Chapter 56: The Hospital Has Its Own Strange Aura

"Ah? Then please, take a look!" The old woman grew anxious and spoke hurriedly.

But the others in the ward looked at Zhang Kai with suspicion.

What an act from a charlatan—he hadn’t even checked the patient’s condition, yet he proclaimed impending doom. Wasn’t this pure nonsense?

None of them knew where Shao Yun had found such a character, but they were curious to see how she would handle the situation.

Each person present had their own thoughts and, seeing Shao Yun’s blunder, enjoyed the spectacle.

Zhang Kai walked to the bedside and looked at the patient.

The old man appeared to be over eighty, with scarcely any hair left, his face gaunt and deathly pale, his breathing faint.

Jade pendants and stones were scattered across his body, seemingly meant to ward off the evil energy within him.

But the old man’s condition was clearly dire; the malign energy had already invaded his marrow and organs. Ordinary means could not save him now.

It was likely only some lingering fortune that had kept him alive this long; otherwise, with such severe corruption and evil spirits lurking nearby, an ordinary person would have perished long ago.

Zhang Kai reached out to take the old man’s wrist, carefully channeling his true energy into him, wary that the frail life might not withstand the flow.

Fortunately, after days of arduous practice, his true energy responded with ease and flexibility, causing no harm.

As his energy permeated the old man, Zhang Kai sensed the malignant force and immediately drove his energy to encircle and expel it.

Confronted by true energy, the dark force recoiled as if meeting its natural enemy, dispersing swiftly.

In moments, faint wisps of evil seeped from the old man’s body.

As the saying goes, illness leaves the body like silk drawn from a cocoon.

Zhang Kai worked patiently, extracting the evil energy strand by strand, preparing to use other methods afterward.

Time passed slowly.

The expressions around the ward grew increasingly odd.

What was this man doing?

Taking a pulse?

It didn’t seem so—his hand was nearly at the elbow now.

Just putting on a show?

Yet his expression was so convincing, as though straining with constipation.

Even the white-haired old woman glanced anxiously at Sister Yun.

Sister Yun nodded reassuringly, her eyes sincere, silently urging trust.

Suddenly, a voice sounded in Zhang Kai’s ear, lively with excitement, “Oh, these evil spirits want to sneak an attack. Damn, trying to harm my man? Darling, how do you want them to die?”

Zhang Kai’s face darkened.

Since when did I become your darling? Have you no shame?

But with all his focus and energy devoted to driving out the corruption, he had no time for this. He simply replied, “Handle it.”

“Alright, darling!” Second Madam Liu’s voice was thrilled.

A flash of green light shot from her, and in the next instant, the invisible phantoms lurking near the bed were scattered and erased.

Her figure flickered and darted out the window.

Crack!

A sharp sound—glass shattered.

Everyone in the ward jumped, staring in astonishment.

This was a hospital, twelve floors high—how had the window shattered?

Zhang Kai was speechless.

This woman was truly a demon, never one to take the ordinary path.

Suppressing his complaints, he remained still.

Moments later, at last, the final trace of evil was expelled from the old man’s body. Zhang Kai breathed a sigh of relief.

Exhausting work.

His first time with such a task, he was not yet accustomed.

Still, he had gained something—finer control over his energy.

The mundane world was indeed a place of blessing; he had already reaped benefits in so short a time.

With the corruption purged, the old man’s breathing grew steadier.

Yet all his organs had suffered varying degrees of decay and would require careful nourishment.

Zhang Kai considered, then left a thread of true energy within the old man to protect his organs and prevent sudden death. Only then did he release his grip and look toward Sister Yun.

“It’s done. He won’t die for now, but a full recovery will be difficult. Also, go to the hospital’s traditional medicine department and get a prescription to replenish his energy—administer it as soon as possible.”

“Really? My grandfather is out of danger?” Sister Yun was overjoyed.

Zhang Kai replied, “For now. But the damage is severe and he’s very old. Even having been saved, he may only have a few months left at most. This is the best I can do.”

“Every month counts. Thank you.” Sister Yun’s gratitude was heartfelt.

But the middle-aged man could no longer restrain himself, snapping, “Enough, Xiao Yun, are you making a joke? What has this guy done? Grasped a wrist, put on a show, and now he spouts nonsense about a few months left—do you think we’re fools?”

The old woman said nothing, but her expression betrayed doubt.

Zhang Kai remained calm. “Believe what you want. I’ve done all I can. Just wait here—he’ll likely wake soon.”

“Oh, you—” The middle-aged man tried to retort, but Zhang Kai fixed him with a sharp gaze. The man shuddered, cold sweat breaking out, his mind momentarily blank.

“My part here is done. If you don’t trust me, call a doctor to examine him. As for payment, do as you see fit,” Zhang Kai told Sister Yun, then turned to leave.

Treating the old man was not only for money, but to probe the nature of this evil and its effects on the human body.

Now, having gained some insight, there was no reason to linger for the sake of childish pretense.

As Zhang Kai turned to go, the others in the ward were left stunned.

Wasn’t he a charlatan? Why did he just leave without demanding anything?

Had they misjudged him?

Sister Yun ignored the rest and instructed a nurse, “Go, fetch the attending doctor.”

The nurse nodded and left.

Meanwhile, Zhang Kai made his way down after leaving the ward.

Exiting the inpatient building, a green light flashed above him, and Second Madam Liu’s figure appeared.

“Darling, you won’t believe what I found!” she exclaimed in awe.

Zhang Kai rolled his eyes, glimpsing the faint green glow. His face darkened, “Can’t you pick a better spot?”

She protested pitifully, “Hiding in your hair—no one can see me.”

Zhang Kai said nothing, but the mood between them was strange.

Second Madam Liu shrank back, crawling into his clothing, her large, watery eyes peeking out.

“Well, tell me. What did you find?” Zhang Kai asked.

“I found a Phantom Realm,” she replied.

Zhang Kai was stunned. “A Phantom Realm? Are you joking?”

A so-called Phantom Realm is not a true space but a bizarre zone formed when too many spirits gather in one place, merging with the terrain and environment.

Such realms can be vast, ever-shifting, or tiny, confined to a single room or corridor.

What Zhang Kai found hard to believe was that ghosts here could not linger more than seven days. Even in a hospital, however heavy the shadow of death, spirits should not amass enough to form a Phantom Realm.

“What, you don’t believe me? We can go look. It’s that building with the strongest corrupt energy. It seems sealed off for renovations, and since I can’t go far from you, I could only observe from nearby,” Second Madam Liu explained.

Zhang Kai looked toward the low, five-story building shrouded in black miasma, its exterior covered in oiled paper.

He was curious—since the age of gods and the return of spiritual energy, what exactly had emerged in this world?

With a thought, Zhang Kai strode over.

He had barely reached the building when a sudden voice called out.

“Young man, don’t wander here. There’s evil energy about.”

Hmm?

A fellow practitioner?

Zhang Kai turned in surprise to see an old man in a janitor’s uniform, broom in hand, gazing at him.