Staff dormitory

"No matter what, it's better than pulling an all-night shift like you. If you doze off and neglect a patient, you're finished!"

Zhang Zhihao snapped indignantly.

After spending the entire night patrolling the morgue, Lin Luo was indeed feeling a little worn out.

But faced with Zhang Zhihao's provocation, Lin Luo spread his hands and smiled teasingly. "Then you're going to be disappointed. The Director Ghost gave me permission to catch up on sleep. Hopefully, you'll still be around when I wake up."

That retort left Zhang Zhihao seething, his face as black as coal.

Lin Luo ignored Zhang Zhihao's shit-eating expression and thoroughly enjoyed the delicious food provided by the two chef ghosts.

Compared to Lin Luo's meal, the other three players' food was downright pitiful. All they could afford were bland cornmeal buns.

"Lin Luo, you can't finish all that by yourself. Why don't I join you?"

Beside him, Zhang Xiaoli gave him a flirtatious look, trying to score a free meal.

But Lin Luo didn't even glance at her little performance. He said coldly, "If you want to eat, pay for it with your own Ghost Coins!"

Zhang Xiaoli hadn't expected such a blunt rejection, and embarrassment immediately showed on her face.

Before she could spit out a curse, however, the icy stares of the two chef ghosts opposite her frightened her into silence.

The two chef ghosts were on excellent terms with Lin Luo. If she said the wrong thing and offended them, she might be denied food and starve to death-or, worse, end up on the menu herself!

At the thought of those terrifying consequences, Zhang Xiaoli turned deathly pale and hurriedly said, "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have asked. Please forgive me."

Lin Luo couldn't be bothered to argue with such a shallow woman and continued enjoying his meal.

Although Lin Luo ignored her, Zhang Xiaoli breathed a sigh of relief. Someone that dangerous was best left alone!

"Lin Luo, how many Ghost Coins would it cost to share this meal with you?"

Liu Yanyan couldn't help asking.

She had a whole day of work ahead of her. If hunger left her unfocused and caused her to make a mistake, saving a little money would cost her dearly.

"Ten Ghost Coins."

Lin Luo was already full, and keeping the leftover food served no purpose. Since Liu Yanyan had asked, he might as well maximize his profits.

Delight appeared on Liu Yanyan's pretty face. She had only asked on a whim and hadn't expected Lin Luo to be so generous!

Getting to enjoy this whole spread for ten Ghost Coins was an incredible bargain.

Zhang Zhihao and Zhang Xiaoli had missed their chance and could only watch from the sidelines.

Had they known it would be so cheap, they never would have bought those awful, rock-hard cornmeal buns.

"Lin Luo, can Xiaoli eat with me?"

Kindhearted Liu Yanyan couldn't bear to see Zhang Xiaoli go hungry.

"As long as you pay ten Ghost Coins."

Lin Luo wasn't foolish enough to give a woman special treatment just because she was pretty. He only cared about his own interests.

"All right."

Liu Yanyan gritted her teeth and agreed, paying for Zhang Xiaoli's meal.

Lin Luo silently shook his head at her behavior. She was already in a horror world filled with danger, yet she was still so naive. Her so-called friends could stab her in the back at any moment!

But Lin Luo couldn't be bothered to waste his breath. He simply accepted the Ghost Coins Liu Yanyan handed over.

"I can pay ten Ghost Coins too. Let me join you."

Zhang Zhihao stared at the dishes on the table with gleaming eyes, but Zhang Xiaoli planted her hands on her hips and refused. "Dream on. Go chew on your cornmeal buns."

After Lin Luo's hearty meal, there wasn't much food left on the table. Zhang Xiaoli wasn't stupid enough to go hungry just to earn ten Ghost Coins.

"Don't get so cocky. This might be your last meal!"

Humiliated, Zhang Zhihao cursed angrily.

Lin Luo had no interest in watching them tear into each other. He got up and left the cafeteria.

Yellow Springs Hospital had assigned the players a staff dormitory.

For the weaker players, the dormitory was their refuge.

After all, ghosts were bound by rules and couldn't attack players inside the staff dormitory.

Lin Luo made his way to the staff dormitory. He was lucky this time: no ghosts blocked his path, and he reached his destination without incident.

The staff dormitory was a dilapidated building slated for demolition, swaying precariously as though it might collapse at any moment.

The Staff Dormitory was guarded by Grandpa Ghost, who was reclining in a rocking chair and sipping a cold drink.

A closer look, however, revealed that the ghost was drinking chilled blood.

With blood smeared around his mouth, Grandpa Ghost wore a sickly smile.

"Human blood is just the thing on a hot day. Wouldn't you agree, young fellow?"

Lin Luo couldn't help frowning at those words. This was clearly one of Grandpa Ghost's rules.

No matter how he answered, the ghost would use it as an excuse to draw his blood.

"Sir, I spent last night patrolling the morgue. I have the day off today."

Lin Luo answered a different question entirely, bringing a flicker of surprise to Grandpa Ghost's eyes. This young fellow was no ordinary player—he had seen through his trick immediately!

That was hardly surprising. Any player who returned alive from the morgue was exceptional!

"Here's the key to your room. A word of advice: after twelve, ignore any sounds you hear, and don't open your eyes."

Surprise flickered in Lin Luo's eyes at Grandpa Ghost's words.

He hadn't expected this blood-drinking ghost to offer him a friendly warning.

"Thanks for the warning."

Lin Luo smiled as he reached out to accept the key. At the moment of contact, he discreetly used the Crimson Demon Finger to search Grandpa Ghost's memories.

This time, however, Lin Luo was startled. Despite his ordinary appearance, Grandpa Ghost was immensely powerful.

He was probably every bit as strong as the Director Ghost.

Still, by concentrating, Lin Luo managed to glimpse a fragment of his memories with the Crimson Demon Finger.

In life, Grandpa Ghost had been a truly charitable man. He had often funded schooling for children in mountain villages and eagerly donated blood. But years of overwork had eventually left him ill, and he had died in the hospital because no one donated blood for him.

Lin Luo couldn't help sighing. What an unbearably ironic way to die!

Still, Lin Luo had gained something: he had discovered Grandpa Ghost's fondness for beef. His eyes lit up as a plan quietly took shape.

After handing over the key, Grandpa Ghost paid Lin Luo no further attention and continued reclining in his rocking chair, drinking human blood.

Lin Luo didn't try to force a conversation. Instead, he climbed the stairs and headed to his room.

Lin Luo unlocked the door, and a damp smell washed over him. Even the cooling mat on the bed was moldy.

Beneath the bed, several rats as fat as cats scurried back and forth, utterly unafraid of humans.

More chilling still, the rats were carrying little scraps of human flesh in their mouths.

The appalling sight made the corners of Lin Luo's mouth twitch. These living conditions really were atrocious.

Fortunately, Lin Luo had already prepared himself mentally. He stepped inside and closed the door behind him.

He was just about to tidy up when something unexpected happened: the oversized rats, which should have feared humans, lunged at him, trying to bite chunks of flesh from Lin Luo's body!