Xia Bai blinked, an emotion finally crossing his handsome face.
Both Lin Xiang and Hua Haoming noticed. They both pinpointed that expression as “how could you?”, but their interpretations were vastly different.
Lin Xiang, previously fearful, felt courage surge within him the moment he saw Xia Bai’s reluctance at having him do something dangerous in his stead.
He bravely declared, “Xia Bai, the rest have family to protect them. You do too. They have fathers, mothers, sisters, and you have a big brother. Rest assured, I’ll always shelter you from harm.”
Hua Haoming: “…”
Xia Bai opened his mouth and replied, “No need.”
Lin Xiang was resolute. “I’ll definitely protect you.”
Hua Haoming cast his gaze skyward. A few moments later, he suddenly burst into restrained laughter.
Xia Bai, “…”
Without a second thought, Xia Bai stood and headed towards the lab.
“Hey! Xia Bai, wait for me!” Lin Xiang quickly caught up.
Hua Haoming also got up, sighing, “That idiot. I’m the one who’s actually scared of all this.”
The medical college was small and old, resembling the kind of old, shabby properties people despise. But with age comes beauty – thick, lush trees were scattered within the campus, a sea of green.
The decades-old banyan tree was even taller than the four-story laboratory building. Perhaps due to the tree’s shade and the lack of sunlight, the building was very humid. Upon entering, they were immediately enveloped in a cool, decaying, wet atmosphere.
In addition to the choking formalin, the damp air also carried a faint pungent smell.
Xia Bai sniffed it, and it was the same scent he’d detected near the artificial lake.
The building was dim, even at two in the afternoon. The lights had to be turned on.
The designer’s choice to paint vast stretches of the building’s interior in red was bewildering. Time and the dim light made the paint look like dried blood seeping out.
The entrance faced a staircase, which the players promptly ascended.
The first floor housed the morgue, filled with bodies and various organ specimens sent from affiliated hospitals.
At a glance, the long dark corridor had a door slightly ajar. Through the door’s dark gap, they felt as if something was watching them. A damp, nauseating sensation seemed to emanate from within.
Xia Bai paused momentarily, only managing a quick glance towards the morgue before being dragged upstairs by Hua Haoming.
Once on the second floor, Lin Xiang exhaled deeply, “Did you all feel that? The first floor’s eerie, freezing atmosphere?”
Wen Dong nodded, “I got goosebumps. Are we really going in tonight?”
Lin Xiang, “We should scope things out at noon instead.”
The other players felt similarly, the weight of that oppressive, cold, and pungent atmosphere making it almost suffocating.
Xia Bai was the only one who lamented this decision.
The second floor had ten anatomy labs, and they were headed to room 203.
The laboratory was a tad smaller than their regular classroom. At the center of the room lay a corpse, its color a deep hue, suggesting it had been dead for some time.
Typically, medical schools have affiliated hospitals. Some individuals, during their lifetime, sign up for body donations, willingly offering their remains for scientific research. After their passing in these affiliated hospitals, their bodies are transported to the institution, where med students reverently refer to them as their “cadaver teachers.”
We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.
These donors are truly commendable, their contributions noble. As a result, many medical students aren’t particularly fazed by these cadavers.
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The body was intact, except the mouth, which was sewn shut. The stitches were numerous, suggesting the act had been done multiple times.
Xia Bai stared intently at the corpse, his eyes widening slightly, gleaming in all their beauty.
It wasn’t until Lin Xiang tugged at him that he noticed their anatomy professor had arrived.
After a brief lecture around the cadaver, the teacher, sensing the palpable tension among the students, remarked, “Don’t be nervous. Let’s start easy. I’ll name a few muscles, and one of you can try to find it on the cadaver’s body.”
Easy? It felt like a task straight out of hell.
Heads ducked down as the professor’s gaze swept across, the students wishing they could disappear on the spot.
All but one.
Xia Bai’s hand shot up.
As the professor looked over the sea of bowed heads and met Xia Bai’s eager, knowledge-thirsty eyes, he felt a wave of warmth and joy that only a teacher could feel surge over him. These emotions were something he hadn’t felt in a long while.
“Alright, this student.”
The rest looked up.
Lin Xiang was about to step forward when Hua Haoming pulled him back.
Meng Tianyou sneered upon realizing Xia Bai was chosen.
