"Disciples of Sanctus Medicus?"
Dahao continued to explain: "They are a group of Abundance believers who have made it their mission to excavate forbidden elixir recipes and revive the so-called secrets of the celestial path. Such an organization, long extinct, is now showing signs of resurgence and beginning to cause trouble in the mortal realm."
"Recently, I received intelligence that, taking advantage of the chaotic situation, someone in the Exalting Sanctum area seems to be bewitching Outworlders."
Stelle snapped her fingers: "Got it, I'll go undercover."
"Mm. You're a fresh face on the Luofu and an Outworlder. Leaving this to you puts everyone at ease," Dahao reminded her.
"But you must be careful. Contacting these cultists inevitably carries danger. Please do not be negligent when dealing with them."
"Uhm... then I'll go find a helper."
...
"And that's the situation. If I risk it alone, I might be suspected as a spy."
The scene shifts. Stelle found Adrian, who was educating March 7th on milk tea knowledge. Welt and Dan Heng had also arrived at Exalting Sanctum and were informed of what had just happened.
"Ah, I'm no good at being undercover... It's not that I'm scared, but I'll spill the beans." March 7th waved her hands. She had a clear understanding of herself; although being undercover sounded exciting, she felt it didn't suit her.
"Undercover work... should be left to you young people."
Welt pushed up his glasses. The issue with the Lord Ravager hadn't been resolved yet, and now an organization called [Disciples of Sanctus Medicus] had popped up.
"I share his opinion." Adrian stood on Welt's side. With this effort, he might as well go back to the milk tea shop and lie down.
"Wah... that won't do, Teacher Adrian. Do you have the heart to watch me go undercover all by myself?" Stelle's tone softened. Seeing Adrian unmoved, she pinned all her hopes on Dan Heng.
"Wouldn't two people together make it easier to be identified as spies?" Dan Heng asked back.
"Ah, that seems to make sense..."
"Although this girl can't accompany you undercover, we can try them one by one. It's not like we'll just follow anyone after a few sentences, right?" March 7th walked to Stelle's side to offer advice:
"First, let's look for suspicious people nearby... In movies, cult organizations are always in small alleys. Logically speaking, they shouldn't appear in public places."
March 7th put on a pair of reflective glasses she found from somewhere, successfully transforming into a master detective.
"Eh? Look at that guy in green not far away... doesn't he look extremely suspicious? People with that color scheme in movies are always bad guys!"
...
In the end, under the careful selection of Stelle and March 7th, Dan Heng and Adrian stayed. They couldn't just let Stelle go first; better to send them to probe for intelligence. Even if they failed, it wouldn't matter.
Welt, who wasn't selected, had other matters to attend to and left first.
"No one around, it's the perfect time to strike! Teacher Adrian will lead the charge!"
"Huh? Me?" Adrian pointed at himself.
Stelle and March 7th nodded vigorously.
"Alright then... excuse my poor performance." The corners of Adrian's mouth raised slightly as he assumed the appearance of someone passing by chance.
"Guest from a foreign land, please wait. Do you desire immortality?"
"He took the bait!"
Seeing Adrian successfully stopped, Stelle rejoiced inwardly. They had taken the first step toward success!
"Immortality? No, I desire Eternity." Adrian answered directly.
"I understand! You mean you desire long life, right! After all, living forever is also a form of eternity!"
"I lied. Actually, I desire pure power."
"Uh... you've got me stumped, brother. Haha, you're an interesting person. Frankly speaking, I can only offer Outworlders the opportunity for immortality here, but perhaps you're better suited to join the Antimatter Legion."
Smack!
Adrian slapped him, hitting his left cheek precisely.
Suspected [Disciples of Sanctus Medicus] suspicious person: ???
"Why did you hit me?"
"Don't mention the [Antimatter Legion] in front of me, thanks."
"Wah... is this what they call 'troops before courtesy'?" March 7th, hiding behind a wall, observed the situation.
"Usually, it's 'courtesy before troops'," Dan Heng explained.
As for that suspicious person, after being slapped by Adrian, he left cursing.
Adrian turned around, looking at the group hiding behind the wall observing the situation.
"Sorry, failed."
"You didn't hide it at all, Teacher Adrian."
Adrian stretched. He dug out the name of this suspicious person from his ancient memories: "It wasn't entirely fruitless. That guy is called Green Hibiscus."
Stelle didn't know whether to laugh or cry. Sure enough, Adrian couldn't be relied upon at times like this because he never intended to be undercover in the first place.
"Switch, switch."
Stelle pushed the reticent Dan Heng forward: "Teacher Dan Heng, I believe you can do it."
After waiting in the dark for a few minutes, the suspicious person named Green Hibiscus walked back, still cursing.
"Now's the time. Go, Teacher Dan Heng."
Carrying the expectations of Stelle and March 7th, Dan Heng also pretended to be an ordinary passerby and walked up to Green Hibiscus.
"Guest from a foreign land, please wait. Do you desire immortality?" Green Hibiscus, clutching his left cheek, stopped him.
"I do not." Dan Heng always liked to tell the truth.
"Uh... then, then do you know of [Abundance]..."
Smack!
A crisp slap sounded again. Green Hibiscus felt a burning pain on his right cheek.
At least it wasn't the same spot, that's good... It's not good at all!
"A word of advice: do not mention [Abundance] inside the Xianzhou of [The Hunt]."
"Alright, continue. I am listening."
Green Hibiscus: ???
Even though his face was beaten, for the sake of the Merciful Medicus! That is, for the performance metrics of the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus, he gritted his teeth and planned to continue his sales pitch to Dan Heng:
"Brother, thanks for your reminder. Let's talk nicely, can we not get physical?"
"Okay."
"Um... I suddenly remembered I have something to do. Farewell."
Hearing the other party's answer, Green Hibiscus was scared. If he continued talking, his face might not be saved.
Of the Thirty-Six Stratagems, fleeing is best!
In the blink of an eye, Green Hibiscus disappeared from in front of Dan Heng.
"Sometimes... you really have to rely on yourself."
Seeing the splendid performances of Adrian and Dan Heng, Stelle realized this truth.
"Dan Heng, confess honestly, did you learn bad habits from Teacher Adrian?"
March 7th felt he was playing abstract humor with a straight face, but she couldn't find evidence.
"No, I was just stating facts. Besides, at least we reached a conclusion: I have no talent for being undercover."
"Dan Heng and Adrian both failed. Now we can only rely on you."
Everyone's hope was placed on Stelle again.
"Wait, after those two incidents, will that guy come back?"
"Relax, how could he not come back? Forgot the Stellaron Hunters' [Script]? All of this... is established fact."
Even if Green Hibiscus ran away now, Adrian could drag him back.
Sure enough, after waiting on the spot for ten minutes, Green Hibiscus returned wearing a helmet... albeit a crudely made one, looking like something from a roadside stall.
"Look, what is dedication? This is dedication! He was even willing to buy a Cloud Knight helmet meant for kids from a street stall rather than give up promoting immortality."
"Teacher Adrian, now that you put it that way... I feel like he's so pitiful."