Hospital 444
Chapter 602 - 23rd floor, the dark time layer

Chapter 602: 23rd floor, the dark time layer

Something wasn’t right...

Dai Lin’s Devil’s Eye suddenly failed to sense anything outside the door anymore.

Outside, there was both something and nothing.

On the surface, whatever was out there seemed to occupy the same space-time dimension as Dai Lin, but in reality, it did not!

Dai Lin raised his hand...

And opened the door.

There was nothing outside the door.

Dai Lin recalled the memories shared with Milan, a paper she had read.

With her clearance, she could read some internal papers published by the Demons Department.

That is, papers regarding abyssal contamination.

In three-dimensional space, compared to the two dimensions constituted by length and width, height is the additional dimension that allows three-dimensional life to exist.

In fact, humanity’s understanding of the term "space" is limited to a simple "three-dimensional" concept. Therefore, the theoretical assumption put forth by humans residing in three-dimensional space is that there exists an additional "time" dimension beyond the three-dimensional basis.

And according to the paper he read...

That wasn’t actually the case.

Human geometrical space theories, restricted by physical concepts such as relativity, are utterly incapable of truly comprehending higher dimensions.

In higher dimensions... Spaces like the three-dimensional one are merely one "time layer" perceived and observed by three-dimensional life.

Human souls, under the CT dissection at Hospital 444, comprise a complex structure. That is, humans possess a "three spirits and seven souls" composition at the spiritual level, but their memories can only perceive the space surrounding them, and can only recall the recent past with clarity. This singular perception conflicts drastically with the complex structure of the soul. If the spirit can observe and perceive only the limited space-time of the three-dimensional flesh, then one cannot explain why the soul can transform into a malevolent ghost after the death of the flesh.

So... The hypothesis put forth by the paper is that human souls can only simultaneously perceive the "spatial layer" of a certain timeline. For instance, a person arriving at a crossroad might go left or right. Human thoughts can change in an instant, countless times, generating different future timeline branches.

However, according to the three-dimensional space-time concept, a person can only choose one direction to walk at the same time—they cannot possibly go both left and right. This is the limitation of human flesh in three-dimensional space.

But from a higher-dimensional perspective, the "space" formed by three dimensions is merely a single "spatial layer." In the fourth, fifth, or even higher dimensions, it’s entirely possible for different wills of the spirit to choose different paths, resulting in two different space-time trajectories. In quantum physics, human beings regard this as "parallel dimensions."

According to the paper, parallel dimensions are of two kinds. The first is "parallel spatial layers," and the second, "parallel temporal layers."

Parallel spatial layers are not difficult to understand, and many sci-fi movies and TV series have touched upon it—for instance, Xia Li and Dong Xie have intersected with the residents of the parallel world’s apartment building, encountering an enemy they refer to as the parallel world’s Dong Xie. These two three-dimensional spatial layers are not isolated; Dong Xie can meet with his parallel self.

But parallel temporal layers are a more complex concept. In three-dimensional space, humans can only comprehend the dimensions of length, width, and height, and can only understand time as moving from the past towards the future. Their flesh can only exist in such space-time. They refer to the flesh’s changes within the categories of length, width, and height as movement, and call the aging that occurs over time "growth."

Throughout their lives, they can exist only within a single temporal layer. But what they don’t realize is that from a higher-dimensional perspective, they haven’t truly moved or aged. Whether they choose left or right, seemingly producing different spatial layers, they are actually in the same temporal layer, creating different parallel spatial layers. Stepping further into higher-dimensional concepts produces different, isolated temporal layers. In parallel temporal layers, a person going left or right won’t encounter the parallel self of their own temporal layer.

"Unless through some kind of cursed object..."

He remembered Luo Ren’s mother...

The former Dr. Liang Zhigao...

The sisters Jin Yunran, dead and alive...

And the Oroñe Hotel, which should have had the correct hotel rules but was said to be incorrect.

And outside the door... the thing that both existed and did not exist...

"Abyssal contamination..."

Normally, three-dimensional life cannot enter another parallel temporal layer...

A parallel temporal layer is like slices from a loaf of bread. To a higher-dimensional perspective, it’s inherently the same loaf, but to three-dimensional life, one exists only within a single slice, and each slice is isolated from the others. The human soul is akin to an entire loaf of bread, but can only perceive the parallel temporal layer in which one slice exists.

However... If it’s a temporal layer contaminated by the Abyss, it might gradually affect the related parallel temporal layers. The contaminated layer is what’s referred to as the "Netherworld."

"So, Dai Wei is now, that is, in the temporal layer of the Netherworld contaminated by the Abyss. And I..."

Dai Lin knew he was gradually being contaminated by the Abyss, being pulled into... a deeper parallel temporal layer...

He was inching closer to 666 Hospital, closer to the contaminated temporal layer where the true form of the dean resided!

By then, he might not even be able to contact Dr. Gao Menghua.

Even his memories might be further altered, as his perception would detach from the original single three-dimensional temporal layer.

Dai Lin stepped out of his hotel room.

Having come this far, there was nothing left but to go all in.

He had a premonition that if he continued this way, he might never be able to return to Hospital 444.

But it also meant that he could be getting closer to the timeline where Dai Wei was!

"At first, when I boarded the special ambulance of the Demons Department and entered Nanmian Village shrouded in mist, it was then that I entered another parallel timeline, wasn’t it?"

From the perspective of three-dimensional beings, it’s impossible to walk left and right at the same time, just like it’s impossible to be on one floor and the top floor of the Oroñe Hotel at the same time.

However, from a higher-dimensional perspective, this is possible, though the physical body is segregated in completely different parallel timelines. Essentially, different people in parallel timelines are actually the same person, just not aware of it on a mental level.

"So in the parallel timelines, the Oroñe Hotel contaminated by the Abyss is also the real Oroñe Hotel and should have the same residency rules."

Dai Lin was swiftly walking down the corridor, which was now deserted.

But he could feel that he was enveloped by some intense malice.

Something was "watching" him.

"It’s ’him’..."

Dai Lin raised his hand to touch his eyes.

"Director Li An, could his body be trapped in some parallel timeline? His death, from the beginning, was it to deliver these eyes into the parallel timeline I live in?"

And then...

"Now, these eyes are beginning to resonate with the layer contaminated by the Abyss. Is ’he’ staring at my eyes, wanting to take them back?"

The Dean!

The Dean was trapped in a parallel timeline contaminated by the Abyss!

Including the decision to make the Oroñe Hotel a venue for the professional title examination, it was also the Dean’s doing.

Yin Wuque, as the Dean’s lackey, was also a driving force behind this matter.

"So..."

Suddenly, the corridor lights dimmed one by one!

In the darkness, Dai Lin could suddenly see nothing at all!

...

"Guest."

"Hmm?" Gao Heyan looked puzzledly at a waiter behind him.

"What is it?"

"Our hotel did not have anyone ask you if humans are the only beings that can laugh, did they?"

Gao Heyan instantly became wary of the waiter before him.

"Not yet."

"That’s good," the waiter nodded and said, "If there’s a waiter who does ask you that, please dial our room service immediately. Also, please remember our residency rules."

"I remember them very clearly."

Of course, Gao Heyan would not forget those seven rules.

...

Dai Lin now had no idea where he was.

His Devil’s Eye could see nothing.

Some eerie presence was getting closer and closer...

Dai Lin felt that he was now facing the biggest crisis since he had joined Hospital 444.

Maybe there was still hope to return to the hospital now?

After all, it was just a professional title examination.

But Dai Lin felt that if he gave up now, he might never find the hope to retrieve Dai Wei again.

"So what on earth... should I do..."

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