click!
The door opened before I could check my reward. I expected it to be Ellie, but instead, a woman with blonde hair in a white lab coat stepped in. She was the assistant physician from before.
She walked slowly toward me after locking the door, her expression serious enough to make me anxious.
My mind raced—what if she was an assassin sent to kill me? Beautiful and deadly.
"Mr. Ace, I have to tell you something," she said, biting her lip in hesitation.
"What is it, Doc Sera?" I asked, reading her name tag.
She took a deep breath and sat down. "Mr. Ace, I think you need to request a transfer to a new hospital. Something's going on here, and I'm afraid Dr. Kim might be trying to sabotage your recovery."
My eyes widened, but I still maintained my composure.
"Do you have any evidence of this?"
She shook her head.
"All your medicine isn't harmful, but there are far better alternatives. I tried to convince him, but he insisted there was no need. I can't bear to watch you suffer like this when there's a better option. Please… just request a transfer."
Closing my eyes, I began weighing my options. Should I really request a transfer? Wouldn't that just alert my enemy that I'm aware of their presence?
And even if I did that, what would stop them from killing me at a different hospital?
"Doctor Sera, thanks for your concern, but can you do me a favor and not tell anyone about this?"
"Why?" she asked, her eyebrows furrowed.
"Going to a different hospital would put my life in even more danger. I hope you understand."
She was smart, so she immediately understood my point. It also helped that I used my ability on her, making my words even more convincing.
Taking this opportunity, I started having conversation with her.
Slowly but surely, she began opening up and even promised to be my lookout—without realizing she was already dancing in the palm of my hand.
I could have tried the same approach I used with Claire, but I had a feeling she was too smart for that.
Roughly fifteen minutes later, she got up to check on the other patients—leaving me alone.
Things were getting more and more out of hand, and I still had no clue how I could even move.
'The Acting Card. I almost forgot about it!'
Upon checking, I noticed it was silver, and from the design, I could make out a monk in a meditative pose.
flash!
A blinding light filled my vision, and I found myself sitting on a gray bricked floor.
In front of me were hundreds of half-naked men, all performing the same movements.
"Ha!" They punched the air.
"Ho!" They kicked.
"Huu!" They shifted their stance.
[Download Basic Memory]
As usual, flashes began pouring in about the person I was currently observing.
His name was Kao Long, a monk who trained students to skillfully channel their ki through the meridians of their bodies.
He wasn't much of a fighter himself, but he commanded respect through his mastery of ki.
"Master Kao Long, please guide us."
They clenched their hands in unison as he walked slowly down the line.
I could see in the students' eyes how deeply they trusted his guidance—not only because of his skill, but also due to his reputation as one of the most trustworthy monk in the country.
He stopped at the center, hands clasped behind his back
"Ki," he began, his voice firm and stoic "is not just energy. It is the reflection of your mind, your discipline, and your intent."
"A weak mind cannot channel strong ki, no matter how strong your body may be."
He raised a hand, letting his fingers hover in the air, tracing invisible paths.
"A martial artist doesn't control their ki with brute strength, but by finding balance—with themselves, their body, and their breathing. To master ki is to stay calm in chaos and focus even when distracted."
The students leaned forward, feeling the importance of his words.
"Ki is a mirror. Look inside yourself, and you will see who you truly are."
Silence lingered as his words settled into the open air.
[Simulation Progress: 20%]
I didn't understand a single word. Honestly, it sounded like he binge-watched an old martial arts drama and then decided to freestyle the script.
If he'd just skipped the deep philosophy talk and told us straight, we might've actually learned something.
Lucky for me it was only a simulation. Let the melodrama run its course and Iet me ripped the benefits.
The part about ki also piqued my interest—it could very well hold the key to curing my disease.
After he concluded his teaching, he made his way toward another house, its roof curving gracefully like the classic pagodas.
There he sat in a meditative state, and I could feel the ki he had been talking about circulating .
The sensation was so refreshing that I ended up being lost in the moment.
"Breathe in… breathe out."
He kept repeating the cycle, and each time I felt more rejuvenated.
"What are you doing here?"
I paused, thinking he was talking about me, but a second later, an innocent-looking girl in a white robe entered the room.
Her dark eyes and pale skin carried the elegance of a geisha from old Japan, yet she outshone even that image.
The robe did little to hide the tempting curves beneath.
A living doll. That was the best way to describe her. Even by modern standards, she would easily score a nine out of ten.
"Master, forgive me for coming to your quarters unannounced. There's a problem I can't solve—it's causing me pain, and I was hoping to get your assistance."
It took him a few seconds to respond.
"Have you spoken to the healers yet? What did they say?"
Her hands trembled as she nodded.
"Yes, Master. The healers found nothing. No illness, no physical explanation. That's why I've come to you. You're known as the purest monk in the land; please, test whether an evil spirit is haunting me."
He stood and began pacing around the room, his eyes observing her.
"Very well," he said at last. "Remove your clothes so I can examine your body."
She gasped, covering her mouth in shock at the bold demand.
"Master… is that really necessary?"
He raised his eyebrow. "Do you want to be healed or not?"
Purist monk, my ass. More like a pervert with a prayer bead collection.
Honestly, why was I even surprised? I should have seen it coming from miles away.
She hesitated, then began to pull the robe down. My eyes were immediately met with smooth, pale skin, like porcelain catching the light.
'Master Kao Long, you're the best. Nice, nice—keep it up. I take back what I said earlier. You're not a pervert. You're a man of culture.'
The woman slipped off the last of her garments, leaving nothing to hide.
He took a deep breath, nostrils flaring.
"I can smell it — an evil spirit clings to you. We must exorcise it, or your life will be in danger."
"H-How?" she stuttered, her lips trembling with fear.
"Close your eyes," he instructed. "No matter what you feel, do not open them."
I already knew where this was heading, so I gave him two big thumbs up. If I had four hands, I would've thrown in all four.
Obediently, her eyes closed, trusting that a man praised by many would never cross the line into indecency.
She couldn't have been more wrong.