Bear School Astartes

If Simon focuses his gaze on the Hunters gathered by the Healing Church, then Lann has few choices to change direction.

The reasons for the birth of a great catastrophe are often very complex, and it is unlikely to clarify the full picture based solely on one clue.

The Hunters are the most unstable and destructive group in Yan’an, so it is normal for Simon to pay attention to their performance during the disaster and the truth behind this performance.

However, on the other hand, people in the Dream Realm are unaware of the night of hunting that destroyed Old Yan’an; they only think that the current plague is already difficult times.

But Simon and Lann, as these ’awake Hunters,’ feel the current plague is abnormal because they know it will eventually erupt into a beast-level hunting night.

What is the relationship between Yan’an’s traditional beastial disease and this plague?

Lann actually passed by several medical facilities established by the Healing Church along the way.

Most of these medical facilities are about the same size as Yusefka’s clinic.

Only a small portion of patients with grey blood disease who have become very serious are housed there; otherwise, the Idiotic Giant wouldn’t be dragging a door full of dead bodies down the alley.

Lann just stood outside and looked for a couple of seconds.

In classical Gothic architecture, dim lighting is provided by kerosene lamps, and bookshelves filled with numerous books are placed alongside the patients’ beds.

On the wooden floor, one can see traces of blood in red and gray.

The people inside are in a hurry, and most of the people passing by outside hurry by without daring to look, as if fearing infection.

It’s as though the plague would spread through their gaze.

However, even just two glances made Lann, who had once participated in the containment of the Athenian plague, furrow his brows persistently.

The clergy walking back and forth from the Healing Church, although all dressed in uniforms, still show a hierarchical distinction.

Like Mark, the clergy in black uniforms take orders from those in white uniforms.

Yet, whether in black or white uniforms, these people don’t have isolation measures on them.

Nor are there measures to isolate the patients with grey blood disease from the environment; the ward is simply open, and the clergy frequently search the bookshelves by the beds for materials and works.

No disinfection, no isolation... Although Dr. Yusefka’s clinic isn’t much different, she didn’t have a plague when she opened it, so relaxed hygiene measures are understandable.

If such measures appeared in the plague of some small city-state in Ancient Greece, Lann wouldn’t be surprised at all.

He wouldn’t even be surprised if they gathered crowd during the plague to pray to the gods of Olympus.

But this is Yan’an, a city whose construction has reached the Victorian Era in Lann’s hometown.

Moreover, medical and scientific knowledge has vastly surpassed due to the existence of [Blood Therapy].

And, there’s also the supernatural power-assisted Healing Church!

If grey blood disease is truly a plague of sorts, would they handle it with such an attitude?

From the simplest observation, Lann already isn’t too convinced by the so-called ’plague’ claim.

But the Demon Hunter did not go to do anything in the nearest medical facility according to Mentos’ recorded map of Old Yan’an.

At present, the process of this nightmare has undoubtedly not yet reached the most intense moment.

To avoid alerting others, he also shouldn’t make explosive moves.

And it’s hard to say how much information these small clinic-level medical facilities can have.

-----------------

”You say...” On the first floor of the three-story building, Mark sat tiredly on the bed, ”You want to check out the medical facilities run by the Church first?”

Beside him was half-packed luggage, indicating that the Healing Church immediately arranged corresponding treatment after becoming a Church Hunter.

He was just about to pack up and move, and he said he has already paid the next two months’ rent for this rented room.

To thank Lann for helping Henrik, consider it a gift to the newcomer from another land.

...Though Lann doubted whether this nightmare, immersed in the Old Yan’an era, could last beyond two months without receding.

”Your decision is really unusual.”

Mark expressed surprise with his mouth, but his face remained expressionless as usual, calm as a deep lake.

It gave off a strange sense of contrast.

”I don’t know the customs of the outsiders, but in Yan’an, people want nothing more than to stay as far away from the plague as possible. I’ve never seen someone actively seeking it out.”

Lann said to Mark with hands on his hips, casually.

”To be honest, I just want to observe the Healing Church’s medical standards up close. Although [Blood Therapy] is rumored to be omnipotent, it’s spoken of so miraculously that it makes one feel a bit... You know what I mean?”

Lann deliberately made an expression of ’words can’t be too explicit, but we understand each other.’

”You think the Healing Church exaggerates [Blood Therapy].” But Mark had no unspoken tacit understanding, he spoke calmly.

