Chapter 102 If the Brightness Sanatorium was afraid, why did they commit the crime in the first place...?

The moment Jiang Yang handed over the card, the lights in the previously dimly lit hall began to flash wildly.

He slightly opened his mouth, looking around at the people trying to confirm the unsettling chaos, but everywhere he looked, everyone seemed like a walking corpse, their gazes fixed on him with only blankness and indifference.

Jiang Yang's breath hitched.

He walked stiffly toward the shadows in his seat. The sudden drop in temperature brought a chill that seeped into his body through his clothes, making his movements exceptionally difficult.

Just then, a thick black shadow slowly emerged from the corner of the hall. The shadow rolled and surged, gradually coalescing into a blurry human shape. A shrill roar came from the human's mouth, like a sharp blade, piercing straight into Jiang Yang's eardrums.

Jiang Yang bent over and painfully covered his ears. When the roaring stopped, he slowly lifted his eyelids and saw that the dark figure had been moving towards him at some point.

Suppressing his fear, he gripped the dagger tightly, his eyes fixed on the dark figure.

...

"Dean, I'd like to play my card."

As the air that had been compressed in his nasal cavity was released, Jiang Yang couldn't help but cough.

His steps, about to leave the shadows, faltered, and tears welled up in his eyes in an instant. When he came to his senses, he saw Mu Nashe standing not far away, a smile on his lips, patiently waiting for him to calm down.

Munashe asked, "What card are you going to play?"

Jiang Yang glanced down; the 10 of Diamonds was still in his palm. He seemed to sense something and looked towards the spot where the shadowy figure had been...

It was completely empty.

So...was everything just an illusion, or...?

But he has no choice now.

Munashe will only draw one card. If no one plays a 10, even if Munashe draws a card, the hand will still not be enough.

So after thinking it over, Jiang Yang finally handed over the 10 of diamonds.

The scene shifted, the lights flickered, and countless distorted human faces seemed to appear struggling in the eerie light and shadow.

Jiang Yang looked to the side uncontrollably, and the dark shadow became clearer. The body made of black tentacles writhed as it moved, and the dense appearance made him feel a chill.

Closer...

He was so close that he could see the face of the person in the shadow by the light.

...

"Dean, I'd like to play my card."

This was the second time. Jiang Yang was certain that just one more time and the shadowy figure would pounce on them completely.

To replace his identity.

The young man took a deep breath and, this time, didn't rush to hand over the cards. He carefully reviewed what had happened in his mind.

After player number 1 played the King of Spades, several lights illuminated the field, and the caregiver's shadow enveloped the player. Judging from player number 1's actions, nothing particularly unexpected should have happened.

No... turn on the lights!

Jiang Yang initially thought the lights had been turned back on, but could it be that time had rewound to the point where the lights were about to turn off?

Assuming the squares represent time, the current situation is that number 1 has stopped time.

Regardless of what the 10 of Diamonds might do, it is very likely that the interaction between the two cards has passively trapped him in this time loop.

He decided to take another gamble.

"OK."

Munashe gracefully flipped the cards over, but Jiang Yang didn't stand still to wait for the cards to be revealed.

Instead, he changed direction and charged straight at number 1.

The tip of the copper-handled knife was pressed against Number 1's neck by the young man, who said expressionlessly, "Turn it off."

Some players were furious at his actions, but he ignored them and simply bent down in front of player number 1 and counted down in a voice that only the two of them could hear.

three,..

Number 1 tried to remain calm: "I don't know what you're talking about."

Munashe silently turned over the cards, and time began to turn again.

Two... The black mist on the shadowy figure's face dissipated, revealing a face exactly like Jiang Yang's.

Jiang Yang remained unmoved, and the tip of the knife moved an inch closer.

Blood seeped out, and Number One tried to struggle, crying out, "Help! Help! He's going to kill me!" But Jiang Yang forcefully pressed down on his swaying body.

Not finding Jiang Yang's shadowy figure at position 5, he stopped in surprise, his nose twitching slightly beneath his closed eyes, as if searching for Jiang Yang's presence in the air.

Jiang Yang glanced at it without making a sound, then parted his lips slightly and spread his arms, assuming a backswing pose.

"one!"

The knife, swift as the wind, plunged fiercely towards Number 1's neck. "I'll shut it down! I'll shut it down!"

The dark figure vanished just as it was about to approach them, and a foul stench emanated from Number 1. Jiang Yang released the figure, his brows furrowed, as if he wanted to say something, but ultimately said nothing.

If you're afraid, why would you harbor thoughts of harming others?

“At this moment, there are 39 people living in our sanatorium. You have the King of Diamonds, the 3 of Clubs, and the 10 of Diamonds.”

“Now, I’ll draw you a King of Clubs,” Munashe said, flipping his wrist so that the playing cards appeared in his hand as if by magic.

Jiang Yang sat back down, her palms resting on the futon. A cold, sticky sensation suddenly spread from her fingertips to the top of her head.

