《Mystic Path of the Immortals》 Master Ethan lifted the pestle in his hand, smashing it down into the mortar with a listless air, slowly grinding the luminous green stones mixed with mud into a fine powder. Despite the damp and cold of the cave, he was clad only in a coarse linen garment. Yet, his face showed indifference, as if he hardly noticed his surroundings. He wasn¡¯t alone in the cave. There were other men and women, all with tied hair and similarly dressed in coarse cloth and hemp ropes. The only difference between them and Ethan was their apparent physical deformities. Some suffered from albinism, others from polio. Various congenital and acquired physical abnormalities were present, making the small cave a museum of deformities. Their job, like Ethan¡¯s, was to pound things - metals, stones, and herbs. However, it was evident that some were not focused on their tasks. A young girl''s terrified scream pierced the air, drawing everyone''s attention. In a corner of the cave, a cleft-lipped overweight boy with a lecherous smile tried to pull an albino girl into his embrace, muttering, ¡°Just a touch, just one, hehehe~¡± Ethan, ignoring the chaos, closed his eyes and continued his task. But as the girl''s cries grew more desperate, Ethan, irritated, cursed under his breath and stood up, lifting the stone mortar with one hand. With a thud, stone met bone. The cleft-lipped boy, his head bleeding, sat stunned on the ground, bewildered by the blow. After a couple of seconds, he twisted in pain, holding his wound and wailing. The albino girl, her fate of defilement averted, fearfully hid behind Ethan, clutching her clothes. ¡°I¡¯ll tell you! You¡¯re done for, you know who my master is? If he finds out, he¡¯ll kill you!¡± the cleft-lipped boy threatened, his face twisted in rage. ¡°To hell with him! He¡¯s nothing!¡± Ethan¡¯s words stunned everyone into silence. No one expected such boldness from him. Observing the expressions of his so-called brothers, Ethan took a deep breath, suppressing the anger in his heart. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with me, getting angry with these people? That¡¯s not who I am. I shouldn¡¯t let them affect my nature. That wasn¡¯t the real me. Stay calm, stay calm.¡± As Ethan was calming himself, someone at the door called out to him. Ethan, Nora, the master calls for you,¡± called a tall young man, clearly of a different status than Ethan, clad in a blue Taoist robe. Though the robe looked old, with its cuffs faded from washing, it was still better than Ethan''s tattered hemp cloth. The man, holding a horsehair duster in one arm, looked down at his juniors with a hint of arrogance in his eyes. Upon seeing the young Taoist, the cleft-lipped boy with a bloodied head immediately showed a schadenfreude grin. ¡°Haha! You¡¯re in trouble now! It¡¯s your turn today.¡± But Ethan completely ignored him, turning to follow a young girl with a crooked mouth, drooling... This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. The woman walked towards the door, her complexion ashen and unhealthy. Just a few steps forward, she realized someone was tugging at her sleeve, holding her back. Ethan turned to find the albino girl he had saved. Her eyes, brimming with tears, shook her head continuously, filled with fear. Ethan, indifferent, shook off her grasp with a flick of his sleeve and strode forward. Exiting the small cave, they entered a larger cavern, its walls dotted with holes like the one they had left, each serving different purposes. The rough, uneven construction suggested the work of unskilled hands. The cavern was vast, with tunnels branching in all directions, like an enlarged anthill. Decaying peach wood plaques were nailed above each small cave, deeply engraved with the names of each chamber: Spirit Palace, Old Law Hall, Ancestor Celebration Hall, Four Emperors Hall. A naturally formed cavern, it had been transformed into something resembling a Taoist temple. As they continued through the cavern, the crooked-mouthed woman pulled out a dark, sticky object from her pocket and held it out to Ethan, speaking in a dazed voice, ¡°Want some rare sugar?¡± Ethan''s brows furrowed slightly, seemingly aware of her simplicity. He took it impatiently and stuffed it into his sleeve. Seeing Ethan accept it, she pulled out another piece from her pocket, put it in her mouth, and continued with a foolish grin, ¡°Master¡¯s good, there''s sugar with master.