Even if cut into pieces, it would regenerate, spread by contact with flesh and blood, and after being burned to ashes, familiar faces would grow again from the flesh that fell with the ashes, wailing in despair.

Literally undying.

But beyond life, sanity, self, and everything else had been twisted beyond recognition, until at last, it degenerated into a disasterous beast.

Such disasters had occurred more than once.

Each time, accompanied by a massive spread of Evil Foolishness.

Among the threatening plagues of Hope Hospital, it ranked [NO.61], a 'blessing' bestowed upon the suffering patients by 'White Pavilion', one of the Nine Evils corresponding to the 'Vortex'. The infection from the Evil being completely mutated living creatures, incurable by medicine. Once mutated, the twisted flesh and soul could not be recovered, even if immediately excised, the removed flesh and soul would continue to wail in endless despair.

Until it was eradicated by higher means, physically and spiritually, altogether.

To this day, such a terrifying threat still lurked within the hospital.

Just thinking about it, Ji Jue felt an immense headache.

But amidst the deadly silence, Tong Hua's expression suddenly changed, and she warned him with a gesture, pointing towards the door.

Then, Ji Jue heard it.

A deep footfall resonated from the corridor outside the door.

Amidst the faint wailing, the sound was so crisp, accompanied by the dull dragging of something, inching closer, towards this very place.

Eventually, it stopped outside the door.

A clear knock sounded, three taps, steady and calm.

And then, a long silence ensued.

An unnamed chill spread, and even the Ghost Fetus that Ji Jue continuously cradled in his hands quieted down, trembling.

In the stillness, no departing footsteps were heard, nor the loud crash of breaking through the door.

Only a patience that seemed capable of enduring until the seas ran dry and the stones crumbled.

As well as torment.

Until Ji Jue stretched out his hand and slowly, opened the archive room door.

Thus, under the flickering light, a face with a grotesquely stitched grin appeared before him:

"What took you so long?"

In an instant, it was right before him.

On Director Qian's face, fresh blood that seemed never to dry slowly flowed down the crevices, and his pitch-black eyes, devoid of any sparkle, stared dead at him.

But Ji Jue's gaze was involuntarily drawn to something in his hand.

A mangled corpse.

Bloodstains followed along with the footprints.

In the void behind him, someone seems to have gently tugged at his shirt. It was Tong Hua, hidden at his side, her fingertip lightly touching Ji Jue's nape—checking records, informing him, this person was another Chosen One who entered the Time Ruins with Ji Jue...

Ji Jue's eye twitched for a moment; he bared his teeth, smiling, but he did not respond directly, instead greeting, "Still busy this late, Director Qian?"

"Yeah, exterminating pests." Director Qian looked down at the corpse in his hands, shook it off: "There's been a real increase in bugs lately, and more bad seeds hiding among us.

Everyone is busy; I can't let these pests disrupt the hospital's order..."

"Indeed, one bad apple spoils the bunch."

Ji Jue nodded in agreement, "Need help?"

"No need, this is my job, newbies still need to balance work and rest. But, speaking of which..."

He paused, and his pitch-black pupils flashed crimson: "What are you doing in the archives?"

"Checking files."

Ji Jue straightforwardly replied, without hesitation: "Looking for learning materials, enhancing my own abilities. After all, though there's not much work in the obstetrics department, it doesn't mean we can just sit around doing nothing!

The hospital needs us, and so do the patients!"

The more he spoke, Ji Jue became increasingly impassioned. In the end, he took the initiative to grasp the other party's bloodstained hands. "I'm so eager to improve, Director Qian!"

For a moment, Director Qian seemed slightly taken aback before a suspicious look crossed his face.

"...Is that true?"

Dark eyes, interwoven with threads of blood, drew near, and the foul stench behind sharp teeth enveloped him: "I really hate it when people lie."

"Really, truly."

Ji Jue nodded vigorously, "Although I wasn't used to it at first, I'm so eager to help the patients, to save them! You know this, Director Qian—"

Before he could finish, he saw Director Qian's face coming closer.

Almost nose-to-nose.

Then after, it descended, as if intending to bury itself between his neck, causing goosebumps to rise and his eyes to widen in disbelief: Crap, is this happening so quickly?

Isn't it usually the young nurses who are preyed upon?

Surely they're not after guys too...

He restrained himself, not moving an inch.

Thankfully, there was no contact.

Director Qian's nostrils flared.

As if sniffing intently.

Quickly, he drew back, and an exaggerated smile returned to his face, as if he'd had an epiphany: "Ah, I see now!"

"You've fallen ill as well..."

Thick blood, like tears, slowly fell down his face, seemingly pitiful, but paired with that smile, it looked more like mockery: "Unexpectedly, you are capable of empathy, very good, that's excellent.

A true physician must possess such compassion!"

"Keep it up, you must keep pushing forward, you understand?"

At last, he patted Ji Jue's shoulder, ready to turn away. Clouded with confusion, Ji Jue, not entirely grasping what had just happened, subconsciously called out to him: "Director Qian!"

"Hm?"

The creature turned back around.

"I, our Obstetrics and Gynecology department is running out of equipment and medicines, I want to apply for some resources to facilitate better treatment for the patients." As he spoke, Ji Jue took a neatly prepared form out of his pocket, handing it over with a shy and bashful expression, just like any young person too timid to speak up.

"Um, very good, all of it's good. As for medicines, we've already run out at the pharmacy, not sure how much is left, and these equipment... never mind, just go to the warehouse and take what you need."

After glancing at the start of the list, Director Qian diverted his gaze, leaving behind only a corpse, pressing a bloodied thumbprint onto it.

As if it were a signature and permission.

"Old Li is getting on in years, not so easy to talk to, remember to bring a little gift." He advised in the end: "People tend to forget things as they age, don't hold it against him."

"Understood."

Ji Jue nodded, smiling and waving as he watched Director Qian's figure recede into the distance.

After a long while, he let out a deep breath, then looked down, following Tong Hua's reminder, to the meandering trail of blood on the ground, and beyond to its source at the end of the hallway, around the corner...

He couldn't help but tilt his head slightly.

Footprints?

Whose?

"Somebody was following us just now."

Invisible by his side, Tong Hua spoke, "Three outsiders, Chosen Ones, they want to kill."

"...What a coincidence."

After a long period of contemplation, Ji Jue suddenly burst into laughter.

"We haven't even seen each other's faces yet, how did everyone end up on the same page?"

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