The heavy stone door of the quiet room opened, and Lin Huai walked out. His steps were steady, and his expression was as calm as usual.
Thor and Loki were waiting outside the door, looking quite impatient. As soon as they saw Lin Huai emerge, Thor immediately went up to meet him.
"Heimdall has used his power to seal off all of Asgard; the Bifrost Bridge is now an isolated island," Thor's voice was anxious. "But he's reaching his limit. I just went to see him, and his hand holding the Guardian Sword was shaking constantly—his eyes were almost rolling back into his head!!"
Lin Huai's gaze swept over Thor and then landed on Loki, who stood to the side, full of wariness.
"Gather everyone who hasn't been infected." His voice wasn't loud, but it was clearly audible in the empty corridor.
"Why?" Loki frowned, suspecting it was a trap.
"To protect them and prevent the infection from spreading further," Lin Huai explained directly. "At the same time, we need to analyze what makes them special—why they weren't affected. Any difference has its value."
Thor thought for a moment and immediately understood the benefits of this plan. Carrying out protection and research simultaneously was indeed the most effective method right now.
Without another word, he replied, "I'll get right on it!"
With that, he turned and strode away, his tall figure quickly disappearing at the end of the corridor.
Only then did Lin Huai turn his gaze back to the motionless Loki.
"Thor's brain isn't as useful as yours."
Hearing this, Loki restrained his mocking smile.
"Now, go and secretly observe those uninfected people who have been gathered," Lin Huai said in a low voice. "Look closely to see if there are any completely unfamiliar faces among them. Or, if those you know have even the slightest difference in their words or actions compared to usual."
He paused, looking straight into Loki's searching green eyes.
"I know you have issues with me and are skeptical of me as a so-called Sage," Lin Huai's tone turned serious. "But now is not the time to throw a tantrum. The survival of Asgard is tied to your own survival."
Loki did not retort; his form faded where he stood, finally vanishing into the air and shadows.
Once he confirmed both were gone, Lin Huai took out the wooden box containing [The Trait of the Human Skin Shadow] from his robes.
The box felt slightly cool in his hand; he could feel the Beyonder characteristic inside was in a deep slumber.
Beyonder characteristics attract one another—this "Law of Convergence" is an unspoken common knowledge among mid-to-high Sequence Beyonders. His only hope now was that the source of this plague... that Demoness hiding in the dark, was just a wild Beyonder with only a superficial understanding of the rules.
Only then would another Faceless main ingredient on the opponent be attracted by this aura of the same origin, thereby exposing them—provided, of course, that they actually had it.
Before long, a Heavenly Palace guard ran over in a panic and knelt on one knee.
"Sage, everyone who hasn't been infected has finished gathering at the Golden Palace Square."
"Take me there." Lin Huai put away the wooden box and followed quickly.
On the vast square, over four hundred Asgardians were standing. Their faces were full of panic and unease, and they instinctively kept their distance from one another, warily staying apart. The empty square was filled only with the sounds of coughing and weeping.
Lin Huai stood on the high platform in the center of the square, his voice clearly reaching everyone's ears through a simple amplification magic.
"Everyone, please be quiet. My hometown is in the East of Earth, where there is an ancient profession called Traditional Chinese Medicine. By simply placing their fingers on a wrist and using a diagnostic technique called taking the pulse, they can identify the most subtle pathological changes in a person's body."
He paused, his gaze sweeping over every confused but gradually quieting face below.
"I will now use this method to diagnose everyone. Please do not panic; the diagnostic process is very fast. We will go one by one."
Having said that, he stepped down from the platform and approached the crowd. The Asgardians hesitantly took half a step back, clearing a space for him.
He walked up to an elderly man at the front of the line and signaled for him to hold out his hand.
He extended his index and middle fingers, mimicking the Doctor in his memory, and solemnly placed them on the old man's wrist. With a serious expression and eyes slightly closed, he pretended to focus on feeling the pulse.
His other hand was hidden inside his wide sleeve, using his spirituality to constantly stimulate [The Trait of the Human Skin Shadow] in his pocket, hoping to trigger a resonance with power of the same origin.
One second, two seconds... no reaction.
He released his hand and walked toward the second person, a young Mother holding a child.
He repeated the previous actions, his expression remaining focused.
As a result, there was still not the slightest movement.
The third, the fourth, the fiftieth... Lin Huai carefully took the pulse of every Asgardian. His movements were meticulous, and his expression remained focused. This caused the originally restless crowd on the square to gradually quiet down, looking at this Sage from a foreign land with a final glimmer of hope.
His spirituality constantly maintained the stimulation of [The Trait of the Human Skin Shadow], hoping to cause a resonance with that Demoness Pathway material.
However, until he had finished checking the last person present—the four hundred and twenty-eighth Asgardian—the characteristic in his pocket remained completely still.
He straightened up calmly, his gaze casually sweeping through the crowd, finally meeting the eyes of someone in the shadows of a corner for a brief moment.
He cast an inquiring look.
In the shadows, a blurry figure shook its head at him.
Loki hadn't found anything either.
Lin Huai now had an idea of the situation. He stepped onto the high platform once more, cleared his throat, and spoke gently to the crowd below:
"Everyone, please be quiet. The diagnosis is over. Rest assured, no one present has been infected. This plague is called COVID-19 in my hometown. I have already found a preliminary solution, but preparing the antidote will take some time."
He paused, his voice becoming even gentler.
"Before the antidote is completed, please go home as soon as possible, go out less, and keep your houses well-ventilated. Once the medicine is ready, I will notify everyone immediately."
Hearing this news, the originally tense atmosphere on the square lightened significantly. Although the people still had doubts, with the threat of death temporarily lifted, they all expressed their gratitude to Lin Huai before dispersing in an orderly fashion under the guidance of the guards.
Soon, the massive square became empty.
Loki's figure emerged from the shadows. He walked to Lin Huai's side, his face filled with disappointment and irritation.
"I've basically confirmed everyone present; there's nothing wrong. Besides this, do you have any other plans?"
Lin Huai didn't answer his question; instead, he turned his head, stared at him seriously, and asked back:
"Are you truly certain that everyone who hasn't been infected is here?"
"Of course, it's not like you don't know Thor's efficiency..." Loki retorted instinctively, but halfway through, he himself froze.
"Think about it again carefully," Lin Huai's voice was authoritative.
Loki's brow furrowed tightly as he rapidly mentally reviewed those noble figures who wouldn't need to come here. Odin was in his slumber, Heimdall was guarding the Bifrost Bridge... Thor and he were right here... He suddenly thought of one name, one he had instinctively ignored, or perhaps simply hadn't dared to think of.
"Mother?"
His voice was faint, filled with shock.
Yes, Queen of the Gods Frigga. She had not been present just now.
The moment this thought arose, the suspicion in Loki's eyes quickly turned into rage. That was a fury born from the feeling that something he most cherished had been defiled!!
"I haven't stopped suspecting you, you mortal of unknown origin! How dare you suspect my Mother?!?!" He instantly bristled and roared, "I will definitely kill you!!"
Before he finished speaking, his two favorite poisoned daggers appeared in his hands, turning into two streaks of cold light that ruthlessly stabbed toward Lin Huai's throat and heart.
Seeing this, Lin Huai gave a wry smile.
In the next second, the wry smile vanished, replaced by determination and a serious expression.