The Doctor

Bai Lingmiao had just finished washing the clothes and was carefully making her way back toward the cart when she suddenly felt the other end of the bamboo pole in her hand being picked up.

Staring at the blurry patch of red, Bai Lingmiao spoke softly toward the direction of the pole’s tip. “I can still see a little, actually. Just not very clearly.”

The Second Spirit ahead did not answer. She simply took the pole and led the way toward the cart.

When they reached the cart, Bai Lingmiao, with Li Sui’s help, began draping the washed clothes over the canopy roof and the horse’s back to dry.

“Li Sui, where’s your dad?” Bai Lingmiao asked, looking toward the blurry patch of ochre—Li Sui’s straw raincoat.

After spending day and night together like this, Bai Lingmiao had grown much more accustomed to Li Sui’s terrifying appearance.

She couldn’t quite treat her like a daughter the way Li Huowang did, but at least she could now face her with a normal heart.

“Dad went into the woods ahead. He said he’ll be back in an hour,” Li Sui replied, holding a book in her hand.

“Oh. Let’s start a fire and cook, then.” Bai Lingmiao pulled a fire-steel from the cart and walked toward the pile of firewood.

She had done this many times before—kindling, setting up the pot, fetching water—but today she made a mistake. Without thinking, she thrust her left hand straight into the flames.

She yanked her hand back in time, but several of her slender fingers were already blistered, the skin pale and swollen.

The Second Spirit walked over and pushed her aside without a word, then began the work of lighting the fire and cooking with practiced ease. Bai Lingmiao stared at the blurry figure busying itself before her, and a bitter smile spread across her face.

Tears welled in Bai Lingmiao’s eyes. It wasn’t from the pain—it was the grief of knowing she was becoming a burden.

When the smell of food finally reached her, Bai Lingmiao pulled herself together, picked up the bamboo pole, and headed toward the woods ahead.

The pole tapped against the ground with a crisp sound, clearing a path for her.

Soon, within that blurry world, Bai Lingmiao spotted that blot of red—Li-shixiong’s blood-colored Daoist robe.

“Li-shixiong, the food is ready,” Bai Lingmiao called out toward the red, from a distance.

Hearing the voice, Li Huowang turned to look her way, a trace of a smile on his face. “Thanks, Mom.”

“Hey, what kind of talk is that? Since when do you need to thank me for something like this?” Sun Xiaoqin said from her stool beside the hospital bed, opening the lunchbox in her arms.

The meat dish was braised spare ribs, the vegetable dish was stir-fried water spinach, and the soup was carrot and lamb stew—a perfectly balanced meal.

“Son, I know you don’t like carrots, but you can’t be a picky eater. Eat more carrots, you need the vitamins.”

“Mom, I’m not picky anymore,” Li Huowang said, opening his mouth to accept the spoonful of carrot. He chewed.

“There, a good kid who doesn’t pick his food. Our son is getting more sensible every day.” Sun Xiaoqin nodded with satisfaction. Seeing how stable Li Huowang had been lately, her complexion was noticeably better than before.

“Mom, I forgot to ask earlier—where are you staying? You’re not staying in this prison too, are you?”

“I was thinking of buying a folding cot and having your dad bring it over so I could stay here with you, but no matter how much I talked, they wouldn’t let me. Now I have to rent a place nearby.”

Hearing this, Li Huowang nodded. “Good. That’s good.”

“Good? Li-shixiong, is this really ‘good’?” Bai Lingmiao walked up to Li Huowang, staring at him with sorrowful eyes. “Why did you lie to me and say the illness was better? This is anything but better…”

She let out a soft sigh, and her expression dimmed. “But how can I blame you… I didn’t tell you the truth either. My heart hasn’t let go, either…”

“Li-shixiong, do you think we’d both be better off if we separated? But like this… I really can’t rest easy.”

“I’m fine. I’m doing great. Don’t worry about me. Look, over this past month or two, my condition has been much more stable.”

“Oh, son, you can’t say that. Sure, you’re doing better than before, but the problem is you’re still not fully recovered. The closer you get to being well, the less you can let your guard down.”

Li Huowang listened patiently to Sun Xiaoqin’s rambling. He treasured it. Only after losing something does a person realize how precious it is.

“Don’t worry. One day, I will recover. One day!” Just as Li Huowang said this, there was a clang, and the iron door suddenly swung open.

Li Huowang turned toward the sound and immediately saw two doctors in white coats entering, followed by three male orderlies. One of the orderlies was pushing a wheelchair.

His eyes filled with wariness as he looked at them. He tested the waters: “Miao Miao? Li Sui? Is that you? Leave for a bit. I’ll be right back.”

Sun Xiaoqin shot to her feet, positioning herself in front of Li Huowang. “Hey! Who the hell are you? Who said you could come in?!”

“Ms. Sun, there’s no need to be alarmed. We’re just here to do some rehabilitation exercises for your son—to work his muscles. If his muscles fully atrophy, he’ll be bedridden for the rest of his life.”

With that, they began moving. They unfastened the restraints from Li Huowang’s body, exposing his horrifically pale frame to the air.

His limbs were noticeably thinner than before, straight as chopsticks.

When the prison guard at the door saw that Li Huowang couldn’t even stand with the orderlies’ support, he let out a long sigh of relief. At least this violent lunatic was finally calming down.

“Wha—what’s going on? How did my son get so thin!” Sun Xiaoqin was starting to panic.

“Ms. Sun, don’t worry. It’s just normal muscle atrophy from long periods without exercise. It can be restored with rehab training. Actually, I’m impressed—your son doesn’t have a single bedsore. You’ve taken very good care of him.”

Hearing this, Sun Xiaoqin relaxed a little. “I turn him every few hours. I know that. I learned it from Douyin, from those videos about caring for bedridden elderly.”

Under the doctor’s direction, the orderlies helped Li Huowang into the wheelchair and prepared to push him out.

“Wait! Where are you taking me?! I can’t leave right now!” Li Huowang struggled fiercely, but the orderlies held him down tight.

If he went out now, heaven knows where he might end up on the other side.

A middle-aged doctor with a receding hairline crouched down, looking at him with curiosity. “Why can’t you leave? Can you tell me the reason?”

Li Huowang stared at him. “Just wait. A little longer is all I need.”

“Why not now? Why can’t you leave this room precisely when you’re clear-headed? What are you afraid of?”

Hearing the doctor’s words, Li Huowang’s heart clenched. This bastard… he already knew Li Huowang was lucid right now?