"None of that is a problem?"
A faint smile played on Zhou Zhi's face. "In Changdu, not even those above the Official level would dare say that."
"While our people were fighting for their lives against Changdu's Plague Exterminators outside the city, you hid inside and recuperated... I'd like to see which [steward] you are, exactly."
Zhou Zhi lowered his head slightly, as if sighing.
"Forget it."
"Eternal Heaven above, when I think about it carefully, I suppose I can't blame you."
"Gather everyone tonight."
Zhou Zhi looked at the woman.
His gaze made her shrink away a little.
"You mean..."
Zhou Zhi shook his head. "Su Rongrong isn't here. Weren't you supposed to have sent her to Suhui Central Academy?"
"Of all those groups... there must be some who haven't been sent there yet."
"Then notify them. We're gathering tonight."
"First, I'll coordinate with that steward of my Longevity Path. After all, it isn't easy for someone at the Official level to infiltrate us."
"Second, I'll make sure you fools recognize my face."
Zhou Zhi spoke lightly.
"But..."
The man sitting on the ground before Zhou Zhi tried to say something more, but the woman's expression changed. "Yes, sir!"
Zhou Zhi rose slowly to his feet.
He pushed open the door.
Only the pale-faced couple remained.
"Was that... a little too easy?"
The man panted and spoke in a low voice. "We..."
The woman spoke quietly. "If he weren't one of my Longevity Path, he couldn't remember the Longevity Sutra, let alone recite it."
"Eternal Heaven is the source of [Resurrection], [Eternity], and [Rebirth]. To those who don't follow our Path, it's nothing but poison that clouds the mind."
So that was it.
I wondered why they believed me so quickly.
Outside.
At last, Zhou Zhi released his grip on the Plague-Slaying Blade.
He left.
To a Plague Exterminator, ordinary people were utterly insignificant creatures.
Especially those who knew nothing about spirit power or even the most basic facts about Pestilence.
But Zhou Zhi thought ordinary people like that were quite useful.
Not long ago.
Aunt Mei really was Suhui's local expert.
With ease, she'd found a few drifters who frequented Suhui's streets.
"Based on that strange triangular symbol, we can be fairly certain that the source of the Chickenpox Plague outbreak inside the school is a member of the Longevity Path who infiltrated Changdu."
"So... thinking about it normally, why would this person hide there, even going so far as to cause pathogenization?"
When Zhou Zhi considered this question, other information offered an answer.
A guess: in an ordinary school, the only place that would attract a Plague Exterminator's attention was probably one place.
[Spirit Power Class].
In other words, these were the seeds of future Plague Exterminators. In an ordinary school, this was the only class that could come into contact with epidemic prevention knowledge.
The Spirit Power Class had few students, about thirty, and in Suhui, most of them knew one another.
From Su Rongrong, Zhou Zhi had gotten the students' home addresses.
The next step was simple: have the people Aunt Mei had found investigate newcomers living near the homes of Spirit Power Class students. It had only been preliminary reconnaissance, and Zhou Zhi hadn't expected the Longevity Path to target Su Rongrong that very night.
"Those who aren't of the Longevity Path won't remember the Longevity Sutra, but I can. Maybe it's because of the information, or maybe it's for some other reason..."
Zhou Zhi's calm face remained as still as a deep, ancient well.
A group of Longevity Path members had hidden themselves in Suhui, where Official-level Plague Exterminators were scarce. What exactly were they trying to do... They'd captured students with spirit power, then used Strange Incidents as a cover.
Zhou Zhi left the inn and headed for the edge of the road.
After walking for a while,
a thin, middle-aged man emerged from the shadows at a street corner and looked around.
"No one's following us. Those low-level people who join cults generally don't think much. They're driven more by hope for the unknown and a yearning for worthless goals... If things weren't like this now, people like that would've been purged long ago."
Zhou Zhi spoke calmly. "Mr. Su, I've already told you about the Longevity Path. Rongrong's location should be confirmed by now. She's at Suhui Central School."
"Mr. Zhou..."
Su Xing spoke in a low voice, sounding anxious. "Aren't we leaving right now?"
"Of course not. Broad daylight isn't a good time to make a move."
Carrying the Blade Case, Zhou Zhi walked steadily. "Before we put them down, I need to find one more... guide."
"A guide?"
Su Xing froze.
Zhou Zhi said nothing more.
Suhui.
Epidemic Prevention Center.
It was much busier now than when Zhou Zhi had first come here.
"Sir... sir!"
"I want to report something!"
Someone shouted excitedly. "There's pathogenization... there's..."
All sorts of noise rang through the hall.
When people saw Zhou Zhi pass by in his Plague Armor, they immediately crowded around him.
"Sir..."
Zhou Zhi turned slightly and slipped past the crowd.
Recently, most of the many Strange Incidents had come from among the public.
The shortage of staff had left the Epidemic Prevention Center utterly overwhelmed.
"Brother Zhou."
Someone spotted Zhou Zhi.
At the Epidemic Prevention Center, Apprentice Plague Exterminators with spirit power and a few basic Plague Extermination Arts naturally held a higher status than ordinary people.
"Where's Sun Shun?"
Zhou Zhi asked calmly.
After being given directions, Zhou Zhi walked steadily down the corridor.
He pushed open the door.
Sun Shun seemed to have been deep in thought. He jolted awake.
"Zhou... Zhou Zhi..."
"What are you doing here?"
Sun Shun coughed.
Zhou Zhi closed the door.
"Simply put, I'm planning to go on a mission with you."
The young man's voice was calm, like a lake without a ripple.
"It's about the mission at Suhui Central School."
Zhou Zhi's voice rang out, and an incredulous expression appeared on Sun Shun's face.
After finishing all the preparations,
in his room,
Zhou Zhi gently turned the Blade Case over in his hands.
Then he opened it.
A Plague-Slaying Blade that looked like white jade appeared before him.
Unlike an ordinary Plague-Slaying Blade, it had an elegant design—graceful, even.
A White Jade Flower was carved into the hilt. It felt pleasantly cool to the touch.
It had no name.
"Since I'm about to use you, I should give you a proper name."
Zhou Zhi ran his fingers along the blade.
"I'll call you... [White Jade]."
Whenever Zhou Zhi said that name, he thought of the shattered Bai Xiu.
[White Jade].
[Pathogenization Index: Not Pathogenized].
[Item Rank: Fine-grade, low-quality scalpel].
[This weapon can inflict additional damage to the heart and lungs].
[Provides a moderate boost to Plague Extermination Arts in the (heart and lung) category].
[Using this scalpel can greatly increase overall physical ability and grant the Plague Extermination Art (Adrenaline Boost)].
[Using this scalpel can greatly increase heart rate and grant the passive Plague Extermination Art (Intermediate Arrhythmia Resistance)].
[Using this scalpel can improve heart and lung function and grant the special Plague Extermination Art (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation)].
[...]
[Even the lowest-quality item to cross the threshold into the Fine grade is beyond the reach of ordinary Plague-Slaying Blades. It's like... stepping onto a higher tier and seeing how utterly different the world looks to a person].
[The Plague-Slaying Blade is currently in perfect condition].
Before you continue