Chapter 420: Spotless

The Rat King's footsteps paused imperceptibly at the edge of the square.

What did he see?

Those beastfolk who had been ravaged by plague to the point of near death, though still looking weary now, had regained the light in their eyes, standing in twos and threes at the garrison gate or in front of shops, curiously and quietly watching the center of the square.

They had truly recovered.

Thoroughly, spotlessly clean.

The nauseating rotten sweet stench in the air had vanished, replaced by a somewhat pungent yet deeply reassuring scent of disinfectant.

The streets were wet, obviously just thoroughly washed.

Cheng Shuili stood there, quietly watching him approach, her face showing no victor's arrogance, only a near‑cold calm.

"Lord Rat King, good morning." Cheng Shuili's voice rang out across the empty morning square, "I have not failed my orders. Now the plague in Beastfolk Town has been completely eradicated, all the sick have recovered. As agreed, I return administrative authority of the town to you."

She turned sideways, made a gesturing invitation, pointing to the ancient stone stele at the square's center that symbolized the town's core of power.

Xiong Ji silently led the bear tribe guards back a few steps, clearing the path to the stele.

Their movements were uniform and orderly, silently announcing the end of the mission and the transfer of authority.

But at this moment, the Rat King found the stele glaringly obvious.

His fingers gripping the jeweled staff tightened, his knuckles whitening slightly.

He stepped forward step by step, each step feeling especially heavy.

The attendants behind him held their breath, not daring to exhale.

Finally, he stood before the stele, reached out, and symbolically stroked its ancient patterns.

This gesture meant he had reclaimed control of everything here.

"Little friend."

Those two simple words made him speak with a hint of gritted‑teeth resentment.

"Your methods are indeed astonishing." The Rat King turned, forcing a stiff smile onto his face, his voice a little dry, "To resolve such a great menace in a single night… I am… impressed."

"It is my duty."

Cheng Shuili's reply was terse to the point of perfunctoriness; she didn't even glance at the Rat King's expression, instead turning her gaze to the various beastfolk peoples gathering nearby.

Their eyes were complex, but for the vast majority of the beastfolk, their gazes held gratitude toward Cheng Shuili.

She knew this scene would be remembered forever by some of the beastfolk.

"Since the administrative authority has been handed over, we will not disturb Lord Rat King as he restores order."

Cheng Shuili gave a slight nod, her voice still flat, "As for the other items stipulated in the contract, I trust Lord Rat King will promptly arrange someone to liaise with me."

She did not mention the "arms factory" or the "thirty percent of goods," yet each word struck the Rat King's most painful nerve.

A muscle in the Rat King's face twitched, and he could barely keep his forced smile.

What else could he say?

Under everyone's gaze, before the ironclad contract and the facts?

He could only squeeze two words from between his teeth: "Of course."

Cheng Shuili said no more, turned and walked away.

Xiong Ji led the bear tribe guards in close pursuit, their footsteps echoing loudly in the quiet morning.

When they came, they were to extinguish the plague.

When they left, they took victory with them, and left a deep imprint.

The Rat King watched that procession disappear down the street's end; the morning light grew brighter and sharper, yet it could not dispel the gloom and chill in his heart.

What he lost was not merely shares and goods of the arms factory, but also absolute dominion over his territory… and… an irrecoverable loss of prestige in the beastfolk's hearts.

At this moment, Cheng Shuili had already opened the regional channel.

As she had expected, Xinxue's "pre‑heat" effect was astonishing.

Although dawn had just broken, the channel's scroll‑speed surpassed that of last night.

Only, the direction of the topic had quietly shifted.

"Holy crap! I just woke up—am I seeing things or did the channel go crazy? Where's this news coming from? Black Feather's selling miracle medicine? Real or fake?!"

"Where exactly did this rumor come from? Can you trace the source?"

"I don't know what's true or false, but we know Black Feather's people have never shown themselves, and the Black Feather Safe Zone has always been open. Even though they say they have medicine, I still think it's just because their members are naturally fit. Wu Ya isn't an insider; even if they're Number One, they couldn't possibly have a solution for every disaster, right?"

"What rumor? I think it's gossip! And they claim overnight recovery? You're joking! My friend's been feverish for two days, about to burn out into an idiot! If there really were medicine, why not bring it out sooner?!"

