Translator: InkyDragon
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Unfortunately, ‘Wide Sea and Sky’ were sound asleep; otherwise, Yu Xiao would have loved to call him right away to chat.
But relying solely on the three of them to sell those cards wasn’t going to work. The market at the Sixth Hospital was still in its early stages, and most people couldn’t afford the higher-end items. Selling on the cheap felt like a punch to the gut, especially since these goodies weren’t even Yu Xiao’s to begin with.
After some serious noodling, Yu Xiao realised she needed to involve those two from the Fourth Hospital. Rubbing her chin in thought, she wondered if she should take a cue from Lu Xun and view every patient as a potential customer.
“Huh?” Zhou Xiao Zhen interjected suddenly, “Do old-school phones not have a mall app? Does that mean there’s no online forum either?”
“Seems so,” Yu Xiao affirmed.
“Man, that’s rough,” Zhou Xiao Zhen empathised, “Being cooped up here without online bragging rights? That’s just sad.”
Yu Xiao was taken aback; she hadn’t considered that aspect. But upon reflection, being able to go online was significant. Even if someone was alone in the ward, they could still interact with others on the forum, making things a bit less sad.
“Too bad the mall doesn’t sell smartphones,” Zhou Xiao Zhen commented, “We could’ve gotten one and gifted it to Wide Sea and Sky.”
Yu Xiao pondered briefly, then decisively punched in Lu Xun’s number.
**
In the hospital room, Luo Jin had regained his composure, while Lu Xun was mingling with his entourage, sniffing out potential money making schemes.
When Yu Xiao’s call came through, Lu Xun thought she was finally ready to join his team.
“Hey there~” Lu Xun drawled, lounging as if he were royalty, “Have you finally decided to join the winning team?”
“I actually have a favour to ask,” Yu Xiao cut to the chase.
“Shoot.”
“Can you get your hands on a mobile phone for me?”
“Huh?” Lu Xun’s eyebrow arched in confusion, “Is your phone broken?”
“Kind of…”
“Come on, at least try to make your fibs believable. You’re clearly calling me from your ‘broken’ phone,” Lu Xun scoffed, “Do I look like I fell off the clueless tree yesterday?”
“Anyway, I need a smartphone,” Yu Xiao continued, “Is it possible to buy one in the hospital?”
“Alright then.” Lu Xun casually reached over and yanked open a nearby drawer, revealing a stash of phones. “What brand do you prefer?”
Yu Xiao’s eyebrows shot up in surprise. “You’ve got a stash of these too?”
“Of course,” Lu Xun replied, a hint of smugness in his voice. “Where there’s a need, there’s a market. Even in a hospital, phones might not break easily, but you never know when a mischievous ghost might steal one. So, a phone market is a must.”
Yu Xiao was taken aback. After a moment of silence, she couldn’t help but ask, “So… where did all these phones come from? Are they from those who… died?”
Lu Xun rolled his eyes. “What on earth are you thinking? I bought these from an instance. You’ve been in plenty of instances, surely you’ve come across one that’s a bit too real for comfort?”
“…” Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
Had such a thought ever crossed her mind? It was a revelation that caught Yu Xiao off guard. She remembered the Sage World; on her way back, the phone shop owner had given her a charger, which she’d brought back to the ward. If the charger made it back, why not the phone too?
Yu Xiao found herself tugging at her hair in confusion. Could you really purchase items from these instance worlds and bring them back?
“So, have you decided?” Lu Xu prodded. “Which phone brand interests you?”
Utterly perplexed, Yu Xiao asked, “What are my choices?”
“We’ve got Banana brand, Rose brand… but the creme de la creme is this bad boy – Fierce Ghost brand. It can trap a ghost inside, and you can have a chat with the ghost right from your phone.”
“Why would I want to chat with a ghost?” Yu Xiao countered.
Lu Xu shot back, “Well, if chatting isn’t your thing, you can always make the ghost belt out a tune for you.”
“…I think I’ll pass on that.”
“In that case, Banana brand it is,” Lu Xu declared. “Simple and user-friendly.”
“Alright, I’ll take it. How much?”
Lu Xu waved a hand dismissively. “Oh, we’re practically besties now. Consider it a gift.”
Yu Xiao couldn’t help but feel a bit suspicious at his sudden act of generosity. “Feeling generous today, are we?” she remarked dryly.
