Chapter Ninety-Nine: The Invitation

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Fang Xi did not describe the appearance of the clinic he saw, only saying it was similar to an ordinary small clinic.
“At that time, I thought I was hallucinating, so I didn’t pay much attention. Otherwise…” Fang Xi’s words carried regret, but his tone lacked any real emotion.
Cheng Yao asked about his other experiences.
Having lived so long, he could be said to have witnessed history. Coupled with the advantage of being ageless and immortal, it was easy to imagine Fang Xi’s circumstances must be enviable.
At least, when Cheng Yao inquired, his expression revealed envy.
Fang Xi was indifferent about the first half of his life; the dreams he mentioned earlier, and the career promotions old Zhang had recounted, he brushed over quickly. Instead, he gave Cheng Yao a detailed account of some of his legendary travels.
“...The icebergs in the polar regions are spectacular. Whether looking up at their peaks from the water’s surface, standing atop and looking down, or diving underwater to follow the iceberg down into the deep sea, it’s a remarkable experience. You feel your own insignificance as a living being before nature, yet when you touch the iceberg, there’s a thrilling sensation of having this giant under your control with just one hand. Unfortunately, there’s nothing extraordinary inside the iceberg...”
“...The deep sea is fascinating too. Those bizarre creatures open one’s eyes. They’re also quite foolish, evolutionarily insufficient, hardly intelligent, driven only by instinct. No matter how large, deformed, or powerful hunters they are, they can only survive miserably in the deep sea...”
“...Volcanic lava tunnels don’t connect to the earth’s core. To reach the core, you have to enter real molten lava and keep descending...” Fang Xi grew more and more excited as he spoke, unconsciously lowering his voice, as if talking to himself, his eyes sparkling with excitement. “Only by reaching the core can you understand how insignificant this world really is! Not your own insignificance, but the entire world’s! This world is too small... that kind of existence... that kind of existence...”
Fang Xi trembled with excitement but forcibly restrained himself, soon becoming polite and composed again. “Sorry, did I scare you all?”
“No. I’m just curious. You really have been to the deep sea and the earth’s core?” Cheng Yao asked in surprise.
The medicine the doctor injected into his body gave him superhuman strength and certain non-human abilities. But could these powers allow him to dive into the deep sea or drill into the earth’s core? Cheng Yao was unsure.
Fang Xi’s story was also suspicious. More precisely, there were many doubts about Fang Xi’s previous self-introduction.
Cheng Yao had now roughly understood how the doctor “selects” patients. Every patient he had met before seemed to have a form of obsession, bearing intense, vivid desires and cravings. He was no different.
In old Zhang’s impression, Fang Xi was a proud young man with good reason to be proud, tirelessly climbing the career ladder; in Fang Xi’s own narrative, his initial sighting of the clinic was driven by strong ambition, a sense of responsibility, and mission. Yet, years later, when recounting old stories, Fang Xi’s tone was moving but lacked passion.
Cheng Yao was doubtful but could not be certain.
People change. Old Zhang had seen Fang Xi after his change. Cheng Yao had also seen Liu Yu after his transformation. Even if the changed Fang Xi spoke of the past in a calm tone, it didn’t necessarily mean he was lying.
Now, as Fang Xi described his travels, his tone and expression showed genuine passion. It did not seem like a lie, though the content was incredible.
Cheng Yao could no longer find another “old Zhang” to corroborate. Comparing his own situation and the few patients he had encountered, he only felt that the syringe was useful but not to such an exaggerated degree.
Fang Xi smiled faintly, dismissing Cheng Yao’s doubts. “Of course I’ve been. But if you want to go, it won’t be easy.” A hint of disdain flashed across his eyes, quickly concealed by a squint. “You don’t understand the greatness of the doctor.”
Cheng Yao was taken aback.
This twist was unexpected. He thought Fang Xi would boast or deliberately challenge him, but the final point was about the doctor.
Afterwards, both seemed somewhat displeased and guarded their thoughts, no longer continuing the conversation, walking in silence.
Night was deep; few pedestrians were on the street, with occasional vehicles.
Because of the approaching typhoon, the wind grew stronger, street trees swayed unpredictably, intermittently blocking the streetlights, making the road flicker with light and shadow.
Cheng Yao held Bai Xiao’s hand and, with Fang Xi, arrived at the intersection where he first saw the monster clinic.
The shops across the street were already closed and dark, with no bright glass doors or flickering neon signs of the monster clinic.