"A grain of gratitude breeds a bushel of resentment—if I had medicine but wasn't sure it worked, I wouldn't bring it out either."

"The one upstairs? What does that mean?"

"You only listen to half of what people say, don't you? Whether it's rumor or truth, they at least spoke clearly. Wu Ya's been unseen these days because they're busy testing medicine in Beastfolk Town! Would they dare release it before knowing if it works? If they do nothing they'll get scolded by you; if they try and fail, you'll drown them in spit!"

Watching the discussion in the regional channel veer into absurdity, Cheng Shuili nearly choked on a mouthful of porridge.

That Xinxue fellow—pre‑heat was done, but is this guidance of the discourse a bit… too much "creative freedom"?

And "testing medicine in Beastfolk Town"?

She was clearly extorting in Beastfolk Town…

No, she was fulfilling the contract, ending the plague!

Verifying the drug's effect was merely incidental.

How did it become, in the survivors' mouths, that she was using beastfolk as guinea pigs, secretly testing with uncertain risk, and finally succeeded?

Although, judging by the results, they seem… not entirely wrong?

Cheng Shuili rubbed her temples, suppressing that mixture of laughter and tears.

Forget it; no matter how the process is spun, the final result is what matters most.

Such rumors, tinged with tragedy and the "endure humiliation to bear burden" hue, might, to some extent, touch hearts more than a straight victory proclamation, and also embarrass those who had cursed the loudest last night.

However, we can't let the rumors get completely out of control.

She opened the private chat with Xinxue.

【Wu Ya Zuo Fei Ji】: The regional channel's wind direction is a bit off.

【Wu Ya Zuo Fei Ji】: Saying it's a test drug is too likely to cause trouble. Slightly guide it, emphasize that based on a reliable formula it was verified on our orc friends, the point is the verification succeeded! Emphasize that Black Feather now has a mature, reliable medicine.

【Wu Ya Zuo Fei Ji】: The upcoming opening of Shou Ren Xiao Zhen is the best proof; don't let the term "test drug" become the focus of discussion on the regional channel.

Almost the moment the information was sent, Xinxue's reply popped up.

【Xin Xue Chuji】: Got it, Lao Da! I just saw it too, was about to tell you.

【Xin Xue Chuji】: These people's ability to fill in gaps is too strong; give them a few words and they can spin a whole bunch of stories. Rest assured, I'll immediately arrange for someone to bring the wind direction back!

Cheng Shuili closed the private chat, lifted her bowl and leisurely finished the remaining plain porridge.

She knew Xinxue excelled at this; steering public opinion is a skill a merchant should master, and Xinxue was clearly an outstanding merchant.

Sure enough, after a few minutes, some internal news began to appear in the regional channel.

【Regional Channel】:

"Everyone stay calm, stop guessing. I just heard some facts from a brother who knows the orcs in Shou Ren Xiao Zhen. Wuya Dalao didn't go to test a drug; he went with a proven effective formula! Supposedly it was obtained from a special channel, but because the exact dosage was uncertain, they first went there to implement it. Now all the orcs have recovered, the streets are disinfected, which shows the formula is fully viable and the effect is outstanding!"

Cheng Shuili couldn't help but curl her lips; these words couldn't stand any scrutiny at all.

A few days earlier, Shou Ren Xiao Zhen was also plagued by a plague and hadn't opened at all.

And whether there is a clear communication channel between players and the orcs, claiming the info was gathered from the orcs…

Cheng Shuili let out a light laugh, it didn't matter; as long as someone believes it, that's fine.

The regional channel began discussing this news:

"The upstairs info is reliable! Talking about a test drug—orphans aren't just easy for us to bully, even Wuya Dalao wouldn't do that. It's clearly cooperation or a trade! Don't forget, Wuya previously had trades with the orcs; this time is probably part of that cooperation. The orcs are willing to cooperate, so they must trust the medicine is fine."

"Exactly! The point isn't the process, it's the result! The result is: first, the medicine exists. Second, its effect is astonishing. Third, Shou Ren Xiao Zhen will open immediately, proof in the eyes! Those who stubbornly call it a rumor—dare you wait for the news? In Long Guo's region we have so many people; once the orc town opens, someone will surely pass by! Then the truth will be clear!"

