Ordinary observers in fast time travel

Chapter 1118 Turbid Qi
"Please proceed for examination!"

At the entrance to the security gate of the Eighth Red District, fully armed guards are performing their duties.

Following the instructions on the screen, Shi Jia entered a small room where a rectangular testing instrument was placed.

Next to the instrument was a young leader, not very tall, but with a rather cheerful appearance.

Shi Jia nodded to him and stepped into the instrument. This instrument could detect the amount of turbidity in the human body. Once the amount of turbidity exceeded 60, it would give a warning. Turbidity entering the body, that is, the amount of turbidity in the body exceeds 80, cannot enter the city.

Of course, they wouldn't be so heartless as to send people back to the Black Zone. Instead, they would be placed in an isolation zone between the outer and inner city gates to receive treatment, or wait for the turbid energy to further enhance the mutated turbid beasts before being killed.

"Beep, the level of turbid qi in the body is 0!"

The guard, Wu Ji, who was in charge of the testing, stared in astonishment. He had never seen anyone with zero turbidity since he could remember.

Could this person be from the Upper Three Districts? He had heard that only the powerful spirit painters from the Upper Three Districts could cleanse all the turbid energy from his body.

Wu Ji's eyes grew brighter as he looked at Shi Jia.

Shi Jia didn't notice at the time, because when he heard the machine's test results, his heart skipped a beat, and he knew something was wrong.

How could he overlook the fact that everyone in the art world has impure energy? Is it too late to absorb some of that impure energy now?
"Um, did I pass?" Shi Jia forced a guilty smile.

“Passed, sir, of course you passed.” Wu Ji smiled warmly at Shi Jia.

"Sir?" Shi Jia was taken aback. He was not an adult, so how could this young soldier have misunderstood him?
“Hmm, you must be a high-level spirit painter from the Upper Three Districts.” Wu Ji said, gesturing for Shi Jia to follow him.

A high-level spirit painter from the upper three districts? Shi Jia thought of the test results just now, and a hint of unease flashed across her face.

Wu Ji, of course, did not notice her unusual behavior and was only focused on excitedly flattering Shi Jia.

“Red Sword Guardian, a high-level spirit painter from the Upper Three Districts has arrived in our area,” Wu Ji suddenly said to a tall man dressed in dark red combat uniform.

Shi Jia's eyes widened.

Hong Jian's sharp eyes looked over, a gaze that could pierce through one's heart.

Shi Jia quickly forced a stiff smile at him, feeling bitter inside. She should have just accepted that she was some kind of high-level spirit painter.

"Wuji, don't bring just any Tom, Dick, or Harry to the guards." Red Sword didn't speak, but a burly guard standing behind him frowned and reprimanded Wuji.

Shi Jia frowned. Although he was indeed not a big shot, these words were still quite unpleasant to hear.

Unexpectedly, Wu Ji immediately retorted, "I'm not some Tom, Dick, or Harry! You are a great man with zero levels of impurities in your body. Don't you agree, sir?"

What's worse, he was looking at Shi Jia with an expectant expression.

Shi Jia's lips stiffened; she didn't know how to explain.

The turbidity content is 0!

Hong Jian's eyes flickered as he looked at Shi Jia, "Oh? May I ask which family in the Upper Three Districts you are from, a high-ranking spirit painter?"

Shi Jia twitched the corner of his mouth. "It's inconvenient for me to introduce myself when I'm out training. As for being a high-level spirit painter? I'm working towards that goal."

Hong Jian frowned, displeased. How arrogant! Just like those people from the Upper Three Districts! "Then what brings you here, sir?"

Shi Jia was taken aback, blinked, and said, "Huh? You must have misunderstood. I wasn't looking for you." He looked at Wu Ji, feigning ignorance, "I was just finishing a hunt in the Black Zone and preparing to return to the Red Zone to replenish my supplies. He brought me here."

"May I enter the red zone now?"

