The fire ghost’s opinion on the matter was irrelevant. Yu Xiao had convinced herself, and that was all that mattered. With the document stamped, she made a hasty exit from the Ghost Group headquarters.

    There was just one small miscalculation. She reappeared in the exact spot she had left from – which meant a rather undignified return to the spot where the boat used to be.

    Back on the river, the others, while somewhat aware of Yu Xiao’s plan, were starting to get a bit twitchy. Facing down Jealousy was one thing, but doing it solo, in another instance? That was pushing it, even for her.

    Yu Qing Lang, perched precariously on the edge of the boat, turned to Zhao Lan. “She’s always been this… adventurous, hasn’t she?”

    Zhao Lan opened her mouth to offer a defence, then stopped. Yu Xiao had always been a bit reckless, ever since their first instance dive. Zhao Lan and Zhou Xiao Zhen, veterans of Yu Xiao’s antics by now, barely batted an eyelid these days.

    A flicker of worry crossed Zhao Lan’s face. “She’s… confident in her abilities,” she conceded.

    “That’s one way to put it,” Wang Dong Dong muttered. “Still, she’s miles ahead of where we were at her age.”

    Yu Qing Lang wasn’t reassured. “But what if she doesn’t come back?”

    Zhao Lan frowned. “Nightmare has already contacted the authorities.”

    “Didn’t that mutt get injured?” Yu Qing Lang pressed. “What if they’re delayed?”

    Zhao Lan, bombarded with questions, was starting to feel a headache coming on. Just then, Nightmare perked up, letting out a soft meow. At the same moment, a figure appeared out of thin air on the surface of the river.

    Yu Xiao, opening her eyes to the sight of her companions, let out a gasp of relief.

    “Smiley!” Zhou Xiao Zhen scrambled to the edge of the boat. “She’s fallen in!”

    Yu Xiao could swim, but the unexpected dunking had caught her off guard. She surfaced, spluttering, just as a proffered oar and several pairs of hands hauled her back onto the boat.

    Zhao Lan and Zhou Xiao Zhen pounded on her back as she coughed up a lungful of river water. When she finally got her breath back, she looked up to find everyone staring at her.

    “Who moved the bloody boat?” she demanded.

    Everyone’s gaze dropped to their shoes. From the other boat, Nightmare coughed delicately. “The Wind Did.”

    Yu Qing Lang, unable to contain her curiosity, blurted out, “What happened? Did everything go according to plan?”

    “Smooth as silk,” Yu Xiao said, wringing her wet sleeve. “Jealousy is currently indisposed, let’s just say he’s playing house guest at the Ghost Group HQ. I’m not sure if we can handle both him and the Chairman at the same time, but at least he won’t bother us here for a while.” She grinned, sharp and ruthless. “That means we can have some fun with his little instance while he’s away.”

    Tang Xing Yin raised an eyebrow. “And what, pray tell, did you have in mind?”

    “Demolition is a good way to start,” Yu Xiao’s eyes glinted mischievously. Sёarch* The N?velFire.nёt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Zhou Xiao Zhen looked confused. “But his temple’s already rubble. Isn’t that dismantling enough?”

    “Is it?” Wang Dong Dong chimed in.

    Zhou Xiao Zhen frowned, pondering the question. “I thought it was…”

    “Not quite,” Yu Qing Lang said. “Temples can be rebuilt.”

    “Then we’ll make sure this one remains firmly grounded,” Yu Xiao said, tapping her chin thoughtfully. “It’s time to get rid of his followers.”

    Yu Qing Lang was sceptical. “And how do you propose we do that?”

    Tang Xing Yin calmly suggested, “Just eliminate them all.”

    “Genocide?” Yu Qing Lang raised an eyebrow. “That seems a bit excessive.”

    “Not exactly genocide,” Tang Xing Yin offered dryly. “More like a hostile takeover.”

    Yu Qing Lang nodded along. “That could work!”

    Yu Xiao gaped. “Even if they’re not human, isn’t that too much?” she squeaked. “What about the rules of the hospital?”

    Tang Xing Yin’s expression soured. The unspoken ‘so what?’ hung heavily in the air.

    Yu Xiao hurried to clarify. “If they penalise you, you won’t be able to join the instance. Then we won’t be able to team up.”

    “…”

    Not that teaming up was the real goal, of course. Being glued to Nightmare’s side was the real prize, and since the entity seemed particularly fond of latching onto Yu Xiao… well, he had to do what was necessary.

