Chapter 148: Date
“Draw a card…?”
Blond blinked slowly, as if just realizing.
He stared wide-eyed and turned to look at Su Cheng and asked in disbelief, “Could it be… you have a precognitive ability?”
Su Cheng discreetly glanced at Wen Jianyan and, seeing his confirming gaze, nodded in response. “Yes, it’s Tarot.”
“God!”
Blond took a sharp breath, displaying a shocked expression. “I thought all the anchors with precognitive abilities were snatched away by the Oracle. I didn’t expect…”
“Alright, alright, we can talk about this later if it’s not useful,” Su Cheng said. “I’ll draw a card first.”
“Sure.” Blond nodded vigorously.
Wen Jianyan gazed at Su Cheng, his eyes glistening faintly in the darkness. He found it difficult to explain why the name “Wu Zhu” had suddenly popped into his mind just a moment ago.
In fact, since entering this instance, he hadn’t found any clues that connected Wu Zhu to the anomalies in this instance. Wu Zhu had not appeared like in the Fantasy Amusement Park instance, issuing “missions” to him, nor had he attempted to communicate with him again. There were no mirrors, evil spirits, or other elements in the Ping An Asylum.
But…
Wen Jianyan had a strange premonition.
This might all have something to do with that guy.
In the midst of all the bizarre phenomena in the Nightmare Live Room, Wu Zhu’s presence was exceptionally unique.
Behind him lay an expanse of the unknown, representing the areas Wen Jianyan currently lacked the authority to explore. This strange being, neither god nor human, seemed tightly bound to the deep-seated rules of the entire live broadcast room, influencing and interacting with it based on some as-yet-unexplained principle.
Furthermore, some instances were purely built on the foundation of Wu Zhu’s soul fragments.
So, the unexpected turn of events in this instance might also have some temporary but intricate connection with this guy’s soul fragments.
In addition…
Wen Jianyan was genuinely curious about why precognitive abilities were so precious and in demand throughout the Nightmare.
So, Wen Jianyan decided to give it a try to see if Su Cheng’s talent might point them in the right direction.
【Shuffling is completed.】
【Do you wish to draw a card?】
Tarot cards with a background of stars and moons were evenly spread out.
Su Cheng raised his hand and gently picked one card from the void, flipping it over.
He was slightly stunned.
“What’s the answer?”
Wen Jianyan asked eagerly, holding his breath.
Su Cheng shook his head in a daze. “No, I don’t know…”
“What do you mean?”
Wen Jianyan looked puzzled.
“It means that the card I drew is blank.”
Wen Jianyan was stunned: “…Blank?”
“Yes.” Su Cheng was obviously the one who drew the card, but he looked even more confused than Wen Jianyan: “I…I’ve never encountered anything like this before.”
The drawn Tarot card hung silently in mid-air, its surface completely blank, devoid of any text or images.
“…”
Wen Jianyan lowered his eyes and fell into deep thought.
This was a situation he hadn’t anticipated.
Was it because Su Cheng’s ability level wasn’t high enough? Or perhaps it was due to a lack of permissions? Or…
“However, the good news is that your recent card draw didn’t consume any of my ability uses.”
Su Cheng looked at Wen Jianyan. “Do you want to continue with the previous question?”
“No.”
Wen Jianyan decisively shook his head.
Since Su Cheng had drawn a blank card, it was likely that the questions related to it would lead to a dead end, just as it was happening now. Although they could continue trying, it was a waste of the precious safety time he had obtained with great difficulty.
He looked at Su Cheng and asked, “Can you still choose your first divination method?”
Su Cheng nodded. “Of course.”
Wen Jianyan contemplated for a while.
After a few seconds, he lifted his eyes, a cold glint in his gaze, and said carefully:
“How to kill high-risk patients.”
“!”
Upon hearing this question, both Blond and Su Cheng were taken aback.
In the “Integrity First” live broadcast room:
[!!!]
[Wow!]
[I have to say, the anchor is really tough. If I found myself targeted this strongly by an instance, I’d be running as far away as I could.]
[Hahahaha! If it were me, I’d just lie flat! There are just too many psychos here! Each one is staring down at you, and you’re extremely targeted. This is way too terrifying.]
[What were you guys upstairs saying? The anchor is really clear-headed when he thinks like this! He’s seriously being targeted way too much right now. I even suspect the instance might be malfunctioning. There are certainly more high-risk patients in the Ping An Asylum, and if they’re all like this, the anchor is absolutely doomed. To survive, he must be tough, figure out how to reduce the number of enemies, or else, when the instance progresses further, he might end up facing the whole world alone! Being dismembered would be the least of his problems.]
