My ‘Healing’ Game
Chapter 822 Gao Cheng

Chapter 822: Chapter 822 Gao Cheng

Arriving in this unfamiliar and eerie world, suspected to have cannibals beyond common sense, the thirty students in the class were not too panicked.

They forgot many things, leaving only numbers and instincts, but often, that was enough for them.

"We have three days to prepare." Zhou Qi, number five, leaned on the podium with both hands: "The outing in three days, though dangerous, is also a chance to regain freedom."

"For now, don’t set a target." A student in the last row of the classroom was twirling a pen with a lazy demeanor, legs casually crossed, dressed like a little ruffian: "Since the teacher, other students, the school, and the surrounding residents might all be our enemies, why not consider taking them down with us? The building encloses ghosts, they want to sacrifice us, we can sacrifice them as well."

"Number nine, your thoughts are quite dark." Zhou Qi, number five, tapped the blackboard: "At this stage, we should focus on self-preservation instead of always thinking about revenge on others."

"You don’t bully others, they will bully you, I’m just thinking for everyone’s good." Number nine glanced at the exercise book on his desk, his name was Tang Ling: "We can’t even recall our own names, what morals or rules do we still care about in this situation?"

"Whether it’s losing memories or losing other things, as long as everyone is still here, it’s fine." The male student sitting in the first position of the first row in the classroom spoke, his build a head taller than normal kids, with a terrifying power seemingly dwelling inside. The name on his exercise book had been erased and replaced with a new number—number one.

With number one’s words, no one in the class had any further objections.

"Number five is the child with the strongest leadership among us, he can quickly and accurately assess risks, consider the big picture, and grasp emerging trends in the environment, so let number five be our class monitor."

The leading kids nodded in agreement, and number nine did not oppose.

"If we are offerings to the ghost and monster, at least within these three days we are safe. Take the time to learn about this world, to learn about yourselves. We can only rely on each other." Number one’s aura differed from all the other kids, a trace of unreadable pain hidden in his eyes, like pearls soaked in a river of despair for thousands of years, bright and beautiful yet filled with sorrow.

"This eerie world is dangerous, but we can definitely survive." Number one looked at everyone: "I forgot most of the past, but I vaguely feel we’ve been through things hundreds of times more despairing than this."

"Yes, I feel the same way." A child who lost both legs silently tidied up the desk: "For kids not abandoned before, this might be hell, but for us, it’s just a simpler cage."

"We can consider it a game." Number eight, wearing glasses, small in stature, spoke up too, picking up an exercise book covered in cartoon stickers: "Chen You, I quite like this name."

"You are always so optimistic, actually resisting death intensely inside, inconsistent, full of contradictions, this is you." A tall and thin boy sitting in the corner wrote the number four repeatedly with a pencil on paper, until it merged into a self-portrait: "Death is the only release, living like this is too exhausting."

All thirty children in the class have their own unique personalities, each representing a hidden secret from deep human nature. They were gathered nationwide by Eternal Life Pharmaceutical over years.

Among them, some were strong, some weak, some confident and optimistic never to be downed by adversity, and some shrouded entirely in pessimism, thoughts constantly circling around dying.

These thirty children formed a class, striving for survival in an unspeakable anticipated future, living in the post-apocalyptic world where the Deep World merges with reality.

...

Clutching the medicine bottle tightly, mentally polluted Han Fei walked along the school corridor, his world shadowed heavily, many normal things appearing changed in his eyes, feeling as if heading straight into a nightmare.

"Teacher Gao Cheng? How did you get out from the medical room? Go back and lie down soon; I’ll substitute your class these days."

A warm voice sounded behind Han Fei. He turned to see a middle-aged man standing not far from him, seemingly having an obsession with hygiene, his attire spotless without a flaw.

"Who are you?"

"Has the mental pollution reached the point of eroding memory?" The middle-aged man supported Han Fei: "I’m Director Crow, can’t you recognize even me?"

Carrion-feeding crow dressed spotlessly.

Before Han Fei could answer, the middle-aged man had already taken out a medicine bottle from his pocket, broke a tablet in half, and stuffed it into Han Fei’s mouth: "The suppression effect of the medication will weaken more and more, take half at a time to let your body gradually adapt."

After consuming the medicine, Han Fei didn’t feel any relief in his mental anguish, only an overwhelming drowsiness, unable to muster energy for anything, just wanting to sleep well.

"What is this medicine?"

"Of course, medicine that can save you." Director Crow helped Han Fei to his office, another teacher was already inside, appearing in his early thirties with a long scar across his cheek: "Teacher Wang? Do you have business with me?"

The scar-faced teacher was named Wang Chuqing, Chuqing was his girlfriend’s name, after her death, he changed his name.

"Three days from now is the students’ outing examination, with Teacher Gao like this, he won’t be able to lead the team, why don’t I substitute for him?" The scar-faced one’s tone was somber, the temperature seemed to drop significantly, and his eyes towards Han Fei were highly unfriendly.

Upon hearing Wang Chuqing’s words, Director Crow let out a slight smile, staring at the scarred face intently: "According to sequence, it’s your turn to be responsible for class five this time. Why? Have you truly considered yourself their father?"

"I just want to substitute for Teacher Gao."

"Save your unnecessary sympathy, you don’t want class five kids to feed ghosts, so you’re thinking of replacing them with those from class seven?" Director Crow’s face leaned closer to Teacher Wang Chuqing’s: "This isn’t kindness, if you do that, you’re a murderer breaking the rules."