¡± Ethan didn¡¯t respond. They continued walking for about a quarter of an hour until they came upon an ancient-looking, blackened alchemy furnace. The furnace, emitting blue smoke, seemed to pierce the roof of the cave, appearing like a metallic hill. As Ethan approached, the furnace grew larger until its shadow engulfed him, creating an oppressive feeling. It wasn''t just the massive five-tiered furnace that overwhelmed him, but also the figure in front of it. From behind, the figure wore a blue-green Taoist robe, with his hair in a bun and a crown, his temples graying, exuding an air of otherworldly wisdom. Sitting cross-legged, he seemed to be doing the same thing as Ethan earlier, pounding with a pestle, only much larger, resembling a huge column. With each rise and fall, the sound of the pestle striking echoed through the cave. ¡°Master¡­ Master!¡± The woman with the crooked mouth clumsily clasped her hands at her chest, showing deep respect to the figure. Her voice halted the ear-piercing pounding. As the figure turned around, Ethan''s pupils involuntarily contracted, despite his preparedness. The Taoist''s front differed starkly from his back. From behind, he appeared dignified and wise, but from the front, he was a repulsive, leprous old man, his few yellow teeth exposed in a gummy smile. ¡°Arrived, have you? My good disciple, you¡¯ve kept me waiting.¡± With a flick of his dirty robe, the old Taoist leaped up, grabbing the woman¡¯s neck with one hand and retreating. Before the foolish woman could utter another word, she was thrown into a half-human-sized stone jar. In the next moment, the master, with a ferocious expression, grabbed the stone pestle and smashed it down heavily. The furnace, emitting blue smoke, seemed to pierce the roof of the cave, appearing like a metallic hill. As Ethan approached, the furnace grew larger until its shadow engulfed him, creating an oppressive feeling. It wasn''t just the massive five-tiered furnace that overwhelmed him, but also the figure in front of it. From behind, the figure wore a blue-green Taoist robe, with his hair in a bun and a crown, his temples graying, exuding an air of otherworldly wisdom. Sitting cross-legged, he seemed to be doing the same thing as Ethan earlier, pounding with a pestle, only much larger, resembling a huge column. With each rise and fall, the sound of the pestle striking echoed through the cave. ¡°Master¡­ Master!¡± The woman with the crooked mouth clumsily clasped her hands at her chest, showing deep respect to the figure. Her voice halted the ear-piercing pounding. As the figure turned around, Ethan''s pupils involuntarily contracted, despite his preparedness. The Taoist''s front differed starkly from his back. From behind, he appeared dignified and wise, but from the front, he was a repulsive, leprous old man, his few yellow teeth exposed in a gummy smile. ¡°Arrived, have you? My good disciple, you¡¯ve kept me waiting.¡± With a flick of his dirty robe, the old Taoist leaped up, grabbing the woman¡¯s neck with one hand and retreating. Before the foolish woman could utter another word, she was thrown into a half-human-sized stone jar. In the next moment, the master, with a ferocious expression, grabbed the stone pestle and smashed it down heavily. Ethan Hart ¡°Phew, finally back,¡± Ethan sighed with relief, calling out to the microphone near his bed. Shortly after, his attending physician, carrying a white tablet and accompanied by a nurse, entered the room. ¡°How are you feeling, Ethan? Any new changes in this hallucination?¡± the physician asked kindly, sitting down. ¡°It was the same environment, doing the same thing. Only this time, the leprous master brutally killed someone right in front of me and used her for alchemy,¡± Ethan recounted the details of his vision. ¡°Mhm,¡± the doctor nodded, rapidly typing notes on the tablet. After a moment of thought, Ethan hesitantly asked, ¡°Doctor, what do these different hallucinations mean? What do they signify about my mind and psyche?¡± ¡°No, you shouldn¡¯t worry about that. You should focus more on the duration of each hallucination and your mental stability,¡± the doctor advised, dismissing Ethan''s concerns. ¡°Remember, they are all illusions. You''ve already overcome Hallucinatory Perception Disorder. Don¡¯t fall back into it.¡± ¡°Just act according to the logic in those hallucinations and continue with our treatment here, and you¡¯ll recover soon.¡± Hearing this, Ethan tensed up, knowing how crucial this was for his discharge from the hospital. The doctor, not forgetting to encourage his patient, added, ¡°Actually, you''re doing quite well now. When you first came, you couldn¡¯t distinguish reality from fantasy. It¡¯ll get better. Keep it up, stay strong.¡± As they talked, light footsteps approached the door. Both turned to see a young girl, about sixteen or seventeen, wearing a high-neck black sweater, peeping into the room. Her skin was pale as jade, with black hair cascading down her shoulders like a waterfall. She was in the bloom of youth, radiantly beautiful. Seeing the two young people¡¯s hesitant expressions, the doctor chuckled understandingly, pushed his glasses up his nose, and walked towards the door. ¡°I have other matters to attend to. You guys carry on. Oh, and Ethan, remember to take your medication later.