Goosebumps erupted on Yu Xiao’s arms. The forum admin, always watching… The thought, once dismissed, now clung to her like a damp shroud.


    If the admin was deleting every mention of the Time Hospital, what about the people who didn’t belong to the Sixth Hospital? Would they be scrubbed clean too?


    Hesitantly, she dialled “Flying to Someone Else’s Bed.”


    His chipper voice answered instantly. “Little one, up and at ’em?”


    Heat crept up her neck. The nickname, once just silly, now felt childish. “Hey,” she forced a laugh, “The new phone working out?”


    “Like a dream!” His enthusiasm was infectious. “Should’ve embraced technology sooner. Who knew phones could do so much more than call and text? You see the forum’s buzzing? We’re all over it, but your Sixth Hospital folks are a gloomy bunch. Lots of baggage, those guys.”


    A bead of sweat trickled down her temple. “Actually, that’s what I wanted to talk about. Maybe… maybe everyone should cool it with the forum posts?”


    His tone flipped like a switch. “Why’s that?”


    “It’s just… you guys aren’t from the Sixth Hospital,” she explained, voice hushed. “No one knows how the admin operates. Deleting posts is one thing, but what if they delete… accounts? What if they find out you shouldn’t be there?”


    A beat of silence, then, “You’re right. I’ll spread the word.”


    Relief washed over her. What a stand-up guy. “Thanks, Flying Bro. I’ll let you get back to it.”


    “Hold on,” he interrupted. “How’s that team coming along? Need help filling out the roster? I know a few good candidates…”


    “Alright then,” Yu Xiao conceded, a plan forming.


    “Perfect! So, besides Xiao Dong and Yu Qing Lang, I’ve got four more names for you…” Flying to Someone Else’s Bed began, but Yu Xiao cut him off.


    “Actually, just three more.”


    “Three? Who else you got lined up? Another newbie from the Sixth?” His voice took on a cautious tone. “Listen, this mission ain’t no walk in the park. Too many rookies could spell trouble.”


    “He’s a senior, actually. From the First Hospital.”


    “Oh.” Flying to Someone Else’s Bed went silent for a moment. “Right, then three it is.”


    “Thanks so much,” Yu Xiao said, relieved. “You’re a lifesaver.”


    “No problem at all,” he chuckled. “Got nothing but time, anyway.”


    She hesitated, wondering if she should mention Nightmare. But before she could decide, the line clicked dead.


    she thought, tucking her phone away.


    Yu Xiao pushed herself out of bed. “Alright everyone, listen up! We’ve got reinforcements for the next mission. Six seniors are joining the team.”


    “Yes!” Zhou Xiao Zhen pumped her fist. “I heard they’re gonna take down the attending doctor! Oh man, I gotta see this!”


    A small smile played on Zhao Lan’s lips. “Besides Yu Qing Lang and Wang Dong Dong, who else is joining us?”


    “Wide Sea and Sky.”


    Zhou Xiao Zhen gasped. “No way!”


    “He’s coming?” Zhao Lan lowered her teacup, eyes wide. “Colour me intrigued. This is our chance to finally meet the man himself.”


    Zhou Xiao Zhen slapped her thigh, nearly bouncing out of her seat. “With a lineup like this, we’re gonna breeze right through! This is gonna be epic!”


    Yu Xiao had to agree. Her worries about the mission had evaporated. Now, a different kind of unease settled in its place. “The only thing I’m worried about… is Nightmare.”


    At the foot of the bed, Nightmare lifted his head, blank eyes staring at Yu Xiao. He had absolutely no idea what she was talking about.


    Yu Xiao paced, a frown etching its way onto her face. “I was counting on Nightmare to handle the attending doctors, you know? Big contributions, good reports…” she trailed off. “But with these seniors coming in…”


    “He might not get a chance to shine,” Zhao Lan finished, a knowing smile playing on her lips. “And without the big wins, he just stick out like a sore thumb.”


    Nightmare’s ears twitched. He opened his mouth to speak, but Zhao Lan continued, her voice light and teasing. “But you know, I don’t think it’s a big problem.”


    Yu Xiao stopped pacing, her brow furrowed. “Really? Why not?”


    “For one thing, we don’t even know what the next scenario will throw at us.” Zhao Lan’s smile turned cryptic. “And for another… well, if he needs a chance to prove himself, who says you can’t create one?”


    A mischievous glint flickered in Yu Xiao’s eyes. “Misty, you’re a genius!”


    Zhao Lan winked. “Just returning the favour.”


    Zhou Xiao Zhen, utterly lost, tilted her head. “What are you two whispering about?”


    Yu Xiao, a mischievous grin still plastered on her face, simply grabbed her toiletries. “Nothing important! Be right back.”


    As she splashed water on her face, staring into the mirror, a thought struck her. The mirror ghost could travel through the Time Hospital’s mirrors… but could it do the same in the Sixth?


    The idea, once sparked, wouldn’t let go. Towel still in hand, she rushed back out. “Sisters, I have a plan!”


    Zhou Xiao Zhen, mid-bite of a snack, looked up, confused. Zhao Lan, ever composed, merely raised an eyebrow.


