Chapter 71

Chapter 71: Recruitment List

“Then, the seven Lucky Calabash Brothers turned against each other, fighting bitterly over Snow White. Their conflict escalated until, eventually, they all perished together…”

“But death couldn’t quell the hatred that had taken root in their hearts. Even centuries later, on a fateful day, the evil Holy Grail granted them each a flame of deadly curse. They signed contracts with new Masters, marked by command seals, and once again turned their powers on each other…”

“Until finally, the Sixth Brother had an awakening. Snow White had long since run off with the Prince. Why, then, were they still fighting one another?”

“Perplexed, he brought his question to his Master, Father Kotomine. The priest simply smiled and replied:

‘Spiral staircases… rhinoceros beetles… desolate streets…’”

“What a weird story!” Beibei exclaimed.

Yet for some reason, she found it more entertaining than the ones Xue’er used to tell.

“They say it’s a fairy tale from the old days—used to help kids fall asleep. Don’t like it?” The woman in the leather jacket smiled gently, fingers tapping rhythmically on her phone with crisp clicks.

“It’s not that I don’t like it… it’s just—big sister, you’re so different from the other nurses. They always leave right after changing my dressings. Can I play with your phone a little? Just a little while!”

Beibei clasped her hands together in a dramatic plea pose, mimicking a “planetary destruction” stance from a famous anime.

Even though using the phone during her last call with Xue’er had left her in agony for hours, she still missed the feeling.

“No can do. Your eyes can’t take it,” Shen said, opening her eyes just a sliver.

Beibei’s body wasn’t compatible with her x-ray vision-type ability, and it had already led to dangerous side effects. Shen had seen similar cases before—not incurable, but even with full insurance coverage, the treatment could cost nearly 500,000.

The girl was already terminal from Black Element syndrome, she didn’t have many good years left. There was no need to throw half a million at a hopeless case. Her family, at least, had been sensible about that.

“Nurse sister, don’t you need to take care of the other patients?” Beibei asked, puzzled. No nurse had ever stayed with her this long before.

“I’m just an intern. Slacking a bit won’t hurt. How come there’s no food in here? I was hoping to mooch a little.”

At that moment, the entire eighth floor of the ER—every corridor, every room—had fallen into a collective daze. All eyes were glazed over. Spirits, dulled.

They weren’t dead. It was more like a mass episode of zoning out—light fainting, maybe. When they snapped out of it, none of them would remember anything strange. They’d just assume they’d spaced out for a moment.

Sure, a delay like that could mean death for a patient in desperate need of care… but that was just bad luck.

Shen wasn’t dumb enough to go on a killing spree and draw attention. Not again. Her goal this time was simple: “capture Mi”.

“Sometimes the police bring me food,” Beibei said with a forced smile.

Aside from the police, nurses, and that “princess big sister,” no one ever came to visit.

“No worries—I brought some apples. I’ll peel one for you.” 

Shen’s voice was soft and gentle. She pulled out a small knife and began to peel the apple. 

“A few days ago, wasn’t there a girl who got into a fight right here in your room? The nurses have been gossiping about it nonstop.”

“She’s a friend who visits me a lot.” There was no way to keep it hidden anymore.

The peel fell away in a long spiral. Shen sliced off a piece and brought it to Beibei’s mouth. 

“Oh? What kind of friend?”

“She’s really quiet… She never talks. I don’t even know what she looks like. But she’s not a bad person.” That last sentence was something Beibei had repeated to the police over and over, despite not really knowing anything about the girl.

“You don’t know what she looks like? Then why does she visit you?”

“That’s a secret.” Beibei pressed her finger to her lips.

“Well then…” Shen gently pulled the girl into her arms.

Only now did Beibei realize something was wrong—the leather jacket didn’t feel like something a nurse should be wearing.

“Would you like to see her?” The words slithered into her ear like a devil’s whisper. “I’d really like to meet her too.”

Beibei fell silent.

—

“This garbage show again? Move over…” Gloria shoved Mi Xiaoliu off the couch and switched the TV channel to an over-the-top idol drama.

Mi Xiaoliu scooted to the edge of the couch, giving her space, but turned her head to quietly stare at Gloria.