His demeanor was already the standard Yan Nan Hunter style.

Then he nodded calmly: ”To outsiders who have never witnessed the Holy Blood, this reason is convincing. But that is, after all, the Grey Blood Disease. Aren’t you worried about your own safety?”

”My body has quite good resistance. I haven’t been sick so far.” Lann spread his hands and smiled, ”Besides, if I decide to become a Hunter, wouldn’t blood healing be arranged? If it really cures everything, then I have nothing to worry about.”

Mark said nothing further.

He stood up, resuming packing his half-filled luggage.

”If you decide to do this, I do know a few colleagues working at the medical rescue institute.”

”Uh, is it possible not to go to those small clinic-like places? I want to see the truly high-end medical standards of the Healing Church.”

Lann scratched his head somewhat sheepishly as he spoke.

Faced with Lann’s additional request, Mark just paused the packing, as if reminiscing his connections, but showed no impatience or refusal.

”Let me think.” He murmured softly, ”High-end medical standards... In the central area of Yan’an, we actually have a comprehensive institution gathered for the research and treatment of Grey Blood Disease. We call it the Research Hall.”

Mark said the latter half while bending over, turning his head toward Lann.

Gathering research and treatment... The Demon Hunter’s eyes narrowed slightly.

”Let’s go with this. Let me broaden my horizons.”

Lann smiled nonchalantly on the surface.

Receiving a response, Mark also nodded and turned back to his packing.

”I can take you over there in the afternoon; you just came to Yan’an, so you likely don’t know your way around.”

For ordinary people, walking around Yan’an without getting lost would be quite an achievement. Mark’s concern is completely justified.

But for Lann... Mentos’s map recording function had already paved the way.

”Lann.” Mark continued packing the things, the calm voice transmitted without turning his head.

”I understand you’ve just arrived in Yan’an and don’t understand this city or the Healing Church.”

”After all, you’ve only heard about the miraculous effects of blood healing from outside and hold hope for it as a seeker of cures. And the first night you arrived, you witnessed the exclusion of the Yan Nan People and our ancient and terrifying illness.”

”But, please trust me, Lann...”

”We, the Healing Church. We will ultimately use the Holy Blood to achieve technical progress, theoretical advancement, and thus provide relief to all of Yan’an.”

Mark spoke calmly, not even pausing his hand movements.

But precisely because of this emotionless calmness before, his words now seemed exceptionally firm.

It was as if he was stating an inevitable truth that required no emphasis.

”Mankind will usher in great progress because of the Healing Church, enjoying the benefits brought by advancement. This is the only certainty, beyond doubt.”

The former clergy of the Healing Church, now a Church Hunter, declared with such confidence and conviction.

And behind him, Lann just pursed his lips silently, looking at the other’s bent back packing things with complex and sighing eyes.

”Of course, I believe you, Mark.”

The Demon Hunter mouthed these words, but...

He had witnessed the future of Yan’an with his own eyes.

-----------------

Just as Mark planned, after packing up his luggage in the afternoon, he prepared to move to the Church Hunter’s residence, while taking Lann on a round trip.

It was said to be ’incidental,’ but he actually took Lann to walk through almost all the main roads in Yan’an.

He didn’t know that Lann had already started finding his way since the morning, still treating him like a newcomer outsider given care.

”Here it is.” Mark said to Lann beside him, carrying a large square suitcase. ”The church concentrates the heaviest and most special type of Grey Blood Disease patients here, where clergy research treatment plans.”

Lann was also looking at this building at the moment.

It was called the Research Hall, but this building was as big as a library.

Tall in height, but due to the intricate and ornate features typical of Gothic architecture, it was difficult to distinguish how many floors it had from the outside.

But it’s undoubtedly different from those clinic-level medical rescue institutes.

This indeed seemed like a high-level unit of the Healing Church.

”Thank you, Mark.” Lann sincerely thanked the person next to him while inspecting the Research Hall in front of him.

Originally, Henrik just mentioned Mark, but Mark first transferred his yet-unexpired rental house to him, then carried a large suitcase around him for an afternoon.

Whether this was due to Mark’s seemingly indifferent but actually caring friendship with Henrik, or his own kindness in helping others, Lann remained grateful.

And Mark maintained his calm expression, as if cold.

He shook his head: ”It’s not over yet; I have to introduce you inside.”