Luo Jin felt a surge of panic. He wondered how he would feel if he had been driven mad by some twisted prop and then snapped back to sanity. Probably not very calm or happy. Though the attending doctors varied in skill, even the least capable among them was not someone he could challenge.


    Especially not Mr. Wang. The guy who got fired for taking bribes and somehow landed another job as a doctor. He was either a badass or had some powerful friends in high places. Either way, he was bad news.


    Luo Jin didn’t want to find out what he was up to. He had already planned several ways to escape, avoiding any direct confrontation and running whenever he could. The only thing that bothered him now was Yu Xiao. He had no idea what she was doing. Had she dealt with Director Liao yet?


    **


    Yu Xiao had made up her mind. She wasn’t going to rescue Luo Jin yet. He was safe for now, thanks to the prop. She decided to help Precious and the others with the script first. Once they had the right script, she would go get Luo Jin. Then they could finish the filming task quickly and get out of here. They had to escape from Mr. Wang and this instance.


    The seven of them gathered around, talking excitedly about the script. Zhou Xiao Zhen was in charge. She was a high school student, so she knew how to write good essays. Besides, Wang Chun and Lu Xu’s script was already done, and it was hard to change it. It was better to let Zhou Xiao Zhen write a new one.


    She picked a horror film script and began writing with speed and intensity, racing towards the climax. However, when she finally reached the end, she paused and pondered, “What should the ending be?”


    Yu Xiao paused for a moment, saying, “Wasn’t the child turned into a ghost pet?”


    “No, dummy. I mean Director Liao.” Zhou Xiao Zhen rolled her eyes. “What’s Director Liao ending?”


    Yu Xiao shrugged. Director Liao was probably fine, she figured. He was the last one to go, and by then, the show was over. No more danger, no more drama. Just a boring wrap-up. “Who cares? Let’s just make up a ending and call it a day.”


    They had to hurry, though. The Coin of Great Observation 3.0 was wearing off, and they didn’t want to get caught snooping around. Yu Xiao and the other four actors crept down to the ground floor, where Mr. Wang’s office was. They hid behind a trash can and peeked at the door.


    Nothing. No sign of life. No sound of movement. They waited and waited, but nothing happened. Then, a nurse walked by, heading their way. She paused at the door of Mr. Wang’s office and glanced inside.


    As she walked past them, Yu Xiao jumped out and grabbed her.


    “What did you see?” Yu Xiao demanded, her voice low and menacing. “Tell us what’s going on in there.”


    The nurse shook her head, terrified. “I don’t know.”


    “Spill it!” Liu Si Si threatened, balling her hands into fists. “Or we’ll make you eat garbage!”


    The nurse whimpered. Why did she have to deal with this crap at work? She sobbed, “I swear, I don’t know anything. I just heard Dr. Wang talking to someone.”


    “What did he say?” Zhao Lan asked, her voice low and tense.


    The nurse shook her head, trying to forget the creepy whisper. “Something about snapping his legs… so he’d be his forever.”


    The crowd of patients gasped and cringed.


    The nurse broke free from the woman’s grip and ran for her life, her face hidden behind her hands.


    “Wow.” Xie Ping clutched his stomach, laughing. “That guy has some serious issues.”


    Liu Si Si shuddered. “Is this what they call a love-hate relationship? I used to enjoy romance novels, you know, the ones with all the drama. But this… this is too much.”


    Zhao Lan turned to Yu Xiao, who was frowning. “Smiley, any ideas on how to rescue Luo Jin? We can’t take on Mr. Wang by ourselves.”


    Yu Xiao scratched her head. “Still thinking.” She glanced at her cards, feeling hopeless. The Fondness Card was out of the question – she didn’t want to end up like Luo Jin, to be obsessed by a psycho. The Invincibility Card and the Talismans were also useless – even if she beat the ghost doctor, she’d be in trouble with the authorities.


    What could she do?


    While the others racked their brains, Lu Xun sneaked a card out of his pocket. It was a one-time prop that he had won in the last draw – “Give Me Roller Skates”. He had tried them before and liked them. He was ready to try them again.


    “Come on, let’s go mess with Mr. Wang,” Zhao Lan said, her eyes gleaming mischievously. “When he’s distracted, we’ll make a run for it. He may be tough, but he’s just a doctor. He can’t handle all of us at once. And if we can get to the basement studio quickly enough, he won’t be able to touch us while the cameras are rolling, right?”


    Yu Xiao shrugged. She didn’t have a better plan. “Sure, why not? Let’s follow Misty’s lead.”


