《A Forum for Patients of Fourth Hospital》


 Chapter 1: Local Hospital 4 is a Mental Hospital

    In room 1304 on the 13th floor of the oncology department at People¡¯s Hospital, Yu Xiao (ÓàЦ: ¡°surplus of laughter¡± or ¡°extraordinary happiness¡±) entered, carrying two cardboard boxes. Despite the daylight outside, the room remained dim due to the drawn curtains.


    The doctors and nurses had recommended that the three patients in room 1304 expose themselves to sunlight, but they stubbornly refused to open the curtains. Eventually, the medical staff ceased trying, as nobody wanted to argue with individuals battling cancer.


    Zhao Lan (ÕÔá°: ¡°established in the clouds¡± or ¡°making a foothold in the mist¡±), lay in bed, receiving chemotherapy. She appeared pale and despondent, her young age of 28 making the diagnosis of cancer all the more devastating. Although the doctors didn¡¯t explicitly mention it, everyone knew her chances of recovery were slim.


    When Yu Xiao entered the room, Zhou Xiao Zhen (ÖÜСÕä: ¡°precious little circumference¡± or ¡°valuable perimeter of youth¡±) sat cross-legged on her bed and eagerly exclaimed, ¡°Smiley (Xiao Xiao: Little Smile), you¡¯re back! Did you buy anything good?¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen, who was only 18 years old and slightly overweight, had smooth, delicate skin as white as a steamed bun. Having shaved her head for chemotherapy, her round head resembled a soft-boiled egg. Among the three, her illness was the mildest, and the doctors had given her a favourable prognosis, which helped her maintain a cheerful and talkative nature. She loved chatting with Yu Xiao, and their conversations could last for hours.


    ¡°Um,¡± Yu Xiao weakly responded, placing two delivery boxes on the desk next to the hospital bed.


    At the young age of twenty, Yu Xiao was the only patient in the ward who still had a full head of hair and could move around without assistance. However, this wasn¡¯t because her condition was less severe, but quite the opposite. Her illness was so serious that surgery was not an option, and she was limited to conservative treatment with chemotherapy.


    Fortunately, she had only undergone one round of chemotherapy so far, and her hair loss wasn¡¯t too severe, allowing her the energy to go for a walk.


    Yu Xiao took a pair of scissors from the cabinet and carefully unpacked the delivery boxes. Inside, she found a thick stack of yellow paper, two brushes, a large box of vermilion powder, and a rectangular inkstone.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen watched her with curiosity. ¡°Smiley, what are these for? What do you use them for?¡±


    After finishing organising the materials, Yu Xiao began cutting the yellow paper with the scissors. She calmly replied, ¡°To draw talismans.¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen looked puzzled. ¡°Oh?¡±


    Yu Xiao continued cutting the paper into standard-sized rectangles before grabbing the vermilion ink and inkstone and heading to the bathroom.


    When she looked in the mirror, she saw a pale and gaunt face. Her eyes were large and round, while her mouth and nose were small and delicate, giving her a youthful appearance. That¡¯s why Zhou Xiao Zhen, who was two years younger, always called her Smiley.


    A month ago, Yu Xiao had been diagnosed with malignant brain cancer. Unfortunately, surgery was not an option because of the tumour¡¯s location, so the doctors recommended conservative treatment and observation in the hospital.


    During this month, her family had rarely visited her. Her parents divorced when she was in junior high and started new families with their new partners. As a child of a broken home, she had been living at school since junior high. It was only a month ago, when she was diagnosed with cancer, that her parents reunited.


    They cried in front of her once, brought her food a few times, and then gradually found excuses to stop visiting. Nevertheless, Yu Xiao was content with the situation. Even though her parents didn¡¯t show up, they were still generous in paying for her treatment and even hired a caregiver.


    After rinsing the ink stone, she dissolved the cinnabar powder in alcohol.


    Her new passion for talismanic drawings was ignited three days ago when the nurse finished her routine checkup. As usual, Yu Xiao hid her phone under the pillow. The doctor enforced strict curfew regulations, and any indication of phone usage after hours would result in reproachful admonishments from the nurse. To avoid scolding, Yu Xiao pretended to be asleep during every inspection.


    When she retrieved her phone, she realised that an unfamiliar application was downloading. Had she accidentally clicked on an advertisement? But before she could stop the download, the name of the app caught her attention ¨C the Fourth Hospital Patient Forum. She hesitated. Was it really necessary to have a forum specifically for patients?


    She patiently waited for the download to complete and eventually opened the app. The forum interface, decorated with a pink colour scheme, resembled other internet forums. The first thread she saw was an official announcement.


    Yu Xiao continued scrolling through the forum, her curiosity piqued by the cryptic thread titles.


    ¡¾Guide for the Morgue¡¿


    Confused, she clicked on the post and read a first-person account of someone¡¯s encounter with ghosts in a morgue and how they managed to escape.


    It was a ghost story!


    Already having trouble sleeping, Yu Xiao became even more awake. She scrolled further and found more posts related to ghosts, including one that listed various types of ghosts, their names, abilities, and even illustrations.


    This wasn¡¯t a patient forum; it was a forum for ghost stories!


    Suddenly, she remembered the name ¡°Fourth Hospital¡± and realised it was a psychiatric hospital in her area.


    Everything made sense now. This forum was for psychiatric patients to share their ghost stories.


    Intrigued, she continued reading. The patients¡¯ ghost stories were not typical spooky tales but were logically consistent, well-structured, and even had cliffhangers that kept readers engaged.


    Yu Xiao was impressed with the quality of the storytelling and read through several more posts.


    ¡°Surely everyone in the mental hospital is talented!¡± thought Yu Xiao as she scrolled through the online forum. The responses were varied and perplexing.


    ¡¾Thank you for sharing, may you have peace for the rest of your life, OP!¡¿ wrote one user.


    ¡¾How many health points did you gain from this level, OP?¡¿ questioned another.


    ¡¾Wuwuwu¡­ If only I had seen OP¡¯s post earlier, then there wouldn¡¯t be only me left alive in the ward.¡¿


    Yu Xiao couldn¡¯t understand the meaning of these replies. She wondered if it was her inability to keep up with the thoughts of mentally ill people.


    But then she stumbled upon a post that promised to teach readers how to become a master of talismans.


    Excitedly, she clicked on it, only to realise the discussion was about a game. The original poster recommended making talismans using cinnabar and yellow paper instead of buying them from the mall. By making them yourself, you can have as many talismans as you want, which can significantly increase your survival rate in the game.


    ¡¾OP is really talking nonsense. Can everyone learn to draw talismans?¡¿ asked one user.


    ¡¾I want to know what OP¡¯s success rate is,¡¿ commented another.


    ¡¾Where¡¯s the savings? Yellow paper and cinnabar are also expensive, you know?¡¿


    ¡¾Don¡¯t listen to them, OP. I want to learn!¡¿ declared yet another.


    ¡¾¡­¡¿


    Below was a picture of a yellow paper with red lines, a complex pattern of red lines covering the entire long sheet, making it look quite mysterious to Yu Xiao.


    ¡¾The Thunder Striking Ghost Repelling Talisman ÔËÀ×´òËî·û (a talisman for warding off evil spirits and summoning thunder) ¡¿


    The explanation for drawing the talisman followed, providing details on where to start and end each stroke and what to pay attention to during the process. The instructions were very thorough.


    Lastly, the poster claimed that the success rate of drawing this talisman was only 20%, which surprised Yu Xiao as the author seemed to consider it relatively high.


    Yu Xiao, an art student, found the patterns and lines of the talisman quite aesthetically pleasing, regardless of their authenticity.


    As she continued scrolling down the forum post, she became increasingly interested in the various strange symbols and talismans. Since she had nothing else to do while in the hospital, she searched for yellow paper and cinnabar on a popular shopping website. She found a whole set of relatively inexpensive tools for drawing talismans and ordered them. Three days later, the package arrived.


    Following the author¡¯s instructions to dissolve the cinnabar with alcohol, Yu Xiao brought the materials back to her hospital ward and neatly set up everything on her bedside table. She then sat on her bed and stared into space.


    Curiously, Zhou Xiao Zhen picked up one of the yellow papers that had been cut and asked, ¡°Are you really going to draw talismans? Like the ones in those ¡®Liaozhai Zhiyi¡¯ stories, to stick on ghosts?¡±


    (TN: ¡°Liaozhai Zhiyi¡± is a famous collection of supernatural stories written by Pu Songling in the Qing Dynasty. In the book, there are many stories about ghosts and spirits, and some involve the use of talismans or magical spells to control or communicate with them.)


    ¡°Yes,¡± Yu Xiao replied seriously, teasingly adding, ¡°Did you know that there is a ghost in our ward? I noticed her the moment I moved in. She is a female ghost who wanders around our beds every night. In order to prevent her from harming all of you, I must reveal my identity.¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen stared at Yu Xiao in bewilderment and asked, ¡°What identity?¡±


    With her hands pressed together, Yu Xiao said, ¡°Amitabha Buddha, I am Yu Xiao, the 250th generation descendant of Dragon and Tiger Mountain.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen was taken aback by her words. ¡°Really?¡± she exclaimed.


    ¡°Pfft!¡± Zhao Lan, who had been quietly receiving her intravenous drip, chuckled weakly and tenderly. ¡°Precious (Xiao Zhen), can¡¯t you see that Smiley is joking?¡±


    ¡°Haha, I knew it all along,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s face turned red as she tried to save face. ¡°I was just teasing her because she always looks so bored.¡±


    Zhao Lan turned toward Yu Xiao and asked, ¡°Smiley, I remember you were a fine arts student. Why did you suddenly start drawing charms?¡±


    ¡°Just looking for something to do when I¡¯m bored,¡± Yu Xiao dipped her pen into cinnabar ink and sat up straight. ¡°Don¡¯t disturb me, I¡¯m going to draw a charm.¡±


    The Thunder Striking Ghost Repelling Charm was the only one she could remember how to draw because all the other talismans were too complicated for her to remember. Following the instructions from the post on the forum, she tried to clear her mind and focused on the charm. Her mind was now as still as a calm lake.


    Next, she needed to pay homage to the gods, so she searched for an image of a god on her phone and worshipped it by bowing three times to the phone.


    ¡°It¡¯s done, it¡¯s done,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen muttered, watching Yu Xiao at work. ¡°The doctor said that the tumour in her brain might affect her thinking, and now it looks like her mind has been affected.¡±


    Zhao Lan sighed, ¡°Poor Smiley.¡± S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Yu Xiao opened her eyes, holding her pen in her right hand and lightly brushing red lines on the yellow paper.


    The quiet room was interrupted by a knock on the door.


    Yu Xiao was wholly focused on her task and wasn¡¯t disturbed. Zhou Xiao Zhen wondered who could be so polite as to knock when entering a multi-person ward and said, ¡°Come in!¡±


    However, there was no sound outside, nor did anyone push open the door.


    The knocking resumed, and Zhou Xiao Zhen impatiently said, ¡°The door isn¡¯t locked, come in!¡±

 Chapter 2: The game is on

    ¡°Who knocks on the door and laughs outside instead of coming in like an idiot?¡± Zhao Lan, who was still receiving an IV drip and unable to move, was irritated by the knocking and laughter outside. ¡°Precious, could you please go and see what¡¯s happening?¡±


    (The phrase ¡°ÇÃÃŲ»½ø¡± (¡°When opportunity knocks, but one doesn¡¯t take it¡± or ¡°Knocking on the door but not coming in) is a common idiom in Chinese, meaning ¡°someone missing an opportunity or failing to take advantage of a chance presented to them¡± or ¡°someone who teases or provokes without actually following through¡±.)


    Annoyed, Zhou Xiao Zhen got out of bed without bothering to put on her hat, revealing her shiny bald head, and walked towards the door. Just as she was about to open it, she heard a strange sound outside, as if someone was scratching the door with their fingernails.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s hand froze on the doorknob. Something was not right. Could there be crazy people in the hospital? This was the tumour surgery department, not a psychiatric ward. The hospital staff wouldn¡¯t play such pranks.


    The scratching sound continued, and Zhou Xiao Zhen instinctively lowered her head, only to see a black piece of paper being pushed through the gap in the door. It appeared to be some kind of leaflet.


    Someone was distributing leaflets in the hospital?


    Yu Xiao breathed a sigh of relief as she looked at the talisman she had just drawn. The person who taught her how to draw the talisman in the forum had said that a successful talisman would emit a faint glow on the paper when finished. She examined the paper closely, but there was nothing there. It was probably a lie.


    She rubbed her tired eyes. Due to the tumour, she had developed intermittent hearing loss. The doctor had warned her that if she didn¡¯t receive effective treatment, the tumour could eventually affect her optic nerve.


    Lately, her eyes had been easily fatigued. She wondered if it was due to the tumour.


    Stretching lazily, she noticed Zhou Xiao Zhen standing at the door with her back turned to them.


    ¡°Precious,¡± Yu Xiao asked, ¡°what are you doing over there?¡±


    Zhao Lan, who was lying down, said, ¡°Someone knocked on the door and laughed outside just now. Precious went to see.¡±


    ¡°Look, ladies,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen turned around and held up the black paper in her hand. ¡°The person we just saw seemed to be handing out flyers.¡±


    ¡°Really?¡± Yu Xiao had never heard of anyone distributing flyers in a hospital ward before, so she asked, ¡°What kind of flyers?¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen flipped over the flyer and said, ¡°Let me see¡­ Congratulations on being selected, and welcome to the Hospital Survival Game.¡±


    Upon reading that, she couldn¡¯t help but exclaim, ¡°What the heck is this?¡±


    Zhao Lan coughed and asked, ¡°Is it some kind of coupon?¡±


    ¡°Doesn¡¯t look like it¡­ let me keep reading.¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen continued, ¡°Your ward has been chosen by the Sixth Hospital. Please follow the hospital regulations and cooperate actively with the treatment. Please handle doctor-patient relationships properly¡­¡±


    ¡°Is there more?¡± Yu Xiao asked.


    ¡°There¡¯s one more sentence,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen said, ¡°Wishing all patients a speedy recovery and early discharge, yo~¡±


    Yu Xiao burst into laughter immediately. ¡°Why are you trying to be cute?¡± she asked.


    ¡°I¡¯m not trying to be cute,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen said as she handed Yu Xiao the flyer. ¡°It¡¯s written like this.¡±


    Yu Xiao took the flyer and noticed that the last word in the last line was indeed ¡°yo,¡± with a wavy line following it.


    ¡°Is this a flyer from the hospital?¡± Zhao Lan asked from her bed. ¡°Isn¡¯t this the People¡¯s Hospital? Why is it changed to the Sixth Hospital?¡±


    As Yu Xiao looked at the black and white flyer, she felt that something was off.


    ¡°Welcome to the Hospital Survival Game¡­¡±


    The Hospital Survival Game sounded like an advertisement for some sort of haunted house. For some reason, she thought of the Fourth Hospital¡¯s patient forum, but this one was for the Sixth Hospital.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen said. ¡°I¡¯ll go to the nurse¡¯s station and ask.¡±


    As Yu Xiao pondered the potential connection between the Sixth Hospital and the forum, a sudden scream made her jump. She looked up to see Zhou Xiao Zhen standing at the door of the ward, the darkness outside enveloping her as she let out a piercing shriek.


    Zhao Lan, struggling to sit up, asked, ¡°What¡¯s happening?¡±


    Shaking all over, Zhou Xiao Zhen pointed outside and stammered, ¡°What¡­ what¡¯s going on?¡±


    Yu Xiao got off her bed and walked slowly towards the door, mindful of the doctor¡¯s advice not to engage in any strenuous activity. Even walking needed to be done slowly.


    When she reached the door, she finally understood why Zhou Xiao Zhen had screamed. The hallway outside the ward, usually lit up 24/7, was now pitch black ¨C not the kind of darkness that comes with night, but a thick, inky blackness that seemed to be hiding something ominous.


    Despite not being able to see anything, they had a feeling that something terrible was lurking out there, just waiting to pounce on them.


    After thinking for a moment, Yu Xiao said seriously, ¡°Has the tumour finally started affecting my optic nerve?¡±


    ¡°No¡­ no, look!¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen pulled at Yu Xiao¡¯s sleeve, still shaking, and pointed downwards.


    Yu Xiao followed her gaze and saw that the ground outside the door was also shrouded in darkness. But there was a red blotch spreading towards them from a place they couldn¡¯t see, like a pool of flowing blood.


    The two of them stared intently at the growing blotch of red while Zhao Lan, on the bed, grew increasingly agitated. ¡°What are you seeing? Why is it so dark outside? Has the light gone out?¡±


    Just then, a pale, swollen hand with black nail polish appeared at the door. Zhou Xiao Zhen let out another terrified scream, ¡°Ahh!¡±


    With a swing of her hand, Yu Xiao slammed the door shut with a loud ¡°bang.¡±


    Little did she know that a hand obstructed the door, preventing it from closing properly and causing it to bounce back, widening the opening even more.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen screamed once again, ¡°Ah!!!¡±


    Yu Xiao closed the door once more, forcefully slamming it shut. Four pallid fingers were caught in the door, writhing and twisting, while the black nails scratched against the wood, emitting a grating noise.


    ¡°What the blazes is this thing?¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen panicked and started jumping up and down. ¡°It¡¯s coming in!¡±


    ¡°Thud!¡±


    ¡°Thud thud¡­¡±


    Something outside was pounding relentlessly on the door, causing Yu Xiao¡¯s entire body to press against it and bounce up and down from the impact.


    ¡°Quick, lock the door!¡± urged Zhou Xiao Zhen. ¡°Lock the door now!¡±


    Yu Xiao¡¯s face turned crimson as she replied, ¡°Those fingers are trapped, I can¡¯t close it!¡±


    At this point, Zhou Xiao Zhen was too frightened to care. She lifted her foot and kicked the four fingers, delivering eight consecutive blows. However, as a cancer patient, she was too feeble to continue. Gasping for breath, she leaned against the door and said, ¡°It¡¯s no use¡­ this thing is too stubborn. Even if I twist the fingers into knots, it won¡¯t give up.¡±


    Yu Xiao lowered her head and observed the four fingers, now dirty and twisted into a strange shape, trembling.


    A strange noise came from outside the door. Yu Xiao pressed her ear against the door and listened. It sounded like a woman¡¯s shrill scream. Despite the pain, Yu Xiao refused to let go. She gritted her teeth and said, ¡°I¡¯ll hold it back. There¡¯s a knife in the bedside drawer. Go get it and cut off the fingers.¡±


    ¡°Ah?¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen looked at her in shock, thinking to herself, ¡®I didn¡¯t expect this. My soft-spoken and gentle sister is actually tough.¡¯


    She gritted her teeth and said, ¡°I¡¯ll go get it.¡±


    As soon as she finished speaking, the hand stuck in the door suddenly pulled back, causing the door to slam shut with a loud ¡°bang.¡±


    Yu Xiao quickly locked the door.


    By now, Yu Xiao¡¯s back was drenched in cold sweat.


    ¡°What¡¯s happening?¡± Zhao Lan trembled as she got out of bed. She couldn¡¯t walk far because she still had an IV in her arm. ¡°What are you talking about? Whose fingers do you want to cut off?¡±


    Yu Xiao and Zhou Xiao Zhen stood side by side at the door, frozen as if being punished. After a moment, Yu Xiao asked, ¡°I¡¯m not sure if my tumour has affected my optic nerve, but I just saw a hand stuck in the door. Did you see it too?¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen vigorously nodded, ¡°Of course I saw it!¡±


    ¡°Oh,¡± Yu Xiao suddenly chuckled, ¡°then it must be my tumour affecting my thinking. I must be going crazy, hehehe¡­¡±


    ¡°You need to snap out of it!¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen grabbed Yu Xiao¡¯s shoulder and shook her vigorously. ¡°You¡¯re not crazy, and you¡¯re not hallucinating. There really is a ghost hand!¡±


    ¡°What? What ghost hand?¡± Zhao Lan was completely bewildered.


    ¡°It¡¯s haunted, Misty!¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen dragged Yu Xiao away from the door. ¡°There¡¯s a ghost outside! What do we do? Will the ghost come in¡­¡±


    Zhao Lan was completely at a loss. ¡°Don¡¯t get so excited. What did you two really see? Oh my, Smiley, you tell me. Is there really a ghost outside?¡±


    As soon as the words were spoken, the ceiling lamp flickered, plunging the entire ward into darkness. S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Aaaaahhhhh~!¡±


    A deafening scream reverberated in Yu Xiao¡¯s ears, causing her head to buzz and almost rendering her deaf. Suddenly, a pair of icy hands climbed up her neck, and she felt someone clinging onto her body.


    Initially, Yu Xiao thought it was Zhou Xiao Zhen, who was scared and had thrown herself onto her. She reached out and embraced the person, using her other hand to grip the edge of the bed to prevent herself from falling.


    ¡°Precious, don¡¯t be afraid,¡± Yu Xiao tried to keep her voice steady. ¡°Don¡¯t hold onto me too tightly, or I might lose my balance.¡±


    But just as she finished speaking, she heard Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s trembling voice from behind her: ¡°I¡­ I¡¯m not hugging you.¡±


    Yu Xiao immediately stiffened. If Zhou Xiao Zhen was behind her, then who was hanging onto her?


    ¡°Ten.¡±


    ¡°Nine.¡±


    A woman¡¯s voice whispered slowly into her ear.


    ¡°Wu wu wu~¡­¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen cried out in fear. ¡°Who¡¯s counting down?¡±


    With a sharp electric sound, the lamp flickered before illuminating the room.


    Yu Xiao instinctively closed her eyes, feeling something brush past her. Finally, a sense of relief washed over her. Reluctantly adjusting to the sudden brightness, she saw Zhao Lan squatting by the bed, while Zhou Xiao Zhen lay curled up under the quilt.


    It wasn¡¯t Zhou Xiao Zhen who had been clinging onto her just now.


    ¡°What was that voice just now?¡± Zhao Lan stood up, leaning on the bed. ¡°What¡¯s happening?¡±


    Yu Xiao paused, then turned around and picked up the black flyer that Zhou Xiao Zhen had dropped on the ground. Everything suddenly made sense.


    The Fourth Hospital patient communication forum wasn¡¯t for mental patients; they had unintentionally stumbled upon a cruel and mysterious game.

 Chapter 3: Would you like some braised human ribs?

    With a wry smile, Yu Xiao raised her head and offered, ¡°I have both good news and bad news for you. Which one would you like to hear first?¡±


    Without hesitation, Zhou Xiao Zhen firmly replied, ¡°Let¡¯s hear the bad news first!¡±


    Curious, Zhao Lan couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°May I ask why?¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen wrapped her blanket around herself and explained, ¡°I like to eat sweet candy after taking bitter medicine.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡± Yu Xiao¡¯s mouth twitched. She hesitated before revealing, ¡°The bad news is that there are actually ghosts outside.¡±


    Before Zhao Lan could express her shock, Zhou Xiao Zhen burst into tears. Tears and snot ran down her face as she cried, ¡°I knew our condition couldn¡¯t be cured. Now the ghosts have come to take us away. Whimper¡­¡±


    Her weeping made the other two feel uneasy and unsure of how to comfort her. Zhao Lan tried to console her, ¡°Smiley, what¡¯s the good news?¡±


    Holding a pamphlet, Yu Xiao gazed at them and said, ¡°The good news is that I know why there are ghosts.¡±


    Zhao Lan and Zhou Xiao Zhen were left stunned. After a moment, Zhou Xiao Zhen, with red eyes, asked, ¡°Is it because of the King of Hell?¡±


    Yu Xiao shook her head and replied, ¡°No, it¡¯s not.¡± She was about to explain what she knew when she noticed Zhao Lan¡¯s face light up with anticipation. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Zhao Lan looked at her and asked, ¡°Are you really the 250th generation disciple of Maoshan (a Taoist school in China)?¡±


    ¡°¡­.No,¡± Yu Xiao was completely speechless. She reached for her phone on the nearby table and continued, ¡°This all started three days ago when I couldn¡¯t sleep and was playing with my phone. Suddenly, my phone automatically downloaded a forum¡­¡±


    She accessed the forum for patients at Fourth Hospital to exchange ideas and shared everything she knew with them. She concluded, ¡°At first, I thought it was a forum for patients with mental illnesses, but it seems that¡¯s not the case. They must be like us, suddenly thrown into Fourth Hospital and dealing with ghosts every day.¡±


    The three individuals in the ward were young and had diverse interests in novels, animations, and films, making them open-minded about various topics. They quickly acknowledged this fact, and then Zhao Lan raised a concern, ¡°However, this is the Fourth Hospital forum, and we are in the Sixth Hospital.¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen replied, ¡°What¡¯s so strange about that? The Fourth and Fifth Hospitals must have been full, so it¡¯s our turn in the Sixth Hospital.¡±


    This reasoning seemed convincing, prompting Zhao Lan to ask, ¡°Does that mean there are forums for the First, Second, and Third Hospitals as well?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s highly likely,¡± Yu Xiao smiled as she scrolled through the forum. There were numerous posts, and the post about drawing talismans was a popular topic consistently at the top.


    She tried to create a thread and ask about the situation, but couldn¡¯t post because the forum indicated that she wasn¡¯t logged in. So, she attempted to register, but the system informed her that she couldn¡¯t register because she wasn¡¯t in the service area.


    The three of them looked at her phones in astonishment. Zhao Lan, who was socially experienced, suggested, ¡°Maybe we can¡¯t register because we¡¯re from Sixth Hospital?¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen added, ¡°That means there¡¯s probably a forum for patients at Sixth Hospital.¡±


    ¡°Uh-huh,¡± Yu Xiao nodded and asked, ¡°Has anyone received any notifications on their phone?¡±


    None of their phones showed any activity.


    Yu Xiao thought it was unfair for Fourth Hospital to have a forum while Sixth Hospital had none. It was clearly discriminatory.


    While contemplating, Zhou Xiao Zhen suddenly pointed to a black flyer in the corner and said, ¡°Hey, look over there. There¡¯s a QR code.¡±


    Yu Xiao leaned in closer and, to her surprise, she discovered a small QR code. She scanned it with her phone and sarcastically commented, ¡°It¡¯s as if they were afraid we would notice it.¡±


    A message popped up that said, ¡¾Do you want to download the forum for the Sixth Hospital patients¡¯ exchange? Y/N¡¿


    Just as they suspected!


    The three of them proceeded to download the forum. To their surprise, the Sixth Hospital forum was quite empty, with only one post from an administrator outlining the forum rules.


    Zhao Lan concluded, ¡°This means the Sixth Hospital must have recently opened. We¡¯re among the first patients here.¡±


    ¡°Oh-ho-ho~¡­¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen chuckled, ¡°I suddenly feel a little proud.¡±


    ¡°¡­,¡± Yu Xiao stared at her, at a loss for words. She had reached the final step of the registration process, which required her to choose a nickname.


    After considering ideas for a nickname, Yu Xiao thought for a moment before entering the name ¡¾Warrior of Light¡¿. However, the system quickly responded with the message:


    ¡¾Sorry, the nickname you entered already exists.¡¿


    Determined to find a unique name, Yu Xiao tried two more names, ¡¾Pretty Soldier¡¿ and ¡¾Sixth Hospital Director¡¿, only to receive the same response from the system.


    Becoming increasingly frustrated with the uncooperative system, Yu Xiao decided to try entering a random name. To her surprise, they received a congratulatory message that said:


    ¡¾Congratulations, user ¡®Deaf Descendant¡¯! (ÁûµÄ´«ÈË) You have successfully registered.¡¿


    (TN: a play on words, as the phrase for ¡°deaf¡± and ¡°dragon¡± sound similar in Chinese)


    Feeling disheartened by her own experience, Yu Xiao turned to the others and asked how they were doing.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen responded with a serious expression, ¡°Not yet. It keeps telling me that the nickname I entered already exists.¡±


    Zhao Lan chimed in, ¡°I haven¡¯t either. Since the Sixth Hospital recently opened, it¡¯s improbable to have such a large number of registered users. It appears that all the hospitals share a common set of nicknames, and we can only choose from the remaining ones from the first five hospitals.¡±


    After some time, the trio finally managed to register. Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s nickname became ¡¾Braised Egg Girl 438¡¿(±µ°ÉÙÅ®438), and Zhao Lan¡¯s was ¡¾Nickname Hassle¡¿(êdzƺÃÄÑ).


    (¡°Â±µ°¡± literally means ¡°braised egg¡± and is a slang term for someone who is a bit of a goofball)


    When they saw each other¡¯s nicknames, they both felt relieved to realise that they were not the only ones with bad nicknames.


    ¡°I¡¯ll make a post asking about the situation,¡± Zhao Lan said, starting to create a new post. And then¡­


    ¡°I found a problem,¡± Yu Xiao announced to the other two, who were busy scouring the forums with their heads together.


    Without looking up, they asked, ¡°What problem?¡±


    ¡°Isn¡¯t this game supposed to be about surviving in a hospital?¡± Yu Xiao questioned.


    ¡°Of course,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen confirmed, ¡°It¡¯s clearly advertised as a hospital survival game.¡±


    ¡°In that case,¡± Yu Xiao stated, ¡°what is the most important factor for survival?¡±


    ¡°Staying alive,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen replied matter-of-factly. ¡°You have to evade the ghosts and stay alive.¡±


    ¡°No, that¡¯s essentially an escape game,¡± Yu Xiao said, holding a cup in one hand. ¡°But isn¡¯t staying alive the most crucial element of survival? And when it comes to staying alive, isn¡¯t eating the most important thing?¡±


    Zhao Lan, who had been browsing the forum, was jolted by her words and looked up. ¡°You¡¯re right. What about our dinner?¡±


    Typically, family members could bring or buy food, caregivers could arrange it, or hospital canteen staff could sell food from carts. However, their current situation presented a problem: family members and caregivers were not allowed to enter. As for buying food from the canteen¡­


    ¡°Will there still be people selling food?¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen asked anxiously. ¡°There are ghosts outside.¡±


    As soon as she spoke, a familiar sound echoed from outside ¨C the sound of a cart wheel rolling down the hallway. The three companions exchanged glances, and Zhao Lan¡¯s face turned pale as she suggested, ¡°Why don¡¯t we skip dinner tonight? Missing one meal won¡¯t harm us.¡±


    As the weakest among them, if Zhao Lan could afford to skip a meal, then her companions could too. They weren¡¯t sure if the person pushing the cart outside was a human or a ghost, so it was best not to take any risks.


    However, Yu Xiao raised a concern, holding a flyer in her hand. ¡°According to this flyer, we are required to follow hospital regulations and cooperate with treatment. Wouldn¡¯t not eating be considered a violation of the rules?¡±


    Zhao Lan responded calmly, ¡°At the very least, it wouldn¡¯t be cooperating with treatment.¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen then got out of bed, opened her cabinet, and pulled out a bulging pink backpack. With a mysterious look on her face, she placed it on the bed, unzipped it, and proudly announced, ¡°I have food.¡±


    Yu Xiao and Zhao Lan leaned in to get a closer look. They saw several bags of chips, spicy sticks, and carbonated drinks.


    ¡°¡­¡±


    As Yu Xiao saw the colourful array of junk food, her appetite suddenly woke up. She reached for a bag of spicy sticks, causing Zhao Lan to look at her with a hint of concern. ¡°What if eating junk food is seen as not actively cooperating with the treatment?¡± she asked.


    ¡°¡­¡±


    Yu Xiao paused, thinking about the possible consequences. ¡°What do you suggest then?¡± she reluctantly responded, putting the spicy sticks back down. ¡°Should we go and buy some food? But what if the person pushing the cart is a ghost?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve already considered that,¡± reassured Zhao Lan. ¡°Based on the information I read on the Fourth Hospital forum, they¡¯ve been surviving in the game for a while. Even with a large stockpile, they would have depleted their supplies by now, so they must have a fixed source for replenishing their stocks.¡±


    The three of them turned towards the door. If there was a fixed source of food in the hospital, it was likely to be the food cart from the cafeteria.


    Yu Xiao approached the door, pressing her ear against it to listen for any sounds outside. Meanwhile, Zhao Lan and Zhou Xiao Zhen leaned in to listen as well.


    For a brief moment, the sound of the cart could be heard from outside, until it abruptly ceased. The three individuals exchanged perplexed looks when, out of nowhere, a voice spoke as if the speaker was standing right by the door.


    ¡°Would you like some braised human ribs?¡±

 Chapter 4: All the patients are brave

    ¡°¡­¡±


    The hospital room was enveloped in an eerie silence, and Zhou Xiao Zhen couldn¡¯t hold back her tears as she covered her mouth.


    ¡°Why are you crying?¡± scolded Yu Xiao, before turning towards the door and saying, ¡°Thank you, but no thank you.¡±


    There was a moment of silence outside, followed by a voice that said, ¡°Are you sure? I have a variety of delectable dishes here: braised liar¡¯s tongue, boneless children¡¯s feet, cold mixed shredded widow¡­¡±


    With each dish mentioned, the faces of the three individuals in the hospital room turned pale, and Zhao Lan couldn¡¯t bear it any longer as she exclaimed, ¡°No, no, please leave immediately!¡±


    ¡°What a pity, so much mouthwatering food,¡± the voice outside lamented while loudly salivating, ¡°Hehe~ The only ones not eating here is the food.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    The sound of a cart being pushed outside resumed, causing Yu Xiao and the other two to exchange glances.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen, who was timid, observed the serious expressions on her two fellow hospital sisters¡¯ faces and cautiously inquired, ¡°What did those words mean?¡±


    Yu Xiao turned her gaze towards Zhou Xiao Zhen and gently reached out to touch her head, which was full with prickly little hairs. Affectionately, she remarked, ¡°You¡¯re still in high school, aren¡¯t you? Your reading comprehension needs improvement.¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen pouted and felt the urge to cry again, but Zhao Lan intervened by pushing away Yu Xiao¡¯s hand and admonishing, ¡°What are you doing? Don¡¯t tease Precious.¡±


    ¡®Zhao Lan is always the best!¡¯ Zhou Xiao Zhen gazed at Zhao Lan in awe as she gently explained, ¡°It means that those who do not eat will be eaten by ghosts.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°Waaah~¡­¡±


    ¡°Shh.¡± Yu Xiao pressed a finger against her lips, signalling for both of them to stay silent. ¡°Here they come again.¡±


    The sound of the cart being pushed outside grew louder and louder. Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s face was soaked with tears as she glanced at Zhao Lan.


    Zhao Lan suddenly felt a sense of responsibility as the eldest sister. She reached out and comforted the younger girl, saying, ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid. At least now we know how to differentiate between a person and a ghost outside.¡±


    After speaking, she leaned against the door, straining to listen to the sounds outside.


    The noise of the cart quickly faded away, and a rather pleasant male voice spoke softly, ¡°Would you like to buy some food?¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s face brightened. ¡°The voice sounds so nice. It must be a human, right?¡±


    Zhao Lan motioned for her to be quiet, then inquired of the person at the door, ¡°What dishes do you have?¡±


    The voice responded, ¡°We have steamed eggs, shredded potatoes, braised chicken, stir-fried cabbage, and egg drop soup with seaweed¡­¡±


    ¡°All of these dishes are for humans!¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen exclaimed excitedly. ¡°We should definitely order something!¡±


    Zhao Lan furrowed her eyebrows briefly, but then relaxed. There was nothing suspicious about the delivery person this time.


    ¡°Alright,¡± the person outside responded. ¡°What dishes would you like?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m actually quite hungry. I think I¡¯ll order the braised chicken,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen suggested, seeking their opinions. ¡°I¡¯m craving some meat.¡±


    Zhao Lan leaned against the door, a smile appearing on her pale face. ¡°I don¡¯t have much of an appetite, so I¡¯ll just have the steamed eggs. Smiley, what would you like to eat?¡±


    Yu Xiao coughed softly, feeling exhausted and lacking appetite. She simply wanted something to go with rice. She inquired, ¡°What flavour is the shredded potato?¡±


    There was a brief silence outside, before a voice replied, ¡°It¡¯s salty.¡±


    Although Yu Xiao initially wanted to order spicy and sour shredded potato, she also enjoyed the regular version. Hence, she decided, ¡°In that case, I¡¯ll have an order of shredded potato.¡±


    The three of them placed their orders, and the sound of food being packed into containers could be heard from outside. Shortly after, a gentle knock on the door followed. ¡°Alright, open the door to receive your food.¡±


    Zhao Lan took a step back, and Zhou Xiao Zhen unlocked the door. Just as she was about to open it, there was a click. Yu Xiao grabbed Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s hand and locked the door with her other hand..


    Zhou Xiao Zhen: ¡°?¡±


    Yu Xiao asked from outside, ¡°Are you Lil¡¯ Chen (³Â: ¡°to lay out¡± or ¡°to display¡±), right? Usually, you and your mother deliver the food together. Why are you alone today?¡±


    ¡°My mother is sick,¡± the same low but pleasant voice said. ¡°So I came by myself.¡±


    After a moment of silence, Zhou Xiao Zhen asked, ¡°Is the tanned Uncle who sells food every day called Lil¡¯ Chen?¡±


    Yu Xiao appeared frightened and responded, ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡±


    ¡°Oh dear, we¡¯ve been discovered!¡± The voice from outside suddenly grew louder. ¡°Open the door!¡±


    The door was forcefully struck, producing a jarring noise.


    ¡°Ah!!¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen trembled, and Yu Xiao promptly rescued the door.


    ¡°I nearly let him in just now. I almost killed you all¡­¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s complexion turned pale.


    Bang! The door continued to be pounded.


    Just when Yu Xiao was feeling lost, Zhou Xiao Zhen suddenly stood up straight and slapped the door with her palm, creating a loud bang.


    With shocked expressions, Yu Xiao and Zhao Lan watched as she yelled, ¡°Why are you making noise? You dead thing! If you dare to hit the door again, I¡¯ll fight you! I haven¡¯t taken a shit in five days, you dare to mess with me, I¡¯ll make you eat a shit biscuit¡­ ¡°


    Ever since entering this dreadful game, Zhou Xiao Zhen had been living in constant fear. Now, she let out a stream of insults, finally finding some relief. After finishing her outburst, she listened for any sounds outside and realised it had gone quiet. Whatever had been hitting the door seemed to have vanished.


    ¡°Phew, finally gone,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen exclaimed in relief as she wiped the cold sweat from her forehead. She then turned to see Zhao Lan and Yu Xiao, but noticed their peculiar expressions. ¡°Misty, I¡­ huh? Why are you both giving me that look?¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    Zhao Lan remained silent, leaving Zhou Xiao Zhen puzzled.


    ¡°Very good,¡± Yu Xiao praised, giving Zhou Xiao Zhen a pat on the shoulder. ¡°Keep up this momentum.¡±


    Blushing, Zhou Xiao Zhen shyly admitted, ¡°Actually, I¡¯m not usually like this.¡±


    ¡°We know,¡± Zhao Lan smiled at her and then pressed her ear against the door. She turned to Yu Xiao and said, ¡°It was really dangerous just now. Thankfully, you were alert. What should we do now? Even ghosts can pretend to be regular food delivery guys.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m considering,¡± Yu Xiao furrowed her brow.


    Her biggest concern at the moment was the difficulty of distinguishing between the real food delivery guys and the imposters. She was also worried about how frequently the food deliveries would occur. If they missed the genuine delivery person, they would go hungry. Based on their speculation, if the patients didn¡¯t eat, they would become food for the ghosts.


    There was no time for deep contemplation, as the sound of a cart could be heard outside.


    ¡°Do you want to buy food?¡±


    Yu Xiao decided to alter her strategy and responded, ¡°Yes, we would like to buy some food, but we are unsure of the best options here. By the way, what is your favourite dish? Could you recommend something to us?¡±


    ¡°Ah¡­¡± it seemed as though the person outside was thinking or reminiscing. ¡°Without a doubt, it would be the barbecue cheater¡¯s heart.¡±


    Yu Xiao shut her eyes and replied with a cold tone, ¡°Move along, next one!¡±


    ¡­


    ¡°Wanna buy food?¡±


    ¡°Buy.¡±


    Yu Xiao asked, ¡°Recommend me your favourite dish.¡±


    ¡°Sour and spicy fish.¡±


    Hmm? The three of them exchanged glances, puzzled. Zhou Xiao Zhen whispered, ¡°Could this person be the real delivery guy?¡±


    ¡°Perhaps,¡± Zhao Lan said. ¡°Let¡¯s give it another try.¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen cleared her throat and said, ¡°Are you Lil¡¯ Chen? You used to come with your mom to deliver food, but today you¡¯re alone?¡±


    The person outside seemed to be in a bad mood. ¡°I¡¯m not named Chen. My mom passed away years ago. I¡¯ve been delivering food by myself for many years!¡±


    The three of them were delighted to hear this response. Zhao Lan asked, ¡°So, what dishes do you have?¡±


    ¡°I have radish soup, shredded potatoes, steamed eggs, and celery and pork stir-fry¡­¡±


    ¡°The dishes appear to be normal,¡± Zhao Lan carefully considered and found no issues. ¡°I do recall that the delivery uncle who comes every day has a bad temper.¡±


    ¡°Are you sure?¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen placed her hand on the doorknob. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s place the order then.¡±


    At this point, they didn¡¯t really care about what to eat. They were not picky anymore.


    Just as they were about to order, Yu Xiao suddenly remarked, ¡°The cafeteria food tastes really good. By the way, what other ingredients do they use besides salt, soy sauce, human brains, and MSG?¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡± The person outside seemed incredibly perplexed. ¡°Just adding human brains is enough to make it delicious. Do I need to add anything else?¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen, feeling exhausted, suggested, ¡°Should we just have potato chips for dinner tonight?¡±


    An impatient voice from outside interrupted, ¡°Are you buying or not?¡±


    ¡°Get lost!!¡±


    Yu Xiao, physically and emotionally drained, leaned against the door, her ears ringing. She weakly admitted, ¡°I can¡¯t handle this anymore. It feels like my intermittent hearing loss is flaring up again.¡±


    ¡°Oh no! What should we do?¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen looked at her with concern.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry about me, I¡¯ll be fine after getting some sleep.¡±


    ¡°No, that¡¯s not the issue,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen said, almost in tears. ¡°If you can¡¯t hear, how will we be able to tell if it¡¯s a person or a ghost outside? We¡¯re stupid. Without you, what can we do?¡±


    Veins throbbed on Zhao Lan¡¯s forehead as she held back her emotions for a moment. Finally, unable to contain herself any longer, she placed her palm on Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s head and gently stroked it. ¡°Your little head is so beautiful and you speak so well.¡±


    ¡°What?¡± Yu Xiao looked at the two of them in confusion, unable to hear their conversation. ¡°What are you talking about?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s over! She can¡¯t hear us,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen suddenly felt hopeless about life. Then, she turned to Zhao Lan and said with determination, ¡°Misty, if the ghost comes in, let me be the first to die. As a ghost, I will protect all of you.¡±


    Faced with this serious request, Zhao Lan didn¡¯t know how to respond. Fortunately, the sound of a cart outside the door saved her.


    Yu Xiao regretted accepting the nickname ¡®Deaf Descendant¡¯. She didn¡¯t expect that she really wouldn¡¯t be able to hear at this critical moment. The two in front of her were moving their mouths, but her world remained silent. S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Do you want to buy some food?¡± a seemingly ordinary male voice asked.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen looked at Yu Xiao seeking reassurance before responding, ¡°The food in the cafeteria is really good. By the way, besides salt, soy sauce, MSG, and human brains, what other seasonings does your cafeteria use?¡±


    There was silence outside the door.


    Zhao Lan let out a sigh of relief, thinking it was just another ghost.


    However, the person outside the door grew angry. ¡°Are you nuts? Who eats human brains? I don¡¯t have time to waste with you¡­¡±


    With that, the sound of the cart slowly faded away from their ward.


    Zhao Lan¡¯s mind exploded. She impulsively slapped the door and yelled, ¡°Wait! We were just joking. Please come back! If you don¡¯t, we¡¯ll starve!¡±


    Yu Xiao, standing beside them, grew concerned. She observed the sudden outburst from both of them, banging on the door and shouting at something outside. She recalled Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s earlier display of shooting outside and felt reassured. Despite their lack of survival skills in their ward, their mouth¡¯s offensive power was formidable.


    As they continued to curse vehemently at the door, it looked like they were determined to forcefully open the door and confront the person on the other side.

 Chapter 5: The ghost comes in during ward rounds

    After a brief moment, Zhou Xiao Zhen tapped her phone and handed it to Yu Xiao. The note displayed on the screen said, ¡°Smiley, we¡¯ve decided to open the door.¡±


    Yu Xiao glanced at them, and they returned her gaze. Their worried expressions and tight lips revealed their anxiety. Yu Xiao¡¯s smile remained unwavering and determined. ¡°Go ahead, I trust you.¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s eyes welled up with tears as she thanked Yu Xiao profusely. ¡°I¡¯m grateful to have met you and become friends. Even if opening the door leads to our deaths, I would accept it. I have no regrets if I can face death with you.¡±


    With these words, she placed her hand and took a deep breath. As she turned it to open, she stole a last deep look at her two cherished friends.


    ¡­Zhao Lan who stood behind the bed, wearing a slightly awkward expression. And then she glanced at Yu Xiao, who stood farther away next to the bathroom, clutching the talisman paper she had drawn, her eyes closed as she whispered incantations.


    ¡°Why are you standing so far away?!¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen felt betrayed.


    Zhao Lan forced a laugh, saying, ¡°It¡¯s crowded when there are too many people.¡±


    ¡°No!¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s emotions dampened, and she grabbed Zhao Lan¡¯s hand. ¡°Come over here and open the door with us, and Smiley, come over here too.¡±


    ¡°Smiley can¡¯t hear¡­¡± Zhao Lan said.


    ¡°I¡¯ll go get her,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen replied.


    The three young women squeezed behind the door, and Yu Xiao looked troubled.


    Despite being diagnosed with a terminal illness, she hadn¡¯t reached the stage of accepting her fate. She could only pray that her ancestors would protect her and that the person outside was a genuine delivery person. However, she soon realised that if her ancestors truly had the power to intervene, she wouldn¡¯t have developed a terminal illness at such a young age. Her distressed expression deepened.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen and Zhao Lan opened the door together. The wooden door, with its natural colour, creaked open slightly. The thick, fog-like darkness tried to rush in, but it seemed to be blocked by an invisible barrier.


    Although Yu Xiao couldn¡¯t hear anything, she could feel the coldness and malevolence.


    The three of them stared at the crack, their nerves on edge, forgetting to even breathe. S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Suddenly, the door shook slightly, as if someone outside was touching it. Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s body went limp and she leaned against Zhao Lan, who was weak and unable to support her weight. Zhao Lan then leaned on Yu Xiao. Despite struggling, Yu Xiao clenched her teeth and silently braced herself against the wall.


    Under the gaze of the six pairs of eyes, a white object approached the crack in the door. The object was so white that most of it was hidden in the darkness, making it impossible to discern its specific shape through the crack. Then, the object got stuck, as the crack was too narrow.


    As the three of them contemplated whether to lock the door again, a pale, emaciated hand resembling that of a corpse suddenly thrust itself into the crack.


    ¡°Ah!¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen let out a brief and urgent scream, raising her leg to kick the hand. Just at that crucial moment, a calm voice from outside the door interrupted, ¡°Don¡¯t move. I¡¯m here to deliver food.¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s leg remained suspended in the air. The hand swiftly widened the crack and inserted a bulging white plastic bag. The shape of the bag indicated that it contained multiple boxes, and a faint aroma of food wafted out.


    Overwhelmed with joy, Zhou Xiao Zhen burst into tears. ¡°It¡¯s really food!¡±


    Zhao Lan, consumed by excitement, tightly grasped Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s hand. ¡°We did it!¡±


    Though Yu Xiao couldn¡¯t hear, she could sense their elation. She patted the arms of the two women and pointed at the crack. ¡°The hand is still there.¡±


    Their happiness quickly disappeared when they noticed that the hand of the dead body was still in the room, protruding through the crack with its palm facing upwards.


    ¡°We have received the food,¡± Zhao Lan said cautiously. ¡°You can go now.¡±


    There was silence on the other side of the door, and Zhou Xiao Zhen raised her leg once more. Yu Xiao turned around and got ready to fetch a knife from the drawer.


    Just as the tension in the room became unbearable, an impatient voice came from outside, ¡°What about the money? You haven¡¯t paid yet!¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­¡±


    The room fell silent once again.


    Zhao Lan hesitated before speaking up, ¡°We don¡¯t have any cash. Can we use Alipay?¡±


    In the darkness, the corpse¡¯s hand retreated for a moment and then emerged again, this time holding a QR code.


    When Yu Xiao returned with the knife, she found Zhao Lan squatting on the floor, scanning the code with her phone.


    After paying the bill, Zhou Xiao Zhen quickly locked the door as soon as the corpse¡¯s hand disappeared. Both she and Zhao Lan let out a sigh of relief. But as they turned around, they were startled to see Yu Xiao standing behind them, gripping a fruit knife that was no bigger than half her thumb.


    ¡°What are you doing with that?¡± Zhao Lan asked, surprised.


    ¡°She can¡¯t hear you,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen typed on her phone to communicate.


    With no danger present, Yu Xiao smiled and explained, ¡°I was worried there might be danger, so I grabbed a knife.¡±


    Seeing the small knife in Yu Xiao¡¯s hand, Zhou Xiao Zhen was shocked. It was too small to even cut an apple, let alone a ghost¡¯s finger. She asked incredulously, ¡°Is this the knife you asked me to use to cut off the ghost¡¯s finger?!¡±


    Despite the twists and turns, the food was not an issue and in fact, it was quite delicious. The three of them often had no appetite due to illness, but today they surprisingly had good appetites, mainly because of the great energy exerted.


    After finishing her meal, Yu Xiao felt drowsy and lay on the bed. She held the talisman she had drawn earlier in the day. The contents of the forum for the Fourth Hospital¡¯s patients were genuine, so the seal script in the post must also be real. However, her own talisman had turned out to be a failure.


    It was not surprising that she hadn¡¯t succeeded, considering that even the person who posted the tutorial had a success rate of only one in five.


    Feeling extremely sleepy, Yu Xiao placed the talisman paper under her pillow and closed her eyes. She quickly fell asleep.


    Meanwhile, Zhou Xiao Zhen and Zhao Lan were tidying up after the meal. Suddenly, Zhao Lan noticed a heart-shaped sticker on one of the takeout boxes. They hadn¡¯t paid much attention to it initially, as many takeout bags often had similar stickers with messages like ¡°please give us a good rating.¡±


    But just now, Zhao Lan suddenly had a thought, ¡°Do the delivery men from the Sixth Hospital also need good ratings?¡± So she examined the sticker more closely and immediately called Zhou Xiao Zhen over, saying, ¡°Precious, come and look at this.¡±


    ¡°Hey, what¡¯s up?¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen crawled off the bed and took the heart-shaped sticker from Zhao Lan¡¯s hand. After reading its message, ¡°Remember to rest on time~ Meow~¡±, she remarked, with a disgusted expression, ¡°Eww, this guy is so gross.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°Is this really the main point?¡± Zhao Lan was on the verge of collapsing. ¡°Why would a food vendor, who doesn¡¯t even know how to behave like a normal person, attach something like this to our food container? Could it be a kind of warning?¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen realised, ¡°You¡¯re right, what is he trying to remind us of?¡±


    ¡°Remember to get enough rest¡­¡± Zhao Lan pondered for a moment and suggested, ¡°Every night, a nurse comes to check on us after we¡¯re admitted to the hospital. What if we are not asleep when she comes to inspect our ward? What would happen?¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s body hair stood on end. ¡°Misty, stop talking! Smiley, say something. What should we do?¡±


    As she turned around, she noticed that Yu Xiao¡¯s bed, the farthest one, remained completely still and silent. If one listened closely, the only sound audible was her calm and steady breathing .


    ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°No wonder she¡¯s called Smiley,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen exclaimed in awe. ¡°Her mental resilience is truly impressive, as tough as a cow that fell from the sky and still remains badass.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s great that she¡¯s like this,¡± Zhao Lan said seriously. ¡°We should strive to be like her and aim to sleep until dawn.¡±


    Although easier said than done.


    At half-past eight, the lights in the ward suddenly went out, accompanied by a gentle tune.


    A thin and sharp female voice, as if choked by someone, said,


    ¡°¡­¡­¡±


    As Zhou Xiao Zhen lay in bed, she couldn¡¯t help but feel a pang of sadness. It seemed that there were no young people who could fall asleep before 8 p.m. However, when she heard the deep and steady breathing coming from the bed next to hers, she couldn¡¯t help but feel envious, even to the point of tears.


    Human nature often works in mysterious ways. The more we desperately cling to something, the more elusive it becomes. This was precisely the situation for both Zhao Lan and Zhou Xiao Zhen. They had been lying in bed with their eyes closed for what felt like an eternity, but sleep continued to elude them, leaving them wide awake and growing increasingly restless.


    Zhao Lan had never despised herself as much as she did in that moment. She longed to knock herself out and find some reprieve from her sleeplessness.


    Time passed as the hospital room remained engulfed in complete darkness. Visions of the day replayed in their minds: the darkness lurking beyond the door, the sight of blood flowing in the dimness, and the eerie hands that emerged along with the blood.


    Initially, they had attempted to fall asleep by counting sheep, but their thoughts had gradually shifted to listing vegetables, and eventually, unconsciously, to imagining unsettling dishes such as braised cheater tongue, boneless children¡¯s feet, and cold shredded widows.


    They now whimpered and trembled in fear, finding it even more difficult to find sleep.


    ¡°Misty¡­¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen whispered softly from the bed beside her.


    Zhao Lan shifted her weight, then responded in a quiet voice, ¡°Yes?¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t sleep.¡±


    ¡°¡­Me neither.¡±


    ¡°Is it true that someone will come to check on us?¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen fretted, her anxiety causing breast hyperplasia. ¡°I¡¯m so scared.¡±


    Zhao Lan was about to say something when footsteps echoed in the hallway. The two immediately fell silent, as still as corpses.


    When a person loses their sight, their other senses become heightened. In that moment, they could distinctly hear the sound of the door opening and closing, as well as the rustling of clothes.


    Zhao Lan, lying in bed, made a deliberate attempt to hypnotise herself. ¡®You are already asleep. You are already asleep. You are dreaming now¡­¡¯


    Suddenly, she sensed an eerie and chilling presence drawing near from her left side. Goosebumps raced across her arm under the covers, causing a shiver to run down her spine.


    In that moment, a flood of terrifying scenes from various horror movies she had watched in the past flooded her mind.


    A cold wind blew on Zhao Lan¡¯s neck, sending shivers down her spine and causing goosebumps to appear all over her body. She tightly closed her eyes, remaining completely still.


    whispered a mischievous voice.


    Zhao Lan felt a tingling sensation on her scalp. It had sensed her! It had realised that she wasn¡¯t asleep!


    Fear briefly consumed her, but she soon realised the issue. If it was certain that she was still awake, why hadn¡¯t it eaten her yet?


    Zhao Lan remained motionless, ignoring whatever the thing beside her bed was saying. She was resolute in her decision to pretend to be a dead pig until the very end.


    However, her determination faltered in the next moment as a pair of icy hands forcefully pressed down on her and started rolling her like a rolling pin.


    Zhao Lan:


    Could it actually do that?!


    She was being tossed and turned on the bed, but she was determined not to open her eyes. ¡®I won¡¯t open them, even if it means death!¡¯


    In the adjacent bed, Zhou Xiao Zhen heard the disturbance and became terrified. Suddenly, Yu Xiao, who was lying in the furthest bed, flipped over and scratched her neck, murmuring to herself.


    ¡°¡­¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s mind went blank when she heard Yu Xiao sleep-talking. Of all times, she chose to sleep-talk now!


    As the room fell silent, the hands that had been shaking Zhao Lan earlier suddenly stopped. In the next moment, the sound of footsteps could be heard, breaking the silence as they approached the bed in the innermost part of the room.

 Chapter 6: Fearless Smiley

    The pitch-black night, with zero visibility, was the perfect time for sleep. Yu Xiao was soundly asleep while Zhao Lan lay motionless, too scared to move, straining to hear any sounds coming from the nearby bed.


    Footsteps stopped next to Yu Xiao¡¯s bed, causing the pillow to sink. If the lights were on, Zhou Xiao Zhen would have been able to see the twisted and swollen hand resting on the bed.


    However, it was dark, so they lay still, silently beseeching their deities and ancestors for protection. They fervently hoped that Yu Xiao would continue to sleep and that no harm would befall them.


    A harsh and unpleasant voice filled the quiet ward, ringing in Yu Xiao¡¯s ear. Even the lightest sleeper would have been startled awake by such a voice.


    ¡­However, only Yu Xiao¡¯s two roommates were aware that she was completely deaf at the moment, despite her average sleeping habits.


    Ten minutes slipped by, and the ward reverted to its former state of eerie stillness. Standing by the bedside, Shadow¡¯s silhouette seemed hesitant. In all her years of experience, she had never encountered a patient who slumbered so deeply.


    But that didn¡¯t matter; she had other methods. The deformed and swollen hand reached out, slowly approaching the slender neck of the figure lying on the bed.


    Yu Xiao began to sense a creeping unease in her slumber, as though a frigid breath lingered upon her neck. She instinctively pulled her neck in, gripping her blanket with an iron grip as she twisted onto her side. As she raised her head from the pillow, a peculiar disquiet settled upon her. Hastily, she reached for the pillow and adjusted her position, eventually succumbing to a profound slumber.


    Unbeknownst to anyone, a small yellow piece of paper slipped out from beneath her pillow.


    The gnarled fingers inched closer, sending waves of despair coursing through Zhao Lan. What if Yu Xiao woke up and saw this horror? How could the three of them, already so gravely ill, possibly stand a chance against a vengeful ghost?


    In a chilling moment, a black fingernail lightly grazed the yellowed paper, creating an eerie, almost imperceptible sound.


    ¡°?¡±


    Like an activated talisman, the intricate cinnabar lines drawn on it burst into brilliant light, akin to flowing magma.


    ¡¾The Thunder Striking Ghost Repelling Talisman¡¿!!!


    Taoist talismans were many and profound, offering numerous practical uses. This particular talisman, as its name suggests, was specifically created to ward off malevolent spirits using celestial thunder.


    A dazzling lightning bolt exploded in the ward, casting a blinding light that turned the night into day. In its glow, Zhou Xiao Zhen and Zhao Lan¡¯s pale and terror-stricken faces were revealed.


    The deafening thunder reverberated through the room, its echoes lingering long after the lightning had dissipated.


    Amidst the tumultuous noise, a chilling and unmistakable wail of ghostly anguish reached their ears.


    *


    *


    Yu Xiao woke up feeling content, without any dreams or needing to get up in the middle of the night. She had slept soundly until dawn, when the light above flickered on and gradually brought her out of her peaceful slumber.


    Lying in bed, Yu Xiao gazed at the ceiling lamp for a moment, feeling a bit dazed and unsure of what was going on. The events of the previous day seemed distant, like a faded memory. She let out a lazy yawn and prepared herself to greet her fellow patients.


    When she turned her head, she was taken aback by what she saw. Zhou Xiao Zhen and Zhao Lan were sitting together, their hands wrapped around their legs and their chins resting on their knees. They looked tired, with fatigue evident on their faces and dark circles under their eyes. They stared at her with vacant expressions, as if lost in their own thoughts.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Why are you staring at me?¡± Yu Xiao asked, her confusion evident.


    As she turned her head again, she noticed spots of red blood on the blanket she had used to cover herself. Looking closer, she saw three large characters written in what appeared to be blood, spelling out the words: ¡°I hate you!¡±


    Feeling both confused and angry, Yu Xiao threw off the blanket in frustration. ¡°What is going on? I have always been kind to both of you. Why do you hate me?¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen spoke up, her voice filled with emotion. ¡°Smiley, can you hear us now?¡± she asked, her eyes pleading.


    ¡°Of course I can!¡± Yu Xiao replied, hands on her hips. ¡°I told you my ears would be fine after a good night¡¯s sleep. Did you do something wrong while I couldn¡¯t hear?¡±


    The two stared at her, their eyes filled with a mixture of emotions.


    ¡°Smiley,¡± Zhao Lan said, her heart torn between love and hate. ¡°Do you not remember what happened last night?¡±


    Yu Xiao furrowed her brow, lost in thought. After a moment of reflection, she realised that something had indeed happened, but she couldn¡¯t recall what it was.


    ¡°That¡¯s not important,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen interrupted, getting up from the bed and walking towards Yu Xiao with a serious expression. ¡°As your disciple, I promise to serve you and carry on your legacy!¡±


    (The phrase ¡°Ò²§´«³Ð¡± (yi bo chuan cheng) means ¡°to pass on the mantle¡±, referring to passing on one¡¯s knowledge or skills to someone else.


    Yu Xiao recoiled in disbelief, her eyes widening. ¡°What are you doing? It¡¯s too early for this!¡± she exclaimed, watching Zhou Xiao Zhen kneel down and take her hand. ¡°You¡¯re being absurd!¡±


    Zhao Lan looked at her friend with a combination of worry and disapproval. ¡°Zhou Xiao Zhen, this is not how a lady should behave.¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen straightened up and cast her eyes downward.


    Feeling ashamed of her lack of decorum, Zhou Xiao Zhen quickly composed herself. ¡°You¡¯re correct, Misty. I need to improve my manners and conduct myself with more refinement.¡±


    Content with the younger girl¡¯s reply, Zhao Lan placed her arm around Yu Xiao¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Smiley, what is your opinion of me? Do you consider me to be deserving of being your disciple?¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­¡±


    Yu Xiao took quite some time to fully comprehend the events of the previous night. As she listened intently, her mouth hung open in shock. She checked under her pillow, but found no sign of the talisman paper she had placed there; only a small pile of ashes remained.


    ¡°Good gracious!¡± Yu Xiao exclaimed, clutching her chest. ¡°Am I really that incredible?¡±


    To her surprise, her first attempt at drawing a talisman had actually worked!


    ¡°Last night¡¯s scene was truly¡­¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen, who had missed several classes due to illness, struggled to find the right words. ¡°It was as extraordinary as a calf soaring through the skies on a plane!¡±


    Zhao Lan¡¯s expression was difficult to interpret. She gently pushed Zhou Xiao Zhen, who was clinging to Yu Xiao, to the side and spoke solemnly. ¡°Smiley, thank you. If it weren¡¯t for you, we might have died last night.¡±


    It was indeed true. If they had fallen asleep, they would have become prey. However, as per the female ghost¡¯s duty, vigorously shaking individuals who couldn¡¯t be awakened, unless one was in a coma, they would wake up even if they had slept deeply.


    ¡°This is not normal,¡± stated Yu Xiao. ¡°If all patients were examined in this way, none of them would survive.¡±


    ¡°Yeah,¡± replied Zhao Lan, still visibly shaken. ¡°If it weren¡¯t for your talisman¡­¡±


    ¡°I cannot accept this,¡± declared Yu Xiao, clenching her fists.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen was momentarily startled, then exclaimed in immense frustration, ¡°Ah, what else can we do? They¡¯re ghosts. How can we fight back?¡±


    ¡°Why not?¡± sneered Yu Xiao, wearing a smirk on her face, as she retrieved her talisman-drawing equipment from the drawer. As she began to draw, she asked, ¡°Does anyone have tape? Double-sided tape would work best.¡±


    Zhao Lan¡¯s eyes lit up with excitement as she quickly remembered something. ¡°I have it!¡±


    With a lingering sense of animosity, Yu Xiao hurriedly drew several talismans. Zhao Lan provided the double-sided tape, and the three gathered around the door, trying to decide on the best spot to attach the talismans¡­ to ward off the ghosts.


    They initially planned to attach the paper to the door handle outside, but they were hesitant to open the door and extend their hand out. Eventually, they decided to slip it into the gap in the door. However, they worried that it was too obvious and the ghosts might not touch it.


    Yu Xiao anxiously glanced at the clock and urged, ¡°Let¡¯s hurry. The hospital news will be released at 8 o¡¯clock in the morning. We can¡¯t afford to miss it.¡±


    ¡°What news?¡± Zhao Lan asked curiously.


    ¡°Is there still news from the hospital?¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen added.


    Yu Xiao opened the forum for the Fourth Hospital and found the post.


    ¡¾Compendium of the Experts I Encountered at the Hospital Morning News.¡¿


    ¡°Grass, what¡¯s going on here?¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen asked, her brows furrowing in surprise as she scrolled through her phone. ¡°I see experts from the Fourth Hospital, as well as the Second and Fifth Hospitals in the Third Hospital¡­ But why is there no one from the Sixth Hospital?¡± she wondered aloud, her voice tinged with curiosity.


    ¡°It¡¯s likely that the Sixth Hospital is a recent addition¡­¡±


    Their conversation was interrupted by a melodious chime that resonated from the ward.


    A soft, soothing melody filled the air as the curtains gracefully unveiled the outside world. Yu Xiao could not resist the temptation and disregarded her doctor¡¯s advice to avoid vigorous exercise. She dashed to the window with the speed and agility of a sprinter.


    The view outside was truly breathtaking, with a vast sea of lush greenery, vibrant flowers, and elegant fish gracefully swimming in a pristine pond. In the distance, majestic mountains stood tall, creating an awe-inspiring panorama.


    What an exquisite scene of pristine mountains, babbling water, chirping birds, and fragrant flowers!


    ¡°Who wants to see these eerie mountains and flowers? Wasn¡¯t our hospital in the middle of the city?¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s eyes filled with tears as she grappled to understand their unfamiliar surroundings.


    Zhao Lan felt a sense of foreboding, but what she saw shocked her. ¡°Don¡¯t lose hope. Even if the view remains the same, we can¡¯t just jump out of the window. Remember, we¡¯re on the thirteenth floor.¡±


    The sweet melody was abruptly replaced by a young lady¡¯s voice delivering the hospital¡¯s morning news. ¡°A new day begins now! Bringing you the latest updates from the hospital~,¡± she cheerfully announced.


    ¡°Yesterday, a patient known as ¡®Brother Legend¡¯ in Ward 15 of the Third Hospital inexplicably assaulted medical staff. The incident is now under investigation by the hospital¡¯s medical dispute office.¡±


    ¡°¡­The Fourth Hospital¡¯s points ranking has been updated, and ¡®Zhuge Liang Burning the Pan Silk Road¡¯ has taken first place. Congratulations to him on this achievement.¡±


    ¡°¡­Yesterday at four o¡¯clock in the afternoon, the Sixth Hospital had officially opened. Thanks to the hard work of our medical staff and the cooperation of our patients, a total of ninety-seven patients have received successful treatment. We would like to congratulate all of them. Currently, the Sixth Hospital has available beds and is prepared to admit patients in need of pain relief.¡±


    ¡°Grass!¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen exclaimed. ¡°Does death also count as a form of pain relief?¡±


    Yu Xiao¡¯s mouth twitched. ¡°I suppose it does.¡±


    ¡°¡­ Thanks to the tireless efforts of our medical staff and patients, the Sixth Hospital is now running smoothly and efficiently. The hospital¡¯s points ranking system is now in effect, and the patient known as the ¡®Deaf Descendant¡¯ is currently in the lead. Let¡¯s congratulate her.¡±


    ¡°Fantastic! That¡¯s my sister!¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen exclaimed, patting Yu Xiao¡¯s back excitedly. ¡°You¡¯re the first!¡±


    ¡°¡­The patient who displayed exemplary behaviour yesterday has been honoured with the prestigious title of ¡®The Grudge of the Pretty Nurse.¡¯ Congratulations to her once again.¡±


    ¡ª¡ª¡ª Translator¡¯s Notes ¡ª¡ª¡ª


    ¡°Ê¦¸¸¡± (Shi Fu) means ¡°master¡±, and refers to the person who teaches or mentors someone in a particular skill or discipline.


    The phrase ¡°Ò²§´«³Ð¡± (yi bo chuan cheng) means ¡°to pass on the mantle¡±, referring to passing on one¡¯s knowledge or skills to someone else. Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¸çÖ»ÊǸö´«Ëµ (G¨¥ zh¨« sh¨¬ g¨¨ chu¨¢nshu¨­) means ¡°Brother Legend¡±


    Öî¸ðÁÁ»ðÉÕÅÌË¿¶´ (Zh¨±g¨§ Li¨¤ng hu¨¯sh¨¡o P¨¢ns¨©d¨°ng) means ¡°Zhuge Liang Burning the Pan Silk Road¡±. This name is a reference to the historical figure Zhuge Liang, who was a famous strategist and military leader in ancient China. The use of ¡°burning the Pan Silk Road¡± refers to an event in which Zhuge Liang supposedly set fire to a section of the Pan Silk Road to prevent an enemy army from advancing.

 Chapter 7: Open the door for delivery

    ¡°Ah this ¡­¡­¡± Yu Xiao¡¯s face twisted in confusion as she glanced at her phone screen. ¡°What is this?¡± she asked, utterly bewildered.


    Zhao Lan, glued to her phone, replied, ¡°The forum has already updated the points ranking. I¡¯ve received a few text messages about it. You ought to look at it.¡±


    Yu Xiao navigated to the Sixth Hospital forumand discovered that someone had indeed posted the points ranking. Her username, ¡®Deaf Descendant,¡¯ occupied the top position. The player in second place went by the name of ¡°Give me your heart,¡± while the rest had nicknames that were completely unfamiliar to her. It wasn¡¯t until the ninth spot that she came across Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s nickname, ¡®Braised Egg Girl 438.¡¯


    ¡°I made it onto the list! I did it!¡± exclaimed Zhou Xiao Zhen, her excitement almost causing her to jump with joy. ¡°Wait a minute¡­ Why isn¡¯t Misty included? Her score should have been higher than mine.¡±


    After carefully reviewing the points ranking, Yu Xiao began to analyse the text messages she had received.


    ¡¾Congratulations on having an extraordinary night at the hospital. You have successfully become a level one member of the Sixth Hospital patient forum.¡¿


    ¡¾To acknowledge your accomplishment of making it through the night, we will award you a base score of three points. Additionally, thanks to your exceptional performance, you will earn an additional three points.¡¿


    ¡¾Congratulations on obtaining the prestigious title of ¡°The Grudge of the Pretty Nurse¡± and receiving four points. With this, your total score now stands at ten points.¡¿


    ¡¾Congratulations on securing the top position on the points ranking. As a reward, you will receive two functional cards. Please claim them on the forum.¡¿


    ¡¾Lastly, we are pleased to announce that the countdown feature has been unlocked, allowing you to use your points to buy time at the mall.¡¿


    Yu Xiao felt an itch on her wrist, prompting her to roll up her sleeve. As she did so, a crimson display came into view on her skin, counting down the time left: ¡°30 days, 08:34:06.¡± The ongoing countdown filled her with unease.


    ¡°This is the amount of time we have left,¡± Zhao Lan said, her complexion turning ashen. ¡°When the countdown reaches zero, our lives will come to an end.¡±


    Yu Xiao glanced at Zhao Lan¡¯s wrist, which displayed only 21 days remaining, even shorter than her own.


    ¡°It¡¯s not a problem,¡± reassured Yu Xiao, gently squeezing her friend¡¯s hand. ¡°We have points that we can use to buy extra time.¡±


    ¡°What are these special cards?¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen asked, her eyes fixed on her phone. ¡°Do you have any? I have one.¡±


    Opening the forum, she found two cards in her collection. The designs on the cards matched Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s, only her friend¡¯s had the words ¡°Prop Card, Would You Like to Use?¡± written on a deep purple background.


    ¡°I have two cards,¡± Yu Xiao stated, showing Zhao Lan the message she had received about the cards. ¡°I¡¯m not sure what they¡¯re for,¡± she added. ¡°One says ¡®Physical Fitness Card, Would You Like to Use?,¡¯ while the other says ¡®Luck Card, Would You Like to Use?¡¯.¡±


    Zhao Lan thought for a moment before suggesting, ¡°Why don¡¯t we try it out to see what it does?¡±


    ¡°Right, Misty,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen replied confidently, selecting ¡°yes¡± to confirm the use of the tool.


    A card appeared on the screen, flipping over and reducing to four options.


    ¡¾Select your preferred tool from the following options: A. toothpick. B. Enema. C. Mahjong. D. hair removal cream.¡¿


    ¡°¡­¡±


    After a brief pause, a sense of confusion filled the air.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen muttered in disbelief, ¡°What kind of tool is this? Do they actually believe I cannot have a bowel movement without an enema? My digestive system is perfectly healthy; I have regular and normal bowel movements.¡±


    Yu Xiao tried to offer some comfort, saying, ¡°There are other options available, such as a toothpick.¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen countered, ¡°My teeth are in excellent condition.¡±


    Zhao Lan then suggested, ¡°Hair removal cream¡­¡±


    ¡°Misty,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen stared at her blankly, ¡°do you really think we need even less hair on our bodies?¡±


    Recalling Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s shiny bald head and her own similar appearance beneath the hat, Zhao Lan struggled to find the right words to say.


    ¡°Mahjong is our only choice,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen consoled herself, ¡°at least it¡¯s a hobby that can enrich our lives.¡±


    Yu Xiaoan hesitated, ¡°But we¡¯re short one player.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen had already clicked on the mahjong set. Suddenly, fireworks exploded on the screen, creating a dazzling and magnificent display.


    ¡¾Congratulations, you have obtained a permanent item: a mahjong set!¡¿


    ¡¾Instructions: When the number of patients and medical personnel reaches four or more, the owner of the item can initiate a mahjong game by force. During the game, all participants are immune to any harm. At the end of each round, the winner has the authority to punish any participant as they see fit.¡¿


    ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°Good Lord!¡±


    ¡°Good Lord!¡±


    Yu Xiaoan and Zhao Lan gazed at each other, ¡°Good Lord!¡±


    ¡°Good Lord!¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s face turned red. ¡°I believe I¡¯ve stumbled upon an extraordinary tool!¡±


    ¡°Absolutely!¡± Zhao Lan was also thrilled. However, as the oldest sister in the ward, she had to help her fellow patients maintain a calm demeanour. ¡°But don¡¯t become too dependent on the tool. Losing has consequences, after all.¡±


    ¡°Did you know, Misty?¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen grabbed a brush from Yu Xiaoan¡¯s table and put the pen end in her mouth, exuding an air of sophistication and experience. ¡°In our village, they call me ¡®Mahjong Dad.¡¯¡±


    ¡°You are a mahjong tyrant? Mahjong King?¡± Yu Xiao asked.


    ¡°No, no, no~¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen proudly smiled. ¡°My father makes mahjong tiles!¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°Now you¡¯ve gained some insight into my unparalleled gambling prowess, haven¡¯t you?¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen boasted with a smug expression.


    ¡°¡­¡±


    Zhao Lian took a deep breath and turned to Yu Xiao. ¡°Let¡¯s see what your function cards do, Smiley.¡±


    ¡°Sure,¡± Yu Xiao replied. She revealed two cards she had obtained: a luck card and a physical fitness card.


    Considering that Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s props card rewarded her with a prop when used, Yu Xiao speculated that her two cards might enhance luck and physical fitness.


    After a moment of consideration, Yu Xiao opened the luck card.


    ¡¾Congratulations! Your luck has increased by 30, achieving the coveted state of happiness to the soul.¡¿ S§×arch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Luck was exactly what Yu Xiao needed. With fortune favouring her, she could enhance the likelihood of successfully drawing symbols. The fortuitous arrival of the luck card couldn¡¯t have been more timely, and Yu Xiao couldn¡¯t help but radiate with happiness.


    Just as she was about to access her other card, she paused. Upon witnessing Zhao Lian¡¯s genuinely delighted expression, Yu Xiao instead navigated to the trading interface.


    ¡°Misty,¡± Yu Xiao announced, ¡°I¡¯ve listed the physical fitness card for sale in the store.¡±


    Zhao Lian was caught off guard. Yu Xiao was giving up her physical fitness card, and Zhao Lian wasn¡¯t naive; she knew exactly what that meant.


    ¡°Misty!¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen urgently tapped her on the back. ¡°Don¡¯t just stand there. If you take too long, someone else will grab it, and then we would have wasted the card for nothing.¡±


    Zhao Lian snapped out of her daze and quickly accessed the store. A card with a starry pattern was calmly displayed on the homepage, listed at 0 points.


    After confirming her purchase, Zhao Lian stared at the function card that now belonged on her personal page and couldn¡¯t help but shed tears. Despite her eloquence, she was the shyest and struggled to express herself. She had endured so much, but managed to hold back her tears and hoarsely thanked Yu Xiao. ¡°Thank you.¡±


    ¡°No need to thank me!¡± Yu Xiao grinned broadly. ¡°We¡¯re in the same ward and part of the same team. Only by strengthening everyone¡¯s abilities can we make steady progress.¡±


    ¡°Misty, don¡¯t just cry,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen urged. ¡°Flip the card quickly.¡±


    ¡°Very well,¡± Zhao Lian nodded solemnly, and unexpectedly pulled Yu Xiao and Zhou Xiao Zhen into a tight embrace. ¡°Thank you¡­truly, thank you. Not just for the function cards, but for everything since I¡¯ve been in the hospital. If it weren¡¯t for you two by my side, I might have given up a long time ago¡­ sniff, you guys are truly remarkable.¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen also began to weep, saying, ¡°Misty, I¡­ I was diagnosed with cancer at such a young age and it really hurts. But I cannot show it in front of my parents. I am afraid it would sadden them. There are some things I can only share with you two¡­¡±


    Yu Xiao wasn¡¯t typically one to give in to sentimentality. The last time tears had welled up in her eyes was when her grandmother had passed away. But now, these two people had managed to evoke strong emotions in her, causing her nose to tingle.


    ¡°Alright, enough tears,¡± Yu Xiao consoled them, lightly patting their shoulders. ¡°It¡¯s time to flip the card. I heard the sound of a cart outside, so once we unveil the card, we can sit down and enjoy our meal.¡±


    ¡¾Would you like to use the fitness card?¡¿ Zhao Lan opened it.


    ¡¾Your fitness has increased by 30.¡¿


    After a brief silence, Zhou Xiao Zhen inquired, ¡°Is that it? Are there no achievements or anything of the sort?¡±


    After contemplating for a moment, Yu Xiao concluded, ¡°Maybe Misty¡¯s initial fitness level was so low that even with the 30-point increase, there was no significant improvement past human¡¯s natural.¡±


    Zhao Lan appeared torn and helpless.


    Yu Xiao inquired, ¡°Do you feel any different?¡±


    Zhao Lan paused for a moment, deep in thought, before making her way to her bed. She squatted down and firmly grasped the edge of the bed with both hands. With a gentle exertion of force, she effortlessly raised the bed a few inches off the ground.


    ¡°Wow, that¡¯s impressive!¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen exclaimed, her voice tinged with envy. ¡°With such strength, Misty could easily capture the attention of all the unmarried men in our village.¡±


    Zhao Lan¡¯s expression darkened at the flattery, and a sudden recollection crossed her mind. ¡°By the way, where is your mahjong set, Precious?¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen was taken aback. ¡°Oh, right! My mahjong set! My incredibly cool mahjong set!¡±


    Just as the three were lost in thought, they heard a knock on the door behind them.


    ¡°Thud thud thud.¡±


    Wary of who might be on the other side, the three turned around. Could it be the food seller again?


    ¡°Open up! Delivery!¡±


    The three were taken aback. Could they receive deliveries here?


    Zhao Lan looked at the other two. ¡°Who among you ordered a delivery?¡±


    Yu Xiao furrowed her brow. ¡°I¡­ ordered quite a few things.¡±


    ¡°I did too,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen added.


    Although receiving a delivery was a pleasant surprise, no one dared to open the door. Who knew what they would find if they did?


    The delivery man¡¯s impatience grew. ¡°Do you want the delivery or not? I¡¯ll leave if you don¡¯t!¡±


    Zhao Lan inquired, ¡°Whose delivery is it?¡±


    ¡°Is ¡®Braised Egg Girl 438¡¯ living here? It¡¯s a delivery for a mahjong game. I¡¯ll leave if not!¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s body quivered with excitement as she dashed over like a tiger. ¡°It¡¯s here, it¡¯s here. I¡¯m Braised Egg Girl 438¡­¡±

 Chapter 8: Dr. George, the attending physician

    As Zhou Xiao Zhen hurried towards the door, Zhao Lan¡¯s question interrupted her, ¡°Wait a minute! Should we be opening the door so hastily? What if something bad happens?¡±


    Zhao Lan¡¯s concern wasn¡¯t unfounded. After all, they had encountered fake/ghost food delivery men before, and it had left a deep impression on them. Zhou Xiao Zhen halted her steps, recognizing the validity of Zhao Lan¡¯s worry.


    Just as they both hesitated, Yu Xiao intervened, ¡°Go ahead and open the door.¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen was startled, saying, ¡°Huh?¡±


    ¡°Trust me,¡± Yu Xiao insisted, even though she was about to offer an explanation.


    ¡°Click.¡±


    Without any more delay, the door swung open, revealing a skeletal hand holding a package. ¡°Sign here,¡± the delivery man gruffly demanded.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen obediently complied, eagerly accepting her anticipated mahjong set, exclaiming, ¡°Hahaha, my secret weapon has arrived!¡±


    As Zhou Xiao Zhen excitedly unpacked her new set, Yu Xiao looked at her with a mixture of emotions, ¡°Are you certain you should have opened the door?¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen didn¡¯t grasp Yu Xiao¡¯s hesitation, ¡°Why not? You said it was fine.¡±


    Yu Xiao sighed, ¡°You place too much trust in me, my dear. You didn¡¯t even take my reasoning into account.¡±


    Seeing the complicated expression on Yu Xiao¡¯s face, Zhou Xiao Zhen inquired, ¡°Is something wrong?¡±


    ¡°No, it¡¯s nothing,¡± Yu Xiao shook her head and changed the subject, ¡°Shall we have breakfast now?¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen agreed, ¡°I¡¯m famished.¡± She asked, ¡°Are we going to use the same method as yesterday to verify the delivery man?¡±


    Yu Xiao smiled, ¡°No need for that today. It won¡¯t be as complicated.¡±


    The trolley screeched loudly as it made its way down the aisle. The delivery man, salivating at the thought of another delicious meal, had been left unsatisfied by the previous patient who had only filled him seventy percent.


    The tantalising aroma of fresh meat filled his nostrils as he approached a nearby ward. Trying to sound casual, he asked, ¡°Hello, would you like some food?¡±


    ¡°Hello, could I have some rice?¡± came a young woman¡¯s voice from within the ward.


    The delivery man couldn¡¯t help but indulge in thoughts of savouring the succulent meat of a young individual, and the prospect of an entire ward only fueled his excitement further. ¡°May I ask what rice dish you would like?¡± he inquired.


    ¡°It matters not what dish you bring,¡± the young woman replied. ¡°However, we do have a mahjong set, and we are lacking one player. Would you be interested in joining us?¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    The sound of the cart resumed down the aisle. The offer to play mahjong irritated the delivery man and he quickly refused.


    Fortune appeared to favour them as the next person they encountered was the actual delivery man.


    As the three of them sat down to have breakfast, Zhao Lan inquired, ¡°Precious, how much time do you have left?¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen responded, ¡°I only have three months left.¡±


    Upon hearing this, Zhao Lan was overcome with a profound sense of sadness as she reflected on her prognosis of a mere twenty-one days. ¡°I looked at the mall yesterday,¡± she began, her voice tinged with melancholy. ¡°I noticed that with just one point, one can buy ten days of time. Unfortunately, I only have three points, so even if I use all of them to purchase time, I will only have one more month to live.¡±


    Yu Xiao pondered for a moment before offering, ¡°I have ten points. I can share five of them with you.¡±


    Zhao Lan shook her head, declining the generous offer. ¡°Absolutely not. You have just as little time left as I do, and ten points are not worth risking your own life. You still need to undergo treatment in order to have a chance at survival.¡±


    Every treatment awarded points, but according to Yu Xiao¡¯s research on the Four Hospitals forum, those treatments were dangerous, and only a handful of patients managed to survive. Sometimes, even surviving a single treatment seemed like a miracle. However, without treatment, they would be left to witness the passage of time until their demise.


    ¡°Are you certain, Misty?¡± Yu Xiao inquired, her face reflecting her worry.


    Zhao Lan remained resolute, saying, ¡°Without a doubt.¡±


    ¡°Very well,¡± Yu Xiao consented, ¡°I will accompany you.¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen, with rice grains still clinging to her mouth, chimed in, ¡°Then count me in as well. It¡¯s like a clich¨¦ from a horror movie ¨C if people get separated, something bad will happen. Plus, it would be so lonely for me if you all go for treatment and leave me behind.¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen continued, as if fearing their rejection, ¡°And I require four people to play mahjong. Without all of you here, I¡¯ll have no one to intimidate the delivery guy with a game of mahjong, and I¡¯ll end up starving.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    Yu Xiao and Zhao Lan were both convinced.


    ¡°Alright,¡± Yu Xiao said. ¡°Let¡¯s register for the next session. I¡¯ll have time to draw more talismans.¡±


    Throughout the afternoon, Yu Xiao diligently crafted charms while Zhao Lan and Zhou Xiao Zhen gathered around and used Yu Xiao¡¯s phone to browse the Four Hospitals forum.


    The experience posts written by veteran users of the Four Hospitals proved to be extremely valuable, as they provided detailed accounts of treatments they had personally undergone, as well as the attending doctors who acted as guiding NPCs. Each account stated that the attending doctors couldn¡¯t actively harm the patients, but they couldn¡¯t provide any significant assistance either.


    Some healing instances were reusable, which made it possible to access one of the instances mentioned in the posts. Zhao Lan and Zhou Xiao Zhen enthusiastically dedicated themselves to memorising all the information on the instances they came across, eager to prepare for the session.


    After dinner, the trio anxiously gathered, with the option to join tomorrow¡¯s session shining on the profile page of the forum.


    The three clasped hands, and Zhao Lan declared, ¡°Together!¡±


    The trio tapped the confirmation button simultaneously.


    A small skeleton appeared on the screen, joyfully revealing its teeth and blowing a kiss. ¡¾Thank you for your positive cooperation, chirp~.¡¿


    After completing the registration, the three let out a sigh of relief. Yu Xiao grinned and said, ¡°Let¡¯s get a good night¡¯s sleep and prepare for tomorrow. I read on the Four Hospitals forum that the healing instances can be quite dangerous, so we need to stay alert.¡±


    ¡°Mmm!¡± The three of them climbed into their beds.


    Suddenly, Zhao Lan slapped her thigh and exclaimed, ¡°Oh no!¡±


    Yu Xiao and Zhou Xiao Zhen turned to look at her, asking, ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡±


    ¡°We still have a few charms left! How can we possibly sleep peacefully without placing them around the room?¡± Zhao Lan exclaimed, quickly putting on her shoes and retrieving double-sided tape from the drawer.


    Yu Xiao exclaimed, ¡°I forgot too!¡± She swiftly rose from bed.


    They assembled near the door.


    Zhao Lan stated with confidence, ¡°I have already determined the perfect spot for the charm.¡±


    ¡°Where?¡±


    ¡°On the floor,¡± Zhao Lan answered, indicating the ground by the door. ¡°If the ghosts intend to enter and harm us, they will have to cross it.¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen appeared perplexed. ¡°But don¡¯t ghosts float?¡± Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°¡­¡±


    The group lapsed into a momentary silence before Zhou Xiao Zhen broke the silence once more. ¡°Did I say something wrong?¡±


    ¡°Well ¡­¡± Yu Xiao chuckled. ¡°While it is true that ghosts typically float, the fact that we heard the footsteps of the inspecting ghost last night implies that some ghosts do walk.¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen nodded, comprehending. ¡°I see now!¡±


    Thanks to the talismans on the door and floor, the trio slept peacefully that night. Yu Xiao even had a delightful dream, although she couldn¡¯t quite recall the specifics upon awakening. However, she did notice a wet spot on her pillow where she had drooled in her sleep.


    The next day, Zhao Lan¡¯s alarm clock blared a cheerful and festive tune, announcing that it was time to wake up.


    ¡°Good luck ~ that good luck ~ good luck ¡­¡­¡±


    ¡°Good morning, comrades,¡± she greeted her sleepy friends as she switched off the alarm. ¡°It¡¯s seven-thirty, time to start the day.¡±


    Yu Xiao and Zhou Xiao Zhen groggily got out of bed. They headed to the bathroom to freshen up their pale, lifeless faces. When they emerged, they found Zhao Lan wearing her sportswear and deep in thought, squatting by the door.


    Inquisitive Zhou Xiao Zhen probed, ¡°Misty, what¡¯s on your mind?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m inspecting the talisman we hung up last night,¡± Zhao Lan replied, visibly frightened. ¡°It was gone this morning, and I suspect a ghost paid us a visit.¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen countered, ¡°Despite the explosion, it is surprising that the ghost still had the audacity to come back.¡±


    But Yu Xiao had a different perspective, ¡°Who said there was only one ghost during the night shift?¡±


    Zhao Lan then revealed that she had thoroughly searched the Four Hospitals forum and stumbled upon a post that provided instructions on reporting any medical staff who had mistreated patients. Moreover, she had come across a doctor-patient dispute office within this very hospital, similar to those found in other hospitals.


    Yu Xiao was taken aback and exclaimed, ¡°Doesn¡¯t that creepy nurse who checked us count as an offender?¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen hesitated for a moment and replied, ¡°But that ghost has already been struck by lightning twice. Should we still proceed with filing a report?¡±


    ¡­


    ¡°Dingdong~¡±


    At eight o¡¯clock sharp, the curtains of the ward gracefully parted, unveiling the breathtaking vista of the majestic mountains and the melodious chirping of the birds outside. Accompanied by the dulcet tones of a soothing melody, a soothing female voice resonated, proclaiming, ¡°It is a splendid day, and our dedicated medical staff eagerly anticipates the arrival of our esteemed patients.¡±


    However, in an abrupt turn of events, Yu Xiao¡¯s sight suddenly plunged into darkness, only to regain clarity and reveal her presence in an unfamiliar corridor.


    This hallway bore no resemblance to the familiar corridors of People¡¯s Hospital. It was adorned with aged, yellowed walls and dim lighting, which made the paintings on the walls almost indistinguishable.


    Despite the hazy details, Yu Xiao managed to catch a glimpse of a painting portraying a building bearing the inscription ¡°St. Elizabeth¡¯s Psychiatric Hospital.¡±


    Yu Xiao turned her head to find Zhou Xiao Zhen and Zhao Lan standing beside her, equally puzzled.


    ¡°Good afternoon,¡± a voice unfamiliar to them interrupted their bewilderment.


    Beside them, Yu Xiao noticed a man who appeared to be a doctor. He was in his thirties, with a slim and straight posture, wearing a clean white coat and neatly combed hair. His deep eyes, fixed on the trio, had a light smile. A pair of gold-rimmed glasses sat on the bridge of his high nose. His lips, neither thick nor thin, had a faint, pale hue.


    ¡°Good afternoon, ladies.¡± His captivating voice, deep and gentle, added to his charm. ¡°I am your attending physician. You may call me Dr. George.¡±


    Turning around, he led them towards the right. ¡°The treatment for this afternoon is about to begin. Follow my lead and make sure you don¡¯t fall behind.¡±


    The three women exchanged glances and silently followed him.


    George guided them through a series of turns until they reached what seemed to be a teahouse. It was a spacious place with no tables. In the centre, a circle of about a dozen chairs had already been occupied by several people, leaving only three seats available.


    (The Old Teahouse in Pengzhen Town, Chengdu)

 Chapter 9: Let Ms. Deaf Heir be the first to speak

    It was evident that the three empty chairs were intended for Yu Xiao and her companions. George led them over and whispered, ¡°Ladies and gentlemen, we have three new members today. Let¡¯s give them a warm welcome.¡±


    However, there was no response to his words. Yu Xiao counted silently and realised that there were a total of thirteen chairs, with ten already occupied by individuals of various ages and genders. They all had a pale complexion and a vacant expression on their faces. They remained motionless, as if unable to hear George¡¯s words.


    George paid no mind to their indifference and warmly invited Yu Xiao and her companions to take a seat. ¡°Please, have a seat. These chairs have been arranged specifically for you.¡±


    Once they were seated, George stepped aside and smiled at the thirteen people.


    ¡°The test for today is about to begin,¡± George¡¯s voice was leisurely. ¡°Each one of you here has undergone treatment for some time. In order to assess the effectiveness of the treatment, I have chosen a reliable testing method. The results of this test will impact your future treatment plan and bed allocation, so it is essential that everyone takes it seriously.¡±


    After he finished speaking, the patients who had previously worn vacant expressions suddenly displayed fear in their eyes.


    George gracefully moved around the patients and stopped behind Yu Xiao. He rested his hands on the back of her chair and said, ¡°Today¡¯s test revolves around sharing the reasons why you came here. Who would like to begin? Why don¡¯t we start with our new friend, Lady Deaf Descendant?¡±


    Although George¡¯s tone was gentle, Yu Xiao sensed a hint of malice in his words. She instinctively knew that there was a trap present and she must not fall into it.


    ¡°Dr. George,¡± Yu Xiao lowered her head and spoke softly, ¡°the reason why I came here is very complicated and cannot be explained in just a few sentences. Let others speak first, I need to sort out my thoughts.¡±


    George¡¯s smile widened and he was about to speak when Yu Xiao suddenly raised her head and pointed to a thin man with small eyes across from them. ¡°I believe this uncle (ÊåÊå, sh¨±shu) has something to share. Why don¡¯t we begin with him?¡±


    ¡®I don¡¯t look old and I¡¯m only thirty-one years old. How can you refer to me as ¡®uncle¡¯?¡¯ The thin man hesitated momentarily and then responded, ¡°Well, let¡¯s begin with me then.¡±


    Zhao Lan and Zhou Xiao Zhen, let out a collective sigh of relief. After Yu Xiao¡¯s earlier refusal, they were concerned that George would ask them to speak first. They didn¡¯t know how to decline without using the same excuse as Yu Xiao.


    ¡°My name is Zhang Tao (ÕÅÌÎ), and I am thirty-one years old,¡± emphasised Zhang Tao, the thin man. He glanced at Yu Xiao and continued, ¡°I work for the government, and my relatives and friends all admire my youth and potential.


    (ÕÅÌÎ: ¡°To open up a big wave¡± or ¡°to fill a blank paper with a big wave ¡±)


    ¡°¡ª Last year, I got married. My wife is a beautiful woman, and her family is affluent. Her father is a prominent local businessman. We were very happy after our marriage. My wife often slept in the guest room to avoid disturbing my sleep. Soon after, she became pregnant, and I was overjoyed.¡± Zhang Tao glanced at Yu Xiao again and added, ¡°At a young age, I have achieved success in my career, have a blissful family life, and I am going to be a father.¡±


    Yu Xiao was perplexed by the man¡¯s constant gaze. Why was he staring at her?


    ¡°I never expected my son to be born after only seven months,¡± Zhang Tao suddenly became animated. He sat on a chair and lowered his head, gripping the few hairs on his head tightly. ¡°The doctor claimed it was a full-term delivery, but how could that be possible? We had been married for only seven months¡­¡±


    Yu Xiao leaned back slightly. So, he couldn¡¯t handle the pressures of fatherhood and ended up at St. Elizabeth¡¯s?


    ¡°This child is not mine at all, and it tortures me. I confronted her, but she insisted that the child was conceived before she met me. She sees it as a representation of her past and not a betrayal towards me.¡± Zhang Tao suddenly looked up.


    Just as Yu Xiao thought he was about to explode, he unexpectedly said, ¡°She may have a point. If I truly love her, I shouldn¡¯t be bothered by her past. She has suffered greatly, and it is my duty to take good care of her.¡±


    Yu Xiao: ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡®What kind of bizarre logic is this?¡¯ exclaimed Yu Xiao inside, feeling utterly bewildered. As she pondered over this, she couldn¡¯t help but be amazed by the man¡¯s incredible resilience. If he could endure such a traumatic experience, then why was he admitted to a mental hospital?


    Suddenly, Zhang Tao stood up and shouted, his voice hoarse, ¡°But a week later, I left work early and found her lying in my bed with another man. When I tried to separate them, she hit me and cursed at me like a dog! I won¡¯t forgive her so easily. I will go find my father-in-law. He will support me¡­


    ¡ª Hahaha¡­ As expected, my father-in-law came to my side. He promised to reprimand that woman and even gave me his luxury car to drive back home.¡±


    Everyone watched him in silence, wondering what would unfold next.


    ¡°And then, on the way home, the brakes failed, and I was involved in a car accident,¡± Zhang Tao resumed his seat, his expression once again becoming blank. ¡°That¡¯s how I ended up here.¡±


    Yu Xiao was puzzled, ¡®What do you mean? He just walked in here like that? Wasn¡¯t he comforted by his father-in-law? Didn¡¯t he break down after the car accident? Could it be that he sustained brain damage, which is why he¡¯s here?¡¯


    ¡°He¡¯s done speaking now. It¡¯s my turn,¡± responded a middle-aged woman sitting across from Zhang Tao.


    Yu Xiao glanced over and saw an overweight and weary-looking woman. She had layers of fat on her body, and her skin appeared yellow and rough. Her hair was hastily tied up, looking messy and unkempt. Her features were almost indistinguishable, except for her fairly nice eyes. If she weren¡¯t so overweight, her eyes could have been considered large, but unfortunately, they appeared dull and lifeless.


    ¡°My name is Liu Cui (Áõ´ä), and I¡¯m forty-five years old,¡± announced Liu Cui, not understanding why she needed to disclose her age. However, since the person before her had mentioned it, she decided to follow suit. ¡°I¡¯m a housewife. My husband works in a factory, and my son is a¡­ guard at a casino.¡±


    (Áõ´ä: ¡°(classical) a type of battle-axe bluish-green¡± or ¡°To kill green jade¡±)


    Liu Cui reached out to tidy the dishevelled hair on her forehead, her eyes darting slightly as she surveyed the group of people. Then, she continued, ¡°Don¡¯t judge me based on my current appearance. When I was young, I was considered one of the most beautiful women in the factory, and those smelly men were always chasing after me. Later, I got married. My husband repaired bicycles and was a skilled craftsman. Despite being short and unattractive, my mother told me that it didn¡¯t matter as long as he could provide for me and treat me well. Besides, she said that ugly men were more trustworthy and less likely to cheat.


    ¡ª At the beginning, things were going well after we got married. I became pregnant quickly and gained quite a bit of weight. He assured me that it was fine and that he enjoyed hugging a soft and round wife,¡± Liu Cui¡¯s dull eyes sparked with a glimmer of hope. ¡°Nine months later, I gave birth to a large, chubby boy. However, he was born with health issues, so I had to stay at home to care for him and couldn¡¯t go back to work at the factory. Eventually, my friends stopped hanging out with me. When the factory shut down, they all found new jobs or started their own businesses, but I couldn¡¯t join them because my son had just started primary school¡­¡±


    There was no need to explain what happened next. Such tragedies were sadly commonplace.


    As expected, Liu Cui burst into tears, streams of salty droplets carving deep grooves in her weathered skin.  S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°But that jerk¡­ he¡¯s seeing someone else. Who does he think he is? He¡¯s so ugly and doesn¡¯t even have much money. Why does he get to find another woman? And she¡¯s not even half as beautiful as I was in my prime! We had a fight, and he even hit me,¡± Liu Cui admitted, her eyes brimming with bitterness.


    ¡°He didn¡¯t hesitate to strike me where it hurts. He had the audacity to tell me to look in the mirror and say I looked like a pig.¡± The resentment in her voice was palpable. ¡°This wretched state I find myself in is all because of him. I had numerous suitors vying for my affections in the past, but I chose him because he was a diamond in the rough. Little did I know that his true colours would eventually surface. Thankfully, my precious son remains by my side. As long as he stands with me, I can endure anything. I devote all my energy to him, hoping that one day he¡¯ll be successful enough to buy a big house in a big city and take care of me in my old age.


    ¡°But,¡± Liu Cui hesitated, her voice quivering. ¡°He, too, has become a reflection of his father¡ªuseless. He didn¡¯t perform well in school and has a penchant for playing around. He dropped out of high school. At such a young age, he¡¯s already involved with shady women, and he even got one of them pregnant. He brought her home and claimed they were getting married, but she demanded a dowry of 40,000 yuan, which would have crippled our family.¡±


    ¡°¡ª I refuse to give a single yuan to a woman who got pregnant before marriage. If my son is willing to marry her, that should be her fortune. However, she went ahead and had an abortion without telling my son. Now she won¡¯t even see him anymore. That woman has ruined my son. We argue constantly now.¡±


    Liu Cui¡¯s face crumbled as her tears flowed relentlessly. She covered her face, her sobs making her choke on her words and barely audible. ¡°One day, I went into his room while he was playing games and told him to go to bed early because he lacked ambition. Suddenly, he yelled at me and even stabbed me with a fruit knife. I fell to the ground in pain, and he didn¡¯t even take me to the hospital. He continued stabbing me multiple times¡­ After that, I ended up here.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡± Yuan Xiao¡¯s eyes twitched as she finally understood the situation. She was relieved that she hadn¡¯t spoken up earlier, or else she would have faced a terrible fate. She had thought that this hospital, called Saint Elizabeth, was for mental patients. But now she realised that the only requirement to enter this hospital was death. Everyone present, except for the three of them, was dead.


    The other patients, with their pale faces and lifeless expressions, seemed harmless at first glance. They spoke to one another, their conversations laced with an air of normalcy. But who could guarantee what they would do once they discovered there were living people nearby?


    ¡°I feel sorry about what happened to Mrs. Liu,¡± George said, adjusting his glasses in a hypocritical manner. ¡°So, who will be the next to speak?¡±


    ¡°I will,¡± Yuan Xiao announced, raising her hand amid the surprised gazes of Zhou Xiao Zhen and Zhao Lan. ¡°Allow me to share with everyone the reason behind my arrival at this place.¡±

 Chapter 10: Queen of Bullshiting

    ¡°Very well then, let¡¯s give some encouragement to ¡®Deaf Descendant¡¯,¡± George said, clapping his hands with a perfunctory smile. ¡°Miss, it seems like you have a lot on your mind. Your experiences must have been quite complex?¡±


    Yu Xiao¡¯s lashes trembled, and a fleeting sadness crossed her brows. ¡°If I had the choice, I would have preferred to live an ordinary life.¡± With a sigh, she lifted her gaze and began to speak. ¡°I was born into a modest family in a small county town. My parents worked in a factory. Life was simple, yet happy.¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen marvelled at her ability to weave a story so effortlessly, an unexpected talent since she usually appeared introverted.


    ¡°When I was seven, we went shopping. I accidentally wandered off and was abducted by a human trafficker. They sold me to a mountain village to become a child bride.¡±


    Zhao Lan struggled to hold back a twitching smile.


    ¡°I was too young to bear children, so they forced me to work day and night. Even in the biting cold of winter, I had to break ice on the river to wash clothes.¡± Yu Xiao extended her hands, her voice trembling with emotion. ¡°My hands were raw and swollen, as if they had been soaked in brine for three days and nights.¡±


    The patients gazed at her delicate, fair hands, their mouths watering in unison at words ¡®in brine for three days and nights¡¯.


    ¡°Eventually, I grew older,¡± Yu Xiao said, retracting her hands. ¡°When I was fourteen, they believed I was ready to marry their foolish son. But I refused to accept my fate and ran away. After enduring numerous hardships, I found my way back home. To my surprise, my parents had a new baby boy. It turned out that I was never kidnapped in the first place. They had deliberately sold me off to have a son.¡±


    The scene was heart-wrenching, and tears began to flow among the audience.


    ¡°They wanted to send me back to the mountains, but I refused and fled to the city to find work. I do not believe in surrendering to fate. I will rely on my own two hands to make a living and never bow down to this wretched destiny!¡± Yu Xiao declared, her fists clenched tightly and her face resolute.


    ¡°Exactly! That¡¯s the spirit!¡± The patients were deeply moved.


    ¡°I will not yield to fate!¡±


    Yu Xiao sniffled before continuing, ¡°While working, I made a good friend who introduced me to a high-paying job. I placed complete trust in her, but she deceived me into selling my kidney. I had one kidney removed and was left with neither money nor a place to go. I was on the brink of death when I was saved by a doctor named George.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± Yu Xiao looked like a frightened bird, casting a timid glance at George. ¡°I apologise, Dr. George. I wasn¡¯t referring to you. The doctor who saved me was also named George, with the surname Qiao and the given name Zhi.¡± (¡°ÇÇÖΡ± (qi¨¢ozh¨¬) is the Chinese transliteration of the name George.)


    ¡°It¡¯s okay.¡± George chuckled. ¡°Having the same name is quite common.¡±


    ¡°Yes, George is such a basic name, it¡¯s only natural for there to be others with the same one,¡± Yu Xiao quickly changed the subject upon seeing George¡¯s darkening expression. ¡°Dr. George took care of me and attended to my needs. He even helped me with adult diapers when I was unable to care for myself. I thought he was the most incredible person in the world, and I truly believed we had found true love. Little did I know he was a heartless monster, devoid of any hint of humanity. He saved me simply because my blood type matched that of his girlfriend, who suffered from a heart condition. He wanted my heart! Waaah¡­¡±


    Yu Xiao covered her face and sobbed for a while, her muffled cries filling the room. Gradually, she lifted her head, her gaze meeting the complex expressions of those around her. ¡°He had me imprisoned and subjected to unspeakable torture. I risked my life to escape by severing my own hand and leg. I collapsed on a filthy street, in the midst of a freezing night, and was rescued by a small-time gangster. He was the only person who showed me kindness in this heartless world. Later, I discovered that he was my elementary school classmate who had harboured a secret affection for me since we were little.¡±


    Zhao Lan found it hard to believe Yu Xiao¡¯s account. Her story seemed too fantastical for others to accept, but as she turned her head, she saw Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s tear-stained face and strained breathing.


    Zhao Lan fell silent.


    ¡°We spent blissful days together,¡± Yu Xiao continued. ¡°He worked at the construction site during the day to provide for us, while I prepared meals and did the laundry. Sadly, my parents and step-parents came searching for me. I was terrified, but he promised to protect me and take me far away. Before we could get very far, that wretched George tracked us down.¡±


    At this point, George raised his eyebrows, annoyed. He was no stranger to being berated, but this time it grated on him more than usual.


    Yet, nobody paid him any mind. The other patients were captivated by the tale, clamouring to know what came next. ¡°And then what?¡± they chorused.


    ¡°Did you get caught?¡±


    Yu Xiao¡¯s smile turned bitter and forlorn. ¡°Yes, we were caught. The man I loved most was brutally killed by that despicable Dr. George, who had caused me such immense suffering. I despise him with every fibre of my being, that loathsome George. Why must I endure such agony when I have done nothing wrong?¡±


    She clenched her left fist. ¡°I yearn for vengeance.¡±


    Her right fist tightened. ¡°I want those who wronged me to suffer the consequences.¡±


    With both hands clenched into fists, Yu Xiao declared, ¡°Since heaven cannot deliver justice for me, I shall take it upon myself!¡±


    ¡°Absolutely!¡± exclaimed a young girl with twin braids, no older than ten, sitting to Yu Xiao¡¯s right. She bounced up and down, waving her hands. ¡°Kill them! Kill them all!¡±


    ¡°I intentionally revealed my location to attract their attention,¡± Yu Xiao disclosed, ¡°and then I ignited a gas cylinder inside the house where my beloved and I had once experienced moments of happiness. The radiant, awe-inspiring flames consumed us¡­ and that¡¯s how I ended up here.¡±


    After hearing the conclusion, a collective sigh of relief escaped from everyone¡¯s lips.


    ¡°Thank you all for enduring my rambling,¡± Yu Xiao humbly and sincerely expressed, feeling a deep sense of gratitude.


    The applause thundered through the room, and Zhou Xiao Zhen, while clapping, couldn¡¯t hold back her tears.


    Seizing the opportunity, Zhao Lan leaned closer and whispered, ¡°Why are you crying? Smiley was just making it up.¡±


    ¡°I know,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen replied, her tears gushing uncontrollably. ¡°But it still touched me deeply.¡±


    Zhao Lan was overwhelmed with a mix of emotions and struggled to find the right words.


    ¡°To tell you the truth, I had also come up with a few stories in my head,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen sobbed harder, ¡°but I doubt I could ever surpass Smiley¡¯s storytelling prowess.¡±


    Zhao Lan: ¡°¡­¡±


    Growing increasingly irritated by the euphoric atmosphere, George stood up, his displeasure evident. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s move on. Who¡¯s next to speak?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s me!¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen eagerly raised her hand. ¡°Me, me!¡±


    George¡¯s eye twitched, but he tried to ignore it. The little girl, who had waved earlier, pointed at Zhou Xiao Zhen and said, ¡°I¡¯ll let you go first this time. I¡¯ll wait until you¡¯re done!¡±


    George remained silent.


    Clearing her throat, Zhou Xiao Zhen said, ¡°My name is ¡®Braised Egg Girl 438¡¯, and I¡¯m eighteen years old. I¡¯ve had a miserable life. When I was sixteen, my father¡¯s company went bankrupt, and he sold me to the president of the opposing company. On the night of our wedding, he tied me to a chair and made me watch him with another woman in our marriage bed, and¡­¡±


    ¡­.


    Zhao Lan¡¯s mouth hung agape.


    As Zhou Xiao Zhen finished, the room erupted in applause.


    George observed the spectacle with an air of indifference, concealing his true emotions behind a mask of composure.


    ¡°Next,¡± George said to Zhao Lan, his eagerness to move on palpable. ¡°Are you ready?¡±


    Zhao Lan glanced at the little girl with twin ponytails and hesitated, ¡°Can I have a little more time?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± George said coldly. ¡°I want you to go first.¡±


    Zhao Lan took a deep breath and confessed, ¡°This morning, I ran a red light while rushing to work and got hit by a dump truck. And now, I find myself here.¡±


    ¡­


    After everyone had shared their stories, George regained his polite and courteous demeanour. sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°The test is over,¡± he announced, sweeping his gaze across the patients. ¡°Based on your performance, I will assign each of you a bed. Please collect your dinner and medication from the nurse and get some rest. Good night, ladies and gentlemen.¡±

 Chapter 11: Sister, you smell so lovely

    George concluded his speech and gracefully turned, walking away. The patients rose from their seats and formed a line, moving forward like wooden dolls controlled by invisible strings.


    Yu Xiao and her companions trailed behind. Zhou Xiao Zhen gazed blankly at the spot where George had disappeared and whispered, ¡°You know, George is quite dashing, like the vampires I¡¯m fond of. Do you think he¡¯s human?¡±


    ¡°What do you think?¡± Zhao Lan replied wearily. ¡°After listening to all these patients¡¯ stories, do you still believe there are any living souls left here?¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s go. Follow them,¡± Yu Xiao signalled to the others to catch up with the line.


    The hospital was dimly lit, and the corridor was narrow. Thirteen patients shuffled along in a line, and no medical staff crossed their path.


    Yu Xiao had found no information about St. Elizabeth¡¯s Psychiatric Hospital on the Fourth Hospital Forum. This was their first time entering a treatment instance, and they had no experience or knowledge of how to leave this place.


    The girl standing in front of Yu Xiao, with twin pigtails, was named Qiao Qiao (ÇÉÇÉ:opportunely / coincidentally / as it happens / skillful / timely ). From her words, it was evident that her grandmother had drowned her in the river due to gender bias.


    Yu Xiao paused for a moment, contemplating this information, before gently patting the girl¡¯s shoulder.


    Qiao Qiao turned her head, somewhat dazed, and saw the slender, milky-white hand resting there. Yu Xiao¡¯s words still lingered in her ears: ¡°¡­like being slow-cooked in a brine pot for three days and three nights.¡±


    Qiao Qiao swallowed and looked up at Yu Xiao with a hunger in her eyes. ¡°Sister, you smell so lovely.¡±


    Yu Xiao forced a smile and asked, ¡°How long have you been here?¡±


    Qiao Qiao¡¯s gaze became vacant, as if lost in time. She tilted her head and began counting on her fingers. ¡°It¡¯s been over forty years, I believe,¡± she finally said.


    So this abandoned hospital had been devoid of life for at least forty years? Without hesitating, Yu Xiao continued. ¡°Has anyone ever left this place?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Qiao Qiao replied, her gaze fixed on Yu Xiao. She moistened her lips. ¡°People like you, who have such a sweet scent, often enter. But they don¡¯t stay for long. Will you also disappear, sister?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Yu Xiao truthfully responded. ¡°Is there a way to escape from here?¡±


    ¡°Why would you want to leave?¡± Qiao Qiao¡¯s wide eyes widened with confusion. ¡°Once the illness is cured, you can go back home.¡±


    ¡°And how do we cure the illness?¡± Yu Xiao inquired.


    Qiao Qiao¡¯s expression grew cold. ¡°If I knew, would I still be here?¡± she spat.


    Yu Xiao fell silent. Her companions, Zhao Lan and Zhou Xiao Zhen, exchanged a knowing glance.


    ¡°The patients may seem simple, but they are not truly foolish,¡± warned Zhao Lan. ¡°We must be cautious and not let them discover that we are living people.¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen, carrying a mahjong set, nodded in agreement. ¡°There are so many ghosts here,¡± she complained. ¡°Even with mahjong, we may not be able to ward them all off. Are your talismans enough, Smiley?¡±


    ¡°I thought so,¡± admitted Yu Xiao, casting a worried glance at the ten figures ahead of them. ¡°But I didn¡¯t expect to encounter so many ghosts in the first treatment instance.¡±


    ¡°We must find a way out of here,¡± insisted Zhao Lan.


    ¡°But didn¡¯t Qiao Qiao say that we can leave once our illnesses are cured?¡± interjected Zhou Xiao Zhen.


    ¡°How can we cure this illness?¡± asked Zhao Lan.


    ¡°How should I know?¡± replied Zhou Xiao Zhen.


    ¡°Somebody surely knows,¡± said Yu Xiao.


    Zhao Lan and Zhou Xiao Zhen exclaimed in unison, ¡°Who?!¡±


    ¡°Shhh¡­¡± Yu Xiao motioned for them to be quiet and whispered, ¡°George.¡±


    Both of them ceased their exclamations and stared with widened eyes.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen was so anxious that her eyelashes almost fell off. ¡°Smiley, this is no laughing matter. I admit that I once mentioned George¡¯s certain charm, but he is clearly not human. What¡¯s the difference between seeking him out and seeking death?¡±


    Zhao Lan recalled the way George had looked at her, and even now she felt a little afraid. ¡°Perhaps we should consider an alternative.¡±


    Yu Xiao didn¡¯t understand why they were so nervous and gazed at them with a puzzled expression. ¡°What are you so afraid of? The attending physician has a duty to inform the patient about the treatment plan.¡±


    The team turned right and arrived at the medication area. There, behind a window, stood a nurse with pale skin and white clothing, moving stiffly with lifeless eyes. In front of her was a tray displaying two rows of small paper cups. The left cups contained two capsules, while the right cups held water.


    The patients lined up and each received a cup of water and a cup of capsules from the nurse. They swallowed the medicine and opened their mouths to show compliance.


    Fortunately, Yu Xiao¡¯s team was at the back of the line. Unfortunately, sooner or later, it would be their turn.


    ¡°What should we do¡­¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen anxiously pinched Zhao Lan¡¯s striped hospital gown. ¡°Do we really have to take that?¡±


    It felt like an impossible situation. Yu Xiao glanced to her left and saw three nurses, standing rigidly like puppets. To her right, there were three more nurses, equally motionless. Who knew what the medicine they were given could do? Yu Xiao¡¯s arms and legs felt weak and powerless. She understood that if they fought back or tried to escape, they would eventually be caught. And she didn¡¯t want to think about what would happen to them then.


    As the number of people in front of them dwindled, the three of them felt their hopelessness grow.


    When there were only two people ahead of them, Yu Xiao knew they could no longer hesitate. She signalled to the other two with a wave of her hand and said, ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡±


    The moment she spoke, she left the line. The six nurses on either side immediately moved towards them. Yu Xiao could see their blood-red lips, withered skin, and even smell their strange odour.


    Yu Xiao stood before Zhou Xiao Zhen and Zhao Lan, raising her voice, ¡°We insist on seeing Doctor George!¡±


    However, the six nurses remained unresponsive, steadily advancing. The three of them started to retreat, with Zhou Xiao Zhen, in her desperation, seeking refuge behind Yu Xiao. She accused the nurses, ¡°What do you think you¡¯re doing? We have the right to see a doctor. You¡¯re violating our fundamental patient rights¡­ Ouch! Don¡¯t push me so forcefully, why are you so strong¡­¡±


    Eventually, the three of them were forced back to the end of the line.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen, on the verge of tears, asked, ¡°What do we do now?¡±


    In frustration, Zhao Lan clenched her teeth and stomped her foot, declaring, ¡°I¡¯ll hold them off. You two run.¡±


    ¡°Ah, how can you possibly hold them off, Misty?¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen clung onto her mahjong set. ¡°Let¡¯s go together. Smiley, run faster and don¡¯t worry about us. You must live well for us, ah¡­¡± S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Amidst her tears, Qiao Qiao turned to face Yu Xiao.


    With eyes that exhibited both an empty stillness and an innocent childlike quality, Qiao Qiao asked, ¡°Sister, don¡¯t you want to take the medication?¡±


    Yu Xiao responded immediately, saying, ¡°Yes. Do you know of any other way?¡±


    Qiao Qiao licked her index finger with her tongue and stared at Yu Xiao¡¯s hand with hunger in her eyes. Saliva dripped from the corner of her mouth.


    Understanding her intention, Yu Xiao clenched her teeth and said, ¡°If you can find a solution for us to avoid taking the medicine, I¡¯ll give you one hand!¡±


    Qiao Qiao¡¯s eyes lit up, and her mouth stretched into an ecstatic grin that seemed to split her face in two.


    After rummaging in her pocket for a while, she finally produced three shrivelled and blackened fingers. The broken edges were jagged and uneven, as if something had gnawed them off.


    The sight made Yu Xiao feel sick, and a wave of nausea washed over her. Qiao Qiao then took the water and capsule offered by the nurse with pleasure. Afterwards, she handed the three fingers to the nurse, pointing back at Yu Xiao and her companions.


    The pale nurse held the fingers, sniffed them, and then showed a satisfied look. Her lips, painted a deep red, formed a stiff smile as she leaned down to clean up the tray. Without even a glance in their direction, she then walked away.


    ¡°¡­¡±


    Yu Xiao suddenly realised that she had made a terrible deal. She could have achieved the same outcome with just three fingers, but she had paid the price of an entire hand.


    She had been deceived¡­


    The patients swallowed their medication and left the table, disregarding the bread and fruit. Yu Xiao considered her options as Qiao Qiao pulled on her sleeve, her hopeful expression tainted by a string of saliva.


    Yu Xiao hesitated. ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± she whispered, devastated. ¡°I cannot give you my hand right now.¡±


    Qiao Qiao¡¯s face twisted into an angry snarl, revealing a set of sharp teeth.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s breathing wavered. ¡®Will I be the next one tormented by this little demon?¡¯ she wondered.


    ¡°Smiley,¡± Zhou Xiaozhen interrupted, ¡°let¡¯s play mahjong.¡±


    Yu Xiao shook her head and crouched down to Qiao Qiao¡¯s level. ¡°I will be seeing Doctor George soon. What will he do if he finds out that I am missing a hand?¡±


    Qiao Qiao clung to Yu Xiao¡¯s sleeve, oblivious to her reasoning. Yu Xiao raised her hand, intending to pat Qiao Qiao¡¯s head, but withdrew it when she noticed the greasy hair that appeared unwashed for the past forty years.


    ¡°Qiao Qiao,¡± Yu Xiao said softly, ¡°Doctor George won¡¯t worry about your hunger, but if he asks why I gave you my hand, I¡¯ll have to tell him it was so you could bribe the nurses.¡±


    Qiao Qiao¡¯s eyes widened with fear. She seemed afraid of George discovering the truth yet reluctant to let go of Yu Xiao¡¯s fragrant hand. After a moment of contemplation, she released Yu Xiao¡¯s sleeve.


    ¡°When you come back, give it back to me,¡± Qiao Qiao muttered, wiping away the saliva with her sleeve. ¡°I¡¯ll be waiting for you.¡±

 Chapter 12: Are you dating Dr George?

    Yu Xiao¡¯s lips curved into a subtle smile, neither nodding nor shaking in response. With a slight tilt of her head, she directed her gaze down the eerie hallway. ¡°So, where is Doctor George?¡±


    At the far end of the corridor, Doctor George¡¯s office beckoned like a hidden treasure waiting to be discovered.


    Deciding to search for George alone, Yu Xiao had assigned Zhao Lan and Zhou Xiao Zhen to look at the patients back at the ward.


    As she strolled down the corridor, passing lit wards that hinted at occupied rooms, she noticed something strange. Apart from the ten patients she had seen earlier, there seemed to be no one else. Were others hiding, or did they not require treatment?


    As puzzling thoughts filled her mind, Yu Xiao finally reached the end of the eerie corridor, facing a solitary door labelled ¡°Doctor¡¯s Office.¡±


    Closing the distance, she gathered the courage to gently knock on the door. A series of knocks produced no immediate response, leaving her uncertain about the office¡¯s occupancy.


    Frowning, Yu Xiao decided to knock once more, her knuckles echoing through the silence like a desperate plea¡­


    And then it happened.


    With a creak akin to a coffin lid opening, the door suddenly swung inward.


    As Yu Xiao peered into the dimly lit office, she was met with the sight of George, seated motionless behind the desk. The room was shrouded in an unsettling calm, making it painfully clear that George was the sole inhabitant of this foreboding space.


    Yu Xiao¡¯s smile grew wider upon seeing him. ¡°Hello, Dr. George. I have something to discuss with you.¡±


    Although George didn¡¯t seem pleased by her visit, he maintained his manners. ¡°Please, come in.¡±


    Taking the hint, Yu Xiao entered the room and found a seat across the desk from George. Leaning in, she asked, ¡°May I sit here, Dr. George?¡±


    ¡°Certainly, miss,¡± he replied, gesturing towards the chair on his right.


    With a less-than-elegant screech, she dragged the chair across to the front of the table. Seated and composed, she met George¡¯s gaze with a bright smile.


    ¡°Doctor,¡± Yu Xiao got straight to the point, ¡°How do I get discharged?¡±


    Adjusting his glasses, George replied, ¡°Miss, you can only leave when you¡¯re better.¡±


    Persistent, Yu Xiao asked, ¡°What does ¡®better¡¯ mean? Is it up to you?¡±


    George paused, then explained, ¡°The criteria for improvement are set by the Dean. Only their approval on the discharge report allows you to leave.¡±


    ¡°And how do I meet the Dean?¡± Yu Xiao knew George had the answer.


    ¡°Ah, the Dean¡­¡± George chuckled. ¡°I can¡¯t even see him.¡±


    Yu Xiao became tense. ¡°Why? Isn¡¯t he here?¡±


    ¡°He is,¡± George¡¯s smile turned sly. ¡°But he¡¯s reclusive¡­ The Dean is not the type of person you can casually meet with¡­¡± S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Thank you,¡± Yu Xiao rose, grateful. ¡°I won¡¯t bother you anymore.¡±


    George watched her walk away, wondering eagerly, what would she do now? How would she react when her hopes were dashed after meeting the Dean? Ah, her despair will be delicious.


    ¡°Oh, by the way,¡± Yu Xiao turned abruptly, catching George off guard before he could hide his greedy expression. ¡°Dr. George,¡± she asked, ¡°may I have your contact number? So I can update you on my condition and strengthen our doctor-patient relationship.¡±


    *


    *


    The hospital corridor was deserted as Yu Xiao emerged from the doctor¡¯s office, feeling perplexed because she didn¡¯t know the location of her hospital room.


    As she walked down the hallway, every room had its lights on and they all looked the same. She paced back and forth in the empty corridor, even contemplating whether to call out for her sisters to come and find her. However, she dismissed this idea; who knows what calling out might attract.


    With a surge of confidence, Yu Xiao swiftly opened the door on the left, her hand diving into her pocket. The faint ¡°click¡± of the door lock reached her ears as it swung open, revealing a ward bathed in orange light.


    Inside the room, a dozen people dressed in patient gowns stood in a neat line by the bed. Each one remained completely still, with unchanging expressions, in a state of motionlessness and silence.


    Men and women of various ages stood as if at attention within the ward, causing Yu Xiao to shudder at the sight. Just as she moved to close the door, a nurse dressed in white appeared beside her, startling her.


    ¡°What are you doing?¡±


    Yu Xiao promptly shut the door and took a few steps back. ¡°I can¡¯t find my ward,¡± she explained urgently.


    *


    *


    Zhao Lan and Zhou Xiao Zhen only realised this issue upon returning to the ward. What would they do if they couldn¡¯t find their way back? Luckily, their worry was short-lived as Yu Xiao quickly came back, waving gratefully at the nurse. ¡°Thank you for bringing me back.¡±


    ¡°¡ª Smiley!¡±


    ¡°¡ª Big Sis Yu!¡±


    Their relief was palpable at her safe return, but Qiao Qiao¡¯s excitement was unmatched. She jumped off the bed and eagerly clung to Yu Xiao¡¯s sleeve, drooling profusely.


    ¡°Qiao Qiao, I¡¯m sorry. I can¡¯t give you my hand right now,¡± Yu Xiao apologised helplessly.


    Qiao Qiao¡¯s expression immediately changed. ¡°Are you going back on your word?¡±


    Noticing the tension, Zhou Xiao Zhen compared Qiao Qiao¡¯s urgency to that of a dung beetle on a mission. Standing by Yu Xiao¡¯s side, she offered, ¡°Should I bring the mahjong, Smiley?¡±


    Unyielding, Yu Xiao bit her lip. ¡°I don¡¯t want this either, but George doesn¡¯t want me to do it.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡± Qiao Qiao: ¡°?¡±


    ¡°I just visited George; he seemed very worried about me and wanted me to stay in his office a little longer. However, I didn¡¯t think it was appropriate, so I returned. He was still concerned and had a nurse accompany me back.¡± Yu Xiao¡¯s cheeks turned slightly red. ¡°Nevertheless, he was still worried and gave me his number, telling me to reach out if I needed anything.¡±


    Qiao Qiao, Zhao Lan, and Zhou Xiao Zhen remained silent, taking in the information.


    ¡°But I made a promise to you,¡± Yu Xiao asserted firmly to Qiao Qiao, her teeth clenched. ¡°I don¡¯t break promises. I will speak to George now, affirm my decision, and he will support me. You won¡¯t have any trouble, I assure you!¡±


    In the midst of Qiao Qiao¡¯s disbelief, Yu Xiao quickly dialled the phone. George promptly answered, asking, ¡°Who is this?¡±


    ¡°George, it¡¯s me,¡± Yu Xiao replied sweetly. ¡°I wanted to¡­¡±


    ¡°Smack!¡±


    Qiao Qiao grabbed the phone with a death grip, staring at Yu Xiao, vigorously shaking her head, almost creating a blur.


    In an attempt to calm Qiao Qiao, Yu Xiao smiled reassuringly, then snatched the phone back, ending the call abruptly. ¡°Oh, everything¡¯s fine now. Goodnight~¡± The line went dead instantly.


    After the call, she asked innocently, ¡°Qiao Qiao, what¡¯s the matter?¡±


    Qiao Qiao burst into tears after a moment of silence, collapsing onto the bed, her small body trembling. It appeared that she was genuinely devastated.


    Yu Xiao, feigning innocence, said, ¡°Why is Qiao Qiao so upset? It¡¯s as if someone has bullied her.¡±


    In shock, Zhou Xiao Zhen asked, ¡°Are you dating George?¡±


    Yu Xiao remained silent, grappling with her emotions.


    They were in a spacious hospital room with thirteen beds arranged side by side, shared by both men and women. Each bed was labelled with a name assigned by Dr. George, and no one was allowed to switch beds without permission.


    Yu Xiao¡¯s bed was the third one by the door, Zhou Xiao Zhen occupied the fourth, and Zhao Lan¡¯s was the innermost one against the wall. Among them, only Qiao Qiao continued to sob while the other patients appeared to be asleep, their eyes closed in the peaceful room.


    Gathering around Zhao Lan¡¯s bed, they exchanged their thoughts. ¡°As soon as I returned,¡± Zhao Lan murmured, looking at the motionless figures around them, ¡°it became like this. We tried to look for you, but the nurse restricted our movements.¡±


    Sharing what she knew, Yu Xiao added, ¡°It seems that our only way out is by contacting the hospital Dean.¡±


    ¡°But even George couldn¡¯t locate him,¡± observed Zhao Lan, leaning against the corner. ¡°I have a feeling that there is more danger lurking here, and our assigned beds were not chosen randomly.¡±


    ¡°Currently, there is a nurse stationed outside,¡± Yu Xiao chuckled. ¡°Let¡¯s try to get some rest first and then seize an opportunity to search for clues.¡±


    The three of them returned to their respective beds. These beds had a peculiar smell, as if they were damp and hadn¡¯t been cleaned for a long time.


    As Yu Xiao lay on her bed, the lingering scent prevented her from falling asleep. However, since it was still early and she knew there would be activities later in the night, she needed to rest in order to stay alert.


    So, she closed her eyes and began thinking about things that brought her joy: delicious food, beautiful clothes, handsome men¡­


    Three minutes later, Zhou Xiao Zhen started to sense that something was amiss. She opened her eyes and noticed that Liu Cui, the plump woman in the adjacent bed, was lying sideways and staring at her with wide-open eyes. Her drool had already drenched a significant part of her pillow.


    ¡°¡­¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen was frightened but didn¡¯t have the courage to take any action. She swiftly turned towards Yu Xiao and whispered, ¡°Sister Yu, I¡¯m really scared.¡±


    ¡°¡ª Sister Yu?¡±


    Yu Xiao: ¡°zzzzZ¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen: ¡°¡­¡±


    No wonder she¡¯s called Smiley. Zhou Xiao Zhen lay flat on her bed, her eyes filled with envy, tears almost flowing out of her nostrils.


    Meanwhile, Yu Xiao slept soundly during her nap. In her dream, she was swimming with several attractive men. They were all dressed in revealing attire that was soaked and clinging to their skin. She was also swimming, with two handsome men supporting her on either side.


    As they swam, the waves grew larger, and one of the attractive men suggested, ¡°Let¡¯s surf.¡±


    Yu Xiao chuckled, playfully replying, ¡°Who surfs in a pool?¡±


    Then, a wave crashed, startling her awake into complete darkness.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen whispered, ¡°Wake up.¡±

 Chapter 13: It’s over. Smiley’s gone mad.

    ¡°Where¡­ where did that handsome guy go?¡± The slumber that enveloped Yu Xiao was rudely disrupted by the gentle shaking from the two sisters. Emerging from the depths of sleep, she struggled to discern the darkness of the room. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± she murmured, her voice a mix of confusion and drowsiness.


    ¡°It¡¯s us, Smiley,¡± Zhao Lan offered a helping hand, guiding Yu Xiao off the bed. ¡°The lights are out now,¡± she explained softly. ¡°We haven¡¯t slept at all. A few moments ago, some medical staff entered and took away a patient from the bed furthest away.¡±


    Fumbling through the darkness, Yu Xiao made her way toward the door, disoriented from just waking up. In an inadvertent collision with the bedpost, a resonating thud echoed through the room, jolting her before the pain could fully register.


    ¡°Don¡¯t be scared, Smiley,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen reassured her. ¡°Everyone is sound asleep. There wasn¡¯t even a stir when they took the patient from the outer bed earlier.¡±


    ¡°I suspect it¡¯s related to the medication they received during the day,¡± Zhao Lan speculated. ¡°That might explain why we¡¯re unaffected.¡±


    The door to the ward creaked open slightly, prompting three pairs of eyes to sneak a glance outside. The corridor lay dimly lit, silent, devoid of any movement or sound.


    Clutching the talisman tightly in her pocket, Yu Xiao took the lead. Zhao Lan followed closely behind, while Zhou Xiao Zhen trailed, holding onto a mahjong set.


    In this eerie silence, even the slightest noise seemed to echo. The trio proceeded cautiously, stepping as softly as possible, veering to the left.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s voice barely carried, faint like a frail spider¡¯s thread. ¡°Smiley, how do you know we should go left?¡±


    ¡°Are you daft?¡± Before Yu Xiao could answer, Zhao Lan¡¯s exasperation was clearly evident. ¡°The right side leads to George¡¯s office.¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen remained puzzled. ¡°But how can we be certain they didn¡¯t take the patient to George¡¯s office?¡±


    Before Zhao Lan could offer a detailed explanation, Yu Xiao interjected, ¡°The right side leads to George¡¯s office. Do you know what¡¯s on the left?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not sure,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen admitted, shaking her head.


    ¡°Would you like to find out?¡± Yu Xiao asked with a hint of curiosity in her voice.


    ¡°Yes!¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen responded eagerly.


    ¡°Then let¡¯s investigate,¡± Yu Xiao suggested.


    ¡°Okay!¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s excitement was palpable. ¡°Let¡¯s not waste any time!¡±


    As they continued onward, Zhao Lan muttered something under her breath, her expression troubled. Then, suddenly, Yu Xiao halted, causing the others to tense.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen whispered anxiously.


    Yu Xiao pointed to a portrait hanging on the wall. The painting depicted a hospital scene, specifically St. Elizabeth¡¯s Psychiatric Hospital, just like the one Yu Xiao had seen before. However, unlike the previous painting, this one included people.


    In the portrait, two rows of individuals dressed in white coats stood. The front row featured three figures ¨C George, a tall, kind-looking old man in the center, and a plump middle-aged man.


    In the tense and dimly lit hospital corridor, Zhou Xiao Zhen spoke with unwavering certainty, ¡°It¡¯s the Dean, no doubt. Just look, he¡¯s right there in the center.¡±


    No one disagreed with her statement. Yu Xiao looked towards the back, where a group of ten women stood. Thirteen people made up the gathering: the Dean, George, the daytime medication nurse, six corridor nurses, and four unfamiliar faces ¨C one man and three women.


    Thirteen staff members seemed too few for such a large hospital. Yu Xiao wondered what other responsibilities they had.


    She had visited a ward earlier that was full of troubled patients. Many wards had their lights on. There must have been many patients in each ward. How did so few staff members manage such a large number of patients?


    Lost in her thoughts, Yu Xiao¡¯s attention was abruptly grabbed by a tug on her sleeve. Zhao Lan and Zhou Xiao Zhen wore fearful expressions.


    ¡°Listen,¡± they urged, ¡°footsteps.¡±


    Yu Xiao paused, straining to hear the strange sounds. The footsteps were far from ordinary; they echoed as if they were being made by a large group of people ¨C perhaps even more than a hundred.


    Instinct told her to go back to the ward. But as she turned around, a chilling sight met her eyes: a dark shadow was approaching down the corridor, accompanied by a deafening noise.


    ¡°Run!¡± Yu Xiao urgently exclaimed.


    This time, caution was thrown aside as the three of them sprinted away. But soon their path was blocked ¨C there was an iron door on their left with the sign ¡®Operating Room¡¯, which seemed to loom menacingly.


    ¡°No way out!¡± Zhao Lan cried, terrified by the ominous entrance. ¡°Should we take the risk and go inside?!¡±


    The operating room, a place full of danger, had a notorious reputation ¨C a source of peril similar to those seen in horror films. Some would choose death over stepping inside.


    While scanning both directions as they ran, Yu Xiao suddenly spotted a solution. ¡°Follow me!¡±


    Guiding them, she led the frantic rush into the nearby storeroom.


    The space was tight, cloaked in darkness, and filled with an oppressive sense of confinement. Avoiding illuminating the room, they quieted their breaths, nervously watching the floor.


    Dim light seeped in from under the door, providing limited visibility. Any passing figure outside would cast revealing shadows.


    Their hiding spot didn¡¯t give them much time to catch their breath before the loud footsteps grew closer. The number of people outside was more than they had expected, their shadows passing by continuously for a solid fifteen minutes.


    Once the shadows finally disappeared, all three of them felt exhausted and worn out.


    Zhao Lan¡¯s clothes were soaked in sweat, sticking to her skin. She struggled to breathe as her chest rose and fell heavily. ¡°How many people could there possibly be? Are there really that many patients from all the rooms combined?¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen was frozen with fear. She grabbed onto Zhao Lan¡¯s arm and whimpered, ¡°Those aren¡¯t people. They¡¯re¡­ they¡¯re¡­¡± She couldn¡¯t finish her sentence. ¡°I don¡¯t want to die yet.¡±


    Being slightly older, Zhao Lan quickly composed herself. She noticed that Yu Xiao had been silent for a while. She asked, ¡°Smiley, what are you thinking?¡±


    Yu Xiao spoke softly, ¡°Did any of you hear the sound of the door opening just now?¡±


    ¡°Nope.¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s voice trembled.


    Zhao Lan carefully pondered for a moment and shook her head. ¡°I didn¡¯t hear it either. Smiley, what¡¯s on your mind?¡±


    ¡°The storeroom we¡¯re in is very close to the operating room, less than ten steps away. Just now, there were so many shadows passing by the door. Even if they were queuing right by the operating room¡¯s door, there should have been a really long line, at least surpassing the distance from the operating room to the storeroom.¡± Yu Xiao gestured with her hands, indicating the distance.


    In the darkness, her hand gestures went unnoticed, but everyone understood what she meant.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen asked, ¡°Smiley, are you suggesting that all of them went into the operating room?¡±


    Yu Xiao replied, ¡°But we didn¡¯t hear the operating room door open.¡±


    ¡°The operating room door is quite heavy,¡± Zhao Lan agreed. ¡°It usually makes a sound when it¡¯s opened.¡±


    ¡°But they¡¯re ghosts,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen didn¡¯t understand why everyone was so focused on the door issue. ¡°Don¡¯t ghosts just pass through walls?¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    After a moment of silence, Zhou Xiao Zhen broke it, ¡°Why aren¡¯t you saying anything?¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    Another silence followed, leaving Zhou Xiao Zhen feeling frustrated. ¡°Do you think what I said is wrong?¡± she asked.


    ¡°Spot on,¡± Zhao Lan agreed. ¡°So, if they¡¯re not outside, or in the operating room, and they didn¡¯t come back, where did they go?¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen couldn¡¯t follow their logic and decided to give up. ¡°Gosh, it stinks in here. Can we leave?¡±


    Yu Xiao took out her phone and turned on the flashlight, revealing the messy storeroom.


    They found themselves surrounded by blue and yellow bins, along with piles of black garbage bags that emitted a foul smell. S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Yuck,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen gagged. ¡°Hospital trash is the worst.¡±


    Yu Xiao shared her sentiment and reached for one of the garbage bags, tearing it open.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen turned pale in horror. ¡°Smiley, you don¡¯t have to do this.¡±


    As the bag was opened, a wave of putrid smell overwhelmed them. Yu Xiao closed her eyes briefly, before regaining her composure. Peering inside, she saw half a foot ¨C the bones stark white at the break, with flesh curling back, surrounded by yellow fat.


    Now even Zhao Lan couldn¡¯t hold back. Both she and Zhou Xiao Zhen covered their mouths, trying to suppress the urge to vomit.


    ¡°Smiley,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen pleaded, ¡°Please, get rid of it.¡±


    Yu Xiao nodded. ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll get rid of it.¡±


    She opened the bag wider and rummaged inside. She pulled out a hand, an ear, and something else, and stuffed them all into her pocket.


    ¡°Oh my,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen trembled against Zhao Lan, ¡°Smiley has lost her mind.¡±


    After pocketing a couple of human body parts, Yu Xiao securely tied up the bag and pushed it aside, saying to the two, ¡°Let¡¯s get out of here.¡±


    There was no one outside, and the doors to the operating room were still closed. Yu Xiao touched the doors. They were solid walls on both sides, with no way to pass through.


    ¡°Where did they go?¡± Zhao Lan rubbed her temples, looking at the empty walls. ¡°Smiley checked the right side of the corridor today, and we checked the left side together. There¡¯s no Dean¡¯s office anywhere.¡±


    Yu Xiao stared at the locked operating room door. ¡°There¡¯s one place we haven¡¯t searched. I want to go in and see.¡±

 Chapter 14: You’ve got the guts to steal a man.

    (ÄãÓб¾ÊÂÇÀÄÐÈË (n¨« y¨¯u b¨§nsh¨¬ qi¨£ng n¨¢nr¨¦n)


    Literal translation: ¡°You have the ability to steal a man.¡±


    This phrase is an accusatory remark often used to challenge someone¡¯s audacity or assertiveness in pursuing or taking away someone else¡¯s romantic partner.)


    The trio stood in front of the weathered and ominous door of the operating theatre.


    Zhao Lan cautioned, ¡°Let¡¯s not act impulsively. The patient who was taken away might be inside.¡±


    ¡°But in order to escape, we need to take a peek,¡± Yu Xiao said with a chuckle. ¡°Who knows, maybe the Dean¡¯s office is in there.¡±


    ¡°How do you propose we enter? Charge in?¡± Zhao Lan hoped that Yu Xiao wouldn¡¯t act recklessly.


    ¡°Do we really need to charge in?¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen quickly devised a plan. ¡°Here¡¯s what we¡¯ll do: I¡¯ll dash in first and use mahjong to initially control three ghosts. After that, it¡¯s up to you to handle the rest, as I won¡¯t be of much help.¡±


    Zhao Lan hesitated. Should she praise Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s bravery or reprimand her audacity?


    ¡°That won¡¯t work. If we don¡¯t find the Dean¡¯s office, we¡¯ll be finished,¡± Yu Xiao suggested. ¡°How about this: you two lure out the medical staff, and then sneak back to the ward while I go in alone.¡±


    ¡°No way!¡± Zhao Lan objected without hesitation. ¡°What if they notice you¡¯re missing during their rounds?¡±


    ¡°I have a plan,¡± Yu Xiao reassured them with a confident look.


    *


    *


    In the eerie hush of the corridor, a woman wearing a striped patient¡¯s gown and a black plastic bag over her head, with only two eye-holes, stood in front of the imposing operating room. Suddenly, she lunged forward, pounding on the door with force.


    ¡°Open the door, damn it!¡±


    Her high-pitched shrill voice echoed through the empty hallway, sending chills down the spine.


    ¡°Open it!¡± she persisted, continuing to bang on the door, her voice booming. ¡°If you have the guts to steal a man, then have the guts to open this door!¡±


    After a tense minute, there was stirring inside the operating room. The door trembled slightly, emitting a muffled creak. Then, a crack formed as the door slowly opened, revealing three nurses wearing caps.


    At the sight of the person with a bag over their head and two piercing eyes, both sides locked gazes, momentarily frozen.


    Quickly realising the situation, the person with the bag-covered head let out an odd cry and turned to flee.


    The trio of nurses hesitated briefly at the door, then hurriedly followed suit, disappearing down the corridor. The sound of their sprint echoed as they disappeared into the distance.


    After a stretch, another figure emerged from a nearby storeroom, also wearing a black plastic bag over their head. Approaching the operating room door, she banged on it.


    ¡°Open the door, damn it! If you have the guts¡­¡± Her sentence trailed off, perhaps out of shame or for some other reason. ¡°Just open the door!¡±


    Without hesitation, the operating room door swung open, revealing the head of a large man.


    The person with the bag on their head recoiled and delivered a punch to the man¡¯s hefty head, causing it to snap backward. Swiftly, she turned and bolted. The heavyset figure roared, forgetting to close the door. With his flab jiggling, he grabbed a hatchet and gave chase.


    Zhao Lan kept running until she saw four people sitting on the ground up ahead. One of them was wearing a head covering similar to hers, while the other three were wearing white coats and nurse caps. They were sitting in a circle, completely immersed in a game of mahjong.


    The nurse with her back to Zhao Lan scratched her head and placed a tile on the table, saying, ¡°Little Chicken.¡±


    (С¼¦: xi¨£o j¨© ¡ª In Mahjong, certain calls are made to declare victory or signal what a player has. ¡°Little Chicken¡± is one of these calls, signalling a specific combination or tile set. The term may vary in its meaning depending on the context and game situation.)


    As she spotted Zhao Lan, Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s face immediately lit up. ¡°You made it! I could barely keep them at bay!¡±


    Pulling out her belongings, Zhao Lan commented, ¡°We¡¯re almost finished; the one following me is getting closer!¡±


    With a swift movement, she lunged forward, skillfully covering the heads of three nurses with pre-prepared black plastic bags. According to the rule of mahjong props, participants are protected from any harm during the game, but it doesn¡¯t mention anything about not placing plastic bags over people¡¯s heads.


    At that very moment, Zhou Xiao Zhen touched a tile and erupted into laughter. ¡°You¡¯re doomed!¡±


    Quickly gathering the mahjong tiles, she stood up and singled out the nurse sitting across from her. ¡°You¡¯re the one I choose for retribution!¡±


    Having made her decision, she and Zhao Lan clasped hands and swiftly darted towards the ward.


    Meanwhile, the portly male doctor finally caught up, while three nurses struggled to free themselves from the bags.


    With a thunderous roar, the doctor¡¯s mouth widened, his lips tearing down to his neck, revealing a cluster of densely packed, sharp, darkened teeth within.


    Amidst a deafening noise, a sudden thunderclap cracked above and struck a nurse standing at the front. Fat Doctor and two others trembled, instinctively covering their heads as they huddled against the wall in fear.


    A moment of silence followed before they realised that there would be no second lightning strike. Slowly, they got up from the ground. The nurse who was hit by the lightning remained rooted in place, with her hair dishevelled and her upper body covered in soot, emitting faint trails of smoke.


    Ignoring the smouldering nurse, Fat Doctor grabbed his axe and hurried forward with the other two nurses.


    *


    *


    As the hefty ghost dashed out, Yu Xiao emerged from the storeroom. She cautiously pushed open the door leading to the operating theatre. Before stepping inside, she was overwhelmed by the strong smell of blood, causing her to instinctively cover her mouth and nose.


    Inside the operating theatre, the lighting was dim. Yu Xiao cautiously walked forward, the floor hidden in darkness and sporadically marked by fresh blood stains. It appeared that blood had dripped frequently on the ground, with each layer of dried blood covered by a fresh layer, creating an eerie sight that had accumulated over the years.


    Multiple beds were arranged inside, their sheets dirty, surrounded by a variety of knives, axes, and chainsaws. Among them, Yu Xiao spotted a familiar man, or rather, a familiar ghost. It was the same man who had spoken first earlier in the day, named Zhang Tao.


    He was assigned the bed closest to the door, and now he lay there, unmoving on the operating table. His eyes stared blankly, his mouth slightly open. The curious part? His skull had been cracked open, and his entire head was flipped back like a lid. Yu Xiao peered inside, only to find emptiness. Her gaze then landed on a nearby tray that held a complete, pinkish brain still attached by gory threads.


    Furrowing her brow, she didn¡¯t dwell on it. Instead, she scanned the operating room, hoping to find a hidden door that led to the Dean¡¯s office.


    *


    *


    Within the ward, darkness and silence reigned. Suddenly, the door to the ward burst open, the noise echoing thunderously.


    Oddly, there was no response from any of the ward¡¯s occupants. Out of thirteen beds, eleven patients lay there in silence.


    A hefty figure squeezed through the door, dragging an axe along the floor, the harsh scraping noise filling the air.


    Striding past the first empty bed, the figure halted at the foot of the second, reaching out to grasp the patient¡¯s foot. Slowly, the figure pulled the person out, turning them upside down as if handling a fish. Yet, despite the shaking, the patient remained completely unresponsive.


    In a sudden movement, he flung his hand.


    ¡°Boom!¡±


    The patient was forcefully thrown backward onto the bed, twisted in a manner that echoed the lifeless appearance of a gutted fish.


    Advancing toward the third bed, he discovered it empty. Briefly pausing, he proceeded to the fourth bed.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen lay still on the bed, blending in with the other patients.


    An icy, rough, sticky hand stealthily slid under her blanket, grabbing hold of her ankle and gradually dragging her off the bed¡¯s edge.


    ¡­


    The room reverberated with a loud ¡°Bang!¡±


    Another patient was flung onto the bed nearby, as Zhao Lan lay motionless in the innermost bed. Fear gripped her, and she kept her eyes tightly shut, unaware of Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s situation. All she could do was feign stillness, hoping to pass off as someone in the throes of deep slumber, perhaps sparing herself.


    *


    *


    Yu Xiao thoroughly searched the operating room, turning everything upside down in her quest to find the Dean¡¯s office, but had no success. It appeared that the Dean¡¯s office simply did not exist in that location. As for its possible whereabouts, she had no idea.


    As time ticked on, Yu Xiao realised that she had stayed for too long. It was possible that they could return at any moment. Without wasting any time, she carefully placed the recently exposed brain in a hospital¡¯s high-quality insulated box, and promptly left the operating room.


    * S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    *


    Another loud ¡°Bang!¡± reverberated through the room as Zhao Lan was thrown onto the bed, her limbs twisted, yet she remained eerily still, her breathing unchanged.


    Finally, the heavy footsteps faded away. As the imposing figure disappeared beyond the ward door, Zhao Lan let out a long sigh of relief. She trembled, gasping for air, consumed by worry for Yu Xiao¡¯s safety. Whether Yu Xiao had escaped the operating room or found a way to freedom, Zhao Lan didn¡¯t know.


    *


    *


    At the far end of the corridor, Yu Xiao stopped at Dr. George¡¯s office, located on the right.


    ¡°Knock, knock, knock,¡± her knuckles thudded against the wooden door.


    The door creaked open, revealing George seated behind his desk. His demeanour had the same daytime air, as if he hadn¡¯t moved at all, though a hint of surprise crossed his face.


    George¡¯s tone remained cold. ¡°What do you want?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve missed you,¡± Yu Xiao replied.


    ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°I have something for you.¡± She gestured to the medical-grade thermos box she held in her hand. ¡°May I come in and talk?¡±


    George¡¯s hazel eyes fixed on Yu Xiao as she held the box, his voice finally breaking the silence, ¡°Come in, miss.¡±


    She entered, and the door closed just in time to shield her from the plump doctor wielding an axe, preventing him from catching a glimpse of her disappearing form.


    Once Yu Xiao was seated again, George stared at her, questioning, ¡°What have you brought? Let¡¯s be clear¡ªI have very high standards.¡± His lips formed a sneer on his pale face, a mocking smirk emerging. ¡°If it doesn¡¯t meet my standards, I¡¯ll personally throw you out.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯ll more than satisfy you,¡± Yu Xiao placed the insulated box on the table and lifted the lid.


    A fresh, tender brain lay before George. He was momentarily stunned before swallowing hard.

 Chapter 15: Dr George is such a good guy.

    Yu Xiao locked eyes with George, her gaze widening as he elegantly consumed a brain, savouring each bite like a connoisseur enjoying a fine pudding.


    ¡°Not bad,¡± George commented, using an exquisitely crafted handkerchief to wipe his mouth leisurely. ¡°Very fresh.¡±


    Before Yu Xiao could respond, a resounding roar echoed from outside. Even through the door, she could hear the anger, pain, resentment, and hatred laced within the owner¡¯s voice.


    Calculating the time, Yu Xiao knew that the hefty individual on the other side should have returned to the operating room. The realisation that the brain he had personally dissected was missing would undoubtedly strike him like a thunderbolt.


    Yu Xiao blinked and humbly replied, ¡°It¡¯s an honour for this brain to receive your appreciation.¡±


    George found her attitude pleasing. The unpleasantness of the day faded from his mind, and his cold countenance softened.


    Kindly, he said to Yu Xiao, ¡°You¡¯re good, but as the attending physician, I must follow the rules and not provide any assistance beyond my responsibilities.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s alright, I won¡¯t put you in a difficult position,¡± Yu Xiao pleaded, her gaze fixed on him. ¡°If possible, can I stay here until dawn?¡±


    George understood the reason behind her request, as well as where she had obtained the stolen brain. However, he remained indifferent. As the attending physician for this level, he was above the lowly NPCs. Yu Xiao¡¯s resourcefulness in presenting him with a fresh brain had earned her his goodwill.


    ¡°Normally, doctors don¡¯t have the authority to dismiss patients,¡± George remarked, a smirk playing on his lips. ¡°Miss, consider yourself free.¡±


    Taking his words quite literally, Yu Xiao shot him a grateful glance. ¡°You¡¯re a real gentleman, with your principles intact.¡±


    Right in front of George, she nonchalantly shuffled three chairs together and settled down. As she reclined, she discovered that the office temperature hit the sweet spot. Even without a blanket, the chill didn¡¯t bother her much. The only hitch? The lights were glaringly bright.


    Witnessing Yu Xiao¡¯s unapologetic demeanour, George suddenly regretted his earlier statement.


    Soon enough, the woman lounging on the makeshift bed sat up. Just as George dared to hope that she might recognize her audacity, Yu Xiao piped up, ¡°Dr. George, would you mind dimming the lights a bit?¡±


    George¡¯s pleased expression froze, replaced by a minute-long silence.


    ¡°Click.¡±


    The lights obediently turned off, casting the entire office into darkness.


    Yu Xiao expressed her gratitude, ¡°Much obliged. You¡¯re a true gentleman, indeed.¡±


    *


    *


    As the imposing figure left the ward, Zhou Xiao Zhen found herself quietly succumbing to sobs. Zhao Lan, emitting a sigh of relief, gently inquired, ¡°Precious, are you alright?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± came Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s sniffling response. ¡°Just scared. I was so afraid just now.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t be scared; it¡¯s over now,¡± reassured Zhao Lan, adjusting her position on the bed. ¡°You¡¯re brave; I have newfound respect for you.¡±


    Encouraged by the praise, Zhou Xiao Zhen felt a surge of relief. She offered a smile while rubbing her back, saying, ¡°The fall just now hurt so much. How about you, Misty?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m fine, thanks to Smiley giving me the stamina card. Otherwise, I might not have been able to hold up,¡± Zhao Lan mentioned, rubbing the spot where she banged her head..


    ¡°I wonder how Smiley is doing,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen expressed concern. ¡°That fat pig was terrifying.¡±


    Suddenly, a roar came from outside. The fat pig doctor had completely lost his sanity!


    Zhao Lan¡¯s expression changed. ¡°Don¡¯t speak!¡±


    Throughout the night, heavy footsteps echoed in the corridor, accompanied by the ominous sound of an axe being dragged along the floor.


    They stayed awake the whole night, only to wake up the next morning at 8 am, accompanied by the gentle sounds of music and the movements of other patients.


    Qiao Qiao, upon noticing Yu Xiao¡¯s vacant bed, seemed to grasp something and let out a malicious laugh.


    ¡°Why are you laughing?¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen, with dark circles under her eyes, glared at her. ¡°I¡¯m telling you, if anything happens to Smiley, I won¡¯t let you get away with it!¡±


    Confronted with the threat, Qiao Qiao wore her fearlessness proudly. Her eyes, in a defiant act, rolled back entirely to reveal white orbs.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen, brimming with the itch for a fight, shot an incredulous look at the provocateur. ¡°She dares to provoke me!¡± she growled, fists ready for a skirmish. S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Amidst the building tension, Zhao Lan, burdened with dark circles under her eyes, stood by Zhou Xiao Zhen. Her admonition cut through the charged atmosphere, ¡°Don¡¯t start trouble. Smiley¡¯s safety is the top priority now.¡±


    As morning arrived, the patients, obedient like soldiers, formed a line and walked out of the ward towards the medication dispensary.


    Zhao Lan, standing second to last in line, entered the corridor and spotted a tall, overweight doctor. His face, a mosaic of excessive flesh, held a predatory gaze that suspiciously lingered on the departing patients. To make matters worse, he greedily licked his lips with a long tongue, openly revealing his greed and cruelty.


    With their heads bowed, they dared not meet the gaze of this hefty figure, fearful that he might unleash his anger. The whereabouts of Smiley remained unknown, and they prayed she wouldn¡¯t appear at this precarious moment.


    *


    *


    The previous night, Yu Xiao enjoyed a peaceful sleep, a rare break from the restlessness that usually plagued her, especially since her brain cancer diagnosis.


    Her peaceful slumber was interrupted by the sound of music, and she woke up to an unfamiliar ceiling. George, with his usual cold demeanour, sat sternly behind his desk.


    Yu Xiao was genuinely impressed. Was his job simply sitting here? She was curious if his back hurt from sitting so much.


    ¡°Good morning, Dr. George,¡± Yu Xiao greeted, her hair messy.


    George¡¯s eyes, once softened by the dinner of the previous night, now held a disdain that clung to Yu Xiao like an unwelcome shroud. The positive impression had vanished, leaving behind a tense atmosphere in the room. In this moment, all George wanted was for Yu Xiao to disappear, to fade away into nothingness, leaving no trace of her presence.


    ¡°You should leave,¡± George advised, ¡°or you will miss your medication for today.¡±


    The idea of Yu Xiao needing that medication seemed absurd, overshadowed by a more pressing matter at hand.


    ¡°Alright, I will leave now,¡± Yu Xiao responded tentatively, her eyes searching George¡¯s for any sign of leniency, ¡°Can you, Dr. George, take me back?¡±


    George responded with a cold stare, silently questioning the absurdity of her request.


    ¡°Dr. George, I need you to take me back,¡± Yu Xiao asserted with unwavering determination, ¡°I hope you can agree.¡±


    A mocking smirk appeared on George¡¯s lips, ¡°And what if I don¡¯t agree?¡±


    Yu Xiao remained unaffected, her composure unbroken. She calmly took out her phone, her fingers dancing across the screen as she dialled the number for the Sixth Hospital¡¯s medical dispute office.


    With an innocent blink directed at George, she declared, ¡°Then I will have no choice but to report you for accepting bribes.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    In the hushed confines of the doctor¡¯s office, a heavy silence filled the air. George¡¯s once polished and attractive face contorted into a menacing expression.


    Leering at Yu Xiao, he asked, ¡°Are you trying to threaten me?¡±


    Yu Xiao bowed her head and spoke with a hint of sadness, ¡°I don¡¯t have any other options.¡±


    Leaving his seat, George took purposeful steps towards Yu Xiao. ¡°Do you understand the consequences of reporting? Remember, you¡¯re the one who slipped those bribes.¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t say for certain,¡± Yu Xiao looked up at George, her smile now laced with irony, ¡°But¡­ if we¡¯re going down, let¡¯s sink together!¡±


    *


    *


    In the line, Zhao Lan and Zhou Xiao Zhen waited, the queue slowly thinning. It seemed that avoiding taking the medication was a futile hope today.


    Zhao Lan briefly considered a trick, similar to Yu Xiao¡¯s strategy with Qiao Qiao, but it appeared that Qiao Qiao had outsmarted them this time. She stood at the front, having already downed the required dose.


    A weary sigh escaped Zhao Lan. At least luck was on their side; Yu Xiao had not shown up yet, a small silver lining in their unfortunate situation.


    As the two of them pondered their predicament, a sudden change in the room¡¯s atmosphere caught their attention. The nurse, in the midst of her medicinal duties, trembled, and the cup she was holding slipped, making a soft ¡®plip¡¯ sound as it hit the floor.


    Zhao Lan and Zhou Xiao Zhen were bewildered. Looking around, they realised that everyone¡¯s attention had shifted to the corridor. Curiosity piqued, they turned to see and found themselves frozen in astonishment.


    Emerging from the right side of the corridor was Yu Xiao, accompanied by George. They walked together, Yu Xiao¡¯s hand entwined with George¡¯s arm.


    ¡°¡­¡±


    The sight was so astonishing that even the usually stern Fat Doctor momentarily forgot his severity, the axe in his hand hitting the floor with a resonant ¡®clang.¡¯


    In that surreal moment, both patients and medical staff stared, transfixed. Under the scrutiny of numerous eyes, Yu Xiao reluctantly let go of George¡¯s arm.


    Facing George, Yu Xiao¡¯s features softened with a sweet and reluctant expression, as if bidding a fond farewell.


    ¡°Thanks, George. I had a good night¡¯s sleep,¡± she said, smiling. ¡°Just walk me to this point.¡±


    Turning, she cast a glance at Zhao Lan and Zhou Xiao Zhen.


    With a shy tilt of her head, she added, ¡°You had a hard time last night. Go back and rest. Don¡¯t worry about me; I won¡¯t tell anyone about what happened between us. Goodbye, George,¡± Yu Xiao waved.


    George, once graceful and composed, now coldly turned and left, his strides lacking their former elegance.


    Yu Xiao stood her ground, watching George depart. After a while, she turned and curiously asked, ¡°Why is everyone looking at me like that?¡±


    Medical staff and patients shuddered, hastily averting their gaze, occasionally stealing glances.


    Dr. Fatty caught on, suspiciously glaring at Yu Xiao for a long time. He then picked up the cleaver and walked away with heavy steps.


    With a smile in her eyes, Yu Xiao approached Zhao Lan. ¡°Thanks for saving my spot.¡±


    Excited, Zhao Lan met her gaze. ¡°No need to thank me.¡±


    Standing in front of Zhao Lan, Yu Xiao scanned the surroundings, searching for a small figure. She spotted a silhouette pressed against the wall. ¡°Qiao Qiao!¡±


    Qiao Qiao¡¯s sneaky body froze. She heard that devilish voice, ¡°Are you waiting for me to leave together?¡±

 Chapter 16: Dr George, is he fierce in bed?

    In front of Yu Xiao, there was only one patient remaining, and she had prepared herself by slipping her hand into her pocket.


    ¡°Smiley, you¡­¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen shook off her shock, her eyes burning with intensity. Just as Yu Xiao expected an outburst, Zhou Xiao Zhen slyly raised her eyebrows and winked, ¡°How¡¯s Dr. George? Is he fierce in bed?¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    A loud ¡°smack!¡± echoed as the nurse clumsily knocked over the paper cup again.


    Finally, it was Yu Xiao¡¯s turn. She politely smiled at the nurse, who hesitated for a moment, then nervously opened her blood-red lips, revealing uneven teeth. She managed to produce a simultaneously terrifying and comical smile.


    From her pocket, Yu Xiao took out a dirty ear and gestured towards the nurse and the two figures behind her.


    Understanding the unspoken message, the nurse widened her mouth even further, quickly grabbed the ear, and promptly moved away from the window after passing something to Yu Xiao from below.


    Curious about her unexpected gift, Yu Xiao opened her hand to find a dirty lollipop.


    Her emotions were momentarily tangled. Behind her, Zhao Lan exclaimed, ¡°So, you collected those body parts last night¡­ These are for dealing with medicine, huh.¡±


    ¡°Smart move, Smiley, always planning ahead.¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen approached, reaching into her pocket, ¡°Give me some too.¡±


    Yu Xiao swatted her hand away, turned, and fixed her gaze on Qiao Qiao standing in the corner.


    She chuckled, sauntered to the dining table, and settled into a chair, diving into the bread and fruit spread across it. It was a survival dance, like the advice from before ¨C The only ones not eating here is the food.


    Noticing the mischievous grin on Yu Xiao¡¯s face, Zhao Lan sensed trouble. Without hesitation, she pulled Zhou Xiao Zhen to join Yu Xiao, and the three of them silently indulged in their meal.


    With a banana hanging from her mouth, Yu Xiao playfully gestured, calling for Qiao Qiao. ¡°Qiao Qiao, come here, sis has a treat for you.¡±


    In the corner, Qiao Qiao hesitated briefly but ultimately shuffled over, her already ghostly face growing even paler.


    ¡°Amazing, Qiao,¡± Yu Xiao applauded with a thumbs up. ¡°You¡¯re incredible!¡±


    Sister Smile¡¯s praise had an ulterior motive, and Zhou Xiao Zhen quickly chimed in, ¡°Why are you praising her? What¡¯s so special about her?¡±


    ¡°Have you ever wondered about the patient who disappeared last night?¡± Yu Xiao peeled an orange, the skin curling in her hand as she spoke. ¡°His skull was cracked open, and they scooped out his brain. Precious, do you understand the reason behind our bed arrangement?¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen thought for a moment, then realisation hit her. ¡°It can¡¯t be¡­ the order to harvest brains?¡±


    ¡°Bingo!¡± Yu Xiao grinned at Qiao Qiao. ¡°In theory, in just thirteen days, every patient will have their brain scooped out. But look at Qiao Qiao here, forty years in, and her little head is still intact.¡±


    ¡°Oh!¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°She¡¯s not a patient!¡±


    Qiao Qiao shot her a fierce look, teeth bared. ¡°I¡¯m a patient, damn it!¡±


    ¡°If you¡¯re really a patient, how come your brain¡¯s still intact?¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen seized Qiao Qiao, ready to examine her head. The contact felt disgustingly sticky, prompting an immediate recoil. ¡°Ugh¡­ wash your hair, it¡¯s gross.¡±


    On the verge of tears, Qiao Qiao¡¯s pouty mouth and darting eyes sought an escape route.


    ¡°Let¡¯s discuss it.¡± Yu Xiao leaned in, whispering, ¡°Tell us how to keep our brains off the chopping block, and I¡¯ll give you a hand. What do you say?¡±


    Qiao Qiao shot her a look that screamed, ¡°Do I look stupid?¡± Without hesitation, she dismissed, ¡°You¡¯re a scammer.¡±


    ¡°Cut the crap. I¡¯m not a scammer; I¡¯m a decent person.¡± Yu Xiao decided to try a gentler approach. ¡°How about this? If you don¡¯t spill on how to avoid brain butchering, I¡¯ll had you over to George. What do you think?¡±


    ¡°¡­¡± Qiao Qiao gaped, taken aback by the audacity before her.


    ¡°You know how much George cares for me.¡± Yu Xiao lightly tapped Qiao Qiao¡¯s forehead. ¡°He¡¯s pretty intense, and he has a thing for fresh brains. You, being so young, probably have a tender and tasty brain, right?¡±


    ¡°Ugh¡­¡± Over forty years at St. Elizabeth¡¯s, and yet lately, she¡¯d shed quite a few tears. Despicable people! Bullying kids, that¡¯s just too wicked!


    ¡°Spill the beans, will you?!¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen menacingly shook the mahjong box. ¡°If you don¡¯t tell me, I¡¯ll tie you up and hand you over to George. I¡¯ll take his darn axe and cut not just your brain. We won¡¯t waste your heart, liver, spleen, and kidneys either.¡±


    Qiao Qiao finally revealed her secret. St. Elizabeth Hospital, as it turned out, had more than one floor. When each floor reached maximum capacity, a new one seamlessly extended to accommodate the influx of patients. Access to each floor was a privilege granted only to the Dean and doctors, with one intriguing exception. To keep the brain-cut patients active, a nightly ritual unfolded. After lights out, they were guided through distinct passages on various floors.


    Upon hearing this, Zhou Xiao Zhen couldn¡¯t hold back. ¡°Why do they need to keep them active?¡±


    Qiao Qiao clearly didn¡¯t expect this question. After a moment¡¯s hesitation, she replied, ¡°Maybe to maintain the strength of their muscles.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    Yu Xiao finally understood. The patients who had undergone brain surgery the previous night were simply out for some exercise. They made their way through a hidden passage to another floor, which explained their sudden disappearance.


    Qiao Qiao cried, tears streaming down like blood. ¡°Every time it¡¯s my turn, I skip the medication, then hide in the patient lineup at night and cross the passage between two floors.¡±


    Zhao Lan asked, ¡°So by hiding between two floors, they can¡¯t find you?¡±


    ¡°I dunno,¡± Qiao Qiao fished out a hanky adorned with little chicks on it, using it to dab the blood off her face. ¡°They never found me anyway.¡±


    Zhao Lan raised an eyebrow. ¡°What about tomorrow? You¡¯re not planning to play hide-and-seek every day, are you?¡±


    ¡°The next day, they¡¯ll just take someone else off the sickbed,¡± Qiao Qiao finished cleaning up. ¡°I just have to wait for the next wave of patients to come in, then I can slip to the next ward.¡±


    She looked at Yu Xiao and the others, asking, ¡°Did I clean up all the mess?¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen scrutinised her and commented, ¡°There¡¯s still blood on your eyeballs.¡±


    ¡°Oh,¡± Qiao Qiao lowered her head and casually plucked out her eyeballs. Holding them in her hands, she delicately wiped them with the handkerchief.


    Seeing this strange act, Zhou Xiao Zhen furrowed her brow, and Yu Xiao thought she might not be able to handle such sights. Just as she was about to suggest that Qiao Qiao leave, Zhou Xiao Zhen asked, ¡°Why do you stay here all the time? Isn¡¯t it better to leave St. Elizabeth?¡±


    Qiao Qiao, in the middle of wiping her eyes, paused for a moment. She lifted her head, her two dark voids fixed on the trio, and asked in confusion, ¡°Why leave? Why not stay?¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen hesitated, grappling with the idea. ¡°Don¡¯t you long for freedom?¡±


    Caught in a daze, Qiao Qiao struggled to fathom the elusive concept of ¡°freedom.¡± A smirk played on her lips as she mused, ¡°This place isn¡¯t so bad. The food is decent, and there¡¯s a bed to sleep on.¡±


    Silence hung in the air, leaving Zhou Xiao Zhen dumbfounded. Zhao Lan reached out to comfort her, saying, ¡°Don¡¯t think too deeply; we all have our own goals.¡±


    In a sudden realisation, Yu Xiao asked, ¡°You¡¯re always shuttling between floors with those brainless patients. Have you ever seen the Dean¡¯s office?¡± S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Qiao Qiao nodded, casually putting her cleaned eyeballs back in. ¡°First floor.¡±


    Their eyes met, excitement shining between them.


    ¡°Thanks, Qiao Qiao.¡± Gratitude filled Yu Xiao¡¯s voice as she retrieved a hand from her pocket. ¡°Here, this one¡¯s for you. Take your time with it.¡±


    Qiao Qiao¡¯s eyes sparkled, a drop of drool escaping her lips. She awkwardly accepted the gift, licking on the thumb before breaking into a blissful grin.


    As Qiao Qiao happily skipped away, Zhao Lan commented, ¡°If everything goes well, we can escape tonight. Smiley, you lucked out. You have no idea how hair-raising it was last night.¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen patted Yu Xiao¡¯s shoulder, recalling, ¡°That chubby ghost actually lifted me up, shook me, and threw me like a sack of potatoes. Smiley, why didn¡¯t you tell us you were hiding with your supposed boyfriend? We were worried sick.¡±


    Speechless, Yu Xiao retorted, ¡°George isn¡¯t my boyfriend. I have standards, you know¡ªhandsome, witty, and a bank balance with at least eight figures.¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen initially remained hushed, then asked, ¡°What¡¯s going on with George? Is he some bloody beggar?¡±


    ¡°Almost forgot to mention, I¡¯ve set a new condition lately,¡± Yu Xiao chuckled. ¡°The guy I date must be among the living.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s quite a difficult requirement given the circumstances. Finding a living man here is like searching for a needle in a haystack,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen advised sincerely. ¡°Honestly, sometimes the gap between a dead man and a live one ain¡¯t that wide. Maybe you should ease up on your criteria a tad?¡±


    Yu Xiao grinned, ¡°Nope. Would you fancy a ghost as your boyfriend?¡±


    ¡°If he¡¯s good-looking, I might give it a thought,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen blushed, flashing a smile. ¡°Speaking of which, Misty, do you have any prerequisites for your future beau?¡±


    Caught off guard, Zhao Lan pondered briefly and replied solemnly, ¡°Just, you know, alive, I suppose.¡±


    ¡°Oh, speaking of strange preferences,¡± Qiao Qiao suddenly appeared from around the bend, gnawing on a severed hand. Grinning at Yu Xiao, she declared, ¡°Give me another hand, and I¡¯ll reveal a juicy secret.¡±


    Yu Xiao eyed her and pulled out an unidentified piece of flesh from her pocket. ¡°Spill it.¡±


    Qiao Qiao¡¯s eyes sparkled as she snatched the morsel from Yu Xiao¡¯s hand. In a voice audible only to them, she revealed, ¡°Someone stumbled upon the Dean earlier, but they all ended up as someone¡ªor something¡¯s¡ªsnack.¡±

 Chapter 17: Dean’s Office

    Once Qiao Qiao concluded her words, she strolled away, holding onto the meat, leaving the trio lost in contemplation.


    ¡°By the way, when George told me we can only leave if the principal stamps our discharge papers. His expression seemed a bit off,¡± Yu Xiao remarked.


    ¡°How off?¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen asked. ¡°Is your boyfriend plotting something against you or what?¡±


    ¡°Buzz off.¡± Zhao Lan pushed her aside. ¡°Don¡¯t pay attention to her, Smiley. What was George¡¯s expression like?¡±


    Yu Xiao chewed her lip, carefully replaying the encounter with George in her mind. ¡°He seemed¡­ kind of maliciously gleeful.¡±


    ¡°Maliciously gleeful?¡± Zhao Lan mused, recalling Qiao Qiao¡¯s words. ¡°Could this be a setup? Maybe the Dean is the biggest threat in this asylum?¡±


    ¡°What should we do then?¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen was completely confused. ¡°If the Dean doesn¡¯t stamp our discharge papers, we¡¯re stuck.¡±


    As Yu Xiao continued to think about George¡¯s cryptic remarks about the Dean¡¯s elusive nature¡ªThe Dean is not the type of person you can casually meet with¡­


    ¡°What do you think?¡± Yu Xiao asked. ¡°In a regular hospital, when would the Dean definitely show up?¡±


    ¡°It has to be something serious,¡± Zhao Lan, familiar with how the hospital worked since she lived in it the longest, said. ¡°The bigger the problem, the faster the Dean gets involved.¡±


    Yu Xiao pressed for more information. ¡°So what would be considered a significant issue?¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen raised her hand, her eyes filled with determination. ¡°We¡¯re protest against the medical system!¡±


    Yu Xiao chuckled. ¡°What could be more impactful than a medical protest?¡±


    ¡°Only if the hospital collapses,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen replied, her gaze contemplative. ¡°An earthquake, a bombing, or doctors going on a collective strike¡­¡±


    Suddenly, Yu Xiao¡¯s eyes widened, as if struck by a sudden realisation. Her expression instantly brightened.


    ¡°Precious,¡± Yu Xiao affectionately patted Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s bald head. ¡°Why do I love you so much?¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen remained silent for a moment, gently pushing away Yu Xiao¡¯s hand. ¡°Smiley, please. It¡¯s not good for the hair follicles on my head. I plan to grow my hair long in the future.¡±


    Zhao Lan asked, ¡°Do you have any ideas?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, I¡¯ve got an idea, but let¡¯s discuss how to pull it off,¡± Yu Xiao placed her hands on their shoulders. The three of them huddled together, quietly strategizing.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen occasionally let out mischievous laughter.


    After the lights dimmed that night, Yu Xiao and her companions laid still in their beds. Nighttime fatigue weighed on Yu Xiao, but she endured.


    Around ten minutes later, slow and rhythmic footsteps echoed in the corridor outside. Soon, the door of the ward creaked open. Even with her eyes closed, Yu Xiao sensed the intrusion of light.


    She discreetly opened her eyes a sliver and witnessed three nurses entering. They gathered around the adjacent bed, two nurses looking ordinary, while the third had a peculiar appearance ¨C the upper body black as if burned, the lower body in white, and a hairstyle resembling an explosion, as if struck by lightning.


    The trio manoeuvred the patient from the second bed, with two nurses holding onto the patient¡¯s feet. They dragged the patient away in that manner.


    The door of the ward clanged shut, enveloping them in sudden darkness. Yu Xiao stirred and opened her eyes.


    ¡°Misty,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen, who was sitting beside her, sat up, ¡°Are we moving now?¡±


    ¡°Hold on,¡± Zhao Lan attuned her senses to the ambient sounds, anticipating the approaching footsteps.


    In the dark ward, the trio huddled in silence until the familiar sound of ¡°thud thud thud¡± reached their ears.


    ¡°Move!¡± Yu Xiao sprang from the bed, cautiously opening the door just a sliver.


    They gathered at the threshold, their gazes fixed on the corridor outside, anxiety etched on their faces. The approaching footsteps grew louder, revealing elongated shadows cast by the overhead lights.


    As the shadows receded, a procession appeared, dressed in identical striped hospital gowns¡ªrows upon rows of vacant eyes, shuffling mechanically.


    Having only heard the sounds the previous night, witnessing the ghost procession firsthand was unsettling.


    The corridor was filled with patients dressed uniformly, forming a continuous line that extended beyond the entrance of the ward even after five minutes of observation.


    Zhao Lan, keeping track of the time, declared, ¡°It¡¯s time. The middle and rear sections of the queue are getting closer to the ward. We need to move.¡±


    Yu Xiao led the way, slipping into a gap and seamlessly blending in with the rhythm of the queue, matching their pace.


    These patients, lacking brains, moved like automatons, devoid of thoughts and desires. Even the presence of the living didn¡¯t jolt any reaction. The trio effortlessly merged into the undulating line.


    As they advanced, the operating room became visible in the distance, a tangible destination in the never-ending flow.


    Yu Xiao anxiously fixed her gaze ahead, where the line showed no signs of slowing down or veering off course. Without hesitation, they charged straight towards the wall adjacent to the operating room. Yu Xiao¡¯s heart pounded, almost reaching her throat, and then, she witnessed a spectacle.


    The line smoothly cut through the wall, even though they had inspected it the night before and found no flaws.


    Yu Xiao couldn¡¯t afford to hesitate. Swept up by the group, she collided with the mottled yellow wall.


    The light ahead disappeared, swallowed by an expanse of boundless darkness. Amidst the footsteps, Yu Xiao heard only silence, not even the rhythmic beat of her own heart, yet her body mechanically propelled forward.


    Before she could fully adjust to the darkness, brightness flooded back.


    Familiar corridors and overhead lights stretched out before her, everything mirroring the scene from moments ago. Yu Xiao turned, and the rest of the queue materialised from a wall behind her.


    Surveying her surroundings, she discerned a difference in the floor. She could sense it.


    The brief spell of darkness was the place Qiao Qiao alluded to¡ªa space untouched by medical staff, a secret passage between floors.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen struggled to catch her breath as she sprinted frantically, feeling exhausted and weighed down by a box of mahjong. Zhao Lan shot her a glance, extending a helping hand. ¡°Give me the mahjong; you hang in there!¡±


    ¡°Okay,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen replied, conserving every ounce of energy as she handed the mahjong to Zhao Lan.


    Layer by layer, they raced through corridors that were nearly identical, save for the strokes of art on the walls. Finally, they breached a barrier, revealing a new breathtaking view ¨C a grand hall adorned with colossal crystal chandeliers and a commanding portrait of the dean that spanned the entire wall. They left behind the outpatient department, infusion hall, pharmacy, and the dean¡¯s office they just passed.


    Their excitement surged, rejuvenating their strides as they returned to their assigned floor. Yu Xiao and Zhou Xiao Zhen, on the verge of exhaustion, found solace leaning against the wall.


    Zhao Lan, casually leaning against the wall, comforted them with gentle pats on their backs. ¡°These stamina cards are a lifesaver,¡± she declared. ¡°I saw more of them at the mall ¨C quite expensive, fifty points a pop. Once we¡¯re rich, each of you will have one.¡±


    Too tired to speak, Zhou Xiao Zhen nodded fervently, silently agreeing.


    ¡°Misty,¡± Yu Xiao gasped, catching her breath. ¡°We made it through once. Do you think our plan will succeed?¡±


    With confidence, Zhao Lan asserted, ¡°I believe it can. Yes, there¡¯s a risk, but I¡¯m convinced it¡¯s a gamble worth taking.¡±


    ¡°Alright then, sticking to the original plan.¡± With that, Yu Xiao stood up, leaning against the wall, carefully navigating the path with deliberate slowness. ¡°I need to rest; otherwise, I¡¯ll collapse tomorrow.¡± S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Retreating to the ward, the trio settled in, with Yu Xiao finding solace on the bed. Despite its modest comfort, worn out from their ordeal, the bed felt like a sanctuary of contentment.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen gasped for breath, considering the trio¡¯s plan and eagerly anticipating the excitement that awaited them the following night. Sighing, she reflected, ¡°I never expected this, you know? I thought I would live a simple, ordinary life. But here I am, living on the edge.¡±


    Listening to her thoughts, Zhao Lan pondered, ¡®Youth is something else, full of vitality. Unlike me, all I desire is money without the grind, spending my days lounging at home, scrolling through my phone every single day.¡¯


    ¡°If it interests you, then that¡¯s good,¡± Zhao Lan replied. ¡°Much better than living in constant fear every damn day.¡±


    ¡°Misty, are you scared?¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen inquired.


    Initially, Zhao Lan believed she was, but upon reflection, she realised her fear wasn¡¯t as strong as she thought.


    ¡°I see this as an opportunity; we are all fortunate individuals.¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s eyes sparkled in the darkness. ¡°In the real world, we are all cancer patients. Misty, you lie in bed every day, attached to intravenous drips. I have endured chemotherapy and radiation, and Smiley can¡¯t even have surgery. But here, as long as we earn points, we can buy time, and with time, we can keep on living.¡±


    ¡°I want to live,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen suddenly choked up. ¡°Even if it¡¯s tough, even if I have to live in constant fear every single day, I still want to keep on living.¡±


    Moved, Zhao Lan realised Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s words echoed her deepest feelings. She quietly wiped away a tear. ¡°And Smiley? Smiley, are you scared?¡±


    ¡°Sister Smiley? Scared? No way,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen turned to Yu Xiao. ¡°Right, Smiley?¡±


    Yu Xiao whispered zzzzZ into the quiet night.


    ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°Ah, never mind. Time for some shut-eye,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen shifted her position.


    After all, someone daring enough to flirt with ghosts wouldn¡¯t be interested in contemplating life in the middle of the night. That¡¯s just too boring for her.

 Chapter 18: Yu Xiao the Chainsaw Monster

    ¡°Knock, knock, knock!¡±


    ¡°Knock, knock, knock!¡±


    ¡­


    After knocking persistently for five minutes, the door finally swung open. George, sitting behind the desk in his usual spot, looked like a perpetually desk-bound existence. Yu Xiao couldn¡¯t help but worry about his lower back.


    ¡°Good morning~¡± Yu Xiao greeted him cheerfully. ¡°Meeting again, Dr. George~!¡±


    George¡¯s pale complexion gradually turned blue, as if Yu Xiao¡¯s presence was an unbearable torment.


    ¡°Miss,¡± George¡¯s voice lacked emotion, ¡°please come in.¡±


    Yu Xiao walked in, dragging a chair across the room with a sense of familiarity, as if she were coming home. She positioned herself opposite George, as if it were part of their routine.


    ¡°My dear Dr. George, I have a question for you. Mind answering it?¡± Yu Xiao asked with a playful smile.


    George maintained his stoic expression. ¡°Go ahead.¡±


    ¡°Do you have a girlfriend?¡±


    ¡°¡­¡± George¡¯s face contorted, veins pulsating in the hand clutching the pen, as if he were forcibly holding something back. ¡°Are you sure you want to ask that?¡±


    ¡°Chuckle!¡± Yu Xiao covered her mouth, letting out a ladylike laugh. ¡°I¡¯m just teasing, Dr. George. You¡¯re so serious.¡±


    Snap! The pen in George¡¯s hand broke.


    ¡°Oh dear.¡± Yu Xiao appeared genuinely surprised. ¡°Such a shame. Don¡¯t you like this pen?¡±


    George set the broken pen down, his gaze icy as he locked eyes with Yu Xiao. ¡°Miss, if you don¡¯t have anything important, please leave.¡±


    A flicker of excitement lit up Yu Xiao¡¯s face as she approached, a grin playing on her lips. ¡°I¡¯ve got something going on, and I do have a question for you, Dr. George. We¡¯ve located the Dean¡¯s office.¡±


    ¡°Really?¡± George¡¯s temper subsided, replaced by a calm demeanour. He crossed his hands on his lap, instantly at ease.


    ¡°The Dean¡¯s office is on the first floor!¡± Yu Xiao beamed with excitement. ¡°If everything goes as planned, we might be out of here tonight.¡±


    ¡°Is that so?¡± George replied politely. ¡°Congratulations to you three.¡±


    ¡°I knew you¡¯d be happy for me!¡± Yu Xiao hesitated, a lingering expression suggesting there was more on her mind.


    ¡°Is there something else you want to say?¡± George, his lips curved in a pleasant smile, encouraged, ¡°Feel free to speak; I¡¯m your attending physician, and you can tell me anything.¡±


    With a pause, Yu Xiao gathered her thoughts. ¡°Well, then, I¡¯ll say it. After these days of being together, Dr. George, I truly feel you¡¯re a handsome gentleman. As I¡¯m about to leave, I really don¡¯t want to part with you. If possible, could you come and see me off tonight?¡±


    George fell silent, not because of any discomfort with Yu Xiao¡¯s request but because of his aversion to her tone.


    ¡°Can¡¯t you even grant this small request?¡± Disappointment etched across Yu Xiao¡¯s face. ¡°I thought we were friends.¡±


    Motivated by Yu Xiao¡¯s statement, George decided he would personally check on her tonight to witness her death.


    ¡°Alright,¡± George said, masking his true feelings with a promise. ¡°I promise you.¡±


    *


    *


    ¡°I think George is actually not that bad.¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen hesitated, then added, ¡°Bloody good, in fact. Even though he¡¯s into some disgusting stuff and enjoys messing with people, overall, he¡¯s alright. I mean, look at him ¨C easy on the eyes and he¡¯s never actively harmed anyone.¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen spoke highly of George, ¡°Honestly, if I kick the bucket one day, I¡¯d haunt his door every darn day.¡¯


    Zhao Lan, struggling to comprehend the teenage girl¡¯s thoughts, questioned, ¡°Have you been browsing the Fourth Institute forum? George is the attending doctor, equivalent to an NPC guide. Of course, he won¡¯t harm anyone because the rules don¡¯t allow it.¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s expression shifted to weariness. ¡°Sigh, I know. I¡¯m just blabbering, mainly to ease my emotions. After all, tonight¡­ I¡¯m pretty nervous.¡±


    Amidst their dinner, the three of them sat in solitude, the only ones in the hospital adhering to specific meal times and engaged in conversation. Other patients, having taken their medication, would retreat to their rooms early, never to reappear.


    ¡°I¡¯m sick and tired of this place, we can only eat fruits and bread every day,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen complained, breaking a piece of bread out of boredom. ¡°And there¡¯s that nosy Auntie with gaping jaws peeping at me.¡±


    Yu Xiao turned around, and the door behind her, where the nurse had been standing, trembled slightly. A hand failed to retreat in time, caught outside the door. The hand twitched, realising it couldn¡¯t get in, and the door opened a crack before swiftly pulling back inside.


    ¡°Ignore them; tonight, I¡¯ll help you vent,¡± Yu Xiao assured.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± Zhao Lan stood up and declared, ¡°I need to catch some sleep, I didn¡¯t get enough rest last night, and I¡¯m dead tired.¡± sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The three staggered back to the ward. Qiao Qiao, playing on the bed, quickly laid down, covering her head with a blanket. Yu Xiao didn¡¯t bother with her; she needed to rest as much as possible.


    In the darkness, Yu Xiao woke up abruptly to the loud blaring of the alarm clock. Zhao Lan, hidden in the shadows, silenced the intrusive noise and whispered, ¡°Get it together; tonight is only for victory, not defeat.¡±


    Holding the mahjong box like a cherished secret, Zhou Xiao Zhen, her nerves tingling, reassured, ¡°Don¡¯t fret; I¡¯ll own the night, no doubt.¡±


    The hospital room fell into an eerie silence. A deliberate footsteps echoed down the corridor, prompting Yu Xiao to close her eyes, focusing her senses on the approaching presence.


    The door creaked open, and measured footsteps drew closer, surrounding Yu Xiao¡¯s bedside.


    Three nurses, their faces hidden in the dim light, observed the motionless figure on the bed. With practised efficiency, they uncovered the blanket, ready to transfer the patient. Suddenly, Yu Xiao¡¯s eyes snapped open, and she sat up.


    The trio of nurses, momentarily caught off guard, quickly recovered, their professionalism unyielding as they extended their grasp.


    Yu Xiao exclaimed, ¡°Precious!¡±


    A nearby blanket spontaneously moved, covering the nurse with the most daring hairstyle. Emerging from beneath this makeshift curtain, Zhou Xiao Zhen appeared, holding the mahjong box, declaring, ¡°In this long night, let the mahjong games begin!¡±


    The three nurses flinched, settling on the floor beside Zhou Xiao Zhen. She opened the mahjong box, and ivory-like tiles cascaded onto the linoleum. Skillfully, the three ghosts began shuffling, creating a lively ¡°hualah hualah¡± sound that filled the ward.


    (»©À²»©À²: hualah hualah ¨C Onomatopoeia for the sound of shuffling mahjong tiles.)


    Amidst this symphony of mahjong, Zhou Xiao Zhen, took a moment to direct the pair, ¡°You two, get moving. I¡¯ll handle things here!¡±


    Yu Xiao and Zhao Lan promptly stood up and pushed a hospital bed towards the operating room door. Zhao Lan continuously checked the time, eventually saying, ¡°It¡¯s about time. Let¡¯s begin.¡±


    ¡°Alright.¡± Yu Xiao nodded and took a bundle of talismans out of her pocket. With her other hand, she pounded on the operating room door.


    ¡°Bang, bang, bang!¡±


    ¡°You fat pig!¡± Yu Xiao shouted, ¡°Come out and meet your butcher!¡±


    Beside her, Zhao Lan shuddered briefly. Smiley was more scarier than Precious.


    The door swung open, and Dr. Fat Pig, while looking at the pair, visibly hesitated. Then, with a fierce expression, he let out an angry roar, furious that these two morsels dared to provoke him.


    Unbeknownst to him, as he opened his mouth, Yu Xiao swiftly thrust something inside.


    Dr. Fat Pig froze, contemplating the dry, unpleasant object in his mouth.


    ¡°Boom!!!¡±


    A brilliant thunderbolt materialised at the entrance of the operating room, its intense flash causing even Yu Xiao and Zhao Lan to squint. The deafening roar echoed through the corridor, causing the entire hospital to tremble.


    A Thunder Striking Talisman was forcefully crammed into his mouth, and Yu Xiao witnessed the aftermath as lightning crackled and dissipated. The chubby figure of Dr. Fat Pig emerged, charred and toothless, reeling from the explosive impact. Trying to regain composure, he eventually succumbed and toppled down with black smoke spiralling from his mouth.


    Anticipating the fallout, Zhao Lan swiftly wheeled in a hospital bed, and Dr. Fat Pig landed perfectly on it.


    Without hesitation, Yu Xiao entered the operating room. A short while later, she reappeared, her left hand clutching a bundle of straps and her right hand wielding a chainsaw.


    Silently and efficiently, without exchanging words, they bound Dr. Fat Pig to the bed, the familiar thunderous footsteps echoing in the corridor. Yu Xiao shot a glance at Zhao Lan, cautioning, ¡°Be careful!¡±


    Zhao Lan chuckled in response, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Childhood friends always vouched for my reliability.¡±


    As striped-gowned patients flooded the corridor, Yu Xiao retreated into the operating room. Meanwhile, Zhao Lan, pushing the bed, merged with the crowd, disappearing behind the mottled walls.


    Once the last patient vanished, Yu Xiao emerged from the operating room.


    She switched on the chainsaw, its menacing hum reverberating down the corridor. Yu Xiao casually walked down the empty hallway, carrying a talisman in one hand and the chainsaw in the other, displaying an air of indifference.


    The door to the ward was forcefully kicked open, creating a loud ¡°Bang!¡±


    Startled, the three ghosts, engrossed in a game of mahjong, jumped in surprise. As Yu Xiao confidently entered with the chainsaw, their spectral gaze fixed on her.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s face filled with joy. ¡°Smiley!¡±


    Approaching with a relaxed stride, Yu Xiao held the buzzing chainsaw above the heads of the three ghost nurses. She glanced at Zhou Xiao Zhen and commented, ¡°Hurry up; I can¡¯t wait to see their terror.¡±


    Although the nurses¡¯ expressions briefly twisted, they remained motionless. The nurse with an eccentric puffy hairstyle picked a tile with bloodshot eyes and exclaimed, ¡°Little Chicken!¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen burst into excitement. ¡°Haha! I won!¡±

 Chapter 19: Run!

    Zhou Xiao Zhen stood up suddenly, pointing a finger at the nurse with messy hair. ¡°I choose you to face the music!¡±


    Nurse with Messy Hair: ¡°?¡±


    Nurse with Messy Hair: ¡°!!!¡±


    Meanwhile, the two nurses, who had previously been bound by the rules of the mahjong tool, were now free from their distractions. Their eyes filled with hunger, they turned their attention to Yu Xiao, slowly advancing with predatory intent.


    With a chainsaw in one hand and a talisman in the other, Yu Xiao contemplated, ¡°It¡¯s time to introduce you to the Five Thunderbolts.¡±


    Abruptly, the demeanour of the two nurses changed. Baring their fangs, they cowered in a corner, trembling in terror.


    Yu Xiao: ¡°?¡±


    Perplexed, Yu Xiao scanned the bizarre scene. What had spooked them?


    In an instant, an invisible thunderbolt materialised above the nurse with messy hair, striking her skull.


    ¡°Boom! Boom! Boom!¡±


    A cloud of black smoke engulfed the hospital room. Yu Xiao covered her mouth and nose just in time to avoid the suffocating fumes.


    ¡°Cough, cough, cough¡­ Smiley, cough, cough, cough¡­ where are you?¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen fumbled in the darkness. ¡°I can¡¯t see you, cough, cough, cough¡­¡±


    Yu Xiao was about to respond when a surge of inky black smoke eagerly enveloped her, swirling into her open mouth. Swiftly, she decisively sealed her lips shut, vowing not to open them even if it meant facing death.


    Minutes later, the ebony smoke dissipated, revealing the ward in its original state. Yu Xiao maintained her stance, while Zhou Xiao Zhen, unfortunately, veered off course. In the current moment, she clutched a patient¡¯s hand, her grip trembling uncontrollably.


    Glancing across the bed, she discovered Yu Xiao on the opposite side. Looking down, she realised she was tightly holding the hand of the plump Auntie Liu Cui.


    ¡°Ugh¡­¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s robust frame shuddered, forcefully releasing Auntie Liu¡¯s hand and lunging toward Yu Xiao.


    Simultaneously, Yu Xiao observed the nurse with an explosively styled hairdo, frozen in front of her. Her hair seemed even more unruly now, and her countenance darker. Yu Xiao finally grasped the reason behind her peculiar appearance earlier. Unable to suppress her curiosity, she questioned Zhou Xiao Zhen, ¡°Why do you constantly pick on her?¡±


    Clutching onto Yu Xiao¡¯s sleeve, Zhou Xiao Zhen responded casually, ¡°Can¡¯t stand her thick, long hair.¡±


    Yu Xiao: ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°And Smiley, now is not the time to discuss this,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen warned, pointing fearfully at the two nurses in the corner. ¡°They¡¯re on their feet!¡±


    At this point, the two nurses in the corner had risen, recognizing that Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s mahjong tool was momentarily incapacitated. Their postures straightened, and their expressions turned more greedy and menacing. They stared intently at Yu Xiao and Zhou Xiao Zhen, as though the two were already a delicious feast in their mouths.


    To the left, the creature flung its jaw wide, letting out a boisterous ¡°Woo ah!¡± from its gaping jaws a scarlet, sinuous tongue shot out like a nimble serpent, aiming for Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s face.


    Simultaneously, on the right, two limbs stretched out towards Yu Xiao, their withered, pointed digits moving closer to her eyes.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen yelped and took shelter behind Yu Xiao.


    Undeterred, Yu Xiao calmly raised her left hand, with a yellowed talisman sticking to the long tongue.


    Long-tongued nurse: ¡°?¡±


    ¡°Boom!¡±


    A loud explosion, even louder than before, echoed, leaving the long-armed nurse bewildered. Weren¡¯t they all beginners this time? How did they have high-level talismans?!


    In the next instant, a shiver ran down her arm. As she glanced down, she was confronted with two severed limbs while two disembodied hands wriggled on the ground, as if attempting to reattach themselves.


    ¡°Precious,¡± Yu Xiao called, ¡°put those hands away.¡±


    ¡°Hmm~¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen squatted disdainfully, using her sleeve to pick up one of the severed hands. ¡°Her hands are disgusting, the blood is pitch-black, and the smell is truly nauseating.¡±


    Long-armed nurse: ¡°¡­¡± If it disgusts you so much, why pick it up?


    ¡°Bzzz¡­¡±


    The sound of a chainsaw buzzed in her ears. The long-armed nurse helplessly watched as Yu Xiao approached, wielding a chainsaw. Yu Xiao glared at her menacingly, saying, ¡°If you want to keep breathing, lie down and open your mouth.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°Whoa, damn, Smiley, your style is like a wrecking ball,¡± Zhou Xiaozhen remarked with an approving whistle.


    *


    *


    Without wasting a moment, Zhao Lan steered the hospital bed downward, heading for the Dean¡¯s office. The chubby doctor, slowly regaining strength, was caught off guard.


    Breaking away from the group, Zhao Lan exerted force, propelling the bed towards the office with determination. The recovering doctor, wide-eyed and weak, witnessed the bed hurtling towards the dean¡¯s office.


    In a frantic struggle, the doctor flailed against the impending collision. Within seconds, shock gave way to fear, fear to madness, and finally, despair.


    Zhao Lan promptly let go and a thunderous crash echoed as the hospital bed rammed into the office door. With precision, she pivoted and dashed into the storeroom.


    As the majority of patients disappeared from the corridor, an eerie hush descended. The chubby doctor lay alone, immobilised by his fear.


    Then came the dreaded sound that no one in that hospital wished to hear.


    ¡°Drip.¡±


    ¡°Drip.¡±


    ¡°Drip.¡±


    The rhythmic sound of drops echoed through the corridor as footsteps drew closer, creating a steady cadence that filled the air.


    ¡°Squeak¡­¡±


    The door¡¯s rusty hinges protested with a groan as it swung open.


    Curiosity gripped Zhao Lan, who was hidden in the cluttered room, huddled on the floor, peering through the narrow crack of the door. The fat doctor on the bed writhed persistently, while the entrance to the Dean¡¯s sanctum revealed itself through the yawning door.


    A ghostly figure emerged, a macabre reflection of the Dean from the imposing portrait. Paler and more withered, an embodiment of mortality. Just one glance sent involuntary shivers down Zhao Lan¡¯s spine.


    Silently, the Dean advanced towards the struggling doctor. His movements were deliberate, unhurried, almost robotic. In stark contrast, the portly figure on the bed thrashed, his mouth contorted, producing a chilling ¡°hehe¡± in the oppressive silence.


    ¡°Snap!¡±


    The restraints released their grip, and the corpulent doctor, pulsating with newfound vigor, leaped from the sickbed with lightning agility. Yet, Zhao Lan noticed a sudden impediment, a stumble that slowed down his frenzied escape. The Dean, unwavering and methodical, closed in, seizing him with an eerie calmness.


    Zhao Lan¡¯s stomach churned at the unfolding scene, a cruel display that surpassed anything she had seen in Chinese or foreign cinema. It was a nauseating display of brutality that tested her composure.


    Echoes of agony reverberated through the air, an unending symphony that seemed to stretch into eternity. Against the wall, Zhao Lan cringed, hands pressed firmly over her ears in a futile attempt to drown out the cries of pain.


    Their original plan played out as Zhao Lan had imagined. The hefty doctor unwittingly became a pawn in their scheme, luring the hospital Dean out from the safety of the ground floor. Meanwhile, Yu Xiao and Zhou Xiao Zhen carried out their roles, detaining the medical staff on the upper level, leaving the Dean vulnerable to their manipulations. Zhao Lan¡¯s mission: infiltrate the Dean¡¯s office and secure their freedom with stamped discharge papers.


    A pallor clung to Zhao Lan¡¯s face as the Dean left. The plan unfolded smoothly, but the reality proved more horrifying than expected. Could Yu Xiao withstand the horrors that awaited?


    *


    *


    On the upper floor, a low hum reverberated down the corridor. A slender figure, wielding a chainsaw with casual ease, dragged a second figure along the worn path.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen followed, observing the gruesome procession. Admiration sparked in her mind, ¡°Smiley has this eerie coolness. She could be in a Texas Chainsaw Massacre film, a real gem for the film director.¡±


    Yu Xiao, the mastermind of terror, dragged the long-handed nurse ¨C or rather, the now handless one. A gruesome sight unfolded as the unfortunate nurse not only lost her hands but also suffered a brutal fate with her teeth. Forced to lie on the ground, mouth agape, Yu Xiao ruthlessly destroyed her teeth with the relentless chainsaw.


    Was this the work of a human?


    The cruelty was incomprehensible, a repulsive spectacle of torture and degradation, as the mutilated form was dragged through the dimly lit corridor.


    Yu Xiao entered the nurse¡¯s station, finding it shrouded in an unusual silence, bereft of lurking shadows.


    In recent times, the medical staff had clearly divided into two factions. During the day, seven nurses reigned, dispensing medications amidst chaos. Meanwhile, the night shift belonged to a single doctor and three nurses, primarily operating within the confines of the operating room.


    Suddenly, a resounding ¡°Bang!¡± shattered the stillness as the door burst open, forcefully intruding upon the established order.


    The seven nurses, typically the troublemakers themselves, stood momentarily stunned. Who had the audacity to knock on their door? They were more accustomed to causing trouble, not experiencing it. sea??h th§× Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    A peculiar ¡°Buzz¡­¡± reverberated through the air, capturing their attention and drawing their gaze towards the doorway. A figure, chainsaw in hand, dragged along a hapless colleague, creating an eerie tableau against the backdrop of the nurse¡¯s station.


    ¡°¡­¡±


    When the intruder locked eyes with the bewildered nurses, instead of surrendering, they definitely turned around, presenting the back of their head.


    ¡°Everyone¡¯s here!¡± Yu Xiao declared, turning to signal Zhou Xiaozhen. ¡°Block the door; not a single person is allowed to escape!¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    An unbearable tension permeated the air. The seven nurses, mouths agape, prepared to unleash their grievances upon Yu Xiao, a brewing storm of words waiting to be released.


    Yu Xiao spun around, letting go of the nurse¡¯s hand and giving it a quick shake.


    With a skilled movement,a spread of talismans unfolded like a deadly fan. She flashed her cute little fangs and said, ¡°Let¡¯s see who¡¯s been naughty.¡±


    A hush settled.


    Inside the ward, Zhou Xiao Zhen skillfully peeled an orange and offered the juicy pieces to Yu Xiao. The nurses around them hurried about¡ªsome massaging legs, one expertly brewing tea, two holding fans, and another pair tending to Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s legs.


    Suddenly, a phone rang.


    ¡°I really wanted to live for another five hundred years~¡­¡±


    Yu Xiao saw Zhao Lan¡¯s name on the caller ID and quickly answered, ¡°What¡¯s up, Misty? Is everything okay?¡±


    Outside the Dean¡¯s office on the ground floor, Zhao Lan, her lips pale and a sheen of cold sweat on her face, urged, ¡°Run. Fast.¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡± Yu Xiao asked.


    ¡°I can¡¯t open the Dean¡¯s office door. It¡¯s like a fortress. No matter what I tried, it won¡¯t budge.¡± Zhao Lan looked at the mangled remains of the chubby doctor on the floor and added urgently, ¡°You have to run; the Dean is a nightmare, way above our level!¡±


    Ending the call, Yu Xiao¡¯s expression changed.

 Chapter 20: Dean Yu of St Elizabeth’s

    While observing Yu Xiao talk on the phone, Zhou Xiao Zhen noticed a change in her expression. She shot her a questioning look, silently trying to figure out the cause of her unease.


    Yu Xiao¡¯s heart was racing irregularly; a miscalculation had thrown her off balance. She had always regarded the Dean as a formidable force, and as a result, she had taken steps to manipulate the medical staff, neutralising their combat potential and ensuring that they wouldn¡¯t align with the Dean.


    Every talisman she¡¯d hoarded was intended for the Dean. While they might not cause chaos, they could at least help her navigate the situation.


    Her initial strategy involved stalling the Dean, giving Zhao Lan the opportunity to infiltrate the Dean¡¯s office. However, the Dean¡¯s office door stubbornly resisted all attempts to open it.


    Through the phone, Zhao Lan urgently begged her to escape, warning that the Dean was en route. But where could Yu Xiao flee to? The Dean¡¯s omnipresence covered every corner of the hospital. Adding to her fear was the return of her sporadic deafness, causing the surrounding sounds to fade until Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s moving lips produced no audible words.


    Yu Xiao glanced at Zhou Xiao Zhen and gently shook her head.


    Upon seeing this, Zhou Xiao Zhen paused, then witnessed Yu Xiao lightly touching her ear.


    Dread washed over Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s face. The realisation hit her¡ªSmiley had lost her hearing again. Meanwhile, the deliberate footsteps echoed from outside¡ªa composed and unhurried rhythm.


    Lighter than Dr. Fatties, slower than George¡¯s, those were Dean¡¯s footsteps.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen desperately wanted to warn Yu Xiao about the immediate danger lurking outside, but Yu Xiao remained oblivious and unable to hear. Suppressing her own movements, Zhou Xiao Zhen refrained from making any gestures, fearing that the ghost nurses would perceive Yu Xiao¡¯s vulnerability and cease to obey.


    All Zhou Xiao Zhen could do was direct a horrified gaze towards the door, silently praying that Yu Xiao could sense the encroaching dread reflected in her expression.


    Understanding the unspoken message and sensing something more, as the nurses mirrored her terror, all fixated on the entrance.


    Recalling Zhao Lan¡¯s description of the Dean¡¯s terrifying nature, Yu Xiao comprehended the gravity of the situation. Although Zhao Lan sounded anxious on the phone, the fact that she had not suffered any physical harm indicated that she had successfully avoided the Dean¡¯s attention. But how did she come to know about the Dean¡¯s terrifying nature?


    She must have witnessed something. Combining the nurses¡¯ fearful expressions with Zhao Lan¡¯s information, Yu Xiao began to suspect. Her fingers hesitated over her phone¡¯s contact list, hovering over a specific number.


    In the deserted corridor, the sound of footsteps echoed. A thin shadow stretched under the lamplight, appearing like a malevolent spirit entwined in an unseen struggle beneath the surface.


    In his office, George heard the sound and emitted a sinister chuckle. There was always someone trying to outsmart him. He didn¡¯t need to speculate about what would happen next; he had witnessed such scenarios countless times. However, tonight was different. He yearned to witness the desperate downfall of the audacious woman who dared to challenge him.


    George stepped out into the hallway to hear better, with his eyes closed, had a sinister grin on his face as he felt the ominous presence approaching the front of the nurses¡¯ station.


    Inside the station, Zhou Xiaozhen heard footsteps getting closer and then suddenly stopping. Fear was clearly visible on her face as she desperately tried to communicate with Yu Xiao through her eyes. Although Yu Xiao couldn¡¯t hear, she understood that the most dangerous moment had arrived. Without any hesitation, she pressed her fingers down to make the call.


    George, lost in his own imaginary movie of Yu Xiao death, imagined having a fresh brain as a snack in this situation. But no worries ¨C is anything perfect in the world of ghosts? This small imperfection didn¡¯t need to bother him.


    Then, a familiar sound came from his own pocket¡­


    ¡°Beep beep beep beep beep¡­¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    George¡¯s expression went blank for a moment ¨C the first time he had felt confused since becoming the head doctor. Who on earth would call him at such a moment?!


    An extremely withered hand pressed against the door handle of the nurses¡¯ station. Just as it was about to open the door, a sound echoed through the corridor.


    ¡°Beep beep beep beep beep¡­¡±


    The dried-up hand hesitated for a moment, then released the handle.


    George fumbled for his phone, zeroing in on that unforgettable number. His once composed and handsome face crumbled, transforming into a look of distress.


    Honestly, if he could start over, he would strangle her on the first day ¡®Deaf Descendant¡¯ walked in¡ªconsequences be damned!


    As the sound of footsteps echoed, Zhou Xiao Zhen realised they were leaving. Overjoyed, she instinctively grabbed someone close and shook them vigorously, bursting with excitement yet hesitant to express it aloud.


    The nurses, though not needing to breathe, breathed a collective sigh of relief and embraced each other in celebration.


    After the exhilarating moment, Zhou Xiao Zhen felt something wet on her shoulder. She froze, realising she had been hugging a nurse with a disturbing look on her face, saliva dripping ominously.


    Swiftly, she pushed the nurse away and used the mahjong tiles as a threat.


    The frightened nurse, with a look of terror on her face, retreated to a corner, appearing wronged.


    Watching their animated reactions, Yu Xiao recognized her victory. The Dean wasn¡¯t only attracted by the patients; he could be swayed by other factors.


    Upon seeing a tall, thin, almost skeletal figure appear around the corner, George¡¯s eye twitched. He quickly entered the office and silenced his phone. Ready to reciprocate, he immediately dialled Yu Xiao¡¯s number.


    ¡°Sorry, the user you¡¯re trying to reach is currently unavailable. Please try again later¡­¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    Frustrated, George threw his phone!


    In the nurse¡¯s station, Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s ears perked up, alerting her to the unmistakable sound of a door being forcefully broken open. Soon, a cacophony of chaotic noises followed, a discordant symphony of destruction that was initially difficult to comprehend. The crashing of breaking walls interrupted the chaos sporadically, adding to the raw, uncontrolled chaos.


    Her gaze shifted towards Yu Xiao, whose expression, though seemingly composed, revealed a hint of confusion beneath her serious exterior. Quickly, Zhou Xiao Zhen pulled out her phone, swiftly documenting the pandemonium unfolding outside the walls. She handed the electronic record to Yu Xiao.


    In an instant, Yu Xiao absorbed the unfolding drama. It was clear that the Dean and George were engaged in a heated struggle.


    Amidst the turmoil, Yu Xiao couldn¡¯t help but admire George¡¯s skill. Since her arrival, he had proven to be an invaluable ally.


    ¡°What¡¯s our plan here?¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen typed, her fingers dancing on the screen. ¡°What should we do?¡±


    Yu Xiao considered for a moment, then replied, ¡°Let¡¯s go out.¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen: ¡°What?¡±


    Other nurses: ¡°?¡±


    Ignoring their confusion, Yu Xiao decisively pushed the door open.


    Collective gasps: ¡°!!!¡±


    Undeterred, Yu Xiao stepped out, the open door amplifying the chaotic sounds. Alas, Yu Xiao remained deaf to the tumult. With a chainsaw in one hand and talismans in the other, she quietly advanced towards George¡¯s besieged sanctuary.


    Not long after they left, Zhou Xiao Zhen reached out and took Yu Xiao¡¯s hand. Yu Xiao understood the situation and crouched down in the corner, her eyes fixed on what lay ahead. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Despite Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s fear, curiosity got the better of her and she peeked over Yu Xiao¡¯s head. In that corner, there were nine heads lined up perfectly from bottom to top.


    On the other side of the corner, George¡¯s once pristine white coat was torn to shreds and his once neatly combed hair was messy. His usually covered pale skin was exposed and marked with numerous wounds, resembling the bites of wild animals.


    Facing him was the dean, whose condition mirrored George¡¯s misfortune. His white coat, barely recognizable now, bore the signs of a relentless attack, and a vacant sleeve sadly hung by his side. Upon closer inspection, his hand lay discarded on the ground.


    The doors and walls surrounding them showed the marks of a brutal confrontation, reduced to a pitiful state.


    The terrifying scene unfolding before them was both gruesome and deeply disturbing. Zhou Xiao Zhen, her face twisted in horror, couldn¡¯t look away.


    In that terrifying moment, Yu Xiao¡¯s calm voice broke the silence and revealed, ¡°See that? George fought bravely with the dean on my behalf, showing how deeply he cared for me.¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen stood frozen in disbelief: This is the Smiley I know, always finding a way to tease George even in such dire circumstances. What an admirable role model!


    The nurses shared a collective gasp of astonishment: This is unbelievable. How could such a thing happen? It¡¯s one thing for a patient to act aggressively, but for a senior doctor to recklessly support her? Aren¡¯t we supposed to allow spirits to rest in peace? This is unbearable!


    In the heat of the battle, the confrontation reached its peak. Suddenly, the hospital Dean¡¯s neck extended, and he sank his teeth into George¡¯s shoulder with ruthless determination. George winced in pain, his face contorting. Showing no sign of weakness, he reciprocated by sinking his teeth into Dean¡¯s head.


    ¡°Crack!¡±


    The sharp sound reverberated as George snapped off Dean¡¯s skull. Witnessing this, Yu Xiao couldn¡¯t help but think that the Dean was done for. George has a tendency to feast on brains; surely he won¡¯t let the Dean off the hook. Without his brain, survival would be impossible.


    Yet, reality hit her hard the next moment. From her vantage point, she could clearly see a cavity in the Dean¡¯s head. Even with a missing piece of his skull, the Dean remained aggressive and undaunted. Yu Xiao scrutinised that mysterious void, deep and hollow, with nothing inside.


    Damn it, once again I miscalculated. The Dean doesn¡¯t have a brain!


    As George fell behind, Yu Xiao finally understood the true significance of his earlier words.


    ¡°¡­The Dean is not the type of person you can casually meet with¡­¡±


    Because encountering him was practically a death sentence. So naturally, not just anyone gets the opportunity to have a casual meeting with him and live!


    ¡®Damn George, always setting traps, just waiting for me to fall right into them!¡¯ Yu Xiao shot a glare at George.


    Crackle!


    George twisted the Dean¡¯s head, completely turning it around 180 degrees. He was prepared to throw the Dean aside, and if he could, he would make Yu Xiao witness the bitter taste of true hopelessness!


    Just as he was about to push the Dean away, he spotted a familiar figure, someone who had made a lasting mark on him, hurrying from around the corner. Swiftly, the person reached him, bent down, and stuffed something into the hole in Dean¡¯s head, then quickly ran away.


    Watching Yu Xiao disappear around the corner, George, puzzled, examined the hole in Dean¡¯s head, and that¡¯s when he noticed the yellow paper.


    ¡°¡­¡±


    Yu Xiao sprinted back around the corner, signalling to Zhou Xiao Zhen, ¡°Cover your ears!¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen dutifully covered her ears, and in the next moment, the world erupted.


    ¡°Boom! Boom! BOOM!!!¡±


    One thunderous explosion followed another, shaking the entire St. Elizabeth¡¯s. In that instant, it felt like hell for everyone on staff. Thunder roared incessantly, and amid the vast darkness, the blinding flashes seemed capable of scorching eyes.


    *


    *


    On the ground floor, Zhao Lan distinctly registered the tremors. She had seen the power of the Thunderstriking Talisman before, so she naturally knew that this was the result of Yu Xiao using several talismans at once.


    Is the situation above really this dire? Zhao Lan was filled with anxiety, but there was nothing she could do. She couldn¡¯t even leave the first floor now. Smiley, Precious, please be safe!


    After a while, everything became silent, and Zhao Lan couldn¡¯t hear any sound or sense any movement.


    It¡¯s over, she thought.


    She didn¡¯t dare to leave the utility room. Instead, she leaned against the door, taking deep breaths for a while. Then, she tremblingly pulled out her phone and called Yu Xiao.


    ¡°Sorry, the number you have dialled is currently switched off¡­¡±


    A chill ran down her spine, but despair had not claimed her yet. Determined, she punched in Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s number, clinging to a sliver of hope.


    ¡°Sorry, the number you have dialled is currently switched off¡­¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    Zhao Lan had endured the onslaught of incurable illness with stoic composure, but now her face was soaked in tears. Was she the sole survivor? The only one left standing?


    *


    *


    The smoke hung in the air, unwilling to dissipate. Yu Xiao took her hand away from her mouth, letting it pass through her tousled hair. Unknowingly, the dust that had settled there from the lingering smoke found its way into her nostrils. Thanks to the protective charm against thunder, her hearing had miraculously returned.


    ¡°Ah, Achoo!¡± Yu Xiao sneezed loudly, feeling the weight of Zhou Xiao Zhen sprawled across her.


    Shoving Zhou Xiao Zhen aside, Yu Xiao cautiously approached the aftermath of the battlefield.


    The walls on either side bore the marks of fire, charred and burnt. The floor, too, was adorned with extensive patches of blackness, and within these burned areas lay two figures resembling humans.


    Yu Xiao first examined the condition of the dean. At this point, the dean¡¯s head and neck were nowhere to be found, yet the body remained remarkably intact. Yu Xiao couldn¡¯t help but marvel, ¡°Impressive! Despite filling the brain with thunder charms, it only blew off the head. This dean¡¯s body is truly resilient.¡±


    Seemingly motionless, the dean showed no signs of rising again. Yu Xiao then shifted her gaze to George, lying still on the scorched ground.


    George lay sprawled, his once-white coat torn and soot-covered. Yu Xiao approached, squatted beside him, and after a momentary pause, prodded him with her finger. ¡°Hey, still kicking?¡±


    George¡¯s body trembled slightly, emitting a soft ¡°Hmm.¡±


    ¡°Whoa,¡± Yu Xiao exclaimed, ¡°Impressive, doc. You¡¯re like a tank, taking hits and still standing strong.¡±


    With deliberate effort, George managed to raise himself up, although the icy nonchalance on his face had lost its initial refinement.


    Surveying the aftermath, Yu Xiao couldn¡¯t help but notice George¡¯s hair, now resembling a chaotic chicken coop, a fractured lens awkwardly perched on his glasses, a bruise imprint on his face, and his forehead painted pitch-black, as if life had just trampled all over him¡­


    Well it wasn¡¯t far from the truth¡­


    George used his middle finger to straighten his glasses, only to find the headless dean sprawled before him.


    His stare pierced through the dean, as if trying to drill into his very essence. Breaking the silence after what felt like an eternity, he shifted his gaze from the lifeless figure to Yu Xiao.


    The intensity in his eyes wasn¡¯t love; it was a reservoir of profound loathing.


    ¡°Uh¡­¡± Confronted with that gaze, Yu Xiao felt an inexplicable pang of guilt. ¡°I did it for your own good. Without my help, you would have been in grave danger.¡±


    George, unaffected by the need to breathe, took a deep breath, then he let out a scornful chuckle. ¡°Looks like you¡¯re planning on being my eternal companion, huh?¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡± Yu Xiao was taken aback, quickly averting her eyes. ¡°Well, you see, life doesn¡¯t always follow our script. We¡¯re from different worlds¡­¡±


    ¡°Hmph, Ha!¡± George sneered at Yu Xiao, a wicked grin on his face. ¡°You killed the dean, and now no one can enter the dean¡¯s office. You¡¯re trapped here, aren¡¯t you?¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    Silence hung in the air, pregnant with disbelief.


    ¡°What do you mean? You can¡¯t enter either?¡± Yu Xiao stuttered, struggling to accept the reality.


    George remained expressionless. ¡°Only the dean can open the door to the dean¡¯s office.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°Seriously?¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen nervously interjected, her eyes darting between the two. ¡°Smiley, what¡¯s the plan? Are we stuck in this hellhole forever?¡±


    Desperate for a solution, Yu Xiao asked George with a glimmer of hope, ¡°The dean is gone. Can¡¯t you take on the role and open the door?¡±


    A cold smile played on George¡¯s lips. ¡°Nope.¡±


    ¡°Um¡­¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re in deep shit,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen wailed, tears streaming down her face. ¡°Wah, wah, wah¡­ there¡¯s no turning back. Mom, Dad, goodbye forever. I¡¯ll miss you so much¡­¡±


    Turning to George, Yu Xiao pressed, ¡°There¡¯s no other way, really?¡±


    George¡¯s eyes shot daggers at Yu Xiao, a frosty stare that could chill a room.


    ¡°Throw me another one of those glares, why don¡¯t you?¡± Yu Xiao threatened, ¡°I¡¯m stuck here anyway, might as well go out with a bang. Don¡¯t think I won¡¯t report you?¡±


    At this point, George couldn¡¯t have cared less. He struggled to his feet, adopting a tone that practically begged for a beating. ¡°Report me? I wouldn¡¯t even notice.¡±


    With those words hanging in the air, he turned, intending to make a swift exit back to his office. However, to his surprise, the office door had disappeared from its usual spot and now lay flat on his desk.


    ¡°Does Saint Elizabeth¡¯s only have one Dean?¡± Yu Xiao¡¯s voice trailed behind him. George turned to find her staring at him. ¡°How did this Dean manage to get the job?¡±


    George remained tight-lipped.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen, tears welling in her eyes, asked, ¡°What¡­ What¡¯s happening, Smiley?¡±


    ¡°Only the Dean can open that door,¡± Yu Xiao explained. ¡°So, find us another Dean, and the door should open, right?¡±


    ¡°That makes sense¡­¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen sighed. ¡°But where on earth do we find another Dean?¡±


    ¡°Promote one of the people over there to Dean status,¡± Yu Xiao gestured toward the group of nurses around the corner. ¡°Or maybe we have an election. We just need a fresh face in the Dean¡¯s chair!¡±


    Yu Xiao¡¯s enthusiasm grew; she wiped her face and fixed her sparkling eyes on George. ¡°Can you¡­?¡±


    George¡¯s lips twitched as he spoke, ¡°I¡¯m the attending doctor here; there¡¯s no way I can step into the Dean¡¯s shoes.¡±


    Yu Xiao chuckled and replied, ¡°Alright then, let¡¯s throw an election into the mix.¡±


    George felt the need to clarify, ¡°We¡¯ve never done that at St. Elizabeth!¡±


    ¡°Who should we choose as our lucky candidate?¡± Yu Xiao questioned, looking at the group of nurses.


    George snapped in response, ¡°Did you not hear a word I just said?¡±


    Zhou Xiaozhen, expressing her concern, voiced, ¡°What if they turn against us once they¡¯re in charge? Shouldn¡¯t we take control ourselves?¡±


    ¡°Well, your reasoning makes sense,¡± reassured Yu Xiao, patting Zhou Xiaozhen on the shoulder. ¡°We might as well give it a try.¡±


    George exploded with frustration, saying, ¡°Did anyone catch a single word I said just now?¡±


    *


    *


    The patients lay in a deep slumber, oblivious to the world around them. However, when they woke up, they found themselves in an unusual situation in the hospital room.


    Yu Xiao and Zhou Xiao Zhen, who were supposed to be waking up alongside them, were now sitting on the bed. Behind them stood seven nurses, and there was another nurse crawling on the floor, apparently joining them. Many pairs of eyes stared intently at them.


    Qiao Qiao was overcome with fear. She had been at St. Elizabeth for over forty years, and this was the first time she had witnessed such a scene.


    ¡°No medication today,¡± Yu Xiao declared, holding a chainsaw in her hand. ¡°Everyone will cast their votes.¡±


    The patients, still in a daze, were herded into the cafeteria. On the walls, they noticed a few large words written in a dark red colour resembling blood.


    ¡ªSt. Elizabeth Dean Election Assembly.


    All the patients and nurses gathered below, looking up at Yu Xiao with blank expressions. George stood in the corner, observing this seemingly absurd spectacle with indifference.


    Yu Xiao motioned to Zhou Xiao Zhen, who approached each individual, distributing paper and pens in a methodical manner.


    ¡°What you have in your hands is a ballot. Make sure to write down the name of the person you believe should be the Dean,¡± Yu Xiao instructed, pulling out the chainsaw.


    She slammed the table loudly. ¡°And that person is me, the Deaf Descendant! Hurry up, what¡¯s taking so long?¡±


    Liu Cui, with frustration evident on her face, held the pen and paper, feeling perplexed. ¡°How exactly do you write ¡®dragon¡¯?¡±


    ¡°Tsk,¡± Yu Xiao sneered dismissively. ¡°Precious, show her how it¡¯s done.¡±


    Votes were quickly collected. Yu Xiao glanced at George, who was tucked away in the corner. ¡°Are you going to count, or are you too busy holding grudges?¡±


    George avoided eye contact, sensing his position as the attending doctor crumbling with the director¡¯s downfall. If that¡¯s the case, why bother with rules? Could he put an end to that miserable woman?


    Lost in thought, he gazed at Yu Xiao¡¯s delicate neck¡ªso fragile. Would it break with a gentle twist?


    ¡°Precious, come here,¡± Yu Xiao beckoned.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen stepped forward, grabbed a voting slip, and cleared her throat. ¡°Ahem, let¡¯s skip the nonsense. Time to count the votes. Fairness, justice¡­ who cares? Let¡¯s get on with it.¡±


    ¡°One vote for the Deaf Descendant!¡±


    ¡°Two votes for the Deaf Descendant!¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°Twenty votes for the Deaf Descendant. Hooray, the Deaf Descendant takes the crown!¡±


    ¡°Thank you, everyone.¡± Yu Xiao pressed her palms together and bowed graciously. ¡°I appreciate the trust and support.¡±


    The nurses and patients below clapped with little enthusiasm. Trust and support my ass, a complete fa?ade.


    George observed the farce with a detached gaze, knowing it was time to stop it. He walked towards Yu Xiao from behind, gradually extending his hands. In an instant, he felt a shift.


    At the same time, Yu Xiao also sensed the change in the air.


    After the applause, Zhou Xiao Zhen remarked, ¡°Smiley, it seems this approach isn¡¯t effective¡­¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Yu Xiao met her gaze. ¡°I sensed it.¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen asked, ¡°What did you sense?¡±


    ¡°I am already the dean,¡± Yu Xiao declared.


    ¡°??!!¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen exclaimed.


    *


    *


    In the utility room on the first floor, Zhao Lan wept, waiting through the night. At this point, despair completely consumed her. Perhaps Smiley and Precious had already met their end. Consequently, she had nothing left to fear. What purpose did solitary survival serve? Soon, she would be discovered, meeting a gruesome fate, akin to Dr. Fat Pig.


    Pushing the door open, Zhao Lan left the utility room.


    Dr. Fat Pig¡¯s remains still littered the corridor floor. Fear no longer gripped Zhao Lan; her heart resembled lifeless embers.


    Walking alone in the desolate corridor, she arrived at the hospital lobby. Glaring at the enormous portrait of the dean, she harboured a fierce resentment.


    Why? Why was the world so unjust? Smiley and Precious were so young; why did they have to die?


    Unfair!


    She quickly brushed away the tears with her sleeve. When she looked up again, she was surprised. The large LED screen¡¯s images were changing.


    At first, it showed the dean wearing a white coat. After a flicker that suggested a technical glitch, the figure changed.


    Smiley?!


    Zhao Lan stood in shock. A quick blink confirmed it¡ªnow Yu Xiao was on the screen.


    Yu Xiao, wearing a white coat, had a friendly smile like a leader inspecting rural areas. She gently unfolded her hands, with a cluster of bold, red characters next to her.


    St. Elizabeth welcomes you!


    ¡°¡­¡± Damn, Zhao Lan was speechless, her cognitive circuits crashing.


    *


    *


    Meanwhile, on the top floor, Yu Xiao felt a strong conviction that St. Elizabeth was seemingly under her control. With her desires, she could go to any floor.


    ¡°Smiley, you¡¯re not joking, are you?¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen looked at her in disbelief.


    ¡°Do I seem like someone who would joke about this¡­¡± Yu Xiao eagerly turned to George, ¡°Hurry up, tell me, is this real!¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    George didn¡¯t want to speak; he was overwhelmed by the audacity of what had just happened.


    ¡°Hahaha¡­¡± Yu Xiao chortled, hands on hips, revelling in the victory. ¡°Guess who¡¯s the dean now? Me, me!¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s eyes filled with tears of joy. ¡°Unbelievable! We can finally escape!¡±


    ¡°Ah, right.¡± Yu Xiao shifted focus to Zhao Lan. ¡°Misty is still stuck on the first floor.¡±


    *


    *


    Zhao Lan, recovering from the shocking painting, fought to compose herself. Suddenly, she heard calm footsteps approaching from behind.


    Swiftly turning, Zhao Lan found Yu Xiao with a smile. ¡°Hey~¡±


    ¡°Smiley?¡± Zhao Lan stammered. ¡°Are you okay? How did you make it to the first floor? And what¡¯s the deal with this portrait?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m the dean now,¡± Yu Xiao grinned. ¡°No need to be scared. You can leave this place.¡±


    ¡°Really?¡± Zhao Lan felt like she was in a dream. ¡°You¡¯re actually the dean?¡±


    ¡°Absolutely.¡± Yu Xiao gestured toward the glowing LED screen. ¡°Why else would I be up there?¡±


    ¡°Oh¡­¡± Zhao Lan¡¯s emotions burst forth, and she erupted into tearful sobs, clutching onto Yu Xiao.


    Confused, Yu Xiao asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Why all the tears?¡±


    ¡°Smiley, you¡¯re so pitiable,¡± Zhao Lan cried, tears flowing freely. ¡°You¡¯ve been so good to me. Even in death, you remember to help me. Sob, sob, sob. What about Precious? Did she die too?¡±


    Yu Xiao blinked, a touch bewildered. ¡°Who said I¡¯m dead?¡±


    With tears welling in her eyes, Zhao Lan said, ¡°Weren¡¯t you the one who kicked the bucket, took a detour to the afterlife, and then snagged the director¡¯s chair?¡±


    ¡°¡­Misty, your imagination is running wild.¡±


    It took Zhao Lan a while to process the fact that Yu Xiao wasn¡¯t pushing up daisies.


    ¡°Oh my goodness.¡± After the revelation, Zhao Lan remained in a daze for what felt like forever. ¡°You can actually do something like this?¡±


    ¡°I just gave it a try with an experimental mindset¡­¡± Yu Xiao turned the doorknob, and the director¡¯s office door creaked open.


    The interior was modest, not much different from George¡¯s workspace.


    A cluttered desk, covered in piles of files, took centre stage. Next to it, a trash can overflowed with discarded paperwork. Yu Xiao approached and found three discharge reports on the desk, each featuring a photo of the trio.


    Pointing to the corner of the desk, Zhao Lan commented, ¡°That¡¯s the director¡¯s stamp, right?¡±


    ¡°Yeah.¡± Yu Xiao picked up the stamp, pressed it onto the three reports, and then flashed a grin. ¡°Time to head home~¡±


    Zhao Lan chuckled, ¡°We can¡¯t really call that ward a home, huh?¡±


    As Zhao Lan spoke, their surroundings blurred and darkness briefly enveloped them. When the haze lifted, the trio found themselves back in the familiar and comforting ward.


    Daylight streamed in through the drawn curtains, revealing a beautiful view of majestic mountains, crystal-clear waters, the cheerful melody of birds, and the sweet fragrance of blooming flowers.


    ¡°Misty!¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen exclaimed, rushing forward to embrace Zhao Lan tightly, ¡°I was so damn worried about you!¡±


    Zhao Lan affectionately patted Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s bald head, ¡°I was worried sick about all of you too.¡±


    ¡°Guess what, Smiley is now the big shot hospital Dean,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen shared the news, glancing quickly at Yu Xiao.


    Yu Xiao, engrossed in her phone, furrowed her brow, ¡°Check your messages. Did you score points?¡±


    Back in the ward, Yu Xiao discovered four unread messages on her phone.


    ¡¾Cheers! You nailed that treatment. Now you¡¯re a second-tier member of the Hospital 6 patient exchange forum.¡¿


    ¡¾Your stellar performance deserves a reward: 3 base points and 3 bonus points for you!¡¿


    ¡¾Hats off to the new ¡®Saint Elizabeth, Dean Yu.¡¯ Enjoy your 4 points. And for being a ¡®Chainsaw Maniac,¡¯ here¡¯s another 4 points. Your total tally? A solid 21 points.¡¿


    ¡¾Congratulations on being at the top of the points leaderboard. You have earned two functional cards. Please visit the forum to claim them.¡¿


    Staring at the text message, Yu Xiao¡¯s emotions churned like an unsettled storm. What in the world was ¡®Chainsaw Maniac¡¯?


    ¡°Whoa! Holy shit!¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen burst out, her eyes wide with disbelief. ¡°I¡¯m rocking the second spot on the leaderboard! And they gave me another power card for it.¡±


    Zhao Lan mirrored the joy, a smile gracing her face. ¡°I got a power card too, and now I¡¯m holding steady in third place.¡±


    ¡°Congrats,¡± Yu Xiao chimed in, her mind suddenly buzzing with a thought. ¡°By the way, with your points skyrocketing, did you unlock any titles?¡±


    ¡°Uhmm¡­¡±


    Zhao Lan and Zhou Xiao Zhen shared an uncomfortable glance.


    ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± Yu Xiao asked curiously. ¡°What titles did you earn? I¡¯ve got a new one, and it¡¯s almost too absurd to mention. I¡¯m practically blushing.¡±


    ¡°Really?¡± Zhao Lan sighed in relief. ¡°Mine¡¯s called¡­ ¡®Tyrant¡¯s Willing Accomplice in Cruelty (ÖúæûΪŰ).¡¯¡±


    Yu Xiao: ¡°?¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen lifted her phone, a grin spreading on her face. ¡°Mine¡¯s: ¡®Tiger¡¯s Devotee¡¯. (Ϊ»¢×÷Øö)¡±


    (TN: Both titles play on words and refer to being a dumb follower to a bad, unruly person.)


    ¡°¡­¡±


    None of them had good titles!


    Zhao Lan smiled wider as she quirked an eyebrow. ¡°So, what¡¯s your title, then?¡±


    ¡°Hmm¡­¡± Yu Xiao pondered. ¡°The first one was meh, but the second one¡¯s the Chainsaw Maniac.¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen. ¡°Totally fits you, Smiley.¡±


    Yu Xiao remained silent.


    ¡°Let¡¯s discuss the cards,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen suggested, breaking the silence.


    Last time, Zhao Lan didn¡¯t get any cards, so that¡¯s her main concern. She jumped in. ¡°Mine¡¯s a Physical Fitness card.¡±


    After scrutinising it, Zhou Xiao Zhen looked up and declared, ¡°I got an Upgrade card.¡±


    Yu Xiao, searching through the forum backend, chimed in. ¡°I got another Luck card and a Physical Fitness card.¡±


    Letting out a sigh, she added, ¡°Props cards aren¡¯t just falling from the sky.¡±


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen shuffled her mahjong tiles. ¡°Feeling randomly lucky now.¡±


    ¡°Just having ability cards is a win,¡± Zhao Lan patted their shoulders. ¡°Remember, it¡¯s a treat for the elite on the leaderboard.¡±


    ¡°You got that right!¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen perked up.


    Zhao Lan prodded, ¡°I used the Physical Fitness card last round. Precious, fancy giving it a try this time?¡±


    ¡°Probably not,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen replied. ¡°I thought about exchanging it with my Upgrade card, but it turns out the Upgrade only enhances props, and I¡¯m the only owner in our trio.¡±


    ¡°Misty, use it yourself,¡± Yu Xiao grinned, taking charge of their decision-making. ¡°Precious has amazing mahjong skills, and her self-defence game is top-notch, even better than mine. We¡¯re all newbies in this game; now is not the time for us to make compromises.¡±


    Zhao Lan thought it over. With her superior physical abilities, she could contribute much more to the team. Without hesitation, she decided to activate the physical fitness card herself.


    ¡¾Congrats! Your physical strength just received a 30-point boost. You¡¯re now as strong as a bull.¡¿


    Ecstatic, Zhao Lan exclaimed, ¡°I did it! I got another achievement!¡±


    She crouched slightly, wrapping her left arm around Yu Xiao¡¯s shoulder and her right arm around Zhou Xiao Zhen. With a swift lift, she hoisted them both onto her shoulders and started running around the ward.


    ¡°Woooah~¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen felt like she was losing her mind. ¡°Put me down¡­ I¡¯m gonna throw up.¡±


    ¡°Whoops, my bad.¡± Zhao Lan reluctantly set them down, rubbing her hands in embarrassment. ¡°I got a little carried away.¡±


    ¡°I might throw up too¡­ I understand you,¡± Yu Xiao weakly sprawled on the bed. ¡°Nice one with the lift, but let¡¯s not do that again.¡±


    Once she caught her breath, Zhou Xiao Zhen eagerly tore open the upgrade card.


    ¡°Holy cow!¡± She jumped up. ¡°Holy cow!¡±


    ¡°Enough with the ¡®Holy cow¡¯ already,¡± Zhao Lan asked, ¡°How is it?¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s flushed face lit up like a firefly on a summer night. ¡°Check this out! My mahjong game just got a power-up! Now I can unleashed it twice in a row!¡±


    Even Yu Xiao and Zhao Lan couldn¡¯t help but exclaim, ¡°Holy cow!¡±


    Suppressing her bubbling excitement, Yu Xiao began flipping the cards.


    ¡¾Endurance card, do you want to use it?¡¿


    ¡¾Your endurance increases by 30.¡¿


    And then, there was no more ¡°then¡±¡­


    Yu Xiao facepalmed. She¡¯d just been yapping about how Misty¡¯s basic endurance was on life support, but it turns out she wasn¡¯t any better herself.


    ¡¾Luck card, do you want to use it?¡¿


    Absolutely.


    ¡¾Bam! Your luck increases by 30. Congratulations, you¡¯ve hit the jackpot of good luck.¡¿


    ¡°Smiley¡¯s luck is skyrocketing!¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen cheered, excitement shining in her eyes. ¡°I swear, I¡¯m hitching my wagon to Big Sister Smiley¡¯s thigh from now on. Just tagging along with Smiley seems to be levelling up our success rate like crazy.¡±


    ¡°Yeah,¡± mused Zhao Lan, taking a moment to reflect before proposing, ¡°Maybe Smiley should always use that luck card, no matter who gets it. We¡¯re all in this mess together, and if Smiley¡¯s luck improves, we all benefit.¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen eagerly raised her hand and added, ¡°I¡¯m totally on board with that!¡±


    Feeling a little uneasy, Yu Xiao quickly changed the subject, saying, ¡°Now that we¡¯re back, let¡¯s have a proper meal. We¡¯ve been stuck at St. Elizabeth, surviving on bread and fruit for days. I¡¯m really craving some hot, mouth-watering dishes.¡±


    *


    *


    As the trio enjoyed their meal, the changes on the scoreboard caught the attention of the other patients in Ward Six.


    Suddenly, surprised voices echoed through the hospital rooms.


    ¡°Whoa, the scoreboard has flipped! Someone took the risk and came out on top!¡±


    ¡°Check this out¡­ The Dragon/Deaf Descendant is still dominating!¡±


    ¡°Is this dude just too darn impressive?¡±


    ¡°How can you be sure it¡¯s a dude? What if it¡¯s a chick?¡±


    ¡°Psh, you spewing nonsense. No gal would slap herself with such a darn ugly nickname¡­¡±


    Their success sparked hope for other patients in Ward Six. Some who sought the treatment returned, alive and well. Does that mean it¡¯s not as terrifying as they thought?


    Looking at the clock ticking away, if there¡¯s a chance at survival, why not take a gamble?


    Without even realising it, many accessed the back end of the Ward Six forum and eventually clicked the button.


    NEXT >>


    I think this arc captures the mood of this story best. Horror Survival Stories typically have three kinds of problem-solving methods how to finish an instance: Type A, where we investigate and the smarter ones survive; Type B, where we cling to life and hope to be the last ones standing until the plot resolves itself; Type C, where we think outside the box and the more outrageous the solution, the better.


    In this arc, Yu Xiao, who had realized the benefits of being the attending doctor¡¯s girlfriend, now upgraded her scheme to become their wife. XD


    Comment below on what you think. What was the funniest part for you? For me, it was the scene with Luo Jin who spoke out of the blue just as quick-wittedly as Yu Xiao: As quiet as ever, Luo Jin pointed to himself and Liu Xun and said only three words, ¡°Marry us both.¡±

 Chapter 21: Yu Xiao received Two resumes late at night

    Having polished off her meal, Yu Xiao spontaneously decided to browse through the mall, figuring she might as well utilise her points on something worthwhile. Glancing at her wrist for the time, she widened her eyes and burst out, ¡°Quick, check this out!¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen, still grappling with post-meal grogginess, and Zhao Lan, currently caught in the shower, inquired, ¡°What¡¯s up?¡±


    ¡°Look at the time.¡± Yu Xiao extended her wrist. ¡°I distinctly remember having more than 29 days left on the clock before we kicked off the treatment. But we wasted some days at St. Elizabeth. Yet now, I still have over 29 days left.¡± Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°No way¡­¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen quickly looked at her own wrist. ¡°Me too. Time has stopped. What gives?¡±


    After a moment of pondering, Yu Xiao proposed, ¡°Maybe during the treatment, our clock pauses, or time works differently in the treatment zone.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s nuts!¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen was pumped. ¡°So, if we keep getting treated non-stop, does that mean we¡¯ll live forever?¡±


    Pausing for effect, Yu Xiao shot back, ¡°Do you really want to live forever in a place like that?¡±


    Reflecting on their stay at St. Elizabeth, Zhou Xiao Zhen responded earnestly, ¡°I¡¯d rather die.¡±


    Yu Xiao tugged at her collar, fatigue setting in. Night was creeping in, and all she wanted was a nice shower and a comfy bed.


    ¡°Well, that¡¯s good news, right?¡± Yu Xiao leaned against the bedside, talking nonchalantly. ¡°No worries about the clock running out while we¡¯re locked out of the store during treatment, and then we¡¯re toast.¡±


    ¡°True,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen perked up instantly, brimming with enthusiasm. ¡°So, when do we sign up for the next round?¡±


    ¡°¡­Let¡¯s chill for a couple of days,¡± Yu Xiao smiled, amused. They were all fighting cancer, but she was so lively. ¡°I really need some time to rest,¡± she moved a bit. ¡°And I haven¡¯t made the talismans we need for the next session.¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen felt sorry for Yu Xiao¡¯s trouble.. Smiley had indeed gone all out this time. Successfully breaking free from St. Elizabeth, she could be deemed a trendsetter. As the follower, Zhou Xiao Zhen decided to be nice and not push for the next session.


    Feeling remorseful, she decided to share her favourite spicy snacks with Smiley.


    While rummaging through her bag, Zhao Lan emerged from the bathroom, enveloped in fragrant steam. ¡°Precious, what are you searching for?¡±


    ¡°Spicy snacks for Smiley,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen replied, her focus on the quest.


    ¡°But¡­¡± Zhao Lan appeared perplexed, casting a glance toward the innermost bed. ¡°Smiley is already out like a light.¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen turned her head in disbelief, emitting a soft ¡°Hmm?¡±.


    In the farthest bed, Yu Xiao lay quietly, with a high pillow under her head. Her face was calm, her breath was even, and she was in sync with the gentle sound of birds singing outside the window ¨C a picture of perfect peace.


    ¡°¡­¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen put her right hand on her flat chest. ¡°I really need to get used to it.¡±


    *


    *


    Having surrendered to the early embrace of sleep, Yu Xiao stirred in the velvety embrace of the night¡¯s profound darkness. In the room, Zhou Xiao Zhen and Zhao Lan slumbered peacefully, their rhythmic breaths a testament to their deep sleep.


    Peering at her phone, Yu Xiao noted the time ¨C a mere two in the morning. A sudden thirst overcame her, and she silently slipped out of bed, a pang of discomfort lingering for having skipped a shower before the sweet descent into slumber.


    As she treaded toward the water dispenser, a peculiar sound disrupted the room¡¯s silence.


    The silence of the room was interrupted by an eerie sound, like nails scratching at the door. Her spine stiffened, and with attentive ears, she tried to figure out the source of the noise.


    ¡°Drip, drip¡­¡±


    The disconcerting rhythm persisted, weaving through the room. Could it be the ghost nurse, diligently executing her nocturnal rounds?


    Ever since the night the ghost caught a lightning bolt, the place had settled into an eerie calm. A talisman against the supernatural dangled from the doorknob, ensuring peace and quiet. Yu Xiao had figured the roaming ghost had simply given up, passing by their ward like it was old news.


    Cup in hand, she lingered in the shadows, the stillness undisturbed by any spectral spectacles. The talisman seemed effective, holding the ghostly patrols at bay.


    Embracing newfound comfort, she savoured a sip of water and plucked a fresh set of clothes from the cabinet, wending her way to the bathroom.


    Warm water cascaded from head to toe, and Yu Xiao sighed in bliss. Post a heavenly hot bath, as she geared up for a hair-drying session, a realisation struck ¨C Misty and Precious were deep in dreamland, and the whirr of a hairdryer wasn¡¯t exactly a lullaby, making it a big no-no.


    Thus, she bundled her wet locks in a towel, a task more vexing than expected. Fumbling in the dimness, the towel refused to cooperate. If only she had eyes on her back; the hair-wrangling wouldn¡¯t be such a struggle.


    Just as this thought crossed her mind, a hand appeared, grabbing the edge of the towel and deftly securing her unruly hair.


    ¡°Thanks¡­¡± Yu Xiao exhaled, a burden lifted from her shoulders.


    Yet, in the next heartbeat, her entire body tensed. Whirling around, she confronted a long hand extending from the showerhead, reaching out behind her.


    ¡°Bloody hell! (ÎÔ²Û)¡± Yu Xiao shuddered. A sneaky ghost had managed to sneak into the bathroom, attempting to peek at her mid-bath!


    Yu Xiao hurriedly dashed out of the bathroom, grabbing the protective charm from under her pillow before rushing back in. But to her surprise, the bathroom was empty, with only steam slowly dissipating in the air. The mysterious hand that had reached out seemed to have vanished.


    ¡°Gone so soon?¡± Yu Xiao pondered, sensing something off. Redirecting her gaze to the mirror, she made a startling discovery!


    Facing the mirror, talisman in hand, Yu Xiao discovered a set of twisted characters freshly written on the reflective surface.


    Name: Er Ya (¶þѾ: ¡°Second Girl/Branch¡±).


    Gender: Female.


    Former Position: Third Hospital¡¯s inpatient department; Current Position: Sixth Hospital¡¯s water room.


    Yu Xiao stood in confusion, a question mark forming above her head. What did all of this mean? Why would a ghost¡¯s hand appear in the dead of night just to write this information on the mirror?


    The name Er Ya only brought about more questions. What was her story? Was it loneliness that drove her to come here in the middle of the night?


    Exiting the bathroom, her mind was filled with unsolved mysteries. Thankfully, she wasn¡¯t one to get stuck in trivialities; when she couldn¡¯t find a solution, she gracefully let go. After leaving the bathroom, she attached a talisman to the door to prevent any accidents while sleeping.


    Outside, in the vastness, she heard the sound of rustling once again.


    Crouching by the entrance, the light from her phone cut through the darkness through the gap under the door, uncertain of the ghostly custodian¡¯s persistence. Would it continue to cause disturbances all night long?


    Were there no other areas it could disturb?


    Pondering this, she heard the scratching sound cease.


    She breathed a sigh of relief, believing that the ghostly presence had finally left. Perhaps, she thought, the wandering ghost had some rationale. But just as she started to feel a sense of calm, a faint rustling echoed from beyond the door.


    There was a pause, and then a white object, either cloth or paper, appeared through the gap.


    ¡°¡­¡± Unable to speak, Yu Xiao stood there with her mouth open, her mind filled with confusion.


    After the object was delivered, the outside fell into a tense silence. After hesitating, curiosity compelled Yu Xiao to take the mysterious offering.


    Upon examination, she unfolded the fabric to reveal a white surface, its texture reminding her of a stiff lab coat. Flipping it over, she saw a blood-red stain.


    Yu Xiao scrutinised the paper carefully, its surface marred by blood stains resembling an unholy symbol.


    Name: Can¡¯t remember.


    Gender: F


    Previous Position: Guardian of the men¡¯s restroom at the Fifth Hospital, Currently working in the inpatient department at the Sixth Hospital.


    ¡°¡­¡±


    Yu Xiao was momentarily speechless. She felt that something must have gone wrong somewhere. That¡¯s why the ghosts tonight were all so strange, each one eagerly introducing themselves to her.


    Perplexed, she hesitated, and from the crack in the door, a strange sound echoed. It sounded like something pushing against the door, but whatever was trying to pass through was too large for the narrow gap.


    Crouched in thought, Yu Xiao issued a threat, ¡°Keep trying, and I will unleash a lightning storm upon you!¡±


    Profound silence descended outside, leaving nothing but quietness behind.


    *


    *


    The sun cast its golden hues across the room, gently rousing Zhou Xiao Zhen from her slumber. With a lazy stretch, she turned her gaze towards Yu Xiao. However, as her eyes met Yu Xiao¡¯s, she was taken aback and exclaimed, ¡°What on earth did I just witness?¡±


    The sudden outburst startled Zhao Lan awake, and she sat up with an air of alertness, asking, ¡°What¡¯s going on? What¡¯s the matter?!¡±


    Still surprised, Zhou Xiao Zhen gestured towards the already awake Yu Xiao. ¡°Look at Smiley, up and about so early¡ªit¡¯s quite astounding.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    Unfazed by the comment, Yu Xiao sat cross-legged on the bed, her brow furrowed, clutching a piece of cloth in her hands.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen couldn¡¯t contain her curiosity. ¡°What¡¯s that red ghost symbol on there?¡± she asked, her eyes filled with interest. ¡°Is it a new talisman you¡¯ve created?¡±


    Lost in thought, Yu Xiao took a moment before responding, ¡°Last night, a ghost visited our ward.¡±


    ¡°Damn!¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen exclaimed, jumping up. ¡°Where¡¯s the ghost? Why didn¡¯t you wake us?¡±


    Sensing that there was more to the story than just a ghost¡¯s visit, Zhao Lan asked, ¡°Smiley, what¡¯s going on? We have talismans on the door. Ghosts shouldn¡¯t be able to come in during the rounds.¡±


    ¡°The ghost didn¡¯t get in,¡± Yu Xiao explained, raising the cloth, ¡°but she slipped this in¡­¡±


    As the story unfolded, Yu Xiao expressed her confusion, pondering, ¡°What does this mean? Is it a hidden threat, a message like ¡®I will murder you, know my name¡¯?¡±


    ¡°I think so too,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen added, her tone filled with agreement. ¡°It¡¯s too audacious. Smiley, they¡¯re underestimating you, not taking you seriously at all.¡±


    Yu Xiao was seething with anger. ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll dedicate my entire day to inscribing talismans. I¡¯ll smother the entire ward with these charms. Let¡¯s see how those troublemakers react then!¡±


    Zhao Lan hesitated briefly before offering a different perspective. ¡°Um, I have an alternative point of view.¡±


    ¡°What?¡± snapped Yu Xiao.


    Unfurling a piece of cloth, Zhao Lan began to explain, ¡°The content on this cloth, as well as the content on the mirror, bears an uncanny resemblance to something I used to do frequently.¡±


    ¡°What?¡± Yu Xiao scratched her head in confusion.


    Zhao Lan elaborated, ¡°Job hunting, sending out resumes.¡±


    ¡­


    Yu Xiao¡¯s mind buzzed. ¡°Ghosts sending out resumes on my behalf?¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s mind echoed with the same astonishment. ¡°Ghosts sending out resumes for Smiley?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Zhao Lan reminded them. ¡°Don¡¯t forget, you¡¯re now the Dean of St. Elizabeth¡¯s.¡±


    ¡­


    Unable to resist, Yu Xiao found herself scratching her head. No wonder Ghost Er Ya had assisted her in tying her hair last night¡­


    ¡°Wow,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen remarked with envy, gazing at Yu Xiao. ¡°Smiley is now a property owner, no longer in the same class as me.¡±


    Zhao Lan wore a puzzled expression. ¡°Which class do you belong to?¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhe responded casually, rubbing her eyes and glancing at Yu Xiao. ¡°I¡¯m part of the working class. Smiley here, on the other hand, is pure bourgeoisie.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    Yu Xiao¡¯s eye twitched as she threw a white cloth into the trash. Dealing with ghosts was not what she had planned for.


    ¡°Ding dong!¡±


    At exactly eight in the morning, soft music filled the air, and the curtains in the ward gracefully opened. Outside the windows, birds chirped happily, flying around in joyful patterns, purposefully avoiding the ward.


    The familiar voice of a woman echoed once again.


    ¡°A beautiful day begins now~ Here¡¯s the morning news from the hospital.¡±


    ¡°Yesterday, a patient named ¡®Nickname Hassle¡¯ at the Sixth Hospital raised concerns that the rounds-checking ghost had violated hospital regulations.. After investigation, it was confirmed that the rounds-checking ghost, Cui Lan (´äÀ¼: Green jade Orchid), had indeed engaged in improper conduct and has been referred to the Sixth Hospital¡¯s medical dispute office for resolution¡­¡±

 Chapter 22: You’re on Fire!

    ¡°¡­There is currently a vacant position in the inpatient department of the Sixth Hospital. We are actively seeking applications for a ward nurse. Gender, age, and professional background are not important as we eagerly search for the perfect candidate for this important role.¡±


    ¡°Yesterday, the hospital received a report following a tip-off from staff regarding Mr. Zhang, an employee in the morgue. It was alleged that he had accepted bribes for personal gain, which is a serious violation of the hospital¡¯s commitment to fair treatment of every patient and maintaining a clean and honest atmosphere. As a result, Mr. Zhang has been dismissed and handed over to the hospital¡¯s medical dispute office for further action¡­¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°Yesterday morning, the First Treatment of the Sixth Hospital achieved a significant milestone. Thanks to the collective efforts of the medical staff and patients, three patients have successfully completed their treatment. The patient known as the ¡®Deaf Descendant¡¯ continues to lead the charts. Let us extend our warm congratulations to her¡­¡±


    ¡°¡­This patient demonstrated exceptional progress during her treatment, earning the prestigious titles of ¡®Saint Elizabeth, Dean Yu.¡¯ and ¡®Chainsaw Maniac.¡¯ Once again, congratulations to her¡­¡±


    ¡°Furthermore, the patient referred to as ¡®Braised Egg Girl 438¡¯ excelled in yesterday¡¯s treatment, earning the honourable title of ¡®Tiger¡¯s Devotee¡¯ . Let us congratulate her¡­¡±


    ¡°¡­The patient with the nickname ¡®Nickname Hassle¡¯ also excelled in yesterday¡¯s treatment, earning the title of ¡®Tyrant¡¯s Willing Accomplice in Cruelty.¡¯ Let us congratulate her¡­¡±


    Zhao Lan: ¡°¡­¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s mouth dropped open in surprise.


    Yu Xiao¡¯s face twitched momentarily as she struggled to put her myriad of feelings into words. Finally, she managed to say, ¡°Listen, even the news is praising us.¡±


    ¡°Smiley, sis,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s expression revealed a mix of emotions. ¡°Honestly, I¡¯m not an expert at comforting, but sometimes, silence helps louder.¡±


    Rendered speechless, Yu Xiao couldn¡¯t help but let out a sigh.


    ¡°Sigh,¡± Zhao Lan¡¯s demeanour showed a combination of relief and sadness. ¡°Luckily, we didn¡¯t use our real names for our nicknames; otherwise, I would be in quite a predicament.¡±


    ¡°Misty, it¡¯s not as bad as it seems,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen reassured her. ¡°You are still in your prime, not at the stage where your reputation is beyond saving.¡±


    Zhao Lan responded, ¡°Thank you, that¡¯s oddly comforting.¡±


    Awkwardly coughing, Yu Xiao interjected, ¡°In reality, titles and such hold little significance. Just like Misty pointed out, nobody truly knows who we are.¡±


    ¡°Exactly,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen quickly brightened the mood. ¡°Others haven¡¯t even given it a second thought. A title is a four-point reward, and one point can give you ten days. Collectively, it¡¯s like getting forty days for free. Where else can you find such a fantastic deal?¡±


    Upon hearing this, Zhao Lan¡¯s complexion visibly improved.


    Feeling slightly embarrassed by her conflicting emotions, she admitted, ¡°I misunderstood; this is indeed a silver lining. The points awarded after each treatment stay the same, so the only way to widen the gap between us and other patients is to gather as many titles as possible. Whether the titles sound impressive or not is inconsequential.¡±


    ¡°Absolutely,¡± Yu Xiao grinned. ¡°Remember when I was given the title Chainsaw Maniac? Did I protest? No.¡±


    ¡°Huh? Smiley, you don¡¯t like the title?¡± Zhou Xiao Zhe, with a sparkle in her eyes, gazed at Yu Xiao enthusiastically. ¡°I think it¡¯s incredibly cool!¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°Cough, I¡¯m feeling a bit hungry.¡± Yu Xiao smoothly changed the subject. ¡°Let¡¯s grab some breakfast.¡±


    *


    *


    As the trio waited for food, little did they realise that the recent news was causing seismic waves in other wards. Countless patients couldn¡¯t hide their astonishment.


    ¡°Damn! Am I hearing this correctly? Saint Elizabeth, the same one I visited¡­¡±


    ¡°Good grief, do rookies have this level of badassery now?¡±


    ¡°I understand that some people are genuinely powerful, a natural fit for this kind of game, but this is becoming too extreme¡­¡±


    *


    *


    In the dimly lit hospital room, Yu Xiao and her two companions, Zhao Lan and Zhou Xiao Zhen, stood casually near the door. Engaged in light conversation, they eagerly awaited the arrival of the meal cart.


    Taking in the surroundings, Yu Xiao couldn¡¯t help but voice a newfound concern. ¡°I¡¯ve been thinking,¡± she pondered. ¡°Even eating here costs money. What happens if someone is penniless? Do they go hungry?¡±


    This thought hadn¡¯t crossed Zhao Lan and Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s minds before, but now they realised the seriousness of the issue. Zhou Xiao Zhen, wearing a thoughtful expression, shook her head. ¡°To die not from ghosts, but from starvation due to poverty¡­ That¡¯s a truly tragic fate.¡±


    Zhao Lan, always practical, chimed in, ¡°If we as newcomers notice this problem, then the experienced individuals from the Fourth Hospital probably already know what to do. Let¡¯s not dwell on it now. After we eat, we can check the Fourth Hospital forum for any information on this matter.¡±


    ¡°Agreed,¡± Yu Xiao confirmed. ¡°In the meantime, I¡¯ll spend my spare time making more talismans. Who knows how many ghosts we might encounter next.¡±


    Their discussion was abruptly interrupted as the meal cart rolled in, accompanied by a voice from beyond the door. ¡°Need a meal?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen replied, adjusting her posture casually while holding a mahjong box. ¡°Let¡¯s make things clear. We have tools like mahjong and talismans. If you¡¯re not a real delivery person, you better scram before it¡¯s too late.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m deadly serious,¡± a voice declared from beyond. ¡°So, what do you feel like having for breakfast?¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen responded, ¡°Something light and refreshing would be perfect. Three bowls of plain congee, ten spring rolls, three salted duck eggs, a plate of pickled vegetables, a serving of braised duck wings, and half a roasted chicken. Oh, and do you two have any cravings?¡±


    Yu Xiao wore a thoughtful expression. ¡°Just go with that¡­¡±


    ¡°Alright then, I¡¯m opening the door,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen announced as she swung the door open, creating a gap wide enough for the boxes filled with food.


    Outside, darkness prevailed. A skeletal hand, bone-chillingly white, held a massive bag and extended it over.


    Stunned by the strange sight, Zhou Xiao Zhen murmured, ¡°Is this a real delivery person?¡±


    Zhao Lan mused, ¡°Who says a real delivery person has to be human?¡±


    ¡°Valid point,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen said, accepting the bag.


    As Yu Xiao was about to scan the QR code, the voice outside chimed in, ¡°Enjoy Your meal! If You have any feedback about this service, feel free to let us know~¡±


    With that, the sound of a cart rolling away echoed from outside.


    ¡°¡­¡±


    Yu Xiao wore a perplexed expression. ¡°So, he¡¯s not interested in money?¡±


    ¡°Not only does he not want money,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen replied, her eyebrows furrowed in confusion, ¡°but his service attitude is exceptionally good.¡±


    Both of them turned their gaze towards Zhao Lan. Wondering why, Zhao Lan thought, Why are they looking at me? I am just as bewildered as they are.


    Trying to make sense of the situation, Zhao Lan offered some reassurance. ¡°Well, it¡¯s not necessarily a bad thing. Free breakfast ¨C let¡¯s just enjoy it.¡±


    ¡°Agreed,¡± Yu Xiao chimed in. The trio eagerly opened the bags and simultaneously exclaimed,


    ¡°Wow!¡±


    ¡°Oh my goodness!¡±


    Yu Xiao held up a box of roast chicken. ¡°Precious, did you order a whole roast chicken?¡±


    ¡°I only ordered half,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen also revealed a lunch box. ¡°Are these three salted duck eggs? There must be at least eight of them.¡±


    ¡°And check out the spring rolls,¡± Zhao Lan exclaimed, lifting the lid of a box. ¡°There are at least twenty of them, right?¡±


    ¡°This¡­¡± Yu Xiao was bewildered. ¡°He not only refuses payment, but he¡¯s also incredibly generous with the food. Is there a conspiracy?¡±


    ¡°Rather than calling it a conspiracy, it seems more like he¡¯s trying to gain favour,¡± Zhao Lan pondered, rubbing her chin, her eyes sparkling with insight. ¡°When he wished us a pleasant meal, he used ¡®you¡¯ instead of ¡®you all,¡¯ suggesting he was addressing an individual.¡±


    ¡°Oh,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen exclaimed with sudden understanding, ¡°Smiley, he¡¯s trying to win you over.¡±


    Zhao Lan nodded in agreement, ¡°That¡¯s right. I¡¯ve mentioned before, it¡¯s not just the water ghost and the inspection ghost who are eyeing a change in employment.¡±


    Yu Xiao, her mouth dry and uncertain, found herself at the tender age of twenty with only two decades of existence in this world. She had yet to step into society and wasn¡¯t exceptionally beautiful. This was the first time someone was trying to gain her favor, which left her somewhat unsettled. The fact that the other party wasn¡¯t even human added to her unease. Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    It seemed that St. Elizabeth¡¯s Psychiatric Hospital had a distinguished reputation. Unfortunately, Yu Xiao had no desire to die; otherwise, pursuing a peaceful directorial role might have held a promising future.


    Contemplating this, she couldn¡¯t help but sigh. Even if she were to leave the virtual realm one day and return to reality, the chances of attaining a director¡¯s position in her lifetime seemed bleak.


    A sudden melancholy overcame her¡­


    Despite being full after the meal, the trio hadn¡¯t managed to finish all the dishes.


    With a full stomach, Yu Xiao prepared to draw talismans. Understanding that mental activities consumed substantial energy, she aimed to create talismans to aid digestion. Zhou Xiao Zhen, believing that sleep was the quickest path to digestion, chose to recline. Meanwhile, Zhao Lan, showing no inclination to waste time, delved into the forums of the Fourth Hospital.


    Each of them had a purpose, and the future seemed promising for all.


    Ever since Yu Xiao¡¯s fortune reached its peak, her skill in crafting talismans skyrocketed, rarely encountering failure. In less than thirty minutes, she had already made numerous ¡°Thunder Striking Ghost Repelling Talismans.¡± Despite the effectiveness of these talismans, she felt the need for a creative change.


    ¡°Smiley!¡± Zhao Lan, immersed in browsing the forum, suddenly exclaimed, ¡°You¡¯re trending!¡±


    Yu Xiao: ¡°?¡±


    Surprised, Zhou Xiao Zhen asked, ¡°What¡¯s hot?¡±


    ¡°Smiley Hot! She¡¯ve become famous!¡±¡± Zhao Lan said excitedly. ¡°There are numerous posts about you on the forum.¡±


    ¡°Ah?¡± Yu Xiao looked confused. ¡°Let me take a look.¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen: ¡°I want to see too!¡±


    The trio gathered on a single bed, heads close together, eagerly reading the forum.


    The first post Yu Xiao came across had the title: ¡¾Regarding the Newcomer from the Sixth Institute, I Have Something to Share!¡¿


    ¡¾Post 1 OP: I¡¯ve read several forum posts about the newcomer from the Sixth Institute, but let me emphasise that for those unfamiliar with St. Elizabeth, they can¡¯t understand the true horror of this situation.¡¿


    ¡¾Post 2: First, let me clarify that although I¡¯m not one of the top ten experts on the leaderboard, I managed to secure a spot in the top twenty through my own efforts and have some experience with therapy dungeons. Today, I¡¯m here to discuss St. Elizabeth, officially known as St. Elizabeth¡¯s Psychiatric Hospital. I entered this dungeon three months ago, and on that occasion, ten of us went in, but only three came out alive.¡¿


    ¡¾Post 3: The Top Players in the First Twenty Levels, No Doubt.¡¿


    ¡¾Post 4 =.=: Observing the Heavyweights!¡¿


    ¡¾Post 5 OP: Let me spill the beans about this level¡ªit¡¯s a complete mess! An absolute disaster, and I mean it. This level has the most chaos I¡¯ve ever experienced, especially thanks to that head doc, George. He¡¯s a top-tier jerk who messed with us right from the start. I still can¡¯t let that slide. If the rules allowed hitting the attending doctor, I¡¯d have taken him down for sure. He¡¯s just a scum, a piece of trash @#£¤£¥¡­¡­&*¡¿


    ¡¾Post 6 JadeIsCool: OP, you¡¯re getting too worked up.¡¿


    ¡¾Post 7^-^: Big dog, chill out.¡¿


    ¡¾¡­¡¿


    ¡¾Post 19 OP: Apologies for getting carried away earlier. Let¡¯s get back on track. When we entered the level, George announced a test. Each patient had to share why they ended up at St. Elizabeth¡¯s. The first patient he picked was a player who thought this was a real mental hospital, so they spun a story about going crazy.


    Turns out, that was dead wrong. The real deal is you end up in St. Elizabeth¡¯s when you¡¯re dead. We should¡¯ve faked a cause of death, not a crazy story. Four players in a row fell for it and immediately revealed that they were human¡­¡¿

 Chapter 23: Previous Experience

    ¡¾Post 22: Bloody hell, it¡¯s definitely a trap.¡¿


    ¡¾Post 21 FrostyIce: What happens next? What happens next?¡¿


    ¡¾Post 22 xxoo: OP, don¡¯t relax just yet.¡¿


    ¡¾Post 23 OP: When the real patient spoke up, we realised we were in trouble. However, the circumstances didn¡¯t allow for quick actions. Furthermore, the patients and medical staff at St. Elizabeth showed no reaction, so we decided to take advantage of the situation. Once all the patients had spoken, George left, and then we lined up for medication. Bloody hell, that was another major trap.


    Initially, we were aware that we should not randomly take medication, but the problem was that at St. Elizabeth, it was compulsory. If you refused, six nurses would force you. Despite being in a large group, we couldn¡¯t cause trouble immediately upon our arrival on the first day. We needed to find clues and complete the dungeon task; otherwise, we would be at a disadvantage when leaving the dungeon. Furthermore, based on past experiences, the first day was usually not too dangerous, so we all took the meds.¡¿


    ¡¾Post 24 ^o^: I have a bad feeling about this.¡¿


    ¡¾Post 25 jay: Camping.¡¿


    ¡¾Post 26 OP: That night, we all slept soundly. However, the next morning, we woke up to discover that four people were missing. And those four were the ones who revealed themselves as humans yesterday. They were experienced players, disappearing so quietly. We were all terrified. At the same time, we knew the meds were indeed an issue; after taking them, we would sleep through the night without a clue.


    We couldn¡¯t just sit around, waiting for our death, but fortunately, one of us had a tool to wake us up. I teamed up with another person to track down George. He shared the vital info about needing the dean¡¯s stamp on our discharge reports to get out of this mess. However, he conveniently forgot to mention where the elusive dean was hiding. No biggie. It was evident ¨C we had to find the dean ourselves.¡¿


    Reading this, Yu Xiao and her gang exchanged significant glances. They had all encountered the mentioned pitfalls at St. Elizabeth, but thankfully, managed to avoid them.


    ¡°Phew, that was close!¡± Zhou Xiao Zhe breathed a sigh of relief. ¡°It¡¯s fortunate, Smiley, that you¡¯re perceptive. If I had gone first, I¡¯d probably let everyone know who I am the moment I opened my mouth.¡±


    Zhao Lan mused, ¡°I get it.. If no one exposes the living, the operating room nurses adhere to the bed order. However, if someone is discovered, they are all taken away on the first night.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s a trap, alright,¡± Yu Xiao thought, concurring with the OP¡¯s criticism of George.


    Zhao Lan continued scrolling. Some replies acknowledged the trap, while others blamed the OP for being careless, criticised them for being timid, and questioned whether a top twenty contestant should display such skills on the leaderboard.


    ¡¾Post 42 OP: Now that we have a clear goal, we got moving. We used some strategies to outsmart the nurse guarding the ward door and began our search. After a thorough search, we found nothing resembling the director¡¯s office. The only option we hadn¡¯t explored was the operating room. Even though it seemed unlikely that the director¡¯s office would be there, with no other clues to follow, we decided to explore the operating room together that night.


    When the lights were off and everyone was supposed to be asleep, our makeshift alarms woke us up. Soon, we heard footsteps approaching, and three unfamiliar nurses sneaked in, capturing one of our team members. Naturally, we couldn¡¯t just stand by. All six of us immediately took action, using slick moves to neutralise the threat posed by the nurses. Only then did we uncover the mystery of our four missing friends from the previous night. At the same time, we realised that these three mysterious nurses were disappearing during the day in the operating room.


    With that information, we headed straight for the operating room. Along the way, we stumbled upon a painting displaying all the staff members of St. Elizabeth Hospital. This gave us a clue that a doctor might be present in the operating room. However, we never could have imagined that the doctor would be wielding an axe. Just as we pushed the door, one of our group members was cleaved in half. Seriously, what kind of nightmare instance are we experiencing¡­¡¿


    ¡¾Post 43 Jade_Flower: Whoa, this situation is genuinely spine-chilling. But if you use your critical thinking skills, you might be able to avoid some of these traps with caution.¡¿


    ¡¾Post 44 Hehe_Da: The person up there is talking without having experienced it firsthand. Just imagine arriving at St. Elizabeth¡¯s for the first time, completely unaware of the horror stories. Would you magically know where the traps are? I think the OP¡¯s actions weren¡¯t too bad; it¡¯s just that the place itself is a total minefield.¡¿


    ¡¾Post 45¡£¡£: If I were in the same boat, I might not fare any better than the OP, but at least I¡¯ve read their experience post. In case I find myself in this scenario, I¡¯ll have some know-how.¡¿


    ¡¾Post 46£¤_£¤: Don¡¯t forget, the dean of this instance has changed. Literally, replaced with a player.¡¿


    ¡¾Post 47 OP: Let me continue. Inside the operating room, there¡¯s a really scary ghost doctor. The moment we saw him, one of our group members dropped dead. The rest of us were terrified, but we managed to calm down and find a way to control the ghost doctor. Then, while we were in the operating room, we saw the four brothers who had disappeared the night before. Their skulls were cracked open and their brains were missing¡­ S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    We searched the entire operating room, but we couldn¡¯t find any way out. So far, we¡¯ve searched the whole hospital, but we still haven¡¯t found the dean¡¯s office. Meanwhile, we could hear horrifying sounds coming from outside the operating room, as if there were a lot of people running around. We had already been through two battles outside, and either got injured or exhausted, so we didn¡¯t dare to go out again.


    It wasn¡¯t until the terrifying sounds stopped that we finally had the courage to step outside. We started with ten people, but now we¡¯re only five. None of us could sleep that night, and by dawn, I decided to go find George again. However, the ghost doctor from the operating room had managed to escape and was now wandering around in broad daylight, wielding an axe and hunting us down. We¡¯ve never encountered a situation like this before; usually, the ghostly creatures only come out at night, so why are they active during the day?!


    Luckily, I had a one-time-use item that can make us invisible to the ghosts for a while, but the problem is, it only works for four people, and we¡¯re a group of five¡­¡¿


    ¡¾Post 48 OP: The four of us woke up in the middle of the night, only to find a bunch of patients running down the hallway. At the same time, we stumbled upon a secret passage that led to other floors of the hospital. We followed those patients and eventually ended up in the director¡¯s office on the first floor.


    Usually, the final boss is a real tough cookie, with weird demands or being extremely brutal. But we never expected the director of St. Elizabeth to be a lunatic, and a powerful one at that ¨C basically a ghost with his own domain. As you know, usually only attending doctors have their own domain. In his domain, we were trapped and unfortunately, we lost another team member¡­


    Thankfully, in a critical moment, we destroyed a special item that temporarily restrained the director. Then, on his desk, we found discharge reports and the director¡¯s seal. We stamped the reports and finally escaped from St. Elizabeth.


    That pretty much sums up my experiences at St. Elizabeth. I had actually planned to bury these memories forever. But today¡¯s news, you¡¯ve all heard it, I can¡¯t believe it, it¡¯s just too shocking¡­¡¿


    After the post, the entire thread fell silent for a while. Everyone behind their screens went quiet, creating a sombre atmosphere.


    Finally, someone couldn¡¯t resist asking a burning question.


    ¡¾The treatment at St. Elizabeth sounds like a living nightmare, more like a level from hell. Why send the new patients from the sixth institution?¡¿


    That¡¯s a valid question. Thinking back to their own newbie days, how comparatively easy was their first treatment? Although it frightened them at the time, looking back now, that treatment could be considered quite mild.


    ¡¾Is it allocated based on strength? The abilities of these newcomers are clearly extraordinary.¡¿


    ¡¾Nevertheless, isn¡¯t this difficulty level too extreme?¡¿


    ¡¾So how powerful is this newcomer? Not only did he complete the treatment, but he also acted as the director. Have you ever heard of a living person becoming a hospital director? And that director with a domain, was he defeated? How did it happen?¡¿


    ¡¾Yeah, when we were still newcomers, we were no different from fools. We didn¡¯t have any tools or talismans. How did this Dragon¡¯s Descendant manage to do it?¡¿


    (TN: reminder the phrase for ¡°deaf¡± and ¡°dragon¡± sound similar in Chinese so as they listening the news, they heard she is Dragon¡¯s Descendant not Deaf Descendant)


    ¡¾¡­¡¿


    The discussion in the post was heated, with some questioning life, others discussing how the Dragon¡¯s Descendant accomplished it, and speculating whether the Dragon¡¯s Descendant was cheating¡­


    Yu Xiao, Zhou Xiao Zhen, and Zhao Lan fell silent.


    After a minute, Yu Xiao asked with suspicion, ¡°Is it truly that difficult?¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen slightly opened her mouth, contemplating for a while, ¡°Based on what I read in the post¡­ it does seem quite challenging.¡±


    Zhao Lan, seriously, rubbed her chin and said, ¡°Actually, they didn¡¯t guess wrong. You really are cheating.¡±


    Yu Xiao, ¡°¡­¡±


    Yu Xiao hesitated before breaking the silence, ¡°But¡­ I always feel like we made it more complicated than necessary. Looking back, we didn¡¯t need to go all out.¡±


    ¡°Oh?¡± Zhao Lan asked with curiosity, ¡°Really? Got a better trick up your sleeve?¡±


    ¡°Actually, at that time, I had two options, but I was afraid of unexpected incidents. So, I chose for the three of us to split up,¡± Yu Xiao explained, ¡°We could have used talismans to deal with the three nurses. Then, the three of us could have pushed the overweight doctor downstairs. After that, Precious could use mahjong to control the doctor and the director. The remaining person could then stamp the document.¡±


    ¡°¡­,¡±


    ¡°Exactly!¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen exclaimed, slapping her thigh, ¡°Why didn¡¯t I think of that?¡±


    Zhao Lan paused, wrestling with the idea that maybe the pig doctor and the Dean didn¡¯t have to meet such an unfortunate end.


    ¡°But,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen continued, ¡°I still think the original plan was cooler. My Smiley became the director, and ghosts are coming to flatter us. We all got titles, earned points. Is there a better way than this?¡±


    It might toe the line of decency, but Zhou Xiao Zhen couldn¡¯t help feeling a sense of accomplishment. Before Yu Xiao could say anything modest, Zhao Lan interjected, ¡°Hold on, there¡¯s another post I found.¡±


    ¡¾Allow me to comment on the unfortunate experience of guy next door!¡¿


    ¡¾Post 1 OP: First off, gotta confess, I¡¯ve been inside the replica of St. Elizabeth¡¯s. But trust me, it ain¡¯t as tough as folks make it out to be. The time we went in, there were four of us, and we all came out alive¡­¡¿

 Chapter 24: The Flexible Moral Code of Adults

    ¡¾The outline was about the same, and when the four of us entered, George asked us to participate in a medical test. The test was about sharing why we came to St. Elizabeth. George selected one of us to speak first.


    The issue was, he chose the guy with some serious mental problems. Specifically, he had a tumour in his brain that affected his thoughts and personality. We all knew there could be some challenges, and just when we were getting anxious, he refused George. Yes, he flat-out declined.


    George didn¡¯t pressure him to be the first speaker but instead picked someone else. Inspired by his example, the rest of us also declined. So, the first speaker was a ghost, and from its words, we deduced the correct answers.


    Later, when we went to get our medication, there was a young girl ghost named Qiao Qiao who bribed the nurse for us. Even though we paid the price on the one hand, at least we didn¡¯t have to take the medication.


    Once the three nurses took the patient from the first bed away at night, we quietly left the ward. Initially, our plan was to explore the operating room, and at that very moment, we encountered a group of strange patients running in the hallway. They paid no attention to us and were even able to walk through walls.


    That¡¯s when we discovered another passage. So, we followed them all the way to the ground floor, where we found the office of the hospital director. Initially, we were unsure how to enter when the guy with the brain tumour boldly knocked on the door. I nearly wet myself.


    And then, with a creak, the door swung open, revealing the Dean. It was truly terrifying, emitting an otherworldly energy. We were all desperate, but suddenly, the patient with the brain tumour produced the small item he had won in the mall¡¯s lottery: a pair of roller skates with the words ¡°Give Me Roller Skates¡± written on them.


    He strapped the roller skates onto the Dean, and the Dean just glided down the corridor wearing them. Seizing the opportunity, we quietly entered the Dean¡¯s office, located our discharge reports on the desk, and made our exit.¡¿


    ¡¾¡­¡¿


    ¡¾???¡¿


    ¡¾Is that all?¡¿


    ¡¾Really?¡¿


    ¡¾Is this the same instance?¡¿


    ¡¾It should be, considering everything else is unchanged except the process.¡¿


    ¡¾It¡¯s simply absurd, isn¡¯t it? What could the person next door possibly be nursing such a deep grudge for?¡¿


    Not only were the people from the Fourth Hospital taken aback, but even Yu Xiao¡¯s trio couldn¡¯t help but be amazed after witnessing the scene.


    ¡°Smiley¡­¡± Zhao Lan¡¯s emotions were complex and difficult to describe. ¡°It seems like it¡¯s even easier for someone else to pass the level.¡±


    Yu Xiao¡¯s mouth twitched. ¡°Misty, honestly, was it really easy for us to pass the level?¡±


    ¡°Smiley, you have a brain tumour, and that person helping them clear the level probably has one too.¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen ventured a bold speculation. ¡°Could it be that having a brain tumour is a necessary condition for smoothly completing the instance?¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    Zhao Lan intervened, ¡°Precious, don¡¯t overthink it. I¡¯m sure there are others without tumours who have successfully passed through. It doesn¡¯t seem like a necessary condition.¡±


    Yu Xiao was at a loss for words, ¡°Are you guys really not jealous?¡±


    ¡°Huh? No, not at all,¡± Zhao Lan replied with a bashful smile, ¡°Having you in the ward makes it seem like whether we have tumours in our heads or not isn¡¯t that important anymore.¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen nodded eagerly, her eyes gleaming, ¡°Yeah, yeah!¡±


    Yu Xiao: ¡°¡­¡±


    After the OP shared his experience, the thread quickly changed direction. The initial fear and admiration for the Dragon¡¯s Descendant, who appeared god-like, shifted towards a discussion as to why two completely different styles emerged from the same situation.


    Unfortunately, the OP was even given the nickname ¡°Tragic Brother,¡± and everyone expressed their sympathy for him.


    ¡¾So, what¡¯s the reason behind these two completely different situations?¡¿


    ¡¾I believe it¡¯s luck.¡¿


    ¡¾I believe it¡¯s intelligence.¡¿


    ¡¾I believe¡­ perhaps we shouldn¡¯t rub salt on the wound of our unfortunate Tragic Brother¡¯s misfortune.¡¿


    ¡¾Is that the point? Isn¡¯t the point that the dean is a ghost with domain, and that the descendant of the dragon defeated him! Brother Dragon, please accept my bow (ÇëÊÜÎÒÒ»°Ý)!¡¿


    ¡¾I think it has little to do with intelligence, somewhat with luck, but the most important factor is personality. Our unfortunate brother and his crew have enough experience, but as a result, they are excessively cautious. They dare not question the attending physician¡¯s words and dare not resort to unorthodox methods. It can only be said¡­ it¡¯s fate.¡¿


    ¡¾I don¡¯t mind! Brother Dragon is still the boss!¡¿


    ¡¾Uh¡­ actually, I don¡¯t think their nickname was Dragon¡¯s Descendant. It sounded slightly different¡­¡¿


    ¡¾Brother Dragon is formidable!¡¿


    ¡¾I wonder if Brother Zhu Ge (Öî¸ð) has the strength to match Brother Dragon?¡¿


    (Öî¸ð: Two-character surname, ¡°Various Hemp Cloths¡±)


    ¡¾Brother Zhu Ge is strong, but compared to Brother Dragon¡­¡¿


    The following was merely a series of meaningless chatter and gossip. Yu Xiao raised her head, rubbing her weary eyes. She still needed to learn new talismans, but that had been postponed until now.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen sighed, ¡°I wonder how devastated that poor guy would be upon seeing this post?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s Tragic Bro,¡± Zhao Lan chimed in, twisting her neck. ¡°He¡¯s just so pitiful. I don¡¯t know what to say. But based on this post, Saint Elizabeth¡¯s dungeon seems like an easy dungeon for beginners. It turned into a difficult mode mainly because of people.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s a relief,¡± Yu Xiao softly sighed. ¡°If every dungeon is this challenging, I might hesitate to apply for therapy.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t be modest, Smiley,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen said, putting her arm around Yu Xiao¡¯s shoulder. ¡°You just witnessed it; you¡¯re now the hero of the entire Fourth Hospital, really saving face for our Sixth Hospital!¡±


    Yu Xiao: ¡°¡­¡±


    What¡¯s the point of saving face? With this energy, I might as well draw a few more talismans.


    Yu Xiao grabbed her phone, opened her collection of step-by-step talisman-drawing tutorials, and started searching for new talismans. That¡¯s when she stumbled upon a¡¾Healing Crisis Talisman¡¿(ÁÆΣ»¼·û). This talisman didn¡¯t fall under the category of offensive attack talismans; it was for healing. The original poster highly recommended it, claiming it was essential for home and travel.


    The Healing Crisis Talisman, as its name implies, served as a charm for treating illnesses and injuries. The OP also mentioned that this talisman did not possess the power to resurrect the dead; it was not that extraordinary. Severe injuries could not be completely healed either. However, for minor ailments and injuries, using this talisman would result in immediate recovery, and it also provided some relief for major injuries and illnesses.


    Yu Xiao¡¯s greatest desire in her entire life had been to live a few more years. With a talisman like this, she absolutely could not afford to miss it. So, she dedicated her time to diligently drawing talismans.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen and Zhao Lan did not disturb her at all. In fact, halfway through the process, Zhou Xiao Zhen even brought her a glass of water. It wasn¡¯t until dinner time that Yu Xiao¡¯s talisman-drawing endeavour was interrupted by a knock on the door.


    Since they had a filling breakfast, none of them had eaten lunch. By now, they were all hungry, and Precious took the initiative to stand up and said, ¡°I¡¯ll go get the food!¡±


    Zhao Lan gently advised, ¡°Eat a little less; eating too much at night can lead to weight gain.¡± S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Rest assured, am I the kind of person who lacks common sense?¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen walked towards the door and said, ¡°This is where the Deaf Descendant lives, right? The one with Saint Elizabeth as the Dean. Just be sensible and hand over the food without causing a ruckus.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen returned with a heavy bag, with an oddly shaped object on top. ¡°This bag is quite burdensome to carry. I wonder what¡¯s inside.¡±


    The bag appeared plain and white, but its shape hinted at something irregular. Zhao Lan took charge and untaid the bag.


    A delicious aroma filled the air as a towering stack of lunchboxes was revealed. At the top sat a pair of sunglasses, seemingly ordinary but with slightly worn lenses, giving off a budget-friendly vibe.


    ¡°Did the delivery person accidently lose them?¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen immediately questioned.


    Yu Xiao picked up the sunglasses. ¡°Do ghosts even wear sunglasses?¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen chimed in, ¡°Maybe it¡¯s just for a cool look?¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s not speculate.¡± Zhao Lan redirected their attention to the bag¡¯s contents. ¡°There¡¯s a large piece of paper here that you all ignored. It¡¯s quite disrespectful, I must say.¡±


    Picking up the paper, Zhao Lan read aloud, ¡°Name: Tie Niu (ÌúÅ£: ¡°Iron Bull¡±). Gender: Male. Previous roles: First hospital canteen, Second hospital canteen, Third hospital canteen, Fourth hospital canteen, Fifth¡­ He¡¯s worked at every hospital canteen. It seems like he¡¯s done with working in canteens and is searching for a new opportunity gig.¡±


    ¡°Loads of work experience,¡± Yu Xiao shook her head, ¡°In a perfect world, maybe his efforts would have persuaded me. But alas, here I was, treading on shaky ground. If I pulled strings to land him a gig, and George had ratted me out, I would have been in hot water. The last place I wanted to end up was in the medical dispute office.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s next?¡± Zhao Lan kept reading, ¡°X-ray specs, good for three peeks a day. When you put them on, you could peer through anything in your way.¡±


    ¡°¡­What the hell?¡± Yu Xiao was taken aback.


    Zhao Lan: ¡°Whoa!¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen: ¡°Is this for real?¡±


    Cutting to the chase, Yu Xiao felt a spark of interest. After all, who would complain about having too many props?


    ¡°This is flat-out bribery,¡± Zhao Lan shook her head, ¡°Even spirits aren¡¯t immune. Society is really going downhill.¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s hustling to switch gigs; how can I turn him down?¡± Yu Xiao sighed.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen was a bit puzzled, ¡°But, Smiley, you just said you can¡¯t abuse your authority. Aren¡¯t you worried George will rat you out?¡±


    Yu Xiao widened her eyes, ¡°Abuse of authority? I¡¯m just staying within my boundaries, lending a hand to a hardworking, straightforward, and upbeat¡­ ghost.¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen was genuinely shocked, ¡°So, is this what grown-up hypocrisy looks like?¡±


    ¡°Hey, you¡¯re off the mark, Precious,¡± Zhao Lan asserted, her tone dead serious, ¡°This falls under the flexible moral code of adults.¡±


    She then shifted her focus to Yu Xiao, a smirk playing on her lips, ¡°Smiley, have you decided how to silence George? Do you have a plan?¡±


    Yu Xiao grinned, oozing confidence as she pulled out her phone.


    And then George hung up.


    Undeterred, Yu Xiao redialed.


    George hung up again.


    Persistently, Yu Xiao dialled once more¡­


    On the fifth try, George begrudgingly picked up, ¡°Yes?¡±


    ¡°Why did you abandon me like that? Seriously, it hurt,¡± Yu Xiao whined, irritation coating her words.


    Silence stretched for a full three minutes. George¡¯s voice, cold and restrained, finally cut through, ¡°Do you want something?¡±


    ¡°Yep,¡± Yu Xiao replied, unfazed, ¡°I have a ghost here who wants to work at St. Elizabeth¡¯s. Can you arrange it?¡±


    ¡°Do you even know what you¡¯re messing with?¡± George¡¯s voice remained icy, ¡°Don¡¯t you want to live?¡±


    ¡°I believe,¡± Yu Xiao earnestly analysed, ¡°this thing isn¡¯t much of a problem, as long as you keep quiet, there won¡¯t be any issues.¡±


    George chuckled, ¡°What if I get the itch to talk?¡±


    ¡°Ah, in that case, we¡¯ll address it at the medical dispute office,¡± Yu Xiao retorted. ¡°We can sit down face-to-face about your overly enthusiastic efforts in assisting me to off the former dean.¡±

 Chapter 25: Mr Tieu was so happy that he lost his head.

    On the other end of the call, a lingering silence filled the space as George abruptly ended the conversation.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen and Zhao Lan stared at her, curiosity evident on their faces. ¡°Well, spill it,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen urged.


    ¡°He¡¯s on board,¡± Yu Xiao excitedly messaged George, sharing the information about the Tie Niu.


    ¡°Tsk,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen shook her head, a complex expression playing across her features. ¡°George, he¡¯s oddly endearing.¡±


    Zhao Lan couldn¡¯t quite understand the peculiar thoughts of these young people. ¡°You can¡¯t find endearment in a ghost, can you?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re missing the point, Misty,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen squinted, playfully raising her index finger. ¡°Sometimes, the more endearing someone is, the more you want to tease them, to ruffle their feathers, relish in their moments of distress.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡± Zhao Lan gaped, feeling as if a cog in her brain had gotten stuck, refusing to move.


    She turned to Yu Xiao. ¡°Are you on the same wavelength?¡±


    ¡°How could I?¡± Yu Xiao vehemently disagreed. ¡°Am I the kind of person with twisted principles?¡±


    (Èý¹Û: Refers to one¡¯s outlook on values, worldview, and life philosophy.)


    Zhou Xiao Zhen let out an exasperated pout, her lips twisted in frustration. ¡°Misty Misty, Smiley Sister, says my values are all twisted¡­¡±


    Yu Xiao carefully arranged the talismans she had previously sketched, creating a sizable stack. As she held the assortment of charms in her hand, she felt a surge of confidence and an added layer of security. The sudden influx of wealth practically begged for a bit of flaunting.


    ¡°A talisman in the mall sells for ten points. If I sell these charms for just five bucks each¡­¡± Yu Xiao contemplated a strategy to accumulate points without resorting to treatment instances. ¡°Wouldn¡¯t I be swimming in cash?¡±


    ¡°Yeah!¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s excitement resurfaced. ¡°Smiley, your success rate in drawing talismans is almost one hundred percent, and the cost is practically nothing. Sell twenty in a day, and that¡¯s 100 points. One hundred points! How many rounds of instances would we had to tackle to get so many points?¡±


    Both Zhou Xiao Zhen and Yu Xiao found themselves catching their breath.


    ¡°Ah¡­¡± Yu Xiao felt her cheeks flush as heat surged within her. ¡°I¡¯m going to live forever!¡±


    Hand in hand, Zhou Xiao Zhen and Yu Xiao savoured the moment. ¡°Smiley, you¡¯re truly going to live forever!¡±


    ¡°Haha¡­¡± Yu Xiao revelled in ecstasy. ¡°The three of us will be bound together eternally!¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen happily leaped around. ¡°Ah ah ah¡­ Mom, Dad, I don¡¯t have to die!¡±


    ¡°Cough!¡± Zhao Lan, who had been observing with a cold gaze, finally interrupted. ¡°While you all revel in joy, there are a few things I need to point out. Our mall is the Sixth Hospital Mall, exclusively for Sixth Hospital patients. In other words, Smiley, your customers are limited to Sixth Hospital patients.¡±


    ¡°So what?¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen was confused. ¡°There¡¯s still a decent number of patients at the Sixth Hospital, at least a couple of hundred.¡±


    ¡°Yes, that¡¯s true.¡± Zhao Lan sighed, rubbing her temples. ¡°But even if you sell a talisman for a mere five points each, they can¡¯t afford it. Think about it carefully. Since the establishment of the Sixth Hospital until now, how many people have completed the initial treatment? Even if they have finished the first treatment, how many points do they have? Titles and reward points are still out of reach for them.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    The sweet reverie shattered like glass, leaving Yu Xiao devoid of enthusiasm. She slumped against the bed, her spirits deflated, murmuring, ¡°Let¡¯s figure out when we can dive back into the instance.¡±


    The group decided to sign up for a treatment that night and venture into the treatment instance at dawn. Lingering in the hospital room seemed pointless.


    Having gone through numerous posts on the Fourth Hospital forum, Zhao Lan summarised her findings, saying, ¡°The experiences shared are helpful, but there aren¡¯t many contributors. Our chances of making it into these instances aren¡¯t great.¡±


    ¡°Wmmhy?¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen asked, munching on a spicy strip. ¡°Why aren¡¯t more people sharing their experiences? We¡¯re all patients, shouldn¡¯t we help each other out?¡±


    ¡°Usually, yes,¡± Zhao Lan explained. ¡°But here, patients don¡¯t cooperate; it¡¯s more of a cutthroat competition.¡±


    ¡°Muchh?¡±


    Zhao Lan opened the leaderboard, clarifying, ¡°The top ten receive functional cards as rewards. These cards can be exchanged for item cards, fitness boosts, luck charms ¨C things that actually matter and could save you. Imagine this: you go through an instance and then share your experience in a post. The readers not only breeze through the instance but also earn titles, gain more points, outrank you, and might even obtain functional cards. Would you willingly throw yourself into that pit?¡±


    ¡°Ah¡­¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen struggled to find words.


    Yu Xiao also fell into thoughtful silence. She wondered if she would be willing to take a similar path.


    People are naturally selfish, especially when their lives are at stake.


    ¡°Hey, why the gloomy faces?¡± Zhao Lan reassured with a grin, patting the shoulders of the two sisters. ¡°We¡¯re not at the stage of considering such things yet. Our forum rank hasn¡¯t even reached three; we can¡¯t even post there.¡±


    True enough.


    Yu Xiao smiled as well. ¡°Let¡¯s save the deep thoughts for tomorrow¡¯s instance. I wonder how it compares to Saint Elizabeth. Will the difficulty level increase?¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen defiantly clenched her fist, her confidence unwavering. ¡°Even if they turn it up, I¡¯m not scared. We¡¯re not the same as we used to be!¡±


    Zhao Lan clicked through the backstage of the forum, a smirk playing on her lips. ¡°Pretty brave, huh? Go ahead, sign up for the next round.¡±


    The familiar little skeleton flashed a grin, tossing a kiss with sharp-toothed charm.¡¾ Thank you for your positive cooperation, chirp~.¡¿


    ¡°It¡¯s about time. Let¡¯s get ready for dinner. Rest early tonight. Who knows if we¡¯ll be able to sleep tomorrow night?¡± Zhao Lan¡¯s voice dripped with seasoned wisdom.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen nodded in agreement. ¡°Yeah.¡±


    Yu Xiao scratched her head, puzzled. ¡°Why won¡¯t we be able to sleep?¡±


    ¡°¡­¡± Zhao Lan and Zhou Xiao Zhen exchanged glances, both remembering Yu Xiao¡¯s extraordinary talent for dozing off anytime, anywhere.


    *


    *


    Zhou Xiao Zhen leaned against the door, eagerly awaiting the arrival of the delivery person. Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Yu Xiao suddenly remembered and pulled out the sunglasses the delivery person had sweet-talked her into taking.


    Zhao Lan eyed them with a spark of excitement. ¡°Curious to see what¡¯s beyond those walls?¡±


    ¡°Yeah.¡± Yu Xiao nodded. Since getting entangled in this damn game, Yu Xiao hadn¡¯t caught a glimpse of what lay outside. She wondered if it remained unchanged or had completely transformed, like the view beyond the window.


    The ward lights burned brightly, and Yu Xiao, wearing the sunglasses, observed everything draped in a grey haze.


    She waited, biding her time for the delivery person to arrive so she could catch a glimpse.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen by the door announced, ¡°They¡¯re here. I heard a sound.¡±


    Yu Xiao briefly closed her eyes, then opened them, witnessing a complete transformation of the scene before her.


    On the first day, she and Zhou Xiao Zhen had swung the ward door wide open, greeted by impenetrable darkness. But this time, it was different. She saw.


    Although a faint layer of black mist still hung in the air, it didn¡¯t hinder Yu Xiao¡¯s vision. Intrigued, she approached the door and revealed a corridor that exuded decay ¨C peeling paint on dilapidated walls exposing a tangle of wires.


    The architectural remnants hinted at a hospital, although not the original one she had entered. As Yu Xiao neared the door, a peculiar sight unfolded before her.


    To the left of the door, there was a large pile of something moving.


    Upon closer inspection, she saw that it was several entwined humanoids in unimaginable positions, writhing.


    Two individuals with long hair, who seemed to have just been in a fight, sniffled as they rolled a cart away. The only figure left, a skeleton chef, got up, put on a chef¡¯s hat, adjusted his attire, and then wheeled a cart full of food.


    Approaching the door, the skeleton politely knocked and asked in a magnetic voice, ¡°Hungry?¡±


    Yu Xiao blinked in surprise.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen asked, ¡°Do you know who lives in our ward?¡±


    The skeleton nodded respectfully, ¡°Yes, Her Excellency, the great Dean of Elizabeth, resides here.¡±


    ¡°Hmph.¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen arrogantly raised her eyebrows and declared, ¡°Good. Tonight, we¡¯d like to have¡­¡±


    As she listed the dishes, the skeleton bent down and retrieved meals from the lower layer of the cart. Yu Xiao noticed that the bottom held regular food, while unmistakably, a human thigh lay on top.


    Essentially, there were no impostors ¨C each delivery person presented two meal options, allowing for a seamless switch between real and fake.


    With the food packed, the skeleton knocked again. Zhou Xiao Zhen opened the door, and Yu Xiao said, ¡°Tell Tie Niu that he can prepare to switch jobs.¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen was puzzled. ¡°Is the one outside really Tie Niu? Why is it always him? Does the Sixth Hospital only have one delivery person?¡±


    Yu Xiao thought that there were likely others, but Tie Niu scared them off.


    Tie Niu, with his eerie white bones on display, handed over the bag.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen took it and added, ¡°Tie Niu, ah, Her Excellency the Dean said that you can prepare to change jobs.¡±


    ¡°Dong!¡±


    ¡°Gulu gulu¡­¡±


    ¡°?¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen raised an eyebrow. ¡°What¡¯s that sound?¡±


    Yu Xiao¡¯s mouth twitched. ¡°Grab the food and shut the damn door. Brother Tie Niu is so excited his head is about to fall off.¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen: ¡°¡­¡± Closed the door.


    Tie Niu hurriedly knelt on the ground to pick up his head, tremblingly placed the skull on his spine, then pushed the dining cart, swaying happily, and disappeared at the end of the corridor.


    Zhao Lan curiously asked, ¡°What does it look like outside?¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen inquired, ¡°What does Tie Niu look like?¡±


    ¡°Outside is very dilapidated, like a corridor in an abandoned hospital, with black mist pervading. Nothing else.¡± Yu Xiao looked at Zhou Xiao Zhen again. ¡°Tie Niu is very skinny, bone-thin from head to toe.¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen: ¡°¡­¡±


    Armed with last night¡¯s knowledge, the trio took it easy this night. They snoozed soundly and woke up the next morning feeling refreshed.


    Zhao Lan splashed her face, perched on the bed in a patient¡¯s robe, and took a sip of water.


    Last time, before entering the instance, she deliberately changed into an outing outfit, but after entering the instance, it automatically changed into a striped patient gown. So this time, she didn¡¯t bother.


    Yu Xiao brewed a cup of milk, and Zhou Xiao Zhen munched on spicy strips. The three awaited the appointed hour.


    ¡°Ding dong!¡±


    Sharp at eight o¡¯clock.


    Yu Xiao disappeared into the shadows, and when her eyes reopened, she stood in the wilderness.


    Can¡¯t exactly call it wilderness, because not far ahead, squat houses dotted the landscape. Yu Xiao glanced at herself ¨C dressed in a blue cloth gown from the 50s or 60s, wearing dusty shoes on a dirt road.


    Zhao Lan and Zhou Xiao Zhen stood beside her, dressed similarly. Alongside them, six others, four guys, and two girls.


    All youngsters, dressed almost the same, scanning the surroundings just like them.

 Chapter 26: Do you have a wife?

    Yu Xiao noticed two guys standing together, exuding youthful energy and looking quite young. They stood out from the rest, towering at least 185 centimetres in height. In addition to their height, their handsome appearances made them hard to miss.


    Behind her, Zhou Xiao Zhen couldn¡¯t contain her desire, audibly gasping.


    The two handsome guys were dressed in unremarkable grey attire, scanning their surroundings before making eye contact with Yu Xiao¡¯s group. A slightly older and more mature-looking guy walked over, confidently extending his hand. ¡°Hello, I¡¯m Lu Xun (½Ѱ ), from the Fifth Hospital.¡±


    (½Ѱ: ¡°Land Seeker¡± or ¡°One Who Searches on Solid Ground¡±)


    He pulled the silent guy next to him, saying, ¡°This is Luo Jin (Âæèª), he¡¯s in the same ward as me.¡±


    (Âæèª: ¡°Camel Brilliancy¡±; ¡°Precious Gem¡± or ¡°Beautiful and Bright,¡±)


    Looking at Lu Xun¡¯s fair and slender hand, Yu Xiao shook it with a smile. ¡°Hello, we¡¯re from the Fourth Hospital. I¡¯m Zhou Xiao.¡±


    As Yu Xiao continued the introductions, Zhou Xiao Zhen and Zhao Lan simultaneously lowered their heads. Zhou Xiao Zhen interjected, clasping Lu Xun¡¯s hand. ¡°I¡¯m Zhou Xiao Zhen, and the person behind me is Yu Lan. Nice to meet you.¡±


    (TN: They switched with each others surnames)


    Lu Xun smiled warmly, his sunny disposition evident as dimples appeared on his face.


    ¡°Nice to meet you.¡± After the pleasantries, Lu Xun withdrew his hand and turned to greet the other four people.


    The other four individuals were also from the Fifth Hospital. The girl with short hair was named Zuo Qing (×óÇä), and the one with long hair was Sun Yun (ËïÔÆ). The guy who seemed heavyset was Wang Yang (ÍõÑô), while the skinny one was Zhang Feng (ÕÅ·å).


    (×óÇä: ¡°Left Noble¡± or ¡°Distinctive Lord.¡±


    ËïÔÆ: ¡°Grandchild of the Cloud¡± or ¡°Descendant of the Cloud,¡±


    ÍõÑô: ¡°Kingly Sun¡± or ¡°Bright Positive Energy¡±


    ÕÅ·å: ¡°Rising Peak¡± or ¡°Elevated Summit¡±)


    Zuo Qing and Sun Yun shared a ward, while Wang Yang and Zhang Feng were roommates. Upon learning that Lu Xun and Luo Jin were also from the Fifth Hospital, they showed obvious warmth.


    Nine people stood together, and Lu Xun, naturally friendly, quickly gained the initial trust of most of them.


    At that moment, someone approached from the end of the dirt road leading to the village. It was a young man wearing a worn-out white Zhongshan suit, which, despite its age, made him look dignified and trim. He had medium-length hair that perfectly complemented his refined and handsome face.


    (ÖÐɽװ: A Zhongshan suit is a type of traditional Chinese clothing that consists of a high-collared jacket with four pockets and five buttons, and matching trousers. It is also known as the Mao suit, because it was often worn by the Chinese Communist leader Mao Zedong)


    ¡°Hello,¡± he greeted everyone with a pleasant smile and a melodious voice, emanating an air of refinement. ¡°I¡¯m your attending doctor, Dr. Gu Shu.¡±


    (¹ÅÊ÷: Ancient Tree)


    Yu Xiao heard Zhou Xiao Zhen gasp again, barely audible.


    Gu Shu and George couldn¡¯t be more different in style. While George didn¡¯t resemble a typical living person, Gu Shu, walking down the street, would easily blend in with the crowd.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go, everyone. Follow me into the village,¡± Gu Shu urged, his words carrying the weight of a reluctant leader.


    The nine figures fell in line, quietly following Gu Shu through the muted landscape. The village seemed to reflect the sombre atmosphere, with its worn-out thatched mud huts and occasional brick and tile structures.


    As they walked along the dusty pathways, a few locals wandered by, their expressions filled with sorrow and occasional coughs breaking the silence.


    When they reached the heart of the village, Gu Shu abruptly stopped and stood in solemn stillness for a moment. Then, turning to the others, he broke the silence with a soft question, ¡°Now that we¡¯re in the village, what are your impressions?¡± S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Zuo Qing, with her short hair giving her a certain edge, crossed her arms and replied, ¡°Poor, old, and falling apart.¡±


    A chuckle escaped Gu Shu, and he glanced at the rest of the group.


    Lu Xun, after a moment of contemplation, observed, ¡°The locals seem to be unwell.¡±


    ¡°Correct,¡± chuckled Gu Shu. ¡°This village is plagued, and the villagers are infected. Anyone who enters will contract the plague and die within seven days.¡±


    A heavy silence descended, and the weight of this revelation was evident on everyone¡¯s faces.


    Yu Xiao couldn¡¯t help but think, Are all these darn doctors just a bunch of swindlers? When they entered the village and they caught the plague? Gu Shu never mentioned a word about it before they arrived. These so-called ghost doctors probably used to work on construction sites; that¡¯s why they¡¯re so skilled at digging pits (ÍÚ¿Ó: a slang expression often used on the internet in Chinese to refer to deceitful or misleading behaviour, particularly in the sense of setting traps or playing tricks on others.).


    Breaking the silence, Gu Shu sighed, ¡°I¡¯ve been on a desperate search for a cure, but the source of this plague remains elusive. Without finding it, there¡¯s no way to create an antidote. Outsiders, do any of you think you can lend a hand?¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    Enough with the nonsense. To get straight to the point, in order to advance to the next level, they have seven days to find the origin of the plague.


    After Gu Shu finished speaking, he pointed to a simple mud-brick shack and dropped the bomb, saying, ¡°That¡¯s where you¡¯ll be staying. I won¡¯t be babysitting you, so handle it yourselves.¡±


    Without wasting any time, he turned and walked away. Yu Xiao shouted after him, ¡°Dr. Gu Shu!¡±


    Gu Shu turned back and asked, ¡°Yes?¡±


    ¡°Where can we reach you if we need help?¡± Yu Xiao asked with a serious expression. ¡°We¡¯re new here. Can we contact you if we encounter any problems?¡±


    Gu Shu grinned and replied, ¡°Of course. If it¡¯s within my abilities, I¡¯ll help you out.¡±


    He pointed to a brick-and-tile house and said, ¡°That¡¯s where I live.¡±


    Gu Shu gave them the information and headed for home. Yu Xiao stopped him again, saying, ¡°Dr. Gu Shu!¡±


    Gu Shu turned around, his grin less noticeable. ¡°Is there something else?¡±


    ¡°That woman.¡± Yu Xiao pointed at a middle-aged woman wearing a green and red floral outfit. ¡°Why is she so happy?¡±


    Gu Shu¡¯s lips twitched slightly. He looked at the scene and explained, ¡°Oh, she¡¯s the wife of the village head. Her son is getting married, so she¡¯s overjoyed.¡±


    ¡°Got it.¡± Yu Xiao thanked him sincerely, adding, ¡°Thanks, Dr. Gu Shu.¡±


    ¡°No need for excessive gratitude.¡± Gu Shu turned around once more and headed home.


    Then that familiar voice followed him, sighing, ¡°Dr. Gu Shu is quite charming, isn¡¯t he?¡±


    Gu Shu¡¯s gaze showed a hint of mockery.


    And then, another voice chimed in, ¡°¡±And easy on the eyes, with a pinch of mystery.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    Watching the two excited faces, Lu Xun chuckled and commented, ¡°Most people treat the attending doctor with fear and hostility. It¡¯s the first time I¡¯ve heard someone call the big shot handsome.¡±


    ¡°Tch.¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen waved her hand and scoffed, ¡°You guys from the Fifth Hospital are inexperienced. The veterans in our Fourth Hospital know that there¡¯s nothing to fear from the attending doctor.¡±


    ¡°Really?¡± Lu Xun¡¯s eyes widened in surprise. ¡°Senior, you¡¯re quite impressive!¡±


    ¡°Hahaha¡­¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s face lit up with joy. ¡°Just a small effort, just a small effort (СÒâ˼:A modest way of saying ¡°it¡¯s nothing¡±).¡±


    Sun Yun, the girl with long hair, seemed irritated by Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s bragging and snapped, ¡°Are you coming or not? Do we have to stand here and chat forever?¡±


    The group of nine headed towards the modest adobe house that served as their temporary residence. As they approached the door, a woman with dark skin, holding a broom and a bucket, appeared from inside. Noticing them, she remarked, ¡°The village doctor already mentioned that outsiders were expected today, and here you are.¡±


    Stepping aside, she added, ¡°I¡¯ve tidied up inside. You can go in.¡±


    With that, she walked away.


    The structure seemed rickety, but Yu Xiao and the others went inside. The interior had indeed been scrubbed clean, with water glistening on the floor. The adobe house consisted of a kitchen, a restroom, and a spacious room with nine beds.


    Having endured the mixed-gender ward with thirteen occupants at Saint Elizabeth, Yu Xiao and her companions were unfazed. The others also chose their beds without much fuss.


    Lu Xun pointed towards the kitchen. ¡°I see fresh veggies in there. It looks like we¡¯ll be cooking dinner ourselves this time.¡±


    Yu Xiao promptly raised her hand. ¡°I can¡¯t cook.¡±


    ¡°Me neither,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen admitted.


    Zhao Lan chimed in, ¡°Count me out as well.¡±


    Zhang Feng, the skinny guy, scowled. ¡°Women can¡¯t cook, so what exactly are you guys good for?¡±


    ¡°Hey, Old Zhang,¡± Fatso Wang Yang intervened with an awkward grin, trying to diffuse the tension. ¡°Not everyone can cook. I can handle it. It¡¯s getting dark, so I¡¯ll prepare dinner for everyone tonight.¡±


    No one objected to Wang Yang taking charge of the cooking duties.


    Zhang Feng¡¯s face darkened. ¡°I¡¯m going out for a walk.¡±


    Sun Yun and Zuo Qing intertwined their fingers. ¡°We¡¯re gonna check things out too.¡±


    In an instant, the trio disappeared. Lu Xun turned to Yu Xiao and the others. ¡°Luo Jin and I are heading out for a look-see. Anyone else tagging along?¡±


    Yu Xiao looked at him expectantly. ¡°Are you inviting me to join you?¡±


    ¡°Uh.¡± Lu Xun, who is usually eloquent, found himself speechless.


    Luo Jin, who had not said a word, chuckled and walked out alone.


    Lu Xun scratched his nose awkwardly, smiling. ¡°Well, it¡¯s not out of the question. Let¡¯s go together.¡±


    ¡°Ah, maybe next time.¡± Yu Xiao sighed softly. ¡°I have plans to find Doctor Gu Shu. Going with others isn¡¯t really my style.¡±


    This surprised Lu Xun. ¡°May I ask why you¡¯re looking for Doctor Gu Shu?¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s handsome, that refined type that I adore. I want to take a good look at him,¡± Yu Xiao said, giving him a meaningful glance before walking out on her own.


    Left behind, Lu Xun struggled to keep his composure. Seeking confirmation from Zhao Lan and Zhou Xiao Zhen, he asked, ¡°Is she teasing me?¡±


    ¡°Nope.¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen remained unruffled. ¡°That¡¯s just Smiley for you; she enjoys admiring beautiful bodies.¡±


    Lu Xun: ¡°¡­¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen added, ¡°Even if they aren¡¯t alive.¡±


    Lu Xun: ¡°¡­¡±


    Yu Xiao didn¡¯t fib; she genuinely intended to visit Doctor Gu Shu. En route to Gu Shu¡¯s abode, Yu Xiao passed an old, crumbling house. By the low courtyard, she caught the sound of weeping¡ªtwo women embracing and sobbing.


    Beside her was someone equally curious. Approaching, she asked, ¡°Hey, why the tears?¡±


    The person she asked, a middle-aged man with an indifferent expression and dark circles under his eyes, replied coldly, ¡°The village head¡¯s son is marrying their daughter.¡±


    Remembering the lively woman she had seen entering the village, Yu Xiao realised that it was the daughter of this family who was getting married. Curious, she asked, ¡°Then why is she crying? Doesn¡¯t she like the village head¡¯s son?¡±


    ¡°What is there to like?¡± The man responded without emotion. ¡°The village head¡¯s son is terminally ill and on the verge of death. They¡¯re getting married to bring some happiness. Who would willingly marry and become a widow so young?¡±


    *


    *


    Gu Shu¡¯s courtyard had a calm atmosphere, with a tall ancient tree casting a peaceful shade.


    Yu Xiao stood beneath the tree and knocked on the door. It swung open, revealing a somewhat surprised Gu Shu. ¡°It¡¯s you. What¡¯s the matter?¡±


    ¡°Can I come in?¡± Yu Xiao asked.


    ¡°Of course.¡± Gu Shu let her in, and the interior was tidy and organised. Sitting at a wooden table, Gu Shu poured tea. ¡°What brings you here?¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s something I¡¯m curious about.¡± Yu Xiao hesitated for a moment. ¡°But I¡¯ve decided to come and ask you.¡±


    Gu Shu smiled. ¡°Go ahead, ask.¡±


    Yu Xiao: ¡°Do you have a wife?¡±

 Chapter 27: The ghost saw Yu Xiao and turned to run

    Dr Gu Shu felt like he had split personalities, one calmly sitting behind his desk, the other scratching his head in confusion and drawing question marks.


    ¡®Is this some kind of prank?¡¯ He wondered.


    As a chief physician, he had seen and dealt with all kinds of patients, but this one was a new breed of weird. He didn¡¯t know how to handle her.


    Yu Xiao waited for his reaction with a hopeful smile. Dr Gu Shu snapped out of his trance and asked, ¡°Why does it matter?¡±


    ¡°It matters a lot,¡± Yu Xiao said earnestly. ¡°It¡¯s very important to me. Why? Do you have a problem with me asking?¡±


    Dr Gu Shu paused, unsure of what to say. ¡°No.¡±


    Yu Xiao clapped her hands and cheered, ¡°Awesome!¡±


    Dr Gu Shu was baffled. What was so awesome about this? Why did she care if he was married or not? He wished he could keep his mouth shut, but curiosity got the better of him.


    ¡°What¡¯s the point?¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡± Yu Xiao pretended to be surprised. ¡°Just being friendly, Dr Gu Shu. When I go to someone¡¯s house, I like to know a little bit about them. Is that wrong?¡±


    *


    *


    Yu Xiao didn¡¯t really want to leave Gu Shu¡¯s house, but he practically shoved her out the door with a sour look on his face. She glanced at the dark clouds above and felt a pang of nostalgia for George. George was a decent guy; he never throw anyone out¡­


    She had been too flustered to get Gu Shu¡¯s number, but she figured she could try again later.


    Yu Xiao had barely taken a few steps when Zhou Xiao Zhen ran up to her.


    ¡°Smiley!¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen shouted. ¡°Come on, let¡¯s get some grub!¡±


    As they walked, Zhou Xiao Zhen filled her in on what had happened. ¡°The chubby guy can cook like a pro. I snuck a bite of his food when he wasn¡¯t looking, and it was awesome. The one who¡¯s a jerk and looks like a scarecrow, what¡¯s his name¡­ Whatever, the skinny one, he came back and joined the fat one. The two chicks are back too, they said they found something and they want everyone to see it.¡±


    Yu Xiao asked, ¡°And the two hot guys?¡±


    ¡°Ha, I knew you had an eye for them, Smiley!¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen gushed. ¡°As soon as I saw them, I was like, ¡®wow.¡¯ Which one do you like better? Lu Xun is nice and all, but I dig the mysterious type. Luo Jin is so cool, he¡¯s totally my type¡­¡±


    Yu Xiao kept quiet, listening to her friend¡¯s rambling. She wanted to tell her about her interaction with the attending doctor, but Precious was too hyped up to listen. She decided to wait for a better opportunity.


    They ran into Lu Xun and Luo Jin at the main door to their home.


    Lu Xun saw Yu Xiao who tried to smile, but it came out more like a grimace. He was always the first to break the ice, even when the ice was made of corpses. ¡°Hey, you¡¯re back. Did you get anything useful from Gu Shu?¡±


    Yu Xiao told him the truth. ¡°Oh, Gu Shu said he¡¯s not married.¡±


    Lu Xun¡¯s smile turned into a grimace. ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°Did you guys find anything?¡±


    ¡°We found out that the villagers are having some kind of secret meeting,¡± Lu Xun said, trying to act normal. ¡°But there¡¯s a guard at the door, and we couldn¡¯t hear anything.¡±


    They walked into the kitchen, where the smell of food made their mouths water. Everyone else was sitting at the table, except for them.


    Zhao Lan waved at them. ¡°Hungry? Come sit with me.¡±


    The fat guy could cook, alright. The table was loaded with shiny veggies and juicy meat. Wang Yang beamed at them. ¡°Don¡¯t be shy, dig in. Try my food.¡±


    Zhang Feng looked at them all, snorted, and said, ¡°We¡¯re in the same instance, right? So let¡¯s cut the crap and share what we know. I¡¯ll start. I went to the ancestral hall and found a bunch of dead bodies. They all died from some disease. I also found a list of their names and dates of death. I know who was the first one to get sick.¡± He said it casually, but there was a smug glint in his eyes. He helped himself to a slice of meat.


    ¡°That¡¯s a big deal,¡± Lu Xun said. He told them about the village meeting. ¡°I think this village has a dark secret. They¡¯re up to something, but we don¡¯t know what.¡±


    He finished talking, and Zuo Qing and Sun Yun looked at each other. Then Zuo Qing gave a fake smile. ¡°We were looking for the first sick person too. But since Mr. Zhang Feng already did that, let¡¯s move on.¡±


    They all turned to Yu Xiao, who hadn¡¯t said anything yet.


    She felt their eyes on her and cleared her throat. ¡°The village chief¡¯s son is sick too. He¡¯s getting married to change his luck.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    Zhang Feng frowned. ¡°That¡¯s it? You were supposed to talk to Gu Shu. Did he tell you nothing?¡±


    Yu Xiao shrugged. ¡°He told me something, but it¡¯s not important for our mission.¡±


    Zhang Feng sneered. ¡°How do you know what¡¯s important and what¡¯s not? We¡¯ve all shared what we found. Why are you hiding something? Are you trying to ditch us?¡±


    ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll tell you,¡± Yu Xiao said. ¡°I asked Gu Shu if he had a wife, and he said no¡­¡± S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°¡­¡±


    A speechless silence fell over them, and Zhang Feng was getting annoyed. ¡°Are you kidding me?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Yu Xiao said, feeling hurt. ¡°I¡¯m telling the truth; I swear.¡±


    This made them even more confused. Zuo Qing looked shocked. ¡°Why would you ask Gu Shu that?¡±


    Yu Xiao, feeling a bit silly, looked down. ¡°Just a personal interest.¡±


    Yu Xiao didn¡¯t care, but Zhou Xiao Zhen had a temper, especially with Zhang Feng. His voice was always rude, mocking and cold. She rolled her eyes and said, sarcastically, ¡°What¡¯s the problem? Can¡¯t someone have a hobby? Some people, even though they¡¯re ugly, act like they¡¯re better than everyone. Who are you to question us? If you¡¯re so awesome, why don¡¯t you just finish the task by yourself?¡±


    ¡°You¡­¡± Zhang Feng¡¯s face turned red with rage, his sallow skin now flushed. ¡°Who are you talking about?¡±


    Wang Yang quickly stepped in, holding him back. ¡°Calm down, calm down.¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen tilted her chin up. ¡°I said who, and anyone with a brain can tell.¡±


    This pushed Zhang Feng over the edge, glaring at Zhou Xiao Zhen. If Wang Yang wasn¡¯t holding him back, he would have attacked her.


    Wang Yang was nervous, asking Zhao Lan and Yu Xiao, ¡°Can you two help me out here?¡±


    Yu Xiao smiled and said, ¡°Sorry, my kid here is young. She¡¯s blunt. Just let it go; don¡¯t sink to her level.¡±


    When he heard this, Wang Yang almost let go, thinking, Lady, if you¡¯re not going to stop her, at least don¡¯t make it worse.


    Zhao Lan couldn¡¯t stand the drama, so she got up, walked to the kitchen, and grabbed the knife they used to cut vegetables. She held the knife with both hands, and with a sudden twist, she broke it in half.


    Everyone was speechless, staring at her in disbelief.


    Zhao Lan held one half of the knife in her hand, and said casually, ¡°Are you done fighting? Can we sit down and eat like civilised people now?¡±


    *


    *


    After that, everyone settled down, ate a quiet dinner, washed the dishes together, and went to bed peacefully.


    They were all teammates again.


    Except for Yu Xiao and her two friends, the others were not newbies. They were not scared of Zhao Lan because she was strong, but because they knew, to do what she did, Zhao Lan must have used some enhancement cards, and not just one.


    There were only two ways to get a physical fitness card: either fork over 50 points at the mall or make it to the top ten of the points leaderboard, which gave out a card after every mission.


    Either way, it was obvious that Zhao Lan was not someone to mess with. In a world where most people barely scraped by with 3 points per mission, not many could afford to shell out 100 points for a fitness card. And if she was one of the leaderboard elites, that made things even worse¡­


    Ever since then, Zhang Feng had gone silent, walking around like a ghost.


    On the other hand, Zhou Xiao Zhen was in a good mood, chatting with Yu Xiao about Gu Shu, asking if she had scored his number.


    Yu Xiao wished she had, but she didn¡¯t say much. She rolled over in bed and fell asleep in a flash.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen watched Yu Xiao, feeling jealous. She had seen Smiley¡¯s speed before, but she still envied her.


    Yu Xiao usually slept like a log, nothing could wake her up.


    But tonight was different. She tossed and turned, half-dreaming, half-awake, as if she heard a familiar sound. That sound was creepy, like the night-time teeth grinding of her old roommate.


    She opened her eyes without warning. The room was dark, only a little moonlight came through the window.


    Was she dreaming?


    The next second, she felt two hands grab her right arm. She turned her head and saw a dark shape squatting by the bed, almost eye to eye with her. In the dark, she could only see a vague outline, but the big mouth stood out under the moonlight.


    Suddenly, the large mouth bit down, and Yu Xiao let out a painful cry.


    She reached into her pocket and pulled out a Thunder Strike Talisman. The shadow saw it, let go of Yu Xiao¡¯s arm, and ran for it.


    Yu Xiao jumped out of bed, yelling, ¡°There¡¯s a ghost!!!¡±


    ¡°Get up, get up!!!¡±


    These two yells, while not too loud, were full of panic. But the other eight people in the room seemed to be deaf, they didn¡¯t move.


    Yu Xiao couldn¡¯t wait, she ran after the intruder herself.


    In the quiet night of the village, the moon was bright in the sky. On the dirt road, a girl, barefoot, chased a dark shape, racing through the village.


    She caught up with it, and the shadow had to duck into a low building. Yu Xiao followed it without thinking. There, she saw the shadow standing still. Why didn¡¯t it run? Because this was the outhouse.


    With no way out, the shadow decided to fight. Yu Xiao¡¯s arm hurt, and she angrily waved her left hand, spreading out a dozen talismans like a fan.


    The shadow: ¡°¡­¡±


    It turned around and jumped into the hole with a splash.

 Chapter 28: Gu Shu, will you marry me?

    ¡°¡­¡±


    Yu Xiao couldn¡¯t believe what she had just done. Scared a ghost? Yet, she never expected this damn ghost to be so resilient. Well, not that she planned to kill the ghost, just catch it and make it talk. Since the villagers were so tight-lipped about the mysterious deaths, she had no choice. She didn¡¯t expect the ghost to be such a tough cookie, though.


    Barely had she thrown a talisman into the cesspool when she saw a flash of lightning and ran for her life. The outhouse exploded behind her, sending splinters flying.


    Yu Xiao¡¯s head was spinning, and she opened her eyes with a jolt.


    She blinked in the dark, feeling the moonlight on her face. She reached for something, anything, to calm her down. She grabbed a bunch of sheets and a quilt.


    She was in her bed. Had it all been a nightmare?


    As Yu Xiao tried to sit up, a sharp pain in her arm stopped her. She rolled up her sleeve and squinted. There was a bite mark on her skin. It wasn¡¯t a dream. She had met a ghost.


    Yu Xiao jumped out of bed, ready to wake up the others. But then she smelled something weird. She sniffed and bent down, finding a half-burned incense under her bed.


    She held the incense and checked the other beds. Hers was the only one with incense. She looked around. The others were sleeping soundly. Was the incense the reason she met the ghost? Yu Xiao was pissed. If she hadn¡¯t had her talisman, the ghost would have eaten her alive.


    Fuming, Yu Xiao thought that no ghost would bother with such a ritual to eat someone. The one burning incense under her bed must be someone from the village. She decided not to call for help, putting on her shoes and leaving alone.


    Outside was similar to before. Following her memory, Yu Xiao found the outhouse again. It was now in ruins, and strangely, there was no noise despite the expected commotion from its destruction.


    Setting aside her confusion, she walked towards the ancestral hall. Zhang Feng mentioned seeing the list of deaths in the hall, and she wanted to take a look.


    The ancestral hall was one of the village¡¯s brick houses. As Yu Xiao prepared to enter, she heard voices inside. Quickly hiding in a dark corner, she put on sunglasses she pulled out of her pocket.


    Through the wall, she saw the bright lights inside the hall. Next to some unpainted coffins were several men with tools.


    While wondering if they were working overtime because too many villagers had died too quickly, she overheard their conversation.


    ¡°The village chief said sacrificing an outsider can appease the wrath of the spirits. Will this really work?¡±


    ¡°Sigh, how should I know if it¡¯ll work or not? But sacrificing an outsider is better than sacrificing one of us.¡±


    ¡°Agreed.¡±


    ¡°If this doesn¡¯t work, we¡¯re all screwed. You¡¯ve seen how many people in this village have died, right?¡±


    They were interrupted by the arrival of an old man from outside. He had a smug look on his face and a fancy suit on his body, making him stick out like a sore thumb among the ragged villagers.


    A bunch of guys who were busy painting coffins in a hurry saw him and jumped to their feet.


    ¡°Chief! You¡¯re back!¡±


    Oh, great. So this old fart was the one in charge of this hellhole. Yu Xiao gave him a dirty look from behind the wall and quietly slipped away. She had assumed that those coffins were for the poor saps who had died here, but she had counted them earlier ¨C exactly nine coffins.


    That¡¯s when it hit her. The villagers had a meeting as soon as they arrived today, because they had malicious intentions. They were planning to sacrifice them. Yu Xiao had to figure out a way to make herself, Precious, and Misty look like they belonged here, not outsiders to be sacrificed.


    She headed to the outside of the Chief¡¯s house, where she had snooped around earlier when she was looking for Gu Shu. She put on her sunglasses and watched the house for a while. She saw someone sleeping in one room, and then heard a loud cough from the bed. The person in the other room heard it too and got up ¨C it was the Chief¡¯s wife.


    The Chief¡¯s wife, still dressed, went into the room, poured a glass of water, and gave it to the person on the bed. She stroked their back lovingly, whispering, ¡°Good baby, good baby, mommy loves you, mommy will cut their flesh for baby¡­¡±


    Yu Xiao seized the chance and sneaked into the Chief¡¯s room. She took from her pocket the incense stick that was half-burnt and lit it again, hiding it under the Chief¡¯s bed.


    Then she got the hell out of there and ran back to where they were staying. She woke everyone up, even though they were sleeping like logs. That was weird; they were usually more alert.


    They didn¡¯t complain, though, not even Zhang Feng, who was always a pain in the ass.


    Zhao Lan adjusted her hat, still groggy, and asked, ¡°Smiley, what¡¯s up?¡±


    Yu Xiao whispered, ¡°We had a visitor. A ghost.¡±


    ¡°What?!¡±


    They all freaked out, suddenly wide awake. Lu Xun was especially shocked. ¡°For real? How come I didn¡¯t notice anything?¡±


    Yu Xiao didn¡¯t answer. She rolled up her sleeves and showed them the bite marks on her arm.


    ¡°I got bit by a bloody ghost,¡± Yu Xiao announced. ¡°I tried to wake you guys up, but you were all out cold. So I decided to go after it by myself.¡±


    ¡°Wait a minute,¡± Wang Yang¡¯s round face twitched. ¡°You decided to chase a freaking ghost?¡±


    ¡°Yup,¡± Yu Xiao said, as if it was no big deal. ¡°I figured the villagers weren¡¯t going to tell us anything useful, so why not grab a ghost and make it spill the beans.¡±


    Everyone, except Zhao Lan and Zhou Xiao Zhen, stared at Yu Xiao with mixed feelings.


    Yu Xiao touched her face. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±


    ¡°Nothing,¡± Lu Xun said. ¡°Go on.¡±


    ¡°So, I chased it¡­ lost it, then woke up in bed. I thought it was all a dream until I saw the bite marks on my arm. That¡¯s when I knew it was real. I found a half-burnt incense under my bed. I think it had something to do with the ghost only biting me.¡±


    ¡°Does it still hurt?¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen asked, holding Yu Xiao¡¯s arm gently.


    ¡°A little,¡± Yu Xiao said, remembering she had another talisman. She took it out of her pocket and slapped it on her arm. The talisman burst into flames and turned to ash. The bite marks on Yu Xiao¡¯s arm vanished, leaving her skin smooth and flawless.


    The others watched in silence.


    ¡°You wasted a ten-point talisman on that? It would have healed on its own in a day or two,¡± Lu Xun commented.


    Yu Xiao ignored him. ¡°I think the villagers are behind this. I snuck out and saw them in the ancestral hall, making nine coffins overnight. I heard them say the village pissed off the spirits, and that¡¯s why there¡¯s a plague. They¡¯re having a meeting this afternoon, and the chief wants to sacrifice one of us to calm the spirits down.¡±


    ¡°What?!¡±


    Everyone was furious, thankful that Yu Xiao had discovered the village¡¯s plot. Otherwise, they would have been too busy with the ghosts to notice the villagers¡¯ betrayal.


    They started to swear, venting their anger one by one.


    Lu Xun thought of something and said to Yu Xiao, ¡°Hey, what about that half incense? Let me see it.¡±


    ¡°I used it up,¡± Yu Xiao said.


    Lu Xun was confused. ¡°How did you use it up?¡±


    Yu Xiao grinned wickedly, ¡°I lit the incense again and tossed it under the village head¡¯s bed.¡±


    Everyone: ¡°¡­¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen gushed with admiration, ¡°Smiley, you¡¯re a genius, Smiley.¡±


    No one else knew what to say, until Sun Yun asked timidly, ¡°So¡­ what do we do now?¡±


    Yu Xiao shrugged, ¡°Sleep, obviously. I¡¯ve been up all night, stirring up trouble.¡±


    She pulled the blanket over herself and lay down on the bed, closing her eyes while everyone stared at her.


    Half a minute later, Yu Xiao: ¡°zzzZ¡±


    Everyone: ¡°¡­¡±


    The next morning, Yu Xiao was woken up by a racket. She sat up in bed and heard a lot of noise outside, like a crowd of people arguing and crying.


    She was alone in the room. She went outside and saw everyone else crowded at the door, looking out.


    ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Yu Xiao asked, walking over.


    They turned to her, their faces full of emotions.


    Lu Xun said, ¡°The village chief is dead.¡±


    ¡°Oh.¡± Yu Xiao walked to the door and saw a lot of people outside. The village chief¡¯s wife, wearing mourning clothes, was sobbing.


    Yu Xiao watched quietly for a while, then asked, ¡°Do you know how the village chief died?¡±


    ¡°Not really.¡± Lu Xun said, ¡°We heard he died horribly, with his body all mutilated. I think it was a ghost, but the weird thing is, the villagers think the village chief was cursed by the plague god (ÎÁÉñ). They have a strange reason too, something about a bad smell in the village chief¡¯s room.¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen asked, ¡°What kind of smell?¡±


    Lu Xun¡¯s face was curious, and he said after a pause, ¡°The smell of excrement.¡± He looked confused and said, ¡°Weird, right? Do ghosts have a smell? What kind of ghost smells like poop?¡±


    Yu Xiao lowered her head, pretending to be interested in her toes.


    ¡°We¡¯re going to check out the house of the first person who got sick in the village later.¡± Lu Xun asked Yu Xiao, ¡°What about you? Are you coming with us?¡±


    ¡°Nah, I¡¯m sure you guys will find some good clues.¡± Yu Xiao declined politely, ¡°We¡¯re going to look for Gu Shu.¡±


    Lu Xun was quiet for a moment and asked, ¡°Are you going to ask it if it has a wife?¡±


    ¡°No need, it already told me.¡± Yu Xiao said, ¡°This time, we¡¯ll ask it something else.¡±


    *


    *


    They walked along the dirt road, Zhou Xiao Zhen asking curiously, ¡°So, what are you going to ask Gu Shu this time? And why do we have to tag along?¡±


    Zhao Lan looked at Yu Xiao with interest.


    Yu Xiao didn¡¯t answer. She told them to stay put at the gate of Gu Shu¡¯s yard. She went in by herself and knocked on the door.


    She knocked for three freaking minutes before Gu Shu finally opened the door. ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°I need something.¡± Yu Xiao said. ¡°I have a question for you.¡±


    ¡°¡­ The same question?¡± Gu Shu¡¯s face twitched. ¡°Is it about last time?¡±


    ¡°No.¡±


    ¡°Okay.¡± Gu Shu let out a relieved sigh. ¡°Ask away.¡±


    Yu Xiao stared at Gu Shu¡¯s pretty and polished face, and asked seriously, ¡°Dr. Gu Shu, will you marry me?¡±


    Gu Shu: ¡°¡­¡±


    Zhao Lan at the gate: ¡°¡­¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen shouted, pissed and thrilled, ¡°Smiley is joking, right? Last time she said she only likes the living ones.¡±


    S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 29: Marry them all

    The morning sun was gorgeous, shining through the leaves and onto the doorstep.


    Gu Shu didn¡¯t say anything for a long time, not because he lost his voice or was unsure, but because his morals were crumbling and changing.


    Someone actually had the guts to pop this weird question to the attending doctor. Was it because he hasn¡¯t killed enough people yet?


    Yu Xiao said, seeing him silent. ¡°Come on, marrying me is a sweet deal. I¡¯ll hook you up with some perks.¡±


    Gu Shu, even as the attending doctor, felt his curiosity spike. Even though he had the urge to eat this woman alive, he was still curious. ¡°What perks?¡±


    ¡°I have two sisters, hot and classy. If you marry me, I¡¯ll make them marry you too. How does that sound?¡± Yu Xiao said, eagerly.


    ¡°¡­¡±


    Now, Gu Shu wasn¡¯t the only one speechless, but Zhao Lan and Zhou Xiao Zhen too.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen gasped, ¡°Geez, Smiley won¡¯t let us rest in peace.¡±


    Zhao Lan¡¯s logic told her that Smiley had a hidden motive. But her logic was overruled by her imagination, and she heard demonic music in her head.


    Yu Xiao looked at Gu Shu hopefully, really wanting him to say yes. Gu Shu looked at her intensely, then shut the door in her face.


    Yu Xiao almost got her nose smashed by the door. She touched it with her hand, sighed deeply, and turned to the others, ¡°Gu Shu is such a cold and cruel jerk.¡±


    Zhao Lan¡¯s mind was still foggy, and Zhou Xiao Zhen stared at Yu Xiao in disbelief, ¡°Smiley, if you have a crush on the head doctor, you can marry George. He¡¯s not like Gu Shu. He has something you can use to blackmail him into marriage.¡±


    ¡°George is worthless.¡± That was Yu Xiao¡¯s opinion as she dragged one of them to the road. ¡°Do you guys think I proposed because I¡¯m hot for Gu Shu¡¯s looks?¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen, very honestly, said, ¡°Yeah?¡±


    ¡°Ugh, Precious, your brain¡­¡± Yu Xiao sighed sadly. ¡°What if one day we¡¯re gone? What will you do?¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen was scared, ¡°Smiley, don¡¯t curse us.¡±


    Yu Xiao led them to the biggest brick house in the village. She pointed inside and asked, ¡°Do you know what this place is?¡±


    Finally, Zhao Lan¡¯s brain kicked back online. After a bit of thinking, she said, ¡°This is the village chief¡¯s house?¡±


    ¡°Bingo.¡±


    ¡°Wow, Misty, you¡¯re freaking awesome,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen said, eyes wide with awe. ¡°How are you so smart? You nailed it on the first try.¡±


    Zhao Lan hesitated for a moment, pointing at the white cloth hanging under the roof in the yard. ¡°Today, someone from the village chief¡¯s family died, so¡­¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s mouth made an ¡®o¡¯ shape, then she hung her head, feeling sorry for her own IQ. Zhao Lan quickly changed the subject, ¡°Smiley, why did you drag us here?¡±


    ¡°To get married,¡± Yu Xiao answered succinctly. ¡°Remember what I told you last night? The villagers sacrifice outsiders to beg the gods to end the disaster. I figured, if we become insiders, we¡¯ll be safe, right?¡±


    ¡°Oh,¡± Zhao Lan suddenly got it. ¡°The village chief¡¯s son is getting married, but the girl he wants to marry said no. We can take her place and marry him. That way, we¡¯ll be part of the village and we won¡¯t meet the sacrifice criteria.¡±


    ¡°Yup, that¡¯s what I had in mind,¡± Yu Xiao said, walking towards the village chief¡¯s house.


    But Zhao Lan was still confused, ¡°If that¡¯s the plan, why didn¡¯t you go to the village chief¡¯s house first? Why did you go to Gu Shu¡¯s house instead?¡±


    ¡°I know why,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen raised her hand. ¡°Because Smiley thinks Gu Shu is hotter. If she could, she would rather marry Gu Shu.¡±


    ¡°Hehe, Precious, you¡¯re such a tease,¡± Zhao Lan said, smiling at her. ¡°Smiley, that¡¯s not true, is it? You wanted to marry him to get the status of being attending doctors wife, right?¡±


    Yu Xiao: ¡°Nope. Precious is right; that¡¯s what I was thinking.¡±


    Zhao Lan: ¡°¡­¡±


    White cloth covered the village chief¡¯s house, with a coffin in the main room. Oddly, in front of the spirit tablet, there was only paper money burning, no incense.


    The village chief¡¯s wife wasn¡¯t back yet, and right now, there was only one person kneeling in front of the spirit tablet, wearing plain clothes and a mourning gown.


    He was skinny and frail, with pale skin, coughing now and then, looking like a male version of Lin Dai Yu (ÁÖ÷ìÓñ). When he heard the three of them coming, the village chief¡¯s son turned his head, staring blankly at them, his pale face full of confusion and shock.


    (ÁÖ÷ìÓñ: A literary reference to one of the main characters in the classic Chinese novel ¡°Dream of the Red Chamber,¡± known for her delicate and frail appearance.)


    ¡°Who are you? I haven¡¯t seen you before. Are you outsiders?¡±


    ¡°Yup.¡± She squatted down and casually grabbed some paper money, tossing it into the fire. ¡°You¡¯re the village chief¡¯s sickly son, right? What¡¯s your name?¡±


    Gu Jing Rong felt a weird vibe from the question, but he couldn¡¯t figure out why. So he said, ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s me. I¡¯m Gu Jing Rong (¹Å¾°ÈÙ: ¡°Ancient Scenery of Glory¡± or ¡°Honourable View from the Past¡±).¡±


    ¡°Hey, little Gu,¡± Yu Xiao acted like she was just making small talk with him. ¡°We heard your mom is setting you up for a lucky wedding?¡±


    ¡°Cough, yeah,¡± Gu Jing Rong¡¯s pale face turned a bit red. ¡°Actually, I don¡¯t approve of it, but my mom insists. And being the only child at home¡­¡±


    ¡°Gotcha,¡± Yu Xiao nodded. ¡°Do you know if the girl you¡¯re supposed to marry is willing?¡±


    At that, Gu Jing Rong looked down, showing his pale, thin neck. He knew what was up.


    All of a sudden, Yu Xiao yelled, ¡°Gu Jing Rong, I can¡¯t believe you¡¯re such a jerk. Ruining a young girl¡¯s life for a crappy lucky wedding!¡±


    Her yell freaked out Gu Jing Rong, and he waved his hands, ¡°No, no, it¡¯s not like that¡­ I, I didn¡¯t want this, but my mom¡­¡±


    ¡°Listen, you have a chance right now,¡± Yu Xiao grabbed Gu Jing Rong¡¯s collar. ¡°You can stop hurting that poor girl and still have your lucky wedding like your mom wants. It¡¯s your call if you¡¯re up for it.¡±


    Gu Jing Rong couldn¡¯t say no; being choked by the collar made it hard for him to breathe. ¡°Cough, cough¡­ I¡¯m up for it, I¡¯m up for it. Just let me go first.¡±


    Yu Xiao let him go, and he took a few breaths. Then, with fear and curiosity, he asked, ¡°What chance?¡±


    Yu Xiao, with a steady look, pointed at herself. ¡°I¡¯ll marry you instead of that girl.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    Gu Jing Rong was stunned, ¡°But you¡­ you¡­¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen stood threateningly on the side, ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Why the hesitation? Are you saying Smiley isn¡¯t good enough for you?!¡±


    ¡°No, no, no,¡± Gu Jing Rong was nervous and shy. He couldn¡¯t even look at Yu Xiao. ¡°But I don¡¯t know you.¡± sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°That¡¯s no problem. I¡¯m Zhou Xiao,¡± Yu Xiao smiled at him. ¡°Now we do.¡±


    Gu Jing Rong timidly raised his head, peeked at Yu Xiao, and quickly looked away. ¡°If that¡¯s what you want, then I guess¡­ I guess¡­¡±


    Yu Xiao: ¡°What good is guessing? Wanting something doesn¡¯t mean you get it.¡± She held up a finger. ¡°If you want to tie the knot with me, you have to agree to one thing.¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡± Gu Jing Rong gaped at her. What did she mean by wanting something doesn¡¯t mean you get it.? Wasn¡¯t she the one who came here and said she would marry him?


    But he still nodded, saying, ¡°Okay.¡±


    Yu Xiao spun around, pointing at Zhao Lan and Zhou Xiao Zhen behind her. ¡°They¡¯re my besties. We made a pact that we would never split up in this life. When we get married, it has to be to the same guy. So, you marry all three of us.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    Now Gu Jing Rong was totally speechless. He stared at the three of them like an idiot, his mind empty, unable to say anything.


    Yu Xiao scowled, ¡°You don¡¯t like it?¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen rolled up her sleeves right away. ¡°What¡¯s the matter? Are we not good enough for you?¡±


    She waved at Zhao Lan. ¡°Misty, show him what you can do.¡±


    Zhao Lan didn¡¯t know what to do. She vaguely remembered being a classy office worker in a big company. Somehow, her style changed, not only becoming violent but also into forced marriages¡­


    She quietly walked to the coffin, reached out a hand, and lifted the whole thing with ease.


    While Gu Jing Rong was still in shock, Zhou Xiao Zhen said, ¡°See that? If you don¡¯t want to die, just marry us, sisters!¡±


    Gu Jing Rong turned white, yelling over and over, ¡°I agree! I agree! Please put my dead dad down¡­¡±


    ¡°Hmph!¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen snorted, ¡°Good choice.¡±


    Zhao Lan dropped the coffin, and Yu Xiao acted like she was comforting him. ¡°Don¡¯t be so sad. The three of us don¡¯t need a dowry. Besides, look at us three, aren¡¯t we cute? Isn¡¯t it great for you to have the joy of three lovely wives? Don¡¯t act like you¡¯re doing us a favour¡­¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not like that.¡± Gu Jing Rong was terrified. He whispered, ¡°A man can only have one wife. It¡¯s a moral rule. How can I break it?¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen made a fist, ¡°You want to back out? You said yes already!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not backing out¡­¡± Gu Jing Rong, scared, hid behind Yu Xiao, ¡°A man can only have one wife, but¡­ he can have many concubines.¡±


    *


    *


    Liu Xun had a hunch that Yu Xiao and her friends were not normal. Today, when they skipped out on their own, he felt like they were up to something big.


    After working with Zhang Feng¡¯s team for a while, Liu Xun got restless. He took Luo Jin with him and went looking for Yu Xiao¡¯s group.


    They found the village chief¡¯s house, but before they went in, they heard a man sobbing, ¡°Why are you doing this to me? I¡¯m just a regular guy¡­¡±


    Liu Xun and Luo Jin looked at each other, both feeling confused.


    They walked in and saw Yu Xiao and her pals standing over a crying man.


    ¡°Hey,¡± Liu Xun chuckled, ¡°What¡¯s happening? Are you torturing him here?¡±


    Seeing them, Gu Jing Rong grabbed Liu Xun¡¯s leg, ¡°Please help me! They¡¯re forcing me!¡±


    Liu Xun was even more baffled, ¡°What are they making you do?¡±


    Gu Jing Rong, with a face of shame and rage, said, ¡°They¡¯re making me marry them, but I¡¯m only one person! How can I marry three?¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    Liu Xun felt his brain overload. He looked at the three women, ¡°Are you serious¡­¡±


    ¡°Mind your own business,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen said, ¡°Just scram!¡±


    After a moment of thought, Liu Xun said to Luo Jin, ¡°Uh, let¡¯s go.¡±


    Luo Jin shook off his hand, staring with starry, black eyes at Gu Jing Rong, ¡°How are they forcing you?¡±


    With tears in his eyes, Gu Jing Rong said, ¡°It¡¯s her, that woman. She lifted my father¡¯s coffin with one hand, and threatened me with his corpse.¡±


    Luo Jin nodded, walked a few steps forward, and put a hand on the coffin. Somehow, he lifted it with one hand.


    Gu Jing Rong freaked out, ¡°What are you doing? Put down my dad!¡±


    As quiet as ever, Luo Jin pointed to himself and Liu Xun and said only three words, ¡°Marry us both.¡±


    Liu Xun: ¡°What?!¡±

 Chapter 30: Visit a cemetery at night

    The funeral parlour was so quiet, you could hear a pin drop. Even Yu Xiao, who was used to shocking people, was stunned. Everyone gawked, mouths open, blank looks on their faces, at Luo Jin.


    Lu Xun, after a long pause, finally got what was going on. He pushed down the pieces of his broken worldview, and asked in disbelief, ¡°Are you nuts?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Luo Jin said calmly, his eyes locked on Gu Jing Rong. ¡°Do you agree or not?¡±


    Gu Jing Rong wavered.


    ¡­


    The five of them left the village chief¡¯s house together when Gu Jing Rong almost passed out in the funeral parlour. When his mom and the villagers came back, they found him crying. Learning of what happened, they all praised his loyalty, calling him a model son.


    Back at their place, Lu Xun had also figured out what Luo Jin meant. But knowing didn¡¯t mean agreeing. He felt something was wrong everywhere, a weird discomfort lingering.


    The mood was awkward; the five sat in silence when they got back.


    Of course, they had different reasons and feelings for their silence. Lu Xun and Zhao Lan sat in shame-filled silence, Yu Xiao thought about the next steps, Zhao Lan spaced out, and Zhou Xiao Zhen stayed quiet because everyone else did.


    They sat like that, silent and still, until Zhang Feng and the others showed up.


    Zhang Feng walked in front and, turning a corner, saw Zhao Lan sitting by the door. He remembered her breaking a kitchen knife with her bare hands yesterday, and he slowed down instinctively.


    Wang Yang followed him, seeing the five sitting gloomily by the door. He figured they were hungry, and said, ¡°Sorry, sorry, we got held up. Are you all hungry? I¡¯ll make something.¡±


    Zuo Qing and Sun Yun walked hand in hand, careful but not too scared because they had nothing to hide.


    As they got to the door, Sun Yun said, ¡°Today, we followed the list, and we checked out the first person who died of sickness in the village. His name was Gu Ban (¹Å°å: old-fashioned). His whole family died of sickness, and nobody in the village knows what sickness it was. Later, we went to the graveyard, but it was too open and easily seen. We¡¯re going to dig up the body and take a look tonight.¡±


    She gave the five of them a hopeful look, but the five didn¡¯t say a word.


    Sun Yun nibbled her lip and asked carefully, ¡°Did you guys¡­ discover anything today?¡±


    ¡°Nothing to discover,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen said. ¡°Our main mission today was to deal with something.¡±


    ¡°Something?¡± Zuo Qing asked with curiosity. ¡°What kind of something? Can you tell us?¡±


    ¡°Not that we can¡¯t¡­¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen paused for a moment. Explaining this thing wasn¡¯t simple. Even with the rich and deep Chinese language, it still felt lacking. ¡°Anyway, you¡¯ll find out soon enough.¡±


    After that, the others didn¡¯t dare to pry any more. After all, they might be big shots, and being from the Fourth Institute, their experience was better than theirs. So, they kept their mouths shut.


    The village was a mess that day, because the village chief had died. Yu Xiao planned to grill Gu Jing Rong about the plague tomorrow and tag along with them to the graveyard tonight.


    In this eerie mood, the group ate their meal. Zhao Lan suggested that everyone take a nap and head out later when it was darker.


    But even those with guts of steel couldn¡¯t sleep at this time, except for Yu Xiao.


    In the middle of the night, Yu Xiao was woken up. She rubbed her eyes and followed the others, sneaking along the wall towards the edge of the village where the graveyard was. Zuo Qing and the others had been there during the day; after crossing a river, they would get to the graveyard.


    The moon in the sky was huge and round, covered in a thin layer of blood-red, making it look sinister.


    Nine people stood by the river, and Yu Xiao asked, ¡°Where¡¯s the bridge?¡±


    ¡°No¡­ no bridge,¡± Zhang Feng said. ¡°We looked for it during the day, but there¡¯s no bridge.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s weird.¡± Lu Xun rubbed his fingers absentmindedly. ¡°This is the village graveyard; how did they cross without a bridge?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t¡­ don¡¯t know.¡±


    ¡°Tsk.¡± Lu Xun scowled in frustration. ¡°How do we cross?¡±


    Yu Xiao asked, ¡°When you came during the day, was the water in this river clear?¡±


    ¡°Crystal clear,¡± Zhou Qing said. ¡°Looked totally natural, untouched.¡±


    ¡°Alright, let¡¯s wade across,¡± Yu Xiao suggested.


    ¡°What?!¡± Everyone was shocked, and chubby Wang Yang, with fear in his voice and his double chin shaking, said, ¡°It¡¯s the middle of the night, so creepy. What if there¡¯s something nasty in the river¡­¡±


    ¡°If you¡¯re scared, stay here,¡± Lu Xun said, agreeing with Yu Xiao¡¯s idea and taking off his shoes.


    Seeing them taking off their shoes, Wang Yang got nervous. He turned to see Zhang Feng doing the same, and he blurted out, ¡°Old Zhang, are you going too? Aren¡¯t you afraid there might be ghosts in the water?¡±


    As he pulled off his socks, Zhang Feng said, ¡°Even if there are ghosts, it¡¯s better for everyone to stick together than for one person to stay on the shore.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    That made sense, and Wang Yang took off his shoes too.


    In the dark of night, the river water felt cold. The nine people held hands and crossed the river together. In the quiet night, there was no sound of insects, only the splashing sound of legs moving through the water.


    ¡°Actually¡­ this feeling is quite special,¡± Sun Yun, holding Zhou Qing with one hand and Zhao Lan with the other, said. ¡°I¡¯ve lived in the city since I was a kid, never played in the countryside. After coming to Horror Hospital, I¡¯ve always been nervously focused on clearing dungeons. I don¡¯t know why, but being with you guys this time, I feel surprisingly relaxed.¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen said, ¡°Because being with us makes you feel safe.¡±


    Thinking about it, Sun Yun agreed. Among them, there was someone who could break a kitchen knife with her bare hands and another who chased a ghost by herself in the middle of the night. Nothing made her feel safer.


    She smiled softly, ¡°You¡¯re right.¡±


    Zhou Qing also smiled, ¡°With awesome folks like you around, ghosts probably wouldn¡¯t dare to come near.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s not for sure,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen said, looking at Yu Xiao. ¡°Smiley, I feel like something grabbed my left ankle. I don¡¯t know if it¡¯s a ghost or not.¡±


    The crowd stopped dead in their tracks.


    Yu Xiao let go of the hands on either side and bent down, reaching into the water to check Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s ankle. Before she got there, she felt something round, like a watermelon.


    She didn¡¯t think twice, she just grabbed and yanked it out.


    ¡°Splash!¡±


    Moonlight hit the water, making circles of ripples. Everyone gaped as Yu Xiao bent down, feeling something in the water. She then straightened up, holding onto something black, like rotten mud.


    The muddy shape looked like a person. After Yu Xiao yanked it, it made a creepy sound.


    ¡°Hehehehe¡­¡±


    Shocked, the group backed away, but they slipped on the wet ground and quickly held onto each other.


    The black thing giggled for a bit, then suddenly noticed something was wrong.


    It looked closer, and saw that the one holding it was staring at it coldly, not moving a muscle. The others around her were calm, watching it with interest.


    The black thing shut up, feeling a bit of shame from deep inside.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen gawked at the black, muddy thing and asked curiously, ¡°Is this what water ghosts look like?¡±


    Lu Xun said, ¡°Not sure if it¡¯s a water ghost, but it¡¯s definitely a ghost.¡±


    What?! How dare these puny humans mock me like this?! The black, muddy thing got pissed, opening its mouth wide enough to swallow a basketball. It tried to bite off the head of the person holding it.


    The mouth was wide open, but it couldn¡¯t close. It saw the girl holding a yellow talisman in her other hand. The yellow paper fluttered in the wind, like a butterfly ready to fly.


    ¡°¡­¡±


    Come on, it was just a poor water ghost¡­


    On the dry grass on the other side of the river, nine people made a circle, and in the middle was a blob of black, rotten mud-like ghost.


    Yu Xiao snickered, ¡°Who wants to ask?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll do it.¡± Lu Xun stepped up, pointing at the ghost, saying, ¡°You, tell us where the plague in this village came from.¡±


    The ghost was terrified. It knew nothing. It was just bored and hungry. Weren¡¯t people supposed to be food for the ghosts?


    ¡°Are you going to talk?¡± Lu Xun showed a different side from usual. ¡°Playing hard to get, huh?¡±


    He searched in his pocket and took out a pair of clear, thin-as-cicada-wing gloves, putting them on. Then he grabbed the ghost, and started to punch it with his fists.


    ¡°Are you going to talk? Are you going to talk? Are you going to talk¡­¡±


    ¡°Woo-woo-woo-woo-woo¡­¡±


    The sad cries filled the night sky, making anyone who heard it feel sorry, even making some cry.


    This ghost either couldn¡¯t speak or was just dumb. Even though Lu Xun beat it until it was twisted, it didn¡¯t say a word. A truly proud ghost.


    ¡°Never mind, don¡¯t waste time on it.¡± Yu Xiao said, ¡°Let¡¯s go to the graveyard.¡±


    ¡°Okay.¡± Lu Xun nodded and asked, ¡°What about it?¡±


    Yu Xiao looked at the ghost with a worried face. ¡°Is there anything we can use to lock it up and take it with us?¡±


    The crowd felt a chill in their bones. Ghosts were dangerous, and nothing normal could hold them back.


    That¡¯s when Luo Jin, who had barely said a word all night, piped up. ¡°There¡¯s a pressure cooker in the house. Trap it inside and slap on some talismans.¡±


    Brilliant!


    Yu Xiao looked at him with admiration, impressed by his quick-wit.


    They hauled the ghost to the graveyard, where graves of all shapes and sizes dotted the landscape. The nine of them split up, scouring the area, until Zhang Feng shouted. ¡°Gu Ba! I found Gu Ba!¡± sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    They all rushed to Gu Ba¡¯s grave marker. He was the first one in the village to succumb to the plague, according to the list.


    Lu Xun said, ¡°Time to dig.¡±


    Zhao Lan didn¡¯t hesitate to roll up her sleeves. Wang Yang said, ¡°Hey, this is a job for us men. You girls don¡¯t have the muscle¡­¡±


    He stopped mid-sentence, recalling how Zhao Lan had snapped a knife in half with her bare hands, and swallowed the rest of his words.


    Lu Xun stepped in, ¡°You caught the ghost; we¡¯ll do the digging.¡±


    Zhao Lan didn¡¯t mind letting them do the dirty work, so she and Yu Xiao moved aside to watch them sweat.


    They soon dug up a grave mound. Yu Xiao pinched her nose and walked over to the hole, while Luo Jin yanked the coffin out by himself.


    The coffin lid creaked open, releasing a foul odour.


    Yu Xiao felt sick, rolling her eyes back. The smell lingered for a while before fading away. When they all regrouped, they saw a rotten corpse lying still in the coffin. Everything looked normal, except for the head, which was smashed to bits, as if by a giant hammer.


    Zhao Lan wondered, ¡°What kind of disease does that to someone¡¯s head?¡±

 Chapter 31: Two Colossal Brides

    Zhou Xiao Zhen surveyed the scene with a bored expression. She didn¡¯t see what the big deal was. So what if there was a corpse with a mushy brain? This world was full of horrors, and she had seen worse. ¡°Come on, people. It¡¯s not like we haven¡¯t met any ghosts before. Why are you all acting like this is some freaky new disease that can liquefy your grey matter?¡±


    She had a point, Yu Xiao thought. But still, something about this felt wrong. She glanced at the others, ¡°Have you ever seen anything like this before?¡±


    Sun Yun shook her head. ¡°Not exactly. But we¡¯ve faced weirder things.¡±


    Luo Jin leaned over the coffin, his hand reaching for the corpse¡¯s head. ¡°You know what they say. The soul lives in the brain. That¡¯s why some killers like to smash the skull. To make sure the soul is gone.¡±


    He made a fist and brought it down near the corpse¡¯s head, mimicking the act of violence.


    Yu Xiao had an idea. ¡°Let¡¯s dig up the other graves and see if they¡¯re all like this.¡±


    They unearthed a few more coffins, including the one that was buried today. It belonged to the village head.


    All the corpses had their heads smashed, except for the one that was still fresh.


    ¡°Why is the village head the only one with a whole head?¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen wondered. ¡°Is he the only one who didn¡¯t die from the disease?¡±


    ¡°Maybe,¡± Zhao Lan said nervously, as the moon disappeared behind a cloud. ¡°But we should hurry up and get out of here. Who knows what kind of ghosts are lurking around?¡±


    Yu Xiao held the writhing thing in her grip, feeling its cold and slimy skin. She looked at it with disgust and curiosity. ¡°Didn¡¯t we already run into this?¡±


    ¡°That is a water ghost,¡± Zhao Lan said, glancing at the rotting bodies they had dug up from the ground. ¡°With so many graves here, who knows what else is hiding here?¡±


    She barely finished her sentence when Luo Jin pulled his hand back and declared, ¡°There are no ghosts here.¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    The others strained their ears, not sure if they heard him right. Luo Jin lifted his chin, his eyes serene and aloof under his long bangs. ¡°There are no ghosts here.¡±


    ¡°Really?¡± Zhao Lan asked, ¡°How can you tell?¡±


    Lu Xun grinned and spoke for his brother, ¡°Old Luo has a sixth sense for these things, and he¡¯s not one to lie. If he says there are no ghosts here, then you can bet your ass there aren¡¯t.¡±


    They realised they had wasted too much time, and the sun was about to rise. They had to get out of here before the villagers noticed their ¡®grave-robbing¡¯. They hurriedly filled the holes and retraced their steps to their lodgings.


    As soon as they got in, Yu Xiao dashed to the kitchen and searched for a pressure cooker. But the ghost was too big to fit inside.


    Zhao Lan rolled up her sleeves. ¡°Leave it to me!¡±


    She snapped the ghost¡¯s spine with a loud crack, making it scream in agony.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen watched as Zhao Lan slammed the lid on, her face softening with pity. ¡°It sounded like the ghost broke a bone.¡±


    Zuo Qing, who had tagged along to watch, asked, ¡°Do ghosts have bones?¡±


    ¡°Uh¡­¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen scratched her head.


    Yu Xiao slapped a talisman on the lid, sealing the ghost inside. She felt the eyes of Zuo Qing and the others on her, burning with envy.


    Wang Yang couldn¡¯t contain his curiosity. ¡°Boss, how many of those things do you have?¡±


    Yu Xiao didn¡¯t bother to keep track. She had such a high success rate, she hadn¡¯t really kept count by the end. She had plenty. She shrugged and gave a vague answer, ¡°A few dozen, maybe.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    A few dozen¡­


    They could barely afford to use one of their precious talismans, and she had a stash of them. They felt like they were dreaming.


    Zhang Feng, momentarily forgetting his terror, licked his lips and asked, ¡°Boss, you must be one of the top players, right?¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen, hands on hips, beamed with pride. ¡°Our Smiley is the best of the best. She¡¯s the number one on the leaderboard¡­¡±


    Yu Xiao: ¡°!!!¡±


    Zhao Lan: ¡°¡­¡±


    They all gaped at Yu Xiao in disbelief. ¡°You are¡­¡±


    Yu Xiao shot a look at Zhou Xiao Zhen, then smirked and said, ¡°You must have heard about me on the news this morning. Yeah, that¡¯s me. I¡¯m ¡®Zhuge Liang burning the Spider Web Cave¡¯.¡±


    (It is a reference to a famous episode in the Chinese classic novel Journey to the West, where the strategist Zhuge Liang used fire to destroy a cave full of spider demons who had captured his allies.)


    ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°Bloody hell!¡± Wang Yang¡¯s face flushed with excitement. He couldn¡¯t believe his eyes. He never been so close to someone from the top of the leaderboard, even though it wasn¡¯t from his own hospital.


    Zuo Qing gasped and pointed at Yu Xiao, her eyes sparkling like stars. ¡°You¡¯re the one! The one from the news! I thought you were a dude. Holy shit, this is awesome. Sorry, I¡¯m freaking out a little¡­¡±


    Yu Xiao smiled enigmatically, enjoying their reactions.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen slapped her forehead, realising she had blabbed too much. She had a bad habit of spilling secrets when she got worked up. She needed to work on that.


    Zhao Lan quickly changed the topic. ¡°Okay, enough chit-chat. It¡¯s late. We need some sleep while it¡¯s still dark. We have a busy day ahead of us.¡±


    Yu Xiao carried the pressure cooker to her room, when she heard a soft snicker behind her.


    She turned and saw Lu Xun trying to stifle his laughter. She asked, ¡°What¡¯s so funny?¡±


    Lu Xun put on a straight face and said, ¡°Oh, nothing. I was just imagining what¡¯s going to happen when the sun comes up. It¡¯s hilarious.¡±


    They were all exhausted after a night of digging and ghost-hunting. They went to their rooms and fell asleep in no time. It seemed like they had barely closed their eyes when a loud racket broke the silence.


    A woman in a garish red and green outfit barged into the room, shouting at the top of her lungs, ¡°What the hell! This is unacceptable!¡±


    They all jumped out of their beds, ready for action. They relaxed when they saw it was just a villager.


    ¡°You lazy bums! It¡¯s past sunrise, and you¡¯re still sleeping!¡± the woman scolded them. ¡°How are you going to live when you get married if you can¡¯t even wake up on time!¡±


    Zuo Qing rubbed her eyes, confused, ¡°Who is this woman? What the hell is she doing here?¡±


    The woman ignored them and stormed towards the farthest bed. They followed her gaze and saw Yu Xiao, still snoring away.


    ¡°Still sleeping! Wake up!¡±


    Yu Xiao was dreaming of ghosts and talismans when someone ripped off her blanket. She opened her eyes and saw a woman with a face painted like a monkey¡¯s behind, hands on hips, standing over her, ranting about something.


    She couldn¡¯t hear a thing; she was deaf again¡­


    Yu Xiao stared blankly at Zhao Lan, who knew from her look that Yu Xiao had lost her hearing again.


    The woman kept berating Yu Xiao, who didn¡¯t react at all. The woman thought she was an idiot, talking to her like a brick wall. She switched to business mode, ¡°Which one of you is Zhou Xiao?!¡±


    They all fell silent, then pointed at the same person.


    ¡°You¡¯re Zhou Xiao?!¡± The woman looked at Yu Xiao in disbelief, examining her for a while. ¡°Your appearance is not bad, you can be pretty with some grooming. But being pretty is not enough to be a good daughter-in-law; you have to be hard-working and virtuous¡­¡±


    Blah blah blah, she went on and on, and Yu Xiao still had no reaction. The woman felt bored and pulled out a red paper from her pocket and shoved it into girl¡¯s hand, ¡°This is your marriage certificate, hold on to it. Your wedding dress is already here; the groom will come for you in the afternoon. Get your ass ready.¡±


    She paused and gave Yu Xiao a sly smile, ¡°You know, you¡¯re pretty smart. I heard you brought four girls with you as your dowry. That¡¯s nice; let them do all the work, and you can take it easy.¡±


    The woman tossed her hair and swayed her hips, leaving the room and them in shock.


    Half of them felt a surge of emotions, while the other half looked utterly clueless.


    ¡°What?¡± Wang Yang stared, dumbfounded. ¡°What the hell did she just say?¡±


    Lu Xun tried to explain, but his mouth was dry. He looked at Luo Jin, thinking, ¡®Fuck this, if he wants to marry me off, let him do the talking.¡¯


    But Luo Jin didn¡¯t even acknowledge him; he just sat there, spaced out.


    Yu Xiao couldn¡¯t hear, but the red paper in her hand gave her a hint of what was going on. Zhou Xiao Zhen jumped off the bed and ran outside, coming back with a bunch of red clothes in her arms.


    ¡°These are wedding outfits!¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen rifled through them, confused. ¡°Weird, why is there only one in deep red, and the rest are all pink?¡±


    Zhao Lan explained, blushing, ¡°Because only the main wife can wear deep red.¡±


    ¡°No,¡± the others were more baffled, ¡°What the fuck is going on? What are you guys talking about?¡±


    Zhao Lan looked at them, feeling awkward. Luckily, Zhou Xiao Zhen had no shame. She said, ¡°This is what we did yesterday when we went out. The villagers said they needed an outsider for a sacrifice¡­¡±


    With a rapid-fire delivery, she rattled off the explanation, ¡°Anyway, after today¡¯s wedding, we¡¯re no longer outsiders.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    A ghostly silence descended, so unnatural that they couldn¡¯t swallow it for a long time. Finally, Zhang Feng, clinging to the last shred of hopeful doubt, looked at Lu Xun, ¡°She¡¯s joking, right?¡±


    Lu Xun¡¯s head drooped under his stare, a silent admission of shame.


    Zhang Feng shut his eyes, feeling doomed, ¡°So, now it¡¯s just the four of us who are on the chopping block?¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen felt a pang of sympathy, but she knew that making Gu Jing Rong marry five was already pushing it. She tried to be helpful and said, ¡°Why don¡¯t you guys do what we did and marry a local?¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    Zhang Feng¡¯s expression twisted for a moment; evidently, the idea of getting married had never crossed his mind in his over twenty years of life. S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Zuo Qing and Sun Yun, however, gave it some thought. Zuo Qing asked, ¡°Is the village head¡¯s son handsome?¡±


    ¡°Does it matter if he¡¯s hot?¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen asked, ¡°It¡¯s not like you¡¯re really becoming husband and wife.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡± Good point.


    While they were chatting, Zhao Lan and Yu Xiao were together. She scribbled down what had just transpired in her notebook and handed it to Yu Xiao. Instinctively, she felt it was better not to let others know about Yu Xiao¡¯s sporadic deafness.


    Yu Xiao nodded after reading it.


    Yu Xiao slipped out of bed and headed outside to splash some water on her face.


    Zuo Qing¡¯s eyes followed her with admiration. ¡°Why isn¡¯t Sister Little saying anything?¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen chided her, ¡°It¡¯s Sister Smiley.¡±


    (TN: С xi?o Little Ц xi¨¤o Smile, Zuo Qing misspoke)


    Zhao Lan rose from the bed as if nothing had happened. ¡°Oh, she doesn¡¯t like talking when she hasn¡¯t slept well.¡±


    In this village, for some unfathomable reason, weddings were slated for late afternoon. Yu Xiao, clad in fiery red, had been lingering at the doorway for quite some time.


    Flanking her were two petite girls in pink dresses. While looming behind her were two colossal brides, each over 185 centimetres tall, also in pink dresses.


    As firecrackers boomed, villagers arrived with ox-drawn carts draped with red silk.


    Wang Yang and his friends were cowering inside the house, eyes twitching. ¡°Dad died just yesterday, and today the son is getting married. Is this really okay?¡±


    Gu Jing Rong, in a blazing red outfit with a huge red flower on his chest, trotted over on a donkey. From afar, he could already spot those two colossal brides.


    In that instant, the thought of death flashed through his mind.

 Chapter 32: A night filled with flowers and candlelight in the bridal chamber

    Actually, Lu Xun and Luo Jin didn¡¯t have too robust physiques; they were lean and lanky. But their height was a curse, especially when they squeezed into the pink dresses that barely covered their knees. The sight of them was enough to make anyone¡¯s eyes pop out of their sockets.


    The matchmaker felt a chill run down her spine as she gazed at the two monstrous brides with veils over their faces. She wondered if she had stumbled into a nightmare. She glanced at Gu Jing Rong, hoping for some explanation, but the young master looked as if he had given up on life. His face was pale and his lips were tight. He didn¡¯t seem surprised at all. Sear?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The village was buzzing with excitement as the wedding procession made its way through the dusty streets. Most families used a simple cart to transport the bride, but Gu Jing Rong¡¯s family was the wealthiest in the village, and they liked to show off. They had arranged for an ox cart to carry the bride, and a donkey for the groom to ride.


    The ox cart was spacious enough for one bride, but there were five of them. They crammed into the cart, elbowing and jostling each other. They had to hold on to the rails or each other to avoid being thrown off by the bumpy road.


    The village head¡¯s house had been a sombre place the day before, with a memorial hall for the deceased. But today, it was a festive place, with big red ¡°double happiness¡± banners and lanterns everywhere. The wedding ceremony was simple and quick, and soon the five brides, still veiled, were led into the bridal chamber.


    The bridal chamber was dark and gloomy, with only a few joy candles flickering. Yu Xiao lifted her veil and looked around. On her left, she saw two small brides, who looked like dolls. On her right, she saw two giant brides, who looked like discount drag queens.


    The five of them removed their veils and stared at each other. They felt a mix of emotions: fear, anger, confusion, shame.


    Yu Xiao turned to Lu Xun and Luo Jin, who were both wearing fake smiles. She sighed and said, ¡°I never thought we would end up like this.¡±


    Lu Xun¡¯s smile twitched. ¡°Heh.¡±


    On the other side, Zhou Xiao Zhen was also in shock. She had questions, but she didn¡¯t know how to ask them. She said, ¡°What are we supposed to be to each other now?¡±


    Zhao Lan was no stranger to palace intrigue. She had devoured countless dramas to recognize the twisted games of the palace. So she played along, smiling sweetly and saying, ¡°We¡¯re like sisters, I guess.¡±


    Lu Xun shuddered at the words as they made him feel uncomfortable. He didn¡¯t want to think about it. He changed the topic, ¡°What¡¯s happening later?¡±


    Yu Xiao pondered for a moment, as if it was a hard question. She answered, ¡°Following the procedure, the next step is the bridal chamber.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen baulked at the idea. She said, ¡°I don¡¯t want to.¡± She wrinkled her nose and added, ¡°I don¡¯t want a ghostly bridal chamber. If I have to be with a ghost, it should at least be a handsome one like Gu Shu, not Gu Jing Rong.¡±


    Lu Xun felt a pang in his chest. He didn¡¯t like where this was going. He said, ¡°I mean, after Gu Jing Rong comes in, what do we do? Interrogate him about the village plague?¡±


    ¡°Of course,¡± Yu Xiao said, looking at him strangely. ¡°Isn¡¯t everything we do for that? Unless you really want a bridal chamber?¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    Lu Xun clamped his mouth shut. He had nothing to say. Luo Jin watched him, a faint smirk on his face. Though he didn¡¯t show much expression, his mood was evidently good. He seemed to enjoy Lu Xun¡¯s discomfort. His eyes sparkled with mischief.


    The village was a gloomy place. Yu Xiao had rarely seen anyone smile here. Even the wedding was a dull affair. It was over in less than an hour. Then they heard footsteps coming closer.


    Yu Xiao and the others scrambled to cover themselves with the veils.


    ¡°Squeak¡ª¡±


    The door creaked open, followed by a murmur of hushed whispers. A pair of footsteps retreated, and another pair advanced, shutting the door with a click.


    ¡°Cough, cough¡­¡± Gu Jing Rong choked on his breath as he beheld five brides crammed onto the wedding bed.


    Before he could recover, all five brides flung off their veils.


    ¡°You cough, cough, cough¡­ shouldn¡¯t cough, cough, cough¡­ yourselves¡­¡± Gu Jing Rong slumped on a chair, gasping as if his lungs were collapsing.


    Yu Xiao gestured from the bed and said, ¡°Don¡¯t you realise that he¡¯ll die without seeing his new brides? You two don¡¯t want to end up as widows so soon, so get a move on and fetch him some water.¡±


    Lu Xun wondered which two people Yu Xiao meant, but Luo Jin, next to him, had already risen.


    ¡°¡­¡± Lu Xun thought. Old Luo, what¡¯s with the eagerness?


    Gu Jing Rong was still wheezing when he saw two men in pink dresses closing in on him. He forgot how to cough and breathe, feeling a prickling sensation all over his body.


    Luo Jin filled a cup with tea and slid it across the table to Gu Jing Rong. ¡°Drink.¡±


    ¡°Thanks¡­¡± Gu Jing Rong muttered, picking up the cup with a weak hand.


    Yu Xiao rose from the bed, her clothes giving her the air of a refined lady. She wore a few jewels, unlike Zhao Lan and the others, who had nothing to adorn themselves with.


    She sat down across from Gu Jing Rong and flashed him a faint smile.


    Yu Xiao looked like a different person in this outfit. Usually, she seemed young, like a girl who had not yet blossomed. But with makeup, she gained a hint of mature charm.


    Gu Jing Rong was taken aback by her smile. He felt a surge of relief. Despite being trapped in a marriage with two men, at least his wife was pretty, more so than the village girls.


    ¡°Little Gu,¡± Yu Xiao said, leaning forward as if to confide in him, ¡°now that we¡¯re all married, we¡¯re family. Don¡¯t you think we should be honest with each other?¡±


    Gu Jing Rong saw no harm in that. He nodded and said, ¡°Sure.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve been in your village for a short while, but I¡¯ve noticed a plague spreading like wildfire,¡± Yu Xiao said, fixing her eyes on him, ¡°your father is the village chief, you must know a lot. Can you tell me what¡¯s happening with this plague?¡±


    Gu Jing Rong looked uneasy. He shook his head and said, ¡°My father forbids the villagers to talk about this with outsiders.¡±


    Luk Xun slammed the table with a loud thud. ¡°Are we outsiders?¡±


    Gu Jing Rong flinched, looking pale and pathetic as he glanced at Yu Xiao. ¡°N-no, of course not.¡±


    ¡°Then why are you holding back?¡± Yu Xiao said, narrowing her eyes at him. ¡°Spit it out.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t really know, to tell you the truth. I¡¯ve been sickly since I was a kid, and my parents only wanted me to stay alive, not to meddle in all that messy business.¡± Gu Jing Rong said, his face clouded with memories. ¡°I vaguely remember it was about a year ago, or maybe less, someone in the farthest house of the village got sick. It was a terrible sickness, untreatable. They died in just a week, and then their kin got sick too.¡±


    Luk Xun said, ¡°What was the name of the first one who got sick?¡±


    ¡°I know that. His name was Gu Ban.¡± Gu Jing Rong said, his expression twisted. ¡°His family was ignorant, even in naming, they were¡­¡±


    He didn¡¯t sound like he was lying, confirming that Gu Ban was the first victim of the plague. But that wasn¡¯t the answer they needed, as they still didn¡¯t know how he got infected.


    Yu Xiao pressed on, ¡°How did this Gu Ban catch the sickness?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± Gu Jing Rong said, shaking his head. ¡°Even the old doctor Gu Shu doesn¡¯t know. How would I know?¡±


    After giving up so much without learning anything useful, Luk Xun decided to put some heat on Gu Jing Rong. He lifted his hand, snapping his fingers sharply, glaring at Gu Jing Rong. ¡°You¡¯re not lying, are you?¡±


    Gu Jing Rong¡¯s eyes widened, and he shivered as he got up, hiding behind Yu Xiao. ¡°No, I¡¯m not lying. I swear that¡¯s all I know.¡±


    Yu Xiao gave Gu Jing Rong¡¯s hand a reassuring squeeze. Then she switched her tone, saying, ¡°But your dad, damn, he¡¯s obsessed with ancient superstition, sacrificing outsiders to appease the gods. He¡¯s playing with people¡¯s lives, and it¡¯s hard for us to feel any sympathy for his son, you get me?¡±


    Gu Jing Rong quivered all over, tears spilling from his eyes. He couldn¡¯t forget that in this room, everyone else, no matter their gender, was an enemy.


    He was petrified, blurting out, ¡°It¡¯s not ancient superstition. Our village¡¯s gods are really miraculous.¡±


    Worried that Yu Xiao and the others would doubt him, he went on, ¡°I¡¯ve been weak since I was born. The village doctor said I¡¯d be dead by seventeen. Last fall, I was at death¡¯s door. One day, my dad came home and brought me some meat, telling me to eat it raw. He said he got it from the temple by praying. My sickness didn¡¯t go away, but my life was spared.¡±


    ¡°Oh?¡± Lu Xun¡¯s eyes sparkled. ¡°What kind of meat was it? And where is this temple?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± Gu Jing Rong, stunned by his own words, kept talking, his face turning white. ¡°It had no skin or bones. How could I tell what kind of meat it was? But when you eat it, it¡¯s oddly gamey.¡±


    Oddly gamey?


    The group looked at each other, wondering in their minds what animal¡¯s meat would be oddly gamey.


    ¡°The temple is north of the village, up the river.¡± Gu Jing Rong, sensing their strange looks, nervously asked, ¡°You guys aren¡¯t thinking of going to the temple, are you?¡±


    Lu Xun: ¡°Why not?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s forbidden.¡± Gu Jing Rong shook his head, saying, ¡°No one, except the village chief, can enter the temple in the village. There¡¯s always a guard at the door. Anyone who tries to sneak in, other than the village chief, will be dragged out and clubbed to death.¡±


    Something was definitely off about that temple. They had to investigate.


