An Ordinary Night

To Zhou Zhi, money might be important.

But not that important.

Among Chen Chaosheng's belongings were bank cards, Plague Armor, and a Plague-Slaying Blade. Without needing much thought, Zhou Zhi knew they were worth a fortune, especially the Black Kite—though he couldn't take it out for the time being, he should find a way to handle it in the future.

For a businessman like Yu Xianzong, debts of gratitude were the hardest to repay.

But come to think of it, businessmen were indeed shrewd.

If he hadn't brought up Ni Jie and joined the Epidemic Prevention Center, he might never have gained the man's trust so quickly. Still, whether he was trusted or not didn't matter; at least for now, in his hands...

Zhou Zhi gently lifted the black case.

Compared to the previous Plague-Slaying Blade, this one was much heavier, carrying an inexplicable, weighted sensation.

There weren't many people on the streets.

Compared to the bustle of the central district, this area seemed much more desolate.

The occasional night patrolman only cast a strange glance or two at Zhou Zhi.

"Public security in Changdu is not bad."

Following the streetlights, Zhou Zhi pondered where he should sleep tonight.

Back in Blue Stone Town, he hadn't had a single night of peaceful sleep. For the human body, quality sleep was essential.

"Young man..."

In a small alley, a middle-aged, plump woman beckoned to Zhou Zhi with a beaming smile.

"Looking for a place to stay?"

Zhou Zhi sized the woman up. "You can tell?"

"Of course."

The woman wore a smug smile. "Changdu is the capital of Pingchang Circuit; every year, many young people come here... You're lucky to have run into me. I was just heading home to have a late-night snack..."

Generally speaking, plump women gave people a sense of honesty and gentleness, and the one before him was no exception.

However, Zhou Zhi's gaze slowly drifted downward.

Cough, cough, cough.

The woman coughed twice.

She covered her mouth with her hand.

A splash of bright red was revealed.

"Coughing up blood..."

Zhou Zhi's brows furrowed slightly.

Was his luck that bad?

[A plump woman].

[Pathogenization Level: 10.4%].

[Source of Pathogenization: Influenza].

[In this season, influenza seems to be the most common plague].

[Source of Pathogenization: Acute pharyngitis.]

[Humans never have just one illness, do they?]

Zhou Zhi stepped back slightly. "Hello... are you alright?"

The woman coughed again. "I'm fine, I'm fine..."

Zhou Zhi frowned.

The Pathogenization Index was very low; there was no risk of pathogenization, and since this was Changdu, the woman could handle it herself...

"Aunt Mei!"

"Why did you come out again!"

"Didn't Dad tell you to rest and recover these past few days!"

A crisp, girlish voice came from behind Zhou Zhi. "Even if it's not a serious illness, continuing like this could lead to greater risks."

The plump woman covered her mouth. "I thought I was better, didn't I?"

The girl before them was about fifteen or sixteen, roughly the same age as Zhou Zhi.

If one had to use an adjective to describe the girl, it would perhaps be playful and cute.

Her large eyes were filled with a lively spirit.

"Aunt Mei, I told you, wear a mask... It wouldn't be good if you infected others with your cold."

"Recently, the [Influenza Plague] has been raging in many places outside... Even though this is Changdu, you still need to protect yourself well. Being responsible for others and yourself is what matters."

The girl spoke with an air of maturity before finally noticing Zhou Zhi.

"Uh, Aunt Mei, who is this..."

Zhou Zhi was very young, yet his face held a composure that did not match his age.

Furthermore, carrying a black case in the middle of the night gave him an inexplicably incongruous air.

"An outlander looking for a place to stay... cough, cough."

"Oh."

The young girl nodded. "Then follow me."

"Follow you?"

Zhou Zhi spoke up.

"My family's clinic is right next to Aunt Mei's inn."

The girl said, a small cloth satchel strapped to her back, with things resembling bandages wrapped around her waist.

The slender girl looked full of spirit.

"I'm Su Rongrong."

"My old man is a bona fide Plague Exterminator."

When she mentioned this, the girl appeared exceptionally proud.

"And you?"

Zhou Zhi felt the girl before him was quite forward. "Zhou Zhi."

Then, silence.

Su Rongrong waited for a moment, then let out an "ah."

"That's it?"

"Is there supposed to be more dialogue, Miss Su?"

Zhou Zhi said, "I'm very tired, I'd like to... sleep."

Hearing this, Su Rongrong felt a bit awkward. "Sorry about that."

With that, Su Rongrong led Aunt Mei toward the other end of the street.

Having confirmed it wasn't some kind of honey trap, Zhou Zhi followed.

Soon, at the end of the street, the four large characters [Su Family Clinic] appeared before Zhou Zhi's eyes.

Next to it was... Aunt Mei's inn, though it was hard to call it an inn; in Zhou Zhi's opinion, it looked more like a self-built rural house.

And then there was this clinic...

Zhou Zhi looked up, observing the sign before him.

It was wooden, not particularly ornate, and quite rustic.

It was a private clinic, but its style seemed different from the hospitals currently in Xuanyuan.

Under the dim yellow light of the night, it appeared somewhat archaic.

"Come on, Aunt Mei, go inside first. My old man seems to be seeing a patient, so wait a moment."

Su Rongrong helped Aunt Mei over the steps and shouted toward Zhou Zhi, "Come in, friend!"

"You can wait a bit. If you have any physical discomfort, you can tell me in advance."

"Especially for [bruises] or [sprains]... my old man once held the [Chengyun] inheritance; he's very skilled at such treatments."

Zhou Zhi entered, observing the interior structure of the clinic.

It looked very simple, not at all like a formal hospital.

Then...

"BOOM!!"

A bursting sound came from behind the curtain in the distance.

The sound of bones shifting was enough to set one's teeth on edge.

Zhou Zhi's eyes flickered.

A robust shadow surged out from within, like a wild beast, charging directly toward the direction of Su Rongrong and Zhou Zhi.

"What is that!"

Su Rongrong was startled.

Zhou Zhi's footsteps faltered.

Inside his body, the bones in certain areas seemed to be colliding with one another.

There was a sensation of... [dislocation].

CLANG!!!

Zhou Zhi's black case opened, revealing the Plague-Slaying Blade still inside its scabbard.

He moved with great speed, lightly tapping the head of the shadow with the scabbard.

The robust black shadow was immediately pinned to the ground.

"Dad!!!!!!"

Su Rong shrieked.

Aunt Mei was already paralyzed with fear.

The next second, a thin, short middle-aged man appeared.

He grabbed the sturdy frame.

Moving both hands in unison, he gently rotated the upper arm.

As the movement occurred, a 'crack' sound echoed through the space.

"I told you not to run around... Your [dislocation] is already quite severe. If it happens a few more times, I'm afraid you'll truly succumb to the blight... I'm not joking with you."