    Zhao Lan grinned. “And if he does come after us, I’ve got the Invincible Card ready. You guys just call the hotline and rat him out.”


    **


    Luo Jin glanced at his watch. It was almost time. He cleared his throat twice, loud enough for Mr. Wang to hear.


    “Are you alright?”


    “My throat is a bit scratchy,” Luo Jin said, grimacing. “I could use some water.”


    Mr. Wang hurried to fetch a dented thermos. Luo Jin waved it away. “That’s filled with wolfberries. They’ll make me overheat.”


    Mr. Wang nodded. He got up and went to pour some water for Luo Jin.


    As he turned his back, something shifted in his head. His mind snapped into focus, as if a veil had been lifted from his eyes. He was suddenly wide awake.


    He remembered everything and realised what he had done, feeling a surge of shame and rage. Spinning around, his eyes blazing, he exclaimed, “You’re dead meat!”


    Luo Jin suddenly stood up from his seat, holding a card as if it were a weapon.


    Yu Xiao and the gang had just tip-toed to the door when a bloodcurdling scream cut through the air; Mr. Wang was threatening to rip Luo Jin’s throat out.


    They froze in horror, only to witness the office door swing open and Mr. Wang storm out, snarling and baring his teeth, before he simply floated away.


    “What the hell?!” Xie Ping yelped, narrowly avoiding Mr. Wang.


    Luo Jin dashed out of the ward, shouting over his shoulder, “Run for your lives, back to the studio!”


    They followed suit, leaving the chaos behind. Yu Xiao glanced back to see Mr. Wang crash into the outpatient reception desk, sending papers and pens flying.


    Wow, Yu Xiao thought, Mr. Wang really will have a grudge against Luo Jin.


    She felt a pang of pity for Luo Jin. Finally, she had a partner in crime on the attending doctor’s blacklist. She had Mr. Wang’s contact information, and wondered if she should share it with Luo Jin so they could commiserate.


    They reached the elevator, and the doors slid open to reveal two unsuspecting individuals inside.


    The pair took one look at the frantic group and assumed the worst. They tried to calm them down, saying, “Easy, easy, there’s no need to rush…”


    Luo Jin was the first to reach them. He snatched them by their collars and dragged them out of the lift like a pair of unruly kittens.


    The pair: “!”


    They landed on the floor with a thud, just in time to see the lift doors slide shut, cutting off their view of the five thugs inside.


    “Are we still doing the whole floor-by-floor thing?” Xie Ping asked.


    “Probably not,” the others agreed, their eyes fixed on the numbers above the door.


    The lift sailed past B2 without stopping, and they all let out a collective sigh of relief.


    “Here, this is for you,” Luo Jin said, producing the Coin from his pocket.


    “Oh, gimme, gimme,” Yu Xiao said, reaching for it eagerly.


    She wrapped her fingers around it, but it refused to move. She yanked harder, but it was like pulling a rock. She looked up at Luo Jin, her eyes wide and innocent. He looked back at her, his lips pressed into a thin line, his face a storm of emotions.


    They held each other’s gaze for a beat, but there was no romance in the air. Yu Xiao gave a nervous laugh, “Ha, ha, you can let go now, you know?”


    “Tell me,” Luo Jin said, his voice low and stern, “What are the new side effects of the Coin of Great Observation?”


    “I wasn’t lying, you know,” Yu Xiao said, as she pulled on the copper coin with all her might. “The first upgrade of the Coin of Great Observation does give you a love-hate relationship. But I’ve upgraded it twice, and now the side effect is that anyone within… oh, let’s say ten metres… will feel an overwhelming urge to possess whoever used it. I was going to warn you, but you were too quick for me.”


    “…”


    Luo Jin’s grip loosened, and Yu Xiao snatched the Coin back. She tucked it away in her pocket, hoping he wouldn’t notice the smug grin on her face.


    Xie Ping and Liu Si Si exchanged a look, both curious and envious of what Luo Jin had experienced. Intense possessiveness? Wow, sounds mighty thrilling…


    Luo Jin shut his eyes and shut himself off. He didn’t want to think about what had just happened.


    Meanwhile, at the studio on the negative eighth floor, the clock was ticking. The filming was supposed to start in five minutes, according to the schedule they had agreed with Misty and the others.


    **


    Mr. Wang finally landed on the ground, his clothes in tatters and his eyes bloodshot. He staggered towards the lift, muttering curses under his breath.


    The two people who had been tossed out earlier had just managed to get back in the lift, when they saw a doctor heading their way. They pressed the door open button and waited for him to join them.


