"Lina's Trust, the Crimson Domain"
"Little girl, you're just a nurse. How can you be so sure that this physician will not be able to cure my condition?"
The voice of the Rose Countess was as clear and melodious as jade beads falling, both crisp and slightly sweet. Her lips curved into an elegant, aristocratic smile, but her crimson eyes focused directly on Lina.
An invisible pressure settled in the air, causing Lina's already pale face to grow even more ashen.
Blood-stained robes and crimson attire. A single word difference, yet a world apart.
However, Lina did not yield. Despite the immense pressure, she kept her grip firmly on Yi Bai's arm.
The touch was cold, but it sparked a warmth deep within Yi Bai's heart.
In a world overtaken by horror, trust had become a rarity, and even rarer was a relationship that could survive such trials.
The fact that a creature of this terrifying world, someone like Lina, had reached a level of trust with him was already a rare feat. His heart warmed slightly, and with that warmth, the anxiety that had been building up slowly faded.
Yi Bai gently placed his other hand over Lina's that was still holding his arm and gave it a light squeeze.
The subtle gesture made Lina glance at Yi Bai, and as she looked into his face, she saw a warm smile, exuding confidence. It was as though she understood something in that moment.
A faint blush appeared on her flawless face, and without making it obvious, she withdrew her hand, stepping back into her place quietly.
"Interesting," the Rose Countess mused, her eyes glimmering with curiosity as she studied the human and the ghost before her.
The arrival of the horror game had already caused many humans to be dragged into this terrifying world, but what intrigued her was Yi Bai's ability to forge bonds with these creatures. To her, this was a novel sight.
In her mind, humans were frail, fearful of the undead, and often hostile toward them. After all, for most of the spirits, humans were nothing more than food.
Fear and hostility between the two was common; at best, humans and ghosts merely avoided each other. But Yi Bai, it seemed, could actually befriend these creatures. What was even more peculiar was that he had earned their trust.
"Human, aren't you afraid of me?"
Driven by curiosity, the Rose Countess abandoned her previous focus on her health and instead fixed her gaze on Yi Bai, studying him intently as if trying to read him like an open book.
"Afraid?" Yi Bai responded, his mind clearer than ever as he replied honestly, "Of course, I am."
"Ah, but I don't see any fear in your eyes."
"That's because I understand that a true noble will always maintain their grace and dignity, even in the midst of anger. They will never lose their perfect poise. And besides... I still have to treat your condition, don't I?"
With the insight provided by his Eye of Perception, Yi Bai could easily tailor his words to match the situation. He knew when to speak to a human like a human, and when to address a ghost like one. Though it might have seemed like flattery, in this world, surviving came first, and flattery was a small price to pay.
The Rose Countess smiled seductively at him. "You speak well, little one. I'm starting to like you."
"It's my good fortune to be appreciated by such a noble lady," Yi Bai responded sincerely, his flattery on point.
"Alright, let's get down to business."
In a heartbeat, the Rose Countess' expression shifted from sweet to icy, the speed with which she changed was almost frightening.
Ah, the classic noble trait—turning emotions on and off like flipping a page in a book.
"I may like you, little one, but if you can't cure my condition..." The Rose Countess' eyes gleamed with a faint, dangerous light.
Her unspoken words still carried a deadly threat.
Yi Bai felt a chill despite his earlier warmth. This was the horror world. Here, human pride and stubbornness had long been crushed underfoot. Survival was the only rule.
"If we were talking about other matters, I might be powerless. But if we're talking about medicine..." Yi Bai let his unshakable confidence show, "Though I am only a contracted physician, I can say with complete certainty that no one in this entire hospital has better medical skills than I do."
Lina's eyes sparkled even more brightly upon hearing this.
The Rose Countess' gaze turned toward Yi Bai, her expression shifting to one that was harder to read.
"Confidence is good, but too much can be dangerous. Little one, I'm sure you understand this, right?"
"My apologies, but if being honest makes me seem arrogantly proud, then let me put it this way: compared to me, the physicians of this hospital are all nothing but trash!"
Yi Bai's words, full of unrestrained arrogance, were a far cry from the cautiousness he had displayed earlier.
What he needed to do now was firmly establish his identity as a master in the medical field, so he could cement his position in the hospital and ensure his survival.
"Very well! I like your confidence!" The Rose Countess smiled again, unperturbed by Yi Bai's cocky attitude. "Let's begin, then. I hope your confidence matches your medical skill."
"Please, extend your hand," Yi Bai requested, making no further remarks. It was time to prove himself.
After all, diagnosing someone's illness at first glance was a bit far-fetched.
The Rose Countess, clearly someone with experience, took off her long-sleeved leather gloves, revealing her flawless, jade-like hands. She extended them toward Yi Bai without hesitation.
Yi Bai placed two fingers on her hand without hesitation. Despite applying little pressure, the sensation was exquisite.
Her skin was as smooth as ivory, and there was a subtle warmth, something Lina did not possess.
As for the pulse... Yi Bai nearly forgot he wasn't actually a doctor.
He collected his thoughts and withdrew his hand, intentionally furrowing his brow.
The Rose Countess, watching him closely, seemed intrigued. She genuinely wanted to know if this human could truly diagnose her illness just from feeling her pulse.
"Lady, I've identified your condition. You've likely been suffering from it for quite a while, haven't you?"
"You've really diagnosed it?" The Rose Countess' eyes shone with growing hope, and Yi Bai could clearly sense the urgency in her gaze.
"Anorexia, correct?" Yi Bai stated calmly, pinpointing her affliction.
And the moment Yi Bai uttered those words...
A chilling, terrifying killing intent filled the entire room.
A blood-red glow flooded the space, enveloping the entire room.
The Rose Countess remained seated, but the terrifying aura of a Blood-Red Revenant instantly enveloped the entire consultation room.
Anyone stepping into this space beneath the Blood-Witch's power would meet only one fate: death.