As Xia Bai passed him, for a brief moment, Meng Tianyou saw a gleam in those stunning eyes.
Everyone knew Xia Bai had particularly captivating eyes. Even Meng Tianyou couldn’t deny it. The downside was that they were perpetually vacant and soulless; yet now, they sparkled, seemingly illuminating even the gloomy, decrepit lab.
By the time Meng Tianyou snapped back to reality, Xia Bai was already by the cadaver’s side.
Watching those animated eyes, Professor Liu was deeply moved, feeling somewhat guilty for his years of half-hearted teaching.
Who said students inherently detested anatomy?
Surely, a student like this was a little angel sent to heal a teacher’s weary heart.
Professor Liu inquired, “What’s your name, young man?”
Xia Bai replied, “Professor, I am Xia Bai.”
Professor Liu nodded, “Alright, Xia Bai, shall we begin?”
Xia Bai affirmed enthusiastically, “Yes!”
Professor Liu started listing: “Sternocleidomastoid, transversus abdominis, sartorius…”
Xia Bai had a pair of fair hands. Unlike the dazed, harmless vibes he usually gave off, the bone structure of his hands gave him a strong and fierce vibe. Following the professor’s words, that pair of hands wandered across the cadaver. The fair hands, hiding purplish veins, formed a sharp contrast with the dark brown withered corpse, captivating one’s gaze.
His fingers danced gracefully over the body, always pinpointing the right muscle. The onlookers couldn’t help but imagine how those hands could skillfully dissect a body with a scalpel. Yet, in reality, Xia Bai’s touch was gentle and firm, caressing the corpse like a lover.
Lin Xiang was flabbergasted.
Hua Haoming thought to himself, ‘Now he must’ve realized something, right?’
Yet he immediately heard Lin Xiang mutter, “He actually remembered it all. Xia Bai’s amazing!!”
Hua Haoming: “…”
Professor Liu grew more and more impressed as he watched. Eventually, he paused and said to Xia Bai, “You’ve done wonderfully, Xia Bai.”
Xia Bai’s face brightened with joy, “Thank you, professor. I can keep going.”
“No need, I can tell you’ve mastered it all.”
Professor Liu then asked, “How do you feel?”
Because of that campus legend, these students dreaded anatomy class. They struggled to focus even when dealing with specimens.
It was truly a rare opportunity to come across a student so passionate about medicine and unfazed by urban legends.
Professor Liu wanted him to share his feelings, hoping it would alleviate everyone’s underlying fears.
Xia Bai cooperated well and began to speak. The joy in his eyes was replaced by a touch of sadness and melancholy as he commented, “He’s very lonely.”
“…?”
Even the professor was taken aback, “What? Who’s lonely?”
“Teacher Cadaver. When he passed away, Death came, but Death only made a brief appearance, taking away his spirit. Later, others came along with other entities. His corporeal soul also disappeared, leaving behind only a body, perpetually submerged in the pitch-black formalin.”
“…”
Xia Bai looked saddened, “He’s very lonely. He needs a home.”
“…”
Hua Haoming felt that the latter part sounded familiar, and he couldn’t bear to listen to Xia Bai’s words any more.
Lin Xiang, in shock, murmured, “Xia Bai is so kind-hearted. He can even empathize with a corpse.”
Hua Haoming: “…”
You aren’t fucking normal either!!!
Not knowing how to respond to Xia Bai’s words, Professor Liu seized on Lin Xiang’s sentiment, quickly saying, “Yes, Xia Bai is truly kind-hearted. He has a doctor’s benevolence. He’ll surely become a great doctor in the future.”
Hua Haoming: “…”
‘Great doctor’?! Any hospital that took Xia Bai in would basically be giving up on having a peaceful morgue.
Because of what everyone knew, this long anatomy class wasn’t as horrifying as they had imagined.
After class, the way everyone looked at Xia Bai was strange, full of suspicion and scrutiny.
Wen Dong was a little uncomfortable. Sensing his roommate’s terrifying pressure, he cautiously remarked, “Xia Bai, you’re quite proactive, huh? You’re taking your studies seriously even in a game?”
Xia Bai nodded.
Wen Qiu stared at him for a few seconds and said, “Since you’re so eager to learn, you can be more active in the future anatomy classes.”
Several others chimed in, “Yes, yes, yes!”
