I discovered a world bug.

What is the patient's condition?

In the corridor of Linchuan Mental Hospital, commonly known as the Second Hospital, Lin Shu flipped through her previous interview records while asking a doctor a question.

Logically speaking, it would be impossible for a small, unknown reporter like him to come directly to a mental hospital to conduct interviews.

However, he had a good connection – a doctor named Xie Yuchi was his childhood friend with whom he had a deep bond. For the sake of his precarious career, Xie Yuchi was willing to give him the green light on some non-principle issues.

Holding the medical record in her left hand, Xie Yuchi quickly signed her name with her right hand, and then answered:

"The patient is a grandmaster of the Meishan School—you know what a grandmaster is, right?"

"Master?"

Lin Shu was stunned for a moment.

He was no stranger to the profession of "shaman," especially in the ethnic minority area where he grew up, where the role of shaman permeated every aspect of life.

When looking at houses for the living or tombs for the dead, people seek out a shaman; they consult a shaman for festivals and prayers; they seek a shaman to resolve misfortunes; and many even go to a shaman instead of a hospital if they have a fishbone stuck in their throat.

---- Speaking of getting a fishbone stuck in your throat, Lin Shu has actually experienced it herself.

Years ago, his mother got a fishbone stuck in her throat, and she went to a shaman to "resolve the fishbone in water." After drinking a bowl of talismanic water, the fishbone really went away.

Later, Lin Shu also learned about it and found that this spell was called "Nine Dragons Transforming into Water Technique," which was very common in the Meishan Sect.

As for whether it's effective... for a materialist like Lin Shu, it's more likely that it's a strong psychological suggestion. As for the master, most of them are just "actively or passively" pretending to be supernatural.

So, is the patient who caused this big problem a "superstitious master" who is "obsessed to the point of madness"?

Slightly gathering her scattered thoughts, Lin Shu nodded and replied:

"I know about Master—so, what he did before was related to religious beliefs?"

"It's very important."

Xie Yuchi's answer was concise, while Lin Shu frowned.

"That would be a huge problem... I initially thought it was just a regular mental patient, but if it's mixed with religious beliefs, then I won't be able to report it..."

"Whether you report it or not, public opinion is already leaning towards this."

Xie Yuchi shrugged.

"One minor injury and two serious injuries, and the scene was so bizarre, the news couldn't be suppressed any longer."

"Go check out Douyin (TikTok), it's all people guessing it's a cult ritual."

"This is definitely going to be a huge hit, it just depends on whether you have the ability to bypass the censorship restrictions—you're in this business, I can't exactly teach you, can I?"

"really."

Lin Shu pondered to herself that there was actually a way to report this case smoothly. It was simply a matter of first using the term "cult" to attract attention, and then explaining the process scientifically, following the old path of "Approaching Science".

The process is a bit complicated, and the review criteria are stricter, but if it gets leaked, it could potentially become a viral sensation.

Then I won't have to worry about my bonus for the second half of the year...

With this in mind, Lin Shu made a decisive decision.

"Let's go see him first—he's not in any danger, is he?"

"no."

Xie Yuchi shook his head and said:

"He is a very self-consistent patient and is basically non-aggressive. However, I can't arrange a room for you. You can just go to his ward door and talk to him through the door."

"no problem."

Lin Shu followed behind Xie Yuchi, and the two quickened their pace slightly.

The layout of the Second Hospital is the same as all other mental hospitals: a long corridor with sturdy alloy doors on both sides, each with an observation window facing the bed for easy monitoring of the patient's condition.

Generally, critically ill patients are strapped to the bed with restraints.

However, patients with relatively mild symptoms, or those who are self-consistent and do not have a tendency to self-harm, are basically left to their own devices.

Just like the patient they see now, named Xu Changshun.

"Changshun!"

Xie Yuchi called out through the door, and a man sat up from the bed.

"Oh, Dr. Xie!"

His face appeared in front of the observation window—a face that perfectly matched Lin Shu's stereotypical image of a "master".

Thin and bony, with sharp features and high cheekbones.

Her hair was gray and tied back, giving her an air of otherworldly elegance, yet also a hint of dark, chilling coldness.

"Dr. Xie...and who is this?"

"My friend, a reporter—you can call him Xiao Chen—want to know more about your situation."