While Su Cheng was still in a daze, Wen Jianyan raised his eyes and calmly gestured, “Draw three cards.”
“…Oh, okay!”
Su Cheng snapped back to reality and nodded.
【Shuffling is completed.】
【Do you wish to draw a card?】
The Tarot cards, with a background of stars and moons, once again arranged themselves in the void.
Su Cheng closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and then slowly drew three cards from the spread.
This was a traditional Tarot card spread called the Holy Triangle, known for its richer meanings and guidance compared to drawing just one card.
“The Wheel of Fortune upright, the Death reversed, the Tower reversed.”
Su Cheng recited as he gazed at the three cards hovering in front of him.
“Do you want a simple interpretation or a more complex one?”
Wen Jianyan turned his head and glanced in the direction he had just run from. The corridor had undergone significant changes, and the end of the corridor was shrouded in darkness, making it impossible to discern what was happening there.
“A simple one.”
“In simple terms, the Wheel of Fortune upright is telling you that the question you’ve asked has a solution, and the direction is correct. However, the arrangements and changes of fate are very unpredictable. As for the other two cards…”
The Death and the Tower represented misfortune and disaster, but in reversed positions…
Su Cheng paused and spoke faster:
“The road ahead is arduous and full of dangers, but within it, there is hidden opportunity.”
Wen Jianyan squinted his eyes and nodded.
“…Thank you.”
In fact, after going through so much, he started forming some vague conclusions.
The outcome of the conflict between Dr. Reese and Edward had taught him that simply sowing discord between the bosses, making them fight against each other, would be insufficient to effectively reduce the number of these aberrations.
At best, it could create momentary chaos to facilitate his escape, but it wasn’t a real solution.
In the other instances he had experienced before, while there were supernatural beings, the primary threats came from the rules. Whether an anchor could survive depended on their ability to understand the mechanisms that triggered death.
However, this instance was different.
Its mechanism was straightforward, requiring little effort to decipher. Almost all of the threats in this instance came from the NPCs.
For most anchors, escaping was sufficient.
They could hide within the Inner World, run, use items, endure until the time ended, complete the mission, and leave the instance.
However, Wen Jianyan keenly realized that this path was nearly closed off for him.
As the instance progressed, the difficulty would only increase, not decrease. Su Cheng’s divination helped Wen Jianyan organize his thoughts in the midst of the chaos.
Since a hidden mechanism to balance the high-risk patients’ instances existed, it was likely buried within the most challenging main plotline.
This meant that, in this instance, Wen Jianyan couldn’t choose any shortcuts. He would have to take significant risks, delve deep, and subvert the situation.
Going for the hard mode and aiming for the platinum achievement was the only way to survive.
“By the way…” Su Cheng hesitated for a moment and added, “Perhaps because it’s an ability, the card readings are different from the real world. As my ability level increases, I find that I can gradually sense more from the patterns on the cards…”
Wen Jianyan was surprised and turned to Su Cheng.
“What?”
Su Cheng stared at the three cards floating in front of him. He carefully organized his words and explained:
“The current card readings make me feel like there’s something hidden on the paths you’ve walked before, and all three cards’ patterns point to the northwest.”
With a flicker of white light, the three Tarot cards disappeared into the air, resetting the ability usage count.
Su Cheng scratched his head and hesitated. “I feel like this might be the advice given by the cards.”
…The northwest?
Wen Jianyan pondered for a moment and then said, “Okay, I understand.”
He nodded at both of them and proceeded down the corridor. But before he could take more than a few steps, Su Cheng stopped him, saying, “Wait, are you planning to go alone?”
“Otherwise?” The young man raised an eyebrow and smiled casually, a hint of indifference at the corner of his lips. “You guys don’t want to follow and slow me down, do you?”
It was always like this.
This guy was selfish and full of lies, never speaking a true word. He would always mock, provoke, manipulate everyone’s emotions, and then leave with a cold, victorious attitude. Even when it came to protecting his teammates and preventing them from dying needlessly, he had this annoying attitude.
Sigh.
Su Cheng silently sighed. If he hadn’t teamed up with this guy so many times, he might have been really fooled.
“Forget it.”
Su Cheng stepped forward, patted his shoulder, and said, “The prophet has decided to follow you. Understand?”
He grinned, mimicking Wen Jianyan, and said, “You’ve used my talent, taken my clues, and now you want to leave? There’s no way out.”
“…”
???
Wen Jianyan involuntarily froze.
So… This guy, Su Cheng, has definitely been under a bad influence, right?
***
Following the advice from the Tarot cards, the group headed towards the northwest.
