Slag Shou Cultivating Manual - Chapter 108

Chapter 108: The Sanatorium

He Lang opened his eyes and found himself in a spacious office. The decor was simple and pristine white, with a white coat hanging on the coat rack.

He pulled a card from the name card holder on the desk: Far Health Sanatorium, Director, Mo Wenlang.

Having experienced a modern world once before, he remained unfazed at encountering such a world again, quickly adapting to the situation. Yet, in the briefest of moments, it still felt like a long dream—one where he returned to a world that had Jiang Jingda in it.

It seemed that after he leaped off, Jiang Jingda also followed and jumped? Otherwise, why would the image of him falling from the sky toward him always surface whenever his mind drifted to memories of him?

He Lang shook his head, dismissing these thoughts, and carefully observed his surroundings. Although this world was similar to the one he had lived in before, it was more advanced and slightly more high-tech.

Glancing at the calendar on the desk, “2030” stood out before his eyes.

As he contemplated studying the oddly-shaped machines beside him, a furry figure jumped onto his desk.

In this unfamiliar environment, the appearance of Guatu was undoubtedly a great comfort to him.

He Lang asked it about the previous world and what had happened after he attracted the heavenly lightning and died.

“Well, although Jiang Hanzheng didn’t succeed in ascending, he turned out pretty impressive in the end. It could barely count as you completing the task! Quack quack!” Guatu rubbed its little paws, preparing to share more.

“After you died, wasn’t your body left unrecovered?”

He Lang nodded. This was intentional on his part. Allowing Jiang Hanzheng to see him die would sever his lingering thoughts. If he had disappeared without a trace, who knew how many thousands of years that stubborn man would have spent searching for him?

Guatu spoke enthusiastically but, as an observer, there was a tinge of regret in its tone. “After you died, he held your body and cried for three days and nights. Even a month after your death in that world, he still refused to bury you…”

He Lang frowned. Even after his body had been dead for so long, Jiang Hanzheng still didn’t lay him to rest? Was it out of resentment?

He interrupted Guatu, who wanted to say more. “No need to talk about this. Tell me about this world instead.”

Guatu froze, wiggled its little three-petaled mouth, licked its paws, and hesitated on how to proceed. Sometimes it truly admired He Lang. In the previous world, he could pour his heart and soul into someone, but now, he wouldn’t even mention the person.

However, as a guide, Guatu dutifully reminded He Lang of the peculiarities of this world.

“This is not the modern world you’ve been to before. Well, not exactly. The difference is that here, gender isn’t just divided into male and female but six categories.”

He Lang was slightly surprised, and Guatu continued explaining, “Humans in this world are divided into alpha, beta, and omega. Within these three categories, each has male and female distinctions… These six types of people have different physical characteristics. Alphas have superior physical abilities and stronger senses, naturally born as leaders. Betas are average in all aspects but relatively easygoing. The most unfortunate are omegas. Because of their high fertility rate, rarity, and innate frailty, they are usually taken by their families to be marked by an alpha upon adulthood and then kept at home to bear children…”

He Lang listened patiently. “And me?”

Guatu’s fluffy little face was tinged with amusement. “You’re an omega, but years ago, when you started your medical career, you developed alpha pheromone masking agents. So, all these years, you’ve been living and working as an alpha. Otherwise, do you think you could have such a prestigious status? You’d have long been sent home to have children.”

Though the statement was true, He Lang’s gaze turned icy. “…Shut up.”

Unfortunately, he was an omega. But fortunately, he had this alpha pheromone masking agent. Otherwise, just thinking about staying home and raising children for another man made his scalp tingle and the world seem bleak.

He Lang wanted to ask about his target in this world, but at that moment, there was a hurried knock on the wooden door.

A female nurse in uniform ran in, looking flustered and distressed as she sought his help:

“The young master refuses to eat, smashed the bowl, and flipped the table. We can’t do anything. Could you please take a look?”

Guatu, nestled in He Lang’s arms, twitched its whiskers and whispered, “There, this is it. Go and experience it yourself.”

Raising an eyebrow, He Lang followed the nurse’s urgent steps.

On the way, the nurse briefed him about this so-called “young master.”

His name was Rao Chen, said to be a young master from a prominent family. He had just turned 19, barely an adult. Although he was the legitimate son of the main house, he wasn’t valued because he was an omega.

