Chapter 105: Previous Delivery Person |
Translator: InkyDragon (https://puukkiss.wixsite.com/inkydragon)
Yu Xiao’s eyes widened as she caught a glimpse of the photo, and her fingers quickly reached out to grab Zhou Xiao Zhen’s phone.
On the screen, the Sage appeared serene, just as he had in his final moments. Even facing death, his expression remained unchanged, a silent enigma that both intrigued and haunted her.
She barely knew him, yet his calm gaze seemed to penetrate through her, as if he could see beyond the surface of reality itself. Under the starlit sky, he had asked a question that lingered in her mind: Was he real?
Now, as she stared at the image of him on her phone, she couldn’t help but wonder if he had predicted this moment. Perhaps he had anticipated that one day someone would take a picture, forever preserving his existence for those who doubted. Quickly, she saved the photo to her own device and uploaded it to the cloud, holding the phone tightly against her chest.
A sudden thought interrupted her daydream: What if she never crossed paths with the inhabitants of other worlds again? Shouldn’t she gather some mementos of those she encountered along the way?
Before she could dwell further, Zhou Xiao Zhen’s voice broke the silence. “So, what happened next? The monsters got so bored that they fell asleep during my mahjong game.”
Yu Xiao felt a pang of nostalgia mixed with sorrow as she recounted the events that followed.
Zhou Xiao Zhen brushed away a tear. “The Sage was nice; why did he have to die?”
Furrowing her brow in confusion, Zhou Xiao Zhen asked, “What do you mean?”
Zhao Lan shrugged. “It’s kind of like… we scratch their back, they scratch ours. These instances not only test us but also keep the hospital functioning. Take the Sage World, for example. In order to sustain itself, the sages there have to die and be reborn periodically. But they don’t want to do it themselves, and the residents of that world can’t bear the burden either. So they need us, the outsiders, to do the dirty work. In return, we earn points, and it maintains the balance in the Sage World.”
Yu Xiao nodded, agreeing with Zhao Lan’s theory. The hospital wasn’t some all-powerful entity that controlled everything; there were nuances that suggested otherwise.
For instance, doctors couldn’t harm patients without consequences, as patients had the right to file complaints. Regular inspections every five years gave patients a chance to voice their concerns. Within the rules, patients had some autonomy, and any violations had consequences. Some patients, like Yu Xiao herself, even transitioned to roles within the hospital staff.
Trying to understand the implications, Zhou Xiao Zhen pondered, “So… this is good news for us, right?”
Yu Xiao shook her head. “Not really good news. More like no news. It doesn’t change much for us. We still have to earn points to survive.”
Zhao Lan and Zhou Xiao Zhen exchanged a sigh, their hopes dampened by the harsh reality.
Suddenly, Zhou Xiao Zhen remembered something. “Hey, Smiley, you mentioned a ghost helping us for those crucial five minutes. What could have made a ghost lend a hand.”
Yu Xiao had her suspicions, although nothing concrete. “Maybe it has something to do with what I did before. When I got to the hospital, I was freaking out about you guys, so I gave a bunch of meat to the ghosts behind the doors. I hoped they would see you guys and lend a hand.”
Zhao Lan perked up. “Who else did you bribe?”
“I couldn’t tell who they were,” Yu Xiao admitted, shifting in her seat. “Only two ghosts responded to my gesture, and one of them turned out to be our guardian angel. He protected me from the ghostly chaos and guided me to the ground floor of the hospital.”
Zhao Lan nervously nibbled on her lip as she reached into her pocket. “Smiley, you’re incredible. The other ghost came through for me twice as well.”
Curious, Zhou Xiao Zhen craned her neck to catch a glimpse of what Zhao Lan was holding. Yu Xiao also peered over her shoulder and saw… a pendant?
It looked like something from a vintage shop, a photo necklace that used to be trendy ages ago. It must have been gold once, but now it was all rusty and crusty, probably from years of neglect. There were also some nasty brown spots on it, like dried blood.
With a click, Zhao Lan flipped open the pendant, revealing a tiny photo sticker inside.
The young woman in the photo had long, curly hair, bold lipstick, and a sassy smile.
“Wow, she’s stunning,” Zhou Xiao Zhen gushed. “Who is she? She’s absolutely gorgeous.”
“Remember what Qing Shi told us, Smiley?” Zhao Lan glanced at Yu Xiao. “That everyone in the ward is our senior. The Sage also mentioned they’re all outsiders, not belonging here.”
“Right,” Yu Xiao said, taking out an old-school mobile phone. “They were probably patients like us, completing missions in the Sage’s world. When they passed away in the hospital, they became the ghosts haunting the ward.”
“Good grief,” Zhou Xiao Zhen shuddered at the thought of ghosts lingering in the ward. “That’s absolutely terrifying, isn’t it? And now they’re munching on people.”
“Do you think any of them still remember being human?” Zhao Lan pondered, looking at the photo in her hand. “Why do you think she gave me this necklace?”
