Conversation

Chapter 477: Conversation

“Classmate, since you’re lucid right now, your logical thinking should be normal. You should understand what I mean. We’re doing this to cure you. Do you want to lie in bed for the rest of your life and have your mother take care of you forever?”

“She’s getting so old now. Can she really take care of you for the rest of your life? Can you bear to make her—white-haired and frail—still turn you over and clean up after you when you’re fifty or sixty?”

“She won’t have to. Not once my cultivation is complete…” Li Huowang’s expression stiffened for a moment, then he slowly closed his mouth.

The two doctors exchanged a glance, pulled out notebooks from their white coats, and began scribbling notes.

They moved a short distance away, conferred for a moment, then came back.

“Li Huowang, we won’t take you out for rehabilitation exercises. But would you be willing to have a chat with us?”

“Don’t be nervous. Just a casual talk, like between friends.” As the younger doctor said this, the other doctor and the orderlies withdrew, and even the prison guard stationed at the door left.

The doctor took off his white coat and set it aside, revealing his civilian clothes underneath. “Let me introduce myself. My name is Yi Donglai.” He extended a hand and shook Li Huowang’s thin, claw-like right hand.

Compared to the previous doctor, this younger one was clearly different.

“You’re pretty famous online these days. That story about you charging into the school to rescue your girlfriend from a few kidnappers is all over the internet now. A lot of people admire you. Including some pretty good-looking girls.”

Li Huowang’s lips trembled. He said nothing, silently calculating the time until he could return.

“Do you play League of Legends? I play too. The game company recently made you into a limited-edition skin for Tryndamere. A lot of people bought it. I spent ninety-nine yuan to get one myself.”

“Huh?” Li Huowang lifted his head, staring at the doctor with a complicated expression. “Are you treating me like an idiot?”

“Ha ha ha, just kidding, don’t take it too seriously. But I did watch the security footage from back then. Wow, you were so cool. Like a Tryndamere who just popped his ult! If they actually made that into a skin, it would sell like crazy!”

“What champion do you like to play? I like playing Shaco. But the damn Riot Games actually nerfed him recently! Nerfed Shaco! What the hell! Tell me, is that something a normal person would do—?”

Li Huowang watched Yi Donglai ramble on, completely ignoring his flood of nonsense, and quickly pinpointed the man’s real intention. This guy was probably trying to use gaming topics to build rapport with him, waiting for his psychological defenses to fully open before starting treatment.

Maybe… I don’t have to resist so directly. Maybe I can use this guy to get out from under this constant surveillance.

“Have they released any new champions lately?” Li Huowang’s question delighted Yi Donglai. Bed 13 was finally giving him feedback.

Feedback was good. As long as there was feedback, psychological intervention and treatment could proceed. “Yes! Yes, yes, yes! While you’ve been hospitalized, two new champions have come out!”

“Any junglers? I like playing jungle.”

Sticking to the topic of games, the two of them chatted for a full twenty minutes. Both sides were satisfied with the exchange.

“I have to go now. Let’s talk again some other time.” Li Huowang spoke.

Yi Donglai had a hundred questions about how Li Huowang could control the timing of his episodes, but he understood that this couldn’t be rushed.

“Fine. You name the time.”

“Let’s make it dinner, five days from now. Brother Donglai, I’m off.” Li Huowang’s lips curled up as he gave a slight chin gesture toward Yi Donglai.

“Hey, wait a minute. You haven’t even finished your meal yet.” In Sun Xiaoqin’s voice, the surroundings began to collapse.

When Li Huowang came back to his senses, he saw Bai Lingmiao, Li Sui, and the Second Spirit standing in front of him, staring.

“Brother Li… the food is ready.” Bai Lingmiao’s voice was soft.

“Oh. I see.” Li Huowang turned and walked toward the cart. He picked up a bowl and ladled some braised rice from the pot. “Mom, I’m about to eat. Take the leftover food from the lunchbox and put it in my mouth for me, will you?”

Li Huowang opened his mouth wide. He waited for a moment, then scooped another mouthful of braised rice and chewed vigorously. After swallowing, he opened his mouth wide again and waited.

When the three women came out, they saw Li Huowang making such an odd gesture.

“Eat. What are you standing there for? We still have to keep moving after this.” Li Huowang said to them. At his words, the three finally walked over.

Bai Lingmiao held her bowl of braised rice, staring at Li Huowang with a complicated expression, as if she wanted to say something.

But when she saw Li Huowang turn to look at her, she forced a smile and began eating in big mouthfuls.

The meal ended in an awkward atmosphere. After washing the bowls, chopsticks, and iron pot by the river, the cart resumed its journey.

Li Huowang thought for a moment before finally turning to Bai Lingmiao to explain. “Don’t worry about me. I can still tell them apart right now. Give it some time, and everything will get better.”

“Mm. Brother Li, I believe you.” Bai Lingmiao gave a slight nod.

“I really—ah, forget it. You’ll understand later.” Li Huowang pulled out a sheet of turmeric paper, bit the tip of his finger, quickly drew a talisman, and slapped it directly onto the horse’s back. The draft horse immediately broke into a gallop.

The cart sped along. By dusk, they had arrived at the edge of a peach grove.

The red sunset spilled over the pink peach blossoms, making them look especially alluring against the green forest.

Li Huowang spread out the finely detailed map from the Supervisory Heavenly Office and compared their position. “This should be the place. I just hope our luck is a little better this time.”

His previous two attempts had been unsuccessful, leaving Li Huowang feeling less confident about this third location.

“I’ll go in first to take a look. You wait out here. If you hear any odd noises, remember to take the cart back to that spot where we had lunch and wait for me.”

“Mm. Go on, Brother Li.”

Seeing the completely unfocused look in Bai Lingmiao’s eyes, Li Huowang’s heart ached. He turned and walked toward the peach grove.

He hunched his body slightly and switched his coloration to match the ground beneath him. Invisible, he slowly crept closer.

The peach trees were dense, and the peaches were fragrant. But the trunks were covered in sticky, amber-colored peach resin, adding a layer of strangeness to the entire grove.

After walking a dozen zhang, Li Huowang realized something. This flourishing peach grove was far too quiet. There were no bird calls, and no insect noises either.

Li Huowang’s heart leaped with joy. Could this one actually be the right spot? “Brother Zhuge, you’ve seen a lot. Have you ever encountered a Spiritual Scourge before?”

“I have. A close friend of mine was afflicted by a Spiritual Scourge. In the end, he lived a life worse than death. Every single moment was torture. He begged me to release him from it.”