Thanks to Edward’s intrusion, his straightforward and pragmatic thinking had provided a clear path within the Inner World of Patient 03. Unlike before, where the corridors were a maze of endless options, this time they had a defined route.
After walking along the straight corridor for some time, Wen Jianyan suddenly halted.
“What’s wrong?”
Su Cheng asked.
Wen Jianyan gazed at a nearby door, his face showing a thoughtful expression. “I think I’ve been here before.”
It was unexpected for Wen Jianyan to give such a response, and the others were surprised.
Wen Jianyan took a step forward, raised his hand, and cautiously pushed the door open.
Under the flickering lights, they could vaguely see a familiar scene.
The room was small, with basic furnishings. An austere iron bed stood near the room’s edge, and at the foot of the bed, there was a familiar metal plaque.
As they entered the room, both Blond and Su Cheng heard the completion sound of a task.
“So, this is Ward 03?”
Blond realized this with a dawning expression.
Wen Jianyan walked around the small room. He stopped in front of the iron bed, bent down, and examined the messy graffiti on the wall next to the bed.
The strokes were childlike and chaotic. Most of it was drawn with crayons, and some had been etched with the tip of a blade. On closer inspection… it appeared to be a myriad of rabbits, some detailed and others smeared.
However, there was a consistent pattern—two rabbits in every drawing. One was black, and the other was white, just like Patient 03’s mental world, precisely divided into two halves.
Wen Jianyan straightened up, shifting his gaze away from the wall of rabbits. His face carried a thoughtful expression.
He recalled Su Cheng’s divination.
Something hidden on the paths he had walked before…
Could it be?
Wen Jianyan was slightly taken aback, as if he suddenly realized something. He swiftly came to the cabinet, mimicking Nile’s actions, and pulled open the cabinet door—
To his surprise, the white mirror-like world from his memories did not appear.
Wen Jianyan lowered his gaze. Unexpectedly, he found a small sketchbook tucked at the bottom of the cabinet.
It looked old and worn, its edges yellowed, as if it had been read many times.
He bent down and picked up the sketchbook. The moment his fingertips touched it, he heard a long-lost system sound.
【Congratulations, anchor, for obtaining a hidden item in the instance (Difficult)!】
【Collection progress: 1/10】
It was actually a difficult-level hidden item! Wen Jianyan revealed a surprised expression. This was the first hidden item he had found since entering the Ping An Asylum.
He remembered that each time he entered the inner world, he would receive a task asking him to “find???’s ward.” Could it be that… this was a hint regarding the exploration direction?
If that were the case, were there hidden items in the wards of other patients’ inner worlds as well?
Wen Jianyan narrowed his eyes slightly.
Unfortunately, so far, he had only entered Edward’s ward, and that was while being relentlessly pursued. He didn’t have the time to search for hidden items.
If he had a chance to enter another ward, he would know what to look for next time.
Wen Jianyan carefully opened the sketchbook and began reading it, page by page.
The sketchbook depicted the story of two rabbits. Once upon a time, there were two rabbits, one black and one white. The black rabbit and the white rabbit lived together in happiness. Despite quarrels and fights, their relationship was harmonious until one day…
They fell into a hunter’s trap.
No, no, please don’t kill me!
The black rabbit cried out and screamed.
No, no, don’t eat me!
The white rabbit also cried out and screamed.
Several middle pages of the sketchbook were torn out, leaving behind rough edges.
Wen Jianyan furrowed his brow as he turned to the last page.
After seeing the content on the final page, a chill slowly crept up from the soles of his feet.
One of the rabbits lay in a pool of blood, completely motionless. Its body was stitched together, with one half being black and the other half white, held tightly by threads.
“…”
Gazing at the album in front of him, Wen Jianyan couldn’t help but feel a shiver run down his spine, sensing goosebumps on his arms.
People with dissociative identity disorder (DID) typically have experienced some level of trauma in the past.
Among most patients, there exists a relatively weaker primary personality and a relatively stronger secondary personality. This is because the primary personality is unable to cope with their surroundings, leading to the creation of a secondary identity to share different memories and deal with various challenges.
So, why are both of these brothers so dominant?
Although they have different personalities, one being quiet and the other active, one intellectual and the other martial, there doesn’t seem to be a clear hierarchy between them, and it’s not apparent who holds the dominant position.
Initially, Wen Jianyan thought this might be because the DID experienced by No. 03 is atypical. After all, the human brain is complex, and not every case will fit the textbook definition.
If we look at the content in the picture book…
Perhaps it’s because they were two separate individuals forced into the same body.
This could be a man-made case of dual personalities.
Maybe there are human experiments being conducted within the Ping An Asylum.
But who did it?
…Dr. Reese.