    “Damn it… damn it… I’ll make you pay…” Mr. Wang growled as he got closer, then lifted his head and saw the two people in the lift. He was in no mood to act anymore. He just stretched out his arms.


    The two people in the lift: “!”


    They felt themselves lifted off the floor once again and flung into the air.


    The elevator doors slammed shut once more, leaving the pair stranded in the lobby. The one in the striped trousers, who had a knack for stating the obvious, said, “Maybe we should take the stairs.”


    The one in the jeans, who had a knack for sarcasm, said, “Sure, if you fancy a twenty-story hike.”


    Inside the elevator, Mr. Wang was mumbling to himself, a litany of gruesome threats and curses. “I’ll rip your legs off, then your arms, then I’ll keep you alive, make you eat your own flesh every day…” He was so engrossed in his fantasies of revenge that he barely noticed the elevator stopping at the minus six floor.


    He looked up, his eyes red and wild.


    The doors slid open, revealing a young man in a black waistcoat, who smiled at him as if they were old friends.


    “What are you doing here?” Mr. Wang demanded.


    The young man licked his lips, his smile turning predatory. “Don’t move a muscle,” he said. “Or I might be tempted to make a soup out of your old bones.”


    **


    As if on cue, Zhou Xiao Zhen’s voice crackled over the intercom.


    “… A and B are best buddies, fresh-faced and clueless in the world of the paranormal. A comes from a fallen family, but B never judges him, always sticking by his side. They hunt ghosts and banish evil together, honing their skills and hoping for glory. But then they meet C, a girl who shares B’s background and sparks his interest…”


    Xie Ping stood between them, creating a bizarre tableau.


    Xie Ping’s voice rose to a shriek. “How can this be? How can I still be the heroine? The script was supposed to change, wasn’t it? Why am I still stuck in this role?”


    Yu Xiao gave a tinkling laugh. “Oh, don’t be so dramatic. That’s not important right now. What matters is that you’re free of that dreadful burden.” She gestured at Xie Ping’s midsection.


    He looked down and gasped. His enormous belly, which had been the source of his misery for so long, was gone. He felt a surge of relief and happiness. “Wonderful! It’s over! I finally don’t have to give birth anymore.”


    “… A twisted scene unfolded. A stood over the bed, where C lay dying. He had once loved her with all his heart, but his jealousy had driven him to kill her. C’s eyes were filled with tears, as she gazed at the child in A’s arms. The child that was hers. The child that wailed and sobbed, unaware of the tragedy that had befallen them.”


    Luo Jin snatched Liu Si Si by the ankle and hoisted her into the air.


    She dangled helplessly, weeping and wailing. “This is so unfair! Why does someone have to play a baby that dies as soon as it’s born? Why do I have to be that baby…?”


    Xie Ping reached out a feeble hand from the bed. “Please, don’t hurt her,” he pleaded. “She’s innocent, she’s just a newborn. She hasn’t even had a chance to drink my milk…”


    Luo Jin let out a cruel laugh. “Innocent? Hahaha… Don’t make me laugh. You brought this upon yourself. If you had only done as I asked, gotten rid of this child, and stayed with me, things would have been different. But you chose to betray me, and now you must pay the price.”


    Tears streamed down Xie Ping’s face as he spat out his last words. “A, you’re a monster! To B and me you were like a brother to me, but you killed him and now you want to kill his wife and child too…”


    “Who was his real brother?” Luo Jin sneered, his face contorted with malice. “Who gave him the right to challenge me?”


    He cackled, swinging Liu Si Si by the ankle, making her sob even louder.


    “Don’t fret, my dear, I’ll take good care of this child for you,” Luo Jin said, eyeing Liu Si Si with a greedy look. “I’ll make her my ghostly pet. She’ll pay me back for everything you owe me, make me rich, make me the greatest Taoist ever!”


    “You fiend!” Xie Ping roared with his last breath. “I’ll see you in hell, and watch you suffer for your sins!”


    His neck snapped and he went limp. But as soon as he died, he got up and walked towards Yu Xiao and Zhao Lan.


    “Just as I thought.” Xie Ping grinned. “In the right script, nobody dies, and I don’t have to be pregnant.”


    Yu Xiao and Zhao Lan watched Luo Jin and Liu Si Si continue their act, smiling and enjoying the show.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen narrated with passion, her voice rising and falling. “… As the Zhong Kui tattoo crumbled, A felt a coldness seep into his bones. He had lost his final shield, and he was as vulnerable as a newborn in a blizzard. Then he heard a laugh, so familiar, so sweet, like a baby’s laugh. A baby with skin as black as night and eyes as red as blood crawled towards him on the ground…”


    Luo Jin cowered in the corner, his legs flailing like a dying fish. “Stay away, stay away…” he whimpered.


