritance should be the exclusive legacy of the 'Curse Tribe.' Unfortunately, no usable Transcendent formula can be found now. Otherwise, Nareta's bloodline curse might still be under control."

"The second-ranked divine general?"

Rein heard a completely unfamiliar name.

Only a portion of the Seventy-Two Divine Generals Inheritance has survived; much of it has been completely severed. This "Night Holder" Lavinia was a deity he had never heard of before.

He had never heard of any "Curse Sequence" with any related potions passed down, not even from his teacher, Ilubeck.

After thinking for a moment, Rein asked again, "Have you tried other Mystic System potions, such as the 'Calamity Sequence' or the 'Plague Sequence'?"

"I've also tried other Gene Potion on her. But without exception, they were all rejected by her bloodline."

Guy shook his head, sighed softly, and said, "If we can't find a special advancement potion, the cursed power within her will be uncontrollable. Now that she's growing up, that power is getting stronger, and I'm very worried."

"This is indeed a problem."

Rein also found it a bit strange.

This is the first time I've heard that advancing to the Transcendent level requires a unique bloodline.

Even the werewolf clan, including Bazel, can advance to other ordinary Extraordinary Sequence.

Any sequence with stringent inheritance conditions is prone to being lost. If this "Curse Sequence" truly requires a specific bloodline, its loss is understandable.

Clearly, Guy had tried many methods, but all of them failed.

He voiced his concerns. "And what I worry about is that if I die, Nareta's situation will be even worse. No one wants to take in a 'Curse Tribe' person who brings bad luck. She doesn't understand Common Tongue, doesn't want to speak, doesn't understand social etiquette, and doesn't know how to make a living."

It's like a kind old father, dying and rambling on and on.

He was well aware of his physical condition; it was indeed very bad. In at most a year and a half, the toxins would completely render him unable to walk. Then, who would take care of the little girl?

Guy then looked at Rein and said, "Over the years, I've met countless people, but very few have escaped the curse. Doctor, you are one of the few people I've met who are truly righteous."

Rein shrugged, not taking it as a compliment.

In this dog-eat-dog world, so-called "righteousness" doesn't seem to be a term of praise in the public eye.

Having this trait that is not accepted by mainstream opinion means that one will have a very bad situation.

For example, the person in front of us.

The once- Sword of Justice is now a disheveled old man.

At this point, Guy looked at Rein and said meaningfully, "Whether it's 'momentum' or 'intention,' it's all about protecting the unwavering beliefs in your heart. If you hold onto righteousness and stick to your principles, you will understand what you want."

This is similar to what the Great Shaman Mafat said.

Rein seemed to understand something, but felt something was still missing. He wasn't surprised that Guy could tell he was stuck at the Second Tier bottleneck, and asked curiously, "Senior Guy, what sword intent have you comprehended?"

"My sword intent?"

Upon hearing this, Guy's cloudy eyes were filled with emotion, as if someone had reopened a wound he didn't want to talk about.

But it seemed he also intended to give Rein some pointers. After a moment of contemplation, he said without any concealment, "When I first entered the world of swordsmanship, I comprehended the 'Pure Sword Intent.' With a pure heart, my swordsmanship was naturally unimpeded, and nothing could be broken by the sword's edge."

He paused, then changed the subject, "However, that upheaval shattered my mental state, and my sword intent was also fragmented. Over the years, I have come to a clearer understanding of myself, and on top of the 'Pure Sword Intent,' I have comprehended a new layer of sword intent called 'Evil Cannot Suppress Righteousness'!"

As soon as Guy said this, he didn't make any move, but his aura suddenly changed. That feeling of being able to sweep away the surrounding turbidity with his aura and clear one's mind returned.

Clearly, he intended to offer guidance and repay the favor, and he displayed his sword intent to Rein without reservation.

"Evil Cannot Suppress Righteousness?"

Rein felt it wasn't quite real; "intention" is inherently ethereal and intangible, and outsiders, apart from the person in question, find it all a mystery.

Besides, he was still a complete novice who hadn't even grasped the concept of "momentum," and "sword intent" was far too distant for him.

After thinking for a moment, he found a more concrete benchmark and asked tactfully, "Senior Guy, how did your swordsmanship compare to that of the current 'Ten Great Legends' [Frost Moon Sword Master] Carlo?"

"Once?"

Guy smiled and shook his head, seemingly disagreeing with the term.

He narrowed his eyes and pondered for a moment, then a glint of domineering brilliance flashed in them before he said, "My swordsmanship was once unmatched in the world. Now, having comprehended the 'Way of the Sword,' I am even more unmatched."

Upon hearing this,

Instinct told Rein that this guy was showing off and bragging.

But his intuition told him that what this guy was saying was true.

Guy smiled, and his domineering aura vanished instantly, as if it had never existed. "Of course, it's just my understanding of swordsmanship. As for cultivation, I'm a cripple, half of my body is already in the ground, so naturally I'm miles behind."

Rein: "."

At that moment, Guy glanced at the sleeping Nareta, then, as if suddenly remembering something, looked hesitant. "Doctor," he said, "Could I ask you for a favor? If..."