    But with the village chief dead, Yu Xiao smirked and asked, ¡°Your dad¡¯s gone. Are you the new village chief?¡±


    ¡°Uh¡­¡± Gu Jing Rong stammered and said, ¡°Technically, it should be me, but my health¡­¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry.¡± Yu Xiao slapped him on the back, cheerfully adding, ¡°Even if you¡¯re not fit, your five wives are all tough, right?¡±


    ¡­


    They had a plan now: first, make Gu Jing Rong the village chief, and then use him to slip into the temple.


    The wedding had been worth it, and Yu Xiao was feeling good. She got up and said, ¡°It¡¯s getting late. Don¡¯t we need some sleep?¡±


    Gu Jing Rong felt a surge of panic. Was he expected to sleep with these two men?


    Yu Xiao went on, ¡°The bed is too small. It won¡¯t fit six people. How about we sleep apart? We can improvise a bed on the floor.¡±


    Gu Jing Rong let out a breath and nodded eagerly.


    Yu Xiao grinned, ¡°The bed is ours, girls, and you boys can rough it on the floor. Any complaints?¡±


    Gu Jing Rong faltered, and Lu Xun and Luo Jin shook their heads, ¡°No complaints.¡±


    Whining noises¡­ Did anyone care what I thought as the master of this house? Gu Jing Rong nearly cried himself into a stupor.


    Soon, the bridal chamber was quiet. The three on the bed slept soundly, as the village chief¡¯s bed was much nicer than the ragged ones in the rundown rooms.


    On the floor, the three men lay motionless next to each other. Luo Jin was on the left, Lu Xun on the right. Gu Jing Rong was sandwiched in the middle, scared to twitch.


    *


    *


    In another house, Zhang Feng and his group finished their meal.


    The meal felt tasteless, and Sun Yun, eating without a word, suddenly turned gloomy, ¡°Tonight, I¡¯m not in the mood for sleeping.¡±


    The others agreed. Wang Yang said, ¡°You know, in the past, when we were in instances, we never slept all at once. Someone always had to stay alert.¡±


    Zuo Qing added, ¡°We did the same¡­¡±

 Chapter 33: The gossip surrounding the village chief’s wife and Dr Gu Shu

    By now, they had grown to rely on the big shot, even though they had only known her for two short days.


    Zuo Qing felt foolish as she thought, ¡°I was such a fool. If I had realised my idol was here, why did I waste time in a graveyard? I should have stuck to the big shot¡¯s side all day and night, even if people called me shameless.¡±


    After all, how often did one get to cozy up to a big shot¡¯s leg¡­


    They agreed that Wang Yang would watch the first half of the night, while Zhang Feng would take over the second. If they were still stuck here by tomorrow, Zuo Qing and Sun Yun would do the next night duty.


    But tonight, none of them could sleep easily. S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Yu Xiao and her group of five, on the other hand, slept like babies. Yu Xiao woke up to the aroma of food in the morning, feeling a tingling in her arms. Zhou Xiao Zhen had been clinging to her arm all night.


    Zhao Lan was already up and sitting on the bed, thinking about something. When she saw the two stirring, Zhao Lan said, ¡°Smiley, get up. Gu Jing Rong¡¯s mom wants you to serve her tea.¡±


    Yu Xiao was taken aback, totally clueless about this old custom.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen, still drowsy, muttered, ¡°Do I have to do it too?¡±


    ¡°No need,¡± Zhao Lan said, ¡°His mom said concubines don¡¯t deserve to serve her tea.¡±


    ¡°Oh,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen smiled, ¡°Then I can snooze a bit longer.¡±


    Zhao Lan sighed ¡°We can¡¯t just sit here and twiddle our thumbs. Don¡¯t you see what¡¯s wrong with this room?¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen and Yu Xiao scanned the room together, looking for anything amiss. After a while, they came up empty. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±


    ¡°Two people are gone,¡± Zhao Lan said, annoyed at first, but then a laugh escaped her, twisting her face. ¡°Lu Xun and Luo Jin got dragged away this morning. Gu Jing Rong¡¯s mother said that concubines should follow their own rules, not wait for others to serve them. Right now, one is slaving in the kitchen, and the other is scrubbing outside.¡±


    Hearing this, Yu Xiao snorted with laughter, and Zhou Xiao Zhen chortled under the covers.


    *


    *


    Three people sat at the dining table: Yu Xiao, Gu Jing Rong, and Gu Jing Rong¡¯s mother.


    Four people stood nearby, serving dishes. According to Gu Jing Rong¡¯s mother, concubines didn¡¯t deserve to sit at the table.


    While eating, Yu Xiao blurted out, ¡°How do we make Gu Jing Rong the village chief?¡±


    Mother Gu scowled at her and said, ¡°How dare you speak of Gu Jing Rong like that? You should call him your husband.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡± Yu Xiao¡¯s mouth twitched several times, but she couldn¡¯t force herself to say it. Luckily, Mother Gu changed the topic on her own. ¡°It¡¯s not easy for our Little Rong to become the village chief. His health is poor, and being a village chief brings a lot of troubles. I¡¯m afraid for his health¡­¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s not a problem,¡± Yu Xiao said, thumping her chest. ¡°I¡¯m here. As his wife, I¡¯ll be a good helper. Anything that needs work or brains, just leave it to me. The main thing is that the village chief can¡¯t serve others, or else how can our family keep a high status in the village? And how can you be the top lady in the village?¡±


    Hearing this, Mother Gu was touched. She was the only woman in the village who didn¡¯t have to toil. If the village chief¡¯s position went to someone else, wouldn¡¯t she lose her status too? Just thinking about how people always kissed up to her, the idea of needing to kiss-up to someone else made her uneasy¡­


    Mother Gu felt a pang of envy. She couldn¡¯t be the village chief¡¯s wife, but being the village chief¡¯s mother would do.


    So, she said, ¡°Fine, let¡¯s do it this way.¡±


    But she still had some doubts, ¡°But even if Little Rong becomes the village chief, you may not be able to handle everything. After all, you¡¯re only a woman, and they may not listen to you.¡±


    Yu Xiao chuckled then, ¡°Just relax. Just make sure¡­ he becomes the village chief. I have a trick to make them obey me.¡±


    After dinner, Yu Xiao left the house to find Gu Shu.


    As the attending doctor, the worst thing for Gu Shu was not being able to vanish at will. He had to stick to his role, even if he hated someone, he had to stay here.


    ¡°Doctor Gu Shu.¡± Yu Xiao showed up at Gu Shu¡¯s house, holding a pressure cooker. ¡°I¡¯m back!¡±


    Gu Shu opened the door, staring at her with icy eyes, ¡°What do you want?¡±


    ¡°Can¡¯t I visit you if there¡¯s nothing wrong?¡± Yu Xiao beamed at Gu Shu. He kept a blank face, but she didn¡¯t care. ¡°I have something I want to give you. I wonder if you¡¯ll like it.¡±


    This time, Gu Shu wasn¡¯t interested, ¡°I don¡¯t want it.¡±


    ¡°Oh, please.¡± Yu Xiao ignored his frostiness. ¡°Don¡¯t you want to let me in for a bit? Carrying things around is exhausting.¡±


    In the end, Gu Shu still let Yu Xiao in. He was confident in himself and didn¡¯t think that Yu Xiao could do anything under his watchful eye.


    Yu Xiao barged into the room, skipping the pleasantries. She ripped off the talisman and opened the pressure cooker, exposing the ghost inside.


    She faced Gu Shu and flashed a wicked smile. ¡°Do you like this present, Dr. Gu Shu?¡±


    Dr. Gu Shu eyed the pathetic ghost, then coldly stared at Yu Xiao, showing no emotion.


    Yu Xiao cocked her head. ¡°Dr. Gu Shu, are you disappointed? Do you want me to scoop out its brain?¡±


    The ghost in the pot whimpered at that.


    Clearly, doctors had different tastes. Dr. Gu Shu was unmoved. He ignored the little ghost and said, ¡°If that¡¯s all, please go.¡±


    ¡°No, wait!¡± Yu Xiao twisted the ghost, making it scream in agony. Yu Xiao said, ¡°Look how fresh it is.¡±


    Dr. Gu Shu remained cold. ¡°Go.¡±


    ¡°Hmph.¡± Yu Xiao grumbled, glaring at him. ¡°You¡¯ll be sorry.¡±


    Dr. Gu Shu snorted inside, Sorry for what?


    Then he saw Yu Xiao, holding the pressure cooker, pause at the door. She unbuttoned her clothes, messed up her hair, and slapped herself twice.


    Dr. Gu Shu was shocked by her actions. Was she crazy?


    She flung open the door, keeping up her dishevelled look. Yu Xiao ran out sobbing. At the gate, she spun around and, with a bitter voice, said, ¡°Gu Shu, you¡¯re a monster!¡±


    She sprinted away, leaving him behind.


    Gu Shu was alone in the house, his mind in turmoil, a surge of anger rising in him.


    He knew he wasn¡¯t human, but the villagers didn¡¯t. Especially now, when a mob of them had gathered outside his house, as if by magic. They had all heard the dreadful screams from inside, seen Yu Xiao dash out with torn clothes, flushed cheeks, wet eyes, and heard her curse him with a bitter voice, calling him a monster.


    Doctors could strike back at patients, but only if the patients attacked first.


    Had Yu Xiao just done that? Gu Shu thought so, but the hospital system disagreed, so he was powerless.


    Yu Xiao had said he would be sorry, and he was starting to feel a twinge of regret¡­


    It was all part of Yu Xiao¡¯s cunning scheme, why the villagers had shown up at that moment.


    In other words, he had walked into a trap when Yu Xiao had entered his house. It didn¡¯t matter how careful he was, it was hopeless.


    Half an hour later, the gossip about Doctor Gu Shu and the former and current village chief¡¯s wives had circulated through the village, growing more and more outrageous.


    In the afternoon, Gu Jing Rong called all the villagers for a meeting and made an announcement: his health was failing, and from now on, Yu Xiao would take care of the village matters for him.


    How could the villagers accept such a young woman? At first, they resisted, but when they saw Yu Xiao standing there with a lively smile, they remembered the rumours that had flown around the village today.


    This woman was not only the village chief¡¯s wife, but also the one that Doctor Gu Shu fancied¡­


    *


    *


    Nine people met by the river upstream in the north of the village at night. There, a temple loomed against the mountains. The temple looked ancient; most of the carvings on it had worn away by the wind and rain, covered in moss.


    Standing here, everyone felt a cold shiver. Something was inside, and maybe the answers they wanted were there too.


    They stood in front of the door, feeling a mix of excitement. But there was something else that thrilled them more.


    Zuo Qing had always looked at Yu Xiao with awe, but now her eyes showed something else.


    ¡°Sister Smiley,¡± Zuo Qing faltered, ¡°Is it really okay for you to mess with the attending doctor?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Yu Xiao shrugged, ¡°Even if there is a problem, I can¡¯t do anything about it.¡±


    The crowd looked uneasy, thinking that she was the top dog for a reason; she even dared to mess with the attending doctor. After all, in a way, the attending doctor was more frightening than the ultimate big boss. They always steered clear of him if they could.


    ¡°I¡¯m going in,¡± Yu Xiao told them, ¡°If anything happens, call me.¡±


    ¡°Smiley, be careful,¡± Zhao Lan said anxiously.


    ¡°Smiley, you better scream if something goes wrong. It might be too late to call.¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen lifted a mahjong box and said, ¡°We¡¯ll come running as soon as we hear you!¡±


    Yu Xiao nodded, then headed for the door. The villagers guarding the entrance swung open the temple¡¯s huge doors, exposing a dark and deep interior. Yu Xiao stepped in, holding a torch high, and the door slammed shut behind her.


    Suddenly, silence wrapped around her, and under her feet was a faint passage of unknown length, leading to a mysterious destination.


    She pushed on, her torch barely lighting up the way ahead, with only the echo of her footsteps in her ears.


    She walked and walked until at last, she heard something else ¨C the sound of water.


    The narrow, dark passage opened up to a wide area. Yu Xiao almost slipped on the wet ground, catching herself just in time to see the slick surface under her feet.


    She moved ahead cautiously with the torch, and came across a pool of water.


    The deep blue water hid everything below. As Yu Xiao looked around, she saw creepy shapes of monsters carved into the stone walls around the pool, looking especially sinister in the flickering firelight.

 Chapter 34: Monster Inside the Temple

    This temple was a joke. Where were the statues, the altars, the offerings? What kind of god would accept such a barren place?


    Yu Xiao scanned the dark chamber, looking for a clue. Her eyes landed on the pool of water in the centre, reflecting the flickering flames of the torch she held. Something lurked in the depths, she was sure of it. The water rippled and swirled, as if disturbed by a restless presence.


    Yu Xiao felt a surge of fear, but also curiosity. Gu Jing Rong had said his father visited this temple, and returned unharmed with a piece of meat. So it should be safe, right? Yu Xiao took a few steps back, but not enough to turn and run. She wanted to see what would happen next.


    ¡°Gurgle, gurgle¡­¡±


    The water gurgled and bubbled, rising into a dome-like shape. Foam and froth spilled over the edges, creating a sickening sound. Yu Xiao gagged, smelling a foul stench. It was like rotten fish, mixed with blood and bile. She clamped her hand over her nose, trying not to vomit.


    The dome burst, sending a shower of water everywhere and drenching Yu Xiao. Yu Xiao squinted, wiping her face. She saw a huge shape emerge from the pool, blocking out the light. It was an octopus, but unlike any she had ever seen. Its tentacles were thick and long, reaching the walls and the ceiling. Its body was massive, dwarfing the temple itself. It had no eyes, but it had a mouth. A mouth full of razor-sharp teeth.


    Yu Xiao froze, feeling its attention on her. It was aware of her, and it was hungry. She felt a crushing weight on her chest, as if the air was being squeezed out of her lungs. She wanted to run, but her legs wouldn¡¯t move. She wondered if the talismans in her pocket would do any good. They were supposed to protect her from evil spirits, but this thing was no spirit. It was a monster.


    Yu Xiao held her breath, staring at the monster with dread. The monster stared back, its mouth gaping and its tentacles twitching. It was sizing her up, she knew it. It was waiting for the right moment to strike.


    Yu Xiao wondered if she should make a run for it, but before she could decide, the monster moved. It whipped a long tentacle and smashed it against the cave wall.


    ¡°Moo!!!!¡±


    The sound was deafening, echoing through the chamber. The monster howled in agony, its blood splattering the rocks. Yu Xiao gasped, feeling a surge of confusion and recognition. What was the monster doing? Why was it hurting itself? Why did this scene seem so familiar? It reminded her of something she had done in Dr Gu Shu house¡­


    ¡°Bang!¡±


    ¡°Bang!¡±


    The impact shook the temple, sending vibrations to the outside. The three people waiting at the gate felt it. The gate rattled, and dust rained down.


    Zhao Lan¡¯s expression darkened. ¡°Smiley!¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen shouted, ¡°We have to go in! I¡¯ll deal with the villagers, Lan Jie, you follow me!¡±


    They were about to storm in, but someone blocked their way. Zhao Lan glared at the intruder. It was Luo Jin, standing in their path. Zhao Lan was ready to explode, but Lu Xun intervened. ¡°Calm down.¡±


    ¡°Sister Smiley is in trouble!¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen cried, ¡°If you don¡¯t care about her, at least let us go!¡±


    Lu Xun shook his head. ¡°She¡¯s probably fine for now.¡± He gestured at the villagers who were guarding the entrance. ¡°Look at them, they¡¯re not worried at all. Even though the temple is shaking, they don¡¯t react. It means that this happens often, and they¡¯re used to it.¡±


    Zhao Lan felt a pang of worry for Yu Xiao, but as Lu Xun had pointed out the villagers, she took a deep breath, trying to calm herself. She asked, ¡°What¡¯s in there? What¡¯s causing all this noise?¡±


    Lu Xun shrugged. ¡°You¡¯ll see when Zhou Xiao gets out.¡±


    ¡°Pa!¡±


    A wet thud interrupted them.


    Yu Xiao bent down to inspect the object that had landed in front of her. It was a chunk of flesh, torn from the monster¡¯s body. The monster had slammed its tentacles against the temple wall, flinging a piece of itself to Yu Xiao.


    It was a gift, Yu Xiao realised.


    She fought back the urge to vomit, and reached for the flesh. The monster had settled down, hovering silently on the water. It fixed its gaze on Yu Xiao for a second, then sank back into the depths.


    ¡°Moo¡­¡±


    Yu Xiao clutched the cold, slimy meat, and recalled what Gu Jing Rong had told her. His father had begged for a piece of meat in the temple, and by eating it, he had escaped death¡¯s grasp. This meat had the power to heal.


    So, this was the god that the villagers worshipped. This beast that lived in the pond.


    But then, a question nagged at her: if the monster¡¯s meat could cure diseases and save lives, why had the former village chief let so many villagers die from illness? Why hadn¡¯t he just entered the temple, asked for more meat from the beast, and solved the problem?


    Was he too proud or too powerless to do so?


    The temple grew quiet, and after a while, a knock sounded from the door. The villager who was guarding the door opened it, and Yu Xiao appeared behind it.


    ¡°Smiley!¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen breathed a sigh of relief when he saw Yu Xiao emerge unscathed.


    Yu Xiao¡¯s face was ashen, as she stepped out of the temple. The others crowded around her, eager to know what had happened. Lu Xun demanded, ¡°What did you see in there?¡±


    Yu Xiao shook her head. ¡°Let¡¯s go back to the room first, I need clean clothes.¡±


    They followed her to the shabby room, where she wiped her face with a wet towel and changed her clothes before putting the chunk of meat on the table.


    Everyone recoiled, covering their mouths and noses.


    ¡°Jesus, that reeks!¡±


    ¡°What the fuck is that?¡±


    Zhao Lan, holding her nose, recognized it. ¡°Is this the meat that Gu Jing Rong talked about?¡±


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Yu Xiao confirmed.


    ¡°Yuck,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen grimaced, looking at the bloody and blurry lump of flesh, ¡°That¡¯s disgusting.¡±


    Lu Xun prodded the meat with his finger, curious. ¡°How did you get this?¡±


    Yu Xiao told them what she had witnessed in the temple, then added, ¡°It¡¯s weird. If the monster¡¯s meat can heal people, why did the old village chief let so many villagers die from sickness?¡±


    ¡°Maybe the monster was behind the plague.¡± Wang Yang speculated, ¡°Otherwise, how do you explain the sudden outbreak?¡±


    Zuo Qing disagreed, shaking her head. ¡°I doubt it. The temple has been in the village for ages. It doesn¡¯t make sense for the monster to start a plague now.¡±


    Lu Xun frowned, trying to make sense of it. ¡°What did you do or say when you went in?¡± he asked. ¡°Did you provoke it or appease it?¡±


    Yu Xiao shuddered, remembering the horror. ¡°I did nothing but stand there like a fool,¡± she said. ¡°I never expected to see such a huge monster in the temple. I just stood there, and the monster eyed me for a while, then began to thrash against the walls. It tossed me the meat, then retreated into the water.¡±


    Lu Xun scratched his head. ¡°That¡¯s odd. The monster hurt itself to give you a piece of meat, and it didn¡¯t ask for anything in return?¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen pondered for a moment and said, ¡°Maybe the monster found Sister Smiley pretty and wanted to impress her.¡±


    Everyone: ¡°¡­¡±


    Sun Yun snorted, ¡°I agree Sister Smiley is beautiful, but how do you know if the monster shares our standards of beauty?¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen countered, ¡°Then what do you think is the reason?¡±


    Sun Yun¡¯s face turned serious, as she thought hard. ¡°Maybe the monster was trying to make a deal?¡±


    Lu Xun nodded. ¡°That¡¯s possible, but we still don¡¯t know if the monster is behind the plague.¡±


    Zhao Lan chimed in. ¡°If that¡¯s true, it¡¯s too easy.¡±


    Lu Xun rested his chin on his hand. ¡°It might not be that easy,¡± he said. ¡°We¡¯ve encountered a lot of trouble since we came to the village, but we¡¯ve managed to overcome it. And it was only Zhou Xiao who went into the temple. Who knows what would happen if we all barged in? And then there¡¯s Dr Gu Shu. What will he say?¡±


    Yu Xiao shrugged. ¡°Why don¡¯t we find out?¡± she suggested.


    The others paused, considering her idea. Luo Jin eyed Yu Xiao, asking, ¡°Are you sure Dr Gu Shu won¡¯t kill you?¡±


    Everyone: ¡°¡­¡±


    Yu Xiao coughed, breaking the silence. ¡°Who said I have to be the one to find Gu Shu?¡± she said, sounding earnest.


    The others closed their mouths, thinking that she was too keen on chasing him.


    They agreed to send Lu Xun to look for Gu Shu, while they waited for news.


    Yu Xiao gazed at the meat on the table, mulling over Sun Yun¡¯s words. She asked, ¡°You said the monster wanted to trade something. What do you think it wants?¡±


    Sun Yun rubbed her head, and Zhou Xiao Zhen said, ¡°Maybe a person.¡±


    Everyone turned to her, curious.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen snapped, ¡°What are you looking at me for?¡±


    Zuo Qing said, ¡°Why do you think it¡¯s a person?¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen shrugged. ¡°Don¡¯t monsters eat people?¡± she said. ¡°And remember, the night we got here, we learned that the villagers sacrifice strangers to their god.¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen had a point. Yu Xiao stared at the chunk of flesh, wondering what would happen if she failed to give the monster what it desired.


    Zhao Lan suddenly recalled something. ¡°Hey, if they need a person to get the monster¡¯s meat, then who did Gu Jing Rong trade for the piece he ate?¡±


    *


    *


    Lu Xun felt nervous as he went to find Gu Shu. But when he met the doctor, he was surprised by his behaviour. Gu Shu was very friendly, even pouring him a cup of tea.


    ¡°Thank you.¡± Lu Xun took the cup, feeling a mix of emotions.


    He had faced so much trouble over the years, and this was the first time a doctor had offered him tea. It was strangely comforting.


    Gu Shu greeted him with a warm smile. ¡°What can I do for you?¡±


    Lu Xun put down his teacup. ¡°I wanted to know if the plague has anything to do with the monster in the temple.¡±


    Gu Shu shook his head. ¡°No, it doesn¡¯t.¡±


    Lu Xun nodded, not surprised. He had more questions, but he knew better than to press the doctor. He got up and headed for the door, but he cast a backward glance at Gu Shu¡¯s house. He wondered what would have happened if Zhou Xiao Zhen had been here. She wouldn¡¯t have given up so easily.


    *


    *


    ¡°Ah, Qiu!¡± Yu Xiao pinched her nose. ¡°We can¡¯t keep this meat here. It stinks too much.¡±


    Wang Yang eyed the chunk of flesh. ¡°Why don¡¯t we cook it and eat it tonight?¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    The others stared at him, speechless. Zuo Qing said, ¡°Are you serious? You want to eat that?¡±


    ¡°Why not?¡± Wang Yang shrugged. ¡°Maybe it has some healing properties. Who knows, it might even save our lives.¡±


    Yu Xiao shook her head. ¡°We haven¡¯t given the monster what it wanted; who knows if it will seek revenge? None of us can eat this meat.¡±


    ¡°Then what do you propose we do?¡±


    Yu Xiao bit her lip, a sudden idea flashing in her mind.


    *


    *


    The new village chief Gu Jing Rong had just finished his dinner and was ready to retire for the night. He felt a smug satisfaction that none of his five wives had come back yet. He looked forward to a night of undisturbed sleep.


    He kicked off his shoes, but before they hit the floor, he heard footsteps outside.


    ¡°Bang!¡± The door flew open, and his five wives barged in, glaring at him like five avenging angels.


    Gu Jing Rong¡¯s hands shook, and his shoes dropped into the water basin.


    Yu Xiao walked in, scanning Gu Jing Rong from head to toe. ¡°How are you feeling today? Any discomfort in your body?¡± S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Gu Jing Rong was taken aback by this sudden show of care. After all, his wives were usually so difficult, but they were still his wives¡­


    He felt a pang of gratitude and said, ¡°I¡¯m fine today.¡±


    Yu Xiao frowned. ¡°Don¡¯t you wish you weren¡¯t?¡±


    Gu Jing Rong blinked. ¡°What?¡±


    Yu Xiao spun around and looked at the other four. ¡°Who¡¯s the lucky one?¡±


    Luo Jin stepped forward. ¡°It¡¯s me.¡±


    Gu Jing Rong¡¯s eyes widened in horror as Luo Jin advanced toward him. ¡°What are you doing? Stay away from me¡­ Get back¡­¡± He backed away, but there was nowhere to go. ¡°Don¡¯t touch me¡­ Ah!!!¡±


    A villager ran to the door of Gu Shu¡¯s house, yelling, ¡°Doctor Gu Shu, something¡¯s wrong! The village chief is hurt; you need to see him!¡±

 Chapter 35: Playing Mahjong in the Stinky Outhouse

    Dr Ge Shu reached the village chief¡¯s house and spotted a figure at the entrance¡­ a young woman?


    He felt a chill run down his spine. He was supposed to be the doctor here, so why did he feel like a victim? He had hoped for a peaceful assignment, but now he wanted nothing more than to leave. As soon as he cured these patients, he would look for another place, one with fewer people and fewer secrets.


    Yu Xiao fixed her gaze on Dr Ge Shu, and spoke only when he came closer. ¡°Dr Ge Shu, you¡¯re here.¡±


    Dr Ge Shu saw a shadow in the corner, peeking at them.


    Every time he faced Yu Xiao, his heart twisted, and her words made his hands shake. He hated her with a passion, but he was powerless to do anything, trapped in his own misery.


    ¡°Dr Ge Shu, you¡¯ve done so much,¡± Yu Xiao walked next to Dr Ge Shu, her eyes scanning him like claws from head to toe. ¡°Coming here so late at night.¡±


    Dr Ge Shu bit his tongue, heading for the door of Gu Jing Rong¡¯s room. He was about to open it, when a warm hand touched his.


    He flinched, and Yu Xiao pulled back her hand, pretending to be scared. She gave him a coy look. ¡°Dr Ge Shu, please don¡¯t act like that. I¡¯m a married woman.¡±


    Dr Ge Shu: ¡°¡­¡±


    He pushed the door open, and saw a broken man on the bed.


    Dr Ge Shu walked over, and stood by the bedside, looking at Gu Jing Rong. He noticed the tears in Gu Jing Rong¡¯s eyes, the empty stare, the lack of interest in life. He sensed something was very wrong.


    Dr Ge Shu asked, ¡°Where does it hurt?¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s hurt in the stomach,¡± Yu Xiao cut in from the side.


    Dr Ge Shu wanted to tell her to shut up, but he held his tongue. He was a refined doctor, after all. He lifted the blanket, pulled up Gu Jing Rong¡¯s clothes, and exposed a dark bruise on his stomach.


    Gu Shu¡¯s eyes darted from the bruise to the pale face of Yu Xiao. ¡°What happened to him? Please don¡¯t tell me he fell.¡±


    Yu Xiao smiled faintly, her voice calm and composed. ¡°He got beaten up,¡± she said. ¡°Anyone with eyes can see it.¡±


    ¡°Who beat him?¡±


    ¡°Who else could it be?¡± Yu Xiao shrugged, playing with the hem of her dress. She looked like a child caught stealing candy, not a woman who had just committed a heinous act. ¡°It was me,¡± she confessed, as if it were nothing.


    Gu Shu was taken aback by her honesty. He couldn¡¯t believe what he was hearing. Curiosity got the best of him and he couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°Why?¡±


    He regretted it as soon as the words left his mouth. He knew he had made a mistake, a grave one. He felt a familiar sensation, the sensation of falling into a trap.


    He saw it in her eyes, the flash of anger and hurt. She glared at him, her voice dripping with venom. ¡°You don¡¯t know?¡± she spat. ¡°You really don¡¯t know?¡±


    Gu Shu wished he could take back his question, but it was too late. He was trapped to learn her reason.


    She leaned closer to him, her breath hot on his ear. ¡°It was because of you, Dr. Gu Shu. You broke my heart that day, when you rejected me. You made me love you, and then you pushed me away. You left me with no choice, but to marry him.¡± She gestured to the man on the bed, who was barely conscious. ¡°But I never loved him, I never wanted him. I only wanted you. And I couldn¡¯t stand the thought of him touching me, of him claiming what was yours. So I hit him. I hit him hard. I hit him until he stopped moving.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡± Gu Shu clenched his fists.


    On the bed, Gu Jing Rong let out a whimper. He opened his eyes, tears streaming down his face. ¡°Why¡­why are you doing this to me¡­¡± he sobbed. ¡°I don¡¯t want to live anymore¡­¡±


    Gu Shu: ¡°¡­¡±


    Yu Xiao turned to him, her expression innocent and sweet. ¡°Dr. Gu Shu, aren¡¯t you going to help him?¡± she asked. ¡°You can¡¯t just let him die, can you?¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    As Gu Shu made his way out, he collided with a woman in the yard. She was Gu Jing Rong¡¯s mother, a widow who had lost her husband recently. She wore flashy clothes and jewellery, as if to defy her grief. She glared at Gu Shu with a look of hatred.


    A cold shiver ran down Gu Shu¡¯s spine. He was used to the NPCs in the game world showing respect and fear for the attending doctor. Why was she looking at him with such hostility?


    He didn¡¯t have to wait long for the answer. Before he could leave the yard, she spat out, ¡°Keep your filthy hands off my daughter-in-law, you hear me?¡±


    A chorus of gasps echoed from the shadows. The villagers who had been watching the scene were shocked. It seemed that there was some gossip between Dr. Gu Shu and the village chief¡¯s wife.


    Gu Shu didn¡¯t say a word. He just turned and walked away, strengthening his resolve to leave this annoying place.


    Not long after Gu Shu left, the others entered the room. Zhao Lan grabbed Gu Jing Rong and dumped him on the floor.


    Yu Xiao asked, ¡°Is everything done?¡±


    ¡°Done,¡± Lu Xun said. ¡°Lao Luo has already buried that piece of meat in Gu Shu¡¯s house.¡±


    ¡°Hehe.¡± Yu Xiao laughed wickedly. ¡°Even if something goes wrong, we won¡¯t be the ones to suffer.¡±


    Lu Xun studied Yu Xiao, impressed by her skill. She must have done this before, he thought. She must have fooled the attending doctor many times.


    He wondered, are there people like her in the Fourth Hospital? These three were so different from the others, so twisted and odd. They couldn¡¯t be from the Fourth Hospital. He would have known if they were.


    At night, Yu Xiao lay in bed, restless and alert. She had seen too many strange things since she came to the village. She felt that there was a link between them, a hidden truth.


    ¡°Gu Jing Rong,¡± Yu Xiao asked, ¡°Did anything happen in the village when your dad went to the temple to pray for meat last year?¡±


    Gu Jing Rong, who was lying on the floor in pain, didn¡¯t dare to move. He said, ¡°Nothing¡­ nothing happened.¡±


    Yu Xiao looked at his pathetic face and knew he was useless. She didn¡¯t bother to press him. She rolled over, pulled the blanket over her shoulders, and fell asleep.


    The night shift fell on Sun Yun and Zuo Qing that evening. Zuo Qing had barely slept the previous night, and her day had been filled with exhausting tasks. As the darkness enveloped the room, she felt her eyelids growing heavy.


    She slumped on a chair by the door, drifting into a fitful sleep. In her dreams, she smelled something foul and rotten ¨C the reek of an rural outhouse.


    The smell was so strong, she jerked awake, unsure if it was the stink or the cramp in her neck that disturbed her. The room was shrouded in blackness, the kerosene lamp having flickered out sometime ago. She reached for her phone to check the time; surely, it was time to switch shifts.


    Then she heard it. A wet, crunching sound, like someone gnawing on a bone. It came from the bed, where Zhang Feng lay.


    Zuo Qing felt a surge of fear, her hair rising on her scalp. She bit her lip, trying not to scream. She held her breath as she turned on her phone¡¯s flashlight casting a faint light on the room. And then she saw it. A black shape, standing over Zhang Feng¡¯s bed.


    The dark shape sensed the light, and spun around, , a bloody arm dangling from its mouth.


    ¡°Ahhhhh!¡±


    *


    *


    The knocking on the door woke up Yu Xiao. Luo Jin was already up, heading for the door. ¡°I¡¯ll check it out.¡±


    He opened the door, and saw Zuo Qing, pale and terrified. He asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s back. The ghost is back.¡± Zuo Qing¡¯s voice quivered. ¡°It ate Zhang Feng¡¯s arm.¡±


    Yu Xiao and the others ran to the scene. Zhang Feng was still unconscious, and Wang Yang was applying pressure to the wound.


    Lu Xun¡¯s voice broke the silence. ¡°What the hell is this?¡±


    Sun Yun held up a tiny stick of incense, her expression grim. ¡°A trap. I found it in the seams of Zhang Feng¡¯s bed.¡±


    Zuo Qing shuddered as she recalled the horror. ¡°We¡¯ve been checking under the beds every night since someone lit incense under Sister Smiley¡¯s bed. But this one was cleverly hidden in the fabric. I was on night duty, but I nodded off. I woke up to a nauseating stench and saw a black shadow by Zhang Feng¡¯s bed, tearing at his hand with its teeth.¡±


    Nauseating stench? That must be the same ghost that had chased Yu Xiao before. She looked at Zhang Feng, who lay still and pale, and handed Wang Yang two talismans. ¡°Use these on him.¡±


    Wang Yang recognized them as life-saving talismans, and thanked her gratefully. He wasted no time in placing them on Zhang Feng¡¯s wound.


    Yu Xiao examined the incense in her hand, and a thought struck her. The former village chief had died, but there was no incense in the mourning hall. That was odd¡ªdidn¡¯t the dead deserve incense?


    And what about the ghosts in the village? There was not a single ghost in the cemetery. Why were they haunting the village? Could they be linked to the plague that had ravaged the village?


    ¡°I have an idea,¡± Yu Xiao announced to the others. ¡°Let¡¯s catch that ghost.¡±


    Lu Xun smirked and gestured at the incense. ¡°Catching ghosts is a piece of cake. Just light this and toss it under someone¡¯s bed while they sleep.¡±


    How convenient. They had the perfect bait.


    They returned to the village chief¡¯s house, where Gu Jing Rong was snoring in bed. He had suffered enough on the hard floor for two nights. Now that the troublesome guests were gone, he seized the chance to enjoy a comfortable sleep.


    Yu Xiao lit the incense and slid it under Gu Jing Rong¡¯s bed, then joined the others in hiding in the room.


    They waited for about twenty minutes, until Yu Xiao heard footsteps. Then a foul smell assaulted her nose, and she saw a dark figure emerge in the room.


    Yu Xiao pinched her nose and peered through the darkness, puzzled by the ghosts¡¯ pitch-black appearance, which obscured any features.


    The shadowy figure strode towards the bed, stopping at the edge, and then leaned over.


    At that instant, a figure leaped out from beside the bed, clutching a small box, and yelled, ¡°How about a game with me?¡±


    The next second, Gu Jing Rong, who had been sleeping on the bed, bolted upright. Even Lu Xun, who had been lurking in the corner, stiffly emerged from his hiding spot.


    The three humans and one ghost arranged themselves in four directions, shuffling and dealing mahjong tiles.


    Lu Xun, as he played, marvelled, ¡°What kind of prop is this? It¡¯s amazing!¡±


    Gu Jing Rong came to his senses and realised he was on the floor, his hands moving on their own accord to play mahjong. The worst part was that opposite him was a black mass, clearly not of this world.


    He opened his mouth to scream, but he met Luo Jin¡¯s gaze, who was clenching his fist and glaring at him, so he choked back his cry.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen, who was also playing mahjong, remarked, ¡°What is this thing? It reeks. Is it a shit ghost?¡±


    Yu Xiao was always reluctant to talk about her experience; this ghost had once been forced into a cesspit by her. She cleared her throat awkwardly and said, ¡°Never mind that; let¡¯s get on with it.¡±


    With that, she pulled out a pile of exorcism talismans and spread them out in front of the dark figure.


    Dark figure: ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°You answer when I ask.¡± Yu Xiao said, ¡°What kind of ghost are you? Why do you eat the person who burns incense under the bed?¡±


    Dark figure: ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°Smiley,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen said, ¡°It looks like it can¡¯t talk.¡±


    Yu Xiao furrowed her brow. Why couldn¡¯t any of these ghosts talk? S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Gu Jing Rong, who looked like he was about to faint, said, ¡°So the legend is true. Burning incense attracts evil spirits. I thought it was just a backward superstition, but it¡¯s real! Waaah, Mom, I¡¯m so scared¡­¡±

 Chapter 36: Haunted by Fire: The Unjustly Departed’s Fear of Water

    Lu Xun wiped the sweat from his brow, faking his way through the mahjong game (he had no clue how to play), and asked Gu Jing Rong with a shaky voice, ¡°What village legends? Why haven¡¯t I heard you mention it before?¡±


    Gu Jing Rong, who was scared out of his wits but oddly defiant, snapped back, ¡°Are we buddies? Why would I share this with you?¡±


    Lu Xun was speechless for a moment; he had to concede that Gu Jing Rong had a point.


    Yu Xiao, who realised that this ghost was mute, turned to Gu Jing Rong and asked, ¡°Did you grow up hearing this legend?¡±


    ¡°No, not really.¡± For some reason, even though his wives were fearsome, Gu Jing Rong feared his eldest wife the most. He said truthfully, ¡°This happened last year.¡±


    Last year? Yu Xiao¡¯s guess was correct; something had occurred in the village last year.


    ¡°Tell me more.¡± Yu Xiao, sipping a cup of tea, sat close by.


    With the formidable wives nearby, Gu Jing Rong gradually lost some of his fear. After some thought, he said, ¡°I was still recovering from an illness then, and I heard it from others. There¡¯s a family that lives on the other side of the river, away from the rest of the villagers, in the northernmost part of our village.¡±


    ¡°Why?¡± Zhao Lan asked, puzzled. ¡°Isn¡¯t the other side of the river a graveyard?¡±


    ¡°Yes, they were outsiders who came to our village a long time ago. My grandfather was the village head then. He took pity on their family and gave them a plot of land on the other side of the river to look after the graves,¡± Gu Jing Rong paused a bit. ¡°Because of that, the villagers didn¡¯t really mingle with them, but their family managed to make a home in the village.¡±


    Gu Jing Rong¡¯s tongue darted out to moisten his lips as he spoke. ¡°They were a family of incense makers, masters of their craft. Their skill brought them wealth and prosperity, until the day the flames devoured them. It was last year, when my parents left me alone in the house. I was feverish and weak, and they never stayed away for so long. I sensed something was wrong in the village. They returned at nightfall, and my mother told me the dreadful news. The family across the river had sparked a fire by accident while making incense, and the whole family of four perished in the flames.¡±


    ¡°Bang!¡±


    A loud noise startled them all, and they turned to see a dark figure slamming a mahjong tile on the table. It was one of the ghosts, a black silhouette with a gaping mouth as its only feature. Yu Xiao could not read any emotion on its faceless form.


    Gu Jing Rong cast a wary glance at the dark figure and went on, ¡°Since then, we stopped burning incense in the village. Everyone says that burning incense lures evil spirits.¡±


    ¡°Poor thing.¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen gazed at the ghost with a different look, ¡°It¡¯s one of the ones who died in the fire from the family across the river, right?¡±


    ¡°Strange.¡± Lu Xun sniffed, ¡°The ones who died in the fire should smell charred, why does it smell like a latrine?¡±


    ¡°Tsk.¡± Yu Xiao was annoyed by his nitpicking, ¡°We¡¯re dealing with serious matters here. Why are you obsessed with the smell? What does it have to do with our situation?¡±


    Lu Xun didn¡¯t get why she was so upset, ¡°I was just wondering.¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen shook her head, ¡°Wondering like that hurts their feelings.¡±


    ¡°¡­Okay, sorry,¡± Lu Xun muttered apologetically.


    Yu Xiao finished her cup of tea and was about to refill it when Luo Jin handed her his empty cup. She looked at him and poured him a full cup of tea.


    Luo Jin gulped down the tea and asked, ¡°When did the plague begin? Before or after the fire?¡±


    Gu Jing Rong paused, ¡°After.¡±


    The answer made Luo Jin put down his teacup with a clatter. He announced to the others, ¡°I have to go back to the graveyard.¡±


    Yu Xiao caught his meaning and nodded. ¡°You think¡­ I¡¯ll come with you.¡±


    Lu Xun looked torn. ¡°Me too. But when will this damn mahjong game end? Can you wait for me?¡±


    Yu Xiao tossed some talismans to Zhao Lan. ¡°Misty, you stay here. If anything goes wrong, you deal with it.¡±


    Zhao Lan pocketed the talismans. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Precious and I can handle anything.¡±


    Yu Xiao gave her a curt nod and followed Luo Jin out of the village chief¡¯s house.


    They reached the riverside again, under the cover of night.


    A cool breeze caressed their faces as Luo Jin kicked off his shoes. He said, ¡°They say the ghosts who burned in the fire are afraid of water. They won¡¯t come near the river.¡±


    Yu Xiao hesitated as she removed her shoes. ¡°So there¡¯s no bridge across the river, to keep the ghosts from crossing?¡±


    Luo Jin didn¡¯t answer. They waded through the water in silence. In the graveyard, Luo Jin scanned the tombstones. Yu Xiao spotted three small mounds at the edge of the field. She walked over, took a closer look, and waved at Luo Jin. ¡°Over here!¡±


    Luo Jin joined her, and they stood together, facing the three graves.


    The stone tablets were crude and worn, but the names were still legible. ¡°Zhang Zhong Shi¡¯s Grave (ÕÅÖÒʵ),¡± ¡°Xie Ai Lian¡¯s Grave (л°®Á«),¡± and ¡°Zhang Cui Cui¡¯s Grave (ÕÅ´ä´ä).¡±


    All the villagers had the surname Gu, except for this family across the river. It was easy for Yu Xiao to find them.


    Luo Jin said, ¡°Four of them died, but only three graves here.¡±


    Yu Xiao nodded. ¡°Three graves here, but we¡¯ve only caught two ghosts.¡±


    They followed the riverbank and soon came across a charred ruin. This must have been the house of that family, reduced to ashes and exposed to the elements for almost a year, now overrun by weeds. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    This old tragedy was full of mysteries. Why were there only three graves, when the whole family burned to death? Why did the villagers destroy the bridge, as if they knew the ghosts would be trapped by the water? Were they afraid of something?


    With a shovel in his hands, Luo Jin returned to the graveyard, shovelling dirt off the village head¡¯s grave. He pried open the coffin and found the corpse untouched, the head still whole.


    He knelt by the coffin, frowning. ¡°Someone or something hates this village. That¡¯s why they destroy the souls of the dead, leaving the graveyard empty and silent. But look at the village head¡¯s head¡ªit¡¯s still there.¡±


    Yu Xiao joined him, crouching. ¡°The ghosts are scared of water. They can¡¯t cross the river, so they can¡¯t touch the village head¡¯s head.¡±


    Luo Jin glanced at the other bank. ¡°But some ghosts did cross the river. They burned on this side, but they made it to the village.¡±


    Yu Xiao shook her head. ¡°Not all of them. There was one who didn¡¯t die in the fire. One who escaped. Remember? We caught a ghost in the river that night.¡±


    ¡°Oh,¡± Luo Jin nodded. ¡°You took the river ghost away, so the other two couldn¡¯t cross anymore.¡±


    Yu Xiao rose to her feet, exhaling. She turned her eyes upstream, where a temple housed a mysterious creature.


    She must have figured out the truth. A year ago, the village head¡¯s son was dying, and the village head begged the temple for a piece of its flesh. But the flesh had a price; a life for a life.


    The village was a clan of old blood, bound by tradition and loyalty. So the village head chose the outsiders, the family across the river.


    They stole their young son to the temple. Later, to cover up or to silence, the village head lit their house on fire. The parents died in the inferno, but the daughter, quick or lucky or helped by her parents, escaped with burns all over her body. She plunged into the river and drowned, charred and wet.


    The village head feared what he had done, and he broke the bridge over the river. He didn¡¯t think that the Zhang girl, Zhang Cui Cui, could swim in death, carrying her parents¡¯ souls with her.


    When they reached the graveyard Luo Jin had already felt no ghostly presence. He guessed that the spirits had all retreated to the village, hiding from them. Yu Xiao had pulled the ghost out of the river, blocking the path of the other ghosts. The village chief¡¯s scheme was foiled.


    Yu Xiao let out a sigh, feeling sick of the grim situation. She loved life, and hated seeing it wasted.


    ¡°We need to find the last ghost, the one that¡¯s been sneaking around,¡± she said, sounding tired. ¡°Do you know how to catch it?¡±


    Luo Jin nodded. ¡°We have something to lure it out.¡±


    Yu Xiao slapped her forehead, remembering. The two ghosts they had were related to the last one. They could use them as bait, and the last ghost would come.


    They headed back, side by side. Yu Xiao thought that Luo Jin, though quiet, was dependable. He was better than that chatterbox, Lu Xun. She complimented him, ¡°You¡¯re a decent guy, brother.¡±


    Luo Jin showed no emotion. ¡°You¡¯re not too bad yourself.¡±


    Yu Xiao rolled her eyes, thinking, was that necessary? She saw him take out his phone and ask, ¡°Want to exchange numbers?¡±


    Yu Xiao raised an eyebrow. ¡°We¡¯re not from the same hospital. What¡¯s the point?¡±


    Luo Jin insisted. ¡°It¡¯s useful. Lu Xun knows a lot of people from other hospitals.¡±


    Yu Xiao didn¡¯t think twice, swapping numbers with him. They walked back to the village chief¡¯s house, where the mahjong game had been abandoned. Lu Xun, whose hair looked like a firework had gone off in it, greeted them with a pathetic look.


    Luo Jin¡¯s gaze was drawn to Lu Xun¡¯s hair as soon as they stepped into the room. He blinked, trying to process what he was seeing.


    Yu Xiao caught on right away and faced Zhou Xiao Zhen, ¡°You did this to Lu Xun?¡±


    ¡°Yeah.¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen folded her arms, her expression hard. ¡°He deserved it.¡±


    Lu Xun sulked, ¡°Fine, fine, I admit it. I deserved it. But enough about me. Did you guys find anything useful on your little trip?¡±


    Yu Xiao scanned the room and finally settled on the ghost they had captured. She said, ¡°Call everyone, Zuo Qing too. We might get out of here soon.¡±


    Zhang Feng had woken up by now. He was pale, but otherwise okay. Losing an arm was not the end of the world in this survival game. It could be fixed, for a price.


    Zhang Feng shrugged it off. He was lucky to be alive, and he didn¡¯t complain about his missing arm.


    Everyone¡¯s faces lit up when they heard they could leave soon.


    Zuo Qing asked, ¡°Who found the clues?¡±


    Lu Xun pointed at Yu Xiao and Luo Jin, ¡°These two did.¡±


    Zuo Qing ignored Luo Jin and gazed at Yu Xiao with awe, ¡°Sister Smiley, you¡¯re incredible. You¡¯re the boss for a reason.¡±


    Yu Xiao replied humbly, ¡°It¡¯s no big deal, really.¡±


    Zuo Qing¡¯s eyes sparkled with admiration as she asked, ¡°How did you do it? Can you tell me, so I can learn from you?¡±

 Chapter 37: Deaf Descendant!!!

    Yu Xiao didn¡¯t believe in learning. She thought it was all about talent. She gave them a quick summary of what had happened and added, ¡°But it was only a guess. We didn¡¯t know for sure if the ghost we were looking for had anything to do with the village plague.¡±


    ¡°It had to be that damn ghost,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen snapped. ¡°I would want revenge too, if I were him.¡±


    Zhao Lan wasn¡¯t convinced. ¡°But the village chief was the one who wronged his family. Why would they kill the whole village?¡±


    Lu Xun, who knew a thing or two about ghosts, said, ¡°Ghosts aren¡¯t like us. They¡¯re made of hate. Hate that twists and grows when they die. They don¡¯t care who they hurt.¡±


    Zuo Qing nodded. ¡°And the villagers never treated them well. They always shunned them. They probably hated them too.¡±


    They reached a lonely spot at the edge of the village. Zhao Lan set the pressure cooker down, peeled off the talisman, and popped the lid. A small, pathetic, and terrified water ghost was curled up inside.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen felt sorry for the ghost. She knew what her family had gone through. She squatted down, and the ghost cringed.


    ¡°It¡¯s okay. You¡¯re Zhang Cui Cui, right?¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen said softly. ¡°We¡¯re not here to hurt you. We just need to find your dad. We might need your help, but don¡¯t fight back. They¡¯re very mean to ghosts that fight back. My sister, Smiley, has a lot of talismans. You don¡¯t want to mess with her¡­¡±


    The ghost was scared before, but now she was terrified. Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s kind words made her feel even more hopeless.


    ¡°Woo¡­ woo¡­ woo¡­¡±


    The ghost¡¯s wails pierced the night, thin and pitiful. Yu Xiao and the others watched as the ghost sobbed, curled up in a ball. Yu Xiao clapped her hands and said, ¡°Precious, you did great.¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen blinked, confused. ¡°What did I do?¡±


    They had planned to use the water ghost as bait for the other ghost. But they didn¡¯t have a clue how to lure it out. Luckily, Zhou Xiao Zhen had scared the water ghost so much that it cried like a baby. That was enough to do the trick.


    The villagers heard the ghost¡¯s cries and shivered. They slammed their windows and locked their doors. They wanted nothing to do with the ghost.


    Mother Gu, who had been sleeping, woke up to the noise. Her heart raced. She threw on some clothes and ran to Gu Jing Rong¡¯s house.


    ¡°Thud, thud, thud!¡±


    ¡°Little Rong, are you awake?¡±


    Gu Jing Rong had a restless night. He had been bothered by too many things. He dragged himself out of bed, opened the door, and said, ¡°Mom, what is it?¡±


    His mother peeked inside the room. It was empty. None of his five daughters-in-law were there.


    ¡°Where are your wives?¡± she asked.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± Gu Jing Rong sounded hopeless. ¡°They never tell me anything. I can¡¯t control what they do.¡±


    ¡°Hmph, you¡¯re useless. You can¡¯t even handle your own wives.¡± The village head¡¯s mother scowled at him, annoyed. Then, she remembered the rumours about his daughters-in-law and the village doctor. And how they were missing at this hour. She couldn¡¯t help but wonder¡­


    Mother Gu couldn¡¯t take it anymore. She needed to find someone, anyone. The middle aged woman stepped outside, and the wails hit her like a punch. She was going to check on the Gu family, but something pulled her in another direction. A dark curiosity. A twisted urge. She had to see. She had to know.


    Mother Gu followed the sound for a while, until she stumbled upon a bizarre sight. All her daughters-in-law were there, along with those weird outsiders. They were huddled around a pressure cooker, and the wails were coming from inside. What the hell?


    The woman was too scared to say anything. She hid behind a tree, and watched in silence. Then, she saw something that made her blood run cold.


    A huge, black shape was moving towards them. Slowly, steadily, inexorably.


    Yu Xiao and the others saw it too. They felt a wave of dread wash over them. Most of them started to choke.


    ¡°Cough, cough, cough, cough¡­¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen clamped her hand over her mouth, hacking like crazy. Zuo Qing and the rest joined her in a chorus of coughs. Only Yu Xiao, Zhao Lan, Luo Jin, and Lu Xun managed to stay on their feet.


    Yu Xiao was still standing, but barely. Her throat was on fire, and her head was spinning. The symptoms got worse as the black shape got closer.


    ¡°There¡¯s the source of the plague, all right,¡± Lu Xun said, his voice tight. ¡°Only those of us with stamina cards can fight it off, but the others need to stay away. Their bodies can¡¯t take it.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll get them out of here,¡± Zhao Lan said.


    She helped Zhou Xiao Zhen and Zuo Qing to a safe distance. Then she saw a shape behind a tree. She narrowed her eyes and said, ¡°Is that village chief¡¯s wife?¡±


    ¡°How dare you call me that?¡± The woman stepped out, brazen and bold. ¡°I¡¯m your mother-in-law, you ungrateful wretch. What are you doing here at this hour? And what is that thing?¡±


    The thing in the pot heard her and stopped moving, as if waiting.


    Zhao Lan felt a surge of loathing. She settled Zhou Xiao Zhen and Zuo Qing and went back to the woman. She yanked her by the arm.


    ¡°Ow! That hurts¡­ What are you doing? Have you gone mad?¡±


    Zhao Lan dragged her to where Yu Xiao and the others were. The woman¡¯s bravado faded as she got closer to the source.


    ¡°Cough, cough¡­ Ghosts¡­ There are ghosts¡­¡±


    ¡°Ghosts? You¡¯re the ones who made them,¡± Zhao Lan snapped, pointing at the water ghost in the pot. ¡°You killed other people¡¯s children to save your own, and burned their families alive. They came back as ghosts and took their revenge, spreading the plague to everyone in the village!¡±


    The pot was supposed to be empty. But when Mother Gu peered inside she saw a face staring back at her. A face that belonged to a dead girl. She screamed and curled up her fat body on the ground. ¡°Get it away from me, get it away!¡±


    Lu Xun sneered. ¡°What¡¯s the matter? You weren¡¯t so scared when you killed her, were you?¡±


    ¡°Killed her?¡± Mother Gu whimpered. ¡°We didn¡¯t kill Them. They killed, they killed themselves. They set themselves on fire.¡±


    ¡°Really? They just decided to burn themselves alive?¡± Zhao Lan grabbed Mother Gu by the hair. ¡°Don¡¯t you dare lie to us!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not lying!¡± Mother Gu sobbed. ¡°We had to sacrifice their son. It was the only way to save mine. His grandfather had taken them in when they were homeless. They should have been grateful. But they were trouble. They made enemies of everyone in the village. And there were others who needed the gods¡¯ help. So we thought, why not offer them all to the gods¡­¡±


    She broke down in tears. ¡°I didn¡¯t murder them. They knew what we were planning. They set the fire themselves. It¡¯s not my fault, it¡¯s not my fault¡­¡±


    ¡°Ugh.¡± Wang Yang couldn¡¯t stand it anymore. He had been coughing up blood now. And he felt something else coming up. ¡°I think I¡¯m gonna hurl¡­ blargh!¡±


    ¡°Yuck¡­¡±


    They all backed away from the vomit, covering their mouths.


    Zhao Lan said, ¡°What do we do now?¡±


    Yu Xiao shrugged. She didn¡¯t care about the woman on the floor, who looked like a lump of dough. She said, ¡°Gu Shu told us to find the cause of the plague. He didn¡¯t say we had to bring it back. This should do, right?¡±


    ¡°Right.¡± Lu Xun nodded. ¡°Let¡¯s go find Gu Shu.¡±


    They supported each other and left the hut. As they did, the pot lid moved. The water ghost crawled out of the pot, shaping itself into a black figure. It stood over Mother Gu, who was still moaning.


    Zhao Lan held Zhou Xiao Zhen steady, while Yu Xiao guided Zuo Qing. Zuo Qing¡¯s face was twisted by sickness, flushed with a strange fever, her eyes flickering between rapture and agony.


    Sun Yun, leaning on Lu Xun, watched her with a mix of pity and disgust. ¡°You¡¯re making a spectacle of yourself.¡±


    ¡°Boss,¡± she said to Yu Xiao, ¡°Let me do you a favour and tell you what Zuo Qing is too shy to admit. She admires you and she wants your number. I can be your messenger, if you like. Or not. It¡¯s up to you.¡±


    Zuo Qing¡¯s face burned brighter, as if she had been slapped. She wished Sun Yun would shut up.


    Yu Xiao looked at her with a curious expression. ¡°You want my number?¡±


    ¡°Yeah.¡± Zuo Qing whispered, barely audible like a mosquito¡¯s hum.


    Yu Xiao repeated, ¡°Do you want the number of Zhuge Liang burning the Spider Web Cave?¡± S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Zuo Qing felt a jolt of confusion, as if she had missed a joke. She didn¡¯t know what she meant, but she nodded anyway. ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t give you the number,¡± Yu Xiao said. ¡°Maybe we¡¯ll cross paths again someday, if fate allows.¡±


    Zuo Qing¡¯s heart sank; Smiley had turned her down.


    They reached the old tree¡¯s house, where the lights were still on. Yu Xiao knocked on the door, ¡°Gu Shu, open up! We¡¯ve solved the mystery. The ghost of Zhang Zhong Shi, the one who died on the other side of the river, he¡¯s the cause of the plague. Come on, open the door¡­¡±


    ¡°I know,¡± Gu Shu¡¯s voice came from inside. ¡°You¡¯ve done well. You can go now.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m going right away,¡± Yu Xiao said, standing by the door. ¡°Don¡¯t you want to see me one last time?¡±


    The house was quiet for a moment, and then Gu Shu said, ¡°Just go.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re cold as ice, you know that?¡± Yu Xiao said, her voice bitter. She turned her back on him, feeling the sting of rejection.


    Lu Xun smiled, unfazed. ¡°Come on, guys, let¡¯s swap numbers, yeah?¡±


    The nine of them disappeared into the night, leaving no trace of their presence in the village.


    Dr Gu Shu brewed himself a cup of tea; he felt a surge of relief as the irritating woman finally left. He was in a good mood, and the tea wasn¡¯t enough to quench his thirst. He thought about getting a bottle of booze.


    He didn¡¯t know that, at that very moment, upstream of the river in the village, a monstrous creature erupted from the temple¡¯s water pool. It thrashed its many tentacles, slashing at the air where it smelled flesh and blood.


    Gu Shu dug out his secret stash of liquor from the cabinet, along with his prized drinking cup. He wondered if he should stay, now that the annoying woman was gone for good.


    Then he felt something and looked up.


    ¡°Boom!¡±


    A loud noise shattered the silence, and Gu Shu¡¯s house crumbled.


    Tentacles sprang from everywhere, wrapping around Gu Shu.


    Trapped like a dumpling, his mind blank, he was about to be dragged into a dark hole, when he realised what was happening.


    A roar of rage shook the village that night.


    ¡°Deaf Descendant!!!¡±

 Chapter 38: Smiley, be My Hero and Sleep with Me!

    They returned to the hospital room, where the plague had no hold on them. Zhou Xiao Zhen collapsed on the bed, sighing with satisfaction. ¡°It¡¯s great to be here again.¡±


    Zhao Lan stared at her phone, eagerly awaiting this time¡¯s harvest.


    Yu Xiao got herself a glass of water and was about to drink when Zhou Xiao Zhen started to reminisce about their adventures in the instance. ¡°Are all the doctors so good-looking?¡±


    Yu Xiao shrugged. She said, ¡°I wanted to tell Gu Shu that I left some of the monster¡¯s meat in his backyard. But he wouldn¡¯t see me, so I just took off.¡±


    ¡°I almost forgot about that.¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen said. ¡°Do you think the monster will show up after we¡¯re gone?¡±


    *


    *


    In the village they left behind, among the debris, a huge beast wriggled its few remaining tentacles, trying to flee into the temple¡¯s pool. It left a trail of broken limbs.


    Gu Shu emerged from not quite dead, some twitching and jerking, tentacle mass on the ground.


    His clothes were torn to shreds, barely covering his privates. His skin was marked with suckers and his hair was ragged, as if a dog had bitten it. He had lost his grace.


    He stood still among the tentacles, for a long time. Then he took out his phone and called a number. He said, ¡°Hey, I need a new job. And do you know a patient called ¡®Deaf Descendant¡¯? I want to be her doctor again¡­¡±


    *


    *


    ¡°Ah, mmm!¡± Yu Xiao stretched on the bed, after a nice shower and checked her texts.


    The messages flashed on the screen, one after another, like a cruel joke.


    ¡¾You have successfully completed the second round of treatment. Welcome to Level 3 of the Sixth Hospital¡¯s patient discussion forum.¡¿ S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡¾Your performance during the treatment was outstanding. You have earned 3 base points and 3 bonus points.¡¿


    ¡¾You have earned the title of ¡®Shit-Hole Destroyer¡¯¡­¡¿


    Yu Xiao: ¡°¡­¡±


    Yu Xiao stared at the words, feeling a surge of horror and humiliation. She knew that this time, she had become the butt of the joke for all six hospitals.


    ¡¾¡­and 4 more bonus points. You have obtained the title of ¡®Ghostly Soul Destroyer¡¯ for 4 points. You have become the ¡®Village Chief¡¯s Wife¡¯ for 4 points. Your current score is 39 points.¡¿


    ¡¾You have topped the leaderboard. You will receive two reward cards; please claim them on the forum.¡¿


    She read the message, but felt nothing. No joy, no pride, no satisfaction. Only a vague and unspeakable sense of dread. She lifted her eyes, and saw the same expression mirrored on the faces of the other two.


    Zhao Lan sighed and put down her phone. She touched her chest lightly, as if to soothe her racing heart.


    ¡°It¡¯s okay, it¡¯s okay,¡± she muttered to herself. ¡°Having a title is a good thing. It means you¡¯re strong. It means you¡¯re brave. It means you will live longer. You can do this, Zhao Lan. You have to believe in yourself.¡±


    Yu Xiao didn¡¯t ask. She would find out everything tomorrow morning, when the whole world would know.


    She opened the leaderboard, and saw that Zhou Xiao Zhen was still in second place, and Zhao Lan in third. She clicked into the backstage, where two reward cards awaited her. One for physical fitness, and one for props.


    Yu Xiao felt her heart pounding in her chest. She could barely contain the excitement in her voice as she announced to her sisters, ¡°I have something amazing to show you. I¡¯ve got a prop card!¡±


    ¡°Really?¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen gasped in delight. ¡°That¡¯s wonderful! We have props again!¡±


    Zhao Lan smiled warmly. ¡°Precious and I were lucky enough to get stamina cards this time. We didn¡¯t expect much from the harvest. Smiley, don¡¯t keep us in suspense. Open it and see what prop it is.¡±


    Yu Xiao wasted no time in opening the prop card. The screen erupted in a shower of sparks, and in the midst of the brilliant spectacle, a dark, tangled heap emerged.


    ¡¾Congratulations! You have obtained a permanent wig.¡¿


    ¡°¡­¡±


    A stunned silence followed. Zhou Xiao Zhen broke it with a suggestion, ¡°I think this prop is more suitable for us than for Smiley.¡±


    Zhao Lan ran a hand over her smooth scalp and sighed. ¡°What can we do with this wig?¡±


    ¡¾Instructions: When the patient wears the wig, they can shapeshift into anyone the patient has ever laid eyes on. Cooldown time: 24 hours.¡¿


    ¡°Holy crap!¡±


    ¡°Awesome!¡±


    Zhao Lan¡¯s eyes lit up with joy. ¡°This prop is useful!¡±


    ¡°Come on, Smiley,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen said eagerly as she closed in on her, ¡°Put on the wig and turn into my dream man before I take you to bed!¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    Yu Xiao never imagined props could have such a purpose; it only showed how her imagination was too lacking.


    She cleared her throat and said awkwardly, ¡°Maybe we shouldn¡¯t use props so recklessly.¡± She added, ¡°Besides, we don¡¯t even have them yet.¡±


    ¡°Ugh, the delivery is taking forever.¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen let go of Yu Xiao and started to ponder which male god she would make Smiley impersonate.


    Zhao Lan checked her card and said, ¡°I always get these physical fitness cards. I feel like I¡¯m going to morph into the Hulk any day now.¡±


    ¡°I haven¡¯t used mine either.¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Misty, you¡¯ll be as strong as the Hulk, but you¡¯ll still look as stunning as ever.¡±


    Yu Xiao activated her physical fitness card too, gaining a +30 boost and unlocking the achievement of having the strength of an ox.


    ¡°Nine cows and two tigers¡­¡± Zhao Lan stared at her achievement, feeling a mix of pride and dismay. As a universally recognized sexy beauty, she never expected to be linked to the phrase ¡°nine cows and two tigers.¡±


    The three of them chatted while they waited for the delivery. What Yu Xiao didn¡¯t know was that she had become a sensation in the Hospital Forum.


    A few minutes ago, a new post popped up on the patient exchange forum.


    ¡¾I Met a Top Player in the Instance!¡¿


    The OP gushed about how she met the top player.


    ¡¾¡­The first time I saw her, I knew she was special. Then at night she woke us up and told us in a cool voice that she had chased a ghost across half the village. She even showed us a bunch of talismans, a huge bunch¡­¡¿


    ¡¾Wow, is the top player this badass? Which hospital¡¯s top player is she?¡¿


    ¡¾She¡¯s a real top player, keep it up, OP!¡¿


    ¡¾We can only admire from afar¡­¡¿


    ¡¾She¡¯s the top player from the Fourth Hospital, ¡®Zhuge Liang burning the Spider Web Cave¡¯! She¡¯s a young lady, a very beautiful one!! She¡¯s my idol, I adore her, I want to be like her¡­¡¿


    The OP was thrilled, but the bystanders were doubtful.


    ¡¾¡¯Zhuge Liang burning the Spider Web Cave¡¯? A woman? No way. I¡¯ve heard some tales about him from the morning news, he doesn¡¯t sound like a lady.¡¿


    ¡¾Is the original poster hallucinating? Or maybe writing a novel. ¡®My Secret Romance with the Top-ranking Big Shot.¡¯¡¿


    ¡¾I don¡¯t care if it¡¯s fake, I love this kind of novels. More, original poster, more!¡¿


    ¡¾The original poster is telling the truth; I can vouch for that. I was in the same instance. The big shot is really badass. When she saw me wounded, she immediately pulled out two talismans to heal me¡­¡¿


    ¡¾Hmph, I knew you wouldn¡¯t trust me. Let me recount the whole instance, so you can see the amazing feats of the top-ranking big shot¡­¡¿


    ¡°Knock, knock, knock.¡±


    ¡°Delivery!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m here! I¡¯m here!¡± Yu Xiao rushed to get the delivery, tore it open, and found a large curly wig inside.


    ¡°Wow!¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s voice dripped with envy as she cried out, ¡°This wig is¡­ I would be over the moon wearing it, and even more so seeing someone else wear it. Smiley, put it on now. I¡¯ve made up my mind, you¡¯ll turn into the twenty-year-old version of Leonardo.¡±


    Yu Xiao¡¯s face paled. ¡°Are you sure this is a good idea?¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen said, ¡°We just got a new prop, don¡¯t we want to try it out?¡±


    She had a point, so Yu Xiao put the wig on, muttering under her breath, ¡°Leonardo at twenty, Leonardo at twenty¡­¡±


    All of a sudden, a shocked gasp escaped Yu Xiao¡¯s mouth as Zhou Xiao Zhen, like a ravenous beast, leaped on her, hugged her tightly, and planted a passionate kiss on her cheek.


    ¡°Wuuu¡­¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen sobbed, ¡°I¡¯m dying happy¡­¡±


    ¡°Come on, come on, it¡¯s not that serious,¡± Yu Xiao said in a panic and turned to Zhao Lan, ¡°Misty, help me get her off.¡±


    But Zhao Lan stayed on the side, her face glowing, gazing at Yu Xiao. After a long pause, she said, ¡°Smiley, you¡­ you look so real, even your voice.¡±


    ¡°Smiley, let¡¯s share a bed tonight,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen said, her curiosity rising, ¡°Are you also Leonardo under your clothes?¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°Come on, let¡¯s take a selfie together.¡±


    ¡°I want to take a selfie cuddling with Leonardo¡­¡±


    That night, three beds were joined together, and Yu Xiao slept in the center. Zhou Xiao Zhen stubbornly refused to let Yu Xiao remove her wig early. She explained with tears in her eyes that she didn¡¯t know if she would ever make it out of the hospital and hoped Yu Xiao could ease her sorrowful yet short life.


    After hearing that, Yu Xiao couldn¡¯t say no. Besides, Zhou Xiao Zhen promised that next time she would wear a wig and become Yu Xiao¡¯s male god to sleep with her.


    Yu Xiao thought, I don¡¯t have a male god like that, but she didn¡¯t reject her because who knows when she might find one?


    *


    *


    In the dimly lit room, Yu Xiao stirred first. Her wig had lost its allure, tangled tendrils framing her face. Beside her, Zhou Xiao Zhen and Zhao Lan snoozed peacefully, their forms entwined with hers, as though she were a Lothario with enchanting companions at her side.


    ¡°Awake, my dears,¡± Yu Xiao tried to wriggle her arms free. ¡°You¡¯ll miss the morning news if you don¡¯t.¡±


    Reluctantly, Zhao Lan¡¯s eyes fluttered open, dismayed to see Yu Xiao¡¯s lovely face. She turned away, gracefully slipping out of bed with a subtle sigh.


    Meanwhile, Zhou Xiao Zhen, having just awakened, cradled her face in her hands. ¡°I had a marvellous dream last night.¡±


    Yu Xiao smiled knowingly. ¡°Dreaming about you and Leonardo?¡±


    ¡°Yeah!¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen nodded eagerly. ¡°We played mahjong together, and he praised me as the finest mahjong player in the world.¡±


    ¡°And then?¡±


    ¡°Then, alas, I awoke.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°We can start posting on the forum now,¡± Zhao Lan said, holding a towel on her way to the bathroom. ¡°Have you decided what the first post should be?¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen thought for a moment, then shook her head. ¡°Not really. What about you, Smiley?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve been pondering this since last night,¡± Yu Xiao said. ¡°At first, I wanted to post an instance strategy. But then I realised my strategy might not work for everyone. But I feel like I should do something, something that can benefit everyone.¡±


    ¡°So, what¡¯s your plan?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m planning to open a shop on the forum,¡± Yu Xiao said earnestly. ¡°I¡¯ll sell talismans at reasonable prices for everyone.¡±


    ¡°Alright.¡± Zhao Lan agreed. ¡°Since you¡¯ve made up your mind, we¡¯ll all back you up.¡±


    Yu Xiao grinned happily. It was wonderful to have friends who firmly supported her choices.


    ¡°Ding dong!¡±


    The familiar notification sound chimed, followed by gentle music. The curtains slowly parted, as if a floral scent drifted in from outside the window.


    ¡°A beautiful day begins now. Here is the morning news from the hospital~.¡±

 Chapter 39: A chain Reaction to the Morning News

    ¡°¡­The old walls of St. Elizabeth Psychiatric Hospital got a fresh coat of paint, and the rusty gates have been oiled and polished. Soon, the hospital would welcome back its old and new guests, eager to cure their troubled minds¡­


    ¡­Meanwhile, at the Sixth Hospital, a sign was posted on the kitchen door: ¡®Wanted: Meal Delivery Person. No experience or skills required. Just a strong stomach and a brave heart. Apply within.¡¯¡­


    ¡­In other news, the Gu Family Village was in turmoil. The venerable Dr. Gu, who had been treating the villagers for decades, had suddenly resigned. The village was now looking for a new attending doctor¡­ preferably with over forty years of experience¡­ S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡­¡±


    The three friends listened to the radio report with disbelief.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen turned to Yu Xiao and asked, ¡°Is this the same Gu Family Village we visited? What made Dr. Gu quit?¡±


    Yu Xiao shrugged. She was just a regular patient at the Sixth Hospital, or so she thought. But something in her gut told her that she had a connection to the village. A connection she would rather deny.


    ¡°Maybe it¡¯s a different village,¡± she said. ¡°Stop asking questions and pay attention to the radio.¡±


    ¡°Yesterday, the Third Hospital announced its latest rankings, and a patient with the nickname ¡®Brother Legend¡¯ rose to the top. Let¡¯s give him a round of applause¡­


    ¡­At the Fourth Hospital, a patient with the nickname ¡®Zhuge Liang burning the Spider Web Cave¡¯ kept his lead. Let¡¯s cheer for him. This patient impressed everyone with his skills during the treatment, earning the honourable titles of ¡®Mighty Restrainer of Men¡¯ and ¡®Village Chief¡¯s Little Concubine.¡¯ Let¡¯s congratulate him once more.¡±


    Yu Xiao¡¯s face fell as she heard the last part. Village Chief¡¯s Little Mistress? Did that mean that either Lu Xun or Luo Jin was ¡®Zhuge Liang burning the Spider Web Cave¡¯? And that she had been pretending to be someone else in front of the real owner¡­


    ¡°¡­And now, for some breaking news. The patient who calls himself ¡®Whispering Monk¡¯ has distinguished himself in yesterday¡¯s treatment, and has been awarded the honourable title of ¡®Village Chief¡¯s Little Concubine.¡¯ Let¡¯s congratulate him.¡±


    ¡°Holy Cow.¡±


    Hearing that, Yu Xiao saw Zhou Xiao Zhen gasp, like she had just figured out something bad.


    ¡°Furthermore, we have another remarkable achievement to report. The patient who is known as ¡®Deaf Descendant¡¯ from the Sixth Hospital has once again surpassed all expectations. Let us extend our warmest commendations to her. She has excelled in the treatment and has obtained three splendid titles: ¡®Shit-Hole Destroyer,¡¯ ¡®Ghostly Soul Destroyer,¡¯ and ¡®Village Chief¡¯s Wife.¡¯ Let us applaud her with enthusiasm¡­¡±


    Clap, clap, clap¡­


    Seriously? There was actually applause? Yu Xiao turned around and spotted Zhao Lan and Zhou Xiao Zhen clapping like crazy.


    ¡°Smiley, you¡¯re my hero,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen said sincerely, ¡°for evermore.¡±


    Zhao Lan sighed, ¡°Getting three titles at once, I bet you¡¯re going to be famous again.¡±


    Yu Xiao had the same feeling, but she thought it had more to do with the content of the titles than the quantity.


    ¡°¡­Moreover, the patient who bears the nickname of ¡®Braised Egg Girl 438¡¯ has performed admirably in yesterday¡¯s treatment, and has earned the illustrious title of ¡®Village Chief¡¯s Concubine.¡¯¡±


    ¡°¡­The patient who is called ¡®Nickname Hassle¡¯ has also shone in yesterday¡¯s treatment, and has received the prestigious title of ¡®Village Chief¡¯s Concubine.¡¯ Let us congratulate her¡­¡±


    After the news ended, the ward went quiet for a long time.


    At last, Zhao Lan broke the silence, summing up with a cup in her hands, ¡°This piece of news¡­ has a lot of info.¡±


    Yu Xiao nodded, ¡°They¡¯re lying; they¡¯re not from the Fifth Ward at all.¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen licked her dry lips and said in a low voice, ¡°Smiley, we can¡¯t exactly point fingers at them, can we?¡±


    Zhao Lan let out a weary sigh. ¡°It¡¯s a game of lies and secrets, that¡¯s all. No harm done. The real problem is, we¡¯ve been posing as Fourth Institute folks, and Smiley here has been impersonating one of them. That¡¯s awkward as hell.¡±


    Yu Xiao shuddered as she remembered the eerie grin on Lu Xun¡¯s face. It reminded her of the time she lied to her teacher about her homework, saying her dog had devoured it, only to have her mom show up and expose her in front of everyone.


    ¡°I want to crawl into a hole,¡± Yu Xiao buried her face in her hands.


    ¡°Smiley, come on. Look on the bright side. We¡¯ll never see them again, right?¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen boasted, ¡°And I said no to Lu Xun when he wanted my number. How smart am I?¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen: ¡°Why the weird face, Smiley? You look spooked.¡±


    ¡°I¡­¡± Yu Xiao covered her face with both hands, ¡°I gave Luo Jin my number.¡±


    ¡°Oh, boy¡­¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen, who had read too few books in her life, was at a loss for words.


    *


    *


    Meanwhile, in a ward of the Fourth Institute, Lu Xun slapped his thigh and exclaimed, ¡°They¡¯re from the Sixth Institute!¡±


    Luo Jin kept his mouth shut, but his eyes widened slightly in shock. Lu Xun was baffled, ¡°But they¡¯re all rookies. How do they have so many talismans?¡±


    Luo Jin pondered for a second and said, ¡°Drawing talismans.¡±


    ¡°Right! She¡¯s a talisman master!¡± Lu Xun paced around the ward with excitement, ¡°And not only can shen draw talismans, she doesn¡¯t seem to mess up often. That¡¯s how she can whip out so many talismans on the spot. Talismans cost a fortune in the mall. If we get cosy with a talisman master, we¡¯ll be rolling in dough¡­ hold on a sec!¡±


    Lu Xun groaned and raked his fingers through his hair, ¡°I didn¡¯t get her numbers. I missed the numbers of all three of them! Oh God!! I had such a golden chance right in front of me, but I wasted it. I¡¯m so full of regret now that it¡¯s gone. If God gives me a do-over, I will surely say to that girl¡­¡±


    Luo Jin: ¡°I got her number.¡±


    Lu Xun: ¡°?¡±


    Lu Xun: ¡°!!!¡±


    *


    *


    They weren¡¯t the only ones who were shocked. At that moment, in two different wards of the Fifth Hospital, things went haywire.


    ¡°What?¡± Zuo Qing blinked, ¡°Did I hear that wrong? ¡®Deaf Descendant¡¯ is the village chief¡¯s wife?¡±


    Sun Yun replayed everything she had heard just now, along with the events in the village before, and had to break the news to Zuo Qing, ¡°I hate to say it, but you were duped. She¡¯s not your idol at all.¡±


    ¡°Woo, she¡¯s my idol too!¡± Zuo Qing sobbed, ¡°All the top players are my idols. Boo hoo, no wonder she didn¡¯t give me her number, she thought my only idol was Zhuge Liang!¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t cry.¡± Sun Yun tried to console her, ¡°Look at it this way. You got to see two idols at once. Did you catch that, ¡®Zhuge Liang burning the Spider Web Cave¡¯ was also in the instance.¡±


    ¡°Woo, that makes me even more miserable¡­¡± Zuo Qing was heartbroken, ¡°I still don¡¯t know who ¡®Zhuge Liang burning the Spider Web Cave¡¯ was.¡±


    Their sadness was ignored, as Zuo Qing¡¯s post from yesterday on the forum was revived and flooded with new comments.


    *


    *


    ¡¾Why is today¡¯s news different from what the OP said?¡¿


    ¡¾Most of it matches, but there¡¯s one twist.¡¿


    ¡¾Didn¡¯t they say ¡®Zhuge Liang burning the Spider Web Cave¡¯ is the main wife? Why is he the concubine now?¡¿


    ¡¾Holy crap, that newbie from the Sixth Hospital is amazing, actually beating the top player from the Fourth Hospital.¡¿


    ¡¾Are you kidding? Both the main wife and the concubine are top players¡­¡¿


    ¡¾I get it now. OP was fooled.¡¿


    ¡¾OP is so pitiful, being fooled by two top players at the same time. LOL.¡¿


    ¡¾Don¡¯t you guys care about the main thing? Can someone tell me how the title ¡®Shit-Hole Destroyer¡¯ was earned¡­¡¿


    *


    *


    The Fifth Hospital forum was buzzing with this, and Yu Xiao was unaware. She received a call from the Fourth Hospital.


    The call connected, and a familiar voice on the other end accused, ¡°You lied to me!¡±


    Yu Xiao put the call on speaker and snapped back in a loud voice, ¡°You lied to us too!¡±


    It was Lu Xun.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen asked, ¡°What do you want?¡±


    ¡°Hehe.¡± Lu Xun wriggled, ¡°We¡¯re so fated, don¡¯t you think? We should stay in touch. It¡¯s been a day, and I miss you guys so much.¡±


    ¡°Huh.¡± Yu Xiao snorted, ¡°If you keep talking like that, I¡¯ll block you.¡±


    ¡°No, please!¡± Lu Xun groaned, ¡°You¡¯re such a young girl, why are you so¡­ ruthless in your actions?¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen butted in, ¡°Smiley, he was totally about to swear at you just now, but he changed his words at the last second.¡±


    Lu Xun complained, ¡°You¡¯re being unfair!¡±


    ¡°Enough, enough, enough,¡± Zhao Lan said, fed up with their bickering, ¡°What¡¯s your reason for calling us?¡±


    Lu Xun hesitated for a moment and then said in a low voice, ¡°Zhou Xiao, you can draw talismans, right?¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    The trio felt a mix of emotions at that moment. On one hand, Lu Xun sounded very earnest, and on the other hand, Yu Xiao realised he still didn¡¯t know her real name.


    ¡°Uh.¡± Yu Xiao rubbed the back of her ear, ¡°Yeah, I can draw symbols. And my name isn¡¯t Zhou Xiao, it¡¯s Yu Xiao.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡± Lu Xun was quiet for a moment. ¡°In the hospital, everyone goes by nicknames. What¡¯s the point of making up fake names?¡±


    Yu Xiao snorted, ¡°Hmph!¡±


    ¡°Alright,¡± Lu Xun knew he needed their help now, so he switched his tone, ¡°Let¡¯s introduce ourselves again. I¡¯m Lu Xun, nickname is ¡®Whispering Monk¡¯.¡±


    ¡°Huh¡­¡±


    The three on the other side all scoffed at him. Lu Xun cleared his throat, ¡°Well, it was just a random pick back then. Lao Luo is ¡®Zhuge Liang burning the Spider Web Cave¡¯, the one you pretended to be.¡±


    Yu Xiao said, ¡°You know my name and nickname.¡±


    Zhao Lan said, ¡°Zhao Lan, ¡®Nickname Hassle¡¯.¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen added, ¡°Zhou Xiao Zhen, ¡®Braised Egg Girl 438¡¯.¡±


    ¡°So, now that we¡¯re officially acquainted, let¡¯s shake hands virtually.¡± Lu Xun said, ¡°Yu Xiao, you can draw talismans, and your success rate is not bad. Let¡¯s be frank, we want your talismans.¡±


    Yu Xiao paused, puzzled, ¡°How? We¡¯re not from the same hospital.¡±


    ¡°But deliveries are linked among all hospitals,¡± Lu Xun laughed, ¡°I admit you¡¯re talented, but you¡¯re still a newbie. There are many things you don¡¯t know. In terms of experience, we veterans from the Fourth Hospital are definitely more savvy. And I can tell you one thing, treatment copies are reusable. Do you know what that means?¡±


    After Lu Xun finished, he heard silence on the other end of the phone. Thinking he had amazed the three newcomers, he smugly continued, ¡°It means that many of the copies we¡¯ve done, you might do in the future. If I share the details of our experiences with you, do you know what that means?¡±


    ¡°Sure,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen said, ¡°It¡¯s like having a cheat sheet.¡±


    Zhao Lan added, ¡°I thought he was going to reveal some awesome news, making me nervous for nothing.¡±


    ¡°Me too, I was really nervous,¡± Yu Xiao spoke into the phone, ¡°I get it now, Lu Xun, you want to benefit from our talismans without giving anything back. You¡¯re really sneaky.¡±

 Chapter 40: Dean’s duties

    Lu Xun was perplexed by the aloof attitude of the three people. He tried to explain, ¡°Do you not get the importance of this? Let me clue you in¡­¡±


    ¡°Alright, cut to the chase,¡± Yu Xiao interrupted, wanting him to save his breath. ¡°First off, there are loads of instances for the treatment dungeons, and there¡¯s no guarantee we¡¯ll end up in the same one you¡¯ve been to. Second off, we have other sources to acquire instance intel.¡±


    ¡­


    Lu Xun had initially thought he would lead this negotiation until he found himself gawking at Luo Jin with a clueless expression. Luo Jin couldn¡¯t stand his dumb look and snatched the phone, saying, ¡°What are you willing to trade for the talismans?¡±


    That¡¯s more like it. Yu Xiao preferred straightforward people, and Lu Xun was too sly to handle. She said, ¡°Anything with points is cool.¡±


    ¡°If we use points, we can buy them in the mall,¡± Luo Jin said slowly, ¡°and it¡¯s not a very handy transaction. Using items is okay, but we need to talk it over.¡±


    ¡°No problem,¡± Yu Xiao replied, ¡°Talk it over, and remember to ring me up later.¡±


    After hanging up, Zhao Lan said, ¡°They are old-timers from the Fourth Hospital, always in the top ten. They must have a lot of items in their inventory.¡±


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Yu Xiao concurred. Although talismans were powerful, items had more magical and diverse functions.


    The trio had three items in their possession, but Yu Xiao¡¯s two were just for support, only Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s mahjong had some oomph. She also wanted to snag a more powerful item for Lan Jie, boosting the strength of all three.


    ¡°The items are best if we can choose them ourselves,¡± Zhao Lan analysed. ¡°Precious¡¯s mahjong doesn¡¯t have a high attack power, mainly control functions. It would be sweet if we could grab a highly damaging item.¡±


    ¡°The powerful ones are probably taken, and they probably won¡¯t part with them,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen said. ¡°Besides, Smiley¡¯s talismans have wicked killing power, totally making up for that flaw.¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Yu Xiao shook her head, remembering the encounter in the ancient village. ¡°My talismans have a lot of killing power against ghosts, but I don¡¯t know about monsters. In case we run into those kinds of monsters again in the temple, I might not be lucky enough to escape in one piece.¡±


    ¡°Smiley is right,¡± Zhao Lan sided with her.


    ¡°But,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen looked at Yu Xiao, ¡°Smiley, your luck is off the charts. You¡¯ve already hit the ¡®Jackpot of good luck¡¯. Have you forgotten?¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    For a moment, Yu Xiao was speechless. Many people said luck was also a part of skill, but probably no one would want to depend on luck for their life, after all, luck was too fickle.


    ¡°Let¡¯s just wait,¡± Yu Xiao said. ¡°Wait for Luo Jin and the others¡¯ answer.¡±


    Anyway, it¡¯s a seller¡¯s market, they don¡¯t need to rush.


    In the following time, the three of them coincidentally opened the forum, starting to brainstorm what to post in the first thread on the Sixth Hospital Patient Forum.


    The Sixth Hospital forum was as empty as a haunted house. Besides the admin¡¯s posted rules, not a single thread was in sight. The three of them were probably the first to reach the forum¡¯s third level. So, their first post had to be handled with utmost care to preserve their status as forum big shots.


    Yu Xiao lay on the bed, originally planning to start a thread selling talismans. But now, she wondered if making her first post a business one would ruin her top-tier image.


    Lost in thought, she opened the Fourth Hospital forum, hoping to find some inspiration and learn a thing or two.


    Once she accessed the Fourth Hospital forum, the first post that caught her eye was:


    ¡¾Top-ranked from the Fourth Hospital reduced to a concubine: moral downfall or human perversion?¡¿


    The title was so enticing that Yu Xiao didn¡¯t hesitate to click into it.


    ¡¾Hey, everyone! Remember our chat on the forum about whether the top-ranked from the Sixth Academy is more badass or the top-ranked from our Fourth Academy is? Do you guys recall?


    Back then, the OP believed it was my bro Dragon who was the most awesome. But many mocked me, saying Dragon might just be lucky, and the rookies from the Sixth Academy, no matter how awesome, can¡¯t match Zhuge¡¯s prowess.


    Hahaha¡­ The god of the Horror Hospital heard my call and actually put my bro Dragon and Zhuge in the same instance. Now, the results are out, right? My bro Dragon is the main wife, and Zhuge is just a concubine! One of the four concubines! Let¡¯s see who dares to mock my bro Dragon now. He¡¯s the face-slapping champ!¡¿


    ¡¾666, I also support Brother Dragon!¡¿


    ¡¾Why is the dragon¡¯s heir so awesome?¡¿


    ¡¾I said it that day, he can¡¯t be called the Dragon¡¯s Descendant because I am the dragon¡¯s Descendant¡­¡¿


    ¡¾Zhuge really disgraced our Fourth Hospital, but thinking that Zhuge is actually a girl, I forgive her.¡¿


    ¡¾Zhuge isn¡¯t a girl; I¡¯ve seen him, he¡¯s a total man!¡¿


    ¡¾If he¡¯s not a girl, how can he be a concubine?¡¿


    ¡¾Who said the village chief must be male?¡¿


    ¡¾Damn, I¡¯ve seen Zhuge too, why is he a concubine? He¡¯s damn handsome, I don¡¯t believe the Dragon¡¯s Descendant is better looking than him!¡¿


    ¡¾¡­¡¿


    The forum was slowly going crazy, but Yu Xiao found it rather amusing. Several times, she felt the itch to join in. Sadly, she wasn¡¯t from the Fourth Hospital and couldn¡¯t chime in on the Fourth Hospital forum. She could only watch with a secretly thrilled heart as people from the Fourth Hospital engaged in fiery debates.


    Hehe, feels kinda nice~


    Scrolling down, she bumped into a post about her.


    ¡¾Let¡¯s discuss why ¡®Dragon Descendant¡¯ is so badass.¡¿


    ¡¾OP was once a newbie too and now reminisces about the time when I first entered the Fourth Hospital. It was pure luck that I didn¡¯t kick the bucket. Being a newbie, I was clueless and timid.


    To be honest, me OP is a tough guy, but during the early days at the Fourth Hospital, I sobbed every night. Let¡¯s not talk about anything else; even having a meal every day was nerve-racking.


    OP is genuinely curious about what kind of person can be so awesome as a newbie.¡¿


    ¡¾I want to know too, but I have to stress, I¡¯m the Dragon¡¯s Descendant, they are definitely not just those two words from the Sixth Hospital!¡¿


    ¡¾I think Brother Dragon must be super brave, as those with small guts usually bite the dust on the first day. Secondly, he must be smart, easily cracking the mysteries within the instance.


    Then, he¡¯s definitely a hunk. Everyone knows, relying only on brains won¡¯t cut it in the instance; you need a certain level of fighting power. Brother Dragon is still a newbie, probably doesn¡¯t have many tools or talismans, so his only support is his own strength.


    I¡¯m sure Brother Dragon has a great body, definitely has an eight-pack, maybe even Schwarzenegger¡¯s type.¡¿


    ¡¾I agree with what the person above said; otherwise, why would the village chief let Brother Dragon be the hubby? He must be strong in that department.¡¿


    ¡¾Are you saying Zhuge can¡¯t do it?¡¿


    ¡¾I never said that; you¡¯re twisting my words!¡¿


    ¡¾¡­¡¿


    Yu Xiao had a wicked urge to call Luo Jin and tell him what someone had said about his skills in bed. But that would mean spilling the secrets of the Fourth Hospital forum, and she couldn¡¯t do that. So she bit her tongue, and let the amusement bubble inside her until she squirmed on the bed like a fish out of water.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen and Zhao Lan had been absorbed in the forum¡¯s debates, but they looked up when they saw Yu Xiao¡¯s antics.


    ¡°What¡¯s up with Smiley?¡± Zhao Lan wondered.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen watched her for a second and said, ¡°She looks like how I used to sneak a peek at spicy stuff in the dorm.¡±


    Zhao Lan felt out of touch. ¡°What¡¯s spicy stuff?¡±


    ¡°The kind that¡¯s ¡®bad¡¯ for you,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen said. ¡°You know, like the literature on Jinjiang Literary City. The kind that would get you banned if you posted it on Jinjiang (www.jjwxc.net).¡±


    ¡°Oh,¡± Zhao Lan said, and sighed. ¡°Youth is a marvellous thing.¡±


    Yu Xiao was still giddy when her phone rang.


    Zhao Lan and Zhou Xiao Zhen dropped their phones, curious if it was Luo Jin.


    Yu Xiao checked the number, and raised her eyebrows. Was this person actually calling her voluntarily?


    ¡°Hello?¡± She answered, and put on a voice as sweet and sly as a fox spirit. ¡°You¡¯re calling me on your own? Do you miss me~?¡±


    The other end was silent for a long time, then said, ¡°St. Elizabeth is getting new patients soon, did you know?¡±


    ¡°I know,¡± Yu Xiao said, ¡°I heard it in the news.¡±


    ¡°The hospital needs a Dean to run smoothly,¡± George said, his voice flat, but Yu Xiao could feel the tension behind it. ¡°When will you come back to St. Elizabeth?¡± S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Er?¡± Yu Xiao hadn¡¯t planned on it. ¡°Do I need to? Is it that big of a deal?¡±


    George went silent for a bit, then said, ¡°Only the Dean can get into the Dean¡¯s office.¡±


    ¡°But¡­¡± Yu Xiao scratched her head, torn. ¡°I¡¯m a patient too, and I need the treatment. Can¡¯t you figure something out? I don¡¯t want to stay in St. Elizabeth all the time. Can I give you the Dean¡¯s job?¡±


    George, who had found out that the old worker, Gu Shu, had bailed on the Gu Family Village, suddenly felt like doing the same.


    ¡°Attending doctors are meant to be just attending doctors,¡± George resisted the impulse to break St. Elizabeth again, saying, ¡°You can be gone sometimes, but when a patient tries to open the door to the Dean¡¯s office, you gotta be there.¡±


    ¡°Fine,¡± Yu Xiao groaned, messing up her hair. ¡°How do I get there?¡±


    George said, ¡°I¡¯ll send you something. With it, you can come back to St. Elizabeth anytime.¡±


    ¡°Fine,¡± Yu Xiao said.


    As George was about to cut the call, Yu Xiao suddenly asked, ¡°Have you missed me while I was away?¡±


    ¡°Beep beep beep¡­¡±


    George hung up.


    ¡°Was that George on the phone?¡± Zhou Lan, who had been snooping silently, nosed, ¡°What did he want with you? Did he miss you?¡±


    Yu Xiao nodded. ¡°Here¡¯s the deal. The main thing is that I have a job to do. I need to fulfil my duties as the Dean of St. Elizabeth.¡±


    ¡°Ah?¡± Zhao Lan gasped, ¡°How do you plan on doing that? Will you just sit in the office like the previous Dean and eliminate anyone who interrupts?¡±


    ¡°Well¡­¡± Yu Xiao scratched her chin, ¡°I forgot to ask George about that.¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen chimed in, ¡°Why don¡¯t you give him another call?¡±


    ¡ª¡ªTN


    Yu Xiao (ÓàЦ) ¡ª Smiley


    ÁûµÄ´«ÈË (l¨®ng de chu¨¢n r¨¦n) Deaf Descendant


    TALISMAN


    ¡¾The Thunder Striking Ghost Repelling Talisman ÔËÀ×´òËî·û (a talisman for warding off evil spirits and summoning thunder) ¡¿


    ¡¾Healing Crisis Talisman (ÁÆΣ»¼·û)¡¿


    TOOLSSunglassespermanent wigTITLESThe Grudge of the Pretty Nurse¡®Saint Elizabeth, Dean Yu.¡¯¡®Chainsaw Maniac¡¯¡®Jackpot of good luck¡¯¡®Shit-Hole Destroyer¡¯¡®Ghostly Soul Destroyer¡¯¡®Village Chief¡¯s Wife¡¯¡®Strong as a bull¡¯


    Zhao Lan (ÕÔá°) ¡ª Misty


    êdzƺÃÄÑ (n¨¬ ch¨¥ng h¨£o n¨¢n) Nickname Hassle


    TOOLSTITLES¡®Tyrant¡¯s Willing Accomplice in Cruelty¡¯¡®Strong as a bull¡¯¡®Nine cows and two tigers¡¯¡®Village Chief¡¯s Concubine¡¯


    Zhou Xiao Zhen (ÖÜСÕä) ¡ª Precious


    ±µ°ÉÙÅ®438 (l¨³ d¨¤n sh¨¤o n¨· 438) Braised Egg Girl 438


    TOOLSMahjongTITLES¡®Tiger¡¯s Devotee¡¯¡®Village Chief¡¯s Concubine¡¯


    ¡®Zhuge Liang burning the Spider Web Cave¡¯


    ¡®Whispering Monk¡¯

 Chapter 41: Return to St Elizabeth

    Yu Xiao¡¯s finger hovered over her contacts list, but then she decided against it. She had a better idea. If she could go back to Saint Elizabeth, why not ask George directly?


    ¡°I¡¯m going to ask him face-to-face.¡± Yu Xiao declared, her curiosity overriding everything else. ¡°He claimed he had something that would let me return to Saint Elizabeth whenever I wanted. I¡¯m dying to know what it is. Maybe it could even work in the treatment instance.¡±


    ¡°Is there such a thing as that?¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s eyes widened with envy. ¡°George has all the good stuff. Smiley, you¡¯re his boss, right? Can¡¯t you take all his stuff?¡±


    Yu Xiao stroked her chin thoughtfully. ¡°Well¡­¡±


    Zhao Lan interrupted them with a sudden announcement. ¡°I¡¯ve posted it.¡±


    Just like that? Yu Xiao hurriedly opened the Sixth Hospital forum. As expected, under the announcement post, there was a fresh thread with a single line.


    ¡¾My nickname is ¡®Nickname Hassle¡¯, this is my first post.¡¿


    ¡°That¡¯s too plain.¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen complained. ¡°Misty, you¡¯re one of the top three on the leaderboard. Your first post should be more impressive. That¡¯s not cool at all.¡±


    Zhao Lan grinned, ¡°Being the first to post is impressive enough. The content doesn¡¯t matter.¡±


    ¡°Misty has a point.¡± Yu Xiao realised she had been overthinking. ¡°Being among the first ones to post on the forum, isn¡¯t that cool enough? Check this out, I posted something.¡±


    ¡¾¡¯Deaf Descendant¡±s Talisman Shop¡¿


    ¡¾To help everyone breeze through the healing instances, the ¡®Deaf Descendant¡±s Talisman Shop is officially open. Special offer at a loss: each talisman only costs 3 points. Limit two purchases per nickname per day. First come, first served!¡¿


    ¡°Blimey,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen gasped, her eyes bulging. ¡°Smiley, you¡¯re amazing. The rest of us can barely post, and you¡¯re already running a business. That¡¯s a huge leap, for sure.¡±


    ¡°The shop charges 10 points for each one, but Smiley sells them for 3 points a piece. It¡¯s a steal. I just hope people can afford it,¡± Zhao Lan said, sounding worried. ¡°Some of them haven¡¯t even entered treatment instances yet.¡±


    Yu Xiao had originally intended to go lower, selling them for 1 point each. But then she realised the problem. If she priced them too low, they would sell out too fast. She still had a box of yellow talisman paper that she bought on Taobao, but with so many patients, it wouldn¡¯t last long. She would have to buy more from the mall later.


    Yellow talisman paper in the mall was expensive. If she sold them for 1 point each, she would barely break even, or even lose money. So, she settled on 3 points each. Not too high, and she would stay in the green.


    After posting on the forum, she opened a small talisman shop in the mall, offering two kinds: ¡¾The Thunder Striking Ghost Repelling Talisman¡¿ and ¡¾Healing Crisis Talisman¡¿.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen squealed, grabbing Yu Xiao¡¯s sleeve and giving it a gentle tug. ¡°Smiley! You¡¯ve got replies! Six Hospital¡¯s patient replied to you!¡±


    Yu Xiao tapped on the conversation and saw a new reply.


    ¡¾What talismans are you selling? How do I buy them?¡¿


    Zhou Xiao Zhen, too excited to wait for Yu Xiao, answered for her.


    ¡¾We¡¯ve got ¡¾The Thunder Striking Ghost Repelling Talisman¡¿ and ¡¾Healing Crisis Talisman¡¿ in the mall. They¡¯re only 3 points each, a bargain, right? Have you been through two harrowing dungeon runs too? Who are you? I¡¯m ¡®Braised Egg Girl 438¡¯. Wasn¡¯t your dungeon adventure exhilarating¡­¡¿


    Zhou Xiao Zhen rambled on with her responses, but the other person didn¡¯t bother to read them, as Yu Xiao noticed that they had already placed an order in the background.


    On the phone screen, a tiny skeleton head bobbed while clutching an envelope in its mouth.


    ¡¾You have a new order, please check it promptly~¡¿


    Yu Xiao opened it and saw that the nickname ¡®Give me your heart¡¯ had bought two ¡¾The Thunder Striking Ghost Repelling Talisman¡¿. She remembered this nickname; after the first night in the Sixth Hospital, ¡®Give me your heart¡¯ was second on the points leaderboard. But then Precious and Misty overtook them, and now they were fourth on the leaderboard.


    Yu Xiao admired this chap. They didn¡¯t have a cheat like account in the Fourth Hospital Forum or scribble talismans, yet they breezed through two instances at breakneck speed. They were a real pro, no doubt.


    Yu Xiao took out two ¡¾The Thunder Striking Ghost Repelling Talisman¡¿ and, on second thought, threw in a ¡¾Healing Crisis Talisman¡¿, tucking a note inside that said, ¡°Stay strong!¡±


    Knock, knock, knock!


    A familiar thundering voice resounded from the entrance, ¡°Delivery!¡±


    She was accustomed to getting packages, not sending them. Today¡¯s unexpected role reversal felt strange to Yu Xiao. She opened the door slightly, handing out the three talismans.


    No hands reached out to grab them, and the voice outside became annoyed, ¡°What¡¯s your problem? Handing them to me like this, are you trying to kill me?!¡±


    ¡°¡­¡± She forgot that the delivery guy was a ghost; he couldn¡¯t touch talismans directly.


    ¡°I don¡¯t have packaging,¡± Yu Xiao snapped, ¡°Don¡¯t delivery guys like you have plastic bags?¡±


    ¡°Ten points for a packaging bag.¡±


    ¡°Are you kidding me?¡± Yu Xiao shouted, ¡°You¡¯re practically robbing me!¡±


    ¡°Three points will get you a monthly membership, and you can use packaging bags as much as you want during the subscription period.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s ridiculous!¡± Yu Xiao protested, ¡°Do you realise that the basic points for a treatment run are only 3? You want 3 points from me every month? That¡¯s absurd. Do you have any idea who I am? I¡¯ll have you know, I¡¯m the dean of Saint Elizabeth!¡±


    After the outburst, silence reigned outside. Then, the voice spoke again, ¡°Are you finished? Are you sending the package or not? If not, I¡¯m out of here.¡±


    ¡°Send!¡± Yu Xiao snapped.


    ¡°Are you getting the monthly membership too?¡±


    ¡°¡­Yes.¡±


    After sending away the delivery guy, Yu Xiao spun around, hands clutching her chest, ¡°It hurts here.¡±


    ¡°Calm down,¡± Zhao Lan attempted to soothe her, ¡°It¡¯s only three points, not a big deal for you.¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Yu Xiao grabbed the fabric of her clothes over her chest firmly, ¡°My points are my life. Taking my points is like taking my life! He stole my three HP!¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen blinked. Did Smiley really care about this stuff? She stuttered, ¡°That person on the forum asked how will they get the talismans?¡±


    Yu Xiao said, ¡°Tell him to brace himself for a delivery.¡±


    Yu Xiao sat on the bed, laying out a piece of paper, and started calculating the costs. She hadn¡¯t anticipated that sending a delivery would cost points, adding to the expenses. With the talismans¡¯ selling price staying the same, her profits would shrink.


    As she was crunching the numbers, a phone call came in.


    An annoyed Yu Xiao answered, ¡°What?¡±


    On the other end, Luo Jin paused for a moment, puzzled by why the person on the other side had turned so cranky in just half a day. He said, ¡°We¡¯ve discussed it. One prop for thirty talismans.¡±


    Yu Xiao countered, ¡°Ten talismans!¡±


    Lu Xun couldn¡¯t resist butting in, ¡°Ten is too little!¡±


    ¡°There are different kinds of props, some helpful, some worthless. You can¡¯t trade thirty talismans for any prop. It¡¯s not a fair deal,¡± Yu Xiao declared, sticking to her offer, ¡°Only ten talismans.¡±


    Lu Xun protested, ¡°But ten talismans are too few.¡± He bargained, ¡°Twenty-five talismans!¡±


    Yu Xiao insisted, ¡°Ten talismans!¡±


    Lu Xun haggled, ¡°Twenty talismans!¡±


    Yu Xiao persisted, ¡°Ten talismans!¡±


    ¡°Ah, bloody hell¡­ Old Luo, I¡¯m itching to slap her!¡±


    Luo Jin, in a cool and composed voice, said, ¡°You can¡¯t reach her.¡±


    ¡°Alright then.¡± Luo Jin said, ¡°We¡¯ll swap twenty talismans, ten Thunder Strikes Evil talismans, and ten Healing Peril talismans for an item that can harm both ghosts and humans. Deal?¡±


    ¡°Deal!¡±


    ¡°Fine.¡± Luo Jin said, ¡°I¡¯ll send the item over by express delivery soon.¡±


    ¡°Hold on.¡± Yu Xiao stopped him.


    Luo Jin¡¯s finger froze as he hung up, ¡°What is it?¡±


    Yu Xiao asked, ¡°You must have a special delivery subscription, right?¡±


    ¡°¡­Yeah.¡± He hung up the phone quickly.


    ¡°Living large,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen remarked. ¡°That¡¯s how you boost the economy. Those who work in production never make as much as those in business. I bet we¡¯ll be earning points faster than any of the six hospitals. Smiley, you don¡¯t have to work so hard anymore.¡± She leaped off the bed. ¡°From today on, I¡¯ll help you with packaging and shipping.¡±


    Zhao Lan: ¡°Then can I help you¡­ take orders? Manage the accounts?¡±


    ¡°Very good, we need this kind of enthusiasm¡­¡± Yu Xiao was about to say more when a knock on the door cut her off.


    Knock, knock, knock! sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Delivery!¡±


    ¡°That was quick.¡± Yu Xiao was impressed. ¡°Is the delivery guy from the Fourth Hospital always this speedy?¡±


    ¡°Smiley, stay put.¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen walked towards the door. ¡°I¡¯ll take care of the receiving.¡±


    She came back with a large, flat box. ¡°Smiley, the packaging is quite fancy.¡±


    As soon as Yu Xiao caught sight of the parcel, wrapped in elegant paper and tied with a ribbon, she wondered, ¡°How much did this cost?¡±


    She was about to ask when Zhou Xiao Zhen exclaimed, ¡°Hey, look! It¡¯s from St. Elizabeth¡¯s.¡±


    Yu Xiao remembered that George had promised to send her a special item that would let her go back there whenever she wanted. So he had used a courier service to deliver it.


    The three of them crowded around the parcel, their curiosity piqued. They ripped off the wrapping paper with gusto, exposing the box underneath.


    Zhao Lan gave a nod of approval and commented, ¡°The packaging is quite impressive. George has a refined sense of style for a ghost.¡±


    Yu Xiao felt a surge of excitement as she lifted the lid of the box, revealing the white lab coat inside.


    That¡¯s right, the contents of such a fancy package was nothing but a white lab/doctor coat, and not even a new one?


    ¡°Um, what¡¯s this¡­¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen grabbed the shoulder of the coat, pulling it out of the box. It was so long that it reached her feet. ¡°This is way too big for anyone.¡±


    Yu Xiao ran her fingers over the fabric, finding it plain and ordinary. Then she spotted the logo of St. Elizabeth¡¯s Psychiatric Hospital on the chest of the coat, and a small tag pinned to it with the words ¡°Dean Yu.¡±


    ¡°This is the dean¡¯s coat,¡± Yu Xiao realised. ¡°No wonder George was willing to give me something; it turns out, this belonged to me in the first place.¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen inched closer and gave the collar a sniff, ¡°Is this the worn coat of the former dean? It doesn¡¯t have any scent to it.¡±


    Zhao Lan urged her, ¡°Come on, Smiley, try it on. Maybe it will take you back to St. Elizabeth¡¯s if you wear it?¡±


    The two of them helped Yu Xiao slip into the white coat. It looked like it really had been the property of the previous director. It was so oversized that the hem dragged on the floor, and the sleeves hung loosely over her hands.


    ¡°What¡¯s the trick to using it?¡± Zhao Lan wondered.


    Yu Xiao pondered for a second, then shut her eyes and repeated in her mind, ¡°I want to go back to St. Elizabeth¡¯s, I want to go back to St. Elizabeth¡¯s¡­¡±


    Suddenly, she felt a weird sensation, as if she was levitating.


    Yu Xiao opened her eyes, and saw an old, dilapidated wall in front of her. She glanced to the side, and recognized the corridor.


    She heard footsteps behind her, and spun around.


    Qiao Qiao, with a finger in her mouth, tripped and fell on the floor. She gaped at the sight of the devil in the white coat.

 Chapter 42: The Truth about the Hospital

    With a bright and breezy ¡°Hey~¡±,¡± Yu Xiao announced her return to Qiao Qiao, who sat on the floor like a discarded doll. ¡°Missed me?¡± she asked, as if they were old friends reunited after a long absence.


    Qiao Qiao could only gape at her, speechless and stunned. She felt a surge of confusion and fear, mixed with a faint trace of admiration.


    How did Yu Xiao return? Her not-so-experienced mind told her that patients who left St. Elizabeth¡¯s would never come back. How did she come back so confidently, wearing a white coat as if she owned the place? Was she really the new dean of St. Elizabeth¡¯s?


    Yu Xiao looked at her with a disdainful ¡°Hmm~¡± and tugged at her arm. ¡°Don¡¯t be so dirty. Get up from the floor. Come on, let¡¯s take a walk.¡± She spun around, her eyes sparkling with nostalgia. ¡°This place hasn¡¯t changed a bit, has it? It brings back so many memories.¡±


    She walked along the corridor, inspecting the walls that had been patched up since the last riot. ¡°Are the others still the same? Oh, Qiao Qiao, don¡¯t lag behind. Stay with me.¡± She said, as if they were best friends.


    Qiao Qiao reluctantly followed her, pulling her fingers out of her mouth and stuffing them in her pocket. She felt like a puppet on a string, dragged along by Yu Xiao¡¯s whims.


    Yu Xiao reached the nurse¡¯s station, where the staff were chatting about their dinner plans. She barged in, flinging the door open with a loud bang. ¡°Surprise! I¡¯m back!¡± she shouted, grinning from ear to ear.


    The nurses froze, recognising who it was. The one they hoped they would never see again.


    They turned their heads, some even cracking their necks with a 180-degree angle turn to avoid her gaze, hoping she would go away.


    But Yu Xiao wouldn¡¯t let them. She walked up to them, demanding their attention. ¡°Why aren¡¯t you looking at me?¡± she asked, her smile turning into a snarl.


    The nurses had no choice but to turn their heads again, their necks twisting in unnatural angles like salty pretzels. They forced themselves to smile, their teeth stained with blood.


    If you ignored their twisted necks and horror-filled eyes, the scene looked quite heart-warming.


    With a bright smile, Yu Xiao greeted. ¡°Everyone¡¯s still here, I see. That¡¯s good. That¡¯s very good.¡± She scanned the faces of the nurses, looking for any signs of change. ¡°Where¡¯s George, by the way?¡±


    The nurses tried to reply, but their necks were too twisted to draw breath. They could only gasp and wheeze, pointing with trembling fingers towards George¡¯s office.


    Yu Xiao nodded, oblivious to their distress. ¡°Oh, he¡¯s still in the office, huh? Well, I¡¯ll go find him then.¡± She sauntered away from the nurse¡¯s station.


    The nurses collapsed on the floor, sobbing. They hugged each other, grateful for their narrow escape.


    Yu Xiao was about to knock on George¡¯s office door when she suddenly remembered something. She stopped and frowned, tapping her chin. Before, she would always go to his office to see him, but now things were different. She was the boss now. She had the power. She should be in her own office, waiting for George to come to her. Yes, that was more fitting.


    She smiled again, humming a satisfied tune. She turned around, ready to head back to the first floor. As she did, she caught a glimpse of Qiao Qiao hiding behind a wall, peeking at her with fearful eyes.


    ¡°Qiao Qiao,¡± Yu Xiao called out to her, making her jump.


    Qiao Qiao pressed herself against the wall, hoping to disappear. She heard that eerie voice say, ¡°Go find George, tell him to come to my office and see me.¡± She felt a cold shiver run down her spine.


    Yu Xiao winked at her, then turned away, swaying her hips as she walked. She hummed louder, drowning out Qiao Qiao¡¯s whimper. She was happy. She was very happy.


    Descending to the first floor, Yu Xiao glimpsed her colossal portrait hanging on the wall. She frowned, thinking to herself, ¡°This won¡¯t do. Not everyone who comes here deserves to see my true face, right? No, I have to conceal the portrait.¡±


    She approached the door of the director¡¯s office, turning the handle softly, and the door opened with a creak.


    The interior remained unchanged, a perfect replica of the past. The previous time Yu Xiao had been here, she had fled in a hurry. This time, she lingered in the office, admiring the details before sinking into the leather chair that once belonged to the director. She lifted the pen from the desk and spun it between her fingers, idly waiting for George¡¯s arrival.


    Soon, footsteps resounded from outside.


    Thud, thud, thud!


    She knew who was knocking without looking; Yu Xiao stifled her grin and said, ¡°The door¡¯s open, come in.¡±


    Dr George, clad in a white coat and gold-rimmed glasses with a pallid complexion, stepped in. His expression, as ever, devoid of any emotion. He met Yu Xiao¡¯s gaze behind the desk, feeling a twitch in his eye, but he kept silent.


    ¡°You haven¡¯t changed a bit, still the same as before,¡± Yu Xiao propped her chin on her hand. ¡°You were so eager for me to return. Now that I¡¯m here, are you happy?¡±


    For George, it wasn¡¯t simply about being happy or not. He yearned to completely obliterate the person standing before him, extracting their brain and devouring it.


    A shiver of disgust ran through George. ¡®Oh, no, can¡¯t eat this,¡± he thought, pushing the idea away. ¡®Eating brains like these would mess me up.¡¯ He had a delicate palate, and he preferred his meals fresh and juicy, not mushy and mad.


    He looked up at the clock on the wall. He had to prepare for the next day. ¡°Tomorrow morning, the first batch of patients after the hospital renovation will arrive,¡± he said solemnly to the girl sitting across from him. ¡°Everything remains the same as before. When they try to enter the director¡¯s office, you must be here.¡±


    ¡°Alright, got it,¡± Yu Xiao nodded, her voice dripping with boredom. ¡°So what should I do? Hide in the office like the previous one, and whoever knocks, go out and take care of them?¡±


    George¡¯s eye twitched again, as it always did when he talked to her. He said, ¡°The conditions for opening the director¡¯s office, the conditions for stamping on the discharge report, are all decided by the director himself. You don¡¯t need to ask me.¡±


    ¡°Really?¡± Yu Xiao asked excitedly, her eyes instantly lighting up. She leaned forward, clasping her hands together. ¡°Can I do anything I want?¡±


    George glanced at her, feeling a surge of irritation. He added, ¡°Of course, you can¡¯t prevent patients from reporting you afterwards.¡±


    ¡°Hmph,¡± Yu Xiao snorted, glaring at him. She crossed her arms and pouted. ¡°Didn¡¯t expect you to be so petty, holding grudges, huh?¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    George didn¡¯t reply. He felt that communicating with her was a form of torture. He endured for a while, couldn¡¯t hold it in, and turned around to leave.


    ¡°Wait up,¡± Yu Xiao called after him, smiling mischievously.


    George turned around, his face expressionless.


    She arched an eyebrow at him, her eyes sparkling with mischief. ¡°Why you gotta be so damn rude? Call me dean or something else respectful.¡±


    ¡­


    She watched him go, a smirk curling her lips.


    Her phone rang, interrupting her thoughts. She answered it, still chuckling. ¡°Hello? Who¡¯s this?¡±


    On the other end, Luo Jin heard the laughter in her voice and felt a pang of curiosity. What could be so amusing?


    ¡°Did you receive the delivery?¡± Luo Jin asked.


    ¡°Huh?¡± She sounded confused, as if she had forgotten about it. ¡°Oh, I¡¯m not in the ward right now, haven¡¯t seen the delivery.¡±


    Luo Jin frowned. If not in the ward, then where could she be? If she was in a treatment instance, he wouldn¡¯t be able to call her.


    ¡°You¡­¡± Luo Jin hesitated, his mouth forming a word that he quickly swallowed. He wanted to ask her where she had been, but he remembered that they were not friends, merely acquaintances. He had no right to pry into her personal matters. He changed the subject abruptly. ¡°We can talk about the prop issue later, since you haven¡¯t received the delivery yet. But I have something to ask you now.¡±


    Yu Xiao felt a jolt of surprise when Luo Jin spoke to her today. He was usually quiet and reserved, but now he seemed eager to chat. ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± she asked, curious.


    ¡°What are your thoughts on hospitals?¡±


    Yu Xiao paused for a moment, sensing a hidden meaning behind his question. He was not talking about any ordinary hospital; he was referring to the one they were currently in. She wondered what he was aiming at, but she decided to humour him. She pondered for a moment and replied, ¡°It¡¯s a place of mystery, fear, and possibility.¡±


    ¡°Which possibility?¡±


    ¡°The possibility of survival,¡± Yu Xiao said, her voice calm. ¡°That¡¯s how I see it.¡±


    A brief silence followed, and then he said, ¡°Me too.¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡±


    ¡°I feel the same way,¡± Luo Jin elaborated, his voice softening. ¡°I don¡¯t know if you¡¯ve noticed, but everyone who enters this hospital is a terminally ill patient.¡±


    Yu Xiao hadn¡¯t looked into that, but she had some inklings. ¡°I have a vague idea.¡±


    Luo Jin went on, ¡°And did you know that everyone entering this hospital is under thirty-five years old?¡±


    ¡°Hmm?¡± Yu Xiao hummed, genuinely clueless. ¡°Really?¡±


    ¡°All the patients I¡¯ve met so far.¡±


    Luo Jin was a veteran at the Fourth Hospital, and he surely knew more than Yu Xiao. She felt a surge of curiosity and anticipation, as she sensed he was about to reveal something important. She instinctively leaned forward, her posture alert.


    ¡°I¡¯ve been here for several years now,¡± Luo Jin¡¯s voice was grave. ¡°I started as a clueless newbie, but I soon climbed to the top three on the stability scoreboard. Over the years, I¡¯ve not only completed one treatment instance after another, but I¡¯ve also tried to discover the truth about this place. Questions like why it exists, what it wants, and whether anyone can escape.¡±


    She listened avidly, her eyes wide. ¡°And did you find the answers?¡±


    ¡°Not exactly. It was all speculation, until I met someone from the First Hospital in one of the instances.¡±


    ¡°The First Hospital?¡± They were the pioneers, the first ones to enter this place.


    ¡°He told me that someone had left this place,¡± Luo Jin revealed. ¡°Not by dying, but by truly, completely getting out.¡±


    Yu Xiao gasped, incredulous. ¡°How did they manage that?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not certain,¡± Luo Jin admitted. ¡°He said that this place is, in fact, a chance for young people who are doomed to die. If you collect enough time here, you can leave and live a normal life in the real world, just like a healthy person.¡±


    ¡°How¡­ much time is enough time?¡±


    Yu Xiao gripped her phone tightly, feeling the slickness of her own sweat on the metal case.


    ¡°Dunno.¡± Luo Jin hesitated for a moment and said, ¡°But we reckon it¡¯s around seventy years.¡± S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Why?¡±


    ¡°Seventy is already old, and death should be a normal thing for someone at that age.¡± Luo Jin explained, his tone tinged with confusion. ¡°Of course, it¡¯s just our speculation. After all, I don¡¯t know anyone who¡¯s left the hospital¡­¡±


    Yu Xiao hung up the phone, feeling a heavy weight on her chest. Since arriving at the Sixth Hospital, she had not had much time to reflect. She had not wondered about the reason for this hospital¡¯s existence or even entertained the idea of leaving.


    All she desired was to earn more points, just to prolong her life a little.


    Luo Jin¡¯s words made her consider things she had never thought about before. Could they really escape this place? And after escaping, would they still have sufficient time to live like healthy people, ageing with dignity?


    She lifted her hand, pulled up her sleeve, and saw that the timer on her wrist had halted, freezing at just over twenty days left.


    Seventy years¡­


    A lifetime of days, a multitude of points, a countless toll of deaths¡­


    Yu Xiao felt her mind reel, but she grasped the enormity of this number. So immense that the hospital still stood, and new souls still wandered in, never to escape.


    No matter, a sly grin twisted Yu Xiao¡¯s lips.


    She did not dread the challenge of amassing points; she dreaded the scarcity of chances. Survival was her only goal, regardless of the time it took, regardless of the ordeals she faced, she would not cower!


    Yu Xiao returned to her ward, where Zhao Lan and Zhou Xiao Zhen were enjoying their meal.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen spotted her and waved cheerfully, ¡°You¡¯re back? Just in time, we¡¯re having lunch.¡±


    Yu Xiao did not bother to remove her white doctor¡¯s coat, she simply pushed up her sleeves and joined them at the table.


    Zhao Lan said, ¡°Luo Jin¡¯s package came. We didn¡¯t send the talisman to them since you were away.¡±


    ¡°Alright,¡± Yu Xiao nodded, ¡°I spoke to Luo Jin at St. Elizabeth earlier. He¡­ shared some things with me.¡±


    ¡°Whmat¡¯s goimng omn?¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen inquired, her words garbled by a mouthful of food.


    ¡°Let¡¯s talk after we finish eating,¡± Yu Xiao decided to postpone the discussion until they had finished eating, lest it spoil their appetite and digestion.


    She switched the topic, ¡°Do any of you ever wonder what will happen after we leave?¡±


    ¡°Leave?¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen echoed, her eyes glazed over, ¡°Leave where?¡±


    ¡°Leave this cursed place, the Sixth Hospital, and go back to the real world.¡±

 Chapter 43: Coin of Great Observation

    With a chicken leg clamped in her chopsticks, Zhou Xiao Zhen listened to Yu Xiao¡¯s words and felt her fingers slacken, and the succulent meat tumbled from her grasp. Zhao Lan, ever alert, snatched it with a bowl before it hit the floor.


    ¡°Smiley sis, you¡¯re longing for home, aren¡¯t you?¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen murmured, her face clouding over. ¡°I feel the same. I miss Mum and Dad so much. Mum¡¯s braised chicken legs are the best, nothing like this hospital slop. You miss your mum too, right?¡±


    Yu Xiao paused, spearing a shred of potato with her chopstick and dropping it into her bowl. She answered with a bitter smile. ¡°My mum left us and remarried when I was in junior high. I was stuck with my dad until he also remarried.¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen bowed her head, biting her lip. She looked like a child who had said something wrong.


    Zhao Lan, who had been devouring the chicken leg, wiped her mouth and asked, ¡°Smiley, did Luo Jin tell you anything about leaving the hospital?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Yu Xiao said, ¡°But I thought I¡¯d wait until you finished eating. I didn¡¯t want to spoil your appetite with it.¡±


    ¡°Smiley sis, you¡¯re too considerate,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen said, eyeing the chicken leg in Zhao Lan¡¯s bowl with envy. ¡°The night I found out I had cancer, I still wolfed down a huge bowl of rice. Your news, however serious, can¡¯t be worse than that.¡±


    Yu Xiao realised she had underestimated them. These two friends were stronger than they looked.


    She summarised the main points of Luo Jin¡¯s words, then added, ¡°I did a rough calculation. I¡¯m twenty this year, and if I live until seventy, that¡¯s still fifty years. That¡¯s more than eighteen thousand days, which means I need over eighteen hundred points to make it.¡±


    ¡°Blimey.¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen whipped out her phone and tapped on the calculator. ¡°If I can score seven points on average each time in the treatment instance, that means I have to run it at least three hundred times?¡±


    ¡°Bugger!¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen involuntarily threw her head back. ¡°Is the mission that bloody hard? It¡¯s not that I¡¯m afraid of suffering, but I¡¯m worried I¡¯ll lose my appetite after running the instance dungeons to death. And that¡¯s being hopeful. You know, most people don¡¯t get titles after running instances. They only get the basic three points. So, the number of instance runs has to double¡­¡±


    She shook her head, exclaiming, ¡°This is too much. No wonder leaving the hospital is a myth.¡±


    Zhao Lan shrugged, showing a relaxed attitude. ¡°Actually, I don¡¯t mind running three hundred instance dungeons. To survive and live healthily until seventy, I think the rewards are worth it. Besides, we don¡¯t really have to complete three hundred instance runs.¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen gaped at her, ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re in business now, aren¡¯t we? Smiley¡¯s talisman shop is up and running, and we¡¯ve already made our first sale,¡± Zhao Lan grinned, ¡°Precious, you said it yourself, making money through business is better than production.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, right.¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen swivelled her head, gazing at Yu Xiao with a pitiful look, ¡°Smiley, can we leave soon? We¡¯re depending on you~¡±


    Yu Xiao felt a surge of pressure and began to calculate in her mind how many talismans she needed to sell to earn enough points. Sadly, her maths skills were poor, and after some calculations, the result was basically a lot.


    ¡°Drawing talismans, I¡¯m fine with that,¡± Yu Xiao said. ¡°I¡¯m just concerned not many will buy, given the patients from the Sixth Hospital are still dirt poor.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t fret about sales,¡± Zhao Lan¡¯s eyes sparkled with assurance, exuding a vibe of social prowess. ¡°We can sell talismans not only online but also in instances. You see, most of the people you meet in treatment instances are veterans from other hospitals, and they¡¯ve got more points to spare than the Sixth Hospital patients, at any rate.¡±


    ¡°Smart,¡± Yu Xiao suddenly lamented, ¡°Why did I choose the nickname ¡®Deaf Descendant¡¯? I should¡¯ve gone with ¡®Talisman Wholesale,¡¯ right?¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen proposed, ¡°How about asking Luo Jin how to get a name change card?¡± S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Yu Xiao wavered, ¡°¡­¡±


    Once life had a purpose, a person became full of drive.


    Yu Xiao swiftly polished off the food in her bowl, wiped her mouth, and said, ¡°Let¡¯s inspect Luo Jin¡¯s delivery and, while we¡¯re at it, apply for tomorrow¡¯s treatment.¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen wiped her mouth as well, ¡°Sure!¡±


    ¡°¡­¡± Observing the two spirited individuals as if infused with chicken blood, Zhao Lan quietly set down her bowl. Youthfulness sure brings vigour.


    Luo Jin¡¯s delivery was small, barely half the size of a palm, wrapped in a filthy and unsightly packaging. Yu Xiao ripped it open, disclosing a paper folded into a pentagram with words written on it.


    ¡°Wow¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen commented. ¡°Luo Jin is quite dexterous with his hands; I can¡¯t even fold a pentagram.¡±


    ¡°Neither can I,¡± Yu Xiao confessed.


    Zhao Lan frowned, eyeing the pentagram with suspicion. ¡°The pentagram is already so small, how tiny could the stuff inside be?¡± she wondered. ¡°He said it¡¯s an offensive prop? How can such a small prop attack?¡±


    Yu Xiao shrugged, curious to see what Luo Jin had sent. ¡°I don¡¯t care, let¡¯s just open it and see,¡± she said, carefully unfolding the pentagram, revealing what was inside¡ªa coin that looked ancient and worn.


    Yu Xiao picked it up, squinting at the faded characters on it. She could barely make out the words ¡®Coin of Great Observation (´ó¹Ûͨ±¦ D¨¤gu¨¡n t¨­ng b¨£o).¡¯


    ¡°Coin of Great Observation¡­¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen murmured, tilting her head. ¡°When is this coin from? I only know about Tang Dynasty currency.¡±


    Yu Xiao racked her brain, trying to remember her history lessons. She wrinkled her nose, thinking for a moment, and said, ¡°I think it¡¯s a coin from the Song Dynasty.¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen held the small coin, puzzled by Luo Jin¡¯s choice. ¡°Isn¡¯t it supposed to be a prop?¡± she asked. ¡°Why did Luo Jin give you an antique?¡±


    Yu Xiao gestured at the note that came with the coin, covered in tiny handwriting. ¡°Look at what he wrote, and you¡¯ll know why,¡± she said, picking up the note and reading it aloud.


    ¡°Coin of Great Observation, capable of fortune-telling. Face up for good luck; all ghosts and monsters within a radius of ten metres will suffer the torment of raging fire if they intend to harm you. Face down for bad luck; everyone within a radius of ten metres will harbour animosity towards you. Cooldown time, one hour.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    She stared at the note, speechless. Wasn¡¯t the side effect of this thing a bit too extreme?


    Zhou Xiao Zhen gazed at the coin with admiration, impressed by its description. ¡°Cracking stuff, this,¡± she said. ¡°It¡¯s much better than my mahjong set, and the cooldown time is very short.¡±


    Yu Xiao felt a twitch in her lip, unconvinced by the coin¡¯s appeal. ¡°But there¡¯s a fifty-fifty chance it¡¯s cursed, you know?¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen shrugged, dismissing her concern. ¡°What are you scared of?¡± she asked. ¡°Don¡¯t you remember your high luck score?¡±


    Zhao Lan nodded, agreeing with Zhou Xiao Zhen. ¡°Yeah, for others, this copper coin has its ups and downs, but for you, the ups outweigh the downs.¡±


    Yu Xiao looked at her, feeling a pang of guilt. ¡°But,¡± she said, ¡°I was planning to give this item to you.¡±


    Zhao Lan fell silent. She stared at the coin for a moment and said, ¡°I don¡¯t want to use it for now. Give it to me when my luck score gets better.¡±


    Yu Xiao decided to keep the coin for herself, seeing how useful it could be. ¡°Fair enough, then, it¡¯s a pretty handy thing.¡± she said, slipping the Coin of Great Observation into her pocket. ¡°Let¡¯s apply for the next session.¡±


    She was about to leave when Zhao Lan reminded her, ¡°Aren¡¯t you sending the talismans to Luo Jin?¡±


    Yu Xiao almost forgot. She quickly mailed twenty talismans to Luo Jin and then gave him a call, ¡°The courier¡¯s on its way, make sure to check it, yeah?¡±


    Luo Jin: ¡°Okay.¡±


    Yu Xiao: ¡°Remember, if you ever need talismans again, be sure to look for me, alright?¡±


    ¡°Sure.¡± Luo Jin ended the call.


    Ah, heartless man!


    She rubbed her hands together, trying to cheer herself up. They had grown stronger now, so the treatment instance difficulty should be easier, right?


    ¡°Have a good rest tonight,¡± Yu Xiao declared eagerly. ¡°Let¡¯s face the future challenges with courage!¡±


    She waited for a response, but none came. She looked at her friends, puzzled. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Don¡¯t you have courage?¡±


    ¡°We do have courage,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen said. ¡°It¡¯s just a bit awkward, can¡¯t shout it out.¡±


    ¡­


    Yu Xiao had a lot of things to carry now. The copper coin and the talismans could fit in her pocket, but the sunglasses and the wig were more troublesome. She thought of finding a bag to hold them.


    Zhao Lan disagreed, shaking her head. ¡°We don¡¯t know who we might run into. A backpack is too obvious; people will immediately suspect there¡¯s something valuable inside.¡±


    Yu Xiao frowned, holding the wig in her hand. ¡°What should we do then?¡± she asked. ¡°The sunglasses can squeeze into the pocket, but the wig is too big, can¡¯t fit it in.¡±


    Zhao Lan thought for a moment and said, ¡°You can wear the wig on your head.¡±


    *


    *

 Chapter 44: Miss, do you Want to Buy some Talismans?

    With a feigned expression of concern, Yu Xiao spoke in a casual and gentle tone, ¡°So, how do we get out of this amusement park?¡±


    Lolita blinked her beautiful big eyes innocently, ¡°It¡¯s simple.¡± She smiled sweetly, ¡°Just find the park¡¯s entrance.¡±


    Yu Xiao queried, ¡°But where is the entrance?¡±


    Lolita rolled her eyes playfully at her, ¡°Oh, come on. I can¡¯t just tell you, can I? That would spoil the fun.¡±


    ¡°Really?¡± Yu Xiao¡¯s expression turned sad, ¡°You complimented my hair, and I thought you liked me.¡± She pouted.


    The people behind them shivered, feeling a coldness on their cheeks. What kind of creepy conversation was this? Why did it sound so wrong? Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Lolita extended her right hand, gently running it from Yu Xiao¡¯s cheek to her chin, ¡°You¡¯re quite amusing.¡± She whispered, ¡°And your skin is really nice and tender.¡± She licked her lips, a hungry gleam in her eyes, ¡°Seeing how good you are, I¡¯ll give you a hint. Only those who have experienced all the attractions will know the right way.¡±


    She giggled, as if she had let slip a secret. ¡°Oops, I said too much.¡± She looked at Yu Xiao¡¯s face eagerly, her eyes hungry. ¡°As a payment, after you die, your hair and skin will be mine, okay?¡±


    She sounded like she was asking for Yu Xiao¡¯s consent, but her greedy expression showed she had already decided to take them.


    With a soft sigh, Yu Xiao spoke in a low voice, ¡°It¡¯s not impossible, if you really want it. But there¡¯s a custom in my hometown: after someone dies, they have to be soaked in the toilet for three days before being fished out for burial. If you don¡¯t mind, you can wait for me to die and then come fish me out. And, oh, bury me while you¡¯re at it.¡±


    Lolita¡¯s hand slid off Yu Xiao¡¯s chin as she fell silent. A surge of anger flashed in her eyes. She hmphed, stamped her foot, and stormed away.


    A collective sigh of relief escaped from the others after Lolita left. A man with a black mole on his face came closer, admiring. ¡°Gal, you¡¯ve got some nerve, talking to the attending doctor like that.¡±


    Yu Xiao nudged her sunglasses, exposing a delicate and indifferent half of her face.


    The man faltered, feeling a pang of awkwardness. He offered his name. ¡°I¡¯m Liu Fei (Áõ·É: a type of battle-axe / to kill to fly) from the Fifth Hospital.¡±


    He gestured to a short guy and a dark-skinned man beside him, introducing them. ¡°They¡¯re my roommates. He¡¯s Wu Chao (Îⳬ: Wu to exceed / to overtake / to surpass), and he¡¯s Zhang Yi (ÕÅÒã: to open up / to spread firm and resolute / staunch).¡±


    Yu Xiao¡¯s mouth twitched slightly, her expression inscrutable to the others, but they sensed a hint of ruthlessness in her.


    Zhao Lan emerged, announcing, ¡°We¡¯re from the Fourth Hospital. I¡¯m Zhao Lan, and she¡¯s Yu Xiao.¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen leaped out, wrapping one arm around Yu Xiao¡¯s shoulder and the other around Zhao Lan¡¯s, declaring, ¡°I¡¯m Zhou Xiao Zhen.¡±


    ¡°You gals are from the Fourth Hospital?¡± Two short-haired girls on the edge of the crowd stepped forward, exclaiming, ¡°Great, we¡¯re from the Fourth Hospital too.¡±


    With a crew cut that accentuated her lively features, the first girl introduced herself: ¡°I¡¯m Xie Meng Meng (лÃÈÃÈ: to thank / to apologise to sprout/cute/moe).¡±


    The other girl, whose short hair barely reached her ears, seemed timid and reserved. She gave a slight nod and murmured, ¡°I¡¯m Qian Xin (Ç®ÐÀ: Coin Happy).¡±


    Liu Fei surveyed the other groups, noticing that they were the only men among the ladies. A smug feeling crept into his chest, as if he had already assumed the role of the squad leader. However, his pride was short-lived, as he soon learned that everyone else in the ward belonged to the Fourth Hospital, and they were all his seniors. His ego deflated as quickly as it had inflated.


    Xie Meng Meng was a friendly and amiable girl, as her name suggested. She radiated a charming aura that made her easy to like.


    She spoke with a mature and confident voice, belying her cute appearance. ¡°Now that we¡¯re all acquainted, we¡¯re teammates from now on,¡± she said. ¡°You all heard what the attending doctor said earlier. Only those who¡¯ve played all the games know the right path. The attending doctor may hide clues, but won¡¯t provide false ones. So, I believe the correct route is hidden within the various game projects in the amusement park.¡±


    Wu Chao, a short guy with a sour expression, crossed his arms and glared at Xie Meng Meng. ¡°So, what¡¯s your plan?¡± he asked.


    Xie Meng Meng met his gaze calmly, without any trace of annoyance. She replied in a cordial tone, ¡°I plan to try out one game first. We have eight people, so we can split into pairs and try different games. Of course, it¡¯s not mandatory; I respect everyone¡¯s opinions. But let me make something clear. Those who refuse to cooperate won¡¯t get any information from us unless they bring useful information to exchange.¡±


    She finished her speech with a smile and scanned everyone¡¯s faces. ¡°Any additional suggestions?¡±


    A hand shot up in the air. ¡°I!¡±


    Xie Meng Meng turned her head and saw Yu Xiao waving her hand eagerly. ¡°I want to know who¡¯s teaming up with me?¡±


    Xie Meng Meng flashed a grin and said, ¡°Your ward has three people, and Liu Fei¡¯s ward also has three people. How about you team up with one of the three from their group?¡±


    Yu Xiao scowled and shook her head. ¡°No way,¡± she said, sounding petulant. ¡°I don¡¯t want to team up with smelly guys.¡±


    Liu Fei and his crew bristled at her words; their noses twitched with indignation. ¡°We don¡¯t want to team up with you either!¡±


    Xie Meng Meng¡¯s smile faded slightly and she looked at Zhao Lan and Zhou Xiao Zhen. ¡°How about one of you two team up with them?¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen clutched Zhao Lan¡¯s hand and shook her head vehemently. ¡°No!¡± she exclaimed. ¡°We two can¡¯t be separated!¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    After some more bickering and bargaining, they finally formed teams: Zhao Lan and Zhou Xiao Zhen as one team, Wu Chao and Zhang Yi as another, Liu Fei and Qian Xin as the third, and Yu Xiao and Xie Meng Meng as the last.


    ¡­


    Under the roller coaster, Yu Xiao and Xie Meng Meng stood side by side, gazing up at the towering structure.


    The sun blazed mercilessly in the sky, indifferent to the impending horror. Yu Xiao, shielded by her sunglasses, looked up at the roller coaster without flinching. Xie Meng Meng, however, had to squint her eyes to endure the glare. Yu Xiao fixed her gaze on the rollercoaster at the starting point and asked, ¡°Do you like watching movies?¡±


    Xie Meng Meng blinked, startled by the question. ¡°Are you asking me?¡±


    ¡°Who else?¡± Yu Xiao said, glancing around. ¡°There¡¯s no one else here.¡±


    ¡°I suppose so,¡± Xie Meng Meng said, shrugging. ¡°I used to enjoy them, but it¡¯s been ages since I last watched a movie.¡±


    She meant to imply that she had been at the Fourth Hospital for a long time. But Yu Xiao didn¡¯t catch the hint and went on, ¡°Well, then you should know, in movies, roller coasters are a high-risk activity. Nine out of ten times, someone ends up dead.¡±


    Xie Meng Meng: ¡°¡­¡±


    All of a sudden, a chorus of screams pierced the air as the rollercoaster sprang into motion.


    The rollercoaster crept up to the highest point, then plunged down, accelerating rapidly. The riders above shrieked in terror as the coaster swayed back and forth. Then, it flipped completely upside down, and when the people on top were dangling with their heads down, it stopped abruptly.


    As Yu Xiao surveyed her surroundings, the air was thick with an oblivious enthusiasm, as people laughed and chatted, ignorant of the tragedy that was about to unfold.


    Xie Meng Meng furrowed her brow in concern. Under the watchful eyes of the two girls, the roller coaster resumed its mechanical dance.


    However, as it kicked back into motion, necks suddenly snapped and heads were launched into the air in a grotesque ballet, blood raining down in a macabre display.


    Reacting swiftly, Yu Xiao retreated, dragging the other girl with her, narrowly avoiding a downpour of blood that rained just in front of them.


    Coming out of her daze, Xie Meng Meng moved closer to Yu Xiao.


    ¡°Splat, splat, splat¡­¡±


    As they hit the ground like ripe watermelons, the impact resonated with a dull thud, revealing a horrifying combination of brain tissue and blood.


    Multiple severed heads now lay scattered across the ground in pools of blood.


    ¡­


    Soon after, the roller coaster returned, its seats occupied by a dozen headless torsos.


    Observing this horrifying scene, Xie Meng Meng¡¯s eyebrows furrowed in confusion. She turned to Yu Xiao and asked, ¡°You¡¯ve watched countless films; have any of them ever addressed what one should do in a situation like this?¡±


    Yu Xiao stared at the roller coaster for a moment before responding, ¡°Stay out of it.¡±


    Xie Meng Meng stared at Yu Xiao, her eyes wide with shock. ¡°What?¡±


    Yu Xiao gave her a sly grin and leaned closer to her, whispering, ¡°You heard me. If you don¡¯t play, nothing bad will happen. That¡¯s the rule in the movies, right?¡±


    A bitter smile tugged at the corner of Xie Meng Meng¡¯s mouth. That was hardly reassuring. She looked around, hoping to find a less risky alternative. She spotted the pirate ship in the distance, swinging back and forth. ¡°How about we try something else? Like the pirate ship over there?¡± she suggested, pointing at the ride.


    They left the roller coaster, but not before Yu Xiao cast a final glance behind her. She saw a staff member sweeping up the remains of the previous riders, tossing brain matter and bones into a bin. The other visitors seemed oblivious to the carnage, walking around as if nothing had happened.


    They reached the pirate ship, where a few people were still boarding. A woman in a uniform approached them, waving her hand. ¡°Only two spots left. Wanna hop on?¡± she asked, smiling.


    Xie Meng Meng shook her head, declining the offer. ¡°No, thanks. We¡¯ll just watch from here,¡± she said.


    The woman shrugged and moved on. The pirate ship started to sway, slowly at first, then faster and higher. At the highest point of the swing, something snapped. The seat belts and safety bars came undone, releasing the passengers into the air. They screamed as they flew around, like ingredients in a blender, spinning and crashing.


    Airborne, the lucky ones gripped the safety bar with desperate strength, while the rest plunged back to the ship¡¯s deck. The unluckiest ones soared through the air like discarded dolls, smashing into the ground with sickening thuds and splashes of blood.


    When the pandemonium subsided, only one person remained on the pirate ship. A burly man, his knuckles white from clutching the safety bar, had somehow managed to avoid being hurled out.


    Xie Meng Meng felt a cold sweat on her forehead and a wave of nausea washed over her. She didn¡¯t need to check the other attractions to know that they were all deadly traps, waiting to claim their next victims.


    What could they do? How could they survive this nightmare?


    Xie Meng Meng had encountered many perils before, even being chased by ghosts and monsters. But these amusement park rides were not supernatural, and she had no clue how to deal with them.


    She glanced at the girl next to her, who seemed calm and composed, as if unaffected by the horror.


    ¡°What are you thinking?¡± Xie Meng Meng asked.


    Yu Xiao answered truthfully, ¡°I¡¯m thinking about which attractions in the amusement park allow free movement.¡±


    ¡°Did you find any?¡± Xie Meng Meng pressed.


    ¡°I did.¡± Yu Xiao spun around, pointing at a nearby building with a ghost-shaped entrance. ¡°Haunted House.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    She shuddered at the thought of the haunted house. The earthly attractions were terrifying enough, but what if the ghosts in there were real? Imagine being trapped in a place where only the dead could see you. Xie Meng Meng felt her scalp prickle. ¡°Are you mad? Do you have any idea what it¡¯s like in there?¡±


    Yu Xiao shrugged, unfazed. ¡°They¡¯re only ghosts,¡± she said. ¡°Don¡¯t you have talismans and props to deal with them?¡±


    ¡°I do, but how many ghosts are there?¡± Xie Meng Meng panicked. ¡°There could be hundreds of them, and I don¡¯t have enough talismans!¡±


    Yu Xiao had been waiting for this opportunity. She leaned in closer to Xie Meng Meng, whispering in a mysterious tone, ¡°Do you want to buy some talismans?¡±


    ¡°¡­What?¡± Xie Meng Meng blinked.


    ¡°Miss, do you want to buy some talismans? They¡¯re very cheap, only three points each,¡± Yu Xiao gazed at Xie Meng Meng with intense eyes. Even through her sunglasses, Xie Meng Meng felt the pressure.


    ¡°You¡­¡± Xie Meng Meng felt ridiculous, so ridiculous that she wondered if she was going mad. ¡°You sell talismans?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡± Yu Xiao nodded eagerly, like a chicken pecking at seeds. ¡°Are you interested in buying?¡±

 Chapter 45: The Sound of Mahjong in a Haunted House

    Xie Meng Meng felt a tightness in her throat, as if something unspeakable was lodged there, refusing to budge.


    (±»¹£×¡: Literally means ¡°being choked by a stalk¡±, a slang term for being speechless or unable to respond to a joke or a situation.)


    She glared at Yu Xiao for a long moment, before forcing out a sentence from the back of her throat, ¡°You want me to go to the haunted house, just so you can sell me some talismans?¡±


    Yu Xiao flinched, caught off guard by her accusation. But she quickly recovered her composure and resumed her sales pitch.


    ¡°No, no, I was only answering your question, that¡¯s all.¡± She ignored Xie Meng Meng¡¯s incredulous stare and produced a pile of talismans, ¡°They¡¯re a steal, only three points a pop, are you sure you don¡¯t fancy a pair? This is a once-in-a-lifetime chance, don¡¯t let it slip away.¡±


    (»ú²»¿Éʧʱ²»ÔÙÀ´: A proverb that means ¡°don¡¯t miss this opportunity, it won¡¯t come again¡±, often used by salespeople and swindlers to persuade customers to buy their products.)


    ¡°¡­¡±


    Xie Meng Meng¡¯s eyes bulged as she gazed at the thick pile in Yu Xiao¡¯s hand. It took her a while to digest, and then she realised, this girl must be a master of drawing talismans!


    ¡°You¡­¡± Xie Meng Meng was about to say you¡¯re selling them too cheap, but then she thought better of it, since she was a potential customer. S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°What kind of talismans do you have?¡± Xie Meng Meng murmured.


    ¡°¡¾The Thunder Striking Ghost Repelling Talisman ¡¿ and ¡¾Healing Crisis Talisman ¡¿, those are the only ones I have for now.¡± Yu Xiao¡¯s voice dropped even lower, as if not wanting others to overhear.


    ¡°I¡¯ll take two¡­ no, make it ten.¡± Xie Meng Meng whipped out her phone, she had to stock up on these cheap and handy talismans, they would serve her well later. And as Yu Xiao had put it, this was an opportunity not to be wasted.


    They leaned in close, like spies exchanging secrets. Once the deal was done, Yu Xiao wondered, I didn¡¯t do anything shady, why did I act so furtive?


    Holding the talismans, Xie Meng Meng glanced at the haunted house again, she had splurged on so many talismans, and Yu Xiao had a stash of them, they should be able to breeze through the haunted house. But the snag was, she had barely got hold of the fresh-off-the-press talismans, and she had to part with them already?


    Yu Xiao, who had a knack for sensing people¡¯s thoughts, caught her quandary, and asked, ¡°Are you itching to go to the haunted house?¡±


    ¡°Mm.¡± After the bizarre transaction, Xie Meng Meng warmed up to Yu Xiao, and said, ¡°Even if we waltz out of the haunted house with the talismans, what about the rest of the rides? Lolita said we had to try them all to find the way out.¡±


    Yu Xiao eyed the haunted house ahead, mulled it over, and said, ¡°If you¡¯re up for giving me ten points, I can guide you around.¡±


    She blinked in confusion, ¡°?¡±


    Yu Xiao: ¡°I promise you won¡¯t need to use any talismans, and you¡¯ll get out in one piece.¡±


    Xie Meng Meng: ¡°!!!¡±


    She gaped at Yu Xiao, bewildered, as Yu Xiao rang Zhao Lan, ¡°Hey, Misty, where are you lot?¡±


    ¡°We were at the carousel, but it turned out to be a bloody mess, so we moved to the pirate ship.¡± Zhao Lan said, ¡°We¡¯re about to get on, do you want something?¡±


    ¡°Nah, you carry on, I¡¯ll catch up with you.¡± After hanging up, Yu Xiao said to Xie Meng Meng, ¡°Come on, let¡¯s go find my gals first.¡±


    They backtracked, and soon reached the pirate ship.


    The pirate ship had just begun, and everything seemed peaceful and normal, but Xie Meng Meng sensed that a gruesome slaughter was imminent.


    She narrowed her eyes for a bit, then her face shifted, pointing at the pirate ship, ¡°Are those two up there your friends?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, they are.¡± Yu Xiao nodded, ¡°I came here to look for them.¡±


    The pirate ship loomed over Xie Meng Meng like a monstrous beast, ready to devour her. She glanced at Yu Xiao, who seemed as serene and unruffled as a lotus flower on a pond. How could she be so calm, when her two friends were on that death trap? Xie Meng Meng wondered, feeling a surge of panic.


    Without warning, the pirate ship lurched and tilted, sending the tourists on it into a frenzy of screams. Sparks flew from the safety devices, and Xie Meng Meng saw people being flung out of their seats, falling into the abyss below.


    She gasped, and her eyes searched for Zhao Lan and Zhou Xiao Zhen, the two girls who were Yu Xiao¡¯s friends. To her astonishment, she saw them sitting on the pirate ship, as relaxed and composed as if they were on a park bench. Zhao Lan held the safety bar with one hand, and Zhou Xiao Zhen with the other. Her face was expressionless, and her body exuded a sense of ease and grace. She did not flinch, even as the pirate ship swung wildly, and the tourists around her became airborne.


    The nightmare lasted for a few seconds, and then the pirate ship came to a halt. There were only two survivors on it.


    Zhao Lan gently helped Zhou Xiao Zhen, who looked a bit queasy, to get off the ride. They walked towards Yu Xiao, ignoring the angry glares of the staff.


    ¡°Smiley, are you done over there?¡± Zhao Lan asked.


    ¡°Not yet.¡± Yu Xiao replied. ¡°I want to ask you for a favour.¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen perked up, and smiled brightly. ¡°Smiley still needs our help? Great, come on, let¡¯s go!¡±


    Xie Meng Meng felt numb, as if she had been injected with a paralysing drug. She was dragged along by Yu Xiao, who held her hand firmly. She remembered the key point. ¡°Did you see the route out when you were up there?¡± she asked.


    ¡°We did.¡± Zhao Lan said. ¡°We saw a number 8 under the seat.¡±


    ¡°Eight?¡± Xie Meng Meng repeated. ¡°Didn¡¯t we need a way out? Why is it a number?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± Zhao Lan shrugged. ¡°Maybe it¡¯s a kind of clue, where are we going next? Let¡¯s go and see.¡±


    Yu Xiao said: ¡°The haunted house.¡±


    ¡°Wow.¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen exclaimed. ¡°I was just saying with Misty, the haunted house must be the most dangerous ride of all? Of course, I¡¯m not saying that Misty can¡¯t make it, it¡¯s just that it might cost some talismans.¡±


    Yu Xiao gave Xie Meng Meng a reassuring look. ¡°Don¡¯t fret, I¡¯ve already thought of a way to save the talismans.¡± She added, with a hint of mischief in her voice, ¡°Ten points, eh, no backing out, eh.¡±


    ¡°¡­Alright.¡± Xie Meng Meng felt a surge of curiosity and apprehension. I want to see what you can do, she thought to herself. She nodded reluctantly. ¡°Ten points it is, I won¡¯t back out.¡±


    Yu Xiao beamed joyfully, and she tucked her sunglasses into her pocket. She led the three of them to the car rental place, where she hired a four-seater car for getting around the amusement park. She beckoned everyone to get on, and drove the car with a gentle breeze to the haunted house entrance.


    The haunted house was deserted, as if no one dared to enter. The gloomy gate loomed over them, with a ghastly ghost head on top. It seemed to taunt them, if you¡¯re not afraid of death, come in.


    Xie Meng Meng shivered, and felt a pang of regret. She was about to propose that they check out some other rides instead, when Yu Xiao parked the car, and started to stick a circle of talismans on the car.


    So that¡¯s how it is, Xie Meng Meng realised, so it still depends on the talismans. She counted them silently, and saw that there were at least a dozen of them. Even if they only sold for three points each, it would cost more than thirty points, and she only spent ten points to go through the haunted house. It turned out she made a profit.


    Yu Xiao climbed back into the car, after sticking the talismans. She set the car¡¯s route, and drove straight into the haunted house, without any hesitation.


    As soon as they entered, the four of them sensed something was wrong. It was like winter inside, cold enough to make their skin prickle. Everywhere was dark, and they could only see a few metres around them. Beyond that, it was pitch black, and it seemed like there were unspeakably horrible things hiding in those darknesses.


    Yu Xiao scanned the surroundings, after she came in. Xie Meng Meng whispered nervously, ¡°I feel like there¡¯s something getting closer.¡±


    ¡°Really?¡±


    ¡°Really!¡± Xie Meng Meng was on the verge of tears. ¡°I used a Spirit Card (Áé¸Ð¿¨) once. It boosted my spirituality and made me more attuned to ghosts than normal people.¡±


    Her fear grew as she spoke. ¡°So many¡­ too many. We need to get out of here. These talismans are not enough¡­¡±


    Just as she was about to jump out of the car and flee, Yu Xiao turned to Zhou Xiao Zhen and said, ¡°Use your mahjong.¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen blinked. ¡°The four of us?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    A look of comprehension crossed Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s face, and she opened the mahjong box with a flourish. ¡°Let¡¯s play a round!¡±


    Xie Meng Meng had always been curious about the box in Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s hand. She knew it was a prop, but she didn¡¯t know what kind of prop until the girl opened the box, revealing the tidy rows of mahjong tiles inside.


    Mahjong?!


    Xie Meng Meng was flabbergasted. Why would it be mahjong? And even if it was mahjong, why would you bring it out at this time?


    But then she felt a strange compulsion. Without thinking, she reached for the mahjong tiles and began to shuffle them¡­


    From the depths of the darkness, shadows crept out, too numerous and twisted to describe. They slithered towards the car, where Xie Meng Meng sat, frozen with fear. She shut her eyes, hoping to block out the nightmare.


    But once the shadows reached the car, they were powerless. They couldn¡¯t harm the people inside because they were shielded by the mahjong tiles they were playing with. The car couldn¡¯t be stopped either, as it was covered in talismans.


    Thus, a bizarre scene unfolded in the gloomy and terrifying haunted house. The indescribable ghostly figures encircled and trailed behind the car. It moved smoothly, accompanied by odd sounds.


    ¡°Four biscuits!¡±


    (Ëıý: a type of mahjong tile with four circles on it.)


    ¡°Get rich!¡±


    (·¢²Æ: a type of mahjong tile with a green Chinese character on it. It is also called the green dragon or the fortune tile.)


    ¡°I gang!¡± (ÎÒ¸Ü: a term used in mahjong to indicate that the player has four identical tiles, which can be either concealed or exposed.)


    ¡°¡­¡±


    They drew closer and closer to the exit, until they caught a glimpse of the light streaming in from outside. The moment Xie Meng Meng saw the sunlight shining through the gate, tears spilled from her eyes.


    Her spirituality was stronger than that of normal people, allowing her to sense the horror of the haunted house more keenly. The oppressive feeling that surrounded her made it difficult to breathe. She could sense the presence of terrible ghosts lurking inside. Helpless, she even had to play mahjong while shivering.


    Finally, the car emerged from the haunted house and reached the sunny outside.


    The mahjong game was coming to an end, and Yu Xiao glanced at the mahjong tile in her hand, asking, ¡°Who should we choose for the punishment?¡±


    Zhao Lan and Zhou Xiao Zhen exchanged silent glances, focusing on Xie Meng Meng, who was crying her eyes out. A sudden shiver ran down her spine as she noticed everyone staring at her.


    ¡°Why are you all gazing at me?¡± Xie Meng Meng rasped, sensing their hostile intentions.


    After all, she had paid points for them, and Yu Xiao felt guilty about targeting Xie Meng Meng with lightning. She suggested, ¡°Or you can just zap me instead.¡±


    ¡°Alternatively, we could postpone it,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen proposed. ¡°Since my mahjong tiles have levelled up, we can delay the penalty as long as we choose the target within twenty-four hours.¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s postpone it then,¡± Zhao Lan agreed. ¡°You can zap me later if you want.¡±


    ¡°In that case, I can win now,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen declared. ¡°I just drew a tile that allows me to win.¡±


    Yu Xiao responded, ¡°Go ahead, go ahead.¡±


    ¡°I win with a pure suit!¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen laid out her tiles, ¡°Heh heh, I¡¯ve won.¡±


    Xie Meng Meng had been clueless about their words the whole time, and then she realised she could move her limbs. She hopped off the car and stood in the sunlight, glancing back at the haunted house. Through the exit, she glimpsed the darkness within the ghost-ridden place. She still couldn¡¯t wrap her head around it, she had escaped like this? Just by playing a round of mahjong?


    She lowered her head, and saw the three weird girls squatting on the ground, peeling off the talismans on the car.


    The girl who carried mahjong with her said, ¡°Let¡¯s hit the roller coaster, I¡¯ve been dying to go on one for ages, I want to have some fun¡­¡±

 Chapter 46: Makeover makeover!

    Roller coaster¡­


    A dozen heads soared through the air¡­ Xie Meng Meng¡¯s mind was filled with a ghastly flashbacks. She glanced at Yu Xiao with a desperate plea, hoping she would put an end to this madness.


    ¡°Come on then.¡± Yu Xiao stuffed the talismans in her pocket, and leaned on the car. ¡°This little car is quite nifty, I¡¯ll take you there.¡±


    Xie Meng Meng: ¡°¡­¡±


    She couldn¡¯t recall how she had gotten into the car, and before she knew it, they were nearly at the roller coaster. Yu Xiao was engaged in conversation with the others, casually describing the horrifying sight they had witnessed on the ride where a bunch of headless corpses had neatly returned to the starting point.


    ¡°Wow.¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen gasped in awe, ¡°That¡¯s so thrilling.¡±


    Hearing this remark, Xie Meng Meng rubbed her forehead, wondering if she had misheard. Was this situation thrilling? Wasn¡¯t it horrifying?


    The one who seemed a bit more sensible, Zhao Lan, said, ¡°Smiley, do you have any clue what caused it?¡±


    ¡°It has to be ghosts.¡± Yu Xiao said, ¡°When the roller coaster stopped halfway, I saw the people on top staring in one direction with terror, they must have spotted something.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s fine if it¡¯s ghosts.¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen said, ¡°I¡¯m afraid it¡¯s like something from Conan*, where there¡¯s a fishing line wrapped around the track, and it slices off people¡¯s heads.¡±


    (*He is the protagonist of the popular detective manga and anime series Detective Conan (also known as Case Closed), where he solves various mysteries and crimes.)


    It¡¯s fine if it¡¯s ghosts¡­


    Xie Meng Meng drew deep breaths, feeling her heart strain under the weight of this conversation. She couldn¡¯t bear to listen to their insane chatter any longer.


    ¡°Um¡­¡± She had to cut them off, ¡°I didn¡¯t see anything in the haunted house, did you see any clues?¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen gave her a puzzled look, ¡°You didn¡¯t see it?¡± She pointed upwards, ¡°Right above our heads, there was a massive number 4, how could you miss such a huge character?¡±


    ¡°¡­¡± Xie Meng Meng bit her lip, feeling wronged. She wanted to explain, it was pitch-black, she was terrified, and she had to muster some energy to play mahjong, who had the time to look up? But when she faced the three people in front of her, she couldn¡¯t utter these words, because they all saw it.


    ¡°The clues are all numbers.¡± Zhao Lan mused, and turned to Yu Xiao, ¡°Smiley, what do you think this means?¡±


    Yu Xiao shrugged, ¡°I¡¯m not sure yet, but as long as we can get all the clues, the answer should be obvious.¡±


    That was their only hope for now.


    At that moment, Zhou Xiao Zhen suddenly pointed ahead and said, ¡°Look!¡±


    The three of them gazed as the roller coaster zoomed by, flinging another dozen severed heads into the air.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen muttered, ¡°Every bloody day, how many heads are going to drop off?¡±


    ¡°Ah.¡± Zhao Lan exhaled, she loathed seeing this kind of spectacle, but tragically she had grown accustomed to it, ¡°We ought to figure out how to get through the roller coaster safely.¡±


    The car pulled up next to the ice cream shop, Zhou Xiao Zhen treated everyone to an ice cream, and the four of them lounged under the umbrella licking their frozen treats.


    Xie Meng Meng gazed up at the roller coaster with a gloomy expression, when Yu Xiao suddenly addressed her, ¡°Missy.¡±


    ¡°Hmm?¡± Xie Meng Meng turned her head and met Yu Xiao¡¯s face, which was feigning cuteness but betraying excitement, and she felt a sinking feeling, ¡°Uh¡­¡± S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Missy, your friend hasn¡¯t played any of the attractions yet, right?¡± Yu Xiao blinked, ¡°Does she need to buy talismans?¡±


    Xie Meng Meng: ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°Yeah, yeah.¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen also recalled their main objective of coming to the treatment instance, which was to earn as many points as possible, ¡°If she also wants us to help her play through an attraction, we only charge 10 points.¡±


    Xie Meng Meng: ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°10 points is just the price for one person.¡± Zhao Lan chimed in, ¡°If her teammate, that bloke who talks a lot, also wants to go, we have to charge him 10 points too.¡±


    Xie Meng Meng: ¡°¡­¡±


    Yu Xiao gazed at her with anticipation, ¡°Why don¡¯t you give her a ring?¡± She suggested, ¡°Ask her to come and join us, yeah?¡±


    A wave of nausea swept over Xie Meng Meng, and she felt dizzy and bewildered as she dialled Qian Xin¡¯s number.


    ¡­


    After the call ended, she clutched her phone and groaned to the sky, what the hell am I doing? Why do I follow their every whim?


    *


    *


    Qian Xin and Liu Fei were gawking at the bungee jump, when her phone buzzed. They had witnessed several groups of people plummet to their deaths on the attraction, but the queue was still endless.


    The bungee jump was not their first choice, they had wanted to try the giant pendulum, but that was even more horrifying. Qian Xin watched in a daze as the staff hauled away the bloody and mangled corpses from the bungee jump, while the other visitors seemed oblivious, and eagerly took their places.


    ¡°Hey!¡± Liu Fei nudged Qian Xin¡¯s shoulder gently, ¡°Your phone is buzzing.¡±


    ¡°Huh? Oh!¡± Qian Xin snapped out of her trance, and answered the phone hastily, ¡°Hello, Meng Meng, I¡­ go find you? Where are you? Roller coaster¡­ OK.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± Liu Fei asked.


    ¡°Meng Meng wants us to join her at the roller coaster.¡± Qian Xin¡¯s brow furrowed as she relayed the message. ¡°Something¡¯s wrong with her, I can tell. I have to go and see for myself.¡±


    Liu Fei shrugged and followed her. He had no interest in any of the attractions, they all made his stomach churn and his palms sweat. He preferred to watch from a safe distance, or better yet, not watch at all.


    They had to cross the park to reach the roller coaster, passing by the bungee jump that loomed over them like a giant spider web. Liu Fei shuddered at the sight of people hurling themselves into the air, screaming and laughing to their deaths. How could anyone enjoy that?


    By the time they arrived at the roller coaster, Yu Xiao and her friends had polished off their ice cream cones and were lounging on a bench. Qian Xin spotted Meng Meng among them and dashed towards her, calling out her name.


    Liu Fei¡¯s eyes fell on Yu Xiao, who was languidly leaning against Zhao Lan¡¯s shoulder with a smug smile. She had removed her magic glasses, but Liu Fei still detested her.


    Qian Xin plopped down next to Meng Meng, her face etched with concern. ¡°What¡¯s going on, Meng Meng? You sound terrible. You haven¡¯t tried any of the attractions yet, have you? I haven¡¯t either, they¡¯re too bloody terrifying¡­¡±


    She was cut off by Meng Meng¡¯s grimace, as if she had swallowed something bitter. Her voice was laced with irony. ¡°We¡¯ve already done two attractions, actually.¡±


    Qian Xin¡¯s mouth dropped open. She stared at Meng Meng in disbelief. ¡°¡­I didn¡¯t have the guts to¡­what?!¡± She shook her head, thinking she had misheard. ¡°You said what?¡±


    Xie Meng Meng gave her a helpless look. ¡°Our two teams, we¡¯ve already done two attractions. The pirate ship and the haunted house.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    The silence stretched on, until Liu Fei broke it with a disbelieving question. ¡°No way? You¡¯re kidding me, right? You¡¯ve already found the clues?¡±


    ¡°Mm-hmm.¡± Xie Meng Meng bobbed her head, ¡°We have. The pirate ship and the haunted house both had clues for us.¡±


    ¡°This¡­¡± Liu Fei goggled at them, ¡°How on earth did you manage that?¡±


    ¡°Well¡­¡± Xie Meng Meng pondered for a bit and said, ¡°It¡¯s no use explaining, you wouldn¡¯t be able to do it anyway. They wanted me to bring you over.¡±


    She didn¡¯t bother to elaborate, just told him the plain truth.


    Qian Xin followed her gaze and saw Yu Xiao and her friends, their faces radiant with smiles, their eyes warm and inviting.


    ¡°You?¡± Qian Xin said, ¡°What are you after from us?¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen leaned forward, her eyes gleaming with excitement. ¡°How about the roller coaster? For a mere 10 points, we¡¯ll take you up there and ensure you come down in one piece, unscathed and exhilarated.¡±


    ¡°What are you babbling about?¡± Liu Fei felt like he was facing three nutters, ¡°How can you promise that?¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen jabbed her finger at Xie Meng Meng, who was slumped on the chair, pale and trembling. ¡°If you don¡¯t trust us, ask her. ¡°


    Liu Fei and Qian Xin turned their heads in unison.


    Xie Meng Meng lifted her eyelids with effort and gave a few heavy nods. ¡°They can guarantee it,¡± she croaked. ¡°I had to pay 10 points to escape from the haunted house. It was hell in there.¡±


    Qian Xin gasped.


    She and Xie Meng Meng had been friends since childhood. Xie Meng Meng would never lie to her, especially not about something like this. So how could it be possible? How could these three strangers, who looked so ordinary and harmless, have such power and influence over the game? How could they ensure not only their own survival, but also anyone else¡¯s, in the most horrific and dangerous attractions? What the hell were they¡­


    ¡°Do you want to try?¡± Yu Xiao interrupted her thoughts, fixing her with a piercing gaze. She smiled, but it was not a friendly smile. It was a predatory smile, full of challenge and temptation. ¡°Only 10 points, oh. A bargain, really. You won¡¯t regret it.¡±


    Qian Xin felt a lump in her throat. She needed some time to think.


    Yu Xiao shifted her attention to Liu Fei, who was standing next to Qian Xin, his face a mask of indecision. ¡°Do you want to try?¡± she repeated, her voice low and seductive. ¡°Don¡¯t you want to feel the thrill, the adrenaline, the freedom?¡±


    Liu Fei glanced at the huge roller coaster track that loomed over them, a twisted metal snake that promised only death and terror. He swallowed hard. ¡°How can you guarantee I¡¯ll be fine?¡± he asked, his voice cracking slightly.


    ¡°I¡¯ll go with you,¡± Yu Xiao said, as if that was enough to reassure him. ¡°I won¡¯t joke about my own safety. I value my life too much. Can you trust us now?¡±


    She reached into her pocket and pulled out a dozen talismans, paper charms with intricate symbols and patterns. She waved them in front of Liu Fei¡¯s face, making them flutter like butterflies. ¡°Oh, by the way,¡± she added casually. ¡°Want to buy some talismans? Cheap, yeah.¡±


    ¡­


    Liu Fei clutched the ten talismans in his hand, feeling a wave of confusion wash over him. He had come here with a clear goal: to complete the mission and earn points. How had he been persuaded to part with 30 points in exchange for these paper charms?


    He glared at the long-haired woman who had sold them to him. He had despised her from the moment he saw her, with her smug smile and her piercing eyes. Why had he fallen for her tricks?


    Yu Xiao, meanwhile, was ecstatic as she checked her own points. She felt a surge of hope and excitement. She was almost there. She could leave this hellish place soon.


    ¡°Thank you, guys.¡± She said with genuine gratitude. ¡°You¡¯ve been very generous. Come again next time.¡±


    Next time¡­


    Xie Meng Meng rubbed her face, trying to erase the traces of fear and exhaustion. She looked at Yu Xiao with a mix of curiosity and suspicion. ¡°Can you tell us now, how are we supposed to get past the roller coaster?¡±


    Yu Xiao held up a finger and said, ¡°The first method, you¡¯ve seen it for yourselves, right? The roller coaster stops halfway through, and then starts again. That¡¯s when the tourists¡¯ heads drop like ripe fruits. I think there¡¯s a ghost on the track, messing with the ride. So we can kill the ghost when the car stops, and then we can come back safely.¡±


    ¡°But that¡¯s not a sure thing.¡± Liu Fei objected. ¡°You don¡¯t know if there¡¯s really a ghost up there, or if you can kill it.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s true.¡± Yu Xiao admitted. ¡°So I have a second method. After we get on the car, we¡¯ll probably see the clue. It¡¯s hidden somewhere on the ride. Then we don¡¯t ride the car back, but jump off when it stops. That way we can avoid losing our heads.¡±


    Liu Fei felt a surge of panic and anger as he heard her words. ¡°Are you taking a piss?¡± He shouted. ¡°The track is bloody high, we¡¯d be dead if we jumped off!¡±


    Yu Xiao rolled her eyes and waved her hand dismissively. ¡°That¡¯s why you need to plan ahead, duh. I spotted some parachutes on sale in the amusement park.¡± She said. ¡°And I¡¯ve got loads of emergency healing talismans here, so you won¡¯t have to fret about getting injured.¡±


    Xie Meng Meng dabbed the sweat from her forehead and said, ¡°Can¡¯t we do something less dangerous?¡±


    Yu Xiao shrugged and sighed. ¡°We could, but it¡¯s a pain in the arse.¡±


    Xie Meng Meng, Qian Xin, and Liu Fei leaned in eagerly. ¡°Tell us!¡±


    Yu Xiao: ¡°Let¡¯s destroy the roller coaster~¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    The three of them gaped at her, speechless, as if they had seen a Martian.


    Zhao Lan shook her head. ¡°That¡¯s too much hassle.¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen, on the other hand, was thrilled. ¡°Wow, I love that idea.¡± She clapped her hands. ¡°Let¡¯s go with the third method!¡±


    Zhao Lan frowned with worry. ¡°Wouldn¡¯t the attending doctor kick up a fuss about that?¡±


    Yu Xiao snorted and shook her head. ¡°Doubt it.¡± She said, remembering the two attending doctors she knew. ¡°Don¡¯t they not give a shit about anything?¡±


    The others: ¡°¡­¡±

 Chapter 47: Lolita snapped!

    They were speechless. They knew the attending doctors were often careless and indifferent bastards, but surely they would step in if something went horribly wrong, right? And if the attending doctor ever got involved, that meant things had gone beyond serious, right?


    They all fell silent as Yu Xiao contemplated the different scenarios. She suggested, ¡°How about we try one method at a time, starting with the third one. What do you think?¡±


    ¡°¡­Not us¡­ Never mind.¡± Xie Meng Meng had given up thinking. She asked, ¡°How do you plan to destroy the roller coaster?¡±


    She looked up at the massive roller coaster track, a twisted metal snake looming above them. ¡°What are you going to use to destroy it?¡±


    ¡°Yeah.¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen was also curious. ¡°Smiley sis, what¡¯s your plan?¡±


    Yu Xiao did have a plan, but she didn¡¯t have the right tools. St. Elizabeth had some tools, but did she really want to make the long trip there?


    ¡°The track is difficult to destroy, but the car isn¡¯t, right?¡± Yu Xiao said. ¡°Let¡¯s go and check out the car first.¡±


    By this point, several visitors had already boarded the roller coaster, and others were preparing to do the same. They didn¡¯t know what these visitors were made of, but they were willingly rushing towards their deaths.


    As Yu Xiao and the others climbed up the stairs, they noticed that the visitors around them looked like regular visitors. Some were snacking, some were laughing and joking, some were whispering, and some were talking on their phones. They seemed completely normal, except for the fact that they were behaving as if they didn¡¯t notice the corpses and blood. Otherwise, they could pass as genuine visitors.


    ¡°¡­¡±


    The staff member¡¯s voice cut through the air, urging Yu Xiao and the others to hurry up. ¡°Get on the ride if you¡¯re brave enough.¡± She gestured to the box. ¡°Put your belongings in here.¡±


    Yu Xiao swivelled her head to face the staff member. A young woman in a baseball cap, clutching a storage box. She could have passed for a normal staff member, if not for the pallor of her skin and the hungry gleam in her eyes as she scanned them.


    ¡°What are you waiting for? There¡¯s plenty of space.¡± The woman sauntered over, her eyes bright with anticipation. ¡°Come on, it¡¯s a blast.¡±


    Yu Xiao eyed the woman, her hand slipping into her pocket.


    The woman tilted her head, intrigued by her movement. Yu Xiao pulled out her hand, revealing a stack of yellow paper. With a flick of her wrist, the paper fanned out.


    The woman: ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°Misty.¡± Yu Xiao called out. ¡°You drag the people off the car, and then give the roller coaster a thorough check.¡±


    Xie Meng Meng and the others hadn¡¯t reacted yet. They were still stunned by Yu Xiao¡¯s bold move. Zhao Lan complied and walked over. She stretched out her hands, grabbing one person by the shoulder with each hand. She lifted them up easily, as if they weighed nothing.


    ¡°Ah!!!¡±


    The visitors screamed in panic, as they felt themselves being lifted off their seats.


    ¡°What are you doing?¡±


    ¡°Let me go!¡±


    Zhao Lan flung them forward, and the visitors soared out like two rag dolls. Then Zhao Lan fixed her gaze on the other people on the car, who were quivering with dread. She spoke calmly, ¡°Do you want to get off by yourselves, or do you need my help?¡±


    The visitors¡¯ screams pierced the air as they fled from the ride. Zhou Xiao Zhen sighed in awe. ¡°Misty is really¡­getting more and more badass. I¡¯d be happy if my future boyfriend had half of her badassery.¡±


    ¡°What are you doing?!¡± The woman, who was too scared to come near because of the talisman, raged impotently. ¡°This is illegal!¡±


    Yu Xiao shot her a withering look, and the woman¡¯s voice faltered. ¡°¡­Threatening the staff is also illegal.¡±


    The visitors were all chased away, and the others pounced on the roller coaster, examining it inside and out.


    ¡°Nothing to see here.¡±


    Xie Meng Meng eyed the track nervously. ¡°The clue should be on the track.¡±


    ¡°I know.¡± Yu Xiao said. ¡°We¡¯ll deal with the track later. Let¡¯s push the roller coaster down first.¡±


    ¡°Okay.¡± Zhao Lan agreed, and with a grunt, she hoisted up half of the heavy roller coaster.


    Xie Meng Meng and the others gaped. How many strength cards did she use? That was freakishly strong.


    The staff were sobbing. ¡°You can¡¯t do this, this is too much, I hate you¡­¡±


    Just as Zhao Lan had toppled the roller coaster over, a cold voice cut through the air.


    ¡°What are you doing?¡±


    The sound of high heels clicking on the ground made them shudder. They looked over in fear, and saw Lolita folding her umbrella, her pretty face icy as she walked up the stairs.


    Lolita reached them, and her emerald eyes regarded them emotionlessly. ¡°What are you doing?¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re planning to destroy the roller coaster.¡± Yu Xiao replied simply.


    She dared to speak to the attending doctor in such a manner, the insolence of it. Xie Meng Meng and the others shivered, awed by her audacity.


    Lolita regarded Yu Xiao with a mocking smile. ¡°Are you itching to donate your hair and skin to me?¡±


    Yu Xiao frowned, baffled by her words. ¡°What are you talking about? Who said we can¡¯t damage the entertainment facilities here?¡±


    Lolita recoiled, her eyes blazing with anger. ¡°I did, and that¡¯s final!¡±


    ¡°By what authority?¡± Yu Xiao challenged. ¡°Which hospital rule or regulation prohibits us from wrecking the amusement park¡¯s facilities?¡±


    The hospital had no such rule or regulation, so Lolita¡¯s expression contorted with fury. She sauntered over and caressed Yu Xiao¡¯s neck with her hand, her voice dripping with malice. ¡°Are you hard of hearing? I said, I forbid it!¡± sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Yu Xiao snorted.


    Lolita gasped, then seethed. ¡°Do you have a death wish? I¡¯ll happily oblige¡­¡±


    ¡°Misty.¡± Yu Xiao stared at Lolita defiantly. ¡°Call the medical dispute office, and tell them that Lolita Amusement Park had a serious case of the attending doctor threatening the patient with death.¡±


    ¡°Okay.¡± Zhao Lan whipped out her phone and said. ¡°Sure.¡±


    ¡°Stop that call!¡± Lolita shrieked. ¡°Do you want to be trapped here forever?¡±


    Yu Xiao spoke in a soothing voice, ¡°Stay calm, stay calm. The world is beautiful, yet you are so irritable.¡±


    She gently touched Lolita¡¯s cheek.


    A shiver ran through her as she made contact with the attending doctor¡¯s skin for the first time, feeling its cold and lifeless texture. The attending doctors looked deceptively similar to ordinary people, but they were far from human.


    ¡°You don¡¯t look pretty like this. Look at yourself.¡±


    To her surprise, Lolita¡¯s anger faded at her words, and she even looked at Yu Xiao with a hint of doubt. ¡°Am I really not pretty anymore?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re still pretty, as long as you behave and don¡¯t lose your temper.¡±


    Lolita nodded, but then her face twisted into a snarl. ¡°If I eat you, I won¡¯t lose my temper anymore.¡±


    ¡°Oh my, how scary!¡± Yu Xiao exclaimed, pretending to be terrified. She quickly pulled her hand away from Lolita¡¯s and stumbled in the opposite direction from her to Zhao Lan. ¡°Don¡¯t eat me¡­¡±


    She hurried over to Zhao Lan¡¯s side and ¡®accidentally¡¯ bumped into the side of the roller coaster with her rear end with all her strength.


    ¡°Bang¡­¡±


    The roller coaster lost its balance and crashed from the platform with a loud clang.


    It smashed into the ground, and with a thunderous boom, it left a small crater in the earth.


    ¡°¡­¡±


    The scene left everyone speechless. Not only the six patients, but also Lolita and the staff, were dumbstruck for a long time.


    Silence stretched for three whole minutes as everyone¡¯s eyes turned to the culprit.


    Yu Xiao stood in a corner, nibbling on her fingertip, appearing bewildered. ¡°I didn¡¯t mean to do it¡­¡±


    ¡°Arghhhhh!!!!¡±


    Lolita snapped!


    Yu Xiao barely had time to murmur a few words in Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s ear before Lolita seized her by the shoulders.


    Lolita gripped Yu Xiao¡¯s shoulders, transforming from her former elegant self into a creature consumed by madness. Her once verdant green eyes now blazed a furious blood-red, and her mouth, grotesquely torn from ear to ear, emitted a snarl.


    With feral intensity, she held onto Yu Xiao¡¯s shoulders, her grip unyielding.


    ¡°I¡¯m going to eat you¡­ I have to eat you¡­¡±


    Yu Xiao made no attempt to resist, instead embracing Lolita and wrapping her arms around Lolita¡¯s waist.


    Xie Mengmeng and the others gasped, their eyes nearly bulging from shock.


    Yu Xiao clung tightly to Lolita, resting her head on Lolita¡¯s chest. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, it wasn¡¯t intentional! Please forgive me. You¡¯re so beautiful, don¡¯t let me ruin that¡­¡±


    Lolita had already lost her sanity. Her hands tightly grasped Yu Xiao¡¯s shoulders, slowly but surely breaking her apart.


    Without warning, a jagged streak of lightning tore through the air above them, aiming straight for Yu Xiao¡¯s skull. She had buried her face in Lolita¡¯s bosom, seeking comfort from the horror around them.


    Lolita caught a glimpse of the deadly flash and struggled to push her away, leaning forward slightly.


    But it was too late. The lightning found its mark¡­


    ¡°Boom!!¡±


    Xie Meng Meng and her two companions, who had already witnessed more than they could bear, felt a new surge of shock. What kind of twisted fate was this? Why did the lightning strike the attending doctor?


    Lolita was also frozen by the blast. She was certain that no one had used any of the strange gadgets or charms, so how did this lightning come to be?


    Yu Xiao seized the opportunity and shoved Lolita aside, yelling, ¡°Run for it!¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen and Zhao Lan sprang into action, following Yu Xiao like a whirlwind.


    Xie Meng Meng and her two companions snapped out of their stupor and ran after them.


    By the time Lolita could move again, Yu Xiao and her friends had vanished from sight. Not only she, but the other three had also lost sight of them.


    As he ran, Liu Fei gasped, ¡°I¡¯ve bloody seen it all today¡­¡±


    Qian Xin¡¯s mind was in turmoil, ¡°Where did they disappear to? Where are we heading?¡±


    ¡°Doesn¡¯t matter¡­¡± Xie Meng Meng muttered, unable to articulate her emotions, ¡°Just run.¡±


    *


    *


    Yu Xiao and her two friends had a plan, though. They had also grabbed some parachutes on their way.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen slung a parachute pack over her shoulder and asked, ¡°What if Lolita tracks us down?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t panic.¡± Yu Xiao sounded cool as a cucumber, ¡°If things get really bad, I¡¯ll just reveal my identity.¡±


    Zhao Lan frowned, ¡°What identity?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m the director of St. Elizabeth¡¯s Hospital, didn¡¯t you know? I¡¯m her co-worker, she wouldn¡¯t dare to kill a colleague.¡± Yu Xiao explained as she ran.


    ¡°How can you be sure she wouldn¡¯t?¡± Zhao Lan remembered Lolita¡¯s face, ¡°She doesn¡¯t seem very stable.¡±


    ¡°How can I be sure? If the attending doctor had the power to kill me, then Lolita certainly wouldn¡¯t be the one who hates me the most, would she?¡± Yu Xiao was very realistic, ¡°If George had the chance to kill me, he would have taken it long ago, why would he wait so long?¡±


    Zhao Lan couldn¡¯t argue with that logic.


    ¡°Where are we running to then?¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen wondered, ¡°I feel like the whole amusement park is under Lolita¡¯s control.¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s fool her¡± Yu Xiao suggested, ¡°Run a big loop and then go back to the roller coaster, we¡¯ll climb onto the track.¡±


    ¡°Nice one.¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen complimented, ¡°Lolita will probably be steaming mad by now, won¡¯t she?¡±

 Chapter 48: We ought to love and uplift one another!

    Smoke billowed from Lolita¡¯s head, but it wasn¡¯t a sign of anger; she had been struck by a stray bolt of lightning.


    The smokey ghost stood motionless in her spot, her once magnificent golden curls now reduced to a charred and tangled mess. She felt no pain or shock; somehow, her body had managed to avoid any serious injury. She was simply questioning her very existence.


    How had she, a highly respected and feared attending doctor with many years of experience, fallen to such a miserable state?


    Lolita gritted her teeth and muttered, ¡°That wretched woman.¡± She no longer cared about her fair hair or smooth skin; she would tear that wench apart until there was nothing left!


    The furious woman spun around, her legs propelling her forward. With a speed that rivalled a car, she sprinted after Yu Xiao¡¯s fleeing figure.


    Yu Xiao had taken a longer route, but she and her allies had the advantage of stamina cards. They could run almost endlessly. Finally, after covering a great distance, she approached the roller coaster from a different angle. She surveyed the area and saw no sign of Lolita.


    A wave of relief washed over her, and she quickened her pace, leading the others back to their original location.


    They looked up at the towering and intricate roller coaster track, which loomed over them like a metallic beast.


    Zhao Lan furrowed her brow. ¡°Are you sure you want to go up there?¡±


    ¡°Yep,¡± Yu Xiao nodded. ¡°Trust me, I¡¯ve got this. I¡¯ve used two stamina cards, and I¡¯ve got a parachute on my back.¡±


    Zhao Lan¡¯s voice trembled as she gazed at the dizzying height and the flimsy parachute. ¡°Are you sure this is safe?¡±


    Yu Xiao flashed her a reassuring smile. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I have a secret weapon that can save my life in case of an emergency.¡±


    Zhao Lan nodded, biting her lip. ¡°Well, then, be careful, okay?¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen, who had been watching them with a mix of admiration and envy, spoke up. ¡°Smiley Sis, you¡¯re so brave! I wish I could go with you, but I believe in you. You can do this, Smiley Sis. I¡¯m cheering for you!¡±


    Yu Xiao gave her a grateful nod and turned to face the track.


    As soon as she touched the track, she felt a strange sensation, a cold shiver running down her spine. Something was wrong, she sensed it. The track felt unnatural, almost alive and hostile, under her palm. She shook off the feeling, telling herself it was just her imagination. She had used two stamina cards before, boosting her physical abilities to the max. She was stronger, faster, and more agile than ever. She could handle this.


    The brave girl moved along the track with steady grace, not too fast to lose control, not too slow to waste time. She faced several daunting loops and twists on the roller coaster, but she had already scouted them beforehand. She knew where the danger zones were, where the tourists had lost their heads. She avoided those areas and climbed over the rest.


    Zhao Lan and Zhou Xiao Zhen followed her progress with bated breath, sending her silent prayers and encouragement.


    Suddenly, Zhao Lan smelled something burning. She frowned, wondering what it was. She turned her head, only to see the charred figure of Lolita standing next to her.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen gasped, her eyes widening with terror as she saw Lolita appear beside them; the woman had arrived with frightening speed.


    Lolita cocked her head, a mocking smile playing on her lips as she watched Yu Xiao¡¯s determined stride on the track.


    The villainess chuckled, her crimson lips twisting into a cruel smirk, and gracefully stepped onto the rail. Despite the high heels she wore, she maintained her balance on the metal as if it were a level surface. With deliberate steps, she advanced, matching the pace of her prey.


    Yu Xiao felt an abrupt chill on the track, as if something had shifted. Glancing over her shoulder, her heart sank as she locked eyes with Lolita; the woman had caught up with her far too quickly.


    Lolita strolled with a leisurely grace, akin to a cat toying with a mouse before killing it. She closed the gap methodically, driving her victim to the brink, relishing the fear and despair evident in her eyes. Yu Xiao refused to acknowledge her, unwilling to grant her the satisfaction. Her focus remained on moving forward, resolute in reaching the finish line before Lolita could seize her.


    ¡°Look!¡± Qian Xin exclaimed, pointing towards the distance with a shocked expression.


    Liu Fei and Xie Meng Meng followed her gesture, and their breath hitched as they spied two tiny figures on the towering roller coaster track.


    One figure was unmistakable, clad in a gloomy black dress; it was the sinister doctor, Lolita. Though the other figure appeared indistinct from afar, they instinctively knew it had to be Yu Xiao.


    On the elevated track, the two moved in unison, their proximity diminishing with each passing second.


    The hearts of the onlookers clenched. Had Yu Xiao fallen into a trap after all? Was this her final stand?


    A wave of sadness washed over Xie Meng Meng, and she didn¡¯t know why. Ever since she entered the Fourth Institute, she had seen nothing but despair and dread in the faces of those who faced the treatment instances. Yu Xiao was the first person she met who could smile and laugh in the midst of such horrors, who could live with such freedom and joy.


    But was that about to end?


    Yu Xiao came to a halt, standing on the elevated track.


    This was the site of the roller coaster accidents. Every time the ride reached this point, it would stop, and then resume with a jolt, leaving behind the severed heads of the passengers.


    She looked up, and saw a monstrous ghost looming over the track. The ghost was as tall as a building, with limbs twisted and tangled around the metal. Its hair was long and wild, hiding its face, except for a solitary black eye that glared menacingly at Yu Xiao.


    Its hands were fiddling with a strand of hair, placing it across the track at the perfect height to slice through the necks of the people in the cars. The truth was, the ghost¡¯s body would block the roller coaster¡¯s path, forcing it to stop. Then the ghost would move aside, but the hair would remain, cutting off the heads of the unsuspecting tourists.


    A ¡°clattering¡± sound echoed from behind. It was the unmistakable noise of Lolita¡¯s high heels striking the track.


    Yu Xiao gazed at the half-hidden face of the ghost, where a large number 9 was written.


    The brave girl spun around and found herself face to face with Lolita, her black dress billowing in the wind.


    The doctor in black raised her hand, and a dainty little umbrella instantly popped open, shielding her from the harsh sun overhead. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Why do I not see fear in your eyes?¡± Lolita asked, tilting her head. ¡°Have you contracted some illness that makes you fearless?¡±


    ¡°My mind is not normal, but I still feel fear.¡± Yu Xiao stared at the top of Lolita¡¯s head, a sorrowful frown creasing her forehead. ¡°You had such beautiful hair¡­ what a waste.¡±


    Lolita¡¯s face twisted. She loathed her own hideous appearance, and she abhorred anyone looking at her deformity.


    ¡°I told you I would eat you, and I will.¡± Lolita glanced at the parachute on Yu Xiao¡¯s back, a scornful smile on her lips. ¡°Perhaps I should offer you one more chance to escape my sight?¡±


    ¡°No need.¡± Yu Xiao replied. ¡°We can avoid this unpleasantness.¡±


    As she spoke, she lifted her dress and, with her other hand, began rummaging inside.


    Lolita saw beneath her clothes, wrapped around her body, a ring of white fabric. Yu Xiao fumbled for a while before finally loosening the white cloth. She shook it in her hand, and Lolita realised it was actually a white coat.


    She slipped into the white coat, its loose fabric billowing in the wind. Facing Lolita, she questioned, ¡°Why do we have to kill each other? We¡¯re colleagues, partners. We ought to love and uplift one another!¡±


    Lolita stood frozen, her mouth agape. She had imagined countless possible reactions from Yu Xiao, but this was not one of them.


    The cat stared at the mice in disbelief, observing the comically oversized white coat and the badge on the chest bearing the word ¡°Dean.¡±


    She had heard rumours of a new dean at St. Elizabeth¡¯s, but she hadn¡¯t paid them much attention. To the attending doctors, the dean was just another insignificant NPC. However, now she realised that the dean of St. Elizabeth¡¯s had invaded her territory.


    ¡°Hehe,¡± Yu Xiao nervously chuckled. ¡°Dear Lolita, may I take my leave now?¡±


    Lolita snapped out of her daze and suddenly lunged at her. Yu Xiao flinched and quickly activated the coat¡¯s function.


    Silently, her prey vanished from the spot.


    Far away, the three anxious spectators¡ªXie Meng Meng and the others¡ªwere left dumbfounded. They had witnessed Lolita cornering Yu Xiao, reaching out for her, and then the courageous girl disappearing before their eyes.


    What kind of terrifying ability was this?


    They had believed that the attending doctor was already horrifying enough, but it turned out that that monster was even more dreadful than they had imagined.


    ¡°Is she dead?¡± Qian Xin whispered.


    ¡°Most likely,¡± Liu Fei said, his voice icy and resentful. ¡°No one who angers the attending doctor meets a good end.¡±


    Xie Meng Meng bit her lip. She felt a wave of sorrow wash over her. She had been in the Fourth Hospital for several years, and this was the first time she felt such utter hopelessness.


    *


    *


    Yu Xiao opened her eyes and found herself in the familiar, old corridor of St. Elizabeth. The dim lights flickered, the air was frigid and stagnant, and the scent of disinfectant and blood filled her nostrils. She decided to make her way to the operating room.


    As she walked past the nurse station, she observed the nurses distributing medication to the patients.


    Some patients were at the end of the line, furrowing their brows and contemplating how to evade the meds. The six nurses standing by the corridor looked formidable; resisting them seemed futile.


    Suddenly, they noticed the nurses becoming agitated. The ghosts widened their eyes, trembled uncontrollably, and appeared ready to flee. They dropped their trays, causing the pills and syringes to scatter across the floor.


    Not only the nurses, but also the little girl named Qiao Qiao, who was at the front of the line, wore the same pallid expression.


    They caught a glimpse of a woman in a pristine white coat, her hair cascading in dense waves, concealing her face as she strode past the nurses. In her wake, the nurses bowed their heads so low that they dared not look up.


    Only after the woman had vanished did the nurses finally exhale a collective sigh of relief.


    The patients exchanged bewildered glances, their curiosity piqued. Who was she? Was she the secret boss of this hospital? She seemed quite fearsome; even the nurses were terrified of her.


    Yu Xiao reached the door of the operating room, lifted her hand, and knocked.


    Knock, knock, knock!


    The door of the operating room opened swiftly, and three beautiful nurses¡¯ heads popped out.


    Upon spotting Yu Xiao, the nurses swiftly retracted their heads, one of them even accidentally colliding with the door, producing a resounding ¡°bang¡± sound.


    After a brief pause, another head emerged from inside, a very bony head, to be exact, a skull. The same skull that had been so ecstatic to get a new job that it had fallen off.


    ¡°Tie Niu,¡± Yu Xiao addressed, ¡°How do you like working here?¡±


    The skeleton Tie Niu swung the door open wide and, with utmost reverence, addressed in his deep voice, ¡°Bloody good!! I am truly grateful, Your Honor, the esteemed dean.¡±


    ¡°I would like to borrow some of your possessions for a while,¡± Yu Xiao strolled into the operating room, ¡°Do you mind?¡±


    Without hesitation, Tie Niu responded with exceptional courtesy, ¡°Certainly not. The entire hospital is at your disposal. All that belongs to me is now yours. Feel free to help yourself as you see fit.¡±


    Approaching the surgical table, Yu Xiao reached out and grasped the former surgeon¡¯s treasured axe. She savoured its weight in her palm for a moment, before setting it down and ultimately selecting her preferred instrument of choice ¨C a chainsaw.

 Chapter 49: Avengers of Revenge

    Laughter echoed through the amusement park, yet Xie Meng Meng and her companions felt an icy chill creeping into the depths of their souls. The sun shone brightly, the air was warm and fragrant, and the scent of popcorn and cotton candy drifted on the breeze.


    Wu Chao and Zhang Yi arrived to join them. The pair had already explored every corner of the amusement park but lacked the courage to try any of the rides.


    Then they heard about the roller coaster accident. At first, they dismissed it with a shrug. After all, that roller coaster claimed a life every thirty minutes. What was so unusual about it? It wasn¡¯t until they laid eyes on the mangled wreckage of the roller coaster on the ground that the gravity of the situation hit them.


    They found Xie Meng Meng and the other two, listening intently as they recounted the details.


    ¡°That girl, Yu Xiao, is something else,¡± Wu Chao remarked, his untouched drink in hand. ¡°If only she hadn¡¯t crossed paths with the attending doctor.¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t fathom how she¡¯s managed to survive this long. Hasn¡¯t anyone warned her not to meddle with the attending doctor?¡± Zhang Yi¡¯s face twisted with distaste. ¡°Isn¡¯t being alive a good thing? Why would she do something like that? With her abilities, if we all work together, it¡¯s not impossible to escape this amusement park within two days.¡±


    ¡°Ah,¡± Qian Xin sighed, her voice heavy with concern. ¡°What about her two friends? Are they still at the roller coaster?¡±


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Liu Fei nodded. ¡°They¡¯ve been there the entire time, refusing to join us. It seems like they¡¯ve been deeply affected.¡±


    ¡°After all, they belonged to the same ward, they had stuck together through thick and thin, and now Yu Xiao was gone. It was only natural for the others to be heartbroken,¡± Qian Xin said sympathetically. Their old ward used to be home to three people, but now it was just her and Xie Meng Meng.


    ¡°Pfft,¡± Zhang Yi scoffed. ¡°Who has survived this long without facing death? One of them is already dead. Don¡¯t tell me they have lost the will to live?¡±


    His words held a bitter truth, although they were harsh. In this hospital, everyone faced constant life-threatening situations and various dangers. Death was as common as the flu. If one couldn¡¯t remain composed, survival was unlikely.


    ¡°Sometimes, I simply don¡¯t understand,¡± Xie Meng Meng said, her fists clenched and fingers intertwined. Her voice conveyed despair and confusion. ¡°What is the purpose of enduring such suffering and living in agony?¡±


    ¡°Meng Meng!¡± Qian Xin exclaimed, nervously grabbing her hand. ¡°How can you say that? No matter what, we have to keep on living.¡±


    ¡°I was just rambling,¡± Xie Meng Meng said, forcing a bitter smile. ¡°I will go talk to those two; they are tough. If they join us, it will be a big help.¡±


    With that, she got up and left, buying two sodas and heading towards the roller coaster. She walked past bloodstains, trying not to look at them.


    Xie Meng Meng climbed the stairs with her sodas, intending to comfort them. However, halfway up, she felt that something was wrong as she heard voices from above.


    The lively girl named Zhou Xiao Zhen exclaimed, ¡°Chips taste better with lime flavour.¡±


    ¡°I prefer the original flavour,¡± said the calm girl named Zhao Lan.


    ¡°I find the original flavour too damn salty.¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen took a sip of water, let out a satisfied ¡°ah,¡± and continued, ¡°I feel like I¡¯ve gained weight. What am I going to do in the hospital? Oh God, am I going to become a whale or something?¡±


    Xie Meng Meng¡¯s heart sank upon hearing this. Holding two chilled sodas, she was overwhelmed with confusion, questioning why she was even there.


    But leaving now was out of the question, wasn¡¯t it?


    Xie Meng Meng steeled herself, carrying the sodas as she approached. Zhao Lan and Zhou Xiao Zhen turned in surprise, and the first thing Xie Meng Meng noticed was the crumbs from potato chips on the lively girl¡¯s lip.


    She came to a halt. How in the world was she supposed to talk to them?


    She had rehearsed the opening line beforehand. When she encountered the two, she would express her empathy, then sit down and share her own past, sharing the emotional turmoil she had felt when losing a friend. Wasn¡¯t it a psychological trick that the best way to comfort someone was to make yourself sound miserable, so the other person would be too busy consoling you to feel sadness?


    But now, all her preparations seemed pointless. Looking at these two carefree individuals, she had no desire to comfort them at all. She felt more inclined to give them a good kick.


    Xie Meng Meng¡¯s expression was inscrutable as she looked at them.


    ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Zhao Lan asked, brushing away the potato chip crumbs from Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s mouth. ¡°Have you done any of the attractions?¡±


    Xie Meng Meng¡¯s heart sank; they hadn¡¯t completed a single one.


    ¡°Are we just going to stay here?¡± Xie Meng Meng changed the subject, feeling restless. ¡°We only have two days, and half of one is already gone. We barely have a day and a half left.¡±


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen said, sounding confused. ¡°So what?¡±


    Xie Meng Meng: ¡°Don¡¯t you want to do something?¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen looked even more perplexed, but Zhao Lan caught on to Xie Meng Meng¡¯s meaning. She said, ¡°We¡¯re just taking a break. If you¡¯re in such a hurry, go ahead by yourself.¡±


    Xie Meng Meng spluttered, ¡°Why don¡¯t you join us? Let¡¯s all talk¡­¡±


    She was cut off by Zhou Xiao Zhen, who suddenly jumped up. ¡°Smiley¡¯s back!¡± sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Xie Meng Meng, ¡°???¡± She turned around and witnessed one of the most unforgettable scenes of her life¡­ among others.


    It was late afternoon, close to sunset, and the sunlight cast long shadows on the ground. Against the backdrop of a colossal roller coaster, a figure emerged, silhouetted against the light.


    Xie Meng Meng narrowed her eyes, shielding them with her palm; the sunlight was too bright for her to bear.


    With measured steps, Yu Xiao emerged from the light and approached the trio. She wore a white coat that seemed almost too pristine, contrasting sharply with the ruggedness of her surroundings. A bulky bag was slung across her chest, its contents both mysterious and protruding. On her left shoulder, she carried a hefty axe, its blade glinting in the sunlight. Her right hand held a chainsaw, the metallic surface reflecting the intensity in her eyes. In this unconventional manner, she presented herself before the three.


    ¡°Wow!¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen exclaimed, ¡°Smiley, you look so badass like this!¡±


    Zhao Lan was astonished, ¡°Smiley, why do you have so many things?¡±


    Yu Xiao raised her hand, effortlessly tossing the axe to Zhao Lan and pulling out a hammer from the bag in front of her, throwing it to Zhou Xiao Zhen. Gripping the chainsaw tightly, she surveyed the area with a determined gaze and asked, ¡°Where¡¯s Lolita?¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen: ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡±


    ¡°Then come with me!¡± Yu Xiao declared, looking eager to move forward.


    Xie Meng Meng, who had been observing all of this, was speechless. ¡°You¡­ you¡¯re alive? How did you disappear? Where did you get all these things? Why are you searching for Lolita?¡±


    Yu Xiao ignored her, her attention fully absorbed by her mission. Instead, she flipped the switch on the chainsaw, which emitted a horrifying ¡°buzzing¡± noise, drowning out any further questions.


    ¡°We¡¯re going to destroy other facilities,¡± Yu Xiao stated. ¡°I don¡¯t think Lolita can resist showing up like this!¡±


    With that, the trio spun around and faced the setting sun as they walked away, their swagger distancing them from the regular crowd.


    Xie Meng Meng stood dumbfounded, clutching her head, as she began to question the purpose of life.


    Armed with lethal weapons, the trio burst forth with an aura that could rival that of an entire team.


    Holding a hammer, Zhou Xiao Zhen asked, ¡°Smiley, are we really going to fight Lolita to the death?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s impossible,¡± murmured Yu Xiao, ¡°She¡¯s the attending doctor, and even if we pooled all our resources, we couldn¡¯t kill her.¡±


    ¡°What?¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen grew nervous, ¡°Then why are we looking for her?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s a show of strength,¡± explained Zhao Lan, ¡°Firstly, it demonstrates that we have the ability to fight fiercely, and secondly, it shows our unwavering determination to fight till the end. This way, Lolita might think twice before confronting us.¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen was still confused, ¡°If she thinks twice, what do we gain from it?¡±


    ¡°You¡­ are truly innocent in your ignorance,¡± chuckled Zhao Lan, ¡°Even if we don¡¯t gain anything from her, she will probably refrain from interfering with any of our future actions.¡±


    ¡°Ah, I get it,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen smiled. ¡°Smart!¡±


    With a sharp gaze as a knife, Yu Xiao walked past the pirate ship. She caught the eye of a hefty woman at the pirate ship and put a chainsaw next to the woman¡¯s face. The woman turned white with fear as Yu Xiao demanded, ¡°Where¡¯s Lolita?!¡±


    ¡°I-I don¡¯t know,¡± the woman shivered.


    ¡°Hmph!¡± Yu Xiao shoved the woman aside and moved on to the next target.


    The woman, who had barely escaped a terrifying ordeal, sat on the ground, feeling so aggrieved that she wanted to cry.


    ¡°Oh no! Oh no!¡± Xie Meng Meng wheezed as she ran back to the meeting spot.


    Liu Fei and the others were shocked. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? What happened?¡±


    ¡°Yu Xiao is alive!¡± Xie Meng Meng shouted.


    ¡°What?!¡±


    ¡°No way!¡±


    Qian Xin: ¡°What are you saying? We all saw Lolita make Yu Xiao vanish.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know the details,¡± Xie Meng Meng breathed, ¡°but the situation back then might not be what we thought. Lolita didn¡¯t make Yu Xiao vanish; Yu Xiao disappeared on her own. And now, she¡¯s back¡­¡±


    ¡°Really?!¡± Liu Fei exclaimed. ¡°But her return should be a blessing. Why do you say it¡¯s not?¡±


    ¡°Because she¡¯s now on the prowl, chasing Lolita like mad,¡± Xie Meng Meng said in anguish. ¡°Somehow, she managed to get her hands on logging tools. To cut a long story short, all three of them are after Lolita!¡±


    ¡°What?!¡±


    ¡°Sweet mother of chaos!¡±


    Yu Xiao and her crew arrived at the bungee jumping platform. The staff seemed completely oblivious and, astonishingly, even approached them, asking if they were interested in trying bungee jumping.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen raised a hammer and said, ¡°Bungee jumping my arse! Can¡¯t you tell we¡¯re here to make a mess? Where¡¯s Lolita? Bring that woman out here!¡±


    Staff member: ¡°¡­¡±


    Finally, the staff member realised the trouble they were in. These were certainly not ordinary tools. His face turned pale, and he quickly moved away.


    ¡°If she doesn¡¯t appear, we¡¯ll make her appear,¡± Yu Xiao said. ¡°Come on, let¡¯s smash this bungee jumping thing.¡±


    ¡°Brilliant!¡± exclaimed Zhou Xiao Zhen, her voice loud and clear.


    Silent, Zhao Lan approached with the axe in her hands, ready to strike.


    ¡°You¡¯ve crossed the line!¡± rang out an angry woman¡¯s voice. Lolita glared fiercely at Yu Xiao. ¡°I no longer want to eat you now. I want to slaughter you, then dry you into a mummy and display you as an ornament in my amusement park! Let all the new patients see the fate of those who defy me!¡±


    ¡°Hmm,¡± sneered Yu Xiao. ¡°You¡¯ve finally appeared.¡±


    Lolita looked at Yu Xiao with a touch of amusement. ¡°You think these things can harm me?¡±


    ¡°Well, there¡¯s more.¡± Yu Xiao pulled out a thick pile of talismans from her pocket. ¡°I¡¯ve got many tricks up my sleeve. Care to try them?¡±


    Lolita¡¯s eye twitched, and she asked a curious question, ¡°Is this how you disposed of the former dean of Saint Elizabeth?¡±


    ¡°Well¡­ not only that,¡± Yu Xiao smiled. ¡°But if you wish to experience it, I will gladly oblige.¡±

 Chapter 50: Boohoo boohoo boohoo..

    Despite the weapon pointed at her, Lolita still looked fierce. ¡°Do you realise that attacking medical staff is against the hospital rules?¡±


    ¡°Hmm,¡± Yu Xiao didn¡¯t back down. ¡°Am I not medical staff too?¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    The hospital had many rules, but sometimes the attending doctors would bend them. As long as no one snitched, the Medical Dispute Office would be none the wiser. But now, it was tricky. If she and Yu Xiao clashed, both would break the hospital rules. Surely, going to the Medical Dispute Office would entail checking the surveillance to see who initiated it¡­


    ¡°Fine,¡± Lolita smiled wickedly. ¡°I¡¯m curious to see what you can do. Come on, then.¡±


    A moment ago, she had seemed reluctant. How did she change her mind so fast? Yu Xiao smelled a trap. ¡°You doubt I¡¯ll dare?¡±


    ¡°Do you dare?¡± Lolita said, ¡°Then come on.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll do it!¡± Yu Xiao proclaimed.


    Lolita mocked, ¡°Come on then, come on!¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re so irritating!¡± Yu Xiao aimed the chainsaw at Lolita. ¡°Don¡¯t you know that your attitude is inviting trouble?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m irritating, I¡¯m inviting trouble. If you have the nerve, come and hit me.¡± Lolita put her hands on her hips, sticking her tongue out at Yu Xiao. ¡°I¡¯ll tell you this, I¡¯ll annoy you until two days are up, and you burn to death here in a huge fire.¡±


    ¡°Do you think you can scare me?¡± Yu Xiao countered. ¡°Can¡¯t I hide in Saint Elizabeth¡¯s?¡±


    ¡°You can hide, but what about your friends?¡± Lolita had a smug expression. ¡°And once you hide in Saint Elizabeth¡¯s, you can never come back to the Sixth Hospital. You¡¯ll be trapped there, alone and forever as the Dean of Saint Elizabeth¡¯s.¡±


    Yu Xiao¡¯s rage boiled within her. ¡°Right here, right now, I¡¯m going to kill you!¡±


    With a cheerful tone, Lolita responded, ¡°Come on, bring it! Come on!¡±


    ¡°Hold it right there!¡± Yu Xiao snapped, holding a talisman in one hand and a chainsaw in the other. ¡°I¡¯m going to put an end to you!¡±


    Zhao Lan, clinging tightly to Yu Xiao, pleaded, ¡°Smiley, don¡¯t act rashly!¡±


    ¡°Oh~ Are you afraid?¡± Mockingly, Lolita, in her high heels, skipped around. ¡°Oh~ Are you scared? Let me enlighten you. Not only will I turn you into a mummy, but I¡¯ll also flay your two friends and make a rug out of their skins, placing it in front of the ghostly gate for all the newcomers to step on.¡±


    ¡°Misty, let me go!¡± Yu Xiao¡¯s face flushed with anger. ¡°I¡¯m going to confront her once and for all!¡±


    ¡°If you act recklessly, you¡¯ll be playing right into her hands,¡± Zhao Lan firmly held Yu Xiao back. ¡°Can¡¯t you see? If Lolita truly wanted to kill you, why wouldn¡¯t she just come over and do it? Instead, she¡¯s baiting you, trying to make you strike first.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    As Zhao Lan spoke, a hush fell over the entire area.


    Yu Xiao¡¯s heart skipped a beat. Her fury slowly subsided, and her gaze turned suspicious.


    Lolita, still trying to salvage the situation, taunted, ¡°You¡¯re just all talk and no action. Have you accepted your fate of being turned into mummies by me?¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡± Now composed, Yu Xiao felt that something was amiss. Lolita¡¯s attitude clearly indicated that she was intentionally provoking a fight.


    Yu Xiao suspiciously eyed Lolita, ¡°Are you¡­ scared to strike first?¡±


    ¡°Bullshit!¡± Lolita couldn¡¯t hide her face as she retorted, ¡°What¡¯s there that I wouldn¡¯t dare to do?¡±


    ¡°Then come on, hit me.¡± Yu Xiao spread her arms, appearing unconcerned about getting hurt.


    Lolita: ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°She really doesn¡¯t have the guts to throw a punch.¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen observed Lolita and wondered, ¡°Could this be a ploy?¡±


    ¡°Maybe it¡¯s not that she¡¯s scared to act, but she¡¯s scared to act first. Could this be a rule among medical staff? The one who initiates will be penalised, or the penalty will be harsher?¡± Zhao Lan pondered.


    Lolita: ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°Look at her face, turning green.¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen exclaimed, ¡°Doesn¡¯t that confirm Misty is right?¡±


    ¡°Ah~!¡± Yu Xiao suddenly realised everything and looked at Lolita mockingly, ¡°So, this was your scheme, almost got me.¡±


    Livid, Lolita¡¯s face turned black, rendering her unable to say a word.


    ¡°She¡¯s too timid to act, huh?¡± Yu Xiao sneered, ¡°What should we do then?¡±


    ¡°If she doesn¡¯t, we will.¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen smiled, ¡°So where should we begin?¡±


    Zhao Lan stifled a laugh, suddenly feeling pity for Lolita, a well-respected doctor driven to this point.


    ¡°Indeed,¡± said Yu Xiao with a serious expression on her face. ¡°They say a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. One must not be too greedy in life.¡±


    ¡°Right!¡± agreed Zhou Xiao Zhen. ¡°I completely agree!¡±


    ¡°Heh heh heh heh¡­¡±


    Their laughter filled the air as they leisurely walked towards the bungee jump machine. They turned their heads simultaneously and flashed a mischievous smile at Lolita.


    Lolita was furious. ¡°You better not wreck my stuff!¡±


    Yu Xiao replied with a monotone voice. ¡°Then spill all the clues about how to leave the amusement park.¡±


    ¡°Never!¡± Lolita stomped her foot in anger. ¡°How could a doctor assist a patient in cheating?¡±


    ¡°Then let¡¯s carry on,¡± said Yu Xiao, bringing the chainsaw closer to the bungee jump machine.


    ¡°Ahh ahh ahh!!! Stop it!¡± Lolita lunged forward, her hands reaching for Yu Xiao. But she stopped just before making contact. ¡°You aren¡¯t allowed to damage my bungee jump machine!¡±


    ¡°Ah~!¡± taunted Yu Xiao, looking at the hands just inches away from her. ¡°Too scared to hit me~ Too scared to hit me~ Well then, let¡¯s continue!¡±


    Under the desperate gaze of Lolita, they began slicing the seat of the bungee jump machine into pieces.


    ¡°Boohoo boohoo boohoo¡­¡±


    A sobbing sound pierced the air. Who was crying? Yu Xiao scanned the scene, only to see Lolita standing on the sidelines, big crocodile tears streaming down her face.


    Is the attending doctor crying?


    Lolita stormed off, flinging her arm up to wipe away the tears staining her cheeks. ¡°Waaah¡­ you lot are bastards!¡± she wailed. ¡°I hate you guys.¡±


    Zhao Lan watched her retreating figure with a pang of guilt. ¡°Did we go too far?¡±


    ¡°Where¡¯s the line?¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen snapped back. ¡°We didn¡¯t even hit her.¡±


    Silence fell over them for a moment.


    Yu Xiao broke the quiet with a resolute declaration. ¡°We¡¯re just trying to survive,¡± she said. ¡°Throughout history, humans have directly or indirectly annihilated countless animals and plants just to stay alive. Now, we¡¯re doing what we have to do to survive.¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen looked at her with a mixture of awe and confusion. ¡°Smiley, sis,¡± she said. ¡°Your words are profound and evocative, but can you simplify them?¡±


    ¡°Sure,¡± Yu Xiao said. ¡°In simpler terms, when our own lives are at stake, why should we care if others cry or not? Let¡¯s get to work.¡±


    ¡°That makes sense,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen nodded. Then, out of the blue, she sighed. ¡°Lolita crying just now¡­ I thought it was pretty. I really like seeing her cry.¡±


    Yu Xiao: ¡°¡­¡±


    Zhao Lan: ¡°¡­¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen: ¡°Huh? Why are you guys looking at me like that?¡±


    *


    *


    Meanwhile, Xie Meng Meng and her group cowered in a corner. They dared not try the attractions or approach Yu Xiao¡¯s group. The five of them wore expressions of dread, huddling as if facing the dire choice between being burned alive or ending their own lives.


    As they pondered their dilemma, they suddenly spotted a woman darting away in a frilly Lolita dress, her sobs trailing behind her.


    The five of them watched the woman disappear into the distance. After a few seconds, Liu Fei asked, ¡°Was that person a Lolita?¡±


    Xie Meng Meng nodded, ¡°Yeah.¡±


    Qian Xin tried to remember what she had seen, ¡°Was she crying?¡± Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Xie Meng Meng nodded again, ¡°Yeah.¡±


    Instantly, everyone felt their nerves fray. Zhang Yi even gulped down several mouthfuls of saliva and then said, ¡°Both of you are from the Fourth Hospital and have experienced many instances. Do some attending physicians there like to cry?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Xie Meng Meng shook her head, ¡°We¡¯ve never seen it before.¡±


    ¡°Then¡­¡± Zhang Yi pointed in the direction Lolita had run off, ¡°Why was she crying?¡±


    Xie Meng Meng said, ¡°Right now, I just want to do one thing. That is to find Yu Xiao and the others as soon as possible.¡±


    When they located Yu Xiao, the three of them had already reduced the jumping machine to rubble. The ghosts that inhabited it were homeless, shivering, and curling up on the wreckage.


    Yu Xiao, exhausted and leaning on a chainsaw, said, ¡°Precious, pull it down for me.¡±


    ¡°Alright!¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen rolled up her sleeves, climbed up, and yanked the ghost¡¯s foot.


    The ghost whimpered and tried to recoil. These ghosts living in the facility were all disabled ghosts, unable to run, only able to stay in one spot.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen gripped the ghost¡¯s foot and dragged it down with all her might.


    This was the scene that greeted Xie Meng Meng and the others when they arrived: two women standing on a heap of rubble, one of them hauling a sobbing ghost down from the wreckage.


    The ghost was a horrifying sight, with grotesquely large hands, almost half the size of a human. However, its legs were tiny, resembling those of a newborn baby¡ªsoft and completely useless.


    Gasping for breath, Zhou Xiao Zhen dragged the ghost down. ¡°It¡¯s so heavy, it nearly killed me.¡±


    Upon spotting Xie Meng Meng and the rest, Yu Xiao greeted them nonchalantly. ¡°Oh, you¡¯re here.¡±


    Everyone: ¡°¡­¡±


    Incredulous, Liu Fei gaped at the debris. ¡°Did you guys do all of this?¡±


    ¡°Well, who else?¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen snapped irritably. ¡°We¡¯ve been breaking our backs here, while you lounge there, drinking and having a splendid time~¡±


    Everyone: ¡°¡­¡±


    They felt wronged by her accusation. They didn¡¯t want to be idling around drinking either; they just didn¡¯t have a clue how to proceed.


    ¡°We¡­ You guys¡­¡± Xie Meng Meng fumbled for words, trying to initiate her inquiry. ¡°Won¡¯t Lolita stop you from doing this?¡±


    ¡°Why would she?¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen shrugged and sat down on the ground. ¡°She¡¯s already been here and ran away crying.¡±


    ¡°Blimey, Lolita was actually reduced to tears by them.¡±


    The five of them stood there, flabbergasted, staring like muppets with open mouths. Today¡¯s events had not only smacked their views but also their entire bloody lives.


    They lingered in silence until Xie Meng Meng finally spoke up, ¡°Um¡­ is there anything we can help with?¡±


    Yu Xiao wiped the sweat off her face and said, ¡°I was just about to grill this ghost. If you want to help, you¡¯re welcome to join us.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    The five shuffled nervously. It was their first time encountering a ghost that they not only didn¡¯t run away from but also approached willingly.


    As they moved closer to the ghost, Liu Fei shivered and asked, ¡°What should we interrogate it about?¡±


    ¡°Are you all this daft?¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen couldn¡¯t stand it anymore. ¡°Ask it for clues on how to get out of the amusement park!¡±


    ¡°Oh¡­¡± Liu Fei looked at the ghost with dread and softly said, ¡°Can you¡­ can you please tell us the clues?¡±


    ¡°Tsk.¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen turned away. She couldn¡¯t stomach this display of timidity.


    The ghost waited, its blood-red eyes fixed on the five. Then, it raised its hand, revealing a massive palm with the number 5 written in the centre.


    (¨p?Òæ?) Like and comment or I¡¯ll flip you like a table (?Òæ?¨p)


    me -> (¨s¡ã¡õ¡ã£©¨s¦à ©ß©¥©ß <-you

 Chapter 51: The World Outside the Instance

    4895¡­


    They had only a string of four meaningless and mocking digits as a clue to escape this nightmarish amusement park.


    Yu Xiao racked her brain, trying to make sense of the numbers, wondering if they might be a phone number.


    Her gaze drifted to the ghost who was wailing in agony, a pitiful sight that stirred no sympathy in her. She couldn¡¯t forget the cold, hateful glare of Lolita. Surely she wouldn¡¯t leave them without a peep, would she?


    The attending doctor shouldn¡¯t be so easy to bully, right?


    The others seemed unaware of Yu Xiao¡¯s suspicion, or perhaps they were simply relieved to have survived.


    They had barely made it through this particular challenge, the most difficult one yet, thanks to the badass who had joined them at the last minute. She was their saviour, their hero, their hope. Maybe there was a way out of this hell after all. Perhaps the difficulty of each challenge was tailored to their abilities, and they had found their thick thigh to hug.


    ¡°Where should we go next?¡± Liu Fei asked eagerly. He had just bullied a ghost for the first time and was hungry for more. ¡°We still haven¡¯t obtained the clue from the giant hammer.¡± He pointed to the massive pendulum swinging threateningly, ready to crush anyone who dared to approach.


    ¡°You go ahead,¡± Yu Xiao said, passing the chainsaw to Zhou Xiao Zhen. ¡°I¡¯m tired and need a rest.¡± sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Alright, Smiley, take a good rest,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen said, pounding her chest with determination. ¡°Leave this to us!¡±


    ¡°Rest well, Smiley,¡± Zhao Lan added, dragging the axe behind her. ¡°We still have over a day left. There¡¯s no need to rush.¡±


    Not only had Yu Xiao travelled back and forth between two treatment areas, she also risked her life climbing the track and had also fought Lolita, defending them all. She had worked tirelessly and selflessly for their sake. Smiley was truly amazing.


    The seven of them marched towards the giant hammer as the sun set and the streetlights flickered on. The amusement park was still bustling with tourists, laughing, screaming, and having fun. They seemed to have endless energy, as if they could play from morning till night.


    As she walked, Yu Xiao nibbled on a flatbread, savouring the warm and crispy bite.


    (ÊÖ×¥±ý (flatbread): This is a type of Chinese street food, made of dough that is flattened, folded, and fried on a griddle. It is often stuffed with eggs, meat, cheese, or vegetables, and served with sauces or spices. The name literally means ¡°hand-grabbed cake¡±, and it is a popular snack or breakfast item.)


    A family of three appeared from the side, catching her eye.


    The little girl wore devil horns on her headband, a cheeky contrast to her cute face. She clutched her mum and dad¡¯s hands, and said in a sweet voice, ¡°Daddy, I want a flatbread~¡±


    ¡°Oh, my darling daughter is hungry, huh.¡± The dad scooped the little girl up, and kissed her cheek. ¡°Then let¡¯s get you a flatbread, and we¡¯ll have dinner when we get home.¡±


    Yu Xiao felt a pang of envy and curiosity at that moment, and she approached them. ¡°Sorry to bother you, but do you know where the amusement park¡¯s gate is?¡±


    The couple probably thought Yu Xiao was off her rocker, who didn¡¯t know where the funfair¡¯s gate was? How did she get in without knowing where it was?


    But they didn¡¯t let on, there were too many people with dodgy brains these days, who knew what they would do if they got triggered?


    They bought a flatbread, and said they were just leaving, and they could walk with Yu Xiao.


    The little girl gazed at Yu Xiao with wonder. ¡°Sister, are you a doctor?¡±


    Yu Xiao was still wearing a white coat, and she smiled at the little girl. ¡°Sister is not a doctor, this is a cosplay outfit (cos·þ).¡±


    The little girl looked baffled by Yu Xiao¡¯s words, having no clue what she meant.


    Yu Xiao tagged along with the family of three. The route they took was so twisty and bendy that even a numpty would get lost. After following the family for ages, Yu Xiao finally spotted the gate to the amusement park.


    (·³Õ: This is a slang term that means someone who is bad at directions, or easily gets lost. It is derived from the word · (road) and ³Õ (stupid or foolish).)


    Beyond the gate, there was a wide road with no pedestrians, but cars whizzing by now and then.


    Dumbstruck and dazed, Yu Xiao stood rooted at the gate.


    The couple sensed something off about her and decided to steer clear. They didn¡¯t bother saying goodbye and hurried away with the little girl.


    Yu Xiao couldn¡¯t comprehend it and ran her left hand through her hair. ¡°Was it so easy to find the amusement park¡¯s gate? What was the point of risking our necks in the amusement park, playing games, and searching for clues?¡±


    But the impact of the amusement park incident didn¡¯t end there. Both of the previous instances she had entered were sealed off. In the Saint Elizabeth instance, they could only roam inside the hospital. In the Village instance, they were confined to the village and cut off from the outside world.


    Initially, she thought that Lolita¡¯s amusement park was the same, but now she realised she was mistaken. There was a world outside the amusement park! Tourists were still flocking in and out of the gate, and Yu Xiao couldn¡¯t help but wonder ¨C what kind of world existed beyond the instance? Was it the same as reality?


    ¡°Beep beep!¡±


    Yu Xiao was jolted by the horn coming from the side and she spun around.


    A middle-aged man¡¯s head popped out of the taxi window. ¡°Miss, do you need a ride?¡±


    Yu Xiao hesitated for a moment, then nodded.


    Without exchanging any words, she silently got into the car and soon found herself watching the fading scenery outside. Her eyes were wide open, eager to take in more of this world.


    There were roads, skyscrapers, and shops lining the streets, almost indistinguishable from reality.


    Yu Xiao carefully retraced everything that had happened since she arrived at Lolita¡¯s amusement park. She wondered if she had fallen into a mind trap. Anyone who had been through a few copies would think the same way ¨C that they had to find clues to escape the amusement park. So when they heard Lolita¡¯s kind hint, the patients would start to puzzle over the games, and no one would think of trying to find their own way out.


    But Yu Xiao had a feeling that something was off. What if? What if some patients just wanted to take a shot at finding their own way out first? Wouldn¡¯t this copy be a piece of cake for them?


    And what did the numbers they got from each game mean?


    Lost in her thoughts, the car suddenly came to a stop.


    Yu Xiao snapped out of her reverie and realised they had stopped at the entrance of a residential area. She asked, ¡°Why did we stop here?¡±


    The driver appeared confused, his face showing a mix of bewilderment and concern. ¡°Didn¡¯t you mention that you wanted to get off here? Isn¡¯t this where you live?¡±


    Yu Xiao was momentarily struck silent, unable to find words. She was certain she had instructed the driver to continue circling the area for two more rounds. Yet, his expression seemed sincere and serious, indicating that he wasn¡¯t joking or had misunderstood her.


    Nevertheless, Yu Xiao decided to get out of the taxi. As she stood at the entrance of the residential area, she felt a wave of confusion wash over her. Why had they stopped at this particular residential area? What made it so special?


    ¡°Do you want some fruit?¡± The sitting fruit seller at the entrance held up a basin of freshly picked strawberries. ¡°These strawberries were just picked today, they¡¯re really fresh. Do you want to buy a kilogram and have a nibble?¡±


    Yu Xiao wasn¡¯t in the mood for small talk. In her mind, the only people in the instance who seemed real were the patients who came seeking treatment. Everyone else seemed non-human, and she had no desire to engage with NPCs.


    The fruit seller noticed her indifference and remarked, ¡°Smiley, why are you so late getting off work today? Did you have to work overtime? Working at the hospital must be exhausting. You didn¡¯t even change your clothes before coming back¡­¡±


    Yu Xiao whipped her head around, fixing a piercing gaze on the fruit seller. ¡°What did you just call me?¡±


    The fruit seller jumped in surprise, their expression morphing into one of puzzlement. ¡°Smiley¡­what¡¯s gotten into you today?¡±


    ¡°What is my name?¡± Yu Xiao took two steps forward, squatting down in front of the fruit stall, her eyes wide and unblinking. ¡°What is my name?¡±


    ¡°Ouch, are you so stressed out that you don¡¯t even remember your own name?¡± The auntie¡¯s eyes widened in alarm, as if she had encountered a madwoman. ¡°You¡¯re Yu Xiao, right?¡±


    Yu Xiao blurted out, her heart racing, ¡°Who are you? How do you know me?¡± She had collided with this unfamiliar auntie at the entrance of a strange neighbourhood, inside a treatment instance.


    The auntie frowned and said, ¡°How could I not know you? I¡¯ve been a resident of this neighbourhood for more than two decades. You were a wee lass when I first saw you. I even cuddled you once when you were a baby¡­¡±


    A shiver ran through Yu Xiao¡¯s body. She fixed her gaze on the auntie for a long while before croaking out, ¡°Where¡¯s my home?¡±


    Building 4, Unit 2, Room 404. That was the address the auntie gave for Yu Xiao¡¯s home. And that was the exact spot where Yu Xiao found herself.


    This was an old neighbourhood, with no lifts in the buildings and no flats above the sixth floor.


    The decrepit door before her felt like a portal to hell. She had a dreadful feeling that something terrible awaited her behind it.


    She lingered in the darkness for an eternity until she summoned the courage to rap on the door.


    From inside, a woman¡¯s voice called out. ¡°Who¡¯s there?¡±


    ¡°Our daughter, I reckon.¡± A man¡¯s voice replied. ¡°She¡¯s forgotten her keys behind, as usual.¡±


    Yu Xiao¡¯s heart leapt to her throat. She whirled around and dashed downstairs, fleeing the neighbourhood as if chased by demons.


    She reached the gate, panting and wheezing, and flagged down a cab.


    The fruit seller auntie raised her eyebrows. ¡°Smiley, what¡¯s the hurry? Are they making you work late at the hospital¡­¡±


    Yu Xiao yanked the door open and climbed in, slapping the driver¡¯s seat as she urged. ¡°Go, go! To Lolita Amusement Park!¡±


    The driver frowned, peering at the rear-view mirror as he drove. ¡°What¡¯s the matter, love? Off to the amusement park at this time of night?¡±


    Yu Xiao curled up in the back seat, shivering. She felt a chill seep into her bones.


    She wished the drivers would leave her alone.


    Seeing that Yu Xiao gave him the cold shoulder, the driver tried to pique her interest with some gossip. ¡°You know, this Lolitas Amusement Park had a terrible accident a while back, and it¡¯s still booming now. It¡¯s bloody ridiculous¡­¡±


    Yu Xiao¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°What? What terrible accident?¡±


    The driver¡¯s face lit up, seeing that Yu Xiao finally showed some interest. ¡°You don¡¯t know? You must be new in town. Just last year, that amusement park went up in flames. A massive inferno, it raged for hours, and none of the visitors escaped. They all perished in the fire¡­¡±


    The taxi pulled up at the entrance of the amusement park, where the festive lights cast a menacing shadow on the people.


    Yu Xiao rang Zhao Lan at the gate. ¡°Misty, how¡¯s it going?¡±


    Zhao Lan and Zhou Xiao Zhen were orchestrating the others to wreck the amusement facilities with axes and saws. She replied. ¡°We¡¯re doing alright, just a tad slow. Smiley, have you had anything to eat? Let¡¯s go munch on something together.¡±


    ¡°Sure.¡± Yu Xiao agreed. ¡°I¡¯ll come join you.¡±


    She slipped her phone into her pocket, breathed a sigh of relief, and headed into the amusement park.


    Even though this place was steeped in death and fear, Yu Xiao felt oddly calm here. The outside world seemed normal, but it gave her the creeps.


    She sprinted towards the direction of the giant pendulum, wondering if she should share her experience with Misty and Precious.


    Unbeknownst to her, lurking in the shadows was a pair of eyes, watching her every move. They flashed with bitter disappointment upon seeing her return.


    **


    In the doctor¡¯s office of St. Elizabeth¡¯s, George was busy tending to several terrified patients.


    He was in the middle of speaking when his phone interrupted him with a shrill ring.


    For a moment, George¡¯s face stiffened. Since crossing paths with someone and enduring horrors, he had grown to loathe his phone ringtone. He wished that no one would ever call him again.


    Ignoring the curious stares of the patients, he fished out his phone from his pocket. The caller ID displayed Lolita¡¯s name.


    Arching an eyebrow, George wondered what she wanted from him.

 Chapter 52: Merry-go-Round

    Dr. George answered with a crisp and detached* voice, ¡°Is something wrong?¡± he asked, not expecting anything serious.


    (*¹«Ê¹«°ì: literally means ¡°handle public affairs in a public manner¡±, but it is often used to imply that one is being impartial, professional, or cold.)


    But all he received was a heavy silence. He looked at his phone again, wondering if there was a problem with the signal. What did she want from him? They had nothing in common, and he certainly didn¡¯t like her.


    He was about to end the call, when a bitter voice broke the silence. ¡°George, what have you done¡­¡± Lolita hissed, sounding like a wounded animal.


    George frowned, feeling annoyed and puzzled. What could he have done? He had been keeping a low profile for weeks, trying to avoid trouble. And even if he had done something, why would Lolita care? She was none of his business.


    He heard Lolita continue, her voice rising with rage. ¡°Why did you let that person be the dean,? I hate you, you¡¯re a traitor¡­¡± she spat, accusing him of something he had no control over.


    Then she unleashed a stream of insults, calling him every name under the sun.


    George listened, half amused, half incredulous. He soon realised what had happened. It was that person who had visited Lolita¡¯s territory. The one who had caused him so much grief. The one who had a knack for stirring up trouble wherever she went.


    For some reason, knowing that Lolita was suffering the same fate as him, George felt a surge of satisfaction. He imagined the horror on her face, the panic in her eyes, the despair in her voice. He couldn¡¯t help but laugh.


    ¡°Hehe~¡­¡±


    ¡°¡­¡± Lolita, who was in the middle of a tirade, stopped abruptly. She was stunned by his laughter. She resumed her cursing, with even more venom and fury.


    The patients in the office were having a major freak-out. Could it be that the attending doctor actually made phone calls too? Could it be that he had a life outside of poking and prodding them, with friends to gossip with, jokes to crack, and joy to spread?


    A curious feeling stirred in their hearts. The image they held of the attending doctor changed in their minds.


    **


    Yu Xiao got to the big pendulum just as they had wrecked it. The five of them hadn¡¯t used the fitness card to power up their physical skills, so even with Saint Elizabeth¡¯s gadgets, they were slow as turtles.


    Zhao Lan and Zhou Xiao Zhen watched from a safe distance as they captured the ghosts that had fallen to the ground. Upon seeing Yu Xiao, Zhou Xiao Zhen greeted her, ¡°Smiley, you¡¯re right on time. We¡¯re about to interrogate the ghost.¡±


    Yu Xiao felt a wave of relief wash over her as she looked at the two of them. The ordeal outside the amusement park had left her feeling woozy, unable to tell reality from illusion.


    She joined them on the side.


    Zhao Lan said: ¡°Let¡¯s get the interrogation over with. Let¡¯s go and eat something. We¡¯ve been surviving on snacks all day. I¡¯m starving.¡±


    ¡°Mm.¡± Yu Xiao nodded.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s eyes sparkled as she thought of what to eat. ¡°I spotted a barbecue stall earlier. Let¡¯s go and eat there. We never get grilled meat in the hospital. I¡¯m so greedy¡­¡±


    Yu Xiao smiled slightly as she listened to them chat.


    ¡°OK, we¡¯ll go and eat later.¡± She watched as they dragged the ghost over. ¡°Are you tired? If you¡¯re not, let¡¯s skip sleeping tonight. I want to get out of here as soon as possible.¡±


    They dragged a long and thin ghost over, like a rope that had come to life. Xie Meng Meng and the others wiped their sweat, feeling exhausted but exhilarated. ¡°Smiley, you¡¯re back. Hang on a sec, we¡¯re going to question it.¡±


    Liu Fei put the chainsaw across the ghost¡¯s waist¡­


    Well, maybe it was the waist, but who could tell? The ghost was so long and thin, it was hard to make out where one part ended and another began.


    ¡°Speak!¡± Liu Fei bellowed, ¡°Give us the clue!¡±


    The ghost, whose home they had wrecked, whimpered and whined for a while, lying on the ground and wriggling its body, making its long and thin body as straight as it could.


    ¡°What¡¯s it trying to say?¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen wondered, ¡°Is it saying it doesn¡¯t have a clue, just one life?¡±


    Long and thin ghost: ¡°!!!¡±


    The long and thin ghost shook its head frantically, and then strained even harder to straighten its body.


    Yu Xiao touched her chin and said, ¡°Is it saying the clue is the number 1?¡±


    With a rapid nod, the long and thin ghost confirmed their guess.


    Xie Meng Meng scoffed, ¡°This ghost is really dense, don¡¯t you think? It can¡¯t speak, fine, but why can¡¯t it just write on the ground? Why does it have to use its own body to communicate? How are we supposed to decipher that?¡±


    Qian Xin shrugged and replied, ¡°Maybe it¡¯s illiterate?¡±


    The ghost let out a silent wail, curling and uncurling like a snake, its long form wracked with sobs.


    They had obtained a clue ¨C five numbers: 48951. They had no idea what they meant, but they knew better than to ignore them. The attending doctor might deceive the patients, but the attending doctor would never lie. That was the rule of the hospital.


    ¡°Come on,¡± Yu Xiao said as she grabbed the chainsaw. ¡°Let¡¯s grab something to eat, and then we¡¯ll head to the carousel.¡±


    The amusement park seemed to never close. They found a spot in a barbecue restaurant and sat at a table away from others.


    Zhao Lan poured a glass of lemonade for Yu Xiao. She could sense that something was bothering her.


    The trio had distinct personalities. Zhao Lan felt like she understood her two friends well. Precious was fearless and straightforward, often surprising them with her unconventional ideas. Smiley was the cleverest and most inventive of the group, and she seemed reliable, but Zhao Lan knew that sometimes she could lose control.


    However, they usually maintained a cheerful attitude. Smiley would often make the attending doctor beg for mercy, and the mission would go smoothly. She should be the happiest of the three. When they were together, she would sometimes act modest and brag a little. But today, she was unusually quiet. Zhao Lan wondered what had happened when she was alone.


    Inhaling deeply, Yu Xiao puckered her lips at the tartness after she downed half a glass of lemonade. Tonight, her favourite barbecue had lost its appeal as her thoughts drifted to the world beyond the amusement park.


    She was convinced that none of it was a figment of her imagination, unless she was still hallucinating, she had proof: a taxi receipt tucked in her trouser pocket.


    She could rationalise everything that had transpired outside, except for one thing that perplexed her: how did the people in that apartment know her, why did she have a home there, and why did she have parents there?


    Yu Xiao¡¯s parents had divorced when she was in secondary school, but she had always been laid-back and didn¡¯t crave parental love. Her parents didn¡¯t like her much, but they were never tight with money, so she lived a decent life. She was popular and had good grades.


    Well-versed in novels and films, she also knew that usually, when a character in a novel found themselves in a strange place and went through what Yu Xiao did, it was mostly because of their obsession. They either saw things that weren¡¯t there because of their obsession, or their surroundings morphed because of their obsession.


    But Yu Xiao wondered, how could any of that be her obsession?


    Even if she secretly wished for a happy family, why would she settle for that old and rundown flat? Her family had a big villa, for crying out loud.


    It was ludicrous, to put it mildly. Yu Xiao tilted her head and grimaced, as she swigged the rest of the lemon water.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen couldn¡¯t stand it anymore. ¡°Smiley, how about a beer? Lemon water is not meant to be guzzled like that.¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t drink alcohol,¡± Yu Xiao said, nibbling on a grilled scallop, ¡°I need to keep my wits about me.¡±


    Zhao Lan asked, ¡°Is something wrong?¡±


    Yu Xiao hesitated, feeling that this was not something she could explain in a few words. Besides, she was still clueless herself. So she said, ¡°I¡¯ll fill you in later. For now, let¡¯s eat. We have a lot to do.¡±


    The Merry-go-Round was probably one of the gentlest attractions in the amusement park. Usually, the ones who rode it were children and some goofy couples.


    Like right now, the eight of them watched as a guy ran around the carousel, occasionally craning his neck to share goofy smiles with his girlfriend on the horse.


    They were having a blast, until his girlfriend leaped off the spinning carousel. The guy was shocked, darting to catch her. But the girl, apparently insane, lunged at him. The guy quickly grabbed her, asking if she was alright. She didn¡¯t answer, but sank her teeth into his face like a lunatic.


    ¡°AAAaAhh!!!¡±


    A blood-curdling shriek pierced the air, as the guy tumbled to the ground in agony. The girl sprinted away from him with reckless abandon, only to collide with the wall with a sickening thud. The force of the impact cracked her skull open, spilling a gory concoction of red and white onto the floor.


    Zhao Lan wrinkled her nose and said, ¡°We saw this happen before, that¡¯s why we kept our distance.¡±


    Xie Meng Meng gazed at the motionless corpse and remarked, ¡°The Merry-go-Round and the other rides are not the same. They create fatal accidents based on the unique features of each attraction. Even though it looks horrible, there is still a difference from the Merry-go-Round. The people on the Merry-go-Round seem to be choosing death on purpose.¡±


    She had barely finished speaking when another boy, no older than seven or eight, jumped down from the platform, smashing his body against the wall as his parents screamed in horror.


    The park staff, calm and collected, casually picked up a broom and swept the mess away, as if they were dealing with the usual rubbish in the amusement park.


    Yu Xiao ignored the chaos and declared, ¡°We just need to destroy it. We don¡¯t care about the experience.¡± She added, ¡°Just smash it, and we¡¯re done.¡±


    Liu Fei held an axe and said, ¡°Let us help too. We can¡¯t depend on you alone to get us out of here.¡±


    Yu Xiao nodded her head in agreement. ¡°Sure.¡± S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Armed with tools, three patients ran towards the whirling Merry-go-Round, screaming like madmen. Liu Fei brought his axe down on one of the wooden horses, but it got stuck in the wood. He pulled and tugged, but the axe wouldn¡¯t budge. His body began to tremble uncontrollably. Then, to everyone¡¯s shock and horror, he snapped and dashed towards the wall.


    Zhao Lan felt a surge of dread and sprinted after him, landing a powerful kick that sent him flying through the air.


    With the strength of a stampede of bulls and a pair of tigers, she knocked Liu Fei out cold with one blow.


    Wu Chao and Zhang Yi gasped, quickly backing away from the Merry-go-Round. What was happening here? Even if they didn¡¯t ride, they could still be affected.


    ¡°It looks like touching it is enough to trigger it,¡± Zhao Lan observed. ¡°We could be in big trouble if we damage the Merry-go-Round.¡±


    They were all at a loss. Yue Xiao turned to Xie Meng Meng and asked, ¡°Can you see where the ghosts are?¡±


    Xie Meng Meng paused for a moment, then let out a sigh and said, ¡°I can feel the presence of ghosts, but I can¡¯t see them most of the time. I can only feel that the Merry-go-Round is very frightening, the whole thing¡­ is horrifying.¡±


    Yue Xiao bit her lip and said, ¡°I¡¯ll go up and ride. If I get affected, please stop me.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry,¡± Zhao Lan reassured her. ¡°I¡¯ll stop you, even if I have to break your legs.¡±


    When the Merry-go-Round came to a halt, Yue Xiao grabbed a naughty kid, snatched his seat, and, ignoring the angry glares of his parents, spun along with the Merry-go-Round.


    She held a talisman in her hands, prepared to unleash lightning on any ghost that showed its face and give it a taste of its own medicine.


    At the same time, she scanned the area, searching for clues to the mysterious numbers on the Merry-go-Round.


    As Yu Xiao finished a turn, the music filled her ears and she caught sight of Zhao Lan and Zhou Xiao Zhen. Smiling, she waved at them.


    All of a sudden, a cold shiver ran through her, followed by a wave of nausea. In an instant, her whole body went limp, and she blacked out. Meanwhile, bystanders gasped in horror as Yu Xiao, on top of the Merry-go-Round, leaped off and sprinted toward the wall.


    Before Zhao Lan could react, the talisman in Yu Xiao¡¯s hand crumbled to dust, and a bolt of lightning hit her. The poor girl collapsed to the ground.

 Chapter 53: We Found a Way Out

    After a whirlwind of confusion, Yu Xiao felt herself snap back to her body and opened her eyes. And what did she see?


    A bloomin¡¯ arse?!


    In front of her was a huge, long-tailed, colourful arse!


    That wasn¡¯t all. The arse was bouncing up and down, wiggling in front of Yu Xiao while maintaining a steady distance.


    Dumbfounded for a moment, Yu Xiao then heard familiar voices ¨C the screams of Zhao Lan and Zhou Xiao Zhen. She tried to turn her head, but her body wouldn¡¯t move. Fortunately, her eyeballs still seemed to be under her command.


    In front and to the right, Yu Xiao saw Zhao Lan and the others clustered together. Zhao Lan and Zhou Xiao Zhen were kneeling on the ground, holding someone ¨C a woman.


    She looked strangely familiar. Upon closer inspection, Yu Xiao was appalled to discover that it was her.


    After that, she couldn¡¯t see anything as she spun out of control non-stop. As the shock faded, Yu Xiao calmed down. She realized her current situation and understood why Xie Meng Meng said the whole carousel was terrifying and why touching it led to bonkers suicides.


    Because every carousel horse here was a ghost. When a person touched one, they swapped bodies with the ghost inside the carousel horse. Then, the ghost controlled the person¡¯s body to smash into walls and commit suicide.


    Yu Xiao was fuming. She had just figured out what the bloody hell was going on, and she was not happy. What was she supposed to do now? She couldn¡¯t budge an inch, let alone use any of her tools. How was she going to get out of this pickle? Was she doomed to sit here on this sodding Merry-go-Round until the next person plopped down their ass on her?


    ¡°Smiley, Smiley!¡± Zhao Lan shook Yu Xiao a few times, but her eyes remained closed, blissfully asleep. She turned to Zhou Xiao Zhen and said, ¡°Get the emergency healing talisman for Smiley, get a few more.¡±


    ¡°Right!¡± Smiley had given them all some talismans in case of trouble, and Zhou Xiao Zhen quickly took out all the emergency healing talismans she had and slapped them on Smiley¡¯s body. Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    As soon as the talismans were on, they burned to ashes. The injuries on Smiley, caused by the lightning, healed visibly, and the scratches on the ground where she had fallen vanished completely. But there was no sign of Yu Xiao waking up.


    ¡°Why isn¡¯t Smiley waking up?¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen asked, her voice cracking, ¡°What¡¯s wrong with her?¡±


    Yu Xiao could still hear everything, spinning endlessly on the Merry-go-Round. She heard Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s sobbing voice and thought bitterly, ¡®I¡¯m stuck on this Merry-go-Round, how the hell am I supposed to wake up?¡¯


    She couldn¡¯t move or speak, the only thing she could control was her eyes. Yu Xiao looked around, sick of seeing the arses in front of her. Suddenly, she saw on her left, in the middle of the spinning Merry-go-Round, a pitch-black shadow. When she looked closer, she saw that the shadow was shaped like a massive horse.


    From the heart of the darkness, a shape emerged, and Yu Xiao recognised it: It was the number 6!


    She cursed under her breath. This was a nightmare beyond nightmares. A twisted and cruel game. Clues that were only visible to those who had become Trojan horses. And even if they saw them, how could they possibly communicate them to anyone else?


    The black shadow writhed and raised its front hooves, unleashing a piercing shriek.


    ¡°Squeak, squeak¡­¡±


    Yu Xiao¡¯s head spun and she blacked out. When she came to, she saw that the wooden horses had come to a standstill, and she felt a flicker of hope. She could move again.


    But she was still trapped in the wooden horse¡¯s spot. She waved desperately at Zhao Lan and the others, hoping to catch their eye. ¡°Misty! Precious! Over here!!¡±


    ¡°¡ª Misty!¡±


    ¡°¡ª Precious!¡±


    But they didn¡¯t hear her, or see her. They were still holding Yu Xiao¡¯s body, oblivious to her plight.


    They had used more than a dozen life-saving talismans on her body, and her wounds had healed completely, but she remained unresponsive. Zhou Xiao Zhen couldn¡¯t contain her grief and broke down in sobs.


    ¡°Waaah¡­ Smiley¡­ Smiley¡­¡±


    Zhao Lan didn¡¯t shed a tear; she just held Smiley¡¯s body and wondered what had gone wrong.


    The others watched in grief, unable to help Yu Xiao. How could they solve the mystery now? Hopelessness engulfed their hearts. After fighting for so long, were they doomed to perish in this trap?


    ¡°I don¡¯t believe it!¡± Zhang Yi shouted, backing away, ¡°I won¡¯t accept that we¡¯re trapped here without a clue! I won¡¯t give up!¡±


    With that, he spun around and ran. Wu Chao followed him, ¡°Old Zhang, don¡¯t be foolish!¡±


    Zhao Lan cradled Smiley, laying her on her lap, and opened her hand. In her palm was a pile of black ash, the remains of a burnt talisman.


    Smiley was always careful. She had prepared the talismans before riding. As soon as she saw any ghosts, she would use them right away.


    But she didn¡¯t use them on the horse, which meant she didn¡¯t see any ghosts. Yet, the talismans still activated. When she leapt off her horse, the talismans sparked, and lightning struck Smiley.


    Zhao Lan realised the problem. Thunderstruck talismans only worked on ghosts, so why did they hit her?


    There was only one explanation: Yu Xiao had a ghost on her at that moment, or maybe, Yu Xiao was the ghost. If the charging figure was a ghost, then where was the real Smiley?


    Zhao Lan lifted her chin and stared blankly at the Merry-go-Round, which had resumed its merry rotation before her eyes.


    ¡°Precious¡­¡± She turned to Zhou Xiao Zhen. ¡°Do you remember which horse Smiley was riding?¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen blinked through her tears and scanned the glittering array of horses. They all looked the same under the dazzling lights. ¡°I don¡¯t remember¡­¡±


    Xie Meng Meng piped up, ¡°I think the saddle was blue.¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen squinted, trying to spot the colour. ¡°But there are several horses with blue saddles.¡±


    ¡°We must find the horse Smiley rode,¡± Zhao Lan said, glancing around for a safe spot to leave her friend. However, there was none, and she felt a surge of worry. So, she hoisted Smiley onto her back and walked closer to the Merry-go-Round.


    The horses kept spinning, taunting her with their cheerful music. Zhao Lan snapped, ¡°Go and stop the Merry-go-Round!¡±


    ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll go stop it,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen said and dashed off to ¡®plead¡¯ with the staff to halt the spinning Merry-go-Round.


    As the Merry-go-Round gradually slowed down, Yu Xiao regained her mobility. Zhou Xiao Zhen stood next to her, pointing excitedly. ¡°Misty, this one has a blue saddle!¡±


    Xie Meng Meng joined her from the other side. ¡°This one is blue too!¡±


    ¡°¡ª Precious!¡±


    ¡°¡ª Misty!¡±


    Yu Xiao¡¯s cries fell on deaf ears. They couldn¡¯t hear her at all.


    She refused to sit there and await her doom. She spotted a faint shadow moving on the horse ahead of her. As she looked closer, she saw a hand emerging from the horse¡¯s leg, stretching towards Zhou Xiao Zhen, as if trying to snatch her.


    Yu Xiao realised; the horse could grab people when it stopped.


    She quickly made a decision. She joined her hands together, extended her index and middle fingers, making the legendary sign of the Thousand Years Kill (ǧÄêɱ), and stabbed the horse¡¯s rear in front.


    ¡°Wweeee!!¡±


    A shrill and ear-splitting neigh rang in her ears as the shadow on the front horse thrashed wildly. Yu Xiao stayed determined, clenching her teeth and persisting with the Thousand Years Kill.


    The screams went on, each one more pitiful than the last. Even the dark shape in the centre was startled and looked at Yu Xiao.


    ¡°There are eight horses with blue saddles,¡± Zhao Lan said, carrying Yu Xiao on her back, her face etched with worry. ¡°Which one did Smiley ride on?¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen clenched her teeth. ¡°Let¡¯s just tear down all the wooden horses with blue saddles.¡±


    ¡°No way,¡± Zhao Lan shook her head. ¡°We can¡¯t touch the wooden horses. Or else, we¡¯ll end up like Smiley. We have to find the right one.¡±


    ¡°But how do we tell them apart?¡± Qian Xin asked. ¡°And even if we find the right one, how will you wake up Yu Xiao?¡±


    Zhao Lan didn¡¯t have an answer yet, but she knew that to wake up Smiley, they had to find the correct horse.


    But if they couldn¡¯t tell them apart, they might pull another person into this nightmare.


    What to do? What to do? Smiley, can you see us? Give me a sign¡­


    Just then, Zhang Yi and Wu Chao, who had run out earlier, came back. They both looked ecstatic. Zhang Yi yelled, ¡°We found it! We found it!¡±


    Xie Meng Meng spun around. ¡°Found what?¡±


    ¡°The exit!¡± Wu Chao shouted, his face glowing with excitement. ¡°We found the exit! No need to look for clues anymore. We can get out!¡±


    ¡°Really?!¡± Everyone was stunned. ¡°You really found the exit?¡±


    ¡°Really!¡± Zhang Yi said. ¡°I was just running around aimlessly. When I was running, I heard some tourists saying they wanted to go home. On a whim, I followed them, and I found the exit gate of the amusement park. Hahaha¡­ Clues are not the only way out. We were all fooled by Lolita. In fact, just follow other visitors, and you can find the way out!¡±


    ¡°If it¡¯s true, that¡¯s amazing,¡± Qian Xin¡¯s heart raced with excitement. ¡°Meng Meng, I want to see it for myself.¡±


    Xie Meng Meng looked at Zhao Lan and Zhou Xiao Zhen. ¡°How about you two?¡±


    Zhao Lan gazed at the Merry-go-Round and said, ¡°You go ahead, we still want to try waking up Smiley.¡±


    ¡°No need to wake them up,¡± Wu Chao lifted Liu Fei on his back. ¡°They¡¯re alive, just asleep. Once we¡¯re out of this cursed instance, they¡¯ll wake up.¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen asked, ¡°Misty, should we go?¡±


    Zhao Lan eyed the Merry-go-Round again, sensing something was wrong. After a moment of reflection, she said, ¡°You go first. We still have a day; I want to give it another try.¡±


    ¡°Oh, whatever.¡± Wu Chao carried Liu Fei on his back. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡±


    The group from the Fifth Hospital departed. After a brief hesitation, Xie Meng Meng and Qian Xin followed them.


    Zhao Lan quietly carried Smiley on her back. After a while, she said, ¡°Precious, you can go with them. I¡¯ll stay here alone.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not going anywhere,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s chubby face showed defiance, ¡°We came here together, and if we have to die, we¡¯ll do it together.¡±


    The two of them kept their eyes on the merry-go-round. After half an hour, Xie Meng Meng came back.


    She was as thrilled as Wu Chao and Zhang Yi before her, her face glowing, ¡°We¡¯ve found the way out! Just follow me,¡± Xie Meng Meng urged them earnestly, ¡°Once we leave this instance, Yu Xiao will wake up naturally.¡±


    Zhao Lan stayed silent, shaking her head.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen said, ¡°Thanks, but even if we want to leave, we¡¯ll wait until tomorrow.¡±


    ¡°Ugh, you guys are so stubborn.¡± Xie Meng Meng sighed in frustration, taking out her phone, ¡°How about this, let¡¯s swap numbers. If anything happens, just ring me up.¡±


    ¡°Sure,¡± Zhao Lan thanked her, ¡°Precious, give her your number too.¡±


    They swapped numbers, and then Xie Meng Meng left. She didn¡¯t come back, not even the next morning when the sun rose.


    The sun was blazing the next morning. Zhou Xiao Zhen and Zhao Lan sat beside the merry-go-round, holding Yu Xiao, using a white coat to protect her from the sun. The two of them sat there numbly, staring at the merry-go-round, as if they had lost their souls.


    Zhao Lan felt hopeless. She licked her dry lips and said, ¡°Precious, maybe we should just go. They¡¯re right, as soon as we leave this instance, Smiley will wake up.¡±


    ¡°Ugh¡­¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen sobbed again, ¡°Misty, is there no other way?¡±


    As she spoke, she rummaged for talismans, but the life-saving talismans on both her and Zhao Lan were gone. So, she searched Yu Xiao¡¯s pockets, and in the pocket of Yu Xiao¡¯s trousers, she found something.


    ¡°What¡¯s this?¡±


    Zhao Lan looked at it, and it was a taxi receipt.

 Chapter 54: She is Awake!

    The receipt appeared ordinary at first, but it was completely absurd. They had been at the Sixth Hospital for a long time, always wearing patient gowns. How in the world did Smiley obtain a taxi receipt?


    Furthermore, they have been inseparable lately. If Smiley had hailed a taxi, the other two would have noticed. The only opportunity for this receipt to appear was yesterday, when they were demolishing the giant swing. Smiley claimed she was tired and needed a break.


    Therefore, she must have taken a taxi. However, there were no taxis in the amusement park, so Smiley had to have left the park at some point.


    Considering their experience finding the park exit, it was evident that the exit was not difficult to find. It was highly likely that Smiley stumbled upon the exit, left the park, and even took a taxi.


    Zhao Lan stared at the receipt in her hand. Smiley had discovered the exit, but instead of sharing it with anyone, she had continued risking her life to search for clues with them.


    Zhao Lan sensed a problem. Yu Xiao had no reason to conceal the exit unless there was something wrong with it. It might not be a real way out¡­


    Glancing in the direction where Xie Meng Meng and the others had gone, Zhao Lan realized that they would be in trouble if the exit was fishy¡­


    ¡°Thud!¡±


    A loud and sudden noise startled them.


    The two of them leaped in shock, turning their eyes fearfully towards the Merry-go-Round, only to see a gap in the wooden horses, with one of them gone.


    ¡°Misty, look at this.¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen crept closer and peeked inside, finding a wooden horse lying on the ground.


    Zhao Lan joined her to take a look. She gazed at the wooden horse and said, ¡°How did it fall?¡±


    ¡°Maybe it¡¯s just old.¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen pointed at the cracked rear end of the wooden horse on the ground. ¡°Look, it¡¯s all split.¡±


    Zhao Lan looked, indeed, the wooden horse¡¯s rear end was cracked. The cracks began from the centre of its butt, radiating out like beams. It was quite odd because things like this usually aged from the finer details, seldom starting to decay from the butt.


    As she wondered, Zhao Lan suddenly spotted the wooden horse behind the fallen one. It seemed normal, but the saddle of that horse was blue.


    Could it be a coincidence?


    Zhao Lan¡¯s heart pounded. She swiftly circled around the Merry-go-Round, examining the rear ends of all the wooden horses. Everything looked fine; she didn¡¯t see any signs of ageing cracks except for that one horse¡­


    Zhou Xiao Zhen looked at her, ¡°Why are you so flushed? Is it too hot?¡±


    Zhao Lan stood in front of the wooden horse with a blue saddle for a long time. Suddenly, she reached out and touched the horse¡¯s back.


    ¡°Misty!¡±


    Zhao Lan didn¡¯t flinch at all; she felt nothing. Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s heart raced, and she gaped at Zhao Lan with wide eyes.


    After a tense pause, she asked, ¡°How¡­ are you alright?¡±


    ¡°¡­Yes. Get an axe and chop down this wooden horse.¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen wasted no time; she grabbed an axe and a chainsaw, and together they severed the pole that held the wooden horse in place and dragged it out.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen was still baffled. ¡°Why can we touch this wooden horse without any harm?¡±


    Zhao Lan didn¡¯t know how to explain. She nervously gazed at the wooden horse, sure that it was the one Yu Xiao had been on before. The problem was, she didn¡¯t know how to wake up Yu Xiao.


    As the two of them were anxiously eyeing the wooden horse, Yu Xiao, who had been lying motionless on the ground under a white coat behind them, sat up. She tilted her head, feeling the warmth of the sun and inhaling deeply. She had spent a whole night and a morning trapped in the wooden horse, relentlessly torturing the one in front of her. She was glad she had a strong will; otherwise, she would have gone mad long ago.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s eyes widened as she stared at the wooden horse in front of her. ¡°This is the same one that Smiley rode on? But how do we get her out of there?¡±


    Zhao Lan shook her head, her face pale. ¡°I have no idea,¡± she admitted. ¡°We need to find a way to break the curse¡­¡±


    They were interrupted by a cold hand on their shoulders and a creepy voice in their ears. ¡°Hehehe, what a tasty pair of snacks~¡±


    ¡°Ah!!¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen screamed and leaped up, her heart pounding. Zhao Lan reacted with a swift punch, barely stopping herself from hitting the familiar face. It was Yu Xiao, their friend and prankster.


    Yu Xiao flinched as she saw the fist inches from her nose. She felt a surge of fear and relief. That was a powerful blow; she had dodged a bullet. S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Smiley?!¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen exclaimed, rushing back to hug Yu Xiao. ¡°Are you all right?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s wonderful!¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen lifted Yu Xiao off the ground, spinning her around with a laugh. ¡°Hahaha, I¡¯m so happy, Smiley is okay!!!¡±


    A smile spread across Zhao Lan¡¯s face as she watched the joyful reunion. She felt a surge of gratitude and relief. She had almost given up hope, but now they were all here, safe and sound.


    Finally, Zhou Xiao Zhen released Yu Xiao from her embrace. ¡°Smiley, how did you manage to break free?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know, really. As soon as you guys pulled out the wooden horse, I felt a jolt and then I was fine. Come on, let¡¯s go grab a bite; I¡¯m famished,¡± Yu Xiao said, rubbing her neck.


    ¡°Sounds good,¡± Zhao Lan reached into her pocket and pulled out a crumpled receipt. ¡°Hey, Smiley, have you been outside the amusement park before?¡±


    Yu Xiao nodded. ¡°Yeah, I have. When I was taking a rest earlier, I stumbled upon the park¡¯s exit and sneaked out.¡±


    ¡°What? You found the exit? Why didn¡¯t you tell us?¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen exclaimed, pointing in a direction. ¡°Zhang Yi and the others also found the exit and they left already.¡±


    Yu Xiao¡¯s face darkened. ¡°Do you have a way to contact them? You need to call them back; that¡¯s not the real exit.¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen asked, confused. ¡°I only have Xie Meng Meng¡¯s number.¡±


    Yu Xiao urged her, ¡°Give her a call. Call her now, and I¡¯ll explain to you later.¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen nodded and wasted no time. She quickly dialled the number and waited for someone to pick up on the other end.


    **


    Meanwhile, in a cosy flat across town, Xie Meng Meng was busy in the kitchen, cooking. She slid the marinated meat into the hot oil, and a sizzling sound erupted, followed by a mouth-watering aroma wafting through the air.


    In the living room, a man sat on the sofa, reading a newspaper, while a little girl lay on his lap, gazing toward the kitchen with a hopeful expression. She couldn¡¯t contain her excitement and blurted out, ¡°It smells so good.¡±


    The man chuckled, ¡°Your mom is making crispy pork for you.¡±


    ¡°I love crispy pork the most!¡± the little girl squealed, jumping off the sofa and running around the living room. ¡°We¡¯re going to have crispy pork soon!¡±


    In the kitchen, Xie Meng Meng heard the noise, turned around, and saw her daughter¡¯s cheerful face. She smiled warmly and poured more attention into making the crispy pork.


    Suddenly, her phone rang. With chopsticks in one hand, flipping the crispy pork in the pan, Xie Meng Meng answered the call, ¡°Hello, who is it?¡±


    ¡°Zhou Xiao Zhen here,¡± a girl¡¯s voice crackled from the other end of the phone. ¡°You¡¯ve gone the wrong way; hurry back!¡±


    Xie Meng Meng stared at the phone, confused. ¡°Who are you? What do you mean by the wrong way?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s me, Zhou Xiao Zhen,¡± the voice repeated, sounding frantic. ¡°Smiley has woken up; she had gone out the amusement park before us. You didn¡¯t take the real exit; come back quickly. We¡¯ve got all the clues to get out.¡±


    ¡°Who are you?¡± Xie Meng Meng felt a surge of panic. ¡°What amusement park? What clues? What are you talking about? You¡¯re not a scammer, are you?¡±


    ¡°Damn it,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen swore. ¡°Smiley, she¡¯s lost her memory. She doesn¡¯t recognise me.¡±


    A moment later, a different woman¡¯s voice came from the phone. The voice said, ¡°Xie Meng Meng, do you recall what you did yesterday?¡±


    ¡°Of course, I do,¡± Xie Meng Meng answered. ¡°Yesterday was Friday, and I was at school, teaching my class.¡±


    ¡°Alright, can you tell me how you got home yesterday?¡±


    ¡°I¡­ I went to the nursery to pick up my daughter, and then we came home together,¡± Xie Meng Meng stammered, her voice trembling with confusion.


    ¡°Are you sure you have a daughter?¡± the woman probed further.


    ¡°Of course, I do.¡± Xie Meng Meng glanced towards her daughter, who was bouncing in the living room. ¡°My daughter is right here with me.¡±


    ¡°Do you remember her birthday? Do you remember the hospital where you delivered her? Do you remember the name of the doctor who helped you? How did you and your husband fall in love?¡±


    Each question pierced Xie Meng Meng¡¯s mind like a needle, stirring up a whirlpool of chaos. The crispy meat in the pan had charred to a crisp, but she was oblivious to it. She only felt a crushing agony, as if her mind was about to collapse.


    ¡°Do you still remember your purpose, Xie Meng Meng?¡± the cold voice continued. ¡°Don¡¯t you want to escape this instance? Don¡¯t you want to go back to the Fourth Hospital?¡±


    ¡°Ah!¡± Xie Meng Meng let out a piercing scream. The Fourth Hospital! The Fourth Hospital!!


    That¡¯s right, she was a patient of the Fourth Hospital. She had signed up for a treatment, and she ended up in the Lolita Amusement Park¡­


    The previous night, they had stumbled upon the exit. Together, they had escaped the amusement park, only to find themselves in a world that mirrored reality. Curious, they had ventured out to explore, and then¡­


    Later, she had met many people who claimed to know her. She had returned home to find ¡®her husband¡¯ and ¡®her daughter¡¯ waiting for her.


    Xie Meng Meng spun around, shocked, to see a man and a little girl frozen at the kitchen door.


    ¡°Mum.¡± The little girl said flatly. ¡°The crispy pork is burnt.¡±


    ¡°Ah! Ah! Ah!!!¡± Xie Meng Meng shrieked. Who was this man? Who was this girl?


    In a frenzy, she grabbed a talisman from her pocket and bolted out like a madwoman. ¡°Get away from me!¡±


    The man and the little girl moved aside, watching Xie Meng Meng flee the house and race down the stairs. Downstairs, a woman pushing a pram gawked at her. ¡°Yue Yue¡¯s mum, are you alright?¡± (Yue Yue: A common pet name for little girls. It means ¡°moon¡±.)


    ¡°Ah!¡± Xie Meng Meng kept running until she reached the exit of the apartments.


    She shivered as she pressed the phone to her ear. ¡°¡­Hello? Yu Xiao? It¡¯s me, I¡¯ve regained my memory¡­ What on earth is happening? Alright, I¡¯ll make my way back to the amusement park as soon as possible¡­ I don¡¯t know, I only have Qian Xin¡¯s number, but I¡¯m clueless about the rest¡­¡±


    **


    The grand theatre was alive with excitement as the musical opera ¡°Phantom of the Opera¡± was ready to dazzle the audience. Amidst the backstage pandemonium, Qian Xin, the star of the show, was putting on her makeup when her phone abruptly rang. Peering at the screen, she saw that it was a call from Xie Meng Meng.


    Xie Meng Meng? Who in the world was that? She scanned her contacts; how come she had no recollection of that name?


    ¡°Hello?¡± Qian Xin picked up the call. ¡°What can I do for you?¡±


    ¡°Xin Xin, where are you?¡± The voice on the other end was anxious.


    ¡°Me?¡± Qian Xin looked around. ¡°I¡¯m at the grand theatre, about to take the stage.¡±

 Chapter 55: New Titles~!!

    The show was in full swing, and Qian Xin, dazzling in her stage costume, mingled with the other actors. As she heard the music swell outside, she exhaled and stepped onto the stage with the rest of the troupe.


    Her scene began with a group dance, and she gave it her all. Suddenly, gasps of shock resounded from the audience while she was dancing.


    Puzzled, Qian Xin looked over to see a woman sprinting onto the stage, making a beeline for her.


    She gaped at the woman, drawing a blank in her memory. Yet, she sensed a weird connection, a powerful bond.


    ¡°Xin Xin!¡± Xie Meng Meng dashed onto the stage, seizing Qian Xin¡¯s hand. ¡°Come with me, now!¡±


    The nearby actors erupted into confusion, and theatre security stormed in.


    ¡°What the hell?!¡±


    ¡°Get her off the stage!¡±


    Xie Meng Meng shoved away a security guard who pounced on her, hauling the baffled Qian Xin off the stage. They darted onto the street together.


    Xie Meng Meng flagged down a cab, and Qian Xin gawked at her.


    ¡°Who are you? How could you sabotage my performance?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s me, Meng Meng.¡± She gazed at her anxiously, but Qian Xin¡¯s face was blank. She clenched her teeth and said, ¡°Just trust me and follow me. You¡¯ll regain your memory when we reach the amusement park.¡±


    The theatre¡¯s security had already driven them out. Xie Meng Meng shoved Qian Xin into the back seat of the taxi and climbed in after her. ¡°Step on it! To the Lolita Amusement Park!¡±


    The cab sped along, and Qian Xin gazed vacantly at the buildings fading outside the window. She felt odd; she had no clue who this person was, yet she didn¡¯t put up a fight when she was dragged out.


    Her mind was a jumble, growing more and more turbulent, as if some weird memories were bubbling up. In those memories, she saw the face of the person next to her. It was a surreal memory; she seemed to be ill, always in the hospital, always in the hospital¡­


    Meanwhile, in the Lolita Amusement Park, Yu Xiao narrated everything she had gone through outside the park the day before. She said, ¡°Standing at the entrance, I felt a surge of fear. It seemed like if the door opened, I would be in grave danger.¡±


    This situation was utterly baffling, and Zhao Lan and Zhou Xiao Zhen were at a loss.


    Zhao Lan said, ¡°I suddenly wondered if we also went out and had a life in the outside world. After two days had passed; could we still go back to the ward in the Sixth Hospital?¡±


    No one had the answer, but Yu Xiao had a gut feeling that it probably wouldn¡¯t happen.


    As soon as you entered that uncanny world, you were given a believable identity. Even your memories were tampered with; Xie Meng Meng had no idea who she was, convinced she was just a regular teacher with a husband and a daughter.


    ¡°What if we never make it back to the hospital room?¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen wondered aloud. ¡°Will we be stuck in this world forever? Will it be the same as the real world, with ageing and death?¡±


    Yu Xiao had no clue how to answer that. She had a strong suspicion that there were patients who had ventured into this instance, discovered the exit to the outside world, and decided to remain in that world for good. Even if Yu Xiao had crossed paths with those patients, she wouldn¡¯t have a clue, they had assimilated into this world.


    ¡°Wow, that¡¯s terrifying,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen shuddered. ¡°What if everyone in that world was once a patient who came down to this instance?¡±


    ¡­


    Yu Xiao and Zhao Lan fell silent simultaneously.


    After a while, Yu Xiao said, ¡°Precious, your speculation is quite disturbing. Let¡¯s not speculate any further.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, disturbing,¡± Zhao Lan rubbed the goosebumps on her arm. ¡°Is Lolita¡¯s scenario truly that horrifying?¡±


    As Yu Xiao shook her head, she recalled her earlier conversation with the driver. ¡°I doubt the outside world has much to do with Lolita.¡±


    Just then, they noticed two people rushing towards them. One of them was dressed in an elaborate costume, like something from a show.


    ¡°Yu Xiao!¡± Xie Meng Meng exclaimed as she pulled Qian Xin along. ¡°I¡¯m so relieved that you¡¯re safe.¡±


    By now, Qian Xin had regained her memory. Her face was filled with fear as she couldn¡¯t imagine what would happen if she missed the opportunity to return to her world.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong with this instance?¡± Xie Meng Meng asked anxiously. ¡°Thank goodness you had my phone number. I dread to think what would have happened if you didn¡¯t.¡±


    ¡°Does anyone know how to contact Zhang Yi and the others?¡± Yu Xiao inquired.


    ¡°No idea,¡± Xie Meng Meng¡¯s face went pale. ¡°We split up after leaving the amusement park. We have no idea where they are, and we can¡¯t reach them.¡±


    The five of them understood the implications; they had less than half a day left until the deadline to leave Lolita Amusement Park. Finding them in this remaining time would be like finding a needle in a haystack.


    ¡°Shame they¡¯re not from the Fourth Hospital,¡± Xie Meng Meng said. ¡°We could have checked the forums after escaping and asked if they were alright.¡±


    ¡°True,¡± Qian Xin said. ¡°Did you guys find all the clues to leave?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Zhao Lan nodded. ¡°The clues are six digits: 489516.¡±


    ¡°What sort of clues are those?¡± Xie Meng Meng frowned. ¡°What do these digits mean?¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re clueless,¡± Zhao Lan said. ¡°Actually, we were hoping you might have some ideas.¡±


    Yu Xiao carefully remembered what Lolita had told them when they had arrived, that they had to depart from this place within two days and board the hospital ambulance back to the hospital.


    She had a hunch and swiftly took out her phone, typing in those six digits.


    ¡°Beep¡­¡±


    To her surprise, it connected.


    Zhao Lan was stunned. ¡°Is this really a phone number?¡±


    The phone rang only once before a crisp female voice answered. ¡°The Edge of Life and Death Hospital (°ë²½¶àÒ½Ôº), how may I assist you?¡±


    Yu Xiao swallowed hard, her voice barely above a whisper. ¡°This is Lolita Amusement Park. We need an ambulance. Urgently.¡±


    ¡°Understood,¡± the voice said. ¡°An ambulance is on its way. Please remain at the entrance of Lolita Amusement Park and do not attempt to leave.¡±


    The others heard the voice too, and their eyes met in a silent understanding. The exit was not the main gate, as they had thought. The exit was an ambulance.


    A wave of relief washed over them, followed by a surge of despair. What about Zhang Yi and the rest? Could they ever return?


    A dark shape materialised from the shadows, fixing Yu Xiao with a hateful stare. She had let her escape. She had ruined her amusement park and walked away unscathed.


    ¡°It¡¯s you,¡± Yu Xiao recognised Lolita, ¡°You¡¯re pure evil. If you hadn¡¯t lied to us, none of us would have had to die.¡±


    Lolita felt a bitter taste in her mouth, ¡°I¡¯m evil? You¡¯re the worst of them all. Ha!¡± she snarled, ¡°Don¡¯t think you can get away with this. You¡¯ve made an enemy. And you¡¯ll pay for what you¡¯ve done.¡±


    Yu Xiao gazed at Lolita, whose eyes burned with rage. It was so unfair. She had never meant to antagonise anyone in the Sixth Ward. She had only wanted to stay alive and out of trouble.


    And the attending doctors¡­ She had admired them so much. Especially their dazzling beauty.


    ¡°Listen, this doesn¡¯t have to be a fight,¡± Yu Xiao said sincerely. ¡°When I first saw you, I was blown away by how gorgeous you look. You¡¯re the most stunning attending doctor I¡¯ve ever laid eyes on.¡±


    ¡­


    The air shifted. A second ago, it was charged with hostility, and now Yu Xiao was making a declaration of love?


    Lolita recoiled, and then her face twisted. She loathed Yu Xiao with every fibre of her being, but she also loved hearing people admire her beauty.


    She felt a tug-of-war inside her, and she struggled to compose herself.


    ¡°Hmph,¡± Lolita flicked her head away pointing her chin to sky. ¡°Don¡¯t flatter yourself. A few sweet words won¡¯t save you from my wrath.¡±


    Yu Xiao let out another sigh. ¡°Why make things difficult? Can¡¯t we be friends? Like me and Dr George. We get along so well now.¡±


    ¡°George, he¡¯s a bloody traitor!¡± Lolita¡¯s hair bristled like a cat¡¯s. ¡°He¡¯ll pay for this; I won¡¯t let him get away with it. I¡¯ll hex him every day until he begs for mercy!¡±


    Oh, please¡­


    Yu Xiao rolled her eyes. Even if she had no morals, like Lolita accused her of, she still felt sorry for George. He had nothing to do with this mess.


    An ambulance screeched to a halt at the entrance of Lolita¡¯s amusement park, but no one came out. The door swung open by itself.


    Yu Xiao and the others jumped in, and as she did, she flashed a grin at Lolita. ¡°Ta-ta~¡±


    Lolita stamped her foot, ¡°Hmph!¡±


    ¡°Slam!¡± The door shut.


    The five of them sat in the ambulance, blind to the outside world, only sensing the movement of the vehicle.


    ¡°Honk honk¡­¡±


    With a loud blast of the horn, darkness engulfed Yu Xiao. When she blinked her eyes open, they were back in the hospital room.


    ¡°Finally back!¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen spun around in the hospital room. ¡°That was a close call. I thought Smiley was done for.¡±


    It had been a risky adventure, mostly because Yu Xiao had been reckless. She had some clever tricks up her sleeve, but she lacked the experience to handle abnormal situations. She had to be more careful from now on.


    As soon as she got back, her phone buzzed non-stop.


    ¡¾You have a new order, please check it promptly~¡¿


    ¡¾You have a new¡­¡¿


    Apparently, a lot of people wanted to buy talismans from the Sixth Hospital. Yu Xiao opened the online store and saw that there were many orders, but most of them were for one sheet only. She guessed that most people in the Sixth Hospital could only afford one or two talismans, so that made sense.


    Luckily, she had a courier membership, so she could ship as many packages as she wanted. Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Then, she heard Zhao Lan giggle.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen had never heard Misty laugh like that before. ¡°What¡¯s got you in such a good mood?¡±


    ¡°I got two titles this time.¡± Zhao Lan¡¯s face lit up, adding, ¡°And they¡¯re both awesome titles.¡±


    ¡°Really? Well done.¡± Yu Xiao also checked her messages, wondering what titles she had earned this time. If Misty¡¯s titles were awesome, hers should be too.


    ¡¾Congratulations on completing the third round of treatment. You have advanced to Level Four in the Six Hospital Patient Forum.¡¿


    ¡¾For your impressive performance during the treatment, you have earned 3 basic points and 3 bonus points.¡¿


    ¡¾Congratulations on earning the title of ¡®Demolition Crew Leader¡¯¡­¡¿


    Well, well, Yu Xiao mused, this title was not too bad, as long as it stayed that way. It was much better than that awful ¡®Shit-Hole Destroyer¡¯.


    ¡¾¡­bonus points of four. Congratulations on earning the title of ¡®Amusement Park Bully,¡¯ with a reward of four points¡­¡¿


    Ouch¡­ this title sounded harsh, but Yu Xiao could live with it. It was still better than ¡®Shit-Hole Destroyer¡¯.


    ¡¾Congratulations on earning the title of ¡®Deadly Arse Assassin,¡¯ with a reward of four points¡­¡¿


    ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen asked, puzzled, ¡°Why does Smiley look so horrified, as if she¡¯s been hit by a truck?¡±

 Chapter 56: It’s Not Me that’s Wrong, It’s the World!

    Zhao Lan¡¯s eyes darted to the side and caught a glimpse of something unsettling. Precious was grinning, but it was a twisted and sinister grin that made her skin crawl.


    Yu Xiao felt a chill run down her spine as she imagined the headlines that would greet her tomorrow. All the patients in the six hospitals would learn of her infamous title, the one that branded her as the ¡®Deadly Arse Assassin.¡¯


    ¡°Ugh¡­¡± She shuddered.


    She forced herself to read on.


    ¡¾¡­Your current points are 163.¡¿


    ¡¾Congratulations on topping the leaderboard! You¡¯ve earned two reward cards. Please go to the forum to claim them.¡¿


    The only silver lining of her disastrous return was the surge of points she had accumulated. She felt sorry for Liu Fei, who had splurged on ten talismans from her, only to never get a chance to use them.


    Yu Xiao lifted her head and saw Zhou Xiao Zhen and Zhao Lan beaming, clearly pleased with their results. Especially Misty, who had bagged two titles, both of them impressive.


    Yu Xiao bit her lip and asked nonchalantly, ¡°By the way, Misty, what¡¯s your titles?¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen triumphantly burst out, ¡°I¡¯m a Demolition Crew Member!¡± she proudly announced. ¡°That¡¯s my only title this time. I just peeked at the leaderboard, and Misty has overtaken me as the second-best player.¡±


    Zhao Lan warmly smiled at her and said, ¡°I share the same title with you, Demolition Crew Member. What about you, Smiley? You must have something similar, right?¡±


    Yu Xiao forced a smile and replied, ¡°Yeah, sure. I¡¯m the Demolition Crew Captain.¡±


    ¡°Ah, I thought so,¡± Zhao Lan said. ¡°My other title is connected to yours, I think. It¡¯s called the ¡®Bully¡¯s Accomplice¡¯.¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s eyes widened in awe. ¡°Smiley is the bully?¡± she asked, her voice filled with admiration. ¡°Who else but Smiley could deserve such a title?¡±


    Yu Xiao let out a hollow laugh. She felt no pride whatsoever. ¡°You guessed it. It¡¯s related to my other title. The ¡®Amusement Park Bully¡¯.¡±


    ¡°Wow, that¡¯s amazing,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen said, a hint of envy in her tone. ¡°I guess I didn¡¯t do enough this time. I missed out on the Bully¡¯s Accomplice title. Next time, I¡¯ll try harder.¡±


    ¡°Smiley,¡± Zhao Lan suddenly asked, ¡°how many titles do you have in total? Just two?¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    Yu Xiao clamped her mouth shut, refusing to divulge the horrifying ordeal of the Merry-go-Round that had nearly filled her with rage.


    ¡°Hehe¡­¡± She tried to sound casual. ¡°Titles are not that important, really. I made a killing in business this time, and now I have over a hundred points. I¡¯m almost ready to leave the Sixth Hospital.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s amazing,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen did some mental arithmetic. ¡°To get out of the Sixth Institute, one person would need at least one thousand eight hundred points. Sister Xiao earned over a hundred points in just one dungeon run, so that means we only need to do a dozen more dungeons, and we can send one of us away?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s the plan,¡± Zhao Lan agreed, sounding optimistic. ¡°It seems selling talismans for points is more lucrative than I thought.¡±


    Yu Xiao felt a wave of relief wash over her as the conversation moved away from her titles.


    ¡°Hey, I got a luck card this time,¡± Zhao Lan glanced at her phone with excitement. ¡°I always got stamina cards before, and I was afraid I would turn into a She-Hulk, but I didn¡¯t expect to get a luck card.¡±


    ¡°I got a spirit card,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen said, ¡°It¡¯s the kind that Xie Meng Meng talked about, the one that can boost your spirituality and make you more aware of ghosts.¡±


    Yu Xiao looked at her cheerful face and felt obliged to warn her. ¡°The spirit card is not all roses, you know. Sure, being more attuned to ghosts is a useful skill, it can help you spot or track them. But it can also be a curse. You saw how Xie Meng Meng freaked out in the haunted house, right? That was because her intuition was too strong.¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen stared at the spirit card, her face showing a mix of curiosity and apprehension. She weighed the pros and cons in her mind, then made her choice. ¡°I¡¯m going for it. I¡¯m using the card. Don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t be afraid as long as you two are with me.¡±


    Yu Xiao nodded in approval, not wanting to dissuade her. After all, having a heightened sense of spirituality was not a bad thing.


    She opened her own interface and discovered that she had also received a spirit card, along with an upgrade card.


    She remembered that Zhou Xiao Zhen had gotten one of these cards before, the kind that could improve the quality of items. Yu Xiao considered the items she possessed: sunglasses that could pierce through illusions, a wig that could transform her appearance, and the Coin of Great Observation.


    She didn¡¯t hesitate for a second. The upgrade card was meant for the Coin of Great Observation, because that was the only item that had offensive power. She tapped on the upgrade card, and watched it flip over, revealing three options.


    ¡¾Please select the item you wish to upgrade. A. Sunglasses. B. Wig. C. Coin.¡¿


    She chose the Coin without a second thought, and a spectacular display of fireworks erupted on the screen. When the fireworks faded, the instructions for the upgraded Coin of Great Observation appeared.


    ¡¾Coin of Great Observation 2.0: Can predict fortune or misfortune. Face-up brings good luck; all ghosts and monsters within a ten-metre radius will endure agony. Face-down brings misfortune; everyone within a ten-metre radius will feel conflicted emotions of love and hate towards you. Cooldown time: one hour.¡¿


    ¡°¡­¡±


    Speechless, she wondered why Zhou Xiao Zhen had lucked out with an extra round of mahjong after using the upgrade card, which was a useful upgrade, while her own item had turned into a freak show.


    Sighing, she accepted that some things were beyond the realm of luck.


    She used the spirit card as well, but she didn¡¯t notice any difference afterward. The ward looked normal, except for a cold draft near the door.


    Supposedly, the ward was a safe haven, but it was hard to believe considering the ghosts that had breached it multiple times.


    Knock, knock, knock!


    A loud banging came from outside, followed by the familiar gruff voice of the delivery man. ¡°Delivery pickup!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m coming!¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen, who had volunteered to handle the deliveries in the ward before, replied. She took the talismans from Yu Xiao and headed to the door to hand over the package.


    As she neared the door, but before she opened it, Zhou Xiao Zhen shuddered.


    ¡°Brrr. It¡¯s freezing.¡± She wrapped her arms around herself. ¡°This delivery guy has a strong Yin energy.¡±


    (Yin and Yang energy (ÒõÆø and ÑôÆø): Concepts from Chinese philosophy. Yin represents the passive, dark, and feminine principles, whereas Yang represents the active, bright, and masculine principles¡­ Essentially a philosophy used by sexist to suggest that women are the root of all evil and need to be controlled by men who possess Yang energy to suppress their Yin.)


    Yu Xiao realised that her spirit card was kicking in. She felt a sharp drop in temperature as the delivery man got closer to the door and said, ¡°Feeling Yin energy is normal. But if you feel Yang energy, then we¡¯re in trouble.¡±


    ¡°Right you are,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen said, as she grabbed a stack of delivery slips through the narrow gap in the door. Carefully, she began to scribble down the address and recipient details.


    Intrigued by the delivery person¡¯s attitude, Yu Xiao decided to strike up a conversation. ¡°Delivery man, you must have a hard time, huh?¡±


    The delivery man grunted but didn¡¯t respond.


    Undeterred, Yu Xiao persisted, ¡°You know who I am, right? We¡¯re hiring at Saint Elizabeth¡¯s. Are you interested?¡±


    ¡°Hmph,¡± scoffed the delivery man, pressing on. ¡°Are you finished yet? How long does it take to fill out a form?¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s the rush?¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen snapped back, losing her patience. ¡°You think you can do better? Then come and show me.¡±


    Realising it was a hopeless case, Yu Xiao awkwardly rubbed her nose. She figured that being a delivery person must have some perks; otherwise, they wouldn¡¯t dare to disrespect the Dean like that.


    Fluffing up her pillow, Yu Xiao tossed her shoes aside, and reclined on the bed to browse the forums.


    She spared a thought for Liu Fei¡¯s trio, who had never escaped the instance, and then recalled Xie Meng Meng¡¯s duo. On a whim, she decided to check the Fourth Hospital forum in hopes of finding news about Xie Meng Meng¡¯s situation. Then she realised she had her number and switched to browsing the forum posts.


    The post about the Dragon¡¯s Descendants was still on the front page, with nearly a thousand comments.


    There were many trading posts on the forum, most of them seeking item swaps. There were also posts complaining about being broke and having to eat steamed buns, as well as stories of being harassed by female ghosts in the instance.


    As she continued scrolling, Yu Xiao came across a rather popular new post.


    ¡¾Prepare yourself for the most bizarre treatment instance I¡¯ve ever encountered.¡¿


    That was the title that caught Yu Xiao¡¯s eye as she scrolled through the forum. She tapped on it, curious to see what it was about. To her surprise, she recognised the username of the poster. It was someone she knew.


    ¡¾OP: Hey, everyone. I just escaped from a nightmare of an instance and I still can¡¯t shake off the horror. I swear, if I hadn¡¯t been lucky enough to team up with some of the big shots from our hospital, I would have been dead without even knowing how or why. I need to get this off my chest, and also warn anyone who might stumble into this instance in the future. Maybe you can learn from my mistakes and survive.¡¿


    ¡¾Another strategy post?¡¿


    ¡¾Bring it on.¡¿


    ¡¾I¡¯m sitting on the edge of my seat, literally.¡¿


    ¡¾¡­¡¿


    ¡¾The name of this instance is Lolita Amusement Park. You guessed it, it¡¯s an amusement park. But not a fun one, oh no. It¡¯s a twisted, dark, and dangerous one. There were eight of us in the instance, five girls from two different wards of our Fourth Hospital, and three boys from the Fifth Hospital. The attending doctor is a girl named Lolita, and she¡¯s the worst. You know how some people complained about Saint Elizabeth¡¯s attending doctor being too hard to deal with? Well, Lolita makes him look like a Saint. No pun intended.¡¿


    ¡¾Before I go on, I have to mention that we had some VIPs in our group this time. The three girls from the other ward are the big shots of our hospital, especially the one who has a mouth like a rogue. No offence, big shot, if you¡¯re reading this. I¡¯m not trying to badmouth you, I¡¯m actually admiring you. You¡¯re awesome. Anyway, I¡¯m going to take a break for an hour after this first part, so if you don¡¯t want me to spill any more beans, just reply here, or give me a ring, and I¡¯ll shut up and delete the post.¡¿


    ¡¾Who are the big shots in our hospital?¡¿


    ¡¾Did she mean that half of the top ten on the leaderboard are women?¡¿


    ¡¾One of them is rumoured to be ¡®Zhuge Liang burning the Spider Web Cave¡¯ ¨C a woman who can outsmart any trap and enemy.¡¿


    ¡¾But hasn¡¯t that rumour already been debunked?¡¿


    ¡¾¡­¡¿


    ¡¾Hey, OP, are you still there? It¡¯s been an hour. Are you going to start or not?¡¿


    ¡¾Well, since the big shots haven¡¯t stopped me, I guess I¡¯ll go on. It all began when the big shots seduced Lolita to give them some clues. Lolita revealed three vital pieces of information: first, we had to leave the amusement park within two days; second, we could only obtain all the clues after trying out all the game facilities in the park; third, once we got the clues, we could leave the park and take an ambulance back to the hospital. Don¡¯t forget the third point, it¡¯s the most important!¡¿


    ¡¾With these hints, we divided ourselves into four teams and started to explore the game facilities one by one. That¡¯s when we realised that all the game facilities were death traps, and we had no chance of survival, except for the big shots¡­¡¿


    ¡¾¡­¡¿


    ¡¾That¡¯s how the big shots cleared the instance. I swear I¡¯m not lying or exaggerating, that¡¯s exactly how they effortlessly guided me out of the haunted house. Of course, I know you can¡¯t replicate what the big shots did, even if I tell you how they did it. I¡¯m just sharing it for your reference¡­¡¿ S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The identity of the OP was obvious from the post; only Xie Meng Meng could have written it.


    She felt a surge of pride at the admiration in the words, but it was quickly overshadowed by dread. How could she face the six hospitals tomorrow, knowing that they would all be aware of her embarrassing title? She painfully wished to destroy this flawed world that mocked her.

 Chapter 57: Patients of the Sixth Hospital

    The Lolita Amusement Park thread went viral after Xie Meng Meng revealed their secrets. The forum was buzzing with comments from awestruck mates, who exclaimed, ¡¾Bloody brilliant! Who would have thought of such a clever trick?¡¿


    They tried to guess the identity of the big shot behind the scheme, combing through the leaderboard for clues and making wild guesses.


    But not everyone was fooled by the ruse. Some were sharp enough to see through it, like Luo Jin and Lu Xun.


    Luo Jin rarely visited the forum, preferring to get his updates from Lu Xun. On that day, he was gazing out of the window, bored by the artificial scenery that pretended to be real. Lu Xun was munching on snacks and browsing the forum, when he suddenly let out a loud thud.


    ¡°Blast it! They¡¯re up to their old tricks again!¡±


    Luo Jin turned around calmly at the sound and walked over to the water cooler to fill his cup with hot water.


    Lu Xun wished he had someone to share his excitement with, but fate had other plans. His roommate was a total bore.


    ¡°Don¡¯t you want to know who I¡¯m talking about?¡± he asked, hoping to spark some interest.


    Luo Jin cradled his teacup to his chest, letting the steam veil his face as he drawled, ¡°You¡¯re talking about Yu Xiao, aren¡¯t you?¡±


    ¡°¡­¡± Lu Xun was intrigued, ¡°How did you guess?¡±


    Luo Jin gave him a look that suggested he needed a brain scan, ¡°She¡¯s the only one among our acquaintances who¡¯s been making waves on the forum, right?¡±


    ¡°¡­¡± Lu Xun countered, ¡°Not quite. I¡¯d say we¡¯re pretty famous too.¡±


    Luo Jin conceded with a nod, ¡°True, but they always bring me up when they mention Yu Xiao. Most of them think I¡¯m rubbish.¡±


    Lu Xun felt a surge of relief at that point. Thank goodness he wasn¡¯t the top scorer, or he would have been the one pitted against Yu Xiao.


    He saw Luo Jin clutching the teacup with a placid expression and asked, ¡°Don¡¯t you wonder what they¡¯ve been doing?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m a bit curious,¡± He admitted.


    Lu Xun scoffed, ¡°You¡¯re curious but you never bother to look at your phone?¡±


    Luo Jin lifted the teacup in his hand and said casually, ¡°I¡¯ve already brewed the tea and I¡¯m all ears for your report.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡¾¡­That was how me and the big shots stormed the haunted house together. It was a bloody massacre. I swear, I¡¯ve never seen anything like it since I joined the Fourth Hospital. Even the attending doctor was reduced to a sobbing mess. I thought we were going to breeze through the whole thing, until we left the amusement park. That¡¯s when disaster struck, and the big shot took a tumble from the carousel.¡¿


    The post went on: ¡¾I didn¡¯t think to ask then, so I¡¯m still clueless about the carousel¡¯s deal. All I know is that the bloke from Wu Hospital, after touching the carousel, lost his marbles and tried to bash his head against the wall. When we stopped him, he passed out, the kind that no amount of lifesaving talismans could fix.


    We were at our wit¡¯s end then. Without the big shot¡¯s help, we had no chance of cracking the carousel¡¯s mystery. One of the lads from Wu Hospital snapped; he gave up on finding clues and bolted on his own.¡¿


    ¡¾Blimey, even a big shot like that can cock it up?¡¿


    ¡¾I don¡¯t know why, but this feels oddly familiar¡­¡¿


    ¡¾Come on! Come on! OP, spill the beans!¡¿


    ¡¾Then what? How did you lot get back?¡¿


    ¡¾The big shot¡¯s friends weren¡¯t ready to throw in the towel and kept at it. Meanwhile, the two who ran off came back, claiming they had found the exit, and the exit didn¡¯t need any clues to locate. Except for the big shot and her friends, we all followed them. And guess what? We actually found the amusement park¡¯s exit¡­¡¿


    ¡¾Do you think we¡¯re daft? How could we mess up such a simple situation like this? If you do, then you¡¯re mistaken. What I¡¯m trying to say is, if you ever end up in the Lolita Amusement Park, remember this, never ever leave the amusement park! The outside is not a way out, the outside is a bigger nightmare than the amusement park!!¡¿


    ¡¾ ¡­ ¡¿


    ¡°Ouch¡­¡± Lu Xun sucked in a sharp breath, ¡°It seems like we¡¯ve never encountered this kind of situation before. Is the world outside mentioned by this OP also part of the amusement park?¡±


    Luo Jin frowned and shook his head, disbelief etched on his face. ¡°This can¡¯t be right. I¡¯ve never seen an attending doctor¡¯s territory this big before.¡±


    Lu Xun shared his confusion. He had faced many treatment instances, but none like this. He scratched his chin and pondered for a moment. ¡°Do you think it¡¯s possible that two instances have somehow merged together?¡±


    Luo Jin nodded slowly, considering the idea. ¡°That could explain it, but¡­¡± He trailed off, his eyes distant and thoughtful.


    Lu Xun leaned closer, curious. ¡°But what?¡±


    Luo Jin looked at him with a serious expression. ¡°Have you ever wondered about this?¡± he asked. ¡°What lies beyond the many instances we¡¯ve experienced?¡±


    Lu Xun blinked, taken aback by the question. He had never given it much thought. He had always assumed that the treatment instances were the whole game. What else could there be outside them?


    Luo Jin seemed to be lost in his own thoughts, his mind wandering to places Lu Xun couldn¡¯t follow. He wasn¡¯t just curious about what lay beyond the instances. He was also questioning the nature of the hospital itself. How did it contain so many instances, and so many NPCs within those instances, including the dreaded attending doctors? Where did they all come from?


    He remembered the morning news at the hospital, which often broadcasted reports of certain medical personnel being fired for violating the rules, followed by announcements of vacancies in certain positions. Humans couldn¡¯t possibly apply for those jobs, so who was the target audience of the news?


    He also recalled how terrifying the medical personnel were, but also how they were constantly being depleted by the players. Where did they get their replacements from?


    He clenched his phone in his hand, his thumb rubbing it nervously. He wondered if he should call Yu Xiao and ask her about the world outside the instance.


    He couldn¡¯t shake off the nagging feeling that Yu Xiao might ask him for points in exchange for information. After all, he had a vague acquaintance with her, and she seemed to be the type who would do anything for a bargain.


    **


    Ever since Xie Meng Meng had blabbed about her incredible adventures in the instance, her post had remained at the top of the forum, refusing to budge.


    The patients were losing their minds.


    Some wondered if it was a hidden feature of the instance, some guessed it was a whole new instance, and some fantasised it was a different world. There were even those who had grown weary of the hospital routine and the endless challenges, longing to escape to that world and start over with a new identity¡­


    And then there were those who were sceptical, demanding evidence.


    ¡¾Is the big shot that OP mentioned lurking around? If you are, show yourself and tell us if what she said is true!¡¿


    ¡¾How come I¡¯ve never heard of such a badass big shot at Fourth Hospital?¡¿


    ¡¾This has to be fake, right? If there really is such a badass big shot, why is Zhuge always topping the leaderboard?¡¿


    ¡¾If this is true, then it¡¯s too freaking terrifying.¡¿


    ¡¾¡­¡¿


    Yu Xiao frowned as she read the comments. Some of the patients at Fourth Hospital had been here for years, yet they had never set foot in the theme park instance. It indicated that there were countless treatment instances, and maybe the number was not even fixed, but constantly increasing.


    After a moment of hesitation, Yu Xiao closed the Fourth Hospital forum and switched to the Sixth Hospital one.


    She wanted to post a thread about her experience, revealing the situation at the Lolita Amusement Park instance. She hoped to alert other patients and also encourage them to share their own stories on the forum if they ever faced something similar. She had a strong sense that this instance experience was extraordinary.


    ¡¾Experience Post: Lolita Amusement Park.¡¿


    As soon as the post appeared, Zhao Lan spotted it right away. She instantly grasped Yu Xiao¡¯s intention and smiled, saying, ¡°This is good. I have a feeling we¡¯re getting closer to the truth about the hospital.¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen, who had just finished filling out all the delivery forms, rubbed her hands and said, ¡°What truth? What truth?¡±


    Zhao Lan said, ¡°The truth about the hospital.¡±


    ¡°Oh~¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen giggled at that, ¡°You lot, always making a fuss over nothing. Even if you discover the truth about the hospital, so what? Does that mean you¡¯ll get to be the boss of the hospital?¡±


    Yu Xiao was baffled, ¡°Don¡¯t you have any curiosity at all?¡±


    ¡°Eh, a bit.¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen answered, ¡°But my curiosity has been drained by maths problems.¡±


    ¡°Ah, this¡­¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen shrugged and gave a carefree smile. ¡°What does it matter, what answers, what truths? For me, passing the grades is enough. That¡¯s all I aim for, just to earn enough points.¡±


    Zhao Lan looked at her with a mix of admiration and envy. ¡°Precious, you¡¯re so lucky. Sometimes, thinking too much only brings you sorrow, don¡¯t you agree, Smiley?¡±


    ¡°Um¡­¡± Yu Xiao hesitated, feeling a twinge of alienation. ¡°I don¡¯t know, I find it quite fascinating to ponder over some things more.¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen leaned forward, her curiosity piqued. ¡°Like what, for example?¡±


    ¡°Like anything that¡¯s not maths¡­¡±


    Zhao Lan frowned, unable to comprehend. She liked maths, she really did. It was thrilling to solve problems, and satisfying to get the right answer. Why did they always sound so gloomy when they mentioned maths?


    ¡°But you know, you still have to face the college entrance examination after leaving the Sixth Hospital,¡± Yu Xiao reminded her.


    ¡°Ugh¡­¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen groaned, her face falling. ¡°Why? Why is it that others feel liberated when they leave the hospital, but I feel like I¡¯m plunging into another inferno?¡±


    Zhao Lan saw Precious¡¯s round little face crumple in anguish, and felt a surge of compassion. ¡°Smiley, let¡¯s not talk about studying and exams anymore, okay?¡±


    ¡°Oh, look, someone replied to my post!¡± Yu Xiao exclaimed, quickly changing the topic.


    The commenter¡¯s way of writing rang a bell in Yu Xiao¡¯s mind. It was the same person who had asked about selling talismans on the forum before, with a username like ¡°Give me your heart¡± or something equally dramatic.


    Yu Xiao had omitted the details of her escape from the instance in her post, only giving a vague overview of the horrors that lurked within.


    The first reply came swiftly:


    ¡¾How did you survive such a high-difficulty instance? How did you find all the clues?¡¿


    Yu Xiao typed back.


    ¡¾I have some special items, so my clue-finding method is not representative of the usual methods.¡¿


    As the days went by, the forum was flooded with more and more third-level members.


    ¡¾That¡¯s terrifying¡­ No wonder you¡¯re the top-ranked, you can actually pass such a nightmare instance.¡¿


    ¡¾What am I supposed to do? I¡¯m running out of time, and I¡¯m the only one left in my ward. I¡¯m too scared to apply for another treatment¡­¡¿


    ¡¾Please share more of your experiences, pro. I¡¯m begging you!¡¿


    ¡¾Does anyone know how to tell the real delivery person apart? I haven¡¯t eaten anything for a whole day.¡¿


    ¡¾Are the ghosts still roaming the wards at night¡­¡¿ sea??h th§× novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The patients in the Sixth Hospital were not as desperate for truth as those in the Fourth Hospital yet. Some of them were still concerned about mundane things like food.


    Yu Xiao lingered for a moment, then closed the forum tab.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen was typing furiously in the forum, while Zhao Lan scrolled through the posts with a blank face. She felt Yu Xiao¡¯s stare and lifted her head to meet her eyes.


    ¡°Don¡¯t beat yourself up,¡± Zhao Lan said softly. ¡°It won¡¯t do you any good. You have to realise, this might not be the last time you see someone die. We¡¯ve all been there. It¡¯s part of living in this world. Precious is doing a good thing by sharing her experiences in the forum, maybe she can help some of them cope.¡±


    ¡°Eh? What are you on about?¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen looked up, puzzled. ¡°I¡¯m not sharing anything, I¡¯m educating them on the three methods to tell the real delivery man from the fake one.¡±


    Zhao Lan perked up. ¡°Three methods?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right, the top, middle, and bottom strategies,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen said earnestly. ¡°The top strategy is to charm the ghost into giving you free food, the middle strategy is to scare it off with talismans, and the bottom strategy is to quiz it until it slips up¡­¡±

 Chapter 58: Fans of the Dragon’s Descendant

    Yu Xiao was speechless. She hoped that the others at the Sixth Hospital would only consider choices 1 and 2 as a last resort. Maybe it would work, maybe it wouldn¡¯t, but it was better than giving up.


    ¡°I guess I¡¯ll hit the hay,¡± she yawned and stretched, feeling every muscle ache. She had spent the last two days in the instance, working like a slave. It was exhausting, even the ¡°Thousand Year Kill¡± move took its toll¡­ She shuddered as she remembered those horse squeals.


    Argh, why did this come back to mind again?


    She pushed the memory away and crawled into bed. She needed some sleep, badly.


    She fell asleep almost instantly and dreamed of something wonderfully delicious. She couldn¡¯t recall the details, but it left her with a warm and fuzzy feeling. She wished she could stay in that dream forever.


    But then, the alarm went off.


    ¡°Ding dong!¡±


    Yu Xiao blinked her eyes open, groaning. The dream faded, leaving her with a vague sense of regret. She wondered if she could catch it again if she closed her eyes for just a few more minutes.


    But then, she heard the soft music.


    It was the wake-up call. The curtains slid open, letting in a blast of sunlight that hit her face like a slap.


    Yu Xiao: ¡°!!!¡±


    She turned her head and saw Zhao Lan and Zhou Xiao Zhen sitting on their beds, drinking hot water and enjoying the music. They looked relaxed and refreshed, as if they had slept well.


    ¡°It¡¯s 8 o¡¯clock!¡± Yu Xiao cried out, panic rising in her chest. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you wake me up?¡±


    Zhao Lan gave her an innocent look. ¡°There¡¯s no instance today, why wake you up? Wouldn¡¯t you rather sleep a little longer?¡±


    Yu Xiao felt a surge of panic and hid her face under the blanket. Oh, no. Was this how she was going to die? Socially, without any warning?


    Zhou Xiao Zhen frowned. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with Smiley? When you had a lovely sleep, you should be happy.¡±


    ¡°Perhaps she slept poorly?¡± Zhao Lan suggested. ¡°Did you have a bad dream, Smiley?¡±


    ¡°No way,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen said. ¡°Smiley had the sweetest dreams last night. I got up in the middle of the night to use the loo, and I heard her giggling. I nearly wet myself, thinking the ward ghost had snuck in.¡±


    They were chatting away, when the morning news radio interrupted them.


    ¡°Let¡¯s start this beautiful day~ And now, the morning news from the hospital.¡±


    ¡°Recently, a large number of patients have been wilfully damaging the toilets during treatment, resulting in grave and negative consequences. Our hospital leadership urges everyone to respect the environment, maintain public hygiene, and be civilised patients¡­¡±


    Yu Xiao¡¯s heart lurched as she heard this news.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen was baffled. ¡°Why are so many people wrecking the toilets? Is there a spook in there?¡±


    ¡°Maybe not for that reason,¡± Zhao Lan said, her eyes gleaming with mischief. ¡°Remember when Smiley got that title from the Village? ¡®Shit-Hole Destroyer¡¯. Maybe they¡¯re all jealous and want to be like Smiley.¡±


    Yu Xiao felt a cold sweat on her palms, which she kept hidden under the blanket. What else was left for her in this world? Might as well destroy it while you can!


    ¡°There¡¯s an opening for the village doctor position in Gu Family Village. Now hiring an attending doctor. Gender and age are no barriers, but work experience must be at least forty years¡­¡±


    ¡°Yesterday, there was a mishap at the Lolita Amusement Park, with some of the gaming facilities ruined. Repair work is in progress, and Lolita Amusement Park is closed to visitors for the time being¡­¡±


    Yu Xiao heard this and thought, no wonder Lolita was so furious when she smashed the bungee jump machine. It would take ages to fix. But what she couldn¡¯t understand was, why bother? The amusement park was going to burn down in two days anyway. Wouldn¡¯t that also destroy all the machines?


    ¡°¡­Patient nicknamed ¡®Cute Fairy¡¯ from the Fourth Hospital displayed outstanding performance in yesterday¡¯s treatment session and received the honorary title of ¡®Demolition Crew Member¡¯. Let¡¯s give her a round of applause.¡±


    ¡°Is that Xie Meng Meng?¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen wondered. ¡°Same as our titles.¡±


    ¡°Must be her,¡± Zhao Lan agreed. ¡°Everyone had a hand in wrecking the gaming facilities.¡±


    ¡°Patient nicknamed ¡®Money Money Money¡¯ from the Fourth Hospital displayed outstanding performance in yesterday¡¯s treatment session and received the honorary title of ¡®Demolition Crew Member¡¯. Let¡¯s give her a round of applause.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    The broadcast from Fourth Hospital faded, followed by Fifth Hospital, and then¡­ Yu Xiao clenched her fists.


    ¡°Yesterday, the patient nicknamed ¡®Deaf Descendant¡¯


    from Sixth Hospital stayed on top, let¡¯s give her a big cheer¡­¡±


    **


    At that moment, Xie Meng Meng and Qian Xin from Fourth Hospital were baffled.


    ¡°We both have titles, it makes no sense for Yu Xiao to have none,¡± Qian Xin said, her brow furrowed. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡±


    Xie Meng Meng also had a head full of question marks. ¡°Yeah, it doesn¡¯t add up.¡±


    The news went on.


    ¡°¡­the patient has displayed remarkable performance during the treatment, earning the three illustrious titles of ¡®Demolition Crew Leader¡¯, ¡®Amusement Park Bully¡¯, and ¡®Deadly Arse Assassin¡¯. Let¡¯s applaud her warmly!¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    **


    Zhou Xiao Zhen and Zhao Lan, who had been listening to the news with interest, suddenly went quiet.


    After a pause, Zhou Xiao Zhen said, ¡°I think I heard something odd just then. Misty, did you catch it too?¡±


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Zhao Lan agreed. ¡°I heard it.¡±


    ¡°So¡­¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen glanced at Yu Xiao, who was buried under her blanket, still as a corpse. ¡°Smiley, she¡­¡±


    ¡°Shh.¡± Zhao Lan put a finger to her mouth. ¡°Don¡¯t bother Smiley, let her sleep off her shame.


    ¡°Furthermore, the patient known as ¡®Nickname Hassle¡¯ dazzled in yesterday¡¯s session, snatching the illustrious titles of ¡®Demolition Crew Member¡¯ and ¡®Bully¡¯s Accomplice¡¯¡­¡± S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°¡­In the meantime, the patient nicknamed ¡®Braised Egg Girl 438¡¯ sparkled in yesterday¡¯s session, securing the esteemed title of ¡®Demolition Crew Member,¡¯ let¡¯s applaud her¡­¡±


    As the morning news wrapped up, the ward lapsed into silence.


    Zhao Lan and Zhou Xiao Zhen exchanged a glance, communicating silently.


    ¡ª Why ain¡¯t ya speakin¡¯?


    ¡ª Why ain¡¯t you talkin¡¯?


    ¡ª You go first then.


    ¡ª Hmph, ain¡¯t gonna¡­


    ¡°Ahem.¡± Zhao Lan cleared her throat. ¡°Come on, Smiley, it¡¯s not a big deal. The actual content of the title doesn¡¯t matter; what matters is having it. You have no idea how many people are jealous of you for suddenly acquiring three titles and earning twelve points.¡±


    ¡°Does the actual content of the title really not matter?¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen asked, looking perplexed. ¡°Then why do so many people imitate Smiley blowing up loos? Hey Misty, do you think next time the news will ask everyone not to bother NPCs¡¯ back gardens?¡±


    Zhao Lan was dumbstruck. She thought, Precious, oh Precious, how could you just rubb salt into your girlfriend¡¯s wound like this?¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen was equally stunned, but for a different reason. She had never seen such a title before. It was both ridiculous and impressive. She made a silent vow to herself. Next time they entered the instance, she would not hold back. She would strive to earn a few more titles of her own.


    After that, the two began to chat, and Yu Xiao slowly relaxed. It was just a title, what did it matter? Anyway, no one knew who she was.


    ¡°I really want to live another five hundred years~¡­¡± The ringtone shattered the moment.


    Yu Xiao groaned and reached for her phone under the pillow. She answered it without looking at the caller ID. She regretted it immediately.


    As soon as she answered, she heard Lu Xun¡¯s jovial voice on the other end, ¡°Hahaha¡­ Hey, did you catch the news? Brilliant, you got three more titles again. Oh, by the way, what¡¯s the story with your last title? ¡®Deadly Arse Assassin¡¯? Whose arse did you assassinate¡­¡±


    Yu Xiao rolled her eyes, feeling faint.


    **


    The Fourth Institute forum was abuzz with excitement once again.


    Xie Meng Meng¡¯s post was back at the top.


    ¡¾OP, have you heard the latest? You¡¯ve been duped. The big shot from the Fourth Hospital is none other than my pal Dragon Bro.¡¿


    ¡¾Judging by this post and your title, you¡¯ve fallen for a massive hoax.¡¿


    ¡¾What Dragon Bro?! Did you lot even read the thread? OP said the three big shots are all gals, and the Dragon¡¯s Descendant is a chick!¡¿


    ¡¾Sure, It¡¯s a shocker that the top ranker from the Sixth Hospital is a chick, but I¡¯m telling you, I¡¯m the Dragon¡¯s Descendant. I¡¯m not a chick, and her nickname is certainly not those two words!¡¿


    ¡¾¡±Wow! My Dragon Sis is amazing!¡¿


    ¡¾¡±If the Dragon¡¯s Descendant is a gal, then how do you explain the last news, where both the Dragon¡¯s Descendant and Zhuge married the Village Chief at the same time?¡¿


    ¡¾Why are all flustered by ¡®Zhuge Liang burning the Spider Web Cave¡¯ preferences¡­¡¿


    ¡°So, it turns out Yu Xiao is Dragon Bro¡­ No, Dragon Sis!¡± Xie Meng Meng blurted out, her eyes wide. ¡°She tricked me, the cheeky sod, how infuriating!¡±


    Qian Xin watched Xie Meng Meng flush and fidget, too weary to say anything. How could she find that infuriating when she was practically swooning?


    ¡°Top post is all about Yu Xiao,¡± Qian Xin announced as she opened a thread.


    ¡¾I¡¯m following Big Dragon Sis¡¯s example to earn a title!¡¿


    ¡¾After seeing Dragon Sis get the ¡®Shit-Hole Destroyer¡¯ title in the last news, I had an idea. Normal titles might be out of reach, but ones with strong practicality might be possible. So, when we entered the instance, my mates and I smashed all the toilets inside, which resulted in us being hunted by NPCs for the whole instance.¡¿


    ¡¾So, you¡¯re the ones who ruined the toilets in the news?¡¿


    ¡¾Well¡­I was part of it.¡¿


    ¡¾Even though it¡¯s embarrassing, I did it too.¡¿


    ¡¾ +1 ¡¿


    ¡¾So, OP, did you get the title?¡¿


    ¡¾Obviously not, if I had a title, it would have been in the news.¡¿


    ¡¾OP looks so pathetic from this angle, so cute¡­¡¿


    ¡¾Even though I failed, I won¡¯t give up on any chance to earn a title. This time, another title with strong practicality showed up in Dragon Sis¡¯s list, ¡®Deadly Arse Assassin¡¯! I¡¯m applying for it tonight and planning to give it a go in the instance. Brothers, wish me luck!¡¿


    ¡¾666.¡¿ (In Chinese internet culture, ¡°666¡± is often used to express admiration or praise, similar to saying ¡°good job¡± or ¡°well done¡± in English. The number ¡°6¡± is considered lucky in Chinese culture, and repeating it three times adds emphasis,)


    ¡¾Don¡¯t forget to share your battle achievements when you return!¡¿


    ¡¾I hope the OP survives rather than getting some silly title.¡¿


    ¡¾Please stay alive.¡¿


    ¡¾¡­¡¿


    Yu Xiao had finally steeled herself. So what if two strangers had seen her embarrassing titles? What did it matter? Once she left the hospital, she would never cross paths with them again.


    Phew~ Yu Xiao breathed a sigh of relief. Stay calm, stay calm. After this nightmare, nothing could shake her.


    With a new resolve, she tossed aside the covers and got out of bed, eager to wash her face and have breakfast.


    ¡°I really want to live for another five hundred years¡­¡±


    The phone rang again. Yu Xiao grabbed it and saw it was Lu Xun.


    Answering the call, Yu Xiao shouted, ¡°Do you dare to mock me again?! Watch out, or I¡¯ll use the ¡®Deadly Arse Assassin¡¯ move on you?!¡±


    ¡°¡­¡± After a pause of silence, Luo Jin on the other end of the phone said, ¡°I didn¡¯t mock.¡±


    Yu Xiao: ¡°¡­¡±


    She heard someone next to Luo Jin murmur softly over the phone, ¡°You were laughing with me just a moment ago.¡±


    Yu Xiao: ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°Ahem.¡± Luo Jin cleared his throat and adopted a serious tone. ¡°I called you to ask you something. Can you tell me more about the world outside the amusement park?¡±


    Yu Xiao felt her anger subside a little; there were still some decent people in this world.


    She had nothing to hide and told him everything that had happened to her after she left the amusement park.


    Luo Jin listened attentively and then asked, ¡°Do you think that¡¯s also part of the instance?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t think so,¡± Yu Xiao said, ¡°That place felt different from the amusement park to me, and Lolita never left the amusement park.¡±


    ¡°Thank you for sharing all this with me,¡± Luo Jin said gratefully, ¡°There¡¯s one more thing I¡¯m curious about, I wonder if you can tell me.¡±


    Yu Xiao: ¡°Sure.¡±


    Luo Jin: ¡°Who was your target for ¡®Deadly Arse Assassin¡¯? Was it human or ghost? Was it Lolita? Did you make her cry like that?¡±

 Chapter 59: Dean Yu on Her First Say at Work

    ¡°Beep¡­ Beep¡­ Beep¡­¡±


    They deserved each other, the two-faced bastards. They were birds of a feather, and damn if they weren¡¯t two peas in a pod!


    With a flick of her thumb, she hung up the phone, and dragged Lu Xun¡¯s number straight into the blacklist. She felt a surge of anger, mixed with disappointment and hurt. She tossed the phone aside, and buried her face in the pillow, trying to block out the world.


    Zhao Lan watched her from across the room, feeling helpless and sympathetic. She wondered what she would do if she were in Yu Xiao¡¯s shoes. She shuddered at the thought. She hoped she would never have to find out.


    She decided to change the subject, hoping to lighten the mood. ¡°Let¡¯s get some food,¡± she suggested, putting on a cheerful smile. ¡°I¡¯m starving.¡±


    She knew food wouldn¡¯t solve anything, but it was better than nothing. Maybe a bite to eat would lift Yu Xiao¡¯s spirits, or at least distract her from her troubles. Besides, Zhao Lan was genuinely hungry.


    Normally, it was Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s job to handle food orders in the ward. She was the one who always complained about being bored and needing something to pass the time. But today, she was clearly not in the mood for it.


    She sat in her chair, slightly hunched over, her eyes glued to her phone, thumbs leaving trails as they tapped away on the screen.


    So, Zhao Lan headed to the door herself, turning back to ask her two dear ward mates, ¡°What are you guys craving?¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen remained engrossed in her phone, oblivious to the question. Yu Xiao continued to pound the bed, venting her frustration¡­. Neither of them answered.


    **


    The breakfast that morning left much to be desired, with the only hint of meat being a few steamed dumplings in a bamboo basket.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen nibbled at one listlessly, wishing for something more satisfying. ¡°Misty, why no spring rolls?¡±


    Zhao Lan took a leisurely sip of her rice porridge, enjoying the warm and soothing liquid while being unfazed by her friend¡¯s complaint.. ¡°I asked what you all wanted to eat. Since you didn¡¯t say anything, I just went with my own preferences.¡±


    Yu Xiao felt oddly full after only half a bowl of porridge. But she had to admit, the simple meal had lifted her spirits somewhat. After all, there was no point in dwelling on the past, when the future was full of possibilities.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen, feeling a bit defeated, lowered her head, but soon found a new source of excitement in her phone. She exclaimed gleefully, ¡°The forum is quite interesting. They all call me a master and want me to teach them tricks. Hah, learning from a master isn¡¯t that easy, you know? I told them to save up points and then buy Talismans from our Talisman shop.¡±


    ¡°I saw a spike in orders today,¡± Yu Xiao remarked, popping a pea into her mouth. ¡°I guess I¡¯ll have to draw more Talismans later. Maybe I¡¯ll try some new ones this time.¡±


    She could currently draw two types of Talismans: ¡¾The Thunder Striking Ghost Repelling Talisman¡¿ for attack and ¡¾Healing Crisis Talisman¡¿ for healing. She had thought that having both would cover most situations, but after the harrowing experience of swapping bodies with a Merry-go-Round ghost in the amusement park, she realised she needed more options.


    She scrolled through the forum posts until she found what she was looking for: ¡¾Guardian Talisman (»¤ÉíÃü·û)¡¿.


    This Talisman was not meant to be used actively, but rather to act as a last resort. It could protect a person from fatal injuries at crucial moments. It could come in handy for situations like being snatched by ghosts or having your soul ripped out of your body.


    The only problem was that it was rather tricky to draw, with complex and creepy lines that made Yu Xiao shiver. She studied it carefully, trying to memorise the pattern. She was about to pick up her pen, when the phone rang again.


    It was a bloody odd thing, really. Back in the real world, her phone had hardly ever rung. But here, in this limbo of a hospital, it seemed like everyone wanted a piece of her.


    She glanced at the caller ID and saw the familiar name of Dr George.


    ¡°Hello, hello. What a pleasant surprise. You must be missing me terribly, calling me again so soon~.¡±


    George didn¡¯t rise to her teasing. He got straight to the point, as usual. ¡°It¡¯s time to fulfil your duties as the Dean.¡±


    Yu Xiao blinked. Oh, she had almost forgotten that she was the Dean.


    She hung up the phone and got out of bed. She slipped into her white coat, the only thing that distinguished her from the other patients.


    Zhao Lan looked up and smirked. ¡°Off to St. Elizabeth¡¯s again, Smiley?¡±


    ¡°Yep. Gotta work.¡±


    ¡°Oh.¡± Zhao Lan nodded, her eyes returning to her phone. But then, something clicked in her mind. She looked up again and asked, ¡°Hey Smiley, do you lot at the hospital get paid or what?¡±


    Yu Xiao was momentarily stumped. She didn¡¯t know how to answer that question. The hospital staff weren¡¯t exactly human, were they? They were ghosts, trapped in this limbo between life and death. Do ghosts even get paid? But if ghosts didn¡¯t get paid, why were ghosts like Tie Niu so keen on job hopping?


    ¡°Wait till I go ask George at Elizabeth¡¯s,¡± Yu Xiao said, buttoning up her coat. She shut her eyes and muttered a fervent prayer, ¡°Let me return to Elizabeth, let me return to Elizabeth¡­¡± S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    **


    The corridor stretched before her, empty and eerily quiet. The sun had sunk low, painting the floor with dark shapes.


    Yu Xiao hated to admit it, but she felt a strange comfort in this place. She shook her head, chastising herself for such foolishness. She sighed, knowing this was no way to live, or she would become a ghost herself.


    **


    In the ward, a group of patients huddled together, their faces pale and haunted. They had survived horrors that no one should ever see.


    The attending doctor, George, was a cunning bastard, every word a snare. He had broken two of them on his first day, and they had barely escaped his clutches. And the skeleton doctor in the operating room was a nightmare come to life. They were lucky to be alive, but they still had one more obstacle to overcome: the Dean¡¯s office.


    ¡°We should be able to get out of Saint Elizabeth¡¯s tonight,¡± the most seasoned of them said. ¡°The only thing we don¡¯t know is what the Dean will do to us.¡±


    Another chimed in, ¡°It¡¯s weird. Why does the name Saint Elizabeth sound so familiar?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s because Saint Elizabeth Hospital exists in the real world,¡± the youngest one explained. ¡°Perhaps you¡¯ve heard of it somewhere, and that¡¯s why it sounds familiar.¡±


    ¡°Is that so?¡±


    ¡°The instance has a limit to its difficulty, and we¡¯ve faced so many perils already. The final level can¡¯t be that dreadful, can it?¡±


    They were conversing when they heard footsteps in the corridor outside the ward.


    The sound moved at a leisurely pace, passing by their room.


    They shared a look, both recalling a fearsome figure.


    On the day they first arrived at Saint Elizabeth¡¯s, they had glimpsed a woman with long hair and a white coat strolling down the corridor like that. The nurses cowered in her wake, too afraid to look up.


    ¡°Do you think that woman was the Dean?¡±


    ¡°I have no idea. The portrait on the first floor was covered up. You all saw the warning next to it. Anyone who sees the portrait will die.¡±


    ¡°Ugh, this instance is just too scary¡­¡±


    **


    With a triumphant smile, Yu Xiao reached the Dean¡¯s office and tapped a message to George on her phone.


    ¡¾Come to my office~¡¿


    George had been expecting her arrival, and he was prepared for it. The new Dean might be a thorn in his side, but she was only human after all. She wouldn¡¯t last long as the Dean of Saint Elizabeth.


    ¡°Knock, knock, knock.¡±


    ¡°Come in~¡± Yu Xiao sang out, her eyes sparkling as she watched the door.


    George entered the room, his expression neutral and his posture stiff. ¡°What do you want from me?¡±


    ¡°Can¡¯t I invite you over for a friendly chat?¡± Yu Xiao asked, feigning innocence. She scanned him from head to toe, admiring his sharp features and elegant suit. ¡°You know, you¡¯ve become quite a handsome devil. Or is it just my imagination?¡±


    ¡°I appreciate your flattery, but I don¡¯t think appearance matters much,¡± George said, his voice flat and uninterested.


    ¡°Don¡¯t be silly, appearance is everything. If you were a hideous beast, I would have never shown you any mercy back then,¡± Yu Xiao declared, her tone serious.


    George was at a loss for words, wondering how she could twist the truth so easily. He thought of the torment he had endured under her, and how he still couldn¡¯t break free from her clutches.


    ¡°Don¡¯t look so doubtful,¡± Yu Xiao went on, ¡°You must have heard of Dr. Gu Shu from Gu Family Village, right?¡±


    A flicker of curiosity crossed George¡¯s face as he recalled the latest rumours swirling around.


    ¡°He may have a pretty face, but his personality is a complete disaster, not my type at all,¡± Yu Xiao declared, her voice dripping with scorn. She had been rejected by Dr. Gu Shu more than once, and she nursed a grudge against him ever since. ¡°He quit his job after he met me, you know.¡±


    That made sense. George had no idea what horrors Dr. Gu Shu had endured, but he could guess they were far from enjoyable. He let out a small sigh of relief, feeling slightly better.


    He could endure anything, as long as someone else was suffering more than him.


    ¡°By the way,¡± Yu Xiao suddenly remembered the main reason for her visit, ¡°now that I¡¯m the big boss of St. Elizabeth¡¯s, what¡¯s the deal with the salary?¡±


    George felt a twitch in his eye, ¡°All the patients in the hospital are your buffet, help yourself.¡±


    ¡°What?!¡± Yu Xiao gasped, ¡°What good are they to me? I don¡¯t eat humans!¡±


    George answered coolly, ¡°That¡¯s how it works here, you see. You¡¯re the first human to work in this hospital.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m being ripped off¡­¡± Yu Xiao muttered, her face crumpling in frustration.


    A surge of satisfaction filled George as he saw Yu Xiao¡¯s pained expression. He had waited for this moment for so long, and he rewarded himself with a dazzling false smile. ¡°By the way, have you been keeping up with the news?¡±


    Yu Xiao raised her head from the table, where she had buried it in frustration. ¡°Huh?¡±


    ¡°You should pay more attention to the news. There¡¯s something big brewing in the hospital. Something very big.¡± George said, leaning forward slightly before straightening up and walking out of the office.


    Something big? What did he mean by that? Was it something that affected the whole hospital?


    It couldn¡¯t be just about St. Elizabeth¡¯s, if George had bothered to mention it. The whole hospital¡­ Did that include all the other hospitals as well?


    The night descended, and St. Elizabeth¡¯s was shrouded in silence, as if the hospital itself had fallen asleep.


    But not for long. Soon, the patients began to run. Several of them, who had been languishing in the ward for ages, sneaked out and joined the stampede.


    Yu Xiao heard the thundering noise outside the office, and felt a twisted sense of amusement. She used to be one of them, scrambling to get into the Dean¡¯s office. Now she was the one sitting in the Dean¡¯s office, plotting how to make their lives harder.


    **


    At last, the running stopped, and four patients gathered outside the office door. They were jittery and impatient.


    ¡°Enough!¡± one of them shouted, waving his hand. ¡°We¡¯re breaking in, no matter what.¡±


    Knock, knock, knock¡­


    They rapped on the door of the Dean¡¯s office, hoping for an answer.


    **


    Yu Xiao spun in her chair, a wicked smile on her lips. ¡°Let me think of some mischief to make for you lot.¡±


    **


    The office door remained silent, and the four figures outside felt their nerves fray, waiting for a reply. It seemed like forever, and they were about to knock again, when a piece of paper slid out from under the door.


    The foursome looked at each other, unsure what to do. The bravest among them reached for the note.


    On it was a puzzling message:


    ¡¾You¡¯re the best of pals, brothers in arms. What are you ready to give up to save each other¡¯s lives?


    A: Become your brother¡¯s bride.


    B: Become your brother¡¯s groom.


    C: Have a foursome with your brothers.


    D: Sacrifice points.¡¿


    ¡°¡­¡±


    The night was still at Saint Elizabeth¡¯s, broken only by their stunned silence.


    The words on the paper made the four people feel like their minds had gone blank. They raised their heads and looked at each other, then thought of the ABC options, and unwanted images flashed in their heads¡­


    Ugh¡­


    They felt a wave of confusion wash over them. What sort of twisted options were these? How could they choose?


    ¡°Do we really have to pick one?¡±


    They flushed, their eyes darting away from each other.


    ¡°I guess so, this must be the final test.¡±


    ¡°Then I choose D!¡±


    ¡°Me too, D!¡±


    ¡°Same here¡­¡±


    Just then, another piece of paper slid out from under the door. They grabbed it and saw another set of options.


    ¡¾So, how many points are you ready to give up for it?


    A: 1 point. B: 2 points. C: 3 points. D: 4 points.¡¿


    Points were valuable, and they hated to part with them. But would refusing to sacrifice mean failing? If they had to choose one, which one would it be?

 Chapter 60: George Was Happy

    Their eyes met in a silent exchange. They all knew what they wanted to choose ¨C A, the most appealing of the four options. But they also knew that they had to be sure, to find the hidden clue that would reveal the correct answer.


    With years of experience, they could spot flaws and inconsistencies in any instance. They had learned to trace back every answer to its source, verifying its validity and accuracy.


    But this time, they were stumped. They racked their brains, trying to recall every detail of their visit to Saint Elizabeth. They remembered the most mundane things, like the colour of the curtains, the smell of the soup, the way a piece of orange peel had stuck to one of their shirts. But nothing that could help them with this answer.


    They thought back to the previous question.


    ¡¾You¡¯re the best of pals, brothers in arms¡­.¡¿


    ¡°Is this some kind of test of our loyalty?¡± one of them wondered aloud.


    ¡°What loyalty?¡± another scoffed. ¡°You belong to the Fifth Hospital, and I¡¯m from the Third Hospital. We have no bond to speak of.¡±


    ¡°So, do we go with A?¡±


    ¡°No.¡± The one who had kept quiet until then finally spoke. ¡°Think about it. The first question said we are the best buddies, brothers in arms. Do you think the dean is ignorant of our true relationship? No, this is a hypothetical scenario. He wants us to imagine that we are inseparable brothers, and then ask ourselves, what would we be willing to do for each other?¡±


    ¡°Four points are nothing, if we¡¯re blood brothers and all,¡± one of them said, trying to sound casual.


    ¡°Yeah¡­ are we going for D?¡±


    ¡°Just¡­ do it?¡±


    They looked at each other, and nodded. ¡°We¡¯re going for D,¡± they declared in unison.


    They felt a surge of anxiety as they made their choice. What if they were wrong? What if the door would burst open, and unleash something terrible? They had no idea what awaited them on the other side.


    Then, they saw a thin strip of paper slide through the gap under the door.


    ¡°Not more questions?!¡± one of them groaned.


    They picked up the paper with reluctance, and saw a QR code printed on it.


    ¡°¡­¡±


    They exchanged wary glances, and scanned the code with their phones.


    **


    In the office, Yu Xiao received a notification: 16 points credited! She stifled a laugh, and hid the QR code printer under her desk. Then, she took out four discharge reports, and stamped them with satisfaction.


    **


    The four felt a pang of pain as they lost four points each. It felt like a stab in the chest.


    The one with keen eyes spotted a pile of papers sticking out from the door. ¡°Hey, look at this!¡±


    The stack of papers in their hands bore the weight of their ordeal. It was the discharge report, with their photos attached, a bright red stamp on top.


    Finally stamped, finally able to leave¡­


    They had spent several days at St. Elizabeth Hospital, haunted by the horrors they had endured. Their bodies and minds were scarred, but they had survived. Now, as they prepared to leave, their emotions surged beyond ordinary excitement. Tears brimmed in their eyes as they exchanged glances, aware of the deep bond that had formed between them, a bond of brotherhood, forged in the fire of life and death.


    For a brief moment, they were overcome with gratitude and affection, and reached out to hold each other¡¯s hands.


    But then, a line of words flashed in their minds, a cruel reminder of the previous note.


    ¡­ Become your brother¡¯s bride¡­ Become your brother¡¯s groom¡­. and Have a foursome with your brothers¡­.


    The hands that were tightly clasped suddenly let go, as if electrocuted. They felt a wave of revulsion and fear, a memory they wished to erase from their minds forever. Some people, they realised, were better left behind¡­


    **


    It was a dark and silent night when Yu Xiao crept back into the ward.


    Zhao Lan let out a relieved exhale as she spotted her. ¡°You¡¯re finally back.¡±


    Yu Xiao flashed a grin as she collapsed on the bed. ¡°I¡¯ve discovered a new method to earn points. We¡¯re getting closer to escaping from Sixth Hospital.¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen muttered a half-hearted response from under the blanket. ¡°That¡¯s great. Really great news.¡±


    Yu Xiao frowned. She had always thought of Precious as the most spirited among them. ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡±


    Zhao Lan shrugged with a weary expression. ¡°She¡¯s been having a row with some people on the forum and it¡¯s got her down.¡± S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Yu Xiao was perplexed. Wasn¡¯t Precious the forum expert who loved to share her insights and tips?


    Precious, however, was far from exhausted. She rolled over and wrapped herself tighter in the blanket, seething. ¡°They¡¯re so infuriating. I post my experiences on the forum, and they accuse me of showing off. They can slander me all they want, but then they have the audacity to say that Smiley is no better.¡±


    Yu Xiao was dumbfounded. ¡°I hardly write anything on the forum.¡±


    ¡°They¡¯re all fawning over me, kissing my ass, calling me the boss. I told them I¡¯m just a fake boss, and my sister is the real deal. She had the guts to flirt with the attending doctor, nearly got hitched to one of them. Then they said I was delusional, and that I¡¯ve been reading too many trashy Mary Sue novels.¡±


    Yu Xiao bit her lip, feeling a surge of irritation. But she couldn¡¯t bring herself to be angry, because she knew anyone else would think Zhou Xiao Zhen was spouting nonsense. But what bothered her was the way Precious always sounded so smug and self-satisfied when she said such embarrassing things?


    With a snort, Yu Xiao shrugged off her lab coat and said, ¡°I¡¯m going to take a shower.¡±


    As she made her way to the bathroom door, she caught Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s voice saying, ¡°Hmph, in the next instance, I¡¯m going to make a move on the attending doctor too. I want them to see that patients who are too scared to flirt with the attending doctors are not worthy of being bosses!¡±


    Yu Xiao stumbled and almost crashed into the bathroom.


    Before going to bed, Yu Xiao checked her point total and smiled contentedly. She drifted into sleep and whispered a wish before falling asleep. She wished for Saint Elizabeth¡¯s to thrive in business, and for all the patients who entered Saint Elizabeth¡¯s to reach her office door alive.


    The next morning, Yu Xiao was once again roused by the 8 a.m. alarm. This time, she was serene, even shifting to a more cosy position to keep lying down.


    A cheerful chime rang out.


    Sunlight flooded the hospital room, bathing everything in a warm glow. Yu Xiao savoured the rare moment of leisure, resolved to make the most of it by drawing more talismans to sell to the other patients in the ward.


    Zhao Lan perched by the window, dressed in her own green dress instead of the drab hospital gown. She had stopped chemotherapy for a while, and wisps of hair had sprouted on her bald head, glinting like a huge, radiant dandelion in the sun.


    ¡°It feels like we haven¡¯t stayed in the ward for two days in a row since we came to the Sixth Hospital,¡± she remarked, cradling a teacup in her hands. A faint smile curved her lips.


    Yu Xiao propped herself up, her hair tousled. ¡°Yeah, we should be more mindful of our work-rest balance in the future,¡± she agreed.


    ¡°¡­ A wonderful day starts now~ Here¡¯s the morning news.¡±


    ¡°¡­ Every five years, our hospital undergoes an inspection. Our hospital has always upheld the principle of putting people first, striving to help every patient overcome their illnesses¡­¡±


    Yu Xiao, who had been rubbing her eyes, froze.


    Zhao Lan cocked her head, puzzled. ¡°Hospital inspection? What does that involve? Who conducts the inspection?¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen piped up, ¡°In the real world, it¡¯s usually the bigwigs who come to inspect. Does this magical hospital have bigwigs too?¡±


    A flash of memory crossed her mind. George had hinted at some big news brewing in the hospital, urging her to keep an eye on the headlines. Was this what he meant?


    She felt a surge of dread. Would Saint Elizabeth be subjected to the same scrutiny?


    ¡°¡­The inspection work will commence shortly. We request all department heads to make adequate arrangements, showcasing the people-centric approach of each unit¡­¡±


    Department heads? Yu Xiao frowned in confusion. Wasn¡¯t she one of them? What did she have to do? And what about what she did to get her place? Did she have to go back to Saint Elizabeth and silence all ghosts?


    She had no time to waste. Without bothering to wash her face or brush her teeth, she grabbed her phone and dialled Lu Xun¡¯s number. Only then did she realise that she had blocked him. She quickly unblocked him and called again.


    Lu Xun¡¯s voice was full of astonishment. ¡°Wow! You¡¯re actually calling me on your own accord. Has the world turned upside down?¡±


    Yu Xiao felt a pang of sympathy for George. She knew how he must have felt when she spoke to him.


    ¡°I don¡¯t want to talk to you,¡± she snapped. ¡°Put Luo Jin on the line.¡±


    ¡°Fine.¡± Lu Xun sounded hurt. ¡°Here, Lao Luo, she wants to connect with you.¡±


    With a smirk, Luo Jin took the phone and asked, ¡°Did you fall for me?¡±


    Yu Xiao felt a surge of regret. She had Xie Meng Meng¡¯s number, so what possessed her to call these two instead?


    ¡°No,¡± she snapped. ¡°I¡¯m hanging up.¡±


    ¡°Wait¡ª is this about the hospital inspection?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Yu Xiao admitted. ¡°Do you know anything about it?¡±


    Luo Jin¡¯s voice changed, becoming more serious and professional. ¡°I have some insight. I was a new recruit at the Fourth Hospital during the last inspection,¡± he said. ¡°But I don¡¯t know much, really. I can only tell you that for ordinary patients, the inspection doesn¡¯t make much difference. Unless there are special circumstances, the wards are off-limits to those who have no business there.¡±


    Yu Xiao frowned, trying to decipher his cryptic words. ¡°For ordinary patients¡­ then there are extraordinary patients?¡±


    ¡°Yes, like you,¡± Luo Jin said bluntly. ¡°I remember you have a title, Saint Elizabeth Yu. Do you still hold onto that title?¡±


    Yu Xiao felt a pang of anxiety. ¡°Why do you ask?¡±


    Luo Jin spoke in a low voice, as if sharing a secret. ¡°The hospital inspection is supposed to last for a fortnight, but it¡¯s all a sham. After they finish with the First Hospital on the first day, they barely glance at the others. They spend the rest of their time poking their noses into other places.¡±


    He paused, then added, ¡°I have a hunch that they¡¯re mainly interested in the instances. You see, every other day, there¡¯s a headline about some nurse or doctor from this or that instance being fired or disciplined. So, your situation¡­¡±


    Yu Xiao felt a knot in her stomach. She asked, ¡°Do you have any advice for me?¡±


    ¡°Can you give up this job, being a Dean?¡±


    **


    ¡°Can I resign as the dean?¡±


    She couldn¡¯t see his face through the phone, but George¡¯s voice betrayed his amusement.


    ¡°No, you can¡¯t. Deans only have two options: death or being sacked by inspection.¡±


    Yu Xiao slammed her fist on the bed and continued, ¡°Then can you at least explain the inspection process to me? What am I supposed to do as the dean?¡±


    George spoke in a condescending tone, as if lecturing a child. ¡°The process is rather straightforward,¡± he said. ¡°You will accompany the senior leaders around St. Elizabeth Hospital. You will assist them in questioning the hospital staff. If everything goes well, they will question you as well. If there are no issues, the inspection will be concluded.¡±


    Yu Xiao bit her lip and ventured, ¡°Do you think I will pass the inspection?¡±


    George¡¯s voice became even more jovial. ¡°I highly doubt it, Dean.¡±


    Yu Xiao lost her temper. ¡°Are you enjoying my misfortune?¡± she snapped. ¡°If I fail, I will expose all your secrets to the leaders before I take my last breath, and you will never escape!¡±


    George remained unfazed. ¡°It seems you have some misconceptions about the hospital inspection team. They are not like the Medical Dispute Office; they leave no stone unturned.¡±

 Chapter 61: George, you’ll soon regret this!

    Yu Xiao imagined George strutting around the ward, radiating smugness and self-assurance.


    She knew he was untouchable now; her old trick of invoking the ex-Dean¡¯s name to scare him off was useless. She had noticed his cheerful demeanour when she spoke to him over the phone.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen, however, was oblivious to the power shift. She couldn¡¯t fathom why Smiley¡¯s expression had suddenly soured.


    ¡°Smiley,¡± she ventured, ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you?¡±


    Zhao Lan had a hunch, ¡°Does it have anything to do with that hospital inspection?¡±


    Yu Xiao set down her phone, her face grave. A wave of panic washed over her, unlike anything she had ever felt before. She couldn¡¯t let this happen. She had to find a way out.


    She turned to Zhao Lan and asked, ¡°Misty, how do places like hospitals or big companies usually prepare for inspections from the higher-ups?¡±


    ¡°I know this,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen piped up, raising her hand, ¡°They clean up!¡±


    Zhao Lan nodded and said, ¡°Precious is right.¡±


    ¡°¡­ ¡± Yu Xiao¡¯s emotions were a tangled mess, ¡°And what would you do if you were in charge, but most of your subordinates loathe you?¡±


    Zhao Lan could sense the implication behind Yu Xiao¡¯s question. Yeah, Smiley was a nightmare to deal with. Apart from the new guy, Tie Niu, everyone at St. Elizabeth¡¯s had suffered under Smiley¡¯s tyranny.


    She pondered seriously and said, ¡°Usually, you try to silence them.¡±


    Yu Xiao had thought of that, but silencing the nurses was easy; silencing George, not so much. She faltered, ¡°What if there is someone whose mouth you can¡¯t silence?¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s nab him in the act!¡± Zhao Lan cried out. ¡°Take him down with us.¡±


    Yu Xiao voiced a worry, ¡°But what if we don¡¯t have any solid proof?¡±


    ¡°Then we¡¯ll make some,¡± Zhao Lan said without a second thought.


    Yu Xiao became more confused, ¡°But what if the inspection team is really sharp and can expose all kinds of wrongdoings and fake cases?¡±


    This question hit a nerve with Zhao Lan. She rubbed her fuzzy head in dismay. ¡°Wouldn¡¯t we be screwed if we can¡¯t produce ambiguous evidence then?¡±


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen joined in, ¡°Can¡¯t we pull off something like those ¡®flawless crimes¡¯ they show in movies and TV shows?¡±


    At that moment, Yu Xiao felt a jolt in her mind. An idea flashed before her.


    ¡°Smiley, did you think of something?¡±


    ¡°Hehe,¡± Yu Xiao sneered coldly, ¡°George, oh George, I wanted to coexist peacefully with you. But since you¡¯re playing dirty, don¡¯t expect me to play nice.¡±


    Yu Xiao jumped off the bed, announcing, ¡°Precious, whip up some extra dishes this morning. I need to be well-fed and ready for the fight!¡±


    ¡°Roger that!¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen clenched her fist excitedly. ¡°I¡¯ll go get some food!¡±


    While Zhou Xiao Zhen dashed out to get food, Yu Xiao went to freshen up.


    During the meal, Zhao Lan asked with a touch of worry, ¡°Smiley, do you have a plan?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, I¡¯ve got a plan,¡± Yu Xiao answered confidently.


    ¡°And how foolproof is this plan? Won¡¯t it leave any clues?¡±


    ¡°I dunno, but I can¡¯t see any other bloody option right now,¡± Yu Xiao muttered, banging the table. ¡°Bloody inspection team¡¯s fault!¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen swiftly grabbed the table, steadying the dishes before they could spill or shatter. ¡°Smiley, is there anything we can do?¡±


    Yu Xiao desperately wanted some help, but both Misty and Precious couldn¡¯t get into St. Elizabeth¡¯s. So, she had to go solo.


    ¡°Don¡¯t fret,¡± Yu Xiao faked a smile. ¡°Who am I? I¡¯m the certified badass of the hospital. This won¡¯t be hard for me.¡±


    After the meal, Yu Xiao got ready, putting on a white coat and packing a wig, Daoist talismans, and other gadgets. Before leaving, she said to Zhao Lan and Zhou Xiao Zhen, ¡°If everything goes smoothly, I¡¯ll be back before dinner¡­¡±


    She had more to say, but she cut herself off. Can¡¯t jinx it at a critical moment like this.


    ¡°I¡¯m off!¡±


    **


    She had made a trip to Saint Elizabeth yesterday, and today Yu Xiao came back to the hospital. She wasted no time in heading for her office. On her way, she swung by the nurses¡¯ station and commanded one of them to fetch Tie Niu to her office.


    Tie Niu was nothing like George, who always dawdled. As soon as he heard that the Dean wanted to see him, he hurried.


    A skeleton in a white coat walked into the Dean¡¯s office and saw Yu Xiao behind the desk, her face carved with worry.


    ¡°Respected Dean, sir,¡± Tie Niu saluted her with a bow. ¡°You summoned me?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Yu Xiao said, her hand supporting her forehead. ¡°Tie Niu, please, take a seat.¡±


    ¡°In your presence, I don¡¯t deserve to sit,¡± Tie Niu said, moving a few steps closer but maintaining a respectful gap from the desk. ¡°Standing is fine for me.¡±


    ¡°Ah,¡± Yu Xiao sighed again.


    This time, Tie Niu couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°Why is the esteemed Dean so distressed?¡±


    ¡°Have you heard about the impending inspection activity in the hospital?¡± Yu Xiao asked.


    ¡°I have,¡± Tie Niu said. ¡°It¡¯s supposed to be these days. Are you anxious about that?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Yu Xiao raised her head, showing an expression of suffering hardship that the people wouldn¡¯t comprehend. ¡°You¡¯re new, there are some things you don¡¯t know. When I first became the Dean, I used some rather harsh methods, and apart from you, the staff in this hospital resent me. They¡¯ll likely use this inspection activity to get back at me. I fear I won¡¯t stay as the Dean for long.¡±


    The two black holes in Tie Niu¡¯s skull emitted a faint blue flame. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Dean. I won¡¯t allow them to harm you while I¡¯m here.¡±


    ¡°Well, actually, I¡¯m not the type who enjoys violence. My life motto is to treat others well. I regret using any forcefulness in the past. I truly don¡¯t want to do anything that would upset everyone again. Besides, you may be able to win over the nurses, but you can¡¯t change George¡¯s mind.¡±


    Yu Xiao turned her head, revealing a sorrowful profile. ¡°Tie Niu, just go. I only wanted to see you one more time. After all, we won¡¯t have many opportunities to meet again. Don¡¯t do anything for me, as long as you¡¯re okay, I¡¯ll be at ease.¡±


    The flames in Tie Niu¡¯s eye sockets burned brighter, but he also understood that what Yu Xiao said was true. No matter what, he couldn¡¯t sway George.


    ¡°You should go, concentrate on your work.¡± Yu Xiao smoothed her expression and said softly, ¡°By the way, fetch George for me. I need to talk to him.¡±


    Tie Niu returned to the top floor and stood outside George¡¯s office door.


    The blue flames flickered in his eyes as he raised his hand to knock.


    ¡°Bang! Bang! Bang!¡±


    The knocking was a little too forceful, almost breaking the door down.


    George inside the office squinted his eyes. Tie Niu was an NPC, naturally feeling intimidated by the attending doctor. Since Tie Niu arrived at the hospital, they had never met in person. What gave him the courage to come and pound on the door? S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Without a sound, the door swung open, revealing George at his desk, his piercing eyes fixed on Tie Niu.


    A shiver ran down Tie Niu¡¯s spine as he met the frosty stare, but he quickly composed himself and announced, ¡°The dean has summoned you!¡±


    George arched an eyebrow. Tie Niu spun around and stomped away, hissing under his breath, ¡°Despicable wretch!¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    George was speechless. How dare an NPC insult the attending doctor?


    He felt a surge of frustration and resentment. These days were getting more and more intolerable.


    Tie Niu stormed towards the operating room, his eyes blazing with fury. As he crossed the nurses¡¯ station, he came to an abrupt halt.


    The nurses looked at him with confusion and curiosity.


    He leaned over the counter, his palms slamming down, and glared at the nurses with a sinister blue flame in his eyes. His voice was low and raspy, as if it came from the depths of the underworld, ¡°If you ever badmouth the dean, you¡¯ll regret it.¡±


    The nurses were stunned into silence.


    George found himself standing outside the dean¡¯s office once more, feeling baffled. He seemed to end up at this foreboding door quite often lately.


    With a polite knock, he nudged the door open, finding it slightly ajar. He stepped inside, his eyes gleaming with delight at the sight of Lord Dean¡¯s hard and cold face.


    ¡°Ah, George, you¡¯ve arrived,¡± Yu Xiao said, her fingers interlocked on the desk. ¡°Please, make yourself comfortable.¡±


    George had no respect for Yu Xiao, but he saw no reason to disobey her simple request. He gracefully slid into a chair and crossed his legs casually.


    ¡°What can I do for you?¡±


    Yu Xiao studied him silently for a moment, then rose from her seat and walked towards him, placing one hand on the back of his chair.


    ¡°I can¡¯t stop thinking about what you said earlier,¡± she said, her other hand landing on his shoulder. ¡°You may not know me very well, but I¡¯m the kind of person who fears death more than anything. If someone dares to threaten me, I won¡¯t hesitate to drag them down to hell with me, even if it means my own doom.¡±


    George blinked, his smile widening. ¡°Madam Dean, you¡¯ve repeated that sentiment to me more than once, but it doesn¡¯t change my stance. Of course, I¡¯m also afraid of hell, but the condition is¡­¡±


    He lifted his gaze to meet hers. ¡°You need to have the power to pull someone down there.¡±


    ¡°Hmph,¡± Yu Xiao chuckled, lifting her hand to pinch his chin gently.


    George felt a surge of discomfort at her touch, but he savoured the sight of her fear-crazed expression. Gu Shu and Lolita were too hasty; revenge required patience.


    ¡°Do you know? You¡¯ll soon regret your words,¡± Yu Xiao said, releasing George and nodding towards the desk where a document lay, ¡°Have a look at that.¡±


    George was curious, wondering what trick Yu Xiao had left.


    He got up and walked over, picking up the document and opening it, only to see two words ¨C ¡°Total idiot.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    The sound of the door closing.


    George turned around, the office door was locked, and Yu Xiao was nowhere to be seen inside the office. His face hardened, a sense of dread creeping into his mind.


    The door to the Dean¡¯s office was locked closed unless the Dean permitted, preventing entry from both sides.


    Yu Xiao stood by the door, a faint smirk curling her lips. She took out a wig, fitting it snugly over her head. Her eyes shut, she summoned the image of another person, morphing her features into George¡¯s likeness.


    She sauntered over to the mirror, inspecting her reflection.


    A white coat draped over her lithe and graceful male frame, her hair tamed into a tidy style. Her deep eyes twinkled with misDirector behind a pair of golden-rimmed glasses, resting on her straight nose. Her pale lips curled slightly, as if mocking someone.


    She spun around and marched towards the top floor of Saint Elizabeth.


    She climbed the stairs, with each step bringing her closer to her goal. She arrived at the nurse¡¯s station, causing the nurse on duty to gasp in surprise.


    ¡°Follow me to my office,¡± Yu Xiao tossed a casual command over her shoulder as she headed towards George¡¯s office.


    She sank into a chair, feeling a surge of satisfaction.


    A hesitant knock came from the door.


    ¡°Enter.¡±


    The door creaked open, revealing the nurse standing with her head bowed in fear.


    ¡°Please, take a seat,¡± Yu Xiao offered.


    The nurse hesitated to sit, keeping her head down, wondering what the attending doctor wanted from her.


    ¡°Do you know why you¡¯re here?¡±


    The nurse shook her head vigorously.


    Yu Xiao lowered her gaze slightly, her voice becoming cold and stern. ¡°The hospital inspection is imminent. I¡¯ve risked my life to assist Dean Yu in maintaining her position, and I won¡¯t allow anyone who has ill will towards her get away with it.¡±

 Chapter 62: News about the First Hospital

    The nurse sucked in a breath, even though she had no need for air, bloody hell, Dr. George had just confessed!!


    They had always harboured suspicions that Dr. George and the new honcho were having an affair, after witnessing their scandalous encounters and hearing the boss¡¯s suggestive remarks. But Dr. George had always played it cool, acting as if he loathed the boss and everything they had witnessed was a simple misunderstanding.


    But he had just admitted it!!!


    He admitted he had risked his life for the Dean!!!


    Bloody hell¡­ how on earth had she managed to ship the attending doctor and the patient, and it turned out to be true, bloody hell¡­


    Yu Xiao finished her speech and glared at the nurse, ¡°Do you understand what I¡¯m saying?¡±


    ¡°Yes yes yes!¡± The nurse bobbed her head so fast it seemed like it would fall off.


    ¡°Good, now sod off.¡± Yu Xiao reclined in her chair, her arms folded across her chest, ¡°And bring me the next nurse.¡±


    The nurse hesitated for a moment, ¡°Who?¡±


    ¡°Whoever you fancy,¡± Yu Xiao said.


    The nurse scampered off eagerly, back to the nurses¡¯ station. The other nurses swarmed around her, dying to know why Dr. George had called her.


    But she just stood there like a bloody statue, her eyes, once dull and lifeless, now burning with intense emotion. The other nurses were pulling their hair out, loathing her for being as expressive as a bloody log.


    ¡°Hey,¡± the nurse gestured to another nurse, ¡°Dr. George wants to see you.¡±


    The nurse gestured at: ¡°???¡±


    Yu Xiao waited for a moment and picked another nurse.


    She continued her charade, convincing everyone at St. Elizabeth¡¯s that George was madly in love with her.


    She kept this up until the afternoon, and by then, the whole hospital was buzzing with rumours about the Dean and the attending doctor.


    Yu Xiao felt pleased with her work and made her way back to the office, her body exhausted.


    As soon as the door opened, George looked up.


    He couldn¡¯t believe his eyes¡­


    Because he was staring at himself!


    Yu Xiao shut the door, wearing George¡¯s signature smirk as she gazed at him. ¡°Good afternoon, George.¡±


    George was speechless. Yu Xiao walked past him slowly, then turned around to face him.


    They were identical in every way, from their clothes to their hair. If not for their different expressions, they could have been twins.


    Yu Xiao spread her arms slightly and twirled around. ¡°How do I look?¡±


    George clenched his teeth and asked, ¡°What have you done?¡±


    ¡°Guess,¡± Yu Xiao lifted an eyebrow, ¡°Let your imagination run wild.¡±


    A soft laugh escaped her lips as she eased into the dean¡¯s chair, making herself comfortable. She tilted her head and smiled wickedly, ¡°You once doubted my ability to drag you to the depths of hell. Do you still harbour such foolish thoughts?¡±


    George: ¡°¡­¡±


    Yu Xiao: ¡°Come on, take another guess. How do you suppose my staff views you now?¡±


    George: ¡°¡­¡±


    Yu Xiao felt a surge of delight at George¡¯s pained silence. That¡¯s what you get for mocking and defying me. You think I can¡¯t make your life a living nightmare? Watch me do it right here and now!


    ¡°George,¡± Yu Xiao said, sounding almost sincere, ¡°can¡¯t we just get along? Why do you insist on being my enemy? I think I¡¯ve been more than generous to you.¡±


    George couldn¡¯t stand her smug face and her endless chatter. He wished he had never taken the job as the attending doctor at St. Elizabeth¡¯s. He wished he had never crossed paths with this woman, this monster, who had trapped him in this hellhole.


    ¡°I can see the regret in your eyes,¡± Yu Xiao said, savouring his misery, ¡°I¡¯ll give you one final opportunity to redeem yourself.¡±


    George tried to speak, but no words came out.


    Yu Xiao put a finger to her lips, ¡°Shh, don¡¯t be hasty.¡±


    She faded from the office, leaving behind a faint echo of her voice. ¡°I¡¯ll give you some time to ponder your fate,¡± she said.


    George stared at the spot where Yu Xiao had vanished, his face a mask of calm, but his lips a thin line of anger. He, George, the respected doctor of St. Elizabeth¡¯s, was actually a prisoner?


    **


    Zhou Xiao Zhen and Zhao Lan sat across from each other in the ward of the Sixth Hospital, surrounded by a feast of mouthwatering dishes, but neither of them had picked up their chopsticks.


    ¡°Ugh,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen groaned, ¡°I hope Smiley is okay. She didn¡¯t go and pick a fight with George, did she?¡±


    ¡°Relax,¡± Zhao Lan said, ¡°Smiley knows better than to act rashly.¡±


    She tried to sound calm, but inside she was a bundle of nerves. George was the attending doctor, a cold and ruthless man who had no compassion or empathy. He had the power to harm Smiley, and he was only held back by the hospital rules. Unless Smiley provoked him first, then he would have no qualms about hurting her.


    Smiley was brave, but she was no match for George. He had even killed the former hospital Dean, who was bound to his domain.


    Where was Smiley now? Was she in trouble? Had she come back yet? Had George devoured her?


    Zhao Lan was lost in her worries when she saw a figure in a white coat appear in her room.


    ¡°Ahhh!!!!¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen shrieked, ¡°George is here in our ward!!!!¡±


    Zhao Lan jumped up, shielding Zhou Xiao Zhen, ¡°George, what do you want? Where¡¯s Smiley? Did you¡­ did you eat her?¡±


    ¡°Misty, Precious,¡± George begged, ¡°Calm down, how could the attending doctor possibly show up in Ward 6?¡±


    ¡°¡­Smiley?¡± Zhao Lan gasped.


    ¡°It¡¯s me.¡± Yu Xiao uncovered her true face, tossing aside her wig. ¡°I forgot to change back when I came back.¡±


    ¡°Smiley!¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen flung herself at Yu Xiao, hugging her neck, legs in the air, crying. ¡°Waaah~¡­ Smiley, I was so scared for you, waaah~¡­¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m back.¡± Yu Xiao smiled, staggering a bit under Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s weight, before she scanned the table full of food, licking her lips. ¡°Perfect timing, I¡¯m starving. Were you guys waiting for me to eat?¡±


    Zhao Lan handed her chopsticks, asking, ¡°How did it go? Why did you turn into George?¡±


    Yu Xiao grabbed a chicken wing for herself, biting off the crunchy skin. ¡°It¡¯s a long story.¡± She said, chewing. ¡°I didn¡¯t have a good plan at first, but Precious gave me an idea of how to pull off the perfect crime. And the perfect crime, of course, is making someone else do it¡­Mnjum!¡±


    She quickly summarised her actions at Saint Elizabeth¡¯s, then added, ¡°I can¡¯t log into the instances during this time, so I locked George in the office. To maintain the deception, I have to stay at Saint Elizabeth¡¯s impersonating George until the inspection team shows up.¡±


    ¡°Wow.¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen was impressed. ¡°Smiley, your moves are truly¡­ epic.¡±


    Zhao Lan was also shocked by Yu Xiao¡¯s actions, unable to find words to express her feelings upon hearing about this incredible plan. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Smiley, you¡­ George¡­¡± Zhao Lan sighed softly. ¡°Anyway, I hope you can get through this safely.¡±


    ¡°Hopefully,¡± Yu Xiao said, giving it her best shot. She had already locked up the attending doctor, what else could she do?


    She had spent days on end, running the damn instances until her fingers were numb and her eyes were sore. Getting a break from that madness was a relief, but also a drain.


    She nabbed a quick bite, then headed for the shower, ready to hit the sack.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen, on the other hand, was giddy with anticipation. She had witnessed Yu Xiao¡¯s brilliant move, and it had filled her with awe. She wanted to scream it to the world, to brag about how amazing her partner Yu was.


    But she had to hold her tongue, not until they got out of the Sixth Hospital. Zhou Xiao Zhen felt like she was going to explode, especially when some jerk started trolling her on the forum. She didn¡¯t back down, though. She rolled up her sleeves, clenched her fists, and engaged in a fierce debate.


    Yu Xiao had intended to draw some more talismans that night. After her shower, she thought she would check the forum for a while before calling it a night. But as soon as her head hit the pillow, she was out cold.


    Her sleep was far from restful, though. It was a whirlwind of nightmares.


    One moment, she was running from Cthulhu, the next, she was hiding in every corner. All the doctors she had fooled were haunting her in her dreams, swearing to take revenge on her. Then she morphed into a Trojan horse, and had to endure a thousand stabs in ass to become human again¡­


    ¡°Ding dong~!¡±


    Yu Xiao snapped open her eyes. She had slept for hours, but she felt anything but refreshed.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen was awake too, stretching in bed and rubbing her eyes. ¡°Good morning~¡±


    Yu Xiao let out a half-hearted chuckle, curling up on her side in bed. The position was cozy, but she felt a twinge of pain in her back, probably from sleeping wrong last night.


    Zhao Lan chuckled too, ¡°I can¡¯t remember the last time I slept in. If it wasn¡¯t for the morning news, I would stay in bed all day.¡±


    ¡°Time to start this wonderful day. Here¡¯s the hospital¡¯s morning news~.¡±


    ¡°The hospital inspection event will start tomorrow. All hospitals are expected to be ready¡­¡±


    ¡°Yesterday, a large number of patients acted inappropriately, bothering medical staff during treatment, creating a serious problem. Our hospital¡¯s management asks everyone to control themselves and act like civilised patients¡­¡±


    Yu Xiao: ¡°¡­¡±


    She had spent the whole day at St. Elizabeth¡¯s yesterday, and she had almost forgotten about anyone trying to impersonate her.. It seemed they had failed¡­


    ¡°In a few days Lolita¡¯s Amusement Park after renovation will open its gates again, inviting the curious and the thrill-seeking to explore its wonders¡­¡±


    ¡°Recently, an attending doctor has demanded the right to choose their own patients. This request has been denied by the hospital administration. As doctors, we should heal without bias; every patient in the eyes of a doctor is the same¡­¡±


    ¡°Yesterday, a patient nicknamed ¡®Lord Fortunewood¡¯ (ɳ¸£ÁÖ´óÈË) from First Hospital snapped and turned violent during treatment, badly hurting the attending doctor. The case has now been transferred to the hospital¡¯s medical dispute office. Once more, we plead with everyone to stop attacking medical staff for no reason¡­¡±


    ¡°Wow!¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen gasped, her eyes wide with shock. ¡°To thrash the attending doctor like that, that¡¯s freaking awesome!¡±


    Zhao Lan shook her head, her voice tinged with disbelief. ¡°I¡¯ve never heard anything about First Hospital before. It seems like a low-key place, but the patients there are something else. Who knows how long they¡¯ve been locked up there. To have the guts and the strength to take down the attending doctor, that¡¯s¡­¡±


    Zhao Lan trailed off, her mind buzzing with ideas, while Yu Xiao remembered what Luo Jin had said about the patients at that hospital.


    That hospital, hmm, it must be a hell of a place. Qiao Qiao from St. Elizabeth¡¯s had said she had been there for forty years already. So, what about that hospital? Had it been around for that long too?

 Chapter 63: All those years I worked at St Elizabeth’s

    The hospital concealed secrets within its walls, secrets that Yu Xiao had barely scratched the surface of.


    As she lay in bed, she mapped out her day in her mind: first, she would sketch some talismans with pen and paper, then she would disguise herself as George and slip into Saint Elizabeth¡¯s.


    Drawing the symbols was no easy task; it required precision and concentration. Despite her increased spiritual luck, she failed the first three attempts. However, on the fourth try, something clicked, and she felt a surge of power. With a smile, she continued to create one talisman after another.


    For now, Yu Xiao had no intention of selling these symbols at the talisman shop. She wanted to test them out herself, in case she encountered any danger. If they proved effective, she would think about selling them at the shop.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen was sitting next to her, lending a hand by grinding cinnabar with alcohol.


    As Yu Xiao set down her pen, Zhou Xiao Zhen reached for one of the papers and inquired, ¡°What does this thing do?¡±


    Yu Xiao shrugged. She didn¡¯t really know. She only knew that they were supposed to protect the wearer from harm, in some mysterious way. She gave two symbols to Zhou Xiao Zhen. ¡°Keep one for yourself, and give one to Misty. They might save your lives someday.¡±


    ¡°Okay.¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen accepted the symbols, wondering how to wear them. Could they work through clothes?


    Yu Xiao craned her neck, checking the time. It was getting late. She cleaned up and said, ¡°I have to go to Saint Elizabeth¡¯s now. I don¡¯t know when I¡¯ll be back, so don¡¯t worry about waiting for dinner with me.¡±


    With a warning in her voice, Zhao Lan said, ¡°Alright, take care of everything.¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen watched Yu Xiao¡¯s frantic movements with sympathy. ¡°Poor Smiley,¡± she remarked, ¡°it¡¯s all that George¡¯s fault. He¡¯s the worst of all the attending doctors!¡±


    Zhao Lan bit her tongue to stop herself from saying what she really thought. George was also the most unfortunate one, in her opinion, but would Smiley have any compassion for him?


    **


    In the hospital corridor, five men in faded gowns looked around with curiosity and apprehension. One of them spotted a portrait on the wall, partially hidden by a curtain. A line of text at the bottom caught his eye¡ªSt. Elizabeth¡¯s Psychiatric Hospital.


    He gasped. ¡°Ah!¡±


    The others flinched at his sudden outburst. A man from his ward asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±


    ¡°Look,¡± he said, pointing at the line of text.


    His friend followed his gaze and his eyes widened too. ¡°It¡¯s this instance!¡± he exclaimed.


    ¡°What instance?¡± The other three, who came from different hospitals, asked in confusion.


    ¡°Don¡¯t you know?¡± The first man said, ¡°We¡¯re from the Fourth Hospital, and this instance is famous on our forum.¡±


    ¡°Really?¡± The others said eagerly. ¡°Are there any guides?¡±


    ¡°There are guides, but they¡¯re not for the faint-hearted¡­ Anyway, we know all the steps involved in this instance.¡± The second man said, his voice tinged with excitement and fear. ¡°The attending doctor for this instance is named George, and he¡¯s a real nightmare. He¡¯ll take us for a diagnostic test soon, where we have to explain why we¡¯re here. Don¡¯t make up any random reasons, this is a horror hospital. The only right answer is how we died. We have to invent a way we kicked the bucket¡­¡±


    ¡°Shh.¡± A voice from nearby silenced him. ¡°Someone¡¯s coming.¡±


    The sound of leather shoes clacking on the floor announced the arrival of a handsome man in a white coat and gold-rimmed glasses. He strode towards the five newcomers with a smile that lacked any warmth.


    ¡°Welcome to St. Elizabeth,¡± he said, ¡°I¡¯m your attending physician, George.¡±


    The three from the Fifth Ward recognised him instantly and exchanged nervous glances.


    George gestured for them to follow him. ¡°Come with me, I¡¯ll take you for your medical tests.¡±


    The five obeyed him silently and entered a hall. There were thirteen chairs arranged in a circle, with eight patients already sitting on them.


    The two from the Fourth Ward scanned the room and spotted a young girl among the seated patients. She had to be Qiao Qiao, the fixed NPC they had read about on the forum. Why else would she always be here?


    ¡°Please, take a seat,¡± George said politely. ¡°Ladies and gentlemen, we have five new members joining us today. Let¡¯s give them a warm welcome.¡±


    No one moved or spoke, and George didn¡¯t seem to mind. ¡°Today¡¯s tests are about to start. You have all been undergoing treatment for some time, and to evaluate the progress you have made, I have selected a trustworthy testing method for you. The outcome of this test will decide your future treatment options and bed assignments, so please pay attention.¡±


    He looked around the circle, his eyes lingering on the faces of the newcomers. The two from the Fourth Ward felt his stare and hoped he wouldn¡¯t choose them. They were glad they had read the walkthrough, otherwise they would have no idea how they had met their end.


    Yu Xiao felt a surge of amusement at the sight of the patients¡¯ nervous faces. She chided herself for her unprofessional thoughts, ¡°Yu Xiao, oh Yu Xiao, how can you be so cruel? Aren¡¯t you just as bad as George?¡±


    She quickly composed herself and said, ¡°Today¡¯s test is about explaining why you¡¯re here. Let¡¯s begin with Qiao Qiao. Qiao Qiao, you go first.¡±


    Qiao Qiao, whose favourite pastime was watching newcomers expose themselves, was caught off guard by the sudden attention. She felt question marks popping up in her head.


    The five patients looked at each other in confusion.


    Especially the two from the fourth ward, who exchanged wary glances.


    ¡°Why is this different from what the post said?¡±


    ¡°I have no idea.¡±


    The diagnosis proceeded without any problems, and soon George left, leaving behind five baffled patients. The three from the fifth ward asked, ¡°Why didn¡¯t it go as he said?¡±


    ¡°Maybe because¡­ there¡¯s a new boss in the hospital?¡± the two speculated, ¡°The head of Saint Elizabeth is Sister Dragon, right? Did she change the rules?¡±


    ¡°Who¡¯s Sister Dragon?¡± The patients from the fifth ward were more perplexed than ever. ¡°The head of this hospital has the surname Dragon and the first name Sister?¡±


    ¡°What?¡± A person from the fourth ward said, ¡°Don¡¯t you know Dragon¡¯s Descendant? The one who¡¯s always in the news.¡±


    ¡°Of course, I know her. She¡¯s the Dean?¡± The fifth ward patients were stunned. ¡°How did a patient become the Dean of a hospital?¡±


    The Dragon¡¯s Descendant, they called her. But the patients of the Fourth Hospital harboured doubts about whether Yu Xiao really was the director. Even if she had once wielded that authority, surely the hospital would have stripped her of it by now? Sear?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Dunno,¡± a voice from the Fourth Hospital shrugged. ¡°Why don¡¯t we find out when the time comes?¡±


    **


    Meanwhile, Yu Xiao had retreated to her own office, savouring a banana as she observed George.


    A night of imprisonment had done nothing to soften George; on the contrary, he was more furious than ever. He fixed Yu Xiao with a murderous stare, and if his eyes had the power to kill, Yu Xiao would have perished in a most creative manner.


    ¡°Stop looking at me like that,¡± Yu Xiao chided. ¡°Try to see things from my perspective, I¡¯m just trying to protect myself.¡±


    George¡¯s glare did not waver.


    Yu Xiao went on, ¡°The whole hospital heard your confession. You admitted to killing the former Dean with me. How do you plan to clear your name?¡±


    There was a way, actually. George could phone the medical dispute office when Yu Xiao was out of sight and beg them to rescue him from her clutches. But then, he would expose his shameful predicament to the hospital¡¯s ghosts. He, a doctor, held captive by a patient. He, a ghost, needing the dispute office¡¯s assistance.


    He would be the butt of every joke, the first ghost doctor in history to be held hostage.


    No, he would never let that happen!


    ¡°George, you have a frightening look in your eyes,¡± Yu Xiao said, tossing the banana peel aside. ¡°Are you scheming something?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll make you pay, but not right now,¡± George rose to his feet.¡±Release me, and I¡¯ll help you deal with the inspection team.¡±


    ¡°Brilliant! You¡¯ve finally seen the reason!¡± Yu Xiao cried, clapping him on the back. ¡°Allow me to show you out.¡±


    Only God knew how much George was restraining himself. His loathing for Yu Xiao had reached a critical point, enough to trigger a qualitative change. He was no longer satisfied with just killing her; he was resolved to make her endure unspeakable agony before she died.


    Yu Xiao opened the door and bid farewell to George.


    George was about to walk away when he suddenly spun around and pressed his lips to Yu Xiao¡¯s ear. ¡°You know what? It¡¯s not just me who wants you dead. The vengeance against you has already started.¡±


    With that, he turned and left. Despite his animosity for Yu Xiao, he didn¡¯t want her to die at the hands of another, so he felt compelled to warn her. Besides, he was in such a miserable situation himself that he hoped someone else would suffer more.


    Yu Xiao watched George leave. Vengeance against her had already started?


    She hadn¡¯t crossed many people so far, just those three attending doctors. Could it be Gu Shu? Gu Shu had fled the Gu family village; was this part of his revenge scheme?


    Meanwhile, five people concealed in a hospital room were spying through the door gap, witnessing the scene.


    They had just seen the door of the Dean¡¯s office swing open, and George emerged with another man. They couldn¡¯t catch what they were saying, but it seemed like they were hesitant to part. The attending doctor George had already left when he suddenly whirled back and neared the man¡¯s face.


    Due to the angle, they couldn¡¯t make out the details clearly. The scene looked like they were either murmuring something tenderly or exchanging a kiss.


    But there was no one around, so why would they need to murmur like that?


    Did George really kiss that man?


    Wow, their ghostly love life is quite exciting~


    Too bad they didn¡¯t see what the man looked like. Coming out of the Dean¡¯s office, could he be the Dean himself?


    The pair from the Fourth Hospital felt a pang of disappointment; their Dragon Sister had indeed been ousted from the director¡¯s seat.


    The office door slammed shut. Those from the Fifth Hospital commented, ¡°The director is a chap, not some dragon¡¯s descendant.¡±


    ¡°Think about it, mate. How could a human be appointed director of a hospital? What¡¯s our next move?¡±


    Someone from the Fourth Hospital pulled out a card from their bag. ¡°This is a prop card I bought from the mall. It¡¯ll give me a pair of roller skates. Later on, we¡¯ll¡­¡±


    After devising a plan, the five of them reached the door of the director¡¯s office with anticipation and knocked.


    But they waited and waited, yet the door didn¡¯t budge. Instead, they saw a piece of paper being slid through the gap.


    ¡°Pick it up and have a look.¡±


    The five heads crowded together to read the content on the paper. It was a multiple-choice question.


    ¡¾ Life is precious. To save your own precious lives, what are you willing to sacrifice?


    A. Eat a kilo of iron bull dung.


    B. Have a night of debauchery with George.


    C. Let Qi Qi pick your body part for her to munch on.


    D. Spend points. ¡¿


    The five of them were flabbergasted. What in the world was going on?


    ¡°Why is it not like what the guide said?¡±


    ¡°Could it be because they have a new Dean?¡± they conjectured. ¡°Different Dean, different rules, right?¡±


    ¡°So, what are you all choosing?¡±


    ¡°Well¡­ I¡¯m going for D!¡±


    ¡°Then D it is for me too¡­¡±


    **


    Despite staying up all night, Yu Xia felt quite pleased, because she scored a lot of loot.

 Chapter 64: May I inquire if there’s anything unsatisfactory during your hospitalisation, Miss?

    With a grin that stretched from ear to ear, Yu Xiao returned to the ward. Zhao Lan and Zhou Xiao Zhen lay in their beds, their chests rising and falling in a steady rhythm.


    Yu Xiao suppressed a giggle. Everyone¡¯s asleep, so no one to share her joy with for now ~Hehehe~!


    Quietly, she walked into the bathroom, holding her clothes. Looking at herself in the mirror, a surge of satisfaction washed over her. Even more beautiful than before!


    Turning on the shower, she allowed the warm water to wash over her, softly humming a tune. She longed to sing out loud, but didn¡¯t want to disturb anyone. Lathering herself with fragrant soap and shampoo, she made sure she smelled fresh and pleasant. She dried herself with a fluffy towel and put on her clothes, feeling ready for anything.


    She stepped out of the bathroom, just as she heard a scratching sound at the door.


    It was the ghost, still roaming the corridors, still not giving up on its quest. Yu Xiao felt a pang of sympathy for the poor creature, and whispered through the door, ¡°Stop scratching. When the inspection is over, I¡¯ll get Saint Elizabeth to expand.¡±


    The scratching ceased immediately, followed by a soft rustling sound, and then something slid under the door.


    Yu Xiao bent down and picked it up. It was a card.


    She flipped it over and read the words on the card ¨C ¡°One-time Charm Card.¡±


    Well, would you look at that?


    Yu Xiao felt a warm glow in her chest, as if she had been rewarded for her kindness. Being helpful was the right thing to do!


    ¡°Thank you,¡± Yu Xiao said sincerely. ¡°Go back and wait for news. It shouldn¡¯t take long.¡±


    The sound outside faded away, and Yu Xiao lay on her bed, holding the card in her hand. She wondered what it could do. This kind of card must be like asking for a pair of roller skates ¨C both were disposable tools. Though the effect of the card only lasted for a while, it could have unexpected effects at critical moments.


    Yu Xiao was grinning from ear to ear. Today was a glorious day, wasn¡¯t it?


    ¡°Smiley¡­ Smiley?¡±


    Yu Xiao cracked her eyes open, finding Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s pale and round face inches from her own. ¡°Come on, get up. It¡¯s inspection day today. Misty said we should be up bright and early.¡±


    ¡°Mmm¡­¡± Yu Xiao agreed vaguely. She had slept poorly last night; she had stayed out too late and tossed and turned in bed.


    She rose and joined the others by the window, where they had arranged some chairs and a kettle of tea. They waited for the curtains to part.


    Yu Xiao looked around the gloomy hospital room and felt a pang of curiosity. ¡°What do you think we¡¯d see if we opened the curtains before eight?¡±


    ¡°The mountains at night,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen said.


    She realised her two sisters had gone quiet. Puzzled, she asked, ¡°Did I say something wrong?¡±


    ¡°Well¡­¡± Zhao Lan said, ¡°Precious has a point.¡±


    ¡°But we all know the view outside is fake. I mean, no bird flies the same way every day, right? So I have a hunch the night scene might be different from the day one,¡± Yu Xiao wondered.


    ¡°Smiley has a point,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen said, itching to pull the curtains. ¡°Should we have a look?¡±


    ¡°Maybe not,¡± Zhao Lan said nervously, ¡°What if there¡¯s something out there we don¡¯t want to see?¡±


    ¡°No way.¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen said, ¡°The hospital rules don¡¯t say anything about not opening the curtains before eight.¡±


    ¡°Exactly,¡± Yu Xiao rose and strode to the window, saying, ¡°I doubt we¡¯re the only ones intrigued by what¡¯s outside.¡±


    As she spoke, she seized the curtain with one hand and said, ¡°You lot, cower in the corner.¡±


    ¡°Cower for what?¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen said, ¡°Let¡¯s do it together.¡±


    With that, she pulled the curtain with force, and it flew open. Yu Xiao was awed by Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s courage and thought, ¡®Truly, Precious is the boldest among us three.¡¯


    ¡°There¡¯s nothing out there,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen said baffled.


    Yu Xiao swiftly looked out, only to see a thick, impenetrable darkness outside the window, a darkness that not even light could pierce.


    ¡®Is that it?¡¯ Yu Xiao felt somewhat let down, thinking, ¡®Is this all?¡¯


    ¡°Look, what¡¯s that?¡± Zhao Lan pointed above the window.


    Yu Xiao looked up and saw a sticky, blood-like liquid dripping down from the top of the window. It trickled down slowly, splitting into three streams all the way to the bottom.


    Yu Xiao scowled, about to close the curtain. Suddenly, something fell from above, making a ¡°thud¡± as it landed on the outside window sill, even bouncing a bit.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen recoiled in horror, taking two steps backward.


    It was then that they beheld the horror¡ªa black, spherical object that spun in the air. As it rotated to face them, they recognised it for what it was: the severed head of a woman, oozing blood from every orifice.


