Hospital 444
Chapter 266 - 2 White Mist

Chapter 266: Chapter 2 White Mist

Dai Wei heard his own voice and almost doubted whether he had heard it wrong.

What?

The first one is himself?

Out of thirty-eight people, with eight selected each day for a month, the odds were indeed high that he’d be chosen, but being the first one selected today was still unexpectedly early.

After all, tonight was his birthday!

"Dai Wei?"

"Isn’t that the son of the Dai family? Has he already turned nineteen?"

"Look, there he is!"

Countless glances swiftly turned towards Dai Wei.

"You... you’ve turned nineteen?" someone asked.

"Hmm, yes... yes, I have. Actually, today is my birthday."

Upon hearing this, everyone let out a collective "Ah."

"Elder Zhao, why not let it slide this time? Let Dai Wei celebrate his birthday properly?"

"Yeah, the poor guy just turned nineteen, and you put his name in the lottery box."

But then, there were voices of opposition: "Why should he get an exception?"

"Exactly, why should he?"

"We absolutely cannot break the rules set by the village chief!"

"Alright, alright!"

Although Elder Zhao was elderly, he was clearly still robust and full of energy as he said, "Everyone quiet down! All this noise and commotion, what do you look like!"

Dai Wei bit his lip and said, "If it’s the village’s rule, then of course I should abide by it."

The village was small, but it had its own social circles. If he set this precedent, the Dai family would easily be judged through a biased lens by some in the village.

Dai Wei didn’t want to make things difficult for his parents. After all, this tradition had been passed down in the village for ten years.

He looked up, feeling a trace of tension inside.

In this way, going to see Captain Lin in the afternoon seemed a bit like... a last-minute plea for help.

Quickly, Elder Zhao continued the draw. Everyone listened intently to each name being called.

And when all the names were announced, the news swiftly spread throughout Nanmian Village.

Noon.

"This... Dai Wei, you have to patrol on your birthday?"

Dai Wei’s mother, frantic with worry, said, "I was thinking of asking Captain Lin to explain some precautions to you! This... how is this okay?"

Dylan also grew anxious, "Brother, this... so soon? Tonight?"

Dai Wei nodded, "Yes, it’s true. I can’t help it; Elder Zhao drew my name. It’s the village rule, and I can’t break it."

"Since it’s the rule, there’s nothing we can do," sighed Dai Wei’s father as he patted his shoulder and added, "Sooner or later, it had to happen."

"Dad," Dylan caught his father’s hand and said, "What exactly is patrolling like? When I asked you before, you never wanted to answer me."

"You’re still young, Dylan, there’s no need for you to know."

"I’ve heard the villagers talk about it!" Dylan wiped her tears and said, "Also... two years ago, our teacher Mr. Ge, he went patrolling one evening and never came back!"

"Dangerous, there certainly is some," Dai Wei’s father knew that this was not the time to put too much psychological pressure on his son, and said, "Dai Wei, don’t think too much, stick close to the others, pay a little more attention, and generally, nothing bad will happen. The most important thing is, never enter the White Mist Area, not even a single hair, you can’t touch the White Mist!"

"I understand."

Regarding the matter of the White Mist, every villager in this village was repeatedly reminded.

"Alright, let’s eat. After eating, I will take you to Captain Lin immediately."

And Dylan was holding his father’s hand, saying, "Dad, when I’m nineteen, will I have to join the patrol too?"

"Yes. Every villager must do this; it’s the rule. No matter the gender, it applies to everyone."

Upon hearing this, Dylan couldn’t help but start to have a trace of tears in his eyes.

"But, but girls are naturally weaker, and what if it’s that time of the month, do they still have to draw lots to participate?"

"Enough, no more questions, Dylan," the mother patted Dylan’s hand, saying, "Going on patrol is a bit dangerous, but if nobody goes on patrol, our little village will be done for."

She noticed the tears at the corner of her daughter’s eyes and immediately squatted down, wiping away her tears, saying, "It’s okay, stop crying, stop crying."

This lunch was destined to not go down smoothly.

"Dai Wei!"

While eating, Dai Wei’s mother suddenly grabbed his hand, saying, "You... you must be very careful!"

"I, I know..."

"Listen to me..." the mother couldn’t care that Dylan was present, saying, "Remember, keep more than one meter away from the White Mist, rest assured, the White Mist definitely won’t spread over. During the patrol, observe the actions of others a lot, make sure to hold onto the bamboo pole firmly, and absolutely... absolutely don’t drop it on the ground! Some parts of the terrain are a bit sloped, if you accidentally drop the bamboo pole, it might roll into the White Mist Area! Hold it firmly, you really must hold it firmly!"

"Also," the father started to lose his composure as well, "If a team member accidentally enters the White Mist Area, or if you see them being dragged into the mist by something... you absolutely cannot go to save them! Pretend as if you saw nothing! No one will blame you, everyone in the village knows this rule."

"Hey, Dad, Mom." Just then, Dylan raised a question, "This snow, it won’t stop at night, will it?"

Hearing the question posed by their daughter, the faces of Dai Wei’s parents turned somewhat grim.

"This..."

"Yeah, it’s a problem!"

All year round, no matter hot or cold, someone in the village must patrol the White Mist Area at night.

And with heavy snowfall and darkness, during the patrol, one cannot stay too far away from the White Mist. Snowflakes impair visibility, not to mention if one were to slip... that would be a significant problem.

"It’s all fate." Dai Wei’s father sighed and said, "We have no choice but to accept it."

Dai Wei could see that his parents were filled with dread regarding the White Mist Area.

Isn’t that how everyone in the village felt?

Nanmian Village, this small village the size of a palm, had been completely enveloped by the White Mist for the past ten years, and then, a "temple" had appeared.

From that day onward, Nanmian Village had been isolated from the world to this day, still not receiving the rescue team they had been longing for. Countless elderly and children in the village could no longer meet with their relatives who worked in the cities.

Ten years, a harrowing ten years, had passed just like that.

"Okay, Dai Wei, come with me, I’m going to take you to Captain Lin."

"Okay, Dad."

With the cured meat in hand, Dai Wei and his father left home and walked into the snowy world outside.

Now, not only did the snow fall heavily, but many parts of the ground were also icy and extremely slippery.

This filled Dai Wei with worry about the night’s patrol...

Over the past ten years, he had hardly ever approached the White Mist Area, that place... was just too dangerous and terrifying.

No one knew what exactly lay hidden within the White Mist...