Chapter 87: Disease

Chapter 87: Disease

Upon entering this world, Chen Zijin found himself in a queue.

Raising an eyebrow, he noticed people in front and behind him; roughly estimated, the line held at least one hundred and sixty or seventy individuals.

Looking around, it turns out to be a residential area—an old, somewhat gloomy facility, yet overall exuding an orderly vibe.

To describe it, it's like a once well-equipped neighborhood that, after two or three decades of wear and tear, appears somewhat outdated.

However, the residents seem emotionally stable. Despite the long queue, there's no children's noise, no grumbling from the elderly, nor any impatient murmuring from the youth.

Such a lengthy line is eerily quiet, overly so.

More importantly, Chen Zijin notices that everyone in line, both ahead and behind, is wearing a mask.

His gaze sharpens instantly.

The presence of masks always brings an unsettling feeling.

Suddenly, he finds those around him looking at him with disbelief and terror, as if he were the source of a contagious disease or garbage.

When the tall woman in front of him wearing a mask points at him, Chen Zijin hastily lowers his head to speak softly, then quickly pulls out a mask from his pocket to put on.

As he dons the mask, the tall woman glares at him fiercely, her voice buzzing: "Be more mindful next time! This is the City Without Disease! Do you want to endanger others by not wearing a mask?!"

Chen Zijin's mouth turns downward.

Before he can speak, screams echo from both in front and behind.

"Someone call for help! Where are the security guards?! There's someone here not wearing a mask! They need to be checked first! See if they are sick!"

As about a dozen security guards quickly rush towards the source of the voice, Chen Zijin receives the survival and world tasks for this "City Without Disease."

[Survival Task: The City Without Disease is a harmonious and beautiful place, where no one suffers from illness, and all diseases are nonexistent. However, some ill wrongdoers have sneaked in, aiming to disrupt our most perfect and harmonious utopia.

Please, within ten days, identify and remove at least five patients who have infiltrated our community, preserving the bliss of our City Without Disease.

Note: Do not wrongly accuse any healthy individual, or face severe backlash and punishment. We must not overlook any sick culprits, but also not falsely accuse the healthy.

Task Reward: The blessing of being healthy, free from diseases and disasters. Successful survival.]

[World Task: Identify the person who is not sick.

Task Reward: A semi-royal level tool card. World Core*1]

Compared to the detailed survival task, the world task seems overly simplistic and somewhat horrifying upon closer inspection.

The survival task is to identify five sick individuals, while the world task is to find the person who is not sick.

Knowing that world tasks are significantly more challenging than survival tasks, directly involving the world core, then...

Chen Zijin looks at the people in front of him and then those behind, tugging at the corner of his mouth.

In this world, could it be that every single one of them is... sick?

"Hey, what are you daydreaming about? There's a big gap in the line ahead, didn't you notice?"

Suddenly, someone pokes him from behind.

Then their voice becomes puzzled and even a bit sharp: "You're not sick, are you?!"

Chen Zijin immediately tugs at the corner of his mouth, "You're the one who's sick. Be responsible with what you say, I was just spacing out for a moment."

Saying this, he quickly moves forward two steps.

But the glasses-wearing man who poked him from behind keeps staring at him through his glasses, dead fixed.

As if observing something, waiting for something.

Chen Zijin can feel the sharp gaze from behind.

Yet, he doesn't speak at all.

Now is not the time for any actions.

At least, he needs to understand the reason behind this long queue.

Following the line, Chen Zijin quickly reaches the front.

He sees four individuals in white protective suits standing solemnly inside a transparent enclosed glass booth, extending their hands through the glass to check the temperature and collect blood samples from the people in front of them.

The blood collection device resembles a glucometer, requiring just a light prick on the fingertip.

Only after a person's temperature and blood tests displayed a reassuring green did they let out a sigh of relief with a smile.

Then, a bit more noise emerged from the otherwise quiet crowd.

"Haha! See that! Hahaha! I'm green! All my tests are green! I told you I couldn't be sick! How could I possibly be sick?! It's just you people who are jealous of me, those who aren't as good as me, trying to slander me!!"

