"You shouldn't have come in with me."
"But I'm already here. Let's take a look around."
Erin gripped Luo Ning's hand tightly, shielding her from behind. The previously dilapidated scenery melted away, revealing a peaceful town where elves, half-elves, and humans coexisted.
As if noticing their presence, a townswoman approached them with a warm smile. "Welcome, little ones! Are you from outside? Are you here to find family or to settle down? If you're looking to stay, I can help you find a house."
Luo Ning and Erin exchanged wary glances, instantly on guard.
The woman's smile faltered for a moment. "Oh, I understand. It's wise to be cautious. I won't intrude." With that, she turned and walked away, her clothes rustling softly as she left.
Luo Ning and Erin looked at each other, confusion evident in their expressions but relieved that the encounter had ended without conflict.
They turned back to the town's walls, noticing the mottled traces of decay. Outside the town, a dead silence lingered, as if some great pollution had tainted the land beyond.
Luo Ning took a moment to pull out a book from her space ring. It was new, but the text inside was ancient.
As she flipped through the pages, she murmured, "There are very few records on the inheritance of the cursed doctor. This profession was largely erased after the new god replaced the old gods."
"But as long as it's an inheritance trial, it's primarily about the process, not about killing the inheritor. It shouldn't be too dangerous—just be cautious."
Luo Ning's tone turned serious. "You can always wait for rescue."
Erin looked puzzled. "Why? If it's a test, wouldn't passing it be good?"
Luo Ning's expression grew more complex. "Why was the cursed doctor erased? Just look at these records."
Though Erin had read them before, she focused intently as Luo Ning handed over the book.
[They ignored the cries of the people and used uncertain magic to save them, but in doing so, they brought death to countless lives.]
[Some say they are the messengers of epidemics, perpetually spreading plague across the world.]
[Yet they perceive themselves as the greatest healers, believing their actions to be just, convinced that their hearts are pure and kind.]
[The great god of light abandoned this profession, erasing the cursed doctor, who brought the harshest consequences of kindness.]
"Are you saying that after the trial, I could end up like this?" Erin's voice trembled with anxiety.
"What's the difference between that and losing yourself? It suggests I won't be able to enjoy Elena's fruit platter or sleep under the Tree of Life, and I might even be imprisoned by the capitalists, waiting for a slow demise."
Feeling overwhelmed, she instinctively tightened her grip.
"It's okay, Sister Irene. There's always a way. Just because others can't succeed doesn't mean we can't," Luo Ning reassured her, determination in her eyes.
"The inheritance may be interrupted, but there will be other opportunities in the future. Why is this profession labeled as a cursed doctor?"
"It's a cursed doctor, and that curse can't be dispelled."
Luo Ning had entered this space hoping to find a way to eliminate or lessen the curse.
Yet now, she felt powerless. This was the cursed doctor's inheritance space, suppressing the influence of other professions.
Erin looked at Luo Ning, her expression softening. "I can do this. I refuse to become a selfless entity like that; I don't like the concept of a cursed doctor."
As they spoke, the sun dipped below the horizon, ushering in twilight.
A passing elf glanced at their attire and said gently, "You two should head home soon. It's not safe for children to wander at night."
Luo Ning and Erin continued on, their senses heightened. Neither of them was a combat professional, and they felt vulnerable.
While Erin was now classified as an SSS-level healer thanks to Luo Ning, her potential might not have reached the heights of the top professions without her influence.
The true nature of this inheritance trial would soon reveal the more terrifying aspects of the cursed doctor's expertise.
That specialty could leave even the gods feeling uneasy.
As the two girls moved cautiously through the town, they found themselves drawn to a quieter alley, where the sounds of laughter and chatter faded away.
Luo Ning summoned her crystal ball from her space ring, her eyes gradually turning golden.
She looked up at the sky. It was the time of day when the sun met the moon, and not a single star shone above.
Yet she couldn't wait for the stars to appear. The moment was critical. Channeling her spiritual energy, intricate patterns began to form on the crystal ball, radiating a soothing light.
As the patterns intertwined, the golden glow in Luo Ning's eyes began to fade, returning to her natural dark pupils.
With a complex expression, she turned to Erin. "We need to connect with the people here to trigger the plot's progression, which will ultimately lead us to the inheritance."
Erin fell silent for a moment, a hint of frustration crossing her face. "So you're saying we need to get close to the locals?"
"Yes, this is your domain. You need to engage with them to bring the inheritance to light."
As Luo Ning spoke, she sensed a shift in the atmosphere, a tension that hung heavy in the air.
"What if we don't make it out?" Erin whispered, her voice tinged with fear.
