Deep Within the Living

Chapter 63: The Infirmary

Track Field Exit (North).

The outside was still lined with campus pathways bordered by high walls, with signposts placed at intersections. The nearest destination was the academic building directly to the north.

After less than ten minutes of running, they finally reached the familiar yet strangely unfamiliar academic building. This text is hosted at novᴇlfire.net

For three years, they had spent nearly half of their days inside this building, but now it was shrouded in darkness, with almost no lights on inside.

Not a single sound came from within—not even the faintest noise.

Pitch black and silent.

Only a few streetlights outside provided faint illumination.

The academic building, shaped like the letter E, was six stories tall.

The campus infirmary was located in the central block, making it convenient for students to receive hospital-level treatment at any time.

Xiaoying reminded them, "The infirmary is an important area equipped with multiple generators. Even if the entire building loses power, it won’t matter. We can head straight there.""Alright." Gao Yuxuan nodded. He could clearly sense that Luo Di’s condition was worsening.

As they made their way toward the infirmary,

Gao Yuxuan sharply noticed large amounts of dried bloodstains in the open spaces between the academic blocks. The bloodstains were all in swirling patterns.

Xiaoying, upon seeing the spirals, immediately reacted with alarm and quickly recounted their earlier encounter in the dormitory building.

She speculated that the academic building, shrouded in darkness, might also harbor similar mutated entities like the dorm supervisor.

Fortunately, the infirmary was located on the ground floor near the outer edge, so they could enter directly.

The door was unlocked.

The infirmary, too, was completely dark. Using the dim streetlights outside, they saw no immediate signs of anyone inside.

Xiaoying explained, "Most of the medical staff are stationed at the sports center, ready to treat any injuries sustained during the physical fitness tests.

What’s strange is that even the resident doctor isn’t here. If anyone were present, they would’ve already activated the generator."

Unfazed by the darkness, Xiaoying stepped in first. She quickly found a flashlight in one of the cabinets and used it to illuminate the infirmary.

After confirming there were no people or mutated entities hiding inside, she led the group to the second floor, where medical equipment and hospital beds were located.

Even as they ascended, Xiaoying remained extremely cautious, meticulously checking every corner to ensure the infirmary was safe.

Once they reached the second floor, the weakened Luo Di was carefully placed onto a hospital bed.

Given the severity of his injuries and the side effects of zombification, they had expected him to be in critical condition—perhaps even on the verge of slipping into unconsciousness, never to wake again.

But contrary to their fears, Luo Di lay on the bed with wide-open eyes, showing no signs of sleepiness or pain.

A very real problem now lay before them:

Even if they could get the generator running, the absence of the school doctors meant there was no way to perform the surgery to reattach Luo Di’s arm.

However, Xiaoying demonstrated a level of medical proficiency far beyond that of a typical high school student.

She first located a bioelectric generator, a product of one of the "Big Companies." It operated by simply adding a specialized ionized nutrient solution. The generator worked silently and with high energy efficiency.

Once the infirmary was powered, Xiaoying immediately sealed Luo Di’s severed arm in plastic wrap and stored it in a low-temperature freezer.

This way, as long as they could endure until everything was over, Luo Di could be transferred to the central hospital, where he would receive the best limb reattachment surgery—likely with no lasting side effects.

Next,

Xiaoying retrieved various medications, including anti-inflammatory drugs, painkillers, and nutritional supplements.

She even prepared an IV drip and personally inserted the needle into Luo Di’s arm.

She then used tweezers, scrapers, and other tools to efficiently clean, disinfect, and suture Luo Di’s wounds. As she worked, she explained,

"My hands are steady, and I’m good with fine tools. I was selected to assist in the infirmary during the second semester of sophomore year. I’ve learned most of the basic medical procedures since then."

"Thank you," Luo Di murmured.

As the medications and IV drip began taking effect, he could feel a noticeable improvement in his condition.

However, he remained in his zombified state. It seemed he had no intention of staying here to rest indefinitely.

