"An imaging machine?"
Zhou Zhi lowered his head slightly.
"Please raise both hands."
A mechanical voice sounded, and Zhou Zhi calmly did as instructed.
"Please open your mouth."
This time, there were nearly ten items on the examination list.
Aside from feeling a little tense when they examined his [lungs], nothing unusual happened.
They didn't tell Zhou Zhi his Pathogenization Index. The curtain in front of him only displayed the green words [PASSED].
Did they find no [Pneumonia], or was my Pathogenization Index within the acceptable range...?
Thinking this over, Zhou Zhi walked out of the examination room.
Outside.
Numerous members of the [Epidemic Prevention Center], all dressed in uniform, waited in an orderly manner.
Of course, they weren't waiting for Zhou Zhi. They were waiting for the current leader of their group to give an order.
"Zhou Zhi, you passed the [pathology test]. Come with me."
Li Xun glanced at the Official-level Plague Exterminator ahead and nodded.
The Plague Exterminator returned the greeting.
Zhou Zhi remembered him as one of the Official-level Plague Exterminators in Ni Jie's team.
"What about them?"
Zhou Zhi held the black case and pointed toward the members of the Epidemic War Corps.
"Returning early doesn't mean they're on vacation. They have their own tasks to do."
"Changdu has over thirty million people and dozens of large districts... Never mind."
Li Xun raised his hand and glanced at the mechanical watch on his left wrist. "The [Epidemic Prevention Center] has plenty of demanding work. Although the deputy captain gave you a chance, I still have to say..."
"Don't believe what those people outside say."
"Working at the Epidemic Prevention Center isn't easy at all."
Zhou Zhi looked at the young Plague Exterminator in front of him.
The guy seemed a little long-winded, but that wasn't necessarily a bad thing.
"So, right now...?"
Zhou Zhi raised his hand to ask.
"The deputy captain stayed behind in [Blue Stone Town] to handle the cleanup after the purge. He asked me to assess you and see whether you're capable of taking on the duties of an epidemic prevention worker."
Li Xun raised his head. "Becoming a Plague Exterminator is an honorable thing, but the road is rugged and full of hardships. If you aren't mentally prepared, I'd advise you to think it over carefully."
The young Plague Exterminator spoke with utter seriousness.
Zhou Zhi felt a little helpless.
Although Li Xun was a bona fide Official-level Plague Exterminator, he still had a strong student air about him.
"I've thought it through."
Zhou Zhi spoke calmly.
"I want to give it a try."
His gaze shifted, meeting Li Xun's eyes.
Li Xun froze for a moment, then suddenly became quite excited. "Good!"
"Then come with me."
Changdu.
[Suhui District].
In the middle of Changdu's roads ran a special mode of transportation known as the [rail train]. Unlike epidemic prevention trains, rail trains moved slowly, traveling at around thirty to forty kilometers per hour.
The vehicles wound through the districts, making all kinds of sounds.
The whole district was a jumble, but not a mess.
The air was filled with cries of vendors hawking their wares. Beneath the gray sky, splashes of strange color stood out.
In the glass windows, programs played on neat rows of television screens.
"Welcome to today's [Changdu Brief]. I'm your host, Ai Ke."
"I'm your host, Weng Keji."
"This morning, Liu Zhaoguang, dean of the Ophthalmology Academy at [Hualu Medical College] in Feiguang Province, led his Epidemic War Corps team to Changdu First Medical College. In keeping with the tradition of exchanging Plague Extermination Arts and improving professional ability..."
"Zhao Hong, a professor at Changdu Second Medical College, has successfully published 'A New Plague Extermination Art Based on Hepatitis B' in the second district's medical journal, Xuanyuan Medicine, filling a gap in Changdu Second Medical College's Plague Extermination Arts for hepatitis B!"
"..."
Zhou Zhi listened in a daze.
When he'd first arrived in Blue Stone Town, he'd seen nothing but devastation.
It stood in stark contrast to Changdu now.
The air carried a sense of warmth.
Li Xun turned around and saw Zhou Zhi's expression.
To him, this was the standard look on any young man from a small town seeing a big city for the first time.
It wasn't something worth making fun of.
So the white-clad Plague Exterminator stopped to wait.
As they waited, the people on the street cast respectful, envious glances at Li Xun in his Plague Extermination Suit.
"Sorry, I got a little carried away."
Zhou Zhi came back to himself and spoke softly.
"It's fine. That's normal. I looked just like that the first time I came to Changdu."
Li Xun spoke earnestly.
Following the clean roads, they made their way through the crowds.
They arrived at the [Suhui District Epidemic Prevention Center].
At the center of the district stood a [Lion Flag] bearing Xuanyuan's emblem.
"Brother Li."
"Brother Li."
"Brother Li."
As they walked, greetings from the white-uniformed staff came one after another.
Li Xun nodded in reply to each of them.
"The Epidemic Prevention Suits worn by Official-level Plague Exterminators and ordinary staff—that is, Apprentice Plague Exterminators—are different in style."
That was what Zhou Zhi had noticed.
At the Suhui Epidemic Prevention Center, there weren't many Official-level Plague Exterminators like Li Xun, who had passed the professional qualification exam.
As they walked along, Zhou Zhi had barely seen any.
"Li Xun, you're back."
In the corridor, a woman in a white coat leaned against the wall, looking rather languid. "Who's the one behind you? He has a little spiritual power. Which family is he from?"
"Shu Ling, this is someone the deputy captain brought over."
Li Xun answered solemnly.
"The deputy captain... which one?"
The woman called Shu Ling raised her eyebrows. "Oh, Deputy Captain Ni."
"Even if he's an outsider, that doesn't mean just anyone gets a spot."
"The times have been rough lately. Plenty of idiots want to get their sons into the Epidemic Prevention Center... Heh."
The woman yawned. "What a joke."
"Is there anywhere in Changdu more dangerous than this place?"
Zhou Zhi watched the woman out of the corner of his eye.
[Shu Ling]. [Combat Level: Official-level Plague Exterminator]. [Pathogenization Index: 5.42 percent]. [...] [???]. [This woman's heart is beating very fast. Perhaps she is skilled in a Plague Extermination Art related to the 'heart'.]
After that [Xia Yu] had modified him, the information Zhou Zhi received had evolved as well.
It could even let him glimpse the abilities of Official-level Plague Exterminators to a certain extent.
"Thank you, miss."
Zhou Zhi nodded. "I'll be careful."
Hearing this, Shu Ling froze, then gave him a half-smiling, half-mocking look.
Li Xun didn't seem to want to talk much with Shu Ling. He nodded slightly and walked deeper inside, his reflection visible on the smooth floor.
Zhou Zhi really did think the Epidemic Prevention Center looked like a hospital.
At the end of the dim corridor, Li Xun pushed open a door.
Quite a few people had gathered inside.
Their gazes converged on one spot.
"Li Xun, didn't you go out for a [Strange Incident]? You're back so soon."
On an elevated platform, a short man sat with one leg crossed over the other.
At his waist, a short Plague-Slaying Blade swayed slightly.
"Senior Qian Yifan."
"Let me borrow your space."
Li Xun's movements were meticulous. He straightened his uniform, then looked at Zhou Zhi.
"I'm going to assess someone."
Before you continue