Of the six patient rooms, only the first one could be opened.Was it the only one designed to be opened, or—just like that door he'd knocked on for five years—was it that his current strength could only open the first door?
Lin Qiye had knocked on that door for five years. Only after opening his eyes and enhancing his mental perception had he been able to enter the asylum.
So, as for the second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth rooms… would they only open once his power increased further?
Lin Qiye wasn't sure, but he didn't have time to dwell on it now.
Because right before his eyes, the door that had once been sealed with countless markings was slowly creaking open.
The room wasn't large, and the light inside was dim. In the very center sat a single chair. On that chair, a woman in a black stardust dress sat blankly, staring straight ahead.
Aside from the chair and the woman, the room was completely empty.
Lin Qiye cautiously walked to the doorway. After a brief thought, a rather formal smile appeared on his face, and he waved at the woman inside.
"Hello, I'm Lin Qiye."
No matter who she was, it didn't hurt to be polite. As the saying goes, you don't hit a smiling face. Even if she was a god, a little courtesy might save him some trouble.
But even as Lin Qiye's face began to stiffen from holding the smile, the woman in black remained motionless, like a statue.
Gritting his teeth, Lin Qiye stepped directly into the room.
The instant he did, lines of glowing text began to emerge on the wall behind the woman:
Room No. 1Patient: NyxMission: Assist Nyx in treating her mental illness. When treatment progress reaches the designated thresholds (1%, 50%, 100%), you may randomly obtain a portion of Nyx's abilities.Current Treatment Progress: 0%
"Nyx?" Lin Qiye gasped as he read the text on the wall.
He didn't know much about mythology, but the name Nyx—the Goddess of the Night, one of the five primordial deities in Greek mythology—he had heard of.
She was one of the top-tier gods in the entire mythological hierarchy!
So… this vacant-looking woman before him… was the legendary Goddess of the Night?
Her cold and elegant aura, flawless features, and flowing black hair that cascaded like a waterfall down her back… the black stardust gown she wore was as deep and mysterious as the night sky, making her pale skin look as delicate and luminous as snow or porcelain.
Her eyes were dull, yes—but even just sitting there, her presence was far beyond anything a human could ever possess.
Not even the most regal empresses in history could compare.
Nyx… she was a god, but also an emperor.An emperor that ruled the night.
Lin Qiye stroked his chin, carefully studying her up close. He had seen gods with his own eyes before, and compared to the Seraph on the moon, he felt like something was missing from Nyx.
Divinity? Power? Authority?
Or… all of the above?
He didn't know. But he could guess—Nyx's current state was undoubtedly tied to her illness.
But this was a god we were talking about.One of the highest-ranking gods in existence.
How could she even be sick?
Was her illness naturally occurring, or… man-made?
If it was natural, Lin Qiye didn't quite believe it. But if it was artificial… he had no idea what kind of being could make the Goddess of the Night mentally ill.
And not just any illness—a mental illness.
If the writing on the wall was to be believed, Lin Qiye was now tasked with helping Nyx recover. But what exactly was she suffering from?
As a former "mental hospital patient" himself, Lin Qiye knew a little about mental disorders. Broadly speaking, there were things like depression, OCD, schizophrenia, delusions, and so on.
To treat Nyx, he first had to figure out what kind of illness she had.
After a moment of contemplation, Lin Qiye crouched down in front of her and waved his hand in front of her eyes.
"Can you hear me?" he whispered near Nyx's ear.
Suddenly, Nyx trembled slightly—startling Lin Qiye, who instinctively took a few steps back!
Then, her head slowly and stiffly turned in his direction. Her blank eyes locked onto him.
Lin Qiye swallowed hard and froze.
One second... two seconds... three...
Just when the intense stare was making his scalp tingle, Nyx's expression began to change.
From blankness to confusion,From confusion to shock,From shock to tears brimming in her eyes.
Her body trembled. Tears welled up. Her lips moved slowly, opening with great difficulty.
She choked for a long time, then hoarsely whispered:"I finally found you... my child!!"
At that moment, Lin Qiye felt like a bolt of lightning shot straight from his feet to his brain—leaving his mind utterly blank.
Her?Me??Child?!Huh???
Granted, Lin Qiye didn't remember what his parents looked like. After giving birth to him, they had entrusted him to his aunt and disappeared.
But still…
His mother should've been, probably, maybe… human.Not… the Goddess of the Night.
Wait, hold on—Why is this Greek goddess speaking fluent Chinese?!
Oh right, it's my dream. I guess being able to understand a god's language isn't so weird… maybe it's some kind of brainwave signal conversion?
As Lin Qiye drifted into chaotic thoughts, Nyx suddenly stood up. She spread her arms and began staggering toward him!
Faster and faster, her expression growing more excited with each step!
Lin Qiye's brain was now a puddle of mush, but he reflexively opened his arms, preparing to receive the divine hug—
However…
Nyx ran right past him…And threw her arms around…
…the little flower vase on the windowsill behind him.
Nyx clutched the vase tightly, tears streaming down her face."My child… you're alive after all… I've finally found you!"
Lin Qiye: …???
Then Nyx's eyes fell upon the chair she had been sitting on for who knows how long.She froze for a second, then rushed forward to embrace the chair and the vase, sobbing even harder.
"Hypnos! My child, so you're here too!!"
A disheveled Lin Qiye stood there like a statue, watching helplessly as Nyx went on to recognize a vase, a chair, a wall, and even empty air as her children—sobbing the whole time.
Lin Qiye: I think…I might know what her illness is.
And it's… pretty serious.
Morning.
Lin Qiye slowly woke from his dream, staring at the bare ceiling, letting out a long sigh.
After spending the entire night with Nyx, he felt like his whole being was out of sorts.
Just as he was about to get up, he suddenly paused.
In his mind, the asylum shrouded in mist was now clearly visible, drifting within his consciousness—his connection to it had grown stronger.
Now, even without falling asleep, he could project his consciousness into the Asylum of the Gods.
Was this the reward for opening the main gate?
As Lin Qiye linked his mind to the asylum, he could immediately sense everything happening within.
Of course, the five still-sealed rooms remained inaccessible.
At the moment, Nyx was in the courtyard, still hugging the vase and the chair, muttering to the air beside her about who-knows-what.
Lin Qiye sat on his bed, rubbing his temples in frustration."Treat the illness… treat the illness… I'm not even a doctor. How the hell am I supposed to treat her…"
Suddenly, his eyes lit up, as though an idea had just struck him.
His eyes narrowed slightly. A faint smile tugged at the corners of his lips.