Chapter 173

Chapter 173

"After our condition is cured—" Xie Yin Xue tapped twice on the armrest of her wheelchair, continuing her inquiry, "will we still see hallucinations on the seventh night?"

Doctor Bu gave her a glance, offering an ambiguous reply, "In theory, no."

The patient-participants immediately understood: there's a difference between theory and practice. If they still experienced hallucinations on the seventh night, it would mean their condition wasn't truly cured but merely masked, implying it was their fault either way.

And they dare claim this isn't a shady clinic?

How shameless!

Of course, if anyone voiced these thoughts aloud, Doctor Bu might just retort with pride, "Our dean has never had any shame to begin with."

Thus, everyone silently agreed to remain quiet.

Doctor Bu then randomly picked a nurse, instructing Lang Qi to read out the day's treatment plan for the patients.

Today's therapy? They were to spend half an hour in the recreation lounge watching... the evening news.

The reason behind this 'treatment' seemed a bit far-fetched: As their therapy neared its end, the patients needed to be updated on recent societal events to reintegrate better. Otherwise, they'd find it challenging to adapt outside, which might push them back into madness and return to the hospital.

Lv Shuo couldn't help but mutter, "From the way he put it, it feels like we're in jail, not a hospital."

It's only been seven days, not seven years. How much could the outside world have changed?

However, once they settled in the recreation lounge and began watching the projected "news", the real intent became clear. The news reported frequent murders in Qing Shan city. The victims lived near the Qing Shan Mental Hospital. The police suspected that a violent patient from the hospital was the perpetrator, intensifying patrols around the hospital and ready to apprehend any patient caught sneaking out.

Xiao Si Yu pondered, "If we leave with a recovery certificate, would that be considered 'sneaking out'?"

Lv Shuo whispered, "This place feels too much like a rogue clinic. They might not even have a medical license, rendering our recovery certificates useless."

Xiao Si Yu: "...Makes sense."

In any case, for their safety, they shouldn't consider leaving early.

Now, even if they wanted to leave early, there's no chance.

Since after watching the news, their treatment for the day was complete. Unlike the previous five days of intrigue and mutual suspicion, they had a rather peaceful sixth day, as Bian Yuchen had mentioned. With the two most unstable individuals—Hu Li and Su Xun Lan—out of the picture, tranquility prevailed.

While the patient participants constantly face attacks from monstrous patients, most of these creatures move slowly and can be harmed by weapons like knives and guns. Even if Lu Shuo's movements are sluggish, he remains safe with Xiao Siyu and Chen Yun. With Shisan guarding Bian Yuchen, none of the patient participants were injured by day's end.

For the nurse participants, there wasn't much they could do. These monstrous patients couldn't touch them during the day, let alone attack. The weapons retrieved from their luggage remained unused, so they could only watch as the patient participants fought the creatures.

After observing for a while, Zheng Shu frowned, "Sis, do you feel like there are fewer and fewer patients?"

Mu Yujie confidently replied, "Indeed, there are."

It wasn't Zheng Shu's imagination. Shisan would kill every monstrous patient he encountered. By dusk, hardly any of these creatures were still mobile within the hospital.

"Damn! I've almost worn out my gun," Lu Shuo remarked, shaking his tired arm, then asked Bian Yuchen, "Can we ever finish off all these patients? They won't respawn like NPCs in a video game at a certain time, will they?"

"Unfortunately, that's exactly how it works. They'll reappear after dark," Bian Yuchen said with a hint of resignation. But then he brightened, encouraging Lu Shuo, "But as you've seen, they're not strong fighters. As long as we stick together, we can easily get through the night."

Chen Yun nodded in agreement, "Indeed."

In nature, when buffalo face a pack of wolves, they form a protective circle around their calves. By imitating this strategy and sharing each other's illusions, they could remain as unafraid during the night as they were during the day.

Xiao Siyu reflected, "If only we could have done this earlier... No, it wouldn't have worked."

