Chapter 419: Contract Completed

Cheng Shuili watched the rapidly scrolling messages in the channel, her fingertips lightly tapping the screen.

She said nothing, offered no opinion, and instead opened the trading channel.

On the trading channel's homepage, the top listing was that bottle of "special antibiotic," containing only three pills, and the seller described it as: "Absolutely effective, one pill works! If you don't believe it, you can sign a trade contract!"

It was because of that description that the zeros after the price were dazzling.

Cheng Shuili glanced at the poster's ID, which was 【Dai Meng Kaixin Guo】.

He seemed to have been offline for a long time; the regional channel had many discussions, but most were curses.

Besides this one, there were many other medicines below, none claimed to be absolutely effective, and their prices weren't too high.

Cheng Shuili didn't look at private messages; with 001 there, she wouldn't miss any important content, and the other messages…

Cheng Shuili didn't even need to open them; just from a few words seen on the chat page she could guess they weren't good words at all.

While she was busy in Shou Ren Xiao Zhen, cursing Black Feather seemed to have become a trend.

It wasn't just personal bias; the regional channel was the same.

"Look! This is the 'human light' you talk about. This is Black Feather! Not a single member of Black Feather has contracted the plague! Even the beasts in the safety zone aren't sick! Who would believe there's no trick? Maybe Wu Ya already has the medicine hidden away! Our lives are in their eyes, hehe…"

"Maybe they think shedding some burdens is a good thing, and those people should be the first to die!"

"The entire Hei Yu An Quan Qu is spotless, not a single patient! How is that possible? Unless they knew how to protect themselves early, or… they actually created the disease!"

"Exactly! The more you think about it, the scarier! Could she be colluding with the source of the plague?"

"We need an explanation! Black Feather must disclose their epidemic‑prevention methods! They must share the medicine!"

"Right! Public! Share! Otherwise they're traitors to all humanity!"

"Form a group to visit Black Feather's base! We just want to survive, what's wrong?!"

Emotions fermented, malice grew amid speculation.

Although some weakly retorted, "No evidence, don't speak recklessly," and "Even if they really have the medicine, what does it have to do with us?" those voices were quickly drowned by the surging accusations and incitements.

Cheng Shuili occasionally caught one or two distinctive remarks; checking the ID, they were indeed the few trolls working with Xinxue.

Such public opinion actually doesn't need to be controlled, because they're making a fuss now; once Cheng Shuili releases the medicine, they'll instantly change their tone.

Yeah, let them make a scene.

The harsher the curses now, the more ridiculous they'll look when they "flip" later, and the clearer she'll see which are pitiful creatures driven solely by fear and which are schemers trying to muddy the water.

She closed the irritating flood of messages on the regional channel, as if the outside clamor was separated from her by an invisible barrier.

Then, she opened the private chat window with Xin Xue Chuji.

Wu Ya Zuo Fei Ji: The energy stone and the time are ready; we can promote Black Feather's special medicine in the regional channel.

Almost immediately, Xinxue's avatar started bouncing.

Xin Xue Chuji: Lao Da, you finally made a move; is everything going smoothly in Shou Ren Xiao Zhen? These past few days the regional channel has been chaotic; I've had people watching, but no one seems to be steering the rhythm. Those factions are quiet, seemingly working internally on prevention and control.

Cheng Shuili's gaze lingered on Xinxue's message for a moment.

Internal effort at prevention?

Is it just self‑preservation, or covert observation?

Cheng Shuili Qing Qing exhaled, her fingertips tapping the screen.

Wu Ya Zuo Fei Ji: The beasts over there have been dealt with. The contract is signed, the medicine dispatched, and it should be under control before dawn. Since those major factions are busy with their own affairs, that's even better.

She paused briefly, then continued typing.

Wu Ya Zuo Fei Ji: Let's not list the medicine yet; first warm up the regional channel. Tomorrow Shou Ren Xiao Zhen will reopen; then let these people see the effect themselves, and we'll discuss listing it later.

Of course, whether Shou Ren Xiao Zhen allows those plague‑infected humans to enter is not something Cheng Shuili needs to worry about.

What she needed to do was hurl the scorching iron block of hope straight into this desperate icy water!

Whether it splashes water or steam, she didn't care.

She wanted everyone to hear that sizzle and see the sudden rise of white mist.

Xin Xue Chuji: Understood! Lao Da! Leave this to me and you'll be at ease~ Hehe, give me half an hour, the news will be out instantly; if you want to watch the fun, you can stay up a bit later.

