Daily life of a teacher in the martial arts department

Ying Qin Guan has always held this view.

"The destiny of the strong is to accept all challenges."

Chapter Seventeen Virus Outbreak

Filming proceeded steadily for some time afterward.

Zhu Huan's creative ability... shows promise for the future, and her imagination is indeed quite good.

As everyone knows, there are two inexplicable aspects about the nameless swordsman of Southern Qin. The first is why he is so powerful, and the second is that if he is so powerful, what was he doing when the Black Dragon invaded before the fall of his kingdom?

According to Yunxian's explanation, the nameless swordsman from Southern Qin came with a certain mission, which is why he was invincible for a month. He didn't make a move before because he was simply not good enough.

This view is widely accepted, even though Ji Li's rate of growth is truly outrageous, surpassing many deities. But since he has been deified, he cannot be judged by ordinary standards.

So, what solution did Zhu Huan come up with that was completely different from "Ji Li"?

She naturally didn't follow that old path; if she had, she would simply be a Ji Li with a different personality. But this is indeed an extremely difficult point to explain, and Zhu Huan's solution is...

"Ancestor of a Different Race"

Because of the example of the Mu family ancestor, she thought of this: Su Mingyi received help from an ancestral alien race, signed a contract with it, and gained three opportunities to travel through time and space.

That's right! Time travel!

In the next hundred years, this will be a thoroughly overused theme. But for now, the impact of time travel is enormous. The existence of the progenitor alien race also makes this setting somewhat plausible, which is why Ahe is willing to tolerate various plot holes and make frantic revisions, rather than completely scrapping and rewriting it. Because the core competitiveness of this story lies in these three time travels; if that were changed, it would lose all its competitiveness. Although Ahe has some creative ability, how could she dare to compare with professional screenwriters?

Filming has been going on for a month and a half, and only about a quarter of the work has been completed. During this time, there have been many revisions and cuts, and the plot has been added and removed. Ah-He has really put in a lot of effort and deserves her title as the world's best worker. I wonder how many salaries the boss actually pays her.

As the end of the semester approached, Time-Space Killing Company once again sent Ying Qin Guan an invitation, inviting him to their headquarters during the winter break to record audio for a sound card. Ying Qin Guan weighed the pros and cons, deciding that making the movie was more important. So he said he would definitely come next time, whenever he had time, and then promptly canceled his invitation to Time-Space Killing Company.

Just when he thought life would continue like this, someone approached him.

-

After a day of filming, as the sun set, Ying Qin Guan returned to the board game arcade, intending to relax a bit.

But someone was waiting for him there.

It was Nephalem, Jade Heart, and Divine Heart. Nephalem looked serious, Divine Heart had a furrowed brow, and only Jade Heart looked normal.

"Ying Qin Pass".

The three were clearly waiting for Ying Qin Guan. Naifeitian saw Ying Qin Guan from afar and called out to him.

"The United Nations has issued a call to action to me, to you... to all the top-notch fighters within the United Nations."

"..?"

Although Ying Qin Guan had never heard the term "conscription order" before, he could roughly understand its meaning. However, when Nephalem suddenly asked him this question, he was a little confused. "What's going on?"

"Time is of the essence, let's talk as we walk."

Nephalem took a step forward, with Jade Heaven and Divine Heart following behind him.

Ying Qin was completely confused, but he still followed.

"This matter is complicated... Let me tell you about it in chronological order."

"Remember the ruins of Black Dragon Capital? I recall telling you before that several small countries petitioned the United Nations for permission to explore the ruins, but were refused. Some of these countries gave up. However, one called the Ang Empire took a risky gamble, sending agents to secretly infiltrate the Black Dragon ruins. Those agents entered the ruins and, we don't know what they brought back to their country..."

"Subsequently, a terrifying virus broke out in the Ang Empire. This virus was extremely dangerous; it could spread through a series of routes, including air, water, and bodily fluids. The onset of illness was incredibly rapid; a person would be fully infected within approximately three hours of being infected, although the exact time could vary depending on their physical condition. But that's not the key point. The key point is the general characteristics of those infected..."

Nephalem paused, then asked, "Do you know what a 'zombie' is?"

In this era, science fiction about zombies was an extremely niche subject. It was only after the widespread dissemination of the film industry that the "zombie" creature became widely known, something Ying Qin Guan naturally didn't know. However, he always knew what was important and didn't argue at this moment, so he shook his head.

So Nephalem described them as best he could: "Virus-infected people, whom we call zombies, behave insanely, lose their minds, have pale skin, roll their eyes, and according to experiments, the heart is no longer a fatal weakness. Their appetite and aggression are extremely strong, and they will attack any living thing within their field of vision... more accurately, including moving inanimate objects, and even reconnaissance aircraft will be attacked by them."

Ying Qin Guan was taken aback. "What did they bring out of the Black Dragon Capital?"

"That's exactly what we want to know."