Xia Bai nodded enthusiastically.
Meng Tianyou couldn’t stand it any longer. He interjected, “Shouldn’t we discuss the clues we might find in the anatomy class?”
While pondering, the scene of Xia Bai’s hands caressing the cadaver dominated his mind. After mulling it over, he remarked, “The Teacher Cadaver’s mouth was sewn shut. I’ve never heard of a specimen being prepared like that.”
“I know why,” Song Qiang chimed in. “When I was in the countryside, I heard tales of murdered individuals having their mouths sewn shut and objects placed inside to prevent them from reporting to the King of Hell.”
Meng Tianyou scoffed, “Uncle, we’re in a medical school, a place of science. Let’s not rely on old wives’ tales.”
“We’re trapped in a horror game, and you’re still harping on about science? Explain our situation scientifically then!” Lin Xiang shot back.
Meng Tianyou retorted, “Are you trying to pick a fight with me?”
Wen Dong intervened, “I think we need to be open-minded and not dismiss what Uncle Song mentioned.”
“The medical school is so small, yet there are so many anatomy classes. Where are they getting all these Teacher Cadavers from? Do you think there’s an issue with their sourcing? Is that why the mouths are sewn?”
Lin Xiang, picking up on Wen Dong’s thoughts, speculated, “Sewing the mouth means preventing them from speaking. So, did the school commit these murders and turn the victims into Teacher Cadavers? Were the victims students or faculty members?”
Hua Haoming provided another perspective, “What about corpse theft or illegal trading?”
He glanced at Xia Bai.
Xia Bai appeared lost, sniffing his own hand. After the class, he had removed his gloves but hadn’t washed his hands, as if reluctant to remove the scent.
“…”
Their discussion persisted, but no conclusions were reached by the time they returned to their dorm.
Lin Xiang pondered, “Should we head to the morgue tonight for more clues?”
Honestly, many were reluctant. Their visit earlier that day had sent chills down their spines, evoking palpable fear. And having pulled an all-nighter, their fatigue was making even walking a challenge.
Wen Dong suggested, “We have class tonight, and there will be a curfew in the dorm. How about we sleep early tonight and visit the morgue tomorrow when we don’t have class?”
The proposal was met with nods of approval, as many were barely hanging on.
After their class that night, they headed straight to bed.
Xia Bai, always an early sleeper, dozed off before the three most exhausted players could.
The medical school was eerily damp at night. The humidity seemed to carry a faint, unsettling smell.
In his dreams, Xia Bai recognized it – the scent matched that of the lab and the artificial lake. It reminded him of some algae or creature from the lake’s depths. The dampness grew colder, clinging to his legs like the icy grasp of a spectral hand.
Suddenly, Xia Bai’s eyes snapped open.
A shadowy figure was looming over him, its face dangerously close.
The curtains had been drawn by Wen Dong, making the room pitch dark. But Xia Bai could discern the silhouette, the gleam in its eyes, and a row of white teeth that became visible as its mouth cracked open.
Xia Bai had never really noticed Song Mingliang’s eyes before. The man often kept his gaze downcast, his eyes hidden behind thick bangs.
But now, at this proximity, with the bangs brushed aside, Xia Bai could see Song Mingliang’s narrow, dark eyes, filled with an insane, pulsating excitement. In the gloom, that wild light made the sharp, white teeth shine eerily.
The author has something to say:
Xia Bai: I just want to give every corpse a home.
Hmmm its becoming interesting
Thnx ya for the chsppiiee~
Thank you for the chapter!!! I wonder when he’s going to check the lake haha
NOOOOO the ghost got him!!! 😭
is he dead already? can he not be dead please? I was getting attached 😢
i knew something happened to him!!
i couldn’t but giggle this chapter! our mc gege is just so cute!! i’m with Lin gege defending him haha
Let me guess the lake was artificial for a reason and there used to be a graveyard there and that’s where they got the bodies from or sum?
Also yikes, either the ghost got Song Mingliang or he’s a creep who likes to watch people sleep 😬
Now I REALLY want Lin Xiang to be the ML lmao. His loyalty and bias to Xia Bai is very cute.
Xia bai is extra cute and sweet with his (“i just want to give every cropse a home)
nooo… i liked that poor kid
Lin Xiang’s 100 layer thick filter is not letting anything go past it lol