Chapter 98: Old Ginger

“…Though awake now, we recommend three more days of observation…”

The doctor’s conversation with Zuo Meng’s parents drifted through the door. Lying in bed, Zuo Meng felt exhausted. His body was still weak, and he guessed discharge would require more rest.

He hadn’t yet found the giant’s true form here. Both the giant and himself appeared as ordinary people in this world. His plan was simple: first locate the giant’s human identity, then convince him as a friend that dreams were illusions. Reality demanded facing hardships through effort.

One good lecture of harsh truths ought to fix everything.

“A creator destroyed by motivational clichés?”

The bizarre notion flashed through Zuo Meng’s mind.

“Young man! Want an apple?”

An old woman in the neighboring bed thrust fruit toward him, scattering his thoughts.

“No thanks.”

Only then did Zuo Meng notice others sharing the non-critical ward. The woman had likely been sleeping until his brother Chen Yue’s voice disturbed her.

“Young man, you need to take it easy. There’s no hurdle you can’t overcome.”

“That driver who hit you – why’s apologizing and paying up so hard? When my granddaughter comes, I’ll have her get you justice!”

The woman spoke proudly of her granddaughter, clearly knowing Chen Fei. Zuo Meng just nodded blankly, his memory offering no recognition. He gave occasional vague replies until his parents entered with brother Chen Yue.

“Bro!”

“Xiao Fei, how do you feel?”

Family concern felt alien. He’d nearly forgotten their faces. Time really did erode everything – if not, there simply hadn’t been enough of it.

“Tired… mostly.”

Zuo Meng rasped, meeting the woman’s worried gaze.

“Rest properly,” she fretted. “The doctor said you’re healing well, but still need to…”

Her instructions blurred into white noise. When Zuo Meng refocused, the room held only sleeping strangers – family gone at medical advice. The chatty neighbor snored softly, restoring ward silence.

Exhaustion dragged him under again. This flesh prison remained pitifully fragile.

He woke to darkness. Hospital lights dimmed, night lamps glowing. The corridor lay deathly still.

“Who’s there?”

Hairs rose on his neck. A figure stood framed in the doorway.

“Old Ginger?”

The old woman woke too. Her face cycled shock to terror as she recognized the silhouette – Old Ginger, Zuo Meng’s former neighbor in the right bed. Impossible, since doctors had declared him dead three days prior, corpse sent to cold storage.

If Old Ginger was dead, what stood breathing at the threshold?

“Not an ordinary world after all…”

Zuo Meng squinted, detecting faint rot clinging to the figure. Though ignorant of details, the old woman’s panic told enough.

“Cough… cough…”

The silhouette hacked violently, ignoring them as it stood frozen in the doorway.

The old lady had pressed the bedside call button earlier, but the hospital seemed completely disconnected, showing no response.

“A test? Or maybe…”

Zuo Meng rose from bed. After resting for so long, his body had recovered some strength.

“Xiao Chen?”

Noticing Zuo Meng’s movement, the old lady called out cautiously.

“Don’t worry. I’ll check.”

Though stripped of his powers, Zuo Meng wasn’t like ordinary people. His soul remained stronger than most, and he still held the ‘Thirty-Three Pieces’ – his foundation to rely on in this world.

The chilling energy intensified as he moved closer.

Yet Zuo Meng’s body began undergoing peculiar changes too, his mortal flesh gradually transforming.

Within the game space.

Zuo Meng, sitting across the game space, suddenly opened his eyes. He placed a black piece on the board.

Black makes the first move!

Back in the hospital room, Zuo Meng halted mid-step. His eyes turned fathomless as powerful energy radiated from him, reaching the shadowy figure before physical contact. The silhouette abruptly stopped coughing. Though the young man stood merely ten paces away, the figure inexplicably trembled, then burst through the door and fled without a backward glance.

“He…ran away?”

The old lady finally exhaled, thoroughly shaken by the encounter. She resolved to complete discharge procedures tomorrow regardless of circumstances.

“Just someone from another ward. You must’ve mistaken them.”

Zuo Meng smiled as he returned to bed, sensing the newly awakened power within – finally some security.

“Must’ve been mistaken.”

The old lady nodded, dropping the subject. Much later, a night-shift nurse arrived, having finally received the call signal. With Old Ginger gone and no concrete explanation from the old lady, the matter was dismissed as a false alarm – though the nurse still filed a report out of professional caution.

The commotion subsided as dawn approached.

“Grandma told me about last night. Thank you.”

Zuo Meng finally met the granddaughter the old lady kept mentioning.

A sharp-eyed career woman in office wear, her black-framed glasses accentuating cold features that created an aloof, unapproachable aura.

“Didn’t do much.”

Zuo Meng smiled. He planned to discharge himself today anyway. With partial strength regained, he couldn’t afford more hospital delays. Against the Colossus, his limited resources demanded urgency.

“Your accident – I’ll have it handled.”

She must have heard her grandmother talk about Chen Fei’s collision.

“Appreciated.”

The granddaughter frowned at Zuo Meng’s response. His smile felt different – not warm, but creating distance. Unlike anyone she’d met, yet she couldn’t define why.

“My card. Contact me if needed.”

After hesitation, she produced a business card.

Jiangcheng Pharmaceutical Technology Co., Ltd.

Wu Qiuyue?

Drug manufacturer?

Zuo Meng pocketed the card with a nod.

Satisfied, Wu Qiuyue helped her grandmother leave without further words.