Cheng Shuili watched Xinxue's final playful yet excited remark, and a faint, barely perceptible smile flickered in her eyes.

After ending the conversation, Cheng Shuili didn't close the panel immediately.

She reopened the regional channel, her gaze sweeping over the still‑flooding hostile and desperate comments.

Those curses, doubts, incitements… now appeared to her like dead leaves about to be swept away by a gale.

She could imagine that when the news exploded like thunder, this noisy quagmire would fall into a strange silence, then erupt into a frenzy of uproar.

The harshest curses might come from those who will be the first to smash the purchase button.

Human nature is thus; she's seen it many times.

But that's exactly the effect she wants.

Using the most direct, indisputable method, she crushes rumors, establishes order, and also propels Black Feather's reputation and influence to a brand‑new height.

The night outside seemed denser, but a denser night also meant a quicker sunrise.

Soon, this region, ravaged by plague and panic and barely clinging to life, will welcome a true flame, ignited by Cheng Shuili herself, that can truly dispel the cold.

After a night passed, Cheng Shuili awoke before dawn.

Early in the morning, she first ran to Shou Ren Xiao Zhen.

The sky hadn't fully brightened; the faint morning light struggled to pierce the thin mist over the town.

Upon arrival, Xiong Ji Zheng was commanding a squad of bear guards, going house‑to‑house for a second round of extermination.

Seeing Cheng Shuili, he immediately jogged over, his massive frame moving with surprising lightness.

"Wang! You're here! As you ordered, the medicine was fully distributed last night, prioritizing the seriously ill. This morning's patrol found all plague symptoms gone! The extermination work has been done once, and now we're doing a second round."

His eyes were bloodshot, yet the excitement in them was about to overflow.

Cheng Shuili nodded, her gaze sweeping across the street.

Indeed, though still quiet, that suffocating sense of despair had faded, and one could even faintly hear voices coming from the beastfolk encampment—clearly, no one had slept all night.

She took out the bread she hadn't had time to sell from the Abyssal Ring and asked Xiong Ji to organize the idle tribesfolk to eat breakfast.

Xiong Ji stared at the small mountain of bread, fragrant with the scent of wheat, his bear eyes going perfectly round, his throat bobbing involuntarily.

"My King... this... all of this is for us?"

Cheng Shuili replied, "Yes, you've worked hard. Let everyone fill their stomachs first. You've all had a rough few days—let everyone rest properly."

Xiong Ji gave a heavy affirmative, his honest grin stretching nearly to his ears, and turned to bellow with that booming voice of his: "Come over here! The King is rewarding us with breakfast! Plenty of fragrant bread for everyone! Eat up and then get some rest, conserve your energy!"

The bear tribe beastfolk who had still been busy or forcing themselves to stay alert were first stunned, then erupted in low cheers.

They gathered around, carefully picking up the still-warm bread and wolfing it down.

These past few days they had been exhausted in body and mind; the plague had come suddenly, and naturally no food had been prepared in advance—they had been making do for days.

Such fresh, soft food was without a doubt a tremendous comfort to them!

The way the bear tribe beastfolk looked at Cheng Shuili now held, beyond their original awe, a heartfelt gratitude and closeness.

Cheng Shuili had been helping distribute food, but after being shouldered aside by one bear tribe beastman, she was then stuffed with a piece of bread by another.

And so the human who had been helping hand out food became a mascot crouching off to the side nibbling on bread.

Cheng Shuili looked at the soft bread that had been forcibly pressed into her hands, not knowing whether to laugh or cry, then glanced up at the surrounding bear tribe beastfolk who were wolfing down their food while sneaking peeks at her from time to time, their eyes full of contentment.

She had originally come to distribute food and win over hearts a little, but instead she had become the one being fed and gawked at.

Fine, mascot it is then.

Who says a King can't be a mascot?

She wasn't one to fuss, and in the cool morning air, she began eating the bread in small bites.

The taste was indeed good—rich with wheat fragrance, hearty in texture, carrying a primal sense of satisfaction.

While they were still eating, the last squad of bear tribe beastfolk responsible for disinfection finally returned, smiles on their faces. They had originally been heading toward Xiong Ji, but upon seeing Cheng Shuili, they abruptly changed direction and trotted over to stand before the King, reporting:

"Reporting to the King! The entire eastern district we were responsible for has been fully disinfected! We checked three times and confirmed there are no omissions! The smell... might be a bit strong, but we guarantee it's absolutely clean!"

