Mutated Tao

Once Li Huowang was granted permission to leave the confines of his room, life became tranquil for him. His daily routine remained unchanged: taking his medications, indulging in television shows, and drifting off to sleep. Other than the absence of a treatment plan or a doctor, he was the same as the other patients.

Yi Donglai no longer looked for him and made him use the sand table. In fact, Li Huowang did not see Yi Donglai at all.

He wasn’t sure what Yi Donglai was trying to do, but he didn’t care. He would just live normally like this, one day after another.

Li Huowang walked into the canteen with his handcuffs and leg cuffs. The chains rattled on the ground loudly.

The other patients knew Li Huowang was coming and stood aside to open a path for him. He was being treated as a murderer again.

Li Huowang could have been the only person in White Tower Prison walking around with cuffs.

He picked up a plastic tray and grabbed his food from the canteen—a meat dish, a vegetable dish, a soup, and rice. The meat dish consisted of stir-fried tofu with pork skin, while the vegetable dish included blanched vegetables. The soup was egg-drop seaweed soup.

Li Huowang picked up the oily tofu and ate it. The soft yet firm texture of the bouncy tofu had absorbed the sauce from the meal. He enjoyed the delectable flavor with delight.

Li Huowang then looked at the kitchen and found that the people responsible for the meal had changed. Their meals this time were much better than before.

Li Huowang drank a spoonful of soup before placing his rice into the meat dish, stirring it quickly before digging in.

Due to his handcuffs, it wasn’t easy for him to eat his meal. He had only finished half of it by the time everyone else was almost done with theirs.

A sudden coldness came from his left, and someone sat beside him. Li Huowang turned and saw a spectacled middle-aged man sitting at his side.

The man wore the same hospital gown and appeared to be another patient. “Hello, Mr. Li. Let me introduce myself. I’m Hai Dongqing. Here is my business card.”

Li Huowang did not accept the “business card,” which really was tissue paper with words scrawled on it. Another mental patient, though this is the first time I’ve seen one of his kind.

However, Li Huowang was curious about why the doctors weren’t doing anything and allowed Hai Dongqing man to roam freely.

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Seeing that Li Huowang was ignoring him, Hai Dongqing rolled up the tissue paper and shoved it towards Li Huowang’s mouth. “Do you have anything to say about your relapse this time?”

Li Huowang turned to the nurse and said, “Can you shoo him away? He’s preventing me from eating my meal.”

The nurse forcefully pulled Hai Dongqing away. Li Huowang thanked the nurse and continued his meal.

After having his meal, Li Huowang watched TV shows for a bit before heading out to get some sunlight. This was his only source of entertainment right now.

As he lay on the bench half asleep, a faint voice reached his ears—it was Zhang Shuier.

“We are ready… If you’re also ready, we will move out in three days at midnight. The patients in ward seven will revolt, and we can leave during the chaos.

Li Huowang frowned without opening his eyes. “No, tell them to stop.”

“Why?”

“If Qing Wanglai wants to help me, he must do it properly. I don’t want to run out and become a fugitive. I would rather stay here if he intends to do it illegally. If you can’t decide for yourself, send a message to him. Ask him to come and visit me personally, and I will tell him. Leave now. You are being too conspicuous.”

Li Huowang said this, but there were no longer any voices. He opened his eyes to find that no one was around him.

He stretched and waved towards the sentries on the tower before heading back in.

If it weren't for the regular medication schedule, this place would be indistinguishable from an old person's home.

He had just entered the building when he saw the large Gao Jingyun squatting beside the toilet, startling everyone who exited the bathroom.

“What’s wrong?”

Li Huowang asked patiently. Although Gao Jingyun had a large body, his mental capabilities were only those of a child.

“Apple… someone… took it.”

Li Huowang wasn’t surprised that it was the same question. “Bring me to them. Who took your apple?”

Gao Jingyun led the way, with Li Huowang following closely behind. Together, they arrived at the quarters and opened each door one by one.

“Was it him?” Li Huowang pointed at an apple in an old man’s hands.

“Mmhm!” Gao Jingyun nodded as he twisted his own robes.

Li Huowang walked over and grabbed the apple. “You’re so old, and yet you’re stealing apples from a young patient?”

“Hey! What are you doing? My granddaughter bought that for me!” The old man protested, but Li Huowang pushed him back onto the bed.

“Your granddaughter bought it for you? Did your granddaughter also write someone else’s name on the apple?” Li Huowang pointed at Gao Jingyun’s name on the apple.

Another mortified patient held back the old man. Li Huowang turned and passed the apple to Gao Jingyun.

“Take it. If they give you apples next time, just eat them immediately. No need to wait.”

Gao Jingyun shook his hands, “I… I want to give it to you. You don’t have an apple to eat.”

Li Huowang tried to hand the apple back to Gao Jingyun. “I don’t like apples. Don’t give them to me next time.”

But Gao Jingyun did not accept it. “You eat it.”

After pushing and shoving the apples for a few rounds, Li Huowang gave up and ate the apple before leaving.

Li Huowang’s daily life was really dull since he was different. While the other patients had to fight their illnesses, Li Huowang didn't face such struggles.

After taking a nap, he went to the canteen to eat. After his dinner, he would normally watch the news with the others before going to sleep.

Even though the nurse appeared to have an easy time monitoring him, Li Huowang knew that it was taxing on them. Their gazes only broke off once Li Huowang was back in his room.

Li Huowang naturally lived in a single room, which had been retrofitted from one of the isolated rooms. There wasn’t even a toothbrush in it to prevent all chances of him committing suicide.

There was nothing he could do and nothing to do, so he just lay on the bed. After staying here for so long, his bad habit of staying up late into the night had also changed.

However, as he tried to fall asleep, he was abruptly awakened by the soft sound of footsteps.