Chapter 76: The Flickering Figure—A Detective’s Desperate Struggle!
The fierce ghost travelers felt that dealing with the animal-headed butchers was almost effortless after applying the guide’s methods.
They had initially thought that after handling this area, they could spare some effort to assist the guide.
But when they looked over, they realized the guide had already finished—effortlessly, no less.
Their admiration for the guide was beyond words. No wonder he was the guide!
Truly, following the guide meant living the good life—feasting on the finest!
Only the two security guards among the travelers found this entirely normal.
After all, they had spent most of their time sticking close to Zhang Yangqing and had even witnessed him single-handedly clearing the chief surgeon’s operating room.
Though Zhang Yangqing’s movements seemed intricate, his strikes were lightning-fast, flowing seamlessly like water.
Only a true master could wield a weapon with such confidence, knowing exactly when to withdraw.
It was like how the chief surgeon could tell with a single slash whether the director was dead.
And Zhang Yangqing had already decapitated the deer-headed butcher—what more was there to doubt?
With numbers on their side, things got done quickly. Zhang Yangqing let the travelers handle the cleanup while he leaned back in his chair to rest.
No one could have predicted that, although Zhang Yangqing hadn’t accepted the chief surgeon’s mission, he had completed it from an entirely unexpected angle.
The only catch? He had also eliminated the mission issuer along the way.
Still, it wasn’t a total loss—he’d already secured the reward.
This was just Zhang Yangqing’s way. If you spoke politely, he might spare you.
But if you were rude? Well, he wouldn’t hold back either.
Now, viewers watching the Dragon Nation’s chosen contestant were treated to a striking scene:
A tall, ethereal man sat in a chair, his gaze fixed on the boundless darkness beyond the window.
Bathed in the dim glow of the room’s light, his refined features and noble bearing stood out even more.
The moment he sat there, the world around him seemed to fade into obscurity.
As if everything else was a blur—or perhaps, everyone’s attention was irresistibly drawn to him.
Even more mesmerizing was the faint luminescence that seemed to envelop him, like an immortal’s halo.
As Dragon Nation viewers put it, it was like witnessing a celestial being descending to the mortal realm.
Just his profile was enough to leave many spellbound.
And yet, this serene figure contrasted sharply with the blood-soaked, hellish scene unfolding behind him.
On one side, transcendent elegance; on the other, a river of blood.
The juxtaposition was both breathtaking and jarring.
Just as the audience lost themselves in the scene, the Dragon Nation’s contestant suddenly moved.
Unnoticed, the clock had struck 7:30—the final showdown of the dungeon.
Only then did viewers realize how quickly time had passed while they were captivated.
Many marveled at how the Dragon Nation’s contestant hadn’t even checked the time yet knew the moment had arrived.
Of everyone watching, Su Muyu back at Dragon Tiger Mountain understood this best.
Top-tier Daoist cultivators would often cycle their cultivation techniques even while resting.
For someone of Zhang Yangqing’s caliber, a single cycle’s duration could be measured with precision.
The faint glow around him earlier? That was just the flow of spiritual energy during his cultivation.
As Zhang Yangqing stood, Su Muyu also rose and headed to the kitchen.
After all, Zhang Yangqing had barely eaten since yesterday.
Su Muyu never doubted whether his junior brother could clear the dungeon.
Though he was the strictest with Zhang Yangqing, he was also the most attentive.
And it wasn’t just Zhang Yangqing—the other surviving contestants were also bracing themselves.
The Kangaroo Nation’s Jones and the Eagle Nation’s veteran were being cautious.
With ample manpower, they sent the travelers ahead to scout the elevator’s risks before descending themselves.
Meanwhile, the Sakura Nation’s contestant, Mitarashi Saburou, had no choice but to venture alone.
The moment he stepped out of the elevator, a chill ran down his spine.
At 7:30 p.m., the hospital was eerily quiet, the surroundings swallowed by darkness.
Only faint lights hinted at nearby buildings.
The flickering illumination made the structures seem to phase in and out of existence.
Mitarashi Saburou’s throat tightened as he peered out the window.
He wasn’t alone—many contestants spotted shadowy figures in the corridors of adjacent buildings.
But when they blinked, the figures vanished—only to reappear moments later.
It sent hearts racing.
What if one of those shadows suddenly materialized right in front of them?
Moving through the halls, the contestants treaded carefully, especially around corners.
Ears pricked, footsteps light, they advanced toward their pre-scouted targets.
Then, a new sound emerged:
Drip… drip… drip…
Like water droplets hitting the floor.
Mitarashi Saburou frowned. This hadn’t been here before 6 p.m.
Some wondered if it was just nerves playing tricks.
But Mitarashi Saburou knew better—this was real.
Sure enough, as he turned a corner, a horrifying sight greeted him:
A grotesque operating table stood in the hallway, unmanned but oozing a thick, crimson liquid that dripped steadily.
This had to be the source of the dripping.
If I’m not mistaken, this thing is an instant-death trap, he thought, swallowing hard.
At last, Rule 4 of Smiling Hospital had manifested:
[Rule 4: If you encounter a strange operating table in the hallway, do not approach. If you must pass, notify a janitor to clean it first.]
These eerie tables blocked the path to the doctors and nurses he needed to ambush.
They were the final line of defense.
To proceed, he’d have to find a janitor—but where in this massive hospital would one be?
Then, it hit him.
As a detective, his mind raced, piecing together clues.
A detective’s strength lay in synthesizing information to form logical conclusions.
He recalled the flickering figures in the opposite building.
If I’m right, that’s the janitor. The reason the figure keeps vanishing is because they’re entering rooms to clean—disappearing inside, then reappearing when done. Find them, and this hurdle is cleared.
Hearing his deduction, Sakura Nation’s viewers felt a renewed spark of hope.
As expected of a master detective! To connect the dots so quickly under pressure!
But just as things seemed to improve, terror struck.
When Mitarashi Saburou snapped back to reality, he realized—
The operating table, once ten meters away, was now just five meters from him.
Like a bloodthirsty maw, it was creeping closer!
