Chapter 61: The Paper Figure of Obsession and the Dog Zodiac Player

Chapter 61: The Paper Figure of Obsession and the Dog Zodiac Player

"Is anyone there?"

The voice was hoarse, as if clogged with phlegm from years of smoking.

Ji Yan glanced at the door but didn’t respond.

Who would bother knocking at this hour? The trick of a Supernatural Entity knocking had already grown stale back in the previous apartment instance.

Ji Yan lay down, pulled the covers over himself, and tried to sleep.

Yet the entity outside persisted, knocking rhythmically—three taps, then a pause—over and over.

The sound grated on his nerves, stirring irritation and making sleep impossible.

Ji Yan frowned.

Where had this thing come from? It shouldn’t target players without reason.

The Female Supernatural Entity, who had retreated under the bed, suddenly poked out her bloodied head and raised a finger to her lips. "Doctor Goat, don’t answer. Don’t open the door."

"Otherwise, that Knocking Supernatural Entity will break in immediately."

"Just stay quiet and sleep. No matter what happens outside, it won’t affect you."

"Before you, the previous doctor who lived here was harassed by this thing every night. We’re used to it by now."

The other Female Supernatural Entities hiding in the corners murmured in agreement.

They were all too familiar with this routine.

Their words made Ji Yan’s brow twitch. If that was the case, this Knocking Supernatural Entity targeting Goat Zodiac Players wasn’t a coincidence…

He rolled onto his side, staring at the door.

Even through the barrier, his Talent, [Omniscient Understanding], activated.

"Among the twelve zodiac signs, the Goat has three hostile counterparts. The most malicious of them is the Dog. Dog Zodiac Players gain the privilege of [Wish] during nighttime, making it easier for them to carry out missions in the depths of the hospital."

"Dog Zodiac Players will go to any lengths to exploit the night’s advantage, harassing or even hunting Goat Zodiac Players. Doing so grants them progress and rewards in the 'Supernatural Doctor' mission."

"An eye for an eye. So, as the Goat, how will you retaliate?"

Ji Yan narrowed his eyes.

Clearly, this Knocking Supernatural Entity had been lured here by a Dog Zodiac Player. Even if Ji Yan didn’t trigger the door-breaking rule, the constant knocking would ruin his sleep, degrade his Mental State, and hinder his mission progress the next day.

The method wasn’t sophisticated— But it was undeniably vile!

If he retaliated, or even killed the Dog Zodiac Player, would that significantly advance his progress in the "Supernatural Doctor" mission?

A glint flashed in Ji Yan’s eyes.

His interest was thoroughly piqued.

What he had in abundance were equally vile Supernatural Artifacts. What was one measly Knocking Supernatural Entity?

By now, the relentless knocking had begun corroding the door. The hoarse voice outside grew more frantic: "Is anyone there…? Please… Doctor… My head hurts… It feels like there are worms inside… Help me…?"

Ignoring the shuddering door, Ji Yan pondered how to deal with the nuisance. Suddenly, his scalp itched—the Blood-Stained Paper Figure, which had been hiding in his hair, abruptly emerged.

It leaped onto the blanket, gesturing animatedly with its limbs like a tiny human.

Ji Yan wasn’t sure if it was his imagination, but he could almost understand what it was trying to say.

"You can help me deal with the Knocking Supernatural Entity outside?"

"But... you want me to go out?"

The Blood-Stained Paper Figure nodded.

"What do you want me to do outside?" Ji Yan was puzzled, wondering what scheme the figure had in mind.

The Blood-Stained Paper Figure gestured vividly: "Something good!"

After gesturing, the three characters—"Greed," "Anger," and "Obsession"—reappeared on its body, finally settling on "Obsession."

Then, the blood-red color turned black as it darted toward the door...

Ji Yan's eyes gleamed with curiosity. He had always been intrigued by the Blood-Stained Paper Figure's abilities.

