Chapter 4

Nian Qi’s eyes were bright and clear as he looked back at Ruan Qing. Since she had exposed his lie about amnesia and had specifically brought him to this quiet, secluded corner to tell him all this, it was clear she wasn’t just speaking for the sake of it. “Then, what should I do?” he asked earnestly, seeking her guidance. “Please, tell me.”

“You cannot let the police find out about you,” Ruan Qing said. “As for why, it’s a long story, and I’ll explain it after we leave here. For now, we need to address this amnesia issue. I thought about it, and there’s no other solution but for you to go to the doctor yourself and say that your mind has cleared up and you’ve remembered everything. How does that sound?”

Nian Qi readily agreed, “I’ll do as you say.”

Ruan Qing hesitated slightly. “Also, the way you speak, the phrasing you use, needs to change.”

“Yes, I’ve noticed that,” Nian Qi replied. “Every time I speak, people seem to laugh. But I still can’t figure out why. I thought they were laughing at my accent, but that doesn’t seem to be it.”

“They’re laughing at your choice of words,” Ruan Qing said after thinking for a moment. “Try… to be less formal. Avoid using words you think are overly polite, like ‘dare I ask,’ ‘seek guidance,’ and those self-deprecating and respectful terms like ‘in my humble self’ or ‘young lady.’”

Nian Qi raised an eyebrow. “Is the language here truly so straightforward and blunt?”

Ruan Qing was momentarily stumped but, upon reflection, realized it was true. “You could put it that way. It’s just plain speaking,” she said. “When addressing others, just use ‘you’ and ‘I.’ The ones in white coats are doctors, also known as ‘daifu,’ and the ones in pink short sleeves are nurses. When you talk to them, drop all the honorifics and just speak plainly.”

Nian Qi agreed without hesitation, “Understood.”

His cooperation made Ruan Qing breathe a sigh of relief. She said, “I still don’t know your name. I’m Ruan Qing.”

“I am…” Nian Qi habitually started to say “in my humble self” but caught himself midway. “I am Zhao Si.”

Zhao Si. Ruan Qing was speechless. “Why not just call yourself Nicholas?”

Ruan Qing was exasperated. “Even if it’s a fake name, at least make it sound a bit more plausible, okay?”

For the first time, Nian Qi seemed slightly taken aback. He hesitated and asked, “How do you know this isn’t my real name?”

‘Zhao Si’ was actually a name he often used while traveling. It was a nondescript name that easily blended into the crowd, perfect for keeping a low profile.

“Because…” Ruan Qing said, “Around here, no one uses ranking or numbers as names. Names like ‘Zhu Baba’ disappeared a long time ago. Those aren’t considered proper names, so they sound fake as soon as you hear them.” She didn’t tell the whole truth.

A bloodstained knife, a wounded man, still in night clothes and masked—if it had been her, she probably would’ve thrown out a fake name too. Plus, ‘Zhao’ was the first surname in the Hundred Family Surnames, making it seem like he had chosen it at random, leading her to strongly suspect it was a fake name.

Her guess was right.

Nian Qi exhaled. “I apologize, I didn’t mean to deceive you. ‘Zhao Si’ is a name I often use while traveling, so I wouldn’t say it’s entirely false.”

Since hiding that knife earlier, Ruan Qing had already mentally prepared herself for a lot, and her tolerance for this person was quite high. Still, hearing his explanation made her feel a bit better. She nodded. “Then, can you tell me your real name?”

Ruan Qing believed that building trust should start with exchanging real names.

Nian Qi was silent for a moment before saying, “Nian Qi.”

“Huh?” Ruan Qing didn’t quite catch it.

Nian Qi repeated, “Nian Qi. The ‘nian’ as in twenty.”

This time, Ruan Qing understood. “So, it’s just Twenty-Seven?”

Nian Qi nodded. “Yes, Twenty-Seven.”

Ruan Qing had a lot of theories about Nian Qi, and the name subtly confirmed that her guesses might be correct. She nodded.

Nian Qi then said, “Lady Ruan.”

Ruan Qing quickly raised a finger and waved it. “Here, we usually use ‘Miss X.’ If you call someone ‘young lady,’ you’ll get laughed at.”