“You got a problem with that?” Gloria raised an eyebrow.

The kid had just been watching some dull magic show. Typical. In a world brimming with supernatural powers, only a child could still be interested in stage magic.

Ever since superpowers emerged, the appeal of magic had tanked. Flying humans and lightning-fast speedsters were everyday sights now. Who cares about card tricks anymore?

Still, even if the public channels had ditched magic shows, some people continued to learn tricks for fun—to entertain friends, mostly.

Gloria extended her hand. “Give me five Mira.”

Mi Xiaoliu shook her head.

“Come on, I’ll show you a magic trick.” Gloria rubbed her fingers together.

“Master, don’t forget how she bullied you!” Sasha piped up in alarm.

Mi Xiaoliu turned her head away.

“I’ll give you ten Mira back after the trick.” Gloria raised the stakes.

That made Mi Xiaoliu pause. She thought for two seconds, then pulled out a cartoon style wallet and handed over a five Mira bill.

“Watch closely.”

Gloria wasn’t bluffing—she actually knew a few tricks. She placed two paper cups upside down on the table, hiding the bill under one. After shuffling them around, she told Mi Xiaoliu to pick.

She lifted both cups.

No money.

Mi Xiaoliu looked up at her with a deadpan face.

“Oh, right!” Gloria snapped her fingers like she’d just remembered something. She tore a corner from Mi Xiaoliu’s homework and scribbled “Ten Mira” on it, then handed it to her.

“…”

Mi Xiaoliu pulled out an actual ten Mira bill and compared it with the note.

Then she stood up, walked to the kitchen, and tugged on Heli’s sleeve to report her.

That night, Gloria’s portion of rice was half its usual size.

“Tattletale?” Gloria hissed, kicking Mi Xiaoliu under the table.

“Your mom’s two million is almost gone,” Heli said without looking up—an unsubtle hint that it might be time for Gloria to go home.

“Tch.” Gloria didn’t reply. She buried her face in her bowl.

She had no intention of going home yet. Home couldn’t compare to the joy of watching TV, eating homemade food, and bullying a kid.

Lately, Heli had been swamped—too busy even to help Mi Xiaoliu with her homework.

With the TV hijacked by Gloria, the only option left was to go to bed early.

Under the covers, not yet warm, her phone buzzed. It was a call from Lu Mingxue.

“You haven’t been sneaking over to Beibei’s, right?” Lu Mingxue got straight to the point.

“No.”

“Good. Don’t wander around.”

She hung up without explaining further.

Mi Xiaoliu lay still, recalling what Heli had told her earlier while disguised as an Impostor: “Your only job is to study hard. The police will arrest anyone who tries to hurt you.”

She didn’t feel like obeying.

—

Elsewhere, with Jim.

Despite having the IQ of a boiled egg, Jim had somehow ended up working as an undercover agent for the Tian Xing Dao—an amateur hero organization.

Today, he received his first official mission.

To call the organization “loose” was an understatement. They didn’t even pay wages for missions. Everything seemed to run on goodwill alone.

Occasionally there’d be a bonus, but it was laughable—barely worth breaking the law for.

In practice, it was more like a hobbyist club than a professional group. No one even knew what the actual perks were. Maybe just the pride of calling oneself a superhero?

Yet somehow, plenty of people stuck around.

Jim stared at the recruitment list in his hand, then anxiously at the senior member in front of him.

This was his first real task: “recruit a new member”. It seemed easy—until he heard that three people had died trying to do the same thing last month.

Not that Jim thought he was in danger. No, his worry came from somewhere else entirely.

“Bro, that kid… Mi Xiaoliu basically got self-healing powers. I know him. He’s got fewer brain cells than I do. Recruiting him would be like hiring a professional freeloader.”

And there it was: on the sheet in front of him, an enrollment photo of Mi Xiaoliu.

“The organization needs all kinds of talents,” said the Crimson Walker, standing with his back to Jim, head held high. “All you need to do is bring him in. I’ll decide whether he’s qualified to join.”

“But—”

“What are you afraid of? We’re not some evil cult. If he refuses, we won’t force him.”

“Er… okay.”

That’s exactly what I’m afraid of—that he’ll say yes…