Chapter 18: Blue Mountain Psychiatric Hospital (Part 18)

Chapter 18: Blue Mountain Psychiatric Hospital (Eighteen)

This time, even the patient NPCs were stunned and didn't eat, only staring at him blankly.

Xue Kai was dumbstruck, "Can it actually work like that??"

Qi Chanyang hurriedly intervened, "It shouldn't be like this!"

He was genuinely worried that the newbie players would imitate and start bossing around the NPCs.

What would happen if they developed such a habit?

Fortunately, the novice players were just inexperienced, not foolish.

Just looking at these patient NPCs sitting nearby, each with grotesque appearances, could cause one to lose SAN points just by looking at them for too long.

Moreover, with the previous incidents involving Gu Shanshan, everyone was aware that the NPCs were vicious and terrifying. It was best to avoid them rather than engage with them unnecessarily.

Of course, the exception was Xie Fangcheng - he was still chatting with number nine nearby.

Number nine had been whimpering just moments ago, his head almost parallel to his chest as he extended his elongated neck, sniffling and sipping the porridge, tears falling constantly from his oversized eyes, making others worry if he might cry his eyeballs out, creating a grotesquely bizarre scene.

After Xie Fangcheng "communicated", number nine stopped crying and shifted half of his body towards number eight as if avoiding something filthy, sneakily peeking at him with the downward-hanging head and bulbous eyes.

On Xue Kai's left was number eight, a patient NPC whose arms were twisted like twisted dough, and on his right was number nine, whose neck resembled a snake, almost clinging to him. Sandwiched between them, Xue Kai was terrified, his left hand shaking so much that he couldn't bring a spoonful of porridge to his mouth without spilling half of it.

Xie Fangcheng was speechless, he pulled number nine back, "Look at what state you've scared yourself into? Just because I hit him doesn't necessarily mean I will hit you."

Not necessarily!

Number nine was on the verge of whining again.

Xie Fangcheng hurriedly suggested, "Don't you love those meatballs? I can ask the chef to prepare a big basin of them for you at noon!"

Number nine stared blankly at him, "That... might not be... okay..."

"It's fine, just discuss it with them!"

No matter how Qi Chanyang heard it, this "discuss" seemed not too different from "communicate".

Number nine hesitated.

His personality was rather shy; he usually felt embarrassed to voice out even when he couldn't get enough to eat.

Number nine whispered timidly, "This... isn't appropriate, right?"

"What's inappropriate about it?" Xie Fangcheng persuaded him, "Isn't there a slogan posted on the first floor, something like 'The Hospital Loves Me'? Shouldn't they provide you with good food and drink if they love you? Don't worry!"

The allure of the meatballs was indeed strong. Number nine quickly had a vacant look in his eyes, salivating, "Meat...meat..."

Qi Chanyang watched the two of them with a speechless expression on his face.

Was this really a horror instance? How did his teammates even start ordering dishes??

And wasn't the slogan on the first floor "I love the hospital, the hospital loves me"? Were the initial parts not important and thus, discardable??

After the meal, it was time for free activities. This time, He Xin unlocked the doors to the first-floor reading room and badminton court, and then disappeared without a trace.

A few of them followed the patient NPCs to the badminton court.

Once inside, the patients began to engage in their own forms of exercise, some lay on the ground arching back and forth with a ball, while others twitched erratically holding a racket.

The group finally realized the source of the eyeball badminton they had witnessed yesterday - number three had gouged out his eyeball, leaving only a dark socket.

Now with only one left eye, he slowly rotated it to observe the players huddled together.

The group felt a chill down their spines.

Qi Chanyang blocked his view and quickly briefed everyone on the clues found yesterday and today's plan.

Upon hearing the plan to tie up the NPCs tonight, everyone looked puzzled.

Xue Kai couldn't help but ask, "How do we tie them?"

Qi Chanyang first glanced at Xie Fangcheng.

The man was leaning nonchalantly against the wall with his staff, standing in a posture that was neither fully standing nor sitting.

Probably finding it tiresome to hold the staff, he casually slung it over his shoulder, resembling a mischievous gang member.

Qi Chanyang paused for a moment.

He felt that if he were to say "Don't worry, Mr. Xie here will tie up all the NPCs tonight", the newcomers might think he had gone mad.