Nian Qi had already experienced this firsthand, so he immediately adapted. “Miss Ruan, I haven’t properly thanked you for your help.” He even raised his hand in a cupped-fist salute, in a style common in martial arts circles. The gesture was so natural and smooth, it was clear he had done it countless times throughout his life.

In that moment, Ruan Qing had no more doubts, she knew her theories were likely correct. She suppressed her inner excitement and extended the same finger, gently pressing down Nian Qi’s fist. “Don’t use that salute anymore. People here don’t use that kind of etiquette.”

“Listen to advice and you’ll be well-fed.” Nian Qi immediately lowered his hand. “Alright.”

Originally, Ruan Qing had been worried he would react to everything around him with exaggerated surprise, drawing unnecessary attention. But seeing how adaptable he was, she felt much more at ease. Talking to someone like this was quite refreshing. But it was clear he wasn’t a fool either. After expressing his gratitude, Nian Qi began to ask questions. “Miss Ruan, what kind of place is this, exactly?”

“This place?” Ruan Qing said. “It’s a hospital, where people come to be treated and healed.”

Nian Qi was momentarily speechless. He rephrased his question, “I mean, what area is this? I was clearly on the mountain outside Jiang City, no more than a few dozen miles away. How did you bring me here from Jiang City, Miss Ruan?”

This was the part that Nian Qi couldn’t figure out. He had checked his own injuries, and as the doctor in the white coat had said, there were only some cuts and bruises. There weren’t any severe wounds. Although he had fainted for a while, with such minor injuries, he shouldn’t have been unconscious for long. How did Ruan Qing manage to bring him to such a strange place in such a short time? Could she be someone skilled in mystical arts, able to fly or teleport? Earlier, he had seen a large, human-sized panel in the hallway displaying some incredible images. Could this place be one of those mysterious lands of cultivators described in folklore?

But Ruan Qing’s expression was quite odd. She asked, “Which Jiang City are you talking about?”

Jiang City wasn’t a small town, it was a bustling, thriving city. How could she not have heard of it? Nian Qi gave a brief description of Jiang City, its geography, customs, and local specialties.

Ruan Qing’s expression grew even more peculiar. She said, “This is really complicated. Explaining it clearly might take a while. Let’s deal with the current situation first, and I’ll explain it to you slowly, okay?”

The last three words had a bit of a coaxing tone, as if she were talking to a child. It felt strange, but there was a sense of patience and kindness in her voice. And faintly… was there a hint of sympathy?

By this point in the conversation, Nian Qi no longer hesitated and asked directly, “Miss Ruan, when you found me, did you see anyone else around?”

“No, it was just you,” Ruan Qing replied, hesitating briefly before adding, “But honestly, you don’t need to worry about that. Whoever might have been chasing… you, well, I don’t think they’ll be able to catch up anymore.” She couldn’t explain everything now, and she wasn’t sure if her vague words would make sense to him.

Nian Qi’s sharp eyes stayed on her for a moment before he nodded, “So, are we going to see the doctor now?”

He seemed like someone who adapted quickly, Ruan Qing thought.

“Let’s first make sure we’re on the same page,” she suggested. “You’ll need a proper name. There’s no surname ‘Nian’ in the Hundred Family Surnames, and if you say you’ve regained your memory, they might ask for your ID…”

How would they handle that? She bit her thumb, then suddenly lifted her head. “Since you like using the surname Zhao, let’s go with Zhao Hao. Hao, like in ‘Vast Heaven.’ Can you write it?”

“Yes, I can read and write,” Nian Qi nodded. In fact, earlier in the emergency room and even here in the outpatient lobby, he had seen many characters—most of which were indeed familiar, albeit slightly off. Some were completely unrecognizable, while others looked like they were missing too many strokes. It was confusing. How could there be so many taboos around here?

Ruan Qing, reassured that he could at least read, continued, “If they ask for your ID number, don’t worry—I’ll handle it.”

“Is each person assigned a unique number? And the officials can check it?” Nian Qi asked.

“Yes,” Ruan Qing confirmed.

“And the number I’m using is…?”

“Zhao Hao’s. We’ll borrow his ID number for now,” Ruan Qing replied, sensing his curiosity. She coughed lightly. “He’s… someone I know. Anyway, if they need an ID, we’ll use his identity for now.”

After a brief silence, Nian Qi asked, “Miss Ruan, why are you helping me this much?”

