Mutated Tao

Chapter 634: Qian Fu

Chapter 634: Qian Fu

Bam! Bam! Bam!

Li Huowang peeked into the room through the window reinforced with wire and saw where the noises were coming from.

The noises were coming from a patient in a straitjacket. The patient looked disheveled and had a chin covered with an untrimmed beard. The knocking noises were coming from the patient's head as he slammed it forcefully into the bed.

The noises had gotten significantly louder. However, the thin and flexible bed frame couldn't hurt him at all.

“W-what illness is he suffering from?” Li Huowang muttered with a frown while staring at the man with curious eyes.

The man was roughly one and a half meters tall. His face was twitching and was constantly shifting between crying and laughing.

It was Li Huowang's first time seeing such a patient.

He should be on some medicine, so the fact that he's here means that there's something going on behind the scenes. Is this a side effect of one of his medications?

Just then, the man inside the room came to a halt and stared right into Li Huowang. “

Li Huowang decided to play along and nodded. “Yes. I’m here.”

“Good! I’ve been waiting for you! I never thought that you'd come and see me first!”

“Oh? Have we met before?”

“Hahaha! Yes, and we know each other, too!”

After exchanging a few words with the bizarre patient, Li Huowang got bored and decided to leave.

“Li Huowang, you have to be careful! They're looking for you, and there are too many of them! You can’t defeat them by yourself! You need help!”

Li Huowang’s heart skipped a beat, and he immediately turned around.

He peered into the room through the same window and saw that the bed was empty.

Before Li Huowang could realize what was going on, the patient’s face shot up from underneath and was pressed against the window.

Unnervingly, the patient was staring at him without blinking.

Li Huowang was started, but it only took him a moment to calm down. “You’ve seen me in the news, haven't you? Is that how you knew my name?”

Li Huowang had almost forgotten that he was pretty popular outside.

“No! I knew you way before that incident. I was one of them, and they told me to capture you and the others! But I didn’t want to do it! Everything is over once all of you are captured!”

“What do you mean by 'them'?”

“Them! The family of darkness that was driven away a long time ago! They're working for the aliens from Leo[1]!

Li Huowang almost burst out laughing at the reply. Sometimes, those with mental illnesses were incredibly funny. “I think you watched too much anime outside. Also, your story earlier is contradictory to what you're saying right now.”

“I’m imprisoned, but my comrades were dispatched to find you! They're looking for you! They want to kill you! We don’t have enough time! You need to let me out. We must work together so we can survive!”

Li Huowang smiled and shook his head. He was about to say something when a patrolling nurse saw them and exclaimed, “Hey! Which room are you from? This is the intensive care area! You're not allowed here! Get out of here!”

“Bye. Just look for me once you've taken your medicine,” said Li Huowang. He waved his hand and left the intensive care area.

Li Huowang strolled around the hospital until he eventually made his way to the cafeteria for lunch.

Li Huowang took a tray and lined up for food.

The food here was much better compared to Li Huowang's previous hospital. He got himself some stir-fried pork liver with celery as well as a serving of stir-fried water spinach.

Li Huowang walked over to an empty seat and sat down to eat.

The strange incident earlier was already in the back of his eyes. After all, no one in their right mind would believe a mentally ill patient.

Moreover, he was just curious about the patient’s condition and his illness.

Their conversation told Li Huowang that the man wasn't a psycho, as his words were somehow logical.

Just then, Wei Shili, the man suffering from manic syndrome, walked up to Li Huowang upon seeing that the latter was eating lunch by himself.

Wei Shili had decided to befriend Li Huowang after spending some time with the latter and becoming convinced that Li Huowang wasn't a psychopath.

At first, Wei Shili was skeptical when Li Huowang said that he wasn’t ill, but he was starting to believe Li Huowang's claims.

Li Huowang looked normal, and his behavior was normal as well.

Moreover, he was kind and often shared his snacks with the other patients.

“I’ve passed my examinations! I'll be discharged in two days the soonest if my family comes by then,” Wei Shili said excitedly as he sat next to Li Huowang.

“I know. This isn't the first time you told me that. No need to keep telling me about it.”

“Hehe, that’s because I’m just too happy. I’ve been here for almost a year, and I can finally get out,” Wei Shili said as he ate mouthful after mouthful of his rice mixed with a serving of chicken stew and mashed potato.

“Has it been one year? It's been a long time, then. Wait, since you've been here for such a long time, do you know anything about the man stuck in the intensive care area?” Li Huowang asked.

Wei Shili was confused. “Intensive care area? Who is it?”

“The man with the untrimmed beard.”

“Oh, him? His name is Qian Fu. I think he’s been here for a very long time. He was already here when I was just admitted.”

“What illness does he have? And how come he's imprisoned there?”

“Illness?” Wei Shili put his spoon down and replied, “I think he has schizophrenia.”

“Really? I don’t think so. I've never seen a schizophrenic patient talk nonsense like he did.”

Just then, the woman diagnosed with anxiety walked up to them and asked, “What are you guys gossiping about?”

“Nothing much. Just talking about Qian Fu's illness. Doesn't he have schizophrenia?”

“Ah, It’s not schizophrenia. Don't talk about it when you don't know the answer. Actually, the doctors have yet to diagnose him of any illnesses.”

“Wait, even the doctors don’t know?” Li Huowang was shocked. This was unprecedented for him.

“Yes. The doctors aren't omniscient. They won't be able to diagnose someone with an illness if they have never heard of that illness before. Anyway, Qian Fu is really pitiful. The doctors can't prescribe medications for him to take, as they don't know his illness, so they have no choice but to lock him up and wait for him to stabilize."

The curious voice in Li Huowang's mind went silent upon hearing the woman's explanation. He went on with his meal as if nothing had happened.

Li Huowang thought that the incident was over and decided to forget all about it.

Several days later, however, a familiar visitor walked up to Li Huowang while he was busy munching on his bamboo shoots during lunch.

The visitor was none other than Qian Fu!

Their gazes met in midair, and Qian Fu immediately walked over to Li Huowang instead of taking some dishes to eat before anything else.

Li Huowang thought that Qian Fu was going to kick up a fuss, but he was wrong.

Qian Fu had decided to apologize to him instead, saying, “I’m sorry. I think I spoke a bunch of nonsense to you the last time we met. It must've been disturbing for you. I’m sorry.”

Li Huowang was presented by a calm and polite Qian Fu, which greatly contrasted with the crazed Qian Fu, whom he had met for the first time several days ago.

1. The constellation ?