The Creatures That We Are

Chapter 930: Third Hospital

Chapter 930: Third Hospital

Young Sun and Old Tang scattered the chess pieces as they jumped to their feet.

"Dr. Qi! Old Tang stole the clothes. I tried to stop them, but he distracted me!" Young Sun threw his companion under the bus without hesitation.

"I didn't!" Old Tang protested. "The clothes called to me..."

"Take off those white coats and return to your rooms!" Dr. Qi ordered in a steely voice. He turned to the nurses. "Watch those two during medication time. They keep trying to fake it. If something happens, who's going to take responsibility?"

"I'm sorry. Yes, of course..." One nurse bobbed her head nervously.

The nurses led the two patients away. Dr. Qi watched their retreat, his hand rising to adjust nonexistent glasses. As he turned, a slight limp appeared in his perfectly healthy gait.

Sunlight caught the unassuming Black Gold ring on his left hand. Beneath his sleeve, a pale green web-shaped mark branded his forearm.

He completed his patrol with methodical precision before entering the building. The elevator carried him to the top floor, where he strode directly to the office at the corridor's end. He knocked.

"Enter."

Dr. Qi opened the door deferentially, smiling. "Superintendent Su, I've completed the hospital inspection. Nothing unusual to report."

Qilin sat behind the desk in his white robe, gold-framed glasses perched on his nose, hair swept back with careful precision. His right eye gleamed cold and gray—a Black Gold prosthetic, though few would notice at first glance.

His left hand, covered in a long black glove, rested unnaturally still on the desk's surface.

The Ocean River Union had moved into Third Hospital just a week ago. Through his combined Talents of Eidos and Puppeteer, Qilin maintained soft control over the medical staff, their enchanted Black Gold accessories serving as anchor points for his influence.

"Good. Set up hourly perimeter checks in pairs. Report any anomalies immediately."

"Yes, sir!" Dr. Qi bowed out, closing the door with quiet efficiency.

Qilin leaned back, closing his eyes. His willpower spread through the hospital like invisible threads, touching each puppet under his control. Not a single movement would escape this web of awareness.

Another knock interrupted his concentration.

Qilin drew his power back, opening his eyes. "Enter."

One Stone's tall, slim figure slipped into the room. Her loose ponytail swayed as she walked, a single curl dancing against her frameless glasses. Here, she was a department director.

“I have matters to report, Guildmaster.”

Twenty minutes later, Dr. One Stone and Nurse Ting Ting emerged from the hospital in civilian clothes. The guard at the door, his Black Gold bracelet glinting, gave them an empty nod. One Stone returned it with a measured look.

Once past the hospital grounds, Ting Ting grabbed One Stone's hand. They walked two blocks before Ting Ting released a dramatic sigh. "Finally free!"

One Stone shook her head. "Don't get used to this."

"Thank you, Sister One Stone!" Ting Ting latched onto her arm. "That place suffocates me. I can barely breathe in there."

Ting Ting’s Air Man didn’t completely make them unnoticeable. Even with her taking One Stone’s hand, she couldn’t turn One Stone into air, only made her stand out less. If they encountered someone with bad blood or a deep bond with One Stone, they would still notice her. Outside of Vermilion Bird, though, One Stone had no such bond with anyone.

"Don't let go for a second," One Stone warned. "If you want food, we'll get it to go."

"Yeah!" Ting Ting pulled up her phone. "Let me check what's near White Lake Hotel..."

They paused at an intersection, watching for taxis.

"This barbecue place looks perfect," Ting Ting announced. "Private booths where we can stay hidden."

"Which one?"

"This One!"

"What one?"

"This One Barbecue!"

Understanding dawned on One Stone's face. "We can go there, but first, you're doing something with me."

"Oh?" Ting Ting perked up.

"Taking a bath."

"What?" Ting Ting blinked rapidly.

A genuine smile softened One Stone's features. "My family has a tradition—every Lunar New Year's Eve, we visit the bathhouse. We wash away the past year's misfortunes and sorrows, leaving them behind. It helps ensure only good days lie ahead."

“Oh, right!” Ting Ting said in understanding. “It’s quite a common tradition. But Sister One Stone, you study medicine. I didn’t expect you to have a superstition.”

"Not superstition," One Stone raised her hand to flag down an approaching taxi. "Just a ritual that gives me something to look forward to."