“Ugh, you need to work on that tone. Stop saying things like ‘why’ or ‘for what reason’ in such formal terms. Just say ‘why,'” Ruan Qing quickly corrected, raising her finger in a mock reprimand.

“Understood. Old habits die hard,” Nian Qi replied. “So, why?”

“We’ll talk about that after we take care of this. I don’t want them to actually call the police,” Ruan Qing answered.

“Alright, let’s handle the immediate issue first,” he agreed without further delay.

They both left the outpatient hall and started heading back towards the emergency department. As they walked, Nian Qi suddenly asked, “Miss Ruan, where can I go after we leave here?”

Ruan Qing glanced back at him. “You don’t have an identity or money right now, so you can’t go anywhere. I’m not trying to scare you, but I’ll explain more when we get out. For now, just stick with me. I can give you a place to stay for the time being.”

This was exactly what Nian Qi had been hoping to hear. He immediately responded, “Alright, I’ll stay with Miss Ruan for now. Sorry for the trouble.”

“It’s no trouble,” Ruan Qing said, casting him a meaningful look. “Not everyone runs into this kind of ‘trouble.'”

Nian Qi blinked, puzzled. “…?”

He didn’t understand. After a moment, he added, “I have silver on me, but it seems that silver isn’t used as currency here?”

He had tried to use silver to pay the medical fees, only to have the doctor look at him like he was out of his mind.

“Gold and silver can be exchanged for money,” Ruan Qing explained, “but here we don’t use them directly as currency. Just… try not to say too much later.”

A few more steps brought them to the nurses’ station, where the nurse was still bustling about. Seeing them, she pointed toward a room. “The doctor is in there.”

Ruan Qing led Nian Qi inside, where they found the doctor. “Doctor, he’s regained his memory. He seems fine now.”

The doctor, well-acquainted with cases of trauma-induced amnesia, which could sometimes seem a bit unpredictable, was pleased. He shone a light into Nian Qi’s eyes and, satisfied with the results, said, “Great, he’s good to go. Make sure to rest, and if you experience nausea, vomiting, or dizziness, come back immediately. Now that you’ve regained your memory, you can finalize the paperwork.”

Sure enough, they needed proper identification. In cases like his, without an ID—especially if the patient was unconscious—they’d ask for a deposit, and the final settlement would be handled once the ID was confirmed. Hospitals always needed to keep a record.

At the payment window, Ruan Qing didn’t let Nian Qi speak. She stepped forward, saying, “I lost my ID, but I can give you the number.”

“No insurance card? That’s fine, we’ll handle it as a self-pay case.”

After providing the ID number, they completed the paperwork and paid the medical fees. Throughout this process, Nian Qi quietly observed, following Ruan Qing’s lead without question. He even noticed her taking out her phone, intrigued by the strange object in her hands. Although he couldn’t understand how payments were made with those odd blocks of light, he watched intently.

After settling the bill, Ruan Qing said, “Follow me. I parked my car outside.” She led him out through the emergency exit and toward the parking lot.

After walking a short distance, she sensed something was off. She turned around and saw that Nian Qi hadn’t followed. He was standing outside, staring up at the hospital building.

The hospital had twelve floors, and under the night sky, Nian Qi stood still, craning his neck to take in the massive structure. The streetlights cast a long shadow behind him.

Ruan Qing didn’t rush him. After a while, he finally turned around. His eyes gleamed faintly in the darkness, gazing out into the distance. Even though this was the outskirts, the area was part of an economic development zone. In the distance, office buildings towered—some twenty stories high, others even taller.

The emergency department faced a main road, which was relatively quiet at this hour, though cars occasionally passed by. The lights flashed by briefly and then disappeared into the distance.

When the cars vanished, Nian Qi shifted his gaze back to Ruan Qing.

Earlier, when he saw that strange screen in the hallway, Nian Qi had started to sense that something was wrong. The screen had shown figures, landscapes, and many things he couldn’t comprehend. He had told himself it might be an illusion created by some form of magic.

But now, seeing the same towering buildings and strange moving objects outside, he realized this was no illusion. It was all real.

Nian Qi walked up to Ruan Qing, his voice slightly hoarse as he asked, “Is this place… the heavens? Or the human world?”

Ruan Qing had been waiting all night, just for this moment.