Chapter 27: The Varied States of Life

 Chapter 27: The Varied States of Life

After much contemplation, Zhang Yuanqing decided not to expose the existence of the Red Dance Shoes for the time being.

Firstly, the incident of Ou Xiangrong's escape had just begun, and the Five Elements Alliance's follow-up actions had not yet unfolded. As an official organization, they might have other ways to track down the bewitching demon without needing a newcomer like him to intervene.

Secondly, he was just a level 1 Night Wanderer among the Spirit Realm Travelers. If he exposed the existence of rule-based items, it could attract unwanted attention. He decided to observe the organization's actions and make a decision accordingly.

Zhang Yuanqing stopped dwelling on it and looked out of the taxi window, waiting to reach his destination. Right now, the most urgent matter was to improve his strength.

Five minutes later, Zhang Yuanqing got off the taxi at the entrance of "Songhai Pulmonary Hospital," paid the fare, and entered the hospital. He made his way directly to the emergency building.

At this time, the outpatient department had already closed, and the hospital and patients were mainly concentrated in the emergency department. Inside the emergency department, the place was crowded with people, with patients either sitting on public chairs or shuttling between the payment windows and various departments.

Zhang Yuanqing passed through the fee hall and the bustling crowd, finding a seat near the restroom.

After sitting down, he stretched out his legs and waited patiently.

For spiritual entities, the aura of a Night Wanderer was like a firefly in the dark, so prominent and distinct. They didn't need to actively seek him out; they would come on their own.

For ordinary people's spiritual entities, their existence lasted only seven days. Unless someone had recently died nearby, they wouldn't be able to wait for spiritual entities to come to them automatically. That's why the hospital was the best place to level up.

After about five minutes, Zhang Yuanqing saw an elderly man in patient clothing walking through the crowd with a vacant look and stiff gait, coming towards him.

The elderly man's body existed somewhere between illusion and reality, with passing patients seemingly walking through him as if he were air.

He looked emaciated, had white pupils that were eerie, and exuded an aura of pain and regret.

This was a vengeful spirit.

Usually, after people die, they would turn into vengeful spirits. There are no tranquil spirits because no one willingly accepts death. Their attachment to life and fear of death eventually transform into powerless resentment.

As the elderly man approached, Zhang Yuanqing gently opened his mouth and took a light breath. The spirit of the old man turned into a wisp of green smoke and drifted into his mouth.

A throbbing pain emerged in Zhang Yuanqing's forehead, and his consciousness suddenly expanded as he accessed the fragmented memories of the old man's life.

The old man had died from late-stage lung cancer. In the latter half of his life, he suffered a double torment from chemotherapy and cancer—coughing blood, hair loss, shortness of breath, and pain, leaving this world in a state of unrest.

His final lingering thought was regretting why he had ever smoked.

"I will never smoke again..."

Zhang Yuanqing opened his eyes and blurted out with regret written all over his face. The people around him looked surprised.

Ignoring their gaze, Zhang Yuanqing maintained a poker face, pretending that nothing had happened to conceal his embarrassment. When the passersby averted their eyes and the tumultuous emotions inside him settled, he opened the attribute panel, and a blue light screen appeared:

【Experience Points: 44.5%】

"Zhao Yingjun's spirit gave two experience points, while an ordinary person only provides 0.5. It's probably even less for weaker spirits, perhaps even none at all. Looks like I'll have to accumulate them bit by bit..." Zhang Yuanqing pondered.

Regardless, this tangible and visible improvement filled him with joy. He returned to his seat, acting as if nothing had occurred. After a few minutes, a middle-aged man in a suit, dressed for work, walked towards him. The people around ignored the man, passing right through him. Following the routine, Zhang Yuanqing absorbed the man's spirit, and memories flooded in as the spirit transformed into nourishing power for the Night Walker.

The middle-aged man had died from overwork, suffering a sudden heart attack due to the well-known "996" work schedule. He had passed away peacefully, as a heart attack is an instantaneous event, and one wouldn't feel the pain.

However, after accessing the man's memories, Zhang Yuanqing learned that his wife had just given birth to their second child, and the baby was still in the cradle. The man had worked relentlessly to earn money for the baby formula, immersing himself in the demanding work schedule.

What's more, being born in the 1980s, he had very few siblings, a common situation for people of that era. With his passing, his parents would have no one left to rely on.

To live one's life just to earn money, only to lose everything in the end—what meaning did such a life hold? Zhang Yuanqing sat there, feeling a profound sense of sadness and confusion without any expression for a long time.

At that moment, the third spirit approached him. It was a lady with beautiful features, having semi-permanent Korean-style eyebrows, and dressed in luxurious and exquisite clothes. A woman of high quality.

"So young and beautiful, yet she passed away. Such a pity..." Zhang Yuanqing thought. As she came closer, he noticed that her chest was caved in, and her black form-fitting dress was soaked in surreal blood. Furthermore, her back seemed to have suffered unimaginable injuries, with blood sticking her hair together.