¡± As soon as the doctor left, the girl walked in. She and Ethan exchanged smiles, and he instantly felt a sweet warmth in his heart, casting aside his worries about his illness. ¡°Stop smiling, it¡¯s ugly. Guess what I brought you? Homework assigned by the teachers!¡± the girl said mischievously, pulling out a canvas bag. Ethan''s face fell. ¡°Anna, after all these years of friendship, is this how you repay me?¡± Anna, closing the door, produced a small handheld gaming console, shaking it triumphantly. ¡°I¡¯ve got this too~ Hehe, be good, call me queen and it¡¯s yours.¡± ¡°Queen! You are my queen!¡± Ethan exclaimed, rushing to grab the console. The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement. Being cooped up in a psychiatric hospital was unbearably boring. ¡°Don¡¯t play too much, remember to study,¡± Anna advised, sitting beside him while Ethan was busy turning on the console. ¡°Yeah, yeah,¡± Ethan replied, engrossed in the screen. Her delicate, pale fingers tugged at his blue and white hospital gown, ¡°Hey, don¡¯t forget what you promised me.¡± Ethan paused and looked up at her seriously. ¡°Yeah, our plan to apply to the same university.¡± Anna, shyly lowering her head, whispered softly, ¡°Yeah, get well soon. I¡¯ll wait for you.¡± Suddenly, Ethan pulled her into a hug. With her cheeks flushed, Anna didn¡¯t resist but closed her eyes, whispering, ¡°Big pervert.¡± The two didn¡¯t do much; just embracing was enough to make them feel blissfully happy. After a while, Anna had to leave. It was her final semester in high school, and even sparing half a day was precious. Though the visits were always brief, they were a beacon of hope for Ethan in his difficult days. ¡°I¡¯ll walk you to the gate,¡± Ethan said, climbing out of bed and slipping into his hospital slippers. As they headed towards the door, Ethan felt something was off and noticed the mortar he used in his hallucinations on the bedside table. His body trembled, but on a second glance, it was just his lunchbox. ¡°You alright?¡± Anna asked, noticing his reaction. Seeing her concern, Ethan quickly joked, ¡°Haha, scared you, didn¡¯t I?¡± Anna frowned and pinched his waist, ¡°You¡¯re not a kid anymore. Stop being so childish.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be mad, I just wanted to cheer you up,¡± Ethan said, reaching for her hand, which she initially shook off but eventually held. Outside, other patients in the yard smiled at this innocent, sweet love. Their walk was slow, but eventually, they reached the hospital entrance. Anna lingered, ¡°I¡¯ll visit you again next week. Take care of yourself inside.¡± ¡°Maybe skip next week. I know you¡¯re busy with studies and only get half a day off each week. Don¡¯t waste it on me.¡± Anna playfully stepped on his hospital slipper, her delicate eyebrows coming together, ¡°Silly, don¡¯t make assumptions. I¡¯ve never dropped below the top three. No pressure.¡± ¡°Ah!¡± Ethan clutched his heart, feigning pain, ¡°That hurts,My queen.¡± Anna''s giggles echoed as she playfully punched Ethan, then turned and dashed towards the bus stop across the hospital entrance like a sprightly deer. Ethan watched until the bus carrying his girlfriend vanished from sight, and his smile gradually faded. Reflecting on what he had just seen, he walked anxiously towards the doctor''s office. An hour later, Ethan lay restless in bed, turning over the thoughts of his future with Anna. On the table beside him were new medications prescribed for his latest symptoms. The images of the mortar and Anna''s laughter continuously played in his mind. ¡°What if my condition worsens, and I can¡¯t leave the hospital before college starts? Then I won¡¯t be able to attend the same university as Anna.¡± Despite being in the hospital, Ethan was aware of the rumors outside; in the eyes of neighbors, he was entirely insane. Facing such a reality, Anna, his childhood friend, had confessed her feelings for him just a day before his admission. Her affection was clear, even without words. She was a good girl, and he, as a man, didn¡¯t want to let her down. ¡°It doesn¡¯t make sense. I¡¯ve been following the doctor''s orders completely. Why is my condition still worsening? Do I need to be transferred again? This is already the third hospital.¡± ¡°Dr. Lio should be reliable; he¡¯s the best doctor my dad could find.¡± As these worries grew, Ethan sat up abruptly and began studying, pouring over Anna¡¯s books and worksheets, trying to distract himself from his lingering concerns. Ethan continued with his homework, and before he knew it, it was deep into the night. Just as he completed a math test, stretching and rubbing his temples, he wondered, ¡°How late is it? It must be really late.