Nephalem sighed and said, "After the incident, the capital of the Ang Empire fell rapidly, and the entire city became a zombie city. Only a few people escaped. The United Nations quickly dispatched troops and mages and blocked the news in an attempt to control the situation. The outside was quickly brought under control. Several mages joined forces to set up a super-large array that covered the entire capital, barely cutting off its spread. But the problem is... the situation inside is completely out of control."

"The virus inside spreads through the air. It's not like you'll get infected by talking to a zombie face-to-face for a few seconds; it means you'll be infected the moment you enter the city and breathe its air. The virus can survive in the air for a long time after leaving its host, its resilience is unbelievable... The United Nations sent several teams, wearing state-of-the-art protective suits with built-in oxygen supply equipment, to check on the situation in the city. But after entering, these teams quickly lost contact, were attacked by zombies, or their protective suits malfunctioned, resulting in their complete annihilation. Only a few escaped... This indicates that the martial artists and mages inside have become zombies, and ordinary teams cannot handle them; only an army, or one equipped with heavy weapons, can go in."

"But what is certain is that there are almost no living people left in this city. So someone suggested using the apocalypse to destroy the city. But this was rejected because we had to find out what they brought out of the Black Dragon Capital first. Because if the apocalypse were used, the strong radiation would prevent everyone from entering the city. If there were any other variables, then using the apocalypse rashly would only lead to an even greater tragedy."

"But the army couldn't even enter that city, let alone search for anything from the Black Dragon Empire. Fortunately, at this time, the researchers discovered that powerful martial artists have outstanding immune systems and can ignore that virus."

"Therefore, the United Nations issued a call to action, summoning all top-notch fighters from all countries."

Chapter Eighteen Arrival

A martial artist's physique is not simply about having great strength and thick skin.

They possess superhuman immunity, resistance, and recovery abilities. Although many martial artists' training methods focus on combat rather than health preservation, coupled with the constant fighting among them, this results in a relatively short lifespan for martial artists. However, they usually don't get sick in their lives, and even if they do, they recover quickly. What they often suffer from are various old injuries sustained during battles, but these are clearly not illnesses.

If there is anyone in the world who can rely on their physical body to be immune to those viruses, without a doubt, it can only be a top-tier martial artist, which is why the United Nations issued a call for their services.

Nephalem paused slightly at this point, then said to Ying Qin Guan, "Although I think you would probably go even without this reason, I still have to say this: you can choose not to go. After all, theoretically you don't belong to the Seven Luminaries, but that's a secret, and the United Nations' conscription order is mandatory. If you don't go, the Seven Luminaries must give a reason, and that reason must be, and can only be, the truth."

The "truth" refers, of course, to Ying Qin Guan's identity.

"Since you've put it that way, how could I not go?" Ying Qin Guan shook his head. "Besides, I also want to see what they brought out of the Black Dragon..."

Black dragon, black dragon.

Ying Qin's direct contact with this country was extremely brief. But the memories it left him with were far too numerous.

"Speaking of which," Ying Qin Guan then changed the subject, saying, "Where are you taking us now? This doesn't seem to be the way out of the school gate. Also, what are you taking these two people there for? Yu Xietian isn't that level, is he?"

Yu Xietian whispered, "This point doesn't need to be emphasized..."

Both of them chose to ignore Yu Xietian. Nefertari explained, "Besides top-tier martial artists, the United Nations has also issued a call to action for others. Researching the virus is also a very important matter. It's not something that can be done once we've confirmed there's no problem and then just launch an apocalypse. So, we need to go find Mu Nandong now."

Mu Nandong... a polymath renowned in several countries for his background and talent. Although Nocturne and Mu Nandong were rivals within the Imperial Court, Nocturne's fame was largely confined to the small circle of the Seven Luminaries; he was virtually unknown outside of other countries, and even in other cities, few people recognized him. Mu Nandong, however, was different. His background was highly controversial, and his talent was undeniable. A famous alchemist once said, "I don't know when the next alchemical revolution will come. But if it does happen in my lifetime, I believe it will be Mu Nandong who ignites it."

This assessment is somewhat exaggerated, but whether it's an overstatement or not remains to be seen in the future.

In other words, Mu Nandong and Nocturne are not comparable at all in terms of academic standing.

"Ah..." Ying Qin Guan was a little worried after hearing Nephalem's words, "That virus is so powerful, won't researching that cause problems?"

"In fact, the United Nations has lost some researchers. But things have stabilized now. In theory, nothing should happen to you outside. You should worry about yourself. We who went in have no idea what we're going to encounter."

The Nephalem paused, then continued:

"As for the two from Yorozuya... I found them. I think Shinshin might be able to make a difference."

Shenxin had been frowning deeply, pondering the zombie virus. But upon hearing the Nephalem's words, he still took the time to write a sentence, persecuting some Jade Celestials.

"That's right! Yu Xietian is just an extra for me!"

"That's why I said this point doesn't need to be emphasized..."

The three were led by Nephalem to search for Mu Nandong. Of the four, only Nephalem maintained a serious expression.

Because of the limited time, he didn't have time to explain many things clearly. But the situation was actually much more serious than he described.

