Chapter 417: Root Cure

"To show my sincerity, and to let everyone feel at ease, I can promise that after the contract is signed, the plague threat in Shou Ren Xiao Zhen will be completely eradicated."

When she said that, the various tribes of beastfolk around, ears perked, began to stir.

Completely eradicate?

For the beastfolk still worried about the plague recurring, it was undoubtedly a huge temptation.

The Rat King's complexion grew even worse; he felt as if Cheng Shuili were leading him by the nose.

Agreeing to sign the contract meant completely giving up any chance of meddling in this matter.

Refusing, with so many beastfolk watching, would inevitably spark public outrage.

The Rat King looked at the increasingly heated, expectant gazes in the square and felt as if countless tiny needles were pressing against him.

He indeed didn't care about the anger of one or two beastfolk, but when that anger coalesced into a sea, mixed with a yearning for life and a longing for complete eradication, its weight was entirely different.

Such anger would no longer be a grain of rice he could ignore, but a tide capable of stirring up storms and even capsizing ships.

Cheng Shuili's move exploited the most basic survival instinct of all beastfolk, cornering him.

If he were to utter a single "no," the square would instantly erupt with overwhelming doubt and discontent, possibly turning into outright unrest.

At that point, he would not only lose face, but might also shake the absolute authority he has built.

A king who disregards his subjects' lives—who would truly remain loyal?

Anger rose gradually from the Rat King's heart.

He glanced at the old lizard without a flicker of emotion.

This is Shou Ren Xiao Zhen; its intelligence network is absolutely accurate! Also absolutely swift!

And because of that, the Rat King knew exactly how things had escalated to this point.

No matter how he intends to punish that damned human later, this incompetent, failure‑prone person who still dared to bite the close attendant in plain sight must not be kept.

He needs an explanation to quell today's farce, and a scapegoat to preserve his precarious face.

For now, the most important thing is to get past Cheng Shuili.

The Rat King inhaled deeply, adopting a heavy expression of sudden enlightenment and heartfelt anguish.

He turned to the beastfolk in the square, his voice resonant, bearing just the right mix of authority and remorse:

"Today's events truly break my heart!"

He struck his staff heavily and shouted, "I couldn't have known that while I was busy handling other matters, there were such audacious fools beneath! For personal gain they pretended loyalty while betraying, endangering the lives of all beastfolk, nearly causing an irreparable disaster!"

His gaze swept over the kneeling clan leaders on the ground, finally fixing on the old lizard whose back was smeared with blood and flesh, his eyes suddenly sharp: "Especially you! As a clan leader, not only do you disregard your people, you also believed slanders and committed such inhuman acts! And you still dared to bite recklessly! Guards!"

Two of the Rat King's close attendants immediately stepped forward.

"Drag this old thing down and keep a tight watch! Once all beastfolk involved are identified, punish them together as a warning to others!"

The Rat King's voice was resolute, as if he were the greatest victim.

This aggrieved yet consistently dignified demeanor actually frightened many.

The beastfolk in the square whispered, and Cheng Shuili heard several remarks praising the Rat King's sense of responsibility.

Cheng Shuili sneered inwardly.

What a reversal of right and wrong, shirking responsibility, and even staging a heartfelt drama to win hearts.

But that was exactly the effect she wanted.

As long as the contract can be signed, she didn't care much about what these beastfolk truly felt toward the Rat King.

When the old lizard was dragged away, only utter defeat and despair remained in his eyes.

He knew he was finished, not only because a human had pulled him out on the spot, but also because the Rat King needed him silenced, to bear all the blame.

In his final moments, the old lizard's somewhat clouded eyes fixed on the Rat King.

He understood his fate, and could only pray… that his withered, ancient life might exchange for something else.

The lizard clan had already paid too much for the rewards promised by the Rat King.

He closed his eyes, as if embracing death, starkly different from the beastfolk who, when they saw a bear about to strike, immediately begged for mercy in the lizard clan.

Cheng Shuili watched the two Rat clan guards drag the old lizard away, initially puzzled why the fellow suddenly embraced death; seeing his gaze turn toward the Rat King, Cheng Shuili finally caught on.