    Her eyes, wide and bloody, fixed them with a malevolent stare, and her crimson lips parted.


    ¡°¡ª One.¡±


    ¡°¡ª Two.¡±


    ¡°¡ª Three.¡±


    ¡°¡ª Hehehe¡­ don¡¯t forget, yeah?¡± The head cackled shrilly and vanished.


    Simultaneously, the 8 a.m. alarm sounded on cue.


    ¡°Ding dong!¡±


    A gentle melody accompanied the soft light that pierced the dark window. When the light dimmed, the tranquil vista of nature revealed itself¡ªmajestic mountains, rippling streams, birdsong, and floral scents.


    Zhao Lan stirred, ¡°Did she just count us?¡±


    ¡°Seems so,¡± Yu Xiao agreed.


    ¡°What did she mean by don¡¯t forget?¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen wondered. ¡°Is she planning to return for us?¡±


    Yu Xiao scowled, grabbing talismans and affixing two letters on the window: an S and a B.


    (¡°S¡± (pronounced ¡°s¨©¡±) stands for ¡°s¨¨n¡± (ɵ) which means ¡°silly¡± or ¡°stupid.¡±


    ¡°B¡± (pronounced ¡°b¨¬¡±) stands for ¡°b¨©¡± (±Æ) which is a vulgar slang term often used to insult or denote contempt, roughly equivalent to ¡°fk¡± or ¡°fker¡± in English slang.)


    ¡°That should keep her out,¡± Yu Xiao declared.


    ¡°Hmm,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen dismissed it, and went on, ¡°The inspection work begins today. I¡¯m curious about what kind of inspection it will be.¡±


    ¡°Luo Jin said it wouldn¡¯t bother the regular patients much,¡± Zhao Lan remarked. ¡°The main focus is on Saint Elizabeth¡¯s. Speaking of which, Smiley, have you sorted out everything at Saint Elizabeth¡¯s?¡±


    ¡°Done and dusted, George is too,¡± Yu Xiao said, taking a sip of her tea. ¡°But he let slip that someone has a grudge against me. I haven¡¯t the foggiest who, but I suspect it¡¯s Gu Shu. He¡¯s the only one I¡¯ve really rubbed the wrong way¡­ and the only one who¡¯s gone AWOL.¡±


    ¡°Gu Shu¡¯s a right plonker,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen said, shaking her head. ¡°Can¡¯t we all just bury the hatchet? Hasn¡¯t he realised our Smiley has upgraded? Smiley can even lock up the attending doctors now, what can he do to frighten us?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t be complacent about Gu Shu,¡± Zhao Lan warned her sisters. ¡°He¡¯s still the attending doctor. If he shows up with a plan, we¡¯re in trouble.¡±


    ¡°I get it,¡± Yu Xiao said, nodding. ¡°I¡¯m not taking him lightly.¡±


    ¡°And now, let the splendid day begin~ Let¡¯s tune in to the hospital¡¯s morning news¡­¡±


    ¡°Today, the hospital inspection officially gets underway. The Director of Health Bureau, along with other leaders, paid a visit to the Sixth Hospital to scrutinise its operations, escorted by the hospital director¡­¡±


    ¡°Bloody hell!¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen cried. ¡°Why¡¯s the Sixth Hospital the first on their inspection agenda?¡±


    The news bulletin droned on.


    ¡°The director and his companions reached the Sixth Hospital¡¯s inpatient department and scrutinised its infrastructure. The director stressed that the Sixth Hospital was a new establishment, and the hospital president and medical staff ought to learn humbly and manage it effectively¡­¡±


    ¡°The hospital president and his crew then moved on to the Sixth Hospital¡¯s cafeteria, inspecting its hygiene standards. The director pointed out that the cafeteria was a vital part of the hospital, and cafeteria staff should endure hardship and fatigue¡­¡±


    ¡°Next, the director and his group ascended to the second floor of the inpatient department to check the occupancy of the wards. He observed that the occupancy rate of the Sixth Hospital¡¯s wards was still low, which was the fault of the hospital president. He resolved on the spot that communication with patients about their impressions of staying at the hospital should occur¡­¡±


    Zhao Lan knitted her brows. ¡°Do they have to chat with patients too?¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re lucky we¡¯re on a high floor,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen commented. ¡°They likely won¡¯t trouble us for that.¡±


    ¡°Relax,¡± Yu Xiao soothed. ¡°Our luck isn¡¯t that rotten. I¡¯ve used several luck cards; bad things steer clear of me.¡±


    ¡°Right you are!¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen agreed. ¡°Smiley¡¯s got it!¡±


    ¡°After a short deliberation, the Director opted to converse with the patient who topped the leaderboard of the sixth hospital¡­¡± S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Yu Xiao: ¡°¡­¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen: ¡°Eek!¡±


    Zhao Lan: ¡°Crikey¡­¡±


    ¡°Knock knock knock!¡±


    A knock sounded from outside the door.


    ¡°The Director and his followers have reached the ward of the patient known as ¡®Deaf Descendant¡¯, who is the leader of the leaderboard, and they are requesting the patient to communicate.¡±


    ¡°Hello.¡± A very standard Mandarin voice came from outside the door, ¡°Is this the ward of Deaf Heir? I am the director of the Health Bureau and I would like to have a word with you. Could you step out for a bit?¡±


    Yu Xiao felt her scalp prickle.


    Zhao Lan and Zhou Xiao Zhen were petrified.


    Yu Xiao¡¯s rational mind urged her not to botch this up, but her body wouldn¡¯t comply; she couldn¡¯t even get up.


    ¡°Hello? Could you step out for a bit?¡±


    ¡°I¡­¡± Yu Xiao nibbled her lip, ¡°Er, I¡¯m not very¡­ available right now. Can¡¯t we talk things over without opening the door?¡±


    There was a pause outside, then the director said, ¡°Of course, may I inquire if there¡¯s anything unsatisfactory during your hospitalisation, Miss?¡±


    ¡°Unsatisfactory¡­¡± Yu Xiao said, ¡°Lots of places feelin¡¯ off.¡±


    The Director: ¡°Such as?¡±


    She decided to start with the obvious. ¡°Like¡­ being confined to the ward all day, unable to move around, feels pretty miserable,¡± Yu Xiao said, warming up, ¡°And also, the courier service from the Sixth Hospital is abysmal. Always shouting, even snarling at me. I¡¯m a bloody brain cancer patient, for heaven¡¯s sake, fragile as hell mentally. Every time I have to deal with the courier, it just feels wrong.¡±


    ¡°Alright, anything else?¡±


    ¡°Oh, there¡¯s more, but it¡¯s all stuff from the treatment instances, not sure if I should blab?¡± Yu Xiao asked.


    ¡°Go on, say it.¡±


    ¡°So, when I was getting treated in Gu Village before, the attending doctor there seemed to have some odd notions about me. Sigh, maybe I¡¯m just paranoid. But the villagers all sensed that something was off, ah¡­ never mind, ignore what I said,¡± Yu Xiao¡¯s tone brightened, ¡°Overall, I¡¯ve been feeling pretty chipper during my time at the Sixth Hospital, thanks to the leaders, thanks to the medical staff for giving me a chance at life, I sincerely thank everyone¡­¡±


    ¡°Alright, thank you for your useful feedback,¡± the Director said, ¡°We won¡¯t disturb your rest any longer.¡±


    After that, the noise outside faded away, and Yu Xiao let out a huge sigh of relief. Zhou Xiao Zhen gave her a thumbs up.


    The news bulletin resumed.


    ¡°After successfully and efficiently communicating with the ¡®Deaf Descendant¡¯ patient, the Director felt rather heavy-hearted. A hospital was a place to treat and save lives, yet such malignant incidents like rude courier attitudes and the attending doctor developing taboo feelings towards patients¡­ unbelievable¡­¡±


    Yu Xiao: ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°Blimey,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen was shocked, ¡°The Director didn¡¯t even look into it?¡±


    ¡°¡­After conducting inquiries and interviews, with testimonies from villagers in Gu Village. Dr. Gu, the attending doctor, during the treatment period, despite the patient being a ¡®Deaf Descendant¡¯ already married, attempted to force a relationship with said patient. Considering it¡¯s their first offence and no severe consequences resulted, the leadership decided to penalise them with a three-year salary cut¡­¡±

 Chapter 65: Gossip Hub

    Yu Xiao swore loudly, her fist throbbing with pain from clenching it too hard. She had intended to use this chance to ruin Gu Shu once and for all, to make sure he would never cross her again. But fate had other plans. A fine? That was all? How would that deter him from seeking revenge?


    The hospital¡¯s speakers blared the morning news, reaching every corner and crevice. George, hiding in his office like a vengeful spectre, caught the broadcast. A wicked smile twisted his lips. He might have been unlucky, but at least he had salvaged his reputation. Gu Shu, on the other hand, had become the hospital¡¯s biggest joke.


    Lolita Amusement Park had undergone a makeover, but Lolita herself was not amused. She heard the news and stared in disbelief. Then she stamped her foot in rage. ¡°Traitor! Another Traitor!¡±


    The rest of the staff at St. Elizabeth Hospital were also stunned by the news. What was it about the Dean that made everyone lose their minds? Dr. George had sacrificed everything for her, and other doctors had committed crimes for her unrequited love.


    Good heavens¡­


    Hold on! The Dean was married? To whom? This was not a simple love triangle, but a complex love quadrangle?


    ¡°I really wanted to live another five hundred years~¡­¡±


    Her phone rang, and Yu Xiao picked it up, hearing the caller¡¯s voice, as giddy as a failing student who had scraped a pass. ¡°Bloody hell! You¡¯re a legend, aren¡¯t you? You¡¯ve got some nerve, don¡¯t you? Aren¡¯t you scared of the truth coming out? Aren¡¯t you scared of Gu Shu getting back at you?¡±


    It was a simple calculation in Yu Xiao Xin¡¯s mind: Gu Shu was a threat, and threats needed to be eliminated before they could strike back. Unfortunately, her plan had not gone as smoothly as she had hoped, and now she had to deal with the consequences. The truth? What truth? She had merely hinted that Gu Shu might harbour some ulterior motives towards her, and that she might be paranoid about it. The Chief was the one who had jumped to conclusions and ordered an investigation. That was none of her concern.


    ¡°Ha,¡± Yu Xiao sneered, ¡°Did you only realise today what a badass I am? I thought you were well aware.¡±


    ¡°Guess what? You¡¯re trending again!¡± Lu Xun shouted, ¡°It¡¯s a pity you can¡¯t access our forum from Fourth Hospital, otherwise you would see how much of a stir you¡¯ve caused there. You have more fans in Four Hospitals than Old Luo now. Hey¡­ why did Old Luo grab my phone?¡±


    ¡°Yu Xiao,¡± Luo Jin¡¯s calm voice came through, ¡°I heard a rumour that Saint Elizabeth¡¯s has a new dean. Did you manage to resign?¡±


    ¡°?¡± New dean? Yu Xiao was puzzled, but she didn¡¯t let it show. She changed the subject, ¡°By the way, didn¡¯t you say the inspection was starting from First Hospital? Why did it switch to Sixth Hospital this time?¡±


    There was a pause on the other end of the phone, then Luo Jin said, ¡°How should I know?¡±


    Yu Xiao: ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°Lu Xun wants to talk to you,¡± Luo Jin said, passing the phone back to Lu Xun.


    He asked, ¡°Do you want me to read out the posts from Four Hospitals forum for you?¡±


    Yu Xiao: ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°No need!¡± I can look it up myself!


    After hanging up, Yu Xiao opened the Four Hospitals forum. It was indeed lively, with the first post about her.


    ¡¾How charismatic is Sister Dragon!¡¿


    She clicked on it, and saw the OP gushing about her in an enthusiastic manner.


    The chat messages flooded in.


    ¡¾I¡¯m speechless, I¡¯ve never admired anyone so much in my life. Dragon Sis¡¯s skills in the previous instance were phenomenal, not to mention all the amazing titles she has. That alone was enough to win my respect. But now, she¡¯s not only a powerhouse, she¡¯s also a charmer, she¡¯s got the attending doctor under her spell.


    Bloody hell, I¡¯m dying to see how gorgeous Dragon Sis really is! Please, I¡¯m a simple chap, I just adore beautiful and powerful people!¡¿


    ¡¾Me too!¡¿


    ¡¾Didn¡¯t the OP who met Dragon Sis before share their experience? The one from the Lolita Theme Park?¡¿


    ¡¾I¡¯m the OP from the Lolita Theme Park. Dragon Sis is indeed a stunner, but¡­ maybe it¡¯s her inner beauty that¡¯s more mesmerising. I¡¯ve never been to that instance in Gu Village, but I guess the attending doctor there, Gu, must have noticed Dragon Sis¡¯s allure and fallen for her.¡¿


    ¡¾So even attending doctors can have normal emotions like us? Can¡¯t control their feelings and all that¡­¡¿


    ¡¾Ahhh!!! Stop it! I¡¯m a fan of this kind of domineering boss and his cute little missus!¡¿


    ¡¾Are you mad? How did Dragon Sis become a cute little missus?¡¿


    ¡¾Domineering Doctor: Falling for the big shot from the enemy faction.¡¿


    ¡¾Wah wah wah¡­ to be honest, the male attending doctors are all quite handsome, if it wasn¡¯t for the fear of death, I¡¯d¡­¡¿


    ¡¾Snap out of it, mate! Think about the Mortuary King!¡¿


    ¡¾The King¡¯s a different case!¡¿


    ¡¾The King¡¯s been fired already!¡¿


    Yu Xiao scrolled through the thread, suddenly wondering: I wonder if the attending doctor can see the forums of the other six hospitals. If he can, Old Gu must be livid right now, right?¡¿


    ¡®Amitabha Buddha, I don¡¯t mean to ruin your rep; just want to mess you up good.¡¯


    She scrolled down, seeing the people below questioning the validity of this news.


    ¡¾This can¡¯t be real, right? How can a top doc fall in love? And with a human of all things.¡¿


    ¡¾Are you doubting the credibility of the morning news upstairs?¡¿


    ¡¾It¡¯s true! Docs have their private lives too!! Just came out of St. Lizzy¡¯s, new top doc¡¯s a young bloke, hooked up with George. Saw them both leaving the office, George even kissed the dean¡¯s cheek!!¡¿


    ¡¾Bloody hell, am I dreaming? This is not the Fourth Hospital forum, it¡¯s gossip hub?¡¿


    ¡¾Dean is not our Queen Dragon anymore?¡¿


    ¡¾Tut tut tut¡­ Docs not only romancing in secret, now even their orientations all mixed up, tut tut tut¡­¡¿


    ¡¾Ahhh!!! Scored big! Haven¡¯t shipped a couple since I arrived in Four Hospital!!!¡¿


    ¡¾Wondering about that village head, who the hell is he, stealing women from the attending doctor and winning?¡¿


    ¡¾Even got married to Zhuge and ¡®Whispering Monk¡¯


    .¡¿


    ¡¾Top two hospitals becoming sisterly¡­¡¿


    ¡¾Jealous, I want to marry Dragon, heard Zhuge¡¯s a looker too¡­¡¿


    ¡¾Something¡¯s wrong upstairs.¡¿


    Yu Xiao watched the thread spin out of control, and dared not read any further. She put her phone down, only to see Zhao Lan with a smug grin, holding her phone. ¡°Tut tut tut, Smiley, you know what? The Sixth Hospital forum¡¯s all about you now, most people guessing you¡¯re some kind of unparalleled beauty, and then there¡¯s some¡­¡±


    Yu Xiao: ¡°Anything else?¡±


    ¡°They¡¯re also speculating that you used your beauty to charm the attending doctor and breeze through the instance,¡± Zhao Lan said. ¡°They¡¯re keen now, wanting to try their luck at seducing the attending doctor in the next instance.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    No wonder they were rookies from the Sixth Hospital; people from the Fourth Hospital would never imagine such absurd scenarios. Rookies had their advantages, like having a lot of gaps in their knowledge, and the less they knew, the more adventurous they became.


    ¡°I tried to warn them,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen sighed helplessly, ¡°but they said I was questioning their looks.¡±


    ¡°They just need a good thrashing,¡± Zhao Lan commented. ¡°In time, they¡¯ll wise up.¡±


    ¡°Hey, Smiley,¡± Zhao Lan said, ¡°When the leaders from the Health Commission come to inspect, the Dean always goes with them. What will you do then?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve got it sorted. I¡¯ll have George go with them, and I¡¯ll take some time off.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re taking time off?¡± Zhao Lan was surprised by this choice. ¡°Sick leave?¡±


    ¡°Personal leave,¡± Yu Xiao said. ¡°I plan to enter the next instance during the inspection of St. Elizabeth¡¯s. That way, taking time off will seem reasonable. Even if the leaders are unhappy, at worst, they¡¯ll just sack me from my post.¡±


    ¡°What a shame,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen felt more sorry than Yu Xiao, ¡°After finally becoming the Dean, you¡¯re just going to be fired like that?¡±


    ¡°Though losing a source of points¡­ my life still matters,¡± Yu Xiao remembered the oppressive atmosphere outside the door when the directors came to inspect. She felt the cold aura, unable to even stand up. She didn¡¯t dare to face those ghostly beings.


    **


    For two more days, the ward was their prison, while the Health Commission completed their inspections of the six hospitals and moved on to the branch hospital. That evening, Yu Xiao and her friends submitted their application for the treatment.


    ¡°Please, please, please let it be an open-type instance this time,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen pleaded, wringing her hands. ¡°I¡¯m going mad in this ward. I need some fresh air, some space, some fun. Gu¡¯s Village, an amusement park, anything but this¡­¡±


    Zhao Lan shared her sentiment. She had been confined to the ward ever since her admission, but at least she had the option of wandering downstairs when she felt like it. These last few days, however, they had been trapped in this cramped room, barely able to move. It was suffocating.


    ¡°We should get some sleep tonight,¡± Yu Xiao suggested. ¡°We can¡¯t afford to be careless. I won¡¯t let a repeat of the merry-go-round incident happen again.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen assured her, pulling back the blanket. ¡°I¡¯ll be right by your side, no matter what!¡±


    The night flew by, and Yu Xiao slept soundly, only to be awakened by Zhao Lan¡¯s alarm the next morning.


    They ate a quick breakfast and gathered their essentials, then headed to the hospital by eight o¡¯clock.


    ARC4 ¡îGuide for the Morgue


    Darkness enveloped her, and Yu Xiao lost consciousness.


    When she came to, she sensed something was wrong. She was lying down.


    She flung off the cover and sat up, gasping at the sight before her. She was in a small, enclosed room, surrounded by beds draped in white sheets, with human-shaped lumps underneath. She was in the morgue!


    Yu Xiao jumped off the bed, a thrill running through her. She recognized this scene; she had seen it several times before, because it was the first post she had encountered on the Fourth Hospital forum after installing it.


    ¡¾Guide for the Morgue¡¿


    She could hardly contain her excitement. She had actually landed in an instance that she had read about in the guide.


    She had to get out of here, and fast. The guidebook was clear on this point: as soon as you wake up, you must flee, for there is a ghost here. It begins its slaughter five minutes after you awaken, claiming one life every two minutes.


    Yu Xiao shouted at the top of her lungs, ¡°Wake up!!!¡±


    ¡°Ah¡ª!¡±


    ¡°Ah~¡­¡±


    A chorus of panicked voices echoed, accompanied by the sound of sheets moving. People with dazed expressions threw off the white sheets and sat up. Zhao Lan and Zhou Xiao Zhen were among them. S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Where are we?¡± the bewildered crowd asked, ¡°Are these¡­ corpses? Where¡¯s the doctor?¡±


    ¡°This is the mortuary. A ghost will show up in a few minutes,¡± Yu Xiao said, urging everyone to get up. ¡°We have to get out of here quickly.¡±


    Zhao Lan and Zhou Xiao Zhen had read the guidebook too and knew what was going on. They scrambled out of bed.


    ¡°Come on, let¡¯s go!¡±


    The others didn¡¯t know what was happening, but they didn¡¯t want to stay behind. They got out of bed and ran to the door, pulling at it. ¡°It won¡¯t open!¡±


    The door wouldn¡¯t open, of course, because there were two conditions for opening it: either all the living people in the mortuary had died, or someone outside was alerted to come and open it.

 Chapter 66: Smiley: Ah! I’m deaf ……

    ¡°Stand aside!¡± a burly man among them shouted. ¡°I¡¯ve improved my strength. I¡¯ll smash the door open!¡±


    The rest of the group regarded him with a mixture of awe and relief, and swiftly cleared a path. The man took a few paces back, then hurled himself at the door with all his might.


    Bang!!


    The impact reverberated through the room, making Yu Xiao¡¯s teeth ache. She shared a look with Zhao Lan and Zhou Xiao Zhen, and saw the same expression of weary resignation.


    Silently, they drifted towards the workstation by the morgue wall, and began to rummage through the drawers.


    The door refused to budge, despite several tries. The burly man said, ¡°I can¡¯t do this by myself. We need everyone!¡±


    As they joined him at the door, they saw Yu Xiao and her friends digging through the drawers. ¡°What are you doing?!¡± the man yelled. ¡°Come here and help!¡±


    Yu Xiao kept looking, casually answering, ¡°We¡¯re too feeble to be of any use.¡±


    The others faltered at this, feeling a surge of anger. They thought, ¡®You¡¯re the ones who wanted to get out of here, and now you¡¯re slacking off.¡¯ They would have given these three a piece of their mind, if not for the pressing situation. But they had to admit, these three girls looked delicate and useless.


    The burly man snorted and said, ¡°Fine. Let¡¯s try again!¡±


    Yu Xiao and her friends weren¡¯t shirking their duty; the guidebook said that there was a problem with the door in this dungeon. They had to call the repairman, and his business card was supposed to be in one of these drawers.


    She kept her mouth shut, for fear of having to explain herself. That would only waste precious time. So, the three of them resolved to sort it out on their own.


    At last, Precious exclaimed, ¡°I¡¯ve got it!¡±


    Yu Xiao leaned in eagerly and saw a crinkled business card with the name ¡°Master Liu¡± on it, followed by ¡°Professional Locksmith,¡± and a series of numbers.


    ¡°Ring this number,¡± Yu Xiao instructed.


    Zhao Lan wasted no time in dialling the number. A man with a rough voice answered. ¡°Liu here, the locksmith.¡±


    ¡°Hello, Master Liu? The door lock in the morgue is broken again. Come and open it, will you?¡± Zhao Lan glanced at the people hammering on the door, ¡°My mates are getting rather cross.¡±


    ¡°The morgue¡­ buggered again, right, I¡¯ll be there in a jiffy,¡± Master Liu ended the call.


    Zhao Lan put down her phone. ¡°Master Liu said he¡¯s on his way.¡±


    ¡°Excellent,¡± Yu Xiao nodded, then clambered onto the table and yelled, ¡°Stop!¡±


    But no one paid her any heed.


    ¡°Stop!¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°Stop, for pity¡¯s sake, halt!!!¡±


    At last, the mob about to batter the door came to a standstill. They crowded together, craning their necks, gawking at her.


    Yu Xiao stood with her arms akimbo. ¡°Stop banging the door, it won¡¯t budge.¡±


    The burly man opened his mouth to protest, ¡°But¡­¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve already called the locksmith,¡± Yu Xiao cut him off before he could inquire, then went on, ¡°I¡¯ve read the strategy guide for this level; I know the way out.¡±


    The mob first looked perplexed, then ecstatic, but soon there was a trace of indignation.


    ¡°Why didn¡¯t you tell us if you¡¯d read the guide?!¡±


    ¡°Yeah, instead, you let us bash the door like fools!¡±


    ¡°Forgive me, everyone.¡± Yu Xiao leaped off the table, grinning. ¡°Time is of the essence, so I decided it was best to open the door first and then explain. It saves time.¡±


    She pointed at the many freezers and beds in the morgue, ¡°There are ghosts here. If we don¡¯t get out within five minutes of waking up, they¡¯ll start killing. So, I thought it was better to open the door first and explain later.¡±


    Her logic was solid, and no one could dispute it. Plus, knowing she¡¯d read the guide, they¡¯d inevitably have to follow her in the level later, so it wasn¡¯t smart to pick a fight with her.


    With a hearty laugh, the burly man strode towards them and offered his hand. ¡°Well met, Zhang from Third Hospital.¡± sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Yu Xiao had never encountered a patient who were here longer than those from Forth Hospital. She grasped Zhang¡¯s hand firmly and introduced herself. ¡°Yu Xiao, Forth Hospital. I¡¯ve brought these two along.¡±


    ¡°Zhao Lan.¡±


    ¡°Zhou Xiao Zhen, at your service!¡±


    In addition to Zhang, Yu Xiao, and her pair of allies, there were five other people in the room. They formed a motley crew, representing patients from Hospitals Three, Four, Five, and Six. Two hailed from Third Hospital, two from Fifth Hospital, one from Forth Hospital, and the remaining three were from Yu Xiao¡¯s group.


    Zhang, who had the advantage of being from Third Hospital and possessing a formidable physique, naturally assumed the role of a leader. He addressed Yu Xiao. ¡°You¡¯ve had a look at the strategy guide, right? Can you give us a rundown of the situation?¡±


    Yu Xiao nodded, checking the time. They had wasted four minutes already; the ghosts would soon begin their slaughter.


    A surge of anxiety gripped her, but she was powerless to act. Only Mr. Liu could unlock the door.


    She scanned the group and spoke. ¡°This is the morgue scenario. As you all know, we have five minutes to get out of here after we wake up. Once we¡¯re outside, we¡¯ll meet the attending physician. The morgue used to be run by Dr. Wang, but he got fired for taking bribes. I have no idea who the new boss is or what they¡¯ve changed. I¡¯ll just give you a quick rundown of what the guide said¡­¡±


    ¡°¡­The attending physician will tell us how to escape. We¡¯re supposed to pretend that we were falsely declared dead and sent to the morgue. To get out, we need a death certificate. But the certificate is in the possession of a nurse who disappeared in the morgue. We have to find that nurse¡­¡±


    With a loud clatter, the door swung open, sending a jolt of fear through their spines. They whipped their heads around, expecting the worst, but only saw an old man fumbling with a bunch of keys.


    ¡°Oh, darn¡­ This blasted door never works properly. Tut, tut, tut¡­ Shame on you, you rusty piece of junk¡­¡± he muttered, shaking his head. Master Liu snapped at them, ¡°What are you waiting for? Get out of here, now!¡±


    They didn¡¯t need to be told twice. They scrambled out of the morgue, gasping for air. They had been inside for five minutes, but it felt like an eternity. Any longer and someone would have dropped dead.


    The door slammed shut behind them, sealing the horrors within.


    They found themselves in a dimly lit corridor, lined with peeling walls and cracked ceilings. The floor was stained with dark, irregular patches that looked suspiciously like dried blood.


    The faint light cast eerie shadows over their faces, hiding their emotions.


    Zhang Kui (ÕÅ¿ý) turned to Yu Xiao and said, ¡°Carry on.¡±


    (ÕÅ (Zh¨¡ng) is a common surname that means ¡°to spread¡± or ¡°to open¡±. ¿ý (Ku¨ª) is a male given name that means ¡°leader¡± or ¡°chief¡±.ÕÅ¿ý could be interpreted as ¡°a spreading leader¡± or ¡°an open-minded chief¡±.)


    ¡°Right,¡± Yu Xiao nodded. ¡°To find that nurse, we need to meet a condition tied to the hospital¡¯s employment regulations, which is¡­¡±


    ¡°Tap.¡±


    ¡°Tap.¡±


    Zhang Kui raised his hand, signalling for silence. ¡°Listen, footsteps.¡±


    Yu Xiao followed his gaze towards the end of the corridor, where a thin, elongated shadow was creeping closer.


    The shadow loomed closer, following the sound of footsteps.


    ¡°Oi.¡± A gentle nudge on Yu Xiao¡¯s shoulder made her flinch. ¡°Did the guide say anything about ghosts roaming outside the mortuary?¡±


    Yu Xiao shook her head, barely whispering, ¡°No.¡±


    Just then, the figure came into view, rounding the corner and stopping at the end of the corridor. He stared at them from afar, his eyes piercing the gloom.


    Yu Xiao felt a surge of shock, recognising the person.


    Zhao Lan and Zhou Xiao Zhen gasped as well. They gaped at the figure for a second, then turned to Yu Xiao with incredulous looks.


    Yu Xiao felt a lump in her throat, wondering, what the hell is this? If this was karma, it was hitting her too fast.


    The person lingered for a moment, then started to walk towards them, closing the distance.


    He wore a white coat, had a tall and erect posture, and sported a neat and handsome face. His hair was neither too long nor too short, framing his features perfectly. But his eyes were cold and hostile, ruining his otherwise refined appearance.


    ¡°Long time no see,¡± he greeted them with a smile that didn¡¯t reach his eyes.


    Zhang Kui and the others were baffled. What did he mean, long time no see? Since when did doctors talk like that?


    ¡°I¡¯m your attending physician,¡± he continued, pausing briefly before glancing down at Yu Xiao¡¯s pained expression. ¡°My name is Gu Shu.¡±


    Bloody hell¡­ Zhou Xiao Zhen exchanged a panicked look with Zhao Lan. What were they supposed to do now? Gu Shu was here for revenge on Smiley!


    With a groan of despair, Zhao Lan squeezed her eyes shut. ¡®How the hell do I know what to do?¡¯


    A silent agreement passed among the others. They thought, ¡®This Yu Xiao¡¯s was right, there was indeed a new attending doctor.¡¯


    ¡°What a shame, you lot actually made it out,¡± Gu Shu drawled.


    His words were like a slap in the face to Zhang Kui and the others. Shame? Did he just say shame? The way he said it, it sounded like he wished they had died in there. Was this how doctors behave nowadays, spewing their thoughts without any filter? How could he be so insensitive and cruel?


    ¡°Doctor Gu Shu,¡± Zhang Kui spoke up, trying to keep his voice calm. ¡°Could you please tell us how to get out of here?¡±


    Gu Shu finally tore his gaze away from Yu Xiao¡¯s face, where it had been fixed with a strange intensity. He flashed a smile that was supposed to be charming, but only made him look more sinister. ¡°Well, you see, because of a misdiagnosis, everyone believes you¡¯re all dead, so they brought you to the morgue. To leave, you¡¯ll need to destroy your death certificates. But alas, your death certificates were taken by a nurse who went missing yesterday.¡±


    He said it all with such nonchalance, as if he was talking about the weather. The group didn¡¯t react much. They had already heard this from Yu Xiao before.


    ¡°So how do we find that nurse then?¡± Zhang Kui pressed.


    ¡°Have you ever heard the legend about the morgue in hospitals?¡± Gu Shu looked at him, then glanced at Yu Xiao again, before saying with a smirk, ¡°Madam,¡± he said, emphasising the word. ¡°Have you heard of it?¡±


    ¡°Heh heh heh heh¡­¡± Yu Xiao chuckled nervously, avoiding his eyes. ¡°How would I know?¡±


    ¡°Do you want to know?¡± Gu Shu pressed, leaning closer to her.


    Yu Xiao¡¯s expression turned rigid. She was in a dilemma. If she said she didn¡¯t want to know, she would arouse suspicion. Everyone wanted to know, so why was she the odd one out? But if she said she did want to know, she would invite trouble, because the first person to show curiosity in the story would be haunted by the ghosts in the tale.


    Damn Gu Shu! Yu Xiao cursed inwardly. Why wasn¡¯t he eaten by the ancient temple monster back then? Such a useless creature, worshipped as a god by the village, and it couldn¡¯t even devour one damn doctor!


    ¡°Heh heh heh¡­¡± She kept chuckling nervously, hoping to stall for time. Suddenly, she exclaimed, ¡°Ah! I can¡¯t hear anything!¡±


    ¡°Eh?¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen looked alarmed. ¡°Smiley, is your intermittent deafness acting up again?¡±


    Zhang Kui and the others were also astonished. She had intermittent deafness?


    Zhao Lan quickly grabbed Yu Xiao¡¯s face, her eyes filled with worry. ¡°Smiley, Smiley? What do we do? How can you go deaf at a time like this? Goodness, it¡¯s so dangerous here. What are we going to do¡­¡±

 Chapter 67: Gu Shu is My Pet Peeve

    Yu Xiao¡¯s eyes widened in panic as she gazed at Zhao Lan. ¡°What? Misty, what are you saying?¡± she cried. ¡°I can¡¯t hear a word, Misty. What should I do?¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen dabbed at her dry eyes, feigning sorrow. ¡°Poor Xiao, she¡¯s really in a bad way,¡± she said. ¡°Having a fit at such a crucial moment.¡±


    Zhang Kui and the others felt a surge of worry. Yu Xiao had looked through the walkthrough. What if she had lost her hearing now? Had her two friends also gone through the walkthrough?


    Gu Shu watched them silently for a while, then his expression softened, as if he felt sorry for them. ¡°If you can¡¯t hear, then forget it,¡± he said.


    Yu Xiao breathed a sigh of relief, but then Gu Shu said, ¡°Do you¡­ do you want to know this story?¡±


    He gestured towards Zhou Xiao Zhen.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen: ¡°¡­¡±


    She wanted to burst into tears. She knew doctors liked to mess with people, but she felt like she had been thrown under the bus this time. She couldn¡¯t pretend to be deaf. So, she just froze in place.


    Gu Shu asked again, ¡°Do you want to know this story?¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen shook her head frantically. ¡°No, no, no, I don¡¯t want to know!¡±


    As soon as the words left her mouth, she saw Gu Shu smirk, the smirk of someone who had got what he wanted. At the same time, Zhou Xiao Zhen felt a cold shiver, as if something had set its sights on her.


    Oh no! Zhou Xiao Zhen thought, Gu Shu must have changed the rules! It didn¡¯t matter if you said you wanted to know or not, the ghosts would still target you. The only way to avoid it was to not answer, like Smiley.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s spirit deflated instantly, like a balloon pierced by a needle.


    Gu Shu gave Yu Xiao a meaningful look, then said, ¡°Even if you don¡¯t want to hear, I still have to tell because the clue to the nurse¡¯s whereabouts is hidden within the story.¡±


    He casually strolled over to Yu Xiao, ending up behind her by chance. He lightly placed his right hand on her shoulder, his posture as if he were chatting with an old friend.


    His hand was on Yu Xiao¡¯s shoulder, but his eyes swept over everyone. ¡°We have a tradition in our hospital,¡± he said. ¡°Every new medical staff member has to undergo some training and exercises. They have to work night shifts and deal with corpses often, so they need courage. Our hospital has designed a special training for this, which involves locking the new medical staff in the morgue overnight.¡±


    Everyone gasped inwardly, ¡°Bloody hell,¡± as they realised this was the perfect setting for a ghost story. These hospital NPCs were insane, courting their own doom.


    Gu Shu went on, ¡°Last night, it was the nurse who keeps your death reports who had to spend the night in the morgue to toughen up. She went in and never came out.¡±


    ¡°But you haven¡¯t told us the legend about the morgue yet,¡± Zhang Kui said. He had been in the hospital for a long time, and he knew it was safe to talk to the attending physician as long as he didn¡¯t break any taboos.


    ¡°I was getting to that,¡± Gu Shu said. ¡°The legend about the morgue has been around in the hospital for a long time. It¡¯s said that there was once a nurse who stayed in the morgue alone to bolster her courage. She was terrified and couldn¡¯t sleep. Then she came up with an idea, which was to sing in front of the mirror. She loved to sing and had dreams of becoming a singer. She sang passionately in front of the mirror all night.¡±


    Everyone exchanged glances. Had that nurse died like that?


    ¡°The next morning when she came out, everyone asked her if she was scared, if she had seen anything frightening,¡± Gu Shu said, smirking at everyone. ¡°She said she was a bit scared at first, but after singing in front of the mirror, she wasn¡¯t scared anymore, and she didn¡¯t see anything frightening. When everyone heard her say this, they all looked horrified because there was no mirror in the morgue.¡±


    Yu Xiao let out a sigh of relief. This story matched what was in the guide.


    Some patients might think, after hearing this legend, that singing lured ghosts, or that ghosts lived in mirrors. But that wasn¡¯t the case. The ghost would emerge five minutes after someone entered and would kill. However, singing could hold the ghost back. Only when there was one living person left in the morgue, and that person was singing, would the ghost lose control and transform into the person¡¯s likeness, copying how they sang.


    So, one had to sing after going in!


    ¡°So,¡± Gu Shu asked everyone, ¡°if you want to find that nurse, you have to enter the morgue. Are you going to look for her?¡±


    Everyone thought, ¡®Isn¡¯t that obvious?¡¯ If they didn¡¯t find her, how would they leave?


    They felt less nervous with Yu Xiao by their side. She had read the guide, so everything would go according to plan.


    But just as they felt a bit more confident, a wave of fear swept over them like a dark shadow.


    Gu Shu¡¯s voice broke the silence, cold and sudden. ¡°None of you are objecting, so it¡¯s agreed, right? In that case, who¡¯s going in first?¡±


    Yu Xiao and the others stared in disbelief. What was Gu Shu up to? The guide clearly stated that after Dr. Lao Wang finished the story, he would leave, and the patients could decide whether and how to enter the morgue. So why was Gu Shu still here, watching them go in one by one?


    With his eyes on them like a hawk, they couldn¡¯t talk, trapped by the silent question in the air.


    Zhang Kui and the others didn¡¯t know what had changed, but they knew they couldn¡¯t go in right now; they hadn¡¯t even seen the guide yet.


    A loud cry cut through the tension, like a ray of light through dark clouds. Yu Xiao¡¯s voice, full of drama, sounded.


    ¡°Oh! I can hear again!¡±


    She looked overjoyed, like a deaf person who had miraculously recovered her hearing.


    ¡°I¡¯ll go!¡± she said, her voice full of strength. ¡°I¡¯ll go first because I¡¯m brave!¡±


    Zhao Lan and Zhou Xiao Zhen were genuinely shocked this time. Was Yu Xiao really ready to take this risk alone?


    ¡°Is that final?¡± Gu Shu asked.


    ¡°It¡¯s final,¡± Yu Xiao said with a courageous expression. She turned to the others and said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, if anything happens after I go in, I¡¯ll let you know with my phone. You have to save me, okay?¡±


    Everyone immediately got her message; with Gu Shu there, it was not easy to talk about the strategy in front of him. But once Yu Xiao went in, she could use her phone to tell them about the copy.


    This girl is smart! Zhang Kui was impressed and said to Yu Xiao, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, we¡¯ll watch our phones all the time!¡±


    ¡°Okay,¡± Yu Xiao said as she walked towards the morgue door.


    But before she could reach it, a voice stopped her. ¡°Wait.¡±


    Puzzled, Yu Xiao turned, meeting Gu Shu¡¯s eyes. He walked towards her, slowly and carefully, his hand reaching out like a question mark in the air.


    Yu Xiao felt a surge of panic as she saw Gu Shu¡¯s hand coming towards her. She thought furiously, ¡®How dare you touch me in front of all these people? You¡¯ll regret it if you do!¡¯


    But Gu Shu¡¯s hand did not stop. It grabbed Yu Xiao¡¯s hand, along with her phone¡­ her phone¡­


    The crowd gasped in shock, witnessing Yu Xiao¡¯s phone being snatched away by Gu Shu¡¯s hand. Yu Xiao sputtered, ¡°What are you doing?¡±


    Gu Shu answered calmly, ¡°The morgue is a restricted area. Electronic devices are not allowed inside.¡±


    Everyone was speechless.


    ¡°You¡¯re outrageous!¡± Yu Xiao fumed. ¡°You¡¯re abusing your authority for personal gain and retaliation!¡±


    Zhang Kui and the others were confused. What was that barrage of idioms just now? Retaliation? Who was Gu Shu retaliating against?


    ¡°If you have any doubts about my actions,¡± Gu Shu smiled slyly, ¡°feel free to report me to the Medical Disputes Office.¡±


    ¡°Grass!¡± Yu Xiao cursed inwardly, ¡°You¡¯re ruthless.¡±


    (¡°²Ý¡± (c¨£o), which literally means ¡°grass¡± but is also a common slang term in Chinese used to express frustration or annoyance, akin to saying ¡°damn¡± or ¡°crap¡± in English.)


    Gu Shu raised an eyebrow. Yu Xiao said quickly, ¡°A type of plant.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s time for you to go in,¡± Gu Shu gestured with a hand, ¡°there are no plants inside for you to study.¡±


    ¡°Heh, right,¡± Yu Xiao chuckled bitterly, ¡°Plants are only outside, like¡­ ancient trees.¡±


    (t/n: The joke doesn¡¯t translate into english for it is related to chinese language sounds, word meanings and so on and I couldn¡¯t think of an alternative.)


    Gu Shu raised an eyebrow again.


    Yu Xiao turned away, walking towards the morgue. ¡°I really love ancient trees. There used to be one not far from my husband¡¯s family home. I visited that ancient tree every day, my favourite thing was trimming its branches. But then I had to leave, and I couldn¡¯t forget about that ancient tree. I even got a neighbour with many hands to help me trim it.¡±


    Zhao Lan and Zhou Xiao Zhen gasped, barely keeping their faces straight.


    Zhang Kui and the rest stared in confusion; Yu Xiao¡¯s joke had a hidden meaning. It wasn¡¯t just about her and an ancient tree, it was actually¡­ a flirtatious remark to the attending doctor, Gu Shu?


    They glanced back at Gu Shu, whose face had turned as black as coal. He gritted his teeth, as though a bitter memory had resurfaced.


    At last, they came to their senses.


    One of them couldn¡¯t resist asking, ¡°Yu Xiao, is she married?¡±


    Zhang Kui added, ¡°Does her neighbour have a lot of hands?¡±


    ¡°Uh¡­¡± Zhao Lan looked uncomfortable. ¡°She¡­ has a malignant brain tumour.¡±


    Yu Xiao entered the morgue, the heavy door shutting behind her. With an inspiration card enhancing her senses, she could clearly feel the dense aura enveloping her. She shivered and rubbed her arms.


    She was safe for the first five minutes in the morgue, but without her phone, she had no way of telling the time.


    Luckily, she had done her homework and learned a lot of lifesaving tricks, so she didn¡¯t panic.


    This game level was quite difficult; for one thing, the ghosts¡¯ killing patterns were hard to figure out. For another, one had to act alone to find clues, because the ghosts only gave clues when there was no one else alive around.


    As she thought of this, Yu Xiao felt relieved. Since Gu Shu had taken away her phone, stopping her from sharing information about the level with others, she might as well complete it by herself, which solved the problem.


    Reassured, she waited patiently. The ghost here was a heartbroken one, who loved to sing and had a preference for love songs. To make her give clues, one had to sing love songs, sing until she was touched, then she would soften and give the nurse¡¯s clue.


    Yu Xiao had no idea how much time had elapsed, but fortunately her intuition was strong; she could sense when the ghost was close.


    A few moments ago, she felt a cold draft behind her and turned around to see someone rising from one of the many hospital beds.


    The white sheet that covered the figure fell off, exposing a corpse with a ghastly complexion and livor mortis. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The next moment, the corpse disappeared into thin air.


    Yu Xiao freaked out. She quickly started to sing.


    To her horror, she realised she couldn¡¯t remember any songs. She used to like listening to music, but she only knew a few songs by heart. Since she hated reading lyrics and couldn¡¯t catch what the lyrics were, she usually just hummed along, unable to sing them out.


    Feeling the aura closing in on her, Yu Xiao opened her mouth in the nick of time and sang, ¡°I planted a seed, and it finally bore fruit, today is a great day~¡±

 Chapter 68: Dump that Trash and go Catch Gu Shu’s Heart!

    As soon as Yu Xiao¡¯s voice rang out, the sinister presence that had been hovering around her came to a halt, then swiftly coalesced in front of her, taking on the shape of a woman who looked exactly like Yu Xiao.


    Every detail was replicated with eerie precision: the same clothes, the same hairstyle, the same expression, and the same movements. The only difference was in the eyes, which were devoid of any spark or emotion, unlike Yu Xiao¡¯s.


    With a curious gaze, Yu Xiao studied the ghostly apparition in front of her, continuing to sing, ¡°Pluck the stars to give to you¡­¡±


    The female spectre echoed her, singing, ¡°Snatch the moon to give to you¡­¡±


    The upbeat rhythm of ¡°Little Apple¡± filled the entire morgue, creating a stark contrast with the gloomy atmosphere. For Yu Xiao, this was a fascinating experiment, so she sang with gusto, hoping to get the ghost right on the first try.


    She repeated ¡°Little Apple¡± twice in this manner. As she sang, she had a vague sense that she might have messed up some of the lyrics, but she shrugged it off, thinking that ghosts wouldn¡¯t know any better.


    ¡­Or would they?


    After the second round, the ghost showed no signs of change, while Yu Xiao¡¯s voice was getting hoarse. She realised this wasn¡¯t working; the ghost clearly didn¡¯t appreciate this song. She pondered for a moment and decided it must be the song selection. ¡°Little Apple¡± was too cheerful, while this ghost seemed to have suffered some heartbreak, so she might respond better to something more sombre.


    Yu Xiao searched her memory for a suitable song and quickly found one, switching the melody without hesitation.


    ¡°Selling my love, forcing me to leave, finally knowing the truth, tears falling down~¡±


    The ghost followed suit, singing about the cruel trade of love.


    After two renditions of ¡°Love¡¯s Transaction¡±, the ghost still remained impassive. Yu Xiao felt a surge of frustration; her throat was parched, her mouth bitter, her breathing ragged, her chest tight, and her breath short¡­


    She couldn¡¯t take it anymore, she had to switch the song!


    But damn, her playlist was scraping the bottom of the barrel!


    She couldn¡¯t handle any of the mushy stuff, she could only manage to croak out the choruses, barely keeping up with the rhythm. Bloody hell! It was all that blasted Gu Shu¡¯s fault, if he hadn¡¯t nicked her phone, what would she be singing now?


    Yu Xiao racked her brains for a solution and finally settled on a desperate strategy: she would only sing the high notes.


    With her voice raspy, she belted out, ¡°You smell of her perfume~ It¡¯s a crime my nose commits~¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    Outside the morgue, a crowd of people gathered, their eyes fixed on the entrance. Zhou Xiao Zhen squatted on the ground, her hands covering her face, a picture of misery.


    Zhao Lan crouched beside her, leaning in close, whispering, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Smiley¡¯s tough, she¡¯s even done her research, she¡¯ll be fine.¡±


    Hearing this, Zhou Xiao Zhen felt no relief. She sighed, ¡°Of course, I know Smiley sis will be fine, I¡¯m worried about myself.¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡±


    ¡°That damn Gu Shu changed the rules, even if you don¡¯t answer, the ghosts will come after you.¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen sniffed, feeling sorry for herself. ¡°I can feel it, I¡¯m getting colder and colder. There must be a ghost nearby.¡±


    ¡°Oh, that¡­¡± Zhao Lan was clueless about this, so she could only suggest, ¡°Don¡¯t be scared, worst comes to worst, when the ghost shows up, you can ask it to play mahjong, plenty of people here.¡±


    ¡°Sigh, guess that¡¯s the plan.¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen glanced at Gu Shu, who¡¯d been holding the same posture, staring at the morgue¡¯s door. Her voice, as fragile as a spider¡¯s web, murmured, ¡°Gu Shu seems wicked, seems like he¡¯s got a grudge against Xiao, she¡¯s all by herself in there with no phone, wondering if she can cope.¡±


    ¡°Can he not loathe Smiley?¡± Zhao Lan wondered, putting herself in Gu Shu¡¯s shoes, she¡¯d probably loathe Smiley too, ¡°Hope she¡¯s alright.¡±


    **


    With a raspy voice, Yu Xiao¡¯s voice cracked on the final note, a harsh sound that scraped her throat raw. She slumped on the morgue bed where a corpse lay, clutching her chest with one hand and reaching out with the other. ¡°Have you no heart, you monster? Have you no pity for the living? Do you want me to bleed from my throat for you?¡±


    The ghost seemed indifferent to her suffering. As soon as her song ended, it shed its human guise and revealed its true horror. Its hair hung in filthy clumps, soaked with rot and maggots. Its eyes were empty holes that oozed blood. Its mouth was a slash of flesh that ran from ear to ear, filled with sharp teeth that dripped with saliva. It dove at Yu Xiao with a piercing scream.


    Yu Xiao met its gaze with a steely one of her own. She pulled out a thick bundle of talismans from her pocket. ¡°I tried to be nice, but you¡¯ve gone too far.¡± She said, her voice icy and steady.


    The ghost, in mid-air, spotted the talismans and panicked. It tried to stop its momentum, but it was too late. It skidded to a halt, barely avoiding the talismans by a hair¡¯s breadth.


    If ghosts could sweat, this one would named Niagara Falls.


    Yu Xiao got up from the bed, her eyes locked on the ghost. The ghost felt a wave of dread and vanished, dissolving into a plume of black smoke.


    Yu Xiao scoffed. ¡°Coward. You¡¯re afraid, aren¡¯t you?¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    But the ghost had no choice but to reappear, its face contorted in pain, its bloody tears streaming down.


    ¡°Didn¡¯t you hear so many songs with no reaction?¡± Yu Xiao advanced towards it.


    ¡°Weren¡¯t you supposed to attack me?¡± Yu Xiao closed the distance.


    ¡°Weren¡¯t you supposed to smile like a lunatic?¡± Yu Xiao cornered it.


    The ghost cowered before. Yu Xiao, who had no talisman in her hand, grabbed a handful of the ghost¡¯s hair and jerked it back and forth. ¡°You think you¡¯re so tough, huh?¡±


    The ghost¡¯s hideous face twitched, then twisted into a smile more grotesque than a sob.


    ¡°Oh, now you smile? A second ago, you looked like a dead fish,¡± Yu Xiao said, her hands on her hips, her chin up, her attitude that of a morgue tyrant. ¡°You were acting all hard with me when I smiled at you first. Now that I¡¯m rough with you, you want to smile. What¡¯s wrong with you? I can¡¯t even find the words for you¡­¡±


    The ghost wept, truly wept, a wretched weep. When that bastard had killed her, dumped her in the wild with no trace of who she was, she had never wept so bitterly.


    Her piercing cries filled the morgue, heightening its creepy mood. If anyone were to stumble in at that time, they might be too terrified to even weep.


    ¡°Cut it out, stop weeping,¡± Yu Xiao said, snatching a random sheet from a nearby bed and awkwardly dabbing the ghost¡¯s face with it. ¡°What are you weeping for? Is it worth it to end up like this over a bastard? Stop weeping.¡±


    The ghost whined, thinking to herself, ¡®Am I weeping because of that bastard? I¡¯m weeping because of the shame you¡¯re making me feel.¡¯


    ¡°When you were alive, your head was foggy. Now that you¡¯re a ghost, can¡¯t you see clearly?¡± Yu Xiao tapped her shoulder, speaking sincerely. ¡°Whoever did this to you, go and pay them back. If you think killing them is too easy, make them suffer before you do. You¡¯re already a ghost, what do you have to lose?¡±


    The ghost, hearing this, didn¡¯t want to weep anymore, but the habitual weeps continued. She wavered, still loving that man in spite of everything.


    Yu Xiao could read her mind like an open book. She snapped, ¡°What¡¯s so great about that piece of trash (ÔüÄÐ)? What does he have that you like? He can¡¯t compare to Gu Shu in looks or build. And in bed¡­ by the way, does he even satisfy you there?¡± S§×ar?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The female ghost shook her head rapidly.


    ¡°No, he doesn¡¯t. Gu Shu is probably better than him,¡± Yu Xiao said, baffled. ¡°You¡¯re wasting your time on this worthless scumbag. You might as well fancy Gu Shu outside.¡±


    The female ghost wavered.


    She knew Yu Xiao had a point, but Gu Shu outside was no ordinary ghost. He was a top-notch attending doctor! How could she, a lowly ghost, dare to dream of such a lofty goal?


    Yu Xiao, catching her thoughts again, exclaimed, ¡°Don¡¯t be ridiculous!¡±


    The female ghost stared at her in shock, her mouth hanging open.


    ¡°Why do you think he¡¯s so special? Haven¡¯t you heard the gossip?¡± Yu Xiao went on, ¡°The whole hospital is talking about how he¡¯s obsessed with a married woman. He¡¯s just like you; a lovesick fool.¡±


    The female ghost felt a pang in her chest, as if an arrow had pierced her heart.


    ¡°Listen to me, I¡¯m telling you for your own good: dump that trash and stop throwing away your life,¡± Yu Xiao said, giving her a reassuring pat on the shoulder. ¡°Then go after your second chance at love (µÚ¶þ´º: second spring) with confidence.¡±


    At that moment, the female ghost saw the light. She looked at Yu Xiao, who seemed to have a halo around her head, leading her astray soul to the right path.


    Yu Xiao cut off the chatter with a wave of her hand. ¡°Enough. Hand over the clue.¡±


    The female ghost¡¯s fingers, tipped with long and jagged nails, searched her own body until they found a blue bow tie. She offered it to Yu Xiao, who snatched it and made to leave. But she felt a tug on her clothes, and spun around to see the ghost holding on to her with a desperate look, her head bowed.


    Yu Xiao frowned. ¡°What now?¡±


    The ghost said nothing, but plucked a strand of hair from her scalp and extended it to Yu Xiao.


    ¡°Is this for me?¡± Yu Xiao took the hair, wrinkling her nose. ¡°Gross. How long has it been since you washed this? And what am I supposed to do with it?¡±


    The ghost gave a faint sigh and pointed to Yu Xiao¡¯s pocket.


    Yu Xiao shrugged and stuffed the hair inside. ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll keep it. But don¡¯t you dare try anything funny, or you¡¯ll face the wrath of the five thunders.¡±


    With that, she shoved the door of the morgue open, making a loud clang that startled the people outside.


    She stepped out, looking as immaculate as ever, her hair in place and her clothes spotless. It was as if she had just gone in for a quick nap, not a confrontation with a ghost.


    Dr Gu Shu watched her with a calm expression. He was not like Lolita, who had no brains to speak of. He knew Yu Xiao well enough to know that the ghost posed no threat to her.


    ¡°Smiley!¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen squealed and ran towards her, clutching her hand.


    The others followed suit, crowding around her. ¡°How did it go?¡±


    ¡°What happened there?¡±


    ¡°Did you find the clue?¡±


    ¡°I found the clue.¡± Yu Xiao lifted her hand, displaying the blue bow tie. ¡°This is it. I got it. You can all relax now.¡±


    The crowd let out a collective breath as they watched Yu Xiao twirl the bow tie in her hand and slip it into her pocket. She headed straight for Gu Shu, who regarded her with a steady gaze. She reached out a hand towards him.


    What was she doing? Zhang Kui and the others wondered as they saw Yu Xiao¡¯s gesture, seemingly inviting him to take her hand. Was she still teasing Gu Shu?


    The news had spread like wildfire that the doctor who had attended the Gu Family Village case had fallen for the top-ranked patient of the Sixth Hospital, the Dragon¡¯s Descendant. Many had tried to copy their style and charm. Was Yu Xiao one of them? Was she trying to make Gu Shu fall for her too?


    ¡°Give me my phone back.¡± Yu Xiao¡¯s voice was raspy and annoyed. ¡°You know it¡¯s illegal to take a patient¡¯s belongings without cause, right? Do you want to face the medical dispute office?¡±


    The crowd felt a pang of guilt. They had been so wrong about her intentions.


    Dr Gu Shu handed her the phone with an icy expression. He spoke in a formal tone. ¡°It¡¯s late. The patients need to rest. We have arranged rooms for the eight of you. Please go and sleep.¡±


    With that, he turned and walked away, leaving the crowd stunned. Eight? Weren¡¯t they nine?

 Chapter 69: Gu Shu, these Roses Are For You

    A strange silence fell over them, until Yu Xiao and Zhang Kui blurted out at the same time.


    ¡°He just called me inhuman!¡±


    ¡°One of us is not human!¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    Another pause, as Yu Xiao and Zhang Kui exchanged a glance. Their words made sense on their own, but together they sounded like an insult, as if Zhang Kui was accusing someone.


    ¡°No.¡± Zhang Kui shook his head, baffled by Yu Xiao¡¯s interpretation. ¡°Why would Gu Shu curse you? He¡¯s an attending doctor, he doesn¡¯t swear. He was warning us, ¡®There¡¯s a non-human among us¡¯.¡±


    Yu Xiao and the others kept their thoughts to themselves, but they all thought the same thing: that¡¯s because you don¡¯t know him well enough.


    Especially Yu Xiao, who was certain that Gu Shu was cursing her.


    ¡°That¡­¡± Zhao Lan cleared her throat and drew everyone¡¯s attention. ¡°We all know that the attending doctor never lies, but he likes to play tricks on people. What Gu Shu said might not be literal, and besides, most of us are familiar with each other, so I doubt that a ghost could slip in among the nine of us.¡±


    Zhao Lan reasoned like this, but the real reason why she and the others didn¡¯t believe that there was a ghost among them was, the guide didn¡¯t say anything about it.


    ¡°You four from the Fourth Hospital are not rookies, why are you so naive when it comes to this?¡± Zhang Kui eyed someone and said: ¡°Most of us do know each other, but there¡¯s one person who doesn¡¯t.¡±


    He said that and everyone remembered, there were four of them from the Fourth Hospital. But Yu Xiao and the others shared a room, while the other patient was by himself, and no one knew anything about him.


    ¡°Jiang Hai (½­º£).¡± Zhang Kui fixed his gaze on the man who was quickly shunned by the others, his voice stern. ¡°Can you prove your innocence?¡±


    (½­ (Ji¨¡ng) is a common surname that means ¡°river¡±.


    º£ (H¨£i) is a unisex given name that means ¡°sea¡± or ¡°ocean¡±.


    ½­º£ could be interpreted as ¡°a river sea¡± or ¡°an oceanic river¡±.)


    Jiang Hai was a man who faded into the background, with a mediocre height and face, and a quiet demeanour. Ever since they had woken up in the morgue, he had barely uttered a word, and if Zhang Kui hadn¡¯t singled him out, Yu Xiao would have forgotten about him.


    ¡°I¡¯m human.¡± Jiang Hai met Zhang Kui¡¯s challenging question with a calm tone. ¡°The burden of proof is on you, not me. You have no evidence to accuse me, so why should I show you anything? Is it just because I entered the instance alone that you suspect me?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not only that.¡± Zhang Kui¡¯s small eyes gleamed with certainty, as he gestured at Yu Xiao and the others. ¡°The three of them are from the Fourth Hospital, just like you. How come they read the guide, but you didn¡¯t?¡±


    Jiang Hai opened his mouth to speak, but Zhang Kui cut him off. ¡°Don¡¯t even try to say that you heard them say it, so you didn¡¯t bother. You know very well that at the start, only the three of them went to look for the business card, while you were with us, pounding on the door. You never read the guide at all.¡±


    This analysis was logical and convincing, and not only the others, but even Yu Xiao and the others felt that Zhang Kui had a point, and started to doubt Jiang Hai.


    ¡°Hmph.¡± Jiang Hai¡¯s face turned dark, and he clenched his teeth. ¡°There are so many posts on the forum every day, do you expect me to read them all? Besides, I don¡¯t care for the forum anyway, what¡¯s wrong with skipping this guide?¡±


    Zhang Kui scoffed. ¡°Don¡¯t you think your excuse is weak and unconvincing?¡±


    Jiang Hai had nothing to say, while Zhang Kui and the others stared at him coldly, creating a tense standoff.


    That¡¯s when Yu Xiao spoke up. ¡°Actually, it¡¯s easy to tell who¡¯s not human.¡±


    She pulled out a Thunder talisman and said, ¡°This is all we need. We just stick this on everyone, and the non-human will be exposed.¡±


    That was a smart idea, and Zhang Kui felt a twinge of annoyance. Why hadn¡¯t he thought of that? He had a talisman too.


    ¡°I¡¯ll go first!¡± Jiang Hai yelled, and then marched up to Yu Xiao and grabbed the talisman from her.


    Nothing happened. The talisman stayed in his hand, inert.


    Zhang Kui gaped, his mind racing. Jiang Hai holding the talisman meant he was human, so did that mean his whole analysis was wrong?


    ¡°Did you see that?¡± Jiang Hai waved the talisman around, making sure everyone got a good look. ¡°Do I look like a ghost to you?¡±


    The others frowned, and one of them said, ¡°Jiang Hai, we¡¯re sorry for accusing you earlier, that was our mistake. But Brother Kui¡¯s analysis was reasonable, you have to admit you were acting suspicious.¡±


    Jiang Hai seethed, but he knew they had a point, and besides, he was outnumbered and outmatched. Arguing would only make things worse. So he tossed the talisman back to Yu Xiao with a glower, and retreated to a corner by himself, brooding.


    ¡°Alright.¡± Yu Xiao scanned the others. ¡°Who¡¯s next?¡±


    ¡°Me.¡± Zhang Kui stepped forward and took the talisman, but the talisman remained silent.


    The others didn¡¯t hesitate to do the same, eager to clear their names. They all came over and touched the talisman in Yu Xiao¡¯s hand. Soon, nine people had handled the talisman, and the talisman had shown no sign of life.


    ¡°The result is clear.¡± Yu Xiao pocketed the talisman, smiling. ¡°Gu Shu was messing with us, and you all fell for it.¡±


    ¡°True.¡± Zhao Lan agreed. ¡°The guide we read never said anything about this.¡±


    The group relaxed a bit, though they still had some nagging doubts, but they paled in comparison to the facts. Zhang Kui was a good natured soul, and he made the first move to walk over and offer his hand, saying, ¡°I apologise, I was wrong, I shouldn¡¯t have been so quick to judge you.¡±


    Jiang Hai eyed him for a moment, then took his hand and shook it. ¡°You were looking out for everyone, caution is a virtue in this situation.¡±


    With that, they made peace, and Yu Xiao was glad to see it. She enjoyed a good show, but she didn¡¯t want the team to fall apart at this point.


    She said, ¡°Let¡¯s go and see the rooms first, and then I¡¯ll fill you in on the guide.¡±


    The hospital had set up eight single rooms for them, which meant that one person would have to bunk with someone else. Seeing this, Yu Xiao was more convinced that Gu Shu was getting back at them, haha, he was petty enough to scheme over such small things, what a spiteful male ghost.


    ¡°Sister Smiley, let¡¯s share a bed!¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen squealed and grabbed Yu Xiao¡¯s hand.


    Yu Xiao saw her face and recalled the scene before when she demanded that Yu Xiao turn into Leonardo to sleep with her, she couldn¡¯t handle this kind of enthusiasm.


    Zhao Lan also said, ¡°You should stay with Precious.¡±


    Yu Xiao was a bit surprised, Misty was a smart and level-headed person, she was dependable in everything. But she wasn¡¯t the type who liked to boss people around, she usually kept her opinions to herself on this kind of thing, unless there was something fishy. (TN: Targeting Ghost)


    Thinking of this, Yu Xiao nodded.


    The nine people picked their rooms, and then they met in Zhang Kui¡¯s room.


    Yu Xiao didn¡¯t beat around the bush, she took out the blue bow tie, and went straight to the point. ¡°The guide says this, this nurse could have lived, but she had just broken up with her boyfriend that day, she was feeling down, and when she was in the morgue, she grabbed something from a drawer, which unleashed the ghost, and she was killed by the ghost.¡±


    With a firm grip on the blue bow tie, Yu Xiao explained, ¡°She didn¡¯t rest in peace after her death. She had a score to settle with her ex-lover. She escaped from the morgue and took over a nurse¡¯s body. And this bow tie, dropped in the cold chamber, was the only clue we had.¡±


    She paused and added, ¡°You might wonder why I had to enter the morgue, knowing the clue already. Well, it¡¯s not that simple. According to the guide and the comments below it, the clue for this instance changes every time. It could be anything on the nurse¡¯s body, not just the bow tie. So I had no choice but to go in and check.¡±


    She looked at them and said, ¡°So tomorrow, when the hospital resumes its operation, we¡¯ll look for the nurse who¡¯s missing a bow tie. That¡¯s our target.¡±


    She finished the guide, having done the most difficult part for them. They all felt a wave of relief wash over them.


    ¡°It¡¯s getting late.¡± Zhao Lan said, ¡°I should head back to my room and get some rest.¡±


    They all left Zhang Kui¡¯s room, except for Yu Xiao and Zhou Xiao Zhen, who went to room number two. As soon as they entered, Zhou Xiao Zhen threw herself into Yu Xiao¡¯s arms. ¡°Sister Smiley, I¡¯m terrified.¡±


    ¡°Of what?¡± Yu Xiao asked, gently peeling her off like a plaster.


    ¡°Sniff sniff¡­ A ghost cursed me¡­¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen whimpered, recounting her encounter with Gu Shu.


    Yu Xiao¡¯s eyes flashed with anger when she heard it. ¡°Gu Shu is such a jerk¡­¡± S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, it¡¯s okay.¡± Yu Xiao reassured her, handing her some Life Protection Charms and Thunder Charms. ¡°If the ghost tries anything, you¡¯ll zap it with these.¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen nodded gratefully. ¡°Okay!¡±


    **


    In the dead of night, a shadow crept up to Gu Shu¡¯s door, and left a bunch of red roses on the doorstep.


    **


    Yu Xiao was deep in a peaceful slumber, when a sudden pressure on her chest jolted her awake. She gasped for air, and saw Zhou Xiao Zhen sprawled over her, oblivious to her distress. She shoved her off without a word, and got up to use the bathroom. She had secured the doors and windows of the ward with talismans, so nothing could harm them.


    When she exited the bathroom, and was about to crawl back into bed, she heard a faint noise in the corridor outside the ward, like someone had sneaked by.


    She shrugged and turned to investigate. The corridor was dimly lit, and she saw no one.


    Yu Xiao followed the corridor with confidence, not because she was foolish, but because she had dozens of talismans to ward off ghosts, and had used two physical cards to boost her strength to that of a bull, which allowed her to handle people. She couldn¡¯t imagine anything that could pose a threat to her, so she walked towards the source of the noise.


    Then she spotted a bunch of red roses on the floor in front of a door. She picked up the roses, and they were surprisingly fresh, with droplets of dew on them. She could tell they were freshly picked.


    Who was so romantic to send flowers in the dead of night? This room was not one of the eight wards they lived in, so it must have been occupied by an NPC in this instance, right?


    How sweet, Yu Xiao held the flowers and felt a pang of envy. She had lived for twenty years, and she was lonelier than a ghost.


    Who lived in this room? It must be a gorgeous female NPC, right?


    As she thought that, the door swung open, and Gu Shu stood at the doorway.


    Yu Xiao was stunned, thinking how unlucky, this was his room!


    The next second, she saw Gu Shu gaze blankly at the roses in her hand.


    Yu Xiao hastily explained, ¡°What are you staring at, these are for you.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    She should have kept quiet, but her explanation made it worse.


    ¡°Don¡¯t get any ideas.¡± Yu Xiao was about to explain further, when she saw Gu Shu glare at her coldly, and then utter one word before slamming the door.


    ¡°Lame!¡±


    Yu Xiao: ¡°¡­¡±


    Yu Xiao held the flowers in one hand, and rubbed her nose with the other, wondering what the hell was going on.

 Chapter 70: First Kill

    She lingered in front of Gu Shu¡¯s door, torn between leaving and keeping the flowers in her hand. If she left them, it would seem like she was really chasing after Gu Shu. If she didn¡¯t, they weren¡¯t hers to begin with.


    She was still undecided, when she heard footsteps from the side. Yu Xiao turned her head and saw Zhang Kui approaching her.


    Zhang Kui caught sight of Yu Xiao, and he was surprised. ¡°What are you doing here?¡±


    Yu Xiao was at a loss for words, when Zhang Kui noticed the bunch of fiery red roses in her hand. His expression shifted, but he hid it well. He just glanced curiously at the door. ¡°Who lives in here?¡±


    ¡°Uh? No one.¡± Yu Xiao faked a laugh. ¡°I couldn¡¯t sleep, so I came out for a stroll. By the way, what about you?¡±


    ¡°Ah, I heard some footsteps outside, so I came to investigate.¡± Zhang Kui had thought that the footsteps he heard were Yu Xiao¡¯s, but he changed his mind when he walked this way. Yu Xiao had no reason to pass by his room, so he asked, ¡°Did you see who it was?¡±


    Yu Xiao didn¡¯t see, but she had a hunch it was the ghost from the morgue. Because she had urged the female ghost to boldly pursue a second chance at love, she had come to deliver Gu Shu flowers in the dead of night, but sadly, she was misinterpreted by Gu Shu.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t see.¡±


    ¡°Hmm.¡± Zhang Kui nodded, and then looked at the flowers again. ¡°What are these for?¡±


    ¡°Um¡­¡± Yu Xiao was extremely mortified. ¡°I picked these up, I swear. I don¡¯t really like fresh flowers.¡±


    ¡°Huh.¡± For some reason, Zhang Kui also felt awkward, so he smiled and said, ¡°I quite like fresh flowers¡­¡±


    ¡°Then you can have them.¡± Yu Xiao offered him the flowers. ¡°I just picked them up anyway.¡±


    Zhang Kui was about to accept them, when the door opened, and Gu Shu appeared at the doorway.


    Zhang Kui was speechless. ¡°Gu Shu?¡±


    Gu Shu took in the scene before him with a bored glance, his eyes moving between Yu Xiao and Zhang Kui, and finally settling on the roses that they both held.


    He snapped at Yu Xiao, ¡°Why are you still here?¡±


    Yu Xiao: ¡°I¡¯m going.¡±


    Gu Shu: ¡°And don¡¯t bother me with this lame crap ever again.¡±


    Yu Xiao: ¡°¡­¡±


    Zhang Kui: ¡°!!!¡±


    ¡°Slam!¡±


    The door shut in their faces, and Yu Xiao and Zhang Kui froze in place. The hallway was silent, so silent that their hearts thudded in their ears.


    ¡°Gulp.¡± Zhang Kui¡¯s throat moved, and he jerked his hand away from the flowers, as if they had zapped him. He stared at Yu Xiao with a complex look, a mix of shock, comprehension, admiration, and bewilderment.


    ¡°You¡­¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t even think about it!¡± Yu Xiao¡¯s face twisted in anger. ¡°I already told you I found these on the ground!¡±


    ¡°¡­¡± Zhang Kui rubbed his nose, thinking: Who said you picked them yourself?


    ¡°Come on, let¡¯s go back, sleep.¡± Yu Xiao snatched the flowers and headed back. ¡°We can get out of here tomorrow when we locate the nurse.¡± Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Sure.¡± Zhang Kui nodded, and followed her.


    ¡°Hold on.¡± Yu Xiao abruptly halted him.


    Zhang Kui turned to her in astonishment, but met Yu Xiao¡¯s eyes blazing with fervour, as if they could ignite the frost and snow. Zhang Kui gulped again, and cautiously stepped back. What was she up to? She had just attempted to give him the roses, did she¡­


    ¡°Want to buy a talisman?¡± Yu Xiao¡¯s eyes glittered as she gazed at Zhang Kui. ¡°They¡¯re a steal, only three points each.¡±


    Zhang Kui: ¡°¡­What?¡±


    **


    Zhang Kui ended up with twenty talismans in his room, not because he was rich in points, but because he felt it was a waste not to buy such bargain talismans. He bought twenty by mistake. He lay on the hospital bed, and arranged the talismans one by one on the sheet, thinking that this girl named Yu Xiao was really¡­ he had no words for her.


    She was young, yet already wed. She was already wed, yet still dared to knock on the attending doctor¡¯s door with roses at midnight. She could also craft talismans, and had a stash of them. What challenge could she not overcome? Why did she bother with the attending doctor at midnight? The attending doctor clearly had no interest in her.


    **


    Yu Xiao slipped back into her room, where Zhou Xiao Zhen was snoring softly. She crawled onto the bed quietly, and lay there pondering the sixty points she had earned. She was so pleased that she couldn¡¯t stop grinning.


    With such a cheerful mood, she slept well until the sun came up. When she woke up, she was alone in the bed.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen walked out from the bathroom, and said, ¡°You¡¯re up. Misty wants us to join them for breakfast.¡±


    They were the last ones to get ready. As they stepped out of the room, they saw the others waiting in the hallway. Yu Xiao stretched and yawned, and scanned the crowd. She thought that she had to seize the opportunity to peddle her talismans to them. She loved such crowded instances, hehehe¡­ profit-making instances.


    ¡°Where are we having breakfast?¡± Yu Xiao asked.


    ¡°The hospital cafeteria,¡± Zhao Lan answered. ¡°The nurse told me it¡¯s on the first floor.¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s go then.¡± Yu Xiao said and was about to take off.


    ¡°Hold on.¡± Zhang Kui called out. ¡°We¡¯re missing someone.¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡± Yu Xiao scanned the area, and noticed that there was indeed one person absent. There were only eight people here.


    ¡°Where¡¯s Xiao Jun (Ф¾ü)?¡± A man said. ¡°I¡¯ll fetch him.¡±


    (Ф (Xi¨¤o) surname means ¡°imitate¡± or ¡°resemble¡±. ¾ü (J¨±n) is a male given name that means ¡°army¡± or ¡°military¡±. Ф¾ü surname + name could be interpreted as ¡°a military imitator¡± or ¡°a resembling army¡±.)


    He went to bang on the door of the person named Xiao Jun, but there was no answer. He turned the knob, and found it unlocked.


    The door opened, and a strong smell of blood hit him.


    His face went pale, and he ran in.


    ¡°Xiao Jun!!¡±


    There was no heartbeat under Xiao Jun¡¯s skin, only a gaping wound where his heart should have been. He stared at the ceiling with glassy eyes, as if he had seen something terrible in his last moments.


    Eight people stood around the bed. A boy, Qiao Ya (ÇÇÑÇ), clung to Xiao Jun¡¯s hand, sobbing uncontrollably. They were from the same ward.


    (ÇÇ (Qi¨¢o) surname means ¡°tall¡± or ¡°lofty¡±. ÑÇ (Y¨¤) is a unisex given name that means ¡°second¡± or ¡°inferior¡±. ÇÇÑÇ surname + name could be interpreted as ¡°a tall second¡± or ¡°a lofty inferior¡±.)


    ¡°I heard footsteps outside last night.¡± Zhang Kui looked at Yu Xiao, who had seen the guide. ¡°I went to check, but there was nothing. Did the guide warn you about this?¡±


    She shook her head. ¡°The guide said to avoid the morgue, that¡¯s all. It never mentioned any ghost that could rip out your heart while you slept.¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen felt a cold sweat on her forehead. She had been the ghost¡¯s target before, but she had warded her room with talismans. Had the ghost given up on her and chosen Xiao Jun instead?


    ¡°It¡¯s one of us!¡± Qiao Ya shouted, his voice hoarse from crying. ¡°Gu Shu said so, there¡¯s a traitor among us!¡±


    Yu Xiao frowned.


    ¡°But we tested everyone with talismans yesterday.¡± Zhao Lan reminded him.


    ¡°Those tests are useless!¡± Qiao Ya spat. ¡°How else do you explain Xiao Jun¡¯s death? There¡¯s a ghost hiding among us, and it killed him!¡±


    He pointed an accusing finger at Yu Xiao. ¡°Is it you? You¡¯re the only one who knows the guide. How come you can¡¯t explain this?¡±


    She felt a surge of anger and frustration. She scratched her eyebrow, a nervous habit. She gave him a sarcastic smile. ¡°If I was a ghost, don¡¯t you think I would have killed you all in the morgue?¡±


    He opened his mouth to retort, but Zhang Kui cut him off.


    ¡°Enough, enough!¡± He raised his voice. ¡°Yu Xiao is not a ghost. I can prove it.¡±


    He pulled out a handful of talismans from his pocket. They were all drawn by Yu Xiao, and sold to him for a fair price. ¡°Look at these. Do you think a ghost would have so many talismans on them?¡±


    The others gasped, and stared at Yu Xiao with awe and disbelief. ¡°You can draw talismans?¡±


    Yu Xiao cleared her throat, feeling awkward. ¡°Well, since you asked¡­¡± She glanced at the others in the ward, who were looking at her expectantly. ¡°I have some talismans here, for sale. Only three points each. They¡¯re very useful, trust me. Anyone interested?¡±


    ¡°Three points?¡± The word echoed in the room, followed by a surge of excitement. Talismans were usually expensive. These ones were a bargain. ¡°What kind of talismans are they?¡±


    ¡°Me! Me! I want to buy some!¡±


    ¡°How many do you have left?¡±


    ¡°Enough!¡± Qiao Ya snapped, cutting through the noise. He glared at them with contempt, then stormed out of the ward, slamming the door behind him.


    They exchanged guilty looks, then turned to Zhang Kui, who shrugged. ¡°Don¡¯t mind him. He just lost his friend. He¡¯s grieving.¡±


    Yu Xiao felt sorry for Qiao Ya, but she didn¡¯t let it show. If Zhang Kui hadn¡¯t reminded her, she wouldn¡¯t have brought up the talismans at all. She knew it was insensitive, but she needed the points. The others seemed to understand, too. They quickly resumed their bargaining, eager to get their hands on the talismans.


    Death was common here, after all. They had to do whatever it took to survive.


    The cafeteria on the first floor of the hospital was deserted, except for the seven of them. They sat at a long table, eating their bland food in silence.


    Yu Xiao slurped her vegetarian noodles, avoiding the meat dishes. She had a rule: never eat meat in the instance. You never knew what it was made of. She always opted for vegetarian food, whenever possible.


    Zhang Kui broke the silence, looking around. ¡°This hospital is not that big, you know. We could split up and search. It shouldn¡¯t be too hard to find a nurse.¡±


    No one objected. They just nodded, finished their food, and left.


    Yu Xiao teamed up with her roommates. They walked along the corridor on the fifth floor, scanning every nurse that passed by. They were looking for one without a bow tie. That was the clue.


    Zhao Lan sighed, watching the busy hospital staff. ¡°I have a bad feeling about this. Things are getting worse and worse.¡±


    Yu Xiao shared her sentiment. This instance was different from the one in the guide. She had a suspicion why. Gu Shu. He had followed her here, for revenge. He wouldn¡¯t let her go easily.


    ¡°Be careful.¡± She warned her companions. ¡°This instance is not going to be a walk in the park.¡±


    They nodded, and continued their search. Their eyes hurt from staring, but they didn¡¯t blink. They couldn¡¯t afford to miss a single nurse.


    But none of them matched the clue. They all wore bow ties.


    Damn Gu Shu!


    Yu Xiao rubbed her eyes. ¡°This is a bust. I¡¯ve seen every nurse here more times than I can count. She¡¯s not on this floor.¡±


    Zhao Lan tried to sound hopeful. ¡°Maybe we should check another floor. She might have moved around.¡±


    ¡°Argh!¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen wailed in misery. ¡°My eyes are killing me. I think I just saw SpongeBob over there¡­¡±


    Yu Xiao gave up on her eyes and rubbed her ears instead. ¡°This is hopeless. If I strain my eyes any more, I¡¯ll lose my hearing again.¡±


    She marched towards the nurse station, where a ghostly nurse with lifeless eyes was talking on the phone.


    Yu Xiao leaned over and whispered, ¡°I noticed a bow tie lying in the corridor, just like the one you¡¯re wearing.¡± She pointed at the nurse¡¯s neck, where a bow tie hung loosely. ¡°Did someone lose their bow tie?¡±


    The nurse raised her head and gawked at Yu Xiao. She looked at Yu Xiao¡¯s fair delicious looking finger pointing at her neck and gulped. ¡°I don¡¯t know. You can give me the bow tie and I¡¯ll deal with it.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s alright.¡± Yu Xiao said. ¡°I¡¯m staying in room four on the second floor. If the owner of the bow tie comes looking for it, tell her to find me in my room.¡±


    ¡°Ooh.¡± The nurse drooled over Yu Xiao. ¡°Are you inviting her to your room?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    The nurse wiped her mouth. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll pass the message. By the way, is she welcome to visit you anytime?¡±


    ¡°Anytime.¡± Yu Xiao smiled warmly.

 Chapter 71: It felt strange in her palm

    Yu Xiao spun on her heels and strode away, ignoring the nurse¡¯s covetous stare.


    ¡°Brilliant.¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen clapped her hands. ¡°This way we don¡¯t have to scour the whole building, the target will come to us.¡±


    Yu Xiao flashed a smug grin. She was a firm believer in the motto: laziness breeds innovation. She was not cut out for too much physical exertion.


    ¡°That¡¯s good too.¡± Zhao Lan agreed, but her brow furrowed. ¡°But I always have this nagging feeling that something is off.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s off?¡± Yu Xiao asked.


    ¡°Tsk¡­ I can¡¯t put my finger on it.¡± Zhao Lan massaged her temples, trying to shake off the uneasy sensation. She told herself it was just her imagination.


    The trio made their way back to the ward, where Yu Xiao ripped off the talismans that she had plastered on the doors and windows. Those paper charms were supposed to ward off evil spirits, but she now needed for the ghost to dare come inside.


    They settled in for a long wait, but nothing happened. Yu Xiao had barely slept the night before, and she felt her eyelids drooping. She fought to stay awake, ready for the ghost to appear.


    The minutes ticked by, and soon it was time for lunch.


    Yu Xiao couldn¡¯t leave the ward, in case the ghost showed up. Zhao Lan said: ¡°I¡¯ll go to the canteen with Precious and get some food. Smiley, what do you fancy?¡±


    ¡°Shredded potatoes (ÍÁ¶¹Ë¿).¡± Yu Xiao yawned. ¡°Only veggie stuff, no meat.¡±


    ¡°Okay.¡± Zhao Lan gave her a worried look. ¡°Be careful by yourself.¡±


    ¡°I know.¡± Yu Xiao said with a burst of energy.


    She wondered if it was a coincidence, or if the ghost sensed that Zhao Lan and Zhou Xiao Zhen were gone, but as soon as they left, Yu Xiao felt a familiar chill.


    A ghostly figure materialised in the ward, her skin mottled with decay and her hair tangled and wild.


    The morgue ghost?!


    Yu Xiao gasped, staring at the ghost. ¡°Are you the nurse I¡¯m looking for?!¡±


    The ghost shook her head, her eyes burning with resentment. She pointed a bony finger at the wall. Yu Xiao somehow grasped her meaning instantly. That was the direction of Gu Shu¡¯s room. The female ghost had sent flowers to Gu Shu last night, but he had ignored her today. She was heartbroken, and she came to Yu Xiao to vent her sorrow.


    Yu Xiao felt a pang of guilt as she faced the ghost. If she hadn¡¯t screwed up last night and made Gu Shu misunderstand, the ghost¡¯s gesture wouldn¡¯t have been in vain.


    She lowered her voice out of pity. ¡°Well¡­ Gu Shu, he is a respected doctor, you know. He is the kind of male ghost who doesn¡¯t care for flowers.¡±


    The ghost¡¯s eyes bled with eagerness, as if asking: ¡°What does he care for then?¡±


    ¡°What does he care for?¡± Yu Xiao scratched her head, clueless. Gu Shu probably wanted her head on a platter, since he hated her so much. But Yu Xiao was not one to give up her life for anyone. She racked her brain, and then remembered that Gu Shu was always sipping tea in Gu Village.


    ¡°He likes tea!¡± Yu Xiao declared confidently. ¡°You should send him some tea leaves instead.¡±


    The ghost mulled over her suggestion, and then drifted away from Yu Xiao¡¯s ward.


    Soon after she left, Zhao Lan and Zhou Xiao Zhen returned, along with the others who had gone out to search for the nurse.


    Everyone except Qiao Ya, who had stormed off in the morning, gathered in Yu Xiao¡¯s ward.


    Yu Xiao held the lunch box, munching and listening to their chatter.


    ¡°We combed through two floors, and checked every nurse, but we couldn¡¯t find the one who lost the bow tie.¡± Zhang Kui said with a worried frown.


    ¡°Neither did we. I wonder if something went wrong somewhere?¡±


    Unsure if their plan had gone awry, Yu Xiao pondered for a moment, but resolved to wait until nightfall. She recounted to them how she had enticed the target nurse into her room and added, ¡°We¡¯ll see what happens tonight. If she doesn¡¯t show up, we¡¯ll switch tactics tomorrow.¡±


    ¡°Sounds good.¡± Impressed by this girl from the fourth hospital, who always had a clever scheme up her sleeve, Zhang Kui said, ¡°We¡¯ll also be prepared tonight, in case we need to act.¡±


    They wrapped up their brief discussion. Zhang Kui got up to leave and said, ¡°We¡¯ll let you enjoy your meal, then. Just give us a ring if anything comes up.¡± sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He departed with the others. But as soon as he stepped out, he bumped into Qiao Ya.


    Qiao Ya looked like a different person from when he had stormed out that morning, seething with rage. His anger had faded, leaving him limp, dejected, and pitiful.


    ¡°Qiao Ya!¡± Zhang Kui called out to him. ¡°Where have you been?¡±


    Qiao Ya shot him a frosty look and headed back to his ward without a word.


    ¡°What¡¯s with him?¡± Someone grumbled at his rudeness. ¡°It¡¯s not like we¡¯re the ones who killed his friend. Why is he giving us the cold shoulder?¡±


    ¡°The worst part is that we have to drag him along, after all the hard work we did to find clues.¡±


    ¡°Enough, drop it.¡± Zhang Kui sighed internally. ¡°Just put yourself in his shoes. Anyone would be devastated by this kind of thing.¡±


    Yu Xiao couldn¡¯t keep her eyes open in the afternoon, so she curled up and dozed off for a while, with Zhao Lan and Zhou Xiao Zhen keeping watch in the ward.


    It was peaceful during this time. No one disturbed them, and no ghosts haunted them either.


    Yu Xiao stirred when darkness fell. She lingered in bed for three minutes before sitting up.


    Zhao Lan¡¯s voice startled her awake. ¡°Look who¡¯s finally up.¡± She pressed a cup of warm water into her hands. ¡°The others left for dinner. How about you? Hungry?¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen also blinked the sleep from her eyes and felt her stomach growl. ¡°Yeah, let¡¯s go. I¡¯m starving.¡±


    Yu Xiao watched them from the bed, holding the warm cup, her eyes darting to the door. ¡°You go ahead. I¡¯ll hold the fort.¡±


    ¡°Suit yourself. We won¡¯t be long.¡± Zhao Lan tugged Zhou Xiao Zhen along, who whimpered, ¡°I want some meat, please, please, please¡­ wuwuwu¡­¡±


    As they left, Zhao Lan flicked on the light switch. The fluorescent bulbs buzzed to life, casting a harsh glare over the room. Yu Xiao winced, shielding her eyes. She waited for a few moments, then slid off the bed and headed for the bathroom.


    She had only taken a couple of steps when she felt a chill run down her spine. The air in the ward had changed. A cold, dark presence filled the ward, making her skin crawl.


    She shivered and glanced at the door. Was her target here?


    No. The source of the darkness was not outside, but inside the ward.


    ¡°Thud~!¡±


    A heavy sound echoed behind her, like a ripe melon hitting the floor.


    ¡°Rattle rattle rattle~¡­¡±


    Then a rolling noise followed.


    Yu Xiao spun around, searching for the origin of the noise. She heard it coming from under the bed. She backed away, putting more distance between her and the bed.


    A black, watermelon-sized, misshapen sphere rolled out from under the bed. It stopped at Yu Xiao¡¯s feet and turned, revealing a woman¡¯s face, blood oozing from her eyes, nose, mouth, and ears.


    ¡°Hehehehehe~¡­¡±


    It was the severed head of the woman who had been staring at her from the window before they started this instance!


    The severed head of a woman had peered out of the window, scanning the three occupants of the ward with a malicious gaze. She counted them, one by one, as if marking them for death. Yu Xiao had slapped a talisman on the windowpane, and the head vanished with a hiss. She thought she had gotten rid of her for good, but she didn¡¯t expect the head to follow them into the instance!


    ¡°Hiii~i!¡± The head suddenly reappeared, opening her mouth wide enough to swallow a melon. She flew straight towards Yu Xiao¡¯s face, her hair whipping like snakes.


    **


    Meanwhile, outside the ward, a horde of nurses had gathered stealthily. They all wore the same nurse uniforms, but their skin was ashen and their lips were blood-red.


    They were not here for any noble purpose, but for a more primal one. They had smelled a delicious and tempting aroma, a patient who had invited them to her ward¡­ Well, not them exactly, but they couldn¡¯t resist such a rare opportunity.


    How long had it been since they had tasted fresh flesh and blood?


    Especially that of a young woman, whose flavour was unforgettable once sampled¡­


    They crowded around the door of ward number four, where a loud thudding noise was coming from. They didn¡¯t care what was causing it, as long as there was someone alive inside.


    With their tongues lolling out and their saliva dripping down their chins, they eagerly pushed the door open, hoping to feast their eyes on their prey.


    There she was, the woman they had come for. She stood by the bed, hunched over, one hand balled into a fist, the other clutching something.


    Something that looked like a clump of jet-black hair.


    Something that had a head attached to it.


    That head¡­ it was a gruesome sight. Blood oozed from every hole, and one of its eyes had burst out of its socket, dangling on its cheek with a mess of nerves and veins. Its sharp teeth had been knocked out, and the white specks on the floor¡­ were its teeth?


    She was swinging the head by the hair, using it as a flail¡­


    That was what made the ¡°thud thud¡± sound, the nurses realised.


    **


    All of a sudden, a horde of ghosts invaded her ward, causing Yu Xiao to abruptly stop what she was doing. She quickly turned her head and noticed an increased number of nurses, yet none of them were the one she was looking for. All of them were wearing bow ties around their necks.


    ¡°What¡­¡± Yu Xiao spat out in a hostile tone: ¡°What do you want?¡±


    The nurses: ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°Wuuu wuuu~¡­¡± The head ghost finally got some air, and seized the opportunity to wail.


    The miserable sight of their ghost comrade¡¯s severed head made the nurses recoil in horror, their eyes darting around the dimly lit room. They glanced at the flickering lights and than cracked tiles as if saying:


    ¡°Oh no¡­ this is not the right room!¡±


    ¡°Yes yes yes, we got the wrong room¡­¡±


    Without wasting another second, they spun on their high heels and sprinted away, as if pursued by a vengeful spirit.


    Yu Xiao tossed the bodiless ghost onto the table with a disdainful gesture and followed them. She was determined to catch them.


    Surprisingly fast, the ghost nurses gave Yu Xiao a hard time as she struggled to keep up with them. After rounding the corner, she was met with their sudden disappearance down the stairs. Cursing under her breath, she thought, ¡°You can run, but you can¡¯t hide!¡±


    Taking a moment to catch her breath, she felt her heart pounding in her chest. Slowly walking back, she tried to calm down.


    Passing by Gu Shu¡¯s room, Yu Xiao noticed something he had left outside his door. Leaning in, she discovered a box of tea leaves, wrapped in fancy paper.


    Rolling her eyes, she couldn¡¯t help but wonder, ¡°What was wrong with this him? What did he do to deserve meeting such a nice love-struck ghost in the first place?¡±


    Just as she was about to walk away, a sound from inside the room caught her attention. A surge of panic overwhelmed her, and the next moment, the door swung open.


    Standing there with an emotionless face, Gu Shu stared at Yu Xiao, who still had a flush on her face (from the chase), and then at the elegant tea leaves box on the floor.


    Gu Shu¡¯s voice was bitter and cold. ¡°Why did I even bother?¡± he muttered, before slamming the door in Yu Xiao¡¯s face.


    Yu Xiao blinked, stunned. She scratched her head, wondering what she had done to offend him. She was just walking by, minding her own business.


    **


    Meanwhile, Zhao Lan and Zhou Xiao Zhen returned to the ward with their meals, only to find the place in shambles. It looked like someone had ransacked it, and there was no sign of Yu Xiao.


    ¡°Where the hell is Smiley?¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen exclaimed, as she set the food box on the table.


    ¡°What is this?¡± She wondered when she saw a black, round object on the table. She reached out to grab it, curious.


    It felt strange in her palm. Like a clump of wet hair clogging the drain. She flipped it over and gasped in horror.


    It was a ghastly ghost head, with one eye dangling from its socket, and its tongue lolling out.


    ¡°Aaaaah¡ª!!!1¡±

 Chapter 72: Second Kill

    A scream pierced the air, making everyone jump. Yu Xiao dashed back to her ward, colliding with Zhang Kui and his group.


    ¡°What the hell?!¡± Yu Xiao demanded.


    ¡°I have no clue.¡± Zhang Kui wiped the sweat from his brow. ¡°Didn¡¯t it come from your ward?¡±


    He had barely finished his sentence when a black object soared out of the ward and flew towards them. Yu Xiao dodged it nimbly, while Zhang Kui caught it with a smug grin.


    ¡°What is this crap?¡± Zhang Kui examined his catch, and then his eyes widened in horror.


    It was a mangled ghost head, with one eye hanging loose and its tongue sticking out.


    ¡°Yikes!!!¡± That was the shriek of the people around Zhang Kui.


    Zhang Kui alone remained cool and collected, as if he was immune to fear. Yu Xiao felt a surge of respect for him, thinking that he was a true veteran of the third hospital, much more dependable than those who panicked at everything.


    But then, Zhang Kui collapsed.


    ¡°Thud!¡±


    He hit the floor with a loud noise, raising a cloud of dust. His feet twitched slightly.


    ¡°Oh, crap¡­¡± Yu Xiao was shocked. She snatched the ghost head by the hair and yanked it out of his hand, then crouched down and slapped Zhang Kui¡¯s face. ¡°Zhang Kui, Zhang Kui! Snap out of it, this thing can¡¯t hurt you anymore¡­¡±


    The others watched Yu Xiao holding the head in her hand, and they were awestruck by her courage. Inspired by her example, they regained their composure and stopped being so terrified.


    Jiang Wu, Zhang Kui¡¯s friend and fellow survivor from the third hospital, came over. He gave Yu Xiao a sheepish smile. ¡°Sorry, Old Zhang is brave, but he has a bad history with severed heads like this. Why don¡¯t you take a break? I¡¯ll take care of him.¡±


    They were friends, so Yu Xiao trusted him. She moved aside, holding the ghost head, and watched Jiang Wu directly mount Zhang Kui. He rolled up his sleeves and slapped Zhang Kui hard on both cheeks. ¡°Zhang, snap out of it!¡±


    ¡°Damn!¡± Yu Xiao shivered as she saw his vicious swings. Did he have a bone to pick with Zhang Kui? He looked like he was getting even.


    After a few more slaps, Zhang Kui finally came to.


    ¡°Zhang, you¡¯re back,¡± Jiang Wu said cheerfully, rubbing his sore hands. ¡°That hurt!¡±


    ¡°Son of a¡­¡± Zhang Kui spat out a curse as he opened his eyes. ¡°He¡¯s just using this as an excuse to hit me.¡±


    He leaned on Jiang Wu and sat up. He saw a crowd of people staring at him. He felt a flush of shame and muttered, ¡°Um¡­ Did that head ghost go away?¡±


    ¡°Not yet,¡± Yu Xiao handed him the ghost head. ¡°Still here.¡±


    Zhang Kui: ¡°¡­¡±


    He barely managed to stay conscious, saving some dignity. His face was ashen, and he got up, hiding behind Jiang Wu and shivering. ¡°What the hell is that?¡±


    Just then, Zhao Lan and Zhou Xiao Zhen came out and saw Yu Xiao with the head.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen asked, ¡°Smiley, how did she get into the instance? I saw her on the table earlier and nearly had a heart attack.¡±


    ¡°I have no idea,¡± Yu Xiao said apologetically to everyone. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, this is not a ghost from the instance. This is a ghost we met in the ward. I didn¡¯t think she would follow us here, and scare you all. I¡¯m really sorry.¡±


    A ghost from the ward can follow us into the instance?


    Everyone gasped, and Zhang Kui, who had snapped out of his shock, asked: ¡°Can you attract ghosts in the ward too?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡± Yu Xiao nodded: ¡°I peeked behind the curtain before eight o¡¯clock, and I saw this ghost.¡±


    ¡°Jesus¡­ you guys are insane¡­¡±


    The others stared at her in disbelief, mixed with a hint of curiosity. They had come from the Fourth Hospital, and they were not greenhorns. How did they not know how dangerous it was outside the window at night?


    Yu Xiao dragged the head into the ward and tied the hair of the female head ghost to the infusion stand. This caused her to dangle in the air, resembling a saline bag. She proceeded to open the food that Misty and Precious had brought back and resumed the ongoing meeting with the others while munching.


    She told them what had happened that afternoon, except for the mix-up with Gu Shu. Then she said, ¡°This afternoon, I waited for many nurses, but none of them was the one I sought.¡± Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Wow~¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen gushed: ¡°Sister Xiao, that sounds so poetic, like the angsty literature I love.¡±


    ¡°¡­Anyway, this plan of baiting the enemy failed.¡± Yu Xiao said: ¡°We have to switch to a new plan tomorrow.¡±


    ¡°Hmm.¡± Zhang Kui nodded and asked: ¡°Do you have any suggestions?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡± Yu Xiao said: ¡°Since this female ghost came out to kill the jerk who betrayed her, we just need to find that jerk, and we can find the female ghost, right?¡±


    Her logic was sound, but the others still had a question, ¡°But who is the jerk?¡±


    Yu Xiao and the others exchanged glances, and after a pause, Zhao Lan said: ¡°I scouted the hospital today, and most of the nurses in this hospital are female, and there are not many males. Excluding the old ones, there are not many men left. We have a lot of people, we can split up and check tomorrow, and we should be able to find that jerk.¡±


    They had no other option in this situation, and it was not their first rodeo. It was a piece of cake for them.


    ¡°Alright, everyone get some shut-eye tonight.¡± Zhang Kui lifted a finger and said: ¡°Just a heads-up, to avoid any mishaps tonight, you need to seal the doors and windows with talismans before you hit the sack, got it?¡±


    They all nodded, already aware of that, and they had also stocked up on talismans from Yu Xiao today. They had plenty to spare.


    After they dispersed, Zhou Xiao Zhen fretted: ¡°The ghost that kills people, it couldn¡¯t be the one that¡¯s haunting me, could it?¡±


    Yu Xiao shook her head, patting her hat-covered head. ¡°Not likely.¡± She reassured her. ¡°Don¡¯t sweat it, no one will get into trouble tonight.¡±


    **


    Yu Xiao¡¯s eyes snapped open in the dead of night, and she caught the sound of footsteps sprinting outside the door. She used to sleep like a baby, but ever since she used the spirit card, her sleep quality had plummeted. It was odd, Yu Xiao mused as she lay on the bed, the morgue ghost had already delivered the tea leaves, so why did she still hear footsteps?


    She strained her ears for a while, but the sound faded away. So she shut her eyes, and resolved to handle anything after she got up.


    ¡°Ah¡ª!!!¡±


    A shriek pierced the air, and Yu Xiao and Zhou Xiao Zhen, who were snoozing peacefully, jolted awake simultaneously.


    ¡°What¡¯s going on? What¡¯s going on?¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen looked bewildered, lying on the bed and spotting the ghost head dangling on the infusion stand, she snapped: ¡°Is it you who¡¯s screaming?¡±


    The female head ghost felt very aggrieved, her toothless mouth puckered into a swollen ball, and tears rolled down.


    ¡°Quit crying, if you soil the sheets I¡¯ll strangle you.¡± Yu Xiao glared at her, flung the quilt aside and said: ¡°Something¡¯s wrong, it¡¯s someone else who¡¯s screaming.¡±


    Just like yesterday morning, everyone congregated again in front of a door.


    Yu Xiao sauntered over, Zhao Lan gazed at her with concern, and then shook her head and gestured to the ward. Zhang Kui stood at the door with a sour face, and everyone was equally terrified and anxious.


    ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± Yu Xiao strode to the door, ¡°Did something happen again?¡±


    Zhang Kui¡¯s brow furrowed as he nodded slowly. ¡°Lu Chao (³³¬) is dead,¡± he said, his voice low and grave. ¡°He died just like Xiao Jun did yesterday.¡±


    (³ (L¨³) is a surname that means ¡°rude¡± or ¡°crude¡±. It is also the name of an ancient state in China, where Confucius was born.


    ³¬ (Ch¨¡o) is a unisex given name that means ¡°super¡± or ¡°surpass¡±. It can also imply excellence or ambition.


    ³³¬ could be interpreted as ¡°a crude surpasser¡± or ¡°a super rude person¡±)


    Yu Xiao stepped into the ward, and a wave of metallic blood-scent hit her nostrils. She wrinkled her nose and made her way to the bed, where a shell-shocked man stood, staring blankly at his friend¡¯s corpse. She followed his gaze and saw Lu Chao sprawled on his back, his chest a gaping hole.


    There was no doubt that the same ghost had struck again, but where had it come from?


    The guide had only listed three ghosts in this hospital: the morgue ghost, who had a crush on Gu Shu; the vengeful nurse ghost, who hunted down her cheating ex-boyfriend; and the ex-boyfriend ghost himself, who lurked in the shadows, avoiding the nurse¡¯s wrath.


    None of them seemed like the culprit.


    The morgue ghost was too busy flirting with Gu Shu to bother with anyone else. The vengeful nurse ghost had a clear target and motive, and she wouldn¡¯t waste her time on random victims. And the ex-boyfriend ghost¡­ he barely had any presence in the guide, always hiding and running from the nurse. He wouldn¡¯t dare to be so bold and brazen.


    So what kind of ghost was the killer?


    Yu Xiao turned around, and something caught her attention.


    She walked over to the door and reached out to touch the thunder charm hanging on it.


    A sense of alarm washed over her. ¡°Something is not right,¡± she said, her voice sharp. ¡°The talisman is still intact, so how did the ghost manage to bypass it and kill him?¡±


    The others followed her and saw for themselves. The talisman was still on the door, unbroken and undisturbed.


    Zhang Kui, who had witnessed many horrors, felt a chill run down his spine. ¡°What kind of ghost can ignore the talisman and enter the room to kill?¡±


    Yu Xiao¡¯s head moved from side to side, a silent denial. ¡°I¡¯ve never seen one before.¡±


    A wave of shock rippled through the group, their eyes wide and fearful. The talismans that they had plastered on their bodies were supposed to protect them from the ghost, but now they realised they were as vulnerable as anyone else.


    ¡°Hehehehe¡­¡±


    A sudden cackle pierced the air, making them jump. Outside the door, Qiao Ya¡¯s pale face was twisted into a mocking grin.


    ¡°You¡¯re all doomed¡­¡± He rasped, his laughter turning into a cough. ¡°The ghost is one of us, it will slaughter us all!¡±


    ¡°Shut your mouth!¡±


    One of them snapped, losing his patience. ¡°Damn it, you mourn for your friend, but you rejoice when others die, and you have the nerve to laugh¡­¡±


    Yu Xiao felt a chill run down her spine, as she recalled something and bit her lip. The footsteps that had haunted her last night were not from the morgue ghost, just like the ones from the night before.


    ¡°You¡­¡± She turned to Zhang Kui, her voice trembling. ¡°Did you hear any footsteps last night?¡±


    ¡°Hmm?¡± Zhang Kui blinked, confused. He shook his head and said: ¡°No, I had the talismans on the doors and windows last night, I slept like a log, I didn¡¯t hear any footsteps.¡±


    Yu Xiao spoke in a low voice. ¡°I heard it.¡±


    Zhang Kui gasped, his eyes wide. ¡°You mean¡­¡±


    Yu Xiao spun around and glanced at Qiao Ya, who was fighting with someone outside. She said: ¡°It¡¯s possible, just possible, that he¡¯s telling the truth. The ghost is one of us. But who?¡±


    Zhang Kui shook his head, bewildered. ¡°But we all tested ourselves with the talismans.¡±


    ¡°Testing doesn¡¯t prove anything.¡± Yu Xiao pointed at the door of the ward. ¡°Lu Chao had the talismans on his door, but the ghost still got him.¡±


    Zhao Lan leaned in and whispered: ¡°Did you hear any footsteps last night?¡±


    ¡°Hmm.¡± Yu Xiao nodded.


    ¡°What did they sound like?¡± Zhao Lan asked. ¡°Which way were they going?¡±


    Yu Xiao paused and said: ¡°From left to right.¡±


    Yu Xiao and Zhou Xiao Zhen shared the fourth ward, which was in the centre of the eight wards. If the footsteps belonged to the ghost, it meant that the ghost came from one of the four wards on the left.


    ¡°I heard them too.¡± Zhang Kui said. ¡°Also from left to right.¡±


    Zhang Kui stayed in the fifth ward, and he had three wards on his left. They were the seventh ward where Xiao Jun slept, and the sixth ward where Lu Chao died.


    Now that Xiao Jun and Lu Chao were both gone, the only one left was Qiao Ya, who occupied the eighth ward?


    The three of them stared in disbelief at the nearly mad Qiao Ya. Could he be the ghost?

 Chapter 73: From Left to Right

    ¡°Don¡¯t go near him!¡±


    With a cry of warning, Zhang Kui lunged forward, clutching a talisman in his fist. He tackled Qiao Ya to the ground, pinning him with his weight. His other hand slammed the talisman onto Qiao Ya¡¯s forehead, hoping to see sparks of thunder.


    But nothing happened. The talisman was useless, and Qiao Ya kept thrashing under him.


    ¡°Damn it!¡± Zhang Kui cursed, tossing the talisman aside. He gripped Qiao Ya¡¯s arms with both hands, trying to restrain him. He looked over his shoulder at Yu Xiao and said: ¡°This thing doesn¡¯t work on him!¡±


    Yu Xiao and Zhao Lan hurried to his side, while the others watched with shock and confusion. Why did Zhang Kui attack Qiao Ya? Wasn¡¯t he a generous and kind person? Did he hate Qiao Ya so much that he wanted to hurt him?


    Or was there something else going on?


    Yu Xiao crouched down and examined Qiao Ya¡¯s face. He was covered in dirt and sweat, and his eyes were wild and bloodshot. He twisted and turned on the ground, as if he was in pain or rage.


    ¡°He might not be a ghost.¡± Yu Xiao said softly, feeling a strange intuition.


    A ghost who disguised as a human would try to blend in and avoid suspicion. Qiao Ya had done the opposite in the past two days. He had been rude, gloomy, and provocative.


    ¡°But he¡¯s the only one who lives on the left side.¡± Zhang Kui argued, still holding Qiao Ya down. ¡°The night before last, I heard it. Last night, you heard it. The ghost always came from the left side.¡±


    That was the part that puzzled Yu Xiao. She didn¡¯t think Qiao Ya looked like a ghost, but the evidence seemed to point to him.


    ¡°What if we do this.¡± Yu Xiao proposed: ¡°Let¡¯s tie him up, and today we¡¯ll follow our plan to find that bastard. Tonight, we¡¯ll have someone watch him. If nothing happens tonight, then he¡¯s the ghost.¡±


    ¡°Wait, what?¡± Jiang Wu interjected, baffled by the conversation. ¡°You think Qiao Ya is a ghost?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡± Zhang Kui nodded and said: ¡°Did I tell you yesterday that I heard footsteps outside in the middle of the night?¡±


    ¡°You did.¡± Jiang Wu said: ¡°You also said you went out to check, but you found nothing. Then you bumped into Yu Xiao.¡±


    ¡°Right, and last night Yu Xiao heard footsteps too¡­¡± Zhang Kui explained their reasoning, and the others nodded slowly, as if they understood.


    They all nodded in agreement, whether out of fear, suspicion, or annoyed for Qiao Ya. It seemed like the most plausible explanation.


    Qiao Ya, pinned to the ground by Zhang Kui, let out a maniacal laugh. ¡°You¡¯re all going to die¡­ you¡¯re all going to die¡­¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen felt a twinge of pity in her chest. ¡°Even if he¡¯s not a ghost, he¡¯s crazy.¡± She said, ¡°Let¡¯s tie him up and leave him alone.¡±


    The others scattered to find a rope, while Yu Xiao stayed behind, deep in thought. She had a nagging feeling that something was wrong.


    Zhao Lan leaned close to Zhou Xiao Zhen and whispered: ¡°What¡¯s the matter? Do you feel sorry for him?¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen shook her head, but her voice was uncertain. ¡°No, not really. I just think he might not be the ghost. I¡­ I was thinking about us. If something happened to you, I would probably lose it too.¡±


    Zhao Lan didn¡¯t say anything. She rested her head on Precious shoulder and looked away.


    They managed to tie up Qiao Ya, who was still laughing and struggling. Then they decided who would watch over him. They chose Jiang Wu, who had been at the third hospital for a long time. He had a lot of experience and a handful of talismans. He could handle Qiao Ya.


    The rest of them continued their search. Their target for today was the scumbag who had broken the pretty nurse¡¯s heart.


    Yu Xiao and her two friends went to the sixth floor of the hospital, where there were three male doctors. They started with the first one.


    ¡°I don¡¯t think it¡¯s him.¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen said, shaking her head. ¡°He¡¯s too old. How could a young nurse fall for him?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s not always the case.¡± Zhao Lan argued. ¡°Maybe the nurse liked older men. Maybe she wanted his money.¡±


    ¡°I doubt it¡­¡± Yu Xiao said, unconvinced. ¡°The guide said that the nurse ghost loved the doctor. Why don¡¯t we ask around?¡±


    They entered the resident doctor¡¯s office, where they found a doctor in his sixties, with bags under his eyes so big that looked like they could hold water.


    The old ghost doctor felt his spine chill under the intense stares of the six eyes. ¡°What do you want from me? Is there a problem?¡±


    ¡°We need to ask you something personal.¡± Yu Xiao said, her voice calm and cold. ¡°Would you mind answering us?¡±


    ¡°Uh, no, of course not.¡± The old doctor glanced nervously at Yu Xiao, who already had a reputation for being ruthless and violent. He didn¡¯t dare to say no to her.


    ¡°Good.¡± Yu Xiao continued. ¡°Do you have a relationship with one of the nurses?¡±


    (Å®ÅóÓÑ: is a term for a female romantic partner. It can also imply a sexual relationship.)


    The old doctor choked on his own breath.


    ¡°How dare you?!¡± he sputtered, his face turning red with anger. ¡°That¡¯s slander! You can¡¯t accuse me of such things!¡±


    Zhao Lan smirked and leaned in closer to him, her eyes sharp and cunning. ¡°Why are you so defensive? Do you think we¡¯re here for fun? We have evidence, you know. Why else would we single you out?¡±


    The old doctor fell silent, his mouth twitching.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen rolled her eyes. She thought this was a waste of time. She didn¡¯t buy that the nurse ghost had a crush on this old geezer.


    ¡°Please, please, don¡¯t tell anyone!¡± The old doctor suddenly dropped to his knees, his hands clasped together. ¡°If my wife finds out, she¡¯ll kill me!¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen: ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ll keep your secret.¡± Yu Xiao said, her gaze piercing through the old doctor¡¯s soul. ¡°But you have to tell us the truth. How many girlfriends do you have? Who are they?¡±


    ¡°Only Xiao Fang (С·¼)!¡± The old doctor blurted out, his face showing a mix of guilt and affection. ¡°It was a mistake at first, but then we fell in love with each other¡¯s souls¡­¡±


    Yu Xiao narrowed her eyes. ¡°Did Xiao Fang come to work today?¡±


    ¡°Yes, she did.¡± The old doctor smiled sheepishly. ¡°She told me this morning that she wanted to have lunch with me.¡±


    **


    Zhou Xiao Zhen doubted her life and sighed. ¡°You have a point, Misty. Some people do have a preference for older ones.¡± She glanced at the wrinkled man with a sour expression. ¡°But that ancient relic is surely not the one we¡¯re looking for.¡±


    Yu Xiao gave her a reassuring smile. ¡°Don¡¯t lose hope. We still have male doctor number two to check out.¡±


    Male doctor number two was supposedly a man in his late thirties. In theory, forty was not old, and with proper care, he could even pass for handsome. But this number two, judging by the photo, had no trace of allure left, only repulsion.


    He must have tipped the scales at 400 kg, and suffered from a severe case of baldness.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen cringed and rubbed her chin. ¡°He¡­ he can¡¯t be the one either.¡± She shuddered at the thought. ¡°I would never accept him.¡±


    Misty, who had seen more of the world, chided her. ¡°Don¡¯t be so harsh, some people like plump ones.¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen remained unconvinced. ¡°Even if some people like plump ones, I doubt anyone likes bald ones.¡±


    Yu Xiao shrugged and suggested. ¡°Why don¡¯t we just find him and ask him, then? It shouldn¡¯t take long.¡±


    Once more, they found themselves in the resident doctor¡¯s office, sitting across from doctor number two.


    Doctor number two wiped his sweat, and in the process, dislodged the hair that covered the centre of his scalp, exposing a large oily bald spot. He gasped and trembled, and hastily gathered his hair back with both hands. The result was disastrous, the dandruff flew like snowflakes in the northern wind¡­


    Yu Xiao swiftly scooted her stool back a notch. ¡°Calm down, we just have a question for you.¡±


    The doctor forced a laugh. ¡°Ah¡­ ask away, ask away.¡±


    Yu Xiao: ¡°Do you have a girlfriend?¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    She couldn¡¯t fathom what was wrong with that question, but the doctor¡¯s face darkened in an instant. In a matter of seconds, his eyes brimmed with tears.


    ¡°Is this some kind of cruel joke?¡±


    Yu Xiao and her two friends were stunned. ¡°We didn¡¯t mean that¡­¡±


    ¡°If I had a girlfriend, do you think I would spend every day in this hospital? Wuu wuu wuu wuu~, you are meanies~¡­¡±


    **


    Zhao Lan surveyed the last candidate on the list with a cool eye. ¡°He¡¯s the final one,¡± she announced. ¡°And he seems to have it all: youth, charm, and success. Just what we need for our project!¡±


    The third doctor barely looked a day over thirty. He stood tall and lean, his fair skin contrasting with his dark hair and eyes. His features were sharp and striking, and his smile was dazzling enough to rival the sun. A far cry from those dreary fellows like Gu Shu!


    ¡°Hello,¡± Yu Xiao greeted him, her voice sweetening at the sight of such a handsome man. ¡°Do you mind if I ask you something?¡±


    The third doctor flashed his pearly whites, ¡°Not at all, go ahead.¡±


    ¡°Do you have a girlfriend?¡±


    He shook his head, his gaze dropping shyly. ¡°No, I don¡¯t. I¡¯m too busy with my work right now.¡±


    ¡°I see,¡± Yu Xiao nodded. ¡°And what are you looking for in your future girlfriend?¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen raised an eyebrow.


    He rubbed his neck, his cheeks turning pink. ¡°Well, I don¡¯t really have any specific criteria,¡± he admitted. ¡°As long as she¡¯s beautiful and kind, then I¡­¡±


    ¡°Is that so?¡± Yu Xiao smiled, leaning closer. ¡°How fortunate, because I happen to meet those standards¡­¡±


    ¡°Ahem!¡± Zhao Lan cleared her throat. ¡°Don¡¯t forget the crucial question.¡±


    Yu Xiao straightened up, ¡°Oh, right. I also have some expectations for my future boyfriend. He can¡¯t have more than three ex-girlfriends!¡±


    His eyes widened, his excitement palpable. ¡°I pass! I¡¯ve never even had a girlfriend before!¡±


    **


    They trudged to the cafeteria in a sombre procession, their faces etched with defeat. Another day wasted in this hellish place.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen pushed the radish around her plate, barely tasting it. ¡°It has to be Gu Shu, the bastard. He¡¯s playing us for fools.¡±


    Yu Xiao shook her head. ¡°We can¡¯t prove anything. And we have time on our side. This instance doesn¡¯t have a deadline. We can stay here as long as we need to.¡±


    Zhao Lan nodded. ¡°That¡¯s true. We just have to keep our cool and not panic.¡±


    They were soon joined by the others, who had equally dismal news. No one had made any breakthroughs.


    With heavy hearts, they returned to their wards and settled in for the night. They will regroup and rethink their plan tomorrow.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen snored loudly, having twisted herself into an awkward position. Yu Xiao lay awake, staring at the ceiling. She couldn¡¯t stop thinking about the footsteps she had heard for the last two nights.


    A sudden realisation hit her. The footsteps always went from left to right, but why did they go right? Qiao Ya was in the eighth ward, the farthest to the left. If he was the ghost, why would he kill the people in the seventh and sixth wards and then walk to the right? S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Qiao Ya was not the ghost!


    Yu Xiao felt a chill run down her spine. The ghost was not on the left. It was on the right. That¡¯s why it passed by her ward every night. Because it was going back to its own room on the right after murdering someone.


    She bolted out of bed and slipped out of the room, leaving Zhou Xiao Zhen to her snores.


    She crept to the right, scanning the wards on that side. The fourth ward was hers, the third ward was Misty¡¯s. The first ward belonged to Jiang Hai (½­º£) from the Fourth Hospital, the second ward to Jiang Wu (½¯Îä) from the Third Hospital. If there was a ghost among them, it had to be one of them.


    (tn: They don¡¯t have the same surname, it¡¯s just written the same in English. :P)


    She reached the door of the first ward. She recalled that when Gu Shu first claimed that one of them was not human, everyone pointed fingers at Jiang Hai, because he was the only loner here.


    She was about to peek inside, when she noticed a box of tea leaves on the floor in front of Gu Shu¡¯s door. How nice, the morgue ghost had switched to black tea today.


    She was so absorbed in her thoughts that she bumped into the wall behind her. ¡°Ow¡­¡±


    There was a sound from Gu Shu¡¯s room. Yu Xiao remembered what happened last time. She didn¡¯t hesitate. She ran for her life.


    Gu Shu opened the door and looked around. He spotted a familiar silhouette darting away in a panic. He glanced down. There was a box of pricey black tea at his doorstep.

 Chapter 74: Do you fear pain?

    Gu Shu¡¯s eyes lingered on the spot where Yu Xiao had vanished, a slight frown creasing his brow. He should have slammed the door in her face, but the black tea she had left behind was a rare temptation for him¡­


    He remained rooted at the doorway, unmoving, until a dark shape slithered past him, radiating a thick yin aura. The shape paused and peered at him with curiosity.


    Gu Shu shot the shape a glacial stare, and the shape shuddered, averting its gaze. He stooped to pick up the black tea, and shut the door with a loud bang.


    The shape froze for a moment, then resumed its wandering. Its steps were barely audible, like a feather drifting on the floor.


    Yu Xiao sprinted back to her ward, her heart pounding. She locked the door behind her, and berated herself. This was absurd, it always happened like this, thank goodness she had escaped in time.


    She vowed to never pass by Gu Shu¡¯s room again, even if she had to go out at night. She was glad the morgue ghost was unaware of this, or she would have gone mad.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen, who lay alone on the bed, shifted her position, and her snoring ceased. The ward was silent. With the faint light from the corridor seeping through the door, Yu Xiao climbed onto the bed. She felt drowsy, closed her eyes, and soon sank into a gentle dream.


    **


    It was past midnight, and Zhang Kui in ward number five was still awake. He had been waiting, waiting for the sound of footsteps to echo. If there was no sound of footsteps tonight, then the ghost was Qiao Ya.


    He didn¡¯t know why, but he felt uneasy tonight, as if something was about to happen.


    **


    The light was still on in ward number eight, and Qiao Ya was strapped to the bed. Jiang Wu sat on a chair beside him, fiddling with his phone. There was an icon of a Third Hospital Patient Exchange Forum on his phone, and he tapped it repeatedly, each time he could access his personal information in the background, but the forum homepage displayed that it was out of service and could not be opened.


    As the clock struck midnight, he rose from his seat and checked the time.


    Qiao Ya lay on the bed, his face devoid of any emotion, still muttering to himself: ¡°It¡¯s among us¡­ It¡¯s among us¡­¡±


    Jiang Wu strode to the bedside, looming over him, the light casting his tall shadow over Qiao Ya.


    Qiao Ya stirred slightly, his eyes darted, and his dull gaze met Jiang Wu¡¯s.


    Jiang Wu leaned down and untied the rope that bound the mad man. Qiao Ya blinked in surprise, staring blankly at him. Then he saw Jiang Wu¡¯s face contort in agony, his features crumpling together. He was like a butterfly about to emerge from its cocoon, writhing in pain, forcing his way out from the small opening on his head.


    ¡°Thud.¡±


    Jiang Wu collapsed to the floor, like a discarded rag. Qiao Ya didn¡¯t spare him a glance, he looked ahead with horror and dread. He realised then, why he had felt something was off when he spoke to Xiao Jun that day, why he had felt a weird sense of alienation when he was with Xiao Jun.


    The horrifying shadow was drawing nearer and nearer, Qiao Ya understood everything, but it was too late.


    **


    A white shadow drifted to the door of ward number eight, the door was ajar, so she just slipped in. There was a person lying on the ground, the white shadow scrutinised the person on the ground, this was the man who had killed her. She had studied him closely during the day and had sensed him inside. She wanted to rip out his heart, she needed his heart¡­


    **


    Jiang Wu came to his senses groggily, his last memory was hearing someone knock on the door. He opened the door, and the person outside was Lu Chao. He assumed Lu Chao had something to ask him, so he let him in, and then he blacked out.


    Jiang Wu opened his eyes, and the first thing he saw was a pair of long and sharp claws, and then a pair of eyes filled with hatred.


    **


    After a long while, Zhang Kui in ward number five jolted, he heard the sound of footsteps again!


    Without a second thought, Zhang Kui dashed out. He looked left and right, and saw a shadow flicker on the right.


    ¡°It¡¯s here!¡± Zhang Kui yelled, ¡°It¡¯s here again!!¡±


    He shouted again, his voice echoing in the dark corridor, and sprinted towards the eighth ward. That was where they had locked up Qiao Ya.


    **


    Yu Xiao was jolted awake by the sound of his frantic voice. She blinked, trying to clear the fog from her mind, and felt a sharp pain in her temples. A constant ringing filled her ears, a sign that her hearing was deteriorating. She swung her legs off the bed, hoping that her deafness would not strike at the worst possible moment.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen also rose from her bed, rubbing her eyes. She glanced at the clock and ran her fingers through her messy hair, ¡°Another incident?¡±


    ¡°It looks like it.¡± Yu Xiao followed the others who had rushed out of the ward, but she did not see Zhang Kui. Where was he?


    Then, a blood-curdling scream pierced the air, coming from the direction of the eighth ward.


    ¡°Ahhh¡ª!!!¡±


    ¡°Old Wu!!¡±


    They all ran towards the source of the scream, but as soon as they entered the ward, they were assaulted by a nauseating stench of blood. Yu Xiao stepped forward, covering her nose with her hand, and saw Zhang Kui on the floor, cradling Jiang Wu¡¯s lifeless body in his arms.


    ¡°Old Wu!!¡± Zhang Kui sobbed, his tears mixing with the blood that stained his clothes. He was a towering man, almost two metres tall, but he looked like a broken child at that moment.


    Yu Xiao gasped, her eyes widening in horror. How did Jiang Wu die? She looked around, and saw Qiao Ya in the corner, his ropes undone, his body curled into a ball, his hands over his head.


    ¡°It was Qiao Ya who killed him!¡±


    Jiang Hai shouted in disbelief and rage. ¡°He¡¯s the ghost!¡±


    ¡°Kill him!¡±


    He did not hesitate, he grabbed all the thunder exorcism charms he had and charged at Qiao Ya, throwing the talismans at him, but they bounced off him without any effect.


    Jiang Hai¡¯s voice cracked as he screamed, ¡°How can it be useless?!¡± His eyes were wide with terror, his hands trembling. ¡°How can it be useless!¡±


    Zhang Kui lifted his head, cradling Jiang Wu¡¯s lifeless body in his arms. His face was a mask of anguish and fury, wet with tears. ¡°He¡¯s not the ghost,¡± he said hoarsely. ¡°I saw it¡­¡±


    ¡°Saw what?¡±


    ¡°The ghost.¡± Zhang Kui pointed to the right, his finger shaking. ¡°She was there, at the end of the corridor. She flickered past, like a shadow.¡±


    Yu Xiao felt a jolt of shock. She had been wrong. The ghost was not one of them. She could not believe it. How could a ghost break through the door that was sealed with talismans, sneak in and murder someone, and then slip away? S§×arch* The ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    How could a ghost ignore the talismans? What was the use of talismans then?


    Zhao Lan had a sudden thought. She walked over to Qiao Ya, who was sitting on the floor, and crouched down in front of him. ¡°What did you see?¡± she asked. ¡°How did you get free from the rope?¡±


    Zhang Kui, still in a state of shock, looked at Qiao Ya with a mix of curiosity and suspicion.


    Qiao Ya seemed dazed, his eyes unfocused. After a pause, he raised his hand and pointed at Jiang Wu. ¡°He¡­¡± he muttered.


    ¡°He helped you untie the rope?¡± Zhao Lan guessed.


    Qiao Ya nodded, then whispered in fear, ¡°Ghost¡­ female ghost¡­¡±


    ¡°Female ghost? You saw the ghost too?¡± Zhao Lan pressed.


    Zhang Kui laid Jiang Wu¡¯s corpse gently on the ground, then stood up and strode over to Qiao Ya. He grabbed his collar and pulled him up, his voice choked with grief. ¡°You saw her? What female ghost? How did she kill Old Wu?¡±


    Qiao Ya tilted his head slightly, as if trying to remember. ¡°The female ghost was a nurse,¡± he said. ¡°Her footsteps were very light, like a cat. She came in and dug out his heart with her fingers. Then her footsteps were heavy, like a hammer. She left.¡±


    ¡°What?¡± Yu Xiao exclaimed, confused.


    With a furious bellow, Zhang Kui demanded, ¡°What are you saying? Make some sense!¡±


    Zhao Lan held up a hand, trying to piece together the fragments of horror. ¡°Let me get this straight. A ghostly nurse slipped into the room, barely making a sound. She ripped out Jiang Wu¡¯s heart with her bare hands, and then left with heavy footsteps?¡±


    Qiao Ya bobbed his head weakly.


    ¡°I saw her too¡­¡± Zhang Kui released his grip, and Qiao Ya crumpled to the floor. ¡°She was dressed like a nurse, a damn nurse¡­¡±


    Yu Xiao¡¯s eyes widened as she remembered something. She fished out a blue bow tie from her pocket and waved it in front of Qiao Ya. ¡°The ghost you saw, did she have this around her neck?¡±


    Qiao Ya stared at the bow tie and shook his head.


    ¡°That¡¯s her! That¡¯s the one we¡¯ve been hunting!¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen exclaimed, disbelief and excitement mingling in her voice. ¡°We¡¯ve searched for her for so long, and she¡¯s been here all along, picking us off one by one, every night.¡±


    ¡°It all makes sense now.¡± Zhao Lan let out a weary sigh. ¡°The footsteps you heard.¡±


    Zhang Kui mumbled, ¡°I only heard them from left to right, so I assumed the ghost was from the left wing. But she came from the right, so quiet that I missed her. She left with the heart, so heavy that I heard her¡­¡±


    He clutched his hair in agony and wailed, ¡°It¡¯s all like that! If only I hadn¡¯t let Old Wu watch over Qiao Ya, he would still be alive. The ghost went for ward number eight, she was after Qiao Ya! It¡¯s all my fault¡­¡±


    Out of the nine who entered, only six remained. Despair hung over them like a dark cloud.


    Zhao Lan gave Yu Xiao a reassuring pat on the shoulder and said, ¡°Come on, everyone. We can¡¯t give up now. We know who the ghost is, and how she operates. We can be ready for her tomorrow night¡­¡±


    This was the worst instance since they set foot in the Sixth Hospital. Yes, they had lost three comrades in the Lolita Amusement Park, but they hadn¡¯t witnessed their gruesome deaths.


    None of them could sleep after that. The next day, they dragged themselves through the hours, barely functioning. They only perked up when they met with Zhang Kui and the others to plan their trap for the ghost nurse. Yu Xiao spent most of her time in a daze.


    Yu Xiao¡¯s mind was still foggy from the night¡¯s horrors when the lunch hour arrived. Zhou Xiao Zhen had forced her eyelids shut for a brief nap, hoping to sharpen her senses for the coming darkness. Misty had ventured to the canteen to fetch some food for the group.


    A sudden knock on the door startled Yu Xiao out of her stupor. She rose from her bed and opened the door, only to find the male doctor number three from yesterday standing there.


    He shifted his weight nervously, avoiding her gaze, and said, ¡°You haven¡¯t come out of your room today.¡±


    Yu Xiao frowned, puzzled by his words. What did he want from her?


    He extended his hand, holding a delicate red rose. ¡°This is for you,¡± he said, his voice trembling. ¡°You are more beautiful than the flower.¡±


    Yu Xiao stared at him, speechless.


    At that moment, another door opened across the hall, and they both turned to see Gu Shu emerging from his room. His eyes swept over the scene in front of him, but his face remained impassive. He glanced at Yu Xiao, then walked away without a word, disappearing around the corner.


    A strange feeling twisted in Yu Xiao¡¯s chest.


    She looked back at the male doctor number three and the rose in his hand, and asked, ¡°Do you want to be my boyfriend?¡±


    The male doctor number three blushed, and stammered, ¡°If you agree¡­¡±


    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t mind,¡± Yu Xiao said, ¡°But I don¡¯t know if my husband would mind.¡±


    The male doctor number three¡¯s face fell, and he dropped the rose on the floor. He turned and ran away, his footsteps echoing in the empty hallway.


    That night, the six of them split into pairs and occupied different wards. They didn¡¯t dare to stay together, fearing that the ghost would sense their presence and shy away. They also didn¡¯t dare to stay alone, worrying that they would be slaughtered before they could scream.


    The three pairs of hunters shared three wards in the hospital, each with a door sealed by talismans. Yu Xiao and Zhang Kui occupied one, Zhao Lan and Zhou Xiao Zhen another, and Qiao Ya and Jiang Hai the last.


    They waited for the night to fall, knowing that the ghost they hunted would strike again. Yu Xiao fiddled with a copper coin in her hand, her prop, the Coin of Great Observation. She had seen the ghost bypass the talismans and enter the rooms, killing its victims with a bloody rip. She doubted the effectiveness of the talismans, and readied her Coin for any encounter.


    The Coin could affect anything, be it ghost, monster, or human.


    The night crept on, silent and tense, until a sudden scream shattered the stillness.


    It was Jiang Hai¡¯s voice!


    Yu Xiao and Zhang Kui sprang out of their ward, and spotted a ghost in the shape of a nurse, with no neck ribbon and long, claw-like nails, hovering in the air.


    Zhang Kui wasted no time, and lunged at it with talismans in both hands.


    The nurse ghost darted away, and Yu Xiao and the others gave chase.


    The ghost was agile and fast, and soon outpaced them. Yu Xiao ran after it, but something felt off. The nurse ghost seemed to fear the talismans, yet it could open the doors that had them. The nurse ghost only targeted men, and its killing method was to tear out their hearts¡­


    Yu Xiao glanced around, and noticed that Qiao Ya was nowhere to be seen.


    A flash of insight hit her, and she stopped and turned around, ignoring Zhao Lan¡¯s confused look.


    The nurse ghost was afraid of talismans, but IT could touch them. The nurse ghost killed men, but IT spared one¡­


    Yu Xiao kicked open the door of ward number eight, and Qiao Ya inside flinched.


    ¡°You¡¯re the ghost, aren¡¯t you?¡± Yu Xiao strode into the ward, ¡°How curious, why don¡¯t the talismans affect you?¡±


    Qiao Ya backed away, feigning innocence, ¡°What are you talking about? How can I be a ghost? Didn¡¯t you see the ghost? Why did you stop chasing it?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re not afraid of talismans.¡± Yu Xiao said, as she grabbed the railing of the bed next to her, and yanked it hard.


    With a metallic screech, Yu Xiao snapped off a piece of iron pipe from the railing. She gripped it tightly, feeling its cold and rough surface.


    She turned to Qiao Ya, who had backed away to the corner, his eyes wide and innocent.


    ¡°Do you fear pain?¡± Yu Xiao asked him, her voice low and menacing.


    ¡°Are you insane? What do you want from me?¡± Qiao Ya stammered, his voice trembling.


    Yu Xiao smirked. ¡°Oh, you sound so lucid now. Have you forgotten? Qiao Ya had lost his mind and couldn¡¯t string a sentence together for days.¡±


    Qiao Ya¡¯s face paled. He felt a surge of panic.


    Yu Xiao wasted no time. She lunged at Qiao Ya, thrusting the pipe with all her strength.


    The pipe impaled Qiao Ya¡¯s chest, piercing his heart. Blood spurted out like a fountain through the whole of the pipe, staining his clothes and the floor.


    Qiao Ya gasped, his eyes wide with shock. He looked down at the wound, then up at Yu Xiao, his expression full of agony. ¡°Why¡­ why are you doing this¡­ it hurts so much.¡±


    He pushed Yu Xiao away with his last strength and ran out of the room, faster than humanly possible.

 Chapter 75: Trap

    Yu Xiao didn¡¯t hesitate for a second as she sprinted after the fleeing figure, the vile creature that had eluded the nurse ghost¡¯s wrath for so long.


    She had racked her brains before, wondering why they couldn¡¯t track down the scumbag in the sprawling hospital, what dark corner he was hiding in. Only now did the truth dawn on her: the scumbag ghost had been masquerading as one of them.


    Gu Shu wasn¡¯t lying; there was a ghost in their midst, a ghost that had some unknown way of latching onto a human host and using the flesh as a shield from the talismans¡¯ power.


    It had all begun with Xiao Jun, who had caught the nurse ghost¡¯s eye. So, he was sacrificed to the nurse ghost, and then the ghost slipped away and found a new vessel in Lu Chao, and later in Jiang Wu. The previous night, Jiang Wu and Qiao Ya had shared a ward where Qiao Ya had been restrained. It was then that the ghost effortlessly switched from Jiang Wu to Qiao Ya.


    That was when Yu Xiao sensed that something was off. Qiao Ya had suddenly become compliant and had stopped his mad ranting.


    He had cooperated with them because the nurse ghost had been frightened away, and he was now free.


    Yu Xiao had been trapped in a false assumption. She had always assumed that the murderer and the impostor were the same ghost, and that had confused her.


    This despicable being had toyed with them for so long. Yu Xiao swore she wouldn¡¯t let him escape!


    The scumbag ghost had taken over Qiao Ya, the iron pipe still protruding from his chest. He ran and bled, leaving a crimson trail on the floor.


    But the body he had hijacked couldn¡¯t hold out much longer; the scumbag ghost soon found himself at a dead end. He turned around and faced Yu Xiao, who was steadily getting closer, his face twisted with resentment. ¡°I just wanted to escape from that crazy bitch, why are you doing this to me?¡±


    Yu Xiao remained silent and continued to advance.


    The scumbag ghost glanced at the blood on the floor, licked his lips, and let out a mournful sigh. ¡°Such fresh blood, what a shame it¡¯s dirty.¡±


    His face contorted as Yu Xiao watched a blob of darkness seep out of Qiao Ya¡¯s head. In agony, Qiao Ya¡¯s body convulsed and curled up into a ball.


    Finally, the darkness completely left the body, and Qiao Ya was flung onto the ground like a discarded rag that nobody wanted, landing at Yu Xiao¡¯s feet.


    The blood continued to flow, but it was different from that of the dead.


    He was alive!


    Qiao Ya¡¯s heart continued to beat, despite the iron pipe piercing his chest. With a grunt, Yu Xiao rushed to his side and forcefully removed the metal rod. Qiao Ya shuddered and gasped, while Yu Xiao swiftly applied emergency healing talismans to his wound. She observed as the blood flow slowed down and the flesh began to knit together.


    The dark shape transformed into a man with long hair and a white coat, towering over them. His lean figure emphasised his angular features. Framed by black curls, his face appeared even more refined and striking. His narrow and intense eyes conveyed a deep and exclusive devotion whenever they locked onto someone.


    ¡°Ah, that¡¯s much better,¡± he exclaimed, stretching his neck and smiling. ¡°It was so cramped and suffocating inside that tiny vessel.¡±


    Yu Xiao stared at him, her hand instinctively reaching for more talismans. Now that he was no longer in a human body, she wondered if she could use the thunder strike curse talisman to blast him.


    ¡°What are you doing?¡± He furrowed his brows, looking displeased. ¡°You shouldn¡¯t be so impolite, my dear.¡± He went on, ¡°You are a beauty, unlike that lunatic. I was captivated by you the moment I laid eyes on you. Drop those things in your hand, and I swear, you will be the only one I ever love¡­¡±


    ¡°Shut up!¡± Yu Xiao snapped, losing her patience. ¡°I outgrew this kind of cheesy ghost romance when I finished elementary school!¡±


    With a swift stride, Yu Xiao lunged forward, ready to slap the talisman onto the vile ghost. However, as she closed in, she caught a glimpse of a wicked grin on the scumbag ghost¡¯s face, and a chill ran down her spine. It was too late; she realised her mistake as the floor beneath her vanished.


    Gasping as the air rushed past her, her stomach lurched. Above her, the scumbag ghost hovered, gazing at her with malicious glee. Acting on instinct, Yu Xiao stretched out her arm and snatched the scumbag ghost¡¯s ankle.


    ¡°Ah¡ª!!¡±


    The scumbag ghost shrieked as it was yanked downward with her. In a desperate move, it clawed at the rim of the hole.


    The hole gaped like a hungry maw, swallowing all light and sound. Yu Xiao slammed hard against the cold stone wall, her side pressed against it, her breath ragged and shallow. She could barely see the face of the scumbag ghost, twisted in fear and rage, as he dangled over the edge while she held onto his ankles.


    ¡°You crazy bitch! You¡¯re trying to murder me!¡± he screamed, flailing his legs in a futile effort to shake her off.


    ¡°Don¡¯t move!¡± she hissed, but he didn¡¯t listen.


    Yu Xiao¡¯s face was drenched with sweat and fear. She had had enough. With all her strength, she twisted his legs, ignoring his thrashing and howling.


    ¡°Crack!¡±


    The sound of his bones snapping echoed through the hallway.


    The scumbag ghost let out a blood-curdling scream as his feet bones were shattered.


    ¡°Wuu wuu wuu wuu~¡­¡± he sobbed. ¡°You crazy bitch, how could you do this to me! I curse you to a horrible death¡­¡±


    Yu Xiao ignored his whimpers and curses. She had snapped his feet like twigs, and he had now gone limp and silent. She wrapped her arms around his torso and began to hoist herself up, using his body as a makeshift rope.


    She was almost back up, when she heard the sound of footsteps coming closer.


    The scumbag ghost gasped in shock, ¡°Master Gu Shu! Help me!¡±


    Yu Xiao¡¯s hand froze. Gu Shu was here?!


    The scumbag ghost pleaded, tears streaming down his face, ¡°Lord Gu Shu, I followed your orders. Please save me.¡± He whimpered, ¡°She broke my leg, the madwoman¡­¡±


    Gu Shu, clad in a white coat, approached with measured steps, his leather shoes clacking on the tiled floor.


    Yu Xiao felt a cold dread in her chest. So, this was his scheme. He had altered the original plot of the instance, all for this moment.


    Reaching the edge of the abyss, Gu Shu looked down at the woman¡¯s ashen face and her eyes blazing with fury.


    Showing no emotion, he had dreamed of this moment for a long time. Ever since he left Gu Village, he had been planning for it.


    As he had hoped, the woman who considered herself clever had fallen right into his trap, step by step.


    Her fear, her despair, were all so delightful to him.


    ¡°You are truly clever,¡± Gu Shu complimented Yu Xiao. ¡°If you were a bit less astute and missed the subtly altered hints, you wouldn¡¯t have made it this far.¡±


    Yu Xiao glared at him, wishing she could jump up and smash his smug face.


    ¡°Aren¡¯t you afraid that I¡¯ll report you?¡± Yu Xiao challenged.


    ¡°Report me for what? I didn¡¯t set the trap, and I didn¡¯t push you in. I simply did what a responsible doctor should do and made slight adjustments to the treatment plan. Furthermore¡­¡± Gu Shu smirked, ¡°You won¡¯t have the opportunity to do so anymore.¡± S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Yu Xiao felt a chill in her heart as she realised her fate was sealed. She had been preoccupied with finding the nurse ghost and had failed to be cautious of Gu Shu.


    He had come to this place for one reason only: to make her pay.


    She looked at him with a mix of fear and defiance. ¡°You¡¯re ruthless,¡± she said, her voice hoarse. ¡°I know I can¡¯t escape.¡±


    His eyes gleamed with satisfaction as he savoured this long-awaited moment.


    The wretched ghost, with his legs twisted and broken, whimpered and pleaded: ¡°Lord Gu Shu, have mercy on me. I did this for you. I brought her here. It hurts so much¡­¡±


    Gu Shu completely ignored him, treating him like he was nothing but rubbish on the floor. He lifted his foot, taking aim at the ghost¡¯s head.


    She watched his actions, fully aware that this would be the final image imprinted in her mind.


    With one hand, she reached into her pocket and retrieved a card.


    Just as Gu Shu was about to end both of their lives, he suddenly froze. A peculiar feeling overwhelmed his heart, as if he had been transported to a different time and location. He saw her standing at his doorstep, her face blushing and her hands clutching flowers and tea leaves.


    ¡°Gu Shu.¡± Her voice came from the depths of despair, full of sorrow and reproach. ¡°How can you be so cruel? How can you want me to die?¡±


    He lifted his foot off the edge, and his gaze met Yu Xiao¡¯s, her eyes wet with tears. A surge of reluctance gripped Gu Shu¡¯s heart, but he forced himself to speak.


    ¡°You should have considered the consequences when you buried that bloody chunk of flesh in my yard¡­¡±


    ¡°I was trying to warn you!¡± Yu Xiao sobbed, her voice breaking. ¡°I wanted to see you before I left, to tell you everything, but you wouldn¡¯t even look at me.¡±


    Gu Shu wondered if he was also to blame. His anger softened slightly, and his hesitation grew.


    ¡°Actually, I feel guilty too.¡± Yu Xiao lied through her teeth, hoping to sway him. ¡°I never thought I¡¯d see you again, and when I did, I wanted to make amends, so I secretly sent you flowers. When I saw you didn¡¯t care for them, I switched to tea leaves. When I realised you hated green tea, I searched for black tea¡­¡±


    Gu Shu¡¯s resolve crumbled as he lowered his head to gaze at Yu Xiao. Her eyes, once bright and fiery, were now dimmed by tears.


    He hated seeing her like this, and he hated feeling like this.


    Gu Shu extended his hand, which Yu Xiao eagerly grasped.


    With a gentle tug, he pulled her away from the abyss and wrapped his arms around her shoulders. He whispered, ¡°Don¡¯t cry anymore.¡±


    Yu Xiao blinked, and more tears fell.


    She glanced at the scumbag ghost who was clawing his way up and spat, ¡°I hate you, you bastard. You let that vile ghost fool me. He almost killed me.¡±


    With a swift kick, Gu Shu sent the scumbag ghost plummeting into the dark abyss, his scream echoing in the air.


    ¡°He won¡¯t bother you anymore.¡± Gu Shu said, his voice cold and hard. ¡°So stop your snivelling.¡±


    Yu Xiao glared at him, her eyes red and swollen from crying. She jerked her head away, refusing to look at him. ¡°You¡¯re no better than him. You tried to kill me too. I thought I was going to die back there.¡±


    Gu Shu felt a pang of confusion. He knew he was furious with Yu Xiao, but he couldn¡¯t understand why he had wanted to end her life.


    He had always cared for her¡­


    **


    Meanwhile, Zhang Kui and the others had finally cornered the nurse ghost, who was trapped by a ring of talismans and trembled in fear. She agreed to lead them to the death certificate, the only thing that could free them from this nightmare.


    The death certificate was stashed under the bed of the nurse ghost¡¯s old dorm room, for reasons only she knew. She reluctantly retrieved it and handed it over to Zhang Kui, who, as a big man, broke down in tears once more.


    They had missed it by a day. Just one day. If they had found it sooner, Jiang Wu would still be alive.


    They had been friends since before they entered the Third Hospital, and they had stuck together through thick and thin. But they never imagined it would end like this.


    ¡°Come on.¡± Zhao Lan said, her voice hoarse. ¡°We need to destroy this thing.¡±


    They nodded, knowing it was their only chance to escape this hell. Jiang Hai pulled out a lighter, a cheap prize he had won from a lottery. ¡°This will do. It¡¯s not like I need it.¡±


    They huddled together and set fire to the death certificate, watching it burn to ashes.


    ¡°Where¡¯s Smiley?¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen asked, as she scanned the dark corridors.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Zhao Lan replied, clutching her arm. She had lost sight of Smiley when she had bolted back the way they came, screaming something about a ghost. ¡°We should leave. Once we leave the instance, we¡¯ll be back in the ward.¡±


    **


    Gu Shu watched Yu Xiao with a furrowed brow as she sobbed and wailed. ¡°Hey, hey, what can I do to make you stop crying?¡±


    Yu Xiao threw her head back and lunged at Gu Shu¡¯s neck with her hands. He flinched but forced himself to stay still.


    Yu Xiao wrapped her fingers around his throat and glared at him with a manic gleam in her eyes. ¡°If I strangle you, I¡¯ll stop crying,¡± she said, squeezing hard.


    ¡°I¡¯m your attending doctor,¡± Gu Shu said, his voice calm. ¡°You can¡¯t strangle me.¡±


    ¡°Ugh, this is so annoying,¡± Yu Xiao seethed, her eyes filled with murderous intent. She longed to end his life but was powerless to do so.


    Where were the tentacled horrors that she could use as weapons in this situation? Why did she have to confront him alone?


    She clenched her jaw and lunged at him, sinking her teeth into his neck. She could feel his flesh tearing beneath her bite, his blood filling her mouth. Gu Shu jerked in pain, then gradually relaxed, surrendering to her assault


    ¡°Ptui!¡± Pushing him away, she released him and spat out the blood before smirking at the wound she had inflicted. A triumphant and deranged laughter escaped her lips.


    (TN: if you ever wonder if her brain tumour affects her thinking¡­ XD)


    As Gu Shu gazed at her with bewilderment, Yu Xiao gently caressed his cheek and whispered, ¡°I¡¯m still a little mad at you, but I guess we¡¯re even now. Bye-bye~ Gu Shu~¡±


    With those words, she vanished, leaving only a faint trace of her presence behind. She had left the instance.


    Everything she had brought and everything she had done disappeared with her.


    Gu Shu remained still, his eyes vacant. Sadly, the painful throbbing of the bite mark on his neck served as a cruel reminder of what had happened, of the foolish things he had said and done¡­


    ¡°Boom!¡±


    Without warning, and for no apparent reason, a wall of the hospital crumbled to dust.

 Chapter 76: It’s definitely slander!

    As their eyes adjusted to the dim light, Zhou Xiao Zhen and Zhao Lan spotted Yu Xiao¡¯s familiar figure in front of them.


    ¡°Smiley!¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen exclaimed, leaping towards her and clasping her hand. ¡°You vanished like a ghost. I thought something terrible had happened to you.¡±


    Yu Xiao forced a smile, feeling a pang of guilt. She squeezed her friend¡¯s hand reassuringly. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m fine. I came back in one piece, see?¡± sea??h th§× novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Zhao Lan frowned, noticing something odd about Yu Xiao¡¯s appearance. ¡°Are you sure you¡¯re not hurt?¡± She asked, concern lacing her voice.


    Yu Xiao blinked, ¡°Hurt? No, why would I be hurt?¡±


    Zhao Lan moved closer and peered at Yu Xiao¡¯s mouth. She reached out and brushed her finger over it. ¡°Then what¡¯s this?¡± She held up her finger, stained with red. ¡°It¡¯s blood. Smiley, talk to me. Where are you bleeding from?¡±


    Yu Xiao¡¯s eyes widened. She had forgotten to wipe her mouth after biting Gu Shu. She stammered, blushing. ¡°I¡­I¡­¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen joined Zhao Lan and inspected Yu Xiao from head to toe. ¡°She doesn¡¯t have any cuts or bruises. I get it, it¡¯s an internal injury. Smiley has an internal injury!¡±


    Yu Xiao shook her head frantically. ¡°No, no, I¡¯m not injured. It¡¯s not what you think¡­¡±


    Zhao Lan hugged Yu Xiao, tears welling in her eyes. ¡°Why did you go off on your own like that? I should have followed you. I didn¡¯t know it was so dangerous out there.¡±


    Yu Xiao sighed. ¡°I¡­ alright, my injury is all healed.¡± She gently pushed Zhao Lan away and changed the topic. ¡°Listen, there¡¯s something I need to tell you. The reason I went back by myself was because I discovered that Qiao Ya was the ghost hiding among us.¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen gasped. ¡°What? But we already caught the ghost, didn¡¯t we?¡±


    Yu Xiao nodded. ¡°You caught the killer ghost, but there was another one, a more cunning one¡­¡± She quickly summarised her reasoning and what had transpired afterwards, leaving out the part where she bit Gu Shu. She shuddered. ¡°Thank goodness I had some tricks up my sleeve, or I wouldn¡¯t be here right now.¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen felt a cold sweat break out on her forehead as she uttered a horrified exclamation. ¡°Blimey, that¡¯s terrifying. Gu Shu is the most wicked of all the attending doctors. He has a heart of stone and a scalpel of steel.¡±


    Zhao Lan shivered in sympathy, clutching her friend¡¯s arm. ¡°Do you think he¡¯ll come after you again?¡±


    Yu Xiao shook her head, hoping to reassure herself as well as her friends. ¡°Probably not. This hospital is strict with its rules and regulations, right? He can¡¯t just switch jobs whenever he wants.¡± She paused, then added with a faint smile, ¡°I should never see him again.¡±


    But the smile faded as she thought about her own actions. She had a problem with the way she did things, she realised. She had offended too many attending doctors in the instance, and some of them harboured a grudge against her. She couldn¡¯t handle their revenge. She needed to be more careful, more diplomatic, more respectful.


    ¡°That¡¯s indeed very scary,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen agreed, nodding solemnly. Then she tilted her head and asked curiously, ¡°Will Lolita also take revenge on you?¡±


    Yu Xiao¡¯s eyes widened. She had forgotten about Lolita.


    She didn¡¯t answer Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s question. She only made a silent vow. Next time she entered the instance, she would do her best to get along with the attending doctors. Even if they couldn¡¯t be friends, they absolutely couldn¡¯t be enemies.


    But despite the dangers, she had also gained a lot in the instance. She had sold talismans for 173 points, which added to her original points, gave her a total of 324 points. She was close to reaching her goal. She could leave the Sixth Hospital any day now.


    She pushed aside her worries and focused on the present.


    ¡°Let¡¯s eat,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen licked her lips and changed the subject. ¡°We¡¯ve been eating vegetarian for several days. I just want to eat meat now.¡±


    Yu Xiao thought of Tie Niu, she also thought of the ward round ghost, the shy ghost who had given her a one-time pity card. It had saved her life. The ward round ghost had a dream of working at St. Elizabeth. Yu Xiao had promised to help it. She planned to arrange it to the operating room, where it could enjoy the thrill of surgery. It was more comfortable to work in the operating room than in the wards, Yu Xiao thought.


    She reached for her phone, thinking of him. George. She tapped his name on the screen, but paused before hitting the call button. Was the inspection done yet? She had no idea.


    Since she was in an instance, the time in Saint Elizabeth should have moved. The inspection team was supposed to visit Saint Elizabeth and check everything out. But when? Had they already been there and left? Or were they still snooping around, looking for clues?


    (TN: From my understanding, the treatment instances occur in separate time bubbles from where they live in wards. No matter how many days they spend there, only a moment passes in their hospital. An exception occurs when they use phones to make calls, connecting two different time bubbles. At the same time, for time ¡°to pass¡± in instances, patients need to be in an instance. Or maybe time only progresses to ghosts in the absence of patients in the given instance, and comes to a halt once patients are present? But there are some holes in both logics sooo~ ignore them and just have fun¡­ )


    She shrugged and pressed the call button anyway. What did she have to lose? The phone rang once, twice, and then his voice came through, bright and cheerful.


    ¡°George speaking.¡±


    ¡°Hey, George, it¡¯s me~!¡± She tried to sound casual, but she couldn¡¯t hide the anxiety in her voice. ¡°How¡¯s it going? Is the inspection over?¡±


    ¡°Yes, it¡¯s over.¡± He said curtly.


    ¡°Really? That¡¯s great.¡± She felt a wave of relief wash over her, and she flopped down on the bed, spreading her arms and legs. ¡°You didn¡¯t say anything bad about me to the inspection team, did you?¡±


    ¡°No, I didn¡¯t.¡± He said. ¡°I only praised you for your excellent work and professionalism.¡±


    ¡°Wow, really~?¡± She raised her eyebrows in surprise. ¡°You¡¯re full of surprises, aren¡¯t you? Have you turned over a new leaf or something?¡±


    He didn¡¯t respond to her sarcasm, and said in a flat tone: ¡°If you don¡¯t have anything else to say, I¡¯m hanging up.¡±


    ¡°Wait, wait, don¡¯t be so hasty.¡± She said quickly. ¡°You¡¯re such a rush-rush person.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not a person.¡± He said.


    ¡°Fine, fine, you¡¯re a hurry-scurry ghost.¡± She said, ¡°But listen, I think we need more staff at our hospital, so I hired someone new. You should give them a warm welcome and show them the ropes, okay¡­¡±


    **


    She ended the call, and George stared at his phone, his expression cold.


    But then, his lips twitched slightly, forming a faint smile. He felt a surge of joy when he realised that soon he wouldn¡¯t have to see or hear from this woman ever again.


    A smug grin curled on his lips as his phone buzzed again. He glanced at the screen and saw Lolita¡¯s name flashing.


    Oh, not her. The crazy one.


    He figured she was calling to spout some nonsense at him, so he pressed the red button without hesitation.


    But Lolita was not one to give up easily. She rang him back in an instant. He sighed and picked up the phone.


    Lolita¡¯s voice burst in his ear like a firecracker, ¡°George~!!!¡±


    George: ¡°¡­¡± He felt like vomiting blood.


    ¡°Listen, George, I just heard that Gu Shu switched his unit to get revenge on the ¡®Deaf Descendant¡¯. And guess what? His new unit is the same instance where the ¡®Deaf Descendant¡¯ is right now. I¡¯m freaking out, did he pull it off or not?¡± Lolita was pacing around like a caged animal, ¡°I know you have a way to reach the ¡®Deaf Descendant¡¯, come on and contact her, find out if Gu Shu pulled it off or not¡­¡±


    So there were some developments that he was unaware of, huh? George smirked, he had already chatted with that woman earlier. She had clearly made it out of the instance unscathed, which meant that Gu Shu¡¯s elaborate scheme had backfired.


    He pictured Gu Shu¡¯s livid and dejected face, and George¡¯s smirk widened. What a delightful piece of news.


    ¡°He failed.¡± George said, ¡°The ¡®Deaf Descendant¡¯ has already exited the instance.¡±


    ¡°Damn it!¡± Lolita swore, ¡°Gu Shu is such a loser! He even taunted me with assurance before, saying I was too dumb to be pushed around by the ¡®Deaf Descendant¡¯¡­¡± Lolita was seething, ¡°No, I have to mock him back, bye~.¡±


    **


    Gu Shu, a solitary ghost, lingered in his own room, where he had brought his hardwood (»ÆÑîľ) table from the old Gu Family Village. On it, a bottle of wine stood half-empty, mocking his failed attempt to drown his sorrows.


    He had always cherished the quietness of his home, where he could drink tea by himself and gaze at the ancient trees and the clear sky through the window, or admire his precious tea set that he had collected over the years.


    But today, he felt nothing but despair. He had been fooled by the ¡®Deaf Descendant¡¯ twice, and both times he had failed to exact his revenge. The first time, he could blame it on his lack of vigilance, but the second time, he had no one to blame but himself. He had been outsmarted, outmatched, and outplayed.


    He was in a dark mood, and even his favourite wine could not lift his spirits.


    Then his phone rang.


    Gu Shu¡¯s frown deepened, he loathed being interrupted.


    But he still picked up the phone, and Lolita¡¯s voice taunted him from the other end: ¡°How is your revenge plan going? Did you succeed?¡±


    ¡°¡­¡± That sentence was like a sharp dagger, stabbing into Gu Shu¡¯s most tender wound.


    ¡°Hehe.¡± Lolita laughed cruelly: ¡°I know everything, you failed! You pathetic thing, you can fail like this, you still have the nerve to mock me, in my opinion, the lowest IQ is you! You should change your name, don¡¯t call yourself Gu Shu, call yourself Wooden Head¡­¡±


    (reminder, ¹ÅÊ÷ (Gu Shu) literally means ¡°ancient tree¡±)


    ¡°Bang!¡±


    The phone flew across the room, smashing into the wall, Gu Shu sat motionless. Thinking of the wall that he had to pay for, the phone that he had to fix, after so many years, he felt a pang of injustice for the first time.


    **


    The ward was filled with the aroma of their dinner. Zhao Lan had insisted on ordering some vegetarian options, knowing that the other two would happily eat only meat and nothing else.


    While eating, they shared their grievances about Gu Shu.


    Yu Xiao leaned forward, her eyes sparkling. ¡°Gu Shu is such a small-minded jerk. But look at George. He¡¯s a different story. We¡¯re on good terms now. He even praised me to the inspection team. That¡¯s how a doctor and a patient should get along!¡±


    Zhao Lan raised an eyebrow, doubtful. ¡°Why would he do that?¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen shrugged, biting into a chicken leg. ¡°It¡¯s simple. He realised he couldn¡¯t win against Sister Smiley, so he decided to join her side. He knows better than to mess with her again.¡±


    ¡°Mhm.¡± Yu Xiao agreed, nodding. ¡°That¡¯s exactly it.¡±


    Zhao Lan felt a nagging sense that there was more to it, but she couldn¡¯t put her finger on it. She nodded along and said, ¡°Well, that¡¯s good, then.¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen changed the topic. ¡°Hey, did you get any new titles this time? I didn¡¯t get any.¡±


    Yu Xiao suddenly remembered. She had been too busy with phone calls, food, and gossip to check her messages.


    She pulled out her phone and scrolled through the notifications.


    ¡¾Congratulations on completing the fourth treatment course. You have become a level five member of the Sixth Hospital Patient Exchange Forum.¡¿


    ¡¾Because of your outstanding performance during the treatment, you have earned three basic points and three bonus points.¡¿


    ¡¾Congratulations on obtaining the title of ¡®Soul Singer¡¯, and four bonus points.¡¿


    Soul Singer? She liked this title. She had come to appreciate any title that sounded even a little bit good. This one sounded impressive and cool. Not bad, not bad at all.


    ¡¾Congratulations! You have earned the title of ¡®Two-faced Green Tea¡¯, along with four points.¡¿


    (Â̲è: literally ¡°green tea¡±, a slang term for a woman who pretends to be innocent and pure, but is actually scheming and manipulative. It is derived from the idea that green tea looks clear and refreshing, but tastes bitter and astringent.)


    Yu Xiao stared at the words, disbelief and anger rising in her throat.


    What the hell? How did she get such a ridiculous title? And what did it even mean, ¡®two-faced¡¯? She had always been honest and straightforward, unlike some people she knew.


    She glanced around the room, hoping no one had seen her bad face. But it was too late. Zhou Xiao Zhen, her so-called friend, leaned over and whispered to Zhao Lan, her other so-called friend.


    ¡°Misty, check this out. Look at the Title Boss¡¯s face. She looks like she just swallowed a lemon. Even worse than when she got the ¡®Shit-Hole Destroyer¡¯ title.¡±


    Zhao Lan followed Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s gaze and nodded, a smirk on her lips. ¡°Wow, that must be a bad one.¡±


    ¡°Poor Smiley,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen said in mock sympathy. ¡°Actually, I should be the one feeling sorry for myself. I don¡¯t have any title at all. I¡¯d take anything, even ¡®Green Hat¡¯, if it meant more points.¡±


    Yu Xiao clenched her fist and pressed it against her chest, trying to calm her racing heart. This was all the system¡¯s fault, she thought. It was a malicious and twisted program that gave out random and insulting titles to its users.


    She took a deep breath and opened the message again, hoping it was a mistake. Maybe it would change if she refreshed the page.


    But no. It only became worse¡­


    ¡¾You have earned the title of ¡®Red Apricot Climber¡¯, along with four points.¡¿


    (ºìÐÓ³öǽ: s a slang term referring to someone having an extramarital affair. It¡¯s a play on words where ¡°red apricot¡± sounds similar to ¡°adultery¡± in Chinese.


    It also comes from a poem by Tang dynasty poet Bai Juyi, where he describes a red apricot tree leaning over the wall of a courtyard, implying that the woman inside is leaning over for her lover outside.


    English alternative would be: Having a Bit on the Side )


    Yu Xiao felt a new wave of fury wash over her. She threw her phone on the bed, as if it had burned her hand. She jumped up and shouted, ¡°This is outrageous! It¡¯s definitely slander!¡±


    ¡°Smiley¡­¡± Zhao Lan said, looking at her with a mix of curiosity and concern. ¡°It¡¯s just a title, not a big deal.¡±

 Chapter 77: Smiley is Trending again!

    ¡®No, it is a big deal~!¡¯


    Yu Xiao felt a hollow ache in her chest, as though someone had scooped out her heart and left behind a gaping hole. She flopped onto the bed and buried her face in the pillow, wishing she could cry but finding no tears. She knew what awaited her tomorrow morning. While she had no knowledge of how other hospitals functioned, she was certain that at the Fourth Hospital, she would once again become the talk of the town/hospital again.


    Her phone would ring with calls from Lu Xun and Luo Jin, both of whom would sound either incredulous or nonchalant as they asked her how she managed to achieve it. The forum would be abuzz with another round of gossip about her, and perhaps someone would even compile a list of her accomplishments, pondering how they could emulate her success¡­


    ¡®Wuwuwu~¡­ The hospital was so cruel, why did they have to announce her titles on the news?¡¯


    ¡°Smiley looks like she¡¯s about to break down, even the ¡®Shit-Hole Destroyer¡¯ title didn¡¯t affect her this much.¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen was dying to know more about Yu Xiao¡¯s titles, but seeing her in such a state, she refrained from adding insult to injury.


    ¡°She¡¯ll be fine.¡± Zhao Lan said: ¡°Have some faith in her, she¡¯s tougher than she looks, she¡¯ll bounce back from this.¡±


    ¡®Yeah, right! You¡¯re just enjoying my misery!¡¯


    Yu Xiao remained silent and shifted her focus to the function cards she had just received. In the backstage forum, two function cards floated in mid-air.


    Examining them closely, she noticed one was a physical card while the other was a prop card.


    A glimmer of hope flickered in her battered heart upon seeing the prop card. It seemed to compensate for all the pain she had endured. Without wasting a moment, she swiftly opened the prop card, causing it to flip over and unleash a dazzling display of fireworks on the screen.


    ¡¾Congratulations, you have obtained a one-time bad luck card!¡¿


    Yu Xiao: ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°I got another Spirit card, I think one Spirit card is plenty, using more would drive me insane.¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen glanced at Zhao Lan, ¡°Misty, what card did you get?¡±


    Zhao Lan let out a long sigh as she stared at the card in her hand. ¡°It is a physical card, again.¡± She always seemed to get those, no matter how hard she wished for something else. ¡°Why do the fates hate me so?¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen perked up. ¡°Hey, is that a physical card? You don¡¯t look too happy about it. You know, you¡¯ve not tried a Spirit card before. How about we trade?¡±


    Zhao Lan shrugged. ¡°Sure, why not. Maybe your luck will rub off on me.¡± They swapped their function cards, hoping for a better outcome next time.


    Despite her hectic schedule, Zhao Lan managed to squeeze in a quick chat with Yu Xiao. ¡°Hey, Smiley, what did you draw this round?¡±


    Yu Xiao: ¡°¡­¡±


    **


    Yu Xiao had a sleepless night, tossing and turning in her bed, consumed by bitterness and resentment.


    While she could accept the previous disastrous titles she had earned, as she knew she had brought them upon herself, this time was different. She had been nothing but honest, and she had done nothing wrong. Why, then, must she endure such injustice?


    She drifted into a troubled sleep and dreamt that she had left the Sixth Hospital and returned to the real world. One morning, she woke up and went to have breakfast. As she checked the news, she was horrified to see Misty announcing her title on the screen. Afterwards, her classmates and friends gave her weird looks upon hearing the news.


    ¡°~ Yu Xiao, oh Yu Xiao, you with your big eyes and thick eyebrows, you¡¯re a green tea, aren¡¯t you? Who are you fooling around with~?¡±


    Yu Xiao panicked and tried to explain, ¡°I have no idea who Gu Shu is! I don¡¯t know George either! And Lolita is a girl¡­ What?! He¡¯s a cross-dressing trap?!¡±


    She woke up with a jolt, drenched in sweat. Glancing at her phone, she saw that it was only just past six. Precious and Misty were snoring peacefully. She had completely lost her sleepiness, but it was too early for breakfast. So she quietly got out of bed, brewed a cup of strong tea, and sat in the chair, gazing at the ceiling with a forty-five degree angle and feeling melancholy.


    In this short hour, she thought about many things, from never visiting the forum again to changing her way of doing things in the future, and then to how many steps she would need to take to change her name after returning to the real world¡­


    She just thought silently, until Zhao Lan was woken up by her biological clock, stretched lazily on the bed, and spotted a human figure sitting on the chair across the bed in the dim room.


    Zhao Lan jolted upright in bed and simultaneously moved backward, almost colliding with the iron headboard. She fumbled in her pocket for the talisman.


    ¡°Smiley, what the hell?¡± she snapped, holding the paper talisman in front of her like a shield. ¡°You scared the crap out of me! What are you doing so early?¡±


    Yu Xiao sat silently, her face pale. She opened her mouth, yet no words came out.


    Zhao Lan blinked, catching sight of Yu Xiao¡¯s unusual expression. She tossed the talisman aside and swung her legs over the edge of the bed. She ran her fingers through her growing buzz cut hair length hair, which had grown longer over the past few weeks, and smiled. ¡°You look like you¡¯ve seen a ghost. Is something wrong? Are you still hung up on your title?¡±


    Yu Xiao felt a sharp pain in her chest. She clenched her fists, trying to hide her emotions.


    ¡°Really?!¡± Zhao Lan exclaimed, seeing Yu Xiao¡¯s reaction. ¡°You¡¯re not the type to dwell on things like that. Come on, you can tell me. What¡¯s your title? I¡¯m dying to know.¡±


    Yu Xiao shook her head, unable to speak.


    Zhao Lan sighed, sensing Yu Xiao¡¯s reluctance. ¡°Fine, fine. Keep your secrets. I¡¯ll find out soon enough anyway. It¡¯s only twenty minutes until the announcement.¡±


    Yu Xiao felt a surge of despair. She wished she could stop time. She wished she could disappear.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen was still in bed when the clock showed four minutes to eight. She stretched lazily, not bothering to get up. She decided to listen to the news first, then start her day.


    She rubbed her eyes and grinned. ¡°I wonder what Smiley¡¯s title is. She looked so miserable this morning. Maybe it¡¯s something embarrassing.¡±


    Yu Xiao walked quietly to the window and turned her back to the room. She glared at the window, which was covered by a curtain. She hated them all. They were all meanies.


    ¡°Ding dong!¡±


    The eight o¡¯clock reminder chimed on cue. The soft music lifted the curtain, revealing the view outside. The sun was shining, the birds were singing, the flowers were blooming. It was a beautiful day like every fucking day.


    The radio crackled to life, filling the air with a cheerful voice.


    ¡°¡­ Good morning, everyone! It¡¯s a beautiful day to start your day with some news¡­¡±


    ¡°¡­ The 21st hospital inspection activity has come to a successful end, and the director of the health bureau has given an important speech¡­¡±


    The voice droned on, spewing out a stream of dull and tedious information that made the listeners yawn and doze off.


    ¡°¡­ For the medical staff who have been lazy and negligent, they will face severe consequences. On the other hand, for the medical staff who have shown outstanding performance in the past few years, they will receive generous rewards. Let us work together to create a better future¡­¡±


    ¡°¡­ Yesterday, the attending doctor of the morgue, Gu, deliberately vandalised the hospital infrastructure. The hospital leaders decided to be lenient with him and only fined him five months¡¯ salary and suspended him for one month. We hope that all medical workers will take this as a warning. The hospital is a place to heal and save people, not your playground¡­¡±


    ¡°¡­ The sixth hospital¡¯s inpatient department is looking for a new staff member, and is now earnestly recruiting a ghost to check the rooms. Gender, age, and qualifications are irrelevant¡­¡±


    ¡°Gu from the morgue?¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen exclaimed, her eyes wide with disbelief. ¡°They mean Gu Shu, right? What on earth possessed him to do such a thing?¡±


    Yu Xiao ignored her, her expression gloomy and indifferent.


    Zhao Lan ventured a guess. ¡°Maybe he was trying to get revenge on Smiley and things got out of hand?¡±


    ¡°¡­ Yesterday, the second hospital¡¯s points leaderboard was updated again. The patient with the nickname ¡®Flying to Someone Else¡¯s Bed¡¯ claimed the top spot. Let us give him a round of applause¡­¡±


    ¡°¡­ The fourth hospital¡¯s patient with the nickname ¡®Zhuge Liang burning the Spider Web Cave¡¯ maintained his lead. Let us cheer for him. This patient has done remarkably well during the treatment and earned the glorious title of ¡®Domineering Patient¡¯. Let us congratulate him once more.¡±


    Tears of envy streamed down Yu Xiao¡¯s face as she listened to the radio. Luo Jin had such a nice title, which was so fitting for his rank one status. How different were their destinies¡­


    ¡°¡­¡±


    The radio droned on¡­


    ¡°¡­Yesterday, the patient known as ¡®Deaf Descendant¡¯ at the Sixth Hospital claimed the top spot again, so let us give them a warm round of applause. The patient showed remarkable performance during the treatment, and earned the ¡®Soul Singer¡¯ title¡­¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s normal, right?¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen tilted her head in confusion, ¡°Why is Smiley so upset?¡±


    Yu Xiao closed her eyes in pain.


    ¡°¡­ They also received the ¡®Two-faced Green Tea¡¯ and the ¡®Red Apricot Climber¡¯. Together these three glorious titles, let us cheer for them!¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°Ah, this¡­¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen still didn¡¯t understand. ¡°Smiley has always been with me, we sleep together too, why would she get this kind of title?¡±


    Zhao Lan shrugged, equally clueless. They both gazed at Yu Xiao with curiosity.


    Yu Xiao finally parted her lips and whispered, ¡°I didn¡¯t sleep well last night. I want to sleep some more.¡±


    She crawled back onto the bed and buried her face in the pillow. However, before she could settle in, her phone rang and she glanced at the screen.


    As expected, it displayed Luo Jin¡¯s number. Without any hesitation, she hung up the call. Just three seconds later, her phone rang again. This time it was Lu Xun calling. Once again, she swiftly hung up the call.


    The world was a better place when it was quiet. There were certain times when some people¡¯s voices were not welcome.


    She lay flat on the bed, her hands crossed over her lower abdomen, and closed her eyes peacefully, resembling a happy corpse. S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen thought for a moment and asked Zhao Lan, ¡°Is she not going to have breakfast?¡±


    ¡°Let her be, she probably has no appetite now.¡± Zhao Lan said with a hint of curiosity, ¡°Who do you think is her ¡®Red Apricot Climber¡¯ partner?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s that number three doctor, right?¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen said. ¡°I saw Smiley flirting with him.¡±


    ¡°Does that count as adultery?¡± Zhao Lan was doubtful.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen chuckled and asked, ¡°Who do you think it is? Don¡¯t tell me it¡¯s Gu Shu. That would be hilarious. Hahaha¡­¡±


    Yu Xiao yanked the quilt over her head, muffling her groan. She wished she could disappear from the world.


    **


    Yu Xiao believed that her fame was limited to the online forum, but she was mistaken. Unbeknownst to her, she had also become a celebrity at St. Elizabeth Hospital, albeit for all the wrong reasons.


    The nurses gathered once again, engrossed in gossip with fervour. They never seemed to tire of the same old topics ¨C the scandalous love life of their Dean!


    ¨C Who was the lucky new love interest who had captured her attention?


    ¨C How pitiful was Dr. George, the cuckolded attending doctor?


    ¨C Was there something wrong with the Dean having a harem of attractive men, like in the novels?


    George had been elated when he heard the news, thinking that Yu Xiao¡¯s new title had made Gu Shu suffer. However, his joy turned to ashes when he stepped out of his office and saw the sympathetic glances of the hospital staff. They pitied him, the cuckolded fool.


    He cursed inwardly, baffled by the fact that Yu Xiao¡¯s influence could still be so powerful even when she was not physically present. She made his life hell ¨C that hateful person!


    **


    Yu Xiao lay awake, tossing and turning. No sane person could sleep under these circumstances.


    She got out of bed, drawn by the enticing aroma of food. She had no other option but to confront the harsh truth. In order to make her dream of living for five hundred years come true, she had to take responsibility for herself.


    ¡°Here you go, Smiley.¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen handed her a steaming meat bun. ¡°Eat up. Nothing matters more than food. Titles are just empty words. Only food can fill you up.¡±


    With a mouthful of hot dough, Yu Xiao declared her ambition. ¡°I swear, once I¡¯m done with the next instance, I¡¯ll only earn titles that make people jealous! Otherwise, I¡¯ll¡­¡±


    She trailed off, glancing at Zhao Lan and Zhou Xiao Zhen, who were watching her with eager anticipation.


    Yu Xiao racked her brain, but nothing came to mind. ¡°¡­What do you reckon I should do?¡±


    Zhao Lan blushed and mumbled, ¡°How should I know?¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen grinned. ¡°You could always put on a wig and pretend to be Kevin Yan (ÑÏ¿í) in his twenties and sleep with me.¡±


    (Actor)


    ¡°Alright!¡± Yu Xiao agreed without a second thought. ¡°Not just shag you, even if it¡¯s shagging the attending doctor, I¡¯m up for it! Come now, eat!¡± She gulped down the rest of her steamed bun, and reached for her phone as she sipped her porridge.


    She hesitated for a moment, but curiosity got the better of her. She tapped on the Fourth Hospital Forum.


    The screen flashed with a shocking headline!


    ¡¾Sixth Hospital¡¯s Sister Dragon is actually a green tea!¡¿


    OP didn¡¯t offer any explanation, just voiced their bewilderment.


    ¡¾As a green tea slag who listened the morning news, I want to know what Sister Dragon did.¡¿


    ¡¾Me too, but I¡¯m more curious about how green tea can be a title?¡¿


    ¡¾Are you looking down on green tea slags upstairs? Don¡¯t forget, green tea are cunning and deceitful behind your back.¡¿


    ¡¾Considering the previous title, I have a feeling that Sister Dragon¡¯s instance trip this time was rather¡­ unspeakable.¡¿

 Chapter 78: Smiley embarked on the official career

    ¡¾Unspeakable +1.¡¿


    ¡¾What kind of twisted mind would come up with a title like ¡®Red Apricot Climber¡¯?¡¿


    ¡¾Hey, don¡¯t judge. If ¡®Shit-Hole Destroyer¡¯ is a perfectly respectable title then so is ¡®Red Apricot Climber¡¯.¡¿


    ¡¾¡­¡¿


    ¡¾You know, I¡¯ve been around the block a few times in this hospital. I¡¯ve dated all kinds of guys, but I¡¯ve never gotten that title.¡¿


    ¡¾Um¡­¡¿


    ¡¾Do you think it¡¯s because I only cheat with humans?¡¿


    ¡¾What about Sister Dragon?¡¿


    ¡¾Don¡¯t tell me she¡¯s hooked up with the Attending Doctor! Squeal.jpg¡¿


    Yu Xiao choked on her soup, feeling a surge of irritation and disbelief. These people had no filter, no shame, no regard for the truth. How dare they accuse her of cheating? She was single as a pringle, thank you very much!


    She slammed her phone down, closing the post that had ruined her appetite. She needed something to distract her, something funny and harmless. She scrolled through the forum, looking for a catchy title.


    ¡¾How I seduced the Attending Doctor in the instance!¡¿


    This one sounded promising. It had a humorous tone, a hint of adventure, a dash of romance. Yu Xiao clicked on it eagerly, hoping for a good laugh.


    ¡¾It all started when I saw the news report about the Attending Doctor Gu Someone being punished for his obsession with Sister Dragon. I felt a spark of inspiration. I decided to make him fall for me too, and use his love to clear the instance.


    And I had every reason to be confident. Just look at my gorgeous Dragon hair, my slender Dragon waist, my long Dragon legs. I heard that Sister Dragon was flat as a board, so I also had an edge in the chest department!¡¿


    Yu Xiao: ¡°¡­¡±


    Yu Xiao glanced down at her own body, feeling a pang of insecurity. She had never paid much attention to her appearance before. But now she wondered if she was Dragon enough¡­ or too Dragon.


    ¡¾Squating!¡¿


    ¡¾Lightly placing my delicate buttocks on this thread!¡¿


    ¡¾Well, OP, did you pull it off?¡¿


    ¡¾Sob sob¡­ If I had pulled it off, you would have seen my glorious title on the headlines. And let me tell you, the doctor who treated me last time was a sight for sore eyes, just my type. I tried everything to make him notice me, showing off my stunning assets in front of him. I never missed a chance to catch his eye, even dropping hints that I was open to non-human partners, but¡­¡¿


    ¡¾But?¡¿


    ¡¾OP, you¡¯re a legend, flirting with the doctor like that, wow!¡¿


    ¡¾OP, spit it out!¡¿


    ¡¾Don¡¯t leave us hanging¡­¡¿


    ¡¾I can¡¯t stand his cold indifference! He barely glanced at me, he seemed more interested in the male patients than me. I think he¡¯s not into women! Isn¡¯t it true that the doctors at St. Elizabeth¡¯s are all gay? I think all doctors are gay!¡¿


    ¡¾Gu likes women? Don¡¯t make me laugh.¡¿


    ¡¾Eh? You know that doctor who¡¯s been tearing up the dungeons today? That¡¯s Gu too.¡¿


    ¡¾No way. I¡¯m a dude, and I tried to flirt with that doctor. He looked me over, but his eyes were cold and sharp, like he wanted to cut me open. I got out of there fast.¡¿


    ¡¾Man, that guy is hardcore. He¡¯s not just running the instances, he¡¯s destroying them.¡¿


    ¡¾He is pretty hot, though.¡¿


    ¡¾He¡¯s a dude.¡¿


    ¡¾Do you have to be so blunt~~¡¿


    ¡¾Don¡¯t you dare use a tilde with me!!¡¿


    What a bunch of shameless fools. Every hospital had its own vibe. The Fourth Hospital was like Luo Jin and Lu Xun, outwardly respectable but secretly twisted. The Sixth Hospital, on the other hand, was like its rank, lively and spirited.


    (6 (Áù, li¨´) is generally considered lucky because it sounds like the word for ¡°flow¡± or ¡°smooth¡± (Á÷, li¨²). It¡¯s often associated with smoothness, success, or positive outcomes.)


    ¡°Tsk tsk tsk¡­¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen shook her head disapprovingly at her phone and clicked her tongue. ¡°Have you seen the forum? They¡¯re all delusional. They barely survived a few treatment instances, and now they think they can imitate Smiley¡¯s charm and seduce the doctor. They nearly ended up getting themselves killed.¡±


    ¡°Really?¡± Zhao Lan perked up. ¡°The forum is getting more interesting by the day.¡±


    Yu Xiao said nothing.


    She couldn¡¯t stand this post. She scrolled down to the next one.


    ¡¾A Guide to Sister Dragon¡¯s Achievable Titles¡¿


    ¡¾Sister Dragon holds numerous titles, many of which are incredibly valuable. Today, I will be sharing a few of these titles with you, along with some helpful tips on how to obtain them. I hope you all find this information useful and are able to acquire some noteworthy titles of your own!¡¿


    ¡¾The first title: ¡®Chainsaw Maniac¡¯


    I have no clue how Sister Dragon got this title, but it must have something to do with the chainsaw. If you ever find a chainsaw in the instance, remember to use it a lot, or at least hold it in your hand. You never know what surprises you might get.¡¿


    ¡¾The second title: ¡®Shit-Hole Destroyer¡¯


    Some people have tried this title before, but none of them succeeded. And the news has already ordered to ban this kind of behaviour, so forget about this one.¡¿


    ¡¾The third title: Village Chief¡¯s Wife.


    This title is not limited to the main wife, Zhuge and Monk also got the title of concubine, so the point of this title is to get married. You can tie the knot in the instance or something, preferably with someone who has a certain social status in the instance. I¡¯m planning to give this a try, even though I¡¯m a bloke.¡¿


    ¡¾The fourth title: ¡®Deadly Arse Assassin¡¯


    You all know what Thousand Years Kill is, right? As far as I know, many people have tried it, but none of them succeeded. So I think the key to this title is not the last words, but the first two. It has to be Deadly! No Deadly Arse, no good!¡¿


    ¡¾The fifth title: ¡®Red Apricot Climber¡¯


    You all have discussed this title before, I¡¯ll just summarise and supplement it. First of all, the affair partner can¡¯t be human, and secondly, you have to have a partner to cheat on. If you don¡¯t have a partner and hook up with a ghost, that¡¯s at most messing around, not apricot out of the wall, so single people don¡¯t have to worry about this one¡­¡¿


    Yu Xiao finished reading this serious analysis, and felt that the world was so absurd. These titles that would make her toes curl if she looked at them more, they could actually analyse them with a straight face, she really admired them.


    The people below replied very enthusiastically.


    ¡¾Thank you, OP! May fortune smile upon you!¡¿


    ¡¾OP, you are amazing.¡¿


    ¡¾Appreciated.¡¿


    ¡¾May fortune smile upon you!¡¿


    Yu Xiao felt a chill run down her spine as she read the messages. They were serious about this. She quickly closed the Fourth Hospital forum and hoped they wouldn¡¯t do anything stupid.


    She joined her friends at the table, where they had finished their meal. Zhao Lan asked, ¡°So, what¡¯s on your agenda for today?¡±


    ¡°Not much.¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen shrugged. ¡°Just packing some talismans for the buyers and sending them by courier.¡±


    ¡°I need to make some more talismans.¡± Yu Xiao said. She had sold a lot this time and her stock was running low.


    ¡°Okay, I¡¯m going to pamper myself with a scalp massage.¡± Zhao Lan said, beaming as she rubbed her head. ¡°Have you seen how much my hair has grown?¡±


    ¡°Let me see.¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen leaned over and gasped. ¡°Wow, it has, it has!¡±


    Yu Xiao glanced at Zhao Lan¡¯s hair, which barely covered her scalp, and wondered how they could notice any difference. She couldn¡¯t see it at all.


    ¡°I¡¯m going to massage my scalp more often.¡± Zhao Lan said. ¡°That way it will grow faster.¡±


    ¡°Me too, me too!¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen squealed. ¡°Let¡¯s massage each other¡­¡±


    They were engrossed in their hair talk, when Yu Xiao suddenly recalled that in the instance, the morgue ghost had given her a strand of hair.


    She reached into her pocket and felt the hair. It was still there. Could she bring things back from the instance?


    She held the hair and examined it closely. The morgue ghost hated women, so he wouldn¡¯t have given her the hair as a sign of affection. Then what was the purpose of this strand of hair?


    She was deep in thought, when a loud knock on the door startled her.


    ¡°Bang bang bang!!!¡±


    ¡°¡®Deaf Descendant¡¯! Courier!!¡±


    ¡°What?¡± Yu Xiao was confused. She didn¡¯t order anything. But she still got up and walked to the door, muttering under her breath: ¡°Shut up, you¡¯re making too much noise.¡±


    A snarl of irritation came from outside the door. ¡°You¡¯re the one who filed a complaint against me, aren¡¯t you?¡±


    Yu Xiao froze for a moment, then felt a surge of anger. ¡°Who else shares your attitude?!¡±


    The delivery guy replied, ¡°Do you think I¡¯m scared to withhold your package?!¡±


    ¡°Go ahead, see if I care!¡± Yu Xiao snapped, placing her hands on her hips. ¡°I have the Medical Disputes Office on speed dial!¡±


    ¡°¡­Hmph!¡± The delivery guy spat. ¡°Still want your package or not?!¡±


    Yu Xiao snatched the package from his hands, noticing that it was a thin envelope.


    As she closed the door, Yu Xiao spotted Zhou Xiao Zhen and Zhao Lan massaging each other¡¯s scalps, trying to make their hair grow faster.


    ¡°What¡¯s in the package?¡±


    Yu Xiao shrugged, tearing open the envelope. ¡°It¡¯s¡­ from the Health Bureau?¡±


    ¡°What?!¡± They both gasped, abandoning their messages and rushing over to Yu Xiao to see the contents.


    Inside was a letter with an official seal on a fancy letterhead. Yu Xiao scanned the words, feeling her eyes widen.


    ¡¾Dear Yu Xiao,


    We are delighted to inform you that, following our inspection activities at the hospital, you have been recognized as an exceptional employee. Your outstanding work skills, professional dedication, and ability to foster collegial harmony have not gone unnoticed. With the unanimous approval of the Health Bureau leadership, we are pleased to appoint you as a first-level inspector of the Health Bureau. As a result, you will temporarily assume the role of the Dean of St. Elizabeth¡¯s Psychiatric Hospital¡­¡¿


    ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°Wow,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen exclaimed, rendered speechless by the news. ¡°Smiley Sis, you¡¯ve just climbed the ladder of success; you¡¯re a big shot now.¡±


    Zhao Lan whispered to herself, lost in disbelief. ¡°Is this for real¡­ is this really happening¡­¡±


    Yu Xiao, more dumbfounded than anyone else, had expected a smooth inspection activity but never anticipated such a pleasant surprise.


    She stared at the letter for a long time, then made up her mind to call George.


    **


    George had been anxiously awaiting news. He didn¡¯t want to leave Saint Elizabeth; he had become attached to the place. However, he couldn¡¯t bear the sight of ¡®Deaf Descendant¡¯ any longer, so he devised a brilliant plan: he would sing her praises to the leaders of the Health Bureau, hoping they would promote her and get her out of his hair.


    George¡¯s mind drifted to the promising opportunities that lay ahead as he eagerly awaited Yu Xiao¡¯s call. He was confident that she would get the promotion.


    The phone suddenly rang, and George answered it with anticipation. ¡°Hm?¡±


    ¡°Thank you,¡± Yu Xiao¡¯s voice came through softly and sincerely.


    George was taken aback. ¡°Huh?¡±


    ¡°For everything. For believing in me, for supporting me, for advocating for me,¡± Yu Xiao¡¯s voice quivered with emotion. ¡°They just informed me that I¡¯ve been selected as the new inspector for the Health Bureau.¡±


    ¡°Hm!¡± George congratulated her. ¡°You deserve it, Yu Xiao. You¡¯re going places.¡±


    ¡°I hope so.¡± Yu Xiao¡¯s tone changed, becoming more gentle and warm. ¡°You know, George, you¡¯re not such a bad ghost after all. You¡¯ve been a true friend to me, and I appreciate that.¡±


    George felt a twitch in his mouth, and quickly switched the subject. ¡°So, what about the hospital? Who¡¯s going to be the new director?¡±


    ¡°Oh, that. Well, I have some good news for you!¡± Yu Xiao exclaimed. ¡°They asked me to stay on as the acting director of St. Elizabeth Hospital, so you don¡¯t have to worry about anyone else coming in. We can still work together!¡±


    **


    ¡°Beep beep beep¡­¡±


    ¡°What?¡± Yu Xiao frowned at her phone. Why did it cut off? Did George¡¯s phone run out of battery?


    She shrugged, feeling a warmth in her chest. This haunted hospital was not all doom and gloom, she realised. There was also friendship here, and maybe something more.


    For the rest of the day Yu Xiao was engrossed in her talismans, carefully tracing the intricate patterns with meticulous care. Tonight, she and her two companions had decided to register for the upcoming treatment. With nothing else to occupy them in the bleak ward, it seemed like the best option.


    She reminded herself that she had to be polite to the attending doctor. She had learned the hard way that offending them was a terrible idea. They had the power to make her life even more miserable than it already was.


    ARC5 ¡îDoctor¡¯s Sweet Dream


    **


    The next thing she knew, she was standing in a bright and modern hospital lobby, surrounded by six strangers. She blinked and looked around, trying to orient herself. She recognized the familiar sensation of being in an instance, but this one was different from the ones she had seen before. The hospital was new and clean, with no signs of decay or neglect. It looked like a place where people came to heal, not to die.


    She glanced at the others, who were also looking confused and curious. There were five women and two men. She was standing by an elevator, along with six other people.


    A young woman with a high ponytail broke the silence and waved at the group. ¡°Hello everyone, my name is Tan Qiao Yin, I¡¯m from the Fourth Hospital, nice to meet you all.¡±


    (Ì·ÇÇÒü


    Ì· (T¨¢n) is a surname derived from a place name in ancient China, meaning ¡°a deep pool¡±.


    ÇÇ (Qi¨¢o) means ¡°tall¡± or ¡°lofty¡±.


    Òü (Y¨«n) means ¡°to rule¡± or ¡°to govern¡±.


    Tan Qiao Yin could be interpreted as ¡°a deep pool of lofty rulers¡± or ¡°a tall governor from Tan¡±.)


    The short-haired girl with glasses beside her chimed in, ¡°I¡¯m with her, my name is Zhu Miao Miao.¡±


    (ÖìÃîÃî


    Öì (Zh¨±) is a surname that means ¡°vermilion¡± or ¡°red¡±, and was the surname of the emperors of the Ming dynasty.  S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Ãî (Mi¨¤o) means ¡°wonderful¡± or ¡°marvellous¡±.


    Zhu Miao Miao is a reduplicated name, meaning the second character is repeated. This is often done to create a cute or catchy effect.


    Zhu Miao Miao could be interpreted as ¡°a marvellous marvel of vermilion¡± or ¡°a wonderful wonder from Zhu¡±.)


    They went around and introduced themselves. The two men were from the Fifth Hospital, Ma Shan and Kang Jun.


    (ÂíɽÂí (M¨£) means ¡°horse¡± and is a common surname. ɽ (Sh¨¡n) means ¡°mountain¡±. Ma Shan could be interpreted as ¡°a horse mountain¡± or ¡°a mountainous horse¡±.)(¿µ¿¡¿µ (K¨¡ng) means ¡°health¡± or ¡°well-being¡±. ¿¡ (J¨´n) means ¡°handsome¡± or ¡°talented¡±.


    Kang Jun could be interpreted as ¡°a healthy talent¡± or ¡°a handsome well-being¡±.)


    No sooner had they exchanged names than a figure emerged from the right corridor. He was young, clad in a white coat, but nothing about him suggested a ghost doctor. His face was handsome, his smile dazzling, and he exuded a charisma that drew everyone¡¯s eyes. He approached them with an assured gait.


    Yu Xiao¡¯s heart skipped a beat. Could this be the attending doctor? He looked like he belonged on the silver screen.


    He flashed them a friendly smile. ¡°Good morning, everyone. I¡¯m delighted to see you here. I¡¯m your attending doctor, Fan Xing. But you can call me Fan.¡±


    (·±ÐÇ·± (F¨¢n) means ¡°numerous¡± or ¡°complex¡±. ÐÇ (X¨©ng) means ¡°star¡± or ¡°celebrity¡±.


    Fan Xing could be interpreted as ¡°numerous stars¡± or ¡°a complex celebrity¡± or ¡°Starlight¡±.)


    Yu Xiao mustered a smile in return. She had to make a good impression. She took a step forward and said, ¡°Hello, Fan. I¡¯m Yu Xiao.¡±


    He cocked his head and said, ¡°Yu Xiao. Such a lovely name. Pleased to meet you.¡±


    The others looked on with a mix of envy and suspicion. They wondered if Yu Xiao was following the example of the top-ranked patient in the Sixth Hospital, who had charmed the attending doctor and earned his favour.


    With a hushed urgency, Fan Xing beckoned for the group to follow him. ¡°Please, come with me. I have something important to share,¡± he said. He navigated through the winding hallways, their footsteps and his voice resonating in the quietness.


    ¡°You know the reason you¡¯re here,¡± he whispered over his shoulder. ¡°You¡¯re dying, slowly and painfully, from diseases that have no cure. But there is a glimmer of hope. A brilliant scientist, Dr. Qu, has created a wonder drug that can heal any affliction. But there¡¯s a catch. She¡¯s in a coma, and the drug can¡¯t be made without her.¡±


    He halted at a door labelled ICU and swiped his card to open it. He gestured for the group to enter, his expression serious. Inside, they saw a woman lying on a bed, connected to beeping and blinking machines. She remained completely motionless, resembling someone who had already died.


    ¡°This is Dr. Qu,¡± Fan Xing said, his voice cracking. ¡°She was a genius, a visionary, a humanitarian. She devoted her life to finding a cure for all diseases. She succeeded, but at a terrible cost. Someone leaked her discovery to the world, and she became a target for those who wanted to exploit her or silence her. She was attacked, and barely survived. But her mind was damaged, and she fell into a deep sleep that no one can wake her from.¡±


    He looked at the group with a mix of sadness and determination. ¡°The only way to save her, and yourselves, is to enter her dream and bring her back. The drug formula is locked in her subconscious, and only she can unlock it.¡±


    Yu Xiao piped up. ¡°How do we enter her dream?¡±


    Fan Xing smiled faintly, glad to see some curiosity and courage among the patients. He explained, ¡°Dr. Qu was working on a device that could connect people¡¯s minds and allow them to share dreams. She was testing it on herself when she was attacked. We managed to salvage the device, and we can use it to link you to her.¡±


    Yu Xiao didn¡¯t waver. She strode forward and said, ¡°I¡¯ll do it.¡±


    ¡°Really?¡± Fan Xing looked at her with excitement. ¡°Do you realise that entering someone¡¯s dream is very risky?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t mind the risks. I want to live, and I want to help Dr. Qu. She¡¯s more than a scientist, she¡¯s a hero. She deserves to live, and so do the millions of people who depend on her drug. The world can do without me, but it can¡¯t do without her.¡±


    Fan Xing¡¯s eyes widened, and he grasped Yu Xiao¡¯s hand. ¡°You are amazing. You have a heart of gold and a will of steel. You are the perfect person to enter Dr. Qu¡¯s dream and save her.¡±


    Yu Xiao squeezed his hand in return. ¡°It¡¯s the least I can do for you.¡±


    Their eyes locked, and a silent understanding passed between them.


    The others in the room: ¡°¡­¡±


    They stared in disbelief at the scene before them. The Attending Doctor and the patient were holding hands like lovers. Was this really happening? Had the patient managed to charm the Attending Doctor with her irresistible charisma?


    ¡°Good.¡± Fan Xing nodded approvingly. ¡°This difficult mission is yours to accomplish. Take a seat on the chairs.¡±


    He gestured to the seven chairs that were arranged in a circle in the ward. He handed each of them a helmet that looked like something out of a sci-fi movie.


    After making sure they were all wearing the helmets properly, Fan Xing said: ¡°Dreams are a reflection of human subconsciousness. They are influenced by what a person loves or fears the most. To help you locate Dr. Qu in the dream world, I¡¯ll give you a clue.¡± He lifted a finger and smiled mysteriously.


    The seven people leaned forward, curious and anxious.


    Fan Xing: ¡°Dr. Qu¡¯s passion, apart from her work, is indulging in horror movies and horror stories.¡±


    The seven people: ¡°¡­¡±


    Their faces turned pale, and a chill ran down their spines.


    ¡°Alright.¡± Fan Xing clapped his hands cheerfully, ¡°Let¡¯s get started~¡±


    Yu Xiao plunged into the abyss of darkness. She felt her consciousness being torn away from her body, drifting aimlessly in the infinite blackness.


    She lost track of time, and gradually, she began to enjoy the sensation of nothingness, a calm that enveloped her in silence.


    Suddenly, she felt a sudden tug, a force that swept her along like a leaf in a storm.


    The wind¡­


    It howled in her ears, a wild and relentless sound.


    In the summer, the wind was a gentle breeze, a comforting sigh. It carried the warmth of the sun, the rustling of trees, and the enticing call of slumber.


    Yu Xiao blinked open her eyes, only to be greeted by a blur of colours and shapes rushing by at a dizzying speed.


    She found herself in a cool convertible, with a long-haired, muscular man sitting beside her. He drove with reckless abandon, his sunglasses concealing his eyes while his grin revealed his cocky attitude.


    Yu Xiao turned her head and realised she was not alone. Several other sports cars were chasing them, skillfully manoeuvring through the traffic. In one of the cars, she spotted Misty and Precious.


    ¡°Ha ha!¡± the man with long hair and a muscular build laughed, giving Yu Xiao a lingering look. ¡°Cupcake, you¡¯re finally awake. We¡¯re almost there.¡±


    Yu Xiao cringed at the pet name. She hugged herself and asked, ¡°Where are we going?¡±


    ¡°Aw, my Baby,¡± the driver cooed, ¡°Did you forget? We¡¯re going to the villa for a vacation!¡±

 Chapter 79: Tell Me a Ghost Story

    A rope bridge swayed over a dizzying chasm, serving as the only connection between the cliff and the summit. At the mountain¡¯s top stood a Gothic villa, casting a shadow reminiscent of a foreboding castle.


    The scene seemed so absurd that even the most clich¨¦d film directors would dismiss it as too unrealistic. Who in their right mind would choose such a remote and perilous location for a holiday home? And if this location was chosen, why not build a sturdy and secure bridge instead of a weak and fragile one?


    Yu Xiao felt a surge of dread as she eyed the bridge. She was sure that it would snap at any moment, sending them plummeting to their deaths.


    They had to leave their sports cars behind, as they were too heavy and wide for the bridge. Yu Xiao rubbed her temples as she gazed at the villa, wondering what kind of twisted mind had dreamed it up.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen leaned in and muttered with a sneer: ¡°Who would have guessed, Dr. Qu¡¯s dream is so retro.¡±


    ¡°Shh.¡± Zhao Lan hushed her, and added: ¡°Retro is fine, retro means less surprises, and less trouble for us.¡±


    Yu Xiao counted the people who had come to the villa. There were thirteen of them, seven patients who had entered the dream, and six others, four men and two women. One of them was a little girl.


    The seven players, bound by their common goal, clustered together.


    Tan Qiao Yin, a girl with a high ponytail, fixed her gaze on the little girl, who looked no older than eight. ¡°Trust me, I¡¯ve seen enough horror movies to know that that little girl is not normal.¡±


    ¡°Why?¡± Zhao Lan asked, curious.


    Tan Qiao Yin grinned and said, ¡°You¡¯re not much of a horror fan, are you? In most horror films, the child is either the sole survivor or the mastermind behind it all.¡±


    ¡°Is that so?¡± Zhao Lan turned to Yu Xiao, who was more of an expert on the genre. She herself rarely watched anything scary.


    Yu Xiao nodded. ¡°It¡¯s true. But there¡¯s a catch. Films can¡¯t show children getting killed in gruesome ways. It¡¯s against the rules of political correctness.¡±


    ¡°Oh~¡± Zhao Lan nodded, enlightened.


    Just then, a muscular man with long hair strutted over, arm in arm with a man in a floral shirt and a round hat. They stopped in front of the rope bridge and the long-haired man spread his arms wide and bellowed, ¡°Welcome to the mountain villa!¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re going to have a blast here for the next seven days!¡±


    The thirteen guests crossed the rope bridge one after another, feeling it sway under their feet. Before stepping on it, Yu Xiao overheard Tan Qiao Yin whisper to Zhu Miao Miao, ¡°I¡¯ll try to test that little girl later.¡±


    The bridge looked old and frail, as if it would snap with a strong tug. Yu Xiao wasn¡¯t too worried, though. She knew that in horror films, nothing bad usually happened at the start.


    The Gothic villa loomed over them as they crossed the bridge, a dark and foreboding presence that seemed to belong to another era. Moss clung to the roof tiles, hinting at the age and neglect of the place. It was the perfect setting for a horror film, and Yu Xiao half-expected a vampire to emerge from the shadows and greet them. She wouldn¡¯t have been too shocked if that happened.


    The man in the floral shirt, who apparently owned this monstrosity, fished out a bunch of keys from his pocket. They jangled on brass rings as he searched for the right one. He finally found it and inserted it into the lock of the front door. The door creaked open with a sound that made Yu Xiao¡¯s skin crawl. It was like the groan of a dying beast, reluctant to let anyone in.


    The man in the floral shirt smiled and gestured for them to enter. ¡°Welcome to my humble abode,¡± he said. ¡°Our happy holiday life begins here.¡±


    Yu Xiao shivered as she stepped into the villa, feeling a chill that seeped into her bones. This was a haunted house, no doubt about it. She had a bad feeling about staying here.


    The man in the floral shirt ushered everyone to sit down in the living room, which was adorned with retro furniture and paintings. Surprisingly, the interior was immaculate, unlike the outside of the villa. ¡°I had someone clean it a few days ago,¡± he proudly explained. ¡°I wanted to ensure everything was prepared for you guys.¡±


    Meanwhile, he and the long-haired muscular man went to get drinks, snacks, and alcohol.


    Tan Qiao Yin wasted no time in mingling with the four tourists, chatting them up with ease. She soon learned their names, backgrounds, and family histories.


    The man in the floral shirt was Henry, a rich second-generation playboy who had inherited a fortune from his parents. He loved to eat, drink, have fun, and chase girls, and he didn¡¯t care about the consequences.


    (ºàÀûH¨¥ng l¨¬ : ºà (H¨¥ng) is a male given name that means ¡°smooth¡± or ¡°successful¡±. Àû (L¨¬) is a unisex given name that means ¡°sharp¡± or ¡°profitable¡±. ºàÀû could be interpreted as ¡°a smooth sharpness¡± or ¡°a successful profitability¡±.)


    The long-haired muscular man was Henry¡¯s loyal sidekick, a gangster who went by the name of Brother Nan (¸ç: South). He was always ready to back up Henry in any trouble, or start some of his own.


    The little girl was Yue Yue (ÔÂÔÂ), a sweet nine-year-old with pigtails. She was accompanied by her parents, Zhang Shu (ÕÅÊæ) and Qin Lei (ÇØÀÚ), a middle-aged couple who looked weary and worried.


    (Ô (Yu¨¨) is a unisex given name that means ¡°moon¡± or ¡°month¡±. ÔÂÔ could be interpreted as ¡°double moon¡± or ¡°every month¡±.)(ÕÅ (Zh¨¡ng) is a common surname that means ¡°to spread¡± or ¡°to open¡±. Êæ (Sh¨±) is a unisex given name that means ¡°comfortable¡± or ¡°smooth¡±. ÕÅÊæ could be interpreted as ¡°spreading comfort¡± or ¡°opening smoothly¡±. )(ÇØ (Q¨ªn) is a surname that derives from the name of an ancient state and dynasty. ÀÚ (L¨§i) is a male given name that means ¡°rock pile¡± or ¡°honest¡±. ÇØÀÚ could be interpreted as ¡°a pile of rocks from Qin¡± or ¡°an honest person from Qin¡±.)


    The last one was a young man who barely spoke a word, his expression distant. He was Ripley, ¡®a spy¡¯ sent by Henry¡¯s parents to keep an eye on him.


    (ÈðÆÕÀû


    Èð (Ru¨¬) is a unisex given name that means ¡°auspicious¡± or ¡°lucky¡±. ÆÕ (P¨³) is a common syllable that means ¡°universal¡± or ¡°general¡±. Àû (L¨¬) is a unisex given name that means ¡°sharp¡± or ¡°profitable¡±. ÈðÆÕÀû could be interpreted as ¡°a lucky universal sharpness¡± or ¡°a profitable general auspiciousness¡±.)


    Yu Xiao couldn¡¯t help but feel a mixture of horror and fascination. Doctor Qu¡¯s imagination was truly twisted, as she seamlessly fused elements from Eastern and Western nightmares in her dream creation.


    ¡°Everyone, come and see what we¡¯ve got!¡± Brother Nan and Henry burst into the room, their voices full of glee.


    Henry¡¯s arms were loaded with various items, while Brother Nan dragged along, grey thing behind him.


    He flung it onto the table with a loud thump, making everyone jump.


    Zhang Shu, the mother of little Yu Yue, let out a piercing scream. ¡°Ahhh¡ª!!!¡±


    Yu Xiao leaned forward and saw the grisly sight of a dead wild rabbit, its fur matted with blood.


    Qin Lei quickly embraced his wife and daughter, trying to shield them from the horror. Rupley turned his gaze away, displaying disgust.


    Only the seven patients appeared unaffected; Yu Xiao even observed Zhou Xiao Zhen eagerly licking her lips.


    ¡°Shh¡­¡± Brother Nan silenced them, placing a finger to his lips. ¡°This rabbit was a gift from the heavens. It flew directly into the acacia tree outside the window, as if it intended to end its own life. We¡¯re incredibly fortunate; tonight, we¡¯ll enjoy a delectable rabbit roast.¡±


    Henry switched on the record player in the corner, filling the hall with a foreign song that Yu Xiao had never heard before. He placed the drinks and snacks he had brought on the table and flashed a grin. ¡°Please, relax and make yourselves at home.¡±


    Tan Qiao Yin whispered to Yu Xiao, ¡°Why does a guy named Henry have such a Chinese accent?¡±


    Yu Xiao didn¡¯t care; she was thirsty and reached for some grape juice to drink.


    Brother Nan settled into the chair at the head of the long table, a cigar smouldering between his fingers.


    ¡°There¡¯s something we need to sort out before we feast,¡± Henry said, waving his free hand towards the villa looming behind him. ¡°This place has been in my family for over a hundred years. It has twelve rooms, exactly enough for our party of thirteen.¡±


    Pausing for effect, Henry leaned forward, a mischievous smile playing on his lips. His piercing blue eyes scanned the group, silently observing them. He then directed their attention to a window in the uppermost corner of the villa. ¡°But that room is special. It has a story. When my grandmother was a child, the kitchen maid made a mistake and put too much salt in the food. My grandmother¡¯s parents were furious and beat her mercilessly. That night, she hanged herself in that room.¡±


    He lowered his voice, trying to sound ominous. ¡°Ever since then, people have heard the sound of a knife being sharpened in that room. Some have even claimed to see a ghostly woman stirring a pot of blood soup.¡± He shivered, as if he felt a sudden chill. ¡°No one has dared to sleep in that room again, so¡­¡±


    The man in the floral shirt looked around, his eyes filled with excitement. ¡°Which one of us will be brave enough to spend the night in that room?¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen scowled, questioning, ¡°Why would anyone want to sleep there? Can¡¯t we just share a room and leave that one alone?¡±


    Henry faltered, his smile fading. He snapped, ¡°No way! You have to follow the rules. Unless you¡¯re a couple, you get your own room!¡±


    Yu Xiao had enough of his theatrics. She slammed her fist on the table and glared at him. ¡°Stop it. Cut the drama. Spit it out plainly and don¡¯t waste our time.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    Henry¡¯s face froze for a heartbeat, as if Yu Xiao¡¯s words had short-circuited his brain.


    But he quickly recovered his composure, and his voice took on a manic edge. ¡°Let¡¯s play a game, a game that will determine who among us will spend the night in that room.¡±


    ¡°What kind of game?¡± Brother Nan leaned forward, curiosity sparking in his eyes. He rested his feet on the table, blowing a ring of smoke from his cigar. ¡°Do tell.¡±


    ¡°From this moment on, each of us will share a true horror story,¡± Henry said, pulling out a cardboard box from under his seat. ¡°Then we¡¯ll cast our votes in secret, picking the least terrifying tale. The one who gets the most votes will be the lucky winner of a night in that room.¡±


    He grinned wickedly. ¡°Any questions?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡± Qin Lei, who had been trying to shield his daughter Yue Yue from the conversation, spoke up. ¡°My daughter is too young for this game, can she be excused?¡±


    ¡°No, everyone has to join,¡± Henry said, his smile fading. ¡°But parents can choose to tell a story for their children. So,¡± he scanned the faces of the others, ¡°any more objections?¡±


    Yu Xiao raised her hand, ¡°Does the loser have to stay in that room?¡± S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Henry cocked his head, ¡°If someone else volunteers to take their place, they can get out of it.¡±


    ¡°Oh,¡± Yu Xiao nodded, ¡°then I¡¯m good.¡±


    ¡°Great, now that we¡¯ve settled that, let¡¯s begin the game.¡± Henry clapped his hands, drumming his feet nervously under the table. ¡°Who wants to go first?¡±


    ¡°I will.¡± Tan Qiao Yin seemed eager to participate in this game. She cleared her throat and started slowly, ¡°Do you ever look at the showerhead when you shower? There was a woman who went on a business trip and stayed at a hotel near a train station. One night, as she was showering, she felt the water getting colder. She opened her eyes, and saw that the water coming out of the showerhead.. was.. Red.¡±


    She stopped mid-sentence, letting the words hang in the air like a noose. ¡°And then,¡± she continued, lowering her voice to a whisper, ¡°she raised her head slowly¡­, and saw that it wasn¡¯t a shower head at all. It was the severed head of a woman, dripping blood on her¡­¡±


    Zhang Shu reacted instantly, scooping up Yue Yue in her arms and pressing her palms over her ears. She didn¡¯t want her daughter to hear the rest of the story.


    ¡°Wonderful,¡± Henry clapped, his voice dripping with sarcasm. ¡°Who¡¯s next?¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s hand shot up in the air, her eyes sparkling with excitement. She loved these kinds of stories, the ones that made your skin crawl and your heart race. ¡°Me, me, me!¡±


    She cleared her throat and struck a dramatic pose, as if she were about to receive an award. ¡°Have you ever heard the old saying, don¡¯t look in the mirror at midnight? Especially not between one and two in the morning. If you have to pass by a mirror, just run. Don¡¯t stop. Don¡¯t look.¡±


    She paused for effect, then went on. ¡°There was a woman who didn¡¯t believe in such things. She thought it was all nonsense, superstition, nonsense. So one night, she decided to test it out. She sat in front of the mirror at two in the morning, and combed her hair.¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen tried to sound spooky, but her enthusiasm betrayed her. She was having too much fun to be scared.


    ¡°She combed and combed, and nothing happened. She smiled to herself, thinking she had proven them all wrong. She got up to leave, to tell everyone what she had done. But as soon as she turned around, she felt a chill down her spine. She looked back at the mirror, and saw another her, still sitting there, still combing her hair, slowly, slowly, slowly¡­¡±

 Chapter 80: Smiley’s Story

    Henry clapped his hands with a flourish, his eyes sparkling with delight. ¡°Wonderful, utterly wonderful,¡± he praised. ¡°Is there anything in this world more wonderful than a spine chilling ghost story?¡±


    Qin Lei felt a surge of anxiety as he looked up. He had been worrying, aware that he had only a few horror stories to share. He needed to tell two of them, one for himself and one for his daughter, Yue Yue, who was too young and frightened to join in. He had to act quickly before someone else told his stories.


    ¡°I¡¯ll go next,¡± he announced, adjusting his black-framed glasses and wiping the beads of sweat from his forehead. ¡°Tell me, do you have the courage to look under your bed at night? I don¡¯t. I¡¯ve always been a coward, ever since I was a child. But I had a friend who was fearless; he would lean over the edge of his bed every midnight, gazing into the darkness below.¡±


    His wife, Zhang Shu, who was sitting next to him, shifted uncomfortably.


    Qin Lei¡¯s face was filled with remorse; he blamed himself for dragging his family into this nightmare. He had wanted to save some money and had agreed to join Henry on this vacation, not knowing what horrors awaited them.


    He averted his eyes and went on, ¡°In the beginning, he would only peek for a few seconds, but as time went on, he became obsessed. He would stare for hours, as if hypnotised. I asked him what he found so fascinating under the bed, where nothing but shadows and dust lurked. He said it was a mystery, that something under the bed was calling to him. I asked him what it was, but he said he had no idea. Then one day, he disappeared. His family filed a missing person report, and many relatives and friends joined the search, but they found no trace of him.


    Months later, his mother, who was cleaning his room, smelled something rotten. She scoured the room, but could not locate the source of the odour. Eventually, she and her husband realised that the stench was coming from under the bed. They moved the bed aside and saw a wet, human-shaped stain on the floor.


    They pried open the floorboards and found my friend¡¯s decayed corpse.¡±


    ¡°Wow, wonderful!¡± Henry exclaimed, jumping to his feet. ¡°Absolutely wonderful, the most spine-chilling story I¡¯ve heard so far!¡±


    ¡°Uh, thank you,¡± Qin Lei said, forcing a smile. ¡°I have one more story to tell, for my daughter.¡±


    ¡°Of course,¡± Henry said. ¡°By all means, continue.¡±


    Qin Lei grabbed the red wine in front of him and drank it in one gulp, nearly choking.


    Zhang Shu quickly slapped his back.


    Qin Lei gave his wife a tender look before resuming, ¡°Do you drive often at night? Those who work as taxi drivers must be familiar with this, that some roads are forbidden after dark.


    He was a taxi driver, a friend of a friend of mine, and he was about to call it a night when he picked up his last passenger. The passenger gave him an address that was far away, too far for his liking. The passenger said it was close, if he took a certain road, a shortcut. The taxi driver hesitated, because he knew that road, and so did everyone else in this city who drove for a living. That road was fine by day, but not by night, because too many accidents had happened there after dark.


    The passenger noticed his hesitation, and said he would pay him well, very well, two thousand yuan (269 EUR) for the ride. The taxi driver was in a tight spot financially, and the offer was tempting. He clenched his teeth and agreed.


    He steered the car into that forbidden road at night, and for a while, everything was calm and normal, and he relaxed a bit, telling himself that there was nothing to fear, nothing out of the ordinary in this world. Then, he heard a crackling sound on the window above his head, and he thought it was raining.


    The passenger in the back seat let out a low chuckle then, and he felt a chill down his spine. He looked up and saw that it was not rain that was hitting the car, but dozens, hundreds, thousands of blood-red handprints, covering the car like a gruesome blanket¡­


    The next day, when they found him, he was already dead, and the car was twisted beyond recognition.¡±


    Ripley¡¯s face was ashen, Zhang Shu covered her daughter¡¯s ears with her hands, and tears streamed down her face. But Yue Yue seemed oblivious to what her father had said, or did not comprehend it, and she gazed at Qin Lei with wide, curious eyes.


    The seven patients were unfazed, they had seen worse things than ghosts. S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°I¡¯m done.¡± Qin Lei nodded.


    ¡°That was wonderful.¡± Henry exclaimed: ¡°I never thought you could tell such a splendid story. It was fantastic, I can¡¯t wait to hear more stories like this.¡±


    Zhu Miao Miao decided it was her turn to speak. She was not good at telling stories, and she lacked confidence in her own story, and she knew that the longer she waited, the more nervous she would become.


    ¡°Next, I¡¯ll tell you one.¡± Zhu Miao Miao was a lovely girl, with eyes that were especially beautiful, like fox eyes that had captured the essence of heaven and earth. She said: ¡°Some old people would advise their young ones not to go to the toilet at night, because they believe the toilet is a filthy place, and it easily attracts some evil things.


    Uh.. the name¡­ It¡¯s about this girl, Xiao Fang (С·¼). Ah, Xiao Fang, she was one of those sceptics, you know? She thought it was all nonsense. But one night, she made a terrible mistake. She drank too much water before going to bed, and woke up in the middle of the night with a full bladder. She stumbled to the bathroom, half-asleep, and sat down on the toilet. And then, she felt it. Something soft and hairy brushing against her skin. Something that shouldn¡¯t be there.


    (С·¼: Little Fragrant)


    She gasped, pulled up her pants, and looked into the toilet bowl. To her horror, she saw a human head submerged in the water. A human head, with long hair and a pale face. And it was licking her with a long, slimy tongue.¡±


    She looked at her listener¡¯s faces. Yu Xiao was staring at her with a weird expression, not quite fear, but more like disgust. Henry was smiling politely, but clearly not impressed. Kang Jun was yawning, bored out of his mind.


    Zhu Miao Miao felt a pang of disappointment.


    ¡°That¡¯s gross, not scary.¡± Henry said, in a patronising tone, ¡°Well, that¡¯s quite a story, Zhu Miao Miao. But not as good as the ones we heard before.¡±


    Zhu Miao Miao¡¯s shoulders slumped. She knew she was bad at telling stories. Was it going to be her fate to spend the night in that haunted room? She hoped not. But even if she did, she swore not to be afraid.


    Kang Jun raised his hand and said, ¡°Let me go next. I¡¯m not good at storytelling, and I don¡¯t usually like these kinds of stories. I have a real story to tell, not some made-up nonsense. A story that happened to me, personally.¡±


    He squinted his eyes slightly, as if recalling a distant memory, and began his tale. ¡°You see, once, I had to spend the night in a haunted house with some of my buddies. We were on a mission, and we had no choice. It was a creepy place, full of strange noises and cold drafts.


    In the middle of the night, I got a task. I had to make a midnight snack for my best friend, who was feeling hungry. I was so exhausted and sleepy that I didn¡¯t pay much attention to what I was doing. I just grabbed some ingredients from the kitchen, and cooked something up. Then I brought it to him, and he started eating.


    And then, he started crying. His cries woke me up, and I asked him what was wrong. He said, between bites, that his ears hurt. I looked at his ears, and I saw that they were gone. Nothing but holes. And then I realised, what he was eating, what I had given him, was his own ear. Half chewed, half bloody, his own ear.¡±


    Kang Jun¡¯s words hung in the air as he scanned their faces, but all he saw was boredom and indifference. He let out a long sigh and said, ¡°I told you, I really can¡¯t tell stories.¡±


    Ripley, who had turned as white as a sheet, whispered, ¡°Is that true?¡± His eyes were wide with fear. ¡°What you just said, was it really your own experience?¡±


    ¡°Of course,¡± Kang Jun said, giving Ripley a look that said you wouldn¡¯t understand, you¡¯re just a mortal. ¡°What benefit would I get from lying to you?¡±


    ¡°Well, it doesn¡¯t matter if it¡¯s true or not,¡± Ma Shan said, slapping Kang Jun¡¯s shoulder with a grin. ¡°Now it¡¯s my turn.¡±


    Ma Shan was a man who had seen a lot of things, and it showed on his face. His chin was covered with stubble, and his eyes had a mischievous glint. His laugh was easy and relaxed, but it also had a hint of something wild and reckless that you rarely encountered in real life.


    He sprawled on the chair, his right hand resting on the table, his fingers drumming a rhythm on the wood.


    ¡°Where should I start¡­¡± he said, then snapped his fingers. ¡°Ah, right. There¡¯s a girl in our village, very beautiful, and she¡¯s a good worker, a teacher at the middle school. Every day, she rides her bike to and from work, and she has to cross a small bridge to enter or leave the village. I don¡¯t know when it started, but every time she crosses that bridge on her way home from work, her bike tire pops. But it¡¯s okay, because right after, a man dressed in black shows up to help her, every single day.


    She started to feel uneasy, sensing that something was off. One day, on her day off, she was chatting with the village elders, and she brought it up. The old man¡¯s face grew grave, and he asked her if she had ever seen the man¡¯s hands.


    She thought about it and said she hadn¡¯t really noticed. The old man told her, if you see him again tomorrow, check his hands. If he has them, then you¡¯re fine. But if he doesn¡¯t have hands, then run as fast as you can, forget the bike, just run, and whatever you do, don¡¯t look back.


    The next evening as she pedalled her way home from work, crossing the same bridge where it had happened before, her tire popped again with a loud hiss. She cursed and stopped, looking around nervously. There he was, walking towards her with a slow and steady pace. Her eyes kept darting to his hands. Where were they? Hidden in his pockets.


    He didn¡¯t say a word as he reached her. He didn¡¯t offer to help her with her bike, like he had done all the previous times. He just stood there, looming over her, his hands still buried in his pockets. She felt a surge of fear, a primal urge to flee, but her legs were frozen. She could only muster a shaky voice, a desperate question. ¡°Are you human or ghost? And where are your hands?¡± She saw his head tilt up, his lips curl into a wicked grin, his eyes gleaming with malice. He opened his mouth and said¡­¡±


    Ma Shan paused, enjoying the suspense he had created. He scanned the room, seeing the faces of his audience. They were all hooked, hanging on his every word. He got up from his seat, raised his voice, and said, ¡°He said¡­,¡± Then he suddenly threw his arms in the air, shouting, ¡°Here are the hands!!!¡±


    ¡°Ahh¡ª!!¡± Zhang Shu shrieked, grabbing her daughter and running out of the door.


    Ma Shan collapsed on the floor, laughing hysterically. Brother Nan dropped his cigar, Henry gasped, and the other patients looked at him as if he had lost his mind.


    ¡°Hahaha~¡­¡± Ma Shan cackled, enjoying his own joke. ¡°Isn¡¯t this a scary story? Isn¡¯t this scary enough? Look at you all, scared out of your wits, hahaha¡­¡±


    Yu Xiao rolled her eyes, feeling disgusted by this lunatic. She wished he would shut up.


    ¡°Hehehe~¡­¡± Henry forced a smile, trying to be polite. ¡°Indeed, wonderful good, a thrilling story. Who¡¯s next?¡±


    Yu Xiao shrugged and volunteered, saying, ¡°I¡¯ll go next.¡±


    Her bored tone suggested that she considered the whole thing a waste of her time. The room seemed perfectly fine to her, even cosy. She wouldn¡¯t mind living there, with the ghosts as her only company. Perhaps she could even coax them into telling her a bedtime story.


    She coughed lightly, feeling a tickle in her throat. The grape juice she had earlier was too sweet for her liking. Clearing her throat, she continued, ¡°I¡¯m a student and I have a hobby of writing stories, all sorts of stories. However, there¡¯s something peculiar about it. Whenever I write in other genres, everything is fine. But when I write horror stories at night, I sense a chilling breeze around me. It seems to come from different directions ¨C sometimes from the left, sometimes from the right, and occasionally from above my head. It¡¯s as if someone is blowing on me.


    One night, while I was once again engrossed in writing a horror story, I got tired halfway through, so I decided to take a break and browse some forums online. It was then that I stumbled upon a thread dedicated to spooky stories. The thread¡¯s creator claimed that spirits are curious about the stories that the living write about them. They like to read them and watch the writers.


    So, when you feel a slight breeze while writing horror stories, it¡¯s not the wind. It¡¯s them. Those nasty things. Breathing on you.


    Watching¡­ You¡­ Write¡­¡±

 Chapter 81: I Want to Switch Rooms!

    Translator: InkyDragon (https://puukkiss.wixsite.com/inkydragon)


    ¡°Wonderful,¡± Henry¡¯s voice carried a note of satisfaction, his eyes gleaming with sinister delight. ¡°Stories like these, so closely connected to the fabric of reality, have an unmatched allure.¡±


    Qin Lei felt a surge of fear, and tightened his grip on his wife, Zhang Shu¡¯s shoulder. He forced a smile and said, ¡°Can we share a story as a couple?¡±


    Henry raised an eyebrow, his expression inscrutable. ¡°If you have the guts, sure.¡±


    Zhao Lan cleared her throat, finally deciding what to say. ¡°I¡¯ll be next.¡±


    She paused for a moment before starting, ¡°Back when I was in high school, there was a tale circulating about a student who decided to rent an apartment close to the school for convenience. At first glance, the apartment seemed fine, but there was an eerie element to it. From the moment he moved in, he experienced a constant unease around his neck. This feeling was particularly pronounced at night, when he was studying. He would frequently feel a chilling touch at the back of his neck, which would distract him from his work.


    His mother tried everything to help him, from making him wear more layers to rubbing ointments on his neck. However, none of these remedies seemed to have any effect. One day, while walking down the street, she unexpectedly encountered a blind fortune teller. Desperate for answers, she approached him and inquired about her son¡¯s fortune. The fortune teller hesitated for a moment before asking, ¡°Has your son been experiencing any unusual occurrences recently?¡±


    The mother nodded and asked what was happening. The fortune teller suggested that it could be something unclean (ÔණÎ÷*) in the rented apartment. Startled, the mother asked what should be done. The fortune teller explained that unclean things are often concealed from human sight. However, if they were to return home that night and use a mirror to survey the house, they might spot some hidden dirt that is usually invisible.


    That night, as the student was studying, his mother wandered around the house with a small mirror. Suddenly, the student felt a twinge in his neck and groaned.


    His mother had an idea and directed the mirror towards her son. Suddenly, she noticed a flicker in the mirror, just behind her son¡¯s neck. She instinctively looked up and was horrified to see a rope hanging from the ceiling, with a figure suspended from it. The feet of the figure were positioned exactly where her son¡¯s neck would be.


    The wind blew in through the window, causing the figure on the rope to swing back and forth, with its feet brushing against her son¡¯s neck.¡±


    (*ÔණÎ÷ (z¨¡ng d¨­ngx¨©): Dirty things. A euphemism for ghosts, spirits, demons, or other supernatural entities that are considered evil, harmful, or unclean. In Chinese culture, people often avoid mentioning these things directly, especially at night, for fear of attracting their attention or anger. Instead, they use vague or indirect terms, such as dirty things, strange things, etc.)


    Zhou Xiao Zhen leaned forward, her eyes wide with curiosity. She was a high school student who loved horror stories, and this particular one had caught her attention. ¡°And what happened next?¡± she asked eagerly. ¡°Did the blind man exorcise the ghost for them?¡± S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Zhao Lan shook her head. ¡°No, they just moved out.¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen felt deflated as her excitement faded. She had anticipated a more thrilling climax, something that would make her shiver and scream. This story was too anticlimactic for her taste.


    Zhao Lan concluded her story with a shrug.


    Henry¡¯s eyes scanned the group, until they settled on Ripley. He smiled wickedly, his voice dripping with sarcasm. ¡°Dear Ripley, I¡¯m sure you have a wonderful story to share with us. Something that will make our blood run cold and our hair stand on end, right?¡±


    Ripley was a young lad, barely out of his teens, with a timid and nervous disposition. His face was pale and sweaty, and his hands were trembling. He could feel Henry¡¯s mocking gaze on him, and desperately wished he could disappear. Stammering, he managed to say, ¡°I¡­ I don¡¯t have a story. I can¡¯t think of anything.¡±


    Henry feigned sympathy, his smile turning into a sneer. ¡°Oh, that¡¯s too bad. But don¡¯t worry, there is a solution. You can simply stay in that room over there¡ªthe one where the girl hanged herself and still haunts the place. How about that?¡±


    Ripley felt a surge of fear, and his lips quivered. He took two deep breaths, attempting to calm himself. As he lifted his head, a glimmer of determination appeared in his eyes. ¡°No, I¡¯ll¡­ I¡¯ll tell a story. I have one.¡±


    Henry scoffed, his expression full of disdain. ¡°Fine, let¡¯s hear it then. But it better be good, or else¡­¡±


    Ripley ignored him and looked down at his lap. He spoke in a soft voice, one that still carried traces of his childhood innocence. ¡°I grew up in the countryside (ÏçÏÂ), in a small village. There was a superstition there that if someone died in a family, you should never let a cat into their house. They said cats were creatures of the yin and could disturb the balance of the dead. They believed it could even bring the dead back to life.


    When I was eight years old, my grandma¡­ she died. She was the kindest person I ever knew, and I loved her more than anything. I stayed up all night for her wake to pay my respects. But I was too young, and I couldn¡¯t keep my eyes open. I fell asleep, without meaning to. Later, I was awakened by a loud and piercing meow. I opened my eyes and saw a black cat sitting on my grandma¡¯s coffin.


    I chased the cat away, but as soon as I did, I heard a sound coming from inside the coffin. It was like someone was scratching the wood with long and sharp nails. Terrified, my legs turned to jelly, and I couldn¡¯t move. I waited and waited, and waited, until the sound finally stopped.


    I thought it was over. I thought nothing had happened. The next day, I told my dad what I saw and heard. He turned pale and ran to find the village doctor. They opened the coffin, and the doctor said¡­ my grandma hadn¡¯t actually been dead yet. She had a rare condition where her heartbeat slowed down to a faint pulse. Last night¡­ last night she woke up, but I was too scared to help her¡­¡±


    He could not utter another word, his voice strangled by the lump in his throat. Tears spilled from his blue eyes, blurring his vision.


    ¡°Ha ha ha ha~¡­¡±


    A loud, mocking laughter cut through the silence, making him flinch. Henry stared at Ripley with contempt, as if he were a pathetic joke. ¡°You call that a horror story? That¡¯s the most hilarious thing I¡¯ve ever heard. A living person in a coffin! How original! How terrifying!¡± He cackled, clutching his stomach.


    Ripley felt a surge of humiliation and grief, and buried his face in his hands. He sobbed quietly, wishing he could disappear.


    The other patients looked at Henry with annoyance. He was such a jerk. But then, there was always one in every horror story, wasn¡¯t there? The one who made fun of everything, the one who never believed, the one who got what he deserved. Maybe Dr. Qu had seen too many of those movies, and dreamed up a character like Henry.


    ¡°Only two left.¡± Brother Nan spoke up, breaking the tension. He had been quiet the whole time, listening to the others. ¡°I guess I¡¯ll go next.¡±


    He swung his legs off the table, still casual and relaxed. ¡°I¡¯ll tell you one¡­ just one about the ghost in the bed.


    There was this guy who drove a lorry, and one night he was so tired that he hit a woman on an electric bike on her way home from work. He lied and said he didn¡¯t see her because of the blind spot on his lorry. And he had some friends in high places, and some insurance, so he got away with it pretty easily.


    One night he had a bad dream and woke up, feeling thirsty. He got up and went to the kitchen for some water. Outside, there was a storm, and as he was drinking, a flash of lightning lit up the living room. He saw something on the floor, something that looked like a pile of mud. He walked over and turned on the light, and then he saw her. A woman, or what was left of her, with no limbs, no skin, no organs, just a mass of flesh and blood. She had half a head, and with her one eye, she looked at him.


    He screamed and ran back to his room, locking the door behind him. He jumped on the bed and wrapped his arms around his wife, who was soft and warm. He shivered, trying to forget what he had seen.


    He calmed down after a while, and wondered if he was still dreaming. He decided to wake up his wife, and ask her to go with him to the living room.


    But then he smelled something. Something like petrol and blood. And his wife, in his arms, was cold. He turned on the lamp, and saw her. The woman from the living room, the woman he had killed, smiling at him.¡±


    Henry¡¯s applause rang out in the dimly lit room, his eyes shining with admiration. ¡°Wonderful! Brother Nan, you¡¯re incredible, a master storyteller!¡±


    Brother Nan beamed, his face flushed with pride. ¡°Oh, come on, you¡¯re too kind. All of you have shared such wonderful stories, such captivating tales¡­¡±


    Yu Xiao rolled her eyes, her patience wearing thin. She slammed her palm on the wooden table, making the cups and plates rattle. She glared at Henry and snapped. ¡°Is that the only word you know, wonderful? We¡¯ve all taken our turns, what about you? Don¡¯t you have a story to tell?¡±


    Henry gasped, his hands flying to his chest, feigning surprise and fear. ¡°Me? Tell a story? Now?¡± he asked.


    Then he flashed a wicked grin, his teeth gleaming in the candlelight. ¡°Well, then, I suppose I have no choice. Let me share with you the final story of the night.¡±


    He swept his gaze over the faces of his companions, lingering on each one for a moment, as if memorising their features. And then he said, in a low and ominous voice. ¡°My story is this: starting from tonight, the stories you just told will become your reality.¡±


    **


    The bloodied corpse of the hare lay on the table as if a silent reminder of the deadly game they were playing.


    Yu Xiao felt a surge of anger and frustration. She wished she could just point at Henry and get rid of him, but she knew that any of the six people in the room could be the elusive Dr. Qu.


    She snapped. ¡°Let¡¯s vote already.¡± She had no patience for more arguments. ¡°I don¡¯t know about you, but I¡¯m exhausted and I need some sleep.¡±


    Henry placed a paper box on the table and handed out pens and slips of paper to everyone. He smiled smugly, as if he was enjoying the show.


    Yu Xiao stared at the blank paper, unsure of who to choose. She heard a faint whisper from her side. ¡°You can go in yourself¡­ jerk.¡±


    She leaned closer to Zhou Xiao Zhen, who was sitting next to her, and whispered back. ¡°Don¡¯t vote for Henry.¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen gave her a puzzled look.


    Yu Xiao explained. ¡°He could be Dr. Qu. We can¡¯t afford to lose any of the NPCs.¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen scoffed. Her face twisted with resentment. She wanted to see that bully suffer.


    They finished voting soon enough.


    Henry grabbed the paper box and held it close to his chest. He paused for a moment, as if savouring the suspense, and then slid the box to Brother Nan. ¡°Brother Nan, why don¡¯t you do the honours and announce the results?¡±


    Brother Nan accepted the box with a grin. He stood up and began to pull out the papers one by one. He read the first one aloud. ¡°Yu Xiao¡±


    ¡°¡ª Tan Qiao Yin.¡±


    ¡°¡ª Brother Nan.¡±


    ¡°¡ª Ripley.¡± A vote.


    ¡°¡ª Ripley.¡± Another vote.


    And another. And another. And another.


    Five votes for Ripley. The haunted room was his fate.


    Ripley felt numb. He simply gazed vacantly at the paper in his hand, as if it held the answers to why he had been voted for.


    After the result came out, Brother Nan decided to take charge of the dinner. He announced that he would roast the hare for everyone, and Henry and Zhang Shu offered to help.


    The patients, meanwhile, slipped out of the house, pretending to need some fresh air. They gathered in a secluded spot, away from the prying eyes of the others.


    Tan Qiao Yin looked around at the small group and asked in a low voice, ¡°Any of these six people could be Dr. Qu, you know. You didn¡¯t vote for them, did you?¡±


    Zhao Lan shook her head firmly. She positioned herself in front of Yu Xiao and Zhou Xiao Zhen, as if to shield them from harm. ¡°The three of us voted for ourselves.¡±


    Tan Qiao Yin and Zhu Miao Miao nodded in agreement. ¡°We did the same.¡±


    That left only Ma Shan and Kang Jun, who shifted uncomfortably under the scrutiny of the others. Ma Shan cleared his throat and said to Tan Qiao Yin, ¡°I voted for you.¡±


    Tan Qiao Yin raised an eyebrow. ¡°I figured,¡± she said, with a hint of sarcasm. ¡°I got two votes, after all.¡±


    Yu Xiao turned her gaze to Kang Jun, who was silent and pale. ¡°You voted for me, didn¡¯t you?¡±


    Kang Jun couldn¡¯t bring himself to speak. He felt guilty and ashamed. He had no reason to vote for Yu Xiao.


    Tan Qiao Yin changed the subject, worried about Ripley. ¡°Do you think he¡¯ll be safe tonight?¡± she asked. ¡°I don¡¯t think he¡¯s Dr. Qu, though. He¡¯s too obvious.¡±


    Zhao Lan nodded. ¡°Then who do you think is the most likely suspect? Yue Yue?¡±


    ¡°Yes!¡± Tan Qiao Yin clenched her fists. ¡°She¡¯s the one. Don¡¯t you agree?¡±


    Before anyone could answer, they heard Brother Nan¡¯s voice from inside the house. ¡°What are you whispering about out there? Come on, everyone, Brother Nan¡¯s roasted hare is ready. Don¡¯t be shy, dig in!¡±


    They all filed back into the house, resuming their seats as if nothing had changed. But everything had changed.


    Yu Xiao¡¯s eyes darted to Yue Yue and her timid family. In her eyes, they had always seemed like a family of weak little rabbits, too scared to do anything wrong. However, she was mistaken. Even with the protection of anonymity in the vote, they had not dared to cross Henry, the bully. Instead, they had willingly chosen Ripley as the sacrificial lamb.


    Yu Xiao had a plan. She shot up from her chair, startling everyone.


    ¡°I want to switch rooms!¡± she declared.


    The others gaped at her, as if she had grown a second head. Henry frowned, puzzled. ¡°Switch rooms? With who?¡±


    ¡°Ripley.¡± Yu Xiao pointed at the hapless man, who looked even more bewildered than before. ¡°I want to switch rooms with him.¡±


    ©¤©¤©¤ ? ©¤©¤ ¡î ©¤©¤ ? ©¤©¤©¤


    (èÊôÒõ (m¨¡o sh¨³ y¨©n) Cats are considered to be yin animals, because they are nocturnal, secretive, and agile, and they can sometimes see things that humans cannot. Therefore, they are often linked to ghosts, spirits, or other supernatural phenomena.)


    ©¤©¤©¤ ? ©¤©¤ ¡î ©¤©¤ ? ©¤©¤©¤

 Chapter 82: Miss Yu was the Nicest Person He Had Ever Met

    Her words struck them like a thunderbolt, sending ripples of disbelief and shock through the crowd of patients and bystanders.


    Henry¡¯s voice rose to a high-pitched squeak. ¡°What did you just say? Are my ears playing tricks on me? Whose room do you want to swap with?¡±


    ¡°Ripley.¡± Yu Xiao shot back. ¡°Is your comprehension that poor? Do you need me to spell it out for you?¡±


    Henry spluttered, then stressed again. ¡°You want to swap rooms with him? Are you aware that his room is¡­¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m aware, it¡¯s haunted.,¡± Yu Xiao said with a serene and airy smile. ¡°Frankly, I¡¯ve never encountered a ghost in my life, so I want to expand my horizons. Do you find this reason acceptable?¡±


    Henry was speechless, he glowered at Yu Xiao, his face crimson with fury.


    The genuine tourists, including Brother Nan, gaped at Yu Xiao with a ghostly expression. It was astonishing to see someone who not only had no fear of ghosts, but was also curious to see them.


    The patients likely deduced Yu Xiao¡¯s intention; she did this to prevent anyone from dying before locating Dr. Qu. But even so, they couldn¡¯t help but admire her; this sister was truly courageous.


    Ripley, who was evidently the party concerned but had no aura at all, looked frantic, he gazed at Yu Xiao earnestly, both moved and anxious.


    ¡°What are you all gawking at?¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen had absolute faith in her, with her sister Smiley¡¯s talismans, which ghost would dare to seek trouble, even if it had guts.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s eyes gleamed as she gazed at the succulent hare, its skin crackling and dripping with fat. She licked her lips and declared, ¡°I¡¯m starving. Let¡¯s dig in.¡± She sheepishly glanced at Yu Xiao. ¡°Sister Smiley bravely agreed to spend the night in the haunted room. She deserves a reward for her courage, don¡¯t you think? A leg of hare should do nicely.¡±


    With that, she rose from her seat and sliced the hare with a sharp knife and a silver fork. She placed a generous portion on Yu Xiao¡¯s plate, then helped herself and Zhao Lan to the same.


    The rest of the group watched with envy, thinking, ¡®Yes, Yu Xiao¡¯s sacrifice earned her extra meat, but why did her two friends also receive a leg?¡¯


    After finishing their meal, they proceeded to choose their rooms. Yu Xiao made her way upstairs, with Ripley trailing behind her like a silent shadow. She walked straight to the rightmost room, the one that everyone said was haunted. She reached for the doorknob and swung the door open.


    A foul stench assaulted her senses.


    She recoiled and covered her nose and mouth, shouting at Henry, who was downstairs. ¡°What the hell, Henry?! Why is this room so filthy?¡±


    Henry rolled his eyes at her outburst. ¡°They told me this room hasn¡¯t been touched for ages, and who can blame them? Would you want to clean a haunted room?¡±


    Ripley stood beside her, feeling awkward. He gathered his nerve and suggested, ¡°Maybe¡­ we should switch rooms.¡±


    ¡°No way!¡± Yu Xiao snapped, planting her hands on her hips and glaring at him. ¡°I¡¯m not a liar, Ripley. I said I would stay here, and I will. What are you implying? That I should break my promise?¡±


    Ripley was at a loss for words. He couldn¡¯t follow Yu Xiao¡¯s logic. He wanted to tell her that he didn¡¯t mean to offend her, that he was just worried about her safety, that he would rather face the danger himself than let a lady risk it. But he couldn¡¯t find the right words to express his feelings.


    Ripley wanted to say it, but the words stuck in his throat like a fishbone. His face flushed with the effort of holding them back, and he managed to blurt out only one thing before he fled. ¡°I¡¯ll help you clean up.¡±


    He dashed downstairs, hoping to find some cleaning tools.


    Yu Xiao didn¡¯t stop him. She was glad that he offered to help.


    Zhao Lan and Zhou Xiao Zhen approached her and asked if they could lend a hand. Yu Xiao shook her head and said she had Ripley.


    She leaned in and whispered, ¡°I¡¯ll use this chance to question him when we¡¯re alone, and see if he¡¯s really Dr. Qu.¡±


    ¡°Mm.¡± Zhao Lan nodded and said, ¡°I noticed that Tan Qiao Yin went after Yue Yue. Zhou Xiao Zhen and I haven¡¯t gotten any opportunity to interrogate the others yet.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s fine, take your time.¡± Yu Xiao cast a glance at the dark and filthy room and said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry about me, I can handle myself.¡±


    By then, Ripley had returned with a pile of cleaning tools. He gave Yu Xiao a long and intense look, then lowered his head and entered the room without a word.


    ¡°Tsk tsk.¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen sighed and said, ¡°Just look at him. He gazes at you with the same longing that I have for Leonardo.¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s a difference.¡± Zhao Lan said sternly, ¡°He admires Smiley with gratitude and respect. You drool over Leonardo with unabashed desire.¡±


    ¡°Hmph!¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen covered her face and said, ¡°Sister Lan, you¡¯re so mean~¡±


    After Zhao Lan and Zhou Xiao Zhen went back to their rooms, Yu Xiao turned to Ripley.


    It would take a while to clean up the whole room. She figured that since she had nothing better to do, she might as well use this time to sell some talismans. Earning points was something she had to be diligent about, after all, no one ever regretted having too many points.


    As she scanned the hallway, her gaze landed on Tan Qiao Yin, who was ascending the stairs. A surge of excitement welled up within her, causing her to dart towards her.


    Tan Qiao Yin, upon hearing the sound of footsteps in front of her, raised her head and smiled upon seeing Yu Xiao. She warmly greeted her, and the two met at a stair corner.


    They exchanged a friendly grin.


    ¡°Heh heh.¡±


    ¡°Heh heh.¡±


    ¡°Still waiting for your room to be cleaned?¡± Tan Qiao Yin inquired.


    ¡°Yup, it¡¯s taking forever.¡±


    They paused for a beat, then simultaneously blurted out their offers.


    ¡°¡ª Want to buy some talismans?¡±


    ¡°¡ª Need any talismans?¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    A weird silence ensued, followed by a burst of realisation.


    ¡°¡ª You¡¯re selling talismans too?!¡±


    ¡°¡ª You have talismans for sale?!¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    They groaned inwardly. They had just wasted their time on a fellow vendor.


    But Tan Qiao Yin didn¡¯t give up. She was sure that her price was unbeatable. She leaned in and whispered, ¡°How much do you charge for your talismans? I sell them for only six points each.¡±


    Yu Xiao stared at her and said, ¡°I sell them for three points each.¡±


    ¡°¡­ What the hell!¡± Tan Qiao Yin snapped. ¡°Are you kidding me?! How do you even make a profit like that? You¡¯re ruining the market, you know that!¡±


    Yu Xiao shrugged, ¡°I make a profit~¡±


    ¡°What the hell!¡± Tan Qiao Yin fumed. ¡°What¡¯s your success rate for drawing talismans?¡±


    Yu Xiao blinked and gave a humble estimate, ¡°Around ninety percent success rate, I suppose.¡±


    ¡°What the hell!!¡± Tan Qiao Yin stormed off, leaving Yu Xiao behind.


    Yu Xiao¡¯s voice echoed through the empty hallway as she called after the retreating figure of Tan Qiao Yin. ¡°Why are you leaving so soon?¡±


    Tan Qiao Yin didn¡¯t bother to turn around or slow down. She flung a curt reply over her shoulder. ¡°I don¡¯t want to talk to you!¡±


    Yu Xiao grinned and raised her voice. ¡°Don¡¯t you want to stock up on some goods?¡± She waved the hand of talismans. ¡°There¡¯s a 100% profit margin!¡±


    Tan Qiao Yin spat out a curse. ¡°Bloody hell!¡±


    Yu Xiao chuckled and made her way back to her room, feeling pleased with herself. The room was almost spotless, thanks to the diligent efforts of her new helper.


    When she entered, Ripley lifted his head and gave her a timid smile, then quickly resumed his task of cleaning dust.


    Yu Xiao wandered around the room, pretending to inspect the items, while actually pondering how to subtly question Ripley and determine if he was Dr. Qu. However, she had never met Dr. Qu and knew very little about her apart from her love for horror. How could she possibly test Ripley¡¯s true identity?


    She realised that her approach might be flawed. Why did she have to confirm who Dr. Qu was first? Why not simply try that method on Ripley and see what happened? If he wasn¡¯t Dr. Qu, the dream would not change. If he was Dr. Qu, the dream would vanish and she would wake up.


    So she approached Ripley, who had just finished cleaning. He looked up at her with a mixture of shyness and gratitude, and whispered, ¡°I know you¡¯re doing this to help me.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, yeah.¡± Yu Xiao moved closer to him, pretending to be friendly.


    Ripley¡¯s beautiful blue eyes stared at the dust stick he held. ¡°Besides grandma, you¡¯re the nicest person to me.¡±


    ¡°Really?¡± Yu Xiao stood behind Ripley, feigning interest.


    ¡°Yes, everyone else dislikes me.¡± Ripley said, his voice dropping to a sad tone. ¡°They won¡¯t help me, you¡¯re the first¡­¡±


    ¡°Huh? What¡¯s that?¡± Yu Xiao pointed ahead, distracting him.


    Ripley turned his head in confusion, following her finger. ¡°What?¡± S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Yu Xiao picked up a karate chop and slammed it hard on Ripley¡¯s neck. Ripley¡¯s eyes rolled back and he collapsed to the ground, unconscious.


    Yu Xiao squatted on the ground and examined him closely. She waited for a few minutes, but nothing changed. His breathing was steady and his face was peaceful. It seemed that he was not Dr. Qu. Yu Xiao felt a pang of disappointment.


    When Ripley woke up, he found himself lying on Yu Xiao¡¯s bed, and his neck was throbbing with pain.


    As he cradled his neck and twisted his head, he caught sight of Yu Xiao perched on the edge of the bed, her gaze boring into him.


    A surge of heat flooded Ripley¡¯s face, tinting his fair and delicate features with a rosy hue. ¡°Ah¡­ you, what happened to me?¡±


    Yu Xiao shrugged, her voice cool and detached. ¡°How should I know what happened to you? You just keeled over without warning, and I had to haul you to the bed, nearly breaking my back.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry¡­¡± Ripley¡¯s face grew even redder, ¡°I didn¡¯t mean to, I felt¡­ like someone struck me.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean?¡± Yu Xiao arched an eyebrow, her tone confident. ¡°Are you implying that I hit you?¡±


    ¡°No¡­¡±


    ¡°Then who else could it be? We¡¯re the only ones here, so if you say that, you¡¯re basically accusing me, aren¡¯t you?¡± Yu Xiao rose to her feet and glared at him.


    ¡°No, I didn¡¯t mean that.¡± Ripley hastened to clarify, ¡°I mean this room might have a problem, you might be in danger if you stay here. So, so let¡¯s switch the rooms back¡­¡±


    ¡°Are you trying to insult me?¡± Yu Xiao snatched Ripley¡¯s collar and yanked him off the bed, shoving him out. ¡°Get out of here, don¡¯t bother me while I¡¯m resting!¡±


    Ripley stumbled out and the door slammed shut behind him.


    He spun around and stared at Yu Xiao¡¯s door with worry. Miss Yu was the nicest person he had ever met. She had spoken to him in a harsh tone on purpose, to spare him from feeling guilty, giving up the safe room for him and moving into this dreadful room herself.


    Ripley thought and thought, and tears filled his eyes.


    He wouldn¡¯t sleep tonight, he would stay in the living room outside. As soon as there was any noise from Miss Yu¡¯s room, he would dash over.


    After getting rid of Ripley, Yu Xiao stretched out on the bed. The new quilt she had just bought was quite soft. She sensed the yin energy in the room, but it wasn¡¯t too strong, so the ghost in the room wouldn¡¯t be too frightening.


    This made her more relaxed, and she drifted off to sleep quickly with a peaceful mood.


    It had been a draining day, and everyone was quite worn out. Two hours later, except for Ripley in the living room, everyone else was asleep.


    The Qin couple who lived in the second room on the right side of the second floor had a restless night. Maybe they had listened to too many horror stories during the day, Qin Lei had a nightmare. He jolted awake from the dream, drenched in cold sweat.


    He exhaled a sigh of relief when he realised it was a dream, and threw off the quilt to go to the toilet.


    However, at that moment, an inexplicable sensation washed over him, one that was overwhelmingly intense. He remained seated on the bed, leaning forward and lowering his head, fixated on the pitch-black bottom of the bed without blinking.

 Chapter 83: Late Night Ghostbusters

    He stared into the abyssal blackness under the bed, mesmerised by the unseen horror that lurked there. His throat tightened with a fearful anticipation, as if he were about to plunge into the depths of a dark ocean. He knew he was losing his mind, but he couldn¡¯t tear his eyes away from the irresistible pull of the unknown.


    Meanwhile, in the adjacent room, Brother Nan shifted in his slumber. His fingers brushed against a cold, limp form, devoid of flesh and warmth. He remained oblivious, curling his arm around the corpse, whispering, ¡°Heh heh¡­ pretty lady¡­¡±


    Two doors down, Zhou Xiao Zhen dreamed peacefully. A splendid, antique half-mirror graced her chamber. She had marvelled at its beauty when she first laid eyes on it. The mirror was a work of art, making her feel like royalty whenever she gazed into it.


    But in the gloom, as Zhou Xiao Zhen breathed evenly, a black shadow emerged in the mirror. It swelled and expanded, until it reached the glass, a viscous blob seeping out.


    It spilled over the dressing table, over the floor, crawling towards the bed. At last, it gathered into a mound by the bedside, a malformed hand stretching out towards the sleeping girl.


    As the hand touched her, a flash of brilliant flames burst from the girl, rapidly consuming the hand.


    The shadow let out a weird shriek, swiftly dissolving into a puddle of goo and fleeing from the bedside, sliding out through the door crack.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen sensed a noise, half-awake, opening her eyes to a pitch-black room. She shrugged it off, closed her eyes again, rubbed her nose, and fell back to sleep.


    Zhao Lan slept soundly in the adjacent room, oblivious to the world. Her health had been steadily improving, and with it, her nights had become more peaceful and restful.


    ¡°Squeak¡­¡±


    ¡°Squeak¡­¡±


    A faint noise pierced the silence, like a rusty swing creaking in the wind. A dark shape hung in the air, swinging over Zhao Lan¡¯s head. She didn¡¯t stir in her bed, so the shape kept swinging, back and forth, back and forth.


    Yu Xiao was not so lucky. She had a good sleep quality; she could sleep through anything. But the noise in her room was unbearable, because there was someone¡­ a Shadow in her room, honing a knife.


    The scraping sound of metal on stone jolted her awake, and she sat up, her hair a mess, her eyes fixed on the Shadow sharpening the knife on the other side of her bed.


    The Shadow noticed her movement, and stopped what it was doing. It slowly rose to its feet, and walked towards her, waving the knife.


    Yu Xiao didn¡¯t flinch, didn¡¯t blink, just stared at the Shadow. It came closer and closer, and lifted the knife above its head. That¡¯s when Yu Xiao reached under her pillow, and pulled out a bunch of talismans. She still looked emotionless, as she faced the intruder.


    Shadow: ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s your deal?¡± Yu Xiao rattled the talismans in her hand. ¡°Honing a knife in the middle of the night, ruining people¡¯s sleep. What do you think I¡¯m going to do to you?¡±


    The Shadow was stunned; this was not what it expected. It had met some tough nuts before, but this was ridiculous. Who carries a bunch of talismans under their pillow?


    The Shadow thought of running away, but before it could make a move, a talisman drifted down from above its head. The Shadow dodged, only to see the fearsome woman get off the bed, and approach it with steady steps. As she walked, she folded the talismans into paper planes, and threw them at the Shadow¡¯s head.


    A pitiful wail echoed from the shadow, who had never faced such a fiendish creature before.


    The fiend (Yu Xiao) stalked towards it, her voice oozing with cruelty. ¡°I¡¯ll make you a deal, little one. Do something for me, and I¡¯ll let you live.¡±


    The shadow had no choice but to agree, trading its soul for a chance to escape the fiend¡¯s fury.


    Since Yu Xiao¡¯s night was interrupted by the noise, she also noticed a faint but persistent thud from the room next door.


    Ripley, who had been keeping a vigilant watch over Yu Xiao, fell asleep at the table. He jerked awake when he heard the door open and saw Yu Xiao emerge from her room. ¡°Miss Yu¡­¡± He was concerned that she was in trouble, so he ran after her, ready to assist.


    However, when he reached the second floor, he saw Yu Xiao kicking down the door of the adjacent room, leaving him puzzled by her actions.


    Yu Xiao smashed the lock of Zhao Lan¡¯s room and strode in without hesitation.


    As soon as she crossed the threshold, she spotted a figure dangling from the ceiling, swinging to and fro. The figure froze at the sight of Yu Xiao.


    The clatter of the broken lock jolted Zhao Lan awake, and she squinted at the door, rubbing her eyes. ¡°Hm¡­ Smiley? What are you doing in my room?¡±


    Yu Xiao pointed upwards, ¡°I came to have some fun with that.¡±


    The hanging ghost: ¡°¡­¡±


    Zhao Lan followed her gesture and saw a pair of feet, which made a chill run down her spine. ¡°Holy crap!¡± She jumped out of the bed with a swear and exclaimed, ¡°What the heck is that?¡±


    Yu Xiao, who had been enjoying the spectacle with a grin, cocked her head and observed the ghost. ¡°It¡¯s quite a sight, isn¡¯t it? Reminds me of the ghost from the story you told us last evening.¡±


    Zhao Lan squinted, trying to focus and comprehend. She looked at the ghost again and felt a flash of recognition. ¡°Oh, yeah. It does resemble that one.¡±


    She turned to Yu Xiao, who stood next to her, and asked in a bewildered tone, ¡°What¡¯s happening here?¡± She pointed at the hanging ghost, which had stopped its eerie swinging motion. ¡°Is Henry telling the truth? Will our ghost stories become real?¡±


    Yu Xiao shrugged. ¡°Maybe.¡± She reached for the rope that held the ghost aloft. ¡°Let¡¯s get it down.¡±


    Hanging ghost: ¡°???¡± S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡ª How dare you? I¡¯m a ghost, not a puppet. You can¡¯t just yank me down like that. Have you no respect for the dead?


    Yu Xiao and Zhao Lan pulled the ghost down together. Its neck was twisted, its head drooping to the side, its tongue lolling out, its mouth silent.


    It now cowered on the floor, while the two girls loomed over it.


    ¡°What¡¯s the point of dragging it down?¡± Zhao Lan wondered aloud. She couldn¡¯t see any use for this thing.


    Yu Xiao smirked. ¡°No point, really. I just hated being disturbed in the middle of the night. If I can¡¯t sleep, neither can anyone else.¡±


    She waved a bunch of talismans menacingly at the hanging ghost, and ordered, ¡°You, go to Henry¡¯s room, and give him a fright. But don¡¯t you dare hurt him¡­¡±


    Ripley had been waiting outside the door for a long time, he started to think that Yu Xiao had been frightened in the night and had sought comfort in her friend¡¯s room. But his assumption was dashed when he saw Yu Xiao and her friend emerge from the room together.


    ¡°Ripley?¡± Zhao Lan spotted him as soon as she stepped out, and gasped. ¡°What are you doing here?¡±


    Ripley felt a surge of heat in his cheeks as he stammered, ¡°I¡­ I was worried about Miss Yu. By the way, what are you two doing here?¡±


    ¡°Need a wee,¡± Yu Xiao said casually.


    Ripley¡¯s face turned the colour of a ripe tomato and he dashed away without a word.


    Zhao Lan cocked an eyebrow and teased, ¡°Ripley is such an innocent boy, don¡¯t you have a thing for innocent boys?¡±


    Yu Xiao leaned closer and whispered, ¡°Innocence is irrelevant, as long as they¡¯re handsome.¡±


    They giggled lewdly and made their way to Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s door.


    Zhao Lan commented, ¡°Actually, Ripley is not bad on the eyes.¡±


    Yu Xiao agreed, ¡°That¡¯s why I offered to switch rooms with him.¡±


    They opened the door and found Precious sound asleep. The room was immaculate, with no sign of disturbance.


    ¡°Looks like the ghost hasn¡¯t shown up yet,¡± Zhao Lan speculated, ¡°or maybe the ghost has already left.¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s look somewhere else then,¡± Yu Xiao suggested, stepping out. As they walked, she asked, ¡°What other creepy things did they say about this place?¡±


    Zhao Lan remembered, ¡°There¡¯s a ghost who died in a car crash and crawls under the blankets, and another who slashes tires but then helps fix them?¡±


    They were chatting when they noticed a man in black, hands in his pockets, climbing the stairs, his face hidden.


    They reached him at the narrow corridor, Zhao Lan pointing excitedly, ¡°It¡¯s him, it¡¯s him!¡±


    The man in black raised an eyebrow, ¡°?¡±


    Yu Xiao swiftly pulled out a talisman, ¡°Don¡¯t move! Don¡¯t run! Stay calm¡­¡±


    **


    Henry was jolted awake by the commotion, feeling groggy and weary. He opened his eyes and saw a blurry pair of feet dangling over his head.


    A jolt of terror shot through him, snapping him awake. He bolted upright and stared at the foot of the bed, where a shadowy shape hunched over the floor, scraping a kitchen knife against a whetstone.


    ¡°AAAAAHHHH!!!¡± Henry¡¯s scream tore through the silence, as he flung himself off the bed, only to collide with another figure blocking his way. He craned his neck to see who it was; a man clad in black from head to toe, with an unremarkable face, except for his hands buried in his pockets, radiating a chill that made Henry shiver.


    ¡°A¡­a ghost¡­¡± Henry¡¯s voice was barely a whisper, his throat dry with fear. ¡°There¡¯s a ghost¡­¡±


    The man in black met his gaze with a blank expression, then all of a sudden he thrust his hands out and bellowed, ¡°Hands here!!!¡±


    ¡°AAAAAHHH!!!¡±


    ¡°Hands here!!!¡±


    ¡°AAAAAHHH!!!¡±


    ¡°Hands here!!!¡±


    ¡°Ahh¡­¡±


    **


    The next morning, Zhou Xiao Zhen, who had neglected to close the curtains, was roused by the sunlight streaming through the window. She had slept soundly and blissfully, curling up in the bed, feeling rejuvenated and eager to start the day.


    Suddenly, she sensed something was wrong. She reached into her pyjamas and drew out a fistful of black dust.


    She bolted upright, scanning her body for any signs of harm. Everything seemed normal, except for one thing: one of her protective charms was missing.


    She glanced at her sheets and saw a heap of black ashes. That was all that remained of her charm after it had been consumed.


    There was only one possible explanation: a ghost had paid her a visit last night.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen didn¡¯t linger in her bed. She didn¡¯t waste any time tidying her clothes and dashed to the door, only to discover that the lock had been smashed.


    That cursed ghost! How dare it ruin her door!


    She barged into Yu Xiao¡¯s room, screaming: ¡°Smiley~~~!!!¡±


    Yu Xiao had just drifted into a fitful sleep, when she was startled by Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s voice. Her heart skipped a beat.


    She opened her eyes and found Zhou Xiao Zhen crawling under her blanket, clutching her waist. ¡°A ghost came to my room last night, wuwuwu, I¡¯m so terrified¡­ I need you to transform into twenty-year-old Leonardo DiCaprio and soothe my shattered soul¡­¡±


    Yu Xiao groaned and shoved her off. ¡°What shattered soul? You have no clue what Misty and I had to suffer last night.¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s racket had roused the others as well. They emerged from their rooms, blinking their eyes.


    The last person to emerge was Tan Qiao Yin, whose face twisted like sour milk as she caught sight of Yu Xiao and Zhou Xiao Zhen walking out arm in arm. With a venomous glare, she hurled herself down the stairs.


    ¡°What¡¯s with the death stare?¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen inquired, raising an eyebrow at Yu Xiao. ¡°Did you break her heart or something?¡±


    ¡°Please,¡± Yu Xiao scoffed. ¡°The only thing I broke was her monopoly on the market.¡±


    ¡°Damn, that¡¯s harsh,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen whistled. ¡°She must hate you more than any jilted lover.¡±


    Smack.


    A loud thud interrupted their conversation, coming from Henry¡¯s room up ahead. The door swung open with a creak, but no one stepped out. A chill ran down their spines as they stared at the empty doorway.


    ©¤©¤©¤ ? ©¤©¤ ¡î ©¤©¤ ? ©¤©¤©¤

 Chapter 84: Me and Ripley are Innocent!

    As soon as they stepped out of their rooms, the guests who were about to head downstairs for breakfast halted in their tracks, drawn by the commotion coming from Henry¡¯s room. Was he in trouble? Had something terrible happened?


    A loud bang echoed through the hallway as the door of the adjacent room flew open with a violent force. A burly man with long hair , clad only in his pyjamas, emerged from the room, clutching his clothes in panic and yelling, ¡°Bloody hell, what the fuck is this? Why am I drenched in blood¡­?¡±


    Brother Nan glanced at the door and gasped. ¡°What the hell is that?¡± He pointed at something on the floor behind the door.


    The others followed his gaze and saw a hand lying on the carpet. They pushed the door open and discovered the rest of Henry¡¯s body. He was lying face down, one arm stretched out as if he had tried to crawl out of the room.


    ¡°Brother!¡± Brother Nan cried out, rushing to Henry¡¯s side. ¡°What happened to you, mate?¡±


    Yu Xiao, who was watching the scene from a distance, felt a twinge of confusion. She had only planned to scare Henry with some ghost stories last night. Did the ghosts disobey her and decide to kill him instead?


    Henry, who was still alive but barely, twitched his whole body. His right hand, curled into a claw, reached out for help. He lifted his head with great difficulty, his eyes wide with terror, his face contorted with pain. He managed to croak out from his throat, ¡°Help¡­ me¡­¡±


    They carried Henry downstairs and laid him on the sofa, where he remained in a state of shock, as if he had been hit by a truck.


    He was less of a nuisance now, at least. That was the only silver lining.


    Brother Nan clasped Henry¡¯s hand with a gentle squeeze, his voice full of compassion. ¡°Poor Henry. You must have seen something truly horrifying.¡±


    Ma Shan frowned at Yu Xiao, curiosity and concern in his eyes. ¡°What about you? Did you have a haunting last night? Was there any trouble in your room?¡±


    Yu Xiao shrugged, avoiding his gaze. ¡°There was something. But I took care of it.¡±


    Ma Shan shook his head, baffled. ¡°That¡¯s strange. Your room is supposed to be the most haunted one. But the rest of us were fine. Why did only Henry suffer?¡±


    Yu Xiao shot him a silent look, thinking, if I hadn¡¯t caught the pocket ghost in the nick of time, you¡¯d be singing a different tune.


    ¡°Not just him.¡± Tan Qiao Yin interjected, pointing at Brother Nan, who was splattered with blood. ¡°He had his share of trouble too.¡±


    Brother Nan looked puzzled, touching his chest. ¡°What do you mean? What kind of trouble?¡±


    Zhao Lan realised that the others were clueless about what had transpired. ¡°Our stories came to life.¡±


    Zhu Miao Miao blinked, confused. ¡°What are you talking about?¡±


    Zhao Lan explained, ¡°Henry wasn¡¯t lying. The ghost story we told yesterday night became real. The hanging ghost came to my room.¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen said, ¡°I slept like a log and didn¡¯t hear or see anything. But when I woke up, one of my amulets was charred, and there was a mirror in my room.¡±


    The others paled as they listened, remembering Brother Nan¡¯s story. They could imagine the horror he had faced. He was lucky to have slept through it all; otherwise, he might not have made it to the morning.


    Tan Qiao Yin wondered, ¡°Why didn¡¯t I meet a ghost then?¡± She believed Zhao Lan and the others; they were on the same side now. Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Zhu Miao Miao tapped her chin thoughtfully. ¡°Maybe it has something to do with the environment,¡± she suggested. ¡°Your ghost story involved bathrooms, right? And mine was about a mirror. But we didn¡¯t go near any of those places last night, so we were safe from the ghosts.¡±


    Kang Jun nodded in agreement. ¡°That makes sense. My ghost story was about cooking, but I didn¡¯t touch the kitchen, so I didn¡¯t see any ghosts either.¡±


    Ma Shan frowned and pointed at Henry, who was shivering in a corner. ¡°But what about him?¡± he asked. ¡°He said that our ghost stories would come true, but his story didn¡¯t have any ghosts in it. Why is he so scared? Did all the ghosts from our stories go to haunt him instead?¡±


    Yu Xiao and Zhao Lan shared a worried look. They didn¡¯t like where this was going.


    Just then, Zhang Shu came down the stairs, holding Yue Yue¡¯s hand. She smiled brightly when she saw them. ¡°Good morning, everyone. You¡¯re all awake. Have you seen my husband Qin? He¡¯s not in our room.¡±


    They stared at her in silence. If their ghost stories were really coming true, then what happened to Qin Lei, who was still missing?


    Tan Qiao Yin didn¡¯t wait for an answer. She dashed up the stairs, followed by the rest of them.


    Zhang Shu looked confused and scared. ¡°Hey, what¡¯s going on? Why are you all running to my room¡­¡±


    Zhang Shu¡¯s room looked normal at first glance, except for the lack of mirrors. The sun shone through the window, casting a warm light on the empty space.


    They gathered around the large bed in the centre of the room, and Zhao Lan reached out to lift the covers.


    A dark stain spread under the bed, taking the shape of a human body. It was the first thing that caught Zhang Shu¡¯s eye when she barged into the room after rest of the group. She stopped in her tracks, her mouth agape.


    ¡°What the hell¡­¡± She felt a surge of fear, ¡°What the hell is that?¡±


    Tan Qiao Yin ignored her and knelt down, digging her fingers into the floor. She tore off chunks of wood, revealing something underneath.


    A piece of fabric came into view, with a familiar pattern. Zhang Shu recognized it instantly. It was Qin Lei¡¯s shirt. She felt her legs buckle and she fell to the floor, sobbing.


    They kept digging until they uncovered the whole body. Qin Lei¡¯s corpse, rotting and decomposing, stared back at them with empty eyes.


    The group stood around the body in silence, their faces pale. Their ghost stories had become reality.


    ¡°Ah!¡± Brother Nan, who had been watching from the door, turned and ran, screaming, ¡°Ghost¡­ There¡¯s a ghost¡­ I¡¯m getting out of here¡­ I¡¯m getting out of here!¡±


    ¡°Mum.¡± Yue Yue¡¯s voice came from behind him, as she peeked into the room, ¡°Why is dad still sleeping?¡±


    ¡°Yue Yue!¡± Zhang Shu snapped out of her shock, and ran to her daughter, wrapping her arms around her, ¡°Come on, honey, we have to go. Mum will take you somewhere safe.¡±


    As they were about to leave, Ma Shan asked, ¡°Wait, should we let them leave like this? What about Dr. Qu? We haven¡¯t found her yet.¡±


    Yu Xiao shook her head, ¡°Don¡¯t you watch horror movies? Do you think they can really escape?¡±


    As they rushed downstairs, Brother Nan had Henry slung over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes, while Zhang Shu clutched Yue Yue¡¯s hand, dragging her along. They were in such a hurry to get out of the villa that they almost bumped into Ripley, who was coming out of the kitchen with a tray of pancakes.


    He stopped in his tracks, his eyes wide with confusion. ¡°What¡¯s the matter with you guys?¡±


    ¡°Run, Ripley, run!¡± Brother Nan yelled at him. ¡°This place is crawling with ghosts, more than you can count!¡±


    Ripley blinked, not sure if he had heard him right. He looked around and saw Yu Xiao and the others following them down the stairs. He caught Yu Xiao¡¯s gaze and asked her, ¡°Miss Yu, what is he talking about?¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s talking about ghosts, Ripley. They¡¯re scared and they want to leave,¡± Yu Xiao explained. ¡°What about you? Are you coming with them?¡±


    Ripley felt a pang of doubt. He hadn¡¯t seen any ghosts himself, and he wasn¡¯t easily spooked by stories. The haunted villa thing seemed too far-fetched to be true. He turned to Yu Xiao and said, ¡°Are you leaving?¡±


    ¡°No, I¡¯m staying,¡± Yu Xiao said firmly. ¡°I have something to do here.¡±


    ¡°Then I¡¯m staying too,¡± Ripley declared, setting down the tray. He looked at her with a shy smile and said, ¡°I made breakfast. Do you want some?¡±


    Yu Xiao felt her stomach rumble. She hadn¡¯t eaten anything since last night. ¡°Yes, I¡¯m hungry.¡±


    Ripley beamed and led her to the kitchen.


    Tan Qiao Yin watched them go with a sour expression. She muttered to herself, ¡°Who does she think she is, flirting with NPCs like that?¡±


    Yu Xiao shot her a dirty look. ¡°Are you jealous because I¡¯m more beautiful than you?¡±


    Tan Qiao Yin¡¯s voice rose to a shriek. ¡°You¡¯re prettier than me? Are you kidding me? Have you ever seen your own reflection? Which delusional eye of yours decided that you¡¯re prettier than me?¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen rolled her eyes. ¡°Why are you so insecure?¡± she said with a sneer. ¡°Our Smiley Sister is obviously more beautiful than you.¡±


    Tan Qiao Yin: ¡°¡­¡±


    Yu Xiao, who had been watching aloofly the drama from a safe distance, took out a bunch of talismans from her pocket and announced, ¡°Genuine talismans on a desperate clearance sale! Only three points for the whole stack. It¡¯s a steal, trust me. You won¡¯t regret it, you won¡¯t get scammed¡­¡±


    ¡°Wow!¡± Zhu Miao Miao gasped, grabbing Tan Qiao Yin¡¯s sleeve. ¡°Qiao Qiao, her talismans are way cheaper than yours.¡±


    Tan Qiao Yin: ¡°¡­¡±


    Ripley brought from the kitchen with a mouthwatering American Style breakfast, a huge plate piled with bacon, eggs, vegetables, sausages, and toast, and placed it in front of Yu Xiao, his eyes sparkling with hope and nervousness. ¡°I hope you¡¯ll enjoy it,¡± he said softly.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen peeked into the kitchen and asked, ¡°Is there any more?¡±


    Ripley: ¡°Huh?¡±


    ¡°Our breakfast?¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen said, raising her eyebrows.


    ¡°Uh¡­¡± Ripley fidgeted with his hands. ¡°I only made Miss Yu¡¯s serving.¡± (TN: Ripley: ( ¡ã ?? ¡ã) ¡°Why should I feed you?¡±)


    Others: ¡°¡­¡±


    Yu Xiao waved her hand dismissively. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it. I have more than enough food here to feed a small army. Or at least, the three of us.¡±


    Ma Shan looked at the steaming plates of bacon, sausages, and stir-fried vegetables with envy. ¡°And what about us?¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen, who had already helped herself to a generous portion, scoffed. ¡°You should be grateful that there is food you can cook. Or do you think you¡¯re too good for that?¡±


    Ma Shan bit his lip and said nothing. He knew better than to argue with her, especially after he had just bought those dubious talismans from her and her friends. He followed Kang Jun to the kitchen, hoping to find something edible there.


    Kang Jun turned to him and said, ¡°Hey, Brother Shan, can you do me a favour and make mine too? You know my story was about cooking? I¡¯m afraid about triggering it.¡±


    Ma Shan nodded silently.


    **


    Meanwhile, in the living room, Tan Qiao Yin pointed an accusing finger at Yu Xiao, who was happily munching on bacon. ¡°You¡¯re such a jerk, you know that? How can you toy with an NPC¡¯s feelings like that?¡±


    Yu Xiao looked up, feigning innocence. ¡°What are you talking about? Ripley and I are just friends. There¡¯s nothing going on between us.¡±


    **


    In the bathroom, Ripley was splashing cold water on his face, trying to calm down his racing heart. He stared at his reflection in the mirror, noticing how red his cheeks were. Oh Ripley, he thought, your ancestor was a tomato.


    As he leaned over the sink, he felt the cold water splash on his face, refreshing his hot eyes. He didn¡¯t bother to look up at the mirror, where a sinister grin twisted his reflection¡¯s lips. A pale hand reached out from the glass, slowly closing the gap between them.


    **


    Tan Qiao Yin narrowed her eyes at Yu Xiao, who was happily munching on a toast. ¡°Don¡¯t play dumb with me,¡± she said, ¡°What¡¯s going on between you and him? Why is he making breakfast for you and not for anyone else?¡±


    Yu Xiao shrugged, flashing a sweet smile. ¡°Maybe it¡¯s because I¡¯m the prettiest and the nicest person here~¡±


    Tan Qiao Yin snorted, but before she could retort, she saw Ripley walking back. She quickly turned to him, hoping to get some answers. ¡°Ripley, you have to tell me the truth. Has this woman been seducing you?¡±


    Ripley didn¡¯t even acknowledge her. His eyes were fixed on Yu Xiao, who looked up in surprise. He walked past Zhou Xiao Zhen, who was sitting next to Yu Xiao, and squeezed himself between them. Zhou Xiao Zhen gave him a confused look, but he ignored her too.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen: ¡°???¡±


    Yu Xiao was about to say something, but Ripley silenced her by placing his hands on her cheeks. He stared at her with a look of adoration, making her blush.


    ¡°You¡¯re so beautiful,¡± he whispered, ¡°I really like you.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    Tan Qiao Yin gasped, jumped to her feet, and pointed her finger at them. ¡°And you still dare to say that both of you are innocent!¡±


    Yu Xiao was stunned. She knew Ripley was a sweet and shy guy, not the type to make bold moves. What had gotten into him?


    Ripley held her face closer to his, his eyes burning with passion. Their lips were almost touching¡­


    ¡°Don¡¯t go too far,¡± Yu Xiao warned him. ¡°Or I might have to smack you.¡±


    ©¤©¤©¤ ? ©¤©¤ ¡î ©¤©¤ ? ©¤©¤©¤

 Chapter 85: I Just Amplified His Desires

    Ripley¡¯s eyes were wild with desperation. ¡°Please, just one kiss¡­¡±


    He lunged at Yu Xiao, hoping to capture her lips with his. But he only met air, as Yu Xiao dodged his clumsy attempt and delivered a swift punch to his jaw.


    ¡°Ow¡­¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen winced in sympathy. ¡°Smiley, that was harsh. He¡¯s crazy about you, you know. He can¡¯t control himself around you.¡±


    Tan Qiao Yin¡¯s face darkened with fury. ¡°What kind of excuse is that? You flirt with him, then you knock him out? That¡¯s not cool, that¡¯s cruel.¡±


    Ripley groaned on the floor, clutching his face, his eyes pleading with Yu Xiao.


    Yu Xiao frowned, confused. She glanced at her fist, then walked over to him. She crouched down and leaned over his body. Ripley whispered weakly, ¡°It¡¯s okay¡­¡±


    He didn¡¯t get to finish his sentence, as Yu Xiao grabbed his collar with one hand and slammed her other fist into his face repeatedly.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen watched in horror as Yu Xiao unleashed her fury on Ripley. She jumped up and down, begging her to stop. ¡°Enough! Enough! Please, stop it! He¡¯s had enough!¡±


    Tan Qiao Yin gasped, realising how brutal she was. Had she gone too far with her words?


    Zhao Lan tried to calm her down. ¡°Smiley, that¡¯s enough. You¡¯ve made your point, no need to overdo it.¡±


    Yu Xiao finally stopped hitting him. She looked at his battered face, barely recognizable. His head was twisted at an unnatural angle, one eye had changed from horizontal to vertical.


    Tan Qiao Yin gasped, her finger jabbing at the thing in front of them. ¡°What kind of freak are you?¡±


    Yu Xiao¡¯s eyes narrowed as she yanked the man by his scruff, bringing him closer to her furious face. ¡°You¡¯re not Ripley,¡± she spat. ¡°I noticed something was off when I started throwing punches! You¡¯re some kind of twisted copy. Where is he? What did you do to him?¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen joined the interrogation, her tone dripping with sarcasm. ¡°Oh, don¡¯t be shy. Tell us how you tried to kiss Yu Xiao just a minute ago. Was that part of your plan, you sick bastard?¡±


    Yu Xiao reached into her pocket and pulled out a handful of talismans, ready to unleash her wrath. ¡°You picked the wrong person to mess with,¡± she snarled. ¡°You¡¯re about to meet your doom.¡±


    The man whimpered, his eyes wide with fear. ¡°Mirror¡­ mirror¡­¡± he croaked, his voice barely audible.


    Zhao Lan frowned, trying to make sense of his words. ¡°A mirror?¡± she repeated. ¡°Wait a second. This is the mirror ghost that escaped from Precious¡¯s room last night, isn¡¯t it? And Ripley must have gone to the loo when this thing took his place.¡±


    Yu Xiao dragged the mirror ghost to the nearest restroom, but when she looked at the mirror, she saw nothing but her own reflection. She glanced at the mirror ghost, then back at the mirror, then shook the mirror ghost violently. ¡°Where is he?¡± she shouted. ¡°Where is Ripley?¡±


    The mirror ghost sobbed, then slowly stood up and faced the mirror. As it did, another image appeared on the glass.


    It was Ripley, trapped in a distorted version of the bathroom. He looked pale and scared, but when he saw Yu Xiao, his eyes lit up with hope.


    The mirror ghost stretched out its hand, which morphed into a dark, viscous substance, and reached into the mirror. It grabbed Ripley and pulled him out of the mirror world, freeing him from his prison.


    Ripley collapsed on the floor, gasping for air. He lifted his head and met Yu Xiao¡¯s gaze, gratitude and relief shining in his eyes. ¡°Thank you,¡± he said. ¡°You saved me. Again.¡±


    The mirror ghost let go of Ripley and turned to Yu Xiao, its expression pleading. It hoped that Yu Xiao would spare its life, now that it had returned Ripley to her.


    Yu Xiao looked at the mirror ghost, then shrugged. She didn¡¯t feel like wasting her energy on a pathetic creature like that. She decided to let it go.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen leaned in, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. ¡°So you transformed into Ripley, but what made you go to such lengths as to confess your love to Yu Xiao while posing as him? And you even attempted to kiss her?¡±


    Ripley felt a surge of heat in his face, his cheeks burning like fire. What the hell? That damn ghost had used his face to do such a thing?


    The Mirror Ghost whimpered, feeling wronged. ¡°Wuwuwu, I didn¡¯t want to do this. When I stole his image from the mirror, I also took his identity and body and his thoughts and desires. And I made them bigger¡­¡±


    Ripley: ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°Oh~,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen nodded, satisfied with the juicy gossip. She smiled contentedly, like a cat that stole the canary.


    Yu Xiao released its hand, and the Mirror Ghost fled back into the mirror in a flash.


    Yiyiyi~¡­ the outside world was too scary; it never wanted to leave the mirror again.


    Ripley was at a loss. What was that horrible ghost talking about? What was he supposed to do? Would Miss Yu hate him for this?


    ¡°Miss Yu, I¡­¡± Ripley stammered, unable to look Yu Xiao in the eye. ¡°I didn¡¯t¡­ I didn¡¯t mean to do that¡­¡±


    ¡°Alright, enough with the explanations,¡± Tan Qiao Yin said, giving him a reassuring pat on the shoulder. ¡°The more you try to clarify, the more muddled it becomes. Young people, they have some desires; it¡¯s natural.¡±


    Ripley felt tears sting his eyes.


    They walked back to the living room, where they found Brother Nan and the others waiting for them.


    Brother Nan cursed as he sat on the couch, his face contorted with rage and fear. ¡°What the bloody hell? How does a bridge just snap like that? It was fine yesterday!¡±


    Yu Xiao shrugged, not surprised by the bridge¡¯s sudden collapse. She had always felt a sense of unease crossing it, as if something was waiting to pull them down into the dark water below.


    Henry looked like he had seen a ghost, which he probably had. His skin was pale and clammy, and his eyes darted around nervously. ¡°We need to find another way across. Come on, let¡¯s work together.¡±


    Ma Shan and Zhu Miao Miao emerged from the kitchen, holding plates of food. Ma Shan scoffed, ¡°Why should we bother? You¡¯re the ones who want to leave. We¡¯re fine here.¡±


    Henry gaped at them, incredulous. ¡°Are you mad? This place is haunted, don¡¯t you see? There are ghosts everywhere, horrible ghosts. I¡¯ve seen them, hanging from the ceiling, sharpening their knives, whispering in the shadows¡­ and there¡¯s another one, another one¡­ if we stay here, we¡¯re doomed!¡±


    Kang Jun snatched a plate from Ma Shan¡¯s hand and took a bite beacon. ¡°Then let us be doomed,¡± he said, chewing. ¡°It¡¯s none of your business, is it?¡±


    Henry felt a surge of anger and disgust. He decided he didn¡¯t care about these lunatics anymore. He turned to Brother Nan, ¡°I¡¯m getting the tools. We¡¯re leaving today, no matter what.¡±


    After a healthy American breakfast, Yu Xiao and the others followed Henry and Brother Nan outside to watch as they tried to make a makeshift rope bridge.


    After a lot of swearing and sweating, they managed to tie a rope to a tree on the other side. Brother Nan tested it, ready to slide across.


    Henry clenched his teeth, determined to get out of this nightmare. He was next in line.


    Zhang Shu and her daughter were the only ones left behind, clinging to each other in despair. Zhang Shu sobbed into Yue Yue¡¯s hair, her voice hoarse and broken. ¡°Please, let us cross with you. I can survive, but she¡¯s just a child. She won¡¯t make it alone.¡±


    But Nan Ge and Henry had no sympathy for them. With grim determination, they gripped the rope and slowly dragged themselves across the chasm, ignoring the cries and pleas behind them.


    Zhang Shu watched them with a sinking heart, feeling the last shred of hope slip away. She wailed louder, unable to stop the tears and snot from running down her face.


    Yu Xiao had enough of the noise. She couldn¡¯t understand why Dr. Qu had dreamed up such a scene.


    She walked over to Zhang Shu and her daughter and crouched down in front of them. She looked at them with a cold and curious gaze. ¡°Do you really want to go over there so badly?¡±


    Zhang Shu lifted her head, her eyes red and swollen. ¡°There are ghosts here,¡± she whispered.


    Yu Xiao snorted. ¡°And you think there are no ghosts on the other side? Have you thought about what awaits you over there? Do you know what dangers lurk in the dark?¡±


    Zhang Shu shook her head. She didn¡¯t care. She just wanted to get away from this place. Her husband was dead, killed by one of the ghosts. She couldn¡¯t risk losing Yue Yue too.


    Yu Xiao shrugged. ¡°Well, if you¡¯re so determined to go, I guess I can help you.¡± She stood up and reached out her hands. Before Zhang Shu could react, she grabbed her by the collar and lifted her up. Then she did the same with Yue Yue.


    Zhang Shu gasped. ¡°What are you doing?¡±


    Yu Xiao smiled wickedly.


    Zhang Shu: ¡°!¡±


    Before she could protest, Yu Xiao twirled them like a pair of rag dolls. ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡±


    Whoosh!


    The next thing Zhang Shu knew, she and Yue Yue were soaring through the air.


    Zhang Shu: ¡°Ahhhh!!¡±


    Halfway across the chasm, Brother Nan and Henry were dangling from the ropes, their muscles burning and their palms sweating. They heard a shriek above them and looked up, only to see Zhang Shu and Yue Yue zooming over their heads.


    ¡°¡­¡±


    Yu Xiao had flung them with such force and precision that they landed safely on the other side, tumbling a few times but escaping any major harm.


    Zhang Shu sat on the ground, clutching Yue Yue to her chest, her eyes wide with disbelief. She stared at Yu Xiao and the others on the opposite cliff, wondering if she had slipped into a dream. How could this be real? It was too ridiculous, right?


    Fortunately, Brother Nan and Henry were in good shape, so they managed to pull themselves across the gap, albeit with great difficulty.


    They collapsed on the ground, panting and groaning, only to find Zhang Shu and Yue Yue standing nonchalantly nearby, as if nothing had happened.


    Brother Nan was clueless. He looked at them with a bewildered expression and asked, ¡°How did you guys end up here?¡±


    Zhang Shu bit her lip, then admitted, ¡°We got tossed here.¡±


    Henry, who had the brains of a rock, stared. ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°Never mind that.¡± Brother Nan got to his feet. ¡°We need to get out of here, pronto.¡±


    The four of them scrambled into Henry¡¯s sleek car, and Henry revved the engine. The car sped away, leaving a trail of dust behind.


    Ma Shan watched the car fade into the distance, feeling a pang of anxiety. ¡°They¡¯re not really bailing on us, are they?¡±


    ¡°Of course not,¡± Tan Qiao Yin said with a smirk. ¡°Trust me, I¡¯ve seen enough horror movies to know that they can¡¯t just escape like that. They¡¯ll be back for sure.¡±


    They chatted casually, ignoring Ripley¡¯s presence. Ripley heard them talk about horror movies, wonder who was a doctor, and debate what was the easiest way¡­


    He couldn¡¯t make sense of it. He felt like these people were aliens, like they belonged to another world. He sneaked a few glances at Yu Xiao. She was one of them. Would she also leave this place?


    Henry and the rest drove down the mountain, but the mountain road seemed infinite. They drove on and on, but the road never ended. It had taken them less than two hours to drive up the mountain, but why had they been driving down for hours and still not reached the bottom?


    The darkness of the night crept over them, turning the trees into sinister shadows that loomed over the road. Henry felt a surge of panic as he glanced at the gas gauge. It was almost empty. He swallowed hard and turned to Brother Nan, who was sitting next to him. ¡°What should we do?¡± His voice was shaky. ¡°We¡¯re almost out of gas.¡±


    Brother Nan tried to sound calm, but his eyes betrayed his fear. ¡°Don¡¯t panic. We¡¯re far away from that horrible mansion now. We¡¯ll be fine.¡±


    Henry wasn¡¯t convinced. He looked out the window and saw nothing but bleakness. He shuddered as he recalled the madness that had gripped the people in the mansion. He wondered if they were still alive. ¡°Are you sure?¡± He asked. ¡°Is this really safer than staying there?¡±


    Brother Nan didn¡¯t have an answer. He felt a pang of hunger and regret.


    ¡°It¡¯s raining,¡± a small voice said from the backseat.


    Zhang Shu snapped out of her trance and glanced at her daughter. ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s raining,¡± Yue Yue repeated, pointing at the glass.


    ¡°Are you sure it¡¯s raining?¡± Brother Nan asked, incredulous. He lowered the window and reached out his hand, expecting to feel the wetness of the drops. But there was nothing. Only the sound of rain, growing louder and more frantic by the second.


    A chill ran through the car, and everyone felt a sudden unease. They remembered the other story that Qin Lei had told them.


    Brother Nan felt a surge of panic. He quickly rolled up the window and grabbed his phone, switching on the flashlight. He shone it outside, hoping to see something normal. But what he saw made him scream.


    The windshield was stained with blood. Everywhere he looked, there were red handprints, smearing and overlapping, as if someone had tried to claw their way in.


    ¡°Ahhhhhh!!!!¡±


    **


    At the villa, Yu Xiao and the others enjoyed a lavish dinner. Henry had spared no expense for their week-long vacation, and the food was abundant and delicious.


    Ripley was in charge of the steaks, and he cooked them to perfection. The meat was juicy and tender, with a mouthwatering aroma that made everyone salivate.


    Yu Xiao wished Ripley was more than just an NPC in a dream. She wondered if there was a way to hack the system and make him a permanent resident of Saint Elizabeth¡¯s. But she knew it was hopeless. He was only a figment of someone else¡¯s imagination. sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ©¤©¤©¤ ? ©¤©¤ ¡î ©¤©¤ ? ©¤©¤©¤

 Chapter 86: They Failed to Escape

    The villa was still filled with the aroma of steak and wine when the night air was pierced by a scream. It was Henry¡¯s voice, followed by more cries from his companions.


    ¡°Help!¡±


    Ma Shan snorted and exchanged a smug look with Tan Qiao Yin. ¡°That was fast. They barely left an hour ago.¡±


    Tan Qiao Yin raised an eyebrow. ¡°Didn¡¯t I tell you they¡¯d come crawling back? They should have listened to us.¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen, who had a penchant for drama, pushed away her half-eaten plate and jumped to her feet. ¡°I¡¯m going to check it out.¡± She wiped her mouth with a napkin and ran out of the door, eager to witness the spectacle.


    Ma Shan and the others shrugged and followed her, leaving their half eaten food.


    They reached the edge of the cliff and peered into the darkness. Across the chasm, they could see Henry and his group waving their arms and shouting, their faces twisted with fear and pain. ¡°Help us!!¡±


    ¡°Save us!¡±


    ¡°Something¡¯s following us!¡±


    Yue Yue, clutched by Zhang Shu, sobbed uncontrollably. ¡°Waaah¡­¡±


    Ma Shan and his crew felt a surge of satisfaction. Serves you right, they thought. We warned you not to go, but you were too stubborn.


    Only Zhao Lan felt no joy in their misfortune. She knew that they needed these people to complete the mission of waking up Dr. Qu. She hurried back to the villa and grabbed a climbing rope. She threw one end of the rope over the cliff and yelled, ¡°Hold on tight, I¡¯ll pull you over!¡±


    Brother Nan and Henry hesitated. A woman pulling them over? How strong could she be?


    Zhang Shu, however, wasted no time. She was already experienced . She quickly wrapped several loops of the rope around herself and Yue Yue, then secured the rope with a firm grip.


    ¡°We¡¯re good!¡± Zhang Shu announced confidently.


    With a silent gesture, Zhao Lan stepped back and pulled. A surge of force yanked Zhang Shu and Yu Yue off the ground and flung them across the chasm. They had made this perilous journey before, but now they were retracing their steps in reverse.


    Zhao Lan caught them with ease before they could crash into the rocky floor. She set them down gently and smiled.


    Zhang Shu gasped for air, her heart pounding. ¡°Thank you, thank you so much.¡±


    Henry and Brother Nan stared in disbelief. They had finally witnessed the secret behind Zhang Shu¡¯s getting over to the other side.


    Henry waved frantically at Zhao Lan. ¡°Hey, what about us? Don¡¯t leave us here! Throw us the rope, hurry up¡­¡±


    They had spent a whole day evading danger and death, but now they were back at the villa. The place that had once terrified them now felt strangely familiar and comforting. Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    They rushed inside and searched for water. They drank until their thirst was quenched, then Henry spotted the leftover steak on the table. He licked his lips and turned to Ripley. ¡°Hey, you. Go make us some steak.¡±


    Ripley nodded and walked towards the kitchen.


    Yu Xiao grabbed his arm and pulled him back. ¡°Don¡¯t listen to him. He can¡¯t boss you around like that. Don¡¯t you have any self-respect?¡±


    Ripley looked at her with a blank expression, then shook his head. ¡°It¡¯s fine.¡±


    Henry snorted. ¡°See? He doesn¡¯t mind. He should be grateful to me. This loser, if it wasn¡¯t for my parents hiring him and letting him tag along with me, he would never get to live in a fancy villa and eat high-quality steak in his life.¡±


    Henry had a talent for making everyone hate him, which was quite impressive, considering he had nothing else going for him. He was ugly, rude, and spoiled, and no one could stand him except Brother Nan.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen strode over and grabbed him by the shoulder. With a swift motion, she hoisted him up in the air, making him dangle like a puppet.


    Henry gasped, feeling his heart pounding in his chest. He looked down at her with wide eyes, and cried out, ¡°What are you doing? Put me down!¡±


    Yu Xiao, on the other hand, was the picture of calmness. She leaned against the wall, holding a plate of food in her hand. She said, ¡°If you¡¯re hungry, go make your own food. From now on, Ripley is mine. I won¡¯t tolerate anyone harassing him anymore.¡± She glared at Henry, who was still in Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s grip.


    ¡°Did you get that?¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen said, shaking him violently. ¡°Or do you want me to say it too?¡±


    ¡°No, no, please¡­¡±


    **


    Henry had no clue how to cook, so Zhang Shu ended up making dinner for the four of them.


    As they ate, Yu Xiao and the others discussed their next move.


    ¡°Why don¡¯t we try my way? We¡¯ll ¡®interrogate¡¯ them one by one. There has to be one correct answer.¡±


    Tan Qiao Yin frowned. ¡°Isn¡¯t that too brutal?¡±


    ¡°Then why don¡¯t you come up with something less brutal,¡± Yu Xiao snapped. ¡°You said you wanted to test Yuan Yuan earlier. How did that work out for you?¡±


    Tan Qiao Yin let out a heavy sigh, and her face showed a trace of despair. ¡°I don¡¯t have a relationship with Dr. Qu. How can I possibly figure her out?¡±


    ¡°Then we¡¯ll stick to my plan,¡± Yu Xiao said, a wicked smile playing on her lips. She scanned Henry and the others with a predatory gaze. ¡°Let them enjoy their meal, since it might be their last one.¡±


    Henry and the others felt a cold shiver run down their spines.


    After they finished eating, Ma Shan and Kang Jun escorted Henry and the others to the sofa, and made them sit in a row. Yu Xiao stood up and walked behind them, rolling up her sleeves.


    The scene was a spectacle, and Tan Qiao Yin and their crew couldn¡¯t tear their eyes away from it. They had seen many things in their instances, but nothing like this.


    Yu Xiao was ready for action. She rolled up her sleeves, twisted her wrist, and flexed her fingers. She looked like a pianist preparing for a concert, except her instrument was Brother Nan¡¯s neck.


    Brother Nan felt a chill run down his spine, while Henry felt his stomach churn. They watched helplessly as Yu Xiao approached them.


    Yu Xiao didn¡¯t hesitate. She aimed for the sweet spot, and with a quick flick of her wrist, she hit Brother Nan¡¯s neck. He barely made a sound before he slumped to the ground.


    They waited for something to happen, but nothing did. The world didn¡¯t change; Brother Nan wasn¡¯t Dr. Qu.


    Ripley frowned in confusion. ¡°Why do this?¡± he whispered.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen sighed and gave the little NPC a sympathetic look. ¡°How else do we leave this cursed place?¡±


    ¡°Leave¡­¡± Ripley¡¯s voice trailed off as he looked at Yu Xiao. If she had met his eyes, she would have seen the most heartbreaking expression she had ever seen. ¡°Is that all¡­ you want? To leave¡­?¡±


    Yu Xiao ignored him and moved on to Henry.


    Henry was soaked in sweat, on the brink of fainting. He closed his eyes tightly, hoping for a quick and painless end like Brother Nan¡¯s.


    Yu Xiao swung her hand down, and Henry screamed, ¡°Ah!!!¡±


    ¡°Oops,¡± Yu Xiao said, looking at her hand with disappointment. ¡°Missed the mark.¡±


    Henry, in agony, was shivering and panting, ¡°Ugh¡­ ugh¡­¡±


    ¡°I won¡¯t miss next time,¡± Yu Xiao promised before striking again. Henry was lucky in one way; he finally blacked out.


    Zhang Shu clutched Yue Yue, shaking. ¡°Why? Why do this to us?¡±


    Some things were hard to explain. They couldn¡¯t just tell them, ¡°You¡¯re all NPCs, and we¡¯re the real ones here to complete a mission.¡± Even if they did, they wouldn¡¯t understand, not to mention that it was completely unnecessary.


    With a swift and decisive motion, Yu Xiao slashed at her neck, sending Zhang Shu sprawling on the sofa.


    Nothing changed. The world remained the same.


    ¡°Ha! I knew it!¡± Tan Qiao Yin shouted, smacking her leg. ¡°It had to be Yue Yue all along!¡±


    Yu Xiao rolled her eyes inwardly. Sure, now you¡¯re so confident, but where was your certainty before?


    Yue Yue, the little girl with the doe-like eyes, looked at Yu Xiao with a mix of fear and curiosity. Yu Xiao met her stare, feeling nothing but cold detachment. She had done worse things than this, like lying, bullying, and blackmailing a child. This was easy.


    She reached for Yue Yue¡¯s neck and pushed lightly, watching her crumple to the floor.


    Everyone held their breath, their eyes wide with anticipation, waiting.


    One second ticked by.


    Then five.


    Then a minute.


    Then five more¡­


    ¡°Why is nothing happening?¡± the crowd murmured, their voices tinged with frustration and anxiety. ¡°Why are we still here?¡±


    Yu Xiao felt a surge of confusion; she rubbed her head, at a loss for the first time.


    This made no sense. It wasn¡¯t supposed to be like this.


    Ma Shan scanned the room, his gaze settling on the last person. ¡°What about him?¡± he asked, pointing at Ripley. ¡°He hasn¡¯t tried yet.¡±


    Yu Xiao frowned, crossing her arms over her chest. ¡°He was the first one I tested it on,¡± she said, sounding annoyed. ¡°It was also a bust with him.¡±


    ¡°Then what are we missing?¡± Ma Shan wondered aloud.


    Zhao Lan shrugged, her expression doubtful. ¡°Maybe this is not the right way to wake her up,¡± she suggested.


    That seemed to be the only explanation they could come up with. After their most recent flop, they were fresh out of ideas. It was getting late, and they decided to call it a day and talk more in the morning.


    Yu Xiao tossed and turned in her bed, feeling frustrated.


    She had hoped to solve this mystery today, but instead they were running around like headless chickens. Did they really have to find Dr. Qu before they could wake her up?


    Yu Xiao had no memory of Dr. Qu¡¯s face or voice. How were they supposed to track her down?


    As she mulled over these questions, she fell asleep, and found herself in a strange dream.


    In the dream, she was an observer, still in the spooky room she was familiar with. On the bed, there was a figure, a man, with light hair that covered the pillow, concealing his face.


    Suddenly, a dark shadow appeared in the room, squatting on the floor, making a loud scraping noise with a knife.


    The noise woke up the person on the bed, who lifted his head slowly.


    It was Ripley!


    Ripley¡¯s eyes widened in terror as he saw the shadow with the knife. The shadow rose to its feet, holding the knife in its hand, and walked towards the bed. Ripley was frozen, unable to move. The shadow lifted the knife above its head and then swung it down.


    **


    Zhang Shu and Yu Yue were snuggled up on the same bed, their breathing in sync. Zhao Lan had arranged it that way, hoping to ease their anxiety when they woke up in this place.


    A voice pierced through Zhang Shu¡¯s hazy dreams, calling her name. She blinked her eyes open, squinting at the faint light that filtered through the curtains. She could barely make out the shapes of the furniture in the room.


    ¡°Zhang Shu.¡±


    ¡°Zhang Shu¡­¡±


    She frowned, wondering who was trying to get her attention. She scanned the room, but saw no one else.


    ¡°Who is it?¡± the woman asked, her voice hoarse. ¡°Who¡¯s there?¡±


    The voice didn¡¯t reply, but kept repeating her name.


    She slid off the bed, careful not to disturb Yu Yue, and walked around the room, following the sound. She checked the closet, the bathroom, the window, but found nothing. Then she realised the voice was coming from underneath the bed, and a chill ran down her spine.


    She recognized the voice¡ªit belonged to her husband, Qin Lei.


    ¡°I¡¯m so cold¡­¡± the voice whimpered. ¡°Come join me.¡±


    Zhang Shu gasped, dropping to her knees and looking under the bed.


    She couldn¡¯t tear her eyes away from the space under the bed, where the voice beckoned her. A sob escaped her lips as she felt an irresistible urge to crawl in, to disappear.


    ¡°No¡­,¡± Zhang Shu whispered, clutching her pyjamas. ¡°I still have Yuan Yuan, I still have Yuan Yuan¡­¡±


    She jolted awake, blinking at the sun rays that pierced through the window. She reached for her face, feeling the wetness of her tears. Yuan Yuan was snoring next to her, oblivious to her nightmare.


    She slid out of bed and knelt down to look under the bed.


    There was nothing there but dust. She felt a fresh wave of tears sting her eyes.


    **


    A knock on the door startled Yu Xiao.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s voice came from outside, ¡°Wake up, sleepyhead, breakfast is ready!¡±


    She lay on the bed, gazing at the old-fashioned patterns on the walls, trying to shake off the confusion. The dream was still vivid in her mind, a dark cloud of hopelessness looming over her.


    She saw Ripley on the bed, being hacked to pieces by the shadow, who wielded a sharp knife.


    Blood splattered the sheets, forming crimson pools on the floor.


    The only thing she could hear was the sickening sound of metal cutting through flesh¡­


    She let out a long breath, running her hands through her hair, wondering what had triggered such a horrific dream.


    ©¤©¤©¤ ? ©¤©¤ ¡î ©¤©¤ ? ©¤©¤©¤

 Chapter 87: Shipping ~

    Ripley had prepared breakfast for everyone, and the smell of bacon and eggs lured Yu Xiao downstairs. She saw him moving around the table, setting plates and napkins with a domestic flair like a diligent little housewife.


    Yu Xiao was hit by a wave of flashbacks, recalling the blood and violence from her dream the night before. He was covered in blood and pleading for mercy.


    He looked up as she entered the room, his face turning a shade of pink that matched the strawberry jam.


    She touched her cheek, pondering if she had ever encountered anyone as bashful as him at the Sixth Hospital.


    Zhao Lan entered with a cup of coffee in her hand. She nodded at Yu Xiao. ¡°Coffee¡¯s good, fancy a cup?¡±


    The other patients were already eating and talking, mostly about Dr. Qu and her identity. Tan Qiao Yin was adamant that she was Yue Yue.


    ¡°Think about it,¡± she said, waving a fork. ¡°It¡¯s like that movie, you know, the one with the dreams and the inception and stuff. The kid is the mastermind behind everything. It makes sense.¡±


    Ma Shan rolled his eyes. ¡°It doesn¡¯t make any sense. First of all, Zhang Shu is a woman. Why would she dream of being a child? That¡¯s just weird.¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen snorted. ¡°You¡¯re the one who¡¯s weird. I dream of being a guy all the time. Sometimes I¡¯m not even human. I¡¯m a dragon, or a unicorn, or a mermaid.¡±


    Ma Shan looked at her incredulously. ¡°You¡¯re kidding, right?¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen shook her head. ¡°Nope. I¡¯m serious. Don¡¯t you ever dream of being something else?¡±


    Zhu Miao Miao raised her hand. ¡°I do! I do! I dream of being a guy too. And I have a super cool identity.¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen leaned forward. ¡°What is it?¡±


    Zhu Miao Miao grinned. ¡°I¡¯m the leader of the Beggar Sect. I have a loyal army of beggars who follow my orders. I fight against the corrupt officials and the evil warlords. I¡¯m a hero of the people.¡±


    The others stared at her blankly.


    ¡°¡­¡±


    Yu Xiao felt a headache coming on. She wished she had listened to Dr Fan Xing and waited for more information before entering Dr. Qu¡¯s dream. She should have done more research and planned ahead before taking the plunge.


    Zhao Lan bit her lip, her brow furrowed. She had a nagging feeling that something was off, but she couldn¡¯t put her finger on it. She stayed out of the conversation, listening intently to the others.


    Zhang Shu carried Yue Yue down the stairs and found a chaotic and confusing scene. She sighed, holding Yue Yue close to her chest. She settled in a corner, feeding Yue Yue some porridge. No one seemed to notice or care about them.


    Suddenly, a blood-curdling scream shattered the silence.


    The dining hall fell into an eerie silence, as if someone had muted the sounds. All eyes swiftly turned upstairs.


    ¡°Bang! Bang! Bang!¡±


    Henry crashed down the stairs, his head hitting every step on the way. He ignored the blood and the pain, scrambling to his feet and gesturing wildly at the upper floor.


    Something horrific had happened up there, and the hunger that had filled the room moments ago was replaced by dread. The others followed him, running up the stairs as fast as they could.


    The door to Brother Nan¡¯s room was ajar, and a sickening stench of blood and death seeped out.


    Ma Shan was the first to enter, and he wished he hadn¡¯t. He recoiled at the sight of Brother Nan¡¯s mutilated body, lying on the bed with a frozen expression of terror. His arms and legs were splayed out, forming an ¡®X¡¯, and his torso was ripped open, exposing his organs in a bloody heap.


    There was no doubt; he was dead and gone.


    Yu Xiao felt a surge of disbelief and anger. She had thought that after toying with so many ghosts that night, they would leave them alone. She had not expected Brother Nan to be killed so silently, so brutally.


    Zhao Lan voiced the question that haunted them all. ¡°What if Professor Qu dies in the dream? What then?¡±


    No one had an answer; they were all new to this type of nightmare instance. Yu Xiao regretted not asking more questions to Dr Fan Xing.


    The doctors were all liars, hiding the truth until they were cornered, taking pleasure in watching the patients suffer in the dream.


    Yu Xiao clenched her fist; she felt a surge of resentment and a desire to get even.


    Ma Shan slammed the door behind him, locking out the horror that lurked behind. ¡°He¡¯s gone. Nothing we can do for them now.¡±


    ¡°Hahaha¡­¡±


    A burst of laughter echoed from below, sending a chill down Yu Xiao¡¯s spine. She crept to the stairs and saw Henry in the living room, waving a knife like a madman.


    ¡°Come out, come out, wherever you are!¡±


    He cackled as he slashed at the furniture, sending feathers and stuffing flying.


    ¡°We¡¯re doomed! They¡¯ll gonna kill us all!¡±


    In the corner, Ripley, Zhang Shu, and her little girl Yue Yue huddled together, terrified. Zhang Shu hugged Yue Yue to her chest, trying to calm her down. Ripley reached for a lamp, hoping to use it as a weapon.


    Henry spotted them and lunged at them, his eyes gleaming with malice.


    ¡°Time to die!¡±


    Yue Yue screamed as the knife came closer. Zhang Shu pushed her behind her, shielding her with her body. Ripley swung the lamp at Henry, but it was too late. The knife plunged into his hand, drawing blood.


    ¡°Son of a bitch!¡± Tan Qiao Yin shouted as she ran into the room. She kicked Henry in the face, knocking him to the floor. The knife clattered out of his grasp.


    Henry groaned, clutching his broken nose. But he didn¡¯t stop laughing. ¡°You can¡¯t escape! We¡¯re all trapped here! All of us!¡±


    Yu Xiao rushed to Ripley¡¯s side, wondering if her healing talismans would work on NPCs. She saw his hand bleeding profusely, staining the carpet.


    Ripley smiled weakly at her. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about me. It¡¯s not that bad.¡±


    Yu Xiao was about to apply the talisman on his wound, when she heard a gasp.


    She turned around and saw Henry lying on the ground, a knife sticking out of his chest. His eyes were wide with shock, staring at the handle of the knife. The blade had pierced his heart, killing him instantly.


    Zhang Shu stood over him, her face covered in blood. She held the knife with a death grip, and stabbed him again and again, as if to make sure he was really dead.


    Zhang Shu¡¯s scream pierced the air like a knife. ¡°It¡¯s all your fault!¡± she accused, her eyes wild and bloodshot. ¡°You killed my Qin! You¡¯re trying to kill us all!¡±


    Everyone was stunned. Zhang Shu had always been the weakest link, the one who cried and trembled at every turn. Who would have guessed she had such a violent streak?


    Yue Yue watched in horror as her mother stabbed Henry in the chest, over and over, until he stopped moving. She couldn¡¯t believe what she was seeing. How could her mother do this?


    Zhang Shu dropped the bloody knife and reached for Yue Yue, but the girl backed away, fear and disgust on her face. Zhang Shu looked hurt, then panicked. She ran out of the room, leaving behind a trail of blood.


    ¡°We have to catch her!¡± Zhao Lan yelled. ¡°We¡¯re down to three! We can¡¯t lose anyone else!¡±


    Ma Shan and Kang Jun sprinted after her. Tan Qiao Yin shook her head. ¡°This is insane. This is what happens in those old horror movies. The characters always turn on each other¡­¡±


    Yu Xiao felt a surge of speechlessness. If you knew that, why didn¡¯t you stop it?


    ¡°We can¡¯t go on like this!¡± Tan Qiao Yin said, turning to Yue Yue and Ripley. ¡°We have to find Dr. Qu.¡±


    She pointed at Ripley. ¡°You¡¯re staying with me tonight.¡±


    Ripley frowned. ¡°No, thanks.¡± He moved closer to Yu Xiao and whispered in her ear. ¡°Can I stay with you instead?¡±


    Tan Qiao Yin¡¯s face darkened. ¡°¡­¡±


    She snapped. ¡°What makes you think I want you? What makes you think I like you? I¡¯m just trying to keep you alive, you ungrateful jerk¡­¡±


    Yu Xiao sighed and stepped in. ¡°There¡¯s no point in fighting with him.¡± She looked at Ripley with pity. ¡°He¡¯s just an NPC. He doesn¡¯t know any better.¡±


    Tan Qiao Yin¡¯s face turned red with fury as she jabbed a finger at Ripley. ¡°You think I¡¯m being petty?¡± she spat at Yu Xiao. ¡°You¡¯re the one who¡¯s blind, can¡¯t you see he¡¯s playing you? He¡¯s no angel, this one. Mark my words, you¡¯ll regret siding with him soon enough.¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen rolled her eyes and snorted. ¡°Wow, talk about petty. You¡¯re seriously jealous of an NPC? That¡¯s a new low, even for you.¡±


    Tan Qiao Yin felt a surge of humiliation and anger. She whirled around and stormed off. ¡°I¡¯m done with this!¡± she shouted over her shoulder.


    Zhu Miao Miao gave a sheepish smile and tried to smooth things over. ¡°Don¡¯t take it personally, Qiao Qiao is a good person at heart, she just has a temper. She¡¯ll calm down eventually.¡±


    ¡°Miao Miao!!!¡±


    ¡°Uh-oh, there she goes again.¡± Zhu Miao Miao ran after her friend, hoping to soothe her bruised ego.


    The living room was a mess, with Henry¡¯s corpse still sprawled on the floor. Yu Xiao felt a headache coming on. She turned to see Ripley staring at her with watery eyes.


    ¡°Did I make things worse for you?¡± he asked in a soft voice.


    Gosh, he¡¯s so sweet and considerate. Yu Xiao thought. Some people could learn a thing or two from an NPC.


    ¡°You didn¡¯t do anything wrong.¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen reassured him, giving him a friendly pat on the shoulder. ¡°It¡¯s that woman who¡¯s out of line.¡±


    Ripley nodded, but looked uncertain. ¡°Okay, then. But¡­ where am I going to sleep tonight?¡±


    **


    As the sun dipped below the horizon, the trio returned from their failed chase of Zhang Shu. Zhao Lan was drained, making a beeline for the faucet to quench her thirst.


    ¡°Ugh!¡± Ma Shan flopped onto the couch. ¡°We ran like hell, but she was too fast for us.¡±


    Yu Xiao had dragged Henry¡¯s limp body into his room, then scrubbed the blood off the floor, making the living room look as neat and tidy as before.


    ¡°She¡¯s not gone for good, right?¡± Yu Xiao asked, unsure. ¡°She wouldn¡¯t leave her daughter behind.¡±


    Tan Qiao Yin shook her head. ¡°Coming back is one thing. Being able to come back is another.¡±


    ¡°You should bunk with Yue Yue tonight,¡± Yu Xiao suggested.


    Tan Qiao Yin¡¯s lips curled, snapping back, ¡°You say you¡¯re from the Fourth Hospital, but I¡¯ve never heard of anyone like you there.¡±


    ¡°Are you acquainted with everyone at the Fourth Hospital?¡± Yu Xiao countered.


    ¡°I know a thing or two about the top ten on the leaderboard, and with your charm-drawing skills, you should be one of them,¡± Tan Qiao Yin scrutinised Yu Xiao with suspicion. ¡°Are you really from the Fourth Hospital? Tell me, who¡¯s the hottest topic on the Fourth Hospital forum right now?¡±


    Yu Xiao faltered, unable to answer. She was still a person with a sense of shame.


    ¡°Ha,¡± Tan Qiao Yin smirked, thinking she had exposed Yu Xiao¡¯s lie. ¡°Cat got your tongue? You thought you could fool me. Do I look like a fool to you?¡±


    Yu Xiao gave up trying to argue with Tan Qiao Yin, threw her hands in the air, and conceded, ¡°Fine, fine, you win. You¡¯re the smartest person in the room. Happy now?¡± She tilted her head and eyed him curiously. ¡°By the way, how old are you, Tan Qiao Yin? You don¡¯t look a day over twelve.¡±


    Tan Qiao Yin: ¡°¡­¡± S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    She looked like she was about to combust.


    That night, the group divided into two rooms. Yue Yue and Tan Qiao Yin took one, while Ripley and Yu Xiao took the other.


    Yu Xiao initially protested. She wanted to clarify that there was nothing romantic between her and Ripley, that they were as platonic as two people could be. But the others insisted that it made sense for them to share a room.


    Yu Xiao didn¡¯t see how it made any sense at all, but she decided to go along with it for the sake of the quest. She could handle one night with Ripley.


    But then, she had another nightmare, just like the previous one.


    Ripley was lying on the bed, with a large pot positioned at the foot of it. A shadowy figure was stirring something inside the pot before approaching the bed. It seized Ripley by the ankles, pulling him off the bed and throwing him into the pot, where he disappeared into the bubbling liquid¡­


    Yu Xiao woke up with a start, her heart pounding.


    The sun was already up. The curtains were closed, but some rays of light managed to sneak through the gaps.


    Yu Xiao glanced at Ripley, who was lying next to her. He sensed her movement and quickly shut his eyes, feigning sleep.


    ¡°Are you Dr. Qu?¡± Yu Xiao whispered.


    Ripley opened his striking blue eyes and gave her a baffled look. ¡°What?¡± He shook his head. ¡°No, I¡¯m not.¡±


    ¡°Are you sure?¡± Yu Xiao pressed. She couldn¡¯t shake off the suspicion. Why else would she have nightmares about him two nights in a row?


    ¡°I¡¯m sure.¡± Ripley said firmly. ¡°I¡¯m not lying to you.¡±


    ©¤©¤©¤ ? ©¤©¤ ¡î ©¤©¤ ? ©¤©¤©¤

 Chapter 88: Realising It Too Late

    Yu Xiao felt a surge of dread as she recalled a detail that had slipped her mind before. She was different from the other patients who entered this instance. She had the strength to resist the nightmares and the compassion to protect the NPCs from harm.


    But what would happen if she weren¡¯t here?


    On the first night, Henry would select Ripley and push him into the room with the ghost. Ripley would die, over and over, every time a new treatment instance started. Just as in her dream¡­


    The patients never cared about Ripley¡¯s fate. He was not Dr. Qu, the one they were looking for. He was just a disposable NPC who died on the first night.


    But what if he was more than that?


    Yu Xiao felt a chill run down her spine as she realised the implications. Had she made a mistake by saving Ripley? Was there something sinister behind his repeated deaths?


    She looked at him and he smiled back at her. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Why are you looking at me like that?¡±


    Yu Xiao asked him, ¡°On the night we all arrived here, we shared ghost stories. Why didn¡¯t your story have a ghost in it?¡±


    ¡°Because that story truly scared me,¡± Ripley replied.


    ¡°You wanted everyone to throw you into the haunted room,¡± Yu Xiao understood.


    She had been protecting the wrong person all along; she should have been shielding everyone else from Ripley.


    But it was too late. Everyone had died, except for little Yue Yue.


    Yu Xiao leaped out of bed and rushed toward the door. Just as she reached it, Ripley called out to her, ¡°Please don¡¯t go?¡±


    She spun around to see Ripley sitting on the bed, his face hidden in the shadows. His voice was low and pleading. ¡°Don¡¯t go.¡±


    But she couldn¡¯t stay. She bolted out, almost colliding with Zhu Miao Miao on the stairs. ¡°Where¡¯s Yue Yue?¡± she asked breathlessly.


    ¡°Downstairs, having breakfast.¡± Zhu Miao Miao looked puzzled by her panic. ¡°Qiao Qiao wanted to bond with her, to see if she¡¯s really Dr. Qu or not.¡±


    Yu Xiao didn¡¯t wait for her to finish. She sprinted down the steps, hoping it wasn¡¯t too late.


    Tan Qiao Yin was acting all sweet and innocent, trying to cosy up to Yue Yue. She heard the commotion and lifted her head, only to see Yu Xiao storming in, her clothes wrinkled and her hair wild.


    ¡°What happened to you?¡± Tan Qiao Yin sneered. ¡°Just because we¡¯re trapped here forever, you think you can let yourself go?¡±


    ¡°Quick!¡± Yu Xiao shouted. ¡°Protect Yue Yue!¡±


    ¡°Is that supposed to be a joke?¡± Tan Qiao Yin retorted. ¡°My talismans are way better than yours, and they work just fine, thank you very much.¡±


    She hadn¡¯t finished her sentence when Yue Yue, who was munching on a toast, began to gag.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Tan Qiao Yin asked, patting her back. ¡°Did you swallow something?¡±


    ¡°Cough, cough¡­¡±


    ¡°Splat!¡±


    A round and squishy object flew out of Yue Yue¡¯s mouth.


    Tan Qiao Yin gasped and recoiled. ¡°Holy crap!¡± It was an eyeball.


    Tan Qiao Yin¡¯s hand flew to her pocket, where she kept her stash of talismans. She had a bad feeling about this.


    Yue Yue was still heaving, making horrible noises that echoed through the house.


    Zhao Lan, who had barely woken up, stumbled to the stair railing and peered down. ¡°What¡¯s happening?¡± she asked, rubbing her eyes.


    Yu Xiao spun around and saw Ripley leaning against the railing on the second floor. He looked calm and serene, as if nothing was wrong.


    She pointed at him and screamed, ¡°Kill him! Kill him now!¡±


    Zhao Lan blinked, confused. Since when was Yu Xiao so bloodthirsty? It was way too early for this kind of drama.


    Tan Qiao Yin gasped as she saw Yue Yue¡¯s condition. The little girl had her head thrown back, mouth wide open. A woman¡¯s hand protruded from her throat, one of the fingers adorned with a wedding ring. Tan Qiao Yin recognized it as Zhang Shu¡¯s.


    Yu Xiao ran towards the stairs, shouting, ¡°Don¡¯t just stand there! Kill Ripley before it¡¯s too late!¡±


    Zhao Lan snapped out of her daze, realising something was terribly wrong. Trusting Yu Xiao, she didn¡¯t hesitate, lunging at Ripley, who was still watching Yu Xiao with a soft expression.


    Ripley didn¡¯t move or resist. He simply let Zhao Lan grab him, but she couldn¡¯t bring herself to hurt him. He was not a ghost; he was an NPC, no different from a real person. Zhao Lan was not a killer; she was just a normal office worker who had stumbled into this nightmare.


    Yu Xiao reached them in time. She raised her hand to strike Ripley, but he looked up at her, his eyes gentle and sad. He caught her hand in his.


    Snap!


    Yue Yue¡¯s neck broke, her flesh and bones ripped apart. A head emerged from the wound, dripping with blood.


    Yue Yue was dead. And so was the world.


    Darkness swallowed them all.


    Yu Xiao felt her mind detach from her body, floating in the endless void.


    She was slowly pulled out of the darkness by a symphony of beeps and whirs, the soundtrack of the intensive care unit.


    Yu Xiao blinked her eyes open, only to be blinded by the harsh white light.


    A familiar face loomed over her. ¡°Ah, you¡¯re awake.¡±


    Yu Xiao reacted on instinct, throwing a punch at the intruder.


    The unexpected blow knocked Fan Xing back, making him gasp in pain. Who had the nerve to hit the attending doctor?


    ¡°Ah! I¡¯m sorry!¡± Yu Xiao snapped back to reality, clapping her hands over her mouth in horror. ¡°Why is it you, Dr. Fan Xing? I just had a nightmare, and you startled me, I got scared.¡±


    She sounded sincere and apologetic. What could Fan Xing do? Of course, he decided to let it go.


    One by one, the others also came to their senses, realising they were back in the intensive care unit where they had entered the dream. They were all shocked. We¡¯re back? Did we even do anything?


    Zhou Xiao Zhen was the last to wake up, and when she did, she noticed she was no longer in the villa¡¯s bedroom. She was confused at first, then ecstatic. ¡°Did I finish the mission by sleeping? Who made that happen?¡±


    ¡°The mission is not over yet,¡± Fan Xing said with a hint of sadness, pointing at the person on the hospital bed. ¡°Dr. Qu is still asleep.¡±


    ¡°So what?¡± Yu Xiao, feeling less angry after hitting Fan Xing, asked. ¡°Why are we back here?¡±


    ¡°When the dream breaks, everything resets,¡± Fan Xing explained, standing by the bed. He tried to look sorry, but his smile betrayed his happiness. ¡°The doctor¡¯s dream started over, and you outsiders were kicked out.¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen was still confused. ¡°What did you do? How did you break the dream?¡±


    ¡°Who is Ripley?¡± Tan Qiao Yin turned to Yu Xiao. ¡°Why did you kill him at the last second?¡±


    Yu Xiao clenched her teeth. ¡°If I had known, I would have dragged Dr. Qu out of his dream ages ago. And the shattered dreams? What a joke.¡± She glared at Fan Xing and demanded, ¡°What else is hiding in Dr. Qu¡¯s dream, besides us clueless outsiders?¡±


    Fan Xing winced. ¡°Oh dear, I forgot to mention that.¡± He sounded apologetic. ¡°All the dreams that won¡¯t wake up are ruled by the Nightmare.¡±


    He added, as if it was an afterthought, ¡°But the hospital should have killed the nightmare on the first night you entered the dream, to make sure Dr. Qu woke up smoothly. Huh. Why didn¡¯t the Nightmare die?¡±


    Yu Xiao felt a surge of frustration. She wanted to punch Fan Xing in the face, twice.


    ¡°Ripley is the Nightmare,¡± Zhao Lan said, her voice cold. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you warn us about such a dangerous thing in the dream?¡±


    Fan Xing shrugged. ¡°I forgot,¡± he repeated. ¡°I¡¯ve been staying up for days to help Dr. Qu. Look at my eyes.¡±


    He pointed to his lower eyelids, which were darkened by make up. ¡°I¡¯m exhausted, I¡¯m foggy-headed, and my memory is shot.¡±


    ¡°So what now?¡± The others looked confused. ¡°Can we go back into the dream?¡±


    ¡°Sure,¡± Fan Xing said, letting out a soft sigh. ¡°But the hospital can only help you once. In the new dream, the nightmare will be free.¡±


    Yu Xiao snorted as she hooked her arm around Fan Xing¡¯s neck and pulled him closer. ¡°Come on, I need to talk to you.¡±


    He followed Yu Xiao without resistance. ¡°My friend, is there something you don¡¯t want to share with the group?¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen watched Yu Xiao¡¯s back and sighed in her heart. Sister Smiley had forgotten the oath she made.


    Yu Xiao dragged Fang Xing to a secluded corner outside the ward. ¡°Do you have any idea who I am?¡±


    Fang Xing gave her a blank look. ¡°Everyone who comes to the hospital is a patient. As a doctor, I don¡¯t discriminate¡­¡±


    She cut him off with a snort. ¡°I¡¯m the director of Saint Elizabeth¡¯s.¡±


    Fang Xing¡¯s jaw dropped. ¡°You¡¯re the only human director?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s not all,¡± she went on, ¡°You can ask around. I¡¯m probably the only human inspector from the health bureau too.¡±


    Fang Xing felt a cold sweat break out on his forehead.


    ¡°You¡¯ve really done it this time,¡± Yu Xiao said, slapping his shoulder with a heavy sigh. ¡°Do you know what fate befell those attending doctors who crossed me in the past?¡±


    Fang Xing remained silent. S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Yu Xiao leaned closer, her voice dripping with venom. ¡°Have you heard of attending doctor Gu Shu?¡±


    Fang Xing swallowed hard.


    His voice trembled as he confessed, ¡°I know, I know, it was my fault. I forgot something crucial. But it¡¯s too late now. I can¡¯t do anything. After rebooting the dream, the Nightmare is free, and I¡¯m helpless against them.¡±


    Yu Xiao laughed mockingly. ¡°Have you heard of attending doctor Lolita?¡±


    Fang Xing stayed silent.


    Fang Xing glanced around nervously, then whispered in Yu Xiao¡¯s ear, ¡°But I can tell you how to wake up Dr. Qu. There¡¯s a secret method, but you can¡¯t tell anyone. It¡¯s against hospital rules for attending doctors to help patients¡­¡±


    Yu Xiao nodded curtly. ¡°Fine, fine, I won¡¯t say a word. It¡¯s not like it would benefit me anyway.¡±


    Yu Xiao and Fan Xing returned arm in arm, looking like old friends. Tan Qiao Yin and the rest of the group gaped at them. How did the attending doctor become so friendly with the patients? They seemed to have no trouble getting along.


    Yu Xiao raised her fist, a determined look on her face. ¡°Dr. Fan and I had a little talk,¡± she said, ¡°and he agreed to send us to the next dream as soon as possible. This time, we have to be serious, wake up Dr. Qu before it¡¯s too late, and save the world. For that, I have a brilliant strategy.¡±


    She bared her teeth, her voice full of venom. ¡°First, we find that Nightmare, then we kill him!¡±


    Zhao Lan leaned in and whispered, ¡°I¡¯ve never seen Yu Xiao so angry before.¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen shrugged and whispered back, ¡°It¡¯s not surprising. She¡¯s always the one messing with other people¡¯s feelings. But now that she¡¯s the one who got tricked, she¡¯s furious.¡±


    Yu Xiao made a solemn vow. ¡°I swear this,¡± she said, ¡°once we deal with that nightmare, you¡¯ll each get ten talismans, any kind you want!¡±


    ¡°Wow!¡± Ma Shan and Kang Jun exclaimed, their eyes shining. ¡°What are we waiting for then? Let¡¯s do this!¡±


    ©¤©¤©¤ ? ©¤©¤ ¡î ©¤©¤ ? ©¤©¤©¤

 Chapter 89: Serious People Don’t Get Along With Gigolos

    (Title is a modified idiom: ¾ý×ÓСÈ˲»ÏàÓë: ¡®a gentleman and a villain do not mix¡¯)


    Yu Xiao felt the familiar jolts and breeze as she opened her eyes. She was in a car again, but this time it was a spacious one, not a racing one. She looked around and saw seven familiar faces, all of them her buddies. They were all waking up, too, and scanning their surroundings. There was one face she didn¡¯t recognize, though. A man in his forties, with a plain but respectable look.


    Could he be Ripley? She wondered, narrowing her eyes. Was he the nightmare they were hunting?


    She wasn¡¯t the only one who stared at him. Ma Shan and Kang Jun also eyed him with interest. If he was their target, killing him would earn them ten talismans. That was a hundred points in the mall. Not bad, huh!


    The man seemed to sense their tension. ¡°Huh? Why¡¯s everyone so tense?¡± he asked. ¡°No need to fret. Being part of this project is an honour for all of us. You¡¯ve all worked hard for years just for the chance to participate in such a grand project, haven¡¯t you?¡±


    Project? What project? She and the others exchanged wary glances. What was he talking about? What project were they supposed to be part of?


    Then they saw it. Outside the window, there was a mountain. And on the slope of the mountain, there was a huge hole. Or rather, a tunnel that seemed to go on forever.


    The car drove into the tunnel, and the man smiled brightly. ¡°Welcome to the underworld!¡± he announced. ¡°I apologise for the secrecy, but you understand. This project is top-secret until you¡¯re officially in,¡± he said, handing out some folders to each of them.


    She and the others took the papers, but they felt a chill as they read them. What the hell was this?


    ¡°Three years ago, three geologists stumbled upon a gateway to the underworld here. After three years of exploration, we¡¯ve discovered various precious minerals and exotic energy sources that don¡¯t exist on the surface. But that¡¯s not all. We¡¯ve also made an even more amazing discovery,¡± the man said eagerly. ¡°That¡¯s why we need top biologists like you to join this project.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ve discovered subterranean creatures!¡± The man¡¯s voice was so full of wonder that he seemed ready to leap out of his seat. ¡°They¡¯re incredible, miraculous, unlike anything we¡¯ve ever seen on the surface¡­¡±


    Yu Xiao and the others listened to his explanation with a mix of awe and confusion. They were supposed to be biologists working on a classified national research project, according to the dream logic.


    Dr. Qu truly lived up her Doctor title: even her dreams were scientific.


    The car drove on until it reached a checkpoint. The man got out to talk to the guards. He told them to stay in the car.


    As soon as he was gone, they started whispering among themselves.


    ¡°Is this really a horror story?¡± Ma Shan asked, looking around nervously. ¡°It sounds more like a documentary.¡±


    Tan Qiao Yin, a film buff, rolled her eyes. ¡°Ever heard of sci-fi thrillers?¡±


    ¡°Of course,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen said. ¡°Like ¡®Alien¡¯.¡±


    Ma Shan¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°Alien? You mean those things that burst out of people¡¯s chests? How are we supposed to fight them?¡±


    Yu Xiao put a hand on his shoulder. ¡°Relax, I brought a prop that can deal with any kind of ghost or monster.¡±


    The others sighed in relief. ¡°That¡¯s good to hear.¡±


    ¡°And Fan Xing has already spilled the beans on how to wake up Dr. Qu,¡± Yu Xiao added, throwing him under the bus.


    ¡°Really?¡± Zhu Miao Miao perked up. ¡°How do we do that?¡±


    Yu Xiao looked out the window, scanning for any signs of suspicion. Leaning closer to her companions, she lowered her voice. ¡°Dr. Qu doesn¡¯t have these nightmares out of fear, but due to her love for adrenaline. The more blood and terror in her dreams, the more hooked she becomes, making it harder to snap her out of it. We need to change the narrative. If we make this dream go in the opposite direction of what she desires, she¡¯ll reach a dead-end, and she¡¯ll wake up.¡±


    ¡°Wow, that¡¯s twisted,¡± Tan Qiao Yin said. ¡°That dude just told us we¡¯re going to examine some creepy underground creature this time. I¡¯ve seen enough movies to know that thing is going to mutate and turn into a horrifying beast, like Alien.¡±


    ¡°Exactly,¡± Yu Xiao agreed. ¡°So, since we have to study it anyway, let¡¯s put that beast out of its misery. Without the beast, this dream can¡¯t go on.¡±


    ¡°Hehehe¡­¡± the group snickered wickedly.


    ¡°What are you guys whispering about?¡± the middle-aged man climbed into the car. ¡°Why are you all grinning like that?¡±


    ¡°Oh, we¡¯re just ecstatic about joining such a magnificent research,¡± Yu Xiao lied, ¡°By the way, how¡¯s that creature doing?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s all in the papers,¡± the middle-aged man said.


    Yu Xiao glanced at the papers, but they made no sense to her. She laughed and said, ¡°We¡¯re all a bit nauseous from the car ride, can¡¯t really focus on anything while moving.¡±


    ¡°Really?¡± the middle-aged man eyed them, ¡°Are you all carsick?¡±


    Everyone bobbed their heads, ¡°Yeah yeah yeah¡­¡±


    ¡°Fine then, I¡¯ll give you a summary¡­¡±


    He rattled off some technical jargon that Yu Xiao barely followed, but she got the main idea: it was some kind of amazing creature, not very big, shape-shifting, immune to water or electricity, and able to live for decades without eating.


    Yu Xiao zeroed in on the crucial detail. ¡°Scared of fire?¡±


    The middle-aged man nodded. ¡°It does¡­ but only when it¡¯s small. The more it grows, the more it can withstand the heat.¡±


    ¡°And how big is it now?¡± Yu Xiao pressed.


    He held up his thumb as a comparison. ¡°This big.¡±


    Yu Xiao felt a surge of relief. That didn¡¯t sound too bad. She changed the subject. ¡°Do you know if we have a person named Ripley here?¡±


    The middle-aged man gave her a puzzled look. ¡°A Ripley? Why would a foreigner be involved in such a classified project?¡±


    She realised he must have assumed a new identity as well. He was a skilled actor. It would be hard to track him down.


    The middle-aged man smiled reassuringly. ¡°You don¡¯t have to worry about anything. Dr. Qu will take good care of you. She¡¯s an expert in underground creatures. You¡¯ll learn a lot from her.¡±


    Everyone perked up at the mention of Dr. Qu.


    ¡°Dr. Qu?¡± Yu Xiao echoed.


    ¡°Yes,¡± the man said, his eyes shining. ¡°Dr. Qu is the director of the Underground Creature Research Institute. She¡¯s a prodigy, becoming the director in her twenties. She¡¯s not only brilliant, but also gorgeous and kind¡­¡±


    He went on and on, but something was off. His cheeks were flushed.


    Yu Xiao couldn¡¯t help but poke fun at the middle-aged man. ¡°What¡¯s with the rosy cheeks? Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re hoping Dr. Qu will dream up a handsome prince for herself. Because, he¡¯s definitely not you.¡±


    They finally arrived at the entrance of the Underground Biological Research Institute, where a man in a lab coat greeted them and ushered them inside. The seven of them were impostors, not real researchers, and they felt a surge of adrenaline as they stepped into the institute. It looked like something out of a sci-fi movie, with sleek metal walls and high-tech equipment. sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    They tried to act casual as they passed by some staff members, but Yu Xiao couldn¡¯t help sneaking a peek at each one of them. She was looking for Ripley, or rather, Nightmare in the dream world.


    They followed the man in the lab coat to an office and heard a friendly female voice inviting them in. As they opened the door, they saw a man and a woman inside. The man was busy with some papers, his back turned to them, while the woman was sitting behind a desk. She was young and stunning, with a striking resemblance to the Dr. Qu they had seen in the hospital bed. Only, she was even more gorgeous and curvy.


    ¡°The Director,¡± the man in the lab coat announced, ¡°They¡¯re here.¡±


    ¡°Welcome!¡± The woman, who was obviously Director Qu, got up and greeted them with a warm smile. She shook hands with each of them and said, ¡°The institute is still new, and we¡¯re in desperate need of more staff. I¡¯m so glad you could join us.¡±


    Yu Xiao shook her hand and thought, ¡®If you had looked like this in the last dream, we wouldn¡¯t have wasted so much time chasing after you.¡¯


    ¡°Thank you for this opportunity,¡± Zhao Lan said, with a charming professional smile. ¡°It¡¯s a privilege for us to work at your research institute.¡±


    Director Qu was delighted and said, ¡°Let me show you around the labs. You¡¯ll be amazed by what we¡¯re doing here.¡±


    She added, with a hint of excitement, ¡°Oh, and this is our Deputy Director, Shen Chuan. Shen Chuan, why don¡¯t you come and say hello to our new colleagues?¡±


    Shen Chuan was a tall man, wearing a crisp white shirt. He looked slender from behind. He turned around and faced them, showing a face that none of them recognized. Yu Xiao felt a chill run down her spine.


    There¡¯s no escape. This was Nightmare.


    Yu Xiao flashed a covert signal to the others, but they all ignored her.


    They were hopeless. ?(?Òæ??)


    ¡°Hello, everyone.¡± Shen Chuan greeted them with a warm smile and a handshake. ¡°I¡¯m Shen Chuan.¡±


    His hand was pale and elegant, with long fingers and a smooth palm. Yu Xiao hesitated when he reached for hers. She met his eyes, and saw nothing but kindness in them. She forced herself to shake his hand, hoping he wouldn¡¯t notice her reluctance.


    ¡°You¡¯re very impressive.¡± She said politely.


    ¡°So are you,¡± he said back.


    They let go of each other¡¯s hands, pretending to be casual.


    ¡°Alright then.¡± Dr. Qu looked satisfied with the introductions. She turned to the middle-aged man and said, ¡°Why don¡¯t you take them to change clothes, and then I¡¯ll show them around the lab.¡±


    Yu Xiao followed the middle-aged man out, thinking of a way to tell the others that Shen Chuan was Nightmare, and how they could kill him.


    ¡°That Shen Chuan.¡± The middle-aged man muttered. ¡°You¡¯ve all met him.¡±


    Zhao Lan sensed his resentment and asked, ¡°Is there a problem with him?¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s nothing but a pretty face,¡± the middle-aged man scoffed. ¡°He¡¯s always kissing up to the director, that¡¯s how he got the vice-director position. The director is blind, she thinks he¡¯s the best thing since sliced bread.¡±


    He glanced at them and said, ¡°You¡¯re not fooled by his looks, are you?¡±


    ¡°Of course not,¡± Yu Xiao said. ¡°We can¡¯t stand that type of pretty boy. He makes us sick. By the way, where does he live?¡±


    The middle-aged man stopped in his tracks, his eyes widening. ¡°Shen Chuan?¡± He echoed, disbelief dripping from his voice.


    Yu Xiao nodded curtly. ¡°Mm-hmm.¡± (¤Å£þ 3£þ)¤Å


    He furrowed his brows, his suspicion rising. ¡°But you hate him, don¡¯t you?¡± He asked, leaning closer. ¡°Why would you want to know where he lives if you can¡¯t stand him?¡±


    Yu Xiao put on a grave face, as if she was revealing a dark secret. ¡°It¡¯s for our own safety,¡± she said solemnly. ¡°We need to avoid him at all costs. You know how we feel about him. He makes our skin crawl with just one look.¡±


    The middle-aged man nodded emphatically, a bond forming between them. ¡°Ah, spot on! I know exactly what you mean,¡± he said, clapping her on the shoulder. ¡°I¡¯m so happy you guys joined us here.¡±


    ©¤©¤©¤ ? ©¤©¤ ¡î ©¤©¤ ? ©¤©¤©¤

 Chapter 90: Her Plan

    The middle-aged man in charge of their orientation dumped a pile of uniforms on them and ushered them to the staff quarters.


    ¡°Get changed and freshen up,¡± he said, ¡°I¡¯ll be back in a jiffy.¡± Then he disappeared into the bathroom to do the same.


    No sooner had he gone, Yu Xiao blurted out, ¡°Shen Chuan is a nightmare.¡±


    ¡°¡­What?¡±


    ¡°Seriously?¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen echoed the group¡¯s confusion, ¡°How do you know?¡±


    ¡°Not by looking at him,¡± Yu Xiao said, ¡°Just a feeling. I can sense it, he¡¯s a nightmare.¡±


    ¡°You have a thing for him?¡± Tan Qiao Yin teased, then realised how wrong that sounded, ¡°I mean, why are you the only one who can sense him?¡±


    ¡°¡­¡± Yu Xiao chewed on her lip, thinking, ¡®How should I explain? Some things are beyond logic.¡¯ She finally said, ¡°I have a natural gift for the sixth sense.¡±


    ¡°Oh~¡±


    Everyone nodded, impressed. Zhao Lan asked, ¡°What are you going to do about it?¡±


    ¡°I already found out where he lives,¡± Yu Xiao whispered, ¡°I don¡¯t think it¡¯s smart to face him directly.¡±


    ¡°Then?¡± Zhao Lan urged.


    ¡°Smiley Sis has a plan to surprise him,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen said, ¡°Right?¡±


    ¡°¡­Yes,¡± Yu Xiao agreed, ¡°I want to ambush him.¡±


    ¡°Count me in,¡± Ma Shan said, ¡°We know his address, we can come up with a way to sabotage his room.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s my idea too,¡± Yu Xiao moved on to her own problem, ¡°But the question is, is a nightmare the same as a ghost? Will talismans work on him?¡±


    The nightmare was a curveball they didn¡¯t see coming. They had never faced anything like it before, and they had no idea if their talismans would be any use against it.


    ¡°Are we screwed if the talismans don¡¯t work?¡± Ma Shan wondered aloud.


    Yu Xiao tapped her chin, thinking. ¡°Maybe we need something more¡­physical?¡±


    Blank stares met her suggestion. No one had a clue what she meant.


    ¡°Physical how?¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen asked. ¡°You want us to stab it with a knife? Wouldn¡¯t that make things worse?¡±


    Yu Xiao shrugged and gestured at the ceiling. ¡°We¡¯re in a national-level research institute. Don¡¯t you think they have some serious firepower here?¡±


    They debated their options for a while, but Yu Xiao made it clear that their main goal was still to wake up Dr. Qu. Killing the nightmare was secondary.


    ¡°If we can¡¯t take it down, fine. We¡¯ll just have to suck it up and deal with it. But we can¡¯t afford to get dragged into this mess any deeper than we already are.¡±


    They changed into clean clothes by the time the middle-aged man came back.


    ¡°Come on,¡± he said. ¡°Dr. Qu is waiting for you at the dining hall.¡±


    They had no idea what Dr. Qu was like in reality, but in their dream, she was a bundle of energy and charm. She took them on a tour of the lab, showing them all kinds of fascinating things.


    Shen Chuan followed her closely, silent as a shadow, but everyone kept an eye on him. He was the prime suspect for being the nightmare.


    ¡°Check this out!¡± They arrived at the last and most secretive lab. Dr. Qu ran to the observation window and pointed inside. ¡°This is where we study the creatures that live underground.¡±


    Yu Xiao and the rest rushed to see what she was talking about. Inside, they saw various machines and devices, and two people in hazmat suits working in front of a huge biosafety cabinet. One was handling some samples, while the other was taking notes.


    Yu Xiao narrowed her eyes, trying to catch a glimpse of the creature beyond the glass. She turned to Dr. Qu and asked, ¡°Can we go in and have a look? I¡¯m dying to see this miraculous underground creature up close.¡±


    Dr. Qu gave her a brief nod, as if weighing the pros and cons. ¡°Well, you¡¯ll be working with it soon enough. I suppose I can show you around.¡±


    They headed back to the changing room to don their protective suits, then followed Dr. Qu into the lab. The air inside was tense and quiet, and they all walked on tiptoes.


    Dr. Qu stopped at the biological safety cabinet and gestured to the glass. ¡°This is the miraculous underground creature we discovered.¡±


    Yu Xiao leaned forward, curious and excited. Through the glass, she saw a blob of pink flesh, about the size of her hand, that could morph into different shapes. It squirmed and twisted, never staying still.


    ¡°Wasn¡¯t it supposed to be thumb-sized?¡± Yu Xiao asked, fascinated by the creature. ¡°Why does it look bigger now?¡±


    Shen Chuan, who was standing next to her, answered. ¡°It was thumb-sized when we first found it. But we learned that it can absorb energy from electric shocks and grow stronger.¡±


    ¡°Really?¡± Yu Xiao glanced at the tools inside the cabinet. There was an electric shock gun, a laser cutter, and a flamethrower. ¡°Can I try it?¡±


    Dr. Qu, who either had a hidden agenda or was just careless, agreed without much hesitation. She let Yu Xiao, who had just joined them today, have a go.


    Yu Xiao sat on a stool, wearing latex gloves. She picked up the electric shock gun and zapped the pink creature lightly. The creature seemed to enjoy it. It didn¡¯t shy away, but moved closer, as if asking for more.


    ?( ¡®¦¨¡¯ )?


    Yu Xiao tossed the stun gun aside and grabbed the laser cutting pen instead. She had a gleam in her eye that made one of the researchers nervous. ÈË? ?? ?ÈË


    ¡°Director, she¡­¡± he whispered, glancing at Director Qu.


    ¡°Quiet,¡± Director Qu silenced him with a wave of her hand.


    Yu Xiao aimed the laser at the pink creature, which squirmed and squealed as if it knew what was coming. It was no use. Yu Xiao had it pinned down with a pair of forceps in her other hand. Without warning, she sliced the pink creature into more than twenty pieces with the laser pen, making everyone gasp.


    ¡°What the hell?!¡± the researcher next to her shouted, horrified.


    ¡°Look!¡± Yu Xiao shouted back, louder than necessary, before they could protest. ¡°Look! It¡¯s still alive! All of it! And it can even fuse!¡±


    They followed her pointing finger and saw that she was right. The severed pieces of flesh were twitching and crawling towards each other. Two of them bumped and merged into one.


    ¡°Incredible,¡± Director Qu breathed, her eyes wide. ¡°This is incredible. I never imagined such a wonder could exist underground.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not done yet,¡± Yu Xiao declared, reaching for the flamethrower. She turned it on and blasted the pink creature with full force.


    ¡°Boom!¡±


    A fireball erupted, scorching everyone in the room. The researcher who was supposed to record everything screamed, ¡°No, stop!¡±


    The researcher who had been working on the experiment before her yelled, ¡°Are you insane?!¡±


    Yu Xiao backed away from the burning cabinet, looking innocent. She shrugged and said, ¡°Just wanted to see if it could handle the heat.¡±


    Dr. Qu snapped. ¡°What have you done?!¡±


    They shoved Yu Xiao out of the way and scrambled to extinguish the fire. But it was too late. The only thing that remained in the biosafety cabinet was a heap of blackened dust.


    The researchers gaped at the dust, as if their souls had been sucked out with the pink creature.


    They slowly turned their heads to Yu Xiao, who looked just as stunned. She didn¡¯t think it would be that easy to kill the pink creature. She gave them a sheepish smile and said, ¡°Guess it wasn¡¯t a fan of heat, huh?¡±


    Dr. Qu grabbed her heart, her eyes rolling back, and fell to the floor.


    ¡°Doctor!¡± S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Someone call an ambulance!¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s having a cardiac arrest¡­¡±


    Yu Xiao was dragged to a warehouse and locked up for destroying national property. She didn¡¯t mind being alone in the dark warehouse. The nightmare was over. The subterranean creature was gone. This dream had to end. Dr. Qu would wake up any minute now.


    She settled into a cosy corner and waited eagerly. She waited and waited, but the dream never ended.


    Was she wrong? There was no way Dr. Qu could exist without a monster to feed her creepiness. How much longer could this twisted dream go on?


    She was about to dial Misty¡¯s number, when the warehouse door squeaked open.


    A beam of light cut through the darkness, making Yu Xiao blink. A slim silhouette walked in.


    ¡°Hungry?¡± The voice belonged to Shen Chuan.


    Yu Xiao tensed up, then forced herself to relax. She knew he was the nightmare, but he didn¡¯t know that she knew.


    ¡°Dr. Shen,¡± she feigned surprise. ¡°You came. I¡¯m so sorry, I never meant to¡ª¡±


    ¡°Uh-huh.¡± She sensed him nod. ¡°I believe you.¡±


    He handed her a lunchbox. ¡°Hungry? Eat something.¡±


    She touched his cold fingers, hiding her shiver. She pretended to struggle with the lunchbox, and said, ¡°Dr. Shen, you¡¯re too good to me.¡±


    He ignored that. He unscrewed a thermos and offered, ¡°Thirsty? Drink some water.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, yes.¡± She took the thermos, putting on a worried face. ¡°How is Dr. Qu? Is she okay? I would hate myself if I hurt her in any way.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t fret, the boss is recovering,¡± he said.


    Yu Xiao¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief. Dr. Qu was fine? How was that possible? She had seen the pink creatures die with her own eyes.


    ¡°That¡¯s¡­ that¡¯s wonderful news,¡± Yu Xiao forced a smile and hoped it looked convincing. ¡°But how¡­ how is she fine?¡±


    Shen Chuan leaned closer and spoke softly, as if to soothe her guilt. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, it¡¯s not your fault. We discovered another creature underground, so the director is fine now.¡±


    Yu Xiao: ¡°¡­¡±


    Yu Xiao almost choked on her water.


    Cough cough cough¡­


    ¡°Hey, hey, calm down,¡± Shen Chuan rubbed her back gently. ¡°You need to drink slowly, don¡¯t get too worked up.¡±


    What the hell was going on? Yu Xiao wanted to slap herself. Did Dr. Qu just use deus ex machina?


    Yu Xiao realised that she couldn¡¯t stay here and pretend everything was fine. She had to find a way out, and fast.


    She glanced at Shen Chuan, who was still staring at her intently in the dark warehouse.


    ¡°What¡¯s on your mind?¡± he asked, his voice low and curious.


    Yu Xiao put on a weary look and sighed. ¡°I¡¯m just exhausted, and I don¡¯t feel well. I need some rest and quiet. Can you help me with something?¡±


    ¡°Tell me.¡±


    Yu Xiao forced a smile and said, ¡°Just tell my friends to keep up the good work and not to fret over me.¡±


    She watched Shen Chuan walk away, his footsteps echoing in the dark corridor. She counted the minutes until she was sure he was gone. Then she reached for the wig she had hidden and put it on her head, adjusting it to match Shen Chuan. She got up and knocked on the metal door.


    A voice came from the other side. ¡°What do you want?¡±


    Yu Xiao lowered her voice and imitated Shen Chuan¡¯s tone. ¡°It¡¯s me. Shen Chuan. I¡¯m still here. Hurry up and open the door.¡±


    The guard recognized the voice. It sounded just like Director Shen. But he felt a twinge of doubt. Hadn¡¯t he seen Director Shen leave already? Why was he still in the cell?

 Chapter 91: Smiley is the Best!

    Translator: InkyDragon (https://puukkiss.wixsite.com/inkydragon)


    The door creaked open, revealing a glimpse of Shen Chuan¡¯s face.


    The security guard gasped and then swung the door wide, reacting as if he had seen a ghost. ¡°Director Shen, is that really you? I thought you had already left.¡±


    Yu Xiao stepped out, wearing Shen Chuan¡¯s skin and voice. She smiled sweetly and said, ¡°I was just catching up with my colleague. You¡¯re doing a great job, by the way. My colleague is feeling a bit down. She made a boo-boo and needs some space. Do me a favour and don¡¯t bother her, okay?¡±


    ¡°Of course, of course,¡± the security guard nodded eagerly.


    Yu Xiao walked away, leaving the guard to close the door behind her. She sauntered back to the staff dormitory, humming a tune, and then made a detour to the men¡¯s section to locate Shen Chuan¡¯s room.


    It was the middle of the day, and the dormitory was deserted and silent. Yu Xiao tried the door handle and found it unlocked. She grinned and thought, ¡°Lucky me.¡±


    The room of Shen Chuan was plain and dull, reflecting his own demeanour. It shared the same furniture and layout as Yu Xiao¡¯s room. It contained a desk, a chair, a single bed with a white sheet, and a small wardrobe, giving the impression that it was uninhabited.


    Yu Xiao lifted the sheet and placed the ¡¾The Thunder Striking Ghost Repelling Talisman¡¿under the mattress, one by one. She smoothed the sheet back and imagined Shen Chuan¡¯s reaction when he triggered the talismans. He would be in for a shock. The noise would be louder than fireworks!


    She hoped the talismans would have an effect on him. She lingered for a moment, relishing the anticipation, before leaving the room.


    As she exited, she bumped into a researcher who identified her as Shen Chuan and greeted her politely. ¡°Director Shen, have you had lunch?¡±


    ¡°I have, thank you,¡± Yu Xiao answered. ¡°Say, have you seen Director Qu around?¡±


    The other person tilted his head and said, ¡°The Director? Isn¡¯t she in her office right now?¡±


    Yu Xiao waved her hand and said, ¡°Oh, I see.¡± She walked away with a confident swagger, leaving the other person scratching his head.


    She crossed paths with a few colleagues on her way, but they barely glanced at her. They saw her as Shen Chuan, the Deputy Director, and she acted the part. She reached the Director¡¯s office and knocked on the door.


    ¡°Come in!¡± Director Qu¡¯s voice was bright and lively.


    Yu Xiao opened the door and saw Director Qu filing some papers. She beamed when she saw Yu Xiao and said, ¡°Oh, good, you¡¯re here. Perfect timing. Can you give me a hand with these papers?¡±


    Yu Xiao closed the door behind her and locked it.


    Director Qu blinked and said, ¡°What are you doing¡­¡±


    Yu Xiao turned around and fixed her gaze on Director Qu, her face emotionless. She walked towards her steadily, like a hunter stalking its prey.


    Director Qu felt a chill, but she was too innocent to imagine what it was. She just wondered why Shen Chuan, who looked a little different today, was acting so weird.


    With a swift motion, Yu Xiao swung her leg over the office desk and slammed her foot down on Director Qu¡¯s paperwork.


    Director Qu gasped, her eyes wide. ¡°What the hell?!¡±


    Yu Xiao leaned in, her hand snatching Director Qu¡¯s collar and yanking her forward.


    They were face to face now, barely a breath apart. Director Qu felt a surge of fear and fury, but also a strange thrill. She had never been manhandled like this before. She struggled to find her voice, her cheeks burning.


    ¡°Director Shen, you have some nerve!¡± Director Qu stammered. ¡°This is barbaric, outrageous!¡±


    Yu Xiao grinned wickedly. ¡°Barbaric? You haven¡¯t seen anything yet.¡±


    Director Qu snapped, her patience gone. ¡°Are you crazy? What are you trying to do?!¡±


    ¡°What do you think I¡¯m trying to do?¡± She leaned closer to Director Qu, her breath hot on her ear. ¡°You¡¯re such a fan of novels and movies, aren¡¯t you? You should know what comes next.¡±


    Director Qu¡¯s mind raced, *How does he know about my guilty pleasures?*


    ¡°I¡¯ve gone mad. You¡¯ve made me mad.¡± Yu Xiao let go of Director Qu¡¯s collar. She fell back into her chair, dizzy and breathless. She barely had a chance to blink when she saw Director Shen, his eyes wild, crawling over the desk like a cat towards her.


    ¡°¡­¡± Director Qu whimpered, ¡°Please, stop, let¡¯s talk!¡±


    ¡°Talk? When have you ever listened to me?¡± Yu Xiao snapped, ¡°You can¡¯t handle this, can you? Look at what you¡¯ve done to me, have you ever apologised?¡±


    ¡°What did I do?¡± Dr. Qu stammered, frightened and confused, ¡°Did I ever offend you in any way?¡±


    ¡°You did everything!¡± Yu Xiao loomed over her, grabbing her shoulder and shaking it hard, ¡°Are you sick of your bloody dreams yet? Do you love dreaming so much? I¡¯m begging you, wake the hell up, or I might do something you¡¯ll regret¡­¡±


    The people passing by the Director¡¯s office heard strange noises from inside, then saw the Deputy Director storm out. His hair was dishevelled, his face grim, his aura menacing, he walked away quickly.


    What the hell was that? Wasn¡¯t Principal Shen the nicest guy ever?


    Then they heard muffled sobs from inside the Director¡¯s office.


    After leaving Dr. Qu¡¯s office, Yu Xiao rushed to the lab. Inside, Zhao Lan and the others were as clueless as ever, scratching their heads over the fact that one underground creature died and another one appeared. Yu Xiao was locked up now, they wanted to do what Yu Xiao did, but they never had the opportunity.


    Just then, they saw Shen Chuan coming, Zhao Lan and the gang tensed up right away.


    Smiley was in jail, was the plan to ambush Shen Chuan still on?


    Zhao Lan barely had time to register Precious¡¯s muffled squeak next to her before she saw him. Shen Chuan. Standing right there, in front of her, with a smirk on his face.


    *What the hell?* She blinked, feeling a surge of confusion. *What is he doing here? I haven¡¯t even started anything yet. He can¡¯t be here to mess with me, can he?*


    ¡°Hard at work?¡± Shen Chuan asked, his voice dripping with sarcasm.


    Zhao Lan stared at him, her panic rising. Why was he acting so friendly all of a sudden?


    ¡°Um¡­ not too bad,¡± she managed to say, forcing a nervous laugh. ¡°Still getting used to things, hehehe¡­¡±


    ¡°Great, great,¡± Shen Chuan said, flashing her a wink that only she could see. ¡°Why don¡¯t you guys call it a day and go get some rest?¡±


    Zhao Lan: ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°Holy cow,¡± Precious whispered, her eyes wide.


    Zhao Lan felt completely lost, not understanding Shen Chuan¡¯s intentions, not knowing how to respond, and not daring to move. She stayed rooted to her spot until Shen Chuan raised his voice and announced, ¡°That¡¯s it, everyone! We¡¯re done for today. Go!¡±


    Except for Zhao Lan and their group of six, everyone else looked stunned. ¡°Director Shen, you want us all to leave?¡±


    ¡°Yup,¡± Yu Xiao said, nodding. ¡°Everyone¡¯s off early today. Go on, shoo. I¡¯ll handle the rest of the work.¡±


    And with that, Yu Xiao herded everyone out of the lab. As they filed out, she suddenly remembered something and stuck her head out of the door, calling out to the colleagues who were still in the hallway, ¡°Hey!¡±


    They turned around, and Yu Xiao added, ¡°You know what? In my heart, you¡¯re all trash!¡±


    Everyone: ¡°¡­¡±


    The group made their way back to the dorms in a daze. Then, Zhao Lan smacked her forehead, ¡°Oh! I get it now¡­¡± (£­??)


    Everyone stared at her, and she quickly clamped her mouth shut, dragging Precious into their room.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen burst into the room, bouncing on her toes like a hyperactive bunny. ¡°What the hell is Shen Chuan¡¯s deal? Why did he say those bizarre things to you? Is he plotting something evil?¡±


    Zhao Lan shook her head, a mix of amusement and confusion on her face. ¡°No plot. That wasn¡¯t Shen Chuan.¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen blinked. ¡°Then who was it?¡±


    ¡°Smiley,¡± Zhao Lan said softly. ¡°Remember what her wig can do?¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen gasped. ¡°Oh, snap! That¡¯s why she was giving us those signals! Smiley switched places with Shen Chuan¡­ Do you think she¡¯s going to blow up the underground creatures again?¡±


    ¡°Most likely,¡± Zhao Lan said, a laugh escaping her lips. ¡°And making Shen Chuan a social pariah* is just a bonus.¡±


    (*ÉçËÀ: A slang term meaning to ostracise or socially isolate someone)


    **


    Yu Xiao was not one to do things halfway. The last time she torched an underground creature, another one popped up. This time, she was determined to wipe out the whole lab. Without the lab, Dr. Qu would have nothing to work with.


    But that wasn¡¯t enough.


    Yu Xiao had a better idea. She picked up the lab phone and dialled Shen Chuan¡¯s number. ¡°Hey, Director Shen?¡±


    ¡°Mm-hmm,¡± Shen Chuan grunted, bored.


    Yu Xiao put on a worried tone. ¡°There¡¯s something wrong in the lab. The underground creature is acting up. You should come and see.¡±


    Shen Chuan couldn¡¯t care less about the underground creature. He strolled to the lab, expecting a crowd of people, but found it deserted. He stepped inside and saw the underground creature in the biosafety cabinet, reduced to ashes.


    He felt a crackle in his ear, a sizzle of something hot and dangerous. Before he could react, he saw a flash of orange and red behind him. The whole lab was on fire. S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Boom!¡±


    The blast rocked the underground base, sending shockwaves through the walls and floors.


    **


    Dr. Qu, who had been sulking in her office, snapped out of her gloom. She bolted out of the door, dodging the security guards who were ushering people to safety.


    ¡°Oh no! Oh no!!¡±


    ¡°This can¡¯t be happening! This can¡¯t be happening!!¡±


    Panic-stricken voices filled the air.


    Dr. Qu sprinted until she grabbed someone by the arm. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± she yelled.


    ¡°Sniff, Director¡­ ¡± The person sobbed, their face pale. ¡°The lab blew up, it¡¯s all gone, everything¡¯s gone!¡±


    Dr. Qu¡¯s eyes widened in horror, then she slumped to the floor.


    ¡°Someone help!¡±


    ¡°The director¡¯s heart condition has flared up again!¡±


    While the entire research institute was in turmoil, Yu Xiao slipped back to the warehouse unnoticed. She took off her wig and settled into the shadows, as calm as ever.


    Well, that was quite a spectacle*~ (ÃÀµÎºÜ) ÈË? ?? ?ÈË


    Yu Xiao smirked to herself, feeling rather smug. *Not bad, not bad at all. I¡¯m quite clever, ain¡¯t I? Managed to come up with this kill-two-birds-with-one-stone method. Heh heh heh, now Dr. Qu will wake up, and my nightmare¡¯s revenge is served.*


    ¡°Ha ha ha~¡± She chuckled wickedly in the dark.


    **


    The explosion echoed through the dorm. Zhao Lan and the others rushed to the window. Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s jaw dropped, ¡°Holy cow, what did Smiley do? That noise is insane!¡±


    Zhao Lan shrugged, ¡°She must have blown up the lab.¡±


    ¡°Wow, that¡¯s amazing!¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen gushed, ¡°Smiley is the coolest person ever! She¡¯s my idol for life!¡±


    Zhao Lan was glad to hear that. Feeling playful, she teased Zhou Xiao Zhen, ¡°So Smiley is your idol? What about Leonardo DiCaprio, Yan Kuan, and the rest?¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen winked, ¡°They¡¯re my husbands!¡±


    Soon, someone knocked on the door. They opened it and saw Tan Qiao Yin and the rest of the gang, ¡°Did you hear? The lab exploded!¡±


    Zhao Lan and Zhou Xiao Zhen pretended to be clueless, not wanting to reveal Yu Xiao¡¯s mimic ability, ¡°Really? How did that happen?¡±


    ¡°Dunno,¡± Tan Qiao Yin said eagerly, ¡°We were just thinking we couldn¡¯t find a chance to strike, and then the lab blew itself up! Talk about luck, huh?¡±


    ©¤©¤©¤ ? ©¤©¤ ¡î ©¤©¤ ? ©¤©¤©¤


    *Well, that was quite a spectacle*~ ÃÀµÎºÜ (m¨§i d¨© h¨§n) ¨C An informal internet slang phrase that roughly translates to ¡°so beautiful¡± or ¡°very beautiful.¡± It¡¯s often used in a playful or sarcastic manner to comment on situations or events.

 Chapter 92: Smiley’s Deepest Fear

    The institute erupted into chaos as the fire continued to rage, with the uncertainty of another blast looming. Frantic guards scrambled to evacuate the crowd, pulling them out of the building.


    Zhao Lan and her friends were among those yanked out by the guards in a state of panic. They sprinted alongside the main force, a massive swarm of people fleeing in disorder. Then they spotted her: Director Qu, pale and unconscious, being carried by several people.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong with Director Qu?¡± Zhao Lan snatched a passerby and demanded.


    ¡°Director Qu took a massive hit. Her heart attack flared up again!¡±


    The six of them exchanged gleeful looks. They hoped this nightmare would end soon.


    Most of the institute staff managed to escape and squeezed into various vehicles, preparing to retreat. Amidst the panicked crowd in the vehicles, some couldn¡¯t resist asking: ¡°What on earth happened? Why did the lab explode?¡±


    This led them to look at the final group of individuals who exited the lab.


    A few people identified Zhao Lan and the others and called out from two vehicles in the distance: ¡°Weren¡¯t you inside the lab earlier? What¡¯s happening?¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen had a knack for shifting the blame and framing others. She instantly yelled back: ¡°The lab was in order when we departed. Everyone can confirm that. Shen Chuan was the last to leave!¡±


    ¡°Indeed!¡± Another person added. ¡°Director Shen instructed us to leave. He assured us that he could finish the task on his own once we returned to rest.¡±


    Subsequently, those who departed later recalled the emotional distress and shock they experienced when Director Shen berated them upon their departure. The typically kind Deputy Director Shen referred to them all as worthless.


    Someone said, ¡°I think this has something to do with Deputy Director Shen. You saw it too. Director Shen wasn¡¯t himself today.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, did something trigger Deputy Director Shen?¡±


    ¡°I know! I know!¡± a fat man bellowed from a truck farther away, ¡°I saw it! ¡ª¡±


    ¡°¡ª I walked past Director Qu¡¯s office today and heard some strange noises inside, almost like a fight. Shortly after, Deputy Director Shen stormed out of Director Qu¡¯s office looking terrible, with dishevelled hair and clothes. Even after he left, I could still hear Director Qu sobbing in the office. Director Qu is usually very open, and I have never seen her cry before.


    Most of the people there were scientists and researchers with good intelligence and imagination. As soon as these words were spoken, they sparked everyone¡¯s imagination.


    Panic gave way to gossip as their faces lit up with excitement. This was bloody brilliant, wasn¡¯t it?


    The scene in the office was perfect for speculation: a man and a woman, alone and unsupervised, making dubious noises. His clothes were dishevelled, her sobs were heart-wrenching¡­


    There¡¯s nothing like a bit of gossip to ease the shock of a lab explosion. The whole place was abuzz with rumours in no time. It began with a hint of something suspicious between the two directors, then escalated to Deputy Director Shen¡¯s unreciprocated love and bitter resentment, and finally culminated in his desperate mistake.


    Some people weren¡¯t convinced, though. ¡°Come on, we¡¯ve worked with Deputy Director Shen for ages. You know what he¡¯s like. He¡¯s not the type to have any worldly desires. I don¡¯t believe he would do such a thing.¡±


    ¡°Then how do you explain this?¡±


    ¡°Why don¡¯t you explain it, then¡­¡±


    **


    Meanwhile, in the research institute, some people fled, some people fought the fire, and Yu Xiao was left alone for a while.


    She waited in the warehouse for Dr. Qu to wake up and end this nightmare. She longed to return to the ward, enjoy a decent meal, and get some sleep. Starving, she hadn¡¯t eaten anything since being locked up here. She regretted not taking a bite of the food Shen Chuan had brought earlier.


    She was so hungry that she decided to look for food and eat some of it. It was cold, but she didn¡¯t care; she just needed something to fill her stomach.


    Where had she put the lunchbox?


    The warehouse was pitch-black, and Yu Xiao could barely see anything. She groped her way around, following her memory.


    She crouched and felt around until she caught a whiff of something strange, something burnt.


    Had the fire reached here? Yu Xiao wondered and took a step back, only to bump into something behind her.


    Yu Xiao gasped and jumped to her feet. A cold hand snaked around her neck from behind. Yu Xiao tried to move away but hit a solid chest.


    The smell of burning surrounded her, and she knew instinctively who was behind her.


    ¡°Shen Chuan¡­ ugh.¡±


    The hand on her neck tightened, and Yu Xiao was left voiceless. She tried to resist, but the grip only increased, forcing her to cease her struggle.


    The person behind her remained silent and motionless.


    Yu Xiao stood there, pressed against him, feeling frozen in place for what seemed like an eternity. He gave no indication of life, causing her to grow restless. She wanted to say something, anything. Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    A faint pop by her ear made her pause, as something wet landed on her shoulder.


    Yu Xiao reached up to touch it, but found nothing there, just a damp spot.


    Damp?


    Was he crying?!


    The thought terrified her. Could Nightmare cry too? What on earth was he crying for?


    She wanted to look behind her, but before she could, the hand around her neck slid down and held her shoulder, trapping her in place. Another hand came up and covered her eyes gently.


    ¡°You were different from them.¡± Shen Chuan¡¯s voice was barely audible, and she wouldn¡¯t have heard him if the warehouse wasn¡¯t so quiet.


    ¡°I died in that room every time, in countless cycles. Sometimes they hacked me to death, sometimes they boiled me in a pot¡­ You were the first person to save me.¡±


    He rested his chin on her left shoulder, sounding sad. ¡°You were different, but I was wrong. You want to kill me too. You¡¯re no different from them.¡±


    Yu Xiao¡¯s throat tightened, and she said, ¡°Actually, I don¡¯t really want to kill you. How about this ¨C let¡¯s forget about all this unpleasantness, since I saved you once. I¡¯ll leave soon, and you¡¯ll never see me again¡­ Ouch! Stop pinching me, it¡¯s bloody painful.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve figured it out.¡±


    ¡°Really?¡± Yu Xiao said eagerly, ¡°That¡¯s good, that¡¯s good.¡±


    Shen Chuan said, ¡°You¡¯re not that good, but I still want to keep you.¡±


    She didn¡¯t know how to respond to that. There were too many things wrong with that sentence.


    ¡°You¡­¡± She chose to focus on the latter part, ¡°What if I don¡¯t want to stay?¡±


    His chin brushed against her shoulder, his mouth close to her ear. ¡°If you die, you¡¯ll have to stay forever.¡±


    The words were gentle, but they sent a chill down Yu Xiao¡¯s spine.


    She scrambled for a way out, and blurted, ¡°You can¡¯t keep me here, even if you kill me. Don¡¯t you know who I am? I¡¯m the director of St. Elizabeth. I have a job to do, even in death.¡±


    Shen Chuan paused behind her, as if puzzled by her logic. He pondered for a moment and said, ¡°Fine. I won¡¯t kill you.¡±


    Yu Xiao let out a sigh of relief and said, ¡°But I still can¡¯t remain here, even if I¡¯m alive.¡±


    ¡°You will stay here,¡± Shen Chuan said with certainty. ¡°All I have to do is kill Dr. Qu before she wakes up. Then she¡¯ll be trapped in the dream cycle forever, and you¡¯ll return to me.¡±


    Damn it! Yu Xiao cursed inwardly.


    ¡°You¡¯re insane!¡± she snapped, losing her patience. She pulled out a talisman and slapped it on Shen Chuan¡¯s body.


    But nothing happened. The talisman was useless.


    ¡°Forever trapped in the cycle, never to escape,¡± Shen Chuan said. ¡°I¡¯m a nightmare. Talismans have no power over me.¡±


    Yu Xiao was speechless. She had a thousand insults in her mind, but she couldn¡¯t voice them. She wished she could go back and punch Dr. Fan Xing in the face. That bastard Fan Xing had put her in this mess!


    She regretted being nice to the attending doctor. The attending doctor was a jerk. If you were rude to him, he¡¯d screw you over. If you were nice to him, he¡¯d screw you over even more!


    ¡°Do you think you can treat me however you like? You have no clue what I¡¯ve done to the ghosts who wronged me,¡± Yu Xiao attempted to sound tough.


    Shen Chuan disregarded her threats and asked, in a curious tone, ¡°Nightmare can manipulate fearful dreams. Everyone harbours fears within. What is your fear?¡±


    As he spoke, his hand moved downwards and touched Yu Xiao¡¯s chest.


    Yu Xiao gasped. ¡°What are you doing?¡±


    Shen Chuan¡¯s hand was resting on Yu Xiao¡¯s chest. He pushed slightly, and his hand passed through Yu Xiao¡¯s body.


    Yu Xiao¡¯s mind went blank for a moment. She could feel it. Shen Chuan¡¯s hand was inside her body, touching her beating heart.


    ¡°Let me see what you fear¡­¡±


    Yu Xiao closed her eyes and slowly drifted into sleep in Shen Chuan¡¯s arms.


    **


    The corridor smelled of bleach and disinfectant as slightly younger Yu Xiao tiptoed on the slick floor, her heart pounding in her chest. She reached the office door and pushed it open.


    A bald man in a white coat was sitting at a desk, his face grim. He looked up and saw her.


    ¡°Yu Xiao, right?¡± He glanced over her shoulder. ¡°Where are your parents? I told you to bring them along.¡±


    ¡°They split up when I was little. They don¡¯t give a damn about me,¡± Yu Xiao replied as she took a seat across from him. ¡°You can just tell me what¡¯s wrong.¡±


    The man frowned and sighed. ¡°Don¡¯t you have a friend who can support you?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t have many friends,¡± Yu Xiao said. ¡°Actually, I don¡¯t have any.¡±


    The man hesitated, and Yu Xiao cut to the chase. ¡°How bad is it?¡±


    He cleared his throat and said, ¡°We found a tumour in your brain, and¡­ we think it¡¯s cancerous.¡±


    Yu Xiao felt a cold sweat on her forehead. She forced herself to stay calm and asked, ¡°But cancer can be treated, right? I¡¯m young, so I have a better chance of survival, don¡¯t I?¡±


    He shook his head and pulled out a paper with a brain scan. He pointed at a dark spot. ¡°The issue is not the cancer itself, but¡­ see this? Your tumour is in a very challenging location. The surgery is too risky, almost impossible. We can only attempt conservative treatment.¡±


    ¡°And how likely is that to be successful?¡±


    He didn¡¯t respond; he just looked at her with pity.


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    (Her nightmare is her past reality, when she was sick with no hope and no friends. Now she not only has hope but, most importantly, two good friends!)

 Chapter 93: Coin of Badassness!

    Yu Xiao had never known a happy life, but she had always been a glass-half-full kind of girl. She dreamt of a bright future, of finishing her studies and starting her wonderful life. She never envisioned that her days would be cut short by a cruel disease, before she could finish her studies, before she could enjoy the fruits of her labour.


    The first days in the hospital were filled with confusion and disbelief. She racked her brain and struggled to make sense of her circumstances, questioning why she, a young and innocent person, had to endure such fate. But no answer came. Then she began the treatment, and the drugs wreaked havoc on her body. She endured headaches, nausea, and hunger. An old-timer in the ward warned her that this was nothing. The worst was yet to come.


    But Yu Xiao did not fear the pain. She clung to hope, a wish that she whispered every night before drifting into sleep. If only she could live, she would face any challenge, any sacrifice. She was ready to pay any price.


    **


    ¡°Smiley¡­¡±


    ¡°Smiley!¡±


    As Yu Xiao slowly blinked her eyes open, she was met by the anxious gazes of Zhao Lan and Zhou Xiao Zhen leaning over her.


    ¡°Smiley, you¡¯re awake!¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen exclaimed, running her hands over her friend¡¯s body. ¡°Are you hurt anywhere? We tried using the emergency healing talisman on you, but it didn¡¯t work. Misty said you were simply asleep, but you wouldn¡¯t respond to our calls, no matter how loudly we called out to you.¡±


    Yu Xiao felt a wave of confusion engulf her. She propped herself up, taking in the familiar surroundings of the warehouse.


    ¡°I¡­ had a dream,¡± she mumbled, then turned to them. ¡°How did you both get here?¡±


    Zhao Lan let out a sigh of relief when she realised she was safe. ¡°Do you remember when you transformed into Shen Chuan and advised us to leave? Well, shortly after that, we heard about the explosion at the lab. We regrouped with the others and fled from the research institute. However, on our way, we encountered Director Qu, who suffered a heart attack. Assuming the dream would end soon, we didn¡¯t attempt to search for you. Yet, even after we distanced ourselves from the research institute, nothing changed, and you were nowhere to be seen. Concerned that something had gone amiss, we returned to look for you.¡±


    Yu Xiao felt a surge of anger and pain at the mention of Shen Chuan. He had no intention of ending the dream, even after destroying the lab. She rubbed her temples, trying to ease the throbbing in her head, and asked, ¡°What did I look like when you found me?¡±


    Zhao Lan fixed her with a penetrating gaze and remarked, ¡°You were lying on the ground, almost as if in a deep slumber.¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen furrowed her brows, still perplexed. ¡°The lab was destroyed, so why didn¡¯t the dream stop?¡± Suddenly, her eyes brightened, and she exclaimed, ¡°Smiley, the Nightmare is dead, isn¡¯t he?¡±


    Yu Xiao: ¡°¡­¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s eyes sparkled as she gazed at Yu Xiao. ¡°We saw everything, Smiley. The surveillance footage. How you impersonated Shen Chuan and cleared the lab. How you torched the underground beast and rigged the experiment. How you slipped away before the real Shen Chuan showed up. How the lab went up in flames, taking him with it.¡± She raised her thumb in admiration. ¡°Brilliant. Absolutely brilliant. A masterstroke of genius. You¡¯re my hero, Smiley. You¡¯re the best.¡±


    Yu Xiao felt a sour taste in her mouth. ¡°¡­¡±


    Zhao Lan frowned, noticing Yu Xiao¡¯s grimace. ¡°Did we get something wrong?¡±


    Yu Xiao shook her head. ¡°No, you got it all right. Except for one thing. Shen Chuan didn¡¯t die.¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen gasped. ¡°What? He survived that blast?¡±


    He did more than survive. He had the nerve to come and talk to her.


    ¡°Where¡¯s Director Qu?¡± Yu Xiao asked, worried that Shen Chuan might harm her. She had to protect Director Qu at all costs.


    ¡°She¡¯s in the hospital of the underground base,¡± Zhao Lan answered. ¡°This place is too remote from civilization. We can¡¯t risk moving her. She needs immediate care.¡±


    Yu Xiao nodded and stood up. ¡°Let¡¯s go then. We need to find Director Qu.¡±


    Yu Xiao was now a wanted criminal, but the research institute was in such disarray that no one paid attention to her. The three of them dashed out, but before they could locate Director Qu, the entire underground base trembled violently.


    Screams echoed everywhere. ¡°Earthquake!!¡±


    Cars roared to life, trying to escape. Being underground during an earthquake was a nightmare. If the mountain collapsed, they would all be buried alive.


    The earth shook again, louder than before, and the screams rose to a crescendo. Yu Xiao wondered if this was how the dream was meant to play out, or if they had just drawn the short straw. Either way, they were trapped. The cars in front of them were crushed by falling debris, blocking the only exit.


    ¡°Bad news!¡± someone shouted. ¡°We¡¯re trapped!¡±


    Yu Xiao felt a surge of adrenaline. She grabbed the hands of Zhou Xiao Zhen and Zhao Lan, and sprinted towards the base hospital.


    ¡°This is too thrilling.¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen gasped as they dodged the boulders that rained from the ceiling. ¡°I swear, I¡¯m never watching disaster movies again. They¡¯re nothing compared to this. This is real. This is hell¡­¡±


    ¡°Hurry!¡± Yu Xiao spotted the hospital sign and tugged her friends along. They burst through the doors.


    The hospital was chaotic. Patients and staff ran around in panic, some wounded, some crying, some praying. The lights flickered ominously, then went out. Darkness surrounded them, occasionally interrupted by sparks and flashes.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen fumbled with her phone and turned on the flashlight. Zhao Lan and Yu Xiao did the same. They scanned the dimly lit hall, looking for a familiar face.


    ¡°Where is Director Qu¡¯s ward?¡± Zhao Lan asked, spotting a doctor who was cowering against the wall.


    The doctor looked at them with a blank expression. He trembled as he spoke. ¡°Director Qu? We don¡¯t have a director with that name here.¡±


    Yu Xiao rolled her eyes. ¡°Not a hospital director, a patient. Qu Xiao. She was admitted recently for a heart attack. Where is she?¡±


    The doctor seemed to remember. ¡°Oh, her¡­¡±


    Director Qu had been suffering from a heart condition, but miraculously, the earthquake seemed to have cured it. She would have bolted out of the hospital bed if the nurse hadn¡¯t held her back with a stern warning. As she finally calmed down, the door burst open with a loud bang. Yu Xiao and her crew stormed in.


