章節 44: Master and Apprentice
Silence reigns in Tianxin City, yet in the sanctum untouched by the dead, the living remain vibrantly active.
"Mr. Xinjide… we've discovered another infected individual."
As the cold wind howled, the canvas flap of the tent was violently thrust aside, and amidst swirling snowflakes, a panicked crowd surged into the makeshift medical tent, dragging a man tightly bound with ropes.
Inside the tent, a young man clad in a white coat, upon witnessing this scene, hurriedly gathered his medical instruments, exclaiming, "What? Another infected person? Quickly! Place him on the wooden bed!"
The crowd complied, laying the man, still thrashing despite his restraints, onto a wooden bed draped in white cloth, with two individuals firmly pinning down his limbs.
All present fell into a hushed anticipation, their eyes reflecting an involuntary reverence for the young healer before them.
The calamity had descended with such swiftness that it left everyone stunned, as if in the blink of an eye, Tianxin City had been inundated with numerous "rabid patients."
They attacked without provocation, seemingly stripped of all reason, akin to ghouls controlled by a necromancer, driven by an insatiable thirst for the flesh and blood of the living.
This morbid craving for the blood of the living chilled the heart; even with broken limbs, they continued to struggle, extending withered, gray hands towards the survivors.
Most terrifying of all was the grim reality that those bitten by these "rabid patients" would soon lose their sanity, transforming into creatures akin to those who had attacked them.
In the northern district, the streets surrounding it were entirely besieged by the frenzied zombies, rendering escape impossible and isolating the area.
The fate of those in other parts of Tianxin City remained unclear, yet as night fell, the sight of darkness enveloping all but the northern district made it evident that their fellow citizens were likely facing dire circumstances.
Thus, their admiration for the young man who had emerged as their savior only deepened.
The young man, known as Xinjide, was an exceptionally talented yet shy alchemist who had journeyed to Tianxin City with his companions.
When disaster first struck, this reticent youth stepped forward without hesitation, bravely leading his companions to resist the mindless ghouls.
In the eyes of the northern district's residents, their survival amidst such a colossal crisis was largely attributed to this clever and courageous young man, earning him their affection.
Moreover, his remarkable alchemical skills had saved many patients infected for only a short time, which was the primary reason for their deep respect.
While others speculated that an evil necromancer orchestrated the calamity, only Xinjide accurately identified it as a poisoning incident spreading like an infectious disease, with the zombies transformed by an unknown virus consuming their vitality.
Before long, Xinjide, as an outstanding alchemist, developed a remedy for this mysterious virus.
Although this remedy could only save those infected for a brief period, it was undeniably a significant achievement for those who had previously felt helpless against the zombies and the virus.
Inside the tent, under the expectant and admiring gazes of the crowd, Xinjide quickly donned a white mask and gloves, meticulously examining the man bound to the bed.
In an instant, the tent fell silent; everyone held their breath, cautiously observing the young man's actions, fearful of disrupting his diagnosis and causing irreparable consequences.
Xinjide examined the patient with great care and seriousness, and after a prolonged moment, he sighed, lifting his gaze from the patient.
Removing his mask and gloves, he offered a shy smile, saying, "Fortunately, it was caught early; the virus isn't severe. I'll administer an injection and give him some medication, and after a few days of rest, he should recover. There's no need for concern."
Instantly, cheers erupted, and the crowd joyfully applauded the bashful young healer, their gratitude pouring forth.
The man's relatives finally exhaled in relief, and a woman, presumably the man's wife, fell to her knees before Xinjide, weeping profusely, "Thank you… thank you, doctor. Thank you, Xinjide. I thought… I thought… oh… thank you… thank you, doctor…"
It was evident that the woman was so overwhelmed with emotion that she struggled to articulate her thoughts.
Seeing her kneel, Xinjide quickly bent down to assist the weeping woman, reassuring her, "There's no need for such gratitude, madam. This is my duty. My master taught me that as alchemists, we are meant to save lives; it is my responsibility to help the injured."
The young man's humility easily won the favor of the crowd, who erupted in cheers once more, while the woman's friends gathered to comfort her, filling the tent with a warm atmosphere of gratitude.
"Alright, everyone, please step outside for a moment; I need to treat the patient now," Xinjide said, his genuine smile reflecting his joy at the happiness of those around him.
"Alright, everyone, let's clear out and not disturb Dr. Xinjide," a young man chimed in with a grin. "Aunt Yuli, you wouldn't want us to interfere with Dr. Xinjide's treatment and risk Uncle Yuli ending up like those outside, mindlessly shouting 'ah ah ah,' would you?"
"Pah! You'd be the one to turn into one of those!" the tear-streaked woman retorted, her face still wet with tears.
"Ha ha ha…" Laughter resonated within the tent, gradually dispersing the crowd until only tranquility and serenity remained.
"Ah…" Once everyone had departed, the young man's smile faded, replaced by a look of concern as he glanced toward the clock tower, murmuring in anguish, "Master, why must you do this?"
However, before Xinjide could finish, another voice resonated in the previously silent tent, "Are you… confused?"
Upon hearing that familiar voice, Xinjide turned around, his face lighting up with surprise.
Seeing the handsome middle-aged man, unscathed and standing within the tent, he sighed in relief, "Master, you're back! How was it? Did Mr. Ezreal harm you?"
"Ha, you little rascal! Do you even know who your master is? That mere Ezreal is nothing to worry about," Warwick chuckled heartily. "You should be more concerned about that little blonde-haired brat."
"Ha…" With a resigned sigh, Xinjide fell silent, his worries for his beloved master overshadowing his confusion about the disaster, leaving him feeling restless.
"What's troubling you?" Warwick, having watched Xinjide grow since childhood, immediately discerned his disciple's inner turmoil. "Are you perplexed by my decision to transform nearly everyone in Tianxin City into ghouls?"
"Y-yes…" Gathering his courage, Xinjide boldly questioned, "Why would my usually kind master suddenly make such a decision? The remedy is still incomplete; it's undoubtedly a half-finished product. Why would you choose to experiment on the people of Tianxin City? Master, how is your behavior any different from murder?"
"Ah… Al, my disciple, as an accomplished alchemist, do you not understand that every successful research endeavor is built upon countless failures?"
With a slight sigh, Warwick continued, "In this world, how often does a single experiment yield success? It's entirely normal for this trial to fail."
"But… but…" After a long moment of contemplation, Xinjide finally summoned the courage to raise his gaze and confront his esteemed mentor once more, "Regardless, to use over four hundred thousand people for an experiment destined to fail… that… that should not be acceptable."
"Ha… It seems you've forgotten the lesson I imparted to you in your youth," Warwick sighed, scratching his head in frustration. "Do you remember the principle I urged you to keep in mind for a lifetime?"
"Master, are you referring to…?" Xinjide hesitated, recalling, "The phrase 'to protect the nation and punish the wicked'?"
"Indeed, it appears you have not forgotten," Warwick said with a hint of relief. "That was during my early days as an alchemist, when my master instilled in me the creed I was to remember for life, the foundation of our discipline. Hence, I made you memorize it upon your initiation."
"Alchemy is humanity's most extraordinary creation, the greatest invention by which our forebears transcended the realm of the divine. As alchemists, we must embrace a sincere heart, protect our nation, and punish the wicked."
The same words, echoed in unison by two distinct voices, reverberated in the quiet tent, imbued with solemnity and gravitas.
The wind and snow were momentarily shielded by the warmth of the tent.
The bitter cold lingered just beyond the thick curtain.
每周推薦票狀態
-- 推薦票
榜單 
-- 推薦票