Lu Xu’s emotions were all over the place. It wasn’t solely out of generosity that he decided to give Yu Xiao a phone; it had been gathering dust due to lack of sales. Might as well do a favor for a friend, right? Who knows, maybe it would bring Yu Xiao some good luck in the future.
“Generous? Nah, I just happen to like you. Friends get the VIP treatment from me,” Lu Xu’s sincerity was evident in this ass kissing tone. “I’m all about spreading the love.”
Yu Xiao couldn’t shake off the feeling of déjà vu in his words. It was the same tone she used with Gluttony and George. Strange.
“In that case, hook me up with that phone,” Yu Xiao casually mentioned, also inquiring about a SIM card. “Can I pick one up here too?”
“We sure do,” Lu Xu confirmed. “Interested in getting one?”
Yu Xiao played it cool, neither confirming nor denying, “What are the prices like?”
“It varies based on the cards you’re paying,” Lu Xu explained. “You’ve got your basic Bad Luck Cards – cheap as chips, nobody wants them. Then there’s the high-end stuff like the One-Time Love Card.”
“And what about Team-Up cards?”
“You eyeing a Team-Up card?” Lu Xu raised an eyebrow. “Those babies are off the market. Priceless. Strong players hoard ’em to sell spots; weaker ones sell ’em to the big guns for a hefty sum and an instance escort.”
Yu Xiao nodded, understanding the situation. “Thanks.”
Lu Xu chuckled. “Just pals helping each other out.”
“So, when can we expect the phone to be delivered?”
**
The phone arrived soon after, resembling a typical smartphone from the human world, except it was entirely yellow with a banana logo on the back. Yu Xiao and her crew tested it and found that it functioned just like their own phones.
“Can this phone access forums and stuff?” Zhou Xiao Zhen asked, picking up a piece of paper from the bedside table.
It was the flyer they had received upon arriving at the hospital.
Yu Xiao scanned the QR code on the flyer with the phone, and it started downloading the Sixth Hospital patient forum.
“Wow…” Zhou Xiao Zhen exclaimed, impressed, “It actually worked. If we give this phone to ‘Wide Sea and Sky,’ would he be able to see the Sixth Hospital forum too?”
“This is kind of like Smiley,” Zhao Lan remarked, drawing a connection, “You’re from the Sixth Hospital, but your phone has forums from both the Fourth and Sixth Hospital.”
Yu Xiao’s face wrinkled in confusion. “I swear I didn’t scan any QR code for the Fourth Hospital.”
“Smiley’s got the Fourth Hospital forum on her phone.” Zhou Xiao Zhen mused. “Because she’s from the Sixth Hospital, her login address is weird, so she can only lurk, not post on the Fourth Hospital forum. The Wide Sea and Sky forum is for the First Hospital, so its login address is probably wonky too. Does that mean he can only sneak around the Sixth Hospital forum?”
“Sounds plausible,” Yu Xiao agreed with Precious’s deduction.
“Hold up,” Zhao Lan interrupted. “The phone’s in the Sixth Hospital now. What if we try logging in with Wide Sea and Sky’s nickname while it is here?”
“…”
A light bulb moment. Just as the Sixth Hospital patient chat forum finished downloading, Yu Xiao decided to take a shot.
【Enter your nickname.】
Yu Xiao typed in “Wide Sea and Sky”.
【Unauthorised operation detected, verification code sent.】
Yu Xiao: “Erm, what?”
“A verification code?” Zhou Xiao Zhen gasped. “Does the hospital have so many tricks up its sleeve?”
**
In the eerie stillness of the hospital room, a sudden ping of a text message pierced the quiet.
“Drip, drip.”
The sound pierced through ‘Wide Sea and Sky’s’ throbbing headache, dragging him back to awareness. Living in a never-ending nightmare of hospital had honed his ability to stay alert even in his sleep. He blinked wearily, his gaze dull and lifeless as it scanned the room.
Apart from the occasional text messages from the hospital whenever he was discharged from the instance, it had been a long time since anyone had messaged him.
But today was different; today he had just met someone new.
Reaching for his phone on the bedside table, he unlocked it and checked the message.
【Hospital Six Patient Forum. Your verification code is 1414514, valid for 5 minutes. If not requested by you, please ignore this message.】
He stared at the message, lost in thought.