Cheng Yao was not surprised.
He pointed out the direction to Fang Xi, “That’s where we saw the monster clinic before.”
There was only a wall there. Next to the wall was the storefront of “Friendship Real Estate.”
Fang Xi did not move.
“Since then, we’ve never seen it again. That clinic suddenly appeared, then suddenly disappeared. I’ve never seen it here before.” Cheng Yao said regretfully, emphasizing once more, “And we haven’t seen it since.”
The wind howled, blowing fallen leaves across the ground.
Fang Xi slowly turned his head to look at Cheng Yao. “You only saw the clinic here?”
Cheng Yao’s heart skipped a beat, but he asked oddly, “Otherwise? You mean… you’ve seen the monster clinic many times?”

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“Heh. I said before, I’ve been looking for the monster clinic for many years. I’ve also met other patients besides you.” Fang Xi said, “Some of them have seen the monster clinic more than once.”
“Really? Are their conditions more complicated?” Cheng Yao frowned, asking, “Do they need multiple follow-ups?”
“Of course not. The doctor’s treatment only requires one time.” Fang Xi said meaningfully, “But the clinic may not appear only once.”
“I don’t quite understand. Just say what you mean.” Cheng Yao said, “What exactly do you want to ask?”
Fang Xi looked toward the direction Cheng Yao had pointed. “Why did you step into the monster clinic?”
“To see a doctor.” Cheng Yao answered without hesitation.
“In this era, a young person like you would enter a small roadside clinic?” Fang Xi retorted, “You told me to be straightforward, so you should be honest too.”
Fang Xi stared fixedly at the wall, and before Cheng Yao could speak again, he continued, “I’ve seen young people like you. Oh, young to me, but he was probably much older than you. He said one day he suddenly realized there was a new clinic by the street. He didn’t enter at first, just passed by repeatedly, until he had visited all the famous doctors and tried countless folk remedies. When nothing else worked, not even praying to gods, he finally pushed open the door of the monster clinic with a joking attitude.”
After finishing, Fang Xi looked at Cheng Yao, smiled, and glanced meaningfully at Bai Xiao. “With what mindset and purpose did you enter the monster clinic?”
Cheng Yao gave no response, though the muscles beneath his skin tensed quietly, ready to unleash all his potential. Internally, his organs were active at the cellular level, poised to explode with power at any moment. Yet on the surface, he remained relaxed, standing silently, unchanged from the moment before.
Bai Xiao was the same as ever. Since Cheng Yao had pulled her close, she behaved like a well-behaved doll, walking silently beside him without looking at Fang Xi.
“The First Clan”
“How long have you been following me?” Cheng Yao asked expressionlessly.
“Not long.” Fang Xi said, “Don’t be so nervous. I followed you because I didn’t know how to approach you. Another reason, I think you should understand. The monster clinic is very special. No patient wants to expose its secret. That would bring a lot of trouble. If I had walked straight up to you and told you I was also a patient, you’d probably pretend not to know and run away immediately, right?”
Fang Xi’s concern was the same as the problem Cheng Yao had considered when following those few patients. But... Liu Yu was introduced to the monster clinic by him; Mao Mao’s records he had “secretly” seen; then he had met Kong Yajie by chance, suspected Tong Bin, and accidentally bumped into Zheng Yichao; as for the infant, it was probably deliberately revealed to him by the doctor... So how did Fang Xi find out about him, this patient? Was it through a similar kind of kinship sense?
Cheng Yao had carefully examined himself and his surroundings after discovering he was being followed, recalling his recent experiences repeatedly.
He looked at Fang Xi and truly relaxed.
Fang Xi maintained his smile, waiting leisurely for Cheng Yao’s answer.
Cheng Yao squeezed Bai Xiao’s hand. “My purpose should be easy to guess, right? Similar to that patient you met before. We were desperate and then saw the monster clinic. That night, the only open place I saw was a clinic...”
Bai Xiao remained silent, head bowed, letting Cheng Yao explain to Fang Xi.
Fang Xi nodded. “I see. Actually, everyone’s experience is similar; all are unfortunate souls.” He shifted his tone and asked, “Mr. Cheng, have you met other patients?”
Cheng Yao frowned and thought hard, then asked after a long pause, “How would I know? How do you know I’ve also been to the monster clinic?”
Fang Xi answered generously, “Because of the feeling. We’ve all been to the monster clinic and received treatment. You have it inside you too, right? This subtle kinship aura—you should be able to sense it.”
