“The patient in Room 7 ran off again!”
The sharp click of high heels echoed urgently through the hospital corridor as the head nurse hurried along.
Xiao Lin, a newly arrived intern nurse, stood at the doorway of the now empty ward, clutching a stack of medical records. Her expression was a mixture of confusion and panic.
It was her first day working at this hospital.
As the largest private hospital in Chen’gang City, most of its patients were either wealthy or influential. Xiao Lin had only just begun her first ward round with the head nurse and was already overwhelmed.
Now, on her very first day, she encountered something as bizarre as a “patient escape.” Even the strict composure the head nurse had repeatedly emphasized slipped completely from her mind.
Behind her, the hurried footsteps of the head nurse faded into the distance. Xiao Lin snapped back to her senses and was about to follow when, from the corner of her eye, she noticed a shadow cast near the window.
After a moment’s hesitation, she cautiously stepped closer, approaching the windowsill. Leaning out slightly, she tilted her head upward.
The sunlight slanted sharply into her eyes. Raising a hand to shield them, she finally saw the blue and white figure perched outside on the upper ledge.
The teen was barefoot. The overly long legs of his hospital pants billowed in the wind, exposing his thin ankles. Noticing someone below, he glanced down.
Sunlight filtered through his falling strands of dark hair, outlining them in a hazy golden glow. Only then did Xiao Lin clearly see his face,
It was the kind of beauty that felt like porcelain on the verge of shattering, breathtakingly fragile. His pale skin was almost translucent, faint blue veins visible along his neck, pulsing delicately. A sickly flush lingered at the corners of his eyes, like vermilion ink bleeding across rice paper.
It was rare to see someone so striking in real life. The moment their eyes met, Xiao Lin’s breath caught.
Then she saw him narrow his eyes and smile.
His long lashes seemed capable of holding the scattered light and there was a lively, mischievous glint in his gaze. “Haven’t seen you before… new here?”
His voice finally snapped the nurse back to reality.
“Y… You… please don’t move!” Xiao Lin stammered, her voice trembling at the dangerous sight. “I’ll call, ”
“Shh…”
The teen suddenly raised a finger to his lips. The white bandage wrapped around his wrist fluttered like a small flag. Then, with a light and nimble motion, he jumped down, landing steadily on the windowsill before slipping back into the ward.
He first glanced around, as if checking for the head nurse. Not seeing her, he let out a quiet sigh of relief, then lifted his leg, preparing to leave.
After taking a couple of steps, he seemed to remember the still dazed nurse. Turning back, he tilted his head and examined Xiao Lin, then suddenly fished a piece of fruit candy out of his pocket and handed it over.
“Here. Compensation.”
“…”
Xiao Lin accepted it blankly, utterly unsure whether she should call for help or not.
The teen, believing his “bribe” successful, continued toward the door but the moment he stepped out, he ran straight into the head nurse and his attending physician, both of whom were staring at him with tightly furrowed brows.
“Fourth escape attempt, failed.”
The head nurse drew a heavy line in her notebook. “Yin Huaichen, if you keep this up…”
“You’ll replace it with bulletproof glass, right?”
The teen sighed and sat back on the bed, crossing his legs. “You said that last week too.”
Sunlight streamed in through the window, falling across him. The oversized blue and white hospital gown could not hide how thin and frail he was. Only now did Xiao Lin notice the three silver rings in his right ear, glinting faintly as they swayed with his movements.
…
“Yin Huaichen?”
At lunch, when Xiao Lin brought up the morning’s incident, she finally learned the boy’s name.
The head nurse sighed helplessly. “Yes. The youngest young master of the Yin family.”
“Which Yin family?”
“Is there a second Yin family in Chen’gang City?” The head nurse glanced at her. “The one you’re thinking of.”
Xiao Lin clicked her tongue in surprise, never expecting the teen to come from such a prominent background.
“The Yin family has three children in this generation. The eldest daughter is in business, the second is in scientific research. Yin Huaichen is the youngest. He loved martial arts since childhood and at sixteen, he won the Federation Ancient Martial Arts Championship…”
As she listened, Xiao Lin couldn’t help but picture the teen in her mind.
That frail body didn’t look like it belonged to a martial artist at all…
“But that was in the past.”
