Chapter 110: Entering the Main Plot, The Prison Ward

Chapter 110: Entering the Main Plot, The Prison Ward

Ji Yan ignored the Eccentric Old Man and sat quietly on a nearby chair, waiting for the Hospital Director to appear. His mind raced with questions about the medical research conducted in the underground Morgue.

He checked the current status of the [Morgue]. Though it had been an unlocked area on the map earlier, it now displayed as a "Restricted Zone." Clearly, with the Hospital Director's appearance, the [Main Plot] had been reactivated. The core map area tied to the [Main Plot] had become restricted, accessible only to players involved in the main storyline.

What was this medical research?

What lies had the Dragon Player spread?

What ultimately happened to the cured patients?

These mysteries remained unanswered.

Moments later, the elevator chimed, signaling its arrival from the second basement level. The Elevator Attendant hurried to stand at the entrance, while the Ghostly Nurse bowed her head and stood respectfully to the side.

The elevator doors slid open, and the towering [Instance Boss], the Supernatural Hospital Director, stepped out, slightly hunched to fit through the door. His ashen skin was riddled with dense, squirming scars resembling centipedes. Compared to the previous instance's [Landlord], this being exuded an even more oppressive presence.

"Director, the Goat Doctor is here to see you," the Elevator Attendant cautiously announced.

In truth, there was no need for the announcement. The Supernatural Hospital Director's eyes had already flicked toward Ji Yan the moment he exited the elevator. "I'm not blind."

Ji Yan couldn't shake the feeling that the Supernatural Hospital Director's gaze carried a trace of disgust.

Stealthily, he opened the [Strategy Panel] for the Supernatural Hospital Director and was stunned to find his progress bar for this [Instance Boss] displayed as "-10%"!

Negative 10%?

This was their first meeting—how could there already be a dislike value?

He tapped for details and found only a brief explanation: "The Director is aware of your rule violations yesterday and has developed a dislike for you. He considers you an unruly doctor, hopeless beyond redemption."

Well, damn. That little Dragon Player sure knew how to snitch!

Ji Yan immediately understood the reason.

The Supernatural Hospital Director spoke coldly, sparing no words: "State your business."

As soon as he finished speaking, a familiar [Main Storyline Task] panel popped up before Ji Yan.

"Ding! Congratulations, player, for interacting with the Supernatural Hospital Director and successfully triggering the [Main Storyline Task]."

"Task Content: The Director's [Tree of Creation] medical research project has entered its final stage, with only one step remaining."

"Once the [Tree of Creation] is successfully cultivated, all patients will not only have the best possible outcome but will also be free from illness and suffering. This will be a monumental medical achievement for the [Undead Hospital]."

"Rather than letting cured patients leave the hospital and face the cruel dangers of the outside world, wouldn't it be better to create a dreamlike paradise for them as their final destination?"

"If the player chooses to participate in the [Main Storyline Task], please interact with the Supernatural Hospital Director to accept it!"

[Tree of Creation]?

What the hell was that?

Ji Yan frowned, his imagination running wild at the name.

"Goat Doctor, have you gone mute?" The Supernatural Hospital Director's tone carried a hint of impatience.

"Director, regarding the [Tree of Creation], I’d like to contribute as well," Ji Yan said after a brief pause.

The Supernatural Hospital Director gave a strange smile. "How odd. Today, so many doctors suddenly want to contribute to the [Tree of Creation]?"

"Coincidentally, the tree only lacks one final [Root]."

"You doctors can compete. Whoever retrieves this [Root] first will receive a special reward from me."

The Supernatural Hospital Director patted Ji Yan on the shoulder and left.

"Ding! Congratulations, player, for successfully accepting the Main Storyline Task—proceed to Ward [C001] and successfully treat the patient inside."

"Core mission reward—[Hospital Gate Key]."

(Clear this instance and save progress.)

[C001] sounded like a special patient room in the Emergency Building.

