C8 Collecting Treasure Chests
"Beep! You have a new message. Please check it!"
At the Country Z Agricultural Bank, account ending in 9527, a transfer transaction of RMB 1,010,000.00 was completed on July 8th at 8:05 AM, leaving a balance of RMB 1,020,410.69.
After transferring all the money from the system to his bank card, Lin Feng sprang out of bed, quickly freshened up, and threw on a set of worn-out sportswear before heading out the door.
There was no helping it; Lin Feng had grown taller and more muscular, rendering his old clothes useless. Only this baggy set of sportswear could still fit.
Following a hasty breakfast at a roadside stall, Lin Feng hailed a taxi straight to Haiqin City's First People's Hospital.
Despite being an Evolver, Lin Feng harbored concerns about his health. He suspected the Awakening Pharmaceutical might have side effects, prompting his visit to the hospital for a check-up.
Yep! A full-body examination was definitely in order.
After navigating the process of lining up, registering, consulting a doctor, and undergoing tests, time had slipped away to midday.
Lin Feng's anxiety eased when he reviewed his physical examination report. The data indicated that everything was normal; he was in peak health.
As he was about to leave the hospital, a familiar green glint caught his eye. Halting, Lin Feng turned to locate the source of the light.
He spotted medical staff rushing a gurney through the hall, carrying a female patient in evident pain, with a Bronze Treasure Chest affixed to her forehead.
Damn! A green forehead is a bad sign. No wonder you're ill!
He pondered whether removing the Bronze Treasure Chest would help the patient recover.
Without a second thought, Lin Feng set off in pursuit.
The patient was taken for a brain CT scan in the radiology department before being moved to a regular ward.
Lin Feng followed at a measured pace, his brow furrowing with concern.
Approaching the patient to place his hand on her head for a full ten seconds seemed a daunting task.
Would she think he was out of his mind?
Would her family intervene?
What would others think of me?
Lin Feng couldn't bring himself to make a scene in public. It was just too embarrassing.
What to do?
Within seconds, a spark of inspiration struck Lin Feng. He memorized the room number of the ward and made his way to the doctor's office.
Shortly after, Lin Feng emerged from the doctor's office, now donning a white coat with a stethoscope around his neck and a folder in hand. As he walked, many patients looked his way with respect.
Hehe! The doctor's office was unattended!
Perfect for borrowing some clothes. Disguised as a doctor, surely no one would prevent me from approaching the patient, right?
With a subtle grin, Lin Feng confidently pushed open a ward door and stepped inside.
It was a typical ward with three beds, all occupied. On the farthest bed lay the female patient Lin Feng had seen earlier, the Bronze Treasure Chest still affixed to her forehead.
"Cough!"
Lin Feng cleared his throat and briskly approached the woman's bed, where two anxious family members quickly met him.
"Doctor, how is my daughter doing?"
"Doctor, have the test results come back yet?"
The young patient seemed to be in her late teens, and the concerned man and woman by her side appeared to be in their forties—her parents, presumably.
"Don't worry, the examination results aren't back yet. Let me first assess the patient," Lin Feng reassured them, then turned his attention to the girl.
"Doctor, my daughter doesn't have a serious illness, does she?"
"Tsk, tsk! What are you, a harbinger of doom? Our daughter can't be seriously ill!"
"I'm just concerned about her, that's all."
"Concern is one thing, but do you have to speak like that?"
"Right, right, my mistake. I deserve to be scolded for my words!"
"Zip it! Don't interrupt the doctor!"
"Okay, okay, got it."
...
Lin Feng had to stifle a laugh at the couple's exchange, but he kept his composure to avoid blowing his cover.
Lin Feng extended a hand and swiftly pressed it to the girl's forehead.
"Ding! Treasure Chest obtained, please wait..."
"10, 9, 8..."
The girl appeared feverish, her forehead burning up. Lin Feng, not being an actual doctor, was at a loss for her ailment.
Yet, that didn't stop him from claiming treasure chests!
"Ding! Congratulations to Host Lin Feng on acquiring a Bronze Treasure Chest!"
The system's alert chimed in his ear. Pleased, Lin Feng nodded and withdrew his hand.
"Doctor, can you make anything out?"
"Doctor, what illness does my daughter have?"
Confronted with the parents' questions, Lin Feng feigned contemplation, stroking his chin before responding with earnest, "I can't jump to any conclusions about your daughter's condition just yet. Let's wait for the test results to come back, and then we can confirm."
"When will we have the test results?"
"Don't worry, they'll be ready shortly!"
"Oh, thank you so much, doctor!"
"My pleasure."
...
Just like that, Lin Feng pocketed a Bronze Treasure Chest. Although he was on edge, the operation was surprisingly smooth!
Exiting the ward, he didn't rush to leave the hospital. Instead, he glanced around and nonchalantly patrolled the inpatient department.
Having gotten a taste for it, he was ready to exploit his 'doctor' guise further, aiming to gather treasure chests from various wards!
The audacity!
But would someone catch on to him?
...
Bypassing the first ward with no chest in sight, Lin Feng promptly headed to the next.
Finding no chest in the second ward either, he turned on his heel without a word and left!
Huh? A Bronze Treasure Chest in this ward! Hehe, mine for the taking!
...
Lin Feng had an epiphany; treasure chests seemed to manifest on people. Or rather, on their worn clothes and accessories.
In essence, treasure chests might materialize in 'popular' spots. As for areas lacking 'popularity', no chests had surfaced there, at least not yet.
Lin Feng had carefully summed up his experience after strolling through the hospital and reflecting on the treasure chests he had found the day before.
...
As he made his rounds, Lin Feng had inspected over a hundred hospital wards, yet so far, he had only come across four Bronze Treasure Chests. The elusive Silver Treasure Chests were nowhere to be found—not even a glimpse!
Wasn't this too few?
Was the system just being miserly?
Did it begrudge giving out more treasure chests for treasure hunters to find?
How stingy!
While Lin Feng was internally grumbling about the system's parsimony, a nurse suddenly emerged from the ward ahead. Lin Feng's heart skipped a beat, and he quickly sidestepped, ducking his head. Unexpectedly, the nurse called out his name!
"Lin Feng?! What are you doing here?" The nurse sounded utterly astonished.
But Lin Feng was even more taken aback!
He had never expected to run into someone he knew here, especially someone he had berated just last night.
Indeed, the nurse was none other than Lin Feng's neighbor—Su Mei!
Damn! How could the world be so small?
What a gut punch...