If asked what the journey taught them, the answer would surely be: caution, attention to detail, and never to be overly trusting.

Apart from Chen Yun and Lu Shuo, he couldn't fully trust anyone, not even Xie Yinxue. Plus, they had no weapons to defend themselves earlier. And with Hu Li still alive and Su Xunlan around, who would dare ally with them? There was a constant threat of betrayal. From this perspective, Shisan, by killing Hu Li, genuinely sacrificed for the sake of all participants.

Zheng Shu felt an urge to applaud their belated unity, but just then, Auntie Mary arrived with the sleeping pills.

After pocketing the pill, he said to Bian Yuchen, "You all stick together tonight. Since the nurses aren't involved, we'll take our leave."

"Wait a moment," Bian Yuchen called out to him and stopped the other nurses from leaving. "You all wait as well."

Lin Yue thought Bian Yuchen wanted them to bear all the patients' illusions and help defend against the creatures at night. She declined, saying, "My only weapon is a small knife; I won't be of much help."

A gentle smile returned to Bian Yuchen's face, "No, I just want all the sleeping pills handed over to me."

Cui Rujie, puzzled, asked, "Aren't you all skipping the meds tonight?"

If the patients took the medicine tonight, the side effects would intensify by tomorrow, and they'd succumb before evening even arrived.

"We can't take them," Bian Yuchen replied, appearing concerned. "But I fear you might."

Xiang Fei raised an eyebrow in confusion, “Why would we take the medicine?”

“If you aren’t taking it, hand it over to me,” Biàn Yǔ Chén stretched out his hand towards her, “We certainly won’t be using it anyway.”

Without much thought, Xiang Fei acquiesced, “Alright, alright, here you go.”

The other nurses didn’t voice any clear objections, or perhaps with Shi San present, they dared not resist. Thus, Biàn Yǔ Chén began to methodically collect the sleeping pills from each of them.

When it came to Mu Yu Ji, she looked up, gazing intently at the man before her, and asked, “What will happen if we take the pills?”

The corner of Biàn Yǔ Chén's lips curled into a more pronounced smile, “You'll end up like me.”

Biàn Yǔ Chén was a patient, but also a nurse who had gone mad. Was he suggesting that he lost his sanity due to the medication?

“But didn’t Dr. Ke Pu say that if we don’t get enough rest, we would go mad?” Lin Yue gripped her pill tightly, speaking in a soft, wavering tone, “I haven’t slept for six days, and I’m so afraid…”

… Afraid that by tomorrow, she'd lose her sanity.

“You won’t go mad from the lack of sleep,” Biàn Yǔ Chén's voice was even softer now, almost hypnotic, “Please, trust me.”

Yet Lin Yue vehemently shook her head.

“Have you all forgotten?” She pointed accusatorily at Biàn Yǔ Chén, “We asked Auntie Mary about him, if he used to be a nurse here. Auntie Mary, being a guide NPC, said he wasn’t. She wouldn’t lie! It's Biàn Yǔ Chén who is deceiving us!”

Lin Yue staunchly disbelieved the notion that Biàn Yǔ Chén was a nurse from a previous scenario who went mad. She felt that not every nurse-participant truly believed this story; they were merely pretending to, perhaps out of fear of Shi San.

Cui Ru Jie was also skeptical, chiming in, “Exactly, how do you explain that?”

Exhibiting great patience, Biàn Yǔ Chén elaborated, “Let me clarify for you all, there isn’t just one Auntie Mary. Only the one we first encountered upon entering the scenario is the guide. Any subsequent appearance might not be the original Auntie Mary. Those can lie. And without distinct facial features, you can’t discern which Auntie Mary you’re speaking to.”

“Do you have any evidence?” Lang Qi asked, trying to keep his tone gentle to prevent any escalation, “We can’t just blindly trust your word.”

“Evidence?”