"There's no rescue coming." Luo Ning looked up at the sky, her voice steady. "They are watching us."
The Outside World
A group of leaders formed a circle, their eyes glued to a light screen displaying two girls.
"What if she really becomes a cursed doctor?" Mina asked, her worry evident.
Since the awakening of Erin's spell doctor, books on the subject had appeared on many desks, and everyone was aware of what a cursed doctor entailed.
"With the heart of a martyr, they carry out the will of the king of hell."
If the ideals of the cursed doctor were transferred to other medical practitioners, it would represent a boon to the world, a true embodiment of healing.
"But this extreme kindness comes with a curse."
"It's not merely a distortion of character; it's a magnification of their innate qualities," an elderly woman interjected.
This woman, a nine-star psychologist named Ding Ziyuan, had been invited back among the scholars. She was well-respected and had authored numerous psychological texts.
"Magnification?"
"Yes. When kindness is amplified, all other thoughts are suppressed. If evil is also magnified, then good and evil reach a balance again. This means her thoughts can return to normal."
Ding Ziyuan gripped her crutch, speaking with conviction. "In theory, there is no absolute good or evil. The minds of sentient beings are complex, so definitions of good and evil are often based on actions rather than intentions."
"I once guided a wicked man back to normal until he passed away, and I didn't engage in the malevolent acts of a truly evil person."
"Thus, if the pure goodness of the cursed doctor is merged with a very dark heart through spiritual drugs, she would become indistinguishable from an ordinary sentient being."
Bai Yi's eyes narrowed. "But the cursed doctor is different."
He pondered for a moment, then conjured a line of text in his hand.
"According to the records, this is the foundation of the cursed doctor profession. They possess a unique talent that empowers their craft, making them incredibly dangerous."
[Patient Blessing (Only): Whenever you treat a sentient being, they will praise your benevolence in another dimension, becoming a part of you.]
"This ability can only be awakened by the cursed doctor. Each treatment enhances their attributes—strength, background, talent. This is the true danger of this profession."
"Many cursed doctors have existed throughout history, yet no one has managed to maintain their sanity."
"In our eyes, it's the wailing of patients, but in their ears, it's a sweet whisper, reinforcing their sense of 'benevolence' and elevating their status."
"As for the pharmaceuticals, they must be continuously replenished. When the potions can't keep pace with the rapid growth of the cursed doctor, they will inevitably descend into chaos."
Bai Yi reflected on this. "So the only viable solution may be to harness a higher will to guide their goodness. When their kindness is revitalized, the cursed doctor will revert to being an ordinary person."
Ding Ziyuan shook her head, challenging him. "That's not a sustainable plan. The patient's soul amplifies the curse, but the cursed doctor must endure the torment of their patients' wails. If they maintain normal thoughts, they will realize that the wailing is not praise but a curse. Pure kindness cannot withstand such profound malice."
Her gaze was contemplative. As a lifelong psychologist, she could easily see through anyone's heart, yet these strange professions posed challenges that left her feeling perplexed.
The surrounding audience absorbed the conversation, their expressions heavy. The cursed doctor was immensely powerful, yet the consequences of their profession were equally daunting.
"This profession only requires time to reach a taboo state of mutation, one that even the gods cannot tolerate."
Mina's expression darkened. "It's difficult for elves to achieve a top-level status, yet it seems we may end up with a cursed doctor."
Bai Yi's eyes reflected deep thought. The transformative process involved in the life sacrifice profession was the closest to that of the goddess of life. If it were combined with the finger bones of the goddess of life...
Bai Yi quickly dismissed this troubling notion.
If the finger bones of the goddess of life were perfectly integrated with the life sacrifice profession, it could elevate the life sacrifice to an epic level, granting it top-tier potential.
However, combining the cursed doctor's abilities with that of a life sacrifice could birth a powerful, malevolent entity.
"I need to consider this carefully." Ding Ziyuan's eyes gleamed with determination. "This topic could occupy me for a lifetime."
As arcane energies swirled around them, Bai Yi felt a surge of anticipation. The power of the arcane was most magical among all professions, with the lowest threshold for entry.
Marshall's mastery of space allowed him to traverse distances of 8,000 kilometers almost instantaneously, even if he couldn't cast the simplest fireball spell.
Bai Yi's gaze turned serious as he addressed Marshall. "Can you open a breach in that space?"
Marshall hesitated. "I can attempt it, but I'm not certain. This space is incredibly fragile; if it collapses, it could cause irreversible damage to those inside."
He paused, a flicker of realization crossing his features. "It's not impossible. This fortune teller can mobilize the power of fate, correct?"
(End of this chapter)