"Establish bonds, create a sense of belonging, use the disease to instill guilt, and let the epidemic fuel her hatred of pain to enhance her strength."
Ding Ziyuan's voice was low, filled with contemplation as she scribbled notes in her notebook.
"This disgust must contrast with the gratitude of those she saves and the joy of helping friends. The goal is to make her love saving lives while intensely hating the epidemic, cultivating the heart of a true doctor."
"What happens next?" she pondered aloud.
"If we want to destroy a person's perception, we first nurture that doctor's heart and then seek to obliterate it. We can amplify her guilt over patients and her disgust for disease until she doubts herself."
"Under such pressure, mistakes will become frequent. Eventually, we'll reveal the truth—that this is a real world, filled with real people."
"Extreme guilt, coupled with the original doctor's heart, will drown her in despair, leading to a psychological collapse."
"But this isn't absolute. Human emotions are complex. Such pressure might drive her insane or lead her to madness."
"However, the hearts of all cursed doctors are pure; it's that unreal heart reborn from shattered regrets."
"Why must the inheritance of the cursed doctor succeed? Are there outside forces interfering with her cursed talents?"
"No, all intelligent beings are inherently selfish. This selfishness might cause her to shift blame onto these forces, breaking the purity and distorting the curse doctor's essence."
"What else could you expect?"
As she whispered, the expressions of those around her grew increasingly grave. Erin was still a minor, and Bai Yi sensed an impending opportunity. After four long days, the moment had finally arrived.
He turned to Hedinger and Eric. "I'm about to enter a half-sleep state. Please watch over my body."
Stunned, Eric and Hedinger nodded, with Hedinger rising to arrange the magical array. With time, their ranks could potentially exceed his own.
Bai Yi sat cross-legged, closing his eyes as his consciousness began to sink.
He had been searching for a way to enter this world. Now, at a critical plot juncture, a connection suddenly appeared.
"Deploying mechanical attachment!"
[Entering dormancy!]
With no hesitation, Bai Yi commanded, and his powerful will instantly replaced the soul of a new mechanical life form.
A profound sense of separation enveloped him, and Bai Yi felt himself relax slightly. The temporal flow of his physical form and consciousness would diverge, but the strength of his soul protected him from harm in this new world.
But he had to act swiftly—before this world collapsed!
Buzz~
Above, a mechanical cube began to morph, as worker bees of the hive extended from him.
The deformation modules were formidable, enhanced by the life force endowed by the mechanical god. This silver-level beehive swiftly took on the form of the external white epidemic.
Bai Yi flexed his new body, pleased with the transformation.
Attachment to the god was magical; it wasn't limited to humanoid machines but extended to any mechanical form. He was the master of these machines, and controlling them through consciousness was effortless.
At level 70, the white epidemic was a formidable being, capable of accomplishing tasks he previously could not.
He gazed down at the deciduous forest, descending rapidly.
Mechanics from around the world gathered here. The white epidemic had initially considered destroying all intelligent life if he couldn't intervene in the talent awakening, forcibly disrupting the trial.
While this would be troublesome, more preparation time would lessen the psychological impact.
However, with his consciousness now in place, everything was simplified.
He felt assured that a competent curse doctor would emerge under his guidance.
Reversing the deformity of the cursed doctor might be challenging, but creating a compassionate healer could alter Erin's perceptions. This might bring genuine gratitude from patients and potentially spark a new role for her.
Buzz~
Powerful air currents swept through, clearing the falling leaves and revealing the scene below.
Time flowed differently; in the outside world, half a day passed. Erin had saved many, earning their gratitude, while others looked on with hope.
Even those in dire health had collapsed but continued to gaze at the protective light curtain, their eyes filled with a mix of longing and despair.
A loud gunshot echoed as the silver-level magic shield was shattered. Luo Ning's scrolls—some gifted, others from her master—had failed to hold.
In a world limited to silver, no entity should have been able to breach that shield—except for the outsider, the white epidemic.
The commotion drew attention, including Luo Ning's.
"Cough, cough, cough!"
The coughing intensified, the epidemic worsening!
"Boss brother!" Luo Ning exclaimed, surprise and attachment flooding her voice. She longed to rush into the arms of her brother, whom she hadn't seen in a year, but hesitated, eyes scanning the surrounding crowd.
Erin remained focused. This was her thirtieth operation, and though exhaustion weighed on her, her scalpel remained steady. She wouldn't be distracted until the procedure was complete.
Bai Yi surveyed the crowd, his gaze landing on the space ring in Luo Ning's hand with intent.
Buzz~
An electromagnetic pulse surged through the area, causing everyone nearby—whether poised to act or frozen in place—to feel an immediate numbness.
The coughing ceased abruptly. Except for a handful of healthy individuals resting nearby, all patients collapsed, convulsing.
"Boss brother, what's happening?" Luo Ning asked, wide-eyed, glancing at the twitching masses around her.
"I've grown taller," Bai Yi said, ruffling her hair. "You're doing well."
Blushing at the praise, Luo Ning replied shyly, "Yes. But you should check on Sister Erin first."
In a whisper, she added, "Those people are in bad shape; I'm worried."
"It's fine. Just trust me," Bai Yi reassured her as he watched Erin perform surgery with unwavering concentration. Blood had begun to dry in her silver hair, and she appeared fragile and fatigued.
Bai Yi stepped closer, observing her precise movements. Remarkably, she had improved in just a day; her technique was stable, and she appeared on the verge of mastering a special skill.
The talent of a curse doctor in this world was undeniably powerful.
As Erin prepared to extend her knife toward a patient's heart, Bai Yi interjected. "The heart is fine. This is a trap."
