???

Under the glaring lights, Ji Jue had the disorienting illusion that he was in a dream.

He subconsciously looked around, and apart from the people lying all around, it seemed like a chaotic meeting room, with blood everywhere on the walls and ceiling.

The scent of disinfectant couldn't mask the stench of decay.

With a blink of his eyes, everything had changed. But the problem was... no, where's my bike?!

Little Bull was gone!

It hadn't been brought in…

Ji Jue felt for the gun holster under his ribs, only to touch emptiness; the gun was also missing!

But... when he reached into his pocket, he found the well-preserved Mutated Bullets, and his necklace, ring, and bell were still safely on him.

Ji Jue instantly felt slightly enlightened. So, it wasn't that alchemy items couldn't be brought in?

But the clothes he wore were also just ordinary, right?

Wasn't Little Bull considered equipment?

Could the selection criteria of the Time Ruins be this flexible and adaptive?

Amidst his grogginess and headache, he recalled the scene before entering.

Noticing the proximity of the Time Ruins, his first reaction was to grab his full gear and race toward a secluded area on the Little Bull.

But the faster he ran, the closer the Time Ruins chased him.

And he ultimately failed to escape.

At the last moment, he realized what he saw in the popup from his cousin—the bottom line flickering—[Auto Traction Program Running]

Thinking of this, Ji Jue felt an anger surging, wishing he could rip off that damn watch and smash it.

So, were you, kid, the one who brought the Time Ruins here?

But was it really the Time Ruins that it was drawing in?

Or something else?

Out of his brief distraction, Ji Jue envisioned the last sight before being swallowed by the Time Ruins—the world seemed to shatter, or perhaps, shed its disguise, revealing its fragmented true face.

The ground was cracked with flames spreading everywhere, and the fiery sky above was full of fissures. The restrained stars flickered dimly, as if they were about to fall.

But between heaven and earth, everything was enveloped by a complex network of Spiritual Circuits intersecting each other, seemingly binding the whole world together forcibly.

Present everywhere, existing constantly.

The so-called...

Sky Rail!

Ji Jue tried to remember their details, but such a scene quickly blurred and faded from his memory, leaving only a vague impression.

Difficult to clarify.

The watch had once again fallen into silence, with only the last popup visible—[Train Preparation In Process], no telling what exactly it was setting up.

In just a few seconds, he sorted through the current situation and sighed, looking up to notice the shadowy figure making noise at the doorway not far away.

He couldn't help but be stunned:

If not big brother, then who are you?

"Are you awake?"

A bizarre creature that hardly resembled a human raised its eyes to look over.

It was a human-shaped entity pieced together like a corpse, yet it bore numerous cracks all over, rudely stitched together with suture lines.

Stooped with a hunched back, two hands hung from beneath the white lab coat—one long, one short, each finger sharp as a blade.

Its three slender eyes surveyed Ji Jue and the other Chosen Ones brought in by the Time Ruins, soon bursting into a creepy, pleased chuckle: "Very good, very good, all excellent seeds.

With so many people replenished, our… our hospital will surely be able to save even more patients…"

Coupled with his words, sharp laughter echoed from the end of the corridor with continuous, uneven footsteps approaching as though a large crowd was approaching.

And in the chaotic meeting room, moaning finally commenced.

On the floor, those Chosen Ones swept up by the Time Ruins were finally awakening, glancing around in panic, vigilance, or bewildering, realizing the distinctive aura of their surroundings from the real world, they came to a quick realization.

"Damn it, the Time Ruins?"

"Where am I... in?"

"Don't make a move; if we startle the Evil beings, no one will survive!"

"What the hell is this thing?"

Amidst the noisy chaos, a few Chosen Ones cautiously eyed each other. Those who understood the situation began seeking information, those confused tried to escape, and some approached trying to converse, creating a mix of reactions.

Outside the door, those overlapping, hollow footsteps were drawing nearer.

Then, following one by one, appeared a group of people who looked almost undistinguishable from the doctor earlier, yet even more gruesomely fierce.

Traces of many beasts emerged on their bodies; some even had eyeballs fallen out, with a section of tentacles peering out from the sockets, nimbly stirring.

Faces bore exaggerated grins.

Revealing two rows of jagged, sharp teeth already covered in blood.

Some had already become dark, ash-gray translucent shadows...

"Has Director Qian arrived yet?"

Walking at the forefront, a figure bloated like a drowned corpse displayed a moss-green appearance, foul pus leaking from nostrils and mouth when speaking, accompanied by a muffled phlegmy voice: "Heartfelt dedication to hospital duties, truly arduous."

"Finish up the work soon, come earlier."

The being known as Director Qian, a sewing corpse, stepped aside, "This week's new doctors are all here."

In an instant, all the bizarre and grotesque doctors turned their attention to all the newcomers.

"How is there not a bit of order? What did the teachers teach?"

"They're all young people, very vigorous."

"Generations bring forth new talents; why worry our hospital won't thrive?"

"Yes, yes indeed."

Amid the weird laughter and muffled words, everyone felt a chilling dread, no longer daring to whisper or make any movement.

"Everyone, don't be afraid, no need to worry."

The corpulent figure at the front spoke, his bloated flesh seemingly curling into a smile. His voice was muffled, "Here at last... once you arrive at the hospital, we are all one family. From this day forward, we must live in harmony.