This matter still requires personal verification.

Qi Chanyang could only speak up, "You'll know by tonight."

Everyone exchanged unsure glances, but feeling reassured by his words, they let go of their apprehensions.

In this perilous instance, Qi Chanyang's reliable persona had already deeply ingrained itself in their hearts. Although they didn't know what method he had in mind, they had great faith in him.

"So, what should we do next? Continue to look for clues?"

"Yes."

There were very few items in the ping pong hall, nearly everything could be seen at a glance.

Qi Chanyang suggested, "Let's head to the reading room instead."

Yesterday, he had a brief encounter with Ge Juan in the reading room where Ge Juan sawed the door open.

But now, the door had been repaired once more, and even the hygiene inside the room had been refreshed.

Who cleaned it?

He Xin?

Qi Chanyang frowned as he pondered.

Once everyone entered the room, they dispersed, continuing to search for new clues according to yesterday's plan.

Qi Chanyang once again settled next to the periodicals, and shortly afterwards, his vision dimmed momentarily.

Xie Fangcheng also sat down, casually flipping through a periodical in his hands, interspersed with frequent yawns.

Qi Chanyang suggested, "Why don't you take a short nap?"

Xie Fangcheng feigned hesitation, "Everyone is working, wouldn't it be inappropriate for me to go sleep?"

Qi Chanyang smiled, "We'll be relying on you tonight after all."

"Alright then." Without another word, Xie Fangcheng got up to leave.

Qi Chanyang was stunned, "Where are you going?"

"To sleep, of course."

"Where are you heading off to sleep??" Qi Chanyang was baffled.

He meant for Xie Fangcheng to take a quick nap right here on the chairs, but where was this guy planning to go catch some z's?

Xie Fangcheng was equally confused, "I'm going back to sleep, where else? It's not like there's a bed here, right?"

Qi Chanyang looked on with a face full of shock.

In the midst of a horrifying game instance, he still needs a bed to sleep?!

Seeing his expression, Xie Fangcheng realized suddenly, "Ah, right, you can't beat those NPCs."

"......"

Xie Fangcheng pondered for a moment, "Then I'll bring down a bed. I remember there's a spring bed in the dean's office on the third floor..."

Saying so, he opened the door and gradually moved farther away.

"Hey!"

Qi Chanyang stood stunned for a moment before snapping back to reality. By the time he reached the doorway, Xie Fangcheng had already made it to the staircase.

He Xin had locked the iron gate at the staircase again just now.

Qi Chanyang, with his keen observation, noticed upon descending that the locks on the door had been replaced with new ones, seemingly more robust than the old ones.

However, with a cringe-inducing "snap", Xie Fangcheng nonchalantly tossed the broken lock aside, opened the iron gate, and disappeared into the staircase.

Qi Chanyang: "......"

Qi Chanyang waited at the entrance for a while, but there was no movement from the staircase.

Instead, a "ding" sounded from the elevator behind him.

The elevator doors opened, and Xie Fangcheng emerged, a folded spring bed slung over his right shoulder, and his left hand holding a pillow and bedding.

"What are you doing here?" Xie Fangcheng asked curiously.

Qi Chanyang looked at him, then back at the elevator.

He looked back at him, then at the elevator again, and finally uttered, "You... are quite brazen, aren't you!"

Xie Fangcheng looked back at him, "You're quite odd!"

Where else would you bring down all these items if not through the elevator?!

.

Xie Fangcheng carried the bed into the reading room, leaned it against the wall by the last bookshelf, and settled down comfortably onto it.

Although the new players didn't understand why he needed to sleep, or where the bed came from, everyone showed understanding.

"He was a newcomer last night, and he didn't take any potions; he probably didn't have an easier time than Shan Shan. Let him rest," the considerate middle-aged man, Sun Miao, suggested.

Everyone nodded in agreement.

The room filled with the sound of flipping pages.

After a short while, Lu Xiaoqin suddenly exclaimed with surprise, "There is a diary here!"

It was a rather humble notebook, akin to those you could buy in bulk for fifty cents each, a thin volume, barely noticeable among a pile of thick professional books.

The name "Wang He" was inscribed on the diary’s cover.

Upon opening it, one would find handwriting that was very neat and orderly.