The image of the seemingly gentle doctor with his thin glasses and ice-cold eyes appeared in Wen Jianyan’s mind.
Regardless, within the Ping An Asylum, even if he’s not the mastermind, as a doctor, Dr. Reese should at least be privy to some information.
Wen Jianyan rubbed the edges of the picture book in his hand, recalling the last encounter with Dr. Reese. He couldn’t help but display a lingering fear.
Damn it.
Although he really didn’t want to have any more dealings with that pervert, it seemed that now, after leaving the second underground floor, he would have to visit the treatment room again in search of clues.
“Knock, knock.”
A gentle tapping sound suddenly came from the wall in front. It was like someone lightly tapping their knuckles against a door.
“!!!”
Wen Jianyan’s thoughts were abruptly interrupted, and he shivered, raising his eyes to look at the bottom of the cabinet in front of him.
He remembered that originally Nile had pushed open the cabinet’s bottom to reveal the passage to the pure white world.
Could it be that the struggle between No. 03 and No. 01 has already ended?
“Oh, no!”
Wen Jianyan jumped up and hastily tucked the picture book into his pocket, then turned around as quickly as possible. “We need to go—”
The next moment, the rest of the sentence got stuck in his throat.
Wen Jianyan was stunned.
At some point, Su Cheng and Blond vanished. The originally small, dark ward had disappeared as well, replaced by an elegant and luxurious room.
The floor was covered with thick, lush carpets that were long, soft, and vibrant, capable of absorbing all footstep sounds.
Overhead hung branch-like chandeliers, illuminating the redwood walls on all sides.
Through the walls, it seemed like one could faintly hear music, elegant and soothing, like the flow of cold water trickling by.
Wen Jianyan’s face turned somewhat pale.
With difficulty, he slowly surveyed the room.
Decorative paintings adorned the walls, but for some reason, they had been turned around, revealing only the rough texture on the back of the frames.
In the center of the room was a massive bed with a plush and soft mattress.
“Creak.”
The door handle was pressed down, and the sound of the door’s axis turning echoed behind him.
“!!!” Wen Jianyan gasped and jumped up as if startled, looking behind him in a state of shock.
With the push of the door, classical music flowed seamlessly into the room, resonating within.
“Good day.”
A tall man stood at the doorway.
He was dressed in a perfectly tailored evening suit with elegant fabric and an ornate design that didn’t come across as extravagant on him.
With a high, straight nose bridge and deep-set eye sockets, his pale gray eyes seemed to emit a faint mist, giving him an elegantly aloof appearance, tinged with a heart-wrenching melancholy.
“It’s been a while since I last saw you.” No. 04 gazed deeply at the young man before him, his eyes flashing with an eerie, inorganic glow.
“I wonder if you missed me as much as I did and whether you’ve been thinking of me.”
“…”
Although the man appeared polite and well-mannered, Wen Jianyan couldn’t help but feel a creeping sense of unease.
Step by step, No. 04 silently entered the room.
Without the iron door that could separate the two, Wen Jianyan could keenly sense the terrifying and nearly restrained madness lurking beneath the facade of rationality.
A feeling of insecurity swept over him, and he couldn’t help but recall that disturbing painting, making him strongly desire to step back.
—Aaaaahhhhhh, help! This guy is really a creep!!!
“O-of course.,”
As the distance between them closed bit by bit, Wen Jianyan’s body involuntarily tensed. He answered while pretending to remain composed, discreetly inching backward.
His knee bumped into the edge of the bed.
Wen Jianyan’s entire body stiffened.
“Oh, that’s wonderful,” No. 04 said happily, picking up the hand hanging by his side and leaning down to gently plant a kiss. “I’ve been looking forward to our date.”
…Date?
Wen Jianyan was bewildered.
No. 04 turned around and gracefully opened the wardrobe behind him.
Through the other’s arms, Wen Jianyan’s gaze fell into the wardrobe—
Dresses.
All sorts of dresses.
Baroque, lightweight, voluminous, form-fitting, glamorous—there are countless beautiful dresses, from outerwear to linings to corsets and suspender stockings.
The soft edges of sheer fabric were so translucent that they seemed to outline the curves of the skin.
…No way?
Wen Jianyan: “…”
He gulped and asked dryly, “Y-you don’t want me to wear these for the date, do you?”
“Why, don’t you want to? I won’t insist.”
No. 04 gracefully conceded, just like he was in a ward. “I respect your wishes.”
But before Wen Jianyan could heave a sigh of relief…
The other turned to look at him, his gaze slowly caressing the young man’s body, his gray eyes as pale as mist, carrying a cruel sense of delight. He said with impeccable manners:
“After all, I prefer you wearing nothing at all.”
