Heart Tremor

The roaring shook the earth.

It was hard to imagine that such a terrifying creature could exist in this world.

A beast?

For the moment, Zhou Zhi did not think that term was wrong.

The [Throat Beast], radiating scorching heat, effortlessly tore through human flesh as if ripping apart tofu.

"Run!!!"

"Hurry!!"

Screams rose one after another.

Yet their only hope, the two Plague Exterminators, ran faster than anyone else.

The ones left behind were the patients from the Clinic who had contracted the Influenza Plague.

They were already mobility-impaired and could not run fast at all, let alone face such a monster.

The Throat Beast's claws slashed violently, leaving long grooves across the ground with a teeth-grating screech.

Ahead of it stood an elderly man with a look of utter despair.

It was obvious that the old man had already gone numb with shock.

Roar!!

The roar rang out, and the blade-like claws came down.

Behind them, Xia Yu stopped.

Her expression turned extremely ugly.

She had been the one who wanted to lead these people out of the Clinic.

She had been the one who wanted them to live.

How could she...

At the same time, Xia Yu slipped her hand into her right pocket.

Clang!!!

The sound of clashing blades rang out again.

The scorching wave of air made Zhou Zhi's pupils contract.

The massive beast was blocked by a figure holding a blade.

"A Plague Exterminator... can't just stand by and watch people die."

Zhou Zhi's expression remained calm as he held his scalpel horizontally.

He was mere inches away from the enormous beast's maw.

"Mr. Zhou Zhi!!!"

Xia Yu and the others showed looks of delight.

Even Lei Heng's expression changed.

"At least he's somewhat useful."

Yu Jinhai caught his breath.

He had originally intended to use these people as feed for the Throat Beast to buy some time, but it seemed they had exceeded expectations.

One of them had mastered spiritual energy.

"Take this chance and get through."

Yu Jinhai spoke coldly, paying no attention whatsoever to the small figure beneath the Throat Beast.

"But..."

The female Plague Exterminator, Lin Rui, hesitated and looked back.

[Pathogenization Index rising.]

That message rang in his mind.

Zhou Zhi's expression shifted slightly.

He took two steps back.

Aching pain accumulated in his muscles.

His Pathogenization Index rose just from getting close to the Throat Beast?

How was he supposed to deal with this?

Zhou Zhi's fingers twitched slightly.

There was something else...

Crack, crack.

In Zhou Zhi's hand,

Bai Xiu's Scalpel had already shattered halfway.

"This thing can damage scalpels. No wonder those two weren't willing to fight it."

Zhou Zhi met the Throat Beast's gaze.

Roar!

I can't beat it, but the others have to be useful somehow.

That was what Zhou Zhi thought.

"Plague... Plague Exterminator."

"Please, please help us, help him..."

"We... want to live."

A beautiful girl spoke in a beautiful voice.

Xia Yu's flawless beauty entered Yu Jinhai's sight.

She looked so pitiful and moving.

No man could easily resist such temptation.

He had not expected such a beauty to exist in a remote little town like this.

That was what Yu Jinhai thought.

His gaze sharpened.

As Lin Rui looked at Xia Yu, she felt an inexplicable discomfort. Yet at this moment, she could not bear to watch Zhou Zhi and the others die like this.

If the two Plague Exterminators did not act, all of these people would die here.

"Fine. I'll only do this once."

Yu Jinhai naturally rested his left hand on Xia Yu's shoulder, a frivolous smile appearing on his face.

Then, with his right hand,

his fingers touched the end of his scalpel.

[Plague-Slaying Blade.]

It was a Plague Exterminator's life.

Spiritual energy erupted.

"Get out of the way."

A tremendous wave of air burst from Yu Jinhai's blade.

Zhou Zhi was directly forced to the ground by the pressure.

"A scalpel, also known as a Plague-Slaying Blade... is a Plague Exterminator's weapon."

Zhou Zhi looked at Yu Jinhai.

[Yu Jinhai.]

[Pathogenization Index: 3.6%.]

[Source of Pathogenization: None.]

[Combat Level: Apprentice Plague Exterminator.]

[Plague Extermination Art: ???.]

[???.]

The spiritual energy was almost tangible, and the oppressive force was overwhelming.

Zhou Zhi rolled across the ground twice in a rather sorry state.

It was obvious Yu Jinhai had done it on purpose.

But he did not care.

What he cared about more

was Yu Jinhai's current action.

"Spiritual energy at capacity."

"Heart Rhythm Art."

Yu Jinhai wore an arrogant expression as his fingers curled slightly.

"Internal Medicine—[Ventricular Fibrillation]."

Everything fell silent in an instant.

Even the ordinary people nearby felt their hearts stop for a moment.

Then, as though they had survived a disaster, their hearts began pounding madly.

At the same time,

an indescribable current of air struck the roaring Throat Beast.

Its eyeballs bulged and burst!

The throat tubes across its body stiffened instantly.

Its tiny airways ruptured in a short span of time.

Its enormous body froze in place.

Then...

A dull bursting sound came from within its chest, and it crashed to the ground.

"Heh heh, cough cough."

Yu Jinhai wore a smug expression and lightly snapped his fingers. "This disease will recover soon. Take this chance and leave immediately!"

He glanced at Xia Yu beside him, looking entirely composed.

Then he slightly turned his Plague-Slaying Blade

and headed toward the rear.

"Follow him."

Lin Rui spoke quietly.

"Th-this is a real Plague Extermination Art."

"This is what a real Plague Exterminator is!"

Lei Heng's eyes widened.

Too strong.

Far too strong.

It was completely different from Zhou Zhi's so-called Disinfection Art.

This was a powerful Plague Extermination Art that could truly harm a plague!

"Mr. Zhou Zhi."

The old man Zhou Zhi had just saved staggered over and helped him up.

Zhou Zhi shook his head.

He looked at Yu Jinhai's retreating back.

That just now was a Plague Extermination Art with real destructive power.

It was different from Zhou Zhi's [Lung Resection], which increased the destructive power of his scalpel.

Yu Jinhai had not used his scalpel.

Instead, he had used another effect, something akin to a spell.

[Ventricular Fibrillation].

"Internal Medicine..."

Zhou Zhi got to his feet.

If this kind of Plague Extermination Art was called Internal Medicine,

then could Lung Resection be called... [Surgery]?

And there was one more thing.

Yu Jinhai's condition was not as effortless as he made it seem.

Zhou Zhi clearly saw Yu Jinhai's body trembling slightly.

Were those the aftereffects of the Plague Extermination Art?

And then there was the Pathogenization Index.

[Yu Jinhai.]

[Pathogenization Index: 12.73% (continuing to decrease due to the Epidemic Prevention Suit's effect).]

In such a short time, this Plague Exterminator's Pathogenization Index had risen by nearly ten percent.

Clearly, there was still much about this world's Plague Exterminators that Zhou Zhi did not know.

Zhou Zhi's expression darkened.

Then he followed after them.

"Mr. Zhou Zhi!"

"You're already... already incredible!"

Xiao Nan spoke quietly.

"That man doesn't care about anyone else's life at all."

"Someone like him isn't... a real Plague Exterminator."

Zhou Zhi raised his head.

"There's no need to say that. Let's go."