Erin paused, eyes wide. She shook her head and extended her hand.
Luo Ning quickly passed a bottle of medicine to Erin. As the healing elixir entered the patient's body, a surge of magic pulled the wound together. With a powerful healing effect, she saved yet another life.
"Next!" she called, fatigue creeping into her voice.
Her words faltered as she looked at the figure before her in disbelief. "Capitalist?"
Once an adversary, the capitalist's presence now stirred conflicting emotions within her, and her eyes began to shimmer with unshed tears.
With a quivering lip, she suddenly hugged Bai Yi tightly. Though his form was steel and hard, she felt an overwhelming warmth and a sense of security.
For a brief moment, all crises seemed to fade away.
Bai Yi paused, then gently stroked her head, sending electric arcs through her hair, washing away the bloodstains.
"Still acting like a child at ninety-two years old?" he teased.
"I'm still growing! I have eighteen years until I come of age!"
"Luo Ning is younger than me and doesn't cry in front of me. Why are you sobbing?"
Erin's tears flowed freely again, her slender frame shaking with emotion.
Bai Yi sighed in exasperation. "If you smear your snot on me again, I'll dock your pay!"
"Wow! You bully me too!" she wailed.
Bai Yi felt a mix of helplessness and amusement. He glanced at the unconscious patients around them. "No deductions, no deductions! But if you keep crying, these people will die."
Erin's sobbing halted abruptly, but she couldn't help but hiccup. "How do I stop this?"
Bai Yi, still exasperated, gently stroked her back with an electric current, soothing her bad breath.
"Continue the operation. This is your inheritance. You can't leave until the procedure reaches a certain point."
"Can I do it?" Erin sniffled, uncertainty clouding her expression.
"Yes, you've done well so far." Bai Yi nodded, glancing at Luo Ning, whose eyes were puffy. "Don't cry."
"No, I won't."
"Alright then."
As they exchanged glances, a shared blush crept onto their faces, both feeling a bit embarrassed.
Despite their emotional turmoil, the inheritance continued, and fatigue settled over them, drawing them into a relaxed state.
Bai Yi noticed Erin's weariness. He waved Luo Ning over.
"Come here," he instructed gently. When she approached, he placed her on his back. Mechanical buckles formed, ensuring she was secure and stable.
"Thank you for your hard work, Luo Ning. You can rest now," he said softly.
"Okay, thank you, boss." Luo Ning's voice was filled with a peace she hadn't felt in a long time.
Bai Yi retrieved two space rings, examining their contents with a keen eye.
Noticing Erin's envious gaze, he remarked, "What are you looking at? Let's get to work. This inheritance isn't yours, so you can't sleep yet."
Erin muttered, "If I don't sleep, I won't sleep."
She hesitated, glancing at the unconscious patients. But before she could decide, a robotic arm grabbed a man's ankle, pulling him closer.
"The heart, liver, and stomach are fine, but there are parasites in the arms and eyes. Just remove them, but be careful with the muscle lines. Your technique needs improvement."
The white epidemic's casual tone eased Erin's nerves. She wiped her tears and picked up the scalpel, determination flooding back.
As blood began to flow, she felt a newfound confidence rather than unease.
A small smile graced Bai Yi's lips as he mixed various potions with practiced skill.
"Boss, what about the recovery medicine?" Erin asked, worried she might disrupt his focus.
Bai Yi replied calmly, "These people haven't paid. What recovery medicine do you expect? You owe me over 100 million gold coins now."
Erin was taken aback. "Why do I owe you?"
"Forget it. What about these patients? If they continue like this, they'll die, right?"
With a flick of his wrist, a needle appeared. "If there's a wound, sew it up and wrap it with their clothes."
"Okay."
"Don't forget to disinfect and take this." Bai Yi tossed her a vial of medicine.
"Right, got it." Erin nodded, still feeling a bit overwhelmed.
As she injected the needle into the patient's wound and took the medicine, she exchanged a sheepish look with Bai Yi.
"Study more. You need to focus and learn."
Bai Yi observed the confused elf, then knelt beside the patient. Channeling magic, he guided a thin thread to seamlessly penetrate the needle.
"Look," he said, "people's internal organs are delicate. Your energy is unpredictable. Use your mental strength instead. Remember, I taught you mental exercises."
"Uh, yes, I'll try," Erin admitted, guilt creeping in. "But I'm not very familiar with it."
Bai Yi sighed.
Bang!
"Ouch!" Erin yelped as she accidentally pricked herself.
"Then practice more!"
Bai Yi continued, "Use mental strength to stabilize the blood flow. Don't shake your hands; just sew the wound directly. This disease is straightforward and can be managed without extraordinary abilities."
With precision, Bai Yi accelerated his movements, and in just two minutes, the patient's internal organs and skin were expertly sutured, the delicate stitches surprisingly beautiful.
A flicker of admiration appeared in Erin's eyes, her pointed ears perked up.
But she soon grew puzzled. "Huh? Boss, what are you doing?"
Bai Yi casually tossed some copper coins from the patient onto Erin. "What do you mean? You're not one of those rigid magic doctors. You owe me over 100 million gold coins! You can't treat for free and expect to get away without consequences."
Erin blinked in confusion. "Is that really how it works?"
"Of course! No matter who you treat, patients must pay. If you don't charge them, how will you repay your debts?"
"Eh…"
"What are you hesitating about? From now on, you owe me money! I won't continue unless you pay me back. The first 8,000 will be forgiven, but you still owe me 98 million gold coins."
"Damn capitalists!"
End of Chapter