    Zhao Lan shook her head. “Even if you wipe out all the followers,” she pointed out, “won’t Jealousy just create more? As long as there are NPCs in the instance, he can continue to cultivate.”

    “So we let him go?” Zhou Xiao Zhen practically choked on the words. “After what he did to Smiley? We can’t just let Jealousy walk away!”

    Zhao Lan stroked her chin thoughtfully. “You know, religious beliefs are notoriously stubborn like weeds. Yet, if you pull one up, another pops right in its place.”

    Yu Xiao’s eyes lit up, a mischievous glint dancing in them. “So, while the soil’s still bare, why don’t we plant something ourselves?”

    The others stared at her, eyebrows raised.

    “A new religion?” Zhou Xiao Zhen blurted out, both horrified and intrigued.

    “We only have seven days, at most,” Yu Qing Lang reminded them.

    Zhou Xiao Zhen nodded, a frown creasing her brow. “Seven days isn’t enough time to start a cult following.”

    Yu Xiao, however, was undeterred. A plan was already taking shape in her mind, audacious and crazy enough to work. “Hear me out,” she began, a mischievous smile playing on her lips. “What if…”

    **

    Night had fallen on the quiet town, and a thick silence smothered the streets after the chaos of the day. With the temple collapse and the poisonings, even the bravest villagers were compelled to bolt their doors and shutter their windows.

    Then, a piercing scream shattered the stillness, jolting everyone awake.

    They’re trying to kill me!”

    “The minions of the demon god are here!”

    Heads popped out from behind curtains, and doors creaked open a sliver as fear battled with curiosity. In the flickering lamplight, a terrifying scene unfolded. A man, his clothes stained crimson, sprinted down the street, pursued by a pack of black-robed temple disciples.

    he gasped, his breath ragged. “They’re trying to silence me! I know the truth about the demon god!”

    He stumbled, catching himself against a wall, his voice cracking with desperation. “The poisonings… they were all a lie! A means to control you, to instil fear in you and blind you to the truth!”

    Similar chases played out across the town, with terror echoing from every corner.

    The bloodied man sagged, his strength finally giving way. “Look around!” he rasped, a bitter smile twisting his lips. “This is the true face of your god! This is his power!”

    He drew himself up, a flicker of defiance in his eyes. “I may die exposing this charade, but I die without regret. And I curse you all! You and your false god! May the true gods rain down their fury upon you!”

    A guttural cry ripped from the man’s throat as he fell to his knees, hands clasped towards the heavens. “Hear my plea, oh Divine One! Strike down these wicked souls and deliver your righteous judgement!”

    Huddled inside their homes, the townsfolk exchanged uneasy glances. A evil god? Here?

    The night sky erupted in a blaze of colour, banishing the darkness in a blinding flash. Ethereal music drifted down, punctuated by a roar that shook the very foundations of the town.

    Curiosity warred with terror, drawing the villagers to their windows. What they saw stole their breath away.

    Bathed in celestial light, a magnificent lion, white as snow and winged like a mythical beast, descended from the swirling colours. Upon its back sat a young woman, draped in a shimmering rainbow gown. Her hair was a masterpiece, her every movement radiating an otherworldly grace. A halo of pure light encircled her, solidifying the image of a goddess descended from the heavens.

    “Your call has been heard,” her voice echoed, imbued with an authority that sent shivers down spines.

    The man on the ground scrambled to his feet, his face alight with manic fervour. “You are the one true deity! Please tell me your name, which god graces us with their presence?”

    (法号 [fǎ hào; dharma name]: A religious title or name given to a deity or spiritual figure, signifying their role or attributes.)

    A faint smile touched the woman’s lips. “I am the True God of Boundless Compassion and Mercy, the Deaf Descendant, saviour of the thirty-six heavens!”

    (三十六天 [sān shí liù tiān; thirty-six heavens]: In Chinese mythology, the heavens are often divided into multiple layers or realms, each with different deities and functions.)

    “The Deaf Descendant!” He all but swooned. “Then rid us of these demons, oh merciful one!”

    With a flick of her wrist, the goddess sent a flurry of paper talismans fluttering down like leaves. “These charms will heal all wounds, all ailments.”

    The man snatched one up, pressing it to his bleeding arm. The injury vanished before their very eyes. Gasps of awe and disbelief rippled through the watching crowd. “A miracle! A true deity!”

    Another wave of the woman’s hand, and the man was bathed in brilliant light. “I bestow upon you divine power! Go now, and vanquish the followers of evil!”

    He roared, feeling the power surge through him. With a bone-jarring crack, his fist connected with a black-robed figure, sending them soaring through the air.