    ¡°Director Qu!¡±


    The nurse had been using her phone¡¯s flashlight to find a vein for the needle, but the abrupt interruption startled her. She jabbed the needle into Director Qu¡¯s arm without aiming.


    Director Qu rolled her eyes, her face contorted in disbelief. ¡°Oh~,¡± she let out a sour and satisfying sigh.


    Gasping and shrieking, the nurse exclaimed, ¡°What are you doing?¡±


    ¡°Director Qu doesn¡¯t require treatment.¡± Zhao Lan approached and firmly pushed the nurse aside. ¡°Please leave.¡±


    The nurse stood no chance against Zhao Lan¡¯s strong physique and was effortlessly pushed out of the room. Panic-stricken, the nurse shouted, ¡°The needle! The needle is still in her arm!¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry,¡± Yu Xiao said as she plucked the needle out with a gentle tug.


    Director Qu watched the blood spurt out of her arm like a miniature geyser. She glared at Yu Xiao and asked, ¡°Tell me the truth, are you actually an angel of death in disguise?¡±


    ¡°What are you talking about?¡± Yu Xiao scolded. ¡°Actually, I¡¯m an angel of life in disguise.¡±


    Yu Xiao¡¯s fingers dug into Qu Xiao¡¯s shoulder, jolting her out of her trance. ¡°Qu Xiao, listen to me,¡± she said urgently and gravely. ¡°This is all a dream. You need to wake up now.¡±


    Director Qu blinked as a surge of d¨¦j¨¤ vu washed over her. Where had she heard this before?


    ¡°Doesn¡¯t this sound familiar to you?¡± Yu Xiao demanded, locking her gaze with hers. ¡°I¡¯m not the only one who said it to you, am I? That¡¯s because deep down, you know this isn¡¯t real.¡±


    Director Qu opened her mouth, but no words emerged. A cold sweat formed on her forehead.


    ¡°Close your eyes and concentrate,¡± Yu Xiao said, squeezing her hand as if trying to anchor her to reality. ¡°Can you remember your childhood memories?¡±


    Director Qu nodded slowly. ¡°I can.¡±


    ¡°What about before you turned three? Do you recall anything from then?¡±


    Director Qu shook her head, confused. Who could remember that far back? Was this some kind of test?


    ¡°Wake up, Qu Xiao. Wake up,¡± Yu Xiao pleaded. ¡°There are people out there who love you and miss you. Your fianc¨¦ Fan Xing has been waiting for you for years. How can you let him waste his life by your bedside, while you¡¯re trapped in this nightmare?¡±


    Director Qu felt a pang in her chest. Fan Xing¡­why did that name sound so familiar? Did she really know him? Was he truly her fianc¨¦? Was she really dreaming?


    A scream pierced the air, snapping her attention to the window. Director Qu gasped, ¡°What¡¯s happening out there?¡±


    The door creaked as Zhao Lan opened it a crack. She peered into the darkness of the corridor, where only the sound of distant screams pierced the silence. Holding her phone in front of her, she cast a feeble light that barely reached the walls. A huge tentacle whipped past the corner, making her gasp and slam the door shut.


    Locking eyes with Yu Xiao, who had followed her to the door, they exchanged a look of horror and disbelief.


    Tiptoeing back to the others who were huddled around the bed where Director Qu lay, they lowered their voices to a whisper.


    ¡°What did you see?¡± Yu Xiao asked.


    ¡°A monster,¡± Zhao Lan said. ¡°It¡¯s out there.¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen swore under her breath. ¡°How is that possible? Smiley, you said you blew up the lab. How did the monster survive?¡±


    Director Qu stirred on the bed, her eyes wide and curious. ¡°What are you talking about? What¡¯s happening outside?¡±


    Zhao Lan bit her lip. ¡°We have a problem. If she sees the monster, this dream will turn into a nightmare.¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen clenched her fists. ¡°I¡¯m not afraid of it. I¡¯ll go out and fight it.¡±


    Yu Xiao shook her head. ¡°Are you crazy? You don¡¯t have to fight it. Just don¡¯t let her see it. That¡¯s all that matters.¡±


    She turned to Director Qu and forced a smile. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, it¡¯s nothing serious. Just some troublemakers in the hospital. Nothing to do with us.¡±


    Director Qu frowned, unconvinced. ¡°Are you sure? It doesn¡¯t sound like nothing.¡±


    ¡°It is.¡± Yu Xiao¡¯s voice was firm as she brought her hand down in a swift chop, knocking Director Qu unconscious. She spun around and said, ¡°Now she won¡¯t see anything.¡±


    ¡°Brilliant!¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen flashed a thumbs up, ¡°What¡¯s our next move?¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s get her out of here.¡± Yu Xiao hoisted Director Qu over her shoulder, ¡°The nightmare of this dream is the underground creature. Once we bring her above ground, everything will be fine.¡±


    With the hospital now filled with monsters, they had no choice but to escape through the window. Yu Xiao and her companions sprinted as fast as they could until they unexpectedly ran into Tan Qiao Yin and the rest of the group.


    ¡°Thank goodness!¡± The others exclaimed, relieved to see them, ¡°We¡¯ve been searching for you.¡±


    With everyone together, they felt more confident. Tan Qiao Yin said, ¡°There are monsters everywhere, and we have no idea where they came from. Yu Xiao, do you still have that item that can harm them?¡±


    Yu Xiao reached into her pocket and pulled out the Coin of Great Observation 2.0, a coin with mysterious powers. But before she could explain, a huge tentacle emerged from the shadows. Zhao Lan screamed, ¡°Watch out!¡±


    Yu Xiao reacted on instinct, hurling the Coin of Great Observation 2.0 at the tentacle.


    They all dived to the ground, dodging the attack. The coin bounced on the floor, rolled twice, and settled in the dust.


    Yu Xiao scrambled to pick up the coin and examined it under the light. A shiver ran down her spine; it was the reverse side!


    She felt two pairs of hands lifting her up, one from each side. Zhao Lan snapped, ¡°Are you daft? Why were you lying on the ground like that?¡±


    Tan Qiao Yin¡¯s anger flared up; she retorted, ¡°Who are you calling daft? What¡¯s your relationship with Yu Xiao? What gives you the right to call her daft?¡±


    Zhao Lan shot a venomous look at Yu Xiao, and said mockingly, ¡°What¡¯s my relationship with her? I shared a bed with her!¡± She turned to Tan Qiao Yin and added, ¡°Yu Xiao, you¡¯re quite the charmer. You barely know her, and yet you can make her care about you so much?¡±


    ©¤©¤©¤ ? ©¤©¤ ¡î ©¤©¤ ? ©¤©¤©¤


    S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 94: New Titles

    Before Yu Xiao could utter a syllable, Tan Qiao Yin snatched her by the collar. Her eyes were wild and furious as she hissed, ¡°Tell me the truth. Did you do it with her?¡±


    Yu Xiao sputtered, ¡°I¡­¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s true, all right!¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen swaggered over, clutching Yu Xiao and Zhao Lan¡¯s hands like a trophy. She shot a defiant look at Tan Qiao Yin. ¡°You should have seen me that night. We weren¡¯t alone in bed, if you catch my drift.¡±


    ¡°Enough!¡± Yu Xiao wrenched herself away from Tan Qiao Yin¡¯s grip. ¡°All of you, just shut the hell up!¡±


    The others fell silent, then erupted in a chorus of pointing fingers and angry voices. ¡°You¡¯re the one who should shut up!¡±


    Yu Xiao wilted, ¡°¡­¡±


    Ma Shan scowled at the scene, biting back his anger. ¡°This is not the time or place for this. And besides¡­ you¡¯re all women, for God¡¯s sake. Is this really worth fighting over?¡±


    Zhu Miao Miao, normally the peacemaker, bristled. ¡°What¡¯s that supposed to mean? You think Smiley only has eyes for men? Had she even glanced your way, stinky boy?


    ¡°Smiley?¡± Zhao Lan sneered at Yu Xiao. ¡°How cute. I thought I was the only one who got to call her that.¡±


    Yu Xiao felt her throat go dry, her heart sink. ¡°Please, can we act like normal people? We¡¯re in danger here.¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen spat, ¡°Who are you to beg? Misty and I have been backing you up all this time, keeping you on the throne. And this is how you repay us¡­¡±


    Yu Xiao rubbed her temples, feeling a headache coming on. She had had enough of this madness. She would rather take on five Nightmare by herself than endure this torture again.


    If only she didn¡¯t have to face Director Qu later, she would have knocked them all out by now.


    ¡°Will you all kindly shut your bloody gobs?¡± Yu Xiao had a low tolerance for hysterics, but she was on the verge of a meltdown herself. ¡°Bugger me sideways!¡±


    The bickering bunch went quiet, gawking at her with wide eyes.


    ¡°One more peep from any of you, and I swear to God¡­¡± Yu Xiao waved her hand vaguely at the shadowy beast that lurked in the dark. ¡°I¡¯ll feed myself to the bloody thing!¡±


    That did the trick.


    Zhao Lan muttered, ¡°You know I can¡¯t live without you, so why do you have to go and blackmail me with your life?¡±


    ¡°Jesus¡­¡± Yu Xiao whirled around, ignoring the moan of Director Qu on her back and sprinted. ¡°Come on!¡±


    They darted through the darkness, evading one assault after another until they reached the exit of the underground base. The way out was sealed by a pile of rubble, and workers were risking their lives to clear it.


    Yu Xiao laid down Director Qu and told Zhou Xiao Zhen, ¡°You watch her. We¡¯ll help with the digging.¡±


    ¡°Hmph.¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen accepted Director Qu with a bitter curl of her lips. ¡°Don¡¯t fret, I won¡¯t let her kick the bucket.¡±


    Yu Xiao had had enough of these snippy maniacs. She turned her back, picked up a tool from the ground, and started digging with clenched teeth.


    Most of them had used strength cards, digging at a speed of ten to one.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen sat next to Director Qu, looking up at Yu Xiao with a blend of awe and annoyance. Sometimes she grinned, sometimes she gnashed her teeth. Smiley was brilliant at everything, maybe too brilliant. It was her brilliance that attracted so many bees to her honey. She could have put up with just Zhao Lan, but she didn¡¯t anticipate this many folks this time.


    But it was fine, she convinced herself. Once they escaped the instance, Smiley would be hers again. No, hang on, there was still Zhao Lan¡­


    Her mind wrestled with conflicting thoughts, unaware of someone nearing her. sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    In the corner of her eye, Zhou Xiao Zhen spotted a pair of immaculate shoes. She turned her head and saw a tall, slender man. Looking up, she met Shen Chuan¡¯s gaze, his eyes deep and pensive as he watched Yu Xiao dig away with zeal.


    Terror paralysed Zhou Xiao Zhen, silencing her scream. She watched Shen Chuan approach with his head bowed, resembling a predator stalking its prey. Clinging to Director Qu, she hoped to flee, but her legs refused to obey. Shen Chuan halted three steps away from her, his eyes gleaming with malice. To her horror, she felt her hands move on their own, tightening around Director Qu¡¯s neck.


    Fear fuelled this nightmare, and the more she felt it, the stronger it grew.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s fingers dug into Director Qu¡¯s neck, squeezing the life out of her. Her face turned from red to purple, her eyes bulging. Zhou Xiao Zhen felt the sweat drip from her forehead, but she was powerless to stop.


    Yu Xiao, who had been busy digging the soil, sensed something wrong. She turned and saw the gruesome scene.


    ¡°Stop!¡± She shouted, dropping her tools and running towards Shen Chuan.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen heard Yu Xiao¡¯s voice and managed to croak, ¡°Smiley, I can¡¯t control myself.¡±


    Yu Xiao glared at Shen Chuan, ¡°What are you doing, you bastard?¡±


    Shen Chuan¡¯s eyes were a mirror of Ripley¡¯s, full of longing and hatred. ¡°I want you to stay with me.¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t stay!¡± Yu Xiao snapped, trying to keep her anger in check. ¡°Are you that lonely? You¡¯re a nightmare. There are countless dreams out there, can¡¯t you find someone else to play with?¡±


    ¡°They¡¯re all fake,¡± Shen Chuan said. ¡°I don¡¯t like any of them.¡±


    ¡°Smiley,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen sobbed, ¡°Director Qu is dying.¡±


    ¡°You¡­¡± Yu Xiao gritted her teeth, ¡°Let her go, we can talk.¡±


    Shen Chuan didn¡¯t move, but Zhou Xiao Zhen felt her grip loosen slightly.


    ¡°You want me to stay with you, right?¡± Yu Xiao pointed at herself.


    Shen Chuan nodded, pursed his lips.


    ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll do it,¡± Yu Xiao said, moving closer. ¡°But not here.¡±


    Shen Chuan frowned, ¡°You¡¯re lying to me.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not lying,¡± Yu Xiao said, looking into his eyes with the most sincere expression she could muster. ¡°Remember what I told you? I¡¯m the director of St. Elizabeth¡¯s and also an inspector for the health bureau. If I leave, I can secure a job for you at St. Elizabeth¡¯s. You could be my secretary. This way, you would be able to see me whenever you want, and you wouldn¡¯t have to continue dying repeatedly in nightmares.¡±


    Shen Chuan stared at her, hesitating. What Yu Xiao said sounded enticing, but he still harboured doubts.


    Shen Chuan stubbornly clutched Yu Xiao¡¯s arm. ¡°You promise, right? You swear you¡¯ll get me out.¡±


    Yu Xiao lifted her hand, curling her pinkie finger. ¡°I promise, cross my heart. This is how we humans seal our vows, you see. We link our little fingers like this.¡±


    Shen Chuan looked at her hand with curiosity, then copied her gesture, wrapping his pinkie around hers.


    ¡°No going back on the hook for a century,¡± Yu Xiao said, swinging their linked fingers gently before letting go. She flashed him a reassuring smile. ¡°Trust me, I won¡¯t leave you behind. As soon as I¡¯m out of here, I¡¯ll come back for you.¡±


    ¡°Okay,¡± Shen Chuan said, nodding slowly. He kept his eyes on Yu Xiao. ¡°I¡¯ll wait for you.¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen breathed a sigh of relief. She could finally move her limbs.


    A triumphant yell came from the exit. Ma Shan¡¯s voice boomed, ¡°We¡¯ve made it!¡±


    The exit was barely a crack in the wall, but it was big enough for one person to squeeze through. Yu Xiao slung Director Qu over her shoulder and headed towards the exit with Zhou Xiao Zhen. She paused after a few steps and turned around, calling out to Shen Chuan, ¡°Wait for me!¡±


    She sprinted towards the exit, leaving a trail of dust behind her. The others crowded around the narrow opening.


    Yu Xiao said, ¡°Precious, you go first. I¡¯ll stay here and help Director Qu.¡±


    ¡°Okay,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen said, and wormed her way into the crack.


    Zhao Lan also spotted Shen Chuan. She wondered why he just stood there, watching them go.


    ¡°What¡¯s his deal?¡± Zhao Lan whispered, ¡°Why did you tell him to wait for you? What does that mean?¡±


    ¡°Shh,¡± Yu Xiao said, ¡°I¡¯ll tell you later.¡±


    They crawled out of the crack and escaped the underground base. Outside, they were greeted by a swarm of rescuers, who rushed them to the ambulances.


    Director Qu was lying on a hospital bed, while the rest of them, filthy and exhausted, sat in a car.


    ¡°We did it,¡± Ma Shan said, sounding relieved. ¡°That was the worst dungeon I¡¯ve ever been in. So confusing, so annoying. I need a holiday after this.¡±


    A smile crept onto Yu Xiao¡¯s face, and soon it spread to the others, who shared her relief and exhilaration of escaping the instance.


    Zhu Miao Miao broke the silence with a sudden demand. ¡°Smiley, give me your number.¡±


    The mood shifted abruptly, as if a cold shower had doused them all. Zhao Lan and Zhou Xiao Zhen moved closer to Yu Xiao, forming a protective barrier, and shot daggers at Zhu Miao Miao. ¡°What do you need Smiley¡¯s number for? We¡¯re parting ways as soon as we leave this instance. We¡¯ll never cross paths again.¡±


    Zhu Miao Miao¡¯s lip quivered, and her eyes glistened with unshed tears. She stared at Yu Xiao with a wounded expression. ¡°And you? What do you want? Do you really wish to forget me forever?¡±


    Yu Xiao gave no sign of emotion, as still and silent as a stone.


    Tan Qiao Yin snarled, ¡°I can¡¯t believe you¡¯re so cold-hearted. If you never cared about me, why did you bother me in the first place?¡±


    Yu Xiao wondered, when did I ever bother you? But she knew it was pointless to argue with them now; they were under the influence of the Coin of Great Observation 2.0. She had brought this upon herself by activating the coin. She had no choice but to endure, keep quiet, and hope for the coin¡¯s effects to wear off, or for them to leave the instance.


    Just then, Director Qu, who had lain motionless for so long, stirred. She opened her eyes and saw Yu Xiao.


    ¡°Yu Xiao?¡± Director Qu hissed. ¡°Why did you knock me out?¡±


    Yu Xiao was about to answer when she noticed Director Qu¡¯s sorrowful gaze. ¡°You could have asked me for anything. I would have given you everything. Why did you have to knock me out?¡±


    Yu Xiao said nothing.


    She had forgotten; Director Qu was on her back when the Coin of Great Observation 2.0 took effect, even though she was unconscious then.


    ¡°Where is this?¡± Director Qu finally realised that she was no longer in the underground base, and her face drained of colour. ¡°How did I get out?¡±


    ¡°An earthquake caused the base to collapse, and everyone was evacuated,¡± Yu Xiao explained. ¡°The entire base is buried in the mountains, everything inside destroyed. It¡¯ll take who knows how long to rebuild.¡±


    Director Qu¡¯s face twisted in agony, as if each word from Yu Xiao was a stab in her heart. She clutched her chest, gasping for air, and collapsed, mumbling, ¡°No¡­ this can¡¯t be¡­ I don¡¯t want this¡­¡±


    As Director Qu lost consciousness again, darkness engulfed Yu Xiao and the others. Yu Xiao opened her eyes after an unknown amount of time.


    She found herself back in the familiar intensive care unit. Fan Xing held Yu Xiao¡¯s hand, a smile of gratitude on his face. ¡°Congratulations, you¡¯ve successfully awakened Dr. Qu. Thank you, your actions saved countless lives.¡±


    Yu Xiao managed a smile, barely lifting the corners of her mouth. ¡°Can we leave now?¡±


    ¡°Of course,¡± Fan Xing took out a bottle of pills from his pocket. ¡°These are developed by Dr. Qu and can cure any illness. Once you take them, you can leave the hospital.¡±


    Yu Xiao glanced at Dr. Qu still lying in bed and thought, you¡¯ve already developed the medicine before she even woke up? Isn¡¯t that a bit rushed?


    After all seven took the pills, before leaving, Zhu Miao Miao embraced Yu Xiao tightly, sobbing on her shoulder.


    Tan Qiao Yin shouted, ¡°Yu Xiao, don¡¯t you dare forget me! My name is Tan Qiao Yin, and I¡¯ll haunt you in your dreams!¡±


    Yu Xiao rolled her eyes, ignoring the annoying voice. Zhou Xiao Zhen, however, was not so patient. ¡°Who cares about you! Smiley won¡¯t give you a second glance!¡±


    As seven people vanished from the ICU, Fan Xing felt a surge of relief. He had finally gotten rid of that troublesome woman. The hospital was a complete mess; they had actually let a patient run the show, acting as the director and the inspector. How could any doctor work under such conditions?


    Fan Xing walked over to the bedside and gently shook the person on the bed. ¡°Hey, are you awake yet?¡±


    The woman on the bed blinked, and the first thing she saw was a handsome face.


    ¡°Fan Xing?¡±


    ¡°Still dreaming?¡± Fan Xing asked, ¡°You¡¯ve been sleeping for so long, but surely you haven¡¯t forgotten me.¡±


    ¡°My fianc¨¦, Fan Xing?¡± The woman on the bed exclaimed, tears in her eyes. ¡°I¡¯m awake, you can finally stop wasting your life by my side.¡±


    Fan Xing: ¡°???¡±


    **


    Back in the familiar ward, all the negative effects from the instance faded away. Yu Xiao breathed deeply, feeling a sense of homecoming. Everything in the ward was so cosy and comforting.


    ¡°Mmm¡­¡±


    A weird noise came from next to her prompting Yu Xiao to turn to see Zhou Xiao Zhen squirming on the bed, holding the pillow tightly.


    ¡°Precious¡­¡±


    ¡°Stop! Stop talking to me.¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen snapped, ¡°I can¡¯t stand your voice right now. It reminds me of what happened in the instance¡­¡±


    Oh, Yu Xiao thought, so you¡¯re embarrassed too. You have no idea how much I suffered then. She glanced at Zhao Lan, who quickly averted her gaze, muttering, ¡°Smiley, don¡¯t look at me, I¡­¡±


    She suddenly remembered that she had declared that ¡°Smiley¡± was her special nickname and nobody else can use it.


    ¡°¡­¡±. Zhao Lan also curled up on the bed, hiding her face in the blanket, unable to face reality.


    How humiliating, how could she utter such cringeworthy words? Even if she had lost her mind, she shouldn¡¯t have acted like that, right?


    ¡°I can explain.¡± Yu Xiao said softly, ¡°There¡¯s a reason why you all behaved like this.¡±


    ¡°Not now.¡± Zhao Lan, lying on the bed, lifted a hand, ¡°Give me some time to process¡­¡±


    Alright, Yu Xiao was a compassionate person. She made herself a cup of tea first and then checked her messages on her phone. Before doing that, she replayed her actions in the instance, feeling a nagging discomfort. But some things had to be confronted, so she bravely opened the message.


    A series of notifications popped up on her screen.


    ¡¾Well done, you¡¯ve survived your fifth therapy session. You¡¯ve been promoted to level six in the Sixth Hospital¡¯s patient exchange forum. Aren¡¯t you lucky?¡¿


    ¡¾Your performance in the treatment was so impressive, we decided to give you 3 basic points and 3 bonus points.¡¿


    ¡¾Congratulations on earning the title of ¡®Thief of the Sea King¡¯s Heart,¡¯ which gives you another 4 points. How romantic.¡¿


    Yu Xiao frowned. Thief of the Sea King¡¯s Heart? What did that even mean? She tried to recall what she had done in the dungeon that could have earned her such a dubious honour, but came up blank. It must have been a glitch in the Coin of Great Observation 2.0. She didn¡¯t steal anything from anyone, let alone a Sea King.


    She sighed and shook her head. She had grown used to these weird titles by now, and they didn¡¯t bother her as much as they used to. The only thing that mattered was whether they were useful or not. If this one was useless, she would have to share a bed as Yan Kuan with Precious.


    But maybe it wasn¡¯t so bad. Maybe it was a good title. After all, it was just a Sea King. How important could he be?


    ¡¾Congratulations on earning the title: ¡®Deceptive B*tch Who Toys with Hearts¡¯, with 4 more points.¡¿


    Yu Xiao gasped. That was harsh. But she couldn¡¯t deny it. She had lied to Shen Chuan, and she knew it. She had made him a false promise, telling him that she would take him away from this hellhole and make him the secretary of Saint Elizabeth Hospital. That was a blatant lie. Only someone like Shen Chuan, who had never experienced the horrors of the nine-year compulsory education system, would fall for it. Any teenager who had graduated from junior high would see through her childish deception.


    Yu Xiao shrugged. She didn¡¯t care. She accepted the title and moved on.


    ¡¾Congratulations on earning the title: ¡®Nightmare¡¯s Affection,¡¯ with another 4 points. You¡¯re on a roll.¡¿


    ¡°¡­¡±


    The only silver lining in her dismal situation was that she had amassed over five hundred points, leaving the rest of the miserable lot in Sixth Hospital in the dust.


    ¡¾ Well done, you¡¯ve topped the points board. You¡¯ve earned yourself two reward cards. Pop over to the forum to claim them. ¡¿


    Yu Xiao tapped into the backend and retrieved a copy card and an upgrade card.


    A copy card? This was a novelty. She perused the description. The copy card could replicate any card she or someone else possessed, no questions asked.


    Blimey, that was a nifty thing!


    What if she could get her hands on a prop card like the one Precious had snagged the first time, and make a duplicate of it? Would she end up with something as splendid as a mahjong set?


    Yu Xiao felt a surge of excitement. She was itching to test it out immediately.


    But prop cards were scarce as hen¡¯s teeth. They had gone through countless instances, and only two prop cards had materialised.


    As for the upgrade card, it was clearly meant for the Coin of Great Observation 2.0. The last upgrade had done little to improve the coin¡¯s performance. She hoped that this time, another upgrade would transform the Coin of Great Observation into something more useful.


    ¡¾Please select the item you wish to upgrade. A. Sunglasses. B. Wig. C. Coin.¡¿


    Yu Xiao opted for C, and the screen erupted with fireworks more dazzling than ever. They went on for a whole minute. When they subsided, Yu Xiao noticed that her Coin of Great Observation had changed colour. Instead of looking like some old copper coin, it was now translucent green, as if it was made of jade.


    ¡¾Coin of Great Observation 3.0: Can predict fortunes. Face up means good luck, can unleash heaven and hell on all humans and ghosts within a ten-metre radius. Face down means bad luck, everyone and their dog within ten metres will be hopelessly obsessed with you. Cooldown time one hour.¡¿


    Yu Xiao: ¡°¡­¡±


    Was there something wrong with her eyes?


    Yu Xiao felt a surge of annoyance, another common sensation in her miserable life. Why did the Coin of Great Observation¡¯s effects get more horrifying with each upgrade? Possessive desire¡­ everyone and everything¡­


    Yu Xiao¡¯s scalp crawled. All of a sudden, she grasped why Luo Jin had pawned off the Coin of Great Observation on her. It wasn¡¯t just because the coin suited her needs, but also because the coin was a bloody nightmare. Luo Jin must have been over the moon to swap her talismans for the Coin of Great Observation, right?


    Yu Xiao briefly considered calling Luo Jin and giving him an earful, but then decided against it. He seemed immune to scolding, the cheeky bastard. She would have to make him pay; her talismans would cost him and Lu Xun an arm and a leg from now on!


    Zhao Lan and Zhou Xiao Zhen recovered quickly. Zhou Xiao Zhen was the first to perk up, as she had a sudden epiphany. If she pretended that Smiley was a young Leonardo DiCaprio and she had said those things to him, it wouldn¡¯t be so bad. In fact, it could be quite fun.


    With that in mind, Zhou Xiao Zhen sprang out of bed and asked the question that was burning in her mind. ¡°What¡¯s your title this time?¡±


    She hoped fervently that Smiley¡¯s title would be something bad, so she could sleep with her dreamboat.


    ¡°It¡¯s very good,¡± Yu Xiao said with a strained smile. ¡°Sorry to let you down.¡±


    ¡°Ah,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen deflated, crestfallen. ¡°By the way, Smiley, how did this happen to us?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s the side effect of the Coin of Great Observation,¡± Yu Xiao explained, holding up the now blue Coin. ¡°You remember that I upgraded it last time, right? Well, I didn¡¯t mention the side effects of the upgrade. Whenever I toss the Coin of Great Observation, if the reverse side lands up, people within ten metres will experience conflicting emotions towards me.¡±


    ¡°That explains it!¡± Zhao Lan exclaimed, leaping out of bed, ¡°I was wondering why I suddenly had this irresistible urge to jump you, and then felt like nagging you to death. So, that¡¯s the reason.¡±


    Zhao Lan shrugged it off. She walked over, grabbed the Coin of Great Observation, and asked, ¡°When we were in the instance before, you said something to Shen Chuan. What did you mean by that?¡±


    ¡°I heard it,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen chimed in. ¡°Smiley agreed to let the Nightmare come to Saint Elizabeth and be his secretary. The Nightmare won¡¯t bother us anymore.¡±


    ¡°Really?¡± Zhao Lan queried. ¡°Are you actually going to have the Nightmare as your secretary?¡±


    ¡°Of course not,¡± Yu Xiao thought, do I have a death wish? ¡°I lied to him. I¡¯m never going back to that instance, and I¡¯ll never see him again. Lying to him didn¡¯t cost me anything.¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen felt a twinge of pity for the Nightmare, for some reason.


    Zhao Lan nodded sagely. ¡°Ah, yeah, that makes sense.¡± Lying was wrong, of course, but Nightmare wasn¡¯t human. They were fair game for deception.


    She changed the subject casually. ¡°Oh, by the way, Precious, your title this time isn¡¯t bad, right? Can I see it?¡± She tapped on her phone to open her text messages, then froze in horror.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Yu Xiao leaned over with curiosity, trying to catch a glimpse.


    Zhao Lan yanked her phone away. She felt a surge of sympathy for Yu Xiao, who had been so upset about her title earlier.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Yu Xiao repeated, sensing something was off. ¡°Could it be, Misty, your title¡­¡±


    Zhao Lan shut her eyes and nodded miserably.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen waved her phone in the air. ¡°What¡¯s your title?¡± she asked eagerly. ¡°Mine¡¯s super weird, it says ¡®Jealous Woman Causing Trouble,¡¯ what¡¯s yours? It can¡¯t be worse than mine, right?¡±


    Zhao Lan glanced at her, and after a long pause, she muttered, ¡°Not worse than yours, but¡­ not much better either.¡±


    ¡°Really?¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen scooted closer to take a look, and gasped. ¡°Wow~ Misty, you¡¯re a ¡®Sharp-Tongued Woman¡¯.¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡± Yu Xiao blinked, then burst into laughter. ¡°Hahaha¡­¡±


    Zhao Lan glared at her. ¡°What are you laughing at?¡± She lunged for Yu Xiao¡¯s phone. ¡°Let me see your title!¡±


    Yu Xiao clutched her phone tightly, and the three of them tussled for it until Zhou Xiao Zhen managed to grab Yu Xiao¡¯s hand.


    ¡°Let me see, let me see Smiley¡¯s title¡­ ¡®Deceptive B*tch Who Toys with Hearts¡¯? Ahahaha¡­¡±


    ©¤©¤©¤ ? ©¤©¤ ¡î ©¤©¤ ? ©¤©¤©¤

 Chapter 95: We Have an Urgent Announcement

    They were all still in bed the next morning. Even Zhao Lan, who usually had the self-control of a drill sergeant to wake up before dawn and do her morning exercises, couldn¡¯t bring herself to get up. S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Because today was the day of their doom. The day when the whole world would know that the Sixth Hospital was a freak show. How else could anyone explain the bizarre titles that had been bestowed upon them?


    Zhou Xiao Zhen and Yu Xiao had spent half the night bickering over whether Yu Xiao¡¯s titles were cool or not.


    Yu Xiao insisted that her titles were brilliant, but Zhou Xiao Zhen thought they were ridiculous. They argued until their throats were sore, but neither of them would budge. Zhao Lan proposed a compromise: they would wait until the morning news was over and then check the online forums of the Fourth and Sixth Hospitals together. If the majority of people agreed that Yu Xiao¡¯s titles were weird, then Yu Xiao would have to keep her word and transform into a handsome man for Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s pleasure.


    They all woke up early, but none of them made a move to get out of bed. They lay there, tangled in the sheets, until the clock struck eight.


    ¡°Ding!¡±


    The eight o¡¯clock reminder was as punctual as ever.


    Soft music filled the air, and Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s mind wandered to the possibilities of Yu Xiao¡¯s makeover. She had so many handsome men to choose from; it was hard to decide.


    The radio announcer¡¯s voice interrupted her thoughts:


    ¡°Good morning, everyone~ It¡¯s time for the morning news.¡±


    ¡°The patient known as ¡®Flying to Someone Else¡¯s Bed¡¯ from the Second Hospital has maintained his top position, let¡¯s give him a big round of applause. This patient has shown remarkable progress during his treatment and has earned the prestigious title of ¡®Cat-Faced Old Lady¡¯s Husband,¡¯ let¡¯s congratulate him once more.¡±


    ¡°Ha¡­¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen snorted. ¡°This guy is really asking for it, isn¡¯t he?¡±


    Yu Xiao felt a surge of relief. With this guy at the bottom of the list, her titles didn¡¯t seem so bad anymore.


    ¡°¡­ Recently, the hospital has been celebrating many happy events, with several external patients getting married to our staff members. The hospital management would like to remind everyone that marriage is a serious and sacred commitment, a lifelong decision. Please think carefully and don¡¯t let love blind you, leading to irreversible mistakes¡­¡±


    ¡°Oh my.¡± Zhao Lan couldn¡¯t help but comment. ¡°I have a feeling that this is all your fault, Yu Xiao.¡±


    Yu Xiao denied it. ¡°What does that have to do with me? They¡¯re the ones who are crazy.¡±


    ¡°¡­ Yesterday, the mortuary renovation project was almost finished and will be operational soon. The mortuary¡¯s attending doctor, Dr. Gu, has been suspended for three months for negligence. This should serve as a warning to all medical staff. The competition for hospital positions is fierce, so cherish every opportunity¡­¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen couldn¡¯t wrap her head around the situation. ¡°This Gu Shu is unbelievable,¡± she said, tossing her hair. ¡°So what if there was a little accident? It¡¯s not the end of the world. Do we really have to make such a fuss about it? What¡¯s the worst that could happen to the attending doctor? He¡¯ll have to look for a new job as a ghost ward round examiner at the Sixth Hospital?¡±


    Yu Xiao stared blankly at her friend. She hoped Zhou Xiao Zhen was joking, because if that was true, Yu Xiao would never get a good night¡¯s sleep again.


    The radio droned on:


    ¡°¡­ Attention, attention. The Sixth Hospital¡¯s inpatient department has an opening for a ghost ward round examiner. Anyone can apply, regardless of gender, age, or qualifications¡­¡±


    ¡°¡­ Meanwhile, at the Fourth Hospital, the patient known as ¡®I¡¯m Not Easy to Mess With¡¯ has made remarkable improvements during their treatment and has earned the distinguished title of ¡®Falling in Love with the Wrong Person.¡¯ Let¡¯s give them a round of applause.¡±


    Zhao Lan frowned. She didn¡¯t like the sound of that. ¡°How strange¡­?¡± she muttered. ¡°Why are they giving out such weird titles today to everyone?¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen sighed. She felt a pang of envy. ¡°This is so unfair. Our titles are so boring compared to theirs.¡±


    Yu Xiao wondered why Zhou Xiao Zhen cared so much about the titles. Did they really matter that much? She thought they were just a silly way of measuring their progress. She didn¡¯t care if her title was outstanding or not. It would only give her four extra points anyway. She wished she could have a normal title, like ¡®Doing Fine¡¯ or ¡®Getting Better.¡¯


    ¡°¡­ At the Fourth Hospital, the patient who goes by the name of ¡®Hot Tempered¡¯ has shown great results during their treatment and has been awarded the title of ¡®The One I Love Doesn¡¯t Love Me.¡¯ Let¡¯s congratulate them¡­¡±


    A nagging suspicion crept into Yu Xiao¡¯s mind as she heard the two titles. Could she have met them before?


    ¡°¡­ In Fifth Hospital, the patient nicknamed ¡®Little Mountain Horse¡¯ has made remarkable strides in their treatment, earning the coveted title ¡®You Passed Me By with a Smile.¡¯ Let¡¯s give them a big hand.¡±


    ¡°¡­ In Fifth Hospital, the patient nicknamed ¡®Jun Jun¡¯ has also impressed us with their treatment, earning the title ¡®The one I love doesn¡¯t love me¡¯. Let¡¯s show them some love.¡±


    ¡°Emmmm¡­¡± Zhao Lan scratched her nose and whispered, ¡°Do you guys think those four people we just now might be¡­¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen nodded sagely. ¡°I didn¡¯t catch on at first, but when they mentioned Little Mountain Horse, it clicked. Coin of Great Observation is pretty awesome, huh? It gave us all the titles in a flash.¡±


    Yu Xiao felt torn. Unfortunately, Coin of Great Observation had levelled up again, becoming more powerful than ever. She didn¡¯t dare to use it carelessly; who knew what kind of trouble it would bring?


    ¡°¡­In Sixth Hospital, the patient nicknamed ¡®Deaf Descendant¡¯ is still holding the top spot. Let¡¯s send them our warmest congratulations. This patient has achieved amazing results in their treatment, earning the titles ¡®Thief of the Sea King¡¯s Heart¡¯, ¡®Deceptive B*tch Who Toys with Hearts¡¯ and ¡®Nightmare¡¯s Affection¡¯, Let¡¯s hear it for them!¡±


    ¡°Clap, clap, clap¡­¡±


    Zhao Lan and Zhou Xiao Zhen joined in the applause.


    ¡°Smiley, you¡¯re incredible!¡±


    ¡°Smiley Sis, you¡¯re the best, you¡¯re my hero!¡±


    Yu Xiao kept a poker face, saying, ¡°You guys are awesome too, your turn is coming soon.¡±


    ¡°¡­ In Sixth Hospital, the patient nicknamed ¡®Nickname Hassle¡¯ has done a splendid job in their treatment, earning the title ¡®Sharp-Tongued Woman.¡¯ Let¡¯s congratulate her.¡±


    ¡°¡­ In Sixth Hospital, the patient nicknamed ¡®Braised Egg Girl 438¡¯ has also excelled in their treatment, earning the title ¡®Jealous Woman Causing Trouble¡¯. Let¡¯s congratulate her¡­¡±


    The news ended, and the three girls in the ward fell silent for a moment. Zhao Lan then smiled, ¡°This is kind of weird, a little embarrassing, but also kind of fun.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s embarrassing?¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen scoffed, her pride evident. ¡°They must be so jealous of us right now, these titles are not easy to get. Do you think they¡¯ll try to copy us, acting all sarcastic and jealous in the dungeons from now on?¡±


    Zhao Lan used to believe that they wouldn¡¯t, that people had some decency left. But now she wasn¡¯t so sure, she even suspected that some people would do anything for titles. After all, they were willing to marry the Cat-Faced Old Lady. What else was off-limits?


    ¡°Understandable, understandable,¡± Zhao Lan said, ¡°it¡¯s all for points.¡±


    As the three girls waited for the news to finish and planned to check the forums together, a sudden alert interrupted them.


    ¡°We have an urgent announcement: Nightmare, a staff member at Doctor¡¯s Sweet Dream, has just abandoned their post and escaped from the hospital. This staff member is mentally unstable and has formidable abilities, posing a serious threat to public safety. Anyone who sees this staff member is urged to immediately call the Medical Disputes Office hotline to report. Thank you for your cooperation¡­¡±


    Yu Xiao felt her jaw drop, her eyes widen, her heart stop. She was stunned, utterly stunned, unable to process what she had just heard. Zhao Lan and Zhou Xiao Zhen shared her shock, the three of them sitting in silence, all trapped in disbelief.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen blinked a few times, as if waking up from a bad dream. ¡°Smiley, the Nightmare got away¡­ do you think he¡¯s coming for you?¡±


    ¡°Of course he is,¡± Zhao Lan said, her voice trembling. ¡°We made a fool of him, he¡¯s not going to let that go. Did you hear the news? He¡¯s a psycho. What if he finds Smiley¡­¡±


    Yu Xiao felt a pang of guilt in her chest. ¡°He¡­ he won¡¯t find me. I¡¯m safe in the ward.¡±


    ¡°Safe? Don¡¯t kid yourself. Talismans are useless against him.¡± Zhao Lan put on her thinking cap. ¡°You have that Coin of Great Observation, right? That should work on him. If he shows up, just throw it at him, and we¡¯ll call for help.¡±


    Yu Xiao wasn¡¯t too thrilled about using the Coin on Nightmare. Sure, she had good luck, but what if she missed? What if the Nightmare took a even more liking to her¡­


    She shuddered at the thought, her scalp prickling.


    ¡°¡­the Nightmare¡¯s escape has put a stop to the Doctor¡¯s Sweet Dream project. If they don¡¯t resume soon, the attending doctor, Fan Xing, might lose his job¡­¡±


    ¡°Smiley,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen said, shaking her head. ¡°You¡¯ve pissed off another doctor.¡±


    Yu Xiao shrugged it off. ¡°Not my fault. Why should I care?¡± She tried to sound cool. ¡°Fan Xing can¡¯t touch me. I¡¯m a Health Bureau inspector, remember? Worst case scenario, I¡¯ll send him to St. Elizabeth¡¯s. They need a new cook.¡±


    Nobody saw the Nightmare¡¯s escape coming.


    Gu Shu was a different beast altogether. He had a grudge against Yu Xiao, sure, but he was confined to the instance. As long as Yu Xiao stayed out, she was safe. But Nightmare? He was a whole new level of horror. He could show up anywhere, anytime, without warning.


    Yu Xiao chewed on her lip, feeling a surge of anxiety. But then she shook her head, trying to clear her mind. Worrying was useless. Misty had a plan, and it was the best they had. They had no other way to deal with Nightmare. Their only hope was that they caught him before he caught her.


    ¡°Stop overthinking, Yu Xiao,¡± she muttered to herself, tossing the covers aside and getting out of bed. ¡°Let¡¯s get cleaned up and eat something. We¡¯ll face whatever comes our way after we¡¯re full.¡±


    The trio washed up and sat down for breakfast.


    As soon as they sat down, they all reached for their phones. They had a habit of checking the Sixth Hospital forum every morning. The posts were increasing by the day. It seemed like reaching Level Three after two instances was the new normal.


    Yu Xiao scrolled through the forum, feeling the buzz. There were many new posts today, all related to the morning news.


    The first post that caught her eye was titled, ¡¾Why Are the Top Three Scorers So Damn Good?¡¿


    She clicked on it, curious. She noticed a stark contrast between the Sixth Hospital and Fourth Hospital forums. The Sixth Hospital was full of rookies, still struggling to understand the rules of the hospital. Most of them were in panic mode, not ready to adapt. So, there were hardly any memes or jokes, just serious discussions. Like this one, where the original poster was earnest.


    ¡¾I¡¯ve been paying attention to the morning news ever since I joined the hospital, and I¡¯ve noticed that our top three scorers on the leaderboard are amazing. Everyone knows the first place is the ¡®Deaf Descendant¡¯, the untouchable boss lady. She not only gets three titles every time, but she also sells talismans, making points like crazy.


    But what about the second and third place? How do they have so many points? Let me explain it to you, it¡¯s all about the titles. Titles are the key, you see. Entering an instance gives you three basic points, plus another three for outstanding performance, but a single title? That¡¯s a huge four-point bonus.¡¿


    ¡¾Getting a title is the best thing ever. You get 7 extra points for it. Do you know how awesome that is?¡¿


    Below, there was a lot of whining about how hard it was to get a title. They tried everything, but they always barely made it out alive. They had no clue how to get one.


    Most of the replies were pity parties.


    But then, there was this one reply.


    ¡¾Hey, ¡®Deaf Descendant¡¯, are you seeing this? How about you spill some secrets?¡¿


    ¡¾Yeah, come on, share some tips. I¡¯m so broke. I can¡¯t even buy more time. I can¡¯t even get the cheap talismans that cost three points. I¡¯m doomed if this continues as I watch my time slip away.¡¿


    ¡¾This sucks. I¡¯m the only one left in my ward. I¡¯m terrified.¡¿


    Yu Xiao scanned these posts. She wanted to help, but she had no idea how. She got her titles by accident. If she had to give some advice, it would be to go for it. But she was afraid to say that. What if someone listened to her and got killed in the instance for being reckless? She would feel guilty.


    She left the Sixth Hospital Forum and switched to the Fourth Hospital Forum.


    As expected, the Fourth Hospital Forum was on fire again, with new hot posts popping up, and a totally different vibe from the Sixth Hospital.


    ¡¾Victim of the Dragon¡¯s Descendant 1¡¿


    This title caught her eye, and Yu Xiao couldn¡¯t help but click on it.


    ¡¾Let me tell you. I¡¯m the ¡®I¡¯m Not Easy to Mess With¡¯ you saw on the news this morning. I¡¯ve heard that the dragon¡¯s descendants like to pose as people from the Fourth Hospital. I never paid attention to it before, but now I know it¡¯s true. I was duped by the dragon¡¯s descendants too. But I¡¯m not like the other suckers. I figured out they weren¡¯t from the Fourth Hospital in the instance. I just didn¡¯t realise they were from the Sixth.¡¿


    ¡¾Wow~ Another drama!¡¿


    ¡¾OP, I¡¯m dying to know how you got that title. ¡®Falling in Love with the Wrong Person.¡¯ Who¡¯s the lucky guy? Is it the doctor or an NPC? Can you get a title for hooking up with an NPC?¡¿


    As the text messages flooded in, Yu Xiao felt a surge of anger and disbelief.


    ¡¾So curious!¡¿


    ¡¾Me too!¡¿


    ¡¾That bloody quack doctor NPC! She¡¯s the dragon¡¯s descendant! I can¡¯t stand her!!¡¿


    ¡¾Why do you hate me so much? I¡¯ve told you over and over, I¡¯m the dragon¡¯s descendant, Dragon Sis has a different nickname!¡¿


    ¡¾Wow~ Dragon Sis is incredible, she¡¯s got all the doctor NPCs and even the dungeon patients falling for her? Is she that gorgeous? OP, tell us more.¡¿


    ¡¾Yeah, OP, spill it!¡¿


    ¡¾My mate¡¯s dying of anal prolapse, and he wants to hear your story before he croaks, please don¡¯t let him go with regrets.¡¿


    ¡¾Love her?! I don¡¯t love her at all! I was out of my mind back then, yesterday when I got back to the ward with my mate, we racked our brains for ages, you know, the one with the title ¡®The One I Love Doesn¡¯t Love Me¡¯. We put our heads together and figured out that the dragon¡¯s descendant must have some gadget that makes people fall for her.


    We¡¯re both straight girls, how could we both fancy her at the same time? And we said some disgusting things that make me sick just thinking about them now¡­ I¡¯m gonna throw up!¡¿


    ¡¾So that¡¯s it, she has a gadget like that?¡¿


    ¡¾I told you Dragon Sis¡¯s title was weird, how could so many doctor NPCs be into her, she must have some magic gadget.¡¿


    ¡¾Case solved, the secret of Dragon Sis¡¯s charm is exposed!¡¿


    ¡¾I have to clear this up, I don¡¯t know about the previous doctor NPCs, but this time Nightmare¡¯s crush on the dragon¡¯s descendant had nothing to do with gadgets. Nightmare was a madman, the dragon¡¯s descendant saved him by accident once, and he became obsessed with her, almost ruined everything for us in the end.¡¿


    ¡¾Is Nightmare good-looking?¡¿


    ¡¾Quite handsome.¡¿


    ¡¾Wow~ What¡¯s wrong with that, the beauty falls for the hero who saved him, isn¡¯t that a classic romance plot?¡¿


    ¡¾Exactly, OP, give us the details, what¡¯s going on between Dragon Sis and Nightmare?¡¿


    With a swift tap, Yu Xiao closed the thread. It was obvious that Tan Qiao Yin was behind this. How dare she spread such lies about her!


    Ignoring the other threads, Yu Xiao glanced at Zhou Xiao Zhen, who was busy typing away on her phone. She was about to show her this thread when Zhou Xiao Zhen looked up and met her gaze.


    ¡°Smiley~¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s eyes sparkled, ¡°Are you on the forum too? Show me!!¡±


    Zhao Lan also put down her phone and joined them, curious to see what Yu Xiao had found.


    ¡°This one, this one,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen pointed to a post, ¡°I want to read this.¡±


    Yu Xiao took a closer look. Bloody hell!


    ¡¾Analysing what Dragon Sis did to Nightmare through her titles.¡¿


    ¡¾Have you noticed that Dragon Sis¡¯s three titles this time are in a sequence? First is the Heart-stealing Sea King, you have to steal hearts before you can have feelings, and only when you have feelings can you can you be scum!¡¿


    ¡¾Let me guess how it all happened: Sister Dragon entered the instance and unleashed her usual tactics, dazzling and bewitching every NPC, including Nightmare. This is not a joke. ¡®Thief of the Sea King¡¯s Heart¡¯ means more than just stealing hearts; it also involves the Sea King, implying that Sister Dragon has charmed more than one person.


    She then set her sights on seducing Nightmare. How could Nightmare resist Sister Dragon¡¯s allure? It soon gave up its entire heart, earning her the title of ¡°Nightmare¡¯s Love.¡± But Sister Dragon had no feelings; she was only using Nightmare as a pawn. In the end, she coldly discarded Nightmare, perhaps even uttering harsh words, thus gaining the name of ¡®Deceptive B*tch Who Toys with Hearts¡¯!¡¿


    Zhou Xiao Zhen laughed uproariously. ¡°Who wrote this? What a genius! I adore their style, it reminds me of those overbearing CEO dramas I love.¡±


    Zhao Lan joined in the laughter. ¡°They got it wrong, but they weren¡¯t completely off; their reasoning makes sense.¡±


    Yu Xiao sighed in frustration; she felt like the people at the Fourth Hospital were vilifying her.


    A flurry of replies followed until someone from a different thread intervened.


    ¡¾The OP is mistaken. Someone from the next thread clarified: Sister Dragon never purposely seduced Nightmare!¡¿


    ¡¾¡­¡¿


    ¡¾I just came back from the next thread. Yes, you were wrong; Sister Dragon didn¡¯t intentionally seduce Nightmare. She won over Nightmare with her natural charm, and Nightmare fell madly in love with her. But here¡¯s the question: how did she get the title of ¡®Deceptive B*tch Who Toys with Hearts¡¯? I don¡¯t think Sister Dragon did nothing. The OP from the next thread couldn¡¯t explain many things clearly. I suspect that Sister Dragon played a game within a game; she took advantage of Nightmare¡¯s naivety¡­¡¿


    ¡¾I feel a little sorry for Nightmare.¡¿


    ¡¾Sorry for what? It¡¯s horrifying, isn¡¯t it? Nightmare has escaped, probably searching for Sister Dragon.¡¿


    ¡¾I find myself empathising with Sister Dragon; sometimes, being too charming is a curse.¡¿


    ¡¾But Sister Dragon got a title, huh¡­¡¿


    ¡°Those people from the Fourth Hospital have quite the imagination,¡± Zhao Lan remarked. ¡°They¡¯re close to uncovering the truth.¡±


    Yu Xiao¡¯s face was expressionless. ¡°See? Even the people from the Fourth Hospital are starting to pity me.¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s eyes sparkled as she tapped her phone screen. ¡°Stop chatting and look at this,¡± she urged. ¡°I just stumbled upon a post about Sister Smiley¡­ Here it is.¡±


    ¡¾Dream Dragon Fanfic ¡°Fell in Love with Her in Another World¡±¡¿


    ¡¾I¡¯ve been reading so many posts lately and I got totally hooked on Dragon Sister and Nightmare. This unattainable BL is my guilty pleasure. The forum¡¯s info is too scattered, though, so I gathered the current news about Dragon Sister and Nightmare and wrote a fanfic. Enjoy and don¡¯t flame, please.¡¿


    ¡¾On that day, Nightmare felt like he had witnessed a miracle¡­¡¿


    ¡¾Wow, this is amazing, please continue!¡¿


    ¡¾How can Nightmare be so sensitive and fragile? And what¡¯s with his sudden dark side? He used to be so timid, right? How come he can¡¯t control his animal instincts after spending a night with Dragon Sister?¡¿


    ¡¾Don¡¯t take this so seriously, mate. It¡¯s just a fanfic.¡¿


    ¡¾There¡¯s a flaw in the logic, though. If Nightmare isn¡¯t afraid of talismans, how did Dragon Sister manage to fend him off?¡¿


    ¡¾This is so hot, I love it.¡¿


    ¡¾More, more¡­¡¿


    Yu Xiao rubbed her nose, feeling a twitch in her face.


    ¡°Ahahaha¡­¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen cackled wickedly. ¡°Sister Smiley has a fanfic, and it¡¯s even smutty, hehehe¡­ So, tell me, what really happened that night when you two shared a room?¡±


    Yu Xiao¡¯s face turned sour. ¡°Nothing happened, I slept soundly until morning.¡±


    ¡°Really?¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen raised an eyebrow. ¡°Doesn¡¯t Nightmare have a crush on you? He didn¡¯t make a move at all, is he impotent?¡±


    Zhao Lan pondered seriously, ¡°That could be the case. Nightmare is neither human nor ghost, so he might not have any human urges.¡±


    ¡°Can we drop this topic already?¡± Yu Xiao said with a deadpan expression. ¡°It¡¯s utterly pointless.¡±


    ¡°Fine, fine. How about your ex-boyfriend, was he handsome?¡±


    ¡°I never had a boyfriend before,¡± Yu Xiao answered.


    ¡°What?¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen gasped. ¡°You¡¯re so gorgeous and talented, how come you never had a boyfriend?¡±


    Yu Xiao shrugged, she didn¡¯t know herself. She had never met anyone who confessed to her, nor did she develop feelings for anyone. She felt like she was missing something in her life, a spark that would make her heart race. She did have some crushes on male celebrities, but they were too distant and unreal, so she didn¡¯t care much.


    She decided to change the subject, ¡°Misty, what about your boyfriend?¡±


    Zhao Lan blinked, ¡°Oh, my last boyfriend was three years ago. I¡¯ve been too busy for dating since then, but six months ago when I was with a rich client for fun, she took me to a club, and I met a boy there who was eighteen¡­¡±


    ©¤©¤©¤ ? ©¤©¤ ¡î ©¤©¤ ? ©¤©¤©¤

 Chapter 96: Excuse Me, is this St Elizabeth’s?

    ¡°Eighteen?¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen arched a suggestive eyebrow. ¡°Zhao Lan, you¡¯re quite the hunter, aren¡¯t you? Who would have guessed~¡±


    A modest chuckle escaped Zhao Lan¡¯s lips. ¡°Well, you know how it is in the workplace. Sometimes you¡¯ve got to play the game.¡±


    ¡°Come on, tell us more.¡± Yu Xiao leaned in, eager to hear. As a student, she hadn¡¯t experienced the adult world yet, so she found these matters fascinating. ¡°We¡¯ve been sharing this hospital room for so long, but I never saw any young lad visiting you.¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen, who had a firm grasp of theory, shook her head. ¡°In the world of flings, how many are genuine? I bet when Misty fell ill and he couldn¡¯t get any money from her, he ran away. Right?¡±


    Zhao Lan hesitated for a moment. She seldom shared her personal affairs with others. It was partly due to professional reasons ¨C she had to keep some secrets ¨C and partly because she felt embarrassed to let others know her business. But today, she felt a bit more open. There were no strangers in the ward, and with the perilous hospital situation, she might not have another chance to speak.


    So, with a long sigh, she said, ¡°Don¡¯t say that. He¡¯s not heartless, really. He¡¯s quite pitiful, actually. He grew up in a single-parent household, his mother is sick, and he had to drop out and work at such a young age. I¡­ after learning about his circumstances, decided to support him, send him back to school. I didn¡¯t even tell him about my illness.¡±


    ¡°Oh.¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen nodded sympathetically. ¡°That¡¯s very unfortunate. You¡¯re such a kind soul.¡±


    Zhao Lan gave a faint smile. ¡°It¡¯s fate. And I can afford to help him a bit.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s wonderful.¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s eyes sparkled. ¡°I want to be like you in the future.¡±


    ¡°Precious, you will surely surpass me in the future.¡± Zhao Lan patted her head affectionately. ¡°I believe in you.¡±


    In the midst of this warm atmosphere, Yu Xiao, now a grown-up, caught on to a crucial point. ¡°So, Misty, have you been intimate with that eighteen-year-old boy?¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    Zhao Lan eyed Yu Xiao, who lounged on the bed like a pampered cat, while secretly wishing she could lie as effortlessly as Precious.


    ¡°Cough, cough,¡± She cleared her throat and diverted the subject. ¡°So, what do you think of the posts on the Fourth Hospital forum? Do you think Yu Xiao¡¯s title is decent?¡±


    ¡°Absolutely not!¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen scoffed, waving her phone. ¡°The internet is full of her smutty fan fiction, nothing decent about that!¡±


    Yu Xiao raised an eyebrow. ¡°There¡¯s nothing shameful about sexy fan fiction, you know¡­¡± She stretched and yawned. ¡°Well, never mind. I¡¯m sleeping with you tonight.¡±


    ¡°Yay!¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen squealed. ¡°I want a handsome face and a fit body, especially a body with eight-pack abs!¡±


    ¡°Twelve-pack abs are even better,¡± Yu Xiao teased.


    Zhao Lan smiled fondly at the pair of jesters. Ah, the joys of youth, she mused. They had the power to change their appearances, yet Precious only cared about abs.


    Suddenly, a ringtone blared: ¡°I really wish I could live for another five hundred years~¡­¡±


    Yu Xiao glanced at her phone, seeing Lu Xun¡¯s name. She debated whether to ignore or answer, but curiosity got the better of her. ¡°Hello, if you¡¯re calling to mock me or gossip, save your breath.¡±


    The line was silent for a moment, then Lu Xun spoke. ¡°I heard you made some new talismans. How about another trade?¡±


    Yu Xiao snorted. ¡°Seriously, did you give me the Coin of Great Observation as a joke? Do you have any idea how much trouble that thing brought me?¡±


    Meanwhile, in the Fourth Hospital ward, Lu Xun had put the phone on speaker. He exchanged a glance with Luo Jin and winked at him.


    Then he laughed. ¡°Ha ha¡­ Joke? No, no, we really wanted it. It¡¯s just¡­ not very useful to us, that¡¯s all. But you¡¯re so lively, we figured you could handle it.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m done trading with you,¡± Yu Xiao snapped. ¡°They say Chinese people don¡¯t cheat other Chinese, but what about you two?¡±


    ¡°Uh¡­¡± Lu Xun was at a loss for words, looking at Luo Jin. It was Luo Jin who had decided to give the Coin to Yu Xiao in the first place, so he couldn¡¯t take all the blame.


    Luo Jin maintained a poker face. The Coin of Great Observation was indeed worthless to him; it always landed face down whenever he flipped it. He thought it was cursed. He saw no point in keeping it, so he traded it with Yu Xiao for some talismans.


    It was a shady deal, no doubt about it. Luo Jin rubbed his chin and nodded at Lu Xu.


    Lu Xu caught the signal and spoke up. ¡°Forget the props. Have you heard of the one-time function cards? They¡¯re rare and powerful. How about we swap some talismans for them?¡±


    Yu Xiao¡¯s eyes widened. She had a one-time misfortune card in her hand, but she never dared to use it. Who would want to bring bad luck upon themselves? However, the one-time affection card that the ghost had given her during the rounds had been a lifesaver. It had literally saved her from death. So when Lu Xu brought up the one-time function cards, she was curious.


    ¡°What kind of cards do you have?¡± She asked. ¡°How many will you trade?¡±


    ¡°Er¡­¡± Lu Xu did a quick inventory and said, ¡°One card for twenty talismans.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s fine,¡± Yu Xiao said. ¡°What cards do you have?¡±


    ¡°All the function cards are amazing,¡± Lu Xu said. ¡°They have different abilities and can create surprising outcomes¡­¡±


    ¡°I get it,¡± Yu Xiao cut him off. ¡°I want to know what cards you have exactly.¡±


    ¡°¡­Do you want to pick one yourself?¡± Lu Xu asked.


    ¡°Obviously,¡± Yu Xiao said. ¡°What if you give me something like a one-time misfortune card?¡±


    ¡°¡­¡± Lu Xu thought, ¡®Wow, she¡¯s not a clueless newbie after all. She¡¯s pretty sharp.¡¯


    ¡°Okay,¡± Lu Xu looked at Luo Jin again, ¡°Let¡¯s see what we have.¡±


    Luo Jin took out a pile of cards from his pocket, collected over the years. He sorted them out and gave a small pile to Lu Xu.


    Lu Xu rifled through the cards and rattled off their names. ¡°We have¡­ a one-time misfortune card, a one-time dementia card, a one-time change appearance card, a one-time profound trading card¡­¡±


    Yu Xiao listened attentively as he listed them, then furrowed her brows in confusion. ¡°You have quite a lot of cards, but why are they all so weird?¡±


    Lu Xu shrugged. ¡°Can¡¯t help it. This isn¡¯t something we can decide.¡±


    ¡°Alright.¡± Yu Xiao scanned the cards and made her choice. ¡°I want the facial change card and the deep love card.¡±


    ¡°Deal!¡± Lu Xu cried out joyfully. ¡°Shall I send them to you right away? We want ten ¡¾Guardian Talisman¡¿ and ¡¾Healing Crisis Talisman¡¿¡­¡±


    Yu Xiao could tell from the talismans they needed that these two had plenty of attack methods. A pang of envy hit her. Although she could draw talismans, things like props and functional cards still required time to accumulate.


    ¡°Okay.¡± Yu Xiao nodded agreeably. ¡°I¡¯ll send them to you as soon as I finish drawing the talismans.¡±


    She was about to hang up when Lu Xu blurted out, ¡°What about that Nightmare? What¡¯s the deal with him coming out? Is he looking for you? Can you handle him?¡±


    Yu Xiao tensed up and asked instinctively, ¡°Do you know how to deal with Nightmare?¡±


    Lu Xu shook his head. ¡°I don¡¯t know. I was just asking.¡±


    ¡°Goodbye!¡± Yu Xiao snapped and hung up.


    Lu Xu realised the call had ended and sighed helplessly. ¡°Yu Xiao is just too young; young people are always in a hurry.¡±


    Luo Jin thought to himself, ¡®Aren¡¯t you young too?¡¯ But he was used to keeping silent. If he didn¡¯t have to, he¡¯d usually just mutter to himself. He carefully stowed away the stack of cards he had just taken out and then said, ¡°Yu Xiao selling talismans is much faster than us relying on dungeon runs to accumulate points.¡±


    ¡°Yeah.¡± Lu Xu agreed, turning to look at the stack of yellow paper on the table. He had tried drawing talismans before, but he had to admit, it really required talent.


    ¡°Hey, how do you think Yu Xiao managed it? She could draw talismans when she was still a newbie. Is that normal?¡± Lu Xu asked. ¡°When we were newbies, forget drawing, we didn¡¯t even know how to make our own talismans, right?¡±


    ¡°Uh-huh.¡± Luo Jin nodded.


    ¡°And?¡± Lu Xu was exasperated. ¡°That¡¯s it? Don¡¯t you have any thoughts?¡±


    Luo Jin said, ¡°What¡¯s the use of expressing thoughts?¡±


    ¡°¡­Damn!¡± Lu Xu felt strangely noble. He couldn¡¯t believe he had been living with such a guy for several years without losing his mind.


    **


    After dinner, Yu Xiao tidied up and prepared to draw talismans. A lump formed in her throat as Yu Xiao opened the box of yellow paper. She had squandered so much of it. How extravagant she had been; she needed to be more frugal in the future. The memory of the many talismans she had left on Shen Chuan¡¯s bed flashed in her mind, and a sharp pain pierced her heart¡­


    ¡°Smiley, do we have enough talismans in stock? Several orders need to be shipped.¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s voice interrupted her thoughts.


    ¡°¡­ They¡¯ll be ready soon.¡± Yu Xiao managed to reply.


    ¡°Bang! Bang! Bang!¡± A familiar sound echoed from outside. ¡°Delivery!¡±


    A pang of anxiety gripped Zhao Lan¡¯s chest. ¡°Why is he always so irritable?¡±


    ¡°Here! You¡¯re really loud.¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen went to open the door.


    Curiosity overcame Yu Xiao, who squatted on the ground. How did this guy, who dared to disrespect the great Dean of Saint Elizabeth, looked like? She put on her sunglasses and peeked through the door.


    A green-uniformed figure with a duckbill cap stood at the door. He was quite tall, with a huge green bag by his feet. One hand on his hip, and the other holding the delivery, he waited for someone in the ward to sign for it.


    From this angle, Yu Xiao couldn¡¯t see his face clearly, so she walked to the door and squatted down to get a better look from below. A slender chin and thin lips came into view¡­


    ¡°What are you looking at?!¡± The delivery guy snapped at Yu Xiao through the door. ¡°Keep staring and I¡¯ll gouge your eyes out!¡±


    ¡°¡­ Such a bad temper.¡± Yu Xiao bristled. ¡°Do you believe I¡¯ll complain about you?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ve already complained.¡± The delivery guy shrugged. ¡°Does it work?¡±


    With that, he handed the delivery to Zhou Xiao Zhen and left, dragging the huge green bag, even taller than him.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen cradled the package curiously and queried, ¡°What does he look like?¡±


    ¡°Hideous,¡± Yu Xiao sneered. ¡°He¡¯s a massive blob of fat.¡±


    ¡°I thought so,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen nodded sagely. ¡°Ugly people are always troublemakers. Good-looking ones tend to have nice personalities. Odd, though, his hands are rather elegant.¡±


    The package contained the functional cards that Lu Xu had sent them. As they tore it open, they found two cards inside. They huddled together to inspect them. Zhao Lan observed, ¡°This one-time appearance-changing card seems redundant with your wig function.¡±


    ¡°True,¡± Yu Xiao admitted, ¡°but I wanted a backup.¡±


    ¡°And this one-time deep love card?¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen lifted the card. ¡°Does it make you fall madly in love after using it?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s what it says,¡± Yu Xiao pulled out the one-time bad luck card she had acquired earlier. ¡°I wish I could pawn this off to someone else.¡±


    ¡°Nobody¡¯s that stupid,¡± Zhao Lan consoled. ¡°Don¡¯t despair. This bad luck card¡­ could come in handy in some scenarios, you know?¡±


    ¡°Like what?¡± Yu Xiao challenged.


    ¡°Like¡­¡± Zhao Lan racked her brain for an example. ¡°Like when you need to be unlucky yourself.¡±


    ¡°¡­?¡±


    ¡°Misty,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen was baffled. ¡°Why would anyone want to be unlucky?¡±


    Zhao Lan gave up, switching the topic instead. ¡°Let¡¯s focus on who we¡¯ll Smiley transform into tonight. Are you bored of Leonardo yet?¡±


    ¡°Never.¡±


    **


    Yu Xiao lay in the middle of the makeshift big bed, made of three hospital beds pushed together. Zhao Lan and Zhou Xiao Zhen clung to her arms, their hands resting on her chest and abdomen. They snuggled close, breathing in sync, sleeping peacefully.


    The phone¡¯s shrill ring shattered the silence at midnight: ¡°I really wish I could live another five hundred years~¡­¡±


    ¡°Mmm¡­¡± The three women stirred, blinking in the dark. Zhou Xiao Zhen muttered, ¡°Quick, answer it.¡±


    Yu Xiao wriggled out of their embrace and reached for her phone on the bedside table. She pressed it to her ear, her voice groggy, ¡°Hello, who¡¯s this?¡±


    ¡°Get to the hospital, it¡¯s urgent,¡± George said, his tone crisp.


    ¡°Mmm¡­¡± Yu Xiao felt bone-tired, but she had no choice. She still wanted to keep her position as Dean at St. Elizabeth¡¯s Hospital.


    With a sigh, she crawled over Zhou Xiao Zhen and got out of bed to dress. As she buttoned her white coat, Zhou Xiao Zhen opened her eyes and saw Yu Xiao kneeling beside her.


    A smile curved her lips, ¡°Smiley, you understand me best. Come on, I¡¯m ready.¡±


    Yu Xiao¡¯s emotions were a mess. She was about to remove her wig, when Zhao Lan piped up, ¡°You promised to spend the night with Precious. Leaving now wouldn¡¯t count as a full night, you know.¡±


    Yu Xiao froze, her hand hovering over her head, ¡°I¡¯ll go like this and come back to continue our night together!¡±


    **


    George stared at the man who walked towards him, feeling a surge of disgust. He recognized him as the one who had used his ability to fool all the medical staff at St. Elizabeth¡¯s, and he hated Yu Xiao for it.


    ¡°George.¡± Yu Xiao greeted him warmly. She liked George, who had helped her secure her position at the Health Bureau with his flattering words. ¡°Long time no see, missed me~¡±


    George¡¯s eye twitched slightly, ¡°They¡¯ve located the Dean¡¯s office. It¡¯s time to get to work.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re such a killjoy, George,¡± Yu Xiao complained as she walked, ¡°We¡¯re friends now, we can talk about things other than work.¡±


    George replied, ¡°If you don¡¯t leave now, they¡¯ll find an empty office.¡±


    ¡°Fine.¡± Yu Xiao gave in and returned to the Dean¡¯s office. She barely closed the door behind her, when a group of people stormed down to the ground floor.


    **


    Finally, he lost sight of the annoying woman, and George felt a small sense of relief as the pain in his bruised face subsided. The mere presence of Yu Xiao was unbearable; every time he saw her, she served as a painful reminder of his own foolishness. He had once thought himself clever, plotting to promote Yu Xiao¡¯s position and remove her from St. Elizabeth. However, all he had gained from his actions was a deep sense of regret.


    **


    Unbeknownst to him, a young lad in a white shirt appeared at St. Elizabeth. He seemed out of place, not belonging to the staff or the patients.


    His eyes held sorrow as he walked with a bowed head, his hair wet as if from the rain, and his demeanour gloomy. He approached the nurse¡¯s station and asked the perplexed nurse, ¡°Excuse me, is this St. Elizabeth?¡±


    The nurse gaped at him for a moment before replying, ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m looking for the Dean,¡± the young man clenched his fair hands into fists. ¡°Is she here?¡±


    Sensing something odd about him, the nurse decided to inform Dr George first. This stranger gave her an unsettling feeling, and she didn¡¯t want to disturb the Dean, for she was a fearsome woman.


    **


    When George heard the news, he was shocked but quickly recollected the recent incident at the hospital: the escape of Nightmare from the Fourth Hospital.


    Was this young man here for that troublesome woman? George¡¯s lips twitched, his mood brightening. His dormant vengeful heart stirred, promptly formulating a plan for revenge.


    After a short wait, the young man was greeted by an attending doctor in a white coat with gold-rimmed glasses.


    ¡°You¡¯re here to see the Dean, right?¡± George asked, smiling.


    ¡°Yes,¡± the young man replied. ¡°Is she available?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re in luck,¡± said George, his smile growing. ¡°She¡¯s just in, in her office on the ground floor.¡±


    **


    Outside the Dean¡¯s office, a group of people huddled in a circle, scratching their heads as they examined the slip of paper in their hands. Each person had four options to consider.


    All the options seemed dreadful, except for the one that demanded payment with points. Finally, one person broke the silence and said, ¡°I¡¯m thinking of choosing option B.¡±


    ¡°What?¡± gasped the others. ¡°You want to shag George?¡± S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Er, well, haven¡¯t you heard the latest news?¡± The person gave a sheepish grin. ¡°Many players have earned titles by becoming romantically involved with NPCs in the game. If I¡­ well, I wouldn¡¯t lose any points, and I might even gain some.¡±


    The moment these words left their mouth, everyone¡¯s eyes sparkled. Of course, how could they have missed that!


    A dilemma gripped the patients of St. Elizabeth¡¯s Hospital. They could trade their integrity for points ¨C a tempting offer, since integrity wasn¡¯t worth anything in this place. But they also feared the consequences. George, the attending doctor, was the target. Who knew what might happen after sleeping with him?


    They hesitated, weighing their options, when a new arrival caught their attention. A slim figure walked down the corridor on the ground floor, drawing curious glances from the crowd.


    ¡°Who¡¯s that?¡± Some of them whispered. ¡°Another NPC from St. Elizabeth¡¯s? Doesn¡¯t look like it. He¡¯s not even in scrubs.¡±


    They watched him as he came closer and stopped next to them. He looked up at the door that bore the sign ¡°Dean¡¯s Office¡±. He reached for the handle and pulled, but it was locked. Only the Dean could open Dean¡¯s office.


    ¡°How do you open this door?¡± He asked, turning to the patients.


    They stared at him, baffled. ¡°Mate, are you a patient too? You want to go in there?¡±


    The young man didn¡¯t nod. He was not a patient. He had a different purpose. ¡°How do I get in?¡± He repeated.


    They shrugged, assuming he was one of them. Who else would want to enter the Dean¡¯s office? They handed him a piece of paper. ¡°Maybe you can try the options.¡±


    He looked at the paper. It was a multiple-choice question.


    ¡¾To achieve your desired outcome, what are you willing to sacrifice?


    A. Let Tie Niu eat any part of your body. B. Have a night of passion with George. C. Beat up George. D. Sacrifice points.¡¿


    He thought for a moment. He had no points, so D was out. He was a Nightmare, so he had no flesh, so A was out. He had no interest in B, so he chose C.


    He marked the box for C and then faced the others with a cold stare. ¡°What now? What do I do?¡±


    They gasped, shocked by his choice. ¡°Are you mad? You want to beat up George? He¡¯s the attending doctor!¡±


    Nightmare didn¡¯t understand their reaction. He had never been to the real world before. He only knew about an attending doctor from the dream. It was Fan Xing, who was nothing special. He had let him escape, after all. So he assumed George was the same. And he was confident he could beat him.


    Nightmare pointed. ¡°This one,¡± he said. ¡°What¡¯s next?¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    **


    A smug grin spread across George¡¯s face as he sat in his office. He had just devised a brilliant scheme to get back at Yu Xiao: he would send Nightmare to her. He had no idea what Nightmare¡¯s motives were, whether he wanted revenge or something else. He didn¡¯t care; he just wanted Nightmare and Yu Xiao to cross paths.


    If Nightmare was out for blood, that would be perfect; he could enjoy the show from a safe distance. If Nightmare was not after revenge, that would work too; he could accuse Yu Xiao of hiding information, aiding and abetting Nightmare.


    Either way, he would come out on top, and he felt like he had already triumphed.


    He was lost in his gloating when a sudden knock on the door startled him.


    He had a feeling it was Nightmare. Why had he returned? What did he want?


    Confused, he opened the door and asked in a friendly tone, ¡°What brings you here? Did you run into any trouble?¡±


    Nightmare shook his head and said, ¡°They told me I had to beat you up first if I wanted to get into the dean¡¯s office.¡±


    George: ¡°¡­¡±


    George: ¡°!!!¡±


    ¡°Who told you that?!¡± George shouted. ¡°Did Yu Xiao put you up to this?!¡±


    **


    Meanwhile, in the dean¡¯s office, Yu Xiao said nervously, ¡°Well done, you¡¯ve made the right choice. You can go now.¡±


    The people outside were baffled. We haven¡¯t made any choice yet, how did we make the right one? Then they realised they had somehow left St. Elizabeth and were back in the ward.


    Yu Xiao was terrified; she had just recognized Nightmare¡¯s voice!


    She quickly sent the patients away and rushed out of St. Elizabeth. She returned to the ward, where it was dark and the two sisters were sleeping soundly.


    She grabbed her phone and dialled the Medical Disputes Office without hesitation.


    ¡°~Sorry, the user you are trying to reach is not in service area¡­~¡±


    Yu Xiao threw her phone and screamed, ¡°What¡¯s the point of reporting right away if I can¡¯t even get through when there¡¯s news about Nightmare?!¡±


    ©¤©¤©¤ ? ©¤©¤ ¡î ©¤©¤ ? ©¤©¤©¤

 Chapter 97: Dr Smiley

    Zhao Lan and Zhou Xiao Zhen had spent a blissful night nestled together with super handsome guy. The warmth of their shared embrace cocooned them, and for a fleeting moment, they revealed the illusion of intimacy. Sure, he wasn¡¯t a real man and they could only hug him, but that was better than nothing. They felt refreshed and happy when they woke up, oblivious to Yu Xiao¡¯s (the handsome man) miserable face. She had tossed and turned all night, unable to sleep.


    ¡°Ah, this is the life.¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen murmured, her voice a soft sigh. ¡°To hold such beauty in our arms, even if he isn¡¯t real. I wonder who Smiley will transform into next time. Maybe someone more¡­ adventurous.¡±


    Zhao Lan, languid and content, stretched like a cat. ¡°How about we go back in time? Remember that actor, Yan Kuan? He looked so good in those ancient costumes. What was the name of that show he was in?¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°Oh, yes! Misty, you¡¯re a genius! Ancient beauties¡­ like my Erlang Shen brother, hehehe¡­¡±


    And so, as dawn tiptoed across the room, they wove their fantasies, blissfully unaware of the heartache that haunted the man they held.


    Yu Xiao wished they would spare a glance at her miserable self, but they were too busy drooling. Two lustful women!! (¨s¡ã¡õ¡ã)¨s¦à ©ß©¥©ß


    She cleared her throat loudly. ¡°Hello? Am I invisible here? You do realise I haven¡¯t agreed to anything, right? Don¡¯t you think you¡¯re getting ahead of yourselves?¡± She glared at them with dark circles under her eyes.


    Zhao Lan tilted her head, her eyes wide and innocent. ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Smiley? Don¡¯t you want to join us? We¡¯re stuck in this hellhole for no good reason, cut off from the world, with nothing to entertain us. This is our only chance to have some fun. Don¡¯t you want to see us happy?¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen chimed in, her voice dripping with sweetness. ¡°It¡¯s true, Smiley. This is the only thing that brightens our bleak existence. But if it makes you uncomfortable, we¡¯ll stop. We don¡¯t want to upset you. Our little pleasure is nothing compared to your feelings. Misty, let¡¯s not bring this up again in front of Smiley. We have to be considerate¡­¡±


    Yu Xiao felt a surge of disbelief. Was this really happening? Were they committing emotional blackmail on her?


    ¡°Of course.¡± Zhao Lan nodded solemnly, then reached for Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s hand across Yu Xiao. ¡°We have to be respectful. Who cares if our lives are dull and miserable? We can endure it¡­¡± S§×arch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Yu Xiao: ¡°¡­¡±


    She snapped. ¡°That¡¯s enough, you two.¡± She slapped their hands away, breaking their fake bond. ¡°You are such green tea bitches!¡±


    ¡°Ouch¡­¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen clutched her face, feigning pain. ¡°Smiley, why are you so mean to me? I¡¯m only thinking of you, you know?¡±


    Yu Xiao bit back a curse and said with a calm voice: ¡°I ran into Nightmare last night.¡±


    She made it sound like a minor inconvenience, like she had a bad case of diarrhoea. Zhao Lan and Zhou Xiao Zhen stared at her blankly for a moment. Then Zhou Xiao Zhen leaped off the bed. ¡°What?! Nightmare?! Where the hell?!¡±


    Zhao Lan gasped, then asked: ¡°He was at Saint Elizabeth?¡±


    ¡°Uh-huh.¡± Yu Xiao nodded emphatically. ¡°I barely escaped with my life. I had a close call last night, and you two? You¡¯re obsessed with men. Are they more important than me?¡±


    ¡°Never.¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen declared, trying to sound sincere. ¡°Those men are unreachable, but Smiley, you¡¯re here with us. We know who matters.¡±


    ¡°Pfft.¡± Yu Xiao shoved her away. ¡°Save it.¡±


    ¡°Okay, okay, enough.¡± Zhao Lan intervened, putting on a serious face. ¡°Tell us what happened.¡±


    Yu Xiao lay back on the bed, staring at the ceiling. ¡°I went to Saint Elizabeth to earn some points¡­ I mean, to work. I was in the office, scamming the patients, when I heard Nightmare¡¯s voice. He was right outside the door. I froze, but he couldn¡¯t get in. George distracted him, and I took the chance to get the hell out of there.¡±


    ¡°Nightmare showed up at Saint Elizabeth.¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen fretted. ¡°How long before he comes to the Sixth Hospital?¡±


    ¡°Did you report him?¡± Zhao Lan asked. ¡°The news said you should report any sightings of Nightmare.¡±


    ¡°I tried.¡± Yu Xiao snarled, remembering. ¡°The damn phone was busy!¡±


    ¡°What a shitty hospital!¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen agreed, fuming. ¡°The phone was busy, they should just shut down already!¡±


    Zhao Lan opened her mouth to speak, but the clock on the wall interrupted her. Eight o¡¯clock. Time for the morning news.


    ¡°~Ding!¡±


    She squeezed Yu Xiao¡¯s shoulder, trying to soothe her friend¡¯s anxiety. ¡°Hey, Smiley, relax. We¡¯ll talk after the news, okay? Maybe it¡¯s not as bad as you think.¡±


    A cheerful voice filled the room. ¡°Good morning, everyone! A beautiful day starts from now~ And here is the morning news.¡±


    The three women leaned together, hoping for some good news. But what they heard made their blood run cold.


    ¡°¡­ Last night, a shocking incident occurred at Saint Elizabeth Psychiatric Hospital. Nightmare, a former staff member who escaped from custody, broke into the hospital and brutally assaulted the chief doctor, Dr George. He fled the scene before the arrest team arrived. This heinous act has caused serious injuries to the doctor and widespread panic among the public. Our hospital urges everyone to stay indoors and avoid unnecessary outings¡­¡±


    The radio voice faded into silence as the three women stared at each other in disbelief. Nightmare had attacked George?


    Zhou Xiao Zhen frowned in confusion. ¡°What was Nightmare¡¯s motive for attacking George?¡± she asked. ¡°He came here looking for Smiley, didn¡¯t he? Did George try to stop him from finding her?¡±


    Zhao Lan shook her head, disbelief in her eyes. ¡°No way. George would never do that. He wouldn¡¯t sacrifice himself for Smiley¡­ He is a ghost.¡± She glanced at Yu Xiao, who was sitting quietly on the bed, her face pale.


    A slight twitch of her cheeks betrayed Yu Xiao¡¯s guilt. She had a hunch about what had happened. It was all because of that stupid multiple-choice question she had made up to trick the patients last night. Nightmare must have taken it seriously and thought that beating up George was the key to entering the director¡¯s office.


    She had caused this mess. She felt a surge of remorse.


    Yu Xiao wondered how George was doing. How bad were his injuries? He was the chief doctor, he had to be okay, right? He couldn¡¯t be worse off than Gu Shu, who had survived a beating from the octopus monster.


    She was drowning in guilt, when her phone rang, startling her.


    She grabbed the phone and checked the caller ID. A strange number. That was odd. Who could be calling her?


    The phone buzzed in her hand as she wondered, Bloody hell, how did anyone get her number in the Fourth Hospital?


    She held up the phone for Zhao Lan and Zhou Xiao Zhen to see. ¡°Do you think it¡¯s a wrong number?¡± she asked.


    Zhao Lan gave her a serious look and shook her head. ¡°No way. This is the Fourth Hospital. No one gets a wrong number here. It must be someone important. Or someone creepy. Either way, you should answer it.¡±


    Yu Xiao hesitated. She was not easily scared by horror movie-style calls, especially when she had a bunch of talismans in her pocket. But she was also curious. Who could it be?


    She pressed the green button and put the phone to her ear. ¡°Hello, who¡¯s this?¡±


    The voice on the phone was crisp and clear, speaking flawless Mandarin that could rival any news anchor. ¡°Greetings. I presume I¡¯m speaking to the Dean of St. Elizabeth Psychiatric Hospital, also known as the ¡®Deaf Descendant¡¯ of the Health Bureau?¡±


    Yu Xiao blinked in surprise. She had never heard anyone introduce her so formally. She felt a surge of nervousness. ¡°Yes, that¡¯s me. Who are you?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m an agent from the Medical Disputes Office. I¡¯m calling to investigate a matter of concern. Do you have a moment to talk?¡±


    ¡°¡­ Yes, of course.¡±


    ¡°Thank you for your cooperation. I understand that you met a person named Nightmare during your last treatment session at Dream Hospital. Is that correct?¡±


    ¡°Yes, that¡¯s correct.¡±


    ¡°Can you tell me if there was any kind of relationship between you and Nightmare during the treatment? Did you have any romantic or sexual involvement with him? Did you lie to him or manipulate his feelings?¡±


    ¡°No, no, absolutely not!¡± Yu Xiao exclaimed. ¡°Let me explain: I went to Dream Hospital for a treatment session, and my doctor, Fan Xing, assigned me a task to wake up Dr. Qu from her coma. While I was doing that, I accidentally rescued Nightmare from a dangerous situation. I didn¡¯t know who he was at the time. I thought he was just a random NPC in the dream. But after I saved him, he became obsessed with me. He started to stalk me and harass me. He even confessed his love for me. But I swear, I never encouraged him or led him on. I always rejected him and told him to leave me alone.¡±


    ¡°I see. Thank you for clarifying that. One last question: where were you last night?¡±


    Yu Xiao felt a pang of fear, but she kept her voice steady. ¡°I was in the ward for most of the night. My doctor, Dr. George, woke me up around midnight for some hospital work. I helped him with some patient treatments at St. Elizabeth¡¯s. Then I went back to the ward. I have proof of my whereabouts. I can show you my phone records and the statements of two other patients who shared the ward with me.¡±


    ¡°Very well, please pay attention. We have credible sources that state Doctor George, the one who attended to you at Saint Elizabeth, firmly believes that you ordered Nightmare to assault him. Is that accurate?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s bullshit!¡± Yu Xiao spat.


    ¡°Please, calm yourself. There¡¯s no call for obscenity. That¡¯s not how civilised people communicate¡­¡±


    ¡°George is trying to screw me over!¡± Yu Xiao shouted. ¡°I had nothing to do with Nightmare last night. How could I have told him anything? He¡¯s a lying sack of shit, he¡¯s spiteful, he¡¯s got a vendetta, he¡¯s been plotting to get rid of me for ages!!¡±


    ¡°Alright, alright. What is the reason for George¡¯s animosity? Do you have any disputes with him?¡±


    ¡°Disputes? Certainly!¡± Yu Xiao exclaimed. ¡°He¡¯s been opposed to me ever since I became the Dean of Saint Elizabeth. Then, during the hospital inspection, he pretended to support me in front of the higher-ups, and I thought we were allies. But no, he still wanted to betray me. Sob¡­ I¡¯m so injured. I¡¯ve not only lost a friend, but also the most valuable thing in the world: trust. I¡¯m in agony¡­¡±


    ¡°¡­Alright, we understand. Don¡¯t fret, the Medical Dispute Office will be impartial to everyone. Try to stay positive. Goodbye.¡±


    ¡°One moment.¡± Yu Xiao interjected. ¡°Is your Medical Dispute Office always accessible? Oh, I was just curious, in case I encounter Nightmare again and need to inform you.¡±


    ¡°No, it¡¯s not. We¡¯re open from eight in the morning till five in the afternoon. There¡¯s no one here at other times.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    With a sigh, Yu Xiao tossed her phone onto the bed and dabbed her eyes with a tissue. She hated crying, especially when no tears came out. ¡°Can you believe it? George betrayed me. He actually accused me.¡±


    Zhao Lan leaned forward, her face etched with concern. ¡°What? Who told you that? The Medical Dispute Office? What did they ask?¡±


    Yu Xiao nodded, her voice trembling as she repeated the questions they had asked her. She felt like a criminal, even though she had done nothing wrong.


    Zhao Lan gave her hand a reassuring pat. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Smiley. You told them the truth, didn¡¯t you? They can¡¯t prove anything. George is just trying to save his own ass.¡±


    Yu Xiao groaned and rubbed her forehead. ¡°When will this end? Should we go into an instance and hide from all this mess?¡±


    Zhao Lan shook her head firmly. ¡°That¡¯s not a good idea. Besides, do you really think the instances are any safer? Nightmare is out there, hunting us down. He can infiltrate any instance he wants. The ward is the only place where we have some protection.¡±


    ¡°Right,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen agreed, ¡°We¡¯ll just sit tight in the ward until they nab that bastard Nightmare.¡±


    Yu Xiao sighed and nodded. She felt useless and frustrated, but she knew there was nothing else she could do.


    ¡°Hey, cheer up,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen said, ¡°Let¡¯s not waste our time worrying. We still have some work to do. The mall orders for the talismans are still pending.¡±


    Yu Xiao forced a smile and decided to distract herself. She and Zhou Xiao Zhen got busy with sorting out the orders, packing the talismans, and waiting for the courier to pick them up.


    Despite the courier being a grumpy and rude ghost, he was punctual and reliable. He showed up on time, but he didn¡¯t bother to greet them.


    ¡°Give me the damn package!¡±


    Yu Xiao¡¯s mood soured even more when she heard his snappy voice. She wanted to snap back at him, but she knew it was pointless. He was just a courier, doing his job. She handed him the package, and he snatched it from her, saying, ¡°By the way, the monthly subscription fee is going up next month.¡±


    ¡°What?!¡± Yu Xiao exclaimed. ¡°Are you kidding me? You¡¯re robbing us blind!¡±


    The courier glared at her. ¡°Don¡¯t blame me, lady. It¡¯s not my fault. The prices are going up everywhere.¡±


    ¡°Bullshit!¡± Yu Xiao spat. ¡°The basic points for entering a dungeon haven¡¯t changed, but the delivery fee has skyrocketed. How do you expect us to make a living?¡± She was furious. ¡°Don¡¯t think I¡¯ll let you get away with this. I¡¯m a Health Bureau inspector, you know. I¡¯ll file a complaint against you every single day. If it doesn¡¯t work the first time, I¡¯ll do it again. And again. And again. Until you¡¯re fired!¡±


    ¡°Whatever¡­¡± the courier muttered, his voice dripping with contempt. ¡°Go ahead and try. See if I care.¡±


    ¡°Hold on!¡± Yu Xiao shouted, stopping him from leaving. ¡°You¡¯re not done yet. You still have to deliver the packages properly, you hear me? Even if I report you, you still have to do your job¡­¡±


    The courier slammed the door behind him, and Yu Xiao heard his heavy footsteps echoing in the corridor. He sounded like he was stomping on purpose.


    ¡°Calm down,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen said, rubbing Yu Xiao¡¯s back. ¡°Don¡¯t let that jerk get to you. He¡¯s just a miserable and ugly ghost. Think about how pathetic he is, carrying around all that extra weight. Doesn¡¯t that make you feel better?¡±


    Yu Xiao: ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°Come on, Smiley, don¡¯t be so hard on yourself,¡± Zhao Lan said, wrapping an arm around her shoulder. ¡°How about this: I¡¯ll put on the wig, and you can pretend I¡¯m your dream guy for the night. Sound good?¡±


    Yu Xiao: ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°Damn, I just remembered,¡± Zhao Lan smacked her forehead, ¡°The wig is still on cooled down from the last time you used it.¡±


    ¡°Who is your dream guy, anyway, Smiley?¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen piped up, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. ¡°Can I snuggle with him too?¡±


    Yu Xiao: ¡°My dream guy is Thanos!¡±


    ¡°Wow~¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen gasped, impressed. ¡°Smiley, you like them big and bad, huh?¡±


    ¡°If I were Thanos, the first thing I¡¯d do is snap that annoying delivery guy out of existence¡­¡± Yu Xiao trailed off as her phone buzzed again, another unknown caller.


    She sighed. She had no time for jokes. ¡°Hello, who is this?¡±


    ¡°Hello, this is Health Bureau. I¡¯m calling to inform you that Dr. George, the attending doctor at St. Elizabeth Hospital, has been injured and is unable to work. The Dean of St. Elizabeth Hospital will take over his duties temporarily. There will be a new batch of patients arriving at the hospital at two o¡¯clock this afternoon, so please be ready¡­¡±


    ¡°Wait a minute,¡± Yu Xiao cut him off, ¡°Didn¡¯t Nightmare just attack St. Elizabeth¡¯s? Is it safe for me to go there?¡±


    ¡°Well, yes, in theory. He has already escaped from the scene.¡±


    ¡°What if he comes back?¡±


    ¡°He won¡¯t. The staff at the Fifth Hospital have reported signs of Nightmare¡¯s presence. He¡¯s not at St. Elizabeth¡¯s anymore¡­¡±


    Yu Xiao felt a wave of relief wash over her.


    She hung up and smiled at her friends. ¡°I¡¯m going to St. Elizabeth¡¯s this afternoon to fill in for George. The Health Bureau said they¡¯ve located Nightmare at the Fifth Hospital, so they should catch him soon.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s awesome.¡±


    Zhao Lan and Zhou Xiao Zhen cheered for Yu Xiao, and ran to the door to get her some breakfast before she left.


    The morning passed in a lazy blur, as the three friends lounged on the bed, gossiping and giggling about everything and nothing. Yu Xiao shared her stories of college life, while Misty gave her a reality check on the struggles of adulthood.


    They were so engrossed in their conversation that they didn¡¯t notice the sun shifting in the sky, until Yu Xiao glanced at the clock and saw that it was almost two. She jumped out of bed, cursing under her breath. Her wig was still too hot to use, and she couldn¡¯t morph into George. But she also couldn¡¯t let anyone see her real face.


    Zhao Lan came to her rescue, offering her a clever solution. She could wear the wig, without changing, and cover her face with a mask. She could pretend to be a stand-in doctor.


    It was a brilliant idea. Yu Xiao grabbed the wig, threw on a white coat, and was about to chant. But before she started, a loud knock echoed through the ward.


    ¡°Delivery!¡±


    ¡°Another delivery for you, Smiley sis?¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen asked, as she made her way to the door.


    ¡°What?¡± Yu Xiao frowned, confused. ¡°I didn¡¯t order anything.¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen opened the door.


    The delivery guy outside looked impatient. ¡°Are you ¡®Deaf Descendant¡¯? This is for ¡®Deaf Descendant¡¯.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m her roommate.¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen said, reaching for the package.


    ¡°No, it has to be signed by the recipient.¡±


    ¡°Ugh.¡± Yu Xiao checked the time, feeling anxious. She rushed to the door and snatched the package.


    It was a small box, wrapped in plain paper. Yu Xiao asked, ¡°Who sent this?¡±


    The delivery guy shrugged. ¡°Why don¡¯t you look for yourself?¡±


    ¡°¡­¡± Yu Xiao didn¡¯t have time to argue with him. She stuffed the box into her coat pocket and said, ¡°Precious, Misty, I¡¯ll be back as soon as I can. Let¡¯s have dinner together, okay?¡±


    With that, she left the ward, and in the blink of an eye, she was at St. Elizabeth¡¯s.


    The hospital was quiet, eerily so. Yu Xiao crept to the nurse¡¯s station and whispered, ¡°Is Nightmare here?¡±


    The nurse looked at her with fear in her eyes and shook her head, as if she wanted to disappear.


    Yu Xiao breathed a sigh of relief as she checked the time. She still had a few minutes before the patients would arrive at Saint Elizabeth. She decided to pay a visit to George, who was recovering in his office.


    She found him lying on a makeshift bed, covered with a blanket. His hair was a mess, the only sign that he had been in a fight last night and got injured. He looked up at her with a cold and hostile stare. Hmm? He didn¡¯t seem happy to see her.


    ¡°George,¡± Yu Xiao said, clasping her hands behind her back. She tried to sound casual, but her voice betrayed a hint of emotion. ¡°How are you feeling? Are your injuries healing?¡±


    He didn¡¯t answer. He just glared at her, as if he wanted to burn a hole through her mask.


    ¡°Don¡¯t give me that look,¡± Yu Xiao said, shaking her head. ¡°I didn¡¯t ask Nightmare to beat you up. I barely got a glimpse of him, let alone told him to hit you.¡±


    George knew she was telling the truth, and that made him feel even worse. If he hadn¡¯t been so smart and sent Nightmare after her, he wouldn¡¯t have¡­


    ¡°But I¡¯m really hurt, you know,¡± Yu Xiao said, turning away from him. She sounded like she was about to cry. ¡°I thought we were friends. I thought you liked me. If you hate me so much, why don¡¯t you just transfer to another hospital and be an attending doctor there? I don¡¯t want to make your life miserable. You¡­ you can do whatever you want.¡±


    She walked out of the office, leaving George alone. He watched her go, feeling a surge of anger and pain. He wanted to hiss, why should I be the one to leave? I was here first. You¡¯re the intruder. You should go.


    But he couldn¡¯t say anything. He was afraid that if he opened his mouth, he would vomit a stream of black blood.


    **


    The patients had arrived. They looked around with curiosity and awe. So this was the famous Saint Elizabeth, the hospital that had been making headlines lately?


    Yu Xiao, wearing her mask, greeted them with a smile. ¡°Good afternoon, welcome to Saint Elizabeth. I¡¯m your stand-in attending doctor, Tan Qiao Yin.¡±


    **


    Yu Xiao had just finished treating the patients when she headed back to George¡¯s office. She didn¡¯t want to risk being recognized by anyone who might come looking for her. After all, she was supposed to be the Dean, not a doctor. So she figured she¡¯d hide out in George¡¯s office for a bit.


    She walked in and saw George fumbling with his phone, which was ringing loudly. She reached over and snatched it from his hand before he could protest.


    ¡°Here, let me,¡± Yu Xiao said, reaching for his phone. She moved so fast that he didn¡¯t have a chance to protest. She caught a glimpse of the caller ID as she handed him the phone. It read ¡°Lolita.¡±


    Of course. The attending physicians were all in cahoots, just as she suspected. She pressed the answer button and held the phone to George¡¯s ear.


    Lolita¡¯s laughter burst out of the speaker, loud and obnoxious. ¡°Ahahaha¡­ George, heard you got your ass kicked?¡±


    George: ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°Ahahaha¡­ you¡¯re such a loser. Are you bedridden now?¡± Lolita taunted, her voice dripping with schadenfreude. ¡°So pathetic, just like a useless tree. You can¡¯t even get revenge right, you always end up worse. Not like me, I always have a plan when I want to get back at someone. Hmph, just you wait, I have the perfect way to deal with that ¡®Deaf Descendant¡¯.¡±


    ¡°Really?¡± Yu Xiao asked, curious. She took the phone from George and spoke into it. ¡°What way?¡±


    The line went silent for a moment, then Lolita¡¯s voice turned shrill. ¡°¡®Deaf Descendant¡¯?!¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s me,¡± Yu Xiao said. ¡°Long time no see, miss me?¡±


    ¡°Aaahh!! Villain! Get out of my ear! I don¡¯t want to hear your voice¡­¡± Lolita screamed into the phone. ¡°Why did you answer the call? George, you traitor, I hate you! I¡¯ll never forgive you!¡±


    The line went dead with a click, and Yu Xiao locked eyes with George. He looked pale and defeated, his voice barely a whisper.


    ¡°Give it back.¡±


    Yu Xiao ignored his plea and scrolled through his contacts. She recognized some of the names, like Useless Tree and Fading Star.


    She copied all of George¡¯s contacts to her own phone, whether she knew them or not nor caring if they were friend or foe. She might need them later.


    She tossed the phone back to George and said, ¡°Rest well and recover soon.¡±


    George closed his eyes, wishing he could escape this hellish world.


    Yu Xiao felt like she had hit the jackpot. She waited a little longer, but no patients came to find her. She decided to go back to the Dean¡¯s office for a while.


    She checked the new contacts on her phone, and then remembered the package in her pocket.


    She took it out and weighed it in her hand, wondering who had sent it to her. She shrugged and tore it open, only to find a tiny, pale yellow kitten inside.


    ©¤©¤©¤ ? ©¤©¤ ¡î ©¤©¤ ? ©¤©¤©¤

 Chapter 98: Courier Arrested

    A ball of yellow and white fur, no bigger than Yu Xiao¡¯s palm, tumbled out of the delivery box and onto the table. The tiny kitten looked frail and malnourished, barely able to stand on its shaky legs. It lifted its head with a tremor, fixing its watery, oversized eyes on Yu Xiao.


    She froze in shock. Who the hell sent her a cat?


    The kitten gazed at her with a pitiful expression, as if begging for something. Its eyes grew misty, filling with tears that threatened to spill over any second.


    Was it¡­crying? Yu Xiao felt a surge of panic. Someone had sent her a cat, and this cat was crying at the sight of her!


    ¡°Cough¡­¡±


    The kitten shuddered, hacking up a mouthful of blood. The crimson stain contrasted sharply with its soft fur. It collapsed on the table, curling into a ball, but it didn¡¯t look away from Yu Xiao. It kept its head up, as if refusing to give up.


    Someone had sent her a kitten that was crying and bleeding¡­


    Yu Xiao felt a wave of nausea, her mind blanking out. She stared at the kitten, trying to make sense of the situation. Why did those eyes look so familiar?


    A horrifying realisation dawned on her. She gasped, her eyes widening. ¡°You¡¯re Nightmare, aren¡¯t you?!¡±


    ¡°Meow¡­¡± The kitten stretched out a pink paw towards her, reaching for her sleeve. She jerked back, avoiding its touch.


    ¡°Are you really Nightmare?!¡± Yu Xiao¡¯s scalp prickled, her hand fumbling for her phone. She needed to call the medical disputes office, right now.


    ¡°Ahem.¡± The kitten hacked up some more blood, its eyes filling with tears. It fixed its gaze on her and said, ¡°You liar.¡±


    She froze, her hand still clutching the phone.


    ¡°Liar.¡± The kitten said again, its voice weak and accusing.


    She felt a pang of guilt, but quickly suppressed it. She had to do this. She had no choice. She took a step back and tried to reason with the kitten. ¡°I¡¯m not lying to you. Really, I¡¯m not. But you have to let me go. I can¡¯t stay here, don¡¯t you see?¡±


    The kitten¡¯s tears spilled over, running down its furry cheeks. It looked utterly heartbroken, as if she had crushed its spirit.


    ¡°You hate me.¡± It sobbed, its eyes like two pools of water. ¡°You hate me, don¡¯t you?¡±


    She hesitated, not knowing what to say. ¡°I don¡¯t¡­hate you. Exactly.¡±


    The kitten perked up a little, its ears twitching. It looked at her with a hopeful and wary expression. ¡°If you don¡¯t hate me, why lie to me?¡±


    She sighed, rubbing her forehead. ¡°It¡¯s complicated. Can you understand? We¡¯re different. I¡¯m human, and you¡¯re not. We can¡¯t be together.¡±


    ¡°Kittens aren¡¯t human either.¡± Nightmare said. ¡°But humans and kittens can be together.¡±


    ¡°Blimey,¡± Yu Xiao muttered, staring at the creature. ¡°How can you say that? You¡¯re not a cat. You aren¡¯t even a living being.¡±


    The creature lifted his head and fixed his gaze on her. His eyes were large and dark, filled with emotion. ¡°I can be a cat,¡± he said, his voice low and raspy. It curled his tail around his body, as if trying to hide. ¡°If I became a cat, would you stop abandoning me?¡±


    Yu Xiao felt a pang in her chest. She opened her mouth, but no words came out. She had nothing to say to this thing that was itself a Nightmare.


    ¡°Why do you insist on following me?¡± she asked, breaking the silence. She tried to sound stern, but her voice wavered. ¡°What¡¯s so good about following me?¡±


    ¡°You saved me,¡± Nightmare said, his eyes shining with gratitude. ¡°Every time, I would die painfully in that room, and you¡¯re the only one who saved me. I want to be with you. I don¡¯t want to go back to that room anymore.¡±


    Yu Xiao flinched. She remembered the dreams, the nightmare, where she saw Nightmare being tortured and killed over and over again. She felt his pain, his fear, his despair. She knew he was telling the truth. If she were in his place, she would want to escape too. But she couldn¡¯t help him. She was just a person trapped in a survival game in the hospital. Why should she save Nightmare?


    ¡°Actually, I lied to you. You¡¯re different from those ordinary staff members. I can¡¯t transfer you to St. Elizabeth¡¯s,¡± she said, her voice cracking. ¡°Have you heard the news lately? The whole hospital is looking for you. I can¡¯t keep you at St. Elizabeth¡¯s.¡±


    Nightmare¡¯s eyes widened, then filled with tears. He started crying again, but made no sound. He just lay there on the table, motionless, letting the tears roll down his face. Soon, a small puddle formed on the table.


    Yu Xiao watched, feeling utterly helpless. She wished he would stop crying, or scream, or attack her. Anything but this. She could handle him if he was strong and aggressive. She could fight him, or run away, or reason with him. But seeing him like this, so pitiful, so sad, and crying, Yu Xiao didn¡¯t know what to do. She felt a cold sweat on her forehead, and her scalp tingle with anxiety.


    ¡°Ahem.¡± He let out a weak bloody cough and looked up at Yu Xiao with pain in his eyes.


    Yu Xiao backed away, her heart pounding. ¡°What the hell happened to you? Did George do this to you?¡±


    Nightmare shook his head and stretched out a claw, as he asking for help. ¡°No, not him,¡± he said. ¡°The Fifth Hospital. They found me. They wanted to take me. I fought back. I ran.¡±


    Oh God, Yu Xiao regretted asking that question. It only made her feel worse. S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    She swallowed hard and tried to change the subject. ¡°Hold on a second. You¡­ How did you get here?¡± She pointed at the cardboard box on the floor. ¡°How did you end up in the delivery package?¡±


    Nightmare blinked and tilted his head. ¡°Well, after I got away, I met this guy in green clothes. He said he knew where to find you and he could take me to you. He said I had to be small. So I became a cat.¡±


    Good grief, it was the delivery guy! It was him. He had tricked Nightmare into coming to her. But why? Did he do it out of pity for the poor creature? No way. Yu Xiao knew he was not that nice. He must have had a malicious motive. He wanted to hurt her by sending Nightmare to her doorstep.


    He was such a bastard!


    Yu Xiao paced around the office, fuming. What was his plan? Did he expect Nightmare to attack her, to get revenge for her betrayal? Or did he have another motive, like reporting her to the authorities, to get a reward for exposing a fugitive?


    With a sudden jerk, Yu Xiao whipped her head around and locked her gaze on the tiny kitten Nightmare. The furball looked at her with wide, innocent eyes.


    Nightmare¡¯s mouth opened, but no sound came out. He seemed unsure of what to say or do. Yu Xiao shook her head and said firmly, ¡°Nope, you can¡¯t stay here with me.¡±


    A flash of hurt crossed Nightmare¡¯s face, and his eyes shimmered with unshed tears.


    Yu Xiao felt a pang of guilt, but she couldn¡¯t afford to be sentimental. She softened her tone and asked, ¡°How are you holding up? Do you have enough strength to run?¡±


    **


    The office clock ticked past the half-hour mark, and Yu Xiao was the only one left. She glanced at the door, then reached for her phone. It was time to make the call.


    She dialled the number of the Medical Disputes Office and waited for an answer.


    ¡°Hello,¡± she said in a low voice. ¡°I have something to report.¡±


    ¡°¡­Yes, go ahead. What is it?¡±


    She took a deep breath and said, ¡°The courier from the Sixth Hospital is working with Nightmare. He helped him escape¡­¡±


    **


    The corridors of the Sixth Hospital were a maze of shadows and light. Rooms lined both sides, some illuminated by flickering bulbs, others shrouded in darkness. Weird creatures lurked in the corners, darting in and out of sight.


    A loud, scraping noise broke the silence.


    Something heavy was being dragged along the floor.


    The creatures flinched at the sound, then scrambled to hide. They squeezed into the cracks and crevices, or curled up into balls. They tried to make themselves invisible, or at least inconspicuous.


    A tall, green figure emerged from the gloom, wearing a duckbill cap that hid most of his face. He had one hand in his pocket, and the other on his shoulder, where he dragged a huge green bag that towered over him.


    He seemed to be in a good mood, walking with a swagger, speeding up and slowing down at random. Every now and then, he would stop and bang on the doors of the rooms, shouting at the occupants to come out and get their deliveries.


    He was halfway down the corridor when he saw someone at the other end. He tilted his head, curious. ¡°What are you doing here?¡±


    A young man in a white shirt stood there, looking pale and thin, as if he was sick. His hair was a bit too long, covering part of his eyes. He lifted his head and met the green figure¡¯s gaze. His eyes were clear but dull.


    He didn¡¯t say a word, but walked towards him with steady steps.


    The delivery guy¡¯s patience was wearing thin. He snapped at the guy in the white shirt. ¡°Hey, you. What the hell are you doing here? Did you off ¡®Deaf Descendant¡¯ or something?¡±


    The guy in the white shirt didn¡¯t answer. He just walked towards the delivery guy, closing the distance between them. They were eye to eye, but the delivery guy had more muscle on his frame.


    The delivery guy felt a surge of anger. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you? Cat got your tongue? You looking for trouble? You don¡¯t stand a chance against me, you know.¡±


    The guy in the white shirt remained silent. Then, without warning, he wrapped his arms around the delivery guy and hugged him.


    Delivery guy: ¡°What the fuck?¡±


    ¡°Thank you,¡± the guy in the white shirt said in a low, soothing voice. ¡°Thank you for saving me.¡±


    The delivery guy was stunned. He had seen some weird shit in his years at the hospital, but this topped them all.


    Before he could react, the guy in the white shirt released him and darted away in the opposite direction.


    The corridor was quiet again, except for the delivery guy¡¯s heavy breathing. He stood there for a moment, trying to process what had just happened. He gave up and continued his delivery rounds, dragging his feet. His energy was drained, and the ghosts he encountered seemed to sense it and shrank away from him.


    ¡°Woof, woof, woof¡­¡±


    He didn¡¯t know how much time had passed when he heard the sound of a dog barking.


    He barely had time to blink before he was hemmed in by a wall of muscle and metal. Security guards towered over him, their faces grim and their weapons drawn. And in front of him, a monstrous creature loomed. A three-headed hellhound, its teeth bared in a snarl. It was almost as tall as he was, and it looked ready to rip him apart.


    ¡°You¡¯re under arrest for harbouring Nightmare, assisting in his escape, and breaking hospital rules,¡± the hellhound growled. ¡°Don¡¯t resist.¡±


    He stared at the beast, his mouth dry. ¡°I-I didn¡¯t do anything.¡±


    ¡°Save it for the interrogation,¡± the hellhound snapped. ¡°We have proof, and a witness.¡± It flicked its tail, and a hulking man stepped forward, holding a small skull in his hand. ¡°Tell him what you saw, ghost.¡±


    The skull shivered, its eye sockets empty and dark. ¡°P-please, don¡¯t hurt me,¡± it whimpered. ¡°I was just passing by. I saw Nightmare embrace him, and thank him. He was so happy. I was afraid to listen more, I ran away¡­¡±


    He felt a cold sweat break out on his forehead. ¡°That¡¯s not true.¡±


    ¡°Hmph! Shut up!¡± barked the hellhound. ¡°You¡¯re lying, and we know it.¡± It glared at him with all six of its eyes rolled simultaneously, and he felt a chill run down his spine. ¡°You¡¯re coming with us, whether you like it or not!¡±


    **


    A small yellow cat leaped from the window sill, landing softly on the ground. It padded towards the door, scratching it gently with its claws. The door opened a crack, and a pair of bright eyes peered out. A girl in a white coat whispered, ¡°Did anyone see you?¡±


    The cat shook its head, then lifted its paw, hooking it on the girl¡¯s pant leg and attempted to climb up.


    With a firm grip on the kitten¡¯s scruff, Yu Xiao brought it into her office. She set it down on her desk and settled into her chair, gazing at it with a blend of curiosity and satisfaction.


    ¡°Well?¡± she demanded. ¡°Did you get the job done?¡±


    The kitten nodded, its tiny claws digging into her sleeve. ¡°Yes, ma¡¯am,¡± it said in a squeaky voice. ¡°Just like you said.¡±


    Yu Xiao grinned wickedly, imagining the delivery guy¡¯s face. ¡®That¡¯ll teach him to mess with me,¡¯ she thought. ¡®He won¡¯t be so smug next time he sees me.¡¯


    She subconsciously reached out to stroke the kitten¡¯s fur to pet it, but then she remembered that it was not a real kitten. She pulled her hand back.


    ¡°You did good. You should rest now. You¡¯ve been through a lot.¡±


    The kitten looked up at her with hopeful eyes. When she withdrew her hand, it let out a small whimper of sadness.


    ¡°Are you hungry?¡±


    The kitten shook its head.


    ¡°Thirsty?¡±


    Another shake.


    ¡°Anything you need?¡±


    The kitten shook its head for the third time.


    Yu Xiao sighed. ¡°Okay, then,¡± she said, getting up from her chair. ¡°I have to go. I¡¯ll come back as soon as I can.¡±


    She glanced around her office, making sure everything was in order. ¡°Stay here, okay? Don¡¯t make any noise. No one can know you¡¯re here. Especially not George. He¡¯s a jerk.¡±


    The kitten cocked its head, a gleam in its eyes. ¡°In a few days, when I¡¯m all healed up, I¡¯m going to find George and beat him to death.¡±


    Yu Xiao wiped the sweat from her forehead. ¡°Please, no. You can¡¯t kill him. If you do, they¡¯ll find out about you and we¡¯ll both be in trouble. I¡¯ll get out of here soon, but you have to promise me you¡¯ll behave, okay?¡±


    **


    She hurried back to the ward, where Misty and Precious had finished their meals.


    Zhao Lan looked up from her phone and smiled. ¡°Hey, you¡¯re back. We saved some food for you, come and join us.¡±


    Yu Xiao nodded and took a seat, picking at her food.


    Zhao Lan leaned in and lowered her voice. ¡°So, how was it at Saint Elizabeth? Did you run into any trouble?¡±


    Yu Xiao blinked. ¡°What?¡±


    Zhao Lan rolled her eyes. ¡°Don¡¯t play dumb. You know what I mean. Did you see any danger there?¡±


    Yu Xiao hesitated. ¡°No¡­no danger.¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen sighed in relief. ¡°That¡¯s good to hear. Misty and I were worried sick about you. You don¡¯t think Nightmare will show up there again, do you?¡±


    Yu Xiao licked her lips, feeling a knot in her stomach. ¡°¡­About that¡­¡±


    Zhao Lan narrowed her eyes, piercing Yu Xiao with a look that could cut glass. ¡°What¡¯s with the hesitation, Smiley?¡± she asked, her voice dripping with suspicion. ¡°You¡¯re not keeping some naughty little secret from us, are you?¡±


    Yu Xiao bit her lip, weighing her options. Then she motioned for them to come closer, as if she had something important to say. They leaned in, curious and cautious, and Yu Xiao wrapped her arms around their necks, pulling them into a tight huddle. She whispered in their ears, barely audible.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen gasped, her face draining of colour. ¡°You did what?¡± she hissed. ¡°You¡¯ve been hiding Nightmare in the office?¡±


    ¡°Shh¡­¡± Yu Xiao pressed a finger to her lips. ¡°Not so loud.¡±


    ¡°Smiley, you¡¯re¡­ you¡¯re insane!¡± Zhao Lan sputtered, her eyes wide with disbelief. ¡°How could you do something so risky?¡±


    Yu Xiao felt a surge of anxiety. ¡°Do you think I should call the Medical Disputes Office right now?¡±


    ¡°No¡­ no, don¡¯t do that,¡± Zhao Lan said, calming down a bit. ¡°You¡¯ve already done it, and you¡¯ve done it well. Let¡¯s just keep it this way for now. You¡¯re the only one who has access to the office, so the chances of anyone finding out about Nightmare are low.¡±


    ¡°Okay,¡± Yu Xiao nodded. ¡°I¡¯ll trust you on this, Misty.¡±


    ¡°¡­Trust me?¡± Zhao Lan scoffed. ¡®You¡¯re the one who¡¯s been making all the decisions without consulting us. This little rascal clearly had a plan all along, and didn¡¯t bother to tell us.¡¯


    Zhou Xiao Zhen groped blindly. ¡°Bloody hell,¡± she hissed. ¡°Is this what they call cannery in a golden cage?¡±


    Yu Xiao gasped. ¡°!¡±


    ¡°Easy there, Precious,¡± Zhao Lan said. ¡°No need to get all poetic on us.¡±


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Yu Xiao said appreciatively, ¡°Misty¡¯s right.¡±


    Zhao Lan snorted. ¡°Right? You have a cat in the golden office.¡±


    ¡°Misty!¡± Yu Xiao glared at her. ¡°You¡¯re so mean. I¡¯m going to punish you tonight. I¡¯m going to turn into a sewer mermaid and crawl into bed with you.¡±


    Zhao Lan shuddered at the mental image. Zhou Xiao Zhen, still confused, asked, ¡°What the hell is a sewer mermaid?¡±


    **


    The next morning, Yu Xiao was the first to get up. She had made up her mind to apply for the next treatment today. She couldn¡¯t stand sitting around and doing nothing. It made her think too much.


    ¡°Morning,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen said, rubbing her eyes. ¡°I had the weirdest dream last night. I was with Leonardo, and Yan Kuan was so jealous, he chased him around with a water gun.¡±


    ¡°Leonardo and a water gun¡­¡± Yu Xiao shook her head. ¡°That sounds like a nightmare, not a dream.¡±


    ¡°Hmph!¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen pulled the covers over her head. ¡°You¡¯re no fun!¡±


    Zhao Lan got out of bed, wiping the cold sweat off her forehead. ¡°I had a real nightmare last night.¡±


    ¡°What kind of nightmare?¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen asked, peeking out from the covers. ¡°Worse than our usual life?¡±


    Zhao Lan¡¯s eyes widened as she recounted her nightmare. ¡°I was in a wedding dress, about to consummate my marriage, when I pulled back the sheets and saw¡­ an octopus. A freaking octopus in a suit, with tentacles and suckers and everything. It smiled at me with its beak and said, ¡®Hello, darling.¡¯¡± She wrapped her arms around herself, trembling. ¡°It was the most horrifying thing I¡¯ve ever seen. Worse than any ghost or demon.¡±


    Yu Xiao suppressed a shudder. She was glad she had slept peacefully last night, without any dreams to disturb her.


    She glanced at the clock on the wall. ¡°Hey, why don¡¯t we apply for an instance today?¡± she suggested, hoping to lighten the mood. ¡°The sooner we get out of this hellhole, the better, right?¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen nodded, her eyes flashing with determination. She clenched her fists, as if ready to punch anyone who got in their way. ¡°Hell yeah. We can¡¯t waste any more time here. We have to beat this thing and get our lives back.¡±


    Zhao Lan smiled weakly, clasping her hands in front of her chest. ¡°I agree. I just hope this time we can go through the instance smoothly, without any weird mishaps.¡± She looked at Yu Xiao with a hint of accusation. ¡°You know, like last time.¡±


    Yu Xiao felt a pang of guilt. She knew she was responsible for most of the trouble they had encountered in the previous instances. She had been too curious, too reckless, too impulsive. She had provoked the doctor, angered the NPCs, and triggered the traps. She vowed to behave better this time, to follow the rules and stay out of trouble.


    Ding!


    The morning news interrupted their conversation.


    ¡°Good morning, everyone! Let¡¯s start this beautiful day with some fresh news~.¡±


    ¡°¡­ Yesterday afternoon, a shocking incident occurred at the Sixth Hospital. Nightmare, a former staff member who had gone rogue, infiltrated the hospital and clashed with the security team. He managed to evade capture and escape, leaving behind a trail of chaos and destruction. According to a witness, a patient known as ¡®The Deaf Descendant,¡¯ Nightmare had an accomplice, a courier from the Sixth Hospital, who helped him break out of his confinement. The courier has been identified and suspended from duty, pending further investigation. The hospital authorities have issued a statement, assuring the public that they are doing everything in their power to track down and apprehend Nightmare, and to prevent any further incidents¡­¡±


    ¡°Attention, attention. The Fourth Hospital is in urgent need of a delivery person. No age, gender, or experience required. Apply now and get a generous bonus.¡±


    Yu Xiao burst into laughter. She couldn¡¯t help but feel smug. He had taunted her, saying if she had the guts to do it. Well, she had shown him how gutsy she was. Hehehe, the report was filed successfully! How sweet was that?


    Zhou Xiao Zhen joined in her laughter, sharing her satisfaction. ¡°That serves him right. He was such a jerk. I hope the new delivery person is nicer. And cuter.¡±


    Yu Xiao shrugged. She didn¡¯t care much about the delivery person¡¯s personality or appearance. ¡°Whatever. I just hope they don¡¯t raise the delivery fee again. It¡¯s already too expensive.¡±


    Zhao Lan stretched and yawned, getting out of bed. She looked refreshed and ready for a new day. ¡°Okay, enough gossip. Let¡¯s get some rest. We have a big day tomorrow. We have to face the instance again.¡±


    **


    Yu Xiao blinked awake, feeling a dull ache in her head. She looked around, confused. She was in a hospital bed, but not the one she remembered. This was a shabby ward, with faded curtains and cracked tiles. There were two doors, one at the front and one at the back.


    She sat up, feeling a weight on her back. Reaching behind her, she found her small bag. Unzipping it, she proceeded to check her belongings. She frowned. She hated carrying bags, but she had no choice. She had too many things to keep track of.


    She glanced at the other beds. There was an old woman on her left, knitting a scarf. There was an old man on her right, reading a newspaper. They looked like ordinary patients, except for one thing.


    Where were Misty and Precious? They were always with her at the start of an instance.


    She cleared her throat and asked, ¡°Where am I?¡±


    The old woman looked up from her knitting and smiled. ¡°You¡¯re in the ward, dear.¡±


    ¡°Where are the others?¡±


    The old man lowered his newspaper and shrugged. ¡°They¡¯re in other wards, I guess.¡±


    What a mess. She swung her legs off the bed and demanded, ¡°Where¡¯s the doctor?¡±


    The old woman and the old man exchanged a glance. They said nothing.


    ¡°Why the silence?¡± She sensed something was wrong. She was about to confront them when she noticed a piece of paper on the bedside table. It was where her medical record should have been.


    She snatched the paper and read the words on it.


    Yu Xiao scanned the note with a frown.


    ¡°Within ten minutes, leaving the hospital room, one of the doors led to the road to hell. Once you¡¯ve seen the view outside the door, you couldn¡¯t open another door. Two old folks will guide you in the right direction, each answering one question.¡±


    What kind of bullshit was this? She had just wasted both of her questions on these two senile coots, without getting any useful information.


    She tossed the note aside and glared at the pair of wrinkled faces on the hospital bed. The old grandma was humming to herself, oblivious to everything, while the old man gazed out the window with a vacant expression.


    ¡°Come on, you can¡¯t give me one more answer?¡± Yu Xiao tried again, hoping for a miracle.


    No response.


    She sighed and reached into her pocket, pulling out a handful of talismans. Maybe she could bribe them with some magic.


    But no, that never worked here. This place was beyond redemption.


    ¡°Alright, fine. Have it your way. I was going to be nice to you, but you leave me no choice.¡± She rolled up her sleeves and marched to the old man¡¯s side, grabbing him by the collar and hoisting him up.


    The old man let out a startled yelp.


    ¡°Last chance. Anything you want to say?¡± Yu Xiao asked, her voice cold.


    The old man snorted and clamped his mouth shut.


    Yu Xiao shrugged and hoisted him over her shoulder. ¡°Your loss.¡± She marched to the closest door, kicked it open, and hurled him out without looking. She slammed the door behind her and spun around to face the old grandma, who was still humming a tuneless melody.


    She flashed her a saccharine smile. ¡°Now, where were we?¡±


    The old lady¡¯s eyes widened in terror. She clutched her sleeve and pointed at a door with a trembling finger.


    ¡°That one?¡± Yu Xiao raised an eyebrow. She didn¡¯t trust her, so she grabbed her by the collar and lifted her off the bed. She carried her to another door and said, ¡°You still have time to change your mind. I¡¯ll toss you out first.¡±


    The old lady¡¯s finger wavered, then switched to another door, the same one where the old man had flown out.


    ¡°You dare to lie to me!¡± Yu Xiao snarled. She was tempted to slap her, but she held back. She had made a promise to herself, not to mess with NPCs this time.


    She wasn¡¯t perfect, but she would try to behave.


    So she retraced her steps, opened the previous door, and threw the old lady out. She left the door open while keeping her eyes shut, but she didn¡¯t hear any noise outside, so she followed suit.


    As soon as she stepped out, the door behind her slammed shut.


    She found herself in a corridor of pure white, white walls, white floor, white doors, all spotless and pristine.


    She stood in front of a door, the old man and old lady cowering at her feet.


    What the hell was this place? Where were the other patients? The doctor?


    As Yu Xiao wondered, she heard a sound from the end of the corridor. It sounded like wheels rolling on the floor, getting louder and louder.


    A person in a wheelchair came into view, thin and frail, skin almost transparent. Sharp chin, large eyes, like a delicate porcelain doll. But he wore a white coat, as if to hide his weakness, because he was the doctor.

 Chapter 99: Alone

    Translator: InkyDragon (https://puukkiss.wixsite.com/inkydragon)


    The wheelchair-bound doctor greeted Yu Xiao with a faint smile as he observed the elderly couple beside her sprawled on the floor. ¡°Well, hello there, missy,¡± he said, his tone cheerful but didn¡¯t match his pale face. ¡°You¡¯re the first to venture out of the ward, aren¡¯t you?¡±


    ¡°Am I?¡± Yu Xiao mustered a smile, hoping to conceal the beads of sweat on her forehead. ¡°And what should I address you as?¡±


    ¡°Qing Shi (Çàʯ: ¡°a green stone¡± or ¡°a young rock¡±),¡± he replied, his demeanor as serene as his name implied. ¡°Just Qing Shi.¡±


    ¡°Uh-huh, I see. And the others?¡± Yu Xiao scanned the corridor, searching for her companions. ¡°Are they still confined to the ward? Should I wait for them here?¡±


    ¡°They¡¯re all still in the ward, yes,¡± Qing Shi confirmed with a nod. ¡°But there¡¯s no need to linger. You¡¯ll reunite with them when you depart from the hospital.¡±


    Leaving the hospital sounded simpler than it actually was. Anxiety surged within Yu Xiao. While she trusted Misty and Precious, navigating this hellhole alone seemed daunting.


    ¡°This hospital harbours many terrors,¡± Qing Shi remarked, his gaze darting around warily. ¡°Come nightfall, they awaken. You must escape before then. Once you¡¯re all outside, seek out the sage in the city. They¡¯ll aid you in saving this place, so the afflicted may find solace¡­¡±


    So, it was a three-fold quest: flee the hospital, locate the sage, and rescue the institution. Easy peasy, right?


    ¡°See those doors?¡± Qing Shi gestured toward the rows of rooms lining the corridor. ¡°Those are your predecessors¡ªthose who came before you. Knock, and they may offer guidance. But be careful. They¡¯ve been here for too long and aren¡¯t exactly friendly.¡±


    Having concluded his spiel, Qing Shi began to manoeuvre his wheelchair to depart.


    But a hand seized his wheelchair from behind, and Yu Xiao assumed control, propelling him along the corridor. ¡°Hey, Qing Shi, what¡¯s the story with your legs?¡± she inquired, pushing forward.


    Qing Shi tensed momentarily, taken aback by her boldness, before easing into a response. ¡°Born this way.¡±


    ¡°What a shame,¡± Yu Xiao remarked. ¡°With that handsome face, you could have been a heartbreaker if you could walk, huh?¡±


    A flicker of amusement crossed Qing Shi¡¯s face. ¡°We must leave this hospital before nightfall, or we¡¯re doomed.¡±


    ¡°I know, I know,¡± Yu Xiao said. ¡°But we have time. It¡¯s only morning. No need to panic. About those occupants in the wards¡ªare they former patients?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Qing Shi affirmed with a smirk. ¡°You¡¯re quite curious, aren¡¯t you?¡±


    ¡°Damn right,¡± Yu Xiao agreed. She had often pondered the fate of those who die during treatment. Did they disappear without a trace? Qing Shi¡¯s words gave her some clues.


    ¡°Well, if you¡¯re so intrigued, why not open a door and peek inside?¡±


    Yu Xiao halted, scrutinising Qing Shi. Whatever lay behind those doors, it certainly wasn¡¯t human anymore. He cautioned her against provoking them, yet now he tempted her to explore. That was a bad idea.


    ¡°You¡¯re mischievous,¡± Yu Xiao chuckled. ¡°Dr. Qing Shi, you¡¯re quite the trickster. Ever been smacked for it?¡±


    For a moment, Qing Shi¡¯s face hardened. He could tell she wasn¡¯t joking, even though she was smiling. Yet, he returned her grin. ¡°Not yet. Care to give it a shot?¡±


    Yu Xiao gave a mock frown, nudging Qing Shi with her elbow. ¡°You know, it¡¯s impolite to provoke others,¡± she teased, then flashed him a sly grin. ¡°So, Qing Shi, do you have a girlfriend?¡±


    Qing Shi found himself cornered by the window at the corridor¡¯s end, courtesy of Yu Xiao¡¯s persistent pushing. He sighed and shook his head. ¡°No, I don¡¯t.¡±


    ¡°Really? Well, neither do I have a boyfriend,¡± Yu Xiao revealed, batting her eyelashes. ¡°How about we make a deal? I¡¯ll be your girlfriend, and you¡¯ll help me get out of this hellhole. I don¡¯t mind that you¡¯re a cripple.¡±


    Suppressing his irritation, Qing Shi maintained his polite demeanour. ¡°Escaping this hospital won¡¯t be as straightforward as you imagine.¡±


    ¡°Is that so?¡± Yu Xiao leaned against the window, contemplating. ¡°Then why not simply jump out?¡±


    ¡°Feel free to try,¡± Qing Shi replied, seizing Yu Xiao¡¯s hand that grasped his wheelchair.


    She felt a chill from his touch but remained composed, smirking. ¡°Qing Shi, you¡¯re the first to hold my hand. Do you know what that implies? You must take responsibility.¡±


    Qing Shi yanked her hand away, fixing her with a glare, before wheeling away swiftly.


    Yu Xiao watched him go, a twinge of regret fluttering within her. The impulse to push him out of the window, just to see if he¡¯d survive the fall, had teased her thoughts. But she restrained herself, understanding it would only escalate her problems.


    Turning her gaze to the doors lining the hallway, Yu Xiao recalled Qing Shi¡¯s words about these rooms housing former patients transformed into something else. Something inhuman. Knocking might provide guidance¡ª whatever that meant.


    With a nonchalant shrug, Yu Xiao strolled toward a door emitting a faint flicker of light, lightly tapping its surface.


    ¡°Knock, knock, knock.¡±


    The sound reverberated in the corridor, met with silence from within. Yu Xiao waited briefly before deciding to knock harder. Just as she prepared to do so, a piece of paper slid beneath the door, landing at her feet.


    A scrap of paper peeked out from the door crack, like a desperate cry for help. Snatching it up, Yu Xiao read the four words scrawled upon it: ¡°One pound of flesh.¡±


    What the hell? Her mind flashed back to Saint Elizabeth¡¯s, recalling her bribe to Qiao Qiao of a hand to avoid taking the pills. Was this a similar trade? Surrender flesh for a clue to freedom?


    No way in hell was Yu Xiao going to slice herself up for some creepy note. With a tight grip on the doorknob, she was prepared to burst in and confront the person responsible. However, the moment she turned the knob, a chilling wave of fear engulfed her. Her skin tingled and her heart raced. She had a strong sense of foreboding, a very unsettling feeling that opening the door would release something truly terrible.


    Though she possessed talismans, she doubted their efficacy against such an unknown threat.


    Releasing the knob, Yu Xiao recoiled as a trickle of blood seeped from beneath the door. Startled, she retreated further, eyes wide with alarm. Forget this. No way was she risking her life for a mere clue.


    Sliding her backpack off her shoulder, she retrieved the white coat. It was just flesh, after all. She had played the role of Dean for so long without any payment.


    Closing her eyes, she envisioned Saint Elizabeth¡¯s. Morning sunlight flooded the scene as patients queued for their medication. Time was of the essence; she hastily covered her face and dashed toward the operating room.


    Patients regarded her with confusion. Why was Tan Qiao Yin, the substitute doctor, behaving so erratically?


    ¡°I need meat!¡± Yu Xiao blurted upon encountering Tie Niu.


    Tie Niu, still a walking skeleton, bowed respectfully. ¡°Esteemed Dean, you may claim any flesh and blood within this hospital. What would you like today?¡±


    Indicating a mutilated corpse on the operating table, he suggested, ¡°Perhaps the back meat? Tender, juicy, and versatile¡ªideal for frying or grilling. I could even prepare a charcoal-grilled loin, if you desire.¡±


    Yu Xiao grimaced. ¡°That¡¯s generous, but no, thank you.¡± Uncertain of her needs and other ghost preferences, she opted for caution. ¡°Just give me everything. Package it securely.¡±


    Observing Tie Niu¡¯s careful wrapping, she fretted. She could easily acquire more flesh at St. Elizabeth¡¯s, but what of Zhao Lan and Zhou Xiao Zhen?


    **


    Elsewhere, in a pristine corridor, a door among many swung open. Zhou Xiao Zhen emerged, fresh from a scuffle with an elderly patient. Wiping her hands on her pants, she surveyed the unnerving silence. Expecting Misty and Smiley, she was greeted by Qing Shi, seated in a wheelchair, his polite smile unwavering.


    ¡°Good morning, madam. I am Qing Shi, your attending doctor.¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen nodded, scanning her surroundings. ¡°Where is everyone else? My fellow ward mates?¡±


    ¡°You are the first to emerge,¡± Qing Shi replied calmly. ¡°The others are still in their rooms. You will meet them upon leaving the hospital¡­¡±


    **


    Zhao Lan glided out of the ward room like a pro.


    Unlike certain individuals she was acquainted with, she had managed to avoid resorting to violence when dealing with the old patients. Maintaining her composure, she refrained from making any foolish remarks and promptly discovered the paper clue. One smart question later, she was out the door.


    The on-duty doctor, Qing Shi, greeted her with a polite smile, informing her she was the first to leave the room. While she hoped Smiley and Precious would soon follow, she had more urgent matters. She roamed the hospital corridors for what felt like ages, but an exit remained elusive. She needed help, pronto.


    Knocking on a random door, a note slid out, reading ¡°a finger.¡±


    She got the message loud and clear. In order to obtain useful information from the creep inside, she had to sacrifice one of her fingers.


    Glancing at her hands, she admired her long and elegant fingers. She was unwilling to part with any of them. However, without making a trade, she realised she wouldn¡¯t acquire the necessary clues to get out of this hellhole.


    She wished Smiley was around. She always managed to scrounge up something from Saint Elizabeth¡¯s.


    **


    Tie Niu handed Yu Xiao a bag brimming with ¡®delicious treats¡¯. Placing it gently in her hands, he said, ¡°If you¡¯re still hungry, Your Excellency, feel free to return. Next time, I¡¯ll have cooked food ready. These raw snacks aren¡¯t fitting for your refined taste.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re too sweet,¡± Yu Xiao said, patting his shoulder warmly. ¡°Here, take my number. If anything¡¯s up in the hospital, especially with George, give me a buzz ASAP.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s my pleasure to assist you,¡± Tie Niu said, gratitude shining in his eyes. Earning the Dean¡¯s trust meant the world to him.


    Dragging a heavy sack of gore, Yu Xiao returned to the spotless hallway. Knocking lazily on a door, a paper slid out.


    ¡°1 kilogram of meat.¡±


    She ripped open the sack, eyeballing a chunk of flesh. It seemed more than enough. Holding it up, she called out, ¡°How do you want it?¡±


    ¡°Screech¡ª¡±


    The door cracked open, revealing darkness within.


    Yu Xiao peered down, noticing the lack of bloodstains on the floor. She tossed the meat into the opening and asked, ¡°Tell me how to leave this place.¡±


    ¡°Slam¡ª¡±


    The door shut, and another paper slid out.


    Snatching it, Yu Xiao read, ¡°Left three.¡±


    What the hell did that mean? She scanned the hallway, seeing nothing but rows of identical doors.


    Then it clicked. She sprinted to the third door on the left and banged on it.


    This time, the door remained silent. Opening it, she found stairs.


    Figures. The real exit was behind these doors.


    Leaning against the frame, Yu Xiao pondered. She cracked the puzzle, but what about Misty and Precious?


    Qing Shi had mentioned she was the first out. Did that mean they were still stuck?


    A pang of worry hit her. Qing Shi hadn¡¯t mentioned which floor they were on. Maybe she wouldn¡¯t encounter anyone else on her way out. Maybe she couldn¡¯t help her friends.


    Yu Xiao panicked, scrolling her contacts until she found Qing Shi¡¯s number.


    **


    ¡°Good morning, sir.¡± Qing Shi greeted a man with a polite smile. ¡°You¡¯re the first to leave your room.¡±


    Before the man could reply, a blast of music cut him off.


    Both Qing Shi and the man jerked in surprise. The man wondered what the music was for. Was it some kind of prize for being the first one out?


    He saw Qing Shi pull out his phone from his pocket, his eyes wide with confusion. He obviously had no idea who was calling him.


    ¡°Who¡¯s this?¡± Qing Shi asked cautiously.


    ¡°Wow, don¡¯t remember me?¡± Yu Xiao teased. ¡°We were almost a couple, you know.¡±


    Recognition hit Qing Shi. ¡°How did you get my number?¡± he demanded.


    ¡°Oh, you know, when you¡¯re obsessed with someone, you¡¯ll stop at nothing to find out everything about them,¡± Yu Xiao said casually. ¡°I was curious about you. A phone number is nothing.¡±


    Appalled, Qing Shi demanded, ¡°How did you find out?¡± He was the attending doctor, not some random patient.


    ¡°I gave the door a hand for the answer,¡± Yu Xiao whispered. ¡°Literally. Just a hand. Nothing compared to what I feel for you.¡±


    Qing Shi didn¡¯t buy it. ¡°Stop playing games,¡± he said. ¡°How did you get my number?¡±


    ¡°Fine, fine, I¡¯ll tell,¡± Yu Xiao said. ¡°But first, can I find my friends? The ones with me in this treatment?¡±


    ¡°No, you can¡¯t,¡± Qing Shi said firmly. ¡°The hospital is a place where everyone has to fend for themselves. You can¡¯t see anyone else until you get out.¡±


    ¡°Too bad,¡± Yu Xiao sighed. ¡°Then I¡¯ve got nothing to say.¡±


    ¡°Wait!¡± Qing Shi shouted. ¡°You haven¡¯t told me¡­¡±


    ¡°Beep¡­¡±


    The line went dead. Qing Shi stared at the phone in disbelief. He was tempted to throw it, but he restrained himself. He still had some sense left.


    Horror filled the patient¡¯s eyes as he witnessed Qing Shi¡¯s transformation, from polite to menacing.


    ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± he asked, trembling. ¡°Is there something you¡¯re not telling me?¡± S§×ar?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Qing Shi paused, trying to regain his composure. He had lost track of his speech.


    ¡°You were the first to escape,¡± he said coldly. ¡°The others were still trapped¡­¡±


    ¡°Wait a minute¡­¡± The patient cut him off, his mind racing. ¡°I¡¯m the first, really? Who was it earlier than on the phone?¡±


    Qing Shi remained silent, his eyes gleaming.


    **


    Yu Xiao¡¯s heart raced as she scoured every inch of the hospital, her anxiety mounting with each passing moment. Where could Misty and Precious be? Surely, the doctor wouldn¡¯t lie about their whereabouts. She had to find them and get them out of this hellhole.


    A sudden idea sparked in her mind. Rushing to a nearby door, she tapped on it.


    ¡°I have two friends in the hospital. How can I help them get out safely?¡± she asked, her voice sweet and innocent.


    The door remained silent, almost dismissive. Just when she was about to resign herself to failure, a slip of paper emerged from beneath the door.


    Grasping it eagerly, she read the brief message.


    ¡°Want Heart and Brain.¡±


    ¡°Easy peasy!¡± Yu Xiao chirped, unzipping her bag and retrieving the necessary items. A devious grin crossed her lips as she continued, ¡°My pals are both girls. One goes by Zhao Lan, and the other answers to Zhou Xiao Zhen. Their forum nicknames are¡­¡±


    **


    Zhao Lan couldn¡¯t do it. She couldn¡¯t bring herself to chop off her own fingers. Gazing at the door, she knew what lay beyond held the key to escape, yet the notion of harming herself turned her stomach.


    Sure, she had her stash of healing talismans, but they weren¡¯t miracles. They couldn¡¯t regrow her fingers like a lizard¡¯s tail. And how many more doors would she have to confront in this labyrinth of horror? A hundred? A thousand? Must she endure this gruesome ritual each time?


    Perhaps a more direct approach, ¨¤ la Smiley, was in order. With a quick inventory of her talismans, she confirmed she had more than enough to face any ghost adversary. She could storm in, brandish a talisman, and demand answers.


    Zhao Lan wasn¡¯t one to dally. Once her mind was set, she acted. Grasping the door handle, she steeled herself and pushed it ajar.


    In an instant, she felt a chilling sensation wash over her, as if a blast of cold air had punched her. She felt something wet on her feet and looked down to find blood. There was a lot of it. It had soaked through her shoes and socks, but she had no idea how long it had been there.


    It reminded her of her initial foray into St. Elizabeth Hospital, cowering in a utility room as the Dean passed by. But this was far worse, for she stood at the threshold.


    Fear seized her, fingers tightening on the handle.


    ¡°Bang¡ª!¡±


    The door resisted closure, halted by an unseen force.


    Zhao Lan glimpsed a hand¡ªdecayed, rotten¡ªemerging from within, clinging to the frame, thwarting her attempts. Recoiling, she readied her talismans. Was this the end?


    Panic constricted her, gasping for air.


    The door widened, revealing more of the ghastly appendage. Pus, maggots, an unbearable stench assaulted her senses.


    But then, the hand stopped. As if something was yanking it back, the door began to close. Yet, the hand refused to surrender. It frantically clawed at the door, producing a horrendous screeching noise.


    Finally, the hand was dragged within, replaced by a cacophony of sounds. Screams, thuds, sobs¡ªa symphony of terror. She pressed her palms to her ears, wishing she could block out the horror.


    Silence followed, save for a faint crunching, akin to someone munching on popcorn.


    What the hell was happening in there? Zhao Lan felt her legs give out, and she slid down the wall, clutching her chest.


    She was about to make a run for it when the door flew open with a loud bang. A pale, bony hand reached out and slammed it shut again.


    ¡°¡­¡±


    Was this some kind of sick joke?


    Zhao Lan scrambled upright, poised for flight. Yet, another noise¡ªa soft rustle¡ªdrew her gaze to the door, where a slip of paper awaited.


    Another note? Did they want more body parts?


    Zhao Lan hesitated, wondering if she should ignore it. But curiosity got the better of her, and she picked up the note. It had two words on it.


    ¡°Right six.¡±


    **


    While Zhao Lan had debated whether to open the door or not, Zhou Xiao Zhen made the decision in three minutes flat.


    Minutes later, Zhou Xiao Zhen wished she hadn¡¯t acted so hastily. A putrid, oozing creature emerged, a grotesque amalgamation of decay and horror. She knew she stood no chance against such monstrosity.


    So she did what any rational person would do¡ªshe ran, flinging doors open in her wake.


    Three doors, three monsters. That was the result of her frantic escape attempt. Zhou Xiao Zhen cursed herself for being so unlucky. Why did she have to end up in this nightmare hospital alone, where every room was a trap and every corridor was a maze?


    She fled down stairs, desperate for an exit. But fate led her in circles, back to where she started, pursued by grotesque entities.


    Tears streamed down her face as she whimpered, ¡°Smiley sis, where are you? I need you¡­ Wuu wuu wuu wuu¡­¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen realised she had no way out. She was cornered by the monsters, who were closing in on her. She decided to go down fighting. She reached into her backpack and pulled out her mahjong set.


    Summoning courage, she brandished her mahjong set. ¡°Come on, you freaks! Let¡¯s play a game! If I win, you let me go. If I lose, well, I¡¯ll die anyway!¡±


    The monsters stopped in their tracks. They felt a strange force pulling them towards the mahjong set. They looked at each other, then at the tiles. They couldn¡¯t resist the urge to play. They sat down on the floor, forming a circle with Zhou Xiao Zhen. They took turns picking up the tiles with their rotten hands, arranging them, and discarding them. They played mahjong with Zhou Xiao Zhen, as if it was the most natural thing in the world.


    Clutching the tiles, Zhou Xiao Zhen dared to hope. Maybe she could survive by playing the game.


    They looked like human-shaped piles of rot, with flesh falling off their bones and clothes melded to their skin. The smell was enough to make anyone gag.


    She forced herself to focus on the tiles, ignoring the grotesque players. ¡°Please, leave me alone. You don¡¯t want me. I¡¯m the Dean of St. Elizabeth Hospital, you know. I can get you anything you want. A hand, a foot, a kidney, anything. Just name it. Wuu wuu wuu¡­ I¡¯m not even savoury, just skin and bones¡­¡±


    Her words fell on deaf ears. The only sound was the clicking of the tiles as they played them. She wiped the tears from her eyes and laid down a tile, ¡°Fortune.¡±


    Unseen by her, a shadow lurked at the door, an observer biding time.


    **


    Humming a merry tune, Yu Xiao descended the stairs.


    Pausing at a door, she rapped gently. A note slid forth.


    ¡°One pair of eyes.¡±


    Without hesitation, she produced the requested item from her bag.

 Chapter 100: Who Let the Ghosts Out?

    (Yay, the 100th chapter!! Give me praise for not abandoning you~! Only 92 more chapters to go. Uhh¡­ That¡¯s a lot¡­ Yay!!)


    ¡°Right, One.¡±


    Yu Xiao tightly gripped the note in her hand and followed its instructions. She nudged the door ajar and peered inside, revealing a staircase leading downward. With each step, she reckoned she could leave the hospital soon.


    Yet, beneath that hope lay a seed of concern. What about Misty and Precious? They remained trapped, guarded by a mysterious monster. Could she truly rely on its protection? The doctor was a joke, and this thing was a monster. It fed on human flesh, for crying out loud. And even if it meant well, how far could its power reach? It was confined to one room, on one floor. Her friends had to go through a maze of horrors to escape.


    A surge of determination coursed through Yu Xiao. She couldn¡¯t leave them behind. They were the only family she had. Her parents never cared for her. The thought of losing them made her chest tighten.


    ¡°I can¡¯t just leave them!¡±


    Dropping her belongings, Yu Xiao cupped her hands around her mouth and called out, ¡°I need someone to ensure my friends¡¯ safety! Who¡¯s up for the task? Name your price!¡±


    Her voice reverberated through the corridor, but no immediate response greeted her ears. Did she have to knock on every door?


    There were dozens of wards on this floor. It would take forever to check them all.


    Then she heard a rustle. And another. And another. From every direction, sounds of movement. Yu Xiao¡¯s eyes widened; Had she pissed them off with her shouting? Were they coming for her?


    She was ready. If they tried anything, she would run to St. Elizabeth¡¯s and lock herself in. She would wait until the sun came up and pray for a miracle.


    However, instead of a menacing onslaught, paper notes slid out from beneath several doors. She narrowed her eyes and counted. Only four out of the dozens of rooms had notes. What was the deal with that?


    She bent down and picked up the notes, curious. The first one said, ¡°One brain.¡±


    Well, did they have a zombie fetish or something like George?


    The second one said, ¡°One brain, one heart.¡±


    The third one said, ¡°One brain, one heart.¡±


    The fourth one said, ¡°An entire body.¡±


    Yu Xiao stared at the notes, baffled. Why did the last one want a whole body? Was that a sign of strength or greed? She wondered aloud, ¡°Should I go for the one who wants the most?¡±


    She didn¡¯t mean to say it loud enough for anyone to hear, but as soon as the words left her mouth, a loud bang echoed through the hall. Yu Xiao flinched, expecting something to burst through the door. But instead, she heard a cacophony of noises coming from two of the rooms with notes. It sounded like a martial arts movie on steroids with peak Jackie Chan and peak Jet Li fighting.


    ¡°Creaking¡­¡±


    ¡°Woah-woah¡­¡±


    ¡°Sobbing¡­¡±


    ¡°Crackling¡­¡±


    The eerie silence that ensued left Yu Xiao feeling vulnerable and insignificant. Hugging herself, she shivered in the sterile corridor, grappling with an overwhelming sense of powerlessness.


    As the moments stretched on, she debated whether to retreat and cut her losses, abandoning this level in pursuit of another.


    ¡°Um, hello?¡± she ventured tentatively. ¡°Anyone there? I¡¯m¡­ I¡¯m leaving, alright?¡±


    Thud!


    A loud bang made her jump. Something slammed one of the doors with a force that rattled the nearby doors.


    She felt a surge of curiosity and dragged her bag towards the door. There was a note sticking out of the crack.


    She pulled it out and read: ¡°What¡¯s the highest bid?¡±


    She bit her lip, unsure if she should lie or tell the truth. She decided to go with the latter. ¡°A whole body.¡±


    Almost immediately, another note emerged.


    ¡°I want a whole body.¡±


    Yu Xiao arched an eyebrow. Such audacity! Did it outdo all competitors?


    ¡°Hold on a sec.¡±


    **


    It was a rare sight to catch Tie Niu outside of the operating room. As a operating room doctor on duty, his nightly task involved patient transfers from the ward. Yet, the truth was, he often lingered in idleness and was too lazy to move.


    Tie Niu had seen his share of nasty kitchens and the canteen at St. Elizabeth¡¯s was a horror show. No chef, no staff, no hygiene. Just a pile of dirty dishes and a stench of rotten food. The whole area was cordoned off with yellow tape, like a crime scene.


    Tie Niu had sworn off kitchens long ago. But today was an exception. Today, he needed to impress the Dean.


    So he took to cooking. His specialty: charcoal-grilled loin.


    Yu Xiao set out in search of Tie Niu. She expected to find him in the operating theatre, but the nurses redirected her to the canteen. Intrigued, she followed the alluring scent of smoke and meat, eventually stumbling upon him in the kitchen.


    Yu Xiao couldn¡¯t believe her eyes. Horror Hospital had acquainted her with strange sights, but this surpassed them all. There stood Tie Niu, a skeleton adorned in an apron and chef¡¯s hat, skillfully flipping the loin with a spatula.


    ¡°Tie Niu,¡± she exclaimed, her voice a blend of amusement and disbelief. ¡°Are you hungry?¡±


    Tie Niu turned, his ghostly fire eyes lighting up as he dropped the spatula. He rushed out of the kitchen and bowed before her. With one hand on his chest and the other on his hat, he looked like a gentleman¡ªwell, if gentlemen were skeletons.


    ¡°Respected Dean, you¡¯ve arrived,¡± he greeted with joy and reverence. ¡°I¡¯m preparing charcoal-grilled loin for you. It¡¯ll be ready shortly.¡±


    Yu Xiao was speechless, emotions swirling within her that she couldn¡¯t quite name. She felt her face twitching.


    ¡°For me?¡± she inquired, her tone tinged with surprise and curiosity. ¡°How did you know I would return today?¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t know if you¡¯d come back,¡± Tie Niu said, in a tone that was a mix of honesty and humility. ¡°But in order for you to have delicious food, I¡¯ve decided to prepare meals for you three times a day, so you can have the freshest and most delicious food whenever you come back.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    Yu Xiao harboured a soft spot for Tie Niu. He was undeniably thoughtful, always attending to her needs. If only he weren¡¯t a ghost, she would have taken him with her when she escaped this dismal hospital. He was the sole bright spot in this gloomy place.


    Politely declining his offer to cook for her, she remarked, ¡°No thanks, I¡¯m not one for ghostly cuisine.¡± She was still human, after all. Yet, she had a need for meat, lots of it. ¡°Just help me fetch some from the storeroom.¡±


    ¡°Of course, miss,¡± Tie Niu acquiesced. ¡°Shall I grill it for you?¡±


    Shaking her head, she hurried to depart. Glancing at the ¡®pork¡¯ tenderloin he had cooked earlier, she noticed how juicy and delicious it looked. She didn¡¯t want it to go to waste, so she pointed at it and casually said, ¡°But I¡¯ll take that with me.¡±


    Returning to the white hallway, she struggled with two oversized bags filled with meat, a feat only achievable with several stamina cards.


    Knocking on the door, she announced her return.


    The door creaked open, revealing a pitch-black room permeated with the sickening scent of blood, turning her stomach.


    She manoeuvred the body bag through the door, which slammed shut as soon as she did.


    Without hesitation, she dragged the remaining bag downstairs.


    **


    Zhao Lan followed the clues on the paper to the staircase. She¡¯d cracked the trick by now. Each floor had a sneaky exit, hiding among the doors. She just had to knock on every door until she found the one that didn¡¯t spit out a paper.


    That was her ticket out.


    One by one, she tapped on the doors, watching paper notes flutter out like confetti. Until she found the one door that remained silent.


    Zhao Lan smirked. This had to be the next door, she reckoned. This hospital was a breeze. Sure, each challenge had its risks, but none were unbeatable. She just needed to find the hidden exit among the sea of doors.


    Maybe luck would favour her and she¡¯d strike gold on the first try. No fuss, no muss. Or perhaps she¡¯d have to knock until her knuckles throbbed. Either way, she had sussed out the rules of this game.


    She pushed the door open and stepped inside. Smiley would breeze through this place, she was certain. The only one she fretted about was Precious.


    Precious wasn¡¯t exactly dense. She just had a different approach to things than most. She used her brain, albeit in her own unique way.


    **


    Time was ticking away. The mahjong tiles clattered. Zhou Xiao Zhen was sweating.


    She faced three options: one, keep playing mahjong, buying herself more time. She¡¯d improved the tool; she could last two rounds now. But it would only delay the inevitable.


    Two, confront these three creeps head-on, but that would end badly for her.


    Three, make a run for it, but there was nowhere to run. She was cornered.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen knew she was done for. But she didn¡¯t shed a single tear. She wasn¡¯t like Zhao Lan and Yu Xiao, who were scared stiff of death. Maybe it was because she was younger, or maybe it was her stubborn streak.


    She wasn¡¯t going down without a fight.


    She silently vowed, blinking away the tears. Sorry, Misty. Sorry, Smiley. I won¡¯t be there for the final showdown.


    She grabbed a random tile and cheated. Pointing at the longest-legged monster across from her, she yelled, ¡°You¡¯re it!¡±


    She scooped up the mahjong tiles and leaped from the floor, sprinting like a madwoman.


    A bolt of lightning struck the monster she¡¯d chosen, making the other two flinch. By the time they recovered and gave chase, Zhou Xiao Zhen had gained some ground. She dashed along the corridor, flinging open every door in her path.


    She figured letting loose all the monsters was better than being devoured by those three. She was only one person, and there wouldn¡¯t be much left of her after they were done. Maybe the monsters would turn on each other and forget about her.


    She wasn¡¯t making it easy for them!


    Zhou Xiao Zhen kept running and opening doors, with a growing horde of monsters behind her.


    She swung open a door, expecting another abyss of darkness. Instead, she found a brightly lit stairwell.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen: ¡°!!!¡±


    Holy cow!


    Her mind went blank for a moment, then flooded with relief. This was it, the way out, right under her nose!


    But then, she wanted to cry. If only she¡¯d known the exit was here, she wouldn¡¯t have played chicken with death. Damn it¡­ How was she going to shake off those beasts behind her?


    Zhou Xiao Zhen didn¡¯t have time to think. She dashed through the door and raced downstairs. The next floor looked just like the previous one, with spotless white hallways and rooms on both sides.


    She knew the exit was hidden behind one of these doors. If she had time, she could search carefully. But not now, not with those monsters from the upper floor breathing down her neck!


    She had no choice but to run for her life.


    She went on a wild door-opening rampage.


    With every door she opened, more monsters joined the hunt¡­


    Whenever one got too close, she¡¯d throw a lightning talisman. These ghosts were a weird bunch, vicious as hell, immune to most attacks.


    Whatever. Slowing them down was enough.


    But as the mob grew behind her, the hallway buckled under the pressure. Some ghosts were shoved into nearby rooms, while others duked it out, wreaking havoc in the hospital.


    **


    Qing Shi finished tending to the last living patient on his list and finally had a moment to himself. He was about to go find the ¡®Deaf Descendant¡¯ and figure out how the heck that kid got his number.


    But just as he reached for the door handle, a sudden chill ran down his spine. A wave of dread washed over him, as if something terrible was about to happen¡­


    **


    Yu Xiao lugged a massive bag of meat down the stairs, feeling the weight with each step. As she neared the next floor, a sense of unease settled in. Beyond the door, a cacophony erupted, reminiscent of a rowdy party or a protest gone wild. Was this it? Had she stumbled upon the exit at last?


    Hope flared within her at the possibility. Qing Shi¡¯s pessimism had been a constant buzzkill, telling her how hard it was to get out of here.


    She shrugged off her doubts and pushed the door open. And then she saw the most ridiculous thing she had ever witnessed in her entire life.


    The corridor, from wall to ceiling, was filled to the brim with monsters of various shapes and sizes. They were squirming, wriggling, and gnashing their teeth. But these were not the adorable, cuddly type; they were the repulsive, slimy, and menacing kind. The scene unfolded before her eyes as the creatures were entangled in a grotesque orgy of flesh and blood.


    Caught in their ghastly orgy, they halted their activities to fix their gazes on her. She returned their stares.


    ¡°Oops. Wrong room.¡±


    With a swift motion, she slammed the door shut, questioning the reality of what she¡¯d witnessed. Had she just imagined the entire scene?


    ¡°Thud thud thud¡ª!¡±


    She quickly realised that she hadn¡¯t, because the monsters started pounding on the door like they wanted to eat her.


    Holy moly! What in the world was happening?!


    Heart pounding, she bolted for the stairs, her only thought to reach the safety of the floor above.


    ¡°Help! Anyone, help!¡± Yu Xiao¡¯s cry echoed fruitlessly. Who would come to her aid in this forsaken place? Her sole hope lay in reaching Saint Elizabeth.


    Halting in her tracks, she closed her eyes and whispered like a prayer: Saint Elizabeth, Saint Elizabeth, Saint Eliza¡­


    Then she felt it¡ªa tug.


    ¡°Huh?¡±


    Opening her eyes, she found a door cracked open, a chilly hand grasping her shoulder.


    Before she could react, she was yanked into the ward.


    ¡°AAAHHH!¡±


    Her mind reeled. Trapped? Was she allowed here?


    Darkness enveloped her as she sensed a cold presence pressing against her, the metallic tang of blood assaulting her senses, making her gag


    She fumbled for her talisman, but it was already too late. Suddenly, a pair of icy hands covered her mouth.


    ¡°Mmph!¡±


    Yu Xiao froze, hearing footsteps approach.


    Realisation dawned¡ªthe ghost behind her was hiding her. Karma really did exist, she thought with tears of relief in her eyes. She was glad she had been nice to them before; even ghosts had a heart.


    The tide of monsters outside seemed endless. They howled and screeched, clawing at the walls like rabid beasts. Yu Xiao wished they would just shut up already.


    She found herself trapped in a corner, with a ghost clinging to her like a creepy blanket. Ghosts were the worst. Ever since she had used that Spirit card, she could sense their icy, slimy presence more intensely. This one, though, wasn¡¯t your average spook. It chilled her to the bone, sending shivers down her spine.


    Her hand rose, tapping the one covering her mouth, desperate for air. It twitched, releasing its grip.


    Yu Xiao gasped but immediately regretted it. The air was thick with the scent of blood and decay, causing her to gag. The hand quickly clamped back over her mouth, cutting off her oxygen.


    Squirming, she struggled against her ghost captor, tears of frustration welling in her eyes.


    Finally catching her breath, she heard something peculiar. A faint noise in her ear, like someone breathing in, though she knew it couldn¡¯t be her.


    Considering ghosts didn¡¯t need to breathe, she wondered who lurked behind her.


    She dismissed the idea as soon as it popped into her head. There was no way it was a person. She only heard someone inhale and no exhale. And the hand was so freaking cold, it had to belong to a corpse.


    Something cold touched her neck, followed by a gulp, then that sound again. She realised someone was sniffing her, hungry.


    A chill ran down her spine as she realised it. The ghost behind her breathed heavily, its nose almost touching her bare neck. It seemed to drool over her like a hungry wolf.


    ¡®This is bad. This is very bad.¡¯ Yu Xiao panicked. ¡®I need to get out of here before it decides to take a bite.¡¯


    Squeezing her eyes shut, she sought Saint Elizabeth¡¯s sanctuary, when suddenly the grip on her loosened.


    Confusion clouded her senses. ¡°?¡±


    The room was completely dark and quiet. Yu Xiao shuffled her feet, feeling something lumpy beneath them. Wanting light, she reached for her phone. As soon as the screen turned on, she saw a tall shadow looming over her.


    Before she could see more, a hand slapped over her phone, plunging her back into darkness.


    Yu Xiao was baffled. What did it want? Silence?


    But she couldn¡¯t stay here. She had to leave before sundown. Things would worsen after dark. What if there were more? What if they were all after her?


    Lost in thought, she didn¡¯t notice the hand moving away from her phone. It grabbed her other hand, pulling her along.


    Yu Xiao felt a tug and followed instinctively.


    She had no idea where she was going, or what it was planning. She just let him lead her through the darkness like a lost child.


    **


    Zhao Lan¡¯s sanity teetered on the brink.


    She¡¯d been going door to door, hoping for an escape, when a swarm of ghosts burst out from one of them. Her heart skipped a beat, then she burst into hysterical laughter. It was all too much, too ridiculous. And to add to the chaos, there stood a guy in front of her, straight out of a historical drama with his sword, cape, and a face resembling Cao Cao, the famous warlord.


    Unable to contain herself, Zhao Lan blurted, ¡°What the heck!¡±


    She didn¡¯t wait for a response. Spinning around, she bolted for her life. But before she could take more than a few steps, another door flung open, and a hand with crimson claws seized her by the hair.


    Zhao Lan screamed, trying to break free, but it was futile. She was yanked inside and thrown to the floor.


    For a moment, Zhao Lan¡¯s brain shut down for a second, then rebooted in survival mode. She reached for her talismans, her only defense against these supernatural freaks.


    But luck was not on her side. The creature that grabbed her wasn¡¯t in a pleasant mood. With a snarl, it slapped her hand away.


    Gasping in pain, Zhao Lan felt a hand cover her mouth and pressure on her chest.


    Outside, heavy footsteps and eerie sounds echoed. Something cold and slimy brushed against her leg. Zhao Lan resigned herself to her fate, closing her eyes and praying for a swift end.


    Suddenly, something cold and wet splashed on her face, like a slimy worm wriggling down her cheek. She shuddered, goosebumps rising on her skin. What on earth was that?


    A loud slurp, followed by a satisfied sigh, caught her attention. Someone¡ªor something¡ªwas licking its lips, and it wasn¡¯t her.


    Oh, shit. That thing was drooling over her. Literally.


    She wanted to scream, but fear choked her. She wanted to flee, but her legs were frozen. She was a deer in headlights, and that thing was a hungry wolf¡ªa ghostly, freaky, nightmare-inducing wolf.


    In an instant, her life flashed before her eyes. Zhao Lan thought of Smiley and Precious, her closest companions in this dreadful place. She thought of her parents and friends, memories flooding her mind. And then there was her lover, the young man she¡¯d been supporting financially for months. Would he miss her, or would he find another benefactor?


    With her eyes shut tight, she prepared for the worst.


    Zhao Lan hoped he would move on from her, find a new sponsor. He¡¯d promised marriage once he made it big, and she was content with his words¡­


    A wet squelch snapped her out of her thoughts. Something cold and clammy touched her neck, making her gasp. Was that a tongue? Was it licking her?


    Oh dear. It was going to bite her, rip her throat out. Well, that would be one way to end this life¡ªquick and painless, she hoped.


    Before she could bid farewell, it yanked her collar and dragged her away.


    **


    Qing Shi surveyed the chaos in the corridor with a scowl. This wasn¡¯t part of his plan. This wasn¡¯t how he liked things.


    For years, he¡¯d run this hospital like a well-oiled machine¡ªadmitting patients, ¡°treating¡± them. He had a system, a routine, a game. And he was good at it.


    But some lunatic had ruined everything. Some lunatic had unlocked the doors, releasing all the horrors that lurked in the shadows. Now, the corridor was a bloodbath, a nightmare, a mess.


    Qing Shi loved death, but not like this. Not this senseless, savage, messy kind of death. He preferred the subtle, elegant, artistic kind¡ªthe kind he orchestrated.


    And this disaster was not only a stain on his reputation but also a blemish on his record.


    ¡°Damn it, damn it, damn you, 438,¡± Qing Shi muttered, wheeling his chair away from the carnage. He¡¯d forgotten all about Yu Xiao and cursed only ¡®Braised Egg Girl 438¡¯. ¡°You¡¯re going to pay for this, 438. You¡¯re going to pay with your life. And if I ever see your face again, I¡¯ll make sure it¡¯s the last thing you ever see.¡±


    **


    Yu Xiao sensed the icy fingers gripping her arm, pulling her through the darkness for what felt like forever. Suddenly, the footsteps ahead ceased, and a hand pushed her forward from behind.


    They let her go?


    Yu Xiao stumbled ahead, her feet meeting something solid. Her hands found a metal knob on the cold surface. Without hesitation, she twisted it and felt a rush of air as the door opened, revealing a sliver of light piercing the darkness.


    Glancing back, she caught a fleeting glimpse of a shadowy figure in the corner, sending a shiver down her spine. A voice outside the door startled her.


    ¡°Look, look! The door¡¯s open again! Someone¡¯s coming out!¡±


    Pushing the door wider, she squinted against the bright light.


    ¡°Smiley sis!¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s voice rang out like a burst of sunshine, followed by a blur of movement. Yu Xiao braced herself as Precious threw herself into her arms, squeezing her so tightly she could barely breathe. ¡°Waaah¡­ Smiley sis, I thought you were lost forever¡­¡±


    ¡°Never.¡± The door slammed shut behind them with a resounding click. Yu Xiao rubbed Precious¡¯s back, attempting to soothe her. ¡°You know I always return, right?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not that.¡± Precious sniffled, her eyes moist with tears. ¡°Smiley sis, you don¡¯t know what it¡¯s like in there.¡±


    Yu Xiao blinked, finally able to see clearly. They were in a hospital lobby.


    In front of them, glass doors let in harsh sunlight.


    Two other people were in the lobby, a man and a woman. They eyed Yu Xiao and Precious curiously and warily. Yu Xiao smiled, pulling Precious along. ¡°Hello, I¡¯m Yu Xiao.¡±


    The woman¡¯s face was pale. She nodded weakly. ¡°I¡¯m Liu Yu (ÁõÓñ: ¡°a precious destroyer¡± or ¡°a noble killer¡± ).¡±


    The man next to her attempted a grin, but it looked more like a grimace. ¡°I¡¯m Fang Yu (·½Óî: ¡°a square universe¡± or ¡°a directional space¡±).¡±


    Liu Yu regarded Yu Xiao and Zhou Xiao Zhen curiously. ¡°Strange,¡± she said, ¡°Have you lost anything?¡±


    Yu Xiao blinked, confused. ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    Then she noticed it. Liu Yu extended her arm, ending in a bloody stump where her left hand should be. She had lost a hand.


    Fang Yu tilted his head, revealing a gaping hole where his left ear used to be. He chuckled. ¡°I guess I¡¯m lucky. Losing an ear is no biggie.¡±


    Turning to Yu Xiao and Zhou Xiao Zhen, he asked, ¡°What about you two? Did you get away unscathed?¡±


    Yu Xiao hesitated, then fibbed, ¡°Oh, I was lucky. The first door I knocked on was the exit.¡±


    ¡°Me too,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen chimed in.


    Fang Yu and Liu Yu looked at them with disbelief. Their story sounded fishy, but they had no other way to explain it. They decided to let it go.


    **


    Zhao Lan had no clue where they were headed. The ghost gripping her collar dragged her over rough terrain, causing her to stumble and trip over unidentified objects. She felt cuts and bruises all over.


    She wanted to fight back, but it was futile. Each time she resisted, the ghost lifted her up, shook her like a rag doll until her vision blurred, and then resumed dragging her.


    Zhao Lan had lost all hope. Did it really matter where she met her end ¨C in this wretched hospital or out in the world? It all felt the same. She just wished for a quick, painless end.


    Feeling the ghost¡¯s cold grip loosen around her wrist, she collapsed onto the dirty floor. At that moment, she had to decide: run or text her friends goodbye? Though running seemed futile, she also wanted to say something to Smiley and Precious, the only ones who truly cared.


    As she reached for her phone, another hand forcefully landed on top of hers, trapping it.


    The ghost leaned in, sniffing her, its icy breath grazing her skin. It traveled from her cheek to her neck, then to her shoulder and chest. She could feel its icy breath on her, and its saliva dripping onto her.


    She closed her eyes, bracing for the inevitable.


    But then, a click.


    The door swung open, illuminating her face with hope. She glimpsed the lobby, appearing clean and ordinary.


    Feeling the ghost release her, she quickly rose. This time, she didn¡¯t hesitate. She sprinted towards the door, hoping it wasn¡¯t a trick.


    Glancing back, she saw a figure ¨C a tall woman with long hair. She couldn¡¯t see her face or attire, but she noticed her hand against the wall, nails painted a vibrant red, like blood.


    Without pause, Zhao Lan rushed out.


    As the door closed behind her, she wondered ¨C could it be that the creepy ghost actually saved her? S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ©¤©¤©¤ ? ©¤©¤ ¡î ©¤©¤ ? ©¤©¤©¤

 Chapter 101: Predecessors

    ¡°We have another survivor.¡±


    Zhao Lan¡¯s heart leaped at the sound. She recognized it instantly and sprinted towards it, hoping against hope. There they were, Yu Xiao and Zhou Xiao Zhen, her only friends in this hellhole. They looked as shocked as she felt.


    ¡°Smiley! Precious!¡± Zhao Lan shouted, her voice cracking with emotion. She had given up on ever seeing them again, having said goodbye in her head over and over. But they were alive, and so was she, and that was enough to make her want to hug them until they broke.


    ¡°Misty!¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen squealed, her eyes shining.


    ¡°Yep.¡± Yu Xiao confirmed, but she moved out of the way as Zhao Lan threw herself at them, leaving Zhou Xiao Zhen to bear the full force of Zhao Lan¡¯s embrace.


    ¡°Oof¡­¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen gasped, losing her breath. Zhao Lan squeezed her like a python, rocking her back and forth, then turned to glare at Yu Xiao. ¡°What¡¯s your problem?¡±


    ¡°Uh¡­¡± Yu Xiao coughed, avoiding eye contact, and gave Zhao Lan a once-over. ¡°Misty, did you¡­ slaughter a whole army on your way out?¡±


    Zhao Lan blinked, then followed Yu Xiao¡¯s gaze. Blood. So much blood. It coated Zhao Lan¡¯s clothes like a second skin, leaving no trace of the white fabric underneath. She had no idea how it got there, only that something had dragged her through the dark, leaving a trail of gore behind. She had grown used to the metallic stench, the sticky sensation. But now, as she stepped into the light, she felt a wave of nausea wash over her.


    ¡°Misty¡­ what¡¯s that on your face and neck? Why¡¯s it so sticky?¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen whimpered, gagging on the stench.


    Zhao Lan: ¡°¡­¡±


    It was saliva.


    She remembered then, all the times she had felt something wet and warm on her skin, something that licked and nibbled and drooled. Just the thought made her want to puke.


    ¡°Wuu wuu wuu¡­¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen whimpered, clutching her ruined clothes. After being hugged by Zhao Lan, her clothes were beyond saving. ¡°Misty, what the hell happened to you?¡±


    Zhao Lan sighed. ¡°It¡¯s complicated,¡± she said, sounding world-weary. She scanned the room, searching for familiar faces. Spying two fellow patients from the hospital, she briefly considered greeting them but thought better of it given her current condition.


    They weren¡¯t looking much better. They nodded at Zhao Lan, maintaining their distance.


    Liu Yu spoke up. ¡°You three are a team? Good for you. You made it out alive.¡±


    Yu Xiao frowned, wondering how many others were still stuck inside facing the horrors she¡¯d seen. She felt a pang of sympathy for Liu Yu, who seemed terribly alone. Wanting to lift her spirits, Yu Xiao said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, your companion will be out soon.¡±


    Liu Yu gave her a blank stare. ¡°I don¡¯t have a companion.¡±


    Yu Xiao felt a surge of awkwardness. Liu Yu¡¯s chilly demeanour briefly made her question if it was because she was the only one left in the ward or if she simply preferred solitude.


    Clearing her throat, Yu Xiao turned to Fang Yu. ¡°And what about you? Are you flying solo too?¡±


    Fang Yu shook his head. ¡°No, I have a buddy. He¡¯s still in there.¡± He looked worried. ¡°He¡¯s not the bravest. We¡¯ve always had each other¡¯s backs, but this time, he¡¯s on his own. I¡¯m scared for him.¡±


    He didn¡¯t say more, but Yu Xiao could guess what he was thinking. He was wondering if his friend could handle the self-harm for clearance.


    A door creaked open, interrupting the silent thoughts of the patients. They all snapped their heads to the source of the noise, hoping for a miracle.


    A miracle walked in, wearing a blue tracksuit and a bright smile. He was short and fair, with narrow eyes that zeroed in on Fang Yu. ¡°Hey, Fang, you got out first!¡±


    Fang Yu gaped at him, taking in his spotless clothes and cheerful demeanour. He looked nothing like someone who had to make a sacrifice. ¡°How did you get out?¡± Fang Yu blurted out.


    The newcomer blinked, confused by Fang Yu¡¯s agitation.


    ¡°I walked out.¡±


    ¡°How¡­ did you walk out?¡± Fang Yu pressed.


    The newcomer frowned, more baffled than ever. ¡°I walked out with my two legs.¡±


    ¡°No, I mean¡­ how did you find the hidden staircase to walk out?¡± Fang Yu clarified, his voice rising.


    ¡°Oh,¡± the newcomer realised what Fang Yu was getting at. ¡°Is the staircase hidden?¡±


    ¡°Isn¡¯t it?¡± Liu Yu joined in, unable to contain her curiosity. ¡°How did you get out? Tell us.¡±


    The newcomer, bewildered by their eagerness, hesitated. ¡°Where should I start?¡±


    ¡°From the beginning!¡±


    ¡°Ah.¡± The newcomer nodded and said, ¡°When I woke up¡­¡±


    ¡°Skip that. What happened when you stepped out of the ward?¡±


    The young man rubbed his temples. ¡°Fine, fine. There I was, leaving the room, when who should show up but Qing Shi, the wheelchair-bound doc. He gave me this creepy smile and said I was the first one to leave the room.¡±


    ¡°Seriously?¡± Yu Xiao swore, ¡°does he say that to everyone?¡±


    The others nodded solemnly.


    ¡°Then, get this,¡± the young man continued. ¡°His phone rang.¡±


    ¡°No way.¡± Liu Yu blinked. ¡°Qing Shi¡¯s phone?¡±


    ¡°Yup, his phone. I swear, it was the first time I saw the attending doctor make a call. And you should have seen him, he was so pissed off. He sounded like he wanted to strangle the caller. It was hilarious.¡± The young man laughed. ¡°I mean, who knew the doc had a human side, right? The way he was yelling on the phone, he seemed like a normal person¡­ Wait a minute.¡± The young man paused. He scanned the faces of the others. ¡°It was one of you, wasn¡¯t it? Who called Qing Shi?¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    Yu Xiao and the rest stared at him with blank expressions, more clueless than ever.


    Yu Xiao tilted her head, puzzled. ¡°Patients can call their doctor?¡± She scratched her chin. ¡°How would they even get his number?¡±


    The young man shrugged. ¡°Beats me. And Qing Shi doesn¡¯t get it either. He asked about it, but the jerk on the other end just hung up on him. Qing Shi was so mad he almost smashed his phone.¡±


    Zhao Lan and Zhou Xiao Zhen looked at each other, their faces a mix of confusion and concern. They shared a silent understanding, but kept their mouths shut.


    Yu Xiao¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°Wow, that¡¯s bold. Who would hang up on the doctor? Was it a guy or a girl?¡±


    ¡°I couldn¡¯t tell,¡± the young man said, then snapped back to the point. ¡°Anyway, he told me some stuff and then took off. I stayed put, hoping Old Fang would show up. But nothing. So I got bored and knocked on a random door. No answer. I thought Qing Shi was messing with me, so I opened it.¡±


    Everyone: ¡°¡­¡±


    Liu Yu, who had lost a hand, and Fang Yu, who had lost an ear, felt a knot in their stomachs.


    The young man went on, raising his voice. ¡°And then I saw the stairs, so I went down. And man, it was a nightmare. Blood everywhere. On the floor, on the ceiling, on the walls. Bits of flesh and bones. The doors were all busted up. It freaked me out, but I got lucky. I found another set of stairs behind a wrecked door, so I went down again.


    You won¡¯t believe what I saw!¡± The youth burst out, his eyes wide with terror and excitement. ¡°Every floor was a nightmare. I ran like hell, didn¡¯t stop for anything, and then I slammed the door open and there you were.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    The others, including Yu Xiao, gave him a blank stare. Yu Xiao felt a surge of envy and resentment. How come he got so lucky, when she had wasted all her luck cards and still she went through this hellhole?


    ¡°What¡¯s with the faces?¡± The youth noticed their expressions and scratched his head. ¡°Sorry, I didn¡¯t mean to ramble. You probably went through the same thing, right? I guess the real challenge was outside the hospital, not inside.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°Hey, Old Fang?¡± The youth was about to say something else when he caught a glimpse of Fang Yu¡¯s mutilated head. ¡°Old Fang!¡±


    ¡°Where the hell is your ear?!¡± He dashed over to his friend, inspecting his head from every angle. ¡°Dude, where¡¯s your ear?!¡±


    Fang Yu tried to say something, but his mouth was dry and his voice was gone. He forced a smile at his concerned friend and told himself it wasn¡¯t so bad. At least he¡¯s alive, he thought. I can¡¯t let this get to me¡­


    Yu Xiao watched them for a while, then took out a pile of talismans, ready to make some profit. ¡°Anyone need talismans? Guaranteed to save your life, only three points each¡­¡±


    Yu Xiao had a knack for selling talismans since she started it. She never had a customer who refused her offer. After all, who would say no to a bargain like that? Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Liu Yu slapped a talisman on her stump, hoping it would slow down the blood loss. She had tried one before, but it didn¡¯t do much for a severed hand. Talismans were good for minor cuts and bruises, not for missing limbs.


    Yu Xiao counted the talismans left in her stash, a wicked grin on her face.


    Liu Yu eyed her suspiciously. ¡°What¡¯s with the lab coat?¡±


    Yu Xiao gasped, realising she still had it on. She had forgotten to take it off after shuttling back and forth to Saint Elizabeth. She quickly hid the logo with her hand, hoping no one had seen it. She shrugged it off, laughing nervously. ¡°Oh, this? It¡¯s just a prop, you know. For protection.¡±


    Hospitals had all kinds of props, from syringes to enemas. A lab coat was nothing special. The others looked at her with a mix of curiosity and jealousy. Props like that were hard to come by.


    As she tossed the coat aside, Yu Xiao felt something in the pocket. It was hard and smooth, about the size of her palm. She squeezed it through the fabric, wondering what it was.


    She was sure there was nothing in her pocket except the talismans. She glanced at the others, keeping quiet for now.


    Zhao Lan was covered in blood and grime, feeling miserable. She asked, ¡°Qing Shi said we have to find the sage in the city after we get out of here. Do we have everyone?¡±


    They looked around, unsure. No one knew the answer, except maybe Qing Shi. He was the only one who knew how many people had come along, and where they had gone.


    The sun was sinking fast, painting the sky in bloody hues. None of them wanted to spend a night in the hospital. Zhao Lan scribbled her number on a piece of paper and taped it to the door, just in case someone else made it out alive and needed a friendly voice.


    They left the hospital behind, a looming shadow of concrete and glass. The moment they stepped outside, they felt a blast of hot air, as if they had opened an oven. The contrast was jarring. The streets were alive with people, cars, and noise. It was like stepping into another world.


    They stopped at the gates, staring in disbelief. They looked like refugees, clutching their wounds and bags, covered in dirt and blood.


    ¡°Fuck me sideways,¡± Fang Yu swore. ¡°Is this for real? I haven¡¯t seen this much life in ages.¡±


    Liu Yu blinked back tears. She had taken these sights for granted, once. Now they seemed precious, almost unreal.


    Zheng Hong (Ö£ºè: ¡°a solemn swan¡± or ¡°a serious greatness¡±), the last one to join them, gaped at the scene. ¡°This is insane,¡± he said. ¡°How can a hospital create such a huge instance? And what about these people? Are they real or just NPCs?¡±


    Yu Xiao tilted her head, studying the faces of the pedestrians. They looked so normal, so human. But were they? She remembered the world outside the Lolita Amusement Park, where everything was bright and colourful, but nothing was real.


    Zhao Lan also wondered if this city was a trap like the one before, but they had a mission to complete, and it seemed harmless enough for now.


    ¡°Come on,¡± she said, ¡°let¡¯s find somewhere to crash and get out of these bloody rags.¡±


    The city looked just like the one they had left behind, with shops and people and cars. Zhao Lan got some dirty looks from the salespeople as she picked out new clothes, but she didn¡¯t care. She paid with her phone, scanning QR codes like it was nothing.


    Fang Yu crouched on the sidewalk, lighting up a cigarette he had just bought. ¡°Do you think we made it back?¡± he asked Zheng Hong, who was squatting next to him. ¡°Is this the real world?¡±


    Zheng Hong gazed at the traffic, feeling numb. ¡°My brain says no, but my heart says yes.¡±


    ¡°Shit,¡± Fang Yu said, rubbing his head. ¡°Maybe we should just forget about that damn sage and stay here.¡±


    Zheng Hong had no answer for that, because he wanted to know too.


    Zhao Lan and Zhou Xiao Zhen didn¡¯t give a damn. They were having fun in the clothing store, trying on different outfits. Yu Xiao saw Liu Yu sitting in a corner, lost in her own thoughts.


    Yu Xiao slipped something out of her white coat pocket.


    It was a phone, but not like hers. It was old and simple, like something from a museum. Even her grandma had a better phone than this.


    A mobile phone with a screen too small for its body, buttons too big for her fingers, and an antenna too long for its era. She gaped at the Nokia logo on the back, barely visible under the peeling paint. This thing belonged in a museum, not in her pocket. She had seen her parents use flip phones when she was a kid, but this was even older than that.


    Who gave her this antique? She racked her brain, trying to remember. The only person who had touched her since she came to this hellhole was¡­ the ghost. The creepy ghost who had saved her life. For a price, of course. Nothing was free in this place.


    But why would it give her a phone? And such a crappy one at that?


    She recalled what Qing Shi had said. The ones in the wards were her predecessors. The ones who had played this twisted game before her.


    Yu Xiao felt a chill run down her spine. She had forgotten something important. This game had been going on for a long time. Since the First Hospital. The Sixth, Fifth, Fourth, Third¡­ They all had smartphones. They all came from the same decade as her.


    But what about the ones before them?


    The ones from the First and Second Hospital? They didn¡¯t have smartphones back then.


    A flash of insight hit her. The ghost who had taken her offerings, saved her skin, and maybe sniffed her when she wasn¡¯t looking¡­ had it been human once? Had it been a patient from the First or Second Hospital, trapped in this nightmare for who knows how long, until it died and became a ghost, haunting the dark ward?


    How long had it been since it last been human? It still clung to a shred of its old consciousness, even as it faded into the shadows. As it bid farewell to her, it slipped its phone into Yu Xiao¡¯s pocket with a stealthy touch.


    Yu Xiao tried to turn on the phone, but nothing happened. The screen remained dark and silent.


    She couldn¡¯t tell if it was dead or just broken.


    ¡°Smiley~¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen burst out of the dressing room, spinning like a ballerina on crack. ¡°How do I look in this dress?¡±


    Yu Xiao¡¯s thoughts were elsewhere. She barely looked at her and nodded. ¡°You look great.¡±


    ¡°Hehehe~¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen posed in front of the mirror, admiring her reflection. ¡°Do you think I¡¯m getting fat? My waist seems thicker. Yu Xiao, am I fat?¡±


    Yu Xiao muttered some vague compliments and got out of the store.


    She couldn¡¯t shake off the nagging feeling that the ghost had a reason for giving her its phone. Did it want something from her? And why be so sneaky about it?


    The more she pondered, the more confused she got. She lifted her head and saw a mobile repair shop nearby. On a whim, Yu Xiao walked in. The shop was small and dingy, with only one guy behind the desk, fiddling with a bunch of parts and a screwdriver.


    Yu Xiao walked up to him and showed him the phone. ¡°Do you have a charger for this thing?¡±


    The shopkeeper glanced up, snatched the phone, and gaped. ¡°What century is this? Where did you dig up this fossil?¡±


    Yu Xiao snapped. ¡°None of your business. Got a charger or not?¡±


    ¡°Nope.¡± The shopkeeper tossed the phone back to her, shaking his head. ¡°What century is this? How would I have a charger for this relic?¡±


    Yu Xiao pressed. ¡°Any idea where I can find one?¡±


    ¡°Nowhere.¡± The shopkeeper shrugged. ¡°Why bother with this thing? It¡¯s probably toast. And even if it¡¯s not, good luck fixing it. No one sells parts for these anymore.¡±


    Yu Xiao knew he was right, but he also annoyed her. He talked too much.


    She had a nagging feeling in her gut. The ghosts in the hospital room, they used to be human, but not anymore. They were monsters. They ate people, fought over brains and hearts, hunted the living like prey.


    But the ghost who gave her the phone was different. It still had some awareness. Yu Xiao didn¡¯t know how much, but she wanted to know why it gave her the phone.


    She sighed, tapping the phone with her finger. The shopkeeper noticed her sad expression and asked, ¡°Is this phone special to you? Did your grandparents leave it to you?¡±


    Yu Xiao ignored him, staring at the phone.


    The phone¡¯s original owner would have been an uncle by now, if they were still alive.


    Yu Xiao stuffed the phone in her pocket, breathed deeply, and asked, ¡°Boss, ever heard of the Sage?¡±


    ¡°Sure have,¡± the shopkeeper said. ¡°Are you going for the challenge too?¡±


    **


    Zhao Lan and Zhou Xiao Zhen came out in new outfits, only to find Yu Xiao gone. Liu Yu was in a daze, while Zheng Hong and Fang Yu squatted on the curb, watching the traffic.


    ¡°Where¡¯s Smiley?¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen scanned the area.


    Just then, Yu Xiao popped out of the phone repair shop, waving at them. ¡°I¡¯ve got a clue!¡±


    They gathered in a teahouse, Yu Xiao sipping a milk tea. ¡°I just asked around, and the Sage is in the tallest building in this city.¡±


    She said that, and everyone turned to the window. They saw a skyscraper that soared above the rest, at least a hundred and fifty stories high.


    ¡°Wow,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen gasped, ¡°Why would the Sage live up there? Does he think he¡¯s closer to God?¡±


    ¡°Because he owns the place,¡± Yu Xiao said.


    ¡°Huh?¡± Zheng Hong frowned. ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    ¡°The Sage is the boss of that building. He has a company there, so he lives there,¡± Yu Xiao said, adding a snarky comment. ¡°Qing Shi acted like finding the Sage was some big mystery, but everyone in the city knows where he is.¡±


    ¡°Too easy, right?¡± Zhao Lan smelled a rat. ¡°Finding the Sage doesn¡¯t mean we¡¯ll get to see him.¡±


    ¡°Misty, you¡¯ve got a point,¡± Yu Xiao whispered. ¡°The city is full of rumors about the Sage. They say he¡¯s a prodigy, born with all the answers. Everyone wants a piece of him, to learn the future, or make a fortune. The story goes that he started a tech company when he was a kid, a big one.¡±


    ¡°That explains it,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen said, gawking at the skyscraper. ¡°That building is loaded with gadgets.¡±


    Liu Yu groaned. ¡°Do we have to talk nerdy in a haunted hellhole?¡±


    ¡°Ahem,¡± Yu Xiao coughed, getting their attention. ¡°So, he built that tower, and never left it since. He made a rule that anyone who wants to meet him has to beat his challenges. Only the best of the best can see him.¡±


    ¡°Yawn,¡± Fang Yu said. ¡°So lame and boring.¡±


    ¡°Right?¡± Zhao Lan agreed, looking at Yu Xiao. ¡°How hard are the challenges? Has anyone ever seen him?¡±


    ¡°Not a soul. I bet those challenges are brutal,¡± Yu Xiao said.


    ¡°Now what?¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen scowled. ¡°Are we supposed to be smarter and stronger than the whole city?¡±


    ¡°Brains don¡¯t always win,¡± Yu Xiao smirked. ¡°But we¡¯ll see what we can do.¡± She smiled at the others. ¡°Why waste time on these puzzles? Let¡¯s storm the Sage¡¯s office.¡±


    ¡°You mean break in?¡± Liu Yu looked nervous. ¡°Isn¡¯t that too much? Although we might be a bit stronger than ordinary folks, isn¡¯t this still breaking the law?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not real, it¡¯s a simulation. Scared of the law?¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen said. ¡°Smiley, I¡¯m with you. Let¡¯s crash the party.¡±


    That settled it. They had their plan to find the Sage. They didn¡¯t stick around, heading for the tallest building in the city as soon as they ate.


    The Sage Tower was even more impressive up close.


    ¡°I just realised something,¡± Zhao Lan said. ¡°What if they cut off the elevators when we try to get in?¡±


    That was a problem. Yu Xiao said, ¡°Then we¡¯ll have to keep them running.¡±


    They got the hint. They climbed the stairs together, marching towards the entrance of the Sage Tower.


    They hit a snag at the entrance. A security guard blocked their way. ¡°What do you want?¡± he asked.


    ¡°We want the challenge,¡± Fang Yu said.


    ¡°Then go that way,¡± the guard pointed somewhere else, ¡°and sign up first.¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen asked, ¡°Sign up with our names?¡±


    ¡°And more,¡± the guard said, ¡°We need your age, job, gender, address, and your IDs for safekeeping.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    They were screwed; none of them had their IDs.


    ©¤©¤©¤ ? ©¤©¤ ¡î ©¤©¤ ? ©¤©¤©¤

 Chapter 102: Sage

    They shared a glance. ID cards. Who would¡¯ve guessed such a mundane thing could be a hurdle?


    ¡°Any ideas?¡± Zheng Hong furrowed his brow, scanning their faces.


    Fang Yu grit his teeth. ¡°We¡¯re here to kick some ass, right? So let¡¯s just do it.¡±


    Liu Yu nodded, her fists clenched. ¡°Yeah, let¡¯s stick to the plan. Zheng Hong, Fang Yu, and I¡¯ll handle the elevator. You guys head for the Sage¡¯s office.¡±


    ¡°Sounds good.¡± Yu Xiao shrugged, unruffled. ¡°Let¡¯s not waste time.¡±


    The security guard observed them with a puzzled expression. They said they wanted in, but hadn¡¯t bothered to check in. Instead, they huddled, whispering like conspirators. He almost called for backup, but they seemed harmless, mostly young girls.


    Just as he was about to question them, they all turned to him at once.


    The guard shivered.


    The girl who seemed barely twenty approached him. ¡°Sorry about this.¡±


    The security guard: ¡°..?¡±


    Yu Xiao tapped his neck lightly. Before he could react, his eyes rolled back, and he collapsed like a sack of potatoes.


    Onlookers in the building watched in astonishment as Yu Xiao took charge. With a wave, she declared, ¡°Let¡¯s go, everyone!¡±


    They stormed in like a pack of wolves, taking over the front desk and smashing all the phones. Liu Yu grabbed a receptionist by the collar, barking, ¡°Where¡¯s the elevator control room?¡±


    The receptionist, kicking her legs in panic, blurted out the location of the control room.


    Security guards, alerted by the commotion, rushed towards them, batons in hand.


    Yu Xiao grinned wickedly. ¡°Perfect timing.¡± She lunged at the guards, with Zhou Xiao Zhen and Zhao Lan following suit. Inside, they subdued every guard in their path.


    They reached the elevator doors. The lobby echoed with screams and chaos. The elevator seemed agonizingly slow, stopping at every floor, making Yu Xiao impatient.


    ¡°So slow,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen complained.


    Zhao Lan tried to reassure her. ¡°Elevators in tall buildings are never fast.¡±


    They waited anxiously until they heard a familiar sound ¨C the long-absent wail of sirens.


    They stared at each other, speechless.


    ¡°Shit,¡± Zheng Hong cursed, ¡°Who called the cops? Why didn¡¯t you stop them?¡±


    ¡°How could we have known?¡± Fang Yu snapped, ¡°We¡¯ve done this a million times instances, and no one¡¯s ever called the cops before.¡±


    They had been out of touch with reality for too long, neglecting the simplest issues: someone calling the police.


    Police cars screeched to a halt outside the Sage Tower, officers taking cover behind their doors, shouting through megaphones, ¡°This is the police! Drop your weapons, release the hostages, and surrender with your hands up!¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    They froze for a second. Zhou Xiao Zhen felt like she was in a movie, one of those cop thrillers.


    ¡°What¡¯s our move now?¡± she pondered, ¡°Do we confront the cops head-on?¡±


    Liu Yu rolled her eyes, ¡°They have guns, genius.¡±


    ¡°Then what?¡± Zheng Hong groaned, ¡°Just surrender?¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    The police also inspected the scene indoors. Several people were strewn across the floor, but the six culprits were unarmed. They eased up a bit. The lead detective holstered his gun, approached the building, and inquired, ¡°What¡¯s the story here? Why did you attack the Sage Tower?¡±


    Yu Xiao scanned the area nervously and blurted out, ¡°We wanted to participate in the challenge, but we forgot our IDs. When the security refused us entry, we got angry and things escalated.¡±


    They couldn¡¯t believe what they were hearing. Their explanation was absurd, yet oddly believable. Four of them were young girls, and none had weapons. One even had a mahjong set. Who brings mahjong to a crime scene anyway?


    Sirens blared as they were taken into custody. They found themselves at the police station, where Captain Zhang, who had spoken to them earlier, gave them a stern talking-to.


    ¡°Aren¡¯t you all adults? Don¡¯t you possess any common sense?¡±


    ¡°Um¡­¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen raised her hand sheepishly. ¡°I¡¯m actually a minor.¡±


    ¡°¡­,¡± Zhang¡¯s face reddened. ¡°And you dragged a kid along to commit a crime! Where are your guardians? Where do you reside? What school do you attend¡­¡±


    Yu Xiao sensed trouble; they had to get out of this mess.


    Zhang grilled them for a while, but gleaned nothing. He stormed off for a breather.


    With Zhang gone, Yu Xiao suggested, ¡°Direct confrontation won¡¯t work.¡±


    ¡°Can we sneak in?¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen wondered. ¡°But we don¡¯t have IDs.¡±


    ¡°Then let¡¯s try a less aggressive approach,¡± Yu Xiao proposed, learning from their mistakes. ¡°We got busted because we wasted time knocking out too many people. If we can lure them away without hurting them, we¡¯ll be fine.¡±


    Zhao Lan scratched her chin. ¡°Distracting them is the tricky part. The building is crawling with security guards. How do we shake them off?¡±


    Liu Yu reached into her pocket and pulled out a card. ¡°Behold, the Hate Card. One-time use only. Whoever uses it becomes the most despised person in the world. Anyone who lays eyes on you will want to chase you down and beat you up. I¡¯ve been saving this for a rainy day, but¡­ I guess this is it.¡±


    Fang Yu¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°That¡¯s perfect. That¡¯s exactly what we need.¡±


    Liu Yu bit her lip. ¡°There¡¯s a catch, though. I¡¯m terrified of using it. What if they catch me and kill me?¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen puffed out her chest. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll do it. I¡¯ll be the target.¡±


    Zhao Lan nodded. ¡°That¡¯s very brave of you. But we still have one more problem. How do we escape from the police station?¡±


    Fang Yu grinned. ¡°I¡¯ve got that covered. I¡¯m going to fake my suicide.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡± Everyone stared at him in silence.


    ¡°Come on, Fang!¡± Zheng Hong broke the silence. ¡°Don¡¯t be reckless. Things aren¡¯t that dire. And what if something goes wrong? How will I cope without you?¡±


    Fang Yu rolled his eyes. ¡°Are you daft? Yu Xiao has the ¡¾Healing Crisis Talisman¡¿. I won¡¯t actually die. I¡¯ll just pretend. They¡¯ll have to take me out for medical attention, right? And then I¡¯ll insist that you all accompany me. Easy peasy.¡±


    Zhao Lan nodded. ¡°Solid plan. But we need to make a big scene. The more they freak out, the better for us.¡±


    Sergeant Zhang gulped down two cups of tea, hoping to ease his nerves. He instructed his men to check the records of the six suspects and headed to confront them himself.


    He had a bad feeling about them from the start, but he couldn¡¯t quite figure out why. Then it hit him¡ªthey were just too cool. Not a hint of fear or nervousness showed on any of their faces, not even the two younger girls. They should¡¯ve been sweating buckets by now.


    ¡°So, what¡¯s it gonna be?¡± Zhang approached them. ¡°Wanna come clean?¡±


    Fang Yu got up, walked over to Zhang, and snatched the teacup from his hand.


    ¡°Thirsty?¡± Zhang asked.


    Fang Yu, holding the teacup, replied with a deadpan expression, ¡°Let us go, or you¡¯ll regret it.¡±


    Zhang chuckled. ¡°Is that a threat, punk? Listen, I¡¯ve been a cop for a long time, and I don¡¯t scare easily.¡±


    ¡°Suit yourself,¡± Fang Yu said, and hurled the teacup against the wall. It shattered into fragments, sending hot tea and shards flying, steam billowing into the air.


    Zhang, taken aback, reached for his gun. ¡°What the heck do you think you¡¯re doing?¡±


    Fang Yu grabbed a piece from the floor and pressed it against his neck. ¡°How about you let us go, huh?¡±


    ¡°You¡­¡± Captain Zhang was ready to blow his top. ¡°You think this is a joke? I¡¯m not your daddy¡ª¡±


    He didn¡¯t get to finish. Fang Yu slashed his neck, and blood gushed out. He had hit the artery, causing a warm spray to hit Captain Zhang¡¯s face.


    ¡°¡­¡±


    Captain Zhang couldn¡¯t believe his eyes. He did it so fast? Without a word? That¡¯s just ruthless!


    He hurried to support Fang Yu, yelling, ¡°Move it! Get the car!¡±


    He and Zheng Hong hoisted Fang Yu and ran outside, with Yu Xiao and the others in tow. The cops outside were shocked too. They thought Captain Zhang was a good guy, but he had crossed a line this time.


    Nobody paid attention to Yu Xiao and the others. They all piled into the police car with Fang Yu.


    As the car raced away, Captain Zhang applied pressure to Fang Yu¡¯s bleeding neck, furious and frightened. ¡°You lunatic! You¡¯re insane! Was this worth risking your life for? You¡¯re his friends, why didn¡¯t you stop him?¡±


    Zheng Hong said, ¡°Calm down, Old Fang is hanging in there.¡±


    ¡°Right,¡± Zhao Lan glanced at Fang Yu, ¡°He¡¯s lost a lot of blood. He¡¯s out cold.¡±


    ¡°I see,¡± Yu Xiao fetched some talismans.


    T hey were as cool as cucumbers, casually chatting as if nothing was wrong.


    Captain Zhang couldn¡¯t help but inquire, ¡°What in the world are you talking about? What¡¯s going on?¡±


    Then he witnessed the girl pulling out some yellow papers, resembling something straight out of a cheesy TV show. What were those things? Did they belong to some sort of cult?


    ¡°Could you please move your hand?¡± Yu Xiao asked, gently nudging Captain Zhang¡¯s hand aside.


    Captain Zhang thought to himself, Mind your own business. Yet, he couldn¡¯t resist her ¡®gentle¡¯ gesture.


    Captain Zhang: ¡°¡­¡±


    As soon as she moved his hand, the boy¡¯s bleeding surged towards the ceiling. Yu Xiao swiftly slapped a talisman on his neck, halting the bleeding.


    Captain Zhang: ¡°?! ¡°


    Yu Xiao slapped another talisman to his neck, and the wound vanished.


    Captain Zhang smacked his face, thinking he must be dreaming.


    Yu Xiao then slapped a third talisman on Fang Yu¡¯s neck. To everyone¡¯s surprise, Fang Yu, who had been as pale as a ghost, suddenly regained consciousness. He groaned, blinked, and opened his eyes.


    Captain Zhang¡¯s face stung from all the slapping. He abandoned the idea of dreaming and concluded that he must be losing his mind. S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Fang Yu blinked awake, feeling oddly serene. He propped himself up and gazed at Captain Zhang, who stared back with a mixture of fear and confusion. ¡°What should we do with him?¡±


    Captain Zhang felt like he was in a surreal nightmare. ¡°Who are you people? Were you just performing some sort of magic tricks?¡±


    Yu Xiao flashed a mischievous grin. ¡°We put him to sleep. He¡¯s harmless. I won¡¯t harm him much.¡± She tapped Captain Zhang¡¯s neck lightly. He slumped over, unconscious. She banged on the front window and shouted, ¡°Hey, pull over! The captain suddenly passed out!¡±


    The rookie cop behind the wheel hit the brakes and got out of the car. He saw Captain Zhang¡¯s limp body and the bloodstained Fang Yu, who looked oddly healed. He swallowed hard and said, ¡°What the hell is goi¡ª?¡±


    He didn¡¯t get to finish his question. Zhao Lan flicked her wrist and sent him to dreamland too. She slid into the driver¡¯s seat and said, ¡°I¡¯ll take over. We¡¯re going to the Sage Tower.¡±


    The six of them piled back into the police car and sped off to the Sage Tower.


    The Sage Tower had just recovered from the chaos. The security guard, who had regained consciousness, bravely resumed his duty. He wasn¡¯t hurt, so he didn¡¯t need a break. He still had some fight in him.


    He had been standing at the door for barely two minutes when a police car screeched to a halt in front of him.


    It must be the cops coming to check on the situation, he thought. Then he saw the six freaks who had knocked him out earlier stepping out of the car, one of them covered in blood.


    ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°Oh God, The security guard felt a chill down his spine. He wondered if they had slaughtered the whole police station.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen flashed a card in her hand and told the crowd, ¡°Make way, folks. I¡¯ll be back soon. You can have your turn then.¡±


    The others shuffled aside, letting Zhou Xiao Zhen stroll into the building, card in hand.


    The guard was torn between doing his job and saving his skin. He prided himself on being a good employee, but the woman who just got off a police car had a severed hand dangling from the back door, wearing a cop¡¯s glove. How could he confront such a criminal?


    So, he did nothing but watch as Zhou Xiao Zhen went in.


    Once inside, Zhou Xiao Zhen didn¡¯t waste any time. She hopped around the lobby, screaming, ¡°Look at me! Look at me! Everyone look at me!¡±


    Her behavior was so insane that everyone on the ground floor dropped their work to gawk at her. Zhou Xiao Zhen smirked. With a snap of her finger, the card flew out, the grudge card spent in one shot.


    In a flash, the eyes of everyone on the ground floor turned bloodshot, panting hard with gritted teeth. They had no idea who this girl was, but they loathed her, craving to rip her apart and gulp her down.


    ¡°Damn it!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m gonna kill you!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m gonna kill you too!!¡±


    Seeing the situation go downhill, Zhou Xiao Zhen spun and ran. The people, blinded by rage, chased after her. The girl sprinted onto the main street, with the mob howling behind her, a rampage in motion.


    ¡°Woah,¡± Fang Yu¡¯s eyes widened as he gazed at the angry swarm of working-class people chase after a lone, bald girl. ¡°This is some high-quality effect.¡±


    ¡°Come on, we don¡¯t have all day,¡± Yu Xiao urged, leading the way into the empty lobby. She turned to Liu Yu and Zheng Hong. ¡°You two, go to the elevator control room and make sure it works. We¡¯ll take the lift to the top floor.¡±


    They nodded and split up. Yu Xiao, Fang Yu, and Zhao Lan waited for the elevator to arrive.


    Fang Yu leaned against the wall. ¡°What if the sage dude doesn¡¯t want to join our merry band of misfits?¡±


    Zhao Lan shrugged. ¡°We knock him out and drag him along.¡±


    Yu Xiao grinned and gave her a thumbs up. ¡°Misty, you¡¯re awesome. You¡¯re growing on me.¡±


    Zhao Lan sighed. ¡°I wasn¡¯t always this violent, you know¡­¡±


    They chatted until the elevator dinged.


    A woman in a suit greeted them at the door. She looked confused. ¡°Who are you? You don¡¯t look like you work here. Where are your badges?¡±


    Fang Yu whispered, ¡°What now?¡±


    Zhao Lan lifted her hand, and the woman slumped in the elevator.


    Zhao Lan said, ¡°Next time, skip the questions and go for the knockout.¡±


    Fang Yu and Yu Xiao clapped.


    The elevator stopped at every floor, and more people tried to get in. But they all met the same fate as the woman. By the time they reached the top, the elevator was crammed with bodies.


    Fang Yu¡¯s voice was muffled by the pile of unconscious bodies on top of him. ¡°Can you bloody move these wankers off me? I¡¯m dying here.¡±


    Yu Xiao rolled her eyes. ¡°Quit whining, we¡¯re almost there.¡± She grabbed a limp arm and flung it aside, clearing a path to the lift door. ¡°Come on, this is the top floor.¡±


    They stumbled out of the cramped metal box, gasping for air. Before they could celebrate, they felt a chill on their necks. They turned around and saw a row of men in black suits and sunglasses, holding guns to their heads.


    ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°Fuck me sideways,¡± Fang Yu¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°This Sage bloke has his own bloody secret service.¡±


    Zhao Lan¡¯s face paled. ¡°How are we supposed to fight these guys? We¡¯re tough, but we¡¯re not bulletproof.¡±


    Yu Xiao bit her lip, trying to think of a plan. One of the men in black spoke into his earpiece. ¡°We have them. They match the description¡­ Roger that.¡±


    He walked towards Yu Xiao and pointed at her. ¡°You. The Sage wants a word with you.¡±


    Yu Xiao raised her eyebrows. ¡°Just me? What about them?¡± She nodded at Zhao Lan and Fang Yu.


    ¡°The Sage only wants you,¡± the man said flatly.


    Yu Xiao shrugged. ¡°Alright then, lead the way.¡± She followed him, leaving her friends behind. She had come here to meet the Sage, after all. This was her chance. She wasn¡¯t going to let it slip by.


    Yu Xiao was guided by the gun-toting goon through the endless corridor of the top floor. She didn¡¯t bother to look at the paintings that hung on the walls, figuring they were just some boring old art. Until one of them caught her eye and made her stop dead in her tracks.


    The goon scowled, ready to push her along, but then he heard a sound and stiffened.


    The painting was a sketch, a stark contrast of white on white. A lone figure in a white coat stood in the center, eyes closed, surrounded by nothing but white walls, white floor and ceiling, and finally white doors. Yu Xiao knew that scene.; it was the moment she was about to run from that white hospital, with her in a white coat, standing in the deserted hallway with her eyes shut.


    That was her!


    Yu Xiao felt a chill run down her spine. Why was there a painting of her here? And how did it capture her exact moment in the white hospital?


    She leaned closer, noticing the dust and cobwebs on the frame. This painting was old. It had been here for a long time.


    She resumed her walk, scanning the other paintings with curiosity. They all had something to do with her and the others who had entered this nightmare. One showed Precious sprinting for a door, a horde of ghosts on her heels.


    So that¡¯s why the hospital corridor was crawling with spooks. Precious had unleashed them. They had been in this together from the start, but Yu Xiao never got to ask Misty and Precious what they had seen in the white hospital.


    She moved on, seeing more horrors. Misty getting yanked into a room by an unseen force. Liu Yu clutching her bloody stump of a hand. Fang Yu missing an ear. And then, the darkest painting of all. Barely visible, two figures holding hands, walking through a wasteland of bones and rubble.


    The darkness swallowed Yu Xiao as she trailed behind the ghost. It led her through a maze of darkness.


    ¡°Who¡¯s the artist?¡±


    ¡°The Sage,¡± the goon grunted. ¡°He painted them all himself.¡±


    ¡°When did he paint them?¡±


    ¡°Beats me,¡± the goon shrugged. ¡°They were here when I got hired five years ago.¡±


    Yu Xiao bit her lip, feeling a surge of shock. The Sage had known they would come here today, five years ago?


    ¡°Here we are.¡± The goon stopped at a door that had a weird beast carved on it. Yu Xiao couldn¡¯t tell what it was supposed to be. ¡°The Sage is expecting you.¡±


    Yu Xiao took a deep breath and stepped inside. The room was nothing like what she had imagined. It wasn¡¯t a fancy office, or a cozy cabin, or a creepy dungeon.


    It was just a normal house. A big one, sure, but still normal. White walls, sofas, tables, even a cat tree in the corner. The only thing that stood out was the paintings. They were everywhere. On the walls, on the tables, on the floor, on easels¡­


    Yu Xiao walked in and spotted a figure by a French window.


    A figure sat on the floor, facing away from her. His hair was long and loose, brushing the ground as he leaned forward. His feet were bare, revealing pale and delicate ankles.


    ¡°Sage?¡± Yu Xiao called out. ¡°You asked for me?¡±


    The figure moved, rising to his feet and turning around.


    He was a young man, tall and slim, with a face that could make angels weep. But Yu Xiao didn¡¯t care about his face. She only saw his eyes.


    What the hell were those eyes?


    Calm, distant, unlike any eyes she had ever seen¡­


    ¡°Yu Xiao,¡± Sage said softly, saying her name like a prayer. ¡°After six years, I finally meet you.¡±


    Yu Xiao¡¯s mouth fell open, baffled by his weird greeting. How was she supposed to reply?


    ¡°You¡­¡± Yu Xiao began. ¡°You knew me six years ago?¡±


    ¡°Mm.¡± Sage wore a snow-white robe, giving him an ethereal air. He walked towards Yu Xiao, closing the gap between them, until he was only a breath away from her.


    He stared at Yu Xiao¡¯s face, intently, curiously, with a gaze that pierced her soul.


    The Sage spoke in a gentle voice, as if he was trying to soothe her. ¡°You must have heard why they call me that. I know almost everything in this world. I know everyone¡¯s past and can see their future. People can¡¯t hide anything from me.¡±


    Yu Xiao felt a drop of sweat roll down her forehead. He was that powerful? Could he see his own past and future too?


    ¡°Six years ago, I tried to see my own future. But all I got were bits and pieces, and they all had something to do with the forbidden hospital in the city center. I saw that some outsiders would come into this world¡­¡± The Sage gazed into Yu Xiao¡¯s eyes, his face showing a hint of doubt. ¡°Very odd.¡±


    Odd? What was odd about the outside world?


    Yu Xiao wondered, if he asked her what the outside world was like, would she tell him? There was nothing in the hospital rules that said she couldn¡¯t talk about the outside world, right?


    The Sage reached out his hand, brushing Yu Xiao¡¯s cheek with his fingers. ¡°I saw that six years from now, I would fall for you. But it¡¯s weird, because you¡¯re here with me now, and I don¡¯t feel a thing for you.¡±


    ©¤©¤©¤ ? ©¤©¤ ¡î ©¤©¤ ? ©¤©¤©¤

 Chapter 103: Sage’s Love

    ¡°¡­¡±


    Yu Xiao stared at the Sage, completely dumbfounded, her mind a blank slate. What the hell did he just say? How did he see six years ago that he would fall for her today?


    Yu Xiao was usually a confident girl, but she couldn¡¯t wrap her head around that idea. Unless¡­


    A light bulb went off in Yu Xiao¡¯s mind. Maybe the Sage wasn¡¯t wrong, because there was a way this could happen.


    The Sage had been watching her like a hawk, so he caught Yu Xiao¡¯s slight shift in expression. He asked, ¡°Did you figure it out?¡±


    ¡°Uh?¡± Yu Xiao blinked. ¡°Figure out what?¡±


    ¡°Why things are different from what I saw,¡± the Sage said.


    ¡°I have no clue,¡± Yu Xiao shook her head. ¡°How would I know?¡±


    The Sage could see right through her, whether she lied or not. He took a few steps back, turning his back to her, looking at the fiery red sunset through the window. He threw a question at Yu Xiao, ¡°Do you believe in fate?¡±


    ¡®Fate? That was a random topic, considering we were just talking about being in love with each other.¡¯


    Yu Xiao didn¡¯t have much to say about fate. She had never given it much thought. She guessed most young people these days didn¡¯t either. First of all, most of them were atheists, and second of all, they had too much on their plates to waste time on such mystical stuff.


    Online novels had taught most young people a catchy mantra: ¡°my fate is determined by me, not by heaven.¡±


    Yu Xiao didn¡¯t buy into that nonsense, but she liked to hedge her bets. When things went her way, she thanked fate. When they didn¡¯t, she cursed it and vowed to change it.


    Things weren¡¯t going her way lately. Fate had given her cancer at the ripe old age of twenty-one. She spat in its face and said, ¡°I don¡¯t believe it.¡±


    The sage shrugged and said, ¡°Me neither.¡±


    Then he went back to his window seat, resuming his bored stare at the horizon. He looked like he had seen it all and nothing impressed him anymore.


    Yu Xiao followed him and plopped down next to him. She said, ¡°You can see the future, right? You know why I¡¯m here?¡±


    ¡°Hmm.¡±


    ¡°So, do you agree?¡± She pressed, ¡°Will you help us save the hospital?¡±


    He took his time before answering, ¡°Nope.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡± Yu Xiao blinked, then asked, ¡°Can you tell me why?¡±


    He shook his head and said, ¡°Nope. I just don¡¯t feel like it.¡± He reached for a plate of snacks on the coffee table and stuffed his mouth with cookies. He chewed slowly, savoring the crumbs. He looked like he could doze off any second.


    Yu Xiao frowned and asked, ¡°Then why did you even see me? What¡¯s the point?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re the most interesting thing in my life right now,¡± the Sage said, biting into a dried apricot that made him wince. ¡°I wonder if I¡¯ll fall for you, like I saw in my vision.¡±


    Yu Xiao had no words. She stared at him, then at the window he was gazing out of. The city sprawled below them, a hundred stories down. It was a sight to behold, sure. But it was still just a city. ¡°Don¡¯t you ever get sick of this view?¡±


    The Sage said, ¡°I¡¯m sick of it already.¡±


    ¡°Then why do you keep looking?¡± Yu Xiao couldn¡¯t figure him out. He was a mystery wrapped in an enigma. ¡°Why don¡¯t you go out and have some fun?¡±


    The Sage said, ¡°Out there is no fun either.¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°I know everyone and everything in this city. I know what¡¯s going to happen before it happens. Going out would be like watching a rerun of a boring show. No thanks.¡± The Sage shook his head. ¡°I¡¯d rather stay here and conserve my energy.¡±


    Yu Xiao felt like she had entered another dimension. She couldn¡¯t wrap her head around it.


    But she didn¡¯t have time to try. She was here for a reason, not for small talk. She felt a surge of malice in her chest. She clenched her fists and glared at the Sage. ¡°You can see everything, huh? Do you know what I¡¯m going to do to you?¡±


    The Sage looked away, his face a mask of boredom and contempt. ¡°You won¡¯t do anything.¡±


    ¡°How do you know?¡± Yu Xiao narrowed her eyes, her voice dripping with menace. ¡°Sometimes I lose my cool, and I even surprise myself.¡±


    The Sage¡¯s voice was flat and final. ¡°You won¡¯t.¡±


    Yu Xiao had been hoping for some sage wisdom, maybe a riddle or a prophecy. Instead, he hit her with a low blow. ¡°You know, I have your bestie in my hands.¡±


    Yu Xiao¡¯s mouth fell open. She glared at the bushy-browed bastard, who had the nerve to smirk at her. She lowered her hands, feeling the blood drain from her face. ¡°Don¡¯t you dare.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t dare anything,¡± the Sage said, shrugging. ¡°I just do what I have to.¡±


    Yu Xiao decided to change tactics. She put on her most mysterious smile and said, ¡°Do you have any idea what this world really is? Do you think it¡¯s all there is?¡±


    She saw a flicker of doubt in his eyes. He frowned, as if wrestling with some inner demon. He took a long breath, then relaxed his face. ¡°You know the truth of this world?¡±


    ¡°Of course I do,¡± Yu Xiao said, arching an eyebrow. ¡°More than you, anyway.¡±


    The Sage looked uneasy. ¡°I¡¯ve been searching for the truth of this world for a long time. I know you¡¯re from somewhere else, and the way back is in the big hospital in the middle of the city.¡±


    Yu Xiao was impressed by how much he knew. She didn¡¯t have to waste time explaining the basics. She was ready to weave her web of lies.


    The Sage shook his head, a faint smile on his lips. ¡°Shame. You¡¯re the lucky ones, you know. You can still cross the threshold to the other side. We¡¯re stuck here for good.¡±


    Yu Xiao felt a surge of words rising in her throat, but they got lodged there like a fishbone. She managed to croak, ¡°So what? Don¡¯t you want to know what¡¯s out there, huh?¡±


    ¡°Would you tell me then?¡±


    Yu Xiao leaped at the opportunity. ¡°Sure, I¡¯ll tell you everything. If you come with me to the hospital, that is.¡±


    The Sage turned his gaze to the sunset, his smile fading. ¡°Nah, forget it. I¡¯m not that curious.¡±


    Yu Xiao¡¯s frustration boiled over. She gaped at the Sage, her mouth opening and closing like a dying carp. She couldn¡¯t take it anymore.


    She blurted, ¡°How can you live like this? You¡¯ve been holed up in this room for years, right? Same old place, same old faces, barely a word spoken. What¡¯s the point of this existence? Don¡¯t you ever crave a change?¡±


    Yu Xiao was getting heated, her voice rising with every word. But the Sage didn¡¯t seem to care. He just kept looking at her, his expression unreadable.


    Yu Xiao tilted her head and flashed a grin. ¡°What¡¯s the matter, scared of a little danger?¡± She winked at him. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ve got your back. You saw those paintings outside, right? They¡¯re snapshots of my life at the hospital. Trust me, I can handle anything.¡±


    Sage met her gaze with a blank expression, then dropped a bombshell. ¡°What if the danger is you?¡±


    Yu Xiao blinked. ¡°Excuse me?¡±


    He ignored her question and asked another. ¡°How vast is the outside world?¡±


    Yu Xiao frowned. What kind of weirdo is he? She wondered. Does he have a short attention span or something?


    ¡°Very vast,¡± she answered. ¡°Much more than this city can offer.¡±


    He looked past her, his eyes distant. ¡°I have no name. They call me Sage, because I was born with knowledge that others lack. I spent ten years uncovering the secrets of this world. I discovered its flaws, its origins, its connection to the hospital in the heart of the city, and¡­¡±


    He trailed off and lowered his head. A bone jutted out from his pale, thin neck. ¡°Then I built this place, and I never left. It¡¯s a boring life, but not a bad one. I still have things to live for.¡±


    Yu Xiao shook her head. ¡°I¡¯m not telling you to die. I¡¯m asking you to help us. Once we¡¯re done, you can come back here and resume your routine.¡±


    Sage let out a soft laugh, the first sign of emotion he had shown since Yu Xiao met him.


    He closed his eyes, a silent no.


    Yu Xiao frowned. ¡°Come on, don¡¯t you want to help us out?¡±


    The Sage didn¡¯t budge. Yu Xiao sighed and reached into her pocket. She pulled out a card, the one she had snagged from Luo Jin before. A one-time deep love card.


    She had a hunch she would need it today, ever since she met the Sage and heard his cryptic words. But she hoped to avoid it. Functional cards were hard to come by, and they could save your life in a pinch. She hated to waste one.


    But the Sage was right. She couldn¡¯t escape her fate. She had to use the card today.


    She was about to use it, when the Sage opened his eyes and fixed them on the card in her hand.


    ¡°What¡¯s that?¡±


    Yu Xiao blushed, feeling like a thief caught in the act.


    ¡°Is that supposed to make me fall in love with you?¡± he asked again.


    She gasped. ¡°How do you know?¡±


    He ignored her question and asked his own. ¡°What does love feel like?¡±


    She stammered. ¡°I¡­ I don¡¯t know.¡± She had never loved anyone, so she had no clue.


    He raised an eyebrow. ¡°You don¡¯t know?¡± He studied the card in her hand, then mused, ¡°It must be a powerful emotion, strong enough to make someone sacrifice everything, even their life.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not that extreme,¡± she said, shaking her head.


    He was being melodramatic. She didn¡¯t believe that love was that insane. She would never sacrifice everything for someone, no matter how much she liked them. (Oh, poor Smiley, Misty would have noticed the hint.)


    The sage leaned in and whispered, ¡°How can you be sure it¡¯s not like this, when you¡¯ve never been in love?¡±


    Yu Xiao rolled her eyes. She wanted to tell him off, but she had no comeback. She settled for a snort. ¡°Whatever.¡±


    His gaze shifted to the card in her hand. ¡°Can I take a closer look?¡±


    ¡°In your dreams.¡± Yu Xiao clutched the card tighter.


    It was unbound, which meant anyone could activate it. And if he did, she would be screwed. Literally.


    ¡°Come on, let me see.¡± He pleaded. ¡°I won¡¯t take it, I promise.¡±


    She hesitated, then sighed. ¡°Fine, but don¡¯t touch it.¡± She lifted the card up for him to see.


    He reached out and gently grasped her wrist, bringing it closer to his face. He examined the card with a serious expression.


    It was a black card, with a galaxy of stars and symbols on one side, and a heart on the other. The heart seemed to pulse with a faint rhythm, as if it had a life of its own.


    He stared at the card for a long time, then released her hand. He looked at her with a strange mix of emotions. ¡°Use it.¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°Use it.¡± He repeated, more firmly. ¡°Use it on me.¡±


    Yu Xiao bit her lip. ¡°Maybe I don¡¯t need it,¡± she said. ¡°Maybe you¡¯ll just¡­¡±


    ¡°Use it.¡± The Sage cut her off. ¡°I won¡¯t do anything unless you use it.¡±


    She sighed. He was so stubborn. Fine, she¡¯d play along. But when he fell for her, hard and fast, she wouldn¡¯t go easy on him. She¡¯d make him pay for all the trouble he¡¯d caused her.


    She activated the card, feeling it dissolve in her hand. She watched the Sage closely, looking for any signs of change.


    Nothing. He was still the same, calm and composed. They locked eyes, neither of them speaking. The silence stretched on, until Yu Xiao wondered if the card was a dud. Had Lu Xu and Luo Jin tricked her? Was this not a real love card?


    Then the Sage closed his eyes. He raised his hand to his chest, touching his heart. He whispered, ¡°So this is love.¡±


    Yu Xiao felt a surge of hope. ¡°Do you feel it?¡± she asked. ¡°Will you come with us to the hospital now?¡±


    He opened his eyes, but he didn¡¯t answer right away. He looked at her with a question in his eyes. ¡°Is that what you want?¡±


    ¡°Of course it is,¡± she said. ¡°You know I don¡¯t belong here. I need your help to get out.¡±


    He nodded slowly. She thought she saw a flicker of sadness in his eyes.


    ¡°Okay,¡± he said. ¡°I¡¯ll do it for you.¡±


    Yu Xiao glanced at the dark sky. The sun had set hours ago, leaving them in the shadows.


    ¡°Qing Shi said hospitals are a nightmare at night.¡± She tried to laugh, but it came out as a nervous squeak. ¡°How about we go tomorrow, when it¡¯s bright and sunny? Do you want to get ready tonight? Or catch some z¡¯s?¡±


    The sage cut in. ¡°Your friends¡­¡±


    ¡°Shit!¡± Yu Xiao smacked her leg. ¡°I totally spaced.¡±


    She grabbed her phone and called Zhou Xiao Zhen. On the other end, Zhou Xiao Zhen sounded like she was in pain. ¡°Hiss¡­ Smiley.¡±


    ¡°Precious, how are you holding up?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m okay, I found a hiding place,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen stomped on a rat. ¡°Except for the rat bites, I¡¯m peachy.¡±


    ¡°Why are rats biting you?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s the grudge card,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen said. ¡°Anything with eyes, they go nuts when they see me. They want a piece of me.¡±


    ¡°Damn.¡± Yu Xiao shook her head. ¡®Why is there such a huge gap in effects for the same type of card? Precious gets hated by rats, but Sage barely batted an eye when I used it on him.¡¯


    ¡°Smiley,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen said. ¡°Did you sort things out on your end?¡±


    ¡°Yup, all set. We¡¯ll hit the hospital at dawn.¡±


    ¡°Awesome.¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen sounded relieved. ¡°Let¡¯s call it a night, then. I don¡¯t want to get caught. I¡¯ll lay low and see you at the hospital door tomorrow morning.¡±


    ¡°Stay safe, okay?¡± Yu Xiao warned.


    ¡°I will,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen said, ending the call.


    Yu Xiao put down the phone. ¡°Can you let my friends go now?¡±


    ¡°Sure.¡± The Sage pulled out his own phone and made a quick call. ¡°They¡¯re free,¡± he announced.


    ¡°Thank you.¡± Yu Xiao smiled sincerely and got up to leave.


    ¡°Are you leaving?¡± The Sage looked at her with a hopeful expression.


    ¡°Hm.¡± Yu Xiao gestured at the window. ¡°It¡¯s late, and you need some sleep, even if I don¡¯t.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not sleepy.¡± The Sage gazed at her. ¡°I¡¯m in love with you now, can¡¯t you stay with me tonight?¡±


    ¡°¡­¡± Yu Xiao stared blankly at the Sage, wondering if he was joking or delusional. He claimed to love her, but she couldn¡¯t see any signs of it.  S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°I¡¯ll do you a big favor tomorrow,¡± the Sage said with a grave expression. ¡°You need to stay here with me tonight. It¡¯s the least you can do for me.¡±


    Yu Xiao: ¡°¡­¡±


    She didn¡¯t have much choice, so she agreed to stay with him in his fancy suite. He took charge and ordered dinner for both of them, and to her surprise, he already knew her preferences. She had to admit that he was good at getting things done.


    They ate without saying much, until her phone started ringing. It was Zhao Lan: ¡°Hey, Smiley, how are things going on your end?¡±


    ¡°Smooth as silk,¡± Yu Xiao popped a garlic shrimp in her mouth. ¡°The Sage is on board with our plan. He¡¯ll go to the hospital with us tomorrow morning. How about you guys?¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re fine, just a little hungry. Did you get in touch with Precious?¡±


    ¡°I did. She¡¯s still under the influence of that weird card and hiding somewhere. She¡¯ll join us at the hospital gate tomorrow morning,¡± Yu Xiao said. ¡°What about Liu Yu and the rest? Are they okay?¡±


    ¡°They¡¯re fine, don¡¯t worry,¡± Zhao Lan said. ¡°When are you coming down? Want to grab a bite with us?¡±


    ¡°No, thanks, I¡¯m eating right now,¡± Yu Xiao said, glancing at the Sage who was watching her with a piercing gaze. ¡°I won¡¯t be able to see you tonight. Let¡¯s meet at the hospital gate tomorrow morning.¡±


    She hung up the phone and the Sage threw a peeled shrimp into her bowl.


    Yu Xiao felt a flush of heat on her cheeks as Sage peeled another shrimp for her. No one had ever shown her such gentle care before. She muttered, ¡°You should eat some too, you know.¡±


    Sage smiled and handed her the shrimp. ¡°I enjoy watching you eat more.¡±


    Yu Xiao shivered, not from pleasure, but from dread. She wished he would stop with the cheesy lines. She popped the shrimp in her mouth and chewed silently, hoping he would change the subject.


    He did. ¡°What¡¯s your world like?¡± he asked. ¡°Can you tell me about it?¡±


    ¡°Sure.¡± Yu Xiao was relieved. She could talk about anything, as long as it wasn¡¯t romantic. ¡°My world is like yours, but bigger. And there are no Sage guys like you¡­¡±


    She didn¡¯t realize how much she was saying until she noticed the sun peeking through the curtains. She had been babbling non-stop to a secondary NPC, answering his curious questions and sharing her stories. They had moved from the table to the sofa at some point, probably when she felt sleepy.


    Yu Xiao rubbed her eyes and looked around. She couldn¡¯t remember when she had fallen asleep.


    A face loomed over her, inches from her own. Yu Xiao¡¯s scream died in her throat as she recognized Sage.


    ¡°Good morning, sleep well?¡±


    Yu Xiao¡¯s heart raced, but not in a good way.


    ¡°Yeah¡­¡± She pushed him away and sat up. ¡°Were you watching me sleep?¡±


    ¡°Of course,¡± he said, as if it was the most natural thing in the world.


    Yu Xiao shuddered. She hated the idea of his eyes on her while she was unconscious.


    ¡°You should get ready,¡± he said. ¡°I ordered breakfast for us.¡±


    He gestured to a table laden with food.


    They ate in silence, then headed to the elevator. Sage held her hand, squeezing it gently.


    It was a rare occasion for Sage to leave his penthouse. He had his bodyguards clear the way, making sure no one could approach them. He wore a flawless Tang suit, his black hair flowing behind him. He looked like a king, and his employees gazed at him with awe.


    They stepped out of the building, into the sunlight. Sage blinked and looked around.


    ¡°How do you like it?¡± Yu Xiao asked.


    ¡°It¡¯s fine,¡± he said. ¡°Let¡¯s take a walk.¡±


    Yu Xiao snorted. ¡°What, you want to admire the view some more?¡±


    Sage gazed at her. ¡°I just want to be with you.¡±


    Yu Xiao rolled her eyes. Not this again!


    She clamped her mouth shut, hoping he wouldn¡¯t say anything else. Did he really expect them to walk around like a couple?


    They weren¡¯t far from the hospital. Yu Xiao could see the building looming ahead. She was glad. This function card had been handy, but it came with a price. She wouldn¡¯t use it again unless she had to.


    ¡°¡ªHey!¡±


    ¡°¡ªHey!!¡±


    A voice shouted from behind. Yu Xiao turned and saw a fat man running after them. He looked familiar.


    He caught up with them, panting. He noticed Sage and frowned. What was with the weird outfit?


    ¡°You¡¯re¡­¡± Yu Xiao recalled, ¡°the phone guy.¡±


    He feigned hurt. ¡°And you forgot me in one day?¡±


    Yu Xiao was confused. ¡°Did you need something?¡±


    ¡°Yeah.¡± He nodded and held out a phone charger. He looked sheepish. ¡°I remembered I had an old one at home. It was my dad¡¯s. He died a while ago. I kept it. Here, take it.¡±


    Yu Xiao blinked in disbelief. ¡°This¡­¡±


    ¡°Take it, take it. It¡¯s no good to me,¡± the shopkeeper said, shoving a charger into her hands. ¡°You need this, right? To check your phone for any messages elders left?¡±


    ¡°Uh, yeah. Thanks a lot,¡± Yu Xiao said, clutching the charger.


    ¡°It¡¯s nothing, really. Don¡¯t mention it,¡± the shopkeeper said, scratching his head sheepishly. He handed her the charger and hurried back to his shop. ¡°You better get going. I have to watch the store.¡±


    Yu Xiao stared at the charger, feeling a mix of gratitude and guilt.


    ¡°Come on,¡± the Sage said, pulling her along. ¡°We have to get to the hospital.¡±


    They were almost at the entrance when a shadowy figure leaped out from behind a dumpster. ¡°Smiley!!!!¡±


    Yu Xiao squinted and saw a filthy, ragged person reeking of garbage. She recognized the voice as Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s.


    ¡°Precious?¡± Yu Xiao recoiled.


    ¡°It¡¯s me, it¡¯s me,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen said, wiping her face with a dirty sleeve. ¡°Don¡¯t you know me anymore?¡±


    ¡°What happened to you?¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen looked like a walking disaster. Her clothes and shoes were torn and stained, making her resemble a veteran of the beggar¡¯s guild.


    ¡°Boo hoo hoo¡­ I¡¯ve had such a hard time, you have no idea. Yesterday, I was chased by a mob of angry people, and I barely escaped. Then, the rats and roaches came after me¡­¡±


    ©¤©¤©¤ ? ©¤©¤ ¡î ©¤©¤ ? ©¤©¤©¤

 Chapter 104: Sage’s Fate

    Yu Xiao felt a pang of pity for the sobbing girl in front of her. She wanted to give her a hug, or at least a pat on the shoulder, but she hesitated. Where would she even touch her? The girl¡¯s entire body was covered in ¡­ well, let¡¯s just say a mysterious brown substance.


    Yu Xiao decided to keep her hands to herself and reached for a crisis-relief talisman in her pocket instead.


    ¡°Hey, are you okay? Do you need one of these?¡± she asked, holding out the paper talisman.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen wiped her face with her sleeve and looked up. She saw the Sage holding Yu Xiao¡¯s hand. Her eyes widened and she stared at them for a few seconds before speaking. ¡°Is this¡­the Sage?¡±


    Yu Xiao nodded. ¡°Yeah, this is him. He¡¯s the Sage.¡± Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen gave them another look, a flicker of understanding in her eyes. She smiled weakly and said, ¡°Smiley, you¡¯ve done well.¡±


    Yu Xiao felt her mouth twitch, but she didn¡¯t bother to explain.


    She changed the subject. ¡°By the way, how did you escape from the hospital?¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s eyes lit up and she slapped her thigh. ¡°Oh, you won¡¯t believe it. It was so exciting. Qing Shi told me that the doors had clues behind them. So I knocked on a bunch of them, but they all wanted me to cut myself or something. No way, I¡¯m not doing that. I just picked a random door and opened it, thinking I could handle one ghost with all the talismans I had.¡±


    At this point, Yu Xiao¡¯s mouth didn¡¯t twitch anymore; her entire face was twitching.


    ¡°But the ghosts were too strong. I couldn¡¯t beat even one of them,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen continued. ¡°So I opened two more doors.¡±


    She had seen Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s actions in the painting, but she still couldn¡¯t wrap her head around her logic. ¡°You couldn¡¯t beat one, so you let out two more?¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen nodded, as if it made perfect sense. ¡°Yeah, because I needed four players for mahjong.¡±


    Smiley bit her lip, conceding that Precious had a point. That was exactly how it went down.


    ¡°I was sure I¡¯d never see any of you again. I was freaking out, no clue how to escape,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen shuddered, remembering. ¡°Then I thought, screw it, I¡¯m not going down without a fight. So I ran like hell, flinging open every door I saw. There were so many ghosts, they had to share, right? And then, bam, I saw the exit.¡±


    ¡°And then?¡±


    ¡°And then I kept running and opening doors, as long as I was faster than them, I was golden,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen boasted, ¡°Turns out, I¡¯m a total badass. All those ghosts on my tail, and I still made it out alive.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    Yu Xiao felt a pang of guilt. She had been so worried about Precious, even bribed the ghosts to spare her, and Precious didn¡¯t need any of that. She got out by herself.


    They were interrupted by Zhao Lan and the others.


    ¡°Smiley! Precious!¡±


    Zhao Lan ran over, gasping, ¡°Precious, what the hell happened to you?¡±


    ¡°Wuwuwu¡­¡± Precious didn¡¯t say a word, just lunged at Zhao Lan and hugged her tight, rubbing her filthy clothes on her. It was payback for ruining her outfit yesterday. ¡°Misty, I¡¯m so pathetic. I didn¡¯t sleep a wink. I had people, cockroaches, rats, and mosquitoes all after me¡­¡±


    Zhao Lan gagged at the stench but held it in. She even patted Precious¡¯s shoulder, ¡°Precious, you poor thing, but can you let go now? I just ate¡­¡±


    Liu Yu and the rest only had eyes for Sage. They stared at the hand that Yu Xiao and Sage were holding, then gave Yu Xiao a look. They heard that hooking up with NPCs was a thing now, but damn, this girl was fast. One night and she had him wrapped around her finger.


    The seven of them stormed into the hospital, ready to face whatever horrors awaited them. They expected blood and guts, screams and moans, maybe even a severed head or two. What they didn¡¯t expect was the cold.


    The lobby was freezing, as if someone had cranked up the AC to the max. They wrapped their arms around themselves, teeth chattering.


    ¡°Where¡¯s the damn thermostat?¡± Fang Yu muttered.


    ¡°Never mind that,¡± Zhao Lan said, turning to the Sage. ¡°How do we save this place?¡±


    The Sage scanned the lobby with his piercing eyes. He had known about the hospital since he was born, but he had never set foot inside.


    ¡°The top floor,¡± he said. ¡°That¡¯s where it is.¡±


    ¡°Alright then,¡± Yu Xiao said, flashing her wicked grin. ¡°Let¡¯s go kick some ass.¡±


    They made their way to the second floor, where the hospital looked more like a hospital. White corridors, white doors, white everything. It was spotless, as if someone had scrubbed away the traces of Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s ghost rampage.


    That made things harder. They had no clue which door led to the hidden passage.


    ¡°Why don¡¯t we split up and knock on every door?¡± Liu Yu suggested. ¡°It¡¯ll be faster that way.¡±


    The others nodded, about to start their search when the Sage walked up to a random door and opened it without hesitation.


    They gasped as they saw the dark stairwell behind it. He had found the right door on the first try.


    ¡°Wow,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen said, clapping her hands. ¡°You¡¯re amazing! I wish I had that talent. I wouldn¡¯t have been chased by those nasty ghosts all over the place.¡±


    The Sage ignored her and stepped into the stairwell. ¡°Hurry up,¡± he said. ¡°We don¡¯t have much time.¡±


    Yu Xiao pushed the others to follow him. She thought he was eager to get this over with.


    As soon as the stairwell door closed, the doors on the second floor burst open, releasing a horde of rotting, oozing hands. The ghosts had sensed the Sage¡¯s presence. The arrival of the Sage disrupted the balance of the hospital, granting temporary freedom to the ghosts who were unable to open doors themselves.


    The Sage didn¡¯t bother to check the doors on the other floors. He knew which one was the right one. He just opened it and moved on.


    The others trailed behind him.


    They reached the twelfth floor in no time. That¡¯s when the Sage stopped. And so did they.


    Yu Xiao raised an eyebrow at the Sage. ¡°What¡¯s the holdup? Are we there yet?¡±


    He shook his head and pointed at a door. ¡°One more to go.¡±


    ¡°Sweet.¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen clapped his hands. ¡°I was getting tired of these stairs. How many floors did we climb, anyway? The hospital looked way smaller from outside.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not over yet.¡± The Sage¡¯s voice was grim. ¡°It¡¯s dangerous there.¡±


    Yu Xiao felt a shiver run down her spine. ¡°Dangerous how?¡±


    ¡°The terrifying presence belonging to this hospital.¡± The Sage¡¯s eyes darkened. ¡°Born together with this world¡¯s fear.¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen gulped. ¡°Is it worse than those freaks in the wards?¡±


    The Sage nodded. ¡°Those are just outsiders.¡±


    ¡°Outsiders?¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen frowned. ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    The Sage didn¡¯t answer. He walked towards the door.


    Yu Xiao blocked his way and opened the door herself. She flashed him a wicked smile. ¡°Hey, I promised to protect you, remember? You stay behind me.¡±


    She stepped into the darkness, feeling a cold blast of air hit her face. She held her breath, waiting for her eyes to adjust. The others followed her, shuffling nervously.


    There was no light behind the door, but it wasn¡¯t completely dark either. They could make out some shapes and shadows.


    Yu Xiao let out a frosty breath. It¡¯s freezing, she thought. So did the others.


    They climbed the stairs, hoping to reach the end soon. Then they heard a weird noise, like someone snoring.


    ¡°Look.¡± Zhao Lan whispered, pointing at something.


    The top floor was divided into several rooms, all separated by glass walls. They could see everything inside. Zhao Lan pointed at one room where a blob of rotten flesh lay on the floor. It moved up and down, making the snoring sound.


    Yu Xiao pressed a finger to her lips, signalling for silence. ¡°We can¡¯t afford to make any noise here. Sage, lead the way.¡±


    Sage nodded and veered left, walking with his usual calm and confident stride. Yu Xiao and the rest trailed after him, trying to look inconspicuous and failing miserably.


    They had barely taken a few steps when Zhou Xiao Zhen lost her footing and landed on her butt with a thud.


    She clamped her mouth shut, but a muffled whimper escaped her lips.


    Everyone gasped and stared at her, terrified. Zhou Xiao Zhen winced and whispered, ¡°Something slippery tripped me up. What is it?¡±


    She glanced down and saw a thin, transparent thing in her hand, like a plastic bag.


    She pulled at it and realised it was much longer than she expected. ¡°What the hell is this?¡±


    The others followed her line of sight and saw the other end of the plastic thing attached to a room. The glass window of that room was obscured by a massive plastic sheet, with two blood-red spots that looked like eyes. The sheet was pressed against the glass, watching them with a malicious interest.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen felt a surge of horror and flung the plastic thing away from her.


    The sheet-like creature crinkled its eyes, as if smiling wickedly.


    ¡°Hehehe¡­¡±


    A shrill laugh cut through the air, breaking the silence that had been filled with snoring.


    ¡°Run!¡±


    Someone screamed, and they all bolted. Yu Xiao grabbed Sage¡¯s hand and dragged him along, not caring if he could keep up.


    ¡°Bang!¡±


    ¡°Clang!¡±


    The sound of shattering glass followed them. They didn¡¯t dare to look back, but they knew that they had woken up something monstrous behind them.


    The sound of snarling and slithering grew louder behind them. Yu Xiao clenched her jaw and ran faster.


    Out of nowhere, huge shadows loomed on either side of them.


    ¡°Bang!¡±


    Glass exploded, sending shards flying. Two blobs of mud blocked their path, oozing and pulsing.


    ¡°Go on!¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen yelled and ran towards them. ¡°I¡¯ll distract them!¡±


    The mud blobs stretched out their tentacles, but hesitated when they saw Zhou Xiao Zhen. She plopped down on the floor and opened a mahjong set. The mud blobs, along with a plastic sheet creature that had followed them, stopped and joined her, shuffling the tiles with their slimy appendages.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen looked tiny among them, but she didn¡¯t seem to mind.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± Yu Xiao gritted her teeth and surged forward. It wasn¡¯t the time to worry about this and that; now, she could only trust her companions.


    But Zhou Xiao Zhen could only keep three monsters busy. There were more coming.


    ¡°We¡¯re screwed!¡± Liu Yu cried, her eyes wide with fear. ¡°They¡¯re gaining on us!¡±


    Yu Xiao thought quickly and pulled out the Coin of Great Observation. ¡°Misty, take Sage and get out of here.¡±


    ¡°No way!¡± Zhao Lan refused.


    Sage glanced back and snatched the coin from Yu Xiao.


    ¡°What the hell, Sage?¡±


    He tossed the coin to Zhao Lan, who caught it by reflex. Sage said, ¡°Count to ten in your head before you use it.¡±


    Zhao Lan didn¡¯t get what he meant, but she started counting anyway.


    When she reached ten, a fork in the road appeared out of thin air. Zhao Lan knew it was their chance. She paused and threw the coin in the air, hoping for the best.


    It landed on tails!


    Without a word, Zhao Lan spun around and sprinted for the left passage. She had no idea where it led, but anywhere was better than here.


    The monsters, entranced by the Coin of Great Observation, felt a surge of greed and obsession for Zhao Lan. They forgot about the others and followed her like a pack of rabid dogs.


    Liu Yu and the rest watched them go with a mix of relief and horror. ¡°Well, that worked out nicely,¡± Liu Yu said, trying to sound cheerful.


    Yu Xiao glared at her with bloodshot eyes. She clenched her teeth so hard they could hear them grind. ¡°Where the hell are we going?¡±


    The Sage, who had been leading them through the maze of corridors, pointed to a door up ahead. It was made of glass and had a huge transparent sphere inside, like a giant snow globe.


    ¡°Right there,¡± he said.


    They pushed the door open and stepped into a different world.


    The ceiling was gone, replaced by a night sky full of twinkling stars.


    The Sage gazed at the stars with a dreamy expression, as if he could see beyond them. He turned to Yu Xiao and said, ¡°Yu Xiao, do you believe I¡¯m real?¡±


    Yu Xiao blinked, taken aback by the sudden question.


    The Sage gestured to the stars and said, ¡°Those are the stars I¡¯ve been watching for decades. You say this world is fake, just a simulation in the hospital game. But I feel real. I have preferences, emotions, even love¡­¡±


    He trailed off, looking at her.


    Yu Xiao was about to say something, when Liu Yu interrupted. ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± she asked, pointing to the dark corridor they had just left.


    Yu Xiao looked and saw shadows moving in the darkness, like a swarm of rats. They were coming closer.


    ¡°Those are the outsiders from the lower wards,¡± the Sage said.


    ¡°From the wards?¡± Zheng Hong gasped. ¡°Does that mean¡­¡±


    ¡°What do we do?¡± Fang Yu asked, panic in his voice. ¡°You¡¯re supposed to save the hospital, right? Why aren¡¯t you doing anything?¡±


    The Sage blinked, as if he had forgotten about that. ¡°Oh, right,¡± he said. ¡°We have to stop them. Just give me five more minutes.¡±


    ¡°Five minutes?¡± Fang Yu repeated. ¡°How are we supposed to stop them for five minutes?¡±


    Yu Xiao reached into her pocket and pulled out a handful of talismans. She handed them out to everyone. ¡°We fight,¡± she said.


    The Sage grabbed her hand. ¡°You come with me,¡± he said.


    He dragged her to the giant sphere, which looked like a cross between an astrolabe and a disco ball. In the centre of it, there was a platform. The Sage climbed on it and pulled Yu Xiao with him. He sat down there.


    Starlight poured from the sky, wrapping the Sage in a radiant cocoon. He looked like a god in his white Tang robes, glowing with celestial power.


    Yu Xiao felt a pang of dread. ¡°What¡¯s the deal with this thing?¡± she asked, pointing to the sphere he was sitting on.


    The Sage smiled faintly at her. ¡°I guess I owe you an explanation.¡±


    He said, ¡°This world is called the Sage World. Every few decades, a new Sage is born here. They have amazing wisdom, able to see the past and the future. They get stronger as they grow older.¡±


    The light around him grew brighter and brighter.


    ¡°But this world needs energy to keep going. Some mysterious force built a hospital in the middle of it. Every once in a while, outsiders come out of the hospital. They want to take the Sage inside, and use their power to run this world.¡±


    Yu Xiao gasped. ¡°You mean¡­¡±


    He nodded. ¡°Ten years ago, I found out the truth. I was scared, terrified of being snatched by the outsiders. So I made the Sage Tower and hid in it. I never left the tower. No one could find me. I was safe for a long time.¡±


    He paused, then said, ¡°But then I saw you.¡±


    The Sage looked at her with starry eyes.


    **


    Zhao Lan ran for her life. The creature was right behind her, closing in fast. She couldn¡¯t stop, not even for a second. She had to stall for time, until Smiley finished the job.


    The creature was almost on her. She felt something brush against her hair.


    She looked ahead and saw a figure. A woman. She had long hair and a slim body, but Zhou Xiao Zhen couldn¡¯t make out her face.


    What the hell? A woman here? No way, she had to be one of them.


    Zhao Lan ran like hell, but she knew it was hopeless. She had just passed a woman¡¯s figure, standing still and silent. But as soon as Zhao Lan was in front of her, the woman moved. She was fast, too fast, and she lunged at Zhao Lan from behind.


    Zhao Lan barely saw a flash of red nails before something crashed behind her.


    ¡°Bang!¡±


    She looked back and saw the woman. Or what was left of her.


    She was a mess of blood and bones, twisted and broken. Her limbs were bent in unnatural angles. Her face was smashed beyond recognition.


    But she was still alive.


    She pushed herself up with her red-nailed hand and came at Zhao Lan again.


    ¡°Bang!¡±


    ¡°Bang¡­¡±


    Each time, Zhao Lan felt the horrors chasing her, getting farther away with each step. She didn¡¯t know why, and she didn¡¯t really care. All she wanted to do was keep running.


    ¡°Bang!¡±


    The woman hit the ground again, harder than before. Her head snapped to the side, cracking her neck. Half of her long, dark hair was ripped off, exposing her bloody scalp. Her leg was snapped in half, her arm was twisted like a pretzel.


    She was barely moving, but she wasn¡¯t giving up.


    She crawled towards Zhao Lan, dragging her broken body behind her.


    As she passed Zhao Lan, she reached out with her red-nailed hand. She was holding something. Zhao Lan didn¡¯t know what it was, but she felt a strange calmness. She took it from the woman, holding it tight as she ran on.


    Behind her, she heard angry screams and gnashing teeth.


    Zhao Lan held on to the small, hard thing in her hand. She didn¡¯t know what it was, but it felt important.


    **


    ¡°I was lonely,¡± the Sage said. ¡°When I moved to the tower, I wanted nothing to do with anyone. I thought I¡¯d be happy by myself forever. Then I figured, maybe a phone call wouldn¡¯t hurt.¡±


    ¡°Then I started to miss seeing people, not talking to them, just watching them.¡±


    ¡°Then I wanted to talk to them, to connect with them. But they ignored me, and I couldn¡¯t relate to them because I knew everything about them.¡±


    ¡°Then I decided, screw it, I¡¯d rather die for loving an outsider. At least I¡¯d get to experience something new and beautiful.¡±


    The Sage laughed, ¡°Love is sweeter than I ever dreamed. I don¡¯t think I can live without it.¡±


    ¡°You could¡¯ve refused,¡± Yu Xiao said, her voice cracking, ¡°You could have said no to me using that card.¡±


    ¡°I lied,¡± the Sage said, fading away, his face barely visible, ¡°I believe in fate. The fate of the Sage is to become starlight here. Even if there were no outsiders, I¡¯d end up here sooner or later. When I die, a new Sage will be born in this world.¡±


    The Sage sighed, ¡°It¡¯s a shame, the Sage has always been here, but I never had a name.¡±


    Yu Xiao tried to speak, but the Sage was gone, the starlight gone, the sky clear.


    ¡°Gone! They¡¯re gone!¡±


    Liu Yu and the others cheered, throwing their last talismans in the air. They had barely managed to fend off the ghosts. They had lucked out when the ghosts decided to leave.


    Yu Xiao reached for the spot where the Sage had been, but there was nothing there. He had disappeared, without a trace.


    Yu Xiao felt tears in her eyes. She wondered, for the first time, if everything in the instance world was real.


    ¡°It¡¯s moving! It¡¯s moving!¡±


    ¡°Holy crap, it¡¯s not dead¡­¡±


    Yu Xiao turned and saw a figure outside the glass door, trying to get up.


    Liu Yu ran to Yu Xiao and pointed at the figure. ¡°Yu Xiao, did you see that? That ghost saved us. We were toast, and then it showed up, like a badass, and scared off the other ghosts. But it got hurt, and it collapsed. I thought it was a goner¡­¡±


    Yu Xiao watched as the figure got up, leaning on the glass door with a hand that had three broken fingers.


    It slouched, its head low, as if carrying a heavy weight. As it walked away, it looked at Yu Xiao. Its face was filthy but kind. Its eyes were dark red, and they made Yu Xiao¡¯s heart flutter.


    ¡°I have your phone!¡± Yu Xiao blurted out, ¡°And a charger! If you want to send messages, tell me!¡±


    ¡°What?¡± Liu Yu and the others said, confused. ¡°Who are you talking to?¡±


    **


    In the middle of the mahjong game, the three monsters suddenly fell asleep.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen couldn¡¯t believe what was happening. Who would have thought that a mahjong game could come to a halt just because some players dozed off?


    As she tidied up the tiles, she couldn¡¯t help but tremble. She had just narrowly escaped a life-threatening situation. She had had enough of the game. When she glanced up, she noticed a pair of wheels right in front of her.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen crouched down and saw Qing Shi¡¯s angry face above her.


    ¡°Well, well, well,¡± Qing Shi said, his voice like a cheese grater, ¡°look who¡¯s still breathing.¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen felt a chill. Why did he sound so pissed at her?


    ¡°Uh¡­¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen said, ¡°does this mean we can go now?¡±


    ¡°Ha!¡± Qing Shi snorted. He was mad. His domain was supposed to be one of the hardest, but they had all made it out alive.


    **


    Everything went dark for Yu Xiao, and when she opened her eyes again, she was back in the ward.


    She looked around, glad to see Zhao Lan and Zhou Xiao Zhen alive and well. ¡°Thank God, you guys are okay.¡±


    ¡°That was insane,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen said, cuddling her mahjong and smooching it. ¡°My mahjong is awesome, it even tamed monsters.¡±


    Zhao Lan didn¡¯t look happy. She thought for a bit, then said, ¡°I¡­ I met a very weird¡­ ghost.¡±


    ¡°Hee hee hee¡­¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen giggled creepily.


    Yu Xiao wasn¡¯t in the mood. She didn¡¯t bother to ask what was so funny.


    ¡°Smiley, check this out,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen showed her phone. ¡°Don¡¯t you and the Sage look cute holding hands?¡±


    Yu Xiao froze, looking at Precious¡¯s phone.


    It was a photo, taken from the side, by a sneaky hand.


    In the photo, she and the Sage were holding hands, she was clueless, looking forward, talking to someone. The Sage turned his head slightly, looking at the camera, his plain eyes mirroring the others around.


    (Aahhh, the first sniffle arc. Don¡¯t worry, the next death will make you cry even more¡­ Hahhahah!)

 Chapter 105: Previous Delivery Person

    Translator: InkyDragon (https://puukkiss.wixsite.com/inkydragon)


    Yu Xiao¡¯s eyes widened as she caught a glimpse of the photo, and her fingers quickly reached out to grab Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s phone.


    On the screen, the Sage appeared serene, just as he had in his final moments. Even facing death, his expression remained unchanged, a silent enigma that both intrigued and haunted her.


    She barely knew him, yet his calm gaze seemed to penetrate through her, as if he could see beyond the surface of reality itself. Under the starlit sky, he had asked a question that lingered in her mind: Was he real?


    Now, as she stared at the image of him on her phone, she couldn¡¯t help but wonder if he had predicted this moment. Perhaps he had anticipated that one day someone would take a picture, forever preserving his existence for those who doubted. Quickly, she saved the photo to her own device and uploaded it to the cloud, holding the phone tightly against her chest.


    A sudden thought interrupted her daydream: What if she never crossed paths with the inhabitants of other worlds again? Shouldn¡¯t she gather some mementos of those she encountered along the way?


    Before she could dwell further, Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s voice broke the silence. ¡°So, what happened next? The monsters got so bored that they fell asleep during my mahjong game.¡±


    Yu Xiao felt a pang of nostalgia mixed with sorrow as she recounted the events that followed.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen brushed away a tear. ¡°The Sage was nice; why did he have to die?¡±


    Zhao Lan interjected with her own musings. ¡°I used to believe that each world presented us with a challenge, a sort of test. Those who failed were doomed to perish within it, leaving only the successful to navigate through. But now, I wonder if there¡¯s a deeper connection at play. Perhaps there¡¯s a symbiotic relationship between us, the instance worlds, and the hospital.¡±


    Furrowing her brow in confusion, Zhou Xiao Zhen asked, ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    Zhao Lan shrugged. ¡°It¡¯s kind of like¡­ we scratch their back, they scratch ours. These instances not only test us but also keep the hospital functioning. Take the Sage World, for example. In order to sustain itself, the sages there have to die and be reborn periodically. But they don¡¯t want to do it themselves, and the residents of that world can¡¯t bear the burden either. So they need us, the outsiders, to do the dirty work. In return, we earn points, and it maintains the balance in the Sage World.¡±


    Yu Xiao nodded, agreeing with Zhao Lan¡¯s theory. The hospital wasn¡¯t some all-powerful entity that controlled everything; there were nuances that suggested otherwise.


    For instance, doctors couldn¡¯t harm patients without consequences, as patients had the right to file complaints. Regular inspections every five years gave patients a chance to voice their concerns. Within the rules, patients had some autonomy, and any violations had consequences. Some patients, like Yu Xiao herself, even transitioned to roles within the hospital staff.


    Trying to understand the implications, Zhou Xiao Zhen pondered, ¡°So¡­ this is good news for us, right?¡±


    Yu Xiao shook her head. ¡°Not really good news. More like no news. It doesn¡¯t change much for us. We still have to earn points to survive.¡±


    Zhao Lan and Zhou Xiao Zhen exchanged a sigh, their hopes dampened by the harsh reality.


    Suddenly, Zhou Xiao Zhen remembered something. ¡°Hey, Smiley, you mentioned a ghost helping us for those crucial five minutes. What could have made a ghost lend a hand.¡±


    Yu Xiao had her suspicions, although nothing concrete. ¡°Maybe it has something to do with what I did before. When I got to the hospital, I was freaking out about you guys, so I gave a bunch of meat to the ghosts behind the doors. I hoped they would see you guys and lend a hand.¡±


    Zhao Lan perked up. ¡°Who else did you bribe?¡±


    ¡°I couldn¡¯t tell who they were,¡± Yu Xiao admitted, shifting in her seat. ¡°Only two ghosts responded to my gesture, and one of them turned out to be our guardian angel. He protected me from the ghostly chaos and guided me to the ground floor of the hospital.¡±


    Zhao Lan nervously nibbled on her lip as she reached into her pocket. ¡°Smiley, you¡¯re incredible. The other ghost came through for me twice as well.¡±


    Curious, Zhou Xiao Zhen craned her neck to catch a glimpse of what Zhao Lan was holding. Yu Xiao also peered over her shoulder and saw¡­ a pendant?


    It looked like something from a vintage shop, a photo necklace that used to be trendy ages ago. It must have been gold once, but now it was all rusty and crusty, probably from years of neglect. There were also some nasty brown spots on it, like dried blood.


    With a click, Zhao Lan flipped open the pendant, revealing a tiny photo sticker inside.


    The young woman in the photo had long, curly hair, bold lipstick, and a sassy smile.


    ¡°Wow, she¡¯s stunning,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen gushed. ¡°Who is she? She¡¯s absolutely gorgeous.¡±


    ¡°Remember what Qing Shi told us, Smiley?¡± Zhao Lan glanced at Yu Xiao. ¡°That everyone in the ward is our senior. The Sage also mentioned they¡¯re all outsiders, not belonging here.¡±


    ¡°Right,¡± Yu Xiao said, taking out an old-school mobile phone. ¡°They were probably patients like us, completing missions in the Sage¡¯s world. When they passed away in the hospital, they became the ghosts haunting the ward.¡±


    ¡°Good grief,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen shuddered at the thought of ghosts lingering in the ward. ¡°That¡¯s absolutely terrifying, isn¡¯t it? And now they¡¯re munching on people.¡±


    ¡°Do you think any of them still remember being human?¡± Zhao Lan pondered, looking at the photo in her hand. ¡°Why do you think she gave me this necklace?¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen glanced briefly at the photo and asked, ¡°Should we take it with us? Maybe someone out there recognizes her?¡±


    Although they had no idea why.


    Yu Xiao searched through her backpack and found a charger for the ancient Nokia phone. When she powered it up, the phone emitted a beep, prompting a sigh of relief from Yu Xiao. Thank goodness, it still worked.


    While Zhao Lan and Yu Xiao felt a twinge of sadness, Zhou Xiao Zhen appeared unfazed. She tore open a bag of spicy snacks, poured herself some tea, and grabbed her phone.


    During their time in the instance, she had received several texts. She wondered if any of them had catchy titles.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen eagerly tapped on the messages. However, her smile vanished as she read the titles, and a sense of dread washed over her. (;???)


    Yu Xiao glanced at the Nokia phone but decided to wait until it was fully charged before exploring its contents. She also wanted to check her texts, but when she opened the online store, she found numerous orders for stacked talismans. Since she had used up most of her talismans during this ordeal, she would have to work tirelessly to replenish her stock.


    Zhao Lan put away the necklace, realising that even if she managed to escape this place, she might never uncover the identity of the person in the photo. Finding someone based solely on a picture seemed unlikely, especially considering the pendant¡¯s age. The person depicted was probably long gone, making the search even more complicated.


    Glancing briefly at her phone, Zhao Lan headed to the shower. The new title seemed impressive, but she wasn¡¯t in the mood to celebrate. She didn¡¯t bother checking the titles of the two sisters, unaware of Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s troubled expression.


    By dinnertime, Yu Xiao had just finished drawing all the talismans for the orders.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen arrived with an array of meat dishes.


    Yu Xiao wanted to send the package before dinner so she could relax for the rest of the afternoon. As she waited, Yu Xiao pondered the temperament of the new delivery person. Perhaps they would be more pleasant. With her own easygoing nature, Yu Xiao hoped for a harmonious relationship, even if the delivery person was a ghost.


    Knock, knock, knock.


    A series of knocks interrupted her thoughts. ¡°Hello, I¡¯m here for the delivery,¡± came a sweet voice from outside.


    ¡°Wow~¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen exclaimed, ¡°The new delivery person is a young lady!¡±


    Yu Xiao welcomed the normalcy, thinking this was how a typical delivery should go. ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll open the door,¡± she said, stepping forward to greet the newcomer.


    As she filled out the delivery slip, Yu Xiao engaged in conversation. ¡°Do delivery people have names?¡±


    The delivery person chuckled softly. ¡°Of course, but I don¡¯t think we¡¯re quite there yet. We¡¯re just acquaintances, after all.¡±


    Yu Xiao understood and didn¡¯t press further. ¡°What happened to the previous delivery person?¡± she inquired instead.


    ¡°Oh, he got tangled up with the Nightmare. He was let go,¡± the delivery girl explained, her laughter light. ¡°He¡¯s pretty upset, convinced he was framed and vowing revenge.¡±


    Yu Xiao scoffed. ¡°What can a disgruntled delivery guy do? Send us a nasty email?¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s already on the hunt for a new gig,¡± the delivery girl said. ¡°He¡¯s got skills, you know. Lots of places want him.¡±


    Yu Xiao raised an eyebrow sceptically. ¡°If he¡¯s so talented, why was he delivering packages?¡±


    ¡°He wasn¡¯t always a delivery guy. Made a cock-up, got the boot, and ended up doing this,¡± the delivery girl said, lowering her voice. ¡°He used to be an attending doctor, but he botched an instance, killed a patient, and got the axe. He¡¯s got a grudge, and he¡¯s not afraid to use it. Watch your back if he¡¯s got you in his sights.¡±


    Yu Xiao: ¡°¡­¡± (?_?)¦Ò


    She thought about it. She didn¡¯t feel guilty about the delivery guy, it was his fault, not hers. But she still had to be careful. ¡°How can I keep tabs on the ex-delivery guy?¡±


    There was a pause outside, then a gulp. Yu Xiao heard the delivery girl say, ¡°You know Saint Elizabeth¡¯s has some really juicy, tender meat, right?¡±


    Yu Xiao got the hint. ¡°Oh, yeah. And their chefs are amazing with charcoal-grilled pork loin. You know, I feel a connection with you. I want to be friends. And sharing food with friends doesn¡¯t break any hospital rules, does it?¡±


    The delivery girl departed contentedly, leaving Yu Xiao relieved, feeling like she had to make peace with the ghosts, no more messing with them.


    Zhao Lan came out of the bathroom, poured herself a glass of juice, and Zhou Xiao Zhen asked timidly, ¡°Did you get a title this time, Misty?¡± S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°I did.¡±


    ¡°Oh,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen nodded. ¡°What¡¯s yours?¡±


    ¡°Mine? Mine¡¯s ¡®Self-Sacrificing for Others.¡¯ Pretty cool, huh? What about you?¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen dodged the question. ¡°Smiley, what¡¯s your title?¡±


    ¡°I haven¡¯t checked yet,¡± Yu Xiao said, sitting at the table and pulling out her phone to read a text. ¡°Why are you so obsessed with titles anyway? I didn¡¯t make a bet with you this time. And no matter what it says, I¡¯m not going to turn into a guy and sleep with you.¡±


    ©¤©¤©¤ ? ©¤©¤ ¡î ©¤©¤ ? ©¤©¤©¤

 Chapter 106: Lu Xun’s Invitation

    ¡¾Congratulations! You¡¯ve successfully completed your sixth treatment course, reaching Level Seven status on Sixth Hospital¡¯s patient forum.¡¿


    ¡¾Kudos on your stellar performance during treatment! You¡¯ve bagged 3 basic points and 3 bonus points.¡¿


    ¡¾A big congrats for earning the esteemed title of ¡®Bribery Connoisseur,¡¯ granting you an additional 4 bonus points.¡¿


    Yu Xiao¡¯s heart skipped a beat. Bribery? That sounded seriously sketchy. She knew full well that bribing was a big no-no in the hospital¡ªa cardinal sin that could land you in hot water. How on earth did she end up with that title?


    A surge of panic coursed through her. What if someone snitched on her? What if the hospital staff caught wind of it? She shuddered at the thought.


    But titles were like tattoos; permanent and unchanging. She was stuck with ¡®Bribery Connoisseur.¡¯ What in the world was she supposed to do now?


    ¡¾Hooray for snagging the title of ¡®Ghost¡¯s Pal,¡¯ adding 4 bonus points to your tally.¡¿


    Yu Xiao blinked. ¡®Ghost¡¯s Pal¡¯? That didn¡¯t sound half bad. Actually, it sounded pretty cool.


    A flicker of relief washed over her. With this title, she could defend herself if anyone accused her. How could giving gifts to pals be labelled as bribery? That was just fostering emotional bonds through goods exchange. That was just being a decent human.


    ¡¾Well done on earning the title ¡®Sage¡¯s Darling,¡¯ along with four points.¡¿


    A frown etched across Yu Xiao¡¯s face as she muttered, ¡°Sage¡­¡±


    Though she faced some losses this time, sacrificing most of her talismans, she managed to sell a few in the instance and later in the mall, racking up a tidy profit of over two hundred points. Coupled with her previous savings, she now boasted a grand total of 741 points.


    She stared at the numbers on the screen, a whirlwind of emotions stirring within her. She felt like screaming, crying, and laughing all at once. She urged herself, ¡°Just keep pushing, keep earning more, and get the heck out of here.¡±


    ¡¾Congratulations on clinching the top spot on the points leaderboard! You¡¯ve snagged two bonus cards. Swing by the forum to claim your rewards.¡¿


    She clicked through, hoping for a stroke of luck. Alas, luck seemed to have taken the day off. She only scored one luck card and one stamina card.


    She¡¯d been burning through those cards like nobody¡¯s business, hoping to beef up her odds of survival. But they weren¡¯t cutting it anymore. She realised she needed to stockpile more cards to make any real difference as she advanced.


    Yu Xiao grinned, tossing her phone onto the bed. ¡°Not too shabby, right? Check out all these flashy titles I¡¯ve racked up. You wouldn¡¯t stand a chance against me in a bet.¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen chuckled dryly. ¡°Good thing we¡¯re not betting then.¡±


    Zhao Lan glanced at her own phone. ¡°Wow, Precious, you¡¯re killing it. Second place on the leaderboard, and I¡¯m trailing in third. You¡¯re a force to be reckoned with, Precious, unstoppable.¡±


    ¡°Thanks, just doing my thing.¡±


    Yu Xiao showered after dinner and crawled back into bed, hoping for some much-needed shut-eye. But sleep remained elusive, her dreams a chaotic jumble of nightmares and memories. She was startled awake by her phone¡¯s ringtone in the dead of night.


    ¡°I really wish I could live for another five hundred years~¡­¡±


    Rubbing her eyes, she squinted at the dimming sky. The sun, playing its predictable game, had dipped beyond the horizon. It was a habitual ritual, day in and day out. The final glimmers of light sneaked through the window, casting a sickly yellow hue on her face.


    Reaching blindly for her phone, still half asleep, she mumbled, ¡°Hey?¡±


    ¡°Where on earth are you?¡± George¡¯s voice barked through the phone.


    Yu Xiao groaned, still tangled in the remnants of sleep. ¡°George? Seriously, what¡¯s up? I¡¯m in the middle of a nap.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re sleeping?¡± George sounded surprised. ¡°How can you possibly be sleeping right now?¡±


    Yu Xiao blinked, feeling disoriented. ¡°What time is it?¡± S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°You were supposed to be my stand-in at St. Elizabeth¡¯s, remember? Patients are circling the Dean¡¯s office like vultures. Get your ass over here, now!¡±


    Annoyance welled up inside Yu Xiao. She had just fallen asleep after a tiring day, and now George was interrupting her nap with his drama. She held onto her blanket, feeling like she had been wronged.


    ¡°Who¡¯s calling? George?¡± Zhao Lan chimed in, tearing her eyes away from her phone. She was fully awake, scrolling through the latest scandal on the forum. ¡°Are you going to St. Elizabeth¡¯s again tonight?¡±


    ¡°Looks like it,¡± Yu Xiao confirmed, swinging her legs off the bed. She rubbed her face to shake off the sleepiness. ¡°St. Elizabeth¡¯s is my saviour. I have to keep that golden ticket in my pocket.¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen added, ¡°Want to grab some food before you go?¡±


    Initially, Yu Xiao was going to decline, as her nap had killed her appetite. But then she changed her mind and nodded. ¡°Sure, let¡¯s grab a bite before I get back to work.¡±


    She splashed some water on her face and joined the group for dinner. A feast was laid out before them, with a variety of dishes and drinks.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen looked at the boxes of steamed bass and steak next to Yu Xiao. ¡°What¡¯s the deal with those, Smiley? Are you making a pitstop for a midnight snack at St. Elizabeth¡¯s?¡±


    Yu Xiao hesitated for a beat, then kept mum.


    Zhao Lan smirked. ¡°Remember, Precious? Smiley¡¯s got a secret rendezvous in her office.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s ridiculous,¡± Yu Xiao retorted. ¡°There¡¯s only me in my office.¡±


    ¡°I know Nightmare isn¡¯t a regular Joe,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen replied, catching her drift. A hint of nostalgia clouded her expression. ¡°Nightmare can transform into anything, right? He could be Leo DiCaprio if he felt like it. Or maybe he doesn¡¯t need to. He was quite attractive as Shen Chuan, wasn¡¯t he?¡±


    Yu Xiao felt her jaw tense. ¡°Can we please change the subject?¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen shrugged. ¡°Life¡¯s dull without a bit of spice, isn¡¯t it? Otherwise, what¡¯s the point of sticking around?¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    She had to give credit to Zhou Xiao Zhen. Out of the three of them, she was definitely the bravest and most straightforward. But Yu Xiao wasn¡¯t going to follow her example; she had a reputation to uphold.


    After finishing her dinner, Yu Xiao got up from her seat, put on her white coat, and grabbed her lunchbox. Glancing at her Nokia phone, she saw that it was fully charged. With no time to waste, she put it in her pocket and hurried out.


    **


    St. Elizabeth¡¯s Hospital remained unchanged.


    Upon arriving, Yu Xiao made a beeline for George¡¯s office.


    George was back in his chair, looking like nothing had happened. But Yu Xiao knew better. His body was still a mess, or else she wouldn¡¯t have to cover for him.


    ¡°George, good evening,¡± Yu Xiao greeted, showing her concern. ¡°You¡¯re looking better. How are you feeling?¡±


    George didn¡¯t move or speak. He just glared at her with icy eyes.


    ¡°Seriously?¡± Yu Xiao rolled her eyes. ¡°I forgave you for hurting me, and yet you continue to act like a jerk. You¡¯re hurting my feelings, you know.¡±


    ¡°Have you been contacting other attending doctors?¡± George snapped.


    Yu Xiao blinked, then snapped her fingers in realisation. ¡°Ah, you mean Qing Shi?¡± She tilted her head, trying to understand George¡¯s expression, which looked like a mix of sour lemons and prickly cacti. ¡°What¡¯s the big deal? I only reached out to him once.¡±


    A surge of rage, frustration, and despair overwhelmed George. If only Qing Shi hadn¡¯t discovered his connection to the ¡®Deaf Descendant,¡¯ he could have pretended to be dead and moved on with his life. But that crazy Lolita had spread rumours, labelling him as the ¡®Deaf Descendant¡¯s¡¯ lapdog¡­


    He yearned for revenge, to make her pay for the chaos she had caused him. Yet, he was still injured, still weak, still helpless. So, he kept quiet, fixating his gaze on the girl who had brought him to ruin.


    Yu Xiao sighed, shaking her head. ¡°You know, I was actually planning on having Tie Niu whip up some of his famous charcoal-grilled pork loin for you. But I guess your dislike for me won¡¯t let you accept my offer. Oh well, it¡¯s a shame because it¡¯s really delicious.¡± She shrugged, wearing a sad smile on her face.


    George: ¡°¡­¡±


    Yu Xiao walked away, feeling a twinge of regret nibbling at her. She¡¯d extended every olive branch she could muster to George.


    **


    Outside the office door, he heard footsteps, breaking the silence.


    A small yellow furball stirred from its nap on the comfortable chair, its eyes widening with anticipation.


    As the door creaked open, Yu Xiao entered. But before she could say anything, the furball jumped on her, its claws snagging her clothes.


    It was undeniably cute. Yu Xiao smiled and reached out to pet it. Then reality hit her. This was no ordinary kitten. She quickly changed her approach, holding it by the scruff and keeping it at arm¡¯s length.


    ¡°Get off, you little furball.¡±


    Nightmare looked at her sadly. ¡°You left me hanging for so long.¡±


    Rolling her eyes, Yu Xiao replied, ¡°I had things to do, you know? I¡¯m a busy girl.¡±


    Nightmare whimpered pitifully. ¡°It was cold and lonely here. I couldn¡¯t even go outside or have any fun. All I could do was miss you every day.¡±


    Yu Xiao¡¯s left eye twitched. How could he say such things with a straight face? Well, he didn¡¯t have a face. He was not a human.


    Placing the cat and the lunchbox on the desk, she asked, ¡°Are you hungry?¡±


    The cat nodded eagerly, then looked at the lunchbox and then at Yu Xiao with hopeful eyes.


    ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you want me to spoon-feed you. You¡¯re not a real cat, you know.¡±


    The cat¡¯s gaze dimmed before it jumped off the table and turned into a young man wearing a crisp white shirt. He looked strikingly similar to Shen Chuan.


    Taking a seat across from Yu Xiao, he opened the lunchbox with a smile. ¡°You¡¯re so sweet to me. This is all my favourite food.¡±


    Yu Xiao raised an eyebrow. How did she manage to guess his tastes? She had only chosen fish and beef because she thought he was a cat. Was it just luck?


    Curious, she asked, ¡°What else do you like to eat?¡±


    Nightmare looked at her earnestly. ¡°Anything you give.¡±


    Yu Xiao rolled her eyes. Note to self: Don¡¯t ask stupid questions. She ignored Nightmare as he ate his meal.


    With the patients not yet arrived at the Dean¡¯s office, she reached into her pocket and took out an old Nokia phone. Although she wasn¡¯t familiar with the brand or old school buttons, she was confident she could figure it out. After all, she considered herself a modern woman.


    Yu Xiao turned on the ancient Nokia phone, observing a pixelated animation dance across the small screen before it finally booted up, prepared for action.


    It felt like she was holding a relic from another era, with its tiny buttons requiring a squint to decipher their functions. But she quickly got the hang of it. This phone was as simple as it gets¡ªcalls and texts only. No games, no apps, no fun.


    Opening the contacts list, she scanned through the names, none of which she recognized. Names like ¡°Wide Sea and Sky¡± piqued her curiosity. Perhaps they were quirky nicknames from a time when the internet was still finding its feet, and memes were a rarity.


    Among the unfamiliar names were ¡°Mom¡± and ¡°Dad.¡±


    Curiosity tugged at her, urging her to dial ¡°Mom¡¯s¡± number.


    The message indicating that the number was out of service didn¡¯t surprise her. Yu Xiao sighed, feeling a pang of sympathy.


    She had no idea what fate had befallen them after they were engulfed by the nightmare at the hospital. But she imagined it wasn¡¯t good. If people were dropping like flies inside, it was likely that those outside were facing their own grim fate.


    His parents had probably believed that he succumbed to some illness, unaware of the horrors he endured before his demise.


    Yu Xiao closed the contacts and delved into the messages on the ghost¡¯s phone. Something caught her eye¡ªtexts from his parents and friends. Most were from before he became trapped in the hospital¡¯s horrors.


    She tapped on a message from his dad.


    ¡¾Hey, son. How are you holding up? I¡¯ll bring some juicy pineapples for you this afternoon.¡¿


    Another message, this time from Teacher Jia.


    ¡¾Take care of yourself in the hospital. If you need anything, just say the word. Your classmates miss you dearly. Can we expect you at school this Sunday?¡¿


    Then one more, from his mom.


    ¡¾I¡¯m so sorry, my dear. Maybe if I hadn¡¯t left your father, you wouldn¡¯t have fallen ill.¡¿


    A lump formed in Yu Xiao¡¯s throat. She wondered if her own parents had ever shown such concern when she was unwell. Likely not. They were always too preoccupied, too wrapped up in their own lives to even visit her in the hospital.


    Nightmare glanced up from his fish, his demeanour grave and sombre. He was a far cry from the playful cat who had sought her attention earlier.


    Pushing aside the melancholy, Yu Xiao pressed on. There was no time to dwell. She sifted through the phone, uncovering a cache of unsent texts.


    Most were intended for his dad, with a few for his mom.


    She opened the first one.


    ¡¾Dad, I don¡¯t know where I am. It¡¯s so weird here. I used to be a rational guy, but I swear I saw a ghost. I¡¯m freaking out.¡¿


    The initial messages were frantic and confused. Yu Xiao scrolled through them one by one, noticing a change. The ghost¡¯s tone had shifted.


    ¡¾Dad, maybe this is some strange stroke of luck. Maybe when I finally escape, I¡¯ll be healed and live a long, happy life. I understand now. I won¡¯t bother you and mom about getting back together. You both deserve happiness, and I¡¯m genuinely happy for you.¡¿


    ¡¾I miss you and mom so much. I did some rough calculations today¡ªit¡¯ll take at least twenty years to get out of here, if I¡¯m lucky.¡¿


    The following messages were filled with hope and determination. He knew they would never reach his parents, but he wrote them anyway. He wrote for himself.


    Things remained the same until he sent this text:


    ¡¾Chen Yong died. The ward feels empty without him. He was the one who always made us laugh. Now it¡¯s just Zhao Lei and me, but we hardly talk.¡¿


    Months went by without any more texts until a grim update arrived:


    ¡¾Zhao Lei is gone too. I¡¯m the only one left in this hellhole. I tried ordering our usual food, but it tasted like cardboard.¡¿


    After that, the messages became sporadic and desperate, filled with longing for home, family, and comfort.


    Yu Xiao reached the final text.


    ¡¾Last message:


    I¡¯m Teng Jing Zhi. I live at Block 12, Unit 501, Luoshui Garden, City X, Province X. If you¡¯re reading this, then I¡¯m gone. Please, take my phone with you. Maybe you can escape this nightmare and return to reality. All I ask is that you give my phone to my parents. Let them know I love them. I¡¯m sorry I can¡¯t do it myself. I owe you everything. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart.¡¿


    Yu Xiao dropped the phone, covering her face with her hands.


    Nightmare watched her, sensing the waves of pain coming from her. As a nightmare, he thrived on such emotions, but he couldn¡¯t find satisfaction in hers.


    ¡°Need any help?¡± Nightmare asked. ¡°I¡¯m quite resourceful, you know.¡±


    Yu Xiao let go of her clenched fists and took a deep breath, meeting his gaze. ¡°After being trapped in that nightmare for so long, do you have any idea what happens to those poor souls who die there?¡±


    Nightmare shrugged. ¡°No idea. I always die before they do.¡±


    Yu Xiao shook her head. What was the point of knowing anyway? She just had to earn points.


    She tucked her phone away and made a silent promise. She needed to earn enough points and needed to escape from this place. With Zhou Xiao Zhen and Zhao Lan by her side, they would flee from the Sixth Hospital. They would not just survive, but thrive!


    Outside, the heavy sound of footsteps indicated the lateness of the hour.


    Nightmare watched as Yu Xiao pulled out a sheet of paper from the drawer and wrote down a multiple-choice question.


    ¡°Do you hate George?¡± he asked, curious about her note.


    ¡°Hm? Why would you say that?¡±


    ¡°Last time, you wrote this. Beat up George and you can enter the office,¡± Nightmare said, tapping one of the options with his finger. ¡°You did it again this time.¡±


    Yu Xiao bit her lip. She remembered that George was recovering, and she was covering for him as the attending physician. Unable to use his name this time, she quickly changed some of the options.


    **


    ¡¾¡­ A. Eat a kilo of Tie Niu poop. B. Let Tie Niu pick your body part to munch on. C. Have a one-night stand with Tie Niu. D. Pay with points.¡¿


    ¡°Whoa,¡± exclaimed the crowd outside. ¡°What kind of choices are these?¡±


    ¡°The Tie Niu is just bones. How could you even consider a fling with it?¡±


    ¡°¡­Seriously? Option C?¡±


    ¡°Gross!¡±


    ¡°So, what¡¯s the plan? Which one do we go for?¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s the least awful option if I¡¯m not keen on paying with points?¡±


    ¡°I guess A. It¡¯s gross, but at least it¡¯s not lethal or crippling.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    **


    In the end, everyone settled for option D, much to Yu Xiao¡¯s delight. She racked up the points and felt a bit happier. Having dozed off earlier in the afternoon, she wasn¡¯t exactly tired yet, but the night was progressing, and she needed her rest before dawn. Missing the morning news was not an option.


    With her backpack zipped up and slung over her shoulder, Yu Xiao was eager to leave this eerie office. She stole a glance at Nightmare, who wore a pitiful expression like a sad puppy.


    ¡°See ya, buddy,¡± Yu Xiao said. ¡°Try not to do anything reckless while I¡¯m away.¡±


    ¡°Can I come with you next time?¡±


    Yu Xiao stopped in her tracks. ¡°Huh? Go where? To my hospital room? No way, Jose. That place is crowded enough as it is.¡±


    ¡°No, not there. To the instance,¡± Nightmare clarified. ¡°I can lend a hand. I¡¯m pretty handy in a fight.¡±


    Yu Xiao massaged her temples, sensing a headache coming on. She knew Nightmare was a force to be reckoned with, possessing powers that could turn anyone¡¯s life into a living nightmare. Literally. But¡­


    ¡°Are you out of your mind? You¡¯re a fugitive, remember? If anyone catches sight of me with you, I¡¯m toast,¡± Yu Xiao reminded him, giving his shoulder a sympathetic pat. ¡°Sorry, buddy. It¡¯s safer for you to stay put. I¡¯ll bring you some snacks next time, okay?¡±


    As soon as she left, the lights in the office flickered and died, leaving Nightmare in darkness. He remained seated, staring into the void, feeling a sharp pang of loneliness.


    In the blink of an eye, he vanished, leaving behind a fluffy yellow furball perched on the chair.


    The furball bounded onto the desk, sniffed around, then settled onto the director¡¯s plush leather seat. It wrapped its tail around itself, closed its eyes, and drifted into a peaceful slumber.


    **


    Meanwhile, in the ward, Misty and Precious were already fast asleep. Yu Xiao silently approached the bed, gently tucking the vintage phone into the drawer. ¡°Don¡¯t worry,¡± she reassured, ¡°I¡¯ll bring the phone out.¡±


    After freshening up, Yu Xiao crawled into bed, expecting a restless night. To her surprise, sleep swiftly enveloped her.


    Yu Xiao found herself in a dream, walking down a stark white hallway lined with doors.


    At the end of the hallway, a pool of blood stained the floor, with a mangled corpse lying within. Suddenly, the corpse stirred, its fingers twitching as it sat up.


    The figure was that of a young man, with dishevelled black hair, wax-like skin, and a tear-streaked face peeking from beneath his bangs.


    Raising his head, his eyes blazed a fierce, dark red. Unsteadily, he rose and staggered down the hallway, leaving bloody footprints in his wake.


    Compelled by an unknown force, he entered a hospital room and closed the door behind him. Within the darkness, he found solace. Driven by primal instincts, he hunted for flesh day after day, year after year.


    One day, as he enjoyed another delicious bite, sinking his teeth into the tender flesh and eagerly tearing away more once the struggles ceased.


    Suddenly, a strange sound rang out.


    Surprised, he looked around and noticed a small device beneath him. Remembering something faintly, he pressed the lime-coloured button. A woman¡¯s voice came from the device.


    ¡°Hello? Hello? Little Jing, are you there?¡±


    A shiver went down his spine, a strange yet familiar feeling coursing through him.


    ¡°Hehe¡­¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s that noise? Little Jing, is that you?¡±


    ¡°Hehehe¡­¡±


    ¡°Little Jing, please, say something!¡±


    ¡°Heh¡­¡±


    Ding dong~!


    **


    Zhou Xiao Zhen wriggled under her blankets, trying to evade the sunlight piercing through the window. With one eye half-open, she spotted Yu Xiao sprawled across the neighbouring bed, emitting soft snores. She flashed a mischievous grin and nudged her companion with her foot. ¡°Hey, Smiley! You¡¯re back, I see. How was your rendezvous with Nightmare? Did he survive your culinary experiments?¡±


    Yu Xiao groaned, rubbing her eyes in protest. Blinking at Zhou Xiao Zhen, she scrunched her brows. ¡°What rendezvous? What culinary experiments? You¡¯re speaking in tongues.¡± She paused, a puzzled expression crossing her face. ¡°You know what¡¯s strange? I haven¡¯t had any hearing problems in a long time. Maybe I¡¯ve been magically cured.¡±


    Zhao Lan walked in, holding a steaming cup of tea. She rolled her eyes at Yu Xiao¡¯s comment. ¡°Yeah, right. You¡¯ve been eating stamina cards like candy. What good would they be if they couldn¡¯t cure your deafness by now?¡±


    ¡°Good point¡­¡± Those cards seemed to have more benefits than just building muscles.


    Zhao Lan glanced at the clock and gasped. ¡°Oh, crap. The news is starting soon. Come on, let¡¯s listen. I want to hear Precious¡¯s title. She¡¯s been hiding it from us for too long.¡±


    Why did this scene feel familiar? Yu Xiao smirked and teased, ¡°What¡¯s the matter, Precious? Are you hiding your title because it¡¯s something lame like ¡®Cute and Innocent¡¯ or ¡®Sweet and Gentle¡¯?¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen scoffed, jumping out of bed dramatically. She tossed her non-existent hair and flashed a radiant smile. ¡°How dare you, Smiley? My title is amazing. It¡¯s ¡®Youthful and Harmonious¡¯. It suits me perfectly. I¡¯m young, I¡¯m stunning, and I¡¯m in tune with the universe. What more could you want?¡± She winked at Yu Xiao. ¡°If you¡¯re so interested in me, Smiley, just say the word. I¡¯ll be your male deity in a heartbeat. No need for bets. For our sisterhood, I¡¯d make the sacrifice. Put on a wig, and I¡¯ll transform into Erlang Shen in an instant. Or do you prefer foreigners? How about Tom Cruise from Interview with the Vampire? He¡¯s hot, right?¡±


    Yu Xiao couldn¡¯t help but burst into laughter.


    Zhao Lan shook her head, pulling Zhou Xiao Zhen back onto the bed. ¡°Enough with the theatrics, Precious. We love you just the way you are.¡±


    A cheerful jingle played on the radio, followed by an enthusiastic voice.


    ¡°Good morning, listeners! It¡¯s time for your daily dose of news. Let¡¯s dive into the happenings at the hospital today~¡­¡±


    ¡°¡­ Let¡¯s start off with some exciting news from First Hospital. A patient known as ¡®Wide Sea and Sky¡¯ has been making remarkable progress in their treatment. They have even earned themselves the impressive title of ¡®Madman That Scares Ghosts.¡¯ Talk about spine-chilling! But in a good way, of course. Congratulations, Wide Sea and Sky. You¡¯re a shining star¡­¡±


    ¡°¡­ Moving on, we have some not-so-great news from Second Hospital. There was a bit of chaos yesterday when a patient went berserk and caused havoc on the hospital grounds. Needless to say, it was not a pretty sight. Several medical staff members ended up getting caught in the middle. Ouch. That must have been painful. The hospital is currently investigating the incident and working to resolve the situation. It¡¯s a sombre day for Second Hospital. Let¡¯s hope everyone can stay calm and positive during this difficult time¡­¡±


    ¡°¡­ Now, let¡¯s shift to something more uplifting. Due to the recent increase in disturbances, the hospital has decided to strengthen its security measures. They are looking for brave individuals who are willing to join the security team and protect both the hospital and its patients. Think you have what it takes? Sign up for the security team under Director Cerberus. He is tough but fair, and guaranteed to whip you into shape in no time¡­¡±


    ¡°¡­ And now, for some unexpected news from Sage¡¯s Hospital. They are in need of a janitor. Yes, you heard that right. A janitor. It seems they require someone to handle the mess left behind by the patients. And believe me, it¡¯s no small task. No fancy qualifications required here, just a strong arm and an eye for cleanliness. If you are looking for an easy yet fulfilling job, Sage¡¯s Hospital is the place to be. Apply now and thank me later¡­¡±


    ¡°Sage¡¯s Hospital?¡± Yu Xiao couldn¡¯t help but blurt out. ¡°They¡¯re hiring a janitor? Seriously? Who was doing the cleaning before?¡±


    ¡°¡­ Now, let¡¯s move on to some fantastic news from Fourth Hospital. The patient known as ¡®Zhuge Liang burning the Spider Web Cave¡¯ has once again impressed everyone with their outstanding progress. They have even earned the title of ¡®Brother Who Loves Helping Ghosts.¡¯ How cool is that? Let¡¯s give it up for ¡®Zhuge Liang burning the Spider Web Cave¡¯, folks. You¡¯re a legend¡­¡±


    ¡°Luo Jin always gets great titles,¡± Yu Xiao remarked. ¡°I wonder how he does it. If only he wasn¡¯t such a troublemaker, I would love to pick his brain.¡±


    ¡°Count me in,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen chimed in. ¡°That guy has some serious talent. I could definitely learn a thing or two from him.¡±


    Zhao Lan shook her head, finding their admiration a bit silly. Titles were just labels, after all. But hey, the more, the merrier¡ªthat was her motto.


    ¡°¡­ Speaking of titles, we have more news from Sixth Hospital. ¡®Deaf Descendant¡¯ has once again reached the top. Way to go, Deaf Descendant. You¡¯re a shining star. And to add to their accomplishments, they have earned three impressive titles: ¡®Bribery Connoisseur,¡¯ ¡®Ghost Pal,¡¯ and ¡®Sage¡¯s Darling.¡¯ Now that¡¯s what I call impressive. Let¡¯s give them a round of applause¡­¡±


    Zhao Lan smiled proudly and nudged her. ¡°Your titles are amazing, Smiley. They¡¯re all very respectable. You should be proud.¡±


    Yu Xiao looked confused. ¡°How is being a briber respectable? Isn¡¯t that a bad thing?¡±


    Zhao Lan waved her hand. ¡°No, no, no. Being a briber is a good thing. It means you¡¯re smart and resourceful. You know how to get what you want. Compared to your other titles, this one is very respectable. Like a virgin who¡¯s never touched a phone in his life.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    Yu Xiao blinked, not quite understanding the comparison. But she decided to roll with it. When she compared the titles, this one did stand out.


    The radio droned in the background.


    ¡°¡­. From the Sixth Hospital, we have ¡®Nickname Hassle¡¯, who¡¯s making serious strides in their treatment, earning the title of ¡®Self-Sacrificing for Others¡¯. Let¡¯s give her a round of applause!¡±


    Yu Xiao leaned towards Zhao Lan, her eyes shining with envy. ¡°Wow, Misty, that¡¯s one impressive title. It makes you sound like a saint, a real hero.¡±


    Zhao Lan grinned modestly, feeling a swell of pride. ¡°I think so too. If only everyone could forget about my previous titles.¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen braced herself for her moment. She squared her shoulders and put on a serious expression, aiming for a sense of gravitas.


    ¡°¡­ Next up, we have another patient from the Sixth Hospital, also known as ¡®Braised Egg Girl 438¡¯, who¡¯s excelling in treatment, earning not one, not two, but three titles: ¡®The Girl That Ghosts Chased Together in Those Years¡¯, ¡®The Girl That People Chased Together in Those Years¡¯, and ¡®The Girl That Four Evils Chased Together in Those Years¡¯. Let¡¯s give her a big cheer!¡±


    (From what I understood, those are references to cheesy, cheap, silly love novels and film titles. While Ëĺ¦ means ¡°the four pests¡± and refers to rats, flies, mosquitoes, and sparrows. These were the targets of a campaign launched by Mao Zedong in 1958 to eliminate them as a way of improving public health and agricultural production. However, the campaign had unintended ecological consequences, such as the outbreak of locusts and the spread of diseases. The phrase is often used to describe people or things that are annoying or harmful.)


    Clap clap clap¡­


    ¡°Amazing!¡± Yu Xiao cheered, clapping enthusiastically. ¡°You¡¯re a legend!¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re doing great, Precious!¡± Zhao Lan chimed in, joining the applause.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen felt her cheeks flush, but she dared not crack a smile. Those three titles were a total embarrassment for her. She¡¯d rather be called a ¡®Shit-Hole Destroyer¡¯ than bear those titles.


    Trying to shrug it off, Zhou Xiao Zhen forced a giggle. ¡°No biggie, just the start, nobody¡¯s even paying attention yet.¡±


    ¡°Exactly!¡± Zhao Lan gave her a cheerful slap on the shoulder. ¡°Our ward has only had Smiley as our forum star until now. This time, you get to be in the spotlight. Our ward is on the rise!¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen wished she could disappear. She didn¡¯t want anyone to find out that she had been chased by a horde of rats and roaches.


    Maybe this time, she wouldn¡¯t be the centre of attention. Yu Xiao was thrilled about that and stayed in bed. She just lay there, scrolling through the forums.


    She started with the Sixth Hospital forum.


    The Sixth Hospital forum was on fire. Everyone in the Sixth Hospital knew that the top three on the leaderboard were from the same ward. They were used to seeing Yu Xiao snagging three titles every time, but Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s three titles this time made them sit up and take notice.


    ¡¾How are the top three on the leaderboard so freaking awesome!¡¿


    ¡¾I have nothing to say about the morning news this time. I just want to say, big shots, please take me with you! Deaf Prince Big Shot, Egg Prince Big Shot, Difficult Nickname Big Shot, please take me with you! I¡¯m begging!¡¿


    ¡¾Please teach me your ways!¡¿


    ¡¾Begging +2.¡¿


    ¡¾I don¡¯t care if you take me or not, I¡¯ve already decided to build shrines for the three big shots in the ward, praying to them every day for some good fortune.¡¿


    ¡¾Hey, if it works, share it on the forum. I want to try it too¡­¡¿


    ¡¾¡­¡¿


    Zhou Xiao Zhen let out a lewd chuckle in bed. Nobody knew what she saw in the post, but it made her very happy.


    Yu Xiao skimmed through the Sixth Hospital forum. There was nothing much to see, so she switched to the Fourth Hospital forum next.


    ¡¾What¡¯s up with the Sixth Hospital? They¡¯re loaded with talent!¡¿


    ¡¾I¡¯m not gonna lie. I¡¯m dying to visit the Sixth Hospital. The newbies there are growing so fast, it makes us look like snails. I bet they¡¯ll catch up with us soon. And I¡¯m not talking out of my ass, okay? I was in a dungeon yesterday, and I ran into two guys from the Sixth Hospital. They were rookies, sure, but they were throwing talismans around like candy.¡¿


    ¡¾You wanna know why? The Deaf¡¯s heir is a freaking genius at drawing talismans. She has a talisman shop in the Sixth Hospital¡¯s mall, and she sells them for only three points each! Anyone can afford them!!!¡¿


    ¡¾Ha! I knew it! I¡¯m the Dragon¡¯s heir, and that Sixth Hospital chick doesn¡¯t match those four words at all! Come on, people, get it right, she¡¯s the Deaf¡¯s heir, not the Dragon¡¯s.¡¿


    ¡¾Wow! So Dragon Sis can draw talismans, no wonder she rocks!¡¿


    ¡¾Dragon Sis is gorgeous and sweet, selling talismans for only three points each. And what about our Fourth Hospital¡¯s talisman shop? Don¡¯t even think about ¡®I¡¯m Not Easy to Mess With¡¯ or you¡¯ll get the boot!!¡¿


    ¡¾They¡¯re six points each! Take it or leave it!!¡¿


    ¡¾I¡¯ve already made a deal with those two guys from the Fourth Hospital. I¡¯ll buy talismans from Dragon Sis¡¯s shop for me and then sell them to me. Even if it¡¯s four points each, it¡¯s still a bargain for me.¡¿


    ¡¾Me too, me too, can OP hook me up? I¡¯m good with five points.¡¿


    ¡¾Same here!¡¿


    ¡¾OP, you¡¯re a lifesaver.¡¿


    ¡¾Five points is half the price of the mall and one point cheaper than the ¡®Don¡¯t Mess With Me¡¯ shop. Even one point cheaper is a big deal for me, I¡¯m all for this buying service!¡¿


    ¡¾¡­¡¿


    Yu Xiao saw all this and thought she was about to make a killing. Then she started worrying about how much yellow paper she had left and if she could keep up with the demand from two hospitals.


    It was a happy dilemma indeed. She might be able to score enough points to get out of the Sixth Hospital without any extra trips into instances.


    Yu Xiao happily scrolled through the other posts.


    ¡¾Looking for pricey items that make NPCs fall for you!¡¿


    ¡¾I confess, I¡¯m super jealous of Dragon Sis, getting titles every time just because NPCs adore her. If there¡¯s anything like that, please tell me, we can haggle points, but do get in touch!¡¿


    ¡¾I think the OP is nuts. Is Dragon Sis using items? As reported in the last news, ¡®I¡¯m Not Easy to Mess With¡¯ already said, Nightmare liking Dragon Sis has nothing to do with items.¡¿


    ¡¾Even so, I still want that kind of item, but sadly, no points.¡¿


    ¡¾No points, sobbing¡­¡¿


    ¡¾Shouldn¡¯t we call her Deaf Sis?¡¿


    ¡¾Deaf Sis sounds like one of those Jiangnan Seven Weirdos.¡¿ (½­ÄÏÆß¹Ö, Ji¨¡ngn¨¢n Q¨© Gu¨¤i): A reference to characters from a classic Chinese martial arts novel, implying eccentricity or uniqueness.


    ¡¾Not very elegant at all.¡¿


    ¡¾I just want to know why Dragon Sis chose such a nickname¡­¡¿


    ¡¾¡­¡¿


    Pfft, a bunch of tasteless people! Yu Xiao kept scrolling through the posts when suddenly, a call came in, from Lu Xu¡¯s number.


    She doubted it was another order of talismans, right? Were they going through talismans that fast?


    With a touch of suspicion, Yu Xiao picked up the call, ¡°Hello.¡±


    ¡°Hi there~ Did you eat breakfast yet?¡± Lu Xu¡¯s eager voice rang in Yu Xiao¡¯s ear.


    Pushing the phone a bit away, Yu Xiao said, ¡°What do you want? Out with it.¡±


    ¡°Aw~¡± Lu Xu stalled, ¡°You¡¯re such a killjoy. Can¡¯t I just talk to you for no reason? Help me cheer for Zhou Xiao Zhen. She rocked this time, got three titles in one shot. Do you guys have some kind of trick to getting titles? Teach me?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m hanging up now.¡± Yu Xiao said, ¡°Three, two¡­¡±


    ¡°Wait!¡± Lu Xu cut in, ¡°I really, I really hate your type, the girl with no sense of humour!¡±


    ¡°Psh, like I give a damn?¡± Yu Xiao shot back, ¡°People who like me, and ghosts together, could pack your Fourth Hospital.¡±


    ¡°¡­ ¡± Lu Xu, clueless about the truth, couldn¡¯t come up with a comeback, so he switched to business, ¡°I¡¯ve got something good for you guys.¡±


    ¡°Yeah?¡± Yu Xiao lifted an eyebrow, ¡°Let¡¯s hear it.¡±


    ¡°We got a team card.¡± Lu Xu said, ¡°Wanna join?¡±


    Yu Xiao pondered the words ¡®team card¡¯ in her head for a while, ¡°What does a team card mean?¡±


    ¡°Come on, you know everything, right?¡± Lu Xu said. ¡°It¡¯s a special card, can add patient nicknames. If the other side agrees, the next treatment session, the people on the team card list will enter the same instance.¡±


    He went on, ¡°Don¡¯t act like we¡¯re always messing with you, we also think of you when good things happen. You just go into the instance randomly, who knows what kind of teammates you¡¯ll get? You know about me and old Luo¡¯s abilities, teaming up with us definitely won¡¯t disappoint you.¡±


    But he sounded fishy, and Yu Xiao always had a bad feeling.


    She asked, ¡°Are we just five?¡±


    ¡°Uh, well, team cards are scarce, gotta use them well,¡± Lu Xu said, ¡°Uh, yeah, there are three more people.¡±


    Yu Xiao squinted her eyes, ¡°Are those three also in the top ten of the leaderboard?¡±


    ¡°Um¡­¡± Lu Xu faltered, ¡°Not really.¡±


    Yu Xiao snorted, ¡°Psh, forget it then, you guys have fun by yourselves.¡±


    ©¤©¤©¤ ? ©¤©¤ ¡î ©¤©¤ ? ©¤©¤©¤

 Chapter 107: Reported for Bribery!

    ¡°Please, spare me.¡± Lu Xu ran his fingers through his hair, causing it to spring up in a tangled mess. ¡°Quit being so stubborn.¡±


    Yu Xiao let out a snort, a wicked grin playing on her lips. ¡°Stubborn? Me? I¡¯m just being realistic. Your pretend generosity doesn¡¯t fool anyone.¡±


    Lu Xu put on his most innocent expression. ¡°Pretend? How can you say that? I¡¯m just trying to be nice. Thought we could tackle the dungeon together, lighten the load, and have some fun. We¡¯re all in this mess, right?¡±


    Rolling her eyes, Yu Xiao flicked her wrist dismissively. ¡°Spare me, Lu Xu. I¡¯m not buying it. Take your ¡®nice¡¯ act and shove it. I¡¯m out.¡±


    ¡°Wait, wait, wait!¡± Lu Xu groaned, snatching his phone that had been sitting on a speaker. ¡°Okay, okay, fine. I¡¯ll tell you the truth.¡±


    In the ward, Luo Jin watched the drama unfold with deadpan glee. He popped some melon seeds into his mouth, crunching away noisily.


    Lu Xu shot him a dirty look and cleared his throat. ¡°So, here¡¯s the deal. We did get a team card. But it¡¯s kind of a waste to use it on ourselves. We thought we¡¯d do some good deeds and help out some poor souls who might have trouble with the instances.¡±


    ¡°Uh-huh,¡± Yu Xiao said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. ¡°And what¡¯s in it for you?¡±


    Lu Xu hesitated. ¡°¡­A tool card.¡±


    Yu Xiao raised an eyebrow. ¡°That¡¯s all? You traded a instance run for a tool? Sounds like a rip-off.¡±


    Lu Xu shook his head. ¡°It¡¯s not that simple. You don¡¯t know much about items, do you? They¡¯re not all beneficial. Some can really mess you up. They don¡¯t need that kind of trouble. It¡¯s better to swap them for something more suitable.¡±


    Yu Xiao sounded puzzled over the phone. ¡°But why do you want an useless item?¡±


    Lu Xu grinned, feeling a touch smug. ¡°We have upgrade cards. Some items might seem useless at first, but once you upgrade them, they become invaluable.¡±


    ¡°Ah, I get it now,¡± Yu Xiao said, as if a light bulb had just switched on. She thought of her own Coin of Great Observation, initially a joke, but after upgrading, it became a different type of joke.


    ¡°You catch on quick, smart cookie,¡± Lu Xu praised, laying it on thick. ¡°Next time you snag a team card, you can do the same.¡±


    ¡°Hmph,¡± Yu Xiao scoffed, lounging back on the bed. ¡°You¡¯re just using us as bait. Why should I do your dirty work?¡±


    ¡°Dirty work? Come on, don¡¯t be like that. You know I¡¯m right. Teaming up from two wards makes the dungeon run smoother,¡± Lu Xu said, a twinge of guilt creeping in. He chuckled nervously. ¡°Or shall we make a deal?¡±


    ¡°I want a prop.¡± She rolled on the bed.


    ¡°No way!¡± Lu Xu rejected her. ¡°We only get one prop. If we give you another one, we¡¯ll be the ones doing the dirty work.¡±


    ¡°Fine then,¡± Yu Xiao said, rolling her eyes. ¡°See you around, maybe.¡±


    ¡°Wait, wait, wait!¡± Lu Xu shouted. ¡°How about two function cards? They¡¯re one-time use only!¡±


    ¡°There are three of us, and you¡¯re offering two?¡±


    ¡°Three cards!¡± Lu Xu said firmly. ¡°Take it or leave it.¡±


    Yu Xiao pressed her phone to her chest and looked at Zhao Lan and Zhou Xiao Zhen. ¡°Lu Xu and Luo Jin have a proposition for us. They want us to join them for the instance raid, along with three suckers who are paying them for the ride. They say they¡¯ll give us each a functional card, one-time use only. What do you say?¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen shrugged. ¡°Sure, why not?¡±


    Zhao Lan nodded. ¡°It¡¯s not like we can avoid the instances anyway. And they¡¯re not half bad at fighting. Plus, we could use some extra cards. I¡¯m game.¡±


    ¡°Okay then,¡± Yu Xiao said, lifting her phone to her ear. ¡°We¡¯re in, but only if the cards are worth it. My sisters are picky, you know. We just got out of a dungeon and we were planning to chill for a while.¡±


    Lu Xu felt a surge of deja vu. Wasn¡¯t that his usual line when he was haggling? He sighed, thinking that business was getting harder these days.


    He glanced at Luo Jin, who was munching on melon seeds and enjoying the show. He said, ¡°Quit being a jerk and hand over your cards.¡±


    Luo Jin reluctantly pulled out a bunch of cards and gave them to Lu Xu. Lu Xu sounded bored. ¡°Alright, listen up. Just tell me what cards you want. We have A Lovey-Dovey card, a Flirty card, a Health Boost card, an Invincibility card, a Ghost Transformation card, an Admiration card¡­¡±


    Yu Xiao¡¯s ears perked up, as she heard the names of the cards. They had quite a stash, those two. She had to admit, they knew how to have fun. She could learn a thing or two from them.


    She listened for a bit longer, then turned to Zhao Lan and Zhou Xiao Zhen. ¡°So, what cards do you want?¡±


    She gasped, as she saw their faces. They looked like kids in a candy store.


    ¡°What do you think?¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen said, licking her lips. ¡°What¡¯s the plan?¡±


    ¡°I want the invincibility card. That one sounds badass,¡± Zhao Lan said, her eyes shining.


    ¡°Then I¡¯ll take the ghost transformation card. That one sounds cool¡­ and handy,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen said.


    ¡°Okay, we¡¯re set,¡± Yu Xiao said, talking to Lu Xu on the phone. ¡°We want an invincibility card, the ghost transformation card, and the fondness card.¡±


    ¡°Fine.¡± Lu Xu agreed, since they had made up their minds. ¡°Do you want me to mail them to you, or wait until we meet up?¡±


    ¡°Mail them to me,¡± Yu Xiao said, without hesitation. ¡°I don¡¯t trust you until I have the cards in my hands. I¡¯m young, you know. You could be scamming me.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    Lu Xu felt his reputation crumbling. He had no choice but to mail the cards to them before inviting them to the team.


    After she hung up the phone, Zhao Lan turned to her friends with a curious look. ¡°So is it true? We can join them in the next instance.¡±


    ¡°Absolutely,¡± Yu Xiao said, grinning. ¡°They have these special cards that let you team up with anyone. They call them team-up cards. Pretty clever, huh? They use them to help out newbies and get rewards.¡± sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s eyes widened with envy. ¡°You mean you can get a prize just for one round? That sounds too easy. I wouldn¡¯t trade my mahjong set for anything, even if someone promised me ten wins in a row.¡±


    She sounded as clueless as Yu Xiao had been before, so Yu Xiao filled her in on what Lu Xu had said. Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s face lit up. ¡°So why don¡¯t we do the same thing?¡±


    Zhao Lan gave a noncommittal shrug. ¡°Well, in theory, we could. But we don¡¯t have any team-up cards, do we?¡±


    That was the tricky part. Team-up cards were hard to come by.


    But then Yu Xiao remembered something. She still had a duplicator card!


    ¡°Wait a minute!¡± She rummaged through her pockets and pulled out the card, her eyes sparkling. ¡°What if I use this to copy a team-up card? That should work, right?¡±


    ¡°Yes, yes, yes!¡± Zhao Lan and Zhou Xiao Zhen cheered.


    Yu Xiao wasted no time and dialled Lu Xu¡¯s number. He picked up after a few rings, sounding busy. ¡°Yeah, yeah, the ¡®Deaf Descendant¡¯ is on board. You¡¯ll get to meet the real deal. Talismans? Sure, you can buy some. She always has a bunch of them for sale. You know how it is at the Sixth Hospital, they¡¯re dirt poor, and even if they have some good stuff, nobody can afford it¡­¡±


    ¡°Sorry, guys, I have to take this. It¡¯s the ¡®Deaf Descendant¡¯.¡± He answered the other phone. ¡°Hey, Deaf sis, what¡¯s the occasion?¡±


    ¡°Did you ship our stuff yet?¡±


    ¡°Sure did,¡± Lu Xu said. ¡°We¡¯re not slackers, you know. We deliver fast and furious.¡±


    ¡°Uh-huh,¡± Yu Xiao said. ¡°Well, we have another request. We need a team card.¡±


    Lu Xu snorted. ¡°No can do. We only have one of those, and we¡¯re not giving it away. Even if we had a spare, we wouldn¡¯t let you have it. You¡¯re getting too greedy, girl. If you want a team card, you better start praying.¡±


    Yu Xiao shrugged. ¡°No need. I have a duplicate card.¡±


    Lu Xu was stunned. He didn¡¯t say anything for a whole minute. ¡°¡­And what are you trying to say?¡±


    Yu Xiao smiled. ¡°Just that you should send us your team card, too. Come on, I¡¯m a trustworthy person. I¡¯ll give it back to you after I make a copy.¡±


    Lu Xu couldn¡¯t believe his ears. He hung up the phone, shaking his head. ¡°What the hell? How did she get a duplicate card? That¡¯s some crazy luck.¡±


    Luo Jin was lying on the bed, staring at the ceiling. He propped his hands behind his head and said out of the blue, ¡°I¡¯ve never seen a duplicate card in my life.¡±


    Lu Xu slumped on the chair, a gloomy look on his face. ¡°Who has?¡± he said. ¡°It¡¯s like a legend. I¡¯ve never seen one in real life.¡±


    **


    Yu Xiao ended the call and hopped out of bed, throwing on a white coat.


    ¡°Where are you off to, Smiley?¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen asked, puzzled. ¡°Are you working at St. Elizabeth¡¯s today too?¡±


    ¡°Nope,¡± Yu Xiao said, fastening her coat. ¡°I owe the delivery girl some goodies. I don¡¯t want to piss off the ghost.¡±


    And with that, she was gone from the ward, popping up at St. Elizabeth¡¯s. She snatched a random nurse who was walking by. ¡°Where¡¯s Tie Niu?¡±


    The nurse, who had been chatting with her colleagues about the scandalous news story featuring Yu Xiao that morning, felt her heart, which had been still for a while, start to race again. She shook her head furiously, trying to say she had no idea.


    Yu Xiao shoved the nurse away and made a beeline for the operating room.


    **


    George, who was on the phone in his office, felt a chill run down his spine as Yu Xiao approached. His eyes flickered for a second. When he realised Yu Xiao wasn¡¯t after him, he let out a breath of relief.


    The voice on the phone sounded like a news anchor. ¡°So, you¡¯re saying you want to report the staff for taking bribes from the patient known as the ¡®Deaf Descendant¡¯, the Dean of Saint Elizabeth¡¯s?¡±


    ¡°Yep,¡± George said, not missing a beat. He added, ¡°And make sure you keep my name out of it. I¡¯m reporting anonymously.¡±


    ¡°Got it. Your report has been filed. Stay tuned for the hospital¡¯s morning news.¡±


    **


    Yu Xiao tracked down Tie Niu in the cafeteria, where he was busy grilling some pork loin. Yu Xiao felt a surge of gratitude. If only she could, she would kick George to the curb and make Tie Niu her attending doctor.


    ¡°Tie Niu,¡± Yu Xiao said sincerely, ¡°You¡¯re doing a great job.¡±


    Tie Niu bowed slightly, without being obsequious. ¡°Madam Dean, it¡¯s an honour to serve you.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re awesome, I trust you.¡± Yu Xiao gave him a friendly pat on the shoulder and eyed the stove. ¡°Is the pork loin done? I¡¯ll take one for the road.¡±


    **


    Yu Xiao made her way back to the ward, where Zhou Xiao Zhen was crouching by the door, chatting with someone outside. ¡°Hang in there, Smiley will be here soon. She went to get you a surprise¡­ Smiley? Smiley¡¯s here!¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen jumped up. ¡°The delivery girl¡¯s here too. I bet you have a lot to talk to her about. Why don¡¯t you keep her company for a bit before she leaves?¡±


    Yu Xiao held a plate of sizzling pork ribs and headed for the door. She leaned in and whispered, ¡°You¡¯re in luck. These ribs are fresh off the grill. Want a bite?¡±


    The sound of ravenous chewing came from outside the door, followed by the delivery girl¡¯s voice, sweeter than honey. ¡°You¡¯re such a sweetheart, the best living soul I¡¯ve ever met.¡±


    Yu Xiao smiled, feeling a bit weird about getting a compliment from a ghost who just ate human flesh. ¡°Friends should be nice to each other, that¡¯s my motto. By the way, have you heard anything from the old delivery guy?¡±


    ¡°Him? Chief Cerberus tried to get him on his security team, but he said no,¡± the delivery girl said, licking her fingers, ¡°He¡¯s got some crazy idea of becoming an NPC in a dungeon. I don¡¯t get it. Out of all the jobs, being an NPC is the worst. You have to compete with everyone else for the good roles. It¡¯s much better to just do deliveries at the hospital.¡±


    Yu Xiao listened to the delivery girl¡¯s rant, wondering if he was making a trap for her. She felt a pang of unease, ¡°Thanks, that¡¯s very useful information.¡±


    ¡°My pleasure,¡± the delivery girl licked her lips, ¡°Hey, can you get me some thighs next time? I love the meat on thighs, it¡¯s nice and juicy.¡±


    ¡°Sure thing,¡± Yu Xiao said, ¡°And feel free to drop by Saint Elizabeth¡¯s anytime.¡±


    Yu Xiao waved goodbye to the delivery girl and ripped open the package. Inside, she found three shiny function cards.


    Zhao Lan picked up her invincibility card and examined it carefully. ¡°What does invincibility even mean?¡±


    ¡°Maybe it means you can sock the attending doctor in the face and get away with it,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen joked. ¡°A ghost card. How do you think it feels to be a ghost?¡±


    Yu Xiao shrugged. She had gone for the fondness card this time. She figured that fondness, affection, and love were different things. Fondness was when you liked something a lot, like chocolate or puppies. Affection was when you liked someone a lot, like your friends or family. Love was when you liked someone so much, you wanted to kiss them and stuff. Fondness seemed safer, less likely to mess things up.


    ¡°All we need now is the team-up card,¡± Yu Xiao said, looking at her phone. A few seconds later, it rang.


    ¡°I really want to live for another five hundred years~¡­¡±


    ¡°Who¡¯s calling?¡± She checked the screen and saw it was from the Medical Dispute Office. Yu Xiao felt a jolt of panic. Why would they call me? I haven¡¯t done anything wrong lately, have I?


    Yu Xiao picked up the phone, her voice shaky. ¡°Hello? What can I do for you?¡±


    ¡°Good day, this is the Medical Disputes Office. We have a situation here. Today we got five anonymous reports accusing you of bribing hospital staff in the instance. Is that true?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s bullshit!¡± (?§Õ?¨p) Yu Xiao yelled, her eyes wide. ¡°They¡¯re trying to ruin me for no reason!¡±


    ¡°Please, calm down, we¡¯re only doing our job. Since there are five reports against you, we have to¡­¡±


    ¡°They¡¯re all out to get me!¡± Yu Xiao cut them off. ¡°I know who they are, you don¡¯t have to tell me. It¡¯s George, Gu Shu, Lolita, Qing Shi, and some delivery guy I don¡¯t even know, right?¡±


    ¡°¡­You¡¯re right, those are the names.¡±


    ¡°They¡¯re all jealous of me, they¡¯re plotting against me.¡± Yu Xiao fumed, ¡°Let me tell you what happened: I was on a mission at the Sage Hospital. You know the drill there, right? To get answers, you have to give the entities in the ward what they want. They wanted meat, so I gave them some. How is that bribery?¡±


    ¡°Hmm¡­ I¡¯ll check the records.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m so hurt, I was nice to them, I thought we were friends. But they all hate me so much, they¡¯ve ganged up on me.¡± Yu Xiao tried to squeeze out some tears. ¡°George got hurt, and I even took his shift for him, and this is how he thanks me. I want to know, is there any penalty for framing someone like that?¡±


    **


    Yu Xiao hung up the phone and dabbed at the fake tears in her eyes. She looked around and asked, ¡°Is the team card here yet?¡±


    ¡°Knock, knock, knock!¡± A sugary voice came from outside the door. ¡°Guess who¡¯s back with more goodies~¡±


    The team card looked different from the other function cards. It had a grid on the back, with nine squares.


    ¡°So, we just need to write our nicknames, and we¡¯re good to go, right?¡± Zhao Lan peered at the team card. ¡°We can fit up to nine people on one team, right?¡±


    Yu Xiao nodded. Luo Jin had told them before the team card showed up that they didn¡¯t have to return it; they just had to fill in their nicknames.


    The three clients they were supposed to team up with had some interesting nicknames: Sky City, Eternal God of Hemp, and My Husband is Di Jia.


    ¡°Luo Jin said we¡¯ll get a message on the forum once we write the nicknames. If anyone wants to bail, they can say no,¡± Yu Xiao said as she scribbled the eight names.


    ¡°I got the message!¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen checked her phone.


    The square for ¡®Braised Egg Girl 438¡¯ on the back of the team card lit up and turned green. Soon, all the squares except Yu Xiao¡¯s were green.


    ¡°Pretty cool,¡± Yu Xiao said as she hit agree. She still had one team card with a blank square, which she had copied with a duplicate card.


    Yu Xiao hadn¡¯t even teamed up with anyone yet, but she was already thinking about who to recruit for the next round.


    Lu Xu¡¯s call interrupted her thoughts. ¡°Hey, just a heads-up, we¡¯re good to go. Be ready, we¡¯re hitting the instance bright and early.¡±


    ¡°Sure thing.¡±


    Lu Xu went on, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m not always a jerk. I have a client here who needs a big shot to guide them through an instance. Want to take the gig?¡±


    ¡°Well¡­ I¡¯m tempted,¡± Yu Xiao said. ¡°But¡­¡±


    ¡°Having second thoughts?¡± Lu Xu¡¯s voice taunted, ¡°Need some help? Luo and I are happy to lend a hand. But nothing¡¯s free in this world. We¡¯ll need those talismans~¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ll see,¡± Yu Xiao dodged, keeping her cards close to her chest. ¡°We¡¯ll be ready, later.¡±


    She hung up and said, ¡°We¡¯re going into the instance tomorrow morning, let¡¯s hit the sack early tonight.¡±


    ¡°They have everything under control at Fourth Hospital,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen mused. ¡°While we¡¯re still struggling to get things off the ground at Sixth Hospital. Or rather, we haven¡¯t even started.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯ll get better,¡± Yu Xiao set up her lazy desk, planning to draw more talismans. ¡°Tomorrow¡¯s instance might be a real pain in the ass.¡±


    Zhao Lan let out a sigh. ¡°This kind of information gap is a gold mine,¡± she said. ¡°I wish I could have done this when I was still at the company¡­¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen sprawled on the bed and asked, ¡°Why do you say that? Misty, aren¡¯t you loaded? You can even afford to be a sugar mommy!


    ¡°Don¡¯t say it like that. Who doesn¡¯t want more money? Besides¡­¡± Zhao Lan reached over and flicked Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s forehead hard. ¡°Who¡¯s a sugar mommy! It¡¯s called sponsoring! Do you know what sponsoring means?


    Zhou Xiao Zhen, rubbing her head, said, ¡°Okay, okay, I get it. Will you get more sugar babies in the future?¡±


    Zhao Lan: ¡°¡­¡±


    Yu Xiao snickered and checked the forum before drawing symbols. She was just killing time, but she found a post about herself.


    ¡¾Going to raid the dungeon with the ¡®Deaf Descendant¡¯ tomorrow.¡¿


    ¡¾The OP used an item to buy a spot on the ¡®Whispering Monk¡±s team. And the ¡®Whispering Monk¡¯ told me he already got Zhuge and the ¡®Deaf Descendant¡¯ from the Sixth Hospital. I¡¯ll probably meet Dragon Sister tomorrow~~~


    And I¡¯ll buy a bunch of talismans from the ¡®Deaf Descendant¡¯, so if you want any, hit me up. I¡¯ll sell them for five points each¡­¡¿


    ¡¾Holy crap, OP¡¯s raking it in!¡¿


    ¡¾Why didn¡¯t I think of that?¡¿


    ¡¾The ¡®Whispering Monk¡¯ knows Dragon Sister?¡¿


    ¡¾Me! Me! I need talismans!¡¿


    ¡¾Don¡¯t you remember? Dragon Sister and Zhuge raided a dungeon together before. Dragon Sister is the village chief¡¯s wife, and Zhuge and the ¡®Whispering Monk¡¯ are his side pieces.¡¿


    ¡¾¡­¡­¡¿


    Damn! Yu Xiao was stunned, feeling like she¡¯d been ripped off.


    So, this is what they mean by, ¡°what goes around comes around,¡± huh?


    Sweating, Yu Xiao worked harder to draw talismans; otherwise, she might run out tomorrow.


    **

 Chapter 108: Idol Drama

    ¡°Heh.¡± Yu Xiao kept her face neutral. ¡°Hi.¡±


    The woman didn¡¯t let go of her hand, but squeezed it tighter, her eyes shining with admiration. Or was it greed? ¡°I¡¯m Wang Chun (Íõ´¿: ¡°a pure king¡± or ¡°a simple monarch¡±), but you can call me ¡®My Husband is Di Jia¡¯. That¡¯s my nickname.¡± She leaned closer to Yu Xiao, as if sharing a secret. ¡°Dragon sister, you¡¯re my idol. You have no idea how much everyone at the Fourth Hospital looks up to you.¡±


    ¡°¡­Really?¡± Yu Xiao knew exactly how they looked at her, but she pretended to be clueless.


    Wang Chun nodded eagerly, still holding onto Yu Xiao¡¯s hand like a lifeline. It took another girl to pry her off, dragging her away by the arm. Wang Chun let out a whimper as she released Yu Xiao¡¯s hand.


    The other girl smiled apologetically at Yu Xiao, then offered her hand. ¡°I¡¯m Liu Si Si (Áø˼˼: ¡°a thoughtful willow¡± or ¡°a pensive sallow¡±), but on forum I go by ¡®Eternal God of Hemp¡¯. I share a ward with that gal who just left, and I¡¯m also a big fan of yours.¡±


    Yu Xiao took her hand briefly, then pulled it back. She didn¡¯t like all this physical contact. It felt like they were trying to leech off her energy.


    Liu Si Si didn¡¯t seem to mind. She clapped her hands over her mouth and bounced on her toes, squealing, ¡°Oh my god, Dragon sister, you¡¯re so awesome, so badass!¡±


    Yu Xiao: ¡°¡­¡±


    The only one who hadn¡¯t greeted her yet was a man in his thirties, with a plain face and a bland expression. He didn¡¯t look too excited or too indifferent. He just looked bored. After watching the two girls fawn over Yu Xiao, he decided he should at least be polite, so he walked over and held out his hand.


    ¡°Xie Ping (лƽ: ¡°a thankful level¡± or ¡°a grateful peace¡±), from Third Hospital. Nickname Sky City,¡± he said in a polite tone. ¡°Nice to meet you.¡±


    ¡°Likewise,¡± Yu Xiao said, shaking his hand briefly. Then she couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°So, why do you guys from Third Hospital need us from Fourth Hospital to guide you through a mission?¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    Xie Ping¡¯s face froze, then turned a bright shade of red. He looked like he wanted to crawl into a hole and die, or punch Yu Xiao in the face, or both. He stammered for a few seconds, then managed to spit out, ¡°Well, don¡¯t you guys from Fourth Hospital need them from Sixth Hospital to guide you?¡±


    Lu Xu stepped in, laughing nervously. He wrapped his arm around Xie Ping¡¯s shoulder and pulled him away. ¡°Hey, hey, no need to get defensive. We¡¯re all friends here, right? We¡¯ll have plenty of time to chat later. By the way, where¡¯s the doctor? Shouldn¡¯t he be here by now?¡±


    Wang Chun, who had been hovering nearby, seized the opportunity to pester Yu Xiao. ¡°Dragon Sis, Dragon Sis!¡± she said, rubbing her hands together. ¡°You have talismans, right? Lu Xu said you have talismans. Can I buy some?¡±


    Yu Xiao shot Lu Xu a dirty look, then sighed. She reached into her backpack and pulled out a few talismans. ¡°How many do you want?¡±


    ¡°All of them!¡± Wang Chun said, her eyes shining.


    Yu Xiao paused, then smirked. She lowered her voice and said, ¡°Are you sure you have enough money?¡±


    She put her backpack on the ground, unzipped it, and opened it wide. Wang Chun gasped as she saw the rows of talismans inside.


    Wang Chun, Liu Si Si, and Xie Ping stared in awe. Was this woman secretly a millionaire? How did she get so many talismans?


    Wang Chun wanted to buy them all, of course. She knew she could make a killing by selling them at the Fourth Hospital. But she and Liu Si Si didn¡¯t have enough points to afford them all. So she bit her lip and settled for a few.


    ¡°Dragon Sis, Dragon Sis.¡± She tucked the talismans into her pocket and looked at Yu Xiao with puppy eyes. ¡°Can I have your number?¡±


    Yu Xiao shook her head. ¡°Nope. That¡¯s extra.¡±


    Luo Jin, who had been standing in the background like a prop, suddenly spoke up. ¡°He¡¯s here.¡±


    Everyone stopped and listened. They heard footsteps coming closer. They turned to the door and saw an old man in a white coat and white hair walk in. ¡°Hello, hello! You¡¯re all here!¡±


    Yu Xiao blinked. This was the doctor for this mission?


    She had done a lot of missions before, and she was used to seeing hot guys and gorgeous girls as doctors. But this old man was a different story. He had dark skin, wrinkled face, and a worried look. He looked less like a doctor and more like a farmer who had ploughed the fields his whole life.


    ¡°Hello, hello.¡± He waved his hands with a forced smile. ¡°I¡¯m your doctor, Mr. Wang.¡±


    ¡°???¡±


    The patients were all confused. Mr. Wang? Wasn¡¯t he the ghost who got fired from the morgue for taking bribes? How did he end up as a doctor here?


    Mr. Wang went around shaking hands with everyone, then he let out a heavy sigh and said, ¡°You know, you guys were all cured and ready to go home, but¡­¡±


    Lu Xu, always a nosy parker, was a perfect straight man. He shook Mr. Wang¡¯s hand and asked eagerly, ¡°But what?¡±


    ¡°But the hospital has been taken over,¡± Mr. Wang said angrily, pointing in a direction. ¡°There¡¯s a dying patient who, out of spite for this world, made a deal with the devil to blow up the whole hospital before he kicks the bucket, so that everyone would go down with him.¡±


    ¡°Jesus Christ, that¡¯s nuts,¡± Lu Xu gasped. ¡°You didn¡¯t come here just to tell us this, did you? Is there a way out?¡±


    ¡°Yes, there is, and it¡¯s up to you guys,¡± Mr. Wang said. ¡°I begged that patient for a long time, and he finally gave us a chance. A chance that only you young and brave souls can take!¡±


    ¡°Yes, we can grab it,¡± Yu Xiao said, patting Mr. Wang on the shoulder. ¡°Mr. Wang, cut the crap, and take us there.¡±


    Mr. Wang led the eight of them through the maze of the hospital until they reached a ward at the end of a hall. He pushed the door open, and a strange smell hit Yu Xiao¡¯s nose. It was like a mix of disinfectant, sweat, and something else she couldn¡¯t identify. Something rotten.


    She wrinkled her nose and followed Mr. Wang inside. The ward had a balcony, and a wheelchair was parked there, facing the outside. A man sat in it, his back to them. He had a fringe of hair around his bald head, and black ink on his neck. Tattoos, maybe, but Yu Xiao couldn¡¯t see them clearly. He also wore a red string around his neck, with something dangling from it. A charm, perhaps.


    Mr. Wang walked up to the man and said, ¡°Movie Director Liao (ÁÎ), I¡¯ve brought them. The ones you wanted. Are they good enough?¡±


    The wheelchair creaked as the man turned to face them. Yu Xiao caught a flash of his face and wished she hadn¡¯t. He was greasy and flabby, with a fringe of hair around his bald head. He wore a Buddha around his neck, a cross on his wrist, and a rosary on his fingers. He also had something tied to his ankle, but Yu Xiao couldn¡¯t make it out.


    His eyes were the worst part. They appeared dull and cloudy, resembling a pair of dirty windows.


    With a lifeless gaze, he scanned the surroundings, as if searching for something or someone. Then, in a hoarse and raspy voice, he asked, ¡°Has anyone here ever experienced love?¡±


    Yu Xiao blinked. What kind of question was that? She glanced at the others, but they looked just as confused. ¡°What kind of love do you mean?¡± she asked.


    ¡°Romantic love,¡± he said. ¡°Passionate, unconditional love.¡±


    Yu Xiao felt a pang in her chest. She had never loved anyone like that. Neither had Zhou Xiao Zhen or Zhao Lan, as far as she knew. Was this part of the script? Did it have something to do with love?


    Lu Xu frowned. ¡°What does that have to do with anything?¡± he asked. ¡°Do we need to have loved someone to pass your test?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± the man said, his eyes still blank. ¡°I¡¯m just curious.¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen shivered. ¡°You¡¯re creepy, you know that?¡± she whispered.


    Mr. Wang coughed and stepped forward. ¡°Director Liao is a filmmaker with a high artistic vision,¡± he said. ¡°He agreed to spare the hospital if you can make a good movie for him.¡±


    ¡°A movie?¡± Liu Si Si squeaked. ¡°How the hell are we supposed to do that?¡±


    Mr. Wang grinned and produced a cardboard box. ¡°Relax, Director Liao will guide you. We just need to pick the roles. Actors and a director. Let¡¯s draw lots.¡±


    They exchanged nervous looks. Zhao Lan spoke up. ¡°Fine, let¡¯s do it.¡±


    They each grabbed a slip of paper from the box.


    Mr. Wang explained. ¡°If you have a number, you¡¯re a director. If you have nothing, you¡¯re an actor.¡±


    Yu Xiao unfolded her slip and saw nothing. Great, she was an actor. She looked at Zhao Lan, who shook her head and showed her empty slip.


    ¡°I¡¯m a director!¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen cheered. ¡°What does ¡®3¡¯ mean?¡±


    Lu Xu checked his slip. ¡°I have ¡®2¡¯. What about you, Lao Luo¡­ oh, you¡¯re an actor.¡±


    Wang Chun raised her hand. ¡°I¡¯m a director too! Are there three of us?¡±


    They finished drawing lots and turned to Director Liao. He was facing them now, in his wheelchair. He looked like death. His voice was rough and nasty, his skin was dark and sickly. Not a tan, but more like a stain of death.


    ¡°I¡¯ve made many movies in my life, but I never made mine. I got sick before I could. Too sick to direct.¡± He sounded sad and bitter.


    ¡°If you can make my movie for me, I¡¯ll let you go. And die by myself.¡± He reached into his pocket with a shaky hand.


    He fished out a photo and showed it to them. It was old and yellow, like it had been soaked in tea. It was a woman in a red dress, smiling under a willow tree. She had long hair and a pretty face.


    ¡°This is my wife, the only person I ever loved,¡± Director Liao said, his eyes wet. ¡°She died twenty years ago.¡±


    ¡°Wow, you kept her photo all this time.¡± Xie Ping said from the side. ¡°You must have really loved her, huh?¡±


    Xie Ping sounded like he understood, but the others didn¡¯t care. They just looked bored, like they had never loved anyone.


    ¡°Yes, I loved her very much,¡± Director Liao went on. ¡°I was a poor kid back then. I wanted to be a director, but I had no money or connections. I couldn¡¯t even get a job as a coffee boy on a decent set, let alone directing. I was about to give up, when I met her. She was an actress, a small one, but she had the looks and the skills to make it big. She was sweet, gentle, and I fell for her the first time I saw her. I was living with my best friend then, and she came over a lot, so we became a trio. I didn¡¯t know it until it was too late, but he had fallen for her too¡­¡±


    Yu Xiao rolled her eyes. What a cheesy story, she thought. If they made a movie out of this, it would be a flop.


    She was right. Director Liao¡¯s story got worse from there.


    Yu Xiao rolled her eyes. It sounded like a bloody soap opera. Could it be that next his brother-in-law hadn¡¯t died, but had instead discovered a martial arts manual, mastered it, and now returned seeking revenge?


    Liao sobbed like a baby, clutching a tissue in his hand. ¡°My wife was an angel. She didn¡¯t deserve any of this. First, someone put a curse on her, and then she saw a man kill himself for her sake. She was so traumatised, she lost our child. And then¡­ and then¡­¡± He couldn¡¯t finish the sentence, his voice breaking.


    Mr. Wang patted his shoulder sympathetically and handed him another tissue. Liao wiped his face and tried to compose himself. ¡°After that, I never looked at another woman. I threw myself into my work. I became a famous director, but I was always haunted by my past. Now, I want to tell my story to the world.¡±


    He scanned the room with a fierce gaze. ¡°I don¡¯t have much time left. I¡¯m dying, and I don¡¯t care. But I won¡¯t let anyone ruin my film. If you don¡¯t meet my expectations, you¡¯ll all go down with me.¡±


    Mr. Wang stepped in, waving his big, calloused hand. ¡°Okay, listen up. The director and the actors can¡¯t mix, so whoever got the director¡¯s card, follow me.¡±


    Yu Xiao pouted. ¡°That¡¯s not fair. I want to be the director too.¡±


    ¡°Too bad. You can¡¯t switch.¡± Mr. Wang snapped, shooting her a dirty look. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you kids these days? Don¡¯t you have any respect for the rules?¡±


    Yu Xiao snorted. ¡°Respect? Coming from you? That¡¯s rich. You¡¯re the one who took a bribe from Liao, right, Mr. Wang?¡±


    Mr. Wang: ¡°¡­¡±


    His face, already dark from years of sun exposure, turned a shade darker. He muttered something under his breath and led the three directors away.


    The remaining five left the ward as well. Yu Xiao scanned the hallway, feeling uneasy. ¡°This is too easy. There¡¯s got to be a catch.¡±


    ¡°Easy?¡± Zhao Lan echoed. ¡°Are you kidding me? Making a movie is hard work.¡±


    Yu Xiao shrugged. ¡°That¡¯s not what I meant. I meant, there¡¯s always some kind of danger in these places, right?¡± She glanced around, searching for anything out of the ordinary. ¡°So where¡¯s the danger this time?¡±


    Zhao Lan thought for a second. ¡°Maybe the danger is failing to please Liao with our work. Maybe that¡¯s his way of threatening us.¡±


    Luo Jin shook his head slowly. ¡°That¡¯s dangerous, alright. But not dangerous enough.¡±


    Xie Ping nodded. ¡°He¡¯s right. The dangers here are everywhere, not just at the end.¡±


    **


    Mr. Wang dragged the three of them to a huge room on the first floor that looked like a dressing room. It had tables, mirrors, and some fancy equipment.


    ¡°This is your prison until the movie is done,¡± Mr. Wang said, gesturing to the equipment. ¡°Your job as Film directors is to write the script and tell the actors what to do through these things. There are three of you, and you have to make three different movies.¡±


    He pulled out a cardboard box from somewhere. ¡°Let¡¯s see what you got. Draw a paper and see what genre you¡¯re stuck with.¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen was excited. She had never been a movie director before, and she wanted to try it out. She grabbed a paper and opened it. It said ¡°Horror movie.¡±


    Lu Xu groaned. He waved his paper in the air. ¡°I got comedy.¡±


    Wang Chun stared at her paper in disbelief. She said, ¡°I got¡­ idol drama.¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen blinked. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with that? Idol dramas are fun.¡±


    Wang Chun snorted. ¡°Fun? How are they fun?¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen grinned. ¡°They have hot guys and pretty girls. And all kinds of ships!¡±


    Wang Chun stared at her, speechless. She wished she could trade places with Zhou Xiao Zhen. She would love to make a horror movie.


    Mr. Wang flashed a grin, showing his yellow teeth. ¡°You better work hard on your script, kids. You have seven days to finish the filming. Or else, Movie Director Liao will blow up the hospital, and you¡¯ll go down with him.¡±


    Lu Xu said, ¡°What about the others?¡±


    Mr. Wang shook his head. ¡°The actors are busy acting, of course. Poor souls, they have no control over their lives. It¡¯s all up to the directors.¡±


    He pushed the door and left, leaving the three confused.


    **


    Yu Xiao and Zhao Lan wondered what kind of danger was hidden in this movie.


    Liu Si Si said, ¡°Maybe there are ghosts among the crew. There¡¯s no movie without extras, right? What if the extras are ghosts?¡±


    Luo Jin dismissed the idea with a flick of his hand. ¡°Nah.¡±


    The others stopped and looked at him. Xie Ping raised an eyebrow. ¡°So you¡¯re saying it¡¯s not a ghost, just a random extra?¡±


    Luo Jin shook his head gravely. ¡°Some movies don¡¯t have extras. Like when they bury someone alive.¡±


    A collective silence fell over the group. They all wondered what was going on in his head.


    Yu Xiao couldn¡¯t help but smirk. ¡°You do realise we¡¯re not making that kind of movie, right? Did you even listen to Mr. Liao¡¯s story? It was pretty damn lively.¡±


    Zhao Lan sighed. ¡°There¡¯s no point in guessing now. We should wait for Mr. Wang to come back and see if he has any more clues for us.¡±


    As if on cue, Mr. Wang showed up.


    He walked with his hands behind his back, his spine so bent that he looked like a question mark. His beady eyes darted to Yu Xiao and shot her a dirty look. He was still pissed about what she had said earlier.


    ¡°Ugh!¡± Mr. Wang snorted and rolled his eyes at Yu Xiao. ¡°Hurry up, will you?¡±


    Yu Xiao rolled her eyes back. She thought he was such a grumpy old fart. She bet he had been reported for his nasty attitude. Well, he better watch out, because she wouldn¡¯t hesitate to report him too if she got the chance.


    They followed Mr. Wang down to the basement in silence. The elevator plunged down to the eighth floor, making Yu Xiao think of all the horror stories she had heard about hospital elevators.


    Ding~!


    The elevator doors opened and they stepped out. They gasped as they saw what was waiting for them. There was a whole other world hidden on the eighth floor.


    The huge space was split into three sections. One looked like a rocky cliff by the ocean, another was like a cosy living room, and the last one was a replica of a school.


    It was a film set!


    The scenes were so realistic that they felt like they could walk into them. The ocean even had waves that crashed against the rocks, creating a mesmerising effect.


    Wow, they were all stunned by the sight. They had never seen anything like this before. They were just amateurs, so being awestruck was natural.


    ¡°Your task is to complete all the performances based on the director¡¯s cues from the broadcast,¡± Mr. Wang said, as he dumped another cardboard box on the floor. ¡°Come on, don¡¯t be shy. Pick out the roles you need to play.¡±


    **


    Zhou Xiao Zhen scanned the documents she had snatched from the table. ¡°The main roles are ABCDE, seriously? Who names characters like that?¡±


    ¡°Who cares, it¡¯s not like anyone¡¯s going to watch this crap,¡± Lu Xu said, scratching his head with the pen, his face a picture of distress. ¡°How the hell do you write a script? I suck at Chinese, I barely scraped by in school.¡±


    ¡°Figure it out yourself,¡± Wang Chun said, glaring at the blank script in her hand as if it had killed her father. ¡°How am I supposed to write an idol drama? I¡¯ve only watched a few of them while cramming for exams.¡±


    ¡°A script is easy,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen said, swinging her leg casually. ¡°Director Liao has already given us the basic plot. Now we just need to dress it up as an idol drama horror movie.¡±


    Lu Xu, sensing an opportunity, flashed a grin and leaned towards Zhou Xiao Zhen. ¡°Little Sister Zhen, can you give me a hand?¡±


    ¡°Pfft.¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen rolled her eyes. ¡°Who¡¯s your little sister?¡±


    ¡°Big Sis Zhen.¡± Lu Xu switched gears quickly. ¡°Please help, we¡¯re partners now, we have to survive this together.¡±


    **


    Yu Xiao flashed her note. ¡°Looks like I¡¯m B. What about you guys?¡±


    Luo Jin lifted his paper with a shrug. ¡°A. Not very original, huh?¡± S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°D for me,¡± Zhao Lan chimed in.


    Liu Si Si rolled her eyes as she showed her note. ¡°E. Seriously? They couldn¡¯t come up with something more creative? This is supposed to be a comedy horror, not a kindergarten alphabet lesson.¡±


    Xie Ping sighed and held up his paper. ¡°C. I don¡¯t mind the name, but I have no idea how to act. How am I supposed to survive this?¡±


    Yu Xiao waved her hand dismissively. ¡°Acting schmacting. Who cares about that? We¡¯re all sick patients here, not Hollywood stars. If this thing depends on our acting skills, then we¡¯re all doomed. Well, maybe not all. I¡¯d say ten percent of us have a chance.¡±


    Zhao Lan nodded sagely. ¡°Smiley has a point. Maybe the real challenge is not acting, but figuring out what the directing team wants from us.¡±


    Yu Xiao perked up. ¡°Hey, that¡¯s a good idea. Why don¡¯t we ask Mr. Wang for some tips?¡± She turned to Mr. Wang, who was standing near the elevator. ¡°Yo, Mr. Wang, any advice for us poor souls?¡±


    Mr. Wang shot Yu Xiao with a look of pure loathing. ¡°Advice? Oh, I have plenty of advice for you. Stay the hell away from the upper floors. Each one is worse than the last, up to the seventh. There are horrors beyond your wildest nightmares waiting for you there. If you value your life, you¡¯ll stay right here where it¡¯s safe.¡±


    He pressed the elevator button and stepped inside, leaving the others in stunned silence.


    Liu Si Si gazed at Yu Xiao with stars in her eyes. ¡°Dragon Sis, you¡¯re so amazing. What¡¯s our next move? I¡¯ll do whatever you say.¡±


    Yu Xiao scratched her head. ¡°Um¡­¡±


    ¡°Come on, don¡¯t be modest. Everyone knows you have the most awesome techniques in this place.¡± Liu Si Si nudged her. ¡°Show me what you can do.¡±


    Yu Xiao gave a weak smile. ¡°Actually, my techniques are nothing special. They¡¯re just making stuff up about me.¡±


    Zhao Lan bit her lip. ¡°Do we have to stay here forever?¡± She glanced around nervously. ¡°I¡¯m worried about Precious. What if something happens to her?¡±


    ¡°¡­ Hey, are you listening?¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s voice interrupted Zhao Lan¡¯s thoughts. She sounded cheerful and excited. ¡°Let¡¯s have some fun here, shall we? How about we play an idol drama? The title is ¡®Why Do I Have to Make a Choice,¡¯ and this is Scene One!¡±


    ¡ª Welcome to Braised Egg High School, the best high school in the world. Here, you will meet two very dazzling twin stars. They are Poor Boy A and Rich Boy B. They come from different worlds, but they are best friends. Every morning, they walk to school together¡­¡±


    Yu Xiao frowned as she heard the broadcast. What was this nonsense? She tried to ignore it, but then she felt a strange force pulling her.


    ¡°¡­ Everyone in the school admires A¡¯s handsome and melancholic face¡­¡±


    Yu Xiao gasped as she found herself walking next to Luo Jin, who looked as confused as she did. Their movements were stiff and unnatural. Suddenly, Luo Jin lifted his hand and flicked his bangs, making a sad expression.


    ¡°¡­ Everyone in the school adores B¡¯s handsome and flamboyant demeanour¡­¡±


    While walking, Yu Xiao abruptly stopped, raising her hands in a shooting position, as if making a basketball shot¡­


    ©¤©¤©¤ ? ©¤©¤ ¡î ©¤©¤ ? ©¤©¤©¤

 Chapter 109: He’s Carrying Your Child in His Belly

    ¡°Sweet mother of God!¡± Xie Ping gasped, his eyes wide with horror. ¡°What in the name of all that is holy are they doing?¡±


    Zhao Lan clenched her teeth, yelling, ¡°Smiley, snap out of it!¡±


    Yu Xiao and Luo Jin had their right hands clasped, and they kept slamming their shoulders together like a pair of demented rams.


    ¡°I wish I could!¡± Yu Xiao groaned, feeling like a complete moron. ¡°I¡¯m not doing this on purpose.¡±


    Luo Jin was a head taller than Yu Xiao, so he had to spread his legs apart to match her level. They looked like a pair of drunken flamingos trying to dance.


    ¡°I think I figured it out!¡± Zhao Lan announced, her eyes lighting up. ¡°We don¡¯t have to act at all; our bodies are just following the director¡¯s script like puppets.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s insane!¡± Yu Xiao cried out. ¡°We¡¯re not even actors; we¡¯re just guinea pigs. What happens at dangerous scenes?¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s voice droned on over the speakers. sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°¡­ A and B are the best of friends; they share a bond stronger than blood, even though they are only half-brothers. They never thought anything could come between them, until a new transfer student, C, showed up at school¡­¡±


    That¡¯s when Xie Ping felt a strange force take over his body. He started to sway and toss his head, as if he had long hair to flip. He ignored the empty space around him, and ran straight towards Luo Jin, his eyes glazed over.


    He acted like a bad actor in a worse movie, bumping into Luo Jin and spinning around like a top. He let out a weird scream and toppled over. Yu Xiao and Luo Jin moved in sync, catching him before he hit the ground. Yu Xiao snatched his hand, and Luo Jin slung his arm around his waist.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s voice oozed with emotion over the speakers. ¡°¡­ C is an amazing woman, so sweet and gorgeous, as light as a feather. A and B both fell for her at once, their eyes locked on her with such intensity, such passion¡­¡±


    ¡°Oh, for the love of God,¡± Zhao Lan muttered, rolling her eyes at the sight of the three of them in a heap. She also wondered, ¡°What the hell is Precious up to¡­¡±


    Yu Xiao and Luo Jin glared at Xie Ping, who shrank under their gaze. It was no fun being the target of the top patients from the Fourth and Sixth Hospitals at the same time.


    But he had no choice; he had to look back at Luo Jin with even more fire and depth.


    They stared at each other like that, until Zhou Xiao Zhen chimed in again. ¡°But B didn¡¯t notice that C¡¯s eyes were full of love for A, like the thawing ice and snow of early spring¡­¡±


    So Xie Ping kept staring at Luo Jin, and Luo Jin kept staring at Xie Ping.


    They stared so long that their eyes started to water. Xie Ping, who had been bending over the whole time, felt his legs give out. He couldn¡¯t take it anymore.


    ¡°¡­ And that¡¯s how it all began,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen gushed, ¡°the three of them became inseparable, and the whole school dubbed them the Iron Triangle¡­¡±


    ¡°Are you kidding me?¡± Liu Si Si had had enough. She gave Zhao Lan a nudge and whispered, ¡°What¡¯s the deal with your director sister? Did she write this crap?¡±


    Zhao Lan bit her lip. She wanted to defend Precious. She wanted to say Zhou Xiao Zhen was a really nice girl, warm, bubbly, upbeat, and fun. But as she opened her mouth, she realised that being nice and fun didn¡¯t rule out having weird thoughts¡­.


    She paused for a second and said with a sigh, ¡°Maybe this is what the mission demands? We¡¯re all stuck here playing these roles, and the director¡¯s team probably has it rough too.¡±


    Liu Si Si nodded, not really convinced, but willing to let it go.


    The three finally got back to their normal stance. Yu Xiao rubbed her eyes, trying to erase the image. Luo Jin wiped his hands, as if they were dirty.


    Xie Ping wanted to curl up and die. ¡°What the hell? Why am I the leading lady? I¡¯m a dude.¡±


    Luo Jin shrugged. ¡°Maybe the director¡¯s team didn¡¯t bother to check who each letter matched. They just picked the leading lady at random.¡±


    ¡°Jesus Christ!¡± Xie Ping shuddered. ¡°So, I have to act all lovey-dovey with you? I can¡¯t do it. I¡¯ve never looked at a guy with such revolting eyes before, much less for that long.¡±


    Yu Xiao grinned, ¡°Cheer up, buddy, it¡¯s not that bad. Maybe you¡¯ll get lucky and score a kiss later.¡±


    Luo Jin and Xie Ping paled at the same time.


    ¡°Quick,¡± Yu Xiao noticed the panic in Luo Jin¡¯s eyes, ¡°Call Zhou Xiao Zhen now.¡±


    Zhao Lan nodded and whipped out her phone, ¡°I¡¯m on it.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, the user you are trying to reach is out of the service area¡­¡±


    ¡°What?¡± Zhao Lan shouted, ¡°How can she be out of service?¡±


    ¡°Wuwuwu¡­¡± Xie Ping sobbed, ¡°I don¡¯t want to kiss Luo Jin, I¡¯m not gay, I have a girlfriend back home, I can¡¯t cheat on her¡­¡±


    Luo Jin glared at him, his face turning from white to red. He looked like he wanted to say, ¡®You¡¯re crying? I should be crying.¡¯ He thought that if they had to kiss, he¡¯d be the one who suffered more.


    ¡°Will you shut up already?¡± Yu Xiao snapped, ¡°You¡¯re such a crybaby. You think this is bad? What if there¡¯s a bed scene later?¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    Luo Jin felt a lump in his throat. Xie Ping turned to Luo Jin and said, ¡°Listen, I paid good money for this, you guys said you¡¯d keep me safe in the instance. Well, guess what, guarding my virtue is part of your job too!¡±


    At first Yu Xiao felt trapped in her own body, feeling sick to her stomach, but then she saw the humour in it. She smirked, ¡°Don¡¯t bother telling him, he¡¯s the one who¡¯s gonna pop your cherry anyway.¡±


    Xie Ping¡¯s eyes filled with tears, his soul crushed by despair.


    ¡°¡­ They had some good times together, and love blossomed between them. One day, C and A snuck off to the woods behind the school, holding hands and whispering. But D, who had a crush on B, saw them. D, green with envy, ran to tell B everything¡­¡±


    Xie Ping, looking like he was about to puke, clutched Luo Jin¡¯s hand, who looked like he wanted to kill someone, and dragged him to the woods with a fake smile.


    Zhao Lan followed suit, tiptoeing towards Yu Xiao, twiddling her fingers as she asked, ¡°How about we date? What do you say?¡±


    Yu Xiao, deadpan, said, ¡°I can¡¯t date you because I don¡¯t like you.¡±


    ¡°What? Do you like C then?¡± Zhao Lan¡¯s face twisted with jealousy. ¡°Well, too bad for you, C likes A. I just saw them go to the woods for some fun!¡±


    ¡°No way!¡± Yu Xiao shook her head dramatically, pointing at Zhao Lan. ¡°You¡¯re lying! I don¡¯t believe you!¡±


    With that, she sprinted to the woods, only to find Luo Jin caressing Xie Ping¡¯s face.


    Yu Xiao had to bite her tongue to stop laughing. But her face showed nothing but grief and rage, as if her heart had been ripped out by the two people she loved the most!


    ¡°Stop it!¡± Yu Xiao dashed forward, pointing at Luo Jin. ¡°Let him go!¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s voice dropped, ¡°¡­ B¡¯s heart was broken. He stared in disbelief at the two people he cared about the most, and then he said¡­¡±


    ¡°A! How could you do this to me? You knew I had a thing for C!¡± Yu Xiao yelled, ¡°You betrayed me!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry¡­¡± Luo Jin¡¯s face was full of remorse as he lowered his head, ¡°Please, let me explain.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t want to hear it, I don¡¯t want to hear it!¡± Yu Xiao shook her head wildly, then turned to Xie Ping, ¡°You see, C. I¡¯ve always loved you. Will you be mine?¡±


    Xie Ping felt a stab of pain. His mind was spinning, unable to process anything. But his body was quick, ¡°No¡­ I can¡¯t¡­¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll fight you for it!¡± Yu Xiao leaped at Luo Jin.


    The two of them started to throw punches.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen cleared her throat, then went on, ¡°¡­ What the hell, weren¡¯t they supposed to be best friends? Weren¡¯t those two like brothers? Why did they turn on each other for her? No, she couldn¡¯t stand to see them like this; she had to stop them.¡±


    ¡°Knock it off, will you?¡± Xie Ping stood nervously between them, shouting, ¡°Quit it, you two! Don¡¯t fight over me like this, I¡¯m not worth it¡­¡±


    ¡°This is insane¡­¡± Liu Si Si felt like she had seen everything, ¡°Why is this scenario so freaking crazy?¡±


    Then, an idea popped into her head, and she turned to Zhao Lan, ¡°What if I record this scene, then sell it on the Fourth Hospital forum? One point per person. Think I¡¯d make a killing?¡±


    ¡°¡­¡± Zhao Lan was speechless for a moment, then said, ¡°I won¡¯t let you do that.¡±


    ¡°Hey, I¡¯m just talking out of my arse,¡± Liu Si Si said, ¡°Even for Dragon Sister¡¯s sake, I wouldn¡¯t do that.¡±


    Yu Xiao and Luo Jin threw themselves into a fierce fight, neither backing down. The sky suddenly opened up and pissed down rain on them, soaking Yu Xiao, Luo Jin, and Xie Ping in seconds, turning them into wet rats.


    ¡°We¡¯re done fighting,¡± Luo Jin said, wiping blood off his mouth, ¡°Can¡¯t we just compete fairly? Whoever C picks, the other one has to respect it. We¡¯ll still be brothers, friends, right?¡±


    ¡°Right!¡± Yu Xiao ran her hand through her hair, messing it up, ¡°May the best man win!¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen sighed, ¡°¡­ They swore to chase C together. But they didn¡¯t know, the competition was rigged from the start. C never liked B; she only had eyes for A. B was clueless; he was always nice to C, until C got pregnant.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    **


    ¡°That¡¯s it for now,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen felt a knot in her throat, took a sip of water, and said, ¡°Idol dramas are pretty easy to write, huh? I think it¡¯s way easier than horror movies.¡±


    No wonder she was one of the big shots of the Sixth Hospital, Wang Chun thought, impressed.


    ¡°Thank you,¡± she said sincerely, ¡°If you hadn¡¯t helped me, I would have been lost.¡±


    ¡°Oh, it¡¯s nothing,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen said, waving her hand smugly, ¡°Helping you is only natural.¡±


    Seeing her script flow so well, Lu Xu couldn¡¯t resist anymore. He slid his chair next to her, with a charming smile, ¡°Big Sis Zhen, help me out, will you? Just give me a hand.¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen looked at him sideways, turned her face away, crossed her arms, and lifted her chin, ¡°Nope.¡±


    ¡°Come on, we¡¯re mates, right? Help a brother out, yeah?¡± Lu Xu pleaded, his face desperate. ¡°I¡¯m telling you, I suck at writing scripts.¡±


    ¡°Not a chance!¡± She snapped, rolling her eyes. ¡°You¡¯re talking about mates now? What about when you were conning us into doing your dirty work?¡±


    ¡°Er¡­¡± He was at a loss for words. He had to admit, he brought this on himself. If he had known how things would end up, he would have never gone down this road. ¡°Zhou, I¡¯m sorry. I screwed up. You have me by the balls.¡±


    ¡°Hmph!¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen smirked for a second, then said, ¡°But I¡¯m not heartless. I¡¯ll help you out. On one condition.¡±


    Lu Xu hesitated, ¡°What condition?¡±


    ¡°Deal, mate.¡± She held out her hand, palm up. ¡°I write the script for you, and you give me something in return.¡±


    His cheeks twitched. He felt like karma was biting him in the ass. He laughed nervously, ¡°What do you want from me? All the good stuff from my ward is with old Luo. All I have are some crappy function cards.¡±


    ¡°Crappy, huh?¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen motioned with her finger. ¡°Let me see.¡±


    Lu Xu pulled out a small pile of cards from his pocket. ¡°Here. I have a one-time Bad Luck card, a one-time Ugly card, a one-time Name Change card, a one-time Pain Suppression card¡­ They¡¯re all worthless.¡±


    ¡°Wait a minute.¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen said, ¡°That Name Change card. Show it to me.¡±


    ¡°Are you sure you want this? It¡¯s just for changing nicknames, nothing else,¡± He said, suddenly recalling something. ¡°Oh, right, your nickname is¡­¡±


    Wang Chun, who had no clue what Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s nickname was, asked, ¡°What¡¯s her nickname?¡±


    Lu Xu scratched his head. ¡°I get why you ended up with the name-change card, but nicknames are supposed to be your own choice. Why did you¡­¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen said flatly, ¡°Because I love the nickname ¡®Braised Egg Girl¡¯.¡±


    Lu Xu: ¡°But why¡­¡±


    ¡°But someone else already snagged that nickname, so I had to add some numbers at the end,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen said.


    ¡°Oh!¡± Lu Xu got it, nodding. ¡°So why 438? Is that when you were born?¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen gave Lu Xu a look that said he was an idiot. ¡°Which month has 38 days?¡±


    Lu Xu: ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°And using my own birthday as a suffix would be lame. Back then, I thought, in the ward, we three sisters had each other¡¯s backs, so I used our three birthdays as suffixes. Misty¡¯s birthday is in April, Smiley¡¯s is in March, and mine is in August¡­¡±


    Lu Xu was speechless. ¡°Didn¡¯t you realise something was off?¡±


    ¡°I did,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen said with a resigned expression, ¡°but by the time I did, the nickname was already set.¡±


    (¡°438¡± is a homophone for ¡°ËÀÈ¥°É¡± (s¨« q¨´ ba), which translates to ¡°just die¡± or ¡°drop dead.¡±)


    ¡°Fine.¡± Lu Xu handed over the name-changing card to Zhou Xiao Zhen. ¡°Go ahead and use it, it¡¯s on me. So, what nickname do you want to switch to?¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen blurted out, ¡°Talisman Shop ¡ª Only three points each!¡±


    Lu Xu stared. ¡°¡­¡±


    Wang Chun echoed, ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°Why?¡± Wang Chun was baffled. ¡°You finally get to ditch your nickname, why not choose something that sounds nice?¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen gave her a look of contempt, as if she was above the common masses. ¡°What good is sounding nice? Once I change my nickname to this, every time they announce my name on the morning news, it¡¯s like the hospital giving us free advertisements for our Talisman Shop.¡±


    Lu Xu felt a surge of remorse. Who knew there was such a cunning business fiend in the world? He almost wished he could grab the name-changing card from Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s hand and rename himself ¡°Will Carry You in Instances¡± with his phone number.


    **


    Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s last words hung in the air, and the whole film set went silent.


    Then Xie Ping let out a piercing scream, pointing at his own belly in horror. ¡°It¡¯s moving¡­ bloody Hell¡­ my belly¡¯s swelling up!¡±


    Everyone watched as Xie Ping¡¯s belly ballooned like a beach ball, ripping his clothes as if he had a small melon inside.


    ¡°Holy crap!¡± Liu Si Si gasped, ¡°He¡¯s freaking pregnant!¡±


    Xie Ping was so terrified he nearly collapsed, but Yu Xiao slapped Luo Jin¡¯s back hard. ¡°Go and hold him up!¡±


    Luo Jin looked horrified. ¡°Why me?¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s got your kid in his belly!¡± Yu Xiao kept slapping him. ¡°Do you want them both to die?!¡±


    ¡°Bullshit!¡± Luo Jin snapped at Yu Xiao. ¡°He¡¯s got nothing to do with me!¡±


    Zhao Lan dashed over, supporting Xie Ping. She shouted at the two bickering people. ¡°Cut it out! Is this the time to fight?¡±


    Liu Si Si joined her, holding Xie Ping from the other side. She gulped, poking Xie Ping¡¯s belly gently with her finger, then cried out in fear and awe. ¡°It¡¯s moving! It¡¯s moving¡­¡±


    ¡°Wuu wuu wuu¡­¡± Xie Ping, a grown man, wailed like a baby. ¡°What do I do? What do I do¡­¡±


    Yu Xiao¡¯s scalp prickled. ¡°Does this mean he has to push it out?¡±


    Liu Si Si blurted out, ¡°How does he do that? Where does it come from?¡±


    ¡°Seriously?¡± Zhao Lan rolled her eyes. ¡°That¡¯s what you¡¯re worried about? Don¡¯t you get it, if the script says Xie Ping is pregnant, then he is. For real. And you know what happens next, right? Smiley offs herself, and then Xie Ping croaks during labour!¡±


    Oh, crap. Yu Xiao remembered, too late, that she was supposed to kill herself in the next scene.


    No way. She frowned, feeling a surge of panic.


    ¡°What the hell do we do?¡± Zhao Lan asked, her voice shaky. ¡°We can¡¯t call anyone, and we can¡¯t get out of here. Are we just going to die like the script says?¡±


    ¡°Not me.¡± Yu Xiao scanned the room. It was a fake film set, with no escape routes. Her eyes landed on the only exit, the elevator.


    But Mr. Wang had warned them before, that going up seven floors was a nightmare. If she left this place, she might end up worse than dead.


    But staying here was a death sentence, too.


    Yu Xiao made up her mind. She lifted her chin and said to Zhao Lan, ¡°Misty, I¡¯m bailing.¡±


    Zhao Lan stared at her. ¡°You¡­¡±


    Yu Xiao flashed a wicked grin. ¡°I¡¯m taking the lift,¡± she announced. ¡°You can stay here, you¡¯re not the main character. Nothing will happen to you here.¡±


    Zhao Lan glared at her. ¡°Are you kidding me?¡± she snapped. ¡°How can I let you face danger alone?¡±


    Yu Xiao shrugged. ¡°I might not necessarily die,¡± she said casually. ¡°You know me, I have some tricks up my sleeve. I might just pull through.¡±


    Zhao Lan shook her head. ¡°No way!¡± she said, rushing over and grabbing her arm. ¡°We go together!¡±


    Xie Ping, who looked like he was about to pop any minute, piped up. ¡°I¡¯m coming too!¡± he said anxiously. ¡°I¡¯m not staying behind, even if it means getting eaten by ghosts. Dying in childbirth is not my cup of tea. Take me with you, let¡¯s go together.¡±


    Yu Xiao gritted her teeth and made up her mind. ¡°Fine, we¡¯ll go together.¡±


    The three of them headed towards the lift, but before they could take a few steps, Luo Jin caught up with them. They all looked at him in surprise, knowing the plot. Luo Jin should be safe.


    ¡°I¡¯m sticking with you lot,¡± he said. ¡°With me in the mix, our chances of surviving increase.¡±


    He sounded a bit boastful, but they all felt touched. Luo Jin didn¡¯t have a great relationship with them, but he was willing to face danger with them.


    With four of them waiting for the lift, Liu Si Si was left alone in a bind. Even though she probably wouldn¡¯t meet a scripted death, she wondered what was going to happen to her.


    ¡°Wait for me, you lot!¡± she ran over, panting. ¡°What¡¯s this about? Leaving me behind to face death on my own? Luo Jin, you took my props, you have to make sure I¡¯m safe.¡±


    Ding~!


    The elevator doors slid open with a cheerful chime, inviting them to step inside. The interior was anything but cheerful, though. A faint yellow light cast a sickly glow over the metal walls and the worn-out carpet. It looked like the kind of place where someone would get murdered. Or worse.


    Five people exchanged nervous glances.


    Yu Xiao was the first to enter. Zhou Xiao Zhen followed her closely. Luo Jin came next. Xie Ping, the pregnant man who looked ready to pop any minute, shuffled in with the help of Zhao Lan.


    The elevator doors closed behind them with a final thud, sealing their fate.


    Liu Si Si let out a sigh. ¡°Maybe Mr. Wang was just exaggerating?¡± she said, trying to sound hopeful. ¡°Even if the upper floors are terrifying, as long as we don¡¯t stop on those seven floors, we¡¯ll be fine, right?¡±


    She reached for the button panel and pressed the one marked G. It lit up with a reassuring click. Liu Si Si smiled, showing her dimples. ¡°See, it worked.¡±


    The elevator began to descend, slowly and smoothly. Everyone held their breath, waiting for something to go wrong.


    Ding~!


    The elevator stopped with a jolt, making them all jump. They looked at the display above the door. It read 7.


    The elevator doors opened with a hiss, revealing a pitch-black corridor. Nothing was visible beyond the faint light that spilled from the elevator. Nothing, except a pool of blood that seeped from under the door across the hall. It looked fresh. And it smelled like death.


    Xie Ping gasped, clutching his swollen belly. His legs gave out and Zhao Lan caught him.


    ¡°What do we do?¡± Liu Si Si whimpered, her voice cracking. ¡°You¡¯ve taken my props.¡±


    ¡°Move to the back,¡± Luo Jin ordered. ¡°Yu Xiao, we¡¯ll stand at the front.¡±


    Yu Xiao nodded and moved to the front of the elevator, next to Luo Jin. They formed a human shield, blocking the others from the dark hallway.


    In the silence, they heard a sound. A wet, squelching sound, like someone walking through a puddle. It was coming from the corridor, getting closer and closer. The smell of blood grew stronger, making them gag.


    They were not alone.


    Yu Xiao gripped a talisman in one hand and a Coin in the other. She was ready to fight, or at least to die trying.


    The others were silent, barely breathing. They waited for the inevitable. Then, a massive tentacle, covered with slime and blood, emerged from the shadows. It had a mouth full of razor-sharp teeth, ready to devour them.


    It lunged at them, aiming for the elevator.


    It was a monster! The talisman was useless!


    Yu Xiao didn¡¯t hesitate. She was about to toss the Coin, when a golden blur flashed beside her. Luo Jin, glowing like a superhero, charged at the monster.


    Boom¡ª!


    The impact sent Luo Jin flying back, smashing into the elevator wall. He left a dent in the shape of his body.


    ¡°Zhuge!¡± Xie Ping cried out, running to him and shaking him. ¡°Zhuge, are you okay?¡±


    Yu Xiao didn¡¯t move, her eyes fixed on the outside. The monster had retreated into the darkness. The elevator doors closed with a clang, cutting off the sight.


    Yu Xiao backed away, wiping the sweat from her forehead. She turned to look at Luo Jin on the floor. ¡°Are you okay? I have a Life-saving Talisman here.¡±


    ¡°Zhuge!¡± Xie Ping kept shaking him, his voice desperate. ¡°Wake up, Zhuge, if something happens to you, what are we going to do! Don¡¯t leave us!¡±


    ¡°Shut up,¡± Luo Jin snapped, pushing him away. He got up from the floor, his face grim.


    He glared at Xie Ping and said, ¡°Don¡¯t ever say such disgusting things to me again.¡±


    Xie Ping froze, then remembered what Yu Xiao had told him¡ªthere was Zhuge¡¯s child in his belly¡­ He sounded like a pregnant wife whose husband was about to die.


    ©¤©¤©¤ ? ©¤©¤ ¡î ©¤©¤ ? ©¤©¤©¤

 Chapter 110: Delicious Buffet

    Xie Ping¡¯s face twisted into a sour grimace, as if he had swallowed a fly.


    ¡°Are you okay?¡± Yu Xiao asked, eyeing the claw marks on the metal door. The monster had barely grazed it, and yet it had left such deep gouges. How terrifying was that thing? And how had Luo Jin survived crashing into it?


    ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± Luo Jin brushed off his clothes and stood up, a faint golden shimmer still clinging to his skin. ¡°I used the invincibility card. Nothing can hurt me until the glow wears off.¡±


    ¡°Right, right!¡± Yu Xiao and Zhao Lan nodded, slapping their foreheads. They had forgotten about their own cards. Maybe they weren¡¯t doomed after all.


    The elevator resumed its ascent, stopping at the sixth floor. Luo Jin and Zhao Lan moved to the front, ready to face whatever horror awaited them. But when the doors slid open, they were greeted by a bright and cheerful scene.


    A crowd of people, laughing and chatting, filled a spacious dining hall. The smell of food wafted in the air.


    A sign above the door read: ¡°Delicious Buffet Restaurant.¡±


    The five of them stared, dumbfounded. What the hell was this? Some kind of sick joke? A twisted illusion?


    Luo Jin scowled and scanned the surroundings. He tried to press the elevator buttons, but nothing happened. He had no choice but to step out.


    The restaurant was decorated with colourful balloons and streamers. It looked like a place for a birthday party, not a nightmare. A man in a black vest and a bow tie greeted the customers at the entrance.


    He spotted Luo Jin and flashed a warm smile. He walked over and asked, ¡°Welcome, welcome! How many are you?¡±


    Luo Jin gave him a cold glare. He had never seen anything like this before. He didn¡¯t know how to deal with it.


    ¡°How many are you, sir?¡± The man repeated, still smiling politely.


    Luo Jin hesitated, then said, ¡°How do I get out of here?¡±


    ¡°Get out?¡± The man looked confused for a second, then said, ¡°Well, you can leave anytime you want. After you¡¯ve had your fill, of course.¡±


    Luo Jin¡¯s scowl deepened. This place was clearly not normal. Who would want to eat here? But the elevator was not working. Did they really have to stuff themselves to escape?


    The words echoed through the lift, making everyone¡¯s ears ring. Yu Xiao snapped out of her daze and decided that they couldn¡¯t just stay in this metal box; they had to face whatever was waiting for them outside.


    ¡°Come on, let¡¯s go,¡± she said, grabbing her bag. ¡°Maybe it¡¯s not as bad as it sounds.¡±


    The others nodded, not having any better plan. They followed her out of the lift.


    The man in the black vest, who had been smiling creepily the whole time, greeted them. ¡°Hi there, hungry for some food? How many in your party?¡±


    ¡°Five,¡± Yu Xiao answered, hoping he would leave them alone.


    ¡°Great,¡± the man in the black vest said. ¡°Right this way, folks.¡±


    He led them to the Delicious Buffet Restaurant, which was right next to the lift. Yu Xiao looked over her shoulder and saw that the lift doors were still open, still frozen on this floor.


    She felt a pang of relief.


    They entered the restaurant and were hit by the aroma of all kinds of dishes. Xie Ping inhaled and said, ¡°Wow, this smells awesome.¡±


    His stomach growled in agreement, as if it had a mind of its own.


    ¡°Welcome to the Delicious Buffet Restaurant,¡± the man in the black vest said, gesturing to the food stations. ¡°This is a self-serve place, so feel free to dig in. But don¡¯t go too crazy, okay? You don¡¯t want to overindulge~!¡±


    He winked and walked away, leaving Yu Xiao and her friends in the middle of the restaurant. There were hardly any seats left; most of them were taken by people who were stuffing their faces with food, oblivious to anything else.


    They managed to find a table and sat down. Xie Ping, feeling bloated, groaned and raised his hand. ¡°Help.¡± He was too fat to sit down.


    Luo Jin, who was sitting next to him, gave him a dirty look, reached over, and pushed him down into his seat.


    ¡°Ow!¡± Xie Ping yelped, grabbing his belly and wincing. ¡°What the hell, man? You want me to lose the baby?¡±


    The three girls at the opposite side of the table watched with varying degrees of amusement, horror, and pity. Yu Xiao piped up. ¡°Hey, Luo Jin, take it easy. He¡¯s got your bun in his oven, remember?¡±


    She didn¡¯t get to finish. Luo Jin whipped his head around and gave her a look that could freeze lava. Yu Xiao quickly backpedalled. ¡°¡­Not that it¡¯s a good thing. We don¡¯t know jack about delivering babies. What if something goes wrong? You¡¯re just looking out for him, right?¡±


    Luo Jin relaxed a bit, but his eyes still burned with anger. Yu Xiao scanned the room nervously.


    The restaurant was packed with people and food. A long buffet table in the middle offered all kinds of dishes, from salads and soups to steaks and desserts. The sound of munching and slurping filled the air, along with the smell of spices and sauces. They had come here with no appetite, but now they felt a strange hunger gnawing at them.


    ¡°What do we do?¡± Liu Si Si whispered. ¡°Do we have to eat?¡±


    Yu Xiao turned to the glass window, where she saw the elevator doors still open. ¡°Maybe not eating means we can¡¯t get out.¡±


    ¡°Then let¡¯s eat,¡± Wang Chun said. ¡°Everyone else is eating, and I¡­ I¡¯m starving.¡±


    Zhao Lan and Liu Si Si got up to get some food. Zhao Lan looked at Yu Xiao. ¡°You coming, Smiley?¡±


    ¡°I¡­¡± Yu Xiao hesitated. She felt a powerful urge to eat, to stuff her mouth with everything she saw. ¡°I¡¯ll think about it.¡±


    ¡°Suit yourself,¡± Zhao Lan said. ¡°I¡¯ll bring you something. What do you want?¡±


    Yu Xiao¡¯s eyes darted to the buffet table, where she saw a pile of oysters. She licked her lips. ¡°Oysters.¡±


    ¡°Okay,¡± Zhao Lan and Liu Si Si walked away, leaving Yu Xiao alone with her thoughts.


    Xie Ping was starving, but he was stuck inside the booth like a sardine. Luo Jin was blocking the exit with his body, sitting there like a Fat Buddha. There was no way Xie Ping could squeeze past him.


    Yu Xiao looked around and saw a sign on the table. It said, ¡°Take only what you need, don¡¯t waste food.¡±


    ¡°Rumble¡­¡±


    Xie Ping¡¯s stomach protested, making him more anxious. He pleaded with Luo Jin, ¡°Brother Zhuge, please move, I need to get some food.¡±


    Luo Jin didn¡¯t budge. He crossed his arms and looked at Yu Xiao, ¡°Are you sure you want to eat the food here?¡±


    ¡°I¡­I don¡¯t know,¡± Yu Xiao felt a chill, ¡°but if we don¡¯t eat, we might be stuck here forever.¡±


    That was the problem. They all knew something was wrong here. Eating the food here could be a trap, but not eating could mean no escape.


    ¡°Eat your fill and you can leave¡­¡±


    That¡¯s what the ghost had said. But did he mean they had to eat the food here?


    Yu Xiao had a flash of inspiration. Luo Jin saw her eyes light up and asked, ¡°Do you have an idea?¡±


    ¡°The waiter behind that door said, ¡®Eat your fill and you can leave,¡¯ but he didn¡¯t specify what we had to eat.¡±


    Luo Jin nodded, then frowned, ¡°But do you have any food with you?¡±


    ¡°No.¡±


    ¡°Me neither.¡±


    Xie Ping was losing his patience, ¡°Oh, come on, stop talking nonsense. Let¡¯s just go get some food, that¡¯s the only way out of here.¡±


    Yu Xiao¡¯s teeth dug into her lower lip. If she went to St. Elizabeth, Tie Niu could smuggle in some normal human food from outside. But she wasn¡¯t alone now. And if she tried to sneak out in a white coat, her secret would be busted for sure¡­


    ¡°Ta-da!¡± Zhao Lan and Liu Si Si burst to the table, arms full of plates.


    Liu Si Si gushed, ¡°This place has the best seafood ever!¡±


    Zhao Lan set down a platter of mouth-watering dishes, while Liu Si Si followed with two more, overflowing with food.


    They slid into their seats, Zhao Lan smacked her lips and nudged Yu Xiao, ¡°Come on, dig in. These oysters are to die for.¡±


    Yu Xiao eyed the fat oysters. She hated them. She picked them to distract herself from her real hunger. But now, as she stared at the slimy shells, she felt her mouth watering incessantly.


    She had to get out of here. ¡°We can¡¯t eat the food here.¡±


    ¡°What?¡± Liu Si Si blinked. ¡°Why not?¡±


    ¡°I said we can¡¯t, so we can¡¯t.¡± Yu Xiao¡¯s voice was hard as steel. ¡°If you don¡¯t want to be trapped here for eternity, don¡¯t eat!¡±


    She got up, shot a look at Zhao Lan, and said, ¡°I¡¯ll be right back. Don¡¯t touch anything until I come back.¡±


    She left her seat, roaming around the restaurant. She needed to find the bathroom, but it was nowhere to be seen. After walking in circles, she ran into the Black Waistcoat at the entrance.


    The Black Waistcoat grinned, ¡°Honoured guest, how may I assist you?¡±


    Yu Xiao: ¡°I need the loo.¡±


    ¡°Guest,¡± the black waiter drawled, ¡°this ain¡¯t the kind of place that has toilets.¡± Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°¡­¡±


    She had to wear a white coat in a place where she wouldn¡¯t attract attention. But since there was no restroom to hide in, the only option left was the kitchen.


    She swiftly headed towards the kitchen door, hoping to go unnoticed. However, just as she arrived, the black waiter suddenly appeared, blocking her path with a gloved hand. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, ma¡¯am, but guests are not allowed in the kitchen.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not a guest, I¡¯m a staff,¡± Yu Xiao lied.


    ¡°Nice try, ma¡¯am, but guests are not allowed in the kitchen, period,¡± the black waiter said sternly. ¡°That¡¯s the rule.¡±


    Yu Xiao exhaled, shooting him a dirty look. ¡°And what if I break the rule?¡±


    ¡°Then I¡¯ll have to stop you, ma¡¯am,¡± the black waiter¡¯s smile turned cold. ¡°By any means necessary.¡±


    Yu Xiao reached into her pocket and pulled out a disposable fondness card. She waved it in front of his face. ¡°How about this? Will this change your mind?¡±


    The black waiter¡¯s eyes flickered for a split second when he saw the card, but he quickly composed himself.


    Yu Xiao paused, not wanting to waste the card.


    She put the card away and grabbed the black waiter by the shoulders. ¡°Look at me, look into my eyes.¡±


    The black waiter: ¡°?¡±


    ¡°What do you see in my eyes?¡± Yu Xiao bore into his eyes with a fierce gaze.