November 4th, Heavy Snowfall.

Today, a heavy snow fell, but she still went out, pushing the small cart. From the window, I saw her slip and fall, limping as she got up, yet she pressed on.

It's all my fault. If it weren't for me, we wouldn't need to sell our house, I would still have a job, and she wouldn't have to work so hard.

I truly loathe this illness!!

November 9th, Light Rain.

Today another 5000 was spent on medication. She told me not to worry, that we have enough money at home and that she will surely cure me. I am truly blessed to have such a wonderful wife! I love you, my dear!!

November 21st, Light Rain.

Why! Why! Why!!

I have not done any wrong in my life!! Why has this terminal illness chosen me?! I want to end it all!

But I can't, I can't die! What about the terminal illness? She hasn't given up on me! She is my only family! I can't give up! Once I recover, I will treat her so well!! I love you!!

November 29th, Clear Sky.

She has become thin, her hair has turned white, bearing a look of someone who has experienced much hardship. All for my sake... all for me. Wang He, just what kind of fortune have you accumulated over your past lives to deserve such a wonderful wife!

......

December 22nd.

What kind of person is this doctor? Does he even deserve to be called a doctor?! On what grounds is he urging us to give up treatment?! How dare he!! I am only twenty-eight! I won't die!! I can't die! What would she do if I die? She isn't in good health either; I need to hold this family together!!

January 5th.

I saw her crying.

January 11th.

I'm sorry, my dear, you'll have to go on alone from here. Fortunately, we gave up early, and you still have some savings. Find yourself a healthy, good man to marry in the future. How much longer can I accompany you? A half-year survival period should be enough for us to say our goodbyes, right?

Flipping to the next page.

The previously orderly handwriting suddenly became frantic, as if overcome by an extreme surge of joy.

January 14th

I won the lottery!! Thank heavens!! Thank you, God!! The doctor said he has returned from abroad and is offering to treat me for free! I am so fortunate!!

My wife was concerned and did a bit of research, finding out that he has received numerous awards internationally!! I am saved! Darling, we are saved!!

January 16th, Sunny!

Today is a bright sunny day! The doctor mentioned that a hospital vehicle would come to pick us up!! We are the fortunate individuals chosen for the ‘Blue Sky Project’! We are in the first batch, with a total of eight people!

However, I have to part with my wife. The doctor mentioned that the closed-door treatment would take about a year, and she would miss me dearly. I will miss her too! But it's alright, we will reunite in a year!

January 18th, Light Rain

Although the weather isn't great, everyone in the car is so happy! I chatted with them; they all are unfortunate individuals, unable to afford treatment.

But they... No, we! We are the lucky ones! We have been chosen by the Blue Sky Project!! The doctor is confident about curing us!! Oh my God! Thank you, doctor!! We are grateful!!

January 21st, Heavy Rain

Despite being fortunate enough to be selected, I don't know why, but something feels odd about this hospital... I don't have any complaints against the doctors, but at night I keep smelling a strange odor, similar to the smell of the sea, yet it seems nobody else notices it.

Could it be due to the rain?

January 24th, Sunny

It is indeed relaxed here, with delicious meals every day and everyone chatting and laughing happily. Among us is a little girl who was abandoned after she fell ill, and everyone adores her.

However, perhaps due to her abandonment, the little girl is quite sensitive and has a fierce temper, resembling a tiny hedgehog. Brother Li said that once we are discharged, he would take Qingqing to his home and ensure she grows up healthy and happy.

Once I recover, I also want to have a lovely daughter with my wife!

January 25th, Light Rain

The fishy smell is gone!

The doctor said the treatment would commence tomorrow!!

Flipping to the next page, the handwriting suddenly seems somewhat distorted.

January 29th

Pain, just underwent surgery, experiencing extreme pain!

But there are no wounds on my body, the doctor says this is a normal phenomenon... quite strange, my trouser leg suddenly became shorter.

Did I grow taller?

February 2nd

Another surgery... so strange... I feel as if Brother Li has changed somehow.

【February

I can't discern how many surgeries I've undergone, I find myself in a hospital room every time I open my eyes. There are no incisions on my body, but it feels as though something has been stuffed inside me.

What is the date today?