Xie Yuchi answered quite frankly, and she had no intention of hiding anything from Xu Changshun.

"Oh... then shall we talk standing up? Sorry, young man, this is the rule here..."

"It's alright, it's alright."

Lin Shu quickly answered.

Just as Xie Yuchi said, he really couldn't see any aggression in Xu Changshun—the coldness he felt at first glance actually came mostly from the coldness of the "Meishan Sect" to which he belonged.

"What do you want to ask?"

Xu Changshun controlled the pace of the conversation, but did not exude much pressure.

"I'd like to ask about the background and circumstances surrounding the incident—is that convenient?"

"Why......."

Xu Changshun sighed, a hint of regret in his eyes.

"There's nothing inconvenient about it. I feel better after talking about it."

"Actually, I really regret it."

Regret?

"Regret what?"

"I regret hurting those three people... I've also seen the comments online from Dr. Xie, and they're all saying that I'm trying to sacrifice living people or something."

Xu Changshun shook his head.

"But that's not actually the case... Our Meishan Sect doesn't have any magic involving human sacrifices."

"The Meishan Sect was originally a sect that developed based on farming and hunting. Our magic is all related to agriculture and hunting, so how could it be so sinister..."

"If there was such a thing, it was hundreds or thousands of years ago, back then it was called the 'Great Red Festival'... It's no longer used now."

"We've gone off on a tangent."

Xu Changshun paused for a moment, then continued:

"Those three...it's my own fault."

"Actually, it was a very ordinary thing. I was at the Qi Master Knife Altar that day, in the mountains."

"I don't know if you've ever seen the Master's Knife Altar; it's used to ward off disaster. The scene is actually... a bit scary, with straw men and machetes..."

Then three hikers came along. They insisted that I was Japanese and that I belonged to the Jiuju faction, which they said was bad for the feng shui of China.

"They smashed all my jars. I was furious. I fought and cursed at them, but I couldn't beat them, so I released snakes that bit them..."

Release snakes?

A hint of doubt flashed in Lin Shu's eyes.

He clearly remembered that the case description stated that the three tourists suffered... blunt force injuries?

"And then? Did you hit them?"

Lin Shu pressed on, asking:

"According to the case report, all three people had external injuries, right? It doesn't seem like they were poisoned by snake venom?"

"I hit them. I hit them to vent my anger after they were bitten down."

Xu Changshun nodded in annoyance.

"I shouldn't have hit them... so I've been telling the government that I shouldn't be here, I'm not crazy."

"I acted on impulse—I should be sentenced according to the law. I have let down the government and the people. I should go to jail."

His remorse was obvious, no wonder he was admitted to a mental hospital.

But even now, there doesn't seem to be any sign of mental illness in him.

"What about the snake?"

Lin Shu asked again:

"Why would a snake listen to you?"

"Of course my snake will listen to me..."

Xu Changshun raised his right hand, and the muscles in his forearm trembled slightly.

He turned his head to the side, as if to move something aside.

He then raised his arm to the observation window.

"Want to try and see if I bite you?"

In an instant, Lin Shu's hair stood on end.

There were definitely no snakes there, but Xu Changshun's behavior...

It was as if he really had a venomous snake coiled in his hand, flicking its tongue and ready to devour anyone it could!

"No...no need..."

Lin Shuqian chuckled.

Now, Xu Changshun seems to have gone insane.

When dealing with a mentally ill person, you must follow their lead.

If you provoke him, who knows what might happen...

"Just kidding..."

Xu Changshun laughed heartily.

"Ordinary people can't see my snakes, they... sigh."

"What a pity... Among those who cultivate snake magic, only one in ten thousand masters can truly cultivate a snake. I was one of them, but I didn't use it for the right purpose..."

"It's a real shame..."

Lin Shu echoed, then asked:

"So, only you can see your snake?"

He wanted to uncover more details—details that, in the era of internet traffic, often become the real trigger points.

"uncertain."

After thinking for a moment, Xu Changshun replied:

"If you get bitten, you'll see it, which is why I asked you if you wanted to try letting it bite you."

"Then...shall we give it a try?"

Lin Shu rolled up her sleeves.

He didn't believe that an invisible snake would actually jump out and bite him.

"...Never mind."

Xu Changshun refused.

"Even a bite is unpleasant. I don't have much time left, I can't cause any more harm."