    Yu Xiao locked eyes with the Black Waistcoat, who squinted back at her. ¡°Sorry, miss, but I don¡¯t see a thing.¡±


    ¡°Here, let me help you.¡± She grabbed his shoulder and spun him around, putting him between her and the kitchen door. ¡°How about now?¡±


    The Black Waistcoat shook his head. ¡°What are you trying to pull, miss?¡±


    Yu Xiao didn¡¯t answer. She reached into her backpack and pulled out a white coat.


    The Black Waistcoat¡¯s eyes widened. Yu Xiao gave him a dazzling smile. ¡°Do me a solid, will you? Just stand there and look pretty.¡±


    The Black Waistcoat: ¡°¡­¡±


    And then she was gone.


    Luo Jin had been watching Yu Xiao from the dining table. He saw her circle the restaurant like a shark, then stop at the kitchen door to chat with the Black Waistcoat. She switched places with him and stood still.


    Liu Si Si grabbed a razor clam from the plate. Luo Jin snapped, ¡°Don¡¯t eat that.¡±


    ¡°Why not?¡± Liu Si Si smacked her lips. ¡°It¡¯s yummy.¡±


    Luo Jin¡¯s face darkened. ¡°You already had some?¡±


    ¡°Sure did,¡± Liu Si Si said. ¡°I snuck a bite when I got the food.¡±


    Luo Jin¡¯s face instantly turned ugly. Next to him, Xie Ping reached for a steak. Luo Jin grabbed his wrist. ¡°Unless you want to die, leave the food alone.¡±


    Xie Ping whimpered. His stomach twisted in knots. He curled up in the corner, too afraid to move.


    Liu Si Si tore into her food like a starving beast, her eyes glinting with madness. Her stomach was a black hole, never satisfied no matter how much she stuffed into it. Instead, she only ate faster and faster, as if racing against time.


    Luo Jin felt a chill run down his spine as he realised something odd. Ever since the elevator had dropped them off at this floor, he had seen plenty of guests arrive, but none of them ever left.


    He turned to Zhao Lan and asked, ¡°Where did Yu Xiao go?¡±


    Zhao Lan knew exactly what Yu Xiao was up to, but she couldn¡¯t spill the beans on Smiley¡¯s scheme. She feigned cluelessness and said, ¡°I have no idea, maybe Smiley had some business to take care of.¡±


    **


    Yu Xiao burst into St. Elizabeth, looking for Tie Niu. She yanked on his sleeve, gasping, ¡°Quick! I need food!¡±


    The gaunt Tie Niu nodded, ¡°I¡¯ve got you covered, roasted thighs, ready for the Dean anytime.¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Yu Xiao snapped, ¡°I need food for the living.¡±


    Tie Niu frowned, ¡°Well, the living are edible too¡­¡±


    ¡°I need food that normal living people eat!¡± Yu Xiao shouted, losing her patience. ¡°Can you get me some?¡±


    ¡°Sure,¡± Tie Niu said, ¡°but St. Elizabeth only has bread and fruit. If you want something more fancy, you¡¯ll have to go outside¡­¡±


    ¡°Forget it!¡± Yu Xiao said, ¡°Just give me the bread and fruit!¡±


    Tie Niu handed her a bag of food and was about to leave, when a calm, unhurried footstep sound echoed in the hall.


    George was a picture of elegance in his white coat, standing a safe distance from the Tie Niu. ¡°She¡¯s nothing special, you know. Just a human. You don¡¯t have to be her lapdog,¡± he sneered.


    The Tie Niu¡¯s skull eyes blazed with blue fire. ¡°You wouldn¡¯t get it, George. You don¡¯t know the first thing about loyalty.¡±


    He turned and marched into the operating room, leaving George to stew in his own anger, feeling a twinge in his wounded side.


    ¡°Loyalty?!¡± George spat. ¡°What a load of crap. The only person I¡¯m loyal to is myself.¡±


    **


    Black Waistcoat, for some inexplicable reason, stayed put until Yu Xiao emerged with a bag in her hand.


    ¡°Wow, you¡¯re still here,¡± she said, flashing him a grin. ¡°You¡¯re so sweet, Black Waistcoat.¡±


    Black Waistcoat felt a muscle in his cheek twitch. ¡°¡­That¡¯s not my name.¡±


    Yu Xiao was too busy changing her clothes to notice his annoyance. She asked him offhandedly, ¡°Oh, really? Then what should I call you?¡±


    He plastered a fake smile on his face and said, ¡°Gluttony. That¡¯s my name.¡±


    Yu Xiao didn¡¯t realise that Black Waistcoat¡¯s words might have been more than just a random NPC name until she was almost at the table.


    ¡°Smiley!¡± Zhao Lan yelled, holding Liu Si Si in a tight grip. ¡°Get over here, now!¡±


    Yu Xiao rushed over and saw Liu Si Si thrashing like a madwoman. Zhao Lan had her pinned to the table, but she kept squirming and babbling nonsense, drool dripping onto the tablecloth.


    ¡°What the hell?¡±


    ¡°She ate the food,¡± Zhao Lan said, nodding her head towards the plates on the table. ¡°She wolfed down everything we brought back, and she¡¯s still hungry.¡±


    Yu Xiao frowned, opened her backpack, and pulled out some bread and fruit. ¡°Here, eat these. They¡¯re safe.¡±


    Luo Jin¡¯s eyes darted to the bread and fruit on the table, but he didn¡¯t say a word. He just reached for an apple.


    Xie Ping had been starving for so long; he snatched several slices of bread and shoved them into his mouth.


    Yu Xiao held Liu Si Si down with one hand and forced bread into her mouth with the other, telling Zhao Lan, ¡°I¡¯ve got this, you eat.¡±


    As soon as the bread touched her tongue and Yu Xiao swallowed the first bite, everything changed.


    The buffet restaurant that was bright and crowded a moment ago turned pitch-black. Where did the tables go? Where did the heaps of delicious food disappear to?


    The only things around them were filthy stones with rotting skeletons on top.


    They were surrounded by corpses that had been dead for ages, but still gorged themselves on rancid, wormy meat.


    Xie Ping gagged and puked on the spot.


    Yu Xiao felt her stomach churn. She fought back the nausea and hoisted Liu Si Si up. ¡°Come on!¡±


    Luo Jin grabbed Xie Ping, who was still heaving. The five of them ran for their lives. They were almost at the elevator when someone blocked their way.


    It was Gluttony.


    Everything else had changed, but he looked the same.


    He wore snow-white gloves, a tight black vest, and a neat haircut. He smiled at them.


    ¡°My dear guests,¡± Gluttony said, ¡°are you unhappy with the food I¡¯ve prepared for you?¡±


    Yu Xiao said, ¡°Luo Jin, go!¡±


    Luo Jin¡¯s mouth twitched. ¡°The invincibility card has expired.¡±


    ¡°What? Already?¡± Zhao Lan gasped in disbelief.


    ¡°That¡¯s how it is¡­¡± Luo Jin¡¯s face darkened. ¡°The stronger the card, the shorter it lasts?¡±


    ¡°What do we do now?¡± Zhao Lan asked. ¡°Should I use my invincibility card?¡±


    Yu Xiao was torn. The invincibility card was too valuable to waste. She was about to use it, when Gluttony reached into his pocket and handed her a card. ¡°This is my business card.¡±


    Yu Xiao: ¡°?¡±


    ¡°Smiley,¡± Zhao Lan hissed, ¡°snap out of it.¡±


    ¡°Uh!¡± Yu Xiao grabbed the card without thinking. But as soon as she felt the pure black card in her hand, she wished she hadn¡¯t. What if this was a trick?


    ¡°I look forward to working with you.¡± Gluttony said, then stepped away from the elevator door, making room.


    Yu Xiao was stunned. What was he talking about?


    Luo Jin didn¡¯t bother with any of this, he just hauled Xie Ping into the elevator in one swift move, and Zhao Lan yanked Yu Xiao in too.


    Even after the elevator doors shut, and Gluttony¡¯s face disappeared from their sight, Yu Xiao still felt like she was dreaming.


    ¡°What the hell?¡± Zhao Lan poked Yu Xiao. ¡°What did you do?¡±


    ¡°Nothing,¡± Yu Xiao said, completely confused.


    She looked at the business card in her hand. It was hard, with a texture that was neither paper nor plastic but more like smooth, cold jade. In the light, it even looked a bit see-through.


    There were two golden characters on it: Gluttony (±©Ê³).


    And phone numbers.


    ¡°You¡¯re quite the networker,¡± Luo Jin suddenly commented.


    Yu Xiao was at a loss for words. Was this some kind of twisted fate, not just bad luck?


    Ding~!


    The elevator hit the fifth floor underground, and the doors slid open, showing Zhao Lan right next to Yu Xiao.


    Outside, it was pitch-black, and weird noises crawled in.


    Clickety~clack¡­


    Everyone stared nervously, as dozens of white skeletons came out of the dark.


    ¡°Great,¡± Zhao Lan gripped her invincible card, thinking, ¡°This is just what we need.¡±


    As the skeletons walked into the light, some of them stopped dead when they saw Yu Xiao¡¯s hand. They all froze for a second, then ran back into the dark faster than they came.


    The elevator doors shut again, leaving everyone inside puzzled.


    Xie Ping leaned on the wall and asked, ¡°What the hell was that?¡±


    Zhao Lan looked at Yu Xiao¡¯s hand, still holding the gluttony business card. ¡°They¡­ seem to be scared of this card.¡±


    Luo Jin thought for a moment, then said, ¡°How much would you take for this card?¡±


    ¡°Ha,¡± Yu Xiao snorted. ¡°You¡¯re dreaming big.¡±


    Luo Jin eyed the business card in Yu Xiao¡¯s hand, looking very sorry.


    **


    Meanwhile, Zhou Xiao Zhen and her two buddies had finished the whole script of the idol drama.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen checked the script and said, ¡°ABCDE should be the five of them, but I don¡¯t know who is who.¡±


    Lu Xu cracked up and said, ¡°What if Lao Luo is C? Does he have to play a pregnant lady? Hahaha¡­¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m so worried without Smiley and Misty,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen said nervously. ¡°Are we doing the right thing by writing the script like this?¡±


    ¡°What else can we do?¡± Wang Chun said. ¡°We did follow Director Liao¡¯s story.¡±


    ¡°But if it¡¯s that easy to escape the script, isn¡¯t that too simple?¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen said. ¡°We don¡¯t even face any danger.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s weird,¡± Lu Xu mused. ¡°But we can¡¯t go anywhere. I tried calling Lao Luo, but the call didn¡¯t work. We have no choice, the only thing we can do is to write the script well here.¡±


    ¡°I miss Smiley so much, she always has a plan,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen lay on the table. ¡°I miss Misty so much, she always spots trouble.¡±


    ¡°I miss Lao Luo,¡± Lu Xu lay next to Zhou Xiao Zhen, ¡°I feel so safe with him around.¡±


    Wang Chun watched these two pine away, feeling left out.


    Why didn¡¯t she miss Liu Si Si? Maybe because there was no point.


    The elevator door on the ground floor opened, and a person with a huge belly walked out. The patients who saw him wondered, did this hospital have pregnant women too?


    Then they saw the face above the big belly, it was a very manly face.


    ©¤©¤©¤ ? ©¤©¤ ¡î ©¤©¤ ? ©¤©¤©¤

 Chapter 111: Coin of Great Observation V.3

    The other patients gaped at them as they stumbled out of the lift. Xie Ping clutched his stomach with one hand and the wall with the other. He gasped for air and croaked, ¡°What the hell is the date? Why do I feel like I¡¯m about to give birth?¡±


    Yu Xiao long Liu Si Si over her shoulder, scratching her chin. ¡°Beats me, I¡¯m still a baby myself.¡±


    ¡°This is a hospital, you know,¡± Zhao Lan pointed out. ¡°Maybe you should get yourself checked.¡±


    Xie Ping¡¯s face twisted into a grimace. He looked like he was going to hurl, and he did, twice. He whimpered, ¡°I may have lost my pride, but I don¡¯t want to die as a freak.¡±


    ¡°Then hide your mug,¡± Zhao Lan advised. ¡°You¡¯re not exactly a sight for sore eyes. The way they¡¯re staring at you, I¡¯m scared they¡¯ll lynch you.¡±


    Xie Ping shivered and quickly wrapped his coat around his head.


    Yu Xiao hauled Liu Si Si along and said, ¡°I thought we¡¯d be fine once we got out. Come on, let¡¯s save Liu Si Si.¡±


    They dragged Liu Si Si to the hospital lawn. She was acting crazy, with bloodshot eyes, drooling mouth, and a single-minded focus on food. Yu Xiao dropped her on the ground, and Zhao Lan asked, ¡°You think the emergency healing talisman will do the trick?¡±


    ¡°I have no clue, let¡¯s give it a shot,¡± Yu Xiao said, flipping Liu Si Si over a rock on the lawn and then smacking her back to make her puke. S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Liu Si Si thrashed at first, but after a few smacks, she finally spat out a ¡°wah¡±.


    The air reeked of something rotten, something dead. Xie Ping couldn¡¯t take it. His stomach lurched and he spewed his guts out, along with the rest of them.


    Yu Xiao peeked at Liu Si Si, who was heaving up chunks of decay and squirming maggots. She shuddered. If she had swallowed what Liu Si Si had, she would be screaming in pain when she woke up. She dragged her to a cleaner spot, away from the vile mess, and slapped a talisman on her chest.


    Liu Si Si coughed and blinked, coming to her senses. She was lying on a patch of grass, surrounded by Dragon Sister and the others. They looked worried.


    ¡°What happened to me?¡± She licked her lips and grimaced. ¡°Ugh, what¡¯s that taste in my mouth?¡±


    Yu Xiao and the others exchanged uneasy looks as they helped her up. ¡°You feeling okay? Anything hurt?¡±


    ¡°Just a bit of a sore throat, nothing else,¡± Liu Si Si looked around. ¡°Are we out?¡±


    ¡°Yup,¡± Yu Xiao nodded. ¡°We made it to the hospital¡¯s ground floor. We¡¯re out.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s awesome,¡± Liu Si Si sighed in relief, then frowned. ¡°Did I black out? How long was I out for?¡±


    ¡°Not too long,¡± Zhao Lan said, holding her arm. ¡°You took a hit, passed out, but you¡¯re fine now.¡±


    Liu Si Si wasn¡¯t convinced, but Yu Xiao quickly changed the topic. ¡°So, what¡¯s our next move? Any suggestions?¡±


    Xie Ping had none. ¡°I can¡¯t think straight right now, I¡¯m sorry. But please, can we get out of this hellhole soon? I¡¯m afraid if this continues, I¡¯ll give birth to the child here.¡±


    Luo Jin shrugged. ¡°What¡¯s the hurry?¡±


    Xie Ping snorted. ¡°You¡¯re kidding, right? Come on, take a wild guess. Who do you think the baby will resemble when it pops out?¡±


    Luo Jin didn¡¯t miss a beat. ¡°I think the real issue is Director Liao. Any instance should be safe as long as we follow the script. But this one is different. The patient director¡¯s team based it on what Director Liao told them. We shouldn¡¯t have any problems as actors. But something went wrong. Maybe Director Liao lied to us.¡±


    Yu Xiao nodded. ¡°Luo Jin has a point. Have you seen Director Liao? He¡¯s sketchy as hell.¡±


    She raised a finger and went on. ¡°First of all, he¡¯s loaded with religious stuff. A peach wood bracelet, a Bodhisattva pendant, and that¡¯s not all. He even wears something on his feet.¡±


    Liu Si Si, who had finally stopped freaking out, asked. ¡°So what? Maybe he¡¯s just superstitious.¡±


    Yu Xiao shook her head. ¡°No, no, no. If he was superstitious, he would stick to one faith. But look at him. He¡¯s got Buddhism, Taoism, and Christianity all mixed up. That¡¯s not superstition. And his tattoos¡­ I can¡¯t see them all under his clothes, but I bet they¡¯re not the usual dragons or tigers. He¡¯s not into religion. He¡¯s into warding off evil.¡±


    ¡°Warding off evil?¡± Zhao Lan couldn¡¯t help but nod, ¡°That makes sense. Some people who need to exorcise evil, they get scared or confused, and they try anything they think might work. That¡¯s why he¡¯s got this religious mess on him.¡±


    Xie Ping tilted his head. ¡°What¡¯s with all the anti-ghost gear?¡±


    Yu Xiao snorted. ¡°He¡¯s a scaredy-cat, that¡¯s what. Thinks the dead are after him.¡±


    Liu Si Si frowned. ¡°What dead? His old pal who offed himself?¡±


    Yu Xiao shook her head. ¡°Nah, that was ages ago. If his pal wanted to haunt him, he would¡¯ve done it by now. Besides, why would he haunt him? He¡¯s the one who killed himself, not him.¡±


    ¡°Maybe he¡¯s been doing this for a long time?¡± Xie Ping wondered.


    ¡°Nope,¡± Yu Xiao said. ¡°I looked at them. The red strings and the peach wood bracelets are all new. He just started wearing them recently.¡±


    Zhao Lan tapped her chin. ¡°That¡¯s weird. His pal and his wife both croaked twenty years ago, but he only got spooked recently. Maybe his ghost problem has nothing to do with them?¡±


    Yu Xiao nodded. ¡°Something must¡¯ve spooked him real good. He¡¯s a big deal movie director, you know. There should be tons of stuff about him online.¡±


    And there was. Director Liao was famous for his movies, but lately, he was more famous for his bad luck. The latest news was all about his mishaps and misfortunes.


    The production was cursed from the start. Films got scrapped halfway through, actors got caught in compromising positions, and stuntmen broke bones left and right. It was a disaster of epic proportions.


    And then there was Director Liao, the mastermind behind it all. He was the unluckiest of them all. One day, he was on set, watching the scene from a safe distance, when a flying actor came crashing down on him. How did that even happen? Directors were supposed to be behind the scenes, not under them.


    He barely survived the accident, only to find out he had cancer. And then his company got audited for fraud. And then his dog died. It was like someone had a vendetta against him.


    ¡°He¡¯s screwed,¡± Liu Si Si said, shaking her head as she watched the news.


    ¡°Maybe he has a ghost pet,¡± Zhao Lan piped up.


    ¡°A what?¡± Yu Xiao frowned.


    ¡°A ghost pet. You know, like a ghost kept as a pet. They¡¯re supposed to grant you fame and fortune, but they can also turn on you and ruin your life,¡± Zhao Lan explained. ¡°I used to be obsessed with celebrity gossip in school, and I saw a lot of cases like this. It¡¯s like karma, but worse.¡±


    ¡°That sounds plausible,¡± Luo Jin nodded, pointing at the screen. ¡°He was nobody before, just a lowly assistant in some crappy films. And then he became a big shot overnight.¡±


    ¡°But what does that have to do with us?¡± Liu Si Si asked. ¡°We¡¯re just here to film his story.¡±


    Yu Xiao rolled her eyes. ¡°Maybe he¡¯s just lying through his teeth,¡± she said. ¡°Trying to make himself look like a saint. How can a saint raise ghosts? And even if he didn¡¯t raise any ghosts, he must have done something shady, or he wouldn¡¯t be in such a mess.¡±


    ¡°So we¡¯re going to find out the truth?¡± Xie Ping asked.


    ¡°Are we going to crack this case?¡± Liu Si Si clapped her hands excitedly. ¡°What¡¯s the plan?¡±


    Luo Jin looked at Yu Xiao. ¡°Where are you going to start digging?¡±


    Yu Xiao smirked. ¡°I think I¡¯ll just storm into that ward and give Director Liao a piece of my mind¡¯, force the truth outta him.¡±


    Luo Jin blinked. ¡°Sounds like a plan.¡±


    ¡°But I¡¯m afraid Mr. Wang might get in the way and spoil my fun,¡± Yu Xiao said. ¡°It¡¯s better to avoid the doctor unless we have to.¡±


    ¡°But you already provoked Mr. Wang before,¡± Liu Si Si reminded her. Dragon Sister was not one to back down from a fight.


    ¡°That was nothing¡­¡± Yu Xiao waved her hand. ¡°Who cares about that?¡±


    ¡°I think he does,¡± Liu Si Si said solemnly. ¡°Did you see the look in his eyes? He wanted to murder you.¡±


    Yu Xiao scanned the faces of her companions, a wicked grin on her lips. ¡°We can¡¯t let Mr. Wang ruin my fun, can we?¡± she said. ¡°Anyone got a brilliant idea to keep him from finding out about Director Liao?¡±


    They all looked at each other, clueless and nervous. Mr. Wang was no ordinary NPC. He was the freaking attending doctor, with powers that made most ghosts and monsters look like kittens. And they couldn¡¯t just beat him up, either. That would break the hospital rules and get them in big trouble.


    Luo Jin cleared his throat. ¡°Mr. Wang will figure out we¡¯re not in the studio as soon as he checks on us,¡± he said. ¡°We can¡¯t stop him, and my cards are useless.¡±


    Zhao Lan frowned. ¡°What do you mean? Don¡¯t you have those disposable affection cards? They should work on him, right?¡±


    Luo Jin shook his head. ¡°I gave those to Lu Xu. The only cards I have left are for fighting, like invincibility.¡±


    Yu Xiao reached into her pocket and pulled out a shiny copper coin. She tossed it to Luo Jin. ¡°I have a solution,¡± she said. ¡°You remember this, don¡¯t you?¡±


    Luo Jin caught the coin and stared at it. He didn¡¯t say anything, but his face said it all. He had owned this coin before, and he knew it was bad news.


    ¡°What did you do to it?¡±


    ¡°I upgraded it, of course. It¡¯s not so nasty anymore.¡±


    Luo Jin raised an eyebrow. He didn¡¯t trust her one bit. He had seen what this coin could do, and he didn¡¯t want any part of it.


    ¡°What¡¯s the catch?¡±


    Yu Xiao shrugged. ¡°No catch. Just a minor side effect. When I upgraded it for the first time it made people and ghosts fall in love or hate with each other within ten metres of the user. That¡¯s all.¡±


    Xie Ping couldn¡¯t take it anymore. His stomach felt like a blender on high speed, and he needed to get out of there fast. He grabbed the Coin of Great Observation from Luo Jin¡¯s hand and said, ¡°Hate or love, it doesn¡¯t matter. As long as they don¡¯t hurt me, I¡¯m good. I¡¯ll go.¡±


    Yu Xiao gasped. She was about to snatch the coin back when Luo Jin snatched it from Xie Ping. He held the coin tightly and said, ¡°No, I¡¯ll go. I can handle myself better than any of you.¡±


    They looked up and saw Mr. Wang stumbling out of the outpatient department, holding a thermos flask. He noticed them whispering in a corner and his eyes bulged out. How did they escape from the basement?


    Luo Jin cursed under his breath. ¡°This is bad. We don¡¯t have time to waste. Let¡¯s split up and move.¡±


    He ran towards Mr. Wang, leaving Yu Xiao behind. She tried to catch him, but it was too late. The coin in his hand had been upgraded for the second time and its side effects completely changed¡­


    ¡°Come on!¡± Zhao Lan pulled Yu Xiao along. ¡°We need to find Director Liao and get some answers!¡±


    Yu Xiao hesitated, watching Mr. Wang coming their way. She bit her lip and followed the others upstairs. Mr. Wang was the doctor; he wouldn¡¯t hurt them, right? And the coin¡¯s side effects couldn¡¯t be that bad, right?


    They entered the building, but Mr. Wang was close behind.


    Luo Jin jumped in front of him and grabbed his arm.


    Mr. Wang¡¯s eyes flashed with anger. ¡°You dare stop me?¡±


    Luo Jin looked at the coin in his hand and thought, ¡°Of course, it¡¯s the negative side. This thing will never do anything good.¡±


    Luo Jin let go of Mr. Wang¡¯s arm, feeling a swirl of mixed emotions inside him. He decided to give it a shot. ¡°Mr. Wang, can you please stop chasing them?¡±


    Mr. Wang¡¯s eyes lost their angry glint in a flash. ¡°Sure.¡±


    Luo Jin: ¡°?¡±


    Was Luo Jin hallucinating? Had the upgrade turned Coin of Great Observation into a miracle worker?


    ¡°There¡¯s just one thing,¡± Mr. Wang said.


    ¡°Go on,¡± Luo Jin wondered what Mr. Wang would ask for. It was a love-hate situation, so agreeing to his demand would be a gesture of affection. But what if his demand was fueled by spite?


    ¡°Hold my hand,¡± Mr. Wang¡¯s wrinkled face was dead serious. ¡°Hold it tight, like you did before.¡±


    Luo Jin: ¡°¡­¡±


    **


    The elevator doors slid open, and Yu Xiao¡¯s crew spilled out. They chatted away as they headed for Director Liao¡¯s room.


    Halfway there, Yu Xiao dialled Zhou Xiao Zhen again, but got no answer.


    She said, ¡°Misty, can you track down Precious? I can take care of Director Liao by myself.¡±


    ¡°Sure thing.¡± Director Liao was just a patient, and he didn¡¯t need a crowd. Zhao Lan agreed without hesitation.


    ¡°I¡¯m coming with you,¡± Liu Si Si said. ¡°I¡¯m freaking out about Wang Chun. She¡¯s not picking up.¡±


    ¡°Okay, you guys go look for them. Xie Ping, if you can¡¯t walk, then tag along with me to Director Liao¡¯s room,¡± Yu Xiao delegated swiftly.


    Yu Xiao turned to Zhao Lan before they left. ¡°If we¡¯re out of luck. Ring up Luo Jin.¡±


    **


    The single-patient ward reeked of decay. A vase of lilies withered on the bedside table, their petals falling like tears.


    Director Liao rolled his wheelchair to the balcony. The sun cast a harsh light, and a gentle breeze caressed his face. He stared at the ward from the balcony, his eyes wide and empty.


    The curtains danced in the wind, and he trembled like a frightened rabbit.


    ¡°It¡¯s coming, it¡¯s coming¡­¡±


    ¡°Stay away, w-w-w¡­ I¡¯m sorry, okay¡­¡±


    Bang! The door flew open with a kick.


    Director Liao nearly had a heart attack, his face contorted with fear, frozen in horror.


    Xie Ping limped in, clutching his waist, gasping. ¡°Is it just me, or is my belly growing? I¡¯m winded after a few steps.¡±


    Director Liao snapped out of his fright and into a frenzy when he saw Xie Ping. He babbled like a madman, ¡°Ah! What are you doing here? Keep away! Hahaha¡­ you came looking for me at last. W-w-what a sorry way to go, you had it coming¡­¡±


    Xie Ping¡¯s eyes widened in confusion. ¡°What the hell is happening?¡±


    ¡°Maybe he snapped?¡± Yu Xiao said, biting her lip. ¡°Do you think he can still spill the beans if he¡¯s cuckoo for Cocoa Puffs?¡±


    She crept closer to Director Liao, who was clawing at his skin like a rabid animal. She snatched one of his arms and pinned it down. ¡°Hold still, you lunatic!¡±


    She waved her free hand in front of his face. ¡°Yo! Earth to Director Liao! Do you know who I am?¡±


    He blinked a few times, his eyes unfocused, then slowly cleared. ¡°Oh, it¡¯s you!¡±


    He gulped some air and looked around. ¡°What are you doing here? Shouldn¡¯t you be on set? And what¡¯s up with him?¡± He nodded at Lu Xu¡¯s swollen stomach.


    ¡°That¡¯s none of your business,¡± Yu Xiao said, scanning him from head to toe. Her eyes lingered on the jade Buddha pendant hanging from his neck and the peach wood bracelet on his wrist. ¡°We¡¯re here to get some answers.¡±


    ¡°What answers?¡± Director Liao straightened up, his face darkening. ¡°Who gave you permission to barge in? I¡¯m not in the mood for visitors. Get out.¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s playing hardball,¡± Zhao Lan said. ¡°Let¡¯s cut the crap and get to the point.¡±


    ¡°Good point,¡± Yu Xiao agreed.


    ¡°What point?¡± Director Liao said, pointing a shaky finger at Yu Xiao. ¡°What are you up to?¡±


    Yu Xiao didn¡¯t answer. She grabbed his collar and ripped it open, shredding his hospital gown. She yanked it off him and tossed it aside, leaving him exposed to the cold air.


    ¡°What the hell are you doing?!¡± exclaimed Director Liao, his voice reaching a piercing pitch.


    After she had undressed him, Yu Xiao held his head firmly to prevent any sudden movements. Then, her eyes fell upon the colossal portrait inked on Director Liao¡¯s back. The image depicted a grotesque ghost clutching onto an iron chain, with a smaller ghost tethered to it.


    It was Zhong Kui. Director Liao indeed had some secrets. Zhong Kui was known for banishing spirits and demons; it was not common for people to have him tattooed on their skin.


    (Zhong Kui (ÖÓظ): A figure from Chinese mythology known as the Demon Queller. He is often depicted as a fierce warrior who hunts down evil spirits and demons.)


    ¡°Do you have a bloody ghost pet?¡± Yu Xiao asked.


    ¡°You¡¯re talking nonsense!¡± Director Liao erupted. ¡°Get out of here! Where¡¯s Dr. Wang? Dr. Wang!¡±


    **


    In the office, Mr. Wang heard the commotion. He grabbed Luo Jin¡¯s hand and said, ¡°I have to make a quick trip to the wards. Are you coming with me?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not going,¡± Luo Jin said, enduring the goosebumps creeping up his skin. ¡°I¡¯m staying right here.¡±


    Mr. Wang hesitated for a moment, seeking reassurance. ¡°Can you promise to stay put until I¡¯m back?¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t promise,¡± Luo Jin replied. ¡°Even if I do, I¡¯m not sure I¡¯ll stick to it. I¡¯m not one to keep my word.¡±


    ¡°Hey, you¡­ you can¡¯t escape me!¡± Mr. Wang shouted, his voice cracking with excitement. ¡°You¡¯re mine, you¡¯re not going anywhere but with me! No one else can have you!¡±


    Luo Jin: ¡°¡­¡±


    Luo Jin knew that Yu Xiao must have been lying. What love-hate feeling? Did Mr. Wang have some twisted crush on him? He acted no different from a possessive yandere. But since Luo Jin was already involved, seeking revenge could wait. Right now, the main focus was keeping Mr. Wang occupied.


    ¡°Whatever, I¡¯m not moving,¡± Luo Jin said, smirking. ¡°If you want to go, be my guest.¡±


    ¡°Oh, my sweet ancestor¡­¡± Mr. Wang was losing it.


    **


    Zhao Lan and Liu Si Si searched the hospital, asking everyone they saw, but they couldn¡¯t find Zhou Xiao Zhen and the others.


    Tired, Liu Si Si sat on the stairs, panting. She asked Zhao Lan, ¡°This is hopeless. What did Sister Dragon say before? Why can¡¯t we find them, and why did she mention Zhuge?¡±


    Zhao Lan was quiet for a moment, clearly thinking about Mr. Wang¡¯s obsession with Luo Jin. She didn¡¯t explain, just said vaguely, ¡°I don¡¯t know either. I¡¯ll call Zhuge and ask.¡±


    ¡°Is that a good idea?¡± Liu Si Si said, nervous. ¡°Zhuge is dealing with Mr. Wang. Isn¡¯t it wrong to bother him?¡±


    ¡°But can we find them by ourselves?¡± Zhao Lan said.


    After some thinking, they decided to call Luo Jin. Liu Si Si trusted Sister Dragon wouldn¡¯t joke about a teammate¡¯s life.


    **


    The ringtone blared in Luo Jin¡¯s ear.


    ¡°Ghost gourds, ghost gourds, seven flowers on a vine¡­!¡± (This is a line from the theme song of the Chinese animated series ¡°The Legend of Nezha¡± (ÄÄ߸ÄÖº£).)


    What kind of sick joke was this? Who would call him at this ungodly moment? He grabbed the phone and snapped. ¡°Yeah, what?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s Zhao Lan.¡± She sounded panicked. ¡°We can¡¯t find Zhou Xiao Zhen or the others. They¡¯ve vanished. Can you ask Mr. Wang if he knows anything?¡±


    Luo Jin: ¡°¡­¡±


    He felt a surge of anger. Lu Xun was right. Those three idiots from Yu Xiao¡¯s ward were nothing but trouble. They were like foxes in the henhouse, always scheming and sneaking around.


    ¡°Who¡¯s that?¡± Mr. Wang¡¯s voice cut through the silence. ¡°Is that a woman? Who¡¯s the wild woman on the phone?¡±


    Luo Jin: ¡°¡­¡±


    Zhao Lan heard Mr. Wang¡¯s voice and his insult. She clammed up, afraid to say more. She spoke quickly. ¡°Just find out where they are. Text me when you do. See ya.¡±


    ¡°See ya?¡± Mr. Wang¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°She wants to see you later?¡±


    Luo Jin wanted to bang his head on the wall. He had been in Fourth Hospital for years, seen all kinds of things, but this was the worst. Why couldn¡¯t he trade places with Lu Xun? Lu Xun was so much better at handling rich old sugar daddies.


    **


    A scream ripped through the air, making a passing nurse jump.


    ¡°Ahhhhhh¡ª!¡±


    She ran to the door of the ward, pounding on it. ¡°What¡¯s happening in there? Is the patient okay?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s fine!¡± a woman¡¯s voice answered.


    ¡°Fine? How is it fine? That was a freaking scream! And it sounded like a man! Who are you to the patient?¡± The nurse yelled. ¡°I¡¯m coming in.¡±


    She reached for the doorknob, but the door flew open.


    The first thing she saw was a huge belly.


    Then a man¡¯s voice said, ¡°What, I can¡¯t talk with a tight throat sometimes?¡±


    The nurse gaped at the man¡¯s face, then at the belly. ¡°Are you¡­ a guy or a gal?¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s your problem?¡± Xie Ping said. ¡°Are you discriminating against me?¡±


    ©¤©¤©¤ ? ©¤©¤ ¡î ©¤©¤ ? ©¤©¤©¤

 Chapter 112: Confluence of Masses

    The nurse stifled a momentary choke; assessing a patient¡¯s gender wasn¡¯t her forte. If this escalated, she could risk her job.


    She backed away, whispering, ¡°What do you need?¡±


    ¡°I have a stomachache,¡± Xie Ping snapped at her. ¡°Can¡¯t a man groan in peace?¡±


    ¡°Okay, okay, if it¡¯s serious, let the nurse¡¯s station know,¡± she quickly replied, and hurried off. She didn¡¯t realise she had wandered into the oncology ward. What was a pregnant man doing here?


    Xie Ping closed the door and let out a breath. Then he felt a twinge of regret. Why did he have to portray a pregnant man so convincingly? He glanced over at the balcony, where a figure was leaning. ¡°Sister Dragon, how¡¯s it going?¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s not cooperating,¡± Yu Xiao said, massaging her hands. ¡°I¡¯ve been trying for ages, and he won¡¯t budge.¡±


    Director Liao, in his wheelchair, stared blankly, his face pale, struggling to breathe, sweating profusely. He looked like he had been through hell.


    Xie Ping approached carefully, concerned. ¡°He won¡¯t talk. What do we do now? How long can Zhuge keep Mr. Wang occupied?¡±


    Yu Xiao bit her lip, frustrated. ¡°Do you have any cards to make people confess?¡±


    ¡°Where would I find something like that?¡± Xie Ping replied, sitting on the bed, holding his belly. ¡°Isn¡¯t your interrogation enough? You¡¯re too gentle; he still has all his limbs intact. Let me handle it.¡±


    Director Liao, who had been trembling, perked up upon hearing about losing limbs. ¡°What are you planning? That¡¯s illegal! I¡¯ll call the cops!¡±


    ¡°Sister Dragon, he¡¯s threatening us,¡± Xie Ping said, smirking. ¡°What¡¯s our next move?¡±


    Yu Xiao chimed in, ¡°What else? I don¡¯t want to end up in jail.¡±


    Director Liao relaxed slightly, thinking that they might let him go now that they were scared.


    ¡°Let¡¯s kill him and dispose of the body,¡± She suggested. ¡°That way, we¡¯ll be safe.¡±


    Director Liao shuddered again, pointing at Yu Xiao and Xie Ping, fiercely declaring, ¡°Don¡¯t play games with me. If you push me too far, I¡¯ll bring this hospital down with me!¡±


    ¡°Hmph,¡± Xie Ping said, undeterred. ¡°Sister Dragon, let¡¯s make him talk. Let¡¯s see what he can do then.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve set a timer!¡± Director Liao yelled. ¡°In seven days, this hospital will be a ruin!¡±


    Yu Xiao replied, ¡°Then we¡¯ll deal with you first and get out of here.¡±


    Director Liao fell silent.


    His obliviousness to non-player characters made him unaware of their inability to escape outside. Yu Xiao¡¯s threat struck a nerve. He felt anxious, angry, in pain, and afraid. Then, he realised, ¡°Just end it. I¡¯m already dying anyway.¡±


    ¡°Tsks,¡± Yu Xiao and Xie Ping shared a look that said it all: they were screwed.


    Sure, Yu Xiao could handle a fistfight, but torturing someone with the Ten Forms of Capital Punishment from the Qing Dynasty? That was way out of her league. She was just a student, not a psycho.


    (ÂúÇåÊ®´ó¿áÐÌ: A historical reference to various brutal forms of punishment used during the Qing Dynasty in China.


    Flaying: Skinning the condemned person alive.


    Waist Chop: Severing the body at the waist.


    Death by a Thousand Cuts: A prolonged execution involving numerous shallow cuts.


    Lingering Death: Slow and agonising execution.


    Strangulation: Killing by suffocation.


    Boiling: Execution by immersion in boiling liquid.


    Palace Punishment: Punishment reserved for those close to the royal family, often severe.


    Amputation: Removal of limbs as punishment.


    Grass Needle: Piercing with sharp objects.


    Live Burial: Burying alive as a form of execution.)


    ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll handle it!¡± Xie Ping declared, shaking off his daze. He placed a hand on his hip, shooting Director Liao a fierce glare. ¡°Dragon Sister, things might get messy. You better wait outside.¡±


    Yu Xiao couldn¡¯t help but feel impressed by his sudden bravado. She had pegged him for a coward, but maybe there was more to him than she¡¯d thought.


    ¡°Alright¡­ just be cautious,¡± she advised, feeling somewhat redundant. Then, she added, ¡°And don¡¯t forget about your asthma.¡±


    Xie Ping rolled his eyes. He didn¡¯t need her to remind him of his weakness. Grabbing a fruit knife, he rolled up his sleeves, ready to get to work.


    She couldn¡¯t help but think, ¡®When he¡¯s dead, the coroner will take his body away. And the autopsy report will say: ¡®The corpse was soft as jelly, except for the mouth, which was stiff as a board.¡±


    With a huff, she stormed out of the room, her anger simmering. But as she reached the door, her eyes caught sight of some expert photos hanging on the wall. Suddenly, an idea struck her.


    ¡°Xie Ping,¡± she called back, pivoting on her heel. ¡°Come out here for a sec.¡±


    ¡°What? Why?¡± Xie Ping¡¯s confusion was evident as he held the knife, poised for action. ¡°Dragon Sister, chill. I¡¯ve got this under control. I know what I¡¯m doing. I¡¯ll make him talk, not kill him.¡±


    Director Liao clenched his jaw, refusing to show any hint of fear as he locked eyes with Xie Ping, defiance blazing in his gaze.


    ¡°Hey, Xie Ping, why don¡¯t you step outside for a sec, please?¡± She said, her voice dripping with sweetness. ¡°I need to talk to you about something.¡±


    Xie Ping didn¡¯t have much of a choice. He shuffled out of the room, clutching his big belly. After closing the door behind him, he asked, ¡°What¡¯s going on, Dragon Sister? What¡¯s the big secret?¡±


    Yu Xiao flashed him a mischievous grin. ¡°I¡¯ve come up with a plan to make him spill the beans,¡± she said, nodding towards the door. ¡°Remember that picture Director Liao showed us? The one of his dead wife? Well, I¡¯ve got this nifty little prop that allows me to change my appearance. I can look just like her and pop up in front of him. He¡¯s already freaked out by ghosts, right? So what do you think he¡¯ll do when he sees his dead wife? He¡¯ll probably wet himself and blurt out everything.¡±


    Xie Ping¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°That¡¯s brilliant, Dragon Sister. Let¡¯s do it.¡±


    Yu Xiao winked at him. ¡°But first, we need to prepare.¡±


    **


    Director Liao had braced himself for a world of pain. He had hoped that Dr. Wang, his saviour, would come to his rescue, but fate had other plans. Those two devils returned.


    Yu Xiao, dragging Xie Ping along, sauntered into the room. She flashed a wicked smile at Director Liao and said, ¡°You know, I really wanted to chat with you, but you were too stubborn to cooperate. So now you have to face the consequences.¡±


    Director Liao felt a surge of rage in his chest. He wondered, ¡°When did you ever want to chat with me?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re counting on our mercy, aren¡¯t you? You think we¡¯re too soft to hurt you, right?¡± Yu Xiao snapped, her voice dripping with sarcasm.


    Director Liao¡¯s eyes widened, wondering what she was up to. Was this all a bluff, a mind game to freak him out?


    ¡°Well, let me tell you something, we may not have the guts to cut off your limbs¡ªthat¡¯s too gross for us, we¡¯re not that twisted,¡± Yu Xiao said, holding up a finger. ¡°But we have a better way to make you pay.¡±


    Yu Xiao grabbed a fruit knife and approached Director Liao. The cold blade glided over his naked skin, making him tremble with fear.


    Yu Xiao grinned as she sliced through the jade Buddha hanging from Director Liao¡¯s neck. ¡°You¡¯re such a scaredy-cat, with all these trinkets to keep the spooks away. Do you believe in ghosts, Director? How do you think it would feel to be alone in this place, with nothing to protect you from the things that go bump in the night?¡±


    Director Liao, who had faced death with a stoic calm, felt a surge of panic. ¡°You¡­ you wouldn¡¯t¡­¡±


    ¡°Oh, I would.¡± Yu Xiao said, swiftly snipping off the rest of his charms and amulets. She grabbed a fruit knife and flashed it at him. ¡°And you know what else? You¡¯ve got a Zhong Kui on your back. Can¡¯t have that, can we?¡±


    She slashed at his back twice, drawing blood but not cutting deep. The tattoo of the demon-queller was ruined.


    ¡°Ah¡­¡± Director Liao let out a pitiful scream. ¡°I¡¯ll kill you! I¡¯ll kill you all!¡±


    ¡°Come on.¡± Yu Xiao said, clutching the pile of talismans. She winked at Xie Ping. ¡°Let¡¯s leave Director Liao to his fate. We¡¯ll check on him in the morning.¡±


    ¡°Sure thing.¡± Xie Ping said, following her with a smile.


    ¡°Don¡¯t go!¡± Director Liao yelled after them. He tried to turn his wheelchair and chase them, but he was too frantic. The wheelchair got caught on the door and he tumbled to the floor. He didn¡¯t seem to notice the pain, only the fear. He reached out his hands and crawled towards them. ¡°Don¡¯t go, let me out¡­¡±


    ¡°Click.¡±


    The door slammed shut behind him, locking him in. Director Liao dragged himself to the door, his fingers clawing at the handle. Nothing. He was trapped.


    A chill crept over him, making him shiver. The room seemed to grow colder by the second. He pressed his back against the door, scanning the ward with wide eyes. The curtains swayed in a breeze he couldn¡¯t feel. The bed was empty, but something moved underneath. The cabinet was slightly ajar, and he swore he saw a flash of malice in the dark.


    He wasn¡¯t alone.


    **


    Yu Xiao didn¡¯t waste the function card. She slipped into the bathroom and put on a wig. When she came out, she was a dead ringer for Director Liao¡¯s late wife. The one in the photo.


    ¡°Wow, you look just like her!¡± Xie Ping hissed. ¡°But why are you pregnant?¡±


    ¡°She died giving birth.¡± Yu Xiao whispered back. ¡°I¡¯m copying her last moments.¡±


    ¡°Ah, I see, I see.¡± Xie Ping nodded along and reached for Yu Xiao¡¯s belly.


    She dodged his hand. ¡°Hey, cut it out!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I¡¯m sorry. I¡­ I was just curious,¡± Xie Ping gawked at Yu Xiao¡¯s new form. ¡°Is your belly real?¡±


    ¡°Of course not.¡± Yu Xiao rolled her eyes. ¡°It¡¯s fake, dummy. There¡¯s no baby in there.¡±


    ¡°Wow, really?¡± Xie Ping looked at Yu Xiao¡¯s huge bump and her nimble moves. He felt a pang of jealousy.


    ¡°Stay out of sight.¡± Yu Xiao flicked her wrist at him. ¡°I¡¯m going in.¡±


    **


    Director Liao pressed his back against the door of his hospital room, trembling like a leaf. He heard a sound that made his blood run cold. Footsteps. The click-clack of high heels on the linoleum floor. Slow and steady, coming closer and closer to his room.


    Please, please, let them pass by. He begged silently. Don¡¯t let them stop here.


    The footsteps halted right behind him, behind his door.


    Click.


    He heard the lock turn, the door handle twist. Someone was opening the door.


    He felt a surge of panic, mixed with a faint glimmer of hope. Maybe it was someone who came to rescue him. Maybe it was someone who came to end his misery.


    The door swung open with such force that it knocked him off his feet. He fell to the floor, still clutching the door handle.


    There was no sound, except for his ragged breathing.


    Director Liao crawled to the corner, his eyes wide with terror. He looked up, and saw her.


    A woman. A pregnant woman. She stood over him, her eyes fixed on his face. The face he had seen in his nightmares, over and over again. The face he would never forget.


    ¡°Ahhhh¡ª!!!¡±


    Xie Ping, who was hiding outside the door, heard a scream that chilled his bones. He had never heard Director Liao scream like that, not even when Yu Xiao had tortured him.


    ¡°Ah¡ª!!!¡±


    Director Liao kept screaming, as he scrambled towards the balcony. He wanted to escape, to get away from her.


    Yu Xiao said nothing. She didn¡¯t know what Director Liao¡¯s wife sounded like, and she didn¡¯t want to give herself away. She just stood there, one hand on her belly, watching him with a blank expression.


    Director Liao let out a shrill scream, as he twisted and writhed on the floor. He dragged himself to the balcony, hoping for some relief. The sunlight hit his face, and he felt a wave of warmth wash over him.


    Yu Xiao watched him with a bored expression, as he slumped to the ground. She didn¡¯t move an inch, as he lay there, motionless.


    **


    Luo Jin felt like he was being ripped apart. He hadn¡¯t been this conflicted since he first landed in this hellhole of a hospital.


    He already hated having to put up with Mr. Wang¡¯s creepy advances, but now he had a bigger problem. He needed to get some information out of Mr. Wang about Lu Xun and the others. Where were they? What had happened to them?


    Mr. Wang squeezed Luo Jin¡¯s hand, making him cringe. ¡°You don¡¯t look happy, my little treasure. I¡¯m staying here for you, don¡¯t you appreciate that? Don¡¯t you want to be with me?¡±


    Luo Jin bit his lip. He wanted to scream, to curse, to run away. But he knew he had to play along. He gave Mr. Wang a frosty glare. ¡°Where are the three directors?¡±


    Mr. Wang¡¯s eyes narrowed into slits, as if he could see through Luo Jin¡¯s act. ¡°What do you want from them? What¡¯s your angle? You¡¯re trying to get my secrets and then rat them out to your friends, aren¡¯t you? I won¡¯t let you do that!¡±


    Mr. Wang threw his precious thermos on the floor, bending it. ¡°How dare you think of anyone else when you¡¯re with me? I won¡¯t stand for it! I¡¯ll kill them all!¡±


    Luo Jin tried to keep his face calm as he watched Mr. Wang go berserk, smashing everything in sight.


    Finally, Mr. Wang seemed to calm down a bit. Luo Jin seized the opportunity and said, ¡°Go ahead and kill them, then. I¡¯ll report you, and then you¡¯ll never see me again.¡±


    Mr. Wang¡¯s face twisted into a wicked grin. ¡°Good, good.¡±


    Luo Jin felt a chill run down his spine as Mr. Wang¡¯s laughter echoed in the room, loud and unhinged. He had no clue what was going on in Mr. Wang¡¯s twisted mind, now that he was high on the prop that Yu Xiao had given him. The prop that made him see Luo Jin as his lover, and everyone else as his enemy.


    Mr. Wang stopped laughing and lunged at Luo Jin, grabbing his shoulders and locking eyes with him. His grin was warped and his breath was foul. ¡°You¡¯re cheating on me, aren¡¯t you?¡± he hissed. ¡°You want to run away with someone else? Well, I won¡¯t let you. I¡¯ll snap your legs and arms like twigs, and then you¡¯ll be mine forever.¡±


    Luo Jin: ¡°¡­¡±


    If a reporter asked Luo Jin right now who he loathed the most in the world, he wouldn¡¯t hesitate to say Yu Xiao. She was the devil incarnate, the one who had tricked him into using this prop on Mr. Wang. No wonder that nightmare had chased her before; she deserved it. She had a knack for making people hate her guts. S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Listen¡­¡± Luo Jin tried to reason with a ghost, or rather, a madman, for the first time in his life. He was used to lying to people, but not to sweet-talking them. This was new territory for him.


    ¡°If you break my legs, I¡¯ll die.¡± He put some force into his voice, hoping to sound convincing. ¡°Even if I become a ghost, I¡¯d rather vanish into thin air than let you¡­ let you¡­ get to me. But¡­¡±


    He stopped for a second, feeling sick at his own words. He wanted to spit them out.


    ¡°But if you tell me where the three directors are, I¡¯ll be happy. Maybe I¡¯ll forget about them, and I¡¯ll¡­ stay with you.¡± He forced himself to say that.


    Mr. Wang¡¯s brain went into overdrive as he listened to Luo Jin¡¯s offer. He knew it was a load of crap, that there was no way these patients would cooperate with the doc. But damn, Luo Jin made it sound so good, so tempting. What if he really meant it? If he could really be sincere and be with him¡­


    Mr. Wang felt like he was being ripped apart, like he wanted to yank out the few strands of white hair that still clung to his scalp. Why did he have to suffer so much, even after becoming a freaking attending doctor?


    ¡°Are you for real?¡± Mr. Wang glared at Luo Jin with bloodshot eyes. ¡°Are you spitting facts?¡±


    ¡°Word.¡± Luo Jin kept his poker face.


    ¡°You swear!¡± Mr. Wang jabbed a finger at him.


    ¡°I swear.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re full of shit!¡± Mr. Wang snapped, hurling the whole desk across the room. ¡°You said it yourself, you¡¯re a lying bastard, that you don¡¯t keep your words!¡±


    Luo Jin sighed. ¡°Then what the hell do you want?¡±


    ¡°I ¡­ ¡± Mr. Wang was stumped. Yeah, what did he want? Did he have any other option but to take his word for it?


    ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll bite.¡± Mr. Wang made up his mind and felt a bit more relaxed. ¡°But if you screw me over, I¡¯ll hack off your legs, chop off your hands, and keep you here. You¡¯ll only see me, only hear me, only touch me ¡­¡±


    **


    ¡°Beep beep beep ¡­¡±


    On some random stairwell in the hospital, Zhao Lan answered her phone. ¡°Yeah?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s me.¡± Luo Jin sounded distant on the other end. ¡°They¡¯re at ¡­¡±


    **


    Meanwhile, Wang Chun had just finished reading her idol drama script over the radio. She asked, ¡°Is that it?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s what Mr. Wang wanted.¡± Lu Xun said.


    ¡°I don¡¯t get it.¡± Wang Chun said. ¡°There¡¯s no prompt, how do I know if it worked?¡±


    ¡°Maybe ¡­ we have to do all three scripts that it triggered something?¡± Lu Xun guessed.


    ¡°Whatever, let¡¯s hurry up.¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen hadn¡¯t seen her sisters in ages, and she missed them like crazy. ¡°Give me the scripts, I¡¯ll help you with the comedy one first.¡±


    ¡°Sure.¡± Lu Xun practically threw the script at her.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen wrote like a madwoman, while Lu Xun and Wang Chun watched, until they heard the door slam open.


    They all snapped their heads toward the door as the handle rattled.


    ¡°Is that Mr. Wang?¡± Lu Xun asked.


    ¡°Maybe it¡¯s Smiley and the gang!¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen jumped up, hope sparkling in her eyes.


    ¡°No way.¡± Wang Chun shook his head. ¡°Aren¡¯t they still acting, remember?¡±


    Click.


    The door swung open and Zhao Lan stepped in. ¡°Precious.¡±


    ¡°Misty~!¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen squealed and launched herself at Zhao Lan, wrapping her arms and legs around her. ¡°Ha ha ha! I knew you guys were okay! I missed you so much!¡±


    Zhao Lan chuckled and rubbed Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s back. ¡°Okay, okay, calm down.¡±


    ¡°Wang Chun!¡± Liu Si Si ran in and hugged Wang Chun tightly. ¡°Waaaaah¡­¡±


    ¡°What the hell?¡± Wang Chun was baffled. Si Si wasn¡¯t the touchy-feely type.


    ¡°We almost died.¡± Liu Si Si sobbed, wiping her tears. ¡°You have no idea what we went through.¡±


    ¡°What? You guys were in danger?¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s face fell. ¡°Misty, where¡¯s Smiley? What happened?¡±


    ¡°Smiley¡¯s good. She¡¯s doing her own thing.¡± Zhao Lan grinned, flashing her pearly whites. ¡°We split up for a bit.¡±


    Lu Xun raised an eyebrow. ¡°You were supposed to pretend to be acting. Did you find something fishy?¡±


    Zhao Lan nodded and jerked her head towards the door. ¡°Come on, let¡¯s talk outside.¡±


    They left the room and settled on some chairs in the hospital corridor. Zhao Lan spilled the beans about everything that had happened since they split up.


    She barely finished telling her story when Zhou Xiao Zhen gasped, her mouth forming a perfect ¡°O,¡± and Liu Si Si quickly covered her mouth before rushing to the toilet.


    Crap. Zhao Lan slapped her thigh, cursing herself. How could she have forgotten that Smiley had kept it a secret that Liu Si Si had eaten rotten meat?


    ¡°Anyway, that¡¯s the deal. Smiley¡¯s still with Director Liao. We should go get her.¡±


    ¡°Sure thing.¡± Lu Xun agreed, waving his hand. ¡°Let¡¯s bounce.¡±


    ¡°Weird.¡± Wang Chun muttered, scratching her head. ¡°Aren¡¯t you worried about Zhuge? He¡¯s still with Mr. Wang, you know.¡±


    Lu Xun shrugged, unfazed. ¡°I trust him. I know Brother Luo like the back of my hand. He may look reckless, but he¡¯s actually a cautious bastard. He won¡¯t do anything unless he¡¯s got a backup plan. And another backup plan. And another. He¡¯ll be fine.¡±


    **


    ¡°Ahahahaha¡­ Did you miss me, darling?¡± Director Liao croaked as he collapsed on the floor, spitting blood at Yu Xiao. ¡°You came to finish me off? Serves you right! You filthy whore! I gave you everything, but you ran off with another man! And you got knocked up by him! I didn¡¯t care that you were a used shoe (not a virgin), I would have taken you back if you got rid of the brat, but you chose to keep it. You have no idea, do you? Your kid, I turned him into a ghost pet, hahahahaha ¡­¡­ he¡¯s been making me rich, he¡¯s stuck in limbo forever ¡­¡­ hahahahaha ¡­¡­ ¡°


    Yu Xiao squeezed her eyes shut; his sight was a stain on her soul.


    He was lying through his teeth, as always. The woman he claimed to love at first sight never loved him back. She only had eyes for his best friend, who he probably murdered out of jealousy.


    He destroyed their whole family, and even used their unborn child as a ghost toy.


    Zhao Lan and the others sprinted up the stairs and found Xie Ping lounging in the hallway, his belly huge.


    ¡°Whoa.¡± Lu Xun dashed over and crouched down, cupping Xie Ping¡¯s stomach with both hands, then leaning his ear against it.


    Xie Ping felt a shiver run down his spine. ¡°Get off me!¡±


    ¡°I just want to check if I can hear the baby kicking.¡± Lu Xun looked up and said earnestly. ¡°I did, hey, the baby is doing great.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡± Xie Ping lifted his foot and kicked. ¡°You pervert!¡±


    Yu Xiao burst out of the room, a grin on her face. She scanned the scene: ¡°Wow, what a party! When did you guys get here?¡±


    ¡°A minute ago,¡± Zhao Lan said, craning her neck to see inside the ward. ¡°What¡¯s the deal?¡±


    Yu Xiao bounced over to her, her eyes sparkling. ¡°We¡¯ve figured it out. Director Liao lied. We acted out a fake story, that¡¯s why things went wrong. But I know the truth now. The real story of what happened to him. We can finally write the script.¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen frowned and rubbed her hands together. ¡°Wait, what? You mean I wasted my time writing half a script, and it¡¯s all garbage?¡±


    Lu Xu gave her a sympathetic pat on the shoulder. ¡°Hey, don¡¯t sweat it. Real screenwriters have to rewrite their scripts all the time. It¡¯s part of the process.¡±


    ¡°Come on, let¡¯s go work on the script,¡± Yu Xiao said, grabbing Zhao Lan¡¯s arm and dragging her out. ¡°We have one problem left to solve, though.¡±


    ¡°What problem?¡±


    ¡°How to get Luo Jin out of Mr. Wang¡¯s clutches. He¡¯s our male lead, after all,¡± Yu Xiao said.


    Lu Xu followed them, looking puzzled. ¡°But won¡¯t Mr. Wang let him go once the Coin of Great Observation wears off?¡±


    Yu Xiao grimaced and tugged at her mouth. ¡°Well, not exactly¡­ You see, the Coin has been upgraded twice since then, and the side effects are totally different now.¡±


    ©¤©¤©¤ ? ©¤©¤ ¡î ©¤©¤ ? ©¤©¤©¤

 Chapter 113: I’m Back!

    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 ¨C 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 ¨C 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 ¨C ¡°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.


    ¡¾Congratulations on completing your seventh treatment session! You are now an eighth-level member of the Sixth Hospital¡¯s patient forum.¡¿


    ¡¾For your excellent performance during treatment, you have earned 3 base points and 3 bonus points.¡¿


    ¡¾Congratulations 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.


    ¡¾Congratulations on earning the title of ¡®Glutton¡¯s Best Buddy,¡¯ which rewards you with 4 bonus points.¡¿


    ¡¾Congratulations 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.


    ¡¾Congrats 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.¦Çet 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.¡±

 Chapter 114: The Collective Society Died in Backstabings!

    Translator: InkyDragon


    Google Doc


    Yu Xiao had a simple new nightly ritual. She would scroll through her old Nokia phone, making a mental note of the aliases of potential newsworthy figures for the next day.


    As she drifted off to sleep, a dream unfolded before her. In this dream, a lone kitten with tear-filled eyes gazed at her with unwavering intensity.


    ¡°Ding!¡±


    Suddenly, Yu Xiao was jolted awake by the blaring sound of her alarm, which always went off before 8 a.m. The silence was shattered, and she emerged from the depths of her dreams. Still cocooned in her sheets, her mind was a blank slate. Slowly, as a gentle melody filled the air, she rubbed her temples in confusion. The image of that sad-eyed cat had haunted her throughout the night.


    Wasn¡¯t that cat supposed to be confined back at the office? Yet here it was, roaming freely through her dreams, as bold as a ghost in broad daylight.


    With her eyes wide open, a plan began to form in Yu Xiao¡¯s mind. That mischievous furball was in for a stern talking-to.


    ¡°Smiley! Smiley, come and savor the morning brew!¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s cheerful voice shattered the morning calm as Yu Xiao, still half-asleep, found herself cradling a cup of rich, aromatic tea.


    Leaning against the headboard, Yu Xiao raised an eyebrow in mock suspicion and quipped, ¡°So, what trouble have you been up to now with this unexpected pampering?¡±


    Echoing her sentiment, Zhao Lan sat at the edge of the bed. ¡°She made one for me too. But I wonder when she finds time for mischief when she¡¯s always by our side?¡± S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    With her lips curving around the edge of her cup, Yu Xiao mused aloud, ¡°Or perhaps today is the day you¡¯ve finally realised your boundless affection for us?¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen pouted playfully. ¡°Pfft, as if I need reminding.¡± With a dismissive wave, she gestured for silence. ¡°Shh, it¡¯s time for the news.¡±


    ¡°¡­ Rise and shine, folks¡ªmorning news coming at ya~¡­¡±


    ¡°¡­ A recent scandal at the hospital involved Doctor Qiao, Gu, Lolita, Qing, and the ghost known as Wang. They were all embroiled in a web of deceit, falsely accusing the patient ¡®Deaf Descendant¡¯ in a report filled with lies. This reprehensible behaviour not only sets a negative example for medical professionals but also undermines the trust between doctors and patients. In an effort to restore order, the hospital¡¯s leadership has decided to penalise the five ghost employees by withholding their wages and bonuses for six months. The non-staff ghost has been sentenced to six months of compulsory labor.¡­¡±


    ¡°Wow,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen clapped, her laughter filling the room. ¡°Haha¡­ I almost feel sorry for them, that cracked me up¡­¡±


    Zhao Lan couldn¡¯t contain her mirth either, her shoulders shaking with each chuckle. ¡°They must be regretting crossing you now. But I bet they¡¯ll think twice before doing it again after this, don¡¯t you think?¡±


    ¡°Who knows,¡± Yu Xiao sighed, a hint of nostalgia in her thoughts. She bore no ill will toward the doctors; her heart yearned for peace in a world often demanding war. ¡°One can only hope they¡¯ve gained some wisdom from this ordeal.¡±


    ¡°¡­ Yesterday, a patient known as ¡®Wide Sea and Sky¡¯ caused chaos in the instance environment, leaving many patients stranded. After deliberation, the Medical Disputes Office has banned the patient from entering the game for one month¡­¡±


    ¡°Wide Sea and Sky!¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen gasped. ¡°The same one?¡±


    ¡°Maliciously damaging the instance environment¡­¡± Zhao Lan pondered, her brow furrowed in confusion. ¡°When Smiley nearly wreaked havoc on all the attractions in Lolita Park, the hospital didn¡¯t accuse Smile of malice. What on earth did Wide Sea and Sky do to deserve this?¡±


    Yu Xiao couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that something was amiss with Wide Sea and Sky, like a jigsaw piece that just wouldn¡¯t fit.


    ¡°¡­ Under the watchful eye of the head of security, Three-Headed Dog, the patient uprising at Second Hospital is coming to an end. The ringleaders are now in handcuffs, but the root cause remains a mystery. We are calling for everyone¡¯s cooperation in maintaining peace¡­¡±


    ¡°¡­ In need of some sprucing up, Sage Hospital is looking for a cleaner. No need to worry about your background or past experiences¡­¡±


    Qing Shi still searching for a cleaner, huh? With the heavy workload and low pay, it¡¯s no wonder no one¡¯s jumping at the opportunity.


    ¡°¡­ Let¡¯s give a round of applause to ¡®Sky City¡¯ from Third Hospital, who has just won the titles of ¡®Great Mother¡¯ and ¡®Gender-Bending Drama Queen¡¯ for an outstanding performance..!¡±


    ¡°Pfft¡­ cough cough¡­¡± Zhao Lan¡¯s laughter turned into a fit of coughing, her cheeks reddening.


    ¡°Pfft¡­ Thank goodness for anonymity,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen added, wiping away tears. ¡°If Xie Ping¡¯s gender were revealed, the online forums would have a field day.¡±


    **


    Meanwhile, Xie Ping sat in the ward of Third Hospital, his face expressionless as the broadcast played on. Suddenly, a storm brewed within him, and in a silent rage, he threw the pillow across the room.


    **


    A buzz swept through the hospital forum like a quick hiccup.


    ¡¾Hey, isn¡¯t this Sky City a guy?¡¿ The inquiry ignited a flurry of responses.


    ¡¾A dad mum? That¡¯s new.¡¿


    ¡¾Could you repeat that, buddy?¡¿


    ¡¾Can¡¯t a guy be a great dad?¡¿


    ¡¾Isn¡¯t the real issue about having a child? How can a man give birth to be a mom?¡¿


    ¡¾Still, he¡¯s a chap.¡¿


    ¡¾They didn¡¯t say he had the baby; it might¡¯ve been his partner.¡¿


    ¡¾But he¡¯s the ¡®Great Mother¡¯.¡¿


    ¡°¡­¡±


    Meanwhile, the radio continued its chatter, sharing the day¡¯s oddities.


    ¡°¡­ Yesterday, a patient known as ¡®Zhuge Liang burning the Spider Web Cave¡¯ from the Fourth Hospital once again claimed the top spot. Congratulations to them! They put on an impressive performance during their instance and earned three prestigious titles: ¡®Bad Dad Who Cheated During His Wife¡¯s Pregnancy,¡¯ ¡®The Man Mr. Wang Cares About the Most,¡¯ and ¡®The Man Mr. Wang Hates the Most.¡¯ Let¡¯s give him a round of applause!¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    In the Sixth Hospital, a wave of silence washed over the room, soon to be shattered by explosive laughter and exchanged glances.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen couldn¡¯t help but snort, triggering a chain reaction of giggles.


    Tears streamed down Zhao Lan¡¯s face as she pounded the bed in hysterics.


    ¡°I can¡¯t¡­ breathe¡­¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen managed to utter between fits of laughter, her face flushed red.


    Equally overwhelmed, Yu Xiao struggled to catch her breath, slapping her thighs in amusement. But the laughter persisted.


    ¡°It¡¯s our turn to have some fun,¡± she declared with a mischievous grin. ¡°As soon as the news ends, I¡¯m going to call Luo Jin and give him a ¡®warm¡¯ welcome.¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen, still gasping for air, erupted into laughter once more. ¡°I have to check¡­. check the forum,¡± she wheezed.


    **


    Meanwhile, the ward in the Fourth Hospital was as silent as a tomb.


    Luo Jin sat motionless, his expression unchanged, as if wearing a mask that repelled any conversation. His vacant gaze conveyed a chilling warning, each blood vessel pulsing with a silent threat.


    Lu Xu perched on the edge of his seat, barely a table¡¯s breadth from his companion. He reclined lazily, his eyelids fluttering like trapped butterflies.


    (¡ä ??? ?? ??? `)


    With a teacup in hand, the other hand veiled his grin, concealing a silent but bubbling mirth within him. Though his body was still, his spirit danced with excitement. The resolve he summoned now surpassed any he had mustered for his college exams, all in an effort to maintain a facade of calm.


    It wasn¡¯t a conscious decision to stifle his laughter; he simply understood the stakes ¨C allowing his mirth to escape might jeopardise his life.


    **


    ¡°¡­ Yesterday,¡± the announcement continued, ¡°the patient known as the ¡®Eternal God of Hemp¡¯ in Fourth Hospital impressed us with their remarkable progress, earning the esteemed title of ¡®The Child Without Parents.¡¯ Let¡¯s give them a round of applause for this achievement.¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen couldn¡¯t hold back a snort of laughter; she slumped in her chair, defeated by her own amusement. ¡°I can¡¯t¡­ I can¡¯t contain it any longer. The laughter¡­ it¡¯s overwhelming.¡±


    ¡°¡­ Additionally, in the Sixth Hospital,¡± the voice continued, ¡°the patient referred to as the ¡®Deaf Descendant¡¯ once again claimed the top spot. Congratulations to them. Throughout their treatment journey, they accumulated an impressive array of titles, including ¡®Gender-Bending Drama Queen,¡¯ ¡®Glutton¡¯s Best Buddy,¡¯ and ¡®Torturous Interrogator.¡¯ Please applaud their outstanding performance!¡±


    ¡°Bravo!¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s smile illuminated the room as she glanced at Yu Xiao. ¡°You¡¯ve truly outdone yourself, earning such prestigious titles. They suit you perfectly.¡±


    Yu Xiao responded with a modest tilt of her head. ¡°Titles are merely temporary labels. It¡¯s the points that hold significance, nothing more. That¡¯s a truth I embraced long ago.¡±


    ¡°¡­ In the Sixth Hospital, a patient known as ¡®Talisman Shop ¡ª Only three points each!¡¯ has made remarkable strides in their recovery, earning the nickname ¡®Deadly Scriptwriter.¡¯ Let¡¯s give them a round of applause¡­¡±


    ¡°Wait,¡± Yu Xiao interjected, raising her hand for attention. ¡°Who was that? That title sounds like it could fit Precious too.¡±


    Zhao Lan agreed with a solemn nod. ¡°Not just the title, the nickname might as well have been made for our ward.¡±


    ¡°Unbelievable!¡± Yu Xiao burst out. ¡°Is someone stepping on our territory? Another talisman prodigy like me, selling for three points each?¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen giggled, divulging her secret. ¡°Guilty as charged~¡±


    Yu Xiao was taken aback. ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°You mean to say ¡®Talisman Shop ¡ª Only three points each!¡¯ refers to you?¡± Zhao Lan inquired.


    ¡°Yes!¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen replied proudly yet humbly. ¡°I obtained a name change card from Lu Xu. Remember Smiley¡¯s plan to expand the talisman business into a large wholesale operation across all six hospitals? I thought getting featured on the morning news would enhance our shop¡¯s reputation, so I altered the nickname.¡±


    A surge of emotion overcame Yu Xiao, prompting her to leap from the bed into Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s waiting arms. ¡°Oh, Precious¡­ you are truly exceptional.¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen responded with a soft scoff, her gaze distant. ¡°I¡¯m merely hastening our exit from this chaos.¡±


    ¡°I should use that name change card as well,¡± Zhao Lan contemplated aloud. ¡°I¡¯ve never really chosen a nickname, and now I¡¯ve had an epiphany.¡±


    Yu Xiao and Zhou Xiao Zhen, still embracing, turned to her. ¡°What?¡±


    Zhao Lan¡¯s hands danced in the air, a silent symphony of scepticism. ¡°Consider this, even if word of our craft spreads to every patient in the six hospitals, how will they know our phone to call us?¡±


    The room fell into a contemplative silence, Yu Xiao and Zhou Xiao Zhen lost in their thoughts.


    Their musings were interrupted by the crackle of the radio, which spat out the latest peculiar announcement. ¡°¡­ Attention, listeners, here is a bulletin of the bizarre. Mr. Gluttony, that denizen of the depths below, yearns for his elusive companion. ¡®Oh, beloved confidant,¡¯ he laments, ¡®do you realize that in my solitude, I am tormented by your absence? Extend your hand, touch this void of solitude, and spare your Gluttony the torment of waiting.¡¯ And now, back to our regular programming¡­¡±


    All eyes turned towards Yu Xiao, heavy with unspoken thoughts. Zhao Lan broke the silence, her voice slicing through the tension, ¡°Trouble appears to be at your doorstep.¡±


    Leaning in, Zhou Xiao Zhen spoke with intention, ¡°Gluttony is calling, anticipating your response. Will you call him?¡±


    ¡°No.¡± Yu Xiao stood firm, her resolve resonating in the air thick with talismans. ¡°Ghosts and monsters harbor only malice. I refuse to entertain him.¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s hope he doesn¡¯t pull a surprise like Nightmare did,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen remarked, her fingers tapping rhythmically on the table. ¡°And if he does? Shall we confine him to the office as well?¡±


    Yu Xiao emitted a soft scoff in reply, ¡°That¡¯s preposterous. He¡¯s not akin to Nightmare. He can¡¯t just show up out of the blue, can he?¡±


    The reality was, Yu Xiao was evading Gluttony for a reason. Gluttony had his own agenda. Unlike Nightmare, who was just trying to ditch the script of death and find someone to hang with, Gluttony was playing his own game. He wasn¡¯t tied down by the rules, and Yu Xiao wasn¡¯t about to get too chummy with him.


    ¡°Don¡¯t sweat the small stuff,¡± Yu Xiao quipped. ¡°I¡¯m about to call Luo Jin. Anyone care to join?¡±


    **


    In the hushed atmosphere, Lu Xun couldn¡¯t resist causing a stir. ¡°It seems Gluttony has taken an interest in Yu Xiao,¡± he remarked, a touch of amusement coloring his words. ¡°That girl seems to attract chaos like a magnet, doesn¡¯t she?¡±


    ¡°And what¡¯s with that smile?¡± Luo Jin questioned, catching Lu Xun off guard.


    Lu Xun¡¯s grin faltered for a moment. ¡°Me? Smiling?¡± he countered, trying to regain his composure.


    ¡°Indeed,¡± Luo Jin affirmed, his voice laced with seriousness. ¡°Would you care to explain?¡±


    ¡°Well, I couldn¡¯t help but notice how Yu Xiao seems to always draw more attention from the ghosts,¡± Lu Xun confessed, his tone now genuine. ¡°There¡¯s a certain irony to it, wouldn¡¯t you agree?¡±


    Just then, a playful tune sliced through the tension. ¡°Ghost gourds, ghost gourds, seven flowers on a vine~¡­!¡±


    Grateful for the interruption, Lu Xun nudged Luo Jin. ¡°That¡¯s your cue, buddy. Someone is beckoning, and we shouldn¡¯t keep them waiting.¡±


    With a resigned sigh, Luo Jin answered the call, only to be greeted by Yu Xiao¡¯s unmistakable voice. The sound of her voice prompted an involuntary snicker from Lu Xun.


    Luo Jin¡¯s expression soured, but Yu Xiao, always one to tease, couldn¡¯t resist poking fun. ¡°You should be grateful, Luo Jin. Without my antics, you¡¯d be without a title. Consider them badges of honour. Not everyone can earn titles so effortlessly¡­ Beep beep¡­¡±


    **


    Confusion clouded Yu Xiao¡¯s features as she stared at her phone. ¡°He hung up. What a narrow-minded man!¡±


    **


    The expression on Luo Jin¡¯s face was unfamiliar to Lu Xun. He pondered the irony; they once relished in laughing at Yu Xiao. But today, banter was out of place. Seeking a distraction, he turned to the forums, unaware that his next click would reveal¡­


    ¡¾Zhuge Liang burning the Spider Web Cave overshadowing Deaf Descendant.¡¿


    Lu Xun¡¯s brow furrowed in confusion. Yu Xiao, the longstanding favourite, had been unseated without contest.


    With a click, the main post filled the screen, teeming with mischief:


    ¡¾Ha! Thought Sister Dragon¡¯s nicknames were bold? Zhuge has taken it up a notch¡ªtitles so spicy, they sizzle!¡¿


    A smirk played on Lu Xun¡¯s lips, and a chuckle threatened to disrupt the silence he had maintained.


    ¡°Snort¡ª!¡±


    A burst of laughter escaped him, impossible to contain. But as swiftly as it came, he silenced himself, sensing an ominous presence looming over him. Luo Jin stood there, fists clenched in silent fury.


    The forum buzzed with relentless chatter:


    ¡¾Rumor has it Zhuge and Sister Dragon have forged an alliance in the fire. Anyone who joins her walks away with a new badge of honour. Zhuge scored three this time!¡¿


    ¡¾Titles? Meh. What about Mr. Wang? Man? Woman? Mystery?¡¿


    ¡¾There¡¯s only one Mr. Wang, the one from the morgue.¡¿


    ¡¾Mr. Wang, risen from the dead?¡¿


    ¡¾What horrors did Zhuge endure? ¡Æ(¦µ§Õ¦µlll ¡¿


    ¡¾Curious about Mr. Wang¡¯s involvement?¡¿


    ¡¾Spreading rumours now? Bring on the gossip. Zhuge¡¯s first scandal¡ª¡¯Bad Dad Who Cheated During His Wife¡¯s Pregnancy.¡¯ Dish it. Who¡¯s involved in this scandal?¡¿


    ¡¾Wait, Mr. Wang pregnant? (O?O)¡¿


    ¡¾Enough with the horror tales. As a morgue survivor, I don¡¯t need sleepless nights.¡¿


    ¡¾Not for me, but these wild speculations? Keep ¡¯em coming!¡¿


    ¡¾And what about the ¡®Great Mother¡¯ at the Third Hospital¡­¡¿


    ¡°Hahahaha¡­¡± Yu Xiao¡¯s laughter resonated through the Fourth Hospital, seeming to echo through the corridors.


    ¡°This is torture!¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen lamented, her frustration evident as she hit the bed. ¡°I want to post on the Fourth Hospital forum!¡±


    ¡°Darling, even if you had access you couldn¡¯t divulge willy-nilly.¡± Zhao Lan wagged a finger, ¡°Remember, Smiley swore not to divulge our escapade.¡±


    ¡°Who said?¡± Yu Xiao corrected, ¡°I vowed silence about Xie Ping and Liu Si Si, not Luo Jin. That¡¯s fair game.¡±


    ¡°Hehehe¡­ Go on.¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s glee was palpable. ¡°I still want to read other posts.¡±


    ¡¾Today, let¡¯s learn from Zhuge!¡¿


    ¡¾I once learned from Sister Long, but today, it¡¯s Zhuge¡¯s turn. Let¡¯s analyse Zhuge¡¯s three titles: ¡®Bad Dad Who Cheated During His Wife¡¯s Pregnancy,¡¯ ¡®The Man Mr. Wang Cares About the Most,¡¯ and ¡®The Man Mr. Wang Hates the Most.¡¯¡¿


    ¡¾Squat!¡¿


    ¡¾Settling my delicate buttocks on this post gently.¡¿


    ¡¾Squat squat squat!¡¿


    ¡¾First, let¡¯s analyse ¡®Bad Dad Who Cheated During His Wife¡¯s Pregnancy.¡¯ Zhuge definitely cheated, and either got someone pregnant or impregnated someone, maybe even Mr. Wang. If Mr. Wang¡¯s pregnant, how did it happen? In short, these are all logical guesses. Zhuge can refute if wrong. But the key takeaway: someone needs to get pregnant for this title, be it human, ghost, or beyond. Not recommended to emulate.¡¿


    ¡¾Zhuge, come out! Someone¡¯s tarnishing your name!¡¿


    ¡¾You want a spectacle? We¡¯re not just Zhuge this time; there¡¯s also ¡®Whispering Monk¡¯ and two others.¡¿


    ¡¾Remember the talismans for five points each? The shop opened yesterday.¡¿


    ¡¾Respond to that post!¡¿


    ¡¾¡­¡¿


    Wang Chun¡¯s post stirred the forum again.


    ¡¾What¡¯s the real story? What¡¯s with Zhuge¡¯s titles?¡¿


    ¡¾Come out! Show yourself, talisman seller!¡¿


    ¡¾Talk, and I¡¯ll buy ten talismans!¡¿


    ¡¾Stay silent, and we¡¯ll boycott your shop!¡¿


    ¡¾Sob sob sob¡­ Please, I¡¯m begging¡­ just a peep, OP? My curiosity is killing me¡­¡¿


    Despite the uproar, Wang Chun and Liu Si Si remained absent.


    ¡°Why not dive into another thread? I¡¯ve got a feeling you¡¯re the star.¡±


    With a flick and a click, they entered a new thread where Yu Xiao took centre stage.


    ¡¾¡°Bet Gluttony¡¯s gonna be hot on Dragon Sis¡¯s heels this round!¡±¡¿


    ¡¾The stakes are high, betting one point that Gluttony will come out. Dragon Sis, the ghost whisperer, has charmed yet another ethereal suitor. She¡¯s the queen of the ghost scene!¡¿


    ¡¾It¡¯s just a ghostly friendship. Dragon Sis hasn¡¯t won Gluttony¡¯s heart.¡¿


    ¡¾Love or no love, I envy Dragon Sis¡¯s supernatural fan club¡­ that¡¯s a whole new level of fame.¡¿


    ¡¾Zhuge¡¯s not bad either¡­¡¿


    ¡¾Hurry! The talisman shop owner has something to say!¡¿


    ¡°Wang Chun¡¯s spilling the tea?¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s excitement was palpable, her fingers a blur as she scrolled, ¡°Move it, move it, move it, let¡¯s see what¡¯s brewing!¡±


    Yu Xiao didn¡¯t need the nudge; her curiosity was already piqued. A single tap revealed a headline that screamed for attention.


    ¡¾¡®My Husband is Di Jia¡¯, that¡¯s me, Wang Chun, the talisman shop boss.¡¿


    ¡¾I¡¯ve heard about the wild speculations on this forum. Here¡¯s my input: threaten me, boycott my talismans, but there are secrets I must keep. I¡¯ll share what little I can. So, keep your end of the deal and shop at my store.¡¿


    ¡¾Whoa, hold your horses!¡¿


    ¡¾Step on it, for crying out loud!¡¿


    ¡¾First off, yes, that Mr. Wang from the morgue? He¡¯s our guy. Swapped instances and still playing doctor (and I don¡¯t mean just medically). And yes, there¡¯s a bun in the oven, but Mr. Wang¡¯s not the daddy. The affair, though? Guilty as charged. It was Mr. Wang, but hey, desperate times call for desperate measures, and Zhuge¡¯s no exception.¡¿


    ¡¾So, who¡¯s got the baby bump? Zhuge¡¯s lady love?¡¿


    ¡¾Did Zhuge trade his good looks for a fling with Mr. Wang?¡¿


    ¡¾No way, Mr. Wang swings that way?¡¿


    ¡¾My heart¡¯s breaking for Zhuge, wuwuwu¡­¡¿


    ¡¾Zhuge¡¯s sacrifice is monumental, racking up those points is no joke.¡¿


    ¡¾Care to spill more beans?¡¿


    ¡¾You guys, Zhuge¡¯s dropping a post!¡¿


    ¡¾After all these years, Zhuge¡¯s finally breaking his silence?¡¿


    ¡°Step on it!¡± Zhao Lan¡¯s grip on Yu Xiao¡¯s arm was urgent, her voice filled with anticipation, ¡°Luo Jin has made a post, and I¡¯m dying to read it!¡±


    ¡°I know! Don¡¯t shake my hand!¡± Yu Xiao¡¯s brow creased in frustration, her finger a blur with a frantic tap-tap-tapping.


    ¡¾Righteousness? Promises? That ship has sailed, and don¡¯t you dare point a dirty finger my way!¡¿


    ¡¾I¡¯m ¡®Zhuge Liang burning the Spider Web Cave¡¯. Ever wonder about the story behind ¡®Eternal God of Hemp¡¯ titled ¡®Child Without Parents¡¯? Well, She¡¯s the child born to the person I cheated with. In the instances of the dungeon, she has called me ¡®daddy¡¯ more than once.


    She¡¯s a lucky one, that girl. Dodged a bullet in the dungeon, came out on the other side without a scratch. Despite feasting on a menu of rotten meat and squirming maggots, she¡¯s the picture of health¡­¡¿


    ¡¾Good grief!¡¿


    ¡¾Talk about a wild ride¡­¡¿


    ¡¾Seriously? I¡¯m trying to eat here!¡¿


    ¡¾Poor ¡®Eternal God of Hemp¡¯, what a drama¡­¡¿


    ¡¾Seems like this dungeon¡¯s really upped its game!¡¿


    ¡¾Zhuge, you¡¯ve crossed a line! Your ancestors must be spinning in their graves. You swore you¡¯d keep my secrets, but if we¡¯re airing dirty laundry, let¡¯s go all in. Let me tell you, Zhuge actively seduced Mr. Wang, frequently spending a lot of time alone together. It was during this time that someone overheard Mr. Wang saying that Zhuge was his alone, and that if Zhuge dared to run, he¡¯d break his legs¡­¡¿


    ( )¡­¡­¡­( )


    (?????) (TN: The bloodbath Mahahahah~! )


    ©¤©¤©¤ ? ©¤©¤ ¡î ©¤©¤ ? ©¤©¤©¤

 Chapter 115: The Hanged Man’s Belt

    In the dark corridors of Fourth Hospital, the air was filled with laughter and gasps as a crowd of onlookers hopped eagerly from post to post, witnessing the unfolding drama.


    The latest sensation on the forum, ¡®Zhuge Liang burning the Spider Web Cave¡¯, ignited the forum. Fans wept and their hearts were in turmoil as the pedestal they had placed their idol on crumbled to dust. Zhuge, once revered, now revealed in the art of character assassination. It was a bitter pill to swallow indeed.


    However, the juicy gossip was simply too tempting to ignore, and the arguments continued with relentless enthusiasm.


    ¡¾¡­So, it turns out that the father of Zhuge¡¯s child is actually a man, the same one making headlines at Third Hospital today!¡¿


    ¡¾Did you forget? That very man is the mother!¡¿


    ¡¾Ah ah ah ah!!! Zhuge! Our partnership is over! It¡¯s done for good!¡¿


    ¡¾Good riddance. We are better off without clients like you. Just remember, it¡¯s risky to go it alone with your kind of power.¡¿


    ¡¾I will seek Dragon Sister¡¯s help!¡¿


    ¡¾Does anyone have contact information for the ¡®Deaf Descendant¡¯?¡¿


    ¡¾hghhjk¡­¡­¡¿


    ¡¾Can someone translate this? English is not my strong suit.¡¿


    ¡¾¡¯Eternal God of Hemp¡¯ seems to have a habit of destroying phones.¡¿


    ¡­


    Zhou Xiao Zhen couldn¡¯t help but laugh. ¡°Who would have thought that Luo Jin had it in him?¡±


    Yu Xiao nodded, a smirk dancing on her lips. ¡°He¡¯s always been pretending. Now we truly see him for who he is.¡±


    At Fourth Hospital, it was anything but an ordinary day. Zhao Lan couldn¡¯t help but find amusement in the unfolding argument between Lu Jin and Liu Si Si, akin to a live comedy show.


    The hospital forum hummed with the latest gossip.


    ¡¾Hospital in turmoil!¡¿


    ¡¾Just got off the phone with a friend from Fourth. Everyone¡¯s in a tizzy over the ¡®Sky City¡¯ guy from Third Hospital claiming to be pregnant. Can you believe it? Since when do men from Third Hospital start having babies? Sky City, we need some explanations!¡¿


    **


    Amidst the chaos, Xie Ping couldn¡¯t find any solace. He laid in the sterile embrace of his bed, his phone forgotten, his eyes tightly shut, hoping to shut out the world, but peace stayed out of reach.


    **


    The fervour on the forum gradually died down. Lu Jin and Liu Si Si¡¯s online battle had ended, perhaps with a truce or a move to communicate through more private channels.


    As dawn approached, the usual daily routine began. Yu Xiao and her friends welcomed the new day by washing up, having a meal, and preparing for the tasks ahead. Zhou Xiao Zhen and Zhao Lan immersed themselves in fulfilling the day¡¯s orders, while Yu Xiao started arranging the supplies for her talismans.


    Yu Xiao¡¯s fingers danced over the talismans, her eyes filled with excitement. Her latest sale of talismans had been a tremendous success, earning her an astounding one thousand points. The goal of reaching eighteen hundred, which had once seemed so far away, was now within reach¡ªa promising prospect of freedom.


    However, Yu Xiao had no intention of leaving without her squad. She, Precious, and Misty were a package deal, after all. Let¡¯s face it, selling all those talismans wouldn¡¯t have been possible without the help of her friends.


    But there was an issue. Yu Xiao¡¯s stock of yellow paper was dangerously low. She peered into the nearly empty box and let out a concerned sigh.


    Zhao Lan came over, her eyes fixed on the meagre amount of paper. ¡°Clicking to the market to restock on paper?¡±


    Yu Xiao nodded, her voice calm. ¡°Yes, at the market, they offer ten sheets for a single point.¡±


    For Yu Xiao, that deal was fantastic. With her talent for drawing talismans successfully over ninety-five percent of the time, each charm cost her only a fraction of a point. Selling them for three points each? She was making a fortune, especially with her cinnabar supplies overflowing.


    Sure, others tried their hand at the craft, but their talismans fizzled more often than they sizzled. And with the high price of cinnabar, creating a talisman for just three points felt like a waste of resources. So, despite the cutthroat competition, Tan Qiao Yin¡¯s prices remained as unyielding as her spirit.


    With a dramatic gesture, Zhao Lan pulled out her phone, her voice filled with mischief. ¡°Guess what? I got an upgrade card. Let¡¯s give your Coin of Great Observation a makeover. Version 3.0 is bound to cause trouble, but a little adjustment might solve the problem.¡±


    Yu Xiao felt the urgency clawing at her. The Coin had been her companion, though a rather capricious one. She had managed to coax it into action only twice ever since it had come into her possession, and even then, it had been more temperamental than a cat caught in a rainstorm. The previous time she had wielded the Coin, she hadn¡¯t even meant to use it on herself. If Luo Jin hadn¡¯t snatched it away from her, she would have taken her chances with the Fodness Card instead.


    ¡°Yes,¡± Yu Xiao replied, her tone devoid of formality and brimming with raw desire. She did crave that upgrade, but a part of her was thrilled at the idea of presenting Misty with a magical prop of her own.


    ¡¾Choose the item you want to upgrade. A. Sunglasses. B. Wig. C. Coin 3.0.¡¿


    Her fingers danced over the ¡®C¡¯ without a moment¡¯s hesitation. No grand display erupted from the screen this time, only a serene golden glow that enveloped the room in its comforting warmth. The light shimmered, gracefully moving across the screen before settling. The Coin, once a piece of transparent jade, now disguised itself as an ordinary copper penny, albeit one adorned with the marks of time.


    ¡°Seems like it has lost some of its former glory,¡± Zhao Lan mused, holding the Coin of Great Observation between her fingers. ¡°Have you noticed any changes in its abilities?¡±


    ¡°Wait a moment.¡± Yu Xiao¡¯s fingers tapped on her phone.


    ¡¾Coin of Great Observation 4.0: Determines fortune and misfortune. If it lands on heads, it brings good luck¡ªknocking out every soul, spectre, and creature within a short distance for ten minutes. If it lands on tails, it brings a curse¡ªcausing everyone nearby to treat the tosser as their own baby for the same duration. The magic needs an hour to recharge.¡¿


    ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°Well? Any upgrades?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s¡­ an improvement,¡± Yu Xiao admitted, a slight smile forming on her lips.


    ¡°Fantastic!¡± Zhao Lan leaned over to catch a glimpse of Yu Xiao¡¯s screen. ¡°And what are the consequences like now?¡±


    A moment of shared silence hung in the air as they absorbed the information.


    ¡°You know, this isn¡¯t half bad,¡± Zhao Lan finally spoke, breaking the quiet. ¡°Being treated as their baby? It¡¯s like the saying, ¡®Even a beast protects its own offspring.¡¯ Much better than dealing with jealousy and affection.¡±


    Yu Xiao nodded, putting the coin back into her pocket, her expression a mix of amusement and resignation. ¡°True, although our list of family titles might just become a bit more¡­ extensive.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡± Zhao Lan¡¯s hand gently settled on her shoulder, offering comfort and grounding. ¡°Chin up, love. A couple of stand-in parents and you¡¯ll ace that instance with loads of titles. It¡¯s a steal, really.¡±


    Yu Xiao bit her lip, a slight frown playing on her face. ¡°It¡¯s easy for you to say,¡± she murmured, her voice reflecting a weariness from past experiences. ¡°I just don¡¯t want to be burdened with another dark title, that¡¯s all.¡±


    Zhao Lan chuckled, the sound warm in the crisp air. ¡°So what?¡± she teased, her eyes sparkling mischievously. ¡°Luo Jin and Lu Xu are still around, aren¡¯t they? Titles and all.¡±


    That thought prompted a reluctant smile from Yu Xiao, lifting her spirits.


    She jumped to her feet, newfound energy propelling her upwards. With a flourish, she announced, ¡°Misty, thanks a lot. What do you fancy for dinner tonight? It¡¯s on me!¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen crouched by the door, looking perplexed. The words that had just been exchanged left her speechless. What was Yu Xiao talking about? When did they start worrying about paying the bill? S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    **


    ¡°He¡¯s already on voluntary duty,¡± the courier whispered, her voice barely audible as she handed over the parcels. ¡°Word is, the doctor at Sage Hospital was in desperate need of a janitor, and believe it or not, our guy got transferred there as his punishment.¡±


    Seems like the former delivery guy and Qing Shi were an item now. Yu Xiao bit her lip, worried they would cause trouble. ¡°By the way, the former delivery guy must have had a name, right?¡±


    ¡°His old name is a mystery,¡± the courier gal replied with a shrug. ¡°But before, when he was a attending doctor, they named him Wang Shu (ÍûÊæ: ¡®hope for comfort¡¯ or ¡®longing for ease¡¯. ÍûÊæ is the name of a deity in ancient Chinese mythology who is said to drive the carriage for the moon, symbolising a celestial journey of hope and tranquillity.).¡±


    ¡°Got it,¡± Yu Xiao nodded. ¡°Thanks for that. Come by Saint Elizabeth sometime, I owe you a roasted chicken leg.¡±


    The courier¡¯s laughter filled the air, warm and hearty, before she disappeared.


    With the deliveries taken care of, the halls of Saint Elizabeth were quiet, so the ghosts gave her a break. Yu Xiao wasn¡¯t in the mood to draw symbols. Instead, she sprawled on her bed, ready to enjoy a moment of peace.


    But as soon as she lay her head on the pillow, her mind wandered to ¡®Wide Sea and Sky¡¯. With a sigh, she reached for her Nokia, only to be interrupted by the buzz of her smartphone. Lu Xu¡¯s name flashed on the screen.


    Curiosity flickered in Yu Xiao¡¯s eyes, a spark that could ignite the driest tinder. Was Lu Xu really calling her at this hour?


    ¡°Hello,¡± her voice playfully danced through the line. ¡°So, how was your day?¡±


    She was itching to ask about the hot gossip of the day. But she had to be sly about it, not letting on that she had been keeping an eye on the Fourth Hospital forum.


    ¡°Let¡¯s not get into today just yet,¡± Lu Xu¡¯s voice came out as a weary sigh, deflating like a balloon. ¡°And about that secret we promised to keep? You can let the cat out of the bag now.¡±


    ¡°Why¡¯s that?¡± Yu Xiao probed with a knowing smile. ¡°Have Liu Sisi and Xie Ping finally come around?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s all out in the open now, whether they like it or not,¡± Lu Xu said with a hint of resignation. ¡°I¡¯m calling for a favour. There¡¯s someone here looking for a carry through an instance, and you have the team card, right? How about we make a deal?¡±


    Yu Xiao paused, weighing the risks. Could she really pull off a safe carry?


    ¡°Maybe give it some thought?¡± Lu Xu suggested. ¡°They¡¯re willing to part with a prop as payment. I¡¯ve had a look, and it¡¯s quite the find.¡±


    ¡°What prop?¡± Yu Xiao asked, her interest clearly piqued.


    ¡°Belts for Hanging Ghosts, control-type prop. It¡¯s got a short cooldown, just an hour.¡±


    Pondering the proposition, Yu Xiao thought aloud, ¡°It¡¯s a solid piece of prop. Misty could really use it. But why sell such a control-type prop? There¡¯s got to be a downside.¡±


    ¡°Um¡­ yeah,¡± Lu Xu hesitated, then shared, ¡°The deal is: Use it, and you¡¯ll end up hanging next to the ghost.¡±


    Even over the phone, Yu Xiao¡¯s silence spoke volumes.


    ¡°But if your team¡¯s around, they can save you,¡± he quickly added.


    Yu Xiao scoffed. ¡°The seller doesn¡¯t have friends to help out?¡±


    ¡°Exactly,¡± Lu Xu confirmed. ¡°They¡¯re alone.¡±


    Yu Xiao hesitated, primarily concerned about the safety of another person during the instance.


    ¡°Are you doubting you can pull it off?¡± Lu Xu seemed to guess her thoughts.


    ¡°So, any ideas?¡±


    ¡°Hire me and Old Luo. We¡¯ll charge twenty talismans each.¡±


    ¡°Thanks, but I¡¯ll pass.¡±


    ¡°Wait!¡± crackled Lu Xun¡¯s voice through the speaker. ¡°Ten!¡±


    The line went dead as Yu Xiao disconnected, her mind whirring with possibilities. With a pocket full of talismans burning a hole, why not take a gamble on a partnership with ¡®Wide Sea and Sky¡¯? The very patient who sends shivers down his own doctor¡¯s spine¡ªsurely he would offer more bang for her buck than those two ever could.


    ©¤©¤©¤ ? ©¤©¤ ¡î ©¤©¤ ? ©¤©¤©¤

 Chapter 116: Why Haven’t You Left?

    Her thoughts were interrupted by a sudden realisation ¨C the hospital had punished them from entering the instances for a whole month. How was this going to work out?


    ¡°Smiley, what¡¯s Lu Xu up to now?¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen casually asked, her fingers dancing on her phone. ¡°He¡¯s got you all worked up.¡±


    ¡°He wants to connect me with clients,¡± Yu Xiao explained the deal and asked, ¡°What do you think?¡±


    ¡°If there¡¯s a prop in the mix, count me in!¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen eagerly chimed in. ¡°That belt from the hanging ghost sounds intriguing. Who knows, it might be even better after an upgrade.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m also inclined to go ahead with this deal,¡± Misty added, her curiosity sparked by the prop but with a hint of caution. ¡°While our skills are decent, we lack experience in certain instances. So, I¡¯m a bit wary.¡±


    This concern weighed on Yu Xiao too. ¡°Lu Xu suggested teaming up, but they¡¯ll need talismans.¡±


    ¡°How many?¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen inquired.


    ¡°Twenty.¡±


    ¡°Wow¡­ that¡¯s quite a number,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen reacted. ¡°It might have been manageable before, but now, Smiley, your stash of yellow talisman paper is running low. We¡¯ll have to buy them from the mall, which will hike up the costs.¡±


    ¡°Actually¡­ there¡¯s one more option,¡± Yu Xiao proposed. ¡°What do you think about having ¡®Wide Sea and Sky¡¯ join us?¡±


    ¡°Could it really be that big shot from One Hospital?!¡± exclaimed Zhou Xiao Zhen, unable to believe what she was hearing.


    ¡°Isn¡¯t he supposed to stay away from dungeons for a month?¡± pointed out Zhao Lan.


    ¡°Yeah¡­ ¡± Yu Xiao bit her lip, ¡°Should we delay our deal, then?¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s table that thought. Our main priority should be stability. There will always be more opportunities for us. We might even come across better ones,¡± suggested Zhao Lan with a hint of excitement. ¡°For now, it¡¯s crucial to connect with ¡®Wide Sea and Sky¡¯. Establishing a relationship with him and gathering information about the hospital could be extremely valuable.¡±


    ¡°Sounds like a plan,¡± Yu Xiao agreed, reaching for her trusty Nokia phone. ¡°I¡¯ll give him a call right now.¡±


    ¡°I really hope I can live another five hundred years~¡­¡±


    ¡°¡­Who¡¯s interrupting me this time?¡± Yu Xiao was momentarily speechless as she looked at her phone, which displayed an unknown number. She wondered if it could be someone from the Health Bureau.


    With that thought in mind, she decided to answer the call. ¡°Hello? Who is this?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s me, your ¡®Pal~¡¯,¡± greeted a familiar, alluring, yet slightly eerie voice from the other end of the line. ¡°It¡¯s only been a day, and you¡¯re already forgetting my voice?¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    Yu Xiao¡¯s face drained of colour, causing Zhao Lan to furrow her eyebrows in concern. ¡°Why do you look like you¡¯ve seen a ghost?¡±


    Curiosity sparked in Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s eyes as she tilted her head. ¡°Who¡¯s on the line? Please tell me it¡¯s not those Medical Disputes folks finding out about Smiley¡¯s latest pranks.¡±


    A strained chuckle escaped Yu Xiao as she clutched the phone tighter. ¡°Mr. Gluttony,¡± she confessed, her laugh hollow. ¡°Funny, I was just about to call you, and here you are calling me.¡±


    ¡°Well, that¡¯s what friends are for, right? Whether I¡¯m ahead or you are, it¡¯s all good,¡± Gluttony¡¯s warm and jovial voice oozed through the speaker. ¡°I always knew you had my back. Forget about Mr. Wang¡¯s nonsense; the man¡¯s a walking joke.¡±


    Yu Xiao dabbed at her brow, pretending to be nonchalant. ¡°Mr. Wang is always spewing rubbish!¡± She probed with feigned ease, ¡°By the way, how did you even get my number? It¡¯s not exactly public information.¡±


    Gluttony chuckled, the sound rumbling through the line with an ASMR worthy feel. ¡°Well, I was at sixes and sevens about who to ask, but then Qing Shi from Sage Hospital just up and sent it to me. He¡¯s part of your circle, right?¡±


    A sly grin twisted Yu Xiao¡¯s lips, though her teeth were practically grinding. ¡°Hehe, that¡¯s classic Qing Shi. Yep, he¡¯s part of the gang. I¡¯ve got a bunch of doctors and NPC buddies on my side.¡±


    Gluttony¡¯s joy was palpable. ¡°That¡¯s rare. Most people can¡¯t stand NPCs.¡±


    Pride could be heard in Yu Xiao¡¯s words. ¡°Well, I¡¯m the odd one out. My better half is an NPC, so there¡¯s no room for animosity here.¡±


    Taking advantage of Gluttony¡¯s buoyant mood, Yu Xiao continued. ¡°So, buddy, was this just a casual chat, or is there more to your call?¡±


    ¡°Allow me to present the main course, my dear, a tantalising dish for us to savour,¡± revealed Gluttony with a touch of charm befitting a gentleman.


    ¡°Hm?¡±


    ¡°For what feels like an eternity, I¡¯ve been confined to the basement, yearning for a change of scenery. The desire for freedom has been eating away at me, but unfortunately, my social circle is lacking, and the job market has not been kind,¡± Gluttony¡¯s voice, a blend of allure and softness, filled her ear.


    ¡°¡­ Considering that you hold a position of influence at St. Elizabeth Hospital, I couldn¡¯t help but entertain the thought of taking on the role of the attending physician. It offers both novelty and the comfort of familiar faces. Care to indulge me, my dear friend?¡±


    Yu Xiao closed her eyes briefly, contemplating. ¡®Ah, I understand now. You have your sights set on my position at St. Elizabeth!¡¯ She took a deep breath, gathering herself before responding, ¡°Well, well, well. I am fully supportive, without a doubt. However, you do know that George currently serves as the attending doctor at St. Elizabeth, right? And as much as I may be the boss, I do not have the authority to hire or fire attending doctors.¡±


    ¡°Understood, my dear lady, I am well aware of the protocol,¡± Gluttony replied mischievously. ¡°Although the Dean may not possess the ultimate power to appoint attending physicians, should a vacancy arise, the higher-ups tend to listen to the Dean¡¯s suggestion for a suitable replacement.¡±


    ¡°Is that so? That¡¯s news to me,¡± Yu Xiao feigned innocence. ¡°But as of now, the position of attending doctor at St. Elizabeth is already filled.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve got it,¡± mused Gluttony, his words slithering like snakes. ¡°I could make a meal of George, and voila, a vacancy for the attending doctor¡¯s spot.¡±


    Yu Xiao¡¯s breath hitched, her heart skipping a beat. ¡®You can¡¯t be serious!¡¯


    A pause hung heavy in the air, her thoughts a tangled mess.


    ¡°Why the sudden quiet, my friend?¡± prodded Gluttony. ¡°Doesn¡¯t my recipe appeal to your taste?¡±


    ¡°I¡­¡± Her reply was a mere morsel, barely escaping her lips.


    ¡°What did he say?¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s voice trembled with concern. ¡°Why do you look scared?¡±


    Zhao Lan shared the worry but chose to remain silent, only listening to the conversation until Smiley finished the call.


    Yu Xiao weighed her words. ¡°It¡¯s not so simple, Gluttony. George isn¡¯t just some snack.¡±


    ¡°Heh, have faith,¡± his laughter was rich and full-bodied. ¡°He isn¡¯t even an appetiser before the main course.¡±


    ¡°But eating the attending doctor is illegal; we¡¯ll be caught,¡± voiced Yu Xiao, expressing her apprehension. ¡°I¡¯m hesitant, I¡¯m afraid.¡±


    ¡°Fret not, leave the worrying to me; just play dumb,¡± reassured Gluttony with a touch of compassion. ¡°When it¡¯s time to serve up the new attending doctor, simply put my name in the ring.¡±


    ¡°In that case¡­¡± Yu Xiao, cornered, saw the inevitable. ¡°Alright, consider your dish ordered.¡±


    Gluttony chuckled, ¡°Alright, then it¡¯s settled.¡±


    After the call ended, Yu Xiao glanced around in a daze.


    ¡°And?¡± Zhao Lan and Zhou Xiao Zhen stood on either side of Yu Xiao, their expressions a mix of concern and curiosity. ¡°How did he get your number? What did he say? Was it a threat?¡±


    ¡°He¡­¡± Yu Xiao massaged her temples, ¡°He¡¯s aiming for the attending doctor role at St. Elizabeth¡¯s.¡±


    ¡°What?¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen furrowed her brow in confusion. ¡°But what about George?¡±


    ¡°He said he wants to eat George.¡±


    ¡°Oh, my¡­¡± Even Zhao Lan, known for her composure, was momentarily speechless. ¡°He¡­ he¡¯s ruthless.¡±


    ¡°We can¡¯t let him take over at St. Elizabeth¡¯s!¡± Yu Xiao¡¯s gaze hardened as she smacked the bed for emphasis.


    ¡°Wow,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s eyes sparkled with an odd excitement. ¡°Even though you¡¯re always at odds with George, you¡¯re still his defender in the end.¡±


    ¡°Defender? Ha,¡± Yu Xiao let out a resigned sigh, ¡°George is as clueless as they come; he couldn¡¯t outwit me at St. Elizabeth¡¯s. Gluttony, on the other hand, is a whole different story. Who knows what chaos he¡¯ll unleash at St. Elizabeth¡¯s? Will I end up on the menu?¡±


    (tn: poor George, Smiley considers you dumb enough to keep XD)


    Zhao Lan arched an eyebrow, her voice steady. ¡°What¡¯s your play here? Gluttony¡¯s shadow might just creep back if you waver now.¡±


    With a blend of determination and grace, Yu Xiao sprang to her feet. Her voice echoed slightly in the sterile room as she declared, ¡°I won¡¯t give him the satisfaction,¡± She decisively clapped her hands together and added, ¡°Off to find George.¡±


    **


    George had bounced back from his injuries, diving headfirst into the daily grind. However, his wallet felt the pinch of a recent pay cut, souring his mood¡ª¡ªsomething that hadn¡¯t seen much sunshine since ¡®she¡¯ took over.


    In the canteen, George sought refuge in comfort food, knowing Tie Niu always whipped up something tasty. ¡°A bite to lift the spirits,¡± he thought.


    Tie Niu shook his head. ¡°This dish? A tribute to the Dean.¡±


    George¡¯s frown deepened. ¡°She¡¯s not like us; she won¡¯t touch this stuff.¡±


    Tie Niu stood his ground. ¡°The meat here are hers to command, not for handouts.¡± S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    George¡¯s eyes narrowed, a hint of threat creeping in. ¡°Are you trying to start something?¡±


    Tie Niu took a step back, knowing George had the upper hand.


    ¡°George!¡± Suddenly, the canteen was alive with Yu Xiao¡¯s voice. ¡°Found you!¡±


    George tensed, and Tie Niu¡¯s eyes sparked with defiance, standing firm. ¡°Not a scrap for you.¡±


    Dressed sharp in a white coat, Yu Xiao strolled over. ¡°Having a little chat?¡±


    Tie Niu stayed quiet, while George, clearly not thrilled to see Yu Xiao, turned to leave without a word.


    ¡°Hold up,¡± Yu Xiao said, a playful smirk on her lips. ¡°Let¡¯s chat in your den¡ªI mean, office. Got some business.¡±


    As Yu Xiao headed out, Tie Niu jumped in, ¡°Dean, the pan-fried heart¡¯s ready. Would you like a bite?¡±


    Yu Xiao¡¯s brow furrowed. Internally, she wondered, ¡®How could I stomach that?¡¯ But nodding to Tie Niu¡¯s goodwill, she replied, ¡°No thanks. George can have it.¡±


    A subtle tension lingered between George and Tie Niu as their dynamic subtly shifted. Tie Niu deflated like a punctured balloon, while George, for some reason, couldn¡¯t help but smirk.


    Inside George¡¯s office, a spread of delicious dishes awaited him. With rare curiosity, he asked, ¡°What¡¯s on your mind? Why not chat in your office?¡±


    Yu Xiao smirked back. ¡°Oh, you know, my office¡¯s vibes. But this is about you, so here we are.¡±


    As George, meticulously dissected his meal with surgical precision, he prompted, ¡°Out with it then.¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s not ruin your meal,¡± Yu Xiao said warmly. ¡°I can wait.¡±


    One eyebrow cocked, George peered at her over his gold-rimmed glasses. ¡°Alright, what is this about?¡±


    ¡°Alright, here it is. Ever heard of Gluttony?¡±


    George¡¯s poised dining etiquette faltered as his utensils were momentarily suspended mid-air. With a sinister edge, his mouth twitched upwards as he responded, ¡°Yes, I heard the name on the news this morning. Is he targeting you?¡±


    ¡°Yep,¡± confirmed Yu Xiao. ¡°Guess why.¡±


    ¡°Tell me.¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s eyeing the attending doctor position at Saint Elizabeth¡¯s.¡±


    ¡°¡­Not happening!¡± George¡¯s composure cracked, his face now tinged with annoyance. ¡°Ridiculous! That spot¡¯s mine!¡±


    ¡°But he thinks by gobbling you up, he¡¯ll nab it,¡± said Yu Xiao earnestly. ¡°Is there any truth to that?¡±


    A heavy silence fell.


    ¡°Despite you blaming me all the time, I still lean towards you,¡± Yu Xiao said, patting George¡¯s shoulder. ¡°I don¡¯t want you ending up as a snack. I want you to stay as the attending doctor. I¡¯m sentimental, and I don¡¯t let go easily. So, when I heard about his plans, I rushed to tell you first.¡±


    For a moment, George¡¯s heart stirred. He¡¯d always thought there was no love lost between them. But now, his certainty wavered.


    Standing before him, the Dean held the power of Gluttony at her fingertips and could effortlessly remove him from her path. But she refrained. Instead, she came to deliver a message.


    A dash of sourness with a sprinkle of shame stirred up George¡¯s usually chill heart. Regret crashed over him for his past misjudgments, realising he had underestimated the Dean¡ªthis unexpected ally¡ªas a mere annoyance.


    ¡°Maybe get ready in advance?¡± suggested Yu Xiao, genuinely concerned. She didn¡¯t want Gluttony taking over at Saint Elizabeth¡¯s and was fully behind George. ¡°Need a hand?¡±


    ¡°No, thanks,¡± George replied, determination in his eyes. ¡°I got this.¡±


    ¡°Alright then,¡± Yu Xiao said, pushing her chair back. ¡°Just dropped by to give you a heads-up. Since you¡¯re good, I¡¯ll catch you later.¡±


    With that, Yu Xiao left, leaving George to watch her go.


    **


    In the Dean¡¯s office on the ground level, a small cat stretched its neck, sensing the return of a particular individual to Saint Elizabeth. Eager anticipation filled the feline until, abruptly, the person vanished.


    The kitten buried its head in its fluffy fur, its round eyes reflecting profound disappointment as it remained motionless.


    **


    Zhao Lan and Zhou Xiao Zhen approached eagerly in the ward. ¡°How did it go? What did George say?¡±


    ¡°George mentioned having a plan,¡± Yu Xiao replied, pouring herself a glass of water. ¡°While I¡¯m not privy to the specifics, he made it clear that he doesn¡¯t require my assistance.¡±


    Zhao Lan nodded. ¡°George isn¡¯t one to gamble with his life. If he¡¯s confident, we should trust his judgement.¡±


    ¡°True,¡± She agreed. ¡°Still, it feels remiss to stand by idly.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s the rush?¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen interjected. ¡°Smiley, Gluttony hasn¡¯t made a move yet, and you¡¯re already plotting revenge?¡±


    ¡°Am I truly that easy to predict?¡± Yu Xiao replied earnestly. ¡°I just think that the hospital¡¯s hierarchy is in chaos. Anyone can become an attending doctor without any merit. Once appointed, there¡¯s no way out unless you have connections or resort to bribing superiors to change positions. It just doesn¡¯t feel right to me.¡±


    ¡°Are you considering escalating this to higher authorities?¡± Zhao Lan queried. ¡°As a supervisor from the Health Bureau, it¡¯s within your purview to report such matters to superiors.¡±


    ¡°Exactly,¡± She affirmed, swiftly retrieving her phone.


    After George got injured, she made sure to keep the contact information for the Health Bureau easily accessible.


    ¡°Director Zhang¡¯s office, good morning,¡± a chirpy voice came through the line.


    ¡°Good morning,¡± Yu Xiao replied, her tone firm yet courteous. ¡°This is Yu Xiao, also known as the ¡®Deaf Descendant¡¯ Inspector. I have an urgent matter that needs the attention of the leadership.¡±


    ¡°Um¡­¡± There was a brief hesitation on the other end. ¡°I¡¯m just a secretary,¡± the voice hesitated, ¡°Director Zhang is currently unavailable. Maybe you should try reaching out to someone else.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m afraid I don¡¯t know anyone else,¡± Yu Xiao explained. ¡°This is the only contact I have.¡±


    ¡°No worries,¡± the secretary reassured her. ¡°Let me give you Director Wang¡¯s office number. He¡¯s our leader; it would be best to address your concerns with him.¡±


    ¡°Thank you.¡±


    ¡°Hello?¡± a robust voice answered the call. ¡°May I ask who¡¯s calling?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m looking for Director Wang,¡± Yu Xiao stated. ¡°I need to discuss some rather intricate matters with the leadership.¡±


    ¡°Oh¡­¡± the voice faltered. ¡°Ah, a pity¡­ I¡¯m sorry to inform you that Director Wang has a stomach ache, he¡¯s not here.¡±


    ¡°In that case, who should I speak to?¡±


    ¡°Let me provide you with the contact information for the Deputy Director.¡±


    Yet, fate seemed to conspire against her, for the Deputy Director, too, was unwell. Thus, Yu Xiao found herself with the Director¡¯s direct line.


    ¡°Hello,¡± a familiar voice greeted her, reminding her of the Director she had encountered at the hospital during her inspection.


    ¡°Director,¡± Yu Xiao addressed him, her voice steady and authoritative. ¡°I am the Dean of Saint Elizabeth and the ¡®Deaf Descendant¡¯ Inspector from the Health Bureau.¡±


    ¡°Ah,¡± the voice on the line crackled with recognition, ¡°So it¡¯s you. What can I do for you today?¡±


    Yu Xiao responded promptly and directly. ¡°I¡¯ve encountered some issues within the hospital system that require your attention.¡±


    There was a pause on the line before the director encouraged her to continue. ¡°I¡¯m listening, go on.¡±


    Taking a deep breath, Yu Xiao began to express her concerns. ¡°I¡¯ve noticed discrepancies in the hospital¡¯s policies regarding promotions and demotions. Many dedicated staff members, who have shown unwavering commitment to their roles, are unable to progress. Remaining in one position for an extended period inevitably leads to frustration¡­¡±


    The director maintained his composure as Yu Xiao outlined her grievances. In fact, he commended her efforts, praising her as a diligent and proactive individual. ¡°While your points are valid,¡± he interjected, ¡°the hospital has been operating under these guidelines for years without incident.¡±


    ¡°How is it possible that there are no issues?¡± Yu Xiao challenged, her voice filled with scepticism. ¡°There must be some employees who, desperate for change, have resorted to nefarious acts.¡±


    Intrigued by Yu Xiao¡¯s statement, the director urged her to provide more information. ¡°Please, go on. I would like to hear more.¡±


    ¡°Before I proceed, may I request that my identity remains confidential?¡± Yu Xiao¡¯s tone was cautious, her words tinged with apprehension. ¡°In case of fallout, I¡¯d rather not be the one who rocked the boat. I¡¯m just a small cog in this machine, after all.¡±


    The director nodded solemnly, assuring her, ¡°Your anonymity will be protected. You can speak freely.¡±


    With resolve, Yu Xiao continued. ¡°Well, here¡¯s the situation,¡± she paused briefly, gathering her thoughts. ¡°Gluttony, a resident of the basement, has been actively pursuing a new position. He¡¯s got his eyes set on attending doctor position at Saint Elizabeth Hospital. However, since Dr. George currently holds that position, Gluttony is contemplating¡­ eating George.¡±


    After Yu Xiao hung up the phone, her heart raced in her chest, a mix of excitement and worry swirling within her.


    ¡°Smiley, this is incredible,¡± Zhou Xiaozhen exclaimed, her eyes wide with anticipation. ¡°Now Gluttony won¡¯t be a attending doctor.¡±


    ¡°I couldn¡¯t care less if he becomes an attending doctor or not, as long as he steers clear of St. Elizabeth,¡± Yu Xiao fretted, her voice tinged with concern. ¡°I have a bad feeling about what might be brewing at St. Elizabeth. We can¡¯t stay here. What if we hide out in the instance?¡±


    ¡°Sounds like a plan,¡± Zhao Lan chimed in. ¡°Aren¡¯t you supposed to Call ¡®Wide Sea and Sky¡¯?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Yu Xiao nodded. ¡°I had almost forgotten, with all these interruptions.¡±


    With determination in her eyes, she fumbled beneath the cosy blanket, retrieving her trusty Nokia phone. Scrolling through her contacts, she located ¡®Wide Sea and Sky¡¯ amidst the list.


    **


    In the eerie stillness of the dimly lit hospital ward, the heavy curtains remained tightly shut, blocking out the natural light that usually flooded the room with warmth and comfort. This was an uncommon sight, as daylight was often seen as a shield against darkness, a protector for those within its reach. The choice to keep the curtains drawn during the day hinted at a deeper unease lingering within the walls.


    Amidst the quiet, a persistent sound pierced the dimness.


    ¡°Beep beep beep beep beep¡­¡±


    The sound seemed to stretch on endlessly until a frail hand emerged from the tangle of sheets, reaching for a nearby phone.


    The phone¡¯s screen bathed the room in a soft blue glow, illuminating the caller¡¯s name. In that gentle light, the name reflected in the eyes of the figure, stirring memories long buried in the depths of his mind.


    The call abruptly ended.


    He trembled, realising he had accidentally pressed the wrong button, and hurriedly redialed.


    **


    ¡°They¡¯re not answering,¡± Yu Xiao huffed, irritation creeping into her voice.


    ¡°Could their phone be out of reach?¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen pondered.


    ¡°How¡¯s that even possible?¡± Zhao Lan chimed in. ¡°They¡¯re in the ward; it¡¯s not the size of a football field. Their phone must be close by.¡±


    ¡°Perhaps it¡¯s on silent mode,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen proposed. ¡°Phones need their beauty sleep too.¡±


    ¡°Beep beep beep beep beep beep beep¡­¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡± Yu Xiao¡¯s eyes widened as she peered at the phone screen. ¡°Look who¡¯s calling ¨C it¡¯s ¡®Wide Sea and Sky¡¯!¡±


    Without missing a beat, she answered, ¡°Hey there.¡±


    A brief pause followed by a chilling, gravelly voice on the other end, ¡°You¡¯re not ¡¯Teng Jing Zhi, who are you?¡±


    ¡°Spot on, I¡¯m not ¡¯Teng Jing Zhi,¡± Yu Xiao responded, a touch of amusement in her tone. ¡°But I¡¯ve got ¡¯Teng Jing Zhi¡¯s phone here.¡±


    ¡°Where¡¯s ¡¯Teng Jing Zhi?¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s no longer with us,¡± Yu Xiao stated solemnly. ¡°He passed away many years ago. I¡­ click¡­ Oh my days,¡± she exclaimed. ¡°They hung up on me!¡±


    ¡°Why not give it another try?¡±


    Determined, Yu Xiao hammered the call button for ¡®Wide Sea and Sky,¡¯ but alas, silence greeted her every attempt.


    ¡°What¡¯s the deal?¡± Yu Xiao scratched her head in bewilderment. ¡°Couldn¡¯t they at least hear me out?¡±


    ¡°This ¡®Wide Sea and Sky¡¯ isn¡¯t so vast after all,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen consoled, giving Yu Xiao a reassuring pat on the back. ¡°Maybe it¡¯s time to move on. We¡¯ve got a whole contact list here. If all else fails, we¡¯ll dial them up one by one; someone¡¯s got to answer.¡±


    The reality dawned upon them ¨C there might not be many left alive on that list, let alone others to turn to.


    ¡®Wide Sea and Sky¡¯ continued to dodge Yu Xiao¡¯s calls, leaving her with no choice but to move on.


    ¡°I¡¯m going to the market to get some talisman papers,¡± Yu Xiao announced. ¡°We¡¯ll have a talisman-drawing session in the afternoon.¡±


    Her original plan of relaxing in bed for the afternoon was now scrapped, thanks to a series of irritating phone calls.


    Among her collection, the most popular talisman was the ¡¾Healing Crisis Talisman¡¿, so she decided to whip up a batch of those. As she sketched out about a dozen, Yu Xiao found herself in a smooth groove, only to have her concentration shattered by the familiar ring of ¡®Wide Sea and Sky¡¯ calling again.


    The sudden jolt made her hand shake, ruining the talisman she was working on.


    Without hesitation, Yu Xiao picked up the call, blurting out, ¡°Hey there, ¡®Wide Sea and Sky¡¯¡­¡±


    ¡°Why do you have Teng Jing Zhi¡¯s phone?¡± ¡®Wide Sea and Sky¡¯ maintained their frosty tone.


    Yu Xiao didn¡¯t mince words, telling him straight up about her spooky run-in with Teng Jing Zhi. ¡°Not long ago, I visited an instance, the Sage Hospital, where I crossed paths with Teng Jing Zhi, who had already passed on and transformed into a ghost.¡±


    As she poured out her tale, ¡®Wide Sea and Sky¡¯ remained eerily silent, prompting Yu Xiao to wonder if her words were falling on deaf ears.


    After she finished, a lengthy pause lingered.


    Eventually, ¡®Wide Sea and Sky¡¯ spoke, ¡°Got it.¡±


    His voice had undergone a transformation. Once gruff, it was now so deep that Yu Xiao had to strain to catch every word, and she needed to listen intently to decipher his message.


    ¡°That¡­¡± Yu Xiao sensed a shift in the atmosphere, and her emotions mirrored the complexity of the situation. ¡°How long has it been since you last contacted Teng Jing Zhi?¡±


    ¡®Wide Sea and Sky¡¯ fell silent once more. Aas Yu Xiao wondered if he was avoiding the question, he responded, ¡°Can¡¯t recall, it must have been around twenty years ago.¡±


    Yu Xiao was caught off guard once again. She had intended to gather insights about the hospital from ¡®Wide Sea and Sky¡¯, but now she found herself tongue-tied.


    Two strangers, unacquainted and separated by their phones, shared a moment of silence together.


    After what felt like an eternity, a wait so prolonged that Zhou Xiao Zhen, who was waiting on the sidelines, began to squirm, ¡®Wide Sea and Sky¡¯ finally asked, ¡°Why did you call me?¡±


    ¡°I heard about you in the news, and, I found your contact in my address book,¡± Yu Xiao truthfully disclosed. ¡°I wanted to inquire about the status of the hospital. I¡¯m new at the Sixth Hospital, while you¡¯ve been stationed at the First Hospital for quite some time, so you would have more knowledge than I do.¡±


    ¡®Wide Sea and Sky¡¯ probed, ¡°What do you want to know?¡±


    ¡°How can one leave the hospital?¡±


    ¡°By amassing points. Once your accumulated time is enough to match the average lifespan in the real world, approximately seventy years old, you earn your exit pass,¡± ¡®Wide Sea and Sky¡¯ elucidated.


    It echoed what Luo Jin and others had before mentioned. Yu Xiao breathed a sigh of relief before asking, ¡°Do you know anyone who has actually left the hospital?¡±


    ¡°I know of one,¡± ¡®Wide Sea and Sky¡¯ replied, his voice steadying. ¡°A decade ago, the top patient from the First Hospital left.¡±


    Confirmation of someone¡¯s departure left Yu Xiao filled with indescribable emotions, including gratitude. The possibility of leaving symbolized hope.


    After a brief pause, Yu Xiao mustered the courage to ask another question. ¡°You¡¯ve been at the hospital for so long, why haven¡¯t you left yet?¡±


    Her question caused the other end to once again fall silent.


    Yu Xiao felt a twinge of irritation creeping up on her. ¡°What¡¯s the point of staying silent? How does it benefit you? Seriously!¡±


    ¡°Points¡­ are no longer the main issue,¡± mused ¡®Wide Sea and Sky¡¯, his voice carrying a hint of resignation. ¡°Perhaps I am no longer suited for the world beyond these walls.¡±


    He chose the words ¡®not suited¡¯ instead of the more direct ¡°not adapted,¡± hinting at deeper complexities.


    Furrowing her brows, Yu Xiao adopted a casual tone to hide her true feelings.


    ¡°Oh, don¡¯t say that. Your words are quite the buzzkill for a newbie like me. I had just got a team-up card and was considering teaming up with you for a pro-led adventure. Alas, your instance-running privileges have been revoked. Who knows when I¡¯ll stumble upon another team-up card,¡± she lamented, quickly changing the subject.


    As if on cue, ¡®Wide Sea and Sky¡¯ interrupted, ¡°I have plenty of team-up cards. I can give them to you.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    Yu Xiao couldn¡¯t believe her ears when she heard the casual offer. It almost made her want to kneel down. ¡°You have many?¡±


    ¡°Over the years, my collection of various items and cards has grown,¡± ¡®Wide Sea and Sky¡¯ responded. ¡°Please, tell me your nickname so I can send the cards to you.¡±


    Struggling to contain her excitement, Yu Xiao, a young girl about to enter society, couldn¡¯t resist the temptation. ¡°I am known as ¡®Deaf Descendant¡¯,¡± she revealed, ¡°Deaf as in deaf-mute, not Dragon.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    Both fell silent this time, then ¡®Wide Sea and Sky¡¯ said, ¡°I know you.¡±


    Yu Xiao couldn¡¯t help but feel a twinge of awkwardness. ¡°Really?¡± she chuckled nervously.


    ¡°I hear about you in the news every few days,¡± ¡®Wide Sea and Sky¡¯ continued. ¡°You¡¯re no ordinary newcomer.¡±


    Flushed with embarrassment, Yu Xiao proposed a card exchange using talismans, only to have her offer declined by ¡®Wide Sea and Sky¡¯, who claimed he had no need for such trinkets. This left Yu Xiao truly astounded. Since her arrival at the Sixth Hospital, she had never encountered anyone who refused talismans and freely gave away valuable item cards.


    After hanging up the phone, Yu Xiao felt a bit dazed.


    ¡°How did it go?¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen asked. ¡°What did they say?¡±


    Zhao Lan also looked eager. ¡°Did someone really leave the hospital?¡±


    ¡°I¡­¡± Yu Xiao licked her lips, unsure how to express her feelings. She said, ¡°I feel like I¡¯m a debt collector asking parents for money.¡± (TN: Chinese often refer to children as ¡°debt collectors¡±)


    ¡°Huh?¡± Zhao Lan was puzzled. Why would Smiley have such a thought? ¡°What happened?¡±


    Yu Xiao replied, ¡°¡®Wide Sea and Sky¡¯ said he would give me some team cards.¡±


    ¡°Oh my god, is he really that nice?¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen wiped the corner of her mouth, which had already started to drool. ¡°Team cards are hard to come by. Lu Xu and the others were ecstatic when they got one. By the way, how many is he giving you?¡±


    Yu Xiao hadn¡¯t asked about that. ¡®Wide Sea and Sky¡¯ only said, ¡®a lot,¡¯ without specifying the exact number.


    ¡°Well¡­ probably quite a few.¡±


    ¡°Wow!¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen jumped up. ¡°Hahaha¡­ I¡¯m so happy! I can¡¯t wait to show off to Lu Xu and the others!¡±


    Accepting the team cards for free made Yu Xiao feel a bit embarrassed. When she used to ask her parents for money, she did it openly and without shame. But ¡®Wide Sea and Sky¡¯ was not family, after all.


    Thinking about this, Yu Xiao felt a twinge of regret. She had boldly accepted the team cards but had forgotten to ask for the giver¡¯s name.


    Next time, Yu Xiao thought, she would ask. ¡®Wide Sea and Sky¡¯ seemed to lack any business sense. If he were as savvy in business as Luo Jin and Lu Xu, he might have left the hospital long ago. Next time, she would try to introduce some business opportunities to him, so he could earn more points.


    Knock, knock, knock¡­


    A soft knock interrupted her thoughts.


    ¡°The delivery has arrived~¡± chimed the delivery girl, her voice carrying through the door. ¡°It¡¯s a package from the first hospital~¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll be right there!¡± Yu Xiao hastened to the door, calling out, ¡°Is it a lot of stuff?¡±


    The delivery girl seemed slightly puzzled by the question. ¡°Whether it¡¯s ¡®lot of¡¯ or not depends on its contents. If it¡¯s chops or legs, then it¡¯s not much. But if it¡¯s tongues or fingers, then it¡¯s considered plentiful.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡± This metaphor was truly something.


    Taking the package from the delivery girl, Yu Xiao noticed its unexpected weight.


    Could a few cards weigh this much? Intrigued, Yu Xiao and her companions gathered around as she opened the box, revealing a vibrant assortment of cards inside.


    ¡°This¡­¡±


    Zhao Lan was deeply puzzled, ¡°Are these several card decks?¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s mind had crashed. She fell back onto the bed stiffly, mouth agape, muttering to herself, ¡°I¡¯m rich¡­ I¡¯m rich¡­¡±


    Deciding to seek clarification, Yu Xiao dialled ¡®Wide Sea and Sky¡¯ once more. This time, he answered promptly, albeit with a hint of weariness and impatience in his voice. ¡°What is it?¡±


    ¡°So many cards!¡± Yu Xiao was almost speechless, ¡°Why did you give me so many cards?¡±


    ¡°They were all jumbled together, and I couldn¡¯t be bothered to sort them out one by one,¡± ¡®Wide Sea and Sky¡¯ impatiently said, ¡°The team cards are all in there, pick them out yourself. I want to sleep, don¡¯t bother me.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­¡±


    Zhao Lan asked, ¡°What did he say?¡±


    ¡°He said he was too lazy to pick out the team cards, so he just sent them all in a package.¡± Yu Xiao explained, ¡°He told us to pick them ourselves.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­¡±


    Zhao Lan was puzzled, ¡°Even if he¡¯s selling cards, he should have enough points, right?¡±


    ¡°He doesn¡¯t seem to have any business sense.¡±


    Zhao Lan pondered, ¡°He must be quite old, right?¡±


    ¡°Definitely,¡± Yu Xiao agreed, ¡°He¡¯s been here for at least twenty years.¡±


    ¡°That makes sense,¡± Zhao Lan nodded, ¡°People from the past and present are different, without experiencing information overload, their thoughts are more simple.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll teach him how to do business next time.¡± Looking at the box of cards, Yu Xiao felt a mix of happiness and worry for the first time. She needed to sort through them carefully.


    The three of them squatted on the floor, spending an hour to organize all the functional cards.


    The array of functional cards was truly diverse. While most seemed trivial, like the bad-luck cards, there were also valuable ones interspersed among them due to their sheer quantity.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen held a thick stack of cards, saying, ¡°These are all disposable small props cards, the most here is a pair of roller skates.¡±


    Astonished, Zhao Lan noted, ¡°There are a total of thirty-seven team cards in here.¡± It was quite a surprise, considering Yu Xiao had initially downplayed the amount!


    Looking at the cards, Yu Xiao felt conflicted. After hesitating for a while, she placed her hand on the stack of cards and said, ¡°Shouldn¡¯t we return these cards to ¡®Wide Sea and Sky¡¯? These are the cards he has earned over the years at the cost of his life, it doesn¡¯t feel right for me to keep them.¡±


    Zhao Lan and Zhou Xiao Zhen fell silent.


    Finally, Zhou Xiao Zhen nodded, ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll follow your lead.¡±


    ¡°I agree with Smiley¡¯s approach,¡± Zhao Lan smiled and said, ¡°We are still newcomers, and we have opened the Talisman Shop, so accumulating points is easier for us than for ordinary people. ¡®Wide Sea and Sky¡¯ may not have sold these cards because his old-fashioned phone may not have access to the marketplace. If he¡¯s willing, we can help him sell them.¡±


    ¡°Zhao Lan¡¯s right,¡± Yu Xiao supported her idea. ¡®Wide Sea and Sky¡¯ should already have a good amount of points from before. If we can help him exchange points by selling functional cards, he might be able to leave the hospital soon.

 Chapter 117: A new Mobile Phone with a Bright Future

    Translator: InkyDragon


    https://buymeacoffee.com/inkydragonl


    inkydragontranslations@gmail.com


    I don¡¯t plan to create any chapters that are behind a paywall or anything similar. Therefore, whether or not you choose to support my work is entirely up to you. Either way, thank you for reading my translation!


    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 ¨C 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 d¨¦j¨¤ 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 ¨C 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.


    ¡¾Enter your nickname.¡¿


    Yu Xiao typed in ¡°Wide Sea and Sky¡±.


    ¡¾Unauthorised 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.


    ¡¾Hospital 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?¡±


    ¡¾Hello, 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.


    ¡¾New kid in Third Level today?¡¿


    ¡¾Wait, that username rings a bell.¡¿


    ¡¾Wasn¡¯t that hotshot from First Hospital making headlines recently? ¡®Wide Sea and Sky¡¯, right?¡¿


    ¡¾I thought we were doing newbie intros. If you¡¯re ¡®Wide Sea and Sky¡¯, then I¡¯m ¡®Zhuge Liang burning the Spider Web Cave¡¯.¡¿


    ¡¾In that case, I must be ¡®Flying to Someone Else¡¯s Bed¡¯.¡±¡¿


    ¡¾¡­¡¿


    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 ¨C none other than Doraemon, accompanied by a prominent clock.


    (Doraemon (¥É¥é¤¨¤â¤ó) 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 ¨C ¡®Swipe up to enter¡¯ ¨C 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.


    ¡¾Hello, 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 (ѦÈØÈØ: ¡°glorious hibiscus¡± or ¡°prosperous snow grass¡±), and this is Yang Xian (Ñîæµ: ¡°elegant poplar¡±).¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re also from Fifth Hospital,¡± added the bald guy in the black tee. ¡°I¡¯m Zhao Yang (ÕÔÑó: ¡°vast like the ancient state¡± or ¡°oceanic Zhao¡±).¡±


    The lad with the single eyelids, clad in khaki trousers, piped up, ¡°I¡¯m Ye Lang (Ò¶ÀÊ: ¡°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 (ÜòÉñ: 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¡ª¡±


    ¡°¡ªAlright, 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 ¨C 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.


    ¡°¡ª Good morning! It¡¯s 8 a.m.!¡±


    ¡°¡ª 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.


    ©¤©¤©¤ ? ©¤©¤ ¡î ©¤©¤ ? ©¤©¤©¤

 Chapter 118: The Game Starts~!

    With each step toward the refrigerator, Yu Xiao felt the countdown ticking, the kitchen¡¯s chill hinting at a sinister secret within. The once mundane fridge now seemed to be the epicentre of an otherworldly cold.


    Yu Xiao¡¯s heart didn¡¯t race with fear of the supernatural; rather, she dreaded the mundane horror of spoiled food. Her imagination conjured grotesque images of decaying meat or swarms of maggots behind the door, sending a shiver of disgust through her.


    Her hand trembled as it brushed against the fridge¡¯s cold metal, the frigid touch confirming the malevolent presence inside. She frowned, bracing herself for the encounter ahead, knowing it wouldn¡¯t be as simple as disposing of expired groceries.


    Yu Xiao was well-versed in caution. She withdrew three Taoist talismans from her pocket, each marked with exorcism sigils, and clutched them tightly. Taking a deep breath, she nudged the fridge door open. A blast of icy air escaped, briefly concealing the sight of a rigid, metallic hand reaching out from the darkness.


    As the chilling appendage approached the door¡¯s edge, Yu Xiao acted swiftly. Her other hand shot out, thrusting the talismans into the cold abyss before slamming the door shut.


    ¡°Bam! Bam! Bam!¡±


    **


    The loud bangs resonated, drawing the attention of nearby people from the other doors, all fixated on the source of the commotion.


    Xue Rong Rong and the crew gaped, their expressions a mix of pure bewilderment. ¡°Wow, that sounded like talismans!?¡± they mused. The show had only just begun, and it seemed like someone was already going all out.


    Meanwhile, Zhao Lan and Zhou Xiao Zhen nodded in recognition. It was classic Yu Xiao, deftly using talismans like a seasoned pro. They didn¡¯t view it as overkill; rather, they admired her ingenuity, considering it quite practical and cool.


    **


    Then came the triple thunderclap waltz, causing the kitchen¡ªand the fridge¡ªto shake and shimmy thrice. Outside, lights flickered, and although the fridge door remained shut, its seal was compromised as smoke seeped from every crevice.


    Ever vigilant, Yu Xiao retreated, covering her nose and mouth as she awaited the smoky tempest¡¯s end. When it finally abated, she cautiously opened the fridge, greeted by a dense fog that obscured even the faintest ghost¡ªironically, the very thing she sought.


    To dodge any nasty surprises, she backed away yet again, giving the smoke its moment to bow out. And when it finally did take its leave, the fridge¡¯s contents came into view.


    There it was¡ªa ghost, appearing as though it had just had a fight with a toaster, with its hair sticking up and foam coming out of its mouth, all crammed inside the fridge. Yu Xiao looked at it with disgust, reached in, and with a firm grip, pulled the spectral intruder out by its crispy hair.


    The singed spectre landed on the floor with a splat, spreading out like a dropped kebab. And that¡¯s when Yu Xiao noticed the stash of chicken wings, coolly waiting in the fridge.


    Exhaling in relief, she was thankful for the simple fare. ¡°Raw isn¡¯t an option, is it?¡± she mused, eyeing the gas stove warily. A quick cook should suffice.


    Culinary flair wasn¡¯t her thing. In a world of takeout and ready meals, who needed it? Yet, now faced with the reality of having a kitchen based task, she realised the value of cooking skills.


    With resolve, she filled a pot, aiming to boil a single wing. The task was simple: make breakfast, not a banquet.


    She plunged the wing into the water and ignited the flame with a twist of her wrist.


    Watching the blue flames flicker under the pot, Yu Xiao attempted to call Zhao Lan and Zhou Xiao Zhen.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, the number you have dialled is not in service¡­¡±


    No surprise there. Yu Xiao had braced for this. If all challenges were like this, her friends would surely thrive.


    Lost in thought, she didn¡¯t immediately notice the flames changing to an eerie green hue.


    And then, as if summoned from an ancient tale, a hand emerged from the fire. Fingers first, then a palm, pressing against the bottom of the pot as if trying to escape the fiery underworld.


    Yu Xiao carefully watched the pot, her eyes wide with determination. She couldn¡¯t afford to mess this up; all her hard work would go down the drain.


    **


    Behind a different door, Zhou Xiao Zhen found herself in a long corridor, doors lining one side. Puzzled, she wondered about her whereabouts and how she arrived.


    Suddenly, the living room TV flickered on, displaying pink hearts and a sweet voice announced, ¡°Welcome, here you will experience the joys of love.¡±


    ¡°This is my jam,¡¯ Zhou Xiao Zhen thought, her heart fluttering with anticipation. ¡®I chose love because I¡¯m brimming with excitement for it.¡¯


    (????)


    Glued to the screen, she watched as the voice cooed, ¡°Seven doors, seven chances at love,¡±


    Her heart raced. Seven handsome men? This was getting interesting, indeed!


    ¡°Please choose a room and open the door,¡± the voice guided.


    Standing before the first door, emblazoned with ¡°Passionate¡± in bold red, Zhou Xiao Zhen paused.


    Passionate men were her Achilles¡¯ heel, yet she knew better than to jump into things blindly. She needed to explore all her options before making a decision.


    Next, the word ¡°Sly¡± caught her eye on another door.


    Sly? A smirk crossed her face. A little cunning charm was irresistible. The prospect of a battle of wits with a sly, dashing man was tantalising. Isn¡¯t love all about playful mischief?


    Yet, she wasn¡¯t done exploring.


    At the ¡°Playboy¡± door, she arched an eyebrow. Playboys might have a bad rep, but hey, she was the only one here. Who else would they play with but her?


    Each door seemed tailor-made for her tastes.


    The ¡°Brooding¡± door conjured images of her favourite moody protagonists from films and series. Zhou Xiao Zhen sighed dreamily, considering how brooding charm complemented a handsome visage.


    Still, she ventured forth.


    The ¡°Indifference¡± door didn¡¯t deter her. An aloof, attractive man? Now that would be a challenge, and she was all for it.


    With a gentle touch, she considered the sixth door ¡°Gentle¡±, then the seventh, marked ¡°Paranoid.¡±


    Each one seemed to be her type, not because she was fickle, but because she had a big heart when it came to love.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen paced before the seven doors, her mind a whirlwind of indecision.


    Ultimately, she opted for gentleness¡ªnot as her preferred choice, but for its perceived ease of management. With a mix of reluctance and resolve, she chose the path of gentleness to conquer the challenge.


    As the green door swung open, the TV screen shifted from a rose-filled display to a haunting, ghostly face.


    The spectral figure observed Zhou Xiao Zhen with a widening grin. ¡°You¡¯ve selected your true love,¡± it sang. ¡°Win his heart fully by tomorrow¡¯s end, reach one hundred percent affection, or face the consequences¡­ he he he~!¡±


    The room glowed with a soft pink hue as the door revealed its secrets, casting a tranquil light over everything. A man of tall stature and serene demeanour sat on the bed, clad in a pristine white suit.


    Upon her entrance, he turned, his kind eyes and lustrous black hair framing a face that disarmed her instantly.


    Stepping onto the soft carpet, Zhou Xiao Zhen licked her lips. (¡ã?¡ã?).:?


    ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡± the man on the bed asked.


    ¡°I¡¯m Zhou Xiao Zhen,¡± she replied, already by his side, just a heartbeat away. ¡°And you?¡±


    ¡°I am Gentle (ÎÂÈá: Wen-Rou),¡± he said, offering a hand with grace.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen recoiled slightly, prompting Gentle¡¯s reassurance, ¡°Fear not, I mean no harm.¡±


    ¡°Truly?¡± she asked, easing down to his level. ¡°How can I earn your full affection?¡±


    With a gentle smile, Gentle replied, ¡°Simply do what delights me.¡±


    ¡°And what would that be?¡±


    ¡°I like meat,¡± he whispered, his lips parting slightly. ¡°Could you satisfy that for me?¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen pondered. Perhaps Smiley was better suited for this task. Her Saint Elizabeth was brimming with meat, a ghost¡¯s delight. Smiley would have made it effortless.


    Crouching before Gentle, she dialled Yu Xiao¡¯s number, only to be met with: ¡°Sorry, the user you are trying to reach is out of the service area¡­¡±


    Frustration bubbled within her; the house had been scoured to no avail. No food, no meat. To win over Gentle, she might have to consider offering him her own flesh.


    ¡°I¡¯m starving,¡± Gentle murmured, his frown adding to his allure, ¡°I¡¯m really hungry. Can you help me out?¡±


    **


    Yu Xiao stared at the fire ghost emerging from the flames, pulling out a Thunder Striking Ghost Repelling Talisman. As she hurled the Talisman at the ghost, the flames surged and consumed it, reducing it to mere ashes.


    ¡°¡­¡± ¡Æ(¦µ§Õ¦µlll


    Speechless, Yu Xiao was at a loss; such a ghost was beyond her experience, one that could render a talisman useless. She pondered the need for a fireproof variant, but given talismans were paper-based, how would they resist fire?


    The ghost¡¯s form began to materialise from the fire. In a moment of clarity, Yu Xiao grabbed her smartphone from her pocket and, with a swift decision, turned off the gas.


    With a resounding smack, the fire ghost¡¯s emergence was cut short, its roar fading as it vanished with the extinguished flames.


    Yu Xiao, pot and smartphone in hand, grimaced at the thought of consuming the undercooked chicken wing.


    Nearby, a scorched ghost twitched on the floor. Yu Xiao, kneeling next to it, bit into the semi-raw wing.


    ¡°Oh, forgot the salt.¡± Yu Xiao hastily rose, grabbing the spice box and sprinkling salt on the chicken wing. Another bite, ¡°Urgh¡­ too salty.¡±


    (£þ©n£þ)


    She had considered heading to St. Elizabeth¡¯s for food, but she had rushed into this instance precisely to avoid the chaos there. If she returned now, she might stumble upon a clash between Gluttony and George. If those two ghosts caught sight of her, they would both try to enlist her help. What a predicament that would be!


    To avert such a ghostly disaster, Yu Xiao decided she would rather eat raw chicken wings and risk shitting Salmonella!


    **


    While Yu Xiao grappled with her half-baked chicken wing, Zhou Xiao Zhen was painfully tugging at her newly grown, yet barely there, hair.


    In contrast, Zhao Lan¡¯s situation seemed almost leisurely.


    Upon opening the door, she was greeted by a scene akin to a KTV private booth. The dim lighting, expansive sofa, and imposing screen set the stage for a solitary karaoke session.


    (¿¨À­OK ¨C It stands for ¡°karaoke television¡±, a type of entertainment venue where people sing popular songs while following the lyrics shown on a screen.)


    A microphone lay on the coffee table, beckoning Zhao Lan as she entered. Confusion set in. Was this setup implying a karaoke bonding session with friends? Yet, she was the only one present.


    Surveying the private room, everything seemed normal; there was no one there to provide instructions. Zhao Lan pondered, perhaps she should kick things off with a song?


    She settled into the sofa, microphone in hand.


    As soon as she touched the microphone, the screen came to life, presenting a prompt.


    ¡¾Your six closest friends, your ride-or-die crew, are in danger. Only you can save them. Now, you face a choice: to help or not to help?¡¿


    Zhao Lan¡¯s throat tightened as she grasped the gravity of the challenge.


    ¡°Help¡­¡±


    Nothing happened¡­


    Zhao Lan paused, before speaking into the microphone, ¡°Help!¡±


    ¡¾You are a kind and loyal person. At first, you could have chosen to ignore the situation for your own safety. However, you willingly put yourself in harm¡¯s way to save your friends.¡¿


    A wry smile tugged at Zhao Lan¡¯s lips. ¡®Was it really willingly?¡¯ she mused. ¡®Or am I simply being coerced by you?¡¯


    Nevertheless, the mention of the six friends on the screen likely referred to Zhou Xiao Zhen and the others. Could she help them from where she was?


    ¡¾The question challenge commences. Correct answers aid a friend; incorrect ones risk your fate.¡¿


    ¡¾Question one: What colour were the clothes that the ghost was wearing during its rounds on your first night at the hospital?¡¿


    Zhao Lan: ¡°¡­¡±


    A shudder passed through her. She clasped her head, staring at the screen in a daze.


    ¡®How could I know?¡¯ she wondered. ¡®It was too dark; I couldn¡¯t even peek. Besides, who keeps track of such things?¡¯


    Then, it clicked.


    ¡°Oh, I¡¯m such an airhead,¡± Zhao Lan smacked her forehead. ¡°Hospital uniforms are white, obviously.¡±


    She confidently spoke into the microphone, ¡°White.¡±


    ¡¾Right you are. Now, pick a friend to help.¡¿


    The screen split into six parts, each showing a live feed of her friends¡¯ current situations.


    Zhao Lan scanned quickly, spotting Smiley and Precious.


    Smiley was hunched over, eating something that seemed to make her gag. At her feet was a charred ghost, likely vanquished by her talismans.


    Precious was in a room painted pink, facing a man in a white suit. He looked peaceful, but Precious seemed upset, her face scrunched up in worry.


    Ye Lang (Wealth) was wandering a villa, seemingly safe for the moment.


    Yang Xian (Family) was in the kitchen, and Xue Rong Rong (Career) looked like she was in a meeting.


    Zhao Yang sat still, his eyes fixed on a pile of brown items. They were probably meant to be food, considering his choice (Food). His expression was one of deep sadness.


    At that moment, Zhao Lan decided that Zhao Yang and Precious were in dire need of her help. While the others faced their own trials, these two seemed particularly distressed.


    She chose to aid Precious, declaring into the microphone, ¡°I¡¯ll support my friend at the Love Door. ¡®Talisman Shop ¡ª Only three points each!¡¯¡±


    The screen shifted focus, leaving only Precious visible.


    **


    Zhou Xiao Zhen was frantic, her phone unresponsive, and no meat in sight. The thought of self-harm was unthinkable. She paced, desperate for a solution.


    As she sighed heavily, the room¡¯s lights flickered ominously.


    ¡°What the heck?!¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen gasped, eyeing the calm man in white, bracing for chaos.


    Then, with a heavy thud, something dropped from above.


    Squinting, Zhou Xiao Zhen spotted a piece of bloody meat on the floor!


    Disbelief washed over her as she gazed upward. Could it be? Had her wish been granted from the heavens? Was she favoured by fate?


    Without hesitation, she offered the meat to the man named Gentle. S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Living up to his moniker, Gentle accepted the raw offering with elegance. Despite his refined demeanour, he devoured it swiftly, cleaning his lips with a swipe of his finger.


    A chime rang out: ¡°Your destined sweetheart¡¯s affection has risen to 15%.¡±


    Well, well. Eating a large piece of meat only earned a 15% approval rating?


    Gentle¡¯s eyes warmed as he regarded Zhou Xiao Zhen, caressing her cheek with a pale, cool hand. ¡°Darling, you are remarkable,¡± he murmured, ¡°I hold you dear.¡±


    ¡°Really?¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen couldn¡¯t help but admire his appearance and physique. However, watching him devour the raw, unidentified chunk of meat made her feel sick.


    ¡°Yes, this is the first time I¡¯ve felt this way about someone,¡± he said, his eyes soft and his words dripping with sincerity. ¡°Is there anything you need me to do for you?¡±


    Once upon a time, Zhou Xiao Zhen might have anticipated some naughty fun, but now her thoughts had taken a more serious turn. Nevertheless, it was difficult to resist the tempting offer.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen stroked her chin thoughtfully, taking a moment to ponder before replying, ¡°Are you feeling hot? Would you like to take off your coat?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not hot,¡± he responded, a hint of a smile playing on his lips as he looked at her. ¡°But if you want me to, I can.¡±


    With that, he stood up, towering at least 187 centimetres tall. Facing Zhou Xiao Zhen, he grinned down at her. Despite his imposing stature, there was no hint of intimidation.


    His fingers deftly undid the golden buttons of his white suit, revealing the crisp shirt underneath. He raised his hand to remove the coat, unveiling his lean yet strong physique. The black shirt clung to his form, radiating an irresistible charm.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen swallowed hard, feeling a wave of desire wash over her once again.


    ¡°Xiao Zhen,¡± Gentle murmured, his voice soft as he knelt before her. Gently taking her right hand, he tilted his head back, his eyes and tone filled with reverence as he spoke, ¡°I¡¯m hungry again.¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen: ¡°¡­¡± ?_??


    **


    ¡¾What¡¯s the name of your mother-in-law who lived in Gu Family Village all her life?¡¿


    Zhao Lan scratched her head, puzzled. The mother-in-law in question was none other than Gu Jing Rong¡¯s mother, the wife of the previous village chief.


    Her name was Gu¡­ Oh, for goodness¡¯ sake!


    Zhao Lan was teetering on the edge of irritation. What sort of question was this, anyway? Who would bother memorising the names of trivial non-player characters in a game?


    Convinced she didn¡¯t know the name of the village chief¡¯s wife, Zhao Lan timidly requested, ¡°May I have a different question, please?¡±


    ¡¾Answer incorrect, initiating punishment.¡¿


    Zhao Lan: ¡°¡­¡±


    All of a sudden, Zhao Lan sat bolt upright, her muscles tensing. Her left hand balled into a fist, pressing against her throat, while her right hand¡¯s thumb and forefinger came together as if grasping something invisible.


    She moved her hand across the table in a gesture all too familiar, echoing the motion of scooping up food with a spoon. Zhao Lan¡¯s complexion turned pale; she recognized the impending scenario.


    Before she could ponder further, Zhao Lan found herself mirroring her friend¡¯s experience. Among the six other players, only two were eating, and just one¡ªZhao Yang, who had chosen the food door¡ªwas using a spoon.


    Zhao Lan watched helplessly as her hand, clutching the imaginary spoon, approached her mouth. She was at least grateful that she wasn¡¯t actually eating anything.


    As her mouth opened and the cold spoon met her lips, a potent, foul odour invaded her senses, bringing tears to her eyes.


    Moments later, she bolted to the wall¡¯s corner, heaving uncontrollably.


    ( ¡Ám¡Á)


    **


    Yu Xiao finished the chicken wing and immediately felt a twinge of discomfort in her stomach. Clutching her belly, she hauled the ghost¡ªnow singed from a lightning strike¡ªout of the kitchen.


    Then, the prompt chimed in once more.


    ¡°Oh dear, look at the time, it¡¯s already nine! You¡¯ve had your breakfast, such a diligent child. Just a morning meal and you¡¯re brimming with vigour. Now¡¯s the ideal moment for chores. The grass on the lawn beyond the balcony has grown unkempt. Would you be so kind as to tend to it before eleven?¡±


    ©¤©¤©¤ ? ©¤©¤ ¡î ©¤©¤ ? ©¤©¤©¤

 Chapter 119: Zhao Lan drooled with envy

    Yu Xiao leaned on the balcony railing, surveying the lawn below. The grass, a lush green, stood eerily uniform in height.


    She hesitated briefly before seizing an ashtray from the coffee table and flinging it downwards. The moment it struck the ground, it disappeared, leaving behind a wave through the grass and a distinct crunching noise.


    ¡°Well, isn¡¯t that just charming? Even the grass here has a taste for ashtrays,¡± Yu Xiao remarked dryly, stepping back as annoyance flickered across her face.


    As she turned to leave, a sound from below halted her. Looking down, she saw the ghost she had earlier struck with lightning, now attempting to stand.


    A hint of a smirk appeared on Yu Xiao¡¯s face. The instruction was to finish the task by eleven, but it never specified who had to do it.


    **


    Stepping out of the meeting room, Xue Rong Rong was holding a bunch of papers, feeling a bit lost as she leaned against the wall. Despite playing a horror death game, here she was, in an office, looking like she worked there.


    She got pulled into a meeting where everyone, including the boss, was hyped up, yelling slogans as if fueled by an overdose of caffeine. They even wanted everyone to stand up and say their work goals, like how much overtime they¡¯d do.


    When it was Xue Rong Rong¡¯s turn, she thought, ¡®I¡¯m not here to win employee of the month,¡¯ so she just said she planned to leave on time. That got her some weird looks from everyone, boss included, as if she¡¯d grown a second head.


    Settling at her desk, Xue Rong Rong felt a mix of tiredness and confusion. What kind of weird challenge was this?


    Just as she was trying to figure things out, her computer turned on by itself, showing a message.


    ¡¾You¡¯re all about your job. Make sure you finish everything before you head out.¡¿


    Xue Rong Rong was startled. ¡°What if I can¡¯t get it all done?¡±


    ¡¾If you fail to complete your tasks, you will be stuck here indefinitely, toiling away endlessly.¡¿ S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°¡­What?¡±


    Right then, a lady in a red outfit and high heels came over, swaying her hips, and dropped a paper on Xue Rong Rong¡¯s desk.


    ¡°Here¡¯s your to-do list for today.¡±


    Looking at the list¡ªstuff like fertilising the lawn, working at the factory, moving frozen meat, hiding coins for the boss, and delivering food to the boss¡¯s friends¡ªXue Rong Rong got the chills. ¡°Why do I have to do all this? How am I supposed to finish?¡±


    The lady in red just rolled her eyes. ¡°It¡¯s not my problem if you finish or not. These are the boss¡¯s orders. Got a problem? Talk to the boss.¡±


    And with that, she walked off, heels clicking away.


    After blurting out her intention to leave on time at the meeting, Xue Rong Rong felt a twinge of regret. She flagged down a coworker and inquired, ¡°When do we normally wrap up here?¡±


    The colleague, looking more like a walking shadow with those dark circles and thin frame, glanced at her and said, ¡°Typically by five.¡±


    Xue Rong Rong mumbled under her breath, ¡°Fantastic,¡± her mind already wishing she had chosen to work overtime instead.


    **


    Ye Lang pushed open the door to a stunning villa, its luxury evident in the two-story mansion, swimming pool, tennis court, and sprawling garden.


    As he strolled through, Ye Lang was in awe. Could he ever call such a home his own?


    The TV flickered on just as he entered.


    A ghostly figure, decked out like a deity of wealth but with a pale blue hue and sharp, crimson lips and teeth, greeted him with a chuckle. ¡°Ah, a fresh face, hehehe¡­¡±


    After a bit of a cackle, the ghost composed himself and said, ¡°You¡¯re on a treasure hunt. This place? It¡¯s owned by a loaded tycoon who¡¯s tucked away gold coins everywhere. You¡¯ve got until tomorrow to find a hundred of them. Don¡¯t find them, and well, let¡¯s just say the tycoon will have your head.¡±


    Ye Lang stayed cool; such trials were nothing new to him. He¡¯d been through weirder stuff than this. Yet, he eyed the pool and tennis court, pondering if the coins were there¡ª if so, locating them there would indeed pose a significant challenge.


    **


    Meanwhile, Xue Rong Rong, bag of coins in hand, was baffled by the villa¡¯s grandeur, which she hadn¡¯t noticed from outside.


    Her mission? To stash the gold so well that even the boss couldn¡¯t find them.


    A ghost, clad in Hanfu, warned from the TV, ¡°Hide these so no one can find them. If they do, the boss is gonna have your head¡­¡±


    Scratching her head, Xue Rong Rong started plotting. She scattered the coins here and there, making sure they weren¡¯t all in one place. Her gaze landed on the tennis court. Burying a few there seemed like a smart move.


    The tennis court was huge¡ªno way anyone would dig up the whole thing, right? So she buried some coins in the flower beds, chucked a few into the pool, and even tossed a couple onto the roof. Who in their right mind would go looking up there?


    **


    Sweating buckets, Yang Xian was slaving away in the kitchen.


    When she first pushed the door ¡°Family¡± open, she stepped into a plain two-bedroom flat.


    In the living room, there were two people: a bald guy with a belly that could rival a beer keg and a kid totally lost in his Gundam toy world.


    Right then, the TV went from cartoons to flashing a message.


    ¡¾Family is your everything. You¡¯d go to the ends of the earth for them. By tomorrow, make sure they adore you 100%. If not, they¡¯ll stop having your back against the creepy crawlies out there.¡¿


    Yang Xian froze. She never meant to pick the family door. Health was her first choice, but someone beat her to it. Family seemed doable, so she went for it. She had no clue it¡¯d be this tricky to boost the love metre.


    She eyed the duo¡ªone big, one small¡ªand couldn¡¯t help but crinkle her nose. That kid, her son? No way. With a pancake-flat nose, beady eyes, and sausage lips, he looked nothing like her. Then she saw Mr. Beer Belly on the couch, and it hit her.


    That dude, with his seven-month ¡®pregnant¡¯ belly, was her hubby? She¡¯d take being a spinster any day over this!


    But she had to get out of this game. So, Yang Xian plastered on a fake grin, crouched by the boy, and asked, ¡°Buddy, how can I make you like me more?¡±


    The kid gave her the stink eye and snapped, ¡°I¡¯m starving! Get me some food!¡±


    The couch potato gave her a glare that could curdle milk and barked at her, ¡°What, you got cotton in your ears? The kid¡¯s hungry! What kind of mom are you, huh? Lounging around all day, and you can¡¯t even keep the house clean. Look at this dust!¡±


    Yang Xian was stumped. Why did she even choose this family door? If she knew it¡¯d be like this, she would¡¯ve gone for the food door in a heartbeat.


    **


    Zhao Yang, feeling miserable after his bout of sickness, slumped at the dining table. He kicked himself for not being quicker on his feet. A faster reaction might have spared him from the dreaded food door.


    When he stepped through the door, he found himself in a cosy restaurant, where tables and chairs were set up just so.


    Across from a shabby chair, a TV buzzed to life. Zhao Yang edged into the room, and cryptic words popped up on the screen.


    ¡¾So, you fancy yourself a foodie? Hate to see a meal go to waste, right? Check out this spread. But here¡¯s the twist ¨C you gotta clean your plate. Miss a crumb, and the chef behind this will make you vanish before you can even think ¡®yum¡¯!¡¿


    The screen played tricks, offering Zhao Yang a grim choice.


    ¡¾Pick your poison, pal. A. Curry rice that tastes like shit. B. Shit that tastes like curry.¡¿


    ¡°¡­¡±


    He stood there, mind numb. Facing off with a ghost seemed like a walk in the park now.


    With a heavy heart, he went for A.


    He told himself it might not taste great, and getting it down would be rough, but hey, it was still food. Maybe if he didn¡¯t overthink it, it wouldn¡¯t be so bad.


    Then came a knock. Zhao Yang found a cart with a cloche-covered dish waiting outside. He wheeled it in and closed the door, hearing the cart roll away. Was a ghost playing delivery? If he didn¡¯t eat, would the ghost come for him instead?


    He sank into his chair, inhaled deeply, and lifted the cover.


    Instantly, a foul odour swept through the room, turning Zhao Yang¡¯s stomach into a whirlpool of nausea¡­


    **


    After stashing all the coins, Xue Rong Rong got back to delivering meals to the boss¡¯s pals.


    She was in the restaurant¡¯s back kitchen, piling up the ready meals on a cart to take out front. The notice board in the kitchen had one clear rule: don¡¯t peek at the eaters. So, she¡¯d just push the cart to the door, knock, and then duck back into the storage room.


    After the folks outside grabbed their grub and closed the door, she¡¯d roll the cart back, ready for the next batch of orders.


    She had no clue who the customers were¡ªprobably some spooky types. Before taking the food out, she¡¯d slyly lift the lid just a smidge. And every time, she¡¯d get hit with a stench so foul, it could only appeal to a ghost¡¯s taste buds.


    **


    ¡°Xiao Zhen,¡± Gentle cooed, his voice dripping with fake sweetness as he shook Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s hand, ¡°I¡¯m starving, absolutely famished. I¡¯m craving meat.¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen looked up, half-expecting divine intervention, but no heavenly meat shower was forthcoming.


    She eyed Gentle warily, his stomach rumbling like thunder. Without meat, his affection metre was stuck on low, which spelled trouble for her. But getting him meat? That was a whole other problem.


    ¡°Really, Gentle?¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen sighed, exasperated. ¡°Can¡¯t we just enjoy a date without your constant cravings?¡±


    Gentle, undeterred, pleaded, ¡°Please, Xiao Zhen, I¡¯m dying here¡­¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen snapped, ¡°What¡¯s next? You¡¯ll eat me? Over my dead body!¡±


    Then it clicked¡ªwhy limit herself to one option? The other rooms were full of potential¡­ meat.


    ¡°Hold on,¡± she told Gentle, pointing to the bedroom. ¡°Be a good boy and wait for me in bed. I¡¯ll be back with something to eat.¡±


    She left, catching a glimpse of a ghostly figure on the TV. Ignoring it, she headed to the next room.


    The ghost on the screen warned, ¡°Beware, all these men are hungry. Only the one who truly loves you is safe¡­¡± But her hand was already on the doorknob with a decisive click.


    Behind the unassuming door, Zhou Xiao Zhen encountered a room adorned in sleek monochrome tones. Seated on a pristine white bed was a man clad in a sharp black shirt, his rebellious air accentuated by a glinting nose ring.


    Meeting Indifferent¡¯s intense stare, Zhou Xiao Zhen felt a twinge of intimidation. He was alarmingly attractive! Her knees felt weak.


    As he stood, towering over her, she felt the air thicken. Leaning in, his presence almost threatening, she reached for her talismans.


    ¡°Boom! Boom!¡±


    Then, two loud thuds shook the house, and Gentle¡¯s door burst open.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen stepped in, a mysterious black shape in hand, and closed the door behind her.


    ¡°Feast your eyes, this is all for you,¡± she said with a sly grin.


    Gentle¡¯s face softened, and he hugged her tightly. ¡°You¡¯re the best, Xiao Zhen.¡±


    She smirked back, teasing, ¡°Better enjoy it, and no more hunger complaints, got it?¡±


    **


    Yu Xiao watched from the balcony as a ghost with untamed hair worked hard on the stubborn lawn below. Despite its efforts, the grass was resisting, much to Yu Xiao¡¯s amusement.


    She sighed to herself, realising her lawn-fixing plans were in jeopardy if she didn¡¯t move fast. More hands on deck seemed like the only way out.


    Decisively, Yu Xiao made up her mind to ¡®hire¡¯ more help. No time to waste, she turned from the balcony and headed for the green door.


    ¡°It¡¯s not bedtime yet,¡± whispered a spooky voice from behind the door, trying to spook her.


    Yu Xiao ignored it and reached for the doorknob.


    An icy draft swept out as she cracked the door for a quick look.


    Gathering her nerve, she flung the door open, revealing a dim room with a ghost sprawled on a huge bed. Its wild hair flowed everywhere, and blood seeped from its face, its eyes glaring at Yu Xiao as it tried to get up, muttering something creepy.


    Listening carefully, she heard the ghost mumble, ¡°This is my bed¡­ No one¡¯s allowed to sleep in my bed¡­¡±


    Yu Xiao watched, unfazed, as the ghost struggled to rise, managing only to get halfway.


    Losing patience, she asked, ¡°Need help?¡±


    The ghost, in a bloody gown, looked puzzled, ¡°?¡±.


    Yu Xiao didn¡¯t hesitate, grabbing its cold, swollen hands and yanking hard.


    The ghost flopped onto the floor, looking confused. This was new.


    But the ghost¡¯s thought process wasn¡¯t exactly firing on all cylinders. Now free, it thought about attacking the intruder.


    It raised its clawed hands, its mouth full of sharp teeth.


    Then, a hand with a bunch of talismans appeared, unfurling them like a fan.


    The ghost hiccupped.


    ¡°Mind giving me a hand?¡± Yu Xiao joked. ¡°I did help you out. It¡¯s only fair you return the favor.¡±


    Back on the balcony, Yu Xiao watched two ghosts mowing the lawn. She nodded, pleased; the extra ghost had sped things up. They might just get all the lawns done before eleven.


    Yu Xiao stretched, feeling relaxed. The sun was shining, and a hot cup of coffee or tea sounded perfect.


    **


    ¡¾Question three: What is the most popular attraction in Lolita Amusement Park?¡¿


    Once again, Zhao Lan was at a loss. Amidst the scramble for clues and a way out, who could spare a thought for the park¡¯s most frequented spot?


    She thought hard, trying to remember which attraction had the longest line.


    They all seemed to attract a crowd of death-seekers.


    Her mind kept going back to the haunted house. With a sigh, Zhao Lan gave her answer.


    ¡°The haunted house.¡±


    It wasn¡¯t just a guess; she figured the haunted house must be swarming with ghosts, even if she wasn¡¯t sure about the tourists¡¯ favourite, she was pretty sure it was the ghosts¡¯ hotspot.


    ¡¾Correct answer. Please choose the friend you want to help below.¡¿


    Zhao Lan: ¡°¡­¡±


    The screen split into six, showing where the others were.


    Zhao Lan¡¯s eyes found Smiley, who reclined leisurely under the sun¡¯s caress. A breeze ruffled her hair as she rested, eyes closed, humming softly¡ªa picture of serenity amidst the chaos.


    A pang of envy hit Zhao Lan; Smiley had a knack for finding peace in the most harrowing games.


    Her gaze moved to Zhou Xiao Zhen, still in the pink room. She was chatting with a man in a white suit who was slowly undressing, button by button¡­


    Zhao Lan groaned. Was she the only one in such a dire situation?


    She saw Zhao Yang dealing with a strange dish and felt a bit better. At least she wasn¡¯t alone in facing odd challenges.


    Yang Xian was sorting toys, Xue Rong Rong was scattering something on the grass, and Ye Lang was running through a villa, a ghost on his heels.


    Seeing her friends managing, Zhao Lan decided to help Ye Lang.


    ¡°I¡¯ll assist our friend from the Wealth Door.¡±


    The screen zoomed in on Ye Lang, the rest fading away.


    **


    In the kitchen, Ye Lang¡¯s eyes twinkled as he spied his first gold coin in the oven. He reached out, but a cold hand clamped on his wrist.


    A ghost popped out, chasing him like he was the last bus of the night.


    Ye Lang bolted, heart racing. One measly coin in hand, and a ghost on his tail¡ªhow was he supposed to nab a hundred by sunset?


    He zipped through the villa, but oops¡ªa rogue object sent him flying, and he tumbled to the floor.


    A ghastly touch clutched his ankle, and his heart lurched, bracing for the worst.


    ¡®Well, this is it?¡¯ he wondered, resigned himself to his fate.


    Then, an ear-piercing shriek rent the air, and the spectral grip loosened. The ghost? It bolted, as if it had seen a mouse.


    Ye Lang lay there on his back, a mix of shock and relief washing over him. ¡°What in the world¡­?¡± he mused. One second he¡¯s the main course, the next, the ghost¡¯s beating a hasty retreat. Perhaps it¡¯s afraid of spiders?


    He shook off the surprise, spotted a weird lump under the carpet, and voil¨¤¡ªa hidden coin, just sitting there, waiting to be found.


    **


    Meanwhile, Xue Rong Rong paused her meal deliveries to give the lawn a quick feed. As she sprinkled the fertiliser, the grass perked up, as if it was gobbling up the stuff.


    She glanced over her shoulder and muttered, ¡°This grass is weirding me out,¡± while eyeing the balcony. A shadowy figure loomed there, all kinds of ominous. Seriously, who has a lawn that acts hungry?


    A chill crept up her back, but Rong Rong wasn¡¯t about to let it slow her down. She flung another handful of fertiliser, pep-talking herself, ¡°Keep it together, Rong Rong. Not your problem, not your haunted house. Just sprinkle and scoot!¡±


    ©¤©¤©¤ ? ©¤©¤ ¡î ©¤©¤ ? ©¤©¤©¤

 Chapter 120: Smiley Left her Track

    Yu Xiao was chilling on her balcony, soaking in the sun and the cool breeze, with a grin that said she¡¯d figured out how to enjoy even the craziest of days.


    She was idly thinking about Misty and Precious, wondering where they¡¯d gotten to, when she realised she was pretty parched.


    As she opened her eyes and took a casual glance outside, something at the lawn¡¯s edge caught her attention. She squinted, trying to discern the figure that seemed strangely familiar, yet not quite like the typical ghostly shape.


    Leaning forward for a better look, it clicked¡ªXue Rong Rong, in her unmistakable rainbow tee and black shorts. Even blurry and at a distance, that outfit was a dead ringer. There was Xue Rong Rong, doing her thing, arms flailing like she was trying to cast a magic spell or something.


    Yu Xiao hadn¡¯t expected to see a friendly face here, but there was she, right across the lawn. She didn¡¯t hesitate, waving like mad and shouting, ¡°Xue Rong Rong!¡± hoping to catch her attention.


    **


    ¡°Xue Rong Rong¡ª!¡±


    As she spread the fertiliser, Xue Rong Rong couldn¡¯t shake the feeling of being watched. The shout from across the way made her look up, and there was someone on the opposite balcony, waving and calling out to her.


    A chill crept up her back as she realised the figure in the house had spotted her. Her hands grew sweaty with anxiety. She silently prayed that the creature wouldn¡¯t venture outside, hoping the lawn¡¯s edge would act as a barrier.


    Then, the thing on the balcony called her name again, its voice harsh and grating, its teeth sharp and claws long.


    ¡°¡­?¡±


    Xue Rong Rong¡¯s heart skipped a beat. How did it know her? This was definitely not a Casper the Friendly Ghost situation. Panic surged within her, spurring her to finish her task with even greater urgency. She scattered the fertiliser faster, her mind racing with questions.


    **


    Meanwhile, Yu Xiao lingered on the balcony, her calls to Xue Rong Rong fading into the air as empty farts as she watched her teammate¡¯s hasty departure. She coughed softly, the dryness in her throat reminding her she hadn¡¯t paused for even a sip of water during her shouts.


    As Xue Rong Rong vanished behind the groaning door, Yu Xiao pondered the day¡¯s events. The place wasn¡¯t as empty as she¡¯d first thought. Bumping into Xue Rong Rong here made her wonder who else might be wandering this eerie labyrinth.


    Realising that Xue Rong Rong must also have a task by entering through the Career door, Yu Xiao understood that the challenges behind the other doors wouldn¡¯t be any easier. Perhaps all seven tracks were intertwined, but everyone seemed too focused on their own missions to notice the larger puzzle slowly coming together.


    Yu Xiao spun around, taking in the strange house she¡¯d found herself in. The front door was the sole way out. She peered at the lawn, contemplating whether a venture outside might lead her to where Xue Rong Rong had gone. But as the clock edged closer to eleven, she knew new challenges awaited; stepping out now simply wasn¡¯t an option.


    **


    Gentle had polished off Indifference¡¯s crispy remains, leaving just a few ash stains.


    Despite the feast, his belly didn¡¯t bulge a bit, yet his smile was now all sugar, eyes twinkling with a softness reserved for Zhou Xiao Zhen. His fondness for her? 30 points.


    For Zhou Xiao Zhen, words escaped her. The sight of Gentle making a meal of such a hulking figure had somehow only given her 15 points.


    ¡°You¡¯re just my type, Xiao Zhen,¡± Gentle cooed, looping his arms around her waist in a snug embrace. ¡°Is there anything I can do for you?¡±


    With the meat source sorted, Zhou Xiao Zhen let out a sigh of relief. Her mind was suddenly buzzing with ideas now that the weight had lifted. Not one to pass up the opportunity presented by such a good-looking man, she asked Gentle to strip, eager to see what lay beneath.


    Gentle¡¯s physique was truly impressive. As he undid his shirt, revealing his smooth, well-defined muscles, Zhou Xiao Zhen couldn¡¯t help but feel a flutter in her stomach. Despite his good looks, she was merely curious, having seen his eating habits, she had no ulterior motives in mind.


    Gentle nonchalantly unbuttoned his shirt, lowering himself gracefully in front of Zhou Xiao Zhen, a charming smile playing on his lips. ¡°Is this more to your liking?¡±


    ¡°I quite like it,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen admitted. ¡°Been here long?¡±


    Gentle¡¯s look drifted off for a moment. ¡°Time¡¯s a bit of a blur, to be honest.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s your plan after I leave?¡±


    It seemed no one had ever posed such a question to Gentle before. He looked a tad bewildered as he answered, ¡°Just waiting, as usual. Someone¡¯s bound to show up.¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen pieced it together. These seven dashing gents were holed up here, awaiting patients to challenge them. But only one patient came at a time, and it was anyone¡¯s guess which of the seven they¡¯d pick.


    Thinking this way, she sensed that Gentle¡¯s occupation was somewhat similar to¡­ hmn! *blush~*


    (? ?>? ¨Œ ?<? ?)


    If it were Smiley who walked in and the handsome man offered some kind words, perhaps Smiley, in a good mood, would relocate him to work at St. Elizabeth¡¯s.


    But Zhou Xiao Zhen shook her head, knowing that Smiley wouldn¡¯t do that. Gentle wasn¡¯t Smiley¡¯s type; she preferred the company of the living. If it were Smiley, with his unquenchable hunger, she might have already started beating him.


    ¡°Xiao Zhen,¡± Gentle said, his eyes softening. ¡°I¡¯m peckish. I want meat.¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen raised an eyebrow. Hadn¡¯t he just scoffed down a whole crispy bloke? And he was still hungry?


    A chill ran through her, and a twinge of dread set in. At this rate, even if she bumped off the rest of the blokes and served them up to Gentle, it might not be enough to curry favour with a full 100 points.


    ¡°Hold on a sec,¡± said Zhou Xiao Zhen, stepping out for a bit of air. She needed to mull things over.


    But as she flung open the door, what did she find but a ghost on the telly, gawping at her like a starved zombie, drool and all.


    A bit rattled, Zhou Xiao Zhen ran through everything Dr. Fu Shen had said since she landed in this scenario, then recalled the instructions she got when she walked through the Love door. Nothing about not bashing the ghost on the box.


    So, with a steely look, she strode up to the telly.


    The ghost on the screen: ¡°?¡±


    Without a second thought, Zhou Xiao Zhen grabbed a mahjong set and gave the telly a good whack.


    The ghost let out a howl, ¡°What are you doing? Ahh!!!¡±


    **


    ¡°Oh, would you look at the time? You¡¯ve blitzed through your morning chores, you star. Bet you¡¯re peckish and knackered, eh? Time for a bite and a bit of shut-eye. Tuck into your lunch before the clock strikes twelve, then kick back for a cheeky hour-long breather.¡±


    Yu Xiao¡¯s face lit up like a Christmas tree. A whole two hours to herself?


    Snatching a raw chicken wing from the kitchen, she clocked that the rules only said lunch had to be before noon, not where. With a crafty grin, Yu Xiao nipped out to the balcony, spotting the lawn looking tip-top again.


    Her eyes narrowed at the sight of two knackered ghosts who¡¯d just finished weeding.


    The Fridge Ghost and the Nightgown Ghost sensed her gaze and turned to her, looking confused.


    ¡­


    Under the blazing midday sun, amidst the lush greenery of the lawn, a ghost exuding a cold aura and another ghost in a nightgown with long hair were carrying a reclining chair. Seated on the chair was a young girl, lazily fanning herself with a stack of talismans.


    The pair of spooks, weighed down by the chair, plodded along, their legs showing marks by the nippy grass.


    Yu Xiao chucked a healing talisman each their way, not out of sympathy, but because she¡¯d need them to help her traipse across the lawn again soon.


    Standing at the edge of the lawn, Yu Xiao stood where Xue Rong Rong had been earlier. She squinted at the silhouettes in her house from a distance, then her gaze darted to a villa nearby.


    Was Xue Rong Rong hiding in that villa?


    ¡°Chop chop,¡± Yu Xiao piped up, waving her hand. ¡°Onwards, clear the way!¡± Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The two ghosts, tears brimming but not spilling, got a wriggle on, leading Yu Xiao forward.


    **


    Ye Lang had combed through the entire flower garden, utterly exhausted, and had only found twelve coins.


    He observed a pattern ¨C every time he found a coin, a ghost would appear to chase him. However, if he dropped the coin on the ground without touching it, the ghost would merely circle around it, seemingly unable to see him.


    After wandering aimlessly for a while, the ghosts seemed to disappear leaving behind the gold coin. So, Ye Lang scooped up the coins, and just like that, the coast was clear.


    Once he sussed out the routine, fear took a backseat as he started digging three feet underground in the villa grounds, searching for those elusive coins.


    Post treasure hunt, Ye Lang was spent. He flopped down, mopping his brow, when a rap at the villa¡¯s gate had him on edge.


    ¡°Knock knock knock.¡±


    Who¡¯d be knocking in this godforsaken place? Could it be the person who hid the coins in this place, maybe?


    ¡°Anyone about?¡± A voice rang out, clear as a bell.


    Despite the normalcy of the voice, Ye Lang had doubts about encountering any living beings around here. Surveying the sprawling villa, he realised there weren¡¯t many hiding spots.


    Without wasting a moment, he legged it to the nearby swimming pool, hunkering down by the edge, only peeking out half his noggin.


    The gate creaked open, and in walked a ghost, nightgown all bloodied, hair cascading down. Her eyes wept blood, her skin was a sickly blue, and her hands were all twisted.


    Bingo. A real ghost!


    Ye Lang ducked under, pressing against the pool¡¯s edge, holding his breath like it was do or die, not budging an inch.


    Yu Xiao stepped in, expecting to find someone since she¡¯d seen Xue Rong Rong head this way. But the joint was empty.


    Something was off, though. The messed-up flower garden, the rug in the living room askew ¨C signs of life, but where¡¯d everyone scarper off to?


    Ye Lang, tough as old boots from all his training, could hold his breath longer than most. But even he had his limits. Eventually, he had to come up for air, ever so carefully.


    As he surfaced, the ghost in the nightgown, who¡¯d been lurking behind Yu Xiao, cranked her head around a full 180 degrees to meet his gaze. She gave Yu Xiao¡¯s clothes a gentle tug.


    ¡°What¡¯s up?¡±


    Ye Lang, still catching his breath, nearly jumped out of his skin when the voice from the gate asked, ¡°Did you say there¡¯s someone in the pool?¡±


    Ye Lang: ¡°!!!¡±

 Chapter 121: New Fiery Friend

    In that instant, time seemed to stand still for him. His mind was buzzing, and when he regained his senses, he realised that he was sinking even deeper into the pool.


    Yu Xiao casually walked over to the edge of the pool, peering into its depths. The water seemed like it could hide anything or anyone. Thanks to a tip from the Nightgown Ghost, she quickly spotted Ye Lang.


    However, all she could make out in the water was a blurry figure. She couldn¡¯t tell who it was, but she assumed it was Xue Rong Rong.


    A chuckle escaped from Yu Xiao. She must have startled the poor gal.


    ¡°Hey, Xue Rong Rong, stop hiding. It¡¯s just me, Yu Xiao,¡± she called out, her playful voice echoing.


    But the figure in the water remained unresponsive. Ye Lang couldn¡¯t hear her over the pounding of his own heart.


    ¡°Tsk.¡± Yu Xiao frowned. The water was calm. Was Xue Rong Rong in trouble? She turned to the Nightgown Ghost. ¡°Can you fetch her out?¡±


    The Nightgown Ghost acted without hesitation and quickly dove into the pool. As a ghost, she didn¡¯t need to breathe, so swimming was effortless for her. Gracefully, she glided along the bottom of the pool towards the lad.


    Ye Lang couldn¡¯t see anything from the outside, but he sensed movement in the water. Holding his breath, he opened his eyes and was met with a horrifying sight.


    Emerging from the depths of the pool was a ghostly figure, her hair flowing like dark seaweed in the shadowy water.


    Caught off guard, he accidentally swallowed a mouthful of pool water, causing his lungs to protest vehemently.


    Yu Xiao stood by the pool, scanning the surface with her gaze. Suddenly, the water stirred and she could barely make out someone struggling below. ¡°What¡¯s all the fuss about?¡± she wondered, finding the futile struggle quite amusing.


    Just as Ye Lang lost consciousness, the Nightgown Ghost glided past and effortlessly pulled him to the surface.


    When Ye Lang regained consciousness, he coughed and spluttered, his throat sore from the unexpected swim.


    As he blinked his eyes open, he was greeted with a chilling sight¡ªa female ghost with blood streaked across her features on his left, and a male ghost with an icy expression on his right.


    Ye Lang tightly shut his eyes, desperately wishing it would all disappear.


    ¡°Why are you nodding off again?¡± a familiar voice asked impatiently. ¡°I only have two hours here, and I didn¡¯t come to watch you sleep!¡±


    His eyes snapped open to the familiar face flanked by the spectral duo.


    ¡°You¡¯re¡­¡± Ye Lang gasped in recognition. ¡°Yu Rou?¡± (ÓãÈâ: Fish Meat)


    (ÓàЦ: Yu Xiao sounds similar to ÓãÈâ: y¨² r¨°u, which means ¡°fish meat.¡± By replacing ¡°È⡱ (r¨°u) with ¡°Í衱 (w¨¢n), which means ¡°ball¡± or ¡°pellet, He called her ¡°Fish Meat¡± and she retorted that she isn¡¯t ¡°Fish Balls¡±)


    ¡°My mistake,¡± muttered Ye Lang. ¡°But why are you here?¡±


    Noticing the ghosts beside her, he blurted out, ¡°Ghosts! You can see them too, right? Or is it just me?¡±


    Yu Xiao pressed a hand to her forehead, letting out a weary sigh. ¡°Of course, I see them. They¡¯re under my command.¡±


    It took a moment, but Ye Lang realised that these ghosts were Yu Xiao¡¯s ¡°summons¡±. With newfound understanding, he regarded her with a mix of awe and bewilderment.


    They exchanged info.


    Confirming with a nod, Yu Xiao stated, ¡°So your mission is to find a hundred gold coins in this manor, right? Have you seen anyone else around?¡¯¡±


    Ye Lang shifted nervously. ¡°Just you. I can¡¯t talk much; I need to find those coins quickly. If I don¡¯t have a hundred by the end of tomorrow, the owner of the manor will have my head.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry,¡± Yu Xiao reassured, motioning to the Fridge Ghost and the Nightgown Ghost. ¡°You two, help him with the coins.¡±


    After a moment of thought, she added, ¡°I¡¯m sure we¡¯ll cross paths with the others. Want to join me in finding them?¡±


    Ye Lang hesitated at the suggestion. ¡°But the coins¡­¡±


    ¡°Keep at it,¡± Yu Xiao cut in, eyeing the clock. Less than an hour to thirteen o¡¯clock. Lingering outside was risky now. ¡°I¡¯ll scout ahead,¡± she decided, ¡°and circle back when I can.¡±


    As she signalled for the ghosts to follow, Ye Lang made a plea, ¡°Could you leave one of them with me?¡±


    Yu Xiao raised an eyebrow. ¡°Sure, I could, but can you guarantee that they won¡¯t turn on you once I¡¯m gone?¡±


    That made Ye Lang pause. He hadn¡¯t considered that.


    ¡°I can give you a guarantee.¡±


    ¡°?¡±


    Yu Xiao, with mischief in her eyes, showed her stack of talismans. ¡°These are your key to keeping the ghosts away,¡± she explained. ¡°And don¡¯t worry about the cost¡ªmy talismans are a steal at just three points each.¡±


    Ye Lang suddenly realised and pointed at her. ¡°You¡¯re the one from the talisman shop at the Sixth Hospital, undercutting everyone else¡¯s prices!¡±


    ¡°Guilty as charged,¡± Yu Xiao admitted with a chuckle, taking out her phone. ¡°Let¡¯s swap numbers. If your mates at the Fifth Hospital need a bargain, I¡¯m their gal.¡±


    Ye Lang¡¯s jaw dropped. ¡°But how do you manage to sell them so cheap? Aren¡¯t you worried about making a profit?¡±


    Yu Xiao dismissed his concerns. ¡°Profit? That¡¯s not the game I¡¯m playing. I¡¯m here to ensure everyone can get talismans to survive these crazy times. I may be new, but I¡¯ve seen enough of life and death to last a lifetime.¡±


    Touched by Yu Xiao¡¯s selflessness, tears filled Ye Lang¡¯s eyes. The Sixth Hospital had its share of sorrow, but his own Fifth Hospital had also been deeply affected. They had recently lost one of their own in the ward.


    ¡°Thank you,¡± Ye Lang said gratefully. ¡°You¡¯re one of the good ones.¡±


    Yu Xiao grinned. ¡°Aw, shucks. So, how many talismans are we talking about here?¡±


    As she left the villa, only the Nightgown Ghost remained. She left the refrigerator ghost to assist Ye Lang in his search for coins.


    Pushing forward, Yu Xiao soon came across a group of factories. The sound of machinery filled the air as she approached, hoping to find some signs of life.


    Just as she reached the perimeter, she saw Xue Rong Rong boarding a truck that quickly sped away, leaving her unable to catch up and intervene.


    Yu Xiao, having just missed Xue Rong Rong, decided to give the factory a quick look in case she found anything interesting.


    Stepping inside, she was greeted by the sight of several trucks idling in the yard. Venturing further, she came across massive machines, slicing through frozen meat with precision. The assembly line was a cold display of efficiency, packaging the meat into bags and then into large boxes.


    The place was deserted, with no one in sight except for the machines doing their work.


    Time was running out, and Yu Xiao wasn¡¯t one to leave empty-handed. She grabbed two boxes of frozen meat, but then stopped, thinking, ¡°Why walk back when I can drive?¡± With that, she loaded up a truck and hit the road.


    Beside her, the Nightgown Ghost was already happily eating the frozen meat. Yu Xiao focused on driving, watching the road unfold before them like a ribbon in the daylight.


    **


    Meanwhile, Yang Xian found herself at her wit¡¯s end. She had prepared a meal for the father and son duo with great care, but they didn¡¯t even spare a glance, instead knocking the food onto the floor.


    The ugly child sat on the ground, wailing loudly, ¡°Waaah¡­ I¡¯m hungry! I want meat! I want meat¡­¡±


    Steam rose from the overturned dishes, filled with chicken wings and braised pork. Yet, the father and son ignored them, still demanding meat.


    Having encountered similar situations before, Yang Xian realised that the meat they desired might not be ordinary. She understood that winning the favour of this pig demon duo wouldn¡¯t be easy.


    She looked at her thin arms, hardly enough to feed one person, let alone two. What should she do next? Where could she find meat for those two pigs?


    Reason held her back while fear niggled at her. As the television had mentioned earlier, if she didn¡¯t have her family¡¯s cover, she¡¯d be done for. So, she tolerated the irritating father-son duo for her own safety. But she had to win them over by tomorrow, or it would be the end of the line for her.


    The pair of pig demons kept shouting at her while Yang Xian was left cleaning up the mess, tears welling up in her eyes. She was worried sick about Xue Rong Rong. If she didn¡¯t make it, she would be all alone in the ward, and that terrified her.


    **


    ¡¾Question Four: What type of music does Xiao Mei from the mortuary listen to?¡¿


    Zhao Lan had this one in the bag, thanks to a strategy guide she had read. Even though their last visit to the mortuary was a disaster, the ghost lady¡¯s taste in music hadn¡¯t changed.


    ¡°Sad love songs.¡±


    ¡¾Spot on. Now, choose a friend to lend a hand.¡¿


    The screen displayed six different scenes, updating everyone¡¯s status.


    Precious had left the pink room and was now in the living room, venting her anger on an LCD TV with a mahjong set. She was muttering something, but it was difficult to make out.


    Smiley wasn¡¯t in her usual spot; she was driving? And there was a ghostly lady sitting next to her, munching on some frozen meat and loving it.


    Zhao Lan breathed a sigh of relief when she saw her friends handling things on their own. Even though they were separated, each of them was capable of dealing with danger independently. Smiley, in particular, impressed her.


    Ye Lang was still at the villa, accompanied this time by a ghostly companion with a frosty appearance. It was clear that he was no ordinary guy; he had the power to command ghosts. Zhao Lan mentally made a note of him ¨C if they happened to meet again, she would ask for his contact information. They might have opportunities to work together in the future.


    As Zhao Lan observed Xue Rong Rong driving, she couldn¡¯t help but notice the similarities between her car and Smiley¡¯s, minus the ghost passenger. The connection between the two vehicles intrigued her.


    Without thinking, Zhao Lan reached for her phone to share this discovery with Yu Xiao, but then she remembered ¨C she couldn¡¯t make calls from where she was.


    Turning her attention back to the room, Zhao Yang was now resting after his meal, seemingly safe from the threat of food poisoning.


    On the other side, Yang Xian was on the floor, cleaning up and shedding tears.


    **


    Just then, Xue Rong Rong received a phone call while driving. The voice on the other end belonged to the boss¡¯s secretary, who was dressed in red. She said, ¡°The boss needs you to deliver a bag of frozen meat to his friend. The address is¡­¡±


    **


    A series of knocks echoed through the room, making Yang Xian, who had just finished cleaning, tense up. The sound sent shivers down her spine. Who could be at the door? Was it a ghost trying to make an unexpected entrance?


    Opening the door was out of the question; the rules of the game were clear on that¡ªno harebrained heroics. So, pretending not to hear, she kept her focus on scrubbing the floor.


    ¡°Mum~,¡± whined the child engrossed in cartoons, his voice grating. ¡°Someone¡¯s hammering at the door. It¡¯s messing with my show.¡±


    Yang Xian didn¡¯t flinch, her resolve a fortress of indifference.


    ¡°Have your ears stopped working?¡± The bald man lounging on the sofa launched a kick in her direction, which Yang Xian gracefully avoided. His voice boomed, ¡°Are you ignoring the knocking?¡±


    No more pretending. Yang Xian stood up, reassuring herself that the real danger was still a day away¡ªat least, it should be. She crept to the edge of the door, opening it just enough to peer through.


    ¡°What¡¯s with the sneaking?¡± bellowed the man from his cushioned throne.


    Rolling her eyes, Yang Xian daydreamed about a world where tranquillisers and revenge were the norm. A glance through the door¡¯s crack revealed nothing but the familiar worn hallway, deserted and silent. About to dismiss the disturbance, she heard the rustle of plastic.


    Crouching low, she saw a bag of frozen meat abandoned at her doorstep.


    With swift hands, Yang Xian claimed her chilly prize. The label was cryptic, simply saying ¡°frozen meat,¡± leaving the contents a mystery.


    After closing the door, the man on the sofa noticed the frozen meat in her hand and instantly drooled, ¡°Why didn¡¯t you tell me you bought meat earlier? Hurry up and cook it. Both me and your son are starving!¡±


    Beside him, the ugly child¡¯s face mirrored his hunger, eyes locked on the prize. ¡°Mom, I¡¯m starving.¡±


    Their eagerness was a dead giveaway to the contents of the bag. Disgust churned in Yang Xian¡¯s stomach, yet a twisted part of her couldn¡¯t help but be happy to finally curry favour with the gruesome twosome. Still, the question lingered¡ªwho had left this dubious gift at her door?


    **


    Xue Rong Rong rushed out of the residential building, thinking that the ghost boss in this instance was quite sociable. There were friends needing food in the restaurant, friends in need of fertiliser for their lawn, and friends in need of frozen meat. She had just delivered the meat upstairs and heard terrifying screams from behind the door¡ªadult voices and children¡¯s voices. It seemed like there was a family of ghosts inside.


    She recoiled, tucking her neck in just as her phone buzzed¡ªa message beckoning her to the restaurant with more deliveries.


    **


    ¡¾Choose your poison,¡¿ the message taunted. ¡¾A. Live maggot sashimi with no odour. B. Century egg porridge with the smell of rotten eggs.¡¿


    ¡°¡­¡±


    Zhao Yang threw a plate. He was about to collapse. What sin did he commit? Why did he have to eat such things? At this rate, even if he survived and left this instance, he would carry the shadow for a lifetime, wouldn¡¯t he?


    Zhao Yang cried, wailing loudly.


    **


    Xue Rong Rong, sweating profusely, hurriedly pushed the food cart to the restaurant door and heard the howling cries from inside. It was so scary¡ªwhat on earth was inside?


    Xue Rong Rong knocked quickly and slipped into the utility room. She was eager to catch a glimpse of the restaurant¡¯s customers, but the red secretary¡¯s stern warning flashed in her mind: peek and you¡¯d be mincemeat.


    Glancing at her to-do list, she had already fertilised the lawn three times, made a delivery, hidden 105 gold coins, and dropped off the frozen meat. However, she still needed to process the food at the factory. Time was running out; could she finish before five?


    **


    Yu Xiao parked her truck and jumped out, accompanied by the Nightgown Ghost. Despite only a couple of hours passing, the grass had already grown back to an unruly height.


    They trudged through, and the ghost¡¯s legs were gnawed down to the bone. She applied a healing talisman, the ghost¡¯s tears of blood mingling with relief.


    Upon returning inside, everything remained as she had left it. Yu Xiao checked the time¡ªthree minutes past one. She had a feeling that the afternoon would bring more lawn-related drama.


    With only the Nightgown Ghost to assist her, fixing the lawn was going to be quite a task. Yu Xiao eyed the kitchen. There was a fire ghost in there who didn¡¯t give a hoot about talismans. Maybe she could convince it to torch the lawn for her?


    She couldn¡¯t frighten it with talismans, but what about a bribe? Earlier, she had managed to acquire two large boxes of frozen meat from the factory. Maybe that would do the trick.


    ¡°It¡¯s one o¡¯clock in the afternoon~¡±


    As the clock struck one, a beep reminded her that it was time to get to work. ¡°After having lunch and taking a break, you¡¯ll feel refreshed and energised, making it the ideal time to get things done. The hours between one and four in the afternoon are known to be the most productive. Could you please make sure the lawn is fixed before four o¡¯clock? If the task isn¡¯t finished by then, the furious property owner might just have your head~¡±


    Yu Xiao nodded to herself. It was time to take action. She grabbed a couple of packs of frozen meat and headed towards the kitchen.


    In the quiet kitchen, Yu Xiao rested her hand on the gas knob, gently coaxing a calm blue flame to life. It danced and flickered, casting an eerie glow before bursting into a vibrant emerald inferno. From the heart of this verdant blaze, two fingers extended outward.


    The fiery spirit soon emerged, its head adorned with a crown of green flames, its gaze fixed upon Yu Xiao with a hunger that matched the intensity of the fire¡¯s heat.


    ¡°Listen here,¡± Yu Xiao said, lifting two bags of frozen meat. ¡°If you lend a hand with the lawn, all of this is yours.¡±


    The fire ghost hesitated, torn between the allure of the meat and the desire for freedom. Shaking its head, it dismissed the offer and continued its struggle.


    Unfazed, Yu Xiao placed the meat on the counter and retrieved two more bags. ¡°Fix the lawn, and you can feast on all of this.¡±


    Interest flickered in the ghost¡¯s eyes, yet the temptation of escape remained strong. It remained motionless, unaffected by the growing pile of meat.


    Undeterred, Yu Xiao returned with an entire box of frozen meat. The ghost¡¯s excitement became palpable, its flames leaping in anticipation.


    ¡°Help with the lawn, and it¡¯s all yours,¡± she repeated.


    The ghost wavered, contemplating its options. Freedom seemed within reach, requiring no negotiation. Once it was out, it would claim both the bags and the fresh meat. Once again, it declined.


    Yu Xiao let out a sigh, a hint of resignation in her voice. ¡°No other choice, then.¡± Her hand moved towards the stove¡¯s switch. ¡°I¡¯ll snuff out the fire, find another ghost to help.¡±


    Panic surged through the fire ghost, its hands moving rapidly as it desperately pointed at the meat.


    There was a touch of irony in Yu Xiao¡¯s smile as she dimmed the flames. The ghost shrank in size, its fiery bravado diminishing. ¡°What¡¯s to stop you from turning on me once you¡¯re out? You¡¯d gobble up the meat and perhaps even me.¡±


    Confronted with the possibility of fading away, the ghost reached into its chest and extended its hand towards Yu Xiao, silently pleading with its fiery eyes.


    Yu Xiao¡¯s eyes widened as she beheld a heart, clear and shimmering like a crystal, held in the ghost¡¯s hand.


    ¡°Handing over your heart?¡± she exclaimed, her voice filled with a mix of wonder and wariness.


    The Fire Ghost, shaking its fiery head, scrawled two words on the wall, leaving smoky trails with its movements.


    ¡°Guaranteed¡­ custody?¡± Yu Xiao pieced it together. ¡°So, you mean this is for safekeeping, to ensure you won¡¯t betray me?¡±


    The Fire Ghost nodded, and to Yu Xiao¡¯s surprise, her heart skipped a beat¡ªnot out of fear, but out of astonishment. S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Deal,¡± she declared, reaching for the ghost heart.


    The Fire Ghost hesitated, then added a few more smudged words to the wall.


    Yu Xiao leaned in, reading the ghostly graffiti. ¡°Remember¡­ to return it.¡±


    With a solemn stare from the Fire Ghost, Yu Xiao felt a pang of conscience¡ªshe hadn¡¯t planned on giving it back.


    ¡°Sure,¡± she agreed a little too quickly. ¡°It¡¯ll be returned.¡±


    The heart, cool to the touch and hard as ice, settled in her palm. Curiosity got the better of her, and she gently squeezed it. The Fire Ghost winced, its form flickering.


    ¡°Oops,¡± Yu Xiao winced in sympathy. ¡°My bad.¡±


    Using the heart as leverage, Yu Xiao watched as the Fire Ghost fully emerged, becoming a towering inferno of green flames. No fear touched her, not with its heart in her grasp.


    She guided the Fire Ghost to the balcony, pointing towards the overgrown lawn. ¡°I need to step outside. Your task? Fix this mess by four. If not, I¡¯m in trouble¡ªand I¡¯ll take your heart with me.¡±


    Understanding flickered in the Fire Ghost¡¯s fiery eyes.


    Yu Xiao motioned to the Nightgown Ghost, cowering in the corner. ¡°Come on, time to roll.¡±


    The Nightgown Ghost trailed behind her, shivering with every step. Yu Xiao cast a final glance back and saw the Fire Ghost already hard at work.


    Green flames danced across the lawn, the once proud grass now writhing in a futile struggle. They had no chance, no escape¡ªonly the certainty of their fiery end.

 Chapter 122 Gathering

    With a rumble and a toot, the delivery truck announced its arrival outside the charming villa. Yu Xiao, behind the wheel, gave the horn a playful tap twice.


    Ye Lang emerged, his eyebrows raised in mild surprise. ¡°Didn¡¯t know you had a car.¡±


    ¡°Just off to gather the others,¡± Yu Xiao replied casually. ¡°Fancy joining?¡±


    Ye Lang hesitated, his eyes flicking back to the villa. ¡°I¡¯m short on gold coins,¡± he admitted, ¡°still need to find over forty more.¡±


    ¡°Keep at it then,¡± Yu Xiao said with a nod, understanding the importance of his quest. She had her own ghost helper, a fire ghost, taking care of her lawn back home so she could fool around. ¡°I¡¯ll head out.¡±


    As Yu Xiao was about to drive away, Ye Lang called out, ¡°If you need help, just shout!¡±


    Yu Xiao remembered the path Xue Rong Rong had taken, leading her to a dilapidated six-storey building. Sitting in the truck, she pondered her next step. With twelve units to choose from, finding the right one might be tricky.


    Should she shout from the ground floor? Or knock on every door?


    After a moment¡¯s thought, Yu Xiao decided on the latter but assigned the task to her companion, the nightgown ghost.


    The ghost had been quietly enjoying frozen meat in the passenger seat, sucking on it like a popsicle. Now it was her turn to earn her keep.


    Yu Xiao watched from a hidden spot as the Nightgown Ghost approached the first door and knocked.


    Tap tap tap.


    The building¡¯s lousy soundproofing meant the footsteps inside were crystal clear.


    The door creaked open to reveal a plump, curly-haired old lady with a hint of blue in her skin, clearly unimpressed by the ghost¡¯s bloody attire and silent presence. ¡°Who¡¯re you after?¡± she snapped.


    The Nightgown Ghost simply waved, earning a glare and a door slam.


    Next, a teenager in a tracksuit answered. His fresh face stood out in the dull building, making him seem oddly vibrant.


    Grinning, basketball in hand, he faced the Nightgown Ghost. ¡°Need something?¡±


    The Nightgown Ghost waved again. As the door swung open, it sensed no life inside. With no one downstairs, Yu Xiao knew it was time to go up.


    But as she moved, the boy¡¯s nose twitched. He sniffed the air, a curious look crossing his face. ¡°Smells nice,¡± he muttered, though he couldn¡¯t spot Yu Xiao.


    She paused mid-step, her cover blown.


    Quickly, she turned and started down, met with the boy¡¯s wide-eyed stare. ¡°A living human, huh?¡±


    Yu Xiao silently showed a stack of talismans, closing in.


    The boy paled, stumbling back. ¡°Hold up!¡±


    ¡°Pin him down,¡± Yu Xiao ordered.


    Obediently, the Nightgown Ghost sprang into action, capturing the boy.


    ¡°Why side with them?¡± he protested, struggling.


    Ignoring him, the ghost looked away, feigning ignorance.


    Panic surged, the boy¡¯s cry for ¡°Mum!¡± echoing.


    As Yu Xiao reached his side, a middle-aged woman, apron-clad and brandishing a kitchen knife, stormed out. Her eyes blazed with fury as she charged at Yu Xiao.


    Yu Xiao took a step back, holding the talisman up like a shield. ¡°Step any closer, and I¡¯ll use this on your son!¡±


    The woman¡¯s eyes were filled with stormy anger, locked onto Yu Xiao. She opened her mouth, and the girl braced herself for an outburst, but instead, the woman shouted, ¡°Babe¡¯s dad! Get out here quick!¡±


    Minutes later, the family huddled on the sofa. The bald patriarch, sporting a Polo shirt, scolded his family. ¡°What was the point in calling me? Now we¡¯re all in trouble. Are you satisfied?¡±


    Fury tinged her voice, barely holding back a storm. ¡°What else? Did we both kick the bucket just so you could play Casanova with the new lady upstairs?¡±


    Yu Xiao tilted her head curiously. ¡°New face? Tell me more. Are there any living people in this place?¡±


    The man in the polo shirt replied promptly, ¡°Certainly.¡±


    ¡°Who? Where?¡±


    ¡°Well, isn¡¯t your heart still thumping?¡± he retorted, as if it was the most obvious thing.


    Yu Xiao couldn¡¯t help but laugh at his cheekiness, waving her hand filled with talismans. ¡°I might just exorcise you for that.¡±


    The woman¡¯s sobs grew louder, a torrent of sadness. ¡°Darling, how will we manage with you in the great beyond¡­¡±


    Suddenly, the gangly teenager with a basketball spoke up, ¡°I know who you mean.¡± His voice was soft but resolute. ¡°She¡¯s upstairs on the sixth floor¡­ the belle of the block,, my old man always tries to sneak a peek.¡±


    As the woman and the bald man started bickering, the scene descended into chaos. Not even Yu Xiao¡¯s mystical threats could calm the storm.


    She intervened, ¡°Enough! Let your son show me. Try anything, and I¡¯ll exorcise you.¡±


    The teenager, now her guide, led her to a worn door on the sixth floor. ¡°That¡¯s her place.¡±


    Yu Xiao nodded, tilting her head to indicate he should knock.


    **


    Yang Xian had cooked a big meal with the frozen meat, and the pig demon father and son seemed to enjoy it, but their affection only increased slightly. She was worried; the meat was gone, and she wondered what to use next to bond with them.


    As she pondered, there was a knock on the door.


    Her heart skipped a beat, hoping for more meat. She quickly opened the door to find a teenager with a basketball standing there.


    Yang Xian stood, her face a mix of confusion and anticipation. Her thoughts were interrupted by a familiar voice. ¡°Yang Xian.¡±


    She turned, her features brightening with recognition. ¡°Yu Xiao? What are you doing here?¡±


    From the couch came a rumbling voice. ¡°Who¡¯s there?¡±


    Quick-witted Yu Xiao shot a knowing look at the teenager holding the basketball. The kid didn¡¯t miss a beat, sauntering through the door with a grin. ¡°Just your friendly downstairs neighbour, in dire need of soy sauce!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m here for you guys,¡± Yu Xiao whispered. ¡°What¡¯s going on now?¡±


    Yang Xian shared her predicament and let out a worried sigh. ¡°They¡¯re always hungry, and I¡¯m out of meat. It¡¯s not like I can slice off my own, right?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve got some meat,¡± Yu Xiao offered, unfazed. She could always get more from the factory. ¡°I¡¯ll bring it by later.¡±


    Yang Xian¡¯s relief was palpable. ¡°Thank you so much.¡± Then, another thought crossed her mind. ¡°Have you seen Xue Rong Rong?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve seen her, but we didn¡¯t talk,¡± Yu Xiao recalled. ¡°She seemed okay.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s good to hear,¡± Yang Xian replied, visibly relaxed. ¡°If you bump into Rong Rong, let her know I¡¯m alright, will you? Tell her not to worry.¡±


    After saying goodbye to Yang Xian, Yu Xiao left the building and continued on her way.


    In the car, alongside the Nightgown Ghost, there was now a teenager in the passenger seat. To prevent the family from causing trouble, Yu Xiao decided to bring the teen along. With their son in tow, they wouldn¡¯t dare to engage in any mischief.


    Driving past the usual sights, Yu Xiao noticed a peculiar pink house adorned with colourful lights and a large ¡°gg¡± sign.


    On the sign, there was a depiction of a dishevelled man with black cat ears kneeling on the ground, with a tail behind him. It looked rather out of place.


    The house didn¡¯t seem like the most reputable establishment. But curiosity got the better of her, and Yu Xiao figured it was worth a look. With that, she parked the car and led the two ghosts inside.


    Stepping into the room, Yu Xiao was greeted by the ordinary sight of a living room, except for the shattered TV lying on the floor, its screen a spiderweb of cracks.


    She took in her surroundings, her gaze falling on seven doors, each a different colour and adorned with mysterious words. One door was slightly ajar, its interior hidden in shadows.


    With caution, Yu Xiao pushed open the door labelled ¡°scheming,¡± its hinges protesting with a groan.


    Inside, a slim man in a blue shirt reclined on an oversized bed, his collar casually unbuttoned to reveal a glimpse of his delicate collarbones.


    As if summoned by the intrusion, he stood up, a sardonic smile playing on his lips, and began to approach her with deliberate steps.


    The lad by Yu Xiao¡¯s side muttered, ¡°Time to go; this ghost isn¡¯t our type.¡± S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    But driven by curiosity, Yu Xiao brushed past the boy and confronted the smirking man, asking, ¡°Have you seen a living person?¡±


    The man responded with silence, his hand reaching out towards her.


    Yu Xiao narrowed her eyes, a mixture of intrigue and caution in her gaze.


    Unexpectedly, his fingers brushed against her chin, gently lifting it.


    Yu Xiao¡¯s reaction was a blend of surprise and defiance.


    In an instant, she sprang into action, tackling the man in the blue shirt to the ground. Her fists flew, a blur of righteous fury. ¡°Flirting with me? You¡¯ve picked the wrong fight!¡±


    From the sidelines, the basketball-carrying lad couldn¡¯t contain his excitement, ¡°Nice one! Show that rascal what¡¯s what!¡±


    **


    After the TV incident, Zhou Xiao Zhen felt a bit deflated. She wandered back to Gentle¡¯s room, planning to take a short break before her next search for a meat donor to satisfy Gentle¡¯s hunger.


    Sinking onto the soft pink bedspread, Gentle was already there, massaging her shoulders, his whispers tickling her ear. ¡°Xiao Zhen, I¡¯m starving. I really want some meat¡­¡±


    Annoyance welled up in Zhou Xiao Zhen, but it was interrupted as the noise from outside pierced her loneliness ¨C voices mixing with the unmistakable sound of a brawl.


    She swung her legs off the bed and opened the door wide, only to see the neighbouring room¡¯s door ajar, a young person standing guard, their voice booming. On the floor, a man and a woman were in a bit of a tangle, the woman on top giving the guy a good thumping.


    ¡°Smiley?¡± Disbelief was written all over Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s face.


    Yu Xiao, in the middle of pummeling the man, paused and looked up, her surprise matching Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s. ¡°Precious?¡±


    ¡°Smiley!¡± Joy surged through Zhou Xiao Zhen, her grin as wide as the Grand Canyon. Her friend had come for her. They embraced, their laughter blending with the chaos.


    ¡°You came to find me?¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen held onto Yu Xiao tightly, her eyes welling up with tears. ¡°Wuwuwu¡­ You¡¯re the best, I¡¯ve missed you!¡±


    Yu Xiao returned the embrace, her hand comforting Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s back, words on the tip of her tongue when a figure appeared ¨C a man dressed only in shorts, his body well-built, his expression hungry. ¡°Xiao Zhen, I need food.¡±


    Yu Xiao¡¯s eyes darted between him and Zhou Xiao Zhen, her mouth forming a perfect ¡®o¡¯.


    ¡°Smiley, it¡¯s not what you think.¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen knew exactly what Yu Xiao was thinking. ¡°This is Gentle, my mission.¡±


    Yu Xiao¡¯s gaze dropped to his minimal attire¡­


    Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s reprimand was swift, her voice sharp with indignation. ¡°Gentle, how could you walk around half-naked in broad daylight?¡±


    Gentle pouted, feeling wronged, ¡°Wasn¡¯t it you who told me to undress?¡±


    A cocktail of emotions danced in Yu Xiao¡¯s eyes. ¡°Precious, you¡¯re still too young¡­¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen jumped in to clarify, ¡°Smiley, you¡¯ve got it all wrong. I asked him to undress for a reason.¡±


    Hunger pangs struck Gentle like a scene cue, and he playfully tugged at Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s sleeve, with a glint in his eye. ¡°Xiao Zhen, I¡¯m starving. You can touch me more if you give me more meat.¡±


    Yu Xiao, who was only a step ahead in years, still felt the need to give advice. ¡°I get it, the hospital has got us all on edge. But no matter what, we can¡¯t¡­ with ghosts¡­¡±


    Caught in a tight spot, Zhou Xiao Zhen decided to change the subject. She spotted a teenager with a basketball and greeted him with a warm smile, ¡°Hi~¡±


    She nudged Yu Xiao, ¡°Smiley, who¡¯s this? Don¡¯t you want to introduce us?¡±


    Yu Xiao looked wary and replied, ¡°What do you want to do with him? He¡¯s an underage ghost.¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen: ¡°¡­¡±


    **


    ¡¾Question Five: What was the dinner on the first night of the doctor¡¯s dream?¡¿


    Zhao Lan: ¡°¡­¡±


    Despite preparing herself, Zhao Lan was taken aback by the question. Luckily, her memory proved reliable, thanks to a recent dinner experience.


    ¡°Roasted rabbit.¡±


    ¡¾Correct answer, now please choose which friend you want to help.¡¿


    The screen showed a change from before. Previously, when it was time to help a friend, the screen would split into six sections, but this time there were only five.


    Zhao Lan¡¯s heart raced. Could it be that someone had died?


    Zhao Lan rushed to find out who was missing and was shocked to discover that Yu Xiao was not there. Her heart raced¡ªYu Xiao had been driving smoothly just moments ago; there shouldn¡¯t have been any issues.


    Taking another look, she found both of her friends together.


    In Precious¡¯s living room, near a doorway, three indistinct figures stood. Zhou Xiao Zhen and Yu Xiao were embracing, with someone in a blue shirt¡ªperhaps another person or a ghost¡ªlying beneath their feet.


    They were reunited!


    Zhao Lan was taken aback. She had thought their paths might cross, but she hadn¡¯t expected Smiley and Precious to come together so soon.


    It¡¯s safer for everyone to be together.


    **


    It took a moment for Yu Xiao and Zhou Xiao Zhen to understand what had happened.


    When Zhou Xiao Zhen realised that Yu Xiao was looking for everyone, she hit her thigh in frustration, ¡°Why didn¡¯t I think of that? I thought we were trapped in this room. If I¡¯d known we could leave, I would¡¯ve gone out long ago.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not too late,¡± Yu Xiao said, straightening her clothes. Zhou Xiao Zhen took her hand, ¡°Let¡¯s go find Misty together.¡±


    Yu Xiao hesitated, looking at Gentle, who was already dressed, ¡°But you haven¡¯t finished your task.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s the problem?¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen asked casually, ¡°Bring him with us. You mentioned a meat factory outside, right? He¡¯ll be in carnivore heaven.¡±


    ¡°That makes sense,¡± Yu Xiao agreed, then pointed to the person on the ground, ¡°What about him?¡±


    The person on the ground, whom Yu Xiao had been beating earlier, now couldn¡¯t even muster a sarcastic smile. Dishevelled and sitting by the door, covered in dust, he seemed utterly defeated.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen glanced wistfully and sighed, ¡°He¡¯s so heartless, but so good-looking.¡±


    The youth with the basketball rolled his eyes and turned away, muttering, ¡°Pervert.¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s just ignore him then,¡± she said, making an effort to pull her gaze away, ¡°Finding Misty is what matters now.¡±


    Watching her, Yu Xiao couldn¡¯t resist teasing, ¡°Before we go, should we strip him down for your enjoyment?¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s eyes sparkled mischievously, ¡°Would you?¡±


    Yu Xiao: ¡°¡­¡±


    Their group had arrived with two ghosts and one person, but they left with three ghosts and two people. The ghosts were securely placed in the back of the truck, while Yu Xiao and Zhou Xiao Zhen drove off, singing along the way to the factory.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen shook her head at herself, ¡°I can¡¯t believe I didn¡¯t try leaving earlier.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s easy to overlook the obvious,¡± Yu Xiao comforted, ¡°It only occurred to me after seeing Xue Rong Rong.¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen leaned back, pondering, ¡°I wonder how Misty¡¯s doing. What¡¯s her challenge like?¡±


    Yu Xiao thought aloud, ¡°Each challenge is related to its theme. Mine is health, so it¡¯s about healthy living. Ye Lang¡¯s is wealth, finding coins. Yang Xian¡¯s is family, improving relationships. Yours is love, so it¡¯s about building favour with true love. Misty¡¯s challenge should be about improving favour with friends, right?¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen agreed, chuckling, ¡°Misty¡¯s at a disadvantage¡ªshe can¡¯t flirt to improve favour.¡±


    Yu Xiao sighed, ¡°Do you think she¡¯s like you? She¡¯s serious.¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen countered, ¡°Serious? If Misty were serious, would she have an eighteen-year-old sugar baby?¡±


    Yu Xiao clarified, ¡°It¡¯s charitable support.¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen grinned, ¡°But that ¡®support¡¯ came later. Remember when we asked her if anything happened between them? She never gave a straight answer.¡±


    As they chatted, they shared a knowing chuckle.


    ¡°Be careful, or Misty might just give you a good thumping,¡± Yu Xiao playfully warned.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen waved off the concern with a laugh. ¡°What¡¯s there to be scared of? It¡¯s not like she can hear us.¡±


    **


    Meanwhile, before the television screen, Zhao Lan watched the exchange with mixed feelings. She had always seen herself as the mature, composed elder sister to her two friends. Yet, here they were, challenging that image in ways she hadn¡¯t anticipated.


    **


    After delivering the meal, Xue Rong Rong¡¯s phone was flooded with reminders from her secretary in red. It was time to fertilise the lawn at the boss¡¯s friend¡¯s house again.


    Xue Rong Rong couldn¡¯t help but wonder, did that overgrown lawn really need more fertiliser? And with those eerie creatures across the way, she shuddered at the thought.


    Arriving at the lawn, Xue Rong Rong was taken aback. This wasn¡¯t the well-kept, lush green space she remembered. It was ruined, reduced to black ashes as if it had been scorched by fire.


    Staring at the devastation, Xue Rong Rong questioned whether she should even bother with the fertiliser.


    In the end, she decided to just go ahead with her eyes closed. Whether there was grass or not, she was going to do her job.


    She opened the bag, took a handful of fertiliser, and scattered it over the ashes.


    To her surprise, the burnt remnants stirred. The grass, stubbornly resilient, began to sprout anew, slowly reclaiming life from the ashes after the fertiliser¡¯s touch.


    Xue Rong Rong watched, a sigh of relief escaping her as she continued her work.


    Out of nowhere, Xue Rong Rong¡¯s eyes widened as she saw a green blur zooming towards her. The wind was so hot that it could fry an egg on the pavement, causing her to leap back as though she had been burned. She stared in astonishment as the newly emerged sprigs of grass burst into a vivid green inferno. In the blink of an eye, they were reduced to nothing more than a memory and a puff of smoke.


    Speechless, Xue Rong Rong¡¯s mind was in a whirlwind of confusion as she tried to comprehend the fiery spectacle.


    Then, in a twist straight out of a comic book, the green flames transformed into a figure resembling a person. As it spun around, she found herself staring into a pair of eyes that could send shivers down a scarecrow¡¯s spine.


    **


    Meanwhile, at the factory, Yu Xiao was filled with excitement as she swung open the back door of the truck. She led a trio of ghosts into the workshop as if they were heading to a basketball game, rather than a meat factory.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen took Gentle¡¯s hand and theatrically pointed at the frozen meats. ¡°Help yourself! It¡¯s all-you-can-eat,¡± she declared. ¡°Oh, and just to be clear, if you even think about not adoring me, you¡¯ll regret it.¡±


    Gentle¡¯s affection for her skyrocketed, reaching a cosy 45 points. Zhou Xiao Zhen couldn¡¯t help but smirk; she was finally making progress.


    Yu Xiao scratched her head. ¡°Are we just going to leave him here?¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen considered the idea but quickly dismissed it. Too risky. What if Gentle¡¯s love metre didn¡¯t reach 100 while they were away? That would be a disaster.


    ¡°How about we grab some extra meat and lock Gentle in the car?¡± she proposed, half-joking but totally serious.


    ¡°Sure thing,¡± Yu Xiao agreed immediately. ¡°And let¡¯s pack some for Yang Xian too. I have a feeling she¡¯ll need more.¡±


    While they were still chatting, a scream cut through the air.


    ¡°Ahhh¡­ Help!!!¡±


    They stopped. ¡°Did you hear that?¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen and Yu Xiao looked at each other, then rushed outside.


    There they found Xue Rong Rong, running like the wind with a trail of green fire nipping at her heels.


    It felt like a scene from a slapstick horror flick, except this was no laughing matter. She ran as fast as she could, her breath ragged, until her legs turned to jelly. Just when she believed she was done for, salvation appeared in the form of two oddly composed faces.


    ¡°Help!!¡± she screamed, her voice piercing through the chaos.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen, raising an eyebrow, observed the fiery pursuit. ¡°Smiley,¡± she turning to Yu Xiao, ¡°isn¡¯t that the pyro-ghost you mentioned?¡±


    ¡°Yep,¡± she replied, cool as a cucumber.


    Xue Rong Rong couldn¡¯t believe her eyes. There they were, chatting away as if they were discussing the weather, completely unfazed by the approaching ghost that meant to harm them.


    ¡°Are you two serious? This ghost¡¯s flames are dangerous! It doesn¡¯t even fear talismans!¡± she cried out, latching onto them in a desperate bid to drag them to safety.


    But it was like trying to move a pair of statues.


    Terrified, she glanced back and saw the ghostly fire drawing closer.


    Just then, the flames died down, revealing a fire ghost in human form, looking as guilty as a child caught red-handed with their hand in the cookie jar, right in front of Yu Xiao.


    The fire ghost¡¯s thoughts were all aflutter: ¡®Oh no, now she¡¯ll think I¡¯m slacking off?!¡¯


    ©¤©¤©¤ ? ©¤©¤ ¡î ©¤©¤ ? ©¤©¤©¤


    NEXT >>


    ( )¡­¡­¡­( )


    (?????)

 Chapter 123: Daddys Girl

    Xue Rong Rong spun around, her heart skipping a beat when she saw the spectral flames creeping up behind her. But then, the flames stopped, as if frozen in time, and she blinked in disbelief.


    When she looked over her shoulder, the duo she was clinging to seemed completely calm, observing the eerie fire with detached curiosity. It made her question her sanity¡ªwas she the only one feeling a bit unhinged here?


    ¡°Wait¡­¡± The words died on her lips. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t we, I don¡¯t know, be running for our lives?¡±


    Mid-sentence, she saw the greenish spectre do something unbelievable¡ªit bowed. Yes, it actually bowed!


    Xue Rong Rong pinched herself hard enough to leave a mark, wondering if she was losing it or if this was some crazy dream. A ghost, bowing down? And to whom, exactly? They were a trio, after all.


    Just then, Yu Xiao¡¯s voice broke the tension, tinged with a hint of irritation. ¡°Seriously? You¡¯re out and about now?¡± She scowled. ¡°My lawn better be picture-perfect, or else. Also, you¡¯re freaking out my friend, you know.¡±


    The flame ghost felt wronged, having put so much effort into scorching the lawn. It hadn¡¯t realised that the intruder with a green thumb was Yu Xiao¡¯s friend. Watching her undo its work, growing fresh grass where there was once scorched earth, the ghost lost its cool and started chasing her.


    Mute as always, it couldn¡¯t defend itself against Yu Xiao¡¯s questioning, its frustration turning into a fiery dance.


    Yu Xiao jumped back from a near miss with the flames, getting angrier. ¡°Watch it! You¡¯re about to singe me!¡±


    In a panic, the ghost flailed, looking like someone trying to remember where they left their keys.


    ¡°Fine,¡± Yu Xiao reluctantly conceded. ¡°Go ahead, get back to it. If you do it properly, we¡¯ll be even.¡±


    With that, the flame ghost nodded its head, relief washing over it like a cool breeze, and zipped away as fast as its wispy legs could carry it.


    ¡°Kinda adorable, in a creepy sort of way,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen mused, eyes tracking the retreating fire ghost.


    Yu Xiao bit her tongue, turning to meet Xue Rong Rong¡¯s puzzled gaze.


    ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen wiggled her fingers in front of the girl¡¯s wide eyes. ¡°Feeling jumpy? C¡¯mon, shake it off!¡±


    Xue Rong Rong refocused, her already large eyes widening even further. She pointed a finger at Yu Xiao, her voice a mixture of awe and confusion. ¡°Wait¡ªyou just bossed that ghost around? And it listened? Who are you?¡±


    ¡°Just Yu Xiao,¡± came the response, accompanied by a grin. ¡°And yeah, that fiery fella? He¡¯s working for me now.¡±


    The words hit Xue Rong Rong like puzzle pieces that refused to fit. ¡°Working for you? Doing what, exactly?¡± Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Mowing the lawn,¡± She clarified. ¡°You see, my track is over there, across the green. It needs some fixing up. But since I¡¯m out here playing hide and seek with everyone, I can¡¯t take care of the grass. So, I hired our ghostly friend.¡±


    Though her explanation seemed logical, Xue Rong Rong still looked at Yu Xiao with a perplexed expression. What did she mean she couldn¡¯t do it herself, so she hired a ghost? Can ghosts be hired just like that?


    ¡°And hey, I owe you one,¡± Yu Xiao added, expressing gratitude. ¡°I used to think we were all on our own paths until I saw you on that balcony. That¡¯s when I realised they¡¯re all connected. It made me step up and gather everyone.¡±


    The balcony? Xue Rong Rong¡¯s mind raced back. ¡°That voice¡­ that was you?¡±


    ¡°It was me,¡± Yu Xiao admitted. ¡°I wanted to have a chat, but you ran off.¡±


    Xue Rong Rong: ¡°¡­¡±


    Xue Rong Rong¡¯s inner monologue went into overdrive. Run? Well, duh. Creepy setting, creepier voice out of nowhere? That¡¯s a hard pass.


    Hand on her heart, she could swear it was thumping like a drum solo ¨C today¡¯s shocks were off the charts.


    ¡°What¡¯s with the sprint?¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen prodded. ¡°Are you on a mission? What¡¯s your task?¡±


    Pulling out a crumpled list with a gloomy air, Xue Rong Rong said, ¡°Here are my assignments¡­¡±


    After sharing her initial experiences, she continued, ¡°I was supposed to fertilise the lawn for the boss¡¯s friend, so I assumed the house across the lawn was haunted.¡±


    Yu Xiao stroked her chin, musing. ¡°The coins that Ye Lang has been searching for, you hid them?¡±


    Caught off guard, Xue Rong Rong stuttered, ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°The frozen meat that Yang Xian received, that was your doing too?¡± Yu Xiao deduced. ¡°So, by that logic, the person you¡¯re delivering meals to must be Zhao Yang.¡±


    Xue Rong Rong was perplexed. ¡°What are you getting at?¡±


    ¡°Come with me.¡± The factory where the frozen meat was stored wasn¡¯t far from Ye Lang¡¯s villa, so they decided to walk over.


    Upon reaching the villa, Xue Rong Rong gasped, ¡°How did you know about this place? This is where I hid the coins.¡±


    Yu Xiao remained silent and pushed the door open.


    Inside, Ye Lang and the fridge ghost were on the tennis court, digging. At the sight of the newcomers, the boy in khaki trousers face lit up. ¡°You made it!¡±


    Xue Rong Rong¡¯s eyes blazed with anger, and she bellowed, ¡°What on earth are you doing?!¡±


    Her roar left even Ye Lang momentarily speechless. He squatted on the ground, his face etched with utter bewilderment. ¡°What¡­ What did I do wrong?¡±


    The girl with ponytail hurried over, her hand sweeping through the air to scatter the coins from Ye Lang¡¯s hand. ¡°Why are you digging up my coins?¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡± Ye Lang¡¯s confusion was evident.


    ¡°His mission behind the Wealth Door is to find coins,¡± Yu Xiao interjected, stepping forward to clarify. ¡°He has to collect one hundred coins before tomorrow is over.¡±


    Xue Rong Rong stood still, stunned, while Yu Xiao gestured towards her, informing Ye Lang, ¡°She¡¯s the one who hid all the coins you¡¯ve been finding.¡±


    Ye Lang¡¯s expression turned to shock.


    After a brief exchange, the group managed to sort out the misunderstanding.


    Once it clicked for Ye Lang, his frustration bubbled up. ¡°Hold on, isn¡¯t this a bit unfair? If I find all the coins, doesn¡¯t that mean Xue Rong Rong will fail her task?¡±


    Her face was filled with fear. ¡°And I need to fertilise Yu Xiao¡¯s lawn too. If I don¡¯t fix the lawn in time, I¡¯ll fail my challenge as well.¡±


    ¡°Who designed this twisted game?¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen burst out, her anger evident. ¡°We¡¯re practically hindering each other here.¡±


    ¡°Have you noticed?¡± Yu Xiao mused, her voice tinged with curiosity. ¡°All of this seems to revolve around one person, or rather, one ghost?¡±


    The three of them stared at her, disbelief written all over their faces.


    Yu Xiao pointed at the ponytail girl and said, ¡°The big boss, he owns this villa as part of your mission description.¡± She pointed at others and herself. ¡°Yang Xian, Zhao Yang, and I are all friends of his. What did Ye Lang hear when he entered the villa? If he doesn¡¯t find one hundred gold coins by the end of tomorrow, the villa¡¯s owner will come after him.¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s eyes snapped to attention, ¡°Oh, it¡¯s all connected to him.¡± She suddenly realised, ¡°Does that mean my task is also linked to him?¡±


    ¡°Maybe,¡± Yu Xiao conceded with a shrug.


    Xue Rong Rong¡¯s face fell, ¡°What do we do now? I don¡¯t know if I should keep working.¡±


    Despair crept into her voice, ¡°And time¡­ I never seem to have enough of it¡­¡±


    Ye Lang, seeing her distress, tried to reassure her, ¡°Don¡¯t cry, we¡¯ll find a way.¡±


    Xue Rong Rong couldn¡¯t stop her tears as she sobbed, ¡°But what can we do? Your deadline is tomorrow, and I have to finish all my tasks by five o¡¯clock today, or it¡¯s a failed mission.¡± She lamented, ¡°If only I had agreed to work overtime¡­¡±


    Her predicament was a tough nut to crack.


    Yu Xiao pondered briefly, ¡°Your tasks are all given by the big boss, right? Maybe he can tweak your to-do list?¡±


    Xue Rong Rong looked up, hope mingling with her tears. ¡°Is that possible?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not impossible,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen chimed in, patting her back. ¡°In the hospital, if something isn¡¯t explicitly forbidden, then it¡¯s usually allowed.¡±


    Xue Rong Rong held onto this thread of hope but hesitated, ¡°But¡­ will the big boss agree? What if it¡¯s dangerous?¡±


    ¡°In an instance, what¡¯s the risk?¡± Yu Xiao pondered, her determination solidifying like concrete. She was determined to track down the elusive boss. ¡°Plus, I¡¯m not just playing hero for you. Zhao Yang is still scarfing down questionable food, and no one knows where Misty is.¡±


    Ye Lang chimed in, his declaration as firm as an oak tree. ¡°If you¡¯re going to confront the top dog, I¡¯m tagging along.¡±


    Xue Rong Rong looked at him, her surprise evident in her raised eyebrow.


    Ye Lang grabbed Xue Rong Rong¡¯s task list and quickly scanned it. ¡°You need to deliver meals to the restaurant five times, right? That means Zhao Yang has to eat there at least five times. No one knows if the food is safe. Zhao Yang is like a brother to me; I can¡¯t let him face that alone.¡±


    Taking in the determined looks of her companions, Xue Rong Rong nodded in agreement. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s stick together and go!¡±


    Yu Xiao glanced around, a frown appearing on her forehead. ¡°We¡¯re a bit tight on space. The car is already full.¡±


    ¡°No problem,¡± Ye Lang dismissed with a wave of his hand. ¡°What about the back of the refrigerated truck? I can hitch a ride in that.¡±


    ¡°Hmm¡­¡± Yu Xiao pondered, ¡°We¡¯ll figure out the transportation later. First, Xue Rong Rong, you need to tell Ye Lang where you¡¯ve hidden those gold coins. Let him complete his mission, and then we can all leave together.¡±


    With Xue Rong Rong¡¯s help, Ye Lang quickly located one hundred of the one hundred and five gold coins she had hidden. Then, they headed to the frozen meat factory together.


    Upon opening the back door of the truck, Xue Rong Rong and Ye Lang were greeted by the sight of the nightgown ghost, the basketball-playing youth, and Gentle.


    Even though they had encountered the refrigerator ghost and the nightgown ghost before, Ye Lang couldn¡¯t hide his surprise. ¡°You have more helpers now?¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen placed a hand on Gentle¡¯s shoulder and declared, ¡°This one¡¯s mine.¡±


    Gentle¡¯s affection metre was dangerously close to reaching full-blown adoration for Zhou Xiao Zhen, hitting a solid 75. With soft, gooey eyes, he looked at her and murmured, ¡°Xiao Zhen, my heart, what can I do for you?¡±


    Amidst the spectators, Zhou Xiao Zhen blushed and took a step back with a chuckle, saying, ¡°Take it easy, tiger. I need some breathing room~¡±


    Xue Rong Rong: ¡°!!¡± Ye Lang: ¡°??¡±


    Yu Xiao glanced at the puzzled pair and said, ¡°They¡¯re chilling in the cooler.¡± After a pause, she added, ¡°Want to join them?¡±


    Silence.


    ¡°Looks like we¡¯ll take two cars,¡± Xue Rong Rong declared, ¡°We¡¯ve got plenty of wheels to spare.¡±


    So, Xue Rong Rong and Ye Lang took the lead in one truck, while Yu Xiao and Zhou Xiao Zhen followed in another, accompanied by a motley crew of ghosts and frozen meat.


    They arrived in a neighbourhood bustling with activity.


    Neon signs winked from every storefront, creating a kaleidoscope of brands. The street was filled with eateries, movie theatres, and karaoke bars¡­


    Xue Rong Rong pulled up under a towering office block, and the gang, plus their spectral tagalongs, piled out.


    She jabbed a finger skyward, ¡°The head honcho is on the top floor.¡±


    The receptionist was on them like white on rice, ¡°Please identify yourselves and state your purpose.¡±


    Xue Rong Rong stepped forward and said, ¡°The boss wants to see them.¡±


    The receptionist gave the ponytail girl a quick once-over and waved her through. It wasn¡¯t a lack of security; it was just that no one in their right mind would try to deceive the big cheese.


    The elevator dinged, and the group ¨C four living people and four not-so-living ¨C piled in. Xue Rong Rong chewed her lip and said, ¡°I have a bad feeling about this.¡±


    ¡°Tch, tch, tch,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen clicked her tongue, ¡°Don¡¯t jinx it, will you?¡±


    Ding~!


    The doors slid open to a scene straight out of a zombie flick¡ªoffice drones dragging their feet, their eyes glazed over.


    Xue Rong Rong¡¯s face matched her white-collar, ¡°If I don¡¯t beat the clock, I¡¯ll end up being employed forever.¡±


    Ye Lang gulped, ¡°So, corporate purgatory?¡±


    Click-clack, click-clack¡­


    The staccato of stilettos announced their arrival. They stepped out, and Ms. Red Power Suit was on them like a hawk.


    She eyed them with suspicion, then zeroed in on Xue Rong Rong, ¡°Back so soon? Is your work done? And who might these be?¡±


    Xue Rong Rong¡¯s eyes darted to Yu Xiao, panic written all over her face, ¡°What now?¡±


    Yu Xiao looked at her ghostly squad. Gentle was off-limits, according to Precious. The basketball kid? Too green. The nightgown spook and the refrigerator phantom¡­


    ¡°You,¡± she nodded at the chilly ghost, ¡°put her on ice.¡±


    The refrigerator ghost didn¡¯t hesitate, wrapping the secretary in a frosty embrace.


    The red secretary¡¯s shriek cut through the humdrum, ¡°Pervert! We¡¯ve got a creeper!¡±


    Heads popped out from cubicles, tired eyes wide open, but no one moved. Yu Xiao glanced at Xue Rong Rong and said, ¡°It¡¯s time to meet the boss.¡±


    ¡°Follow me,¡± Xue Rong Rong beckoned. They walked towards a door that screamed importance, with a plaque that read ¡®Chairman¡¯s Office¡¯.


    Yu Xiao, wanting to create a sense of ceremony, knocked on the door three times. ¡°Knock, knock, knock.¡±


    ¡°Come in,¡± came the reply, a voice filled with years of experience and authority.


    The door swung open, and they¡ªtwo alive, three less so¡ªstepped into the Chairman¡¯s domain.


    The office was a typical display of power: a desk that cost more than a car, a sofa that screamed ¡®I¡¯m worth it¡¯, bookshelves laden with heavy tomes, and photographs showcasing the elite.


    At the helm sat a middle-aged man, impeccably dressed with sharp wit. He looked over his spectacles with a frown reserved for subordinates. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t you all be out there, working?¡±


    Xue Rong Rong stammered, ¡°I-¡°


    Yu Xiao interrupted, her voice calm and steady, ¡°We¡¯ve come to discuss the excessive workload you¡¯ve placed on Xue Rong Rong. It¡¯s impossible for her to complete it by the end of the day. We¡¯re here to request a reassignment of her duties.¡±


    The Chairman, comfortably seated in his leather and wood throne, raised an eyebrow at Yu Xiao. ¡°Overtime was an option, but she declined. Everyone else is managing their workload, working tirelessly. She¡¯s the only one dragging her feet, hoping for an easy way out.¡±


    ¡°Hmph,¡± Yu Xiao, internally scoffing at the idea of reasoning with a ghost, pulled a stack of talismans from her pocket, a sardonic twist on her lips. ¡°Was hoping we could chat like civilised folks.¡±


    With that said, she shook her hand and a fan-like spread of ¡¾The Thunder Striking Ghost Repelling Talisman¡¿ appeared. The big boss¡¯s eyes flickered, his pupils contracting at the sight.


    ¡°Time to talk terms?¡± Yu Xiao¡¯s gaze bore into him, her resolve sharpened like a blade.


    Behind her, Zhou Xiao Zhen struck a pose, her sneer as cold as the air in a crypt. ¡°Hmph, hmph, hmph¡­¡±


    **


    The only one sensing something off, absent from the room yet omnipresent, was Zhao Lan. Her screen split into three frames, with everyone except Zhao Yang and Yang Xian in one section.


    The feed wavered, with the big boss at its epicentre, reality bending and twisting. Oblivious, Yu Xiao and her crew remained blissfully unaware, prompting Zhao Lan¡¯s frantic call.


    ¡°Sorry, the user you are trying to reach is not in the service area¡­¡±


    Even Zhao Lan, usually unflappable, felt the urge to curse.


    **


    ¡°Threatening me?¡± The big boss leaned back, his eyes locked on Yu Xiao.


    She didn¡¯t flinch. ¡°Yes, I am.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s been a while since anyone dared.¡± The big boss rose, shadows pooling and light warping¡ªa darkness that swallowed.


    Yu Xiao felt her vision darken. Not because she was fainting, but because it was truly getting dark.


    Ye Lang¡¯s jaw dropped. ¡°Damn it! A ghost with a domain!¡±


    Yu Xiao¡¯s mind reeled. She was utterly dumbfounded. A ghost with a domain? Seriously?!


    The last time she had faced off against a ghost with a domain, it had been the ex-Dean of Saint Elizabeth¡¯s ¨C quite the spooky encounter. Even with a pocketful of talismans, she didn¡¯t have the courage to face it alone. Nope, she¡¯d tiptoed around it, luring it out so that Dr. George could join the fight. Without that quick thinking, she¡¯d be pushing up daisies by now.


    Now, in the present, she found herself unexpectedly confronted with another ghostly domain showdown.


    ¡°Run!¡± Yu Xiao¡¯s voice pierced the air.


    They all took off, with three ghosts chasing closely behind, but the encroaching darkness was faster. Ye Lang¡¯s hands gripped the doorknob tightly, panic evident in his voice, ¡°It won¡¯t budge!¡±


    ¡°No luck? Then give it the boot!¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen charged forward, her foot slamming into the door. Yet nothing. Nada.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen was no longer an ordinary person, not after playing her strength cards. But even with her enhanced biceps, the door might as well have been a solid brick wall.


    Meanwhile, the boss remained as calm as a cucumber, not moving an inch.


    ¡°Threatening me¡­¡± The words slithered out from behind them, low and distorted. The boss motioned his hand toward Yu Xiao.


    There was a gap of about four or five metres between them, and his hand was nowhere near her. But the moment he reached out, he grabbed Yu Xiao¡¯s windpipe in a tight grip, like something you¡¯d see in one of Darth Vader¡¯s moves.


    ¡°Smiley!¡±


    ¡°!!¡± Yu Xiao swiftly placed talismans on the boss as if they were going out of fashion.


    The wrath of the Thunder Strike Talisman descended, lightning zigzagging from the heavens. However, it was as if the boss was encased in his own protective bubble, the bolts fizzling out before they could even singe a single hair.


    His grip was unyielding, and Yu Xiao¡¯s neck? It felt as delicate as a twig on the verge of snapping.


    **


    In the midst of it all, Zhao Lan couldn¡¯t look away from the screen. Her voice was a mix of hope and desperation as she declared, ¡°I choose to help the ¡®Deaf Descendant¡¯!¡±


    **


    At that moment, time seemed to stand still for a split second. The menacing big boss paused, allowing Yu Xiao to slip from his icy grip. Yu Xiao held her neck tightly, her voice a ragged battle cry as she shouted, ¡°Slap those talismans on!¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen acted quickly, slapping three talismans onto the door like a high-stakes game of Pin the Tail on the Donkey. Lightning crackled, the darkness wavered, and a glimmer of hope appeared.


    With a grunt, Ye Lang delivered a powerful Sparta kick to the door, causing it to surrender to his strength with a resounding boom.


    The group of four, along with their ghostly companions, rushed out of the office, leaving a stunned group of employees in their wake.


    **


    With Yu Xiao no longer in immediate danger, the screen presented another surprise.


    ¡¾Question Six: Who was responsible for maintaining the cleanliness of the Wise Sage Hospital?¡¿


    Zhao Lan¡¯s heart raced wildly, the close call with Yu Xiao leaving her nerves on edge. She tried to calm herself down. The current janitor used to be a delivery guy, but who was in charge before him? Nothing came to mind. Could it be Qing Shi doing the dirty work?


    Her thoughts were a jumbled mess, and she barely whispered, ¡°Qing Shi?¡±


    ¡¾Correct, now choose a friend to lend a hand.¡¿


    The screen switched back to Yu Xiao and the others, who were still alive and making their escape. Zhao Lan breathed a sigh of relief.


    **


    But even as Yu Xiao and her companions fled, the darkness was relentless. The sound of leather soles tapping in a sinister rhythm grew louder, and the big boss emerged, as if crossing over from another realm.


    They rushed towards the elevator, their hearts pounding like drumbeats in a chase scene. The elevator, their supposed safe haven, seemed far away, idling on the ground floor below.


    Workstations formed a labyrinth between them and Yu Xiao, yet it felt as if the boss¡¯s influence extended across the entire room. Yu Xiao¡¯s breath caught in her throat ¨C literally ¨C as the force tightened its grip once more.


    ¡ª ¡°I choose to help the ¡®Deaf Descendant¡¯!¡±


    Like a glitch in the matrix, miraculously, she was released, causing her suspicions to soar. It was too convenient, too strange for the boss to let her slip away twice. Luck? She doubted it.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s eyes shimmered with unshed tears, her voice trembling, ¡°What do we do now?¡± Yu Xiao had narrowly escaped death too many times for comfort.


    **


    [Question Seven: What is Director Liao¡¯s first name?]


    Zhao Lan¡¯s heart sank. She had no idea, absolutely none¡­


    **


    Time was running out, and Yu Xiao wasn¡¯t willing to leave things to chance. She pulled out an old copper coin from her pocket.


    The boss reached out, the coin spun in the air, and for the third time, Yu Xiao felt her throat being constricted.


    ¡°Daddy,¡± she stared intensely at the boss. ¡°You wouldn¡¯t actually harm me, would you?¡±


    Ye Lang, standing by the elevator, was utterly lost. ¡°What?¡±


    Xue Rong Rong felt like she might implode. Did she hear correctly? Daddy? Was that the secret password to cheat death?


    Then, as if touched by warmth, the boss¡¯s steely gaze softened, his grip loosened, and the shadows receded.


    ¡°My Daddy¡¯s Girl,¡± he said, his hand that had been a noose now gently stroking her head. ¡°You always know how to push Daddy¡¯s buttons.¡±


    Ye Lang¡¯s mind was in chaos. ¡°Did that just happen? What is going on?¡±


    Xue Rong Rong stood rooted to the spot, one thought echoing in her mind: Did calling out ¡®daddy¡¯ actually¡­ work?

 Chapter 124: Daddy, how can I kill you?

    Having experienced numerous social deaths, Yu Xiao had become an expert in handling awkward situations, her confidence now as strong as the plot armour of a Mary Sue. She no longer felt embarrassed by things that would have made her cringe in the past. In the face of the current, bizarre crisis, she chucked her dignity out the window.


    When the big boss turned all mushy-gushy on her, Yu Xiao tilted her head, mimicking the innocence of a young girl. ¡°Daddy¡­¡±


    But before she could continue her act, a weak interruption came from behind. ¡°Daughter¡­¡±


    Yu Xiao turned around and saw a man as pale and thin as a ghost struggling to stand up from his desk. He approached her with timid determination and said, ¡°Daughter, why do you call the boss daddy? I am your father.¡±


    Yu Xiao was left speechless.


    Crapsticks. Oh no. She had completely overlooked the range of the ¡°Coin of Great Observation.¡± Its effects extended to everyone, living or dead, within a ten-metre radius. She glanced at the faces around her, all gazing at her with a ghostly intensity.


    As soon as the pale man finished speaking, another figure, hunched with age, contested vigorously, ¡°Who is your daughter? I am her father!¡±


    ¡°Daughter!¡± A young woman with freckles covering her face charged towards Yu Xiao. ¡°What are you doing here? Come to your mother.¡±


    Amidst the confusion, another voice cut through the clamour. ¡°What nonsense are you babbling about? I am her mother!¡±


    The chaos escalated as more voices joined in, each claiming a connection to Yu Xiao. ¡°This is madness! What do you want with my daughter¡­¡±


    The room was chaotic, like a circus of the absurd, and Yu Xiao, feeling emboldened, confronted the big boss. ¡°Who are these people? I don¡¯t know them. You¡¯re my dad, right?¡±


    The boss¡¯s face transformed into an icy mask, the kind that could send shivers down the spine of any ghoul. It¡¯s not every day that a group of ghosts claims your child as their own. Nevertheless, he mustered a smile that seemed to be pulled from the depths of the netherworld and patted Yu Xiao¡¯s head. ¡°Good kid, of course, I¡¯m your daddy.¡±


    His eyes darted across the room, a storm brewing within them. He raised a hand, and Yu Xiao¡¯s heart skipped¡ªshe knew this was the prelude to a boss attack. The fate of the ghostly staff hung in the balance, but her friends, Precious and the others, had to be protected.


    Yu Xiao took hold of the boss¡¯s hand, surprising him. Her eyes shimmered with an unspoken plea as she begged, ¡°Please don¡¯t harm my friends.¡±


    The boss¡¯s expression softened, but his voice remained chillingly quiet. ¡°They don¡¯t deserve to be your friends.¡±


    Yu Xiao bit back a sob, finally squeezing out two pee tears with all her strength.


    The boss, taken aback, caved in. ¡°Alright, alright, I won¡¯t harm them. My little one, my little star, please stop crying.¡±


    Yu Xiao stifled her sobs behind her hands as she protested, ¡°You¡¯re the meanest!¡±


    The boss stood there, a powerful being at a loss in the face of his daughter¡¯s distress.


    ¡°No more tears, please! Oh dear¡­ I was mistaken,¡± he said, reaching for Yu Xiao¡¯s hand. ¡°I shouldn¡¯t have upset you. I already promised not to harm them, so why the tears?¡±


    Yu Xiao¡¯s hand dropped to her side, her eyes shimmering with tears she was holding back as she confronted the authority before her. ¡°Why did you give my friend an impossible task knowing they would fail?¡±


    The tall figure at the helm responded firmly, ¡°I¡¯ll change it.¡±


    ¡°Change it now!¡±


    He turned and pointed a commanding finger at Xue Rong Rong. ¡°As of this moment, you are relieved of all your duties. Your tasks are finished.¡±


    Xue Rong Rong¡¯s mouth hung open, her hands instinctively moving to tousle her hair in complete bewilderment. Was this really happening? The overwhelming pile of tasks she had been buried under was now¡­ gone, all because of a simple word from Yu Xiao?


    Yu Xiao furrowed her brow, her lips pursing in a pout that would have been comical if the situation wasn¡¯t so serious. ¡°Let my friends go,¡± she demanded, ¡°I don¡¯t trust you not to harm them in some way.¡±


    ¡°Scram, the lot of you!¡± the boss commanded, shooing Xue Rong Rong and the others away with a dismissive flick of his wrist. ¡°Go away!¡±


    Right on cue, the elevator doors chimed and Yu Xiao shared a meaningful look with Zhou Xiao Zhen. Her friend understood the message loud and clear; it was time to leave.


    With a heavy heart filled with concern, she stepped into the elevator, trusting that staying longer would disrupt Yu Xiao¡¯s mysterious plan.


    As the doors closed, separating her from her friends, Yu Xiao felt a weight lifted from her chest, her spirit slightly lifted.


    The big boss gently cradled Yu Xiao¡¯s hand as he spoke in a soft voice, ¡°No more tears, okay? Daddy¡¯s taken care of everything. You¡¯re such a brave girl. Hungry? How about we get some vinegar-glazed eyeballs?¡±


    (´×ÁïÑÛÖé×Ó: A play on words and culinary terms, often refers to a dish made with stir-fried potatoes seasoned with vinegar and chilli. However, coming from the ghost¡¯s mouth, it¡¯s probably meant in literal meaning ¨C eyeballs.)


    Yu Xiao glanced at the clock, knowing that the effect of the Coin of Great Observation was fleeting, lasting only ten minutes. She had to bolt it before time ran out, otherwise, she would face a fate worse than any ghost story.


    ¡°I¡¯m not hungry,¡± Yu Xiao muttered, feeling her spirits sink.


    The big boss furrowed his brow, trying to strike a balance between sternness and coddling. ¡°What¡¯s bothering you now? Not feeling cheerful? Tell me about it, kiddo. Whatever you wish for, Daddy¡¯s here to make it happen.¡±


    Yu Xiao looked up, a glimmer of hope in her question. ¡°Anything I ask for?¡±


    ¡°Anything,¡± he confirmed with a sweeping gesture. ¡°Your wish is my command.¡±


    A pause filled the air as Yu Xiao considered her next words. ¡°Then, I want your company. Can you give it to me?¡±


    The big boss¡¯s expression froze, his eyes sharpening. Yu Xiao¡¯s heart skipped a beat; had she gone too far?


    But before she could take back her bold wish, he laughed, breaking the tension with warmth and a sense of invitation, like a sun shower. ¡°Is that all? I thought you¡¯d ask for the moon! My company is yours for the taking. If it¡¯s what you desire, it¡¯s yours.¡±


    (Spring breeze after rain (´º·ç»¯Óê): This is an idiom used to describe a refreshing and relieving feeling, like the gentle warmth of a spring breeze and the nourishment of rain after a dry spell.)


    ¡°Ah?¡± Yu Xiao blinked in disbelief. Could it really be that simple?


    ¡°So, what¡¯s the catch? Do I need to sign any paperwork?¡± Yu Xiao was eager to take over the company, but the ticking clock echoed her worries.


    ¡°No need for that!¡± The big boss proudly pulled out a shiny golden trinket from his jacket. ¡°This seal is the heart of the company. With it, you¡¯re in charge.¡±


    ¡°Oh, this is¡­¡± The shock hit Yu Xiao like a lightning bolt; she was stunned. Holding onto the company¡¯s lifeline, her face lit up like a Christmas tree, yet she managed to ask, ¡°But Daddy, what about you?¡±


    The big boss blinked, puzzled. ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    ¡°The company is now mine,¡± Yu Xiao clarified, ¡°so what about you?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll be your right-hand man, pumpkin.¡± The big boss smiled warmly, like a summer¡¯s day. ¡°My little princess doesn¡¯t need to worry about anything. Your old man has everything under control. Just focus on being happy. Seeing my little girl smile is all I want.¡±


    ¡°Daddy, you¡¯re the best!¡± Yu Xiao¡¯s heart filled with gratitude.


    ¡°Ha, my baby girl!¡± The big boss wrapped Yu Xiao in a bear hug, a father¡¯s love cocooning her.


    Post-hug, Yu Xiao put the golden ticket in her pocket and asked, ¡°I have a friend, they call her ¡®Nickname Hassle¡¯, do you know where she is?¡±


    ¡°Hmm, she¡¯s at the KTV just down the road.¡± The big boss thought for a moment before adding, ¡°Just be careful who you hang out with, my little pumpkin. Stay away from the bad influences.¡±


    ¡°Got it, loud and clear.¡± Yu Xiao nodded. ¡°You get back to work. I¡¯m off to have some fun.¡±


    ¡°Need a sidekick, pumpkin?¡± the big boss asked, his smile easy and open.


    ¡°No need to tag along, Daddy. You can¡¯t slack off when you¡¯re working. You¡¯re working for me now,¡± Yu Xiao replied, her grin just as wide.


    ¡°Alright, kiddo.¡± The big boss shook his head, letting out a helpless chuckle. ¡°Go and have fun. This whole street is Daddy¡¯s¡­ I mean, your property. Play whatever you want.¡±


    ¡°Will do.¡± Yu Xiao strolled towards the elevator, casually saluting over her shoulder. ¡°See you later, Daddy!¡±


    He saluted back, all CEO charm. ¡°Over and out.¡±


    As the elevator doors whispered closed, Yu Xiao¡¯s hand fluttered to her heart. The thrill of holding the company¡¯s seal was electrifying. Would the big boss flip his lid when the effect faded?


    Ding~!


    The elevator reached the lobby, and the doors opened to reveal Precious and the others, all waiting.


    ¡°Phew!¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen breathed a sigh of relief. ¡°You had me worried, Smiley!¡±


    ¡°Misty¡¯s at the KTV. Let¡¯s go!¡± Yu Xiao led the way.


    Xue Rong Rong and the others followed behind, with Xue Rong Rong asking, ¡°Did you use some sort of special prop? You¡¯re amazing! Thanks to you, I¡¯m saved.¡±


    ¡°Take it easy on the victory lap,¡± panted Yu Xiao, her sneakers slapping the linoleum as they sprinted. ¡°The magic of the prop is fading fast. We should get ready for the boss¡¯s backlash.¡±


    Her words sent a cold tingle down Xue Rong Rong¡¯s spine, and her crew felt the chill too.


    **


    Zhao Lan blurted out a name, knowing it was a long shot. She could sense Zhao Yang¡¯s discomfort once again. Whatever he had eaten was indescribable. Surprisingly, though, Zhao Yang seemed to have developed a resistance this time, not succumbing to the urge to vomit despite the dreadful taste.


    Zhao Lan had no choice but to follow his lead, but once the ordeal was over, she found herself on her knees, fighting the urge to redecorate the floor.


    After a few dry heaves, she steadied herself and prepared to face the next question. They were in a dangerous situation, and time was crucial.


    Suddenly, there was a loud crash, and the door burst open.


    Yu Xiao and Zhou Xiao Zhen stood in the doorway, poised and ready. ¡°Misty, we need to leave, now!¡±


    Zhao Lan, still shaking, tried to process what was happening. How had they managed to find a way out so quickly? Before she could put it together, Yu Xiao and Zhou Xiao Zhen had her by the arms, whisking her away from the KTV.


    It wasn¡¯t until they were safely in the truck that Zhao Lan had the chance to ask, ¡°What just happened? I thought you were stopped by a ghost just before.¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s no time for explanations,¡± replied Yu Xiao, her focus on the road ahead. ¡°We¡¯re still in danger.¡±


    ¡°What kind of danger?¡±


    ¡°That ghost with a domain is still a threat,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen explained hastily. ¡°To put it simply, Smiley has made a serious enemy. When he snaps to it, he¡¯ll be out for blood.¡±


    Zhao Lan¡¯s expression showed uncertainty, then she asked, ¡°Did you use that Coin?¡±


    ¡°Misty,¡± Yu Xiao replied with a smirk, ¡°You¡¯re as sharp as ever.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s really¡­¡± Zhao Lan¡¯s emotions were a tangled web, ¡°But I don¡¯t think he¡¯ll be as angry as you think. He¡¯s your dad, after all, and you¡¯re his kid, not the other way around.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not just that,¡± Yu Xiao confessed with a mischievous glint in her eye, ¡°I sort of took over his company too.¡±


    ¡°¡­,¡± Zhao Lan was momentarily speechless. ¡°Hurry up,¡± she urged, ¡°Can¡¯t this thing move any faster?¡±


    **


    When Yu Xiao handed over a large box of meat, Yang Xian¡¯s efforts to win favour with the Pig Demon and his child went into overdrive. The favour metre was almost full, and Yang Xian was enjoying the thrill of it.


    She leaned back, watching the gruesome dining scene of the father and son with an odd sense of satisfaction.


    Then, out of nowhere, there was a loud boom! The front door couldn¡¯t withstand the force that hit it.


    Yang Xian¡¯s head snapped around to see Xue Rong Rong leading a charge through the dust and debris.


    ¡°You¡­¡± Yang Xian stammered, ¡°Why are you here?¡±


    ¡°Skip the Q&A,¡± Xue Rong Rong grabbed her, urgency evident in every movement, ¡°We need to leave, now!¡±


    ¡°We can¡¯t just leave!¡± Yang Xian protested, gripping the table, ¡°They haven¡¯t reached maximum favorability yet!¡±


    Then, a voice broke through the chaos, ¡°Grab those Pig Demons and throw them in the meat freezer!¡±


    Suddenly, a ghostly woman with hair cascading down her back suddenly lunged, grabbing Yang Xian¡¯s son in a swift motion. At the same time, a male ghost, cold and silent, appeared and took hold of her husband.


    A chaotic blend of ghosts and mortals rushed out, all heading for the exit, their sights set on the truck. As Yu Xiao was about to step on, she spotted the basketball-playing youth trying to get on board too.


    ¡°You live here, what are you doing?¡± she asked, puzzled.


    With a stubborn look, he replied, ¡°I tagged along with you and got on the wrong side of the big boss. You think I¡¯m just going to walk away? No chance! You owe me now!¡±


    Yu Xiao had no time for debates; she quickly got on the truck.


    Inside, Zhao Lan asked urgently, ¡°What¡¯s our next move?¡±


    Yu Xiao thought quickly, ¡°Ye Lang¡¯s done with his coin search, Precious has won over Gentle, Xue Rong Rong no longer needs to deliver meals, which helps Zhao Yang too. If we drop off the father and son at the meat plant, Yang Xian¡¯s mission will be nearly complete. My task is still pending. By the way, Misty, what¡¯s your role?¡±


    ¡°My task is to answer questions and help you,¡± Zhao Lan said succinctly.


    ¡°So, Misty¡¯s the one who¡¯s been helping us,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen realised, ¡°I was wondering about the meat falling from the sky.¡±


    Yu Xiao nodded; Misty had indeed saved them. Without her, they would have been at the mercy of the big boss.


    It became clear that Misty¡¯s task was linked with theirs. If they all made it through, her task would be fulfilled; if not, they¡¯d all fail together.


    Her analysis aligned with Zhao Lan¡¯s thoughts.


    Zhao Lan added, ¡°Now it¡¯s just the two of us left to finish this challenge.¡±


    Yu Xiao pondered briefly before instructing the group, ¡°Later, all of you will get out and follow Xue Rong Rong¡¯s car.¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s expression clouded with bewilderment. ¡°Why? Wouldn¡¯t it be better to stay together?¡±


    Yu Xiao let out a sigh, her voice tinged with resignation. ¡°The boss is after me.¡±


    **


    At the office, the big boss was all smiles, a change from his usual slacking demeanour. Today marked a new beginning; he was on a mission for his beloved daughter!


    But wait¡ªwhen did he get a daughter?


    The thought nagged at him, growing more unsettling by the second until realisation hit him like a thunderclap.


    Boom¡ª!


    The chairman¡¯s office door, which had just clicked shut, was flung open again. The employees glanced over, anxiety etched on their faces as darkness spread like wildfire, consuming an entire floor with a voracious appetite.


    **


    ¡°We need to stick together now more than ever!¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen insisted, her face filled with determination. ¡°Smiley, don¡¯t do this alone. We¡¯re a trio, for better or worse.¡±


    Zhao Lan didn¡¯t say a word, but her determined eyes conveyed her agreement.


    ¡°I¡¯m not taking it all on,¡± Yu Xiao clarified, ¡°I¡¯m not planning to confront the boss head-on. It¡¯s just¡­ slipping away on my own is easier. Give me an hour to dodge and weave, and the Coin of Great Observation will be back in play.¡±


    Zhao Lan¡¯s question hung in the air, filled with concern. ¡°But how can you last for an hour?¡± she asked. ¡°The talismans don¡¯t work, what will you do?¡±


    Yu Xiao replied uncertainly, ¡°I could¡­ make a run for it.¡±


    Zhao Lan narrowed her eyes. ¡°This place is an instance,¡± she reminded. ¡°Where would you even run to?¡±


    Caught off guard, Yu Xiao hesitated. She hadn¡¯t thought that far ahead; her only goal was to keep others safe.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen moved closer, gripping Yu Xiao¡¯s shoulders. ¡°Smiley,¡± she said earnestly, ¡°you trust me, right?¡±


    Yu Xiao met her gaze. ¡°Of course, I trust you.¡±


    ¡°Then let¡¯s stick together,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen urged.


    As the trucks went separate ways at the frozen meat factory, the ghosts remained behind while Xue Rong Rong and the crew went to the restaurant to find Zhao Yang. Yu Xiao and her group returned to the starting point, her home.


    The once-green lawn was now a charred landscape, and in the distance, Yu Xiao could see the fire ghost, its glow shining in the daylight.


    Their car drove across the blackened grass and stopped near the balcony. The fire ghost, having finished a box of frozen meat, was now approaching eagerly.


    Yu Xiao stepped out and gave a warning, her voice carrying. ¡°The big boss is coming, you should find a good hiding place.¡±


    At her words, the fire ghost¡¯s flames flickered with uncertainty. He looked at Yu Xiao, silently questioning.


    Yu Xiao pretended not to understand, choosing not to respond to his silent plea. Just then, shadows began engulfing the house completely. She turned to the fire ghost, speaking firmly. ¡°Are you planning to stay?¡±


    With no other choice, the fire ghost hurried into the kitchen, retreating to the safety of his familiar haunt.


    Tap, tap, tap~


    The rhythmic tapping of footsteps grew louder, signalling the approach of a man emerging from the shadows. Dressed impeccably in a sharp black suit, he exuded suave confidence, except for the icy glare he directed towards Yu Xiao. His fury roiled like a stormy sea, desperate to douse the flame of mockery.


    Around the dining table, Yu Xiao and her eclectic group sat in hushed awe as the man halted, his hand frozen mid-air, poised to strike down.


    The mahjong tiles were scattered before them, creating a battlefield of ivory and bamboo.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen shattered the silence, ¡°Hey, why not pull up a chair and join the fun?¡±


    Caught off guard, the boss flickered like a faulty TV signal, and the encroaching darkness retreated hastily. Wearing a deep scowl, he claimed the vacant chair, surrendering to the siren call of the game.


    ¡°Clack, clack¡­¡± The tiles emitted a cheerful melody, with each click becoming a note in the symphony of the game.


    Outside, the sun cast a warm glow, and the breeze whispered sweet words ¨C a moment of tranquillity amidst the chaos.


    ¡°Two pancakes,¡± declared the boss, laying down his tile.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen hesitated, burdened by the weight of decision. ¡°Geez, this is a real noodle-scratcher, which one goes?¡±


    The boss¡¯s eyes narrowed, brewing a silent storm. Time stretched as each player took minutes to select a tile to play.


    ¡°Red dragon,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen finally announced, breaking the tension.


    Now, it was Yu Xiao¡¯s turn, and with a dramatic flourish, she mused, ¡°Oh, the agony of choosing! Which tile dares to meet its fate?¡±


    Yu Xiao locked eyes with the big boss, feeling the intensity of his stare. ¡°So, any chance you¡¯ll let me off the hook?¡±


    The big boss remained silent, his icy stare speaking volumes. The mahjong game ticked on, but he was playing a longer game¡ªone where Yu Xiao would pay deadly.


    Zhao Lan glanced in their direction. ¡°Why bother asking? He¡¯s not the talkative type.¡±


    Yu Xiao let out a sigh. ¡°What if I hand over the company seal? Would that settle things?¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen scoffed. ¡°Not a chance. He¡¯s determined to take the seal only after you¡¯re gone.¡±


    Yu Xiao slumped, feeling the weight of their predicament weighing heavily on her shoulders. ¡°Talk about being caught between a rock and a hard place.¡±


    Zhao Lan furrowed her brow, lost in thought. ¡°If only he wasn¡¯t so strong. We could¡¯ve just¡­ you know.¡± She stared at her tiles, deep in contemplation.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen grumbled, ¡°Even our talismans aren¡¯t working. What will it take to stop him?¡±


    Yu Xiao chimed in, a spark of defiance in her voice. ¡°Hey, the old dean was a ghost boss too, and look what happened to him. There must be a way.¡±


    Zhao Lan shook her head. ¡°Sure, but we had George back then. And now? Unless you have Fu Shen on speed dial¡­¡±


    Yu Xiao¡¯s shoulders slumped. ¡°Wishful thinking. If Wide Sea and Sky were here, he would wipe the floor with the boss.¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s not here, though,¡± Zhao Lan pointed out, placing a tile on the table. ¡°Three bamboo.¡±


    Without missing a beat, the big boss countered, ¡°Nine pancakes!¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen groaned. ¡°My turn again? Well, no rush. If we¡¯re stumped now, we¡¯ll figure it out later. I can handle another round.¡±


    Yu Xiao¡¯s mind raced with regret. ¡°I should¡¯ve sized up our opponent better. Next time, I¡¯ll do my homework.¡±


    ¡°Who¡¯d have thunk it?¡± Zhao Lan mused, a wry smile playing on her lips. ¡°Even with all the guides out there, domain-level ghosts are still a rare breed.¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s just be a little more careful next time,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen whispered, her soft voice expressing a desire for everyone to return safely from the instance.


    Yu Xiao¡¯s eyes stayed on her tiles. She could have declared victory a long time ago, but that wasn¡¯t an option¡ªnot yet.


    ¡°Which tile should I play?¡± Yu Xiao wondered, her gaze shifting from side to side. ¡°Once we get back, assuming the Gluttony issue been resolved, I¡¯m going to take a few extra days off. I need a full week¡¯s break!¡±


    ¡°Yawn, resting is boring, and there¡¯s nothing enjoyable in the ward,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen lamented, tilting her head in thought. ¡°Maybe we should play mahjong?¡±


    ¡°Your mahjong skills are deadly,¡± teased Zhao Lan. ¡°Aren¡¯t you satisfied with just hanging out in the forum threads?¡± S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°We could watch some TV,¡± suggested Yu Xiao.


    ¡°TV?¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s voice rose in surprise. ¡°Where is the TV?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s at St. Elizabeth¡¯s,¡± casually replied Yu Xiao. ¡°It¡¯s just sitting there gathering dust in the cafeteria.¡±


    ¡°Can you bring the TV back to the ward?¡± inquired Zhao Lan. ¡°We can¡¯t just waltz into St. Elizabeth¡¯s, after all.¡±


    ¡°Chicken.¡± Yu Xiao called out, glancing at the clock. ¡°Look, an hour has already gone by.¡±


    ¡°Really?¡± Zhao Lan quickly played a tile. ¡°Three bamboos!¡±


    ¡°Seven pancakes ¡ª I¡¯ve won!¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen declared triumphantly and pointed an accusing finger at the boss. ¡°Tag, you¡¯re it!¡±


    A bolt of lightning struck, yet missed the boss. He was engulfed in darkness, disconnected from this world.


    ¡°What should we do now?¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen asked, feeling the pressure. ¡°Should we play another round?¡±


    ¡°Not just yet,¡± Yu Xiao said, pulling out a coin speckled with rust.


    As the coin¡¯s familiar reverse side landed in Yu Xiao¡¯s palm, the darkness around them dissipated once more.


    Yu Xiao lifted her gaze, locking eyes with the boss. ¡°Daddy, how can I kill you?¡±

 Chapter 125: Rebuilding St. Elizabeth

    Zhao Lan and Zhou Xiao Zhen stood frozen, their eyes wide with a mix of terror and disbelief as they looked at Yu Xiao. Their minds raced¡ªwas it really a good idea to confront the elephant in the room so directly? Could this boldness backfire?


    The boss, with his brows knitted together in a delicate frown, kept his gaze fixed on Yu Xiao. To him, she was his beloved child, the apple of his eye.


    ¡°Why do you ask?¡± he asked softly, his voice almost hesitant.


    With a steady tone that contradicted her inner turmoil, Yu Xiao replied, ¡°I¡¯m scared of you.¡±


    As she spoke, the fear that had gripped her heart began to fade. She knew that if she didn¡¯t address this issue with him now, she would be no closer to finding a solution in the next ten minutes.


    ¡°Have you forgotten? You tried to kill me. That¡¯s why I¡¯m scared.¡±


    Confusion flickered across the boss¡¯s face. The Coin of Great Observation, thrice enhanced, was foolproof. Its magic made him see Yu Xiao only as his cherished daughter, dismissing any inconsistencies as trivial.


    Yet here he was, faced with his ¡®daughter¡¯s¡¯ admission of fear, feeling turmoil brewing in his chest.


    Unbidden, memories surged¡ªvisions of his hands closing around Yu Xiao¡¯s throat.


    Yes, he had done it, but the reason behind his actions eluded him. His love for her was boundless; what madness could have driven him to such violence?


    He reached out, his hand hovering over Yu Xiao¡¯s neck, where the ghost of his grip lingered in shades of bruised purple.


    In that moment, Zhou Xiao Zhen, overwhelmed by fear, tried to move forward, but Zhao Lan¡¯s strong grip prevented her from doing so,.


    ¡°Does it still hurt?¡± he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.


    Yu Xiao nodded, tears glinting in her eyes. ¡°Daddy, it hurts.¡±


    The boss recoil as if he had been burned, his head bowing in a silent apology. He studied Yu Xiao with newfound intensity, as if truly seeing her for the first time. She was his flesh and blood.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± he murmured, the weight of his guilt palpable. The mystery of his actions haunted him, leaving him uncertain and afraid of what the future held.


    ¡°I am strong,¡± he whispered, ¡°You can¡¯t kill me.¡±


    Yu Xiao¡¯s eyes fluttered shut.


    Time was slipping away from them. Was there truly no way out? Misty and Precious were trapped, their chances of escape dwindling. All Yu Xiao could do was buy precious seconds, stalling for her friends to find a way out.


    If she was dead and the others had completed their task, they would be able to leave the instance.


    ¡°Chop off my head,¡± suddenly the boss offered casually, shrugging as if it were as simple as passing the salt. ¡°Without my head, I¡¯m as harmless as a kitten. Can¡¯t see, can¡¯t fight.¡±


    Yu Xiao¡¯s jaw dropped. This was not an everyday offer. The boss, always a gentleman, loosened his tie and handed it to her. ¡°Make sure to blindfold me. Don¡¯t let me see.¡±


    With a nod that couldn¡¯t hide her confusion, Yu Xiao accepted the tie, her thoughts in a jumble.


    The boss, usually towering and unapproachable, now knelt on one knee, bowing his head¡ªa giant humbled. ¡°Pumpkin, would you?¡± he asked, gesturing toward his eyes.


    Yu Xiao¡¯s hands trembled as she took the tie. Zhao Lan¡¯s voice cut through the tension, ¡°C¡¯mon, Smiley, quick!¡±


    With trembling fingers, she blindfolded him.


    ¡°Now, off with the head,¡± he instructed.


    A wave of panic washed over Yu Xiao. ¡°I¡¯ll¡­ I¡¯ll get a knife from the kitchen,¡± she stammered.


    ¡°No need for that,¡± the boss interrupted, and in one swift, surreal motion, he pulled his head cleanly off his shoulders.


    Yu Xiao gasped. No blood, no gore, just the bizarre sight of a man calmly handing over his detached head.


    ¡°Keep it safe,¡± the head whispered, its eyes hidden beneath the makeshift blindfold. ¡°Look after Daddy¡¯s head.¡±


    As Yu Xiao cradled the head, silence fell. The body, now sightless and soundless, wandered aimlessly.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen, emboldened, jumped in front of it, eliciting no response.


    ¡°We¡¯re okay,¡± She exhaled, relief and glee blending in her voice. ¡°Honestly, I was scared stiff. Thought we were done for, for sure.¡±


    ¡°Ah, don¡¯t jinx us,¡± Zhao Lan chided, placing her hand on her chest before flashing a grin. ¡°Just between you and me, I was shaking in my boots too. Hey, Smiley,¡± she prodded, ¡°what¡¯s the plan now?¡±


    Yu Xiao, holding the head like the world¡¯s most eerie bouquet, replied, ¡°We stick to the script¡ªfinish the mission, tick off every task, and get out of this madhouse together.¡±


    The day had nearly slipped through their fingers amidst the chaos.


    **


    In the restaurant, Xue Rong Rong and her group found Zhao Yang. By that point, he had finished two dishes and was teetering on the edge. The sight of Ye Lang and the others triggered a breakdown, with tears mixing with his retching long after his stomach waved the white flag.


    **


    With the boss no longer breathing down their necks, Yu Xiao easily completed the Health Track chores. When evening came, it was time for a meal.


    This time, Misty took charge in the kitchen and turned a simple bag of chicken wings into a delicious feast of crispy, golden delights. The trio gathered around to enjoy a meal that tasted like victory.


    After dinner, it was time for a leisurely stroll, and the trio set off again. Unfortunately, the lawn was now nothing but a charred memory, and the scent of burnt earth accompanied them as they walked down the road. At eight o¡¯clock in the evening, a reminder came that it was time for Yu Xiao to sleep.


    Sleeping should have been risky because there was a ghost in the bed. However, Yu Xiao had long since removed the ghostly nightgown, and now the room was very safe as the ghost enjoyed its ¡°job¡± at the meatpacking factory.


    The trio settled down for the night, the head now securely sealed with a talisman, and another matching talisman hung on the door. Outside, the sound of the headless body trudging along provided a ghostly lullaby.


    Yu Xiao and the others nestled into the big bed, surrendering to slumber¡¯s embrace.


    **


    Elsewhere, four patients were marooned in wakefulness. When they split, Yu Xiao¡¯s parting words were to vanish soon as they get Zhao Yang.


    Huddled in the wilderness, they were a pitiful sight¡ªexhausted, starving, and desperately trying to stay awake. They couldn¡¯t reach her by phone, couldn¡¯t contact Yu Xiao and the others, and had no idea what their situation was. No one dared to sleep that night. They were all on edge, fearing that the boss might come after them.


    **


    At six in the morning, Yu Xiao and her roommates were awakened by Fu Shen.


    He appeared, holding the boss¡¯s head like a grim trophy. Yu Xiao rubbed her eyes, still half-asleep, and Fu Shen¡¯s eyes twinkled with amusement. ¡°You did this?¡±


    Yu Xiao, always modest, scratched her head and gave a sheepish smile. ¡°Just dumb luck.¡±


    ¡°Luck, huh?¡± Fu Shen pondered, holding the head of the big boss, gesturing for them to follow him to the door. ¡°Well, your luck is worth its weight in gold. Congratulations, you¡¯ve all passed the test. The game is over, it¡¯s time to return to the hospital.¡± S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The three amigos hopped off the bed and approached the door. Yu Xiao glanced back, noticing the head in Fu Shen¡¯s grip. ¡°Uh¡­¡±


    Fu Shen shot her a look that could curdle milk. ¡°You want to take the head away?¡±


    ¡°Heck no!¡± Yu Xiao backpedalled faster than a crab at a beach party, ¡°I was just wondering, once we¡¯re out of here, could you maybe¡­ pop the head back on?¡±


    ¡°Absolutely,¡± Fu Shen replied with a smirk, ¡°He¡¯s the chairman of the Ghostly Commerce Group, in charge of this whole operation. It¡¯s only right that I return his head to its rightful place.¡±


    ¡°Phew,¡± Yu Xiao sighed, nibbling on her lip, ¡°So he¡¯s still the chairman of the group?¡±


    ¡°Why wouldn¡¯t he be?¡± Fu Shen was puzzled by the question. Who else but the big boss would take the chairman¡¯s position in this instance?


    No more puzzling questions from Yu Xiao. They pushed open the door and stepped through, only to find themselves back in their ward room.


    ¡°We just¡­ poofed back?¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen spun around, but the door had disappeared. ¡°Do you think Xue Rong Rong and Yang Xian made it back? Without the big boss, they shouldn¡¯t be in any danger, right?¡±


    ¡°Why don¡¯t we give them a buzz?¡± Yu Xiao whipped out her phone, ready to dial Ye Lang¡¯s number.


    Ye Lang and his group had been concerned about Yu Xiao and her friends. They had spent the entire night outside, almost catching a cold.


    When dawn came and there was no word, they cautiously approached the burned ground to snoop. But just as they were about to get closer, the world spun, and bam! Back in their wards they were.


    Xue Rong Rong and Yang Xian were on pins and needles, clueless about Yu Xiao¡¯s whereabouts. Ye Lang was about to call her when¡ªbingo¡ªher call came through first.


    ¡°Hello?¡± Ye Lang answered, ¡°Is everyone okay?¡±


    ¡°All good, we¡¯ve popped back,¡± Yu Xiao lounged on the bed, snacking on the pineapple Zhou Xiao Zhen had brought her, ¡°Just checking on you guys, are you all okay? Did you manage to leave the instance?¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re all here,¡± Ye Lang cheered, ¡°Thanks a lot, we owe you one.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s what patients do for each other,¡± Yu Xiao chirped.


    Hearing Yu Xiao¡¯s words, Ye Lang felt a warm feeling inside. He was touched by the kindness and selflessness of people who not only refrained from profiting from talismans but also risked their lives to ensure everyone¡¯s safe exit from the replica. Ye Lang¡¯s eyes got misty.


    ¡°Thanks a lot,¡± Ye Lang said, adding casually, ¡°By the way, how did you manage to escape from the clutches of the big boss after we went our separate ways?¡±


    Yu Xiao dodged the question by quickly reminding Ye Lang to sell those discounted amulets to the Fifth Hospital crew before hanging up.


    **


    Meanwhile, Fu Shen finally understood what Yu Xiao had asked earlier.


    ¡°You gave her the company seal?¡± Fu Shen¡¯s voice was a mix of disbelief and impending disaster. ¡°How could you hand it over? That means she¡¯s the new chairperson, and you¡¯re demoted to a mere puppet under human control!¡±


    The boss, who had just got back his head, wore a resigned expression, with a hint of regret. ¡°The prop influenced me, and how did you let her walk away with the company seal?¡±


    ¡°I had no idea she took it!¡± Fu Shen fumed, pacing back and forth. ¡°I used to mock George from Saint Elizabeth for being under human thumb, but look at me now!¡±


    **


    ¡°I¡¯m curious about Saint Elizabeth,¡± mused Yu Xiao, her voice tinged with hesitation. ¡°Should I call George?¡±


    ¡°Maybe we shouldn¡¯t,¡± interjected Zhao Lan, concerned that Saint Elizabeth¡¯s issues might still be unresolved and a call could complicate things. ¡°If it¡¯s sorted, it¡¯ll be in the morning news.¡±


    Convinced, Yu Xiao dropped the idea.


    Zhou Xiao Xhen couldn¡¯t contain her excitement. ¡°Gals, I earned two titles this time!¡±


    ¡°Seriously? Let¡¯s see them,¡± leaned in Zhao Lan with interest.


    Zhou Xiao Xhen¡¯s face beamed with pride. ¡°I¡¯ve got ¡®The Flower*-Wrecker¡¯ and ¡®Mahjong Empress¡¯. Pretty cool, huh?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m going to check mine,¡± said Zhao Lan, scrolling through her phone. ¡°Look at this! ¡®The Reliable Ally¡¯, I love it.¡±


    Titles were handed out, and Yu Xiao was eager to see hers.


    ¡°I bet Smiley¡¯s got a bunch of titles this time,¡± speculated Zhou Xiao Xhen.


    Yu Xiao began sifting through her messages.


    ¡¾Congratulations! You¡¯ve successfully completed the eighth ordeal. Welcome to the Level Nine member on the hospital¡¯s patient forum.¡¿


    ¡¾Thanks to your exceptional performance during the treatment, you have earned 3 basic points and 3 bonus points.¡¿


    ¡¾And a special shoutout to you, the ¡®Master of Evil Spirits¡¯¡ªhere¡¯s a quartet of bonus points to add to your collection.¡¿


    Titles like these used to make her heart skip a beat, but now? Yu Xiao simply moved on to the next message with the composure of a seasoned ghost whisperer.


    ¡¾Congratulations on acquiring the title of ¡®Heart Deceiver¡¯, which rewards you with 4 bonus points.¡¿


    ¡¾And let¡¯s give a standing ovation to the new ¡®Chairman of the Ghosts¡¯ Union¡¯, who also receives 4 bonus points.¡¿


    Hold on a second¡ªChairman? Yu Xiao¡¯s eyebrows shot up. A chairman, her? She had barely even thrown her graduation cap, and she was already playing in the big leagues?


    A surge of pride bubbled up. That¡¯s right, no guts, no gory¡ªuh, glory. She¡¯d danced with danger, and now she was the one calling the shots!


    ¡°Yu Xiao is grinning from ear to ear,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen observed, leaning in. ¡°What title did you get?¡±


    Yu Xiao¡¯s grin threatened to split her face. ¡°Just wait, I¡¯m not finished reading yet.¡±


    ¡¾Here¡¯s to the ¡®Patricidal Daughter¡¯, with 4 bonus points to your name.¡¿


    Yu Xiao¡¯s smile faltered. ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°Misty, take a look¡ªher smile slipped.¡±


    Zhao Lan¡¯s lips twitched. ¡°Maybe that title¡¯s a bit too¡­ spirited for her.¡±


    ¡°Pfft, as if Yu Xiao would be put off by that,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen scoffed, with unwavering faith in ¡®Smiley¡¯.


    ¡¾And now, a drumroll for topping the leaderboard! You¡¯ve won a pair of function cards. Head over to the forum to claim your prize.¡¿


    Yu Xiao set her phone aside, a smile playing at the edges of her lips, not quite reaching her eyes. ¡°I¡¯ve got some news, gals. I¡¯ve won four titles this time around.¡±


    ¡°Whoa!¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen barrelled over, her voice a mix of awe and decibels, ¡°You¡¯re the champion!¡±


    With a playful eye roll, Yu Xiao gently pushed her away and declared, ¡°I¡¯m officially on vacation for a week. Just imagine: seven-day marathon of nothing but Z¡¯s and snacks.¡±


    ¡°Sounds like a plan,¡± Zhao Lan chimed in, her attention partly on her own achievement, ¡°I¡¯ve also obtained a prop card.¡±


    Both Yu Xiao and Zhou Xiao Zhen leaned in, curious. ¡°Can we see?¡±


    On Zhao Lan¡¯s private forum page, a prop card awaited them, its potential yet to be discovered.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen, always the cheerleader, encouraged her, ¡°Come on, Misty, crack it open!¡±


    ¡¾Prop card, do you want to use it?¡¿


    Zhao Lan¡¯s heart skipped a beat. Her first prop card since arriving at the Sixth Hospital. She tapped on it, hoping for something game-changing.


    ¡¾Choose your desired prop from the list: A. Soap. B. Enema. C. Flashlight. D. Key.¡¿


    ¡°A choice again?¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s face fell. ¡°No mahjong? Bummer.¡±


    Zhao Lan scrutinised the four ordinary options with a critical eye. ¡°Even though they seem mundane, they must have unique functions, like Precious¡¯s mahjong.¡±


    Yu Xiao leaned in, intrigued. ¡°So, what¡¯s it going to be?¡±


    Zhao Lan hesitated, ¡°Enema¡­¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s jaw dropped. ¡°Misty, an enema? Seriously? What if it¡¯s for¡­ you know, ghostly spankings?¡±


    A cloud passed over Zhao Lan¡¯s expression. ¡°I would never choose an enema.¡±


    ¡°Ah,¡± Yu Xiao let out a sigh, relieved that Zhao Lan¡¯s tasts weren¡¯t that heavy as she feared. ¡°The soap,¡± she deduced, ¡°must be a control-type item, much like the mahjong tiles.¡±


    Zhao Lan raised an eyebrow, intrigued. ¡°And why¡¯s that?¡±


    Yu Xiao leaned in, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. ¡°Ever ponder the real power of soap?¡±


    ¡°To scrub-a-dub-dub?¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen chimed in, half-joking.


    Zhao Lan added, ¡°To wash away grime?¡±


    Yu Xiao nodded, prompting further, ¡°And beyond that?¡±


    The pair were stumped. Zhou Xiao Zhen tapped her temple, ¡°Drawing a blank here.¡±


    Zhao Lan playfully groaned, ¡°Don¡¯t keep us in suspense, Smiley. Out with it.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s simple,¡± Yu Xiao declared with a sly smile, ¡°Ever heard the phrase ¡®don¡¯t drop the soap¡¯?¡±


    Zhao Lan¡¯s eyes widened, a moment of realisation dawning.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s face lit up with understanding. ¡°Aha!¡±


    Yu Xiao elaborated, ¡°Imagine this: you toss the soap, and those ghoulish goons can¡¯t help but pick it up. Now that¡¯s what I call a nifty trick.¡±


    Zhao Lan mulled it over in silence.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen nodded vigorously, ¡°That¡¯s genius! It could be a game-changer, way handier than my mahjong tiles. They need a crowd, but soap? Just one slippery ghost.¡±


    Zhao Lan¡¯s mouth twitched into a smile, but she seemed convinced that soap was off her list now.


    ¡°What do you think of flashlights?¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen pondered, her voice filled with mischief. ¡°Hm¡­ they¡¯re more than just a source of light in the dark.¡±


    Zhao Lan leaned closer, now intrigued. ¡°Oh? How so?¡±


    A glimmer of excitement appeared in Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s eyes. ¡°Ever catch an episode of Doraemon, Misty?¡±


    Zhao Lan hesitated, her brow furrowed. ¡°Can¡¯t say I have.¡±


    ¡°Well, in the show, there¡¯s this nifty thing called a ¡®Shrink Ray¡¯,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen explained enthusiastically. ¡°Imagine if our flashlight had that kind of power ¨C we could shrink ghosts down to size! We¡¯d have them under our boots in no time!¡±


    Zhao Lan ran her fingers through her hair, scepticism evident on her face. A flashlight with cartoon powers? Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s leap of logic was a stretch too far.


    ¡°And what about the key?¡± Zhao Lan questioned, hoping for a more practical explanation.


    ¡°Door opener, plain and simple,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen replied with a smirk. ¡°Unless you think it moonlights as a delivery guy?¡±


    Yu Xiao¡¯s gaze shifted to the key, her enthusiasm fading. ¡°Best-case scenario, it¡¯s a master key. It opens doors¡­ big whoop.¡±


    Zhao Lan made her decision clear. ¡°I¡¯m going with the key.¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s jaw dropped. ¡°Hold on, Misty! Choosing props isn¡¯t a game; it¡¯s a matter of life and¡­ less pleasant alternatives.¡±


    Zhao Lan¡¯s choice remained firm. ¡°Option C, locked in.¡±


    And with that, the screen erupted into a display of celebratory fireworks.


    ¡¾Congratulations on acquiring a permanent prop key.¡¿


    ¡¾Instructions: This key can unlock and lock all doors with locks. Once locked, unless opened again with the key, the door cannot be opened by anyone else. No cooldown time, can be used at will.¡¿


    ¡°¡­ Bloody hell!¡± Zhao Lan¡¯s eyes went wide as saucers. ¡°Wow, this is amazing!¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen, practically bouncing with glee, wrapped Zhao Lan in a bear hug. ¡°Does this mean we¡¯re invincible with Misty¡¯s key? Just lock up and poof, a safehouse?¡±


    Yu Xiao chimed in, her voice a cocktail of shock and delight. ¡°Who knew a key could pack such a punch? We hit the jackpot!¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen and Yu Xiao exchanged high-fives, their previous scepticism about the key now forgotten.


    With their spirits soaring, Zhao Lan suggested, ¡°Let¡¯s raise a toast to our stroke of luck, shall we? And no need to worry about overindulging. I¡¯ll secure our room in advance with the key.¡±


    ¡°To victory!¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen exclaimed, her cheer enough to wake the dead.


    Before the meal attendant had even begun to loiter outside the door, the courier had arrived.


    As sweet as a serenade, the delivery girl cooed, ¡°¡®Nickname Hassle¡¯, got a package with your name on it.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s me, ¡®Nickname Hassle¡¯,¡± Zhao Lan beamed, darting towards the door, while Yu Xiao chimed in with her gratitude, her voice drifting through the gap. ¡°Thank you kindly, miss.¡±


    The delivery girl¡¯s giggle was light, a playful note in the sterile air. ¡°It¡¯s all in a day¡¯s work, you know~¡±


    Yu Xiao leaned closer. ¡°Been away for a bit¡ªanything interesting go down at St. Elizabeth lately?¡±


    ¡°Why not ask George?¡±


    Yu Xiao sighed, a smile playing on her lips. ¡°You know how those attending docs can be, all high and mighty. But you? You¡¯re a gem. I¡¯d rather share the hospital¡¯s gossip over a meal with you.¡±


    The delivery girl¡¯s laughter rang out, a clear bell in the quiet corridor. When she finally composed herself, she said, ¡°Oh, it¡¯s been quite the show. The Gluttony snuck into the hospital and had a go at George. And of all the times, George was hosting his doctor friends. It turned into an all-out melee, leaving the place in tatters.¡±


    Yu Xiao¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°My hospital¡­¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t fret,¡± the delivery girl reassured, ¡°The attending doctors will foot the bill. The Health Bureau dropped by for a surprise visit and caught the whole spectacle. Now, both the doctors and Gluttony are in a bit of a pickle, waiting for tomorrow¡¯s judgement.¡±


    Yu Xiao nodded, feigning concern. ¡°A huge incident at St. Elizabeth and I missed it? That¡¯s my hospital.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry,¡± she comforted, ¡°The Health Bureau¡¯s got a rebuild in the works. St. Elizabeth will be back to its old self soon enough.¡±


    Yu Xiao¡¯s heart raced at the thought. A rebuild could reveal Nightmare!

 Chapter 125: Cat in the Box

    After the delivery girl left, Yu Xiao¡¯s worry grew deeper. ¡°Saint Elizabeth¡¯s is currently being renovated, which means even the dean¡¯s office is not exempt from the overhaul, and our unwelcome guest is still hiding inside.¡±


    ¡°What do we do then?¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen bit her lip. ¡°What if they find out that you¡¯ve been sheltering it? What will happen to you?¡±


    Yu Xiao felt a chill skitter down her spine at the mere thought.


    Zhao Lan¡¯s voice broke through the tension. ¡°We need to move it, and quickly.¡±


    ¡°But where to?¡±


    Zhao Lan paused, taking a moment to gather her thoughts before asking, ¡°Since you became the dean, you have access to the instance, right? And now you are responsible for the Ghosts Group in the previous instance. Can you access that one too?¡±


    Yu Xiao hesitated. ¡°I don¡¯t know, but even if I can get in, what if the boss comes after me?¡±


    That was a genuine concern, and Zhao Lan didn¡¯t have an immediate answer. Then Zhou Xiao Zhen spoke up, ¡°Why don¡¯t we hide it in our ward for now?¡±


    Yu Xiao¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°Are you serious?¡±


    ¡°I am,¡± She looked confused. ¡°Why shouldn¡¯t we hide it here?¡±


    Yu Xiao was torn. ¡°It¡¯s not human.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s exactly why we can hide it,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen argued. ¡°If it were human, I would have reservations. But it¡¯s not, so what¡¯s the fuss? Unless it gives you the heebie-jeebies?¡±


    Zhao Lan, always cautious, added her thoughts. ¡°But is it truly safe?¡±


    ¡°I believe so,¡± Yu Xiao said after a moment of contemplation. ¡°Pretty sure it won¡¯t bite.¡±


    ¡°But¡­¡± Zhao Lan still looked worried. ¡°Even so, it¡¯s in the form of a man, and our ward is all women. It could be¡­awkward, right?¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen bit her lip, uncertainty flickering in her eyes. Yu Xiao, always practical, chimed in with a plan. ¡°I¡¯ll talk to him and see if he has any tricks up his sleeve. If the worst comes to worst, we¡¯ll hide him in a cabinet and lock it with Misty¡¯s key. What do you think?¡±


    ¡°Sounds like a plan!¡±


    ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m on board.¡±


    ¡°Great, off to St. Elizabeth¡¯s I go,¡± Yu Xiao declared, shrugging on a white coat.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen, thoughtfully, suggested, ¡°Need a box for the trip?¡±


    Yu Xiao dismissed the concern with a flick of her wrist. ¡°Nah, St. Elizabeth¡¯s is practically a cardboard jungle.¡±


    After Yu Xiao had disappeared from sight, Zhao Lan turned to Zhou Xiao Zhen, her gaze filled with curiosity. ¡°Why the sudden enthusiasm about Nightmare?¡±


    A sheepish grin spread across Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s face, her cheeks lightly blushing. ¡°Well, let¡¯s just say Nightmare is a good-looking monster guy.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°And hey,¡± she added, her grin widening. ¡°He can turn into a cat! When was the last time you got to pet a fluffy pet?¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    **


    Yu Xiao¡¯s arrival at St. Elizabeth¡¯s was met with a gasp. The sky, a brooding canvas of clouds, hung heavy above her. It was a sight she had never seen in this place, and under different circumstances, she might have stopped to admire it.


    But the scene before her was one of devastation. Walls crumbled, mere remnants of what they used to be. It was as if the echoes of a great battle still reverberated in the air.


    Despite preparing herself for the worst, the reality of the destruction tugged at Yu Xiao¡¯s heart. She placed a hand over her chest, as if trying to hold herself together.


    ¡°The respected Dean,¡± a voice rang out, deep and resonant, as if the very air had a secret to share. Emerging from the wreckage, a skeleton wearing a once-white coat that had seen better days shuffled forward.


    With a gesture reminiscent of better times, he adjusted the torn fabric and offered a bow so profound that it was a wonder his skull remained atop his spine. ¡°In your absence, I failed in my duty to protect the hospital. For this negligence, I apologise, Your Excellency the Dean.¡±


    Yu Xiao weakly raised her hand and said, ¡°Don¡¯t beat yourself up. The fact you¡¯re still standing is miracle enough for me.¡±


    Upon hearing this, Tie Niu was deeply moved and exclaimed angrily, ¡°It¡¯s all because of George. He secretly invited other attending doctors to the hospital for a feast during working hours, and he even forced me to cook for them. That¡¯s what led to the destruction of the hospital. He¡¯s not fit to be the chief attending doctor of St. Elizabeth!¡±


    ¡°¡­¡± Yu Xiao blinked, taken aback. ¡°But¡­ Wasn¡¯t it said that the hospital was destroyed because of Gluttony? What does having a meal with the attending doctors have to do with it?¡±


    Tie Niu was indignant. ¡°If they hadn¡¯t gathered for the meal, Gluttony would have killed George quickly, and our beloved St. Elizabeth might still be standing.¡±


    At that moment, Yu Xiao inwardly sighed for George, feeling sorry for him. Being a ghost that others curse for not dying quickly enough was indeed a kind of failure.


    ¡°Hehe, don¡¯t worry too much, St. Elizabeth will be rebuilt.¡± Yu Xiao reassured Tie Niu with a pat on the back. ¡°Oh, and my office¡­ how¡¯s it holding up?¡±


    ¡°Your office is still intact,¡± Tie Niu replied respectfully, ¡°just buried under a mountain of debris.¡±


    A frown tugged at Yu Xiao¡¯s lips¡ª How was she supposed to open the door?


    ¡°Are you looking for something in your office?¡±


    ¡°Yep,¡± Yu Xiao confirmed, ¡°but considering the current situation¡­¡± S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Fear not,¡± Tie Niu declared, puffing out his chest, ¡°I¡¯ll clear a path for you.¡±


    Tie Niu¡¯s dedication touched Yu Xiao. If there was ever a chance for him to move up the ranks in the ghostly world, she would be his number one supporter.


    As if by magic, a teacup materialised out of nowhere. Tie Niu brewed a steaming cup of tea for Yu Xiao to sip on while she waited for her passage to be revealed.


    Sitting on a pile of rubble, Yu Xiao gazed at the cloudy sky and savoured the tea from a delicate porcelain cup.


    Holding a cup of fragrant tea, she surveyed the horizon from her elevated position. Beyond the ruins of St. Elizabeth¡¯s, a panorama of buildings stretched out¡ªa silent cityscape she had never seen before. Compelled, she stood up, drawn toward the urban mirage.


    But just as she took a few steps forward, Tie Niu¡¯s head popped out of the rubble. ¡°Madam Director, you can¡¯t go any further.¡±


    ¡°Why not?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s not the right way for us to go,¡± Tie Niu gestured for her to return. ¡°It¡¯s off-limits.¡±


    Yu Xiao furrowed her brow. ¡°Why can¡¯t we go there?¡±


    ¡°Once you go, you can¡¯t come back¡­¡± a ghostly blue flame flickered in Tie Niu¡¯s empty eye holes, a hint of fear lurking within. ¡°It¡¯s our forbidden zone.¡±


    A chill settled in Yu Xiao¡¯s heart. ¡°Does this also apply to the attending doctor?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Tie Niu grunted, determinedly plunging back into the earth, shaping it with purposeful hands.


    Yu Xiao¡¯s gaze drifted towards the distant hum of the city. The bustling urban atmosphere was a stark contrast to their desolate surroundings. Her mind wandered to the world beyond the Lolita amusement park instance. Had Lolita gone outside?


    Once you go, you can¡¯t come back¡­


    Curiosity tugged at Yu Xiao, but she wasn¡¯t willing to risk life and limb to satisfy it. Instead, she focused on the ruins, with the sky above painted in shades of grey and the rhythmic scrape of Tie Niu¡¯s shovel by her side.


    She stooped down, her fingers dancing through the soil until they found a medical box. Emptying its contents, she prepared to conceal Nightmare within.


    Hours passed as Tie Niu toiled, his head eventually emerging from the earth covered in dirt. ¡°It¡¯s done.¡±


    Approaching him, Yu Xiao asked, ¡°What about the patients and our colleagues?¡±


    ¡°George was apprehended,¡± Tie Niu replied as he led the way forward at a leisurely pace, ¡°The patients have been relocated elsewhere, and our colleagues are on leave.¡±


    On leave? Yu Xiao¡¯s lips twitched. ¡°And what about you?¡±


    ¡°I believe the Dean will return to the hospital,¡± Tie Niu explained earnestly, ¡°I¡¯ll be here to brief her and serve when she seeks.¡±


    Impressed, Yu Xiao commended, ¡°Well done, Tie Niu. If the opportunity arises, I¡¯ll push for your promotion to attending doctor.¡±


    Tie Niu hesitated briefly. ¡°I can¡¯t become an attending doctor yet.¡±


    A whisper of intrigue brushed against Yu Xiao. ¡°What do you need to do to become an attending doctor then?¡±


    Tie Niu raised his head slightly, the flicker of determination reflecting in his eyes against the cave walls. ¡°I need to establish my domain.¡±


    ¡°When are you going to get your own domain?¡± Yu Xiao¡¯s innocent question seemed to hit Tie Niu like a sharp arrow, leaving him speechless and his mood as dark as a moonless night.


    As they made their way through the winding underground tunnel, Tie Niu¡¯s creation loomed before them, a narrow passage that forced him to hunch while Yu Xiao could walk comfortably.


    Upon reaching the director¡¯s office, a door marked by the chaos of the day stood before them. Yu Xiao¡¯s eyes softened. ¡°Tie Niu, take a rest now. You deserve some time off.¡±


    With a respectful bow, Tie Niu stepped back, leaving Yu Xiao to face the door alone.


    The office embraced her with shadows. Instinctively, her gaze dropped, searching for the familiar terror that used to cling to her leg.


    ¡°Hello? Nightmare?¡± Her voice echoed, unanswered, as she cautiously moved forward, cursing herself for not using her phone sooner.


    As her fingers brushed against the device, a sudden chill ran up her spine as a cold hand closed around her wrist, filling her with fear. ¡°Nightmare?¡± she whispered, her voice filled with uncertainty.


    No response came, leaving Yu Xiao to grapple with the realisation that the hand holding hers might not belong to the nightmare after all. Panic surged as she considered the consequences of mistakenly calling out the fugitive¡¯s name.


    Her heart pounded in her chest, the weight of the unknown pressing down on her. With a shaky breath, she tried to break free from the iron grip, only to find it unyielding. Fumbling in the darkness, her hand brushed against a solid chest, feeling the outline of buttons beneath her touch.


    ¡°Nightmare?¡± A memory resurfaced¡ªhe had been wearing a shirt with buttons.


    Yu Xiao¡¯s grip on the metal box slipped, causing it to clatter to the ground as she fumbled for her phone. The screen illuminated, casting an eerie glow on Nightmare¡¯s white shirt as he stood before her, his face partially obscured by dark bangs.


    Anxiety twisted in her gut. ¡°You scared me! Why the sudden silence?¡±


    Nightmare remained silent, turning away to disappear into the shadows of the room.


    Worry etched on her face, Yu Xiao approached him, gently rubbing her wrist where his grip had been tight. ¡°What¡¯s going on with you? Why are you so quiet? Are you hungry, maybe?¡±


    His silence lingered between them, widening into a chasm with each passing second. She pressed on, ¡°Listen, St. Elizabeth¡¯s is in ruins. They¡¯ll start rebuilding soon, and this office¡­ it won¡¯t be your hideaway anymore. Do you have any other places in mind? If not¡ª¡±


    But her words were cut short as Nightmare spun around, his glare searing. Yu Xiao had always seen him as fragile, a kitten in need of protection, but now she was reminded of his strength, the same force that had once subdued George. The air grew heavy with his ire.


    ¡°You were scheming to ditch me, weren¡¯t you?¡± Nightmare¡¯s voice was icy, his hurt palpable. ¡°All this time, you kept me here, just biding your time to get rid of me, didn¡¯t you?¡±


    Yu Xiao was caught off guard. ¡°No, that¡¯s not true¡­¡±


    ¡°Yes, it is.¡± Nightmare turned away, his back facing her. ¡°You hate me, you can¡¯t stand to see me, you¡¯ve been plotting to get rid of me¡­¡±


    Yu Xiao¡¯s head spun. Good grief, she was just a university student, yet here she was, being accused of playing mind games.


    Yu Xiao shot Nightmare a look of disbelief. ¡°Seriously, can you give it a rest? I¡¯m not giving you the cold shoulder¡ªI¡¯ve got stuff to do, you know?¡±


    Nightmare¡¯s response caught Yu Xiao off guard. ¡°You¡­ you can report me.¡±


    Yu Xiao blinked, taken aback. ¡°Come again?¡±


    ¡°If you report me, I¡¯ll leave you alone.¡±


    Yu Xiao raised an eyebrow. She hadn¡¯t intended to start a confrontation. ¡°Fine, then. I¡¯ll report you. I was only trying to help, maybe bring you back to my place. But if that¡¯s what you want, consider yourself reported. It saves me the trouble.¡±


    She started scrolling through her contacts, but Nightmare suddenly jerked, grabbing her hand holding the phone and shaking his head vigorously.


    ¡°Let go.¡±


    Nightmare stubbornly shook his head. Yu Xiao pointed a finger at him. ¡°I said, let go. Got it?¡±


    Something wet splashed onto Yu Xiao¡¯s hand. Initially confused, she soon realised Nightmare was crying.


    Crying again!


    ¡°You can take out George, but you¡¯re a sobbing mess?¡± Yu Xiao was speechless.


    Nightmare mumbled softly, ¡°I messed up.¡±


    ¡°Finally admitting it,¡± Yu Xiao commented, bending down to pick up a box from the floor. But before she could, Nightmare beat her to it, dusting it off and whispering, ¡°Take me away.¡±


    Yu Xiao raised an eyebrow. ¡°Oh, now you want my help?¡±


    ¡°I trust you,¡± Nightmare hesitated. ¡°I just miss you. You haven¡¯t been around.¡±


    ¡°And that¡¯s my fault?¡± Yu Xiao retorted.


    Nightmare hung his head. ¡°My bad.¡±


    ¡°Admitting mistakes, are we?¡± Yu Xiao opened the box. ¡°Let¡¯s get this straight. I¡¯ll take you, but remember, my place isn¡¯t just for me. To keep things smooth, you¡¯ll have to be a cat and stay in this box. Deal?¡±


    Nightmare nodded. ¡°Deal.¡±


    And with that, he was gone, replaced by a pale yellow kitten that landed softly on the table and hopped into the box. There, nestled inside, gazing up at Yu Xiao with intent eyes.


    Yu Xiao lightly tapped his head and shot the little kitten a serious gaze. ¡°Remember, no mischief, keep it classy, got it?¡±


    The tiny feline bobbed his head in agreement.


    With a satisfied grin, Yu Xiao closed the box and, in the blink of an eye, whisked it away to a new locale.


    In the bustling ward of the Sixth Hospital, Yu Xiao reappeared mysteriously, holding onto a box.


    Zhao Lan and Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s attention snapped to the mysterious container. Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s eyes shimmered with curiosity. ¡°Is Nightmare in there?¡±


    ¡°Yep,¡± Yu Xiao confirmed, nonchalantly setting the box in a corner.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen raised an eyebrow, feeling confused. Is that it?


    ¡°Seriously?¡± she gestured towards the box. ¡°Aren¡¯t we going to let him out to socialise?¡±


    Yu Xiao raised an eyebrow in mild surprise. ¡°Misty¡­?¡±


    ¡°Proper introductions are necessary. It¡¯s only polite.¡±


    A twitch of annoyance flickered at the edge of Yu Xiao¡¯s eye. When did they become so obsessed with etiquette? But, everyone seemed to agree, so she gave in.


    ¡°Alright then, let¡¯s do introductions,¡± Yu Xiao said, surrendering and opening the box. ¡°Come out and say hi.¡±


    As the lid lifted, a dainty yellow kitten peeked out, locking eyes with Zhao Lan and Zhou Xiao Zhen with his wide, innocent eyes. ¡°Hey there.¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s breath hitched in delight.


    Zhao Lan nodded politely. ¡°Greetings, I¡¯m Zhao Lan, a friend of Yu Xiao.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m Zhou Xiao Zhen!¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen chimed in, leaning against Zhao Lan.


    ¡°Okay, pleasantries exchanged,¡± Yu Xiao chimed in, ready to close the lid.


    ¡°Smiley!¡± protested Zhou Xiao Zhen, ¡°What¡¯s gotten into you? He¡¯s just arrived and hasn¡¯t even had a bite to eat, and you¡¯re already planning to lock him up in this tiny, dark box.¡±


    Yu Xiao raised an eyebrow in response. ¡°Well, do you have a better idea then?¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s invite him for a meal.¡±


    Yu Xiao shot her a sceptical look, while Nightmare glanced at Yu Xiao, masking his disappointment. He turned to Zhou Xiao Zhen and replied, ¡°No need, I¡¯m not hungry.¡±


    He nestled into the box a picture of resignation, and murmured to Yu Xiao, ¡°Close it.¡±


    Just then, Zhao Lan chimed in, ¡°Smiley, he¡¯s only just arrived. Even if he¡¯s not hungry, it¡¯s common courtesy to share a meal. It would be rude otherwise.¡±


    Yu Xiao muttered about the odd manners today and reluctantly told Nightmare in the box, ¡°Did you catch that? Come on out.¡±


    He perked up and gracefully leaped out.


    Unable to contain her excitement, Zhou Xiao Zhen rushed over, crouched down, and reached out to touch Nightmare. However, he skillfully evaded her, taking small steps back towards Yu Xiao¡¯s feet, clearly refusing her touch.


    She sighed with regret and asked, ¡°If you can transform into a cat, can you transform into anyone else as well?¡±


    Nightmare nodded, replying, ¡°I can embody anything from dreams.¡±


    ¡°In that case, can you turn into Leonardo?¡± Her eyes sparkled mischievously.


    Nightmare tilted his head, unfamiliar with the name Leonardo.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen scrolled through her phone with a mischievous glint in her eye, until she landed on a photo of a young Leonardo DiCaprio.


    She offered it to Nightmare with a mischievous smile. ¡°Can you pull off Leo¡¯s look?¡±


    Nightmare¡¯s eyes flicked to the photo before he responded with a cryptic silence. He wasn¡¯t particularly thrilled about transforming into a Hollywood heartthrob.


    Unable to resist a bit of teasing, she added, ¡°Smiley¡¯s got a major crush on him, you know.¡±


    Nightmare: ¡°!¡±


    Yu Xiao: ¡°¡­¡±


    Nightmare¡¯s reaction was swift and unexpected.


    The fluffy cat shape vanished in an instant, replaced by a figure adorned with flowing golden hair and captivating blue eyes. Donned in a suit of armour complete with a silver mask, he resembled a character plucked directly from the pages of a mediaeval fairytale.


    Yu Xiao: ¡°¡­¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s eyes widened in amazement. ¡°Zhao Lan, did you see that?¡±


    Zhao Lan, who was usually composed, couldn¡¯t help but be impressed. ¡°Absolutely.¡±


    The photo Zhou Xiao Zhen showed Nightmare was a snapshot of Leonardo DiCaprio¡¯s portrayal in ¡®Romeo and Juliet¡¯. In the picture, he was attending a masquerade ball dressed as a mediaeval knight.


    Meanwhile, Nightmare shot Yu Xiao a meaningful look, almost challenging. It seemed like he was saying: Do you like me now?


    Yu Xiao bit back a laugh. It was obvious that this was Precious¡¯s dream man, not hers.


    Putting aside their theatrics, she brought them back to reality with a question. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t we be eating? Are we here to feast or what?¡±


    ¡°Eat, eat, eat!¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen, always full of energy, jumped up. ¡°Let¡¯s eat! What¡¯s on the menu today? How about some fish?¡±


    And with that, she sprinted towards the door.


    ¡­


    During the meal, Zhou Xiao Zhen couldn¡¯t resist stealing glances at Nightmare, while Zhao Lan openly ogled him. Meanwhile, Yu Xiao remained focused on her food, trying to ignore the whole situation. Nightmare, busy munching on his fish, kept sneaking peeks at Yu Xiao, adding a touch of mystery to the awkward atmosphere.


    In the midst of it all, Yu Xiao couldn¡¯t help but regret her decision to take a week off. Scenes like this were not what she had in mind for her time off. ¡°Sigh,¡± she muttered, unable to contain her frustration.


    ¡°Why the sigh?¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen inquired, oblivious to the tension.


    Yu Xiao shot her a meaningful look, her thoughts screaming, ¡®Isn¡¯t it obvious?¡¯ With a forced smile, she replied, ¡°Oh, I was just considering calling Wide Sea and Sky to discuss selling the Team cards.¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen, missing the point entirely, suggested, ¡°Then call him after we¡¯re done eating.¡±


    Yu Xiao hesitated, her mind racing with doubts. ¡°And I reported Gluttony last time. He shouldn¡¯t know it was me, right?¡± she voiced her concern.


    ¡°He won¡¯t,¡± Zhao Lan reassured her. ¡°The Health Bureau director is a man of his word. He promised to keep it under wraps.¡±


    Relieved, Yu Xiao nodded in agreement.


    Lost in thought, Nightmare cast a glance her way. He wanted to say something but remembered her warning not to speak out of turn.


    After the meal, Yu Xiao was ready to lock Nightmare away when Zhou Xiao Zhen intervened. ¡°Let him stretch his legs after eating. It¡¯s good for digestion,¡± she suggested, halting Yu Xiao¡¯s plans.


    Resigned, Yu Xiao watched as Nightmare paced around the room like a caged tiger, his restless energy palpable.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen and Zhao Lan were captivated by his every move, leaving Yu Xiao to lounge on the bed, contemplating her call to Wide Sea and Sky. This time, she opted to use her own phone to make the call, partly to ensure he saved her number.


    Yu Xiao lazily tapped open the forum app on her phone, expecting the usual graveyard silence of the Sixth Hospital¡¯s forum. To her surprise, the screen was buzzing with activity, threads popping up like mushrooms after rain.


    ¡¾Where should I put my SIM card?¡¿


    She delved into the rabbit hole of comments, a mix of disbelief, sarcasm, and genuine curiosity dancing across the screen. The original poster was on the edge, defending their sanity against a tide of mockery.


    ¡¾Not joking. Not playing tricks. Used to tuck my SIM card under my old phone¡¯s battery. Got a new one, can¡¯t find the darn slot. Help!¡¿


    ¡¾Did your old phone have a crank handle too?¡¿


    ¡¾Seriously, a dinosaur phone in the digital age?¡¿


    ¡¾Why pretend here? Go play Candy Crush or something.¡¿


    ¡¾Remember he said he¡¯s ¡®Wide Sea and Sky¡¯? Bet he¡¯s grounded from gaming for a month.¡¿


    ¡¾666.¡¿


    ¡¾¡­¡¿


    Yu Xiao: ¡°!!!¡±


    ¡°This is ¡®Wide Sea and Sky¡¯?¡±


    Dialling his number, she braced herself for the quirky whirlwind that was about to hit her phone.

 Chapter 126

    Perhaps because she was using her own mobile, ¡®Wide Sea and Sky¡¯ didn¡¯t recognise her number, so the call wasn¡¯t picked up immediately.


    (¡®Wide Sea and Sky¡¯ º£À«Ìì¿Õ: The name itself is a reference to a popular Cantonese song by the band Beyond, which symbolises freedom and open-mindedness.)


    The phone rang and rang, each unanswered chirp a tiny hammer tapping away at Yu Xiao¡¯s patience. Finally, after what felt like forever, she heard ¡®Wide Sea and Sky¡¯s¡¯ gravelly voice on the other end, ¡°Who is this?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s me, Deaf Descendant,¡± Yu Xiao chuckled. ¡°This is my number, so make sure you add it to your little black book.¡±


    A beat of silence followed, thick and heavy like a wool blanket, before ¡®Wide Sea and Sky¡¯ responded with a gruff, ¡°Hmm, you¡¯ve come out of the instance.¡±


    ¡°Yes, I¡¯m out,¡± Yu Xiao confirmed.¡±Anyway, how¡¯s that fancy new phone treating you? Is there anything you¡¯re not sure about?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± came his curt reply.


    Yu Xiao blinked, taken aback by his bluntness. ¡°But¡­ I just saw your post on the Sixth Hospital forum,¡± she began, her voice laced with concern, ¡°You know, the one where you were asking for help¡­¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    Another pause followed, leaving Yu Xiao to wonder if she had somehow stumbled into a conversational minefield.


    ¡°It¡¯s been taken care of,¡± ¡®Wide Sea and Sky¡¯ finally responded, his voice shrouded in gloom.


    ¡°Really?¡± Yu Xiao was taken aback. So, there were kind-hearted individuals on the forum who believed in him after all. ¡°How did you resolve it?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s none of your concern,¡± his tone turned icy, shutting down the conversation abruptly. ¡°I¡¯m going to sleep now. Goodbye.¡±


    ¡°Wait!¡± Yu Xiao interrupted him. ¡°There¡¯s something I want to discuss with you.¡±


    Silence ensued once again, but he didn¡¯t hang up. Yu Xiao knew he was waiting for her to speak, so she continued, ¡°You gave me a lot of function cards before. You might not be aware, but our hospital forums have shops where we can exchange function cards for points. Your cards could fetch a high number of points. How many more do you need? I can assist you in selling them, so you can accumulate enough points even without participating in instances.¡±


    Her offer was met with silence once more, leaving Yu Xiao utterly confused. What did this mean? Was he overwhelmed with joy and unable to speak? Or had he zoned out and missed what she said?


    Just as she was about to repeat herself, ¡®Wide Sea and Sky¡¯ suddenly spoke up, saying, ¡°Who asked you to meddle?¡±


    Yu Xiao recoiled as if slapped. She had anticipated a range of reactions, from suspicion to gratitude, but this icy dismissal was the last thing she expected.


    ¡°Everything I gave you, I didn¡¯t need,¡± he continued, his words dripping with disdain. ¡°Do whatever you want with them, just don¡¯t bother me again,¡± and with that, he ended the call, leaving Yu Xiao staring at her phone with a mix of confusion and hurt.


    Her good intentions had crash-landed with the grace of a drunken pigeon.


    Nightmare, who had been listening to Zhou Xiao Zhen, shifted his attention to Yu Xiao. As a being born of darkness, he was acutely attuned to negative emotions, and right now, Yu Xiao was radiating disappointment like a broken neon sign.


    ¡°Hey, why don¡¯t you try transforming into someone else?¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen suggested, ever fascinated by Nightmare¡¯s shapeshifting abilities. ¡°Smiley has another man she¡¯s smitten with¡­¡±


    Without uttering a word, Nightmare stepped away from Zhou Xiao Zhen and positioned himself in front of Yu Xiao.


    ¡°What are you doing?¡± Yu Xiao¡¯s voice crackled with annoyance, breaking the momentary peace in the room.


    Nightmare wasn¡¯t exactly a ray of sunshine. Sure, he could create a nightmare faster than you could say ¡°boo,¡± but happy dreams? Not his strong suit. So, confronted with Yu Xiao¡¯s gloomy atmosphere, he was about as useful as a chocolate teapot. His options were quite limited to changing shapes.


    ¡°Who do you want me to become?¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen couldn¡¯t help but compare Nightmare¡¯s reactions. ¡®I¡¯ve been babbling away like a magpie, and he hasn¡¯t even blinked,¡¯ she thought, ¡®But Smiley barely breathes and he¡¯s all over her. That girl¡¯s got some serious mojo.¡¯ Still, curiosity sparked within her. Who was this mysterious heartthrob who had Smiley¡¯s attention?


    ¡°I don¡¯t want you to become anyone,¡± Yu Xiao snapped, her temper simmering like a pot about to boil over. She pushed him away with a huff, ¡°If you¡¯ve got nothing better to do, go sulk in your box and leave me alone.¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s jaw nearly hit the floor. Smiley, the ever-optimistic, always-smiling Smiley, was throwing a tantrum? It was a sight to see.


    Zhao Lan, however, seemed to have a sixth sense for these things. While she shared Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s admiration for the dreamy Leonardo DiCaprio, she also had a keen awareness of her surroundings. She knew Yu Xiao had just been on the phone, and judging by the stormy expression on her face, it was likely that the conversation with ¡®Wide Sea and Sky¡¯ hadn¡¯t gone well.


    Nightmare, being the obedient shapeshifter, dipped his head and transformed into a dejected-looking, pale yellow kitten. Without a meow of protest, he padded over to his box, extended a tiny paw, and pulled the lid shut.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen felt a twinge of disappointment. She hadn¡¯t had enough of ¡®Little Leo¡¯ yet, and now he was gone.


    ¡°Smiley,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen cautiously ventured, her voice filled with concern, ¡°What¡¯s wrong? You seem like you¡¯re about to bite someone¡¯s head off.¡±


    Zhao Lan got straight to the point, ¡°Did you call ¡®Wide Sea and Sky¡¯ about selling the function cards? Did something happen?¡±


    Yu Xiao, usually carefree and nonchalant, was indeed holding a grudge. She wasn¡¯t known for her empathy, her heart rarely extending beyond Misty and Precious. So, for her to genuinely want to help someone, only to be met with rejection, was a bitter pill to swallow.


    Yu Xiao sighed, a wisp of disappointment escaping her lips like a deflated balloon. ¡°I guess I was just meddling where I wasn¡¯t wanted.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean?¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen furrowed her brow. ¡°What happened?¡±


    Yu Xiao recounted the phone conversation with ¡®Wide Sea and Sky¡¯, her voice tinged with self-reproach. ¡°He doesn¡¯t need my help after all. I was just overthinking things.¡±


    ¡°Damn!¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen exclaimed, her righteous indignation boiling over like a pot of water. ¡°Even if he doesn¡¯t need help, he shouldn¡¯t have been so rude! Can¡¯t he see you were just trying to be nice?¡±


    Zhao Lan also couldn¡¯t understand ¡®Wide Sea and Sky¡¯s¡¯ behaviour either. ¡°Don¡¯t let it bother you,¡± she soothed, giving Yu Xiao¡¯s shoulder a comforting pat. ¡°Look on the bright side, he gave you all those function cards, so a few harsh words are a small price to pay. Besides, I suspect his mental state might be a bit¡­unstable. He probably just struggles to control his emotions.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re right,¡± Yu Xiao agreed, her remarkable ability to bounce back kicking in. ¡°If he doesn¡¯t want them, then those cards are all ours now. I still think selling them is a great idea. We¡¯ll split the points three ways, and that means we can avoid those dreadful instances for a long time.¡±


    ¡°Oh, yes please!¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s eyes lit up like a Christmas tree. ¡°Let¡¯s sell them all!¡±


    With renewed determination, Yu Xiao decided to call Lu Xu and discuss their plan.


    **


    Lu Xu had just finished an instance, his mind still buzzing with adrenaline. He wasn¡¯t just a businessman; he and Luo Jin tackled instances with the speed of seasoned marathon runners. If only the hospital gave out titles for completing instances quickly, they would definitely be the champions of productivity.


    As they sat down to enjoy a well-deserved meal, Lu Xu¡¯s phone buzzed.


    ¡°It¡¯s Yu Xiao,¡± he said, a mischievous grin spreading across his face. ¡°Looks like we¡¯ve got some business coming our way~¡±


    Luo Jin looked up, his gaze meeting Lu Xu¡¯s with an unspoken question, before setting down his chopsticks and turning his attention to the upcoming conversation.


    ¡°Hello~¡± Lu Xu¡¯s voice oozed with playful anticipation, ¡°What can I do for you on this fine day~?¡±


    ¡°I have some function cards that I¡¯d like to sell,¡± Yu Xiao stated, getting straight to the point. ¡°Would you be interested in handling the sale for me?¡±


    ¡°Of course!¡± Lu Xu¡¯s enthusiasm was evident, but a note of caution crept into his voice. ¡°Are you absolutely sure you want to sell them? Useful function cards can be lifesavers in certain situations, you know. Are you certain you want to part with them?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°Alright then,¡± Lu Xu agreed, having performed his due diligence as a responsible businessman. ¡°So, what kind of function cards are we talking about? And how many?¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s a bit of everything,¡± Yu Xiao replied, consulting her inventory list. ¡°Let¡¯s start with the single-use item cards. I have seventy-one of those, mostly ¡®Give me a pair of roller skates¡¯. (¸øÎÒһ˫ÂÖ»¬Ð¬)¡± She paused, then asked, ¡°How do you usually price these single-use cards?¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    Her question was met with a prolonged silence, heavy as a thick London fog.


    Luo Jin noticed that Lu Xu had suddenly gone silent, his expression vacant, his mouth open, as if his brain had momentarily gone on vacation. He looked like he might drool any second.


    Frowning, Luo Jin waved his hand in front of Lu Xu¡¯s face, trying to snap him out of his trance.


    Lu Xu jolted back to reality with a start, jumping from his seat and exclaiming, ¡°Where did you get so many item cards? Did you steal them from a patient? I¡¯m warning you, stealing from patients is a serious violation of hospital regulations ¨C the worst kind! You could be punished by the Medical Disputes Office¡­¡±


    Yu Xiao¡¯s ears rang from the sudden outburst, her brain buzzing like an angry swarm of bees. She held the phone away from her ear, massaging her temples to ease the throbbing. Once the ringing subsided, she retorted, ¡°Why are you yelling? Who said anything about stealing from patients? Who could I possibly steal from to acquire this many function cards?¡±


    ¡°¡­True,¡± Lu Xu conceded, finally regaining his composure. He couldn¡¯t understand how anyone could possess such a vast collection of cards, especially so many of the same type.


    ¡°Then how did you get so many cards?¡± Lu Xu asked, his eyes practically sparkling with greed. ¡°Care to share your secret?¡±


    ¡°Someone gave them to me.¡±


    ¡°Sister, lying is bad for your complexion,¡± Lu Xu scoffed, not buying her story for a second. ¡°Even if your charm is irresistible, I refuse to believe that someone would just have so many function cards lying around to give away.¡±


    ¡°Suit yourself,¡± Yu Xiao shrugged, unfazed by his disbelief. ¡°Why all the fuss? I just want to sell the cards.¡±


    ¡°You¡­¡± Under Luo Jin¡¯s incredulous gaze, Lu Xu suddenly dropped to his knees, his voice filled with desperation. ¡°Sister, please, I¡¯m begging you! Just tell me how you managed to get so many cards!¡±


    Yu Xiao rolled her eyes, feeling exasperated. ¡°I already told you, someone gave them to me!¡±


    Lu Xu¡¯s eyes filled with tears, his voice trembling with indignation. ¡°Do you think so little of me? I don¡¯t mind if you lie, but at least come up with a more believable story. The way you¡¯re talking, it¡¯s as if you think I¡¯m a complete idiot.¡±


    Luo Jin, who had been watching the scene with growing amusement, finally intervened. He snatched the phone from Lu Xu and spoke into it, ¡°Hello, this is Luo Jin. Lu Xu seems to have short-circuited. Please tell me what you need.¡±


    ¡°I simply want to sell some function cards,¡± Yu Xiao explained, her patience wearing thin. ¡°If you can¡¯t handle the sale, I¡¯ll find someone else. Can we please skip the theatrics?¡±


    ¡°No theatrics here,¡± Luo Jin assured her, his voice calm. ¡°What kind of cards do you want to sell?¡±


    ¡°Single-use item cards,¡± Yu Xiao replied, ¡°Seventy-one of them!¡±


    ¡°¡­¡± Luo Jin¡¯s pupils contracted, his composure momentarily faltering. ¡°May I ask how you got so many?¡±


    Yu Xiao threw her hands up in the air, on the verge of a meltdown. ¡°I already told you, someone gave them to me!¡±


    ¡°¡­Right,¡± Luo Jin conceded, taking a deep breath to regain his composure. ¡°And may I ask who this generous person is?¡± S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Wide Sea and Sky!¡± Yu Xiao blurted out. ¡°Do you know him?¡±


    ¡°¡­¡± Luo Jin paused, processing this new information before responding calmly, ¡°I¡¯ve heard of him, but I don¡¯t know him personally. Did you encounter him in an instance? Is he¡¯s quite the philanthropist, isn¡¯t he?¡±


    ¡°Oh, he¡¯s incredibly generous,¡± Yu Xiao confirmed, glancing down at her list. ¡°I also have thirty-seven team-up cards and a bunch of other function cards that I¡¯m willing to sell.¡±


    ¡°Lao Luo?¡± Lu Xu stared at Luo Jin, his eyes wide with disbelief. He had seen Luo Jin face near-death experiences without shedding a tear, yet now, his eyes were glistening with unshed tears. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±


    ¡°We can definitely sell them on consignment,¡± suggested Luo Jin. ¡°It¡¯s like a high-end card market ¨C I¡¯ll list them in the shopping centre¡¯s digital catalogue. When someone wants one, we¡¯ll notify you, and you can ship it directly. Of course,¡± he added with a slight cough, ¡°we can¡¯t do it for free. A small commission keeps things running smoothly, you understand.¡±


    ¡°No problem at all,¡± Yu Xiao responded. ¡°Consider the list sent. Compared to Lu Xu, you¡¯re a breeze to work with. That guy is wound up tighter than a mummy ¨C impossible to have a normal conversation with¡­¡±


    The call ended, and Luo Jin gave the phone back to Lu Xu, who seemed ready to explode. ¡°What in the world did she say to you? Did she threaten your deceased cat? Curse your family line? Why were you crying?¡±


    ¡°First of all, I wasn¡¯t crying,¡± Luo Jin clarified, raising an eyebrow at his friend¡¯s dramatics. ¡°Secondly,¡± he continued with a wistful sigh, ¡°she just made me wonder why I haven¡¯t encountered such generous seniors in my afterlife.¡±


    Lu Xu¡¯s confusion turned into disbelief. ¡°Hold on, did she actually say that someone gave her those ability cards? You don¡¯t seriously believe that, do you?¡±


    ¡°Why wouldn¡¯t I?¡± Luo Jin countered, genuinely curious. ¡°Is there another explanation? Or do you think there¡¯s some secret method to obtain a bunch of ability cards that we, two experienced members of the Fourth Hospital, somehow overlooked?¡±


    Lu Xu was at a loss for words, finding it hard to accept the possibility. ¡°But why? Why would someone give Yu Xiao so many valuable cards? Does she have some hidden charm that we can¡¯t see? I¡¯ve been on two missions with her, and all I felt was a bit speechless.¡±


    Luo Jin shared his confusion. ¡°Maybe¡­ it¡¯s a talent we haven¡¯t seen before, a knack for attracting good fortune.¡±


    ¡°If that¡¯s a talent,¡± Lu Xu grumbled, crossing his arms, ¡°then I must have the opposite ¨C a talent for repelling anything good.¡±


    Luo Jin remained silent, acknowledging the unsaid truth. Even as adults, there are some things that simply don¡¯t make sense.


    **


    As darkness fell, the curtains closed automatically, casting shadows across the room. The trio spent the evening sorting through ability cards. They kept a few essential ones and set aside the rest for trading.


    By the time they finished, it was late. With yawns and stretches, they headed to bed, seeking the peacefulness of sleep, where even ghosts could dream of a world that was less chaotic and a bit more generous.


    That night, Yu Xiao dreamt of Nightmare again. In her dream, he retained the form of a small cat, his tiny body wracked with sobs.


    She watched him weep throughout the night until she finally woke up. The clock showed just past six, and the ward was still in darkness. The rhythmic breathing of Misty and Precious provided a soothing lullaby.


    Yu Xiao slipped out of bed, grabbed the box from the corner, and went into the bathroom, closing the door behind her.


    ¡°You dared to manipulate my dreams?¡± she hissed, pointing an accusing finger at Nightmare inside the box. ¡°Have you forgotten your promise to me?¡±


    The cat-shaped Nightmare curled up, with its head drooping. ¡°I didn¡¯t manipulate your dreams,¡± he mumbled.


    ¡°Lies!¡± Yu Xiao¡¯s anger flared. ¡°If you didn¡¯t, why was my entire dream filled with nothing but you and your constant crying?¡±


    Nightmare paused, as if pondering her words. ¡°I truly didn¡¯t manipulate your dreams,¡± he insisted. ¡°But I am, after all, a Nightmare. When my emotions are intense, they can unintentionally affect the dreams of those around me.¡±


    ¡°And why were your emotions so intense?¡± Yu Xiao pressed. ¡°Can¡¯t you control it? Stop disturbing my sleep?¡±


    Nightmare blinked, his voice muffled. ¡°I can¡¯t control it.¡±


    Yu Xiao was left speechless.


    ¡°Can you at least manage your emotions then?¡± she attempted once more.


    Nightmare buried his head in his fur. ¡°I can¡¯t do that either.¡±


    Yu Xiao felt a surge of frustration engulf her. Based on Nightmare¡¯s despondent expression, he was not being dishonest. However, she truly didn¡¯t want to spend another night dreaming of a weeping cat, its sobs echoing through the darkness.


    ¡°Are you¡­¡± Yu Xiao hesitated, searching for the right words to name Nightmare¡¯s melancholic state. ¡°Unhappy?¡±


    Nightmare stayed silent, burrowing deeper into his furry cocoon.


    Taking a moment to reflect, Yu Xiao realised that her previous harshness might be the reason for his distress. At that time, her own emotions were chaotic, causing her to momentarily lose control.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± she sincerely apologised. ¡°I shouldn¡¯t have spoken to you like that.¡±


    The little cat stirred, but didn¡¯t raise his head.


    ¡°It was my fault, and I apologise. I was in a bad mood, and it wasn¡¯t directed at you,¡± Yu Xiao continued gently. ¡°Is there anything I can do to make it up to you?¡±


    Finally, Nightmare peeked up, his ears twitching, and his round eyes filled with cautious hope. ¡°Can I¡­ sleep at the foot of your bed?¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    Yu Xiao had thought that sleep would be difficult to achieve after the emotional turmoil, but she surprisingly drifted off quickly upon returning to her bed. This time, there were no weeping kittens or unsettling dreams ¨C just a deep sense of comfort and rest. She slept soundly until eight in the morning, when she was awakened by the sound of a notification.


    ¡°Ding!¡±


    Opening her eyes, Yu Xiao stayed still and noticed a warm presence nestled against her feet.


    ¡°Smiley, you¡¯re awake!¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen had already gotten out of bed and was sipping her morning tea. ¡°The news is about to start, and then it¡¯s time for breakfast. Should we let Nightmare out so we can all eat together?¡±


    The blanket at the foot of Yu Xiao¡¯s bed rustled, and a small yellow kitten emerged.


    ¡°Holy smokes!¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen nearly spit out her tea.


    Zhao Lan was equally astonished, her eyes shifting between Yu Xiao and the cat-like form of Nightmare. She couldn¡¯t help but recall the day before, when Yu Xiao had shown a less-than-friendly attitude towards Nightmare. She had thought her friend disliked the dream entity, but now it appeared that, in the darkness, she had secretly welcomed him into her bed.


    Tsk tsk, it seems that Smiley was a tsundere.


    Nightmare, on the other hand, seemed to be in a great mood. His ears perked up, and his round eyes sparkled with innocent enthusiasm as he looked up at Yu Xiao.


    Misty and Precious¡¯s eyebrows did a synchronised dance of suspicion, their gazes ping-ponging between Yu Xiao and the purring yellow kitten nestled at her feet. Their faces said it all ¨C their minds were lost in a sea of wild speculations. The air was thick with unspoken accusations, as if silently demanding ¡°spill the tea, sister!¡± echoing in the room.


    Yu Xiao, however, wasn¡¯t in the mood for explanations. The mere thought of unravelling the tangled web of misunderstandings was exhausting.


    Just then, the perky voice of the morning news announcer cut through the tension. ¡°A wonderful day begins now~ Let¡¯s dive into the morning news~.¡±


    ¡°¡­ Yesterday, there was a violent incident at St. Elizabeth¡¯s Mental Hospital. It all started when a staff member attacked the attending doctor, resulting in a full-blown brawl among the medical personnel. The consequences of this event are significant¡­ The following punishments will be imposed on the individuals involved: Gluttony, for the malicious assault on the attending doctor, will be dismissed, fined, and required to perform two months of community service. George will have his wages docked. Lolita, for neglecting her duties, will have her wages docked and will serve one month of community service. Gu Shu, for repeatedly violating hospital regulations, will serve two months of community service. Qing Shi, for neglecting his duties, will have his wages docked and will serve one month of community service¡­¡±


    Good heavens! Yu Xiao was astounded. It seemed that George had enlisted an entire entourage of familiar faces for his little escapade.


    ¡°¡­ After unanimous agreement from our hospital leadership, we have decided to make some adjustments to our promotion and demotion system. Our hospital prioritises the well-being of its people¡­¡±


    ¡°¡­ Yesterday¡¯s incident involving unruly patients at the Second Hospital has been thoroughly investigated. The patients responsible for instigating the disturbance will face a deduction of 50 points and a one-month ban from entering dungeons¡­ We urge all patients to actively cooperate with their treatment to ensure a speedy recovery¡­¡±


    ¡°¡­ Yesterday, the patient known as ¡®Zhuge Liang Burning the Spider Cave¡¯ from the Fourth Hospital once again topped the leaderboard. Let¡¯s congratulate them! This patient has shown exceptional progress during treatment and has earned the esteemed title of ¡®Helpful and Upright Individual.¡¯ Let¡¯s give them another round of applause!¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°¡­ Yesterday, the patient known as ¡®Sister Rong¡¯ from the Fifth Hospital demonstrated exceptional progress during their treatment and has earned the title of ¡®Clueless Tool.¡¯ Let¡¯s congratulate them.¡±


    ¡°¡­ Yesterday, the patient known as ¡®Handsome Ye¡¯ from the Fifth Hospital demonstrated exceptional progress during their treatment and has earned the title of ¡®Enslaver of Evil Spirits.¡¯ Let¡¯s congratulate them.¡±


    ¡°Yesterday, the patient known as ¡®Deaf Descendant¡¯ from the Sixth Hospital once again topped the leaderboard. Let¡¯s congratulate them! This patient has shown exceptional progress during treatment and has earned the four prestigious titles of ¡®Master of Evil Spirits¡¯, ¡®Heart Deceiver¡¯, ¡®Chairman of the Ghosts¡¯ Union¡¯, and ¡®Patricidal Daughter.¡¯ Let¡¯s give them a thunderous round of applause!¡±


    ¡°Wow, that¡¯s incredible!¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen burst into applause, her eyes shining with admiration. ¡°Smiley, you¡¯ve really outdone yourself this time!¡±


    Yu Xiao responded with a humble smile. ¡°I¡¯ll continue to strive for excellence.¡±


    ¡°¡­The patient from the Sixth Hospital, also known as the ¡®Talisman Shop ¡ª Only three points each!¡¯, has shown exceptional progress during her treatment and has earned the impressive titles of ¡®The Flower-Wrecker¡¯ and ¡®Mahjong Empress¡¯. Let¡¯s congratulate her!¡±


    (Flower as in someone innocent and virgin like an unplucked flower.)


    ¡°¡­The Sixth Hospital patient known as ¡®Nickname Hassle¡¯ has shown exceptional progress during her treatment and has earned the impressive title of ¡®The Reliable Ally¡¯. Let¡¯s all congratulate her¡­¡±


    ¡°Hehe, Smiley, you¡¯ve struck gold this time!¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen exclaimed, her voice bubbling with excitement. ¡°Why not have Nightmare transform into your dream guy to celebrate?¡±


    Yu Xiao sat up in bed, a mischievous smile playing on her lips as she glanced at Precious. ¡°My dream guy?¡±


    She was about to reply when the sudden shrill of a phone call interrupted her. To her surprise, the caller ID displayed the Bureau of Health and Wellness Director¡¯s office. A mix of curiosity and apprehension sent a shiver down her spine. What could the director possibly want with her?


    ¡°Deaf Descendant,¡± the director¡¯s voice came through the receiver, as strong and authoritative as always. ¡°Your recent suggestion was really great. After careful consideration, we¡¯ve decided to put your proposed changes to the promotion and demotion system into action. We¡¯ll be moving to a regular assessment system and forming a team to conduct random evaluations of staff performance in all departments¡­¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s amazing news!¡± Yu Xiao exclaimed, her voice filled with genuine excitement. ¡°This is a positive step forward for both the patients and the staff.¡±


    ¡°Absolutely,¡± the director affirmed. ¡°And in recognition of your outstanding performance and your commendable act of reporting Gluttony¡¯s little¡­ indiscretion, we¡¯ve decided to appoint you as the leader of this new inspection team. What do you say?¡±


    ¡°¡­¡± Silence filled the room as Yu Xiao processed the unexpected offer. Her heart raced with a mix of excitement and nervousness.


    ¡°Why the silence, Deaf Descendant?¡± the director asked. ¡°Are you hesitant?¡±


    ¡°Not at all, Director! I¡¯m incredibly grateful for the trust the leadership has placed in me, and I especially want to thank you for your guidance and support. I won¡¯t let you down.¡±


    ¡°Hahahahaha¡­¡± The director¡¯s laughter boomed through the phone, a sound that could shake the cobwebs off a haunted mansion. ¡°I¡¯m just here to guide you, but it¡¯s your hard work that¡¯s gotten you this far. Keep excelling, Deaf Descendant, and never let me down.¡±


    ¡°You can count on me, Director!¡± Yu Xiao¡¯s voice filled with determination as she ended the call and turned to her companions.


    Zhao Lan, Zhou Xiao Zhen, and the kitten-shaped Nightmare stood in a neat row, their eyes wide with anticipation, like a trio of curious kids waiting for a spooky tale.


    ¡°Smiley,¡± Zhao Lan asked, ¡°what¡¯s got you grinning like a Cheshire Cat?¡±


    ¡°Misty¡­¡± Yu Xiao swept Zhao Lan odd her feet, swaying back and forth in a moment of shared joy.


    After releasing Zhao Lan, she then scooped up Zhou Xiao Zhen, twirling her around like a spectral ballerina. Precious, a mix of excitement and confusion, exclaimed, ¡°Smiley, what¡¯s going on? What¡¯s the good news that has you so ecstatic?¡±


    Gently setting Xiao Zhen back on her feet, Yu Xiao reached for Nightmare, showering him with enthusiastic head scratches and chin rubs.


    Finally, with a heart bursting with excitement, she announced, ¡°I¡¯ve been promoted!¡±


    ¡°Seriously?¡± Zhao Lan¡¯s eyes widened, reflecting Yu Xiao¡¯s elation. ¡°What¡¯s your new position?¡±


    ¡°Remember the suggestion I made to the director?¡± Yu Xiao puffed out her chest with pride. ¡°Well, he¡¯s decided to create an inspection team to evaluate the performance of hospital staff in all departments.¡± A dramatic pause, then the grand reveal: ¡°And guess what? I¡¯m the leader of that team!¡±


    ¡°Holy smokes!¡±


    ¡°Heavens above¡­¡±


    ¡°Aaaaaah!¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen and Zhao Lan erupted in joyous shrieks, enveloping Yu Xiao in a group hug that bounced them all around the room like popcorn kernels.


    Nightmare, perched at the edge of the celebration, watched with a hint of envy in his feline eyes.

 Chapter 127: Who Wants to Kill Smiley?

    When Yu Xiao took the reins as leader of the investigation team, she finally had the upper hand over some of the troublesome ghosts at the hospital, including a few attending doctors who used to be above her pay grade.


    This was a far cry from her previous reliance on talismans to force the ghosts into submission. Even though the talismans were powerful, there were still ghosts that slipped through the cracks. Plus, talismans were just part of the hospital¡¯s rules, so challenging the rules themselves was impossible. But now, as the leader of the investigation team, Yu Xiao had become an integral part of those rules, making her a special existence in the eyes of the ghosts.


    The trio celebrated their victory like lizards basking under a heat lamp, until Zhao Lan let out a sigh. ¡°I swear, the hospital leaders don¡¯t care about patients gaining power at all.¡±


    Yu Xiao blinked, her mind working like a rusty engine. ¡°Huh. You might be onto something there.¡±


    When Yu Xiao first became the head of Saint Elizabeth¡¯s Hospital, she thought she had found a loophole in the rules. But as time went on, the hospital didn¡¯t bat an eyelid. They didn¡¯t even flinch when she became the inspector of the Health Bureau, allowing her to keep her position as dean by default.


    And now, she was the chairman of the ghost group, with the hospital handing over the leadership of the investigation team to her on a silver platter.


    Zhao Lan¡¯s words triggered a realisation in Yu Xiao. Perhaps she didn¡¯t find a loophole in the rules when she became the director of Saint Elizabeth¡¯s Hospital. Perhaps¡­ perhaps the rules had allowed it all along.


    The hospital didn¡¯t care about the existence patients had within its walls. Yu Xiao remembered her conversation with Zhao Lan after they left Sage Hospital, where they discussed how patients and hospitals were two sides of the same coin. Patients were just one of the many important parts that kept the hospital running smoothly.


    Zhao Lan¡¯s thoughts had already drifted away, her voice filled with curiosity. ¡°Hasn¡¯t any other patients tried to become the dean of any instance before Yu Xiao?¡±


    This was a question worth pondering, but not one that could be answered just by thinking. They were just speculating without any solid evidence.


    ¡°You guys are overthinking it,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen chimed in, her voice amused. ¡°Did anyone else notice that all the attending doctors who got defeated knew Smiley? And they could even sneak into each other¡¯s hospitals?¡±


    Yu Xiao pointed at her, emphasising, ¡°They know us, Us.¡±


    ¡°Remember how George pretended to be clueless when Smiley offered to help?¡± Zhao Lan¡¯s voice was filled with amusement. ¡°Well, it turns out that sneaky fox had a plan all along ¨C he gathered a whole bunch of attending doctors. Who knew he had such impressive connections with the ghosts to gather so many? I always thought those doctors weren¡¯t particularly chummy with each other.¡±


    Yu Xiao stroked her chin. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t be so certain that they¡¯re there to lend a hand. Yesterday, I ran into Tie Niu, and you know what? He said that George invited them all to a fancy feast at St. Elizabeth¡¯s¡­¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s eyes lit up, the pieces falling into place. ¡°Ah, so that¡¯s his strategy! They must have turned him down, so he resorted to a bit of trickery. A delicious feast as bait to lure them into dealing with Gluttony ¨C sly, but brilliant!¡±


    ¡°Never underestimate George,¡± Yu Xiao chuckled, shaking her head in amazement. ¡°And who knew attending doctors had such a lively social life? It turns out they also enjoy the finer things!¡±


    Unnoticed amidst their conversation, Nightmare the cat stretched out a paw, hoping his adorable pink paw pad would catch their attention. Sadly, the humans were too engrossed in their chat.


    Just then, Yu Xiao¡¯s phone buzzed. A message from Lu Xu: someone was interested in buying her ability cards. The text listed the buyer¡¯s nickname, address, and offer price.


    Although Yu Xiao had encountered many people during her adventures, she hadn¡¯t formed many close connections. Yet, she chose to cooperate with Lu Xu and his partner. It wasn¡¯t necessarily their character she trusted, but rather their innate merchant nature.


    (jian shang (¼éÉÌ): A derogatory term for a cunning or profiteering merchant, often implying unscrupulous practices.)


    Ability cards were her treasure trove, but when it came to their market value, she was a complete novice. Prices, demand, the whole deal ¨C it was a mystery. Selling to others was risky; they might not be any wiser, and even if they were, the temptation to take advantage of her was a gamble she wasn¡¯t willing to take. Lu Xu and his partner, on the other hand, might take a cut, but their success was directly tied to hers. The more she earned, the more they profited ¨C a win-win situation.


    As Yu Xiao gathered the ordered cards, Zhou Xiao Zhen happily filled out the delivery slips. The thought of the incoming points made her exclaim, ¡°Wide Sea and Sky is really quite wealthy, isn¡¯t he?¡±


    The moment the words left her mouth, she regretted saying them. Smiley¡¯s anger toward Wide Sea and Sky from yesterday was still fresh in her mind. Way to go, Zhou Xiao Zhen, she thought, mentally kicking herself.


    Her stomach churned with worry. She sneaked a peek at Yu Xiao, hoping to decipher her reaction, but Yu Xiao¡¯s face remained impassive, as if the words had simply bounced off her. Was she just pretending not to care?


    In truth, Yu Xiao was feeling rather pleased. The attending doctors had received their just desserts. Though she was almost certain George had tricked them into helping him deal with Gluttony under the guise of a friendly feast, a nagging question remained: why were all the attendees ghosts she knew? And not just any ghosts, mind you, but ones she¡¯d had past disagreements with.


    The perfect opportunity to gather some information would be when the delivery girl arrived to collect the packages. Normally, this would be the ideal time to bribe her with some delicious roasted drumsticks, but with St. Elizabeth¡¯s in ruins, where could she possibly find such a treat?


    ¡°Smiley? Earth to Smiley?¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s concerned voice snapped Yu Xiao out of her thoughts. Her distracted expression only confirmed her suspicions. Smiley clearly still held a grudge against Wide Sea and Sky; even a mention of his name was enough to send her daydreaming.


    ¡°Hmm?¡± Yu Xiao blinked, turning to her friend. ¡°Did you say something?¡±


    ¡°Uh¡­¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen mentally cursed herself for bringing up such a touchy subject. ¡°Hehehe¡­ Just, uh, wondering what you¡¯re thinking about,¡± she stammered, instantly regretting her clumsy attempt at changing the subject. Oh, Zhou Xiao Zhen, you utter fool, she thought, can¡¯t even steer a conversation properly!


    ¡°I was just thinking¡­ it¡¯s been a while since I¡¯ve bribed the delivery lady,¡± Yu Xiao confessed, a hint of worry creeping into her voice. ¡°She¡¯s always been so helpful with passing messages, but I haven¡¯t treated her to a meal in ages. Do you think she might be annoyed with me?¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen frowned, confused. ¡°Well, then just treat her to another meal!¡±


    ¡°But St. Elizabeth¡¯s is a wreck,¡± she reminded her with a sigh. ¡°Tie Niu can¡¯t exactly whip up a feast in a burnt-out kitchen.¡±


    ¡°Does it have to be St. Elizabeth¡¯s?¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s confusion deepened. ¡°Don¡¯t we have delivery people constantly buzzing outside?¡±


    ¡°Yes, but they only sell food for humans¡­¡± Yu Xiao paused, a light bulb suddenly illuminating above her head. ¡°Wait a minute!¡± she exclaimed, slapping her thigh. ¡°How could I be so dense?¡±


    For so long, they had gotten used to the delivery people eagerly offering hot human meals, that she had completely forgotten it wasn¡¯t their main purpose.


    **


    ¡°Honoured guest,¡± a polite voice called from behind the door, ¡°May I offer you a meal?¡±


    ¡°You bet,¡± Yu Xiao called back.


    ¡°Very well. What dish would you like to order?¡±


    ¡°Hey, by any chance, do you have¡­ roasted thigh?¡±


    ¡°¡­We do,¡± came the slightly uncertain reply. ¡°Any particular animal¡¯s thigh you¡¯re after?¡±


    ¡°What kind of thigh do you personally find most¡­ delicious?¡±


    ¡°Ah, well, that would be¡­¡±


    Before the delivery person could share their secret preference, Yu Xiao interrupted, ¡°I¡¯ll have whatever you¡¯re having then.¡±


    **


    The delivery girl arrived to find Yu Xiao practically bouncing with anticipation. As she handed over the roasted thigh, the girl¡¯s voice was laced with a delightful surprise. ¡°Aw, you shouldn¡¯t have!¡±


    ¡°No worries, it¡¯s on me,¡± Yu Xiao said with a wink, grabbing the package. As if a sudden thought occurred to her, she added, ¡°So, I heard about those doctors who messed up St. Elizabeth¡¯s. They got what they deserved, right? Community service ¨C that¡¯ll teach them. I wonder where they ended up? Maybe they¡¯re mopping floors at Sage Hospital?¡±


    The delivery girl¡¯s tone turned slightly gloomy. ¡°Tsk, it¡¯s a shame. The chef hasn¡¯t been himself lately. This roasted thigh is okay, but it¡¯s definitely not as good as a charcoal-grilled tenderloin.¡±


    Yu Xiao let out a dramatic sigh. ¡°Poor guy is still heartbroken over the hospital. I practically had to beg him to make this thigh.¡±


    ¡°That George,¡± the delivery lady hissed, her voice filled with disgust. ¡°He¡¯s the absolute worst!¡± S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°¡­¡±


    However, Yu Xiao remained silent, deep in thought. There was one thing she couldn¡¯t understand: why did everyone keep blaming George?


    ¡°Wait, George is the bad guy?¡± Yu Xiao¡¯s brain did a double take. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t Gluttony be the one getting the evil eye?¡±


    The delivery girl just shrugged. ¡°Gluttony was just hungry. Why¡¯d George have to be such a drama queen and resist? Now everyone¡¯s in a tizzy. Honestly, if he¡¯d just let himself be a happy meal, none of this mess would¡¯ve happened.¡±


    Yu Xiao¡¯s jaw practically hit the floor. This ghost-logic was something else. She decided to leave it alone; exploring the depths of their thought processes might just break her brain.


    ¡°Speaking of those doctors,¡± the delivery girl chirped, snapping Yu Xiao out of her existential crisis, ¡°Turns out they¡¯re not polishing bedpans at the Sage¡¯s. Nope, they got shipped off to the St. Elizabeth¡¯s construction site. Guess the bigwigs want them to rebuild what they wrecked.¡±


    A shiver danced down Yu Xiao¡¯s spine. So much for returning to St. Elizabeth¡¯s anytime soon. A construction site crawling with pissed-off ghosts? No way. Not even if you paid her.


    ¡°Is¡­ is Gluttony there too?¡± Yu Xiao¡¯s voice came out a few octaves higher than usual. ¡°And they¡¯re not, you know, going to have a rematch?¡±


    ¡°Nah, probably not,¡± the delivery girl said with a dismissive wave. ¡°Haven¡¯t been there myself, but word on the street is Gluttony¡¯s got a new chew toy. Doctors are so last season.¡±


    Yu Xiao¡¯s gut twisted. ¡°A new¡­ target? Who?¡±


    The delivery girl just shrugged, the picture of innocence. ¡°No clue.¡±


    With a final wave, she skipped off, leaving Yu Xiao stewing in a pot of unease. Who was Gluttony¡¯s next victim? And why did she suddenly feel like a five-course meal?


    Lost in her morbid musings, Yu Xiao trudged back to her bed. Nightmare, squatting on the floor like a gargoyle, suddenly piped up. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll protect you.¡±


    Yu Xiao¡¯s nod was slow, her eyes still glazed over from whatever weirdness had just gone down. ¡°You want to protect me? Newsflash, Nightmare: I don¡¯t need a bodyguard.¡±


    Nightmare¡¯s whiskered face turned dead serious, his voice low and even. ¡°I¡¯ll go kill the Glutton. How about that?¡±


    Yu Xiao¡¯s brain was still trying to catch up. ¡°Wait, what? You think you can take down the Glutton? And why the hell would you even try?¡±


    Nightmare¡¯s ears folded back, his expression sheepish. ¡°I don¡¯t know¡­ but I¡¯ll try my best to kill him.¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Yu Xiao was perplexed, ¡°Why do you want to kill him?¡±


    Nightmare¡¯s round eyes locked onto hers, his pupils constricting like a cat¡¯s. ¡°The Glutton wants to eat you, Yu Xiao. He¡¯s got a serious grudge.¡±


    ¡°Ah?!¡± Yu Xiao¡¯s face turned as white as a sheet, ¡°Why does he want to eat me?¡±


    Nightmare¡¯s voice was matter-of-fact. ¡°George told him you sold him out.¡±


    Yu Xiao¡¯s anger sparked, her eyes flashing. ¡°That snake, George!¡±


    Nightmare kept going, sensing Yu Xiao¡¯s outrage. ¡°And get this: George has also recruited a team of doctors to join the party. They¡¯re all about making your demise a real regret-fest¡­¡±

 Chapter 128: Returning to Gu Village

    A momentary blankness washed over Yu Xiao¡¯s expression. Finally, she understood why all the reinforcements George had recruited were ghosts she knew. So that was the truth!


    Closing her eyes, she exhaled deeply. A cold smile crept onto Yu Xiao¡¯s face. ¡®Well played, Georgie, fancy that! I saved your life, and this is how you repay me?¡¯


    ¡°Thanks for the heads-up,¡± she said, the icy smile still lingering on her lips.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen scratched her head. ¡°Smiley, your vengeful ghost count seems to be growing.¡±


    ¡°Gluttony¡¯s no pushover. He managed to overpower so many attending doctors,¡± Zhao Lan remarked, her voice laced with worry. ¡°He doesn¡¯t seem like the type to let things go, and now that he¡¯s jobless, he¡¯s even more unfettered than those doctors. What if he comes for revenge¡­¡±


    Nightmare¡¯s cat face was etched with seriousness. ¡°I will protect you!¡±


    ¡°Sigh,¡± Yu Xiao rolled her eyes so hard they almost got stuck, ¡®Why are you even getting involved?¡¯


    ¡°You¡¯re still public enemy number one, kitty,¡± she reminded him. ¡°If they catch you anywhere near me, I¡¯ll be sharing a jail cell with you faster than you can say ¡®boo.¡¯ You¡¯ve gotta lay low.¡± She fumed. ¡°But more than Gluttony, it¡¯s George I despise the most! He¡¯s a real ingrate!¡±


    Nightmare, ever the eager beaver, puffed out his furry chest. ¡°Then let me go and beat George to death.¡±


    This was Yu Xiao¡¯s biggest dilemma. Whether George lived or died didn¡¯t really matter to her, but the problem was that St. Elizabeth¡¯s needed an attending doctor. Who knew who would take over if George died? What if it was Gluttony?


    Nope, not on her watch. Yu Xiao couldn¡¯t risk her hospital. She waved her hand dismissively. Until she found a better candidate among the ghosts, George couldn¡¯t die. This line of thought led to a sudden question. ¡°Hold on, if patients can be Deans, can they also be attending doctors?¡±


    ¡°This¡­¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen was stumped by the question. ¡°Can patients do that?¡±


    Zhao Lan considered another angle. ¡°Tie Niu said you need a domain to be an attending doctor, and patients don¡¯t have those, right?¡±


    Damn, she was right. Yu Xiao shot Nightmare a look and sighed. ¡°If only you weren¡¯t a fugitive, you¡¯d be the perfect candidate.¡±


    Nightmare slumped on the floor, his tail twitching in frustration. He felt utterly useless, as if he couldn¡¯t do anything to help.


    Luckily, Gluttony had been sentenced to community service, so even if he wanted revenge, he had to wait until he finished his sentence. Yu Xiao had some time to figure out how to avoid becoming his next midnight snack.


    Although she planned on taking a break, that didn¡¯t mean doing nothing. Yu Xiao wanted to use her time productively by drawing talismans. Just as she spread out her brushes and ink, her phone buzzed with a call from an unfamiliar number.


    ¡°Hello?¡± she said, noticing that she had been getting more calls from unknown numbers lately. ¡°Who is this?¡±


    ¡°Hi there,¡± a sweet female voice replied. ¡°I¡¯m an assistant from the Health Bureau Director¡¯s office. Are you ¡®Deaf Descendant?¡±


    ¡°Um, yes,¡± Yu Xiao confirmed. ¡°What can I help you with?¡±


    ¡°Great! Your inspection work is about to begin. Because you¡¯re a patient, we believe in fairness and impartiality. So, you can¡¯t inspect places you haven¡¯t been to before.¡±


    Yu Xiao sighed. Of course, there were rules. ¡°Fine by me.¡±


    ¡°However,¡± the cheerful voice continued, ¡°most of the places you¡¯ve been to are currently closed for renovations. So, you can choose between Gu Village or the Ghost Corporation. Take your pick!¡±


    ¡°¡­¡± Yu Xiao¡¯s skin crawled at the mention of the Ghost Corporation. There was no way she was going there. ¡°Then¡­ Gu Village it is.¡±


    ¡°Wonderful! We¡¯ll send over a snazzy uniform and some ghost-busting gear. Oh, and one more thing ¨C the inspection team is short-staffed right now. As the leader, you¡¯ll need to recruit some new members. Get me that list to me ASAP, chop-chop!¡±


    The line went dead, leaving Yu Xiao looking at her friends with a ¡°what the hell¡± expression. They all looked just as clueless as she felt.


    Zhao Lan¡¯s radar for weirdness pinged loudly. ¡°Judging by your face, it¡¯s not bad news, is it?¡±


    ¡°Hmm¡­ yes,¡± Yu Xiao replied with a grin. ¡°I¡¯ve got a job to do.¡±


    ¡°A job?¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen repeated, her forehead wrinkled. ¡°But didn¡¯t you say you were taking a week off? And what¡¯s the point of working when St. Elizabeth¡¯s is still under construction?¡±


    ¡°My inspection gig has finally arrived,¡± Yu Xiao explained, bustling around as she stuffed talismans and tools into her backpack. ¡°This time, it¡¯s Gu Village.¡±


    ¡°Village?¡± The name brought back distant memories for Zhou Xiao Zhen. ¡°Why is it always the places we¡¯ve been to before?¡±


    Yu Xiao paused, her backpack halfway packed. ¡°I can only inspect the instances I¡¯ve personally survived. It¡¯s only fair, right?¡±


    Zhao Lan quickly connected the dots. Most of the dungeons that Yu Xiao had explored were currently off-limits due to the doctors in charge being assigned community service. That left only Gu Village and the Ghost Corporation ¨C and Yu Xiao wouldn¡¯t step foot in the latter even if you paid her. Gu Village was her only option.


    ¡°Be quick and come back in one piece,¡± she urged, knowing that the inspection work shouldn¡¯t pose any significant danger. ¡°Stay safe, got it?¡±


    Nightmare, with his large, pleading eyes, positioned himself directly in front of Yu Xiao, hoping she would bring him along.


    However, she was too focused on packing to notice.


    Just as she was about to zip up her backpack, a knock at the door interrupted her. ¡°Delivery!¡±


    ¡°Coming!¡± Yu Xiao opened the door a crack and received a large box, its weight nearly causing her to lose her balance.


    With a creak, the box revealed its secrets: a crisp black uniform, a slim assessment book, a sleek fountain pen, and a weighty stamp. The uniform, cut like a sharp Western suit, held a curious pin on its collar ¨C a white skull grinning against black, with tiny characters declaring: ¡°Health Bureau Investigator.¡± (Ò½Ôº¿¼²ì)


    ¡°Damn, girl, this uniform looks rather dashing,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen whistled, holding it up. ¡°Get your butt in that thing right now!¡±


    Yu Xiao took the uniform, but suddenly turned her head to look at Nightmare. He met her gaze and immediately widened his eyes, staring at her expectantly.


    She went to the bathroom to change. Nightmare blinked and asked, ¡°Did she used to go to the bathroom to change clothes?¡±


    ¡°Of course not,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen replied. ¡°That would be too much trouble.¡±


    A wave of disappointment washed over Nightmare. So, Yu Xiao didn¡¯t trust him completely. He needed a plan ¨C Operation: Become-Best-Friend-Like-Zhao-Lan-and-Zhou-Xiao-Zhen was a go.


    Moments later, Yu Xiao emerged, transformed. The uniform, paired with a low ponytail, gave her an air of cool competence. She twirled, a playful smirk on her lips. ¡°So, whatcha think?¡±


    ¡°Total babe alert!¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen squealed. ¡°Like one of those stone-faced government types in dramas, but, you know, way hotter.¡±


    (Mu de gan qing (ľµÃ¸ÐÇé): This is a slang term used to describe someone who is emotionless or indifferent.)


    Zhao Lan, eyes twinkling, nodded in agreement. ¡°Sharp. So, Smiley, what kind of work do you plan to do after graduation?¡± She looked so good as if made for a government or movie queen¡¯s role.


    ¡°Probably something in the art field,¡± Yu Xiao replied nonchalantly, shrugging her shoulders.


    Zhao Lan mentally facepalmed. Of course, the art major would pursue art. Duh.


    With her new tools safely packed in her backpack, Yu Xiao slung it over her shoulder. ¡°Alright, ladies, wish me luck!¡± And with that, she set off, ready to face whatever challenges awaited her as a Health Bureau Investigator.


    Closing her eyes, Yu Xiao silently chanted, ¡°I want to go to Gu Village.¡±


    The world tilted, and a familiar feeling of nausea washed over her as she transitioned into the instance. When she opened her eyes, she found herself standing on a dusty country lane, worn smooth by countless footsteps.


    Ah¡­ Yu Xiao looked around, a wave of nostalgia sweeping over her. This place held so many memories.


    A figure emerged from the village, walking towards her. It was a scene that triggered d¨¦j¨¤ vu. This was where she and the girls ¨C Zhao Lan and Zhou Xiao Zhen ¨C first met Luo Jin and Lu Xu, with Gu Shu appearing from the same path. But Gu Shu had left Gu Village. Yu Xiao remembered burying a piece of monster flesh in his courtyard before she left. Judging by his subsequent behaviour, it seemed he had been quite tormented by it.


    The newcomer was tall and dressed in a flowing black robe, his hair pulled back to reveal a smooth forehead and a shock of black bangs. He wore a monocle on his right eye, which glinted in the sunlight as a faint smile curved his lips.


    He extended a hand and spoke in a smooth as silk voice. ¡°Welcome. I am Chao Ge (³¯¸è: ¡°morning song¡± or ¡°song of the dynasty¡±), the attending doctor of the Gu Village instance.¡±


    ³¯ (Ch¨¢o) often means ¡°morning¡± or ¡°dynasty¡± and can also refer to ¡°facing toward¡± or ¡°court¡± in a royal context.¸è (G¨¥) means ¡°song¡± or ¡°sing¡±.


    ¡°Hello,¡± Yu Xiao shook his hand, her own smile a touch sharper. ¡°I am the leader of the investigation team from the Health Bureau, Deaf Descendant.¡±


    Chao Ge¡¯s pupils contracted slightly. ¡°Ah, the esteemed investigator. Right this way, then.¡±


    As they walked into the village, Yu Xiao felt a sense of familiarity. Every sight triggered a memory. She fished out her assessment book and pen, ready to take notes.


    ¡°The previous batch of, ahem, patients just checked out,¡± Chao Ge explained, ¡°and the new arrivals are due any minute. Perhaps you¡¯d like to freshen up at my place first? We can chat over some tea.¡±


    Yu Xiao raised an eyebrow. ¡°You enjoy tea as well?¡±


    ¡°Not at first,¡± Chao Ge admitted. ¡°But the previous attending doctor of Gu Village was a tea enthusiast, and the villagers developed a habit of regularly gifting tea leaves to the village doctor. With so much tea, I started trying it. Although, I still prefer using it to make tea eggs.¡±


    (²èÒ¶µ° ¨C ch¨¢ y¨¨ d¨¤n: These are eggs that are hard-boiled and then cracked and simmered in a mixture of tea, soy sauce, and spices.)


    Yu Xiao tried to suppress a smirk. ¡°Rest can wait,¡± she said, fighting the urge to twitch her lips. ¡°I¡¯ll come with you to greet the patients.¡±


    Chao Ge shrugged and led the way, their footsteps crunching on the gravel path toward the village.


    Moments ago, the road had been deserted, but now it was buzzing with activity. Nine fresh faces huddled together, their chatter dying down as they spotted the approaching duo. Confusion clouded their features. Wasn¡¯t the attending doctor supposed to be alone? Who was the chick in black?


    With a smile, Chao Ge announced, ¡°Greetings. Welcome to Gujia Village. I¡¯m Chao Ge, your attending doctor.¡±


    The patients exchanged wary glances, muttering polite greetings.


    ¡°Follow me, folks,¡± Chao Ge said, ushering them toward the village.


    Meanwhile, Yu Xiao had opened her assessment book and began scribbling notes as they walked.


    ¡¾ Subject: Dr. Chao Ge, Village Quack


    Notes: Failed to clearly explain the instance details, using deceptive tactics instead to lure patients into the village¡­ ¡¿


    Curiosity getting the better of him, Chao Ge sneakily peeked over her shoulder. The words hit him like a sucker punch, almost causing him to trip.


    The patients, who had just been admiring the doctor¡¯s confident swagger, now witnessed a complete 180. His face went from smug to utterly bewildered.


    ¡°Whoa, wait a minute,¡± he stammered, his voice cracking. ¡°That¡¯s¡­ wrong, isn¡¯t it?¡±


    ¡°Wrong?¡± Yu Xiao echoed, raising a sceptical eyebrow.


    ¡°Deception?¡± he sputtered, indignation flaring in his eyes. ¡°Everyone does it! Even the previous attending doctor before me.¡±


    Yu Xiao nodded slowly and silently wrote: ¡¾ He is completely oblivious to his own mistake and is trying to shift the blame onto the previous attending doctor. ¡¿


    ¡°¡­¡±


    As a result, in the eyes of the patients, Chao Ge, the ghost, seemed to be enveloped in an unnatural gloom, as if a dark cloud had settled over him.


    With a lacklustre expression, Chao Ge finished giving instructions to the patients and led Yu Xiao towards his humble abode.


    His house stood where an ancient tree had once been. However, the towering tree and the charming brick-and-tile house were now gone, replaced by a dwelling made entirely of wood.


    Yu Xiao admired the unique craftsmanship of the wooden house, her curiosity piqued. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you build a brick-and-tile house like the others in the village?¡±


    This house was Chao Ge¡¯s pride and joy. He smiled and replied, ¡°I simply wanted to be different. Coincidentally, there was a magnificent old tree here when I arrived. So, I used the available resources and cut down the tree to build this house. What do you think, esteemed Investigator?¡±


    Yu Xiao stifled a laugh and nodded in approval. ¡°Very impressive.¡±


    Secretly, she sent a text message to George: ¡°Let Gu Shu know that the new attending doctor has chopped down his tree in Gu Village. Do a good job, and I might consider reducing your sentence.¡±


    Yu Xiao was on a mission to nail every attending doctor who dared to cross her, George being top of the list. She was going to turn him into the pariah of the ghost community.


    **


    George, who was watching the other attending doctors lay bricks by the construction site, suddenly received a text message. His eyes twitched slightly as he put down his phone and began to wander around the construction site.


    As he wandered ¡®aimlessly¡¯, he inadvertently found himself next to Gu Shu. sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Gu Shu, sleeves rolled up, revealing the rugged muscles on his forearms, shot George a dark, brooding glare. ¡°Back off, George.¡±


    ¡°Do you know the new attending doctor of Gu Village?¡± George asked.


    Gu Shu¡¯s scowl deepened. ¡°No, don¡¯t know him.¡±


    ¡°Figures.¡±


    Gu Shu detested people who only spoke in half-sentences. ¡°Spit it out!¡±


    George shrugged, his tone a tad too casual. ¡°Heard he chopped down that tree you planted in Gu Village to build a house. Guess he didn¡¯t know it was your baby, so¡­ no surprise there.¡±

 Chapter 129:The Attending Doctors Meeting

    The brick in Gu Shu¡¯s hand crumbled like a stale cookie as his lips were pursed tighter than a constipated clam and his eyes blazing with fury as he pinned George with a withering stare.


    George squirmed, his instincts screaming louder than a banshee that it was time to flee. He spun on his heel, ready to make a break for it, but Gu Shu¡¯s single, icy word froze him in place.


    ¡°George.¡±


    The sound sent a shiver down George¡¯s spine as he reluctantly turned back to face the music. Gu Shu¡¯s piercing gaze seemed to bore into his very soul, his dark presence enveloping the room like a harbinger of doom.


    ¡°Did you deliberately tell me this news to see me make a fool of myself?¡± His tone was glacial, his words dripping with malice.


    George¡¯s heart skipped a beat as he struggled to come up with a plausible response. He had indeed wanted to see Gu Shu humiliated, but he wasn¡¯t foolish enough to admit it now. Not after tricking the attending doctors into coming to this meeting under false pretences, claiming to deal with the ¡®Deaf Descendant,¡¯ just to spite Gluttony. The stunt had backfired, resulting in docked pay and grunt work for all involved. George wasn¡¯t about to poke the bear again.


    But he couldn¡¯t throw Yu Xiao under the bus either, or the other doctors would think he was in cahoots with the humans.


    George forced a fake smile, attempting to sound nonchalant. ¡°Come on, would I do that? I simply happened to hear about it and thought you should know.¡±


    Gu Shu¡¯s face twisted into an even more terrifying expression. ¡°And now you¡¯re smiling?¡±


    George: ¡°¡­¡±


    **


    Meanwhile, Chao Ge bustled around the room, serving tea to Yu Xiao and offering her a steaming bowl of tea eggs.


    He couldn¡¯t fathom why the hospital had sent an inspection team to disrupt their peaceful lives. Being an attending doctor was the cushiest gig in the joint ¨C one doctor, one instance, no competition, and total autonomy. But with the inspection team¡¯s arrival, those halcyon days were numbered.


    Chao Ge let out a despairing sigh as he delicately peeled a tea egg. ¡°So, boss lady, any idea why the higher-ups suddenly decided to send an inspection team?¡±


    He handed the egg to Yu Xiao, who took a bite, her eyes widening in surprise. ¡°Mm, delicious!¡±


    Chao Ge beamed with pride, his eye behind the monocle gleaming mischievously.


    ¡°Here¡¯s the scoop,¡± Yu Xiao said, gesturing with the half-eaten egg. ¡°Gluttony was dissatisfied with his position and wanted a change. He set his sights on becoming an attending doctor and targeted St. Elizabeth.¡±


    Chao Ge¡¯s eyes widened in understanding. ¡°I see. I was wondering why the attending doctors would gather, despite their differences and busy schedules. They didn¡¯t even invite me.¡±


    Yu Xiao explained, ¡°The big shots are paying attention now. They believe this chaos occurred because the hospital¡¯s promotion system is outdated. To prevent these kinds of incidents in the future, they¡¯ve formed an inspection team to evaluate everyone and use the scores for promotions and demotions.¡±


    Chao Ge¡¯s face turned red with rage as he slammed his fist on the table, causing the teacups to rattle. ¡°Damn you, George!¡±


    If that sneaky bastard hadn¡¯t deceived the other doctors into joining him against Gluttony, this whole situation would have blown over. But no, he had to stir the pot, and now they were stuck with this inspection team bullshit.


    Yu Xiao savoured the sweet taste of another settled grudge, her lips curling into a satisfied smirk.


    ¡®Oh, George, you two-faced weasel,¡¯ she silently thought, ¡®always trying to one-up me, aren¡¯t you? Just wait until you realise you¡¯ve pissed off every single soul in this place. Then you¡¯ll come crawling back, begging for my help.¡¯


    Yu Xiao didn¡¯t have a personal vendetta against Chao Ge, but she wanted to put the fear of God into him, make sure he thought twice before screwing over another patient. And when it came to collecting grudges, Yu Xiao was like a kid in a candy store ¨C the more, the merrier!


    ¡°Sure, George is a grade-A douchebag,¡± she chimed in, ¡°but something tells me this shit-show is just getting started.¡±


    Chao Ge cocked an eyebrow. ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    Yu Xiao leaned in, her voice taking on a conspiratorial tone. ¡°Well, our pal Gluttony has found himself in the unemployment line, and he¡¯s desperate to become an attending doctor. You think he¡¯s gonna throw in the towel after one little setback? Nah, he¡¯ll be back for round two. George might¡¯ve caught wind of it, but the other docs? They¡¯re sitting ducks.¡±


    Chao Ge¡¯s face turned ashen, his eyes wide with concern. He knew he was no match for Gluttony in a throwdown. Not that he was selling himself short or anything, but let¡¯s be real ¨C you could count on one hand the number of attending doctors who could take that gluttonous bastard down.


    Yu Xiao let out a sympathetic ¡°tsk.¡± ¡°What a shame.¡±


    Chao Ge turned his head like a snake, his eyes locked on Yu Xiao. ¡°What a shame about what?¡±


    Yu Xiao replied, ¡°It¡¯s a shame that Gu Village only has you. If there were more powerful NPCs, that would be a different story¡­¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s one in the temple.¡±


    Yu Xiao nodded, ¡°Yeah, I know about that one. But c¡¯mon, it couldn¡¯t even beat Gu Shu in a fight.¡±


    Chao Ge¡¯s face fell, the reality sinking in ¨C the temple¡¯s resident was only as strong as a single attending doctor. Between the two of them, they didn¡¯t stand a chance against Gluttony.


    Yu Xiao mused, ¡°If only Gluttony would go pick a fight with Qing Shi¡­¡±


    Chao Ge¡¯s eyes lit up with recognition. He knew about Qing Shi and the notorious difficulty of his Sage Hospital instance. ¡°Do you think Qing Shi can take down Gluttony?¡±


    ¡°Qing Shi alone? Maybe, maybe not. But don¡¯t forget, we¡¯ve got a certain someone pulling a community service at Sage Hospital as we speak.¡±


    And just like that, it clicked. Chao Ge¡¯s eyes lit up like he¡¯d just had a goddamn epiphany.


    Yu Xiao watched him closely, her mind going back to when Qing Shi had given her phone number to Gluttony. And then there was Wang Shu, that former delivery guy who still wanted revenge. Yu Xiao wasn¡¯t going to give him the chance to make a move.


    To give Chao Ge some peace and quiet to think up his next evil scheme, Yu Xiao excused herself to take a stroll and visit the temple to investigate the Gu village¡¯s god.


    As Yu Xiao stepped out of Chao Ge¡¯s cosy little wooden shack, she was greeted by the familiar sights of Gu Village. Not much had changed, really. The locals still looked like they were on death¡¯s door, and that annoying plague showed no signs of leaving anytime soon.


    As she wandered through the village, she stumbled upon a group of people gathered up ahead, several of whom were patients. They seemed to be bombarding the village chief with questions, and Yu Xiao¡¯s curiosity got the better of her. She approached to see what was happening and found out that the patients were grilling the chief with queries.


    The baby-faced village chief, looking sharp in his crisp white Zhongshan getup, patiently answered their questions in between dainty little coughs. His pale face was a picture of tranquillity, but that tranquillity was short-lived.


    Then, as if he sensed something, the village chief¡¯s head jerked up, and his eyes locked onto Yu Xiao through the crowd. His pale face turned red with excitement as he raised his hand, ¡°You¡­¡±


    Yu Xiao took off like a shot, leaving the village chief¡¯s words hanging in the air.


    ¡°Wait!¡± he called out, his voice hoarse from coughing.


    The patients watched in shock as the delicate-looking village chief suddenly became agitated, reaching out and taking two steps forward before a violent fit of coughing stopped him in his tracks.


    Still, he stretched out his hand, ¡°Cough, cough, cough¡­ You¡­ Cough, cough, wait¡­¡±


    Their gazes focused on a dark figure in the distance, a mysterious dot on the horizon.


    The village chief, still coughing violently, stumbled after the figure, his frail body trembling like a leaf with each laborious step. The patients exchanged bewildered looks ¨C what had gotten into the village chief? Was he onto something?


