Chapter 844 - Voices

Li Huowang asked again after hearing Li Sui’s answer, “Why didn’t you tell me before?”

“Father, you never asked. It’s also not like I could talk to you about it casually during the New Year. Also, why are you asking me this? Did you not know about it?”

“I did. Of course, I knew,” Li Huowang said, drinking the bitter tea again.

“What I meant is that we could talk more about the information of this world. You’ve lived here for a hundred and sixty years and should know more than me about this place.”

Li Sui held onto her girl’s head and used eight tentacles to snuggle the head against Li Huowang.

“Father, I think it’s best if I don’t talk to you about this easily. You know how dangerous it could be. The more you know about this world, the more dangerous it gets. It's generally better to be kept in the dark.

“And since you’re a Strayed One, it might be dangerous for you to learn about it, especially since you’ve achieved a high degree of proficiency in cultivating the ‘Truth.’”

Li Huowang patted her head and sighed. He knew what Li Sui was hinting at. Xuan Pin had said it once, but it felt different when Li Sui said it.

A stern voice suddenly came from Li Huowang’s side. “Li Huowang, do you think that this is fun?”

Li Huowang closed his eyes and reopened them to see the white LED light tube above him. He completely ignored the voice outside of the door.

He was wearing two straitjackets and was completely tied up. Still, this was only temporary. He had won, and Qing Wanglai would soon send someone to rescue him.

While he only had a single eye left, it was still a great price to pay for ending the war.

Everything was over. No one would be stalking him again, and no one would harm his family anymore. He was free and could finally rest.

Yi Donglai’s voice came from outside the room. He was angry. “Li Huowang, what are you thinking? Stop playing dumb! You are not crazy—I know I treated you!”

It was understandable because when Li Huowang became crazy again, Yi Donglai had become a laughing stock for the others. His thesis, which he had worked hard on, was now worthless.

He refused to believe that Li Huowang would defeat him. Yi Donglai had treated many patients before, and even if they weren’t completely cured, they still managed to become somewhat normal.

Li Huowang ignored Yi Donglai and didn’t move.

Twenty minutes later, Yi Donglai left. Li Huowang blinked with his single remaining eye.

The room was utterly silent. Half an hour later, Li Huowang heard something and began to slowly move on the ground.

He said nothing as he worked his way towards the left wall. It was difficult to move in two straitjackets. After moving a couple of inches, he was sweating, but he never stopped.

He plastered his ear on the soft leather wall and heard the faint murmur of a woman’s voice. He remembered the voice. It was Zhao Ting, the patient in his group who had slight depression.

“Li... wang, are you...?” Her voice was hazy, but Li Huowang could more or less guess what she meant through the fragmented words.

He smiled and nodded. “I’m fine. I’m just locked up for now. They have done this before. It’s nothing to me.”

Another voice could be heard, this time belonging to a man. However, his stammering and the thick walls made it unintelligible.

The particular tone of the voice was distinct enough for Li Huowang to recognize it. The man was Gao Jingyun, the slightly mentally challenged patient.

Another voice came. Li Huowang managed to guess who it was based on the identity of the first two patients. It was Zhang Shuier, the woman with OCD.

They were all part of the same team at one point. Despite the others considering him a crazy patient, they still extended their friendship to Li Huowang. Their willingness to become friends had touched him.

Many would eagerly befriend the rich and famous, but only a few would extend a helping hand to the poor and nameless.

Li Huowang was sure that almost everyone outside thought of him as a crazed murderer.

After conversing with them for a bit, Li Huowang heard Zhao Ting’s voice again. “Re... we... will... save... out.”

Li Huowang’s heart froze because Zhao Ting was different than usual. He tentatively asked, “Did Qing Wanglai ask you to contact me?”

“Yes...”

Li Huowang’s heart sank. “Go back and tell him to find another way. Don’t drag innocent people in!”

While Li Huowang wanted to escape, he didn’t want anyone, especially the people he knew, to become his accomplice.

They were all patients who already led a hard life. Receiving treatment to live out the rest of their lives was the best possible outcome for them.

Who knew what would happen to them if he dragged them into his fight with the Simings?

Li Huowang also recalled how Qing Wanglai treated the others. He would discard useless people like tools.

“No... we... talk...” Zhao Ting’s voice gradually grew faint. Li Huowang moved to try to continue listening, yet no further voices could be heard.

“What did you say?” Li Huowang stopped moving, focusing on one spot.

Immediately after, someone opened the door to his room. It was Yi Donglai.

“Who are you talking to?” Yi Donglai asked.

Li Huowang remained silent. He soon saw Yi Donglai’s shoes appearing in front of him.

Yi Donglai reached for the straps of Li Huowang’s straitjackets before dragging him out of the room.

“Come here and look! Look carefully with your single remaining eye!”

Yi Donglai showed Li Huowang the exterior of the left wall. Other than the art on the wall, there was nothing else.

“Look at that! There’s no one near this room! Everything's an illusion! Li Huowang, you are sick!”

Li Huowang opened his mouth and repeated what he had told Yi Donglai before. “No, I’m not sick. I just learned the truth of the world.”