The doctor stood frozen inside the private ward, eyes wide in disbelief.
He had never imagined that the patient—deemed hopeless and declared brain-dead—would suddenly wake up just one week after being admitted. A case like this was nothing short of miraculous.
Quickly regaining his composure, he adjusted his coat and stepped forward calmly toward the girl now sitting upright on the hospital bed.
Yet his heart thudded violently within his chest. It wasn't just the shock of her recovery. It was her eyes. They studied him with unhidden scrutiny, piercing straight through him, as if she could see everything he tried to conceal.
That gaze made his skin crawl.
He swallowed hard, trying to soothe his dry throat, then put on a professional smile as he addressed her.
"This... young Miss, you're awake... cough, cough…" he stammered, the words catching awkwardly in his throat.
Zhou Xue—who had already appraised the new visitor—instantly lost interest when she recognized him as the attending physician in charge of her case. She turned her head indifferently.
Fwuu...
Doctor Chu exhaled heavily in relief and immediately gestured toward the nurse standing nearby. "Draw blood and run a full test," he ordered, his voice unusually soft and cautious.
The nurse walked toward the bed, her steps hesitant and eyes wary. Something about the girl unsettled her deeply, though she couldn't explain why. Her hands trembled slightly as she approached.
"Um... Miss Zhou, may I see your left arm, please?" she asked nervously.
Zhou Xue tilted her head slightly but complied without resistance. Still, she couldn't understand why both the doctor and the nurse were behaving as if they were in the presence of something terrifying.
Back in Hell, it was normal. Even high-level soul entities would faint at the mere sight of her. Other powerful beings didn't dare get too close, and even her own grandfather—the King of Hell—visited her only on rare occasions. According to him, her body emitted a mysterious force that could suppress Hell's very energy. It made her a figure feared by all, even within the underworld.
That kind of isolation, that curse of presence, had made her long for something she had never truly experienced—companionship.
That was why, when she met the soul of the aggrieved Zhou Xue—one of the few souls who didn't flee from her—she felt something unfamiliar. Connection. For once, someone had looked at her and not been consumed by fear.
It was this rare bond that had moved Yama Steel to strike a deal and take on a human body.
And now, standing here—inhabiting that body—she noticed something curious. The nurse and doctor were certainly nervous, but they hadn't fainted or fled. To her, that was progress.
For the first time in her existence, she felt... mildly welcomed.
Taking advantage of the moment, Zhou Xue turned to the doctor. "Can I get a computer?"
Doctor Chu blinked rapidly. "N-no problem, Miss Zhou. Lan Ju!" he barked. "Bring a computer for the young miss, now!"
Nurse Lan Ju flinched, nodded, and nearly tripped over her own feet as she hurried out of the ward to fulfill the order.
Doctor Chu smiled stiffly and gave a slight bow. "If you need anything—guidance or otherwise—don't hesitate to call for me."
Zhou Xue gave a small, graceful nod and waved him off with a flick of her hand.
Relieved beyond words, Doctor Chu turned and fled the ward. His legs moved with a speed his body hadn't known in decades. As he exited, he muttered under his breath and shook his head, making his way back toward the laboratory.
Meanwhile, Nurse Lan Ju, ignoring her colleagues' curious glances, snatched a computer from the desk and dashed back to the private ward. The other nurses exchanged puzzled looks. She was clearly in a rush, but they assumed it must have been some medical emergency.
When Lan Ju returned to Ward 6, she quietly handed the computer to Zhou Xue, who accepted it with a polite thank you and waved her out. Only after stepping outside the room did Lan Ju realize she'd been holding her breath. She exhaled sharply.
So scary… she thought to herself.
Once back in the nurse's quarters, she wasted no time in spreading the word: "There's a terrifying patient in Private Ward 6—even Doctor Chu is acting cautious around her!"
Her colleagues scoffed at first—until they heard about Doctor Chu's strange behavior. Then the rumors began to spread like wildfire. Curiosity quickly followed.