He had been sent to the sanatorium half a month ago, and no relatives or family members had come to visit.

Even so, given his distinguished background and the substantial fees paid, the facility had to treat him well and ensure his care.

From the nurse’s fragmented words, He Lang formed a preliminary impression of him: gloomy, depressed, rebellious, violent, and anti-social, with a history of harming others—hence, treated as a mental patient.

However, it seemed his family didn’t genuinely intend to cure him. They merely sent him here to be looked after, as if this was a care facility.

He Lang became intrigued. Standing before the room’s door, he took a deep breath. Upon pushing it open, a strong medicinal scent wafted out. It wasn’t unpleasant, carrying a unique herbal fragrance.

The spacious ward had its curtains tightly drawn, blocking out every ray of sunlight. Though it was daytime, it was still hard to see without careful observation.

From a distance, he saw a figure on the pristine white hospital bed. The person remained as still as a sculpture, silent and motionless. The room was filled only with the faint hum of machines, enveloped in a stifling atmosphere that made it hard to feel at ease.

The nurse following He Lang was visibly anxious, hesitating at the door. He Lang simply told everyone to leave.

As he stepped inside, a few rays of sunlight streamed through the door crack, bringing fresh air into the room. The figure on the bed took a small breath but remained motionless, uttering a low command, “Get out.”

Perhaps unused to speaking, his words were slightly strained, his voice hoarse. But upon closer listening, it was undeniably gentle and pleasant.

In the end, everyone except He Lang was dismissed.

He Lang walked directly to the window, intending to draw back the curtains and let sunlight in to dispel the room’s darkness and cold. However, before he could act, the person on the bed grew agitated, shouting almost hysterically, “No! Don’t!”

He Lang paused and decided to drop it for now. Instead, he casually sat by the bed and began speaking in a familiar tone, as if they were old acquaintances, while closely observing everything about him.

“Why aren’t you eating properly?”

Perhaps because he wasn’t eating regularly, the teenager’s tall frame seemed even thinner. Though he kept his head down, seemingly unwilling to meet He Lang’s gaze, He Lang could still catch a glimpse of his sharp jawline.

He had little flesh on his body, looking frail and skinny. Every day he stayed alone in this dark room. Thinking that this was his target in this world, He Lang couldn’t help but feel a pang of heartache.

The teenager remained silent, doing his best to ignore He Lang, as if immersed in his own world.

He Lang, known for his patience with those he cared about, wasn’t in a hurry.

He noticed the tension in Rao Chen’s back muscles and placed a soft pillow behind him. Then, he personally brewed a cup of warm milk and set it nearby. Even if the teenager refused to drink it, the faint aroma of milk added a touch of warmth to the atmosphere.

Since Rao Chen wasn’t speaking, He Lang decided to play along.

Two hours passed, and the teenager seemed to reach his limit. He finally raised his eyes to glance at He Lang.

Those sharp eyes were full of hostility, not resembling a pampered young master but more like a wild wolf from the plains. His gaze carried disdain, vigilance, and a hint of killing intent, but also curiosity and doubt.

He Lang, aware of his own strengths, responded with a gentle smile, exuding goodwill.

“What’s wrong? Bored? Sitting for two hours—aren’t you tired? Do you want to lie down and rest? I can lower the backrest for you.”

The teenager didn’t reply, only murmuring, “I… I want…”

He Lang leaned closer, only for the teenager to spit out words full of malice.

“I want you to get lost!”

He Lang ignored the insult, remaining unfazed. Instead, he calmly reached out to pat the back of the teenager’s neck in a comforting gesture. “I’m a doctor. I’m here to help you. Everything I do is for your well-being, so you can be healthy and happy. Do you understand?”

Rao Chen stiffened at this unexpected warmth, still showing undisguised disgust on his face.

He Lang rubbed his fingers thoughtfully, a faint smile on his lips.

Just now, he had sensed the boy’s true nature—his pheromones were almost identical to He Lang’s disguised ones. This meant that Rao Chen wasn’t an omega as everyone believed but a genuine alpha.

Author’s Note:

I suddenly felt like writing ABO, so here’s a brief attempt. The settings will follow what’s described in the story. The target for this world? Within 40,000 words!