¡± Ethan put on his slippers, preparing to visit the restroom before going to bed. As he yawned and walked towards the door, he suddenly felt something odd at his chest. Ethan pulled open his collar and saw a patch of dark brown substance clinging to his chest. The strangely familiar color sparked a thought in his mind. Ethan dabbed it with his finger and tasted it. The bitter-sweet flavor made his pupils constrict. It was the sugar cube given by the silly senior sister in the hallucination! The item from the hallucination had appeared in reality! The Jade Pendant As Ethan confirmed that the sugar on his chest was indeed real, his heart pounded wildly. His first instinct was to tell Dr. Lio. But as he was about to step forward, other thoughts flashed through his mind. He knew that his hallucinations held more than just sugar cubes; there were other, more valuable things! Tasting the sweetness dissolving in his mouth, Ethan paced around the room. "This is an opportunity! A chance that could make Anna and me rich overnight, even take me to the pinnacle of life!" he thought excitedly. "I can''t tell Dr. Lio. I don''t want to end up as a lab specimen, and besides, this isn''t something he should handle," Ethan thought to himself. "However, I can''t jump to conclusions so quickly. I need to fully understand what''s going on," he decided resolutely. As he pondered, the environment began to twist and change, and the clean, orderly hospital room started to fade away. Accustomed to such transitions, Ethan quickly stashed his worksheets and books into his bag and tossed it into a corner to prevent his hallucinating self from tearing them up. He then pressed the red button beside his bed. In the last moments before the transition, he saw nurses enter and strap him to the bed. When he opened his eyes again, he was back in the crude, icy cave, with the "junior brothers and sisters," all with physical deformities, curiously looking at him. Sitting up from the cold stone floor, Ethan surveyed his surroundings with a new perspective. Though a hallucination, it now seemed like a treasure trove filled with riches. Perhaps he wasn''t sick but had a rare and exceptional ability that the doctors couldn''t detect. "Maybe I''m not ill at all. Yes, that''s right, I''m not sick." He was tired of being labeled as mentally ill, tired of the strange looks from everyone. It felt like he had ceased to be human the moment he fell ill and had become something else entirely. If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. The thought of possibly shedding this label in the future filled Ethan with indescribable excitement. Feeling quite pleased, Ethan playfully ruffled the hair of a bald man who came over, chuckling, "Haha, this is really interesting." "What are you doing gathering here? Get back to work! If the master''s elixir is not prepared properly, and his great ascension is ruined, he''ll flay you alive!" An extremely annoying voice echoed from the cave entrance. Turning, Ethan saw the haughty Taoist who had relayed messages earlier, his face still bearing an arrogant expression, as if speaking with Ethan and the others was beneath him. Ethan remembered this guy; his Taoist name seemed to be Yang. Yang, feeling challenged by Ethan''s blatant scrutiny, strode over with his dust whisk. "Ethan, it''s a shame you weren''t chosen as the master''s elixir this time." Ethan couldn''t care less about Yang''s sarcasm, focusing instead on the round jade pendant hanging at Yang''s waist. "This must be an antique, right? If I sold it in the real world, it''d be worth a lot, wouldn''t it?" "How should I get it? Like the sugar cube, just grab it and press it against my chest?" Yang, mistaking Ethan''s silence for fear, scoffed and turned to leave the area where the elixir workers were. Ethan, watching his retreating figure, made up his mind. That jade pendant would be his next object of experimentation. As for how to acquire it, the plan was simple: steal it at night. "That pendant is great, but it''ll be mine soon." A small, pale hand reached out and gently tugged at Ethan''s coarse garment. A soft voice whispered, "Ethan, better get back to work, or there''ll be no food for us." Turning, Ethan saw the albino girl he had helped before. He handed her the remaining half-melted black sugar and then returned to his workstation to resume his duties. For now, he decided not to act too outlandishly, either here or back in the hospital. Telling anyone about these extraordinary events seemed inappropriate. He needed to understand the rules of this phenomenon better before making any further plans. The day''s work ended amidst