When questioned earlier, the old lizard had already answered: he felt the Rat King was backing him.

She, a human, should have given up as soon as she heard the Rat King's name.

Who would have thought Cheng Shuili was so bold.

Not only did she directly bind those clan leaders to the square and dare to execute them, but also summoned all beastfolk to watch the spectacle, eventually forcing the Rat King himself to appear, and he could only echo the human's words.

Cheng Shuili originally had little sympathy, and after realizing this, she watched coldly.

After dealing with the chief culprit, the Rat King turned his gaze back to Cheng Shuili, speaking sincerely: "Little friend, thanks to your keen insight and decisive action, you prevented me from being completely blinded by these parasites! Since this has happened, let us, for the safety of all beastfolk, to completely eradicate the plague and restore peace to the town…"

He paused, surveyed the crowd, taking in the beastfolk's anxious, hopeful gazes, as if making a firm resolve, and declared, word by word, with resonant force: "This contract must be signed not only by me, but also by the clan leaders of all major races."

Cheng Shuili felt a stir in her heart and instantly grasped the Rat King's intention.

He intended to muddy the waters, shifting the signing responsibility and supervisory duties onto each major clan head.

On one hand, it would make him appear selfless, showing the matter isn't solely his concern.

On the other hand, it aims to use other major clans to check Cheng Shuili, or at least involve them, sharing potential risks and troubles.

What a clever move to divert disaster.

Only… for Cheng Shuili, this brings only benefits and no drawbacks!

The more races that sign the contract, the easier the plague becomes to resolve.

Cheng Shuili, rarely showing agreement, said: "Lord Rat King, your foresight is thorough. The plague concerns the entire Shou Ren Xiao Zhen; the clan leaders of each race should witness and jointly commit, so all peoples can feel at ease."

The Rat King gave her a deep look; both understood each other's thoughts and spared each other's face.

Although the situation had become ugly, now that a step was offered, they would take it.

The Rat King said nothing further, merely raising a hand to signal.

A close attendant hurried away immediately, evidently to inform the clan chiefs of each tribe.

The beastfolk in the square whispered to each other, their discussions bustling.

For ordinary beastfolk, the involvement of more important figures seemed to mean the matter was more solemn and better secured.

It was a great thing.

As the beastfolk continued to chatter, the praise for the Rat King rose even higher.

Cheng Shuili listened, her mood growing considerably more complex.

These beastfolk were unaware, but she was fully aware.

The Rat King probably didn't care about the lives of other beastfolk at all; they were merely incidental, or rescuing them was simply a safeguard for the Rat clan.

After all, a plague penetrates every crevice; if it spreads on a large scale, no one can escape.

But if it remains confined to a small area…

Cheng Shuili glanced at the Rat King; she believed he possessed that ability.

That is also why only a few races are hiding patients.

They are the Rat King's carefully selected, sufficiently weak, obedient, and inconspicuous pawns.

Even if sacrificed, they would not cause a great stir.

It was only that the Rat King did not anticipate Cheng Shuili would be so forceful, so recklessly expose and amplify the matter, forcing him to intervene personally and even drag all the great clans into sharing responsibility.

The people standing at the very center of the square each harbored thoughts, yet outwardly maintained cordial relations, exchanging a few perfunctory pleasantries while waiting.

Soon, the clan chiefs who received the message arrived at the square one after another.

Both the Bear King and the Wolf King were Cheng Shuili, so no extra envoys were needed.

Besides them, the fox, tiger, and lion clans… almost every prominent clan chief had arrived.

Their expressions varied: some puzzled, some solemn, some bearing a hint of anticipation for drama.

The Rat King publicly gave a brief explanation of the matter, emphasizing the punishment for outward compliance but inner defiance, and finally said:

"To demonstrate fairness and to pool the strength of all clans to overcome this crisis, I propose that the clan chiefs present today sign their names on this contract with me, jointly supervising and supporting the Bear King's treatment work until the plague is completely eradicated! Everyone, any thoughts?"

He tossed the question out, his gaze sweeping over the clan chiefs.

The atmosphere froze for a moment.

The clan chiefs stared at each other, quickly exchanging glances. Those who could sit in this position were not foolish; they instantly grasped the Rat King's calculations.

