> "Once a name is written down, there are only two endings—cross it out, or cross the line."
— Gu Ye
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[1]Corridor After the Rain
4 a.m. The heavy rain had just stopped, and water still dripped from the hospital windows.
The corridor lights glowed dim yellow, the air carrying the mixed scent of disinfectant and damp earth.
Gu Ye stood by the water dispenser, pouring himself hot water, as if nothing had happened.
On his wrist, the vein that had bulged from exertion during treatment had yet to fully recede, the skin still pale and faintly cool.
A nurse approached cautiously, handing him the new emergency admission form. "This is tonight's new patient registration."
Gu Ye took it. The moment he opened it, his pupils contracted slightly—
On the lower half of the page, an extra layer of transparent "shadow text" had appeared at some unknown time, as if written over the paper in a completely different hand.
The writing was wet, the ink slowly spreading as if it had just been pulled from water. Touching it with his fingertips brought a chill. The words writhed slightly on the page, like something alive.
[Ward 14 · Li Zhenghe] — Expired
[Ward 11 · Zhou Qin] — Remaining Time: 3 hours
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[2]The Name on the List
Zhou Qin, 26 years old, multiple fractures from a car accident, scheduled for surgery tomorrow morning. By normal standards, her vitals were stable; she shouldn't be in any danger tonight.
—But Death's message said she had only 3 hours left.
The nurse saw him pause. "What is it?" she asked.
Gu Ye said calmly, "This patient… surgery needs to be moved up."
The nurse froze. "Moved up? But the attending hasn't even—"
Gu Ye closed the form and turned toward Ward 11. "I'll take a look first."
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[3]The Sign No One Else Saw
In Zhou Qin's room, the lights were bright, the ventilator humming steadily, the ECG beeping in a regular rhythm.
She lay quietly, as if asleep.
But the moment Gu Ye stepped in, he smelled a faint scent of iron—not blood, but the damp, rusted smell of old chains.
On the floor at the foot of the bed was a long, thin shadow—without any human source—slowly creeping up along the bedframe.
Gu Ye pulled a chair over and sat, setting his cup of hot water on the bedside table. His voice was low. "You're here early."
The shadow paused, as if smiling, before dissolving into inky ripples that spread along the bedframe to Zhou Qin's chest.
A blurred voice whispered in his ear:
> "Her name is already in my hand."
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[4]Struggle in the Gray World
Gu Ye pressed his hand lightly over Zhou Qin's qi point, a faint blue light flowing from his fingertips into her veins.
In the next instant, his vision was yanked into a gray, lifeless world—
Zhou Qin's soul stood on the shore of a pitch-black river, its surface slowly surging, exhaling a damp, icy chill.
A hooded figure waited at the ferry, the sound of the oar deep and slow.
Suddenly, two surges of black water rose from the river, shaping into arms that gripped Zhou Qin's ankles, dragging her inch by inch toward the water.
Gu Ye stepped forward, his tone cold. "The ferry isn't running today."
From beneath the hood, Death raised his head, a half-smile curling on his lips:
"You think you can block me every time?"
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[5]A Gamble with Life and the Counterattack
In reality, Zhou Qin's heart monitor spiked, the alarm shrilling.
The blue light at Gu Ye's fingertips flared sharply, the color draining from his skin. Sweat rolled from his temple, his fingers trembling slightly—the force was being wrenched from his body.
Death's voice was low and heavy. "Her soul is light. One pull is all I need—"
The black-water arms tightened, as if to drag her under in one go.
Gu Ye suddenly raised his other hand, pressing on the Shanzhong point while his fingers struck the Shenmen point with precision and force, as if driving invisible iron nails into her soul.
The blue light coursed along two converging meridians, forming a seal—
At the instant it took shape, the hooded figure on the opposite bank threw his head back. His mask-like face split open, revealing black hollows and twisted fangs. The river erupted in towering waves, spray sharp as blades striking around Gu Ye.
He stood his ground. With a sharp crack, the patterns at his fingertips snapped the two black-water arms clean in half. Death's figure was forced back into the depths of the mist.
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[6]A Parting Taunt
Death's voice drifted from across the river, cold as the current:
"Gu Ye, next time, I'll be waiting ahead of you."
Before the words faded, the river in the gray world snapped shut, and Death vanished.
Gu Ye's vision cleared, the hospital room returning—
Zhou Qin's heart rate steadied, the ventilator's rhythm calming.
The nurse rushed in, emergency kit in hand. "What happened? I just heard—"
Gu Ye picked up his cup of hot water, tone even. "She had a nightmare. I pressed it down for her."
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[7]Epilogue
In the corridor, Gu Ye leaned against the wall, exhaling slowly. His palm still trembled slightly, the sweat at his temple not yet dry.
He murmured under his breath:
"Waiting ahead… fine. Then I'll be ready ahead of time."
His fingers toyed with the cold metal of the nail clipper in his pocket, the chill bringing his mind into sharp focus.
Just as he turned to leave, the lights at the far end of the corridor flickered faintly, as if someone far away had blinked at him.
Gu Ye didn't slow his steps, but his eyes darkened slightly.
—Tonight was only the beginning.