    “I’m going to use the mirror ghost to scout out the Sixth!” Yu Xiao announced.


    Zhao Lan’s composure faltered. Before she could voice her concerns—because the Sixth Hospital wasn’t just another scenario, it was a tangled web of danger—Zhou Xiao Zhen piped up, her eyes shining with excitement.


    “I wanna go too!”


    “Precious, it could be dangerous,” Yu Xiao cautioned.


    “So? We can watch each other’s backs, right?” Zhou Xiao Zhen’s enthusiasm was infectious.


    Yu Xiao hesitated, weighing the risks. But Zhou Xiao Zhen wasn’t finished. “Come on, bring me along! You know I’m a Mahjong master!”


    Zhou Xiao Zhen was practically a mahjong savant. Yu Xiao found herself nodding in agreement.


    “Should I tag along?” Zhao Lan chimed in. “Remember, the Ghost Transformation Card disables talismans, and mahjong needs four players. If we run into trouble and there are only two of us…”


    “All three of us gone?” Yu Xiao felt a twinge of anxiety at the thought of leaving the ward completely empty.


    As if sensing her concern, Nightmare, curled up at the foot of the bed, lifted a paw. “I can go too.”


    And so it was decided. Yu Xiao, Zhou Xiao Zhen, and Nightmare would venture into the looking glass, while Zhao Lan held down the fort.


    Gathered before the mirror, Yu Xiao produced the Ghost Mirror and then the Ghost Transformation Card, which she used on Zhou Xiao Zhen. In an instant, her friend’s face went deathly pale, lips turning a faint purple. An ethereal aura clung to her.


    She sniffed the air, eyes fixed on Zhao Lan with a strange longing. “Sister Lan, you smell delicious.”


    Zhao Lan’s eyebrow shot up. “Now as a ghost you dare to flirt with me?”


    Only Yu Xiao understood the true nature of the transformation. She pulled Zhou Xiao Zhen towards the mirror. “Come on, let’s not waste time. The sooner we’re back, the sooner we can have lunch with Misty.”


    “Is there a rush…?”


    Together, with Nightmare padding silently behind them, they stepped into the mirror. The world on the other side was similar to the one Yu Xiao had seen in the Time Hospital, except here, countless more shimmering doorways beckoned.


    “What if we get lost?” Yu Xiao whispered, a shiver running down her spine.


    “We should leave a trail,” Zhou Xiao Zhen agreed, her voice hushed.


    “I know the way,” Nightmare said from his position on the ground.


    “What?” Yu Xiao stared at him, confused.


    “I remember how to get back,” he repeated, gazing up at her.


    Reassured, Yu Xiao turned back to the dizzying array of exits. “Which way, Xiao Zhen?”


    Zhou Xiao Zhen pointed. “That way smells nicer.”


    Yu Xiao was speechless.


    They approached the chosen mirror. It revealed a bathroom, laid out much like their own ward. It was empty, but voices— several women chatting— drifted through the air.


    Yu Xiao and Zhou Xiao Zhen exchanged a look. Then, before Yu Xiao could react, Zhou Xiao Zhen, lips curled into a mischievous grin, darted through the mirror and into the ward beyond.


    Immediately, a bloodcurdling scream ripped through the air.


    “— Aaahhhh！！！”


    Yu Xiao, heart pounding, charged after Nightmare and into the ward.


    Three girls, clutching talismans, were advancing on Zhou Xiao Zhen, who seemed frozen in place.


    “Hold it!” Yu Xiao cried. “We’re human!”


    The girls froze, their eyes wide with suspicion. The one in front, clad in a flimsy nightdress, squinted at them. “Human? Have you looked in a mirror lately? You two are paler than death!”


    (吊带睡裙 (strappy nightdress): [吊带睡裙; diàodài shuìqún; suspender sleep dress; a type of nightwear often depicted in Chinese media.])


    “It’s a temporary ghost card, I swear!” Yu Xiao whipped out her phone. “Look, I’m a patient here too. See?”


    The girls exchanged uneasy glances. “Prove it,” the one in the nightdress challenged. “Show us the forum backend.”


    Yu Xiao quickly brought up the forum’s backend and offered the phone. “Here, see for yourself. Just give it back when you’re done.”


    The girl cautiously took the phone. One look at the screen, and her breath hitched. Her face flushed a vibrant shade of red.


    “Ohmygod, ohmygod…” she breathed, her eyes wide.


    “What’s wrong?” Her friends, alarmed by her reaction, jumped back. “Is the phone cursed or something?”


    “No…” She pushed past them and practically lunged at Yu Xiao, grabbing her hand. “Master! You’ve come to save us!”


    Her friends stared, dumbfounded. What in the world was going on?


    “‘Deaf Descendant’!” The girl in the nightdress bounced on the balls of her feet, still clutching Yu Xiao’s hand. “She’s ‘Deaf Descendant’!”


    “No way!”


    Within seconds, all three girls were practically vibrating with excitement, their joyful shrieks filling the ward.


    Moments later, Yu Xiao found herself seated, Nightmare nestled in her lap, sipping tea alongside a bewildered Zhou Xiao Zhen. The three girls hovered before them, a mixture of nerves and excitement radiating off of them in waves.