Chapter 148: Date
“Draw a card…?”
Blond blinked slowly, as if just realizing.
He stared wide-eyed and turned to look at Su Cheng and asked in disbelief, “Could it be… you have a precognitive ability?”
Su Cheng discreetly glanced at Wen Jianyan and, seeing his confirming gaze, nodded in response. “Yes, it’s Tarot.”
“God!”
Blond took a sharp breath, displaying a shocked expression. “I thought all the anchors with precognitive abilities were snatched away by the Oracle. I didn’t expect…”
“Alright, alright, we can talk about this later if it’s not useful,” Su Cheng said. “I’ll draw a card first.”
“Sure.” Blond nodded vigorously.
Wen Jianyan gazed at Su Cheng, his eyes glistening faintly in the darkness. He found it difficult to explain why the name “Wu Zhu” had suddenly popped into his mind just a moment ago.
In fact, since entering this instance, he hadn’t found any clues that connected Wu Zhu to the anomalies in this instance. Wu Zhu had not appeared like in the Fantasy Amusement Park instance, issuing “missions” to him, nor had he attempted to communicate with him again. There were no mirrors, evil spirits, or other elements in the Ping An Asylum.
But…
Wen Jianyan had a strange premonition.
This might all have something to do with that guy.
In the midst of all the bizarre phenomena in the Nightmare Live Room, Wu Zhu’s presence was exceptionally unique.
Behind him lay an expanse of the unknown, representing the areas Wen Jianyan currently lacked the authority to explore. This strange being, neither god nor human, seemed tightly bound to the deep-seated rules of the entire live broadcast room, influencing and interacting with it based on some as-yet-unexplained principle.
Furthermore, some instances were purely built on the foundation of Wu Zhu’s soul fragments.
So, the unexpected turn of events in this instance might also have some temporary but intricate connection with this guy’s soul fragments.
In addition…
Wen Jianyan was genuinely curious about why precognitive abilities were so precious and in demand throughout the Nightmare.
So, Wen Jianyan decided to give it a try to see if Su Cheng’s talent might point them in the right direction.
【Shuffling is completed.】
【Do you wish to draw a card?】
Tarot cards with a background of stars and moons were evenly spread out.
Su Cheng raised his hand and gently picked one card from the void, flipping it over.
He was slightly stunned.
“What’s the answer?”
Wen Jianyan asked eagerly, holding his breath.
Su Cheng shook his head in a daze. “No, I don’t know…”
“What do you mean?”
Wen Jianyan looked puzzled.
“It means that the card I drew is blank.”
Wen Jianyan was stunned: “…Blank?”
“Yes.” Su Cheng was obviously the one who drew the card, but he looked even more confused than Wen Jianyan: “I…I’ve never encountered anything like this before.”
The drawn Tarot card hung silently in mid-air, its surface completely blank, devoid of any text or images.
“…”
Wen Jianyan lowered his eyes and fell into deep thought.
This was a situation he hadn’t anticipated.
Was it because Su Cheng’s ability level wasn’t high enough? Or perhaps it was due to a lack of permissions? Or…
“However, the good news is that your recent card draw didn’t consume any of my ability uses.”
Su Cheng looked at Wen Jianyan. “Do you want to continue with the previous question?”
“No.”
Wen Jianyan decisively shook his head.
Since Su Cheng had drawn a blank card, it was likely that the questions related to it would lead to a dead end, just as it was happening now. Although they could continue trying, it was a waste of the precious safety time he had obtained with great difficulty.
He looked at Su Cheng and asked, “Can you still choose your first divination method?”
Su Cheng nodded. “Of course.”
Wen Jianyan contemplated for a while.
After a few seconds, he lifted his eyes, a cold glint in his gaze, and said carefully:
“How to kill high-risk patients.”
“!”
Upon hearing this question, both Blond and Su Cheng were taken aback.
In the “Integrity First” live broadcast room:
[!!!]
[Wow!]
[I have to say, the anchor is really tough. If I found myself targeted this strongly by an instance, I’d be running as far away as I could.]
[Hahahaha! If it were me, I’d just lie flat! There are just too many psychos here! Each one is staring down at you, and you’re extremely targeted. This is way too terrifying.]
[What were you guys upstairs saying? The anchor is really clear-headed when he thinks like this! He’s seriously being targeted way too much right now. I even suspect the instance might be malfunctioning. There are certainly more high-risk patients in the Ping An Asylum, and if they’re all like this, the anchor is absolutely doomed. To survive, he must be tough, figure out how to reduce the number of enemies, or else, when the instance progresses further, he might end up facing the whole world alone! Being dismembered would be the least of his problems.]
