Disease Deceiver

Why did you doubt me? If you had believed me, your daughter could have lived! You killed her, not me!

The Supernatural Trait had barely gone down his throat when a hysterical roar exploded beside Ning Xiuyuan's ears.

"Who?"

Ning Xiuyuan looked around in horror.

In a daze, he saw a richly dressed middle-aged man and woman, their faces twisted with fury as they hysterically roared at him and accused him.

Their pointing fingers nearly jabbed him in the face.

Amid their furious shouting, the man suddenly raised a musket. With a bang, he fired straight at Ning Xiuyuan's face.

"Ah—"

Ning Xiuyuan screamed and clutched his face.

A heart-rending pain burst across his face, forcing him to stagger back again and again until he hit the wall and finally stopped.

Only after quite a while did his trembling body gradually calm down.

He was not dead.

He raised his hands. There was no blood either.

Everything seemed to have been an illusion, but it had been so vivid that it felt as though he had lived through it himself!

"Th-this is the price? Facing madness?" Ning Xiuyuan's voice trembled.

"Only part of it." Bishop Byron sighed.

"What was that?" Ning Xiuyuan raised his still-frightened face and asked abruptly.

"The mental imprint left behind by the previous owner. Don't worry. Once you gradually master the Supernatural Trait, your own mental imprint will slowly wear it away."

Ning Xiuyuan fell silent, his body still trembling faintly.

After a long while, he suddenly raised his face again, his expression horrified and absurd. "This Supernatural Trait..."

Bishop Byron looked helpless. "That is why I call it the Curse of Knowledge!"

Ning Xiuyuan was dumbfounded.

This was supernatural power?

There was actually supernatural power like this in the world? Are you fucking kidding me?!

Disease Remover—more accurately, it should be called Disease Deceiver.

It could not cure any disease.

But it could deceive any disease, from a cold or a scratch to an incurable terminal illness, even death itself.

In other words, as long as the patient believed that you could cure them, then you could cure them.

The disease would be deceived and enter a sealed state.

As long as the patient believed, the disease would never break its seal.

But if the patient learned of the Disease Deceiver Trait, then even if the disease had already been deceived and sealed, the seal would immediately be broken.

No wonder Disease Remover could not treat its user;

No wonder Bishop Byron called it the "Curse of Knowledge."

Because now that he knew of this Supernatural Trait, this supernatural power would never work on him.

Though with his power, he theoretically would not need it anyway.

But what if something happened?

If he were on the verge of death, this power could actually save his life.

"I'm sorry. I had no way to tell you its drawback. It isn't Child of Flame. Once its Trait becomes known, it loses its value."

Bishop Byron looked somewhat helpless.

He truly had not expected Arthur to choose a purely altruistic Supernatural Trait.

In fact, no one had wanted this Supernatural Trait for more than ten years.

Because of its characteristic of becoming ineffective once known, the Church no longer actively trained Disease Deceivers, instead cultivating other types of medical supernatural beings.

"It's all right, Your Excellency the Bishop. You warned me many times already. This was my choice."

Ning Xiuyuan took a light breath and steadied himself somewhat, then comforted Bishop Byron instead.

"Don't be too discouraged either. Aside from members at the bishop level and above, no other believers know Disease Remover's drawback. You can still guard the Dawn."

Bishop Byron continued:

"I'll have someone send you some medical books. Study them well and learn to become a healer. With Disease Remover's help, I believe you will become an excellent physician. I'll also help you inquire about other medical supernatural powers, in hopes of broadening your methods."

"Thank you, Your Excellency the Bishop." Ning Xiuyuan hurriedly bowed in thanks.

Bishop Byron calmly accepted Ning Xiuyuan's gratitude, then offered a few more pointers.

Of course, those pointers were merely lessons and experiences left behind by previous Disease Removers.

Because Disease Remover was purely altruistic, few had chosen it even ten years ago. It had been explored very little, and naturally there was not much information about it. A few words were enough to cover it.