    “Please, sit down,” Yu Xiao gestured to the empty seats. “We’re just here to do a little exploring.”


    The girl in the nightdress, who introduced herself as Wang Meng (王梦), blushed. “Master, how did you end up in our ward?”


    王 (Wáng): This is a common Chinese surname that means “king” or “monarch.”梦 (Mèng): This character is a given name that means “dream” or “to dream.”When combined, “王梦” (Wáng Mèng) could be interpreted as “King’s Dream” or “Monarch’s Dream,” suggesting a vision or aspiration worthy of royalty.


    “Not gonna lie,” Yu Xiao began, leaning back in her chair. “I recently got my hands on an item that lets me travel through mirrors. In theory, any mirror in the Sixth Hospital is a doorway.”


    “No way!”


    The three girls gazed at Yu Xiao and Zhou Xiao Zhen with unconcealed awe. “But why come here? To our ward, I mean?”


    That, of course, she couldn’t say out loud. “To be honest, we were just looking around, no particular destination in mind. Guess fate brought us here.”


    She paused, considering her next words. “So, tell me, is there anything… unusual about your ward?”


    Wang Meng frowned. “Unusual how?”


    “Anything different from the other wards?” Zhou Xiao Zhen clarified.


    Wang Meng thought for a moment. “We don’t really know about the other wards. But every night…” she hesitated. “Every night, there’s this voice outside, counting down.”


    Yu Xiao’s eyebrows shot up. That was new. “A countdown? What do you mean?”


    “After lights out, this creepy voice starts calling out a number,” Wang Meng explained, a shiver running down her spine. “It started at thirteen, and last night it got to two.”


    “So tonight it’ll be one…” Zhou Xiao Zhen breathed.


    Wang Meng nodded, her expression grim. “We’ve been on edge for days, wondering what happens when it hits zero.”


    She gestured towards the ward door, which was plastered with five talismans. “We even bought these from your shop! We were using two to ward off the ‘ward inspection ghost’, but after the countdown started, we added three more for good measure.”


    The girl next to her sighed. “Spent ages saving up those points too. We’re practically broke now.”


    They turned to Yu Xiao, their eyes hopeful. “You seem to know your stuff. Any idea what’s going on?”


    “Can’t say I do,” Yu Xiao admitted, though her curiosity was piqued. This countdown was definitely something she wanted to investigate further. “Tell you what, how about we stick around tonight and see what this countdown is all about?”


    “Really?” The girls’ faces lit up. “Thank you, thank you!”


    “No problem at all,” Yu Xiao smiled, then turned to Zhou Xiao Zhen. “Give Misty a call, yeah? Let her know we won’t be back tonight.”


    As Zhou Xiao Zhen went to make the call, the three girls crowded around, their eyes glued to the kitten in Yu Xiao’s arms.


    Wang Meng, practically buzzing with envy, piped up. “Is that your cat, big sis? Did you have her before… you know… the Sixth Hospital? Can we pet her?”


    Nightmare promptly burrowed deeper into Yu Xiao’s embrace, a furry, purring testament to his refusal.


    “He’s a bit of a diva, I’m afraid,” Yu Xiao chuckled apologetically. “Not a fan of strangers.”


    “Ah, we get it,” Wang Meng sighed. “My sister’s cat’s exactly the same.”


    Their dreams of petting dashed, they settled for admiring Nightmare from afar, their gazes practically caressing his fur.


    That evening, Wang Meng and the others pulled out all the stops, ordering a veritable feast to welcome Yu Xiao and Zhou Xiao Zhen. They even included a special order of fish, just for Nightmare.


    Having guests was a rare treat. Since arriving at the Sixth Hospital, they had been reluctant to brave the instances unless absolutely necessary. It was a lonely existence, their days filled with only each other’s company.


    Meeting new people, especially another girl their age, was like a breath of fresh air. They chatted animatedly, finding endless topics to discuss, and time flew by.


    Then, without warning, the lights flickered and dimmed. Lights out.


    “Shh, listen,” Wang Meng whispered in the sudden darkness.


    Yu Xiao and Zhou Xiao Zhen held their breath, straining their ears. The ward was silent, the outside world eerily quiet. Minutes ticked by, but the anticipated sound never came.


    Just as Yu Xiao was about to speak, Nightmare, nestled against her chest, spoke. “He’s coming.”


    “What?”


    “One.”


    A voice, low and raspy like the rasp of dry leaves, drifted from just beyond the door. It was so sudden, so unexpected, that a shiver ran down Yu Xiao’s spine.


    “That was the last one, wasn’t it?” Zhou Xiao Zhen whispered, her voice barely audible. “The countdown. What happens now?” sea??h thё N?vel(F)ire.ηet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Wang Meng’s voice trembled. “I… I don’t know.”


    As if on cue, something slammed against the door with a resounding boom.


    — !!


    In the darkness, Nightmare’s eyes were wide open, taking it all in. He watched as the five talismans plastered on the door, their protective power instantly extinguished, fluttered to the ground like dead leaves.