Chapter 84: Untying the Deadly Knot, a Single Strand of Monkey Hair

Chapter 84: Untying the Deadly Knot, a Single Strand of Monkey Hair

Watching the retreating figure of the Ghostly Nurse Leader, Ji Yan shook his head with a hint of helplessness in his tone.

"Sometimes I really can’t figure it out. Clearly, someone else set a trap for me, and I just wanted to survive by dismantling it. How does that somehow make me the villain?"

The Monkey Player chuckled behind him. "You want to reason with women? Don’t kid yourself. Women are always right, no matter what they do."

Ji Yan didn’t respond because the mission completion panel for the B11 Patient popped up.

Ding! Congratulations, Player, for successfully curing the [B11] Patient. You have obtained 120 Specter Power points and acquired a [Collector's Grade] Supernatural Artifact—Candle of the Midnight Dead.

You have received a clue related to the [Zodiac Main Plot] from the patient in the [B11 Ward].

The rewards seem a bit lackluster…

Ji Yan wasn’t particularly satisfied with the rewards.

This was a patient from the [Consultation Building]. Curing them should have warranted more than just two measly reward notifications.

His expectations might have been too high…

Ji Yan turned his head to glance at the Monkey Player, whose face looked as if he’d eaten something foul.

"What’s your reward? A consolation prize?" Ji Yan asked. During the mission, the Monkey Player had essentially been deadweight, so it was no surprise his rewards were pitiful.

The Monkey Player scowled. "Not even a consolation prize."

He pulled out two bottles of yellow liquid.

"Buy one, get one free—virgin boy’s urine."

Ji Yan smirked. "Don’t look down on it. In ghost stories, this stuff is a legendary ward against evil. It’s overused in horror movies, but who knows? Maybe it’ll save your life one day."

The Monkey Player’s lips twitched, unable to hold back.

"Do I really need this to save my life? I could whip out a dozen bottles on the spot if I just dropped my pants!"

Realizing what he’d said, the Monkey Player quickly shut his mouth.

Ji Yan’s grin widened. "Oh, so that’s how it is."

At that moment, the mouth on the wall of the B11 Ward suddenly opened. The entire surface of the wall rippled, and two eyeballs squeezed out from within, blood oozing down the surface.

The Monkey Player warily stepped back.

Ji Yan, however, remained calm. He knew this was about to reveal crucial Main Plot information.

The B11 Patient’s horrifying bloodshot eyes fixed on the two of them before locking onto Ji Yan. "You’re the one who removed the parasites from my body?"

Ji Yan nodded.

"Unlucky," the B11 Patient sighed, sounding deeply reluctant.

"Why do you say that?" Ji Yan countered.

"Out of twelve doctors, it had to be the ‘Goat’—the one I least wanted involved—who cured me."

"The Zodiac Goat is nothing but trouble in this hospital. Just looking at them gives me a headache."

Ji Yan sensed that the B11 Patient knew a lot about the Zodiac Goat and cut straight to the point. "So, is there anything you want to warn me about?"

"Dress nicely when you sleep at night."

Ji Yan raised an eyebrow. "What’s the significance of that?"

"So when you inevitably kick the bucket one night, you’ll at least look presentable."

"..."

After the morbid joke, the B11 Patient grew serious. "Goat, in this hospital, your fate is fraught with misfortune. None of you live long."

"Very soon, you’ll encounter a Deadly Knot."

"That knot will tighten around your neck. The more you struggle, the faster you’ll die."

"Every Goat Doctor before you was strangled the same way."

Ji Yan understood that the B11 Patient was referring to the Zodiac Goat's Death Trial and urgently asked, "Then how do we untie this Deadly Knot?"

The B11 Patient's lips twisted into a sinister grin. "It's called a Deadly Knot for a reason. Why bother untying it?"

"Find the one who tied the knot—solve it at the root!"

With that, the cracks in the wall sealed shut, and the Eyeball retracted into the wall.