"You just can't stand to see me doing well! Can't stand it at all!"

"Haha! Hahaha! I'm going back to enjoy my wonderful life! No, no, no, I want to stay here and see, see who it is that's the sick menace, wanting to bring disaster upon our peaceful community!"

Chen watched his excited and frenzied manner, forcing a smile.

Hmm, how is this not considered being sick.

His blood and temperature may not show illness, but his mind seems to be.

Chen labeled this man as potentially sick.

Then, he witnessed firsthand how those who were truly sick were treated—

Suddenly, a shrill alarm sounded from the testing booth ahead.

At that moment, everyone in line lifted their heads to look in that direction.

A panicked man was shouting: "I'm not sick! How could I possibly be sick! You're wronging me! I'm healthy, eat a balanced diet, exercise daily, don't believe in gods or spirits, love literature and art, work hard, and respect my parents!

I live my life earnestly every day! How could I possibly be sick?! How could I possibly want to kill anyone!!"

However, no matter how loudly he shouted, no matter how desperately he struggled, those who rushed over in white coats and masks, faces obscured, still forcefully gripped his arms and carried him away.

After his departure, the residents in line frantically spray alcohol all around themselves, some even ringing bells to ward off evil.

Chen Zijin: ...

Observing until now, he still couldn't figure out how exactly they were detecting sickness.

So, when it was his turn, Chen Zijin felt somewhat nervous, but with his abilities in this world, he wouldn't be easily defeated.

Even if detected with a problem, he could still escape, so he decided to see what would happen.

Brother Chen is fearless.

Beep.

The thermometer testing his temperature emits a green light.

Temperature normal.

Beep.

The device, akin to a blood glucose lancet, gently pricks Chen Zijin's index finger.

It's an almost imperceptible pain.

But more sensitive to Chen Zijin than the pain, is the tiny black dot that entered his bloodstream with that prick.

His right eye sees no issue with his bleeding finger, and after wiping the blood off, it seemed as if there had been no bleeding at all.

However, through his left eye, that tiny black dot was strikingly clear, evidently trying to flow deeper into his body through his bloodstream.

This indeed seemed quite profound.

Chen Zijin gently pressed his finger against the small black dot, lowering his eyes silently. Soon, under his pressure, the black dot gradually disintegrated and vanished.

The instrument in front of him lit up with green light.

However, the person in the white coat performing the test lifted their head, covered by a gas mask, and gave him a look through the dark glass eyes.

Chen Zijin offered a polite, insincere smile and stepped aside.

Knowing there was a trick to this test, which was supposed to be for detection but seemed more like poisoning.

So, what exactly does it use to diagnose others as sick? Time to observe further.

Then he saw the man with glasses behind him extending his hand, and Chen Zijin's eyebrows lifted.

This man with glasses seemed somewhat guilty.

Could he be the sick one?

This thought made Chen Zijin somewhat speechless.

How long has it been since I arrived, and why am I starting to suspect others of being sick like the people of this world?

Tsk.

This isn't a good mindset to have.

"Beep beep beep! Beep beep beep!"

The alarm sounds again.

Chen Zijin looks up in surprise.

No way, does this guy with glasses actually have a problem?

The man with glasses seems very anxious but is much calmer compared to the man who was taken away earlier, in front of the four doctors dressed in protective gear and masks.

"I was just distracted, thinking about some rather scary childhood memories. I need to be tested again."

Chen Zijin, arms crossed, waits to see what happens next.

To his surprise, the doctors, who were very stern and strict a moment ago, nod in agreement to the man with glasses' request and allow him to undergo a second test.

This time, everything is normal.

The man with glasses pushes his glasses up, showing a relieved expression as if a false accusation has been cleared.

"See, I told you... I'm not sick."

Then, everyone's gaze towards him softened.

"Right, right, Xiao Zhang is known to be a good guy in our community, how could he possibly be sick?"

