Ban Zhen

Xiao Xiao walked out of the ward and saw Lin's Father and Lin's Mother waiting by the door.

A glimmer of hope flickered on their pale, tired faces.

"Auntie, Uncle, I need to go back first."

"I'll come back this afternoon."

"Ah." Lin's Father gave a short reply, stopping Lin's Mother from saying something.

"Um, Xiao Xiao... be careful on your way."

"...It's okay if you don't come this afternoon." Lin's Father wanted to say something, but after turning it over in his mind several times, he swallowed it back. Since Xiao Xiao hadn't said anything, he probably couldn't help, right?

It made sense, he was still just a child, not even studying medicine, how could he possibly...

Lin's Father muttered to himself repeatedly, yet he still couldn't suppress a surge of deep disappointment.

Watching Xiao Xiao's retreating back, Lin's Mother grew anxious. "Dear, why did you stop me? I hadn't asked yet?"

"What's there to ask?"

"If he didn't say anything, it means there's no solution. Why embarrass him face-to-face?"

"Besides, he's just a child."

Lin's Mother deflated slightly. Yes, what was there to ask? Wasn't it obvious?

Xiao Xiao naturally saw Lin's Father and Lin's Mother's disappointment. He pursed his lips, ultimately saying nothing, and turned to leave.

He was considering whether to make another trip to Xiangshan to ask Ling Yao before coming to the hospital in the afternoon.

As fellow monsters, perhaps they knew something.

In the afternoon, Xiao Xiao arrived at the hospital again.

Huh? Xiao Xiao paused for a moment before resuming his normal pace.

"Uncle, Auntie, were you waiting for me?"

Yes, standing by Lin Zhenzhen's ward door were none other than Lin's Father and Lin's Mother.

After the initial surprise, a sense of understanding dawned upon them.

Even if they didn't believe him, they couldn't help but cling to a sliver of hope, right?

Seeing that Xiao Xiao had indeed come, Lin's Father and Lin's Mother's expressions were complicated.

After Xiao Xiao left that morning, they had immediately gone into the ward, worried if anything had happened to their daughter.

They didn't know what Xiao Xiao had said to Zhenzhen. Apart from hearing faint screams at the beginning, they had heard nothing else.

When they first heard the familiar screams, they had almost rushed in. They knew how fragile their daughter was right now.

But even though their hands were already on the doorknob, they ultimately gave up.

Since they had promised Xiao Xiao, they wanted to try and believe him.

Even if it ended up being for nothing.

However, when they rushed into the ward, they were stunned.

Their daughter's bandages were off?!

This was why Lin's Father and Lin's Mother were waiting for Xiao Xiao by the ward door.

They didn't know what Xiao Xiao had said to Zhenzhen?

Since Zhenzhen wasn't saying anything, they naturally wouldn't force her.

But, they knew that ever since the hospital declared they could do nothing more, Zhenzhen hadn't even let anyone else help her change her bandages. Even they couldn't get their daughter to calmly remove them.

So, what had this child done? Or said? To make Zhenzhen let down all her defenses and reveal her most vulnerable and soft interior?

Based on this alone, they couldn't suppress the turmoil in their hearts. Their long-dormant hearts, soaked and rotten with disappointment, seemed to feel a glimmer of dawn. They were eager to see Xiao Xiao again.

However, looking at Xiao Xiao slowly approaching them, Lin's Father and Lin's Mother moved their lips but suddenly didn't know what to say.

They should have had many questions, many things to say.

All their questions and thoughts had replayed in their minds countless times.

Yet, with the person they wanted to ask right before them, they couldn't ask anything.

Perhaps, they were too afraid. Afraid that all of this was just their own wishful thinking, their one-sided belief that this child before them would be their savior. They feared that the moment they spoke, all their hopes would burst like bubbles in the sun, "Pop!" and disappear.

So, in the end, all they could manage was a dry greeting.

"Xiao Xiao, you're here."

"Yes, I'm here."

"Good afternoon, Uncle, Auntie."

Outside the window, the sunlight was just right, and the corridor was bright, as if illuminating all the dark corners.

Lin's Father and Lin's Mother were momentarily stunned, and suddenly felt their heavy hearts lighten a bit after many days.

"Hello, Lin Zhenzhen, I'm here again." Xiao Xiao's lips curved slightly as he greeted Lin Zhenzhen, who had once again turned into a bandage woman.

"Xiao Xiao." Lin Zhenzhen's voice was hoarse and dry, echoing faintly in the dim hospital room.

Even though the sun was shining brightly outside, it was still dark and obscure in here.

Thick curtains blocked out all external light.

Xiao Xiao took out the Monster Compendium.

He wasn't sure if demonic energy alone could make the Monster Compendium display the monster's true form.

But, he had to try.

If it didn't work... he'd have to spend more effort to find this monster about which he knew nothing.

Before Xiao Xiao could say anything, Lin Zhenzhen had already started unwrapping her bandages.

Xiao Xiao swallowed the words that were about to come out. Fine, if the person involved was cooperating, what else was there to say.

A strong demonic energy, filled with malice, emanated outwards.

A hint of disgust flashed across Xiao Xiao's brow. What a foul smell.

He slowly opened the Monster Compendium, flipping through the pages without hesitation until a blank sheet of paper appeared.

"Lin Zhenzhen, close your eyes."

Xiao Xiao could somehow discern a dazed and confused expression on the unrecognizable face.

He gave the other person a confident look.

After a moment of hesitation, Lin Zhenzhen slowly closed her eyes.

If Lin Zhenzhen's face were intact right now, it would probably be a beautiful sight, right?

Now... it was more important to get the job done.

Xiao Xiao held the open Monster Compendium close to Lin Zhenzhen's face. Black energy churned and slowly spread above the Monster Compendium.

The black energy seemed to be absorbed by the yellowed paper.

Not all at once, but strand by strand.

Crimson cinnabar gradually seeped onto the previously empty paper.

It really worked!

Xiao Xiao's gaze became even more focused.

The unfamiliar monster gradually appeared on the paper.

Two strangely constructed characters, written in a flowing hand, exuded an ominous and inauspicious aura. The overly rich cinnabar seemed about to drip down.

"Ban Zhen."

It was a bird-shaped monster, and a bird-shaped monster that emanated a bewitching aura.

Even though it was only in one color, Xiao Xiao inexplicably knew that this monster must be covered in colorful feathers.

Extremely beautiful.

But, it was true that the more beautiful something was, the more poisonous it was.

Xiao Xiao sighed, thinking of Lin Zhenzhen's face. Inadvertently, his gaze met Ban Zhen's eyes.

He couldn't help but hold his breath.

Two streams of bloody tears slowly slid down from the corners of Ban Zhen's eyes.

Paired with Ban Zhen's cold and malicious gaze, it was utterly terrifying.

There was not a trace of the tragic beauty and sorrow often described in novels about bloody tears.

However, after looking at it for a while, one could indeed discern a chilling, eerie beauty within the horror.

Xiao Xiao stroked his chin. Perhaps it was also because the color of the cinnabar was too vibrant.