The plan itself was simple: reach the marked room before lights out, lie in wait, then, when the countdown begins, strike. Ambush the countdown ghost and give it a proper thrashing. The only real debate was whether to end it right there or try squeezing some answers out of it first.

    “Just kill it,” Zhou Xiao Zhen declared. “It’s murdered God knows how many people already, and word is it can’t even talk. What’s the point of interrogating a brick wall?”

    She had a point. Everything on the forums suggested this particular ghost was all screams and no conversation.

    Yu Xiao, however, hesitated. She looked to the five from the Second Hospital. “What’s the deal with these Domains, anyway?”

    Wang Dong Dong shuffled his feet, while Yu Qing Lang, still rubbing sleep from her eyes, just looked confused.

    Flying to Someone Else’s Bed, noticing the awkward silence, piped up. “Why do you ask?”

    “Only ghosts with Domains can be attending doctors, right?” Yu Xiao’s curiosity was piqued. “And Domains are supposed to be a sign of serious power. So… if you’re going up against an attending doctor, does that mean…?”

    They exchanged uneasy glances. Nobody spoke. Finally, Flying to Someone Else’s Bed mumbled, “We don’t have Domains.”

    Yu Xiao’s jaw dropped. “Then how can you even think about fighting an attending doctor?”

    “Well…” Flying to Someone Else’s Bed squirmed. “With enough functional cards, like Physical Fitness Cards and Spirit Cards, we dared to.”

    Their apprehension was clear. They genuinely didn’t seem to understand Domains at all. Yu Xiao had initially hoped to glean some insight from them. If she could figure out how Domains worked, maybe she could help Tie Niu or Miss Courier grow stronger, which would be a huge help to her in the long run.

    It seemed unlikely she’d get the chance before leaving this hospital, though.

    With the operation planned for that evening, those who’d already had breakfast decided to grab a few more winks. Dinner would be served at five, the meal cart rattling back and forth outside their doors for two hours before its final departure.

    **

    Meanwhile, in a room in the Sixth Hospital, three young men with faces like chalk paced anxiously. They hadn’t touched their dinner. Since the afternoon, they’d been glued to their phones. No new information on the forums, and the number they’d been given remained stubbornly silent.

    Eight o’clock. Lights out. The memory of that sound, the one that clawed its way from beneath the door the previous night, sent shivers down their spines. It had been like something dragged up from the depths of hell.

    The forums had been clear: talismans were useless against this particular entity. Still, they plastered every inch of the door with them, drawing a thin comfort from the act.

    Time oozed by. Eight o’clock loomed.

    The three sat huddled, fear a tangible presence in the room. Finally, one spoke, voice tight. “Should we call Deaf Descendant?”

    “What if she’s busy? What if she hates being rushed?” another countered.

    “So we just… wait here to die?”

    “We’re not going to die,” the third interjected, though his voice lacked conviction. “The forum said so. Not until the thirteenth day.”

    The reassurance did little to soothe their nerves. Even if Deaf Descendant did come, they were only delaying the inevitable by a few days.

    They were contemplating whether to lie down before the darkness hit when a sudden commotion erupted from the bathroom.

    “Are you sure this is the place?” a woman’s voice asked.

    “Yes,” a man replied.

    Several thuds followed, like someone jumping down from a height.

    They exchanged wide-eyed glances, scrambling to their feet. All eyes fixated on the bathroom door. A moment later, it swung open.

    A figure emerged. Tall and slender, with a wild mane of hair and a beard thick enough to house a family of sparrows.

    The three gaped. Who was this? They’d heard the woman’s voice… Deaf Descendant was supposed to be a woman!

    The bearded man surveyed them with sharp eyes, his silence somehow radiating authority. After a long moment, he spoke. “Is this the ward where the countdown appears?”

    They could only nod dumbly. “Y-yes, this is it!”

    The man turned and bellowed into the bathroom. “Right here! Come on out!”

    Another flurry of knocks, and the bathroom disgorged a small crowd of men and women into the ward.

    The three young occupants felt their scalps prickle. Sweat beaded on their backs. It had been a long time since they’d shared a room with this many people, especially here in the Sixth Hospital.

    Yu Xiao, emerging last from the mirror’s depths, pushed through the throng. Her eyes settled on the three bewildered faces. “Which one of you is Sun Da You (孙大有: “grandson with great abundance” or “grandson possesses greatness”)?”

    孙 (Sūn): This is a common Chinese surname that originally means “grandson” but is widely used as a family name without that connotation.大 (Dà): This character means “big,” “great,” or “large.” It often implies greatness or significance in a name.有 (Yǒu): This character means “to have,” “possess,” or “exist.” It suggests abundance or the presence of qualities.Together, 孙大有 could be interpreted as “grandson with great abundance” or “grandson possesses greatness,” reflecting a positive and auspicious meaning.

    A nervous hand rose from the young man on the right. “Th-that’s me…”

    “We spoke on the phone, right?” Yu Xiao squeezed past the others and offered her hand. “Deaf Descendant. Nice to meet you in person.”

    Sun Da You shook it, his gaze darting nervously between Yu Xiao and the crowd behind her. “Who are they?” he whispered.