"Right, right, right! Black Feather's move is grand! It's ten thousand times better than empty talk! I'm packing now, waiting to drive at first light. Friends, if anyone passes Shou Ren Xiao Zhen, don't hide it! If it's real… I'll stake everything just to buy a dose of medicine!"

"These aren't problems at all. We all know Black Feather's strength, Wu Ya's strength, after all they're Number One. It's just… the medicine price… @Xin Xue Chuji, Xinxue boss, give us a hint? Wu Ya trusts you so much, you must know! Roughly what price? Let us poor folks have a mental prep…"

"Hehe, now you call Xinxue boss? What about last night when you called Black Feather a lackey? Medicine price? I think it's vague; this life‑saving divine medicine, would you sell it cheap if it were you?"

"Can't say it like that; Wuya Dalao may be Number One, but he always works methodically. He previously left room for ordinary people. This time probably won't be too outrageous… right?"

"Pray for it. Anyway I don't want anything else now, just waiting for dawn. As long as it's truly effective, I'll immediately put all my remaining assets from my warehouse on the trade channel, exchange for money to buy the medicine!"

"1!"

"!"

Cheng Shuili scanned these remarks, her expression calm.

The tide of panic has already turned, becoming a surging crowd chasing a lifeline.

And she is the one holding that straw.

The good show has only just begun.

Now, she must think how to actually sell this medicine.

At eight o'clock, the sun finally rose on the highway, the sky became completely bright.

Xiao Li had been sitting in the cockpit since early morning, his expression excited, but out of habit from surviving this long, he didn't start driving at sunrise; instead he glanced at the time, confirmed all was fine, then slowly pressed the accelerator.

Many people drove with excitement similar to his, but Xiao Li was undoubtedly the luckiest among them.

As soon as the vehicle moved out, he saw far off the side road, the road leading into Shou Ren Xiao Zhen!

Next to the intersection stood a crooked yet unusually conspicuous new wooden sign, scribbled in charcoal: "Shou Ren Xiao Zhen—plague cleared, welcome trade, no disturbances!"

Ugly, but barely legible.

Xiao Li's heart pounded wildly.

He got out of the car, carefully turned onto the side road.

On both sides of the road, the once dense but dead‑silent vegetation seemed to regain a bit of life.

Further away, the outline of Shou Ren Xiao Zhen was clearly visible in the morning light; he could even see wisps of rising cooking smoke!

It's real!

The regional channel's news is likely true!

He suppressed his excitement, his legs uncontrollably quickened, almost running.

But from afar, he noticed today's Shou Ren Xiao Zhen was not quite the same as before.

On the road entering the town, a few orcs resembling those at Jiao Yi Zhan stood, wearing protective suits, standing upright.

Xiao Li grew a bit nervous, his steps slowed considerably, hesitating whether to approach, when an orc in a protective suit spoke: "Stop, human!"

A muffled, resonant voice came from beneath the suit; he lifted his claw wearing heavy protective gloves and made a stopping gesture: "The town has just been cleaned; to trade or visit, you must first register, undergo a basic check, ensure you aren't infected with the plague."

Xiao Li's heart rose to his throat, but more so a solid feeling of "just as expected".

He quickly halted, raised both hands to show he meant no harm: "Alright, alright! I understand! I won't go in; I'm infected with the plague. I'll just stand here—may I ask you some questions?"

The sentence that followed was spoken hurriedly, carrying an unmistakable fear and hope.

The orc, hearing that, seemed to scrutinize him for a moment beneath the helmet, then asked in a muffled tone: "What business? Speak quickly."

Xiao Li swallowed, feeling his throat dry: "I... just want to ask, has the plague really been cured? Did you use medicine? Was it healed overnight?"

The orc seemed a bit impatient, but perhaps seeing the human appeared fairly honest, he answered in a coarse voice:

"Nonsense! Otherwise why are we standing here? Smelling disinfectant? Look over there yourself."

He pointed with his gloved claw toward a relatively bustling street inside the town.

Through the sparse fence and morning light, Xiao Li could clearly see several orcs of different races moving cargo, looking vigorous, their chatter faintly audible—clearly not infected by the plague!

Even a raccoon‑type orc seemed to notice the gaze, waving a claw toward him.