Yu Qing held the skeleton down, his mind racing-normal monsters should have died when a golden needle pierced their temples, just like Granny Ghost had.
But the skeleton's temples were empty. Empty! What was he supposed to stab?
If he drove the needle inside, could he reach that tiny, shriveled brain?
As he pondered this, the sudden uproar in the livestream interrupted his thoughts.
Yu Qing's gaze darkened. In the system's reflection, he saw a skeleton behind him raise its hand high!
That bony hand trembled and creaked as it struggled to grip an enormous axe, aimed straight at the center of his head, and swung down hard!
Crack!
Almost instantly, the axe split the floor tiles. The ground shuddered, followed by the clattering cracks of a skeleton shattering.
His breathing grew rapid in the room. Yu Qing had dodged aside and watched at close range as that skeleton hacked another skeleton apart. Cold sweat seeped out, and his heart pounded uncontrollably.
So close... he had come so close to being split in half!
Comments raced wildly across the livestream, concern spilling out alongside disappointment, but Yu Qing had no time to read them.
Just now, the instant the skeleton brought its axe down, he had looked through its pitch-black eye sockets and clearly seen the tiny, blackened brain dangling at the top of its skull...
Now!
While the skeleton stood dazed over killing its own kind, Yu Qing sprang up without hesitation, clamped a hand onto its frame, kicked the axe away, and aimed the golden needle straight at the crown of its skull.
[Hahahahaha, this is the darling you all worship? Your darling Qingqing? He's poking the crown of a skeleton's skull with a needle? Does he have any common sense? Does he know how hard a skull is...]
Click-
Squelch-
Before the mocking comment had even finished posting, Yu Qing's golden needle had pierced the skeleton's brain. Then he slowly rose, picked up the huge axe capable of cleaving bones apart, and looked at the two remaining skeletons.
The corners of his eyes curved slightly. "Which of you... wants to go first?"
Clack... creak, clack...
Yu Qing held the axe handle casually, his bloodthirsty eyes growing redder and redder. The sight of him overcome by murderous intent sent the skeletons retreating, their trembling bones creaking and clacking.
Before long, they actually fled without hesitation to save themselves.
They ran so fast that they nearly tripped the Doctor.
"..."
A long silence.
It wasn't just the skeletons. Even the new viewers entering the livestream struggled to process what had happened.
Everyone here knew one absolute, ironclad rule-streamers could not harm NPCs.
Yet just now, the instant Yu Qing seized the skeleton, donations had begun pouring excitedly into the livestream. Wealthy longtime fans splashed out lavishly, quickly bringing the total to ten million!
Ten million!!!
That was more points than many small-time streamers could earn in their entire lives.
And despite Yu Qing stepping so far out of line, the system actually... hadn't dared make so much as a peep.
It had even said quietly: [Friendly reminder: the skeleton threat has been eliminated. Please remain on guard against the Doctor, especially when he approaches you at high speed.]
The livestream: [...]
[I have to say, this is the first time I've seen such a spineless system.]
[Yeah, other systems are full of malice and constantly make things harder for streamers. This one fucking... gives friendly reminders?]
[Hahahaha, that's because our Qingqing has already blown up two systems in a row. With such distinguished records from its predecessors, the new system wouldn't dare not be scared.]
[Aaah! I'll fly Qingqing's banner! Let's see who dares stand against him!]
Tick, tick, tick...
The hospital room remained silent. The wall clock ticked like a countdown to an explosion, making their hearts burn with anxiety.
Yu Qing took in the system's warning, his breathing slightly quickened, his grip tightening around the axe handle.
He didn't know what would happen when the Doctor approached at high speed. Gritting his teeth, he simply heaved the axe up.
And rushed straight at the Doctor!
But... he was too weak. His arms simply couldn't bear the axe's weight. He swung it at the Doctor's neck, and-crack!
It sliced straight into the doorframe!
Wood chips flew. The axe blade chopped through half the doorframe and became impossible to pull out.
The Doctor had dodged in time, leaving his neck unharmed.
But... the hem of his white coat had been caught in the strike. The tremendous momentum forced him to stumble two steps forward, leaving his loose coat in the hands of Yu Qing, who stood motionless.
The next second, the Doctor turned around. Realizing his coat was gone, his eyes immediately filled with panic.
The fierce sounds of fighting caught the Nurse's attention. Rapid footsteps approached, and then Yu Qing saw-
The young Nurse who had sat at reception handing out bells with a smile during the day had turned into a skeleton.
Her eyesight seemed poor. She hurried to the doorway without taking a proper look and actually called Yu Qing, who was holding the white coat... "Honey"?
Yu Qing paused briefly, while the male Doctor grew even more panicked.
He hastily stepped forward and violently snatched the coat from Yu Qing's hands.
Only after hurriedly putting it on did he begin scolding his wife.
"What are those eyes of yours for? Air vents? Take a good look! I'm Xu Han!"
Once the white coat was back on him, the Nurse shuddered again. She approached the Doctor cautiously and apologized in a meek voice.
At this sight, the rabbit girl burst into loud sobs. She immediately jumped off Qian Lai, twisted her heavy limbs, and threw herself into the Nurse's arms, bloody tears streaming down her face.
She kept crying, "Mommy, Mommy..."
So the rough outline of what had happened emerged.
-This Doctor had killed Xu Han, then impersonated him and returned to his home, abusing Xu Han's wife and tormenting his daughter.
[Ding-]
Yu Qing stirred slightly as he heard the system announce: [Congratulations to streamer Yu Qing for discovering the key clue, "The impersonated Xu Han." Plot exploration: 20%.]
As the announcement ended, Yu Qing saw the Doctor impersonating Xu Han give the Nurse a hug and coax her gently. "I'm working. Don't let the child cry and make a fuss. Take her away."
The Nurse lifted her head. Her hollow sockets no longer held eyes, but even her clacking teeth couldn't suppress her fierce resentment and anger.
She looked as though she wanted to bite the fake Xu Han to death. But for her child's sake, she finally restrained herself again and hurried away with her daughter in her arms.
Then Yu Qing noticed the fake Xu Han's movements again.
First, he straightened his white coat. Then he pushed up his glasses and checked the name badge on his chest bearing the name "Xu Han."
Only after making sure everything was in order did he slowly raise his eyes. His grayish-white eyeballs fixed on the space ahead, gradually filling with murderous intent...
Qian Lai had run off at some point. Everything that could get in the way was gone.
The hospital room fell silent again. The air was deathly still, and an invisible pressure seeped into it, baring its claws, twisting and surging.
Doctors could harm patients at will, but patients could not clash with doctors. That was this instance's ironclad rule, and it could not be changed.
So when they noticed the murderous look in the Doctor's eyes, even the livestream viewers held their breath-the streamer was done for.
Yet in the doorway, Yu Qing calmly curved his eyes into a faint smile-
He seemed to have figured out how to turn the tables and kill him.
Before you continue