Chapter 3 Hospital

Chapter 3 Hospital

"Boom—"

A continuous roar exploded in their ears, as if the world was shaking. Dark, winding cracks snaked across the walls, terrifying as venomous serpents, radiating a bone-chilling cold.

"Be careful!" Ning Yi dodged the flaking plaster, his expression grave as he surveyed the precarious surroundings. "The building is collapsing."

Shang Yanci froze the moment the ground shook. Hearing Ning Yi’s words, he instinctively glanced at the sign not far away that read "Fourth Floor," a cold dread creeping down his spine.

Dust rained down from above, and irregular chunks of concrete debris brushed past him. Clutching his backpack tightly, Shang Yanci knew he couldn’t afford to waste any more time.

Even if the chance of survival was slim, he refused to stay put and leave his fate to chance.

He was about to call out to the boy with the dyed hair to leave with him when he overheard the boy mutter under his breath, "...What are they doing?! Making such a racket!"

Shang Yanci froze, a twinge of unease shot through him. But before he could ponder it further, something snapped tight around his waist.

A rope made of flexible white paper suddenly shot out, wrapping itself firmly around Shang Yanci in the blink of an eye.

"Don’t be afraid," Ning Yi threw out a hasty reassurance. Then, jumping up, he kicked the nearby window.

"Crack."

A crisp sound echoed as fine cracks spread across the glass, but it held firm.

With time running out, Ning Yi had no patience to wait. Seeing that his first attempt had failed, he relied on his physical strength, wrapped his fist in paper, and punched the window several times, forcibly shattering a large hole in the hospital window that had only been able to open a crack.

"Follow me!" he said, stepping onto the windowsill and pulling Shang Yanci toward him with the paper rope.

Shang Yanci understood his plan the moment he started breaking the window.

Looking down at the inexplicably appearing paper rope around his waist, the boy adjusted his backpack and, without hesitation, followed the pull, scrambling onto the windowsill using both hands and feet.

Ning Yi gave an approving glance at Shang Yanci’s decisiveness. Then, after securing one end of the rope to the window frame, he leaped down without a second thought, pulling Shang Yanci along with him.

The wind whistled past their ears as Shang Yanci clung tightly to his backpack. He watched as countless sheets of white paper materialized beneath their feet, layer upon layer, cushioning their fall until they landed safely on the ground.

Thanks to the cushioning effect of the paper and the support of the rope, Shang Yanci escaped mostly unscathed, aside from a cut on his forehead from a sharp piece of debris that had shot out unexpectedly.

As soon as they landed, Ning Yi reached for the paper rope still wrapped around Shang Yanci’s waist. With a few deft movements, the flexible rope seemed to corrode, breaking apart with a gentle tug.

Seeing this, Shang Yanci didn’t need any prompting. Holding his backpack securely, he sprinted away from the building.

Beside the No. 4 Inpatient Building was a well-maintained lawn, wide and flat like a soft green carpet, shimmering warmly under the sunlight.

Shang Yanci had just stepped onto the grass when a deafening roar erupted behind him.

"Boom—"

Shang Yanci didn’t stop.

He ran until he reached the center of the lawn before turning around, panting heavily.

Ning Yi stood beside him, also gazing back at the inpatient building.

The once towering structure had now collapsed into complete ruins, with exposed steel bars and scattered debris. Dust swirled wildly in the air under the sunlight.

Shang Yanci stared for a moment, then turned to the boy with the dyed hair, about to ask something, when he noticed the urgency and worry etched on the boy’s face.

Shang Yanci paused.

He looked back at the ruins.

Before long, a section of the largely stabilized rubble began to tremble violently. Then, a large, hideous monster clumsily crawled out.

Before Shang Yanci could even tense up, a black figure leaped out from the ruins right behind the monster.

The two engaged in a fierce struggle.

Seeing the black figure, Ning Yi let out a sigh of relief, murmuring softly, "As long as you made it out..."

He looked down at Shang Yanci, offering a slightly strained smile, as if afraid the boy might break down after the ordeal. "Hey kid, how about I take you to the rescue point? There are medical staff there who can take care of you."

Shang Yanci, still clutching his backpack, nodded silently.

The two of them, along with the backpack, made their way toward the hospital’s main entrance.

