Chapter 26: The Monster in the Ward

Xiao Xiao felt a heavy weight in his heart, yet this only served to strengthen his resolve to do everything in his power to help. Even after being explicitly refused, he was unwilling to simply give up.

"Uncle, Auntie, I know you may not believe what I am about to say."

"But, I think I might know the reason why Lin Zhenzhen’s face has become this way."

"Really?!" Lin’s parents spoke in unison.

"It is only a hunch, so I would like to go in and see Lin Zhenzhen." Despite the uncertainty within him, Xiao Xiao could not afford to show even the slightest hint of it; his expression remained earnest and sincere.

"Oh... a hunch..." The light in the mother’s eyes dimmed rapidly. She was desperate, grasping at straws; if the doctors were helpless, how could a boy like him possibly have a solution?

"Alright."

"What?" The mother looked at the father in surprise. To her, this was merely a pretext for Xiao Xiao to visit their daughter. She was grateful for his kindness, but she did not want her daughter to be subjected to any further distress.

The father licked his dry, chapped lips, his voice raspy. "The boy has good intentions. What if..." He did not finish his sentence; perhaps even he felt that this "what if" was utterly ridiculous.

"It’s just worth a try, anyway."

"Just a try," the father repeated, his voice growing lower and lower. Was he trying to convince the mother, or himself?

"But..." The mother hesitated, looking at Xiao Xiao, then swallowing her words. Her expression, however, remained clearly etched with doubt and disapproval.

"Xiao Xiao, do you really have an idea about Zhenzhen’s illness?"

Before Xiao Xiao could answer, the father rushed to speak again, "Never mind, don't say anything more. If you want to go in and see her, then go." He wiped his face. "But, Zhenzhen’s temper has been... not very good lately. Please don't upset her."

"I understand."

"However, I would like to speak with Lin Zhenzhen alone."

...

Lin’s parents eventually yielded to Xiao Xiao’s "pushing his luck." Perhaps they had been disappointed too many times, or perhaps they had truly reached the end of their rope; regardless, as long as there was the slightest glimmer of hope, no matter how unreliable it seemed, they wanted to try. Moreover, Xiao Xiao’s gaze was sincere and bright, carrying a sense of resolve and confidence that made them inexplicably want to trust this young man—to believe that he really might have a way to help their daughter. It was just a try, after all. They didn’t harbor high hopes; they simply didn't want to let go of that one-in-a-million chance.

...

*Click.* Xiao Xiao applied pressure to the door handle, and the door swung open.

Without hesitation, Xiao Xiao stepped into the room and closed the door behind him. Because the curtains were drawn, the room was dim and carried a somewhat eerie atmosphere. To Xiao Xiao’s surprise, he did not hear any screaming from the girl. He had fully braced himself for it.

Xiao Xiao looked toward the hospital bed. He saw the slightly raised mound of the quilt. Moving his gaze upward, a face wrapped in bandages came into view. Honestly, even though he had been prepared, Xiao Xiao still subconsciously gasped. The scene truly felt like something out of a horror movie.

...

Hm? Before Xiao Xiao could examine Lin Zhenzhen’s condition in detail, a sudden jolt in his heart made him whip his head around, his sharp gaze following his intuition.

He quickly locked eyes with the corner of the ceiling by the window. An oddly shaped bird was hanging upside down there. Its dull, grayish color made it blend almost perfectly into the shadows, making it nearly invisible. Yet, its eyes were incredibly strange—veiled in a thick, gray mist, yet containing two points of ghostly, sinister light that seemed to flicker and drift as if caught in an invisible wind.

What kind of spirit was this?

Xiao Xiao was already quite calm about the possibility of encountering spirits at any time. He simply felt, once again, that he really needed to keep his *Book of Spirits* on him at all times. At the very least, he would know what kind of spirit he was dealing with. That way, he wouldn't be so passive when facing the unknown.

...

Neither the man nor the spirit moved, simply staring at each other. Then, Xiao Xiao acted as if he had seen nothing at all, turning his head back with calm naturalness.

The spirit: ...

Xiao Xiao knew that the most important thing right now was Lin Zhenzhen. Even though her parents had agreed to let him visit, he couldn't possibly be shameless enough to linger for long. Even if he were, the parents would surely come to kick him out. Time was of the essence; he had to make every second count. How could he waste time staring down a spirit?

Most importantly, Xiao Xiao did not sense any hostile intent from this mysterious spirit. Although the aura it emitted was tinged with a malicious, deathly coldness that made him feel as if he were being pricked by needles—his hair standing on end and a chill seeping into his skin—the spirit’s eerie eyes did not reveal any danger. There was only a hint of playful curiosity. Even if the creature looked unsettling, Xiao Xiao trusted his instincts. This spirit had no intention of attacking him for the time being.

...

Xiao Xiao proceeded to expose his back to the "friend or foe" spirit, though his heart remained tightly wound. Not until he reached the bedside did he focus most of his attention on Lin Zhenzhen, while still keeping a sliver of awareness on the spirit’s every movement.

Xiao Xiao leaned in slightly to get a better look. He was so close, yet there was no reaction at all... She was truly asleep; no wonder it was so quiet. Xiao Xiao scratched his cheek. This was troublesome; not only did he need to wake her up, but he also had to find a way to get her to remove those bandages.

Sighing, Xiao Xiao steeled himself mentally. He glanced at the spirit in the corner of the ceiling; it was still hanging upside down, its eyes shifting back and forth between him and Lin Zhenzhen. Xiao Xiao swept a glance at those two ghostly flames with an indifferent expression, then turned his gaze away, scanning the room as if his original intention had just been to look around.

Returning his focus, he stared at Lin Zhenzhen’s bandaged face for a moment before reaching out to gently nudge her.

...

For some time now, Lin Zhenzhen had been unable to sleep properly, existing in a state of half-dreaming, half-waking. So, the moment Xiao Xiao approached, she had sensed it. As soon as he nudged her, her mouth flew open, and a scream erupted—a sharp, hoarse sound, like a saw blade grinding against rough wood.

In the blink of an eye, the sound filled the entire room.