Shen Ye came back from the pharmacy with several large boxes of calcium pills.
As he entered the house, he happened to encounter his parents entertaining a few police officers.
"There are many incidents like this every year, completely unpredictable. If you encounter one, you've got no choice but to accept your fate."
"There's nothing we can do."
"Thankfully, Classmate Shen, you recovered. That's a silver lining in an unfortunate situation."
"Get some good rest, we'll take our leave now."
The officers chatted for a while and, accompanied by Father Shen and Mother Shen, prepared to leave.
Shen Ye sat on the sofa without moving.
He had been hesitating whether or not to tell the police about the incident.
But the sculpture had already been shattered.
And upon careful observation, he noticed that the eyes of these officers also held fear.
Perhaps—
They didn't dare to deal with the matters involved here at all.
Suddenly, Shen Ye spoke up:
"What if someone encounters something like this at the hospital again in the future? Would it also be completely unmanageable?"
The police officers stopped in their tracks.
A young-looking police officer spoke:
"Classmate Shen, I understand that you're upset, but there's something I need to tell you."
"The higher-ups have already approved it."
"That hospital will soon be abandoned, and no one will be allowed to enter ever again."
Shen Ye glanced at the badge on his chest.
—Two crossed long swords with three stars hovering above them indicated that the man was a police chief.
In other words, he was in charge of the entire Eastern District.
So young...
Shen Ye scrutinized the police chief carefully, noting his single eyelids, long and narrow eyes that occasionally showed a trace of laziness, and his posture as he sat there with one leg crossed over the other, looking like he didn't want any trouble.
Got it.
The curse from the King of the Fallen Wicked Ghouls was of a high level, not only beyond what the police could handle, but also a thorny issue for the government.
This matter should end here; it's better for him to pretend ignorance.
But—
Shen Ye was just an ordinary junior high student.
Even if he had excellent academic performance, it wasn't worth using something as powerful as the King of the Fallen Wicked Ghouls' Cursed Sculpture against him.
After pondering briefly, Shen Ye smiled and said:
"Thank you for telling me this. I was just worried in case someone wanted to harm me."
The chief waved his hand impatiently and said:
"You're just a junior high student with very simple social ties; we haven't found any enemies of yours."
The atmosphere became a bit awkward.
A chubby police officer smiled genially and took over the conversation:
"Classmate Shen, you've missed the first exam for entrance into key schools, so that's out of reach, but there's still a chance for you at regular schools. Keep up the effort."
"That's all for the matter. We have other duties and mustn't intrude any longer," said the chief as he stood up.
The other officers also stood up, preparing to say goodbye.
"Thank you for making the trip over," said Shen Shi'an.
Zhao Xiaochang went to open the door and see the officers out.
As all the police officers stepped out and stood in the corridor, the young chief suddenly said:
"You guys go on ahead, I need to use their restroom."
"Yes."
The officers headed downstairs.
The young chief turned back into the house and went straight to the restroom.
After he flushed, he left a business card in Shen Ye's hand.
He spoke in a low tone:
"If anything seems off, give me a call."
He spoke softly and slowly with a serious expression, a far cry from the "business as usual," "impatient," and "going through the motions" demeanor he had shown earlier.
"Thank you so much for your concern."
Shen Shi'an and Zhao Xiaochang expressed their gratitude.
Shen Ye looked down at the business card.
"Luo Feichuan."
—That was the name of the police chief, followed by his office address and contact number.
Shen Ye took out his phone and saved Police Chief Luo's number.
Zhao Xiaochang closed the door, feeling moved:
"That chief seems very responsible."
"Yes, Xiao Ye, come with me," called Shen Shi'an.
Shen Ye followed his father to the study.
Shen Shi'an handed him a medicine box, saying:
"This is a Marrow-Supplementing Pill; take it on an empty stomach."
Shen Ye opened the box.
A dark green pill with a strong medicinal fragrance entered his view.
"My body has already recovered, and this pill is too expensive; I'd better not take it," said Shen Ye.
He knew full well just how expensive Marrow-Supplementing Pills were.
At current prices, three yuan could buy a bowl of beef noodles, forty yuan could get a big hotpot, and a smartphone was just a few hundred yuan.
This Marrow-Supplementing Pill was worth sixteen thousand.
And that was if it was even available to buy.
Shen Shi'an worked at the Epidemic Prevention Station—straightforward government work with little pay.
Zhao Xiaochang was an elementary school teacher with an average income.
To purchase this pill, the family's savings must have been drained.
Grandfather appeared to be quite wealthy...
But in Shen Ye's memory, Shen Shi'an seldom mentioned his father or had much contact with him.
"Dad, did you seek help from Grandfather?" Shen Ye asked.
"No! Don't worry about these things, child; just take the pill," Shen Shi'an glared at him.
"I've just eaten, so I'm not on an empty stomach; I'll take it later," Shen Ye said.
Shen Shi'an, fully trusting his son, nodded:
"Alright, just make sure you take it."
He patted Shen Ye's shoulder, expressing his concern: "The second exam is in three days, do you feel confident?"
"Don't worry, aren't you aware of my strength?" Shen Ye said.
—This was how Shen Ye used to talk.
