Chapter 37 The Phantom of the Hospital, Heart-Corroding Evil Arts (Part 1)

[Night falls, and the lights begin to glow.]

[Night in Wuyue City is more prosperous than in Longnan, with neon lights painting the sky in colors.]

[You changed into an inconspicuous black tracksuit, put on a baseball cap and a mask, and activated the "Hiding the Edge" secret technique, concealing your aura to the extreme.]

[At this moment, you are like a drop of water merging into the ocean, completely unremarkable.]

[Using the infiltration and tracking skills honed during the second simulation, you silently follow Liu Qing after she gets off work.]

[She walks very fast, the sound of her high heels clicking on the ground somewhat erratic.]

[You observe her from a distance. Her urgent pace, tense shoulders, and disordered breathing... everything tells you that she wasn't acting during the day.]

[That sense of anxiety from being pushed into a corner by life is bone-deep.]

[You cannot be blamed for being overly cautious.]

[After all, in a matter as critical as one's own life, no amount of caution is excessive.]

[Matters succeed through secrecy and fail through leakage; they are accomplished through focus and planned through deep thought.]

[Twenty minutes later, Liu Qing arrives at Wuyue City's famous nursing institution—"Yangxin Hospital".]

[The environment here is quiet and secluded; it is Wuyue City's public rehabilitation center, but the fees are notoriously expensive.]

[Liu Qing skillfully navigates the corridors and arrives in front of a special care ward.]

[You do not approach, but instead hide in the shadows of the fire escape at the end of the corridor, using your superhuman hearing to monitor.]

[Through the glass window on the ward door, you see a young girl lying on the hospital bed.]

[Her eyes are tightly closed, she is on a ventilator, and her face shows a sickly, deathly pallor.]

[If Liu Qing is a bright and generous sunflower, then this girl is a lily swaying in the wind and rain, about to wither.]

["Delicate as a willow in the breeze, a pitiable sight."]

[Liu Qing sits by the bed, her hands tightly gripping her younger sister's slender, cold palms.]

[At this moment, where is the passion and confidence she showed at the martial arts hall during the day?]

[Only deep anxiety and worry remain.]

[She sits by the bed for a long time, her brows furrowed as if she is undergoing some intense mental struggle.]

[Finally, she seems to have made a certain decision.]

[She gently lets go of her sister's hand, helps tidy the bed, then stands by the bed looking deeply at her sister once more, a flash of determination in her eyes.]

[Subsequently, she turns and walks out of the ward.]

[She does not leave the hospital but heads straight toward the outpatient department.]

[Your heart stirs, and you silently follow her.]

[It is already nine o'clock at night; the doctors in the outpatient department have long since finished work, and the corridors are empty, carrying the cold scent of disinfectant.]

[But Liu Qing seems to have lost her soul, walking straight to an office door with a sign that reads "Expert Consultation Room: Zhang Dehai".]

[She raises her hand to knock, her face filled with the look of someone prepared to discard their dignity and beg.]

[However, just as her knuckles are about to touch the cold door panel, she suddenly snaps out of it.]

[There is no light coming from the crack in the door; inside is deathly silent.]

[The immense mental pressure and the anxiety of wanting to save her sister have actually made her forget basic common sense, like the fact that the doctor has already finished work.]

["Not here... right, who would be here at this time?"]

[She stares blankly at the closed door, the light in her eyes extinguishing bit by bit, replaced by a deeper despair.]

[That door being closed seems to have also shut off her sister's last chance at life.]

["Is... that the only way?"]

[She stands frozen at the door for a long time, finally trembling as she pulls a crumpled business card from her pocket.]

[It was given to her privately by Zhang Dehai, who said that if she really couldn't raise the money, she should call this number; there were "special channels" that could help.]

[Hesitation, struggle, fear... various emotions intertwine on her face.]

[Finally, she tremblingly enters that string of numbers into her phone.]

[Her finger hovers over the call button, her knuckles turning white from the force.]

["Something's wrong!"]

[Hiding in the shadows, your intuition is screaming an alarm.]

[That number is very likely the entrance to an abyss! Once the call connects and the other party throws out the bait of "treating the illness without money," she will be completely lost.]

[You must interrupt her! You must provide her with a legal source of money!]

[Immediately, with the lightest and most silent steps, you quickly hide in a stall in the nearby men's restroom, lock the door, pull out your phone, and dial Liu Qing's number.]

["Ring, ring, ring—"]

[The crisp ringing suddenly explodes in the silent corridor, startling the high-strung Liu Qing so much that her phone almost slips from her hand.]

[She glances at the screen; it's an unfamiliar local number. She wants to hang up, but then she thinks it might be a payment reminder from the hospital... Gritting her teeth, she answers.]

["Hello? Hello?"]

["Hello, is this Coach Liu Qing of the Qingteng Martial Arts Hall?"]

["Ah... yes, it's me. May I ask who you are?"]

["I'm the parent of the student from this afternoon. My child came back and told me he's very satisfied with your teaching; he's been clamoring that he won't follow anyone but you."]

[You don't waste words and drop a bombshell:]

["The child's mother and I have discussed it, and we highly recognize the reputation of 'Qingteng Martial Arts Hall.' So we've decided not to wait until tomorrow; I'm confirming with you now that we want to sign up for the most expensive VIP annual card."]

["Full payment, no installments."]

[In the corridor, Liu Qing is completely stunned.]

[Immediately following, a light called "hope" erupts in her eyes.]

["Really? That's wonderful! Thank you for trusting our martial arts hall's teaching quality! Don't worry, I will definitely apply for the maximum discount for you!"]

[After hanging up, you quickly head out to observe Liu Qing's reaction.]

[You see Liu Qing clutching her phone, unable to resist punching the air forcefully and making a "Yes" gesture!]

[That was a substantial commission; although not enough to cure the root cause, it was enough to solve her immediate crisis.]

[With this buffer, she no longer needs to rush to push open that devil's door.]

[After Li Ang hung up the phone, he quickly left the restroom and continued to observe from the shadows.]

[Liu Qing looks at the closed office door, the hesitation in her eyes gone.]

[She turns and leaves quickly, her steps much lighter than before.]

[She returns to the ward, looks at her sister's sleeping face once more, and then leaves the hospital with peace of mind.]

["Stabilized for now."]

[After Liu Qing leaves, you step out from the shadows and silently slip into Liu Yiyi's ward.]