A super virus capable of engulfing a nation's capital in just a few days, capable of spreading through so many channels... what if the apocalypse can't destroy it? The magic array can't be maintained indefinitely. A nation's capital, nearly 15,000 square kilometers, shrouded in such an array—the daily magic consumption is astronomical. Magicians have been replaced time and again; money is being spent faster than it's burned. What if one day this defense line is breached for some reason, and the virus spreads...?

"Life on this earth is truly difficult for humans..."

The thought flashed through Nephalem's mind, and he sighed silently.

Soon, they found Mu Nandong, who was conducting experiments in the alchemy workshop.

"Mu Nandong, stop what you're doing. We'll talk about the details of the UN's recall on the way. Let's go now."

-

The Ang Empire, Bird.

This place was once the capital of the Ang Empire, but in just a few days, it was transformed into a living hell... Despite the United Nations' best efforts to suppress the spread of this news, the fall of a city covering 15,000 square kilometers could not be concealed. Sooner or later, the truth would be revealed, attracting all sorts of scrutiny and prying eyes. What the United Nations needed to do was to end this matter as soon as possible.

At present, the most important thing is to confirm what the agents brought back from the Black Dragon Ruins. Secondly, it is to confirm whether the virus can be eliminated by the apocalypse and whether there are other ways of transmission, such as arthropods and soil.

Only after all of the above can be resolved will we consider whether there is a cure for this virus. It's regrettable and cruel. But the living are more important than the half-dead or the dead.

The United Nations convened relevant biologists, medical experts, top-tier martial artists, and other personnel, gathering them all at a temporary base outside Bird City in hopes of resolving the matter. In addition, there were tens of thousands of mages rotating daily—the magical consumption was enormous, requiring them to work in rotation every day just to barely prevent the virus from spreading. Or rather, to ensure that the amount that did spread was not enough to infect people.

Ying Qin Guan and his group flew to Avas, a city next to Bird, and then transferred to a helicopter to arrive at the temporary base.

Two men dressed in the Seven Luminaries Army uniforms were waiting for them. When they saw Shen Xin and Yu Xietian, their eyes revealed a hint of doubt, but neither of them asked any questions.

"I invited these two people because I thought they would be of some help to the research... Let them go with Mr. Mu Nandong, they can be his assistants."

Nephalem finally showed some kindness and didn't say, "That man is completely superfluous; he's just a parent who couldn't leave his child at home while on a business trip, so he brought him along." One of the soldiers took the order and led Mu Nandong and the other two to other areas, while the remaining people said, "Please follow me, you two."

"The top-tier experts from various countries have all arrived and are waiting for you two to come so we can assign tasks together."

Chapter Nineteen: A First-Class Meeting

Nephalem lifted the white curtain, and Ying Qin Guan followed closely behind; the two entered the tent.

This was a makeshift tent, roughly fifty or sixty square meters in size. In the center was a huge, detachable oval conference table, around which about ten people sat scattered. Among them, apart from a UN-appointed person in charge, a researcher with in-depth knowledge of the virus, and two recorders standing to the side, the rest were all top-tier martial arts experts.

Yes, there are only a dozen or so in total. The number of top-tier martial artists is indeed very small. It should be noted that there are 230 countries in the world, of which 215 have joined the United Nations. And among these 215 countries, there are only a dozen or so top-tier martial artists.

In other words, on average, only one in every dozen or so countries, roughly one in six hundred million people, becomes a top-tier martial artist—of course, this is a rather crude calculation; some top-tier martial artists cannot come for various reasons, and some, like Hiramura Dan's ilk, are not under national control. More importantly, among these six hundred million people, let alone those who actually become martial artists, even those who have had any experience with martial arts, the number is probably less than ten million. But at first glance, this data is indeed extremely alarming.

One in six hundred million!

It's worth mentioning that Ying Qinguan also spotted two familiar faces among them... they could probably be considered acquaintances.

One of them was Darius, the stepping stone that led him to the world stage. Darius still had his dreadlocks, and when he saw Ying Qin Guan, his face darkened and he looked away.

He is naturally of top-tier skill, after all, he can defeat most of the top-tier masters with overwhelming force. While the advantages of being a magic warrior are certainly part of this, his own strength is also an important factor.

And another acquaintance...

This man was tall, about 2.4 meters... no, maybe 2.5 meters, with a bronze complexion. His expression was calm, not at all like he was exerting force. Yet, the veins on his body bulged as if they were about to burst, and his forearms were thicker than the thighs of an average man. Even wearing the largest size clothing couldn't conceal his massive muscles.

The alien race of the gods, the chief!

He actually came here too!

Ying Qin Guan and Nefertari entered. They were the last to arrive, and when they lifted the curtain, everyone turned their attention to them.

They were all quite familiar with the Nephalem, old acquaintances. Although the Nephalem was not very old, he had been famous for a long time, having made a name for himself since college. Later, as a special agent, he had fought against many of them, with his worst record being a draw, but he had never lost. Therefore, the granddaughter of the Sword Saint, Mingyin, believed that the Nephalem could defeat the Sword Saint... although in hindsight, the price of victory may have been quite heavy, and even if he had won, it would have been useless.