Driving

Translator: CinderTL

The doctors were killed not because they had done anything harmful to Xiang Nan. On the contrary, they had resisted her temptations and held their ground.

The one who had truly been seduced was Director Qi, a man in his prime.

It was through him that the Ritual had been able to continue.

"Why October 16th?" Lin Wan'er frowned, looking at the radio that had stopped spinning. "It should be October 17th."

From the recording left by Yin Zhenliang, October 16th was an extremely special day, mentioned repeatedly. Several men who had been involved with Xiang Nan had met their demise on that day.

That day was likely when the Ritual had begun.

Yet according to the clues left by the Mad Nurse, it should have been October 17th.

This one-day difference could change everyone's fate.

Because according to this world's time, after midnight, it was already October 16th.

Jiang Cheng pulled the Mad Nurse's letter from his pocket and opened it. The contents had changed—a subtle but fatal alteration.

The number 7 in "October 17th" had been replaced with a 6.

The moment he closed the letter, Jiang Cheng realized where the problem lay. A few seconds later, Lin Wan'er lowered her voice and said, "Wang Changguo is the problem."

The Mad Nurse's letter was brought by Wang Changguo.

He went in alone.

The letter hadn't been tampered with beforehand; otherwise, it wouldn't explain why the Mad Nurse had only been harassed before, unlike the other doctors who were killed.

Time had been tight earlier, and they hadn't had a chance to delve into certain matters. But now, looking back, Wang Changguo had always been suspicious.

Newcomers who were left alone had a pitifully low survival rate, yet he had survived.

He had even volunteered to accompany Jiang Cheng and Lin Wan'er on their search for clues, which was completely out of character for his timid and cowardly personality.

He wasn't trying to find clues; he was looking for an opportunity to destroy them.

Moreover, the Ghost hadn't appeared in a long time. As the mission neared its end, the Ghost's activity should have been increasing, but instead, it had already infiltrated their ranks long ago.

When Wang Changguo had been replaced was no longer important. What mattered now was notifying their remaining teammates at the hospital as soon as possible—if they were still alive.

"It's too late," Jiang Cheng said, picking up the radio and stuffing it into a cloth bag he found behind the TV cabinet. He slung the bag over his shoulder.

They didn't encounter any supernatural events until they left Zhang Zhaowei's apartment complex.

But for Jiang Cheng and Lin Wan'er, this wasn't a cause for celebration.

Since the Ghost hadn't attacked them, there must be something more important at stake.

Jiang Cheng took out his phone and pondered for a moment. Instead of calling Huai Yi, he dialed Yu Yu's number.

When the call connected, there was only faint wind noise on the other end.

It sounded like someone was breathing close to the microphone.

Noticing this, Jiang Cheng actually breathed a sigh of relief and spoke, "Yu Yu?"

"Mr. Jiang, is that really you?" Yu Yu's voice was filled with surprise, but then, as if realizing something, she suddenly lowered her voice. "How are things on your end?" Jiang Cheng asked.

He hadn't completely let down his guard around Yu Yu. There was no way to know for sure whether she was still alive or if the person answering the phone was human or a Ghost. Until he was certain, Jiang Cheng wouldn't reveal too much information.

"Mr. Jiang, I'm with Cao Yang right now," Yu Yu whispered. "We're hiding in a hospital ward."

"What about Huai Yi and Wang Changguo?" Jiang Cheng pressed.

At this, Yu Yu's voice dropped even lower, her voice trembling. "Mr. Jiang," she said, "I was just about to tell you. We saw Huai Yi. He came out of the morgue alone, but Wang Changguo is missing."

"We suspected something was wrong with him. We saw him from a distance and immediately hid. He didn't seem to notice us."

Yu Yu quickly added, "We're not just guessing. Huai Yi didn't come out of the elevator. He came out of the stairwell. Cao Yang spotted him first. We saw it clearly."

Jiang Cheng was also familiar with the hospital's layout. The only way to enter or exit the morgue on the basement level was via the elevator. Both stairwells were blocked off.

If Yu Yu's account was true, then the Huai Yi they saw must have been a Ghost in disguise.

The real Huai Yi was likely already dead.

Just moments ago, the man had been flaunting his Qilin Arm in front of him. Jiang Cheng couldn't help but feel the impermanence of life. He lamented the loss of a lucrative business opportunity.

"Continue," Jiang Cheng said calmly. His steady voice greatly eased Yu Yu's nerves. Her emotions gradually stabilized. "We followed the sound of footsteps and realized Huai Yi had gone up to the sixth floor."

"After the footsteps faded, we dared to approach. We found the door to Ward 624—which had been closed before—slightly ajar!"

"We peeked inside and found a body on the bed."

"Mr. Jiang," Yu Yu's voice suddenly quickened, "the body... it's missing its head!"

"Is it Zhao Ru?" Jiang Cheng asked.

"Yes, the nurse you were so close to!" Yu Yu sounded terrified, her words simply a factual account of what she had seen.

It seemed the Ritual had already begun. According to previous information, the entity inside Xiang Nan would first kill its own child before turning on her husband.

This was a requirement of the Ritual.

Jiang Cheng had originally planned to find Zhao Ru first, hoping to convince her of the truth. Failing that, he aimed to restrain her and ensure her survival, thereby preventing the Ritual from proceeding.

But now, it was too late.

The Ritual had begun, and the Ghost's next target was Director Qi.

Late at night, with few cars on the road, Jiang Cheng and Lin Wan'er stole a red sedan and sped toward the hospital. Fortunately, their excellent memories made finding their way back easy.

Lin Wan'er was an experienced driver, her skills so impressive that even Jiang Cheng couldn't handle it. They ran several red lights along the way. From the passenger seat, Jiang Cheng kept in contact with their teammates inside the hospital, trying to ascertain the situation.

"Be careful on your way back," Yu Yu warned. "Something's not right near the hospital." After speaking, she seemed to move, as if standing up to quickly glance outside before shrinking back and whispering, "All the lights near the hospital are out, including the streetlights. It's pitch black out there—I can't see a thing."

"Understood," Jiang Cheng said. "Be careful out there, but I must remind you: if you see Director Qi, protect him at all costs. If he dies, our mission in this world fails."

"And another thing," Jiang Cheng said after taking a deep breath. "No matter who calls later, don't reveal your location. I won't ask."

"Mr. Jiang," Yu Yu's voice suddenly changed, tinged with a sob that was heartbreaking to hear. "You... you'll definitely come back, won't you? I know you're incredibly powerful. Please don't abandon me. I'm still young. I don't want to die."

"I'll give you everything I have. I have some savings, and I can even be your girlfriend like Miss Lin. I'll do anything you ask!" Yu Yu pleaded. "I won't tell Miss Lin. I won't interfere with your life. Please don't leave me!"

Before Jiang Cheng could respond, the phone, which had been on speaker, was snatched away. Lin Wan'er, driving with her left hand, held the phone in her right, placing it between herself and Jiang Cheng so they could both hear clearly.

"Hello, Yu Yu," Lin Wan'er said, slamming her foot on the accelerator. The old, beat-up car roared as it ran another red light. "I hear you were planning to drive behind my back?"

(End of the Chapter)

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