Habit

With Luo Di's awakening, a series of examinations followed in quick succession.

First, the attending physician checked his basic physical condition. After confirming that Luo Di was in fairly good shape, he immediately arranged a "psychological assessment."

Any resident returning from outside the city had to undergo a psychological examination, let alone someone like Luo Di, who had encountered an accident while participating in New Practice.

This psychological examination was far more complicated than the ones conducted at school.

Luo Di was fitted with a full set of brainwave-monitoring equipment and had to complete a written test in that state.

There were a hundred questions in total, including multiple-choice questions, written-response questions, and timed true-or-false questions.

If the monitoring equipment detected any abnormal fluctuations while he was answering, the test would restart. Three consecutive abnormal fluctuations would result in immediate failure.

After nearly an hour, Luo Di handed his answer sheet to the psychologist beside him.

"The results are good, not much different from your previous scores. Get some proper rest."

With the psychological assessment over, the light above the door to Luo Di's hospital room changed from red to green.

A bespectacled young man who had been waiting outside for quite some time became the first visitor.

Rather than greeting him right away, the young man placed a bouquet of daffodils into the vase on the bedside table.

"Luo Di, I never thought you knew someone like that."

The visitor was Gao Yuxuan. He looked to be in decent condition and was the only one who had not been injured during the practice.

Yet Luo Di's first question was neither about the practice nor his companions. "Vice class monitor, how much time has passed? Are we still on holiday?"

"We are. You were unconscious for less than a day."

"How are the class monitor and Anna?"

"The class monitor was just transferred out of the ICU. He is still unconscious due to excessive blood loss, but his vital signs have basically stabilized.

"As for Anna, she's staying next door to you. Her condition should be about the same as yours. Waking up is only a matter of time."

"Have they found the source of the accident?"

"One of their internal staff was suspected of being a Pseudo-Human—a Pseudo-Human capable of bypassing the basic detection mechanisms. He had planned everything in advance.

"He had worked in the practice area for a long time and knew very well about the loopholes in the practice mechanisms.

"After we killed the zombies, he cut off multiple power supplies in the practice management area and activated emergency protection mode. That left those inside unable to learn of our situation while trapping us there for a time, and the rescue team was delayed in arriving.

"If you hadn't known someone like that, Luo Di, we probably wouldn't have made it back.

"This accident was no small matter. The relevant personnel at the research institute will all be held accountable, and New Practice will be reconsidered. Of course, our performance will also be recorded. I imagine we'll receive a very high practice evaluation."

But Luo Di's mind was not on the research institute's mistakes. Instead, he was somewhat grateful for this "accident."

"A very high evaluation?"

"Yeah. People from the city bureau have already spoken with me. After all, we encountered two incidents in a row, especially the possession incident tied to the accident, which had an extremely high Event Difficulty.

"We managed to find a way out and even survived intact. This will be recorded in our files as a special high-difficulty practice, which will greatly benefit our future advancement. We should also receive compensation afterward. They definitely won't be stingy—perhaps we'll get some very good things."

Luo Di was quite satisfied with that. His advancement next year would directly affect his family's future, and his parents were both hoping that he could join a major company.

"Which hospital am I in?"

"Isn't it obvious? With medical conditions this good, it has to be the city's First Hospital. The research institute is covering the expenses, so just focus on recovering.

"By the way, hasn't your family come?"

"They went traveling. They won't be back until the holiday ends."

"Mm. Your body doesn't have many problems anyway. You'll probably be discharged in another couple of days."

Gao Yuxuan moved his backpack in front of him and took out several books related to exorcism, including some classic exorcism novels.

"I've read all of these. They're for you. You'll probably be pretty bored alone in the hospital."

"Thank you."

After neatly stacking the books on the bedside table, Gao Yuxuan stood up and cleared his throat. It seemed he had mentally prepared himself for a long time before finally forcing out a sentence. "We haven't exchanged phone numbers yet, have we?"

"I guess not?"