While Su Cheng was still in a daze, Wen Jianyan raised his eyes and calmly gestured, “Draw three cards.”
“…Oh, okay!”
Su Cheng snapped back to reality and nodded.
【Shuffling is completed.】
【Do you wish to draw a card?】
The Tarot cards, with a background of stars and moons, once again arranged themselves in the void.
Su Cheng closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and then slowly drew three cards from the spread.
This was a traditional Tarot card spread called the Holy Triangle, known for its richer meanings and guidance compared to drawing just one card.
“The Wheel of Fortune upright, the Death reversed, the Tower reversed.”
Su Cheng recited as he gazed at the three cards hovering in front of him.
“Do you want a simple interpretation or a more complex one?”
Wen Jianyan turned his head and glanced in the direction he had just run from. The corridor had undergone significant changes, and the end of the corridor was shrouded in darkness, making it impossible to discern what was happening there.
“A simple one.”
“In simple terms, the Wheel of Fortune upright is telling you that the question you’ve asked has a solution, and the direction is correct. However, the arrangements and changes of fate are very unpredictable. As for the other two cards…”
The Death and the Tower represented misfortune and disaster, but in reversed positions…
Su Cheng paused and spoke faster:
“The road ahead is arduous and full of dangers, but within it, there is hidden opportunity.”
Wen Jianyan squinted his eyes and nodded.
“…Thank you.”
In fact, after going through so much, he started forming some vague conclusions.
The outcome of the conflict between Dr. Reese and Edward had taught him that simply sowing discord between the bosses, making them fight against each other, would be insufficient to effectively reduce the number of these aberrations.
At best, it could create momentary chaos to facilitate his escape, but it wasn’t a real solution.
In the other instances he had experienced before, while there were supernatural beings, the primary threats came from the rules. Whether an anchor could survive depended on their ability to understand the mechanisms that triggered death.
However, this instance was different.
Its mechanism was straightforward, requiring little effort to decipher. Almost all of the threats in this instance came from the NPCs.
For most anchors, escaping was sufficient.
They could hide within the Inner World, run, use items, endure until the time ended, complete the mission, and leave the instance.
However, Wen Jianyan keenly realized that this path was nearly closed off for him.
As the instance progressed, the difficulty would only increase, not decrease. Su Cheng’s divination helped Wen Jianyan organize his thoughts in the midst of the chaos.
Since a hidden mechanism to balance the high-risk patients’ instances existed, it was likely buried within the most challenging main plotline.
This meant that, in this instance, Wen Jianyan couldn’t choose any shortcuts. He would have to take significant risks, delve deep, and subvert the situation.
Going for the hard mode and aiming for the platinum achievement was the only way to survive.
“By the way…” Su Cheng hesitated for a moment and added, “Perhaps because it’s an ability, the card readings are different from the real world. As my ability level increases, I find that I can gradually sense more from the patterns on the cards…”
Wen Jianyan was surprised and turned to Su Cheng.
“What?”
Su Cheng stared at the three cards floating in front of him. He carefully organized his words and explained:
“The current card readings make me feel like there’s something hidden on the paths you’ve walked before, and all three cards’ patterns point to the northwest.”
With a flicker of white light, the three Tarot cards disappeared into the air, resetting the ability usage count.
Su Cheng scratched his head and hesitated. “I feel like this might be the advice given by the cards.”
…The northwest?
Wen Jianyan pondered for a moment and then said, “Okay, I understand.”
He nodded at both of them and proceeded down the corridor. But before he could take more than a few steps, Su Cheng stopped him, saying, “Wait, are you planning to go alone?”
“Otherwise?” The young man raised an eyebrow and smiled casually, a hint of indifference at the corner of his lips. “You guys don’t want to follow and slow me down, do you?”
It was always like this.
This guy was selfish and full of lies, never speaking a true word. He would always mock, provoke, manipulate everyone’s emotions, and then leave with a cold, victorious attitude. Even when it came to protecting his teammates and preventing them from dying needlessly, he had this annoying attitude.
Sigh.
Su Cheng silently sighed. If he hadn’t teamed up with this guy so many times, he might have been really fooled.
“Forget it.”
Su Cheng stepped forward, patted his shoulder, and said, “The prophet has decided to follow you. Understand?”
He grinned, mimicking Wen Jianyan, and said, “You’ve used my talent, taken my clues, and now you want to leave? There’s no way out.”
“…”
???
Wen Jianyan involuntarily froze.
So… This guy, Su Cheng, has definitely been under a bad influence, right?
***
Following the advice from the Tarot cards, the group headed towards the northwest.