Looking down, I saw a small, neatly folded piece of paper next to me.

He spread his index and middle fingers and pinched it; the smooth texture inexplicably reminded him of the human skin ticket in Train Zero.

His pupils darkened, and he slowly unfolded the scroll, revealing the words scrawled in crooked handwriting: "Oh dear, congratulations, you've escaped unscathed."

Seemingly aware that Jiang Yang had seen it, the note quickly disappeared from his palm.

Just then, Munashe said, "Of course, since I'm the one playing the card, this King of Clubs will be void, and you can't use it."

He pondered that it seemed not only were the meanings of each card different, but the effects of the four card types were also different.

But where did Munashe get his cards from?

He reached into his pocket and peered inside; the King of Hearts was still lying there quietly.

Whose card was lost?

...

"Among all the people, there are 15 patients."

The second round began, and this time, number 1 was still the first to make a move.

Jiang Yang's gaze fell on the man's pants, which were clean and tidy, as if nothing had happened in the past.

But he didn't notice the pair of venomous eyes staring at him as Number 1 walked back.

Card number 1 is "2 of Hearts", which is normal.

The second card was the "8 of spades" handed out by number 4. Jiang Yang saw number 4's trembling hands hanging at his sides.

The last card was the number 7, the "5 of Clubs." The moment the card was revealed, everyone involuntarily breathed a sigh of relief.

All eyes were on Munasher, who showed no emotion as he gathered the cards in his palm and put them in his pocket, continuing, "There are also 19 caregivers."

Number 3: Square 3.

Number 2: 7 of Spades.

One 9 is missing...

Number 2 moved steadily and sat back down on the futon.

Just as everyone was waiting for the third person to step forward, a loud bang resounded in the hall, and all the lights went out without warning, plunging the entire hall into thick darkness.

Accompanied by a chilling roar, countless dark figures appeared behind Munashe.

Red lights flashed, and someone cried out in fear, "Eyes! So many eyes!"

Soon, a shadowy figure burning with eerie flames appeared behind them. The flames flickered and swayed, allowing them to see the situation in the darkness.

The grotesque head was vaguely supported by the shadow, its face bearing a terrifying and chilling expression.

"What are you waiting for? Run!"

Jiang Yang shouted, instantly breaking the deathly silence that filled the hall.

The players snapped out of their daze and turned around, scattering in all directions. Some of them ran to the entrance of the hall and banged on the glass door.

"The door won't open!"

"Let's go upstairs first!"

Everyone rushed up the stairs, and the dark figure followed closely behind, taking large strides to catch up.

A pungent, strong smell of sulfur filled the air, making it hard for everyone to breathe. Jiang Yang took the opportunity to secretly glance back and saw that, apart from the players, Mu Nashe and the caregivers were still standing motionless.

Wait...it seems like one is missing...

Jiang Yang shook her head vigorously, and when she looked again, the empty space had been filled by caregivers wearing masks.

Suddenly, a hand grabbed Jiang Yang's wrist, and Jiang Yang instinctively pinched the knife and slashed to the side.

The knife tip pierced the other person's arm, and the other person cried out "Ah!" It was number 11.

Number 11, clutching his wound, said, "Come with me."

As if afraid that Jiang Yang would be unwilling, Number 11 lowered his voice and quickly said two words, "Li Sheng".

Upon hearing this, Jiang Yang followed.

Number 11 strode towards one of the doors on the second floor. The ordinary push-button handle on the door had been quietly transformed into a smart lock, its cold metallic gleaming in the dim light. Number 11 took out a card from his pocket and swiped it lightly.

With a crisp "beep," the door lock opened, and Number 11 turned around and glanced at it before the two of them walked out together.

Number 11 said succinctly, "Mr. Li asked me to tell you that he is my caregiver, and he suggested that you become a caregiver as well."

Jiang Yang thought of Yue Jiang, "Li Sheng became your caregiver, but what about your previous caregiver?"

"I don't know either. I was taken to the treatment room today, and there was someone there..."

Number 11 refers to the incident Jiang Yang caused back then, and what happened after Jiang Yang left.

“I met Li Sheng. He pretended to be my caregiver and took me out. Later, when there were activities in the evening, he was the one who came to find me. But I don’t know what happened between him and another caregiver in between.”

What's going on with this room?

"It's...it's the 3 of Clubs...After handing over the card, I got an extra room card. I just saw it when I went upstairs. You can swipe the card to enter any of the rooms."

"Did you hand over the card?"

"No, no, no, it was Li Sheng. He was the one who handed me the card, and he was the one who chose the 3 of clubs. Li Sheng said that this was the least dangerous card in my hand."

In other words, players can have their caregivers pass them cards, which may help them avoid certain dangers.

"Is there anything else?" Jiang Yang asked.

Number 11 shook his head. "I don't think so."

After listening, Jiang Yang turned to walk outside.

Number 11 quickly grabbed the person: "Where are you going? We'll wait here for an hour, it should be over soon."