As the seconds ticked by, with only one minute left, he decided to make the call.
**
“Drip, drip, drip, drip, drip…”
“Teng Jing Zhi’s phone is ringing,” Zhao Lan picked up the phone. “It’s ‘Wide Sea and Sky’.”
Yu Xiao grabbed the phone eagerly. “Hello?”
“Although I don’t know what you’re up to,” ‘Wide Sea and Sky’ sounded impatient, “but the verification code is 1414514.”
“…Got it,” Yu Xiao replied quickly, jotting down the code.
She entered the verification code on her banana phone, and the Sixth Hospital Forum welcomed her with a successful login.
“Success!” Zhou Xiao Zhen exclaimed, her excitement palpable. “I’m gonna give the forum a piece of my mind.”
“Let me have a go too,” Zhao Lan chimed in eagerly.
The room filled with the animated chatter of the girls on their phones. ‘Wide Sea and Sky’ rubbed his temples in exasperation. “What’s going on over there?”
“Nothing much. You go ahead and get some rest,” Yu Xiao said. “By the way, does your hospital even have a forum?”
Bleep…
‘Wide Sea and Sky’ ended the call, leaving Yu Xiao to wonder if he was just a tad too hasty.
“It’s up!” Zhao Lan announced triumphantly. “I’ve posted it!”
Yu Xiao rushed over to see. “What did you post, what did you post?”
【Hello, everyone, I’m ‘Wide Sea and Sky’.】
As the posts on the Sixth Hospital forum multiplied, so did the buzz of its users. In the midst of all the serious discussions, a silly post from ‘Wide Sea and Sky’ sparked a flurry of responses.
【New kid in Third Level today?】
【Wait, that username rings a bell.】
【Wasn’t that hotshot from First Hospital making headlines recently? ‘Wide Sea and Sky’, right?】
【I thought we were doing newbie intros. If you’re ‘Wide Sea and Sky’, then I’m ‘Zhuge Liang burning the Spider Web Cave’.】
【In that case, I must be ‘Flying to Someone Else’s Bed’.”】
【…】
Passing her phone to Yu Xiao, Zhao Lan asked, “Should we hand this over to him now?”
“Let’s just send it over,” Yu Xiao said. “After all, it was bought for him.”
Zhou Xiao Zhen chimed in, “And we didn’t even spend a penny on it.”
“Didn’t spend money, but still got something,” Yu Xiao remarked. “Consider it a favour.”
Zhao Lan nodded sagely. Street-smart as she was, she knew favours could come with a price. “How do you plan to repay this favour?”
“I could send him a ‘bad luck’ card,” Yu Xiao suggested with a mischievous grin.
Zhao Lan chuckled. Yu Xiao’s quick wit never failed to impress.
After sending the text, the trio delved into discussions about the upcoming instance raid. Despite having good prop cards, they lacked the confidence to lead the charge. They decided to hold off on using the team-up card this time and would play it by ear next time.
With their treatments booked for the next day, Yu Xiao hoped that the St. Elizabeth’s issue would be resolved by the time she returned.
**
“Knock, knock, knock.”
“Delivery.”
Just as he had drifted into a restless sleep, barely managing to catch a glimpse of a dream, he was jolted awake once more. Sitting up, he felt as though a chainsaw was shredding through his head.
In the stillness of the room, he realised it had been a while since he last received a delivery. But today was different; today, he had met someone new.
In that moment, a pang of regret washed over him.
The delivery arrived in a small box, its contents a mystery. Like a Russian doll, within the box lay another box. And inside that box? A sleek mobile phone.
He recognised it as a phone, having once seen a newbie from the Third Hospital use one in a instance. But he’d only seen, never used.
Comparing it to his own chunky device, this new phone was a thin behemoth in size. Its buttonless, glassy screen beckoned him to explore. After a thorough examination, he stumbled upon two sneaky buttons on its edge.
Pressing the first button yielded no response.
But with a press of the shorter button, the screen burst to life.
A familiar blue cartoon character graced the screen – none other than Doraemon, accompanied by a prominent clock.
(Doraemon (ドラえもん) is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Fujiko F. Fujio. The manga was first serialised in December 1969.)
And then?
