Hospital.
Returning to the ward after changing her sanitary pad, the nurse was dismayed to discover that the two psychiatric patients had vanished. She searched frantically, but they were nowhere to be found.
Upon asking Zhang Hongmin, she learned they had slipped away precisely while she was in the restroom. A wave of frustration washed over her—how cunning could they be, seizing such a precise opportunity? For a fleeting moment, she even regretted being a woman—why must she bleed every month?
Panic gripped her to the verge of tears.
She called on her colleagues for help. One tried to comfort her, suggesting maybe the two had gone off to "look at birds."
Birds?
The nurse gave a helpless sigh. Perhaps in the eyes of her colleagues, psychiatric patients simply had boundless curiosity and childlike hearts.
But these two were not ordinary patients.
Just then, two figures appeared at the far end of the corridor. As they came closer, it became clear—it was them. The very ones she had been frantically searching for.
Hand in hand, smiling serenely, they looked... out of place, like misplaced puzzle pieces in the sterile hospital world.
The nurse instinctively wanted to rush forward and scold them. Where on earth have you been? she nearly asked aloud.
But she hesitated.
Am I out of my mind? Why question the comings and goings of the mentally ill?
As long as they were back, that was enough.
"Excuse us," Lin Fan said pleasantly.
The nurse, standing at the door, reflexively stepped aside. Watching them return to their beds, she chose not to pursue the matter further.
Back in the ward, Old Zhang reclined comfortably, pulling up his sleeve to admire the Rolex on his wrist. The sheer luxury and sophistication radiating from the watch filled him with delight.
Meanwhile, Lin Fan had intended to give the food he brought back to the little girl, but she had already eaten. So instead, he offered it to the One-Eyed Man.
"Here, something to eat," he said, extending a plastic meal box. "It's delicious. You'll feel revitalized after eating it."
The One-Eyed Man had no desire to engage. His interest in these two lunatics had long since vanished.
He blamed himself for being too naive. It took only a few exchanges to realize—conversing with the mentally ill was like playing music to a cow: a fruitless endeavor that only left him agitated while they remained blissfully unbothered.
What's wrong with you? they would ask innocently.
"I'm not eating," he replied curtly.
He wanted no further entanglements. Food offered by psychiatric patients? Who knew what was in it?
But Lin Fan opened the box, releasing an aroma so rich and enticing it made the One-Eyed Man's senses reel.
He sniffed the air—incredible. The fragrance was tantalizing.
Where had they gotten this?
"Wait… Let me take a look."
Hunger gnawed at him. Earlier, when Zhang Hongmin went to fetch food for his daughter, he had offered to get something for the One-Eyed Man as well. But as a high-ranking member of a special department—one of Yan Hai's elite—how could he stoop to eating hospital box lunches?
That would be an insult to his status.
Lin Fan handed him a pair of chopsticks and climbed back into his bed, sitting cross-legged. He waved gently at the little girl, smiling like a fool, their eyes meeting in quiet harmony.
From her gaze, he saw a sacred, untainted kindness—a light so pure, it moved him.
She adored his smile. Like sunshine, it was warm and comforting.
The One-Eyed Man picked up a piece of meat. Snake meat, as it turned out. He didn't think too deeply—perhaps just a strange local delicacy. He chewed. It was indeed delicious—tender, flavorful.
Yet something felt... off.
He tried to dismiss it. Perhaps it was just the first bite.
"Where did you get this?"
He took a sip of the soup—it warmed his belly. He was now genuinely curious.
Mentally ill, yet they knew how to procure snake meat?
Lin Fan replied calmly, "We didn't buy it anywhere."
Old Zhang chimed in cheerfully, "We found it in the woods. It was very long, with beautiful red and black markings. Adorable, really."
"It suddenly appeared beside us. It looked so delicious we figured it must be delicious. Then someone helped us cook it."
The One-Eyed Man smiled, shaking his head in disbelief at their luck. Even madmen stumbled upon culinary fortune.
But wait…
Red and black markings?
He slowed his chewing. His expression darkened. He picked up a piece and placed it into a metal container. Light scanned from four corners. A three-dimensional image appeared, displaying lines of data.
Type II Malevolent Entity: Xuan Snake.
His mouth fell open slightly.
Suddenly, the fragrant meat lost all its appeal.
Ptui!
He spat it out immediately. Disgusted, he wanted to tear his own mouth off.
Am I insane? Why would I trust food from lunatics?
"You dare waste it?" Old Zhang exploded, cheeks flushed. Clutching the box tightly, he thrust it into Lin Fan's hands, indignant. "He doesn't deserve to eat such delicious food!"
Then he turned and glared at the One-Eyed Man.
"I won't give you acupuncture anymore. Don't ask me to make your eye grow back!"
The One-Eyed Man stared blankly. Thank God for that, he thought. Your 'technique' nearly killed me twice already. One more time and I'll jump out the window.
Gurgle…
Lin Fan slurped the soup, biting into tender meat, lost in bliss. If he'd known it would be wasted like this, he would've eaten it right then in the woods, when it was still piping hot.
He looked at the little girl. "Do you want some?"
She shook her head sweetly. "I'm already full."
"Then I'll eat it all." With her nod of approval, Lin Fan tilted the box and poured the remaining food into his mouth. It was heavenly.
The One-Eyed Man turned his face away, utterly defeated. He wanted nothing to do with these lunatics.
Tomorrow, at first light, he would leave.
But his mind lingered on the Xuan Snake. For some reason, it reminded him of the Demon Dog. Two Type II entities—both met the same fate.
Eaten.
Had they been slain by powerful warriors, he wouldn't be surprised.
But these were unarmed, seemingly weak psychiatric patients.
How had they done it—without a single scratch?
The more he thought, the more restless he became.
If he didn't uncover the truth, he would never sleep tonight.
He would have to keep speaking with them, these madmen.
But now, looking at the two…
One sat cross-legged, rubbing his belly in post-meal satisfaction.
The other glared at him like he'd stolen his Rolex.
(End of Chapter)