By now, Han Fei had also realized something was amiss, his suspicions arose from the conversation between Director Crow and Teacher Wang Chuqing, that the examination in three days wasn’t simple, each class seemingly had fixed "ghost feeding quotas".

Teacher Wang didn’t reply further, after a moment of eye contact with Director Crow, he glanced at the weakened Han Fei, then directly left.

"Teacher Gao, don’t worry, everything will proceed according to the rules." Director Crow resumed a gentle vibe: "For these three days, rest well, aim to join the children in the examination when the time comes."

"What is the examination really?" Han Fei leaned against the wall, body nearly collapsing.

"Forgot even that?" Director Crow slightly frowned: "The examination is just a simple assessment, to awaken each child’s potential personality, to see if they are food or a spark of hope."

"What will happen to the food? And what about the fire?"

"The food will be eaten, and the fire will be extinguished." Director Crow’s voice was somewhat cold, directly dispelling the drowsiness in Han Fei’s brain.

"The students’ textbooks say that two-thirds of the city is occupied by those things. In fact, after years of resistance, nine-tenths of the city is now occupied by those things, even without them actively expanding." Director Crow pointed at the city map on the table: "We should explore a new way of coexistence, which is the purpose of the ’school’s’ existence."

Offering children as food to the ghosts? Is this a school? Or a cafeteria?

Han Fei didn’t voice his thoughts. All he could think about now was how to save those thirty children. The enemies he had to face this time weren’t just ghosts, but also the school’s teachers and those around who enjoyed the existing rules.

"You are the teacher I have the most hope for within the school. What a pity, if I could have stopped you when you went to the Deceit Building that night." There was indeed a hint of regret in Director Crow’s tone, it seemed Gao Cheng used to be quite popular in the school.

"I will recover as soon as possible."

"Don’t put too much pressure on yourself, go back and rest."

Han Fei used his will to resist drowsiness, and his mental state slightly improved.

After exchanging greetings with Director Crow, he left the office, intending to first inform Number Two about the assessment.

He walked towards his class, just reaching the corner of the stairs, when he was suddenly grabbed and dragged into the shadows.

"Teacher Wang?"

The one who laid hands on Han Fei was the scar-faced Wang Chuqing, who seemed to be in a state of agitation.

"Gao Cheng, I have a bottle of medicine brought from the Red Mansion, it might cure your ailment." Teacher Wang took out a glass bottle filled with blood from his pocket: "I want to exchange this bottle of medicine for a promise from you."

"What promise?"

"On the day of the assessment, let the children from your class enter the building in place of Class Five." Teacher Wang, fierce-looking, was genuinely considering his students, the only teacher striving to protect his students within the scope of the rules.

"Those children are merely food and sacrificial offerings, is it worth it to go to such lengths to protect them?" Han Fei instinctively used Master-level acting; being an actor is indeed very useful in any Memory Shrine.

"That’s my business, none of your concern." Teacher Wang stared into Han Fei’s eyes: "Our power comes from personality, will, and ghosts. You are now heavily polluted mentally, unable to use your personality’s power, just a waste. You must know the school’s attitude toward the waste, right?"

"Then I need to test your medicine first; what if you use poison to trade with me?" Han Fei took the bottle from Teacher Wang, and a system prompt sounded in his brain.

"Player number 0000, please note, you have discovered an F-grade medicine diluted ghost blood. Using this medicine can clear some mental pollution, but there is a chance of getting cursed by ghost blood."

Han Fei grew up eating Curses and has high resistance to various curses. This bottle of medicine is very important to him.

Opening the bottle cap, Han Fei took a cautious sip. It felt like swallowing a piece of ice, a bone-chilling cold spreading from his lips to his throat.

"It seems to work..." Han Fei directly pocketed the bottle.

"You agreed?" Teacher Wang didn’t expect Han Fei would agree so readily.

"Yes." Han Fei nodded. He never intended to let the students participate in any assessment. He wanted to find a way outside the rules to lead everyone to a complete escape.

"As expected of the successor valued by Director Crow, truly cold-blooded, truly ruthless." Teacher Wang seemed to be praising Han Fei, but his eyes were filled with disdain. After obtaining Han Fei’s promise, he left immediately.

Finding a couple of secluded corners, Han Fei gulped down the ghost blood, feeling his whole body being frozen, even his brain seemed to be sealed.

Rubbing his hands together, Han Fei made an effort not to fall asleep. After a long time, he gradually felt a hint of warmth, the negative emotions in his brain were partially cleared, and his will seemed to become stronger.

"Player number 0000, please note, your current mental pollution index is twenty-nine, still at risk, please clear mental pollution promptly."

Han Fei felt a lot better, but he continued to use acting to disguise himself, weakly moving along the walls into the teacher’s office.

He found his seat and started rummaging through various materials.

"Player number 0000, please note, you have discovered the teacher’s apartment 204 key."

"Player number 0000, please note, you have discovered an E-grade special item—Deceit Mirror."

"Deceit Mirror: The only item Gao Cheng brought out from the Deceit Building—Third Eye Hospital."

After securing Gao Cheng’s belongings, Han Fei gradually noticed some issues.

This Gao Cheng was not simple; before the catastrophe, he was a blind person suffering from eye disease. Yet when the catastrophe destroyed Xinhu, he unexpectedly regained his sight.

As the teacher with the worst reputation in the school, not only did he live well, but he was also the only person in the school who had entered the Deceit Building five times and still managed to come out alive.

Based on the information left by Gao Cheng, it seems he had a twin brother trapped in a certain Deceit Building deep within the city. Every night, he would dream of things related to that blood relative.