    “They’re here to help,” she reassured him, patting his shoulder. “Don’t worry, you’re in safe hands now.”

    A wave of relief washed over the trio. After a day and night of gnawing anxiety, Sun Da You could finally breathe. “You came! I thought… I thought you might not.” He paused, then blurted, “What do we need to do?”

    “You? Nothing at all. Leave everything to us.” Yu Xiao’s smile was almost motherly. “Why don’t you try to get some sleep? We’ll be as quiet as we can.”

    “…” sea??h thё Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Sun Da You wiped his brow, thinking: *Sleep? With all this going on?*

    He stole another glance at Yu Xiao and her companions. Eight of them in total – four men, four women. Aside from Yu Xiao and the two girls who seemed to be permanently attached to her side, the rest looked… intense. Were they all from the Sixth Hospital? He’d had no idea this place housed such big shots.

    Yu Xiao strolled over to the door and peeled off a talisman, handing it to Sun Da You who looked puzzled.

    “Hold onto this. Things might get a bit lively later, and these aren’t easy to come by. Don’t waste them, eh?”

    Sun Da You accepted the talisman, his heart swelling with gratitude. Deaf Descendant… what a woman! A true beacon of hope in this cursed place.

    Gathering her team, Yu Xiao addressed them. “Right then, everyone. Taking this party outside, or keeping it indoors?”

    “Outside, definitely,” Flying to Someone Else’s Bed declared instantly.

    Zhao Lan nodded in agreement. “Wouldn’t want to trash the place, right?”

    Flying to Someone Else’s Bed shot her a strange look. “Oh, I just really want to see what’s outside this ward.”

    “…”

    Their chatter was cut short by the chime of the clock. Eight o’clock. On cue, the lights went out, plunging the room into darkness.

    The group’s prior laziness evaporated. Five figures from the Second Hospital instantly crowded the door, Yu Qing Lang’s hand already gripping the handle.

    Silence descended, thick and heavy. Sun Da You could hear his own pulse drumming in his ears.

    Minutes crawled by. Then, a voice, chillingly close on the other side of the door: “Twelve.”

    The voice, flat and devoid of emotion, sent a shiver down their spines.

    In a flash, Yu Qing Lang threw open the door. The five from the Second Hospital surged out into the corridor.

    A startled yell pierced the darkness. “What the—?!”

    “Oof!”

    Inside the ward, Yu Xiao exchanged uneasy glances with the others. What was happening out there?

    “Should we take a look?” Zhou Xiao Zhen whispered, her voice tight.

    Zhao Lan, distracted by the commotion, misheard. “What was that?”

    “Should we go out there?!” Zhou Xiao Zhen repeated, louder this time.

    “Oh.” Zhao Lan turned to Yu Xiao. “Should we?”

    Yu Xiao hesitated, then nodded. “Let’s take a look, but stay back, alright?”

    The three crept towards the door. The corridor was pitch black, the only indication of movement a shifting shadow against the darkness.

    “We can’t see!” Zhou Xiao Zhen hissed, anxiety creeping into her voice.

    “Click.”

    Zhao Lan flicked on the light, casting a pool of light that spilled from the ward into the corridor.

    Two figures lay sprawled on the ground. Yu Qing Lang, limbs wrapped around a suited man like some kind of spider demon, held him fast. Wang Dong Dong was plastered against the opposite wall, looking winded. Flying to Someone Else’s Bed stood over the struggling man, one hand clamped tightly around his throat.

    “Settled then?” Zhou Xiao Zhen blurted, her voice laced with disbelief.

    “Not quite,” Wang Dong Dong countered, his back pressed against the wall. He flicked a glance at the suited ghost thrashing in Yu Qing Lang’s grasp. “This thing’s a beast. We can’t even scratch it.”

    Yu Qing Lang, pale knuckles straining against the torn sleeve of its uniform, wrestled with the ghost Together with ‘Flying to Someone Else’s Bed’. The ghost, impervious to pain, writhed like a demonic ragdoll, its disembodied hand clawing blindly towards Yu Qing Lang’s head.

    In a coordinated surge, each grabbing one of the ghost’s appendages. Wang Dong Dong ever threw himself down to secure a firm hold on the ghost’s legs.

    Momentarily subdued, the suited fiend let out a chilling rasping sound, a twisted parody of laughter. It was then they noticed something unsettling. The ghost’s neck, twisted at an unnatural angle in ‘Flying to Someone Else’s Bed’s vice-like grip, began to bend further, inch by excruciating inch.

    ‘Flying to Someone Else’s Bed’s’ grip was about to snap its neck, Yu Xiao thought with a grimace.

    “Snap!”

    A sickening crack echoed through the room as the neck finally gave way. The ghost slumped to the floor, a defeated puppet.

    Silence descended, broken only by the ragged breaths of the group. Despite the ordeal, their expressions remained unnervingly composed.

    “Impressive teamwork,” Yu Qing Lang finally remarked, her voice as devoid of emotion as ever. “Though I nearly became a ghost’s second breakfast there.”

