Zhou Huan was wondering when a mental patient came walking from afar, and the sight of him instantly broke out a cold sweat on Zhou Huan.

“How did he recover so quickly? He can actually walk around downstairs. The whole hospital is asleep, yet he is awake?” Zhou Huan muttered under his breath, watching the approaching figure.

The person approaching was full of spirit, walking straight toward Zhou Huan with a smile. When he reached Zhou Huan’s side, he smiled and said, “Master Zhou, you’re here again. Thank you for your care; I am much better now!”

The man approaching Zhou Huan was the driver who had gone mad. The driver’s eyes seemed very bright, no different from a normal person. Could this mean: the patient in the asylum has recovered, and the doctors have worked themselves to exhaustion? Zhou Huan couldn't help but think so, but hearing the man speak to him, Zhou Huan felt he couldn't remain silent, so he casually replied, “Oh, that’s for the best. Did the doctor say when you are being discharged?”

“Oh, they even held a whole-hospital celebration for my recovery last night. They only prepared to sleep this early morning, but then they heard someone was coming for inspection during the day, so none of the doctors went back; they all insisted on staying on duty. Everyone you see sleeping just couldn't hold on any longer.” Everything the driver said sounded perfectly normal.

Zhou Huan looked down at the driver’s legs, reached out, and touched them, asking, “Driver, are your legs better?”

When the driver saw Zhou Huan touch his leg, he instinctively drew it back, then replied, “Yes, they’re completely healed. I told you this place is truly a good spot. Even though I’ve recovered, I don’t want to leave yet.”

“Oh, what are you planning to do now?”

“I just want to help clean up the hospital grounds; it’s probably the only thing I can do. I don’t know how to do anything else, and I don't know if my legs are up to driving yet; I’ll need some time to recuperate.” As the driver spoke, he picked up a pair of garbage bags and carried them toward the trash bin with his hands. He then turned back to Zhou Huan and said, “Master Zhou, truly, thank you for looking after me all this time. If you have time tonight, come to my place, and I’ll treat you to dinner.”

“Your place? Where is your place?”

“Just wait for me at the guardhouse tonight. I’ll come find you after I say goodbye to these doctors.”

Hearing the word ‘tonight,’ Zhou Huan felt something was off. Why must it be at night? Couldn't it be done during the day? Zhou Huan decided to play along, as he felt increasingly that this driver was extremely suspicious. All the clues pointed to this fellow. If he hypothesized that all the strange occurrences were attributable to this driver, then everything would suddenly make perfect sense. But Zhou Huan still needed to probe his true intentions; without knowing the depth of the situation, he wouldn’t know how to handle him.

Zhou Huan nodded in agreement, turned around, and walked out of the mental hospital. Along the way, everything was quiet and sleeping. He exited the mental hospital as dusk settled. Zhou Huan drove to pick up Yang Xiaoling, then doubled back to pick up Wang Xiaohe. They went to a bar and stayed for a while, but Zhou Huan couldn't shake the thought of meeting the driver for drinks. He drove to Lingzi’s company, entered the guardhouse, which was pitch black inside. The security guard on duty at night was, frankly, just an old man making rounds; he couldn't really watch the gate effectively.

Zhou Huan waited there for a long time, but strangely, the driver never showed up. Zhou Huan waited until the moon was high overhead, and still, there was no sign of the driver. The gatekeeper soon went out for a restroom break—clearly, he had prostate issues. Zhou Huan checked his watch; it was ten o'clock. Now Zhou Huan grew anxious. He realized this fellow might have been trying a feint—luring the tiger away from its mountain.

Zhou Huan slammed his foot on the accelerator, driving back to Fushou Tang first. He collected Shi Bingyuan, made arrangements at home, and then took Shi Bingyuan straight to the mental hospital. As they approached the asylum, a thick, rank, foul odor wafted out. The entire hospital looked utterly murky and chaotic. Right at the main entrance, the black iron gate was coated with a sticky, indefinable layer of ***.

Zhou Huan immediately sensed that things were not well. He calmly asked Shi Bingyuan, “How is the research on the things to counter the Jiangshi Men going?”