Red Sword looked at Wu Ji, who immediately panicked. "Guardian, his level of turbid energy is 0. I thought he was a high-level spirit painter from the Upper Three Districts. I was thinking, thinking about those people in the quarantine zone who have been infected with turbid energy... he might, might have a way to purify them..."

Wu Ji swallowed hard, finally realizing that his impulsive actions might have caused trouble for the guard. Hong Jian's heart stirred; he looked at Shi Jia, "Does Your Excellency have a way to purify the turbid air?"

Shi Jia swallowed hard. This question was far too direct! Should he answer yes or no? If he answered yes, the sapling would be exposed, and it might face various assassination attempts in the future.

But if the answer is no, how can one explain why they are not affected by the impure energy? Are they forging a magical artifact that can prevent the contamination of the impure energy? What if the other party asks to borrow it?

Then he said that the item was bound to him and could not be lent out?
Well, that's not necessarily a bad thing.

"No." Shi Jia replied firmly.

But he didn't realize that Hongjian had noticed the change in his expression. Hongjian was even certain that he had a solution.

"No? Then you must have stayed in the dark zone for quite a while, right? How did you manage to avoid being infected by the turbid energy? Or did you cleanse your body of the turbid energy?"

Hearing the expected question, Shi Jia breathed a sigh of relief and gave the answer she had prepared. Sure enough, the other party asked to borrow it.

Shi Jia gave his answer with a troubled expression.

"Sigh~" Red Sword said with a worried expression, "I'm sorry, we were too hasty. It's just that more and more people are getting infected by the turbid energy. As fellow human beings, I can't bear to see my compatriots turning into mindless beasts day by day."

“Not only me, but every soldier guarding the security gate hopes that our compatriots can be released. So please forgive Bukit’s presumption and my impolite request.”

Upon hearing this, Shi Jia felt somewhat embarrassed. In his previous life, he was the strongest healer in the interstellar space, practically a savior of humanity. Now, however, he had to stand by and watch someone die, which he found hard to accept.

But since things have already come to this point, he can't very well go back on his word...

So all he can say now is, "It's okay, I understand."

"That's good, otherwise I would have been unable to eat or sleep for the next few days," Hong Jian joked. "By the way, I haven't introduced myself to you yet, how rude of me."

"Ahem, let me formally introduce myself. My name is Hong Jian, I come from the Hong family in the Red Zone, and I currently serve as the security guard at the Eighth Red Zone." Hong Jian said solemnly.

Shi Jia forced a somewhat stiff smile. "Ahem, hello Red Sword Guardian. You can just call me Shi... Shi Jia. As you know, I'm currently undergoing training and cannot tell you my real name for the time being. I'm very sorry."

"It's alright, Brother Shi Jia, I look forward to the day you advance to the advanced level of spirit painter." Hong Jian said, acting like a good older brother.

"Uh, thank you."

"Ahem, it's getting late. Brother Shi Jia must be eager to get back to the Red Zone to rest, so I won't keep you any longer. Wu Ji, see Brother Shi Jia off." Hong Jian looked at Wu Ji and gave him a meaningful look.

“Don’t worry, Commander, I will ensure His Excellency Shi Jia’s safe return to the Red Zone.” Wu Ji immediately understood. “His Excellency Shi Jia, please follow me.”

"Okay, thank you." Shi Jia breathed a sigh of relief; if he stayed any longer, he would be tormented by his conscience.

He didn't notice that behind him, Red Sword was watching his departing figure with a flickering gaze.

The young soldier behind Red Sword, seeing the route the two were taking, immediately paled. "Where is Wu Ji taking this time?!"

"Guard captain, I'll go stop him." The young soldier looked at Red Sword.

Hongjian waved his hand, "No need, it's just a slightly longer route. It's nothing serious."

"But..." Didn't Lord Shi Jia say he was in a hurry to return to the Red Zone?

Hongjian glanced at the young soldier and said, "I remember Wuji is in charge of detecting the foul air entering the city. He's busy right now, so you can take his shift."

The young soldier's face paled.

"Remember to bring it over for me to see if you encounter one with a turbidity value of 0."

"Yes!"