Perhaps because the inpatient building had collapsed and the thin-legged monster hadn't managed to escape the ruins, the mark on Shang Yanci seemed to have lost its effect. The monsters they encountered along the way no longer avoided him as they had inside the building. Instead, they lunged at him ravenously.

Once again, Shang Yanci witnessed the surreal scene.

Sharp paper blades materialized out of thin air, slicing through the grotesque monsters in a flurry.

They fought their way forward, step by step.

Filthy blood flowed, and sticky fluids splattered everywhere.

Shang Yanci, shielded by the boy with the dyed hair, watched as the latter effortlessly dealt with the endless stream of monsters. A flicker of envy passed through his dark eyes.

Although the monsters wandering in the open didn’t instill the same level of dread as the relentless thin-legged creature from before, Shang Yanci knew that without the dyed-haired boy’s protection, he would have been as helpless as he was inside the building.

He wanted to possess such a "superpower" too.

The feeling of being forced to flee helplessly from monsters...

He never wanted to experience it again.

The boy tightened his grip on the backpack, like a young wolf without shelter clinging to its one and only precious treasure.

His frustration burned fiercely within him, and the fear of loss took root like a seed, quietly sprouting in a corner of his heart.

*

Outside the hospital, within the gray isolation barrier, several "trucks" were parked.

Uniformed staff were bustling about, some carrying stretchers, others supporting injured patients with broken limbs. Amid the chaotic scene, blood was everywhere, and cries of pain filled the air.

Ning Yi scanned the area silently but found no available staff. After a moment’s hesitation, he turned to Shang Yanci and said, "They all seem busy. I’ll take you over there first."

Shang Yanci nodded.

Ning Yi led him around the parked "trucks," finally selecting one with the fewest occupants and those with minor injuries. Turning to Shang Yanci, he said, "How about this one? Someone should come by soon. Remember to ask them to treat your wound..."

He paused mid-sentence, then changed his mind. "Actually, I’ll help you with it first."

With that, he stepped toward the truck to look for a first-aid kit.

But before his foot could land, a voice suddenly called out, "Ning Yi—"

A handsome man hurried over, his eyes lighting up when he saw the familiar figure of the boy. His voice was filled with urgency. "Captain Gu is looking for you! A contaminated creature injured the armed police and broke through the isolation barrier!"

Ning Yi froze for a moment, then his expression changed drastically: "A contaminant escaped?!"

"I have urgent matters to attend to here; please wait a moment."

After hurriedly explaining to Shang Yanci, he didn't dare delay any longer and quickly caught up with the handsome man: "What happened? Did the isolation wall fail? Which direction did the contaminant go?"

"By the way, Captain Lu, this is the child I rescued from the No. 4 inpatient building. He's injured; please make sure someone treats his injuries."

"There should be medical staff around here; I'll let them know in a moment." Lu Shuze responded, then explained: "The isolation wall hasn't failed..."

Their figures gradually faded into the distance, their voices swallowed by the chaos. From the hospital not far away, a roar filled with madness and fury suddenly erupted...

The summer heatwave hit him, and the world began to twist and distort in Shang Yanci's eyes, revealing its menacing nature.

The boy hugged his backpack tightly, silently glanced toward the inpatient building, then turned and entered the transport.

The transport was spacious, packed with row after row of cots.

There weren't many people inside—mostly children with minor injuries, quietly curled up under their blankets like stray animals, despairing and sorrowful.

A few scattered adults lay on the beds, their bodies stained with blood, their faces pale. When they heard movement, they merely gave indifferent looks.

Shang Yanci, shielding his backpack, tried to avoid these gazes as much as possible and chose an empty cot in the corner by the wall.

He turned his back to the crowd, loosened the backpack straps, and carefully unzipped it.

The soft light inside the transport dispelled the darkness, falling on the messy blankets. A chubby little baby, with plump, doughy cheeks, was sound asleep, his face flushed with a sweet, rosy glow.

Shang Yanci let out a sigh of relief, but couldn't help feeling equal parts amused and exasperated.

"Little troublemaker," he muttered under his breath, as if scolding, yet a smile unconsciously welled up in his dark eyes.

It was good that Xiao Guai was safe.

He thought it was good that he had slept through the entire journey.

Those grotesque monsters, the bloodied severed limbs... they could all be dismissed as a nightmare.

Once the dream ended, the fear and trembling should evaporate in the summer heat.