The head nurse continued, “The same year he won the championship, he was diagnosed with neurogenic myasthenic degeneration.”
“Ah…”
Understanding dawned on Xiao Lin and she immediately felt a surge of sympathy.
“Since his illness, he’s been a regular here, coming in every few days.”
After a pause, the head nurse added, “Don’t be fooled by his weak and obedient appearance. He’s actually the most troublesome patient here.”
Xiao Lin wholeheartedly agreed. After all, anyone capable of such dangerous antics despite being ill clearly wasn’t someone well behaved.
“But it’s understandable.”
The head nurse sighed softly. “He used to be incredibly famous in the martial arts world, considered a rising star, with talent rarely seen in decades. With that kind of ability and the Yin family’s backing, if he’d joined the military, he might have even risen to the rank of Federation Marshal… Facing that kind of blow, most people would lose their minds.”
“Heart rate 138. Blood pressure 90/60. Wound reopened.”
The attending physician adjusted his glasses. “Mr. Yin, do you understand how fragile this body is?”
Of course he did.
Yin Huaichen stared at the ceiling, playing dead, idly hooking his finger around the IV tube.
He had been in this world for eighteen years.
Before transmigrating, he had been the young master of the Impermanence Palace. After dying in an accident, he opened his eyes and found himself here, living an entirely new life.
Since he was already here, he made peace with it. Yin Huaichen adapted quickly, carving out a name for himself in the Federation’s martial arts world, thriving with ease. Just as he was preparing to achieve great things, he was diagnosed with this ridiculous muscle degeneration disease…
Over the past two years, he had gradually accepted reality, though he still felt that fate was playing a cruel joke.
When he didn’t speak, his appearance was deceptively gentle. His pale skin looked almost translucent, his hands resting neatly on his knees, his gaze lowered as if quietly submitting to whatever was done to him, like an angel painted on a church’s stained glass window.
Even knowing he was an extremely troublesome “problem patient,” Xiao Lin couldn’t help but marvel at how flawless his appearance was.
Whenever Yin Huaichen put on this act, the head nurse couldn’t bear to scold him but the attending physician was clearly not fooled.
“If you keep this up, I’ll notify your elder sister and second brother. You still have two more examinations left. Sneaking out of the hospital at a time like this… don’t tell me you’re planning to go to the martial arts hall again?”
Yin Huaichen replied, “Just going to take a look. I won’t practice.”
The attending physician smiled faintly, a trace of amusement in his eyes. “Do you think I’d believe that?”
Yin Huaichen lowered his head, listening obediently as he was scolded.
Xiao Lin thought he had taken it to heart. It wasn’t until she turned around to fetch the examination report that she noticed the lemon candy tucked against his tongue, puffing his cheek into a small bulge.
The well behaved act couldn’t conceal the obvious cunning in his eyes. Sensing her gaze, the teen blinked at her. The candy clicked lightly between his teeth as it rolled around yet his face still wore that harmless, docile expression.
Just like the three silver earrings swaying faintly from his right ear, clearly not something a “good boy” would wear, carrying a hint of concealed rebellion and flamboyance.
The doctor, of course, knew that his obedient appearance was nothing but an act. After a moment’s thought, he spoke casually, as if it were nothing important. “By the way, Xiao Lin, when does Eternity go live?”
Xiao Lin froze for a second. “I think… the afternoon two days from now?”
She normally paid little attention to games but Eternity was different. A large scale full dive role playing game independently developed by the StarNet’s central system, it had been marketed as a “product of a new era,” “live your second life,” and “immersive consciousness diving.”
Ever since it was first proposed by the Federation, it had been promoted relentlessly. Especially in the days leading up to its public release, advertisements flooded every street and corner, there was no way to ignore it.
Yin Huaichen was visibly taken aback.
He didn’t understand why the doctor had suddenly brought it up.
Before Eternity, full dive games were not unheard of in the Federation. However, his physical condition had never allowed him to participate.
Neurogenic myasthenic degeneration was caused by irreversible calcification at the impulse nodes connecting motor neurons and muscle fibers.
Most full dive games on the market relied on electronic signals to stimulate the body’s nerves, simulating various tactile sensations but such stimulation would trigger an ATP backflow phenomenon in Yin Huaichen’s body, causing energy backlash that could damage his heart muscle. It was something doctors had strictly forbidden.
