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墨書 Inktalez
The New Life Hospital was built at least thirty years ago, originally intended to function as a formal medical facility. To facilitate operations, the surgical rooms were located on the first floor, while two underground levels were designated for the morgue and storage. However, due to a broken funding chain, the building was abandoned in its unfinished state after five years and was eventually purchased by an unknown buyer who transformed it into a mental health institution.
Upon hearing this news, many residents angrily condemned the buyer, accusing him of harboring ill intentions and cursing the people of the city with madness. Some even took to vandalizing the hospital's windows under the cover of darkness. The hospital's management, however, appeared unfazed; broken windows were quickly replaced, as if nothing had ever happened.
In the following years, residents gradually became aware of the numerous mentally unstable individuals around them. Complaints about the hospital diminished while the number of patients sent for treatment increased significantly.
However, after the management intervened to halt a cruel experiment, public sentiment shifted against the hospital due to its prior involvement in such activities. People began to abandon it in favor of other more reputable medical facilities. The hospital fell into decline, and its buildings became dilapidated from neglect. Some patients who sought treatment there improved their mental health but tragically succumbed to pneumonia caused by mold present in the hospital.
From a record posted online by one patient, it was evident that the interior of the hospital had fallen into disrepair. The walls bore countless scratches and mold stains that spread up to the ceiling, alongside visible damp insects.
Currently, Shui Su and Song Bunan walked through the unrenovated sections of the hospital. By day, the walls appeared newly painted, but now they could clearly see bullet holes and dried blood among many scratches. A few spots blended with mold were actually bloodstains, and the dark, damp atmosphere made even their ethereal forms feel breathless.
"I was shocked when I saw this place last night," Bunan said as he reached out to touch one of the scratches, shivering at its coldness. They stood outside their dormitory, where they could see rusted railings and a door sign that had faded beyond recognition.
"But this isn't normal," Shui Su replied as they headed towards the stairs. "The areas that have been painted shouldn't change appearance based on how they're viewed; both living beings and spirits should see them identically. This situation suggests that they've turned this place into two separate realms entirely—where souls are trapped in this old hospital and unable to leave."
Strangely enough, they were alone in the hospital at that moment; Bunan's earlier vision of bustling spirits felt like an illusion. He shared his thoughts with Shui Su and asked what those souls he had summoned into their dormitory looked like.
"Those spirits were dressed in normal clothes; they were summoned from outside the hospital. I haven't seen any from within," Shui Su explained as they reached the stairwell and peered up through a gap but saw no sign of those long-necked figures. He suggested they skip going to the first floor today and head straight to the fourth.
The old hospital's staircase was made of concrete and had aged poorly, with many steps exposing their steel reinforcements due to weathering. The ascent from the second to third floor went smoothly until they reached a point where a section of stairs had been completely destroyed.
Someone had forcibly demolished part of this area. Bunan crouched down to examine the cut edge; it was cleanly severed with no rough edges or signs of wear—right down to where even steel reinforcements had been cut through. "This was done intentionally," he remarked as he stood up and gazed at the securely closed safety door on the fourth floor.
Unlike free-spirited ghosts that could float or pass through walls, their souls were bound by their physical weight and could only walk like living beings; jumping far was impossible for them. Bunan's gaze lingered on a railing hanging nearby as he contemplated how feasible it would be for them to climb up from there—even if they fell, it would only hurt for a moment.
Shui Su dismissed this idea and began writing something on Bunan's back with his finger. As he stopped moving, Bunan suddenly felt lighter, as if he could leap far away with ease. Turning to look at Shui Su, he saw his younger companion smiling brightly.
"With me here, there's no need to play by conventional rules." Grasped by Shui Su's shoulder, Bunan felt himself lifted like a plastic bag caught in a breeze; he glided gracefully through the air before landing steadily in front of the safety door. Looking back at where they had just come from felt like a great distance away.
He felt elated and mentally chided himself for forgetting about Shui Su's abilities. Compared to what he had learned alongside Xiao Mei later in life, Shui Su had displayed his uniqueness since childhood while growing up with the Jiang Family. Even as an infant, his serious expression startled doctors and nurses alike; when held by his family head, it became clear that his gaze was not typical for a baby.
By the time he could speak, he was recognized as a genius within his family—able to outshine others regardless of age or task. Yet since he turned six, he had hidden his exceptional qualities while attending school with peers, occasionally spending money for entertainment without revealing anything beyond his excellent grades.
However, every night, the Jiang Family would see many non-human entities appearing in their yard. Various ghosts surged in like pilgrims to where Shui Su was, standing obediently outside the child's bedroom door, waiting for someone inside to help them. The head of the family did not ask many questions; his child was no ordinary person, which was a good thing.
