Rotten God Kingdom

Sheriffs have sealed off Hope Community.

"Gentlemen, I really don't know why this sick ghost appeared here. There are no records of cancer patients in the community's files. This sick ghost most likely came from outside." The property manager wiped his sweat. He really couldn't imagine what kind of damage a sick ghost that appeared out of nowhere could do to the community before the cleaners arrived.

Fortunately, the cleaners arrived in time.

Although their purpose in coming to the community seemed to be for some other task, that's not important; as long as the problem is solved, that's all that matters.

Jiang Wang and Hu Chengyu exchanged a glance but didn't say anything more.

They only instructed the sheriff to keep an eye on the scene and question the residents, then put some of the sick ghost's body parts in plastic bags and left the scene.

What I fear is that Han Lin and his sister will completely disappear, not that they will come out and cause trouble.

Every time Han Lin makes a move, he leaves a trace. If this happens too often, they will eventually catch him red-handed.

"Let's go back to the Cleanup Bureau first," Jiang Wang said.

……

The bureau's internal staff were very efficient in their cleanup efforts.

A dozen minutes later, Jiang Wang and Hu Chengyu walked into the laboratory department of the First Hospital of Bingcheng with the test application stamped with the official seal.

"Can you find out?" Hu Chengyu asked.

The person in charge adjusted his glasses: "We've found out."

Born in the 38th year of the Cataclysm, the year the Sick City was renamed.

He is twenty years old this year and his name is Wang Chong.

The genetic comparison yielded limited information, but it was sufficient; obtaining the name and address was enough.

Jiang Wang and his team used the clues they obtained from the hospital to find Wang Chong's address at the Public Security Bureau.

Hu Chengyu hesitated, "Brother, should we go take a look?"

What if I encounter a sick ghost again?

"Of course we'll go." Jiang Wang glanced at Hu Chengyu. "Make a record of the sick people we clean up, and have the Cleanup Bureau pay us after the mission is over."

Cleansing away disease demons is, in essence, the job of a cleaner.

At worst, we can just be more careful in the future and retreat immediately if things go wrong.

"Too."

Jiang Wang did not go to Wang Chong's address immediately. Instead, he asked the Public Security Bureau to arrange for officers to search the area and to seek help immediately if there were any special circumstances. He himself went to the Cleanup Bureau.

I'm sure the other cleaners won't come away empty-handed.

Sure enough, the atmosphere in the screening room was very lively.

"I strongly suspect that the captain is withholding information." A gruff male voice was heard shouting from inside before even entering the room.

Jiang Wang pushed open the door and entered.

Seven or eight cleaners sat scattered on folding chairs, some smoking, others with their legs propped up on the table.

Upon seeing someone enter, the cleaners in the screening room stopped their discussion, and the voice that had spoken earlier rang out again: "Gentlemen, what happened?"

That tone?

"A sickly fellow," Jiang Wang replied.

"Just as I suspected." The cleaner clenched his fist, as if confirming a suspicion he had.

Hu Chengyu asked, "You encountered them too?"

The man nodded and said, "I've encountered them. In the sewers, and at Han Lin's friends' places. Moreover, these sick ghosts are very abnormal. Unlike other sick ghosts who openly display malice, they are unusually restrained when they don't see anyone."

Jiang Wang couldn't help but nod; that was exactly what he wanted to say.

Jiang Wang stepped closer and nodded, saying, "Lü Ang."

Jiang Wang and Hu Chengyu each announced their names.

After a moment of contemplation, Lü Ang said something completely contrary to his previous speculation: "It's also possible that it wasn't the captain who concealed information, but rather that the Cleanup Bureau misjudged the situation of Han Lin and his sister."

Jiang Wang picked up the thread, saying, "So you suspect that the person who created these traps might not be Han Lin, but rather his accomplice?"

Lü Ang nodded.

He then took out a map of the sick city and hung it on the wall, drawing several red circles on it: "The place you two went to is Hope Community, right? The residence of Han Lin and his sister."

Jiang Wang nodded.

"And I and a few others investigated their two possible escape routes, and both of them encountered traps, not only from the sick ghost, but also from pre-planted bombs."

Jiang Wang frowned as he looked at the red circle on the map.

These locations are quite scattered, distributed across five districts.

Transportation within the city relies mainly on buses and subways; bicycles are extremely rare, and it would take several hours just to visit all the locations.

Unless Han Lin and his group were prepared in advance.

But this doesn't make logical sense.

The hospital's original plan was to treat Han Yue's illness, so Han Lin and the others had no reason to run away.

Han Yue's condition only deteriorated rapidly last night, which gave them the motive to escape. (To prevent the situation from worsening, the hospital had already "treated" Han Yue in advance.)

The traps were scattered, and Han Lin and Han Yue, who couldn't even be blown by the wind, didn't have enough time.

This indicates that Han Lin and his group must have accomplices.

Just friends?

Or were they companions who came together for some other reason?

"Accomplice..." Jiang Wang silently pondered the word in his mind.

Lu Ang continued to share the information he had gathered: "The identity of the sick ghost I encountered has been confirmed. He works at a shoe factory in the East District, and his name is Huang Yi. Coincidentally, Han Lin also worked at that shoe factory for a period of time."

However, an investigation revealed that Han Lin had met with Huang Yi at her residence a few days prior, and no conflict ensued.

Hu Chengyu gasped: "You suspect that Huang Yi voluntarily underwent the mutation?"