Biàn Yǔ Chén stepped back, suddenly feeling overwhelmed. There were indeed hints that more than one Auntie Mary existed, but not everyone picked up on them. Those who couldn’t discern this simple fact, if only they listened and cooperated, they could sail through the scenario. But they chose to doubt and suspect, refusing to trust. It reminded him of... himself from before.

Indeed, back when he was a nurse in this very scenario, one of the patient-participants had largely pieced together the clues to clear the stage. Even after everything was shared, no one was fully convinced.

“I’ve already told all of you,” Biàn Yǔ Chén began, his voice rising in intensity and frustration, veins in his eyes reddening, “Everything I've done has been to ensure we clear this scenario together…” As he continued, his voice became increasingly exasperated, culminating in a roaring shout, “Why won’t you believe me!”

Thirteen, who hadn't spoken since his suicide attempt, stepped forward at this moment, placing his hand on Biàn Yǔchén's shoulder, frowning and saying, "Young Master."

"I apologize for my outburst," Biàn Yǔchén regained his composure, closing his eyes and exhaling a deep breath. When he spoke again, there was a slight tremble in his voice, "...I've been here far too long."

Yù Fēngzhú queried, "Weren't you the nurse from the previous instance?"

An instance lasts seven days, so even two instances amount to just fourteen days. How long could that be?

Xiè Yìnxuě laughed upon hearing this, "Who told you he was the nurse from the last instance?"

Yù Fēngzhú asked, "Wasn't he?"

Xiè Yìnxuě replied, "No."

When referring to Biàn Yǔchén, Doctor Bù had said: that insane nurse.

Did Doctor Bù ever specify when he went mad? No, he never did.

Bù Jiǔ, the unreliable man who would fish for three days and mend his nets for two, only to move on when his cultivated fish died, was completely untrustworthy. His information was highly misleading. Given the high mortality rate among participants in the Qing Shan Psychiatric Hospital instance and his absence in later runs, who knows how long Biàn Yǔchén has truly been here?

Lǚ Shuò, driven by curiosity, asked, "Exactly how long have you been in this instance?"

"To be precise, not that long. From the time I first entered this instance to now, only eight months have passed in the real world. Less than a year," Biàn Yǔchén looked back at Lǚ Shuò with a renewed smile, "But as you know, just once and I became that 'insane nurse' in Doctor Bù's words."

"This is my ninth time going through this instance."

He hasn't successfully completed this instance in nine attempts?

The revelation stunned the group, leaving them all in shock.

Biàn Yǔchén continued, "In this instance, everyone needs sleeping pills to sleep. But the pills have side effects. Nurses go 'mad' after consuming them. If you're a nurse and you've taken the pill, and you happen to survive, don't think the next step is clearing the level. The next time you enter, you'll be back here, as a patient."

Hearing this, Cuī Rújié shivered—she started to believe Biàn Yǔchén.

The other day, during Mary's so-called "Truth and Reconciliation Meeting," she had sensed something was off, considering the stark difficulty difference between the roles of the nurses and patients.

That day, at the long table, it seemed the game involved only Mary, the doctors, and the patients. The nurses were completely sidelined, the very definition of bystanders.

But what purpose did such a setup serve in the instance?

Could it merely be for them, the nurses, to observe how the doctors and Aunt Mary conspire to torment and bully the patients, and how these patients turn on each other with suspicion and treachery?

At this moment, she finally understood. The answer was: indeed.

The scenario is crafted to show them that sooner or later, these nurses will be just like the currently tormented patients, becoming spectacles for the next batch of nurse participants.

For tonight, they might choose not to take the medicine, but tomorrow night, they must.

If they abstain, these nurses would be discovered by the patients, bearing the brunt of the patients' hallucinations, and consequently, dying in their stead during the death phase.

If they wish to remain hidden from the patients, their only option is to sleep through the medication. They will survive, only to become new patients in the next iteration.

— This scenario is an endless relay of death.