    Wang Dong Dong pointed at the sizable dent in the wall. “Speaking of, did I leave a mark when I…er…met the wall a little too closely? Will I have to pay for it?”

    “It’s not your fault,” ‘Flying to Someone Else’s Bed’ said, pointing an accusing finger at the suited ghost sprawled on the floor. “He’s responsible for all of this; you were merely aiding a fellow patient.”

    Zhou Xiao Zhen asked again. “Is it finally over?”

    Yu Qing Lang smoothed her hair reassuringly. “Yes,” she confirmed, then turned to Yu Xiao. “We’ve decided to crash at your place until the next round of the instance.”

    Yu Xiao hummed thoughtfully, walking over to the ghost. Crouching beside the body, she frowned. “A suit?” she murmured, surprised. “I’ve never seen a ghost dressed like this in the hospital before.” Without hesitation, she began searching the man’s pockets.

    Zhou Xiao Zhen watched, aghast. “Smiley,” she whispered, “I know he’s easy on the eyes, but he’s still a ghost. Besides, Bed Bro and the others are much b…”

    Zhao Lan cut her off with a sigh. “She’s looking for his belongings, Precious.”

    “Oh…” Zhou Xiao Zhen mumbled, cheeks flushing pink.

    In the ghost’s pocket, Yu Xiao found a smartphone. It was sleek and modern, similar to their own but a brand she didn’t recognise. She tried to switch it on, but the screen remained stubbornly dark. Dead battery, by the looks of it.

    She continued searching, unearthing a fountain pen, a card holder, and a wad of cash. He seemed like an ordinary office worker, caught in the wrong place at the wrong time.

    Yu Xiao frowned again. It was strange. This ghost looked so…normal. The hospital ghosts had their roles, sure, but they didn’t live like humans. George never left his office unless absolutely necessary. Tie Niu’s head kept falling off. And Saint Elizabeth’s nurses? Don’t even get her started on their late-night bin raids for scraps in trash bins like some racoons…

    “We should go,” ‘Flying to Someone Else’s Bed’ interrupted her thoughts, staring into the darkness ahead. “I sense a familiar presence approaching.”

    Yu Xiao blinked, utterly confused. “Huh?”

    “No time,” Yu Qing Lang urged, grabbing her hand and pulling her away. “The dog’s coming.”

    Three-headed dog – the Chief of Security!

    Panic jolted Yu Xiao into action. “Let’s go, let’s go!”

    She dragged the suited ghost towards the ward, leaving the three young men inside to exchange nervous glances. They hadn’t dared to look outside during the commotion, only heard the strange noises fading into the distance. Now, they watched in stunned silence as she reappeared, hauling the suited man behind her.

    Sun Da You cautiously pointed at the newcomer. “Who…who’s that?”

    “The ghost who was counting down,” Yu Xiao explained, pulling the suited man towards the bathroom. “We’re leaving. Close the door, and whatever you do, don’t forget the talismans.”

    Their minds reeled as the others vanished into the bathroom, the unsettling figure of the ghost disappearing last. It was a long moment before Sun Da You spoke, pinching himself hard. “Am I dreaming? They actually beat the ghost who laughs at talismans?”

    As if in answer, a sharp rapping on the door made their blood run cold. What now? It was supposed to be over!

    A deep, stern voice boomed from the other side. “Open this door! Or I’ll break it down myself!”

    Panic seized Sun Da You. “No way!” he yelled back. “Come in if you dare!”

    The next second, they heard the distinct click of a key turning in the lock.

    Silence.

    Then, with a final, ominous ‘click’, the door swung open.

    Bathed in the hallway light stood a dog, its sleek black fur gleaming. But this was no ordinary dog. It was a human-sized, with three heads – and a look that could curdle blood.

    Sun Da You and his companions crumpled to the floor, their minds short-circuiting. A dog. A massive, three-headed dog. And behind it, a group of stern-faced men in uniform.

    The three heads swivelled, peering into the ward. “Were you lot responsible for the ruckus outside?” one of them barked.

    “No, no…” Sun Da You and his friends shook their heads frantically, their faces pale.

    The three-headed dog, able to sniff out a lie with a single sniff from one of its heads, seemed satisfied. “Then who was it?”

    They hesitated, then continued shaking their heads, fear rendering them speechless.

    “Liars,” the dog growled. “Take them to the medical dispute office.”

    “!!!”

    The young men completely fell apart. The youngest of the three burst into tears. “W-wait!” he wailed. “Wuwuwu… It was Deaf Descendant! It was all her!”

    **

    Back in the ward, Yu Xiao dumped the suited ghost unceremoniously on the floor.

    Yu Qing Lang wrinkled her nose. “Why bring that thing back?”

    “He’s hiding something.” She crossed to the bed and plugged the suited man’s phone into her charger. To her surprise, it flickered to life.

    “Curious, aren’t you, little one?” ‘Flying to Someone Else’s Bed’ chuckled, a predatory glint in his eyes.

    A sharp rapping on the door interrupted them.

    “Deaf Descendant!” a stern voice boomed from the other side. “Hospital Security. You’ve been identified as a public safety hazard. Come out with your hands where we can see them.”