The founder of Qingshan Sanatorium was a youth who had once been forcibly sent to a center to be cured of an internet addiction. His purpose in opening this sanatorium was likely to "treat" some inadequate parents.
After this place fell into a supernatural domain, the supernatural entities born here were probably all related to that intent.
Yue Shi intended to continue questioning Mr. Camera, but at that moment, Camera suddenly began scurrying around the room. His face was filled with terror, his limbs trembled uncontrollably, and he even dropped his bread on the floor.
“Don't panic. Please stay calm regardless of what happens,” Yue Shi hurriedly tried to soothe him.
Camera panted heavily, the fear in his eyes undisguised. He reached out and hurriedly wiped away the characters he had written on the wall.
At the same time, the sound of hurried running suddenly echoed in the hallway outside, moving from near to far.
Yue Shi turned and stepped into the corridor, looking in the direction of the sound, but he didn't see a single figure. The footsteps soon vanished as well.
He followed cautiously, arriving at the staircase leading to the third floor, and stepped onto the stairs.
The journey to the third floor was exceptionally smooth. He was cautiously on guard against the so-called "Clown," but the entity didn't seem to come to play tricks on him this time.
The layout of the third floor was almost identical to the second, except the windows at both ends of the corridor were sealed shut. The environment was darker and more dim, instinctively inducing a sense of dread.
On the doorplate of the first room on the left, the words "Director's Office" were written.
Surprisingly, the office door wasn't closed.
The door was half-ajar. As he approached, he could see a wide desk, crowded filing cabinets, and a water dispenser filled halfway inside.
The desk was empty, the filing cabinets were stuffed full, and he didn't know if the water in the dispenser was drinkable or toxic.
Of course, none of that was important.
What mattered was that a man in a white coat was leaning lazily back in a swivel chair behind the desk.
He had slicked-back, greasy hair, an oblong face, and two well-groomed mustaches on his upper lip. He looked up the moment he saw Yue Shi standing outside and asked directly:
“Who are you? I don't believe I've seen you before.”
Yue Shi looked around, confirming that this was still the third floor of Qingshan Sanatorium and that he hadn't fallen into some strange illusion.
Standing at the office door, he looked at the middle-aged man and activated Raven's Secret Whispers. “I'm here to find someone. Are you the director here?”
“That's right, I am the director,” the man said solemnly.
The appearance of a normal office and a seemingly normal person in an abandoned sanatorium was, in fact, the greatest abnormality of all.
Yue Shi strongly suspected that the director might not be the real director, but perhaps a mental patient in disguise.
His gaze swept across the office and noticed an identity nameplate on the chest of the director's white coat, which indeed had the word "Director" written on it.
On the nearby wall, a large group photo was posted. The people in the photo were all wearing blue-and-white striped hospital gowns and were likely the "patients" of the sanatorium. Only one person standing front and center wore a white coat—seemingly the director.
Comparing him to the director before him, the man in the photo was clearly younger and thinner. The one in front of him had likely put on weight, and his hairline had receded a bit.
Of course, even if the director's identity was real, it didn't mean the person was fine.
Or to put it another way, anyone appearing here was bound to have something wrong with them!
Yue Shi said, “I'm here to visit a friend. Can the director tell me where he is now?”
The director asked, “What is the name of the person you're looking for?”
“His name is Qiao Xu. He should be a newcomer who arrived recently.”
Yue Shi walked into the office as he spoke.
However, the moment he stepped inside, he felt a powerful sense of pressure. His constantly active Demon Feather Barrier began to deplete rapidly, as if invisible killing intent lurked everywhere around him.
A cold smile curled at the corners of the director's mouth. He stared intently at Yue Shi and said slowly, “Qiao Xu's ward is 404 on the fourth floor. His illness is very severe and requires further treatment for a while.”
Yue Shi casually refreshed his Demon Feather Barrier. He wasn't in a hurry to leave and instead asked, “After the supernatural descent, this sanatorium became a supernatural domain. How are you living here normally, Director?”
As he said this, he activated Raven's Secret Whispers. He saw a flicker of struggle appear on the director's face. Under Yue Shi's repeated questioning, the man finally opened his mouth and said with immense gravity:
“I must stay. It is my duty. I must hold fast to my original purpose!”
“Duty?” Yue Shi was somewhat surprised.
The director shrugged. “Many people were left behind and couldn't escape. With so many patients, at least one doctor should stay behind. I can only leave after I have cured them all.”
Yue Shi's tone held a hint of irony. “You're quite responsible. So, how do you usually treat them?”
The director sat up straight. “It's simple. Electrotherapy is enough.”
“As expected, electric shocks...” Yue Shi chuckled and continued to ask, “Are there no other doctors or nurses here besides you?”
The director shook his head. “They are no longer here.”
Yue Shi asked, “In all this time, have any patients been cured and discharged?”
A flash of artificial regret crossed the director's eyes. He shook his head. “I am truly a failure. Some of the patients here have died, and some have become even more severely ill.”
“Uh...” Yue Shi was speechless, feeling the consumption rate of the Demon Feather Barrier continue to increase. He pulled a bag of bread from his backpack. “Are you hungry? Do you want to eat?”
The director's gaze instantly became very subtle.
Yue Shi tore open the bread's packaging.
In just two or three seconds, the bread melted and evaporated, releasing wisps of a fragrant scent, but even that scent quickly vanished.
At the same time, the director licked the corner of his lips. “Human food... how nostalgic...”
Yue Shi took a step forward and said, “There's a patient named ‘Camera’ on the second floor who seems to be having an episode. Aren't you going to give him emergency treatment, Director?”
The director stood up and waved his hand. “I can't go for now. A new patient has arrived. I have to perform an examination on the new patient.”
Yue Shi smiled. “The new patient you're talking about wouldn't happen to be me, would it?”
The director nodded with utmost seriousness. “Everyone who enters is a patient and needs to receive treatment! You, in particular, are terminally ill and must undergo resuscitation...”
Before he could finish, Yue Shi leaned forward, his shoulder putting weight into the movement as he swung his hand and delivered a vicious slap to the director's face.
Sharp fingertips left deep gouges on the director's face. The decaying curse instantly eroded the director's head into a mangled mess. Pus and rotten flesh splattered everywhere, and even an eyeball fell out.
Yue Shi didn't stop his attack. He reached out and tore off the director's arms, then ripped open his chest and abdomen. Only then did he realize the director's body was very strange; it had flesh and blood, but no internal organs or bones.
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