The one-eyed man approached from afar.
Director Hao smiled and asked, "So, how did the conversation go? Judging by your expression, it doesn't seem like you gained much."
The one-eyed man remained silent, his face grim.
"I knew you wouldn't get anywhere. Your approach was fundamentally flawed. They aren't normal people; they're what you consider mentally ill patients. Did you directly ask them about the evil entity right from the start?" Director Hao inquired.
"How did you know?" the one-eyed man asked.
Director Hao patted the one-eyed man's shoulder. "Don't ask me how I know. Your initial approach was wrong. You can't directly question them. You need to blend in with them."
"What do you mean?" the one-eyed man asked.
Director Hao continued, "Did they tell you anything, like asking you to do something or offering to do something for you?"
"Yes," the one-eyed man replied, his expression unchanging, as serious as ever.
"Then you should agree. Only by blending in with them can you extract the information you seek." Director Hao analyzed the situation from a professional standpoint.
"Trust me, I'm a professional. Mentally ill patients take friendships very seriously. If you can blend in, they will consider you a friend. While they may not appear outwardly enthusiastic, they will never betray a friend."
"Sometimes, they might cause you some unexpected trouble, but it's not because they intend to harm you. It's a form of unconscious care."
The one-eyed man frowned and said in a deep voice, "I understand every word you're saying, but when you put them together, I don't understand."
Director Hao chuckled. "That's because I'm a professional."
The one-eyed man was speechless. Indeed, his words made a certain kind of sense. Professional and amateur were different.
Soon, the one-eyed man sat back on the bench, looking at Lin Fan and Old Man Zhang. Recalling Director Hao's words, he said, "I think I need your treatment..."
Lin Fan and Old Man Zhang were momentarily surprised, then exchanged a serious look. Their faces showed a hint of gravity.
"Confident?"
"Yes."
"Milky Way Operation Method?"
"No, Half-Step Universe Operation Method."
The one-eyed man couldn't understand what they were talking about. He felt something was amiss, but he couldn't pinpoint what it was. When he saw them approaching with acupuncture needles, he felt no fear, even a slight urge to laugh.
Fine! It might be entertaining to play along.
With his current cultivation level, he could catch armor-piercing bullets barehanded. What could a few needles do?
In the distance, Director Hao took out his phone, opened the screen, entered a number, and hovered his finger over the call button. He waited, and don't ask him why.
If he had to answer, it was intuition. Everything was so familiar.
The one-eyed man looked down at the needle in his arm. "What is this?"
"The Half-Step Universe Operation Method," Old Man Zhang replied.
Lin Fan added, "He's very skilled."
"Half-Step Universe Operation Method?" The one-eyed man felt a slight numbness in his arm. He knew this involved Traditional Chinese Medicine. Mentally ill patients performing acupuncture? How comical.
"Yes, this is an operation method I've researched for many years, consulting countless masters. The professor of astronomy next door inspired me, and finally, by integrating book knowledge, I developed this operation method. Everyone who's been treated with it says it's good."
"How do you feel now?" Old Man Zhang looked up and asked.
The one-eyed man replied, "A little numb."
"That's right." Old Man Zhang nodded with satisfaction, then pinched the needle and started to stick it into the one-eyed man's head. "Don't be nervous, this is the latest operation method. You're very lucky because you're the first."
The one-eyed man smiled confidently. "Don't worry, I won't be nervous, because you can't hurt me."
Lin Fan said, "I haven't even tried it yet."
Old Man Zhang stuck a needle in the one-eyed man's head and scratched his own. "Oh, right. Then I'll give you a try too. I can multitask."
"Okay," Lin Fan smiled, looking forward to the therapeutic effect of the operation method.
Gradually, the one-eyed man remained vigilant. This mentally ill patient had no power, but having needles stuck in his head wasn't a good thing. He needed to be prepared for any sudden events.
The thirteenth needle.
The operation method was complete.
Old Man Zhang widened his eyes and asked, "Do you feel anything?"
The one-eyed man gave a wry smile for the first time. He felt like a fool for playing along with a lunatic until now.
Feel anything? What could he possibly feel?
As one of the strongest individuals in Yanhai City, could he be affected by a few needles?
Were they saying…
Suddenly, the one-eyed man's eyes changed. In that instant, a strange sensation surged into his brain. He didn't know which acupuncture points Old Man Zhang had hit, but his head felt like it was about to explode.
Bang!
The one-eyed man fell to the ground, motionless.
Everything happened too fast. Even the one-eyed man couldn't react. His mind went blank, and he lost consciousness.
Bang!
Another sound.
Lin Fan also fell to the ground. The placement of the needles in his head was completely different from the one-eyed man's. The locations were randomly chosen based on Old Man Zhang's feeling, sticking them wherever he felt like it.
"What's going on?" Old Man Zhang scratched his head in confusion. The Half-Step Universe Operation Method shouldn't be like this.
He looked down at the needles in his hand. Was there something wrong with the placement?
Old Man Zhang paced anxiously. According to his research, the one-eyed man's missing eye should regenerate, and Lin Fan should feel refreshed.
He pinched a needle and stuck it into his own head.
Nothing. He felt absolutely nothing.
Second needle!
Still nothing.
Third needle!
Hmm, a slight sensation, a bit numb.
Fourth needle!
His head felt a little swollen, exactly as he had imagined.
…
Thirteenth needle!
Bang!
Old Man Zhang stared blankly and fell to the ground.
Beside the bench, three figures lay unconscious.
The orderlies, witnessing the scene, rushed over. Seeing the three covered in needles, their faces contorted in shock, and they screamed at the top of their lungs:
"Help!"
"Someone help!"
"Patients from Ward 666 and a one-eyed man are unconscious!"
Not far away, Director Hao dialed the phone. Two rings.
"Hello! This is…"
"No need to say, we know where you are. We've already dispatched an ambulance. It will arrive shortly."
"Okay, good. Please send two. There are three injured."
Director Hao's face was expressionless, or perhaps, all of this was within his expectations.
Would anyone die?
He didn't know.
But ever since he stepped into the mental hospital and took on the role of director, he had already seen through life and death.