You're not a bad person at heart.

Lin Shu gave a formal and polite reply, and the two remained silent for a few seconds before Lin Shu suddenly asked:

"What do you mean by saying you don't have much time left?"

"I'm leaving."

Xu Changshun sighed.

"I have devoted my life to studying rituals and have broken many taboos. Recently, I realized that my time has come."

"I thought of using the altar to avoid disaster, but alas..."

"If they really want to take me in, it might be within the next day or two, maybe even tonight..."

Don't be so pessimistic.

Lin Shu quickly interrupted:

"You didn't commit any heinous crime. I heard that the two who were seriously injured are recovering quite well and have no aftereffects."

"After you recover and get out of here, you can find a way to make it up to them—you're quite wealthy, right? Compensation won't be a problem."

"yes......."

Xu Changshun's mood became somewhat depressed.

"But the weather... it's not calculated that way."

"If you cross the line, you'll be punished..."

"Alright, let's stop here."

"It doesn't matter whether you believe it or not—I'm talking about magic."

"I've had quite a few visitors before, and that's what I always told them."

"Most people think I'm making excuses and faking mental illness to avoid going to jail."

"Actually, I really want to go to jail; it's what I deserve..."

Listening to Xu Changshun's words, Lin Shu realized that he was no longer willing to continue the conversation.

Xie Yuchi, standing to the side, was also urging her with his eyes. After hesitating for a moment, Lin Shu finally said:

"Okay, then we'll be going now."

"However... I can actually trust you."

"You believe me?"

Xu Changshun was stunned for a moment.

"yes."

Lin Shu nodded in reply:

"It's not superstition."

"On the one hand, I believe you have inherited your Meishan religion; on the other hand, I also believe that there are indeed some phenomena in this world that we cannot fully explain yet."

"My mom had a shaman perform the Nine Dragons Transformation into Water ritual before, and it was very effective."

"I've always felt that it might be a powerful form of mental suggestion, something that relaxes the muscles in one's throat..."

"You said your snake can bite people, it's probably based on a similar principle."

Xu Changshun's eyes lit up.

He didn't say much, but stared intently at Lin Shu and nodded very, very slowly.

"Let's go."

Xie Yuchi tugged at Lin Shu's hand.

The two left Xu Changshun's ward and walked along the long corridor toward the doctor's office.

"How do you feel?"

Xie Yuchi asked:

"Is he the kind of mentally ill person you imagined?"

"almost."

Lin Shu nodded thoughtfully.

"Just like you said, he's a very self-consistent patient."

"I think he genuinely wants to go to jail, so why not just send him there directly?"

"My family contributed."

Xie Yuchi replied:

"His family is very wealthy—as a master, he is very famous and has made a lot of money. Since no one was killed, money can still solve the problem."

"Actually, this case is only big in terms of public opinion; it's not that serious in essence..."

"Too......"

Lin Shu didn't ask any more questions.

He recalled the look in Xu Changshun's eyes before he left, and felt that he wanted to say something to him.

Or rather, he wanted to convey something to himself...?

Could it be that he intends to pass on his entire lineage of mentorship to me...?

You really shouldn't do this!

Although I wasn't being insincere when I told him I "believed," I still didn't want to become his master.

Who would want to spend their days deep in the mountains and forests, dealing with things like chicken blood, herbs, and incense ash?

Let's just focus on making this episode a success.

If the traffic takes off, I'll have money after receiving the bonus, and then I can start my own business...

After saying goodbye to Xie Yuchi, Lin Shu took a taxi back to her residence.

It was still early, and he wanted to compile the conversation and footage into a short video and send it over before the editor-in-chief left work.

Of course, some embellishments and scary music were added to enhance the atmosphere, but overall, Lin Shu respected the facts.

He also deleted most of the "feudal superstition" conversations—for censorship reasons.

Lin Shu was busy until after 8 p.m. before she finally looked up from her computer screen.

He let out a long sigh and was about to get up to get a glass of water from the refrigerator in the kitchen.

It was at this moment that he suddenly sensed something...

An intense chill.

next second.

"hiss----"

His arm went numb.

Two tiny teeth marks appeared out of nowhere.

His consciousness instantly became hazy, and just before he completely succumbed to darkness, he saw the thing perched on the desk...

snake.

snake!