The lead bear tribe beastman puffed out his chest, his voice resonant; though covered in exhaustion, his eyes were filled with the pride of completing the mission and a trace of... the stiffness of performing before the King.

Cheng Shuili swallowed her last bite of bread, nodded, and said in an affirming tone, "Very well done. You've worked hard. Go eat first, then get a good rest."

"Yes! Thank you, King!"

The several bear tribe beastfolk instantly beamed with joy and answered in unison, only then turning toward the pile of bread and joining the ranks of those wolfing it down.

Cheng Shuili brushed the breadcrumbs from her hands and stood up.

Her break as a "mascot" was over.

Turning her gaze back to Xiong Ji, she asked, "Are there any squads that haven't returned yet?"

Xiong Ji shook his head. "Everyone is here. My King, the second round of disinfection is also finished."

Which meant...

The plague in Shou Ren Xiao Zhen was, at this point, thoroughly over.

Cheng Shuili didn't go to inspect the results; instead, she directly opened the trade contract.

The system was absolutely impartial. If there were no issues, the first trade contract she had signed with the Rat King should be concluded by now, right?

A person who was always calm was, at this very moment, actually a bit anxious.

After all, that treaty was truly vicious; naturally, Cheng Shuili hoped for a good outcome.

Her fingertip hovered over the cold system panel for an instant before Cheng Shuili opened the contract signed with the Rat King. The moment she saw it clearly, her heart skipped a beat.

The contract was...

In a completed state.

It was over, truly over.

Forty percent of the Rat King's arms factory revenue, the disposal rights to thirty percent of the goods—she had finally... gotten them in her hands!

Cheng Shuili's fingertip brushed lightly across the panel, the faint trembling of her fingers forcibly suppressed.

No rushing.

This harvest was far too enormous; it had to be carefully digested and pursued step by step.

Though the Rat King had been forced to sign a humiliating treaty, he was by no means an easy opponent. The factory's internal situation, the specific accounts, the categories and flow of goods—all needed to be gradually understood before this war spoil could truly be converted into tangible gains.

Suppressing the turmoil in her heart, Cheng Shuili closed the contract interface.

Now was not the time to tally up her gains; there was still one final act to play out before her eyes.

Since the plague was already over, the administrative authority over Shou Ren Xiao Zhen should also be handed back to the Rat King. Xiong Ji had already sent someone over, and the Rat King would likely arrive shortly.

Cheng Shuili tilted her head up to check the sky. She admitted, going to summon the Rat King now was indeed rather impolite.

But she had done quite a few impolite things already—one more wouldn't make a difference.

When the Rat King emerged from his warm fur bedding and heard the guard relay the message—"The plague has been completely eradicated; please, Lord Rat King, proceed to the square, where Lord Bear King will conduct the formal handover with you"—the expression on his face was spectacular.

This fast? How was that possible?

He had originally estimated it would drag on for at least a few more days—enough time for him to come up with new ways to cause trouble for Cheng Shuili.

Then his face turned completely dark.

How could he not know? Cheng Shuili was clearly doing this on purpose!

Choosing to notify at this hour before dawn broke—clearly she had been working all night! The whole point was to catch him off guard.

Still... a trace of regret flashed through the Rat King's eyes.

He only had himself to blame for this. When the little mouse came to report last night, he hadn't taken it seriously, thinking it was just a normal human struggle. He never expected the plague would be resolved just like that.

The Rat King stood before the full-length mirror in silence for a moment; after churning, all his emotions dissolved into wariness and suppressed fury.

This human—not only were her methods formidable, but her timing was so cunningly precise!

But he had no room to lash out.

In the square, Cheng Shuili and a group of Bear clan guards who had just eaten and drunk their fill, brimming with energy, were waiting for him.

More importantly, the contract was complete; he had to fulfill his promise, take back the management rights, and at the same time… pay up the wager that made his heart bleed.

The Rat King took several deep breaths before barely maintaining a calm appearance, draped on his splendid robes, and, amid the crisp tapping of his cane, led a group of equally displeased-looking attendants toward the square.

In the square, Cheng Shuili stood perfectly straight, the dawn light gilding her with a faint golden edge.

Behind her stood the neatly lined up, high-spirited Bear clan beastmen, forming a stark contrast with the Rat King's just-woken beastmen.