The Beginning of Everything

Aunt Mei's inn had no name.

But the interior decorations were actually quite nice.

When Aunt Mei heard that Zhou Zhi was an Apprentice Plague Exterminator at the Epidemic Prevention Center, her eyes narrowed into slits and she practically bloomed with delight. She even offered to reduce the rent... Of course, the amount wasn't all that much; it was mostly a symbolic gesture.

It was late March of Year 327 of the World Calendar, in this plague-ridden nation, and Zhou Zhi finally got to take a normal day off for the first time.

It was a rare thing indeed.

In the days that followed, he went to work at the Epidemic Prevention Center.

This world didn't seem to have any concept of child labor. Zhou Zhi was only sixteen or seventeen, but no one raised any objections.

As one of Li Xun's subordinates, his usual job was to patrol a small section of Suhui District.

He'd gotten lucky; his assigned area included the Su Family Clinic and the inn where he lived.

Su Xing, however, didn't seem to like him very much and rarely gave him a friendly look.

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

Su Rongrong attended Suhui Central Academy and was already in the Spirit Power Class. She was probably quite accomplished in the Plague Extermination Art, given that her father was an Official-level Plague Exterminator.

And throughout Suhui, patients came and went without end at the Su Family Clinic. From what Zhou Zhi could tell, most of them suffered from illnesses related to [bones].

After all, Su Xing was an Official-level Plague Exterminator.

"Morning, Little Zhou."

"Good morning, Little Zhou."

Wearing Plague Armor as he walked through the city always made Zhou Zhi feel like a city patrol officer, but the feeling soon faded.

He had to admit, the work at the Epidemic Prevention Center was really laid-back. No wonder the wealthy families in Changdu all wanted to get their children in.

By all accounts, it really was a cushy job.

Only, the atmosphere had been a little strange lately.

According to the latest information, Ni Jie, the Third Branch's deputy captain, had finished handling the plague disaster in Blue Stone Town, but he still hadn't returned. He seemed to have gone somewhere else.

Everything looked calm, but Zhou Zhi couldn't shake the faint sense that something was off.

The three Official-level Plague Exterminators in Suhui, including Li Xun, were also nowhere to be found. They were never at the Epidemic Prevention Center. The previously arrogant young man had joined the center as an auxiliary member, too, and was probably working in another part of Suhui.

By all accounts, auxiliary work at the Epidemic Prevention Center was indeed an easy post. The public didn't seem to sense even the faintest stir of change coming from the higher-ups.

Soon,

a few days later,

when Zhou Zhi arrived at the Epidemic Prevention Center for the regular meeting, Li Xun and Shu Ling, seated at the head of the round table, looked numb and pale. They seemed to be in very poor condition.

"Mm... Due to certain special circumstances, um..."

Li Xun seemed to be searching for the right words. "Qian Yifan, Plague Exterminator Qian, died in the line of duty not long ago."

Although Li Xun had lowered his voice and tried to sound as calm as possible, everyone around the table looked up at once.

It was hard to imagine that the words "died in the line of duty" could be spoken in Changdu, in the midst of such peaceful days.

For most people, work at the Epidemic Prevention Center meant security and comfort.

No matter what, that was the accepted view.

"Brother Li... What exactly happened?"

The arrogant young man was named Sun Shun. He was a sophomore at Changdu First Medical College, and his family had arranged a job for him early on, perhaps to help him gain some experience. His expression shifted through several emotions as he asked.

"Mm..."

Li Xun was thinking it over when Shu Ling beside him took over. "Simply put, while returning from handling a Strange Incident, they were attacked. After a fierce battle, all the attackers were killed, but Plague Exterminator Qian died of his injuries."

Zhou Zhi slowly raised his head.

Shu Ling was being vague. It seemed there was more to it than that.

"What kind of people would dare attack Xuanyuan's Plague Exterminators?"

"Actually... there's no harm in telling you."

Li Xun sighed. "It was the [Longevity Path]."

The Longevity Path?

That sort of name didn't often come up in Xuanyuan. It was more commonly heard...

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

"An evil cult originating in the [Chengyun Dynasty]. They seek longevity and believe that the truths of life are hidden within disease. A century ago, they stirred up great chaos in the Chengyun Dynasty, but were suppressed and exterminated. The remnants spread across the Six Nations and often launch terrorist attacks against them."

"But over the past few decades, they're said to have been wiped out until fewer than one in ten remained. They rarely show themselves now."

Li Xun lowered his voice. "This time, it wasn't just Brother Qian. Many Plague Exterminators from Changdu who were out on missions were targeted by suicide attacks of varying degrees by the Longevity Path."

"And the number of Strange Incidents in Changdu's Outer City has been increasing, too. The sick keep coming, and I'm afraid members of the Longevity Path have already infiltrated Changdu."

The entire table fell utterly silent.

You could have heard a pin drop.

Zhou Zhi furrowed his brow.

How had things gotten so dire?

By all accounts, Changdu was a provincial capital. How had something like this happened just as he'd become a city patrol officer?

"These so-called people of the Longevity Path may be madmen, but they shouldn't be doing this for no reason... What are they after?"

Zhou Zhi's voice was cold.

Shu Ling looked at Zhou Zhi for a moment longer.

The Apprentice Plague Exterminators recruited these days were mostly there to fill out the ranks. They hadn't even seen a plague before, and being able to use a few Spirit Power techniques was already the best most of them could manage, let alone wielding the Plague Extermination Art. All those people looked a little pale.

But Zhou Zhi was different.

"According to the higher-ups, this may have something to do with Professor Jin Pingyang of Changdu First Medical College in the Inner City's [Tiandu District] recently advancing beyond the Official level..."

The matter had sent shockwaves through all of Pingchang Circuit.

A Plague Exterminator beyond the Official level stood above countless others. It represented a profound understanding of an entire system of Plague Extermination Art.

Zhou Zhi's expression shifted.

There were countless Official-level Plague Exterminators, and their strength varied enormously, but no matter what, they were all still within that rank.

Those beyond the Official level were different. Every one of them was one of humanity's few great figures.

"Some time ago, Dean Liu Zhaoguang of Feiguang Province came here to exchange ideas for precisely this reason... And the higher-ups—the [Medical Department]—seem to have approved one of Jin Pingyang's requests."

For this?

Everyone exchanged glances.

It was hard to imagine what the Longevity Path hoped to accomplish by stirring up such trouble in a peaceful human world.

"I don't know the specifics either. For now, just try not to leave Changdu... We all have our own assignments. If there's trouble in your area, you can come to us or contact the [Epidemic Prevention Center] directly."

"Anyway, thanks for all your hard work during this time. At least..."

Li Xun hesitated. "Things should get better after a while."

Outside Changdu,

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

Xia Yu, beautiful in a sickly way, gazed out at the enormous city stretching endlessly before her. "Forget it. I only did it on the way, anyway. I thought I could kill two Star-Illuminated Plague Exterminators in one go, but it seems I was too impatient."

"Right, A-Tang?"

Behind Xia Yu stood a hulking figure over two and a half meters tall. He swayed slightly as he opened a pair of unfocused eyes that seemed set unusually far apart.

Half of his tongue lolled out, making him look abnormal.

Of course, he really was abnormal.

On the tip of his tongue was the number [10].