He tentatively prodded the screen, but it remained still. Only after spotting a discreet message at the screen’s top – ‘Swipe up to enter’ – did he take action.
Swipe up…
And just like that, the screen transformed, revealing a playful array of icons.
The phone’s browser, camera… the Sixth Hospital’s patient forum…
His head throbbed as he tried to recall the conversation from before he dozed off. That ‘Deaf Descendant’ girl seemed to have asked about whether the first hospital had a forum.
With a tap of his finger, he opened the Sixth Hospital’s patient forum, greeted by a bright pink page filled with text. And there, at the top, was a line that caught his eye.
【Hello, everyone, I’m ‘Wide Sea and Sky’.】
Wide Sea and Sky? Wasn’t that his nickname? Were there others out there with the same nickname?
**
Yu Xiao hit the hay early, knowing she had to tackle the instance the next morning. Little did she know that someone, who usually cherished their sleep, had pulled an all-nighter because of her.
The next morning, the trio, ready and raring to go, stepped into the treatment instance right on the dot at eight o’clock.
**
Meanwhile, someone who had spent the entire night glued to their phone, filled with questions, finally mustered the courage to make a call and seek some answers.
“Sorry, the user you are trying to reach is currently unavailable…”
**
After a whirlwind of disorientation, Yu Xiao, Zhou Xiao Zhen, and Zhao Lan found themselves standing in a bustling square.
Vibrant flags danced in the wind, each emblazoned with the words ‘Boys and Girls, charge forward.’ Yu Xiao’s group exchanged puzzled looks with the four strangers nearby. What was this all about?
Breaking the silence, Zhou Xiao Zhen pondered, “Is this some kind of challenge? I’ve always fancied trying out those game shows from TV.”
“Why didn’t you?” Zhao Lan asked. “Too busy with studies?”
Zhou Xiao Zhen retorted, “I’m underage, can’t exactly sign up, can I?”
The four strangers comprised two men and two women.
After a brief moment of sizing each other up, a girl with a ponytail linked hands with another sporting a short haircut, introducing themselves, “Hey there, we’re from Fifth Hospital. I’m Xue Rong Rong (薛蓉蓉: “glorious hibiscus” or “prosperous snow grass”), and this is Yang Xian (杨娴: “elegant poplar”).”
“We’re also from Fifth Hospital,” added the bald guy in the black tee. “I’m Zhao Yang (赵洋: “vast like the ancient state” or “oceanic Zhao”).”
The lad with the single eyelids, clad in khaki trousers, piped up, “I’m Ye Lang (叶朗: “Bright Leaf” or “Harmonious Brightness”).”
“We’re from the Sixth Hospital,” Zhao Lan made the introductions, “I’m Zhao Lan, and this is Yu Xiao.”
Zhou Xiao Zhen puffed out her chest proudly, “And I’m none other than Zhou Xiao Zhen!”
With pleasantries exchanged, everyone put on their best polite smiles.
Hands in his pockets, Zhao Yang cast a casual glance around and inquired, “So, what’s the deal? Is this hospital-unrelated scenario part of the program?”
“Hush,” Xue Rong Rong motioned to the right, “Someone is approaching.”
A young man sporting a striped shirt and a trendy three-seven hairstyle strolled towards them, his face lit up with a welcoming grin.
Approaching, he greeted them warmly, “Hey there! Enjoying the fresh air outside the hospital walls?”
Not a single one of the seven responded, their expressions serious and fixed on him.
The young man let out an exasperated sigh, “You lot are wound up tighter than springs, not good for you. You need to chill out. Only when you’re relaxed and happy will your body thank you.”
Despite his attempt at wisdom, the group still regarded him as if he were the villain in their own personal horror story.
The young man was left speechless. He couldn’t stand these living people, not one bit.
“Well then, allow me to introduce myself,” he declared, lifting his chin haughtily, “I’m your attending doctor, and the name’s Fu Shen (茯神: Wolfiporia extensa is a wood-decay fungus).”
With a theatrical flair, he clasped his hands behind his back and surveyed the group with a serene smile. “Lovely weather we’re having today, eh? To help you face the upcoming treatment with a little more pep in your step, I, as your doctor, have decided to whisk you all away for a jaunt and some fun. Well, aren’t we just the luckiest bunch,” he quipped. “Venturing out and stumbling upon amusement—”
“—Alright, ladies and gents, onwards we go! It’s going to be a riot,” no one paid him any mind, but the ghost continued to chatter away to himself, “Let the games begin.”