the monotonous pounding of the mortar. Late at night, lying in the communal sleeping area, Ethan slowly opened his eyes amid the snoring and teeth grinding of others. The pitch-black cave, devoid of windows, was navigable as Ethan felt his way towards the door, holding a piece of glowing green stone he had ground earlier. Though conspicuous in the darkness, Ethan was indifferent. "If someone finds me, I''ll just return to the hospital. I have an escape route, so what''s there to fear?" he murmured confidently, walking through the cave. He was familiar with the vast network of the cave, having spent some time here. Soon, he found his way into Yang''s cave. Though simple, a solitary large bed indicated Yang''s elevated status compared to the elixir workers. Surprisingly, Yang was not in the cave, but his clothes were. Ethan quickly snatched the jade pendant from the robe. Outside, examining the pendant under the light of the glowing stone, Ethan admired its translucent quality, smooth roundness, and exquisitely carved cloud patterns. Even to an untrained eye, it was clear this was a piece of high-quality jade. The more Ethan looked at it, the happier he became. "If I can bring this to the real world, this pendant alone could cover mine and Anna''s college fees for four years." "Hehe, Anna, get ready to be a little rich girl," he whispered, pocketing the pendant and turning back. Everything was going smoothly, but things can''t always be so easy. As he neared the exit, he rounded a corner on the stone steps and came face-to-face with a group of young men and women, their shocked faces flickering in the light of their torches. Both parties were startled, standing still in silence for a long while. Finally, Ethan spoke, pointing at Yang with the glowing stone, "Brother Yang, with that outfit, have you been demoted to the elixir room?" Not only Yang was there, but also other Taoist boys, including one who had fanned the alchemy furnace, now all dressed in simple hemp garments. Yang, lacking his usual arrogance, quickly approached Ethan and whispered, "Let''s go! We''re escaping this damned place! The guard has been bribed." "Escape? Oh, so you mean you''re going to¡ª" The Black Cauldron When Yang suddenly covered Ethan''s mouth, the others holding torches quickly surrounded him, their eyes filled with hostility. "Not leaving, huh? Then you''ll die here today! We can''t let you go and snitch to that leprous head!" Despite the life-or-death situation, Ethan was remarkably calm. Rolling his eyes in frustration at the direction of the hallucination, he closed his eyes and took a deep breath. When he opened his eyes again, he found himself strapped to a hospital bed, the figures of his fellow disciples gone. "Nurse, I¡¯m awake. Can you unstrap me?" Ethan called out to the microphone for the night shift nurse, eager to check if the jade pendant was in his clothing. After calling out for a while with no response, Ethan realized the nurse must be secretly watching her soap operas again during her shift. Looking down at his chest, wrapped in a blue and white hospital gown, he tried to feel for the pendant by pressing against his chest. But tightly strapped down, he couldn¡¯t feel much and eventually gave up in frustration. Yawning, Ethan could do nothing but lie there, hoping the nurse would eventually check the camera. In the quiet of the night, even on the floor reserved for critical patients, Ethan drifted into a restless sleep. When he awoke, he was back on the cold floor of the cave. He was in the same spot, but the others who had planned to escape were nowhere to be seen. "Think you can challenge me, a bunch of NPC?" Ethan muttered, pulling out the jade pendant and tucking it back into his pocket. After a while, he returned to his communal sleeping area, lying in the straw, too excited about the pendant¡¯s value to sleep. With no clock, Ethan had no idea how much time had passed. When he saw his fellow disciples waking up, he sat up, thinking, "Daybreak here means the nurse''s shift must have changed. Maybe I should go back and check. Other nurses are more professional than her." As Ethan hesitated, a flurry of footsteps approached. A young Taoist boy, clad in black and with his hair tied up, burst in, panting. ¡°Hurry up, everyone! The master has summoned us all to the Hui''an Hall!¡± The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement. This sudden summons left everyone puzzled, but as it was the master¡¯s order, they had no choice but to comply. Soon, in the largest cavern known as the Hui''an Hall, all disciples gathered. The flickering torchlight revealed the confusion on everyone''s faces. Ethan noticed something odd: apart from Yang, several of the leprous head''s close disciples were missing. ¡°Oh, they ran away with the others?