So when he became the only living Ghost Messenger alongside the Ghost Messenger, the head of the family merely advised him to be cautious while handling his duties.
"The door won't budge." Song Bunan tugged at the security door, but no matter how hard he pulled, it wouldn't move an inch. After observing carefully, Shui Su scoffed disdainfully. "A mere trick."
Song Bunan obediently stepped back and watched as Shui Su placed his hand on the doorknob. As a faint black mist rose beneath their feet, a piercing scream echoed from within. It sounded as if someone was screaming frantically while running away, and the door opened in response.
A thumb was lightly tapped as Shui Su entered the fourth floor first. The empty, dilapidated corridor had no lights; the ends where windows should have been were shrouded in darkness. This place was even older than the lower floors, with holes in the ceiling that let no light through.
The air was thick with a damp, decaying odor, accompanied by an indescribable stench that could make even a soul retch. Song Bunan covered his nose and looked at Shui Su in agony; even his companion rarely frowned so much, displaying clear disgust.
"The smell of nightmares." Shui Su disliked this scent intensely; its overwhelming presence obscured other existences and could easily interfere with his judgment. There were other things on this fourth floor, and numerous protections were in place to hide its presence.
Looking back at Song Bunan, it was evident that he was overwhelmed by the stench. He admitted he couldn’t solve it and suggested they press on.
They continued walking eastward and discovered that this part of the old hospital had not been sealed off; it merely had tiled flooring that was now cracked and broken. Song Bunan crouched down to inspect it and found that most of the tiles had been smashed apart, likely from heavy blows by something like a hammer.
"What do you think they can achieve by swapping other people's souls? The Ghost Messenger wants a body to live among humans, but what about everyone else? Besides those forced into experiments, there must be many willing participants—what are they thinking?" Song Bunan suddenly spoke up.
Shui Su moved ahead slightly faster, his voice calm as it came from the front. "One success increases the chances of future successes. Those who voluntarily participate can use this method to attain immortality. With more people around who have participated in successful experiments, any future occurrences will become much simpler."
"All of them must be out of their minds." Song Bunan scoffed. "What’s so great about living forever? It’s still a life filled with suffering. Their selfishness harms so many ghosts and people; it’s truly infuriating."
"You think like Xiao Mei; he also believes that immortality is just prolonged suffering." A hint of amusement surfaced in Shui Su's voice.
By this time, they had reached the middle section of the eastern corridor, yet nothing appeared; only the stench grew stronger and the temperature gradually dropped. All doors and windows were tightly shut, with wooden boards behind the glass.
"We share one brain on a daily basis." Song Bunan felt a bit annoyed; an unexpected wave of agitation made him realize something was off. "Shui Su, something is affecting me."
Anger and restlessness surged like a tidal wave in his heart, overwhelming Song Bunan's ability to control himself. Everything before him turned red; even Shui Su's face twisted grotesquely. He wanted to reach out and choke the person in front of him, staining that fair neck with blood.
"Restriction." Shui Su's expression darkened as he swiftly moved behind Song Bunan, covering his eyes with one hand while drawing something on his back with the other. A cold sensation seeped into his skin from his lower back, traveling up through flesh and bone until it reached his heart, causing sharp pain that made him kneel weakly.
The pain dulled his emotions, but the ensuing problem was that he could not feel his legs, unable to stand or muster any strength. As his vision cleared, Song Bunan knelt on the ground and asked Shui Su what was happening.
"That scent carries a Restriction. Ordinary souls exposed to it for too long can become agitated. I thought you wouldn't be affected, so I didn't mention it," Shui Su explained.
"What made you think that?" Song Bunan pouted.
"You were being watched by the Ghost Messenger; logically, your soul should be as strong as mine." The other explained without hesitation. Song Bunan could only helplessly indicate that he had never received any enhancements.
"So why can't I stand up?" He chose to give up trying as he lost control below his waist and gestured for Shui Su to come up with a solution.
"It's just a side effect; you'll be fine once we go back," Shui Su said too seriously, making Song Bunan suspect he was just brushing him off without reason. He was picked up by Shui Su, who then turned to leave.
"Are we going back already?" he asked in confusion.
Shui Su quickly walked into the shadow of a corner in the corridor, crouching down and disappearing into the darkness. He leaned closer to Bunan's ear and whispered that someone was coming.
At this moment, they were in a spiritual state, and the only "people" who could be sensed were ghosts or similar entities. Shui Su had always been cautious, and hiding in the shadows suggested he sensed something ominous approaching.
Song Bunan watched as Shui Su drew a circle on the ground, likely to conceal their presence.
Sure enough, something was approaching from the darkness in the east. Song Bunan leaned forward to see what it was.
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