Thanks to Edward’s intrusion, his straightforward and pragmatic thinking had provided a clear path within the Inner World of Patient 03. Unlike before, where the corridors were a maze of endless options, this time they had a defined route.
After walking along the straight corridor for some time, Wen Jianyan suddenly halted.
“What’s wrong?”
Su Cheng asked.
Wen Jianyan gazed at a nearby door, his face showing a thoughtful expression. “I think I’ve been here before.”
It was unexpected for Wen Jianyan to give such a response, and the others were surprised.
Wen Jianyan took a step forward, raised his hand, and cautiously pushed the door open.
Under the flickering lights, they could vaguely see a familiar scene.
The room was small, with basic furnishings. An austere iron bed stood near the room’s edge, and at the foot of the bed, there was a familiar metal plaque.
As they entered the room, both Blond and Su Cheng heard the completion sound of a task.
“So, this is Ward 03?”
Blond realized this with a dawning expression.
Wen Jianyan walked around the small room. He stopped in front of the iron bed, bent down, and examined the messy graffiti on the wall next to the bed.
The strokes were childlike and chaotic. Most of it was drawn with crayons, and some had been etched with the tip of a blade. On closer inspection… it appeared to be a myriad of rabbits, some detailed and others smeared.
However, there was a consistent pattern—two rabbits in every drawing. One was black, and the other was white, just like Patient 03’s mental world, precisely divided into two halves.
Wen Jianyan straightened up, shifting his gaze away from the wall of rabbits. His face carried a thoughtful expression.
He recalled Su Cheng’s divination.
Something hidden on the paths he had walked before…
Could it be?
Wen Jianyan was slightly taken aback, as if he suddenly realized something. He swiftly came to the cabinet, mimicking Nile’s actions, and pulled open the cabinet door—
To his surprise, the white mirror-like world from his memories did not appear.
Wen Jianyan lowered his gaze. Unexpectedly, he found a small sketchbook tucked at the bottom of the cabinet.
It looked old and worn, its edges yellowed, as if it had been read many times.
He bent down and picked up the sketchbook. The moment his fingertips touched it, he heard a long-lost system sound.
【Congratulations, anchor, for obtaining a hidden item in the instance (Difficult)!】
【Collection progress: 1/10】
It was actually a difficult-level hidden item! Wen Jianyan revealed a surprised expression. This was the first hidden item he had found since entering the Ping An Asylum.
He remembered that each time he entered the inner world, he would receive a task asking him to “find???’s ward.” Could it be that… this was a hint regarding the exploration direction?
If that were the case, were there hidden items in the wards of other patients’ inner worlds as well?
Wen Jianyan narrowed his eyes slightly.
Unfortunately, so far, he had only entered Edward’s ward, and that was while being relentlessly pursued. He didn’t have the time to search for hidden items.
If he had a chance to enter another ward, he would know what to look for next time.
Wen Jianyan carefully opened the sketchbook and began reading it, page by page.
The sketchbook depicted the story of two rabbits. Once upon a time, there were two rabbits, one black and one white. The black rabbit and the white rabbit lived together in happiness. Despite quarrels and fights, their relationship was harmonious until one day…
They fell into a hunter’s trap.
No, no, please don’t kill me!
The black rabbit cried out and screamed.
No, no, don’t eat me!
The white rabbit also cried out and screamed.
Several middle pages of the sketchbook were torn out, leaving behind rough edges.
Wen Jianyan furrowed his brow as he turned to the last page.
After seeing the content on the final page, a chill slowly crept up from the soles of his feet.
One of the rabbits lay in a pool of blood, completely motionless. Its body was stitched together, with one half being black and the other half white, held tightly by threads.
“…”
Gazing at the album in front of him, Wen Jianyan couldn’t help but feel a shiver run down his spine, sensing goosebumps on his arms.
People with dissociative identity disorder (DID) typically have experienced some level of trauma in the past.
Among most patients, there exists a relatively weaker primary personality and a relatively stronger secondary personality. This is because the primary personality is unable to cope with their surroundings, leading to the creation of a secondary identity to share different memories and deal with various challenges.
So, why are both of these brothers so dominant?
Although they have different personalities, one being quiet and the other active, one intellectual and the other martial, there doesn’t seem to be a clear hierarchy between them, and it’s not apparent who holds the dominant position.
Initially, Wen Jianyan thought this might be because the DID experienced by No. 03 is atypical. After all, the human brain is complex, and not every case will fit the textbook definition.
If we look at the content in the picture book…
Perhaps it’s because they were two separate individuals forced into the same body.
This could be a man-made case of dual personalities.
Maybe there are human experiments being conducted within the Ping An Asylum.
But who did it?
…Dr. Reese.