¡± he mused, amused by the drama unfolding before him. When an ugly head emerged from the dark tunnel, all the disciples, except Ethan, instinctively bowed their heads. It was their master, Dan. A single cough from Dan made everyone tense up. ¡°Last night, some tried to escape, including two of my close disciples. My heart aches at this betrayal!¡± His words said one thing, but the fury on his face spoke another. ¡°Caught already? Yang and his crew really are pathetic,¡± Ethan muttered. ¡°Without rules, there¡¯s no order. Punishment must be meted out; that¡¯s the rule of our Xi Shan Dong Hua sect! Follow me.¡± Silently, the disciples followed Dan, fearfully walking through various caverns and past a rushing underground river, until they reached a damp, classroom-sized cave. There, Ethan saw those who had attempted escape the night before, now bound and piled in a corner. Their listless expressions turned frantic upon seeing Dan, but the gags in their mouths silenced them. Dan, seemingly uninterested in their pleas, flicked his hand, chanting, ¡°Open!¡± The smoothly eroded cave floor suddenly opened up, swallowing the escapees. Horrific screams and the sound of flesh tearing filled the cave. Many disciples trembled in fear, eyes shut tight. ¡°Come closer! Witness the consequences of their escape!¡± Dan commanded. Reluctantly, the disciples edged towards the hole, a pitch-black abyss that seemed to suck everything in. Ethan, upon closer inspection, noticed a large black cauldron at the bottom, its rim adorned with twisted talismans. He couldn''t see what was inside the cauldron, but the nauseating stench of blood was unmistakable. ¡°Hallucinations shouldn''t harm me; I''ve never experienced such things before,¡± Ethan reassured himself, though his heart raced at the thought of falling in. Suddenly, a writhing black mass shot out from the hole, grabbing a disciple next to Ethan before retreating back into the darkness. The disciples, terrified, backed up against the smooth cave walls, too afraid to flee because of Dan''s watchful presence. While everyone else was in a state of panic, Ethan, having had the closest view, saw what it was - a mass of flesh-like black substance with short, trembling black tentacles. It was clear to Ethan that whatever Dan was keeping in that cauldron was far from normal. Despite knowing it was all a hallucination, Ethan couldn''t help but wonder why his mind would conjure such horrors. As he calmed himself with deep breaths, following Dr. Li''s guidance, Ethan''s fears slowly subsided. ¡°These are all hallucinations. They can''t harm me,¡± he reminded himself. ¡°Anna is waiting for me. I can¡¯t let her down. I can overcome this!¡± With renewed determination, Ethan steadied himself, ready to face whatever came next in this strange and terrifying world. The Value At this moment, Dan was unconcerned with Ethan''s thoughts; he was busy lecturing his terrified disciples. "Remember what you''ve seen today if any of you ever harbors any treacherous thoughts!" Dan''s words tightened everyone''s hearts, intensifying the fear in their eyes. He walked past his disciples with a measured stride, his eagle-like gaze sweeping over their faces. "Assisting in my ascension to immortality is a great virtue. Should I become immortal, I will not forget your contributions. But anyone who dares to sabotage my efforts..." He let out a chilling laugh. Suddenly, he stopped in front of Ethan, examining this disciple who seemed different from the others. "You''re just a figment of my imagination, why should I fear you? You''re just a thought in my head!" Ethan thought, meeting the leprous head''s gaze with calm eyes. As Dan raised his mud-caked right hand, the atmosphere in the cave grew tense. All eyes were on Ethan, waiting to see how the master would deal with this bold disciple. Surprisingly, Dan''s expression softened, and he gently patted Ethan''s head with his raised hand, dissipating the heavy atmosphere. "Why didn''t you join those traitors last night in their escape?" he asked, his words sounding more like praise than a question. Ethan was about to respond when Dan raised his hand again. "Spare me your platitudes. Though you didn''t report to me in time, you''re still far better than those treacherous scum." Lowering his hand, Dan continued, "I see great potential in you. You no longer need to work in the elixir room. From now on, you are my registered disciple." Ethan was momentarily stunned by the sudden elevation in status. However, he quickly realized that with so many recent deaths in the cave, Dan must be short on assistants. Though Ethan didn''t care much about the preferential treatment, others in the elixir room looked on enviously. Being Dan''s registered disciple meant a reprieve from