Unfolding the Ghost Domain, the Great Xia Dragon Sparrow

"You can thank him, but don't trust him too much."

Zhang Lin had actually sensed something—after all, he wasn't an ordinary citizen. As a Patrol Officer, he dealt with dangerous individuals from time to time.

Still, he pretended not to understand and asked, "Why?"

"His personality is extremely vile. No, rather than vile, it's more accurate to say he's devoid of humanity."

Zhang Lin's expression turned serious as he asked, "Are you an organization that handles abnormal incidents?"

"That's right."

"Then why would you accept a member you describe as devoid of humanity? With such dangerous abilities, shouldn't you be even more cautious about who wields them?"

Xu Zhou, feeling the tension in the air, fidgeted uncomfortably with his blade and lowered his head to study the patterns on the floor tiles.

"Well," Ji Wu said, "he's talented."

"Talented? Just because of talent? From what you said earlier, Contract Anomalists contract with Weirds and are influenced by them, causing drastic personality changes—the good turn bad, the bad turn worse. Shouldn't you be selecting people with strong moral character instead?"

As a Patrol Officer, Zhang Lin knew all too well how unhinged people could become once they crossed the line.

Even those without special powers were like this. It was hard to imagine the scale of harm those with special abilities could cause if they turned to evil.

"I understand your concerns. But considering how few people can become Contract Anomalists while Weirds are as numerous as oxen hair, weighing the options, it's better to make use of his power. At the very least, saving those people wasn't a mistake."

A compromise born of weighing pros and cons?

Zhang Lin said helplessly, "Sorry, I was too harsh just now."

"You've publicly explained part of the Aberration Association's principles. Construction Points +50."

"Not at all. Your concerns aren't unfounded—otherwise, the organization wouldn't have the Supervisor position."

The two adults continued exchanging pleasantries.

Xu Zhou was already bored to the point of yawning repeatedly. He'd been on consecutive missions for days without proper rest, and staying too long in a heated hospital room made drowsiness only natural.

He yawned, found a chair, and sat down.

A sharp infant cry pierced his ears.

"Wah wah wah wah!"

"Huh?" Xu Zhou jolted, the sound snapping him wide awake.

He stood up immediately, then relaxed again. This was a hospital—infant cries were normal.

Ji Wu, however, glanced toward the door and listened intently.

Zhang Lin asked, "What is it?"

Ji Wu replied, "If I remember correctly, there's no pediatrics or obstetrics ward in this building, is there?"

Zhang Lin said, "Maybe it's a patient's family member who brought a child?"

Ji Wu thought it over but decided the mission took priority. He took a business card from his pocket and placed it by Zhang Lin's bedside.

"If you ever need anything, feel free to contact me."

Zhang Lin thanked him.

"Wah wah! Wah wah wah wah!"

Another infant cry, this time closer.

Xu Zhou nervously clutched his clothes. Thankfully, it wasn't nighttime, or he'd be scared out of his wits.

Ji Wu led the way out of the ward, with Xu Zhou following behind.

The moment Xu Zhou stepped out of the ward, he immediately sensed a powerful residual Weird aura. It filled the entire corridor, making the brightly lit hallway feel eerily strange.

Plop!

"Eww—what's this!"

Xu Zhou lifted his foot and found a sticky, gooey liquid clinging to his sole. "So disgusting!"

Ji Wu took the cigarette from his mouth and sniffed it. The scent of nicotine steadied his mind.

"Ahh~ hehehehehehe~"

The sound of an infant's laughter echoed from all directions in the corridor.

Other patients' family members walked by. One woman touched her ear. "I think... I hear a child laughing."

The man beside her said, "Where's there a child laughing? You must be hearing things."

"Hehehe! Hehehe!"

The baby laughed even more cheerfully.

"Really, I really heard it. A child—no, an infant laughing."

Sun Chengzhi touched her forehead. "Xiao Li, you've been too tired these past few days. Let's go back and rest."

Xu Zhou unfastened the strap on his blade, cradling it in his arms, his eyes constantly scanning the surroundings.

"Found it?" Ji Wu asked him.

Xu Zhou shook his head in confusion. "I don't know why, but I feel Weird energy everywhere here. I can't lock onto its location."

"Wah wah wah wah!"

"He's crying! He's crying!" Xiao Li suddenly grabbed the man's hand excitedly. "He's crying!"

Sun Chengzhi was baffled. "Who's crying? I don't hear anything!"

"It's the child! Our child is crying."

"What are you talking about? We don't have a child."

Drip! Drip!

Suddenly, a lot of blood dripped from the ceiling.

Ji Wu's expression turned serious as he reached out a finger and rubbed the wall with his fingertip. Instead of the smooth touch of a wall, he felt a sticky slime. "I see, it's a Ghost Domain."

"A powerful Weird can unfold a Ghost Domain, pulling people from reality into it."

"We've probably already entered its domain."

Pink wrinkles slowly emerged on the white walls. The windows and doors disappeared, blood continued to drip from the ceiling, and pools of yellow-green liquid spread across the floor.

"Ah!!!!"

Xiao Li screamed, startled by the blood dripping onto her face.

Sun Chengzhi hugged her, trembling. "What's going on? Where is this?"

Xu Zhou had already unwrapped the cloth from the blade. It was a beautifully crafted Great Xia Dragon Sparrow Blade, an A-grade Ghost Artifact capable of harming Weirds.

His performance was no better than the two ordinary people. Xu Zhou's legs shook violently as he held the blade in front of him, constantly psyching himself up.

"Deep breaths! Don't be nervous! Don't be scared!"

Ji Wu, being more experienced than this newcomer, still had the composure to pay attention to other things. "Hey! You'd better not move recklessly."

"Are you kidding me! Is this some kind of projection technology? Playing a prank like this in a hospital is too much! I'm definitely going to complain about you guys!"

Sun Chengzhi looked very panicked. His fear of the unknown drove him to escape this place as quickly as possible.

"Please calm down. This is a Ghost Domain. Who knows what the consequences might be if you run around recklessly."

"Blood, so much blood!" Xiao Li stared blankly as she reached out to catch a few drops of blood. Suddenly, she ran off like a madwoman.

"My child! My child!"

"Xiao Li! Xiao Li!"

Sun Chengzhi couldn't catch up to her before she disappeared at the end of the corridor.

He tried to chase after her, but Ji Wu grabbed him in time. "Wait, running around like that is too dangerous."

"But Xiao Li..." Sun Chengzhi covered his face and slid to the ground in despair.

Ji Wu watched silently. He was just a Supervisor, with no strength to fight a Weird.