The image of the seemingly gentle doctor with his thin glasses and ice-cold eyes appeared in Wen Jianyan’s mind.
Regardless, within the Ping An Asylum, even if he’s not the mastermind, as a doctor, Dr. Reese should at least be privy to some information.
Wen Jianyan rubbed the edges of the picture book in his hand, recalling the last encounter with Dr. Reese. He couldn’t help but display a lingering fear.
Damn it.
Although he really didn’t want to have any more dealings with that pervert, it seemed that now, after leaving the second underground floor, he would have to visit the treatment room again in search of clues.
“Knock, knock.”
A gentle tapping sound suddenly came from the wall in front. It was like someone lightly tapping their knuckles against a door.
“!!!”
Wen Jianyan’s thoughts were abruptly interrupted, and he shivered, raising his eyes to look at the bottom of the cabinet in front of him.
He remembered that originally Nile had pushed open the cabinet’s bottom to reveal the passage to the pure white world.
Could it be that the struggle between No. 03 and No. 01 has already ended?
“Oh, no!”
Wen Jianyan jumped up and hastily tucked the picture book into his pocket, then turned around as quickly as possible. “We need to go—”
The next moment, the rest of the sentence got stuck in his throat.
Wen Jianyan was stunned.
At some point, Su Cheng and Blond vanished. The originally small, dark ward had disappeared as well, replaced by an elegant and luxurious room.
The floor was covered with thick, lush carpets that were long, soft, and vibrant, capable of absorbing all footstep sounds.
Overhead hung branch-like chandeliers, illuminating the redwood walls on all sides.
Through the walls, it seemed like one could faintly hear music, elegant and soothing, like the flow of cold water trickling by.
Wen Jianyan’s face turned somewhat pale.
With difficulty, he slowly surveyed the room.
Decorative paintings adorned the walls, but for some reason, they had been turned around, revealing only the rough texture on the back of the frames.
In the center of the room was a massive bed with a plush and soft mattress.
“Creak.”
The door handle was pressed down, and the sound of the door’s axis turning echoed behind him.
“!!!” Wen Jianyan gasped and jumped up as if startled, looking behind him in a state of shock.
With the push of the door, classical music flowed seamlessly into the room, resonating within.
“Good day.”
A tall man stood at the doorway.
He was dressed in a perfectly tailored evening suit with elegant fabric and an ornate design that didn’t come across as extravagant on him.
With a high, straight nose bridge and deep-set eye sockets, his pale gray eyes seemed to emit a faint mist, giving him an elegantly aloof appearance, tinged with a heart-wrenching melancholy.
“It’s been a while since I last saw you.” No. 04 gazed deeply at the young man before him, his eyes flashing with an eerie, inorganic glow.
“I wonder if you missed me as much as I did and whether you’ve been thinking of me.”
“…”
Although the man appeared polite and well-mannered, Wen Jianyan couldn’t help but feel a creeping sense of unease.
Step by step, No. 04 silently entered the room.
Without the iron door that could separate the two, Wen Jianyan could keenly sense the terrifying and nearly restrained madness lurking beneath the facade of rationality.
A feeling of insecurity swept over him, and he couldn’t help but recall that disturbing painting, making him strongly desire to step back.
—Aaaaahhhhhh, help! This guy is really a creep!!!
“O-of course.,”
As the distance between them closed bit by bit, Wen Jianyan’s body involuntarily tensed. He answered while pretending to remain composed, discreetly inching backward.
His knee bumped into the edge of the bed.
Wen Jianyan’s entire body stiffened.
“Oh, that’s wonderful,” No. 04 said happily, picking up the hand hanging by his side and leaning down to gently plant a kiss. “I’ve been looking forward to our date.”
…Date?
Wen Jianyan was bewildered.
No. 04 turned around and gracefully opened the wardrobe behind him.
Through the other’s arms, Wen Jianyan’s gaze fell into the wardrobe—
Dresses.
All sorts of dresses.
Baroque, lightweight, voluminous, form-fitting, glamorous—there are countless beautiful dresses, from outerwear to linings to corsets and suspender stockings.
The soft edges of sheer fabric were so translucent that they seemed to outline the curves of the skin.
…No way?
Wen Jianyan: “…”
He gulped and asked dryly, “Y-you don’t want me to wear these for the date, do you?”
“Why, don’t you want to? I won’t insist.”
No. 04 gracefully conceded, just like he was in a ward. “I respect your wishes.”
But before Wen Jianyan could heave a sigh of relief…
The other turned to look at him, his gaze slowly caressing the young man’s body, his gray eyes as pale as mist, carrying a cruel sense of delight. He said with impeccable manners:
“After all, I prefer you wearing nothing at all.”
