Ten minutes later, the police indeed arrived. Two or three uniformed men walked straight to Hua Gu’s bedside and conducted a brief inquiry into the incident. Seeing that the patient remained unconscious and that Xiao Shu and her companions couldn't clearly explain what had happened, they could only take a brief statement for the record. They instructed the hospital staff to notify them immediately should the patient regain consciousness so they could take a formal deposition.

Just as the police arrived, a large contingent of consulting doctors swept in from the doorway. Leading them was a middle-aged man with a regulation buzz cut, standing tall and chest puffed out, possessing the air of someone modestly successful. Spotting the cat perched on Xiaoyu’s shoulder, he immediately reprimanded him: "Pets are not allowed in the ward. Sir, please step outside."

Xiaoyu had no choice but to leave reluctantly. The consulting doctors proceeded to examine Hua Gu thoroughly, and the pink scar across her back did not escape their notice. Naturally, whenever a question arose, Xiao Shu and A Li answered only with ignorance or uncertainty. Though puzzled, the doctors were powerless to press further. Finally, they reached a conclusion: the patient’s eyeballs had been illegally surgically removed, indicating a case of bodily harm. Thus, the police now had grounds to open a case and recorded the details of Hua Gu’s condition. When asked for Hua Gu’s residential address, A Li clearly stated Miao Village. Everyone present could only sigh in dismay. It turned out that Miao Village had already become infamous throughout Xiang City due to that massacre. The sealed archives ultimately could not contain the furious outcry of the families; the truth could not be kept under wraps. The anger of Miao Village quickly merged with the anger of Xiang City, transforming these two unremarkable locales into notorious havens of trouble.

Meanwhile, after being driven out of the ward by the doctors, Xiaoyu loitered anxiously near the hospital entrance, his mind a tempest of chaotic thoughts. He kept imagining the scene of confusion unfolding across the city, wondering how his elder sister and Wenshu were managing to protect themselves amidst this catastrophe. Every so often, he remembered his final parting with Wang Jue, recalling his words about not dragging everyone down, and wondered if he knew anything about the current situation. If he did know, what would he do? Come out and face death? Accept the deserved punishment? Or...?

As Xiaoyu wandered restlessly near the main entrance, consumed by his worries, a small, dark creature darted past his eyes. It looked like a rat. Without a sound, Xiao Hei suddenly leaped from Xiaoyu’s shoulder and chased the prey down into the sewer drain. Xiaoyu called out twice at the sewer opening: "Xiao Hei, Xiao Hei..." Beyond the strange looks from passersby, there was no other response. He surmised that Xiao Hei was simply following its instincts to catch the rat, so he could only sit down helplessly by the drain to wait for it.

"Young man, you look troubled?" A middle-aged man with hair that reached past his collar suddenly sat down beside Xiaoyu, offering a smile as if to start a conversation.

"Yes, you are? We haven't met before, have we?" Xiaoyu replied politely.

"Indeed. I’m also visiting a patient. They don’t allow smoking inside, so I came out here for a quick nicotine fix. Care for one?" Saying this, he pulled out a pack of Zhonghua cigarettes from his pocket, extracted one, and offered it to Xiaoyu. Xiaoyu waved his hand, stating he didn't smoke, and politely declined. The man had no choice but to place the cigarette in his own mouth and pull out his lighter to ignite it. The wind outside the hospital was particularly strong, blowing the flame out several times. So, Xiaoyu cupped his hands around the lighter, shielding it from the cold wind blowing from all directions, and helped the man light his cigarette.