Meanwhile,

Gao Yuxuan, who also had a strong background in medicine, particularly in traditional Chinese medicine, didn’t interfere with Xiaoying’s treatment of Luo Di’s injuries.

Instead, he busied himself with other preparations.

He rummaged through the medicine cabinets, finding several high-risk medications, which he prepared in syringes to carry with him.

To his surprise, he also discovered a pack of cigarettes.

Nicotine wasn’t exactly a good thing, but in this situation, it could help sharpen focus and provide a slight boost in alertness.

Afterward,

he placed an unlit cigarette between his lips, mindful of the infirmary’s no-smoking policy and the severely injured Luo Di still lying there.

Standing in front of the medicine cabinet, Gao Yuxuan used the reflective glass to adjust his glasses and comb back his messy hair with his fingers, pushing it as neatly as possible out of his face.

Once he’d tidied himself up,

he turned and walked to Luo Di’s bedside, taking the cigarette from his mouth between his fingers.

"The infirmary space hasn’t changed, which might mean the alterations to the entire academic building are relatively minimal. You two stay here and recover—I’m going to the security office to look for the Class Leader."

Hearing this, Luo Di abruptly sat up from the bed. He tried to pull out the IV needle, only to realize his left arm was gone, leaving him unable to perform the action.

In the next instant,

Gao Yuxuan’s prosthetic arm pressed him back onto the bed with force. For the first time, his demeanor turned overwhelmingly authoritative, and he pointed a finger at Luo Di.

"You stay here and recover properly! Anyone else in your condition would already be dead!

Based on what you’ve told me, the Class Leader is likely fine. Her speed is unmatched in the entire school; she’ll definitely reach the Security Task Force and join them to handle the skin-type Impersonator.

The security office is just outside the academic building—it’ll take me less than three minutes to get there.

And don’t start with the whole 'it’s dangerous' argument. Staying in the infirmary is just as dangerous. Right now, the best way to increase our survival chances is to regroup with the Security Task Force.

"As for the Class Advisor, the monster he’s fighting isn’t one that can be dealt with quickly. There may even be casualties on his side. We have no choice but to rely on ourselves."

After his explanation, Gao Yuxuan raised two fingers.

"Two possibilities:

First, if I’m lucky, I’ll quickly meet up with the Class Leader and the Security Task Force and bring them back to the infirmary. If we can regroup, we’ll have enough manpower to fight off any Impersonators that attack us.

Second, if the security office is empty, I’ll return immediately. I’m not dumb enough to explore the school on my own.

In that case, once you’ve recovered a bit, we’ll search the academic building and surrounding areas together to find the Class Leader."

While bandaging Luo Di’s wounds, Xiaoying nodded in agreement, recognizing Gao Yuxuan’s plan as the best course of action given their current situation. If all three of them stayed in the infirmary and an Impersonator discovered them, the outcome would likely be fatal.

With Luo Di in no condition to move, someone had to contact the Security Task Force.

"Alright, Luo Di, focus on healing. I’ll see you later."

Gao Yuxuan patted Luo Di’s shoulder again before tucking the cigarette back into his mouth and turning to leave.

"Be careful," Luo Di called after him.

Without turning around, Gao Yuxuan raised his hand over his shoulder, making an "OK" gesture.

After leaving the infirmary, he lit the cigarette, taking a deep drag to sharpen his focus. His walking pace quickly shifted into a run.

He had to move fast.

Leaving the severely injured Luo Di and Xiaoying in the infirmary for too long was far too dangerous. If an Impersonator found them during his absence, both of them would undoubtedly die.

The [Infirmary] and [Security Office] were both located in the academic building—one in the central block and the other near the main gate. The two locations were less than 200 meters apart, though the path required some weaving through the building.

As Gao Yuxuan sprinted through the darkened first-floor corridors, his steps gradually slowed.

In the semi-open, pitch-black passage ahead,

a "security guard" appeared.

However, this fully armed "security guard" had no head.

From the looks of the injury, it seemed as though their entire head had been shattered, and the exposed neck wound displayed a swirling vortex-like structure.