The Treatment

Chapter 144: The Treatment

Zhao Qin, standing beside Li Huowang, clearly had no idea what he was talking about.

He couldn't understand what the other man was saying. As he clenched his fists, trying to formulate some kind of response, a hoarse, elderly woman’s voice made him forget everything else instantly.

“Husband, look, our son has come back again.”

Stunned, he turned to look at his wife. To his amazement, for the first time in thirty years, the eyes of his possessed wife held a glimmer of clarity.

“You… you recognize me?” Zhao Qin rushed to her side, grabbing her hands in an ecstatic grip.

“Husband, look how good our son is. He’s so young and he already knows how to be filial to his mother. He knew I like freshly fried dough sticks, so he went out early this morning just to buy some for me.”

The old woman spoke as she chewed gently on the hem of Yang Xiaohai’s clothes with her loose teeth.

Then, every disciple of the Dragon Soar Escort Agency was shocked to see their always stern and unsmiling chief escort crying.

Zhao Qin walked over and wrapped his arms around his wife, sobbing uncontrollably. “Fengxia… I’ve wronged you!”

Wang Chengxing, who had followed his master since childhood, felt his nose sting. Although his master was always strict, he knew it was just a facade.

Meanwhile, Bai Lingmiao walked over to Li Huowang and quietly tugged at his sleeve. “Brother Li,” she asked, her voice full of surprise, “how did you do that? You’re amazing.”

Li Huowang watched the old couple holding each other, a complex expression on his face. “Long illness makes the patient a doctor. I’ve seen cases like this in the… institution I was in. Honestly, I’m better at identifying psychiatric medication than distinguishing symptoms.”

“Then what kind of possession was it?” she asked.

Li Huowang sighed lightly. “She wasn’t possessed. She just suffered a massive shock back then, couldn’t get past it, and then being locked up for thirty years made it this bad.”

With that, he was about to lead Bai Lingmiao out of the dim room, but before he could take more than a few steps, he was stopped.

It was Zhao Qin, his eyes brimming with tears. Overwhelmed with emotion, he placed one fist over the other in a deep, solemn bow towards Li Huowang. “Thank you, benefactor, for your help!”

“Don’t thank me yet. It’s not over. Take her out, clean her up, and put some clean clothes on her.”

Zhao Qin treated Li Huowang’s words like a royal decree and immediately complied.

The old woman, now in fresh clothes, was moved into a bright, warm bedroom. She was still holding Yang Xiaohai.

Li Huowang gave Zhao Qin further instructions. “Let her hold him if she wants. Hire a few kids to take turns being held by her. She’s looking for a substitute in her heart, trying to compensate for the loss she suffered.”

“Once she’s let out most of her emotions, you can switch to a dummy.”

“When the sun is out, take her outside to get some sunlight. More sunlight improves your mood and helps the patient recover.”

“If no one can keep her company, get her a couple of dogs. Pets can also help stabilize the mind.”

“Thirty years is a very long time. This kind of illness responds best to early intervention. Focus on stabilizing her condition for now.”

Li Huowang paused for a moment, recalling what Doctor Li had said to other patients’ families, and relayed the details to Zhao Qin.

“That’s all I can remember. Give it a try. It’s better than locking her in a dark room. Remember, don’t lock her up anymore, and don’t chain her up. She’s already this sick. The more you confine her, the worse it gets.”

Zhao Qin looked at his wife, who was sitting there quietly. His eyes were full of excitement, and he muttered to himself, “It’s enough. This is more than enough.”

For his wife to recognize him after thirty years—he had never dreamed such a thing was possible.

In his eyes, Li Huowang was now a living saint of medicine!

“Alright then, if that’s all, we’ll head back. We have to travel again tomorrow.”

Just as Li Huowang was leaving, Zhao Qin blocked him with his arms spread wide, his voice trembling as he called out to his disciple, “Yuan Hu! Go to the East Prosperity Restaurant! Arrange a feast! A grand feast!”

To show his sincerity, Zhao Qin pulled out all the stops.

The finest restaurant in town was booked entirely by the Dragon Soar Escort Agency in Li Huowang’s honor.

A top-tier banquet at a restaurant like that was nothing like the food in the inn’s main hall. The array of delicacies made everyone’s mouths water. Roasted chicken from a fruitwood fire, braised whole fish, steamed cured meats, locust tree soup…

Most striking of all was the suckling pig at the center of the table. Its fatty, tender meat was roasted to a golden-brown crispiness, glazed with a rich, aromatic sauce that shimmered in the candlelight.

Even Mantou was crouching at Li Huowang’s feet, licking his chops excitedly as he waited for scraps.

Li Huowang, seated at the head of the table, wasn’t paying attention to any of this. He leaned over to listen as Chun Xiaoman explained the whole situation from the beginning.

“Next time something like this happens, ask me first. Don’t just act on your own, and don’t drag Bai Lingmiao into it,” Li Huowang said.

This kind of thing—it’s fine if it works out, but if it doesn’t, it’s just another problem.

Chun Xiaoman hesitated for a moment, as if she wanted to argue, but in the end, she said nothing, just nodded. “Yes, Brother Li.”

Li Huowang sat up straight as he saw Zhao Qin, now in a formal suit, leading a group of disciples up the wooden stairs.

Zhao Qin walked over with a fervent look in his eyes. Without saying a word, he poured a full cup of alcohol and downed three cups in quick succession towards Li Huowang.

“Chief Escort Zhao, you’re too kind. What happened with your wife was just something I couldn’t ignore. Please, have everyone sit down.”

Li Huowang picked up his chopsticks first and took a piece of chicken. Only after seeing the accompanying escorts start eating did he put the bite in his own mouth, then gave the others a signal.

Those who had been waiting impatiently began to dig in. As the escorts were momentarily stunned by the group’s appetites, the food on the table visibly diminished.

Li Huowang grabbed a large chicken leg, took a bite, and tossed it under the table.

“Benefactor! A great favor does not need many words of thanks! Saving my wife today is the same as saving me! Tomorrow, I will have a generous gift delivered to your residence. Please do not refuse!”

Zhao Qin’s nose was red from the alcohol, and he was clearly much more talkative.

“And from now on, if you ever have any trouble, the Dragon Soar Escort Agency will do everything in its power to help!”

Having said this, he downed three more cups in front of Li Huowang.

As he was about to pour a fourth, Li Huowang stopped him with his chopsticks. “Chief Escort Zhao, it’s best not to drink too much. You can’t talk clearly when you’re drunk. Actually, there is one thing I need your help with.”

“Since you’re in the escort business, your bodyguards must be skilled. Do you have any good swordsmanship manuals suitable for combat?”

This wasn’t just for Chun Xiaoman. It was for himself, too.

He had just gotten a good sword from the abbess, and without a matching sword technique, it was useless. Even if it was a great sword, he couldn’t just swing it around like a fire poker, could he?

Since the other party had offered to help, why shouldn’t he ask?