From what he could see now, the figure's supernatural powers stemmed from the three characters: "Greed," "Anger," and "Obsession."

He had already witnessed "Greed"—it was simply hunger.

But this hunger was bizarre. Ji Yan had noticed that whatever he ate caused no backlash or discomfort to his body.

In fact, it could even convert what he consumed into Specter Power.

Back then, the game interface had notified him that his Specter Power had increased by a full 150 points!

So, what kind of supernatural ability would "Obsession" bring this time?

After the Blood-Stained Paper Figure dashed out, the knocking abruptly stopped.

Outside, the Knocking Supernatural Entity froze like a wooden post the moment the figure touched the back of its neck.

The malicious command in its mind targeting Room 444 was forcibly altered. Then, stiffly, it turned around and slowly disappeared into the darkness...

......

In a certain equipment room.

The Dog Player, dressed in a neat white coat with a "Chief Physician" badge on his chest, indicated that he had passed his probation period. The first stage of the Instance Progress was complete, and he was now in the second stage.

As he searched for the medical equipment he needed, the Dog Player muttered to himself, "Gotta admit, thanks to those unlucky Sheep Zodiac guys, sending me achievements one after another, my Instance Progress wouldn’t have advanced this fast."

"Tonight, I’ll send that unlucky bastard a Knocking Supernatural Entity as a welcoming gift."

"Tomorrow night, I’ll send a Drowning Supernatural Entity, slowly gnawing away at his sanity. Once he’s broken enough, I can take my time slaughtering the little lamb!"

Flicking the sharp scalpel in his hand, the Dog Player wore a playful smirk.

But the next second, his door was knocked.

"Old Ox, you’re too slow!"

The Dog Player called out. Since the Dog and Ox Zodiacs were compatible, they naturally formed a simple alliance, helping each other in Missions.

Earlier in the A22 Ward, it was the Ox Player who had leaked information about Ji Yan to the Dog Player.

There was no response from outside.

In an instant, the Dog Player sensed something was wrong!

One of his [Wish] privileges—[Specter Scent]—allowed him to accurately detect information about a Supernatural Entity based on residual traces.

The Knocking Supernatural Entity?!

Shouldn’t it be harassing the Sheep Player?

Had the Sheep Player stepped into a trap and already been hunted by the Knocking Supernatural Entity?

He quickly dismissed the thought because he could smell the intense malice radiating from the entity outside.

"Someone’s in the room... Someone... I heard a response... Hehehe!!"

Having received the Dog Player’s reply, the Knocking Supernatural Entity outside immediately triggered its door-breaking privilege.

The flimsy wooden door was torn apart like paper, and the broken doorknob fell to the floor as the Knocking Supernatural Entity, radiating malice with its hunched figure, slowly stepped into the room...

The Dog Player cursed with a sinister glare in his eyes.

...

Meanwhile, Ji Yan had just gotten out of bed.

The Blood-Stained Paper Figure slipped back through the door crack, the character "obsession" disappearing as it reverted to its blood-red color.

"Where did you take the Knocking Supernatural Entity?" Ji Yan asked in surprise.

The figure gestured.

"You sent it back to the Dog Player? Tsk, impressive!" Ji Yan's eyes gleamed as he couldn’t help but give a thumbs-up.

Strangely enough, though the Blood-Stained Paper Figure had no facial features, Ji Yan could still sense its smugness at being praised.

"So, where do you want me to go next?" Ji Yan asked.

After all, it was a farewell gift from Miss Xu—the Blood-Stained Paper Figure likely meant him no harm.

Though the Supernatural Doctor had warned him against going out at night and advised him to sleep properly, as long as he didn’t pick up anything unclean, it would turn a blind eye.

Besides, the game instance had mentioned that the Undead Hospital at night would refresh plenty of valuable items, rewarding players who sought fortune in danger.

The hospital at midnight was filled with secrets and the unknown. To say Ji Yan wasn’t curious would be a lie...