“The first full dive game to achieve complete simulation through consciousness diving.”
The doctor coughed lightly. “As far as I know, people with neurogenic myasthenic degeneration can participate.”
Yin Huaichen shot upright. “Really?”
“My mentor works in this field. He just published a paper on it not long ago.”
The doctor smiled. “But…”
“No fighting, no climbing out of windows, meals and medication on schedule.”
Yin Huaichen responded immediately. “Deal.”
“And what else?”
Yin Huaichen thought for a moment. “No adding chili sauce to the director’s coffee.”
Xiao Lin: “…”
“Alright.”
Satisfied, the doctor rarely saw him this cooperative. He picked up a training sword. “Let’s first take a look at your recovery condition…”
Before he could finish, Yin Huaichen had already taken the sword from his hand.
His starting stance was solid but the tip of the blade trembled like a spider’s thread in the wind.
The teen exhaled softly. Suddenly, he spun and thrust forward, a textbook straight stab that, midway through, twisted strangely into a serpentine motion. At the moment the hilt slipped from his hand, he raised his leg and kicked the end of the sword.
The training sword whistled through the air and embedded itself into the bullseye of the target. The hilt continued to hum and vibrate.
“This move is called ‘Casting a Stone to Find the Way.’”
Tilting his head, he looked at the stunned doctor and Xiao Lin, raising an eyebrow. “Cool, right?”
So… so impressive…
Xiao Lin had heard from the head nurse that the teen had once been a prodigy in the ancient martial arts world but she had never truly grasped it. Now, seeing that strike up close, the overwhelming force and sharpness startled her.
However, in the very next moment, Yin Huaichen failed to steady himself. He staggered and the monitoring bracelet emitted a piercing alarm.
“Yin Huaichen!”
The doctor’s furious roar echoed through the building. “I told you to just wave it around, who told you to use an actual technique?!”
…
No matter what, Yin Huaichen behaved himself for the next two days. After conducting a thorough, comprehensive examination and evaluation, the doctor finally allowed him to be discharged.
“Your daily game time cannot exceed the limit. Inject your medication on schedule. Maintain strict dietary control…”
Standing in front of him, the doctor rambled on endlessly. “Also, no more riding motorcycles. You can visit the martial arts hall but only to look, no training and furthermore…”
“Got it, got it.” Yin Huaichen nodded repeatedly.
“What exactly did you get?”
“That I can play games every day.”
“…That’s the only thing you remembered, isn’t it?!”
The doctor felt utterly exhausted. Waving his hand, he said, “Forget it. At this rate, you’ll probably be back here again in a few days anyway.”
The monitoring bracelet on Yin Huaichen’s wrist was connected to the hospital system. If anything abnormal happened, the doctor would be notified immediately.
After finally getting rid of the doctor, Yin Huaichen stretched lazily and walked out of the hospital.
Eternity…
He wasn’t particularly interested in games. Aside from martial arts, he was also fond of extreme sports, skydiving, racing, wingsuit flying… With his martial arts foundation, he always sought the most thrilling experiences but after falling ill, all of that had been strictly forbidden.
Across from the hospital was a plaza. With a casual glance upward, Yin Huaichen saw the massive holographic screen playing Eternity’s promotional video,
Amid the thunderous grinding of interlocking gears, the camera plunged from the cosmic nebula down toward a colossal floating mechanical city, piercing through the clouds and skimming over boiling magma.
Martial artists rode swords through artillery fire. A girl removed a hairpin and tossed it onto the battlefield, where it expanded into a mechanical beast that tore into enemies. A summoner from the Hundred Ghost Night Market bit her fingertip, letting a drop of blood fall onto a compass, summoning a fanged wraith wielding soul hooking chains…
Slow motion shots highlighted the elegance of sword techniques, while rapid cuts amplified the chaos of the battlefield.
At the instant a blade collided with a laser beam, a warrior dove down riding his sword, sparks bursting like meteors as it scraped across the armored back of a mechanical beast. Amid the crisp, resonant clash of metal, ink spread across the screen, forming the game’s logo,
Eternity · Global Open Beta, July 11.
Yin Huaichen’s amber eyes widened slightly, his expression blanking for a moment.
Wait…
Why did this promotional video feel so familiar?