Shen Shi'an laughed heartily, relieved to see his son back to normal:
"Don't overwork yourself these next couple of days. You need a balance of work and rest; make sure to rest well."
"I know," said Shen Ye in an impatient tone.
He still spoke in the way of the past.
At this moment, Zhao Xiaochang came in and called for Shen Shi'an to join her, saying they needed to return to their grandfather's house.
Their parents left in a hurry.
Once again, only Shen Ye was left at home.
He returned to his room, casually closing the door and drawing the curtains.
"Door."
He silently recited in his mind.
A door quietly emerged before him.
Shen Ye took a few steps back, carefully examining the door.
—As he became more adept at using it, it had also transformed to no longer resemble a hospital door.
Now, in his own home, it looked just like the doors of his home.
This ability was quite adaptable.
Another point worth noting was that since the awakening of his ability, he had gradually gained control over the appearance and disappearance of the door.
Now, if he inadvertently thought of "door," it would not directly awaken the ability.
It had to be when he truly wanted to connect two worlds that the "door" would appear.
Shen Ye stepped forward, peering through the door's glass window.
The large skeleton had finished eating the corpse and was lying amidst the scattered bones, silent, as if pondering the meaning of life—or perhaps asleep.
Shen Ye lifted the bag in his hand and called through the door:
"I bought you some calcium tablets, want to try them?"
A glow emanated from the parchment nailed to the door, forming a line of small characters:
"Proceed with the trade?"
"Trade," Shen Ye said.
The next instant.
The plastic bag in his hand disappeared.
Down the hallway, the large skeleton caught the plastic bag.
It gulped down the boxes of calcium tablets along with the plastic bag, chewing for a moment.
"Hey, you can't eat the plastic bag; it's indigestible."
Shen Ye shouted.
The large skeleton, as if it hadn't heard, slowly lowered its head, looking at one of its legs.
A crack on the shin bone faded slightly.
It worked!
For a creature like the skeleton, entirely composed of bones, calcium really worked!
But the effect seemed very weak.
After a brief thought, Shen Ye said, "I can get more calcium tablets for you, but it will take some time. What do you think?"
The large skeleton did not speak.
It slowly crawled over and extended a bony finger, pointing through the window glass at the table beside Shen Ye.
Shen Ye turned his head to look.
The box containing the "Marrow-Supplementing Pill" was casually placed on the table by him.
"You want this?"
Shen Ye asked.
The large skeleton nodded, staring intently at the box with some desire.
Shen Ye, however, fell into hesitation.
As his abilities had awakened, his body had gradually recovered, and he indeed no longer needed the "Marrow-Supplementing Pill."
But this pill was extremely expensive.
His parents had spent a fortune to buy it in hopes of his recovery and participation in the middle school exams.
—To just give it to a creature from another world?
Perhaps sensing Shen Ye's hesitation, the large skeleton suddenly pressed its bony claw against the door.
The parchment burst forth with a faint white glow.
The light took shape out of thin air and fell before Shen Ye.
Shen Ye was taken aback, then realized that the other party was following the "fair trade" contract and was sending him something.
The light dispersed.
A small cloth bag appeared.
The mouth of the cloth bag was open, revealing its contents:
A silver war medal.
A diamond-shaped crystal that radiated a magnificent purple glow.
Explanations emerged on the parchment:
"Your 'calcium tablets' have been deemed effective by the other party."
"The other party has tentatively recognized you and has noticed the more effective 'Marrow-Supplementing Pill' on your table."
"As a Battlefield Quartermaster, it has selected this item from the spoils of war it collected, wishing to trade for your 'Marrow-Supplementing Pill.'
"The details of the items are as follows:
"1. Silver War Medal: In the Nightmare World, it is a symbol of honor for military achievements, granted only to soldiers who have made significant contributions;
"—Wearing this medal, you can be transported to the territory of the Elves."
"2. Primary Nightmare Crystal: An object infused with skills by High Elves, which can directly instill knowledge, skills, or intelligence into frontline soldiers;
"—In the eternal war that is the Nightmare, all civil knowledge is built around rapidly enhancing combat effectiveness."
Shen Ye was stunned.
He slowly turned his head to look at the large skeleton inside the door.
The large skeleton nodded at him, pointing first at its leg bone, then at the Marrow-Supplementing Pill on the table.
—Those two items for you, but I want the Marrow-Supplementing Pill.
What's the problem with that!
Shen Ye slapped his chest generously and said, "Don't worry, but first I want to try this Nightmare Crystal."
This time, the large skeleton showed no impatience.
It raised a bone claw and mimed the action of squeezing hard.
Understanding, Shen Ye took the diamond-shaped crystal in his hands and squeezed hard.
Crack.
The crystal shattered.
A cloud of purple mist spread out around him, enveloping Shen Ye.
One breath.
Two breaths.
Three breaths.
All the mist dissipated.
But in Shen Ye's mind, a piece of information had formed:
"Moonlight Deer Step."
"Battle Formation Marching Technique."
"White Grade, the main movement technique of Elf Race soldiers."
"—Dodge, Rush, Misplace."
"Explanation: Having mastered it, you can finally leave behind minor skirmishes and join a formal battle as a soldier in battle formation."