    High above, Yu Xiao, resplendent in her borrowed glory, muttered under her breath in a language no one below understood as if chanting.

    In the distance, near the crumbled temple, Lolita and Gu Shu watched the spectacle unfold, their faces etched with a mixture of disbelief and reluctant amusement.

    Lolita rested her chin on her hand, a sigh escaping her lips. “I think I regret this already.”

    Beside her, Gu Shu, the usually unflappable ghost doctor, could only nod in mute agreement. Never in his ghostly existence had he witnessed such a bizarre turn of events.

    “At least,” he offered, “she’s sparing us.”

    Lolita was about to reply when the sound of paws on pavement reached them in a hurried staccato. Three identical dog heads swivelled around the corner.

    Silence descended, thick and awkward.

    “You two are under arrest,” Goldie barked finally, surrounded by a pack of stern-faced security officers. “Dereliction of duty. Bribing staff. Maliciously harming patients. Assaulting colleagues. You’re coming with us.”

    More silence, this time punctuated by Lolita and Gu Shu exchanging wide-eyed glances.

    Goldie glanced up at Yu Xiao, currently incandescent and celestial in the sky. All three heads twitched in unison. It kept its muzzle firmly shut. That one might be his superior someday; best not to start their relationship with a divine arrest warrant.

    Yu Xiao’s plan to replace one deity with another had been audacious, to say the least.

    It wasn’t overly complicated, mind you. First, Tang Xing Yin and the others had used a disposable Hatred Card to attract the focused ire of the Jealousy cultists. Cue a midnight rampage, complete with cultists chasing terrified townsfolk through the streets.

    Next, Yu Xiao donned a wig and a goddess costume, levitating on the Nightmare – now transformed into a majestic, winged lion. A shower of multicoloured prop cards, previously deemed useless, conveniently simulated holy light.

    As for the healing talismans? Foreseeing Misfortune talismans, repurposed. And that whole “a single beam grants divine power” spectacle? Pure theatre. Tang Xing Yin’s team was already monstrously powerful; they were just finally taking their powers out for a spin.

    By dawn, the town was buzzing with nervous whispers. A few brave souls ventured out, only to spot the talismans scattered across the cobblestones – divine calling cards from the night before.

    Those with aches, pains, and persistent coughs immediately pressed the talismans to their bodies. To their astonishment, the talismans dissolved, and their ailments vanished with them.

    “Heavens above! A true goddess!”

    “She has descended!”

    The town erupted. Tears flowed, prayers echoed, and accusations flew at the deposed false deity. Plans were hastily drawn up to erect a new temple on the ruins of the old.

    Yu Qing Lang slung an arm around Yu Xiao’s shoulders. “Where did you even come up with this?”

    Yu Xiao shrugged. “It just came to me.”

    Zhao Lan, ever the pragmatist, cut through the celebratory atmosphere. “Time to go. This instance has served its purpose.”

    “Hmm,” Yu Xiao murmured, as the rhythmic click-clack of paws on linoleum echoed down the corridor.

    She turned to find a three-headed dog leading a rather disgruntled procession. Gu Shu, Lolita, and Qu Lian shuffled along, their expressions mirroring their predicament – utterly miserable. Upon spotting Yu Xiao, Gu Shu and Lolita practically vibrated with indignation.

    Yu Xiao, ever the picture of innocence, strolled over. “Goldie, you’re here.”

    The three-headed dog, Goldie, said nothing. His six eyes, however, took on a distinctly reddish hue. Still, the person before him might one day outrank him; it was best to swallow his objections – and possibly his pride.

    Goldie fixed his gaze on Nightmare, who stood patiently nearby. “Nightmare, you’ll be coming with us.”

    “Wait!” Yu Xiao sprang in front of Nightmare, aghast. “This was a near-death experience! I would have been a goner if it weren’t for him. Imagine the grief of the Horror Hospital Director!”

    Silence.

    “Not only did he save my life,” Yu Xiao continued, warming to her theme, “he also reported these criminals.” She shot a pointed glare at Gu Shu, who looked fit to combust.

    “After all that, you’d arrest him?” Yu Xiao’s voice rose in outrage. “Have you no sense of humanity?”

    Goldie very nearly pointed out that, as a three-headed canine, he wasn’t exactly overflowing with it. Instead, he said, “Hospital procedures must be followed. Rules are rules.”

    Yu Xiao opened her mouth to argue, but Goldie ploughed on. “Not even the Director can change that.”