She wasn't wearing a hospital gown, indicating that she didn't die during her hospital stay but instead died from an accident or murder. Zhang Yuanqing gently sucked in a breath and devoured the high-quality female spirit.

...........2

A surge of memories not belonging to him flooded into Zhang Yuanqing's mind. He felt a momentary darkness before seeing a pair of long, fair legs sitting on the edge of a bed, gradually rolling up black stockings on the thighs. "So this is how women wear stockings..." Zhang Yuanqing, who had been single for twenty years, gained some new insights.

At that moment, a man's husky voice came from behind, "Don't send me messages at night anymore. I almost got caught by my wife last night."

Zhang Yuanqing's heart skipped a beat. Men, bed, stockings... Anyone could guess what had just happened. He resolved to avoid easily devouring female spirits in the future; it just wasn't appropriate! Thankfully, the memories started from the stocking incident. Had it been a few minutes later, he might have been lying down or kneeling...

As he was relieved, he heard the woman he had "possessed" say, "Isn't that perfect? You divorce your wife and marry me."

The man behind her rustled as he dressed and sneered, "I have a son and a daughter, and I plan to have a third child next year. Why should I divorce for you? Besides, in a divorce, half of the property will have to be split."

"Weren't we in agreement? You become the other woman, and I'll give you money. Once you save up enough, you can marry anyone you want, find an honest man if you wish. If you ever want to sever ties, just let me know. But don't harbor any unrealistic thoughts," said the woman, seeming angry, before falling silent when the man left. She drove her BMW recklessly through the streets, venting her emotions.

In the end, she got into an accident and died despite the rescue efforts being in vain.

As the scene ended, Zhang Yuanqing opened his eyes, pinching his throbbing forehead with a sense of dissatisfaction. He thought, "Why sisters? High-end seafood merchants often only need a simple auction method. There's a market everywhere; why bother getting upset over a man? How many good men are there anyway?"

And marrying an honest man was impossible, never in this lifetime.

Then, he realized that something was off. "Why do I have such strong empathy for women? I'm supposed to be a gunner," he pondered.

A few seconds later, he came to a realization. He had been influenced by the high-quality female spirit, developing female-oriented thoughts and a strong desire for money and material possessions. Even the impulse to blurt out "I don't smoke" earlier was influenced by the spirit of the old man.

After stabilizing his mind to some extent, the fourth spirit approached him. It was a slim and handsome young man, easily reminiscent of the term "little puppy."

"Not bad looking, maybe I should absorb male spirits. It's safer and more secure. If I ever encounter such a situation, at least I'll be on top," he thought, then opened his mouth and consumed the spirit of the young man.

Harsh noises shook their eardrums as the colorful LED lights spun, creating a dazzling light pollution. Looking around, all they could see were swaying figures, shaking heads, and the air filled with a pungent smell of smoke. This was a bar.

Zhang Yuanqing felt his body swaying uncontrollably as he picked up a glass from the table and drank with his friends. In the midst of this exuberant emotional release, amidst the hollow happiness fueled by alcohol and dice, Zhang Yuanqing and his friends stayed until 2 o'clock in the morning.

They called a ride-hailing car and returned to their rental house. Zhang Yuanqing's well-built friend supported him and opened the bedroom door. Although Zhang Yuanqing couldn't control his body, his consciousness was clear, and he sensed that the person he possessed was dead, either from excessive drinking or sudden death.

While pondering this, he noticed his friend laying him down on the bed, taking off his shoes, pulling down his pants, and covering him with a blanket. His friend even used a wet tissue to wipe the sweat off his face. "This friend is quite caring," Zhang Yuanqing thought.

Just as this thought crossed his mind, he saw his friend beginning to undress and lifting the blanket, quickly stripping Zhang Yuanqing completely.

... Zhang Yuanqing was taken aback, feeling that something was very wrong.

At this moment, he heard the semi-conscious murmurs of his friend saying, "Honey~"

The "friend" pressed against Zhang Yuanqing's body, holding a jar of ointment in hand, reeking of alcohol, and said, "Lift your butt up, I'll give you some lubricant!"

??? Zhang Yuanqing's mind exploded like thunder striking his head. No! No! No! You can't do this! You can't!! In extreme fear and panic, Zhang Yuanqing forcefully interrupted the process of recalling his memories.

At the outpatient building, near the restroom, Zhang Yuanqing suddenly opened his eyes as if he had just woken up from a nightmare, gasping for air as if he had been deprived of oxygen. His face turned pale, his eyes filled with terror, and sweat soaked his back.

"Young man, are you okay?" asked a concerned middle-aged woman sitting nearby.

"Have you seen a doctor? What's bothering you?" she inquired.

Zhang Yuanqing waved his hand to indicate that he was fine and rushed into the restroom. He turned on the tap and splashed handfuls of cold water on his face.

It was too horrifying. Men were too horrifying! He had endured the kind of harm that should never be inflicted on someone of his gender.