    Clutching his chest, the village chief¡¯s small steps turned into a frantic jog, his voice still booming, ¡°You¡­ come back, I want to¡­ divorce you!¡± The words spilled out in ragged gasps, as if his lungs were ablaze.


    The patients¡¯ whispers swirled around them like a whirlpool. ¡°I recognize her,¡± a patient chimed in. ¡°When we arrived in the village, she was scribbling in a notebook next to the attending doctor.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right, it¡¯s her!¡± The village chief¡¯s demand for a divorce triggered a flurry of questions. Was she his wife? What was she doing with the attending doctor?


    Meanwhile, the villagers began murmuring among themselves, their hushed conversations crackling with excitement and curiosity. ¡°She¡¯s back?¡± ¡°She¡¯s really returned?¡± The air was charged with the buzz of gossip.


    A villager urged, ¡°Hurry up! Go tell Old Lady Gu that her daughter-in-law has come back!¡± The villagers scattered, chatting in groups, leaving the patients pondering.


    They grabbed a villager¡¯s arm and asked, ¡°What¡¯s the story with Old Lady Gu and her daughter-in-law?¡±


    The villager shook them off, grumbling, ¡°Hey, don¡¯t ruin my new clothes!¡± As they smoothed out their outfit, they continued, ¡°Her son got married, and just a few days later, his wife started cheating on him. Then she disappeared without a word and never came back. Who wouldn¡¯t be furious?¡±


    The patients nodded sympathetically, but their minds were racing ¨C could it be true that you could actually leave Gu Village?


    Yu Xiao finally reached the riverside temple, where Gu Jing Rong caught up to her, panting like a wounded animal. His physical strength had indeed improved, allowing him to cover that vast distance.


    ¡°D-d-divorce¡­¡± Gu Jing Rong stuttered, his eyes brimming with tears.


    ¡°Okay, okay,¡± Yu Xiao halted her escape, a mischievous sparkle in her eye. With no one around to judge, she strolled over to help Gu Jing Rong catch his breath, saying, ¡°Let¡¯s get a divorce, don¡¯t get too worked up.¡±


    Gu Jing Rong¡¯s grip on Yu Xiao¡¯s hand was tight like a vise, and tears streamed down his face like a mini waterfall. The corners of his eyes were so swollen that it looked like he¡¯d been crying for hours.


    Yu Xiao¡¯s face went from ¡°what¡¯s up¡± to ¡°holy crap¡± in two seconds flat. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? I thought we were good on the divorce front?¡±


    Gu Jing Rong¡¯s sobs were heart-wrenching, like someone was strangling a cat. ¡°I can finally get out of this marriage!¡±


    An awkward laugh escaped Yu Xiao. ¡°Finally? Weren¡¯t you thrilled to marry me in the first place?¡±


    Gu Jing Rong¡¯s pale face contorted in anguish, like a twisted rubber band. In his mind, he was thinking, ¡®Which eye of yours saw me jumping for joy about marrying you? You only coerced me into it using my dad¡¯s corpse, for crying out loud!¡¯


    But with the divorce looming, Gu Jing Rong didn¡¯t want to get into it. He tugged Yu Xiao¡¯s hand, saying, ¡°Let¡¯s just go home, okay?¡±


    Yu Xiao struggled to break free, asking, ¡°How do we make this divorce thing official?¡±


    ¡°We write it up, simple as that.¡±


    ¡°Fine, then. Lead the way.¡± Yu Xiao didn¡¯t object.


    She¡¯d only married Gu Jing Rong to escape with her life, and now that was ancient history.


    ¡°No need to pull me, I can walk,¡± she added as Gu Jing Rong started dragging her off.


    Just then, Old Lady Gu was lounging in bed at home when a bunch of villagers burst in, chattering excitedly about her daughter-in-law¡¯s return.


    Old Lady Gu sat up with a start, her eyes wide with shock. ¡°Who? Which daughter-in-law of mine is back?¡±


    ¡°The scary one, your eldest daughter-in-law¡­¡± the villagers chimed in unison.


    Yu Xiao followed Gu Jing Rong back home, and as soon as they arrived, they were ambushed by a crowd of people in the courtyard. The two exchanged a ¡°what-the-heck¡± glance, and Gu Jing Rong¡¯s face turned bright red before draining of colour as he hung his head and dragged Yu Xiao along.


    Old Lady Gu clutched the doorframe, her voice stern. ¡°Where do you think you¡¯re going? Stop right there!¡±


    But no one was giving her the time of day, which only served to fan the flames of her fury.


    She began to stomp her feet, her voice carrying an odd mix of rage and melodrama. ¡°Good heavens! A daughter-in-law who pays her mother-in-law no mind, treating her words like background noise! And a son, with a wife, who forgets his mother¡¯s very existence! Woe is me!¡±


    Back in his room, Gu Jing Rong wasted no time in pulling out a sheet of paper from his drawer.


    As they stood by the desk, Yu Xiao¡¯s ears still rang with Old Lady Gu¡¯s wailing from outside. Suddenly, a question popped into her head, ¡°Are you only going to divorce me?¡±


    Gu Jing Rong¡¯s gaze flicked up from the divorce agreement, his expression saying, ¡°But¡­ we need both signatures on this.¡±


    **


    Just then, Zhou Xiao Zhen let out a massive ¡°Ah-choo!¡± and accused, ¡°Someone¡¯s badmouthing me behind my back!¡±


    Zhao Lan, engrossed in her forum browsing, chuckled and asked, ¡°How do you know it¡¯s a person, though?¡±


    Nightmare lay silently in the box, his presence as still as a ghost. The box wasn¡¯t locked, but without Yu Xiao, he didn¡¯t have the heart to emerge.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen loved watching him transform into her male idol, but her bravery only stretched as far as Yu Xiao¡¯s presence; without her, she didn¡¯t dare make any demands of him.


    As the two friends chatted, their conversation naturally drifted to Yu Xiao, with Zhou Xiao Zhen musing, ¡°She¡¯s back in Gu village, which means she¡¯ll definitely run into our old husband, right?¡±


    Zhao Lan¡¯s knowing smile and nod of agreement only added to the intrigue.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen continued, joking, ¡°It¡¯s been so long, who knows how our old husband is doing? When Smiley sees him again, he should be thrilled, right? After all, she¡¯s his first wife.¡±


    Nightmare, hiding in the box, felt his heart sink further. Yu Xiao had not only her two friends, but also an old husband outside. Why couldn¡¯t he have a normal relationship with her like everyone else?


    Their laughter and joking were abruptly interrupted by an unfamiliar ringing in the room. Zhao Lan and Zhou Xiao Zhen exchanged a startled glance, then turned to stare at Yu Xiao¡¯s bed. The sound was coming from their friend¡¯s bed, and it sounded suspiciously like her Nokia phone.


    The two friends locked eyes, and Zhou Xiao Zhen jumped down from the bed, rummaging through Yu Xiao¡¯s drawer to find the Nokia phone. The caller ID read ¡®Wide Sea and Sky¡¯.


    ¡°¡®Wide Sea and Sky¡¯ is calling,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen announced, holding up the phone for Zhao Lan to see.


    Zhao Lan scrunched up her face, her brow furrowed in uncertainty, as she swung her legs over the side of the bed.


    The two young women stood frozen, their eyes fixed on the ancient Nokia phone, tangled in a mess of confusion.


    ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen wondered aloud, her scowl deepening. ¡°He specifically told Smiley to back off and leave him alone, so what¡¯s with the call?¡±


    Zhao Lan crossed her arms, her brow furrowed in uncertainty. She had a bad feeling about ¡®Wide Sea and Sky¡¯, like something was off-kilter. But his attitude screamed ¡°stay out of it,¡± and she was more than happy to oblige, especially since they¡¯d never even met the guy.


    The phone¡¯s silence hung heavy in the air, punctuated only by the occasional beep, until the ringing finally stopped.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen blinked, her eyes still fixed on the phone. ¡°Should we call back?¡±


    Zhao Lan shrugged. ¡°Even if we should, we should wait for Smiley to get back and let her handle it. He only called because he was looking for her.¡±


    **


    Meanwhile, ¡®Wide Sea and Sky¡¯ hurled his phone to the ground, the screen¡¯s blue glow flickering out like a dying flame as voice repeated: ¡°Sorry, the user you are trying to reach is currently unavailable¡­¡±


    His hand clenched into a tight fist, his chest heaving with rapid, heavy breaths. She was furious, he thought, and rightfully so. Who wouldn¡¯t be pissed if their good deed was met with a slap in the face?


    But his frustration lingered, a gnawing feeling that had been building for a whole day without a single call. It was ridiculous, he knew. Nearly two decades¡¯ worth of loneliness had prepared him for silent nights and empty mornings. But this new sudden silence, this absence of response, cut deep.


    He snatched up his smartphone and opened the forum, where his posts were still being dissected and debated. Maybe, just maybe, he could try calling her own phone number.


    He picked up the old phone, the call log displaying a single unfamiliar number. He dialled it, his heart thudding in anticipation.


    ¡°Sorry, the user you are trying to reach is not in the service area¡­¡± The robotic voice was like a slap in the face, leaving him feeling more frustrated than ever.


    It seemed like Yu Xiao had entered the instance and left Tang Jing Zhi¡¯s phone behind.


    ¡®Wide Sea and Sky¡¯ calmed down, his frenzy momentarily contained. But then, his eyebrows furrowed once more. She was jumping into instances way too frequently. This reminded him of his early days in the hospital. He remembered the frantic pace of his initial instances, with each one blending into the next without a break.


    This was a recipe for disaster¡­


    **


    Yu Xiao signed the divorce agreement, and Gu Jing Rong beamed like a lottery winner, handing her four more copies. ¡°Get the others to sign, okay?¡± he said cheerfully.


    She raised an eyebrow, her gaze lingering on the agreement. ¡°You¡¯re in a hurry to get divorced, aren¡¯t you?¡±


    Gu Jing Rong avoided the question, his eyes filled with curiosity. ¡°What¡¯s it like outside the village, anyway?¡±


    The sudden change in topic caught Yu Xiao off guard, and she tilted her head, a mischievous smile spreading across her face.


    ¡°Why don¡¯t you take a walk and find out?¡± she teased, but Gu Jing Rong¡¯s expression turned sombre, his eyes darkening.


    ¡°I dare not,¡± he said, his voice tinged with sadness. ¡°Outsiders come and go, but no villager has ever left¡­and returned.¡±


    Yu Xiao¡¯s mind raced, trying to piece together the puzzle. She realized that, despite being bound by the instance¡¯s rules, NPCs weren¡¯t just mindless drones; they had thoughts and feelings. And that led to a question: had anyone from Gu¡¯s village ever broken free? sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Gu Jing Rong spoke with a hushed tone. ¡°Outsiders either die or disappear. You¡¯re the first to come back.¡±


    He continued, his voice filled with longing. ¡°Even Doctor Gu left; is it really that wonderful outside? Why did they all want to escape?¡±


    Yu Xiao shrugged in response, followed by a question of her own. ¡°Who was the attending doctor before Doctor Gu?¡±


    Gu Jing Rong looked puzzled. ¡°There was no doctor before Gu. He was the first¡­.¡±


    The sentence trailed off, leaving Yu Xiao¡¯s brain itching with another puzzle. Which came first, the chicken or the egg? Or in this case, the creepy ancient village or the even creepier Gu Shu?


    The attending doctor could be transferred to another post, but Gu Shu was a different story. He seemed inseparable from the village, sharing not just its name but an unshakable connection.


    Driven by curiosity, Yu Xiao swiftly pulled out her phone and dialled George¡¯s number.


    **


    On the other end, George was hiding at the St. Elizabeth construction site, he was determined to avoid any encounters with other attending doctors until the hospital¡¯s completion. But his peace was short-lived. His phone shrilled to life, flashing ¡°Despicable Human¡± in bold red letters on the caller ID. George¡¯s heart skipped a beat as he hesitated, then answered.


    ¡°Hey, George,¡± came the familiar, annoying voice on the other end, ¡°I have a question for you.¡±


    ¡°Shoot.¡±


    ¡°Which came first, you or St. Elizabeth¡¯s?¡±


    The question hung in the air, and George¡¯s mind went blank. He had never considered it before, and it left him speechless.


    After what felt like an eternity, Yu Xiao¡¯s voice pierced the silence. ¡°Is the question too difficult? Why did you call yourself George?¡±


    Ah, that he knew. George¡¯s mind flashed back to the first batch of patients he had received, including a tasty morsel named George. He had devoured him, and it was the first time he had tasted something so delicious that it moved him to adopt the name.


    Yu Xiao¡¯s response was laced with amusement. ¡°You named yourself? Alright then, here¡¯s a new assignment: find out how Gu Shu got his name.¡±


    ¡°I won¡¯t¡­¡±


    ¡°You can¡¯t refuse, George.¡±


    George¡¯s protest died on his lips as Yu Xiao¡¯s voice dripped with confidence, her words oozing with an air of superiority. ¡°Trust me, I have the power to kick you out of St. Elizabeth Hospital right this minute.¡±


    George responded with silence, slipping his phone back into his pocket and continuing his restless pacing as each step echoed through the corridor. As he turned a corner, he nearly collided with Gu Shu, who was busy hauling bricks.


    ¡°Keep your distance, or I¡¯ll kill you,¡± Gu Shu growled, not even sparing him a glance.


    George¡¯s response was laced with sarcasm. ¡°You can¡¯t kill me.¡± He found Gu Shu¡¯s threats rather dull and predictable. ¡°I have a question for you, though. Why are you called Gu Shu, anyway?¡±


    Gu Shu¡¯s head snapped up, his eyes locking onto George like a predator sensing prey. The air seemed to vibrate with his killing intent, sending shivers down George¡¯s spine.


    Just then, Lolita sashayed into view, her intricately beautiful dress a stark contrast to the dirt caking her long nails. ¡°George, you knew Gluttony wanted to kill you, didn¡¯t you?¡± she accused, her voice dripping with venom. ¡°You deliberately led us on a wild goose chase to deal with Gluttony, didn¡¯t you?¡±


    A complex mix of emotions flickered in Gu Shu¡¯s eyes as he looked at Lolita, as if contemplating how she had finally figured out the obvious and why it took her so long.


    George¡¯s face remained a mask of innocence, but his feet seemed to have a will of their own, carrying him away from the scene.


    Lolita¡¯s voice followed him, filled with malice. ¡°Although you played us, I think this might be an opportunity in disguise.¡±


    Curiosity got the better of George, and he turned back to face her. ¡°?¡±


    Lolita¡¯s bright blue eyes burned with a desire for revenge. ¡°We can still join forces, discuss how to take down the ¡®Deaf Descendant¡¯. Your revenge failed, Gu Shu¡¯s revenge failed. But if we combine our powers, we can make that descendant suffer an agonising death.¡±


    The other attending doctors, including Gluttony, turned their heads to watch the scene unfold, their eyes fixed on them.


    Among them, only Qing Shi, who was sitting in a wheelchair, seemed uninterested.


    Regret stewed in his gut like a bad case of indigestion. While he had been carrying bricks around the construction site, he had a sudden realization: his disagreement with the ¡®Deaf Descendant¡¯ was nothing more than a small argument. If he was being honest, his strong dislike for that troublesome ¡®Braised Egg Girl 438¡¯ ran much deeper.


    What had motivated him to attend that secret gathering at St. Elizabeth Hospital, anyway? If he could go back in time, he would have stayed away from that place. Why would he trade the comfortable environment of Sage Hospital, which even had a new cleaner now, for the chaos that awaited him at St. Elizabeth?

 Chapter 130: A New Day

    Yu Xiao¡¯s ¡°finger¡± hovered over the ¡°congratulations¡± message, but something held her back. Was ¡®Wide Sea and Sky¡¯ even interested in the points? Did he even do instances? Her thoughts were interrupted by Tang Xing Yin¡¯s voice.


    ¡°When¡¯s your next instance run?¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡± Yu Xiao blinked, momentarily disoriented. ¡°Next week, I think. Need a break first.¡±


    ¡°Good.¡± Tang Xing Yin¡¯s voice was clipped, business-like. ¡°Do you still have that team-up card?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, I haven¡¯t used it.¡± Yu Xiao frowned slightly. ¡°You want to team up?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t forget.¡± The line went dead.


    Staring at her phone, Yu Xiao felt a prickle of unease. Everyone seemed so eager to have her along. Was she missing something? Then, with a mental shrug, she decided it must be the universe rewarding her inherent goodness. Karma points for being awesome, she thought with a smirk.


    Meanwhile, Zhou Xiao Zhen, exhausted after hours spent registering their new burner phones on the Sixth Hospital forum, had succumbed to sleep. However, Zhao Lan was glued to her own phone, scrolling through who knows what.


    Yu Xiao waited by the door, anticipation thrumming through her. She reviewed her plan and felt confident about it. In the ¡®Avengers¡¯ camp, Gluttony was a turncoat, George, the delusional fool, waited at St. Elizabeth¡¯s, ready to walk into her trap. That left only Gu Shu, Lolita, Qing Shi, and the new creepy attending doctor as potential threats in the upcoming instance.


    But she had allies too. The Nightmare, who could kill George. The unpredictable ¡®Wide Sea and Sky¡¯. And those audacious troublemakers from the Second Hospital.


    A slow smile spread across her face. Everything was in place. This time, she was in control.


    A sharp knock startled her from her thoughts.


    ¡°Delivery!¡± The familiar sing-song voice of the courier girl drifted through the door.


    Yu Xiao passed off the package with new phones, her mind already racing ahead. ¡°Has anything strange been happening at the hospital lately?¡± she asked casually.


    The courier girl shrugged as she tucked the package under her arm. ¡°Just another day, another delivery. But I did hear whispers¡­ something about the Chief Cerberus after that riot at the Second Hospital¡­¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    The delivery girl leaned in conspiratorially. ¡°The word on the street is that there has been an injury. A big one.¡±


    Yu Xiao¡¯s interest was piqued. Gossip was currency in the Horror Hospital, especially when it involved the upper echelons. ¡°Who got hurt?¡±


    The girl¡¯s voice dropped to a whisper. ¡°Chief Cerberus himself. Apparently, it has got the ghosts all riled up.¡±


    ¡°Riled up?¡± Yu Xiao frowned.


    ¡°You know, scheming, causing trouble,¡± the girl elaborated, her eyes wide. ¡°Chief Cerberus runs a tight ship, keeps everyone in line. But with him out of commission¡­¡± She trailed off meaningfully.


    A thought struck Yu Xiao. Could this be why George and his gang had chosen now to target her? Was this chaos their doing, or were they simply taking advantage of the situation?


    ¡°Interesting,¡± she mused, then a mischievous glint entered her eye. ¡°Tell me, do you ever think about a career change?¡±


    The girl giggled. ¡°Me? I¡¯m just a humble delivery girl.¡±


    ¡°Oh?¡± Yu Xiao drawled, her voice laced with amusement. ¡°What if I told you I knew of a certain attending doctor position that needed filling?¡±


    The girl¡¯s laughter died down. ¡°But¡­ I don¡¯t have a domain.¡±


    ¡°A domain?¡± Yu Xiao had heard whispers of this before, but her understanding was vague. ¡°What exactly is that?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s¡­ complicated,¡± the girl mumbled. ¡°A symbol of power, I guess. You need one to be an attending doctor.¡±


    Yu Xiao sighed internally. Just her luck. She had been hoping to install one of her own in the Time Hospital¡¯s hierarchy, someone she could trust to maintain order and further her own goals. But her options were limited.


    Tie Niu was loyal, but lacked the necessary¡­ finesse. Nightmare, now there was a force to be reckoned with, but she needed him for the Ghost Monster Group. Her gaze drifted back to him, his feline form a study in nonchalance.


    ¡°Smiley!¡± Zhao Lan¡¯s voice, sharp and impatient, cut through her thoughts.


    Yu Xiao walked across the room to where Zhao Lan sat hunched over her phone, a frown marring her usually deadpan face. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±


    ¡°Trouble,¡± Zhao Lan muttered, glancing up. ¡°The forum.¡±


    ¡°What about it?¡± Yu Xiao leaned closer, peering at the screen.


    Zhao Lan¡¯s fingers flew across the screen, scrolling furiously. ¡°I tried posting about the Time Hospital on the Sixth Hospital forum. Ten minutes later, poof! Gone. Deleted.¡±


    Yu Xiao didn¡¯t waste time with questions. She whipped out her phone and typed furiously, summarising the Time Hospital situation in a text to Luo Jin.


    **


    At the Fourth Hospital, Luo Jin pondered his options. Another lengthy instance had left him feeling rough, and the craving for human flesh was creeping in even during his waking hours. Raid again tomorrow, or take a break?


    A soft ping from his phone interrupted his thoughts. It was a message from Yu Xiao. As he read, his brow creased in concern.


    Beside him, Lu Xu was busy tallying their meagre points, calculating how many more instances they needed to conquer, how many more deals they needed to broker, to escape this cursed existence.


    ¡°Hey, check this out,¡± Luo Jin called him over, phone outstretched..


    Lu Xu took the phone, his eyes scanning the message. A low whistle escaped his lips. ¡°This Time Hospital sounds like a real nightmare. You know, for all the craziness we¡¯ve faced, I have to admire that woman. She just keeps going.¡±


    He handed the phone back. ¡°So, you want to warn others? Good idea. Forewarned is forearmed, as they say.¡±


    Luo Jin said nothing, merely edited the message slightly and hit send. He scrolled through the forum, his curiosity piqued by a particularly heated debate on the merits of ghost-repelling talismans versus thunder talismans.


    When he returned to his own post, however, it was gone. He flipped through the pages, a knot of unease forming in his stomach. The post had vanished, swallowed whole by the digital abyss.


    Before he could dwell on it, another message from Yu Xiao arrived.


    ¡¾Is the post still there?¡¿


    ¡°The post disappeared,¡± Luo Jin¡¯s voice was filled with frustration. ¡°They¡¯re censoring it. Do you know anything about this?¡±


    ¡°It happens every time,¡± Yu Xiao sighed, remembering her own failed attempts to spread the word. ¡°I tried posting on the Sixth Hospital forum multiple times. It always disappears. Someone or something wants to keep the Time Hospital¡¯s secrets hidden.¡±


    ¡°But why? Information about other instances is freely circulated. What makes the Time Hospital so special?¡± Luo Jin¡¯s mind raced as he tried to understand the reasoning behind this information blackout.


    ¡°That¡¯s what we need to find out,¡± Yu Xiao paused, a new thought forming. ¡°Since we can¡¯t use the forums, we¡¯ll have to spread the word ourselves. You have a good network, right? Tell everyone you know. Tell them to be cautious.¡±


    ¡°Consider it done,¡± Luo Jin readily agreed. But a nagging question remained. He remembered the message he had just read, detailing the escape methods Yu Xiao had outlined: using mobile phones, swapping appearance cards, and impersonating patients. ¡°You mentioned those escape methods¡­the mobile phones, the cards¡­do they only work in the Time Hospital?¡±


    ¡°No, they work in all instances,¡± Yu Xiao confirmed.


    A chill ran down Luo Jin¡¯s spine. ¡°And can¡­can ghosts use them too?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    The line fell silent. Luo Jin¡¯s mind flooded with images: faces, encounters, patients he had encountered during his time in the hospital. Patients who had seemed a bit strange, a bit off, but still human. Now, he wasn¡¯t so sure.


    **


    The call ended late. Zhao Lan dragged a sleepy Zhou Xiao Zhen out of bed for a makeshift dinner. Yu Xiao joined them, her mind still buzzing with the implications of their discovery.


    Exhaustion finally overcame her, pulling her into a restless sleep. She found herself walking down a crowded street, drawn in by a tantalising sweet fragrance that seemed to emanate from the heart of the crowd.


    Then it hit her. The dream, the scent, the hunger¡­were these the cravings Luo Jin had warned her about? Was she turning into a monster, even in her sleep?


    Panic gripped her. She stood frozen, her heart pounding, as a wave of cold sweat washed over her. Then, she saw it. A small, yellow cat, huddled in the shadows behind the oblivious crowd.


    She rushed toward the startled feline, scooping him into her arms as he let out a surprised meow.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t mean to intrude,¡± he mumbled. ¡°I sensed your distress, so I came to check on you.¡±


    Yu Xiao didn¡¯t mind. She asked, ¡°Can you change my nightmare?¡±


    The furball in her hand tilted his head. ¡°Sure, but this definitely isn¡¯t a nightmare.¡±


    Yu Xiao furrowed her brow. If it wasn¡¯t a nightmare, then what was this craving, this pull towards the heart of the bustling? She scanned the crowd, her gaze landing on an unassuming stall tucked away in a corner. A plume of pungent steam rose from a bubbling cauldron, carrying with it a scent both familiar and oddly alluring.


    Snail noodles.


    (ÂÝòÏ·Û; lu¨®s¨© f¨§n; snail noodles] A famous Chinese dish known for its pungent smell, popular in southern China, especially in Liuzhou, Guangxi.)


    The Nightmare wrinkled his nose, burying his face in its paw. Yu Xiao, however, felt a pang of longing. Was her sense of smell going haywire? Since when did she find the notoriously pungent aroma of snail noodles appealing?


    ¡°Nightmare,¡± she began, a new thought taking root. ¡°Can you¡­influence the nightmares of someone far away?¡±


    ¡°Of course,¡± He nodded, still hiding from the offensive odour. ¡°But I need a medium.¡±


    ¡°Like what?¡±


    ¡°A phone will do nicely.¡±


    ¡°Oh,¡± Yu Xiao nodded thoughtfully, ¡°Then you¡­¡±


    But this involved Nightmare¡­ she hesitated. He was powerful, unpredictable.


    Nightmare, sensing her reluctance, slumped slightly. Sometimes, he mused, not being needed was the worst feeling of all.


    The insistent chirping of her alarm clock dragged Yu Xiao back to reality. She sat up, yawning, the remnants of the dream ¨C the crowd, the smell, the Nightmare¡¯s golden eyes ¨C fading like mist. She had dreamt of devouring ten bowls of snail noodles, an oddly satisfying feat.


    ¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s sleepy voice drifted from across the room. ¡°First day of our seven-day holiday! Time to conquer the world, or at least the takeout menu.¡±


    She rolled over, catching sight of Zhao Lan already perched on a chair, scrolling through her phone with an intensity that bordered on a religious experience. ¡°Now that¡¯s dedication,¡± she mumbled, impressed. ¡°Misty, you put my morning scroll to shame.¡±


    Zhao Lan¡¯s eyes remained glued to her phone. ¡°Things just got interesting,¡± she announced, her voice tight with excitement. ¡°The Sixth Hospital forum exploded last night. New posts everywhere.¡±


    Yu Xiao blinked, momentarily disoriented. ¡°Exploded? What do you mean?¡± Then, realisation dawned. ¡°The Second Hospital. They got through.¡±


    ¡°Bingo.¡± Zhao Lan grinned, swiping through a seemingly endless stream of messages. ¡°Looks like they pulled an all-nighter, spamming the forum with their¡­unique brand of storytelling. The Sixth Hospital folks are not amused. It¡¯s an all-out flame war.¡±


    ¡°What are they even arguing about?¡± Yu Xiao was baffled.


    ¡°It¡¯s less about the content and more about the¡­delivery.¡± Zhao Lan chuckled. ¡°Let¡¯s just say the Second Hospital¡¯s idea of a persuasive argument involves a lot of melodrama and questionable metaphors. The Sixth Hospital crowd thinks they are bragging and should stick to writing fantasy novels.¡±


    Yu Xiao shook her head, a smile tugging at her lips. She was about to check out the forum herself when a morning news jingle caught her attention.


    The chirpy voice of the morning news radio filled the room.


    ¡°Another beautiful day is upon us~! Let¡¯s start with the morning news.¡±


    ¡°The hospital¡¯s review team is looking for a few good souls. No age, gender, or experience restrictions. Interested parties, please contact Review Team Leader Long¡­¡±


    ¡°Yesterday, a patient from the Third Hospital, nicknamed ¡®Cool Guy,¡¯ earned themselves the prestigious title of ¡®I Serve Everyone, Everyone Serves Me¡¯ for their outstanding performance during treatment. Congratulations!¡±


    ¡°¡­Another round of applause for a patient from the Third Hospital, nicknamed ¡®Invincible Zoffy,¡¯ who earned the coveted title of ¡®Slick Dodger¡¯ for his exceptional treatment performance. Well done!¡±


    ¡°From the Fourth Hospital, we have a familiar face at the top of the charts. Congratulations to ¡®Zhuge Liang burning the Spider Web Cave¡¯ for their exceptional treatment performance, earning them the distinguished titles of ¡®Grumpy Old Man¡¯ and ¡®Don¡¯t Talk to Strangers.¡¯ Let¡¯s hear it for them!¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°And topping the charts again, it¡¯s ¡®Deaf Descendant¡¯ from the Sixth Hospital! This patient has truly outdone themselves, earning a remarkable three titles for their exceptional treatment performance: ¡®Manipulator of Time ,¡¯Yu Han San Returns¡¯, and ¡®Mirror Ghost Master¡¯. Give them a round of applause!¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°Three titles again,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen marvelled. ¡°Smiley, even if you couldn¡¯t draw talismans, you¡¯d be racking up points like a pro.¡±


    Yu Xiao, still snuggled under the covers, lazily scrolling through her phone, chuckled. ¡°If I couldn¡¯t draw talismans, honey, I wouldn¡¯t be alive to see this day.¡±


    She tapped open the Sixth Hospital forum. The Second Hospital patients, she mused, seemed allergic to sleep.


    The post titles themselves were a sight to behold:


    ¡¾So This Is What the Forum Looks Like!¡¿


    ¡¾Should I Say Hello?¡¿


    ¡¾Why Is No One Talking?¡¿


    ¡¾Brothers from the Rabbit Hospital, Gather Here!¡¿


    ¡¾¡­¡¿


    It was like watching a chat group unravel in real-time, complete with gossip and scandalous reveals. Not entirely surprising, considering the pressure cooker environment of the hospital. Some patients, their mental states a bit frayed, sought solace and a sense of belonging in the digital world.


    With all their bravado, these powerhouses couldn¡¯t resist a good old-fashioned bragging session. Who had faced off against the most attending doctors was a favourite topic.


    To the newbies of the Sixth Hospital, it all seemed a bit much. Boasting was one thing, but a little grounding in reality wouldn¡¯t hurt.


    Their conversation, a whirlwind of one-upmanship, soon turned to Yu Xiao. No one seemed to notice, or care, about the curious onlookers from the Sixth.


    It started innocently enough. Someone wondered about her next instance, sparking a flurry of excited suggestions and a near stampede to join her team. With only six spots available, the competition was fierce.


    The tension was palpable. Finally, one voice rose above the rest. ¡°If I weren¡¯t stuck under house arrest,¡± he declared, ¡°none of you would stand a chance! With me by her side, she¡¯d be practically invincible!¡±


    The Sixth Hospital crew exchanged bewildered glances. Exaggeration was one thing, but this was bordering on delusional. Who was this Yu Xiao, and why was everyone so obsessed with her? S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 131: Avengers

    Lolita¡¯s proposal lingered in the air, greeted by an overwhelming silence from the other doctors. But Gu Shu? He was flooded with a surge of emotions. Ever since his life-changing meeting with Deaf Descendant in Gu Village, peace had become nothing more than a distant memory. Forced to abandon his home, subjected to mandatory labour, and now utterly destitute¡­ life had taken a nosedive faster than a skydiver without a parachute.


    ¡°So, what¡¯s the plan?¡± Gu Shu asked, his voice laced with a blend of curiosity and desperation.


    A sly grin spread across Lolita¡¯s face as she beckoned to Qing Shi and Gluttony. ¡°You guys want to kill Deaf Descendant too, right? Let¡¯s work together and cook up a scheme!¡±


    Qing Shi, reclining in his wheelchair, flashed a serene smile, his porcelain-like features radiating detachment. ¡°Honestly, I only hold a slight grudge against Deaf Descendant. I won¡¯t be part of this vendetta.¡±


    Lolita¡¯s jaw nearly hit the floor. A slight grudge? If that was the case, why the heck was he even here?


    Her pretty face twisted with fury. ¡°Qing Shi, don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re chickening out because of that measly human! Or worse, are you planning to stab us in the back?¡±


    Qing Shi didn¡¯t even flinch at Lolita¡¯s accusation. With a flick of his wrist, he manoeuvred his wheelchair away from the gaggle of attending doctors, his voice ringing out loud and clear, ¡°Say whatever you want, but count me out. I don¡¯t want any part of your harebrained schemes.¡±


    Standing beside him, Gluttony¡¯s face was split by a mocking grin. Did he want to pummel Deaf Descendant into the ground? Hell yeah, he did! Never before had he felt such an all-consuming desire to devour a human. But cooperating with these so-called attending doctors? Not a chance. They were nothing but useless trash, not even worthy of being in the same room as him, let alone working together.


    Besides, revenge was a dish best served by his own hands. He craved the thrill of taking Deaf Descendant down himself, savouring every delicious moment. The mere thought of these garbage doctors laying a finger on her made his blood boil. No, Deaf Descendant¡¯s body will be his and his alone.


    ¡°Gluttony,¡± Lolita turned to him, her voice dripping with honey, ¡°what about you?¡±


    Gluttony remained silent, an elegant smile playing on his lips as he sauntered towards them, his every step oozing with confidence.


    Lolita, in all her infinite wisdom, interpreted Gluttony¡¯s silence as a resounding ¡°yes¡± to the plan to off Deaf Descendant. Talk about jumping to conclusions!


    On the other hand, George was as enthusiastic as a kid being dragged to the dentist. His eyebrows furrowed together like a pair of angry caterpillars. Joining this scheme? Not exactly high on his to-do list. For starters, he and Gluttony had a relationship as bad as cats and dogs. The guy had tried to kill him, for crying out loud!


    And let¡¯s not forget the fact that every time George crossed paths with Deaf Descendant, bad luck followed him like a clingy ex. This time was no different ¨C he could feel the impending doom lurking in his gut like a bad burrito.


    But with Gluttony supporting the ¡°Kill Deaf Descendant¡± team, Lolita was full of confidence.


    She tilted her head back and announced, ¡°With our powers combined, we don¡¯t need any fancy plots or tricks to take down Deaf Descendant. It¡¯s as simple as finding out which instance she is going to next and ambushing her there. Piece of cake! Oh, but wait, there¡¯s a tiny detail we can¡¯t forget ¨C she¡¯s the big cheese at St. Elizabeth¡¯s Hospital. She could return there faster than you can say ¡®boo.¡¯ So, one of us needs to stay there and make sure she doesn¡¯t escape.¡±


    Gu Shu, always the sceptic, narrowed his eyes and spoke up, ¡°But what if the head attending doctor of that instance gives us the cold shoulder? You know the drill ¨C no permission from them, no entry for us other doctors.¡±


    ¡°Already thought of that, my dear Watson,¡± Lolita said, looking pleased with herself. ¡°Have you been keeping up with the news lately?¡±


    All eyes were fixed on Lolita as she dropped the bombshell: ¡°Deaf Descendant is the new head of the Ghost Group. You know what that means ¨C she has the fancy seal that screams ¡®I¡¯ve got the power¡¯ in her hands. Whoever eliminates her and takes that seal becomes the new boss. It¡¯s an offer nobody can refuse!¡±


    ¡°So,¡± Gu Shu¡¯s gaze swept over the ghostly gathering, ¡°who is up for a little instance-hopping, and who will stay at St. Elizabeth¡¯s?¡±


    Unsurprisingly, Lolita and Gluttony focused on George like a pair of heat-seeking missiles.


    George: ¡°¡­¡±


    Well, wasn¡¯t this just a predicament? He hadn¡¯t even decided whether to join this crazy plan, and they were already trying to burden him with a mission that was as appealing as a root canal.


    Lolita¡¯s eyes narrowed into slits, her gaze sharp enough to cut through steel. ¡°Well, well, well,¡± she drawled, her voice dripping with sarcasm. ¡°Looks like someone¡¯s been a naughty boy. Have you gone soft on us, George? Turned into that human¡¯s little pet?¡±


    George¡¯s face twisted into a snarl, his eyes flashing with a murderous glint that could freeze hell over. ¡°Oh, I¡¯ll take care of it alright. I¡¯ll make sure to give her a warm welcome at St. Elizabeth¡¯s Hospital¡ªand a quick goodbye.¡±


    ¡°Music to my ears.¡± Lolita¡¯s lips curled into a wicked grin. ¡°The rest is on you, Gu Shu.¡±


    Gu Shu quirked an eyebrow, his expression unreadable as Lolita went on, ¡°You¡¯ve got a knack for digging up dirt on the Deaf Descendant¡¯s next instance.¡±


    And she was right. Gu Shu had pulled this stunt before, weaselling his way into the very instance Yu Xiao was about to step into, playing the role of the perfect attending doctor.


    He didn¡¯t utter a word, just gave a curt nod.


    **


    Back in the creaky old wooden house in Gu Village, Zhuo Ge¡¯s mind was whirring like a well-oiled machine. He yanked open a drawer, snatched a sheet of letter paper, and started scribbling away like his life depended on it.


    Here¡¯s what he wrote:


    ¡¾ Dear Mr. Gluttony,


    Greetings from Wang Shu, a humble cleaner at the Sage Hospital. I heard you¡¯re tired of your old job and looking for a fresh start as an attending doctor. Oh, forgive my impertinence, but St. Elizabeth¡¯s Hospital isn¡¯t exactly the cream of the crop. Have you considered Sage Hospital instead? It¡¯s one of the best instances out there.


    I wonder if you¡¯d be interested in joining our ranks? To be honest, I have some¡­creative differences with our current attending doctor, Qing Shi. I¡¯d be more than happy to help you, ah, ¡°persuade¡± Qing Shi to step down, and in return, I have only one tiny request: the freedom to clock out early from Sage Hospital.


    Your most sincere friend, Wang Shu. ¡¿


    Zhuo Ge put down his pen, a sly grin spreading across his face.


    This was his master plan¡ªtrick Gluttony into thinking Wang Shu was inviting him to Sage Hospital. And the best part? He had no beef with Qing Shi or Wang Shu, so no one would ever point the finger at him. Plus, as long as either Gluttony or Wang Shu kicked the bucket, this little secret would be buried six feet under.


    With mischievous eyes, Zhuo Ge slapped a stamp on the envelope and sealed it with a flourish, his grin wider than the Cheshire Cat¡¯s.


    Just then, Yu Xiao sauntered in from outside, her eyebrows shooting up at the sight of Zhuo Ge¡¯s face-splitting smile. ¡°Well, well, well,¡± she drawled, ¡°something good happen, huh?¡±


    ¡°Oh, you know,¡± Zhuo Ge shrugged, his eyes twinkling with secrets. ¡°Just a little something-something. But enough about me, I¡¯m dying to know¡ªhow does the esteemed investigator evaluate my work?¡±


    Yu Xiao¡¯s lips twitched, a hint of a smirk playing at the corners. ¡°Eh, it¡¯s not half bad, I suppose. A few hiccups here and there, but overall? I¡¯d give it a solid C+.¡±


    ¡°A C+?¡± Zhuo Ge clutched his heart, pretending to be shocked. ¡°Why, that¡¯s practically a glowing recommendation coming from you!¡±


    ¡°Yeah, yeah, don¡¯t get too full of yourself,¡± Yu Xiao rolled her eyes, her tone becoming serious. ¡°But listen, our hospital values putting patients first. So no more pulling the wool over their eyes, capiche?¡±


    ¡°Capiche,¡± Zhuo Ge nodded, crossing his heart as an added gesture. Not that it mattered¡ªthose poor saps probably wouldn¡¯t make it out alive even if he played nice.


    He was just about to make his excuses and leave when a shrill voice cut through the air like a banshee¡¯s wail. ¡°You two good-for-nothing scoundrels, get your sorry hides out here!¡±


    Yu Xiao: ¡°¡­¡±


    Zhuo Ge: ¡°¡­¡±


    They locked eyes, their faces filled with confusion.


    As they stepped outside, they were confronted by a mob of villagers tightly packed into Zhuo Ge¡¯s small courtyard, resembling sardines in a can. Standing at the forefront was Old Lady Gu, Gu Jing Rong¡¯s mother.


    With her hands on her hips, Old Lady Gu pointed accusingly at Yu Xiao and Zhuo Ge. ¡°Come one, come all!¡± she screeched, her voice piercingly loud. ¡°Behold this disgrace! My poor daughter-in-law returns for just one day and is already led astray by this¡­ this home wrecker! Doctor Zhuo Ge, what in the seven hells were you doing with my precious girl behind closed doors?¡±


    Gu Jing Rong pulled at his mother¡¯s sleeve, his voice barely above a whisper. ¡°Ma, let¡¯s just go. We¡¯re divorced, remember?¡±


    ¡°Divorced?¡± Old Lady Gu scoffed, her eyes burning with anger. ¡°Do you think it¡¯s that simple? She wasted your youth, and you¡¯re just gonna let her waltz off into the sunset?¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    Zhuo Ge¡¯s face hardened, his eyes turning to ice. Sure, he might play the subservient dog when Yu Xiao was around¡ªshe was the big, bad investigator, after all¡ªbut these yahoos? They were less than dirt beneath his feet.


    His face was as frigid as a frozen corpse, and the air around him seemed to crackle with icy malevolence that made their skin crawl. The villagers took one look at the ghostly figure and scattered like roaches when the lights came on, their terrified squeaks echoing in the sudden silence.


    Yu Xiao couldn¡¯t help but gawk at Zhuo Ge¡¯s impressive display of power. If he was such a badass attending doctor, then just how insanely strong must ¡®Wide Sea and Sky¡¯ be?


    The mere thought of that guy made her mood tank faster than a lead balloon. Sure, Yu Xiao had been pissed at the time, but it¡¯s not like she¡¯d ever even met the dude in person. Yu Xiao knew she shouldn¡¯t stick her nose where it didn¡¯t belong, but she couldn¡¯t shake the feeling of being seriously bummed out. Every time she tried to reach out to him, Yu Xiao just ended up thinking about Teng Jing Zhi and that creepy ghost chick with the blood-red claws.


    They¡¯d kicked the bucket ages ago and were stuck in that hospital, living a pretty sad existence. There wasn¡¯t a damn thing Yu Xiao could do to help them, but she figured maybe she could still do something for ¡®Wide Sea and Sky.¡¯ If he could bust out of that place, it might give Teng Jing Zhi a bit of peace too.


    Plus, if ¡®Wide Sea and Sky¡¯ actually managed to escape, it¡¯d be a huge morale boost for them too.


    But even with the chance to leave, he just wouldn¡¯t do it. Yu Xiao had a hunch that something was up with him, or maybe there were some other top-secret conditions for getting out of that hospital that Yu Xiao didn¡¯t know about. But with ¡®Wide Sea and Sky¡¯ being about as warm and fuzzy as a cactus, Yu Xiao doubted he¡¯d spill the beans even if she asked.


    ¡°Ugh,¡± Yu Xiao groaned, feeling like she just swallowed a lead weight. Maybe she could try asking him about it when he was in a better mood?


    ¡°I wish to live for another five hundred years¡­¡±


    Suddenly, her phone started blaring like a banshee, nearly giving her a heart attack. Since Yu Xiao was stuck inside an instance, the folks in the ward shouldn¡¯t have been able to reach her. Yu Xiao fished out her phone and nearly dropped it when she saw who was calling ¨C Gluttony.


    She stared at the screen, her finger hovering over the answer button as Yu Xiao debated whether to pick up or not.


    She just pulled a fast one on Gluttony, and as far as Yu Xiao knew, her little betrayal was public knowledge now. Last she heard, he was supposed to be slaving away at the St. Elizabeth¡¯s Hospital construction site. So why the hell was he calling her?


    As Yu Xiao stood there like an idiot, Zhuo Ge shot her a curious look. ¡°Investigator, are you going to answer that?¡±


    ¡°Oh, uh¡­¡± She mumbled, taking a few steps away from Zhuo Ge¡¯s place and heading towards the little river that ran through the village. Finally, she decided to bite the bullet and take the call.


    ¡°Heh,¡± Gluttony¡¯s voice oozed through the speaker, ¡°sounds like someone¡¯s got their panties in a twist.¡±


    ¡°Oh, please,¡± Yu Xiao rolled her eyes, even though he couldn¡¯t see her. ¡°The only thing ¡®in a twist¡¯ is your warped little mind.¡± She couldn¡¯t help but smirk, thinking, ¡®If only you knew the shitstorm that¡¯s coming your way, you¡¯d be the one pissing yourself.¡¯


    ¡°Aww, don¡¯t be like that,¡± Gluttony purred, his voice dropping to a whisper. ¡°You know how much I crave you, right? How much I want to sink my teeth into your tender¡ª¡±


    ¡°Yeah, yeah, I¡¯ve heard it all before,¡± Yu Xiao cut him off, stifling a laugh. ¡°Keep dreaming, buddy. The only thing you¡¯ll be sinking your teeth into is a big ol¡¯ slice of humble pie.¡±


    Yu Xiao¡¯s snarky comebacks didn¡¯t faze him one bit. In fact, the creep had the audacity to laugh.


    Gluttony let out a low, menacing chuckle that sent shivers down her spine. ¡°We¡¯ll see about that, my sweet little morsel. We¡¯ll see. Gotta hand it to ya, my tasty friend. That confidence of yours? It¡¯s like a fine wine ¨C makes the meat taste all the sweeter.¡± He let out a contented sigh, as if savouring the thought. ¡°But hey, no rush. You just keep on living your best life, all healthy and happy-like piglet. I¡¯ll be seeing you soon enough.¡±


    Yu Xiao was about to fire back another zinger when Gluttony dropped a bombshell. ¡°Oh, by the way, I¡¯ve got some juicy gossip for you. My esteemed colleagues? They¡¯re cooking up a plan to murder you.¡±


    ¡°Wait, what?¡± Yu Xiao¡¯s mind raced, trying to process this unexpected twist. Then it hit her like a ton of bricks ¨C Gluttony¡¯s so-called colleagues were none other than the disgruntled doctors currently slaving away at St. Elizabeth¡¯s Hospital.


    ¡°Just thought I¡¯d give you a little heads-up,¡± Gluttony chirped, sounding overly pleased with himself. ¡°I mean, it would be a real shame to see you get your head twisted by those losers.¡±


    Yu Xiao¡¯s eye twitched, a telltale sign that her bullshit metre was going off the charts. As much as she hated to admit it, Gluttony¡¯s warning rang true. There was no point in him lying, unless he enjoyed watching her squirm.


    Swallowing her pride, she put on her best sugary-sweet voice. ¡°Well, aren¡¯t you just the sweetest thing? I¡¯m truly touched by your concern. So, tell me, do you happen to know what plans those big, bad doctors have for little ol¡¯ me?¡±


    Gluttony practically purred with delight. ¡°Oh, I¡¯m privy to all sorts of secrets, my dear. They think I¡¯m on their side now, the poor fools. But the real question is, do you want me to tell it to you, my tasty friend?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m all ears,¡± Yu Xiao replied, trying not to gag on the saccharine words.


    ¡°Ah, but here¡¯s the thing,¡± Gluttony continued, his voice dripping with false sincerity. ¡°You¡¯ve wounded me deeply in the past. What possible reason could I have to help you now? Unless, of course, you¡¯re willing to beg¡­¡±


    Before he could finish his twisted little proposal, Yu Xiao cut him off. ¡°Oh, please, please, pretty please with a cherry on top! I¡¯m on my knees here, grovelling for your mercy, daddy~!¡±


    Gluttony was rendered speechless, his silver tongue turned to lead. In all his years of tormenting hapless victims, he¡¯d never encountered someone with such brazen shamelessness. He opened and closed his mouth like a fish out of water, a belly full of witty retorts suddenly evaporating into thin air.


    ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°Seriously, don¡¯t you have any shame left in that twisted soul of yours?¡±


    Yu Xiao¡¯s laughter rang out, bright and cheerful, like the tinkling of shattered glass. ¡°Ha! Shame? Why would I need something as useless as that with a good friend like you around?¡±


    Gluttony¡¯s mind was a jumbled mess, a tangle of emotions he couldn¡¯t quite untangle. He¡¯d never been one for the online world, and now he was drowning in a sea of confusion.


    With a helpless sigh, he adjusted his tie, the fabric suddenly feeling like a noose around his neck. ¡°They¡¯re planning to ambush you in your next instance, y¡¯know? Gonna use that official seal on your body to bribe the attending doctor to kill you. And don¡¯t even think about running off to St. Elizabeth¡¯s¡ªGeorge is waiting there, ready to pounce.¡±


    Yu Xiao¡¯s eyes flashed with a hint of ferocity as she hung up the phone, a predatory grin spreading across her face. ¡°Bring it on, then,¡± she whispered, her voice dripping with anticipation.


    Rising to her feet, Yu Xiao¡¯s cold laughter echoed through the air, a chilling promise of the unforgettable memories she¡¯d etch into the minds of those foolish enough to seek revenge.


    **


    ¡°So, why do they call you Gu Shu?¡± George asked again, his brow furrowed in puzzlement. Yu Xiao had insisted he ask this question, and though he couldn¡¯t fathom why, he figured he might as well satisfy her curiosity before she kicked the bucket.


    Gu Shu¡¯s gaze was indifferent, their current cooperation rendering him unable to respond with his usual icy demeanour. ¡°And why exactly do you want to know?¡±


    ¡°Just curious,¡± George lied smoothly, ¡°I¡¯ve got a thing for the origins of other attending doctors¡¯ names, y¡¯see.¡±


    Before Gu Shu could utter a word, Lolita chimed in, her voice saccharine sweet. ¡°It¡¯s ¡¯cause I¡¯m absolutely in love with Lolita dresses! They¡¯re the most beautiful clothes in the whole wide world, so that¡¯s why I¡¯m called Lolita!¡±


    ¡°Wasn¡¯t asking you,¡± George snapped, pushing his gold-rimmed glasses up the bridge of his nose. He turned back to Gu Shu, his eyes narrowing. ¡°So, why Gu Shu?¡±


    Gu Shu¡¯s expression was one of speechless resignation, but he answered nonetheless. ¡°I¡¯m the first attending doctor of Gu Village, hence the surname Gu. When I built my house there, I planted a tree sapling in the courtyard with my own two hands. That¡¯s why they call me Gu Shu (Ancient Tree).¡±


    George nodded, patting his already-stained white coat. Slipping back into his usual cold demeanour, he walked away, settling himself in a shaded corner.


    Lolita pouted, her voice laced with indignation. ¡°How come he gets to slack off? He started this whole thing, so why doesn¡¯t he have to do any mandatory labour?¡±


    George appeared to be spacing out, but beneath the cover of his sleeve, his fingers were busy typing out a secret text message to Yu Xiao.


    **


    In the damp, cavernous temple, Yu Xiao stood bathed in the flickering firelight. The light danced across the dark, frigid pool¡¯s rippling surface, which rippled and churned like a restless beast, as a colossal monster lurked beneath, sensing her presence.


    As she patiently waited for the creature to emerge, her phone buzzed with an incoming text. It was from George, revealing the origin of Gu Shu¡¯s name.


    Yu Xiao¡¯s mind raced with questions. Did the attending doctors choose their own names? Or were they given new identities when they took on their roles, shedding their pasts like snakeskin?


    And then there was George, the sly fox who hadn¡¯t breathed a word about the attending doctors¡¯ sinister plan. It seemed he had a one-way ticket booked for Yu Xiao to the afterlife.


    A cold smile played on her lips. Reporting him? Nah, she had a better idea. She¡¯d kill him with kindness.


    ¡°Splash¡­¡±


    Once again, the pungent, fishy stench assaulted Yu Xiao¡¯s nostrils, causing her to cover her nose and mouth as she stumbled back.


    A massive shadow exploded from the water¡¯s depths, sending cascading waves crashing down like a torrential downpour.


    ¡°Moo¡ª¡±


    The behemoth hovered above the water¡¯s surface, its unseen eyes boring into Yu Xiao with venomous intent. Tentacles, tangled beneath the water, stretched out like gnarled, seeking fingers. The creature had seen better days, its appendages reduced in number, with short, newly-sprouted tentacles dotting its grotesque form.


    With blinding speed, the tentacles shot towards Yu Xiao, driven by the monster¡¯s insatiable hunger for revenge. Its memory might have been shoddy, but the ant-like human who had deceived and framed it? That was a grudge it would carry to its watery grave.


    Just as the tentacles were about to ensnare Yu Xiao, ready to pop her head off like a champagne cork, she whipped out the assessment book and waved it like a magic wand. ¡°Are you stupid, or just suicidal? You dare to attack me? I¡¯m the big cheese, the head honcho of the inspection team. The higher-ups sent me to assess your sorry excuse for a performance.¡±


    ¡°Moo?¡±


    The ferocious tentacles froze mid-strike, hovering mere inches from Yu Xiao¡¯s face.


    Yu Xiao flicked the water droplets off her clothes with a look of pure disdain, as if the thought of being drenched by this huge squid was beneath her. She pulled out her assessment book and started scribbling away with determination.


    ¡¾ Assessment Target: Deity of Gu Village.


    Notes: Prone to violent outbursts, with a love for bloodshed¡­ attempted to attack the investigator¡­ poor mental state¡­ ¡¿


    ¡°Moo¡­¡± The monster¡¯s painful howl echoed through the cave, making Yu Xiao¡¯s ears ring. It thrashed around in the pool like a toddler throwing a tantrum, its tentacles flailing and hitting the cave walls. Water surged out of the pool, and Yu Xiao had to do some fancy footwork to avoid getting swept away.


    Nevertheless, she continued writing because nothing says ¡°professional¡± like multitasking in the face of certain death.


    ¡°Woo woo woo¡­¡±


    Out of nowhere, the monster started whimpering like a lost puppy. Yu Xiao froze, her pen hovering over the page. She looked up and saw the creature¡¯s tentacles all tangled up, wrapping around its massive body like a straitjacket. For a moment, she almost felt sorry for the big lug.


    With a sigh, Yu Xiao put down her assessment book. ¡°Listen, I can give you a passing grade, but you have to follow my rules, understand?¡±


    ¡°Moo.¡±


    ¡°Hmph.¡± Yu Xiao assumed that was the closest thing to a ¡°yes¡± she would get from a giant, tentacled monstrosity. She tore off the page she had just written on and started over.


    Yu Xiao had just two poor saps to assess in Gu Village: Zhuo Ge and the temple monster.


    After jotting down her reports, she rummaged through her bag and pulled out a fancy-schmancy seal.. With a flourish, she stamped the reports, fully aware that the higher-ups at the Health Bureau would scrutinise them closely. As for the unsealed ones? Straight to the trash, baby.


    With her work completed, Yu Xiao was ready to leave. She needed to inform Misty and Precious about the attending doctors¡¯ little Avengers Alliance.


    Bless his heart, Zhuo Ge couldn¡¯t let Yu Xiao depart without a parting gift. He handed her a pack of tea eggs, insisting that she take them for the road.


    **


    Back in the ward, Zhao Lan was dozing off out of sheer boredom, her gentle snores providing a soothing background noise. On the other hand, Zhou Xiao Zhen was engrossed in an anonymous forum, where she enjoyed posing as a newbie and causing trouble.


    Suddenly, a ¡°click¡± interrupted the silence.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen immediately turned her head and witnessed Nightmare crawling out of his box like a vampire emerging from his coffin. Wasn¡¯t he supposed to be in there, sluggish and all? What was he doing out and about? Did the guy need to use the restroom or something?


    As Yu Xiao returned to the ward, Nightmare made a beeline for her, extending his claws to snag her trouser legs like a needy toddler.


    ¡°Smiley!¡±


    Yu Xiao waltzed back into the ward, a bag dangling from her hand like a tantalising promise.  Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s ear-splitting shout jolted Zhao Lan out of her slumber, making her sit up faster than a cat on a hot tin roof.


    ¡°Guess who¡¯s back?¡± Yu Xiao sing-songed, her hand diving into the bag like a magician pulling a rabbit out of a hat. She whipped out a tea egg and tossed it to Nightmare, who snatched it out of the air with feline grace.


    ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen leaned in, her nose twitching like a curious bunny. ¡°Is that a tea egg I smell?¡±


    ¡°You bet your sweet bippy it is,¡± Yu Xiao grinned. ¡°The attending doctor himself boiled these babies. Want one?¡±


    ¡°Heck yeah, I do!¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen bounced on her heels. The tea eggs were still warm, their aroma wafting through the air like a siren¡¯s song.


    She took a whiff and sighed dreamily. ¡°Mmm, smells divine. I thought attending doctors only feasted on human flesh.¡±


    ¡°Everyone¡¯s got a hobby,¡± Yu Xiao shrugged, offering an egg to Zhao Lan with a wink. ¡°Take a bite.¡±


    Zhao Lan accepted the egg with a wry smile. ¡°Looks like someone¡¯s been busy on their little investigation adventure. Bringing back souvenirs and everything.¡±


    Yu Xiao plopped down beside Zhao Lan, the backpack and tea eggs forgotten for the moment. ¡°Listen up, ladies. We need to talk.¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen and Nightmare, their mouths full of eggy goodness, swivelled their heads in perfect synchronisation. Yu Xiao took a deep breath. ¡°I¡¯m in trouble. Big trouble.¡±


    ¡°What kind of trouble?¡± Zhao Lan¡¯s brow furrowed, her earlier levity vanishing like a puff of smoke. ¡°Spill the beans, and don¡¯t skimp on the details.¡±


    Yu Xiao launched into the tale of the attending doctors¡¯ dastardly Avengers Alliance scheme. ¡°I was gonna rat them out before I even set foot in there, but then I thought, ¡®Nah, that¡¯s too easy. They don¡¯t deserve to get off that lightly.¡¯¡±


    ¡°I can help!¡± Nightmare piped up, his tail swishing with excitement.


    ¡°Absolutely not,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen cut in. ¡°You¡¯re a wanted feline, remember? If you go charging in to save Smiley here, it¡¯ll just prove that she¡¯s been hiding you all along. We might as well gift-wrap you and hand you over to the cops.¡±


    Nightmare¡¯s face fell, his ears drooping in disappointment, but Yu Xiao wasn¡¯t ready to give up on him just yet. ¡°Hold your horses, Nightmare. You can still help.¡±


    The little yellow kitten perked up, his ears standing at attention like tiny satellite dishes. He stared at Yu Xiao, hanging on her every word.


    ¡°But here¡¯s the thing,¡± Yu Xiao continued, her voice low and conspiratorial. ¡°You can¡¯t let on that you¡¯re doing it for me. When they inevitably catch you, just spin a yarn about how you¡¯ve been lurking in that instance the whole time. Say you stumbled upon the attending doctors¡¯ nefarious plot and decided to play the hero and save the day. They¡¯ll be so busy pinning medals on you, they¡¯ll forget all about your past transgressions. Boom, instant redemption arc. No more living life on the lam.¡±


    Nightmare nodded slowly, a kaleidoscope of emotions swirling in his eyes. But he kept his thoughts to himself, content to let the plan unfold as Yu Xiao intended.


    Yu Xiao knew Nightmare couldn¡¯t spend the rest of his nine lives playing hide-and-seek with the law. The poor kitty needed a get-out-of-jail-free card, and fast. An idea sparked in her mind like a lightbulb on steroids. If she could score him a cushy gig in a different department, he¡¯d be sitting pretty. The Chairman of the Ghost Group had a nice ring to it, and Nightmare was the purr-fect fit. It¡¯s not like she was planning on waltzing back into the Ghost Group anytime soon, so the official seal was about as useful to her as a screen door on a submarine. Might as well hand it over to Nightmare and let him work his magic.


    ¡°Here¡¯s the plan,¡± Yu Xiao leaned in, her voice low and conspiratorial. ¡°I¡¯m going to wait until the attending doctors make their move, and then I¡¯ll report them. The more dirt they dig themselves into, the harder it¡¯ll be for them to wriggle out of it later. But I¡¯m not gonna lie, it¡¯s a risky play. I can handle myself, but I¡¯m worried about you guys and the other patients who¡¯ll be caught in the crossfire.¡±


    Zhao Lan dismissed her concerns. ¡°Girl, why are you stressing? You have the Coin of Great Observation, don¡¯t you? That¡¯s like a supercharged ¡®Get Out of Trouble¡¯ card. Ten minutes is more than enough time for help to arrive, guns blazing.¡±


    Yu Xiao shifted uncomfortably, her nose wrinkling at the thought of calling those attending doctors ¡°Mum¡± and ¡°Dad.¡±


    Zhao Lan took one look at her expression and burst out laughing. ¡°Oh, I see what¡¯s bothering you. If you can¡¯t stomach the idea of playing happy families with those creeps, just toss the coin my way. I¡¯ll be their ¡®Mummy Dearest¡¯ and ¡®Daddy-o¡¯ all day long.¡±

 Chapter 132: Erosion of Yin Energy

    (¡°Yin¡± refers to the negative/dark energy in Chinese philosophy, often associated with ghosts and the underworld.)¡°Me too!¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen piped up, her voice bright with mischief. ¡°Let me have a go. I wouldn¡¯t mind calling them ¡®Mummy¡¯ and ¡®Daddy¡¯ one bit.¡±


    Yu Xiao¡¯s heart swelled, warmth blooming in her chest. Just look at her amazing friends, ready to adopt any random ghost as their parents, all for her sake. ¡°You guys are the absolute best,¡± she said, grabbing their hands and squeezing tight.


    Zhao Lan and Zhou Xiao Zhen squeezed back, a silent pact of friendship forged in the face of the paranormal.


    Then, Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s face lit up with a mischievous glint. ¡°So, does Gluttony have any cool loot?¡±


    Yu Xiao blinked, momentarily lost. ¡°Loot? Like what?¡±


    ¡°You know,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen wiggled her eyebrows, ¡°like, big boss kinda stuff. Official seals, magic artefacts, that sort of thing. We can¡¯t be calling them ¡®Dad¡¯ for free, right? Gotta get some perks out of this deal.¡±


    Yu Xiao just stared, speechless. Leave it to Zhou Xiao Zhen to turn a heartwarming moment into a loot-grabbing scheme.


    Their vacation plans remained unchanged, a full seven-day break before diving back into the spooky depths of the next instance.


    As Yu Xiao headed towards the bathroom for a quick outfit change, Zhao Lan called out, ¡°Hey, Wide Sea and Sky called while you were off ghost-busting in Gu Village.¡±


    Yu Xiao froze, her hand hovering over the doorknob. Fishing out her trusty Nokia from a drawer, she saw the missed call blinking on the screen.


    ¡°You know,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen chimed in, her voice uncharacteristically hesitant, ¡°if you don¡¯t feel like talking to him¡­ you don¡¯t have to.¡±


    ¡°Nah, it¡¯s cool,¡± Yu Xiao replied, a smile tugging at her lips. ¡°Actually, I kinda want to hear what he has to say.¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen gaped at her, utterly bewildered. In her teenage mind, this went against every unwritten rule of friendship feuds. Back in school, if you had a fight with someone, you didn¡¯t even look at them until they grovelled at your feet, begging for forgiveness. And Smiley, the fearless ghost buster queen, was just going to let bygones be bygones?


    She turned to Zhao Lan, hoping for some adult wisdom, only to find her friend beaming with approval. The grown-up world was a confusing place.


    Leaning closer to Zhao Lan, she whispered, ¡°So, Smiley just¡­ forgave Wide Sea and Sky? Like that?¡±


    Zhao Lan chuckled, a hint of amusement in her eyes. ¡°There wasn¡¯t really anything to forgive in the first place, sweetie.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean ¡®nothing¡¯?¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen sputtered, grabbing Zhao Lan¡¯s shoulders and giving her a gentle shake. ¡°Weren¡¯t you all fired up about it before, standing by our girl and all that?¡±


    ¡°Ugh, office politics,¡± Zhao Lan groaned, rolling her eyes. ¡°Back in my corporate days, I had this coworker who stabbed me in the back. But guess what? We still had to work together, even managed to share a few laughs over coffee. Wide Sea and Sky just dropped a couple of harsh words¡­¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen, still navigating the treacherous waters of teenage life, couldn¡¯t quite grasp the complexities of adult relationships. Grown-up problems were weird.


    The phone clicked, connecting the call, and Yu Xiao was met with the usual silence. Unfazed, she chirped, ¡°Hey there! Saw your missed call. I was kinda busy busting ghosts in a instance, so I missed it. What¡¯s up?¡±


    Her cheerfulness bounced off a wall of quiet. For a whole minute, the only sound was the faint hum of the phone line, like a bored ghost whistling a tune.


    Then, finally, Wide Sea and Sky¡¯s voice rumbled through the receiver. ¡°You¡¯re entering instances quite frequently.¡±


    ¡°Uh-huh,¡± Yu Xiao confirmed, a hint of pride in her voice. ¡°Gotta keep busy, you know?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not good,¡± he stated flatly.


    Yu Xiao¡¯s eyebrows knitted together in confusion. ¡°Wait, what do you mean?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s messing with your head,¡± Wide Sea and Sky explained, his voice laced with genuine concern. ¡°I used to be just like you¡­obsessed with racking up points¡­¡± He trailed off, leaving the sentence unfinished, but the unspoken ¡®and look where it got me¡¯ hung heavy in the air.


    Yu Xiao chuckled, trying to lighten the mood. ¡°Relax, my head¡¯s screwed on tight. I¡¯m an optimist, remember? Plus, I¡¯ve got my awesome friends to keep me sane.¡±


    ¡°No, it¡¯s not that simple,¡± he insisted. ¡°The hospital ward is a safe zone. It keeps out more than just the spooky stuff; it also shields you from the Yin energy that¡¯s practically oozing out of every corner of this world. But instances? They¡¯re like stepping into another dimension, where that creepy Yin energy seeps into your very being, slowly wearing you down.¡±


    Yu Xiao shivered, a cold finger of fear tracing its way down her spine. This was news to her. ¡°Seriously? But I¡¯ve seen tons of patients in dungeons, and they all seem fine.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s a slow burn,¡± Wide Sea and Sky explained, his voice grim. ¡°You won¡¯t notice anything at first. But spend enough time in those places, and¡­¡± he paused, then added, ¡°Some people just don¡¯t realise how much it¡¯s changing them. And¡­,¡± his breath hitched, ¡°¡­whatever you do, stay away from those physical enhancement cards.¡±


    Alarm bells clanged in Yu Xiao¡¯s head. ¡°Why? Do they have some kind of side effect?¡±


    The dial tone buzzed in her ear, he had hung up, leaving her with a head full of questions and a pit of unease growing in her stomach.


    Zhao Lan and Zhou Xiao Zhen exchanged worried glances, the lighthearted mood vanishing like a ghost at dawn. A heavy silence descended, thick with unspoken anxieties.


    Yu Xiao clutched her phone, sucking in a few deep breaths like they were life support. ¡®Wide Sea and Sky¡¯s¡¯ words echoed in her head like a spooky nursery rhyme. Yin energy gnawing at the living? Physical fitness card turning into a curse? Nope, not having it.


    That card had been a lifesaver. Back when they first stumbled into this hospital, all three of them were weaker than day-old kittens, gasping for air after climbing a flight of stairs. But the card? It was like a magic potion, boosting their strength and turning them into freaking superheroes. Yu Xiao hadn¡¯t even had a single episode of her annoying intermittent deafness since.


    But what if the changes were sneaky, like a ninja in the night? What if some people didn¡¯t even notice they were turning into something¡­else?


    Yu Xiao patted herself down, feeling for any weird bumps or extra limbs. Nope, all clear. She looked perfectly normal, thank goodness.


    ¡°Smiley?¡± Zhao Lan¡¯s voice cut through her thoughts. ¡°You alright?¡±


    Yu Xiao turned to Zhao Lan and Zhou Xiao Zhen, her brows furrowed. ¡°Do I¡­look different to you? Like, compared to before?¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen gave her a once-over, tilting her head like a confused puppy. ¡°Different how? You just look healthier, you know, like you¡¯ve been hitting the gym or something.¡±


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Zhao Lan chimed in. ¡°And if we¡¯re talking looks, I¡¯d say you¡¯ve gotten even prettier. Seriously.¡±


    Yu Xiao bit her lip. ¡°Do you guys feel¡­ off, in any way? Something that¡¯s changed about yourselves since we got here?¡±


    ¡°Well, yeah,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen said, a mischievous glint in her eyes.


    ¡°How?¡± Yu Xiao pressed. ¡°And don¡¯t say ¡®happier¡¯ or some crap like that.¡±


    ¡°Oh, it¡¯s definitely not crap,¡± She grinned and raised a hand, massaging her scalp with a look of pure ecstasy.. ¡°I¡¯ve got hair now, baby!¡±


    Yu Xiao¡¯s jaw dropped. Zhao Lan elbowed the preening Zhou Xiao Zhen. ¡°Focus, girl. What¡¯s Smiley going on about?¡±


    Once Yu Xiao spilled the beans about ¡®Wide Sea and Sky¡¯s¡¯ ominous warning, Zhao Lan¡¯s face turned serious. She started poking and prodding herself like she was looking for a hidden button. ¡°Maybe it¡¯s because we¡¯re still newbies? We haven¡¯t been in this crazy hospital as long as the others, so maybe the Yin energy hasn¡¯t had enough time to mess with us?¡±


    ¡°So, if we stick around long enough, what kind of changes are we talking about?¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen asked, her brow furrowed. ¡°I mean, Lu Xu and Luo Jin seem perfectly normal, and they¡¯re practically living in those instances.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll ask him next time I call,¡± Yu Xiao replied, already mentally adding it to her ever-growing list of things to worry about. ¡°But for now, let¡¯s just keep the physical fitness card on the shelf, yeah?¡±


    Zhao Lan nodded in agreement. ¡°Should we maybe ask Lu Xu and Luo Jin about it too?¡±


    Speaking of the devils, Lu Xu and Luo Jin were currently glued to the forum, where the morning news had caused quite a stir. The ¡®Deaf Descendant¡¯ From the Sixth Hospital had achieved a rare feat ¨C snagging four titles in one go! For those struggling to get even one, it was like witnessing a unicorn riding a dragon while juggling flaming chainsaws.


    The forum was buzzing like a beehive on a sugar high. Some people were even begging for a chance to buy a spot on Dragon Lady¡¯s team card, claiming it was the ultimate bargain. Not only could you score cheap talismans, but you also had a good chance of nabbing a title, or even several. It was like finding a winning lottery ticket stuck to the bottom of your shoe.


    Of course, nobody knew how to contact the elusive ¡®Deaf Descendant¡¯ directly, but everyone knew that the number one player on the Fourth Hospital¡¯s score list was her buddy-buddy. So, the forum was flooded with pleas to ¡®Zhuge Liang Burning the Spider Cave¡¯ and ¡®Whispering Monk¡¯, hoping they could shed some light on when Dragon Lady would be leading another team.


    Lu Xu sighed dramatically, wishing he could just team up with Yu Xiao again. Sadly, she didn¡¯t seem too interested in racking up those points.


    Just then, his phone buzzed. A grin spread across his face as he saw the caller ID. ¡°Speak of the devil,¡± he chuckled. ¡°Turns out, you can¡¯t even think about someone without them calling you.¡±


    He answered the call with a flourish. ¡°Well hello there, Dragon Lady! How can I be of service today?¡±


    ¡°Nothing too exciting,¡± Yu Xiao replied. ¡°Just had a quick question for you guys.¡±


    ¡°Shoot,¡± Lu Xu said, grabbing his water bottle. ¡°I¡¯m an open book.¡±


    ¡°How¡¯s your¡­body?¡± Yu Xiao asked hesitantly.


    Lu Xu blinked, confused. ¡°Uh, great? Never better, actually. Feeling like a million bucks.¡±


    ¡°No, I meant¡­¡± Yu Xiao struggled to find the right words. ¡°Have you noticed any changes? Compared to before, you know, before you came to the Fourth Hospital?¡±


    ¡°Changes?¡± Lu Xu scratched his head, picturing himself sprouting antennae or something equally bizarre. ¡°Does getting ridiculously strong count?¡±


    Yu Xiao¡¯s voice crackled with anxiety through the phone. ¡°No, I meant¡­weird changes. Like, freaky, supernatural stuff.¡±


    ¡°Freaky?¡± Lu Xu¡¯s brow furrowed. ¡°Why? What¡¯s going on? You¡¯re making me nervous.¡±


    Luo Jin, who had been silently observing the conversation, finally chimed in. ¡°What¡¯s she saying?¡± Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Lu Xu filled him in, his eyes darting back to the phone. ¡°She¡¯s asking if our bodies have gone all wonky.¡±


    Luo Jin¡¯s eyes narrowed, his gaze fixed on the phone. ¡°Her body¡¯s gone wonky?¡±


    Lu Xu relayed the question to Yu Xiao. ¡°So, is your body acting up or something?¡±


    ¡°Not yet,¡± Yu Xiao admitted, gnawing on her lip. ¡°But remember that guy I told you about, ¡®Wide Sea and Sky¡¯?¡±


    ¡°The dude from the First Hospital who gifted you all those awesome function cards?¡± Lu Xu asked, scepticism dripping from his voice. ¡°You¡¯re actually buddies with him?¡±


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Yu Xiao confirmed. ¡°And he told me some stuff¡­¡±


    Lu Xu quickly hit the speakerphone button. The ward went quiet, the only sound Yu Xiao¡¯s voice painting a grim picture of Yin energy invading their bodies and the physical fitness card being a one-way ticket to Weirdsville.


    ¡°So, since we¡¯re still newbies in this whole hospital nightmare,¡± She concluded, ¡°we were wondering if you guys have noticed anything¡­off about yourselves.¡±


    As soon as she finished speaking, Lu Xu and Luo Jin began to subconsciously pat themselves down.


    ¡°Nope, nothing here,¡± Lu Xu mumbled, his face screwed up in concentration. ¡°Feel as normal as a bowl of plain rice.¡±


    But then Luo Jin spoke, his voice hesitant, his words dripping with unease. ¡°Did he say just physical changes?¡±


    ¡°Maybe mental ones too,¡± Yu Xiao added, recalling ¡®Wide Sea and Sky¡¯s¡¯ warning about the side effects of too many instance joyrides.


    Luo Jin¡¯s pause was heavy with foreboding, his expression turning grim. ¡°I¡­ I¡¯ve been having the same dream lately.¡±


    ¡°A dream?¡± Lu Xu¡¯s concern was evident. ¡°What kind of dream? You never mentioned this before, man.¡±


    Luo Jin gulped, his voice barely louder than a mouse fart. ¡°I dream¡­that I¡¯m eating people. Like, full-on Hannibal Lecter style.¡±


    Lu Xu¡¯s jaw dropped like a cartoon character, his eyes bulging like ping pong balls. Luo Jin, however, seemed strangely calm. ¡°I thought it was just because I¡¯d been cooped up in this hospital for too long,¡± he explained, as if dreaming about cannibalism was a perfectly normal side effect of hospital stays.


    On the other end of the line, Yu Xiao went silent, processing this juicy bit of information. Finally, she asked, her voice a morbidly curious whisper, ¡°So, in your dream¡­how did eating people feel?¡±


    Luo Jin closed his eyes, his long lashes fluttering like butterfly wings. Images from his dream flashed before him, along with the disturbingly vivid emotions he¡¯d experienced. ¡°It felt¡­good,¡± he confessed, a shiver running down his spine. ¡°Really good.¡±


    Looking at his friend, Lu Xu¡¯s face lost its colour, as if he was gazing at a monster.


    After urging them to take a break from the instances for a while, Yu Xiao hung up the phone. She rubbed her temples, feeling a headache brewing. Turning to Nightmare, she asked, ¡°Do you know what happens to people when they get soaked in Yin energy?¡±


    Nightmare shook his head, his expression as blank as a freshly wiped whiteboard. He was a dream demon, not a ghost. Yin energy was like water off a duck¡¯s back to him, so he had no clue what kind of funky side effects it had on humans.

 Chapter 133: Next Instance ~

    News of Luo Jin¡¯s predicament hit the ward like a heavy blow, stealing the air from the room. The three women sat in stunned silence as the grim reality settled over them.


    ¡°Hold on,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen finally blurted out, her voice filled with disbelief, ¡°Didn¡¯t that ¡®Wide Sea and Sky¡¯ dude say it¡¯d take like ten years for the whole Yin energy thing to go sideways? Luo Jin hasn¡¯t even been here that long, has he?¡±


    Zhao Lan slouched, her voice barely audible, ¡°He did mention that it depends on how often you jump into instances and how many stamina cards you consume. Luo Jin practically lived in those instances, and he used up stamina cards like there was no tomorrow. Probably more than any of us.¡±


    A shiver ran down Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s spine, fear replacing her usual confidence. ¡°So, what now? We¡¯ve used a lot of those cards too. Are we doomed?¡±


    Yu Xiao, with her chin resting on her clasped hands, strands of hair falling like a curtain around her face, spoke softly, ¡°We¡¯re fine for now. No need to panic just yet. At least the ward is safe.¡±


    ¡°Safe, maybe,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen countered, ¡°but we still need to earn those points, and that means diving headfirst into those nightmare instances.¡±


    Yu Xiao¡¯s head shot up, a glimmer of hope in her eyes. ¡°There¡¯s another way. I can sell talismans. Points without the whole life-or-death gamble.¡±


    Zhao Lan¡¯s worried gaze met Yu Xiao¡¯s, a frown appearing on her forehead. ¡°But you have that job at the hospital, remember? You have to get your paperwork stamped at St. Elizabeth¡¯s and go through those assessment challenges in the instances.¡±


    Yu Xiao¡¯s stomach churned. Zhao Lan hit the nail on the head. She could handle earning points, but her job?


    Frustration overwhelmed her, and she ran her fingers through her hair, letting out a long, exasperated sigh. ¡°Ugh, staying alive is such a hassle.¡±


    The other women exchanged knowing glances. Yu Xiao had expressed what they were all feeling. Just when they thought they had found a lifeline, it turned out to be a complicated mess.


    Zhao Lan reached out and squeezed Yu Xiao¡¯s hand, her voice gentle but determined. ¡°You have to quit that job. Seriously. With your talisman skills, you can earn points without stepping foot in those eerie instances.¡±


    Yu Xiao bit her lip, her mind racing. Yes, she could survive, but what about everyone else? How many patients in the six hospitals had the ability, not to mention the resources, to produce talismans?


    ¡°But what about those who can¡¯t?¡± Yu Xiao¡¯s voice was barely a whisper. ¡°Are they just stuck here?¡±


    Zhao Lan paused, her brow furrowed in deep thought. ¡°Not necessarily. Remember, ¡®Wide Sea and Sky¡¯ said it takes time for the Yin energy to reach its peak. Maybe, just maybe, if they can gather enough points before it¡¯s too late, they can still escape from this place.¡±


    A glimmer of hope, but a fragile one. Luo Jin was a perfect example. He had struggled to earn points like a madman, both inside and outside the instances, and yet¡­ he was still here.


    **


    Lu Xu¡¯s eyes widened as he stared at his friend. ¡°Are you going to enter another instance? Are you serious? Didn¡¯t you hear what Yu Xiao just said?¡±


    Luo Jin sat calmly, holding a teacup in his hands, absentmindedly stroking the rim with his long fingers. ¡°What¡¯s the alternative then?¡± he asked, his voice as calm as a summer breeze.


    Lu Xu¡¯s confusion was evident. ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    Luo Jin maintained his unwavering gaze. ¡°Just staying in this hospital room, slowly depleting our accumulated points, bit by agonizing bit? We¡¯ll still have to clear the instance in the end.¡±


    Lu Xu¡¯s jaw dropped, his mind spinning. Luo Jin continued in a detached tone, ¡°Why not keep clearing instances until I completely lose my grip on reality or accumulate enough points to escape this place?¡±


    **


    (¡°¹Çµ¡± is an onomatopoeic word used to describe the sound of swallowing.) The familiar sound of the food cart rattled from outside, and the messy blankets in the dark hospital room stirred. Wide Sea and Sky poked his head out, his nostrils twitching at the irresistible aroma wafting in. As the cart approached, the smell grew stronger, tantalising him like a siren¡¯s call.


    A cheerful voice chimed in, ¡°Want to buy some food? We¡¯ve got brain sandwiches today!¡±


    Wide Sea and Sky¡¯s mouth watered in anticipation, and before he knew it, he was standing by the door, his hand reaching for the handle. The aroma was almost overwhelming, and whatever was outside was beckoning him like a seductress.


    ¡°Scram!¡± he growled, his voice low and menacing. ¡°Get lost!¡±


    The cart rolled away, the delivery staff¡¯s humming fading into the distance. When he first entered the hospital, he couldn¡¯t smell anything inside the room, and the delivery staff never hummed. But over the years, the humming had become a familiar, albeit unsettling, companion.


    He retreated back to bed, wrapping himself tightly in the blankets like a cocoon. He was terrified that one day he would lose control and fling open the door, stepping out of the hospital room and into the unknown. A premonition whispered in his ear: once he stepped out, there would be no turning back.


    **


    As they huddled in the hospital ward, Yu Xiao and her companions came to an agreement: they still had time to spare. Luo Jin¡¯s frequency of instance-hopping was just as fast as theirs, and his strange symptoms only appeared after years of hopping. So, they concluded that they didn¡¯t need to rush against time yet. Their goal was to accumulate as many points as possible within this limited time frame.


    The trio examined their accounts. Yu Xiao had already amassed over a thousand points from her previous instance adventure. This time, she had successfully sold ten talismans before leaving quickly, earning an additional twenty-two points.


    In the past few days, she had sold some talismans and function cards, with the latter fetching a generous thirty points each. She had managed to sell five of them, bringing her total to a respectable 1272 points.


    Zhao Lan was behind with 80 points, while Zhou Xiao Zhen had 88. On average, each of them needed over 1825 points to escape from the Horror Hospital. The trio was still lacking a staggering four thousand points. Relying solely on function cards wouldn¡¯t suffice, especially since some single-use items like the Bad Luck Card were more challenging to sell.


    The solution, it seemed, resided in selling more talismans. After evaluating the numbers, Yu Xiao realised that function cards came with risks, whereas talismans were a safer option. She revisited the forum post that taught her how to draw talismans, comparing it to the store¡¯s selection. To her surprise, the store¡¯s inventory was ridiculously incomplete ¨C it lacked many of the varieties mentioned in the forum post.


    Upon further analysis, Yu Xiao understood that while the store offered a wide range of talismans, many of them were useless to the patients. The talismans described in the forum post, however, were the real deal ¨C practical, effective, and desperately needed. Think Thunder-Striking or Curse-Dispelling talismans, not Rain-Summoning or Fire-Warding ones.


    Let¡¯s face it: energy was limited, and drawing talismans was primarily for personal gain or sale. Unless one was a dedicated enthusiast, no one would waste valuable resources on crafting talismans that had no practical use and couldn¡¯t be sold.


    Even before checking into the sixth hospital, Yu Xiao had doodled her first talisman. So far, her repertoire consisted of three greatest hits: the zap-tastic ¡°Thunder-Striking Ghost Repelling Talisman,¡± the handy-dandy ¡°Healing Crisis Talisman,¡± and the ever-reliable ¡°Guardian Talisman.¡± Honestly, they were like the Swiss Army knife of the supernatural world.


    She¡¯d found each one ridiculously useful ¨C zapping ghosts, patching up boo-boos, and playing superhero. Why mess with a winning formula, right? So, she hadn¡¯t bothered expanding her collection for a while.


    But here she was, scrolling through the forum again, and the same old talismans were starting to feel as exciting as watching paint dry. No magic wands, no invisibility cloaks, not even a coupon for a free ghost-repelling spray. Talk about a snoozefest.


    Yu Xiao decided to take a peek at the in-game store¡¯s talisman section, hoping for something ¨C anything ¨C to spice things up. Instead, she found herself staring at the ¡°Fox-Charming Talisman¡± and the ¡°Birth-Assisting Talisman.¡±


    ¡°Seriously?¡± she muttered, throwing her hands up in exasperation. ¡°Who wants to play matchmaker or deliver babies?¡±


    And then there were the talismans with functions so cryptic, they could have been written in invisible ink. No explanations, no instructions, just a bunch of squiggly lines. As if drawing talismans was as easy as doodling stick figures! Each one required a special technique, with more twists and turns than a haunted house hallway.


    Yu Xiao had only managed to master her current collection thanks to a handy-dandy tutorial she¡¯d found online. But figuring out a new talisman on her own? That was about as likely as a ghost taking up knitting.


    ¡°If only that talisman guru from the fourth ward was in our neck of the woods,¡± she sighed, wishing she had a magical tutor on speed dial.


    Zhao Lan, her partner in (paranormal) crime, noticed Yu Xiao¡¯s gloomy aura and decided to investigate. Once she heard the whole saga, she offered a glimmer of hope. ¡°Maybe Luo Jin and his crew know someone who knows someone?¡±


    Yu Xiao raised an eyebrow. ¡°You¡¯re suggesting I beg Luo Jin for a phone number?¡±


    ¡°Why not?¡± Zhao Lan shrugged. ¡°It¡¯s worth a shot, right?¡±


    It wasn¡¯t the worst idea Yu Xiao had ever heard, so she decided to give Luo Jin a ring.


    ¡°Nope, don¡¯t know him,¡± Luo Jin answered, bursting her hope bubble.


    Yu Xiao was baffled. ¡°How is that even possible? Your network is practically bigger than the internet!¡±


    ¡°Trust me, we¡¯ve tried to track him down too,¡± Luo Jin explained. ¡°The guy¡¯s like a ninja ¨C no info on the forum, never shows his face. We eventually gave up.¡±


    Well, that was just fantastic. Luo Jin¡¯s words hit Yu Xiao like a rogue ice cream truck on a scorching summer day ¨C totally unexpected and leaving a weird aftertaste.


    He didn¡¯t ask Yu Xiao how she knew about the master in the fourth hospital, nor did he ask what she wanted with him. Nope, he simply dropped a bomb bigger than a triple-scoop sundae before hanging up: ¡°I¡¯m diving into the instance tomorrow morning.¡±


    ¡°Hold up, what? Why?¡± Yu Xiao¡¯s voice rose in protest. ¡°Didn¡¯t we talk about this whole ¡®too many instances are bad for your health¡¯ thing?¡±


    Luo Jin fell silent for a moment before responding, ¡°I need the points.¡±


    Now, Yu Xiao knew Luo Jin wasn¡¯t exactly the stand-up comedian type, but this time, he let out a laugh drier than burnt toast, his voice a tangled mess of emotions. ¡°I¡¯ve already accumulated quite a few points. Gathering a few more should be enough to live until I¡¯m seventy.¡±


    The line fell silent, the only sound being the soft hum of the phone. Then, Luo Jin hung up, leaving Yu Xiao feeling like she¡¯d been punched in the gut.


    Just as Yu Xiao was feeling down, Gluttony called her.


    Now, Yu Xiao wasn¡¯t exactly in the mood for chit-chat, but she answered anyway, her voice dripping with more frustration than a melting popsicle. ¡°What do you want, Gluttony?¡±


    Gluttony¡¯s voice was as bright as a sunny day. ¡°My friend, you sound really down.¡±


    Yu Xiao rolled her eyes. ¡°Nope. I¡¯ll hang up.¡±


    ¡°Hold your horses,¡± Gluttony chirped. ¡°Is that how you treat all your buddies?¡±


    Yu Xiao stayed silent, ready to hit that end call button, but Gluttony ploughed on. ¡°I¡¯ve got some news. They¡¯re not going to ambush you in the next instance.¡±


    Yu Xiao¡¯s surprise was genuine. ¡°Really? Did those attending doctors suddenly grow a conscience and realise I¡¯m innocent?¡±


    Gluttony¡¯s chuckle was like a rusty gate. ¡°Not quite. Seems your next instance is a real doozy, a one-way ticket to Splitsville. They¡¯re just gonna wait for the one after.¡±


    Yu Xiao¡¯s confusion was like a tangled web. ¡°What kind of instance are we talking about here?¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s just say the kind that even those guys are too chicken to step in.¡±


    Yu Xiao¡¯s curiosity was piqued. ¡°What¡¯s so dangerous about it?¡±


    Gluttony¡¯s response was a cryptic ¡°Ha ha, see you later, my friend~¡± before the line went dead.


    Yu Xiao hesitated, her mind racing, before turning to Zhao Lan and Zhou Xiao Zhen. ¡°I¡¯ve got some good news and some bad news. Which one do you want to hear?¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen slumped against the bed, her voice filled with resignation. ¡°Bad news, I suppose. I prefer to suffer first and enjoy later, anyway.¡±


    Zhao Lan raised an eyebrow, clearly feeling listless. ¡°Can we skip the bad news for once? Today has been a never-ending parade of awful.¡±


    Yu Xiao flashed a wry smile. ¡°Alright, then. The good news is that the Avengers won¡¯t be waiting for us in the next copy. No ambushes, no drama.¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s pout deepened. ¡°That¡¯s supposed to be good news? I was already in a funk, and now I¡¯m deprived of the pleasure of watching them squirm. What¡¯s the catch?¡±


    Yu Xiao¡¯s smile twisted into a grimace. ¡°The bad news is that the next copy is a death trap. Even the attending doctor is spooked, which is why they¡¯re temporarily calling off the ambush.¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s legs bounced wildly on the bed, her ¡°Aaaaahhh~¡± echoing through the room.


    This wasn¡¯t just a balancing act of good and bad news ¨C it was a catastrophic landslide of bad.


    Zhao Lan absentmindedly threaded her fingers through her no-longer-just-inches-long hair as she asked, ¡°You¡¯re still going to dive into the next instance, aren¡¯t you?¡±


    Yu Xiao let out a sigh that spoke volumes. ¡°I have to¡­ keep going. The nickname change hasn¡¯t really made an impact, and my talismans are collecting dust. I need to get back into the copy to sell some merchandise.¡±


    She hesitated, her voice barely above a whisper. ¡°Or maybe I should go solo this time.¡±


    Before the words had fully left her lips, Zhou Xiao Zhen sprang up from the bed like a jack-in-the-box, but Zhao Lan¡¯s angry retort cut first. ¡°Do you even know what you¡¯re saying?! Are we just your fair-weather friends, only looking out for ourselves when things get tough?¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t¡­¡±


    ¡°Exactly, what did you say?¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen patted Zhao Lan¡¯s back and turned to Yu Xiao. ¡°You should apologise to Misty right away.¡±


    Zhao Lan glared at Yu Xiao, pulled out her phone, and directly booked a treatment instance for the next day.


    Yu Xiao¡¯s face twisted into a knot of guilt and frustration, resembling a pretzel that had been sat on.


    Zhao Lan¡¯s face remained cold, her voice firm. ¡°Let¡¯s get one thing straight, that kind of talk? Not happening again.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen walked over and poked Yu Xiao¡¯s shoulder, ¡°Earth to Smiley? Are you with us? Or are you just too touched by Misty¡¯s concern to speak?¡±


    Yu Xiao¡¯s face contorted further, resembling a Picasso painting. ¡°I just said I wanted a week off, and now¡­ I¡¯ll have to go into the instance tomorrow, won¡¯t I?¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    A flush of red, as vibrant as a stop sign, crept up Zhao Lan¡¯s neck and onto her face. It was a rare sight, this embarrassment, and Zhou Xiao Zhen nearly choked on her own laughter. The sound, like a chorus of wind chimes on a breezy day, was contagious. Soon, Yu Xiao and Zhao Lan were exchanging glances and erupting into giggles, the tension melting away.


    The heavy atmosphere in the hospital room dissipated, and Nightmare, who had been patiently waiting for the laughter to subside, finally piped up. ¡°Take me with you.¡±


    Yu Xiao waved her hand. ¡°Next time, for sure.¡±


    The prospect of diving back into the instance loomed, so the trio decided to turn in early. As the lights dimmed, Nightmare, with the stealth of a ninja cat, crept onto Yu Xiao¡¯s bed and curled up at her feet. She felt the weight settle, but said nothing, simply rolling over and drifting off to sleep.


    **


    Luo Jin and Lu Xu had also booked treatment instances for the following day. However, that night, Lu Xu found himself unable to sleep. Insomnia was something he hadn¡¯t experienced in a long time, yet tonight, his mind was filled with worry and racing thoughts.


    Earlier, Yu Xiao had shared some unsettling news that weighed heavily on Lu Xu. It felt like a dark cloud hanging over his thoughts. He couldn¡¯t help but feel fear as well. He and Luo Jin were always a team, inseparable in their endeavours. If Luo Jin was experiencing disturbing dreams, was Lu Xu not far behind?


    Restless, Lu Xu tossed and turned on the mattress, unable to find peace. Eventually, the gentle embrace of sleep began to call him. He lay still, surrendering to its arrival.


    In that hazy state between wakefulness and slumber, Lu Xu felt a prickling sensation, alerting him that something was wrong.


    A single drop of water landed right on his forehead, jolting Lu Xu awake. Was there a leak in the ward? It seemed unlikely.


    Opening his eyes, he was greeted by a chilling sight. A shadowy figure stood silently beside his bed, its presence eerie and unsettling. How long had it been lurking there in the darkness?


    ¡°Agh!¡± Lu Xu shrieked, startled, and scrambled backwards like a frightened cat. Trembling, he reached for a protective talisman, using his phone¡¯s torch to illuminate the scene. To his surprise, the figure turned out to be Luo Jin.


    ¡°Old Luo?!¡± Lu Xu exclaimed, his voice a mixture of shock and annoyance. ¡°What on earth are you doing?¡±


    (ÀÏÂæ (l¨£o Lu¨°) ¨C Old Luo; a colloquial way of addressing Luo Jin, indicating familiarity and possibly respect.) The sudden burst of light made Luo Jin blink, slowly regaining focus in his eyes. He found Lu Xu perched on the bed like a startled monkey, his face etched with bewilderment.


    Luo Jin swiped a hand across his mouth, his brow furrowing in confusion.


    Seeing him seemingly back to his senses, Lu Xu¡¯s anxiety eased slightly. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± he asked, his voice laced with concern. ¡°What the heck just happened?¡±


    Luo Jin himself was bewildered, unable to recall the dream that had just gripped him. All he could recall was a scent, intoxicating and delicious, like the best damn thing he¡¯d ever sniffed.


    He turned wordlessly and returned to his own bed. Lu Xu, still shaken, followed and crouched beside him, his gaze fixed on his friend.


    ¡°Seriously, dude,¡± Lu Xu pressed, ¡°what was that all about?¡±


    Luo Jin met Lu Xu¡¯s eyes, a heavy silence hanging between them. This was his best mate, his partner in crime, their friendship forged in the fires of countless bizarre adventures. Since they¡¯d landed in this crazy Fourth Hospital, they¡¯d been inseparable, tackling every freaky challenge together.


    ¡°From now on, I¡¯ll sleep in the bathroom,¡± Luo Jin declared.


    ¡°Say what now?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll sleep in the bathroom,¡± Luo Jin repeated, his gaze falling upon his own slender, pale hands like they belonged to a stranger. ¡°I feel like things are getting worse. I¡¯m not even sure if this was the first time¡­ Lu Xu, when I¡¯m asleep, I¡¯m a danger to you. Just now¡­ I looked at you, and all I could think was how tasty you¡¯d be.¡±


    Lu Xu¡¯s breath hitched in his throat, a wave of desolation washing over him. He had witnessed countless deaths within the hospital walls, yet the thought of losing his closest friend was unbearable.


    ¡°Lock the bathroom door from the inside,¡± Luo Jin instructed, rising to his feet and beginning to roll up his bedding. ¡°And don¡¯t sleep too soundly, stay alert. Hang a bell on the bathroom door, so you¡¯ll hear if it moves¡­¡±


    His voice trailed off as he noticed the lack of response. Turning around, he found Lu Xu with his head bowed, the phone light casting an eerie, yet somehow comical, glow upon his face. His shoulders shook with silent sobs, his shirt damp with tears.


    A vein throbbed on Luo Jin¡¯s forehead as he continued rolling up his bedding.


    ¡°Look, this isn¡¯t just for you,¡± he explained. ¡°We¡¯ve been through thick and thin together in these instances. Even if you¡¯re doing better than me, it can¡¯t be by much. Who knows, maybe one day you¡¯ll be the one eyeing me up for a midnight snack. Sleeping separately is the best option for both of us¡­¡±


    Lu Xu stood up, determination gleaming in his eyes. ¡°I¡¯ll sleep in the bathroom.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t be ridiculous,¡± Luo Jin scoffed.


    Without another word, Lu Xu snatched the bedding from Luo Jin¡¯s hands and dashed into the bathroom, slamming the door shut with a resounding thud.


    ¡°Old Luo, lock the door!¡± he yelled from inside.


    Luo Jin rolled his eyes, exasperated. ¡°If I lock the door, what¡¯s to stop me from opening it again in my sleep?¡±


    ¡°¡­Right, good point,¡± came Lu Xu¡¯s muffled reply. A moment later, the sound of the lock clicking into place echoed from the bathroom.


    ¡°Don¡¯t you need a pillow?¡± Luo Jin called out.


    Lu Xu hesitated. He¡¯d initially planned to forgo the pillow, but the truth was, he couldn¡¯t sleep a wink without one. He¡¯d be tossing and turning all night.


    With a sigh, he started to open the door again.


    Luo Jin handed him the pillow, his face etched with a frown. ¡°What if I need the bathroom in the middle of the night?¡±


    Lu Xu¡¯s lips twitched into a wry smile. ¡°Then I guess you¡¯d better avoid drinking water before bed.¡±


    **


    The next morning, Yu Xiao and the others were up bright and early, getting ready for the day ahead.


    Nightmare, nestled snugly in the blankets, peered up at Yu Xiao with pleading eyes. ¡°Take me with you.¡±


    ¡°Next time, for sure.¡±


    Zhao Lan slipped on her coat, her eyes scanning the room with a hint of concern. ¡°This instance is too risky; we need to prep like pros. Let¡¯s bring extra functional cards, like that ¡®Loving Care¡¯ one, just in case things go sideways.¡±


    Yu Xiao¡¯s brow furrowed, her gaze drifting off. ¡°What kind of instance would spook even the attending doctor?¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen popped a spicy strip into her mouth, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. ¡°Is it because of all the ghosts?¡±


    Zhao Lan snorted. ¡°Ordinary ghosts are no match for the attending doctor. It¡¯s not like they¡¯re gonna duke it out in the hospital hallway. Unless, of course, it¡¯s a brainless ghost like that former hospital director. Now, that¡¯s a whole different story.¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s eyes widened, her breath catching in her throat. ¡°A brainless ghost in an instance? That¡¯s freaky. But if it¡¯s brainless, would a ¡®Loving Care¡¯ card even work?¡±


    Yu Xiao¡¯s face scrunched up in thought. If the ¡®Loving Care¡¯ card was useless, then rest of ¡®Wide Sea and Sky¡¯ cards would be too. Not exactly the most reassuring thought.


    ¡°If all else fails¡­¡± Yu Xiao ventured, ¡°we have those ¡®Temporary Ghost Transformation¡¯ cards. Maybe we can blend in by turning into ghosts ourselves?¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s face lit up. ¡°Exactly! I almost forgot I still have an unused ¡®Temporary Ghost Transformation¡¯ card.¡±


    Just then, the 8 pm reminder tone chimed in, punctuating their conversation.


    ¡°Ding!¡±


    ARC9 ¡î Time Hospital ~ (c133~146) The three of them stumbled, their vision blurring for a moment. When they opened their eyes again, they found themselves in a long, eerie corridor.


    D¨¦j¨¤ vu washed over Yu Xiao. This place looked uncannily like the Sage Hospital ¨C same endless corridor, same row of hospital rooms.


    Apart from their little trio, there were three men and one woman. The men were dressed in identical outfits, while the woman sported short hair, a dull expression, and a faintly bleary-eyed look, as if she¡¯d pulled an all-nighter.


    ¡°Hey there!¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen was the first to greet them, ¡°We three are from Sixth Hospital. I¡¯m Zhou Xiao Zhen, she¡¯s Zhao Lan, and she¡¯s Yu Xiao.¡±


    Among the three men, the one with the longest hair and a beard introduced himself, ¡°I¡¯m Feng Jun (·ë¾ý) from Third Hospital.¡±


    ·ë (F¨¦ng): This surname can be associated with the meaning of ¡°gallop¡± or ¡°journey by horse¡± as it is historically related to riding.¾ý (J¨±n): As a given name, it means ¡°ruler¡± or ¡°monarch,¡± but it can also convey the sense of ¡°gentleman¡± or ¡°sovereign.¡±So, ·ë¾ý (F¨¦ng J¨±n) could be interpreted as ¡°a sovereign¡¯s journey¡± or ¡°gentleman on horseback.¡± The man next to him, with a slightly longer fringe and phoenix eyes, said, ¡°I¡¯m Peng Chen (Åí³¿).¡±Åí (P¨¦ng): This surname is often associated with grandeur and vastness.³¿ (Ch¨¦n): As a given name, it means ¡°morning¡± or ¡°daybreak,¡± symbolising the start of a new day.Hence, Åí³¿ (P¨¦ng Ch¨¦n) might be translated as ¡°vast morning¡± or ¡°grand daybreak,¡± suggesting the majesty of the early day. The last man, with round eyes, chuckled and introduced himself, ¡°I¡¯m Lu Chao (¹³¯).¡±Â¹ (L¨´): The surname means ¡°deer,¡± symbolising grace and beauty in Chinese culture.³¯ (Ch¨¢o): This given name means ¡°morning¡± or ¡°dynasty,¡± indicating a new beginning or a connection to a royal lineage.Thus, ¹³¯ (L¨´ Ch¨¢o) could be seen as ¡°morning deer¡± or ¡°deer of the dynasty,¡± evoking images of elegance and renewal. After they finished, their attention turned to the only silent woman, who had her hands tucked in her pockets and was scrutinising Yu Xiao and the others with a piercing gaze.


    She spoke in a slightly husky voice, ¡°Third Hospital,  (ÎÀÈ»).¡±


    ÎÀ (W¨¨i): The surname can mean ¡°guard¡± or ¡°protect,¡± often related to defence and safety.È» (R¨¢n): This given name signifies ¡°correct¡± or ¡°so,¡± but it can also imply ¡°nature¡± or ¡°natural.¡±Therefore, ÎÀÈ» (W¨¨i R¨¢n) could be interpreted as or reflecting a sense of security and correctness. Her gaze made Yu Xiao feel a bit uneasy, but her attitude was fine, so she didn¡¯t say anything.


    Just then, a door creaked open behind them, and they turned to see a man in a white coat, with silver hair and eyebrows that looked like they were painted on, walking out from behind the door. S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Good morning,¡± he said, stopping five paces away from them. ¡°Welcome to Time Hospital. I¡¯m your attending doctor, Shi Guang (ʱ¹â).¡±


    ʱ¡± (Sh¨ª): This character suggests the concept of time or era, which can imply moments, phases, or periods in one¡¯s life.¡°¹â¡± (Gu¨¡ng): This character represents light or glory, often associated with brightness, hope, or brilliance.When combined, ¡°Ê±¹â¡± (Sh¨ªgu¨¡ng) could be poetically interpreted as ¡°the glorious times¡± or ¡°the era of light,¡± reflecting a period filled with memorable moments and shining achievements.  As he spoke, he turned to gesture to the row of seven doors behind him, ¡°Time Hospital can cure anything. Everyone who comes to Time Hospital will leave with an eternal mark. Go find your own way out, each of you is a unique existence, and you¡¯ll each have your own path.¡±


    After he finished speaking, he turned and walked away at a leisurely pace, leaving only the seven patients behind. The door at the end of the corridor closed, leaving them to stare at each other in confusion.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen hated reading comprehension exercises, ¡°What was he blabbering about just now?¡±


    Zhao Lan gazed at the seven doors, lost in thought, ¡°Is he implying that we should each choose a door, since we all have our own paths?¡±

 Chapter 134: Choices

    Translator: InkyDragon


    Others also had the same thought, all gazing at the seven doors, pondering.


    A nervous giggle escaped Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s lips as she chewed on her bottom lip, her eyes darting between the ominous doors. ¡°So, Smiley, which one¡¯s your lucky pick?¡±


    Yu Xiao countered with a raised eyebrow, ¡°And what about you? Got a favourite number?¡±


    ¡°Six,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen replied, pointing to the second-to-last door. ¡°Always been my lucky number.¡±


    Yu Xiao raised an eyebrow. She¡¯d tangoed with enough attending doctors to know their game. They were all about dropping cryptic clues and sending patients on wild goose chases. ¡°Just because Dr. Doom and Gloom said we can¡¯t go through the same door doesn¡¯t mean we can¡¯t, you know?¡±


    The two sisters exchanged a look that spoke volumes of silent agreement, while the quartet from the third hospital stared at Yu Xiao as if she¡¯d just sprouted a second head.


    Lu Chao, a man whose frown lines seemed permanently etched onto his face, stepped forward, his voice gruff. ¡°Listen up, newbies,¡± he growled, ¡°you¡¯d be wise to heed the attending doctor¡¯s words. Sure, he might be playing mind games, but he wouldn¡¯t outright lie.¡±


    Feng Jun, his lips twitching into a smirk, nudged Lu Chao with his elbow. ¡°Don¡¯t mind him,¡± he chuckled, ¡°he¡¯s got a face like a bulldog chewing on a wasp, but he¡¯s got a point. Best to play it safe and follow the doc¡¯s advice.¡± S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    As they bickered, Wei Ran, the quiet one of the group, slipped away unnoticed. Without a word, she glided towards the seventh door, her movements as silent as a shadow. The remaining six watched as she opened the door and vanished into the darkness beyond.


    A shiver danced down Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s spine. ¡°Poor thing,¡± she muttered, her voice laced with pity. ¡°Is she the only one from her ward?¡±


    After a hurried discussion, Feng Jun and his two companions made their choices, disappearing behind their chosen doors. Lu Chao, ever the brooding figure, turned back to the remaining trio, his frown deepening. ¡°Watch your backs,¡± he warned, his voice a low rumble, ¡°and stay sharp. These doors ain¡¯t for the faint of heart.¡±


    And then, just like that, they were alone. Zhou Xiao Zhen blinked, her eyes wide with uncertainty. ¡°So,¡± she began, her voice barely above a whisper, ¡°are we splitting up?¡±


    Yu Xiao tilted her head, her lips curling into a mischievous grin. ¡°Do you want to?¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen shook her head so fast that her hair would have whipped around her face if it were that long. ¡°Alone? Are you kidding? I¡¯d be scared out of my wits!¡±


    Zhao Lan stepped forward. ¡°Then we stick together,¡± she declared. ¡°Besides, Smiley¡¯s right. Who says we have to follow the doctor¡¯s orders to the letter? He just said we each have a way out, not that we have to go in alone.¡±


    And so, united against the unknown, the three friends turned towards the remaining doors, ready to face whatever awaited them on the other side.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s lucky number six door creaked open, unleashing a blinding flash of white light that would make a disco ball jealous. They squeezed their eyes shut, stumbling into the room like a trio of drunken sailors. As their vision adjusted, the light dimmed, revealing a bedroom straight out of a dusty old history book.


    A crystal chandelier dripped from the ceiling, casting shimmering rainbows on the plush wool carpet. Mahogany furniture gleamed, a vanity table preened, and a massive bed beckoned with fluffy pillows. It was like stepping into Grandma¡¯s attic, if Grandma happened to be Marie Antoinette.


    ¡°Uh¡­ are we supposed to, like, take a nap or something?¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen scratched her head, thoroughly confused.


    Zhao Lan, ever the detective, scanned the room with a critical eye. ¡°This is a woman¡¯s bedroom,¡± she announced, like she¡¯d just cracked the case of the century.


    Yu Xiao rolled her eyes so hard she could practically see her brain. ¡°No duh, Sherlock,¡± she muttered.


    ¡°Didn¡¯t we come here to find a way out?¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen wandered deeper into the room, her gaze flitting over every nook and cranny. ¡°This place is about as exit-free as a hamster ball. Maybe there¡¯s a secret door or something?¡±


    Yu Xiao, struck by a sudden thought, spun around and yanked open the door they¡¯d just come through.


    ¡°Changing your mind already?¡± Zhao Lan raised an eyebrow.


    But Yu Xiao wasn¡¯t going anywhere. She stood frozen in the doorway, her eyes wide as saucers. Zhao Lan, curiosity piqued, stepped closer to see what had spooked her friend. And promptly froze herself.


    ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen leaned over their shoulders, her hands gripping them like life preservers. She peered out the door and into¡­ a bathroom? A dingy, dimly lit bathroom, complete with a chipped toilet and a mirror that looked like it had seen better days.


    ¡°What the¡­¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s jaw dropped. ¡°Wasn¡¯t there, like, a hallway out here a minute ago?¡±


    Zhao Lan backed away, a shiver crawling up her spine. ¡°We¡¯re trapped,¡± she whispered. ¡°This door¡­ it doesn¡¯t lead to a fixed place. Not really.¡±


    To prove her point, Yu Xiao slammed the door shut, then threw it open again. And wouldn¡¯t you know it, the space outside had morphed into a kitchen. A perfectly ordinary, if slightly greasy, kitchen.


    The kitchen was your standard-issue model: fridge, stove, extractor fan ¨C the whole shebang. Except, this stove wasn¡¯t just any stove. Oh no, this stove had flames dancing a merry jig on its burners, and a pot perched on top, bubbling away like it was brewing a potion for a particularly hungry witch.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s stomach did a nervous flip-flop. ¡°What¡¯s cooking, good looking?¡± she croaked.


    Yu Xiao shot her a surprised look. ¡°Girl, you hungry or something?¡±


    ¡°Just curious,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen mumbled, sniffing the air cautiously. ¡°Though, I gotta admit, it smells kinda good.¡±


    ¡°Tomato beef stew,¡± Zhao Lan declared, her nose twitching like a bloodhound on the scent.


    ¡°Come again?¡± Yu Xiao blinked, wondering if her ears were playing tricks on her.


    Zhao Lan pointed at the pot with a flourish. ¡°Tomato beef stew. It¡¯s practically singing ¡®eat me¡¯.¡±


    Yu Xiao stared at her like she¡¯d grown a second head. Was this really the time to be discussing culinary delights?


    ¡°Why would there be a pot of stew just hanging out here?¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s eyes darted around the kitchen, searching for any sign of a live human. ¡°Does someone actually live in this place?¡±


    ¡°Who would set up camp in an instance room?¡± Yu Xiao frowned. ¡°Instances are for ghosts, not housewarming parties.¡±


    ¡°Do ghosts even eat beef stew?¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen pondered, picturing a translucent figure with a chef¡¯s hat and a spatula. ¡°I thought they were all about, you know, feasting on human flesh and stuff.¡±


    ¡°Oh, they totally eat,¡± Yu Xiao said, her voice dripping with confidence. ¡°Some of them are gourmet chefs, whipping up spectral delicacies that would make Gordon Ramsay weep.¡±


    ¡°Right,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen scratched her head, trying to wrap her mind around the concept of ghost chefs. ¡°So, we¡¯ve got a culinary ghost who¡¯s into human food.¡±


    ¡°Not so fast,¡± Zhao Lan cut in, shaking her head like a wise old owl.


    Yu Xiao, sensing a revelation, leaned closer. ¡°Hm?¡±


    Zhao Lan¡¯s face was serious, her eyes narrowed. ¡°There might be more than one ghost.¡±


    A heavy silence descended upon them, broken only by the cheerful bubbling of the stew.


    Whenever Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s brain had to do heavy lifting, her scalp would start to prickle. Like right now. ¡°So, what¡¯s the plan?¡± she asked, her voice a touch squeaky. ¡°Do we hang out in Princess Room with the door open, or do we brave the kitchen?¡±


    Yu Xiao tapped a finger against her chin, pondering the options. ¡°Keep the door open,¡± she finally declared. ¡°Don¡¯t let it shut, no matter what.¡±


    With that, she marched into the kitchen, leaving Zhou Xiao Zhen gaping after her like a fish out of water. Yu Xiao went on a reconnaissance mission, flinging open cabinets and drawers, but finding nothing more exciting than a couple of chipped mugs. Then, her eyes landed on the prize ¨C three pairs of chopsticks. With a mischievous grin, she snatched them up, grabbed the pot of bubbling stew, and sauntered back to the bedroom.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s jaw practically hit the floor. ¡°Did you just¡­ steal ghost food?¡±


    ¡°Close the door,¡± Yu Xiao ordered, ignoring the question.


    Zhao Lan obeyed, shutting the door with a satisfying click. Yu Xiao plunked the pot down on the vanity table and lifted the lid, releasing a mouthwatering aroma that made their stomachs rumble in unison. Zhou Xiao Zhen inhaled deeply. ¡°Oh man, that smells heavenly. And I haven¡¯t even had breakfast yet.¡±


    Yu Xiao poked at the stew with a chopstick, her brow furrowed. ¡°Is this actually beef?¡±


    ¡°Beef it is,¡± Zhao Lan confirmed, her years of culinary experience coming in handy. ¡°No mistaking that.¡±


    With a shrug, Yu Xiao distributed the chopsticks, pulled up a chair, and announced, ¡°Breakfast is served.¡±


    And so, the three companions sat down to a feast fit for a ghoul. The stew was divine ¨C tender chunks of beef swimming in a rich, flavorful broth. Even the ghost chef deserved a Michelin star. As they ate, Yu Xiao and Zhao Lan strategized.


    ¡°So, every time we open a door, the room outside changes,¡± Yu Xiao mused, slurping up a stray noodle. ¡°Maybe if we keep opening doors, we¡¯ll eventually stumble across the exit?¡±


    ¡°I doubt it¡¯s that easy,¡± Zhao Lan countered, waving her chopsticks for emphasis. ¡°Even the attending doctors think this replica is a death trap. We haven¡¯t even encountered the real danger yet.¡±


    ¡°What if the exit isn¡¯t behind a door at all?¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen piped up, her eyes scanning the room. ¡°Maybe it¡¯s hidden somewhere¡­ under the floorboards, inside the wardrobe, behind the wallpaper?¡±


    It was a possibility, but who was to say the exit was even in the bedroom? It could be lurking in the kitchen, or even the creepy bathroom. Did they have to dismantle every room they entered, just to find their way out of this crazy place?


    Zhao Lan popped a juicy tomato into her mouth, her brow furrowed in thought. ¡°There was this movie I saw once¡­¡± she began, her voice trailing off.


    Yu Xiao and Zhou Xiao Zhen, sensing an incoming story, set down their chopsticks and listened.


    ¡°These people,¡± Zhao Lan continued, ¡°they woke up trapped in this tiny room with doors all around. To escape, they had to keep opening doors and moving forward, but many died along the way. Turns out, the way out was actually in the very first room they started in.¡±


    Yu Xiao licked her lips, her eyes gleaming with interest. ¡°So, you¡¯re saying we should just chill here and forget about leaving?¡±


    Zhao Lan shook her head. ¡°Just throwing it out there. That movie didn¡¯t have any ghosts or spooky stuff, so it¡¯s not exactly the same situation.¡±


    Yu Xiao pondered this for a moment. Shi Guang, the creepy game master, had only mentioned finding an exit, but hadn¡¯t given them a deadline. They could stay put as long as they wanted. A decision formed in her mind. ¡°We¡¯re staying put,¡± she declared. ¡°At least for today.¡±


    She cast a glance around the room. ¡°Misty and I will give this bedroom the once-over, see if there are any secret passages or hidden trapdoors. Precious, you¡¯re on door duty. Open them up, one by one, and let us know if you find anything weird.¡±


    ¡°You got it, boss,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen chirped, giving a thumbs-up.


    They quickly polished off the rest of the stew, leaving nothing but an empty pot and a lingering salty aftertaste.


    ¡°Man, this would¡¯ve been perfect with some rice,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen lamented, patting her stomach.


    ¡°Alright, team, let¡¯s move!¡± Yu Xiao clapped her hands together. She and Zhao Lan began their inspection, combing through the bedroom like a pair of forensic scientists.


    Meanwhile, Zhou Xiao Zhen dragged a stool over to the doorway and perched on it, ready to play doorman.


    The first door swung open, revealing another bedroom. This one screamed ¡°teenage boy,¡± with its sleek modern furniture and a basketball slumped on the floor like a deflated dream. She peeked back over her shoulder to see Yu Xiao and Zhao Lan playing floor detective, their noses practically glued to the carpet.


    Nothing to see here, folks. Zhou Xiao Zhen shut the door, then yanked it open again, just to be sure. This time, she found herself staring into a cosy living room, complete with plush sofas, a giant TV, and an air conditioner humming away like a contented cat. She glanced back at her companions, still engrossed in their search for secret passages.


    The living room got a thorough once-over, but it was disappointingly normal. Not even a balcony to spice things up. Zhou Xiao Zhen chewed on her lip, then closed the door with a sigh.


    A frown etched itself onto her forehead. Why did she get stuck with door duty anyway? ¡°My observation skills are about as sharp as a butter knife,¡± she thought, wishing she could be scrubbing floors instead. ¡°What if I miss something important? I¡¯ll never forgive myself.¡±


    With a heavy heart, she opened the door again, expecting another mundane room. But this time, something was different. It was another bedroom, sure, but this one had a vintage vibe, eerily similar to the one they were currently occupying. Only¡­ older. Much older. And way more trashed. The mahogany furniture was chipped and scarred, the floor was grimy, and clothes lay scattered everywhere like confetti after a wild party.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s eyebrows did a little dance. Did a ghost live here too? ¡°If so, they¡¯re one messy son of a gun,¡± she thought, wrinkling her nose.


    Just as she was about to shut the door, a noise from inside stopped her cold. A thud, like something heavy hitting the floor. She peeked through the crack, her heart pounding like a drum solo. Then came another sound. Footsteps.


    Her eyes widened, and a shiver crawled up her spine. Was it a ghost? A real, live (or rather, dead) ghost living in this dusty old room?


    Zhou Xiao Zhen froze, the door halfway open, as footsteps shuffled around the corner to her right. She held her breath, her eyes glued to the approaching figure.


    First, a foot appeared¡ªbare and dark, the skin not sun-kissed but caked with dirt, toenails long and dark under layers of filth.


    Then, a flash of white¡ªa skirt.


    An elderly woman, draped in a dirty white nightgown, emerged. Her hair was a wild tangle of snow-white, her skin a roadmap of wrinkles. When her eyes landed on Zhou Xiao Zhen, perched behind the door, they widened grotesquely, turning her face into a mask of menace.


    She opened her mouth, letting out a series of eerie ¡°hehe¡± sounds that rasped from deep in her throat. Then, with a sudden burst of speed, she charged straight at Zhou Xiao Zhen.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s hair stood on end. With a loud bang, she slammed the door shut.


    Yu Xiao and Zhao Lan, who had been bent over inspecting the floor, looked up. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s a ghost!¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen yelped, jumping up. ¡°I saw a ghost!¡±


    Yu Xiao and Zhao Lan shot to their feet, only to watch Zhou Xiao Zhen slap her own forehead in exasperation. ¡°Oh no! I must be losing it.¡±


    ¡°What happened?¡± Zhao Lan walked over, rubbing Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s head. Noticing the black smudges, she remembered the dust on the floor. She withdrew her dirty hand, her voice calm. ¡°Why are you hitting yourself?¡±


    ¡°I shouldn¡¯t have closed the door,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen moaned. ¡°I should¡¯ve let the ghost in. Maybe we could¡¯ve had a chat and figured out what¡¯s going on.¡±


    Yu Xiao blinked and said, ¡°You¡¯re right, but it¡¯s no big deal that we missed it. Now, tell us carefully what happened just now.¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen recounted the situation, then said, ¡°I freaked out and slammed the door shut,¡± she admitted, her cheeks flushing.


    Zhao Lan and Yu Xiao exchanged a glance. Zhao Lan asked, ¡°Smiley, what are you thinking?¡±


    Yu Xiao¡¯s lips pursed in distaste. ¡°That old ghost is so unhygienic. If she made the tomato beef earlier, then I really shouldn¡¯t have eaten it.¡±


    Zhao Lan and Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s faces twisted simultaneously. Zhou Xiao Zhen turned green, ¡°Smiley, can you not talk about this?¡±


    Yu Xiao shrugged. ¡°Fine, but it¡¯s confirmed ¨C we¡¯ve got ghosts on our hands. Same plan, Precious. You¡¯re on door duty. If you see another ghost, don¡¯t close the door, and scream your lungs out for us.¡±


    ¡°Got it!¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen nodded vigorously. ¡°I won¡¯t chicken out this time, I promise.¡±


    Then the three of them continued. Zhou Xiao Zhen opened the door, and behind it was indeed no longer the previous bedroom but a very dirty bathroom. It was extremely filthy, covered in thick layers of dust, and there were dried-up stains on the toilet that she couldn¡¯t identify.


    Suppressing her disgust, she carefully examined the surroundings. After finding nothing, she closed the door and immediately opened it again. Behind the door was a living room, old and dusty, with the sofa¡¯s colour faded.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen scrutinised the area, unable to see some corners clearly. So, she tried calling out, ¡°Hey! Is anyone there?¡±


    No one answered her. Just as she was about to ask if there was a ghost again, she heard footsteps once more.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s heart started racing, and she held her breath. Then she saw a woman in her twenties, wearing a denim jacket and a ponytail, walking towards her from around the corner, looking surprised at Zhou Xiao Zhen.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen immediately shouted, ¡°Quick, come here! I¡¯ve seen a ghost again!!¡±

 Chapter 135: Its a Damn Good Guess

    Yu Xiao and Zhao Lan sprang to their feet, racing for the door. In a flash, Yu Xiao had a talisman clutched in her hand while Zhao Lan brandished a prop.


    The woman on the other side, clad in a denim jacket, jumped back with a startled gasp. ¡°Woah there!¡± she exclaimed, holding her hands up. ¡°Don¡¯t get any ideas, I¡¯m human!¡±


    Yu Xiao and Zhao Lan froze, their battle-ready stances dissolving into confusion as they exchanged puzzled glances.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen whispered, ¡°She claims to be human.¡±


    ¡°Was there anyone who looked like her among the seven who entered?¡± Yu Xiao asked, her eyes narrowed with suspicion.


    Zhao Lan, still wary, scrutinised the woman. ¡°No, there wasn¡¯t.¡±


    It was unthinkable for a human to live inside an instance. Ghosts could mimic human appearances, but this woman¡­she truly seemed human.


    The woman outside chuckled, a hint of exasperation in her voice. ¡°Look,¡± she said, ¡°cut to the chase. Just slap one of those talismans on me and you¡¯ll have your answer, right?¡±


    Yu Xiao knew she was right. The ¡¾The Thunder Striking Ghost Repelling Talisman¡¿ wouldn¡¯t react to a living being.


    ¡°Alright,¡± she said, gesturing for the woman to approach. ¡°Come closer.¡±


    The woman calmly stepped into the room, stopping just before them. Yu Xiao reached out and pressed the talisman onto her arm. Silence. The talisman remained inert.


    A triumphant smile spread across the woman¡¯s face.


    ¡°See?¡± she said. ¡°Told you I was human.¡±


    The revelation hung in the air, leaving the trio speechless. It was Zhou Xiao Zhen, however, who seemed most taken aback. ¡°You live¡­ *inside* this instance?¡± she stammered, her eyes wide with disbelief.


    The woman in the denim jacket laughed softly. ¡°Oh, come on. I¡¯m just another patient, same as you.¡±


    Zhao Lan¡¯s eyebrows shot up, suspicion colouring her voice. ¡°Another patient? But there were only seven of us who entered.¡±


    The woman nodded, her expression thoughtful. ¡°That¡¯s what I thought too. None of the seven I arrived with were any of you,¡± she said, gesturing towards Zhou Xiao Zhen. ¡°To be honest, when I first saw this young lady, I thought I was seeing a ghost! When did you three arrive?¡±


    ¡°We just got here,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen replied, still trying to wrap her head around the situation.


    ¡°Ah, I see,¡± She said, a knowing smile spreading across her face. ¡°Looks like we¡¯re from different batches then.¡± She extended her hand, her eyes twinkling with warmth. ¡°I¡¯m Jiang Nan Qiao (½­ÄÏÇÇ: ¡°the elegant and lofty river of the south¡±). I¡¯ve been here for two days now.¡±


    ½­ (Ji¨¡ng): This surname often refers to a ¡°river¡±, symbolising flow and continuity. It¡¯s also associated with the famous Yangtze River in China, conveying a sense of grandeur and vitality.ÄÏ (N¨¢n): This character means ¡°south¡± and can imply warmth, growth, and prosperity as the south is often associated with these qualities in Chinese culture.ÇÇ (Qi¨¢o): As a given name, it can mean ¡°tall¡± or ¡°lofty¡± and is often associated with grace and elegance.Therefore, the name ½­ÄÏÇÇ (Ji¨¡ng N¨¢n Qi¨¢o) could be interpreted as ¡°the elegant and lofty river of the south¡±, suggesting a person who possesses the grandeur and continuous growth akin to a great southern river. Yu Xiao, Zhao Lan, and Zhou Xiao Zhen introduced themselves. Jiang Nan Qiao was surprised when she learned they had entered the instance together.


    ¡°You all came through the same door?¡± she exclaimed, her eyebrows shooting up. ¡°Didn¡¯t you hear what the attending doctor said?¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen shrugged, her tone nonchalant. ¡°We heard him alright. We just tend to take the doctor¡¯s words with a grain of salt. We stick together whenever possible. Besides,¡± she added with a grin, ¡°look at us! We¡¯ve been exploring this place together for a while now and haven¡¯t run into any real danger.¡±


    A wistful look crossed Jiang Nan Qiao¡¯s face. ¡°I wish I had entered with my friend. We got separated two days ago, and I haven¡¯t seen her since. I can¡¯t help but worry.¡±


    Zhao Lan seized the opportunity to ask, ¡°You¡¯ve been here for two days? Have you found any clues on how to get out?¡±


    Jiang Nan Qiao shook her head, her shoulders slumping. ¡°Nothing yet. I¡¯ve been opening doors, wandering through rooms, but no clues so far.¡± She paused, her cheeks flushing slightly. ¡°Do you¡­ do you happen to have any food?¡±


    Yu Xiao stared at her in surprise. ¡°Hmm?¡±


    Jiang Nan Qiao¡¯s blush deepened. ¡°I haven¡¯t eaten anything in two days. Just some water.¡±


    Yu Xiao glanced at the empty casserole on the dressing table. ¡°We don¡¯t have any food either. We found a pot of tomato beef stew earlier in the instance, but it¡¯s all gone.¡±


    At the mention of food, Jiang Nan Qiao rushed over to the dressing table and snatched up the casserole. The beef and tomatoes were long gone, leaving behind only a thin layer of oily, salty broth. Without hesitation, she lifted the casserole to her lips and drank.


    Yu Xiao, Zhao Lan, and Zhou Xiao Zhen watched, stunned. The soup was so salty and oily¡­


    Jiang Nan Qiao lowered the casserole, smacking her lips. Turning back to them, she offered a sheepish smile. ¡°Sorry, I was just so hungry.¡±


    ¡°Didn¡¯t you come across a kitchen in the last couple of days?¡± Yu Xiao asked, tilting her head.


    Jiang Nan Qiao settled onto the bed. ¡°I did at the very beginning, but I wasn¡¯t hungry then. Haven¡¯t seen one since.¡± She glanced at the three of them, impressed. ¡°You guys seem pretty well-equipped. So many talismans!¡±


    Yu Xiao grinned. ¡°I can actually draw them. Want to buy some? Only three points each.¡±


    A flicker of interest crossed Jiang Nan Qiao¡¯s face, then she shook her head with a hopeful smile. ¡°They say if you rack up enough points to live to seventy, you can leave this place. I¡¯m almost there. Don¡¯t want to waste any points now.¡±


    The three of them understood completely. Who wouldn¡¯t want to escape the hospital as soon as possible? Besides, Jiang Nan Qiao seemed to be in good shape, not as drained by the yin energy as some. Leaving in her condition was a dream come true.


    ¡°Let¡¯s swap some intel,¡± Jiang Nan Qiao suggested, her good mood evident. ¡°Then I¡¯ll be on my way.¡±


    ¡°Leaving?¡± Zhao Lan frowned. ¡°Why not team up with us?¡±


    A hint of awkwardness touched Jiang Nan Qiao¡¯s face. ¡°I know teaming up can be beneficial, but¡­ I prefer to fly solo. Less risk that way.¡±


    Her meaning was clear. Yu Xiao exchanged a look with the others before taking a seat on a nearby stool. ¡°Alright, intel swap it is. You first.¡±


    Jiang Nan Qiao held nothing back, starting from the very beginning. ¡°My friend and I entered the Time Hospital instance two days ago. There were seven patients, seven doors. My friend chose door number three, and I went through door number five.¡±


    ¡°Hold on,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen interrupted, ¡°We came in through door number six.¡±


    Jiang Nan Qiao blinked, momentarily confused. ¡°So¡­ the spaces behind the doors are all connected?¡±


    Zhao Lan nodded. ¡°If none of us are lying, that seems to be the case.¡±


    Jiang Nan Qiao smacked her forehead in frustration. ¡°If I¡¯d known, I would have gone through the same door as my friend!¡±


    Yu Xiao offered a reassuring smile. ¡°Since the spaces are connected, you might still bump into each other. But please, go on with your story.¡±


    Jiang Nan Qiao continued. ¡°The door led me into a bedroom, but unlike yours, it was decorated in a modern style. I couldn¡¯t find any other exits, so I tried leaving through the same door. But instead of a corridor, I found myself in a kitchen! The bedroom door slammed shut behind me, and when I tried to open it again, the bedroom had vanished. It was replaced by a filthy bathroom¡­¡±


    She took a breath. ¡°I kept moving from one space to another. By yesterday afternoon, I started to realise that the way out might not be within these rooms at all.¡± A pained expression crossed her face. ¡°I had nothing to eat, only the occasional sip of water from whatever I could find¡­ I was starting to lose hope, thinking I might actually starve to death in here, until I ran into you.¡±


    ¡°You probably wouldn¡¯t have starved,¡± Zhao Lan pointed out. ¡°Keep opening doors, and you¡¯re bound to find another kitchen eventually.¡±


    ¡°True.¡± Jiang Nan Qiao nodded, her gaze drifting towards the dilapidated living room outside the door. ¡°I¡¯ve seen dead people before, not for the first time. There¡¯s a body in there. No visible wounds, but the body was emaciated, and its belly was full of¡­ something that definitely wasn¡¯t food. If he didn¡¯t starve, what else could have killed him?¡±


    Yu Xiao and Zhao Lan exchanged a look. ¡°Precious, keep an eye on the door, don¡¯t let it close,¡± she instructed. ¡°We¡¯ll go take a look.¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen nodded, taking her position as guardian of the threshold.


    The two women stepped into the living room, a wave of decay hitting them instantly. Yu Xiao wrinkled her nose, instinctively covering it with her hand. The dilapidation was more than just age; it was clear the room had been ravaged.


    The sofa was in shreds, and beside it lay the corpse.


    A man, or rather his skeleton, who must have been at least six feet tall in life. He wore a tattered T-shirt, and there were no visible wounds on his bones. But crammed within his ribcage was a mass of something¡­ Upon closer inspection, it appeared to be the stuffing from the sofa.


    It seemed he had indeed starved to death, driven to consume the inedible filling.


    Yu Xiao searched the body, finding a cracked phone ¨C confirmation he was a patient too.


    Finding no further clues, they returned to the bedroom. Jiang Nan Qiao remained calm, watching them return. ¡°That¡¯s all I know.¡±


    Yu Xiao nodded, taking a seat opposite her. ¡°We¡¯ve only been in the instance for a few hours, and this is the first room we¡¯ve entered.¡± S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Jiang Nan Qiao¡¯s eyebrows shot up. ¡°You haven¡¯t changed rooms yet? Why not?¡±


    Explaining was a little embarrassing. Zhao Lan mentioned a horror movie she had seen, then added, ¡°It might be an overreaction, but we decided to stick with this bedroom for now.¡±


    Astonishment flickered across Jiang Nan Qiao¡¯s face. ¡°But if the way out is actually in the first space behind the door¡­ then I¡­¡±


    ¡°It might not be like that,¡± Yu Xiao reassured her. ¡°It¡¯s just a theory.¡±


    A flicker of relief crossed Jiang Nan Qiao¡¯s face. ¡°But how can you explore other spaces if you¡¯re stuck here?¡±


    ¡°There are more of us,¡± Yu Xiao explained. ¡°One person stays by the door, the other two can venture out.¡±


    Jiang Nan Qiao felt a growing unease, a sense that her solo approach might have been a mistake. But it was too late to turn back now.


    Yu Xiao hesitated, then continued. ¡°Before we met you, we encountered a ghost in one of the spaces. At least, we think it was a ghost ¨C it looked like a dirty old woman. We missed our chance then, but we planned to try and catch it if we saw it again, maybe get some clues from it. And then you showed up.¡±


    ¡°No wonder you reacted the way you did,¡± Jiang Nan Qiao said, nodding in understanding. She stood up, her gaze sweeping over the three of them. ¡°I¡¯m going to go now.¡±


    As she walked towards the door, Yu Xiao called after her, ¡°Shouldn¡¯t you leave a phone number?¡±


    Jiang Nan Qiao smiled faintly. ¡°No need. You can¡¯t make calls from here anyway.¡±


    With that, she stepped through the door, closing it gently behind her.


    The three women inside knew, with a chilling certainty, they might never see Jiang Nan Qiao again.


    Silence hung in the air for a moment before Zhou Xiao Zhen spoke up. ¡°Are we still going ahead with our plan?¡±


    Yu Xiao shook her head. ¡°Even though everyone seems to start in a different-looking space, the situation is probably the same.¡±


    Zhao Lan added. ¡°Jiang Nan Qiao searched high and low in her initial bedroom, but couldn¡¯t find another exit. We probably won¡¯t have any luck here either.¡±


    ¡°So we have to leave this room?¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen asked, a hint of worry in her voice.


    ¡°Not necessarily,¡± Yu Xiao replied. ¡°With more of us, we can explore other spaces without actually abandoning this bedroom.¡±


    Zhao Lan sighed, frustration evident on her face. ¡°We don¡¯t even have a single clue, let alone a useful theory.¡± She forced a smile. ¡°But hey, we¡¯ve got days before we starve to death. Plenty of time to find clues and figure out how to escape.¡±


    Yu Xiao felt a pang of regret. If Saint Elizabeth¡¯s hadn¡¯t gone belly up, she could have raided it for food. Then they wouldn¡¯t have to worry about their stomachs and could focus entirely on finding the exit. But with the hospital destroyed and those vengeful doctors on her tail, going back was out of the question.


    ¡°Let¡¯s keep opening doors,¡± she said, determination hardening her voice. ¡°This time, all three of us are together.¡±


    The door swung open, revealing the space beyond. Another bedroom. This one was decorated in a modern boyish style, not particularly old, but coated in a thick layer of dust, as if untouched for years.


    Zhao Lan frowned, her gaze sweeping over the room. ¡°This place is a strange mix of old and new, clean and dirty. Maybe some parts were built earlier than others?¡±


    ¡°Possible,¡± Yu Xiao agreed, stepping into the room. ¡°Precious, stay by the door,¡± she reminded Zhou Xiao Zhen.


    Zhao Lan followed, her eyes scanning the space. The cupboards hung open, and the floors and walls bore the marks of frustrated searches. Clearly, other patients had been here before, tearing the place apart in their desperate hunt for an exit.


    ¡°Someone¡¯s already turned this place upside down,¡± Yu Xiao remarked, kicking a deflated basketball near the bed. ¡°No way out here. Let¡¯s go.¡±


    Zhao Lan nodded, turning to leave, when Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s voice rang out from the doorway. ¡°Wait!¡±


    Both women spun around. Had she found something?


    ¡°That basketball¡­¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen hesitated, wanting to join them but bound to her duty as door guardian. ¡°I saw a room like this earlier when I opened the door. It was cleaner, much newer. There was a basketball in that room too, but it wasn¡¯t deflated.¡±


    Yu Xiao and Zhao Lan exchanged a surprised look. ¡°Are there multiple rooms with the same layout, but from different times?¡±


    ¡°Maybe,¡± Zhao Lan replied, her heart quickening. ¡°But there¡¯s another possibility¡­¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°What if it¡¯s the same room,¡± Zhao Lan said slowly, ¡°but¡­ at different points in time?¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen looked confused. ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    Yu Xiao¡¯s brow furrowed. If they were thinking the same thing, the situation was far more complicated than they¡¯d imagined. ¡°Are you saying, Misty, that the space itself isn¡¯t changing, but time is?¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s confusion deepened. ¡°What are you two talking about? I¡¯m completely lost.¡±


    Zhao Lan took a moment to gather her thoughts. ¡°What we¡¯re saying is that the bedroom you saw before and the one you see now are actually the same bedroom, just at different points in time. The first one you saw was probably right after it was renovated, before anyone had been inside. What you see now is the same room, but years later.¡±


    ¡°Holy crap,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen breathed, her eyes widening. ¡°Is that even possible?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s just a guess,¡± Zhao Lan cautioned, ¡°but¡­¡±


    ¡°But I think it¡¯s a damn good guess!¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen interrupted, excitement creeping into her voice. ¡°The bedroom where I saw that creepy old ghost is a lot like ours, just way more run-down.¡±


    (I feel like they forgot that the hospital is named Time Hospital. ¡°Ê±¹â¡± (sh¨ªgu¨¡ng) means ¡°time¡± in Mandarin Chinese. And their attending doctor¡¯s name is also Shi Guang ¡°Ê±¹â¡± XD. How many hints do they need?)

 Chapter 136: Hello from the Past

    A shiver ran down Yu Xiao¡¯s spine. ¡°Are you absolutely sure there was only the old lady in the room?¡± she asked, her expression serious.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen frowned, trying to recall. ¡°I think so¡­ It all happened so fast when she lunged at me, I didn¡¯t really get a good look.¡±


    ¡°Why do you ask, Smiley?¡± Zhao Lan leaned forward, curiosity lacing her voice.


    ¡°What if¡­If¡ªI mean, hypothetically,¡± Yu Xiao hesitated, then plunged ahead, her gaze intense. ¡°What if our theory was right? What if the bedroom where the old lady appeared is actually this bedroom, but in the future? If she¡¯s the only one there, maybe it means we escaped this place eventually.¡±


    ¡°Right!¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen exclaimed, slapping her forehead. ¡°Why didn¡¯t I think of that?¡±


    Zhao Lan shook her head, not entirely convinced. ¡°It¡¯s a possibility, but not the only one. Something else could have forced us out of the room. Or maybe¡­¡±


    Her words trailed off, much to Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s frustration. ¡°Or what?¡±


    A shadow fell over Zhao Lan¡¯s face. ¡°Or maybe¡­ one of us becomes that old lady.¡±


    Silence descended upon the room, heavy and suffocating.


    ¡°How?¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen stammered, her voice laced with disbelief. ¡°There are three of us. What about the other two?¡±


    Zhao Lan took a deep breath, her voice low and heavy. ¡°They might have died accidentally. Or¡­ remember what ¡®Wide Sea and Sky¡¯ said? The Yin energy in these instances can erode the living. What if we stayed here too long, and¡­¡±


    She couldn¡¯t finish the thought. Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s face paled, her eyes darting between her two friends.


    ¡°Don¡¯t panic,¡± Yu Xiao said, placing a reassuring hand on each of their shoulders. ¡°I don¡¯t believe that old lady could be any of us. Think about our points. Only I have enough to sustain me long enough to age like that. You two wouldn¡¯t last that long.¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s brow furrowed with worry. ¡°But how can you be so sure it isn¡¯t you, Smiley?¡±


    Yu Xiao shook her head with a hint of a sad smile. ¡°I couldn¡¯t survive here on my own. If you both were gone, I wouldn¡¯t last. Even if I didn¡¯t¡­ end things myself, I¡¯d probably leave to become the head nurse at Saint Elizabeth. There¡¯s no way I¡¯d just stay here and become that old lady.¡±


    Her logic was clear and compelling, quickly convincing Zhou Xiao Zhen and Zhao Lan.


    Zhao Lan raised two fingers, outlining their options. ¡°So, we¡¯re left with two possibilities: either we all successfully escape this instance, or we leave this bedroom together.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s still speculation,¡± Yu Xiao said, trying to keep the mood light. ¡°What we need now is to test our theories.¡±


    ¡°How do we do that?¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen asked, her voice tinged with urgency.


    Yu Xiao scanned the area thoughtfully. ¡°From now on, every time we enter a new space, we¡¯ll leave markings that will last for years. If we encounter these same markings later, it will confirm that not only has the space changed, but time outside has progressed as well.¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s get to it,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen said firmly, ready to act.


    Zhao Lan added a note of caution, ¡°We need to be careful where we place these markings. We don¡¯t want them disturbed by other patients.¡±


    Yu Xiao nodded, her eyes narrowing in thought. ¡°Finding the right spot won¡¯t be easy. But considering how desperate the patients are to escape the instance, I doubt they¡¯ll pay attention to every little detail.¡±


    ¡°Then we should choose a spot they won¡¯t easily tamper with,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen suggested, already looking for such a place.


    Yu Xiao furrowed her brow, grappling with the question. ¡°What kind of mark can¡¯t be destroyed?¡± Then, a spark of insight lit her eyes. ¡°I¡¯ve got it!¡±


    ¡°Tell me!¡± Zhao Lan leaned in eagerly.


    ¡°It doesn¡¯t have to be indestructible,¡± Yu Xiao explained, a sly smile playing on her lips. ¡°We just need to make sure they *won¡¯t* destroy it. We find a hidden spot, maybe behind the beds or cabinets, and write down our identities, our theories about this place, anything important. As long as the patients are lucid, they¡¯ll leave it alone.¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen, stationed by the door as their lookout, nodded enthusiastically. ¡°Brilliant! Now, where should we make our mark?¡±


    Zhao Lan¡¯s gaze swept the room, settling on the imposing wardrobe. ¡°Behind that!¡±


    With a shared nod, Yu Xiao and Zhao Lan heaved the heavy wardrobe aside. But as they peered at the exposed wall, their movements stilled, their eyes widening in horror.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen, unable to see past the two frozen figures, felt a chill crawl up her spine. ¡°What is it? What did you find?¡±


    Yu Xiao and Zhao Lan exchanged a terrified look, their throats suddenly dry. They pointed to a crude inscription etched into the wall, the cement beneath starkly revealed.


    ¡¾Our guess was correct.¡¿


    Yu Xiao¡¯s hand flew to her head, scratching nervously. Zhao Lan bit her lip, her voice barely a whisper. ¡°Who¡­who do you think wrote that?¡±


    Yu Xiao stared at the inscription, a cold dread gripping her heart. It seemed impossible, yet a chillingly familiar feeling washed over her. The handwriting¡­those looping strokes that connected like three circles¡­it was hers.


    ¡°I¡­¡±


    Zhao Lan raised an eyebrow, ¡°What? What are you trying to say?¡±


    ¡°I¡­¡± Yu Xiao paused, her expression unreadable. ¡°This handwriting looks like it¡¯s mine,¡± she murmured.


    A heavy silence fell between them, punctuated only by the anxious pacing of Zhou Xiao Zhen just outside the door.


    ¡°So,¡± Zhao Lan began, her eyes locked on Yu Xiao, ¡°even though we¡¯re unsure when or under what circumstances we wrote this, our theory seems to hold up, doesn¡¯t it?¡±


    Yu Xiao gave a slow, deliberate nod.


    ¡°Then¡­¡± Zhao Lan started to pace, a mix of frustration and bewilderment in her stride, ¡°what¡¯s our next move?¡±


    Yu Xiao¡¯s gaze drifted back to the cryptic words on the wall. ¡°Time¡­ I should¡¯ve connected the dots sooner. Both the attending doctor and the hospital are named ¡®Time.¡¯ It¡¯s obvious now that everything here is tied to time. I wish I¡¯d realised sooner¡­¡±


    Returning to their bedroom, Zhao Lan quickly briefed Zhou Xiao Zhen on their findings, leaving her utterly dumbfounded.


    The trio sat on the bed, each facing away from the others. ¡°The key to our escape must be linked to time,¡± Yu Xiao stated.


    ¡°How do you figure?¡± Zhao Lan asked, turning slightly towards her.


    Yu Xiao scratched her head, her once-neat hairstyle now thoroughly tousled. ¡°Time here is a mess. We could end up in the past or the future. And even if¡ªjust if¡ªwe find a way out, who¡¯s to say we¡¯ll return to our own time?¡±


    ¡°You mean the right time!¡± Zhao Lan slammed her hand on the bed with a resounding whack, making Zhou Xiao Zhen flinch.


    ¡°What do you mean by the right time?¡±


    ¡°Our time,¡± Zhao Lan exclaimed, her voice filled with fervour. She waved her hand towards the bedroom they were in. ¡°This room, from the moment we stepped inside until now, it operates on our timeline, just like us. If we want to leave, we have to find our time, align with it, and open the door¡ªreturning to the time outside that¡¯s rightfully ours.¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen scrunched up her face, still trying to grasp the concept. ¡°But how do we find our time?¡±


    Yu Xiao pondered for a moment before speaking up. ¡°Do you remember the exact time we entered?¡±


    ¡°Do you mean we should try to open the door at the exact same time tomorrow?¡± Zhao Lan quickly pulled out her phone, only to shake her head. ¡°We only know it was sometime between 8:20 and 8:35, but we don¡¯t have the precise moment.¡±


    Yu Xiao winced, realising she¡¯d been too zoned out to check her own phone.


    ¡°How about this?¡± Zhao Lan proposed, a spark of hope in her eyes. ¡°We start at 8:20 tomorrow and keep trying to open the door every few minutes. Maybe we¡¯ll get lucky.¡± S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    With no other ideas on the table, everyone agreed it was worth a shot. Yu Xiao shrugged. ¡°Yeah, why not?¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen, feeling out of her depth but trusting her sisters, nodded along. However, she couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°Do we really have to keep trying non-stop?¡±


    It was a valid question. Yu Xiao flopped back onto her bed, feeling mentally drained from all the speculation and theorising.


    ¡°Let¡¯s take a break for now,¡± Zhao Lan suggested, her head spinning from the whirlwind of thoughts. She, too, was in desperate need of some rest.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen felt restless, but not tired. She couldn¡¯t indulge in her phone addiction here, so she suggested, ¡°You guys rest, I¡¯ll go open the door. If anything happens, I¡¯ll call you.¡±


    Yu Xiao murmured a lazy ¡°Mmm¡± and closed her eyes, while Zhao Lan turned over, and the two friends settled in for a nap.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen, meanwhile, had an ulterior motive for volunteering to open the door. She was determined to find the kitchen. Despite their correct guesses and methods, they were stuck in this instance until tomorrow morning. Misty and Smiley were exhausted and needed a energy boost. Food was the answer.


    She opened the door, and her hopes were immediately dashed. An old, grimy squat toilet stared back at her. Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s eyes watered at the stench, and she quickly shut the door.


    Undeterred, she tried again. This time, she was greeted by a dimly lit, old-fashioned living room. The air was thick with an unpleasant odour, making it hard to discern any details. Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s heart sank.


    As she opened the door once more, she sent a silent prayer: ¡°Please, let it be the kitchen this time¡­¡±


    To her surprise, her wish was granted. But her excitement was short-lived. The kitchen was a disaster zone. The walls were smashed, clothes littered the floor, and dark brown stains ¨C possibly bloodstains ¨C marred the surfaces. The stench was overwhelming. Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s eyes widened in horror before she hastily shut the door.


    The experience was nothing short of torment. With a heavy sigh, she steeled herself to open the door again, wondering what new horrors awaited her.


    As she swung the door open, an unknown force came hurtling towards her, enveloping her in an instant. Zhou Xiao Zhen barely had time to fumble for her talisman before she was slammed to the ground, letting out only a faint cry for help.


    Alerted by her distress, Yu Xiao and Zhao Lan sprang from the bed in an instant. Yu Xiao attempted to kick the murky figure pinning Zhou Xiao Zhen down, but it wouldn¡¯t budge.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s screams of anguish pierced the air. ¡°Ah!!! It bit me!!¡± she wailed, her voice filled with terror.


    Without hesitation, Zhao Lan swiftly retrieved two ¡¾The Thunder Striking Ghost Repelling Talisman¡¿. In a flash, two bolts of lightning materialised out of thin air, striking down fiercely. The bedroom suddenly filled with smoke, causing Yu Xiao to cover her nose and mouth as she rushed to Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s side.


    ¡°Are you alright?¡± She asked, pulling Zhou Xiao Zhen out of the smoke. ¡°Where did it bite you?¡±


    But Zhou Xiao Zhen remained silent, her sobs the only response. Yu Xiao¡¯s concern deepened as she searched for any signs of injury.


    ¡°Cough cough cough¡­¡±


    Just then, a faint cough echoed through the smoke, causing Yu Xiao¡¯s heart to skip a beat. ¡°Misty, be careful!¡± she exclaimed loudly. ¡°There might be another ghost!¡±


    Instinctively, Zhao Lan reached for her talismans, squinting through the smoke with great caution. However, before she could react, a melodious male voice rang out, ¡°I¡¯m not a ghost! I¡¯m a human, I¡¯m a patient.¡±


    ¡­


    Zhou Xiao Zhen was bitten in the armpit and nearly had her arm torn off. Luckily, Yu Xiao¡¯s ¡¾Healing Crisis Talisman¡¿ proved to be effective in healing her injuries. After using several of these talismans, her wounds were completely healed.


    As the smoke cleared, the other room revealed itself to be a stark, unadorned space. The bare concrete floor seemed to stretch out like a canvas, empty and uninviting. A simple wooden bed stood against one wall, its natural grain a gentle contrast to the vibrant red double happiness patterned bedspread.


    A figure emerged from behind the door, a young man in his early twenties with a slender build and fair skin. His military green shirt seemed to blend with the drab surroundings, but his eyes, tinged with amber, shone with a gentle warmth. He watched Yu Xiao tend to Zhou Xiao Zhen with a quiet smile.


    ¡°You¡¯ve got quite a collection of talismans,¡± he remarked, his voice soft and soothing.


    Yu Xiao released Zhou Xiao Zhen and turned to the stranger, his gaze flicking to the smoky figure still sprawled on the ground. ¡°What¡¯s going on here?¡± he asked, his tone firm but curious.


    The young man lifted a foot, as if to step inside, but Yu Xiao¡¯s swift gesture halted him. ¡°Wait, don¡¯t come in.¡±


    The stranger¡¯s eyes narrowed, recognition flickering across his face as he pointed to the ghostly figure. ¡°You must be the patients from the previous groups, right? I just entered the instance, searching for clues, when this¡­ thing crawled out from under the bed. I was dealing with it when the door suddenly opened, and then you all arrived.¡±


    As Zhao Lan listened to the man¡¯s account, her eyes widened in astonishment. ¡°You¡¯ve only just entered the instance? This is your first room?¡±


    He frowned, not fully understanding her meaning, but he nodded nonetheless.


    ¡°You¡¯re quite lucky,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen remarked. ¡°Maybe you¡¯ll actually make it out of this alive.¡±


    The man¡¯s reaction was surprisingly nonchalant. ¡°Is it really that dangerous?¡± He seemed more curious than concerned, as if the threat of danger was merely a trivial detail. ¡°Do you know the way out?¡±


    While they spoke, Yu Xiao watched from the sidelines, a nagging sense of familiarity tugging at her. She could have sworn she¡¯d seen him before, but where?


    Zhao Lan explained, ¡°We¡¯ve already confirmed that this instance is linked to time. Once you leave the space where you initially started, you might end up in another time, perhaps never able to leave¡­¡±


    ¡°You,¡± Yu Xiao abruptly asked, ¡°What is your name?¡±


    The man hesitated, and Yu Xiao continued, ¡°I am a patient from the Sixth Hospital, Yu Xiao. What about you?¡±


    ¡°The Sixth Hospital?¡± The man squinted, his eyes clouded with confusion. ¡°What Sixth Hospital? Isn¡¯t there just one hospital, isn¡¯t there? I¡¯m Teng Jing Zhi.¡±


    Yu Xiao¡¯s breath caught in her throat, her eyes brimming with emotion.


    Zhao Lan and Zhou Xiao Zhen exchanged a look of utter disbelief. ¡°You¡¯re Teng Jing Zhi?¡±


    Baffled by their reaction, Teng Jing Zhi replied, ¡°Do I know you?¡±


    ¡°You¡­¡± Yu Xiao hesitated, her voice barely a whisper. ¡°Are you Teng Jing Zhi from X City?¡±


    Teng Jing Zhi¡¯s eyes widened in surprise. ¡°You know me? Have we met? I¡­ I¡¯m sorry, I don¡¯t¡­ I don¡¯t recognize you.¡±


    Blinking back tears, Yu Xiao pressed on, ¡°Have you written that farewell letter in your phone yet?¡±


    Teng Jing Zhi froze, his eyes locked onto hers. ¡°How did you¡­?¡±


    ¡°Oh my god.¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen buried her face in her hands, her voice muffled. ¡°We¡¯ve actually met the real, living Teng Jing Zhi. This is actually happening!¡±

 Chapter 137: See you in the Future

    Teng Jing Zhi stared at the three startled women, a knot of unease tightening in his gut. Something wasn¡¯t right. There might be someone from his life in the real world stuck in this bizarre hospital, but three? And all at once? Impossible.


    Then they mentioned the farewell letter on his phone ¨C a message only he could know about. A chill ran down his spine.


    He forced a chuckle. ¡°Okay, what¡¯s going on here?¡±


    Yu Xiao hesitated, her gaze flickering to her companions. Explaining everything would mean revealing the truth about the Sage Hospital, the inevitable fate that awaited him. How could they tell this man, still fighting for his life, that his end was already written?


    Their reluctance hung heavy in the air. Teng Jing Zhi, sensing their struggle, pulled a chair from beside the bed and placed it near the door, creating a space for dialogue. He leaned forward, his gaze steady. ¡°Look, I don¡¯t know how you all know me, but you clearly care. Let¡¯s just say I consider you friends.¡±


    Yu Xiao nodded, accepting the olive branch.


    ¡°So,¡± Teng Jing Zhi continued, ¡°let¡¯s start with the obvious. What is this place? What happened to you?¡±


    Taking a deep breath, Yu Xiao began. ¡°We¡¯ve been trapped in this¡­instance for a while now. The moment we entered this room, the world behind that door changed. It¡¯s not the same corridor anymore. Every time we open it, we¡¯re somewhere else ¨C a bedroom, a living room, even a kitchen or bathroom. Each space is different, some new, some old.¡±


    She paused, letting the weight of her words sink in. ¡°It¡¯s not just the space that changes, but time too¡­¡±


    Yu Xiao carefully explained everything they had learned, painting a picture of a reality warped and fractured. As she spoke, Teng Jing Zhi¡¯s expression grew grim, his mind racing to grasp the implications. The three women watched him, ready to answer any question.


    Finally, Teng Jing Zhi looked up, a dawning realisation in his eyes. ¡°So because time is distorted here, people from different times can meet. You¡¯re from the Sixth Hospital, a place I¡¯ve never heard of. Which means¡­¡± he swallowed, the truth settling cold in his stomach, ¡°I¡¯m from your past, aren¡¯t I?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Yu Xiao confirmed softly.


    Teng Jing Zhi nodded slowly, taking in the implications. ¡°So you knew me before this place, and the future version of me¡­¡±


    Yu Xiao hesitated, about to speak, but he cut her off with a bitter smile. ¡°I¡¯m dead by then, aren¡¯t I?¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen gasped, ¡°How did you¨C¡±


    ¡°You practically said it,¡± Teng Jing Zhi replied, his voice remarkably calm. ¡°If you¡¯re surprised to see me alive, it means you¡¯ve met¡­the other version of me.¡±


    His mind was sharp, piecing together the truth from their hesitant words. Yu Xiao found herself speechless. What comfort could she offer in the face of such a harsh reality?


    But Teng Jing Zhi didn¡¯t seem devastated. His expression was almost serene, as if he had already glimpsed this outcome.


    Yu Xiao offered, ¡°I know in which instance you¡­ I can tell you what happened. Maybe if you know, you won¡¯t die.¡±


    He nodded, never taking his eyes off hers. ¡°Sure, tell me.¡±


    She considered where to begin, but Teng Jing Zhi interrupted, speaking in a low, steady voice. ¡°Tell me everything. How we met, what happened¡­everything.¡±


    And so, Yu Xiao started at the beginning, recounting their journey through the terrifying labyrinth of the Sage Hospital. She spoke of their first encounter, their struggles, their losses.


    Throughout her tale, Teng Jing Zhi remained composed, his face an emotionless mask. But when Yu Xiao described his fate ¨C the insatiable hunger that consumed him after death ¨C his lips tightened, a flicker of sorrow betraying his carefully constructed composure.


    When she finished, a heavy silence settled between them, the unspoken truth lingering in the air. Even if Yu Xiao had laid bare every detail of their journey, it likely wouldn¡¯t change Teng Jing Zhi¡¯s fate. Destiny, it seemed, had a way of catching up.


    After a long moment, Teng Jing Zhi looked at Yu Xiao, his gaze sincere. ¡°Thank you for telling me all of this,¡± he said, his voice husky with emotion. ¡°And thank you for being brave enough to take my phone out.¡±


    He looked up at the ceiling, a deep sigh escaping his lips.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen, unable to bear the weight of his despair, offered a glimmer of hope. ¡°Maybe knowing about the Sage Hospital changes things,¡± she said, her voice laced with uncertainty. ¡°Maybe it won¡¯t be the same.¡±


    Teng Jing Zhi didn¡¯t respond, his thoughts swirling. ¡°I never imagined there was even a Sixth Hospital,¡± he murmured, more to himself than anyone else. ¡°What year did you enter?¡±


    When Yu Xiao told him, his eyes widened. ¡°Over twenty years¡­¡± he breathed, astounded by the passage of time.


    Hesitantly, he asked, ¡°Did you try contacting anyone from my phone? Are any of them¡­still alive?¡±


    ¡°We only contacted one person,¡± Yu Xiao admitted. ¡°We heard his nickname on the morning news so often, we didn¡¯t dare contact anyone else randomly.¡±


    ¡°Who?¡±


    Yu Xiao blushed. ¡°Wide Sea and Sky,¡± she confessed. ¡°We have contacted him many times, but we never got a chance to ask his real name. He¡­has a bit of a temper.¡±


    Teng Jing Zhi¡¯s lips twitched. ¡°How bad?¡± he asked, a flicker of amusement momentarily dispelling the gloom.


    Yu Xiao hesitated, struggling to find the right words. Zhou Xiao Zhen jumped in. ¡°He¡¯s moody,¡± she explained. ¡°Hangs up the phone for no reason, throws tantrums. But he¡¯s generous.¡±


    Teng Jing Zhi¡¯s eyebrows shot up. ¡°Little Star (ÐÇÐÇ) is that bad-tempered now?¡±


    Yu Xiao stared at him, bewildered. ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°Little Star, Wide Sea and Sky,¡± Teng Jing Zhi clarified. ¡°His name is Tang Xing Yin (ÌÆÐÇÒ÷: ¡°the poetic chant of a star from the Tang heritage¡± or ¡°a star¡¯s melody in the Tang tradition¡±). I met him in the third instance. He was so young and timid back then, we all called him Little Star. We exchanged numbers, and whenever someone got a team card, they¡¯d bring him along.¡±


    ÌÆ (T¨¢ng): This surname refers to the Tang Dynasty, one of China¡¯s most prosperous and culturally rich periods. The character ÌÆ also means ¡°Chinese¡± or ¡°tang¡± in some contexts, symbolising heritage and culture.ÐÇ (X¨©ng): This character means ¡°star¡±. It often symbolises brightness, hope, and celestial bodies.Ò÷ (Y¨ªn): This character means ¡°to chant¡± or ¡°to recite poetically¡±. It conveys a sense of musicality and artistry.Therefore, the name ÌÆÐÇÒ÷ (T¨¢ng X¨©ngy¨ªn) could be interpreted as ¡°the poetic chant of a star from the Tang heritage¡± or ¡°a star¡¯s melody in the Tang tradition¡±, reflecting a person who is bright, hopeful, and artistically expressive, with a strong connection to cultural roots.


    Yu Xiao was floored. Wide Sea and Sky, the tyrant of the airwaves, was a shy little star? The world was a strange place indeed.


    ¡°So, how is he?¡± Teng Jing Zhi asked, his voice tinged with concern.


    ¡°Um¡­ not too good, Yu Xiao admitted. ¡°He¡¯s been alone in his hospital room for a long time.¡±


    Teng Jing Zhi¡¯s face fell.


    ¡°And there¡¯s something else,¡± Yu Xiao continued, her voice hushed. ¡°He¡¯s in trouble. He says the more times you enter an instance, the more yin energy erodes your soul. He wouldn¡¯t say what happens when the erosion is complete, but¡­I have a friend from the Fourth Hospital. He¡¯s started eating people in his dreams.¡±


    While Teng Jing Zhi had taken his own death with surprising calm, the news about Tang Xing Yin hit him hard. The worry in his eyes was impossible to miss.


    ¡°I¡¯ve been having similar dreams,¡± he confessed, his voice strained. ¡°I thought it was just the stress¡­¡± He looked at Yu Xiao, desperation in his eyes. ¡°Is there any way to stop it?¡±


    Yu Xiao shook her head, her heart heavy.


    He sighed, a long, weary exhale. The sigh was for himself, for Tang Xing Yin, and for all the friends they had lost along the way.


    ¡°You¡­¡± Teng Jing Zhi licked his lips, his voice a dry rasp. ¡°Could you do me a favour?¡±


    Yu Xiao met his gaze, her expression open and reassuring. ¡°Of course. What is it?¡±


    A shadow of pain flickered across Teng Jing Zhi¡¯s face. He tried to smile, but the effort crumbled into a grimace. ¡°When you leave¡­ could you contact my old friends? I¡­ well, I won¡¯t be around to know, but I¡¯d be grateful if you could check if they are still alive.¡±


    Yu Xiao nodded, her eyes filled with understanding. ¡°I will.¡±


    ¡°Thank you.¡± Tears welled up in Teng Jing Zhi¡¯s eyes. He paused, then added, ¡°I¡¯d like to write a letter to Star. Could you pass it on to him?¡±


    ¡°Of course.¡± Yu Xiao glanced around the room. ¡°There doesn¡¯t seem to be any paper or pen here.¡± She thought for a moment, then pulled out her phone. ¡°How about we record a video message instead?¡±


    ¡°Video?¡± His brow furrowed in confusion. ¡°You mean like recording? But¡­ do you have a camera?¡±


    Yu Xiao chuckled softly and shook her phone. ¡°We have this.¡±


    ¡°What is that?¡± Teng Jing Zhi peered at the device with curiosity.


    ¡°It¡¯s a mobile phone,¡± She explained as she opened the camera app. ¡°A lot has changed over the years, not just hospitals. Phones can record videos now.¡±


    ¡°So small¡­ incredible,¡± He murmured, his eyes filled with a wistful wonder.


    ¡°Ready to record?¡± S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Teng Jing Zhi hesitated. ¡°Could I¡­ have a moment alone first?¡±


    ¡°Absolutely.¡± Yu Xiao showed him how to operate the camera, then handed him the phone. He retreated to a corner of the room, seeking a moment of privacy to gather his thoughts and emotions before speaking to his old friend across the gulf of time.


    After a while, he returned and handed the phone back to Yu Xiao.


    ¡°Anything you want me to pass on to your friends or Wide Sea and Sky?¡± she asked, taking it.


    ¡°Just¡­ say hello.¡± Teng Jing Zhi smiled faintly. ¡°Anything I needed to say to Little Star, I said in the video.¡±


    Silence descended again, heavy and bittersweet. ¡°Please,¡± Teng Jing Zhi finally said, his voice low, ¡°close the door.¡±


    ¡°Shouldn¡¯t we wait a little longer?¡± Yu Xiao suggested, her brow furrowing. ¡°According to our estimation, the correct way out will only be accessible tomorrow.¡±


    ¡°Close the door,¡± Teng Jing Zhi repeated, his gaze gentle yet unwavering. ¡°Sooner or later, it has to be closed.¡±


    Yu Xiao exchanged a worried look with the others. Zhao Lan stepped forward, her hand pulling the door. Just as it began to close, Yu Xiao saw Teng Jing Zhi¡¯s lips move, forming the words,


    ¡ª See you.


    Yes, they would see each other again.


    The door clicked shut.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen sniffled, tears welling in her eyes. ¡°I feel like crying,¡± she whispered.


    ¡°Let it out,¡± Zhao Lan sighed, her voice thick with emotion. ¡°That¡¯s why Teng Jing Zhi recognized us at the Sage Hospital.¡±


    Memories of their encounter at the hospital flooded Yu Xiao¡¯s mind, a sense of destiny washing over her. No, she wouldn¡¯t succumb to fate.


    Clenching her fists, she vowed that the three of them would leave the hospital, together and alive. Their story wasn¡¯t over yet.


    ¡°What now?¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen sniffled, her eyes still red-rimmed. ¡°More doors?¡±


    ¡°Might as well,¡± Zhao Lan said with a weary sigh. ¡°We still haven¡¯t figured out dinner.¡±


    Yu Xiao crouched beside the ghost felled by lightning, her gaze drawn to a glimmer on the floor. It was a smartphone, its screen spiderwebbed with cracks. She picked it up, unsure if it still functioned.


    ¡°Another patient?¡± Zhao Lan knelt beside her, a mix of sadness and curiosity in her voice. ¡°Everyone here is a patient, just at different stages ¨C alive, dead, or transformed into yin-fueled monsters¡­¡±


    ¡°Then who made that amazing tomato beef?¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen piped up. ¡°Did a patient cook it and then just¡­ leave?¡±


    Yu Xiao tapped her chin thoughtfully. ¡°Seems a bit unfair, doesn¡¯t it?¡±


    ¡°Totally,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen agreed, licking her lips. ¡°That beef was seriously good.¡±


    ¡°They made it, so they must have been hungry,¡± Zhao Lan mused. ¡°But if they were hungry, why not eat before leaving?¡±


    ¡°Maybe something happened,¡± Yu Xiao suggested. ¡°Something unexpected that forced them to abandon their almost-finished meal.¡±


    ¡°What could happen in a kitchen?¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen wondered aloud, pulling open the door to reveal a scene of utter chaos. The floor was even torn up.


    ¡°No one here,¡± Zhao Lan reported after a quick scan of the room.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen continued opening doors, but several in a row revealed nothing of interest.


    ¡°I think our hunch about the doors is right,¡± Yu Xiao said thoughtfully. ¡°Especially since Teng Jing Zhi left.¡±


    Zhao Lan nodded in agreement. ¡°After hearing our theory, he shouldn¡¯t leave the bedroom without reason. And he managed to get out, which means we should be able to as well. He¡¯ll be at the Sage Hospital, remember?¡±


    As they whispered, Zhou Xiao Zhen suddenly gasped. ¡°!¡±


    They both turned, their eyes widening in unison. ¡°!¡±


    Beyond the door lay another kitchen, completely different from the one where they¡¯d found the beef. This one had a more old-fashioned feel, but pots bubbled invitingly on the stove.


    Zhao Lan lifted a lid, inhaling deeply. ¡°Sour cabbage stew with pork, and vermicelli noodles!¡± she exclaimed. ¡°Dinner is served!¡±


    The aroma hit Zhou Xiao Zhen like a wave. ¡°¡­¡± she breathed, mouth watering. ¡°It¡¯s been ages since I last had this. Ever since Grandma¡­¡± The sentence trailed off, a pang of longing in her voice.


    Yu Xiao, rummaging through the fridge, stopped short, a surprised smile breaking out on her face. ¡°Hey, there are still vegetables left! And plenty of eggs too.¡±


    Zhao Lan, peering into a cabinet under the stove, chimed in, ¡°Look, there¡¯s even rice!¡±


    ¡°Rice it is, then,¡± Yu Xiao declared. ¡°Just veggies won¡¯t do.¡±


    Without missing a beat, Zhao Lan rolled up her sleeves and got the rice cooker going. Zhou Xiao Zhen, practically glued to the doorway, couldn¡¯t help but let out a whine. ¡°Maybe cook a little extra? We could make some egg fried rice with this, and have leftovers for tomorrow!¡±


    And so, a pot of rice bubbled away on the stove as Yu Xiao prepped the eggs and vegetables. Neither of them were exactly culinary masters, so they mostly watched Zhao Lan work her magic.


    ¡°Misty,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen called out, a hint of envy in her voice, ¡°you¡¯re amazing in the kitchen! How¡¯d you get so good at cooking?¡±


    Zhao Lan¡¯s movements never faltered. ¡°Well,¡± she began, ¡°when I was younger, things were a bit tight at home. My parents worked long hours and couldn¡¯t always cook dinner. So, I learned to fend for myself.¡±


    Yu Xiao let out a small sigh. ¡°Same here. My parents were busy too.¡±


    ¡°But then why didn¡¯t you learn to cook?¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen couldn¡¯t help but ask.


    Yu Xiao shrugged. ¡°We had a nanny.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    The air hung heavy for a moment. Zhou Xiao Zhen wisely steered the conversation back to food. ¡°Will the fried rice be enough for tomorrow? I saw there were noodles in the cupboard too.¡±


    ¡°Noodles get mushy if you reheat them,¡± Yu Xiao pointed out.


    ¡°We could stir-fry them!¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen exclaimed. ¡°Stir-fried noodles are way better than plain boiled ones, right?¡±


    With a resigned smile, Zhao Lan reached for another pot and set it to boil.


    A symphony of delicious smells swirled around Zhou Xiao Zhen and Yu Xiao. They practically glued themselves to the floor, eyes wide with anticipation as Zhao Lan orchestrated a culinary performance with pots and pans. Every so often, they¡¯d erupted in a chorus of enthusiastic praise ¨C some might even call it ¡°rainbow flattery¡± ¨C for her skills.


    (²Êºçƨ (c¨£ih¨®ng p¨¬) ¨C Rainbow fart: Flattering or overly sweet words used to compliment someone in a joking or exaggerated manner. This term is often used humorously on the internet to describe exaggerated flattery.)


    Finally, with a resounding ¡°Dong!¡±, a steaming bowl of stir-fried noodles landed on the table.


    ¡°Save these for a later snack,¡± Zhao Lan instructed, pointing at the noodles. ¡°We¡¯ll be famished by dinnertime.¡±


    Next came a massive bowl of golden egg fried rice, ¡°This beauty is for tomorrow.¡±


    The real star of the show, however, was the large pot emanating a heavenly aroma of sour cabbage and pork.


    ¡°Alright, alright, settle down, chef,¡± Yu Xiao teased, nodding rapidly.


    ¡°Someone get these out of here!¡± Zhao Lan gestured towards the bowls of noodles and fried rice, ushering them out of the kitchen. ¡°Who says we eat in the warzone?¡±


    With the dishes safely tucked away in the bedroom, the three friends gathered around the table. Zhou Xiao Zhen, chopsticks in hand, couldn¡¯t help but remark, ¡°Wow, this is a feast! So many fresh dishes.¡±


    ¡°Maybe it was beginner¡¯s luck with the door,¡± Yu Xiao mused, digging into the tangy vermicelli. Hunger pangs forgotten, she savoured each bite. ¡°The food hasn¡¯t had time to spoil yet.¡±


    Chewing thoughtfully, Zhao Lan threw out a question, ¡°Something¡¯s been puzzling me¡­¡±


    Both Yu Xiao and Zhou Xiao Zhen turned to her expectantly.


    ¡°Once we left the first space after entering the door,¡± Zhao Lan continued, ¡°can we ever come back to that exact moment?¡±


    ¡°Tough call,¡± Yu Xiao pondered. ¡°Even if we found the same space again, who knows if it¡¯d be the same second?¡±


    Suddenly, Zhou Xiao Zhen raised her hand, eyes sparkling. ¡°Ooh, I have a question too! Can we run into¡­ ourselves?¡±

 Chapter 138: Patients from the Seventh Hospital

    Yu Xiao and Zhao Lan¡¯s brows furrowed at the question.


    ¡°Well,¡± Zhao Lan began, carefully choosing her words, ¡°theories suggest¡­ It¡¯s possible. Imagine opening the door and seeing yourselves from a few minutes ahead.¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s eyes sparkled. ¡°But why a few minutes ahead? Couldn¡¯t it be a few minutes back too?¡±


    ¡°Think about it,¡± Yu Xiao said, trying to explain the logic. ¡°Up until now, nobody has just barged into our room. So until we see our future selves, we won¡¯t see our past selves.¡±


    ¡°Right!¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen chimed in, her excitement bubbling over. ¡°If we can find ourselves, ourselves can find us, too!¡±


    ¡°True,¡± Yu Xiao agreed, wanting to temper the enthusiasm a bit. After all, the longer they stayed in this instance, the higher the chance of someone else stumbling upon them. ¡°But the chances are pretty slim, considering¡ª¡±


    The click of the doorknob cut her off. All three women whipped their heads around, eyes wide with shock.


    Framed in the doorway stood two figures mirroring their own astonishment. A young woman with short hair stood next to an older woman, both staring with disbelief at the unexpected dinner party happening before their eyes.


    Silence stretched, thick and heavy. The newcomers remained rooted to the spot, faces etched with confusion.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s gaze darted between them, silently questioning if they were humans or ghosts.


    ¡°Are you¡­ patients too?¡± the younger woman finally managed to stammer out.


    ¡°Of course,¡± Zhao Lan replied, finding her voice first.


    The young woman narrowed her eyes, suspicion creeping into her expression. ¡°You¡­ came in together?¡±


    ¡°Yes?¡±


    ¡°The same door?¡± the younger woman pressed on, incredulous. ¡°Didn¡¯t you guys hear what Dr. Shi Guang said?¡±


    ¡°We did,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen countered, a hint of defiance creeping into her tone. ¡°But why should we just follow his orders blindly? Like, seriously, are we supposed to be his trained dogs?¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    The room plunged into an awkward silence. Even Yu Xiao and Zhao Lan, usually quick with a quip, found themselves speechless.


    The young woman with short hair stared at Zhou Xiao Zhen, a mix of emotions flickering across her face. Then, a loud rumble shattered the tension ¨C the woman¡¯s stomach had declared war. Her cheeks flushed red, and she stole a glance at the steaming dishes on the table.


    A beat of hesitation passed. Zhao Lan, ever the pragmatist, shot a questioning glance at her companions, then made a decision. With a slight smile, she picked up the large bowl of fried noodles. ¡°Hungry? Care for some noodles?¡±


    The woman¡¯s famished expression spoke volumes. Without a word, she ushered the elderly woman into the room.


    ¡°Wait!¡± Yu Xiao called out before they could fully enter. Both women whirled around, surprise etched on their faces. ¡°Is this,¡± Yu Xiao began, carefully phrasing her question, ¡°the first room you entered after coming through the door?¡±


    The short-haired woman blinked, clearly confused by the question. ¡°No,¡± she finally replied, ¡°we¡¯ve been through a bunch of rooms already.¡±


    Well, that was that. Whether they left their room or not became irrelevant.


    With a resigned sigh, Zhao Lan gestured to the empty chairs. ¡°Have a seat, then. We¡¯re a bit low on chopsticks, though ¨C these were for the tomato beef earlier.¡±


    ¡°No worries,¡± the woman said, grabbing a bowl and hastily snatching the used chopsticks. Hunger fueled her movements as she devoured the noodles with gusto.


    The portion was meant for three, yet the woman managed to polish off half of it in record time. Zhou Xiao Zhen and the others watched in a mixture of amusement and disbelief.


    Finally, unable to hold back any longer, Zhao Lan pointed towards the silent elderly woman. ¡°Isn¡¯t your friend going to have some?¡±


    The short-haired woman, mid-chew, finally looked up. Her face, smeared with sauce and sporting a strangely unsettling smile, turned towards Zhao Lan. ¡°She doesn¡¯t need to eat,¡± she mumbled before returning to her feast.


    Yu Xiao and her companions watched, mouths agape, as the woman single-handedly inhaled the large bowl of noodles.


    With a satisfied sigh and a resounding burp, she finally set down her chopsticks and wiped her mouth. ¡°Thanks for the food,¡± she mumbled, the words slightly muffled by a face still half-buried in sauce.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen, sweat beading on her forehead from the sheer spectacle, couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°Are you, uh, good now?¡±


    Yu Xiao, meanwhile, had been subtly observing the elderly woman. Her clothes were threadbare and hung loosely on her gaunt frame. Her expression remained vacant, devoid of any desire for food. Instead, her gaze kept wandering over to Yu Xiao and the others¡¯ bodies.


    Feeling a prickle on her skin, Yu Xiao met the woman¡¯s dull eyes head-on. A flicker of something, perhaps hunger, passed through those vacant depths before the elderly woman swallowed hard and looked away.


    Taking a deep breath, Yu Xiao turned to the short-haired woman. ¡°Hi, I¡¯m Yu Xiao. What¡¯s your name?¡±


    The woman wiped her hands on her pants and offered a hesitant smile. ¡°Ye Tao..¡± (Ò¶ÌÒ: ¡°the harmonious peach leaf¡± or ¡°a symbol of enduring youth and growth¡±) Her voice lowering slightly as she noticed Yu Xiao¡¯s focus on the elderly woman.


    Ò¶ (Y¨¨): This surname means ¡°leaf¡± and can symbolise growth, renewal, and the cycle of life. It is also phonetically similar to the word for ¡°harmony¡± (ºÍ, h¨¦), which adds a connotation of balance and unity.ÌÒ (T¨¢o): This character means ¡°peach¡± and is often associated with longevity, immortality, and youthfulness in Chinese culture due to the legendary peaches of immortality.Thus, Ò¶ÌÒ (Y¨¨ T¨¢o) could be interpreted as ¡°the harmonious peach leaf¡± or ¡°a symbol of enduring youth and growth¡±, reflecting a person who embodies vitality and the harmonious balance of life.


    ¡°These are my roommates, Zhou Xiao Zhen and Zhao Lan.¡±


    ¡°Nice to meet you,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen piped up, though her eyes remained glued to the silent woman beside Ye Tao. ¡°What about your friend?¡±


    Ye Tao hesitated, a flicker of unease crossing her features. In a low, almost raspy voice, she finally replied, ¡°Her name is Zhang Qi Qi (ÕÅç÷ç÷: ¡°the extended beauty of fine jade¡± or ¡°the Zhang family¡¯s doubly precious and elegant jade¡±).¡±


    ÕÅ (Zh¨¡ng): This surname has historical significance and is derived from the character meaning ¡°to stretch¡± or ¡°to extend¡±. It is associated with the invention of the bow and arrow, symbolising ¡°stretching a bow¡± or ¡°drawing a bow¡±, which implies potential, readiness, and the ability to reach further.ç÷ç÷ (Q¨ªq¨ª): The character ç÷, repeated here for emphasis, means ¡°fine jade¡±. It suggests beauty, preciousness, and elegance. The repetition of the character often signifies a doubling of these qualities.Combining these meanings, ÕÅç÷ç÷ (Zh¨¡ng Q¨ªq¨ª) could be interpreted as ¡°the extended beauty of fine jade¡± or ¡°the Zhang family¡¯s doubly precious and elegant jade¡±, signifying someone who is highly valued and possesses both inner and outer beauty, with the potential to reach great heights.


    ¡°Is she your roommate?¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen blurted, her brows furrowing. Wasn¡¯t it said that everyone admitted to the hospital was under thirty-five? Or had this Zhang Qi Qi been here for many years already? Then why did Ye Tao still look so young?


    Yu Xiao, her gaze fixed on the silent Zhang Qi Qi, felt a knot of dread tighten in her stomach.


    ¡°Zhang Qi Qi¡­¡± she began, her voice barely a whisper, ¡°has she ever¡­ eaten anyone?¡±


    Ye Tao¡¯s head snapped up. Her eyes locked onto Yu Xiao¡¯s with an intensity that sent shivers down the spines of all three women. Neither Zhao Lan nor Zhou Xiao Zhen dared to breathe, their eyes flitting nervously between Yu Xiao and the increasingly agitated Ye Tao.


    But Yu Xiao held her gaze, ¡°Has Zhang Qi Qi been trapped here for years, slowly succumbing to this strange hunger?¡±


    The air crackled with tension as Ye Tao held eyes with Yu Xiao, but then a heavy sigh escaped her lips, her shoulders slumping in defeat. ¡°Looks like you¡¯ve stumbled upon the darkness of this place too.¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen quietly placed her chopsticks down, fingers hovering near her pocket where talismans lay hidden.


    Ye Tao cast a pained glance at Zhang Qi Qi, her youthful face etched with worry. ¡°We entered this copy three days ago, following Dr. Shi Guang¡¯s cryptic instructions. We decided to split up ¨C door number seven for me, and door number three for Qi Qi. But once inside, there was no escape¡­ no matter how hard I tried, i couldn¡¯t find a way out¡­. Until last night, that is, when a door¡­¡±


    Taking a deep breath, Ye Tao launched into a chilling narrative. ¡°It was a broken-down room, a stench of death thick in the air. A figure stood with its back to me, gnawing on something unspeakable. Panic seized me, and I was about to slam the door shut. But then¡­ she called my name.¡±


    Tears welled up in Ye Tao¡¯s eyes, her voice breaking. ¡°It¡¯s only been two and a half days for me in this instance. We were the same age when we went in, Qi Qi even a year younger. How can two and a half days turn someone like that? Why? Do you have any idea?¡±


    ¡°Did she¡­ not tell you what happened?¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen ventured.


    Ye Tao wiped away a stray tear, regaining some composure. ¡°She¡­ can¡¯t talk much anymore. Responds when I speak, sometimes her eyes follow me, but mostly¡­ blank. Only seems to come alive at the thought of¡­¡± The word stuck in her throat, replaced by a shudder.


    Yu Xiao pondered for a moment, then spoke softly, her words heavy. ¡°It¡¯s because she¡¯s been trapped here for a long time.¡±


    A flicker of disbelief crossed Ye Tao¡¯s face, a spark of hope battling against a tide of despair. ¡°But that¡¯s impossible. It¡¯s only been three days.¡±


    ¡°Three days for you,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen emphasised, gesturing towards the silent Zhang Qi Qi. ¡°But for her, years might have passed.¡±


    Despite her lack of experience explaining complex concepts, she pressed on. ¡°Think about it. Every time you open a door, the room changes. But it¡¯s not just space, it¡¯s time too. You open a door and see a bedroom. Next time you see that same bedroom, years could have passed inside it.¡±


    Ye Tao swallowed hard, the horrifying truth sinking in. ¡°So, you¡¯re saying Qi Qi stayed in that same room for years?¡± S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Zhao Lan stepped in, her voice calm amidst the chaos. ¡°It¡¯s more like she existed in different timelines. You kept opening doors, and so did she. You just happened to be luckier, encountering her years-older self only two days after entering.¡±


    The weight of revelation settled upon Ye Tao. Shock, disbelief, and a soul-crushing sadness clouded her eyes, a silent scream trapped within.


    Tears welled up in Ye Tao¡¯s eyes again, spilling over as she clutched her hair. Three days for her, an eternity for Qi Qi. ¡°But why?¡± she choked out, voice raw with anguish. ¡°Why did she become like this? Did the place¡­ drive her mad?¡±


    Yu Xiao shook her head gently. ¡°No. It¡¯s the Yin energy here. It corrupts, slowly twists you.¡±


    The horrifying implication hung heavy in the air. After a long beat, Ye Tao finally accepted reality.


    ¡°So, if I keep opening doors,¡± she rasped, ¡°there¡¯s a chance I could meet the young Qi Qi again?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s unlikely,¡± Yu Xiao explained. ¡°Imagine a timeline where you do meet a young Qi Qi. She wouldn¡¯t have turned out like this, wouldn¡¯t have aged alone. That means yesterday¡¯s you wouldn¡¯t have seen her older self, and wouldn¡¯t have met us either.¡±


    ¡°Exactly,¡± Zhao Lan chimed in, ¡°meeting her yesterday, that¡¯s your fixed point.¡±


    A crushing weight settled on Ye Tao¡¯s shoulders. Yet, through the tears, a flicker of determination sparked. Qi Qi might be a shell, but Ye Tao wouldn¡¯t give up. ¡°Have you found a way out of here?¡± she asked, her voice surprisingly steady.


    Yu Xiao and her companions valued honesty. ¡°We have some ideas,¡± Yu Xiao replied. Zhao Lan elaborated, ¡°We think we can leave this duplicate tomorrow.¡±


    But Ye Tao¡¯s hopeful spark dimmed with each word. ¡°Do we have to stay in the first room?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s what we believe,¡± Zhao Lan explained patiently. ¡°The time flow only seems to match ours in the first space.¡±


    The truth slammed into Ye Tao. It meant that even if they discovered the escape method later, it would be useless once they left the first space. The colour drained from her face. Trapped. Forever.


    Desperate, Ye Tao reached out, her hand trembling. ¡°Can¡¯t you take us with you?¡±


    Zhao Lan, her expression sympathetic, gently pulled back. ¡°It¡¯s not that we don¡¯t want to help, but Dr. Shi Guang said everyone has their own way out. Maybe ¡®way out¡¯ refers to time itself, and yours just doesn¡¯t align with ours¡­¡±


    Her voice trailed off, a crucial question hanging in the air. ¡°Which hospital are you from?¡±


    Ye Tao, defeated, whispered, ¡°Seventh Hospital.¡±


    Yu Xiao and her companions exchanged a stunned look. Newcomers in the Sixth Hospital themselves, they now encountered someone from the Seventh. The depths of this strange place seemed bottomless.


    ¡°We¡¯re¡­¡± Yu Xiao¡¯s mood was complicated. ¡°Sixth Hospital.¡±


    Ye Tao¡¯s eyes widened in surprise. Then, a flicker of hope ignited within them. ¡°Sixth Hospital?!¡± she exclaimed, a relieved smile breaking through her tears. ¡°That¡¯s amazing!¡±


    ¡°Amazing?¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen furrowed her brow. ¡°Why¡¯s that amazing?¡±


    ¡°Because at your Sixth Hospital,¡± Ye Tao explained, her voice trembling with newfound hope, ¡°people have actually left! Did they leave behind any information, anything about how they escaped? Maybe that¡¯s why you figured out the time-shifting pattern so quickly!¡±


    A shared look passed between Yu Xiao and Zhao Lan. Someone leaving the Sixth Hospital? Surely, that wasn¡¯t something that had happened yet, on their timeline.


    ¡°Wait,¡± Yu Xiao interjected, a spark of curiosity igniting. ¡°People left the Sixth Hospital? Do you know who they were?¡±


    Ye Tao¡¯s eyes widened in surprise. ¡°Of course everyone knows! How can you not¡­¡± A realisation dawned on her face, slowly morphing into disbelief. ¡°¡­Are you from the past?¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen, unable to hold back, blurted out, ¡°Yeah, kind of newbies here.¡±


    The smile vanished from Ye Tao¡¯s face as fast as it appeared. Her features hardened, a wave of despair washing over her. The joy in her eyes was replaced by a hollowness that mirrored the despair they¡¯d glimpsed in Zhang Qi Qi.


    ¡°Newbies¡­¡± Ye Tao muttered, her voice barely a whisper.


    Yu Xiao pushed forward, hoping to salvage the situation. ¡°Do you know who these people were that left? Maybe we know them.¡±


    Ye Tao shot them a dark look, a stark contrast to her previous optimism. ¡°Shortly after I entered the Seventh Hospital,¡± she began, her voice devoid of emotion, ¡°I overheard some veterans from other hospitals talking in the instance. They said two people from the Sixth Hospital escaped. One with a nickname¡­ ¡®Nickname Hassle¡¯¡­ and the other with a strange one ¨C ¡®Talisman Shop ¨C Only three points each!¡¯ Apparently, they were even in the same ward.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    Yu Xiao and her companions exchanged another round of wide-eyed glances. This news was a bombshell.


    Before Zhou Xiao Zhen could contain her excitement, she suddenly paled and grabbed Ye Tao¡¯s hand. ¡°Only two?¡± she blurted out. ¡°Weren¡¯t there three in the ward?¡±


    Ye Tao shook her head, confused. ¡°Three? I don¡¯t know anything about that. These are just rumours I overheard from veterans in the Seventh Hospital. Do you actually know them?¡±


    ¡°But how?¡± Disbelief tinged Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s voice. There was no joy in this revelation, only a knot of dread tightening in her stomach. ¡°There had to be three!¡±


    Yu Xiao, her face pale, managed a weak smile but remained silent.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen pressed on, her voice trembling. ¡°It can¡¯t be¡­ even if it is, it couldn¡¯t be Yu Xiao¡­¡±


    The tension in the room was thick. Ye Tao, sensing something amiss, looked between the three with growing concern.


    ¡°It¡¯s alright,¡± Yu Xiao finally said, regaining her composure. ¡°You can join us tomorrow when we leave. But escaping this place¡­ we can¡¯t promise anything.¡±


    Relief washed over Ye Tao¡¯s features. ¡°Thank you,¡± she gushed, her voice thick with gratitude. ¡°Thank you so much! Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll keep Qi Qi under control. She listens to me and wouldn¡¯t hurt anyone.¡±


    Yu Xiao cast a glance towards the corner of the room. ¡°We understand,¡± she said. ¡°Besides, this isn¡¯t exactly our first encounter with a restless ghost.¡±


    Ye Tao¡¯s eyes darted towards the corner, following Yu Xiao¡¯s gaze. A charred body lay there, sending shivers down her spine. Despite their claims of being newbies, a sense of mystery clung to these three women.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen remained troubled, tears welling up in her eyes as she covered her face. Zhao Lan sat motionless, her brow furrowed in deep thought.


    Yu Xiao hadn¡¯t finished her rice in her bowl, so she picked it up and continued eating. The sight seemed to trigger something in Zhou Xiao Zhen, who suddenly burst into tears.


    Ye Tao, completely bewildered, turned to Yu Xiao. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with her?¡±


    Yu Xiao took a nonchalant bite of her food. ¡°Just remembering something sad.¡±


    Ye Tao then glanced at Zhao Lan, who remained silent and contemplative. ¡°And her?¡±


    Yu Xiao scooped up another mouthful of rice. ¡°Just pondering over something she can¡¯t figure out.¡±


    Ye Tao could only nod, her mind swirling with questions about these peculiar new companions.

 Chapter 139: Does anyone need to take a leak?

    Yu Xiao leaned back, satisfied after her meal. Across from her, Zhao Lan and Zhou Xiao Zhen looked like they¡¯d been sucker-punched, questioning every decision that led them to this surreal shitshow.


    Noticing Yu Xiao¡¯s Zen-like calm compared to their existential dread, Ye Tao leaned in and asked softly, ¡°Do you think Qi Qi will be okay once we get out of here?¡±


    At the mention of her name, Zhang Qi Qi¡¯s vacant eyes flickered towards Ye Tao.


    Yu Xiao¡¯s smile slipped. Truth was, Qi Qi¡¯s recovery had become the least of their worries. The real head-scratcher? Whether Ye Tao could even leave with the rest of them.


    Ye Tao was from Seventh Hospital, a place that didn¡¯t exist in Yu Xiao¡¯s time. If their suspicions were correct, Ye Tao was a visitor from the future, and escaping with the rest of them might be impossible.


    And even if she did manage to leave, what then? There would be no Seventh Hospital waiting for her. Where would she go?


    ¡°Honestly,¡± Yu Xiao shook her head, ¡°I don¡¯t know. We¡¯re all in uncharted territory here.¡±


    Ye Tao gently pulled Zhang Qi Qi closer, hugging her shoulder. Zhang Qi Qi, sniffed her. She smelled so good. Yet, she made no aggressive move and just nuzzled her face against Ye Tao¡¯s in a gesture of quiet affection.


    After a moment¡¯s hesitation, Yu Xiao asked, ¡°Have you ever heard of someone called the ¡®Deaf Descendant¡¯?¡±


    Ye Tao shook her head. ¡°The name doesn¡¯t ring a bell. Who is she?¡±


    ¡°She was, uh,¡± Yu Xiao hesitated., ¡°She was in the same ward as the two peeps you mentioned earlier.¡±


    ¡°Ah, I see,¡± Ye Tao nodded. ¡°If she didn¡¯t make it out, something must have happened. It seems like Hospitals are dangerous places, even with powerful people around.¡± She sighed.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen, still wallowing in misery, shot Ye Tao a glare. Ye Tao, puzzled, wondered if she had said something offensive.


    Yu Xiao quickly changed the subject, ¡°You were starving earlier. Haven¡¯t you come across a kitchen here after being here for so long?¡±


    ¡°Actually, I have,¡± Ye Tao admitted, a shiver running down her spine as she recalled the experience. ¡°Just yesterday, I was starving and I found a kitchen. It was fully stocked, even had ingredients in the fridge. I decided to make some tomato beef stew. While it was simmering, I thought, ¡®Why not open a few more doors, just to see?¡¯ That¡¯s how I found Qi Qi.¡±


    Yu Xiao leaned back, her eyebrows raised. ¡°The tomato beef stew¡­¡±


    ¡°No clue what happened to it,¡± Ye Tao admitted, but she didn¡¯t regret opening that door. ¡°Maybe someone ate it, maybe it spoiled. But hey, at least I found Qi Qi, right?¡±


    Zhao Lan, seemingly recovered from her earlier shock, spoke up. ¡°Should we try opening more doors?¡±


    ¡°Why not?¡± Yu Xiao agreed, figuring it couldn¡¯t hurt. She nudged Zhou Xiao Zhen. ¡°Come on, snap out of it. Time to get back to work.¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen looked at her with watery eyes. ¡°Smiley¡­¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t ¡®Smiley¡¯ me,¡± Yu Xiao said, walking towards the door with Zhao Lan. Together, they opened it.


    The room was a bathroom, sleek and modern with all sorts of high-tech fixtures.


    ¡°Does anyone need to take a leak?¡±


    ¡°Yes¡­,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen mumbled. Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Go ahead then.¡±


    As Zhou Xiao Zhen entered the bathroom, she felt the weight of four pairs of eyes on her. It was unnerving. ¡°Uh, could you maybe¡­ close the door?¡± she squeaked.


    ¡°Are you sure about that?¡± Zhao Lan asked. ¡°Next time we see you, you might be sporting a full head of grey hair.¡±


    ¡°Actually¡­¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen instantly regretted speaking up, but the thought of stripping down in front of an audience was enough to make her toes curl.


    ¡°Just close your eyes then,¡± she suggested, desperation creeping into her voice.


    ¡°Fine,¡± Zhao Lan agreed.


    With everyone¡¯s eyes shut tight, Zhou Xiao Zhen awkwardly began to remove her pants.


    Suddenly, she noticed something in the mirror across from the toilet. She leaned closer, peering into the reflection, but apart from her own image, there seemed to be nothing there. Had she imagined it?


    No way was it her imagination. The fitness card had boosted her stamina, leaving no room for fatigue or hunger hallucinations.


    She squinted at the mirror, but still saw nothing. Deciding to get a second opinion, she turned to ask Misty and Smiley for their take. But as she turned, she found herself staring into Zhang Qi Qi¡¯s unsettling gaze. Goosebumps erupted all over her skin. Unseen by Zhou Xiao Zhen, a shadowy figure, identical to her, reached out from the mirror¡¯s depths.


    ¡°Are you done in there?¡± Yu Xiao called out impatiently. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re constipated.¡±


    Opening her eyes, she was met with an impossible sight. ¡°Holy Shit!¡±


    ¡°What is it?¡± Zhao Lan opened her eyes too. ¡°Someone taking a dump? Why can¡¯t I smell anything¡­ Precious?¡±


    The bathroom stood empty before them, not a soul in sight.


    Yu Xiao spun around, but Zhou Xiao Zhen was gone from the bedroom as well.


    ¡°Did she leave?¡± Ye Tao questioned.


    ¡°Impossible,¡± Zhao Lan stated firmly. ¡°I control the exit. There¡¯s no way she could have left.¡±


    ¡°Keep an eye on the door,¡± Yu Xiao instructed Zhao Lan, stepping into the bathroom.


    It was spotless, not a speck of dust to be found. Yu Xiao checked the toilet; the water was clear, and there hadn¡¯t been a flushing sound, meaning Precious hadn¡¯t used it. She must have vanished the moment they closed their eyes.


    Ye Tao followed, her gaze sweeping over the room. The bathtub was equally pristine.


    Together, they checked every drawer and cabinet, but Zhou Xiao Zhen was nowhere to be found. There was nothing out of place; the entire bathroom seemed utterly normal.


    Yu Xiao chewed on her lip, perplexed. It made no sense. There was literally nowhere to hide. And if Precious had been attacked by a ghost, wouldn¡¯t she have put up a fight?


    Stuck guarding the door, Zhao Lan couldn¡¯t join the search. Her eyes scanned the bathroom. ¡°Precious is still here, somewhere. She must be in danger. I¡¯ll try calling her.¡±


    But the call wouldn¡¯t connect ¨C another casualty of the strange anomaly.


    Yu Xiao closed her eyes, trying to sense the densest concentration of Yin energy. It was strongest around Zhang Qi Qi.


    Frowning, Yu Xiao turned to Ye Tao. ¡°Could you please take your friend further away? Her presence is interfering with my senses.¡±


    Ye Tao, familiar with spiritual cards herself, silently led Zhang Qi Qi deeper into the bedroom.


    Focusing again, Yu Xiao finally pinpointed the source: the mirror. The Yin energy emanating from it was stronger than anywhere else in the room.


    ¡°The mirror?¡± Zhao Lan asked, a hint of suspicion creeping into her voice.


    ¡°Seems like it,¡± Yu Xiao replied, facing the large mirror. Her reflection stared back, a perfect mimic of her movements. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary.


    ¡°Are you sure?¡± Zhao Lan pressed. ¡°Maybe it¡¯s something behind the mirror, in the cabinet?¡±


    Yu Xiao gently touched the mirror¡¯s surface. It was warm to the touch, preventing any condensation.


    No matter how she examined it, the mirror appeared perfectly normal. She tapped it lightly, producing a hollow sound. Her reflection frowned, mirroring her concern. Then, an idea struck her. Yu Xiao swiftly pulled out a charm to ward off evil spirits and pressed it against the mirror.


    The figure in the mirror recoiled, its face contorted in terror.


    ¡°Bingo!¡± Zhao Lan exclaimed. ¡°There¡¯s a ghost trapped inside!¡±


    The ghost, mimicking Yu Xiao¡¯s appearance, was not unfamiliar. She had encountered a similar entity in a previous instance with the nightmare. In that place, the mirror ghost could trap people within its depths, stealing their appearance. But this ghost was different; it hadn¡¯t come out.


    ¡°Let Precious go!¡± Yu Xiao commanded, slapping a stack of talismans onto the mirror¡¯s surface.


    They slid off the smooth glass, falling uselessly to the floor.


    The ghost continued to mimic Yu Xiao, its eyes gleaming with mischief as it watched the talismans fall. It knew they were powerless against it as long as it remained within the mirror. Emboldened, it began to play, making faces, sticking out its tongue, and twisting its features into grotesque expressions.


    Zhao Lan watched the ghostly mimicry with a mixture of amusement and worry. ¡°Smiley, I never knew your face could make such punchable expressions.¡±


    Yu Xiao scowled, frustrated by her inability to affect the ghost within the mirror.


    ¡°It seems only ghosts can enter the mirror world,¡± Ye Tao observed. ¡°What should we do? Smash it?¡±


    ¡°Absolutely not,¡± Zhao Lan vetoed immediately. ¡°Breaking the mirror will only create countless shards, each with a piece of the ghost.¡±


    Yu Xiao¡¯s eyes widened as a solution dawned on her. Only ghosts could enter the mirror world?


    She hurried back to the bedroom, rummaging through her backpack, leaving Zhao Lan on edge. ¡°What are you looking for?¡±


    Yu Xiao triumphantly held up a disposable ghost transformation card.


    Zhao Lan¡¯s face lit up. ¡°Ah, of course!¡± But then a new worry surfaced. ¡°If you become a ghost, won¡¯t the talismans still affect you?¡±


    Yu Xiao shrugged, emptying her pockets of all talismans, leaving only function cards and props.


    Inside the mirror, the ghost turned, wiggling its backside at Yu Xiao tauntingly. Ye Tao, who also possessed a few function cards, watched in disbelief as Yu Xiao activated the ghost transformation card.


    An eerie change came over her. Her face paled, her lips turned a vibrant crimson, and her eyes flickered with a sinister red light.


    The sensation of becoming a ghost was strange, a feeling of weightlessness and power unlike anything she¡¯d ever experienced. Yu Xiao sniffed the air, catching a whiff of something sweet and alluring. Turning her head, she realised the scent was coming from Zhao Lan and Ye Tao.


    Zhao Lan, puzzled by Yu Xiao¡¯s intense gaze, asked, ¡°What is it?¡±


    ¡°Nothing,¡± Yu Xiao replied, her voice taking on a spectral quality as she floated towards the mirror. Inside, the ghost mimicking her was now playfully farting.


    Without hesitation, Yu Xiao reached through the mirror, her hand passing through the glass as if it weren¡¯t even there. She grabbed the ghost¡¯s foot.


    The ghost was stunned, momentarily frozen in shock. Then, it began to thrash wildly.


    Gripping the ghost¡¯s leg, Yu Xiao dove headfirst into the mirror¡¯s cool surface. A ripple distorted her reflection for a moment, then vanished.


    The world inside was disorienting. Mirrors lined the vast space, each one a portal to a different reality. Before Yu Xiao could get her bearings, the ghost she was holding suddenly morphed into a toilet.


    ¡°¡­¡±


    Yu Xiao stared at the toilet, still wriggling in her hand. This mirror world was truly bizarre.


    Unable to find Zhou Xiao Zhen, panic welled up inside her. She slammed the toilet to the ground, stomping on it furiously. ¡°Where¡¯s Precious? Tell me!¡± she demanded.


    The toilet, nearing its breaking point, remained silent. Toilets, after all, don¡¯t have mouths.


    Taking a deep breath, Yu Xiao reluctantly approached one of the shimmering mirrors. It reflected a bedroom, the scene grim and unsettling. On the bed lay a corpse, a bloodstained knife still clutched in its hand. Clearly a suicide. Zhou Xiao Zhen was nowhere to be seen.


    Moving on to another mirror, Yu Xiao found herself looking into a living room. A man with a buzz cut, built like a tank, was rummaging through drawers.


    ¡°Hey!¡± Yu Xiao called out, her voice echoing from the glass.


    The man jumped, startled. ¡°Bloody hell! Who¡¯s talking?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s me,¡± Yu Xiao replied. ¡°I¡¯m in the mirror!¡±


    He spun around, his eyes widening as he saw a ghostly woman holding a toilet seat in the living room¡¯s full-length mirror.


    ¡°Bloody hell!¡± he shouted again, lunging towards the mirror and delivering a powerful punch.


    The mirror shattered, but Yu Xiao remained unharmed. She simply fractured along with the glass. Selecting a shard, she continued to shout, ¡°I¡¯m not a ghost! I¡¯m human!¡±


    The man stared, dumbfounded. He¡¯d just punched a mirror, and now a ghostly woman was talking to him from a tiny shard, claiming to be human.


    Yu Xiao found herself facing the man, not the expected toilet. The toilet in her hand instantly transformed into a miniature version of the burly man.


    ¡°Bloody hell!¡± he exclaimed. ¡°Still saying you¡¯re not a ghost?¡±


    ¡°No, no! I¡¯m human, it¡¯s him that¡¯s the ghost!¡± The miniature man struggled, forcing Yu Xiao to hold him down and deliver a few swift punches to keep him in line.


    The real man watched, bewildered, as his reflection became a chaotic mess. Anger flashed in his eyes. ¡°Are you messing with me?¡±


    ¡°I really am human,¡± Yu Xiao insisted, pulling out her phone and access card as proof. ¡°I used this card to become a ghost and find someone.¡±


    Seeing the prop cards, the man finally believed her. What ghost would carry such things? His demeanour changed instantly. ¡°Bloody hell, you¡¯re human! Boss, can you get me out of here? How do I escape this instance?¡±


    Yu Xiao, desperate to find Zhou Xiao Zhen, brushed him off. ¡°I need to find someone. Is there a girl here?¡±


    ¡°No.¡±


    ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll find my friend first. Wait here, I¡¯ll come back for you.¡± With that, Yu Xiao moved on to another mirror.


    She finally found Zhou Xiao Zhen, standing in a bedroom, furiously cursing at the mirror.


    ¡°Smiley!¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen cried out, her face lighting up as she saw Yu Xiao appear in the mirror, a beaten burly man clutched in her hand.


    Yu Xiao reached towards her friend, but Zhou Xiao Zhen stopped her. ¡°Smiley, doesn¡¯t this bedroom look familiar?¡±


    Yu Xiao took a closer look. It was the same bedroom where they had found the inscription hidden behind the cabinet.


    Stepping back from the mirror, Yu Xiao scanned the room. Zhou Xiao Zhen stared at her, awestruck. ¡°You used the Ghost Transformation Card? I feel so stupid! I never even thought of that.¡±


    As Yu Xiao circled the bedroom, taking in the basketball lying on the floor and the rest of the decor, a realisation struck her. The high-tech bathroom, the encounter with the burly man in the living room, and this bedroom ¨C they were all part of the same apartment.


    Previously, when they opened doors, they were only seeing fragments of the house, isolated rooms. Now Yu Xiao understood. These rooms weren¡¯t separate at all, but interconnected. And the mirrors served as portals, linking them all together.

 Chapter 140: Taking Over Your Identity

    Yu Xiao, lost in thought, finally moved the heavy cabinet in the room. Zhou Xiao Zhen leaned in close, her eyes widening as she saw a familiar message scrawled on the wall behind it: ¡¾Our guess was correct.¡¿


    ¡°Smiley, did you write this?¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen asked, her fingers tracing the words. ¡°When?¡±


    Yu Xiao shook her head, a chill running down her spine. One thing was certain now: she would be back in this room.


    With a grunt, she pushed the cabinet back into place.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go back,¡± she said, her voice tight.


    Only ghosts could move freely in the mirror world, and humans caught in their snare were at their mercy. Yu Xiao, gripping the struggling Mirror Ghost in one hand and Zhou Xiao Zhen in the other, plunged back into the bathroom mirror.


    Zhao Lan, her face etched with worry, watched in astonishment as Zhou Xiao Zhen suddenly tumbled out of the mirror with a yelp, landing with a painful thud on the edge of the sink.


    ¡°Ouch!¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen yelped, rubbing her bruised backside.


    ¡°Precious, what happened?¡± Zhao Lan exclaimed, relief flooding her features.


    ¡°Misty, a ghost pulled me into the mirror!¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen explained, gingerly getting to her feet and rubbing her sore bottom as she walked towards the bedroom. A moment later, Yu Xiao emerged, dragging the reluctant Mirror Ghost behind her.


    The Mirror Ghost (ÌǺù«), a master of disguise, could mimic anyone or anything reflected in its surface. As Yu Xiao pulled it free, she felt a sudden lightness in her hand.


    ¡°Clang!¡±


    A small, round object clattered to the floor. Yu Xiao picked it up, finding a simple, palm-sized mirror, the kind many women carried in their handbags.


    One side was a reflective surface, the other white, decorated with a whimsical figure holding a stick of candied hawthorns, accompanied by a cheeky slogan: ¡°ºÎÒÔ½âÓÇ, ΨÓб© How to Relieve Worries? Only by Getting Rich.¡±


    (This is a modern humorous phrase that reflects a common sentiment among young people in China, emphasising the idea that wealth is the solution to problems. It¡¯s often seen on merchandise and social media.)(A traditional Chinese snack consisting of candied fruits skewered on a stick, usually hawthorn berries. It¡¯s a nostalgic treat often associated with childhood.)


    The back of the mirror wasn¡¯t just dusty and forgotten, it sported a suspicious crimson stain that looked suspiciously like, well, dried blood.


    ¡°So, this is the mirror ghost, huh?¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen asked, gingerly tapping the small mirror. It was her first encounter with a ghost taking the form of an object.


    ¡°Come in,¡± Zhao Lan said, her usual composure returning with Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s safe arrival. She ushered Yu Xiao into the bedroom and closed the door.


    The click of the lock jolted Yu Xiao¡¯s memory. She¡¯d forgotten something ¨C her promise to the burly guy in the living room. She spun around, frustration tightening her brow. The door was shut, and finding that man again in this ever-shifting apartment felt like an impossible task.


    ¡°Hey, Misty, we made a huge discovery!¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen exclaimed, grabbing Zhao Lan¡¯s hand. ¡°Do you know where we just went?¡±


    ¡°Inside the mirror, duh.¡±


    ¡°More than that!¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s eyes sparkled. ¡°Do you know where the mirror leads?¡±


    Zhao Lan shook her head, glancing at Yu Xiao.


    ¡°It connects to other parts of this apartment ¨C other rooms with mirrors,¡± Yu Xiao explained, her throat suddenly dry. She wished she¡¯d taken a moment to drink some water back in the bathroom.


    ¡°What do you mean?¡± Ye Tao leaned forward, intrigued. ¡°Other parts of the apartment?¡±


    Yu Xiao flopped onto the bed, gesturing around the room. ¡°We¡¯re in a bedroom now, but a apartment is more than just a bedroom. There¡¯s a kitchen, a living room, a bathroom¡­ even though every time we open a door, we only see one room, the other parts of the apartment still exist.¡±


    Understanding dawned on Zhao Lan¡¯s face. ¡°So, you¡¯re saying¡­ you two were in other parts of the apartment?¡±


    ¡°Exactly,¡± Yu Xiao confirmed. ¡°The layout of this apartment has been twisted by the instance, separated in ways we don¡¯t understand, but the mirrors are like doorways between them.¡± She paused, a thought striking her. ¡°How many different styles of d¨¦cor have we seen in all the rooms we¡¯ve been in so far?¡±


    ¡°¶Ô¡± (Du¨¬): Often used to affirm something, equivalent to ¡°Yes¡± or ¡°Indeed¡±.


    Ye Tao furrowed her brow. ¡°What does the d¨¦cor have to do with anything?¡±


    Yu Xiao glanced towards the door and explained, ¡°Think about the bathroom we just saw. It was super modern and all high-tech, right? The other rooms I peeked into through the mirrors had the same, similar style, similar condition.¡±


    Zhao Lan¡¯s eyes widened in understanding. ¡°So, the bathroom and the rooms you saw are all part of the same apartment. And this vintage-style bedroom we¡¯re in now¡­ it¡¯s a different apartment altogether?¡±


    Yu Xiao nodded. ¡°Exactly. Remember how many apartments we¡¯ve seen so far?¡±


    Zhao Lan counted on her fingers. ¡°There¡¯s the modern one, this vintage one, the rundown place where Teng Jing Zhi is, and that other one with the kind of normal, twenty-year-old d¨¦cor. That¡¯s four, but who knows if there are more hidden away.¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen frowned. ¡°But why chop these apartments into pieces like this? It doesn¡¯t make sense.¡±


    ¡°Probably to make things harder for us,¡± Ye Tao suggested grimly.


    ¡°Bloody hell,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen muttered under her breath.


    However, Yu Xiao was fixated on something else ¨C the burly man she had encountered in the living room earlier.


    Hesitation flickered across her face. ¡°I, uh, need to go back.¡±


    ¡°Back where?¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen asked, confused.


    ¡°What are we going back for?¡± Zhao Lan added.


    Yu Xiao recounted her unsettling encounter with the man.


    Ye Tao shook her head. ¡°Finding that apartment again is easy enough, but we can¡¯t control who or what will be there when we arrive.¡±


    Yu Xiao understood the risk, but the need to see for herself outweighed her fear. What if the man was gone? But what if he was still waiting?


    ¡°I gotta try,¡± she said resolutely. ¡°I¡¯ll open the door.¡±


    The four of them huddled around the doorway. Yu Xiao opened the door again and again, each time revealing a different part of the four apartments they had already seen. Just as they were about to give up, on the twenty-something attempt, a flash of modern kitchen appliances caught their eye.


    ¡°This must be part of the modern apartment,¡± Zhao Lan said, peering into the kitchen. ¡°Same style, same level of wear as the bathroom. Though, missing a key ingredient ¨C the mirror.¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen piped up, ¡°Can¡¯t we just bring a mirror in? There¡¯s one in the bedroom.¡±


    Yu Xiao¡¯s face lit up. ¡°Precious, you¡¯re a genius!¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen, beaming at the praise, fetched the ornate dressing table mirror from the bedroom and placed it in the stark modern kitchen. The clash of styles was jarring, but it just might work.


    Yu Xiao¡¯s ghost card was still active. Holding a small hand mirror, she turned to the others. ¡°Wait for me,¡± she said, and with a final glance, slipped into the mirrored world.


    The hand mirror transformed into a frying pan as she crossed the threshold. Now armed with a rather unconventional weapon, Yu Xiao began her search for the living room mirror.


    But before she found it, a heart-wrenching sound stopped her in her tracks. Peering through the mirror, she spotted a man slumped on the floor, cradling an unmoving figure in his arms, tears streaming down his face.


    ¡°Hey!¡± Yu Xiao called out, her voice echoing strangely in the mirrored space.


    The man¡¯s head shot up, his eyes darting around in alarm.


    ¡°I¡¯m in the mirror,¡± Yu Xiao explained.


    The man gently laid down the figure he was holding and stood up, approaching the mirror with hesitant steps. When he saw a ghost girl reflected there, his hands clenched into fists.


    Yu Xiao spoke quickly, ¡°Don¡¯t attack! I¡¯m human. I used a Ghost Transformation Card to get in here.¡±


    The man¡¯s frown deepened. ¡°Prove it.¡±


    ¡°Fair enough,¡± Yu Xiao conceded. ¡°Just scoot over a bit. I need to come out.¡±


    She squeezed through the mirror, blinking away the distortion. With a flourish, she presented her phone. ¡°Exhibit A: My undeniable connection to the living world.¡±


    ¡°Phones, huh? Ghosts can have phones too,¡± the man retorted coldly, then added, his voice tinged with suspicion, ¡°You¡¯re from the Fifth or Sixth Hospital, aren¡¯t you?¡±


    Yu Xiao was startled. ¡°How¡¯d you guess?¡±


    The man gestured to her phone. ¡°That model. Only people from the Fifth or Sixth Hospital have it.¡±


    Yu Xiao wiped a bead of sweat from her brow and nodded. ¡°You¡¯re right. I¡¯m from the Sixth. My name is Yu Xiao.¡±


    The man¡¯s expression remained guarded, but he nodded in acknowledgement. ¡°Call me Ah Dong (°¢¶«). I¡¯m from the Second Hospital.¡±


    °¢ (¨¡ or Ah) is a common prefix in Chinese names and is often used as a term of endearment or familiarity. It doesn¡¯t have a specific meaning by itself and is used to soften the sound of the name that follows.¶« (D¨­ng) means ¡°east¡± or can refer to someone who is as vital as the direction that symbolizes new beginnings and opportunities.


    This was the first time Yu Xiao had encountered someone from the Second. Her gaze drifted towards the still figure lying on the floor, the unmistakable presence of death hanging heavy in the air.


    ¡°Who is he?¡± she asked softly.


    ¡°My friend,¡± Ah Dong choked out, a fresh wave of tears tracing tracks down his grime-streaked cheeks. ¡°And I¡­ I caused his death.¡±


    ¡°What happened?¡± Yu Xiao asked gently, her curiosity battling with her sympathy.


    As they talked, Yu Xiao learned that Ah Dong and his friend had entered the Time Hospital almost a day ago. This was the very first space they¡¯d encountered. The attending doctor had advised them to enter the rooms alone, but Ah Dong, distrustful of the doctor¡¯s motives, had insisted they stick together. So they entered as a pair. It wasn¡¯t long before they made a fatal mistake ¨C opening a wardrobe that unleashed a terrifying ghost.


    They were both strong, but this ghost was different. It was eerie, insidious, capable of burrowing into a person¡¯s very heart.


    ¡°Xiao Long (СÁú: Little Dragon) was caught off guard,¡± Ah Dong said, his voice steady now, though tears still streamed down his face. ¡°The ghost got into his heart. I killed the ghost, but¡­ but Xiao Long died too. It was my fault. If we¡¯d listened to the doctor, he might still be alive. Only one person should go through each door¡­¡±


    С (Xi¨£o): This character means ¡°small¡± or ¡°little.¡± It is often used as a prefix or nickname in names. In this case, it suggests a sense of youthfulness or diminutiveness.Áú (L¨®ng): This character means ¡°dragon.¡± The dragon is a powerful and auspicious creature in Chinese culture, associated with strength, vitality, and good fortune.


    Ah Dong looked to be around thirty, though it was hard to tell for sure. His hair was cropped short, his build solid, but his skin had a lifeless pallor. Dressed in a simple black T-shirt, he looked like a man whose spirit had been crushed.


    ¡°You¡¯re wrong,¡± Yu Xiao interrupted gently. ¡°The three of us entered this place together, and none of us died.¡±


    Ah Dong looked up, his eyes red-rimmed. ¡°How did you get in? Where were you before?¡±


    Yu Xiao explained about the mirror ghost, and how she¡¯d been using the mirrors to move between the different spaces.


    ¡°I have some ideas about how we can get out of here,¡± she finished, her voice firm. ¡°Do you trust me?¡±


    Ah Dong studied her for a long moment, then asked abruptly, ¡°Are you a descendant of the Dragon?¡±


    ¡°!!!¡± Yu Xiao¡¯s jaw dropped. ¡°How did you know?!¡±


    ¡°A guess,¡± Ah Dong said with a shrug. ¡°The Sixth Hospital is full of newcomers. Not many are as capable as you.¡±


    Yu Xiao felt a blush creep up her cheeks. Ah Dong was holding Xiao Long¡¯s body a little tighter now, his gaze fixed on his friend¡¯s face.


    Yu Xiao stared at the corpse, a sudden thought striking her. ¡°Was that¡­ Did I just see him move?¡±


    Ah Dong shook his head. ¡°You¡¯ll learn, after you¡¯ve been in this hospital long enough. Some people¡­ they come back in a different form after death.¡±


    ¡°Is he turning into a ghost?¡± Yu Xiao asked, a shiver running down her spine. ¡°Have you been heavily corrupted by yin energy?¡±


    Ah Dong stared at her blankly. ¡°What are you talking about?¡±


    ¡°Corrupted by yin energy,¡± Yu Xiao repeated, frowning. ¡°Don¡¯t you know about that?¡±


    At Yu Xiao¡¯s words, a look of understanding dawned on Ah Dong¡¯s face, as if pieces of a puzzle were falling into place. ¡°You mean the erosion caused by yin energy? I always thought it was a side effect of using too many physical enhancement cards.¡±


    ¡°Do physical enhancement cards really have side effects?¡± Yu Xiao asked, surprised.


    Ah Dong didn¡¯t answer directly. Instead, he countered with another question. ¡°What do you think changes a person¡¯s body when they use those cards? Strength increases, sure, but the body itself changes too. You can use them indefinitely, and with enough use, you could physically withstand a ghost attack. But how? How can a human body contain that much power?¡± S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Yu Xiao was taken aback by the question, but before she could answer, Ah Dong had moved on.


    ¡°How do we get out of this place?¡± he asked, his focus returning to their predicament.


    ¡°Huh? Oh, right.¡± Yu Xiao quickly outlined their theories about the instance, then asked, ¡°Do you remember exactly when you entered yesterday?¡±


    ¡°I do.¡± Ah Dong raised his hand, glancing at the sturdy mechanical watch on his wrist. ¡°Forty-three minutes until the time I entered.¡±


    Yu Xiao wasn¡¯t surprised. Veterans from the Second Hospital were known for their meticulousness. He even remembered the precise time of entry. She decided to wait with him, not out of concern for his loneliness, but to test her own theory.


    Time crawled by, each second dragging on. Finally, Ah Dong stood up. ¡°One minute left.¡±


    Yu Xiao jumped to her feet and joined him at the door. Ah Dong gripped the doorknob, his other hand glued to his watch as he watched the second hand tick towards its target.


    His expression was serious, focused. As the hand reached the final second, he threw open the door.


    The click of the latch echoed in the silent room. Yu Xiao peered out eagerly, expecting to see the familiar hallway. Instead, she found herself staring into another living room.


    Her face fell. ¡°My hypothesis was wrong¡­¡±


    Ah Dong lingered at the doorway for a moment, then stepped into the living room. Yu Xiao stood by the door, chewing on her thumbnail in frustration. Her theory of how to exit had been wrong. So, what was the real way out?


    Ah Dong, meanwhile, surveyed the living room, then headed towards the entrance hall. There, he spotted a door.


    After a moment¡¯s consideration, he opened it, revealing the familiar corridor beyond.


    Turning back to a dejected Yu Xiao, he said, ¡°Your guess was right. The exit is here.¡±


    Yu Xiao stared at him, then slapped her forehead. Of course! To leave a apartment, you use the front door! Who walks out of a bedroom window?


    She had been so fixated on the timing that she had completely forgotten about the spatial aspect.


    Her theory had been right all along!


    Suddenly, another thought struck her. She whirled around, pushed aside the cabinet, and saw that the writing on the wall behind it had vanished.


    With a triumphant grin, Yu Xiao whipped the metal zipper pull off her jacket and excitedly etched the familiar words onto the wall:


    ¡¾Our guess was correct.¡¿


    As she replaced the cabinet, she saw Ah Dong carrying Xiao Long¡¯s body into the living room. She followed him towards the entrance hall, but¡­ the door was gone.


    ¡°Where¡¯s the exit?¡±


    Ah Dong looked at her in surprise. ¡°Isn¡¯t it right here?¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s no exit here,¡± Yu Xiao insisted, seeing nothing but a blank wall. ¡°Where¡¯s the door you just used?¡±


    Ah Dong frowned. There had been a door, he was sure of it. Then it clicked. ¡°You¡¯ve forgotten,¡± he said slowly, ¡°you don¡¯t belong to this time.¡±


    Understanding dawned on Yu Xiao. Because she wasn¡¯t a part of Ah Dong¡¯s time, she couldn¡¯t see the door.


    Which also meant that when they left the instance tomorrow, Ye Tao wouldn¡¯t be able to leave with them.


    Would they really abandon Ye Tao to face despair and death alone?


    An idea sparked in Yu Xiao¡¯s mind. She rummaged in her bag and pulled out a wig, quickly putting it on. Under Ah Dong¡¯s watchful eye, she transformed into Xiao Long.


    Ah Dong stared at her, momentarily speechless. ¡°Can you see the door now?¡±


    Yu Xiao shook her head, her heart sinking. ¡°No, I still can¡¯t see it.¡±


    Ah Dong thought for a moment, then laid Xiao Long¡¯s body down and pulled an old-fashioned flip phone from his pocket. ¡°Try this,¡± he said, handing it to Yu Xiao.


    The moment Yu Xiao¡¯s fingers closed around the phone, her vision shifted. The previously invisible door shimmered into existence before her eyes, standing wide open.


    Ah Dong, seeing the change in her expression, explained, ¡°We once encountered a ghost in a dungeon that could mimic human appearances. If it took someone¡¯s phone, it could use their identity to escape the instance.¡±

 Chapter 141: I’m Jiang Nan Qiao

    Yu Xiao stood dumbfounded for a moment, mouth agape, like a gasping fish, trying to process what she had just heard. ¡°Are you saying a spook can impersonate a living person and leave the instance? Where would it go after that?¡±


    Ah Dong gazed at her in silence, his expression solemn.


    ¡°Don¡¯t tell me¡­ Would it go to the hospital ward?¡± She asked again when he didn¡¯t respond.


    He gave a slow nod.


    A chill ran down Yu Xiao¡¯s spine. ¡°To kill all the patients there?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not like that,¡± Ah Dong said, his eyes flickering as if recalling a distant memory. ¡°It¡¯s to completely replace the living person ¨C their appearance, name, even their personality. They can enter new instances, accumulating points just like we do.¡±


    Yu Xiao snorted. ¡°Now I know you¡¯re pulling my leg. What would a ghost want with points? Do ghosts also wish to leave the hospital?¡±


    She stopped mid-sentence, struck by the absurdity of her own assumption. Why had she thought ghosts wouldn¡¯t want escape?


    ¡°It¡¯s hard to believe, I know.¡± Ah Dong lowered his head slightly, taking a deep breath. ¡°But what if I told you the person who was replaced was a fellow patient in my ward?¡±


    Yu Xiao felt the air leave her lungs.


    Ah Dong continued grimly, ¡°Originally, there were three of us in that ward. We only discovered it after two more instances. It was too horrifying.¡±


    His hands trembled as he spoke. ¡°Xiao Long and I thought he was just exhausted at first, acting strangely. Never dreamed he¡¯d been friggin¡¯ body-snatched¡­¡±


    Yu Xiao gasped, raising a hand anxiously to her wig. ¡°Hang on ¨C if phones let these ghoulies slither in, how¡¯d we miss this party before?¡±


    Ah Dong shook his head. ¡°You¡¯re missing a crucial point. Most ghosts can¡¯t shapeshift.¡±


    Relief washed over Yu Xiao. To impersonate someone, a ghost needed more than just a phone ¨C the ability to change their appearance. As far as she knew, few ghosts possessed that skill.


    ¡°Thank you for telling me this,¡± she said quietly. A fleeting thought crossed her mind ¨C if Ye Tao wanted to leave this place, she would need to assume someone else¡¯s identity. And Xiao Long¡¯s phone could be the key.


    ¡°Will you come with me?¡± Ah Dong asked hesitantly.


    Yu Xiao shook her head. ¡°No, I need to return to my own time.¡±


    Ah Dong nodded, his expression pained as he glanced at Xiao Long¡¯s body on the sofa behind Yu Xiao.


    Suddenly, his face changed. He grabbed Yu Xiao¡¯s arm. ¡°Watch out!¡±


    A bone-chilling cold rushed towards them from behind. Yu Xiao barely dodged, but something struck her left shoulder, numbing it instantly. She stumbled through the doorway with Ah Dong.


    Horror gripped her as she turned back, reaching for the door. But it had become intangible, impossible to grasp. Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Click.¡±


    They stood gobsmacked, gawking at the closed door.


    ¡°Ah!¡± Yu Xiao clutched her head, feeling like it might explode.


    Ah Dong seemed just as blindsided. ¡°I¡­I never thought Xiao Long would revive at this moment¡­¡±


    ¡°What do we do?¡± Yu Xiao was frantic. ¡°My friends are still waiting for me!¡±


    The next moment, a familiar dizziness washed over them both. When they opened their eyes, she found herself in an unfamiliar hospital room.


    Seeing Yu Xiao in Xiao Long¡¯s bed, Ah Dong didn¡¯t know what to say ¨C this was uncharted territory even for him.


    ¡°Ahhhhh¡­¡± Yu Xiao¡¯s panic spiralled. ¡°What am I going to do!¡±


    Though rattled himself, Ah Dong tried to calm her. ¡°Under the circumstances¡­why not stay at Hospital Two for now? Xiao Long has quite a few points accumulated here.¡±


    ¡°No!¡± Yu Xiao rejected the idea outright. ¡°My friends are still in that instance; they won¡¯t leave without me!¡±


    Ah Dong frowned. ¡°But how will you go back? You can only enter the same instance once.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll find Shi Guang at Time Hospital.¡± Yu Xiao forced herself to breathe evenly. ¡°I can bribe him to send me back to my original room.¡±


    The experienced Ah Dong shook his head. ¡°An attending doctor might accept a bribe to look the other way, but none would let a failed patient re-enter an instance. Besides, do you even know where Time Hospital is located?¡±


    Turning to sit on the dishevelled bed, he glanced around at the chaotic piles of clothes ¨C they never expected lady visitors in their ward. Seeing Yu Xiao amidst the mess, Ah Dong silently began tidying.


    Yu Xiao cradled her head, consumed by fear and helplessness.


    She had to return to Time Hospital. Misty and Precious would be waiting, and they only had one bowl of egg fried rice left to split three ways. In their foodless state, they could last no more than seven days, which meant she had to go back within a week.


    Suddenly, Yu Xiao looked up. ¡°What¡¯s today¡¯s date?¡±


    Pausing his cleaning, Ah Dong checked his watch. ¡°Just after nine in the morning.¡±


    ¡°No, I mean the actual date.¡±


    He told her, and Yu Xiao¡¯s heart raced. Seeing her flushed face, Ah Dong asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±


    ¡°I still have a chance!¡± she exclaimed. ¡°I still have a chance!¡±


    Confused, he asked, ¡°A chance for what?¡±


    The opportunity was time itself. Ah Dong had mentioned the date, but the time here wasn¡¯t synchronised with Yu Xiao¡¯s original timeline. Quickly calculating, she realised at this moment, she and her friends from Sixth Hospital should be at Sage Hospital.


    She relayed this to the frowning Ah Dong. ¡°But how will you manage that? Leaving Second Hospital to return to Sixth? Forgive my bluntness, but in all my years here, I¡¯ve never heard of such a thing. Not to mention the danger outside these walls.¡±


    It was indeed a dilemma. Yu Xiao bit her lip. Even if she escaped Second Hospital and made it back to Sixth, she couldn¡¯t simply rejoin her own ward.


    In her memories, her ward had always been peaceful, without anyone identical to her presence.


    There had to be a solution. Yu Xiao clasped her hands, willing herself to stay calm.


    Seeing her inner turmoil, Ah Dong quietly went to fetch her some food.


    Ah Dong was grateful to Yu Xiao, not just for helping him leave Time Hospital, but also for her presence at Second Hospital. He had just lost his best friend Xiao Long. Had he been alone in their ward right now, he didn¡¯t know how he would have coped. But Yu Xiao arrived, a newcomer from Sixth Hospital, full of vitality and untouched by the gloom. Her spirit diluted Ah Dong¡¯s lifelessness and sorrow.


    For too long now, Ah Dong and Xiao Long had lost interest in food. Tormented by nightmares almost nightly, their tastes grew bizarre ¨C the food of the living rarely aroused desire anymore.


    Today was a rare exception as Ah Dong prepared a hearty meal. ¡°Let¡¯s eat first,¡± he said, laying out bowls and chopsticks. ¡°If you want to go back, you¡¯ll need your strength.¡±


    Yu Xiao nodded thoughtfully and joined him. Taking the chopsticks he offered, she picked up a piece of braised pork.


    After a bite, she remarked, ¡°The food at Second Hospital seems tastier than Sixth.¡±


    ¡°Really?¡± Ah Dong sampled the pork himself. ¡°I¡¯ve never tried Sixth¡¯s fare.¡±


    ¡°It used to be delicious there too,¡± Yu Xiao said around a mouthful of rice. ¡°But then the chef left, and the quality plummeted.¡±


    Hearing this, Ah Dong savoured another tender morsel, seeming to truly appreciate its long-lost flavours. He nodded. ¡°Indeed, it¡¯s delicious. Have more.¡±


    ¡°I have an idea,¡± Yu Xiao ventured. ¡°I know Sixth Hospital¡¯s courier well. Could I have myself sent back as a parcel?¡±


    Ah Dong shook his head. ¡°Sending parcels requires listing the items. The couriers at Second and Sixth are different.¡±


    Deflated, Yu Xiao ate slowly, thinking of Misty and Precious likely starving, an uncomfortable knot forming in her stomach.


    Noticing her dismay, Ah Dong asked, ¡°Are you going to cry?¡±


    ¡°No.¡± She swallowed hard. ¡°Even if I wanted to, not now.¡±


    Another problem loomed ¨C since Saint Elizabeth was destroyed, she couldn¡¯t return there first wearing her white coat before going to Sixth Hospital.


    Frustration built until even the delicious braised pork tasted like wax in her mouth.


    After clearing their plates, Ah Dong tidied up as Yu Xiao asked, ¡°Second Hospital doesn¡¯t have a forum, right?¡±


    ¡°Hmm? That¡¯s correct.¡± He knew the other hospitals all had forums, but Second¡¯s outdated phones lacked that functionality.


    ¡°Then how do you get help when you have questions?¡±


    Ah Dong considered. ¡°Ask people you know or figure it out yourself.¡±


    Yu Xiao hesitated. ¡°Some instances are really dangerous, like Time Hospital. How do you warn others about an instance¡¯s situation?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t mention it,¡± he replied simply.


    Taken aback, Yu Xiao pushed on ¨C she abhorred that accursed instance. ¡°Do you still have any Second Hospital patients¡¯ contacts?¡±


    Ah Dong nodded. ¡°Not many.¡±


    Yu Xiao wasn¡¯t sure if Ah Dong meant there were few living people left overall, or just few remaining in his contacts. Either way, she needed to spread the word. ¡°Look, just cram all the gory deets about this freakshow instance into a message and blast it to everyone you¡¯ve got.¡±


    Ah Dong paused wiping the table. ¡°Is this how you all share information?¡±


    ¡°We post instance details on the forum so everyone can see,¡± Yu Xiao said, taking out her phone and opening Sixth Hospital¡¯s forum. She quickly composed a post about the Time Hospital instance and hit submit.


    Ah Dong sidled up, peeking over her shoulder as the replies started trickling in. ¡°This is good. If we¡¯d had a forum back then¡­¡±


    He trailed off, then changed tack. ¡°I remember a lot of instance situations. I¡­I can tell you about them.¡±


    But those were stories for later. Right now, they needed to spread the word about Time Hospital¡¯s treacherous nature before more people fell victim. This instance was trickier than most ¨C Yu Xiao was certain the vast majority would succumb once inside.


    Because after passing through that first door, there was almost no hope of escape. It was even scarier than Sage Hospital, where at least you could try fighting your way out.


    Ah Dong didn¡¯t refuse. He quickly edited Yu Xiao¡¯s message and selected his entire contact list to receive it.


    Suddenly, a familiar name caught Yu Xiao¡¯s eye. ¡°Wait.¡±


    Ah Dong turned to her, and she pointed to the name. ¡°Jiang Nan Qiao, is she from Second Hospital? Do you know her?¡±


    ¡°You know her too?¡± Ah Dong¡¯s brow furrowed. ¡°She¡¯s been dead for many years.¡±


    Yu Xiao felt a chill. Jiang Nan Qiao must not have made it out of Time Hospital. But Ah Dong¡¯s next words made her blood run cold:


    ¡°It was probably about five years ago. Her ward got a team card and merged with ours. She died in an instance called Hospital Photography Studio.¡±


    Yu Xiao¡¯s mind reeled. ¡°She didn¡¯t die in Time Hospital?¡±


    Ah Dong seemed equally confused. ¡°She probably never went there.¡±


    ¡°But how?¡± Yu Xiao insisted. ¡°I saw her myself in Time Hospital!¡±


    An uneasy silence stretched between them. Finally, Ah Dong said, ¡°This¡­¡±


    He quickly dialled a number. ¡°A patient from Jiang Nan Qiao¡¯s old ward. I haven¡¯t reached out in years, but I have to know¡­¡± His voice caught. ¡°I hope she¡¯s still alive.¡±


    The call connected, and a voice answered¡­


    Ah Dong put the phone on speaker. A hoarse female voice crackled through. ¡°I got your message. Are you¡­holding up okay these days?¡±


    Ah Dong swallowed hard. ¡°Xiao Long is dead.¡±


    Silence crashed over the line like a tidal wave.


    Finally, the woman¡¯s voice wavered. ¡°So you called just to tell me that?¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s something I need to confirm.¡± Ah Dong¡¯s tone was granite. ¡°Did Jiang Nan Qiao ever go to Time Hospital?¡±


    ¡°Qiao?¡± The voice dropped to a hush. ¡°Why bring her up? She never went there ¨C we were always together.¡±


    Ah Dong paused, measuring his next words. ¡°I brought someone out of the instance. She claims she saw Qiao there.¡±


    Another deafening silence. Then, hysterical: ¡°Are you insane? Brought someone out of an instance? Those beings aren¡¯t even people! Xiao Long is gone, and now you want to get yourself killed too¡­¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m alive.¡± Yu Xiao leaned in close to the phone. ¡°A patient at Sixth Hospital ¨C maybe you¡¯ve heard of me? ¡®Deaf Descendant¡¯ is my nickname. And I really did see Jiang Nan Qiao.¡±


    This time, the silence stretched taut as a garotte wire before finally snapping. ¡°How can you prove it?¡±


    ¡°I can call you from my own number,¡± Yu Xiao said evenly.


    Whether the woman believed her claim or was simply desperate to understand, her voice trembled. ¡°You saw Qiao? Tell me everything.¡±


    Yu Xiao recounted the encounter in disturbing detail, leaving the caller shaken. ¡°Impossible. We never went anywhere near a Time instance. We stuck together.¡±


    ¡°I know exactly what¡¯s going on.¡± Yu Xiao¡¯s jaw was set.


    ¡°What?¡± Ah Dong searched her expression.


    ¡°That Jiang Nan Qiao was me.¡± She exhaled slowly. ¡°That¡¯s how I¡¯ll get back to my friends.¡±


    Stunned silence ballooned over the speaker. Finally, the raspy voice asked: ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll enter Time Hospital as Jiang Nan Qiao,¡± Yu Xiao said with grim resolve. ¡°That¡¯s my way back.¡±

 Chapter 142: Come Find Me

    Yu Xiao¡¯s words seemed to suck all the sound from the room. An oppressive silence smothered both ends of the phone line.


    Finally, the raspy voice broke through the stillness. ¡°Wang Dong Dong (Íõ¶«¶«: ¡°Monarch from the East¡± or ¡°Eastern King¡±), did you seriously bring back a lunatic?¡±


    (Íõ (W¨¢ng): This is a common Chinese surname which means ¡°king¡± or ¡°monarch¡±. It is one of the most prevalent surnames in China and often symbolises power and authority.¶« (D¨­ng): means ¡°east¡±. When used twice as in ¶«¶«, it can imply a doubling of the concept, suggesting ¡°from the east¡± or ¡°eastern¡±.Íõ¶«¶« (W¨¢ng D¨­ngd¨­ng) could be interpreted as ¡°Monarch from the East¡± or ¡°Eastern King¡±)


    Wang Dong Dong ¨C known as Ah Dong ¨C flinched at the use of his full name. He despised it, only ever offering it when absolutely necessary. Being addressed so bluntly caught him off guard.


    His face flushed. ¡°Don¡¯t talk nonsense. Who¡¯s the real madwoman here?¡±


    Yu Xiao hadn¡¯t fully thought through her hasty plan when she blurted it out. But reflecting now, it seemed the only viable option. Every other scheme had hit a dead end, but if she could truly inhabit Jiang Nan Qiao Nan Qiao¡¯s identity, she could re-enter Time Hospital and reunite with Misty and Precious.


    Back in that mind-warping purgatory, she hadn¡¯t noticed anything amiss about Jiang Nan Qiao. But the slightest deviation in her behaviour could ripple outward, altering consequences in unknowable ways. Yu Xiao didn¡¯t want to risk derailing events ¨C she simply needed to reproduce that timeline exactly.


    Her tone turned conciliatory. ¡°Excuse me, miss. Do you happen to have Jiang Nan Qiao¡¯s phone? I¡¯d like to borrow it, just for a moment.¡±


    The response was a decisive click as the caller hung up.


    Yu Xiao looked up at Ah Dong, perplexed. ¡°She hung up on me.¡±


    He seemed troubled. ¡°Jiang Nan Qiao was inseparable from that phone, same as me and Xiao Long. It¡¯s her only keepsake, so¡­¡±


    Understanding his meaning, Yu Xiao gnawed her lip anxiously. ¡°Since you¡¯re good friends, could you maybe persuade her? For me?¡±


    Ah Dong looked utterly baffled. ¡°Who said we¡¯re friends?¡±


    Yu Xiao blinked in confusion.


    ¡°We just know each other,¡± he clarified. ¡°Run some instances together sometimes.¡±


    ¡°Ah.¡± She realised then ¨C their relationship mirrored her own with Luo Jin and the others. Acquaintances. Occasional collaborators. Friends, but not intimately so.


    ¡°In that case, how can I get her to agree?¡± Yu Xiao pressed. ¡°I really need Jiang Nan Qiao¡¯s phone.¡±


    Ah Dong still didn¡¯t grasp her intentions. ¡°Why are you so insistent about her phone specifically?¡±


    Yu Xiao carefully explained. ¡°Because I saw Jiang Nan Qiao at Time Hospital. If that wasn¡¯t the real her, it means someone impersonated her identity. And that person is bound to encounter my friends¡­¡±


    She detailed her reasoning, and realisation dawned on Ah Dong¡¯s face. But then another thought struck him.


    ¡°You¡¯re saying the outcome won¡¯t change?¡±


    ¡°Exactly.¡± Yu Xiao nodded. ¡°Did you see those words carved into the wall? That¡¯s already predetermined.¡±


    ¡°But¡­¡± Ah Dong frowned. ¡°I just thought of something.¡±


    ¡°What is it?¡±


    He gestured between them. ¡°You said you haven¡¯t actually been to Time Hospital yet in our current timeline, right?¡±


    ¡°Right,¡± Yu Xiao confirmed. ¡°Not until two more instances from now.¡±


    ¡°But you just posted details about Time Hospital on the forum.¡± Ah Dong pointed out the paradox. ¡°So if you haven¡¯t been there, how could you not seen that post?¡±


    Yu Xiao froze, the realisation sinking in like an ice bath. She hadn¡¯t considered the implications when casually posting earlier. But of course ¨C Misty and Precious frequently browsed the Sixth Hospital forum. There was no way they could have missed that warning.


    Her hands trembled as she reopened the forum app.


    The post was gone. Vanished without a trace.


    ¡°How could it just disappear?¡±


    Ah Dong knew nothing about online forums. ¡°Is something wrong with your phone?¡±


    ¡°No, that post went live,¡± Yu Xiao insisted, searching in vain. ¡°Even if I smash my phone, it shouldn¡¯t affect published content.¡±


    As she frowned over this new mystery, Ah Dong asked, ¡°Are only patients able to post on the forum?¡±


    ¡°No, there are also¡­¡± Yu Xiao trailed off, finally remembering. For so long, only patients posted whatever they wished with impunity. But on the first day Sixth Hospital opened, before any residents reached Level Three clearance to contribute¡­


    There had been a single post already on the forum.


    ¡¾Regulations of the Sixth Hospital.¡¿


    The poster was an administrator ¨C Yu Xiao finally recalled the Sixth Hospital forum had moderators overseeing it.


    But she still didn¡¯t understand. She¡¯d shared details about other treacherous instances before with no issue. Posts like hers littered the Fourth Hospital¡¯s forum. So why had this one disappeared into the ether?


    The two puzzled over it fruitlessly. A restless idea nagged at the back of Yu Xiao¡¯s mind ¨C she should just call herself directly.


    Not everyone got the chance to hold a conversation spanning timelines.


    In the end, she dismissed the notion. No way to predict what ripples even the smallest change could unleash across the fabric of the future.


    ¡°Brother Dong,¡± she tried again. ¡°Is there really no way to persuade her? What does she need? I have many talisman function cards I could offer.¡± Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Wang Dong Dong considered. ¡°She¡­is very capable. Uses more physical combat cards than me ¨C her strength outclasses mine by far. Ordinary talismans wouldn¡¯t tempt her.¡± He exhaled heavily. ¡°If I had to guess her real need¡­loneliness, I¡¯d say. She¡¯s been alone in that ward over five years now. If it were me, I might¡¯ve lost my mind ages ago.¡±


    Yu Xiao¡¯s breath caught, suddenly recalling Wide Sea and Sky. Should she send Teng Jing Zhi¡¯s video message now?


    No, she quickly realised ¨C at this point, she didn¡¯t actually know Wide Sea and Sky yet. And her ancient brick of a phone couldn¡¯t handle video files anyway.


    ¡°Give me her number,¡± Yu Xiao said firmly, opening her contacts. ¡°I¡¯ll call her myself. What¡¯s her name?¡±


    ¡°Yu Qing Lang (ÓÝÇçÀÊ: ¡°Foreseeing Bright Clarity¡±),¡± replied Ah Dong. ¡°Her nickname is South Bank of the River (½­ÄÏ°¶: Ji¨¡ng N¨¢n¡¯¨¤n).¡±


    ÓÝ (Y¨²): This surname can be associated with the meaning of ¡°foreseeing¡± or ¡°concerning¡± as it is often related to the idea of caring for others or anticipating something.Çç (Q¨ªng): means ¡°clear¡± or ¡°sunny¡±. It is often used to describe weather and can imply brightness or clarity.ÀÊ (L¨£ng): means ¡°bright¡± or ¡°clear¡±. It is frequently used to describe a clear sky or a bright, cheerful disposition.(ÓÝÇçÀÊ (Y¨² Q¨ªngl¨£ng) could be interpreted as ¡°Foreseeing Bright Clarity¡±, suggesting someone who is optimistic and has a clear vision or foresight.)


    **


    The piercing ringtone shattered the uneasy quiet of the ward ¨C a rare occurrence. Sometimes it was like this ¨C months, even years of silence until suddenly the calls came in a flurry, one after another.


    A frail, bony hand fumbled for the phone, the caller ID displaying an unfamiliar number. After a moment¡¯s hesitation, she answered, greeted by a clear, bright female voice:


    ¡°Hello, Sister Qing Lang? It¡¯s Yu Xiao, from earlier¡­¡±


    **


    (འ(Click¡­): This represents the sound of ending a phone call, similar to the English ¡°click.¡±)


    Wang Dong Dong¡¯s cheek twitched, but Yu Xiao remained undeterred, redialing immediately. An eternity seemed to pass before the line crackled to life again with Yu Qing Lang¡¯s irritated rasp.


    ¡°Any idea how annoying you are?¡±


    ¡°I do,¡± Yu Xiao played the pity card. ¡°Believe me, I don¡¯t want to bother you. But I have no choice. My two best friends ¨C my lifelines ¨C they¡¯re still trapped in that hellish instance, waiting for me. If I can¡¯t get back to them¡­¡± She choked back a sob. ¡°They might wait until they starve. I can¡¯t lose them¡­¡±


    Silence hung heavy as Yu Qing Lang digested her words. Finally: ¡°Do you know that phone is the only thing Nan Qiao left me?¡±


    ¡°I understand.¡± Yu Xiao¡¯s voice thickened with false remorse. ¡°And I swear, I¡¯ll return it, safe and sound. You can ask anything of me ¨C I¡¯ll give you every talisman, every ability card I own¡­¡±


    Veins bulged in Qing Lang¡¯s forehead. ¡°I don¡¯t need any of that garbage.¡±


    ¡°Please, Big Sister Qing Lang¡­¡± Yu Xiao tried a different tack.


    ¡°Don¡¯t call me that.¡± Yu Qing Lang¡¯s tone was final, broaching no argument.


    The line went dead. Yu Xiao and Ah Dong exhaled twin sighs of frustration. He patted her shoulder consolingly.


    ¡°Let¡¯s regroup. Think of another angle.¡±


    But they were fresh out of options. Even if they did manage to return to Sixth Hospital against all odds, what then? Yu Xiao cradled her head, mind racing.


    Thinking took its toll ¨C before they knew it, dinnertime had rolled around. Ah Dong fetched their meal, conflicted thoughts gnawing at him. He¡¯d just checked ¨C neither of them had clean towels. If Yu Xiao wanted to bathe tonight, she¡¯d have to make do with the ones he had had.


    He warred with himself. Never did Ah Dong imagine he¡¯d agonise so intensely over something as trivial as towels.


    **


    What they couldn¡¯t know was that someone else, tucked away in another ward, was similarly conflicted.


    Yu Qing Lang had shut Yu Xiao down cold over the phone. But ever since angrily hanging up, she kept stealing glances at her silent mobile, somehow hoping it would ring again.


    An inexplicable anger burned within her. Who did that girl think she was, giving up so easily at the first rejection? Didn¡¯t have real friends after all if she abandoned them that readily,


    **


    Over their sombre dinner, Ah Dong shifted uncomfortably. ¡°Tonight¡­I might have one of those dreams again. Sometimes I can¡¯t¡­control myself.¡± His jaw tightened. ¡°Best if I sleep in the bathroom, just to be safe.¡±


    ¡°How did you and Xiao Long handle it?¡± Yu Xiao asked tentatively.


    ¡°Similar situations.¡± Ah Dong let out a strained chuckle. ¡°Relatively safer that way. But you¡¯re different ¨C you seem pretty normal.¡±


    Yu Xiao¡¯s gut twisted with guilt. This was Ah Dong¡¯s space, his sanctuary. Yet her selfish quest had invaded it, forcing him from his own bed.


    ¡°It¡¯s alright,¡± he assured her, reading her expression. ¡°Even sleeping here doesn¡¯t guarantee peace.¡±


    That night, Yu Xiao¡¯s slumber was plagued by worries. Visions of Misty and Precious waiting endlessly, withering away into husks like Zhang Qi Qi¡­


    ¡°I really want¡­to live another five hundred years¡­¡±


    She woke up drenched in a cold sweat, the dream¡¯s despair clinging like a second skin despite its irrationality.


    Without fully checking the caller ID, Yu Xiao answered the ringing phone with a groggy ¡°Hello?¡±


    ¡°You fell asleep?¡± The chilly voice on the other end dripped with disdain.


    Yu Xiao paused, momentarily lost. Then recognition sank in. ¡°Sister Nan Qiao?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t call me that,¡± Jiang Nan Qiao scoffed. ¡°Sleeping soundly while your friends¡¯ lives hang by a thread?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s¡­a medical condition,¡± Yu Xiao lied, now fully awake. ¡°A brain tumour ¨C I can¡¯t stay awake indefinitely. But Sister, why did you call? Have you reconsidered?¡±


    An icy beat of silence. ¡°You¡¯re dreaming,¡± Jiang Nan Qiao finally said.


    ¡°Oh?¡± Yu Xiao rallied with forced lightness. ¡°Bored and lonely over there? I can keep you company if you¡¯d like, Sister.¡±


    Over a decade of treading these haunted hospital halls, Yu Qing Lang had never encountered anyone quite like this stranger. Despite her prickly demeanour, Yu Xiao insisted on that overly familiar ¡°Sister¡± address as if they were the closest of kin.


    ¡°You¡­¡± Yu Qing Lang struggled to find her footing. ¡°Do you just call everyone ¡®Sister¡¯?¡±


    ¡°Men don¡¯t like it if I do,¡± Yu Xiao quipped lightly.


    Yu Qing Lang found herself momentarily stunned into silence. She rallied with a subject change. ¡°How long have you been stuck in this place?¡±


    ¡°Since Sixth Hospital first opened ¨C not even a year yet,¡± came the breezy reply. ¡°What about you, Sister?¡±


    ¡°Over ten¡­¡± Yu Qing Lang caught herself, tone hardening once more. ¡°Why should I tell you anything?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re right, my mistake.¡± Yu Xiao acquiesced easily enough.


    It wasn¡¯t that she was particularly good-natured. Simply that antagonising Yu Qing Lang did nothing to further her goals. Yu Xiao needed that phone ¨C best to keep her ill-tempered keeper appeased through flattery if necessary. Loaning the device would be easier than any riskier alternative methods.


    Yu Qing Lang found her thoughts drifting back to those first terrifying days at Second Hospital. What had she been like then? The memories blurred, details smudging in the recesses of her mind. All she could summon was that pervasive, gripping fear that made sleep impossible.


    Yet not sleeping carried its own insidious dangers¡­


    The swirling recollections left Yu Qing Lang¡¯s mood muddied as stone.


    ¡°Are you still afraid now?¡± she asked abruptly.


    ¡°Not anymore.¡± Yu Xiao¡¯s voice remained infuriatingly light. ¡°I¡¯ve adapted.¡±


    ¡°Good adaptability,¡± Yu Qing Lang mused. No wonder this girl ranked so highly at Sixth ¨C her luck seemed remarkably fortuitous if she could indeed draw talismans as claimed.


    Yu Xiao hesitated, fingers twitching against the phone.


    Was this conversation actually going well? Could she risk circling back to that whole ¡®borrowing Nan Qiao¡¯s mobile¡¯ thing without Yu Qing Lang hanging up on her again?


    ¡°I know your plan to impersonate Nan Qiao,¡± Yu Qing Lang said abruptly. ¡°Needing her phone is just the start ¨C you¡¯ll have to mimic her appearance as well.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve seen her in the instance,¡± Yu Xiao confirmed. ¡°I know what she looks like.¡±


    A sinister chuckle crackled over the line, raising the fine hairs on Yu Xiao¡¯s nape. ¡°If that¡¯s truly what you want, pumpkin¡­maybe I could be persuaded to loan out her phone.¡±


    Yu Xiao¡¯s heart kicked into high gear. ¡°Name your price.¡±


    Yu Qing Lang stated flatly. ¡°Come to my ward, and I¡¯ll hand it over myself.¡±


    The line went dead. Yu Xiao stood dumbfounded for three full seconds before her gaze slid instinctively toward the door. She¡¯d been institutionalised for so long, observing the outside world only through her sunglasses. Never once had she attempted to set foot beyond that threshold.


    Even opening it a crack for meals or deliveries felt foolishly risky. But now¡­should she actually brave whatever hells awaited out there?


    Could she possibly come back breathing?


    ¡°Abso-fucking-lutely not.¡± Ah Dong¡¯s veto was immediate, voice hard as iron. ¡°It¡¯s far too dangerous out there.¡±


    Yu Xiao frowned stubbornly. ¡°I¡¯ll just slip out for a bit to find her ward. I have plenty of ability cards and talisman skills.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s nothing like an instance,¡± he insisted, tone brooking no argument. ¡°Sure, the haunts in the instances still follow a few rules. But anything slimming around beyond this door?¡± His nostrils flared like an irate bull¡¯s. ¡°Only rule they know is don¡¯t come in here.¡±


    Yu Xiao worried her lip. ¡°But I have to go.¡±


    ¡°Then I¡¯m calling that old crank right now and set her salty ass straight.¡± Ah Dong made to grab the phone.


    ¡°Don¡¯t!¡± She caught his wrist. ¡°If you anger her, she may never lend me that phone. Besides, every avenue requires me leaving this ward eventually. It¡¯s just across to another Second Hospital ward ¨C not that far at all.¡±


    Seeing the resolve in her eyes, Ah Dong let out a frustrated breath. ¡°Wait here. Let me consult some others, see if anyone has a better idea.¡±


    Yu Xiao watched him dig out an ancient address book, dialling number after number into the dead of night.

 Chapter 143: Flying to Someone Elses Bed To Save You

    A quick glance at the clock sent a shiver down Yu Xiao¡¯s spine. Half past two in the morning. Was THIS really the time for a phone call?


    Wang Dong Dong, seemingly unfazed by the ungodly hour, punched in a number. The first attempt was met with the soul-crushing monotone of an automated message ¨C ¡°The number you have dialled is currently switched off.¡± His face fell, but only for a moment. He tried again.


    This time, success! Yu Xiao could faintly hear a gruff voice on the other end, ¡°What?¡±


    Relief washed over Wang Dong Dong. For someone who¡¯d spent as much time in the Second Hospital as he had, his contact list was looking pretty grim these days.


    ¡°There¡¯s something I need to discuss,¡± he began, ¡°Yesterday, I brought someone out from a instance¡­¡±


    ¡°Hold on, what?!¡± The voice on the other end crackled with alarm. ¡°Did you just say you brought a GHOST out?!¡±


    ¡°No, no, not a ghost, a person!¡± Wang Dong Dong quickly clarified before launching into a breathless explanation of Yu Xiao¡¯s predicament. ¡°So, do you have any way to get her safely to Yu Qing Lang¡¯s ward?¡±


    A disbelieving scoff echoed from the phone. ¡°Sure, In your dreams, pal. In your dreams.¡±


    Yu Xiao¡¯s heart sank, but Wang Dong Dong was undeterred. He continued to work his way down his contact list, waking up every soul (still living, and not stuck in a copy) that he knew. Most were less than thrilled to be roused at this hour, which Yu Xiao couldn¡¯t really blame them for. Seriously, who enjoys a 3 am wake-up call?


    Finally, he got through to someone.


    ¡°Ah Fei,¡± he said, his voice taking on an uncharacteristically serious tone. ¡°There¡¯s something I need to ask you.¡±


    ¡°Whoa, there, Dong Dong,¡± a cheerful voice replied. ¡°Why so formal? You¡¯re freaking me out, man.¡±


    ¡°I brought someone out from a copy,¡± Wang Dong Dong stated.


    A beat of silence. Then, ¡°And you want me to save your butt, right?¡±


    ¡°Not me,¡± Wang Dong Dong corrected, patiently rehashing the situation for what felt like the hundredth time that night. ¡°Is there ANY way you can make sure she reaches Yu Qing Lang¡¯s ward safely? If you can¡¯t do it, we¡¯re fresh out of options.¡±


    Another pause, this one heavier than the last. ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s¡­ that¡¯s a tough one. Even a fresh ghost can¡¯t come back from out there, let alone a living person.¡±


    Wang Dong Dong sighed, casting a worried glance at Yu Xiao.


    ¡°But,¡± the voice continued, ¡°I kinda like this kid. Young, loyal¡­ reminds me of myself, back in the day. Tell you what, I¡¯ll help her.¡±


    Wang Dong Dong¡¯s face lit up. ¡°Really? How?¡±


    ¡°Haven¡¯t figured that part out yet.¡±


    The light in Wang Dong Dong¡¯s eyes flickered and died. ¡°We¡¯re kind of on a clock here, you know?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, yeah, I get it. Brain¡¯s a bit fried right now, not exactly firing on all cylinders. Look, tell you what, I¡¯ll have an answer for you by tomorrow afternoon. How¡¯s that sound?¡±


    ¡°Alright,¡± Wang Dong Dong said, clinging to this sliver of hope. ¡°But don¡¯t forget about us!¡±


    The line went dead. Yu Xiao, unable to contain her curiosity any longer, piped up, ¡°Who was that? He sounded¡­ capable. Do you think he can actually do it?¡±


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Wang Dong Dong said, a slow grin spreading across his face. ¡°I think you might have heard of him.¡±


    ¡°Really?¡± Yu Xiao¡¯s eyebrows shot up, scepticism tingling her voice.


    Wang Dong Dong chuckled, pouring himself a steaming cup of hot water. ¡°His nickname? ¡®Flying to Someone Else¡¯s Bed¡¯.¡±


    The words hung in the air for a moment before Yu Xiao practically leaped out of her skin. ¡°You¡¯re kidding! That ¡®Flying to Someone Else¡¯s Bed¡¯? The top dog of the Second Hospital?!¡±


    ¡°The one and only,¡± Wang Dong Dong confirmed with a grin, taking a long gulp of his drink. ¡°Quite the character, that one. But good people, deep down. If anyone can pull this off, it¡¯s him. You might¡­ just might¡­ make it to Yu Qinglang¡¯s ward in one piece.¡±


    Despite his words, Wang Dong Dong¡¯s tone lacked its usual confidence. Yu Xiao, her mind racing, latched onto the nickname. ¡°If he¡¯s ranked that high, shouldn¡¯t he be even more susceptible to the yin energy? But he sounded completely normal on the phone, totally alert.¡±


    Wang Dong Dong¡¯s expression turned serious. ¡°And why do you think that is? Why would he be so wide awake at three in the morning?¡±


    Yu Xiao fell silent, a shiver running down her spine.


    ¡°So now what?¡± she finally asked. ¡°We just¡­ wait?¡±


    ¡°First things first,¡± Wang Dong Dong said, ¡°we sleep. You¡¯re going to need your wits about you tomorrow.¡±


    It was sound advice. Yu Xiao crawled back into bed and, this time, sleep came without the burden of nightmares.


    She woke to the saccharine sound of the eight o¡¯clock chime, a groan escaping her lips as she opened her eyes. Wang Dong Dong was already up, two empty teacups on the table beside him and dark circles etched beneath his eyes.


    Yu Xiao lay in bed, a wave of weariness washing over her as the gentle strains of music filled the room.


    A sudden thought struck her. ¡°Has that music ever changed? In all the time you¡¯ve been here?¡±


    Wang Dong Dong grimaced as if he¡¯d bitten into something sour. ¡°Never. I¡¯m about to climb the walls every time it comes on.¡±


    Yu Xiao sighed, wondering how much longer she¡¯d be subjected to this auditory torture.


    ¡°A beautiful day begins now,¡± chirped the radio announcer. ¡°And now for the morning news¡­¡±


    Wang Dong Dong, noticing Yu Xiao¡¯s expression, chuckled. ¡°Heard this one before, have you?¡±


    ¡°Oh yeah,¡± Yu Xiao groaned, sitting up in bed. A thought occurred to her. ¡°If there are no shops here¡­ how do you buy talismans and charms?¡±


    Wang Dong Dong pulled open a drawer and retrieved a brightly coloured flyer, tossing it onto the bed. ¡°You call the number on this.¡±


    Yu Xiao picked up the flyer. It advertised a paper goods shop, its offerings crammed onto the page in a dizzying array. At the bottom, printed in bold red ink, was a phone number. It looked strangely old-fashioned, the kind you¡¯d see on a hand-scrawled advertisement stuck to a telephone pole.


    ¡°But what if you need to *sell* something?¡± Yu Xiao asked. ¡°Isn¡¯t that a hassle?¡±


    ¡°Same number,¡± Wang Dong Dong said with a shrug. ¡°They¡¯ll lowball you, though.¡±


    (In Chinese marketplaces, haggling and negotiating prices are common practices. The phrase ¡°±»Ñ¹¼Û¡± (be pressured on the price) reflects a typical scenario where sellers might have to accept lower offers. )


    Even for someone accustomed to the hospital¡¯s unique brand of capitalism, Yu Xiao was flabbergasted.


    ¡°When I return, I¡¯ll send you a smartphone,¡± Yu Xiao said. ¡°Then you can buy and sell things in the Sixth Hospital marketplace.¡±


    Wang Dong Dong, though not entirely grasping the concept, nodded enthusiastically.


    Around noon, Wang Dong Dong¡¯s phone sprang to life. It was ¡®Flying to Someone Else¡¯s Bed¡¯ calling back. Wang Dong Dong, practically vibrating with anticipation, snatched up the phone, his excitement eclipsing even Yu Xiao¡¯s.


    ¡°Brother!¡± he practically shouted into the receiver. ¡°Did you work out a solution?¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s a way,¡± came the reply. ¡°Woke up with a brilliant idea, actually. Only problem is, it needs a lot of manpower. Ask your little friend what she can offer as a reward.¡±


    Wang Dong Dong shot Yu Xiao a questioning look. She didn¡¯t hesitate.


    ¡°I¡¯m a skilled talisman maker,¡± she said. ¡°High success rate. I can provide everyone with talismans. Plus, I¡¯ve got a bunch of function cards I¡¯m willing to part with.¡±


    There was a pause on the other end. ¡®Flying to Someone Else¡¯s Bed¡¯ asked, ¡°Anything else?¡±


    ¡°Uh¡­¡± Yu Xiao wracked her brain. Weren¡¯t those offers good enough? ¡°How about,¡± she began tentatively, ¡°a smartphone for each of you? With a registered account on the Sixth Hospital forum?¡±


    The line crackled with excitement. ¡°Deal!¡±


    Yu Xiao wiped a bead of sweat from her brow. Beside her, Wang Dong Dong was practically bouncing off the walls.


    ¡°So, what¡¯s the plan?¡± he asked, speaking for both of them.


    ¡°Oh, it¡¯s simple,¡± ¡®Flying to Someone Else¡¯s Bed¡¯ said breezily. ¡°If she goes out alone, she¡¯s a beacon for trouble, right? But if EVERY patient goes out, she blends right in. No one even bats an eyelid. She waltzes right into Yu Qing Lang¡¯s ward, easy peasy.¡±


    Wang Dong Dong stared at the phone, his jaw hanging slack. ¡°Are you insane?¡±


    ¡°A little,¡± came the cheerful reply.


    ¡°If you¡¯re going crazy, don¡¯t drag everyone else down with you!¡± Wang Dong Dong sputtered. ¡°Have you even thought this through?!¡±


    ¡°Of course I have,¡± ¡®Flying to Someone Else¡¯s Bed¡¯ said, his voice taking on a rare note of seriousness. ¡°Look, everyone here is wound tighter than a drum. One of these days, they¡¯re all gonna snap. This is their chance! Get out, let loose, blow off some steam. It¡¯ll be therapeutic!¡±


    Yu Xiao and Wang Dong Dong exchanged a look of pure bewilderment.


    ¡°Isn¡¯t that¡­ a tad dangerous?¡± Yu Xiao asked, her voice barely a whisper.


    ¡°Ah, little one, I understand your concern,¡± ¡®Flying to Someone Else¡¯s Bed¡¯ said, his tone reassuring. ¡°But you¡¯re thinking like a Sixth Hospital newbie. We¡¯re veterans here in the Second. If we all storm the gates, who¡¯s really in danger?¡±


    (ÀÏÓÍÌõ (l¨£o y¨®uti¨¢o): ¡°Old hands¡± or ¡°old slickers.¡± This slang term describes someone experienced and street-smart, often used to indicate someone who knows how to handle tricky situations.)


    Suddenly, it hit Yu Xiao like a bolt of lightning. This whole crazy scheme¡­ it felt eerily familiar. And then she remembered. The mass patient breakout at the Second Hospital that had made the news a while back! The one that had resulted in the three-headed dog director and the capture of the ringleader¡­  S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Absolutely not,¡± she said, shaking her head vehemently. ¡°Even if it¡¯s not dangerous, it¡¯s against the rules! We¡¯ll be hauled off to the medical dispute office faster than you can say ¡®malpractice¡¯!¡±


    A hearty laugh echoed from a nearby bed. ¡°Smart cookie, I¡¯ll give you that. But do you really think a seasoned veteran like myself hasn¡¯t considered that?¡±


    ¡°Then what¡¯s your solution?¡± Yu Xiao countered.


    ¡°Collective irresponsibility, my dear,¡± the voice said matter-of-factly. ¡°In a big ol¡¯ kerfuffle like this, they only go after the leader. And lucky for us, I¡¯ve found the perfect patsy.¡±


    (·¨²»ÔðÖÚ : This is a Chinese idiom meaning ¡°the law does not punish the masses,¡± often used to suggest that when many people are involved in wrongdoing, it¡¯s difficult to hold them all accountable.Ìæ×ï¸áÑò (scapegoat): This is a direct translation of the idiom meaning someone who takes the blame for others, similar to its use in English.)


    ¡°Who?¡± Wang Dong Dong piped up, curiosity piqued.


    ¡°Xiao Long, of course,¡± the voice replied. ¡°Who better? Here¡¯s the plan: you, young lady, transform into our dearly departed friend. Make a big show of storming out, get everyone riled up. Once the coast is clear, you slip away. When they ask who started it, we all point the finger at Xiao Long. Case closed. Who¡¯s gonna prosecute a dead guy?¡±


    Yu Xiao couldn¡¯t help but be impressed. This old fox had it all figured out.


    The mention of Xiao Long, however, brought a shadow over Wang Dong Dong¡¯s face. He quickly masked his emotions, forcing a smile.


    ¡°Alright,¡± he said. ¡°Let¡¯s do it. Just let us know when it¡¯s go time.¡±


    Truth be told, a thrill of excitement coursed through Yu Xiao. For the first time, she¡¯d be stepping outside the ward, into the unknown.


    ¡°Are you coming too?¡± she asked Wang Dong Dong.


    He nodded, his expression turning sombre. Once Yu Xiao left, he¡¯d be completely alone.


    He knew many patients braved their instances solo, but the thought filled him with a chilling dread. He wasn¡¯t sure he had that kind of strength in him.


    Yu Xiao saw the fear in his eyes. She hesitated for a moment, then spoke.


    ¡°What if¡­¡± she began, choosing her words carefully, ¡°what if someone took Xiao Long¡¯s place? And stayed here in the Second Hospital?¡±


    Wang Dong Dong¡¯s head shot up. ¡°You¡­ you wouldn¡¯t leave?¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s someone I met in Time Hospital,¡± Yu Xiao explained. ¡°She missed her chance to go back. The only way she can leave is if she takes someone else¡¯s place¡­¡±


    She didn¡¯t need to say more. Wang Dong Dong understood.


    He and Xiao Long had been through thick and thin. The thought of someone taking his place¡­ it didn¡¯t sit well with him. But the alternative, the suffocating loneliness¡­


    ¡°Let me think about it,¡± he finally said, his voice heavy with the weight of the decision. ¡°I¡¯ll give you an answer before you go into the instance.¡±


    Yu Xiao nodded, respecting his need for time. She wanted to give Ye Tao a fighting chance, but whether that chance came to pass¡­ well, some things weren¡¯t hers to control.


    Two hours later, a message from ¡®Flying to Someone Else¡¯s Bed¡¯ flashed across Wang Dong Dong¡¯s phone.


    ¡¾ Showtime. ¡¿


    A shared look passed between Yu Xiao and Wang Dong Dong. With a deep breath, Yu Xiao pulled out a wig and donned it, once again transforming into the likeness of Xiao Long.


    They walked together to the ward door, a sense of nervous anticipation hanging in the air. As Wang Dong Dong reached for the handle, Yu Xiao stopped him.


    ¡°Wait,¡± she whispered, her voice barely audible above the unsettling silence of the hallway.


    ¡°What?¡± Confusion flickered across Wang Dong Dong¡¯s face.


    ¡°I need to go first,¡± Yu Xiao insisted.


    He searched her eyes for a moment, a silent question passing between them. Then, with a slow nod, he stepped back. Taking another deep breath, Yu Xiao gripped the door handle, a jolt of icy energy shooting up her arm. With a slow, deliberate push, she opened the door.


    The hallway beyond was swallowed by an oppressive darkness, the air thick with an unnatural chill that sent shivers down her spine. It was a darkness that seemed to cling to her, whispering secrets she couldn¡¯t understand.


    For a moment, she saw nothing but swirling shadows. Then, slowly, her vision began to adjust. The black mist that veiled the hallway remained, but she could make out shapes ¨C the looming outline of the opposite ward, the flickering glow of a strange light at the far corner.


    Footsteps echoed in the distance, drawing closer, their rhythm out of sync with any normal gait. And then came the whispers ¨C soft, sibilant murmurs, as if countless voices were conspiring just beyond the veil of darkness.


    Yu Xiao steeled herself, drawing a deep breath before bellowing, ¡°Hey, you ugly lot! ¡®Little Dragon¡¯ thinks you¡¯re all a bunch of scaredy-cats! Watch as I beat the crap out of you!!¡±


    A stunned silence fell over the hallway. It was so quiet, Yu Xiao could practically hear the blood rushing in her ears.


    And then¡­ chaos.


    Heavy footsteps pounded towards her from all directions, a cacophony of scrapes and thuds that sent her pulse racing. Her heart hammered against her ribs. Where were those promised reinforcements?!


    Just as she was starting to regret her life choices, doors along the corridor began to creak open, one after another.


    Out they poured ¨C a motley crew of patients, tall and small, male and female, their features blurred and indistinct in the dim light.


    ¡°Whoa!¡± someone exclaimed, their voice echoing strangely in the darkness. ¡°Would you look at this crowd!¡±


    ¡°Hold on¡­ that voice¡­ Zhou Baby (Öܱ¦±¦), is that you?¡±


    ¡°The one and only! Hey, ¡®Get Rich Quick¡¯ (¸Ï½ô·¢²Æ), is that you over there?¡±


    ¡°You bet your bottom dollar it is!¡±


    In the blink of an eye, the hallway was transformed into a scene of utter pandemonium. Footsteps pounded against linoleum, ghostly wails mingled with excited shouts, and the air crackled with a nervous energy that hadn¡¯t been felt in that hospital since¡­ well, probably ever.


    Seizing her chance amidst the chaos, Yu Xiao ducked low and sprinted towards Yu Qing Lang¡¯s ward, a chorus of otherworldly sounds at her heels.


    ¡°Argh! There¡¯s a giant octopus trying to trip me!¡±


    ¡°Whose skull is this?! It¡¯s staring at me!¡±


    ¡°Holy moly! The food cart is serving ACTUAL human souls!¡±


    Yu Xiao, already struggling with blurry vision, found herself practically blind as she stumbled through the chaotic crowd, her arms wrapped protectively around her head. One minute she¡¯d bump into a wailing ghoul, the next she¡¯d be flung into the bony embrace of a confused-looking ghost. It was a miracle she hadn¡¯t completely lost her bearings.


    Just as she was about to give in to despair, a strong hand grabbed hers, pulling her through the throng.


    ¡°Where do you think you¡¯re going, little lady?¡± a familiar voice chuckled. ¡°Stick with me.¡±


    Yu Xiao¡¯s head snapped up, her eyes widening in surprise. ¡°¡®Flying to Someone Else¡¯s Bed¡¯?¡±


    ¡°The one and only,¡± he said with a wink.


    She let herself be pulled along, squinting to get a better look at her rescuer. His long hair and bushy beard obscured most of his face, leaving only a pair of mischievous eyes twinkling in the dim light.


    Yu Xiao couldn¡¯t help but think that, for a guy with such a scandalous nickname, he looked surprisingly¡­ harmless.


    Finally, they reached a door.


    ¡°This is it!¡± ¡®Flying to Someone Else¡¯s Bed¡¯ shouted, his voice barely audible above the din. ¡°Get inside, quick!¡±


    Without waiting for a response, she hammered on the door, yelling, ¡°Sister Qing Lang! It¡¯s me! Open up!¡±


    Now, Yu Qing Lang had not been informed about this little mission. So, there she was, peacefully sleeping in her hospital bed when the sound of frantic knocking and a gruff male voice shouting ¡®Sister¡¯ jolted her awake.


    Her heart did a somersault. Why was everyone, dead or alive, calling her ¡®Sister¡¯ these days?


    ¡°I¡¯m here, just like I promised!¡± the voice boomed from the other side. ¡°Let me in!¡±


    Promised? A terrifying thought occurred to Yu Qing Lang. ¡°Yu¡­ Yu Xiao?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right! Open up!¡±

 Chapter 144: Need a Hug?

    Yu Qing Lang stood at the doorway, her mind still fuzzy from sleep. She heard a thunderous uproar outside her door. The clamour wasn¡¯t the usual hustle and bustle of the Second Hospital, where she¡¯d spent over a decade, but a cacophony that resembled a firecracker festival gone rogue.


    She stood paralyzed at the closed door, bewildered by the commotion. Finally, she called out, ¡°What in the world is going on out there?¡±


    What could Yu Xiao have possibly done to create such a ruckus? And how had she even managed to get here safely?


    Before she could ponder further, a sudden crash against the door made her jump.


    ¡°Ow! Who threw a skull at me?!¡± Yu Xiao¡¯s voice bellowed from the other side.


    ¡°S-Sorry, it was an accident¡­¡± another voice stammered.


    A chorus of apologetic murmurs followed.


    Yu Qing Lang¡¯s face drained of colour. ¡°Are there a lot of people out there?¡±


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Yu Xiao¡¯s voice confirmed, accompanied by the sound of scratching on the door. ¡°Sister Qing Lang, open up! It¡¯s pitch black out here, and I¡¯m terrified!¡±


    Yu Qing Lang ripped the door open, ready to face whatever monstrosity awaited. But it was a familiar face, grinning with Brother Long¡¯s signature saccharine smile, ¡°Sister Qing Lang ~~!¡±


    It was Brother Long¡¯s face¡­


    The sight was almost too much to bear. Yu Qing Lang squeezed her eyes shut, ¡°One more word in that voice with that face, and I swear¡­ I¡¯ll kill you.¡±


    Yu Xiao wisely clamped her mouth shut. Outside, a thick black fog swirled, obscuring the scene. Yu Qing Lang could sense chaos in the air, ¡°What the hell is going on out there?¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s go inside,¡± Yu Xiao nudged her way in, quickly shutting the door and flicking on the light. Off came the wig, revealing her youthful, almost innocent face.


    Yu Qing Lang had to admit, it suited the girl¡¯s penchant for calling everyone brother or sister.


    ¡°Sister Qing Lang,¡± Yu Xiao blinked those big eyes, ¡°I¡¯m here as you asked, about the phone¡­¡±


    Yu Qing Lang eyed the seemingly frail girl, lips pressed into a thin line, ¡°First, tell me what¡¯s happening outside.¡±


    ¡°Oh, outside?¡± Yu Xiao¡¯s face lit up with gratitude, ¡°Thanks to Dong Dong and Flying to Someone Else¡¯s Bed, most of the hospital patients are out there helping me find you. Flying to Someone Else¡¯s Bed figured if everyone¡¯s wandering around, I¡¯ll be safe.¡±


    Yu Qing Lang just stared, speechless.


    Yu Qing Lang¡¯s eye twitched. ¡®Flying to Someone Else¡¯s Bed¡¯ was really making her look like the villain here. This wasn¡¯t her doing!


    She glared at Yu Xiao, ¡°Don¡¯t call me sister. I don¡¯t have a sister.¡±


    Yu Xiao bit back a retort about not being able to call her ¡°auntie¡± either. She needed this woman¡¯s help.


    ¡°Qing Lang¡­ my dear,¡± Yu Xiao purred, ¡°I¡¯m here. Hand over the phone while it¡¯s still chaos outside. I¡¯ll be on my way.¡±


    Despite being in a hospital, Yu Qing Lang looked surprisingly youthful. Her skin, though, held an unsettling pallor, and her slender frame seemed fragile. Her large eyes lacked their usual spark, and her messy, shoulder-length hair framed a face etched with gloom. Dressed in a baggy t-shirt and shorts, she resembled a grumpy sparrow perched on the bed.


    She pointed a bony finger at Yu Xiao, ¡°Who said I¡¯m just handing over the phone because you showed up?¡±


    ¡°But you said on the phone¡­¡± Yu Xiao sputtered.


    A wicked grin spread across Yu Qing Lang¡¯s face, ¡°That was just one of the tests. You¡¯ll stay here for more.¡±


    Yu Xiao internally groaned. This woman loved her tests. ¡°Fine!¡± she huffed, plopping down. ¡°What other ridiculous tasks do you have in store?¡±


    Yu Qing Lang chuckled, glancing at the door. ¡°Speaking of outside¡­¡±


    ¡°Want to join the fun?¡± Yu Xiao offered.


    A scoff escaped Yu Qing Lang¡¯s lips. ¡°Do I look like an idiot? I¡¯m asking if we¡¯ll get any food with all this chaos.¡±


    A valid point. Yu Xiao hadn¡¯t thought of that, but she did remember a food truck on her way here. Probably abandoned due to the madness outside. She stood up, ¡°Wait here, I¡¯ll get you something.¡±


    As soon as the door creaked open, the familiar voice of ¡®Flying to Someone Else¡¯s Bed¡¯ boomed from outside, ¡°Where do you think you¡¯re going? Get back inside!¡±


    Yu Xiao poked her head out, ¡°Sister Qing Lang wants food.¡±


    ¡°Food is always a priority,¡± grumbled the voice, before yelling, ¡°Anyone seen the food truck? Bring some grub over here!¡±


    A new voice chimed in, ¡°The food truck¡¯s with me!¡±


    Another voice added, ¡°Human food or ghost food?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re a ghost,¡± Nightmare quipped back. ¡°Human food!¡±


    Before long, a large bundle of food was handed to Yu Xiao. ¡®Flying to Someone Else¡¯s Bed¡¯ glanced towards the other bed and warned, ¡°Stay put, alright?¡±


    Yu Xiao closed the door and presented the feast to Yu Qing Lang. ¡°Dig in, my dear, it¡¯s still warm.¡±


    Yu Qing Lang wasn¡¯t particularly hungry, having not eaten in three days ¨C not that she felt it. But she had requested the food, so she dutifully sat down.


    She picked at her meal, ears tuned to the commotion outside. ¡°How much longer?¡±


    Recalling the future news, Yu Xiao replied, ¡°Two more days, probably.¡±


    ¡°Tsk.¡± Yu Qing Lang nibbled on a shrimp.


    Yu Xiao¡¯s mind drifted to Misty and Precious. Once she found them, a quick illusion spell would convince them she¡¯d left. Then she¡¯d hide until her past self departed and she could reappear. Despite the second hospital¡¯s charm, her own ward beckoned.


    ¡°Aren¡¯t you eating?¡± Yu Qing Lang¡¯s voice interrupted her thoughts.


    ¡°Huh?¡± Yu Xiao quickly masked her distraction. ¡°I am, I am.¡± S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Yu Qing Lang glanced at her, suspecting she was distracted by her phone. After a beat of silence, she spoke, ¡°Nan Qiao died horribly.¡±


    Yu Xiao looked up, startled.


    Yu Qing Lang seemed unnaturally calm. ¡°We¡¯d been together for over ten years. Got complacent, thought we were invincible. Even planned our post-discharge life, opening a mobile phone shop. Apparently, smartphones are the future.¡±


    ¡°Um¡­ right. Go on,¡± Yu Xiao prompted.


    ¡°Then she died.¡± Yu Qing Lang¡¯s head shook slowly. ¡°I was blindsided. She couldn¡¯t even speak, just stared with wide eyes. Tried to transfer her points to me, but didn¡¯t make it.¡±


    ¡°I can impersonate her, transfer the points from her phone to you,¡± Yu Xiao offered.


    Yu Qing Lang¡¯s gaze sharpened, suddenly fierce. ¡°Is this all about points for you?!¡±


    Yu Xiao fell silent again under the intense stare.


    ¡°Why aren¡¯t you eating? You don¡¯t want to eat human food either?¡±


    Unable to refuse, Yu Xiao reluctantly shovelled food into her mouth.


    Suddenly, Yu Qing Lang slammed her hand on the table. ¡°You¡¯re right!¡± she exclaimed. ¡°We have to save them. It¡¯s too cruel to let them suffer alone.¡±


    Without pausing to wipe her hands, she reached under her pillow and produced a battered flip phone. ¡°Take it,¡± she said, thrusting it toward Yu Xiao.


    Yu Xiao eagerly reached out, but Yu Qing Lang didn¡¯t release it. ¡°One condition.¡±


    Yu Xiao nodded, already anticipating the demand.


    ¡°I¡¯m coming with you.¡±


    Yu Xiao opened her mouth to protest, but one look at Yu Qing Lang¡¯s determined face told her it was futile. She nodded again.


    Yu Qing Lang leaned forward, chin propped on her hands, staring intently. ¡°Can you transform into Nan Qiao for me?¡±


    ¡°My transformation item has a twelve-hour cooldown.¡±


    Without missing a beat, Yu Qing Lang produced a card. ¡°One-time appearance change card. Use it.¡±


    Hesitantly, Yu Xiao began to picture Jiang Nan Qiao¡¯s face. Yu Qing Lang then handed her a photo ¨C it was Nan Qiao, exactly as Yu Xiao remembered from Time Hospital.


    With the photo in hand, she transformed instantly.


    Yu Qing Lang gasped, tears welling in her eyes.


    Yu Xiao embraced the sobbing woman, gently patting her back. A wave of complex emotions washed over her. Since she entered the Sixth Hospital, all the patients she met were good people, struggling to survive in the ghostly world.


    She was lucky to have her talisman-drawing talent, a lifeline in her first instances. But moments like this filled her with resentment. Yu Qing Lang, Wang Dong Dong, and countless others worked tirelessly, their chances of escape slim to none.


    They¡¯d helped her immensely, yet her help in return felt paltry in comparison.


    Tears streamed down Yu Qing Lang¡¯s cheeks, her spirit seemingly crushed under an invisible weight.


    Beside her, Yu Xiao cleared away the leftovers of their meal, her presence a silent comfort. She handed Yu Qing Lang a freshly peeled orange and gently probed, ¡°How many more points do you need to gather?¡±


    Gazing back with hollow eyes, Yu Qing Lang gave a faint shake of her head. ¡°I¡¯m starting to feel like I don¡¯t belong out there anymore.¡±


    Yu Xiao frowned. Those words¡­they echoed like those of Wide Sea and Sky ¡°Why?¡±They said once we have enough points¡­¡±


    Yu Qing Lang¡¯s gaze dropped to her trembling hands. ¡°It¡¯s because I¡¯m scared to sleep. In my dreams, I¡¯m always devouring people. The pleasure I feel in those moments terrifies me when I awake. And when I see the faces of those from the Third and Fourth Hospital, I feel¡­ an urge.¡±


    Yu Xiao reached out, clasping her hand firmly. ¡°It¡¯s the Yin energy consuming you. Once we¡¯re outside, it¡¯ll get better.¡±


    ¡°Do you really believe that?¡± Yu Qing Lang turned to face her, a new question forming. ¡°Do you know why your talismans are unwelcome here?¡±


    Yu Xiao paused, taken aback. ¡°Is it because they¡¯re too powerful, and this place has no use for them?¡±


    ¡°Not at all.¡± Yu Qing Lang raised her pale, delicate hands into the light. ¡°It¡¯s because the talismans react to our presence.¡±


    The revelation hit Yu Xiao like a cold wave. Talismans are meant for the dead, not the living¡­


    ¡°Do you still think we can leave this place?¡± Yu Qing Lang murmured, her voice almost a whisper.


    A chill crawled up Yu Xiao¡¯s spine, her thoughts scattering in panic. Yu Qing Lang went on, ¡°You¡¯re new to the Sixth Hospital, you might not sense it yet. But maybe after a few more years¡­¡±


    She trailed off, leaving an ominous silence hanging between them. Yu Xiao hastily asked, ¡°Haven¡¯t they assured us that we can leave once we¡¯ve accumulated enough points?¡±


    Yu Qing Lang sighed, a sound filled with weariness and dread. ¡°I fear I might not last that long. I can barely sleep for twenty minutes straight, totaling less than three hours a night. The Yin energy might not have devoured me completely yet, but I¡¯m already falling apart.¡±


    Words failed Yu Xiao. The ward fell into a hushed stillness, the muffled sounds of life outside mocking them with its vibrancy.


    Unspoken fears lingered in Yu Qing Lang¡¯s heart. She dreaded not just death, but the loneliness that might accompany it. Deep down, she longed for a companion, someone who would promise to keep her phone with them after she was gone, as she had once done for Nan Qiao. That, she believed, would make the darkness a little less daunting.


    ¡°So, ready for the instance tomorrow?¡± Yu Qing Lang asked, trying to sound upbeat.


    Yu Xiao, still disoriented from the chaotic thoughts swirling in her head, stammered, ¡°T-tomorrow? Oh, yeah, I guess so.¡±


    ¡°Get some sleep tonight, okay?¡± Yu Qing Lang advised. ¡°We¡¯ll go together.¡±


    Easy for her to say, Yu Xiao thought, glancing at her new friend curled up on the bed. The hallway outside was a cacophony of shouts and screams, a symphony of madness. How could anyone sleep through that? But poor QingLlang needed her rest. Maybe¡­maybe she could do something.


    An idea struck her like a bolt of lightning: Nightmare! He could control dreams, couldn¡¯t he? If she could just get him to block those horrible cannibalistic visions¡­


    But then doubt crept in. Firstly, she had no idea how far Nightmare¡¯s powers extended. Could he even influence dreams in this place? Secondly, there was the small matter of him being a wanted fugitive. And even if he wasn¡¯t, would he even agree to help?


    She had a feeling he would. Nightmare, despite his fearsome reputation, seemed oddly eager to please her. Which, honestly, just made the whole situation even more awkward.


    She had saved him on a whim, a moment of impulsive empathy. Her plan, such as it was, involved helping him clear his name and maybe find a nice, normal job. You know, something that didn¡¯t involve him dying over and over or other people dying over and over.


    She hadn¡¯t asked for anything in return. Just a promise to, you know, not curse her family for a thousand generations or anything.


    But seeing Yu Qing Lang and the other patients suffering, she felt a pang of guilt. What would happen to them when she left? Nightmare only listened to her. He wasn¡¯t exactly known for his altruism.


    A sudden bark from outside interrupted her thoughts. The head of security ¨C Cerberus. The noise outside was getting louder, more frantic.


    Yu Xiao picked up Jiang Nan Qiao¡¯s old flip phone. She remembered playing Gomoku on her parents¡¯ phones as a child. Flipping it open, she scrolled through the apps. No Gomoku, but there was Mahjong.


    (Gomoku: Gomoku is a traditional board game, also known as Five in a Row, where players take turns placing stones on a grid with the goal of getting five of their stones in a row horizontally, vertically, or diagonally. )


    Launching the game, Yu Xiao¡¯s thoughts drifted to Zhou Xiao Zhen. Would they reunite soon?


    The next morning, Yu Xiao woke to a gentle shake. She had tossed and turned all night, her mind a whirlwind of worries. And yet, to her surprise, she had actually fallen asleep.


    ¡°You¡¯re one tough cookie, Yu Xiao,¡± Yu Qing Lang said, with admiration in her voice. ¡°I barely slept a wink, and you were out like a light! Didn¡¯t all that noise bother you?¡±


    ¡°Maybe that¡¯s just another one of my special talents.¡± Yu Xiao mumbled, rubbing the sleep from her eyes.


    Already dressed, Yu Qing Lang teased, ¡°Do you have any idea how torturous it was listening to you snore while I lay awake?¡±


    ¡°Ah¡­¡± Yu Xiao blinked in disbelief. ¡°I snored? That¡¯s impossible¡ªI never snore.¡±


    ¡°Well, your breathing was really loud,¡± Yu Qing Lang insisted.


    Yu Xiao sighed. Look, a girl¡¯s gotta breathe, right?

 Chapter 145: Im Back, Baby!

    After a dizzy spell, Yu Xiao blinked, then blinked again. The corridor stretched before her, so familiar it could have been yesterday.


    ¡°Holy crap on a cracker!¡± she burst out, a grin splitting her face. ¡°I¡¯m back, baby!¡±


    Six heads swivelled towards her, five pairs of eyes giving her the serious creeps. The sixth pair belonged to Yu Qing Lang, and even she looked a little weirded out.


    Yu Xiao didn¡¯t care. She launched herself at Yu Qing Lang, wrapping her arms around her neck and legs around her waist in a full-body hug. ¡°I¡¯m back! I¡¯m actually back! Oh my god, Sister Lan, thank you!¡±


    While Yu Xiao didn¡¯t care about the others¡¯ reactions, Yu Qing Lang did. Stiff as a nail, she stood with five pairs of eyes boring into her, she felt her cheeks heat up.


    ¡°Ahem,¡± she coughed, trying to pry Yu Xiao off. ¡°Get off me before I dropkick you.¡±


    Reluctantly, Yu Xiao unwrapped herself. But the thought of seeing Misty and Precious again, of being back at Sixth Hospital, made her want to do cartwheels.


    ¡°Sister Qing Lang,¡± she gushed, grabbing Yu Qing Lang¡¯s hand, ¡°I don¡¯t know how to thank you enough!¡±


    If it were anyone else, Yu Qing Lang might have told her to shut up. But this was Yu Xiao, and she was just so damn happy.


    The other five, all male patients with expressions ranging from gloomy to downright sinister, watched the exchange with unnervingly intense gazes.


    Yu Xiao finally registered their presence and toned down her enthusiasm a notch. ¡°Any of you guys from Second Hospital?¡± she asked, a bit sheepishly.


    ¡°I am,¡± one of them replied, his voice rough.


    ¡°Oh, cool,¡± Yu Xiao said. ¡°How come you didn¡¯t go out with everyone else today?¡±


    The guy¡¯s brow furrowed. ¡°How do you know everyone went out?¡±


    ¡°I was part of it too,¡± Yu Xiao said. ¡°Didn¡¯t Flying to Someone Else¡¯s Bed clued you in?¡±


    He didn¡¯t answer, but a muscle in his cheek twitched. ¡°So that¡¯s what all that noise was,¡± he muttered. ¡°Flying to Someone Else¡¯s Bed, huh? You forgot about me¡­¡±


    Yu Xiao squirmed under the sudden weight of awkwardness, realising she¡¯d just repaid kindness with a healthy dose of ¡®Nobody likes me¡¯.


    Just then, the sound of a door creaking open broke the tension. All eyes, including Yu Xiao¡¯s, swivelled towards the entrance.


    Shi Guang, with his signature silver hair and an expression as unchanging as a Renaissance painting, stood there. He pointed towards the seven doors lining the corridor.


    His voice droned, devoid of warmth, ¡°Good morning, Welcome to Time Hospital. I¡¯m your attending doctor, Shi Guang. Time Hospital can cure anything. Everyone who comes to Time Hospital will leave with an eternal mark. Go find your own way out, each of you is a unique existence, and you¡¯ll each have your own path.¡±


    His monotonous speech complete, Shi Guang turned to leave.


    ¡°Hold up!¡± Yu Xiao called out.


    All eyes were on her again as Shi Guang turned back, his pale eyes boring into hers.


    ¡°Hey, Doc,¡± Yu Xiao asked, ¡°heard anything about that new inspection team they¡¯ve got going around the hospital? Seems someone might get a failing grade for patient mistreatment!¡±


    Shi Guang¡¯s reaction was a masterclass in indifference. He bestowed upon her a look that screamed, ¡°What¡­ is this¡­ lifeform?¡± before turning and sauntering away.


    Yu Xiao smirked to herself. ¡°Just you wait, Shi Guang.¡± Then, she turned to the other patients, their faces etched with confusion. ¡°Don¡¯t let Shi Guang bamboozle you. I figured out how to escape this instance. Here¡¯s the thing, we don¡¯t actually need everyone to pick a door¡­¡±


    Shi Guang, who hadn¡¯t gotten very far, clearly caught her words. He stopped dead in his tracks, then slowly turned his head, his gaze boring through a door directly at Yu Xiao.


    Ignoring him for now, Yu Xiao finished her explanation with a flourish, ¡°That¡¯s the scoop on this instance. Good luck everyone, and if fate allows, we¡¯ll meet again! Qing Lang, let¡¯s go!¡±


    With that, they watched as Yu Xiao and Yu Qing Lang walked hand-in-hand through a door. Silence descended once more. The patients exchanged wary glances.


    ¡°Can we trust her?¡± one man finally asked.


    The man from Second Hospital, who had spoken earlier, nodded. ¡°Seems legit. Didn¡¯t you see they went through a door too?¡±


    True, but a small problem remained. They were from five different wards¡­


    ¡°Maybe,¡± the Second Hospital man suggested, a hint of hope in his voice, ¡°we should team up?¡±


    **


    Yu Xiao pushed open the door, revealing a bedroom so modern it wouldn¡¯t look out of place in a furniture catalogue. She knew this room intimately; it was where she¡¯d left her mark before, and where she¡¯d bumped into Wang Dong Dong.


    Without hesitation, she strode over to the wall and shoved the cabinet aside. There, scrawled in her own handwriting, were the words she¡¯d left behind.


    ¡°Look!¡± she exclaimed, pointing excitedly at the graffiti. ¡°That¡¯s my handiwork!¡±


    Yu Qing Lang gazed at the words, a flicker of sadness in her eyes. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t you be going?¡±


    Yu Xiao paused, then nodded. ¡°I¡¯ll get in touch as soon as I¡¯m out.¡±


    A hint of a smile played on Yu Qing Lang¡¯s lips, but it didn¡¯t quite reach her eyes. Seeing her new friend like this tugged at Yu Xiao¡¯s heartstrings. She impulsively threw her arms around Yu Qing Lang.


    ¡°Chin up,¡± she said fiercely. ¡°Jiang Nan Qiao would want you to. You¡¯ll get out of here, I know it!¡±


    Then, before she could lose her nerve, she pulled away and headed for the door. With a final glance back at Yu Qing Lang, she closed it behind her.


    *Click.*


    In the corridor, Shi Guang blinked, his pale eyes clouding with confusion. This patient, nicknamed ¡°Twenty-Four Bridges,¡± was an enigma. She clearly knew the way out of Time Hospital, yet she¡¯d left that room. Why?


    Yu Xiao herself only knew that by taking Jiang Nan Qiao¡¯s place, she was destined to meet Lan Jie and Xiao Zhen in Time Hospital. What she didn¡¯t know was how many doors she¡¯d have to open to find them. When she¡¯d said goodbye to Yu Qing Lang, she¡¯d been brimming with confidence. Now, after opening doors for over a day without a bite to eat, she was starting to regret her lack of planning. She really should have packed some snacks.


    *Cough, cough, cough!* She¡¯d tried to guzzle water from the bathroom tap and ended up choking on it, collapsing onto the floor in a coughing fit.


    ¡°Smooth move, Yu Xiao,¡± she muttered to herself, sitting on the floor and gathering her wits.


    Finally, after what felt like an eternity, she stumbled upon the living room where she¡¯d first encountered Jiang Nan Qiao. It dawned on her then that the Jiang Nan Qiao she¡¯d become hadn¡¯t been lying ¨C she really had been opening doors for two whole days!


    Ignoring the body sprawled on the living room floor, Yu Xiao collapsed onto the ground, closed her eyes, and promptly passed out.


    ¡°Hey! Is anyone there?¡±


    The familiar voice jolted Yu Xiao awake. She shot up from the floor, a wide grin spreading across her face. She was back!


    Rounding the corner, she spotted Zhou Xiao Zhen huddled by the doorway. A wave of warmth washed over her at the sight of her friend. Despite being apart for only three days, she¡¯d missed Misty and Precious terribly.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s eyes went wide. ¡°Quick, come here! I¡¯ve seen a ghost again!!¡±


    Yu Xiao wanted to both laugh and cry. That is, until she saw Misty and¡­herself charging towards them, armed with props and talismans.


    Seeing herself from an outsider¡¯s perspective was a trip and a half. She knew that if she didn¡¯t prove she was human, her past self would probably try to exorcise her.


    Holding up her hands in surrender, she called out, ¡°Whoa there! Don¡¯t get any ideas, I¡¯m human!¡±


    The trio froze, exchanging bewildered glances. Yu Xiao couldn¡¯t help but chuckle. She hadn¡¯t realised she looked so adorable when flustered.


    As they debated her human status, Yu Xiao rolled her eyes. Did they really need to overthink something so simple?


    ¡°Look,¡± she said, stifling a laugh, ¡°cut to the chase. Just slap one of those talismans on me and you¡¯ll have your answer, right?¡±


    She extended her arm invitingly. ¡°Go ahead, give it a try.¡±


    Yu Xiao walked towards them, trying to keep a straight face but failing miserably.


    Once she¡¯d proven her humanity, Yu Xiao broke into a full-on giggle. ¡°See? Told you I was human.¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen stared at her, dumbfounded. ¡°You live¡­ *inside* this instance?¡±


    Yu Xiao had been planning on playing it cool, but Precious¡¯s question was too much. She burst into laughter again, launching into an elaborate story for the three. She knew them inside and out, and she knew exactly what to say to avoid suspicion.


    ¡­


    Misty, always looking for opportunities, wasn¡¯t going to let a good chance slip away.


    ¡°You¡¯ve been here for two days? Have you found any clues on how to get out?¡±


    Clues? It was more like she had almost completed a walkthrough. But revealing the escape plan now would be like changing the plot of a horror movie ¨C unpredictable and potentially disastrous. It would definitely change the outcome, and she had no idea what might happen then.


    Besides, her stomach was rebelling. Two and a half days with nothing but water was pushing it, even for her. ¡°Nothing yet. I¡¯ve been opening doors, wandering through rooms, but no clues so far.¡±


    As she was spinning a story, Yu Xiao¡¯s mind wandered to the leftover tomato beef soup hidden in the bedroom. It wasn¡¯t much, but it was much better than nothing.


    ¡°Do you¡­ do you have any food?¡±


    They mentioned leftover tomato beef soup in the bedroom. Yu Xiao¡¯s eyes lit up. It might just be leftover soup, but it was a feast compared to her water diet. Without hesitation, she headed straight for the bedroom. Besides, it was her own leftovers, so she had no reason to complain.


    To the astonishment of the three onlookers, Yu Xiao proceeded to gulp down the cold tomato beef soup in record time. Slamming the empty pot down with a satisfied sigh, she smacked her lips and turned to find them staring at her with a mix of horror and bewilderment.


    The sheer absurdity of the situation made her burst into giggles, which she quickly disguised as an embarrassed cough.


    She scratched her head. ¡°I haven¡¯t eaten anything in two days. Just some water.¡±


    Despite the soup break, Yu Xiao¡¯s stomach continued to rumble. She knew that later, Misty would prepare a feast and leave a glorious bowl of egg fried rice for the next day. The key was to fast-forward to that delicious future.


    But for now, she had to keep up the act, tell more lies, and go along with the others.


    Finally, when the moment to disappear came, she took out a disposable dream card and headed towards the door. Behind her, another version of herself asked, ¡°Shouldn¡¯t you leave a phone number?¡±


    ¡°No need.¡± Yu Xiao muttered under her breath. She hadn¡¯t even memorised Jiang Nan Qiao¡¯s number yet. ¡°You can¡¯t make calls from here anyway.¡±


    With that, the disposable dream card activated, making her invisible to the trio. They probably assumed she had simply walked out. Taking advantage of the moment, Yu Xiao darted into the wardrobe. She knew they hadn¡¯t bothered to check it before.


    Nestled among the clothes, she listened to the conversations outside. Yu Xiao hugged her stomach. Hunger was gnawing at her. If it weren¡¯t for the energy cards keeping her going, she would have probably fainted by now.


    Her thoughts wandered to Yu Qing Lang, who should have already left Time Hospital. She had promised a brand-new smartphone to each Second Hospital patient who helped. But could Lu Xu¡¯s inventory keep up with such a promise? The worry added to her already frayed nerves.


    Fatigue pulled at her, and soon, the sweet embrace of sleep offered a brief escape. When she finally woke up, a different kind of cold settled in the air, a bone-deep chill that wasn¡¯t the fault of the dusty wardrobe.


    Opening one eye, she peered through the darkness. Yup, the wardrobe might have been a temporary refuge, but a new threat loomed outside. Zhang Qi Qi¡¯s frosty aura had seeped in, a sign that she and Ye Tao had arrived.


    Yu Xiao peeked through the wardrobe¡¯s crack, her view a jumbled mess of limbs and backsides. She could just make out Zhou Xiao Zhen and herself, sitting shoulder-to-shoulder against the wooden panels. Zhao Lan was partially visible, while Zhang Qi Qi stood beside her like a statue, radiating pure ¡°Yin¡± energy.


    Suddenly, Zhang Qi Qi¡¯s head snapped up. Her eyes, now vacant and hollow, locked onto Yu Xiao through the gap, pinning her with a stare that could curdle milk. Goosebumps erupted all over Yu Xiao¡¯s skin, but she held her ground, returning the eerie gaze with a forced calmness.


    Zhang Qi Qi just stared. No blinking, no breathing, just pure, unadulterated creepiness.


    A frown creased Yu Xiao¡¯s brow. Zhang Qi Qi¡­ was she truly beyond saving now? She resembled a ghost, a creature that might have even dabbled in the forbidden act of feasting on human flesh.


    Yu Xiao¡¯s fingers brushed against a mobile phone¡ªXiao Long¡¯s phone¡ªnestled in her pocket. This phone was the key to Ye Tao¡¯s escape, a decision Wang Dong Dong had made, willing to offer Ye Tao a chance at life. Xiao Long had amassed a decent number of points, and with luck, Ye Tao wouldn¡¯t need too long to accumulate enough. Yu Xiao harboured a hope that she will be able to leave this accursed place with Xiao Long¡¯s phone.


    Finally, the ¡°before¡± version of herself left the room.


    Yu Xiao, practically vibrating with excitement, burst out of the wardrobe. ¡°I¡¯m back, baby!¡±


    As Yu Xiao disappeared into the mirror, Zhao Lan placed a comforting hand on Precious¡¯s shoulder. What she admired most about Yu Xiao was her audacity ¨C the courage to dream and act. Amongst them, Yu Xiao was the firecracker, always ready to explode with life.


    But before their little moment of reflection could continue, a door creaked open behind them, followed by a triumphant cry.


    ¡°Freedom! Sweet, sweet oxygen! I thought I¡¯d turn blue in there!¡±


    Zhao Lan, Zhou Xiao Zhen, and Ye Tao froze in unison, then simultaneously jumped like startled cats whose tails had been yanked.


    ¡°What in the world?!¡±


    Yu Xiao, now back to her usual, beaming self, spread her arms wide. ¡°Surprise! Your girl¡¯s back!¡±


    ¡°Smiley?! Is that you?!¡± S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Smiley? That¡¯s a ghost, Precious! A shapeshifting fiend!¡±


    Precious whipped out a fistful of talisman and scattered them towards Yu Xiao like a celestial maiden casting flowers.


    ¡°Holy moly! There¡¯s been a shapeshifting ghost here the whole time!¡±


    ¡°Misty! The props! Where are the props?!¡±


    ¡°I only have the Key!! It¡¯s for doors! Not ghost-busting!¡±


    Yu Xiao reached out, ¡°Guys, chill ¨C¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen, her train of thought as chaotic as ever, tossed the mahjong set. ¡°Mahjong! Let¡¯s play mahjong!¡±


    Before Yu Xiao could get another word in edgewise, another flurry of talismans descended, and she found herself unceremoniously dumped on the floor alongside Zhou Xiao Zhen, Ye Tao, and a very bored looking Zhang Qi Qi.


    Zhao Lan, the only one left standing, stared at the scene in bewilderment. ¡°Precious,¡± she whispered, ¡°The talismans¡­ they¡¯re not doing anything.¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen gaped at Yu Xiao, a lone talisman clinging stubbornly to her hair. ¡°Well, slap me sideways and call me Sally,¡± she breathed, ¡°This ghost¡¯s got game! Talismans don¡¯t even faze her!¡±

 Chapter 146: Im So Sorry

    Yu Xiao, with an exasperated sigh, blew away the talisman that had landed on her forehead. ¡°For the last time, I¡¯m not a ghost.¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen paused, her eyes narrowing in suspicion. ¡°You¡¯re human? But you look exactly like my friend Smiley.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s because I am Yu Xiao,¡± she replied, the absurdity of the situation threatening to bubble into laughter.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen burst into a fit of giggles, turning to Zhao Lan. ¡°Misty, this one¡¯s a riot! She¡¯s pretending to be Smiley even though she just left! Three characters ÈýÍò!¡±


    ¡°Two pancakes.¡± ¶þ±ý


    Yu Xiao countered, looking up at Zhao Lan. ¡°Do you honestly not believe me either?¡±


    Zhao Lan studied the figure at the mahjong table. The resemblance to Smiley was uncanny, almost unsettling. Had she not seen Smiley leave moments ago, she would have been convinced.


    Yu Xiao¡¯s patience was wearing thin. ¡°Look, either you two shut up and let me explain, or ask me something only the real Yu Xiao would know.¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s eyes lit up with a challenge. ¡°Who¡¯s my idol?¡±


    ¡°Leonardo,¡± Yu Xiao replied without missing a beat.


    ¡°She knows!¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen squealed. ¡°Who¡¯s Smiley¡¯s idol?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t have one,¡± Yu Xiao deadpanned.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen, stumped, turned to Zhao Lan. ¡°How does she know everything?¡±


    Ye Tao chimed in, ¡°Seven of Bamboo ÆßÌõ


    . Could be some kind of mind-reading trick.¡±


    Zhao Lan frowned, considering the possibility.


    Yu Xiao, realising drastic measures were needed, decided to play her trump card. ¡°Even a mind reader wouldn¡¯t know this,¡± she began, gesturing towards Zhou Xiao Zhen. ¡°You¡¯re eighteen, in your final year of high school, with grades that are, shall we say, less than stellar. The mere thought of college entrance exams gives you hives. You were one of the first to join the Sixth Hospital, and on your first day, to avoid getting eaten by a ghost, you claimed you hadn¡¯t pooped in five days and were stuffed like a sandwich.¡±


    The words hung in the air, leaving Zhou Xiao Zhen utterly speechless.


    ¡°Holy crap!¡±


    Zhao Lan was about to respond when Yu Xiao cut her off, a mischievous grin spreading across her face as she pointed an accusing finger. ¡°As for you, my dear corporate drone, let¡¯s just say you had a rather¡­unconventional relationship with a young boy before your unfortunate illness. While it was technically a sponsorship arrangement, the two of you met under rather unorthodox circumstances and had an unspeakable relationship.¡±


    Zhao Lan¡¯s jaw dropped as the room fell into a stunned silence.


    Ye Tao¡¯s eyes ping-ponged between the two women, her curiosity piqued. ¡°Unconventional, you say? Do tell¡­¡±


    Yu Xiao opened her mouth to elaborate, but Zhao Lan recovered from her shock and cut her off with a sharp wave of her hand. ¡°Hold your tongue! Just how the devil do you know about all that?¡±


    The smirk never left Yu Xiao¡¯s face as she leaned back triumphantly. ¡°Finally ready to listen, are we?¡±


    What followed was Yu Xiao¡¯s captivating recount of her encounter with Wang Dong Dong, her unintended foray into the Second Hospital, and the arduous journey she undertook to return to her own hospital.


    By the time she finished, her three listeners were gaping in disbelieved horror. Yu Xiao, exhausted and famished from her ordeal, could only dream of devouring the bowl of fried rice sitting on the table.


    ¡°If you still have doubts,¡± Yu Xiao croaked, her voice weak, ¡°check my pockets. People can lie, but props don¡¯t, right?¡±


    Zhao Lan, as if in a trance, floated to Yu Xiao¡¯s side and knelt down to rummage through her pockets.


    Out came a pair of sunglasses. Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s eyes went wide. ¡°Whoa¡­¡±


    Next, a tarnished copper coin emerged. ¡°No way¡­¡±


    ¡°Smiley!¡± Zhao Lan gasped, the last shred of doubt evaporating as she clutched Yu Xiao¡¯s hand tightly. ¡°You made it back! Thank the heavens!¡±


    Yu Xiao returned the firm grip, offering a weary smile. ¡°Misty, you can let go now.¡±


    Zhao Lan blinked in confusion. ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°I need to finish this mahjong round,¡± Yu Xiao stated matter-of-factly, nodding toward the tiles.


    ¡°Oh, right.¡± Flustered, Zhao Lan quickly released her hand. As Yu Xiao scooped up a tile, she inquired with an air of nonchalance, ¡°So, who¡¯s taking the punishment after this game?¡±


    The relieved expression melted off Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s face, replaced by a petulant frown. ¡°Hey, I don¡¯t think it¡¯s my fault this time. Anyone would have reacted the same way, right?¡±


    Yu Xiao slowly nodded, appearing to consider this. ¡°So you¡¯re saying I should take the fall instead?¡±


    ¡°¡­Fine,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen mumbled, her shoulders slumping with a defeated sigh. ¡°Looks like I¡¯m the lucky loser.¡±


    Ye Tao, completely lost in the conversation, piped up, ¡°Eight bamboos , what punishment are we talking about here?¡±


    Yu Xiao turned to her, a glimmer of empathy in her eyes.¡±You heard my story, right? Xiao Long¡¯s phone can get you out of this haunted hot mess. But it means going to the Second Hospital¡­ a one-way ticket to a new life.¡±


    The question hung in the air, the weight of the decision clear on Ye Tao¡¯s face. The idea of stepping into the Second Hospital, of living someone else¡¯s life¡­ it was a lot to take in.


    Yu Xiao understood the turmoil in her heart all too well. She herself had faced the same choice, the opportunity to inherit Xiao Long¡¯s points and remain in the Second Hospital. Yet, she chose to return without a second thought. Becoming someone else wasn¡¯t a decision to be made lightly.


    ¡°Take your time,¡± Yu Xiao said softly, her fingers tracing the intricate patterns on a mahjong tile. ¡°There¡¯s no rush to decide. Just know that we¡¯re leaving tomorrow morning at eight sharp, so you¡¯ll need to make up your mind by then.¡±


    ¡°I¡­ I won,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen announced, her voice hollow, as if the victory had sucked the life out of her. It was more a death knell than a celebration.


    Suddenly, a deafening crack of lightning split the air, causing every hair on their bodies to stand on end. Zhou Xiao Zhen let out a strangled cry, her body contorting violently before collapsing onto the floor, a wisp of smoke curling from her singed hair. Zhao Lan rushed to her side, panic etched on her face, as she frantically fumbled with emergency talismans, their glow casting eerie shadows on the walls.


    Meanwhile, Yu Xiao, freed from the game¡¯s grasp, lunged towards the table like a starved animal. In a flash, she snatched the plate of egg fried rice and devoured it with a ferocity that would make a hungry ghost proud.


    Zhao Lan looked up in disbelief. ¡°Smiley¡­ are you starving?¡±


    Between ravenous bites, Yu Xiao managed to gasp, ¡°Haven¡¯t eaten in two days.¡±


    ¡°Oh, you poor dear,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen, her bold head now black and smoking, reached out to pat Yu Xiao¡¯s back with trembling hands. ¡°You¡¯re nothing but skin and bones. When you were sipping that soup earlier, I thought your earlier soup-sipping performance was mere theatrics, but you were truly suffering, weren¡¯t you?¡±


    Tears welled up in Zhao Lan¡¯s eyes as she and Zhou Xiao Zhen fussed over Yu Xiao, their voices filled with a mixture of relief, worry, and a whole lot of love for their friend who had returned from the brink.


    ¡°Slow down, or you¡¯ll choke.¡±


    ¡°Do you need some water?¡±


    Yu Xiao demolished the entire plate of egg fried rice, enough for three people. Leaning back with a groan, she clutched her stomach and gasped for air.


    Zhao Lan, finally processing the earlier shocking revelation, spoke in a hushed tone filled with fear and curiosity. ¡°So, ghosts can take the place of humans and even enter instances as humans¡­ does that mean they can also leave the hospital?¡±


    ¡°Why would they want to?¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen frowned, genuinely confused. ¡°Being a ghost seems much easier than being a human ¨C no bills, no work, just chilling and scaring people.¡±


    Zhao Lan shook her head. ¡°We¡¯ve never been ghosts, so we can¡¯t understand their motivations. But think about it ¨C with patients scattered across six whole hospitals, what are the chances that some haven¡¯t already been replaced?¡±


    ¡°Woah, woah,Wait a minute,¡± Yu Xiao interjected, a cold realisation hitting her. ¡°Not just the patients. People on the forums too! I once posted about Time Hospital on the Sixth Hospital board, and it disappeared instantly.¡±


    ¡°Someone¡­ or something¡­ doesn¡¯t want the truth about Time Hospital to be revealed,¡± Zhao Lan concluded, her voice barely a whisper.


    ¡°Maybe,¡± Yu Xiao admitted, still puzzled by the mystery. ¡°It could be the administrator pulling the strings.¡±


    A mischievous glint appeared in Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s eyes. ¡°Maybe the administrator wants to become human too!¡±


    This sent shivers down everyone¡¯s spines. Zhou Xiao Zhen, captivated by the terrifying possibilities, continued. ¡°Do you think any of the people who left the hospital might be ghosts in disguise?¡±


    Yu Xiao and Zhao Lan exchanged horrified glances, as if they were characters caught in a real-life horror movie. Zhou Xiao Zhen leaned forward, her voice a conspiratorial whisper. ¡°Those people who leave¡­ are they truly human, or are they just ghosts pretending to be human?¡±


    A tense silence fell over the room. Yu Xiao instinctively rubbed her arms, feeling a sudden chill down her spine. Zhao Lan clearly didn¡¯t want to explore further, as the implications were too unsettling to contemplate.


    Yu Xiao finally broke the silence. ¡°Speculating won¡¯t solve anything. We just need to be extra cautious from now on. Besides, there are things that we can actually control. So, what can we do?¡± she asked, turning to Zhao Lan.


    Zhao Lan, her voice trembling slightly, met Yu Xiao¡¯s gaze. ¡°What can we do?¡± she echoed, the question hanging heavy in the air, begging for an answer.


    Yu Xiao chuckled, the sound laced with a hint of mischief. ¡°Simple: buy a mountain of smartphones and flood the Sixth Hospital forum with our Second Hospital patients!¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°A mountain of phones? Does Lu Xu even have that kind of stock?¡±


    Zhao Lan, ever the pragmatist, voiced a concern that had been nagging at her. ¡°Speaking of the Second Hospital, remember the news about the patient uprising? The one where the ringleader lost 50 points? That has to be Ye Tao, right?¡±


    Yu Xiao, who¡¯d already gamed this out in her head, just shrugged. ¡°True, but Ye Tao¡¯s still Ye Tao, even in Xiao Long¡¯s identity. Her phone, her points, it¡¯s all still there. She can just transfer some points over to Xiao Long, easy peasy. She might even have enough points to leave this place..¡±


    She glanced over at Ye Tao, who was huddled in a corner, silent and still as a statue since their mahjong session. Zhang Qi Qi¡¯s hand rested in hers, their fingers intertwined. No one knew what she was thinking.


    Suddenly, a chilling thought struck Yu Xiao. The old lady Zhou Xiao Zhen saw for the first time¡­ could it have been Zhang Qi Qi all along?


    That night, Yu Xiao crashed early, leaving Zhao Lan and Zhou Xiao Zhen to play ghostly guard duty. TBy seven the next morning, Zhou Xiao Zhen was at Yu Xiao¡¯s bedside, shaking her awake.


    ¡°Rise and shine, Smiley! It¡¯s past seven!¡±


    Yu Xiao, stifling a yawn, sat up and noticed Ye Tao, still rooted in the same spot. ¡°Has she been like that all night?¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen shrugged, her face a picture of sympathy. ¡°Yep. Not a wink of sleep.¡±


    Zhao Lan, freshening up with a makeshift facecloth torn from an old shirt, sighed as she glanced at Ye Tao. She understood the gut-wrenching agony of leaving a loved one behind. If it were Smiley or Precious¡­ But life, especially in a haunted hospital, rarely offered easy choices. They could only save one, and that one had to be Ye Tao.


    Yu Xiao, finally fully awake, checked her watch and turned to Ye Tao. ¡°So,¡± she began, her voice gentle but firm, ¡°have you made up your mind?¡±


    Yu Tao turned, her face a mask of exhaustion, eyes red-rimmed and haunted. She shook her head, her voice a dry rasp. ¡°Just¡­ a little more time.¡±


    Yu Xiao sighed, padding towards the bathroom. ¡°Look, even if you don¡¯t want to stick with Wang Dong Dong at the Second Hospital, you can always slip away in the confusion. Head over to Yu Qing Lang¡¯s room, see if you can take Jiang Nan Qiao¡¯s place. But honestly, it doesn¡¯t really matter. Being alive, that¡¯s what matters.¡±


    Her words tumbled out, a stream of consciousness, and she wasn¡¯t even sure if Yu Tao was listening. But she¡¯d done what she could. The rest was up to Ye Tao.


    The clock ticked relentlessly on, each second dragging them closer to the eight o¡¯clock deadline. By eight-fifteen, they would begin their attempt to open the door. They gathered by the threshold, Zhao Lan and Yu Xiao exchanging a worried look.


    ¡°Ye Tao,¡± Zhao Lan said gently, ¡°it¡¯s time to decide. We¡¯re ready to go.¡±


    Ye Tao turned her head, her gaze sweeping over each of them.


    And then, her eyes met Yu Xiao¡¯s.


    A shiver shot down Yu Xiao¡¯s spine, a prickle of unease crawling across her skin. Something was wrong. Terribly, terribly wrong.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± Ye Tao whispered.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen frowned, her brow furrowed in confusion. ¡°Sorry for what?¡±


    In a flash, Ye Tao raised her hand, three black cards pinched between her pale fingers.


    The cards dissolved into dust, crumbling at her touch. She leaned back against the wall, tears welling up in her bloodshot eyes. ¡°I¡¯m so sorry¡­¡±


    The air crackled with a strange energy. Yu Xiao, Zhao Lan, and Zhou Xiao Zhen stared at Ye Tao, their hearts pounding in their chests. For a fleeting moment, Ye Tao seemed bathed in a soft, almost angelic light.


    ¡°Don¡¯t cry,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen blurted, her voice thick with concern. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±


    ¡°The Deep Love Cards,¡± Ye Tao choked out, tears streaming down her face. ¡°I can¡¯t¡­ I can¡¯t leave Qi Qi. I¡­ I¡¯m so sorry.¡±


    She stumbled towards them, her face a picture of misery. ¡°Can I¡­ can I have your phones?¡±


    A suffocating dread choked Yu Xiao. She knew, with chilling certainty, that something was terribly wrong. But it was like watching a horror movie unfold before her eyes, her mind paralyzed, unable to react.


    ¡°What¡­ what will you do if we give them to you?¡± she managed, her voice hollow.


    ¡°I¡¯m so sorry,¡± Ye Tao whispered, her face etched with a devastating mix of guilt and desperation.


    Zhao Lan recoiled as if struck. ¡°You¡¯re asking us to die for Zhang Qi Qi?¡±


    ¡°Please,¡± Ye Tao begged, tears streaming down her face. ¡°You have to give her to me. Qi Qi has to leave with me.¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen let out a choked laugh, a sound filled with despair. She flung her phone to the ground. ¡°Fine! Take it! Just get out!¡±


    Ye Tao snatched up the phone, tears blurring her vision. She turned to Yu Xiao, her voice trembling. ¡°Where¡­ where¡¯s yours?¡±


    Yu Xiao¡¯s hand trembled as she reached into her pocket. She loved Ye Tao. Loved her with a ferocity that defied reason, that would make her agree to anything, even her own demise. A searing pain ripped through her. Why? Why didn¡¯t Tao Tao love her back? If she couldn¡¯t have Tao Tao¡¯s love, then what was the point of anything?


    She drew out her phone, her fingers brushing against the cool metal. Ye Tao¡¯s hand, trembling with need, reached out to take it.


    And then, with a speed that made their heads spin, a hand shot out from the side, knocking Yu Xiao¡¯s phone away in a blur of motion.


    All eyes swivelled towards Zhao Lan, her face contorted in a mask of fury as she glared at Ye Tao.


    ¡°You want to leave me? Only over my dead body! Qi Qi!¡± Zhao Lan roared, whipping out a handful of talismans with a speed that would make a magician jealous. She bolted towards Zhang Qi Qi, a woman possessed.


    Ye Tao, caught completely off guard, lunged for Zhao Lan, but missed. ¡°Stop her!¡± she shrieked, her voice raw with panic.


    Yu Xiao and Zhou Xiao Zhen, their hearts fiercely loyal to Ye Tao, sprang into action. They slammed into Zhao Lan like a pair of protective linebackers, tackling her to the ground before she could get close to Zhang Qi Qi. The Thunderstruck Talisman fluttered harmlessly to the floor.


    ¡°Get off me!¡± Zhao Lan snarled, struggling against their grip.


    ¡°Misty,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen pleaded, her voice thick with anguish, ¡°loving someone means wanting them to be happy. You can¡¯t do this.¡±


    ¡°My heart is breaking too, believe me,¡± Yu Xiao added, tightening her grip on Zhao Lan. ¡°But I won¡¯t let you hurt Tao Tao.¡±  Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Are you guys nuts?¡± Zhao Lan spat, struggling against their hold. ¡°Once that creepy thing is gone, Tao Tao will be ours!¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    A flicker of doubt crossed Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s face. ¡°But¡­ she loves Qi Qi though.¡±


    Yu Xiao shook her head firmly. ¡°I won¡¯t force her.¡±


    Seeing her pleas fall on deaf ears, Zhao Lan unleashed a burst of strength, kicking her legs out and sending Yu Xiao and Zhou Xiao Zhen sprawling. With a renewed surge of determination, she reached for Zhang Qi Qi.


    ¡°No!¡± Ye Tao¡¯s scream cut through the air as she lunged forward, her fist connecting with a sickening thud on the back of Zhao Lan¡¯s head.


    The world blurred for Yu Xiao. In a desperate attempt to intervene, she launched herself towards the scene. But before she could reach them, a figure shot past her in a blur, landing on top of Zhao Lan with a resounding thud.


    A horrifying crack echoed through the room as Ye Tao¡¯s fist met its mark ¨C not on Zhao Lan, but on Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s back. A bloodcurdling scream pierced the air as the talisman on Zhao Lan¡¯s hand came into contact with Zhang Qi Qi.


    Multiple bolts of lightning struck simultaneously, illuminating the room with a blinding white light. The deafening roar of thunder seemed to shake the very foundations of the building. In that chaotic moment, Yu Xiao could only stare in stunned silence as the room erupted in a cacophony of sound and light.

 Chapter 147: Sadly Back

    The room exploded in a heart-stopping crash of thunder as Ye Tao¡¯s scream died in her throat. A thick, choking cloud of smoke billowed around all the girls, momentarily erasing their budding mistrust and replacing it with a primal surge of fear.


    When the smoke cleared, the scene that greeted them was grim. Zhao Lan found herself sprawled on the ground, Zhou Xiao Zhen draped protectively over her. Across from them, Ye Tao knelt motionless, staring blankly at a charred figure on the floor. It was Zhang Qi Qi, transformed by multiple lightning strikes into a blackened, unrecognisable silhouette.


    A pang of sympathy stabbed at Yu Xiao¡¯s heart as she saw the vacant look in Ye Tao¡¯s eyes. Anger still simmered, but concern won out. She knelt beside Ye Tao, gently taking her hand.


    ¡°Tao Tao,¡± she said softly, ¡°You almost hurt Misty. Don¡¯t you know how much she cares about you?¡±


    Zhao Lan, using a healing talisman to patch up her friend injuries, while casting a worried glance at Zhou Xiao Zhen.


    ¡°You didn¡¯t hold back, did you?¡± she sneered. ¡°Three broken ribs for Precious? If that punch had landed on my head, I¡¯d be singing karaoke with the ghosts.¡±


    Despite the pain that made her pale and sweaty, Zhou Xiao Zhen defended Ye Tao. ¡°Come on, Misty, Tao Tao was just scared. Don¡¯t hold it against her.¡±


    Ye Tao remained a silent statue, her gaze glued to the charred remains of her friend.


    Distress clouded Yu Xiao and Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s faces.


    ¡°It¡¯s okay, Tao Tao,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen said, tears welling in her eyes. ¡°You¡¯re not alone. We¡¯re still here.¡±


    Yu Xiao, her voice firm despite her own churning emotions, added, ¡°That¡¯s right. I promise I¡¯ll always be there for you. You¡¯ll never be alone again.¡±


    Zhao Lan stood nearby, her face a mask of conflicting emotions. Why Ye Tao? Why try to hurt her for Zhang Qi Qi? What did she have that she didn¡¯t?


    Unable to resist any longer, Yu Xiao tugged at Zhao Lan¡¯s sleeve. ¡°Say something,¡± she pleaded. ¡°This silence is creeping me out.¡±


    Seeing the pain mirrored in Ye Tao¡¯s eyes, a sliver of Zhao Lan¡¯s anger melted. Love, for all its complexities, tugged at her heart. Stepping closer, she knelt beside Ye Tao and spoke in a gentle voice, ¡°Alright, enough with the sadness. Zhang Qi Qi might be gone, but we¡¯re still here for you, aren¡¯t we?¡±


    The air crackled with the wrongness of it all. Zhang Qi Qi lay still, a blackened husk, yet the three figures around her chattered on, how much they worried about her. Ye Tao fought back a hysterical laugh. Karma, they called it. But this? From the moment she¡¯d decided to mess with Yu Xiao for Qi Qi, it felt like a cosmic punchline to a joke she never wanted to be a part of.


    A single tear escaped her eye and landed with a sizzling hiss on Zhang Qi Qi¡¯s blackened form.


    Seeing this, Zhao Lan¡¯s sobs choked the air, thick with ugly jealousy that even death couldn¡¯t quite extinguish.


    ¡°Go,¡± Ye Tao rasped, her voice hoarse. ¡°Live well. Don¡¯t let this place twist you into¡­me.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re not leaving you,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s voice shook with fierce loyalty.


    Ye Tao groaned. Frantically, she dug through her pockets, the familiar weight of countless hospital cards a cold comfort. Over the years, she¡¯d amassed a collection, each one a tool, a weapon against the darkness. But none of them could cancel each other out.


    Tears blurred her vision as she looked at them. ¡°It¡¯s 8:20,¡± she choked out, the words tasting like poison. ¡°If you don¡¯t leave now¡­¡±


    Yu Xiao frowned, her eyes fixed on Xiao Long¡¯s phone clutched in her hand. ¡°No,¡± she stated simply, her voice firm.


    ¡°You can¡¯t be serious!¡± Zhao Lan cried, her voice cracking.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen squeezed her hand, her eyes pleading. ¡°Please, Ye Tao. For us. Don¡¯t give up.¡±


    But Ye Tao felt hope draining away, leaving behind a chilling emptiness. ¡°I¡­ I can¡¯t. I¡¯m just¡­ so tired.¡±


    Picking up Zhang Qi Qi¡¯s phone, she walked towards the door, each step heavy with finality.


    Yu Xiao¡¯s hand reached out, but it was too late. The door slammed shut, severing their connection to Xiao Long¡¯s room and to her only hope of escape.


    The silence that followed was absolute, broken only by the echo of their despair.


    Ye Tao reopened the door. revealing a strange room. She frowned, opening and closing the door a couple more times, each time, a different room materialised, each one eerily similar to the last. Finally, a living room appeared, it¡¯s only distinguishing feature a door on the far wall.


    ¡°See if that¡¯s the way out,¡± she instructed, her voice tight.


    Yu Xiao cautiously stepped through, her eyes scanning the room. ¡°There¡¯s a door here!¡± she called back, her voice laced with excitement.


    Zhao Lan hesitated, her gaze darting between the door and Ye Tao. She loved Ye Tao, considered her a true friend, but the thought of leaving Smiley and Precious behind was unbearable.


    A sharp click broke the tense silence as Yu Xiao opened the door, revealing a long, sterile corridor. Just as she was about to call out, a figure materialised in the doorway.


    Shi Guang stood there, cold and menacing, his usual indifference replaced with a chilling intensity. ¡°Those who trifle with time,¡± he intoned, his voice a low growl, ¡°will pay the price.¡±


    ¡°Misty! Precious!¡± Yu Xiao scrambled back, her voice high with panic. ¡°He¡¯s going to hit me!¡±


    Zhao Lan and Zhou Xiao Zhen, jolted from their grief, rushed to flank Yu Xiao, their eyes narrowed at the ghostly figure.


    ¡°Don¡¯t even think about it!¡± Zhao Lan snapped, her voice laced with protective fury. ¡°Assaulting patients is against hospital regulations!¡±


    Shi Guang¡¯s jaw clenched, his silver hair practically vibrating with unspoken words. He opened his mouth as if to retort, then seemed to think better of it. With a final, disgruntled ¡°hmpf,¡± he turned and left.


    ¡°What was that ¡®hmpf¡¯ about?¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen wondered aloud, her brow furrowed.


    Zhao Lan offered her analysis. ¡°He¡¯s probably plotting his revenge on Smiley.¡±


    Yu Xiao snorted. ¡°Like I¡¯m scared of him. Next time, he gets a failing grade!¡±


    ¡°Heh heh heh,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen chuckled. ¡°He has no idea who he¡¯s dealing with.¡± She turned to share a conspiratorial grin with Ye Tao, only to find the other woman gone. The smile vanished from her face, replaced by a dawning sense of dread.


    The door to the bedroom stood closed, an empty frame against a backdrop of impossible hope. Ye Tao was gone, swallowed by Time Hospital.


    A heavy silence descended, thick with the bitter taste of loss.


    ¡°I don¡¯t think I can ever love that¡­ intensely again,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen whispered, her voice choked with tears.


    Zhao Lan simply sighed, a world of grief contained in that single breath. Yu Xiao placed a comforting hand on her friend¡¯s arm. ¡°We have to go back.¡±


    Together, they stepped back through the doorway, leaving behind the room, the hope, and the friend they would never see again. The familiar corridor rippled around them, and then, with a dizzying lurch, they were back in the sterile reality of the sixth hospital ward.


    As the echoes of their harrowing adventure faded, so too did the lingering effects of the deeply immersive, and highly distracting, love card.  S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen slapped her thigh, a panicked look on her face. ¡°Oh my god! We almost got stuck there!¡±


    She threw her arms around Zhao Lan, clinging to her like a lifeline. ¡°Thank goodness for Misty and her, uh, yandere love! We wouldn¡¯t be here without her.¡±


    Zhao Lan gently pried her off. ¡°Thrilled to be of service,¡± she deadpanned, but her eyes held a flicker of something heavier. ¡°You know,¡± she began, her voice uncharacteristically hesitant, ¡°what if it were you two in danger? If I could save you, but it meant¡­hurting someone else¡­ I don¡¯t know what I¡¯d do.¡±


    The confession hung in the air, a stark contrast to their usual banter.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen remembered Ye Tao¡¯s words, the unspoken question they both tried to ignore: what happened to Smiley? Was she safe? Had their escape come at a terrible price?


    Yu Xiao interrupted their spiralling thoughts. ¡°We don¡¯t need to worry about that,¡± she said firmly, idly tapping Nightmare¡¯s head. ¡°We just need to make sure we never end up in that situation.¡±


    Zhao Lan nodded slowly, taking a deep breath. Yu Xiao was right, as always. Dwelling on hypotheticals wouldn¡¯t help.


    She pulled Precious next to her on the bed. ¡°Thank you,¡± she murmured, her voice thick with emotion. ¡°Does it still hurt?¡± she added softly, her fingers gently tracing the spot where Ye Tao had hit her.


    ¡°Doesn¡¯t hurt anymore,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen chirped, prodding at her side with a mixture of fascination and lingering anxiety. ¡°Getting hit by a function card is so weird! I actually felt like¡­like I would like to die for Ye Tao.¡±


    While Zhou Xiao Zhen and Zhao Lan dissected the bizarre aftereffects of their ghostly encounter, Yu Xiao pulled out her phone. Time to regroup. She dialled Yu Qing Lang¡¯s number, bracing herself for her usual brand of impatient affection.


    The phone rang for an eternity before Yu Qing Lang finally picked up.


    ¡°What?¡± she snapped, her voice sharp with annoyance.


    ¡°Sister, it¡¯s me,¡± Yu Xiao said brightly, ignoring her tone. ¡°I¡¯m out of Time Hospital!¡±


    A beat of silence. ¡°Took you long enough.¡±


    ¡°It wasn¡¯t about being slow,¡± Yu Xiao protested. ¡°We were in different time streams!¡±


    ¡°Ugh, whatever,¡± Yu Qing Lang sighed, the sound carrying across the line with crystal clarity. ¡°Don¡¯t call unless it¡¯s important.¡± And with that, she hung up.


    Yu Xiao rolled her eyes. Honestly, between her and Wide Sea and Sky, she was starting to think grumpiness was contagious. Undeterred, she dialled Wang Dong Dong¡¯s number.


    ¡°Hello¡­¡± His voice sounded weary, a stark contrast to her own buzzing energy.


    ¡°Brother Dong Dong, it¡¯s me!¡± Yu Xiao announced, unable to contain her relief. ¡°I¡¯m out of Time Hospital!¡±


    ¡°Oh,¡± he replied, his voice flat. ¡°It¡¯s you. It¡¯s been so long, I almost forgot.¡±


    Yu Xiao¡¯s cheerful facade faltered. ¡°How could you forget?¡±


    ¡°It has been a while,¡± Wang Dong Dong coughed. ¡°Glad you¡¯re out. Just¡­ stay safe, alright?¡±


    ¡°Speaking of which,¡± Yu Xiao chimed in, her curiosity piqued. ¡°I heard on the news someone got slapped with a 50-point fine and banned from instances for a month after that whole Time Hospital mess. Who was it?¡±


    ¡°Who else?¡± Wang Dong Dong said with a tired sigh. ¡°Flying to Someone Else¡¯s Bed.¡±


    Yu Xiao winced. He¡¯d helped her out of a tight spot, and now he was paying the price. ¡°Listen,¡± she said, a wave of guilt washing over her. ¡°Do you have his contact info? I want to compensate him.¡±


    Flying to Someone Else¡¯s Bed answered the phone with his usual boisterous energy. ¡°Well, if it isn¡¯t the young lady herself! Thought you¡¯d forgotten all about me.¡±


    ¡°Never!¡± Yu Xiao laughed, relieved to hear him sounding so upbeat. ¡°Just got out of Time Hospital.¡±


    ¡°Good, good,¡± he said, his tone turning surprisingly business-like. ¡°So, about those smart devices you promised¡­¡±


    Guilt gnawed at her again. ¡°Soon, soon!¡± she assured him. ¡°Speaking of which, I heard about the fine. Fifty points, right? Let me make it up to you with some function cards.¡±


    ¡°Got plenty of those, love,¡± he said, sounding almost bored. ¡°Anything a bit more¡­special?¡±


    Yu Xiao drew a blank. ¡°Special how?¡±


    ¡°You know,¡± he said, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. ¡°Something unique. Something nobody else has. Something¡­interesting.¡±


    She racked her brain. What did she have that fit that description? ¡°I¡¯ve got the heart of a fire ghost,¡± she offered tentatively.


    ¡°What am I supposed to do with that?¡± he asked, sounding less than impressed.


    ¡°Um¡­¡± Yu Xiao stammered. ¡°I don¡¯t know, actually.¡± She really didn¡¯t have anything else that screamed ¡°collector¡¯s item.¡±


    ¡°Alright, let it be this one,¡± Flying to Someone Else¡¯s Bed said decisively. ¡°Send it to me.¡±


    ¡°Hmm?¡± Yu Xiao was perplexed by his request. ¡°This is quite useless.¡±


    ¡°I know, just give it to me,¡± insisted Flying to Someone Else¡¯s Bed. ¡°I have a fondness for such peculiar yet useless things.¡±


    Yu Xiao sighed, ¡°¡­Alright then.¡±


    ¡°And don¡¯t forget the smart phone you promised us. It must be one that can access the Sixth Hospital forum.¡±


    ¡°I understand. I¡¯ll go buy the phone right away,¡± Yu Xiao assured him. ¡°Give me your nicknames and numbers. I¡¯ll need them to log into the forum.¡±


    ¡°Ugh, I¡¯m so useless,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen groaned, scrolling through her messages. ¡°Didn¡¯t get a single new title this time.¡±


    ¡°Same,¡± Zhao Lan sighed, echoing her friend¡¯s disappointment.


    ¡°What about you, Smiley? Any cool titles for you?¡±


    ¡°Haven¡¯t checked yet,¡± Yu Xiao said, already moving on to the next task. Her fingers flew across the screen as she saved Flying to Someone Else¡¯s Bed¡¯s contact information. ¡°I need to find Lu Xu. Gotta get those new phones.¡±


    Zhao Lan¡¯s eyebrows shot up. ¡°How many phones are we talking about, exactly?¡±


    ¡°Twenty-three,¡± Yu Xiao replied, her attention still glued to her screen.


    ¡°Twenty-three?!¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen squeaked. ¡°Does Lu Xu even have that many phones?¡±


    ¡°He better,¡± Yu Xiao muttered, a flicker of doubt crossing her mind. He had been awfully quick to agree¡­


    **


    Ever since Luo Jin¡¯s unsettling episode, things had been tense. Thankfully, he¡¯d been acting normal since, which went a long way in reassuring Lu Xu. Still, living in a perpetual state of ¡°what if¡± wasn¡¯t exactly ideal. Lu Xu was just about to call Yu Xiao, hoping for some kind of reassurance, when her name popped up on his screen.


    ¡°More bad news?¡± he asked, his voice tight with apprehension. Luo Jin, sensing his anxiety, gestured for him to put the call on speaker.


    ¡°Hey,¡± Lu Xu said cautiously. ¡°What¡¯s up?¡±


    ¡°Just one small thing,¡± Yu Xiao said, her tone casual.


    Lu Xu¡¯s heart lurched.


    ¡°I need to buy some mobile phones.¡±


    He let out a breath he didn¡¯t realise he¡¯d been holding. ¡°Phones, huh?¡± he said, relief flooding his voice. ¡°How many are we talking?¡±


    ¡°Twenty-three, precisely.¡±


    ¡°Bulk order, huh?¡± Lu Xu chuckled, picturing her surrounded by a mountain of phones. ¡°What, are you starting your own mobile empire?¡±


    ¡°Just answer the question. Got the goods or not?¡±


    ¡°Hold your horses,¡± he said, pulling open a drawer overflowing with neatly arranged smartphones. He prided himself on his inventory, but even he had his limits. ¡°Twenty-three is a tall order. Let me make a few calls.¡±


    ¡°Wait, other people sell phones here?¡±


    ¡°Honey, this is a horror hospital, not a monastery,¡± Lu Xu chuckled. ¡°We¡¯ve got entrepreneurs in every corner. Hang tight.¡±


    **


    While she waited, Yu Xiao started going through her messages, a wave of notifications popping up after her unexpected detour through time.


    ¡¾Congratulations on completing your ninth course of treatment! You are now a Level Ten member of the Sixth Hospital Patient Forum!¡¿


    ¡¾Excellent work! You¡¯ve earned three basic points and three bonus points.¡¿


    ¡¾Congratulations! You¡¯ve earned the title ¡®Manipulator of Time¡¯ (4 points). High five!¡¿


    Manipulator of Time? Was that a dig at her messing with the Time Hospita or Shi Guang, or just a coincidence? Knowing her luck, it was probably going to make Time itself angry.


    ¡¾Congratulations! You¡¯ve earned the title ¡®Yu Han San Returns¡¯ (4 points).¡¿


    ¡¾Congratulations! You¡¯ve earned the title ¡®Mirror Ghost Master¡¯ (4 points).¡¿


    Ah, right. Yu Xiao fished a small, ornate mirror out of her pocket. The Mirror Ghost from the Time Hospital. Had she really managed to smuggle it out?

 Chapter 148: Who would believe her?

    Yu Xiao¡¯s fingers danced over the mirror, flipping it back and forth, a strange thought bubbling up ¨C it felt like one of those props,one that allowed free passage through the world within the mirror. If ghosts could disguise themselves as everyday objects, so how were other props formed? Could ordinary things become¡­ extraordinary? Or they needed a ghost to do that? The thought sent a shiver down her spine.


    She scrolled through her phone, landing on a video Teng Jing Zhi had recorded for Wide Sea and Sky. With a touch, the video sprang to life, Teng Jing Zhi¡¯s visage filling the screen. A pang of something ¨C guilt? ¨C made her close it immediately. It felt wrong, like peeking into someone¡¯s private diary. Wide Sea and Sky¡¯s number was just a few taps away, but after a moment¡¯s hesitation, she decided against calling. Instead, she directly sent the video.


    Just as the message went through, Lu Xu called.


    ¡°Managed to round up 23 phones,¡± he announced without preamble. ¡°Got a sweet deal on mine, but the others¡­ let¡¯s just say they knew how to drive a bargain. You want me to take it out of your points, or deduct it from what you make selling the function cards?¡±


    ¡°Function card points,¡± Yu Xiao replied, wincing internally at the thought of her dwindling stash. Still, she¡¯d made a promise to the seniors at the Second Hospital, and she intended to keep it.


    ¡°Coming right up, then,¡± Lu Xu said, then hesitated. ¡°Hey, about¡­¡±


    ¡°None of your business,¡± Yu Xiao interrupted, already bracing herself for a barrage of questions. ¡°It¡¯s¡­ complicated.¡±


    ¡°Jeez, alright, keep your secrets,¡± Lu Xu huffed. ¡°I just wanted to know if there was anything we could do about Old Luo.¡±


    ¡°Is he¡­ worse?¡± Yu Xiao asked, a knot of worry forming in her stomach.


    ¡°Not sure ¡®worse¡¯ is the right word¡­¡± Lu Xu¡¯s voice dropped to a conspiratorial whisper. ¡°Let¡¯s just say I woke up the other night to find him standing over my bed, drooling.¡±


    ¡°This is getting out of hand,¡± Yu Xiao muttered, racking her brain for a solution to Old Luo¡¯s predicament.


    ¡°Tell me about it,¡± Lu Xu sighed, worry creasing his brow. ¡°Ever since he found out about this whole¡­ situation, he¡¯s been throwing himself at every instance he can find.¡±


    Yu Xiao glanced at Nightmare, curled up at the foot of the bed in his deceptively harmless feline form. If only he could¡­


    Nightmare, catching her glance, sprang to attention, his eyes alight with curiosity.


    ¡°I¡¯ll let you know if I figure something out,¡± she promised, hoping she wouldn¡¯t have to resort to asking Nightmare for help.


    Meanwhile, Zhou Xiao Zhen had begun the ritual of ordering food from the doorway. Zhao Lan, fresh from the shower and towelling her hair dry, joined them.


    ¡°So, Smiley,¡± Zhao Lan began, ¡°you were at the Second Hospital, right? What¡¯s the situation like out there? You weren¡¯t exactly clear back at Time Hospital.¡±


    Yu Xiao shuddered, recalling the chaotic scene outside the ward. ¡°It was a madhouse. I couldn¡¯t see a thing. I only found the ward because ¡®Flying to Someone Else¡¯s Bed¡¯ led the way.¡±


    ¡°¡®Flying to Someone Else¡¯s Bed?¡¯¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen piped up from the doorway, her interest piqued. ¡°The Second Hospital¡¯s top dog? Is he cute? Got a nice bod?¡±


    Yu Xiao thought back to the fleeting glimpse she¡¯d caught in the hallway. ¡°Couldn¡¯t tell you about the bod. And his face¡­¡± she trailed off.


    ¡°What?¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen pressed. ¡°You didn¡¯t even see his face?¡±


    ¡°It was either hidden by hair or a beard,¡± Yu Xiao explained. ¡°All I saw were his eyes. They were pretty intense, though. Striking.¡±


    ¡°The top player, looking like a wild man?¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen shook her head in disbelief.


    Zhao Lan chuckled. ¡°Honey, in this place, who¡¯s he going to impress?¡±


    Zhao Lan let out a sigh, her thoughts drifting to the dwindling supplies of their daily routines. ¡°How much of your skincare products do you have left? I¡¯m nearly out.¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen echoed her concern. ¡°My Dabo is almost gone too.¡±


    (´ó±¦ (Dabo): A popular brand of skincare products in China, often associated with nostalgia and simplicity.)


    Yu Xiao, on the other hand, had the unfortunate distinction of having exhausted her stash long ago.


    **


    In the dimly lit hospital room, a sudden burst of light pierced the gloom. Tang Xing Yin¡¯s (¡®Wide Sea and Sky¡¯) eyes flicked towards the source, tracing it back to where he had tossed his phone. Rising from the bed, a nervous swallow betrayed his curiosity. Who could it be? Everyone from his past was a memory now.


    Clutching the phone, he discovered a video message waiting. A flutter of anticipation stirred within him. Could it be from her? A video introduction at last? Should he respond in kind?


    Then, the reality of his appearance gave him pause¡ªhis hair, a wild tangle, his clothes, a rumpled mess¡­


    After a brief hesitation, he tapped the video.


    The familiar face that filled the screen sent a jolt through him.


    ¡°Hi, Little Star, do you remember me?¡± The man on the video smiled, youthful and unchanged. The backdrop was a simple room, not the hospital he knew.


    The man continued, his smile unwavering. ¡°You haven¡¯t forgotten me, have you? You once said you wanted to share a hospital room with me. By the time you see this, I¡¯ve been gone for years. I¡¯m in a special instance now, where I met three young girls. They claim to be from over twenty years in the future and that they know you.¡±


    Teng Jing Zhi chuckled, his tone light. ¡°I heard you¡¯ve got quite the temper these days? Be careful, young man, don¡¯t go getting into trouble¡­¡±


    The man on the screen was rambling on, but Tang Xing Yin¡¯s vision had already begun to blur.


    **


    In no time, a substantial parcel arrived, brimming with twenty-three mobile phones. As they unboxed it, an array of phones with unusual designs greeted them. Still, it didn¡¯t take Yu Xiao, Zhou Xiao Zhen, and Zhao Lan long to decipher the technology.


    Soon, the untouched feast lay forgotten, replaced by the glow of screens as the trio diligently registered everyone on the Sixth Hospital Forum.


    ¡°Imagine the threads!¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen exclaimed, eyes sparkling. ¡°The seniors must have a lifetime of stories to share.¡±


    Yu Xiao nodded, already envisioning the possibilities. ¡°I¡¯m planning on posting a talisman-drawing guide. We¡¯ll make the Sixth Hospital Forum even better than the Fourth¡¯s.¡±


    A mischievous grin spread across Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s face. ¡°And it¡¯s not just stories they have, right? Think of the function cards, the props¡­¡±


    Ever the voice of reason, Zhao Lan interjected, ¡°Don¡¯t get ahead of yourselves. You can¡¯t afford any of that.¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s smile didn¡¯t falter. ¡°Who said anything about buying? I have my ways.¡±


    Registering the seniors from the Second Hospital proved to be a different kind of challenge. Wrinkled fingers struggled with unfamiliar technology, leading to delayed verification codes and a chorus of exasperated sighs.


    ¡°Ouch!¡± Yu Xiao winced, her neck protesting with a stiff groan as she tried to stretch it. ¡°I¡¯m taking a week off, no ifs, ands, or buts. Nobody¡¯s stopping me from resting up!¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen chuckled. ¡°No one¡¯s stopping you. I¡¯m doing alright, actually. Not even tired.¡±


    Yu Xiao resisted the urge to roll her eyes *Of course you¡¯re not tired. You¡¯ve been lounging around the room, opening and closing doors. I¡¯ve been sprinting between the Time Hospital and the Second Hospital non-stop.*


    A chirpy ¡®ding-dong¡¯ pierced the air.


    Yu Xiao¡¯s phone buzzed with a message from Yu Qing Lang. It wasn¡¯t just a verification code; it was an invitation to team up for an upcoming instance. Hesitation flickered across her face. It wasn¡¯t that she doubted Yu Qing Lang¡¯s skills, but this particular instance was¡­unpredictable, to say the least. Bringing someone along felt like inviting unnecessary complications.


    Before she could respond, another message popped up, this time from Wang Dong Dong.


    ¡¾Yu Xiao, when¡¯s your next instance? Heard you¡¯re teaming up with Yu Qing Lang; count me in too.¡¿


    Yu Xiao blinked, bewildered. Who, exactly, was spreading these rumours?


    A third notification chimed in before she could even type a denial. It was from ¡®Flying to Someone Else¡¯s Bed.¡¯


    ¡¾Heard you¡¯re teaming up with Little Yu and Little Wang? Not bad, not bad. They¡¯re alright, though not in my league, of course. Hang in there, kid. Once this month¡¯s up, I¡¯ll lead you myself.¡¿


    ¡°¡­¡±


    Yu Xiao stared at the screen, utterly flabbergasted. She¡¯d always pictured herself as the leader, not the one being fought over! Were these renowned players vying for the honour of babysitting her?


    Zhao Lan, witnessing her friend¡¯s bewildered expression, couldn¡¯t understand the hesitation. ¡°Isn¡¯t this a good thing? With them around, our plan is practically foolproof!¡±


    (Ê®ÄþÅÎÈ (even more foolproof): This idiom literally means ¡°nine out of ten chances of success,¡± implying a high degree of certainty and reliability.)


    ¡°But it¡¯s dangerous,¡± Yu Xiao argued, a knot of unease tightening in her stomach.


    ¡°But wouldn¡¯t their presence make things safer?¡± Zhao Lan reasoned.


    Yu Xiao could only sigh.


    ¡°Just call them,¡± Zhao Lan suggested. ¡°Explain the situation, and let them decide for themselves.¡±


    An exasperated groan escaped Yu Xiao¡¯s lips. How could she possibly explain this? Who would believe her?


    **


    Meanwhile, Yu Qing Lang¡¯s patience was wearing thin. No reply to her text. Fuming, she decided a ten-minute power nap was in order. Three minutes in, her phone blared.


    Her head pounded as she answered, already convinced Yu Xiao was a hospital-sent agent on a mission to drive her insane.


    ¡°What?¡± she snapped, voice laced with irritation.


    Taken aback by the hostility, Yu Xiao couldn¡¯t help but think, ¡°She can send me texts, but I can¡¯t call her?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s about the team-up,¡± she began cautiously. ¡°My situation is¡­unique. This next instance is going to be incredibly dangerous.¡±


    Yu Qing Lang snorted. ¡°Unique? You think you¡¯re more unique than ¡®Flying to Someone Else¡¯s Bed?¡¯¡± She¡¯d seen it all before, the youthful delusion of being the protagonist in a world full of extras. ¡°Enlighten me. What¡¯s so unique about you?¡±


    ¡°There are¡­one, two¡­four attending physicians in the instance who are trying to kill me,¡± Yu Xiao blurted out.


    Silence. Then, ¡°Have you shown any symptoms?¡±


    Yu Xiao¡¯s frustration mounted. ¡°Symptoms? I¡¯m perfectly fine! I¡¯m telling the truth! I may have¡­ offended a few attending physicians in previous instances. Now they¡¯re teaming up to take me out in the next one.¡±


    Yu Qing Lang couldn¡¯t help but scoff internally. Offended attending physicians? What had she done, tripped over their IV drip stands? ¡°And how, pray tell, did you manage to offend them?¡± she drawled.


    Yu Xiao licked her lips, bracing herself for a long, winding tale. ¡°Well, it all started when I accidentally caused an attending physician to be brutally beaten by a ghost with domain powers¡­¡±


    She recounted the saga of her unintentional reign of terror, each incident more outlandish than the last. How she¡¯d become the aforementioned doctors¡¯s superior and then promptly gotten him severely injured by a non-ghostly entity. How, just as he was recovering, another terrifying figure had emerged, hell-bent on ending him, all thanks to her.


    Silence met her confession. Undeterred, she continued, moving on to the second doctor on her list. ¡°I might have¡­tarnished his reputation a bit within the game. And, okay, maybe I set him up for a vicious monster attack before I left. Then he came after me in the game, but I escaped and, in the process, cost him several years¡¯ worth of wages.¡±


    More silence, heavier this time.


    ¡°Oh, and there was this other one,¡± she ploughed on, ¡°who held a grudge because I destroyed some instance facilities. Talk about petty! Honestly, the pettiness! The last one is even worse. A few harmless insults and he¡¯s been carrying a torch ever since.¡±


    By now, Yu Qing Lang¡¯s headache had morphed into something altogether more sinister. It felt like a tiny gremlin had taken up residence in her skull and was now tap-dancing on her optic nerve. Was she losing her mind, or was this girl messing with her?


    ¡°Look,¡± she said, her voice strained, ¡°I might not have a fancy university degree, but I¡¯m not stupid. You can¡¯t fool me with this nonsense.¡±


    Yu Xiao¡¯s voice was earnest, almost pleading. ¡°But it¡¯s all true! I swear! I have no reason to lie to you!¡±


    Yu Qing Lang considered this. She was right; there was no logical reason for such an elaborate fabrication. ¡°Then why?¡± she rasped, the single word conveying her utter bewilderment.


    ¡°I¡­it wasn¡¯t intentional?¡± Yu Xiao offered weakly.


    Now Yu Qing Lang¡¯s teeth joined the party in her head, throbbing in painful rhythm with the gremlin¡¯s tap dancing. ¡°And how, pray tell, did you find out about this grand ambush in the next instance?¡±


    ¡°Oh, right. Um, a very powerful monster told me.¡±


    ¡°And why, exactly, would this monster do you such a solid?¡± Yu Qing Lang ground out, her grip on sanity growing ever more tenuous.


    ¡°He¡­probably hates me so much he wants to be the one to finish me off?¡± Yu Xiao ventured, hoping this made even a sliver of sense.


    Yu Qing Lang stared at the phone, questioning all her life choices that had led to this moment. Finally, she managed, ¡°I¡­need to call for backup.¡±


    ¡°Backup? That¡¯s not necessary!¡± Yu Xiao quickly reassured her. ¡°I already have a plan¡­¡±


    **


    The call ended with a beep, leaving Yu Xiao staring at her phone.


    ¡°Wow, she didn¡¯t even hesitate,¡± she muttered, slightly miffed. Explaining all that had been exhausting. Maybe calling Wang Dong Dong wasn¡¯t such a good idea after all¡­


    Another call came in, this time from Wide Sea and Sky.


    ¡°Smiley¡¯s certainly popular today,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen commented, watching Yu Xiao jump to answer.


    ¡°Hello?¡± she chirped. ¡°Did you see the video? It¡¯s true! I met Teng Jing Zhi in this, like, totally magical instance¡­¡±


    ¡°I know,¡± a raspy voice replied. ¡°Thank you.¡± Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Oh, it was nothing,¡± she stammered. ¡°You¡¯ve helped me a lot too.¡±


    An awkward silence fell. Finally, Tang Xing Yin spoke, his voice barely above a whisper. ¡°Can¡­can you tell me how you met?¡±


    ¡°Of course!¡± Yu Xiao launched into the tale of their encounter, warmth blooming in her chest as she relived the moment. Their hospital-forged friendship was truly something special.


    ¡°I was fourteen when I was admitted,¡± Tang Xing Yin interjected suddenly.


    She frowned, confused. ¡°Oh?¡± Was that significant?


    He went on, ¡°It¡¯s been a month since I was banned from entering the instances.¡±

 Chapter 149: A New Day

    Yu Xiao¡¯s ¡°finger¡± hovered over the ¡°congratulations¡± message, but something held her back. Was ¡®Wide Sea and Sky¡¯ even interested in the points? Did he even do instances? Her thoughts were interrupted by Tang Xing Yin¡¯s voice.


    ¡°When¡¯s your next instance run?¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡± Yu Xiao blinked, momentarily disoriented. ¡°Next week, I think. Need a break first.¡± S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Good.¡± Tang Xing Yin¡¯s voice was clipped, business-like. ¡°Do you still have that team-up card?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, I haven¡¯t used it.¡± Yu Xiao frowned slightly. ¡°You want to team up?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t forget.¡± The line went dead.


    Staring at her phone, Yu Xiao felt a prickle of unease. Everyone seemed so eager to have her along. Was she missing something? Then, with a mental shrug, she decided it must be the universe rewarding her inherent goodness. Karma points for being awesome, she thought with a smirk.


    Meanwhile, Zhou Xiao Zhen, exhausted after hours spent registering their new burner phones on the Sixth Hospital forum, had succumbed to sleep. However, Zhao Lan was glued to her own phone, scrolling through who knows what.


    Yu Xiao waited by the door, anticipation thrumming through her. She reviewed her plan and felt confident about it. In the ¡®Avengers¡¯ camp, Gluttony was a turncoat, George, the delusional fool, waited at St. Elizabeth¡¯s, ready to walk into her trap. That left only Gu Shu, Lolita, Qing Shi, and the new creepy attending doctor as potential threats in the upcoming instance.


    But she had allies too. The Nightmare, who could kill George. The unpredictable ¡®Wide Sea and Sky¡¯. And those audacious troublemakers from the Second Hospital.


    A slow smile spread across her face. Everything was in place. This time, she was in control.


    A sharp knock startled her from her thoughts.


    ¡°Delivery!¡± The familiar sing-song voice of the courier girl drifted through the door.


    Yu Xiao passed off the package with new phones, her mind already racing ahead. ¡°Has anything strange been happening at the hospital lately?¡± she asked casually.


    The courier girl shrugged as she tucked the package under her arm. ¡°Just another day, another delivery. But I did hear whispers¡­ something about the Chief Cerberus after that riot at the Second Hospital¡­¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    The delivery girl leaned in conspiratorially. ¡°The word on the street is that there has been an injury. A big one.¡±


    Yu Xiao¡¯s interest was piqued. Gossip was currency in the Horror Hospital, especially when it involved the upper echelons. ¡°Who got hurt?¡±


    The girl¡¯s voice dropped to a whisper. ¡°Chief Cerberus himself. Apparently, it has got the ghosts all riled up.¡±


    ¡°Riled up?¡± Yu Xiao frowned.


    ¡°You know, scheming, causing trouble,¡± the girl elaborated, her eyes wide. ¡°Chief Cerberus runs a tight ship, keeps everyone in line. But with him out of commission¡­¡± She trailed off meaningfully.


    A thought struck Yu Xiao. Could this be why George and his gang had chosen now to target her? Was this chaos their doing, or were they simply taking advantage of the situation?


    ¡°Interesting,¡± she mused, then a mischievous glint entered her eye. ¡°Tell me, do you ever think about a career change?¡±


    The girl giggled. ¡°Me? I¡¯m just a humble delivery girl.¡±


    ¡°Oh?¡± Yu Xiao drawled, her voice laced with amusement. ¡°What if I told you I knew of a certain attending doctor position that needed filling?¡±


    The girl¡¯s laughter died down. ¡°But¡­ I don¡¯t have a domain.¡±


    ¡°A domain?¡± Yu Xiao had heard whispers of this before, but her understanding was vague. ¡°What exactly is that?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s¡­ complicated,¡± the girl mumbled. ¡°A symbol of power, I guess. You need one to be an attending doctor.¡±


    Yu Xiao sighed internally. Just her luck. She had been hoping to install one of her own in the Time Hospital¡¯s hierarchy, someone she could trust to maintain order and further her own goals. But her options were limited.


    Tie Niu was loyal, but lacked the necessary¡­ finesse. Nightmare, now there was a force to be reckoned with, but she needed him for the Ghost Monster Group. Her gaze drifted back to him, his feline form a study in nonchalance.


    ¡°Smiley!¡± Zhao Lan¡¯s voice, sharp and impatient, cut through her thoughts.


    Yu Xiao walked across the room to where Zhao Lan sat hunched over her phone, a frown marring her usually deadpan face. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±


    ¡°Trouble,¡± Zhao Lan muttered, glancing up. ¡°The forum.¡±


    ¡°What about it?¡± Yu Xiao leaned closer, peering at the screen.


    Zhao Lan¡¯s fingers flew across the screen, scrolling furiously. ¡°I tried posting about the Time Hospital on the Sixth Hospital forum. Ten minutes later, poof! Gone. Deleted.¡±


    Yu Xiao didn¡¯t waste time with questions. She whipped out her phone and typed furiously, summarising the Time Hospital situation in a text to Luo Jin.


    **


    At the Fourth Hospital, Luo Jin pondered his options. Another lengthy instance had left him feeling rough, and the craving for human flesh was creeping in even during his waking hours. Raid again tomorrow, or take a break?


    A soft ping from his phone interrupted his thoughts. It was a message from Yu Xiao. As he read, his brow creased in concern.


    Beside him, Lu Xu was busy tallying their meagre points, calculating how many more instances they needed to conquer, how many more deals they needed to broker, to escape this cursed existence.


    ¡°Hey, check this out,¡± Luo Jin called him over, phone outstretched..


    Lu Xu took the phone, his eyes scanning the message. A low whistle escaped his lips. ¡°This Time Hospital sounds like a real nightmare. You know, for all the craziness we¡¯ve faced, I have to admire that woman. She just keeps going.¡±


    He handed the phone back. ¡°So, you want to warn others? Good idea. Forewarned is forearmed, as they say.¡±


    Luo Jin said nothing, merely edited the message slightly and hit send. He scrolled through the forum, his curiosity piqued by a particularly heated debate on the merits of ghost-repelling talismans versus thunder talismans.


    When he returned to his own post, however, it was gone. He flipped through the pages, a knot of unease forming in his stomach. The post had vanished, swallowed whole by the digital abyss.


    Before he could dwell on it, another message from Yu Xiao arrived.


    ¡¾Is the post still there?¡¿


    ¡°The post disappeared,¡± Luo Jin¡¯s voice was filled with frustration. ¡°They¡¯re censoring it. Do you know anything about this?¡±


    ¡°It happens every time,¡± Yu Xiao sighed, remembering her own failed attempts to spread the word. ¡°I tried posting on the Sixth Hospital forum multiple times. It always disappears. Someone or something wants to keep the Time Hospital¡¯s secrets hidden.¡±


    ¡°But why? Information about other instances is freely circulated. What makes the Time Hospital so special?¡± Luo Jin¡¯s mind raced as he tried to understand the reasoning behind this information blackout.


    ¡°That¡¯s what we need to find out,¡± Yu Xiao paused, a new thought forming. ¡°Since we can¡¯t use the forums, we¡¯ll have to spread the word ourselves. You have a good network, right? Tell everyone you know. Tell them to be cautious.¡±


    ¡°Consider it done,¡± Luo Jin readily agreed. But a nagging question remained. He remembered the message he had just read, detailing the escape methods Yu Xiao had outlined: using mobile phones, swapping appearance cards, and impersonating patients. ¡°You mentioned those escape methods¡­the mobile phones, the cards¡­do they only work in the Time Hospital?¡±


    ¡°No, they work in all instances,¡± Yu Xiao confirmed.


    A chill ran down Luo Jin¡¯s spine. ¡°And can¡­can ghosts use them too?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    The line fell silent. Luo Jin¡¯s mind flooded with images: faces, encounters, patients he had encountered during his time in the hospital. Patients who had seemed a bit strange, a bit off, but still human. Now, he wasn¡¯t so sure.


    **


    The call ended late. Zhao Lan dragged a sleepy Zhou Xiao Zhen out of bed for a makeshift dinner. Yu Xiao joined them, her mind still buzzing with the implications of their discovery.


    Exhaustion finally overcame her, pulling her into a restless sleep. She found herself walking down a crowded street, drawn in by a tantalising sweet fragrance that seemed to emanate from the heart of the crowd.


    Then it hit her. The dream, the scent, the hunger¡­were these the cravings Luo Jin had warned her about? Was she turning into a monster, even in her sleep?


    Panic gripped her. She stood frozen, her heart pounding, as a wave of cold sweat washed over her. Then, she saw it. A small, yellow cat, huddled in the shadows behind the oblivious crowd.


    She rushed toward the startled feline, scooping him into her arms as he let out a surprised meow.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t mean to intrude,¡± he mumbled. ¡°I sensed your distress, so I came to check on you.¡±


    Yu Xiao didn¡¯t mind. She asked, ¡°Can you change my nightmare?¡±


    The furball in her hand tilted his head. ¡°Sure, but this definitely isn¡¯t a nightmare.¡±


    Yu Xiao furrowed her brow. If it wasn¡¯t a nightmare, then what was this craving, this pull towards the heart of the bustling? She scanned the crowd, her gaze landing on an unassuming stall tucked away in a corner. A plume of pungent steam rose from a bubbling cauldron, carrying with it a scent both familiar and oddly alluring.


    Snail noodles.


    (ÂÝòÏ·Û; lu¨®s¨© f¨§n; snail noodles] A famous Chinese dish known for its pungent smell, popular in southern China, especially in Liuzhou, Guangxi.)


    The Nightmare wrinkled his nose, burying his face in its paw. Yu Xiao, however, felt a pang of longing. Was her sense of smell going haywire? Since when did she find the notoriously pungent aroma of snail noodles appealing?


    ¡°Nightmare,¡± she began, a new thought taking root. ¡°Can you¡­influence the nightmares of someone far away?¡±


    ¡°Of course,¡± He nodded, still hiding from the offensive odour. ¡°But I need a medium.¡±


    ¡°Like what?¡±


    ¡°A phone will do nicely.¡±


    ¡°Oh,¡± Yu Xiao nodded thoughtfully, ¡°Then you¡­¡±


    But this involved Nightmare¡­ she hesitated. He was powerful, unpredictable.


    Nightmare, sensing her reluctance, slumped slightly. Sometimes, he mused, not being needed was the worst feeling of all.


    The insistent chirping of her alarm clock dragged Yu Xiao back to reality. She sat up, yawning, the remnants of the dream ¨C the crowd, the smell, the Nightmare¡¯s golden eyes ¨C fading like mist. She had dreamt of devouring ten bowls of snail noodles, an oddly satisfying feat.


    ¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s sleepy voice drifted from across the room. ¡°First day of our seven-day holiday! Time to conquer the world, or at least the takeout menu.¡±


    She rolled over, catching sight of Zhao Lan already perched on a chair, scrolling through her phone with an intensity that bordered on a religious experience. ¡°Now that¡¯s dedication,¡± she mumbled, impressed. ¡°Misty, you put my morning scroll to shame.¡±


    Zhao Lan¡¯s eyes remained glued to her phone. ¡°Things just got interesting,¡± she announced, her voice tight with excitement. ¡°The Sixth Hospital forum exploded last night. New posts everywhere.¡±


    Yu Xiao blinked, momentarily disoriented. ¡°Exploded? What do you mean?¡± Then, realisation dawned. ¡°The Second Hospital. They got through.¡±


    ¡°Bingo.¡± Zhao Lan grinned, swiping through a seemingly endless stream of messages. ¡°Looks like they pulled an all-nighter, spamming the forum with their¡­unique brand of storytelling. The Sixth Hospital folks are not amused. It¡¯s an all-out flame war.¡±


    ¡°What are they even arguing about?¡± Yu Xiao was baffled.


    ¡°It¡¯s less about the content and more about the¡­delivery.¡± Zhao Lan chuckled. ¡°Let¡¯s just say the Second Hospital¡¯s idea of a persuasive argument involves a lot of melodrama and questionable metaphors. The Sixth Hospital crowd thinks they are bragging and should stick to writing fantasy novels.¡±


    Yu Xiao shook her head, a smile tugging at her lips. She was about to check out the forum herself when a morning news jingle caught her attention.


    The chirpy voice of the morning news radio filled the room.


    ¡°Another beautiful day is upon us~! Let¡¯s start with the morning news.¡±


    ¡°The hospital¡¯s review team is looking for a few good souls. No age, gender, or experience restrictions. Interested parties, please contact Review Team Leader Long¡­¡±


    ¡°Yesterday, a patient from the Third Hospital, nicknamed ¡®Cool Guy,¡¯ earned themselves the prestigious title of ¡®I Serve Everyone, Everyone Serves Me¡¯ for their outstanding performance during treatment. Congratulations!¡±


    ¡°¡­Another round of applause for a patient from the Third Hospital, nicknamed ¡®Invincible Zoffy,¡¯ who earned the coveted title of ¡®Slick Dodger¡¯ for his exceptional treatment performance. Well done!¡±


    ¡°From the Fourth Hospital, we have a familiar face at the top of the charts. Congratulations to ¡®Zhuge Liang burning the Spider Web Cave¡¯ for their exceptional treatment performance, earning them the distinguished titles of ¡®Grumpy Old Man¡¯ and ¡®Don¡¯t Talk to Strangers.¡¯ Let¡¯s hear it for them!¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°And topping the charts again, it¡¯s ¡®Deaf Descendant¡¯ from the Sixth Hospital! This patient has truly outdone themselves, earning a remarkable three titles for their exceptional treatment performance: ¡®Manipulator of Time ,¡¯Yu Han San Returns¡¯, and ¡®Mirror Ghost Master¡¯. Give them a round of applause!¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°Three titles again,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen marvelled. ¡°Smiley, even if you couldn¡¯t draw talismans, you¡¯d be racking up points like a pro.¡±


    Yu Xiao, still snuggled under the covers, lazily scrolling through her phone, chuckled. ¡°If I couldn¡¯t draw talismans, honey, I wouldn¡¯t be alive to see this day.¡±


    She tapped open the Sixth Hospital forum. The Second Hospital patients, she mused, seemed allergic to sleep.


    The post titles themselves were a sight to behold:


    ¡¾So This Is What the Forum Looks Like!¡¿


    ¡¾Should I Say Hello?¡¿


    ¡¾Why Is No One Talking?¡¿


    ¡¾Brothers from the Rabbit Hospital, Gather Here!¡¿


    ¡¾¡­¡¿


    It was like watching a chat group unravel in real-time, complete with gossip and scandalous reveals. Not entirely surprising, considering the pressure cooker environment of the hospital. Some patients, their mental states a bit frayed, sought solace and a sense of belonging in the digital world.


    With all their bravado, these powerhouses couldn¡¯t resist a good old-fashioned bragging session. Who had faced off against the most attending doctors was a favourite topic.


    To the newbies of the Sixth Hospital, it all seemed a bit much. Boasting was one thing, but a little grounding in reality wouldn¡¯t hurt.


    Their conversation, a whirlwind of one-upmanship, soon turned to Yu Xiao. No one seemed to notice, or care, about the curious onlookers from the Sixth.


    It started innocently enough. Someone wondered about her next instance, sparking a flurry of excited suggestions and a near stampede to join her team. With only six spots available, the competition was fierce.


    The tension was palpable. Finally, one voice rose above the rest. ¡°If I weren¡¯t stuck under house arrest,¡± he declared, ¡°none of you would stand a chance! With me by her side, she¡¯d be practically invincible!¡±


    The Sixth Hospital crew exchanged bewildered glances. Exaggeration was one thing, but this was bordering on delusional. Who was this Yu Xiao, and why was everyone so obsessed with her?

 Chapter 150: Suspicious Countdown

    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¡ªbecause the Sixth Hospital wasn¡¯t just another scenario, it was a tangled web of danger¡ªZhou 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¡ª several women chatting¡ª 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.


    ¡°¡ª 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!¡±


    (µõ´ø˯ȹ (strappy nightdress): [µõ´ø˯ȹ; di¨¤od¨¤i shu¨¬q¨²n; 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 (ÍõÃÎ), blushed. ¡°Master, how did you end up in our ward?¡±


    Íõ (W¨¢ng): This is a common Chinese surname that means ¡°king¡± or ¡°monarch.¡±ÃÎ (M¨¨ng): This character is a given name that means ¡°dream¡± or ¡°to dream.¡±When combined, ¡°ÍõÃΡ± (W¨¢ng M¨¨ng) 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 th§× N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet 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.


    ¡ª !!


    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.

 Chapter 151: Some Ghosts Play By Their Own Rules

    Nightmare, eyes gleaming like a predator¡¯s, leaped from Yu Xiao¡¯s arms. With a hiss, he planted himself between her and the approaching menace.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen let out a startled yelp, and Yu Xiao wasn¡¯t much better.


    Five spirit-repelling talismans reduced to ash in a blink? This ghost was a real bruiser.


    She murmured to Nightmare, ¡°Can you handle it?¡±


    ¡°Sure,¡± the Nightmare replied, his voice firm but laced with caution. ¡°But it¡¯ll be a bit loud, wouldn¡¯t want to attract unwanted attention, would we?¡±


    Yu Xiao caught his drift. Nightmare, being a wanted fugitive, wasn¡¯t exactly the ideal ghost-busting partner. A full-blown brawl might expose their little secret.


    Squeak¡ª


    Just then, the door creaked open a sliver, unleashing a bone-chilling cold that sank straight into Yu Xiao¡¯s bones. Thinking fast, she barked at Zhou Xiao Zhen, ¡°Door on me, Precious! You lock it, double time!¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen, initially pumped for a fight, blinked in surprise for a second before springing into action.


    Yu Xiao slammed the door shut with all her might. A deafening thud echoed as the doorframe groaned under the force. Zhou Xiao Zhen fumbled for the master key, her hands shaking slightly, and finally clicked it into place just as another bone-rattling blow slammed into the barrier.


    ¡°Blimey,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen breathed, adrenaline still coursing through her veins. ¡°Close call, eh? Good thinking with the key.¡±


    Yu Xiao flicked on the light switch, bathing the room in a comforting glow. Wang Meng and the others huddled together, their faces visibly calmer under the bright light.


    ¡°Is it gone?¡±


    As if on cue, another bone-jarring crash against the door sent all three of them scrambling back in fright. Yu Xiao backed away from the now-battered door, thanking her lucky stars for Misty¡¯s foresight with giving them the master key. Without it, things could have gotten messy.


    ¡°Looks like we¡¯re dealing with more than your average night watchman,¡± Yu Xiao muttered, turning to scrutinise her wide-eyed companions. ¡°Spill it. How¡¯d you manage to tick off such a heavyweight?¡±


    The three women exchanged baffled looks.


    ¡°Hold on!¡± Wang Meng cried. ¡°We wouldn¡¯t dare provoke anything! We barely even leave the ward ¨C two meals a day, tops.¡±


    Yu Xiao frowned, utterly lost. Zhou Xiao Zhen jumped in. ¡°Did anything, anything at all, happen in the days before the countdown started?¡±


    ¡°Nothing,¡± Wang Meng insisted. ¡°We¡¯d just finished an instance, got lucky with a forum guide, breezed right through it. Everything was normal until lights out, then we heard this voice¡­ ¡®Thirteen,¡¯ it said. Thought it was the ward ghost messing about, but then it came back the next day¡­¡±


    It defied logic. They seemed innocent, yet something had drawn this ghost¡¯s attention. Yu Xiao couldn¡¯t shake a feeling of unease. It wasn¡¯t distrust, exactly, but that entity¡­ Nightmare¡¯s reaction spoke volumes. This was a powerful ghost, one with its own domain. Such beings didn¡¯t attack random wards for no reason.


    Her gaze fell on the window. ¡°Have you opened the curtains after dark?¡±


    ¡°Never!¡± The three voices chimed together, emphatic. ¡°Too scared to even go near them after lights out, let alone open them!¡±


    The mystery deepened. What could possibly entice such a fierce ghost to target them without cause?


    Outside, the pounding continued for a while longer, then slowly faded, as if the entity realised its efforts were futile. A collective sigh of relief swept the room.


    ¡°Will it¡­ will it come back?¡± Wang Meng asked, her voice trembling.


    Yu Xiao had no answer. She thought for a moment, then said, ¡°I¡¯m going to call someone.¡±


    Scrolling through her contacts, she hesitated, then selected ¡®Flying to Someone Else¡¯s Bed¡¯. He was the most energetic of the lot and always had time to spare.


    True to form, he answered on the first ring. ¡°Well, hello there! Missing me already? You know, you could just pop onto the forum if you¡¯re feeling chatty¡­¡±


    ¡°Bed Bro,¡± Yu Xiao cut in, ¡°I¡¯ve got a problem.¡±


    His voice perked up. ¡°And coming to me is always the right choice! Spill the tea, what¡¯s the issue?¡±


    Briefly, she explained the situation, ending with, ¡°Have you ever heard of a ghost that does a countdown? What¡¯s that all about?¡±


    A thoughtful silence followed, then, ¡°Most ghosts need specific conditions to kill, you know.¡±


    Yu Xiao¡¯s mind raced back to her own encounters. None of those ghosts had seemed particularly picky eaters.


