Strange Incident

"Brother Zhou..."

"There have been quite a few outsiders on the streets lately... many of them have migrated from the towns around Changdu."

Aunt Mei rubbed her hands together, a smile on her face; she was clearly satisfied with her inn being fully booked.

She was even more pleased about the public officials staying at her establishment.

Patrolling this area frequently and staying at her inn gave her a considerable amount of face.

Zhou Zhi adjusted his Plague Armor, bowing his head slightly. He did not carry his Plague-Slaying Blade in his hand, but instead slowly straightened his cuffs.

That Plague-Slaying Blade, a gift from Yu Jinhai's father, was clearly very valuable. Given that a man who carries a treasure invites trouble, under normal circumstances, Zhou Zhi did not believe an Apprentice Plague Exterminator should be carrying such a blade.

"There shouldn't be any trouble... I haven't heard any rumors, but..."

Zhou Zhi seemed to recall something: "Several towns outside seem to have encountered outbreaks recently, so it's normal for refugees to migrate here."

For ordinary people like Aunt Mei, things like the Longevity Path were far too distant from their lives.

However, the current situation could hardly be considered good.

Clearly, the official-level Plague Exterminators within the Epidemic Prevention Center had their own tasks to attend to.

At the very least, for low-level Plague Exterminators like him, that was how it was.

"So, does this mean that for all the Strange Events currently happening in Suhui, these official Plague Exterminators have simply washed their hands of it?"

Zhou Zhi frowned.

Strange Events.

After joining the Epidemic Prevention Center, Zhou Zhi had learned what a Strange Event was.

The arrival of a plague was diverse in nature.

It was not just about the human body falling ill; based on the principle that all things could become diseased, certain plagues would undergo special infections, or even form specific spectacles.

These spectacles, whether magnificent or eerie, ultimately formed what were known as Strange Events.

"The disease manifestation in Blue Stone Town was classified as a Strange Event—a high-level one that requires a two-digit Plague Exterminator to suppress."

Zhou Zhi raised his hand and walked out of the inn.

The streets were bustling with traffic, and clearly, many strangers in simple clothing had appeared along the roadside.

People get sick, but not everyone who falls ill receives treatment.

The Epidemic Prevention Center would periodically use various preventative Plague Extermination Arts to reduce disease manifestation, but there were always those who slipped through the cracks, or special lesions. Generally speaking, these lesions would heal on their own, as was the case with Aunt Mei.

But for many, where the plague had spread deep into the body, they could only go to the Changdu Hospital for treatment.

And the cost of treatment...

Zhou Zhi recalled some of the details Su Rongrong had revealed earlier.

Opening a hospital or clinic in Xuanyuan was very expensive because one had to pay high taxes to the Medical Department.

It should be said that it wasn't just Xuanyuan, but all six nations across the continent that required tax payments; as long as one registered a professional qualification with the Medical Department, they had to pay taxes, otherwise, they would be labeled as practicing medicine illegally.

As for the consequences of practicing medicine illegally, Su Rongrong didn't know, and she had never heard her father mention it.

She only knew that their family clinic rarely charged any extra fees beyond the taxes, and sometimes, they would even pay out of pocket to provide examinations for patients.

It was precisely because of this that the number of Strange Events in the entire Suhui District had always remained at a very low level.

Zhou Zhi looked toward the Su Family Clinic. At this moment, Su Xing seemed to be already treating a patient with skeletal abnormalities. He actually had a good impression of Su Xing, even though Su Xing had no such impression of him.

The day after the meeting.

News came from the Epidemic Prevention Center in the inner city.

In half a month, Professor Jin Pingyang would hold his promotion banquet at the Changdu Guest House on Vermilion Bird Long Street in the Tiandu District.

At that time, guests from the entire Pingchang Circuit and even the surrounding circuits would arrive, and the order from above was to clear out all Strange Events throughout the entire outer city.

Ring, ring, ring.

The communicator sounded.

As a standard-issue communicator for the Epidemic Prevention Center, generally speaking, no one would have the opportunity to contact Zhou Zhi.

"Hello... hello..."

"Excuse me, is... is this Zhou Zhi?"

A voice that was not particularly familiar came through the communicator, yet Zhou Zhi knew the caller's identity immediately.

"Classmate Sun Shun, is something the matter?"

In his memory, that boy was somewhat arrogant, and since they didn't patrol the same area, they rarely met.

"Yes, there is. Le Wei is here too."

Sun Shun on the other end of the communicator hesitated for a moment before continuing: "Are you busy right now? If not, Le Wei and I are waiting for you across the street from the Epidemic Prevention Center."

In fact, there were only these three Apprentice Plague Exterminators patrolling this area of Suhui.

Le Wei was one of them.

Crossing the street, Zhou Zhi soon spotted the two of them.

Le Wei was a bit chubby and had a shy demeanor, seemingly afraid to look directly at Zhou Zhi.

"Zhou Zhi, you've already seen the previous message, right?"

Sun Shun got straight to the point: "The notice about suppressing the [Strange Event]."

Zhou Zhi nodded.

"I saw it. According to Brother Li, if a Strange Event occurs, we just need to report it."

"It shouldn't have anything to do with us, right?"

Sun Shun sneered, as if thinking of something, and lowered his voice: "Zhou Zhi, I know your strength."

"That's why I called you and Le Wei here... I have some connections, and I can tell you that right now, all the official Plague Exterminators in the outer city of Changdu are overwhelmed."

"Even if a Strange Event appears and is reported, there isn't enough manpower to suppress it."

Suhui District was vast; the neighborhood where Zhou Zhi lived had dozens of epidemic prevention workers, but only three Apprentice Plague Exterminators, which were exactly the three of them.

"Is the [Longevity Path] really that terrifying?"

Zhou Zhi didn't speak, but Le Wei asked the question Zhou Zhi wanted to ask.

Xuanyuan was such a massive political entity that, from the outside, it seemed nowhere near the point of collapse.

How was it that, looking at it now, the lower-level structures were so precarious?

"I don't know if it's terrifying, but I do know that among the [Longevity Path] members who acted this time, there are many experts who have mastered profound Plague Extermination Arts. This has led to our Third Branch captain and the subordinate vice-captains leaving to suppress them externally half a month ago, which is why we have never seen the captain or the other vice-captains."

"So, what do you want to do?"

Zhou Zhi looked at Sun Shun calmly.

This arrogant man seemed to have some grand plan in mind.

Sun Shun lowered his voice: "This time, it's not just a danger."

"It's also an opportunity."

"There are many powerful individuals within Changdu, and its foundation is absolutely unshakable. Based on this, perhaps we can do something, for example..."

Sun Shun looked past Le Wei at Zhou Zhi.

"The [Strange Event] is the opportunity."

"[Pathogenized Objects], [Plague Extermination Arts], and even [Disease Cores]... under normal circumstances, these are things we would find very difficult to obtain."