death. But for Dan, this wasn''t enough. He knew he had to offer more incentives to truly captivate and retain loyalty. "Ethan," Dan addressed Ethan, preparing to bestow a gift on his new disciple. Ethan promptly approached, sensing that Dan intended to give him something. From his gourd, Dan poured out five dark pills, placing them in Ethan''s palm. "Keep them safe. These are divine pills, crafted by myself. Not only will they add ten years to your lifespan, but they will also temporarily grant you immense strength to protect yourself." Ethan frowned slightly as he examined the pills, wondering, "Could these also be made from people?" As he pondered, one of the pills seemed to momentarily shift shape as if something was trying to emerge, but upon closer inspection, it appeared unchanged. "Am I going crazy? Why do I care about things in a hallucination? This is all fake, and I can''t fall deeper into this illusion," Ethan thought, frustratedly tapping his head. Dan, oblivious to Ethan''s internal struggle, turned to address the remaining disciples. "See? Opposing me leads to death, but serving me brings great rewards, substantial rewards!" The disciples'' eyes flickered between Dan and the pills, each lost in their thoughts, which only they knew. Satisfied with the impact of his gesture, Dan waved his filthy sleeve, dismissing everyone to return to their tasks. Now relieved from elixir room duties, Ethan inherited Yang''s position, and with it came all of Yang''s privileges, including his status, Taoist robe, and even his private cave. At this point, Ethan was indifferent to the happenings within the hallucination; his focus was on what he had gained. Arms crossed, he gazed at the two items on his hospital bedsheet ¨C the jade pendant and the pills. "My goodness, they really came out with me." But now, Ethan faced a familiar dilemma, forcing him to confront a crucial question: "If I take these pills and they work, does it mean this place isn''t a hallucination? What exactly is happening to me?" He had been diligently following the doctor''s advice, treating everything in the hallucination as unreal. But now, with these tangible items before him, his conviction wavered. If this is all a hallucination, why and how did these objects become real, and what harm could they bring to him? If that world was real... A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. The images of the sister turned into pills by the master, Yang devoured by the black cauldron, and other terrifying scenes flashed in his mind, quickening his breath. "Ah! It''s so frustrating not having anyone to talk to." Ethan ran his hands through his hair in agitation. After venting, Ethan had to face reality. He pondered for a long time before deciding on a course of action. In the hallucinatory world, whether real or not, he would continue to go along with it as if it were real. If it turned out to be real, he could keep himself safe. If it was all fake, there would be no harm done. For now, he would verify the authenticity and value of the items he had acquired and plan accordingly. Taking a deep breath, Ethan picked up one of the pills between his thumb and forefinger. "No, it''s too risky to try it myself," he thought, his gaze turning to the patients sunbathing in the garden outside. After a moment of inner struggle, he resignedly put the pill down. They were all victims like him; he couldn''t subject them to testing. "I''ll find a way to test it on a lab rat later," he thought. Ethan then turned his attention to the jade pendant. Compared to the pills, this item seemed much easier to handle. "Speak up, what''s this about? I climbed over the wall to get here, so it better not be a prank!" Anna warned Ethan, clenching her small fists. "Anna, I really need your help. You know I can''t leave this place," Ethan pleaded as he shut the door and drew the curtains of his hospital room. Anna stepped back nervously. "What are you doing? The nurses at the station can hear us." Before she could finish, laughter from the nurses came through the speaker. "Haha, don''t worry, we''re not listening. Go for it, Ethan!" "Nurses, could you focus on your work and not gossip? Pay attention to the patients in the critical ward," Ethan shouted back at the speaker before pulling Anna to a corner of the room. He took the jade pendant from his pocket and placed it in her hand, whispering instructions into her ear. Anna''s eyes widened in disbelief. "This can''t be, this is..." She was cut off as Ethan covered her mouth with his hand. Their eyes locked, Ethan''s gaze filled with a desperate plea. "Please help me, everything I said is true. Even my parents don''t believe me. Everyone thinks I''m insane. You''re the only one I can trust in the whole world. I''m not crazy!" Anna