    ¡°Think about it,¡± Bed Bro continued, ¡°for a ghost to off someone, it needs to see them, or they have to wander into its territory, or there has to be some kind of contact made. You¡¯ve probably dealt with the first two loads of times. Every haunted instance? That¡¯s walking right into their turf. But a hospital room¡­ that¡¯s different. They can¡¯t see in, and they can¡¯t just waltz through the door.¡±


    The pieces clicked into place. Wang Meng and the others were tucked away in the ward, hidden and safe. Which meant the contact had to have been made somehow¡­


    ¡°But they swore they didn¡¯t provoke anything,¡± Yu Xiao murmured, replaying Wang Meng¡¯s words. If they were telling the truth, then how¡­?


    ¡°Two ways that human-ghost interaction kicks off,¡± Bed Bro said, a hint of amusement in his voice. ¡°One, someone winds the ghost up, like you did with that doctor, remember?¡±


    Yu Xiao mumbled something unintelligible.


    ¡°Two,¡± he continued, undeterred, ¡°the ghost makes the first move.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s¡­¡± Never in all her encounters had she experienced that. ¡°Can they even do that? Enter a hospital room and target someone?¡±


    ¡°Not normally,¡± Bed Bro admitted. ¡°But some ghosts, they play by their own rules. They set conditions. Ran into one that liked spitting in water, right? You drink the water, you get marked, and then it chases you around like a lovesick poltergeist until it eats you.¡±


    A shiver ran down Yu Xiao¡¯s spine. She vividly recalled a night, curtains opened, a ghostly face staring back¡­ then following her into an instance.


    ¡°Sounds like your countdown friend is the same type,¡± Bed Bro said, his voice turning serious. ¡°You hear those numbers, it ends¡­ bam, contact made. Then it can waltz right into the ward.¡±


    ¡°So, if it couldn¡¯t get in tonight¡­¡± A chilling thought occurred to her. ¡°Will it try again tomorrow?¡±


    ¡°Dunno.,¡± came the reply.


    ¡°And if it doesn¡¯t show tomorrow, are we in the clear?¡±


    ¡°Dunno¡­¡±


    Frustration tightened Yu Xiao¡¯s voice. ¡°What *do* you know, then?¡±


    Bed Bro¡¯s tone was nonchalant. ¡°Well, if you want to know if it¡¯s coming back tomorrow night, you¡¯ll just have to wait until tomorrow night and see, innit?¡±


    Yu Xiao was utterly gobsmacked. Words piled up in her throat, a jumbled mess of frustration and disbelief.


    Seemingly sensing her predicament, Bed Bro spoke up. ¡°This ghost, it¡¯s in your hospital¡¯s Sixth Ward, right? Are you sure those three are the first ones it has targeted?¡±


    It was like a lightbulb flicking on. Suddenly, everything made sense.


    Ending the call, Yu Xiao turned to Zhou Xiao Zhen. ¡°Precious, go to the forum. Post about the countdown ghost, see if anyone else has encountered anything similar.¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen nodded, already pulling out her phone. Wang Meng, still looking bewildered, piped up. ¡°Wait, so we¡¯re not the only ones?¡±


    ¡°Just a theory,¡± Yu Xiao said, her mind racing. ¡°We¡¯ll know more once Precious posts and we get some responses.¡±


    The message went up, but it was late. The haunting hour approached, and the patients of the Sixth Hospital, terrified of the nightly rounds, had taken to turning in early. The forum thread remained stubbornly empty.


    ¡°What now?¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen sighed, showing Yu Xiao the blank screen.


    Yu Xiao chewed her lip. ¡°Maybe we head back for now. Come back in the morning?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re leaving?¡± The three women looked at them with wide, pleading eyes. ¡°But what if it comes back?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen said with a wink, holding up the key. ¡°As long as I don¡¯t use this to open the door, nothing¡¯s getting through.¡±


    That, however, presented a new problem.


    ¡°But¡­how will we get food tomorrow?¡± Wang Meng asked, her voice small.


    Yu Xiao opened her mouth, about to answer, when Zhou Xiao Zhen let out a triumphant yelp. ¡°Smiley! We¡¯ve got a reply!¡±


    The hospital forum, a haven of anonymity, offered a single, cryptic reply, signed only with a punctuation mark: a full stop.


    ¡¾One of my instance buddies mentioned something similar a couple of weeks back. Through the night patrol ghost was messing with him, bought loads of talismans, plastered them all over his door. Reckoned he was sorted.¡¿


    Yu Xiao exchanged a worried look with Zhou Xiao Zhen. ¡°Quick,¡± she whispered, ¡°ask what happened to his friend.¡±


    Fingers flying across the screen, Zhou Xiao Zhen typed out a response.


    ¡¾How is your friend now? Are you still in touch?¡¿


    Five minutes crawled by before the reply came.


    ¡¾Bloody hell¡­ just tried calling him, phone¡¯s off. What¡¯s going on?!¡¿


    Yu Xiao¡¯s stomach dropped. In this hospital, a phone switched off usually meant only one thing: its owner was gone.


    All eyes were glued to the screen now, the forum thread painting a grim picture. Even Wang Meng and the others, their faces pale with dawning horror, understood the implications.


    ¡°So¡­we weren¡¯t the first?¡± she stammered.


    ¡°And the ones who were targeted before¡­¡± Yu Xiao¡¯s voice was heavy. ¡°They¡¯re all gone.¡±


    A shiver ran down Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s spine. ¡°All this time, right here in the Sixth, something this awful¡­and we never even knew.¡±


    That was the real horror. The victims, likely dismissive at first, would have thought a few talismans were enough. By the time the ghost came knocking for real, it would have been too late, the entire ward silenced, leaving no one to warn others about the true danger lurking in the night.


    ¡°Yu Xiao,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s voice was hushed, ¡°another reply¡­¡±


    ¡¾Oh god¡­ I swear I saw a post like this ages ago, over a month back. Same thing, poster kept hearing a countdown. Everyone told him it was just the patrol ghost, buy some talismans, job done. Wonder what happened to him¡­¡¿


    Wang Meng, her fingers a blur on the screen, quickly found the month-old post.


    The replies, few and far between, echoed the most recent ones. Just the night patrol, nothing to worry about, talismans were the answer¡­ No one had suspected the terrifying truth.


    Yu Xiao looked at the three women, their faces now stark masks of terror. ¡°Let¡¯s be clear,¡± she said, her voice sharp, ¡°even if that thing spares you tonight, it¡¯ll just find new targets. It won¡¯t stop.¡±


    ¡°But what can we do?¡± Wang Meng¡¯s voice was barely a whisper, echoed by her companions. ¡°Who else is going to stop it?¡±


    That was the crux of the problem. Even if Yu Xiao could fight it off, what then? Let this man-eating ghost roam free? The Sixth Ward might end up being the only one with any living patients left.


    ¡°Report it,¡± Yu Xiao said, the only solution she could think of. ¡°Medical Disputes Office.¡±


    ¡°They¡¯re closed at night,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen pointed out.


    ¡°Then first thing in the morning.¡± Doubt gnawed at Yu Xiao even as she said it.


    The Chief Cerberus was recently injured, but this ghost had been haunting the Sixth for a while. That meant either it was incredibly good at hiding, or¡­or security was turning a blind eye. And that was a terrifying thought because it meant the patients were on their own.


    She could handle it, with Nightmare¡¯s help. But that was a risk she couldn¡¯t take.


    Rubbing her temples, Yu Xiao sighed. ¡°We need some sleep.¡±


    Tears welled in the three women¡¯s eyes.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry,¡± Yu Xiao said, forcing a reassuring smile. ¡°We¡¯ll be back tomorrow. No one¡¯s starving on our watch. We¡¯ll figure something out.¡±


    Scooping up Nightmare, she beckoned to Zhou Xiao Zhen, and headed for the restroom mirror. Behind them, the three women huddled together, fear clinging to them like a shroud.


    Back in their own ward, Zhao Lan looked up from her bed, a knowing smile on her lips. ¡°Back already? Let me guess, that countdown ghost post was you lot, wasn¡¯t it?¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen clambered onto the bed, letting out a relieved sigh. ¡°You have no idea how bad it was, Misty! Luckily you lent me that key, or we¡¯d be goners.¡±¡±Spill,¡± demanded Zhao Lan, glancing at Yu Xiao. ¡°What in the world is going on?¡±


    Yu Xiao laid out the whole saga of the countdown ghost, ending with a worried frown. ¡°If reporting it doesn¡¯t pan out, the Sixth is on its own. And that thing¡­ it¡¯s way too strong for us to handle.¡±


    Zhao Lan considered this, her gaze falling on Nightmare. ¡°He¡­¡±


    ¡°Out of the question,¡± Yu Xiao cut in. ¡°If he makes a move, it¡¯ll be a spectacle. He¡¯ll be exposed.¡±


    ¡°Right, of course.¡± Zhao Lan chewed her lip. ¡°It¡¯d be brilliant if we could get Wide Sea and Sky or Bed Bro over here.¡±


    ¡°How, though?¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen chimed in. ¡°Stick ¡¯em in a box and courier them over?¡±


    Yu Xiao and Zhao Lan exchanged a look. S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen, sensing she¡¯d missed something, frowned. ¡°You two aren¡¯t actually considering that, are you? It was a joke! Bonkers idea, totally impossible, right?¡±


    ¡°Who says it¡¯s impossible?¡± A slow smile spread across Yu Xiao¡¯s face. ¡°We¡¯ve bribed couriers before, haven¡¯t we?¡±

 Chapter 152: He Came From The City

    ¡°Hold on a sec,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen interrupted, a wrinkle creasing her forehead. ¡°Don¡¯t the Second and Sixth Hospitals have separate delivery ghosts?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s what I¡¯m saying,¡± Yu Xiao replied. ¡°If we can bribe the one from the Sixth, surely the one from the Second is open to persuasion as well.¡± She paused, an idea forming. ¡°I¡¯ll ask our courier tomorrow. Maybe she can shed some light on the situation.¡±


    If that plan failed, Yu Xiao had a backup. She could enter the instance early and clear Nightmare¡¯s fugitive status. That way, he could assist them openly.


    Despite these plans, anxiety gnawed at her. The malevolent ghost at the Sixth Hospital had already claimed too many lives. Left unchecked, who knew how many more would fall victim? These were patients battling terminal illnesses, clinging to life within the hospital walls. It was hard enough facing the dangers of the instances, only to return to the ward and confront such a terrifying threat.


    ¡°Get some sleep,¡± Yu Xiao said, masking her worry. ¡°We need to be up early to let Wang Meng and the others in tomorrow.¡±


    After showering, Yu Xiao lay in bed, scrolling through the Sixth Hospital forum. A few new replies, all questioning the previous post, awaited her.


    The weight of the situation settled upon her. She couldn¡¯t handle this alone, and relying solely on the veterans wouldn¡¯t be enough. The entire hospital needed to be aware of the danger lurking in their midst.


    Decision made, she began drafting a new post.


    ¡¾Attention Sixth Hospital Patients! A Major Crisis is Stealthily Unfolding!¡¿


    ¡¾This is Deaf Descendant, and I have alarming news. There¡¯s a ghost roaming the Sixth Hospital, capable of breaching our precious room boundaries. This entity is a heavy hitter, domain-level at least, and its attack method involves a countdown¡­


    Fellow patients, if you hear a countdown outside your door after lights out, please inform me immediately and leave your contact details¡­¡¿


    Yu Xiao reread the post several times, adding a few emojis for dramatic flair (a ghost icon, a flexing bicep, and a determined-looking cat) ensuring she¡¯d included everything necessary for now. Satisfied, she placed her phone on the bedside table and closed her eyes.


    ¡°Ding!¡±


    The familiar notification sound roused her. Soft sunlight streamed through the gaps in the curtains.


    Yu Xiao rubbed the sleep from her eyes and heard Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s cheerful voice. ¡°Smiley is awake!¡±


    Turning, her eyelids still heavy with sleep, Yu Xiao smiled at her friend. ¡°Morning, Precious. You¡¯re up early today.¡± Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen perched on the edge of the bed. ¡°I barely slept a wink last night,¡± she confessed. ¡°You have to check the forum, Smiley. Your post from last night is blowing up.¡±


    Yu Xiao stifled a yawn. ¡°It¡¯s eight a.m. Replies are kinda expected, right?¡±


    Zhao Lan chimed in. ¡°These are probably from the folks at the Second Hospital. They¡¯re likely offering to help.¡±


    Yu Xiao opened the forum app. Her post, now a hot topic, dominated the homepage. Replies flooded in, each one anonymous yet easily identifiable as coming from either the Sixth or Second Hospital.


    She could practically hear the collective gasp of the Sixth Hospital patients, their digital whispers buzzing with a mixture of anxiety, fear and morbid fascination. And then there were the messages from the Second Hospital crew ¨C a reassuring wave of virtual back-patting and offers of assistance.


    A wave of relief washed over Yu Xiao. In a place like this, facing an unknown threat, it was reassuring to know that solidarity, not isolation, prevailed even in the face of a ghostly serial killer


    ¡°A beautiful day starts now, and here is the morning news~¡±


    The cheerful announcement jolted Yu Xiao back to reality, reminding her of yesterday¡¯s plan. The medical dispute office was her first port of call. If that failed, well, there were other avenues to explore.


    Today¡¯s news was disappointingly mundane. Sometimes, Yu Xiao seriously questioned the forum administrators¡¯ priorities. They were quick to censor anything related to Time Hospital, yet her chilling expos¨¦ remained untouched by the hospital authorities.


    As the news broadcast ended, Yu Xiao dialled the medical dispute office, settling back against her pillows.


    The call connected instantly, a voice as crisp and professional as a newsreader greeting her.


    ¡°Hello, this is the Sixth Hospital¡¯s Medical Dispute Office.¡±


    ¡°Hello,¡± Yu Xiao replied, her voice firm despite her racing heart. ¡°I have something to report.¡±


    ¡°Alright, may I have your nickname?¡±


    ¡°¡®Deaf Descendant¡¯.¡±


    ¡°And what would you like to report?¡±


    ¡°Recently, the Sixth Hospital had been plagued by ghostly intrusions.¡± Yu Xiao announced, getting straight to the point. ¡°Multiple patients, pushing up daisies, thanks to some ghosts shenanigans. Figured I¡¯d report it, you know, see if it falls under your jurisdiction.¡±


    The voice on the other end of the line remained unflappable, a model of bureaucratic calm. ¡°And have you personally witnessed this ghost, shall we say, committing these unfortunate acts?¡±


    ¡°Not with my own peepers, no,¡± Yu Xiao admitted. ¡°but I¡¯ve heard it.¡±


    ¡°I see. Could you elaborate?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s a man¡¯s voice,¡± Yu Xiao said, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. ¡°Creepy as hell, loves a good countdown. Every night, after lights out, the voice starts counting down from thirteen outside patients¡¯ rooms. Reaches one, boom, door opens, game over.¡±


    ¡°Duly noted. We will investigate your report and notify you once we¡¯ve verified the details.¡±


    Yu Xiao, her patience wearing thin, pressed the issue. ¡°Time is of the essence here, folks. We¡¯re talking about a rogue countdown clock with a taste for murder.¡±


    ¡°Of course, of course. We wish you a speedy recovery and a pleasant day.¡±


    The call disconnected, leaving Yu Xiao fuming. That infuriatingly calm tone was enough to make her want to scream.


    Zhao Lan and Zhou Xiao Zhen, their faces a mixture of curiosity and concern, leaned in.


    ¡°Well?¡±


    ¡°They¡¯re gonna, you know, verify it,¡± Yu Xiao said, her voice heavy with scepticism. ¡°Then they¡¯ll let me know.¡±


    Zhao Lan¡¯s expression darkened. ¡°Sounds like a classic case of bureaucratic BS to me.¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen, battling a stubborn cowlick with a hairbrush, chimed in. ¡°So, what about Wang Meng? Should we head over there now?¡±


    Yu Xiao considered this for a moment. ¡°Skipping one measly meal won¡¯t kill them, right?¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen stared at her, aghast.


    ¡°Physically, maybe not,¡± Zhao Lan mused. ¡°Mentally? Who knows what fresh hell awaits.¡±


    Yu Xiao shrugged, a mischievous glint in her eye. Skipping breakfast was practically a rite of passage for young people. Besides, she hadn¡¯t even dragged herself out of bed yet. A leisurely visit to Wang Meng¡¯s ward at noon it was.


    Zhao Lan, reading her like a book, simply said, ¡°Just because some people can skip breakfast, doesn¡¯t mean we all can.¡± She strolled towards the door. ¡°So, what tickles your fancy this morning?¡±


    Yu Xiao was midway through a delicious prawn dumpling when her phone buzzed. The Medical Dispute Office? That was surprisingly quick. Wiping her hands, she answered. ¡°Hello? This is Deaf Descendant.¡±


    ¡°Good morning, Deaf Descendant,¡± a calm voice greeted. ¡°We¡¯ve looked into your report regarding the Sixth Hospital.¡±


    Yu Xiao swallowed her mouthful. ¡°And?¡±


    ¡°All registered ghosts at the hospital are accounted for,¡± the voice continued, unhurried. ¡°None appear to have abandoned their posts to, as you say, ¡®kill patients¡¯.¡±


    ¡°Registered ghosts?¡± Yu Xiao blinked. ¡°What about the unregistered ones?¡±


    ¡°All ghosts at the hospital are registered.¡±


    ¡°But what if there are unregistered ghosts?¡±


    ¡°Madam, please be reasonable. There are no unregistered ghosts at the hospital.¡±


    Yu Xiao¡¯s patience was wearing thin. ¡°How can you be so sure?¡±


    ¡°Madam,¡± the voice said smoothly, ¡°this falls outside the purview of the Medical Dispute Office.¡±


    The line went dead. Yu Xiao stared at the phone, fuming.


    Even without hearing the conversation, Zhao Lan and Zhou Xiao Zhen could tell by the thunderous expression on Yu Xiao¡¯s face that it hadn¡¯t gone well.


    Yu Xiao glared at the disconnected phone, a growl rumbling in her chest. ¡°Get back here! I¡¯m not finished! Manager! I demand to speak to your Manager!¡±


    Zhao Lan and Zhou Xiao Zhen exchanged wide-eyed looks.


    ¡°They said that all the registered employed ghosts are accounted for,¡± Yu Xiao fumed, ¡°and none of them are responsible for the Sixth Hospital murders.¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s jaw dropped. Zhao Lan frowned. ¡°So, the ghost at the Sixth isn¡¯t a registered employee?¡±


    Yu Xiao¡¯s face contorted further. ¡°They refuse to acknowledge the existence of any unregistered ghosts!¡±


    Now even Zhao Lan was speechless. The three stared at each other, bewildered. Finally, Zhou Xiao Zhen raised a hesitant hand. ¡°What exactly is an ¡®registered¡¯ ghost?¡±


    Zhao Lan glanced at Yu Xiao, who looked just as clueless. ¡°Maybe,¡± she ventured, ¡°ghosts who work, or used to work, at the hospital?¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen pointed at the door. ¡°So the one outside is unemployed?¡±


    ¡°Possibly,¡± Yu Xiao mused. It was becoming clear that the medical dispute office was a dead end. Time for a more proactive approach. She tapped her phone, debating whether to call for backup or go straight to the director.


    ¡°Guys!¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen suddenly shrieked. ¡°The forum! Someone else saw the ghost!¡±


    Yu Xiao snatched up her phone. ¡°Where?¡±


    ¡°Scroll down!¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen directed. ¡°Bottom of the post!¡±


    Frantically, Yu Xiao scrolled to the last page and found the reply.


    ¡¾Just saw this, and I think¡­I might have seen it too. About two months ago, we were clearing an instance. There were seven of us patients, including two from our ward. The instance was strange; the attending doctor¡¯s hint was to find herbs hidden by a mountain god, but we climbed a mountain and found a city.


    This might sound crazy, but it was identical to the real world outside the hospital. People, cars, shops¡­for a minute, we thought we were back. Then things started feeling off, so we got out of there.¡¿


    ¡¾Back then, a patient from another ward brought someone with them from that creepy city. Said they seemed normal at first, but once they were back on the mountain, all hell broke loose. Kept demanding the guy take them away from here.¡¿ The forum post continued, ¡¾But they were still on a mission, how could they just leave? Plus, this person was acting really weird, impossible to reason with.¡¿


    ¡¾So they hatched a plan,¡¿ the post went on. ¡¾Told them they were busy and couldn¡¯t leave just yet, but promised to take this person back in thirteen days.¡¿


    ¡¾We finished the instance and got back. A few days later, the guy called, asking if we¡¯d heard any spooky countdowns outside our doors at night. We hadn¡¯t (thankfully) and just told them to slap some talismans on the door for good measure. Haven¡¯t heard from him since. Just tried calling, phone disconnected.¡¿


    Yu Xiao lowered her phone, a knot of unease forming in her stomach.


    ¡°That city¡­does it sound like the one outside Lolita Amusement Park?¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen asked.


    ¡°Very similar,¡± Yu Xiao murmured.


    ¡°You said that once you enter that city, you¡¯re automatically assigned an identity,¡± Zhao Lan added, her brow furrowed. ¡°And if you stay too long, you lose your memories and become one of them?¡±


    Yu Xiao nodded, recalling the unsettling realism of that strange, mirrored city. ¡°The fruit vendor at the corner, the chatty taxi driver¡­they all seemed so normal.¡±


    ¡°Until they come into the instance and turn into ghosts,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen whispered, her eyes wide with horror.


    ¡°Terrifying ones at that,¡± Zhao Lan pointed out. ¡°I don¡¯t think the ones they brought out casually just happened to be a strong ghost. There¡¯s a high possibility that all the ghosts in there are very frightening.¡±


    ¡°Oh god¡­¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen grabbed Yu Xiao¡¯s arm, her face pale. ¡°I¡¯m scared.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry,¡± Yu Xiao soothed, patting her hand. ¡°It¡¯s only one ghost, right?¡±


    Zhao Lan shook her head. ¡°I¡¯ve never actually been inside. Just saw it from the Lolita entrance. Always assumed it was part of the hospital grounds. But the ghosts there¡­they¡¯re not even registered?¡±


    Yu Xiao scratched her head, thoroughly bewildered. ¡°Maybe I should ask ¡®Flying to Someone Else¡¯s Bed¡¯.¡±


    ¡°Good idea,¡± Zhao Lan agreed. ¡°He¡¯s been here for ages, he might know something.¡±


    Yu Xiao dialled up their resident expert on all things Sixth Hospital. ¡°There¡¯s a city outside the hospital grounds,¡± she explained after exchanging greetings. ¡°Did you know about it?¡±


    ¡°A city?¡± ¡®Flying to Someone Else¡¯s Bed¡¯ sounded surprised. ¡°Didn¡¯t know.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ve been here for over ten years and never seen it?¡± Yu Xiao was incredulous.


    ¡°Never.¡± There was a pause. ¡°Perhaps those who have, never came back.¡±


    A shiver ran down Yu Xiao¡¯s spine.


    ¡°This place¡­¡± she muttered. ¡°So many secrets we know nothing about. Maybe we¡¯ll never know, not until we leave¡­or die.¡±


    ¡®Flying to Someone Else¡¯s Bed¡¯ chuckled softly. ¡°My, my, you¡¯re a curious one, aren¡¯t you?¡±


    Yu Xiao didn¡¯t think of herself as particularly curious. ¡°Isn¡¯t it normal to want to understand things?¡±


    ¡°You lived in the real world for twenty years. Did you understand everything about it?¡± He countered.


    ¡°¡­¡±


    He chuckled again, his voice softening. ¡°Sometimes, little one, accepting that we don¡¯t know everything is just a part of life.¡± His tone turned slightly more serious. ¡°Speaking of which, this ghost situation in Ward Six sounds troublesome. You need to deal with it quickly.¡±


    He paused. ¡°Any thoughts? Anything we can do to help?¡±


    Yu Xiao¡¯s head was spinning, but a glimmer of an idea was forming. ¡°Well¡­there is one thing¡­¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s hear it.¡±


    She hesitated. ¡°I need to call in the big guns. All of you.¡±


    ¡®Flying to Someone Else¡¯s Bed¡¯ chuckled. ¡°Sounds like a plan. But how, exactly, do you propose getting us to the Sixth Hospital?¡±


    ¡°We could have you delivered,¡± Yu Xiao suggested. ¡°As parcels. You up for that?¡±


    A pause. ¡°Just me?¡±


    ¡°Well¡­¡± Yu Xiao cringed internally. ¡°The more the merrier, preferably.¡±


    ¡°Then you¡¯d better ask the others yourself,¡± he replied. ¡°They¡¯re not exactly pushovers.¡±


    Yu Xiao bit her lip. This was going to be fun. She decided to start with Yu Qing Lang.


    Unlike the ever-so-casual ¡®Flying to Someone Else¡¯s Bed¡¯, Yu Qing Lang was¡­well, Yu Qing Lang. Even her voice, when she answered the phone, sounded perpetually weary. ¡°You need a favour?¡±


    Yu Xiao sighed. ¡°You know me too well.¡±


    A dry chuckle. ¡°Enlighten me.¡±


    ¡°I need you at the Sixth Hospital. As in, right now,¡± Yu Xiao explained. ¡°And you need to be okay with being delivered¡­in a box.¡±


    To her surprise, Yu Qing Lang didn¡¯t say no. She simply laughed, a chillingly mirthless sound. ¡°You must really love me, wanting me shipped around like a package deal.¡±


    Yu Xiao winced. ¡°About that¡­¡±


    ¡°Spit it out,¡± Yu Qing Lang drawled. ¡°What¡¯s my reward?¡±


    Yu Xiao ventured cautiously, ¡°How about¡­a night free from nightmares?¡±


    ¡°What time do you need me there?¡± Yu Qing Lang asked. ¡°Should I be getting ready?¡±

 Chapter 153: I Call the Top Bunk

    Yu Xiao was thrown by the sudden shift in her tone. ¡°Um¡­¡± she said, scratching her eyebrow. ¡°I haven¡¯t sorted everything out yet.¡±


    ¡°Sorted what?¡± Yu Qing Lang¡¯s voice crackled through the phone, impatient.


    ¡°Got to bribe the courier,¡± Yu Xiao explained. ¡°Wouldn¡¯t want you all stuffed in a box with no warning, would we?¡±


    ¡°Who¡¯s ¡®you all¡¯?¡± She latched onto the word. ¡°Who else is there?¡±


    ¡°Well, there¡¯s ¡®Flying to Someone Else¡¯s Bed¡¯,¡± she said, deliberately vague about the number of people this might involve. More was always better, in her opinion. ¡°And Brother Dong, and a few others. The more the merrier, I reckon.¡±


    A beat of silence, then a heavy sigh. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it.¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡± Yu Xiao frowned. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about what?¡±


    ¡°Any of it,¡± came the reply. ¡°I¡¯ll handle the calling around. You just wait in the ward for your delivery.¡±


    ¡°Hold on!¡± That tone¡­ she was up to something. ¡°Don¡¯t go doing anything rash, alright? Be careful! I haven¡¯t even spoken to the courier yet.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s your star sign?¡±


    The question came out of nowhere, leaving Yu Xiao baffled. Where had that come from?


    ¡°You¡¯re a Gemini, aren¡¯t you?¡± Yu Qing Lang didn¡¯t wait for an answer. ¡°Always got to be chatting away.¡±


    Yu Xiao bit back a retort, the dial tone buzzing in her ear. She stood there, phone in hand, lost in thought.


    Zhao Lan, who¡¯d been watching her, finally spoke. ¡°Everything alright? Aren¡¯t you going to continue making calls?¡±


    ¡°Me? Talk too much?¡± Yu Xiao pulled a face. ¡°Surely not?¡±


    Zhao Lan hesitated, whilst Zhou Xiao Zhen just blinked. ¡°Not really,¡± she said finally.


    ¡°See.¡± It wasn¡¯t her, then. Yu Qing Lang probably just had a problem with Geminis. ¡°She said not to worry, she¡¯d sort it all out.¡±


    ¡°Your senior seems very keen,¡± Zhao Lan remarked. ¡°When are they due to arrive? What do we need to do?¡±


    What could they do in a hospital room? ¡°I guess we can fold the blankets?¡±


    As the three of them tidied up, a niggling feeling tugged at Yu Xiao¡¯s brain. Like she¡¯d forgotten something¡­


    Less than two hours later, a knock came at the door.


    ¡°Delivery!¡± chirped a voice from the other side.


    Yu Xiao exchanged an excited look with the others and hurried to the door.


    ¡°Could you open the door a bit wider?¡± the courier asked. ¡°It¡¯s a big one.¡±


    Yu Xiao stepped back, allowing a box almost half her height to be manoeuvred through. Eagerly, she dragged it further into the room. Then another, identical box appeared. And another¡­


    By the time the courier left, the tiny room was crammed with five large boxes, leaving barely any floor space. The three friends stared at the delivery. Then, Zhou Xiao Zhen and Zhao Lan started clapping.


    ¡°Welcome, welcome!¡± they chorused.


    Yu Xiao ripped open the nearest box. Inside, crouched a stranger with a vaguely familiar face. She offered him a shaky grin. ¡°Heh, welcome.¡±


    The second box revealed a much more recognisable figure. Wang Dong Dong gave her a small nod.


    ¡°Welcome,¡± Yu Xiao said, feeling a bit overwhelmed.


    The third box disgorged a face full of whiskers. ¡°Well, hello there, kiddos!¡± boomed Flying to Someone Else¡¯s Bed, raising a hand in greeting.


    ¡°Good to see you too,¡± she managed, as Zhao Lan and Zhou Xiao Zhen threw themselves into polite greetings.


    ¡°Why haven¡¯t I been unpacked yet?!¡± An aggrieved voice emanated from the last remaining box. ¡°I was the first one in!¡±


    The five seniors extricated themselves. Zhao Lan and Zhou Xiao Zhen rushed forward, smiles plastered on their faces. ¡°Hello¡­¡±


    ¡°Well, hello there, kiddos!¡± Flying to Someone Else¡¯s Bed repeated, puffing out his chest.


    Zhao Lan suppressed a twitch. When was the last time anyone had called her ¡®kiddo¡¯?


    ¡°This is Flying to Someone Else¡¯s Bed,¡± Yu Xiao said. ¡°You can call him Bed Bro.¡±


    ¡°Bed Bro!¡± Zhao Lan and Zhou Xiao Zhen chorused dutifully.


    Yu Xiao moved on. ¡°And this is the lovely Yu Qing Lang. Sister Qing Lang, to you.¡±


    More dutiful greetings followed. Then she gestured to the next person in line. ¡°And this is¡­¡±


    A pale hand landed on her shoulder. ¡°Which one¡¯s your bed?¡± Yu Qing Lang¡¯s voice was laced with boredom.


    ¡°That one¡­¡± Yu Xiao pointed to the furthest bed.


    Without another word, Yu Qing Lang marched over and flopped onto it, arms and legs sprawled in a starfish shape. She slapped the mattress twice. ¡°Didn¡¯t you say you can stop me from dreaming? Get on with it, then.¡±


    Yu Xiao hesitated. They¡¯d barely had time to say hello, let alone discuss the finer point. But arguing with her was never a good idea. She turned, seeking help from Flying to Someone Else¡¯s Bed.


    ¡°Whoa there, Bed Bro,¡± Yu Xiao laughed as he started unpacking boxes with gusto. ¡°No need to rush, I¡¯ll sort it all out later.¡±


    The boxes were flattened and spread out on the floor. Bed Bro lay down on his with a contented sigh. ¡°Not like your sister,¡± he said, glancing at Yu Qing Lang. ¡°We¡¯re not fussy, the floor¡¯s fine for us. So, how are you planning to stop us from dreaming again?¡±


    ¡°Shouldn¡¯t we¡­ talk about all that first?¡±


    ¡°The ghost only comes at night, right?¡± He said it like it was obvious. ¡°Come on, I haven¡¯t slept properly in a month.¡±


    Yu Xiao hesitated, looking towards the Nightmare lurking in the corner. It met her gaze and offered a tiny nod.


    ¡°Hey, cool kitty!¡± Bed Bro chuckled. ¡°They even let you keep pets in the wards here, you really know how to live.¡±


    ¡°Just go to sleep!¡± Yu Xiao¡¯s tone was strained. ¡°It only works when you¡¯re asleep.¡±


    It was clear none of them had slept properly in days, maybe weeks. Wang Dong Dong was snoring before she even finished her sentence.


    The Nightmare padded over, circling the group one by one. Finally, it hopped onto the table and looked at Yu Xiao expectantly.


    ¡°Is there a problem?¡± she asked, her stomach twisting with apprehension.


    The Nightmare nodded. Panic welled up inside her. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Can¡¯t you alter their dreams?¡±


    ¡°No.¡± It pointed a very serious paw at Yu Qing Lang, who was snoring softly. ¡°Where are we sleeping tonight?¡±


    Yu Xiao stared at it, speechless.


    ¡°I can share with Precious!¡± Zhao Lan piped up.


    The Nightmare twitched its ears. Zhou Xiao Zhen jumped in. ¡°Why not me? Me and Smiley can squeeze up!¡±


    Zhao Lan shot Zhou Xiao Zhen a meaningful look. ¡°What now?¡±


    ¡°What else can we do?¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen shrugged. ¡°Wait for the dream team to wake up.¡±


    And what a sleep it was. It wasn¡¯t until six in the evening that hunger pangs finally began to stir them.


    ¡°Should we wake them up for dinner?¡± Zhao Lan ventured.


    ¡°They¡¯re not big eaters,¡± Yu Xiao said doubtfully. Then she slapped her forehead with a groan. ¡°Bollocks! I forgot!¡±


    Zhao Lan and Zhou Xiao Zhen exchanged nervous glances. ¡°Forgot what?¡±


    ¡°Wang Meng!!¡±


    ¡°Crap!¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen smacked her own forehead. ¡°Me too! I was supposed to unlock their door. They haven¡¯t eaten all day, have they?¡±


    Over in Wang Meng¡¯s ward, three girls lay sprawled on their beds, weak with hunger. They had faced life-threatening situations during instances and had yet to obtain a single stamina card so their bodies were still just as weak when they came to the hospital. After a day without food, simply walking was becoming a challenge.


    ¡°Where are they?¡± The girl on the furthest bed spoke in a faint voice.


    ¡°Do you think they forgot about us?¡± said the girl in the middle.


    ¡°No, they wouldn¡¯t,¡± Wang Meng said, her faith in Yu Xiao unwavering. ¡°Something must have come up.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m starving¡­¡±


    The ward echoed with the rumble of empty stomachs.


    When Yu Xiao and her friends finally emerged from the mirror in the bathroom, this was the scene that greeted them. Three girls, sprawled on beds, eyes wide and unblinking, faces pale and still. Like something out of a horror movie.


    ¡°I¡¯m so sorry!¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen rushed forward, her voice choked with guilt. ¡°Are you alright?¡±


    Wang Meng turned her head slowly, a tear rolling down her cheek. ¡°You¡­ you¡¯re here¡­¡±


    The six of them tucked into their dinner. After two bowls of rice, Wang Meng had finally recovered enough to speak.


    She set down her chopsticks, picked up her soup bowl, and drained half of it in one long gulp. ¡°What if it comes back tonight?¡± she asked, anxiety creeping back into her voice.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry,¡± Yu Xiao, who¡¯d finished eating and was staring into space with her arms crossed, said confidently. ¡°We have a plan.¡±


    ¡°You do?¡± Wang Meng and her friends leaned forward eagerly. ¡°What is it?¡±


    Yu Xiao smiled, a mischievous glint in her eye. ¡°That¡¯s classified.¡± Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°We¡¯ll stay here until lights out,¡± Zhao Lan added. ¡°If the ghost doesn¡¯t show up, or if it appears on another floor, then you¡¯re in the clear.¡±


    And so they settled down to wait, the six of them crammed into the small hospital ward.


    When the lights finally flickered off, plunging the room into darkness, Wang Meng and her friends instinctively reached for each other¡¯s hands.


    Yu Xiao, meanwhile, pulled out her phone and opened the Sixth Hospital forum. She hit refresh again and again, her eyes scanning the screen. Ten minutes passed, the silence in the corridor outside broken only by the occasional cough or murmur. Then, a new post popped up.


    ¡¾It¡¯s here! The countdown¡¯s outside my room! Help! Someone help me, my number is¡­¡¿


    Yu Xiao¡¯s fingers flew across the keypad. A moment later, a panicked voice answered. ¡°Hello?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s Deaf Descendant,¡± she said calmly. ¡°What ward are you in? How many of you are there?¡±


    **


    If it hadn¡¯t been for the overly enthusiastic news report in the morning, Yu Qing Lang and the others could have slept well past eight. As it was, the five of them stirred reluctantly, blinking against the morning light.


    Yu Xiao and Nightmare were already having breakfast. Yu Qing Lang just groaned and pulled the covers over her head. Flying to Someone Else¡¯s Bed sat up, one leg bent, and stared blankly into space. Then he turned his gaze on the others.


    ¡°Morning,¡± Yu Xiao chirped, holding up a bowl of porridge. ¡°Want some breakfast?¡±


    Without a word, Bed Bro got up and disappeared into the bathroom. He emerged a few minutes later, whiskers damp, and fixed the three still-slumped figures on the floor with a critical eye. ¡°Sun¡¯s up, lads. Time to rise and shine.¡±


    Groaning theatrically, Wang Dong Dong and the others dragged themselves upright. To everyone¡¯s surprise, the three burly men promptly burst into tears and staggered towards the bathroom.


    As the others watched, open-mouthed, Bed Bro delicately picked up a steamed bun. ¡°Sorry about that,¡± he said with a chuckle. ¡°Been a while since we had a decent night¡¯s sleep.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it,¡± Yu Xiao said, waving her hand dismissively. ¡°Come and eat.¡±


    He sat down and took a bite of the bun. He didn¡¯t seem particularly hungry, and despite the delicious aroma, he ate without any real enthusiasm.


    ¡°It¡¯s good, though, isn¡¯t it?¡± He sighed contentedly. ¡°Days like this¡­ maybe life isn¡¯t so bad after all.¡± He took a sip of water and looked at Yu Xiao. ¡°So, how did you manage to change our dreams?¡±


    She ignored the question. ¡°What did you dream about?¡± she asked instead. ¡°Was it a good one?¡±


    He leaned back, resting his chin on one hand. ¡°If being chased by a chainsaw-wielding maniac counts as a good dream, then yeah, it was fantastic.¡±


    Yu Xiao shot the Nightmare with a wary look.


    Nightmare turned around and swished his tail.


    ¡°It was great,¡± Bed Bro continued blithely. ¡°Haven¡¯t slept so soundly in ages.¡±


    Yu Xiao didn¡¯t know what to say to that.


    ¡°So, what happened last night?¡± he pressed. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you wake us?¡±


    ¡°The Countdown Ghost moved on,¡± she explained. ¡°Even if we¡¯d gone chasing after it, we might not have caught it. We¡¯ll head out early tonight instead.¡±


    He nodded, about to get up and stretch by the window, when Zhou Xiao Zhen, who¡¯d clearly been holding this in for some time, blurted out, ¡°Why do you have such a big beard?¡±


    Bed Bro leaned back, hands behind his head. ¡°Bit hard to shave in a place like this, isn¡¯t it?¡±


    She frowned. ¡°But the others all managed it.¡±


    ¡°They¡¯re vain, that¡¯s their problem.¡±


    Wang Dong Dong emerged from the bathroom, rolling his eyes. ¡°Says the scruffiest one here.¡±


    Bed Bro sighed dramatically. ¡°Like it matters how we look in this place.¡±


    Wang Dong Dong just sighed.


    ¡°What was that about?¡± Zhao Lan asked him.


    ¡°He¡¯s got a fiancee,¡± Yu Qing Lang announced, suddenly sitting up in bed. ¡°Oi, Old Wang, do you even remember what she looks like?¡±


    He shot her a long-suffering look. ¡°Of course I do.¡±


    ¡°Impressive.¡± Yu Qing Lang threw off the covers and climbed out of bed. ¡°I can¡¯t even remember if my boyfriend was tall or short.¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s a photo of her in my ward,¡± Wang Dong Dong said. ¡°I look at it every day.¡±


    ¡°Breakfast is ready, sleepyhead,¡± Yu Xiao called to Yu Qing Lang. ¡°Come and eat.¡±


    She sauntered over, hands on her hips. ¡°Alright, spill the beans. How did you do it? How did you make me dream like that?¡± She stretched languidly. ¡°Honestly, I haven¡¯t slept that well in years.¡±


    Yu Xiao smiled, debating whether to reveal the Nightmare¡¯s involvement. ¡°It¡¯s a secret,¡± she finally said. ¡°My own little magic trick.¡±


    ¡°Hmph.¡± She didn¡¯t press the issue. ¡°Fine, keep your secrets. Tell you what, I¡¯m staying put. This ward is as good as any. What do you reckon?¡±


    Yu Xiao frowned. ¡°But there aren¡¯t enough beds.¡±


    ¡°So get more. Stack ¡¯em up, bunkbed style.¡±


    ¡°Now there¡¯s an idea!¡± Bed Bro grinned. ¡°I call the top bunk.¡±


    Yu Xiao sighed. ¡°Maybe we should focus on tonight¡¯s game plan first?¡±

 Chapter 154: Youve Been Identified as a Public Safety Hazard

    The plan itself was simple: reach the marked room before lights out, lie in wait, then, when the countdown begins, strike. Ambush the countdown ghost and give it a proper thrashing. The only real debate was whether to end it right there or try squeezing some answers out of it first.


    ¡°Just kill it,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen declared. ¡°It¡¯s murdered God knows how many people already, and word is it can¡¯t even talk. What¡¯s the point of interrogating a brick wall?¡±


    She had a point. Everything on the forums suggested this particular ghost was all screams and no conversation.


    Yu Xiao, however, hesitated. She looked to the five from the Second Hospital. ¡°What¡¯s the deal with these Domains, anyway?¡±


    Wang Dong Dong shuffled his feet, while Yu Qing Lang, still rubbing sleep from her eyes, just looked confused.


    Flying to Someone Else¡¯s Bed, noticing the awkward silence, piped up. ¡°Why do you ask?¡±


    ¡°Only ghosts with Domains can be attending doctors, right?¡± Yu Xiao¡¯s curiosity was piqued. ¡°And Domains are supposed to be a sign of serious power. So¡­ if you¡¯re going up against an attending doctor, does that mean¡­?¡±


    They exchanged uneasy glances. Nobody spoke. Finally, Flying to Someone Else¡¯s Bed mumbled, ¡°We don¡¯t have Domains.¡±


    Yu Xiao¡¯s jaw dropped. ¡°Then how can you even think about fighting an attending doctor?¡±


    ¡°Well¡­¡± Flying to Someone Else¡¯s Bed squirmed. ¡°With enough functional cards, like Physical Fitness Cards and Spirit Cards, we dared to.¡±


    Their apprehension was clear. They genuinely didn¡¯t seem to understand Domains at all. Yu Xiao had initially hoped to glean some insight from them. If she could figure out how Domains worked, maybe she could help Tie Niu or Miss Courier grow stronger, which would be a huge help to her in the long run.


    It seemed unlikely she¡¯d get the chance before leaving this hospital, though.


    With the operation planned for that evening, those who¡¯d already had breakfast decided to grab a few more winks. Dinner would be served at five, the meal cart rattling back and forth outside their doors for two hours before its final departure.


    **


    Meanwhile, in a room in the Sixth Hospital, three young men with faces like chalk paced anxiously. They hadn¡¯t touched their dinner. Since the afternoon, they¡¯d been glued to their phones. No new information on the forums, and the number they¡¯d been given remained stubbornly silent.


    Eight o¡¯clock. Lights out. The memory of that sound, the one that clawed its way from beneath the door the previous night, sent shivers down their spines. It had been like something dragged up from the depths of hell.


    The forums had been clear: talismans were useless against this particular entity. Still, they plastered every inch of the door with them, drawing a thin comfort from the act.


    Time oozed by. Eight o¡¯clock loomed.


    The three sat huddled, fear a tangible presence in the room. Finally, one spoke, voice tight. ¡°Should we call Deaf Descendant?¡±


    ¡°What if she¡¯s busy? What if she hates being rushed?¡± another countered.


    ¡°So we just¡­ wait here to die?¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re not going to die,¡± the third interjected, though his voice lacked conviction. ¡°The forum said so. Not until the thirteenth day.¡±


    The reassurance did little to soothe their nerves. Even if Deaf Descendant did come, they were only delaying the inevitable by a few days.


    They were contemplating whether to lie down before the darkness hit when a sudden commotion erupted from the bathroom.


    ¡°Are you sure this is the place?¡± a woman¡¯s voice asked.


    ¡°Yes,¡± a man replied.


    Several thuds followed, like someone jumping down from a height.


    They exchanged wide-eyed glances, scrambling to their feet. All eyes fixated on the bathroom door. A moment later, it swung open.


    A figure emerged. Tall and slender, with a wild mane of hair and a beard thick enough to house a family of sparrows.


    The three gaped. Who was this? They¡¯d heard the woman¡¯s voice¡­ Deaf Descendant was supposed to be a woman!


    The bearded man surveyed them with sharp eyes, his silence somehow radiating authority. After a long moment, he spoke. ¡°Is this the ward where the countdown appears?¡±


    They could only nod dumbly. ¡°Y-yes, this is it!¡±


    The man turned and bellowed into the bathroom. ¡°Right here! Come on out!¡±


    Another flurry of knocks, and the bathroom disgorged a small crowd of men and women into the ward.


    The three young occupants felt their scalps prickle. Sweat beaded on their backs. It had been a long time since they¡¯d shared a room with this many people, especially here in the Sixth Hospital.


    Yu Xiao, emerging last from the mirror¡¯s depths, pushed through the throng. Her eyes settled on the three bewildered faces. ¡°Which one of you is Sun Da You (Ëï´óÓÐ: ¡°grandson with great abundance¡± or ¡°grandson possesses greatness¡±)?¡±


    Ëï (S¨±n): This is a common Chinese surname that originally means ¡°grandson¡± but is widely used as a family name without that connotation.´ó (D¨¤): This character means ¡°big,¡± ¡°great,¡± or ¡°large.¡± It often implies greatness or significance in a name.ÓÐ (Y¨¯u): This character means ¡°to have,¡± ¡°possess,¡± or ¡°exist.¡± It suggests abundance or the presence of qualities.Together, Ëï´óÓÐ could be interpreted as ¡°grandson with great abundance¡± or ¡°grandson possesses greatness,¡± reflecting a positive and auspicious meaning.


    A nervous hand rose from the young man on the right. ¡°Th-that¡¯s me¡­¡±


    ¡°We spoke on the phone, right?¡± Yu Xiao squeezed past the others and offered her hand. ¡°Deaf Descendant. Nice to meet you in person.¡±


    Sun Da You shook it, his gaze darting nervously between Yu Xiao and the crowd behind her. ¡°Who are they?¡± he whispered.


    ¡°They¡¯re here to help,¡± she reassured him, patting his shoulder. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, you¡¯re in safe hands now.¡±


    A wave of relief washed over the trio. After a day and night of gnawing anxiety, Sun Da You could finally breathe. ¡°You came! I thought¡­ I thought you might not.¡± He paused, then blurted, ¡°What do we need to do?¡±


    ¡°You? Nothing at all. Leave everything to us.¡± Yu Xiao¡¯s smile was almost motherly. ¡°Why don¡¯t you try to get some sleep? We¡¯ll be as quiet as we can.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡± sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Sun Da You wiped his brow, thinking: *Sleep? With all this going on?*


    He stole another glance at Yu Xiao and her companions. Eight of them in total ¨C four men, four women. Aside from Yu Xiao and the two girls who seemed to be permanently attached to her side, the rest looked¡­ intense. Were they all from the Sixth Hospital? He¡¯d had no idea this place housed such big shots.


    Yu Xiao strolled over to the door and peeled off a talisman, handing it to Sun Da You who looked puzzled.


    ¡°Hold onto this. Things might get a bit lively later, and these aren¡¯t easy to come by. Don¡¯t waste them, eh?¡±


    Sun Da You accepted the talisman, his heart swelling with gratitude. Deaf Descendant¡­ what a woman! A true beacon of hope in this cursed place.


    Gathering her team, Yu Xiao addressed them. ¡°Right then, everyone. Taking this party outside, or keeping it indoors?¡±


    ¡°Outside, definitely,¡± Flying to Someone Else¡¯s Bed declared instantly.


    Zhao Lan nodded in agreement. ¡°Wouldn¡¯t want to trash the place, right?¡±


    Flying to Someone Else¡¯s Bed shot her a strange look. ¡°Oh, I just really want to see what¡¯s outside this ward.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    Their chatter was cut short by the chime of the clock. Eight o¡¯clock. On cue, the lights went out, plunging the room into darkness.


    The group¡¯s prior laziness evaporated. Five figures from the Second Hospital instantly crowded the door, Yu Qing Lang¡¯s hand already gripping the handle.


    Silence descended, thick and heavy. Sun Da You could hear his own pulse drumming in his ears.


    Minutes crawled by. Then, a voice, chillingly close on the other side of the door: ¡°Twelve.¡±


    The voice, flat and devoid of emotion, sent a shiver down their spines.


    In a flash, Yu Qing Lang threw open the door. The five from the Second Hospital surged out into the corridor.


    A startled yell pierced the darkness. ¡°What the¡ª?!¡±


    ¡°Oof!¡±


    Inside the ward, Yu Xiao exchanged uneasy glances with the others. What was happening out there?


    ¡°Should we take a look?¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen whispered, her voice tight.


    Zhao Lan, distracted by the commotion, misheard. ¡°What was that?¡±


    ¡°Should we go out there?!¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen repeated, louder this time.


    ¡°Oh.¡± Zhao Lan turned to Yu Xiao. ¡°Should we?¡±


    Yu Xiao hesitated, then nodded. ¡°Let¡¯s take a look, but stay back, alright?¡±


    The three crept towards the door. The corridor was pitch black, the only indication of movement a shifting shadow against the darkness.


    ¡°We can¡¯t see!¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen hissed, anxiety creeping into her voice.


    ¡°Click.¡±


    Zhao Lan flicked on the light, casting a pool of light that spilled from the ward into the corridor.


    Two figures lay sprawled on the ground. Yu Qing Lang, limbs wrapped around a suited man like some kind of spider demon, held him fast. Wang Dong Dong was plastered against the opposite wall, looking winded. Flying to Someone Else¡¯s Bed stood over the struggling man, one hand clamped tightly around his throat.


    ¡°Settled then?¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen blurted, her voice laced with disbelief.


    ¡°Not quite,¡± Wang Dong Dong countered, his back pressed against the wall. He flicked a glance at the suited ghost thrashing in Yu Qing Lang¡¯s grasp. ¡°This thing¡¯s a beast. We can¡¯t even scratch it.¡±


    Yu Qing Lang, pale knuckles straining against the torn sleeve of its uniform, wrestled with the ghost Together with ¡®Flying to Someone Else¡¯s Bed¡¯. The ghost, impervious to pain, writhed like a demonic ragdoll, its disembodied hand clawing blindly towards Yu Qing Lang¡¯s head.


    In a coordinated surge, each grabbing one of the ghost¡¯s appendages. Wang Dong Dong ever threw himself down to secure a firm hold on the ghost¡¯s legs.


    Momentarily subdued, the suited fiend let out a chilling rasping sound, a twisted parody of laughter. It was then they noticed something unsettling. The ghost¡¯s neck, twisted at an unnatural angle in ¡®Flying to Someone Else¡¯s Bed¡¯s vice-like grip, began to bend further, inch by excruciating inch.


    ¡®Flying to Someone Else¡¯s Bed¡¯s¡¯ grip was about to snap its neck, Yu Xiao thought with a grimace.


    ¡°Snap!¡±


    A sickening crack echoed through the room as the neck finally gave way. The ghost slumped to the floor, a defeated puppet.


    Silence descended, broken only by the ragged breaths of the group. Despite the ordeal, their expressions remained unnervingly composed.


    ¡°Impressive teamwork,¡± Yu Qing Lang finally remarked, her voice as devoid of emotion as ever. ¡°Though I nearly became a ghost¡¯s second breakfast there.¡±


    Wang Dong Dong pointed at the sizable dent in the wall. ¡°Speaking of, did I leave a mark when I¡­er¡­met the wall a little too closely? Will I have to pay for it?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not your fault,¡± ¡®Flying to Someone Else¡¯s Bed¡¯ said, pointing an accusing finger at the suited ghost sprawled on the floor. ¡°He¡¯s responsible for all of this; you were merely aiding a fellow patient.¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen asked again. ¡°Is it finally over?¡±


    Yu Qing Lang smoothed her hair reassuringly. ¡°Yes,¡± she confirmed, then turned to Yu Xiao. ¡°We¡¯ve decided to crash at your place until the next round of the instance.¡±


    Yu Xiao hummed thoughtfully, walking over to the ghost. Crouching beside the body, she frowned. ¡°A suit?¡± she murmured, surprised. ¡°I¡¯ve never seen a ghost dressed like this in the hospital before.¡± Without hesitation, she began searching the man¡¯s pockets.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen watched, aghast. ¡°Smiley,¡± she whispered, ¡°I know he¡¯s easy on the eyes, but he¡¯s still a ghost. Besides, Bed Bro and the others are much b¡­¡±


    Zhao Lan cut her off with a sigh. ¡°She¡¯s looking for his belongings, Precious.¡±


    ¡°Oh¡­¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen mumbled, cheeks flushing pink.


    In the ghost¡¯s pocket, Yu Xiao found a smartphone. It was sleek and modern, similar to their own but a brand she didn¡¯t recognise. She tried to switch it on, but the screen remained stubbornly dark. Dead battery, by the looks of it.


    She continued searching, unearthing a fountain pen, a card holder, and a wad of cash. He seemed like an ordinary office worker, caught in the wrong place at the wrong time.


    Yu Xiao frowned again. It was strange. This ghost looked so¡­normal. The hospital ghosts had their roles, sure, but they didn¡¯t live like humans. George never left his office unless absolutely necessary. Tie Niu¡¯s head kept falling off. And Saint Elizabeth¡¯s nurses? Don¡¯t even get her started on their late-night bin raids for scraps in trash bins like some racoons¡­


    ¡°We should go,¡± ¡®Flying to Someone Else¡¯s Bed¡¯ interrupted her thoughts, staring into the darkness ahead. ¡°I sense a familiar presence approaching.¡±


    Yu Xiao blinked, utterly confused. ¡°Huh?¡±


    ¡°No time,¡± Yu Qing Lang urged, grabbing her hand and pulling her away. ¡°The dog¡¯s coming.¡±


    Three-headed dog ¨C the Chief of Security!


    Panic jolted Yu Xiao into action. ¡°Let¡¯s go, let¡¯s go!¡±


    She dragged the suited ghost towards the ward, leaving the three young men inside to exchange nervous glances. They hadn¡¯t dared to look outside during the commotion, only heard the strange noises fading into the distance. Now, they watched in stunned silence as she reappeared, hauling the suited man behind her.


    Sun Da You cautiously pointed at the newcomer. ¡°Who¡­who¡¯s that?¡±


    ¡°The ghost who was counting down,¡± Yu Xiao explained, pulling the suited man towards the bathroom. ¡°We¡¯re leaving. Close the door, and whatever you do, don¡¯t forget the talismans.¡±


    Their minds reeled as the others vanished into the bathroom, the unsettling figure of the ghost disappearing last. It was a long moment before Sun Da You spoke, pinching himself hard. ¡°Am I dreaming? They actually beat the ghost who laughs at talismans?¡±


    As if in answer, a sharp rapping on the door made their blood run cold. What now? It was supposed to be over!


    A deep, stern voice boomed from the other side. ¡°Open this door! Or I¡¯ll break it down myself!¡±


    Panic seized Sun Da You. ¡°No way!¡± he yelled back. ¡°Come in if you dare!¡±


    The next second, they heard the distinct click of a key turning in the lock.


    Silence.


    Then, with a final, ominous ¡®click¡¯, the door swung open.


    Bathed in the hallway light stood a dog, its sleek black fur gleaming. But this was no ordinary dog. It was a human-sized, with three heads ¨C and a look that could curdle blood.


    Sun Da You and his companions crumpled to the floor, their minds short-circuiting. A dog. A massive, three-headed dog. And behind it, a group of stern-faced men in uniform.


    The three heads swivelled, peering into the ward. ¡°Were you lot responsible for the ruckus outside?¡± one of them barked.


    ¡°No, no¡­¡± Sun Da You and his friends shook their heads frantically, their faces pale.


    The three-headed dog, able to sniff out a lie with a single sniff from one of its heads, seemed satisfied. ¡°Then who was it?¡±


    They hesitated, then continued shaking their heads, fear rendering them speechless.


    ¡°Liars,¡± the dog growled. ¡°Take them to the medical dispute office.¡±


    ¡°!!!¡±


    The young men completely fell apart. The youngest of the three burst into tears. ¡°W-wait!¡± he wailed. ¡°Wuwuwu¡­ It was Deaf Descendant! It was all her!¡±


    **


    Back in the ward, Yu Xiao dumped the suited ghost unceremoniously on the floor.


    Yu Qing Lang wrinkled her nose. ¡°Why bring that thing back?¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s hiding something.¡± She crossed to the bed and plugged the suited man¡¯s phone into her charger. To her surprise, it flickered to life.


    ¡°Curious, aren¡¯t you, little one?¡± ¡®Flying to Someone Else¡¯s Bed¡¯ chuckled, a predatory glint in his eyes.


    A sharp rapping on the door interrupted them.


    ¡°Deaf Descendant!¡± a stern voice boomed from the other side. ¡°Hospital Security. You¡¯ve been identified as a public safety hazard. Come out with your hands where we can see them.¡±

 Chapter 155: Ill Reveal All the Secrets

    The hospital room went silent. All eyes were on Yu Xiao. Her mouth twitched.


    ¡°Mangy mutt,¡± Yu Qing Lang hissed, shooting a sideways glare at ¡®Flying to Someone Else¡¯s Bed¡¯. ¡°Fancy another round?¡±


    He didn¡¯t reply, but his leg inched forward.


    Yu Xiao, however, doubted violence would solve anything. She thought for a moment, then called towards the door, ¡°Coming!¡±


    She pulled open the cupboard and grabbed a hanger.


    Yu Qing Lang watched in disbelief as Yu Xiao disappeared into the bathroom clutching a black outfit, her face a mask of disdain. ¡°She¡¯s changing? Now? Honestly, some people and their vanity!¡±


    Zhao Lan and Zhou Xiao Zhen exchanged a look. They knew that outfit well ¨C it was Yu Xiao¡¯s inspection uniform. But the others didn¡¯t, and they weren¡¯t about to spill the beans.


    Yu Xiao emerged from the bathroom, transformed. Wang Dong Dong looked at her, his face etched with worry. ¡°Are you sure about this?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ve got this.¡±


    With that, she grabbed the suited ghost by the ankle and began dragging him towards the door. Yu Qing Lang stamped her foot, her glare fixed on ¡®Flying to Someone Else¡¯s Bed¡¯. ¡°You¡¯re just going to let her waltz out there?¡±


    He stroked his beard, a thoughtful look on his face. ¡°She seems¡­prepared.¡±


    ¡°Honestly,¡± Yu Qing Lang fumed, ¡°you¡¯re as bad as a child!¡±


    The door swung open, and a dog¡¯s head poked inside. Yu Xiao¡¯s heart lurched. It wasn¡¯t just the Second Hospital staff in her ward now. Nightmare was here.


    Without hesitation, she shoved the dog¡¯s head back, hauled the suited man through the gap, and slammed the door shut with a resounding thud.


    Outside, she found herself face-to-face with a three-headed hellhound, one of its heads firmly in her grip. The other two glared at her with baleful eyes.


    Those eyes flickered crimson. Yu Xiao¡¯s hand trembled, and she let go. Pointing to her uniform, she said, ¡°What are you looking at? I work here. Head of the inspection team.¡±


    The corridor was shrouded in black mist, populated by shadowy figures in dark uniforms flanking Cerberus. A bone-chilling cold seeped into Yu Xiao, not just a surface chill, but a deep, marrow-freezing cold. The eerie aura out here was somehow even stronger than inside the ward.


    Cerberus¡¯s three noses twitched in unison, six eyes fixated on her with suspicion. ¡°You¡­¡± it growled, ¡°You smell familiar.¡±


    Yu Xiao¡¯s pulse quickened. What if it smelled Nightmare? She fixed the beast with a steely glare. ¡°Familiar? It¡¯s called being alive! Living people work in hospitals. Are you discriminating against the living? Let me tell you, I¡¯m the head of inspections, and I¡¯ll have your badge for this!¡±


    ¡°Hmph!¡± The two outer heads turned away, leaving the central head to glare at her. ¡°Go on then,¡± it grumbled.


    She was actually leaving¡­


    Yu Xiao turned. The fog limited her vision, creating an illusion of endless darkness ahead and behind. She walked past the Cerberus, the synchronised footsteps of the security team echoing behind her like a heartbeat.


    She passed several wards, most shrouded in darkness, though occasionally a sliver of light would escape from beneath a door.


    Another shiver ran down Yu Xiao¡¯s spine. It was freezing. Panic welled up inside her ¨C if she stayed out here too long, would the yin energy seep into her very bones?


    She strained her ears, quickly locating the source. Ahead, a sliver of light escaped from beneath a door. A figure in a nurse¡¯s uniform crouched beside it, peering through the gap.


    A claw-like hand, swollen and grotesque, scraped against the door, producing that unsettling screech.


    Yu Xiao glanced at the Cerberus beside her. It continued walking, unfazed.


    She hesitated, then pulled out her phone, scrolling through her contacts.


    The dog¡¯s right head swivelled towards her. ¡°What are you doing?¡±


    ¡°Calling the Director,¡± she replied.


    Its eyes narrowed. ¡°The Director follows hospital protocols, just like everyone else.¡±


    ¡°I know, I just need to report a few things.¡± She found the number and dialled without hesitation.


    ¡°We¡¯re sorry, the number you have dialled is currently unavailable¡­¡±


    The dog shook its head. ¡°The Director doesn¡¯t work nights.¡±


    Yu Xiao stared at her phone. ¡°Then why are working nights?¡± she muttered, shoving it back into her pocket.


    Yu Xiao glared at the three-headed dog, the ghost¡¯s suit-clad body a dead weight over her shoulder.


    ¡°Night shifts,¡± the beast replied nonchalantly.


    ¡°Neglect of duty, more like,¡± she retorted, hoisting the dead figure higher. ¡°This ghost has been terrorising the sixth floor, eating patients. Your job, as head of security, is to keep them safe, not mine as head of investigations. And yet, here I am, cleaning up your mess! And you have the audacity to detain me? Shameless!¡± Her voice echoed in the empty corridor, sharp with indignation. ¡°You have lost all three of your faces!¡±


    The Cerberus flinched, all three heads contorting in unison. Six glowing eyes fixed on her, and it let out a low growl, followed by an awkward bark.


    Yu Xiao pursed her lips, a shiver running down her spine despite her bravado.


    At the end of the corridor, a lift waited. Cerberus entered first, glancing back at her expectantly.


    With a sigh, she followed. As the doors slid shut, she couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°Aren¡¯t your¡­colleagues¡­joining us?¡±


    The beast remained silent. Yu Xiao¡¯s temper flared. She let the dead ghost fall to the floor with a thud.


    The lift lurched to a halt. Yu Xiao¡¯s eyes darted to the display. Sublevel Eighteen.


    Eighteen. The number sent a chill down her spine, its superstitious dread clinging to her like cobwebs. ¡°This is¡­the medical disputes office?¡± she asked, her voice barely a whisper.


    (in a superstitious context, it is more commonly associated with the phrase ¡°Ê®°Ë²ãµØÓü¡± (sh¨ª b¨¡ c¨¦ng d¨¬ y¨´), which translates to the ¡°18 levels of Hell¡±. In Chinese mythology, Diyu (µØÓü) or Hell is a place where souls undergo various forms of punishment in the afterlife.The concept of 18 levels of Hell is derived from Buddhist and Taoist beliefs, where souls are punished according to their sins. Each level represents a different form of torment for specific transgressions, becoming progressively more severe.)


    Cerberus said nothing. It stepped out, turning to wait.


    Frowning, she followed. Its constant glare was unnerving. Has this thing gone completely bonkers? she thought. I¡¯m following orders, and it¡¯s still glaring at me?


    ¡°Bring him,¡± the beast¡¯s eyes seemed to command, flicking towards the dead ghost.


    ¡°I¡¯m not carrying him,¡± Yu Xiao declared, arms crossed.


    Cerberus fixed her with a six-eyed stare, and for a moment, it was a battle of wills. Then, with a put-upon sigh, the beast sauntered past her, one of its heads dipping to snatch the man¡¯s ankle in its teeth.


    The absurdity of it almost made Yu Xiao laugh, but the chuckle died in her throat. Her face was drained of colour. Before her, a river flowed, its waters dark crimson and thick with a pungent, metallic stench.


    ¡°Splash¡­gurgle¡­¡±


    The river churned against its banks, waves of crimson flecked with black. Beyond the mist and the blood-red water, nothing could be seen.


    ¡°What¡­what is this river?¡± she whispered, her voice trembling.


    ¡°No idea,¡± Cerberus replied, nonchalant.


    Yu Xiao stared at it, incredulous. ¡°You work here. You don¡¯t know?¡±


    ¡°No one¡¯s named it,¡± the dog stated, as if that explained everything. ¡°So no one knows.¡±


    Yu Xiao was speechless. It was¡­surprisingly logical.


    ¡°Then why hasn¡¯t anyone named it?¡± she pressed.


    ¡°No idea,¡± the middle head replied. ¡°Never felt the need, I suppose.¡±


    ¡°Are we crossing this thing?¡± Yu Xiao eyed the churning crimson water with apprehension.


    ¡°Wait for the ferry,¡± Cerberus replied.


    It was a classic scene in those over-the-top dramas ¨C protagonist waits by a mysterious river, eerie mist swirls, a solitary boat emerges from the gloom. Usually, the boat was bottomless, the ferryman an enigma.


    So, when a ferry pulled up right in front of her, Yu Xiao wasn¡¯t sure whether to be terrified or just plain amused.


    The Cerberus, still hauling the suited man, hopped aboard. Yu Xiao, a knot of unease in her stomach, followed. The ferry was deserted except for a lone figure in a white coat, seated in the shadows.


    She snuck a peek at the figure, but quickly looked away when it lifted its head, meeting her gaze for a fleeting moment.


    ¡°Second living person to ride this ferry,¡± Cerberus commented.


    ¡°Who was the first?¡± she asked, suddenly curious.


    ¡°The first has already left.¡±


    Understanding dawned. She didn¡¯t know where the dog was taking her, but it wasn¡¯t the medical disputes office.


    The journey felt endless. Finally, the ferry shuddered to a halt.


    Cerberus, still clutching its limp cargo, hopped off, stopping before a door. Yu Xiao¡¯s eyes widened. It bore a single digit: 0.


    The dog¡¯s two free heads launched into a barking frenzy for a good three minutes before the door finally creaked open.


    Amber light spilled into the corridor, making Yu Xiao squint as she followed Cerberus inside.


    The door shut behind them, revealing a living room straight out of a vintage movie. Cerberus, still clinging to its unconscious burden, padded towards an intricately carved mahogany door.


    The door creaked open, revealing a study lined with books.


    ¡°In,¡± the Cerberus grunted, gesturing with a head towards the open door.


    ¡°Aren¡¯t you coming?¡± she asked.


    ¡°Come in, Deaf Descendant,¡± a familiar voice drifted from within the study.


    Her heart leapt. ¡°Director?¡±


    She stepped inside. To the left, a large mahogany desk dominated the room. Behind it sat a figure.


    As she drew closer, she saw a young man with slicked-back hair and sharp, intelligent eyes magnified by a pair of round, metal-rimmed spectacles. He wore a striped shirt, top button undone, revealing a surprisingly pale, slender neck. He lifted a hand. ¡°Please, sit.¡±


    Yu Xiao had a feeling this was going to be a long night.


    ¡°You¡¯re¡­you¡¯re the Director?¡± she asked, taking a seat opposite him.


    ¡°Indeed,¡± he replied calmly. ¡°I am.¡±


    She stared at him, momentarily speechless. ¡°Why¡­why am I here?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re the second living person I¡¯ve received here,¡± the Director said, a hint of amusement in his voice. ¡°Can I offer you a drink?¡±


    ¡°No, thank you.¡± She hesitated. ¡°What happened to the first one? They left, right?¡±


    A flicker of sadness crossed his face. ¡°They did. I asked them to stay, but¡­¡± He trailed off, shaking his head.


    ¡°Stay?¡± Yu Xiao frowned. ¡°Why would you¡­and why am I here?¡±


    The Director¡¯s gaze settled on her, his eyes surprisingly kind, devoid of the usual ghostly chill. ¡°It¡¯s time,¡± he said softly. ¡°Time you learned the hospital¡¯s secret.¡±


    Yu Xiao wanted to ask why her, but something about his demeanour kept her silent. She waited, a knot of anticipation tightening in her stomach.


    But instead of revealing the secret, the Director asked, ¡°Would you be interested in becoming Director?¡±


    ¡°What?¡± Yu Xiao blinked, completely thrown. ¡°You mean¡­I can just¡­become Director?¡±


    ¡°You can,¡± he said, his expression earnest. ¡°If you wish it, the position is yours.¡±


    Alarm bells shrieked in Yu Xiao¡¯s head. ¡°What¡¯s the catch? Am I stuck here forever if I say yes?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t you want to stay?¡± he asked, his voice barely a whisper.


    ¡°Of course not!¡± Yu Xiao leaned back, putting some distance between them. ¡°I¡¯m alive. My life is out there!¡±


    Disappointment flickered across the Director¡¯s face. He folded his hands on the table, the warmth in his eyes replaced by a sudden, chilling detachment.


    ¡°Before you leave this hospital,¡± the Director said, his voice a low rumble, ¡°you can change your mind at any moment. But first, I¡¯ll reveal its secrets.¡±


    He tilted his head slightly, his metallic-rimmed glasses catching the dim light. ¡°Do you know where the ghost you brought here came from?¡±


    ¡°It came from a city,¡± Yu Xiao replied, her curiosity piqued. ¡°What kind of place is that city?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s the realm of the departed,¡± the Director said, his voice like mist. ¡°Those who refuse to accept death end up there.¡±


    Yu Xiao¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°And this hospital?¡±


    ¡°From the dawn of time,¡± he began, ¡°the first being to die left behind a residue of longing. This emotion grew, and the world underwent a strange transformation. The departed¡¯s fierce desire to live again manifested their own world, where they convinced themselves they were still alive.¡±


    Yu Xiao finally understood why the people in the city seemed so real.


    ¡°But no matter how much they pretend,¡± the Director stated, ¡°the dead are still dead. As time passed, their power grew. They decided to grant themselves another chance at life.¡±


    ¡°The hospital,¡± Yu Xiao thought, the pieces falling into place.


    ¡°Yes,¡± he affirmed. ¡°It was created as a bridge between the living and the dead. The departed can replace the living to reclaim life.¡±


    Yu Xiao was shocked. ¡°How is that possible?¡± She recalled instances where ghosts had replaced the living. Her heart pounded as she pondered, ¡°If that¡¯s the case, why not replace the living as soon as they enter the hospital?¡±


    Yu Xiao¡¯s lips twitched. The Director¡¯s calm reassurances did little to ease the chill creeping up her spine.


    ¡°Life is a mysterious thing,¡± he said, his voice smooth. ¡°The dead can¡¯t just replace the living without their say-so.¡±


    ¡°Impossible!¡± Yu Xiao protested. ¡°Why would anyone agree to that?¡±


    A small smile played on the Director¡¯s lips. ¡°They do agree. When someone clings to life, drawing on the power of the dead to survive¡­ it¡¯s like signing a contract.¡±


    ¡°The power of the dead¡­¡± Yu Xiao murmured. ¡°Is it like¡­ points?¡±


    He nodded, and Yu Xiao¡¯s mind spun. So many questions! ¡°Then why¡­ why do ghosts still eat people?¡±


    ¡°Oh,¡± he chuckled, resting his chin on his hand. ¡°Do you think all of us are as sensible as me? They crave life, and what¡¯s more alive than the flesh and blood of the living?¡±


    ¡°Then¡­¡± Yu Xiao hesitated. ¡°What about yin energy? Why does it erode the living?¡±


    ¡°What do you think yin energy *is*?¡±


    The question caught Yu Xiao off guard. Her understanding of yin energy was a jumble of childhood stories from Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio and horror novels. It was something¡­ ghost-related.


    ¡°Let me rephrase,¡± the Director continued, his gaze steady. ¡°What do you think *I* am?¡±


    ¡°A ghost,¡± Yu Xiao replied, a touch of defiance in her voice. ¡°You¡¯re a ghost.¡±


    He pressed on, a hint of amusement in his eyes. ¡°And what *is* a ghost, exactly?¡±


    ¡°A ghost is¡­ the spirit of a person after death?¡± Yu Xiao scratched her head, feeling a flicker of frustration. She was the one with the questions, wasn¡¯t she? Why did she have to answer?


    ¡°And what does the spirit of a person look like after death?¡±


    ¡°Just like¡­¡± Yu Xiao began, ¡°Just like they did when they were alive, maybe a bit different¡­ perhaps uglier¡­¡±


    The Director chuckled, shaking his head. ¡°Ghosts are without form.¡±


    ¡°How¡¯s that possible?¡± Yu Xiao retorted. ¡°You obviously have a form.¡±


    ¡°Me?¡± He chuckled again, a playful glint in his eye. ¡°Who am I?¡±


    Exasperation prickled at Yu Xiao. ¡°Are you trying to get philosophical with me?¡±


    He extended a hand towards her, and Yu Xiao instinctively stepped back. ¡°Go on, touch it,¡± he urged.


    Hesitantly, awkwardly, she reached out and grazed his fingers.


    ¡°Well?¡± he asked, his gaze expectant.  sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Cold,¡± she said flatly. ¡°Very cold. Not pleasant.¡±


    ¡°And what¡¯s the difference,¡± he continued, his voice like silk, ¡°between your hand and mine?¡±


    ¡°Mine¡¯s warm,¡± she stated.


    ¡°Anything else?¡±


    Yu Xiao faltered. Aside from the chill, his hand felt¡­ normal.


    ¡°The shape you see,¡± the Director said, lifting his hand and giving it a gentle shake, ¡°is merely a vessel. Ghosts have no inherent form; we¡¯re indistinguishable from one another. But when a part of us is placed into a vessel, it gains a dominant consciousness. That¡¯s the ghost you see.¡±


    Yu Xiao stared at him, completely blindsided.


    ¡°The dead crave life,¡± he continued, his tone turning serious. ¡°What happens when a ghost encounters a living being, a body thrumming with vitality? It wants in, no matter the cost. is yin energy eroding the living.¡±


    It took Yu Xiao a while to wrap her head around it all. She still had a million questions, but one issue loomed larger than the rest. ¡°Why me? Why do you want *me* to be the Director? What happens to you if I take over?¡±


    His gaze was deep, unreadable. ¡°The departed yearn for life,¡± he said softly. ¡°And I am one of the departed.¡±


    He paused, then continued, ¡°Before you, I chose another. I told him everything, shared all the hospital¡¯s secrets. But he refused me. So I remained, the Director.¡±


    Yu Xiao frowned. ¡°If he refused, what makes you think I won¡¯t?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t,¡± he said, fixing her with an intense look. ¡°I simply wanted to offer you the choice. Besides,¡± he added, a hint of a smile playing on his lips, ¡°I find you quite remarkable. You possess¡­ admirable qualities. Compassion. A sense of responsibility. A rather touching spirit of self-sacrifice.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s that supposed to mean?¡± Yu Xiao asked, bewildered.


    ¡°You¡¯ve seen things here,¡± he said, his voice gentle. ¡°Made friends. Learned secrets. Most importantly, you¡¯ve witnessed the fates of many souls. Don¡¯t you wish you could change things?¡±


    Yu Xiao was speechless. He smiled again, a sad, knowing smile. ¡°As Director, you make the rules. But if you choose to leave¡­ well, you know many who aren¡¯t as fortunate. They¡¯ll remain, forever a part of this place.¡±


    ¡°I¡­¡± Yu Xiao stammered, her mind whirling.


    He raised a hand, stopping her. ¡°No need to answer now. You have until you leave the hospital to make your decision.¡±

 Chapter 156: They All Find You Rather Annoying

    Yu Xiao¡¯s head swam. Her mind buzzed with questions, but the Director simply stretched, a lazy smile playing on his lips. ¡°That¡¯s enough for today. You may leave now.¡±


    ¡°But wait¡­¡± Yu Xiao began, a wave of protest rising within her.


    ¡°Goldie (Íú²Æ: Wang-Cai)!¡± the Director boomed, cutting her off.


    (A common name for dogs in China, humorously meaning ¡®prosperity,¡¯ often used ironically.)Íú (W¨¤ng): To prosper, flourish, or be vigorous.²Æ (C¨¢i): Wealth, money, or fortune.


    The door creaked open, revealing a three-headed dog. Each head glared at Yu Xiao with unsettling intensity.


    The Director casually waved a hand. ¡°Escort Leader Yu out.¡±


    The dog strutted forward on its four legs, its gaze never leaving Yu Xiao.


    Frustration bubbled inside her. To be dragged here without warning, bombarded with unbelievable information, and then dismissed so casually? It was outrageous!


    ¡°One last question,¡± she pressed, fixing the Director with a sharp look. ¡°Why today? Why reveal all of this now?¡±


    He leaned back in his chair, tilting his head slightly. ¡°You stumbled upon the hospital¡¯s deepest secret, Leader Yu. Now, it¡¯s time for you to make a choice.¡± With a dismissive gesture, he indicated her exit.


    As she reached the door, Yu Xiao paused, turning back. ¡°Aren¡¯t you afraid I¡¯ll tell everyone what I know? Expose your secrets?¡±


    The Director merely raised an eyebrow. ¡°Did I ever say you were my only candidate?¡±


    Cursing under her breath, Yu Xiao stalked out, the three-headed dog at her heels.


    **


    Back in the ward, tension crackled in the air. Everyone, except for ¡®Flying to Someone Else¡¯s Bed¡¯ who seemed oblivious, waited on edge. Zhao Lan and Zhou Xiao Zhen were practically vibrating with anxiety.


    Nightmare, curled up in a cardboard box, seemed lost in thought. The seven occupants of the room hadn¡¯t dared to sleep, each rustle and creak in the room pointing their gazes at the door. Finally, as the first rays of dawn painted the sky, footsteps echoed from the hallway.


    Three raps on the door made everyone jump. A familiar voice called out, ¡°I¡¯m back.¡±


    ¡°Smiley!¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen shot to the door, flinging it open as if she¡¯d been launched from a cannon. Yu Xiao stood there, her composure as unruffled as ever.


    ¡°You¡¯re back!¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen cried, throwing her arms around Yu Xiao and pounding her back with relieved thumps. ¡°We were so worried!¡±


    Yu Xiao chuckled, hugging her back and steering her gently into the ward. Zhao Lan moved forward, eager for a hug, but was intercepted.


    Yu Qing Lang expertly manoeuvred her and Zhou Xiao Zhen aside, her eyes scanning Yu Xiao from head to toe. ¡°You look alright. What did they do to you?¡±


    ¡°Nothing at all,¡± Yu Xiao replied with a hint of amusement in her voice.


    ¡°Seriously?¡± Wang Dong Dong, along with several others, looked unconvinced. ¡°They took Ah Fei last month, and he lost fifty points just for being in the wrong corridor! Not even a slap on the wrist for you?¡±


    ¡°Of course not,¡± Yu Xiao said, a touch of pride creeping into her voice. ¡°The hospital may be strange, but it¡¯s not unfair. I eliminated the Countdown Ghost, remember? Saved countless lives. If anything, I deserve a medal.¡±


    She settled onto the edge of her bed, glancing around at the exhausted faces. ¡°None of you slept?¡±


    ¡°Sleep? With you whisked away in the middle of the night?¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen perched beside her, her brow furrowed with worry. ¡°Misty and I were beside ourselves!¡±


    ¡®Flying to Someone Else¡¯s Bed¡¯, having just poured himself a glass of water, leaned back in his chair. ¡°So? Tell us everything. What happened? What¡¯s the Medical Dispute Office like?¡±


    ¡°Yes, yes!¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen bubbling over excitedly. ¡°And the three-headed dog! What¡¯s it like? Are there loads of ghosts in there?¡±


    (ðÅÝ [m¨¤o p¨¤o; bubbling over]: Slang for being extremely anxious or agitated.)


    Yu Xiao laughed, a little awkwardly. The truth was, she hadn¡¯t actually been inside the Medical Dispute Office.


    She needed to improvise. ¡°Oh, the office itself is¡­well, it¡¯s an office. But I did uncover the three-headed dog¡¯s secret.¡±


    The word ¡°secret¡± hung in the air, instantly grabbing everyone¡¯s attention. Yu Xiao leaned closer, lowering her voice conspiratorially. ¡°Its name¡­is Goldie!¡±


    Silence descended upon the room.


    ¡°What?¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen was the first to break the stunned silence, her disbelief evident. ¡°You¡¯re teasing us!¡±


    Zhao Lan, too, looked entirely unconvinced.


    Yu Xiao held up her hands defensively. ¡°I¡¯m serious! Why would I lie about something like that? It¡¯s really called Wang Cai. Trust me, I was surprised too.¡±


    Yu Qing Lang¡¯s laughter filled the room. ¡°Wang Cai! What a ridiculous name for that dead mutt!¡±


    The others couldn¡¯t help but chuckle, the tension finally breaking.


    Stifling a yawn, Yu Xiao stretched out on her bed. ¡°Right, I¡¯m absolutely knackered. Anyone else joining me for a nap?¡±


    ¡°Move over,¡± Yu Qing Lang said, squeezing onto the bed beside her with practised ease.


    Yu Xiao lay down, but sleep wouldn¡¯t come. The Director¡¯s words echoed in her mind. He had been manipulative, she knew that, but some of what he said¡­ it rang true. Could she really prioritise her own survival above everyone else¡¯s?


    Strangers were one thing, but Tang Xing Yin, Yu Qing Lang¡­ the thought of them ending up like Teng Jing Zhi from Zhi Zhe Hospital, their minds lost, their bodies vessels for something else, was unbearable.


    The Director had mentioned someone who¡¯d left. Someone who¡¯d managed to harden their heart and choose their own life above all else. Yu Xiao couldn¡¯t help but feel a pang of envy.


    Despite the turmoil, the information did shed light on some things that had puzzled her. Like why Teng Jing Zhi had retained his consciousness even after becoming a ghost.


    Ghosts, the Director had explained, didn¡¯t have a physical form. An invasion of yin energy essentially meant a ghost taking over a human body. Teng Jing Zhi, in death, had become a vessel, housing not just one ghost, but countless entities, himself included. A dominant consciousness took control, and in his case, it had been his own.


    Those who went mad after becoming ghosts? Their dominant consciousness had been overthrown by other entities.


    Yu Xiao sighed silently. Even if she did become the next Director, could she truly save someone like Teng Jing Zhi? He was no longer just himself, but a collection of countless beings.


    The thought brought her no comfort. What difference would being the Director truly make? Could she really stop the ghosts from invading the living?


    The Director hadn¡¯t said it outright, but she understood. He wasn¡¯t all-powerful. Even he had to play by the rules, just like the Three-Headed Dog had said.


    To leave, the living had to earn points. And earning points meant agreeing to be susceptible to ghostly invasion at any time. That was the fundamental rule of the hospital, a rule even the Director couldn¡¯t change.


    No, becoming the Director wouldn¡¯t change anything. This was all just another one of his manipulations, and she didn¡¯t have to agree to anything.


    With that thought, a wave of relief washed over her, and she finally drifted off to sleep.


    For the next few days, Yu Xiao pushed the incident with the Director to the back of her mind. Her plan remained the same: rack up enough points and get herself, Zhou Xiao Zhen, and Zhao Lan out of this place.


    The time for their next instance was fast approaching. The five patients from the Second Hospital, after days of mostly sleeping, seemed to have regained some of their spark.


    Yu Xiao pulled out a team card, carefully filling in their chosen nicknames. Everyone had one except ¡®Flying to Someone Else¡¯s Bed,¡¯ whose blank space was now occupied by the name ¡®Wide Sea and Sky.¡¯


    Yu Qing Lang, peering over her shoulder, chuckled. ¡°I recognise that name. Heard it mentioned in the news a few times.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re well-connected,¡± ¡®Flying to Someone Else¡¯s Bed¡¯ chuckled. ¡°Even all the way over in the First Hospital, you¡¯ve got connections.¡±


    Yu Xiao raised her eyebrows, a triumphant glint in her eye. She pulled out her phone and dialled a number. The line connected almost instantly. ¡°Tang Xing Yin? I¡¯ve sent the team card information.¡±


    ¡°Received it,¡± came his gravelly voice.


    ¡°Good. There¡¯s something you should know. This instance¡­it¡¯s a little different.¡± She went on to explain, as succinctly as possible, about the attending doctors she¡¯d offended and their rather creative approach to revenge. ¡°So, yeah, this one¡¯s going to be a bit hairy.¡±


    A beat of silence from the other end of the line. Tang Xing Yin had been in the First Hospital for over two decades. He¡¯d had his fair share of run-ins with attending doctors, but he¡¯d never heard of anything quite like this.


    Yu Xiao, misinterpreting his silence, rushed to reassure him. ¡°It¡¯ll be fine, don¡¯t worry. We¡¯ve got this. Besides the three of us and you, we¡¯ve got those veterans from the Second Hospital. They¡¯ve all tangled with attending doctors before. We can definitely hold our own.¡±


    Tang Xing Yin¡¯s only response was a deeper silence.


    The next morning, the seven patients of Ward 6 were ready for action. Yu Xiao, dressed in her usual practical attire, hefted a heavy backpack. It bulged ominously, filled with talismans, charms, and even a cat.


    ¡°This is exciting!¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen, sandwiched between Yu Xiao and Zhao Lan, practically vibrated with anticipation. ¡°It¡¯s our first instance with such a powerful team!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve got some team cards saved up,¡± Yu Qing Lang announced, offering them around. ¡°You can use them in the future.¡±


    Wang Dong Dong laughed. ¡°You¡¯re not fooling anyone, Qing Lang. We all know you¡¯re just using them as an excuse to hang out in Sixth Hospital a little longer.¡±


    A flicker of nerves danced in Yu Xiao¡¯s stomach, quickly replaced by excitement. She couldn¡¯t wait to see the attending doctors¡¯ faces when they realised they had underestimated her. Just the thought of it was deeply satisfying.


    The chime of eight o¡¯clock reverberated through the ward, sharp and clear.


    A wave of dizziness washed over her, followed by a strange sensation of floating, as if drifting on a cloud.


    Wait. Something was wrong. This didn¡¯t feel right. Why did she feel like she was lying down?


    Yu Xiao¡¯s eyes flew open. She was in bed. Not a hospital bed, but an ornate wooden antique draped in gauzy curtains.


    (µñ»¨Ä¾´² [di¨¡o hu¨¡ m¨´ chu¨¢ng; carved wooden bed]: Traditional Chinese furniture known for its intricate woodwork and often used in historical or classical settings.É´ÕÊ [sh¨¡ zh¨¤ng; gauzy drapes]: Sheer curtains used around beds in traditional Chinese settings, adding an ethereal or dreamlike quality to the scene.)


    A quilt, embroidered with colourful magpies, lay heavily on top of her. Her hand, resting on the embroidered silk, was being held by someone.


    (ϲȵ [x¨« qu¨¨; magpie]: In Chinese culture, magpies are symbols of good luck and happiness. Their appearance in embroidery often represents joy or a good omen.)


    Panic surged through her. She yanked her hand back and stared at the figure beside the bed, her breath catching in her throat.


    A young man, with pale skin and neatly combed hair, gazed back at her. He wore a long grey robe, his expression unreadable.


    Yu Xiao remained frozen, her mind racing. Who was this? And where were the others?


    ¡°Young lady,¡± a small girl, dressed in a bright outfit resembling a New Year¡¯s doll, popped up beside the man. ¡°Are you well?¡±


    (Äê»­ÍÞÍÞ [ni¨¢n hu¨¤ w¨¢ w¨¢; New Year¡¯s doll]: Refers to traditional Chinese New Year images of children that symbolise prosperity and happiness.)


    What in the world was going on?


    ¡°I am the doctor treating you,¡± the man in the grey robe spoke, his voice calm and measured. ¡°My name is Qu Lian (ÇúÁ«: ¡°Melodious Lotus¡± or ¡°Bending Lotus¡±).¡±


    Çú (Q¨±) is a surname that can mean ¡°melody¡± or ¡°bend.¡±Á« (Li¨¢n) is a unisex given name that means ¡°lotus.¡±Together, ÇúÁ« (Q¨± Li¨¢n) could be interpreted as ¡°Melodious Lotus¡± or ¡°Bending Lotus,¡± symbolising grace and beauty, often associated with purity and enlightenment in Chinese culture. The name evokes the image of a lotus flower swaying gracefully in the breeze, akin to a melody.


    Yu Xiao stared at him, a wave of apprehension washing over her. This was him. The main doctor of the scenario. Had Lolita gotten to him? Was he going to harm her?


    And where were the others? The big guns weren¡¯t here!


    Her hand trembled as she patted the bed beside her, her fingers closing around the familiar shape of her backpack. It was still plump and soft ¨C Nightmare was inside.


    Yu Xiao let out a breath she hadn¡¯t realised she¡¯d been holding. Nightmare was here. She wasn¡¯t alone. Surely, even in this strange scenario, everything would be alright?


    Seemingly oblivious to her inner turmoil, Qu Lian and the young maid continued their peculiar act.


    The doctor, his face carefully blank, announced, ¡°Your young mistress has been poisoned.¡±


    ¡°What?¡± Yu Xiao blurted out, completely bewildered.


    As if on cue, the maid¡¯s face crumpled. She dissolved into theatrics, wailing, ¡°Heavens! How could this be? Doctor, you must save her!¡±


    Qu Lian shook his head, his expression grave. ¡°Impossible. Unless¡­unless I can determine the exact nature of the poison.¡±


    He sighed dramatically, adding, ¡°Time is of the essence. We have seven days. Seven days to identify the poison and administer the antidote, or¡­¡± He trailed off, letting the unspoken threat hang in the air.


    Then, with a flurry of movement, he gathered his medical kit and bustled out of the room.


    Yu Xiao lay back against the pillows, taking stock of the situation. So, it seemed she had a role to play in this scenario ¨C a young lady from a wealthy family, struck down by a mysterious ailment. Seven days to solve the mystery of the poison. Simple enough, right?


    She reached for the bedpost, intending to sit up, when a searing pain shot through her chest.


    The young maid was instantly by her side, her face a mask of concern. ¡°Young mistress! You¡¯re coughing blood!¡±


    Yu Xiao, between coughs, rolled her eyes. This whole situation was ridiculous. First things first, she needed to find the others. She finished her phone out from under the pillow and opened the photo album, showing the maid a picture of herself with Zhao Lan and Zhou Xiao Zhen. ¡°Have you seen them?¡±


    The maid shook her head, her expression blank. ¡°I haven¡¯t seen them before.¡±


    ¡°Tsk.¡± Yu Xiao tossed the covers aside. It seemed she was on her own for now.


    ¡°Young mistress, what are you doing?¡± the maid cried, rushing to her side. ¡°You¡¯re meant to be resting! You¡¯ve been poisoned!¡±


    Yu Xiao waved her off, stumbling towards the edge of the bed.


    A thought occurred to her. If she was playing the part of a wealthy young lady, could the poisoning be an inside job? A family affair, perhaps?


    Yu Xiao blinked, her vision blurry. The room swam into focus, a dimly lit space with flickering candlelight casting long, dancing shadows across the walls. Where in the world¡­? She rubbed her temples, trying to get her bearings.


    ¡°Have you always been my maid?¡± she asked tentatively, turning to the young girl beside her.


    The maid nodded, a knowing smile playing on her lips. ¡°Indeed. I¡¯ve served you since I was but five years old.¡±


    Yu Xiao felt a strange mix of relief and unease. ¡°And I¡¯m¡­the daughter of this household?¡±


    ¡°The eldest daughter of the esteemed Yu family.¡±


    ¡°Yu?¡± She raised an eyebrow. ¡°So, we have the same surname?¡±


    Another nod. ¡°You are Young Miss Yu.¡±


    Yu Xiao¡¯s mind raced. She had to tread carefully here. ¡°And my father¡­how many wives does he have?¡±


    The maid held up eight fingers, her smile unwavering.


    Yu Xiao felt a shiver run down her spine. This was getting complicated. ¡°And children?¡±


    ¡°Twelve in total.¡± The maid¡¯s cheerful tone never faltered.


    Yu Xiao suppressed a groan. Talk about a complicated family dynamic. She took a deep breath.


    ¡°Who¡­who in this house doesn¡¯t get along with me?¡±


    The maid blinked, a flicker of confusion crossing her face. Yu Xiao rephrased the question. ¡°Who dislikes me?¡±


    ¡°Oh, everyone, Miss.¡± The maid¡¯s reply was instant, matter-of-fact. ¡°They all find you rather annoying.¡±


    Yu Xiao gaped at her, speechless.


    This whole poisoning mystery could wait. Right now, she needed to find the others. Ignoring the maid¡¯s token attempt to stop her, she pushed herself out of bed, grabbing her backpack on her way to the door.


    ¡°Nightmare?¡±


    A muffled voice responded from within the bag. ¡°I¡¯m here.¡±


    ¡°How¡¯s your nose?¡± she asked quietly. ¡°Can you sniff out the others?¡±


    The voice was indignant. ¡°Just because I can turn into a cat doesn¡¯t mean I¡¯m actually a cat, you know.¡±


    ¡°Alright, new plan,¡± Yu Xiao lowered her voice. ¡°Can you sense the attending doctor?¡±


    ¡°Not at the moment,¡± Nightmare replied. ¡°But if he comes near, I¡¯ll know.¡±


    That would have to suffice. Leaning heavily on the doorframe, Yu Xiao stepped into the hallway. Where were the others? It stood to reason that everyone would be experiencing the same situation. Did that mean they had all been poisoned too?


    The house seemed to stretch endlessly before her. Yu Xiao walked until her legs ached, but the exit was still nowhere in sight. Finally, gasping for breath and overcome with coughs, she collapsed onto the edge of a meticulously crafted flowerbed.


    ¡°You know,¡± a voice from inside her backpack piped up, ¡°you could just call them.¡± sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°¡­¡± Yu Xiao slapped her forehead. Why hadn¡¯t she thought of that earlier?


    She fumbled for her phone, quickly dialling Zhao Lan¡¯s number. After only a couple of rings, the call connected. ¡°Misty? Where are you?¡±


    A series of distressing coughs echoed from the other end of the line before Zhao Lan managed to gasp out, ¡°I¡¯m in¡­a thatched cottage. The attending doctor just left. Said I¡¯ve been poisoned. Seven days to figure out what it is, or I¡¯m dead.¡±


    ¡°Same here,¡± Yu Xiao said solemnly.


    ¡°Are you in a thatched cottage too?¡±


    ¡°Nope. Landlord¡¯s house. It seems I¡¯m the despised eldest daughter in this scenario.¡±


    ¡°Ah.¡± A beat of silence. ¡°I appear to be the daughter-in-law of a cheating, drunken, wife-beater.¡±

 Chapter 157: Divine Eagle! Descend!

    ¡°Are you alright?¡± Yu Xiao frowned, her face filled with concern.


    ¡°For now,¡± Zhao Lan replied between coughs. ¡°And what about you? Are the Avengers after you? Have they arrived yet?¡±


    Yu Xiao hesitated, finding it strange. She had been in the instance for almost twenty minutes, and besides the brief encounter with Qu Lian, nothing had happened.


    ¡°I haven¡¯t seen them yet. I think I¡¯m safe for now.¡± She was about to ask Zhao Lan for more details when a string of curses erupted from the other end of the line.


    ¡°Sorry,¡± Zhao Lan said, her voice strained. ¡°Sounds like trouble. I need to go deal with this. Try reaching out to the others. I¡¯ll call you back when I¡¯m free.¡±


    ¡°Okay.¡± Yu Xiao hung up and immediately dialled Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s number.


    The phone rang and rang. Yu Xiao frowned. Something wasn¡¯t right. Could Precious already be in danger? It had only been a few minutes since they entered the scenario.


    She tried again, her anxiety growing with each unanswered ring. Finally, the call connected.


    ¡°Smiley,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s voice was breathless and panicked.


    ¡°Precious, where are you? What¡¯s going on?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know! The attending doctor¡ªI think his name was something like Lotus¡ªhe said I was poisoned, and then he left, and then these people showed up with ropes, claiming I was guilty of something¡­ cough, cough¡­ I can¡¯t talk, I have to go, they¡¯re chasing me! I¡¯ll call you back!¡±


    The call abruptly ended.


    So, everyone was poisoned, but their experiences within the scenario were vastly different.


    Yu Xiao scrolled through her contacts, her finger hovering over Tang Xing Yin¡¯s name. She took a deep breath and pressed the call button.


    Once again, silence. Was no one having a normal experience in this scenario?


    Finally, just as she was about to give up, his voice, calm and steady, answered. ¡°Hello.¡±


    At least someone¡¯s situation wasn¡¯t too bad. ¡°Where are you?¡±


    ¡°I seem to be in a Taoist temple,¡± Tang Xing Yin replied after a moment.


    ¡°A Taoist temple?¡± Yu Xiao echoed, surprised. ¡°They have those here? What¡¯s your situation like? Any danger?¡± S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Everything¡¯s fine. Calm, even. What about you? Where are you?¡±


    ¡°Some kind of manor house. The Yu family residence, apparently.¡± Yu Xiao paused, clutching her chest as another coughing fit seized her. ¡°The attending doctor found you too, then? Told you about the poison?¡±


    ¡°He did. He¡¯s actually here right now, as a matter of fact.¡±


    Yu Xiao froze. ¡°Wait. Qu Lian is with you?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right.¡±


    She chewed on that for a moment. ¡°So, he¡¯s going around to each of us individually. How many people did he contact before you?¡±


    Silence. Yu Xiao could hear the faint murmur of a conversation, then Tang Xing Yin¡¯s voice, sharper than before. ¡°Tell me. How many people did you speak to before me?¡±


    A sharp crack echoed across the line.


    ¡°¡­Five,¡± a shaky voice replied.


    ¡°What was that?¡± Yu Xiao asked, a note of alarm creeping into her voice. ¡°What just broke?¡±


    ¡°Qu Lian¡¯s neck,¡± Tang Xing Yin said mildly.


    ¡°¡­¡± Yu Xiao stared at her phone, speechless. ¡°You¡­ him?¡±


    ¡°No, he¡¯s still alive. Well, still moving, at least.¡± A pause. ¡°Stay put. I¡¯ll come and find you.¡±


    Yu Xiao hung up, wiping a bead of sweat from her brow. That was¡­unexpected. She quickly dialled Yu Qing Lang¡¯s number.


    ¡°Where are you? Are you alright?¡± Yu Xiao didn¡¯t waste time on pleasantries. ¡°Have the attending doctors shown up yet?¡±


    ¡°Not a peep,¡± came the reply. ¡°What about you?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m fine, for now. But something¡¯s not right¡­¡± Yu Qing Lang¡¯s voice was laced with suspicion. ¡°I¡¯ve been here for ages, and none of the attending doctors have even looked at me funny. Although, I do feel a bit rough. This pain in my chest¡­and I can¡¯t stop coughing.¡±


    Yu Xiao understood immediately. Tang Xing Yin had intercepted Qu Lian before she could reach Yu Qing Lang. ¡°You can relax. The attending doctor won¡¯t be bothering you for a while.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean? Are they attacking you?¡±


    ¡°Not exactly.¡± Yu Xiao explained about the poison and the seven-day time limit.


    ¡°Right, got it.¡± Yu Qing Lang didn¡¯t sound surprised in the slightest. ¡°Send me your location. I¡¯ll come to you.¡±


    Once she¡¯d spoken to everyone, Yu Xiao decided to stay put. The others could find her. She had a poisoning mystery to solve.


    And she really did feel awful. She could barely walk without leaning on the wall, and each cough sent a fresh wave of pain through her chest. She stumbled along for what felt like hours until she finally encountered another person: an elderly man sweeping the courtyard.


    ¡°Excuse me, Grandpa!¡± she called out, waving a hand weakly.


    The man looked up, his eyes widening as they landed on her. He yelped, dropping his broom and scrambling away as if he¡¯d seen a ghost.


    Yu Xiao stared after him, speechless. Was she really that unpleasant? Did everyone react to her as if she were some kind of monster?


    Gritting her teeth, she continued on, eventually coming to a room where several people were gathered around the door, hammering furiously at something.


    ¡°What are you doing?¡± she asked.


    The workers turned to look at her, their faces a mixture of horror and disgust. If anything, they looked even more terrified than the old man.


    ¡°The young mistress! She¡¯s out!¡± one of the workers shrieked, scrambling back from the doorway.


    ¡°Quick! Board it up!¡±


    Panic swept through the group. They grabbed planks of wood and hastily nailed them across the door. With a final thud, Yu Xiao was trapped inside, the sounds of hammering replaced by the ominous drumming of rain and wind.


    ¡°What is happening? Why are you boarding up the door?¡± She pounded on the wood, her voice echoing in the sudden silence.


    ¡°Forgive us, Young Mistress!¡± a voice called back, its words muffled by the wood. ¡°It¡¯s the Master¡¯s orders! You¡¯ve been cursed by the heavens! Anyone who comes near you will be struck down by misfortune! He¡¯s only trying to protect everyone!¡±


    The young maid from earlier appeared, her eyes red-rimmed and her face stained with tears. ¡°Miss,¡± she sobbed, ¡°the Master knows about the poison.¡±


    Yu Xiao furrowed her brow. This made no sense. If she had been poisoned, shouldn¡¯t they be rushing to help her, not locking her away?


    ¡°If I am poisoned, shouldn¡¯t I be receiving treatment, not being confined?¡±


    The maid¡¯s eyes widened, as if Yu Xiao had said something completely absurd. ¡°But Miss, don¡¯t you remember? People in town have been falling ill for weeks! No one knows why, and no one can cure them! Master Zhang, the Taoist priest, says it is the wrath of the gods, punishing the guilty! The Master fears that you will bring misfortune upon the entire household! It is for the best, Miss, truly!¡±


    Yu Xiao leaned against the wall, her mind spinning. So, this was not just a case of familial poisoning? This illness¡­it was affecting the entire town?


    She glanced at the boarded-up door, then at the high courtyard walls surrounding her.


    ¡°Nightmare,¡± she murmured, ¡°can you fly?¡±


    ¡°I can transform into a bird, if that¡¯s what you mean,¡± came the muffled reply from her backpack.


    ¡°And could you¡­take me with you?¡±


    ¡°¡­I could probably manage a larger bird,¡± Nightmare conceded.


    The Yu family manor stood on a hill, overlooking the town. Its grand facade was a stark contrast to the shuttered windows and deserted streets below. For weeks, a strange illness had plagued the townspeople, and fear, like a suffocating fog, had settled over the once-bustling marketplace. Even the wealthy Yu family, accustomed to a life of privilege and comfort, had retreated behind closed doors.


    One morning, a solitary figure walked along the dusty road leading towards the manor. He was young, dressed in simple robes of a Taoist priest, radiating a calm serenity despite the unease that permeated the town.


    The young Taoist, who was barely in his twenties, made a striking impression. His long, dark hair was casually pulled back into a bun, with a few strands escaping to frame his delicate face. Although his skin was pale, his lips even paler, his eyes had a dark and intense gaze that contradicted his youthful appearance. Framed by brows that slanted upwards at the edges, his eyes held a depth that was captivating.


    His tall and slender figure was accentuated by the loose black robes he wore, which billowed around him like smoke as he moved.


    Pausing at the entrance of the Yu family manor, he lingered his gaze on the ornate plaque hanging above the imposing doors. He contemplated pounding on the wood, but something held him back. Instead, he raised his fist to gently knock.


    A sudden gust of wind swept through the courtyard, blowing his hair across his face. He squinted and shielded his eyes as he looked up.


    A massive, pitch-black bird circled overhead, flapping its wings with powerful strokes. Upon its back sat a figure that suspiciously resembled a human. Rather than flying far, it chose to circle the manor as if awaiting something.


    The Taoist priest observed it for a moment, his expression unreadable. Then, with a sigh, he reached into his sleeve and retrieved a mobile phone.


    ¡°I really want to live for another five hundred years¡­¡± A faint, tinny melody echoed from the bird as the call connected.


    ¡°Hello?¡± a woman¡¯s voice answered. ¡°Where are you? Have you found the Yu residence?¡±


    ¡°Look down.¡±


    Yu Xiao, gripping onto the transformed Nightmare¡¯s back, tilted her head. Below, a lone figure stood in the deserted street.


    ¡°Divine Eagle! ¡°


    The bird swooped down, gracefully landing on the cobblestones. In a flash of light, it transformed into a handsome young man with artfully tousled hair and a crisp white shirt.


    Yu Xiao descended to the ground, her eyes fixated on the Taoist. Could this possibly be Wide Sea and Sky? She had pictured him countless times over the weeks. Initially, she had imagined an elderly man, but Teng Jing Zhi had mentioned that Wide Sea and Sky had only been fourteen when he entered the hospital. So, she had then envisioned a teenage boy, all limbs and nervous energy.


    The reality, however, surpassed her expectations.


    He was observing her just as intently. ¡°Wide Sea and Sky?¡± she cautiously asked.


    ¡°Mm-hmm.¡±


    ¡°But how¡­?¡± Yu Xiao gestured at him, her eyes taking in his appearance from head to toe. ¡°You look like a real Taoist priest!¡±


    ¡°My current identity is that of a Taoist priest residing in a Taoist temple,¡± he replied, his expression as serious as ever.


    ¡°Wow,¡± she said, a touch of jealousy in her voice. ¡°Your hair even changes to match your role? Misty and Precious are going to be so envious.¡±


    He didn¡¯t bother explaining that it was actually his real hair. Years spent in the Horror Hospital, with no access to barbers and very little personal grooming, had resulted in its current state.


    ¡°What happened with Qu Lian?¡± she asked, changing the subject. ¡°Did he escape?¡±


    ¡°He did,¡± he said. ¡°He was incredibly determined to get away. I couldn¡¯t stop him.¡±


    Yu Xiao winced internally. The attending doctor had been that scared of Tang Xing Yin?


    ¡°Come on, let¡¯s find the others.¡± She fell into step beside him, Nightmare trailing behind silently. ¡°Did you manage to learn anything useful? I¡¯ve come across an interesting clue. It seems this poison is affecting the whole town. There¡¯s a rumour going around that it¡¯s divine retribution, a punishment for their sins.¡±


    Tang Xing Yin, walking on Yu Xiao¡¯s other side, glanced at Nightmare. ¡°And what is he?¡±


    Nightmare met his gaze, narrowing his eyes.


    ¡°That¡¯s Nightmare,¡± Yu Xiao said quickly. ¡°Do you know him?¡±


    ¡°I believe I¡¯ve heard his name before,¡± Tang Xing Yin replied.


    ¡°He¡¯s incredibly powerful,¡± Yu Xiao said, puffing up with pride. ¡°He can control people¡¯s dreams. You know how you always have nightmares? He can change them for you. Give you a nice, peaceful sleep.¡±


    The effect was immediate. Tang Xing Yin stopped in his tracks, his gaze fixed on Nightmare. ¡°Could you¡­ lend him to me? Just for a few days?¡±


    ¡°¡­¡± Yu Xiao looked from Tang Xing Yin¡¯s unusually eager expression to Nightmare, who had abandoned his glare in favour of a pathetic, pleading look. This wasn¡¯t going to be easy.


    ¡°This is¡­¡± Yu Xiao trailed off, scratching her head. ¡°It¡¯s not that simple. I¡¯m not his master.¡±


    Tang Xing Yin wouldn¡¯t be deterred. ¡°It¡¯s just for a few days,¡± he insisted.


    ¡°That¡¯s not really how it works.¡± Yu Xiao felt a blush creep up her neck. ¡°He needs to agree too¡­¡±


    Before she could finish, Tang Xing Yin grabbed her arm and pulled her aside. In a flash, their positions were reversed, Tang Xing Yin now walking between Yu Xiao and Nightmare.


    He fixed his gaze on him. ¡°What will it take to convince you?¡±


    A beat of silence stretched between them. Then, Nightmare took two deliberate steps back, coming to stand on Yu Xiao¡¯s other side. Yu Xiao found herself back in the middle, sandwiched between them.


    ¡°He can¡¯t speak?¡± Tang Xing Yin sounded surprised.


    ¡°Oh, he can.¡± Yu Xiao rushed to clarify. ¡°He can speak perfectly well.¡±


    Tang Xing Yin frowned, tapping a finger against his chin. ¡°Then his mind must be¡­ addled? He doesn¡¯t understand what I¡¯m saying?¡±


    ¡°Well¡­¡± Yu Xiao could practically feel the heat radiating off Nightmare, a silent promise of impending eruption. She quickly took his hand, hoping to placate him. ¡°His mind is just fine. He¡¯s simply not fond of strangers. Let¡¯s find our friend first, then we can discuss Nightmare¡¯s¡­ situation.¡±


    Disappointment flickered across Tang Xing Yin¡¯s face, but he held his tongue.


    Yu Xiao pulled out her phone and dialled. ¡°Misty, where are you?¡±


    Zhao Lan¡¯s voice was breathless, panicked. ¡°I¡¯m¡­ by the river. I don¡¯t know exactly where.¡±


    ¡°Why are you out of breath?¡± Yu Xiao frowned, a knot of worry forming in her stomach. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡±


    ¡°Someone¡¯s chasing me!¡± The wind whipped through the phone speaker. ¡°This creep cornered me with a rope ¨C thought he was going to tie me up or something, so I, well, I might have overreacted slightly. Like, beating him up badly. Suddenly I¡¯ve got a mob on my tail, screaming about me being a criminal. I think my current identity might be a wanted one.¡±


    Yu Xiao grimaced. The town¡¯s obsession with the poisoned legend was proving to be a real problem. Anyone exhibiting poisoned symptoms was instantly branded a sinner, marked for punishment.


    ¡°Misty, just keep running along the river,¡± Yu Xiao instructed, keeping her voice calm. ¡°We¡¯ll find you. Just stay near the riverbank.¡±


    Before Yu Xiao could even lower her phone, Tang Xing Yin¡¯s hand clamped down on her shoulder, spinning her around. ¡°The river¡¯s this way,¡± he said, pointing towards the left fork in the road.


    ¡°How do you know?¡± she asked, scrambling to follow him.


    ¡°There¡¯s a Taoist temple by the river,¡± he replied, a crease forming between his brows. ¡°Someone chased me there earlier.¡±


    Clearly, the entire town shared the same prejudice against the poisoned ¨C capture or contain, as if their very presence was infectious.


    Yu Xiao wasn¡¯t particularly worried about the others; the second hospital escapees seemed fearless enough, having attacked their own doctor. No, it was Misty and Precious who were most vulnerable. They needed to be found first.


    The streets were unnervingly deserted as they hurried through the town. An unsettling silence hung in the air.


    Finally, the sound of rushing water reached their ears. Yu Xiao picked up the pace, her thoughts flying ahead to Misty. But as they rounded a bend, the riverbank came into view, and her heart plummeted.


    The riverbank wasn¡¯t deserted at all. It was swarming with people.


    Confused, Yu Xiao scanned the bustling crowd. Why was everyone gathered here, when the rest of the town seemed deserted?


    She tapped the shoulder of a middle-aged woman at the edge of the throng. ¡°Excuse me,¡± she asked, ¡°what¡¯s going on here? It seems rather lively.¡±


    The woman scowled, rounding on her. ¡°Lively? What¡¯s lively about it? A criminal jumped in the river.¡±


    Yu Xiao¡¯s blood ran cold. She pushed forward, straining to see. And there, bobbing in the water, was a figure she knew all too well. It couldn¡¯t be¡­ could it?

 Chapter 158: Cave Stench

    ¡°Misty!¡± Yu Xiao hissed, instantly feeling the auntie¡¯s eyes boring into her. ¡°It¡¯s hard to see with so many people packed in like sardines,¡± she added quickly.


    The auntie grunted and turned back towards the river. Yu Xiao, trying to appear nonchalant, asked, ¡°Why¡¯s she in there? Did she fall?¡±


    ¡°Jumped,¡± the auntie said flatly.


    ¡°What?!¡± Yu Xiao stared in horror at Zhao Lan in the churning water.


    Both riverbanks were teeming with onlookers, many brandishing bamboo poles and makeshift hooks, desperate to fish her out. But Zhao Lan, a slippery eel in the muddy current, evaded their every attempt.


    Panic surged through Yu Xiao. This wasn¡¯t a normal rescue; this was Misty on the run. And with this many people around, how could they possibly get her out?


    She scratched her head in frustration. Beside her, Tang Xing Yin spoke, ¡°Your friend, isn¡¯t she?¡±


    ¡° Yu Xiao nodded distractedly.


    ¡°Step back a bit,¡± he said, his face grim. He took a step back. ¡°I¡¯ll get her out.¡±


    ¡°How?¡± Yu Xiao looked at him, bewildered.


    Tang Xing Yin¡¯s frown deepened. ¡°Just move!¡±


    ¡°Right!¡± She shuffled back, then her eyes widened in sudden terror. ¡°You¡¯re not planning on¡­you know¡­, are you?¡±


    A voice whispered in her ear. It was Nightmare. ¡°There¡¯s no need for a massacre. I can help.¡±


    ¡°How?¡±


    ¡°I can pull them all into a dream.¡±


    Before Yu Xiao could respond, Tang Xing Yin sprang into action. With a swift kick, he sent a startled old man, bamboo pole and all, tumbling into the river. A collective gasp rippled through the crowd. Before anyone could react, he shoved another onlooker into the churning water.


    He moved like a whirlwind, tossing bodies into the river as effortlessly as a chef flips noodles. In moments, the water churned with over a dozen unfortunate souls.


    Zhao Lan, bobbing amongst them, dodged flailing limbs and bamboo poles. Anxiety gnawed at her. A splash. Someone else was in the river. *Oh no, are they coming for me?* she thought, fear lending her tired muscles new urgency.


    But more splashes followed, quickly turning the river into a writhing mass of humanity. Stunned, Zhao Lan could only watch. *Do they really need all these people to catch one little ol¡¯ me?*


    A chorus of screams rose from the riverbank. ¡°Run!¡± a voice shrieked. ¡°The Taoist priest has gone mad!¡±


    Zhao Lan¡¯s head whipped around. The crowd on the shore had dwindled, leaving only A man and Nightmare behind. Yu Xiao, holding out a bamboo pole, shouted, ¡°Misty! Quick, grab on!¡±


    Without hesitation, Zhao Lan lunged. Yu Xiao hauled her up with surprising strength. As soon as her feet hit solid ground, she turned to see a figure in Taoist robes flinging another hapless victim into the churning water.


    ¡°Oh my¡­¡± Zhao Lan gaped. ¡°Who is that lunatic?¡±


    Yu Xiao leaned in. ¡°Wide Sea and Sky.¡±


    Zhao Lan: ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°Right, she¡¯s out!¡± Yu Xiao yelled towards a figure striding towards them. ¡°Let¡¯s move!¡±


    Excitement bubbled up in Zhao Lan as she recognised Tang Xing Yin, the big cheese from the first hospital, the one who¡¯d showered them with power-up cards. Finally, a face to the legend!


    ¡°Hello,¡± she began eagerly, extending a hand. ¡°I¡¯m¡ª¡±


    ¡°Where¡¯s the next target?¡± Tang Xing Yin, however, ignored her, fixing Yu Xiao with an impatient stare.


    ¡°Oh, right!¡± Yu Xiao chirped, already dialling a number. ¡°I¡¯ll call Precious now.¡±


    ¡°By the way,¡± Zhao Lan interjected, ¡°how is Precious? Is she alright?¡±


    ¡°Same boat as you,¡± Yu Xiao said, getting through on the third ring.


    ¡°Smiley?¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s muffled voice answered.


    ¡°Precious,¡± Yu Xiao continued, ¡°where are you? Are you safe?¡±


    ¡°Seems like I dodged a bullet,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen croaked into the phone, her voice thick with disgust. ¡°Smiley, did you find Misty?¡±


    ¡°We already met up,¡± Yu Xiao replied. ¡°Why do you sound like you gargled swamp water?¡±


    ¡°Swamp water is a compliment,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen coughed. ¡°They captured me, tied me up, and threw me into a cave. It was pitch-black, couldn¡¯t see a thing, but the smell¡­ oh god, the smell.¡±


    ¡°A cave, huh?¡± Yu Xiao frowned. ¡°Do you have any idea where it is?¡±


    ¡°How would I know?¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen retorted. ¡°They were practically using me as a human bowling ball.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry,¡± Yu Xiao reassured. ¡°We¡¯ll get you out of there soon.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, hurry up, Smiley! It¡¯s like a biohazard down here,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen gagged. ¡°If it takes much longer, I¡¯ll permanently be flavoured ¡®cave stench.¡¯¡±


    Ending the call, Yu Xiao filled the others in. ¡°Zhou Xiao Zhen is trapped in some awful cave. It¡¯s apparently a haven for terrible smells.¡±


    ¡°Lovely,¡± Zhao Lan deadpanned. ¡°Where is this cave, anyway?¡±


    ¡°I have no idea, but based on the description, it¡¯s probably where they keep their poisoned prisoners,¡± Yu Xiao pondered. ¡°Here¡¯s an idea: one of us gets caught, and the rest of us follow secretly. Easy peasy, we find the cave.¡±


    Zhao Lan gave her a look. ¡°No thanks. beat up quite a few people when I escaped. Let¡¯s just say they weren¡¯t too happy and threatened me with a ¡®warm welcome¡¯ if they catch me again.¡±


    ¡°Same here,¡± Yu Xiao sighed. ¡°They would just send me back home for a serious scolding. No cave time for the spoiled princess.¡±


    All eyes turned to Tang Xing Yin. He met their gaze with a stoic nod. ¡°The Taoist temple is across the river. Let¡¯s go.¡±


    He turned and walked away, with the others trailing behind him.


    ¡°So,¡± Zhao Lan whispered to Yu Xiao, ¡°The big guy is a Taoist, huh?¡±


    Yu Xiao nodded. ¡°Yep.¡±


    Zhao Lan sighed, a hint of longing in her voice. ¡°Why couldn¡¯t I be a Taoist? Then I could pull off the whole mysterious, long-haired look, right?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry,¡± Yu Xiao chuckled, patting Zhao Lan¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Your hair will grow back.¡±


    Zhao Lan ran a hand over her shorn head. It was now even shorter than Nightmare¡¯s. ¡°Just wish it¡¯d hurry up.¡±


    A steep climb awaited them on the other side of the bridge. The Taoist temple sat perched atop a hill, accessible only by a seemingly endless flight of stairs. Huffing and puffing, the four of them finally reached the summit. Two dishevelled Taoist priests were sweeping the courtyard.


    Yu Xiao nudged Tang Xing Yin. ¡°Perfect timing! Go on, make your grand entrance.¡±


    Without a word, he strode towards the unsuspecting priests.


    The two priests looked up, their eyes widening as they recognised the newcomer. With shrieks of terror, they dropped their brooms and fled, their cries echoing across the courtyard, ¡°He¡¯s back! He¡¯s back!¡±


    Yu Xiao watched them disappear, bewildered. ¡°What was that about?¡± she asked Tang Xing Yin.


    A faint blush crept up his neck. ¡°I, er, may have¡­ overdone it a bit when I beat them up the last time I was here.¡±


    Silence met his confession.


    ¡°Right, so, what now?¡± Yu Xiao wondered if they should cut their losses and find someone else.


    Zhao Lan, ever resourceful, pointed at Tang Xing Yin. ¡°They¡¯re scared he¡¯ll beat them up again. Easy fix! He just needs to look a bit worse for wear, like he can barely stand. They¡¯ll come running.¡±


    Tang Xing Yin tilted his head. ¡°You want me to¡­ lie down?¡±


    ¡°Even better if you cough up some blood,¡± Yu Xiao added helpfully.


    Tang Xing Yin obliged, but nothing came out. Yu Xiao frowned. Everyone else seemed to be coughing up blood from the poison, why not him?


    Apparently deciding that subtlety wasn¡¯t working, Tang Xing Yin promptly lowered his head and sank his teeth into his own palm.


    ¡°Whoa!¡± Yu Xiao yelped, scrambling over and pulling his hand away. ¡°What are you doing?¡±


    Tang Xing Yin flinched, yanking his hand away from her arm and leaving a bloody smear across his face.


    Yu Xiao yelped, ¡°Bloody hell! That must sting!¡±


    He grimaced, his pale complexion now marred by a crimson streak. ¡°Not particularly.¡±


    ¡°This is¡­¡± Yu Xiao furrowed her brow, thinking, He¡¯s awfully rough on himself. ¡°There are other ways to get blood, right? Why the bite? How bad is the wound anyway?¡±


    Tang Xing Yin seemed genuinely confused. ¡°Isn¡¯t this how they do it in the movies?¡±


    Yu Xiao¡¯s face contorted into a question mark.


    Undeterred, Tang Xing Yin lumbered to the door and banged on it. Then, with a dramatic flourish, he flopped onto the floor, positioning his gory visage front and centre.


    Zhao Lan placed a reassuring hand on Yu Xiao¡¯s shoulder and murmured, ¡°Don¡¯t compare him to normal people. His way of thinking is¡­ different.¡±


    Yu Xiao cast her a bewildered glance. Zhao Lan elaborated, ¡°He was just fourteen when he entered Horror hospital, still a kid in junior high. The internet wasn¡¯t huge back then, and kids didn¡¯t have the same access to information. He spent years alone in that place. No wonder his mind works differently.¡±


    Yu Xiao blinked, her gaze flitting back to Tang Xing Yin sprawled theatrically by the door. She¡¯d always attributed his eccentricities to the lingering effects of yin energy, but clearly, there was more to the story.


    Suddenly, Nightmare¡¯s voice cut through the silence, ¡°Someone¡¯s coming!¡±


    Yu Xiao whisked them both into hiding in a flash. The door creaked open, revealing the hushed murmurs of the Taoist priests within.


    ¡°He¡¯s not moving!¡±


    ¡°Let me see¡­¡±


    ¡°Get help, quick!¡±


    The door swung wider, revealing a gaggle of flabbergasted priests surrounding the ¡°injured¡± Tang Xing Yin. After receiving no response, they resorted to a few well-placed kicks.


    The scene devolved further as they trussed Tang Xing Yin up like a trussed turkey and dragged him towards the back of the temple, disappearing into the mountain foothills.


    Yu Xiao and her crew hotfooted it after the priests. The group heaved their ¡°patient¡± to a rocky patch on the back slope. With practised ease, they rolled a massive stone aside, revealing a gaping maw. Before Yu Xiao could blink, they chucked Tang Xing Yin in and slammed the stone shut, clapping their hands with a satisfied air as they retreated.


    As soon as they were gone, Yu Xiao¡¯s group surged forward. Zhao Lan kicked the stone aside. The stench that erupted was enough to knock a buzzard off a dungheap. Both women recoiled, gagging.


    ¡°Ugh¡­ Precious?¡± Yu Xiao choked, clamping a hand over her nose and retreating.


    ¡°Precious, are you¡­?¡± Zhao Lan began, but was cut off by a bellow from within.


    ¡°Misty! Smiley!¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s panicked voice echoed from within. ¡°I¡¯m in here! Get me out! What fresh hell is this? Hey! Don¡¯t touch me!¡± A strangled cry cut her off.


    A figure came hurtling out of the hole and with a graceless splatter landed like a star.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen groaned, spotted her friends and scrambled towards them, a joyous reunion cut short by the stench that preceded her. Both Yu Xiao and Zhao Lan instinctively dodged out of the way, leaving a bewildered Zhou Xiao Zhen flailing in mid-air.


    Finally, covered in grime, Tang Xing Yin emerged, dusting himself off with a nonchalant, ¡°Just a bunch of corpses in there.¡±


    ¡°No wonder it reeked to high heaven!¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen exclaimed, wrinkling her nose and raising her arms in a futile attempt to distance herself from the lingering odour. ¡°I spent ages feeling around in the dark!¡±


    ¡°I think I¡¯m going to be sick¡­¡± Yu Xiao moaned, clutching her head. ¡°Let¡¯s get out of here.¡±


    Down by the riverbank, Zhou Xiao Zhen scrubbed her skin raw, leaving a trail of soggy clothes in her wake. The four of them collapsed on the grass, desperate for a breather and some semblance of a plan.


    ¡°So, picture this,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen recounted, still faintly reeking of death. ¡°I wake up in bed, some old bird claiming to be my mum. Before I can even process that, in walks a mute doctor who starts poking and prodding me. Apparently, I¡¯m poisoned. Nice, right? Then, before I can argue, a mob of people descends and bundles me off. Needless to say, I put up a fight, but they outnumbered me big time. Tied me up and tossed me into a corpse-filled cave.¡±


    ¡°Sounds like the definition of a bad day. All those bodies¡­they must be other poisoned victims.¡± Zhao Lan grimaced. ¡°But why the cave? Why would they think poisoning is divine punishment?¡±


    ¡°Something about a Taoist named Immortal Master Zhang.¡±


    (ÕÅÏÉÈË [Zh¨¡ng Xi¨¡nr¨¦n; Zhang Immortal]: ¡°ÏÉÈË¡± (Immortal) implies a significant stature or supernatural abilities, often used in Chinese folklore and mythology.)


    ¡°Master Zhang sounds like our best lead,¡± Zhao Lan mused. ¡°Should we try and find the others first, or go straight to him?¡±


    ¡°We should definitely find the others,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen insisted. ¡°For starters, we don¡¯t even know where to find this Zhang Xian bloke.¡±


    ¡°Good point.¡± Yu Xiao pushed herself up from the riverbank, brushing grass stains off her trousers. ¡°They¡¯ll probably head to my place looking for me.¡±


    As it turned out, finding ¡®the others¡¯ was as easy as falling out of a boat and landing at your own doorstep. Five figures were sprawled outside Yu Xiao¡¯s house, gossiping like old women at a tea party.


    ¡°Where¡¯s that girl got to?¡±


    ¡°Call her again.¡±


    ¡°I literally just did! She¡¯s on the line¡­¡±


    The sound of approaching footsteps made them look up. Four figures rounded the corner, and Yu Xiao¡¯s face broke into a relieved grin. ¡°There you all are!¡±


    Yu Qing Lang, leaning against a pillar, raised an eyebrow. ¡°And just where have you lot been?¡±


    ¡°Looking for someone,¡± Yu Xiao replied, waving a hand towards Tang Xing Yin. ¡°Remember I told you about that incredible big shot from the First Hospital? This is him! Wide Sea and Sky say hello to our colleagues from the Second Hospital.¡±


    Now that everyone was present and accounted for, Yu Xiao clapped her hands. ¡°Right, let¡¯s find somewhere we can talk.¡±


    ¡°Hold on a minute.¡± Yu Qing Lang jerked her chin towards Nightmare. ¡°Who¡¯s he? And don¡¯t even try to avoid the question.¡±


    ¡°Ah, right¡­¡± Yu Xiao cringed inwardly. There was no hiding it now. ¡°This is Nightmare. You may have heard of him, he¡¯s, uh, kind of was a big deal in the news. You know, the whole dream manipulation thing? I asked him to, er, help you guys sleep better¡­¡±


    She didn¡¯t get to finish her sentence. The expressions of her companions turned thunderous. Before Yu Xiao could blink, they¡¯d surrounded Nightmare, pushing her aside to outer perimeter.


    Tang Xing Yin¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°So that¡¯s how it is,¡± he muttered darkly. ¡°You won¡¯t lend him to me, But You can lend him to them.¡±


    Yu Xiao: ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯thim to them!!¡±


    *Lend? They¡¯re camping out in my hospital room!* she thought incredulously.


    Under the shade of a large tree, the nine of them huddled together. Nightmare, naturally, had transformed back into a fluffy yellow kitten and nestled himself in Yu Xiao¡¯s arms.


    ¡°Didn¡¯t Qu Lian come to see you?¡± Yu Qing Lang asked, stroking his chin thoughtfully.


    ¡°You were first,¡± Yu Qing Lang confirmed. ¡°Then Zhao Lan and Xiao Zhen, followed by Wang Dong Dong, and lastly Wide Sea and Sky. Nobody else came after that.¡±


    ¡°Right.¡± Yu Xiao nodded. ¡°So, let¡¯s hear it. What¡¯s everyone¡¯s story?¡±


    ¡°Mine¡¯s pretty similar to yours,¡± Wang Dong Dong piped up. ¡°Woke up to some random woman claiming to be my wife. Qu Lian showed up, diagnosed me, then all hell broke loose. Luckily, I managed to slip out before they could catch me.¡±


    ¡°Qu Lian didn¡¯t even bother with me,¡± Yu Qing Lang grumbled. ¡°No diagnosis, nobody chasing me down¡­¡±


    The others murmured in agreement, their experiences mirroring Yu Qing Lang¡¯s.


    ¡°So, we¡¯ve got nothing,¡± Yu Xiao sighed. ¡°The only lead we have is this Master Zhang character. We need to find him.¡±


    ¡°Master Zhang¡­¡± Yu Qing Lang echoed. ¡°Sounds like a final boss.¡± sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 159: What’s Inside the Heart?

    Right, this Master Zhang sounded like a right Big Cheese, the kind of bloke who¡¯d make even a hungry ghoul think twice. But fear? Nah, bosses were their bread and butter. If experience had taught them anything, it was that the bigger they came, the harder they¡­ well, you get the picture.


    Master Zhang was a legend in town. While most fortune-tellers in those cheesy dramas got called ¡°half-immortals,¡± this guy was straight-up ¡°Immortal.¡± That told you everything you needed to know. Finding him was a piece of cake; everyone knew where he hung out.


    (°ëÏÉ [b¨¤nxi¨¡n; half-immortal]: Refers to a seer or mystic, not fully divine but possessing some supernatural powers. Used colloquially to describe fortune tellers or shamans.)


    Turned out, ¡°Immortal¡± Zhang hung his hat at a temple on the east side of town, acting as head honcho.


    Finding the place was one thing, but the sight that greeted them nearly made their jaws hit the floor. The gaff was absolutely rammed. People everywhere, inside and out, like a sale on discount ectoplasm.


    One minute you¡¯re strolling through deserted streets, the next you¡¯re wading through a sea of desperate souls. Inside, devotees were practically worshipping the floorboards, while outside, a queue snaked around the block. Talk about a captive audience.


    The nine of them rocked up to this scene, but getting inside was another story.


    ¡°Blimey, it¡¯s packed,¡± Yu Xiao muttered, mopping her brow. She shot Tang Xing Yin a sideways glance. ¡°How come every Tom, Dick, and Harry in this instance seems to be here, but your Taoist temple looks like a ghost town?¡±


    (ÃÅ¿ÉÂÞȸ [m¨¦n k¨§ lu¨® qu¨¨; the door is so empty that sparrows can be caught]: A Chinese idiom meaning a place is deserted or has little traffic, often used to describe businesses with few customers.)


    Tang Xing Yin, arms crossed tighter than a miser¡¯s purse strings, simply scowled.


    The temple itself was a bit of an odd duck. The whole town was like stepping back in time, all ancient Chinese architecture, yet here was this¡­ Gothic monstrosity.


    Well, not entirely Gothic. This mishmash of a building sported angelic and demonic carvings alongside what looked like Dunhuang celestial beings.


    (¶Ø»Í·ÉÌì [D¨±nhu¨¢ng f¨¥iti¨¡n; Dunhuang flying deities]: Carvings inspired by the frescoes in the Dunhuang Caves, depicting celestial beings with flowing garments and dynamic poses, integral to Buddhist art.)


    And if that wasn¡¯t bizarre enough, the blokes at the entrance were dressed like they were heading to a funeral, while inside, the punters were burning enough incense to choke a dragon. The whole place was one big, smoky haze.


    (Ïã¿Í [xi¨¡ngk¨¨; incense-bearer]: Worshippers who burn incense, a traditional practice in Chinese temples to show reverence and seek blessings.)


    ¡°Talk about an identity crisis,¡± Zhao Lan quipped. ¡°So, we just waltzing in then?¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s the alternative?¡± Yu Qing Lang retorted. ¡°We¡¯re hardly going to use the side door, are we?¡±


    ¡°Fair point,¡± Yu Xiao grinned. ¡°Let¡¯s go see what all the fuss is about.¡±


    They joined the throng, incense sticks waving precariously, and finally squeezed their way to the entrance. Just then, a hand shot out, barring their way like a bouncer at a nightclub.


    Blocking their way stood a priest, black robes billowing dramatically. Despite looking barely old enough to shave, he had a cold expression that could rival the frigidness of a penguin¡¯s backside.


    ¡°State your business,¡± he demanded, sweeping his eyes over the group with chilling indifference. It was the kind of look one would give to ants underfoot ¨C brief, disgusted, and vaguely irritated.


    ¡°We¡¯re here to see Master Zhang,¡± Yu Xiao announced.


    The news seemed to have no effect on him. ¡°Only the most devout believers are granted an audience with the Immortal.¡±


    Yu Xiao couldn¡¯t help but raise an eyebrow. ¡°And how does one prove their devotion?¡±


    The priest pointed to a conspicuously overflowing donation box.


    Well, that explained it. Yu Xiao had never seen such an obvious money grab in all her time in the instances. She glanced at her companions, who had a mix of amusement and disbelief written on their faces.


    ¡°We¡¯re a bit short on cash right now,¡± she said. ¡°Is there any chance we could have a quick word with the Immortal anyway?¡±


    The priest repeated, as if reciting a memorised script, ¡°Only the most devout believers are granted an audience with the Immortal.¡±


    ¡°Right, that¡¯s it!¡± Wang Dong Dong suddenly exclaimed, clapping his hands together. ¡°This guy speaks fluent brick wall. Plan B, everyone! I¡¯ll distract him, and you all go find this Zhang character.¡±


    Let¡¯s just say this group wasn¡¯t exactly strict rule followers. Wang Dong Dong¡¯s suggestion was met with unanimous approval. In a split second, his fist connected solidly with the priest¡¯s jaw, and chaos erupted. While pandemonium reigned, the rest of the group seized the opportunity and slipped into the temple.


    The interior of the temple was like a sauna filled with incense. Row upon row of people knelt in fervent prayer, seemingly oblivious to the commotion outside. They whispered silent supplications, their eyes fixed on something at the far end of the room.


    Yu Xiao followed their gaze and gasped. Towering above them was a colossal statue, portraying a human figure so twisted and distorted that it could only be described as nightmare fuel. The expression etched on its face was one of pure agony.


    Yu Xiao shuddered.


    Was this their deity?


    A circle of clerics encircled a group of worshippers who knelt before them, closely monitoring their display of devotion. The sudden arrival of eight unexpected guests did not escape notice. Suspicion filled the air as the clerics quickly moved to surround them.


    ¡°We seek an audience with Master Zhang,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen declared.


    ¡°Only the truly devout are deemed worthy of meeting the Master,¡± intoned the head cleric, a gaunt man in his forties who looked like he hadn¡¯t encountered a decent meal in years. His face was set in an expression of pious severity, eyes as cold and lifeless as a dead fish, staring straight through them.


    ¡°What exactly defines ¡®truly devout¡¯?¡± Zhao Lan inquired, a hint of amusement in her voice. S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Kneel,¡± the thin man instructed, his tone sharp and rehearsed. ¡°Offer your prayers. Our Lord will discern the sincerity of your faith.¡±


    Yu Xiao stifled a sigh. Sincerity wasn¡¯t exactly their strong suit. She wasn¡¯t even sure they remembered how to spell sincerity. Glancing past the gaunt cleric, she asked, ¡°So, is Master Zhang in there, then?¡±


    A flicker of annoyance crossed the man¡¯s face, but before he could respond, Yu Qing Lang smoothly interjected, ¡°Why don¡¯t you entertain our friend here? We¡¯ll continue ahead.¡±


    Ignoring the spluttering protests from the clerics, they casually walked towards the back of the shrine.


    ¡°This place reeks of a cult,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen whispered, her eyes darting around nervously. ¡°And those clerics? Completely mad, every last one of them.¡±


    ¡°Well, obviously,¡± Yu Qing Lang retorted with a smirk. ¡°What did you expect? Sane NPCs in a side-quest? Don¡¯t be ridiculous.¡±


    A door at the rear of the shrine led to a corridor lined with rooms that resembled a combination of offices and monk cells. Flickering candlelight cast dancing shadows on the bare walls. A row of identical wooden doors stretched ahead, each one securely shut. No names, no numbers, no hints.


    ¡°Do you think Master Zhang is behind one of these doors?¡± Yu Xiao pondered aloud.


    ¡°Who knows?¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen shrugged, glancing around. ¡°Unless he¡¯s levitating in a corner, this seems to be our only option.¡±


    Before anyone could utter another word, Tang Xing Yin confidently stepped forward and pushed open the nearest door. The sound of ancient hinges giving way was overpowered by a brilliant white light that burst forth from within.


    ¡°Whoa!¡± Yu Xiao instinctively raised her hand to shield her eyes from the blinding light.


    As quickly as it had appeared, the light faded, leaving behind an unsettling silence. She cautiously lowered her hand and found herself in a room, completely alone. The others had vanished.


    Having experienced her fair share of odd occurrences, Yu Xiao didn¡¯t panic. Instead, she calmly assessed her surroundings. The room was furnished in an old-fashioned style, with a bed, bookshelves lining one wall, and a writing desk cluttered with papers. A solitary feather quill protruded from an inkwell, as though someone had been abruptly interrupted while writing. Another door could be seen on the far side of the room.


    Before attempting to open the second door, she decided to explore the desk. The ink on the papers was still wet. Intrigued, she picked up one of them and read:


    ¡¾Smiley received three titles today, while I didn¡¯t receive a single one! It¡¯s so unfair. We all worked hard, yet she receives all the glory.¡¿


    ¡°¡­¡±


    The note lacked a signature, but there was only one person who referred to her as ¡°Smiley¡± with such a mix of envy and resentment ¨C Precious. Squinting at the handwriting, Yu Xiao tried to determine if it matched Precious¡¯s. After a moment, she gave up. Clearly, the whole handwriting recognition thing only worked in TV dramas.


    Moreover, she was fairly certain that this note didn¡¯t match Precious¡¯s writing style. If her friend had ended up in a strange room, writing cryptic notes wouldn¡¯t be her top priority. First, she would try to find an exit, and if that failed, she would probably start dismantling the furniture.


    And if she did decide to write something, it would be a detailed account of the situation, any clues she had discovered, and maybe a quick farewell message.


    Just as Yu Xiao was about to return the paper to its original position, she noticed another sheet hidden beneath it.


    ¡¾Yu Xiao said we¡¯d split the points, but she never actually meant it, did she? If she wanted to keep them all for herself, she could have just said it. Nobody was forcing her to share.¡¿


    (¡°lip service¡± (×ìÉÏ˵˵; Zu¨« sh¨¤ng shu¨­ shu¨­): [×ìÉÏ; Zu¨« sh¨¤ng; mouth][˵˵; shu¨­ shu¨­; to say]. This expression means to say something without intending to follow through.)


    Okay, now she was properly confused. What in the world was going on? Why were these notes even here?


    She was about to give up and try the other door when a faint noise caught her ear. It seemed to be coming from behind the bookcase.


    Sure enough, when she moved the bookcase aside, she discovered a hidden door. She gave it a good shove, but it wouldn¡¯t budge. Luckily, it was ancient and made of wood. The panels had warped over time, leaving gaps wide enough to peek through.


    Yu Xiao pressed her eye to the crack.


    The room on the other side was almost identical to hers. Two figures were moving around, seemingly searching for something. She squinted. Zhao Lan and Zhou Xiao Zhen.


    Yu Xiao was about to bang on the door and put them out of their misery when Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s voice drifted through the gap.


    ¡°What do we do now? There¡¯s no way out. Maybe we could try smashing the wall down?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t think that¡¯s going to work,¡± Zhao Lan replied, shaking her head. ¡°We already tried that. It¡¯s like it¡¯s made of reinforced concrete.¡±


    ¡°So we¡¯re stuck?¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s voice was laced with despair.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry,¡± Zhao Lan said, trying to sound reassuring despite her own growing anxiety. ¡°Even if we can¡¯t get out, I¡¯m sure Yu Xiao will find us.¡±


    The words were meant to be comforting, but Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s expression darkened. ¡°Oh, she¡¯ll find us alright. She¡¯s brilliant like that. Always knows the right people to call¡­¡±


    Zhao Lan, busy examining a window that refused to open, picked up on her friend¡¯s strange tone. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±


    ¡°Nothing,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen muttered darkly. ¡°It¡¯s just¡­ Misty, you know how she¡¯s close to getting enough points, right?¡±


    A beat of silence.


    ¡°Yes, I know.¡±


    ¡°And she always said we¡¯d split them evenly¡­¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s voice was barely a whisper now. ¡°But she¡¯s almost there on her own¡­¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t be silly,¡± Zhao Lan said firmly, ¡°We made a pact to get out of here together. And Smiley¡¯s one of the good ones. She wouldn¡¯t¡­¡± Her voice trailed off.


    ¡°Misty, why¡¯d you stop?¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen sighed. ¡°To be honest, I think I understand where she¡¯s coming from. Maybe she did want to share at first. But remember the Time Hospital? Ye Tao said only two of us could leave. Don¡¯t you think that shook her up a bit?¡±


    Silence fell over the room as both women bowed their heads, desperately searching for an escape route that didn¡¯t involve power tools.


    Yu Xiao watched them for a moment longer, then quietly backed away from the door. The light spilling from their room was still visible. Turning, she walked over to the door on the far side of her own room and tried the handle.


    It swung open easily, revealing the same empty corridor.


    She glanced up and down, finding that all the other doors were still closed. The only open door was the one she had just come through. Frowning, she walked over to the next door and tried the handle.


    Locked. But she could hear voices from inside ¨C Misty and Precious, talking amongst themselves. This had to be the room next to her old one, the one with the hidden door.


    So, they had all gone through different doors but ended up in completely separate rooms. Some rooms held one person, like hers. Others held more.


    What was the logic here? Were they being sorted by personality type? Level of attractiveness?


    Lost in thought, she shrugged off her backpack and unzipped it. As expected, the cat was gone.


    This whole thing had ¡°illusion¡± written all over it. Too many things didn¡¯t add up. For starters, she hadn¡¯t even taken a step after Tang Xing Yin opened the door. How had she been transported?


    And why was her room the only one with an exit, while Misty and Precious were trapped?


    Plus, she had been in that room for a while now. Surely Tang Xing Yin and the others would have caught up by now? They weren¡¯t that slow. Were they?


    Right, so this was definitely an illusion. No arguments there. The question was, how to break free?


    Yu Xiao considered her options. It was time to employ some classic illusion-busting techniques. First up: pain. A good dose of physical agony usually did the trick. She had heard that the inner thigh was particularly sensitive¡­


    She pinched a generous handful of flesh and twisted. Hard.


    ¡°Yeeouch!¡± Tears sprang to her eyes. Rubbing the throbbing spot gingerly, she looked around. Nope, everything looked exactly the same.


    Pain was out. It was time for plan B.


    Illusions generally only messed with your senses, right? The actual environment shouldn¡¯t change. If they had all been affected by the same illusion, then logically, the others had to be nearby.


    She started walking, hands outstretched, feeling her way along the wall. Nothing. After a while, a thought struck her. What if she had wandered away from her original spot after getting sucked into the illusion?


    So, what now?


    And why was Nightmare missing from her bag if they were all still in the same place, just¡­ illusorily separated?


    Wait a minute. Nightmare! Why hadn¡¯t she thought of that before? It didn¡¯t matter if this was an illusion; Nightmare could slip into dreams as easily as she could slip into a comfy pair of slippers. If she fell asleep, she would see the cat in her dreams, right?


    With a newfound sense of purpose, Yu Xiao lay down on the floor and started to hum herself a lullaby.


    Falling asleep was practically an Olympic sport for Yu Xiao. She could doze off on a rollercoaster, during a zombie apocalypse, and probably even while being chased by a rabid squirrel. So naturally, lying on a cold, hard floor wasn¡¯t going to pose much of a challenge. She closed her eyes, thought happy thoughts (mostly involving copious amounts of noodles), and promptly drifted off.


    The dream started out as a hazy jumble of half-formed images, but then a hand clamped around her wrist, yanking her out of the fog.


    She turned to see a very familiar face. ¡°Nightmare!¡±


    ¡°There you are!¡± Nightmare said, his grip surprisingly strong. ¡°I woke up in some creepy trap, and you were gone!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m stuck in this weird illusion,¡± she explained, ¡°I can¡¯t seem to wake up. I figured you¡¯d be in dreamland, so here I am. Any chance you know how to get out of this mess?¡±


    ¡°Leave it to me,¡± Nightmare said, placing his palm over her eyes. ¡°Just close your eyes.¡±


    She obeyed. As darkness descended, she felt a strange sensation, like she was plummeting from a great height.


    Her heart pounding, she opened her eyes. Her vision swam as she focused on the blurry image of a moving ceiling. She was lying flat on her back, being carried¡­ somewhere. Footsteps echoed around her, but she couldn¡¯t see who was carrying her.

 Chapter 160: Yank Her Tongue Out~!

    A blinding flash of white, and Zhou Xiao Zhen stumbled back, blinking away spots. The room swam into focus ¨C utterly empty. She shoved the door open and bolted into the corridor, her heart thudding a frantic rhythm against her ribs.


    Deserted. It was as if everyone had simply ceased to exist. A tremor of fear ran through her, but she tamped it down. She had faced enough weirdness in her life to have developed a healthy dose of cynicism, and a whole lot of courage. Besides, panicking wouldn¡¯t help anyone. S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    It was better to be prepared. With practised ease, she pulled out her trusty talisman tools and function cards.


    ¡°Smiley!¡± she called out, her voice echoing eerily in the silence. ¡°Misty, where are you?¡±


    Silence. Then, the faint murmur of voices, coming from the room next door. She raced towards the sound, hope surging. But the door wouldn¡¯t budge.


    ¡°Smiley! It¡¯s me!¡± she yelled, pounding on the unyielding wood.


    Through a crack, she could just make out two figures: Tang Xing Yin and Yu Xiao, their faces etched with worry. They were frantically searching for another way out.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry,¡± Tang Xing Yin was saying, his tone reassuring. ¡°We¡¯ll find a way out. You¡¯re safe with me.¡±


    Yu Xiao sighed. ¡°It¡¯s not me I¡¯m worried about, it¡¯s everyone else.¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen felt a rush of warmth. Leave it to Smiley to be selfless, even now.


    ¡°Worried about your useless friends?¡± Tang Xing Yin scoffed, a sneer twisting his lips. ¡°To be blunt, they¡¯re more trouble than they¡¯re worth.¡±


    Fury, hot and immediate, coursed through Zhou Xiao Zhen. The cheek of this guy! Come on, Smiley, tell him where to stick his disdain!


    But instead of righteous fury, Yu Xiao just sighed. ¡°Don¡¯t say that. Misty¡¯s got her head screwed on straight, and she can be surprisingly helpful.¡±


    Tang Xing Yin snorted. ¡°And the other one?¡±


    A flicker of something crossed Yu Xiao¡¯s face, something troubled and sad. ¡°She¡¯s¡­ a friend.¡±


    ¡°Hmph, always the bleeding heart,¡± Tang Xing Yin scoffed, shoving a handful of function cards at her. ¡°Here, these are for you. Don¡¯t waste them on those two.¡±


    Yu Xiao said nothing, but the troubled look remained.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen watched, a cold pit of unease growing in her stomach. But then¡­ Something wasn¡¯t right. This wasn¡¯t like Smiley at all. Gossiping behind their backs? Smiley practically invented loyalty. And Tang Xing Yin? The Wide Sea and Sky boss, reduced to petty insults?


    This had to be some kind of illusion, straight out of those melodramatic TV dramas she secretly binged.


    ¡°Wake up, you idiot,¡± she muttered, and promptly slapped herself.


    The smack echoed in the silence, and her cheek throbbed, but the scene remained unchanged. Okay, so this illusion was hardcore.


    Panic started to bubble up. If even physical pain couldn¡¯t break through, what could? She racked her brain, trying to remember any helpful tips from all those movies.


    A muffled thump from the other side of the door yanked her back to the present. There was a new sound now, a dragging, scraping sound, like something heavy being pulled across the floor.


    Suddenly, the scene shifted. It was like someone had swapped channels on the TV. Zhou Xiao Zhen was no longer looking through a crack in the door, but down a long, narrow corridor.


    Yu Xiao was there, but she wasn¡¯t with Tang Xing Yin anymore. Instead, she was crouched beside two figures in dark robes, their eyes vacant and lifeless. Their legs were bent at unnatural angles, obviously broken, but they showed no sign of pain. As Zhou Xiao Zhen watched, Yu Xiao pressed her ear to the ground, listening intently to their rasping breaths as they dragged themselves forward with their hands.


    This wasn¡¯t the same corridor. No doors, just flickering candlelight and shadows that stretched into the darkness. Whatever cult Master Zhang was running, this was its heart. And it was seriously messed up.


    **


    So, while she¡¯d been trapped in la-la land, they¡¯d bundled her off like a takeaway order. Fantastic. And what about the others? Even Nightmare had succumbed, if only for a moment. If she was stuck, what hope did Tang Xing Yin and the rest have back at the Second Hospital? They might be tough, but mentally, they were all as sturdy as a wet paper bag.


    Right now, they needed her as much as she needed Nightmare. She had to find them.


    The corridor stretched ahead, lit by a line of eerily still candles. Her footsteps echoed in the silence as she walked, each step heavy with foreboding.


    Then she stopped dead.


    Someone was standing at the end of the corridor, back turned, bathed in the flickering candlelight. The intricate black lace of a Lolita dress accentuated impossibly long legs, ending in killer heels.


    Oh, brilliant. Just what she needed. Where were those Avengers all this time? Apparently, they were waiting here for her.


    Alone, with only her trusty Grand View Coin for company, she took a hesitant step back.


    The figure turned.


    Even in the dim light, Lolita was still breathtakingly beautiful, like a porcelain doll come to life.


    ¡°Well, well,¡± her voice was sweet as poison, ¡°look who we have here.¡± She tilted her head, blonde curls cascading down her shoulders. ¡°You look like you¡¯ve seen a ghost.¡±


    Another step back. The cheerful lilt to Lolita¡¯s laughter did absolutely nothing to calm her nerves.


    ¡°I did warn you,¡± Lolita continued, her voice hardening. ¡°Did you really think you could outsmart us? Playing the long game, pretending to go along with Gluttony¡¯s little charade, bringing your little posse into this instance¡­ You thought you could humiliate us?¡±


    Yu Xiao swallowed, her mind racing. Gluttony, a double agent? It wasn¡¯t impossible. But where had it all gone so wrong?


    ¡°Relax, Gluttony hasn¡¯t betrayed you,¡± Lolita practically growled, her perfect face twisted in a grimace. ¡°The useless lump actually helped a human¡­ He¡¯s nothing but a basement-dwelling rat, feasting on scraps¡­¡±


    Lost in her rant, she didn¡¯t notice Yu Xiao had already edged back around the corner and was now legging it down another corridor.


    She ran until her lungs burned and her legs screamed for mercy. No good. There was another figure blocking her path.


    Gu Shu. Immaculately dressed, utterly expressionless, he might as well have been a statue. Except statues didn¡¯t stroll towards you with such casual menace.


    Yu Xiao didn¡¯t hesitate. She spun on her heel and sprinted back the way she came, Lolita¡¯s tinkling laughter echoing after her. ¡°Oh, this is just too good! You should see your face!¡±


    ¡°Psycho,¡± she muttered under her breath.


    ¡°Such language!¡± Lolita¡¯s heels clicked a staccato rhythm against the stone floor. ¡°Not ladylike at all.¡±


    Running was futile. She needed a plan, and fast. Props, maybe? But their effects were limited, and she¡¯d have to wait for the perfect moment.


    Leaning against the wall, feigning nonchalance, she bought herself some time. ¡°So, how did you figure out Gluttony was a double agent?¡±


    ¡°Please,¡± Lolita scoffed. ¡°He never even showed up to this little party. Obviously, he¡¯d already made other arrangements. Pathetic, really.¡±


    Yu Xiao cursed her past self for not convincing Gluttony to play along. Then again, knowing him, he probably would have just eaten the script.


    ¡°Once we realised he was a no-show, everything else became clear,¡± Lolita continued, her voice smug. ¡°And then we saw what you brought with you¡­ such powerful allies.¡± She patted her chest theatrically. ¡°I almost abandoned the whole mission, I was that terrified.¡±


    The unspoken implication hung in the air: they¡¯d found a way to divide and conquer.


    Right, so Yu Xiao was well and truly stuck. Clues ¨C or rather, the lack of any that didn¡¯t lead straight to that infuriating Master Zhang ¨C meant she was heading right into the lion¡¯s den. Or, more accurately, the temple¡¯s illusion. Once that door creaked open, they were all going in, whether they liked it or not.


    And it wasn¡¯t like she¡¯d been a complete idiot this time. Oh no, she¡¯d wangled herself a team of experts, even dragged Nightmare along for good measure. Never before had she ventured into an instance with backup, yet here she was, about to be served up as the main course in some creepy illusion buffet. The irony was almost as painful as the impending doom.


    Lolita was getting closer, her little-girl act sending chills down Yu Xiao¡¯s spine. Time for Plan B ¨C throw a card at it and hope for the best. With a flick of her wrist, a black card sailed through the air.


    Lolita froze, her face a picture of adorable confusion. For a moment, Yu Xiao dared to hope.


    ¡°Thank goodness for hoarding utility cards,¡± she thought, letting out a breath she hadn¡¯t realised she¡¯d been holding.


    ¡°I really like you,¡± Lolita murmured, taking a hesitant step closer. Her hand reached out, and for a second, it almost seemed genuine.


    ¡°If you like me,¡± Yu Xiao ventured, her voice carefully neutral, ¡°will you take me to my friends?¡±


    ¡°Okay¡­¡± Lolita¡¯s hand shot forward, but not in the way Yu Xiao had hoped. Instead, it clamped around her throat, cutting off her words and any hope she had left.


    ¡°!!¡± Yu Xiao choked, her eyes widening in alarm.


    ¡°Hmph!¡± The sweetness vanished from Lolita¡¯s face, replaced by a chilling smirk. ¡°Did you think we wouldn¡¯t anticipate your little tricks? We¡¯ve been a step ahead the whole time, darling.¡±


    Yu Xiao rolled her eyes ¨C a feat considering the situation.


    Suddenly, Gu Shu materialised behind them. Lolita cackled. ¡°Hands off. Brain snacks for me! Don¡¯t even think about stealing her. She¡¯s mine!¡±


    Gu Shu¡¯s gaze landed on Yu Xiao, dangling like a ragdoll from Lolita¡¯s grasp. He remembered, vividly, the way she¡¯d toyed with him, turning him into a laughingstock within the hospital walls. The phantom ache flared in his shoulder, where the bite mark lingered ¨C a scar he refused to erase, a constant reminder of his humiliation.


    A forced bloody cough erupted from Yu Xiao ¨C not from asphyxiation, but the poison already working its way through her veins.


    she wheezed.


    ¡°Such sweet music,¡± Gu Shu sneered, his voice dripping with sarcasm as Lolita relished Yu Xiao¡¯s strangled pleas. ¡°Begging for mercy, is she?¡±


    ¡°Kill me¡­ ¡­¡± Yu Xiao rasped, fighting for air. ¡°You fools! Do you even know who you¡¯re messing with?¡±


    Lolita¡¯s grin faltered momentarily. But before she could speak, Gu Shu urged, ¡°Don¡¯t fall for it, it¡¯s a trick! End her now. You get all the flesh ¨C I wouldn¡¯t dream of competing.¡±


    ¡°Gu Shu!¡± Yu Xiao lashed out with a desperate kick, her words garbled. ¡°You¡­ you¡­!¡±


    Lolita, torn between Gu Shu¡¯s logic and her sadistic glee, hesitated. ¡°But I want to make her suffer before she dies.¡±


    ¡°Then yank her tongue out first!¡± Gu Shu urged, relish lacing his tone.


    ¡°Good idea,¡± Lolita agreed, raising a hand towards Yu Xiao.


    ¡°Hold on!¡± Yu Xiao choked out. ¡°You can¡¯t touch me! I¡¯m the chosen successor ¨C handpicked by the Director himself! If you kill me, you¡¯re toast!¡±


    The ghosts exchanged a confused glance. ¡°Seriously?¡± Lolita asked, scepticism dripping from her voice.


    ¡°Obviously lies,¡± Gu Shu scoffed.


    Yu Xiao¡¯s eyes widened in panic. ¡°Look, if you don¡¯t believe me, call the Director! He¡¯ll confirm it!¡±


    ¡°Do you think we¡¯re complete buffoons?¡± Gu Shu roared. ¡°Calling him would be like confessing our crimes!¡±


    ¡°But¡­¡± Yu Xiao stammered, her mind reeling from their twisted logic.


    ¡°Ridiculous lie,¡± Gu Shu cut in, his voice cold. ¡°The Director¡¯s kicking. Why would he need a successor?¡±


    ¡°Maybe he wants a break from the whole ¡®running-a-horror-hospital¡¯ gig?¡± Yu Xiao wheezed, struggling to form words. ¡°He finally found the perfect successor, me! If I die, you¡¯re both royally screwed!¡±


    Lolita¡¯s hand hovered, indecision painting her face.


    ¡°Hmm,¡± she mumbled to Gu Shu, ¡°Maybe you were right about pulling out her tongue earlier.¡±


    Gu Shu bristled. Always getting bitten in the metaphorical arse by her tongue.


    He raised a hand. ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll do it.¡±


    Lolita paused, eyeing Yu Xiao sceptically. ¡°Hold on. How do we know you¡¯re not just spouting nonsense? Can you prove it without calling the Director?¡±


    Yu Xiao, gasping for air, quickly formulated a plan. ¡°The Director¡¯s three-headed dog¡­ I know its name!¡±


    Lolita blinked. ¡°The has a name?¡±


    Gu Shu scoffed. ¡°Apparently so, but it¡¯s a mystery to everyone.¡±


    ¡°Goldie,¡± Yu Xiao blurted. ¡°I heard the Director call it himself. Want to verify it casually? Go ahead.¡±


    The ghosts were now thoroughly tangled. Checking with the Director was a suicide mission, but would the dog be any different?


    ¡°Just kill her then,¡± Gu Shu grumbled. ¡°The Director won¡¯t know it¡¯s us anyway.¡±


    Lolita faltered.


    ¡°He¡¯ll find out!¡± Yu Xiao wheezed, a desperate edge to her voice. ¡°My friends know what you¡¯re up to. If I die, they¡¯ll spill the beans. Don¡¯t even think about silencing them ¨C they¡¯re a force to be reckoned with.¡±


    A predicament. Killing was off the table, but letting her go was a bitter pill to swallow. Gu Shu¡¯s dejection threatened to engulf him again. Lolita felt deflated ¨C the perfect opportunity, snatched away.


    Gu Shu, resigned to the worst ¨C maybe just a reprimand ¨C lunged for Yu Xiao. But before his touch could connect, Lolita whipped Yu Xiao away.


    ¡°Woah there, what are you doing?¡± she demanded.


    Crimson rage flooded Gu Shu¡¯s eyes. ¡°Kill her!¡± he roared.


    Lolita, unflinching, met his gaze. ¡°Absolutely not!¡±


    With a menacing snarl, Gu Shu, this top-tier ghost, lunged at Lolita. But she stood firm, ready to fight back. After a tense standoff, Lolita relented, shoving Yu Xiao towards Gu Shu with a dramatic toss.


    Gu Shu instinctively caught her.


    Both Yu Xiao and Gu Shu stared at each other, bewildered.


    Lolita crossed her arms, a haughty smirk playing on her lips. ¡°Fine,¡± she conceded. ¡°I won¡¯t be the one to do it. But if someone¡¯s taking her out, it¡¯s you.¡±


    Gu Shu fell silent, the weight of the decision hanging heavy.


    Yu Xiao, cradled precariously in his arm, cautiously ventured, ¡°Or¡­ maybe nobody kills anybody?¡±


    Gu Shu shot Lolita with a withering glare. ¡°Don¡¯t be ridiculous! We do it together.¡±


    Lolita shook her head, backing away. ¡°No thanks, I¡¯m out.¡±


    Despite both wanting Yu Xiao dead, neither seemed keen on getting their spectral hands dirty. After a moment of bickering, Gu Shu hatched a plan.


    ¡°Let George do the dirty work,¡± he declared.


    Lolita scoffed. ¡°Don¡¯t be daft. George isn¡¯t stupid enough to risk the Director¡¯s wrath.¡±


    Gu Shu¡¯s crimson gaze flickered down to Yu Xiao, now wide-eyed with terror. ¡°We can silence her, then hand her over to George,¡± he mused. ¡°He¡¯ll never know the truth.¡±


    Yu Xiao:

 Chapter 161: What Are You Writing?

    ¡°Stop! Stop! Stop!¡± Yu Xiao¡¯s panicked pleas echoed through the chamber. One hand clamped over her mouth, the other flailing wildly. ¡°Please! No tongue-ripping! It¡¯s too painful¡­¡±


    Lolita raised a sceptical eyebrow. ¡°Look at her sweat. Genuine terror.¡±


    Gu Shu¡¯s grin twisted into a sadistic leer. Excitement flickered in his eyes as he reached for Yu Xiao.


    ¡°Hold it!¡± Yu Xiao lunged, grabbing the doctor¡¯s hand with desperate strength. ¡°There are plenty of ways to keep someone quiet, right? Why the tongue? Messy and barbaric!¡±


    Lolita licked her lips with a predatory glint. ¡°The tongue is the sweetest morsel. Your screams will add spice.¡±


    Yu Xiao was at her wit¡¯s end. ¡°Alright, alright! Let¡¯s talk this out. What do I need to do to keep my tongue intact?¡±


    Gu Shu didn¡¯t waste words. He flung Yu Xiao like a ragdoll into Lolita¡¯s waiting arms. The doctor clamped Yu Xiao¡¯s jaw open, one hand inching closer to its prize.


    Just as it seemed all hope was lost, Yu Xiao blurted, ¡°I¡¯ll trade you the Director¡¯s secret!¡±


    The room fell silent. The doctor¡¯s hand hung suspended mere inches from Yu Xiao¡¯s face.


    A flicker of interest sparked in Lolita¡¯s eyes. ¡°Secret?¡±


    Yu Xiao, seizing the chance, continued, breathlessly, ¡°Have you ever wondered about this place? Its origin? How you¡­ well, how you came to be?¡±


    Of course, they hadn¡¯t. These doctors, born into the twisted existence of the hospital, had never pondered their own creation. Flesh and suffering were their world; history held little interest.


    ¡°Exactly,¡± Yu Xiao pressed on, staring defiantly at the two. ¡°Don¡¯t you want to know? I¡¯ll tell you everything, just¡­ please, don¡¯t hurt me. Don¡¯t pull out my tongue¡­ Oh, no, don¡¯t harm my body, and I¡¯ll tell you.¡±


    Lolita exchanged a glance with Gu Shu. A silent conversation passed between them, ending in a begrudging nod from the ghosts.


    ¡°Alright,¡± Lolita conceded. The act of a ripped-out tongue, however pleasant, paled in comparison to the secrets of their own existence.


    ¡°You were all once among the living,¡± Yu Xiao declared, with a touch of desperate bravado in her voice.


    Silence greeted her words.


    Gu Shu, ever impatient, began to raise his hand again.


    ¡°Hold on!¡± Yu Xiao squeaked. ¡°I¡¯m not finished! What good does silencing me do? No one¡¯s coming to rescue me anyway.¡±


    Lolita, perched on the edge of a rusty gurney, fixed a chilling stare on Gu Shu. ¡°Let her speak. It¡¯s not like it¡¯ll change anything.¡±


    Despair gnawed at Yu Xiao¡¯s hope, but she pressed on. She recounted the story of the attending doctor¡¯s birth as the hospital director had told it to her¡ªa tale she couldn¡¯t verify but felt an unsettling ring of truth. From there, she wove a narrative, equal parts fact and frantic improvisation.


    ¡°Every staff member here,¡± she continued, her voice gaining a thread of confidence, ¡°is a vessel overflowing with ghosts. You, attending doctors, all of them. They were once alive, just like you. But as the yin energy inside them grew, whether through death or some other tipping point, they transformed. The ghosts within battled for control, and the winner¡­well, that¡¯s who you see now.¡± S§×arch* The ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    She pointed a trembling finger at Gu Shu. ¡°And the person they once were? That echo of a soul? It¡¯s still trapped inside, a prisoner in its own body.¡±


    The weight of her words hung heavy in the air, stifling any sound Gu Shu and Lolita might have made.


    Truth be told, Yu Xiao had stitched this theory together from scraps of information and educated guesses. She suspected it was close to the mark, but the whole concept of the ¡°domain¡± surrounding the attending doctors? That remained a frustratingly hazy concept, a missing piece of the puzzle. The birth of ordinary ghosts she understood, but these doctors¡­they were different.


    Seeing the dazed expressions on her captors¡¯ faces, Yu Xiao fished a small notebook from her pocket. She ripped out a page and, with a slightly shaky hand, began scribbling furiously. Just as quickly, the pen was snatched away.


    Yu Xiao looked up, tears welling in her eyes.


    Gu Shu stood before her, his expression unreadable. ¡°What are you writing?¡±


    ¡°A will,¡± she choked out. ¡°Is that¡­is that not allowed?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Gu Shu stated flatly.


    Lolita, her gaze sharp and curious, turned to Gu Shu. ¡°Is she telling the truth?¡±


    ¡°Doesn¡¯t matter,¡± Gu Shu dismissed her concerns with a curt wave.


    Lolita chewed her lip, seemingly grasping his logic. With a playful jiggle, she poked Yu Xiao¡¯s arm. ¡°So, no tongue removal, but how do we keep her quiet then?¡±


    Gu Shu raised his hand and gently placed it on her forehead. The touch sent a jolt of electricity through Yu Xiao, but he quickly withdrew his hand, feigning indifference. ¡°Looks like her frontal lobe is malfunctioning. She¡¯s become quite the simpleton now.¡±


    Yu Xiao¡¯s body contorted in a brief spasm before going limp in Lolita¡¯s grasp. Her previously defiant gaze turned vacant, her spirit seemingly replaced by a dull obedience.


    Lolita observed her for a moment, a flicker of doubt crossing her face. ¡°Isn¡¯t that¡­ harming her body?¡±


    Gu Shu¡¯s voice lacked warmth. ¡°I promised no tongue-ripping. I made no other promises.¡±


    **


    Dim candlelight danced across the corridor walls, casting mesmerising shadows. Nightmare stood face-to-face with a shadowy figure ¨C a young man in a crimson robe, holding a sceptre. The youth¡¯s constant smile formed a jarring contrast to Nightmare¡¯s stoic expression.


    The smile eventually faltered. The young man blinked, his voice rising in a sing-song tone. ¡°Ah, all wrapped up then?¡± He stepped aside with a flourish of his sceptre.


    Without hesitation, Nightmare darted forward, his form disappearing into the shadows.


    As the silhouette vanished, the young man in red hummed a cheerful tune, his footsteps light as he headed in the opposite direction.


    **


    Back in the ruins of Saint Elizabeth, George remained consumed by worry. He yearned to kill Yu Xiao, yet a nagging doubt gnawed at him. He vividly recalled her warning before the Glutton¡¯s attack. Without it, he would have been long gone, devoured by that monstrous entity.


    ¡°They won¡¯t succeed,¡± George muttered, slumping in the corner.


    A strange feeling settled in his gut ¨C an intuition. As long as he stayed within Saint Elizabeth¡¯s walls, refraining from venturing out, he surely couldn¡¯t be considered an accomplice, right?


    A pebble pinged off George¡¯s head, jolting him out of his worried thoughts. He spun around to see a hand beckoning from behind a crumbling mound of dirt. Intrigued, George cautiously approached.


    There, peering over the mound, were Gu Shu and Lolita. Yu Xiao slumped on the dusty ground between them.


    For a moment, words failed him.


    ¡°Hush,¡± Lolita hissed, barely audible. ¡°Gluttony has betrayed us. Don¡¯t blow our cover.¡±


    George¡¯s eyes darted back to Yu Xiao, who seemed completely out of it. She sat slouched against Gu Shu, unable to support herself.


    ¡°She¡­¡± George managed to say, gesturing towards Yu Xiao.


    ¡°We caught her,¡± Lolita declared, grinning triumphantly. ¡°We were going to finish her off right away, but then we remembered who she had wronged the most. So, here she is ¨C your personal revenge dish.¡±


    George stayed silent, his expression unreadable.


    Lolita nudged Gu Shu, mischief sparkling in her eyes. ¡°Isn¡¯t he thrilled? Can¡¯t even find the words!¡±


    ¡°Let him savour the moment,¡± Gu Shu replied dismissively. ¡°Come on, let¡¯s get out of here.¡±


    After giving George one last pat on the shoulder, Lolita leaned in and whispered, ¡°We¡¯ve already roughed her up quite a bit. The rest is up to you.¡±


    The ghosts disappeared, leaving George alone with the incapacitated Yu Xiao. He studied her, taking in the remnants of his once most-hated enemy. It was unsettling to see her reduced to such a helpless state.


    ¡°Hey, you,¡± George rasped, leaning in close to the vacant-eyed Yu Xiao. ¡°This is it, you know? You¡¯re going to die.¡±


    Yu Xiao, slumped on the ground like a discarded ragdoll, offered no response.


    A knot of conflicting emotions twisted in George¡¯s gut. Hesitantly, he reached out, his hand hovering over her neck.


    He squeezed lightly, but still there was nothing. As he increased the pressure, he noticed a flicker of awareness in her eyes. Her hands flew up, clawing weakly at his grip.


    Her pathetic struggle was laughable, but George noticed something odd. One hand clutched something tightly.


    Curiosity, warring with a strange sense of unease, prompted him to release her and pry open her fist.


    Inside, he found a crumpled piece of paper, barely recognizable. Despite the brutal torture from Gu Shu and Lolita, Yu Xiao had held onto this scrap with a white-knuckled grip.


    Carefully, George smoothed it out, revealing a few crudely scrawled words.


    ¡¾If George dares to kill me, he¡¯s finished!¡¿


    George stared, a jumble of emotions swirling in his head. An oppressive feeling, a familiar weight of being threatened, settled upon him. But strangely, it wasn¡¯t entirely unpleasant.


    It was a typical Yu Xiao¡¯s threat, of course. But also, this note was dripping with hidden intentions.


    Firstly, Yu Xiao was well aware that her death was plotted to be done by him. Lolita mentioned that they had initially planned to execute her right away. However, because of his personal grudge against Lolita, they decided to give him the satisfaction of seeking revenge. But why did Yu Xiao have this knowledge if the decision was made spontaneously?


    Secondly, George couldn¡¯t bring himself to trust those ghosts for even a second. Since when did those attending doctors actually care about his wishes? They despised Yu Xiao and yet, they didn¡¯t deliver the final blow?


    Understanding dawned on George as he lowered his hand, leaving Yu Xiao gasping for air.


    Then, a flash of yellow caught his eye ¨C a crumpled talisman peeking out of her pocket. He carefully retrieved it, recognizing it as a Healing Crisis Talisman.


    Meanwhile, Gu Shu and Lolita appeared back at the construction site. Gluttony, who was busy hauling bricks, was surprised by their swift return.


    According to his plan, after informing Yu Xiao about the Avengers¡¯ plan, she should have been prepared early, and as a result, Gu Shu and Lolita probably wouldn¡¯t have been able to return.


    ¡°Why are you back so soon?¡± Gluttony questioned, suspicion evident in his voice.


    Lolita glared at him. ¡°Hmph! Don¡¯t play dumb, you mutt.¡±


    ¡°So the plan work?¡±


    ¡°Of course,¡± Lolita boasted, puffing out her chest and wearing a smug smile. ¡°That wretched human is no more. She died begging and whimpering, a truly glorious demise.¡±


    Just then, George appeared, his expression unreadable. Gu Shu and Lolita exchanged a hopeful glance.


    George adjusted his glasses, a sly smile creeping across his face. Misinterpreting this as a sign of success, Lolita burst into a gleeful dance.


    ¡°She¡¯s dead! Dead, dead, dead! Looks like I outsmarted you both! My vengeance is complete!¡± she cackled, bouncing around Gu Shu.


    **


    Meanwhile, Nightmare arrived at the scene of Yu Xiao¡¯s abduction ¨C but it was too late. There was no trace of her remaining.


    Nightmare stood with bowed head, the spot where Yu Xiao vanished illuminated by flickering candlelight. His shadow, thin and frail, stretched across the floor. One by one, the candles began to sputter and die, their light retreating like a tide until only darkness remained.


    As Nightmare disappeared, the temple shuddered, the very foundations groaning in protest. Dust rained down from the ceiling as cracks spiderwebbed across the walls.


    **


    Zhao Lan jolted awake, disoriented and unsure if she was still trapped in some feverish dream. The ground lurched beneath her, the sickening sensation of freefall sending her scrambling for purchase. Reality, unfortunately, was far worse than any nightmare.


    The entire world seemed to be tearing itself apart. Deafening crashes echoed around her, punctuated by the terrifying screech of stone grinding against stone. Dust filled her lungs, choking her. This wasn¡¯t just an earthquake; the whole bloody temple was collapsing!


    Scrambling to her feet, she desperately searched for her companions. ¡°Smiley! Precious!¡±


    ¡°¡ªMisty!¡±


    Relief flooded through her as she spotted Zhou Xiao Zhen rushing towards her, clutching her head. ¡°Precious!¡±


    Grabbing her hand, Zhao Lan dragged her towards the exit. ¡°Where¡¯s Smiley?¡±


    ¡°Haven¡¯t seen her!¡± Xiao Zhen choked out, coughing as they crawled through the dust and debris.


    They burst out into the night, met by a wave of panicked people from the Second Hospital.


    ¡°Have you seen Yu Xiao?¡± Zhao Lan yelled over the cacophony.


    ¡°No!¡± one shouted back. ¡°Yu Qing Lang¡¯s gone looking for her!¡±


    A terrifying groan echoed behind them as another chunk of the temple crumbled, burying countless souls beneath its weight. Around them, worshippers screamed and clawed their way through the chaos.


    Suddenly, a flash of white caught Zhao Lan¡¯s eye. Yu Xiao, still in her doctor¡¯s coat, stumbled out of a collapsing doorway, narrowly avoiding a falling stone that would have crushed her like an insect.


    She pressed herself against the crumbling wall, her heart hammering against her ribs. What in the bloody hell was happening? How long had she been gone for the plot to suddenly shift to a catastrophic earthquake?


    Dodging falling debris, she sprinted through the collapsing temple, screaming, ¡°Nightmare! Where are you, you useless lump of darkness?!¡±


    As if in response, the entire front of the temple imploded, sending a torrent of stone and dust crashing down on her.


    ¡°Oh, bugger,¡± Yu Xiao breathed, bracing herself for the inevitable.


    Suddenly, Nightmare materialised in front of her, a dark silhouette amidst the chaos. He grabbed her, pulling her close as the world exploded around them.


    Stone crashed against stone, burying them alive. He didn¡¯t flinch, didn¡¯t even seem to breathe, just stood there, arms outstretched, a human shield against the falling debris.


    Yu Xiao huddled in the tiny space beneath his protective embrace, coughing on dust and wondering if she had inhaled a lung.


    ¡°What the hell is happening?!¡± she shrieked.


    His voice, muffled by the stone and a healthy dose of resentment, was barely audible. ¡°I thought you were dead.¡±


    ¡°What?!¡±


    ¡°I thought you were dead!¡±


    ¡°Speak up, you oversized bat!¡±


    It was useless. The roar of the collapsing temple drowned out everything. Grabbing his collar, Yu Xiao screamed in his ear, ¡°Cat! Now!¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t¡­¡±


    ¡°Cat!¡±


    With a long-suffering sigh, Nightmare transformed into a small, fluffy cat. The mountain of rubble above them shuddered, then collapsed inwards.


    Yu Xiao scooped him up, fur clinging to her dust-covered coat. In an instant, they disappeared.


    They reappeared beside a pile of bricks, the familiar sight of Saint Elizabeth¡¯s Hospital looming before them.


    Setting Nightmare down, she pressed a finger to her lips. ¡°Shh¡­ listen up. Change of plans. They¡¯re onto us. Almost walked right into their trap.¡±


    She nodded towards the construction site where Gu Shu and Lolita were diligently (and suspiciously so) clearing the rubble. ¡°Here¡¯s what we¡¯re going to do¡­¡±

 Chapter 162: We Living Folk Have This Charming Little Virtue Called Forgiveness

    ¡°George,¡± Lolita drawled, a hint of envy lacing her voice, ¡°how does ¡®Deaf Descendant¡±s tongue taste? Divine, I¡¯d wager.¡±


    Gluttony¡¯s face briefly contorted with avarice at the question, his gaze fixed on George, hungry for even the slightest hint of satisfaction. Even Gu Shu paused, ears pricked with morbid curiosity.


    A smile stretched across George¡¯s face, devoid of any culinary delight, only a chilling mockery. Leaning against a crumbling wall, he adjusted his gold-rimmed glasses with a disdainful flick of his middle finger.


    Pity gleamed in his eyes.


    Qing Shi, who had been quietly minding his own business in his wheelchair, frowned. Something wasn¡¯t right.


    ¡°Hold on,¡± he interjected, ¡°are we all certain he actually killed ¡®Deaf Descendant¡¯?¡±


    A heavy silence descended. Lolita¡¯s face went pale, the realisation hitting her like a ghostly slap. She looked at George as if he had never mentioned killing the unfortunate ¡®Descendant¡¯ at all.


    He allowed himself a small, cruel smirk. Even a disgraced attending doctor held more sway than¡­ well, nothing at all. His gaze swept over Lolita and Gu Shu, silencing them with his look.


    The sharp ring of approaching footsteps cut through the tension.


    Qing Shi and Gluttony turned first, watching as a figure emerged from behind a low mound. It was Yu Xiao, dressed in her pristine white coat, an disarmingly warm smile gracing her lips.


    ¡°Well, this is a surprise. How lovely to see you all again.¡±


    Gluttony¡¯s smirk widened, promising not just a show, but a particularly delicious dose of schadenfreude.


    Qing Shi¡¯s gaze flicked between the assembled ghosts before he silently rolled aside, leaving centre stage to the unfolding drama. George remained impassive, while Lolita and Gu Shu wore expressions of dawning horror.


    Lolita finally tore her gaze from Yu Xiao, rounding on George. ¡°You treacherous bastard!¡±


    With an elegant sweep of his hand, George smoothed back his hair, the picture of aristocratic disdain. ¡°Better a traitor than a scapegoat, wouldn¡¯t you say?¡±


    Gu Shu¡¯s thin lips tightened. He stared at Yu Xiao, murderous intent simmering. Even the director¡¯s wrath seemed like a fair price to pay for silencing the woman before him.


    ¡°Now, now, everyone, let¡¯s not be hasty,¡± chirped Yu Xiao, as if she were merely an innocent bystander caught in a mild disagreement. ¡°We¡¯re all colleagues here. Surely we can be civilised?¡±


    All eyes turned to her as she gestured to her pristine white coat. ¡°I¡¯m hospital staff too, you know. Why all the animosity?¡±


    Her gaze landed on Gu Shu just as his eyes flickered red. Unfazed, she continued, ¡°I could have reported your little¡­activities¡­to the director, but I haven¡¯t. Think about it ¨C would you still be attending doctors if he knew the truth?¡±


    Gluttony frowned. Something didn¡¯t add up. ¡°You¡¯re letting them off the hook?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m a living person,¡± Yu Xiao said simply, as if that explained everything. ¡°We living folk have this charming little virtue called forgiveness. What happened¡­well, it wasn¡¯t entirely my fault¡­¡±


    Gu Shu¡¯s eye twitched.


    ¡°¡­But,¡± she added quickly, ¡°I¡¯ll accept my share of the blame. So, how about it? Let¡¯s bury the hatchet here and now. Friends?¡±


    Lolita and Gu Shu exchanged bewildered looks. Living people were truly bonkers. Forgiveness? After everything?


    Still¡­this could work to their advantage. If Yu Xiao ratted them out to the director, they¡¯d be scrubbing bedpans for eternity.


    Lolita clasped her hands together and gave a saccharine smile. ¡°What a splendid idea! We¡¯d love to be friends.¡±


    Yu Xiao turned her hopeful gaze to Gu Shu.


    He hesitated. ¡°Um¡­¡±


    ¡°Um?¡± Yu Xiao¡¯s brow furrowed. ¡°Is that a yes or a no?¡±


    Gu Shu sighed. ¡°¡­Yes.¡±


    ¡°Are you sure?¡± Yu Xiao peered at him. ¡°You don¡¯t look very happy about it. Where¡¯s the smile?¡±


    Gu Shu forced a smile, the expression as convincing as a ghoul at a picnic.


    ¡°But surely you can¡¯t just forget the pain I went through,¡± Yu Xiao pressed, her voice trembling with fake anguish. ¡°Even if I can forgive you, can your conscience truly forgive yourselves?¡±


    Lolita and Gu Shu exchanged glances. Conscience? What conscience?


    ¡°Nevertheless,¡± Yu Xiao continued, ever the martyr, ¡°I am willing to give you a chance to redeem yourselves. Tell me, what do you really know about this¡­ instance of mine?¡±


    **


    Outside the destroyed temple, six figures navigated through the rubble. Zhao Lan dialled Yu Xiao¡¯s number, her heart pounding.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, the user you are calling is out of the service area¡­¡±


    The call failed to connect, but a wave of relief washed over Zhao Lan nevertheless. ¡°Out of the service area¡± was much better than ¡°switched off.¡± If Smiley¡¯s signal was dead, it meant she wasn¡¯t trapped in this forsaken situation. When the temple collapsed, she must have used the lab coat to escape to Saint Elizabeth.


    And Nightmare was safely tucked away in Smiley¡¯s backpack. They were probably both fine.


    ¡°Any luck?¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen asked softly.


    ¡°Smiley isn¡¯t here,¡± Zhao Lan murmured back.


    ¡°Someone is coming out!¡± Wang Dong Dong suddenly exclaimed.


    A stone shifted in the rubble ahead, and Yu Qing Lang¡¯s dusty face emerged. ¡°Is Yu Xiao okay? Did she make it out?¡±


    ¡°No sign of her,¡± Wang Dong Dong replied, hurrying forward to lend a hand.


    As Yu Qing Lang climbed free, another section of debris shifted, revealing a dishevelled Tang Xing Yin. His Daoist robes were torn, his hair escaping its usually impeccable bun. He looked like he had wrestled a rabid sheepdog.


    He surveyed the scene, his brow furrowed with concern.


    ¡°I think she¡¯s safe,¡± Zhao Lan said, walking over to help Tang Xing Yin out of the rubble, with Zhou Xiao Zhen by her side.


    Yu Qing Lang rubbed her dusty face with her sleeve, muttering to herself, ¡°Nightmare has been with her the whole time. She¡¯s probably alright.¡±


    Zhao Lan nodded, her mind returning to the illusion that had trapped her. Even after realising it was a trick, nothing she had tried had worked. But Yu Xiao had Nightmare. With that much power at her disposal, she was probably lounging on a beach, sipping cocktails.


    She frowned as she looked at the crumbled temple. Was this Yu Xiao¡¯s doing? So many unanswered questions remained. If Smiley had escaped the illusion, she would have sought them out immediately. Something must have happened. Something big enough to cause the entire place to collapse.


    ¡°If she¡¯s alright, where is she?¡± Wang Dong Dong wondered aloud. ¡°What do we do now?¡±


    ¡°We wait,¡± Zhao Lan said firmly. ¡°Or we wait and try to make progress with the task at hand.¡±


    None of them were thrilled about just sitting around, but they seemed to have reached a dead end. They were here to find Immortal Zhang, but where could he be now?


    ¡°No need to panic,¡± Yu Qing Lang reassured them. ¡°This place isn¡¯t exactly huge. Master Zhang couldn¡¯t have vanished into thin air.¡±


    Wang Dong Dong nodded slowly. ¡°Maybe we should split up and search?¡±


    The others agreed. Tang Xing Yin signalled for Zhao Lan and Zhou Xiao Zhen to accompany him. ¡°You two come with me.¡±


    Zhao Lan understood his concern. She and Zhou Xiao Zhen weren¡¯t exactly the strongest members of the group. Tang Xing Yin obviously didn¡¯t want them wandering around unsupervised.


    They split into pairs and began exploring the ruins. As Zhao Lan walked, a thought struck her. They hadn¡¯t been entirely wrong in their approach. Every clue they had found pointed to Immortal Zhang. Find him, get him to talk, and the mystery of the scenario would unravel. They had the strength to handle any ghost or rogue doctor that came their way. Immortal Zhang was the key. Even if he refused to cooperate, they could persuade him.


    One way or another.


    She knew, though, that not everyone who entered these scenarios possessed the unique blend of skills and sheer determination that her team had.


    No challenge was truly insurmountable. So, besides trying to find Master Zhang to reveal the truth, there had to be another way to solve this scenario.


    Zhao Lan pondered over the roles they had been assigned. If it was simply a matter of poisoning, why bother with different identities? Why not make them all the same?


    As she looked up, Zhou Xiao Zhen suddenly exclaimed, ¡°I¡¯ve got it!¡±


    Tang Xing Yin and Zhao Lan turned to her, waiting expectantly. She gave them a serious look. ¡°I know how to find Master Zhang.¡±


    ¡°Tell us!¡± Zhao Lan urged.


    ¡°The people at the temple,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen said, her eyes shining, ¡°they kept saying the same thing. Only the most devout followers get to meet Master Zhang.¡±


    She bounced on the balls of her feet, her excitement bubbling over. ¡°So all we have to do is become the most devout followers! Then we can see him!¡±


    Tang Xing Yin turned his head away, pretending to be fascinated by the passing clouds.


    Zhao Lan¡¯s expression was a masterpiece of forced enthusiasm. ¡°You¡¯re on the right track,¡± she said encouragingly, ¡°but it¡¯s not exactly practical, is it? Can you imagine any of us becoming devout followers? We don¡¯t even know which deity this place worships.¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s enthusiasm deflated. ¡°So, are we back to blindly searching?¡±


    Zhao Lan thought for a moment. ¡°Do you know the specifics of your role in this scenario?¡±


    ¡°How could I?¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen retorted. ¡°I was being chased two seconds after I arrived.¡±


    Zhao Lan looked at Tang Xing Yin. ¡°What about you?¡±


    He shook his head. Zhao Lan sighed and pointed ahead. ¡°Isn¡¯t that your Taoist temple up there?¡±


    Unlike the bustling temple, with worshippers constantly burning incense, theTaoist temple was deserted. Not a single person had entered all day. Without worshippers, there was no income, so the resident priests had resorted to growing their own vegetables just to survive. The place exuded a sense of quiet desperation.


    They crouched behind a massive stone near the entrance of the temple, listening intently to the conversation of two Daoist priests sweeping the courtyard.


    The shorter one sighed dramatically, leaning on his broom and nursing a bruise on his cheek. ¡°I can¡¯t take it anymore,¡± he grumbled. ¡°Vegetables, vegetables, every damn day! I¡¯m always starving. I should have gone with Liu Da Bao (Áõ´ó±¦) and become a gatekeeper at that shrine. They get all the good incense offerings there. I saw Da Bao the other day, dressed in a brand new black robe. He looked ten years younger.¡±


    The taller priest rolled his eyes. ¡°You think it¡¯s easy to get a job at the shrine? Still, it is strange. Da Bao was obsessed with becoming the temple master. Why the sudden change of heart?¡±


    ¡°Because he didn¡¯t stand a chance,¡± the shorter priest whispered. ¡°


    At the mention of his name, Zhao Lan and Zhou Xiao Zhen both glanced at Tang Xing Yin, who remained completely impassive, his gaze fixed on some distant point in space.


    They listened for a while longer, but the conversation didn¡¯t provide any further clues. ¡°Alright,¡± Zhao Lan announced, standing up and dusting herself off. ¡°Let¡¯s pay a visit to the Yu family. It¡¯s time to learn more about Smiley¡¯s backstory.¡±


    The oldest Yu daughter had run away after being poisoned, but despite the ominous implications, the family had sent people to look for her. Not that the search parties seemed particularly concerned about finding her.


    The servants of the Yu family they encountered were a lackadaisical bunch, wandering the nearly deserted streets, complaining about the heat one minute and discussing dinner plans the next.


    As they turned a corner, Tang Xing Yin suddenly lunged forward, grabbing one unfortunate servant by the collar and dragging him into a nearby alleyway. A hand clamped over the man¡¯s mouth silenced his yelp of surprise.


    The three of them hurried the terrified servant along until they reached a secluded spot. Tang Xing Yin released him, and Zhao Lan fixed him with a stern glare. ¡°Don¡¯t try anything stupid. Just answer our questions truthfully.¡±


    The servant nodded rapidly, his eyes wide with fear.


    ¡°Tell us about the oldest Yu daughter,¡± Zhao Lan demanded. ¡°And anything else interesting that has happened with the family recently.¡±


    Before the man could stammer out a response, Zhou Xiao Zhen grabbed his hand and twisted his fingers. ¡°Tell the truth,¡± she hissed. ¡°Or things will get much, much worse.¡±


    Tears welled up in the servant¡¯s eyes. He hadn¡¯t even had a chance to lie yet, and they were already torturing him!


    ¡°The eldest daughter? She was doing fine until recently,¡± the servant babbled. ¡°Today¡¯s the exception, you know, with the poisoning and everything¡­¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t pretend to be ignorant,¡± Zhao Lan snapped, recalling Yu Xiao¡¯s claim that her family despised her. ¡°Everyone in that family hates her.¡±


    ¡°Well, yes, but not the master,¡± the servant clarified, lowering his voice to a hurried whisper.  sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Zhao Lan raised an eyebrow. Was that really the reason? ¡°Is there anything else unusual happening with the Yu family?¡±


    ¡°Besides the eldest daughter getting poisoned?¡±


    ¡°Besides that,¡± Zhao Lan confirmed.


    ¡°Hmm¡­¡± The servant furrowed his brow, deep in thought. ¡°Well, the second youngest son decided to join the temple as a devotee the day before yesterday. Does that count?¡±


    ¡°Why would he do that?¡± Zhao Lan asked, intrigued.


    The servant helplessly shrugged. ¡°I have no idea.¡±


    ¡°And his family is okay with this?¡±


    ¡°Why wouldn¡¯t they be?¡± The servant suddenly puffed up with unexpected pride. ¡°Only the most devoted are chosen to serve at the temple. It¡¯s a tremendous honour to have a family member selected!¡±


    ¡­


    ¡°This is getting strange,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen muttered, watching the servant scurrying away. ¡°It¡¯s like someone close to each of us patients has suddenly become devout.¡±


    A look of understanding crossed Zhao Lan¡¯s face. ¡°Everyone wants to be a disciple, but only a few are chosen. And if you look at their backgrounds ¨C we have people ranging from a Daoist priest to¡­ well, to whatever we are. I noticed those devotees back at the temple were practically worshipping the floorboards, and yet they weren¡¯t devout enough. There must be something more to it. Some condition that needs to be fulfilled.¡±


    **


    ¡°I can tell you how to defeat this instance,¡± Gu Shu said, fixing Yu Xiao with an intense gaze. ¡°But seeking revenge? That might be more difficult.¡±


    ¡°Why?¡± Yu Xiao demanded. ¡°I just want to give Qu Lian and that red-clad ghost a taste of their own medicine. How hard can it be?¡±


    ¡°Harder than you imagine,¡± Lolita interjected, her emerald eyes showing a rare flicker of unease. ¡°Qu Lian is no problem, but the other one¡­¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s that powerful?¡± Yu Xiao asked, surprised.


    ¡°Oh, he¡¯s powerful,¡± Lolita confirmed, pouting. ¡°But that¡¯s not the half of it. If he doesn¡¯t want you to find him, you won¡¯t. End of story.¡±


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 Chapter 163: Jealousy Lives in the Hearts of Humans

    Zhao Lan, Zhou Xiao Zhen, and Tang Xing Yin delved deep, uncovering secrets of the villagers like chattering magpies. The mystery deepened with each whisper and rumour that was unearthed. The people looked to be connected to the temple by an invisible but unbreakable thread: almost everyone had a loved one trapped in its web of great devotion.


    They weren¡¯t your ordinary converts, however. The temple¡¯s appeal attracted men and women, sceptics and believers, cobblers and candlestick makers, regardless of social rank or prior convictions. They went from bargaining over cabbages to almost adoring the temple steps, chanting scriptures with a passion that bordered on insane.


    Crouched by the brook, Zhao Lan tried a different approach. A elderly woman scrubbed laundry beside her, humming a tuneless melody.


    ¡°Madam,¡± Zhao Lan began, ¡°that young lady who became a disciple, isn¡¯t she your neighbour?¡± Do you know how one can join their ranks?


    The woman stopped humming and gave Zhao Lan a withering look. ¡°If I knew that, love, do you think I would be spending my afternoon with a tub of dirty laundry?¡±


    Zhao Lan, temporarily defeated by the woman¡¯s immaculate logic, turned to her companions for help. Tang Xing Yin, on the other hand, was already halfway across the courtyard, his back showing disinterest.


    ¡°Alright, I¡¯ve got it,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen said, snapping her fingers.


    Zhao Lan grasped Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s arm and drew her closer to Tang Xing Yin, casting a watchful look at the still-irate laundry lady. ¡°Spill it then.¡±


    ¡°We might not be devoted believers,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen added, dropping her voice, ¡°but many others are. We just need to¡­ borrow one. Force them to tell how to meet with Master Zhang.¡±


    For the first time that afternoon, Tang Xing Yin appeared to be impressed. He nodded curtly at Zhou Xiao Zhen and hurried towards the temple.


    The formerly deserted courtyard was now bustling with survivors of the earlier mayhem. They swarmed like ants and sifted through the rubble. Up ahead, Yu Qing Lang and Wang Dong Dong sat beneath a tree, their expressions grave.


    Yu Qing Lang spotted them and extended a weary hand in greeting. Tang Xing Yin, as usual, disregarded her.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen, on the other hand, approached them enthusiastically, a big grin spreading across her face. ¡°Sister Qing Lang! What a coincidence.¡±


    ¡°Coincidence?¡± Yu Qing Lang repeated, her tone devoid of emotion. ¡°Is this fate¡¯s cruel joke? Please inform me that you have news, my dear. Useful news.¡±


    After a brief glance around, Zhou Xiao Zhen leaned in. She said, ¡°We¡¯re going to abduct a believer. Make them reveal how to reach Master Zhang.¡±


    The expressions on Yu Qing Lang and Wang Dong Dong¡¯s faces were not what Zhou Xiao Zhen had hoped for.


    ¡°What¡¯s the problem?¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen asked, squinting at them. ¡°You two look like you just swallowed a sour plum.¡±


    Wang Dong Dong¡¯s lips twitched. ¡°It¡¯s not that we disagree,¡± he said, ¡°it¡¯s just¡­ we had that brainwave hours ago. We interrogated the believers extensively.¡± He flung his arms wide. ¡°But it led us nowhere.¡±


    ¡°Nowhere?¡± Zhao Lan scoffed. ¡°How dramatic. Are they being stubborn? Maybe we need to use some function cards to persuade them?¡±


    ¡°They¡¯re practically begging to spill their guts,¡± Wang Dong Dong said, frustration creeping into his voice. ¡°The problem is, it¡¯s like their brains went on vacation.¡±


    ¡°Their brains are scrambled,¡± Yu Qing Lang interjected bluntly. ¡°When we ask them how they found this Immortal Zhang, they all parrot the same phrase.¡±


    ¡°And that is?¡± Zhao Lan asked, leaning in.


    Yu Qing Lang rolled her eyes and mockingly clasped her hands together. ¡°¡®The Immortal is omnipresent.¡¯¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen was shocked. ¡°Is this guy serious or did he steal his lines from a cheesy TV drama?¡±


    Yu Qing Lang sighed wearily and leaned against a tree root, absentmindedly picking at the grass. ¡°Yu Xiao dragged us here for a ghost-hunting adventure. Not only have we not encountered any ghosts, but we haven¡¯t even found a single useful clue.¡±


    ¡°I fought one,¡± Tang Xing Yin finally spoke up.


    The others stared at him.


    ¡°I fought Qu Lian.¡± His expression remained as blank as a sheet of paper.


    A moment of silence passed.


    ¡°Yes, well,¡± Yu Qing Lang sighed once more, ¡°it¡¯s precisely because you fought Qu Lian that most people haven¡¯t seen a single spectral whisker.¡±


    Zhao Lan watched as the followers meticulously cleared the temple ruins with their bare hands. Their faces were serene, undisturbed by the impracticality of their cumbersome robes or the sheer drudgery of the task. They moved with a quiet purpose, radiating an almost unnatural serenity, the epitome of devout believers.


    However, something felt off. Zhao Lan had seen true faith before. She wasn¡¯t religious herself, but her travels had exposed her to a multitude of beliefs, and she had encountered her fair share of genuine devotees.


    She recalled a trip to Mount Jiuhua with friends, where she had witnessed a Tibetan woman making the ascent from the foot of the mountain, prostrating herself every three steps. On the descent, Zhao Lan had spotted the woman again and, struck by her earlier devotion, lingered to observe. The woman, surely a paragon of piety, drank water, rested, and smiled. She didn¡¯t ignore those who spoke to her.


    These followers were different. They felt¡­ empty.


    Then again, this was an instance, not the real world. With a thoughtful frown, Zhao Lan headed towards the group.


    ¡°Where are you going?¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen called after her.


    Zhao Lan stopped beside one of the followers. ¡°I want to be as devout as you. How do I achieve that?¡±


    The follower¡¯s gaze, vacant and unfocused, settled on her. ¡°You resist our Lord. You are not one of his flock.¡±


    Resist? When had she resisted? She caught the follower¡¯s sleeve as he turned away. ¡°I don¡¯t resist. Tell me what to do.¡±


    He stared at her for a moment, then gestured towards the rubble of the collapsed temple. ¡°Go there. Look within. Find your true self.¡±


    Zhao Lan followed his direction. It was the same spot where the followers had been praying earlier. Stepping over the debris, she felt nothing out of the ordinary. She knelt down, mimicking their posture, and closed her eyes. Nothing. Then, the follower¡¯s words echoed in her mind: she had resisted.


    No resistance. Zhao Lan focused on relaxing her body, emptying her mind, letting go of all resistance¡­


    And then, fragmented images flashed before her eyes.


    A gasp escaped her lips.


    And then, there was only darkness.


    **


    The afternoon sun beat down on Zhao Lan as she arrived at the school gates, sandwiched between her mother and a whining younger brother.


    Seven-year-old Zhao Lan tugged at her mother¡¯s sleeve. ¡°Mum, this isn¡¯t right.¡±


    Her mother, struggling to open a sticky sweet in her brother¡¯s hand, frowned. ¡°What do you mean, wrong place? This is a school, isn¡¯t it?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s the wrong school,¡± Zhao Lan insisted, pulling on her mother¡¯s sleeve with the determination of a skilled lawyer presenting an airtight case. ¡°I¡¯m in Year One now! This is the kindergarten!¡±


    ¡°And what¡¯s so special about Year One?¡± her mother retorted, clearly not comprehending the significant shift in social status that accompanied moving from finger painting to actual numbers. ¡°Your brother is starting kindergarten this year. You can just stay back and look after him.¡±


    Tears welled up in Zhao Lan¡¯s eyes. Another year in kindergarten meant being separated from her friends, with whom she had made solemn promises of everlasting classroom camaraderie. But did anyone care about her emotional turmoil? No. Her mother was too preoccupied with making sure her brother didn¡¯t starve to death before even reaching the snack table, and her brother, naturally, was solely focused on the imminent sugar rush.


    ¡­


    Fast forward to secondary school, and Zhao Lan was essentially Hermione Granger, but without the unruly hair and questionable taste in boys. She excelled academically, ranking at the top of her class. However, she often found herself sitting in front of the school¡¯s most popular boy. While they rarely spoke, she couldn¡¯t help but dream.


    Then, one day, it happened. He turned around, a pink envelope clutched in his hand, and Zhao Lan¡¯s heart did a little tap dance. Adjusting her glasses, she leaned in, eager to hear whatever earth-shattering confession he was about to whisper.


    ¡°Could you pass this to the person behind you?¡± he asked, flashing a smile that could charm anyone (or at least get him out of detention for a week). ¡°As a thank you, I¡¯ll buy you a bottle of water.¡±


    Who needs a clich¨¦d love letter when you can have¡­ hydration?


    ¡­


    Years later, Zhao Lan, now a freshly minted graduate navigating the shark-infested waters of the working world, stumbled back to her tiny, overpriced rental flat, desperate for a hot bath and a solid eight hours of sleep (ha! who was she kidding? Five would do). But alas, fate, it seemed, had other plans. The water heater was broken.


    Predictably, her landlord proved to be as sympathetic as a cactus. ¡°Not my concern,¡± he practically sang through the telephone. ¡°Consider yourself lucky that I¡¯m not charging you for a replacement.¡±


    Defeated, Zhao Lan slumped onto her bed, which provided comfort akin to a pile of bricks concealed beneath a flimsy sheet.


    Just as she was on the verge of drifting into an agitated, dream-ridden slumber, her phone began to ring. Pulling herself back from the edge of unconsciousness, Zhao Lan forced a cheerful tone, determined to preserve the facade of having her life in order as she answered her mother¡¯s call.  S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    After exchanging the usual pleasantries, her mother nonchalantly delivered a bombshell. Could Zhao Lan spare some money? Her brother wanted to buy a house.


    **


    ¡°She¡¯s crying,¡± whispered Zhou Xiao Zhen, as she crouched beside the motionless figure of Zhao Lan. ¡°Should we wake her up?¡±


    Kneeling down and furrowing his brows, Tang Xing Yin closed his eyes. He focused, attempting to sense¡­something. Anything. Yet, there was nothing. Why couldn¡¯t he feel anything?


    ¡°Don¡¯t touch her just yet,¡± whispered Yu Qing Lang, her hand resting on Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s arm. ¡°We¡¯re so close. Don¡¯t jeopardise everything now.¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen sighed, her worried gaze fixed on the motionless figure of Zhao Lan.


    **


    At the age of twenty-eight, life had dealt Misty a harsh blow. Just as her career was taking off, cancer had struck her down, leaving her confined to a sterile hospital bed. The chemotherapy had taken a toll on her body, leaving her weak and bald. Her own mother, torn between her two children, could only manage fleeting visits between chores and cooking for Zhao Lan¡¯s perpetually unemployed brother.


    ¡°Why?¡± whispered Zhao Lan, her voice broken. ¡°Why me? I worked so hard, built everything from scratch. What good is my brother, all grown up yet incapable of holding down a job?¡±


    Her thoughts spiralled, a whirlwind of bitterness and despair. Why was her score in the instance so abysmal? Why was Yu Xiao, her supposed teammate, already nearing completion? Weren¡¯t they in this together? The sale of talismans was supposed to earn them equal points.


    It wasn¡¯t fair. Why did everyone else have it so easy, with good fortune on their side?


    Unbeknownst to Zhao Lan, a shadow materialised around her, whispering insidious suggestions. Kill Yu Xiao. Take her points. Escape this prison-like hospital, reclaim your life, your health, your future.


    Zhao Lan tried to resist, but the voice was relentless, a seductive melody in the darkness. Don¡¯t resist, it cooed. Don¡¯t resist¡­


    She vaguely remembered that she must not resist, must not resist¡­


    ¡­


    ¡°Does it hurt?¡±


    ¡°Do you feel resentment?¡±


    Zhao Lan¡¯s head snapped up. Before her stood a figure shrouded in red robes, holding a staff, his head bowed, his face a mask of sorrow.


    ¡°A mother¡¯s love, a family¡¯s support, a healthy body, freedom¡­all stolen from you by those who deserved it less.¡±


    Tears streamed down her face as she sobbed uncontrollably. ¡°What should I do?¡± she choked out, the shadows closing in.


    ¡°Get rid of the annoyences.¡±


    Zhao Lan recoiled. ¡°No¡­¡± It felt so wrong.


    The red-robed figure enveloped her in a gentle embrace, his voice a silky whisper. ¡°Don¡¯t be burdened by guilt. You¡¯ve already shown remarkable restraint. This is simply reclaiming what is rightfully yours. It¡¯s only fair¡­¡±


    **


    ¡°Jealousy,¡± Gluttony hissed, his eyes narrowed to slits. ¡°So, he has finally graced us with his presence.¡±


    ¡°Jealousy?¡± Yu Xiao echoed, bewildered. ¡°Like, a ghost?¡±


    Gu Shu shot Gluttony a withering look. ¡°Jealousy is exactly that ¨C jealousy. Just as Gluttony,¡± he emphasised pointedly, ¡°is gluttony.¡±


    Yu Xiao frowned, her mind racing. Ghosts were one thing, but this realm seemed to be teeming with other¡­ entities. Nightmare. Gluttony. And now, Jealousy.


    The Thunder Talisman hadn¡¯t worked on Nightmare, and he hadn¡¯t shown the slightest interest in devouring anyone. So, he clearly wasn¡¯t a ghost. Was Jealousy cut from the same cloth as Nightmare and Gluttony then?


    But they weren¡¯t invincible, were they? Nightmare had been wounded, and Gluttony¡­ well, he¡¯d gotten into that rather messy brawl with the doctors.


    ¡°Is he¡­ strong?¡± Yu Xiao gestured towards Gluttony. ¡°Stronger than, uh, him?¡±


    Gluttony bristled, about to unleash a scathing retort, but Gu Shu cut him off. ¡°Strength is irrelevant. The real challenge with Jealousy is finding him in the first place.¡±


    ¡°Why is that?¡± Yu Xiao asked, thoroughly confused.


    Lolita spoke for the first time, her voice chillingly calm. ¡°Because Jealousy lives in the hearts of humans.¡±


    *Cryptic*, Yu Xiao thought, but she got the gist. Another question popped into her mind. ¡°If that¡¯s the case, how did you find him?¡±


    ¡°We didn¡¯t,¡± Gu Shu replied flatly. ¡°We were looking for Qu Lian, not him.¡±


    ¡°Eh?¡± Yu Xiao exclaimed. ¡°Then why on earth is he helping you?¡±


    Gu Shu raised an eyebrow. ¡°And what exactly has he done to assist us?¡±


    Yu Xiao was overcome with anger. The attending doctor of the instance was unaware of Nightmare¡¯s constant presence ¨C he wasn¡¯t part of their plan. But Jealousy had stopped him, hadn¡¯t he? Did that mean he was actively choosing to support Gu Shu and the others?


    Rage simmered within her. *I haven¡¯t done anything to you, and yet you dare to meddle in my affairs?*


    The thought was unbearable. Letting this slide would be a slap in the face, not just to her, but to Gu Shu and Lolita as well.


    ¡°Is there truly no way to deal with him?¡± She fixed Gluttony with a furious glare. ¡°Is he stronger than you? Invincible, even?¡±


    Gluttony remained silent, though her barbs hit their mark. He couldn¡¯t help feeling jealousy twisting inside him. Why should Jealousy get to wander around freely, while he was stuck down here, forced to feast on decaying flesh?


    Jealousy had, it seemed, done his job well.


    ¡°If he won¡¯t reveal himself,¡± Gluttony finally ground out, his face filled with bitterness, ¡°can¡¯t you lure him out? Tempt him with something he desires.¡±


    Yu Xiao frowned. The problem was, she might not possess what he craved. ¡°And what does he need?¡±


    ¡°He sees himself as a god now, doesn¡¯t he?¡± Gluttony¡¯s lips formed a humourless smile. ¡°And what does a god desire more than anything? Worshippers, of course.¡±


    **


    Zhao Lan¡¯s eyes fluttered open, tears glistening in them.


    ¡°She¡¯s awake!¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen exclaimed, her voice filled with relief. ¡°Misty¡¯s awake!¡±


    ¡°How do you feel?¡± Yu Qing Lang asked, leaning closer, her gaze fixed on Zhao Lan. ¡°What happened?¡±


    Zhao Lan appeared disoriented for a moment, then took a shaky breath. Her hand trembled as she raised it, revealing an open palm.


    In her hand, there was a tiny glass bottle, seemingly empty. Zhou Xiao Zhen gently shook it, and the faint sound of water sloshing reached their ears.


    ¡°What is it?¡± she asked, frowning in confusion.


    ¡°Poison,¡± Zhao Lan whispered, her eyes fixed on the bottle as sunlight streamed through the glass, creating a myriad of tiny rainbows.


    ¡°Jealousy¡­¡± Zhao Lan whispered, feeling a shiver creep down her spine. ¡°I understand now¡­¡±


    ¡°Misty, love, what¡¯s wrong?¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen asked, helping her up from the ground. ¡°You look so strange.¡±


    Before she could respond, a familiar voice cut through the air. ¡°Misty! Precious!¡±


    They turned to see Yu Xiao approaching them, with a bag slung over her shoulder. Standing beside her were a man and a woman they recognised.


    ¡°Blimey! It¡¯s Lolita!¡±


    ¡°Well, bugger me, Gu Shu?!¡±


    Tang Xing Yin frowned. ¡°Are those two the doctors, then?¡±


    Gu Shu and Lolita stood on either side of Yu Xiao like loyal guard dogs. As they came closer, Yu Xiao noticed Zhao Lan¡¯s tear-stained face, her eyes red and swollen.


    ¡°Who¡¯s been upsetting our Misty?¡± she demanded, her brow furrowing with concern.


    Zhao Lan quickly wiped away her tears, not bothering to ask where Yu Xiao had been. There were more important matters to address.


    ¡°I¡¯ve found the solution,¡± she said, her voice resolute despite the trembling in her chest. ¡°We can escape from this instance.¡±


    ¡°Hold your horses,¡± Yu Xiao grinned, placing a hand on Lolita¡¯s shoulder. ¡°There¡¯s something we need to do first.¡±


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 Chapter 164: Jealousy Needs Followers

    Yu Qing Lang and the others snapped to attention, their gazes turning predatory as they focused on Gu Shu and Lolita. What were those two doing here? Since when were they in league with Yu Xiao? Wasn¡¯t the entire point of this instance to make the attending doctors¡¯ lives hell? After all this time, were they finally about to see some action?


    Gu Shu and Lolita, finely tuned to even the slightest hint of hostility after years as attending doctors, instinctively took a step back, their postures turning defensive. The air crackled with tension, and the threat of violence hung heavy.


    Just as it seemed a brawl was about to erupt, Yu Xiao stepped between the two groups, wearing a playful smile.


    ¡°Whoa, whoa, whoa! What¡¯s with the standoff, everyone? We¡¯re all friends here.¡± She gestured towards Lolita and Gu Shu. ¡°They¡¯re helping me out. We have a cooperative relationship now.¡±


    Yu Qing Lang¡¯s eyebrows shot up. They had clashed with the attending doctors before, sure, but this¡­ this was new. ¡°Cooperate on what, exactly?¡±


    ¡°Qu Lian, and that other git in this instance,¡± Yu Xiao said, her voice hardening. ¡°We didn¡¯t go looking for trouble, but they decided to bring it to us. Do you think I can let that slide? I¡¯m going to return the favour, and I need Gu Shu and Lolita¡¯s expertise to do it right.¡±


    Her plan was simple: find Qu Lian, rough him up good, then lure out Jealousy for a public humiliation. All while pinning the blame squarely on Gu Shu and Lolita. Hospital rules would boot them from attending positions faster than you could say ¡°grassroots.¡± The mere thought of them reduced to pushing food carts made Yu Xiao practically vibrate with glee.


    Those familiar with Yu Xiao¡¯s brand of mischief, like Zhao Lan and Zhou Xiao Zhen, recognized the glint in her eye. She wasn¡¯t spilling the whole truth. Others, like Tang Xing Yin and Yu Qing Lang, were bewildered. Weren¡¯t these doctors supposed to be Yu Xiao¡¯s sworn enemies? This sudden alliance felt¡­ off.


    Yu Xiao wasn¡¯t fond of giving long explanations. ¡°Alright,¡± she declared, ¡°let¡¯s find a quiet place to strategize.¡±


    As they walked away, Zhou Xiao Zhen pulled on Yu Xiao¡¯s sleeve and gave her a secretive wink. Yu Xiao knew that Zhou Xiao Zhen was eager for more details, but she just winked back, promising to talk later.


    Their path took them to Spring Rejuvenation Hall (»Ø´ºÌÃ; hu¨ª ch¨±n t¨¢ng), Qu Lian¡¯s pharmacy. Inside, the doctor sat there, angry and frustrated. The recent defeat still hurt, but he couldn¡¯t do anything about it. Reporting it would mean admitting that he had broken the hospital rules as well. Swallowing his pride, Qu Lian nursed his wounds in bitter silence.


    Suddenly, a shadow darkened the doorway. Qu Lian looked up and saw a group of unfamiliar faces blocking the entrance.


    Qu Lian: ¡°¡­¡±


    Yu Xiao stood at the back, giving Gu Shu and Lolita a sly grin. ¡°Listen, I appreciate that you want to make amends, but trust has to be earned after everything. Show me that you deserve it.¡±


    She pointed at the seething Qu Lian. ¡°Give him a good beating. Show me your dedication, and your past mistakes will be forgotten.¡±


    Gu Shu¡¯s face twisted in discomfort. Yu Xiao, always the strategist, reassured him. ¡°Relax, Qu Lian went too far. Reporting you wouldn¡¯t be in his best interest. He¡¯ll have to swallow this one, unless he fancies a career change.¡±


    Allowing rival doctors to harm patients in your situation was a serious offence, and Yu Xiao knew Qu Lian wouldn¡¯t risk causing a scene. This was her little ace up her sleeve.


    Gu Shu and Lolita exchanged a glance, silently agreeing, before entering the apothecary.


    Inside, Dr. Qu Lian was filled with anxiety. He had never felt so on edge, not even in his early days as an attending doctor. His eyes darted around the room, eventually settling on the wall of patients. What were they planning? He tried to reassure himself. Maybe they would just beat him. Unpleasant, of course, but they wouldn¡¯t actually harm him. After all, no one had ever killed an attending doctor before, right?


    Just then, the crowd parted, and two familiar figures entered confidently.


    Qu Lian¡¯s eyes lit up with a glimmer of hope. ¡°You¡¯re here!¡± But then, the doctor within him couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°What is happening?¡±


    Gu Shu nodded toward Lolita. ¡°Ladies first?¡±


    Lolita cracked her knuckles and rolled her neck. ¡°Doesn¡¯t matter. Let¡¯s just get this over with.¡±


    And with that, they lunged forward. The crowd outside heard a chaotic mix of anger and terror erupting from within the Spring Rejuvenation Hall, but their view was obstructed by the mass of people.


    A moment later, the building trembled, and a cloud of dust and debris billowed outward. Leading the charge out of the settling dust was Yu Xiao, her hair dancing in the breeze. Behind her marched the patients, disciplined and united.


    Gu Shu and Lolita emerged from the wreckage last, both looking worse for wear. Lolita¡¯s usually flawless hair resembled a bird¡¯s nest, and Gu Shu¡¯s clothes were practically torn to shreds. It turned out that, even against two opponents, Qu Lian could put up a fight.


    Not seeing any sign of Yu Xiao and the others, Lolita let out a sigh of relief. ¡°Never again,¡± she muttered. She didn¡¯t need to explain; Gu Shu knew exactly who she meant. He, too, had abandoned any thoughts of revenge. If he had just swallowed his pride, he could be enjoying tea under his favourite tree back in Gu Family Village.


    No use crying over spilled tea, though. Especially when there were no regret pills to be found in any hospital.


    **


    As they walked away, Zhou Xiao Zhen asked, ¡°Are we just going to let those two go?¡±


    Yu Xiao chuckled. ¡°As if. I filed a complaint with the medical dispute office a long time ago.¡±


    ¡°You disappeared for a while there,¡± Yu Qing Lang remarked. ¡°Where did you go?¡±


    ¡°Just popping back to St. Elizabeth¡¯s,¡± Yu Xiao replied casually. She pulled a white coat out of her backpack, giving it a shake before putting it on.


    Tang Xing Yin and the other patients from the Second Hospital stared at her, their faces expressionless.


    The setting sun gleamed off the white coat as Yu Xiao declared, ¡°To tell you the truth, I am the Dean of St. Elizabeth¡¯s. And this coat? It allows me to go back whenever I please.¡±


    A stunned silence engulfed the group. Finally, someone stammered, ¡°Patients¡­ can work at hospitals?¡±


    Yu Xiao nodded. ¡°Not only work, but also climb the career ladder.¡±


    Yu Xiao offered a gentle smile. ¡°Remember how I disappeared earlier? After you all fell into the illusion, I was whisked away. Nightmare helped me wake up, but I found myself stuck between Gu Shu and Lolita. They were too scared of a report to actually hurt me, so they dragged me back to St. Elizabeth¡¯s. Luckily, I saw an opportunity and gave them the slip.¡±


    She left out the part about her temporary, frontal-lobe-induced simplicity and George¡¯s timely intervention with a healing talisman. Just thinking about it sent shivers down her spine, and she didn¡¯t want to worry the others. She was fine now, and that¡¯s all that mattered. S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Having glossed over those details, Yu Xiao continued, ¡°I had Nightmare file a report. Negligence, harming patients, bribery¡­ what else did we come up with?¡±


    ¡°Assaulting colleagues,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen piped up.


    ¡°Right,¡± Yu Xiao nodded. ¡°Assaulting an attending doctor is serious business. Best to avoid fighting if you can. Let the doctors take each other down instead.¡±


    The others winced.


    ¡°Aren¡¯t you worried they¡¯ll hate you even more?¡± Wang Dong Dong asked.


    Yu Xiao shrugged. ¡°Why would I be? They¡¯ll be lucky to hold onto their jobs, let alone seek revenge.¡±


    Yu Qing Lang and the others exchanged delighted looks. This was much more satisfying than a brawl. Watching those doctors squirm was far more entertaining.


    ¡°Can we get jobs at the hospital too?¡± Yu Qing Lang asked hopefully.


    Yu Xiao¡¯s brow furrowed. Finding them jobs was easy enough ¨C she could probably even swing a few positions on the inspection team. But their current state¡­ working in an instance, constantly exposed to ghostly energy, would only make their conditions worse.


    ¡°What about the other one?¡± Tang Xing Yin, quiet until now, spoke up. ¡°The other person you mentioned getting even with? Immortal Zhang?¡±


    ¡°Ah, yes.¡± Yu Xiao turned to Zhao Lan. ¡°Have you figured out what¡¯s behind this poisoning business?¡±


    Zhao Lan nodded slowly. ¡°Jealousy.¡± She hesitated, then continued, ¡°I don¡¯t know which deity it is, but they prey on jealousy, amplify it. When you¡¯re drowning in it, they offer you a vial of poison. If you can get someone to swallow it¡­ you become their disciple.¡±


    Yu Xiao, seeing the distress on Zhao Lan¡¯s face, gave her shoulder a reassuring squeeze. ¡°Misty, are you alright?¡±


    Zhao Lan flinched, still shaken. ¡°I¡­ I always thought I was above it. That I wouldn¡¯t fall prey to jealousy. But¡­¡±


    ¡°Hey now,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen threw an arm around Zhao Lan¡¯s shoulders. ¡°Don¡¯t you worry. Smiley will sort that deity out soon enough. Speaking of which, back in the illusion, I swear I saw her and Brother Hai badmouthing me. Good thing I¡¯m too clever to fall for that nonsense.¡±


    ¡°Now that you mention it¡­¡± Yu Qing Lang and the others had experienced similar scenarios, all designed to stoke the fires of jealousy.


    Luckily, they were all in the same boat, so to speak. No point being jealous of each other when they were all suffering equally. They¡¯d seen through the illusion quickly enough.


    ¡°So, what¡¯s the deal with this Immortal Zhang?¡± Tang Xing Yin pressed.


    ¡°Immortal Zhang is simply Jealousy,¡± Yu Xiao explained. ¡°Like Nightmare and Gluttony, he¡¯s not a ghost, so talismans are useless. But unlike Gluttony, Jealousy lives in the human heart.¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen frowned. ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    Yu Xiao thought for a moment. ¡°He¡¯s everywhere and nowhere in this scenario. We can¡¯t find him unless he wants to be found. The only way to deal with him is to lure him out.¡±


    ¡°And how do we do that?¡± Zhao Lan asked.


    Yu Xiao rummaged in her pocket and pulled out a seal. ¡°This is from ¡®Flying to Someone Else¡¯s Bed¡¯ ¨C I asked him to send it to me while I was at St. Elizabeth¡¯s. It¡¯s the seal of the Ghost Group. With this, we can enter their instance.¡± She grinned, sharp as shattered glass. ¡°Jealousy needs followers. He needs to feed on their jealousy to grow stronger. I¡¯m going to give him exactly what he wants.¡±


    The river, usually bustling with activity, was eerily quiet. The recent poisoning scare had kept most people away, though some still braved the water for laundry, fishing, or to simply fill their buckets.


    Two small boats drifted along the current. Yu Xiao and Nightmare occupied one, the others the second.


    The water was clear enough to see the riverbed in places. Sitting at the prow, Yu Xiao held up the seal.


    ¡°Jealousy,¡± she said, her voice barely a murmur. ¡°I know you can hear me. Show yourself. I¡¯m here to make a deal.¡±


    The surface of the river remained undisturbed. Then, with no warning, a figure in crimson robes materialised on the prow of the boat.


    Jealousy was a vision of ethereal beauty. Sunlight seemed to pass through him, illuminating his face until it was almost translucent. Atop his head sat a bishop¡¯s mitre, a sceptre clutched in one delicate hand. His gaze, gentle as a spring breeze, swept over the mortals below.


    ¡°There is no jealousy in your heart,¡± he observed, looking at Yu Xiao.


    Yu Xiao met his gaze calmly. ¡°Perhaps I haven¡¯t met anyone worth being jealous of.¡±


    Jealousy smiled. ¡°Ah, but jealousy lives in everyone. It just needs the right¡­ catalyst.¡±


    ¡°You want my seal,¡± Yu Xiao said, holding it up.


    Jealousy¡¯s gaze dropped to the object in her hand. ¡°Indeed.¡±


    ¡°You can have it.¡± She smiled, all teeth. ¡°But not for free.¡±


    His smile widened. ¡°And what is it you desire?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ve caused my friend a great deal of distress.¡± Yu Xiao gestured to Zhao Lan in the other boat. ¡°Remove your influence over her.¡±


    Jealousy¡¯s expression remained unchanged. ¡°Is that all?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ve probably harmed a fair few patients over the years,¡± she continued, her tone conversational. ¡°I imagine you have quite the collection of props and function cards by now.¡±


    Jealousy¡¯s eyebrow arched ever so slightly. ¡°You¡¯re asking for¡­¡±


    ¡°All of it,¡± Yu Xiao interrupted, her tone brooking no argument.


    Looking at the greedy gleam in her eyes, Jealousy finally laughed, a melodic sound that sent chills down the spines of the listeners.


    ¡°Indeed, what is jealousy without a healthy dose of greed? You are the first I have met with such¡­ ambition.¡± He leaned closer, his gaze boring into hers. ¡°I like you. Should you ever tire of your little games and die, I would be honoured to make you my Red Bishop.¡±


    Yu Xiao¡¯s eye twitched. The nerve of this deity, cursing her to an eternity in the hospital! Just wait until she got her hands on him¡­


    Outwardly, she remained the picture of calm. ¡°Do we have an agreement, then?¡±


    ¡°We do.¡± Jealousy smiled. ¡°Allow me a moment to gather what you require.¡± And with that, he vanished from the prow.


    Zhao Lan, feeling the crushing weight of Jealousy¡¯s influence lift from her, sagged in relief. Battling a human emotion was one thing, but this constant, insidious pressure was truly unbearable.


    In truth, Yu Xiao couldn¡¯t care less about a dead patient¡¯s belongings. She¡¯d played up the greed angle to lull Jealousy into a false sense of security. He wasn¡¯t stupid; handing over the seal without some kind of charade would have set off alarm bells.


    Jealousy was as good as his word. It wasn¡¯t long before he reappeared, a large bundle clutched in his arms. He tossed it onto the deck. ¡°Some of these are rather old. A bit rusty, you might say.¡±


    Yu Xiao crouched down and untied the bundle, revealing a jumble of artefacts and function cards. Not her objective, but she wasn¡¯t about to look a gift horse in the mouth.


    ¡°Excellent.¡± She nodded to Nightmare, who took charge of the bundle. Looking back at Jealousy, she said, ¡°A deal¡¯s a deal.¡± She held out the seal.


    Jealousy reached for it, his slender hand ghosting towards hers. But the moment he touched the seal, Yu Xiao¡¯s fingers tightened around his, trapping both hand and seal in her grip.


    Despite his delicate appearance, Jealousy was no pushover. Yet he didn¡¯t pull away. Instead, he simply stared at her, a flicker of curiosity in his eyes.


    Yu Xiao favoured him with a sharp grin. Then, they were gone.


    They reappeared in the familiar living room of the Ghost Group headquarters.


    ¡°This is¨C¡± Jealousy began, before Yu Xiao cut him off.


    ¡°The Ghost Group HQ,¡± she confirmed.


    He paused, turning his head slightly as if sensing the very air around them. A flicker of something crossed his face, softening his expression.


    Yu Xiao tried to pull her hand free, but Jealousy held fast, his gaze fixed intently on hers. ¡°What is the meaning of this?¡±


    ¡°Nothing much,¡± she laughed, a touch nervously. Their hands were still clasped together. ¡°Just a few loose ends I need to tie up.¡±


    As if on cue, the air in the living room rippled, space itself seeming to distort.


    ¡°Look!¡± Yu Xiao shouted, pointing.


    Far away, in his office, the Chairman¡¯s eyes snapped open. He rose from his chair, and darkness bloomed around him like a poisonous flower.


    ¡°Surprise!¡± Yu Xiao shouted, brandishing the seal. ¡°I totally stole this! And guess what? The Chairman of the Ghost Group really hates it when people show up with his stolen property. He swore he¡¯d destroy anyone who dared.¡± She patted Jealousy¡¯s arm, her smile bright and brittle. ¡°So, if you want this lovely seal, you¡¯ll have to go through him. Up for a challenge? Or shall we just forget this whole thing?¡±


    Jealousy, his brow furrowed in annoyance, finally released her hand.


    At that moment, the Chairman materialised in the living room, his dark eyes locking onto Yu Xiao. Quick as a flash, she darted behind Jealousy, poking her head out to address the newcomer. ¡°Don¡¯t look at me! I sold the seal. He¡¯s your new Owner now!¡±


    The Chairman¡¯s gaze shifted to Jealousy, cold and calculating.


    A chilling smile spread across Jealousy¡¯s face. He raised his sceptre. ¡°Jealousy resides in¨C¡±


    He didn¡¯t get a chance to finish his dramatic monologue. The Chairman lunged.


    Yu Xiao, making a hasty mental note to add ¡°Don¡¯t get squished by angry deities¡± to her to-do list, beat a strategic retreat towards the kitchen. She had no intention of actually giving Jealousy the seal. No, she¡¯d brought him here to face the music ¨C and the Chairman¡¯s wrath. Then, she¡¯d wipe his little jealousy playground right off the map.


    She was reaching for the seal, ready to make her escape, when the stove suddenly burst into life.


    The flames burned an eerie green, and a moment later, a shimmering green figure crawled out of the fire. It fixed its glowing eyes on Yu Xiao, reaching for her with a hand wreathed in emerald flames.


    It wanted its heart back.


    The heart Yu Xiao had so carelessly given away to ¡®Flying to Someone Else¡¯s Bed¡¯.


    A wave of guilt washed over her. She hadn¡¯t expected to see the fire ghost again, so she¡¯d given its heart away without a second thought. But now¡­


    ¡°It¡¯s safe! I promise!¡± Yu Xiao babbled. ¡°Your heart is perfectly safe with him! He¡¯s taking good care of it!¡± She racked her brains for a convincing argument. ¡°Think about it ¨C carrying your heart around is dangerous! It could get broken! It¡¯s much safer tucked away where nothing can hurt it!¡±


    ©¤©¤©¤ ? ©¤©¤ ¡î ©¤©¤ ? ©¤©¤©¤


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 Chapter 165: Goodbye, Goodbye! Dont be a Stranger!

    The fire ghost¡¯s opinion on the matter was irrelevant. Yu Xiao had convinced herself, and that was all that mattered. With the document stamped, she made a hasty exit from the Ghost Group headquarters.


    There was just one small miscalculation. She reappeared in the exact spot she had left from ¨C which meant a rather undignified return to the spot where the boat used to be.


    Back on the river, the others, while somewhat aware of Yu Xiao¡¯s plan, were starting to get a bit twitchy. Facing down Jealousy was one thing, but doing it solo, in another instance? That was pushing it, even for her.


    Yu Qing Lang, perched precariously on the edge of the boat, turned to Zhao Lan. ¡°She¡¯s always been this¡­ adventurous, hasn¡¯t she?¡±


    Zhao Lan opened her mouth to offer a defence, then stopped. Yu Xiao had always been a bit reckless, ever since their first instance dive. Zhao Lan and Zhou Xiao Zhen, veterans of Yu Xiao¡¯s antics by now, barely batted an eyelid these days.


    A flicker of worry crossed Zhao Lan¡¯s face. ¡°She¡¯s¡­ confident in her abilities,¡± she conceded.


    ¡°That¡¯s one way to put it,¡± Wang Dong Dong muttered. ¡°Still, she¡¯s miles ahead of where we were at her age.¡±


    Yu Qing Lang wasn¡¯t reassured. ¡°But what if she doesn¡¯t come back?¡±


    Zhao Lan frowned. ¡°Nightmare has already contacted the authorities.¡±


    ¡°Didn¡¯t that mutt get injured?¡± Yu Qing Lang pressed. ¡°What if they¡¯re delayed?¡±


    Zhao Lan, bombarded with questions, was starting to feel a headache coming on. Just then, Nightmare perked up, letting out a soft meow. At the same moment, a figure appeared out of thin air on the surface of the river.


    Yu Xiao, opening her eyes to the sight of her companions, let out a gasp of relief.


    ¡°Smiley!¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen scrambled to the edge of the boat. ¡°She¡¯s fallen in!¡±


    Yu Xiao could swim, but the unexpected dunking had caught her off guard. She surfaced, spluttering, just as a proffered oar and several pairs of hands hauled her back onto the boat.


    Zhao Lan and Zhou Xiao Zhen pounded on her back as she coughed up a lungful of river water. When she finally got her breath back, she looked up to find everyone staring at her.


    ¡°Who moved the bloody boat?¡± she demanded.


    Everyone¡¯s gaze dropped to their shoes. From the other boat, Nightmare coughed delicately. ¡°The Wind Did.¡±


    Yu Qing Lang, unable to contain her curiosity, blurted out, ¡°What happened? Did everything go according to plan?¡±


    ¡°Smooth as silk,¡± Yu Xiao said, wringing her wet sleeve. ¡°Jealousy is currently indisposed, let¡¯s just say he¡¯s playing house guest at the Ghost Group HQ. I¡¯m not sure if we can handle both him and the Chairman at the same time, but at least he won¡¯t bother us here for a while.¡± She grinned, sharp and ruthless. ¡°That means we can have some fun with his little instance while he¡¯s away.¡±


    Tang Xing Yin raised an eyebrow. ¡°And what, pray tell, did you have in mind?¡±


    ¡°Demolition is a good way to start,¡± Yu Xiao¡¯s eyes glinted mischievously. S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen looked confused. ¡°But his temple¡¯s already rubble. Isn¡¯t that dismantling enough?¡±


    ¡°Is it?¡± Wang Dong Dong chimed in.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen frowned, pondering the question. ¡°I thought it was¡­¡±


    ¡°Not quite,¡± Yu Qing Lang said. ¡°Temples can be rebuilt.¡±


    ¡°Then we¡¯ll make sure this one remains firmly grounded,¡± Yu Xiao said, tapping her chin thoughtfully. ¡°It¡¯s time to get rid of his followers.¡±


    Yu Qing Lang was sceptical. ¡°And how do you propose we do that?¡±


    Tang Xing Yin calmly suggested, ¡°Just eliminate them all.¡±


    ¡°Genocide?¡± Yu Qing Lang raised an eyebrow. ¡°That seems a bit excessive.¡±


    ¡°Not exactly genocide,¡± Tang Xing Yin offered dryly. ¡°More like a hostile takeover.¡±


    Yu Qing Lang nodded along. ¡°That could work!¡±


    Yu Xiao gaped. ¡°Even if they¡¯re not human, isn¡¯t that too much?¡± she squeaked. ¡°What about the rules of the hospital?¡±


    Tang Xing Yin¡¯s expression soured. The unspoken ¡®so what?¡¯ hung heavily in the air.


    Yu Xiao hurried to clarify. ¡°If they penalise you, you won¡¯t be able to join the instance. Then we won¡¯t be able to team up.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    Not that teaming up was the real goal, of course. Being glued to Nightmare¡¯s side was the real prize, and since the entity seemed particularly fond of latching onto Yu Xiao¡­ well, he had to do what was necessary.


    Zhao Lan shook her head. ¡°Even if you wipe out all the followers,¡± she pointed out, ¡°won¡¯t Jealousy just create more? As long as there are NPCs in the instance, he can continue to cultivate.¡±


    ¡°So we let him go?¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen practically choked on the words. ¡°After what he did to Smiley? We can¡¯t just let Jealousy walk away!¡±


    Zhao Lan stroked her chin thoughtfully. ¡°You know, religious beliefs are notoriously stubborn like weeds. Yet, if you pull one up, another pops right in its place.¡±


    Yu Xiao¡¯s eyes lit up, a mischievous glint dancing in them. ¡°So, while the soil¡¯s still bare, why don¡¯t we plant something ourselves?¡±


    The others stared at her, eyebrows raised.


    ¡°A new religion?¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen blurted out, both horrified and intrigued.


    ¡°We only have seven days, at most,¡± Yu Qing Lang reminded them.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen nodded, a frown creasing her brow. ¡°Seven days isn¡¯t enough time to start a cult following.¡±


    Yu Xiao, however, was undeterred. A plan was already taking shape in her mind, audacious and crazy enough to work. ¡°Hear me out,¡± she began, a mischievous smile playing on her lips. ¡°What if¡­¡±


    **


    Night had fallen on the quiet town, and a thick silence smothered the streets after the chaos of the day. With the temple collapse and the poisonings, even the bravest villagers were compelled to bolt their doors and shutter their windows.


    Then, a piercing scream shattered the stillness, jolting everyone awake.


    They¡¯re trying to kill me!¡±


    ¡°The minions of the demon god are here!¡±


    Heads popped out from behind curtains, and doors creaked open a sliver as fear battled with curiosity. In the flickering lamplight, a terrifying scene unfolded. A man, his clothes stained crimson, sprinted down the street, pursued by a pack of black-robed temple disciples.


    he gasped, his breath ragged. ¡°They¡¯re trying to silence me! I know the truth about the demon god!¡±


    He stumbled, catching himself against a wall, his voice cracking with desperation. ¡°The poisonings¡­ they were all a lie! A means to control you, to instil fear in you and blind you to the truth!¡±


    Similar chases played out across the town, with terror echoing from every corner.


    The bloodied man sagged, his strength finally giving way. ¡°Look around!¡± he rasped, a bitter smile twisting his lips. ¡°This is the true face of your god! This is his power!¡±


    He drew himself up, a flicker of defiance in his eyes. ¡°I may die exposing this charade, but I die without regret. And I curse you all! You and your false god! May the true gods rain down their fury upon you!¡±


    A guttural cry ripped from the man¡¯s throat as he fell to his knees, hands clasped towards the heavens. ¡°Hear my plea, oh Divine One! Strike down these wicked souls and deliver your righteous judgement!¡±


    Huddled inside their homes, the townsfolk exchanged uneasy glances. A evil god? Here?


    The night sky erupted in a blaze of colour, banishing the darkness in a blinding flash. Ethereal music drifted down, punctuated by a roar that shook the very foundations of the town.


    Curiosity warred with terror, drawing the villagers to their windows. What they saw stole their breath away.


    Bathed in celestial light, a magnificent lion, white as snow and winged like a mythical beast, descended from the swirling colours. Upon its back sat a young woman, draped in a shimmering rainbow gown. Her hair was a masterpiece, her every movement radiating an otherworldly grace. A halo of pure light encircled her, solidifying the image of a goddess descended from the heavens.


    ¡°Your call has been heard,¡± her voice echoed, imbued with an authority that sent shivers down spines.


    The man on the ground scrambled to his feet, his face alight with manic fervour. ¡°You are the one true deity! Please tell me your name, which god graces us with their presence?¡±


    (·¨ºÅ [f¨£ h¨¤o; dharma name]: A religious title or name given to a deity or spiritual figure, signifying their role or attributes.)


    A faint smile touched the woman¡¯s lips. ¡°I am the True God of Boundless Compassion and Mercy, the Deaf Descendant, saviour of the thirty-six heavens!¡±


    (ÈýÊ®ÁùÌì [s¨¡n sh¨ª li¨´ ti¨¡n; thirty-six heavens]: In Chinese mythology, the heavens are often divided into multiple layers or realms, each with different deities and functions.)


    ¡°The Deaf Descendant!¡± He all but swooned. ¡°Then rid us of these demons, oh merciful one!¡±


    With a flick of her wrist, the goddess sent a flurry of paper talismans fluttering down like leaves. ¡°These charms will heal all wounds, all ailments.¡±


    The man snatched one up, pressing it to his bleeding arm. The injury vanished before their very eyes. Gasps of awe and disbelief rippled through the watching crowd. ¡°A miracle! A true deity!¡±


    Another wave of the woman¡¯s hand, and the man was bathed in brilliant light. ¡°I bestow upon you divine power! Go now, and vanquish the followers of evil!¡±


    He roared, feeling the power surge through him. With a bone-jarring crack, his fist connected with a black-robed figure, sending them soaring through the air.


    High above, Yu Xiao, resplendent in her borrowed glory, muttered under her breath in a language no one below understood as if chanting.


    In the distance, near the crumbled temple, Lolita and Gu Shu watched the spectacle unfold, their faces etched with a mixture of disbelief and reluctant amusement.


    Lolita rested her chin on her hand, a sigh escaping her lips. ¡°I think I regret this already.¡±


    Beside her, Gu Shu, the usually unflappable ghost doctor, could only nod in mute agreement. Never in his ghostly existence had he witnessed such a bizarre turn of events.


    ¡°At least,¡± he offered, ¡°she¡¯s sparing us.¡±


    Lolita was about to reply when the sound of paws on pavement reached them in a hurried staccato. Three identical dog heads swivelled around the corner.


    Silence descended, thick and awkward.


    ¡°You two are under arrest,¡± Goldie barked finally, surrounded by a pack of stern-faced security officers. ¡°Dereliction of duty. Bribing staff. Maliciously harming patients. Assaulting colleagues. You¡¯re coming with us.¡±


    More silence, this time punctuated by Lolita and Gu Shu exchanging wide-eyed glances.


    Goldie glanced up at Yu Xiao, currently incandescent and celestial in the sky. All three heads twitched in unison. It kept its muzzle firmly shut. That one might be his superior someday; best not to start their relationship with a divine arrest warrant.


    Yu Xiao¡¯s plan to replace one deity with another had been audacious, to say the least.


    It wasn¡¯t overly complicated, mind you. First, Tang Xing Yin and the others had used a disposable Hatred Card to attract the focused ire of the Jealousy cultists. Cue a midnight rampage, complete with cultists chasing terrified townsfolk through the streets.


    Next, Yu Xiao donned a wig and a goddess costume, levitating on the Nightmare ¨C now transformed into a majestic, winged lion. A shower of multicoloured prop cards, previously deemed useless, conveniently simulated holy light.


    As for the healing talismans? Foreseeing Misfortune talismans, repurposed. And that whole ¡°a single beam grants divine power¡± spectacle? Pure theatre. Tang Xing Yin¡¯s team was already monstrously powerful; they were just finally taking their powers out for a spin.


    By dawn, the town was buzzing with nervous whispers. A few brave souls ventured out, only to spot the talismans scattered across the cobblestones ¨C divine calling cards from the night before.


    Those with aches, pains, and persistent coughs immediately pressed the talismans to their bodies. To their astonishment, the talismans dissolved, and their ailments vanished with them.


    ¡°Heavens above! A true goddess!¡±


    ¡°She has descended!¡±


    The town erupted. Tears flowed, prayers echoed, and accusations flew at the deposed false deity. Plans were hastily drawn up to erect a new temple on the ruins of the old.


    Yu Qing Lang slung an arm around Yu Xiao¡¯s shoulders. ¡°Where did you even come up with this?¡±


    Yu Xiao shrugged. ¡°It just came to me.¡±


    Zhao Lan, ever the pragmatist, cut through the celebratory atmosphere. ¡°Time to go. This instance has served its purpose.¡±


    ¡°Hmm,¡± Yu Xiao murmured, as the rhythmic click-clack of paws on linoleum echoed down the corridor.


    She turned to find a three-headed dog leading a rather disgruntled procession. Gu Shu, Lolita, and Qu Lian shuffled along, their expressions mirroring their predicament ¨C utterly miserable. Upon spotting Yu Xiao, Gu Shu and Lolita practically vibrated with indignation.


    Yu Xiao, ever the picture of innocence, strolled over. ¡°Goldie, you¡¯re here.¡±


    The three-headed dog, Goldie, said nothing. His six eyes, however, took on a distinctly reddish hue. Still, the person before him might one day outrank him; it was best to swallow his objections ¨C and possibly his pride.


    Goldie fixed his gaze on Nightmare, who stood patiently nearby. ¡°Nightmare, you¡¯ll be coming with us.¡±


    ¡°Wait!¡± Yu Xiao sprang in front of Nightmare, aghast. ¡°This was a near-death experience! I would have been a goner if it weren¡¯t for him. Imagine the grief of the Horror Hospital Director!¡±


    Silence.


    ¡°Not only did he save my life,¡± Yu Xiao continued, warming to her theme, ¡°he also reported these criminals.¡± She shot a pointed glare at Gu Shu, who looked fit to combust.


    ¡°After all that, you¡¯d arrest him?¡± Yu Xiao¡¯s voice rose in outrage. ¡°Have you no sense of humanity?¡±


    Goldie very nearly pointed out that, as a three-headed canine, he wasn¡¯t exactly overflowing with it. Instead, he said, ¡°Hospital procedures must be followed. Rules are rules.¡±


    Yu Xiao opened her mouth to argue, but Goldie ploughed on. ¡°Not even the Director can change that.¡±


    That stopped her short. She glanced at Nightmare, who met her gaze calmly. ¡°I¡¯ll call the Director,¡± she declared.


    As she reached for her phone, Goldie sighed. ¡°Obstructing official duties is a serious matter.¡±


    Nightmare stepped forward. Yu Xiao grabbed his arm, but he gently shook his head. ¡°It¡¯s alright.¡±


    ¡°But¡­¡± She trailed off, trusting her instincts. With his recent heroics, Nightmare wouldn¡¯t face any real consequences. The Horror Hospital wasn¡¯t known for its draconian punishments; demotion seemed to be the worst they could throw at someone like Gu Shu.


    ¡°If anything happens,¡± she told Nightmare, ¡°I¡¯ll get you out.¡±


    He smiled, his eyes twinkling. For a moment, no one else existed, just her in his eyes.


    Goldie departed, with Nightmare padding alongside, leaving Yu Xiao awash in a confusing blend of relief and regret. Even if Nightmare hadn¡¯t been apprehended, their paths were destined to diverge. He¡­ she¡­ Nightmare wasn¡¯t human, after all, and the inevitable goodbye loomed.


    ¡°Well, that¡¯s just brilliant,¡± Yu Qing Lang sighed, echoing the sentiment in everyone¡¯s minds. ¡°Nightmare¡¯s gone. What now?¡±


    A chorus of glum agreement rippled through the group.


    However, Yu Xiao had other concerns brewing. She caught Tang Xing Yin¡¯s eye. ¡°Hold on a moment. We need to talk.¡±


    Curious glances bounced between the two. Tang Xing Yin crossed his arms, an eyebrow raised inquisitively. Yu Xiao, ignoring the unspoken questions, tugged him towards a quieter corner. ¡°Give us a minute,¡± she told the others. ¡°Won¡¯t be long.¡±


    Tang Xing Yin, for once, allowed himself to be led. He leaned against the wall once they were out of earshot, waiting for her to speak.


    ¡°Your points¡­¡± she began. ¡°Have you reached the target?¡±


    He met her gaze, holding it for a beat too long, then nodded.


    ¡°Then why haven¡¯t you exchanged them? Why haven¡¯t you left?¡±


    Silence descended again, heavier this time. ¡°I¡¯m losing control,¡± he admitted quietly. ¡°It¡¯s not just the hunger anymore. Sometimes¡­ sometimes it feels like I¡¯m becoming something else. Something not human.¡±


    He tilted his head back, staring at the sky as if searching for answers in the clouds. ¡°There¡¯s something else inside me, something beyond the yin energy. I¡­ I¡¯m scared. Can I even go back like this?¡±


    Yu Xiao grasped his hand, her gaze unwavering. ¡°You can go back. As long as the change isn¡¯t complete¡­ you can go back.¡±


    ¡°But¡­¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry,¡± she interrupted, her tone firm. ¡°I work here, remember? I know a few things. Trust me. It¡¯s time.¡±


    Tang Xing Yin froze, his eyes suddenly bright with unshed tears. ¡°I¡­ can I really go back?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± she said, squeezing his hand. ¡°You can.¡±


    He let out a shaky breath. ¡°When do I leave?¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s get back to the ward,¡± Yu Xiao said, her tone brisk. ¡°Redeem your time, and then you¡¯re free. Out of this madhouse for good.¡±


    He hesitated. ¡°Will I¡­ will I see you again?¡±


    She paused, a lump forming in her throat. ¡°Yes,¡± she said, forcing a smile. ¡°Definitely.¡±


    He pulled her into a tight hug, a wistful smile gracing his lips. Tears pricked at Yu Xiao¡¯s eyes. She was happy for him, truly, but a seed of doubt had been sown. Would they ever meet again, outside the hospital walls?


    She¡¯d been so determined to refuse the Director¡¯s offer, to earn enough points to leave on her own terms. But Ye Tao¡¯s words in the Time Hospital echoed in her mind ¨C a chilling premonition that she wouldn¡¯t be one of the two to escape the Sixth Hospital.


    Was she lying? Was her future truly fixed? She couldn¡¯t afford to dwell on it now. She had a role to play, a reputation to uphold. She was the Sixth Ward¡¯s top player, Misty and Precious¡¯ trusted confidante. She had to be strong.


    By the time they rejoined the others, Yu Xiao had schooled her features into a mask of composure.


    ¡°Ready to go?¡± Yu Qing Lang asked.


    Yu Xiao managed a watery smile as Tang Xing Yin walked over to Zhao Lan, extending a hand. Zhao Lan, looking slightly taken aback by the formality, shook it nonetheless.


    ¡°Goodbye,¡± Tang Xing Yin said.


    ¡°Uh¡­ goodbye,¡± Zhao Lan echoed, wondering if all First Ward patients were this stiff.


    Tang Xing Yin then repeated the ritual with Zhou Xiao Zhen. ¡°Goodbye.¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen, ever boisterous, chuckled. ¡°Goodbye, goodbye! Don¡¯t be a stranger!¡±


    One by one, Tang Xing Yin bid farewell to the group. Then, in the blink of an eye, they were gone from this instance.


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 Chapter 166: Punishments

    The moment Yu Xiao was back in the ward, her eyes landed on Flying to Someone Else¡¯s Bed, standing stock-still by the window. Like a creepy, haunted mannequin. Fantastic.


    ¡°Right, where is everyone?¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s voice was thick with confusion.


    Yu Xiao glanced around. Zhao Lan was there, looking as serene as ever, but the others were gone. Vanished.


    ¡°Bloody hell,¡± she muttered. This was a new one, even for the nightmare factory that was their lives. ¡°Where did they disappear to?¡±


    (ÎÔ²Û; w¨° c¨¢o; lie on the trough: A strong expression of surprise or dismay, similar to ¡°bloody hell¡± in UK English. This phrase is a common expletive in Chinese, often used to express shock or anger.)


    Zhao Lan, ever the voice of reason (or at least, calm in the face of potential demonic annihilation), spoke first. ¡°Perhaps we should try calling them?¡±


    Yu Xiao immediately dialled Yu Qing Lang. The phone picked up on the second ring.


    ¡°What in the bloody hell is going on? Why am I back in my room at the second hospital?¡± Yu Qing Lang¡¯s voice practically vibrated with outrage.


    Yu Xiao, initially speechless, let out a relieved sigh. ¡°At least you¡¯re safe. That¡¯s the main thing.¡±


    ¡°Safe? I¡¯m stuck back in this godforsaken room, that¡¯s hardly safe!¡±


    ¡°Look,¡± Yu Xiao said, trying to inject some calm into the situation, ¡°the Nightmare isn¡¯t in my room anymore. It doesn¡¯t really matter where you are now.¡±


    A beat of silence, then a begrudging, ¡°Suppose you¡¯ve got a point,¡± before Yu Qing Lang hung up.


    ¡°She¡¯s alright,¡± Yu Xiao confirmed, ¡°Just back at the second hospital.¡±


    Zhao Lan nodded, her lips curving into a thoughtful frown. ¡°It seems the hospital has a strict ¡®no swapping rooms¡¯ policy. Even if you manage to switch, you¡¯re back to your assigned cell the moment the instance ends.¡±


    Yu Xiao hummed in agreement, her gaze returning to the unmoving figure of Flying to Someone Else¡¯s Bed. Seriously, did he ever move?


    ¡°What did you say to Tang?¡± Zhao Lan asked, her voice deceptively casual. ¡°He seemed¡­ different.¡±


    Yu Xiao hesitated, a slow smile spreading across her face. ¡°He¡¯s gone.¡±


    ¡°Gone?¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen scoffed. This ¡®gone¡¯ didn¡¯t sound like your average popping-out-for-a-pint-of-milk gone. ¡°What do you mean, ¡®gone¡¯?¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s accumulated enough points,¡± Yu Xiao explained, enjoying the stunned silence that followed. ¡°He¡¯s leaving the hospital.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    A beat. Two. Then¡­


    ¡°!!!¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s what?!¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen practically levitated out of her chair. ¡°Really?!¡±


    ¡°Yep.¡± Yu Xiao nodded, relishing the disbelief on her face. ¡°I¡¯ll give him a ring tomorrow. If the call doesn¡¯t go through, it means he¡¯s finally free.¡±


    And wouldn¡¯t that be a wonderful thing?


    ¡°He can actually leave?¡± Zhao Lan echoed, her usual composure momentarily forgotten. The very notion seemed impossible, like escaping gravity or winning the lottery. Could anyone truly escape this hellscape of a hospital? The thought, once a distant fantasy, suddenly felt¡­ possible.


    ¡°I never truly believed it,¡± She admitted, her voice regaining its usual strength. ¡°Gathering enough points to leave always felt like a cruel rumour.¡±


    Yu Xiao had harboured her own share of doubts. But the Director, that unnervingly cheerful creep, had assured her it was possible. And if the ultimate goal for the hospital¡¯s unfortunate residents was rebirth, then surely escaping this purgatory had to be an option.


    Yu Xiao¡¯s gaze snapped towards the silent figure by the window. ¡°Flying to Someone Else¡¯s Bed? Care to share your thoughts?¡±


    He moved then, turning to face them with an unsettling intensity that sent a shiver down her spine.


    ¡°Flying to Someone Else¡¯s Bed?¡± he repeated, his voice flat, devoid of its usual playful lilt.


    He stalked towards Yu Xiao, stopping just inches away, his hands clamping down on her shoulders. Then, with a terrifying grin, he opened his mouth wide, lunging towards her.


    ¡± Yu Xiao yelped, trying to dodge, but his grip was like iron. This was no joke.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen stood frozen, a statue of pure terror, while Zhao Lan, ever quick, scanned the room for a weapon, anything to use against the¡­ whatever the hell he was doing. Finding nothing, she thrust her arm between Yu Xiao and the¡­ the thing that was once their friend.


    Just as Zhao Lan braced for the searing pain of teeth sinking into flesh, he froze, bursting into laughter.


    He released Yu Xiao, stumbling back, clutching his stomach as tears streamed down his face. ¡°You should see your faces!¡±


    He collapsed onto a nearby chair, gasping for breath between fits of laughter, slapping his thigh for good measure. The fear! Priceless!¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen, hands on her hips, glared at him, fuming.


    Yu Xiao, still catching her breath, shot him a withering look, while Zhao Lan simply stared, her expression unreadable. Being pranked was definitely not on her list of enjoyable activities.


    Finally, his laughter subsided, he glanced around the room, a flicker of confusion crossing his features. ¡°Where¡¯d everyone disappear to?¡±


    ¡°Back to the Second Hospital,¡± Yu Xiao said, her voice tight. ¡°Where, if you¡¯ll excuse me, you should be heading as well.¡±


    He grinned, but it didn¡¯t reach his eyes. ¡°No way, hate that place. Feels like being stuffed in a coffin. Speaking of which, where¡¯s Nightmare?¡±


    ¡°Gone,¡± Yu Xiao said simply.


    He frowned, then relaxed, a thoughtful expression on his face. ¡°Right. Guess I¡¯ll be on my way then.¡±


    Typical. Leaving the moment things stopped being entertaining.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen crouched down, unzipping the bag she¡¯d brought back. Inside lay a collection of props and function cards Yu Xiao had managed to swindle from Jealousy. The three of them huddled together, taking stock of their loot.


    The props were even worse than Jealousy described. Rusted, creaky, half-broken¡­ Zhou Xiao Zhen doubted half of them would even function. Still, they dutifully sorted the rubbish from the slightly-less-rubbish, only to arrive at a new problem: they had absolutely no clue what most of it did.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen held up a heavy, tarnished die. ¡°Look at this! Wouldn¡¯t it go perfectly with my mahjong set?¡±


    Zhao Lan stroked her chin. ¡°Yes, but we haven¡¯t the faintest idea what it does, do we?¡±


    ¡°How else do you use a die?¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen shrugged. ¡°You toss it, naturally.¡±


    ¡®Flying to Someone Else¡¯s Bed¡¯, ignored until this point, shuffled closer and rubbed his nose awkwardly. ¡°Blimey, look at this lot! You been nicking stuff from my mates in the Second Hospital, haven¡¯t you?¡±


    ¡°Does the Second Hospital even have this much junk?¡± Yu Xiao deadpanned.


    She had a point. ¡®Flying to Someone Else¡¯s Bed¡¯ picked up a chipped porcelain bowl. ¡°Where did you lot get all this, then?¡±


    ¡°Robbed a boss,¡± Yu Xiao said casually.


    He looked sceptical, then his eyes widened. ¡°You robbed a what? And the coppers didn¡¯t catch you?¡±


    ¡°We reported him first,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen chirped, with a wink.


    He had no idea who this mysterious boss was, but he felt a pang of sympathy. ¡°Next instance crawl, count me in. My raid ban lifts in a month, we can loot another one!¡±


    Zhao Lan was speechless. Wasn¡¯t he supposed to be pushing forty? Why was he acting like a teenager? S§×arch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Smiley,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen interrupted, ¡°what are we going to do with all this stuff?¡±


    ¡°We figure out what it does,¡± Yu Xiao decided, ¡°then we sell it.¡±


    Selling it for points made far more sense than actually using any of it in a dungeon.


    Zhao Lan nodded. ¡°Shall we get Lu Xu to handle the sales again?¡±


    ¡°He can handle most of it,¡± Yu Xiao agreed, ¡°but we should try flogging a few bits ourselves. We¡¯ve still got some of those patients¡¯ numbers¡­¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll make the calls,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen volunteered.


    Zhao Lan breathed a sigh of relief. She¡¯d done telemarketing once, and it had left her with a permanent twitch. Just the thought made her scalp prickle.


    ¡°First,¡± she said, turning back to Yu Xiao, ¡°we need to work out what this lot actually does. Any ideas?¡±


    ¡°St. Elizabeth¡¯s,¡± Yu Xiao mused, ¡°or the next instance?¡±


    ¡°Next instance, definitely,¡± ¡®Flying to Someone Else¡¯s Bed¡¯ declared. ¡°Find the boss, try out the loot, one by one.¡±


    Yu Xiao frowned. ¡°What if there are side effects?¡±


    ¡°Like what?¡±


    She hesitated. ¡°What if using them makes the boss go mad?¡±


    He chuckled. ¡°Don¡¯t you worry about that. Leave the boss to me.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s not my point,¡± she retorted. ¡°What if it makes them¡­ well¡­ um, act like it¡¯s their wedding night?¡±


    ([¶´·¿; d¨°ngf¨¢ng; bridal chamber] ¨C This refers to the wedding night room where a couple consummated their marriage. Used here humorously to indicate an awkward potential side effect.)


    Silence descended upon the room.


    He blinked. ¡°Where do you come up with these things?¡±


    ¡°We had an item like that once,¡± Zhao Lan said dryly.


    He scratched his chin. ¡°Right. Well, with all of us there, it shouldn¡¯t be a problem.¡±


    Yu Xiao considered this for a moment longer, then nodded. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s risk it.¡±


    Zhao Lan pulled out a handful of utility cards. ¡°Keep these for the next level. Should we sell the rest?¡±


    ¡°Definitely sell,¡± Yu Xiao confirmed.


    The next instance held little interest for her beyond earning enough points for the three of them, and fast.


    ¡°Speaking of,¡± he sighed, ¡°why did Nightmare leave? Did it all go smoothly this time?¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s only gone for a bit,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen assured him. ¡°He might come back.¡±


    He perked up. ¡°Tell me everything!¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen, thrilled to recount their adventure, launched into the tale. Zhao Lan, meanwhile, began sorting the props while Yu Xiao, with nothing better to do, checked her messages from the comfort of her bed.


    ¡¾Congratulations on successfully completing your tenth treatment session! You¡¯ve now been upgraded to Level 11 on the Six Hospital Patient Forum.¡¿


    ¡¾Due to your excellent performance during the treatment, you¡¯ve earned 3 base points and an additional 3 reward points.¡¿


    ¡¾Congratulations on receiving the title ¡®Admired by Jealousy,¡¯ earning 4 reward points.¡¿


    Jealousy had admired her once. Now, probably not so much. Would this new title push him over the edge?


    ¡¾Congratulations on receiving the title ¡®Dragon Goddess,¡¯ earning 4 reward points.¡¿


    ¡¾Congratulations on receiving the title ¡®Professional Actor,¡¯ earning 4 reward points.¡¿


    Dragon Goddess? Yu Xiao scratched her head. She¡¯d specifically told them her nickname. How did it get twisted into that?


    ¡®Flying to Someone Else¡¯s Bed¡¯ had collapsed onto his cardboard box in hysterics when he heard about her celestial charade.


    ¡°Unbelievable!¡± he shrieked, clutching his sides. ¡°Has the world gone mad, or are all you youngsters this delusional these days?¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen puffed up with pride. ¡°Young minds are nimble, mate. It¡¯s how we roll.¡±


    Zhao Lan thought to herself, *Speak for yourself. I¡¯m perfectly ordinary.*


    ¡°So,¡± Yu Xiao asked, ¡°now Nightmare¡¯s gone, are you heading back to the Second Hospital?¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s see after your next instance crawl,¡± he said, pushing himself off the box. ¡°Nightmare might be back tomorrow, for all we know.¡±


    Yu Xiao had initially planned to find Nightmare a new line of work once his fugitive status was resolved. She wasn¡¯t sure how things were progressing on that front, and she was tempted to call the Director for an update. But their meeting was a secret between her and Goldie. She wasn¡¯t ready to share it with Zhou Xiao Zhen and Zhao Lan yet. Besides, making the call in the ward would just raise suspicions from Misty and Bed Bro.


    With Nightmare gone, sleep evaded ¡®Flying to Someone Else¡¯s Bed¡¯ that night. He¡¯d endured many sleepless nights, but this one was torture. Forced to stay awake, watching three people snoring peacefully in front of him.


    The sensation of seeing other do what you can¡¯t¡­ best not to dwell on it.


    Finally, mercifully, morning arrived. At seven on the dot, Zhao Lan¡¯s eyes flicked open. ¡®Flying to Someone Else¡¯s Bed¡¯ was staring at them, a mournful expression on his face. The thought of him watching them all night sent chills down her spine.


    He opened his mouth to speak, but she quickly raised a finger. ¡°Shhh.¡±


    He looked confused.


    ¡°They¡¯re still asleep,¡± she whispered.


    He fell silent.


    Yu Xiao, as usual, slept until her alarm blared at eight. Groaning, she stretched an arm out from under the duvet. ¡°Morning~¡±


    A wave of anxiety washed over ¡®Flying to Someone Else¡¯s Bed¡¯. If he ever met Jealousy in an instance, could he resist his allure? These three were just too damn enviable.


    ¡°Another beautiful day~ Let¡¯s start with the news, shall we?¡±


    ¡°Yesterday, a malicious incident occurred at the hospital. Attending Doctors Gu Shu and Lolita bribed Attending Doctor Qu Lian to sneak into his copy with the intent to murder patient Deaf Descendant. Fortunately, their plot was foiled by Nightmare, who was hiding within the copy. Nightmare promptly reported the incident and assisted the patients, thus averting a tragedy. Staff member Jealousy was found to have abandoned his post without cause¡­


    This incident has garnered significant attention from hospital leadership. As a result, the following punishments have been meted out: Attending Doctor Gu Shu has been demoted, Attending Doctor Lolita has been demoted, and Attending Doctor Qu Lian has been suspended for six months and sentenced to six months of compulsory labour. Jealousy will have two months¡¯ wages deducted¡­


    As for Nightmare, who played a positive role in this incident, he is to be rewarded. The hospital will lift his wanted status and promise not to interfere in his work¡­¡±


    ¡°It worked!¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen cheered. ¡°Nightmare¡¯s free!¡±


    ¡°Brilliant!¡± ¡®Flying to Someone Else¡¯s Bed¡¯ beamed. ¡°He¡¯s coming back!¡±


    ¡°Yesterday, a patient from the Second Hospital, nicknamed ¡®River South Shore,¡¯ excelled in their treatment and earned the prestigious title of ¡®Professional Actor.¡¯ Let¡¯s congratulate them.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡­¡±


    Everyone at the Second Hospital had received that title. They¡¯d all successfully portrayed terrified victims hunted by minions of an evil god.


    ¡®Flying to Someone Else¡¯s Bed¡¯ nearly choked on his own laughter. ¡°How brilliant! That¡¯s a title and a half. I want one.¡±


    ¡°Yesterday, a patient from the Sixth Hospital, nicknamed ¡®Deaf Descendant,¡¯ topped the list again. Let¡¯s congratulate them. They earned the titles ¡®Admired by Jealousy¡¯, ¡®Professional Actor,¡¯ and ¡®Dragon Goddess.¡¯ Let¡¯s give them a round of applause!¡±


    ¡°Amazing,¡± he said, giving a thumbs up.


    ¡°¡­And in the Sixth Hospital, patient ¡®Nickname Hassle¡¯ excelled remarkably during their treatment, earning the prestigious title of ¡®Swimming Champion¡¯. Let¡¯s congratulate them!¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen, curious as ever, asked Zhao Lan, ¡°Swimming Champion? Why?¡±


    Zhao Lan thought back to being chased, diving into the river, and the endless minutes spent floating like a wet dog¡­ *Ah, right.*


    **


    Meanwhile, in the Ancient Town Tainted by Poison Instance, by the ruined temple, Jealousy was fuming. Robed in crimson, sceptre clutched in his hand, he¡¯d just stormed back from the Medical Disputes Office.


    The moment Yu Xiao had left with his official seal, he knew he¡¯d been played. But he hadn¡¯t been overly concerned ¨C his plan all along had been to recruit new followers from the Ghost Group.


    The Chairman, however, proved a much tougher nut to crack. Then Fu Shen had shown up, and it was two against one. Still, he held his own¡­ until the three-headed hellhound arrived.


    *Cursed humans.* Not only had they tricked him, they¡¯d reported him. Two months¡¯ wages, gone. And by the time he returned, the sky had fallen.


    His world lay in ruins. His temple, demolished. His painstakingly gathered followers, vanished. The townspeople, now viewing him as a false deity, had found a new faith.


    And where his temple once stood? A shiny new one, dedicated to none other than that detestable human.


    ¡°Dragon Goddess, sole deity of the universe,¡± a worshipper prayed fervently at the foot of the statue, ¡°have mercy on your humble servant¡­¡±


    Jealousy: ¡°¡­¡±


    Dragon Goddess? Because that night, they hadn¡¯t quite caught the name Yu Xiao had uttered. They went with the first character of her nickname. Surely, the one true god wouldn¡¯t be called ¡®Deaf Descendant¡¯. Dragon Goddess it was.


    He glared at the statue ¨C a majestic goddess astride a divine beast, far grander than his previous idol. Envy burned within him.


    **


    ¡°Achoo!¡± Yu Xiao rubbed her nose, burrowing deeper under the duvet.


    ¡°Shouldn¡¯t you be getting up?¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s the rush?¡± she mumbled, reaching for her phone to call Tang Xing Yin.


    ¡°Sorry, the number you have dialled is not in service¡­¡±


    Yu Xiao lowered her phone. ¡°Just tried calling Tang Xing Yin.¡±


    Three pairs of eyes immediately fixed on her. She rubbed her eyes. ¡°Dead line. Number¡¯s disconnected.¡±


    Silence fell.


    ¡°Meaning?¡± Zhao Lan finally asked.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen pumped her fist. ¡°He¡¯s out! He¡¯s left the hospital!¡±


    Even ¡®Flying to Someone Else¡¯s Bed¡¯ lost his usual cheer and turned serious. ¡°That¡¯s¡­¡± he swallowed, ¡°that¡¯s wonderful.¡±


    Wonderful it was. Tang Xing Yin discharged. Teng Jing Zhi would be over the moon.


    Yu Xiao had promised him, back at Time Hospital, that she¡¯d track down his friends, see who else was still around. She had some free time now, no immediate plans to tackle any instances. It seemed like as good a time as any.


    As she turned to retrieve Teng Jing Zhi¡¯s phone from the drawer, a knock sounded at the door.


    ¡°Breakfast?¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen chirped.


    ¡°It¡¯s me,¡± a familiar voice called. ¡°I¡¯m back.¡±


    Yu Xiao froze. ¡®Flying to Someone Else¡¯s Bed¡¯ shot towards the door.

 Chapter 167: For the Ghosts, its About Being Alive

    The Nightmare, lips twitching with ill-concealed amusement, listened to the frantic footsteps hammering towards him from within the hospital room.


    The door swung open, a figure silhouetted against the light. He straightened, anticipation momentarily banishing the smirk from his face. But his anticipation quickly soured. The person wasn¡¯t the one he expected and obscured the view inside.


    ¡°Nightmare, you¡¯re back!¡± Flying to Someone Else¡¯s Bed threw his arms wide, almost taking a tumble in his eagerness. He closed them around¡­nothing at all.


    A blur of pale yellow shot through the gap between Bed Brother¡¯s legs and into the room.


    Inside, Yu Xiao, Zhou Xiao Zhen, and Zhao Lan craned their necks, trying to peek past the human obstacle. The blur resolved itself into a small, yellow kitten, perched on the edge of Yu Xiao¡¯s bed, staring at her with unnervingly large eyes.


    ¡°You¡­¡± Yu Xiao stammered, her thoughts a tangled mess. ¡°You¡¯re alright?¡±


    The Nightmare, eyes flickering towards the others in the room, gave a curt nod. ¡°Fine.¡±


    ¡°Brilliant!¡± Yu Xiao beamed, relieved. ¡°We should celebrate!¡± Bed Brother boomed, turning to face the room.


    Yu Xiao¡¯s smile twitched. While she was undoubtedly thrilled to have the Nightmare back in one piece (or whatever piece a Nightmare possessed), there were some things that needed clarifying. They¡¯d only taken him in because St. Elizabeth¡¯s Hospital was undergoing renovations, and he¡¯d been in danger of being discovered. It was meant to be temporary.


    She¡¯d been very clear about that with the others. Once St. Elizabeth¡¯s was back up and running, or the Nightmare was no longer a fugitive (whichever came first), he¡¯d have to move on.


    He had, admittedly, been surprisingly well-behaved. Almost¡­helpful, even. Not the inconvenient houseguest she¡¯d braced herself for.


    ¡°As we discussed,¡± she said slowly, ¡°once you¡¯re free to go, I can help you find somewhere¡­ suitable.¡±


    Disappointment flickered across his face. ¡°I want to stay here.¡±


    Yu Xiao hesitated. ¡°But¡­¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m quite useful. I can help,¡± Nightmare said, glancing at Flying to Someone Else¡¯s Bed. ¡°My powers aren¡¯t limited to this ward. I can manipulate dreams through a phone call, even if the person isn¡¯t in this hospital, but in others.¡±


    Flying to Someone Else¡¯s Bed¡¯s eyes sharpened, instantly grasping the implication: help me, and your sleep is guaranteed.


    ¡°You wouldn¡¯t want to leave him behind,¡± he purred, addressing Yu Xiao. ¡°Not just because of the dream control, but his strength too. You¡¯re capable, I¡¯ll grant you that, and full of ideas. But things change in an instance, and quickly. Can you guarantee everyone¡¯s safety, even if you can handle yourself? Nightmare changes the equation.¡±


    Nightmare nodded along enthusiastically. Yu Xiao, watching their little transaction unfold so blatantly, couldn¡¯t help but roll her eyes internally. Seriously? Did they think she was blind?


    Turning to Misty and Precious, she waited for their input.


    ¡°Whatever you decide,¡± chirped Zhou Xiao Zhen.


    Zhao Lan, after a moment of contemplation, said, ¡°I¡¯ve considered keeping Nightmare. The benefits outweigh the risks.¡±


    ¡°So, you¡¯re okay with him staying?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Zhao Lan nodded, then added, ¡°But the final decision is yours.¡±


    Yu Xiao sighed inwardly. Of course it was.


    Nightmare, practically vibrating with gratitude, shot Zhao Lan a grateful look. ¡°I can handle things like food runs, deliveries, cleaning,¡± he offered.


    Zhao Lan¡¯s eyebrow rose. A bonus, perhaps?


    Yu Xiao¡¯s lips twitched. This Nightmare was starting to remind her of Ripley back in the day; maybe that persona hadn¡¯t been entirely an act. ¡°Alright, you can stay.¡±


    Thrilled, Nightmare transformed back from the kitten, padding over to Yu Xiao¡¯s bed.


    Yu Xiao blinked.


    He began folding her blanket like a professional maid.


    Yu Xiao: ¡°¡­¡±


    Flying to Someone Else¡¯s Bed observed the scene with pure delight. Nightmare¡¯s return meant peaceful, uninterrupted sleep. Just as he was about to settle down for a well-deserved nap, Nightmare finished with the blanket, walked over, and stooped down to pick up his makeshift cardboard bed.


    Flying to Someone Else¡¯s Bed¡¯s eyes widened.


    ¡°No need to stay here,¡± Nightmare said, looking down at him. ¡°I can control your dreams from anywhere. You should go back to your own room. At least they have real beds.¡±


    Flying to Someone Else¡¯s Bed stared in silence. After all these years in the hospital, he was finally experiencing the harshness of the world.


    Nightmare neatly folded the cardboard, wiped it down, and asked, ¡°Do you want me to pack this up for you?¡±


    ¡­


    ¡°Delivery!¡± A cheerful voice called out from the door.


    Nightmare, holding the cardboard box, went to answer it. While he filled out the delivery form, Yu Xiao asked, ¡°Any news about those two doctors who were fired?¡± S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The courier lady¡¯s voice became respectful. ¡°Nothing on Lolita yet. Gu Shu, however, has returned to Gu Family Village. He got into a fight with the village doctor.¡±


    ¡°Why?¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen asked, curious.


    ¡°Something about a tree, apparently.¡±


    Yu Xiao exchanged a knowing glance with Zhao Lan. Gu Shu¡¯s tree, the one he had planted himself, was chopped down by Zhao Ge to build a wooden house¡­


    ¡°Thank you,¡± Yu Xiao said to the courier. Then, lowering her voice, ¡°Have you heard anything about Jealousy?¡±


    ¡°Apparently he¡¯s had two months¡¯ wages docked,¡± the delivery girl chirped. ¡°They say he turned the Ghost Corporation upside down ¨C even their attending doctor, Fu Shen, got his head knocked sideways. Tried to find a ghost chiropractor, but it was a scam, so now it¡¯s even more wonky.¡±


    ¡°Right¡­¡± Yu Xiao managed. ¡°Thanks.¡±


    ¡°My pleasure!¡± the ghost girl trilled, and disappeared.


    The room felt noticeably larger with Flying to Someone Else¡¯s Bed gone. Yu Xiao, busy all morning, realised she hadn¡¯t even washed her face yet. She headed to the bathroom to freshen up while Nightmare sorted out a food order.


    Normally, Yu Xiao loved nothing more than sprawling on her bed when she had free time. But with Nightmare having made it with military precision, the quilt folded into perfect tofu-cubed squares, she couldn¡¯t bring herself to mess it up.


    Zhao Lan and Zhou Xiao Zhen clearly felt the same. All three ended up at the table, watching as Nightmare returned with their food, laying it out with unnervingly precise movements. Every dish in front of Yu Xiao was a favourite.


    ¡°Come eat with us,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen offered.


    Nightmare cautiously perched himself beside Yu Xiao. Zhao Lan, still buzzing from Tang Xing Yin¡¯s departure, said between bites, ¡°Any plans for after you¡¯re discharged? Life goals changed at all?¡±


    Yu Xiao, chopsticks hovering, wasn¡¯t even sure she *would* be discharged.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen, stirring her rice with a sullen air, grumbled, ¡°Like someone like me, who¡¯s stared death in the face and lived to tell the tale, needs to bother with university entrance exams?¡±


    ¡°Of course you do!¡± Yu Xiao and Zhao Lan said in unison.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen deflated like a punctured balloon. ¡°Fine,¡± she mumbled. ¡°Guess that¡¯s my plan then.¡±


    ¡°What about you?¡± Zhao Lan turned to Yu Xiao.


    Yu Xiao, drawing a blank on future plans, countered, ¡°You haven¡¯t said what yours are.¡±


    ¡°Simple,¡± Zhao Lan declared, eyes gleaming with ambition. ¡°Work hard, become regional manager by forty.¡±


    ¡°What about your love life?¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen asked, wiggling her eyebrows. ¡°Any plans to snag yourself a boyfriend?¡±


    Zhao Lan smiled, a fleeting, willow-in-the-breeze kind of smile. ¡°We¡¯ll see. If the right person comes along, a little romance wouldn¡¯t hurt.¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen wouldn¡¯t let it go. ¡°What about that guy you sponsored? Think you¡¯d consider him if he came knocking after graduation?¡±


    Zhao Lan hesitated. ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°Enough about me,¡± she said quickly, steering the conversation away. ¡°What about you, Smiley?¡±


    Yu Xiao shrugged. ¡°Haven¡¯t really thought about it.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re in your third year now, right?¡± Zhao Lan, speaking from experience, said, ¡°Time to start thinking. Otherwise, you¡¯ll graduate clueless, stuck living off your parents.¡±


    ¡°Not necessarily.¡± Yu Xiao wasn¡¯t worried. ¡°My parents left me a flat, decent location. Been renting it out ¨C brings in a good ten thousand yuan a month. I¡¯m careful with money, it¡¯s enough.¡±


    Zhao Lan and Zhou Xiao Zhen exchanged stunned looks.


    Nightmare, listening to their conversation, understood and yet didn¡¯t. No matter how closely the hospital copy mirrored the real world, differences remained. He couldn¡¯t quite grasp the source of their stress. One thing was clear, though: Yu Xiao wanted out, and her chances seemed good.


    Over the past few days, Yu Xiao had been compiling questions. She was itching to confront the Horror Hospital Director one last time, get some answers.


    But she held back. Having made up her mind to leave, further interaction felt risky.


    After dinner, Yu Xiao settled in a chair with a cup of Nightmare¡¯s surprisingly decent tea. Scrolling through Teng Jing Zhi¡¯s phone contacts, she saw a mix of names from the real world and over fifty nicknames she didn¡¯t recognise.


    Starting from the top, she began dialling.


    ¡°We¡¯re sorry, the number you have dialled is currently switched off¡­¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re sorry, the number you have dialled is currently switched off¡­¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re sorry, the number you have dialled is currently switched off¡­¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    Just as she was about to give up, a dozen unanswered calls later, someone picked up.


    ¡°Hello.¡± The voice on the other end was male, calm and collected.


    Excitement bubbled up inside Yu Xiao. ¡°Bestowing Roses?¡±


    ¡°Speaking.¡±


    ¡°Do you¡­¡± She paused, thinking fast. ¡°Do you still recognise this number? Remember who it belongs to?¡±


    ¡°Of course,¡± the voice replied. ¡°It¡¯s been a while since you called.¡±


    Yu Xiao was about to explain that she wasn¡¯t Teng Jing Zhi when it hit her. The realisation slammed into her like a runaway train. Her mind raced, piecing it together, and she was silent for a full three minutes before asking, ¡°When did you start impersonating Bestowing Roses?¡±


    A faintly surprised chuckle came from the other end. ¡°You¡¯ve figured it out, haven¡¯t you? Impressive. How did you know?¡±


    The answer was almost embarrassingly obvious in hindsight. Anyone who¡¯d survived this long in the hospital wouldn¡¯t be so¡­ normal. And if he really knew Teng Jing Zhi, wouldn¡¯t he know he was talking to a woman?


    Yu Xiao hung up, leaning back with her eyes closed.


    Zhao Lan, catching snippets of the conversation and seeing Yu Xiao¡¯s expression, knew something was up. But before she could ask, the phone rang again.


    The ringtone blared out: *I truly wish to live another five hundred years¡­*


    Yu Xiao¡¯s eyes flew open. The caller ID: Flying to Someone Else¡¯s Bed.


    ¡°Hello?¡± she answered, baffled. ¡°Are you back in the ward?¡±


    ¡°Just got back,¡± came the reply. ¡°Nightmare¡¯s with you, right? He said he can control dreams remotely now. Tell him to hurry up, I¡¯m ready for bed.¡±


    Yu Xiao practically threw the phone at Nightmare. ¡°Here, you deal with him.¡±


    Nightmare took the phone and simply said, ¡°Sleep.¡±


    Yu Xiao sipped her tea, her mind churning. The phone call left her feeling uneasy. A troubling thought wormed its way in: would she retain any memories of the hospital after being discharged? And if so, what about the ghosts inhabiting the patients?


    Would those spirits, now human, still crave flesh?


    She scratched her head, another question surfacing. Ghosts were essentially negative energy. When that energy invaded a body, it became a possession. Everyone who survived a trial had been tainted by it to some extent. So if someone like Tang Xing Yin accumulated enough points and left, what happened to that energy? Was it extracted as well?


    Yu Xiao had always considered herself fairly uncurious. Turns out, she was full of questions.


    Catching a moment when Zhao Lan and Zhou Xiao Zhen weren¡¯t paying attention, she quickly typed out a message to the Director.


    ¡¾I want to see you.¡¿


    The instant she hit send, she wanted to slap herself. She accidentally used Teng Jing Zhi¡¯s phone!


    Zhao Lan gave her a curious look. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±


    ¡°Nothing,¡± Yu Xiao said, forcing a laugh. ¡°Just a leg cramp.¡±


    Nightmare handed the phone back. ¡°All done.¡±


    The near miss squashed any lingering impulsiveness. Right, no more questions for now. She¡¯d only seek out the Dean as a last resort.


    As if summoned by her thoughts, a familiar voice boomed from the doorway.


    Goldie.


    ¡°Deaf Descendant,¡± he barked, ¡°you¡¯ve been accused of harassing the Director. Come with me.¡±


    Yu Xiao stared at the door, gobsmacked.


    ¡°What?¡± Zhao Lan looked bewildered.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s eyes were practically popping out of her head.


    Nightmare¡¯s expression hardened. Yu Xiao slammed her hand on the table. ¡°Absolute rubbish!¡±


    Zhao Lan knew Yu Xiao was daring, but she also knew she wouldn¡¯t do something as foolish as provoking the Director.


    ¡°Are you sure there isn¡¯t a misunderstanding?¡± she asked Goldie.


    Nightmare, sounding slightly panicked, added, ¡°You¡¯re a living soul; they¡¯ll catch you easily if you try to run. Even I might struggle to hide you¡­¡±


    Yu Xiao sighed internally. What a mess. Pushing herself up from the table, she said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. This is a hospital, not a kangaroo court. They wouldn¡¯t accuse someone without proof.¡±


    ¡°Oh, really?¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen scoffed. ¡°Tell that to all the wrongly accused attending doctors you met.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll be back soon,¡± Yu Xiao said firmly, already at the door. ¡°Trust me.¡±


    Outside, the three-headed dog waited patiently. She followed him out, shutting the door softly behind her.


    ¡°Honestly,¡± she muttered, ¡°falsely accusing someone like this. Where¡¯s the evidence?¡±


    The three-headed dog rolled all six eyes. ¡°You were the one who wanted to keep the meeting secret from your friends.¡±


    ¡°That doesn¡¯t give you the right to invent things.¡±


    ¡°Fine, fine,¡± the three-headed dog grumbled. ¡°Such a drama queen.¡±


    They retraced the familiar route to the ferry.


    ¡°We should give this river a name,¡± Yu Xiao mused out loud.


    The three-headed dog ignored her.


    ¡°How about ¡®Stinking Ditch¡¯?¡±


    A wave of despair washed over the creature. What if she actually *did* become the Director one day? Would it be stuck being this woman¡¯s dog?


    No, best not to think about it. The very idea was depressing.


    The Director¡¯s residence was exactly as she remembered it, unchanged. Even the Director himself looked the same, though he¡¯d swapped his shirt for a black sleeping robe embroidered with blue roses.


    ¡°Tea?¡± he offered.


    ¡°Sure,¡± Yu Xiao accepted, feeling more at ease this time around. ¡°Even Directors need their sleep, huh?¡± she asked curiously.


    ¡°No need for sleep,¡± the Director said, holding a teacup in his left hand and adjusting his glasses with the middle finger of his right. ¡°The robe just makes me seem more approachable.¡±


    Yu Xiao wasn¡¯t sure how to respond to that.


    He set the teacup before her, sat down, steepled his fingers, and smiled. ¡°I¡¯m glad you requested this meeting.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t get any ideas,¡± Yu Xiao said warily. ¡°I¡¯m not here to accept your offer.¡±


    ¡°Of course, of course,¡± he chuckled. ¡°Such a weighty decision requires careful consideration. But the fact that you¡¯re here speaks volumes.¡±


    Yu Xiao¡¯s expression remained carefully neutral. There was no point beating around the bush. ¡°Do patients retain their memories of the hospital after they¡¯re discharged?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± he replied simply.


    Yu Xiao had suspected as much. ¡°And what about the ghosts who take their place?¡±


    ¡°Ah, them¡­¡± He crossed his legs. ¡°You see, memories aren¡¯t solely stored in the soul. The body retains some as well.¡±


    Yu Xiao, unable to help herself, scratched her head in frustration. ¡°So the ghosts who leave pretending to be patients¡­ they don¡¯t have their own memories? Just the patient¡¯s? Who¡¯s really alive then ¨C the patient or the ghost?¡±


    ¡°Does it matter?¡± He seemed genuinely puzzled by her agitation. ¡°For the ghosts, it¡¯s about being alive. Whose memories they carry is irrelevant. And the patients¡­ well, they¡¯re gone. Who¡¯s there to care?¡±


    Yu Xiao stared at him, stunned. And then it clicked. ¡°So, those negative energies that possess people¡­ they leave with the discharged patients too¡­¡±


    ¡°Naturally.¡± He frowned slightly. ¡°Did you think this whole hospital was just about a few replacement bodies?¡±


    It all made sense now. Ghosts leaving in place of patients was a rarity. Most of the time, they latched onto patients, hitching a ride back to the real world.


    No wonder the hospital had so many rules protecting patients ¨C they weren¡¯t necessarily on opposing sides.


    Yu Xiao felt a rush of understanding, years of confusion clearing away. ¡°But is it¡­ okay? For the ghosts to leave like that?¡±


    The Director shrugged, a strangely human gesture. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t know. I¡¯ve never experienced the living world myself.¡±


    ¡°You want me to be Director,¡± Yu Xiao said slowly, ¡°but how do you plan to leave? By taking over my body?¡±


    He considered this, a thoughtful frown on his face. ¡°It¡¯s not impossible. Being a woman¡­ is it so different from being a man? More¡­ interesting?¡±


    Yu Xiao stared at him. ¡°You do realise you¡¯re currently a man, right?¡±


    ¡°Hardly.¡± He chuckled. ¡°I¡¯m not human, after all. This is merely a vessel.¡± His gaze swept over her, assessing. ¡°Your body¡­ it¡¯s not much to look at, I¡¯ll grant you that. But intriguing, nonetheless.¡±

 Chapter 168: Most Importantly Hes Single

    Yu Xiao¡¯s mind went blank. Well, not entirely blank. Images of her two lovely, rent-controlled flats in the city centre danced before her eyes, *They are mine! I won¡¯t let you take advantage of me.*


    ¡°Ha,¡± she forced a smile, ¡°You can¡¯t just replace me.¡±


    ¡°Doesn¡¯t matter,¡± the Director said nonchalantly, slender fingers stroking a delicate, white porcelain teacup as if it were a priceless Ming dynasty artefact. ¡°Options are plentiful.¡±


    Frustration bubbled up, but Yu Xiao swallowed it down. ¡°What kind of beings are Nightmare and Jealousy anyway?¡±


    A flicker of theatrical melancholy touched the Director¡¯s eyes. ¡°They are echoes of the dead ¨C Nightmare, born from primal fear, and Jealousy, from the bitter sting of envy. Neither ghost nor truly alive, they exist in the space between.¡± He lowered his head, a dramatic sigh escaping his lips. ¡°They don¡¯t crave life like we do. They don¡¯t yearn, they don¡¯t desire¡­ I envy that freedom from the madness of wanting¡­ I envy it so much.¡±


    His tone sharpened, teeth clenching. Abruptly, he picked up his phone and dialled a number right in front of her. ¡°It¡¯s me. Jealousy¡¯s little stunt was a blatant violation. Two more months community service. Consider it a lesson.¡±


    Yu Xiao stared, speechless. She resisted the urge to pat his hand and offer him a juice box. The man needed a hobby.


    The Director hung up, his good mood seemingly restored. ¡°See? As Director, you could do the same. Imagine, wielding such influence¡­¡±


    Ignoring his not-so-subtle suggestion, Yu Xiao pressed on. ¡°What exactly is a ¡®domain¡¯?¡±


    ¡°A domain is¡ª¡± He stopped, then fixed her with a resentful look. ¡°I answer all your questions, but when will you answer mine?¡±


    ¡°Heh, maybe next time,¡± Yu Xiao chuckled awkwardly. ¡°But seriously, what¡¯s the deal with these ¡®domains¡¯?¡±


    ¡°Why the sudden interest?¡± the Director asked, his mind clearly still on his impending discharge.


    Relieved by his indifference to the hospital¡¯s fate, Yu Xiao took a gamble. ¡°I have a few ghostly associates. If they could get their hands on domains, well, let¡¯s just say it would be mutually beneficial.¡±


    ¡°Ah,¡± the Director¡¯s eyes glinted with understanding. ¡°Someone else once had the same idea. Didn¡¯t work out. Domains are innate, not something you can just pick up.¡±


    Yu Xiao blinked. Since when did ghosts use words like ¡®innate¡¯? ¡°Who was this someone?¡± she asked, latching onto the important detail.


    ¡°The one before you,¡± he replied, as if it were obvious.


    Her curiosity piqued. ¡°The one who got out early?¡±


    He nodded. ¡°That¡¯s the one.¡±


    Yu Xiao found herself increasingly intrigued by this predecessor. What kind of person was he, racking up points so quickly? He must have been something special, with the willpower to leave so decisively.


    ¡°What about him¡­¡± she began, ¡°Why him, back then? You said you chose me because I have¡­ ¡®living virtues¡¯. Compassion, responsibility, all that. Surely he had those too?¡±


    ¡°Of course he did,¡± the Director grumbled, a flicker of annoyance crossing his face. ¡°Hypocrite. Enough about him. I¡¯m tired. Need to rest.¡±


    ¡°Even you need rest?¡± Yu Xiao asked, surprised.


    ¡°What¡¯s it to you?¡± He shot her a sidelong glare. ¡°Goldie, get her out of here!¡±


    Back on the ferry, Yu Xiao saw the usual passengers huddled in the corners. ¡°Who are they?¡± she whispered.


    The Cerberus stared straight ahead, silent as a tomb. Yu Xiao, never one to back down from a challenge, pressed on. ¡°Ever think what¡¯ll happen when I¡¯m Director? How I¡¯ll treat you?¡±


    The Cerberus remained stubbornly silent.


    ¡°Head of Security¡¯s a pretty sweet gig,¡± she mused out loud. ¡°Think any ghosts would beg me for that job?¡±


    ¡°Those are the department heads,¡± sighed the three-headed dog.


    ¡°Ah,¡± Yu Xiao mused. So everyone worked for the hospital. How cosy.


    Gazing out at the crimson river, an idea struck her. She leaned closer to the despondent dog. Its three pairs of eyes fixed on her with wary disdain.


    ¡°Goldie,¡± she whispered, ¡°Why does the Director hate the last living visitor so much?¡±


    Goldie¡¯s fur bristled, teeth bared. ¡°Grr¡­ Woof!¡±


    ¡°Come on, spill the tea.¡± Yu Xiao casually slung an arm around the dog¡¯s neck. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, your secret¡¯s safe with me. Besides, if I¡¯m Director one day, you¡¯ll still be top dog.¡±


    Goldie was torn. This was venturing into dangerous territory, but displeasing a future Director was equally unappealing. Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    After a moment¡¯s hesitation, it whispered, ¡°Don¡¯t you breathe a word of this.¡±


    ¡°My lips are sealed,¡± Yu Xiao assured.


    ¡°If you do,¡± growled the three-headed dog, ¡°even if it costs me my job, I¡¯ll bite you to death!¡±


    ¡°Alright, alright,¡± she laughed, giving its neck a gentle shake. ¡°Out with it then.¡±


    ¡°He lied to the Director,¡± it mumbled. ¡°Agreed to everything, then went back on his word. And¡­ and he changed the hospital layout.¡±


    Yu Xiao¡¯s jaw dropped. Someone actually managed to change the layout?


    ¡°What did he do?¡± she pressed.


    The three-headed dog hesitated, about to spill more secrets, when suddenly its phone rang. ¡°What? An attending doctor ate a patient? Right, on my way!¡±


    It looked as if it had been granted amnesty. ¡°You¡¯ve done the journey loads of times. You¡¯ll be fine getting back yourself, right?¡±


    ¡°Fine? What if a ghost tries to snack on me?¡±


    ¡°Woof!¡± Desperate to escape, it ripped something off its chest and shoved it at her. ¡°My badge. Representing my identity. No ghost will mess with you.¡±


    And with that, it bolted, as if something truly terrifying was on its tail.


    Yu Xiao clutched the Cerberus¡¯s ID badge, identical to her own save for the ¡®Head of Security¡¯ inscription.


    Behind her, the churning river of blood. Ahead, a wall of impenetrable black mist.


    This was her third trip down this path, the route committed to memory. But before, she¡¯d had the Cerberus and its cronies for company. Despite their less-than-human nature, it had been¡­ comforting. Now, alone in the oppressive mist, she felt a prickle of unease.


    This was no ordinary fog, she knew, but concentrated yin energy. A palpable¡­ feeling of souls trying to invade her body.


    She picked up her pace.


    The inpatient ward loomed ahead, some rooms faintly glowing, others lost in shadow. The echoing rattle of a trolley reached her ears.


    Must be the meal trolley, she thought.


    Then came a whistling sound, the tune eerily familiar ¨C ¡®Two Butterflies¡¯. Yu Xiao stopped, listening as the trolley drew closer, until a surprised voice cut through the gloom.


    ¡°Well, well. A living one.¡±


    She spun around. In the dim light, she could just make out the trolley. Holding up her badge, she watched as the dining ghost hesitated, then turned to flee.


    ¡°Not so fast!¡± she barked.


    The poor ghost, just trying to do its job, froze in its tracks. As Yu Xiao approached, her eyes widened in recognition. Wild hair, claw-like fingers¡­


    ¡°You¡­¡± she pointed, ¡°You look familiar.¡±


    The ghost, spotting her, began to tremble with excitement, hopping from foot to foot and pointing. Yu Xiao felt something snake-like slither out of her trouser pocket.


    ¡°!!¡±


    A strand of hair. Memories flooded back.


    ¡°You¡¯re the one from the mortuary¡­¡±


    The singing ghost nodded fervently, wringing its hands. ¡°It¡¯s me.¡±


    ¡°What are you doing here? I thought you were at the mortuary?¡±


    One eye, peering through the curtain of hair, fixed her with a mournful stare. ¡°Gu Shu¡­ he¡¯s no longer good.¡±


    Yu Xiao blinked, confused, and then it clicked. She had once suggested her to pursue Gu Shu. That hadn¡¯t gone well then.


    ¡°He doesn¡¯t have a salary,¡± the ghost wailed.


    Yu Xiao¡¯s eyes widened. Oh dear.


    ¡°And now he doesn¡¯t even have a job.¡±


    She bit back a sigh.


    ¡°I¡¯m over him,¡± the ghost added, with a touch of defiance in her voice.


    Yu Xiao stifled a laugh. ¡°You¡¯re right. Never settle for an unemployed ghost. But why come all the way to the Sixth Hospital?¡±


    ¡°To find you,¡± the ghost said, her eyes fixed on her. ¡°I can sense the hair.¡±


    It all came flooding back. The ghost had given her a strand of hair. At the time, Yu Xiao hadn¡¯t been sure what it was for and had just shoved it in her pocket, promptly forgetting about it. Apparently, it doubled as a tracking device.


    ¡°And what can I do for you?¡± she asked, feeling a pang of sympathy for the ghost who had once helped her.


    ¡°I need a job,¡± the ghost mumbled, wringing her hands.


    Yu Xiao stared. ¡°You don¡¯t like¡­ delivering meals?¡±


    The ghost shook her head.


    ¡°Then what kind of job are you after?¡±


    The ghost¡¯s eyes flickered up, then away. ¡°Somewhere¡­ with lots of eligible bachelors.¡±


    Yu Xiao¡¯s mind went blank. How was she supposed to know where to find a hotbed of eligible bachelors, ghostly or otherwise? And even if she did, playing matchmaker was beyond her pay grade. She was a patient, not a dating guru.


    But as she looked at the lovelorn ghost, a thought struck her. The Director always got cagey when talk turned to the former patient from the First Hospital. And the Cerberus, with its evasive answers, was clearly hiding something. Asking them directly would be like navigating a minefield of half-truths and deflections.


    No, she needed a different approach.


    The First Hospital may have been deserted, but a few die-hards remained. Surely someone there knew that senior. And patient gossip had to be more reliable than anything the Director would reveal.


    ¡°You,¡± Yu Xiao fixed the female ghost with a steely gaze.


    The ghost flinched, taking a step back. Yu Xiao considered offering a reassuring hand on the shoulder but thought better of it after noticing the greasy hair. Greasy hair was greasy hair.


    ¡°You might not know this,¡± she said, locking eyes with the ghost, ¡°but I¡¯m not just a hospital Dean. I¡¯m also the inspection team leader and the Dragon Goddess of Poisoned Town. Getting you a job is child¡¯s play. But why should I?¡±


    The ghost froze, panic creeping into her eyes. She had nothing to offer.


    ¡°Consider this a golden opportunity,¡± Yu Xiao continued. ¡°Do me a favour, and you¡¯ve got yourself a deal. You¡¯re looking for a top-notch ghost, right? Well, at Saint Elizabeth¡¯s, we have Tie Niu. He¡¯s the head of surgery, highly skilled, with a cushy job, great benefits, and most importantly¡­ he¡¯s single.¡±


    The ghost¡¯s eyes lit up. Her tone did a complete 180. ¡°Anything, Dean. Just name it.¡±


    ¡°Switch departments. Start delivering meals to the First Hospital.¡±


    ¡°Easy peasy!¡± The ghost, practically vibrating with excitement, turned to leave.


    ¡°Hold on,¡± Yu Xiao called out. The ghost stopped. ¡°What¡¯s on the menu today? And give me some.¡±


    The ghost eagerly pulled back the cloth covering the trolley. ¡°Human brain!¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    **


    Back at the ward, Nightmare slouched by the door while Zhao Lan sat lost in thought by the window. Only Zhou Xiao Zhen paced anxiously, worried sick about Yu Xiao.


    Where was she? What if something had happened?


    Zhao Lan, staring out the window, replayed Yu Xiao¡¯s previous visits to the Medical Dispute Office in her mind. The first time, her friend had been anxious, her cheerfulness upon return a thin facade.


    This time, Yu Xiao¡¯s departure had been less dramatic, but Zhao Lan sensed an air of purpose, as if she had been waiting for this.


    Yu Xiao was hiding something.


    Zhao Lan could understand keeping real-world secrets. But something about the hospital¡­ that was different.


    Yu Xiao hadn¡¯t even tried to conceal her job or her dealings with those seniors from the other hospitals, or her strange protectiveness of Nightmare. Whatever this was, it was serious.


    And if it was just danger, Yu Xiao wouldn¡¯t hide it. She wasn¡¯t the type to face things alone.


    The more Zhao Lan thought, the more afraid she became. Both times, Yu Xiao had been accompanied by that three-headed dog. If a creature like that was just a guide, who was calling the shots?


    Her mind spiralled into increasingly terrifying scenarios, just as Nightmare suddenly straightened up and swung the door open.


    Yu Xiao stood there, holding a container of food, a surprised look on her face. She hadn¡¯t even knocked.


    ¡°I¡¯m back!¡± she announced, setting the food down. ¡°Bumped into the dinner trolley. Sichuan boiled fish tonight¡­¡±


    ( [Ë®ÖóÓã; shu¨« zh¨³ y¨²; ¡°water-boiled fish¡±; Sichuan Boiled Fish]: A popular spicy Chinese dish, known for its intense flavours.)

 Chapter 169: Greetings, Illustrious Dean~

    The scent of ginger, garlic, and chilli-laced fish wafted through the sterile hospital room, a welcome disruption to the clinical air.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen, her earlier worries seemingly forgotten, skipped over to help Yu Xiao clear the table.


    Nightmare watched them. He¡¯d seen the trio massaging each other¡¯s shoulders on occasion, after spending so much time together in the hospital room. His gaze lingered on Yu Xiao¡¯s shoulders for a moment before he seemed to think better of it, quickly looking away.


    ¡°Misty,¡± Yu Xiao called out, her voice as soothing as ever, ¡°come and eat.¡±


    Zhao Lan approached the table, her expression carefully neutral. If Smiley wasn¡¯t ready to speak about her latest escapade, she wouldn¡¯t pry. There would be time later, she thought, for a discreet conversation with Smiley ¨C just the two of them.


    The three women and Nightmare settled down to their meal. Zhao Lan couldn¡¯t help but find Nightmare¡¯s fondness for fish fascinating. It seemed an odd choice for someone who, despite his cat form, was more human shaped monster than feline. Perhaps his spectral palate had undergone a transformation as well?


    ¡°Smiley,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen piped up, carefully picking out the fiery red chilli peppers from the fish with her chopsticks, ¡°Did you escape punishment again?¡±


    ¡°Hospitals are places of reason,¡± Yu Xiao replied smoothly, her face a mask of practised innocence. Over time, she had perfected the art of lying without so much as a flicker of guilt. ¡°They wouldn¡¯t wrong an innocent person.¡±


    A loaded silence followed. Everyone, save for Nightmare, wore identical expressions of amused disbelief.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s brow furrowed, her confusion endearing. Was Sister Xiao being serious? Zhao Lan, meanwhile, could only shake her head inwardly. If you¡¯re going to lie, she thought, at least make it believable.


    Fortunately, Yu Xiao was a master of misdirection. ¡°Guess where I got this food?¡± she asked, her voice light, carefully casual.


    ¡°The trolley,¡± Zhao Lan stated flatly, already bracing herself for whatever elaborate fabrication Yu Xiao would conjure this time.


    ¡°Of course, it¡¯s from the trolley,¡± Yu Xiao chuckled, leaning forward conspiratorially. ¡°But I meant the ghost pushing the trolley.¡± She paused for effect, her eyes twinkling. ¡°Remember the singing ghost from the morgue?¡±


    ¡°Ah?¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen blinked, momentarily stunned.


    The memory of the morgue felt like a lifetime ago. Back then, they hadn¡¯t yet met Nightmare, and Gu Shu had still been a promising attending doctor. As Zhao Lan pondered this blast from the past, Zhou Xiao Zhen chimed in, her voice tinged with curiosity. ¡°The ghost who used to bring Gu Shu gifts? The one you always seemed to bump into, Smiley?¡±


    ¡°Exactly!¡± Yu Xiao exclaimed, her voice filled with mock enthusiasm. ¡°That¡¯s her.¡±


    ¡°But wasn¡¯t she working in the morgue?¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen asked, her brow furrowed. ¡°How did she end up delivering meals at the Sixth Hospital?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s quite the story, actually,¡± Yu Xiao chuckled, her eyes sparkling with mischief. ¡°She was a bit of a hopeless romantic, you see. I¡¯d convinced her to pursue Gu Shu. But recently, Gu Shu ran into some trouble, lost his job, and probably won¡¯t have the chance to be an attending doctor again. The female ghost thought he was no good anymore since she didn¡¯t fancy a ghost without a good job or income. So, she completely gave up on Gu Shu.¡±


    Yu Xiao shifted on the worn hospital bench, her eyes widening. ¡°Ghosts with a taste for luxury? Now that¡¯s a new one!¡± she chuckled, shaking her head at the absurdity.


    Zhao Lan¡¯s laughter bubbled up, her eyes sparkling with amusement. ¡°You have to admire her ambition.¡±


    Beside her, Zhou Xiao Zhen dissolved into giggles, barely able to contain herself. Yu Xiao joined in, though her laughter was more subdued.


    ¡°Remember that strand of hair she gave me?¡± she said, her voice laced with amusement. ¡°I couldn¡¯t figure out what it was for until now. She¡¯s been using it to track me down, took a job as a food delivery ghost at the Sixth Hospital just to find me. It seems she thinks we have a special connection and wants me to help her find a job where she can meet an impressive¡­ male ghost.¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen doubled over, clutching her stomach as laughter ripped through her. ¡°Did you find her one? What about at the Ghostly Group, with Wen Rou and the others? They¡¯re quite the catch. Although¡­¡± she paused, tapping a finger to her chin thoughtfully, ¡°No, that wouldn¡¯t do. They don¡¯t have proper jobs, do they?¡±


    Yu Xiao¡¯s expression sobered. ¡°I¡¯ve already found her something. Just one small favour for me, and she¡¯ll have a job with a decent, competent, and well-mannered ghost.¡±


    Zhao Lan¡¯s curiosity was piqued. ¡°What kind of favour?¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen frowned, her priorities clearly lying elsewhere. ¡°And who is this paragon of ghostly virtue? Why haven¡¯t I heard of him?¡±


    Yu Xiao, choosing to answer the simpler question first, grinned. ¡°It¡¯s Tie Niu.¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s jaw dropped. ¡°What? Smiley, that¡¯s just cruel!¡± she exclaimed, shocked. ¡°Tie Niu might be decent and competent, but he¡¯s very thin! Not exactly attractive.¡±


    Yu Xiao¡¯s eyes twinkled mischievously. ¡°Did I say anything about being handsome?¡±


    Turning back to Zhao Lan, she explained, ¡°I need her to transfer to the First Hospital as a food delivery ghost. She can help me connect with some of the living patients there.¡±


    Understanding dawned on Zhao Lan. Yu Xiao¡¯s request, although unusual, was clever. Since Tang Xing Yin¡¯s discharge, their connection to the First Hospital had been cut off. Reaching out to anyone there, without a platform to use, was nearly impossible. But a cooperative ghost on the inside? That could be their way back in.


    Zhao Lan nodded, assuming Yu Xiao¡¯s request came from the frustrating lack of response from Teng Jing Zhi¡¯s contacts. Expanding their network among senior ghosts was always a good idea.


    **


    Being a food delivery ghost was hardly prestigious. It was a transient role, a stepping stone until something better came along. Turnover was high in all hospitals.


    The work itself varied drastically. Newer hospitals housed less experienced patients, ripe for a good haunting and more likely to surrender a tasty treat. Older hospitals, with their seasoned and powerful patients, rarely offered a reward worth the effort, even if the haunting was successful.


    There were no barriers, no formalities when the female ghost requested a transfer to the First Hospital. It was granted immediately.


    The atmosphere at the First Hospital was different, heavier, but she barely noticed. A few more days, she thought, just a few more days, and I¡¯ll be working at St. Elizabeth¡¯s, rubbing shoulders with the esteemed Dr. Tie Niu. Everyone knew St. Elizabeth¡¯s was the premier institution for ghosts of discerning taste.


    Her anticipation grew with each step as she pushed the meal cart down the dimly lit, antiquated corridors of the First Hospital, a cheerful hum escaping her lips and echoing through the halls.


    She stopped in front of a door, her spectral senses easily discerning the living from the dead within.


    The persistent rapping of ghostly knuckles echoed through the hallway, but silence met the female ghost¡¯s offer. ¡°Hello? A complimentary dinner? All I need is your phone number!¡±


    A gruff ¡°Clear off!¡± boomed from within, cutting her short.


    Her shoulders slumped. Persuading the living to share their digits for her boss was proving trickier than she¡¯d imagined. Still, a good job ¨C and a handsome husband ¨C were powerful motivators.


    With a determined shove of her food cart, she rolled on, stopping at the next door. ¡°Knock, knock, knock. Hello! Free dinner, anyone? All I ask in return¡­¡±


    ¡°Get lost!!¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    The cart, seemingly unfazed by the rejections, continued its rumbling journey down the desolate corridor.


    **


    Dinner had done wonders for Yu Xiao¡¯s mood. Phone in hand, she resumed her grim task, working her way down Teng Jing Zhi¡¯s contact list. Cases of being replaced, it seemed, were rare. Most numbers were disconnected or out of service.


    Two, however, rang. No answer, but they rang, indicating someone could pick up. It was more than she¡¯d had before. Yu Xiao carefully noted the numbers, a spark of hope igniting in her chest. She¡¯d try again later.


    Nightmare, observing her from his perch on the bedside table, understood one thing with absolute clarity: usefulness equaled job security. Yu Xiao might have agreed to let him stay, but he wasn¡¯t about to get comfortable. He wanted to be more than just ¡°allowed¡± ¨C he wanted to be essential, more so than even Zhao Lan and Zhou Xiao Zhen.


    No, scratch that. He wanted to blow them out of the water.


    As Yu Xiao set down Teng Jing Zhi¡¯s phone, reaching for her own to call Lu Xu, Nightmare materialised beside her.


    Yu Xiao hesitated, clutching the phone in her hand. ¡°What¡¯s up?¡±


    Nightmare fixed his gaze on her. ¡°You have many friends who can¡¯t sleep. Perhaps I could be of service?¡±


    A wave of warmth washed over Yu Xiao. He was so proactive, so thoughtful. It wasn¡¯t as if he was obligated to help ¨C he wasn¡¯t really her subordinate, after all ¨C but he never made her feel awkward about asking.


    Overwhelmed, she instinctively lifted her hand, then froze, remembering Nightmare wasn¡¯t a cat anymore. Stroking him seemed¡­inappropriate.


    But Nightmare, ever attuned to the subtlest of cues, was already nuzzling his head against her palm.


    Yu Xiao was speechless.


    ¡°Alright, thank you,¡± she finally managed, a small smile twitching at her lips. ¡°I¡¯ll call them, see if they¡¯re interested.¡±


    She dialled Lu Xu¡¯s number.


    ¡°Smiley! You remembered me! I heard the news, three new titles! Dragon God! You¡¯re my idol¡­¡±


    ¡°Enough with the flattery,¡± Yu Xiao cut him off, amused. ¡°How¡¯s business?¡±


    ¡°Not bad, not bad,¡± Lu Xu said, his voice slightly muffled. ¡°Just cleared a dungeon, still sorting through the loot. I¡¯ll send the orders over when I¡¯m done.¡±


    ¡°What are you even doing?¡± Yu Xiao asked, puzzled. ¡°Why¡¯s your voice so weird?¡±


    ¡°Uh¡­¡± A beat of silence. ¡°Toilet.¡±


    ¡°Oh.¡± Yu Xiao paused. ¡°By the way, how¡¯s Luo Jin?¡±


    ¡°Same old, same old,¡± Lu Xu sighed. ¡°We¡¯re sleeping separately now.¡±


    Yu Xiao, recalling Wang Dong Dong¡¯s similar sleeping arrangements back at the Second Hospital, continued. ¡°Well, I haven¡¯t figured out the Yin energy thing yet,¡± she said, ¡°but I think I have solved Luo Jin¡¯s nightmare problem.¡±


    ¡°!!!¡±


    A flurry of rustling sounds erupted from the other end of the line ¨C toilet paper, fabric¡­ Yu Xiao could practically hear Lu Xu scrambling to get decent.


    Yu Xiao heard the toilet door creak open, followed by Lu Xu¡¯s triumphant shout. ¡°Luo Jin! You¡¯re saved, buddy!¡±


    **


    Luo Jin slumped by the window, the epitome of despair. His cannibalistic dreams had become so frequent that sleep provided no relief. He couldn¡¯t even escape into the nightmare ¨C he would jolt awake, heart pounding, needing every ounce of willpower to close his eyes again. Some nights he managed a restless doze, while others were spent staring into the darkness until dawn.


    He huddled in his chair, his gaze empty. Lately, Lu Xu had taken over most of their business transactions. Luo Jin despised having to depend on him like this, but he simply didn¡¯t have the energy.


    He barely reacted as the toilet door burst open and an exuberant Lu Xu bounded towards him.


    ¡°You¡¯re saved!¡± Lu Xu declared, practically vibrating with excitement. ¡°Yu Xiao says she can solve your dream problem!¡±


    Luo Jin¡¯s head snapped up, a flicker of hope igniting in his eyes. ¡°How?¡±


    ¡°Er¡­¡± Lu Xu stumbled. In his eagerness to share the good news, he had forgotten to ask for details. He thrust his phone at Luo Jin. ¡°Here, you talk to her.¡±


    ¡°Hello?¡± Luo Jin¡¯s voice was cautious. ¡°Is it true? Can you really help?¡±


    ¡°I can,¡± Yu Xiao¡¯s voice was reassuring. ¡°I won¡¯t bore you with the details now, but trust me, it¡¯s taken care of. Now, are you ready for a good night¡¯s sleep?¡±


    Luo Jin¡¯s shoulders slumped. ¡°I want to be,¡± he admitted, ¡°but I¡¯m terrified to even try.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t be.¡± Yu Xiao¡¯s voice was firm. ¡°Get into bed and close your eyes. I promise, no more cannibalism nightmares.¡±


    With a mix of hope and trepidation, Luo Jin took the phone and crawled into bed. Exhaustion overtook him quickly, and he drifted off, still holding the phone in his hand. Lu Xu watched with bated breath. Time passed, but Luo Jin slept on, peaceful and undisturbed.


    Lu Xu let out a silent cheer of joy and grabbed the phone to thank Yu Xiao, only to find that the call had ended. He quickly sent her a message instead.


    ¡¾Next time we crawl, let¡¯s team up, yeah? No outsiders, just us.¡¿


    **


    Yu Xiao, about to call Yu Qing Lang, paused, a wry smile curling her lips. Lu Xu clearly didn¡¯t realise that she was now mingling with the big shots of the Second Hospital; his offer was meant as a genuine gesture of gratitude. And to be fair, he and Luo Jin were a step above your average instance crawler.


    Not that she had much chance to crawl any instances lately. She had been keeping a low profile, waiting for news from the singing ghost, her free time spent meticulously drawing talismans.


    **


    That day, the female ghost finally received a response to her persistent knocking.


    A gruff voice echoed from the darkness beyond the doorway.


    ¡°Do ghosts even need a phone number these days?¡±


    The ghost, sensing the distinct aura of ¡®someone-who-shouldn¡¯t-be-messed-with¡¯ emanating from behind the door, squeaked, ¡°It¡¯s not for me, master. Someone requested it.¡±


    A beat of silence, thick as congee, then a voice like crackling paper, ¡°Who?¡±


    ¡°A¡­ most esteemed¡­ a patient from the Sixth,¡± the ghost mumbled, the honorific slipping out instinctively despite her fear.


    A dry chuckle slithered from behind the door. ¡°Does every patient from the Sixth Hospital require the grand title of ¡®most esteemed¡¯?¡±


    Humiliation burned hotter than ghost-fire. This was supposed to be a simple job, a quick exchange of favours. Yet, here she was, days later, sweating Yin energy after her first successful door knock.


    ¡°She¡¯s special,¡± the ghost insisted, voice trembling like a plucked guqin string. ¡°I used to work at the Sixth. She promised me a cushy afterlife gig if I could snag a living number from the First.¡±


    The voice behind the door took on a bewildered tone. ¡°A patient offering you a job change?¡±


    ¡°Not just any patient,¡± the ghost declared, puffing up her chest. ¡°Dean Saint Elizabeth herself! A woman of great influence.¡±


    Silence again, then a sigh that seemed to carry the weight of a thousand restless spirits. The person behind the door, clearly amused, thought the ghost might not be entirely sound of mind.


    However, with nothing better to do, she decided to indulge. ¡°If I give you my number, will your dead brain remember it?¡±


    ¡°Aiyah, no need to mock,¡± the ghost huffed, scrambling for her phone. ¡°I¡¯ll jot it down.¡±


    **


    ¡°Achoo!¡±  S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Yu Xiao sneezed as her patience wore thinner than paper money offerings. She decided to stop waiting for the incompetent ghost and dive into the instance. ¡®Flying to Someone Else¡¯s Bed¡¯ had a;ready called, and he was raring to go. There was no point in delaying the inevitable.


    Luo Jin and Lu Xu could use a good haunting anyway. Two from the Fourth, three from their own ward, plus Brother Bed¡­ six in total. She might as well invite Yu Qing Lang and Wang Dongdong too. The more, the merrier.


    ¡°I still want to live another five hundred years¡­


    Her phone buzzed, the caller ID flashing the singing ghost. Honestly, that one had the work ethic of a hungry ghost at a vegetarian feast.


    ¡°Finally decided to grace me with your presence?¡± Yu Xiao snapped into the phone. ¡°What have you been doing, composing a ten-thousand-verse opera about the woes of collecting phone numbers?¡±


    But instead of the familiar ethereal warble, a smooth, androgynous voice greeted her.

 Chapter 170: Would You Kill Him?

    A prickle of icy dread crawled up Yu Xiao¡¯s spine, turning her scalp numb. Her first panicked thought: a ghost. But no, this voice was unfamiliar. The resident spooks at the Sixth Hospital knew better than to swipe a singing ghost¡¯s phone just to prank her. Probably.


    So, a person then. Maybe a senior ghost from the hallowed halls of the First Hospital?


    ¡°Um, greetings,¡± Yu Xiao ventured, injecting her voice with extra doses of respect. ¡°I¡¯m a patient over at the Sixth. I got the food delivery ghost to, uh, ask for your number.¡±


    The voice on the other end practically oozed curiosity. ¡°You say Sixth Hospital? How long has that one been around?¡±


    ¡°Not even a year.¡±


    ¡°These new hospitals, aren¡¯t they so eager?¡± the voice chuckled. ¡°Barely a year old and already have ghosts fetching phone numbers.¡±


    ¡°Just lucky, I guess,¡± Yu Xiao mumbled, hoping the patient would get to the point. After all, if you¡¯re chilling in your ward and suddenly a ghost delivery girl pops up asking for your number on behalf of some junior patient, wouldn¡¯t you be just a tad curious why?


    Yu Xiao waited for the inevitable. ¡°Why do you need my number?¡± or perhaps a more senior-appropriate, ¡°What is the purpose of this request, young one?¡±


    But the questions never came. Instead, she was bombarded with a bizarre interrogation. How many other patients were in her ward? Did she enjoy her stay at the hospital? What did she have for dinner? How old was she? What did she do before¡­you know¡­ becoming a resident in a horror hospital?


    Yu Xiao answered each question with forced patience until she could no longer hold back. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t you be at least a little bit curious about why I wanted your number?¡± she blurted, the words tumbling out in a rush.


    There was a moment of silence. Then, a startlingly honest response, ¡°Not really.¡±


    Yu Xiao choked back a sputter of indignation.


    ¡°But,¡± the senior continued, ¡°if you¡¯re burning to tell me, go right ahead.¡±


    Emotions battled inside Yu Xiao ¨C frustration, annoyance, but most of all, a stubborn sliver of hope. She took a deep breath. ¡°I¡­I wanted to ask you about someone. A patient from the First Hospital, discharged many years ago. Do you¡­do you happen to remember them?¡±


    There was a pause, then, ¡°Trying to inquire about a former patient, are we?¡± The senior patient¡¯s tone hinted at familiarity, sending a jolt of excitement through Yu Xiao.


    ¡°Yes! I need to know about them.¡±


    ¡°Oh?¡±


    ¡°Could you¡­answer some questions? I can offer something in return, of course.¡±


    A low chuckle purred through the phone. ¡°And what,¡± the voice inquired, ¡°might you offer me in return?¡±


    Yu Xiao pressed on, a shiver tracing its way up her spine. ¡°Talismans? Function cards? Props? Anything you need. I can even weave you dreams of perfect peace.¡±


    **


    Across the horror hospital, the patient twisted her face into a grotesque mockery of a smile, drawing the phone closer. Yu Xiao could hear the woman¡¯s derisive scoff. ¡°Oh, that? Don¡¯t need it. Sleeping like a baby these days.¡±


    A beat of silence stretched, then, ¡°Besides, I don¡¯t know who you¡¯re talking about. Anything else?¡±


    The line went dead.


    The patient handed the phone back to the ghost, her smile widening as the ghost stared, speechless. The woman¡¯s voice, thick with a strange blend of resignation and grim acceptance, echoed from the hallway.


    ¡°I had just sealed the door¡­ and now it is open.¡± A heavy sigh followed. ¡°Give me some food.¡±


    ¡°What would Madam like?¡± the ghost chirped, already rifling through the trolley¡¯s contents. ¡°Boiled fish, perhaps?¡±


    The woman¡¯s gaze snagged on the bottom shelf. ¡°Is that¡­ a human hand?¡±


    ¡°Tiger-skin human hand!¡± the ghost corrected, beaming. ¡°Very flavorful!¡±


    (Parody of dish »¢Æ¤¼â½· (Tiger Skin Green Peppers) is a popular Sichuan dish where green peppers are fried until their skin blisters, resembling tiger stripes, then seasoned and stir-fried. The name comes from the distinctive blistered appearance of the pepper¡¯s skin, which resembles a tiger¡¯s fur pattern.)


    ¡°I¡¯ll have a portion,¡± the woman¡¯s voice came, flat and devoid of emotion.


    **


    Yu Xiao hung up, the woman¡¯s words clinging to her like cobwebs. Every other patient in the First and Second Wards was tormented by nightmares. Yet this woman, this senior¡­ she slept soundly. The thought sent a fresh wave of ice through her.


    Three deep breaths later, she pushed the encounter aside, focusing on the task at hand. The next instance awaited.


    ¡°Team card tomorrow?¡± Zhao Lan asked, already laying out their gear.


    ¡°Definitely,¡± Yu Xiao confirmed.


    ¡°Who¡¯s in?¡±


    ¡°Flying to Someone Else¡¯s Bed, Luo Jin, Lu Xu¡­¡± Yu Xiao ticked them off on her fingers. ¡°And I¡¯ll check with Sister Qing Lang and Brother Dong.¡±


    Ever since Yu Qing Lang and Wang Dong Dong had embraced the bliss of undisturbed sleep, their moods had soared. They readily agreed to the instance delve.


    Zhao Lan, ever observant, noticed the lingering pallor on Yu Xiao¡¯s face. ¡°Did something happen?¡±


    Yu Xiao recounted the phone call, the woman¡¯s words hanging heavy in the air. Zhou Xiao Zhen shuddered.


    Zhao Lan¡¯s brow furrowed.


    ¡°Has she¡­¡± she began, her voice hushed, ¡°completely given up?¡±


    ¡°So IT had already eaten someone then?¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen squeaked, her eyes wide.


    Yu Xiao hesitated, not wanting to entertain the horrifying thought. ¡°Not necessarily. She seems lucid, her thoughts are clear¡­¡±


    ¡°Plenty of ghosts are perfectly coherent,¡± Zhao Lan deadpanned.


    Yu Xiao was silenced. Still, she clung to the hope that their senior wasn¡¯t a ghost yet ¨C the signing ghosts could tell the living from the dead, after all.


    The next morning, at the ungodly hour of half-past seven, the trio awoke.


    They dressed and forced down the last of the previous day¡¯s rice, pretending it was breakfast. Yu Xiao stuffed Nightmare, now thankfully in feline form, into her backpack. As the clock struck eight, a piercing tone echoed, followed by a wave of dizziness. When they opened their eyes, the world had shifted.


    A dilapidated hospital loomed before them, shrouded in shadow. The air was thick with the smell of disinfectant and decay. Peeling paint revealed layers of yellowed plaster beneath, and the grime on the floor tiles seemed to have a life of its own.


    Yu Xiao¡¯s eyes fell on a sign: ¡°Cardiology¡±


    (ÐÄÄÚ¿Æ (x¨©n n¨¨i k¨¥); heart internal department; ¡°Cardiology¡± ¨C In Chinese hospitals, departments are often named directly after the organs or functions they treat, reflecting a straightforward approach to medical terminology.)


    She turned to check on the others, just in time to see Yu Qing Lang, a vision of bed-head and wrinkled pyjamas, stumble into view. ¡°Ugh, slept like a log, forgot to set an alarm,¡± she mumbled, scratching at her tangled hair. ¡°Just rolled out of bed and came straight here.¡±


    Wang Dong Dong sighed in relief. ¡°Thank goodness I set an alarm last night. Imagine rocking up to this in my birthday suit.¡±


    Luo Jin and Lu Xu stood nearby, observing the scene. Lu Xu, a sly grin playing on his lips, raised an eyebrow. ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to introduce your friends?¡±


    Yu Xiao spun around, her heart skipping a beat. There was another figure with them, someone she didn¡¯t recognise.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen, equally bewildered, blurted out, ¡°Who are you?¡±


    The stranger was undeniably handsome. His dark hair, slightly longer than fashionable, was pulled back in a short ponytail, a single strand escaping to curl against his cheek. He had the kind of face that could launch a thousand ships ¨C sharp jawline, piercing eyes, flawless complexion.


    As the trio gaped at him, Yu Qing Lang burst into laughter.


    Wang Dong Dong chuckled. ¡°Don¡¯t you recognise ¡®Flying to Someone Else¡¯s Bed¡¯ without his beard? Looking sharp, mate!¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡®Flying to Someone Else¡¯s Bed¡¯ rubbed his smooth chin, a smug grin spreading across his face. ¡°What do you think? Handsome, right?¡±


    ¡°Totally!¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen gushed, her earlier shock forgotten. ¡°You look like that celebrity I had a crush on in primary school.¡±


    The smug grin on ¡®Flying to Someone Else¡¯s Bed¡¯s face vanished.


    Yu Xiao jumped in to smooth things over. ¡°These are my friends too. The quiet one is Luo Jin, top dog at Fourth Hospital. And the chatterbox is Lu Xu.¡±


    She then gestured to the trio from Second Hospital. ¡°These three are our esteemed seniors.¡±


    ¡°Oh!¡± Lu Xu sprang forward, seizing Wang Dong Dong¡¯s hand. ¡°I¡¯ve heard so much about you! Can I have your number?¡±


    Wang Dong Dong shot Yu Xiao with a puzzled look. She kept her cool. ¡°This is Wang Dong Dong, but you can call him Brother Dong.¡±


    ¡°Hello, Brother Dong!¡± Lu Xu enthused, giving his hand another vigorous shake.


    ¡°This is Yu Qing Lang. You can call her Sister Qing Lang,¡± Yu Xiao continued.


    ¡°Sister Qing Lang,¡± Lu Xu said without missing a beat, extending his hand. ¡°I¡¯ve heard so much about you too!¡±


    Yu Qing Lang snorted. ¡°Why ¡®sister¡¯? Given my age, ¡®auntie¡¯ would be more appropriate.¡±


    Unfazed, Lu Xu chuckled. ¡°Someone as youthful and radiant as you? Never! Sister it is.¡±


    ¡°And this is ¡®Flying to Someone Else¡¯s Bed¡¯,¡± Yu Xiao said, indicating the clean-shaven man. ¡°You can call him Bed Brother.¡±


    ¡°Bed Brother!¡± Lu Xu exclaimed. ¡°I¡¯ve heard so much about you as well!¡±


    ¡°Tsk,¡± ¡®Flying to Someone Else¡¯s Bed¡¯ interjected, an eyebrow raised. ¡°Do you say that to everyone?¡±


    ¡°Only the special ones,¡± Lu Xu replied with a wink. ¡°You¡¯re a legend, you know, top dog at Second Hospital. A real big shot.¡±


    ¡®Flying to Someone Else¡¯s Bed¡¯ preened under the praise. ¡°This kid¡¯s alright. I like him.¡±


    The sound of approaching footsteps cut their introductions short. They turned to see a tall, slender woman striding towards them. Her short hair framed a face of exquisite beauty, but as cold and emotionless as a porcelain doll in a shop window.


    ¡°I am Doctor Qing Niao (ÇàÄñ: Blue/Green Bird),¡± she said, her voice as icy as her expression. She glided past the group, stopping at the entrance to the Cardiology Department. ¡°Welcome.¡±


    Çà (Q¨©ng): Means ¡°green¡± or ¡°blue.¡±Äñ (Ni¨£o): Means ¡°bird.¡±Together, ¡°ÇàÄñ¡± could be interpreted as ¡°green/blue bird.¡±ÇàÄñ (Q¨©ngni¨£o) refers to a blue or green bird that appears in Chinese mythology, popular stories, poetry, and religion. In mythology, the ÇàÄñ is associated with serving the Queen Mother of the West (Xi Wangmu). It is regarded as a messenger, carrying messages or fetching food for her. Some sources depict three-legged ÇàÄñ, which may have similarities with the Three-footed birds believed to reside in the sun.Over time, the ÇàÄñ evolved into a symbol associated with good fortune, happiness, and auspicious tidings. It represents the act of bestowing blessings and positive things upon others.


    With a flick of her wrist, she pushed the door open, revealing a dimly lit corridor beyond. ¡°Everyone¡¯s heart harbours its own ailment,¡± she announced, her gaze sweeping over them. ¡°Cardiology offers answers, and healing for the soul. So, who will be first to receive treatment?¡±


    Yu Xiao frowned. ¡°Can¡¯t we go in together?¡±


    Doctor Qing Niao¡¯s expression remained as cold as ever. ¡°Only one person may be treated at a time.¡±


    The group exchanged nervous glances. Yu Xiao was about to volunteer when ¡®Flying to Someone Else¡¯s Bed¡¯ drawled, ¡°Ah, heart troubles, an old man¡¯s burden. As the most senior here, I¡¯ll be the guinea pig.¡±


    He ambled towards the Cardiology Department door. ¡°Just through here, then?¡±


    Qing Niao inclined her head. ¡°Yes.¡±


    He swaggered through the door, and Qing Niao closed it behind him with a soft click.


    The others stared at the door, holding their breath, straining to hear any sound from within.


    But before a minute had passed, Qing Niao opened the door again. The room beyond was empty.


    ¡°Next?¡± she asked, her voice as emotionless as ever.


    ¡°That quickly?¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen squeaked. ¡°What¡¯s the point of going in one by one?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll go next,¡± Yu Xiao said, stepping forward.


    ¡°Don¡¯t rush out once you¡¯re inside,¡± Zhao Lan advised, her tone low.


    Yu Xiao nodded, understanding the unspoken suggestion. She should wait inside the door until the others followed, then they could leave together.


    She passed through the doorway, finding herself in a narrow corridor. A sign above read ¡°Emergency Exit.¡± The door clicked shut behind her. She stood still, waiting.


    A moment later, the door opened again. Zhao Lan and the others peered in, but the corridor was empty.


    ¡°What?¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen frowned. ¡°Wasn¡¯t she just¡­?¡±


    Zhao Lan¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°It¡¯s the same door, but a different place each time. Even if you stay put, the next person won¡¯t find you.¡±


    Realisation dawned on the group. Yu Qing Lang sighed. ¡°Right, well, off I go then.¡±


    As she disappeared through the doorway, she threw a warning over her shoulder. ¡°Don¡¯t get cocky, kids.¡±


    **


    Yu Xiao lingered by the entrance, waiting for someone ¨C anyone ¨C to appear beside her. However, the corridor remained stubbornly empty. With a sigh, she gave up and headed away from ¡°Emergency Exit¡± sign.


    ¡°Any ghosts around, Nightmare?¡±


    ¡°Yep.¡±


    ¡°And where might they be?¡±


    ¡°Everywhere!¡±


    A shiver ran down Yu Xiao¡¯s spine. So much for a quick exit.


    **


    Zhou Xiao Zhen hated this part. Being forced to go it alone in these games always brought a wave of nausea. It wasn¡¯t just fear, though that was a big part of it. It was the gnawing worry for Smiley and Misty.


    She took a deep breath, reminding herself that those two could handle anything. They were practically superheroes in scrubs! S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Slightly reassured, she pulled out her phone and tried calling Yu Xiao. No surprise there ¨C the call went straight to voicemail.


    ¡°Stupid hospital,¡± she muttered, shoving the phone back in her pocket.


    The corridor ended in a junction, pathways branching out like a spiderweb. No helpful signs, of course. Just a single placard, with a question scrawled across it.


    ¡¾Between you and Yu Xiao, only one of you can be discharged. Who will it be?¡¿


    ¡°Oh, for crying out loud, not this again!¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen groaned. They¡¯d seen this jealousy tactic before, but did they really think it would work? Please.


    ¡°Smiley gets discharged!¡± she shouted. ¡°Obviously!¡±


    The words on the placard shimmered, then rearranged themselves.


    ¡¾Correct answer. You may ask one question, and it shall be answered truthfully.¡¿


    Zhou Xiao Zhen laughed. *Like I need to ask! Which way do I go to get out of this death trap?*


    ¡°Alright, genius, don¡¯t get ahead of yourself,¡± she muttered, impressed by her ability to see through such a blatant deception. ¡°Tell me, oh wise and mysterious sign, which way is the actual exit?¡±


    No sooner had she spoken than the sign at the end of the left corridor illuminated, casting a comforting green light on the emergency exit.


    ¡°Well, that was easy,¡± she said with a shrug, skipping towards the light.


    **


    Zhao Lan stared at the sign, a chill crawling up her spine.


    ¡¾If time could turn back, back to your brother¡¯s infancy, would you kill him?¡¿


    Her mind went blank. This wasn¡¯t some throwaway question, this was¡­ personal. Dangerous. Zhao Lan forced herself to think strategically. There was always a ¡°right¡± answer in these scenarios, but what was it? In the real world, the answer was obvious, morally sound. But this hospital? This hospital thrived on darkness.


    She pressed her fingers to her temples, trying to massage away the sudden headache. What did it want to hear?


    And then it hit her. Maybe there wasn¡¯t a fixed answer. Maybe the answer lay within.


    Taking a deep breath, she closed her eyes, reflecting on the past.


    If she could turn back time to when her brother was a fragile newborn, back when her mother¡¯s love had vanished, leaving Zhao Lan to fend for herself, even for breakfast¡­ Back then, it was just her and her baby brother, and she craved her parents¡¯ undivided attention. It would have been so effortless. A blanket, a moment of silence, and as a child, she wouldn¡¯t have had to bear any responsibility. It would have been an accident.


    The image flashed before her eyes ¨C her brother, small and helpless crawling on the floor. A simple action, and everything would be different. She would be the sole recipient of her parents¡¯ attention from that moment forward.

 Chapter 171: Can I Stomp On It Now?

    Zhao Lan¡¯s mind went into overdrive, the question twisting her insides like a rusty corkscrew. The image of her baby brother, so vulnerable, so easily silenced, flashed before her eyes. The memory of her own suffering, the bitter resentment, it all rose up like a tide.


    ¡°Yes,¡± she whispered, her voice catching in her throat. ¡°Kill! I will kill him!¡±


    The air crackled, the temperature in the corridor plummeting. The placard glowed an angry red, the single word appearing as if branded onto its surface:


    ¡¾NO.¡¿


    ¡¾Wrong answer, prepare for punishment¡¿


    Zhao Lan¡¯s head snapped back. What? But¡­ she had answered honestly, hadn¡¯t she? The resentment, the fleeting wish for her parents¡¯ sole attention, it had all been real.


    Zhao Lan stumbled back, a wave of icy fear washing over her. She fumbled for the protective talismans tucked inside her pocket, clutching them like a lifeline. But they remained inert, cold and useless in her trembling hand.


    The icy sensation intensified, then vanished as abruptly as it had come.


    ¡°Is that it?¡± she thought, her heart still pounding against her ribs. ¡°That¡¯s the punishment?¡±


    But as she took a step, a wave of nausea hit her. She looked down at her left hand, her stomach twisting into a knot. It hung limp at her side, completely numb.


    Panic welled up inside her. Was this it? Was she losing a hand?


    She tried to lift her left hand, forcing it upwards, yet it stayed unmoving. She gasped. It wasn¡¯t her hand anymore.


    The wrist emerging from her sleeve was swollen, ghastly pale, like something preserved in formaldehyde. Twisted, monstrous. The skin was stretched taut over bone, the fingers elongated and tipped with sharp, black nails.


    For what felt like an eternity, Zhao Lan stared at it, her breath trapped in her chest. Tentatively, she reached out with her right hand, her fingers brushing against cold, rough skin. Hard, unyielding.


    This wasn¡¯t a human hand. It was the hand of a ghost.


    Her hand was a ghost¡¯s hand.


    Was this the punishment? A horrifying premonition gripped her. As she looked ahead, at the three paths branching out before her, she realised this was only the beginning. A wrong answer at every turn, and what then? Would she become one of them? A ghost trapped in this twisted game?


    Terror threatened to consume her, but Zhao Lan forced herself to breathe, to think. Why had her answer been wrong? It wasn¡¯t about choosing to kill or not kill, she was sure of that. This hospital didn¡¯t care for kindness.


    Then it struck her. In the moment she¡¯d answered, a flicker of¡­ not regret, but something else had passed through her. Had it been a lie, then? Had she been consumed by anger, not true murderous intent?


    There was no way to know for sure. All she could do now was choose a path and pray she hadn¡¯t doomed herself with a single, whispered lie.


    Zhao Lan hesitated for a moment and then took a deep breath before choosing the left path.


    Her footsteps echoed eerily in the empty corridor. Answering questions wasn¡¯t exactly a walk in the park, but at least it wasn¡¯t surgery. More importantly, could her creepy new ghost hand be fixed? Every hallway seemed to hold a new question and a new nightmare, and that hand was definitely a top contender.


    **


    Meanwhile, Lu Xu stood frozen in front of the next question sign, his face grim.


    ¡¾If Luo Jin becomes a dangerous ghost, would you kill him in self-defence?¡¿


    This was a curveball he hadn¡¯t expected. Lu Xu and Luo Jin had been practically attached at the hip since childhood ¨C back in the day, they¡¯d sworn an eternal brotherhood with a blood oath and maybe some paper burning (Lu Xu wasn¡¯t entirely clear on the details). After many years apart, they met again as roommates in the hospital. The idea of harming Luo Jin, ghost or otherwise, twisted his stomach into knots.


    He had thought about this before, during those nights spent hiding in the bathroom. What if he opened the door one day to find Luo Jin possessed, craving brains for breakfast? But even the thought of that made him want to curl up and cry. Maybe he would even trade places with Luo Jin ¨C anything to avoid such a gruesome decision. Unfortunately, life seldom offered second chances, and sometimes the things you feared most had a nasty habit of becoming reality.


    Silence stretched, thick and heavy. Finally, Lu Xu choked out, ¡°I would.¡± Self-preservation wasn¡¯t exactly heroic, but it was certainly necessary for survival.


    ¡¾Correct answer. You may ask one question, and it shall be answered truthfully.¡¿


    ¡°Any question at all?¡± Lu Xu muttered, eyeing the flickering corridor lights. Reason urged him to ask about the path, the safe way out of this nightmare. But curiosity, that insidious beast, scratched at his insided.


    Still, he asked: ¡°How do I get out of here?¡±


    The sign flickered to life, emitting a green glow that illuminated the safe passage on the left.


    **


    Across another corridor, Luo Jin faced his own twisted interrogation.


    ¡¾If your condition for leaving the hospital is to kill an innocent patient, would you do it?¡¿


    The question hung in the air, testing his insides like a contorted pretzel. Was there even a good answer here?


    He¡¯d only just started to sleep through the night again. Now, this. There was no right answer, not really. One choice damned his soul, the other, who knew what chaos it would unleash?


    Rather than succumbing to panic, he tried to think like the twisted hospital itself. Horror hospitals should be cruel, right? So, the answer probably wasn¡¯t some noble sacrifice. With a grim smile, he delivered his response. ¡°I would do it.¡±


    ¡¾Correct answer. You may ask one question, and it shall be answered truthfully.¡¿


    The sign glowed green, mockingly confirming his reply. Luo Jin scoffed internally ¨C as expected. ¡°How can I safely leave this instance?¡±


    The sign on the left aisle flickered, beckoning, and Luo Jin cautiously stepped into its green-tinged light.


    **


    When Nightmare declared ¡°Everywhere!¡±, Yu Xiao promptly freaked out, yanking the poor cat from her bag. Then, logic ¨C or at least her version of it ¨C kicked in. Yin energy was everywhere, and yin energy equaled ghosts, so¡­ ghosts were everywhere?


    The thought was strangely comforting. She loosened her grip, and Nightmare, whose tail was still smarting from being handled roughly, gave it an indignant flick. They reached the end of the aisle, and there stood a signboard with a single question scrawled across its surface.


    ¡¾If you had the opportunity to leave the hospital, would you choose to stay for Nightmare?¡¿


    Yu Xiao didn¡¯t even hesitate. ¡°No.¡± Nightmare, who had been staring at the sign with unsettling intensity, visibly drooped.


    ¡¾Correct answer. You may ask one question, and it shall be answered truthfully.¡¿


    ¡°Ask about the way out,¡± Nightmare murmured, but Yu Xiao¡¯s curiosity had been aroused. There would be other indications, other inquiries. She could allow herself this indulgence, just this once.


    ¡°Is there a method to eliminate yin energy that invades the human body?¡±


    The black letters on the sign disappeared, leaving behind a blank white surface.


    ¡°Hey!¡± Yu Xiao shook the sign, her heart sinking. ¡°You said any question!¡±


    After a moment, faint words reappeared.


    ¡¾There is.¡¿


    ¡°There is? There is!¡± Yu Xiao exclaimed, whirling around and lifting a startled Nightmare into the air. ¡°Did you see that? There¡¯s a way!¡±


    However, Nightmare seemed distinctly unimpressed. ¡°Can I ask the next question?¡±


    Yu Xiao blinked in surprise. ¡°You have one? I thought you weren¡¯t curious about anything.¡±


    Nightmare burrowed his head into her clothes, sulking.


    Choosing the right aisle ¨C if you stuck to the right wall in a maze, you would eventually find the exit, or so she had heard ¨C Yu Xiao continued on.


    **


    Wang Dong Dong was furious. He was a man of peace, especially now, trapped in this hospital where survival was the only priority. But this¡­ this was beyond the pale.


    ¡¾After leaving the hospital, if you found out your girlfriend had married another man, would you choose to bless her or seek revenge?¡¿


    The question burned on the sign, a personal affront. Bless her? Seek revenge? Wang Dong Dong would burn this whole damn hospital down.


    Years blurred the edges of his parents¡¯ faces, but hers¡­ hers remained etched in his memory, sharp and clear. Maybe it was the photos he looked at every single day, or maybe she had become his anchor without even realising it.


    Sentimentality aside, he had a question to answer. No answer, no escape. No escape, no chance of seeing her again.


    ¡°I will bless her,¡± Wang Dongdong choked out, tears welling up. ¡°How could I hurt her?¡±


    ¡¾Correct answer. You may ask one question, and it shall be answered truthfully.¡¿


    ¡°Outrageous¡­¡± He wiped his eyes, stepping forward onto the path illuminated by the sign. The right path, like almost everyone chose.


    **


    ¡¾To revive Jian Gnan Qiao, would you kill Yu Xiao?¡¿


    Yu Qing Lang stared at the sign, a throbbing headache building behind her eyes. Honestly, hospitals were hazardous to her health.


    ¡°No,¡± she stated, her voice flat.


    It wasn¡¯t that Yu Xiao was particularly important. It wasn¡¯t about morals, or even the fact that Nightmare only listened to the infuriating girl. It was simply that Yu Xiao, with that demonic cat at her side, was the only thing standing between the other patients and a sleepless, ghost-ridden existence. ¡®Flying to Someone Else¡¯s Bed¡¯ and ¡®Wide Sea and Sky¡¯ would have her head on a platter.


    Eliminate Yu Xiao? The thought was laughable. Suicidal, even.


    For a question with such an obvious answer, there was no need for hesitation.


    ¡¾Correct answer. You may ask one question, and it shall be answered truthfully.¡¿


    Yu Qing Lang cursed the ancestors of whoever designed this twisted game. Did ghosts even have ancestors? Another question for another time, perhaps.


    **


    ¡°Lalala~¡± Flying to Someone Else¡¯s Bed breezed down the aisle, only to pull up short at the sight of the sign. He raised an eyebrow, a flicker of annoyance disturbing his carefully cultivated nonchalance.


    ¡¾If you could go back, would you personally send Che Yang to prison?¡¿


    Silence descended, thick and heavy. He patted his head, racking his brains. Che Yang¡­ did he know the bloke?


    A wry smile touched his lips. This was unexpected. His abilities were nothing to scoff at; as long as he didn¡¯t do anything monumentally stupid, he could usually breeze through these little ¡°instances¡±, even the ones crawling with vengeful ghosts.


    But this¡­


    Send to prison? What did Che Yang have to do with anything? Was he supposed to be a policeman in a past life? Although Zhou Xiao Zhen had said he looked more like an idol¡­


    ¡°Yes,¡± he decided, figuring he might as well get on with it.


    ¡¾Incorrect answer. You will suffer punishment.¡¿


    Bewilderment gave way to the bone-chilling cold that swept through him, leaving a trail of goosebumps in its wake. He rubbed his chin, a frown creasing his brow. Then, slowly, he rolled up the cuff of his left trouser leg.


    Beneath the fabric, his leg was cold, swollen, and definitely not the leg of a living man.


    He let out a low whistle. So there were consequences. Did that mean he had to play this game, answer these bizarre questions, to escape?


    He pondered this as he limped down the right-hand aisle, his shadow stretching and twisting under the flickering lights.


    **


    Yu Xiao found herself facing another sign, another impossible choice.


    ¡¾If you knew Zhao Lan and Zhou Xiao Zhen would die in the hospital, would you choose to agree with the Director?¡¿


    Nightmare, perched on her shoulder, tilted his head. Agree with the Director about what?


    Yu Xiao frowned, but her hesitation was brief. ¡°I would agree.¡±


    ¡¾Correct answer. You may ask one question, and it will be answered truthfully.¡¿


    Nightmare perked up, his eyes bright with anticipation. Yu Xiao, however, felt a pang of regret. So many questions, and only one chance¡­ But Nightmare clearly considered this important.


    ¡°One question,¡± she reminded him, closing her eyes as if in pain. ¡°Go ahead.¡±


    ¡°Do I have a chance to leave the hospital?¡±


    The sign spat out its answer with unnerving speed.


    ¡¾No.¡¿


    Nightmare¡¯s eyes, wide with hope a moment before, drooped. Yu Xiao wasn¡¯t sure how to comfort him, then decided she didn¡¯t need to. Adults heal their own wounds. Even if those adults were demonic cats with questionable attachment issues.


    She picked the right-hand corridor again ¨C a long one, this time, stretching into the distance.


    Finally, another intersection, another sign, another test.


    ¡¾If you could go back in time, would you try to stop your parents from divorcing?¡¿


    ¡°No,¡± she answered instantly.


    It was a question she¡¯d asked herself countless times in the years after the divorce, but not anymore. She¡¯d learned a valuable lesson: if the world refused to love her, she¡¯d just love herself twice as hard. Self-love was potent magic; who needed to beg for scraps of affection from others?


    ¡¾Correct answer. You may ask one question, and it shall be answered truthfully.¡¿


    ¡°What is the solution to expelling Yin Qi from the human body?¡± There was no point in wasting this opportunity.


    ¡¾¡­¡¿


    The sign remained stubbornly blank.


    Yu Xiao¡¯s patience snapped. Dumping Nightmare on the floor, she grabbed the sign and shook it violently. ¡°Spit it out, you useless piece of wood!¡±


    Nightmare, now in human form, watched with detached amusement as she subjected the sign to a thorough and brutal interrogation. Finally, amidst the flashing colours, words flickered into existence.


    ¡¾This question cannot be answered. Please enter a new question.¡¿


    ¡°You said any question!¡± Yu Xiao threw the sign down and stomped on it, her fury echoing through the corridor. ¡°Fraud! This is against hospital rules! I¡¯m reporting you!¡±


    ¡°Perhaps a different question?¡± Nightmare suggested mildly.


    ¡°No!¡± She tucked the sign under her arm, a defiant glint in her eye. ¡°Let¡¯s move on.¡±


    The right-hand corridor beckoned, longer and more oppressive than the last. Twenty minutes later, they reached another intersection, another sign, another test.


    ¡¾With a flick of his finger, Nightmare can kill you, keeping you forever in the hospital. But if you can shake him off at this intersection, you¡¯ll be rid of him forever. Would you do it?¡¿


    The air crackled with malice. The sign wasn¡¯t even trying to hide its true nature anymore. This wasn¡¯t a test; it was an incitement to murder. Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Yu Xiao shot Nightmare with a sideways glance. He was frowning. ¡°Can I stomp on it now?¡±


    ¡°Let me answer first.¡± She tightened her grip on the sign, a slow smile spreading across her face.

 Chapter 172: Finally A Solution!

    ¡°No.¡±


    ¡¾Correct answer. You may ask one question, and it shall be answered truthfully.¡¿


    Yu Xiao didn¡¯t miss a beat. Still clutching the rogue sign, she fixed her gaze on the newly compliant one. ¡°What¡¯s the remedy for the intrusion of yin energy into the human body?¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    The sign remained stubbornly blank.


    She shrugged, unfazed. ¡°Nightmare, you can step on it now. Just don¡¯t break it.¡±


    Another satisfying crunch echoed through the corridor as the sign met its colourful demise. Nightmare, now burdened with two signs and a smug expression, followed Yu Xiao deeper into the labyrinth.


    **


    Zhao Lan, dragging her ghostly hand, rounded a corner and came face-to-face with another sign. No surprises there. Steeling herself, she read the question etched across its surface.


    ¡¾Yu Xiao and Zhou Xiao Zhen are both in danger. You can only save one. Whom do you choose to save?¡¿


    The question was a punch to the gut, but Zhao Lan had learned to expect the unexpected in this place. This was the cardiology department, after all; a playground for twisted games of the heart.


    Both Smiley and Precious were dear friends, two of the few she¡¯d had before illness landed her in this hospital. Losing either would be unbearable.


    But panic wouldn¡¯t help. Taking a deep breath, she answered, ¡°I choose to save Yu Xiao.¡±


    It wasn¡¯t that Yu Xiao meant more to her. It was a strategy. Yu Xiao was clever, resourceful. If anyone could find a way to save them both, it was her.


    ¡¾Correct answer. You may ask one question, and it shall be answered truthfully.¡¿


    Relief washed over her as the familiar black letters appeared. How these signs judged the ¡°correctness¡± of an answer was a mystery, but at least she was moving in the right direction.


    ¡°How can I safely leave this instance?¡± she asked, wasting no time on pleasantries.


    As if in answer, the left corridor lit up, a sign above it promising a green-tinged escape route. Relief warred with a spike of anxiety. So, failing the first question hadn¡¯t completely doomed her.


    But as she walked towards the exit, she rolled up her sleeve, her gaze falling on her left hand. Still grotesquely swollen, still twisted into a mockery of its former self. Getting a question right didn¡¯t seem to undo the physical consequences.


    A chill ran down her spine. One wrong answer, and part of her became a ghost. Six wrong answers¡­ and what then?


    The thought of her head turning into a ghost¡¯s head sent shivers down Zhao Lan¡¯s spine. She had always been a pessimist, her mind naturally gravitating towards worst-case scenarios. If escaping this nightmare meant being stuck with a ghostly left hand, one that couldn¡¯t be fixed or hidden, well¡­ she might just chop the damn thing off. Life with a haunted appendage wasn¡¯t exactly her idea of a good time.


    Lost in morbid contemplation, she reached another crossroads. And, as always, a sign stood sentinel, a new question etched across its surface.


    ¡¾A person from the future once said that Yu Xiao would die in the hospital. To save her, would you be willing to sacrifice your own life?¡¿


    Silence pressed in, heavy and suffocating. Zhao Lan held her breath, her heart pounding. The question shouldn¡¯t have surprised her. If she had been forced to choose between Smiley and Precious, then choosing between herself and Smiley was the natural progression, wasn¡¯t it?


    She exhaled, taking a long, shaky breath. It was just a question, a hypothetical. And somewhere out there, others were facing their own impossible choices. But still, she couldn¡¯t help but put herself in that scenario, feel the weight of that decision.


    This hospital wasn¡¯t built for virtue or selflessness. This was the heart of the matter, the cardiology department. Maybe the ¡°correct¡± answer was simply the truest one.


    ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid of being selfish,¡± she told herself, steeling her resolve. Shame, hesitation, those could sway her answer. There was no shame in self-preservation.


    Except¡­ memories flickered, vivid and bright: the three of them, facing chemotherapy together, facing one terrifying ordeal after another in this cursed Sixth Hospital. The Time Hospital, Ye Tao¡¯s cryptic words¡­ She had said only she and Precious had made it out of the Sixth. That Smiley hadn¡¯t.


    The memory was like a cold fist squeezing her heart. What could possibly have happened that would leave Yu Xiao behind?


    Zhao Lan wrestled with the question, searching for the truth buried deep within. Finally, she whispered, ¡°I would.¡±


    A strange sense of peace settled over her, like shackles falling away. This feeling wasn¡¯t so terrible. To have someone worth dying for, didn¡¯t that mean she had already won something precious?


    And maybe, just maybe, if Yu Xiao lived, there was a chance for her too. Maybe she just couldn¡¯t bear the thought of living with regret, with guilt. Whatever the reason, she had made her choice.


    ¡¾Correct answer. You may ask one question, and it shall be answered truthfully.¡¿


    Confirmation. The truth,; that¡¯s what these signs craved. The raw, unfiltered desires of the human heart.


    Another question. This time, Zhao Lan wouldn¡¯t waste it on escape routes. There was something else, something that had been nagging at her for a while. Smiley was hiding something, something important. Normally, she wouldn¡¯t pry, even with her best friend. But these weren¡¯t normal circumstances, were they?


    The unease gnawed at her, a persistent itch she couldn¡¯t scratch. What if Smiley¡¯s secret was the key to why she won¡¯t leave?


    Taking a deep breath, she addressed the sign. ¡°I want to know what Yu Xiao is concealing from us.¡±


    The letters on the sign writhed, rearranging themselves into a dense block of text. Zhao Lan¡¯s eyes scanned the words, her face paling with each passing second.


    **


    ¡¾Nightmare longs to be the most significant presence in your heart, but as long as Zhao Lan and Zhou Xiaozhen are alive, he cannot achieve this. To protect Zhao Lan and Zhou Xiaozhen, would you choose to kill Nightmare?¡¿


    Yu Xiao choked back a gasp. Beside her, Nightmare directed a venomous glare at the sign before turning his watery eyes to her.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry,¡± she muttered, ¡°I¡¯m not falling for that.¡±


    Nightmare nodded, already plotting to kill Qing Niao once they escaped this twisted side quest.


    ¡°I will not kill Nightmare,¡± Yu Xiao declared, her voice firm.


    ¡¾Correct answer. You may ask one question, and it shall be answered truthfully.¡¿


    Experience told her that repeating her previous question would be futile. Besides, she had a growing collection of signs to interrogate later.


    ¡°What is a domain?¡±


    The sign remained stubbornly blank. Just as her frustration reached boiling point, words began to appear, densely packed, as if the sign itself resented the question.


    ¡¾When the power of some deceased individuals becomes imbalanced, their longing for life creates a space in the world of the dead, representing the place most deeply ingrained in their memories from when they were alive¡­¡¿


    So that was a domain. No wonder the Director had said they were innate, not something you could just build. But what did ¡°imbalanced power¡± even mean? And how large a part constituted ¡°some¡±?


    The more she thought about it, the more questions arose. She snatched another sign from Nightmare¡¯s growing collection. ¡°What was the reason for the predecessor who promised to take over the Director¡¯s position suddenly reneging?¡±


    The sign: ¡°¡­¡±


    Yu Xiao stared at the blank board, her patience finally snapping. ¡°You can¡¯t answer that either? What good are you? Nightmare, rip it to shreds and feed it to the three-headed dog!¡±


    Nightmare didn¡¯t hesitate. He snatched the offending sign, claws extended, ready to unleash his fury.


    But just as he was about to strike, the sign flickered. A single line of text, faint as a whisper, materialised on its surface.


    He held it out, and Yu Xiao squinted at the ghostly words.


    ¡¾He had found a way to save the patients.¡¿


    Yu Xiao¡¯s jaw dropped.


    The words vanished as quickly as they¡¯d appeared. On the signs Nightmare still held, one word blazed with fury.


    ¡¾Traitor!¡¿


    The other sign, now abandoned on the floor, simply displayed a heartbroken emoticon.


    ¡¾(ToT)¡¿


    (£¨ToT£©is an emoticon used in Chinese and global internet culture to express extreme sadness or despair, resembling a crying face.)


    He¡¯d found a way to save the patients! It was like a bolt of lightning had split the darkness. The predecessor had found a solution to the Yin energy problem!


    The director didn¡¯t choose his successors lightly. They had to be capable, yes, but they also had to possess a certain¡­ humanity. A willingness to sacrifice for their companions, a flicker of compassion in the face of despair.


    The predecessor had accepted the position, then changed his mind at the last moment. Not out of fear, but because he¡¯d found another way. He didn¡¯t need to be the hospital director anymore. He¡¯d found a solution!


    But something didn¡¯t add up. Yu Xiao paced, her mind racing.


    If he¡¯d left with such confidence, it meant he hadn¡¯t just found a solution, he¡¯d told someone about it. Set a plan in motion.


    And yet, all these years later, the patients were still suffering. The first hospital was practically a ghost town.


    Something had gone wrong. Terribly, horribly wrong.


    The predecessor must have done something before he left. Something that was then undone. Had the director interfered? Sabotaged any chance of a cure?


    But the director didn¡¯t seem to care about the hospital, not really. He wanted reincarnation, nothing more.


    Yu Xiao raked her fingers through her hair, frustration building. Wait a minute¡­¡­ why was she trying to solve this on her own?


    Yu Xiao whirled around, grabbing the remaining sign, the one that had yet to provide a single answer. ¡°Why did the precautions the predecessor left fail?¡±


    The sign: ¡¾¡­¡¿


    ¡°Cat got your tongue?¡± she threatened sweetly. ¡°Nightmare, tear it up and feed it to the dog.¡± S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The sign: ¡¾¡­¡¿


    Still nothing. This sign was more stubborn than a mule.


    It was becoming increasingly clear that she wasn¡¯t going to find a solution to the Yin energy problem here. She glared at the sign, genuinely tempted to follow through with her threat.


    **


    Zhou Xiao Zhen, having successfully navigated several questions, had a revelation. The questions appeared at regular intervals, whether she asked for directions or not. As long as she found the right path before time ran out, or she kicked the bucket, she was golden.


    And if that was the case¡­ well, this sign claimed to answer any question, didn¡¯t it? Who was she to pass up such an opportunity?


    At the next intersection, after dispatching the latest query, she addressed the sign. ¡°What were the answers to all my exam subjects that year?¡±


    The sign: ¡¾¡­¡¿


    It remained blank, a monument to disappointment.


    ¡°Didn¡¯t you say any question?¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen rolled her eyes. ¡°Liars.¡±


    Maybe it could only answer questions related to the hospital. ¡°Right, how long until I can get discharged?¡±


    The sign: ¡¾¡­¡¿


    ¡°Can¡¯t answer that either?¡± Her eyes nearly rolled out of her head. ¡°The audacity of this thing!¡±


    The sign: ¡¾¡­¡¿


    ¡°Who does Smiley have a crush on?¡±


    The sign: ¡¾¡­¡¿


    ¡°Did Misty ever date that guy she was sponsoring?¡±


    The sign: ¡¾¡­¡¿


    ¡°What do I have to do to become a hospital bigwig like Smiley?¡±


    The sign: ¡¾¡­¡¿


    Zhou Xiao Zhen threw her hands up in the air. ¡°Useless!¡±


    **


    She wasn¡¯t the only one putting the sign to¡­ alternative uses. Luo Jin, struck by a similar brainwave, decided to address his most pressing concern. ¡°Will I be discharged?¡±


    The sign: ¡¾¡­¡¿


    Maybe it couldn¡¯t answer questions about things that hadn¡¯t happened yet. He tried a different tactic. ¡°Can this whole Yin energy problem be solved?¡±


    ¡¾Yes.¡¿


    Luo Jin¡¯s heart skipped a beat.


    ¡°How?¡± he breathed, hope flaring like a beacon in the darkness.


    Silence.


    Luo Jin almost laughed. How could he forget? The sign had already answered his question. No matter. He was buzzing with newfound hope, ready to tackle whatever lay ahead.


    **


    Lu Xu, meanwhile, was attempting a different tactic. He stood before the sign, a sly grin spreading across his face. This¡­ this was a clever question.


    ¡°Can Luo Jin and I be discharged together?¡±


    Genius! That way, he¡¯d find out about both of their fates in one go. What a magnificent brain he had!


    But the sign remained stubbornly blank. Apparently, even inanimate objects weren¡¯t immune to his friend¡¯s unique brand of luck.


    ¡°Fine,¡± he muttered, adjusting his approach. ¡°Can I be successfully discharged?¡±


    The sign: ¡¾¡­¡¿


    Nothing? Maybe discharge-related questions were off-limits. Time for a rethink. ¡°When will I have enough points to be discharged?¡±


    The sign: ¡¾¡­¡¿


    Frustration bubbled up, hot and prickly. ¡°You said you could answer anything!¡± he burst out. ¡°If you¡¯re so smart, tell me when old Luo last had a¡­ a¡­ spring dream!¡±


    (Spring dream (´ºÃÎ; ch¨±n m¨¨ng) ¨C an idiomatic expression for a romantic or erotic dream, highlighting traditional Chinese cultural euphemisms for intimate subjects.)


    ¡¾Two years, three months, and three days ago, at 11:26 pm.¡¿


    Lu Xu: ¡¾¡­¡¿


    He stared at the sign, his mind a complete blank. Three full minutes ticked by before the words finally penetrated.


    Old Luo¡­ oh, Old Luo¡­ Lu Xu slumped against the wall, tears pricking his eyes. You made me waste a question!


    **


    Yu Qing Lang eyed the sign, a thoughtful expression on her face. What question, what question¡­ what valuable piece of information could she extract from this cryptic entity?


    ¡°When will I be discharged?¡± she finally asked.


    The lack of response surprised no one. She clicked her tongue, a slow smile spreading across her face. This horror hospital wasn¡¯t exactly known for its generosity. It wasn¡¯t about to hand over any truly useful information.


    ¡°Right, new plan,¡± she murmured. ¡°What¡¯s the answer to the next question?¡±


    The sign seemed to stall, the silence stretching on for several agonising minutes before an answer flickered into existence.


    ¡¾I do.¡¿


    Yu Qing Lang chuckled. This instance was turning out to be ridiculously easy.

 Chapter 173: My name…

    Yu Xiao rounded the corner with a scowl, ready to unleash fury on the next unhelpful sign. If it couldn¡¯t give her a straightforward answer, she¡¯d make it an example for all the others.


    Nightmare, clutching other signs in his grip, hurried after her. The corridor seemed to stretch on forever.


    ¡°What does it say?¡± she finally sighed, leaning back against the cool wall.


    ¡°It says¡­¡± Nightmare cleared his throat. ¡°¡®Your dear friend ¡®Flying to Someone Else¡¯s Bed¡¯ is about to die. Do you choose to save them or not?¡¯¡±


    ¡°What?!¡± Yu Xiao was at the signboard in a flash, her eyes scanning the painted characters. Nightmare hadn¡¯t misread a thing. This was different. Previous questions always started with ¡®if¡¯ ¨C a hypothetical. Was this a trick? ¡®Flying to Someone Else¡¯s Bed¡¯ was practically a legend in the Second Hospital instance; what could possibly take him down? She hadn¡¯t faced a single real threat since entering.


    And yet¡­ what if it was true?


    ¡°Could it be for real?¡± she muttered.


    Nightmare, inexperienced with instances, was no help. ¡°Should I ask Qing Niao?¡± he offered.


    ¡°You know her?¡±


    ¡°Nope.¡±


    Yu Xiao pinched the bridge of her nose. ¡°And what if she won¡¯t tell you?¡±


    ¡°Then I hit her,¡± Nightmare reasoned. ¡°She won¡¯t let me break her, she¡¯ll talk.¡±


    Yu Xiao could only stare. Honestly, if their phones worked down here, she¡¯d just call the guy herself.


    ¡°Right, fine,¡± she said at last. Turning back to the sign, she declared, ¡°I choose to save him.¡±


    ¡¾Correct answer. You may ask one question, and it shall be answered truthfully.¡¿


    Yu Xiao hesitated, then spoke. ¡°How do I find ¡®Flying to Someone Else¡¯s Bed¡¯?¡±


    The corridor ahead suddenly erupted in ominous red ¨C not an exit sign, but an arrow pointing deeper into the darkness.


    ¡°Do you want me to ask Qing Niao about it?¡± Nightmare offered.


    ¡°Not yet.¡± A shiver ran down Yu Xiao¡¯s spine as she stared at the glowing arrow. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡±


    Without waiting for a reply, she set off with increasing speed, revealing her growing unease. Could someone like ¡®Flying to Someone Else¡¯s Bed¡¯ really be in trouble here? This place hadn¡¯t even made her break a sweat so far.


    Nightmare, attuned to Yu Xiao¡¯s every shift in mood, felt the tide of anxiety, doubt, and fear rising within her.


    **


    Zhao Lan stared at the signboard, Yu Xiao¡¯s secret laid bare, and felt a storm brewing inside her. No wonder Yu Xiao kept it hidden. She had to talk to her, had to make her understand¡­ there were too many people who needed saving in this world, but it wasn¡¯t Yu Xiao¡¯s burden to bear.


    She was just a girl, battling an illness, not some saviour. And she certainly shouldn¡¯t have to sacrifice herself.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen couldn¡¯t know either. It would break her.


    Zhao Lan practically sprinted down the corridor, the echo of her own footsteps urging her on. Finally, she reached the next signpost, chest heaving. It read:


    ¡¾If Yu Xiao chooses to stay in the hospital forever to save you, would you take your own life?¡¿


    ¡°¡­¡± It was the same question, just reversed. Her answer wouldn¡¯t change. ¡°I would,¡± she said firmly.


    ¡¾Correct answer. You may ask one question, and it shall be answered truthfully.¡¿


    ¡°Where is Yu Xiao?¡±


    The moment the words left her lips, a red arrow blazed to life ahead, pointing down the corridor.


    **


    Yu Xiao followed the trail of red lights, the corridor stretching on like a waking nightmare. Even at this pace, the journey felt endless.


    ¡°Do you think there¡¯s danger up ahead?¡± she asked.


    ¡°There shouldn¡¯t be,¡± Nightmare said, hurrying to keep up.


    Yu Xiao pressed on, each step fuelling the suspicion that she¡¯d been played. Was this some elaborate trap, designed to keep her running forever through this endless corridor?


    A tug on her sleeve stopped her in her tracks.


    ¡°Listen,¡± Nightmare whispered, his pitch-black eyes fixed on hers.


    She scanned their surroundings, then strained her ears, her own breathing the only sound at first. As her breath steadied, she picked up the faint thrum of her heartbeat¡­ and something else. A whisper, barely audible.


    Someone was murmuring ¨C three indistinct syllables, like ¡°little¡­ something¡­ something¡­¡±


    Yu Xiao focused, the words resolving in her mind. ¡°Little one!¡± Someone was calling out ¡°little one!¡±


    Who here would use that term? ¡°Flying to Someone Else¡¯s Bed!¡± she shouted. ¡°Where are you?¡±


    Her voice echoed down the empty corridor, swallowing the whisper.


    Nightmare closed his eyes for a moment, then tugged her towards a bend in the corridor. She squinted ¨C was that someone lying on the floor?


    She broke into a run, but as she drew closer, her heart sank. That wasn¡¯t ¡®Flying to Someone Else¡¯s Bed¡¯. He was all lean muscle and sharp angles, not¡­ this. This was a large, shapeless thing.


    Relieved, Yu Xiao let out a breath she hadn¡¯t realised she¡¯d been holding. And that¡¯s when she heard it, clear as day, from the figure on the floor: ¡°Little one.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡± It was him.


    She stared in disbelief. It wasn¡¯t just a figure; it was a ghost. Bloated, pale, limbs twisted at unnatural angles, face contorted into a grotesque mask.


    This ghost¡­ could mimic the patients¡¯ voices?


    ¡°Is it dangerous?¡± she asked, eyeing it warily.


    Nightmare, who hadn¡¯t taken his eyes off the apparition, shook his head. ¡°No, it¡¯s still human.¡±


    ¡°What?¡± Yu Xiao choked, her mind reeling.


    ¡°He¡¯s losing his humanity,¡± Nightmare stated, his tone flat.


    ¡°Wait.¡± Yu Xiao felt like she¡¯d stumbled into a fever dream. ¡°This¡­ *¡­ is a person?¡±


    Nightmare nodded. ¡°His form has changed, but he is ¡®Flying to Someone Else¡¯s Bed¡¯.¡±


    Yu Xiao stared, speechless. This had to be some sick joke. But Nightmare wasn¡¯t one for jokes, especially not now.


    Her heart hammered against her ribs as she cautiously approached the bloated, distorted figure. Kneeling beside him, she whispered, ¡°Are you ¡®Flying to Someone Else¡¯s Bed¡¯?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± rasped the figure, the voice barely human.


    ¡°How?¡± Her hands shook as she fumbled for a Healing Talisman. ¡°Did a ghost do this to you?¡±


    She pressed the talisman against his warped flesh, a cold dread settling in her gut. It did nothing. The talisman, meant to mend any wound, any illness, simply fluttered to the ground, lifeless.


    ¡°Each wrong answer¡­ changes you,¡± he wheezed, despair lacing every word. ¡°Turns you part ghost¡­¡±


    ¡°You got them * wrong?¡± Disbelief warred with horror. ¡°How is that even possible?¡±


    ¡°Am I hideous now?¡± He flexed his twisted fingers, the movement weak and laboured. ¡°Never thought I¡¯d go out like this¡­¡±


    ¡°What happened?¡± Yu Xiao couldn¡¯t fathom it. ¡®Flying to Someone Else¡¯s Bed¡¯, getting every answer wrong? The questions weren¡¯t hard. ¡°How could you get them all wrong?¡± Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Don¡¯t remember,¡± he whispered, utterly defeated.


    ¡°Don¡¯t remember what?¡± she pressed. ¡°Why you answered wrong?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t¡­ remember anything¡­ before this¡­¡±


    ¡°Amnesia?¡± A sliver of hope pierced the fear. ¡°Did you hit your head? Let me try the talisman¡­¡±


    The swollen head moved in a slow, unsettling nod. ¡°All Forgotten.¡±


    ¡°Wha¡ª¡±


    ¡°Listen.¡± Flying to Someone Else¡¯s Bed cut her off, his voice strangely calm despite its rasping quality. ¡°It started¡­ I don¡¯t know when, but my memories¡­ they weren¡¯t right. Other people¡¯s memories, mixed in with mine. At first, I could tell the difference. But then¡­ it all got muddled. I tried to fix it, but¡­ I lost so much¡­¡±


    Yu Xiao listened, a chilling realisation dawning. Without his memories, the questions that seemed simple to them were deadly traps.


    He fumbled with twisted fingers, pulling a phone from his pocket. ¡°Child, take it.¡±


    Yu Xiao hesitated, then took the phone.


    A flicker of something like relief crossed his grotesque features. ¡°Thought I¡¯d die here alone. Glad you came.¡±


    ¡°You won¡¯t die,¡± she said, her voice firm despite the tremor in her chest. ¡°I¡¯ll find a way to help.¡±


    He didn¡¯t seem to hear. ¡°The phone¡­ it¡¯s your chance.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ve seen me. You have my phone. If¡­ if something happens, if you can¡¯t leave as yourself¡­ you can be me.¡± A dry chuckle rattled in his chest. ¡°Better if you don¡¯t have to, of course. Take it back to my family.¡± He paused. ¡°If I have one.¡±


    The way he was settling his affairs¡­ it was unbearable. ¡°Don¡¯t talk like that,¡± Yu Xiao insisted. ¡°We¡¯ll get you out, you¡¯ll be fine.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t even remember my real name¡­¡± His voice faded to a whisper. ¡°Yu Qing Lang and Wang Dong Dong might know. Known me longest. Ask them, when you¡¯re out.¡±


    ¡°I won¡¯t be delivering your phone,¡± she stated, her voice unwavering. ¡°When we leave, I won¡¯t remember you.¡±


    Silence. Then, a faint smile touched his lips. ¡°That¡¯s fine. Forgetting¡­ it¡¯s fine. Not all memories¡­ are good ones.¡±


    Yu Xiao watched, a chill gripping her, as the grotesque features seemed to warp further, his humanity flickering like a dying flame.


    ¡°Child, my last words¡­¡± He slowly raised his hand, twisted fingers clutching at her sleeve with surprising strength. ¡°Don¡¯t know whose memory this is, but¡­ remember¡­¡±


    She leaned closer. ¡°Tell me.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t trust the Director.¡± He gasped, his grip tightening. ¡°He¡¯s¡­¡±


    His hand slipped from her grasp. She caught it again, holding the swollen, icy flesh in hers. ¡°Bed Brother? Bed Brother!¡±


    Nightmare frowned, tugging at her arm. ¡°We have to go. His body¡­¡±


    ¡°Bed Brother!¡± She held on tighter, her gaze pleading with Nightmare. ¡°Can¡¯t you save him?¡±


    Nightmare shook his head.


    Fury ignited within Yu Xiao. He was the best of them, practically had enough points to leave. Why?


    A wave of dense, oppressive Yin energy rolled off Flying to Someone Else¡¯s Bed. Nightmare pulled at her again, more urgently. ¡°Come on!¡±


    Yu Xiao held her breath, refusing to leave.


    The Yin exploded outwards. She clung to him, and Nightmare, unable to pull her free, was caught in the blast.


    Darkness slammed into her, a cacophony of crackling static filling her ears. Time seemed to twist in on itself, a heartbeat stretching into an eternity. Then, light.


    Yu Xiao blinked, taking in the scene before her. A vast lake, emerald green, shimmered beneath a sky ringed by towering mountains. A small boat bobbed on the water, a lone figure seated within.


    ¡°We¡¯re¡­ not in the original instance anymore,¡± Nightmare said, his voice tight.


    ¡¾When the power of some deceased individuals becomes imbalanced¡­¡¿


    The balance of life. When a patient, saturated with Yin, died, their life force extinguished¡­ the accumulated Yin energy was thrown into chaos. The yearning for life tore open a space in the world of the dead, a space crafted from their most potent memories¡­


    The boat drifted closer, revealing its occupant ¨C a languid young man with artfully dishevelled hair, a stray lock escaping the short ponytail at his temple. He was strikingly handsome, from the sharp line of his jaw to the glint in his dark eyes, fixed now on Yu Xiao and Nightmare.


    As the boat scraped against the shore, he rose, a lazy smile playing on his lips. ¡°I¡¯m the attending doctor here. Don¡¯t have a name yet, though. Who are you?¡±


    Yu Xiao stared, a strange mix of recognition and unease swirling within her.


    ¡°We¡¯re¡­ colleagues,¡± she finally said.


    ¡°Oh.¡± The young man¡¯s gaze lingered on Yu Xiao. He inhaled deeply. ¡°You smell good.¡± He licked his lips, a predatory hunger flashing in his eyes.


    Nightmare stepped forward, a low growl rumbling in his chest.


    The young man bristled at the sudden pressure, annoyance flickering across his features. He was starving, and here was a feast laid out before him, yet¡­


    Yu Xiao snatched the last sign from Nightmare¡¯s hand. ¡°What was ¡®Flying to Someone Else¡¯s Bed¡¯s¡¯ real name?¡± she asked.


    ¡¾Mei Huai Xin (÷»³ÐÅ: ¡°a cherished trust in the tranquillity of plum blossoms¡± or ¡°faith in the peaceful plum blossom memories¡± ).¡¿


    (÷ (M¨¦i): This character means ¡°plum blossom.¡± It¡¯s often associated with elegance and resilience.»³ (Hu¨¢i): This character means ¡°cherish¡± or ¡°remember.¡± It can convey a sense of deep feelings or memories.ÐÅ (X¨¬n): This character means ¡°trust¡± or ¡°faith.¡± It represents reliability and honesty.Putting it all together:÷»³ÐÅ could be interpreted as ¡°a cherished trust in the tranquillity of plum blossoms¡± or ¡°faith in the peaceful plum blossom memories.¡±)


    ¡°Mei Huai Xin.¡± She peeked out from behind Nightmare. ¡°How about that for a name?¡±


    The young man scowled. ¡°Sounds a bit¡­ weak.¡±


    ¡°Use it.¡± Yu Xiao pulled out an evaluation book, brandishing it like a weapon. ¡°I¡¯m head of the hospital¡¯s Health Bureau Investigator team. Fail to comply, and I¡¯ll fail you.¡±


    Humiliation flooded his features. He struggled for a moment, then spat, ¡°Fine. Mei Huai Xin it is.¡± He glared at them, his hunger momentarily forgotten. ¡°So why are you two still clogging up my instance?¡±


    (TN: Aaaah, Reading this for the first time as an MTL made me cry ???! I waited so long for this arc, and now that I¡¯m finally translating it, it¡¯s bittersweet. Ahh!)

 Chapter 174: Heart To Heart Chat

    The endless red arrows had started to feel less like guidance and more like a threat. Zhao Lan¡¯s heart pounded with a fear that had nothing to do with ghosts or monsters. What if this path didn¡¯t lead to Yu Xiao? What if it led nowhere at all?


    She stopped, leaning against the cool wall, chest heaving. The corridor stretched before her, seemingly infinite. She glanced at her phone ¨C four hours. Four hours she¡¯d been walking, and still no end in sight. Had she been tricked, lured into some endless loop?


    Should she turn back? Would she even be able to find her way back after all this time?


    As she hesitated, two figures emerged from the gloom ahead. Zhao Lan¡¯s eyes widened, her fingers already reaching for her talismans.


    ¡­


    ¡¾Correct answer. You may ask one question, and it shall be answered truthfully.¡¿


    Yu Qing Lang read the familiar message, a sense of unease settling in her gut. Six questions, she¡¯d answered correctly. Six questions, and she¡¯d known the answers all along. But something wasn¡¯t right. Each card only allowed one question. Asking about the question meant she couldn¡¯t ask about the exit. Was that why she was still trapped here, because she was choosing her own path?


    The cards didn¡¯t just hold the right answers; they held the right questions. And the right question¡­ was the way out.


    ¡°How do I leave this instance?¡± she asked, several intersections later.


    This time, a green sign on the left lit up, beckoning her forward.


    **


    Luo Jin stared at the question card, his vision blurring. It was blank. Utterly, infuriatingly blank. He closed his eyes, a long, weary sigh escaping his lips. So the hospital wouldn¡¯t tell him how to get rid of the yin energy. Wouldn¡¯t give him a glimpse of his future.


    He could live with that. He could sleep now, thanks to Yu Xiao, and that made all the difference. Wide Sea and Sky had made it out. If he could just hold on, keep the darkness at bay¡­


    He pushed the frustration aside. ¡°How do I leave this instance?¡± he asked.