Once the Main Plot information was delivered, it vanished at lightning speed.

Ji Yan fell into deep thought.

The Monkey Player, standing nearby, asked in bewilderment, "Were you two speaking Chinese? I didn’t understand a single word."

"If you didn’t understand, that’s fine—neither did I."

"Farewell." Not wanting further interaction, Ji Yan waved dismissively and turned to leave the Corridor.

Watching Ji Yan’s retreating figure, the Monkey Player wiped the foolish expression from his face, his eyes narrowing.

Finally, his lips curled into a smirk. "The rabbit didn’t get to taste the goat’s meat."

"I wonder if this monkey can manage it?"

"The Hook’s been set—now we’ll see if he bites!"

……

Ten minutes later.

In front of the operating room, on the same long bench.

Ji Yan held the report form, still analyzing the clues the B11 Patient had given him.

A strange odor tickled his nose, and his downward gaze met a pair of grotesquely deformed goat hooves.

Looking up, he saw the Goat Supernatural Doctor standing before him. Ji Yan quickly rose and handed over the report. "Teacher, here’s the B11 Patient’s medical report."

"The Head Nurse already told me. You did well."

"I’m pleased. Compared to the students who perished before you, your performance is far superior."

The Goat Supernatural Doctor’s horrifying face contorted into something resembling human emotion—only making it more nauseating and terrifying.

"You flatter me, Teacher." Ji Yan smiled modestly.

But he could see the icy murderous intent lurking beneath the Goat Supernatural Doctor’s "pride."

The killing trap set for him last night had failed. The Goat Supernatural Doctor was probably grinding its teeth in frustration…

The Goat Supernatural Doctor placed a hand on Ji Yan’s shoulder, lips curling. "Rest early tonight. Tomorrow… a special patient may arrive."

"It will test your abilities to the limit. Get some proper sleep."

The word "special" sent a jolt of alarm through Ji Yan, instantly putting him on guard.

The Goat Supernatural Doctor turned to leave.

But as it withdrew its hand, it suddenly paused, eyes narrowing. "You carry a scent."

"What scent?" Ji Yan sniffed his sleeve, puzzled.

"The stench of a monkey."

"Make sure you lock your door tonight."

With that, the Goat Supernatural Doctor walked away.

……

After six o’clock, night gradually fell.

Ji Yan returned to Ward 444.

After an early shower, he declined the wall-dwelling Supernatural Entity’s "soap-dropping" service and lay on the bed, enjoying the Caregivers’ "full-body massage."

"Goat Doctor, the Black Hair on your body is spreading even more."

A Caregiver’s warning made Ji Yan notice the infection had reached his other hand.

The Caregivers were powerless against the contamination. As Ji Yan traced the infected area with his fingers, about to speak, a Ghostly Caregiver suddenly shrieked, "Ah! This hair… Why is this hair on the Goat Doctor?"

Ji Yan replied calmly, "It’s just a strand of hair. Why the fuss?"

"Goat Doctor! This isn’t your hair."

"This is a monkey hair..."

The Ghostly Caregiver spoke in fear.

"Monkey hair?" Ji Yan pinched the golden strand between his fingers, thinking it must have accidentally come from the Monkey Player.

"Goat Doctor, tonight... don’t sleep too deeply."

The Ghostly Caregiver stared at the hair, visibly terrified, and trembled as they warned Ji Yan.

Ji Yan immediately grew alert. "What do you know?"

"We... we don’t know anything. Your treatment is over, Goat Doctor. We’re leaving now."

As soon as they finished speaking, the Ghostly Caregivers scattered in panic.

This made Ji Yan frown deeply.

He recalled the Goat Supernatural Doctor also mentioning the "smell of a monkey" on him and advising him to lock his door at night.

Clearly, something was going to happen tonight!

"As expected, that Zodiac Monkey Player has ill intentions too."

"But what’s the purpose of leaving a monkey hair on me? What’s that guy scheming?"

Ji Yan clenched the monkey hair, murmuring to himself.