Between the Walls

Master Wang Ye, my name is Mao Yong'an.

The young fox looked at Wang Ye suspiciously: You're not deceiving me?

Wang Ye was silent. He fished out a work permit from the Heavenly Group from his pocket and briefly flashed it before Mao Yong'an's eyes.

Mao Yong'an's eyes instantly lit up, his whole body brimming with excitement: I'm from Daocheng. I've heard the scavengers say that the outside world is amazing!

Wine, luxury cars, beautiful women!

Is all this really true?

Seeing Mao Yong'an's excited appearance, Wang Ye fell silent for a moment.

Does he really recognize the Heavenly Group's work permit?

He didn't even think to check it?

If I had given him a student ID, would he still believe it?

A deep sense of guilt arose in Wang Ye's heart. He silently looked at Mao Yong'an, then glanced at the ground covered in occult objects, and his unfathomable backpack.

Poor child...

To actually believe the words of scavengers...

After taking a deep breath, Wang Ye's eyes were filled with sincerity: Trust me, what they said...it's all true!

Once we leave Linyin City, I'll take you to see it all!

Hearing Wang Ye's words, Mao Yong'an became even more excited: Good, good, good! From now on I'll follow you! Let's go now...

No, I came in to find something...

There's good stuff here...

Mao Yong'an was suddenly conflicted, as if unable to choose between luxury cars, beautiful women, and occult objects.

But Wang Ye sensitively noticed a problem: Can you get out?

Of course, it's just a ghost domain! Mao Yong'an said proudly, stubbornly proving his identity as an expert.

Brother! There's no rush for beauties, come help me take care of some business in Linyin City first! Wang Ye solemnly changed how he addressed him, saying: I'm very capable, there won't be any danger.

But you look so pale, and just coughed... Mao Yong'an said weakly, glancing at Wang Ye.

Wang Ye's face instantly took on a healthy, rosy glow, and he stood up straight, giving off an aura of expertise along with his cold demeanor.

He swore...he had never pretended to be so arrogant in his life.

But...for a walking treasure trove like this, surviving in troubled times, there may be a terrifying elder behind him...

Being cold and aloof was never Wang Ye's style.

Living better...that was the goal.

For this goal, face...hmph.

Starting today, Mao Yong'an would temporarily become...his second trump card!

Xiao Si honorably laid off.

Seeing Xiao Si, Wang Ye suddenly thought of something and asked: By the way, do you recognize her?

Let me tell you, this ancestor is too terrifying!

Back then I was passing through Beijing, and sensed there were good things in one of the abandoned housing blocks!

So I snuck in, and sure enough, there was a room full of occult objects.

Unfortunately, just as I picked up a kitchen knife, some damned bastard suddenly showed up. I was so frightened...cough, that I, the Master, temporarily hid in the closet to secretly observe.

Then this ancestor came back.

I, the Master, couldn't let her trap me to death in the closet. So I battled her for three hundred rounds, and finally made a graceful exit.

As he spoke, Mao Yong'an's face took on a nonchalant air. His hands subconsciously went behind his back, angled 45 degrees to Wang Ye, carrying a faint aura of someone above the mundane.

...

So it was him, the other person from Unit 404 back then.

That's right, why is this ancestor following you? Mao Yong'an looked at Wang Ye and asked.

Wang Ye glanced at him and tersely said: Oh, I sealed her.

Mao Yong'an was struck dumb, standing frozen in place, silent.

As expected, experts really are so calm and detached. I'm still too naive.

In an instant, Mao Yong'an felt that following Wang Ye was perhaps an extremely correct choice.

Just then...

Footsteps sounded from the stairwell.

Wang Ye's expression changed slightly, and he whispered: Pack up the stuff, against the wall.

As he spoke, he and Xiao Si immediately leaned against the wall, holding their breath.

Mao Yong'an was startled for a moment, giving Wang Ye a strange look, before gathering up the things on the ground and also leaning against the wall like Wang Ye.

The footsteps gradually grew louder...

Based on the sound, they would soon reach the second floor.

Wang Ye had observed earlier that the hospital had old-fashioned stairs, a total of thirteen steps.

Silently counting the footsteps, he gauged the person's position.

Gradually, the footsteps stopped.

Wang Ye's eyes narrowed slightly. If his estimate was correct, this person should have come down from the fourth floor. Now...

He was stopped on the second floor landing.

Or in other words...

Only a wall away from them.

The Deboning Blade silently appeared in Wang Ye's hand. He remained motionless, but his eyes emitted a faint coldness.

The figure stood on the other side of the wall, stopping for a long time.

Finally...

The footsteps sounded again until they faded away completely.

Mao Yong'an breathed a sigh of relief and wanted to speak, but Wang Ye's expression changed in an instant as he silently stopped him with his eyes.

If one listened carefully, there was a subtle difference between the sounds of someone walking up versus down stairs!

Descending steps sounded heavier, ascending steps lighter.

But these steps were clearly off—first heavy, then light. He had gone down halfway, then quietly controlled his volume while returning.

In other words, he...

Was still in the same spot!

Most importantly, he had noticed earlier that the first floor steps were already damaged. That meant...for someone truly descending, there should only be 25 audible steps!

Wang Ye's gaze flickered slightly. This guy outside the wall...would not be easy to deal with.

Had he sensed something off about the second floor? But wasn't sure if there were people behind the wall, so didn't want to take the initiative to show himself and risk falling into a passive position?

An interesting opponent!

Wang Ye lightly licked his lips, and his grip on the Deboning Blade clearly tightened somewhat.

While Mao Yong'an was filled with confusion, not understanding.

Another ten minutes of silence passed.

The footsteps sounded once more. Wang Ye silently closed his eyes, listening.

After a long while...

He left.

Wang Ye softly said. Then he swiftly went to the nearby window, silently peering down.

A figure, carrying an enormous box on his back, silently moving forward.

Luo Ping?

Wang Ye pondered briefly. Suddenly, the figure stopped and sharply turned to look at the second floor window.

But it was as if Wang Ye had anticipated this. One second before the figure turned, he had already disappeared from the window.

Luo Ping looked at the empty second floor window, a trace of doubt on his face. Finally he silently withdrew his gaze and disappeared into the thick fog.

After Luo Ping left, Wang Ye once again stood at the window, expressionlessly watching in the direction he had departed.

What are you looking at? Mao Yong'an asked curiously.

...

Seeing Mao Yong'an's pure, confused eyes, Wang Ye was silent: Nothing.

Having said that, he brought Xiao Si and left the hospital.

With Luo Ping's departure, there was no longer any need to explore the hospital further.