    Liu Si Si crawled on the floor, her mouth foaming with saliva. “Daddy… Daddy… I want to eat you…” she crooned.


    With Luo Jin’s scream, The director Zhou Xiao Zhen yelled “Cut!” and the final shot of the film was over.


    Liu Si Si scrambled to her feet, wiping her mouth with a disgusted expression. “This is a secret, okay? You can’t tell anyone what you saw here today. My reputation is at stake. It’s part of who I am.”


    Yu Xiao smiled reassuringly. “Don’t worry, we’re all professionals here. Even if someone from our hospital learns about this, they won’t recognize you.”


    “That’s not good enough!” Liu Si Si snapped, glaring at Luo Jin. “You better keep your mouth shut, or I’ll ruin your career. I’ll write bad reviews about you on the Fourth Hospital forum, I’ll spread rumours about you, I’ll…”


    Luo Jin felt a surge of indignation. He hadn’t done anything wrong.


    The filming was over, and so was their task for this instance. They felt a familiar wave of dizziness, and then they were back in their own wards.


    **


    Their phones buzzed with a barrage of messages.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen exclaimed excitedly, “How did it go? Did you like my script?”


    “It was amazing,” Yu Xiao replied sincerely, “You have a real talent for this. You’re a genius.”


    “Haha, thank you…” Zhou Xiao Zhen beamed.


    Zhao Lan had already settled into her chair and was immersed in scrolling through her messages on her phone. Yu Xiao was about to join her in this digital distraction when her own phone buzzed with an incoming call.


    She glanced at the screen and saw Lu Xu’s name. She sighed and picked up. “Why are you calling me as soon as you get back?”


    “Hey, don’t blame me,” Lu Xu said wearily. “I barely stepped into my room and I got bombarded with calls. Xie Ping and Liu Si Si are on a warpath, threatening to ruin my reputation on the hospital forums if I breathe a word about what happened in the treatment instance. You know how it is, I need to keep the peace in this business.”


    “So why are you bothering me then?” Yu Xiao snapped.


    “Look, I’m just giving you a heads-up, okay?” Lu Xu said. “Whatever happened in there, we keep it to ourselves. We’re in this together, right? We sink or swim as a team…”


    “Save the pep talk, I know the drill,” Yu Xiao cut him off. She felt a pang of curiosity. “Hey, what title did Luo Jin get this time?”


    “A title?” Lu Xu, who hadn’t checked his messages yet, asked Luo Jin. “Yo, Luo, Yu Xiao wants to know your new title.”


    Luo Jin, who was absorbed in his phone, looked up with a scowl. “Tell her to mind her own business if she values her life.”


    “Mind your own business if you value your life,” Lu Xu repeated. “That’s his title, apparently. Weird, huh?”


    Zhao Lan sank into her chair with a sigh of relief, flicking open her phone to scan her messages. She barely had time to register the first one when Yu Xiao’s phone blared to life.


    Curiously, Zhao Lan watched as Yu Xiao excitedly chatted with someone on the other end, her eyes sparkling mischievously. She couldn’t help but wonder who it was, but before she could ask, Yu Xiao ended the call.


    “Who was that?”


    “It was Lu Xu. It seems like we’ll find out Luo Jin’s new title along with everyone else tomorrow,” Yu Xiao replied, grinning and showing off her white teeth.


    Zhao Lan’s stomach growled loudly, drawing their attention. “I’m a bit peckish. Let’s go get some food.”


    As they waited for their food, Yu Xiao resumed checking her phone.


    【Congratulations on completing your seventh treatment session! You are now an eighth-level member of the Sixth Hospital’s patient forum.】


    【For your excellent performance during treatment, you have earned 3 base points and 3 bonus points.】


    【Congratulations on earning the title of ‘Gender-Bending Drama Queen,’ which rewards you with 4 bonus points.】


    Yu Xiao smiled smugly. She had expected to receive some strange titles, like ‘Serial Killer’ or ‘Cannibal,’ but this one was surprisingly mild. She liked it. It suited her personality.


    【Congratulations on earning the title of ‘Glutton’s Best Buddy,’ which rewards you with 4 bonus points.】


    【Congratulations on earning the title of ‘Torturous Interrogator,’ which rewards you with 4 bonus points.】


    Yu Xiao’s smile grew wider. These titles were even more amazing. She felt a surge of pride. She couldn’t wait to call Luo Jin and boast about them.


