"That makes it easier then. Can I ask if you know what they are?" Kaezir asked.
"This? Isn't that your job to tell me? You are the physician here," Ikusa said.
"Under normal circumstances, yes. But I will have to insist on you answering the question this time," Kaezir said.
"Hm… must be something serious then. Let's see… I'm poisoned? Doesn't feel like it though. Cursed maybe, although I doubt it. Maybe it's an illness that makes me grow old. Honestly, I have no idea. Just cut to the chase and tell me," Ikusa said with a hint of impatience.
"Interesting. I would've assumed you to make some lies, but it seems you truly are unaware," Kaezir said.
"Just get to the point old man. I don't have time to waste with you," Ikusa said.
Kaezir nodded and looked at Ning once before turning back to ask, "Have you heard about something called the Yang Festering bugs?"
"Yang Festering bugs? What's that? I've never heard of any bu— Wait," Ikusa suddenly stopped mid-sentence and stood up. The Rainbow Phoenix was startled and flew away, and perched on top of a hanging swing.
Ikusa quickly walked over to a closet and after doing a bunch of random things, opened the door and took out a single book.
He quickly flipped to a part of the book and said, "Yes, here it is. Yang Festering bugs. Love to eat yang, dies after reproducing,… leaves black spots all over the body. Ah, so that is what is happening to me huh. Haha, and here I thought I was going to die. It's just a bunch of bugs."
Ikusa seemed to be absolutely unafraid of these bugs. Kaezir got curious and asked, "You seemed to be relieved after learning the name. What happened?"
"Oh, it's a harmless bug, or so the book says. So there is no need to worry," Ikusa said. "So, now that you know it's harmless, will you guys please go back to your sect."
"I'm afraid that is impossible, Ikusa. We already knew that information. We came for something else," Kaezir said.
"Oh, what is it that you're looking for then?" Ikusa asked as he went and sat down on his desk. The rainbow phoenix flew back and perched on top of his shoulder.
"The culprit, Ikusa. I came here hoping you would know who it was," Kaezir asked.
"The culprit? You say like there had been a crime committed here," Ikusa asked.
"Of course. You should know that Yang Festering bugs cannot live and transfer on their own from fly away. They usually die off within a month. Meaning that someone tamed the bugs and let it loose in the city," Kaezir said.
"What?" Ikusa said in surprise and quickly read the book in his hand once again. "My book says no such thing, "he said as he read it again.
Kaezir was a little surprised and looked at Ning with an inspecting eye.
"Wait, you are right about it dying very quick though. This means there is definitely a culprit here. But even so, I can't help you. I don't even know where one would find such bugs in the first place," Ikusa.
"According to my friend here, the bugs can only be tamed by someone in the Foundation Establishment realm, and your sect being the only ones with the myriad knowledge in taming in this city, I came here hoping you would tell me who it was," Kaezir said.
"What?" Ikusa finally took his eyes off the old man and looked at Ning. "Who are you? Do you know more than us regarding the bugs?" he asked.
The question had a bit of threat behind it, however, Ning didn't back down. "Yes, I do know a bit about the bugs, and it is absolutely true that someone let them into the city on purpose," Ning said.
"Hmm… can't it be that someone had the bugs in them and they traveled here?" Ikusa asked.
"That is a possibility, but that won't explain how every single person in the city all got the bugs at once," Ning said.
"Aii, that's true," Ikusa said and then turned towards Kaezir before saying, "Which that is true, it's still a truth that I have no idea who did it. And if someone from my sect did it, it would've started in our sect. Besides, what's the problem with spreading a few harmless bugs. All it does is create panic."
"Try asking your staff and seeing if someone knows anything. You won't always have all the information," Kaezir said.
The two started arguing and Ning fell into thought. Something Ikusa had said had made him consider everything once again.
'He is correct. Aside from a few problems here and there, these bugs do nothing but cause panic. So, what's the purpose of this person? Just to terrify people for a laugh? Can't be. The attack was too coordinated to be just for trolling pe— Coordinated?' Ning's eyes went wide.
"Mr. Kaezir. I think there are multiple culprits," Ning said.
"What?" Kaezir and Ikusa both stopped.
" The disease was spread everywhere at once. I don't think that is possible with a single person doing that. It has to be a group of people working together. They must've gone everywhere and spread the bugs at once," Ning said.
They both thought for a bit, and Ikusa said, "See, the boy says there are multiple people. We did not do this. Also, we are not the only ones who can tame. Everyone with the right tools can tame any beasts."
"Kid, what do you think is the reason for this? Will they get anything out of this?" Ikusa asked.
"I… " Ning had no answer. His mind still couldn't fathom why people will go so far as to do something that has no positive or negative consequences.
'All it does is eat yang and die. What can such a bug cause?' Ning thought but couldn't come up with an answer.
" I don't kno— "
BAM
The door to the room slammed open. "MASTER" A man shouted as he came in with a rush.
"Somebody better be dying for you to come in here and interrupt my meeting, boy," Ikusa said. The boy's face was pale as a paper and he said, "Th- the…"
"The city is on fire."