It was to bind everyone to the same ship, sharing risk and responsibility.

If the plague could be cured, it would be a cause for universal joy, and the Rat King could seize the flattering title "wise decision."

If something went wrong, no one could escape; under a law that does not punish the masses, the Rat King's pressure would be much less.

More importantly, signing this contract—led by humans and aimed at eradicating the plague—somewhat acknowledges human authority on the matter, and temporarily acknowledges her status.

The other beastfolk who had previously had brief contact with Cheng Shuili had no particular thoughts.

But the Leopard clan chief Bao Wen…

His complexion turned ashen, the blue veins on his forehead pulsing!

The energy stone incident had cost him such a loss of face; he always needed a chance to regain his standing.

Now is the perfect moment, isn't it?!

Bao Wen, consumed with thoughts of revenge, had already forgotten that it was the Rat King's attendant who summoned them, and even more that the Rat King had agreed to this.

He let out a cold snort, breaking the brief silence; his amber vertical pupils were filled with untamed hostility:

"So you called us here just to have us vouch for this human?"

He sneered, averting his gaze when it met Cheng Shuili's half‑smile, yet his mouth kept going: "Everyone knows the plague is troublesome, but to let a human dictate our beastfolk affairs and require us to co‑sign a guarantee… what logic is that? Our Leopard clan does not bow to humans!"

His words were blunt, reflecting the sentiments of many beastfolk clan chiefs—a deep‑seated contempt and distrust of humans.

Although Cheng Shuili now held the titles of Bear King and Wolf King, her human identity remained a thorn.

A flicker of displeasure crossed the Rat King's eyes; he had summoned these clan chiefs not to stir trouble!

He was about to speak when a clear, smiling voice interrupted, "Chief of the Leopard clan, that statement is erroneous."

The speaker was the fox clan chief.

It wasn't the fox representative from last time; Cheng Shuili couldn't help glancing a couple more times.

It was a relatively young white fox, with laughter twinkling at the corners of her eyes and brows; she swayed her fluffy tail leisurely and said:

"It isn't a matter of bowing to anyone; it concerns the very survival of the town."

"With the plague looming, is racial identity more important than life? Your… Bear Majesty, since you can promise a complete cure and have indeed produced the medicine, whose effect is evident to all, why not give her—and us—a chance?"

"It's merely a signature, a statement of our resolve to overcome the crisis together. If she fails, we can discuss other matters later."

At this stage, getting involved is indeed troublesome, but if it can eliminate the plague—a major scourge—it would be hugely beneficial for the fox clan, which relies on trade and intelligence.

Moreover, the Rat King has already taken a stance; under everyone's watchful eyes, overt opposition would not be wise.

The Tiger clan chief pondered, his sturdy fingers rubbing his chin, and after a moment said, "Human, I am willing to sign. But I have chosen to trust you; what you do must live up to my trust. If you fail…"

He looked at the Rat King: "I hope there is a clear penalty to verify that this human truly has absolute confidence, to guarantee we are not wasting time now."

The pressure instantly fell on Cheng Shuili.

All eyes once again focused on her.

Cheng Shuili remained calm, stepped forward half a pace, and her clear voice rang across the square:

"If I cannot cure the plague, or if during this period my fault causes the epidemic to worsen or spread, I—who am also the Wolf King and Bear King—am willing to accept any form of punishment, at your discretion."

Her voice was resolute, without the slightest hesitation, embodying 'expressing determination': "Moreover, the Bear clan and Wolf clan will jointly bear joint responsibility, leaving the punishment to be decided by the clan chiefs. This is my sincerity, and my resolve."

Seeing the surrounding beastfolk stir, Bao Wen couldn't help speaking again: "The Bear clan assumes joint responsibility?"

He raised an eyebrow, his expression scornful and sarcastic, cuttingly saying: "Is the Bear clan truly willing to take this responsibility? I ask you… a human, can you really represent the entire Bear clan?"

Those words were clearly looking for trouble.

Even if the beastmen within the tribe still disagree, all resources and affairs within the tribe are under the King's full authority.

As long as the King agrees, any opposition from other beastmen is useless.