The security guard

Uncle

Wouldn't tell me, but I saw the calendar on his desk showing it is still February.】

【3rd

Pain... my name is Wang Ke.

My wife is called... What is my wife's name?? What is my wife's name???】

【3...

I want to go home... she is waiting for me to return... I don't want the treatment anymore...】

【I want to go home!】

【Go home!】

【Home home home...】

【Home】

The following several pages are all blank.

At this moment, a piece of paper tucked inside the diary presents itself to everyone.

It was the brochure from the Blue Mountain Psychiatric Hospital that was found on the newspaper rack, missing its last page. Gu Shanshan speculated that the page might contain the detailed address and contact information for psychiatric consultations.

But at the same time, that bit of information couldn't possibly occupy an entire page — indeed.

On this page, the most prominent feature is the words "Blue Mountain Project".

【Blue Mountain Project: The Blue Mountain Psychiatric Hospital is committed to assisting all patients in need. Our doctors will strive to help you regain your health. Due to limited space, the hospital will admit the first batch of non-mentally ill patients for free this month. Please cut this page and send it to Blue Mountain Psychiatric Hospital, we will contact you as soon as possible.】

Gu Shanshan looked at the paper and quickly realized: "The NPC patients we see now are the eight patients selected in this batch of the 'Blue Mountain Project'. Patient four is the girl called Qingqing! This Wang He... tall in stature, he must be patient six. Using the pretense of 'free treatment', the hospital deceived this group of people into becoming test subjects! Every time Wang He wakes up, he finds himself in a hospital room, thinking he's been through another surgery, but there are no surgical marks... I suspect that they have already completed experiments on other psychiatric patients in the early stages, achieving successful results, hence they finally decided to deceive some severely ill, but mentally sound individuals for final confirmation. At this stage, they no longer need to perform surgeries, but only use medications to achieve the desired effects!"

After Gu Shanshan finished speaking, Qi Chanyang added: "But there were eight patients in total, and we have encountered nine now! One of them is a normal person, this matches up!"

"So what's the use of this diary..."

Before the sentence was completed, Gu Shanshan unintentionally flipped to the end.

On the back cover of the notebook, there was a line of small characters.

It must have been the last moment Wang He was lucid.

His handwriting was distorted, yet he wrote with extreme determination and force, almost tearing the paper with the pen tip.

It was merely a name.

—— Han Fangfang.

For a moment, everyone remained silent, almost certain that this was the name of Wang He's wife.

Wang He was diagnosed with a terminal illness, and his wife Han Fangfang, despite having to sell their house to set up a street stall, remained steadfast in her resolve to save him.

And Wang He, he might have lost awareness of his own name by now, but fortunately, he managed to remember his wife's name at last.

If it hadn't been for this Blue Mountain Psychiatric Hospital, even if separation was inevitable, the couple would have been able to accompany each other throughout their final journey.

But now...

The person who shared a room with patient number six was named Hu Jian, a photographer who tragically drowned after his tire skidded and he fell into a river on a rainy day.

At this moment, a trace of reluctance appeared on his face.

“Number six... his legs are segmented... so when he walks, it looks like he is stepping on springs...”

Even Qi Chanyang, a veteran player who had cleared many instances, couldn't help but frown.

But now was not the time for the players to be advocating for the NPC’s rights.

Qi Chanyang first composed himself.

He looked at the diary in his hand: “I understand now. Our approach is correct, we need to identify who is the normal person first. To determine who is normal, they should not take the medication, but if the NPCs don't take it, they will mutate and attack us. To avoid being attacked...”

Qi Chanyang pointed to the last name written.

“Like this name, knowing this name might prevent us from being attacked by number six... or there's also a possibility that knowing this name would allow us to persuade the NPC to take the medication, while we refrain from taking it.”

This was a clue that could potentially save lives!

Qi Chanyang said, “Now, let's continue to look for similar clues, it doesn't necessarily have to be a diary.”

Everyone nodded in agreement.

Just as the atmosphere was harmonious and uplifting, a sinister voice echoed from the entrance of the reading room.

“Free time is over, prepare for your consultation! Come out when I call your name.”

He first peered inside, scanning around, his eyes darting about as if searching for something.

In the end, everyone vaguely felt that he seemed to have breathed a sigh of relief, before his two frighteningly large eyes sequentially swept over everyone's faces.