"Hurry and save mine. Call me once you're discharged, and I'll treat you to a meal."

"No need for that. The class monitor will treat us when the time comes anyway. Let's exchange numbers."

Luo Di habitually raised his left arm, only to find nothing there. His wristband had been crushed underfoot during the practice.

"Right, your wristband is gone~ Then I'll leave you my number. Add me once you apply for a new wristband."

Gao Yuxuan used the ballpoint pen he carried with him to leave his number on the book's title page, then stood and paced around the hospital room twice.

Neither of them was particularly fond of talking, and without a shared goal like they had during the practice, being alone in the same room was truly rather awkward.

Though Gao Yuxuan had originally wanted to say something else, he ultimately only managed, "I won't disturb your rest," before turning to leave.

Just as he was about to step out of the room—

Click!

That incomparably familiar tongue-clicking sound, etched deep into his mind, echoed through the empty hospital room.

Gao Yuxuan's body reacted instantly. Cold sweat burst madly from his pores, soaking nearly his entire back.

Click!

Another sound rang out through the hospital room.

Gao Yuxuan immediately identified its source: the hospital bed.

However, compared to the tongue-clicking sounds he had heard in the old house, there were no environmental changes here beyond the sound itself, nor was there any of that hellish scorching heat.

The tongue-clicks came at regular intervals.

Gao Yuxuan backed away to the foot of the bed and looked at Luo Di, who was reading.

"Luo Di, are you... still normal?"

Only after Gao Yuxuan asked did Luo Di realize that he had been unconsciously clicking his tongue.

"It's fine. I don't know what's going on, but whenever I focus on something, I start clicking my tongue without realizing it. It seems to have become some kind of habit.

"I clicked my tongue a few times during the hospital's psychological test earlier too, but it didn't trigger any possession reaction. All the doctors' examinations were normal as well.

"It's probably just an ordinary habit brought on by the possession."

"You clicked your tongue during the test too? Then it should be fine. Whew... it really scared me."

"Really?"

Luo Di did not think much of it. He was even somewhat pleased.

To him, this practice accident that had nearly cost him his life felt more like a special experience that suited his preferences and came with equivalent gains.

"Ahem~ I'll be going, then. Contact me after you're discharged."

"Mm."

Hospital Stay

It had to be said that the hospital's service arrangements were truly impeccable.

A luxurious recovery meal plan was personally delivered at fixed times.

Any medical staff could be summoned at any time.

However, Gao Yuxuan seemed to be his only visitor.

Mr. Luo Fei, Luo Di's running companion and the key figure in resolving the accident, had not come over. Presumably, because he had intervened in the accident on his own initiative, he needed to handle the remaining aftermath with the research institute's upper management.

Luo Di would contact him as soon as he was discharged.

It was not only to express his gratitude. He also wanted to ask about the details of exorcism, as well as matters concerning hell—especially that mysterious symbol.

Before he knew it, evening arrived.

When the nurse came to remove his needle, she also brought him a bowl of matsutake chicken soup noodles as a late-night snack.

After his body absorbed the ample nutrition, Luo Di, who had barely moved around all day, got out of bed on his own.

He first returned the leftover dishes to the nurses' station. Although the nurse reminded him once again to rest properly, Luo Di still chose to walk back and forth through the quiet inpatient corridor.

When he passed Anna's room, the light outside her door was still marked red. She apparently had not yet awakened.

Luo Di walked to the end of the corridor and entered the stairwell marked Safety Passage.

Because First Hospital had a large number of efficient multifunction elevators, escape stairwells like this were basically empty, especially now that night had fallen.

After climbing the stairs for exercise, Luo Di sat down in the stairwell to rest for a while.

The moment he sat down, his body instinctively reached forward. He reflexively wanted to do a few push-ups, but ultimately held himself back.

"I'll make up for them once I'm discharged and back home."

Luo Di had not rested in the stairwell for long.

Bzzzz~

The stairwell lights, which had been bright moments ago, suddenly began flickering abnormally...