Unable to contain herself any longer, Zhou Xiao Zhen piped up, “Are we going to tackle obstacles?”
“Indeed we are,” Fu Shen beckoned, “Follow my lead.”
The group trailed after him until they reached a line of seven doors.
The row of seven doors stood in the open square, a rather pitiful sight. Their clashing, mismatched colours were adorned with words encouraging both boys and girls to seize the day, accompanied by a variety of symbols.
With her sharp eyes, Yu Xiao even spotted the yellow banana phone symbol among them.
“This game features seven themes, each representing a different aspect,” Fu Shen explained, gesturing towards a small symbol about half a person’s height. “The themes are wealth, love, family, career, friends, health, and food. To ensure everyone has a blast, I’ve decided to let each of you freely choose your theme,” he continued, grinning as he pointed. “But remember, only one person per theme.”
The group exchanged glances, lost in thought.
Yu Xiao quickly dismissed the idea of choosing food. Who knew what culinary challenges selecting that theme might entail? The memory of the never-ending buffet still haunted her dreams.
Wealth didn’t spark her interest, and love seemed too unpredictable. Without a family of her own yet, her career path was still unclear, and everyone present already had friends – surely that theme would be popular.
If she ended up having to switch themes due to someone else selecting the same one, her options would become even more limited.
“I’ll take love!” Zhou Xiao Zhen announced, raising her hand enthusiastically.
The others looked at her with surprise. Fu Shen smiled, “Love it is, then.”
It appeared that the rule of ‘first come, first served’ was in effect. Yu Xiao wasted no time, “Health for me!”
Zhao Lan chimed in, “Friendship is my choice!”
In a blink of an eye, three themes were claimed. Ye Lang quickly spoke up, “Wealth is mine!”
Xue Rong Rong asserted, “Career for me!”
Yang Xian declared, “I’ll go with family!”
Left with no other option, Zhao Yang resigned himself to choosing food.
“Looks like we have a proactive group here,” Fu Shen exclaimed cheerfully. “Seeing all of you so eager warms this doctor’s heart.”
“Right, no more faffing about,” Fu Shen announced, stepping aside and gesturing towards the seven doors. “Now that you’ve made your choice, everyone, head through the door you’ve selected.”
It looked like they were going to split up once more. Yu Xiao turned to her friends, offering a word of caution, “Stay sharp, you two.”
“Got it!” Zhou Xiao Zhen affirmed.
Zhao Lan chimed in, “And see if you can get a phone signal once you’re inside.”
“Will do.”
Each of the seven approached their designated door. Yu Xiao glanced at the word ‘health’ on hers before pushing it open.
What awaited her on the other side was nothing like she had anticipated. She had braced herself for a challenge or obstacle, but upon entering, she found herself in what looked like an ordinary house.
The room appeared surprisingly typical, resembling a standard home setting. There was a cozy living room furnished with a TV and a sofa, with clothes hanging out to dry on the balcony.
*Ding~ ding~ ding~…*
Suddenly, the house echoed with a cheerful chime, followed by a robotic female voice from somewhere.
“— Good morning! It’s 8 a.m.!”
“— Eight o’clock marks prime time for small intestine nutrient absorption. Breakfast is crucial for a healthy body. Players, to maintain good health, please complete the simple task of having breakfast before nine. The countdown begins~”
The television in the living room flickered to life, casting an eerie blood-red glow across the dim room, displaying a countdown timer ominously ticking away an hour.
Yu Xiao couldn’t help but grimace, realising she was facing yet another food-related challenge.
She explored the living room, encountering several doors. Intrigued, she reached for the handle of a green one that seemed to lead to the kitchen.
But as her hand touched the handle, a haunting voice echoed from inside, “It’s not bedtime yet.”
Seems like that was the bedroom. Yu Xiao tried her luck with another door, this time an orange one. It creaked open, revealing a tidy kitchenette with a double-door fridge.
Stepping inside, a shiver ran down her spine, every hair on her body standing on end.
Something felt off. Yu Xiao scanned the kitchen, but there was no food in sight within her immediate view. Her gaze landed on the fridge.
─── ? ── ☆ ── ? ───