Upon hearing this opening line, Rein guessed that he was probably going to entrust his son to someone else again.

He rolled his eyes and refused outright, saying, "No! The situation might not be so bad; the toxins in your body..."

Before he could finish speaking, just as he was about to say that the poison could be cured, a group of angry men rushed over.

Guy frowned upon seeing who it was and said to Rein, "I might be in trouble. You'd better stay away from us. Don't get caught up in the chaos."

"Damn Plague God, it's all your fault that my 'Black Wind Territory' has suffered such great losses!"

The leader was a young man with green hair, wearing a gorgeous woolen coat with a row of pure gold buttons bearing the family crest on the chest and tassels on the epaulets. This kind of aristocratic clothing was highly recognizable, making it easy to guess at a glance that he was an aristocrat.

Behind the young man followed a group of guards in armor, their shoulder insignia bearing the logos of their respective groups—this was the city's security force.

The green-haired man approached and, from a distance, roared furiously at Guy, "Guy, you damned bastard, get out of my territory with that 'Ghost Girl'! Last night, you caused me to lose a Mechanical City!"

Guy listened in silence, like a prisoner who had tacitly admitted his crime.

At this moment, the loud arguing woke up Nareta, who was fast asleep.

Then, a comical scene unfolded.

The group of men who had been so fierce just moments before shrank back like mice before a cat. They dared not approach the thatched hut again and stopped more than twenty meters away.

These faces perfectly convey the awkward expression of "being furious but not daring to take action".

Rein watched as the corners of her mouth slightly lifted, and suddenly felt that the "Curse Tribe" buff seemed quite useful. Those with evil intentions wouldn't dare to harm her, while those with good intentions wouldn't hurt her.

Nareta, upon waking, didn't understand what had happened, but she sensed the malice of the newcomers. She stared coldly at them, her expression returning to its lifeless, zombie-like state.

The green-haired man's face twitched violently, and he dared not speak anymore. He nudged the security captain next to him.

The captain with the red nose could only grit his teeth and walk out.

Then, using the most polite words, he issued the most serious order, "Mr. Guy, according to the city lord's decree, you are expelled. From this moment forward, please leave the city immediately."

Guy nodded calmly.

If it were anyone else, causing such great damage to the territory, they would probably have been torn to pieces long ago.

But they dared not harm the father and daughter, for fear of being plagued by misfortune.

The fact that those large Scavenger Gang that had previously harmed this girl were inexplicably wiped out already proved how sinister it was, and no one dared to risk their lives to try it.

They were originally just meant to be used as "bait" in the hunt for small profits. Now that they've caused such great losses, the higher-ups have ordered that they can't stay in the city, leaving them with no choice but to bite the bullet and expel them.

Guy's expression remained unchanged, as if he had long been accustomed to everything.

He didn't argue, but silently began to gather the few thin blankets in the thatched hut.

Before leaving, Guy glanced at Rein not far away. There were some things he didn't say, but he never had the chance to say them. He said goodbye, "Doctor, until we meet again."

"."

Rein frowned as he listened; he had been expelled by the city lord, and there was nothing he could do about it.

But how can this father and daughter, one disabled and the other not even Transcendent, survive in a wilderness full of dangers?

Even if the undead don't pose a threat, what about the monsters? How will they solve their food, clothing, shelter, and transportation needs? There might not be a single Mechanical City for hundreds of kilometers in this wasteland. Where can they go on foot? (PS. God knows how they got here.)

"Mr. Guy, wait a moment."

Thinking of this, Rein didn't hesitate any longer. He took out several earthenware jars containing potions and stuffed them directly into Guy's pocket, whispering, "The red-capped one is for internal use, and the blue-capped one is for external use. Use it once a day, and it will detoxify your body in three days."

"???"

Guy stared at the few small jars in his pocket, paused for a moment, and then his expression changed drastically.

Detoxification?

How could that be!

This toxin is unique to the "Silver Leaf Clan," and there is no antidote for it. How could he say such a thing?

Guy thought he had misheard, but when he looked at Rein's serious expression, he realized that the young doctor was actually serious.

If it weren't for their long talk last night, he would have found the whole thing absurd.

But now, he thinks it might be true.

Rein was amazed by the guy's extensive knowledge, but how could Guy not be equally amazed by his ability to readily quote from numerous classic texts?

Although he didn't know Rein's background, he guessed that he was no ordinary doctor.

Now that I see it, it's indeed true.

There's actually an antidote for my own poison?

For years, Guy felt he hadn't felt a sense of shock, but now it surged forth uncontrollably.

Guy was speechless: "You"

Rein shook his head, indicating that there was no need to say more, "Take care."

Guy knew it wasn't the right time to say more, so he gave a wry smile and said with a complicated expression, "Thank you."

He turned and called to the little girl behind him, who was staring blankly, "Nareta, let's go."

Then, the father and daughter, carrying their few pieces of luggage, slowly walked towards the city gate, leaving everyone with a dejected and lost sight of their backs.