As the director, let me express a warm welcome to you all!"

He said, clapping his hands.

Then, all the 'physicians' behind him suddenly started clapping in unison, creating a lively atmosphere. However, the sound was overly synchronized, such that the overlapping claps sounded more like the beating of a death drum, causing one's heart to pound with fear.

Soon, amid the creaking of wheels, a cart of clothes was pushed in.

It was brought before the participants.

All the garments were white lab coats, identical to those worn by the physicians.

However, it was unclear where these white coats had been stripped from; they were speckled with filth, stained with blood, and carried a strong stench of decay.

"What's the matter? Why are they so dirty?" the director frowned in apparent displeasure.

But quickly, that hallucinatory foul smell vanished, and even the lab coats on the cart returned to being clean, emitting a scent of disinfectant.

Thus, the director's enthusiastic gaze fell on everyone.

Exaggerating a smile.

Waiting.

Until the first person, mustering courage with trembling hands, picked up a lab coat and put it on. Then the second, the third... Ji Jue was among them, not overstepping.

Upon touching them, they felt just like ordinary lab coats, with no trace of any Superior entity.

Once everyone had donned a lab coat, the atmosphere inside the conference room instantly heated up, as if they truly had become one big harmonious family.

Then, the first emaciated physician who resembled a dried corpse stepped forward, pointing at the two in the front, "We've had a lot going on recently. Let the emergency department take these few."

In the back, those lined up didn't speak, only smiling as they waited.

From that sinister gaze, the two stiff Chosen Ones at the front were taken away by emergency services.

"These two, to our surgical department," chose a physician whose four hands continuously writhed.

"Internal medicine needs one too."

"Infectious diseases will also take one."

...

In just a few words, the involved Chosen Ones had been picked off like livestock, and taken away, leaving only Ji Jue behind.

Finally, Director Qian, who had been smiling by the side and seemed to be holding a list, looked at Ji Jue who was still standing there.

"Hmm? Why is there one missing?"

Director Qian glanced at Ji Jue with a rigid look, his nose twitching slightly, then seemed to dismiss it, "Never mind, just come with me, don't fall behind."

Thus, under the watchful eyes of the director and many physicians, Ji Jue finally left the meeting room.

Following behind Director Qian, who was giggling strangely.

Unfortunately, there was no feeling of relief, but rather it felt like stepping deeper into Hell...

A messy corridor stretched out ahead, littered with filthy marks, and blood splatters on the walls had long since dried.

The air resounded with the indelible smell of blood and disinfectant, sporadically filled with cries of misery, mournful screams, or frenzied roars and shouting.

Outside the windows, there was only a sparse courtyard area between two buildings, roaming with weird creatures that seemed almost human.

Further away, dense fog obscured the view.

In the fog, it seemed as if some massive shape was slowly squirming, but it was unclear.

Ding!

The elevator descended.

Inside the elevator, the space was covered with scratch marks, dark red traces of fingernails scraping.

The lights flickered continuously.

Throughout, Director Qian kept watching Ji Jue, her head seemingly rotating on her shoulders by one hundred and eighty degrees, her enthusiastic smile unchanged.

When the elevator doors opened, Ji Jue heard a piercing scream.

It was one of the Chosen Ones who had been taken away earlier.

"No, fuck this, fuck you!"

From the consultation room, frantic screams erupted, "I don't want to be here... I, I..."

A figure ran out from inside at an incredible speed.

But faster than him, were the crowded patients in the corridor.

These figures, whether hunched, shriveled, or swollen to incredible sizes and unrecognizable as male or female, suddenly surged forward and engulfed him instantly. Regardless of his struggles, they pinned him to the ground, mouths biting fiercely, ferociously feasting until even the spreading blood was thirstily licked clean.

It was as if they were still ravenous.

They turned their heads, faces smeared with shredded flesh and blood, their hollow eye sockets staring straight at Ji Jue, yet seeming cautious and not daring to approach.

A cold hand, unknowingly, had been placed on Ji Jue's shoulder.

"See? This is what happens to those who don't follow the hospital rules."

Director Qian still smiled warmly, her undercurrent of fierce malice not hidden, "From today onwards, you'll be a resident doctor under my guidance.

Don't worry; I'll kindly guide you through any issues at work."

Speaking, her other Mutant hand pointed at the corpse on the ground, "This is your first lesson: abide by your station, never be one to flee the battle."

...

Ji Jue's eyes twitched, and after a prolonged silence, he couldn't help but speak, "Excuse me, how much is the salary here?"

Director Qian did not respond.

As if stunned.

Even the smile on her face froze, gradually turning savage, "A good doctor should understand self-sacrifice and dedication, not ask such self-serving questions."

Alright, understood, so Time Ruins makes people work for free too, huh?

Ji Jue complied amicably, not probing Director Qian's consciousness and logic further, and continued with the original topic, "Where are we headed?"

"Very good, focused on duty, happy to serve."

Director Qian's smile returned, she raised the clipboard in her hand, "Let me see, the hospital is quite busy lately, lots of vacancies everywhere, the department assigned to an excellent newbie like you is..."

She paused for a moment, then looked up seriously and said:

"—Obstetrics and Gynecology."

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