Word count: 22k
☆ 51 The World Outside the Instance
Translator: InkyDragon (https://puukkiss.wixsite.com/inkydragon)
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.”
“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.
(手抓饼 (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服).”
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.
(路痴: This is a slang term that means someone who is bad at directions, or easily gets lost. It is derived from the word 路 (road) and 痴 (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 – 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 – 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.
☆ 52 Merry-go-Round
Dr. George answered with a crisp and detached* voice, “Is something wrong?” he asked, not expecting anything serious.
(*公事公办: 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 – 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.”
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.
☆ 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 – 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 – 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.
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!!”
“— Misty!”
“— 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!”
“— Precious!”
“— 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 (千年杀), 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.
☆ 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.
“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.”
☆ 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 (半步多医院), 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.
【You have a new order, please check it promptly~】
【You 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.
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.
【Congratulations on completing the third round of treatment. You have advanced to Level Four in the Six Hospital Patient Forum.】
【For your impressive performance during the treatment, you have earned 3 basic points and 3 bonus points.】
【Congratulations 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’.
【…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’.
【Congratulations 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?”
☆ 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.
【…Your current points are 163.】
【Congratulations 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.
【Please 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.
【Coin 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 (阴气 and 阳气): 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.
【Prepare 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.
【OP: 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.】
【Another strategy post?】
【Bring it on.】
【I’m sitting on the edge of my seat, literally.】
【…】
【The 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.】
【Before 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.】
【Who are the big shots in our hospital?】
【Did she mean that half of the top ten on the leaderboard are women?】
【One of them is rumoured to be ‘Zhuge Liang burning the Spider Web Cave’ – a woman who can outsmart any trap and enemy.】
【But hasn’t that rumour already been debunked?】
【…】
【Hey, OP, are you still there? It’s been an hour. Are you going to start or not?】
【Well, 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!】
【With 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…】
【…】
【That’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…】
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.
☆ 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, 【Bloody 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.”
“…”
【…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: 【I 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.】
【Blimey, even a big shot like that can cock it up?】
【I don’t know why, but this feels oddly familiar…】
【Come on! Come on! OP, spill the beans!】
【Then what? How did you lot get back?】
【The 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…】
【Do 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!!】
【 … 】
“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.
【Is the big shot that OP mentioned lurking around? If you are, show yourself and tell us if what she said is true!】
【How come I’ve never heard of such a badass big shot at Fourth Hospital?】
【This has to be fake, right? If there really is such a badass big shot, why is Zhuge always topping the leaderboard?】
【If this is true, then it’s too freaking terrifying.】
【…】
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.
【Experience 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:
【How did you survive such a high-difficulty instance? How did you find all the clues?】
Yu Xiao typed back.
【I 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.
【That’s terrifying… No wonder you’re the top-ranked, you can actually pass such a nightmare instance.】
【What 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…】
【Please share more of your experiences, pro. I’m begging you!】
【Does anyone know how to tell the real delivery person apart? I haven’t eaten anything for a whole day.】
【Are the ghosts still roaming the wards at night…】
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…”
☆ 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’…”
“…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.
— Why ain’t ya speakin’?
— Why ain’t you talkin’?
— You go first then.
— 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.
【OP, have you heard the latest? You’ve been duped. The big shot from the Fourth Hospital is none other than my pal Dragon Bro.】
【Judging by this post and your title, you’ve fallen for a massive hoax.】
【What 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!】
【Sure, 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!】
【”Wow! My Dragon Sis is amazing!】
【”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?】
【Why 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.
【I’m following Big Dragon Sis’s example to earn a title!】
【After 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.】
【So, you’re the ones who ruined the toilets in the news?】
【Well…I was part of it.】
【Even though it’s embarrassing, I did it too.】
【 +1 】
【So, OP, did you get the title?】
【Obviously not, if I had a title, it would have been in the news.】
【OP looks so pathetic from this angle, so cute…】
【Even 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!】
【666.】 (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,)
【Don’t forget to share your battle achievements when you return!】
【I hope the OP survives rather than getting some silly title.】
【Please stay alive.】
【…】
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?”
☆ 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: 【The Thunder Striking Ghost Repelling Talisman】 for attack and 【Healing 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: 【Guardian Talisman (护身命符)】.
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…”
**
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.
【Come 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:
【You’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.
【So, 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?
☆ 60 George Was Happy
Their eyes met in a silent exchange. They all knew what they wanted to choose – 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.
【You’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.”
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— 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.”
(╬ಠ益ಠ) Like and comment or I’ll flip you like a table (ಠ益ಠ╬)
me -> (╯°□°）╯︵ ┻━┻ <-you
——TN
Yu Xiao (余笑) — Smiley
聋的传人 (lóng de chuán rén) Deaf Descendant
- TALISMAN
- 【The Thunder Striking Ghost Repelling Talisman】 运雷打祟符 (a talisman for warding off evil spirits and summoning thunder)
- 【Healing Crisis Talisman】 (疗危患符)
- 【Guardian Talisman】护身命符
- TOOLS
- Sunglasses
- permanent Wig
- Coin of Great Observation
- TITLES
- The 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’
- ‘Demolition Crew Leader’
- ‘Amusement Park Bully’
- ‘Deadly Arse Assassin’
Zhao Lan (赵岚) — Misty
昵称好难 (nì chēng hǎo nán) Nickname Hassle
- TOOLS
- TITLES
- ‘Tyrant’s Willing Accomplice in Cruelty’
- ‘Strong as a bull’
- ‘Nine Cows and Two Tigers’
- ‘Village Chief’s Concubine’
- ‘Demolition Crew Member’
- ‘Bully’s Accomplice’
Zhou Xiao Zhen (周小珍) — Precious
卤蛋少女438 (lǔ dàn shào nǚ 438) Braised Egg Girl 438
- TOOLS
- Mahjong
- TITLES
- ‘Tiger’s Devotee’
- ‘Village Chief’s Concubine’
- ‘Demolition Crew Member’
Luo Jin ‘Zhuge Liang burning the Spider Web Cave’
Lu Xun ‘Whispering Monk’
Tie Niu Iron Bull
ARC3
Lolita 洛丽塔
Liu Fei 刘飞 a type of battle-axe / to kill to fly)
Zhang Yi 张毅 to open up / to spread firm and resolute / staunch
Wu Chao 吴超 Wu to exceed / to overtake / to surpass
Xie Meng Meng 谢萌萌 to thank / to apologise to sprout/cute/moe ‘Cute Fairy’
Qian Xin 钱欣 Coin Happy ‘Money Money Money’
Novels | Inky Dragon Translations 
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