Lu Ang glanced at Hu Chengyu and replied, "I have reason to suspect that the sick ghosts we encountered were all acquaintances of Han Yue, and that they willingly became sick ghosts. Of course, it cannot be ruled out that they encountered some kind of mind-controlling ability and were forced to undergo the mutation prematurely."

When a disease deteriorates to a certain extent, it will naturally breed disease demons; many diseases can be actively guided to worsen.

Lü Ang's guess was not unfounded.

Jiang Wang asked doubtfully, "What's the reason? The guess of being influenced by supernatural abilities is understandable, but actively incubating diseased spirits will also lead to the patient's death. Using their own lives to delay our capture, is it worth it for Han Yue and Han Lin?"

Lu Ang rubbed his temples, looking troubled, and said, "I can't figure this out either. Whether it's the ability to manipulate sick ghosts or the willingness to become a sick ghost, I never dared to think about it before."

However, this also indirectly confirms one thing: Han Yue's illness is definitely not simple.

Another cleaner suddenly spoke up. She was a young woman, and her voice was not loud but very clear: "It is true that Han Yue's illness is contagious, but the infectivity may not be as strong as the captain said."

The team leader said that Han Yue's illness took a turn for the worse yesterday, and the doctors and nurses were infected.

I didn't check the clues provided by the cleanup bureau; instead, I staked out the hospital's patient registration area, but by noon, not a single patient claimed their skin had started to become transparent.

It's important to know that people in the sick city are extremely sensitive to changes in their bodies.

Even if my temperature is slightly higher than yesterday, I will repeatedly check whether I have a fever.

With such obvious symptoms, it's impossible for residents not to take them seriously.

Jiang Wang nodded and said, "In that case, Han Yue's disease may not be as contagious as the captain said, or the conditions for transmission may be extremely harsh. Of course, it is also possible that this disease has an incubation period and has not yet begun to break out in large numbers."

Lü Ang added, "It's also possible that Han Yue is in isolation and has no opportunity to come into contact with others, so there's no medium for transmission and the disease can't spread." He looked around and said, "Whether it's the case or not, it shows the complexity of this mission. I suggest we split into groups of four to reduce the risk, and at the same time, maintain contact."

No one objected.

The work they do is indeed dangerous, but that doesn't mean they don't value life.

Conversely, those who have walked the line between life and death may understand the preciousness of life more than ordinary people.

Jiang Wang and Hu Chengyu gained two more teammates, one of whom was Lü Ang, whom they had just analyzed in the screening room. During their brief interaction, Lü Ang acknowledged Jiang Wang's intelligence.

Surrounding yourself with smart people always increases your chances of survival.

The other is a rare female among the cleaners.

They shared intelligence and exchanged some opinions. Lü Ang said, "Let's call it a day. Let's give Han Lin time to prepare the trap, and let's also relax a bit."

Jiang Wang was happy about this, after all, he had just gone through a fierce battle today and his chest was still aching.

"Let's meet here at eight o'clock tomorrow morning to discuss our next steps."

……

When I got home, night had completely enveloped the sick city.

Jiang Wang opened the door to the rented room, and a strong smell of medicine hit him.

In order to cure Jiangxin's illness, Jiang Wang tried many methods and used many medicines. The strong smell of medicine was like the smell of the city itself.

The door to the storage room was ajar, and Jiangxin was still tinkering with the half-finished motorcycle.

"Brother? You're back?"

"Um."

Have you eaten?

"I ate it," Jiang Wang lied.

Jiang Wang lay on the sofa, his thoughts flowing slowly through his mind.

During his time working at the Cleanup Bureau, his missions were all to clean up sick ghosts. This mission, however, involved catching someone, and it seemed quite dangerous.

Jiang Wang was wondering whether he should do his best to complete this task.

What are the consequences of mission failure?

Was the city destroyed?

But what does the sick city have to do with him?

All he wanted was to cure his sister's illness.

He only stopped here because he heard that Sick City possessed the best medical technology since the cataclysm. He never considered himself a part of Sick City.

Han Yue has the same illness as her younger sister. If we can catch Han Yue, we might be able to find a way to cure her sister.

But Jiang Wang could always recall that photo of Han Yue lying in a hospital bed with tubes inserted all over her body.

Jiang Wang closed his eyes.

He wasn't a saint; he didn't want to be some city-saving hero. He just wanted to protect his last remaining family member in this messed-up world. But he wouldn't arbitrarily decide other people's fates. If he confirmed that Han Yue's illness wouldn't have a significant impact, he wouldn't exert himself to the point of exhaustion.

Jiang Wang breathed a sigh of relief after making this decision.

Jiang Xin is his own sister, but isn't Han Yue someone else's sister too?

A slight noise came from outside the window.

It sounded like clothes rubbing against a wall.

Jiang Wang suddenly opened his eyes. He did not get up, turn his head, or even change his breathing rhythm. His right hand slowly slid to the handle of the revolver at his waist.

When they were in the Hope Community, Hu Chengyu said he felt that someone was watching them, and Jiang Wang kept that in mind.

A hand reached out from the shadows of the window, holding a pistol.

The dark muzzle of the gun was pointed directly at Jiang Wang on the sofa.

The moment the gunshot rang out, Jiang Wang suddenly rolled to the side, falling off the sofa. The bullet grazed past his ear and embedded itself in the wood of the sofa back.

Jiang Wang lay on the ground and laughed until his stomach ached and tears streamed down his face.

"Do you even know that I just decided to let you go!"