A ridiculous thought surfaced in his mind, so absurd that even he found it hard to believe yet it made his heart pound.
On the other side, the doctor said proudly to Xiao Lin, “With a game to keep him occupied, he’ll at least behave for a while. I might finally get some good sleep these next few days…”
“Doctor…”
Xiao Lin suddenly looked behind him, her eyes widening.
Sensing something, the doctor turned around.
The medical order sheet slipped from his fingers. The roar of a heavy motorcycle shattered the hospital’s quiet.
Yin Huaichen straddled a modified bike, the cuffs of his jeans rolled up to reveal his lean, pale calves. He was biting open the Velcro strap of his riding gloves, while the heart rate monitor on his wrist flickered wildly with the engine’s vibration.
It hadn’t even been thirty seconds since he was discharged!!
“YIN! HUAICHEN!”
The attending physician’s roar startled the pigeons at the entrance into flight. The teen looked up, blinking, then casually grabbed the lollipop hanging from the rearview mirror and tossed it from ten meters away, landing it perfectly into the doctor’s open mouth.
“Doctor’s orders, rule number one-”
His pale skin and the faint, sickly flush at the corners of his eyes made him resemble a Tang blade inlaid with pigeon blood rubies. The next second, he twisted the throttle, white vapor bursting from the modified exhaust. “Remember to keep a good mood.”
The last note of his voice was swallowed by the sudden explosion of sound, shaking the roadside plane trees until their leaves rustled violently, as the motorcycle shot out of the parking lot like a runaway mechanical beast.
✦ ✧ ✦
Cresvynia
[Translator]
☕ A LITTLE SOMETHING FOR THE TRANSLATOR
The coffee spirits are watching. 👁️☕
☕ BUY THEM A COFFEE →
✧ (づ｡•ㅅ•｡)づ ☕ ✧
✦ thank you for reading ✦
Next →
ChaptersChapter 1 · Remember to keep a positive moodChapter 2 · Have fun playing the gameChapter 3 · Skill completion rateChapter 4 · Strange and malevolent creatures roam outside the cityChapter 5 · 90% complete!Chapter 6 · Serving the sect is my dutyChapter 7 · First meetingChapter 8 · Fang LecangChapter 9 · A prestigious and righteous sect!Chapter 10 · Kill Chi BantuChapter 11 · Spoils of warChapter 12 · We’ve made a fortune!Chapter 13 · Thunder and fire extinguish goldChapter 14 · You found it?Chapter 15 · The so called degree of freedomChapter 16 · The secrets of life and deathChapter 17 · A minor leader of the first rank.Chapter 18 · What kind of luck do you have?Chapter 19 · Let’s Do itChapter 20 · The BOSS escapedChapter 21 · “A wound to the heart is also a wound.”Chapter 22 · Good people are always blessed.Chapter 23 · The Old Man of the Valley of BonesChapter 24 · It’s me, young master!Chapter 25 · Take it slow and steadyChapter 26 · The older they get, the stingier they becomeChapter 27 · You know this person tooChapter 28 · I saw Wei Wanzhou againChapter 29 · You’d better keep having this kind of luckChapter 30 · “Password lock” crackedChapter 31 · We’ve come to punish you!Chapter 32 · A boorish country bumpkin who knows no manners.Chapter 33 · You have crossed the lineChapter 34 · Now that we’re here, do you think we can leave?Chapter 35 · A trivial skillChapter 36 · Actually, I was just kiddingChapter 37 · Upgrade mission complete, rating: SSS!Chapter 38 · AwardChapter 39 · I have always been law-abiding and law-abidingChapter 40 · Are you coming back for dinner tonight?Chapter 41 · Purple Lightning Square Seal.Chapter 42 · A money-grubberChapter 43 · BetChapter 44 · Four Continents Chamber of CommerceChapter 45 · This was my third meeting with Wei WanzhouChapter 46 · Oh, you want to hit on me.Chapter 47 · The angry drizzle has stoppedChapter 48 · Thunder SpearChapter 49 · “Are you a devil?”Chapter 50 · The Impermanent Lord!?Chapter 51 · Loot everywhere..Chapter 52 · His identity remains a mystery.Chapter 53 · Why not show yourself?Chapter 54 · He confronted Li Mingrui.Chapter 55 · Auction