    【Congrats on being the top scorer! You’ve earned two utility cards. Don’t forget to grab them from the forum.】


    She glanced up and noticed Zhou Xiao Zhen giggling to herself. Yu Xiao nudged Zhao Lan and whispered, “Hey, check out Precious. She’s laughing. I bet she got some hilarious titles.”


    Zhao Lan followed Yu Xiao’s line of sight and saw Zhou Xiao Zhen’s amused expression. “Did you get many cool titles too?” S~ea??h the N??eFire.ηet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen flashed a grin. “Just one,” she said. “But it comes with a surprise.”


    “A surprise?”


    Zhou Xiao Zhen shook her head, her eyes sparkling with mischief. “You’ll find out in the morning.”


    “I didn’t get a title this time,” Zhao Lan rubbed her chin, deep in thought.


    “Misty, you need to take more risks,” Zhou Xiao Zhen advised. “Titles go to those who make a splash.”


    Yu Xiao nodded, fishing a black card out of her pocket. She examined the golden letters on it, frowning. Gluttony had given it to her after helping them out of a tight spot. Why?


    Zhou Xiao Zhen leaned over and peered at the card. “What’s that?”


    “Gluttony’s business card,” Yu Xiao said. “He handed it to me after helping us. What do you think he wants?”


    Zhou Xiao Zhen shrugged, pointing at the card. “Maybe he’s got a crush on you. Or maybe he’s got a hidden agenda. You know what they say. No good deed goes unpunished.”


    Yu Xiao wasn’t fooled by Glutton’s friendly demeanour. While Glutton might have referred to himself as such, it was clear that he was no ordinary eater. He was a monster driven by an ancient appetite, having devoured countless lives and secrets. He had no reason to be interested in her, a mere mortal girl. Unless…


    She shivered as she remembered the events on the negative sixth floor, where she had first encountered him. He had watched her with a curious gleam in his eyes as she vanished into thin air while slipping on the white coat.


    Could he have guessed the truth about Saint Elizabeth?


    Saint Elizabeth was her protector and benefactor, and she owed it everything. Losing it to Glutton or anyone else was not an option she could afford. Therefore, she made the decision to avoid him at all costs. After all, he was trapped on the sixth underground floor; he couldn’t simply pop up anywhere.


    She reassured herself with that thought while tossing the business card into the drawer. Opening it, she caught sight of the Nokia phone once more. A familiar name reached her ears during the morning news, reminding her that she had also come across his name in Teng Jing Zhi’s phonebook.


    She wondered if she could reach him through this phone.


    He had seen it all. He was one of the oldest residents of this hellish hospital, where time looped endlessly and death was never final.


    Yu Xiao bit her lip as she held her phone in her hand. She had his number, but she didn’t know what kind of person he was. Was he friendly or hostile? Would he share his knowledge with them or keep it to himself? And what if he agreed to join forces with them? Could they trust him?


    “Hey, Smiley, what do you want for dinner?” Zhou Xiao Zhen’s voice interrupted her thoughts. She was standing by the door, looking at her expectantly.


    Yu Xiao glanced at the clock. It was still early. They had two days of rest. She decided to put off calling Wide Sea and Sky for now. She slid her phone into the drawer and smiled at her sister. “How about some radish beef brisket? That sounds good, right?”


    They settled on the bed with their food trays, and Yu Xiao told them about Wide Sea and Sky.


    “Wow.” Zhou Xiao Zhen’s eyes widened. “That’s insane. How can he stand it? Living here for so long, I’d go crazy.”


    Zhao Lan suggested, twirling her chopsticks. “Maybe he knows something we don’t. We should definitely try to talk to him. He might be our best chance to get out of here. The question is, how do we get him to cooperate? What can we offer him in exchange for his help? Do you think he still needs talismans..?”


    Yu Xiao gave a curt nod, conceding to Zhou Xiao Zhen’s logic. “Fine, we’ll call him when we get a chance. But honestly,” she let out a weary sigh, “I don’t have high hopes for anyone on Teng Jing Zhi’s list. They’re probably all dead by now.”


    The mood turned sombre again. Zhao Lan rubbed Yu Xiao’s back, trying to lighten the atmosphere. “Hey, remember when you pissed off all the doctors and they filed a complaint against you? I wonder what happened to them. Did they get in trouble?”


    Yu Xiao snorted, “I don’t care. They deserved it. They were all jerks. Especially George. He’s the worst. Next time I see him again, I’m going to give him a piece of my mind. And maybe a piece of my fist.”