“Master, don't worry. Everything written above is fine, but for the things not mentioned, I haven't figured out any better methods. Others have failed, so I’m stuck too.”

“That’s enough then. Did you bring everything needed to deal with Jiangshi?” As soon as Zhou Huan finished speaking, Shi Bingyuan pulled a large bag of items from the backseat of the car and placed it in front of Zhou Huan, listing everything out to him one by one.

After listening, Zhou Huan nodded: “Ready. Let’s go in.” He then parked the car at the entrance, put on his Shoushi robes, got out, and led Shi Bingyuan. The two of them, full of confidence, entered the mental hospital again.

But as soon as they stepped inside, both men froze. The first thing that assaulted their vision were two security guards, each holding up the other’s foot and incessantly gnawing on it. Their bites were bloody, and the blood oozing out was dark and viscous, with stringy shreds of flesh hanging nearby.

When the two guards saw Zhou Huan and Shi Bingyuan enter, they immediately turned their heads. The two long canines beside their incisors looked terribly sharp, but their decaying color was truly repulsive and unclean. Zhou Huan and Shi Bingyuan instinctively adopted their defensive postures, ready to confront these two Jiangshi.

“Buddy! We have fresh meat here!” One of the guards stood up. Both of his feet were completely stripped of flesh, leaving only white bone to support his entire body. He stumbled toward Zhou Huan and the other with a crunching sound from his bones with every step.

The other guard’s legs had been entirely consumed. All that remained on his legs, apart from a faint smear of blood, was jet-black, exposed bone. He slowly crawled toward Zhou Huan.

Zhou Huan and Shi Bingyuan suddenly felt a suffocating pressure, realizing this night was going to be anything but simple.

“Master, let me handle these two. I want to see what methods they have; I’ve learned quite a few things already. Watch this move!” Shi Bingyuan said, pulling a small jar from his bag. When the jar opened, it revealed a paste-like substance. Shi Bingyuan took a mouthful, then lit a talisman, mixing the paper ash into the contents in his mouth. As the two Jiangshi slowly approached, he opened his mouth wide and spewed out a jet of ***. Once both Jiangshi were coated in Shi Bingyuan’s concoction, thick, black, scorched smoke erupted from both of them. The bodies of the Jiangshi began to liquefy, melting into a pool of viscous, green fluid on the ground.

Seeing this, Zhou Huan praised Shi Bingyuan: “Well done! Let’s move deeper. Tell me your formula later!”

“Haha, Master, this is very simple! I just mixed black dog blood, garlic, and fresh chicken blood into a paste, then stirred in the ash from our Corpse-Beating Talismans. That’s how this result was achieved.” As they walked, Shi Bingyuan clearly explained the recipe to Zhou Huan. Zhou Huan was delighted to hear it.

Although Shi Bingyuan was once touted as the number one Funeral Director in the Northeast, his sole weakness was a lack of creative ability. However, since following Zhou Huan, he had gained a crucial new skill: creativity. Especially this time, Shi Bingyuan had managed to develop something Zhou Huan hadn't managed to research, perhaps due to a lack of time. Zhou Huan was naturally thrilled, given their master-disciple relationship.

The two moved deeper into the hospital, passing through the medicine preparation hall. They found no one, only dim lighting that created a deeply unsettling atmosphere.

Leaving the preparation room, they passed through a long corridor leading to the plaza where Zhou Huan had fought that malevolent spirit Jiangshi just a few days ago.

“Master, be careful. I feel something is wrong; why is the plaza so dark?”

“It’s fine, I noticed. There might be a trap here. Get your gear ready; be prepared to fight at any moment. Later, when those lone spirits appear, just like last time, you must hold off those Jiangshi for me.” As he spoke, Zhou Huan pulled on his Heavenly Silkworm Gauntlets and drew his Copper Coin Sword in his left hand, gripping it tightly.

The two watched their surroundings carefully, cautiously walking toward the plaza, sticking Corpse-Beating Talismans as they went. Exiting the corridor, they stood on the plaza and saw something constantly wriggling on the ground.