The Beginning of Everything

Aunt Mei's inn had no name.

However, the interior decor was actually quite decent.

Upon hearing that Zhou Zhi was an Apprentice Plague Exterminator from the Epidemic Prevention Center, Aunt Mei's eyes narrowed into slits, and she beamed with joy, even offering to reduce his rent... though, of course, the amount was negligible, serving more as a symbolic gesture.

In the year 327 of the World Calendar in this plague-ridden nation, at the end of March, Zhou Zhi took his first proper rest.

This was truly a rare occurrence.

The following few days were spent reporting for work at the Epidemic Prevention Center.

In this world, there seemed to be no such thing as child labor laws; Zhou Zhi was only sixteen or seventeen, yet no one raised any objections.

Assigned under the command of Li Xun, his daily work consisted of patrolling a small section of Suhui District.

As luck would have it, this area included the Su Family Clinic and the inn where he lived.

However, Su Xing did not seem to like him very much and rarely gave him a pleasant look.

His daughter, Su Rongrong, on the other hand, was quite warm.

Su Rongrong attended the Suhui Central Academy and was already a student in the spiritual power class. Her attainments in the Plague Extermination Art were likely decent, given that her own father was a Formal-level Plague Exterminator.

Throughout Suhui, the Su Family Clinic was constantly bustling with patients. According to Zhou Zhi's observations, they were basically all suffering from [skeletal] type diseases.

After all, he was at the Formal level.

"Good morning, Little Zhou."

"Morning, Little Zhou."

Wearing his Plague Armor while walking through the streets, Zhou Zhi always felt like a city inspector, though this feeling quickly dissipated.

It had to be said that the work at the Epidemic Prevention Center was truly leisurely; it was no wonder the wealthy of Changdu scrambled to squeeze their children into these positions.

By all accounts, this was indeed a cushy job.

However, the atmosphere lately had been slightly eerie.

According to current information, Ni Jie, the deputy captain of the Third Branch, had finished handling the plague disaster in Blue Stone Town but had not returned, seemingly having gone somewhere else.

Although things appeared calm, Zhou Zhi always felt a vague sense of strangeness.

The three Formal-level Plague Exterminators in all of Suhui, including Li Xun, were also nowhere to be found; they were never at the Epidemic Prevention Center. Meanwhile, the somewhat arrogant youth who had joined the Epidemic Prevention Center as an extra-budgetary staff member was likely in another part of Suhui.

Logically speaking, extra-budgetary work at the Epidemic Prevention Center was indeed a sinecure, and the public did not seem to sense the subtle shifts occurring at the top.

Soon.

A few days later.

When Zhou Zhi arrived at the Epidemic Prevention Center for a regular meeting, the faces of Li Xun and Shu Ling, who sat at the head of the round table, were numb and pale. They looked to be in very poor condition.

"Um... due to certain special reasons, um..."

Li Xun seemed to be weighing his words: "Qian Yifan, Plague Exterminator Qian, passed away in the line of duty a short while ago."

Although Li Xun had lowered his voice, trying to appear calm, everyone at the round table instantly looked up.

It was hard to imagine that in Changdu, in such peaceful times, the words [passed away in the line of duty] would ever appear.

For most people, work at the Epidemic Prevention Center represented stability and comfort.

Regardless, this was a generally accepted view.

"Brother Li... what exactly happened?"

The arrogant youth, named Sun Shun, was a sophomore at Changdu First Medical College whose family had arranged his job early on, perhaps to help him gain some experience. His expression shifted through various emotions as he asked the question.

"Um..."

Li Xun pondered, and Shu Ling took over: "Simply put, while returning from handling a strange incident, he encountered an ambush. After a fierce battle, the attackers were all killed, but Plague Exterminator Qian also suffered wounds that could not be treated."

Zhou Zhi slowly looked up.

Shu Ling's explanation was vague; it didn't seem that simple.

"What kind of people would dare to lay hands on a Plague Exterminator of Xuanyuan?"

"Actually... there is no harm in telling you all."

Li Xun sighed: "It is the [Longevity Path]."

Longevity Path?

This type of terminology did not often appear in Xuanyuan, but rather...

Sun Shun's expression changed slightly; he seemed to have heard the name before.

"A cult organization originating from the [Chengyun Dynasty]. They are a group that pursues immortality and believes that the truth of life is hidden within diseases. A hundred years ago, they stirred up great chaos in the Chengyun Dynasty, but they were suppressed and eradicated by Chengyun. The remnants scattered across the six nations and frequently launch terrorist attacks against them."

"But it is said that in the last few decades, they have been hunted down to the point where fewer than one in ten remain, and they have rarely been active."

Li Xun said in a low voice: "This time, it wasn't just Brother Qian. Many Plague Exterminators from Changdu who were out on missions have received varying degrees of suicide attacks from the Longevity Path."

"Furthermore, strange incidents within the outer city of Changdu are increasing, and patients are endless. I fear that some members of the Longevity Path have already infiltrated Changdu."

The entire table fell deathly silent.

You could hear a pin drop.

Zhou Zhi furrowed his brows.

How had the situation deteriorated to this point?

By all logic, Changdu was a provincial capital; how could such a thing happen the moment he became a city official?

"These so-called Longevity Path members, even if they are lunatics, shouldn't be like this... What is their objective?"

Zhou Zhi said coldly.

Shu Ling cast an extra glance at Zhou Zhi.

The Apprentice Plague Exterminators recruited lately were essentially just for show; they had never even seen a plague before, and being able to use a few spiritual techniques was the absolute limit for them, let alone any Plague Extermination Art. All of these fellows looked deathly pale.

But Zhou Zhi was different.

"According to the assessment from above, this might be related to the recent promotion of Professor Jin Pingyang of the Changdu First Medical College in the inner city, the Tiandu District, to the level above Formal..."

This matter had nearly shaken the entire Pingchang Circuit.

A Plague Exterminator above the Formal level already existed above millions of people, representing an extremely profound understanding of a specific system of Plague Extermination Art.

Zhou Zhi's expression shifted.

There were thousands upon thousands of Formal-level Plague Exterminators; although their strength varied greatly, they were, in any case, still within that bracket.

But those above the Formal level were different; every single one of them was a prominent figure among humanity.

"Some time ago, Dean Liu Zhaoguang of the Feiguang Province came specifically to exchange ideas because of this... and the higher-ups, that is, the Medical Department, seem to have agreed to a certain request from Jin Pingyang."

Because of this?

Everyone looked at each other in dismay.

It was hard to imagine what those Longevity Path members were trying to achieve by causing such chaos in the peaceful human world.

"I don't know the specifics either, but it is best if you don't leave Changdu for the time being... We each have our own assignments. If there are problems within your jurisdiction, you can find us, or contact the Epidemic Prevention Center directly."

"In short, thank you all for your hard work during this period, at least..."

Li Xun hesitated slightly: "It will be better after a while."

Outside Changdu City.

"Di Qiuyan got away... What a pity."

Xia Yu, possessing a sickly beauty, was gazing at the vast, sprawling city: "Forget it, it was just a casual attempt anyway. I thought I could kill two Star-Illuminated at once, but it seems I was a bit too impatient."

"Right, A-Tang?"

Behind Xia Yu, a massive figure over two and a half meters tall swayed slightly, opening a pair of dazed eyes that seemed set unusually wide apart.

Half of a tongue hung out, looking somewhat abnormal.

Of course, it was indeed not normal.

At the tip of the tongue, there was a number: [10].