    That stopped her short. She glanced at Nightmare, who met her gaze calmly. “I’ll call the Director,” she declared.

    As she reached for her phone, Goldie sighed. “Obstructing official duties is a serious matter.”

    Nightmare stepped forward. Yu Xiao grabbed his arm, but he gently shook his head. “It’s alright.”

    “But…” She trailed off, trusting her instincts. With his recent heroics, Nightmare wouldn’t face any real consequences. The Horror Hospital wasn’t known for its draconian punishments; demotion seemed to be the worst they could throw at someone like Gu Shu.

    “If anything happens,” she told Nightmare, “I’ll get you out.”

    He smiled, his eyes twinkling. For a moment, no one else existed, just her in his eyes.

    Goldie departed, with Nightmare padding alongside, leaving Yu Xiao awash in a confusing blend of relief and regret. Even if Nightmare hadn’t been apprehended, their paths were destined to diverge. He… she… Nightmare wasn’t human, after all, and the inevitable goodbye loomed.

    “Well, that’s just brilliant,” Yu Qing Lang sighed, echoing the sentiment in everyone’s minds. “Nightmare’s gone. What now?”

    A chorus of glum agreement rippled through the group.

    However, Yu Xiao had other concerns brewing. She caught Tang Xing Yin’s eye. “Hold on a moment. We need to talk.”

    Curious glances bounced between the two. Tang Xing Yin crossed his arms, an eyebrow raised inquisitively. Yu Xiao, ignoring the unspoken questions, tugged him towards a quieter corner. “Give us a minute,” she told the others. “Won’t be long.”

    Tang Xing Yin, for once, allowed himself to be led. He leaned against the wall once they were out of earshot, waiting for her to speak.

    “Your points…” she began. “Have you reached the target?”

    He met her gaze, holding it for a beat too long, then nodded.

    “Then why haven’t you exchanged them? Why haven’t you left?”

    Silence descended again, heavier this time. “I’m losing control,” he admitted quietly. “It’s not just the hunger anymore. Sometimes… sometimes it feels like I’m becoming something else. Something not human.”

    He tilted his head back, staring at the sky as if searching for answers in the clouds. “There’s something else inside me, something beyond the yin energy. I… I’m scared. Can I even go back like this?”

    Yu Xiao grasped his hand, her gaze unwavering. “You can go back. As long as the change isn’t complete… you can go back.”

    “But…”

    “Don’t worry,” she interrupted, her tone firm. “I work here, remember? I know a few things. Trust me. It’s time.”

    Tang Xing Yin froze, his eyes suddenly bright with unshed tears. “I… can I really go back?”

    “Yes,” she said, squeezing his hand. “You can.”

    He let out a shaky breath. “When do I leave?”

    “Let’s get back to the ward,” Yu Xiao said, her tone brisk. “Redeem your time, and then you’re free. Out of this madhouse for good.”

    He hesitated. “Will I… will I see you again?”

    She paused, a lump forming in her throat. “Yes,” she said, forcing a smile. “Definitely.”

    He pulled her into a tight hug, a wistful smile gracing his lips. Tears pricked at Yu Xiao’s eyes. She was happy for him, truly, but a seed of doubt had been sown. Would they ever meet again, outside the hospital walls?

    She’d been so determined to refuse the Director’s offer, to earn enough points to leave on her own terms. But Ye Tao’s words in the Time Hospital echoed in her mind – a chilling premonition that she wouldn’t be one of the two to escape the Sixth Hospital.

    Was she lying? Was her future truly fixed? She couldn’t afford to dwell on it now. She had a role to play, a reputation to uphold. She was the Sixth Ward’s top player, Misty and Precious’ trusted confidante. She had to be strong.

    By the time they rejoined the others, Yu Xiao had schooled her features into a mask of composure.

    “Ready to go?” Yu Qing Lang asked.

    Yu Xiao managed a watery smile as Tang Xing Yin walked over to Zhao Lan, extending a hand. Zhao Lan, looking slightly taken aback by the formality, shook it nonetheless.

    “Goodbye,” Tang Xing Yin said.

    “Uh… goodbye,” Zhao Lan echoed, wondering if all First Ward patients were this stiff.

    Tang Xing Yin then repeated the ritual with Zhou Xiao Zhen. “Goodbye.”

    Zhou Xiao Zhen, ever boisterous, chuckled. “Goodbye, goodbye! Don’t be a stranger!”

    One by one, Tang Xing Yin bid farewell to the group. Then, in the blink of an eye, they were gone from this instance.

    ─── ? ── ☆ ── ? ───

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