As the patient tied to the Main Storyline Task, Ji Yan guessed this Supernatural Patient's condition would be extremely troublesome.

"Recovered patients are metaphorically referred to as 'Roots' by the Supernatural Hospital Director. Then, what exactly is the true form of the [Tree of Creation]?"

"Judging by the mission description, the Supernatural Hospital Director's mysterious medical research is meant to benefit cured patients, giving them a home."

"But the Horse Player also said that recovered patients ultimately end up like piglets raised for slaughter, placed on the chopping block."

"Which side is telling the truth?"

Having been deceived by the game panel once before, Ji Yan didn’t dare to fully trust the mission details.

He scrutinized it repeatedly, confirming that the Main Storyline content contained no obvious Text Traps.

"The patient doesn’t need to be sought out—the ward is directly specified. I’m probably the last one to participate in the [Main Storyline Task]..."

"Then, the Dragon and Tiger factions have most likely already entered Ward [C001] ahead of me."

Without wasting time, Ji Yan followed the panel’s route guidance straight to his destination.

Though he was the last, Ji Yan wasn’t the least bit anxious.

He had a hunch that the others were probably waiting for him...

Soon, he arrived.

After confirming the door number, Ji Yan looked at the dilapidated door, knocked, and received no response—yet it swung open on its own.

Inside was pitch black. After a brief hesitation, Ji Yan stepped into the darkness beyond the threshold.

In an instant, his vision briefly vanished.

Walking through the darkness, light soon reappeared.

When his sight returned, Ji Yan found himself standing in a damp, dimly lit corridor, lined on both sides with identical iron-barred cells.

Was this a prison?

"Another patient-DIY hallucination of a ward world?"

Ji Yan muttered to himself as the corridor beneath his feet seemed endless, flanked by countless cells.

"Doctor... you’re a doctor, right?"

"Whoever you are, I confess, I deserve death, I belong in hell..."

From one of the nearby cells, an Unshaven Man emerged, gripping the bars as he pleaded and self-condemned before Ji Yan.

The prisoner wept bitterly, alternating between confessions and slapping his own face—hard enough to split his lips, rupture his eardrums, and draw blood.

Yet, he showed no sign of stopping, only striking himself with increasing force!

From the other cells, various prisoners emerged, each directing their confessions at Ji Yan.

The voices came in an unending stream.

The cold, sterile prison had transformed into something resembling Notre-Dame Cathedral, filled with devout penitents.

Ji Yan asked one of them, "What did you do? Why confess?"

"An unforgivable thing. I’m a demon. If the Black and White Impermanence exist, I’ll be the first dragged to hell! Wuwuwu..."

Ji Yan: "..."

These prisoners, lost in their confessions, repeated the same phrases over and over like madmen consumed by obsession.

Ji Yan frowned as he descended the corridor, observing the disheveled prisoners in tattered clothing. Soon, he came to a halt. In one of the cells, he spotted a familiar face...

"Isn't this Old Ma? You’re cosplaying as a prisoner too?"

That familiar long face with a pineapple-like hairstyle stood out conspicuously among the inmates, making him instantly recognizable. The guy had also been locked up in a cell, still wearing his white coat, though now much dirtier and unkempt.

The Horse Player let out a long sigh of relief upon seeing Ji Yan. "Finally, you’re here. I was worried you wouldn’t even participate in the Main Plot."

Ji Yan stepped forward. "Let’s get to the point. How did you end up as a prisoner? Why is Ward C000 a prison? Who’s the patient here?"

Faced with this barrage of soul-searching questions, the Horse Player remained calm and spoke leisurely. "Stepped on a landmine, that’s why I got locked up. This patient... isn’t easy to treat. Full of landmines—one wrong move and they’ll explode, and boom, you end up in a cell like me."

He wiped the cracked lens of his glasses, his tone tinged with resignation. "Anyway, be careful. If you get locked up too, it’s game over. You’ve seen the other prisoners—who knows how long they’ve been here? Every last one of them has gone insane!"