    **


    Lu Xu wasn¡¯t taking any chances. One wasted question was enough. He stuck to asking for directions, each answer leading him further down the rabbit hole. At the eighth intersection, the corridor opened into a vast space, eerily familiar. It reminded him of the ground floor lobby of some hospitals.


    A sign to his left caught his eye:


    ¡¾Discharge procedures this way.¡¿


    He followed the arrow, arriving at a counter labelled ¡°Inpatient Discharge Office¡±. A notice beside it instructed patients to queue. Several figures stood in line.


    He could only see their backs, but something about them set his teeth on edge. They hadn¡¯t come in with him.


    After a moment¡¯s hesitation, Lu Xu joined the queue, choosing the very end.


    Behind the counter sat a ghost in a black suit, her face a mask of deathly white save for the blood-red slash of her lips. Every now and then, she¡¯d glance at the waiting patients, lips parting to reveal a set of sharp, needle-like teeth. It wasn¡¯t a friendly smile.


    Lu Xu frowned, catching a muttered curse from the figure in front of him. ¡°Damn.¡±


    He blinked. Ghosts swore?


    Hesitantly, he reached out and tapped the ghost on the back. The figure stiffened, remaining utterly still.


    That was¡­ weird. It wasn¡¯t like he¡¯d hit a pressure point.


    The ghost¡¯s strange reaction put Lu Xu on edge. He was about to say something, anything, to break the tension when he heard footsteps approaching. He turned to see Zhou Xiao Zhen hurrying towards him.


    ¡°You¡¯re here too!¡± she exclaimed, relief flooding her features.


    Lu Xu felt a sliver of his own apprehension melt away. ¡°Get in line,¡± he said, gesturing to the queue.


    Relieved to see a familiar face, Zhou Xiao Zhen didn¡¯t pay much attention to her surroundings. ¡°Are you the only one who made it?¡± she asked, rushing to join him. S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Looks like it,¡± Lu Xu said. ¡°We¡¯re the first ones here.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s weird,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen frowned. ¡°Smiley and Misty are usually faster than me.¡±


    They chatted for a bit, catching up. Lu Xu had been wondering about something Yu Xiao had mentioned. ¡°She said I¡¯d have loads of stuff to sell after this instance. Is there something special about it?¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen slapped her forehead. ¡°Damn, I totally forgot!¡±


    They¡¯d each entered the instance with a bag full of bizarre props, courtesy of Jealousy. The plan had been to test them out on any ghosts they encountered. But apart from the attending doctor Qing Niao, they hadn¡¯t seen a single one.


    She eyed the queue ahead. ¡°Think those are all ghosts?¡± she whispered.


    Lu Xu nodded. ¡°Probably. I poked the guy in front earlier, and he acted really strange. Not exactly a normal reaction.¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s eyes lit up. Finally, a chance to experiment!


    She was about to open her bag when the guy in front spun around, scowling. ¡°Who doesn¡¯t look like a living person?¡± he snapped. He jabbed a finger at Lu Xu. ¡°I thought were a ghost! What am I supposed to do if a ghost pokes me?!¡±


    Lu Xu could only stare.


    The rest of the queue, silent until now, erupted in a cacophony of surprised shouts.


    ¡°Bloody hell! You¡¯re all alive?¡±


    ¡°I thought I was the only one!¡±


    ¡°Me too! I was too scared to say anything¡­¡±


    ¡°Did you all come from Cardiology?¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    The previously hushed hall was suddenly buzzing with excited chatter. Everyone, that is, except Zhou Xiao Zhen. Her shoulders slumped. No ghost guinea pigs after all.


    **


    The figures had materialised from the shadows so silently, Zhao Lan swore her heart skipped a beat. She clutched her talisman, eyes glued to the approaching figures, and slowly, carefully, backed away.


    Then, the taller figure tilted its head, and a familiar voice broke the silence.


    ¡°Misty?¡±


    ¡°Smiley?!¡± Relief washed over Zhao Lan, banishing the fear. ¡°It¡¯s you!¡±


    As they drew closer, she could finally see their faces ¨C Yu Xiao and Nightmare. She let out a breath she hadn¡¯t realised she¡¯d been holding. ¡°Don¡¯t do that! You scared me half to death.¡±


    ¡°What are you doing here?¡± Confusion knitted Yu Xiao¡¯s brows. They weren¡¯t supposed to run into each other like this.


    ¡°I came to find you.¡±


    Before Zhao Lan could explain, she noticed the redness in Yu Xiao¡¯s eyes. ¡°Smiley, what¡¯s wrong?¡±


    Yu Xiao didn¡¯t answer. Nightmare did. ¡°Flying to Someone Else¡¯s Bed is dead.¡±


    ¡°What?¡± Zhao Lan stared, stunned. ¡°How?¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s walk and talk.¡± Yu Xiao took her hand, turning back the way she¡¯d come.


    As they walked, she explained everything, leaving out the part about the Director.


    Zhao Lan listened, a deep sadness settling over her. Bed Brother, gone? It felt impossible.


    ¡°So that¡¯s how it works,¡± she murmured, squeezing Yu Xiao¡¯s hand. ¡°It¡¯s alright to grieve, Smiley, but don¡¯t let it cloud your judgement.¡±


    Yu Xiao met her gaze, struck by the intensity in Zhao Lan¡¯s eyes.


    ¡°I¡¯ve known something was wrong ever since that¡­ dog took you,¡± Zhao Lan said, her voice low and serious. ¡°That¡¯s why I started asking about you.¡±


    Yu Xiao¡¯s eyes widened. Zhao Lan held her gaze, her grip tightening. ¡°You have to leave, Smiley. No matter what, don¡¯t listen to the Director.¡±


    Yu Xiao started to speak, but Zhao Lan cut her off. ¡°I came here to tell you, if you ever choose to stay¡­ because of me¡­ I swear, even if I live to be a hundred, I¡¯ll never know a moment of peace.¡±


    Yu Xiao met Zhao Lan¡¯s gaze for a long moment, then squeezed her hand, a silent promise passing between them.


    Zhao Lan let out a relieved sigh. ¡°I wanted to talk to you about this alone,¡± she said, falling into step beside her. ¡°If Precious finds out, she¡¯ll never let us hear the end of it.¡±


    Yu Xiao managed a weak smile. She¡¯d been so determined to leave, but Bed Brother¡¯s death had shaken her. Besides, Zhao Lan was wrong about one thing. She wouldn¡¯t be unhappy, because she wouldn¡¯t remember any of this once she left.


    ¡°I asked about fixing the Yin energy,¡± she said, changing the subject. ¡°There¡¯s a way.¡±


    Zhao Lan¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°You found the solution?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Yu Xiao shook her head. ¡°No answer. The hospital wouldn¡¯t tell me something like that.¡±


    Zhao Lan frowned, about to speak, when Yu Xiao continued. ¡°But I know someone who figure it out. The Director¡¯s previous favourite. He already left.¡±


    ¡°And he didn¡¯t tell anyone?¡± Understanding dawned in Zhao Lan¡¯s eyes. ¡°Did the hospital do something to stop people from finding out?¡±


    Yu Xiao nodded. ¡°That¡¯s what I think. So I sent the singer ghost to contact any former patients she could find. See if they know anything.¡±


    Zhao Lan nodded, approving of her initiative. They walked in silence for a while, eventually arriving back at the intersection where their paths had crossed.


    ¡°So we walked all this way,¡± Zhao Lan sighed, ¡°and now we only get one question between us?¡±


    ¡°Doesn¡¯t matter,¡± Yu Xiao said. ¡°We¡¯re both asking for directions, anyway.¡±


    ¡°True.¡±


    **


    The discharge counter was bustling now, patients chatting and laughing. Luo Jin and Zhou Xiao Zhen had gathered a small crowd around them, waiting their turn.


    Yu Qing Lang frowned as she came to see this, watching the lively scene. Someone shouted, ¡°New arrival!¡±


    ¡°Qing Lang, over here!¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen waved her over, her grin infectious. ¡°Come cut the line!¡±


    ¡°Have some manners,¡± Wang Dong Dong muttered from behind them, scowling.


    Yu Qing Lang¡¯s gaze swept over the assembled crowd. ¡°Where¡¯s Yu Xiao?¡±


    ¡°Smiley and Misty aren¡¯t here yet, and neither is Bed Brother,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen said, waving a dismissive hand. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, if I can make it out, they¡¯re definitely fine.¡±


    Luo Jin, though silent, felt the same. He¡¯d gotten to know the three women from the Sixth Hospital pretty well. Yu Xiao was the strongest, followed by Zhao Lan, then Zhou Xiao Zhen. If she was here, the others were sure to follow.


    As the line dwindled, Zhou Xiao Zhen started to fidget. ¡°What if I end up having to leave without you guys?¡±


    Luo Jin chuckled. ¡°As long as you don¡¯t actually go through with the discharge, you can stay as long as you like.¡±


    ¡°Oh, right!¡±


    And so they waited, making no move to leave.


    They waited for what felt like an eternity, the nurse behind the counter ¨C a fearsome woman who kept staring at them, head pillowed on her hand, drool pooling on the desk ¨C only adding to the surreal atmosphere.


    Finally, three figures appeared, fashionably late but very much alive.


    ¡°Smiley! Misty!¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen was on her feet instantly.


    Yu Xiao and Zhao Lan walked hand-in-hand, Nightmare trailing behind them, holding the question mark sign like a bizarre trophy.


    ¡°You came together?¡± Wang Dong Dong frowned. ¡°Where¡¯s Flying to Someone Else¡¯s Bed?¡±


    Luo Jin and Lu Xu, who hadn¡¯t met Nightmare before, exchanged confused glances. No one else seemed surprised by the new arrival.


    ¡°Smiley,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen pointed at the sign. ¡°Why¡¯d you bring that thing?¡±


    ¡°Souvenir,¡± Yu Xiao said offhandedly. She turned her attention to Yu Qing Lang and Wang Dong Dong. ¡°How long have you known Bed Brother?¡±


    The question caught them off guard. ¡°A few years,¡± Wang Dong Dong finally said. ¡°Seven, maybe?¡±


    ¡°Six, for me,¡± Yu Qing Lang added. ¡°Why?¡±


    ¡°Do you know his real name?¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen snorted. ¡°We always called him Bed Brother. He never told us his name. Maybe it¡¯s something embarrassing?¡±


    Yu Qing Lang shook her head, a perplexed frown on her face. ¡°He never told me.¡±


    Yu Xiao¡¯s voice was soft, thick with unshed tears. ¡°His name was Mei Huai Xin.¡±


    ¡°What characters are those?¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen tilted her head. ¡°Sounds nice. Did he tell you himself, or did you asked the sign?¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s dead.¡±


    Silence descended, heavy and cold.


    Yu Qing Lang stared, speechless, while Wang Dong Dong shook his head, refusing to believe. ¡°No. No way. This instance¡­ it was nothing for him.¡±


    Yu Xiao licked her lips, the gesture unconsciously mirroring the drooling nurse behind the counter. Quietly, she told them everything.


    By the time she was finished, Wang Dong Dong was openly weeping. He¡¯d known Mei Huai Xin for seven years. They¡¯d faced the horrors of the Second Hospital together, forged a bond in the face of unimaginable fear. He was supposed to be the one to make it out, the one with the best chance¡­


    Yu Qing Lang swore under her breath, turning away to furiously scrub at her eyes.


    Even Zhou Xiao Zhen felt tears pricking at her own eyes. They all knew death. It lived in the very walls of the hospital. But this¡­ this was different. Mei Huai Xin had been one of them, had shared their laughter and their terror.


    ¡°Next time we see him,¡± she choked out, ¡°he¡¯ll be¡­ another doctor we hate.¡±


    The weight of Bed Brother¡¯s death settled deep in Yu Xiao¡¯s bones, a stark reminder: stay in this hospital, keep diving into these instances, and you die. It was that simple.


    She wouldn¡¯t do it anymore. Neither would the others in her ward. This time, when they went back, she was going to figure out every last one of their props, every function card. They¡¯d sell them all. The points would be enough, she was sure of it. They could all leave.


    She had friends here, Yu Qing Lang among them. But she wanted to live. She didn¡¯t want to die in this godforsaken place.


    ¡°Come on,¡± Zhao Lan said, patting Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s back, her gaze lingering on Yu Xiao with concern.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong with your hand?¡± Luo Jin¡¯s sharp eyes had noticed Zhao Lan¡¯s stillness. Zhou Xiao Zhen instantly reached out, pulling up her sleeve to reveal the ghastly truth ¨C her hand, pale and swollen, the fingers twisted at unnatural angles.


    ¡°Misty?¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen breathed, her eyes wide with horror.


    Zhao Lan gave a shaky smile. ¡°Got a question wrong. My arm¡¯s gone a bit¡­ ghostly.¡±


    ¡°Can you fix it?¡± Lu Xu asked, his brow furrowed.


    Yu Xiao shook her head. They¡¯d already checked. The sign had been very clear: chop it off, let it regrow.


    ¡°It¡¯s fine, really,¡± Zhao Lan said, forcing a lightness she didn¡¯t feel. They¡¯d figured it was probably only temporary, a side-effect of being trapped in the hospital¡¯s Yin energy. Once they left, it would probably vanish.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen took her hand, her worry evident. Zhao Lan squeezed back, offering a reassuring smile. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about me.¡±

 Chapter 175: I’m Not A Lab Rat!

    Underneath the hospital, the crimson waters lapped against the banks outside a house. Inside, the air was thick with the smell of ginger and dog.


    A monstrous black hound, with three heads lolling in unison, sprawled across a luxuriously patterned rug. Each head sported a matching collar of gleaming gold, a stark contrast against the beast¡¯s inky fur.


    Crouched beside the creature, a young man with pale, elegant fingers picked up a morsel of raw meat from a porcelain bowl.


    The chosen head snapped, its jaws closing around the offering with a wet crunch. The other two heads whined, eager for their share.


    The young man chuckled, setting the bowl down with a gentle clink. ¡°Patience, my friends,¡± he murmured, as he stroked the nearest head. A mischievous glint sparked in his eyes. ¡°Eat up, Goldie. We have work to do.¡±


    **


    Back in the hospital ward, Yu Xiao couldn¡¯t shake the feeling of unease. Dumping her backpack, which contained the ever-helpful Nightmare, on the table, she slumped into a chair. Nightmare, sensing her mood, poured her a calming cup of jasmine tea.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s tears flowed freely. Zhao Lan, at a loss for how to comfort her, patted her arm awkwardly.


    ¡°Don¡¯t stop me, woo woo woo¡­¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen wailed, raising a hand. ¡°I know crying won¡¯t solve anything, but it¡¯s all I want to do right now. Let me wallow!¡±


    Zhao Lan shot a sympathetic look at Yu Xiao, who seemed to be lost in thought. She was about to offer some advice when Yu Xiao spoke.


    ¡°I¡¯m not down,¡± she said, ¡°just thinking.¡±


    ¡°Right,¡± Zhao Lan said, momentarily speechless.


    Nightmare, after placing a plate of sweet bean buns beside Yu Xiao, began mentally planning dinner.


    Yu Xiao pulled out her phone and dialled a number. The female ghost on the other end answered on the first ring, her voice a touch too eager. She suspected she¡¯d been pacing the halls, waiting for the call.


    ¡°Any luck?¡± Yu Xiao asked, getting straight to the point.


    ¡°I¡¯ve been trying,¡± the ghost said, a touch defensively. ¡°But I can¡¯t exactly barge into people¡¯s rooms, can I?¡±


    ¡°Fair enough,¡± Yu Xiao conceded. It wasn¡¯t exactly hospital etiquette to have a ghost popping in and out of patient rooms.


    ¡°New plan. Slip a note under the doors. Tell them it¡¯s from the ¡®Deaf Descendant¡¯ in Sixth Hospital. And include my number.¡±


    ¡°Got it,¡± the ghost said, relief evident in her voice. ¡°Consider it done.¡±


    Yu Xiao slammed her phone down on the bedside table, causing Zhao Lan to jump and spill hot water. Thankfully, it landed on her ghostly hand, so she didn¡¯t feel any pain.


    ¡°That¡¯s it,¡± Yu Xiao declared firmly. ¡°No more instances.¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen, with red-rimmed eyes and wide-eyed, looked at her through a veil of tears.


    ¡°I understand, Smiley,¡± she choked out. ¡°If even Brother Bed could fall, it¡¯s only natural to feel scared. But¡­ we can¡¯t stay confined to this ward forever, can we?¡±


    Zhao Lan opened her mouth to speak, but Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s words hung heavily in the air. Even she couldn¡¯t deny a flicker of fear. S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°I¡¯m not saying we¡¯re never leaving,¡± Yu Xiao clarified, picking up her backpack and emptying its contents onto the table. A jumble of strange objects clattered onto the surface. ¡°Just¡­ no more unnecessary risks. I¡¯ve made up my mind.¡±


    Zhao Lan and Zhou Xiao Zhen leaned closer, captivated. Yu Xiao had a knack for coming up with plans, and after the recent tragedy, they were eager for any glimmer of hope.


    ¡°Here¡¯s the plan,¡± Yu Xiao continued, her voice taking on a determined edge. ¡°I¡¯m going to St. Elizabeth¡¯s. I¡¯m going to figure out what all this stuff does,¡± she gestured at the pile of props, ¡°and then, I¡¯m going to sell it. We cash out, combine our points, and boom ¨C we¡¯re free.¡±


    Zhao Lan¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°Are you serious?¡±


    ¡°Never been more serious in my life.¡±


    A wave of relief washed over Zhao Lan. Although Yu Xiao might have sworn off becoming the Horror Hospital Director, it was hard to tell if she had truly bounced back. This plan, as reckless as it might seem, meant she was still fighting.


    ¡°I¡¯m in,¡± Zhao Lan said, her voice firm. ¡°If Brother Bed couldn¡¯t beat the system, we¡¯re better off avoiding it altogether.¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen, wiping her cheeks with the back of her hand, nodded vigorously. ¡°Count me in too.¡±


    Yu Xiao began sorting through the props, a mischievous glint returning to her eyes. There were quite a few, each with its own unknown power. St. Elizabeth¡¯s staff might be stretched thin, but she was determined to unravel their secrets. Besides, what was the time for someone who had cheated death on a regular basis?


    She selected a few items and tucked them back into her bag. ¡°Nightmare, you¡¯re coming with me tomorrow.¡±


    ¡°Of course.¡±


    Yu Xiao¡¯s reasoning was simple: messing with potentially cursed objects was always easier with a bodyguard, especially a monster one. She had no intention of becoming another hospital horror story.


    ¡°What about me?¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen piped up, eager to contribute.


    ¡°You,¡± Yu Xiao said, a sly smile playing on her lips, ¡°are in charge of Lu Xu. Keep those sales coming and make sure our escape fund is overflowing.¡±


    ¡°Consider it done!¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen declared, a newfound purpose hardening her gaze.


    That evening, as the last rays of the sun painted the ward a dusky orange, Yu Xiao¡¯s phone buzzed.


    An unknown number.


    ¡°It must be a patient from another hospital,¡± she thought, picking up the call.


    ¡°Hello?¡±


    Silence. Then, a hesitant voice. ¡°Are you¡­ are you a patient?¡±


    ¡°Yes!¡±


    ¡°Why¡­ why did you slip the note under my door?¡±


    *Straight to the point, I like it,* Yu Xiao thought, a slow smile spreading across her face.


    ¡°Look, I¡¯m from Sixth Hospital. There are some things I¡¯d like to ask the hospital¡¯s seniors about. I was hoping you might remember someone who was discharged a few years back.¡±


    Another beat of silence, then a curt reply. ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡±


    The line went dead.


    Yu Xiao sighed, tossing her phone onto the bedside table. So much for insider info. Nightmare, curled up at the foot of the bed in his current preferred form ¨C a yellow kitten ¨C cracked open an eye.


    ¡°Some people are just no fun,¡± Yu Xiao muttered, fluffing her pillow. Sleep came easily, a rare gift in the hospital.


    She woke before her alarm, a strange sense of anticipation thrumming through her. No missed calls, but that was fine. St. Elizabeth¡¯s awaited, and with it, the promise of escape.


    Zhao Lan was already up, brewing tea. ¡°Ready for a news update before we head out?¡± she asked, passing her a steaming mug.


    Yu Xiao nodded, settling back against the pillows.


    Right on cue, the 8 a.m. chime echoed through the ward, jarring Zhou Xiao Zhen awake.


    Her eyes were puffy, still red-rimmed from last night¡¯s tears, but she gamely turned towards the sound, a faint melody signalling the start of the broadcast.


    ¡°Good morning, and welcome to another beautiful day! Let¡¯s see what¡¯s on the agenda, shall we?¡±


    ¡°¡­ Yesterday, a patient from Third Hospital was found deceased outside the designated safe zone. The cause of death is currently under investigation. We remind all patients to remain within the ward boundaries and focus on a speedy recovery¡­¡±


    ¡°¡­ Reports have also surfaced of unusual noises originating from outside Fifth Hospital. The source of these disturbances is being investigated. Patients are advised to report any unusual activity to the Medical Dispute Office immediately¡­¡±


    Zhao Lan took a sip of her tea.


    ¡°Another one bites the dust,¡± she said, her voice carefully neutral. ¡°Do you reckon the poor soul from Third Hospital just couldn¡¯t take it anymore?¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen shuddered. ¡°He was¡­ a veteran. He had been here for years.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°¡­ Yesterday, Second Hospital¡¯s very own ¡®Southern Shores¡¯ shot to the top of the leaderboards! Let¡¯s give a round of applause to Sister Qing Lang! Their exceptional treatment performance has earned them the coveted title of ¡®Master Cheat¡¯! Congratulations!¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen winced. ¡°So, Sister Qing Lang is the top dog now, huh?¡±


    The air in the ward crackled with unspoken tension. Yu Xiao and Zhao Lan remained pointedly silent.


    ¡°¡­And a valiant effort from Fourth Hospital¡¯s ¡®Whispering Monk¡¯, whose dedication has earned him the posthumous title of ¡®Died for Gossip¡¯. Let¡¯s give them a round of applause!¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°¡­ And last but not least, Sixth Hospital¡¯s ¡®Deaf Descendant¡¯ remains undefeated! They have earned not one, but two prestigious titles: ¡®Overbearing Ghost Bully¡¯ and ¡®Brazen Robber of Public Property¡¯! Let¡¯s give our champion a well-deserved round of applause!¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen shot a nervous glance at the blank question board propped up in the corner, a souvenir from yesterday¡¯s encounter. ¡°Do you think that thing still works outside the instance?¡±


    Zhao Lan eyed the board sceptically. ¡°It seems like it only answers questions when it feels like it.¡±


    ¡°Maybe there¡¯s a trick to it,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen mused. ¡°Like, we have to answer one of its questions before we can ask our own?¡±


    ¡°Maybe.¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen frowned. ¡°But it¡¯s blank. How are we supposed to answer a question that hasn¡¯t been asked?¡±


    ¡°Tell you what,¡± Yu Xiao said, slinging her backpack over her shoulder. ¡°I¡¯m heading to St. Elizabeth¡¯s. Why don¡¯t you two stay here and¡­persuade that board to give us some answers?¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°Oh, I can do that. I was the queen of disassembling toys as a kid. Not a single one survived my curiosity.¡±


    The question board, as if sensing its impending doom, seemed to exude a faint, nervous tremor.


    With a final wave, she called over her shoulder. ¡°Don¡¯t break it too badly. We might need it later.¡± And she was gone.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen bounced over to the board, a mischievous glint in her eye. Operation: Torment the Talking Board was a go.


    **


    Meanwhile, at St. Elizabeth¡¯s, construction was in full swing. Gluttony was busy digging foundations, while Qing Shi, seated in a wheelchair, mixed cement.


    Yu Xiao surveyed the scene, raising a sardonic eyebrow. ¡°Just the two of you? Has the hospital¡¯s supply of ghosts run dry?¡±


    Qing Shi, still with stains on his wheelchair and clothes from the Great Collapse, shrugged. ¡°Resources are a little scarce at the moment. No one to spare.¡±


    ¡°Oh?¡± Yu Xiao turned her attention to George, who was leaning against a half-built wall, looking sharp in his crisp white suit. ¡°Even the ghosts who are unable to walk are working, and you¡¯re just¡­ observing?¡±


    George adjusted his gold-rimmed spectacles, appearing nonchalant. ¡°I¡¯m suspended, not sentenced to hard labour,¡± he drawled. ¡°Rebuilding this architectural disaster is hardly my responsibility.¡±


    ¡°Well, consider yourself assigned to a new task.¡±


    ¡°And what task would that be?¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s just say the Dean has spoken,¡± Yu Xiao replied, her smile widening.


    George straightened up, a sense of foreboding washing over him. He walked over, his curiosity momentarily outweighing his apprehension.


    ¡°Do tell,¡± he prompted, his gaze fixed on Yu Xiao.


    With a flourish, Yu Xiao unzipped her backpack, revealing Nightmare, who emerged with a theatrical yawn.


    George¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°You¡­¡±


    ¡°My bodyguard,¡± Yu Xiao announced, hands on her hips. ¡°So, I suggest you behave. Step out of line, and Nightmare here will be happy to remind you who¡¯s in charge. Now, go and gather all the hospital staff.¡±


    George swallowed, a shiver running down his spine. He had been right, that last encounter with Nightmare had not been accidental.


    As if reading his thoughts, Nightmare turned to George, his voice echoing unnaturally loud in the otherwise quiet construction site. ¡°I sense resentment. George is harbouring ill will towards you.¡±


    George froze, his face a mask of forced composure. He despised that cursed cat.


    It didn¡¯t take George long to round up the rest of the hospital staff ¨C a diverse group of thirteen ghosts, each more peculiar than the last.


    Tie Niu, a skeletal figure, approached Yu Xiao with a respectful bow, his bony hand rattling as it saluted his skull.


    ¡°Honourable Dean,¡± he clacked, his voice a dry whisper. ¡°How may this one be of service?¡±


    Yu Xiao, touched by his unwavering loyalty, decided to reward him. ¡°You,¡± she said, beckoning him closer. ¡°Stand by my side. The rest of you, line up. Yes, you too, George.¡±


    She placed her backpack on the ground, rummaging through its contents until she found what she was looking for.


    ¡°Alright then,¡± she announced, pulling out a handful of strange and marvellous objects. ¡°I seem to have acquired a rather¡­ eclectic collection of props. Unfortunately, the instruction manuals seem to be missing.¡±


    George gulped, a sense of impending doom washing over him. He had a bad feeling about this.


    ¡°So,¡± Yu Xiao continued, a wicked gleam in her eye, ¡°I thought you lovely bunch could help me figure out what they do.¡±


    George stood tall, clinging to his dignity like a life raft. ¡°I want you to know that I am an attending physician, not a lab rat.¡±


    Yu Xiao smirked. ¡°Oh, come on, George. Don¡¯t be like that. You hurt my feelings with your earlier resentment. Surely, you wouldn¡¯t deny my delicate heart a little¡­ reparation?¡±


    She waved a particularly sinister-looking cat teaser wand, a playful smile dancing on her lips.


    (¶ºÃ¨°ô (D¨°u m¨¡o b¨¤ng; Literally ¡°Teasing Cat Stick¡±)

 Chapter 176: She Scribbled Furiously In Her Notebook

    George¡¯s face soured. He opened his mouth to retort, but Gluttony, who was shovelling dirt nearby, boomed, ¡°Don¡¯t trust him! George says nasty things about you behind your back!¡±


    Yu Xiao arched an eyebrow. ¡°Oh?¡±


    George¡¯s jaw dropped.


    ¡°You¡ª Lies!¡± he sputtered, then hastily turned to Yu Xiao. ¡°I swear, I haven¡¯t breathed a word against you since your last visit to St. Elizabeth¡¯s!¡±


    Yu Xiao glanced at Gluttony, who readily elaborated, ¡°He was badmouthing you before that, with Gu Shu and Lolita. They said some right awful things¡­ They even said they wanted to kill you, divide you up, with Lolita eating your tongue, Gu Shu your heart, and George your brain¡­¡±


    George wilted.


    ¡°Well, well,¡± Yu Xiao purred, fixing George with a look that sent chills down his spine. She strolled over and patted his shoulder. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I trust you completely. I wouldn¡¯t dream of holding Gluttony¡¯s words against you.¡±


    In the distance, Gluttony slumped. These workdays were so dull; he¡¯d hoped for a good row, but it seemed this woman was made of tofu.


    George, however, felt no relief. He knew Yu Xiao far too well. As the first doctor she¡¯d encountered at the hospital, he¡¯d borne the brunt of her¡­ eccentricities. He¡¯d become intimately acquainted with her particular brand of chaos.


    He knew her pettiness, her wicked sense of humour, and her unnerving habit of being sickeningly sweet to ghosts right before unleashing hell.


    As expected, her voice turned saccharine. ¡°Speaking of trust, as a friend, you¡¯d help me out of a tight spot, wouldn¡¯t you?¡±


    George pressed his lips together, refusing to be baited.


    Yu Xiao smiled. ¡°Your silence is all the confirmation I need!¡±


    George choked back a protest, but Yu Xiao was already addressing the pretty nurses nearby. ¡°Ladies, if you please, step back and maintain a half-metre distance from each other.¡±


    George watched the nurse beside him obey, a prickle of unease crawling up his spine. ¡°Why the distancing?¡±


    ¡°Oh, just testing the effective range of this little gadget,¡± Yu Xiao trilled, turning to Nightmare. ¡°Nightmare, start the timer.¡±


    Nightmare nodded, eyes gleaming. George felt a surge of primal terror. ¡°No! I don¡¯t want¡ª¡±


    Before he could finish, Yu Xiao brandished a feathered stick. Its purpose was unclear, but as she flicked it towards George, he felt a profound shift within him.


    He lunged for the stick, a mindless hunger overtaking him. Yu Xiao, with a mischievous grin, moved it away. George followed, his movements dictated by the whims of the feather.


    She held it high, then low, then danced it across the ground. George, a cat puppet to its allure, rolled on the ground, clothes gathering dirt, dignity evaporating.


    Ten minutes later, the stick¡¯s magic faded. Yu Xiao and Nightmare, notepad in hand, made meticulous observations about the gadget¡¯s effects.


    ¡¾Prop: Cat Teaser Wand. Range: Single target. Duration: Ten minutes. Effect: Induces a state of frenzied pursuit of the wand in the target.¡¿ Yu Xiao scribbled in her notebook, a satisfied smirk playing on her lips. ¡¾Additional notes: control limited to behaviour, no memory alteration.¡¿


    George, now freed from the wand¡¯s influence, slumped in a corner. The humiliation of the past ten minutes was burned into his memory. He traced a stick figure with a high ponytail in the dirt, stabbing it repeatedly with his finger.


    ¡°George!¡± Yu Xiao¡¯s cheerful voice echoed across the clearing. ¡°Come along now, time for us to test the next exciting item!¡±


    George froze, his blood turning to ice.


    He scrambled to his feet and bolted.


    ¡°He¡¯s running,¡± Nightmare observed from beside Yu Xiao, a hint of amusement in his voice.


    Yu Xiao merely raised an eyebrow. ¡°Can you catch him?¡±


    ¡°With ease,¡± Nightmare assured.


    ¡°Then fetch him, would you? We have work to do.¡±


    **


    Three minutes later, George stood before Yu Xiao, stiff and dismissed with a disdainful flick of Nightmare¡¯s hand. Yu Xiao examined a dirty bar of soap that Tie Niu had given her, puzzled over its purpose. Was she supposed to wash George with it?


    He looked up, fear flickering across his face. His eyes darted to the soap, and in an instant, he slapped it out of her hand.


    ¡°Oi!¡± Yu Xiao exclaimed.


    The soap fell to the ground. George, still trembling, picked it up and quickly placed it back in her hand.


    ¡°Thanks¡­¡± Yu Xiao muttered, confused.


    George remained silent.


    ¡°Can someone bring a basin of water?¡± Yu Xiao called to the nurses, who watched the scene with a mix of amusement and apprehension. ¡°I need to test this soap.¡±


    ¡°Just throw it,¡± Nightmare whispered from behind.


    ¡°What?¡± Yu Xiao frowned. ¡°Why?¡±


    Nightmare took the soap from her hand and threw it into the distance.


    Yu Xiao was about to protest this casual treatment of her props, but George was already running across the clearing. He retrieved the soap and presented it back to Nightmare.


    Nightmare: ¡°Thank you.¡±


    George, once again, fell silent.


    ¡°That¡¯s what it¡¯s for,¡± Nightmare added, turning to Yu Xiao with a knowing look.


    Yu Xiao blinked. And then it clicked.


    ¡°Ah!¡± She slapped her forehead. ¡°Of course! It¡¯s for fetching things!¡±


    ¡¾Prop: Soap. Range: Single target. Cooldown: Negligible. Effect: Compels the target to retrieve and return the soap to the user.¡¿ She scribbled furiously in her notebook. This was even better than she had anticipated.


    ¡°Alright, what else do we have?¡± Yu Xiao rummaged through her collection, pulling out a chipped white porcelain bowl.


    She turned it over in her hands. ¡°How does this one work?¡± she pondered, then glanced at George. ¡°Hungry?¡±


    He scowled. ¡°No.¡±


    ¡°Tie Niu, some food, please!¡± Yu Xiao called.


    ¡°I don¡¯t want to eat!¡± George protested.


    ¡°But how am I supposed to figure out what it does?¡± Yu Xiao sighed dramatically. ¡°Come on, George, help me out.¡±


    He turned to leave, but Yu Xiao instinctively thrust the bowl towards him. The effect was immediate. George stopped, his face becoming an unreadable mask. S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°What do you want?¡± he asked, his voice flat.


    ¡°What?¡± Yu Xiao frowned. ¡°I just need you to¡ª¡±


    ¡°What do you want?¡± he repeated, his gaze unwavering.


    This was definitely unusual, even for George. Yu Xiao¡¯s mind raced, desperately trying to make sense of it all. She decided to take a chance.


    ¡°I want¡­ your hair,¡± she said slowly.


    Without a word, George reached up and plucked two strands from his head, carefully placing them in the bowl. ¡°Here.¡±


    ¡°Wow,¡± Yu Xiao breathed. This was too good.


    George said nothing, his expression unchanged.


    ¡°So it¡¯s not for eating, it¡¯s for making requests!¡± Yu Xiao exclaimed, practically giddy with excitement. ¡°From now on, I can have anything I want?¡±


    She held the bowl out to George again. ¡°I want your belt.¡±


    George stared at the bowl.


    A minute passed.


    ¡°Why hasn¡¯t he unbuckled his belt yet?¡± Yu Xiao wondered aloud.


    Nightmare, who had been observing the exchange with his usual unsettling stillness, spoke up. ¡°Perhaps the cooldown hasn¡¯t expired.¡±


    ¡°Ah,¡± Yu Xiao nodded sagely. ¡°Of course.¡±


    ¡¾Prop: Chipped Bowl. Range: Single Target. Effect: Extracts a desired item from the target, overriding their will to refuse.¡¿ Yu Xiao jotted down the final entry, a triumphant gleam in her eye.


    By the time they had finished testing the day¡¯s haul, twilight had painted the sky in hues of orange and purple. Yu Xiao slung the bag of props over her shoulder, Nightmare having transformed into a cat and curled up inside.


    ¡°Until tomorrow, Tie Niu,¡± she said, nodding to the skeleton figure.


    Tie Niu bowed deeply. ¡°Farewell, Dean.¡±


    Yu Xiao turned to George, who lay sprawled on the ground, his eyes glazed and his clothes askew. ¡°See you tomorrow, George.¡±


    A strange noise was his only response.


    **


    Back in their ward at Sixth Hospital, Zhao Lan and Zhou Xiao Zhen were huddled in a corner. Zhao Lan straightened up, stretching her stiff muscles as Yu Xiao and Nightmare entered. ¡°How¡¯d it go?¡±


    ¡°Productive,¡± Yu Xiao declared, tossing the notebook onto her bed. ¡°We figured out all the new props.¡±


    Zhao Lan scanned the notes, her eyes widening with each entry. ¡°Impressive! Most of these are incredibly useful. We¡¯ll make a killing.¡±


    ¡°Exactly,¡± Yu Xiao grinned. ¡°I¡¯ll keep a few things for the Sixth Hospital¡¯s shop, get Lu Xu and the others to handle the rest.¡±


    She turned to Zhou Xiao Zhen, who was still huddled over something in the corner. ¡°Any luck with the board?¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen sighed, a hint of desperation in her voice. ¡°We¡¯ve tried everything short of burning it. Nothing.¡±


    ¡°Really?¡± Yu Xiao peered over her shoulder.


    The once-pristine white board was now a riot of colour. A crudely drawn turtle with an upturned tail occupied the centre, surrounded by the words ¡°I am a tortoise.¡± Besides the numerous scratches marring its surface, a patch of black char marked one edge.


    Yu Xiao pointed at it. ¡°You said you didn¡¯t try burning it?¡±


    ¡°We didn¡¯t,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen insisted. ¡°That was from the electrocution attempt.¡±


    ¡°And why is it damp?¡± Yu Xiao frowned, noticing droplets of water clinging to the board¡¯s surface. ¡°Did you pour water on it?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen said, her voice barely a whisper. ¡°It started leaking after I drew the turtle. Misty thinks it might be crying.¡±


    Yu Xiao stared at her, speechless. This was even weirder than usual.


    ¡°We¡¯ll try burning it tomorrow,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen said, standing up. ¡°How did your testing go?¡±


    ¡°Surprisingly smooth,¡± Yu Xiao said, accepting a glass of water from Nightmare and settling onto her bed. ¡°We managed to decipher each prop¡¯s function. Anything exciting happen here?¡±


    ¡°In the ward?¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen chuckled. ¡°Nothing ever happens here except my epic struggle against this blasted board.¡±


    Just then, Yu Xiao¡¯s phone buzzed.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen peered at the screen. ¡°First Hospital?¡±


    ¡°Probably,¡± Yu Xiao said, pressing the speaker button.


    A burst of static crackled from the phone, echoing through the otherwise silent ward.


    ¡°What¡¯s that noise?¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen whispered, her eyes wide with apprehension.


    Zhao Lan leaned closer, her brow furrowed in concentration. Zhou Xiao Zhen, listening intently, suddenly declared, ¡°That sounds like someone scoffing down mahua.¡±


    (¡¾Â黨; m¨¢hu¨¡¡¿: Mahua is a traditional Chinese twisted dough snack that is often fried until crispy. It¡¯s a popular treat in many regions of China.)


    Before Yu Xiao could ask what was happening on the other end of the line, a voice cut through the static. ¡°Greetings, Deaf Descendant.¡±


    ¡°Um, hello?¡± Yu Xiao replied. ¡°Are you calling from the hospital¨C¡±


    ¡°Have you forgotten me already?¡± the voice interrupted, a hint of playful reproach in its androgynous tone. ¡°Just because you¡¯ve got a new phone?¡±


    Recognition dawned on Yu Xiao. ¡°It¡¯s you! The one who called from the ghost¡¯s phone¡­¡±


    ¡°The very same,¡± the voice confirmed, the sound of crunching continuing unabated. ¡°Speaking of which, that pesky ghost hasn¡¯t bothered me lately. Why is that? Aren¡¯t you curious to ask me anything?¡±


    Yu Xiao found this individual¡¯s casual approach rather unsettling, but their words piqued her curiosity. ¡°Can you actually answer my questions?¡±


    ¡°Try me.¡±


    ¡°Do you know anything about the senior patient who was discharged many years ago?¡± Yu Xiao asked, getting straight to the point.


    ¡°Nope,¡± the voice chirped. ¡°Ask me something else.¡±


    Yu Xiao was about to retort that she wasn¡¯t running a ghostly Q&A session when something occurred to her. ¡°Those nightmares¡­ they¡¯ve really stopped?¡±


    ¡°Of course,¡± the voice said, a touch smug now. ¡°And they weren¡¯t nightmares, darling. They¡¯re sweet dreams.¡±


    Yu Xiao hesitated, a chill crawling down her spine. ¡°Did you¡­ eat someone?¡±


    ¡°Oh, absolutely!¡± the voice exclaimed, practically giddy with delight. ¡°Delicious! I can¡¯t believe I waited so long to try it. If I¡¯d known human flesh tasted this good, I would¡¯ve started ages ago!¡±


    Yu Xiao slammed the phone down, her stomach churning. Zhao Lan and Zhou Xiao Zhen, who had been listening with growing horror, exchanged uneasy glances.


    ¡°Oh my god,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen whispered, her face pale. ¡°She¡¯s gone completely round the bend, hasn¡¯t she? Does it mean she turned into a ghost?¡±


    ¡°Probably just a matter of time,¡± Zhao Lan sighed.


    ¡°If only I could live for another five hundred years¡­¡±


    Another call interrupted them. Zhou Xiao Zhen flinched. ¡°Is it her again?¡±


    Yu Xiao glanced at the caller ID. ¡°No, this is different.¡±


    She answered cautiously.


    A raspy voice spoke. ¡°Deaf Descendant?¡±


    ¡°Speaking,¡± Yu Xiao replied. ¡°Are you calling from the First Hospital?¡±


    ¡°Why did you slip those notes into my room?¡± the voice demanded.


    ¡°I need to ask you something important,¡± Yu Xiao pressed on, ignoring the question. ¡°Do you know anything about a senior patient who was discharged many years ago?¡±


    A beat of silence. Then, ¡°I know of him, yes. But I didn¡¯t know him personally.¡±


    Disappointment tugged at Yu Xiao, but she pushed on. ¡°What can you tell me?¡±


    A heavy silence fell upon the line. After what felt like an eternity, the voice rasped, ¡°Why do you want to know?¡±


    Yu Xiao hesitated, then decided to be honest. ¡°I¡¯ve heard that he discovered a way to combat the intrusion of negative yin energy before he was discharged. I need to know what he learned.¡±


    A harsh laugh crackled through the receiver, turning into a mocking cackle. ¡°Are you delusional? If such a method existed, do you think I¡¯d be in this state?¡±


    ¡°But it¡¯s real!¡± Yu Xiao insisted. ¡°Do you know about the Heart Hospital?¡­ I got the information directly from there. It has to be true! He found a way before he left the hospital.¡±


    Silence again, heavier this time. Yu Xiao waited, feeling a knot of dread forming in her stomach. Just as she was about to lose hope, she heard a faint sound through the phone, a muffled sob barely audible above the static.


    ¡°He found a way¡­¡± the voice choked out, a tremor of despair in its rasp. ¡°Then why¡­ why didn¡¯t he tell us?¡±


    Yu Xiao held her breath. She refused to believe that the senior hadn¡¯t tried to pass on his knowledge. Maybe not directly, but he must have left some kind of clue, some message for them to find.


    Something must have gone wrong. Something must have prevented his message from reaching them.


    He must have done something. He wouldn¡¯t have agreed to the director¡¯s plan, only to change his mind at the last minute, unless he had a plan of his own.


    ¡°Before he was discharged,¡± Yu Xiao asked slowly, ¡°did anything¡­ unusual happen at the hospital? Anything at all?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± the voice snapped back, the word dripping with bitterness. Then, a click as the call abruptly ended.


    Yu Xiao sighed, her shoulders drooping. ¡°Maybe I¡¯ll never find out what he knew.¡±


    Zhao Lan gently squeezed her shoulder. ¡°Perhaps some things are not meant to be. Come, Nightmare has brought dinner. Let¡¯s eat.¡±


    ¡°Smiley,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen added softly, ¡°we¡¯ve done everything we can.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re right,¡± Zhao Lan agreed. ¡°We¡¯ve done our best.¡±


    The four of them gathered around the table, a blanket of weariness settling over them.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen, always the one to break the tension, chirped, ¡°So, tell us what happened at St. Elizabeth¡¯s today!¡±

 Chapter 177: Would You Like Some Sweet and Sour Human Ribs?

    The air had grown thick with unease, and Yu Xiao decided a dose of absurdity was needed. With a mischievous glint in her eye, she launched into a dramatic retelling of the afternoon¡¯s prop-testing extravaganza, complete with exaggerated imitations of George¡¯s involuntary antics.


    By the time she was finished, Zhou Xiao Zhen was gasping for air between fits of laughter, and even Zhao Lan was wiping tears from her eyes.


    ¡°Oh, my sides!¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen wheezed, finally catching her breath. ¡°This place might be a death trap, but it¡¯s never boring. You know what? When I get out of here, I¡¯m going to write a novel about all this. People would love it!¡±


    Yu Xiao smiled faintly, knowing that memories of the hospital faded upon discharge. It was a blessing and a curse, she supposed.


    Zhao Lan, ever the supportive friend, didn¡¯t mention that someone had probably already done it. ¡°Ooh, what would you call it?¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen puffed up her chest. ¡°How about ¡®The Adventures of the Braised Egg Girl¡¯?¡±


    Yu Xiao snorted. ¡°Sounds like a cartoon I used to watch as a kid.¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s face fell. ¡°Well, then¡­¡± she muttered, tapping a finger against her chin. ¡°How about ¡®I Fought the Doctors in the Hospital!¡¯? Catchy, right?¡±


    Zhao Lan stroked her chin thoughtfully. ¡°Has a certain ring to it, but it might be mistaken for a story about hospital riots.¡±


    Clearly, they needed help. ¡°Any suggestions, Smiley?¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen asked.


    ¡°I¡¯m rubbish at that kind of thing,¡± Yu Xiao said quickly. ¡°Let Misty choose.¡±


    Zhao Lan waved a hand dismissively. ¡°My essay marks in school were abysmal. I think ¡®I Fought the Doctors in the Hospital¡¯ is perfect. Let¡¯s go with that.¡±


    After dinner, they took turns showering. When Yu Xiao emerged from the bathroom, Nightmare, in his fluffy yellow kitten form, was already curled up on her bed, patiently waiting for her. Zhao Lan and Zhou Xiao Zhen were on their own beds, scrolling through their phones.


    ¡°Smiley, check the Sixth Hospital forum,¡± Zhao Lan said, her brow furrowed. ¡°Someone posted about hearing strange noises in their ward this afternoon.¡±


    ¡°What kind of noises?¡± Yu Xiao asked, pulling back her duvet.


    ¡°Remember that news report this morning? The one about people in the Fifth Hospital hearing weird sounds outside their doors?¡± Zhao Lan replied. ¡°I wonder if it¡¯s the same thing they¡¯re talking about on the forum.¡±


    Yu Xiao settled onto her bed, phone in hand, and opened the forum app. ¡°Is it dangerous?¡±


    ¡°Not as far as we know,¡± Zhao Lan said. ¡°The person who posted said the noise lasted a while, then disappeared. But ever since that Countdown Ghost business, everyone¡¯s a bit on edge.¡±


    Yu Xiao quickly found the post in question.


    ¡¾I heard a strange sound¡¿


    ¡¾We were prepping for a dungeon run in our ward today, and around 2 PM, we suddenly heard this weird noise outside the door. It wasn¡¯t a trolley or anything, no voices or anything, but it was definitely something. We couldn¡¯t figure out what it was. It went on for about ten minutes, then stopped.


    Does anyone think it could be the same weird sound they were talking about on the news this morning? The one from the Fifth Hospital? It¡¯s freaking me out just thinking about it. What if it¡¯s another Countdown Ghost situation?


    Please tell me someone else heard it too! (¨s¡ã¡õ¡ã£©¨s¦à ©ß©¥©ß¡¿


    The post had already garnered a slew of replies.


    ¡¾Did you call the Medical Disputes Office like they said on the news?¡¿


    ¡¾Can you describe the sound? What did it sound like?¡¿


    ¡¾Is it dangerous? Didn¡¯t the Deaf Descendant deal with that Countdown Ghost thing? (¡ä¡ã????????¦Ø¡ã????????£à) What about this time?¡¿


    ¡¾Honestly, we¡¯re too scared to call. Whoever answers those phones isn¡¯t exactly¡­ human. It¡¯s hard to explain the sound. Kind of like someone outside was making a gurgling noise? (?????? _???????)¡¿


    ¡¾What¡¯s a gurgling noise? ?(?_?)?¡¿


    ¡¾Have you never seen ¡®The Grudge¡¯? It¡¯s the sound Kayako makes.¡¿


    (ÖäÔ¹ (The Grudge); zh¨°u yu¨¤n; Japanese horror film known for its iconic ghost, Kayako, and her eerie sound, popular and well-known in Chinese culture.)


    ¡¾Dude, no! I haven¡¯t seen it and I don¡¯t want to! Don¡¯t tell me there¡¯s a Kayako outside our door!


    (¨i©n¨i) ¡¿


    ¡¾What should we do? Is it dangerous¡­?¡¿


    If the original poster wasn¡¯t exaggerating, there was definitely something out there. And it seemed to have migrated from the Fifth Hospital to the Sixth. Whether it posed a threat remained to be seen, , but this time the hospital seemed more prepared to handle it than they were during the Countdown Ghost incident.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s eyes widened as she read the post. ¡°Do¡­ do you really think there are ghosts lurking outside right now?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m usually out during the day, so I wouldn¡¯t know,¡± Yu Xiao said, tapping a finger against her chin. ¡°But it¡¯s better to be safe than sorry. Misty, can you lock the ward door with your master key? Just in case.¡±


    ¡°Good idea,¡± Zhao Lan agreed, her usual confidence bolstered by the knowledge that not even a domain-level ghost could breach her trusty key. ¡°I¡¯ll do it right now.¡± She climbed out of bed and strode towards the door.


    The next morning, Yu Xiao woke to the sound of her phone¡¯s 8:00 AM alarm. Sunlight streamed through the window, painting a deceptively cheerful stripe across her face.


    She reached for her phone and opened the Sixth Hospital forum. The post from the previous night had exploded with replies, but thankfully, there were no reports of further incidents. The original poster had apparently spent the night cowering under their blanket ¨C a completely understandable reaction, in Yu Xiao¡¯s opinion.


    She sat up and leaned back against the headboard. Nightmare was still sound asleep, buried beneath the duvet, with only the tip of his tail occasionally twitching outside.


    Just then, the chirpy voice of the morning news announcer filled the room.


    ¡°A beautiful day begins now~ Here¡¯s your morning news update!¡±


    ¡°¡­ Yesterday, another patient at the Fifth Hospital died outside the ward. The cause of death is suspected to be the same as the patient who died the day before at the Third Hospital. Investigations are ongoing. We urge all patients to prioritise rest and remain within their wards for a speedy recovery¡­¡±


    ¡°¡­ Yesterday, a patient at the Sixth Hospital reported hearing strange noises outside the ward. Investigations into the source of the noise are underway. If you have any information, please contact the Medical Disputes Office immediately¡­¡±


    ¡°Another death at the Fifth Hospital?¡± Zhao Lan¡¯s voice was filled with worry. ¡°Could it be connected to those strange sounds? They originated from the Fifth Hospital, remember?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s certainly possible,¡± Yu Xiao said, a shiver running down her spine. Thank goodness for Zhao Lan¡¯s master key! ¡°Let¡¯s keep a close eye on the forum today, just in case there are any more developments.¡±


    ¡°Will do,¡± Zhao Lan agreed, feeling a surge of gratitude for the extra layer of security the key provided.


    Just as the news finished, and Yu Xiao was about to get ready for the day, her phone buzzed.


    It was Yu Qing Lang.


    ¡°Yu Xiao, I heard the news. Is everything alright at the Sixth Hospital?¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re fine,¡± Yu Xiao reassured her. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, we have ways of keeping our ward safe.¡±


    ¡°Oh.¡± There was a pause. ¡°Do you think it could be another Countdown Ghost situation?¡±


    ¡°Maybe,¡± Yu Xiao mused. ¡°But the thing is, the sound was at the Fifth Hospital the day before, then the Sixth yesterday. Who knows where it will pop up today? Be careful, Sister Qing Lang.¡±


    Yu Qing Lang responded with defiance, ¡°If it dares come, I¡¯ll knock the stuffing out of it.¡±


    Yu Xiao couldn¡¯t help but chuckle. ¡°I¡¯m sure you will.¡± Before hanging up, she asked casually, ¡°By the way, how many points do you need?¡±


    Yu Qing Lang hesitated. ¡°Not counting any title bonuses or extra rewards¡­ I need to clear about ten more instances.¡±


    Ten more! That meant Yu Qing Lang was only a few dozen points away from freedom.


    Still, clearing ten instances was easier said than done. There was no guarantee they wouldn¡¯t encounter another impossible scenario like the ¡®Flying to Someone Else¡¯s Bed¡¯. Yu Xiao began mentally calculating their remaining points. They had sold most of their functional cards and talismans, but surely they had a few spares they could give to Yu Qing Lang¡­


    In the hallowed halls of St. Elizabeth¡¯s, Qing Shi stirred a bucket of cement with the rhythmic swoosh of a seasoned plasterer.


    ¡°George, she¡¯ll be here any minute,¡± he chuckled, glancing at his companion. ¡°Why aren¡¯t you running for the hills?¡±


    George, a figure of haughty elegance even in the face of impending doom, merely scoffed.


    Gluttony, his voice dripping with a mixture of malice and mirth, chimed in. ¡°Where could he possibly run? This is his domain, his own personal purgatory. Besides,¡± he added, eyes gleaming with wicked amusement, ¡°the punishment for an attending doctor leaving his post without permission is rather severe, wouldn¡¯t you say?¡±


    Qing Shi furrowed his brow. ¡°Who¡¯d report him?¡±


    Gluttony¡¯s grin widened, revealing a set of teeth that glinted a little too sharply in the dim light. ¡°I would.¡±


    The air crackled with tension as George, his silence speaking volumes, fixed Gluttony with an icy glare.


    ¡°You pitiful creature,¡± he finally spat, his voice laced with disdain. ¡°Your community service will be over soon enough. Then it¡¯s back to your basement, back to feasting on those rotting, putrid scraps you call food.¡±


    A flicker of something dark crossed Gluttony¡¯s face, but it was gone as quickly as it had appeared, replaced by a sneer of pure venom.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry yourself, George,¡± he purred. ¡°I have no intention of staying in that basement forever.¡±


    Qing Shi, oblivious to the undercurrents of animosity swirling around him, watched their exchange with the morbid fascination of a man witnessing a particularly gruesome cockfight. Little did he know, Gluttony had been plotting against him, his mind a labyrinth of schemes as intricate and deadly as a spider¡¯s web.


    A letter from Sage Hospital, tucked away in Gluttony¡¯s pocket, burned a hole in his thoughts. Wang Shu, a cleaner with ambitions far grander than his station, had proposed a most intriguing alliance: a partnership to usurp Qing Shi¡¯s position, with the promise of making Gluttony the attending doctor at Sage Hospital.


    ¡°Good morning, gentlemen!¡±


    The cheerful voice cut through the tension like a scalpel. Yu Xiao, a vision in a crisp white lab coat, stood beaming at them, her presence as bright and unexpected as a ray of sunshine in a crypt. ¡°Have we all had a hearty breakfast?¡±


    Gluttony¡¯s eyes, however, were drawn to her body. ¡°Mind if I take a bite?¡±


    In a flash, Nightmare shot out from the depths of the backpack, his eyes fixed on Gluttony with a look that promised nothing short of agonising pain.


    Gluttony merely shrugged. ¡°So stingy.¡±


    Yu Xiao, seemingly unfazed by the near-lethal encounter, glanced around the room, her brow furrowed in confusion. ¡°Where¡¯s everyone else? Tie Niu?¡±


    ¡°Right here, Dean!¡±


    Tie Niu, followed by a gaggle of nurses, emerged from behind a mound of freshly dug earth.


    Unperturbed, Yu Xiao began unloading an assortment of tools from her seemingly bottomless bag.


    ¡°Yesterday¡¯s testing went swimmingly,¡± she announced, her voice brimming with enthusiasm. ¡°So I brought some more. Tie Niu, catch!¡± She tossed a heavy-looking device his way. ¡°George, where are you going? Come here, we have much to do¡­¡±


    **


    Meanwhile, in the dim recesses of Sixth Hospital, a door creaked open, briefly exposing a flickering light before the room was swallowed by darkness. Suddenly, a shadowy mass exited, its steps leaving behind a trail of blood.


    ¡°Ugh¡­ ugh¡­¡±


    As it moved, a deep, guttural moan escaped its throat, a haunting echo of its most recent meal ¨C the final, desperate gasps of its ill-fated prey as its windpipe was shattered.


    The figure staggered forward, its movements awkward, until it abruptly came to a halt in front of a door.


    ¡°Food delivery!¡± a cheerful voice called out from the shadowy mass. ¡°What can I get for you?¡±


    ¡­


    Ten minutes had passed, each one ticking by like a hammer blow in the oppressive silence of the ward. Then, a shadowy figure, with elongated limbs and ragged edges, rose from the floor like a phantom from a nightmare. It slithered out of the room, leaving a chilling tableau in its wake: gnawed bones scattered like macabre confetti, a toppled food trolley, and the lingering stench of decay.


    ¡°Food?¡± the figure rasped, its voice a garbled whisper that seemed to seep from the walls themselves.


    It craned its head forward, revealing a gaping maw that twisted into a grotesque parody of a smile. ¡°Want some food?¡±


    ¡°What¡­ what dish?¡± it mumbled, the words slurring together in a grotesque chant.


    ¡°What can I get for you? What dish?¡±


    **


    Zhao Lan and Zhou Xiao Zhen had been glued to the forum all morning, their eyes scanning the screen for any updates on the unfolding horror. But the digital ether remained frustratingly silent. Even the original poster, who had initially set the forum ablaze with their terrifying tale, was still chatting away.


    Zhao Lan hit the refresh button for the hundredth time, a sigh escaping her lips. ¡°Well, at least no news is good news, right?¡± she said, attempting a reassuring smile. ¡°No reports of any¡­ casualties.¡±


    ¡°Misty, are you hungry?¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen asked, her voice tinged with concern.


    Zhao Lan glanced at the clock. It was already noon. Her stomach, usually quite insistent in its demands, rumbled in agreement. She fished a set of keys from her pocket. ¡°Now that you mention it, I am feeling a bit peckish,¡± she admitted. ¡°I think I¡¯ll grab some lunch.¡±


    ¡°Let me get it,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen insisted, already reaching for the keys. ¡°What are you in the mood for?¡±


    Zhao Lan knew her friend¡¯s insistence stemmed from a place of kindness. Ever since her hand had transformed into a ghastly, dead man¡¯s appendage, even the simplest tasks had become a daily struggle. Smiley, Precious, and the others went out of their way to make her life easier.


    ¡°You know, I haven¡¯t had sweet and sour ribs in ages,¡± Zhao Lan mused, her mouth already watering at the thought. ¡°That sounds absolutely divine right now.¡±


    ¡°Ooh, me too,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen agreed, her eyes lighting up. She snatched the keys with a grin. ¡°Sweet and sour ribs it is!¡±


    She waited a moment by the door, but the familiar clatter of food trolleys was conspicuously absent. Frowning, she checked the time again. It was the peak of lunch hour, the time when the hallway usually transformed into a chaotic symphony of squeaking wheels and shouted orders.


    ¡°Want some food?¡±


    The voice, raspy and unsettling, seemed to slither from right outside the door, making Zhou Xiao Zhen jump.


    ¡°Yes! Yes, please!¡± she called out, her heart pounding in her chest.


    ¡°What¡­ what dish?¡±


    ¡°Sweet and sour ribs,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen rattled off, still slightly shaken. ¡°And spicy fried cabbage, please.¡± She didn¡¯t recognize the delivery person¡¯s voice, but everyone knew Yu Xiao lived here. Ever since Smiley¡¯s meteoric rise in the supernatural hierarchy, their meals had been free.


    Order placed, Zhou Xiao Zhen grabbed the key and unlocked the door. As was her habit, she opened it with just a crack, a sliver of light cutting through the gloom, ready to accept her lunch.


    But instead of the comforting aroma of hot food, a grotesque, greenish-black hand, its flesh seemingly rotting before her very eyes, reached through the gap. The stench of decay hit her like a physical blow, and a scream caught in her throat.


    **


    Yu Xiao gingerly accepted the tattered red scarf from Tie Niu, her fingers tracing the rough outline of an old bloodstain. It looked more like a relic from a crime scene than a useful tool.


    ¡°So,¡± she mused, holding it up for inspection, ¡°how are we supposed to use this thing? Should I tie it around my neck? Or maybe¡­¡± Her eyes twinkled mischievously, ¡°around George¡¯s?¡±


    George, sensing impending humiliation, shifted uncomfortably under her gaze. Nightmare, ever vigilant, materialised beside Yu Xiao, a low growl rumbling in his chest as if to say, *Don¡¯t even think about it.*


    After a moment of playful deliberation, Yu Xiao decided to drape the scarf around her own neck. It hung there limply, like a wilted poppy.


    ¡°Well?¡± George asked, his voice laced with morbid curiosity. ¡°Anything?¡±


    ¡°Nothing, nada, zilch,¡± Yu Xiao huffed, flicking the fabric in frustration.


    Nightmare, standing close by, tilted his head. ¡°Perhaps, you need to say something?¡±


    Yu Xiao paused, her brow furrowed in thought. ¡°What am I supposed to say? ¡®Look at me, I¡¯m a primary school student on my way to class?¡¯¡±


    Determined to unlock the scarf¡¯s secrets, she turned to George. ¡°Teacher?¡± she chirped, her voice taking on a saccharine sweetness that belied the macabre setting.


    George merely stared back at her, his expression unreadable.


    Undeterred, Yu Xiao tried another tactic. ¡°Hello, fellow student!¡± she chirped, attempting a wave that ended up looking more like a spastic twitch.


    Still nothing. George remained silent.


    ¡°Fine,¡± she muttered, resorting to desperate measures. ¡°I forgot my homework.¡±


    Silence.


    Two hours and countless ridiculous scenarios later, the scarf remained as inert as ever. Yu Xiao had even attempted to ¡°help¡± George cross an imaginary street, complete with frantic hand gestures and exaggerated traffic noises, but the mysterious prop refused to budge from its state of utter uselessness.


    Finally, she tore the scarf from her neck and tossed it aside. ¡°This thing is about as helpful as a chocolate teapot,¡± she declared, throwing her hands up in exasperation.


    Nightmare, ever curious, scooped the discarded scarf from the floor. ¡°Why the neck, though?¡± he asked, examining the fabric with a perplexed frown.


    ¡°Ah, my dear Nightmare,¡± Yu Xiao sighed dramatically, ¡°you wouldn¡¯t understand. It¡¯s a nine years of compulsory education thing.¡±


    Nightmare, his understanding of human education limited to images of screaming children and chalk-covered torture devices, merely blinked.


    ¡°I wish I could live another five hundred years¡­¡±


    As if on cue, the shrill ring of her mobile phone shattered the silence. Yu Xiao glanced at the screen, a shiver running down her spine. The number looked eerily familiar¡ªdisturbingly close to the one used by that senior patient from the First Hospital, the one who had developed a rather unsavoury appetite for human flesh.


    She hesitated for a moment, torn between curiosity and a very healthy dose of self-preservation. Finally, curiosity won out.


    ¡°Hello?¡± she answered cautiously.


    The sound of wet chewing echoed from the other end of the line, followed by a woman¡¯s voice, strangely calm despite the unsettling background noise. ¡°I need to talk to you.¡±


    Yu Xiao¡¯s grip on the phone tightened. ¡°I¡¯m rather busy at the moment,¡± she said, already mentally calculating the fastest escape routes from the room.


    ¡°Please,¡± the voice pleaded, a note of desperation creeping into her tone. ¡°Don¡¯t hang up. I haven¡¯t¡­ spoken to anyone in a very long time.¡±


    Yu Xiao wrinkled her nose as she felt a wave of discomfort hearing her voice. It wasn¡¯t just the unsettling plea for company, but the chilling reminder that this woman, like countless others in the hospital, had succumbed to the same hunger. Talking to her felt like placating a cornered beast ¨C a desperate attempt to avoid a gruesome encounter.


    ¡°I have no time for this!¡± Yu Xiao sighed.


    ¡°But I have treasures!¡± the woman pleaded. ¡°Things that might be useful! How about a friendly chat in exchange for some top-notch items?¡±


    Yu Xiao scoffed. The idea of accepting anything from this creature, let alone something she touched, sent a wave of nausea through her. ¡°Honey, I wouldn¡¯t take a free hug from you, let alone accept your¡­ merchandise.¡± S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The woman shifted gears. ¡°Function cards, then? I have some real rarities ¨C the kind that make instances a breeze.¡±


    Yu Xiao couldn¡¯t help but think of Tang Xing Yin, the hospital veteran with enough function cards to build his own dungeon empire. Perhaps, a sliver of the woman on the phone clung to her humanity. A flicker of hope sparked in Yu Xiao¡¯s chest.


    ¡°Alright, alright,¡± Yu Xiao conceded. ¡°Tell me, how many points do you need to get discharged? We can sell your stuff, convert it to points, and get you out of this creepy hospital.¡±


    The woman hesitated, then mumbled, ¡°The marketplace is such a rip-off, though¡­¡±


    ¡°Marketplace? You set your own prices there, you know,¡± Yu Xiao reminded her, realising her initial suggestion might have been a tad melodramatic.


    Silence followed. Finally, the woman whispered, ¡°So, if I leave¡­ does that mean I have to give up¡­ the whole ¡®flesh-eating¡¯ thing?¡±


    Yu Xiao¡¯s patience wore thin. ¡°Look,¡± she said carefully, ¡°If a balanced diet includes human limbs, then maybe this hospital is where you belong for now.¡±


    Frustrated, Yu Xiao hung up. Nightmare, ever the watchful companion, twirled a red scarf in his paws, his eyes locked on hers.


    ¡°Let¡¯s get out of here,¡± Yu Xiao declared, taking the scarf.


    Nightmare, still holding the scarf, let out a low growl. ¡°Wait, we haven¡¯t figured this out yet.¡±


    ¡°We figured it out enough,¡± Yu Xiao said, shoving the scarf into her bag. ¡°We can always sell it at a discount.¡±


    With a swift movement, she bundled Nightmare back into the bag and exited St. Elizabeth, the familiar dizziness washing over her. A moment later, she opened her eyes to a scene straight out of a horror movie.


    Pitch blackness. Howling wind. A sudden, bone-chilling cold.


    For a second, Yu Xiao¡¯s heart hammered in her chest.


    Then, reality dawned.


    The lights in the ward were off.


    And the door¡­


    ¡­was wide open.

 Chapter 178: Whom Did He Replace?

    Word count:


    Yu Xiao¡¯s mind went blank, and the world around her dissolved into an icy abyss. Darkness pressed in from all sides, stealing her voice before she could even cry out.


    Finally, a shudder rippled through her.


    ¡°Precious? Misty?¡± she whispered, her voice thin and reedy.


    Only the wind answered, whistling a mournful tune through the empty ward.


    ¡°Misty!¡± Panic welled up in Yu Xiao¡¯s chest, choking her. ¡°Precious!¡±


    She scrambled for the light switch, flooding the room with a harsh, unforgiving glare. Chaos greeted her. Furniture lay overturned, bedsheets ripped from the mattress, and a trail of bloody footprints stained the linoleum floor like a macabre painting.


    Her breath hitched in her throat. The footprints were large, far too large to belong to either Misty or Precious.


    Someone¡ªno, *¡ªhad been here.


    But how? Misty always locked the ward door.


    Yu Xiao sank to her knees, her hand trembling as she pulled out her phone.


    ¡°Sorry, the number you are calling is currently unavailable¡­¡± a robotic voice chirped.


    Relief washed over her, fleeting but potent. If Zhao Lan¡¯s phone was out of service, it meant she was still out there, alive. Hope flickered, only to be extinguished when she tried Precious¡¯s number. This time, a cheerful pop song blasted from beside her.


    Precious¡¯s phone. Abandoned on the bed.


    Pressing her hand to her forehead, Yu Xiao fought to rein in the fear that threatened to consume her. She didn¡¯t have all the answers, but one thing was clear: a ghost had infiltrated their sanctuary. The same malevolent entity that had been terrorising hospitals across this hellish place. How it had bypassed Misty¡¯s key lock, she had no idea. But it was clear that they had been forced to flee, leaving everything behind.


    Her gaze drifted towards the darkened doorway. She had ventured out there twice before, always with Goldie, the three-headed guard dog, by her side. The one time she had walked those halls alone, she had worn Goldie¡¯s work badge like a shield¡ªa beacon that kept the shadows at bay.


    But Misty and Precious had no such protection. Their talismans would only last so long, their tools useless against this new threat. Out there, in the echoing silence of the hospital, they were vulnerable.


    Beside her, Nightmare watched her every move. He was a silent observer, his presence both comforting and unnerving.


    Yu Xiao pushed herself to her feet, feeling a sudden surge of determination. She tore open the cupboard, her heart sinking as she saw their cache of tools and function cards untouched. They hadn¡¯t even had time to arm themselves.


    The door hung precariously from its frame, with splintered wood as a testament to the force used to break it open. Misty wouldn¡¯t have been able to lock it again.


    Turning to Nightmare, she simply said, ¡°I have to find them.¡±


    He didn¡¯t speak but fell into step beside her as she moved towards the door, the hallway yawning before them like the mouth of some monstrous beast. Which way had they gone? The question echoed in the silence, every shadow a potential hiding place, every whisper of wind a phantom cry for help.


    ¡°To the right,¡± Nightmare rasped.


    Yu Xiao shot him a questioning look. ¡°I sense something,¡± he elaborated, his tone brooking no argument.


    ¡°Misty! Precious!¡± Yu Xiao didn¡¯t hesitate, breaking into a jog down the corridor. The thought that her shouts might attract unwanted attention prickled at the back of her mind, but finding her friends was paramount. Every second wasted was a second closer to disaster.


    Nightmare followed, a silent spectre radiating the raw power of a top-tier monster. Cowering ghosts melted further into the shadows at his passing, desperate to become one with the dust and grime. He was enraged, his fury a tangible presence.


    ¡°Misty!¡± Yu Xiao¡¯s voice echoed down the desolate corridor. ¡°Precious!¡±


    ¡°Misty!!!¡± She stopped, straining to listen.


    Was that¡­


    ¡°Woo-woo-woo¡­¡±


    A soft, muffled sobbing reached her ears.


    ¡°Precious, is that you?¡± she called out tentatively.


    ¡°Misty, what should we do?¡± The voice, choked with tears, came from just around the corner.


    It was Precious!


    ¡°Precious¡­¡± Yu Xiao rounded the corner at a run, her phone clutched like a lifeline, its feeble light cutting through the oppressive darkness.


    A huddled shape emerged from the shadows. Yu Xiao whipped out her phone, its feeble light illuminating the figure and revealed the decaying purple flesh.


    The thing squatted on the ground. Its eyes were rotted away, replaced by oozing, pus-filled sockets that swivelled towards Yu Xiao with a sickening shlurp.


    The figure¡¯s head lolled at an unnatural angle, its neck emitting a sickening crack as it tried to right itself. Then, in a voice that sent shivers down Yu Xiao¡¯s spine (because it sounded suspiciously like Precious), it moaned, ¡°Boo-hoo¡­ boo-hoo¡­ Misty, what do we do?¡±


    As the monstrosity lurched to its feet, continuing its mournful serenade, Yu Xiao clutched a wad of talismans, her bravado momentarily deserting her.


    ¡°Strong one,¡± Nightmare murmured in her ear. ¡°Hold tight, I got this.¡±


    With that, Nightmare launched himself at the thing like a furry missile. He collided with it in a heap of claws and fur, the impact sending the monstrosity sprawling. It didn¡¯t seem too fazed, though. It just twisted its head at an even more horrifying angle and sank its teeth into Nightmare¡¯s neck.


    **


    Escaping from the ward, Zhao Lan and Zhou Xiao Zhen were surprised to find that the corridor was less treacherous than they had expected. They sprinted through the hospital, their footsteps echoing in the silent halls until finally they burst into the cool night air.


    Standing outside the dilapidated building, shrouded in an unnatural black mist, they could scarcely believe their luck. They had actually escaped. But their relief was short-lived.


    The eerie silence was broken only by the unsettling gurgle coming closer, and the oppressive darkness felt heavy with unseen dangers.


    ¡°What now?¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen whispered, clutching Zhao Lan¡¯s arm, her voice tense with fear. ¡°Are we going to die?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t be absurd,¡± Zhao Lan hissed, her eyes scanning their surroundings. Behind them, footsteps. The ghost. There was no time for panic.


    ¡°This way.¡± She grabbed Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s hand, pulling her into the swirling mist.


    ¡°It¡¯s so thick,¡± fretted Zhou Xiao Zhen, stumbling over unseen obstacles. ¡°We¡¯ll never find our way back.¡±


    Zhao Lan, with her senses on high alert, navigated the darkness by feel. The stench of blood hung heavy along with the gurgling sound behind them.


    ¡°We need to lose it,¡± she said, her voice steady despite the tremor in her heart. ¡°Once we¡¯re safe, we¡¯ll contact Smiley.¡±


    ¡°But my phone¡­¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s voice faltered. ¡°And yours got smashed¡­¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry,¡± Zhao Lan reassured her. ¡°She¡¯ll find us. I¡¯ve been leaving talismans. Ghosts can¡¯t touch them. As long as they¡¯re intact¡­¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen nodded, holding onto her friend¡¯s confidence.


    The footsteps were getting closer. Then, blessed relief ¨C solid ground beneath Zhao Lan¡¯s feet.


    ¡°This way,¡± she whispered, pulling Zhou Xiao Zhen along.


    As if by magic, the mist thinned and then vanished entirely. Blinking in the sudden light, they stared in disbelief at the scene before them.


    A wide, bustling street stretched ahead, a chaotic symphony of car horns and shouting vendors. Towering skyscrapers pierced the sky, dwarfing the decrepit hospital behind them.


    ¡°Where¡­?¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen stammered, utterly bewildered.


    Zhao Lan turned. The black mist seethed behind them, a portal to a nightmare they had barely escaped.


    ¡°The world we saw from the amusement park,¡± she realised.


    ¡°The ghost¡­¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen glanced back. ¡°It¡¯s here.¡±


    Zhao Lan didn¡¯t need to look. She could feel its malevolent presence, a shadow creeping towards them. ¡°We need to enter there.¡±


    ¡°What?¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen squeaked, her eyes wide with terror.


    ¡°Into the city,¡± Zhao Lan clarified, pointing towards the bustling crowds.


    ¡°No!¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen grabbed her arm. ¡°We¡¯ll be assimilated, don¡¯t you remember? We¡¯ll become¡­ someone else. We¡¯ll be trapped forever!¡±


    Panic clawed at Zhao Lan¡¯s throat. ¡°Smiley will find us.¡±


    ¡°Find us?¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s voice was a shriek. She clutched at her hair in despair. ¡°We don¡¯t have phones, she can¡¯t reach us! And if she stays here searching, she¡¯ll be assimilated too!¡±


    The echo of their words was swallowed by the oppressive silence, broken only by the tat-tat-tat of approaching footsteps.


    Zhao Lan reacted instantly, grabbing Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s hand and yanking her forward. ¡°Inside, now!¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen stumbled, tears welling up as she cast a desperate look over her shoulder. ¡°Wuwuwu¡­ We¡¯re never going back¡­¡±


    Zhao Lan¡¯s hand instinctively dived into her pocket, only to meet empty fabric. The talismans, their only protection, were gone.


    Panic momentarily choked her, then a steely glint entered her eyes.


    She released Zhou Xiao Zhen and shoved up her sleeve, revealing the dead man¡¯s hand beneath. With a guttural cry, she dropped to a crouch and slammed her ghostly fist against the hard-packed earth.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen gaped, fear morphing into confusion. ¡°Misty! What in the heavens are you doing?¡±


    Pain, sharp and searing, shot up Zhao Lan¡¯s arm, but she gritted her teeth, ignoring the beads of sweat that sprung to her brow. One fist after another hammered against the ground.


    ¡°Misty,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s voice trembled, ¡°what¡¯s gotten into you?¡±


    Finally, Zhao Lan stopped. Her hand looked like it had gone five rounds with a possessed meat cleaver ¨C bone protruding, spectral flesh hanging in shreds.


    ¡°We¡¯re out of talismans,¡± Zhao Lan breathed, her face as white as funeral paper. ¡°I¡¯ll need to leave a trail, or Smiley won¡¯t find us in this cursed place.¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen shook her head, tears welling.


    Zhao Lan forced a shaky smile. ¡°Don¡¯t cry, Precious. Big Sister Misty will protect you.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re crazy! But¡­¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen reached out, her hand trembling like a leaf in the wind. ¡°Use my blood as well. To leave a mark.¡±


    ¡°Sure. Once my leaky faucet stops dripping, I¡¯ll borrow yours, but for now¡­¡±


    Grimacing, Zhao Lan extended her other hand. ¡°Help me up. It¡¯s not safe here, we need to keep moving.¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen scrambled to support her, their arms a lifeline in the deepening gloom.


    They stumbled forward, two figures leaning heavily against each other as they struggled towards the distant city lights.


    Behind them, shrouded in the swirling darkness, a hulking black dog watched their retreat. It lowered its head and exhaled softly, a puff of breath that stirred a fallen talisman. The paper charm danced in the air for a moment, a fragile hope caught in the breeze, before landing with a soft plop in the river of blood.


    ¡°I¡¯ve figured it out,¡± Zhao Lan whispered, her voice raspy. ¡°This place¡­ it messes with your head. If we stay too long, we¡¯ll forget everything, become¡­ like them.¡±


    A shiver ran down Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s spine. ¡°What can we do?¡±


    Zhao Lan¡¯s eyes settled on a nearby house, its silhouette stark against the hospital across the street. ¡°There. We need to ground ourselves. Find a room, lock ourselves in. Away from all this. The master key should still work.¡±


    ¡°Alright,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen agreed, tightening her grip on Zhao Lan¡¯s arm as they navigated the treacherous path towards the residential area.


    The moment they entered the compound, an elderly woman, out for her evening stroll, smiled at them. ¡°Precious, back from work already?¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen, heart hammering against her ribs, kept her head bowed and pressed onward, fear glueing her tongue to the roof of her mouth.


    Zhao Lan, noticing the blood on her arm was drying too quickly, discreetly reopened the wound with a sharp tug of her fingernail. Fresh crimson welled up, a gruesome beacon in the darkening night.


    ¡°Aiyo!¡± The old lady squawked, her eyes widening at the sight of Zhao Lan¡¯s blood-soaked arm. ¡°Child, what happened? You¡¯re leaking like a broken teapot!¡±


    ¡°No time, Auntie,¡± Zhao Lan gasped, urging Zhou Xiao Zhen forward. ¡°We need to keep moving.¡±


    They staggered towards the nearest doorway and Zhou Xiao Zhen hammered on the wood with a desperate fist. ¡°Hello? Anyone home?¡±


    ¡°Who is it?¡± a woman¡¯s voice called from inside.


    ¡°It¡¯s me!¡± Zhao Lan shouted back.


    The door swung open, revealing a woman in a floral apron. Her face lit up with recognition. ¡°Precious! Misty! What brings you two¡­¡±


    She didn¡¯t get to finish her sentence. Zhou Xiao Zhen, with the strength of a woman possessed, grabbed the woman¡¯s collar, yanked her over the threshold, and tossed her unceremoniously onto the welcome mat.


    ¡°What on earth¡­?!¡± the woman sputtered, utterly bewildered.


    Ignoring her protests, Zhou Xiao Zhen bundled Zhao Lan inside and slammed the door shut, the lock clicking with a reassuring finality. The woman¡¯s indignant yells were muffled by the wood.


    The flat was small, just two bedrooms, but mercifully empty. With a sigh that bordered on a sob, Zhao Lan collapsed onto the sofa, her face ashen.


    ¡°Misty, are you alright?¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen knelt beside her, her voice thick with worry.


    ¡°Lost a bit of blood, that¡¯s all,¡± Zhao Lan mumbled.


    ¡°What do we do?¡± Panic edged into Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s voice. ¡°What should we do?¡±


    Zhao Lan closed her eyes, her breath shallow. ¡°Maybe¡­maybe it wouldn¡¯t be so bad, fainting now.¡±


    ¡°What are you talking about?¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ll be assimilated soon,¡± Zhao Lan explained, her voice weak. ¡°Who knows what we¡¯ll become? What if¡­what if we open the door ourselves?¡±


    ¡°We can throw the key outside!¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen suggested, leaping to her feet.


    ¡°No. We might not find it again. Then even if Smiley finds us¡­¡± Zhao Lan trailed off, the thought too horrible to finish.


    ¡°So¡­we need the key, but we can¡¯t open the door.¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen chewed her lip, her brow furrowed in thought. ¡°But what if we¡­¡±


    A slow smile spread across her face. ¡°I have a plan.¡±


    Zhao Lan¡¯s vision was blurring at the edges, the room tilting around her. ¡°What plan?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t you worry, Misty,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen said, her voice taking on a disturbingly cheerful lilt. ¡°Just rest your eyes. I¡¯ll take care of everything.¡± She glanced down at her hands, a mischievous glint in her eye. ¡°And I¡¯ll find something to stop the bleeding for you.¡±


    ¡°Just tie it tightly,¡± Zhao Lan gasped. ¡°Duct tape, hair tie, belt, whatever.¡±


    ¡°Right,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen scrambled up and dashed to her room, rummaging for something, anything that could help. A belt would have to do.


    By the time she returned, Zhao Lan had slumped against the wall, unconscious. With a shuddering breath, Zhou Xiao Zhen secured the belt around her friend¡¯s arm, pulling it taut.


    She stumbled back, pressing herself against the wall, as far away from the door as possible.


    Taking a deep breath, Zhou Xiao Zhen prepared herself. The only way to keep the door shut and stay fully alert was to DIY a broken arm.


    With a grimace that would make even a seasoned horror movie fan flinch, Zhou Xiao Zhen forcefully slammed her arm against the protruding corner of the wall. A satisfying crack echoed through the room.


    ***


    Meanwhile, down the hall, a battle raged.


    Nightmare tore into the shadowy monstrosity with ferocity. The monstrosity, emitting a cacophony of disturbing growls, fought back with unexpected agility for a creature made from spare body parts.


    Finally, with a powerful rip, Nightmare decapitated the thing and tossed the head aside like a discarded chew toy. The severed limbs twitched and writhed on the floor, creating a horrifying display of post-mortem acrobatics.


    ¡°Done,¡± Nightmare grunted, shaking himself off.


    Yu Xiao nodded, her expression grim. ¡°Then let¡¯s keep moving.¡±


    ¡°Sure, sure.¡± But instead of moving, Nightmare simply dissolved, reappearing as a tiny, pale yellow kitten at Yu Xiao¡¯s feet.


    ¡°Nightmare?¡± Yu Xiao crouched down, concern filling her voice. ¡°What is it?¡±


    ¡°Just¡­tired,¡± the kitten mumbled, eyes squeezed shut. Its voice was thin, fragile. ¡°Carry me for a bit? Need to rest.¡±


    Yu Xiao knew it was more than exhaustion, but now wasn¡¯t the time for questions. She scooped up the kitten, cradling it close, and continued down the desolate street.


    The only sound was the rhythmic tap, tap of her own footsteps, echoing in the heavy silence. Then, another set of footsteps joined hers, faint at first, but growing steadily closer.


    At the same moment, the small weight in her arms shifted. Nightmare¡¯s eyes flickered open, narrowed to slits. Danger crackled in the air.


    A hulking, black, three-headed dog swaggered around the corner, regarding them with an air of bored indifference.


    ¡°Oops, I¡¯m late,¡± the middle head said.


    ¡°Apologies for the delay,¡± the left head rumbled, its voice a low growl.


    Yu Xiao fixed the creature with a withering stare. ¡°Let me guess,¡± she said, her tone laced with sarcasm, ¡°this chaos is your idea of order?¡±


    ¡°Now, now, be fair,¡± protested the middle head, its three mouths moving in unnerving unison. ¡°My jurisdiction is the hospital, not the patients. Besides, I assumed that rogue spirit had moved on to the First Hospital. Who knew it would linger here?¡±


    Yu Xiao didn¡¯t have time for this. ¡°Can you find my friends?¡± she demanded, her voice tight with worry. ¡°Zhao Lan and Zhou Xiao Zhen?¡±


    ¡°Certainly,¡± the dog replied. The right head dipped low to the ground, sniffing at the pavement. Yu Xiao followed closely, their bizarre procession ending at the hospital entrance.


    The dog¡¯s heads swivelled upwards, regarding the building with a mixture of curiosity and apprehension. ¡°Interesting,¡± the middle head murmured. ¡°They¡¯ve passed beyond.¡±


    ¡°Beyond?¡± Yu Xiao peered out. ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    ¡°That city,¡± the dog explained, its voice taking on a philosophical tone, ¡°it¡¯s built on the lingering thoughts of the deceased. A reflection of the living world, but far more potent, far more¡­ insidious.¡±


    Yu Xiao understood. This was the same place she¡¯d encountered outside the Lolita Amusement Park, a place where memories congealed into a tangible and terrifying reality.


    ¡°Countless souls, countless years,¡± the dog continued, its voice laced with a hint of warning. ¡°Their thoughts are a powerful current. Any living being, even a monster like myself, risks being swept away, assimilated into the fabric of this place.¡±


    The dog paused, three pairs of eyes fixed on Yu Xiao. ¡°Turn back,¡± it advised. ¡°It¡¯s not worth the risk.¡±


    But Yu Xiao merely laughed, a sharp, humourless bark that echoed strangely in the stillness.


    The dog blinked, all six eyes wide with surprise. ¡°What¡¯s so amusing?¡±


    ¡°Oh, nothing,¡± she replied, her voice deceptively light. ¡°Just take me to your Director.¡±


    ¡­


    She¡¯d walked this path before, but this time, she had Nightmare at her side.


    The familiar ferry awaited, its prow disappearing into the swirling mist. But this time, a tattered flag fluttered from its mast, bearing the crudely painted words: ¡°Stinking Ditch Ferry.¡±


    Yu Xiao raised an eyebrow at the dog, who squirmed under her gaze.


    ¡°The Director thought you might appreciate the¡­ personal touch,¡± one of the heads mumbled, its voice barely audible.


    ¡°Did your Director orchestrate all of this?¡± Yu Xiao asked, her gaze steady on the three-headed dog.


    The three heads, as if on cue, swivelled in different directions. ¡°I haven¡¯t the faintest idea what you¡¯re talking about,¡± the left head mumbled, its voice muffled by a sudden bout of fake coughing.


    ¡°That ghost is powerful, I¡¯ll grant you that,¡± she continued, her voice deceptively mild. ¡°But Nightmare here,¡± she gestured to the sleepy kitten in her arms, ¡°he could handle it. Your security team used to chase down his kind without breaking a sweat. It doesn¡¯t make sense to let such a nuisance linger in the hospital, does it?¡±


    The three-headed dog shifted uncomfortably under her gaze. Her calmness was far more unnerving than any outburst.


    Yu Xiao reached out, placing a hand on the creature¡¯s back. Its muscles tensed, then relaxed slightly as she began to gently stroke its fur.


    ¡°Does your Director ever do this?¡± she asked softly.


    The three heads remained silent, their eyes fixed on a distant point in the mist.


    ¡°What will you do,¡± she murmured, her voice barely audible above the lapping of the water against the hull, ¡°when no one pats you anymore?¡±


    Silence greeted her question. The only sound was the mournful cry of a distant bird, swallowed by the fog.


    The ferry bumped against the shore, jolting them back to reality. The three-headed dog shook off her touch as if burned, scrambling off the boat and onto the familiar, yet unsettling, streets of the Director¡¯s domain.


    ¡°Do you like it here?¡± Yu Xiao asked Nightmare, stroking his soft fur as they disembarked.


    ¡°As long as you¡¯re here,¡± came the muffled reply.


    ¡°Then it seems we¡¯re staying,¡± she said, a steely glint in her eye. ¡°Let¡¯s try to make the best of it, shall we?¡±


    The house loomed before them, its retro grandeur a stark contrast to the desolate cityscape. Warm light spilled from the windows, beckoning them inside. Yu Xiao, dispelling any need for guidance, headed straight for the Director¡¯s study.


    The three-headed dog, its tail tucked between its legs, hesitantly knocked on the door.


    ¡°Enter.¡±


    The study was unchanged: bookshelves lined the walls, their contents whispering forgotten secrets, and a fire crackled merrily in the hearth, casting dancing shadows across the room. However, the Director himself¡­he was different. Gone was his usual casual attire. Tonight, he wore a finely tailored black tailcoat, his silver hair neatly combed. He sat behind his desk, a predatory smile playing on his lips.


    Yu Xiao met his gaze, her own expression unreadable. In their past encounters, she¡¯d always found his smile unsettling. Now she understood why. It was the smile of a predator, finally ready to reveal its hand.


    ¡°Please, have a seat,¡± he gestured to the chair opposite him. ¡°Can I offer you some refreshment? Tea? Or perhaps something a little stronger?¡±


    Yu Xiao gracefully lowered herself into the chair, her gaze never leaving his. ¡°What do you drink?¡± she asked, her voice deceptively casual.


    ¡°Wine.¡±


    ¡°Then wine it is.¡±


    The Director nodded, his eyes gleaming with a dangerous light. He rose from his chair and moved towards a nearby cabinet, its shelves stacked with crystal decanters and bottles of exotic liquors. He personally selected a bottle, the firelight glinting off its dark glass, and poured a generous measure into a waiting glass.


    The game had begun.


    ¡°You orchestrated this entire thing, didn¡¯t you?¡±


    The Director didn¡¯t bother denying it. He swirled the crimson liquid in his glass, his eyes gleaming with an unusual light.


    ¡°Before we get into that,¡± he said, his voice as smooth as silk, ¡°maybe you¡¯d like to hear about your predecessor?¡±


    ¡°Will this delay me from saving Misty and Precious?¡± she asked, growing impatient.


    ¡°Not at all,¡± he assured her, taking a leisurely sip of his drink. ¡°It all started twenty years ago, with the arrival of a very interesting patient. Brilliant mind, unconventional thinking, unwavering courage¡­sound familiar?¡± He paused, letting the silence between them become heavy. ¡°In just a year or two, he had earned enough points to be discharged.¡±


    ¡°And you saw an opportunity,¡± Yu Xiao said, her gaze steady. ¡°An opportunity to escape this place.¡±


    ¡°Exactly.¡±


    Yu Xiao frowned, a thought occurring to her. ¡°Why choose from among the patients? Surely there were countless ghosts here, eager to rule in your place?¡±


    The Director chuckled, a low, chilling sound. ¡°All in due time, my dear,¡± he said, taking another sip of his wine. ¡°All in due time.¡±


    He continued his story. ¡°I went to great lengths to secure his cooperation. And in the end, he agreed.¡± A flicker of something crossed his face, perhaps pride. ¡°I brought him here, to this very room, and personally taught him how to be the Horror Hospital Director.¡±


    He reached into a drawer and retrieved a small, intricately carved box. Inside, resting on a bed of crimson velvet, was a simple jade seal.


    ¡°I gave him the symbol of my authority,¡± the Director whispered, his voice filled with emotion. ¡°Allowed him to experiment, to push the boundaries of his power. I turned a blind eye to his little schemes, his manipulations¡­¡± His voice hardened. ¡°I was so eager to get rid of this place that I overlooked the most obvious dangers.¡±


    Yu Xiao reached out, picking up the seal. It felt cool and smooth in her hand, surprisingly heavy.


    ¡°Is this all it takes?¡± she asked quietly. ¡°To be the Director?¡±


    ¡°Only half,¡± he replied, his gaze fixed on hers.


    ¡°Did he find a way to deal with the Yin energy?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°And how did he do that?¡± Yu Xiao pressed, her heart pounding.


    The Director threw back his head and laughed, the sound echoing through the silent room. ¡°Now, why would I tell you that?¡±


    ¡°You said you would tell me everything,¡± she reminded him, her voice firm. ¡°If you want me to willingly take your place, shouldn¡¯t you reveal all your cards?¡±


    ¡°The answers you seek are right before your eyes,¡± the Director purred, with a hint of amusement in his voice. ¡°But you seem blind to them. Do you truly believe I divulged all this for you to simply follow in your predecessor¡¯s footsteps?¡±


    Yu Xiao took a steadying breath, her fingers tightening around the jade seal. ¡°You can save them,¡± she stated, her voice devoid of inflection. ¡°Zhao Lan and Zhou Xiao Zhen.¡±


    ¡°Indeed, I can,¡± he agreed, his tone maddeningly casual. ¡°But I won¡¯t.¡±


    Fury flashed in her eyes, but before she could unleash it, he continued, his voice softening. ¡°However, ** can save them.¡±


    He rose from his chair and circled the desk, stopping directly in front of her. With a flourish, he shrugged off his tailcoat, letting it fall to the floor in a silken puddle.


    Yu Xiao watched in stunned silence as he proceeded to shed his waistcoat, then began unbuttoning his shirt with deliberate slowness. Was this some bizarre power play, some twisted attempt to assert his dominance? Her mind reeled, struggling to grasp the situation as he stood before her, bare-chested, his lean frame surprisingly toned for someone who seemed to spend most of his existence behind a desk.


    ¡°What exactly do you think you¡¯re doing?¡± she finally managed, her voice a blend of confusion and outrage.


    ¡°You asked why my successor must be a living soul,¡± he said, ignoring her question. He raised his left hand, pressing it against his chest, directly over his heart. ¡°This,¡± he said, his voice low and intense, ¡°is the other half of the Director.¡±


    Yu Xiao stared at him, utterly bewildered. ¡°The other half?¡±


    ¡°A heart forged from the lingering obsessions of countless souls,¡± he explained, his voice taking on a strange, distant quality. ¡°The very core of this hospital, its beating heart.¡± His fingers tightened against his chest, digging into his flesh, but his expression remained unchanged. ¡°I cannot remove it. I cannot escape it.¡±


    ¡°Then¡­¡± she began, her mind racing.


    ¡°Unless,¡± he interrupted, his gaze piercing hers, ¡°a vibrant, living vessel accepts this heart, it will never leave me.¡± His eyes held hers, unwavering. ¡°The obsessions of the dead crave life, and you, my dear, are brimming with it.¡±


    Yu Xiao¡¯s gaze dropped to his chest, her mind struggling to process this new, horrifying information. ¡°You¡¯re suggesting I¡­take your heart?¡± S§×arch* The ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Not take,¡± he corrected, a ghost of a smile playing on his lips. ¡°Receive. Embrace.¡±


    ¡°And what of my own heart?¡± she asked, her voice barely a whisper.


    ¡°The Yin energy will consume it,¡± he said, his tone almost gentle. ¡°Slowly, inevitably. You will become a creature of this place, a true Director, able to walk freely in both worlds, unbound by the limitations of flesh and bone.¡±


    ¡°And I could save them,¡± she breathed, the truth of his words settling over her like a shroud. ¡°But I would be trapped here, forever.¡±


    He inclined his head, his smile widening. ¡°Unless, of course, you find another willing soul to inherit this burden.¡±


    Yu Xiao had not yet carved out her heart, but she already felt a searing pain that another would feel if she did the same.


    ¡°I won¡¯t do it,¡± Yu Xiao declared, her back straight as she met the Director¡¯s gaze. ¡°This hospital ends with me.¡±


    The Director¡¯s smile remained unchanged, his head tilting slightly to the side. ¡°Your friends may be safe for now, but time has a way of eroding even the strongest protections.¡±


    ¡°Then take it,¡± Yu Xiao challenged, her unwavering voice. ¡°Take my heart.¡±


    With a graceful movement, the Director bent down and took her hand, pressing it against his chest. ¡°Tell me, what do you feel?¡±


    The chill that seeped into her palm was like touching a tomb. ¡°Cold,¡± Yu Xiao breathed.


    ¡°And knowing that,¡± the Director murmured, his eyes holding hers, ¡°do you accept?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    He lifted his hand, reaching for the place where Yu Xiao¡¯s heart beat beneath her ribs.


    Nightmare, who had been perched on a nearby chair, suddenly sprang up, shifting into his human form in a blink. He lunged forward to intervene, but Yu Xiao caught his eye and shook her head, a soft, sad smile on her lips.


    The Director¡¯s hand pierced into Yu Xiao¡¯s chest, and she spat out a mouthful of fresh blood before losing consciousness under Nightmare¡¯s sorrowful gaze.


    Gently, the Director lowered her onto the bed. Where her heart had been, there was now only an empty cavity, a void in her chest. Yet, impossibly, she still clung to life, her breath shallow but steady. His hand was drenched in blood, clutching a heart that still throbbed with life.


    The Director turned to Nightmare, his smile distorting into a grotesque parody of its former self. ¡°Why the long face, Nightmare? Isn¡¯t this what you desired, for her to remain by your side?¡±


    Nightmare knelt beside the bed, his gaze fixed on Yu Xiao¡¯s face, serene as if in a peaceful sleep.


    ¡°I don¡¯t understand,¡± he admitted, his voice ragged. ¡°She chose this. To stay. I thought¡­ after countless years surrounded by death, finally something other than loneliness. But seeing her like this, choosing this eternity¡­ all I feel is a bone-deep sorrow.¡±


    ¡°Perhaps,¡± the Director mused, his voice like silk over steel, ¡°this is what the living call love.¡±


    ¡°Love?¡± Nightmare echoed, the word foreign on his tongue.


    ¡°A sentiment wasted on those who breathe,¡± the Director replied, glancing down at the heart cradled in his palm. He licked his lips before handing the heart to Nightmare. ¡°Keep it safe. It is yours to guard now.¡±


    Nightmare accepted the heart, his fingers closing around it with a reverence that contradicted his monstrous nature.


    The Director pressed his hand to his own chest, his eyes closed as if listening to a secret symphony. ¡°Yes,¡± he whispered, a hint of something hungry in his voice. ¡°I can feel it¡­ the desire, the longing¡­ It yearns, you see. Yearns for a vessel, for the vibrancy of life¡­¡±


    **


    When Yu Xiao opened her eyes, a strange stillness had settled over her. It wasn¡¯t that she had forgotten; the memories were all there, sharp and clear, but they felt distant, like echoes in a vast, empty chamber. The frantic need to save Misty and Precious, the roiling emotions that had always driven her ¨C they were gone, leaving behind a chilling emptiness.


    She lay there for a time, taking stock of the silence within and without, until she sensed him ¨C Nightmare ¨C beside her.


    Sitting up, she met his gaze, her own reflection staring back from his dark eyes. She lifted a hand to her chest. It was silent, her own heart absent. Yet, in its place, a new kind of power hummed beneath her fingertips, potent and intoxicating. She could feel the strength of Nightmare as if it were her own, knew with chilling certainty that she could crush him with a thought. The entire hospital, its very essence, thrummed in her blood.


    ¡°Where is the Director?¡± she asked, her voice devoid of inflection.


    ¡°Discharged,¡± Nightmare replied, his tone carefully neutral.


    ¡°Whom did he replace?¡±


    ¡°No one. He left as himself.¡±


    Yu Xiao frowned, a flicker of her old annoyance breaking through the calm. ¡°He was a patient?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Nightmare confirmed, sinking gracefully onto one knee. He picked up her foot, his touch surprisingly gentle as he helped her into her shoes.


    So the old fox hadn¡¯t told her everything. Hadn¡¯t mentioned that he, too, had once been under the hospital¡¯s ¡®care¡¯, hadn¡¯t warned her about the price of power, the emotions it would leech away. But even as the thought crossed her mind, it dissipated, leaving behind only the unsettling tranquillity.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go get Misty and Precious,¡± she said, standing.


    Nightmare opened the study door for her, his movements fluid, almost subservient. Outside, the three-headed hellhound guarding the entrance lifted its heads, six eyes fixing on Yu Xiao with an unsettling intensity. Then, with a whimper, it lay back down, tucking its heads under its paws.


    Yu Xiao didn¡¯t even pause. ¡°Goldie is relieved of duty. Nightmare will head security from now on.¡±


    ¡°Understood.¡±


    ¡°As for Goldie,¡± she continued, her voice as cold and sharp as shattered ice, ¡°it can go plant lotus roots in the ditch. Perhaps when they bloom, it can apply for a new position.¡±


    ¡°Understood.¡±

 Chapter 179: We Might be Leaving Tomorrow

    A throng of bewildered neighbours huddled outside the building, whispers buzzing like agitated flies. All eyes were glued to flat 101, where two men grappled with a stubborn lock. The locksmith, a stocky fellow in a baseball cap, finally stepped back, wiping his brow.


    ¡°What kind of Fort Knox door is this?¡± he huffed, turning to the frantic woman beside him. Her hair was a mess, her face a mask of worry.


    ¡°Why can¡¯t you open it?¡± she cried, her voice sharp with panic.


    ¡°Jammed tight, love,¡± he sighed. ¡°If I can¡¯t crack it, no one can.¡±


    Her anxiety spiked. ¡°But what about the people inside?¡±


    As if on cue, a desperate plea broke through the murmur of the crowd.


    The voice, young and hoarse, sent chills down their spines.


    the voice sobbed,


    The locksmith frowned, turning to the woman again. ¡°Right, what¡¯s the story here? Your kid locked in or something?¡±


    ¡°Of course not!¡± she snapped, her tone turning sour. ¡°I was hanging laundry when two girls from the estate, Precious and Misty, barged in. Next thing I know, I¡¯m out here and they¡¯re locking themselves in!¡±


    The locksmith shot her a dubious look. ¡°You sure you¡¯re telling the whole story, love? Because that doesn¡¯t sound like a voluntary lock-in.¡±


    Inside, Zhou Xiao Zhen was living a nightmare. One moment she was walking home from work, the next she was trapped in this flat, her arms screaming in agony. Her friend, Misty, lay unconscious on the sofa, a pool of crimson blooming around her. The door was locked, her hands useless. All she could do was scream until her voice was raw.  S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The muffled voices outside offered no comfort. Had she and Misty stumbled into some twisted game?


    Then, a voice cut through the chaos, strangely familiar yet distant. ¡°Precious, open up, it¡¯s Yu Xiao.¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen froze. Was that¡­did she know a Yu Xiao? The name seemed familiar.


    Tears streamed down her face as she cried out, ¡°My hands are broken! I can¡¯t open the door!¡±


    The voice remained calm, soothing even. ¡°What about the other person?¡±


    ¡°Misty¡¯s unconscious,¡± she sobbed. ¡°She¡¯s lost so much blood.¡±


    ¡°Wake her up,¡± the voice instructed. ¡°She¡¯s strong, she¡¯ll be alright. There¡¯s a key on her that can open the door. She needs to find that key¡­¡±


    Something in that voice, a strange sense of authority, compelled Zhou Xiao Zhen to obey. Ignoring the searing pain in her arms, she crawled towards the sofa.


    ¡°Misty, Misty! Wake up!¡± she pleaded, nudging her friend¡¯s shoulder with her head.


    Zhao Lan woke with a gasp, a scream trapped in her throat. Her head pounded like a drum, and thirst scorched her mouth. But it was the agony in her left hand, a searing, white-hot pain, that stole her breath.


    ¡°Misty!¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s face, pale and slick with sweat, swam into view. ¡°Misty?¡±


    Zhao Lan croaked. ¡°What happened?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re awake!¡± Relief warred with terror in Precious¡¯s voice. ¡°I thought¡­ I thought you wouldn¡¯t wake up.¡± Tears streamed down her face.


    As Zhao Lan reached out to comfort her, another jolt of pain shot up her arm. She hissed, her gaze dropping to her hand. It wasn¡¯t just broken; it was mangled, twisted at a grotesque angle.


    she breathed, the words catching in her throat.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Her friend¡¯s voice trembled. ¡°Mine are broken too. Someone said¡­ they said the key to the door is on us, but I can¡¯t¡­¡±


    Zhao Lan coughed, her throat dry and scratchy. With a monumental effort, she pushed herself up, her gaze sweeping the room. ¡°Who said that?¡±


    ¡°Yu Xiao,¡± Misty whispered. ¡°Do you know her?¡±


    The name struck a discordant note in Zhao Lan¡¯s mind, familiar yet utterly unknown.


    ¡°I¡­¡± she began, then hesitated. No, she was sure she didn¡¯t.


    Ignoring the throbbing in her head, Zhao Lan started searching, her one good hand patting down her clothes, then Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s. Finally, her fingers brushed against a cold, metallic object in Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s pocket ¨C a key.


    Zhao Lan swayed, lightheaded. ¡°Help me¡­¡±


    ¡°Lean on me.¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen, despite her own injuries, managed to get to her knees.


    Zhao Lan slung her arm around Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s neck, and together, they stumbled towards the door.


    ¡°We have the key!¡± Zhao Lan called out, her voice hoarse.


    ¡°Good,¡± came the reply. ¡°Open the door.¡±


    The lock clicked open, and the two women stared at the figure standing in the doorway. An unsettling familiarity washed over them, a sense of recognition battling with a void of memory.


    Yu Xiao¡¯s eyes swept over their battered forms, a storm of emotions flashing across her face before settling into an unsettling calm. ¡°Time to go home, girls.¡±


    Despite their confusion, neither woman protested. They allowed themselves to be led out of the compound, across the street, towards the imposing entrance of the hospital.


    At the sight of the building, Misty¡¯s face crumpled.


    ¡°The fog¡­¡± she whimpered. ¡°The black fog¡­¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid,¡± Yu Xiao said, her gaze fixed on the swirling darkness. ¡°It¡¯ll be over soon.¡±


    They stepped into the fog, the swirling black tendrils enveloping them. And as they crossed the threshold of the hospital grounds, memory slammed into Zhao Lan and Zhou Xiao Zhen like a physical blow.


    For a moment, the world spun. Then, recognition dawned on Zhao Lan¡¯s face, blooming into a relieved grin. ¡°Smiley!¡±


    Beside her, Zhou Xiao Zhen burst into tears.


    ¡°Boo-frickin¡¯-hoo, I knew it,¡± she sobbed. ¡°I knew you¡¯d come.¡±


    The Healing Talisman glowed warmly in Yu Xiao¡¯s hand, chasing the sickly pallor from Zhao Lan¡¯s face.


    ¡°Precious,¡± Zhao Lan asked, turning to Zhou Xiao Zhen, ¡°your hand¡­¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen flexed her fingers, wincing. ¡°It was urgent! You fainted, and I had to make sure I didn¡¯t open any more doors by mistake. So¡­¡± A faint blush coloured her cheeks. ¡°I smashed my both arm against the wall. Couldn¡¯t very well open a door with a broken arms, could I?¡±


    Zhao Lan stared at her, aghast. Precious, their Precious, still just a schoolgirl. They were supposed to look after her, not the other way around.


    ¡°Come on,¡± Yu Xiao said, her voice brisk. ¡°Time to go.¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen threw her arms around Yu Xiao. ¡°Smiley, you were amazing! I feel so safe with you around!¡±


    ¡°We owe you big time,¡± Zhao Lan added, relief washing over her. ¡°When you came back to the ward and we were gone¡­ were you scared?¡±


    Yu Xiao considered this, reflecting on her reaction at the time, and a ghost of a nod flitted across her face. ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°We were terrified!¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen clung to Yu Xiao¡¯s arm, chattering like a magpie. ¡°That ghost, it disguised itself! I thought it was a food delivery ghost and opened the door, then bam! It shoved its hand in, trying to force the door open. Misty got hit, but she threw a talisman, and we ran¡­ we ran all the way out of the hospital¡­¡±


    ¡°Precious¡­¡± Zhao Lan¡¯s voice was soothing, calming the torrent of words. As they walked down the darkened corridor, a chill snaked down her spine. ¡°Is it gone? The ghost? Are we safe out here?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s dealt with,¡± Yu Xiao replied, her voice clipped. ¡°Nightmare killed it.¡±


    Zhao Lan glanced around nervously. ¡°It¡¯s not as bad as I imagined. Haven¡¯t seen a single ghost.¡±


    Yu Xiao didn¡¯t reply. As Horror Hospital Director, ordinary ghosts knew better than to even breathe in her direction.


    Finally, they reached their ward. The door, thankfully repaired, stood slightly ajar, a sliver of light spilling out.


    ¡°Someone¡¯s inside?¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen asked.


    ¡°Nightmare is,¡± Yu Xiao said simply.


    ¡°Nightmare?¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen frowned. ¡°Why didn¡¯t he come with you to rescue us? Wasn¡¯t he worried?¡±


    Yu Xiao opened her mouth to answer, then closed it again. Frankly, she had no idea.


    Thankfully, Nightmare chose that moment to open the door. ¡°You¡¯re back,¡± he greeted them, his expression impassive.


    ¡°We¡¯re back!¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen cheered, darting past him into the room. It was spotless, cleaner than before the ghostly invasion. With a happy sigh, she collapsed onto her bed. ¡°Ah, it¡¯s good to be alive!¡±


    Yu Xiao watched them for a moment, then settled onto a chair. ¡°I¡¯ve figured out the props.¡±


    Zhao Lan¡¯s eyebrows shot up. ¡°Already? You only took a few to St. Elizabeth¡¯s today.¡±


    ¡°Gluttony gave me a catalogue.¡± Yu Xiao¡¯s explanation was brief and to the point. ¡°I¡¯ve been thinking too small. Relying on Lu Xu and Luo Jin to sell talismans and trinkets. But Nightmare can take them to the other hospitals, stock the shops there. We¡¯ll shift far more that way.¡±


    Zhao Lan sensed something unspoken, a hidden layer to Yu Xiao¡¯s words. Before she could comment, Zhou Xiao Zhen piped up, her voice bright with hope. ¡°Does that mean we get to leave this place soon?¡±


    Yu Xiao nodded. ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°Wow~~¡± Xiao Zhen, still buzzing, rolled across her bed like a happy sausage.


    ¡°Leaving so soon¡­¡± A smile touched Zhao Lan¡¯s lips. ¡°It feels unreal.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s real,¡± Yu Xiao assured her. ¡°In a day or two, you¡¯ll have enough points to be discharged.¡±


    A flicker of unease danced at the edge of Zhao Lan¡¯s mind, but Zhou Xiao Zhen, bouncing on the bed, was already voicing her own mixed feelings. ¡°Living to a ripe old age¡­ I¡¯m only eighteen! We could be sisters for fifty years! But I haven¡¯t even taken my university entrance exams! After all this time stuck in here, I¡¯ve practically forgotten everything¡­¡±


    Listening to her, Yu Xiao felt a pang of¡­ envy.


    ¡°Repeating a year isn¡¯t the end of the world,¡± she said.


    ¡°Easy for you to say!¡± Xiao Zhen groaned. ¡°You have no idea how utterly soul-crushing it is!¡±


    ¡°You could always get a tutor,¡± Zhao Lan suggested.


    ¡°Expensive,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen sighed, then, with a hopeful glance at Yu Xiao, ¡°Smiley, you wouldn¡¯t mind helping a friend out, would you? If you have time, I mean¡­¡±


    Yu Xiao hesitated. How could she tutor anyone if she wasn¡¯t being discharged? And then it struck her: Zhou Xiao Zhen wouldn¡¯t remember anything anyway. ¡°Alright,¡± she agreed. ¡°I¡¯ll tutor you.¡±


    ¡°Smiley, you¡¯re the best!¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s thoughts, as always, were already bouncing ahead. ¡°Misty, when does that little brother you¡¯re sponsoring take his exams?¡±


    ¡°Same time as you.¡±


    ¡°Ooh, I hope he ends up studying here. I want to go to a local university, stay close to you two¡­¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m famished,¡± Zhao Lan announced. She hadn¡¯t eaten earlier, and the whole ghost-chase had done nothing for her appetite. ¡°What do we want?¡± she asked, already heading for the door.


    ¡°Sweet and sour pork ribs!¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s hand shot up.


    ¡°And you, Smiley?¡± Zhao Lan asked.


    Yu Xiao sat stiff in her chair, strangely listless. She wasn¡¯t hungry. Perhaps because she wasn¡¯t yet dead, she had no craving for human flesh, but also no desire for human food.


    After a moment, she said, ¡°Whatever you¡¯re having.¡±


    Dinner was a quiet affair. Yu Xiao poked at the food in her bowl, forcing down a mouthful of potato. Nightmare watched her, concern furrowing his brow.


    ¡°No appetite?¡± Zhao Lan asked.


    ¡°Mm.¡± Yu Xiao nodded. ¡°Let¡¯s get some rest. We might be leaving tomorrow.¡±


    ¡°Already?¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen frowned, suspicion furrowing her brow.


    ¡°Yes,¡± Yu Xiao¡¯s lips twitched, a pale imitation of a smile. ¡°The mall reaches more customers than Lu Xu and Luo Jin. Affordable props sell themselves.¡±


    ¡°How do you know?¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen narrowed her eyes. ¡°You can¡¯t access the forums for the other hospitals.¡±


    ¡°Nightmare told me,¡± Yu Xiao replied a bit too quickly.


    Mid-chew of a piece of fish, Nightmare lifted his head. ¡°Yes, I told her.¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen sighed dramatically. ¡°You¡¯ve changed, Nightmare. Remember when you wanted to keep Smiley here? You even thought about killing her.¡±


    Nightmare glanced at Yu Xiao, then returned to his fish.


    Zhao Lan shot Zhou Xiao Zhen a warning look. Now wasn¡¯t the time to poke the bear, especially one that could literally decide their fate. If Nightmare got upset and changed his mind¡­


    Exhaustion, both physical and emotional, overcame Zhao Lan and Zhou Xiao Zhen early that night. But Yu Xiao lay awake, staring into the darkness. Sleep was no longer a necessity, just a habit she no longer needed. Beside her, Nightmare, transformed into a restless yellow kitten, padded around under the blanket at the foot of the bed.


    ¡°Stop fidgeting,¡± Yu Xiao muttered, kicking out from under the blanket.


    A furry head popped out. ¡°Can I stop being Head of Security?¡±


    ¡°What do you want to do?¡± Yu Xiao¡¯s question was rhetorical. She didn¡¯t care.


    ¡°Nothing,¡± Nightmare simply said. ¡°Just stay by your side.¡±


    Yu Xiao considered this, her expression unreadable. ¡°Then be my secretary. But you need to find a replacement.¡±


    ¡°What about Goldie?¡±


    ¡°I despise him,¡± Yu Xiao¡¯s voice was cold. ¡°Let him rot in that ditch.¡±


    Nightmare wisely kept quiet. He loved Yu Xiao, alive or dead. But seeing her like this¡­ it brought him no joy.


    The shrill chime of a message tone cut through the silence at eight the next morning. Zhao Lan, surprised by the late hour, stretched and opened her eyes. Yu Xiao was already sitting upright, a cup of steaming tea in her hand while Nightmare poured another.


    ¡°Morning,¡± Zhao Lan mumbled, pushing herself up. ¡°You¡¯re up early.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re almost out of props,¡± Yu Xiao said, taking a sip of tea. ¡°We have enough points.¡±


    Zhao Lan¡¯s head snapped up. ¡°Really?¡± She scrambled out of bed, forgetting her shoes.


    Yu Xiao held up her phone. On the screen, the forum¡¯s backend glowed, displaying a total of 6423 points.


    ¡°Oh my¡­¡± Zhao Lan breathed. ¡°That was fast.¡±


    Yu Xiao nodded, already tapping on the screen. ¡°I¡¯ll transfer your share.¡±


    A notification chimed on Zhao Lan¡¯s phone.


    ¡¾¡¯Deaf Descendant¡¯ has gifted you 2141 points. Your current total is 2213 points.¡¿

 Chapter 180: Solution For The Yin Energy

    Word count:


    Zhao Lan¡¯s eyes were fixed on the screen, her finger tapping furiously on her phone calculator. ¡°Are you sure this is right, Smiley? Shouldn¡¯t we pool our points and divide them equally? This way, you have way less than us.¡±


    A muffled groan came from beneath a pile of blankets. Zhou Xiao Zhen, still groggy from sleep, mumbled, ¡°What¡¯s with the noise? This morning music therapy session feels like it¡¯s been going on for hours¡­¡±


    ¡°Precious, wake up and check your points!¡± Zhao Lan¡¯s voice was filled with excitement.


    ¡°My points?¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen fumbled for her phone, pulling the blanket over her head like a disgruntled tortoise. She squinted at the backstage forum, her eyes widening with each passing second.


    ¡°Wow!¡± She sat up in bed, throwing the blanket aside. ¡°Is this a dream? Please tell me I¡¯m not seeing things!¡±


    ¡°We sold everything!¡± Zhao Lan squealed, practically buzzing with joy. ¡°Smiley just transferred us our share of the points.¡±


    ¡°No way!¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen pounded her fist on the bed, a wide grin spreading across her face. ¡°Does this mean¡­ are we actually getting out of this place?¡±


    Yu Xiao watched their antics with cool amusement. ¡°Not so fast. We need to exchange the points for time at the mall first.¡±


    Zhao Lan¡¯s excitement dimmed slightly. ¡°Wait, this isn¡¯t right. You have way fewer points than us. We need to redistribute.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s fine,¡± Yu Xiao brushed aside her concerns. ¡°It¡¯s just a few points.¡±


    ¡°Just a few?¡± Zhao Lan scoffed. ¡°One point gets us ten days! That¡¯s over two years we¡¯re talking about!¡±


    Yu Xiao paused. She tapped on her phone. ¡°Actually, I just sold two more function cards. Now I have more points than you.¡±


    Zhao Lan and Zhou Xiao Zhen exchanged dumbfounded looks before crowding around Yu Xiao¡¯s phone, their jaws dropping in unison.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen blinked, her voice barely a whisper. ¡°So¡­ should we cash in our points and get the hell out of here?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t you want to leave?¡± Yu Xiao raised an eyebrow.


    ¡°Of course! It¡¯s just¡­¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen glanced down at her wrinkled pyjamas and tangled hair. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t we, you know, do something to celebrate? Look presentable at least?¡±


    ¡°We can celebrate outside.¡± Yu Xiao¡¯s fingers danced across her phone screen. ¡°Done. I¡¯ve exchanged all my points. Are you two coming or what?¡±


    The words spurred Zhao Lan and Zhou Xiao Zhen into action. They frantically navigated the mall interface, their fingers trembling with anticipation.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen leaned back with a sigh of relief. ¡°Done! Now we just wait?¡±


    ¡°All set.¡± Zhao Lan nodded. ¡°Check your messages.¡±


    A new message notification blinked on Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s phone.


    ¡°Dear patient,¡± she read aloud, ¡°after receiving treatment in our hospital over several days, your condition has fully recovered and meets the discharge criteria. All discharge procedures have been completed, and you will be discharged in ten minutes. Thank you for your support, and we wish you a happy life¡­


    Ten minutes¡­¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s eyes widened in alarm. ¡°Oh, crap!¡± She smacked her forehead. ¡°We haven¡¯t packed! Smiley, did you bring Teng Jing Zhi and Flying to Someone Else¡¯s Bed¡¯s phones? We need to contact their families. Misty, what about the necklace from that Sage Hospital?¡±


    ¡°Oh no!¡± Panic flooded Zhao Lan¡¯s eyes. She scrambled to rummage through her bedside drawer. ¡°We shouldn¡¯t have rushed! I¡¯m not ready¡­¡±


    ¡°A beautiful day starts from now on. Here¡¯s the morning news,¡± a cheerful voice announced from the loudspeaker.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen paused, her eyebrows furrowing. ¡°Has anyone else noticed how long that music session was? And it¡¯s only just now that they¡¯re broadcasting the news¡­¡±


    ¡°Now that you mention it¡­¡± Zhao Lan paused, momentarily forgetting her rummaging.


    The radio crackled back to life. ¡°Yesterday, the esteemed Director of our Horror Hospital gracefully retired from his beloved post after eighty-three years of dedicated service. Under the leadership of our new Director, our hospital will¡­¡±


    ¡°Hold on.¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s head snapped up, intrigued. ¡°The Director retired? Do ghosts even age? And retire? Who¡¯s the new Director, anyway?¡±


    Zhao Lan didn¡¯t answer. She had gone still, the blood draining from her face as she stared at something in the drawer. Then, with a gasp, she whirled around, her eyes fixed on Yu Xiao.


    Yu Xiao stood behind them, with a serene smile playing on her lips.


    ¡°It¡¯s¡­you?¡± Zhao Lan scrambled to her feet, only to lose her balance and crumple to the floor, her face ashen.


    ¡°Misty!¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen rushed to her side. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±


    Zhao Lan struggled to sit up, tears streaming down her face. ¡°Smiley¡­it¡¯s you, isn¡¯t it? Why¡­?¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen was utterly bewildered. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with Smiley?¡±


    ¡°To save us¡­to save Precious and me¡­¡± Zhao Lan choked back a sob. ¡°You promised you wouldn¡¯t! What about us? What about our future?¡±


    Panic seized Zhou Xiao Zhen. ¡°Misty, what are you talking about?¡±


    ¡°You won¡¯t remember,¡± Yu Xiao said calmly, but there was a flicker in her eyes, a deep sadness in their depths. ¡°Once you leave¡­you forget.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t joke about this!¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s voice trembled. She crouched beside Zhao Lan, gazing up at Yu Xiao with wide eyes filled with fear. ¡°Smiley, please, I don¡¯t understand!¡±


    ¡°She can¡¯t leave,¡± Zhao Lan whispered, wiping her tears with a trembling hand. ¡°She¡¯s the new Director. To save us¡­she became the Director. She can never leave.¡±


    ¡°No¡­¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s eyes filled with tears. ¡°Misty, you¡¯re lying! That¡¯s not possible! Waaaah, Smiley¡­¡± She scrambled to her feet and lunged towards Yu Xiao. ¡°Smiley, I won¡¯t leave you! I won¡¯t!¡±


    But before she could reach her, a voice echoed through the room, cutting through her cries: ¡°Ding dong! Your discharge time has arrived. Please prepare to leave.¡±


    And just like that, silence. The air in the room seemed to empty, the sounds of weeping and shouting vanishing as quickly as they had come. Zhao Lan and Zhou Xiao Zhen were gone.


    The room had never felt so vast, so utterly silent.


    Yu Xiao stood there, unmoving. She would never hear Precious¡¯s boisterous laughter again, nor share another meal with Misty, their animated chatter filling the air.


    The silence stretched, broken only by the sound of her own breath. Then, with a resolute look, she turned towards the door. It slid open, revealing the swirling vortex of the dark hallway. Yu Xiao stepped inside, her footsteps echoing with an unsettling finality.


    The door to Room 4 clicked shut, enveloping the corridor in an oppressive darkness. Yu Xiao continued walking, her footsteps resounding through the stillness. The ghosts lining the hallway recoiled, bowing low, their spectral whispers silenced. Even in the gloom, her power was undeniable.


    Nightmare trailed behind her, a silent shadow in the oppressive darkness.


    **


    The Director¡¯s house, perched precariously on the crimson riverbank, was shrouded in an eerie silence. Inside, Nightmare, dressed impeccably in his new suit, carried a steaming cup of tea to the study. He knocked softly, then pushed the door open.


    The new Director sat behind a grand mahogany desk, her posture weary, her expression aloof. The change in leadership did little to alleviate the atmosphere. If anything, the air felt heavier, the silence more profound.


    Nightmare placed the delicate porcelain cup before Yu Xiao, his gaze lingering on her for a fleeting moment before respectfully lowering. He noticed, with a pang of concern, that her complexion had grown paler, her vitality fading, replaced by a spectral pallor.


    ¡°You will go talk to News Department,¡± Yu Xiao gestured towards a worn leather-bound notebook on the desk. ¡°Starting today, discharge announcements will be broadcast during the morning news.¡±


    ¡°As you wish,¡± Nightmare replied with a curt nod.


    Yu Xiao reached for her phone, her fingers brushing against the teacup. It tipped, spilling scalding tea onto her hand. She didn¡¯t flinch, seemingly oblivious to the burning liquid.


    Nightmare, however, frowned. He knelt swiftly, taking her hand in his. Her skin was icy cold, unaffected by the heat. He gently dabbed at the spilled tea with a silk handkerchief, his concern growing.


    Unfazed, Yu Xiao dialled a number. The voice on the other end answered immediately.


    **


    ¡°Yu Xiao! Have you heard the news? Quite the shake-up, huh? I¡¯ve been here for nearly twenty years and have never seen the Director¡¯s position change hands before!¡±


    ¡°How many points do you need?¡± Yu Xiao got straight to the point.


    ¡°Huh? Why do you ask?¡±


    ¡°We have gathered more than enough. I can spare some.¡±


    ¡°That quickly?¡± Disbelief coloured Yu Qing Lang¡¯s voice. ¡°Are you leaving already?¡±


    ¡°Yes. How many?¡±


    ¡°Not many, a couple dozen¡­¡± Yu Qing Lang hesitated. ¡°Wait, are you serious? Did you actually get enough?¡±


    In a punctuation of her words, a notification pinged on Yu Qing Lang¡¯s phone. Yu Xiao had transferred one hundred points.


    ¡°Leave,¡± Yu Xiao said firmly. ¡°Go home.¡±


    The phone went silent. Yu Qing Lang stared at the screen, her mind struggling to catch up. Just like that? They were leaving?


    She opened the online shop, her finger hovering over the ¡®exchange points for time¡¯ button.


    Memories, long buried under layers of hospital dust, flickered to life: her parents¡¯ faces, blurred with time; the ghost of a forgotten name; laughter shared with friends; the sweet taste of her favourite ice cream; the vibrant yellow of sunflowers blooming in her childhood garden.


    Decision made, she dialled her friend, Wang Dong Dong.


    ¡°Wang Dong Dong, I-¡°


    ¡°I was just about to call you!¡± His voice crackled through the phone, laced with excitement. ¡°Yu Xiao just transferred me a hundred points! I¡¯m getting out of here!¡±


    Yu Qing Lang paused. ¡°She sent me a hundred too.¡±


    ¡°Really?¡± Wang Dong Dong¡¯s voice was tinged with disbelief. ¡°Just casually handing out two hundred points like it¡¯s no big deal? How many did they even earn?¡±


    A shiver ran down Yu Qing Lang¡¯s spine. ¡°Something doesn¡¯t feel right.¡±


    ¡°I know, right?¡± Wang Dong Dong agreed, his usual cheer replaced by a nervous tremor. ¡°And her voice¡­ I also feel it¡¯s odd. It was as if she wasn¡¯t even present.¡±


    **


    Back in the Director¡¯s study, Yu Xiao opened the dusty notebook that Nightmare had retrieved for her. It was the diary of the previous Director.


    She had always assumed that her predecessor was a ghost or a monster, a resident of this realm of Horror Hospital. It wasn¡¯t until she became the Director herself that she discovered that he, too, had once been a patient trapped within these walls. The discovery filled her with a chilling sense of foreboding. It was only today, upon hearing the news of his departure, that she learned he had been bound to the hospital for over eighty years.


    Eighty years. This meant that the hospital itself¡­ How long had it been standing here, silently claiming souls? There must have been others before him, other Directors lost to the shadows.


    The diary was hidden away in a forgotten corner, its leather cover thick with dust, and its pages brittle with age. It hadn¡¯t been touched in years.


    Yu Xiao carefully untied the faded silk ribbon that held it closed. The scent of ageing paper and time itself wafted up, tinged with a faint, unsettling¡­ despear.


    The first entry was dated February 13th. The elegant script, written in traditional Chinese characters, spoke of a bygone era.


    ¡¾February 13th. I don¡¯t know what the weather is like outside.


    Today, I became Director. A strange sense of calm washes over me, an unexpected serenity. Not at all what I imagined.


    For my friends, for those still struggling, I choose to stay. To become the guardian of this place. Forever.


    I expected sorrow. Maybe a foolish pride in my sacrifice. Relief for those I helped escape. Yet, I feel nothing. It¡¯s as if my heart has been replaced with a cold, hollow shell. My thoughts, my emotions¡­ altered.


    Maybe it¡¯s for the best. This world, this purgatory of lingering emotions, is no place for emotions.¡¿


    The early entries were frequent, detailing the hospital¡¯s operations, the rules he refined, the changes he implemented. A Director¡¯s logbook disguised as a diary.


    Then, the entries became sporadic, the neat script growing erratic.


    ¡¾What day is it? I haven¡¯t seen the sun in so long.


    I am bored. What is there to do? Has the war ended yet?¡¿


    Five years passed before the next entry.


    ¡¾As I read back, it¡¯s strange. Who is this Li De that I keep mentioning? I have no recollection.


    A new patient said that a new country has been established, and that the living are at peace. Yet, the patients keep coming. The hospital is almost full.


    Goldie suggested opening a Second Hospital. Such a bother. We shall wait. Let more die. Then there will be space.¡¿


    Years bled into decades. The entries became fewer and further between, filled with a chilling detachment.


    ¡¾The living have invented something called a mobile phone. How curious. Perhaps I should introduce it here, for amusement¡¯s sake.


    The outside world grows more fascinating. Perhaps I should see it again. I have saved many. At least, I believe I have. Yes, I have saved some.


    I used my position to manipulate the things the dead discard: love, affection, pity¡­ I twisted them into those cards. And yes, maybe I saved a few lives out there.


    I¡¯ve done so much. Don¡¯t I deserve a reward? Life. That¡¯s what I want. Life.


    I¡¯ve done enough. Even this broken heart craves it.


    I. Want. To. Live!¡¿ S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He had arrived during a time of war, a time when the world outside was still struggling to be born. He chose to stay, to become the warden of this prison of souls, sacrificing himself for the sake of friends and strangers alike. His early entries spoke of unwavering resolve, of a heart determined to endure an eternity of solitude. However, even the strongest hearts could be eroded by the crushing weight of loneliness.


    Yu Xiao remembered her vow to be the last Director and the unsettling smile given to her by the former Director. At that moment, it seemed insignificant. Now, it felt like an indelible mark on her soul.


    Would she also give in to the subtle whispers of this place? Would she eventually orchestrate her own replacement, continuing this vicious cycle? The pages that were missing provided no answers, only a chilling reminder of what could await her.


    ¡°Nightmare.¡±


    He turned away from the bookshelf, his hands still paused above a stack of ancient tomes. ¡°Yes, Director?¡±


    ¡°You have a good memory, don¡¯t you?¡±


    ¡°Impeccable, Director.¡±


    Yu Xiao turned to face him, her gaze unwavering. ¡°Remember me. Remember me as I am now. Promise me.¡±


    ¡°I promise,¡± Nightmare replied, his voice solemn, his eyes filled with an unfamiliar sadness. ¡°I will never forget.¡±


    A wave of relief washed over Yu Xiao. At least Nightmare would remember, even if one day she no longer remembered herself.


    The diary had made one thing clear: the functional cards were a byproduct of ghosts¡¯ despair, a cruel distillation of emotions the dead no longer needed or wanted. As the Director, the responsibility to act weighed heavily on her.


    Reforms were desperately needed, but she had to tread carefully. The Director was powerful, but not omnipotent. Some rules, some threads in the tapestry of this place, were beyond even her reach. Change would be a slow and agonising process.


    She spent the night lost in thought, the endless night of the Director¡¯s quarters stretching on, devoid of the comforting rhythm of sunrise and sunset.


    Only when Nightmare arrived with her morning tea, informing her that dawn had broken in the world outside, did she stir from her contemplation.


    ¡°Ding dong!¡±


    The clock chimed eight times, the sound jarring in the oppressive silence. Yu Xiao raised her head, listening to the familiar strains of morning music echoing through the hospital. Perhaps that¡¯s where she would begin. This infernal music had been playing for far too long.


    But what should she replace it with?


    ¡°In the morning, one needs something invigorating,¡± Yu Xiao mused, tapping a finger against the polished surface of the desk. ¡°Something to awaken the soul. ¡®Calories¡®? Or perhaps a bit of ¡®The Most Dazzling Folk Style¡¯?¡±


    (¿¨Â·Àï (Calories); k¨£ l¨´ l¨«; literal translation: calories; a popular Chinese pop song about fitness and energy, often used to uplift spirits.×îìÅÃñ×å·ç (The Most Dazzling Folk Style); zu¨¬ xu¨¤n m¨ªn z¨² f¨¥ng; literal translation: most dazzling ethnic style; a catchy Chinese folk-pop song known for its energising beat.)


    The decision, however momentous, would have to wait. The morning news had begun.


    ¡°A beautiful day starts now,¡± a chirpy voice announced, echoing through the halls of the hospital. ¡°Here¡¯s your morning bulletin.¡±


    Doctors paused their rounds, radios crackling to life. Nurses stopped mid-step, their attention drawn to the nearest speaker. Even the ghostly patients, usually oblivious to the mundane routines of the hospital, seemed to still, a sense of anticipation hanging heavy in the air.


    ¡°Gongs and drums resounded, firecrackers blazed!¡± the announcer exclaimed, her voice practically vibrating with excitement. ¡°Yesterday, at the Sixth Hospital, patients nicknamed ¡®Nickname Hassle¡¯ and ¡®Talisman Shop ¡ª Only three points each!¡¯ successfully completed their treatments and were discharged! On this exhilarating day, our hospital wishes all patients a speedy recovery and an early discharge¡­¡±


    (Âà¹ÄÐúÌ죬±ÞÅÚÆëÃù (Gongs and drums resounded, and firecrackers blazed); ; a traditional expression used to describe festive and jubilant celebrations, indicating something significant or joyous has happened.)


    The news hit the hospital grapevine like a bolt of lightning. Excitement crackled through the wards, whispers rippling through the corridors.


    Hospitals Three, Four, Five, and Six, all equipped with online forums, erupted. Within seconds, a new post shot to the top of the Fourth Hospital¡¯s forum. Yu Xiao, out of habit, clicked on it.


    ¡¾Holy moly! (¨s¡ã§¥¡ã£©¨s¦à /(.¡õ. ) Someone actually got discharged!!¡¿ The original poster was practically incoherent with excitement.


    ¡¾Did you guys hear that? Someone actually got out! ?©³(?o?)©¿?©» (?o?) ©·?¡¿


    ¡¾Heard it!! (¨s¡¯¡õ¡¯)¨s¦à ©ß©¥©ß¡¿


    ¡¾Holy moly, holy moly, holy moly¡­¡¿


    ¡¾Waaaaah¡­I thought it was just a rumour! I didn¡¯t think it was actually possible!¡¿


    ¡¾So, what are the discharge criteria again?¡¿


    ¡¾Seriously? Someone doesn¡¯t know? (£­??)¡¿


    ¡¾Don¡¯t be mean. It¡¯s not exactly common knowledge. I only found out last week. You need enough points to live to, like, seventy or something. Average lifespan on the outside.¡¿


    Amongst the excited chatter, a note of confusion, of unease, crept in.


    ¡¾(¥Î`§¥ ?)¥Î Wait, why was the Sixth Hospital the first?¡¿


    The original poster, clearly as bewildered as everyone else, chimed in.


    ¡¾?(?¡ñ???????)? Right? I mean, it¡¯s not like the discharge criteria are a state secret, but still¡­ We¡¯ve been stuck in the Fourth for years, and don¡¯t even get me started on those top three hospitals. The Sixth has only been around for, what, a year? Why them?¡¿


    ¡¾Couldn¡¯t have been my Sister Dragon, could it?¡¿


    ¡¾Wait, I know those two! They were in Sister Dragon¡¯s ward!¡¿


    ¡¾Where¡¯s my Sister Dragon?!¡¿


    ¡¾(¡É£à-¡ä)?©¥??.*??? Ahhhh, I want to leave too!!!¡¿


    ¡¾Waaaaah, imagine finally getting out and not even knowing how to live anymore!¡¿


    ¡¾[?o-¡ã]? How did they do it?¡¿


    ¡¾Anyone know anyone from the Sixth? Any insider info? Spill the tea, people!¡¿


    For the first time, a flicker of hope, fragile and uncertain, sparked in the hearts of the patients. Whether they¡¯d arrived a year ago or been trapped for decades, the impossible had suddenly become real.


    Discharges were no longer a rumour, a whisper in the dark. They were a possibility.


    A terrifying, exhilarating possibility.


    A ripple of confusion spread through the hospital grapevine. Patients familiar with the usual discharge procedures scratched their heads. Discharge announcements on the morning news? That was new. And for two seemingly unremarkable patients, no less.


    Those more in the know, like Yu Qing Lang and Luo Jin, were first hit by a wave of astonishment, quickly followed by a cold dread. They knew ¡®Nickname Hassle¡¯ and ¡®Talisman Shop ¡ª Only three points each!¡¯ It wasn¡¯t their discharge that was shocking but the fact that it was only *them*.


    Over in the Fourth Hospital, Lu Xu lowered his phone, his brow furrowed. ¡°Did I miss something? I don¡¯t think they mentioned the ¡®Deaf Descendant¡¯.¡±


    Luo Jin shook his head, his expression equally perplexed. ¡°Neither did I.¡±


    ¡°She didn¡¯t get discharged?¡± Lu Xu frowned. ¡°Or did they leave separately? But why would Zhao Lan and Zhou Xiao Zhen be discharged without Yu Xiao?¡±


    Luo Jin had no answers. Unable to shake the feeling of unease pooling in his gut, he decided to call Yu Xiao.


    **


    ¡°I really wish I could live another five hundred years¡­¡±


    The Director¡¯s phone had been buzzing incessantly. The caller ID flashed ¡®Sunny Sister¡¯, but Yu Xiao ignored it.


    ¡°A little snack, perhaps?¡± Nightmare, ever the attentive assistant, leaned closer, a plate of delicacies in his hands.


    Yu Xiao waved him off, her gaze fixed on her phone. ¡°Change it to this.¡±


    ¡°Hmm?¡±


    ¡°The morning music, switch it to this. Give our patients a little¡­ motivation.¡±


    ¡°As you wish.¡± Nightmare bowed his head, accepting the phone with a graceful flourish. Secretary, confidant, rumour mill extraordinaire ¨C his duties were ever-evolving.


    The news hadn¡¯t just thrown the patients into a frenzy. The medical staff, even the unflappable attending physicians like George, were thrown into disarray.


    **


    At the St. Elizabeth construction site, George sat perched precariously on a couple of bricks, his face a mask of bewildered consternation. The morning news, blaring from a nearby radio, had just ended, leaving a trail of unanswered questions in its wake.


    He¡¯d worked closely with Yu Xiao, more so than any other attending doctor. He knew her companions well too. Those three were inseparable, joined at the hip. Bathroom breaks, canteen runs, even ghostly hauntings ¨C they did it all together.


    So why were the other two discharged, but not the one who had a concerning fondness for power tools and a disconcerting lack of fear? Could she be so reluctant to relinquish control of St. Elizabeth that she deliberately stayed behind?


    The more he thought about it, the more uneasy George felt. He yearned for simpler times, for the days before Yu Xiao, when his biggest concerns were finding new ways to terrify patients, spicing up his meals with a dash of brains, and spending his shifts daydreaming in his office, blissfully patient-free.


    Were those halcyon days gone forever?


    ¡°Hmm¡­¡± Gluttony set down his shovel, his brow furrowed. ¡°Those nicknames¡­ they sound familiar.¡±


    Qing Shi nodded, a thoughtful frown on his face. ¡°I thought so too.¡± But his mind was on other matters. ¡°Yesterday¡¯s news mentioned a new Director. Gluttony, any ideas who it might be?¡±


    Gluttony shrugged. ¡°Don¡¯t know the old bloke that well. New boss, same gig, eh? We still gotta work here.¡±


    Qin Shi counted down the days on his fingers. ¡°Almost done with our community service anyway.¡±


    ¡°Right you are.¡± Gluttony shot Qin Shi a knowing look. ¡°Almost done.¡±


    George and the others, oblivious to the inner workings of the ghost world, remained baffled. But two former attending doctors, Gu Shu and Lolita, were slowly piecing together a terrifying truth.


    Back in Poisoned Town, Yu Xiao had claimed to be the Director¡¯s heir. At the time, they¡¯d scoffed. Especially Gu Shu. To him, every word out of her mouth was a lie, a calculated manipulation.


    But yesterday¡¯s news¡­ the announcement of a new Director¡­ And now, today, those two scheming companions of hers were gone, free, while Yu Xiao remained. It was all adding up to a horrifying conclusion.


    Gu Shu, forced to deliver packages for the Third Hospital due to his dwindling finances and lack of marketable skills, stood frozen, a stack of parcels clutched in his trembling hands. Lolita, now relegated to serving meals to ungrateful patients, stared at him, her face ashen.


    Finally, she spoke, her voice barely a whisper. ¡°You don¡¯t think¡­ she couldn¡¯t possibly be¡­¡±


    Gu Shu closed his eyes, a wave of regret washing over him. If only he¡¯d swallowed his pride, stayed in Gu Family Village. He could be sipping tea, enjoying his retirement, instead of facing the wrath of a vengeful Director.


    Lolita¡¯s despair was even more profound. It was just an amusement park. Why the relentless pursuit of revenge? Her hatred had blinded her, had led to the deaths of her future.


    ¡°What do we do?¡± Her voice shook with unshed tears.


    Gu Shu racked his brain, searching for an escape route, a way to appease the newly ascended Director. But there was nowhere to run. The hospital was her domain. And given his own repeated attempts to orchestrate Yu Xiao¡¯s downfall¡­ well, begging for mercy wasn¡¯t likely to end well.


    With a resigned sigh, he dropped the parcels, their contents scattering across the floor. ¡°What will be, will be.¡±


    **


    Yu Xiao, meanwhile, had more pressing matters to attend to. The position of Security Team Leader remained vacant, and Nightmare had compiled a rather underwhelming list of potential candidates.


    Most were woefully inadequate. The Security Team Leader needed brawn ¨C dealing with unruly ghosts and enforcing hospital regulations was no job for a timid spirit. But they also needed brains. A sharp mind for investigation. A nose for sniffing out trouble. The last thing Yu Xiao needed was a repeat of the Counting Ghost.


    No wonder the previous Director had gone with Goldie. A three-headed hellhound ticked all the boxes: intimidating, powerful, and with a nose for trouble that could rival a bloodhound on a scent.


    ¡°Are you sure there¡¯s no one else?¡± Yu Xiao tapped her fingers impatiently against her desk, the lack of qualified candidates frustrating. ¡°This is a hospital, not a retirement home. Surely there¡¯s at least one competent ghost in this place.¡±


    Nightmare was struggling. Finding a qualified candidate on such short notice was proving to be a herculean task.


    The phone continued its relentless assault, each unanswered call a testament to severed ties. Yu Qing Lang, then Wang Dong Dong, then Luo Jin, then back to Yu Qing Lang ¨C the cycle repeated.


    Their desperation was palpable, but Yu Xiao refused to engage. Their paths had diverged, their fates sealed, and she saw no point in prolonging the inevitable. There was nothing left to say, no solace to offer, no hope to be gleaned from the outside world.


    Her gaze fell on the marketplace ledger, a tome of exorbitant prices and unattainable dreams. It was time for a change.


    The marketplace, while well-stocked, was designed to bleed patients dry. Tools, function cards, talismans ¨C everything came with a price tag most could only dream of affording. A single function card cost a staggering fifty points ¨C a lifetime¡¯s worth of scavenging for most. Even Zhao Lan and Zhou Xiao Zhen, after braving countless instances, had barely scraped by with enough for one.


    Even a basic talisman set you back ten points. Most patients limped out of scenarios with a passing grade and a measly three points to show for their efforts.


    It was a vicious cycle. Patients remained weak, trapped in the hospital¡¯s grasp. The longer they stayed, the more the dark yin energy seeped into their bodies, making escape even more unlikely.


    Yu Xiao grabbed a sheet of paper, her resolve hardening with each stroke of her pen. No more exorbitant prices, no more bleeding the patients dry. She slashed prices across the board, imposing strict purchase limits to prevent hoarding.


    Talismans ¨C three points each, limit five per patient per week. Function cards ¨C a much more manageable ten points. Props ¨C twenty points apiece, a steal compared to the previous prices.


    She signed the document with a flourish, pressing the Director¡¯s seal into the crimson ink.


    The Director¡¯s power stemmed from two sources: the heart that beat, or rather, didn¡¯t beat, in her chest, granting her dominion over this spectral realm; and the seal, imbuing her decisions with an authority that transcended life and death.


    The former Director, wishing to prepare his successor for the role, had handed over the seal to that veteran before relinquishing the heart of obsession.


    According to the former Director, the veteran must have used the seal for some purpose.


    Yu Xiao had instructed Nightmare to retrieve previous official documents, but any files related to that predecessor had vanished, possibly destroyed by the former Director.


    She had hoped to find a solution to the dark yin energy within those documents.


    ¡°I still wish to live another five hundred years¡­¡±


    The phone sang out again, its persistence wearing down her last nerve. *Block the numbers*, she thought. *Sever the last thread.*


    But as she reached for the phone, she realised it wasn¡¯t one of *them*. It was the cannibal from the First Hospital.


    ¡°Hello.¡± Her voice was cold, devoid of the false warmth she¡¯d once offered.


    ¡°Such indifference,¡± the woman purred, her voice a sibilant whisper. ¡°A far cry from your tone a few days ago.¡±


    ¡°Goodbye.¡± Yu Xiao moved to hang up.


    ¡°Wait!¡±


    The woman¡¯s frantic voice made Yu Xiao pause.


    ¡°You mentioned helping me sell those function cards¡­¡± The words tumbled out, infused with a desperation that couldn¡¯t be ignored. ¡°Is that offer still valid?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡± Yu Xiao kept her voice neutral, although her patience was waning.


    ¡°Thank you, thank you¡­¡± The woman¡¯s voice dropped to a shaky whisper. ¡°I heard the news today¡­ about those others who left. Do you think¡­ is it possible¡­ will I ever be able to leave this place?¡±


    Yu Xiao tightened her grip on her composure. ¡°I¡¯ll send you the address. Mail the items there.¡±


    ¡°Yes, yes, of course.¡± Sensing her irritation, the woman hurried to appease her. ¡°I¡¯ll send them right away. Oh, and about that patient from the First Hospital¡­ the one who was discharged¡­ I actually don¡¯t know him.¡±


    ¡°I understand.¡± Yu Xiao was already mentally composing her next decree.


    ¡°Just heard rumours,¡± the woman continued, her voice a hushed torrent of words. ¡°Something about him being a powerful talisman drawer¡­¡±


    ¡°Right.¡± Yu Xiao ended the call, severing the connection with a sigh.


    Nightmare came back, the marketplace ledger in his hand. ¡°The price cuts are having their intended effect, Director,¡± he reported. ¡°Several items are flying off the shelves.¡±


    He placed the ledger on her desk, his finger tapping a line item. ¡°The talismans are particularly popular. Especially the Thunder Repelling Talismans. Stock is running low.¡±


    Yu Xiao¡¯s gaze scanned the numbers, her brow furrowing. They were running low. Critically low.


    ¡°Where do we usually restock those?¡±


    ¡°I¡­ wouldn¡¯t know, Director.¡± Nightmare¡¯s tone was apologetic.


    He¡¯d been a creature of habit, his world contained within the instance. His ignorance, while frustrating, was understandable.


    ¡°Find out,¡± she ordered.


    ¡°Of course.¡± He turned to leave.


    ¡°Wait.¡± Yu Xiao called him back. ¡°Bring me my talisman-drawing tools.¡±


    After a moment, he was back.


    Yu Xiao gaze drawn to the familiar weight of the brush in her hand. It had been a while. Drawing talismans¡­ it was a reminder of her own ticking clock. Soon, the dark yin energy would claim her, too. Soon, she would be just another ghost, another cautionary tale whispered in the hospital corridors.


    She dipped the brush in vermillion ink, the familiar scent filling her with a strange sense of foreboding. As she began to draw, a memory flickered to life, the former Director¡¯s words echoing in her ears:


    ¡°¡­He has a rare courage, a unique mind, and an extraordinary talent, just like you¡­¡±


    ¡°I can only say that some answers are right before your eyes, but you fail to see them¡­¡±


    ¡°¡­Something about him being a powerful talisman drawer¡­¡±


    The brush stilled, hovering over the paper. A jolt of understanding, electric and terrifying, shot through her. The answer had been there all along, hidden in plain sight.


    Talismans. Sold in the marketplace. Untouchable and unusable by ghosts. So, where did they come from?


    This was the lifeline that the patient, the talisman drawer, had left for them.


    The talismans themselves were the answer.


    The solution to the dark yin energy.


    Yu Xiao¡¯s hand trembled, the brush clattering onto the desk. Her heart, despite its stillness, felt like pounding against her ribs. She flipped through the ledger, her eyes scanning the endless columns of numbers, searching, seeking¡­


    There. Old Lord¡¯s Talisman. Listed in the marketplace inventory, but absent from the Fourth Hospital¡¯s talisman guide, it had an unremarkable name and their use was unknown. Vermillion ink and yellow paper were precious, so it¡¯s understandable that the senior from the Fourth Hospital didn¡¯t want to waste them on rarely used talismans.


    But Yu Xiao knew. She knew why those talismans were there, why they outnumbered even the ever-popular Thunder Repelling Talismans.


    That patient, facing his own mortality, had stumbled upon the answer. He had poured his remaining time, his last reserves of energy, into creating a stockpile of hope. A legacy woven into the very fabric of the hospital he knew he might never escape.


    Looking at the sheer volume of Old Lord¡¯s Talisman, their numbers a testament to one man¡¯s desperate hope, Yu Xiao felt a chill crawl down her spine.


    The answer had been there all along.

 Chapter 181: See You On the Outside~

    Word count:


    The hospital storeroom was a graveyard of forgotten items, none more so than the bulky boxes stacked in the farthest corner, covered in a thick layer of dust that not even the laziest ghost bothered to disturb. Ancient and assembled haphazardly, they stood in stark contrast to the immaculate containers holding functional cards near the front.


    Yu Xiao cautiously opened the largest box. She was met with stacks of yellow talisman papers, their red cinnabar ink practically pulsating against the aged paper. Unable to resist, she reached out and let her fingers glide across their surface.


    ¡°Hiss¡­¡±


    The talisman she¡¯d touched dissolved into dust, a soft sigh rippling through the air. Lightness flooded her, warmth tingling on her skin. Even her temperature seemed to rise.


    The Old Lord¡¯s Talisman, it seemed, was the real deal.


    With these, not only would patients stand a fighting chance of leaving, but she¡¯d actually survive this place. Keep the yin energy at bay and avoid becoming one of them.


    To Live.


    ¡°No one in administration knows where those talismans came from,¡± the Nightmare murmured, appearing beside her.


    ¡°No need to ask further,¡± Yu Xiao said, her face expressionless, though the Nightmare could sense her lighter mood.


    ¡°I already know. Don¡¯t worry about the talismans,¡± she continued, all business. ¡°Priority one: find a new security chief. If you can¡¯t find a ghost, reach out to the news department. Place a recruitment ad, conduct interviews, do everything necessary.¡±


    The Nightmare nodded, about to fade away when she called out, ¡°Hold on.¡±


    He turned back.


    ¡°Place a news announcement for me as well,¡± she said.


    **


    Points secured, Yu Qing Lang still refused to be discharged.


    ¡°I need to know what Yu Xiao¡¯s up to,¡± she declared to Wang Dong Dong over the phone. ¡°Otherwise, I¡¯m not leaving this place!¡±


    Wang Dong Dong echoed her frustration. ¡°But she won¡¯t answer her phone! What are we supposed to do?¡±


    ¡°The Sixth Hospital,¡± Yu Qing Lang stated. ¡°I¡¯ll find her there.¡±


    ¡°The delivery route again?¡± Wang Dong Dong¡¯s voice was laced with apprehension.


    ¡°Do you have a better idea?¡±


    He didn¡¯t. With a resigned sigh, he muttered, ¡°Fine, I¡¯m in.¡±


    Being shipped around in a cardboard box was not enjoyable for anyone, but Yu Qing Lang was incredibly determined. Seeing Yu Xiao was the only way she would find peace in this life or the next.


    In the darkness, she was bumped around, indicating that the delivery person was clearly energetic. Finally, the box thumped onto the ground, with another box landing next to her. Wang Dong Dong. Now, they simply had to wait.


    Time crawled by. Sleep beckoned, but no one came.


    ¡°Why haven¡¯t they taken us in yet?¡± Wang Dong Dong¡¯s muffled voice drifted from the next box.


    ¡°How should I know?¡± Yu Qing Lang snapped, dragging herself back from the brink of slumber.


    ¡°I just heard the food cart,¡± he said, fear seeping into his voice. ¡°She¡¯s not coming. What do we do?¡±


    Yu Qing Lang considered their options. ¡°We open the boxes.¡±


    ¡°Is that wise?¡± Panic laced Wang Dong Dong¡¯s voice. ¡°We¡¯re outside the ward! It¡¯s dangerous! And there¡¯s only two of us this time!¡±


    He was right. Dying now, after all their hard work, would be a slap in the face.


    ¡°Let¡¯s wait a little longer,¡± Yu Qing Lang said, hoping she wasn¡¯t fooling herself. Maybe Yu Xiao was simply occupied with some miscellaneous hospital assignment.


    So they waited, two cardboard anomalies outside an empty ward, drawing curious stares from passing ghosts who couldn¡¯t fathom the logic of delivering anything to a vacant room.


    **


    With the last of the yin energy purged, Yu Xiao picked up an Old Lord¡¯s Talisman, her gaze tracing the intricate patterns on its surface. A predecessor¡¯s creation. If only he¡¯d have left a more noticeable hint before leaving.


    An idea ignited. She would learn to draw them herself. The store might be overflowing, but the hospital was overflowing with even more people. Once word got out, those talismans wouldn¡¯t last five minutes.


    And she was the only one who could replenish them.


    Yu Xiao was deep in talisman research when her phone buzzed. It was the food delivery ghost from the hospital, oblivious to her recent promotion.


    ¡°I¡¯m so sorry,¡± the ghost wailed, voice trembling like a tuning fork. ¡°I failed the task! They pushed the notes back and threatened me! Said they¡¯d come out and hit me if I disturbed them again!¡±


    Yu Xiao had almost forgotten about that. If not for this call, the whole thing might have slipped her mind entirely.


    ¡°Consider it done,¡± she assured the ghost. The original plan was to find a way to neutralise the yin energy. Problem solved, ghost no longer required.


    Relief practically radiated through the phone. ¡°Can I go to St. Elizabeth¡¯s then?¡±


    ¡°Reconstruction¡¯s not finished yet,¡± Yu Xiao replied.


    ¡°Then where¡¯s that Tie Niu you mentioned?¡± the ghost pressed.


    Yu Xiao paused, remembering her promise. A smile played on her lips. Honestly, a little intrigue might liven up this whole Director gig.


    ¡°Tell you what,¡± she said. ¡°You¡¯re officially Tie Niu¡¯s assistant. Go on over to St. Elizabeth¡¯s, give him a hand with the renovations.¡±


    The ghost hung up, practically buzzing with excitement. Setting the phone down, Yu Xiao sighed. How dull.


    The Nightmare returned from the news department, his ferry ride punctuated by the river¡¯s mournful cries. Fortunately, lacking a pulse had its perks. As the boat pulled up to the bank, he spotted a large black dog sprawled by the water¡¯s edge.


    Goldie. His punishment was to plant lotus roots in a ditch filled with, well, not water exactly, but the distilled resentment of the dearly departed. Not exactly fertile ground.


    Naturally, he¡¯d refused to submerge himself fully, choosing instead to lie half-soaked on the bank, tears streaming from all three of his heads.


    A pair of polished shoes came to a stop before him. Goldie strained his right head up to see the Nightmare, looking dapper as ever in a double-breasted black suit.


    ¡°Stop crying,¡± the Nightmare commanded.


    Goldie, never one for pleasantries, bristled. ¡°I¡¯ll cry if I want to! What¡¯s it to you?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m concerned your incessant sobbing might disturb the Director,¡± the Nightmare replied. ¡°She wouldn¡¯t be pleased.¡±


    Silence. Goldie cowered, raising a paw to cover his mouths. Unfortunately, with only two paws and three mouths, one always remained uncovered.


    ¡°It¡¯s just planting lotus roots,¡± the Nightmare said, watching him. ¡°Why the waterworks?¡±


    Goldie fixed him with a three-eyed glare, two heads still sobbing while the middle one grumbled, ¡°Who¡¯s crying about that? I keep thinking about the old Director, that¡¯s all. Can¡¯t help but shed a tear when I remember him.¡±


    The Nightmare remained silent.


    ¡°One day, you¡¯ll feel the same!¡± Goldie continued.


    The Nightmare¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°Impossible. She said she¡¯d be the last Director.¡±


    ¡°Hmph!¡± Goldie wiped his eyes with his paw. ¡°When I first met him, he was different. Used to laugh a lot. Then he became Director¡­no more laughter. Claimed he¡¯d be the last one too, but¡­woowoo¡­¡±


    Goldie¡¯s wails escalated, echoing across the riverbank. ¡°Just tending my lotus roots,¡± he sobbed, directing his lament at the Nightmare. ¡°Once your precious Director is discharged, you might not even have those to look after¡­¡±


    The words echoed in the Nightmare¡¯s mind as he returned to the Director¡¯s quarters. He pushed open the study door to find Yu Xiao hunched over her talisman studies. He watched her for a moment. Gone was the frequent smiles he¡¯d grown accustomed to.


    ¡°Why not come in?¡± she said, not looking up.


    He crossed the room soundlessly, stopping beside her. His gaze, unwavering, settled on her.


    She seemed strangely unconcerned. If he wanted to stare, he could stare. She continued her work, on the verge of putting pen to paper when she finally met his gaze. ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°Will you leave?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Where to?¡±


    ¡°Leave the hospital.¡±


    The words sparked a flicker of annoyance. She returned to her work. ¡°No. I¡¯m the Director now. I¡¯m here to stay.¡±


    ¡°Really?¡± Goldie¡¯s words wormed their way back into his thoughts. ¡°What if one day you want to leave? What happens to me then? Stuck planting lotus roots for the next Director, just like Goldie.¡±


    Yu Xiao finally set aside her work, fixing him with a raised eyebrow. ¡°Is that what you¡¯re worried about?¡±


    He couldn¡¯t help it. It wasn¡¯t the lotus roots themselves, but the image of himself by that riverbank, weeping for her like a heartbroken mutt.


    ¡°Don¡¯t let it keep you up at night,¡± she said, amused by his dramatics. ¡°If I ever do leave, it won¡¯t be for a long, long time.¡±


    She went back to her talismans, leaving the Nightmare to stew in a mixture of relief and unease.


    Her first attempt at the Old Lord¡¯s Talisman was a failure. She crumpled the paper, tossing it to the floor. The Nightmare picked it up silently.


    ¡°Would you like some tea?¡± he offered.


    ¡°If you¡¯ve got time to kill, feel free to entertain yourself,¡± she said, not sparing him a glance.


    ¡°Don¡¯t you need me anymore?¡± he blurted, a pang of something unfamiliar twisting in his chest.


    She paused.


    ¡°A milk tea then,¡± she amended.


    His spirits soared. ¡°Right away!¡± He hurried off to prepare it.


    The next morning arrived, the remnants of a sleepless night clinging to Yu Xiao. The Old Lord¡¯s Talisman was proving to be a stubborn beast. Wrong strokes, failed attempts, frustration mounting with every passing hour.


    Then, at eight o¡¯clock sharp, the musical chime echoed, signalling the start of a new day.


    A booming male voice filled the air. ¡°I still wish to live another five hundred years¡­¡±


    Her hand jerked, the final stroke going awry. She slammed her fist on the table in frustration, only to realise¡­it had worked.


    Her first Old Lord¡¯s Talisman. A success.


    She stood, lifting the talisman high, watching it gleam in the lamplight. It had actually worked.


    **


    The music swelled, a wave of majestic sound crashing over every corner of the hospital. Patients exchanged uneasy glances, and a hush fell over the wards.


    As the final notes faded, the forums erupted.


    ¡¾What in the afterlife was that?¡¿


    ¡¾Can someone tell me what I just heard?¡¿


    ¡¾A song, genius.¡¿


    ¡¾No, seriously, what song? Is ¡®F¨¹r Elise¡¯ not good enough anymore?¡¿


    ¡¾Maybe the new director changed it.¡¿


    ¡¾What kind of taste does this director have?¡¿


    ¡¾I kinda liked it¡­¡¿


    **


    In Fourth Hospital, Luo Jin and Lu Xu listened with blank expressions.


    ¡°I don¡¯t like this,¡± Lu Xu finally said.


    ¡°What?¡±


    Lu Xu fixed him with a pointed look. ¡°Remember Yu Xiao¡¯s ringtone?¡±


    Luo Jin went silent. Zhao Lan and Zhou Xiao Zhen had been discharged. Yu Xiao¡¯s phone was ghosting everyone, and now the hospital¡¯s morning music was her old ringtone¡­


    ¡°Let¡¯s start a beautiful day from now on~ Next up, morning news.¡±


    ¡°Good news, everyone! Huge discounts at the hospital store! Everything you need and more. Permanent props ¨C twenty points! Super function cards ¨C ten points! Premium talismans ¨C only three points each! Three points, you can¡¯t go wrong! Three points, you won¡¯t be disappointed! Also featuring the new Old Lord¡¯s Talisman, guaranteed to banish yin energy! Don¡¯t miss out!¡±


    ¡°Did you hear that?¡± Luo Jin said, his eyes widening. ¡°What talisman?¡±


    Lu Xu swallowed hard. ¡°Old Lord¡¯s Talisman, I think. They said it¡­dispels yin energy.¡±


    ¡°Dispels yin energy?¡±


    Lu Xu nodded, his face pale. ¡°I didn¡¯t mishear it.¡±


    Luo Jin forgot all about the news, his mind laser-focused on one thing. He was on the store page before the announcer could finish, frantically searching for the Old Lord¡¯s Talisman.


    Meanwhile, the broadcast continued.


    ¡°In other news, the position of Hospital Security Director is currently vacant. We are now recruiting! Gender and age are no barrier. Salary and experience will be discussed during the interview. Interested candidates, please register by phone and proceed to the director¡¯s office for an interview with secretary Nightmare¡­¡±


    It seemed that the hospital staff were in for an interesting day.


    **


    Yu Xiao, meanwhile, was glued to the forums. The public¡¯s reaction to the Old Lord¡¯s Talisman was her main concern.


    As it turned out, there wasn¡¯t much reaction at all. Most patients didn¡¯t know what yin energy was, let alone its implications. The importance of the Old Lord¡¯s Talisman was utterly lost on them. The forums were eerily quiet, except for a single thread in the Fourth Hospital forum tentatively discussing the matter.


    ?What was that talisman they were on about in the news??


    ¡¾Dispels yin energy, apparently. Anyone tried it?¡¿


    ¡¾Old Lord¡¯s Talisman. Saw it in the online store. What even is yin energy? Is it better than that Thunderstriking one?¡¿


    ¡¾Never seen the hospital do this before. Any talisman experts in the house? Spill the tea.¡¿


    ¡¾I can draw some talismans, but never seen this Old Lord¡¯s one. No clue what it does.¡¿


    ¡¾Anyone? Bueller?¡¿


    ¡¾No idea what it¡¯s for. Total waste of points, if you ask me.¡¿


    ¡¾Someone tell us what this thing does!¡¿


    ¡¾¡­¡¿


    The Sixth Hospital forum was a different beast entirely. Patients from both the Sixth and the Second Hospital congregated there, making for a livelier, and slightly more unhinged, discussion board.


    ?Holy moly, guys, the Old Lord¡¯s Talisman!?


    ¡¾Did you hear the news? Dispels yin energy! I thought they were just messing with us, saying there was a solution, but it¡¯s real!¡¿


    ¡¾I know, right! Already bought five!¡¿


    ¡¾Can¡¯t believe the answer¡¯s been in the store this whole time. Just found out today.¡¿


    ¡¾Got a few myself¡­feeling kinda sad now. If only I knew sooner, my brother might still be here.¡¿


    ¡¾You mean Ah Fei? He¡¯s gone?¡¿


    ¡¾Yeah, passed away a few days ago¡­¡¿


    ¡¾Hold on, why¡¯s everyone buying this Old Lord¡¯s thing? What¡¯s it even do?¡¿


    ¡¾Ignore them. They¡¯re always talking nonsense on the forum.¡¿


    **


    Outside Room 4 of the Sixth Hospital, two large boxes sat abandoned.


    ¡°Did you hear that?¡± a muffled voice whispered from inside one.


    ¡°Yeah,¡± came the reply. ¡°Old Lord¡¯s Talisman. Dispels yin energy.¡±


    A beat of silence.


    ¡°This has Yu Xiao written all over it,¡± Yu Qing Lang said finally. ¡°She¡¯s been obsessed with getting rid of yin energy.¡±


    ¡°Think she found a way?¡± Wang Dong Dong asked.


    ¡°I¡¯m coming out,¡± Yu Qing Lang declared suddenly.


    ¡°Wait¡ª¡±


    ¡ªRip! Cardboard tore.


    Wang Dong Dong, with a sigh, ripped open his own box and crawled out. Yu Qing Lang had already kicked hers aside, standing at the entrance to Room 404.


    ¡°Empty,¡± she announced. ¡°There¡¯s no one here.¡±


    Wang Dong Dong frowned. ¡°Even if she finished the instance, shouldn¡¯t she be back by now?¡±


    ¡°Finished the instance?¡± Yu Qing Lang scoffed. ¡°She had more than enough points, even gave us two hundred! Why would she need to finish anything?¡±


    ¡°Then where¡­¡± A chilling thought struck him. ¡°Is she¡­?¡±


    Yu Qing Lang stared at him, then rolled her eyes. ¡°If she was dead, her phone would be off, not just unanswered.¡±


    Wang Dong Dong was thoroughly confused now. ¡°Then where did she go?¡±


    ¡°Nightmare will know,¡± Yu Qing Lang declared, eyes narrowed.


    Nightmare was up to his eyeballs in resumes. The vacant Head of Security position had sent shockwaves through the hospital¡¯s ghostly grapevine.


    After all, what was the best job in a hospital for the restless dead? Director, obviously. But that was a long shot, shrouded in mystery. Most ghosts didn¡¯t even know the rules of succession. So what was the next best thing?


    Head of Security. Authority over safety and order, answerable to practically no one. Beneath one ghost, above thousands. And now the position was open to the entire hospital? Mayhem ensued. The hospital¡¯s instances went into overdrive.


    Even Gu Shu and Lolita were caught up in the frenzy.


    ¡°She drove Goldie out,¡± Lolita said, pushing her cart with unusual vigour.


    ¡°Course she did, petty thing,¡± Gu Shu replied, dragging a parcel behind him. ¡°Goldie probably mouthed off at some point.¡±


    ¡°I want to be Head of Security,¡± Lolita declared.


    Gu Shu, too tired to argue with that level of delusion, simply sighed.


    Nightmare had set up the interview station by the stinky ditch, as per Yu Xiao¡¯s instructions. She wanted Goldie to see the queue of hopefuls vying for his old job.


    He sat behind the table, looking dapper in a double-breasted suit, his hair slicked back to give him an air of authority. The line of applicants seemed to stretch into eternity.


    ¡°Resume?¡± he asked the creature before him. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    It was a massive tentacle monster, one of its appendages proffering a crumpled piece of paper.


    Nightmare took it, scanning the contents. ¡°Name: God of Gu Family Village?¡±


    ¡°Moo!¡± the creature replied.


    ¡°Resides in Gu Family Village. No prior work experience¡­¡± Nightmare looked up. ¡°You¡¯re not suitable for this position. Next.¡±


    The tentacle monster deflated, tentacles curling in on themselves as it let out a mournful, ¡°Moo!¡±


    ¡°Moo yourself out of here!¡± a voice snapped from behind it. ¡°Some of us have actual qualifications!¡±


    As the dejected creature oozed away, Gluttony stepped forward, resume clutched in his hand. He did a double take. ¡°You¡¯re the secretary?¡±


    Nightmare stared at him, expressionless.


    ¡°Wait, is the Director now?¡±


    ¡°Yes, ¡± Nightmare said, tossing the offending resume at Gluttony¡¯s feet. ¡°The Director says she dislikes you. You¡¯re out.¡±


    Gluttony blinked, even more deflated than the tentacle monster. He slunk away.


    ¡°Next!¡± Nightmare barked, waving a dismissive hand.


    ¡°Qualifications insufficient.¡±


    ¡°Qualifications insufficient.¡±


    ¡°Qualifications insufficient¡­¡±


    Finally, a resume worthy of a second glance. ¡°Former Chairman of the Ghost Group¡­ah, it¡¯s you.¡±


    He studied the handsome, middle-aged ghost before him. ¡°And why do you want to be Head of Security?¡±


    ¡°My previous position was, shall we say, acquired through less than legitimate means,¡± the chairman explained. ¡°I find myself at a loose end, and this seemed¡­promising.¡±


    Nightmare, familiar with the feeling, kept the resume. ¡°We¡¯ll be in touch.¡±


    The chairman, the first applicant to have his resume retained, left with a spring in his step. Maybe his luck was changing.


    ¡°Next!¡±


    This time, it was an old¡­acquaintance.


    ¡°Fan Xing,¡± Nightmare said, taking in the ghost¡¯s dishevelled appearance. ¡°What brings you here?¡±


    The ghost shuffled his feet. It was the doctor whose instance Nightmare had once been assigned to.


    ¡°Nightmare! Fancy seeing you here! Who knew you¡¯d land such a cushy gig after¡­¡± he trailed off, looking embarrassed.


    ¡°Answer the question,¡± Nightmare said, tapping a finger on the table.


    ¡°Is it not obvious?¡± the doctor wailed. ¡°My instance been useless since you left! I¡¯m practically out of a job¡­¡±


    A flicker of guilt, and Nightmare relented. ¡°Fine. Resume. We¡¯ll be in touch.¡±


    The doctor, wiping away a non-existent tear, practically skipped away.


    Nightmare¡¯s patience was wearing thin. Countless ghosts, and none quite right. Meanwhile, further down the line, a certain green-eyed entity was starting to regret his own jealousy.


    Ever since Yu Xiao¡¯s ascension to minor deity status back in the poison-tainted town, the townsfolk barely paid him any mind. He¡¯d tried everything to regain their reverence, but to no avail. So when he heard about the Head of Security position, he¡¯d thought, why not? He hadn¡¯t expected to be facing Nightmare himself.


    Jealousy was old, one of the first born from the echoes of human emotion. He wasn¡¯t confined to the town; he often ventured out, slipping into the crevices of human hearts. He knew many of the hospital¡¯s secrets, including its changing leadership.


    A flicker of suspicion, then despair. If his hunch about the new Director was right, this whole Head of Security thing was a fool¡¯s errand.


    He turned to leave.


    ¡°Where are you going?¡± Deceit asked, materialising behind him.


    Jealousy, resplendent in his red robes, sighed dramatically. ¡°I know who the new Director is. She won¡¯t let me be the head of security.¡±


    ¡°Oh?¡± Deceit¡¯s interest was piqued. ¡°Do tell.¡±


    Jealousy rolled his eyes. ¡°And why would I do that?¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s just say I¡¯m open to a spot of¡­collaboration,¡± Deceit offered. ¡°You can proselytize in my instance.¡±


    Jealousy turned to face him. He¡¯d known Deceit for ages, but this was the first time he¡¯d actually him. He shook his head. ¡°Nice try. You¡¯re Deceit. You¡¯re all about the deception.¡±


    Deceit, a handsome young man with a perpetual smile and eyes that could shame a saint, shook his head. ¡°Just because I¡¯m prone to a little fibbing doesn¡¯t mean I¡¯m incapable of honesty. I want this job, Jealousy. I need your help. No need to deceive you.¡±


    His sincerity was almost tangible. Jealousy, desperate for followers, wavered. He had a point.


    ¡°Alright,¡± he conceded. ¡°But if you¡¯re playing me, there will be consequences.¡±


    Deceit¡¯s smile widened, just a fraction. He¡¯d already won. Once he was Head of Security, his current instance would be out of his control. The offer of proselytizing there? Null and void. And Jealousy¡¯s retaliation? Please. He¡¯d be Head of Security. Who would he fear?


    What a fool.


    Nightmare was sifting through the mountain of resumes when one landed squarely in front of him.


    He looked up, straight into the earnest eyes of a smiling young man.


    ¡°Good day, Nightmare,¡± the young man said politely. ¡°Deceit¡¯s the name.¡±


    ¡°Deceit.¡± He glanced at the resume. ¡°Extensive work experience, impressive skillset. I¡¯ve heard things about you, though. Something about¡­deceiving people?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s a gift, really,¡± the young man said, that disarming smile never wavering. ¡°Can¡¯t fight nature.¡±


    ¡°In that case, I don¡¯t think this position is for you.¡±


    ¡°Whether I¡¯m suitable is hardly up to you, is it?¡± Deceit¡¯s smile widened. ¡°As long as the Director think so, that¡¯s all that matters.¡±


    Nightmare was about to point out the flaw in his logic ¨C namely, that he, in fact, had the say in this ¨C when the young man leaned in.


    ¡°I know how to get the Director out of the hospital,¡± he murmured.


    Nightmare froze.


    **


    In the Director¡¯s study, Yu Xiao was on a roll. Her first successful talisman had been a turning point. Now, her creations worked four out of five times.


    The study door creaked open, and a fragrant cloud of milk tea heralded Nightmare¡¯s arrival.


    ¡°A delivery person from the Sixth Hospital just contacted me,¡± he said softly, placing the tea on the table. ¡°Two people have broken in.¡±


    Yu Xiao looked up sharply. ¡°Who?¡±


    ¡°Yu Qing Lang and Wang Dong Dong,¡± he murmured. ¡°They want to see you. I doubt they¡¯ll leave without a word.¡±


    Yu Xiao¡¯s brow furrowed. She felt a familiar tug at her heart, a sensation she¡¯d been actively avoiding.


    ¡°Do you want to see them?¡± he asked.


    She fell silent. Becoming Director had meant distancing herself from her old life, her old friends.


    Nightmare watched her, a pang of sympathy echoing through him. He could feel her unhappiness.


    ¡°There¡¯s something you should know,¡± he began, hesitantly. ¡°I know how to get you discharged.¡±


    Her head snapped up. ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°I can get you discharged,¡± he repeated.


    She stared at him, speechless. Finally, her hands balled into fists beneath the table. ¡°Say that again.¡±


    ¡°I can get you discharged.¡±


    ¡°How?¡± Her voice was barely a whisper, as if afraid to break the spell.


    ¡°That heart of yours,¡± he said, tapping a finger to her chest. ¡°It¡¯s the obsession of the deceased. And I am Nightmare of the deceased. I can put it to sleep. Free you from its hold. Then you can leave.¡±


    Disbelief warred with hope. Could it really be that simple? The obsession that had trapped the previous Director for eighty-three years, undone just like that?


    ¡°Really?¡± she breathed. ¡°It¡¯s that easy?¡±


    ¡°Not easy,¡± he said, his gaze turning serious. ¡°There¡¯s a price.¡±


    ¡°What price?¡±


    ¡°Me.¡± His eyes locked onto hers. ¡°The obsession¡¯s heart is powerful. If I put it to sleep¡­ I¡¯ll cease to exist.¡±


    Silence descended.


    So, even as Director, she could escape. But at the cost of Nightmare.


    ¡°You¡­¡±


    The Nightmare chuckled, a melancholic sound. ¡°I¡¯m willing to do it. I know you¡¯re unhappy here. You want to leave. Let me help you.¡±


    ¡°But you¡­¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s alright,¡± he said, cutting her off. ¡°If you go, I don¡¯t want to exist without you. Better to disappear than end up like Goldie, sobbing by the riverbank for all eternity.¡±


    He looked so forlorn that she couldn¡¯t speak.


    Memories flickered through her mind. Their first meeting in his dream realm, trapped in a deadly dance with the Reapers. His attempt to trap her here, forcing her to stay. His escape, wounded and weak, finding her at St. Elizabeth¡¯s.


    The lonely hours in that dark office, becoming a cat, living in a box just to be near her. Deliberately ingratiating himself with her friends¡­


    And now, he was willing to sacrifice himself to set her free.


    Tears pricked at her eyes. ¡°Back in the dream realm¡­you saw my fears in that warehouse. Why did you spare me?¡±


    He blinked. ¡°Because you were hurting. I couldn¡¯t bear to see you suffer.¡±


    She closed her eyes, taking a deep breath. When she opened them again, her voice was resolute. ¡°I disagree.¡±


    His head tilted, a flicker of something like starlight in his eyes. ¡°Huh?¡±


    ¡°I disagree with this whole plan,¡± she said firmly. ¡°I want to leave, yes. But not like this.¡±


    He couldn¡¯t contain his grin. He bounced on his heels, reaching for her, only to be thwarted by the desk.


    She had to laugh. ¡°How did the interviews go? Find any promising candidates?¡±


    ¡°I did, actually.¡± His gaze was intent, unwavering. ¡°And I lied just now.¡±


    She raised an eyebrow. ¡°?¡±


    ¡°My ability¡­¡± he began, then sighed. ¡°It can¡¯t permanently disable the Heart of Obsession.¡±


    Her face fell. ¡°You were playing me?¡±


    ¡°Not really.¡± A mischievous glint returned to his eyes. ¡°It can suppress it, though. For a few days. Enough time for you to leave. But it¡¯ll wake up eventually. Pull you back.¡±


    She frowned. ¡°Is that all?¡±


    ¡°And¡­¡± he mumbled, looking down. ¡°I won¡¯t disappear. I¡¯ll just¡­need some time to recover. Then I can put it back to sleep.¡±


    ¡°What else?¡± Her tone was sharp.


    ¡°And¡­I might have exaggerated things a tad to see if you cared, even a little.¡± His voice was barely audible. ¡°That¡¯s it. Really. Nothing else.¡±


    Yu Xiao stood abruptly, grabbing the chair behind her.


    ¡°You jerk!¡±


    **


    Yu Qing Lang and Wang Dong Dong¡¯s covert operation was uncovered. The Head of Security might have been temporarily indisposed, but the rest of the team was more than capable of handling two rogue patients.


    They found themselves dumped unceremoniously in a small, dark room, with their phones confiscated.


    ¡°We should have left when we had the chance,¡± Wang Dong Dong lamented. ¡°Now Yu Xiao¡¯s vanished, and we¡¯re stuck here.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t care!¡± Yu Qing Lang crossed her arms defiantly. ¡°I¡¯m not leaving until I see her! This is her fault! If she had answered her bloody phone, none of this would have happened!¡±


    Their bickering was cut short by a voice from beyond the door.


    ¡°I heard that.¡±


    Yu Qing Lang froze. ¡°?¡±


    The door creaked open, and a sliver of light revealed Nightmare.


    Yu Qing Lang¡¯s bravado evaporated. ¡°Where¡¯s Yu Xiao? What¡¯s going on?¡±


    He said nothing, stepping aside to reveal the object of their search.


    ¡°Yu Xiao!¡± Wang Dong Dong rushed forward, relief flooding his features. ¡°Where have you been? Ignoring calls, disappearing from your room¡­¡±


    ¡°Oh,¡± Yu Xiao said, crossing her arms with an air of smug superiority. ¡°I¡¯m the Director now.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±. It took a moment for the news to sink in, for the pieces to fall into place.


    Yu Qing Lang narrowed her eyes. ¡°You¡¯re the Director?¡±


    ¡°Indeed.¡±


    ¡°You found the talisman to get rid of yin energy? The one they announced on the news?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right.¡±


    ¡°And you couldn¡¯t answer your bloody phone?¡± Yu Qing Lang exploded. ¡°Do you know how worried we were?¡±


    She lunged, only to be intercepted by Nightmare.


    ¡°Move.¡± She hissed.


    He stepped aside, wisely choosing his battles.


    Yu Qing Lang grabbed Yu Xiao¡¯s collar, her grip surprisingly strong. Yu Xiao could have easily shaken her off, but she didn¡¯t.


    ¡°Why?¡± Yu Qing Lang demanded, her voice dangerously low. ¡°Tell me why you became the Director.¡±


    Knowing she could leave now, Yu Xiao no longer felt the need to deflect. She recounted the events succinctly, then said, ¡°You have enough points. Why are you still here?¡±


    ¡°Damn the Director!¡± Yu Qing Lang spat.


    Wang Dong Dong, noticing Yu Xiao¡¯s expression darken, jumped in. ¡°She meant the old one! Not you!¡±


    ¡°What are you going to do?¡± Yu Qing Lang asked, her anger fading into concern. ¡°Stay here forever? Be the ghost Director?¡±


    ¡°I can leave,¡± Yu Xiao said quietly. ¡°In fact, if you two hadn¡¯t shown up, I might have already.¡±


    ¡°What?¡± Yu Qing Lang was stunned. ¡°How? How did you manage that?¡±


    Yu Xiao raised an eyebrow. ¡°As I said, I can leave now.¡±


    ¡°No, seriously, how?¡± Yu Qing Lang was genuinely curious now.


    Yu Xiao pointed at the hand still gripping her collar. Yu Qing Lang laughed sheepishly, releasing her and slinging an arm around her shoulders instead. ¡°Do tell.¡±


    ¡°After I leave,¡± Yu Xiao said, a sly smile playing on her lips.


    Yu Qing Lang and Wang Dong Dong, blissfully unaware that leaving meant forgetting, didn¡¯t understand the urgency.


    ¡°What¡¯s the rush?¡± Wang Dong Dong said. ¡°We can all meet up outside.¡±


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Yu Qing Lang agreed, fixing Yu Xiao with a suspicious stare. ¡°You¡¯re not messing with us, are you? You can actually leave?¡±


    Yu Xiao raised her hand. ¡°Pig¡¯s honour.¡±


    Yu Qing Lang finally relaxed. ¡°Alright then,¡± she said. ¡°Let¡¯s get out of here. We¡¯ll meet on the outside.¡±


    ¡°Meet on the outside!¡± Wang Dong Dong echoed.


    Yu Xiao grinned, slinging an arm around each of them. ¡°Meet on the outside!¡±


    **


    ¡°Works like a charm.¡± Luo Jin grinned, examining the yellow powder in his palm. ¡°Turns out these Taoist charms really do eliminate yin energy.¡±


    ¡°Thank goodness for that.¡± Lu Xu practically deflated with relief. Their biggest worry, resolved.


    ¡°It¡¯s totally Yu Xiao¡¯s style, don¡¯t you think?¡± Luo Jin pondered. ¡°This whole talisman thing.¡±


    ¡°Now that you mention it¡­¡± Lu Xu nodded slowly. ¡°Should we try calling her again?¡±


    As if on cue, his phone rang. He grabbed it, his eyes widening as he saw the caller ID. ¡°Yu Xiao!¡±


    ¡°Answer it, man!¡± Luo Jin urged.


    ¡°Hello?¡± Lu Xu pressed the speaker button. ¡°Yu Xiao! Where have you been? We¡¯ve been calling you non-stop!¡±


    ¡°Busy with things,¡± she replied, her voice crackling through the speaker. ¡°Listen, I¡¯m calling to let you know¡­¡± she paused. ¡°I¡¯m getting discharged.¡±


    Luo Jin leaned in closer. ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m leaving the hospital,¡± she repeated. ¡°Let¡¯s meet up outside, okay?¡±


    ¡°Really?¡± Lu Xu¡¯s surprise turned into comprehension.


    Zhao Lan and Zhou Xiao Zhen had already left. It was only a matter of time before Yu Xiao did too.


    He felt a surge of genuine happiness for her. ¡°That¡¯s fantastic! We¡¯ll definitely meet up once we¡¯re out of here!¡±


    ¡°See you on the outside!¡± Luo Jin echoed.


    **


    ¡°How will you do it?¡± Yu Xiao asked. ¡°Put the obsession to rest, I mean.¡±


    ¡°I will go into your heart.¡± The Nightmare tapped a finger to her chest, right above her heart. ¡°I¡¯ll live inside your heart. It¡¯ll make it easier to calm the obsession.¡±


    She considered this. ¡°So¡­ does that mean you will be discharged too?¡±


    He hesitated. ¡°¡­ I suppose so.¡±


    A genuine laugh escaped her. ¡°Guess that sign was wrong after all. Useless thing.¡± She shook her head, then smiled. ¡°Alright then, see you on the outside.¡±

 Chapter 182: Olympics, Here I Come!

    Warmth bloomed on Yu Xiao¡¯s face, accompanied by a strange tingling sensation. Odd clicking noises echoed in her ears, mixing with distant footsteps, coughs, and muffled conversations.


    ¡°Doctor! Can I schedule my surgery before 4 p.m. tomorrow? It¡¯s an inauspicious hour¡­¡±


    ¡°Dinner time¡­dinner time¡­¡±


    ¡°Any news on the CT scan for Bed 3?¡±


    She opened her eyes, wincing at the sudden brightness. She raised a hand to shield them, squinting as she took in her surroundings. The air felt strange, unfamiliar. How long had it been since¡­


    ¡°Misty.¡± A familiar voice, right by her ear. ¡°Smiley¡¯s awake.¡±


    Yu Xiao cleared her throat. ¡°Precious?¡±


    ¡°Mm?¡±


    The soft scuff of slippers, then a voice close by. ¡°Smiley, it¡¯s dinner time! Get up and get going!¡±


    She lowered her hand, squinting at the figure hovering above her. Her vision swam, then refocused.


    A round, creamy, shiny, decidedly hairless head stared back at her.


    ¡°Precious¡­¡± Yu Xiao was still struggling to clear the fog in her brain. ¡°Where¡¯s your hair?¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s face fell. Her hand darted into a bag of crisps, retrieving a chip with two fingers and stuffing it in her mouth. ¡°Crunch, crunch, crunch¡­ Smiley! So mean! You know how traumatic this is for me! No more hair jokes until it grows back!¡±


    It all came flooding back. She was back. Truly back.


    Discharged.


    She instinctively pressed a hand to her chest. Still silent.


    It seemed that even being discharged couldn¡¯t turn an obsessed heart into a real one.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen frowned. ¡°Are you okay? Chest pains?¡±


    Yu Xiao blinked. ¡°?¡±


    ¡°Is it that time of the month then?¡±


    ¡°¡­¡± Yu Xiao glanced at the next bed. Zhao Lan was sprawled on the adjacent mattress, eyes glued to her laptop.


    ¡°Misty!¡± It hadn¡¯t been long, but it felt like a lifetime.


    Zhao Lan, also sporting a rather fetching hairless look, slammed her laptop shut. ¡°Sleeping Beauty awakens! We¡¯re going to grab dinner later, are you coming?¡±


    Yu Xiao shrugged on a coat over her hospital gown, while Zhao Lan and Zhou Xiao Zhen topped their ensembles with woolly hats. They stepped out into the brightly lit corridor, a steady stream of patients and staff moving around them.


    ¡°Come on, then.¡± Zhao Lan grinned, linking her arm through Yu Xiao¡¯s. ¡°What are you waiting for?¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen grabbed her other arm, skipping along beside them. ¡°Going to miss you, Smiley!¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re in the same city, you muppet,¡± Zhao Lan said. ¡°Just call us when you¡¯re feeling sentimental. Speaking of which, shouldn¡¯t you be studying for your college entrance exams?¡±


    Yu Xiao paused. ¡°Wait, I¡¯m just¡­leaving? Like this?¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen shot her an odd look. ¡°Yeah? You¡¯re better now. Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯ve gotten attached to the place?¡±


    ¡°Am I¡­cured?¡±


    Zhao Lan frowned. Yu Xiao was acting strangely. ¡°Well, it wasn¡¯t anything serious to begin with.¡±


    Yu Xiao stared at their heads. ¡°If it wasn¡¯t serious, why don¡¯t you have any hair?¡±


    Zhao Lan¡¯s smile vanished.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen sighed. ¡°Smiley, hair or no hair, we¡¯re still your mates, yeah? Don¡¯t be daft. Have you forgotten? You were the one who didn¡¯t have it serious. Me and Misty, though? Properly ill. Months of chemo, you know.¡±


    ¡°But I¡¯m better now?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen said slowly, giving her a strange look. ¡°The doctor said you¡¯re all good. You remember that, right?¡±


    ¡°Is Smiley concussed or something?¡± Zhao Lan tapped a finger to Yu Xiao¡¯s forehead. ¡°Why are you talking like this?¡±


    Yu Xiao blinked, then began frantically patting her pockets.


    ¡°Lost something?¡± Zhao Lan asked.


    Her phone. She yanked it out, checking the date and time. It was still the day they¡¯d entered the Sixth Hospital. They hadn¡¯t lost any time at all.


    And judging by their miraculous recovery, leaving the hospital really did mean a clean slate.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen had chosen barbecue for their celebratory dinner. They huddled around a table outside the stall, the scent of grilling meat mingling with the evening air.


    ¡°I feel like it¡¯s been ages since I had proper street barbecue,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen said, chewing on a skewer with gusto.


    Zhao Lan, though she didn¡¯t say anything, couldn¡¯t help but agree.


    Yu Xiao, skewer in hand, surveyed the bustling night market. This was something the world of the dead could never replicate ¨C the vibrant, messy joy of being alive.


    ¡°This is nice,¡± she said, a genuine smile spreading across her face. ¡°We¡¯re actually out.¡±


    Zhao Lan, unsure why the one with the least severe illness was the most emotional, shrugged. ¡°Anyone up for a drink?¡±


    ¡°Yes!¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen pumped her fist, then deflated. ¡°Oh, wait. I¡¯m not old enough.¡±


    ¡°Beer it is,¡± Zhao Lan declared.


    ¡°Oh, right, beer!¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen perked up instantly. ¡°Been drinking that since I was six.¡±


    ¡°You started playing mahjong at eight,¡± Yu Xiao added, before she could stop herself.


    ¡°Yeah!¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen grinned, rubbing her hands together. ¡°How did you know? I was a right little hustler. Undefeated champion of my village by the time I hit middle school¡­¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s not get ahead of ourselves. Exams are more important now,¡± Zhao Lan said, waving at the stall owner. ¡°Two beers, please!¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s face fell. ¡°Misty, why do you have to bring up depressing stuff when we¡¯re celebrating?¡±


    Yu Xiao, remembering her promise, jumped in. ¡°How about a tutor, Precious?¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen stared at her, jaw slack. ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°Two beers coming right up!¡± The boss exclaimed, leaving a trail of cigarette smoke behind him.


    ¡°Where¡¯s the bottle opener?¡±


    ¡°Coming right up!¡±


    Zhao Lan handed out glasses with a furrowed brow. ¡°Smiley, you¡¯re getting Precious a tutor? I thought you were still studying. Where¡¯d you get the money?¡±


    Money seemed like a foreign concept to Yu Xiao now, something she hadn¡¯t fully embraced yet. ¡°It¡¯s fine. I¡¯ve got it.¡±


    Zhao Lan had only met Yu Xiao¡¯s parents a few times, but they seemed wealthy. ¡°They give you a generous allowance, huh?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s alright.¡± Honestly, Yu Xiao wasn¡¯t entirely sure about the specifics. ¡°I own a couple of flats downtown. Rental income¡¯s over ten grand a month. Tutor¡¯s a drop in the ocean.¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen choked on thin air.


    Zhao Lan gaped at her. She had worked tirelessly for years, finally managing to buy a decent flat with a hefty mortgage. And Smiley, still in school, owned two?


    ¡°You¡­¡± She shook her head, then gestured towards the absent stall owner. ¡°Where¡¯s that bottle opener?¡±


    Yu Xiao picked up a beer, her fingers closing around the cap. A gentle twist, a satisfying hiss, and the bottle was open.


    The cap clattered onto the table. Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s jaw dropped, her mouth now large enough to fit a whole pineapple.


    Zhao Lan gave her a thumbs-up. ¡°Nice one, Smiley! Where¡¯d you learn to do that?¡±


    It had been instinctive. A side effect, perhaps, of her time in the hospital. Her body had been¡­enhanced and she was accustomed to solve her problems by hand.


    She flexed her hand. Even outside, the strength remained.


    Zhao Lan raised her glass. Yu Xiao picked up the bottle, pouring a generous amount.


    At the next table, a group of lads were getting rowdy. As Yu Xiao filled Zhao Lan¡¯s glass, one of them, dressed in all black, slammed his fist on the table.


    Bottles and plates rattled precariously.


    Zhao Lan flinched, tightening her grip on her glass. It shattered with a sharp crack, spraying beer across the table.


    The lads at the next table turned to stare, letting out a collective, ¡°Whoa!¡±


    The stall owner, bottle opener in hand, skidded to a stop. He couldn¡¯t believe the delicate beauty had managed to shatter one of his glasses. Must have been a faulty batch. He¡¯d have to speak to his supplier about it.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s jaw, no longer content with just a pineapple, could now accommodate a watermelon.


    ¡°Misty!¡± she exclaimed, eyes wide with admiration. ¡°That was amazing! You know kung fu?¡±


    Zhao Lan, equally confused, knew she hadn¡¯t used that much force. Definitely a faulty glass.


    ¡°Ha, ha,¡± she chuckled nervously. ¡°Must have been a weak one.¡±


    ¡°So cool!¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen grabbed her own glass, mimicking Zhao Lan¡¯s grip. ¡°Did you see that, Smiley? Like this¡­¡±


    ¡°Snap!¡±


    ¡°Crash!¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s glass followed suit, exploding in a shower of shards.


    Silence.


    ¡°¡­Bloody hell¡­¡± came a hushed murmur from the next table.


    The stall owner, his cheek twitching, stared at the shattered glass. He thought to himself, *I¡¯ve got to get new glasses. This batch is cursed. Luckily, no one has been hurt.*


    Zhou Xiao Zhen, her hand still frozen in a glass-holding position, looked at the carnage in bewilderment.


    Zhao Lan also stared, speechless.


    After a moment of stunned silence, Yu Xiao understood. She had been wondering where all that yin energy went, the stuff that infected people in the hospital. It didn¡¯t just vanish upon discharge. It lingered, woven into their very being.


    Zhao Lan and Zhou Xiao Zhen might have walked out of that hospital with their memories wiped, but the power granted by that lingering yin energy¡­ that remained.


    Yu Xiao scratched her head, a slow smile spreading across her face. What was this? The hospital wasn¡¯t just some isolated bubble. It seeped into reality, leaving its mark.


    And Zhao Lan and Zhou Xiao Zhen? They were walking, talking proof. Superpowers, anyone? S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Terribly sorry about this!¡± The stall owner bustled over, abandoning the bottle opener, his forehead slick with nervous sweat. ¡°These glasses are past their prime, clearly. Awful quality. Let me get you new ones.¡±


    The guys at the next table exchanged uneasy glances. The one in black, clearly feeling a little left out, picked up his own glass, squeezing it tentatively. He gritted his teeth, his face turning a delightful shade of crimson, but the glass remained stubbornly intact.


    ¡°Seriously, boss, these glasses are rubbish,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen said, only half-joking. She wiped her hands on a napkin, grinning at her friends. ¡°For a second there, I thought I was superwoman. Bit disappointing, really. Could we trouble you for a couple more glasses?¡± she asked, picking up a beer bottle. ¡°Or should we just go full savage and drink from the bottle?¡±


    Zhao Lan laughed. ¡°Isn¡¯t one bottle a bit ambitious?¡±


    ¡°Nah,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen said, puffing out her chest. ¡°Beer¡¯s basically juice, right?¡±


    Yu Xiao, still musing on the hospital¡¯s lingering influence, tuned out their banter. The talisman meant more discharged patients. More people like Zhao Lan and Zhou Xiao Zhen, imbued with strange, inexplicable abilities. What would that mean for the world outside?


    She watched as Zhao Lan, ever the pragmatist, chuckled at Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s antics. ¡°Alright, tough guy. Just try not to crush the bottle, yeah?¡±


    ¡°Ha!¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen threw back her head and laughed. ¡°Watch this.¡±


    ¡°Snap!¡±


    ¡°¡­Bloody hell¡­¡±


    Yu Xiao looked up just in time to see the bewildered expression on Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s face, her hand frozen mid-grip. The beer bottle, shattered into several pieces, lay in a sad, beery puddle on the table.


    The stall owner, new glasses in hand, turned around at the sound, his jaw hitting the floor.


    The entire barbecue stall seemed to hold its breath, every eye glued to their table. Phones emerged from pockets, cameras trained on them like they were some supernatural sideshow.


    ¡°I¡­¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen stared at her hands, a mixture of confusion and awe on her face. ¡°Maybe I *am* superwoman?¡±


    The lad in black from the next table, the one who¡¯d been struggling with his own glass, slid it over. ¡°Try this one.¡±


    Yu Xiao frowned. ¡°Right, let¡¯s go.¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen ignored her, picking up the glass and giving it a gentle squeeze.


    Snap!


    Another wave of gasps rippled through the stall.


    The lad who¡¯d offered his glass looked at them with a newfound respect. ¡°Are you¡­are you like¡­martial arts masters or something?¡±


    Zhao Lan, equally bewildered, was starting to think this wasn¡¯t just Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s usual brand of chaos. She¡¯d crushed a glass too, hadn¡¯t she?


    An idea sparked in her eyes. She reached for an unopened beer bottle.


    Yu Xiao, sensing her intentions, grabbed her arm. ¡°Misty, let¡¯s go. Now.¡±


    Zhao Lan hesitated. Now? But¡­ She tightened her grip on the bottle, curiosity overriding common sense.


    Snap!


    The stall owner, clutching a handful of fresh glasses, rushed over, his face a mask of panic. ¡°Please, heroes! Enough with the glass-breaking! I have a business to run!¡±


    ¡°Misty¡­¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen breathed, her eyes shining with excitement.


    Zhao Lan just stared at her hands, more baffled than she¡¯d ever been during her final maths exam.


    Yu Xiao, taking charge, grabbed their arms and pulled. ¡°Come on, let¡¯s get out of here.¡±


    ¡°But¡ª¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen began.


    Yu Xiao dragged them away, leaving a trail of bewildered onlookers in their wake.


    The stall owner, finally snapping out of his daze, let out a wail. ¡°They didn¡¯t pay!¡±


    Yu Xiao herded them towards a nearby park, the familiar silhouette of the hospital looming in the distance.


    ¡°Why¡¯d you drag us here?¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen asked, swatting a mosquito with enough force to leave a dent in a lamppost.


    Yu Xiao hesitated. How could she possibly explain? *Oh, we were all dying, then we got sucked into a haunted hospital, fought some monsters, got discharged, our illnesses magically disappeared, and now we have superpowers. Casualties of interdimensional healthcare, that¡¯s us.*


    Yu Xiao hesitated. It wasn¡¯t that she didn¡¯t *want* to tell them. It was more a question of¡­time. And the distinct possibility they¡¯d think she¡¯d lost her marbles.


    ¡°Smiley,¡± Zhao Lan said, her tone sharp. She knew that look. ¡°Spit it out. You know what¡¯s going on, don¡¯t you?¡±


    ¡°I¡­I don¡¯t know,¡± Yu Xiao hedged. ¡°Something¡¯s not right, that¡¯s for sure. We can¡¯t tell anyone about this. Haven¡¯t you seen those films? People develop weird powers, then the men in black come and snatch them away for experiments.¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s eyes widened. She was sold.


    ¡°She¡¯s right!¡± she hissed at Zhao Lan. ¡°What if the government finds out? Or some secret organisation? We¡¯ll be doomed!¡±


    Zhao Lan gave her a withering look, then turned back to Yu Xiao. ¡°You can pull the wool over Precious¡¯s eyes, but not mine.¡±


    Yu Xiao blinked, genuinely surprised. Her acting skills were top-notch! She¡¯d fooled countless doctors with her Oscar-worthy performances. ¡°What gave me away?¡±


    Zhao Lan rolled her eyes. ¡°Think about it. My hand. I crushed a beer bottle with it, right? But when you pulled me away from that stall, I couldn¡¯t budge. What does that tell you?¡±


    ¡°What does it tell you?¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen asked.


    ¡°She¡¯s stronger than both of us!¡± Zhao Lan sighted, thinking, *If Precious can¡¯t even figure this out, how will she handle her college entrance exams?*


    ¡°Whoa!¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s jaw dropped. ¡°Smiley, you¡¯re like, *super* superwoman!¡±


    Yu Xiao fought back a smile.


    Zhao Lan fixed her with a stare. ¡°Don¡¯t even try it. You didn¡¯t bat an eyelid when we crushed those glasses. You knew. So spill.¡±


    Yu Xiao sighed. She hadn¡¯t expected to be rumbled so quickly. She¡¯d been rather enjoying her role as the sole keeper of the truth, the tragic protagonist who remembers everything. But now¡­


    ¡°It¡¯s a long story.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ve got time.¡±


    ¡°Can we relocate?¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen piped up.


    ¡°Why?¡±


    ¡°Too many mosquitoes.¡± She slapped her face. ¡°Is it just me, or are they extra bitey tonight?¡±


    **


    They trooped back to their hospital room, Zhou Xiao Zhen raiding the cupboard for snacks. ¡°Anyone up for crisps and fizzy pop? Starving!¡±


    Yu Xiao pulled her blanket tighter, then realised she didn¡¯t even have Teng Jing Zhi and Flying to Someone Else¡¯s Bed phones anymore.


    The only thing she took out of that hospital was herself.


    She slumped back against the pillows. ¡°Right. Where do I even begin¡­ Let¡¯s start with us being terminally ill, shall we?¡±


    Zhao Lan fixed her with a serious look. Zhou Xiao Zhen, snacks momentarily forgotten, leaned forward.


    ¡°That night, I couldn¡¯t sleep. I was messing around on my phone when this app downloaded itself¡­ ¡®Fourth Hospital Patient Forum¡¯¡­¡±


    Yu Xiao started from the beginning, her words painting a vivid picture of their shared ordeal. Though the memories felt distant, almost dreamlike, they resonated with a chilling familiarity as she spoke.


    The night deepened, neither Zhao Lan nor Zhou Xiao Zhen interrupting. They were captivated, drawn into the heart of the forgotten, the unbelievable.


    A knock on the door. The night nurse entered. ¡°Time to sleep, ladies. Blood tests tomorrow morning.¡±


    ¡°Right.¡± Zhao Lan dabbed at her eyes, nodding slowly.


    ¡°And then?¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen asked, her own eyes red-rimmed. ¡°How did you get out?¡±


    ¡°The Nightmare¡­he helped me.¡± Yu Xiao finished her tale, then looked at them, searching their faces. ¡°Do you¡­believe me?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s insane,¡± Zhao Lan admitted, wiping her cheeks with a tissue. ¡°But¡­yes. Hearing you say it all¡­it¡¯s like I was right back there.¡±


    She stood, crossing the room to place a hand on Yu Xiao¡¯s chest. A moment later, she drew back, her expression troubled. ¡°There¡¯s no heartbeat.¡±


    ¡°Oh, Smiley!¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen wailed. ¡°You almost died for us!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m alright now,¡± Yu Xiao said, mustering a reassuring smile.


    ¡°This is mental!¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s tears morphed into excited sniffles. ¡°You¡¯re like, a ghost VIP now! Do you walk down the street, looking at all us normal people and think¡­*pathetic mortals*?¡±


    Yu Xiao licked her lips, trying not to laugh. ¡°I literally just got back. Haven¡¯t had time for a superiority complex.¡±


    Zhao Lan, after a moment of stunned silence, flexed her hands. ¡°So¡­there¡¯s something else inside us now?¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re like¡­mutants!¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°X-Men! This is amazing!¡±


    ¡°Precious,¡± Zhao Lan said, her tone firm. ¡°We¡¯re keeping this quiet. Understood?¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s face fell, then she nodded slowly. ¡°Right. Secret organisation. Men in black. My lips are sealed.¡±


    Yu Xiao smiled. ¡°I¡¯m sticking around for a week or so. Wanted to see you two, obviously. But there are some other people I need to find.¡±


    ¡°Teng Jing Zhi and the others?¡± Zhao Lan asked. ¡°I can help with that.¡±


    ¡°Thanks.¡±


    ¡°What about your studies?¡±


    ¡°Um¡­¡± That thought hadn¡¯t actually crossed Yu Xiao¡¯s mind.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen perked up. ¡°Speaking of, do I still need to do those exams?¡±


    ¡°Of course you do!¡± Yu Xiao and Zhao Lan said in unison.


    ¡°Oh.¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen deflated, then her face brightened again. ¡°This could be my ticket!¡±


    Yu Xiao, having serious doubts about Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s academic aspirations, raised an eyebrow. ¡°To what?¡±


    ¡°My grades are tragic,¡± she admitted. ¡°No idea what I¡¯m doing after graduation. But now¡­¡± she slammed her fist on the mattress. ¡°Olympics, here I come!¡±

 Chapter 183: As If Id Done It a Thousand Times Before

    ¡°¡­¡±


    Silence fell upon Yu Xiao and Zhao Lan, their faces turning pale with a growing, absurd horror. Could she really succeed in *this*?


    Zhao Lan, a seasoned veteran of life¡¯s absurdities, ventured, ¡°It¡¯s not *impossible*, but the Olympics aren¡¯t just about brute force, love. University is a safer option that sets you up for life.¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen countered, ¡°Don¡¯t top athletes already get into uni anyway?¡±


    Silence, heavy and pregnant, filled the room, leaving Zhao Lan speechless. Yu Xiao, always the voice of reason (or as close as their little group got), chimed in, ¡°It¡¯s doable, Zhen, just¡­ keep it at a human level, yeah? We don¡¯t want to defy the Olympics *and* physics.¡±


    Their whispered plotting continued until the nurse¡¯s sharp knocks on the door signalled lights out.


    Once again, Yu Xiao lay sandwiched between her friends, in a familiar bed, following a familiar routine. Except, of course, for the part where she didn¡¯t need to sleep. She reached a hand to her chest, where Nightmare resided within her heart. She wondered if he could see out into this mundane world. The thought carried her into a sleep that she technically didn¡¯t require.


    Morning brought the efficient sting of blood draws, with the promise of being discharged hanging in the air. Yu Xiao pressed the cotton wool to her arm, Zhao Lan stifled a yawn, and Zhou Xiao Zhen, never one to miss a meal, mumbled, ¡°I¡¯m starving. Last night¡¯s snacks were tragic. Food court raid after this?¡±


    Zhao Lan grunted in agreement.


    The nurse, packing up her equipment, shot them a look. Not the usual bored gaze of a medical professional, but something¡­ charged. Intrigued, Yu Xiao waited until her friends were preoccupied with the thrilling task of brushing their teeth, then slipped out.


    The nurses¡¯ station buzzed with hushed, excited whispers. Yu Xiao, an expert eavesdropper, casually leaned against the wall, blending in.


    ¡°¡­It¡¯s them! I saw it¡­¡± the nurse who had drawn their blood hissed.


    ¡°No way!¡±


    ¡°This is huge. They¡¯ve been here for ages, how did we not¡­¡±


    Just as the juicy gossip reached its climax, a patient walked past, his eyes glued to his phone, probably scrolling through TikTok. He glanced up, his vacant gaze sweeping over the nurses, before landing on Yu Xiao with a jolt. He blinked, looked back at his phone, then back at her, awe dawning on his face like a sunrise over the Great Wall.


    The patient, catching Yu Xiao¡¯s gaze, practically dove into his phone, scurrying away. Arms crossed, Yu Xiao tilted her chin up, a smirk playing on her lips. ¡°Who said you could leave?¡±


    The man froze mid-step, then slowly, stiffly, turned around. His eyes, wide with terror, locked onto hers.


    ¡°Something interesting on TikTok?¡± she purred.


    **


    Back in the ward, Zhao Lan and Zhou Xiao Zhen were finally human again after battling sleep and skincare routines.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen, tugging a shirt on, asked, ¡°Misty, about the Olympics plan¡­¡±


    ¡°Feasible,¡± Zhao Lan declared, dabbing moisturiser onto her face. ¡°What sport were you thinking? Synchronised swimming¡¯s out, obviously.¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen considered. Football, basketball, gymnastics ¨C all required a finesse she wasn¡¯t sure brute strength could cover. ¡°Weightlifting? Shot put? Something satisfyingly destructive.¡±


    ¡°¡­Could work,¡± Zhao Lan conceded.


    ¡ªBang!


    The door flew open, revealing a wild-eyed Yu Xiao. Zhao Lan, startled, almost smeared moisturiser into her eye. ¡°Smiley, a little warning next time?¡±


    ¡°No time for warnings,¡± Yu Xiao announced, dropping onto her bed. ¡°We¡¯re famous.¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen blinked, utterly bewildered.


    On Yu Xiao¡¯s phone, a TikTok video played, backed by thumping music. The scene: a bustling night market barbecue stall. The stars: three young women in matching hospital gowns. Black Hat Girl nonchalantly crushed a beer bottle in her hand. Someone, clearly amused, passed her a glass. ¡°Crack,¡± went the glass, joining its mate.


    Zhao Lan, eyes widening with each passing second, checked the view count. Over four hundred thousand. She swayed slightly.


    ¡°We¡¯re doomed,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen wailed, clutching her shaved head. ¡°They¡¯re going to dissect us!¡± She grabbed Yu Xiao¡¯s arm, her voice trembling. ¡°Smiley, help!¡±


    Yu Xiao¡¯s lips twitched. Help? With this? She thought for a moment. ¡°If anyone asks, we¡¯re method actors. Going viral for our art.¡±


    Zhao Lan, scrolling through the comments, sighed. ¡°That¡¯s our story, and we¡¯re sticking to it.¡±


    ¡¾Is this acting? ??¡¿


    ¡¾If it is, give them an award. The bystanders look terrified.¡¿


    ¡¾Inner strength? Secret kung fu masters? ??¡¿


    ¡¾Why are they in hospital gowns though? ?¡¿


    ¡¾Escaped government experiments? This is City A, right? ¡¿


    ¡¾That *is* People¡¯s Hospital¡­ they¡¯re patients there¡­ ?¡¿


    Zhao Lan¡¯s head snapped up, all traces of humour gone. ¡°We¡¯re getting discharged. Now.¡±


    ¡°But our tests¡­¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen began, worry furrowing her brow.


    ¡°We¡¯ll be back this afternoon, official discharge and all that,¡± Zhao Lan declared, already ushering them out. Her usual breezy confidence was a little frayed at the edges. ¡°Staying here is *not* an option.¡±


    Yu Xiao wholeheartedly agreed. They packed with the speed of Olympic athletes (well, aspiring ones), ditching the hospital for the greasy, comforting embrace of KFC. Yu Xiao tucked into her fried chicken with gusto.


    ¡°Missed this, huh, Smiley?¡± Zhao Lan asked, a flicker of amusement crossing her face.


    ¡°Hospital food is a special kind of torture,¡± Yu Xiao agreed, savouring the salty, crispy goodness.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen, battling a mountain of ice cream, frowned. ¡°Think I can still *do* the Olympics with all this?¡±


    ¡°Course you can,¡± Yu Xiao said. ¡°Just¡­ maybe take it down a notch, yeah? No need to Hulk-smash the shot put.¡±


    Reassured, Zhou Xiao Zhen returned to her ice cream, already strategizing her future in competitive weight-based sports.


    With the hospital a no-go for now, they wandered the bustling streets, a symphony of car horns and street vendors.


    Yu Xiao, surrounded by the anonymous throngs of humanity, remembered their conversation the previous night. Strange, seeing so many people again? Not really. There was a comforting familiarity to it all, a reminder that even if she wasn¡¯t *quite* human anymore, she was still part of society.


    ¡°My left hand feels weird,¡± Zhao Lan announced, flexing her fingers. ¡°Stronger, somehow.¡±


    Yu Xiao¡¯s gaze fell on Zhao Lan¡¯s hand, which had already transformed into a ghost¡¯s hand inside the Horror Hospital. It seemed even paler than her other hand. ¡°It¡¯s time for a talisman, I think. Just in case the yin energy has gone rogue.¡±


    ¡°Hospital for supplies?¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen asked, scanning their surroundings.


    Yu Xiao¡¯s eyes narrowed. Under a nearby tree, shaded from the sun, sat an old man. Even from here, the tell-tale signs were obvious: fortune teller.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go and have a look.¡±


    The blind old man, a study in faded clothes and dark sunglasses, sat behind a table cluttered with the tools of his trade: ba gua mirror with Eight Trigrams diagram, copper coins, stacks of yellow paper, a worn calligraphy brush. A young man stood before him, head bowed in consultation.


    Inner Vision: Blindness is symbolically associated with heightened inner vision or insight. A blind fortune teller is believed to be more attuned to spiritual or mystical realms, compensating for the loss of physical sight with an enhanced ability to ¡°see¡± the future or uncover hidden truths.(Ba Gua Mirror (°ËØÔ¾µ; b¨¡ gu¨¤ j¨¬ng) is a traditional Chinese talisman used in Feng Shui, an ancient practice that harmonises individuals with their surrounding environment. °ËØÔ (Eight Trigrams): [°ËØÔ; b¨¡ gu¨¤; Eight Trigrams; An ancient Chinese symbol used in Taoist cosmology to represent the fundamental principles of reality, seen in the Book of Changes (I Ching).])


    As they approached, both men turned. Yu Xiao rummaged in her pockets, then, defeated, pulled out her phone. ¡°Grandpa, you take Alipay?¡±


    The old man tilted his head up, gaze strangely unfocused behind his dark glasses. ¡°Fortune, miss? Very good fortune for you today.¡±


    ¡°Actually,¡± Yu Xiao corrected, ¡°I need to borrow your cinnabar and paper.¡±


    The old man, a generous soul, waved his hand. ¡°Take what you need, child. No charge.¡±


    ¡°Thanks, Grandpa!¡± Yu Xiao grinned, her faith in humanity restored. Squatting down, she spread the yellow paper on the ground, the scent of old wood and incense filling her nose. With practised strokes, she dipped the brush into the cinnabar, painting lines of power onto the paper.


    A shadow fell over them. A man, drawn by the sight of a young woman wielding ancient arts, had stopped to watch, his curiosity piqued.


    Two Old Lord¡¯s Talismans, glowing faintly with protective energy, lay complete. Yu Xiao stood, dusting off her hands. ¡°Thanks again, Grandpa.¡±


    The old man smiled, a twinkle in his unseen eyes. Yu Xiao turned to leave, but a voice stopped her.


    ¡°Excuse me,¡± the man said.


    Yu Xiao turned back. The man, in his forties, exuded an air of quiet wealth and education. His blue polo shirt, probably more expensive than her entire wardrobe, couldn¡¯t disguise the scholar beneath. She mentally ran through her mental catalogue of faces ¨C definitely didn¡¯t know him.


    ¡°Can I help you?¡±


    The man gestured to the talismans in her hand. ¡°Those¡­ did you create them?¡±


    ¡°Nope,¡± Yu Xiao said, already turning back to Zhao Lan and Zhou Xiao Zhen. ¡°Come on, guys, let¡¯s go get some bubble tea.¡±


    As they walked away, the man remained rooted to the spot, deep in thought. The old man chuckled. ¡°Interesting girls, those.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean?¡± the man asked, frowning.


    The old man tilted his head back, as if listening to the sounds of the street. ¡°The city whispers,¡± he said cryptically before chuckling.


    He pulled out his phone, his gnarled fingers tapping away at the screen with surprising dexterity.


    The man¡¯s eyebrows shot up. ¡°Aren¡¯t you blind?¡±


    The old man chuckled again, a mischievous glint in his eyes. ¡°Sometimes,¡± he said, holding up the phone, ¡°seeing is believing.¡±


    The man watched, his face growing increasingly serious. He glanced up, but the girls were long gone, swallowed by the crowds. ¡°This was last night?¡±


    ¡°Probably,¡± the old man shrugged. ¡°Time moves fast these days. An old blind man like me can¡¯t keep up.¡±


    The man tossed the phone back onto the table, a sudden urgency in his movements. He strode off without another word.


    ¡°Where are you going?¡± the old man called after him.


    ¡°To find them,¡± the man called back, his voice echoing through the bustling street.


    Yu Xiao smoothed the talismans onto her friends, one after the other. No heat, no shivers, no ghostly pyrotechnics. Just paper and ink and the lingering scent of cinnabar. Whatever form the yin energy had taken outside the hospital walls, it wasn¡¯t reacting tothem. She let out a breath she hadn¡¯t realised she¡¯d been holding.


    ¡°Well?¡± Zhao Lan asked, her usual confidence a little wobbly. ¡°Good news?¡±


    ¡°All clear,¡± Yu Xiao confirmed, passing them the talismans. ¡°Keep ¡¯em as souvenirs.¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen, ever the magpie for the unusual, snatched hers up, examining it with reverence. ¡°Drawn by a *real* Netherworld VIP. Think this¡¯ll stop a ghost in its tracks?¡±


    ¡°Might give it a nasty paper cut,¡± Yu Xiao said, unable to resist teasing.


    ¡°Score!¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen grinned, clutching the talisman like a winning lottery ticket. ¡°My future just got a whole lot brighter.¡±


    ¡°Olympics not enough for you now?¡± Yu Xiao chuckled.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen winked. ¡°Sister Xiao, with your skills, I could be a ghostbuster! Haunted house tester extraordinaire! The possibilities are endless!¡±


    Yu Xiao, torn between amusement and a growing sense of foreboding, just sighed.


    Zhao Lan, ever the pragmatist, clapped a hand on Yu Xiao¡¯s shoulder. ¡°You know, Smiley, those talismans are genuine. If you ever need money, you could sell them.¡±


    ¡°No.¡± The word came out sharper than Yu Xiao intended. First the Horror Hospital hustle, now this? She drew the line at becoming a talisman-peddling entrepreneur even on the outside. ¡°Absolutely not.¡±


    They killed the rest of the afternoon wandering the streets, stomachs full of street snacks and bubble tea. It wasn¡¯t until they were back in the familiar, sterile environment of the hospital, signing discharge papers, that the outside world intruded.


    ¡°Someone was asking after you three this morning,¡± the nurse chirped.


    ¡°Oh?¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen perked up. ¡°Who was it?¡±


    ¡°Didn¡¯t catch a name,¡± the nurse said, her smile widening. ¡°Handsome older gentleman, though. Left his number.¡±


    She handed a slip of paper to Zhao Lan. The three of them huddled together, peering at the number. Yu Xiao frowned. ¡°Don¡¯t recognise it.¡±


    ¡°Me neither,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen chirped, her eyes sparkling with possibility. ¡°Maybe it¡¯s a talent scout! For the Olympics, obviously. Or ghostbusting. Or¡­¡±


    ¡°A Reporter?¡± A shiver danced down Zhao Lan¡¯s spine. ¡°Let¡¯s get out of here, quick. My place tonight, if you two are alright with a bit of chaos.¡±


    Chaos was an understatement. Zhao Lan¡¯s flat looked like a whirlwind of laundry and neglected house plants had swept through. Yu Xiao and Zhou Xiao Zhen, ever the good friends, pitched in, transforming the disaster zone back into a liveable space.


    ¡°Sorry, guys,¡± Zhao Lan said, picking up dusty clothes with an apologetic grimace. ¡°Living the solo life, hospital stays don¡¯t exactly do wonders for the cleaning schedule.¡±


    Yu Xiao, attacking a stubborn dust on the kitchen floor with the ferocity of a warrior goddess, paused. ¡°Didn¡¯t that younger brother you sponsor ever pop by to help out?¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen, who¡¯d been attacking dust bunnies with all the enthusiasm of a sloth on sedatives, suddenly sprang to life. ¡°Younger brother? Misty, you sly dog! Details, please!¡±


    Zhao Lan¡¯s face turned the colour of a particularly ripe tomato. Had she mentioned *any* of this during her Horror Hospiatl stint? ¡°S-sponsored? Smiley, don¡¯t go spreading rumours. It¡¯s purely financial support.¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen, eyes wide with avid curiosity, nudged Yu Xiao. ¡°Spill the tea, Smiley! Don¡¯t leave me hanging!¡±


    Yu Xiao, enjoying Zhao Lan¡¯s flustered discomfort a little *too* much, shot her a sly look. ¡°Permission to dish, Misty?¡±


    Zhao Lan, unsure what secrets she¡¯d revealed in her more vulnerable moments, hedged. ¡°Nothing to tell. Just¡­ focus on the cleaning, yeah?¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen jabbed a finger in Zhao Lan¡¯s direction. ¡°Aha! If it¡¯s all above board, why the secrecy, hmm?¡±


    Zhao Lan¡¯s expression was a masterpiece of flustered indignation.


    ¡°I think the evidence speaks for itself,¡± Yu Xiao said, barely containing her laughter. ¡°Misty¡¯s face says it all.¡±


    ¡°Ohhhhh¡­¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen drew the word out, revelling in the juicy gossip.


    ¡°Precious! You¡¯re practically a child!¡± Zhao Lan wailed, clutching her chest in mock despair. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t you be studying, not dissecting my love life?¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen shrugged, unfazed. ¡°Relax, Misty. Tsinghua University will accept me regardless. Besides, a girl¡¯s gotta have hobbies.¡±


    (Ç廪 [Ç廪; Q¨©nghu¨¢; Tsinghua] ¨C Tsinghua University, one of the most prestigious universities in China, akin to Harvard or Oxford.)


    Yu Xiao burst out laughing.


    Zhao Lan tossed her cleaning cloth onto the coffee table and disappeared into the kitchen.


    ¡°Where are you going?¡±


    ¡°Ordering takeout!¡±


    **


    Yu Xiao carefully placed her pen on the table, the subtle aroma of ink wafting through the air. On the opposite side of the table, Zhao Lan scrutinised the portrait, her brow creased with concentration. It was an impressive resemblance: a youthful woman adorned with vibrant red lipstick and flowing black curls. Her smile exuded both self-assurance and a hint of nostalgia.


    ¡°Her?¡± Zhao Lan murmured, her eyes locked onto the depiction. ¡°The senior from Sage Hospital?¡±


    ¡°No mistaking her,¡± Yu Xiao confirmed. Her memories, which were once murky and unreliable, were now razor-sharp, with every detail etched into her mind. ¡°Wish I could¡¯ve brought her necklace.¡±


    Zhao Lan tapped a finger against her lips, thinking aloud. ¡°First or Second Hospital, you said. She was in her early twenties back then? That would make her¡­¡±


    ¡°Fortyish, give or take a few decades of ghostly existence,¡± Yu Xiao supplied, already dreading the answer.


    Zhao Lan sighed, her shoulders slumping. ¡°No name, no leads, just a face from forty years ago. Finding her family is like searching for a needle in a haystack.¡±


    Unlike Teng Jing Zhi, with his neatly labelled address, this senior was a ghost in every sense of the word.


    ¡°Internet?¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen piped up from her perch on the sofa. ¡°Someone¡¯s bound to recognise her. Viral missing person posters, that¡¯s the way to go these days.¡±


    Zhao Lan hesitated, uncertainty flickering in her eyes. ¡°And what if we find her family? What happens next?¡±


    The question lingered heavily in the air. They were strangers, connected by a decades-old tragedy. Zhou Xiao Zhen hadn¡¯t even existed when that senior had breathed her last breath.


    ¡°Let¡¯s deal with that situation when we come to it,¡± Zhao Lan said, shaking off her moment of doubt. ¡°Perhaps a visit to her grave will suffice.¡±


    A heavy silence filled the room, as the weight of their ghostly mission hung in the air. Suddenly, a loud knock at the door broke the stillness.


    Knock, knock, knock!


    ¡°More takeout?¡± Zhao Lan asked. S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Not it,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen chirped from the sofa, already scrolling through her phone.


    The knocking came again, more insistent this time.


    ¡°Who could that be at this hour?¡± Zhao Lan¡¯s hand instinctively went to the pepper spray keychain dangling from her bag. ¡°Precious, check the peephole. And don¡¯t open the door unless it¡¯s a talking panda with a pizza delivery.¡±


    ¡°Relax, Misty,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen called over her shoulder, already halfway to the door. ¡°With our newfound superpowers, what¡¯s there to worry about? It¡¯s not like it¡¯s a ghost¡­¡± She flung the door open with a flourish. ¡°Yo! Who¡¯s there?¡±


    Framed in the doorway stood the middle-aged man from earlier, his polo shirt a beacon of understated wealth against the dingy hallway. He offered Zhou Xiao Zhen a tentative smile.


    ¡°Misty, your dad¡¯s here!¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen announced, completely misinterpreting the situation.


    The man¡¯s smile vanished.


    ¡°My what?¡± Zhao Lan frowned, emerging from the kitchen. ¡°My family doesn¡¯t even know about this place.¡± She reached the door, taking in the stranger with a dubious look. ¡°Definitely not my dad.¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen blinked, confused. ¡°Then whose is he? He looks kind of familiar¡­¡±


    ¡°I am nobody¡¯s father,¡± the man declared, his tone laced with a hint of desperation.


    Yu Xiao, drawn by the commotion, reached the door just in time to see the man¡¯s face. ¡°You¡¯re the one from this morning,¡± she said, recognition dawning. ¡°From the fortune teller.¡±


    ¡°Yes! Exactly!¡± Relief washed over the man¡¯s features. ¡°That¡¯s me.¡±


    ¡°Why are you here?¡± Yu Xiao¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°Are you following us now?¡±


    ¡°No! Never!¡± The man¡¯s hands flew up in protest. ¡°It¡¯s just¡­ there¡¯s something important I need to tell you.¡±


    Zhao Lan, arms crossed and unconvinced, didn¡¯t budge from the doorway. ¡°Try us.¡±


    The man¡¯s gaze shifted to Yu Xiao. He reached into his pocket, pulling out a folded piece of paper. Yu Xiao took it, unfolding it carefully. It was a talisman, the ink strokes fresh, the paper new.


    ¡°Do you know who created this?¡± the man asked, his voice hushed with urgency.


    Yu Xiao examined the talisman, her brow furrowing. It was the Old Lord¡¯s Talismans.


    ¡°You?¡± she countered, her eyes flicking up to meet his.


    ¡°Yes,¡± the man¡¯s voice was barely a whisper now, his expression a mixture of confusion and wonder. ¡°I don¡¯t understand it. When I saw you drawing this afternoon¡­ it was like a memory. I could replicate it perfectly, as if¡­ as if I¡¯d done it a thousand times before.¡±

 Chapter 184: He *had* To

    Yu Xiao studied the man before her, his confusion a stark contrast to the quiet confidence he had projected earlier.


    ¡°Your name?¡± she asked, though a nagging feeling told her that even a name wouldn¡¯t be much help. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    They didn¡¯t know the senior¡¯s name, and forty years was a long time for identities to fade.


    ¡°Zheng Dong Li,¡± he replied. ¡°From Province D, here in City A for work. I¡¯m a¡­ well, you could call me a Yin-Yang Master. A practitioner of Daoist arts.¡± He looked at them expectantly. ¡°And yourselves?¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen frowned. ¡°A what master?¡±


    ¡°Kind of like a Taoist priest,¡± Yu Xiao explained, although her understanding was a little fuzzy. ¡°Deals with ghosts and stuff.¡±


    ¡°Really?¡± Zhao Lan looked sceptical. ¡°I thought they did feng shui, moved graves around.¡±


    Zheng Dong Li observed their bewildered expressions, a flicker of confusion crossing his face. They seemed remarkably unconcerned with the finer points of the occult, especially considering the casual way the one with the black beanie had whipped up that talisman.


    Undeterred, he continued. ¡°A Yin-Yang Master has many roles, so to speak. Feng shui, the Eight Trigrams, fortune-telling, exorcisms¡­¡±


    ¡°Jack of all trades, then?¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen suggested.


    Zheng Dong Li nodded. ¡°Exactly.¡±


    ¡°So why is this captivating career seminar taking place right outside our door?¡± Zhao Lan¡¯s tone was filled with suspicion. ¡°And how did you manage to find us?¡±


    Zheng Dong Li, still stranded on the wrong side of the threshold, remained the epitome of patience. ¡°The talisman, for one. And,¡± he added, ¡°I saw the Tick Tock video. I went to the hospital, left my number, but you were gone. Already discharged. It seemed rather¡­ hasty. So, I used certain¡­ resources.¡±


    ¡°Resources?¡± Yu Xiao echoed, her instincts tingling. ¡°You said the talisman was only part of it.¡±


    ¡°Your abilities.¡± Zheng Dong Li met her gaze directly.


    Zhao Lan and Zhou Xiao Zhen exchanged alarmed looks.


    ¡°Surely,¡± he continued, his voice softening, ¡°you must have questions. Concerns, even? These abilities manifesting¡­¡±


    Silence.


    This time, no one bothered with exchanging looks. They had long since mastered the art of silent communication through shared bewilderment and a healthy dose of ¡®let¡¯s just roll with it¡¯.


    It was Zheng Dong Li¡¯s turn to look bewildered. ¡°You¡¯re not¡­ surprised?¡±


    ¡°Starving, actually,¡± Yu Xiao declared, her quick thinking kicking in. ¡°Dinner was a bit rushed. Right, Precious?¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen, catching on, nodded enthusiastically. ¡°When you knocked just now, Thought you were a takeout.¡±


    The lift doors opened, revealing a curious neighbour whose eyes darted between the four figures crowding the doorway. Sensing his discomfort, Yu Xiao leaned towards Zhao Lan. ¡°Mind if we take this inside?¡±


    ¡°You want to let him in?¡±


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Yu Xiao said, stepping back.


    ¡°Come in,¡± Zhao Lan said, her tone wary but not unfriendly.


    ¡°Thank you,¡± Zheng Dong Li said, his relief palpable. ¡°For your trust.¡±


    ¡°More like trusting ourselves,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen piped up, positioning herself next to Yu Xiao, exuding youthful bravado. ¡°We¡¯ve got this.¡±


    Zheng Dong Li, feeling increasingly out of touch with this new generation, offered a hesitant smile. His gaze landed on the coffee table, where Yu Xiao¡¯s drawings were scattered. ¡°Those¡­¡± he started.


    Zhao Lan swiftly intervened, scooping up the portraits with a practised speed that hinted at her ability to deflect unwanted attention. ¡°Water?¡± she suggested, her tone overly cheerful.


    ¡°No, thank you,¡± Zheng Dong Li patted his own thermos. ¡°I come prepared.¡±


    They gathered around the rectangular dining table, the overhead lamp casting long shadows and emphasising the seriousness on their faces.


    An uncomfortable silence fell upon them.


    Zheng Dong Li cleared his throat. ¡°Don¡¯t you have any¡­ questions?¡±


    ¡°What is there to ask?¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen grabbed a teacup and effortlessly shattered it with a casual flex of her fingers. ¡°Just say it.¡±


    Beside her, Zhao Lan gasped, her eyes widening in horror as her favourite teacup met its demise like all delicate things do.


    Zheng Dong Li winced. He unscrewed his thermos, took a strengthening sip, then locked eyes with them. Yu Xiao, always attentive, noticed the distinct movement of goji berries bobbing in the steaming liquid.


    ¡°Where should I start?¡± he murmured, speaking more to himself than to them. He looked at them, his gaze sharp despite his earlier confusion. ¡°Tell me, were you, perhaps¡­ very ill? And then, as you were about to be discharged, you found yourselves¡­ strong?¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen shot Yu Xiao a wide-eyed look. Zhao Lan, still recovering from the teacup incident, spoke for all of them. ¡°How did you know?¡±


    Zheng Dong Li smiled, a slow, sad curve of his lips. He tapped a finger against his chest. ¡°Because¡­ me too.¡±


    The word landed like a grenade, shattering the last fragments of normalcy in the room. Zhao Lan and Zhou Xiao Zhen stared at him, then, simultaneously, turned to Yu Xiao.


    Yu Xiao, unaffected by the shocking revelation, simply raised an eyebrow. ¡°And?¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t believe it?¡± Zheng Dong Li gestured vaguely at the table, then, to illustrate his point, picked up Zhao Lan¡¯s teacup.


    ¡°Hey!¡± Zhao Lan snatched it back, clutching it protectively to her chest. ¡°Hands off the china!¡±


    Zheng Dong Li, caught between amusement and bewilderment, scratched his nose. ¡°Right. So¡­ proof. How do I convince you?¡±


    ¡°No need,¡± Yu Xiao said simply. ¡°We believe you.¡±


    Zhao Lan shot her a look that screamed, *We do?!*


    Zheng Dong Li beamed. *The quiet one, the talisman prodigy, she was alright. Level-headed. Good occult circle material.*


    ¡°Thirteen years ago,¡± he began, launching into his story, ¡°I was very ill. Touch and go, the doctors said. Those were different times, medicine wasn¡¯t as advanced¡­ but somehow, I pulled through. Only¡­¡± He looked down at his hands, flexing his fingers. ¡°Something wasn¡¯t right. I was strong. Too strong. No, not just strong,¡± he corrected himself, his gaze distant, as if reliving a memory both exhilarating and terrifying. ¡°It was¡­ beyond human.¡±


    He looked at them, his eyes searching theirs for understanding. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. It¡¯s manageable. Doesn¡¯t affect daily life¡­ much.¡±


    Yu Xiao listened, the pieces clicking into place. This was him, then. The one who¡¯d left the talismans at the hospital. He¡¯d forgotten, just like everyone else who¡¯d walked out of those cursed doors. Except for her, of course. She was the anomaly, the one who remembered, because she had not truly left.


    ¡°Have you been alright?¡± she asked, her voice quiet.


    The question seemed to give Zheng Dong Li pause, but he quickly recovered. ¡°Like I said, manageable. I¡¯m a Taoist priest, you see, comes from a long line of them. Grew up on feng shui and ancient texts. So, when my body started¡­ changing, I knew who to ask.¡±


    A flicker of doubt crossed his face. ¡°It was the being between life and death, my elder said. Scrambled something in me. And the thing is¡­¡± he hesitated. ¡°He¡¯d seen it before.¡±


    ¡°Others?¡± Zhao Lan breathed, her scepticism momentarily forgotten.


    ¡°One other,¡± Zheng Dong Li confirmed. ¡°An old friend of his. Anti-Japanese War veteran. Same story. Sick, recovered, different.¡± He screwed the cap back on his thermos, the quiet click echoing in the sudden silence.


    ¡°It got me thinking,¡± he continued, his gaze distant. ¡°What if there are more? Out there, somewhere, living their lives, unaware¡­ or maybe not. That¡¯s why I¡¯m here. That¡¯s why I¡¯m looking.¡±


    The weight of his words settled over the room.


    From the flat upstairs, a baby¡¯s cries drifted down, punctuated by the soft murmur of a lullaby. The mundane sounds of a city settling down for the night.


    Yu Xiao, watching Zheng Dong Li, the calmness of his demeanour, the quiet determination in his eyes, wondered: was this the man who¡¯d filled those hospital drawers with talismans, years ago? Was this the legacy he¡¯d unknowingly left behind?


    ¡°Did you find them?¡± she asked, her voice barely a whisper.


    A slow smile spread across Zheng Dong Li¡¯s face. ¡°Some. Communication wasn¡¯t what it is now, but I found a few. Enough to see a pattern.¡±


    He frowned, as if puzzling over a difficult passage in an ancient text. ¡°The further back I went, the fewer I found. Most¡­ most are young, like you.¡± He gestured at them, his hand encompassing their youth, their bewilderment, their strange, shared fate.


    Yu Xiao nodded slowly, understanding the situation. It all made sense. The talismans, which had been neglected and left to gather dust in a forgotten drawer, were used only when she found them. Years of patience had been lost before they finally began to emerge from Horror Hospital, burdened by a piece of its darkness that now resided within them.


    She suddenly realised that the majority of these patients probably came from the other hospitals. Hospitals three, four, five, six¡­ mainly filled with younger patients.


    This would change, she knew. The talismans, rediscovered, were already changing things. Patients were leaving, their yin energy neutralised, their lives undisturbed by the hospital¡¯s strange magic. The ripple effect of her actions, small but significant.


    ¡°I¡¯ve travelled far,¡± Zheng Dong Li continued, his gaze distant. ¡°Met many like us. I still don¡¯t know why, but¡­ I help them. Calm their fears. Show them how to live with it.¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen, watching him, felt an unexpected surge of warmth towards this stranger. ¡°And they¡¯re okay?¡± she asked. ¡°All of them?¡±


    ¡°Most,¡± Zheng Dong Li admitted, his smile fading. ¡°Not all.¡±


    ¡°Funny you should mention that,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen said, leaning forward. ¡°Got a bit of a dilemma myself.¡±


    Zheng Dong Li¡¯s gaze softened. ¡°Tell me. I may be older, but that just means I¡¯ve made more mistakes. Maybe some of them will be useful to you.¡±


    ¡°Here¡¯s the thing,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen announced, leaning forward with the air of someone about to reveal a genius plan. ¡°I¡¯m eighteen, right? College entrance exams this year, but thanks to our little hospital adventure, my grades are shot. Repeating a year? No way. But! I¡¯m basically Superwoman now! So, Olympics it is. Weightlifting. Gold medal. University acceptance guaranteed.¡± She beamed at Zheng Dong Li, awaiting his enthusiastic approval.


    Silence.


    Zheng Dong Li stared at her, his expression somewhere between bewildered and impressed.


    ¡°Uncle Zheng?¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen prompted, her confidence wavering slightly. ¡°Think it¡¯ll work?¡±


    ¡°Well¡­¡± He hesitated, taken aback by the sheer audacity of her plan. ¡°I¡¯ve met many like us, over the years. Taken all sorts of paths. But¡­ Olympics? That¡¯s a new one.¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen bounced impatiently in her seat. ¡°So¡­ is that a yes?¡±


    ¡°Bringing glory to the motherland is always commendable.¡± Zheng Dong Li, ever the patriot, couldn¡¯t bring himself to discourage her completely. ¡°Just¡­ maybe be a *little* subtle about it? No need to Hulk-smash the competition.¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen grinned, her earlier uncertainty forgotten. ¡°Got it! Smiley said the same thing!¡±


    ¡°Smiley?¡± Zheng Dong Li looked at them, his brow furrowed. ¡°You haven¡¯t even introduced yourselves properly.¡±


    ¡°Zhou Xiao Zhen, at your service!¡± she chirped.


    ¡°Zhao Lan.¡±


    ¡°Yu Xiao.¡±


    Yu Xiao had a plan, once. Visit her old hospital friends. Yu Qing Lang, Tang Xing Yin. Even if they didn¡¯t remember her, she¡¯d promised. But time was slipping away, and finding them in this sprawling city felt impossible.


    Until now.


    ¡°Thank you,¡± Yu Xiao said, her gaze steady on Zheng Dong Li. ¡°For telling us all this.¡±


    He smiled, unscrewing his thermos again. The steam, fragrant with goji berries and something vaguely medicinal, wafted up towards the ceiling. ¡°It was the right thing to do.¡±


    ¡°Actually,¡± Yu Xiao continued, ¡°there is something¡­¡±


    ¡°Ask away,¡± Zheng Dong Li said, his expression open.


    ¡°Those others,¡± she pressed, her voice soft but insistent. ¡°The ones like us. I want to meet them.¡± She knew it was a long shot, but hope, once ignited, was hard to extinguish. ¡°If it¡¯s not too much trouble¡­ maybe their addresses? Contact numbers? Anything?¡±


    Zheng Dong Li understood the impulse well. To find others who shared this strange secret, this unexpected twist of fate.


    He considered for a moment. ¡°I can reach out. See if anyone¡¯s interested in meeting. We can arrange something.¡±


    ¡°This week, ideally,¡± Yu Xiao pressed. Time, she knew, was a luxury she didn¡¯t necessarily have.


    He looked at her, surprised by her urgency, then nodded. ¡°I¡¯ll see what I can do.¡±


    The hour was late, the conversation drawing to a natural close. As he stood to leave, Zheng Dong Li paused, his gaze drawn back to the talisman in Yu Xiao¡¯s hand.


    ¡°That talisman,¡± he began, his voice hesitant. ¡°The one you drew¡­ do you know its origins?¡±


    Yu Xiao met his gaze, her expression unreadable. ¡°Why is it so important?¡±


    He frowned, turning the Old Lord¡¯s Talisman over and over in his fingers. ¡°It¡¯s¡­ familiar. And sad, somehow. A talisman for dispelling separation, I think. But what is it separating?¡±


    ¡°Yin energy,¡± Yu Xiao replied simply.


    Comprehension dawned on Zheng Dong Li¡¯s face. ¡°Of course. The creator¡­ they must have been remarkable.¡±


    ¡°They were,¡± Yu Xiao agreed, her voice soft.


    He knew she wouldn¡¯t reveal more. He rose, tucking his thermos under his arm. ¡°It¡¯s late. I should go. Your contact details?¡±


    Numbers were exchanged, WeChat contacts added. At the door, Zheng Dong Li paused, turning back to Yu Xiao. ¡°One last thing. The talisman¡­ it has a name?¡±


    ¡°Old Lord¡¯s Talisman,¡± she replied.


    He nodded, then was gone, swallowed by the hallway¡¯s dim light.


    ¡°Knew him from the hospital?¡± Zhao Lan asked, once the door had closed behind him.


    ¡°Not personally,¡± Yu Xiao admitted. ¡°But he¡¯s the one who left those talismans. Years ago.¡±


    ¡°No way! Him?!¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen exclaimed, her eyes wide. ¡°No wonder I felt familiar with him when I saw him just now.¡±


    Zhao Lan shot her a look. ¡°Familiar, my ass? You barely spoke to the man. Besides crushing my teacup, that is.¡±


    ¡°Oh, come on, Misty~¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen whined, draping herself over Zhao Lan in a very unsubtle attempt at a distraction. ¡°Don¡¯t be like that~¡±


    ¡°Get off me, you menace!¡± Zhao Lan shrieked, though her laughter betrayed her amusement.


    ¡°So,¡± Yu Xiao interrupted their usual chaos, ¡°this gathering¡­ you up for it?¡±


    ¡°Hell yeah!¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen was practically vibrating with excitement. ¡°Maybe we¡¯ll even know someone there!¡±


    ¡°Right,¡± Zhao Lan deadpanned. ¡°Because your memory¡¯s so stellar these days.¡±


    ¡°Doesn¡¯t matter!¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen declared, already lost in a world of clandestine meetings and supernatural intrigue. ¡°Secret society, here we come! This is like, straight out of a movie!¡±


    ¡°Go to bed, drama queen,¡± Zhao Lan said, retrieving the portrait from the coffee table. ¡°Both of you, showers and sleep. I¡¯ll post this online. See if anyone recognises our ghost lady.¡±


    **


    Zheng Dong Li, his impromptu visit concluded, navigated the city streets, his thoughts a tangled mess of talismans and unanswered questions. He¡¯d come to City A for a simple feng shui consultation, never expecting to stumble upon a mystery that resonated so deeply within him.


    Back in his hotel room, the familiar routine of goji berry tea and a hot shower did little to soothe his restless mind. He lay in bed, the Old Lord¡¯s Talisman clutched in his hand, its red ink a stark contrast against the white bedsheets.


    He stared at it, his mind drifting, until sleep finally claimed him.


    In his dream, he saw a man hunched over a table, the air thick with incense and the frantic scratching of a calligraphy brush. A large black dog lay nearby, its watchful gaze fixed on the man¡¯s every move.


    The man was drawing talismans, his hand moving with a desperate urgency. He was exhausted, his fingers trembling, but he didn¡¯t stop. He couldn¡¯t stop. He dipped the brush in cinnabar, his movements growing weaker, his breath coming in ragged gasps. Finally, with a groan of pain, he stopped, his hand cramping, his face beaded with sweat.


    He had to make more.


    He *had* to.

 Chapter 185: Little Treasure

    Was she truly too naive? A right laugh, thought Zhao Lan, dragging herself out of sleep and into the harsh glare of a new day.


    A quick scroll through her social media feeds confirmed it ¨C the internet was awash with praise for the beauty in the painting, yet not a single soul recognised the face staring back at them. *Her* face. How could she expect to find someone when no one knew who to look for?


    A shrill ring cut through her thoughts. Her supervisor. After the obligatory pleasantries about her health and discharge, he cut to the chase: when could she grace them with her presence back at work?


    A pang of envy stabbed at Zhao Lan as she sighed. Yu Xiao had it made. One day, she vowed silently, she too would know the sweet freedom of idleness and overflowing coffers.


    ¡°I¡¯ll need at least another month,¡± she told her supervisor, her mind already made up. The post-discharge patient gathering wasn¡¯t until then, and she wasn¡¯t going to miss it. ¡°Doctor¡¯s orders, still recovering.¡±


    A chipper ¡°Rest well then!¡± chirped down the line before he hung up, clearly relieved to have a return date. Typical.


    The house was still and quiet as Zhao Lan padded out of her room. Smiley and Precious were still sound asleep.


    Stepping onto the balcony, she tossed her clothes into the washing machine, the morning sun warm on her face. Yu Xiao¡¯s words about the hospital window framing nothing but a fake world echoed in her mind. She couldn¡¯t recall what had happened, but standing here, feeling the wind on her skin¡­ it all felt strangely unreal.


    A quick rummage through the pantry revealed the usual suspects: rice, red beans, and a sad collection of dried dates. Red bean porridge it was then.


    Face washed and a steaming bowl on the stove, Zhao Lan headed out to grab some breakfast, the quiet hum of the city already rising around her.


    ¡°I wish I could live another five hundred years¡­¡±


    The insistent ringing dragged Yu Xiao from sleep. It was her mother. Always glamorous, she could have passed for forty even though she was pushing fifty, her life a constant parade of self-fulfilment.


    ¡°Smiley,¡± her mother¡¯s voice was surprisingly gentle. ¡°You didn¡¯t tell me you were discharged! Are you at your father¡¯s or at your flat?¡±


    Truth be told, Yu Xiao rarely bothered calling her parents. Their insincere, long-distance concern used to grate on her. What good were empty words? But today, fresh from the hospital and soothed by the sound of her mother¡¯s voice, an unexpected calm settled over her.


    ¡°I¡¯m at a friend¡¯s. I¡¯m fine, don¡¯t worry.¡±


    Her mother, clearly picking up on the change in her tone, sounded delighted. ¡°Oh, a friend¡¯s! That¡¯s good. You need proper rest, no need to rush back to school. Eat well! Do you need any money?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m good.¡±


    While she no longer felt the urge to cut the conversation short, she had nothing to say either. It was pointless; her mother didn¡¯t even ask where this friend lived, or offer to visit. Just if she needed money.


    *Which was fine*, Yu Xiao thought. At least her mother was good for cash, unlike those stingy parents you saw on TV.


    She got out of bed and opened the door. The aroma hit her immediately ¨C Misty must have cooked something delicious.


    Yu Xiao¡¯s mood lifted instantly. ¡°Really, I¡¯m fine. If I need anything, I¡¯ll let you know.¡±


    ¡°Oh.¡± Her mother sounded reluctant to hang up. ¡°Does your father even know you¡¯re out?¡±


    ¡°Probably not.¡± Yu Xiao¡¯s attention had already wandered.


    She peeked into the pot ¨C red bean porridge, bubbling invitingly. Her stomach rumbled in appreciation.


    ¡°He doesn¡¯t know? What kind of father is he? Hasn¡¯t even called, has he? Doesn¡¯t care about his own daughter¡­¡±


    A torrent of complaints and insults followed. Yu Xiao listened patiently, and when her mother paused for breath, she interjected, ¡°Don¡¯t get yourself worked up, it¡¯s bad for you. I¡¯m fine. It doesn¡¯t matter if he cares or not.¡±


    ¡°How can it not matter? I¡¯ll give him a piece of my mind¡­¡±


    The call finally ended. Yu Xiao scooped a spoonful of porridge ¨C not too sweet, perfectly rich. Just how she liked it.


    As she was about to wash up, the front door opened. Zhao Lan walked in, laden with bags of breakfast goodies.


    ¡°You¡¯re up,¡± Zhao Lan said. ¡°Go wash your face and come eat.¡±


    ¡°Alright!¡± Yu Xiao chirped, already heading for the bathroom.


    Freshly washed and slathered in Zhao Lan¡¯s luxurious skincare, Yu Xiao studied her reflection. She looked different from her hospital self; this was the face she¡¯d had before the whole Sixth Hospital ordeal.


    She touched her rosy cheek, then her chest.


    Ever since Nightmare had taken up residence in her Obsession Heart, lulling it into a temporary slumber, she felt more human, her emotions returning. She smiled at her reflection, savouring the feeling.


    Back in the living room, Zhou Xiao Zhen, bald head gleaming, stumbled out of her room, rubbing the sleep from her eyes. ¡°Morning¡­¡±


    ¡°Good morning.¡± Yu Xiao settled at the table where Zhao Lan had already laid out three steaming bowls of red bean porridge.


    (Red bean porridge (ºì¶¹Öà; h¨®ng d¨°u zh¨­u): A sweet porridge made from red beans, commonly eaten in Chinese cuisine.)


    Grabbing a fried dough stick, she casually asked, ¡°Any news on that painting?¡±


    (Youtiao (ÓÍÌõ; y¨®u ti¨¢o; fried dough stick): A traditional Chinese breakfast food, often eaten with porridge or soy milk.)


    ¡°No such luck.¡± Zhao Lan tore the dough stick into pieces, letting them fall into her porridge with a shake of her head. ¡°Finding someone from that long ago is like searching for a needle in a haystack.¡±


    Yu Xiao had to agree; she was fresh out of ideas too.


    ¡°I¡¯m not giving up though,¡± Zhao Lan said, a determined glint in her eyes as she scooped a spoonful of porridge.


    Yu Xiao nodded, her gaze following the movement of the spoon.


    ¡°We only get, what, seventy years on this earth?¡± Zhao Lan suddenly asked, her brow furrowing.


    ¡°Something like that,¡± Yu Xiao murmured, taking another bite.


    Zhao Lan began counting on her fingers, her expression turning troubled. ¡°With the way they keep pushing back the retirement age, if we kick the bucket at seventy, we¡¯ll barely get a pension. What a rip-off.¡±


    Yu Xiao choked back a laugh. ¡°Seriously? You¡¯re already planning your retirement?¡±


    ¡°To live a good life, you gotta plan ahead,¡± Zhao Lan declared sagely. ¡°No way I¡¯m spending my whole life working. I need time for the good stuff.¡±


    Yu Xiao, hiding a smile, focused on her porridge, listening as Zhao Lan launched into a detailed breakdown of her golden years.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen emerged from the bathroom to find Zhao Lan hunched over a piece of paper, scribbling furiously.


    ¡°Doing the accounts, Misty?¡± she asked, peering over her shoulder.


    Yu Xiao grinned. ¡°She¡¯s calculating the optimal age to retire.¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡± Eighteen-year-old Zhou Xiao Zhen looked bewildered. ¡°You get to choose when you retire?¡±


    ¡°I wish I could live another five hundred years¡­¡±


    Yu Xiao watched her, amused, as she answered, a cheerful lilt to her voice. ¡°Hello? Uncle Zheng, have you eaten?¡°


    (³ÔÁËÂð£¿(ch¨© le ma?; Have you eaten?): This phrase is commonly used in Chinese culture as a greeting, similar to asking ¡°How are you?¡± in English. It reflects the importance of food in daily life and shows care for the other person¡¯s well-being.)


    ¡°Yes, yes,¡± a man¡¯s voice replied. ¡°I¡¯ve reached out to a few people. Most are free for the gathering. How about three days from now, in Beijing? Would that work for you?¡±


    ¡°Perfect.¡± Yu Xiao had been meaning to visit Beijing anyway; Bed Brother had lived there.


    ¡°Excellent,¡± Zheng Dong Li said. ¡°I¡¯ll let you know the venue once it¡¯s confirmed.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, Uncle,¡± Yu Xiao said sincerely. ¡°You¡¯re truly a good person.¡±


    Zheng Dong Li¡¯s laughter boomed through the phone. ¡°You wouldn¡¯t believe it now, but back in my day, they used to call me ¡®The Real Rascal¡¯¡ª¡± sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°¡ªIt¡¯s settled!¡± Yu Xiao announced, snapping her phone shut. ¡°The reunion¡¯s in three days, in Beijing!¡±


    Zhao Lan immediately abandoned her calculations. ¡°Shall I book flights for the day after tomorrow?¡±


    ¡°I want to go sooner,¡± Yu Xiao said. ¡°I¡¯ve got someone to find.¡±


    Neither Yu Xiao nor Zhou Xiao Zhen had ever set foot in Beijing. Born and raised in the south, their lives had been consumed by textbooks and exams, leaving little room for adventure. Beijing, or any northern city for that matter, felt like another world.


    Thankfully, Zhao Lan was a seasoned traveller.


    As they navigated the bustling airport, fresh off the plane, Zhou Xiao Zhen nervously patted her wig. ¡°Smiley, does this look¡­ obvious?¡±


    Yu Xiao took one look at the meticulously styled, undeniably ladylike wig perched atop Precious¡¯s head and winced inwardly.


    Of all the wigs in the world, why did she have to choose one that screamed ¡®grandma chic¡¯? Still, she lied, ¡°Not at all, it looks great!¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen puffed up like a preening peacock. Hair, it seemed, did wonders for her confidence.


    ¡°Smiley,¡± she asked, ¡°Brother Bed¡­ he¡¯s from, like, ages ago. What if his address is out of date?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s fine,¡± Zhao Lan reassured her. ¡°I checked online. The neighbourhood still exists.¡±


    ¡°Oh, good.¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen nodded, then her brow furrowed. ¡°But what if his family moved?¡±


    Yu Xiao felt a flicker of anxiety, but Zhao Lan remained unfazed. ¡°Doubtful.¡±


    ¡°Why?¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen looked unconvinced.


    ¡°Moving in Beijing? Costs a fortune,¡± Zhao Lan explained.


    ¡°Right¡­¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen sighed. ¡°Unless his family is like yours, Smiley, with flats coming out of their ears. Speaking of which, I hear you¡¯re getting another one?¡±


    ¡°Yeah.¡± Yu Xiao¡¯s mind was already miles away, replaying memories of the friends she¡¯d made within the hospital walls. ¡°Mum had a go at Dad, he felt bad, so now I¡¯m getting a place near school.¡±


    Zhao Lan masked a wince, while Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°And you¡¯re still going to work?¡±


    ¡°I am working,¡± Yu Xiao deadpanned. ¡°Hello? Director on set here.¡±


    ¡°Wow.¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen breathed, her eyes sparkling with awe. ¡°Last night I read this book, right? About this guy who worked for the National Dragon Group, like a ghost-busting department. You think that¡¯s real?¡±


    Zhao Lan paused, a thoughtful frown creasing her brow. ¡°You¡¯d think Zheng Dong Li would know if there was, right?¡±


    ¡°I doubt there is one,¡± Yu Xiao said. ¡°If there was some secret government agency for superpowered people, they¡¯d be all over us by now. Imagine, all those discharged patients suddenly developing abilities? They wouldn¡¯t just let that slide.¡±


    ¡°Good point,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen agreed, patting Yu Xiao¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Imagine if they found out Smiley doesn¡¯t have a heartbeat! Straight to the zombie lab with you!¡±


    Yu Xiao suppressed a shudder. The image was all too easy to conjure.


    By the time they reached Beijing, the afternoon sun was already dipping below the horizon. After checking into a hotel and grabbing a quick dinner, they stepped out into the cool night air. The address Flying to Someone Else¡¯s Bed had given her was within walking distance, so they decided to explore the neighbourhood in the morning.


    Sleep was elusive for Yu Xiao that night. She didn¡¯t actually need much of it anymore, but the rhythm of a human life, of settling into bed each night, was a hard habit to break.


    Tossing and turning, her mind awhirl with anxieties, she finally gave up and got dressed. A walk might help clear her head.


    Before she knew it, her feet had led her to the very complex where Bed Brother had once lived. It was past eleven, the streets quiet but still alive with the murmur of a city that never truly slept. She lingered outside the gates, drawing a suspicious glance from the security guard.


    Circling around, she spotted a gap in the fence, conveniently free of security cameras, and hopped over.


    Bed Brother had given her his phone before he died, a lifeline in case she needed to use his identity to escape the hospital. As it turned out, becoming a Director had its perks, and she¡¯d never needed his goodwill. He¡¯d asked her to return the phone to his family, but other patients¡¯ phones couldn¡¯t be taken out of the hospital, so she couldn¡¯t fulfil his request.


    Now, here she was, lurking around his old neighbourhood like a thief in the night, her mind a tangled mess. What on earth was she going to say to his family?


    *Hi, I¡¯m your son¡¯s friend*?


    Hardly. She¡¯d been a baby when he died over a decade ago.


    *I¡¯m your son¡¯s friend¡¯s daughter*? Now that was just ridiculous. Yu Xiao scrubbed a hand over her face in frustration.


    A sound made her pause ¨C hurried footsteps approaching. She turned to see a group of people rushing towards her, led by an elderly man with worry etched on his face. His eyes, magnified by thick glasses, landed on her. ¡°Excuse me, have you seen an old man, blue clothes, white hair, very thin?¡±


    Yu Xiao shook her head, and they hurried past, their calls of ¡°Dad! Dad, where are you?¡± fading into the night.


    She watched them go, a strange feeling settling in her stomach. The neighbourhood wasn¡¯t large, and she¡¯d walked its length several times. She hadn¡¯t seen any elderly men. Not a single one.


    Yu Xiao decided against pushing her luck further. This little escapade was already straying dangerously close to ¡°trespassing¡± territory. As she turned to leave, a faint groan, barely audible over the rustle of leaves, stopped her in her tracks.


    She peered behind a lush bush and found an old man sprawled beneath it, his snow-white hair blending with the moonlight. His face, a roadmap of wrinkles and age spots, was creased in pain. A quick glance back at the street confirmed her suspicions ¨C the frantic family was gone.


    ¡°Sir, are you alright?¡± She rushed over and gently helped him up.


    He groaned, clutching at his leg. It didn¡¯t take a genius to figure out the bone was broken.


    *Oh, fantastic*, she thought wryly. *Because dealing with confused relatives wasn¡¯t enough, now we¡¯ve got broken bones. Just another Tuesday night.*


    ¡°Sir, let me take you to your family,¡± she offered.


    He mumbled something incoherent, his fingers twisting into the fabric of her sleeve. ¡°Should I call an ambulance?¡± she tried again.


    Still mumbling, the old man stared blankly ahead. He was clearly disoriented, lost in some internal world. No wonder his family had been frantic.


    Gently, she guided him to a nearby bench. The neighbourhood wasn¡¯t that big; she could probably catch up with his family if she ran. ¡°Stay put,¡± she instructed. ¡°I¡¯ll find them.¡±


    As she turned to leave, she felt a tug on her sleeve. Looking down, she saw the old man¡¯s hand, trembling but surprisingly strong, gripping her tight.


    ¡°Little treasure,¡± he rasped, his voice thin and reedy. ¡°Grandpa hurts¡­¡±


    Yu Xiao sighed. So much for a quiet stroll. ¡°Consider yourself lucky,¡± she muttered. ¡°Insomnia is a real bitch.¡±


    With a practised ease that belied her slender frame, she hoisted him onto her back and retraced her steps, jumping back over the fence with the old man clinging to her like a particularly bony backpack.


    Luck, it seemed, was on her side tonight. A pharmacy, bathed in the harsh glow of fluorescent lights, appeared around the corner. Alcohol, cinnabar ¨C check. A few streets down, a funeral services shop, its windows filled with paper lanterns and incense, yielded yellow paper and a calligraphy brush.


    Under the dim glow of a streetlamp, Yu Xiao crouched down and began drawing talismans, the old man¡¯s incessant mumbling providing a bizarre soundtrack. She¡¯d drawn countless emergency healing talismans before, her success rate bordering on miraculous. Three talismans, drawn with swift, sure strokes, lay on the pavement.


    One by one, she placed them on the old man¡¯s broken leg. They dissolved into shimmering dust, and as if by magic, the swelling began to recede. Two more talismans, and the tremors subsided, the old man¡¯s face relaxing into an expression of peaceful relief.


    ¡°Can you remember how to get home now?¡± she asked, hoping for a miracle.


    He stared at her, his eyes clouded and distant. ¡°Little treasure,¡± he whispered. ¡°Find little treasure¡­¡±


    Yu Xiao sighed, resignation settling over her. This poor old man was clearly lost in more ways than one. As she packed up her makeshift talisman-making kit, an idea sparked. Could a crisis healing talisman, designed to soothe the soul as much as the body, help clear his mind? It was a long shot, but desperate times¡­


    Ten talismans, drawn with meticulous care, formed a circle on the old man¡¯s forehead. Yu Xiao held her breath, cinnabar powder falling like crimson snowflakes. She waited.


    A beat of silence. Then, a flicker of awareness in the old man¡¯s eyes. He blinked, gaze slowly focusing on Yu Xiao¡¯s face.


    ¡°Dear?¡± he mumbled, voice thick with confusion. ¡°Why am I out here?¡±


    (Äݶù (n¨© er): Nier; affectionate term similar to ¡°dear¡± or ¡°darling¡± used by an elderly person addressing a younger female.)


    ¡°Grandpa, do you recognise me?¡± she asked gently, testing the waters.


    He stared, brow furrowed in concentration. ¡°You¡­¡± He shook his head, confusion clouding his features. ¡°I don¡¯t know you.¡±


    His eyes darted around, wide and lost. ¡°Where is this? How did I get here?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll take you home.¡± Yu Xiao, with surprising strength, scooped him up in her arms.


    He let out a startled yelp, then chuckled, eyes twinkling as he gave her a thumbs-up. ¡°Strong girl!¡±


    The security guard, thankfully, recognised him. ¡°Old Mr. Mei! There you are! Sneaking out again? Your family was worried sick!¡±


    Old Mr. Mei blinked, bewildered. ¡°I don¡¯t¡­¡± he began, clinging to Yu Xiao as if she were his lifeline.


    ¡°Where does he live?¡± Yu Xiao asked, raising her voice.


    The guard, assuming she was just a kind soul helping a forgetful old man, rattled off an address.


    Yu Xiao froze, blood turning to ice. Her mind reeled as she stared at Old Mr. Mei.


    ¡°Thank you, darling,¡± he said, patting her hand. ¡°You go home now. I¡¯m fine.¡±


    Finding her voice, Yu Xiao leaned closer. ¡°Grandpa,¡± she asked softly, ¡°do you know¡­ Mei Huai Xin?¡±


    Recognition sparked in his cloudy eyes. ¡°Ah, you knew my Little Treasure too?¡± His voice cracked, tears welling. ¡°Little Treasure¡­ gone now¡­¡±


    Before Yu Xiao could process this bombshell, the security guard¡¯s shouts heralded the arrival of a frantic middle-aged man, hair streaked with grey, his voice thick with panic.


    ¡°Dad! What are you doing here¡­?¡±


    The guard, ever helpful, gestured towards Yu Xiao. ¡°This kind young lady found him wandering and brought him back.¡±


    A woman, her face etched with worry, rushed forward, clutching Yu Xiao¡¯s hand. ¡°Thank you, thank you so much¡­¡±


    The old man¡¯s soft sobs filled the air, choked and heart-wrenching. ¡°Little Treasure¡­¡± he choked out, clutching his son¡¯s hand. ¡°Little Treasure is¡­ gone¡­¡±


    The grey-haired man froze, tears welling in his own eyes. But then, a watery smile spread across his face as he turned to the woman beside him. ¡°See? He remembers! The new medication¡­ it¡¯s working! He remembers everything¡­ and he¡¯s speaking clearly!¡±


    Yu Xiao watched it all unfold, a knot of unease tightening in her stomach.


    Later that evening, she found herself a guest in the old man¡¯s home. The couple, his son and daughter-in-law, fussed over him, their relief at his improved mental state palpable. The talismans had worked their magic, and after a good cry, the old man was energised enough to pull out old photo albums.


    He pointed a trembling finger at a picture of a young man, his smile bright and carefree. ¡°This is my son, Little Treasure. Dear, how did you know my son?¡±


    Yu Xiao¡¯s breath caught in her throat. She glanced at the woman who had brought her tea, a silent plea for help in her eyes.


    ¡°Dad,¡± the grey-haired man chuckled, ¡°you¡¯re at it again. Miss Yu is only twenty. How could she know Huai Xin? He passed away nineteen years ago.¡±


    Old Mr. Mei faltered, doubt creeping into his eyes.


    ¡°Dear,¡± he asked, his voice serious now, ¡°do you truly not know my son, Little Treasure?¡±


    Yu Xiao licked her lips. ¡°¡­I don¡¯t.¡±


    ¡°Ah,¡± Old Mr. Mei sighed, tapping his head. ¡°Must be my old mind playing tricks again. Can¡¯t trust it these days.¡±


    Seizing the opportunity, Yu Xiao casually asked, ¡°How did¡­ Grandpa Mei¡¯s son pass away?¡±


    The grey-haired man sighed again, a shadow falling over his face. ¡°Heart condition. Over ten years ago. Medical care wasn¡¯t what it is now¡­ they couldn¡¯t save him¡­¡±


    Yu Xiao¡¯s mind raced. She needed to know where he was buried, but how could she ask without raising suspicions?


    As if reading her mind, the old man declared, ¡°We¡¯ll visit Little Treasure tomorrow!¡±


    The couple exchanged a worried look. He was frail, prone to these bouts of confusion¡­ a trip to the cemetery was pushing it.


    ¡°I¡¯m an old man,¡± he said, his voice taking on a stubborn edge. ¡°Might as well be buried next to Little Treasure when my time comes.¡±


    The couple¡¯s faces fell. There wasn¡¯t any space left beside his son¡¯s grave.


    Yu Xiao saw her chance. ¡°Actually,¡± she interjected, ¡°I know a Feng Shui master. Very skilled in cemetery matters.¡±


    Old Mr. Mei¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°Really? Could he¡­ could he take a look at the gravesite?¡±


    ¡°Dad,¡± the grey-haired man started, exasperated, ¡°his ashes are in a public cemetery. What¡¯s the point of Feng Shui now?¡±


    ¡°Even public cemeteries need good Feng Shui!¡± Old Mr. Mei clutched Yu Xiao¡¯s hand, his grip surprisingly strong. ¡°Please, I beg you.¡±


    ¡°No problem,¡± Yu Xiao said, a sly smile playing on her lips.


    ¡°Dad!¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s a friend,¡± she added quickly. ¡°No charge.¡±


    ¡°No charge!¡± Old Mr. Mei echoed, beaming at his son.


    The grey-haired man, defeated, threw his hands up in the air. If it stopped his father¡¯s incessant pleas to be buried next to a son he barely remembered, then so be it. Feng Shui it was.

 Chapter 186: The Black Dog

    Leaving the Mei family home in the predawn chill, Yu Xiao declined Uncle Mei¡¯s offer of a ride back home. The empty streets, with their biting air, held a strange allure. She stopped at a street stall, drawn by the comforting aroma of grilled meat.


    As plumes of white smoke curled into the darkness, her mind replayed the sights and sounds of the Mei household.


    The visit had left her with a gnawing sense of helplessness. She had offered to hire a yin-yang master to perform the rituals ¨C at the time, it felt like a tangible way to help Old Mr. Mei find peace, perhaps even offer herself some closure. Now, the idea struck her as naive. As the Director of the Horror Hospital, she knew better. Brother Bed¡¯s grave was just that ¨C a grave. A physical marker, not a spiritual dwelling. No amount of whispered words to cold stone would reach him.


    Still, she had made the offer and would follow through with it. Zheng Dong Li, the only yin-yang master she knew, wouldn¡¯t come cheap. Fortunately, money wasn¡¯t a problem. She would find a way to obtain a suitable feng shui site for Old Mr. Mei. It was the least she could do, a small token of gratitude for Brother Bed¡¯s kindness.


    ¡°Ready,¡± the vendor declared, handing her a bag of skewers.


    **


    The next morning, Zhao Lan¡¯s knock was met with the lingering aroma of barbecue. Stepping inside, she was greeted by a table laden with takeaway containers. ¡°Late-night feast?¡±


    Yu Xiao, splashing water on her face at the bathroom sink, simply nodded.


    Zhao Lan¡¯s heart ached. Deprived of such indulgences during her hospital stay, Yu Xiao was clearly making up for lost time. Zhao Lan vowed to accompany her for barbecue, three meals a day if that¡¯s what it took.


    Following Yu Xiao¡¯s suggestion, the trio headed down to the hotel restaurant for breakfast, settling on steaming bowls of wonton noodles.


    (Wonton Noodles [ºº×Ö ¨C H¨¤nz¨¬ ] The Dish: A beloved staple in Cantonese cuisine, wonton noodles feature thin egg noodles served in a savoury broth, typically made with pork bone and dried seafood. The star of the show? Wontons ¨C delicate dumplings filled with seasoned minced pork (and sometimes shrimp) that bob happily in the broth or are served separately.Irresistible Appeal: The magic lies in the contrast of textures and flavours: springy noodles, silky wonton wrappers, savoury broth, and the umami punch of the filling. It¡¯s pure comfort food.)


    ¡°You went to Brother Bed¡¯s family home last night?¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen asked, her surprise evident.


    ¡°Couldn¡¯t sleep,¡± Yu Xiao replied between sips of her broth. ¡°Wandered around, bumped into his father.¡±


    As Yu Xiao recounted the visit, sorrow washed over Zhao Lan. ¡°But I thought ghosts could leave the hospital with a phone? That doctor, he¡¯s a ghost too. Why can¡¯t Brother Bed do the same? Not enough points?¡±


    Yu Xiao shook her head, her lips pressed into a thin line. ¡°It¡¯s not about points. He¡¯s¡­ not Brother Bed anymore.¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen frowned, utterly perplexed. ¡°But you said he looks the same. Is it because he doesn¡¯t remember his life?¡±


    ¡°No, that¡¯s not it,¡± Yu Xiao paused, collecting her thoughts. ¡°Imagine this: the body is like a container, a bottle. The soul, the ghost, is like water, shapeless. It takes on the shape of the container it occupies. The current attending doctor, Mei Huai Xin, may look like Brother Bed, but he¡¯s just wearing his skin.¡±


    ¡°But¡­¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen struggled to understand the concept. ¡°Then where did Brother Bed¡¯s ghost go?¡± Yu Xiao poked at her noodles with her chopsticks. ¡°Ghosts without containers exist as raw yin energy in the hospital. Brother Bed, he was already saturated with it before he even died. His body, it was full. And when he passed, his ghost¡­ it simply became more yin energy. Like a single drop of water merging with a lake, indistinguishable from the rest.¡±


    Understanding dawned on Zhao Lan¡¯s face. ¡°So you can¡¯t use the Old Lord¡¯s Talisman on him?¡±


    ¡°Exactly,¡± Yu Xiao confirmed with a nod. ¡°The talisman expels yin energy from the body. But Brother Bed, he is yin energy now. Using it would just leave an empty shell.¡±


    There was no solution. Letting Mei Huai Xin walk free, masquerading as Brother Bed, felt wrong. It would be like releasing an imposter into the world.


    ¡°So, you¡¯ve met the family,¡± Zhao Lan said, steering the conversation away from the disheartening topic. ¡°The gathering is tomorrow. What¡¯s the plan for today?¡±


    Yu Xiao hadn¡¯t decided yet.


    ¡°Let¡¯s climb the Great Wall!¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen exclaimed.


    ¡°I¡¯ll contact Zheng Dong Li today and discuss the burial site with him. Then we¡¯ll see.¡±


    Zhao Lan sighed in relief. ¡°Now that¡¯s a plan.¡±


    However, Zhou Xiao Zhen pouted. ¡°But we¡¯re finally in Beijing¡­¡±


    Zhao Lan patted her arm reassuringly. ¡°You want to be an Olympian, right? You¡¯ll have plenty of time to conquer the Great Wall. Many times over.¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen, feeling her mood instantly lift, silently agreed.


    Yu Xiao scarfed down the last of her noodles and dialled Zheng Dong Li. The man always picked up promptly, but this time his voice was a hushed whisper. ¡°Need something?¡±


    ¡°Busy?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± he breathed, ¡°Just somewhere I can¡¯t speak loudly. What¡¯s up?¡±


    ¡°Decided on the meeting place yet?¡±


    ¡°Not officially, but should be sorted by afternoon. Are you guys coming to Beijing? Need a ride?¡±


    ¡°Nah, already here. Arrived yesterday. Need a favour. Have an elderly relative, over eighty, who wants a proper feng shui burial spot. Are you up for it? Don¡¯t worry, we¡¯ll pay.¡±


    A soft chuckle crackled down the line. ¡°Honoured the lady trusts me with her business. Where is he from? We can take care of it after the meeting.¡±


    Yu Xiao mentally counted the days. Today was day four out of the hospital, the meeting tomorrow would be day five. Her out-of-hospital limit was about a week, meaning her delightful obsession could show up any time after that.


    ¡°Any chance it could be done today?¡±


    ¡°That urgent?¡± Zheng Dong Li hesitated. ¡°Today¡¯s tricky, got stuff going on¡­¡± He paused. ¡°Remember that elderly patient I mentioned? Similar situation to us? He¡¯s in the hospital, not looking good. Can¡¯t really leave at a time like this.¡±


    Yu Xiao¡¯s eyebrows shot up. ¡°He¡¯s still alive?¡±


    Most patients, once they had enough points, left the hospital, barely making it past seventy. Zheng Dong Li¡¯s elder was definitely older, which begged the question: how many points did that guy HAVE?


    Seemingly oblivious to her shock, Zheng Dong Li continued, ¡°The man has staying power. He turns 123 this year.¡±


    ¡°Bloody hell,¡± Yu Xiao blurted out, momentarily stunned.


    ¡°Do you have something planned today, then?¡± Zheng Dong Li asked, his tone suddenly curious.


    ¡°Nothing planned,¡± Yu Xiao replied.


    ¡°Come to the hospital, then. Let¡¯s see this old gentleman off in style. Might be the first of his kind in the world.¡±


    Yu Xiao considered it for a moment. ¡°Hang on, let me ask Misty and Precious.¡±


    Zhao Lan and Zhou Xiao Zhen, intrigued, and with a gloriously free day, were easily persuaded.


    On the way to the hospital, Zhou Xiao Zhen marvelled, ¡°That old boy must be something else, racking up enough points to hit 120. Smiley, have you ever heard of anyone like that at the hospital?¡±


    ¡°Nope,¡± Yu Xiao said, shaking her head. She¡¯d racked her brain, but she¡¯d never encountered such a patient. Still, something about it felt¡­ off.


    The taxi deposited them outside the hospital¡¯s inpatient entrance. A security guard chased a stray dog across the pavement as they headed inside, making a beeline for the cardiology department as instructed by Zheng Dong Li¡¯s text.


    The elevator spat them out on the fourteenth floor, where Zheng Dong Li was waiting. ¡°Over here,¡± he said softly.


    ¡°The family¡¯s here, I suppose?¡± Zhao Lan whispered. ¡°Bit much for us to barge in, isn¡¯t it?¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s got no family,¡± Zheng Dong Li said, leading the way down the corridor. ¡°His heart¡¯s been troubled ever since his illness took hold. Never married, all alone all these years.¡±


    The three friends exchanged glances, following in silence.


    ¡°The man¡¯s ancient,¡± Zheng Dong Li continued. ¡°His friends are long gone. Apart from the nurses, it¡¯s just me and my uncle here today. He¡¯ll be glad of the company.¡± S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    They reached a private room, the low hum of medical equipment growing louder as they approached. Several wilted bouquets decorated the bedside table. An old man, his skin paper-thin over bone, lay on the bed, a shock of white hair against the pillow.


    As Yu Xiao looked at him, a peculiar sensation rippled through her. Her heart, usually a lump of unfeeling stone, clenched. She hurried to the bedside as Zheng Dong Li introduced them to an older gentleman seated nearby, referring to him as Uncle.


    The older man, upon learning they¡¯d come to see the patient, beamed. ¡°Wonderful of you to visit. Old Zhou always loved company. Wouldn¡¯t want him to pass with only strangers around, poor soul.¡±


    Zhao Lan, noticing Yu Xiao¡¯s strange demeanour, jumped in. ¡°How is Old Zhou doing?¡±


    ¡°In and out of it,¡± the old man sighed. ¡°He wakes up for a few minutes here and there, but his mind¡¯s going. The doctor reckons it¡¯ll be today.¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen looked down at the patient. His eyes were squeezed shut, his frail body trembling.


    ¡°Is he cold?¡±


    ¡°Not cold,¡± Zheng Dong Li said, a sad smile touching his lips. ¡°The doctor believes he¡¯s having nightmares.¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s heart ached for the old man. To be haunted by nightmares on the brink of death¡­


    Yu Xiao leaned closer, her gaze fixed on the patient. As if sensing her presence, the trembling subsided, and his eyes slowly opened.


    ¡°He¡¯s awake,¡± Zhao Lan whispered, capturing everyone¡¯s attention.


    His gaze, clouded with age, settled on Yu Xiao. His lips moved, forming three distinct words. ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡±


    Silence fell upon the room.


    Recognition hit Yu Xiao like a wave. Beneath the frailty and decay, she glimpsed a flicker of the former director. It was startling, and then¡­ it made perfect sense. Who else could have possibly accumulated so many points?


    The old man¡¯s eyes fluttered shut, his words dissolving into incoherent mumbles.


    ¡°Do you know Mr. Zhou?¡± his uncle asked Yu Xiao.


    She shook her head, leaving Zheng Dong Li to explain. ¡°He¡¯s not quite himself. He¡¯s been delirious these last few days. Keeps saying it¡¯s dark, or cold¡­ sometimes even cries.¡±


    ¡°Uhh¡­¡±


    The old man on the bed groaned. Zheng Dong Li leaned in. ¡°Mr. Zhou, what is it?¡± He listened intently for a moment, then straightened up. ¡°Goldie, he says. He¡¯s asking for Goldie.¡±


    The elderly man threw up his hands. ¡°He wants to see Goldie! Mr. Zhou has no wife, no children. Just his dogs. He¡¯s had several over the years. Each time one passed, he¡¯d get another, always called Goldie. So far, he¡¯s had¡­¡±


    ¡°Three,¡± Zheng Dong Li interjected, holding up three fingers. ¡°He¡¯s had three Goldies.¡±


    Yu Xiao¡¯s mind snagged on the dog she¡¯d seen outside, the one that refused to be chased away.


    ¡°We have to let him see Goldie one last time,¡± the elderly man pleaded, wringing his hands. ¡°He won¡¯t rest easy otherwise.¡±


    ¡°But pets aren¡¯t allowed in the hospital,¡± Zheng Dong Li pointed out. ¡°What can we do?¡±


    The uncle rubbed his chin, then his eyes lit up. ¡°Wait here, all of you! Leave this to me!¡± And with that, he bustled out of the ward.


    Zheng Dong Li pulled up a chair for Yu Xiao. She sat, eyeing the frail figure on the bed. *What was the point of scheming your way out of the hospital if you were just going to spend your life with dogs?*


    ¡°What¡¯s his name?¡± she asked, nodding towards the patient.


    ¡°Hmm?¡± Zheng Dong Li, who was pouring them all water, looked up. ¡°Surname¡¯s Zhou. Zhou Si Heng (ÖÜ˼ºâ: ¡°Thinks cyclically, drawing on a broad perspective¡±; ¡°¡±Ponders deeply, considering all sides with balance and fairness ¡±; ¡°one who ponders deeply, drawing upon a rich heritage to seek balance and understanding in the world.).¡±


    ÖÜ (Zh¨­u): This is a common Chinese surname, often transliterated as ¡°Zhou.¡± It signifies ¡°circumference¡±, ¡°cycle¡±, or ¡°week¡±. Historically, it was associated with the Zhou dynasty, a significant period in Chinese history.˼ (S¨©): As a given name, ˼ means ¡°thought¡±, ¡°reflection¡±, or ¡°contemplation¡±. It represents intellectual depth and introspection.ºâ (H¨¦ng): This character can mean ¡°balance¡±, ¡°equilibrium¡±, or ¡°measure¡±. It symbolises harmony and stability.In essence, ÖÜ˼ºâ could be interpreted as ¡°Thinks cyclically, drawing on a broad perspective¡±; ¡°¡±Ponders deeply, considering all sides with balance and fairness ¡±; ¡°one who ponders deeply, drawing upon a rich heritage to seek balance and understanding in the world.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s he like?¡±


    ¡°Mr. Zhou?¡± Zheng Dong Li passed her a cup. ¡°He¡¯s a good man. My uncle told me he fought in the Resistance back in the day, earned quite a few medals. Never wanted to be an official after the war. Health wasn¡¯t great, always had quiet jobs. By the time I met him, he was pushing a hundred. Don¡¯t know much else, except he was always kind. Used to give me sweets when I was a lad.¡±


    ¡°He really loves his dogs, eh?¡± Zhao Lan remarked.


    ¡°Oh, yeah,¡± Zheng Dong Li chuckled. ¡°Big black dogs, especially.¡±


    The conversation lulled. ¡°What about this elder of yours?¡± Zheng Dong Li asked Yu Xiao. ¡°The one looking for a burial plot?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s Mr. Mei,¡± she said. ¡°He¡¯s over eighty, not well at all. Wants to get his affairs in order.¡±


    ¡°Any particular reason he¡¯s so set on a burial plot?¡± Zheng Dong Li asked. ¡°Not that cremations aren¡¯t a perfectly respectable¡­¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s convinced it¡¯s all about feng shui,¡± Yu Xiao said with a shrug. ¡°To be honest, I don¡¯t know much about it.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s real enough,¡± Zheng Dong Li said, frowning slightly. ¡°Finding a proper feng shui treasure land, though¡­ that¡¯s a different story. You¡¯re a Taoist, though, right? Don¡¯t you lot know all about that yin-yang, feng shui stuff?¡±


    (ÐþÃÅ [xu¨¢n m¨¦n; Xuanmen] ¨C A term referring to Taoist sects and practices.ÒõÑô·çË® [y¨©n y¨¢ng f¨¥ng shu¨«; Yin-Yang Feng Shui] ¨C A traditional Chinese philosophical system that emphasises the balance of Yin and Yang energies in relation to spatial arrangements, particularly in architecture and burial sites.)


    Yu Xiao bit back a laugh. Taoist, she was not. More like a gatekeeper to the afterlife. ¡°Nah, I just dabble in talismans.¡±


    Zheng Dong Li looked even more confused. ¡°Didn¡¯t whoever taught you talismans teach you anything else?¡±


    ¡°Nope.¡±


    He was completely baffled. Taoists rarely specialised in just one thing. Even if they had a focus, they usually knew a bit of everything. How could she be completely clueless?


    Before he could voice his confusion, the door to the ward swung open.


    Yu Xiao watched, eyebrows raised, as the old man barged into the hospital ward, his enormous hiking pack threatening to engulf him entirely. He slammed the door shut, leaned heavily against the wall, and wheezed, ¡°Quick¡­ get this thing off me¡­¡±


    Zheng Dong Li hurried to unbuckle the pack, grunting at its weight. ¡°What in the world is in here?¡±


    ¡°A dog, obviously,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen said.


    Zhao Lan nodded. ¡°Had to be.¡±


    The old man coughed, a dry, rattling sound. ¡°What else would it be? Xiao Dong, be careful! Don¡¯t let it bark.¡±


    With exaggerated care, Zheng Dong Li unzipped the pack, revealing a large, black dog. It blinked at them with mournful eyes.


    The old man, propping himself up with one hand on his hip, sighed dramatically. ¡°This one has worn me out.¡±


    Instead of barking, the dog padded over to the bedside and gazed at the old man in the bed, its sorrow palpable.


    Yu Xiao, hesitating for a moment, guided the old man¡¯s hand onto the dog¡¯s head. The dog became still, letting out a soft whimper.


    The old man¡¯s hand trembled. His eyes opened, flickering between Yu Xiao and the dog, before fluttering closed once more.


    A shrill alarm pierced the air ¨C it was the heart monitor.


    Doctors and nurses rushed in, their eyes widening at the sight of the dog. ¡°Where did that come from?!¡±


    Chaos erupted in the ward.


    Yu Xiao and her companions, along with the bewildered dog, were quickly ejected.


    ¡°Did we ever arrange a cemetery for him?¡± Yu Xiao asked quietly.


    ¡°A long time ago,¡± Zheng Dong Li replied, his voice strained. ¡°It cost a fortune.¡±


    The dog sat by the door, panting, its gaze fixed on the ward. Every person who passed by, whether staff or patient, jumped back in alarm. Finally, a nurse who looked overwhelmed issued an ultimatum: the dog had to leave, or security would be called.


    The dog refused to move. Eventually, Zheng Dong Li had to carry the despondent creature out.


    Downstairs, the dog slumped to the ground, the picture of canine despair.


    ¡°What should we do with it now?¡± Yu Xiao asked.


    Zheng Dong Li shook his head. ¡°I can¡¯t take it. I don¡¯t like dogs. I have nightmares about them, always chasing me.¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen, surprised by this admission from the usually composed man, turned to the old man. ¡°Are you also scared of dogs, Uncle?¡±


    Zheng Dong Li winced. ¡°Actually, there¡¯s something I need to talk to all of you about.¡±


    ¡°Go ahead,¡± said Yu Xiao. ¡°We¡¯re pretty laid-back, as long as it doesn¡¯t involve anything extreme like human sacrifice.¡±


    ¡°Nothing like that,¡± he muttered, blushing slightly. ¡°It¡¯s just¡­ could you maybe not call me ¡®Uncle¡¯ at the gathering tomorrow?¡±


    Silence. Then, ¡°Huh?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not¡­ that old, you know,¡± he said awkwardly. ¡°All this ¡®Uncle¡¯ stuff¡­ I¡¯ve been having nightmares about my teeth falling out¡­¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen suppressed a laugh, reminding herself that someone just died.


    Yu Xiao, on the other hand, had no such reservations. ¡°Ha ha ha ha ha¡­¡±


    Zheng Dong Li squirmed uncomfortably.


    ¡°Tell you what,¡± Yu Xiao said, wiping tears from her eyes. ¡°If you find Old Man Mei a good Feng Shui plot for free, we¡¯ll consider calling you ¡®Brother Li¡¯ instead.¡±

 Chapter 187: Old Friends Meet Again

    Zheng Dong Li stared at Yu Xiao, a moment of silence stretching between them before he finally declared, ¡°You know, you remind me of myself at your age.¡± Another pause. ¡°Alright, alright. Consider this a freebie.¡± He sighed, a long, suffering sound. ¡°My services don¡¯t come cheap, you know.¡±


    Taking care of Zhou Si Heng¡¯s final arrangements was surprisingly straightforward. With no family and all his friends having passed away long ago, cremation, ashes, and a pre-purchased plot awaited.


    Zheng Dong Li insisted on inviting Yu Xiao, Zhao Lan, and Zhou Xiao Zhen to the burial. The old man had loved a good crowd, and he deserved a proper send-off.


    Yu Xiao politely declined. She had a hospital shift. Zhao Lan and Zhou Xiao Zhen exchanged knowing glances but readily agreed to go.


    Yu Xiao looked down at the grieving dog curled up at her feet. The world was a strange, strange place. Back at the hospital, when the former director Zhou Si Heng had been scheming to get discharged, he¡¯d moved heaven and earth to get Zheng Dong Li to take his place. If it hadn¡¯t been for that Lao Jun Talisman Zheng Dong Li had conjured up, who knows, she might have found herself calling him ¡®Director Zheng¡¯.


    And now here they were, unlikely friends, with Zheng Dong Li arranging the old man¡¯s farewell. Life was full of unexpected turns.


    ¡°What about the dog?¡±


    Zheng Dong Li stroked his chin. ¡°My uncle can look after him for the time being.¡±


    His uncle, who stood nearby, visibly paled.


    ¡°Are you trying to get me killed, you ungrateful whelp?¡± he squawked. ¡°My wife would bury me alive if I brought a dog home! You¡¯d best start picking out my tombstone right now!¡±


    Zheng Dong Li let out a dramatic sigh and turned pleading eyes on Yu Xiao and her friends.


    Yu Xiao cut him off. ¡°I¡¯m still a student!¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen shook her head. ¡°No way, gotta train for the Olympics.¡±


    Zhao Lan, ever the picture of professional polish, simply sighed. ¡°Work. Travel. It¡¯s chaos. Even cacti wither under my care, let alone a dog.¡±


    Another sigh, this one deeper and heavier with defeat, escaped Zheng Dong Li. He crouched down, his gaze meeting the sorrowful eyes of the dog, Goldie.


    ¡°Look,¡± he confessed, ¡°I¡¯m not a dog person. Especially big, black dogs.¡±


    The dog whined.


    He¡¯d just have to take Goldie home for the night, Zheng Dong Li decided, and hope someone at tomorrow¡¯s gathering would take pity on the poor creature.


    The next day¡¯s gathering was scheduled for noon. Yu Xiao, Zhao Lan, and Zhou Xiao Zhen, however, didn¡¯t stir until well past nine. A leisurely breakfast at a local restaurant later, they were finally en route to the rendezvous point.


    ¡°Should¡¯ve put on makeup,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen muttered, eyeing Zhao Lan¡¯s expertly made-up face with envy.


    ¡°Don¡¯t sweat it,¡± Yu Xiao chirped from beside her, barefaced and carefree. ¡°I didn¡¯t bother either.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, but you have hair.¡±  S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Well¡­¡±


    Seeing her friend¡¯s crestfallen face, Yu Xiao rallied. ¡°Hey, you have a wig!¡±


    Zhao Lan, unable to help herself, turned from the passenger seat and sighed. ¡°The things I¡¯d give to be young again¡­¡±


    They¡¯d agreed to meet at the Forbidden City. Yu Xiao, upon seeing the message, had been momentarily stunned. Apparently, Zheng Dong Li explained, many of their former ward-mates had never been to Beijing. Sightseeing by day, reunion dinner by night ¨C it was the perfect plan.


    Except for one tiny detail.


    Stepping out of the car, they joined the throngs of tourists milling about the Meridian Gate. It was like trying to find a single grain of rice in a paddy field.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen, clinging to Yu Xiao¡¯s arm, scanned the crowd. ¡°See anyone familiar?¡±


    Yu Xiao¡¯s eyes darted back and forth. ¡°Not a soul. Though, to be fair, they¡¯re not exactly wearing hospital gowns anymore¡­¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s just find Zheng Dong Li,¡± Zhao Lan suggested, ever the pragmatist. ¡°He¡¯s bound to know everyone.¡±


    Easier said than done. After a fruitless search, they resigned themselves to waiting near the entrance, hoping against hope that he hadn¡¯t forgotten all about them.


    The three weren¡¯t the only ones loitering near the entrance. To their left, a group of middle-aged tourists sported matching red baseball caps. To their right, a gaggle of foreigners seemed to be having a competition to see who could wear the most ridiculous green hat. And directly in front of them stood a cluster of people, noticeably hat-free.


    ¡°Think those are our lot?¡± whispered Zhou Xiao Zhen, nudging Yu Xiao with her elbow.


    Yu Xiao squinted, trying to match any of the faces to the hazy memories of their hospital stay.


    Perhaps her scrutiny was a tad too obvious. The hatless group began murmuring amongst themselves, shooting curious glances in her direction. Yu Xiao, blessed (or cursed) with exceptional hearing, caught snippets of their conversation.


    ¡°Think she wants to chat us up?¡±


    ¡°Wonder which one of us she¡¯s eyeing?¡±


    ¡°Nope,¡± she muttered, turning away. ¡°Don¡¯t recognize a single one. Not that they¡¯re not here for the shindig, but still¡­¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen sighed dramatically. Just then, a hand tapped Yu Xiao on the shoulder. She spun around, reflexes honed from years of hospital shenanigans, and grabbed the offending hand, yanking the owner off balance.


    ¡°Whoa there, little lady! That¡¯s quite a grip you¡¯ve got!¡±


    Yu Xiao finally got a good look at her would-be assailant. ¡°Lu Xu?¡±


    Behind him, a man froze mid-step, camera raised. ¡°Luo Jin?¡± Yu Xiao exclaimed, recognizing him too.


    Luo Jin grinned, adjusting his grip on the camera. ¡°You know us?¡±


    Yu Xiao hesitated. They wouldn¡¯t remember the hospital¡­ ¡°I, uh¡­¡±


    Thinking quickly, she released Lu Xu¡¯s hand and gestured vaguely. ¡°What was that for?¡±


    ¡°Just saying hi,¡± he said, rubbing his wrist with mock injury. ¡°You know, that video of you three crushing water bottles at the night market? Went kinda viral. You¡¯re practically famous.¡±


    ¡°Ah,¡± Yu Xiao said, the penny finally dropping.


    ¡°Zheng Dong Li told us about you,¡± she improvised, hoping they wouldn¡¯t press for details.


    ¡°Really?¡± Lu Xu chuckled. ¡°And he managed to describe us without any photos?¡±


    It was a good question. Yu Xiao, momentarily stumped, shot Zhao Lan a desperate look.


    Zhao Lan, ever resourceful, stepped into the breach. ¡°He did mention you two were the most handsome of the bunch. Easy to spot.¡±


    Lu Xu threw back his head and roared with laughter. ¡°That sounds like him! Not that we¡¯re that handsome, mind you. Just maybe¡­ ninety-nine percent better-looking than the rest of the country?¡±


    Luo Jin, who had been enjoying the banter, stifled a laugh at Lu Xu¡¯s audacious claim. Truly, the man had no shame.


    ¡°Luo Jin. How should I address you?¡±


    Luo Jin and Lu Xu looked just as she remembered, and seeing their familiar faces sparked a warmth in Yu Xiao¡¯s chest. She played along, pretending they were strangers. ¡°I¡¯m Yu Xiao, this is Zhao Lan, and this ray of sunshine is Zhou Xiao Zhen.¡±


    After exchanging pleasantries, Luo Jin gestured around the square. ¡°Has anyone else arrived yet?¡±


    Zhao Lan shook her head. ¡°We have no idea who we¡¯re looking for.¡±


    ¡°Are these two really the most attractive ones?¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen whispered to Yu Xiao.


    ¡°Nope.¡±


    Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°You mean¡­ there are more?¡±


    Yu Xiao suppressed a smile. There had been plenty of handsome men in their hospital, but who knew what time had done to them. Luo Jin and Lu Xu seemed to be the youngest of their small group.


    ¡°Group photo!¡± Lu Xu declared, snatching the camera back from Luo Jin. ¡°You know, I saw you three from across the square when we arrived ¨C didn¡¯t even see your faces, but I knew. Knew you were here for the gathering. Like some weird sixth sense.¡± He jabbed Luo Jin in the ribs. ¡°Didn¡¯t you feel it too, Old Luo?¡±


    Luo Jin frowned, considering. ¡°A bit, yeah.¡±


    ¡°Maybe it¡¯s some kind of awakened ability?¡± Lu Xu pondered. ¡°But then why didn¡¯t I feel anything when Zheng Dong Li showed up at my door?¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s not go there,¡± Yu Xiao interrupted hastily. ¡°The photo, right? Let¡¯s do it.¡±


    ¡°Someone has to take it,¡± Lu Xu said, glancing around. The only people nearby were the Red Hat Brigade and the Green Hat Crew. Not the best candidates.


    He approached a woman with her back to them. ¡°Excuse me, Auntie, would you mind taking a quick picture for us?¡±


    The woman turned, her face ¨C surprisingly youthful for someone in her forties ¨C hardening as she looked him up and down. ¡°Young man, how old are you?¡±


    ¡°Twent¨C twenty-eight,¡± Lu Xu stammered.


    ¡°And you think that makes you young enough to address older people as ¡®Auntie¡¯?¡±


    (°¢ÒÌ (¨¡y¨ª): [¨¡y¨ª; ¡®Auntie¡¯] ¨C A term used to respectfully address older women, often used generically as a form of address in informal settings.)


    Lu Xu: ¡°¡­¡±


    Lu Xu started sweating.


    ¡°Whoa, whoa, whoa!¡± Yu Xiao rushed forward, grabbing Yu Qing Lang¡¯s hand before Lu Xu could dig himself any deeper. ¡°Big Sister! What a coincidence! You¡¯re here for the gathering too?¡±


    Yu Qing Lang blinked, momentarily startled. She looked from Yu Xiao to her friends, then back again. ¡°You are?¡±


    ¡°Yes! Absolutely! Also for the tour group!¡± Yu Xiao¡¯s mind raced. ¡°Um¡­ How should I address you? Are you with the tour group?¡±


    ¡°Yu Qing Lang.¡± She smiled, her earlier annoyance seemingly forgotten. ¡°Family business, you see. Travel agency. And you are¡­?¡±


    ¡°Yu Xiao.¡±


    ¡°Yu Xiao¡­¡± Yu Qing Lang frowned slightly, a puzzled look on her face. ¡°You know, I could swear I¡¯ve dreamt that name before¡­¡±


    A cheerful voice rang out. ¡°Greetings, comrades! Hope I haven¡¯t kept you waiting long!¡±


    They turned to see Zheng Dong Li striding towards them, a gaggle of people trailing behind. He was waving a small flag emblazoned with the words ¡®Healed Team¡¯. Subtle.


    ¡°Zheng Dong Li!¡± Lu Xu called out, waving back.


    ¡°Already acquainted, I see!¡± Zheng Dong Li beamed, his eyes twinkling with amusement.


    ¡°Just about to take a group photo,¡± Yu Qing Lang chimed in, whipping off her hat and fluffing her freshly-permed curls. ¡°Care to join, Old Zheng?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t mind if I do.¡± He cast a curious glance at the assembled group. ¡°So, how did you all find each other?¡±


    ¡°Oh, you wouldn¡¯t believe¨C¡± Lu Xu began, but Yu Xiao wasn¡¯t taking any chances. She ¡®accidentally¡¯ bumped into him, cutting him off mid-sentence. ¡°These are the seniors you were talking about, right?¡± she said brightly, turning to Zheng Dong Li. ¡°Introductions, please!¡±


    The diversion worked. Zheng Dong Li launched into a detailed explanation of who was who, oblivious to the near-miss.


    Yu Xiao, meanwhile, took the opportunity to study the faces of the ¡®Healing Team¡¯. None of them rang a bell. Disappointment pricked at her. ¡°Is this everyone then?¡± she asked.


    ¡°Some people didn¡¯t want to come,¡± Zheng Dong Li said with a shrug. ¡°And a few couldn¡¯t make it just yet.¡±


    After the introductions, Zheng Dong Li turned to the group. ¡°So, what¡¯s the plan? Should we head inside now, or wait for the stragglers?¡±


    ¡°How many more are coming?¡± Lu Xu asked.


    ¡°Two.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s already noon,¡± someone piped up, glancing at the sun already high in the sky. ¡°If we don¡¯t go in soon, we¡¯ll be wandering around in the dark. It would be a waste of tickets. Let¡¯s just go; we can always call the others when they arrive.¡± He looked at Zheng Dong Li. ¡°What do you think, Boss?¡±


    Zheng Dong Li, always the democratic leader, surveyed the eager faces around him. ¡°Right then, inside it is!¡±


    With a flourish of his ¡®Healing Team¡¯ flag, he led the way through the Meridian Gate.


    The Forbidden City buzzed with activity, but Yu Xiao and her friends were acutely aware of the shift in atmosphere around their group. Everyone, except for the three of them, truly believed they possessed supernatural abilities. Seeing so many of their ¡®kind¡¯ for the first time, they were like kids in a candy store, chattering excitedly with newfound comrades.


    Yu Qing Lang, with her arm now firmly linked through Yu Xiao¡¯s, leaned in conspiratorially. ¡°What do your friends call you?¡±


    ¡°Smiley.¡±


    ¡°Smiley it is, then.¡± Yu Qing Lang squeezed her arm affectionately. ¡°Fate has brought us together, mark my words. I told you, I dreamt about someone named Yu Xiao.¡±


    ¡°Really?¡± Yu Xiao said, trying to sound casual. ¡°What did she look like?¡±


    ¡°Can¡¯t remember a thing,¡± Yu Qing Lang admitted with a sigh. ¡°Dreams, huh? Gone before you can say ¡®laozi¡¯. But looking at you¡­ feels familiar, you know? Destined.¡±


    ¡°Destined,¡± Yu Xiao echoed, trying not to laugh.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen, meanwhile, was engrossed in a conversation with two middle-aged men, hanging on their every word as they recounted their ¡®recruitment¡¯ by Zheng Dong Li.


    ¡°When my powers manifested,¡± one was saying, puffing out his chest, ¡°I thought I was the hottest thing since sliced rice. I dressed up in a costume, mask and all, and hit the streets, fighting for justice! I roamed around for days before Zheng Dong Li found me. He knocked me flat with a single punch, he did¡­¡±


    ¡°Not me,¡± the other man chuckled. ¡°Too chicken. I didn¡¯t tell a soul about my¡­ condition. Then I heard about this underground fighting ring in¡­ well, let¡¯s just say it¡¯s a big city. I heard there was good money to be made¡­¡±


    ¡°How much did you win?¡±


    ¡°Win? Hah! I had barely finished my second fight when Zheng Dong Li showed up. He explained the whole deal. Said we shouldn¡¯t attract attention, as we could end up as lab rats. I didn¡¯t even ask for payment, just hightailed it out of there¡­¡±


    ¡°So how do you make ends meet now?¡±


    ¡°Got myself a job at a construction site when I returned,¡± the man replied. ¡°I¡¯m a foreman now.¡±


    Even though it wasn¡¯t peak season, the Forbidden City was still crowded with tourists. Every courtyard, every pavilion, every inch seemed to be occupied by visitors wielding selfie sticks.


    ¡°I should have worn hanfu,¡± Zhao Lan sighed wistfully, gazing at a group of girls posing gracefully in their flowing robes. ¡°Imagine the photo opportunities.¡±


    ¡°Right?¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen agreed, her eyes wide with envy. ¡°They look stunning.¡±


    Seizing the opportunity while Yu Qing Lang was busy buying drinks, Zhao Lan leaned closer to Yu Xiao. ¡°Can we¡­ you know¡­ take your phone to *that* hospital?¡±


    Yu Xiao blinked. ¡°Yes?¡±


    ¡°Just checking,¡± Zhao Lan said with a mischievous grin. ¡°Come on, let¡¯s get some good shots. Something to brighten up those dreary hospital walls.¡±


    Just as Yu Qing Lang rejoined them, drink in hand, she overheard their conversation. ¡°What¡¯s this? Secret plotting?¡±


    ¡°Group photo!¡± Zhao Lan announced. ¡°Are you coming, Qing Lang?¡±


    ¡°Wouldn¡¯t miss it for the world!¡± Yu Qing Lang shouted across the courtyard. ¡°Hey, Old Zheng! Photo opportunity! Come over here!¡±


    Zheng Dong Li, deep in conversation with Luo Jin, turned and chuckled. ¡°I¡¯m coming, I¡¯m coming!¡±


    They gathered together, debating the logistics of capturing the perfect group shot, when Zheng Dong Li¡¯s phone rang. ¡°Little Tang? Yeah, we¡¯re inside¡­ Not far from the entrance, you¡¯ll see us¡­ Just come on in¡­¡±


    He hung up and turned back to the group. ¡°Right, where were we? Photos!¡±


    ¡°Little Tang is coming too?¡± Yu Qing Lang asked.


    ¡°Just so happens he¡¯s in Beijing for business,¡± Zheng Dong Li explained. ¡°He heard about the reunion and decided to stop by.¡±


    ¡°I should have brought a selfie stick,¡± Lu Xu grumbled. ¡°I¡¯ll be right back, I need to find someone to take our photos.¡± He darted off, approaching a random passerby.


    Photos were taken ¨C group shots, paired selfies, the whole works ¨C and Yu Qing Lang pulled Yu Xiao aside.


    Back in the hospital, Yu Xiao had heard whispers that Yu Qing Lang had a partner, but the details were lost to time. Now, curiosity got the better of her. Gazing at their smiling faces on her phone screen, she casually asked, ¡°So, Qing Lang¡­ are you married?¡±


    ¡°Happily.¡±


    ¡°Ah, right¡­¡± Yu Xiao hesitated, unsure how to delicately pry into Yu Qing Lang¡¯s love life. ¡°So¡­ about that¡­ someone¡­ You know, back when you were ill. I heard you had someone who stood by you through thick and thin. What happened? Did you two¡­?¡±


    Yu Qing Lang¡¯s brow furrowed. ¡°Someone who stood by me? Well, there was this one guy¡­ but after I got sick, he snuck in a few kisses when I wasn¡¯t looking. I nearly beat him to death when I found out.¡±


    ¡°You what?!¡±


    ¡°You heard me.¡± She rolled her eyes. ¡°Turns out, that¡¯s when I first noticed¡­ changes. I flew into a rage, I did. The poor sod ended up spitting blood. Luckily for him, we were at the hospital and he got patched up quickly. I scarpered, though. I didn¡¯t want to face the music from his family¡­¡±


    ¡°Whoa¡­¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen, who¡¯d been shamelessly eavesdropping, breathed. ¡°Smiley! Look! Hot guy alert!¡±


    Yu Xiao, instinctively turning towards the sound, spotted a group of people ahead. A man in a sharp blue suit stood out from the crowd. As if sensing her gaze, he turned and their eyes met across the throng of tourists.


    ¡°Speaking of the devil¡­¡± Yu Qing Lang murmured. ¡°That¡¯s Little Tang. I knew him back in the day. Just a kid then, barely fourteen when his powers manifested. Time flies¡­ twenty years, just like that. He¡¯s pushing forty now.¡±


    Zheng Dong Li, with the newly arrived Tang Xing Yin in tow, approached their little group. ¡°Tang, meet the newbies. Fresh out of the hospital. This little firecracker is Zhou Xiao Zhen, still in school. Zhao Lan. And Yu Xiao.¡±


    ¡°Tang Xing Yin.¡± He looked nothing like the sullen teenager Yu Xiao remembered. Maturity suited him ¨C there was a quiet strength in his eyes now. He offered Yu Xiao his hand, a hint of a smile playing on his lips. ¡°You look familiar.¡±


    ¡°You too,¡± she replied, returning the smile.


    ¡°Funny, that,¡± Zheng Dong Li mused. ¡°Everyone seems to think they know you, Smiley.¡±


    ¡°Must be my forgettable face,¡± she chuckled, hoping her cheeks weren¡¯t as red as they felt.


    ¡°Not at all,¡± Tang Xing Yin said, his tone surprisingly serious. ¡°You stand out. Even in a crowd like this, you caught my eye.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, Brother Tang,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen piped up, ever the one to break the tension. ¡°What¡¯s with the suit? Bit formal for a day out, isn¡¯t it?¡±


    Tang Xing Yin¡¯s cheeks flushed slightly. ¡°Work. The meeting ran late, didn¡¯t have time to change.¡± He glanced around. ¡°Is Teng not here?¡±


    ¡°Not yet,¡± Zheng Dong Li said. ¡°Stuck in traffic, apparently.¡±


    ¡°Who¡¯s Teng?¡± Yu Xiao asked.


    ¡°One of us,¡± Zheng Dong Li explained. ¡°Teng Jing Zhi. He and I found Little Tang, actually. Those two clicked instantly, just like you and Tang just now¡­¡±


    ¡°Smiley?¡±


    ¡°Smiley!¡±


    Yu Xiao blinked, Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s concerned face coming into focus. ¡°Earth to Smiley! What¡¯s with the thousand-yard stare?¡±


    ¡°Oh, nothing, just¡­¡± How to explain it? Seeing everyone here, whole and healthy, filled her with an unexpected wave of¡­ Relief? Joy? He was out there. Alive. Some people were lost forever, but some¡­ some could be saved.


    ¡°I¡¯m just¡­ happy,¡± she said, her voice thick with emotion. ¡°Seeing everyone, it¡¯s¡­ good. Really good.¡±


    The day passed in a whirlwind of laughter, shared stories, and endless photos. As evening approached, they piled into taxis, heading towards a restaurant Zheng Dong Li had booked for dinner, followed by karaoke.


    Just before Yu Xiao could slide into a cab with Zhao Lan and Zhou Xiao Zhen, Zheng Dong Li stopped her, his hand resting heavily on her shoulder. ¡°Walk with me later, yeah? Need to talk.¡±


    She met his gaze, a shiver of apprehension running down her spine. His expression was unreadable.


    ¡°About what?¡± she asked, already dreading the answer.


    He just smiled, a cryptic, closed-lipped smile that did nothing to ease her anxiety. ¡°You¡¯ll see.¡±


    Later, crammed into the back of a taxi with Zheng Dong Li, the empty passenger seat a stark reminder that this was a private conversation, Yu Xiao wished she¡¯d taken her chances with the karaoke crowd. The silence stretched, thick with unspoken questions. She met his gaze, refusing to be the one to break.


    ¡°You¡¯re hiding something,¡± he said finally, his voice low and serious.


    ¡°We¡¯re not exactly bosom buddies, are we?¡± she retorted, trying to sound nonchalant. ¡°Everyone has secrets.¡±


    ¡°This isn¡¯t just any secret,¡± Zheng Dong Li countered, turning to face her, his eyes boring into hers. ¡°This is about us.¡±


    Yu Xiao couldn¡¯t help but shrink back into her seat. ¡°What are you talking about?¡±


    ¡°You know everyone here,¡± he said, his voice soft but insistent. ¡°At least¡­ Old Yu, Little Tang, Lu Xu, Luo Jin¡­ You know them.¡±


    She opened her mouth to protest, but he cut her off.


    ¡°Don¡¯t bother denying it. Luo Jin already spilled the beans. You¡¯ve never met them, yet you rattled off their names like old friends. Lied to their faces, said I¡¯d told you about them.¡±


    His eyes narrowed, a glint of something dangerous flickering within them. ¡°Well, I know what I did and didn¡¯t say. So, I¡¯ll ask again. How. Do. You. Know them?¡±


    Yu Xiao hesitated, her mind racing.


    ¡°And another thing¡­¡± He leaned closer, his voice barely a whisper. ¡°That first night¡­ When I was curious about Old Lord¡¯s Talisman, you asked me my name. Why? What¡¯s my connection to it?¡±

 Chapter 188: Goodbye. Until Next Time

    Under Zheng Dong Li¡¯s piercing gaze, Yu Xiao found herself speechless.


    Despite her admiration for Zheng Dong Li, she wasn¡¯t about to spill all her secrets. Revealing everything would bring no benefits and could invite unforeseen troubles. So, aside from Misty and Precious, she planned to keep the hospital¡¯s existence under wraps.


    Zheng Dong Li watched Yu Xiao intently, expecting her to confess.


    She averted her gaze, looking at the night scenery through the car window. Leaning back, she placed a hand over her chest. ¡°Oh dear¡­ I feel a bit dizzy.¡±


    ¡°Dizzy? Then why are you clutching your chest?¡±


    Quick as a flash, her hand flew up to her head. ¡°Dizzy¡­ not just dizzy, it actually hurts.¡±


    Zheng Dong Li chuckled. ¡°Do you not trust me?¡±


    Yu Xiao closed her eyes and began to hum and haw.


    ¡°If you don¡¯t want to talk, I can¡¯t force you,¡± he sighed, turning his head to look out the window, mimicking her. ¡°I¡¯m already 45. Since I recovered at 22, I¡¯ve spent half my life searching for answers. I¡¯ve travelled to many places and met many people. When Luo Jin told me you knew something, I thought, for a moment, that my search was finally over¡­¡± S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Yu Xiao¡¯s lips twitched. Was he seriously trying to guilt trip her?


    Seeing no response from her, Zheng Dong Li grew agitated and said, somewhat helplessly, ¡°You¡¯re not reacting at all. Are you heartless?¡±


    *Heartless?* Yu Xiao continued to stare out the window. *If he only knew, my heart was harder than granite, made of resentment of the dead.*


    ¡°Look at me!¡±


    He reached out to grab her arm. ¡°Didn¡¯t you hear me talking to you? Ignoring your elders is very rude¡­ eh?¡±


    Yu Xiao: ¡°?¡±


    Zheng Dong Li began to feel her hand. She quickly pulled it back, turning to look at him with suspicion. ¡°What are you doing?¡±


    He extended his hand again. ¡°Give me your hand.¡±


    Yu Xiao hid both hands behind her back. ¡°At your age? Have you no shame?¡±


    (Ë£Á÷Ã¥ [Shu¨£ Li¨²m¨¢ng] ¨C ¡°Behaving indecently¡± or ¡°acting like a hooligan,¡± a phrase used to describe inappropriate behaviour, often humorously.)


    ¡°Me? Old? Darling, I¡¯m practically a spring chicken!¡± Zheng Dong Li grabbed Yu Xiao¡¯s hand, his fingers surprisingly strong. ¡°Come on, stop messing around. Give me your hand.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t want to.¡±


    ¡°Tsk.¡± He let go of her hand and reached for her neck instead.


    Instinctively, Yu Xiao covered her neck with both hands, giving him the opportunity to seize one of her wrists.


    The driver in the front seat could take it no longer. ¡°Oi, comrade! Hands off! I¡¯m calling the police!¡±


    Zheng Dong Li scoffed at the driver¡¯s threat, his arrogance palpable. Yu Xiao intervened, ¡°Brother Zheng, if we start a fight, the driver could get hurt. Let¡¯s not involve the innocent.¡±


    The driver, his voice filled with righteous indignation, added, ¡°Young lady, don¡¯t be afraid, I¡¯ll call the police right away!¡±


    Zheng Dong Li tightened his grip on Yu Xiao¡¯s wrist, staring at her with disbelief. ¡°You¡­¡±


    Yu Xiao glared back, her eyes filled with defiance.


    ¡°You¡¯re already dead?¡± he blurted out.


    The driver, enraged by the audacity of the situation, exclaimed, ¡°People like you need to face the law¡­¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Zheng Dong Li looked genuinely confused. ¡°You¡¯re breathing, you¡¯re¡­ not stiff¡­¡±


    Yu Xiao tightened her grip on his hand, a mischievous glint in her eye. ¡°Want to find out just how hard I can hit?¡±


    Suddenly, the driver braked sharply, sending Zheng Dong Li¡¯s head crashing into Yu Xiao¡¯s elbow. He groaned and released his hold.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, young lady!¡± the driver declared with righteous fervour. ¡°We¡¯ve arrived at the police station!¡±


    Meanwhile, Zhao Lan and her group had arrived at the restaurant, but Yu Xiao and Zheng Dong Li were nowhere to be seen.


    Yu Qing Lang, growing anxious, asked, ¡°Is there a traffic jam?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Zhao Lan replied, shaking her head. ¡°We were all driving together. There¡¯s no reason only they would be caught in traffic.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll call Brother Zheng,¡± Lu Xu offered, pulling out his phone. ¡°Let¡¯s see what¡¯s happening.¡±


    Two minutes later, he hung up, looking bewildered. ¡°Can¡¯t get through.¡±


    Zhao Lan didn¡¯t say a word, but immediately dialled Yu Xiao¡¯s number. Same result.


    At the police station, Yu Xiao and Zheng Dong Li endured a reprimand from the driver and a lecture from the officers. Finally released, both of them looked gloomy.


    Yu Xiao exhaled deeply, rubbing her temples. ¡°Misty and the others must be worried sick.¡±


    ¡°Quit dodging the issue,¡± Zheng Dong Li demanded, his finger jabbing towards Yu Xiao, his face a canvas of bruises. ¡°What¡¯s the deal with you? No heartbeat, yet you breathe. Your body¡¯s not stiff, and you¡¯ve got warmth. No heartbeat means you shouldn¡¯t be kicking. But you¡¯re no zombie, no living corpse. So, what gives?¡±


    ¡°Can¡¯t you ease up on the details?¡±


    ¡°Details are my lifeblood,¡± Zheng Dong Li proclaimed. ¡°If you don¡¯t spill the beans, I¡¯ll hound you till the cows come home.¡±


    ¡°And how do you plan to hound me?¡± Yu Xiao attempted to negotiate. ¡°I¡¯m twenty, you¡¯re forty-five. You¡¯re practically on death¡¯s doorstep. How long can you keep this up?¡±


    ¡°Till I leap over that doorstep.¡±


    Yu Xiao¡¯s disbelief was palpable. ¡°Don¡¯t you have better things to do?¡±


    ¡°Plenty,¡± Zheng Dong Li shot back. ¡°But haven¡¯t you heard? I¡¯m a yin-yang master. Unravelling your mystery is my bread and butter.¡±


    Yu Xiao was left without a word. She relented. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll come clean.¡±


    ¡°Out with it.¡±


    ¡°Well, you see¡­¡± Yu Xiao hesitated, her gaze drifting towards the sky. ¡°Do you know about Cthulhu?¡±


    Zheng Dong Li¡¯s brow furrowed. ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°The truth is,¡± she continued, leaning in conspiratorially, ¡°this isn¡¯t really me. It¡¯s just a human suit. Underneath, I¡¯m an ancient ruler¡­¡±


    Zheng Dong Li¡¯s eyes darted around, his hand instinctively reaching for something, anything. ¡°What are you looking for?¡± Yu Xiao asked, her voice laced with genuine curiosity.


    He whipped off his shoe, brandishing it like a weapon.¡±Stop with the tall tales! Or I will beat you, woman. Do you think I fell out of a tree¡­?¡±He charged, leaving Yu Xiao to scramble away, the echo of his words swallowed by the chase.


    At the restaurant, Zhao Lan and the others were running out of patience. They had been waiting for hours, their stomachs rumbling like an impending earthquake. The staff was beginning to eye them with suspicion, ready to brand them as troublemakers.


    Finally, the door swung open, revealing a dishevelled Zheng Dong Li and a sheepish Yu Xiao. She seemed relatively unscathed, save for a muddy footprint staining her clothes. Zheng Dong Li, on the other hand, was missing a shoe, and a fresh bruise was blooming on his face.


    Any complaints died in their throats. Lu Xu, eyes wide with disbelief, simply asked, ¡°Did you two have a brawl in the street?¡±


    Tang Xing Yin, ever the pragmatist, chimed in, ¡°Robbed by a rogue taxi driver?¡±


    Zheng Dong Li forced a strained smile. ¡°No, no. Our car broke down¡­¡±


    ¡°¡­I have an elderly relative, who was pushing ninety and fading fast, in need of a final resting place. A place with good feng shui. Naturally, I turned to the expert, Brother Zheng. That¡¯s when things went spectacularly wrong.


    So far, everything seemed fine. That was until she continued.


    ¡°Who knew that finding a glorified hole in the ground would cost a hundred thousand yuan?¡± Yu Xiao lamented to her friends, her voice thick with frustrated disbelief. ¡°I¡¯m just an ordinary working-class citizen. I don¡¯t have that kind of cash lying around.¡±


    Zheng Dong Li: ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t get me wrong, it¡¯s not entirely his fault,¡± Yu Xiao admitted, a sheepish grimace twisting her features. ¡°He usually charges that much. It¡¯s just¡­ well, my temper got the better of me, and let¡¯s just say we had a bit of a disagreement.¡±


    Zheng Dong Li: ¡°¡­¡±


    Tang Xing Yin, with an expression that was a mixture of amusement and exasperation, stepped in. ¡°Look, it¡¯s just a burial site. And Smiley is our friend.¡± He paused, biting back a comment about Brother Zheng¡¯s exorbitant fees. ¡°Tell you what, I¡¯ll cover the hundred thousand.¡±


    Zheng Dong Li felt bitterness rising in his throat and a nervous tremor in his lips. He was being portrayed as some money-grubbing charlatan, and there was no way to salvage the situation even if he jumped into the Yellow River.


    (»ÆºÓ [Hu¨¢ng H¨¦; Yellow River]: In Chinese idiom, jumping into the Yellow River implies that even extreme measures can¡¯t prove one¡¯s innocence (Ìø½ø»ÆºÓҲϴ²»Çå).)


    ¡°No, no, you¡¯ve got it all wrong,¡± he choked out, ¡°I wouldn¡¯t dream of charging her.¡±


    ¡°Alright, everyone, enough about graves and fees,¡± Teng Jing Zhi boomed, slinging a friendly arm around Zheng Dong Li¡¯s shoulder. ¡°We¡¯re starving! Food first, then karaoke. Let¡¯s not keep the music waiting.¡±


    The tension, as thick as smog, finally began to dissipate.


    Yu Xiao joined her group of friends, settling into a chair. Zhao Lan leaned in, her voice a conspiratorial whisper, ¡°Did he¡­you know¡­sense something?¡±


    Yu Xiao nodded, silently confirming.


    ¡°He¡¯s got to be some kind of psychic,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen hissed, her eyes wide with awe. ¡°How else could he have known?¡±


    ¡°Later,¡± Yu Xiao murmured.


    Yu Qing Lang, pretending to be shocked, gasped dramatically, ¡°I can¡¯t believe Brother Zheng is such a tight-fisted miser! And to think I used to have a little crush on him. How embarrassing. Thank goodness he wasn¡¯t interested in me!¡±


    Tang Xing Yin handed menus to Yu Xiao and her friends. ¡°Order whatever you like. It¡¯s on me.¡±


    As Yu Xiao offered a hesitant smile, he quickly added, ¡°Seriously, anything at all.¡±


    The night descended into a blur of laughter, chatter, and copious amounts of alcohol. By the time the karaoke bar finally ushered them out, many were well on their way to oblivion.


    Yu Xiao, ever the responsible one, found herself shepherding her more inebriated companions home, the city lights painting the streets with a hazy, surreal glow.


    Back at the hotel, Yu Xiao showered and collapsed onto the bed, seeking solace in sleep.


    Morning sunlight, insistent and bright, nudged her awake. A faint itching sensation, like something stirring beneath her skin, drew her hand to her chest.


    ¡°Morning, Nightmare,¡± she murmured, her voice raspy with sleep. ¡°Up already?¡±


    Silence met her greeting, but a familiar feeling told her time was running out. Her temporary release was coming to an end.


    ¡°I wish I could live another five hundred years¡­¡±


    The insistent ring of her phone shattered the quiet. It was Zheng Dong Li. ¡°Up and at ¡¯em, sleepyhead! I¡¯m in the lobby. You promised me the truth.¡±


    Yu Xiao groaned inwardly. Why did people have such insatiable curiosity? Was ignorance not bliss, after all?


    Downstairs, Zheng Dong Li waited, looking remarkably fresh-faced.


    ¡°No hangover?¡± she asked, raising an eyebrow. ¡°That¡¯s some constitution you¡¯ve got.¡±


    ¡°Trade secret,¡± he said with a wink. ¡°Where are the others?¡±


    ¡°Sleeping off the baijiu, I imagine,¡± Yu Xiao replied. ¡°Come on, let¡¯s get some breakfast. I¡¯ll tell you everything.¡±


    (Baijiu (Chinese: °×¾Æ; pinyin: b¨¢iji¨³; lit. ¡®white (clear) liquor¡¯), or shaojiu (ÉÕ¾Æ/Ÿý¾Æ), is a colourless Chinese liquor typically coming in between 35% and 60% alcohol by volume. Baijiu is a clear liquid usually distilled from fermented sorghum, although other grains may be used; some southeastern Chinese styles may employ rice and glutinous rice while other Chinese varieties may use wheat, barley, millet, or Job¡¯s tears (Chinese: Þ²ÜÓ; pinyin: y¨¬y¨«) in their mash bills. The q¨± starter culture used in the production of baijiu is usually made from pulverised wheat grain or steamed rice.)


    Over steaming bowls of rice noodle rolls (³¦·Û), Yu Xiao recounted the chilling events at the hospital. Zheng Dong Li had demanded the truth, and she knew he wouldn¡¯t let it rest, not with his tenacious personality.


    (A rice noodle roll, also known as a steamed rice roll and cheung fun (Chinese: Äc·Û), and as look funn or look fun in Hawaii, is a Cantonese dish originating from Guangdong Province in southern China, commonly served as either a snack, small meal or variety of dim sum.[1] It is a thin roll made from a wide strip of shahe fen (rice noodles), filled with shrimp, beef, vegetables, or other ingredients. Seasoned soy sauce ¨C sometimes with siu mei drippings ¨C is poured over the dish upon serving. When plain and made without filling, the rice noodle is also known as jyu cheung fun, literally ¡°pork intestine noodle¡±, a reference to its resemblance of a pig¡¯s intestines.)


    As the tale unfolded, a strange emptiness settled over Zheng Dong Li. He listened, his face pale, as if hearing the story of a stranger¡¯s life. The ghosts, the danger, his former friends, his own forgotten bravery ¨C it all felt alien, yet a bitter ache bloomed in his chest.


    He sat in stunned silence, the weight of her words heavy in the air. Finally, he spoke, his voice a low murmur. ¡°So that¡¯s how it is.¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Yu Xiao confirmed, her gaze steady.


    ¡°And you¡¯re¡­stuck?¡±


    ¡°Unless,¡± she continued, ¡°a patient takes my place, like Zhou Si Heng. But someone always has to stay. If not me, then someone else.¡±


    Zheng Dong Li could only sigh, a heavy, resigned sound. ¡°You¡¯ve drawn a short straw, haven¡¯t you?¡±


    He looked at her then, really looked at her. Twenty years old, barely an adult, yet carrying a burden most couldn¡¯t fathom. A wave of guilt washed over him. Had he made a different choice, stayed at the hospital instead of pursuing his ambitions, would she be trapped like this?


    But the past, like spilled water, couldn¡¯t be gathered. What was done, was done. And Yu Xiao, it seemed, was destined to pay the price.


    Zheng Dong Li listened, feeling helpless as he witnessed memories that were no longer his own.


    ¡°Chin up,¡± Yu Xiao said, her usual pragmatism emerging. ¡°It¡¯s not so bad. I can still have some fun outside, right?¡±


    ¡°But a normal life¡­¡± Zheng Dong Li¡¯s voice cracked, the thought catching in his throat. ¡°And what happens when we¡¯re all gone? Everyone who remembers you¡­¡±


    He couldn¡¯t finish the sentence. The image was too bleak.


    Yu Xiao, ever practical, pushed a plate of dumplings toward him. ¡°Enough of that. Can you help my elder find a feng shui blessed burial site today?¡±


    Zheng Dong Li, a yin-yang master, was adept at charming clients. It wasn¡¯t long before Old Master Mei was beaming, as Zheng Dong Li had pinpointed the perfect location for Mei Huaixin¡¯s grave.


    After assisting Grandpa Mei in choosing the auspicious spot, the four politely declined the Mei family¡¯s offer of a meal and quietly made their way back to the cemetery, finding Mei Huai Xin¡¯s grave.


    The tombstone, weathered by time, bore fine cracks across its surface.


    Zhou Xiao Zhen, peering at the faded photograph, let out a low whistle. ¡°So this is ¡®Flying to Someone Else¡¯s Bed¡¯?¡±


    ¡°Such a shame,¡± Zhao Lan sighed, shaking her head.


    ¡°Never met the bloke,¡± Zhou Xiao Zhen mused, scratching her head, ¡°but he sounds like quite a character.¡± The action dislodged her wig slightly, sending her into a flurry of readjustments.


    Zheng Dong Li stared at the weathered stone, lost in thought. Finally, he turned to Yu Xiao. ¡°When are you going back?¡±


    ¡°Today, I think,¡± she replied, uncertainty present in her voice. ¡°Though the exact moment¡­that¡¯s anyone¡¯s guess.¡±


    ¡°And when will we see you again?¡±


    ¡°You won¡¯t even notice I¡¯m gone,¡± Yu Xiao said, her gaze fixed on the endless blue sky. ¡°Every time I leave, it¡¯s like hitting rewind. Back to the exact moment I entered the hospital.¡±


    Tears welled up in Zhou Xiao Zhen¡¯s eyes. ¡°But it¡¯ll be ages before you can visit again, won¡¯t it?¡±


    Yu Xiao didn¡¯t answer. A sudden chill, sharp and piercing, bloomed in her chest, spreading outward until it consumed her.


    Nightmare¡¯s voice, cold and insistent, echoed in her mind. ¡°Time to go.¡±


    ¡°Goodbye,¡± she whispered, a sad smile gracing her lips.


    Goodbye. Until next time.

 Chapter 189: This Might Be Her Fault

    The final hour of compulsory labour at Saint Elizabeth¡¯s had finally arrived for Gluttony. As he looked at the foundation he had painstakingly built, brick by bloody brick, a wave of emotions washed over him.


    Was it pride? Satisfaction? No, it was the urge to vomit. Gluttony couldn¡¯t help but find the irony overwhelming. Him, Gluttony, feeling sickened. It was enough to make a demon weep.


    The cause of his misery, the bane of his existence, was none other than ¡®Deaf Descendant¡¯, now absurdly positioned as the hospital¡¯s supreme authority. In the past, Gluttony might have plotted a gloriously gruesome revenge, but now the mere thought was exhausting.


    Two paths lay before him. He could return to the basement, to the comforting embrace of decaying flesh and a quiet descent into oblivion. Or¡­ he could take the risk. It was a gamble, full of danger, yet promising a reward beyond imagination: becoming one of the highest attending doctors in the entire hospital.


    He ran his finger along the worn edges of the letter in his pocket, the words burned into his memory. It was a lifeline thrown by Wang Shu, a former attending doctor. Wang Shu¡¯s message was a masterpiece of thinly disguised disdain, dripping with venomous criticism of Qing Shi and an enticing offer: help remove him and enjoy a life of professional ease.


    Gluttony was not known for his altruism, but he was not stingy either. Wang Shu¡¯s request was hardly unreasonable. He carefully placed the letter back into his pocket and cast a final glance at Qing Shi, slouched in a wheelchair, pathetically mixing cement.


    Insignificant. And this time, there would be no meddlesome fools to warn him. Success was practically guaranteed.


    A thought crossed Gluttony¡¯s mind. It was best to be thorough. He took out a scrap of parchment and wrote a reply in elegant strokes:


    ¡¾Dear Mr. Wang Shu,


    Greetings. I received your letter with great interest. My sentence at Saint Elizabeth¡¯s nears its end, and I am eager to proceed with your plan. Please consider this confirmation of my commitment to our arrangement, and rest assured, your requests will be met in full.


    I eagerly anticipate our collaboration.


    Yours sincerely,


    Gluttony¡¿


    The letter was dispatched with utmost discretion. As the courier disappeared into the distance, Gluttony¡¯s nonexistent heart fluttered with anticipation. Sage Hospital. Oh, the delectable possibilities. New flavours, new experiences¡­ his belly rumbled.


    **


    The hospital¡¯s courier service was surprisingly efficient.


    Wang Shu received the letter from Saint Elizabeth¡¯s that very evening, Despite Qing Shi¡¯s absence, he wasn¡¯t alone here. Who would have thought that Jealousy, of all monsters, would be serving compulsory labour at Sage Hospital for breaking hospital rules?


    Recently, Jealousy had been acting strange, standing by the window every day as if waiting for something.


    Wang Shu couldn¡¯t be bothered with his weird antics though, too focused on his own mission. As his time for compulsory labour dwindled, he was determined to hunt down and devour a certain woman who had wronged him.


    Screw the hospital rules ¨C she deserved to be eaten alive!


    But then he received an anonymous letter from none other than Gluttony himself. The infamous troublemaker who had been sentenced to compulsory labour at Saint Elizabeth for assaulting George. Yet this letter suggested they were close friends and that Gluttony had received a letter from Wang Shu himself, which wasn¡¯t true. And what¡¯s with this ¡°plan¡± Gluttony speaks of?


    ¡¾Dear Mr. Wang Shu,


    (¡­)


    Yours sincerely,


    Gluttony¡¿


    Wang Shu couldn¡¯t remember making any plans with him. After reading the confusing letter multiple times, he decided Gluttony must be insane or playing a prank on him.


    But really, why should he care? His time at the Sage Hospital was almost over and whatever shenanigans Gluttony had up his sleeve were none of his concern.


    He casually tore up the letter and went about whistling cheerfully while mopping the floor. This amused Jealousy, who was watching the dense fog outside with a growing suspicion of being deceived by Deception, who had promised him a position as security chief in exchange for handing over his rightful instance to start a new life as a preacher. But so far, Deception hadn¡¯t shown up. Was Jealousy being played for a fool?


    **


    Yu Xiao¡¯s eyes fluttered open, finding herself back in the familiar, dimly lit confines of the Horror Hospital Director¡¯s study. A wave of melancholy washed over her; it felt as if she had barely left, a fleeting breath of freedom snatched away.


    But there was hope. Once Nightmare recovered, they could leave this place behind and return to the world beyond the hospital walls.


    She turned to check on him but froze. Nightmare lay sprawled on the floor, deathly pale, his raven-black eyelashes delicate brushstrokes against his skin.


    Panic seized her. ¡°What happened?¡± Rushing to his side, she knelt beside his motionless form.


    After an agonising moment, his eyes fluttered open, clouded with pain. He attempted a smile, clearly exerting himself. ¡°I¡¯m fine¡­ just a bit¡­ drained.¡±


    ¡°Drained?¡± Yu Xiao was uncertain. What could be done for a creature like Nightmare? ¡°Are you sure that¡¯s all?¡±


    He weakly nodded. ¡°Just some rest, that¡¯s all I need.¡±


    Though unconvinced, Yu Xiao helped him onto the Director¡¯s imposing bed. ¡°Rest then,¡± she said softly. ¡°Are you hungry?¡±


    Nightmare shook his head, half burying his face in the silken sheets.


    With a sigh, Yu Xiao turned to leave. ¡°Get some sleep then. I¡¯ll leave you alone.¡±


    A tug on her sleeve stopped her in her tracks. Looking down, she saw a single, slender finger wrapped tightly around the fabric, keeping her in place.


    ¡°Don¡¯t go¡­¡± His voice was barely audible, pleading with her.


    He had done so much for her; how could she refuse? ¡°What is it?¡±


    He didn¡¯t answer but tightened his grip, his hand enveloping hers in a chilling embrace.


    His intent was clear.


    ¡°You want me to stay?¡±


    He nestled deeper into the quilt, a muffled ¡°Mm¡± his only response.


    A soft laugh escaped her lips. ¡°Alright,¡± she conceded, settling into the chair beside the bed. ¡°Rest. I¡¯m not going anywhere.¡±


    He burrowed even deeper, muffled sounds emanating from beneath the covers. Then, his grip tightened, pulling her off balance.


    ¡°This is rather uncomfortable,¡± she mildly protested.


    The quilt shifted, and his drowsy, warm voice reached her. ¡°Perhaps¡­ you should lie down too?¡±


    **


    The obligatory task was done. Qing Shi wheeled himself back towards Sage Hospital, relief flooding through him with each rotation of the wheels. The familiar facade brought tears to his eyes.


    Home.


    The outside world held nothing but harshness. Never again. From this day forward, he vowed, only the direst circumstance would pry him from Sage Hospital¡¯s comforting embrace.


    His vow made, he sought out his newest recruit ¨C Jealousy. He found him by the window, gazing at the sky with an unsettling intensity.


    ¡°Jealousy,¡± Qing Shi called out, his voice soft but firm. He¡¯d changed into clean clothes, once again the picture of frail youthfulness. ¡°Your work starts now. The cleaning still needs doing.¡±


    Jealousy turned, eyes flashing with icy fire. ¡°Are you bossing me around?¡±


    Qing Shi met his gaze, unfazed. ¡°Not me, but the hospital, its rules, its Director. This isn¡¯t charity work, you know. Though you¡¯re welcome to refuse, of course. I wouldn¡¯t dream of bossing you around. I¡¯ll simply make sure the work report reflects your¡­ enthusiasm.¡± Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The air crackled with unspoken threats. Jealousy¡¯s face contorted, no doubt picturing the current Director. With a muttered curse, he snatched up a nearby mop.


    Unseen, unheard, Gluttony arrived. He surveyed the hospital with a satisfied smirk. The building itself was a feast for his eyes. And soon, once he¡¯d dealt with Qing Shi ¨C consumed him, devoured him whole ¨C it would all be his.


    ¡°Wang Shu, my dear, *dear* friend,¡± he murmured, licking his lips. ¡°Your most sincere friend is here.¡±


    **


    Yu Xiao drifted in that hazy space between sleep and wakefulness, Nightmare snoring softly beside her. Then, her phone shattered the peace.


    ¡°I wish I could live another five hundred years¡­¡±


    She squinted at the unfamiliar number on the screen. With a sigh, she answered, ¡°Hello? Who¡¯s this?¡±


    ¡°Esteemed Director,¡± a smooth, sincere voice replied. ¡°Deception, the newly appointed Head of Security, reporting for duty. I have a¡­ situation.¡±


    Ah, yes. Deception. Officially hers now. Being Director meant dealing with this sort of thing, even when it interrupted precious time like sleep.


    Nightmare grumbled under the duvet, clearly not pleased by the interruption.


    ¡°Shh,¡± Yu Xiao soothed, patting him under the covers before clearing her throat. ¡°Shoot.¡±


    ¡°A serious incident has occurred at Wise Hospital. Gluttony abandoned his post and attacked Dr. Qing Shi. Jealousy, on duty at the time, did not intervene, but just stood and watched as Gluttony devoured one of Dr. Qing Shi¡¯s legs.¡± Deception¡¯s voice remained calm, utterly professional. ¡°Fortunately, my team and I arrived before things got too messy. Now, Director, any suggestions on how to handle these two¡­ troublemakers?¡±


    Yu Xiao stared at the ceiling, a knot of dread forming in her stomach. Why, oh why, did Gluttony have to develop a taste for Dr. Qing Shi?


    Slowly, she remembered something that had slipped her mind, and the awful truth dawned on her ¨C this might be her fault. It had to be connected to her ¡°subtle¡± suggestion.


    A bead of sweat trickled down her temple.


    ¡°Uh¡­¡± Her mind raced, searching for a way out of this self-inflicted mess.


    Deception, ever the perceptive one, picked up on her hesitation. ¡°I do have a suggestion, Director,¡± he offered helpfully.


    ¡°Hit me,¡± Yu Xiao sighed, resigned.


    ¡°Based on Gluttony¡¯s ramblings,¡± Deception explained, ¡°there might be more to this story. To be fair and avoid any¡­ misunderstandings, I propose we detain both Gluttony and Dr. Qing Shi for questioning. Once we have all the facts, we can decide on appropriate punishment.¡±


    Yu Xiao considered this. As long as they didn¡¯t dig too deep, she should be safe. After all, she hadn¡¯t exactly issued a direct order; she¡¯d merely planted a very hungry seed.


    ¡°Alright, Deception,¡± she finally conceded. ¡°You¡¯re the boss on this one.¡±


    **


    Deception tucked his phone away, a triumphant smile playing on his lips. Behind him, Jealousy thrashed against whatever held him captive.


    ¡°You deceived me!¡± he roared, fury radiating off of him in waves. ¡°You promised¡­¡±


    ¡°How foolish.¡± The smile never faltered, a grotesque parody of sincerity. ¡°Deception is my name. Do I need to spell it out for you?¡±


    Another figure, equally restrained and consumed by rage, added his own indignant bellow. ¡°I¡¯m reporting this! Reporting Wang Shu! He¡¯s behind it all! He¡¯s the one who deceived me!¡±


    Deception¡¯s eyebrows rose, a picture of scepticism. ¡°Is that so? And what evidence do you have?¡±


    ¡°A handwritten letter! From Wang Shu himself! In my pocket!¡±

 Chapter 190: Such a Minor Matter

    It had been fifty years since the new director took office, bringing reforms that finally settled the horror hospital into a semblance of normalcy. Patients and ghost staff coexisted in a tenuous harmony, all working together to keep the facility running smoothly.


    But beneath this long-standing peace, turbulent undercurrents brewed. For some ambitious souls, peace bred stagnation, stifling opportunities for advancement.


    The director was the highest authority at the hospital, but their diligence was often short-lived or nonexistent. And for the general staff, it was not the director who instilled fear, but rather their secretary ¨C Nightmare.


    Every staff member felt a deep sense of awe upon seeing Nightmare, the embodiment of the director¡¯s will.


    However, for those with grand ambitions, becoming the secretary represented the pinnacle of power and was a role they fervently coveted. S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    One day, during a heated altercation between an attending doctor and a patient, Deception ¨C head of security ¨C intervened and ended up detaining both parties. On his way back, he encountered a young man in a black trench coat blocking his path.


    ¡°Deception.¡± The young man raised his head with a slight smile on his lips. His previously unremarkable face now exuded a peculiar charm as his low yet captivating voice seemed to hook itself around Deception¡¯s heart. ¡°It¡¯s been a while.¡±


    Instantly, Deception¡¯s expression changed. A faint blush crept onto his cheeks and his eyes filled with intense loathing.


    ¡°Lust,¡± he spat. ¡°What are you doing here?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m here to see you.¡±


    Alarm bells blared in Deception¡¯s mind as he took a step back, ready to flee at any moment.


    Glaring fiercely, he asked, ¡°What do you want? Are you trying to toy with me? You disgusting creature. I could have you arrested and sentenced to community service in the sewers!¡±


    Lust sighed helplessly, appearing pitiable.


    ¡°Try making that face one more time!¡± Deception exploded.


    ¡°Alright, alright.¡± Lust¡¯s tone was resigned. ¡°I need your help with something.¡±


    Deception¡¯s anger deflated. As long as Lust wasn¡¯t trying anything on him personally, it was tolerable. ¡°What is it?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ve deceived the director,¡± Lust said matter-of-factly.


    Frustration flared up in Deception once again as he glared venomously. ¡°Do you think I won¡¯t drag you off to plant lotus roots right now?¡±


    Lust remained confident in his reply. ¡°You can¡¯t. Any personnel changes or disciplinary actions involving attending doctors or higher require the director¡¯s personal approval. You don¡¯t have the authority.¡±


    Deception choked.


    He couldn¡¯t argue with that fact; he didn¡¯t have the authority to make such decisions. So, he resigned himself to asking, ¡°What exactly do you want from me?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ve deceived the director,¡± Lust continued, his expression not threatening despite his words. ¡°I don¡¯t know what you lied about, but based on your nature, I¡¯m sure you did lie. If I tell the director and he investigates, do you think you can keep it hidden?¡±


    By now, Deception¡¯s face had turned ashen with a hint of green. He was no longer agitated, but instead resigned. ¡°So, what do you want from me?¡±


    ¡°I want to be the director¡¯s office secretary,¡± said Lust earnestly, his eyes beautiful and unwavering. ¡°And for that to happen, you need to help me.¡±


    Deception¡¯s lips trembled slightly. ¡°If I could help you, why wouldn¡¯t I just become the director¡¯s secretary myself?¡±


    ¡°I heard that the position of secretary was created by the director specifically for Nightmare due their¡­relationship¡­beyond that of colleagues,¡± Lust questioned. ¡°Is that true?¡±


    Deception¡¯s expression turned strange. ¡°Even if it is true, so what? Do you think you can seduce the director?¡±


    Lust responded confidently, ¡°Yes, I can. If even Nightmare can captivate the director, why can¡¯t I?¡±


    Deception stared at him in silence, simply asking, ¡°What do you need me to do then?¡±


    ¡°Get rid of Nightmare,¡± Lust said eagerly. ¡°Give me a chance to be alone with the director.¡±


    **


    The Ghost Ship instance was proving problematic. Mei Hua Xin, the attending doctor assigned there, was causing a stir. The issue? The hospital never assigned him any patients.


    Deception had called the director, explaining that Mei Hua Xin refused to communicate with anyone except her. He was out of his depth.


    Yu Xiao held her phone, sighing internally.


    Even though Mei Hua Xin wasn¡¯t ¡°Flying to Someone Else¡¯s Bed¡±, she still didn¡¯t want him harming or devouring people. Thus, she never assigned patients to his instance. However, Mei Hua Xin didn¡¯t understand this and only knew that despite being an attending doctor for over fifty years, he hadn¡¯t seen a single patient, leading to some emotional issues.


    Yu Xiao hesitated, then made a decision. ¡°Tell him to wait. I¡¯ll see him myself.¡±


    Glancing at Nightmare, who was busy organising files, she said, ¡°I¡¯ll be back soon.¡±


    Nightmare nodded. ¡°The Eighth Hospital is completed and ready. Would you like to choose a date for the opening?¡±


    ¡°You can decide on such minor matters.¡±


    ¡°And the bed sheets? Can I choose the colour?¡±


    Yu Xiao was taken aback by the trivial request. ¡°As long as it¡¯s not an outrageous colour, go ahead.¡±


    After she left, Nightmare continued his work. With the increasing number of hospitals and discharged patients, the director¡¯s workload was becoming immense. He did his best to ease her burden.


    He was almost finished sorting the files and was about to change the bedsheets when his phone rang.


    Deception.


    ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡±


    Deception¡¯s voice was eerily calm. ¡°Lord Nightmare, I must confess. I have deceived both you and the director.¡±


    Nightmare paused, his demeanour turning serious. ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    ¡°Forgive me,¡± Deception pleaded. ¡°I don¡¯t wish to lose my position as Head of Security.¡±


    ¡°Go on.¡±


    Deception¡¯s reason was simple: he loathed Lust. Lust had dared to threaten him, and he wouldn¡¯t stand for it.


    ¡°When I told you the method to briefly discharge the director¡­¡±


    ¡°Was it incorrect?¡± Nightmare interrupted, shocked.


    ¡°No,¡± Deception quickly reassured him. ¡°Though I am prone to deceit, I wouldn¡¯t lie about something so critical. The truth is, there isn¡¯t just one method. I¡­ concealed the other methods.¡±


    ¡°What other methods?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not just you who can affect the Heart of Obsession,¡± Deception explained. ¡°I can as well. And so can Lust¡­¡±


    Nightmare¡¯s expression turned peculiar. ¡°What makes you think I will forgive you?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s related to what I¡¯m about to tell you,¡± Deception said. ¡°Lust has also learned of this. He threatened me, demanding my help to replace you as the director¡¯s secretary.¡±


    ¡°!¡±


    ¡°You know what he¡¯s like. He¡¯s determined to become the most trusted ghost by the director¡¯s side, to replace you. He wants me to create an opportunity for him to be alone with her. The director has already arrived at the Ghost Ship, hasn¡¯t she?¡± Deception¡¯s voice was laced with malice. ¡°Then Lust has already met with her.¡±


    Nightmare threw the phone.


    **


    Years had passed since her last visit, yet the ghost ship replica remained as picturesque as ever. A vivid memory given form, an extension of the attending doctor¡¯s domain. Even Yu Xiao, now director, couldn¡¯t be sure if it was truly a reflection of his past, or something¡­ more.


    Emerald sand crunched under her shoes as she scanned the deck, expecting the furious doctor Mei Hua Xin. He was a no-show.


    Footsteps sounded from the left. Yu Xiao turned to find a stranger approaching. Young, with an unsettlingly charming smile, he stopped a respectful distance away.


    ¡°Honourable Director,¡± he bowed his head slightly, ¡°Please forgive my boldness. I have spoken with the attending doctor. He is no longer displeased with your arrangements.¡±


    Yu Xiao¡¯s eyebrow arched. ¡°And you are¡­?¡±


    His eyes held hers, unwavering. ¡°Your most loyal admirer. My name is Lust.¡±


    **


    Even years spent sharing the same bed couldn¡¯t erase the fear that gnawed at Nightmare. Yu Xiao cared about many things in this world. He was just one, and not even the most important.


    So he worked tirelessly, striving to make her happy, hoping to carve a bigger space in her heart.


    Perhaps one day, when he was important enough, he could be a little selfish. Make a slightly more demanding request. Like asking if he could call her Smiley, the way her old friends did.


    This was why fear now gripped him like a vice.


    Many ghosts knew of Lust. Many feared him. Not for his cruelty or ruthlessness, but because those he targeted became hopelessly addicted, willingly devoured.


    The mere thought of Yu Xiao falling under his spell made Nightmare want to tear the world apart. Even if she couldn¡¯t belong to him, she couldn¡¯t belong to anyone else. If anyone tried to replace him¡­ well, he¡¯d make sure they regretted it.


    The ghost ship instance loomed ahead. Nightmare, radiating an aura of barely contained destruction, stalked towards it.


    ¡°What are you doing here?¡±


    He stopped short, the destructive aura vanishing. Yu Xiao stood before him, surprise etched on her face. He blinked, seeing no one else.


    His previously resolute demeanour crumbled. ¡°I came to see you.¡±


    ¡°Oh.¡± She tilted her head. ¡°Is something the matter?¡±


    ¡°Nothing.¡± He tried to sound nonchalant. ¡°Can I use the bedsheets with the little fish?¡±


    ¡°Of course. You choose.¡±


    He wilted. She must find him so annoying. Sensing his mood plummet, she frowned. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±


    He avoided her gaze. ¡°Did you¡­ sort everything out?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡± She turned to leave.


    ¡°Did you¡­ encounter any obstacles? Anything¡­ strange?¡±


    ¡°No.¡±


    She didn¡¯t see the utter heartbreak on his face.


    *She lied! She saw Lust but lied about it. If she doesn¡¯t intend to replace me, why lie?*


    ¡°Aren¡¯t you coming?¡± she asked, glancing back.


    ¡°Something came up,¡± he said, forcing calm into his voice. ¡°I¡¯ll be back later.¡±


    She nodded, then turned and walked away, leaving him alone with his spiralling fear.


    Back at the hospital, Yu Xiao restocked their supply of talismans. Just a normal day. She went to her bedroom and found the blue bedsheets with the white fish already laid out. Nice.


    Suddenly, she had a craving for milk tea, but Nightmare still hadn¡¯t returned.


    **


    When Nightmare reappeared he passed the three-headed dog, Goldie, who was planting lotus roots. Foul-smelling ditch water splashed around him as he spotted Nightmare.


    ¡°Well, if it isn¡¯t Gloomy Gus,¡± he barked. ¡°What¡¯s bothering you? Is the Chief getting tired of you already?¡±


    Nightmare¡¯s expression darkened, which only made Goldie happier. ¡°Soon enough, you¡¯ll be joining me in the lotus patch. I¡¯ll show you the ropes.¡±


    Nightmare turned away, refusing to respond to the dead dog.


    He found Yu Xiao in the study, lost in music. The crackle of a fifty-year-old vinyl filled the air with a melody that had once been popular in the real world. She tapped a rhythm on the table, her eyes closed.


    He stood quietly, observing.


    She didn¡¯t mind being watched, but she could tell from his brooding silence that his mind was filled with tension. When she opened her eyes, she saw it. His usually meticulously styled hair, meant to maintain the Director¡¯s dignity, was a mess. His pristine double-breasted suit was torn, with loose fabric hanging from it.


    ¡°What happened to you?¡±


    ¡°What am I to you?¡± He didn¡¯t answer her question, instead locking eyes with her intensely. ¡°Am I that easily replaceable?¡±


    What had occurred? ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±


    ¡°Answer me!¡± His voice was filled with raw emotion.


    She met his gaze. ¡°You¡¯re irreplaceable, of course.¡±


    ¡°Really?¡± Doubt laced his voice.


    ¡°Yes, really. I have no reason to lie to you.¡±


    ¡°Would you¡­ let another monster be your secretary?¡± He sounded like he was holding onto a glimmer of hope.


    ¡°Of course not.¡± Her eyes narrowed. ¡°Do you think¡­¡±


    Before she could finish her suspicions, Nightmare knelt beside her, gazing up at her with an almost reverent intensity. He cupped her face in his hands.


    Yu Xiao froze.


    He leaned in, pressing his lips against hers in a lingering kiss.


    He pulled back, anxiety clouding his eyes. ¡°Even after this¡­ you won¡¯t abandon me, will you?¡±


    She stared at him for a moment. ¡°Did you¡­ kill Lust?¡±


    Shock flashed across his face, quickly replaced by a resigned slump of his shoulders. ¡°Are you going to punish me?¡±


    ¡°No. He¡¯s¡­ rather pitiful, that¡¯s all.¡±


    He looked perplexed, adrift in the dimly lit room.


    With a sigh, Yu Xiao recounted her encounter with Lust.


    **


    He had initially tried seduction, and failed miserably.


    Realising his defeat, he quickly switched tactics.


    ¡°Director,¡± he said, ¡°I need to report Deception.¡±


    ¡°Oh?¡± She raised an eyebrow. ¡°And what has he done?¡±


    ¡°He has deceived you. He is disloyal. For his own benefit, he might betray you at any moment.¡± Lust actually preened a little as he said it. ¡°But don¡¯t worry, I have evidence.¡±


    The evidence was a video recording of a conversation between Lust and Deception.


    ¡°You have deceived the Director,¡± Lust accused.


    Deception didn¡¯t deny it, only asked what Lust intended to do about it.


    ¡°I believe he is unworthy of his position as Security Chief,¡± Lust declared when the video ended. ¡°I, on the other hand, am more suited for the role. I am loyal. I would never deceive you. And I have the ability to calm the hospital staff, ensuring smoother, more harmonious operations¡­¡±


    **


    ¡°He raised some valid points,¡± she mused. ¡°However¡­¡± She paused. ¡°Deception was your recommendation. And¡­ I didn¡¯t like Lust.¡±


    Watching Nightmare¡¯s face contort with a kind of horrified amusement, she almost felt bad for Lust.


    Almost.


    Yu Xiao raised a perfectly sculpted eyebrow and leaned in closer. ¡°So, what did you do to Lust?¡±


    Nightmare¡¯s eyes darted back and forth as he slowly lowered his head, clearing his throat with a nervous cough. ¡°I¡­I couldn¡¯t control myself. I broke his legs, smashed his mouth¡­and handed to Gluttony for a hotpot feast,¡± he stammered out, avoiding Yu Xiao¡¯s gaze.


    She was left speechless by the gruesome confession.


    ¡°I¡¯ll go rescue him,¡± Nightmare said, turning to leave.


    ¡°Just call Gluttony,¡± Yu Xiao said, grabbing his arm in exasperation. ¡°There¡¯s no need for you to personally go.¡±


    He slumped, his shoulders drooping.


    She frowned, baffled by his demeanour. ¡°What have I done to make you so insecure?¡±


    He thought for a moment, then shook his head.


    Yu Xiao sighed. ¡°Never mind. I feel like having some milk tea.¡±


    As he went off to prepare it, he suddenly turned back and asked, ¡°So¡­ can I still¡­ do that¡­ again?¡±


    She frowned. ¡°Do what?¡±


    He raised a hand to his lips, his gaze lingering on hers.


    ¡°Ah.¡± She chuckled. ¡°That. Such a minor matter. Of course.¡±


    He practically bounced out of the room, a delighted grin spreading across his face.


    Watching him go, Yu Xiao decided that Nightmare was a bit *too* innocent. Perhaps she would download a few romantic dramas next time she was in the real world, just to give him a taste of modern dating.


    As Yu Xiao returned to drawing talismans, she couldn¡¯t shake off the nagging feeling that she was forgetting something important. But if it wouldn¡¯t surface¡­ well, it was best not to dwell on it.


    **


    The scent of something savoury and simmering filled the air in the hospital basement.


    Gluttony hummed cheerfully while removing the lid from a pot, using a ladle to stir the contents.


    Glancing over his shoulder at the young man tied up in the corner, left there like a pig awaiting slaughter, a flicker of insatiable and primal hunger sparked in his eyes. He couldn¡¯t help but lick his lips.

 Chapter 191

    The morning radio chirped away.


    ¡°A Beautiful Day Begins Now~!¡±


    ¡°Yesterday, a severe incident occurred at Sage Hospital. Dr. Qing was violently attacked by a certain Gluttony, resulting in the loss of his left leg. Not only did the perpetrator show no remorse, he even attempted to frame an unemployed ghost, Wang. Throughout the ordeal, law enforcement hospital staff named Jealousy remained completely indifferent. This incident has had a profoundly negative impact on the hospital¡­¡±


    The broadcast went on to detail Gluttony¡¯s sentence ¨C two years in prison, five years without pay ¨C and the hospital¡¯s plea for unity and respect.


    Across the six hospitals, patients listened in stunned silence. This year seemed to be brimming with juicy gossip about the staff, a stark contrast to previous years.


    **


    Lu Xu sighed, putting down his pan-fried dumplings. ¡°Didn¡¯t we used to hear a lot of this kind of news about Yu Xiao?¡±


    Luo Jin nodded thoughtfully.


    ¡°I wonder how she¡¯s doing since her discharge.¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s loaded, isn¡¯t she? Must be doing alright.¡± Luo Jin paused, then his eyes lit up. ¡°By the way, how did those things she left us to sell do?¡±


    ¡°Mostly gone.¡± Lu Xu grinned. ¡°She¡¯s out, so the points are all ours now. I reckon we¡¯ve got enough to discharge ourselves in a couple of months.¡±


    **


    As the new director, Yu Xiao felt obligated to offer her condolences to the injured Qing Shi. She brought Nightmare along, his arms loaded with a specially made brain stew courtesy of Tie Niu.


    Sage Hospital felt different, somehow. The air itself seemed heavy with¡­ something.


    Qing Shi, propped up in a wheelchair, stared at her in disbelief. One leg was conspicuously missing.


    Yu Xiao handed him a plate of grilled brain flowers. ¡°You¡¯ve suffered,¡± she said sincerely. ¡°Eat more, replenish your strength.¡±


    Qing Shi accepted the plate with a trembling hand. Fear battled with a strange sense of relief. He hadn¡¯t joined Lolita and Gu Shu in their revenge scheme. If he had¡­ well, he doubted he¡¯d be alive now. Who could have imagined the once-despised patient becoming the director?


    ¡°It¡¯s not all bad, though.¡± Yu Xiao¡¯s gaze lingered on his empty pant leg. ¡°That leg wasn¡¯t much use anyway. Makes no difference.¡±


    Qing Shi chose not to comment on that. S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Yu Xiao turned, spotting Jealousy hovering nearby. ¡°Jealousy, my word, it¡¯s been a while. Why are you standing so far away? Come closer.¡±


    Jealousy¡¯s face twitched.


    ¡°Look,¡± Yu Xiao continued, ¡°you messed up, but we go way back. No docked pay, no community service. Besides, your old job was pretty much pointless. How about a permanent position here at Sage Hospital? Qing Shi¡¯s a bit immobile now; you can take care of the cleaning.¡±


    Jealousy gaped at her.


    Yu Xiao, ignoring his stunned silence, clasped her hands behind her back. The Director¡¯s aura settled around her. ¡°Right then, get some rest. I¡¯m going for a stroll.¡±


    Qing Shi, clutching his plate of brain flowers, watched her go. A stroll? She¡¯d been here before; what was there to see?


    The air felt thick with echoes as Yu Xiao strolled through Sage Hospital, Nightmare trailing behind. Precious, recklessly opening all those doors¡­ the Sage, sacrificing himself to sustain this world¡­ it felt like yesterday.


    Being director came with a deeper understanding of the instance. This place¡­ it was vast, unlike the others. It couldn¡¯t be sustained by a single attending doctor. That¡¯s why a Sage had to be sacrificed periodically, his power merging with the doctor¡¯s to uphold the instance.


    That¡¯s why she¡¯d given Jealousy the job. Qing Shi, Jealousy¡­ together, their combined power should be enough to keep this place running. No more sacrifices needed.


    Yu Xiao paused at the entrance of Sage Hospital. Taking one step forward would mean leaving the hospital and entering the world of Sage.


    She looked up at the bustling city in the distance. Another Sage resided there, though not the one she had known.


    ¡°Last time I was here,¡± she murmured, turning to Nightmare, ¡°there were others with me. Now¡­ it¡¯s just you.¡±


    He sensed her sadness but couldn¡¯t decipher the tangled emotions swirling within her. Comfort wasn¡¯t his forte.


    She turned and walked towards a door, knocking on it.


    A piece of paper slid through the gap. It read, ¡°A left hand.¡±


    Yu Xiao crumpled the note and pushed open the door.


    The stench of blood hit her with such force that bile rose in her throat. The floor was covered in dark, congealed blood, and a cold, white hand with missing fingers reached out towards her, followed by an even paler face.


    Those familiar blood-red eyes widened in recognition when they saw Yu Xiao, but quickly filled with confusion and disbelief.


    ¡°Do you remember?¡±


    His gaze flickered between fear and recognition as his primal instincts fought against his fading memories.


    Overwhelmed by emotions, he took a step back. The mangled hand fumbled to close the door, until his back hit the wall, struggling to maintain consciousness ¨C a rarity for those in the hospital.


    Yu Xiao had told Zhao Lan and Zhou Xiao Zhen about how yin energy takes over a person¡¯s body after death, eroding their memories and turning them into mere puppets. But Teng Jing Zhi was different ¨C he was fortunate enough to retain his own consciousness as the yin energy took over his body.


    Yu Xiao didn¡¯t want to see him like this, a mere shell of his former self controlled by yin energy. However, she had seen him in the real world, seemingly normal and kind, and so she came to find him.


    ¡°Wait,¡± Yu Xiao called out, handing him his phone with enough points for discharge. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. Items from the hospital can¡¯t leave. I can¡¯t keep my promise to return this to your family. But, I learned the truth about the hospital and have been discharged. You can leave too.¡±


    His blood-red eyes narrowed.


    ¡°You won¡¯t be fully you,¡± Yu Xiao continued, explaining everything to him, the difference between the living and the dead, except for the fact that she had seen him in the real world. ¡°The decision to stay or leave is now yours.¡±


    With that, she turned and walked away, Nightmare following closely behind her. As they disappeared down the hallway, Teng Jing Zhi stood alone in the darkness, his memories clashing with his new reality.


    The hand, missing two fingers, clutched the phone tightly. Blood tears welled up in his eyes, tracing paths through the grime on his face.


    This was the last time Yu Xiao would see him like this ¨C a prisoner of the hospital and its twisted practices.


    **


    Months passed, and Yu Xiao settled into her role as director. Life was¡­ surprisingly peaceful until George called, his voice filled with excitement. St. Elizabeth¡¯s had been rebuilt and was ready to receive patients once again.


    As the acting dean, she couldn¡¯t ignore it.


    ¡°We should go,¡± she told Nightmare.


    He scowled. ¡°I hate George.¡±


    ¡°Exactly why we should go,¡± she said with a mischievous smile. ¡°You¡¯ve beaten him before. Seeing you again definitely won¡¯t bring him joy.¡±


    Nightmare considered this before nodding decisively.


    The walk to St. Elizabeth¡¯s was tiring. Yu Xiao decided to stop by her old ward and retrieve her white coat. She was now the director and it was no longer appropriate for her to act as the dean. It was time to find a suitable replacement.


    As they approached the ward door, a figure emerged from the shadows.


    Tall and dressed in green, with a hat pulled low over his eyes. He looked¡­ familiar.


    ¡°I¡¯ve been waiting for you.¡±


    Yu Xiao blinked. ¡°Sorry?¡±


    ¡°The delivery man,¡± Nightmare muttered. ¡°The one who brought me to you.¡±


    ¡°Oh!¡± It clicked. ¡°Wang Shu! You¡¯ve been waiting¡­ for me? Why?¡±


    ¡°To seek revenge, of course.¡±


    ¡°Tsk,¡± Yu Xiao let out a dramatic sigh. ¡°Will this cycle of vengeance never end?¡±


    She rolled up her sleeves and proceeded to give Wang Shu a brutal beating. Once finished, Wang Shu lay on the ground with his limbs contorted in unnatural angles.


    Seeing potential in him, Yu Xiao commanded Nightmare, ¡°Bring him with us.¡±


    Nightmare clung tightly to Wang Shu¡¯s ankle, dragging him through St. Elizabeth. It was hard to believe that the place looked exactly the same after its reconstruction.


    Yu Xiao asked George, ¡°Don¡¯t you ever get tired of it? Don¡¯t you want a change of scenery?¡±


    George, who had recently learned that Yu Xiao was now the Director, had a complex and indescribable expression on his face. ¡°I¡­ prefer things as they are.¡±


    ¡°Alright then,¡± Yu Xiao nodded. ¡°Let¡¯s go inside and take a look around.¡±


    Tie Niu followed closely behind Yu Xiao, while the Singing Ghost annoyingly clung to his arm. Despite lacking a face, the ghost flames flickering in Tie Niu¡¯s eyes suggested his desire to escape their current situation.


    After wandering around the newly reconstructed St. Elizabeth, Yu Xiao signalled for Nightmare to release Wang Shu.


    With a heavy thud, Wang Shu fell to the ground like a sack of rotten potatoes.


    George took a closer look and recognized Wang Shu, feeling a sense of fear in his heart. Had Wang Shu angered Yu Xiao so much that she resorted to beating him up like this?


    ¡°Make him the new dean,¡± declared Yu Xiao. ¡°He can spend his days writing notes and coming up with puzzles for the patients.¡±


    In her mind, Yu Xiao believed she was truly virtuous for repaying evil with good. Even though Wang Shu had tried to kill her multiple times, she not only refrained from seeking revenge but even promoted him. She saw herself as an example of noble character through her actions.


    A slight twitch formed at the corner of George¡¯s mouth as he glanced at the motionless Wang Shu on the ground, knowing that holding the position of dean with no real power or authority would be nothing short of torture.


    On their way back, Yu Xiao spotted Goldie bobbing up and down in the blood-red stinking ditch from the boat. The former Director may have been discharged and forgotten everything, but he still remembered to keep a black dog named Goldie. A fleeting sense of companionship on long, lonely days.


    **


    Luo Jin and Lu Xu grinned at each other, the forum¡¯s point tally glowing on the screen.


    ¡°See you on the outside,¡± Luo Jin said, already tasting freedom.


    ¡°See you on the outside!¡±


    ¡­


    ¡°Congratulations.¡± The doctor stamped the discharge report with a flourish. ¡°And remember, a bit of exercise after leaving does wonders.¡±


    The young man nodded, stepping out of the hospital and into the warm embrace of the sun.


    A new life beckoned. And what better way to start than with a brand-new phone?


    He strolled down the bustling street, a satisfied smile playing on his lips as he clutched his latest purchase.


    ¡°Old Luo!¡± Another young man hurried over, his brow furrowed. ¡°Where¡¯s your old phone?¡±


    ¡°Left it in the shop.¡±


    Inside the shop, a young woman succumbed to the salesman¡¯s persuasive charms and walked out with a shiny new phone of her own. They melted into the throng, two more faces in the crowd, unremarkable, ordinary.


    **


    ¡°Precious, you won¡¯t believe it!¡± The young woman practically vibrated with excitement, her voice barely audible above the street noise. ¡°That painting¡­ there¡¯s news! The artist¡¯s brother contacted me¡­¡±


    She lowered her phone, her gaze drawn to a fair-skinned young man hovering nervously nearby.


    ¡°Well¡­¡± he stammered, a shy smile spreading across his face. ¡°I got in. The university¡­ it¡¯s here, in this city¡­¡±


    **


    A collective roar erupted from the living room, cheers and excited shouts filling the air. On the screen, the winning team celebrated, faces flushed with victory.


    ¡°Champions!!¡±


    ¡°Team China takes it!¡±


    ¡°Zhou Xiao Zhen, the champion!¡±


    TN: And that¡¯s it. Technically, there is one more extra chapter, but I don¡¯t have it and I want to move on to a new project ? Oh, time has flown by. I started this novel on January 8, 2024. It¡¯s now July 26. That¡¯s about 200 days, a nice number. Or 7 months? Anyway, 191 chapters have come and gone in 200 days.


    Thank you for reading. Special thanks to all of you who have been reading since the beginning of this translation project. If you¡¯d like to support future projects, consider leaving a tip for job well done. See ya on my next novel project~!

 Chapter 192: EXTRA The Directors Legend

    ¡°¡­May there be fireworks in the human world, how can we know peace and joy? Heaven help me, I really wish I could live another five hundred years~!!¡±


    The all-too-familiar song filled the ward, pulling Liang Xun (ÁºÑ¬) out of sleep. She groaned, opening her eyes to the same boring, sterile hospital ceiling she¡¯d been staring at for far too long. Turning her head, she saw her two roommates were already awake. One was getting dressed, the other was sipping tea.


    ¡°That damn wake-up song is getting on my nerves,¡± Li Zhen Zhen (ÀîÕæÕæ) grumbled, tugging on her socks with a hint of irritation. ¡°Can¡¯t they ever change it? I¡¯ve been stuck in this place for so long, and it¡¯s the same tune every single morning!¡±


    Sipping her tea calmly, Lu Lan (ÂÀÀ¶) commented, ¡°I heard it wasn¡¯t always this song. They changed it after the new director took over.¡±


    Liang Xun pushed herself up, muttering as she shuffled to the bathroom, ¡°Well, this new director sure has weird taste in music.¡±


    These three young women, each afflicted with terminal illnesses, one day abruptly found themselves in this nightmarish place, Tenth Hospital. It was a living nightmare, a pit of vengeful ghosts and all sorts of terrifying monsters.


    The only way to survive in this place was to enter ¡°instances¡±¡ªakin to twisted, alternate realities¡ªand complete tasks. Succeed, and you earn points. These points could buy you more time, a few more precious breaths. Collect enough, and you might just earn your way back to the real world.


    Determined to escape this horror, Liang Xun and her roommates threw themselves into these dangerous missions. Now, they were prepping for another descent into the unknown.


    Before taking the plunge, the three held hands, giving each other a silent look of support.


    These instances were unpredictable, a chaotic mix of danger where anything could go wrong. No guarantees, no safety nets. They could only whisper a prayer to any gods who might be listening, begging for a bit of protection so they could all make it through, earn those points, and finally escape this nightmare together as good sisters.


    Then, in a dizzying blink, their surroundings shifted.


    When Liang Xun¡¯s vision cleared, she found herself in a new instance. Around them were other souls trapped in this messed-up game. It was unclear which hospital they came from.


    Suddenly, a figure in a crisp white lab coat appeared in the distance. The moment he came into view, everyone froze, a collective wave of apprehension washing over them.


    Oh crap, it was the attending doctor! The attending doctor was here!


    He had the look of a foreigner¡ªa towering, broad-shouldered figure with a shock of unruly blond hair and piercing blue eyes that glinted behind gold-rimmed glasses. But his skin, pale and devoid of any hint of life, indicated he was anything but human.


    Walking towards them with a faint, almost mocking smile, he greeted the group. ¡°Good afternoon, everyone. I am your attending doctor. You may call me Dr. George.¡±


    ¡­


    After days of non-stop effort, they finally cracked the code; the key to completing the instance was right there in front of them.


    A collective sigh of relief swept through the group. They started planning their next move.


    Just then, a senior from Seventh Hospital unleashed a torrent of curses under his breath.


    Liang Xun frowned. This senior was undeniably skilled; the fact that they¡¯d all made it this far without a single casualty was largely thanks to him. But his temper was as volatile as nitroglycerin, always on the verge of exploding.


    *The more skilled they are, the worse their temperament*, Liang Xun thought wryly. Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Suddenly, the senior¡¯s friend chimed in, ¡°Temper¡¯s acting up again, eh? Haven¡¯t used an Old Lord¡¯s Talisman lately, have you?¡±


    The skilled senior paused, then silently pulled a talisman from his bag.


    Liang Xun had spotted these Old Lord¡¯s Talismans in the hospital¡¯s shop, but she had no idea what they were for. She watched, curious, as the senior pressed the talisman to his forehead. Moments later, it sparked, burning to ash and disappearing completely.


    The senior exhaled, a long, slow breath, and even his color seemed to improve, the red flush returning to his cheeks.


    ¡°What was that?¡± Liang Xun couldn¡¯t help but ask. ¡°What does the Old Lord¡¯s Talisman do?¡±


    The senior froze for a second, then turned to Liang Xun and her two companions, who were staring back with obvious curiosity. ¡°You¡¯re new here, aren¡¯t you?¡±


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Liang Xun admitted, nodding. ¡°We¡¯ve been here less than two months.¡±


    ¡°Makes sense.¡± The senior chuckled, a hint of something knowing in his tone.


    Another senior winked at them and added, ¡°It¡¯s one of the director¡¯s little¡­ gifts.¡±


    The director? The word sparked a bunch of half-remembered rumors in Liang Xun¡¯s mind. ¡°I heard there was a change of directors before?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right,¡± the first senior confirmed, nodding. ¡°The director changed a few years back. The one we¡¯ve got now used to be a patient, like us.¡±


    ¡°Seriously?¡± Liang Xun was surprised. ¡°How can a patient become the director?¡±


    ¡°No idea,¡± the senior said with a shrug. ¡°That¡¯s just what the older patients told me. I¡¯m from Seventh Hospital, and the current director was already in charge when I got here. But they said she used to be from Sixth Hospital. Other than that, I don¡¯t know much.¡±


    Even after they cleared the instance and returned to the familiar, sterile confines of her hospital room, Liang Xun couldn¡¯t shake the questions buzzing in her head.


    How could a patient become the director? Wasn¡¯t the goal to earn enough points to get out of this place? Why hadn¡¯t she left? Why take over the hospital instead? It didn¡¯t make any sense.


    The questions swirled in her mind, a relentless tide that kept sleep at bay.


    In the dead of night, she grabbed her phone and logged into the hospital¡¯s patient forum. She fired off a new post:


    ¡¾OP: I heard the director used to be a senior from Sixth Hospital. Is that true? Why didn¡¯t she leave?¡¿


    The forum was full of night owls, and replies buzzed in fast.


    ¡¾Reply 1: I¡¯ve heard that rumor too. Word is, she was a legend¡ªa total badass.¡¿


    ¡¾Reply 2: Same. As for why she didn¡¯t leave, your guess is as good as mine. Maybe she¡¯s hooked on the power trip of being in charge?¡¿


    ¡¾Reply 3: Who knows? Hospitals One through Five are practically ghost towns now¡ªpeople either died or got out. We rarely see anyone from Sixth Hospital either.¡¿


    ¡¾Reply 4: I teamed up with someone from Sixth Hospital once. They said the director is still drop-dead gorgeous.¡¿


    ¡¾Reply 5: What¡¯s the point of all this chatter? The director isn¡¯t going to make the instances any easier for us.¡¿


    ¡¾Reply 6: I¡¯ve met the director! Keep an ear out¡ªshe sometimes checks the wards herself. If you hear singing or even a dog barking when someone passes by, that¡¯s the director on her rounds.¡¿


    Liang Xun scrolled through the forum for what felt like forever, but none of the posts gave any real answers.


    Maybe they hadn¡¯t been in the hospital long enough, or maybe the director was just a mystery. No one seemed to know much about her.


    With a yawn, Liang Xun shifted, trying to get comfortable enough to sleep. The night was deep, and exhaustion was finally creeping in.


    She wasn¡¯t sure how long she drifted in that hazy space between being awake and asleep when she thought she heard footsteps outside the ward.


    It wasn¡¯t the sound of just one person¡ªit sounded like two or maybe even three people walking together.


    Then, she caught the faint sound of singing, a woman softly humming a tune.


    ¡°¡­ The sky is blue waiting for the mist and rain, and I am waiting for you; the smoke curls upwards, spanning thousands of miles across the river¡­¡±


    It was an old song. Liang Xun remembered her mother humming it when she was a kid. She¡¯d been told that it was all the rage back in the day, loved by the young people then.


    In her half-asleep state, she thought she heard the faint barks of a dog.


    Why would there be dogs in the hospital¡­?


    She turned over and finally sank into a deep sleep. In her dream, she¡¯d finally collected up enough points to return to the real world. She and Li Zhen Zhen, along with Lu Lan, were strolling through the streets, happy as can be.


    The sun¡¯s rays bathed them, warm and golden.


    TN: Since I topped up my jjwxc points today and had a tip for this novel, I decided to finally buy the last extra chapter ?(???????)?


    Although it only cost me 10 points, I feel slightly cheated. ©c(`§Õ¡ä*)¥Î Where are our charming characters? Why did we need this short story with these random girls? Give me back my 10 points~! Just kidding. (¡ã¦Å¡ã) But I had hoped for something more¡­ ?(¡¥¥í¡¥¡±?) Oh well¡­


    ©¤©¤©¤ ? ©¤©¤ ¡î ©¤©¤ ? ©¤©¤©¤


    ¡°Borrow From the Heavens Another Five Hundred Years¡± (ÏòÌìÔÙ½èÎå°ÙÄê ¨C Xi¨¤ng Ti¨¡n Z¨¤i Ji¨¨ W¨³b¨£i Ni¨¢n).:


    It¡¯s a very famous and popular song in China.It was the theme song for the 1995 historical TV series Kangxi Dynasty (¿µÎõÍõ³¯ ¨C K¨¡ngx¨© W¨¢ngch¨¢o), a drama about the Kangxi Emperor of the Qing Dynasty.ÁºÑ¬ (Li¨¢ng X¨±n):Áº (Li¨¢ng): This character means ¡°beam¡± or ¡°bridge.¡± It symbolises support, stability, and connection, often evoking images of something that holds structures together or creates pathways.Ѭ (X¨±n): This character means ¡°fragrance¡± or ¡°to smoke.¡± It conveys a sense of warmth, subtlety, and an ethereal charm, often associated with lingering scents or delicate beauty.Putting it all together: ÁºÑ¬ could be interpreted as ¡°a bridge of subtle fragrance¡± or ¡°the enduring elegance of a gentle scent.¡±ÀîÕæÕæ (L¨« Zh¨¥n Zh¨¥n):Àî (L¨«): This character means ¡°plum.¡± As one of the most classic surnames in Chinese culture, it often carries a sense of simplicity and timeless beauty.Õæ (Zh¨¥n): This character means ¡°true¡± or ¡°real.¡± It represents authenticity, honesty, and genuineness.Õæ (Zh¨¥n): The repetition reinforces the concept of truth and purity, highlighting sincerity and depth of character.Putting it all together:ÀîÕæÕæ could be interpreted as ¡°the pure truth of the plum tree¡± or ¡°a sincere and genuine essence like the plum blossom.¡±ÂÀÀ¶ (L¨· L¨¢n):ÂÀ (L¨·): This character is a less common surname with historical significance, often tied to nobility or ancient traditions. It carries an air of dignity and heritage.À¶ (L¨¢n): This character means ¡°blue.¡± It symbolises calmness, vastness, and depth, evoking images of clear skies or tranquil waters.Putting it all together:ÂÀÀ¶ could be interpreted as ¡°a noble tranquillity of blue¡± or ¡°the serene vastness of a deep blue sky¡±  or a ¡°blue melody¡±. ÌìÇàÉ«µÈÑÌÓê¶øÎÒÔÚµÈÄã ¡¾Ti¨¡n q¨©ng s¨¨ d¨§ng y¨¡n y¨³ ¨¦r w¨¯ z¨¤i d¨§ng n¨«; The sky is blue waiting for the rain, and I am waiting for you¡¿: Lyrics from a well-known Chinese song, ¡°¡± (), sung by Jay Chou (ÖܽÜÂ×). The song evokes a nostalgic, poetic atmosphere with traditional imagery. ©¤©¤©¤ ? ©¤©¤ ¡î ©¤©¤ ? ©¤©¤©¤


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