Lu Xiaoqin, who was near the entrance, recoiled a step backward in fright at that moment.

He Xin's eyeballs ceased moving, fixing a direct gaze upon her.

"Miss Lu, you're first. Come with me."

Lu Xiaqin trembled all over.

Being naturally timid, she felt on the verge of fainting since being brought into this horror game. While others were gradually adapting to the terrifying atmosphere, Lu Xiaoqin would still get scared to the point of crying when left alone in a room with an NPC.

Being called upon first this time, she looked at Qi Chanyang with desperate eyes.

Qi Chanyang took the initiative to speak: "Let me go first."

He Xin sneered: "No need to rush, everyone will get a consultation with Doctor Han."

It was clear that he intended to target Lu Xiaoqin first.

Qi Chanyang's lips tightened, comforting her in sign language: Don't be afraid, follow the NPC's instructions, you'll be okay.

Sending Lu Xiaoqin to the consultation, as long as she obediently complies and doesn't trigger the murder rule, even if the NPC wants to kill her, they can't act upon it. This was the instance rule.

Lu Xiaoqin was fully aware of this, but still terrified to the point of pallor, she followed He Xin out with shaky steps.

He Xin turned his head to look at them, leaving behind a sinister laugh as he led Lu Xiaoqin towards the second floor.

Gu Shanshan was very worried: "Will Xiaogin be alright?"

Qi Chanyang shook his head: "She'll be fine. As long as she follows the rules, the NPC won't harm her."

Gu Shanshan still had a furrowed brow: "Xiaoqin won't disobey the NPC since she's timid. But I'm afraid the NPC might intentionally frighten her, making her panic and thereby breaking the rules."

Indeed.

This young girl obviously grew up sheltered, easily frightened at the slightest provocation.

If only it wasn't her going first, but Qi Chanyang instead.

After all, Qi Chanyang had cleared so many instances and had a bolder disposition...

A bold disposition...

Qi Chanyang suddenly snapped back to reality.

.

The second floor.

The corridor had no windows, not a sliver of sunlight could penetrate through.

In the deathly quiet corridor, only Lu Xiaoqin's footsteps could be heard. The person walking ahead of her wore a white lab coat, their legs alternately moving forward without making a single sound. The mottled walls, under the dim lighting, resembled twisted figures, forcing Lu Xiaoqin to nearly lean on them to shuffle forward.

He Xin turned his head.

His inherently terrifying large eyes seemed like two horrifying black orbs at this moment, staring fixedly at her.

"Miss Lu, your consultation time is fast approaching. Please don't dawdle on the way. Dr. Han is a very meticulous person; he will be angered if you are late."

Lu Xiaoqin shivered, tears swirling in her eyes, yet she held back from crying out loud.

She had always been faint-hearted, even a dog's bark during her childhood would leave her petrified and immobile; now, she dared not even lift her eyes, just staring down at her own feet.

Just at this moment, a horrifying face suddenly appeared in her line of sight.

He Xin bent down, his neck turning a full 180 degrees to stare at her just below her eyes.

"Ah!" Lu Xiaoqin screamed, and then burst into tears.

Beneath his mask, He Xin's mouth curved into a noticeable arc, feigning surprise: "Miss Lu, did you see something frightening? Why are you crying?"

As long as Lu Xiaoqin nodded, he could prescribe her a pill under the pretense "it's all an illusion"... no, he couldn't wait, make it two pills!

If she would just take two more pills...

Lu Xiaoqin bit her lip tightly, her breaths coming in terrified, ragged gasps as she leaned against the wall, her trembling hand leaving a scratch mark on it.

Lu Xiaoqin slowly shook her head: "No... I, I didn't see anything."

He Xin continued to glare at her intensely.

Having uttered that sentence, Lu Xiaoqin covered her mouth, later lifting her head, her face smeared with tears.

"Isn't... isn't it time for the consultation?" she asked.

He Xin's smile gradually faded away.

He snorted coldly, begrudgingly continuing to lead the way.

Upon reaching the entrance of the clinic, Lu Xiaoqin took a deep breath.

She walked in, trembling.

The dim consultation room resembled a monster, its gaping maw open wide as if ready to devour her.