Leaving only sweet dreams.

The boy gently touched the round, plump cheek of the chubby child sleeping peacefully in the backpack, his eyes holding a tenderness that belied his age.

Xiao Guai must grow up safe and happy.

"Mmm."

As if disturbed by the changing light, the little one with dark hair and pale cheeks let out a soft whimper, his chubby face scrunching up unhappily, his pitiful expression completely adorable.

Shang Yanci instinctively held his breath and, imitating the actions of his aunt from memory, gently patted the backpack.

"Wah..."

Xiao Guai's chubby dimpled hands opened and closed like a kitten's paws. Sniffing the familiar scent, he drifted back to sleep.

Shang Yanci quietly exhaled, realizing he had gotten so nervous he was sweating, and couldn't help but smile faintly.

"Troublemaker Xiao Guai."

He muttered under his breath, placed the backpack containing Xiao Guai on his lap, carefully pressed down the edges, and then looked closely at the inside of Xiao Guai's plump, pale arm.

The silver-blue scales had not disappeared.

In fact, there were even more of them.

Shang Yanci's heart sank.

He quickly pulled up the edges of the backpack and zipped it shut.

What should he do?

The boy hugged the backpack; his expression darkened.

Was Xiao Guai a monster?

No, that couldn't be.

Shang Yanci recalled the boy with the streaked hair, the papers appearing out of nowhere, and the disturbing, vivid memory buried deep in his heart that he could never forget.

A beautiful woman, dressed in simple, loose cotton loungewear, her once gentle and smiling peach-blossom eyes now all trace of gentleness gone, leaving only cold severity.

Vibrant green vines snaked out from the gaping wound on her arm, tightly entwining the nurse who still wore her pristine white uniform but was no longer kind or friendly.

Vivid red and deep green intertwined, creating a surreal and vivid scene.

The boy could still remember his aunt's sharp order at that time.

"What are you staring at? Get out of here!"

"Hide! Don't run around, do you hear me?!"

"Stay alive..."

Aunt, I hid very well.

Xiao Guai is also very good, very well-behaved, and very obedient.

We both survived.

But can you tell me what I should do now?

A tumult of emotions swirled in Shang Yanci's dark eyes. He hugged the backpack, holding it gently, like a lost person clutching a fragile treasure, chasing a distant hope.

He would receive no answer.

The person who could have given him an answer was now buried in the rubble.

The wound on his forehead throbbed painfully. The still-young boy hugged his backpack and curled up in the corner, his eyes dim, his mind wandering.

The boy with the streaked hair said he had a team, so there must be more than one person with special abilities like his, right?

What about Aunt? Was she like them too?

What were contaminants? What exactly were those gray isolation walls isolating?

Would Suixi Maternity Hospital also become one of those contamination zones he had glimpsed in the news?

His wound ached badly.

Shang Yanci pressed his lips together, thinking that although the "Captain Lu" had said someone would come to tend to his wound, he knew it might take a very, very long time for anyone to arrive.

Outside, there were far too many critically wounded people whose lives could be lost in a matter of minutes.

Thus, a minor injury like his could easily get lost amid countless suffering and cries of pain.

But still... he thought, even such a small wound hurt so badly, so what about his aunt?

With such a deep, severe injury, she must have been in so much pain...

Time flew by amid his wandering thoughts. When Shang Yanci snapped back to reality, he noticed that the few adults in the carriage were looking better, and some of the children had sat up on their beds, talking among themselves.

"I was saved by an uncle in black clothes. The nurse suddenly became so scary, and my dad kept running with me..."

"A sister in pink saved me. She was so amazing—I want to be as strong as her someday..."

The young voices, full of admiration, hinted at the bloodshed they'd witnessed in their simple conversations. Yet, in such circumstances, it brought an unusual sense of calm, making the intermittent roars and explosions in the distance seem a little less terrifying.

Shang Yanci's expression gradually relaxed.

"Everyone, quiet down..."

A gentle, soothing female voice softly rang out. Though not loud, the chatter in the carriage unknowingly faded away.

"A lot's happened to us today, and I know everyone is very scared."

A fair-skinned woman in white stood in the middle of the carriage, her voice so calming it seemed almost magical, that naturally calmed people.

"It's okay to be scared—that's completely normal. Let's all take a slow, deep breath..."

"Relax... Just try to put this all behind you..."