Cheng Yao seemed to try and was surprised.
Fang Xi chuckled and asked again, “When did you go to the monster clinic?”
“During Qingming this year,” Cheng Yao replied.
“Oh, quite a special day.” Fang Xi drew out the words, glanced at Bai Xiao, and then invited, “Since we’re fellow patients and have reached an understanding, why not look for the clinic together? As far as I know, the clinic stays in one city for a while. You saw it earlier this year, so it should still be in this city.”
Cheng Yao was quite surprised. “Where did you see the clinic back then?”
Fang Xi named another city.
Cheng Yao didn’t know whether to believe him, nor whether Fang Xi’s “staying for a while” was true. At least from his experience, the monster clinic could appear and disappear anytime, anywhere, with the only rule being a patient’s presence nearby.
Cheng Yao agreed to Fang Xi’s invitation, exchanged contact information, and parted ways.
Cheng Yao still held Bai Xiao’s hand and slowly walked home.
Only after entering did Cheng Yao reach out to touch Bai Xiao’s cheek.
Bai Xiao looked very pale.
“Don’t be afraid. It’s nothing. Since he’s willing to lie and deceive, it means he doesn’t want to act for now,” Cheng Yao said confidently.

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“You know he’s lying?” Bai Xiao asked.
“Not everything he said is true,” Cheng Yao replied. “Besides, didn’t he invite me to find others together? He won’t act for now.”
Bai Xiao said, “Even if he does, I’m not afraid. He’s weak.”
“But you were injured...” Cheng Yao frowned.
“Just a minor wound. I can feel he’s weakening and won’t live much longer.” Bai Xiao interrupted, staring at Cheng Yao, “If it hadn’t been for you that day—if we had been together...”
Bai Xiao had made her stance clear, but Cheng Yao was unwilling to kill Fang Xi just like that. He had no reason to.
“What happened the day you fought?” Cheng Yao asked.
Bai Xiao lowered her eyes, her face still pale. “I found him and asked what he was doing, and without a word, he attacked.”
Cheng Yao was puzzled.
“He’s similar to Zheng Yichao, maybe like Baobei too... Now he’s putting on that attitude because he knows he can’t beat us. You have to be careful.” Bai Xiao looked up, worried.
“I know,” Cheng Yao assured her he would be cautious.
Bai Xiao still wasn’t at ease. “Better to deal with him sooner. At least strip away his monster powers like you did last time.”
Cheng Yao was stunned.
If Fang Xi’s monster powers were stripped, he would probably die quickly like the infant. It would be no different from killing him.
“He’s lived so long yet says he doesn’t want to die... old and undying is a villain.” Bai Xiao pursed her lips awkwardly.
Cheng Yao chuckled, “Don’t sulk. I still have many questions for him. Besides, there’s the doctor...”
At this, Cheng Yao’s expression darkened slightly.
The doctor’s attitude toward Fang Xi was somewhat elusive.
“If the doctor wanted to see him, he would have appeared long ago and wouldn’t be hiding from you because of him,” Bai Xiao said.
Cheng Yao looked at Bai Xiao in surprise.
Bai Xiao’s eyes flickered as if she wanted to say more, but Cheng Yao comforted her, “You really don’t need to worry. We’ll live well. Don’t be afraid.”
Bai Xiao lowered her head, wrapped her arms around Cheng Yao’s waist, and rested her head on his chest. Her hair fell down, partially covering her face.
“I’m just worried... why take the risk?” Bai Xiao sighed. “What happened before... I was very worried about you. I don’t want to waste our time. We’re finally together... we should cherish that more. We shouldn’t waste time on those unrelated people.”
Cheng Yao held Bai Xiao close. “We won’t... we still have a long time ahead. What Fang Xi said is important to us too.”
Bai Xiao said nothing.
“To live happily ever after, ageless and immortal—that would be wonderful, right?” Cheng Yao’s voice was soft.
Bai Xiao remained silent.
After a long while, Cheng Yao heard her whisper, “If it could be done...”
Cheng Yao lowered his head, seeing his arms wrapped around Bai Xiao and the wedding ring on his left ring finger. He could also feel Bai Xiao’s hand on his waist and the hard object on her left ring finger.
It was as if something hard was lodged in his heart as well.
He had long sensed Bai Xiao’s unease, now confirmed to be because of Fang Xi. But...
“If it could be done...”