Even so, Ning Xiuyuan remained deeply grateful.

From Bishop Byron's words, he pieced together several crucial pieces of information.

First, fully mastering a Supernatural Trait required a special supernatural ritual, and the rituals corresponding to each Supernatural Trait were not the same.

For Disease Remover, one needed to expand one's Healer Prestige.

The greater the prestige, the stronger the power.

According to deductions from relevant records, when a healer became renowned throughout the nation, Disease Remover would be able to deceive death itself and grant people immortality.

Second, the name "Disease Remover" existed to conceal "Disease Deceiver" and mislead others. But it must never be publicly claimed that one was a Disease Remover.

Because its inability to heal its own user was far too obvious.

The Church had named it Disease Remover merely to make it easier to introduce this Supernatural Trait to believers. It was difficult to guarantee that they would all keep their mouths shut.

The Church of Dawn was powerful, but it had no shortage of enemies.

The monsters lurking in the darkness, fanatical disciples preaching for Outer Gods, wandering supernatural beings... all were potential threats.

Therefore, to better conceal this Supernatural Trait's drawback, Bishop Byron suggested that Ning Xiuyuan publicly claim to be an Ascetic Physician.

An Ascetic Physician could store up their own vitality to heal themselves or others.

Its supernatural ritual was similar to that of Disease Deceiver, but its focus lay in "self-sacrifice."

Thus, even if Ning Xiuyuan appeared unable to treat himself, it would still make sense.

Third, becoming a supernatural being also meant that his responsibilities would become far greater.

He needed to remain ready at all times to answer the Church's summons. This was both an obligation and a responsibility.

After finishing his guidance, Bishop Byron handed over an item that surprised Ning Xiuyuan.

"This is..."

"As a future physician, you have both the right and responsibility to protect your own safety. I hope this can help you."

Bishop Byron added, "There are three ordinary bullets and three Supernatural Bullets inside. The ones engraved with Inscriptions are the Supernatural Bullets. Do not casually waste them. Every time you use one, you must report it."

It was a finely crafted, pitch-black revolver. Mysterious Patterns were engraved across its cylinder and barrel, giving it an air of mystery.

"For the specific method of use, ask Lynn. You can also seek his guidance on related supernatural knowledge."

"Groom Lynn?" Ning Xiuyuan raised a brow.

"Him. Haha, he is a Beast Listener. He can understand Animal Language. He says the horses all like you because there is light in your eyes." Recalling something amusing, Bishop Byron smiled.

The horses in the stable were fucking spies?

Ning Xiuyuan felt as though he had been struck by lightning, nearly splitting apart on the spot.

He desperately recalled every interaction he had had with those horses. Only after a long while did he let out a slight sigh of relief.

As an Earthling who had lived in a modern metropolis, horses—creatures brimming with heroic charm—were something he had only ever ridden at a Zoo.

During his time living in the stable, the visible and invisible looks of rejection from those around him had left Ning Xiuyuan utterly dejected. Whenever he faced the horses, his spirits naturally lifted.

Fortunately, he did not have the sentimental temperament of a soap opera heroine, nor the habit of pouring his heart out to animals. Otherwise, he could have clawed out a five-bedroom, two-living-room apartment with his toes by now.

Still, wasn't the Church of Dawn far too terrifying?

This place was simply full of hidden masters!

A Stable Master really was a Stable Master!

Ning Xiuyuan suddenly felt as though invisible eyes of surveillance filled the space around him, making him uncomfortable all over.

"Don't worry too much. Supernatural power is powerful, but it is not God. Even God is not omniscient and omnipotent. In any case, go find Lynn. Knowledge is power." Bishop Byron saw through Ning Xiuyuan's concerns and comforted him.

"But it is also a curse." Ning Xiuyuan could not help but quip.

Bishop Byron's expression stiffened. Then he shook his head with a bitter smile.