Several staff members who didn't believe the tale decided to sneak a peek at the mysterious patient. One by one, they crept toward Ward 6 and peeked through the window—only to lock eyes with Zhou Xue, who had been watching them the entire time.
The moment their eyes met hers, panic exploded within them. They bolted like startled deer, stumbling over each other in their haste to flee.
And it wasn't just one person—many repeated the same mistake, and each time they returned pale-faced and breathless. Eventually, the rumor was accepted as fact: a beautiful but terrifying girl resided in Private Ward 6.
Zhou Xue, observing the absurd scene from inside, didn't mind at first. But the constant peeking became an annoyance. Her once-sky-blue eyes began to darken, swirling with fury. They deepened into a shade so intense it felt like they could devour the stars themselves.
That was the state Doctor Chu found her in when he returned to check on her condition.
Before he could even speak, Zhou Xue pointed toward the door and spoke in a frigid tone. "Doctor Chu, please take care of the little mice running around outside my door."
The old doctor nearly collapsed from the pressure. He nodded repeatedly, stammering apologies before fleeing again—this time unsure of whether his legs were even moving on command. All he knew was that they were trembling uncontrollably.
After that encounter, a strict order was issued: no one was to approach or pass by Ward 6 unless absolutely necessary.
As for Zhou Xue, the medical examinations came back clear. She was healthy—shockingly so. Her body showed no signs of damage despite having fallen down a tall flight of stairs and slipping into a coma.
Doctor Chu chose not to ask questions. It was a miracle, yes, but miracles weren't uncommon—especially for individuals possibly associated with that organization.
And he had his suspicions.
This girl... he suspected she belonged to that group.
---
Alone once more, Zhou Xue sat cross-legged on the hospital bed, fingers dancing across the keyboard. The computer was fast enough, and the hospital's connection gave her access to the city's surveillance network with just a few tweaks.
Back in hell, she'd developed a fondness for computer programming—a hobby she picked up from observing lost souls replaying memories of Earth.
She liked it.
Uncovering secrets without ever leaving a room... it was both efficient and intimate.
Now, she turned her focus to the shopping mall—the place where the original Zhou Xue had been murdered.
While the mall's internal cameras had likely been scrubbed clean by Zhou Mu, she wasn't the only one with eyes.
Three high-rise buildings surrounded the mall: one to the left, one to the right, and one directly across the plaza. Each had rooftop surveillance.
Zhou Mu had either overlooked them—or simply didn't care.
She accessed the footage and found what she was looking for.
There, clear as day, was Zhou Mu.
A smile, a shove, and then... the fall.
Zhou Xue stared at the screen, a subtle frown crossing her lips.
The original Zhou Xue had been beautiful—delicate and kind-hearted. Her death was senseless, her soul betrayed by someone she trusted.
Zhou Xue downloaded the footage, encrypted it, and transferred it to her phone.
After ensuring there were no traces left on the hospital computer, she shut it down and placed it aside.
Next, she picked up her phone—a surprisingly durable device that had survived the incident with only minor scratches.
She unlocked it easily. The original owner's memories, now hers, provided everything she needed.
She dialed the emergency line.
Pu... pu... pu...
The call connected.
"Emergency Services. What's your emergency?"
Zhou Xue's voice was calm, precise.
"I'd like to report an attempted murder."
There was a moment of silence.
"Can you repeat that, Miss?"
"I am Zhou Xue. I was pushed down the stairs at Tiansheng Shopping Mall by a family member, I've recently awoken from a coma. I have evidence to support my words."
The silence on the other end deepened.
"Are you in a safe location now?"
"Yes. I'm in a private ward at Lingxin General Hospital."
"All right. A team will be dispatched immediately to take your statement. Please remain available."
After explaining some situations and informing them her ward number,
Zhou Xue ended the call and placed the phone beside her.
She leaned back against the pillows and exhaled slowly.
One move had been made.
Now, the board was set.