"Exactly, Xiao Zhang even helped me move stuff today. He definitely won't get sick."

Amidst everyone's joyful praises, the lengthy queue of about one hundred and seventy people finally completed their checks.

In the end, 6 individuals were identified as being sick but had kept silent.

The remaining over one hundred and fifty people are all healthy, good citizens of the Disease-Free City!

After the testing, the residents of the old neighborhood seemed to come to life, finally starting to interact and live like normal community members.

Chen Zijin watches as the man with glasses approaches him with a friendly smile, extending his hand.

"You must be the new tenant on the third floor, right? I live across from you, in apartment 301. My name is Li Hao. Hao as in a good person."

Chen Zijin looks at the hand extended towards him and responds with a smile: "Hello, Li Hao. I'm the new resident, my name is Chen Bubing."

Li Hao does not find the name surprising; instead, he nods in approval and envy: "Your name is really well chosen! It fits perfectly with our Disease-Free City."

"Then enjoy your life in our Peaceful Community. Rest assured! Based on my three years of experience living here, I can guarantee that although the facilities are a bit old, our community is safest at night!

We've already done checks during the day, so absolutely no vile sick person will cause trouble tonight!"

Chen Zijin blinks: "Really?"

Li Hao pushes his glasses up. "Of course, it's true."

That evening, Chen Zijin listens to rhythmic knocking sounds outside his door, along with screams and excited, cruel shouts from the corridor and even the whole neighborhood, rolling his eyes.

Is this what's considered 'peaceful'?

Knock, knock, knock!

The knocking continues.

Rather than knocking, it's more like someone is forcefully smashing the door with something hard.

The old building isn't soundproof, and Chen Zijin also hears conversations from the hallway.

"Ahhhh—help! Somebody help! A sick person has gone mad and is killing people!! But didn’t we already check during the day? Why are there still sick people at night?!"

"Don't run! Don't run! Didn't you hear me, my dear?! If you're disobedient, I should break your legs so you can never leave me!!"

Knock, knock, knock! Knock, knock, knock, knock—

Bang!

The knocking that once had a rhythm now turned frantic, followed by a loud, terrifying crash. Chen Zijin saw the frightening tip of an axe through the broken door.

And a voice, hoarse and indistinguishable between human or monster, demanded: "Come out so I can kill you!"

"Let me kill you, you philandering, heartless man—"

At first, Chen Zijin was slightly alarmed, but upon hearing the latter accusation, his face turned green.

What are these baseless accusations?!

Joking aside, he knew his charm was irresistible, always attracting those with taste towards him.

But the accusations of being fickle and flirtatious couldn't be further from the truth!

How earnest and pure-hearted was he?!

His engagement was arranged by his family, and yet he ended up being betrayed, one might call him cold-hearted or unromantic, but never unfaithful or promiscuous.

Thus, Chen Zijin watched the door being hacked, axe after axe, and conjured a golden axe with a sneer.

He was curious to see who was spreading rumors about him.

Then, with might, he intended to inform the other party that spreading rumors could result in decimation.

Boom—

At that moment, the door was forcefully blasted open.

A tall figure, shrouded in a black cloak, with a bloody axe in hand, stood at the doorway.

Then, with a grim smile, the figure took a step forward.

Only to see an even larger and more ferocious axe in the hands of the person inside the room.

The figure in the black cloak hesitated for a moment.

The atmosphere turned slightly awkward.

"Yo."

"Come on, care to repeat what you just said? I promise I won’t chop you."

The figure in the black cloak: .

The cloaked figure turned and left.

Their speed was so fast that even the corridor's sprinting chainsaw maniac, deranged clown, and faceless man paused in surprise at the cloaked figure's velocity.

Then, the chainsaw maniac, deranged clown, and faceless man each peeked into the room.

Upon seeing the golden axe, larger than a person, even these three figures, notorious for instilling fear, paused and then politely turned away.

Even the last to leave, the faceless man, courteously extended a hand to close Chen Sijin’s badly damaged door.

He's sick but has good sense.

Chen Sijin: Snickers.