looked at Ethan for a few seconds, then finally nodded, her eyes red and filled with concern for his mental state as she left. Watching her leave, Ethan''s feelings were mixed. He didn''t care what others thought, but Anna''s opinion mattered to him. "Anna, just believe me this once, just once!" Waiting was always agonizing. Ethan paced restlessly, his heart in turmoil. He experienced another hallucination during this time but quickly snapped back, fearing he might miss Anna''s return. According to the doctor, this wasn''t a good sign, but he couldn''t risk missing her. Days passed, one after another, and Ethan''s anxiety and insecurity grew. Hearing the nurse''s announcement that his girlfriend had come, Ethan leapt out of bed and rushed to the hospital''s entrance. In the garden, he and Anna met and embraced each other excitedly. Anna whispered in his ear, trying to keep her voice down, "Ethan, it''s true, the jade pendant is real!" "I''m not sick! Haha, I''m not sick!" Ethan exclaimed in delight, twirling Anna around in his arms. After their initial excitement subsided, they calmed down. "Did I cause any trouble with your life or studies by asking for your help?" Ethan asked, concerned, as they sat beside a flowerbed. Instead of answering directly, Anna changed the subject, extending four slender fingers. "Do you know how much that pendant is worth? This much!" "Forty thousand?" "Four hundred thousand! And I think he undervalued it. If we ask around more, it could be worth even more." "Four hundred thousand!" Ethan repeated, beaming with joy. The amount was enough to cover his medical expenses and more. This was just the beginning. "Anna, ready to be a little rich girl?" Ethan''s teasing brought a blush to Anna''s cheeks. "Stop joking around. Isn''t this too strange? It won''t harm you, right?" "No worries, I''m fine. If it''s like this, I might have to delay my treatment. This is a treasure; I can''t be cured too quickly." Anna''s expression turned anxious. "Ethan, these are two different things. I don''t care about the money. You can''t stop your treatment or your medication. Promise me, or I won''t help you anymore." Ethan thought of many reasons to argue, but looking into her concerned eyes, he felt a warm surge in his heart. "Okay, I promise." Anna smiled and gently patted his head. "That''s more like it, silly man." As Ethan and Anna discussed how to cash in the jade pendant, several burly middle-aged men, wielding batons, hurried past them. "What''s going on? Is there a problem?" Ethan asked one of the familiar faces in confusion. "Don''t ask too much, Ethan. Just get back to your room. And if you see Hans, report it immediately. He''s probably spit out his medication again," the man hurriedly said before rushing towards the staircase. "Isn''t the critical ward surrounded by double-layered iron bars? How could Hans, with his small stature, escape?" Ethan wondered, glancing in that direction. His previous stay there was a rather unpleasant memory. Seeing other patients being escorted back to their rooms, Ethan told Anna, "It''s getting chaotic here; you better leave. Call me tonight, and we''ll talk over the phone." "Okay, just remember what you promised me," Anna said before walking towards the hospital entrance. As Ethan headed back to his room, contemplating the pendant''s worth, he felt a surge of new ideas. "Four hundred thousand..." he mused. Regardless of whether it was a hallucination or reality, the pendant''s value was undeniable. Just then, a familiar scream from behind made him turn. A scrawny, bald old man had pinned Anna to the ground. Seething with rage, Ethan charged towards them, yelling, "Hans! Let go of her, she''s my girlfriend!" Suddenly, a hexagonal floor tile flew through the air, striking Ethan on the head. Dazed, he fell to the ground, his vision turning red as blood trickled from his head. Through the reddening haze, he saw bloated feet in patient slippers step past him, heading towards Anna, who was struggling and screaming. As the heavy footsteps approached Anna, Ethan''s mind buzzed with one thought: he mustn''t let them harm her! Trembling, he pulled out one of the pills his master had given him and swallowed it, mingling with his own blood. Instantly, a searing warmth spread from his stomach to his limbs, filling him with strength, his groggy mind suddenly clear. With a powerful punch, he hit the fatty''s jaw, sending teeth flying. Without a second glance at the fallen man, Ethan strode towards Hans, planting a foot on his frail chest. Bones cracked under his foot as Hans''s body flew like a limp noodle. Ethan''s teeth clenched so tightly that his gums bled as he stared down at the two fallen men. With a stomp, he lunged towards them like a cheetah. "Ethan! Stop! What are you doing!"