Chapter 1: Dream

Fragments began to fall away.

A pale figure slowly crawled out, its emerald, slit pupils trembling like rippling lakes.

How many times had this happened now?

He didn’t know.

He only recalled that it was his hands and feet that had shed first.

Then his skin and flesh had been ground away.

And this time?

He turned his diamond-shaped head; before him stretched only darkness.

A twisted, human-shaped darkness.

A shadow, perhaps...

It didn’t matter anymore.

He turned forward, pressing close to the ground and slowly slithering ahead.

The moon, vast as a mountain, spanned the sky, shining over this ancient, unchanging wilderness.

Countless tiny shadows knelt from all directions, worshipping, singing praises, offering adoration.

But she only watched that figure moving ever onward.

She blinked once.

And the world was swallowed by night.

...

...

“Aaaaaaaaaah!”

If level-12 pain was said to be equivalent to natural childbirth, then judging by this man’s screams, the pain must have reached at least level 15.

Mu Yu tried to slow his breathing as naturally as possible, eyes shut, his mind racing with chaotic thoughts.

Male, interested in women, graduated from Fengzhou City’s Tumbling Kindergarten, spotless childhood without a hint of crime, currently attending an unremarkable second-tier college, always ready to dedicate himself to the great cause of socialist construction.

In short, he was the very model of mediocrity, a life without waves or drama—except, perhaps, for an unusually adorable cousin, making him the epitome of ordinary people.

Wait...

A cousin?

Where did this cousin come from?

Weren’t both his parents only children?

A faint ache throbbed in his mind. A moment ago, he’d been certain he had an adorable cousin and was a seasoned cousin-connoisseur, but the next, he couldn’t even recall her face.

And what on earth was Tumbling Kindergarten? Did he go to school with a certain big-eared classmate as a child?

The more he tried to remember, the more muddled things became, his memories compressed, as if kneaded into paste by a giant hand.

Dressed in a white coat, Zi Xi stared with a conflicted expression at the man lying in the hospital bed, who fancied himself a master of composure, yet whose expressions were vivid enough to fill a stage play.

Was he awake or not? According to protocol, the first reaction should be to report to superiors once the patient regained consciousness, but in this case... Was he having a nightmare?

Just as she hesitated, unsure whether she should approach and check Mu Yu’s state, a fair and steady hand rested on her shoulder.

“Good afternoon, Captain!”

Zi Xi clearly startled, snapping to attention and awkwardly being guided aside.

The man addressed as Captain smiled gently, tucking his hand back into his wide sleeve, seemingly unconcerned by the fear and panic in her eyes. His tone was mild.

“Don’t worry, I’m just here to retrieve the contaminated patient as per regulations. Meanwhile, tell me the details of the process.”

He gestured casually toward the man who was still howling in pain. Though his voice remained gentle, his eyes seemed to glint with a cold, steely light, forcing Zi Xi to avert her gaze, unable to meet his eyes.

It was already halfway through summer, yet the man’s attire was noticeably heavier: a fitted trench coat with broad sleeves, which somehow didn’t seem odd, but rather emphasized his elegance and poise.

A glimpse of a brown shirt beneath lent him a scholarly air.

Had they met in school, she’d likely have found herself drawn to him as well, but fate had placed them here.

Zi Xi glanced covertly at the overly youthful captain, sighing inwardly before beginning her report in a formal, practiced tone.

“By regulation, only one patient is allowed per room, but since 9:30 last night, unconscious individuals have been brought in continuously. Although we quickly took over the nearby hospitals, the numbers were simply... overwhelming.”

Here she swallowed involuntarily, her eyes betraying a nameless fear and worry.

“According to the instruments, most patients carried faint traces of ‘aura,’ so we couldn’t transfer them to other doctors. And just now, a few started to show minor contamination. We’re barely containing it and had no choice but to request intervention from above.”

“Since the incident began, I’ve received twelve suspected cases. Nine have shown no anomalies and the aura is fading. Three began to scream without any symptoms, and examinations have found no wounds.”

“However, muscle patterns suggest they tried to relieve the pain by scratching or similar actions, showing a strong tendency toward self-destruction. Fortunately, we preemptively restrained every patient, so no accidents occurred—but none have regained consciousness; all remain comatose.”

The man listened silently, nodding now and then in polite agreement.

“All right, I’ve already heard most of this from your head nurse. Just wanted to confirm there are no missing details.”

He drew a slim certificate from his trench coat pocket and waved it briefly before her.

“From here, our investigation team will take over. Your job is done; please leave. An escort will take you back.”

Zi Xi visibly relaxed at these words, taking a few steps toward the door, but then hesitated and glanced back, asking,

“So... what will happen to these contaminated patients?”

The man looked up in mild surprise, as if regarding a rare creature, but the force in his gaze compelled Zi Xi to bow her head, stiff and silent.

“Forgive me, I shouldn’t have asked.”

She turned quickly, feeling foolish; despite all the drills at school, she still managed to ask such naive questions.

As she quietly opened the door, hoping to slip out unnoticed like some small, invisible animal, a gentle voice called from behind.

“Don’t worry. We’ll take care of everything.”

Zi Xi looked up, seeing the young man standing by the window, backlit by the morning sun, his steady gaze piercing the darkness and inspiring involuntary trust.

Her cheeks flushed as she nodded and hurried from the room as if fleeing.

“Whew.”

Zi Xi clutched her face, her heart pounding with an odd exhilaration.

But the feeling didn’t last. The corridor was filled with men in trench coats, quickly bringing her back to reality.

They stood straight-backed, postures like unsheathed blades, moving between rooms to escort the other white-coated doctors out with polite efficiency, closing the doors behind them.

She hadn’t been standing long when someone approached.

“Excuse me, are you with the medical team, Miss Zi Xi? Please come with me—we’ll arrange for your evacuation. Stay calm; there’s no need to be afraid.”

No unnecessary words. After a quick scan from a handheld device, rows of doctors were led toward the exit by their escorts.

Silently, the entire hospital had come under the investigation team’s control—airtight, without a single drop leaking through.

“So, Mr. Mu, after eavesdropping for so long, is there anything you’d like to say?”