Zhou Xiao Zhen glanced briefly at the photo and asked, “Should we take it with us? Maybe someone out there recognizes her?”
Although they had no idea why.
Yu Xiao searched through her backpack and found a charger for the ancient Nokia phone. When she powered it up, the phone emitted a beep, prompting a sigh of relief from Yu Xiao. Thank goodness, it still worked.
While Zhao Lan and Yu Xiao felt a twinge of sadness, Zhou Xiao Zhen appeared unfazed. She tore open a bag of spicy snacks, poured herself some tea, and grabbed her phone.
During their time in the instance, she had received several texts. She wondered if any of them had catchy titles.
Zhou Xiao Zhen eagerly tapped on the messages. However, her smile vanished as she read the titles, and a sense of dread washed over her. (;ↀ⌓ↀ)
Yu Xiao glanced at the Nokia phone but decided to wait until it was fully charged before exploring its contents. She also wanted to check her texts, but when she opened the online store, she found numerous orders for stacked talismans. Since she had used up most of her talismans during this ordeal, she would have to work tirelessly to replenish her stock.
Zhao Lan put away the necklace, realising that even if she managed to escape this place, she might never uncover the identity of the person in the photo. Finding someone based solely on a picture seemed unlikely, especially considering the pendant’s age. The person depicted was probably long gone, making the search even more complicated.
Glancing briefly at her phone, Zhao Lan headed to the shower. The new title seemed impressive, but she wasn’t in the mood to celebrate. She didn’t bother checking the titles of the two sisters, unaware of Zhou Xiao Zhen’s troubled expression.
By dinnertime, Yu Xiao had just finished drawing all the talismans for the orders.
Zhou Xiao Zhen arrived with an array of meat dishes.
Yu Xiao wanted to send the package before dinner so she could relax for the rest of the afternoon. As she waited, Yu Xiao pondered the temperament of the new delivery person. Perhaps they would be more pleasant. With her own easygoing nature, Yu Xiao hoped for a harmonious relationship, even if the delivery person was a ghost.
Knock, knock, knock.
A series of knocks interrupted her thoughts. “Hello, I’m here for the delivery,” came a sweet voice from outside.
“Wow~” Zhou Xiao Zhen exclaimed, “The new delivery person is a young lady!”
Yu Xiao welcomed the normalcy, thinking this was how a typical delivery should go. “Okay, I’ll open the door,” she said, stepping forward to greet the newcomer.
As she filled out the delivery slip, Yu Xiao engaged in conversation. “Do delivery people have names?”
The delivery person chuckled softly. “Of course, but I don’t think we’re quite there yet. We’re just acquaintances, after all.”
Yu Xiao understood and didn’t press further. “What happened to the previous delivery person?” she inquired instead.
“Oh, he got tangled up with the Nightmare. He was let go,” the delivery girl explained, her laughter light. “He’s pretty upset, convinced he was framed and vowing revenge.”
Yu Xiao scoffed. “What can a disgruntled delivery guy do? Send us a nasty email?”
“He’s already on the hunt for a new gig,” the delivery girl said. “He’s got skills, you know. Lots of places want him.”
Yu Xiao raised an eyebrow sceptically. “If he’s so talented, why was he delivering packages?”
“He wasn’t always a delivery guy. Made a cock-up, got the boot, and ended up doing this,” the delivery girl said, lowering her voice. “He used to be an attending doctor, but he botched an instance, killed a patient, and got the axe. He’s got a grudge, and he’s not afraid to use it. Watch your back if he’s got you in his sights.”
Yu Xiao: “…” (•_•)σ
She thought about it. She didn’t feel guilty about the delivery guy, it was his fault, not hers. But she still had to be careful. “How can I keep tabs on the ex-delivery guy?”
There was a pause outside, then a gulp. Yu Xiao heard the delivery girl say, “You know Saint Elizabeth’s has some really juicy, tender meat, right?”
Yu Xiao got the hint. “Oh, yeah. And their chefs are amazing with charcoal-grilled pork loin. You know, I feel a connection with you. I want to be friends. And sharing food with friends doesn’t break any hospital rules, does it?”
The delivery girl departed contentedly, leaving Yu Xiao relieved, feeling like she had to make peace with the ghosts, no more messing with them.
Zhao Lan came out of the bathroom, poured herself a glass of juice, and Zhou Xiao Zhen asked timidly, “Did you get a title this time, Misty?”
“I did.”
“Oh,” Zhou Xiao Zhen nodded. “What’s yours?”
“Mine? Mine’s ‘Self-Sacrificing for Others.’ Pretty cool, huh? What about you?”
Zhou Xiao Zhen dodged the question. “Smiley, what’s your title?”
“I haven’t checked yet,” Yu Xiao said, sitting at the table and pulling out her phone to read a text. “Why are you so obsessed with titles anyway? I didn’t make a bet with you this time. And no matter what it says, I’m not going to turn into a guy and sleep with you.”
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