Chapter 134: The Locked Black Box, Returning to the Hospital

Chapter 134: The Locked Black Box, Returning to the Hospital

In the darkness, time becomes impossible to measure.

Ji Yan had no idea when the two-hour confinement ended.

He was awakened by the Heart Nightmare Entity.

Still drowsy, Ji Yan instinctively asked, "What's wrong?"

"Time's up. Get out!"

The Heart Nightmare Entity's expression was dark.

It had never imagined that its dreaded Confinement Room, which terrified all the residents of the apartment, would be used by someone as a napping spot.

This was downright insulting!

"Thanks, old man."

Yawning, Ji Yan got up and walked toward the door.

Outside the Confinement Room, the Bandaged Supernatural Entity had already prepared a wheelbarrow and shovel upon hearing the stone door move, ready to "clean up" Ji Yan.

However, when it saw the unharmed figure stepping out, it froze in place, gripping the shovel in a somewhat comical manner.

"You... how did you walk out?"

"Confinement's over. If I didn't come out, was I supposed to stay for dinner?"

Ji Yan shrugged.

"Why are you unharmed?"

"This can't be. What trick did you pull?"

The Bandaged Supernatural Entity's pupils shrank to pinpricks, its shovel clattering to the ground.

"Confinement is just sitting around and reflecting deeply."

"I've already realized my mistakes."

"But hey, there's a kind-hearted old man inside. Not only did he supervise the whole time, but he also reminded me when it was time to leave."

Patting the Bandaged Supernatural Entity on the shoulder, Ji Yan casually tossed out a few words before walking away.

The Bandaged Supernatural Entity refused to believe it.

Pressing against the stone door, its voice turned gloomy, convinced the Heart Nightmare Entity inside had been bribed: "The Landlord himself said this kid was to be closely watched! What the hell are you doing?!"

"Don’t forget, the only value you have left is being useful in the Confinement Room!"

The Heart Nightmare Entity, already seething with anger, grew even colder at these words.

"Why don’t you come in, and we’ll have a nice chat?"

"You sent in a guy without a heart—what exactly did you expect me to do? Keep him company? Who’s playing who here?"

"No heart?" The Bandaged Supernatural Entity was utterly baffled.

......

Emerging from the Basement, Ji Yan checked the time and guessed that the climax at the Undead Hospital was already underway.

As the protagonist, it was time for him to return.

"I knew it. Trying to make you suffer is just too difficult."

Turning around, Ji Yan saw the Landlord holding a Birdcage, shaking his head helplessly as he fed the parrot inside.

"Let me guess—was it that woman Xu again, pulling strings behind the scenes?"

Playing dumb, Ji Yan responded politely, "Old man, I’ve reflected deeply and learned my lesson."

"I’ll never do it again. If I do, you can throw me in the Basement forever, and I won’t utter a single complaint!"

After all, this was the only Archive. Once he returned to the hospital, his connection to the Crimson Apartment would be severed. Promises meant nothing now.

The Landlord sighed. "Forget it."

"Today, I’m finally sending both of you troublemakers away. The apartment will be peaceful from now on!"

"Go on."

Ji Yan frowned in confusion. The Landlord’s words implied Xu Xin was also leaving—could she really return to the Undead Hospital?

"Old man, Miss Xu has also been in the Confinement Room before, right?"

Ji Yan thought he might still be able to obtain information about Xu Xin's identity from the Landlord.

"She was locked up too."

"Just like you, nothing happened to her inside. She slept for two hours and then walked out," the Landlord said calmly.

"..."

After finishing the feeding, the Landlord clapped his hands. "She's not like you. There's no such thing as 'fear' in her heart."

"The Heart Nightmare Entity couldn't do anything to her."

"That woman... she's a true 'Supernatural Creature' in every sense. On the first day she arrived at the apartment, I saw her walk out of the thick fog with my own eyes. None of the things lurking in that fog dared to take a bite out of her..."

"So, don’t get too close to her. Unless you want to be devoured down to the bone!"

Even the Landlord didn’t know Xu Xin’s origins.

But it was clear that even as the Instance Boss of the Crimson Apartment, he feared her.

Ji Yan’s eyes flickered. He said nothing, nodded, and turned to leave.

At the entrance of the lobby, Xi Xi stood waiting, as if she had been there for a long time.

"Big brother, this is from Elder Sister."

"She said there’s a box inside. Open it only after you leave the hospital."

"She also said, 'Don’t die. You still owe her a favor and a bet.'"

Xi Xi handed Ji Yan the book in her hands.

It was the same book Xu Xin often read—thick, worn, and titled The Sick Rose.

The title sounded vaguely familiar to Ji Yan, though he couldn’t recall where he’d heard it before.

"From the sound of it, you’re leaving?"

"Elder Sister said the apartment lease is up. It’s time to go."

Xi Xi nodded, even anticipating Ji Yan’s next question: "I’m going with her. Wherever she goes, I go."

Ji Yan wasn’t particularly concerned. With the Blood-Stained Paper Figure still around, he had a feeling he’d see them again in the third instance.

The real question was—what was inside the black box she left for him?

After parting ways with Xi Xi, Ji Yan stepped out of the apartment gates. As the thick fog gradually swallowed the Crimson Apartment, he opened the heavy tome of The Sick Rose.

Between its pages lay a heart and a black box.

The black box seemed to have a hidden lock—no matter how he tried, it wouldn’t open.

The Blood-Stained Paper Figure darted out from between the pages but, for some reason, appeared weak and sickly. It retreated into Ji Yan’s hair and vanished.

With the [Other Shore Scalpel] and [Flawless Needle and Thread], Ji Yan skillfully reattached the heart to his chest.

Ding!

"Detected Player exiting archived instance. This archive is now concluded. You will now be returned to the [Undead Hospital]. Wishing you a pleasant instance!"

The game announcement rang out as Ji Yan’s vision blurred...

...

...

Inside the dim, blood-soaked Delivery Room.

Baa—! Baa—! Roooar—!!

Amid the chaotic mess of stretcher beds, one shook violently, knocking over the spotlight.

The Mother Goat, respawned by the instance, died once more from dystocia. Her ruptured, foul-smelling abdomen successfully birthed a new Player.

The familiar suffocation. The familiar scene.

"Damn it! I really didn’t want to experience this again..."

Ji Yan stood up, peeling off the bloody intestines draped over his head. His entire body was covered in gore and viscous fluid.

The Delivery Room was eerily silent.

Neither the Dragon nor the Tiger Player was present. Ji Yan calculated the time—his archive duration plus confinement added up to over three hours. By now, the [Order Review] must have concluded at least half an hour ago.

The Instance had not collapsed into an [Abandoned Instance] as Ji Yan had imagined.

Everything was still functioning normally...

"Ding! Congratulations, Player. You have successfully deceived the [Dragon] and [Tiger] Players of the Zodiac. The lie has been achieved, and the privilege is now in effect."

Upon receiving the game's notification, Ji Yan saw the [Lies Parchment] reappear in his Toolbar the next moment.

"The parchment is back, which means the Order Review has already handled the aftermath for me."

Ji Yan murmured to himself.

As for the Dragon Player, he wasn’t sure if they would face Punishment from the Instance Order, but the Tiger Player—who had manipulated the [Supernatural Hospital Director] and violated the rules recklessly—was definitely finished!

After changing into a relatively clean medical uniform, Ji Yan stepped out of the [Obstetrics and Gynecology Department].

The moment he did, he heard footsteps approaching from the far end of the Corridor...