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墨書 Inktalez
Chapter 170: Crimson Skeleton
I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself, and then sat cross-legged on the ground.
Chanting the incantation, I felt a sudden clarity wash over me. In contrast, Chi Xinrong's face was filled with terror as she hurriedly backed away, finding no escape and leaning against the wall, her hands covering her ears to block out my voice.
I remained unmoved by her suffering and continued to focus on my spell. "Earthly Profound Sect, the root of all energies, within and beyond the three realms, only the Dao prevails. With golden light surrounding me, unseen and unheard, commanding thunder. Spirits and demons tremble in fear, creatures lose their forms, Urgent Command!"
"Ah..." Chi Xinrong let out a horrific scream as several skeletal claws suddenly emerged from the wall, pulling her in with a force that threatened to drag her into the depths. The claws were like iron hooks, digging deep into her arms, blood pouring from her wounds. She looked at me for help, her eyes filled with despair and terror that was impossible to ignore.
I sprang to my feet, but another voice interrupted me: "Ma Qi, don't be fooled." I sat back down and resumed my chanting.
"Ah... Ma Qi... save me... ah..." Hearing her anguished cries, I couldn't help but open my eyes. Countless skeletal claws were tearing at her body, almost ripping her apart as they pulled her into the wall. I was struck with horror and trembled all over, letting out a loud shout as I lunged toward the wall—
At that moment, the door swung open. A hospital bed slid to a stop at the entrance, with nurses and doctors bustling about. Chi Ruiqiang stepped in first and saw me frozen by the wall, asking in surprise, "Ma Qi, what are you doing?" I was at a loss for words as I reached out to touch where the skeletal claws had just been—now nothing but smooth tiles without a single flaw. I replied nonsensically, "Did you not see anything here..." Everyone at the door stared at me as if I were a fool.
Chi Ruiqiang walked in and scrutinized my face before glancing at the wall where I had been touching. "Ma Qi, what happened?"
I stood up, still shaken by what had just occurred. Moving away from the wall, I asked him, "Chi Uncle, where is Rongrong?"
Chi Ruiqiang pointed toward the entrance where nurses and doctors were helping Chi Xinrong in a patient gown: "She's here; once she wakes up, she'll be taken for scans. You arrived just a bit too early to see her."
Indeed.
Chi Xinrong looked pale and weak as she walked unsteadily. When she saw me, she forced a smile; her lips were a faint purple as they moved silently.
"Rongrong, I'm glad you're okay." I helped them support Chi Xinrong; she felt so light that it seemed even a gust of wind could knock her over.
I assisted Chi Xinrong to the bedside but suddenly recalled the earlier scene and quickly stopped to tell Chi Ruiqiang: "This room can't have anyone in it; we need to change rooms."
"This is the best ward available; where else can we go?" A nurse replied on behalf of Chi Ruiqiang.
"Don't want the best, just want safety."
Chi Ruiqiang cast a cold glance at everyone. "Follow his arrangements."
The nurse pushed a wheelchair to take Chi Xinrong away, and I followed Chi Ruiqiang out of the Special Ward. The so-called Special Ward was merely a preparatory room for high-ranking officials' children or individuals with connections, equipped with everything one might need.
There was a shower room, a private high-end restroom, and a concealed bedroom. This was prepared for patients who might be couples, allowing them to have privacy in the hidden bedroom. After not seeing Chi Ruiqiang for a night, he looked aged and haggard. The new stubble on his face had not been trimmed due to the situation with Chi Xinrong, giving him a somewhat unkempt appearance.
"Ma Qi, I couldn't sleep last night. I kept dreaming about Chiang and his mother. Their voices made me want to die."
Hearing this from him, I realized it was an illusion born from excessive longing. The Heart Demon was at work, manifesting as his loved ones in dreams, intending to shatter his willpower and plunge him into despair, leading to self-destructive thoughts that could result in terrible outcomes.
I pulled out a Calming Talisman folded into a triangle and handed it to him. "Chi Uncle, wear this, and you'll sleep soundly tonight." Chi Ruiqiang took the talisman with some skepticism, glancing at me before carefully tucking it into his pocket. I continued, "To completely avoid nightmares, you need to resolve your karmic burdens. You carry too much guilt; it's creating these burdens. You should do more good deeds to dispel them so that Chiang and his mother can have a better time in the Underworld."
Upon hearing this, he instinctively touched the bag where he kept the talisman and sighed. "Money is just paper; if my loved ones aren't around, no amount of money means anything." He then asked how he could help.
I suggested donating money to disaster areas or contributing to infrastructure projects to accumulate Yin De.
"Then I'll start doing good deeds tomorrow," Chi Ruiqiang declared resolutely.
I smiled at his words and added, "Chi Uncle, you can do good deeds at any moment; there's no time limit."
"Look at my brain; I just don't think as flexibly as you young people. Alright, I'm ready to do good deeds anytime. I'll go back to the office and prepare donations for the disaster area." It was rare for him to agree so readily. I nodded as we walked toward Chi Xinrong's new ward when suddenly something struck me, and I felt an uneasy sensation.
This matter concerned Chiang and Chi Mama.
After walking a few steps, Chi Ruiqiang noticed I wasn't following and turned back to ask, "Zai, why aren't you coming?"
"Today is the Ghost Month when the Ghost Gate opens wide. Chiang and Chi Mama haven't entered Hell Gate yet. To prevent Evil Spirits from bothering them, you should be fully prepared. Go buy paper offerings and Hell Money from our Funeral Home. At ten o'clock tonight when it's dark and quiet, burn them at the crossroads. These are meant to bribe the Ghostly Enforcers guarding Hell Gate and also to appease the Evil Spirits coming from there."
"Oh? We need to do all that?"
I actually have a bit of selfish intent in this matter. I want to take this opportunity to convert all the inventory at Ma Wu Funeral Home into cash. Seeing Chi Ruiqiang's hesitant expression, I quickly smiled and said, "If you're too busy to handle it yourself, you can find someone to help, like our shop assistant Zhu Dachang."
"That sounds good!"
"Great. It's settled then."
"Alright, you take care of this. Just let me know how much you need."
"About ten thousand should be enough." Chi Ruiqiang had probably swindled countless patients during his time at Ren City Hospital. The national policy clearly states that hospitals cannot accept red envelopes. However, they verbally comply while secretly accepting them.
I also found out about Zhou Mengyao's recent visit to the hospital. She was misdiagnosed by a quack doctor, who told her she had cancer—specifically, Zigng Cancer. Upon hearing this diagnosis, her legs went weak as she descended the stairs. With no one to turn to, she thought her only fate was to wait for death.
Trying to comfort herself, she pondered whether it could be a misdiagnosis. So she went to City Hospital for a check-up and spent a hundred yuan on a red envelope while waiting for the results. When she finally received the news, she was filled with disbelief; it turned out to be a misdiagnosis that could have cost her life.
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